TOO OLD WISE.  DO NOT LIVE IN THE PAST.   ALWAYS.

A few weeks back, I wrote about being labeled young or old.  I do believe age is a state of mind, as much as it is the number of birthdays you have celebrated.

I’M TOO OLD WISE FOR THAT

There have been a few changes to my bucket list.  After having a broken wrist, I realize I can break.  After having foot surgery a number of years ago, I realize there are things my feet would rather I not do.   Therefore, I have taken two activities off my bucket list.

Skydiving – Yes, I know President Bush took the plunge way past the age of 70 but I have a feeling there were a whole lot of protections in place to keep him safe.  Pretty much guaranteed no secret service would be in place to catch me if something went wrong.  Skydiving is no longer on my list. 

Zip Line – My mother passed on arthritis in her hands to me, bless her heart.  That means gripping can be a problem.  When I see pictures of smiling people sailing over the tops of trees, they seem to be holding on very tightly.  Zip lining is no longer on my list.  Although, if I didn’t have to climb a gazillion steps to reach the launch area and if I was sure someone at the other end was going to make sure I stopped (both concerns due to previous mentioned foot problems) and if I could actually allow myself be launched off a secure area and flung out into space, I might move this back to my bucket list.

I DO NOT LIVE IN THE PAST

Am I four months shy of 71 or am I two months shy of 19?  (Confused?  Read June 2 blog.)  No matter how you want to figure my years, my heart and mind remain young.  I pray I will always honor the past but live in today.  I hope my mantra will never be:  But we have never done it that way.  NOR  Back when I was a kid.  NOR  I do not need to learn.

Contemporary Christian music – I love the old hymns.  I do.  They have helped build my faith but Christian music did not stop getting written somewhere back in 1872 or 1911 or 1948 or 1969.  Christian artists are still inspiring with their words and music today.  Today’s music will, in the future, be considered traditional.  Christian music can be played on – are you ready for this – guitars, drums and keyboards.  I enjoy Amazing Grace and Even If.  I have a special place in my heart for In the Garden and Hello My Name Is.  My absolute favorite hymn is Here I am Lord and in second place is Flawless.

A New Way – I cannot think of one thing I do that has not changed or evolved over the years.  If I move that pan to this cabinet, it is more convenient.  If I pay bills on line, it is much quicker.  If I learn to use a computer/iPad/internet, I can communicate with the world or develop a website or write a blog or be on Instagram.  Although I still like the feel of a book in my hands and the sound of turning a page, I read many books on my iPad.  Yesterday was great.  It got me to today. 

But I do not live in yesterday.  I hope I never lose the desire to learn and change and evolve.

ALWAYS

Yes - I’M TOO OLD WISE FOR THAT.  Yes – I DO NOT LIVE IN THE PAST.  Yes – parts of my life can only be classified as ALWAYS.

I like to start my day with coffee.  Before coffee, I cannot be held accountable for my actions.

One thing I have never been accused of is being is normal.

Many people, especially hubby, children and grandchildren, are trying to figure out my thought process.  To date no one has even come close.

/ / / / /  \ \ \ \ \

Today’s blog started with an idea and was going pretty good.  But then …..

………… somehow it took a turn and now it is done.  At least the clip art pictures are really cute. 

Have a super fantastic week.
P.S. Maybe there is a point after all.  So often we are absolutely sure we are on the right path.  Our feet, our heart, our mind - all headed in the direction God wants us to go.  Then something happens and we realize we have taken a different road.  Just like this post.  When that happens, stop.  Pray.  Wait.  Listen.  Pray.  Begin your journey again with your feet traveling down the correct path again.

A GREAT CELEBRATION

Red.  White.  Blue.  Noise.  Fireworks.  Hot dogs.  Civic Bands.  Yup!  It is the 4th of July. 

