Circus!

"Mimi, would you and Paw Paw like to go to a circus tomorrow?" our thoughtful granddaughter asked. "We have free tickets, and we go every year," she continued.

Circus?  Why, I hadn't been to a circus for over 50 years, the only time I'd ever seen one. Why not? I thought. The next day would be Saturday, and it might be fun. And it was!

"Lions and tigers, and bears, O my!" came to mind  from a ditty of long ago. Well, there were tigers, camels, llamas and even elephants! I had especially wanted to see elephants.

The great-grandkids  in tow loved the costumed comic book and movie characters, especially SPIDER MAN! Daring aerialists and tight-rope walkers kept me with my heart in my mouth at their death-defying whirls and plunges. Thankfully an inflated safety spot was in place just in case!

Vendors tantalized us with exorbitantly-priced snow cones, cotton candy, iced drinks and light-flashing gizmos to wave in the dark.

All in all, it was an entertaining couple of hours, and we appreciated the opening with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the Star Spangled Banner sung by the attendants in the crowded stands.

A pleasant lunch for all eleven of us followed, where we were mesmerized by the little ones, so smart, funny and cute. From what their parents say, every day is a circus!

The Voice of Wisdom

Last night I was pleased to view a sermon by our son, Benjamin, on YouTube. He titled it "Prodigal Son," which later was changed to "Prodigal Father."  As usual, it was eye-opening, funny, thoughtful and unique to his style of ministry.

He has done three other video messages, as given at his church, "Encourager Church," in Houston. One of them is named "The Glory is in the Giving," dealing with the benefits of generosity. He stresses that God does not need your money. In fact, in a couple of references he quotes from the Bible where it is written that God says, "If I were hungry, I would not tell you."

Another is entitled, "The Spirit of the Craftsman" on the blessings and benefits of work, and one he named, "Wrestling for the Blessing." To watch and be encouraged by these thoughtful entries, simply go to YouTube and click on Benjamin Summers. Believe me, you will not be disappointed!

Smile!

Last Sunday I was standing in line to pay for our lunch at Cracker Barrel when a lady a little ahead of me turned and looked at  me, waved and smiled.  I smiled and waved back, then, curious,  I stepped out of line and asked her, "Have we met before?"

She laughed and said, "No, I was waving at the person behind you!"

Well, it was funny, but it still felt good to be acknowledged, even accidentally!

This incident came to mind when I read an item on Facebook this morning. A girl riding in the car with her boyfriend asked him why he waved and smiled at every car he met. He answered her by saying, "I read once that many people who had planned to commit suicide changed their minds when someone smiled at them."

It brought back memories of when as a child riding in the car with my dad.  He always waved at people he met on the road.  They  waved back, too. People don't seem to do that anymore. It was the custom then to smile at a passerby on the street, or for a man to tip his hat to a lady he walked past.

There is a song we used to sing at church, I think at greeting time: "Smile awhile and give your face a rest. Raise you hands to the One you love the best; Then shake hands with those nearby and give to them a smile."

They say it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile, so maybe it really does give your face a rest!

Smile, everyone!

Surprise Gift!

A few days ago, my eldest granddaughter announced unexpectedly, "Mimi, I'm going to clean your  house!" Really? That sounded wonderful to me, although I thought it looked all right. Then one morning she showed up with her paraphernalia of cleaning supplies.

Soon Bethany's feather duster was efficiently flying over furniture, books and window sills. In between tasks, we chatted and visited, then she would disappear with a mop or broom as I was dispatched to another room to relax.

When I returned to the kitchen later, everything was sparking clean. Counters and stove top were gleaming, as was my smile!

Next, she tackled the bathroom where the fixtures got the polishing of their life! Finally, after vacuuming all the rooms and hall, the industrious young lady sat down for a rest.

Later, I thought about how Jesus wants to clean our house. We may think that the dusty corners of prayer neglect would be overlooked.  But the cobwebs of lazy thinking and reasoning need to be cleared out.

We need the fresh breath of the Holy Spirit to blow through our messy mind-set and straighten up our attitudes and understanding of His Word!

Gossip that we may entertain is like dirt on the kitchen floor; it needs to be swept out and washed clean!

Finally, we need a cleansing bath in the shower of God's love and forgiveness in the privacy of prayer and re-dedication. Our earthly "house" will feel much lighter!

Thank you, Bethany!

Proceed with Caution!

"Cemetery. Plots Available." I read on a sign beside the cemetery near the hairpin curves we travel daily. A marker, or a warning? I take it as a warning. but for far too many, it is a destination.

Today we thought we were following directions to a shop I wanted to visit, but instead, we got hopelessly lost! Traffic was tricky as lanes joined or became part of other lanes on the super highways.

We finally made our way out and ended up on country roads that at last led to familiar territory . Evidently we had circled the city and eventually got home.  Thankfully, there had been no accidents or mishaps. Thank you, Jesus!

