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.

 

 

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

 

PRAYING

Yes, I know.  I have written on this before, but, as the song says, “here we go again.” 

Am I Praying? is a children’s book written by Jeannie St. John Taylor.  The book is about Erik going to the zoo. 

“I jump out of bed in the morning thinking, “It’s going to be a great day, God!  I can’t wait to go to the zoo.”

If I just think it while I’m staring into the mirror brushing my teeth with both eyes wide open…am I praying?

The illustrations are fantastic.

Erik’s day does not go as planned.  His mother dropped him off and he left his lunch in the car.  A kid made fun of him.  He got lost at the zoo.  All day he wondered:  Am I praying:  

• when I just think it and do not say it out loud?
• when I am just waiting for God?
• when I whisper?
• when I am talking really quietly to God?
• when I’m too scared to totally trust Jesus?

Erik had a bad day, but the story ended on a happy note.  His mother brought his lunch.  The class found him.  The kid apologized for making fun of him.  Too tired to say a prayer, he closed his eyes as his mother tucked him and his last thought was, “Even if I drift off to sleep and don’t hear the last part of her prayer…I prayed, didn’t I?”

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

When I was a kid, we were taught the proper way to pray:  head bowed, hands in the approved prayer position, and full concentration.  Hate to tell you, but my prayers are more like Erik’s.  I often wonder, “Am I praying?”

Is there a proper prayer format?  Matthew 6:5-14 tells us not to be like the hypocrites.  It seems we are to go into a room and pray unseen.  We are not to babble.  We should pray the “Our Father….”

Would I pass the “What Is The Proper Way To Pray” test?  I doubt it. 

I pray while driving.  God and I have had many good conversations, while going down the road.  Is a conversation a prayer?  Sometimes.  Other times it is just a conversation.

I pray while working around the house.  The prayer is usually proceeded by this question:  “Honestly God!  Dust?  Exactly what purpose does dust serve?”  That question leads to a prayer.  “Thank you God that I have a house to clean.  A house filled with love.  Thank you for food in the pantry and a washer and dryer.  Thank you that we have food to eat and clothes to wear.”

Many people say they pray when mowing the yard.  I would love to say I pray when mowing, but I hate to mow.  My prayer is, “Thank you God that hubby likes to mow!”

I pray when my heart hurts and when I have no control over a situation.  During those times, I ask, “How do I pray now?  Lord, I have no more words.  Lord, my mind is a jumble.”  Often, when my heart hurts and when I have no control over a situation, the only prayer I have is “Lord.  Lord.”

Is there a proper way to pray?  Want my opinion?  Yes and no.

NO:  There is no proper physical position to be in.  You can pray with your head bowed and hands in the acceptable position or you can pray with your head turned to the heavens and your hands lifted high.  You can pray in the car, in the recliner, in the kitchen, or on your knees.  You can pray with others or you can go into that room, with the door shut, and pray by yourself.  There is no proper physical position to pray.

YES:  The prayer must be honest.  The prayer must come from your heart.  From your very soul.  The prayer can be shouted or whispered.  The prayer can be so beautiful it is copied and shared on Facebook or it can be spoken between sobs.  Is there a proper way to pray?  Oh, yes!  The prayer must be honest.

BUT – God is open to all forms of prayer.  He will take them short or long.  He will take them in every language.  He will take them from each of his children.  How do you begin?  Bow your head…just kidding.  How do you begin?  Simple!

Hey God.  It’s me, Mary.  Do you have a minute?

“Of course it is you.  I know your voice.  Do I have a minute?  My child, I have eternity.”

 

A RATTLE, PUT IT IN PARK, and AN ALL RED DASHBOARD

I know how to drive.  Although hubby fills my car up more than I do, I know how to use the gas pump.  I know how to… Nope.  That pretty much covers it.  Maybe one more.  I do know when my car is not following my commands properly.

“What is that noise?” became a frequent comment.  It was not there all the time.  It was not even there every time I hit a hole, but my car had a noise problem.  A noise problem that was driving me bonkers, but refused to make its appearance known when the nice mechanic drove it.  I do believe they were humoring the “little lady” when they told me they would put it on a special machine which would find the noise.  Ah ha!  The machine pointed out a slight suspension problem.  Problem fixed!  Or so we thought.  The noise still comes and goes.  What I want to understand is how a “noise” knows I am driving. 