I have great memories of this day.  The town where I grew up celebrated with a midway that rivaled the state fair.  I rode the tilt-a-whirl, the farris wheel, the scrambler and merry-go-round.  If I ran out of money, I knew where to find dad.  He played bingo and I could always go hit him up for a couple more rides.  Mom could be found walking around but she was not the easy touch dad was.  Then the fireworks began.  I loved the fireworks.

I still do!  I love the feeling of the bang when it is loud enough to hammer into my chest.  I love the smell.  I love the designs.  I ohh and ahh as the red turns gold and twirlies (a non-official word) make a sizzle sound.  I hate it when the last one fades.

I love this country!  I believe God blessed this country and hubby and I have been so very fortunate to see the vastness.  From every direction, in every state, along every river, on the top of every mountain and in every valley, I believe God has blessed this country

God was seen in almost every government building as the Ten Commandments were proudly displayed.  Schools posted the Ten Commandments and said the Pledge of Allegiance.  The Cross was displayed on government owned properties.  The manger scene was displayed outside of court houses across the country. 

But now this country is turning its back on God.  The Ten Commandments are being taken down or covered up.  The Pledge is rarely said in schools and when was the last time you heard the Pledge of Allegiance said anywhere?  A Cross is no longer allowed on government owned properties.  And manger scenes are banned from most court house squares.

When did this start?  Why?  What can we do about it?

I do not have the answers.  I searched scriptures and there are so many about Israel walking with God.  Then turning from Him.  Then turning to Him.  Then walking with God.  And repeating the cycle time and time again.  How can our country not learn from these scriptures?  How can this country go from feeling God’s blessings to saying God has no place in our government.  When did God get confined to the inside of the church?

I love this country!   From every direction, in every state, along every river, on the top of every mountain and in every valley, I believe God has blessed this country.  Why are we not blessing God?

SWEET HUBBY

My hubby has always told me he loves me.  The other day he blew me away.  Know what he said? 

I love you constantly.

Wow.  Not I love you this second.  This minute.  This hour. 

Not I love you for making me a pie.  For hemming up my jeans.  For working in the office.

Not I love you because you are the mother of our children.  Because you are a good grandma.  Because you volunteer.

Just plain, “I love you constantly.”

Constantly!

Wow.  Now this is a man who knows how to make me feel loved.  To make me feel special. 

This blog is going to be very short.  The point is brief.

GOD LOVES EACH OF US CONSTANTLY!!

Not for this second.  This minute.  This hour.

Not for doing good.  For memorizing scripture.  For teaching a Sunday School class.

Just plain, “I love you constantly!”

Constantly!

I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.

Psalm 52:8b made personal

For God so loved me that he gave his one and only Son, 

and because I believe in him

I shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16 made personal

Unfailing.  Ever.  Ever.  CONSTANTLY!

God loves me.  Gave HIS Son.  I believe.  I shall not perish.  Eternal life.  CONSTANTLY AND ETERNALLY!

Please read this out loud: 

GOD LOVES ME CONSTANTLY AND ETERNALLY!  I AM SPECIAL TO GOD!

MEMORIES

Memories – This can be a very dangerous word to use.  It can start you down the road of “back in the day” or it can start you down the road of “I do not want to go there.”  When I close my eyes and allow memories to float through, it is a combination of both.

My dad was a truck driver.  He was not home a lot.  That caused many of the “I do not want to go there” memories.  Dad being home/gone/home/gone resulted in confusion.  We always asked mom for permission to do something:  go swimming, go to the neighbors (Yes, we asked permission even though it was only one step over the property line.), or go to a movie.  But then dad would be home and expect us to ask him.  We would forget, ask mom and then dad was not a happy camper. 

Dad usually sat at the kitchen table, with a glass of water, a cup of coffee and a cigarette.  Except for an occasional Saturday night when he would come into the living room and we would watch the last of a movie, change channels and watch the last of another movie and change channels and watch the last of a movie we had no idea of what was going on.  (There were only three channels.)  That is a back in the day good memory.

