I LOVE

I love storms.  I am not naive.  I have seen the weather map.  Many places are having severe storms.  Hail the size of baseballs.  Tornadoes and too much rain.  I realize storms can be devastating and can change lives in an instant.  Those are not the storms I am talking about.  

I am talking about a good, ole summer storm.   One you can feel in your bones.  The air changes slowly.  You know it is time to bring the clothes in off the line.  (You have to be old to understand that activity.) Mothers call their kids home.  (This does not require the use of a phone.  Again, being over 64 helps you understand this concept.  This requires stepping out the back door and yelling, in full mother voice, “Get your butts home and get them home now.”)

Even when I was only knee high to a grasshopper, I loved storms.  It had to rain really hard for this one corner, on our porch, to get wet.  And that is where you would find me during a storm.  I would wrap up in a blanket, curl up in the corner, and listen to the thunder and watch the lightening.  And after the storm!   The world looked different.  The sky would be this amazing shade of blue.  The wet leaves looked a new shade of green.  Everything looked so clean.  The world even smelled different.  I love storms.

I love ice cream. I will eat the kind that comes in a box, but I love homemade ice cream.  One of my uncles made the best ice cream ever.  It helped that there was a cow close at hand (Pun!) to make a contribution to the cause.  Fresh eggs, vanilla, and sugar.  Pour into canister.  Add ice, salt and then crank.  The secret is in the salt and cranking.  There has to be enough salt to melt the ice and cranking was a true art form.  The professional (aka my uncle) knew the exact speed to turn the handle.  Too fast or too slow and the ice cream did not set up right.  Part of the experience is the anticipation.  When will it be done?  Can we eat it right away or do we have to wait?  Who gets to lick the paddle.  I love ice cream.

I love God.  I look around and see the poppies - red and orangish flowers, paper thin, that remind me of the poppies along our driveway when I was growing up.  I feel the gentle breeze and it is like a kiss from heaven and reminds me of a babies breath as they nap on my shoulder.  I feel the warmth of the sun and am reminded how wonderful a fireplace feels on a cold winter’s night.  I hear the ocean and am reminded of standing on a beach, taking deep breaths, and relaxing with each wave.  I have wiggled my toes in mud, grass, creeks, and, not on purpose, those brown clumps in the cow pasture.  (That is what I get for going barefoot.) And to think God gave me all of this.  How could I not love Him?

What do you love?  Storms?  Ice Cream?  Good books?  Traveling?  Quiet days at home?  

Now what really amazes me is that the world God spoke into existence has something special for each of us.  And isn’t that just something?  It means each one of us is so loved by God that he created summer storms for a little girl sitting in a corner of a porch.  He created flowers for the person with a love of roses, geraniums, and poppies.  He created the mountains to be climbed by those with a spirit of adventure.  

Now what really amazes me is that the world God spoke into existence has something special for each of us.  What did God create just for you?

 ORANGE BARRELS

A quick trip to see my sister — a short three and half hour drive.  Over the years, I have made this trip many times.  I know the way.  I know the roads.  I know how — I forgot.  It is construction season in Indiana.  Everyone thinks our state has four seasons.  Nope.  Only two.  Construction and too cold to work.

I made good time from our town to the next.  A quick 14 miles.  I picked up US 24 and there they were: Orange Barrels or the smaller Orange Cones or the even smaller Orange Sticks.  The Orange Barrels are large and easy to spot.  We have also been trained to see the Orange Cones.  They look like orange dunce hats.  I guess you have to be a dunce not to see them.  Then, to test the skill of drivers, small orange poles were placed down the middle of lanes.  Yes, Construction Season is a festival of orange.

Back to my quick three and half hour drive.  My hope of construction being in this one location was quickly dashed.  Construction areas never make sense.  Everyone was traveling along, missing every barrel, cone and post, when the end of construction sign appeared and all lanes were open…..  for about five miles.  Then construction began again.  I swear they do this on purpose.  Exactly when the construction traffic has broken up and everyone is happily obeying the speed limit (I put that in just in case a policeman/highway patrol is reading this.) ….  a new sign appears: Entering Construction Zone.  Once again, orange as far as the eye could see.