When I turned the car off, the red light on the instrument panel read, “Put the car in park, please.”  “IT IS IN PARK,” I shouted.  I turned the car back on.  I took the car out of park.  I put the car in park.  I turned the car off.  The red light did not come on.  Until a few days later.  My friendly mechanic, who still thinks I hear noises, made an appointment and explained this is a common problem.  We took the car to visit the mechanic.

The car was all happy and ready to come home.  The truck, on the other hand, decided to test our patience.  Hubby started the truck and ---- red lights everywhere!  The instrument panel said we had --- nothing!  No fuel.  No speedometer.  And it showed four flat tires.  Those lights stayed on all the way to the coffee shop.  Of course, coffee first!  Hubby called our friendly mechanic who said drop the truck off when you pick up the car.  True to form, the truck started and all gauges worked.  The truck received a physical and the cause of the problem was surgically removed.  The nice mechanic did not ask about my “noise.”

I bet you are wondering what I will find inspirational in all this.  Not sure.  Maybe nothing.  There is one thing I would like to point out which might save your life.

When we went to trade vehicles with the nice mechanic, it was very foggy.  Very foggy!!  There were also so many drivers who did not have their lights on.  Men are the worst!  One time a man told me, “I can see.  I don’t need them on.”  I use my lights because I WANT OTHERS TO SEE ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, the next time it is foggy, pretend I am the red light, on your dashboard, flashing TURN YOUR LIGHTS ON! 

I guess there is something inspirational in all this.  Jesus is the light that clears away the fog so we can stay on the path. 

Today I am saving your human body by telling you to use your lights when it is foggy and your spiritual body by telling you to see the light of Jesus.

 

OUR MARY

Have you ever had someone say something that just took your breath away....in a good way? I had one of those moments a couple weeks ago.

Larry Wade, pastor of the Urbana Yoke Parish, also writes a blog.  (http://larry-fromthepastorsdesk.blogspot.com)  On Friday mornings, he sends an email to people in our church, friends, people in churches he pastored before coming here, and, I swear, to anyone he has ever said hi to.  This email lets them know the blogs — his and mine — are posted on the church website.

We never discuss what the other one is writing, but it is amazing how often they will be on the same subject.  In the email, Pastor Larry will give a hint as to what each blog is about.  He will warn people that I am having another conversation with God.  Or he will tell them, if they only have time to read one, they need to read mine.  Or he might remind them my mind works a bit differently than most.  That is how it goes each week....until a couple weeks ago.

I was reading the email and right there were the words: our Mary.  OUR Mary.  Our.  What a powerful word.  Our: that which belongs to us ....  I belong.  I am included. 

Hubby and I started attending Urbana Yoke Parish four years ago.  Some of my husband’s friends found out we were looking for a new church (We are not church hoppers!  We left a church we had attended 39 years.)  They invited us to Urbana Yoke Parish.  From the moment we walked in the door, I felt at home.  People came up to me and asked my name and said they were glad to have us visit.  They hoped we would return.  Return we did. 

Unlike some churches, I was immediately included.  Instead of being sent to the sidelines, I was invited to Sunday School and the Women’s Guild.  I was asked to fix food for the funeral dinners.  I was trusted to take money at the pancake breakfast.  Included is another powerful word. 

I love to hear people’s stories and they were happy to share.  I learned about being a twin and how a new bride did not know what to do with the baby chickens delivered to her door.  I laughed at the image of a man shoveling snow away from a fence so the cows could not walk over it.  I heard how a very sweet lady had been married in the parsonage.  I heard about weddings and baptisms and funerals.  People included me in their lives.

But to get an email that called me “our Mary” was unexpected. 

I told Pastor Larry how much that meant to me.  He looked shocked and said, “Well, you are our Mary.”

Words can be powerful.  Pastor Larry had no idea I would read those words and feel blessed. 

 

I told this to a friend and she understood.  A few days later, she told me that, when she thinks of this, she smiles. 

A weekly email.  Words written without thinking.  Words read.  A heart touched.  Smiles.  Words are powerful. 

Bless someone with your words this week.

—————————-

PS 

We are very thankful to attend a church where individuals are cherished. 

If someone would ask, “Who is that?” 

