Walmart was a mad-house yesterday! We had gone in to buy a few non-Christmas items, and the place was packed! Finally we made our way to the front of the store only to see long lines at each register. A smiling young woman standing in the aisle told us we could avoid the wait by letting her check us out right there! She had a small device in her hand, and after we agreed to a speedy checkout, she entered the info, bagged our goods and placed them in our cart.
Wondering how we could just walk out with them, I asked,"Where is our receipt?" to which she answered, "On your phone!" I looked and there it was. Technology is changing every day!
It's a new world we live in. Sadly, technology is not all that is changing. Children used to be sent to school by their parents with perfect confidence of their safety and well-being. Now, not so much. An incident at our granddaughter's house bears this out.
Bethany was at home with her children, when out the window she noticed a man on her porch. He knocked, and she stepped out to see what he wanted. It turned out to be an innocuous inquiry about their house, which they had toyed with the idea of selling. She turned to go in, and realized the door was locked. Panicky for a moment, she found a key in the depths of her jeans pocket and went in to the children.
A little voice cried out, "Is the lock-down over?" Her six-year-old son had grabbed his two-year-old brother, ran into the bedroom, locked the door and both hid in the closet! Obviously, they had been doing the drill in his kindergarten class at school! They were taught to hide at a moment's notice for their safety!
What a burden for a little child to bear. Especially for a sensitive little boy like our Jaxon, whose imagination is active enough already! We may be living in a new world of technology, values and morality, but thankfully we can teach the young the same good news of Jesus that has always been, which never grows old!
Sunday, December 23, 2018
Thursday, December 20, 2018
Eyes on the Prize!
Last night at church we enjoyed a pre-Christmas service and sang Christmas carols instead of the regular songs and hymns. All along, I wondered what the bumpy mound was that lay covered the length of a long table in front of the platform. Then Pastor's wife went up, took off the coverings to reveal all sorts of packaged items!
Turns out we were asked to guess the answers to Bible trivia, names of holiday songs, and other questions and riddles pertaining to Christmas. Each right answer earned a prize from the stack of goodies up front. I surprised myself by getting at least 5 guesses right! My prizes were a scented candle, a bag of Russell Stover caramels, a pack of three storage containers for the fridge, a set of screw drivers (I gave to hubby), and an oven mitt with the words, "It's So Good to Be Home," scrolled on it!
Somehow I was reminded of the rewards that will be handed out at the Judgement Seat of Christ (Bema). I Corinthians 3:10-15 talks about building on the foundation laid by Paul. "But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
"Now if anyone builds on this foundation with with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."
When our children were in high school, every year they would have an Awards Day. Excitement ran high as students waited to hear their name called if they had earned an award. How proud we as parents were if our child was an Award recipient! How wonderful it will be when we receive our eternal reward, and like the words on my oven mitt, we can say, "It's so good to be home!
Turns out we were asked to guess the answers to Bible trivia, names of holiday songs, and other questions and riddles pertaining to Christmas. Each right answer earned a prize from the stack of goodies up front. I surprised myself by getting at least 5 guesses right! My prizes were a scented candle, a bag of Russell Stover caramels, a pack of three storage containers for the fridge, a set of screw drivers (I gave to hubby), and an oven mitt with the words, "It's So Good to Be Home," scrolled on it!
Somehow I was reminded of the rewards that will be handed out at the Judgement Seat of Christ (Bema). I Corinthians 3:10-15 talks about building on the foundation laid by Paul. "But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
"Now if anyone builds on this foundation with with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."
When our children were in high school, every year they would have an Awards Day. Excitement ran high as students waited to hear their name called if they had earned an award. How proud we as parents were if our child was an Award recipient! How wonderful it will be when we receive our eternal reward, and like the words on my oven mitt, we can say, "It's so good to be home!
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
Food for Thought
Looking out the kitchen window this morning, my eyes fell on three dark, vulture-like creatures, shoulders hunched, perched on the rail fence of the barnyard. The cloudy, gloomy weather only accented their dreariness. Just then one turned around, and I caught a glimpse of turquoise beauty! Our peacocks!
They come and go at will, but when my husband scatters corn for the chickens, they often find their way back for a visit, which is always a delight. Iridescent feathers displayed proudly, fan-like, over the back of the reigning male are a thing of exquisite elegance!
It came to me that often we judge people by first appearance, like I did of the drab creatures on our fence. Someone may seem dull, uninteresting, or unattractive, but when their true personality comes forth, we are often astounded at glimpses of wisdom, insight, or unseen talents!