I think by now you get the idea and I finally did reach my destination— one hour and 15 minutes later than I should have.  What about coming home?  Believe it or not, one road I had been on, just 24 hours before, was now closed and a gazillion orange barrels had magically appeared on new stretches of roads.  So, if you are considering taking a family vacation to see our wonderful state, stay home, hike around your back yard, and, if you really want to have fun, find a spot along one of the roads and wave at the parade of drivers swearing and trying to avoid those orange things.

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.    Romans 5:3-5

Construction Season: For sure we need perseverance (to get through the construction zone) character (a test of how we behave while driving between the barrels), and hope (that the construction zone will end).

BUT isn’t that what our lives are like?  Ole Satan places obstructions throughout our lives.  They are not orange and they are not easy to see and those obstructions cause us to suffer.  It is only by the Glory of God that we have the character and hope to persevere.  Sooooo, be careful this summer when you are traveling in a construction zone and always be on the lookout for Satan’s invisible obstructions.

Have a great summer!

DISTRACTIONS

Now I am sure not a single one of you ever gets distracted.  I can picture you reading your devotional…focused…devouring every word.  I imagine you preparing for the Sunday School lesson.  You do not hear outside sounds because you are pondering the questions.  Your prayers are from your heart and not a single person on your prayer list is forgotten.

Well, ain’t you just special!  Well, really you are.  I envy you.  While you are reading and preparing and praying, I am … distracted.  I can be sooooo determined to do my devotional and I remember the mail will be coming shortly and if I don’t get the card addressed and get it into the mail box —- And I love to pray, but about half way through, I picture the meat for supper still in the freezer or that I need to pay a bill or the iPad beeps or —-

DISTRACTED! How do people do it?  And the worst is when I fall asleep.  I really want to say my bedtime prayers, but my eyes close, all on their own, and my breathing gets slower and I go to sleep.  What about morning prayers?  They have to wait until after a trip to the bathroom and by then I am awake and my body starts whispering “coffee…coffee…coffee.”

DISTRACTED — distracted except for one time.  I love preparing lessons for Sunday School.  I can read, underline, and make notes and never hear the drier beep.  I can google and search without stopping to look at Facebook or to reply to even one message.  I am focused! I am devouring every word! I find articles on the book we are studying and do a background check on the main characters.  I ponder what information will help us to better understand the lesson.  And I do not get sleepy.

Why can I spend hours preparing lessons and not make it through the day’s one page devotional?  Why are my eyes wide open when I study, but I need toothpicks to keep them open when I pray?

Well, when I pray, I am relaxed.  Talking to God seems to do that.  Somehow, I can begin a prayer angry or questioning or giving thanks or telling God my plan and, knowing he is listening, my body reacts.  My shoulders are lighter.  My breathing is calm.  And I go to sleep.

Often, and this is just me, a devotional cannot hold my attention.  Maybe it is too short.  Maybe it is too much like the one I read yesterday.  Maybe my mind sees a card laying on my desk and I remember I did not get it mailed and I might as well mail the card.

BUT studying to teach a lesson.  Finding a fun fact.  Finding the real reason Elimelek took his wife and sons to Moab.  (I often use Jewish websites when studying Old Testament books.).  This is what I love.  The research.  Coming up with questions the class will not expect.  Digging to find a way to make them see the story…the people…the impact on our lives today.  And that is why I do not hear the iPad ding nor the drier buzz nor Bill say my name.  It is what I love to do.

What do you love to do?  Do devotionals touch your soul?  Can you fall to your knees and offer endless prayers to God?  Can you send a song into the world?  Do you have a heart for children or can hear the concerns and fears of others and hold them in your confidence?  Do you enjoy giving the message at church?  What do you love to do and not be distracted?  My friend, the answer to that question is your calling.

 

I AM NOT THE SAME

We think it is the big things in life that changes us.  Really it is the small things.  A short conversation can touch your heart.

 

Video continues below.

