Wednesday, November 25, 2020

 

GIVING THANKS

I am thankful for time with my family – Well, that ain’t happening.

I am thankful for – I have never had trouble putting together a list of things I am thankful for, but I sure am this year. 

Last year I used some interesting Thanksgiving facts and wrote:  Thanksgiving is like all holidays.  It is a combination of history, traditions, and memories.  Above all, Thanksgiving is a day to give thanks.  Or maybe, just maybe, every day is a Thanks Giving day!

On Thanksgiving 2019, no one could have imagined what Thanksgiving 2020 would be like.  But I will be thankful!  I will!  I will…try.  Here goes.  I am giving thanks for:

Clothes – I really purged my closet last year.  I purged it prior to Covid!  Not great planning on my part.  That means if you saw me wear it last year, you will see me wear it this year.  I am not purchasing clothes I cannot try on and cannot return.  But, do I need more clothes?  No.  I am thankful for the clothes that will keep me warm this winter.

Toilet Paper – Honestly?  You thought I wouldn’t put that on my list?  How crazy is it that we could not get toilet paper?  I understand this is happening again.  This leads to being thankful for all the truck drivers who are supplying our stores with said paper.

Cooking – I do know how to cook.  Are you thinking, “So you can cook?  That doesn’t make you special.”  No it does not, but there are a whole lot of people out there who do not know how.  Their cookbook includes carry-out menus and a list of their favorite frozen dinners.  Think how they must have panicked when restaurants had to close.  I bet they are giving thanks for carry out.

iPad – In my purse, turned off, is a flip phone.  I only use it when I go out of town.  BUT do not mess with my iPad.  That device connects me to the world.  I can google and find facts.  These facts give me information and – are you ready – information allows me to think for myself.  Facebook is – well, it is Facebook.  Norman Frog, on Instagram, is my alter ego and he has more friends than I have on Facebook.  Yup, I give thanks for my iPad. 

Jigsaw Puzzles – There they are.  Pieces which need turned over and put together.  My mother worked them and I am carrying on where she left off.  There is such a rush when I see a tiny sliver of a color and know exactly where that piece belongs.  Piece after piece placed just so and WALLA!  One picture formed from the chaos of many pieces.  Besides, Bill likes me working puzzles.  I don’t talk much while searching for a piece that should jump right out at me.

Are you getting the idea of what I am giving thanks for?  No?  Life!  When the Thanksgiving dinner starts with everyone saying what they are thankful for, the list begins:  family, friends, home, health…..  Yes, I am thankful for all that!  But why do we only mention the “big” things in life? 

Sunrises and sunsets are fantastic, but the night sky is a miracle and the sound of a gentle rain can be such a blessing to dry fields.  Music stirs our soul, brings back a moment in time, and Sweet Caroline makes us want to turn the volume up, but silence allows us to hear the leaves swish and to hear God speak.  A tall waterfall is grand and breathtaking, but a creek allows us to get our toes wet and find rocks, worn smooth by the water.  The mountains soar and the waves come and go, but our own back yard is comfortable and familiar. 

I am posting this early and hopefully you will read it before Thanksgiving Day.  This year is a rough one and you might be wondering exactly what you have to be thankful for.  This year many traditions will be broken and it is hard to accept, but look around. 

A picture of a loved one – what if no one had invented the camera?  The light switch – what if we had a light bulb, but no way to turn it on?  A glass of wine – what if someone had not stomped those grapes? 

This Thanksgiving, sit in the middle of a room and look around.  I bet you will be amazed at the things you will find to give thanks for. 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

 

 

Friday, November 20, 2020

 

TEARS AND JOY

It seems like our church has been praying more than usual.  We are praying for a very little boy who lives with pain and a future with many medical procedures.  We pray for his family too.  We pray for Covid to end.  We pray for a young man with cancer.  We pray for those in nursing homes and those that have to throw kisses through a window.  We pray for our nation, our neighbors, and even strangers.  We pray for our pastor, as he prays for all of us.  We pray for families who have recently told a loved one goodbye.

We have had a number of families telling loved ones goodbye.  Spouses.  Favorite aunts.  Fathers.  Brothers.  Mothers.  Sisters.  Friends.  Our rural church has a few less brothers and sisters in Christ sitting in the pews.  Our congregation has offered sympathy.  Our congregation has shared memories and prepared food.  Our congregation has shed tears. 

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, ….. will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.   Romans 8:part of 38-39


(Jesus speaking) My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.   John 14:2-3

Even knowing the promises, we shed tears.

BUT – mixed in with the tears, we celebrated our loved ones with joy!  Yes, grief is there.  Grief fills every inch of the room.  Grief is in every word spoken.  BUT – mixed with the grief is joy.  A joy that some cannot understand.  A joy that seems out of place with the tears.  BUT – it is there!  A joy that surrounds the grief and makes it bearable.  A joy that allows the heart to remember death is not the end.

(Jesus speaking) So with you:  Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.  John 16:22


May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13

And that is what we do!  We trust in HIM!  We stand on HIS promises.

(Jesus speaking) No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven – the Son of Man.  Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.  John 3:13-14

Ecclesiastes 3 tells us there is a time for everything.  There is a time to die and weep and mourn.  But --- there is a time to heal and laugh and dance.