.
Jesus tells us in John 7:24, "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."
We are told in Leviticus 19:15, "...You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness shall you judge your neighbor."
Isaiah 53:2 gives a prophecy and description of Jesus: "For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness, And when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him."
Look what we had and have in Jesus! Thought just an ordinary person, he was full of all knowledge and wisdom! Every person is a creation of God and deserves respect!
They come and go at will, but when my husband scatters corn for the chickens, they often find their way back for a visit, which is always a delight. Iridescent feathers displayed proudly, fan-like, over the back of the reigning male are a thing of exquisite elegance!
It came to me that often we judge people by first appearance, like I did of the drab creatures on our fence. Someone may seem dull, uninteresting, or unattractive, but when their true personality comes forth, we are often astounded at glimpses of wisdom, insight, or unseen talents!
.
Jesus tells us in John 7:24, "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."
We are told in Leviticus 19:15, "...You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness shall you judge your neighbor."
Isaiah 53:2 gives a prophecy and description of Jesus: "For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness, And when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him."
Look what we had and have in Jesus! Thought just an ordinary person, he was full of all knowledge and wisdom! Every person is a creation of God and deserves respect!
Monday, December 17, 2018
Heirloom
Several years ago, snow globes were all the rage at Christmas time. Not the little hand-held ones that send flurries of snow when held upside down, but big, foot high globes that played music and swirled snow when plugged in. I think there was a Frosty the Snowman that twirled in the center.
Anyway, I decided it would be a nice gift for each of our children's families, since their kids were all still pretty young. We bought six of the big, boxed gifts and mailed those that we couldn't deliver personally. They were a big hit!
This morning, my daughter in Georgia called and said, "Remember that Christmas that you bought everyone snow globes?" Of course, I remembered. "Well," she said, "We got ours out of the attic yesterday, and Kaden went crazy over it!" Our little 10-month old great-grandson!
I had just been thinking of the snow globes and wondered if anybody still had one! Maybe some were broken, or lost, or the children just outgrew them, but I was pleased that this one survived and pleased another generation!
One thing I am certain of that remains from generation to generation is our family's inheritance of faith in God and serving Him! Nothing is more rewarding to me than to know they are faithful and active in church and
have raised their families the same way. Not that everyone and everything is perfect, but they all know their way to God!
David said in Psalms 71:17, "O God, thou has taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. (18) Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come."
Amen!
Anyway, I decided it would be a nice gift for each of our children's families, since their kids were all still pretty young. We bought six of the big, boxed gifts and mailed those that we couldn't deliver personally. They were a big hit!
This morning, my daughter in Georgia called and said, "Remember that Christmas that you bought everyone snow globes?" Of course, I remembered. "Well," she said, "We got ours out of the attic yesterday, and Kaden went crazy over it!" Our little 10-month old great-grandson!
I had just been thinking of the snow globes and wondered if anybody still had one! Maybe some were broken, or lost, or the children just outgrew them, but I was pleased that this one survived and pleased another generation!
One thing I am certain of that remains from generation to generation is our family's inheritance of faith in God and serving Him! Nothing is more rewarding to me than to know they are faithful and active in church and
have raised their families the same way. Not that everyone and everything is perfect, but they all know their way to God!
David said in Psalms 71:17, "O God, thou has taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. (18) Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come."
Amen!
Sunday, December 16, 2018
Words
"You have a beautiful family," I said as we passed by those in a neighboring booth as we left a restaurant. Not having eaten all day, we had stopped at the first place we could find after getting off the plane. I had been noticing the attractive family next to us with two little tow-heads and the back of a little blonde head in front of us bouncing with be-ribboned dog ears.
Then I noticed three other children, a little older, in a booth by themselves, obviously a part of that family. They were pleasant-looking and well behaved.
"Thank you so much!" the mother replied, while the dad smiled appreciatively. Six kids! I could relate to that!
I'm not in the habit of interacting with strangers, but I couldn't help noticing and admiring a stewardess earlier as she readied to board the plane with the crew. A stylish black woman, her hair was cut as close as possible, but very flattering, especially on the most perfect head I'd ever seen!
Later, as she was serving us coffee at our seats, I said, "I like your hair style, and you have a perfect head!" She laughed, and I ventured, "I'm sure you've been told that before." She murmured, "Many times."