 

INCOMPLETE

Watching TV makes me realize my life is ..  is so incomplete.  First, I am using the wrong pillows and the right pillows are on sale for a limited time.  I do believe that limited time ended over six months ago, but that is a small detail.  Besides, now I can also buy — on sale — sheets and towels.  (Sigh.)  My life would be complete if only I had those pillows, towels, and sheets.

But wait!  I no longer have to go grocery shopping.  All I have to do is make a list, check it twice, and send it on its way.  Those groceries will magically appear at my door.  Just like that!  (Big sigh)  My life would be complete if only we had a store close enough to deliver my groceries.

Plus, I never realized how many people are concerned about my health and sleeping habits.  A former governor of Arkansas and his wife know just how I can get more sleep:  Take a pill they happen to indorse.  Speaking of pills.  I no longer have to spend money on fruits and vegetables, because now they come ground up and put in convenient capsules.  My life would be complete if I would only take those pills.

Much to Bill’s dismay, I have occasionally gotten mud on my shoes before I entered the car.  That is a problem of the past, because now I can get an easy-to-clean floor liner.  Plus those times that we drip anything on the stove top are no longer a problem.  All I need is the model number, a quick call to the stove liner people, and a credit card.  Problem solved.  My life would be complete with liners to protect the car floor and the stove top.

(Deep sigh.).  Yes, there are so many things that would make my life complete.  All I need is ….  I think I discovered a flaw in this blog.  I do believe I am listening to the wrong source.  Pillow man.  Groceries that deliver themselves.  An ex-governor.  People in ads selling pills, floor liners, and stove top liners.  Not one of those people knows me.  Not one of them cares about me.  Not a single one.  So how do I make my life complete?

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:19

(Light bulb moment)  Oh, I get it.  There is one who does care.  One who knows what I need.  One who will meet all my needs.  Thank you, God, for providing what I really need to make my life complete.

 

 I AM THEM

I swore I would never become one of them.  I mean really.  Never!  Never!  Never would I become one of them. 

It started by a simple act of getting my collar straightened as I came out of the examination room.  “Here, let me fix your collar.  Don’t want it standing up.”  Then I told office staff how I got in trouble with a teacher when I defended having your collar turned up and your shirt tail out.  “That looks stupid,”  the teacher said.  “It looks cool,”  I replied.  And the next time I saw that teacher, I was wearing a white blouse, with the collar turned up and the tail pulled out.  It was the early 60’s and I do believe my actions had a negative influence on my grade.  A rather substantial influence.

I swore I would never be like them. 

“How can you study with that music?”  my dad asked.  “Turn it off so you can concentrate.”  That music?  What was wrong with that music?  Elvis.  The Everly Brothers.  Bobby Vinton.  Brenda Lee.  The beat.  The sound of the waves.  Blue Suede Shoes.  They helped me focus and, besides, just because it wasn’t Benny Goodman or Glenn Miller or Bing Crosby doesn’t mean it wasn’t music.  I mean, how many times can you hear Over The Rainbow and not want to barf?

I swore I would never be like them.

I could continue with “I will never be like them”  stories, but let’s go back to the conversation in the doctor’s office.  The conversation did not end with my remarks about collars and shirt tails.  It continued with me saying, “It did look cool to me, but I guess it did not look good to them.  You know those that think everything in their day was better.”  And I should have stopped there.  Instead, I finished with, “Of course, I absolutely hate the ripped jeans and wish that fashion fad would pass.  I mean, who in their right mind would work for hours to pay for a pair of ripped jeans?”

And then — WHAM — there I was, sounding like them.  OH NO!!!  I instantly realized: I AM THEM.  Our clothes were better.  Our music was better.  Our education was better.  Our cars were better.  I AM THEM.

Are we “THEM”  when it comes to our faith?  Yes, hold true to our foundation and the Word of God, but are we “THEM?”  Do we allow the past to stop the future?

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PS.  For full disclosure.  I am totally THEM.  Our music was better!  Today’s generation even listens to good ole rock n roll!  And today’s one-mold-fits-all cars cannot hold a candle stick to the cars and pickups of the 50’s and 60’s.  Tail fins.  Sweet sound of a car with glass packs.  Pink Cadillac.  Now that is personality.  Our education produced people who can think for themselves and have common sense.  And a shirt with the collar turned up and the shirt tail out is still cool. 