I am sure the answer would be, “Oh, that is our Steve.  And that is our Jolene.  And over there is our McKenzie.  She is standing beside our Carol and our John.  You must meet our Helen and our Aaron.  And this is our Bill.  This is our ___every person affiliated with UYP____

We are very thankful to attend a church where the pastor values each person and calls them “ours.”

TOMORROW

KIDS SAY THE DARNEDEST THINGS

The Sunday School teacher asks, “Now, Johnny, tell me frankly; do you say prayers before eating?”    ”No sir,” little Johnny replies, “I don’t have to.  My Mom is a good cook.”

Pastor Larry told me how a mother with a fidgety seven-year-old boy finally got her son to sit still and be quiet. About halfway through the sermon, she leaned over and whispered, ‘If you don’t be quiet, Pastor Larry is going to lose his place and will have to start his sermon all over again!”

A little boy was overheard praying:  "Lord, if you can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it.  I'm having a real good time like I am."

ADULTS BELIEVE THE DARNEDEST THINGS

Although I hate the phrase, there does seem to be a “new normal.”  It is a feeling of it can wait, I can get to it later, and that will give me something to do tomorrow.

Tomorrow: on or for the day after today, the day after the present, time that is to come, eventually

I recently attended the play, Heaven’s Gates and Hell’s Flames.  Obviously, this show is about going to heaven or hell.  Various scenes portray people in day to day activities until their life ends.  Their life ends unexpectedly.  They had no tomorrow.

During the play, there were three phrases that struck me as extremely important.

GOOD IS GOOD ENOUGH

In a number of the scenes, people would tell the angel holding the Book of Life, “I have helped others.  I have been good.  I am sure my name is in there.”

Adults say, “Good is good enough.”

Newsflash:  That is not Biblical!   

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”    John 3:3

(John speaking)  Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.  John 3:36

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.  John 14:6

Being good?  That is what we all are to do.  BUT…being good will not earn you eternal life.

EVERYONE GETS INTO HEAVEN

A couple of people were surprised they were going to hell.  They shouted, “There is no judgment.  Everyone gets into heaven.”

Adults say, “Everyone gets into heaven.”

Newsflash:  This is not Biblical!

(John the Baptist speaking)  “I baptize you with water for repentance.  But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worth to carry.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”  Matthew 3:11-12

The Parable of the Net:  “This is how it will be at the end of the age.  The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Matthew 13:49-50

Everyone DOES NOT get into heaven.  Many churches no longer preach heaven and hell.  I think they do not want to scare people and that is too bad.  Heaven is real.  So is hell.

                           PEOPLE BELIEVE IN JESUS, THEY JUST DO NOT BELIEVE IN ME                                    (spoken by Satan during the play)

Adults say, “Satan is not real.”

Newsflash:  This is not Biblical!

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.  Ephesians 6:10-11

 

Be alert and of sober mind.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.  1 Peter 5:8-9

 

And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown.  They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.  Revelation 20:10

Satan, the devil, is real.  He is a liar.  A deceiver.  A tempter.  He is after your soul.

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Good is not good enough.

There is a judgment.

Satan is real.

Tomorrow is too late.

If you have not made a decision.. if you have not confessed your sins.. if you have not accepted Jesus as your Savior – with a true heart -- .. do not be part of the “new normal” of putting it off because you will have time tomorrow.  Do it today.  Do it now.

Which do you want?

Heaven’s Gates and Hell’s Flames?

 

THE TAPE MEASURE

Last Sunday a very unique lady gave the children’s story.  Why is she unique?  Oh, you would have to know Carla.  She freezes her chocolate!  She collects rocks.  Big rocks.  She gives our minister a rough time, but someone has to do it and she has a doctorate in “giving the minister a rough time.”  I think she practices on her husband.  Back to the children’s story.

Her goal was to measure God’s love.  Silly woman brought a tape measure.  A long, metal one.  After telling a young man that he volunteered to hold the other end, she backed up.  “Is God’s love this long?”  She backed up a bit more.  “Is God’s love this long?”  She backed up and had to stop.  She was at the end of the tape. 

Then she asked, “Can I measure God’s love with this?”  Being very bright kids, they answered, “NO!”

I do not know how to measure God’s love, but I do know where you can find it.