At breakfast the other day, we were talking about living with no air conditioning.  To be honest, we had an early form of air conditioning.  The windows were open and fans moved the air around.  At night we slept where the air was moving the most.  Maybe in bed, but usually on the floor somewhere.  (That made for getting up to go to the bathroom a challenge.  You never knew where someone would be stretched out.)  I used to take naps in the porch swing.  I would wake up to kitchen chairs propped against the swing so I would not fall out.  Another good memory.

I love to watch storms.  Even as a kid.  I would sit in a corner of the porch where rain never reached.  If it turned chilly, I would wrap up in a blanket.  The clouds would swirl.  The rain would come.  The thunder would roll.  The lightning streak.  And I would sit there taking in every sound, sight and smell.  I love the smell after a storm.  Clean!  And the colors after a storm.  Green.  Blue.  White.  As if God opened a new box of crayons and colored away.  For sure, a good memory.

Memories keep floating around in my head and heart:  Mother made the best peanut butter pie ever.  Dad played board games and croquet with us but was always changing the rules.  Seeing my very tall dad washing dishes beside my much shorter mom. 

But I also remember never hearing my dad tell me he loved me and that leaves a hurt that never goes away.  There were four of us kids, but my mother had only one child:  the oldest.  When I asked her about that, she said, “There is something special about your first born.”   When I asked about the second, third and fourth, she said nothing.  Another memory which left a very deep scar.

Now this last “I do not want to go there” memory is going to make you wonder what kind of a Christian I am.  We were sent to church but neither mom nor dad attended with us.  Fast forward many years and my mother started going to church.  Know what?  I was mad!  Why couldn’t she have gone when we were kids?  Kids with no parent beside us in the pew.  She went to Bible study.  She bought a Bible Commentary.  And she told about her Sunday School class and getting hugs each Sunday.  Now why should I be mad and hurt because my mother started attending church? 

It took me many years to understand that the home my dad grew up in is where he learned about love and that it was shown with actions (providing for his family) instead of words.  It took me many years to accept the fact that mom did love my brother in a different way than she loved us girls.  It took time for me to be thrilled that mom was going to church. 

When I finally looked back.  When I finally understood.  When I finally accepted.  When I finally let go.  When I finally forgave.  I realized something.  I love my father.  I love my mother.  They were not perfect parents.  But they are my parents!  I have directed many conversations upward and I do believe we have it all worked out.  

<  <  <  <  <  >  >  >  >  >

Life is made up of memories.  Some good, some bad and some are just there.  What we do with those memories is what is important.  We can allow them to give us joy.  We can allow them to make us bitter. 

Some memories we want to hold dear.  I saw a quote that said:  Memories are timeless treasures of the heart.  So true.  Never let those good memories go.

BUT some memories we need to let go of and move forward.  We need to see that God does not want the past to hold us from the future HE has planned for us.

Brothers, I don’t regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I do. Forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 3:13-14

Life is made up of memories.

Some good, some bad and some are just there.

What we do with those memories is what is important.

We can allow them to give us joy.

We can allow them to make us bitter.

What are you doing with your memories?

BROKEN MEASURING CUP, SMOKE FROM THE OVEN AND JOY

I was off for a day with a 13 year old grandson.  A day-a-week-during-the-summer with this set of grandsons is a tradition.  Now it is usually just me and the last of the four boys.  Last summer Tim wanted to learn how to cook.  We did main dishes.  His family liked coming home and finding supper ready to put on the table.  This summer we are working on desserts.

Our day did not go quite as planned.  First up was a dump cake.  Easy to make and it was quickly in the oven.  Since it was a quick and easy dessert, Tim was also going to make a rhubarb pie for his grandpa.  I ask for a mixing cup.

Oops!  It slipped right out of my hand.  Glass everywhere!  In the rug in front of the sink.  Over in front of the fridge.  Across the kitchen and under the table.  Just how far can glass bounce?  A long way and it can break into a lot of pieces. 