 

GAMES

I love to play games.  I wonder how many of you know the game Parcheesi.  Or Uncle Wiggily.  Growing up, we played both of these.  My parents played Canasta and everyone played Euchre.  The card game Pinochle was popular.  Of course, there was Bingo and Checkers.  One game I never enjoyed was Monopoly.

My grandkids loved Candy Land, Pay Day, and Life.  When young, our granddaughter got Candy Land ready to play.  She assured me that she had it set up right and she was going to give me the honor of going first.  I drew and went maybe three spaces.  She drew and went to Queen Frostine.  I drew again and landed on Gooey Gumdrop.  She drew and landed two squares from home.  I did not draw yellow.  She drew and won the game.  Of course, she had set the draws up.  The best part was watching her try to keep a straight face.

Pay Day, the old version, was a favorite of the grandboys.  They would grab that game as they came in the door.  They knew how to set up the bank.  The knew exactly how much money each player received to begin the game.  That game was set up before they even told us hi.  Coats came off and, I swear, the trumpets sounded and the royal announcer proclaimed, “Let the game begin.”  The game might last an hour, a day, or a whole weekend.

My favorite game is Sorry.  And it is played with much love, as that mean grandgirl and mean grandboys, would look me in the eye, lay a Sorry card down, take my piece, put it back at start, and say, with sarcasm and a shake of the head, “S..o..r..r..y!”  Believe me, they were not sorry.  I could drip sarcasm and shake my head with the best of them.  There is no feeling like drawing a Sorry card and sending someone back to Start, just as they are ready to get in the safety zone.  We also made-up new ways to play the game.  Yup, Sorry is my favorite game.

Now, poor hubby did not play games.  Growing up with older parents and no siblings, he just did not play games.  No games - until I finally wore him down and he agreed to play one game of Quiddler.  We have played two games of Quiddler almost every night since then.  At first, I won almost every game and am proud of Bill’s stick-to-itness.  He hung in there.  He got better.  Now he wins, but I still win the most games.  The grandkids ask me if I let him win.  I replied, “Did I ever let you win?”  For some odd reason, they all cheer for grandpa to win.

I am going to tell you something that you will not believe.  I love to play games, but do not care if I win or lose.  It is the playing, the trash talking, the “in your face”  moves, and being with others that I enjoy.  Except for one game and that game I play to win.

 

LIFE is not really a game because LIFE is real.  It cannot be taken apart, put back into a box, and returned to the shelf.  The moves we make have consequences.  The moves of those around us impact our lives.  When playing a game trash talking is fun, but stabs and leaves scars in LIFE.  Winning at all cost might declare you a success by the standards of the world, but, in LIFE, can cost you your soul.  Sitting back and doing nothing may feel safe, but you will miss out on the wonders and the blessings of LIFE.  Unlike a board game where you roll dice to determine your next move, LIFE’s moves require wisdom.

LIFE is about being with fellow believers who also have the same goal.  It is about learning the rules and applying them to your actions and how you treat others.  It is about making one move and then another and then another.  Each move getting you one breath closer to eternal life.  LIFE is about winning.

Remember two things:

YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

Therefore, since I am surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let me throw off everything that hinders me and the sin that so easily entangles me.  And let me run with perseverance the race marked out for me, fixing my eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

Hebrews 12:1 and part of 2 - made personal

 WE KNOW THE ENDING.  WE WIN THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.

For the Lord my God is the one who goes with me to fight for me against my enemies to give me victory.

Deuteronomy 20:4 - made personal

THREAD

I am sure you will get tired of the “I am packing” blogs, but hang in there with me.  I had Bill get some totes out of my closet.  One is full of doilies.  He asked, “What are you ever going to do with all those doilies?”  I showed him some I had pulled out and told him those could go to the Thrift Store.  They were ones I had bought here or there.  “But what about those?” he asked, as he nodded at the still almost full container.