It felt good to give a compliment, and I was always grateful and complimentary to the pilot for a safe landing. On our arrival earlier, my shoes were about to be removed at security when the attendant asked my age, for if one is over 65, shoes don't have to be removed. When I told him, he said, "You look young for your age; I wouldn't have guessed!" At any rate, I was glad to keep my shoes on!
"You have a beautiful family," I remarked to the people in the next booth as we passed. We had not eaten all day after getting off the plane, so we stopped at the first place we found. I had noticed two little tow-heads sitting with their parents, and the back of a little blonde head with a pair of bouncing, be-ribboned dog ears in front of us. They were pleasant and well-behaved kids. I could see three more children, a little older, sitting in an adjacent booth, obviously part of the family.
"Thank you so much!" the mother exclaimed, as the father smiled appreciatively. If they had six kids, I could relate!
I don't ordinarily interact with strangers much beyond a smile, but I found myself doing so today! A stewardess on the plane caught my eye as I saw her often busily active even before we boarded. The tall, black woman was striking with her hair cut closely all over. The cut was very flattering, especially on a perfect head! I told her that as she was serving us coffee in our seats.
!
"I like your haircut," I said, then, "You have a perfect head!" She laughed and I went on, "I imagine you've been told that before," to which she replied, "Oh, yes!"
Then I noticed three other children, a little older, in a booth by themselves, obviously a part of that family. They were pleasant-looking and well behaved.
"Thank you so much!" the mother replied, while the dad smiled appreciatively. Six kids! I could relate to that!
I'm not in the habit of interacting with strangers, but I couldn't help noticing and admiring a stewardess earlier as she readied to board the plane with the crew. A stylish black woman, her hair was cut as close as possible, but very flattering, especially on the most perfect head I'd ever seen!
Later, as she was serving us coffee at our seats, I said, "I like your hair style, and you have a perfect head!" She laughed, and I ventured, "I'm sure you've been told that before." She murmured, "Many times."
It felt good to give a compliment, and I was always grateful and complimentary to the pilot for a safe landing. On our arrival earlier, my shoes were about to be removed at security when the attendant asked my age, for if one is over 65, shoes don't have to be removed. When I told him, he said, "You look young for your age; I wouldn't have guessed!" At any rate, I was glad to keep my shoes on!
"You have a beautiful family," I remarked to the people in the next booth as we passed. We had not eaten all day after getting off the plane, so we stopped at the first place we found. I had noticed two little tow-heads sitting with their parents, and the back of a little blonde head with a pair of bouncing, be-ribboned dog ears in front of us. They were pleasant and well-behaved kids. I could see three more children, a little older, sitting in an adjacent booth, obviously part of the family.
"Thank you so much!" the mother exclaimed, as the father smiled appreciatively. If they had six kids, I could relate!
I don't ordinarily interact with strangers much beyond a smile, but I found myself doing so today! A stewardess on the plane caught my eye as I saw her often busily active even before we boarded. The tall, black woman was striking with her hair cut closely all over. The cut was very flattering, especially on a perfect head! I told her that as she was serving us coffee in our seats.
!
"I like your haircut," I said, then, "You have a perfect head!" She laughed and I went on, "I imagine you've been told that before," to which she replied, "Oh, yes!"
Thursday, December 13, 2018
Airborne!
"I have something I want to give you," my husband said to the attendant who was pushing his wheelchair through the corridors of the airport on our trip this week. He handed her a scripture card, one of the many he likes to give out as a ministry tool. She read the card, smiled and showed it to her friend who was pushing my wheelchair.
"You will have an extra star in your crown in heaven for treating me so nicely," he went on. Actually, these ladies with scarves wound tightly around their heads looked to be Muslim. His attendant turned to the other one and said something in a different language.
"I was telling her what you told me!" she said as she turned and gave him a hug and a pat on the back.
On our return trip from seeing our daughter and family in Georgia, Howard gave a card to the stewardess as we settled in our seats. She looked at it, and said, "Do you have any more? I want to give them to the rest of the crew." The words on it were from Psalm 34:7, "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about all those who fear Him, and delivereth them." Comforting, especially in the air!
And so it went throughout our trip. When we were being rushed through the crowds hurrying toward us as they deplaned and headed for their next flight, I said laughingly to the young man pushing me at warp speed, "You are like Moses dividing the Red Sea," watching the flight passengers split and give way to our wheelchairs.
"What did you say?" he questioned, to which I replied, "The Red Sea! In the Bible!"
"Oh, I know all about the Red Sea," he said. "I was born in Israel."
"Are you a Christian?" Howard asked, and he replied, "Yes."