I cleaned the glass up.  (Remember – 13 year old boy and we all know how they are at cleaning.)  I mopped the floor.  I looked close.  I picked up pieces of teeny, tiny glass slivers which hid from the broom and mop. 

Than it was back to baking.  Tim cut the rhubarb.  He measured.  He put the pie together.  He put the pie in the oven. 

The pie ran over!!  I opened the windows.  Turned on fans.  Just how much smoke can one pie make?  A lot!  Luckily the smoke alarms did not go off and the alarm company did not call because the alarms were going off and the fire department was not called because there was smoke rolling out of those open windows.

And then the joy began!  Tim sampled his cake and licked his lips.  Success!  He then tried the pie, which he knew he would not like.  He licked his lips.  Success!

Tim teased me about dropping the cup.  (He also made sure his mother knew I dropped the cup, not him.)  We were amazed at the amount of smoke lingering in the kitchen. 

Funny how joy comes ….. Well, joy comes at the most unexpected times. 

PSALM 30:11 (reworded to fit the day)

You turned a broken cup into dancing (around pieces of broken glass) and removed the smoke and surrounded us with joy.

= = = = = = = = = = =

Where do you find joy?

Joy is everywhere.  Allow it to be a part of your day.  A part of your life.

Then share that joy with others.

Young - Old - Young

Age is such a changing value.  I can remember years ago when I was the youngest person on the funeral dinner committee at church.  Later, I remember looking around the table at a woman’s Bible study and thinking, “I am the oldest lady taking this study.  How did that happen?  How and when did I get old?”

Age is such a changing value.  Just this week I gave a message at a retirement home chapel.  I looked around and thought, “I am the youngest person in this room.”

That evening our grandson came for a visit.  When he walked in, I ask, “How does it feel to be a Senior?  You have no idea how fast this year is going to go.”  He said, “It feels strange to be a Senior.  But this next year cannot go any faster than the last one.”  I gave him a “just you wait” grin and we sat and talked.  My mind was whirling:  When did he get this old?  He should still be a little boy.

A couple weeks ago, another grandson informed me, “Well, grandma, you are young at heart because you are only 19.”  Sounds good!  I do like contemporary Christian music, have an Instagram account, am on Facebook and, for sure, do not feel 70 on the inside.  (The outside knows it is 70 and has grey hair and some aches and pains to prove it.)  Actually, I can celebrate both.  I will be 19 in September because I died in 1998 during an operation.  Or I will be 71 in November when I celebrate the day I was born.

Age is such a changing value --- and we all have a big change ahead. 

Are you ready for A BRAND-NEW LIFE?

(John the Baptist speaking)  “I’m baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life.  The real action comes next:  The main character in this drama – compared to him I’m a mere stagehand – will ignite the kingdom life within you, a fire within you, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out.  He’s going to clean house – make a clean sweep of your lives.  He’ll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he’ll put out with the trash to be burned.”

Matthew 3:11-12 from The Message

What a God we have!  And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus!  Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven – starts now!  God is keeping careful watch over us and the future.  The Day is coming when you’ll have it all -- life healed and whole. 

1 Peter 1:3-5 from The Message

Sometimes we dig deep into the Word of God (a good thing) but sometimes we need to go back to Religion 101.  The basics. 

Religion 101:  Your life will change.

Baptized by Jesus = The Holy Spirit living within you = A changed life

Jesus was raised from the dead = A brand new life = A future in heaven

Are you young?  Are you old?  Know what?  It does not matter.  Your new life and your future in heaven begin the minute you accept Jesus. 

Are you ready for A BRAND-NEW LIFE?  There is one waiting for you.

MEMORIAL DAY

Memorial Day

A day to remember the people who died while serving in the country’s armed forces.