“These are special.”  I touched the doilies made with white thread, red thread, gold thread, and pink thread.  Those doilies are made from threads that …

“What color thread would you like your teacher’s doily to be?” mom asked.  We stood there, looking at all the colors.  Each year, in elementary school, my teacher received a handmade doily.  I picked the color and mom crocheted a gift.

“I have some thread that needs wound into a ball,” grandma would say.  I would be all excited because I made a whole nickel to wind that skein of thread.  Hey, don’t sneeze at a nickel.  Back then five pennies would buy a lot of candy! Out would come the chair that the skein fit on.  I would fold the paper wrapper, which had been around the thread, into a sorta circle.  Taking the end of the thread, I would wrap and wrap and wrap.  My fingers would get tired.  I would begin to think this was a lot of work for five cents.  And then, all of the thread was in a ball.  Ready for grandma to use.

Rabbit trail:  I was going to insert a picture of someone winding thread and had to laugh.  There are videos on how to do this.  Videos!  What happened to common sense?  I knew how to wind thread into a ball as a kid.  The skein fit over the arms of that one chair, you made a small ball with that wrapper, and you kept going around and around until the thread was wound into a ball.  My goodness, it is not rocket science.  Videos!  What is this world coming to?

Back to thread.  “Why am I keeping all of these?” I said as I touched those doilies.  “It is all about the thread.  My mom or my grandma has touched each of these.  Skein after skein.  Ball of thread after ball of thread.  And I can see my grandma, sitting silently, crocheting another doily that she would give away.  I can see my mom, counting stitches and keeping us kids under control, as she made an armchair set.  (Don’t laugh.  It was/is a thing.  Look it up.)  Each with thread wrapped around their finger, as thread became a piece of art that would sit under a lamp or a vase or a clock.  Or given to an elementary school teacher.  Or given to a granddaughter/daughter who would one day say, “I am keeping these because the thread has been touched by either my grandma or my mom.  It is all about the thread.  Thread that ties generations together.”

Thread that ties generations together.  Sorta like the Word of God.

Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.

Your faithfulness continues through all generations;

Psalms 119:89-part of 90

PSALM 100

I keep some hints back for those times when Thursday seems to sneak up on me.  This is one of those weeks.  At the top of the list was the question:  Who must approve of us to make us happy?  Following that was a quotation by Wayne Dyer:  If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.  Hummmm.  Nope.  Neither seemed to fit the fast-approaching time to post my blog.  On down the list I went.  No.  Hmmmm, maybe.  Sorta.  YES – Bingo.

PSALM 100

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.  This is rather fitting.  This Monday, maybe not all the earth, but the corner of the earth I am in will be watching an eclipse of the sun.  What an event this is because, if the weather cooperates, will see a total eclipse. 

Worship the LORD with gladness;  You know, the opposite of grouchy, grumpy, aggravated, upset, frowning, or having an unforgiving heart.  

come before him with joyful songs.  Joyful songs that are delightful, glad, happy, and thankful.  No songs that are sad, wretched, or full of calamity.

Know that the LORD is God.  Well, duh.  Who else do you know who could create the world in such a way that a total eclipse would pass over Indiana on April 8, 2024, just so I could see it?

It is he who make us, and we are his;  Psalm 139 is my favorite Psalm.  We are wonderfully made.  Knit in our mother’s womb.  God did that.  He created us.  He created you.  Proclaim (to declare publicly, insistently, proudly, defiantly) these words:  I am a child of God.  Say it again with your head held high and your hand raised toward heaven:  I am a child of God.  One more time, but quietly, almost a whisper, reverently:  I am a child of God.

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.  We are not alone!!!  Remember that when you are by yourself and feel forgotten.  We are not along.  You.  Me.  WE are his people!  WE are his sheep and we feed on His Word.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;  Sometimes life can hold more than a bit of troubles, but even in our trials and troubles, we can find things to be thankful for.  How valuable is a kind word, a friend’s smile, a loved one finally getting rest, or a cup of morning coffee.  Do you ever wonder where his courts are?  Does this mean heaven?  Does this mean church?  Or maybe this means our world.  Give praise when the fish are biting.  Give praise when the storm breaks.  What the heck.  Just give praise all the time.  God will love it.

give thanks to him and praise his name.  This is easy.  I praise you and give thanks for the children you created that discovered medications that ease our pain and heal our bodies.  For those that you created to be teachers.  And truck drivers.  And farmers.  And …….