The sympathy offered to the families and friends is genuine.  Our grief is consuming, but it is for only a time.  Our joy is real and it is for eternity. 

 

Friday, November 13, 2020

 

CLEAN WINDOWS, A FLY, AND RAIN

When we moved to town and a two story home (just what two people need), it was agreed that hubby would not wash the windows.  He has vertigo and no way did I want him climbing a ladder to get the tall windows or out on the roof.  Either he agreed or I increased his insurance.  It was one or the other.  He agreed.

The nicest young man just finished washing our windows.  I do love people’s stories and this guy did not let me down.  We talked about his job.  We talked about his faith.  We shared stories on becoming stronger Christians.  He learned my favorite story is of the crippled woman and I learned his is where the friends lower a man through the roof.  He said he loves his church.  His eyes lit up when he talked.  His Spirit is on fire.  His eyes are open and he can see!

My windows are clean and I can see!

But there is this fly!  It keeps landing on the clean window.  I want to swat it, but that would leave a spot!  That darn fly just keeps coming back.  It knows I am sitting at the desk and can see it over the computer screen.  I can hear that fly sending out a message:  Go ahead.  Swat me.

NO!!  There would be fly guts all over the window.  If I tried to clean the guts off, it would streak.  GO AWAY FLY!!!!!!!!

My windows are clean and I can see!

It is cloudy, but it is not supposed to rain until – Sunday.  Sunday..that is only two days away.  I can picture it now.  Rain drops hitting my nice clean windows making the windows wet and that would allow dust and pollen to stick. 

NO!!  Please do not rain for a few days.  I am enjoying my view!  The windows are so clean I will be able to see the stars.  GO AWAY RAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Know what?  Faith is a lot like that clean window. 

I am doing great!  Life is fantastic.  God loves me!!!  ====

And then a fly (temptation) shows up.  Pesky thing.  Keeps buzzing around.  Waiting for me to give in.  Knowing it can wear me down. 

Or the rain (hard times/times I do not understand) comes and doubt and questions stick to my soul.  I was ready to be strong.  I knew just the right verse.  I had the fly swatter in hand when the rain shouts, “Is the fly really a problem?”  And then I question…is the fly a problem?

We can be strong.  We can know God loves us…but – if we do not keep the window to our soul clean, temptation will show up and soon we no longer can see clearly.

 

Friday, November 06, 2020

 

Note:  As I write this there has been no decision made on who will be President and Covid is controlling our lives.

TIME

I was just sitting here thinking, “Wow.  I have everything off my desk and can do….”  OH!  IT IS THURSDAY!  TOMORRROW IS BLOG DAY!  How did it get to be Thursday?  And today is busy.  You would think being retired I would have free time and could sit around eating bonbons.  Nope!

What scares me more is that where did the years go?  This Saturday I will celebrate being 74!  74—NO WAY!!!!!!!!!  It is strange, because I do not feel 74.  Well, there are days my body feels a lot older, but inside – inside I do not feel 74.  If my body felt like my insides, I could do cartwheels.

“Cartwheels, Mary?  You could not do cartwheels when you were 10.”

You are right, God.  As always.  It isn’t my birthday yet, so I know you are not here to wish me a happy birthday.  Why did you pop in?  Did I screw something up..again? 

“Screw something up?  Probably.  Want me to go check?”

No!  Are we going to discuss my shortcoming?  I really wish we would do that in private.  There are a few people who read this and they think I am perfect.

“Perfect?  I sure did give you an imagination!  Perfect…wait till I tell Jesus.  Perfect….”

Okay.  I give up.

“Exactly!”

I give up? 

“What does Philippians 4:4-7 say?”

Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again:  Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

“Do you do that?  Do you give up being anxious in every situation?”

No.  I have been anxious about the election and about the virus.  The election has caused so many to be angry and that anger has divided our country.  I fear what will happen no matter the outcome.  I do not understand why it is happening.  I have prayed about it.  I have petitioned YOU! 

The virus is controlling our lives and I do not know who to believe.  I am told to believe the facts and science, but which facts and which science?  They change every day.  I have prayed about it.  I have petitioned YOU! 

I am anxious for our daughter.  She still has pain.  I have prayed about it.  I have petitioned YOU! 

AND YOU ARE NOT STOPPING ANY OF IT…  Yes, I am anxious.

“My child, you love Psalm 139.  It says I created you.  Does it say life will be easy?  Is there one verse in the Bible that says you will understand my plan?”

No.  It says you know the plans you have for me.  I get it now.  Give up…I need to give up being anxious and trust you.

“Yes.  Give up!  Give up being anxious.  You do not need to understand.  You need to trust.  Now read verse 7.”

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

“Mary, give it up to me.  You do not need to understand.  Trust that I will guard your heart and your mind.  Can you do that?”

Yes. 

One more thing.  Did you bring me a birthday gift?

“Yes.  I give you my peace.”

Doesn’t get any better than that.  Thank you.

------------------------------------------------

Life is stressful right now.  And we do not know what to do.  The answer is simple, yet hard.

TRUST GOD.

Willie Nelson has an image.  Surprisingly, Willie is a very strong believer.  Please listen to this song:  IT’S NOT FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kaTpyxFkb4