I know that – sorta.  For some reason, there is a gap in my understanding of Decoration Day/Memorial Day.  Somehow, I missed the part about it being for those that had died while serving in the military.  Did I learn it wrong in school?  Well, after all these years, I have no idea.  My best guess; in my mind, the holiday is what I saw around me. 

My dad served in WW II.  He rarely talked about it.  And only when he and one Army buddy were together.  The war was left behind.  It was not something to be discussed at the dinner table.  It was not something …. it was not something he wanted to remember.  He did not go to Decoration Day services so we did not go either.

My memory associates Decoration Day with families placing flowers in old fruit jars, going to various cemeteries and placing those flowers on the graves of their family.  It was a time to pull weeds around the head stone.  It was a time to tell the annual story about grandpa building a fence and forgetting to put a gate in.  And, of course, he, the horse and the wagon were inside the fence!  These annual stories always brought smiles and tears.  It was a time when families laid their differences aside and honored their ancestors. 

Maybe that is why my idea of Decoration Day/Memorial Day is a bit confused.  History books, society and the news told me one thing but the actions of my parents and family told me something else. 

You would think I would have figured this out when they renamed this day to Memorial Day in 1967.  But honestly, when the name was changed to Memorial Day I was busy being a bride of two years, raising a one year old and trying to make ends meet.  

Where am I going with this?  I have no idea.  I do not know what to write next.  I do not know how to end this.

Oh, yes I do.  I kept the idea of respecting our ancestors.  I moved honoring soldiers, alive and dead, to Veteran’s Day.  That way I was not confused about this day.

There are many things that confuse us in life.  We are a product of what we see in our day to day lives.  What our parents teach us.  What school teaches us.  What we read in the paper and hear on TV.  We get confused because we then pick and choose what we keep and what we do not.

Well, I thought I knew where I was going.  So, here is the deal.  Now that you have read this, think about what you know to be true (Example:  Memorial Day is to honor those that lost their lives while serving) versus what you really want to think (Example:  Memorial Day is a day to honor my ancestors).  Apply that to your faith.

The end.

UNEXPECTED ENCOURAGEMENT

The other day hubby and I went out on a farm drive.  If you live in a rural area or are the wife/child/friend of a farmer, you know what a farm drive is.  “Hey.  Want to go for a drive.”    That is what you hear.  This time of year what they mean is, “I want to go see if the field is dry enough to work and you can help me check it out.”  (My sweet hubby knows that if he really wants me to go, all he has to do is use the words “back roads.”  Those words are the equivalent of dangling a carrot on a string and pole before the horse.)

So off we went to find those back roads.  He found dry fields.  I found encouragement printed on a sign, in a front yard.

The sign said:  YOU MATTER

My heart shouted thank you to the home owner because I could picture all the people that sign encouraged.

• An exhausted person after a very long shift
• A parent driving to yet another practice/game/?
• A widow/widower going home to an empty house
• A teenager who feels invisible
• A child of divorce who spends weekends with the other parent
• A teacher who had a rough day
• A minister on the way to a hospital visit
• A spouse along on a farm drive 
• ANYONE AND EVERYONE

Unexpected encouragement – what a gift! 

AND -- Not once but twice.  A few days later, it happened again.

There I sat.  Waiting on the train to pass.  Looking at the graffiti.  Thinking some of that is pretty good art.  When I saw it.  Right there on the side of a car.  Almost to the end of the train. 

Spray painted in large letters:  YOU ARE NOT ALONE

Again my heart sent a thank you to the person on the other end of that spray paint can. 

Encouragement – we expect it from those we love.  People at church.  People at work.  Friends.  BUT what a blessing when encouragement is unexpected.  Words that are slipped in the routine of our day.  Words that leap out and wrap themselves around us.

YOU MATTER

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

These words are true.  Read them aloud.  Allow them to wrap around you and encourage you.

A SPRING COLD

The sun is shining but do not say it out loud.  You might scare it away.  It is a lovely day.  At least I guess it is.