For our church’s Facebook page, I do a Wednesday’s Song.  I look for traditional hymns and contemporary hymns.  Then it happens.  Up pops an old favorite being sung by a choir in Japan or in a small country I would have to google to find on a map.  Up pops a contemporary hymn being offered in sign language.  Or played on a piano sitting on top of a mountain.  Or played by a symphony orchestra in a royal hall.  Or sung in small congregations.  Or played by professional praise bands in mega churches.  Or in languages I cannot understand.  Or offered in a one-of-a-kind concert by the children’s choir.

Wow! God’s love spreads from people in Japan way over to that small county.  God’s love must be in small churches and mega churches.  God’s love shines in those who speak with their hands and those that sing in great halls.  God’s love is shared in languages around the world.  God’s love glows on the faces of the children. 

I do not know how to measure God’s love, but I do know where you can find it.

God’s love is personal, but it is bigger than that.

God’s love is local, but it is bigger than that.

God’s love is in our country, but it is bigger than that.

God’s love is found around the world, but it is bigger than that.

God’s love is everywhere!

WE WOULD ORDER.  WE WOULD WAIT.  WE WOULD HOPE. 

As I write this, we are on vacation and I am sitting in a hotel room in Rapid City, South Dakota.  We have driven back roads and interstates.  Yesterday we drove a very crooked road and saw buffalo.  I love buffalo!  They have attitude.  I am about ready to develop a buffalo attitude the next time I order food. 

Des Moines, Iowa

Perkins — I have been hungry for pancakes so I ordered pancakes and sausage.  They came.  They were cold.  The waitress brought them back after popping them in the microwave.  I told her I did not order microwaved pancakes.  It was getting late and had been a long day.  I had a muffin.

Rapid City, South Dakota

Colonial House — Love this restaurant.  Oh look.  They have ribs.  I ordered ribs and quickly found out they had sold out.  I had chicken and broccoli pasta.  It was good, but it wasn’t ribs.  Wish I had not seen ribs on the evening special!

Applebee’s — I know they have ribs.  I order ribs and onion rings.  The ribs were served with a side of French fries.  By the time the onion rings arrived, I had eaten most of the ribs.

IHOP — I know they have pancakes!  “Yes, we have pancakes, but our delivery did not come in and we are out of regular syrup.”  I settled for butter pecan syrup.  They were also out of pepper.  What you wanna bet it was on the same truck as the syrup? 

Perkins #1 — Due to COVID, hotels are serving a very limited breakfast.  We decided to stop and get some muffins.  Their baker did not come in that morning and they were out of muffins.  The manager did not seem to care!

Perkins #2 (Clear across town from Perkins #1) — The nice manager smiled and said, “Yes, we have muffins.  How many would you like?” 

Yup, I was ready to have a buffalo attitude the next time I ordered, but I never had to use it.  From then on our meals were as ordered!

I hope you are smiling.  After the Applebee’s onion ring mix-up, it did get funny.  We would order.  We would wait.  We would hope. 

Back to the buffalo attitude … if you have ever watched buffalo, you know what I am talking about.  They swagger!  They don’t bother to look both ways before crossing the road!  They will not be hurried!  A buffalo will take on a car and win!  If you get too close to their young, they will stick a horn in your jeans, swing you in circles, leave you unconscious on the ground, when those jeans come off, and never look back.  (If you have not seen this video, go to YouTube and enter woman, buffalo and jeans.) 

God created a magnificent animal!  He gave them an attitude!

God created us!  We are his magnificent children!  He gave us attitude!  BUT…our attitude is a bit different than the buffalo.

We don’t swagger…we walk humbly.

We don’t cross the road without looking…we follow the way God has prepared for us.

We don’t saunter along…we walk with decency. 

We don’t take on cars…we take on the world with prayer.

There is one attitude we share:

We do protect our young…we teach them God’s Word.

God created us!  We are his magnificent children!  He gave us attitude! 

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We are home now and I know what I need to do.  I need to work on my attitude.  Sometimes it is more like a buffalo than like a Child of God.  And that is never a good thing.

Celebrate each day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  You are a magnificent child of God!

 

TOGETHER

A couple is fighting cancer.  Yes, I said couple. 