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;  Forever!!  This does not say for a week or a month or a year or 100 years or 100,000 years.  It says FOREVER and that is a very long time.  In other words, our LORD’s love never ends. 

his faithfulness continues through all generations.  What this does not say is that our faithfulness continues through all generations.  We can all look at our families and find those that do not believe.  BUT I can look at my family and see our Lord’s faithfulness in the lives of my grandmother, mother, and daughter.  Generations.

Psalm 100.  Only 5 verses.  An easy read that is full of joy.

 

 

 Matthew 28:2, 6-7, 12-13

“There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.“

”He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.  Come and see the place where he lay.  Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.  There you will see him.’  Now I have told you.”  When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ ”

LIES

The guards did not want to admit they were so afraid they passed out.  They did not want to admit they did not know what happened to Jesus’ body.  So, they lied.  The chief priests and elders made the decision to continue that lie.  Satan smiled as first 30 pieces of silver and now a large sum of money caused men to sin.  Lies.  Oh, and how easy it is to make humans believe a lie.

Satan knows when a believer is vulnerable.  A believer overhears something that makes them wonder.  Satan has found the gap he is looking for.  He begins to whisper words like NO HOPE or HOW DO YOU KNOW or ARE YOU SURE.  Then he begins to lie.  How easy it is to replace the truth.  One small lie and then another until the lie seems to make sense.  Quickly the lie spreads.  Quickly the truth is forgotten.

Our son-in-law and I were having one of our conversations.  This time about Satan and how Satan can corrupt anything.  He makes simple things confusing.  I asked what is the biggest lie Satan uses today and Jon’s answer was where we came from, eternal life, and how we get there.

BUT, it was the answer he received from a 20 year old friend that shows how tricky Satan can be.  He answered, “Satan’s best trick was convincing the world and this generation that even he doesn’t exist.  Let alone God.  He’s devious that is for sure.”

Satan’s power comes from lies.  If Satan can get people to believe the first small lie, he will get them to believe the next and the next.

And the lie will make sense and the truth will be forgotten.

Matthew 28:15

“So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed.  And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.”

SERIES RECAP

Change happens.  Are you willing to allow the actions of one man to impact your life?

Jesus offered the disciples the job of a lifetime.  Are you willing to accept his call to “follow me”?

A Son obeyed his Father and died to save you from your sins.  Do you accept this gift of forgiveness?

Sometimes we wear blinders and cannot see.  Have your eyes been opened?  Can you see Jesus?

Have the lies of Satan made you question the Truth of God? Do you believe?

Easter is early this year - March 31.  Are you ready?

IN AN INSTANT

We have a friend who told Bill, “Life can change in an instant.” His instant was finding out he has cancer. The word cancer changes life after life after life. Other words do the same thing: stroke, heart attack, and on and on and on.

But no one expects a ship to destroy a bridge. To change lives in an instant. A mother will not hear the word, “I love you mom.” A father will not be able to tell their child, “I am proud of you.” A spouse, a child, a sibling, a friend will now have an empty space in their hearts and in their lives. Laughter will not be heard. No glass of wine shared. No tender kiss. No story read at bedtime. It all changed in just an instant.

What would you do if you knew you only had an instant to live. If you knew that at some point in your day you would die? Would that information change how you lived your last day? Would you look deeper into the eyes of those you love? Would you cherish one more breakfast before your children went off to school? Would you make a call? Would you?

And isn’t that the question? Would you? Would you change the way you had planned to spend your day? Would you realize your priorities were wrong? Would you beg for one more day? One more minute? One more instant?

Life can change in an instant. Would you be secure in your faith and trust and know you would have eternal life on the other side of the instant?