I have the dreaded spring cold.  Started small.  Just a tickle in my throat.  That tickle did not hang around long but it left behind a raspy voice.  Quickly joining in to make it a quartet are the sneezing (Should have bought more Kleenex the last time I stocked up.), the plugged up nose (I hate the plugged up nose because breathing is rather important.), and the cough (For sure not your sweet, quiet, ladylike cough you see on TV.).  Bless hubby he made a trip and I now have cough syrup sitting beside the open-your-nose pills and boxes (plural) of Kleenex. 

My head is so full I feel like a bobble head doll. 

All this means I am only at the computer long enough to write a very short blog.  (I saw that smile.)

Sin is a lot like my spring cold.  That ole devil sneaks up, tempts us with a sin and we need to be ready. 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace,  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.      Ephesians 6:10-18

I sent hubby to the store to get what I need to fight my cold.

To fight Satan’s plans, I go to God.  There I find exactly what I need. 

I have to go lay down now.  My head no longer wants to stay upright.

Have a blessed week.   

RAIN, GIGGLES AND LAUGHTER

Last weekend three other ladies and I headed to a “Girl’s Getaway Weekend” in Hannibal, Missouri. 

We started making plans for this weekend a month ago.  Motel rooms were reserved.  Getaway bags ordered.  Added to the bag was a crazy light up glass which could be filled over and over.  (With water of course.)  We were sure the band would be loud.  We studied the activities the merchants had scheduled.  We were ready.

One of the things we have absolutely no control over is the weather, so we started listening to the weather channel.  We kept our eye on the weather app.  Rain Friday.  Rain Saturday.  Rain Sunday.  OH MY GOODNESS!  What do we do? 

Well, duh!  We got in the car, of course.  We drove in the rain.  We got out of the car.  We lifted our umbrellas high.  And we got wet.  REALLY WET!  We had a blast!!!!!

We giggled as we stuck our heads through a picture board and made silly faces.  Oh, you never get too old to make silly faces.  Especially when your head is stuck through a sheet of plywood!

We made earrings and bought popcorn.  We bought chocolate too.  Remember, chocolate is a food group!  We took a Haunted Hannibal Tour.  Two of the girls climbed the stairs to a lighthouse and came back extremely wet.  I have perfect timing and decided to fill the car up with fuel during a break in the rain.  That break lasted long enough for me to get out of the car.  Not long enough to fill it up.  I changed clothes when we got to the motel.  I think those jeans are still wet.

We laughed as we shared stories.  So much fun being girls, lying across the beds and saying, “We really should go to sleep.”  Made us all remember those slumber parties from when we were silly teenagers. 

Then we drove home – in the rain.

Making plans was fun.  It gave us something to look forward to.  There was rain but there was joy.  Sorta like my Christian life.

I know where I am going!  There will be rain and there will be joy as I travel the road toward my final destination.  There will be friends to lighten my burden, when it is more than I can carry.  There will be friends to share in my joys.  There is one who always has His eye on me. 

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look!  God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”    Revelation 21:1-4

Do you know where you are going?  Are you making plans now?  Do you have a church family and friends who will walk beside you?  Do you talk to the one who always has His eye on you?

May your journey be full of joy

and

may you always find support and love when it rains.

ALL THOSE NOT SO LITTLE THINGS

When making that gratitude list or saying a prayer or going around the table in Sunday School telling what blessing you received this week, how do you answer?  Do you give the typical answers of my family, my friends, forgiveness, mercy, grace and eternal life?  Do you ever throw in there, “And all the little blessing I do not even notice.”? 

That is what I want to do today.  I want to make a list of all those not so little things.

Wow, this could be a very long list.  To start with there is --

·         the way it feels to squish mud between your toes and how it feels to lay in the grass and see clouds become dogs or cats or elephants or ice cream cones,

·         how a child's hand feels in yours when they are trusting you to get them to the other side of the street,

·         the absolute carefree joy of feeling the wind in your hair when you are driving along on a beautiful summer day,  (This only works if you remembered to forego the hair spray or still have hair.)