The wife posted on Facebook: (During the ride to have a biopsy)  “I looked over and asked, “What are you thinking?  You’ve been really quiet.  Are you able to share with me, because we’re in this together.”  Then you said, “I‘ve had a Great life.  I have a beautiful family whom I love and I know loves me.  Whatever GOD says is ok with me.  It’s in his hands.”

As I read this, my thought was how beautiful the word together is.  He is not doing this alone!  He is doing this together with his wife.  He is not doing this alone!  He is doing this together with God.  Then the comments started.

• Hugs
• If you need anything we are here for you.
• Love you all dearly.
• You are an inspiration to those who have the honor of knowing you.  You are true witnesses of our Loving God
• You got this.  You’re a fighter
• Amen

He is not doing this alone!  He is doing this together with his friends.

How beautiful the word together is.  How frightening the opposite word can be.  When there is no together, there is alone. 

Alone can be okay.  There is no need to be with other people all the time.  But, alone can be heavy.  Alone can be frightening.  Alone can be a dark time for many people.

About a year ago, a friend was going through a rough time.  Even though this person’s life contained family and friends, the only way they felt was alone.  One night I woke up and wrote this.  My friend has never seen it because the season of alone was finally put away.

Alone

The room may be crowded.  There may be hundreds of people.  Or, there may be only three.  It does not matter.  I am alone.

The are no empty chairs.  Every seat is filled.  To my right and to my left, every inch of the room is occupied.  It does not matter.  I am alone.

I am ...  one.  Only ....  one.  And in a universe of couples, I am alone.

There is no hand to hold.  No ...  laugh to share.  There is no one to see the tear in my eye ...  I am alone.

And then, ever so softly, a memory brushes my tears away.  And the sound of a long forgotten joy echoes in my heart.  And ...  my hand, ...  my hand opens quickly and reaches out and ...  grabs a past I do not want to let go of.  And there is no one there.  I am alone.

A memory

A forgotten joy

A past I do not want to let go of ...

It is then I realize ...  I ...  am alone.  ...  but I am ...  not.

I share the very air I breathe ...  with a universe of couples.  With a room full of people.  With three or hundreds. 

In one heartbeat ...  one heartbeat ...  I understand that I am not alone. 

I may walk through a door ...  by myself...

I may enter a room ...  by myself

I may sit in a chair ...  by myself

I may make decisions ...  by myself

I may cry and read and cook and eat and work and play and rest ...  by myself

But I am never ...  alone.

A past I do not want to let go of ...  surrounds me and accompanies me to my future, I am never ...  alone.

Children ...  grandchildren ...  are forever in my heart, I am never ...  alone.

A friend writes in the middle of the night, I am never ...  alone.

And my Soul hears a mighty whisper, “My child, you are never ...  never ...  alone.”

——————

If you never read another of my blogs and if you cannot remember what I wrote last week, remember this: YOU ARE NEVER ALONE!  You may be by yourself, but YOU ARE NEVER ALONE! 

When a word such as cancer enters your world, you do not have to go through it alone.

When a loved one dies, you do not have to go through it alone.

When life hands you a trial or a joy, you do not have to go through it alone.

YOU ARE NEVER ALONE!  You are surrounded by family and friends and God. 

And someone might just be thinking of you in the middle of the night.

YOU ARE NEVER ALONE!  Reach out, because God is right there.  God is holding you so gently you might not feel his touch.  Call out to him.  He will tighten his hold until you relax into his assurance that you are in this together.

Together — what a beautiful word.

 

RAILROAD CROSSING

This is a small town.  Just a dot, barely visible from outer space.  BUT it is our town and we have a railroad crossing that needs fixed – fixed NOW!!  This crossing is on one of our main streets.  We have side streets, but to get through town we use Wayne Street, Market Street, Main Street, and 9th Street.  9th Street leads to our Jr/Sr High Schools and is heavily traveled by school buses, students driving to school, and all the parents taking their kids to school for ball games, and all those other school activities.  9th Street has the honor of having the worst railroad crossing in town.  Buses crawl over it and, with each bounce, students tuck their heads down so they don’t hit the roof.  Cars try to angle across it, but that does not help either.  Coming in from the one side street causes drivers to stop and check their insurance to see if suspensions are covered or if they will have to pay to have the car’s alignment fixed – again.