 If your answer is no, look around. How can you deny there is a God? Look at a flower. Look at the sky. Look at the ocean or a mountain. Look at the human body. This did not happen in a big bang and you did not come from pond scum. God created you. He created you with a desire to know and trust Him. He created you with a desire to find the love that fills the empty part of your soul. If you have spent your life denying God, you can change! You can confess your sins and accept Jesus as your Savior. And when you do this, the other side of an instant is glorious and Jesus is waiting to welcome you home.

We must be ready because we never know when our final instant comes. It might come, in the middle of the night, crossing a bridge.

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I offer prayers of sympathy and support for all those that were killed or injured in the Baltimore bridge collapse.  I offer prayers of gratitude for all who helped rescue those injured and who will recover those who died.

 LOST

Have you ever looked for something and couldn’t find it? You can remember the last time you used it. When you were done, you put it back in the correct location. Except, no matter how many times you open the drawer, nothing. It is not there! If I am honest, 99.9% of the time I can find anything in our home.

Now, not to male bash, but hubby can lose something and look and look and look. Finally, he will tell me what he is looking for. And just like that, I see it lying there. Right in front of his eyes, but he could not see it. I guess new eyes were needed.

Mary was weeping. The tomb was empty. She could not find Jesus. He was not there! She saw the angels. (Notice the men did not see the angels, but we will let them off the hook. Maybe the angels were not there when they looked and entered the tomb.) Not only were the angels sitting there, they spoke to Mary and asked why she was weeping. After telling them that the body of Jesus had been taken away, she turned around. And there stood…. the gardener. At least that is what Mary thought. Jesus was still missing.

Jesus spoke her name and she recognized his voice. Mary’s eyes were opened because the sheep recognized the Shepherd’s voice. With new eyes, she saw Jesus.

Being afraid of the Jews, the disciples were not out seeking Jesus. They were in a room with the doors shut. If a grave cannot hold Jesus, a door doesn’t stand a chance. Just like that, Jesus was before them and showed them his hands and his side. With new eyes, they saw him!

Do you have new eyes? Can you see Jesus as you go through your days and nights? Can you see him in your sisters and brothers at church? Can you see him in the unexpected help that comes when you need it? Can you see him as he gives you just the right words to say or deed to do? Can you see him?

Easter is early this year - March 31. Are you ready?

 IT IS TIME

 This is not going to be easy to write, but …..

 Grandma lived with us in the winter. We had indoor plumbing. I loved my grandma, but it was time. The call came in the middle of the night. Mother quickly dressed and was waiting on my dad to get dressed. It seemed like he was moving in slow motion. As a teenager, I wanted to shout, “She is ready to go to her mother. Stop stalling.” They finally left for the hospital. As an adult, I realize dad was not stalling. He knew grandma was already dead and he was giving the hospital time to prepare the body. She lived for the day she would go home and now her faith had been rewarded.

 The death of my father was sudden. With no warning, a brain aneurysm burst and he was in a coma for three days. My prayer was that us kids would make it home before he died. We did, we saw him, and then took mom home to rest. Once again, our family gathered, in the early hours of the morning. It was time. Dad was not a church goer and I was not sure if he was a believer. We didn’t talk about this at home. Oh, us kids were sent to church, but no parent went with us. Dad was a trucker and the “talk to them where they are” chaplain knew my dad. He said he was a man of family and faith. Those words gave me the assurance that I would see my dad again.

My mother was a very young 87. She was a very old 89. Her body was wearing out and she broke a hip. Instead of living in her apartment, we moved her into a nursing home. We honestly thought she would live a few more years. Instead it was a few months. During those months, I made a lot of four hour .. four hours each way … trips to see her. And then I got a call. It was early evening. The nurse tried to get her to hang on until my sister got there. She only lived ten minutes away. My mother shook her head and it was time. Mother told her tired earthly body goodbye and walked, standing straight and with new strength, into heaven. I think God put some weeds in a corner of the garden just for her to pull.

God had a plan to save us from our sins. On that Friday, it was time. And a Son, obeyed the Father, and gave his life for me! And a Son, obeyed the Father, and gave his life for you.

Easter is early this year - March 31. Are you ready?