·         the inner calm that comes from walking the beach and watching the waves come and go.  The tide carries your troubles away and brings back a peaceful spirit,

·         the taste of cheesecake,

·         the look in the eyes of a dog,

and

·         the sizzling, popping and cracking sounds the wood in a fireplace makes.

Of course no list would be complete without --

·         swinging,

·         talking to children,

·         hearing stories about our parents, when we are old enough to appreciate them,

·         unwrapping a package,

and

·         the words please and thank you.

Nothing tastes as good as –

·         licking the paddle after the homemade ice cream is done,

·         popcorn while watching a movie,

·         the last piece of pizza,

·         an apple right off the tree

and

·         peanut butter on pancakes.

Also, not to be forgotten are --

·         sitting quietly in church,

·         hearing a favorite hymn,

and

·         stained glass windows.

When you look back over this list, I am sure you could add many, many things.  The point I am trying to make is not to forget the small things, because they are not small. 

Through Jesus we receive so many magnificent blessings.  And I want every one of them.  I am greedy that way.  But I also want the little things that get me through the day. 

The words I love you                           An unexpected smile                          A sincere compliment

A tooth brush                                      A good cup of coffee                          A gentle breeze

Sometimes tears                                  A cold glass of water                          Laughter

Rest                                                     Conversation                                       My iPad

I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill.

I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing.

Ezekiel 34:26

In 1883, Daniel W. Whittle wrote the hymn “There Shall be Showers of Blessing.  The first stanza and refrain go like this:

There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.

Refrain:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

Question:  What “not so little thing” have you been blessed with today?

BAKING A PIE

I wish you could smell what I smell.  I just took a rhubarb pie out of the oven and the whole house smells sweet with a whiff of cinnamon and a hint of nutmeg.  It is going to be hard to let it cool before slicing a piece.  But I must wait because I like ice cream on my pie and the ice cream would turn to … milk and milk over pie would be … odd.

Bill loves rhubarb pie and I have come to enjoy it also, as long as it has ice cream as a topper.  The recipe was given to me by a very sweet lady and she gave me the whole recipe. 

When asked, some cooks will give you their recipe but it never turns out quite right.  It will taste almost as good but it is a bit off.  Then one day you tell them, “I have tried but I must not have the knack you do because the pie/cake/casserole is never as good as yours.”  When they get that glint in their eyes and their mouth curls a bit, it hits you:  THEY LEFT AN INGREDIENT OUT!

That rhubarb pie is going to taste fantastic because I had the whole recipe.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  …..  The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.  Amen    Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21

Talk about having all the ingredients!  Having the whole recipe!  It is all there!  The recipe for a foundation of Righteousness and Justice, walls called Salvation and gates called Praise and a crystal clear river of the Water of Life.

Now are you ready for the really, really good part?  We are ingredients in this recipe!  How cool is that?

We – you and me - ---are God’s children!!  We are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ!  We share in his sufferings and that means we may share in his glory!  By golly, this is the best thing ever?  And this is for EVERYONE! 

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.  Galatians 3:26-29

The Bible did not leave any ingredient out.  Devour it one slice at a time!!

NOW WHERE DID HE GO?

Ever looked for Waldo?  Or helped children find objects in an I Spy book?  Or lost a grandchild?

Many years ago (She is now 22.) our granddaughter, Kailyn, disappeared.  Her parents looked for her.  They looked in all the rooms.  They looked under the bed.  They looked in cabinets.  (She was very flexible and we used to kid her she would make a great magician’s assistant.)  They looked outside on the porch and in the yard.  The neighborhood kids started looking.  They rode bikes up and down alleys.  The police were called.  Still no one could find her.  And then ……

The Easter story is full of “where is he” times. 

Where is he?  Where is the one who will betray Jesus?  Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?”  Jesus answered, “Yes, it is you.”  (Matthew 26:25)  That one was easy. 