Apparently, the town has tried to get the attention of those that have the power to authorize a fix.  Nothing!  Apparently, a few people have called to complain.  Nothing!  Until a few days ago.

A lady approached me in the coffee shop.  Luckily, I had enough coffee to be coherent as she gave us slips of paper with the number for the railroad company, the number of the crossing, and requested we flood them with complaints.  I love a good cause and posted the information on my Facebook page and another page I manage.  I then dialed that number.  No answer.  Tried again and now the calls were being forwarded to a different number and voice mail.  I called a corporate number and had in my possession another number to try.  I finally talked to a real person and found out the office had been flooded with calls.

Excuses, of COVID restrictions, no repair crew in the area, and no record of the town contacting us, were given.  BUT because of all the calls, someone finally took the crossing information to a manager.  Guess what!!  They are going to do a fix on the crossing until a full repair can be made.  This did not happen because of one person.  It happened because the town manager, the town board, and members of the community worked toward the same goal.

As I was thinking about this, I wondered what would happen if Christians prayed for our country – our world – as hard and as united as the people who made calls about a railroad crossing.  Our prayers do not have to wait on someone to listen to their voice mail or for a manager to be informed or for the problem to be passed up the chain until it reaches someone with enough power to change the situation.  

What would happen if every Christian said, “Lord, we lift up this country, this world.  Please heal the hurts and the divisions.  Please open our minds and give us wisdom.  Please touch our eyes so we can see others with the love of Christ.  Please replace our fear with hope and our anger with calm.  …….

God hears!  God listens!  God is the power!

It is time all Christians lift up this country, this world, and humbly request God to hear our prayers and heal our land.  What would happen if all Christians worked toward the same goal?  And isn’t that what we supposed to be doing?

 

 

WONDERFULLY WEIRD FACTS

The other day I posted a picture on my Facebook page and a friend said he hoped the bird didn’t eat the berries.  It was a beautiful picture.  A lovely Baltimore Oriole sitting on a Water Hemlock Bush.  I was still in the dark until I looked up that bush.  HEY, BALTIMORE ORIOLE!  DON’T EAT THE BERRIES! 

Someone should have warned the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates.  Not knowing about hemlock did him in.  He could philosopher no more.

During my google search, a link popped up for “50 Wonderfully Weird Facts That Will Make You Question Everything.”  Never fear!  I am not going to tell you all 50.

Did you know:

·       the heads on Easter Island have bodies?  When studying some of the stone statues on the Pacific Island, at least two had full torsos which measured as high as 33 feet.

·       goosebumps are meant to ward off predators?  Not exactly sure what predator would be scared of my goosebumps, but I know I will not try to face down a buffalo and shout, “Away!  I have goosebumps.”

• ·  a wood frog can hold its pee for up to eight months?  It is a very complicated process where the gut recycles the urea into nitrogen.  This allows the Wood Frogs in Alaska to live through those long winters.  For sure the frog did not drink a cup of coffee before settling in for a long winter’s nap.
• ·  you lose up to 30 percent of your taste buds during flight?  All this time you just thought the food was lousy.
• ·  a chef’s toque (hat) contains 100 folds?  Each fold represents a way to cook an egg.  Let’s see there is fried, scrambled, over-easy, omelet… My hat only needs three folds.  My over-easy always looks exactly like my fried egg.
• ·  cotton candy was invented by a dentist?  I believe that is called job security.

Has this made you wonder about the other Wonderfully Weird Facts?  You can find the rest at https://bestlifeonline.com/random-fun-facts/

I started looking for one simple bit of information and ended up finding wonderful weird facts.  An interesting Bible fact:  The Bible says to “go up” to Jerusalem.  That is literally “go up.”  Jerusalem sits upon a hill and no matter which way you approach from, you will always be going up to it.  Here are fun facts for you to discover:

Was Ehud in his right mind?  (Think about it and my question will make sense.)  Judges 3:15

What did Job’s wife complain about?  Job 19:17

What was used to make the golden calf?  Exodus 32:2-4

How many were in the first praise team:  1 Chronicles 23:5

What woman are we to remember?  Luke 17:32

What was Zenas’ occupation?  (He is the only one of these mentioned in the Bible.)  Titus 3:13 

What did Jesus write on?  John 8:6

Hope you enjoyed finding the answers.