 THE JOB OF A LIFETIME 

I have worked in various positions.  My first job was doing whatever my mom and dad told me.  This was free labor, but my next job was a paying position.  I was a car hop and made 35 cents per hour plus tips.  Not quite free labor, but close.  Other jobs followed, but were never “the job of a lifetime.” 

The disciples seemed pretty set for life. They were self-employed fishermen or gainfully employed as a tax collector.  Until …. Until they heard the words, ”follow me.”  What?  Drop everything.  No trip to HR.  No guarantee of advancement.  Not even the mention of a salary.  Just “follow me.”  And they did.  They dropped their nets and left their father.  One left the tax money lying on the table.  Other disciples heard about Jesus and went to him.  There were no interviews.  Sit under a fig tree and you just might be the next disciple.    

The disciples thought they had their “job of a lifetime.”  They listened.  They learned.  They saw miracles.  They carried baskets of fish and bread.  They saw Jesus pray.  

The disciples were prepared to be on the job long enough to have their hair turn gray.  They were prepared to follow Jesus through the decades.  At 33 … Jesus would be around for a good many years.  Yes, this was their “job of a lifetime.” Until ….

Until can be a very unpleasant word.  The disciples’ until came when Jesus was arrested.  What do we do now?  Then it got worse.  Jesus was charged and found guilty.  What do we do now?  Jesus was beaten and … and hung on a cross.  What do we do now?  Jesus is dead.  In a grave.  Dead.  What do we do now?

Jesus was no longer there to teach them.  He was no longer there to guide them. What do we do now?

“Follow me.”  Two short words.  Two words said by a man.  Two words that changed the lives of the disciples and put them on a path to spread the Good News.  Jesus still says, “Follow me.”  Two short words.  “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”  What do we do now?  

Easter is early this year - March 31.  Are you ready?

 Change

“Why do we have this?”   “Do you want it?”

Those two questions are being heard with great regularity around our house.  We are moving! This move involves a new word: downsizing.  Other moves have been “put it in the box and I’ll figure it out later” moves.  This time, we are moving into an independent home at a local retirement community.  A new adventure but less space.  We no longer need a lawn mower or a snow blower.  I did not count the number of puzzles that no longer reside in one-half of a closet.  They will now challenge someone else.

Purge is my new word.  Purge one is pretty well done.  Purge two will begin shortly.  Purge two will be a bit harder and I do not look forward to the sewing closet.  I remember a friend saying they found a box of string in their parent’s home.  The box was labeled: strings too short to use.  I am afraid I am going to find material scraps that would belong in such a box.  And I will wonder why I kept that small piece.  But, you know…someday I might need a piece just that size.  Of course, I never do and downsizing will mean it goes pitched.

Hang in there.  I am moving toward the point of the blog.  That point is the title: CHANGE!  How we hate that word.  We want everything to stay the same.  News Flash: Change happens!

I look around and see change everywhere.  The Amazon truck goes up our street every day - even Sunday.  Following along are FedEx and USPS.  The way we shop has changed.  Not to be outdone, Ubers will deliver us and Grub-hub will deliver our supper.  Change.  Family news is now announced and shared on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and messenger.  Change.  Going to church now means grabbing another cup of coffee and getting comfortable on the couch.  Change.

So you do not think I am an old fuddy-duddy, I am not opposed to change.  Farmers now feed the world instead of working to just feed their family and books now come flying into your Kindle.  I love technology.  My iPad gives me directions to faraway places and allows me to send messages to my grandkids.  My computer gives me access to articles and information.  I like the old hymns and I like the contemporary hymns.  I think contemporary means any hymn written since 1900.

I do like change.  I like the change that happens when I allow God to direct my path.  I like the change that happens when I accept the forgiveness of my sins through the love of Jesus.  I like the change that warms my soul when I listen to the Holy Spirit.

News Flash: Change happens.  Your life can be impacted by inventions and ideas.  Your life can be enriched by a story and a song.  You can be surrounded by family and friends or sitting quietly by yourself.  You can live in a mansion or on the street.  BUT not one thing invented or thought of by man.  Not one word written or spoken by the greatest preacher.  Not one worldly change can have the impact on your life as the actions of one man.

Easter comes early this year - March 31.  Are you ready?