As we got off the plane at our destination, a smiling young man seated me in a wheelchair and said, "I remember you!" referring to our flight the previous week. "I saw you on the plane," he went on, obviously meaning when I was commending the pilot in the door of the airplane a few minutes before.
When he wheeled me past an airport restaurant a few minutes later, the observant fellow pointed out, "That's where you ate the other day!" Sure enough, it was where they had pushed us when we had time to eat between flights on our way to Atlanta! How pleasant it was to meet so many friendly people we didn't even know!
"You will have an extra star in your crown in heaven for treating me so nicely," he went on. Actually, these ladies with scarves wound tightly around their heads looked to be Muslim. His attendant turned to the other one and said something in a different language.
"I was telling her what you told me!" she said as she turned and gave him a hug and a pat on the back.
On our return trip from seeing our daughter and family in Georgia, Howard gave a card to the stewardess as we settled in our seats. She looked at it, and said, "Do you have any more? I want to give them to the rest of the crew." The words on it were from Psalm 34:7, "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about all those who fear Him, and delivereth them." Comforting, especially in the air!
And so it went throughout our trip. When we were being rushed through the crowds hurrying toward us as they deplaned and headed for their next flight, I said laughingly to the young man pushing me at warp speed, "You are like Moses dividing the Red Sea," watching the flight passengers split and give way to our wheelchairs.
"What did you say?" he questioned, to which I replied, "The Red Sea! In the Bible!"
"Oh, I know all about the Red Sea," he said. "I was born in Israel."
"Are you a Christian?" Howard asked, and he replied, "Yes."
As we got off the plane at our destination, a smiling young man seated me in a wheelchair and said, "I remember you!" referring to our flight the previous week. "I saw you on the plane," he went on, obviously meaning when I was commending the pilot in the door of the airplane a few minutes before.
When he wheeled me past an airport restaurant a few minutes later, the observant fellow pointed out, "That's where you ate the other day!" Sure enough, it was where they had pushed us when we had time to eat between flights on our way to Atlanta! How pleasant it was to meet so many friendly people we didn't even know!
Saturday, December 1, 2018
The Chair
The news of the passing of former president George H.W. Bush and the many remembrances and accolades honoring him made me recall a memory of my own. We were living 50 miles from New Orleans at the time, although Howard drove a company truck to work there every day. He was in the TV and furniture rental business, and one day he had an unusual request for me.
At the time, George Bush, or 41 as he is known, was scheduled to come to New Orleans. He and his entourage were to stay at a certain hotel, New Orleans finest. Arrangements were made, and Howard got a call from the Hotel. They needed to rent a living room set, end tables, etc.,to accommodate these important guests.
They sent someone to select the furniture, and Howard showed them an attractive sofa that was chosen. I had an identical set at home. The only problem was that he didn't have the matching chair. My resourceful husband assured them he would have it delivered the next day. Believe it or not, he took the chair from my living room, assuring me he would get it back in a few days!
Sure enough, he brought it home and placed it in the living room in a corner in front of our bookcase wall where one of the children could usually be found curled up in its depth under a reading lamp. We got to calling it the President's chair. "Go ahead and sit in it," I teased, "You may grow up to be President!"
Well, that hasn't happened (yet), although the one who loved the chair most, who usually sat with his leg flung over the chair's arm, does work for the government! Seriously, though, I am so grateful that they do serve the King of Kings, as do their children, who are teaching their little ones the Way, an honor higher than any earthly role!
At the time, George Bush, or 41 as he is known, was scheduled to come to New Orleans. He and his entourage were to stay at a certain hotel, New Orleans finest. Arrangements were made, and Howard got a call from the Hotel. They needed to rent a living room set, end tables, etc.,to accommodate these important guests.
They sent someone to select the furniture, and Howard showed them an attractive sofa that was chosen. I had an identical set at home. The only problem was that he didn't have the matching chair. My resourceful husband assured them he would have it delivered the next day. Believe it or not, he took the chair from my living room, assuring me he would get it back in a few days!
Sure enough, he brought it home and placed it in the living room in a corner in front of our bookcase wall where one of the children could usually be found curled up in its depth under a reading lamp. We got to calling it the President's chair. "Go ahead and sit in it," I teased, "You may grow up to be President!"
Well, that hasn't happened (yet), although the one who loved the chair most, who usually sat with his leg flung over the chair's arm, does work for the government! Seriously, though, I am so grateful that they do serve the King of Kings, as do their children, who are teaching their little ones the Way, an honor higher than any earthly role!
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