Where is he?  Where is the one who will deny Jesus?  “I tell you the truth, Jesus answered, “This very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”  (Matthew 26:34)  But he denied it before them all.  He denied it again.  Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”  (Parts of Matthew 26:70, 71 and 74)  Where is the one who will deny Jesus?  Peter was hiding in the courtyard and then went out to the gateway.  He heard the rooster crow.

Where is he?  Where is Jesus?  Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”  (Matthew 26:36)  Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled.  (Matthew 26:57)  They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.  (Matthew 27:2)  After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him.  Then they led him away to crucify him.  They came to a place called Golgotha.  (Matthew 27:31, 33)  Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb, that he had cut out of the rock.  He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.  (Matthew 27:59)  He is not here:  (Matthew 28:6)  He is not here?  Then where is Jesus? 

It was easy to find the one who would betray Jesus.  Jesus named the one who would deny him.  But the words “He is not here” brought shock and fear and disbelief.  If he is not here, where is he?

Still no one could find her.  And then ……  And then she came out of the house.  “Where were you?” everyone asked.  “I was playing hide and seek.  I crawled way back under the desk but I went to sleep waiting for you to find me.”  (I am so glad I only knew about this after it was all over.)  One more important part of this story is that little Miss Kailyn had forgotten to tell her parents she was playing hide and seek.

HE IS NOT HERE

THEN WHERE IS HE?

He is not here: he has risen, just as he said.

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified.

He has risen!  He is not here.

“Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; he has risen!

Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:

‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men,

be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’

(Mary Magdalene to disciples)

They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

(Jesus speaking to Mary Magdalene)

“Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father.

Go instead to my brothers and tell them,

‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John might not agree on exactly who went to the tomb that morning, but they all agree on one thing:  HE IS NOT HERE.  HE IS RISEN!

Kailyn had not told her parents she was playing hide and seek.  They did not know what was going on.  But Jesus – Jesus had told his disciples exactly what was going to happen.

Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:

‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men,

be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’

After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them,

he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.

Oh, my friends, we do not have to ask the question:  Where is he?  We know where he is!!!

Now doesn’t that just make you want to jump with joy?  To lift your hands in praise?  To bow your head in gratitude?

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,

that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!  Amen and Amen

HANDS

Our minister finished a sermon series on hands.  This series focused on the hands in the Easter Story, but it got me to thinking about what the scriptures say about hands?

One of my favorite is Psalm 63:4 –

I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.

As I looked up various scriptures, I found hands which:

deceived (Jacob & Isaac)                                held up other’s hands (Moses)

lapped up water to drink                                 were laid upon others in healing

built an ark                                                      belonged to God

Also hands which were:

pierced                                                            clean

clapping                                                           lifted

lazy/idle                                                           eager

helping                                                            feeble

reaching out                                                    working

angry                                                               prayerful

My imagination kicked into full gear and I pictured hands:

drawing water at a well                                  dropping stones

lowering a friend through a roof                     destroying a temple

tending sheep                                                  feeding the hungry

raising the dead                                               washing feet         

breaking bread                                                driving nails

Finally there was only one more set of hands to think about. 

My hands!  Are they hands Jesus would take into his and say, “Mary you have made good use of your hands.”?

What should my hands – our hands do?  They should worship and they should serve.  How would you answer the following?

Worship:  Does the Word of God feel comfortable in my hands?  When holding the Bible do my hands feel as if they are holding something valuable and familiar?  Can my hands be still as I quietly sit with God?  Are my hands lifted in praise when my Spirit soars?  Are my hands able to reach out and take the Bread and Cup?

Serve:  Are my hands kept close to my side and only used to serve those I love?   OR   Do my hands reach out to others?  Do I use my hands to wipe away a tear?  Do I use my hands to offer food to those in need?  Do my hands help lighten the burden another carries? 

Oh, Lord, please show me how to use my hands to worship and serve.  Amen