Little by little, we are getting acquainted with shopping areas and food stores and finding the people to be friendly and courteous, for the most part. Howard rarely passes up the opportunity to share a scripture card with clerks and cashiers or amiable strangers. One recipient let us know: "I am a Christian woman. I pray to Jesus every day and He is the most important thing in my life!" How refreshing and rewarding!

With time on his hands, my spouse has picked up the guitar again and is practicing songs.  Last night he was accompanied by a sweet granddaughter, and I must say that he sounded better than ever! I can see that I will soon become the videographer for his story/songs again, hopefully having something to pass down to posterity before we get any older! No plots for us just yet, other than plotting out his next song!

The Road not Traveled

My! This road seems longer than ever, I thought as we traveled behind our granddaughter. I wondered if this were the right road! She was guiding us to a church she wanted to visit in a nearby city.   We had assumed it was relatively close, but it seemed that we would never get there.

At one point, the curvy road was surrounded by cliffs carved out of the mountains. It felt like I was at Turner Falls in Oklahoma, only scarier.

Finally we got to our destination where we met welcoming, friendly folks who showed us around. They were doing remodeling in the sanctuary and we were directed to the all-purpose building where services were being held. We loved the familiar music and songs and felt right at home.

After  the service, Sunday lunch at Cracker Barrel was just what we needed. Afterwards, it was smooth sailing and it seemed we were home in no time! Our hostess admitted she had missed an exit earlier, but it didn't matter since the ride home was uneventful and allowed us to enjoy the scenery!

Sometimes people get on the wrong path in life.  It may be fun or carefree for awhile, but ultimately rough spots come up, and it isn't so fun anymore. Life takes a turn for the worse  when mountain-size obstacles from wrong living loom in the way. Those thought of as friends may be friends no more.

But the Bible tells us  in Proverbs 18:24 that there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Who could  that be, but Jesus? Another scripture tells us, "In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your path." Proverbs 3:6.

Jesus walked a path for us as He carried his cross to His crucifixion. Let's stay on the right path!

House Keeping

I love old houses. Not to live in, but to see them beside the road, empty and deserted. It makes me wonder about the people and families who have lived out their lives there in times past. One of the structures along our path to town is an old general store. It reminded me of the boy's grandfather from the movie "Where the Red Fern Grows." He ran the store which was almost a replica of the one we pass.

Another house sitting close to the road, vine covered and neglected but pretty  much intact, catches my attention. Someone had placed a sign there with the words "Keep Out" warning trespassers. I suppose vagrants may have sought shelter there at one time or another.

We have all been given a "house," which is our mortal body. It is full of memories, experiences, hurts and love.  On the outside, if we are not too old, it looks to be in fair shape. But as the years pass it ages and is no match for the "beautiful people," otherwise thought of as the young!  We may even feel like putting up a Keep Out! sign to avoid people.

But the Bible tells us  good news in II Corinthians chapter 5. "For we know if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: It so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened; not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life."

I agree with the scripture in Joshua 24:14, when Joshua said, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Amen!

Necessity is the Mother of Invention!

The other day I needed a nail and I couldn't find one. Today I needed a hammer, and it was no where to be found. I was hanging some cute curtains in the bathroom, and not finding a hammer, I used the the thing that any enterprising house wife might use--the heel of a shoe!

The scripture in Genesis  3:15 came to mind where God says to the serpent in the garden, "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed: it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."

This scripture refers to Jesus's crucifixion and the crown of thorns he bore. Although Jesus suffered for us, He will ultimately triumph over Satan and evil!

In Jesus's time, the footwear of the day was sandals. Sometimes they were strapped on with boot-like cords for work or soldiers. Deuteronomy 29:5 tells us, "I have led you forty years in the wilderness; your clothes have not worn out upon you, and your sandals have not worn off your feet."

I have several pairs of shoes, but certainly not as many as some. "Shoes are my weakness," I've often heard different ladies say. And no wonder! Shoes are plentiful, stylish and beautiful, as well as comfortable and rugged. There is no end to the popular brands of shoes for sport, exercise or walking.

John the Baptist was asked who he was, and he said of Jesus, "He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose." John 1:27.

I love sandals, but I prefer a hammer to drive a nail!

The Cat's Meow!

Two large cats have adopted us, I see.  One is an orange cat, and the other is black and white. Howard calls them Tom and Jerry. Every morning they appear at the kitchen door, looking hopefully for scraps of food. They are particular, however. They disdain a bowl of milk, a saucer of gravy, or any vegetable, but anything with meat scraps is acceptable.

Animals are so interesting and amusing, not to mention their other qualities. Lately I've seen television episodes which are amazing! In one of them, a pig saved a woman's life! It was a pet house pig, and one day the owner had a stroke. When the pig couldn't wake her up, it ran outside and lay down in the path of any passerby. Finally, someone followed it to the house, where an ambulance was called and took her to the hospital.

In another feature, a parrot saved a man's life. The bird heard the man calling "Help" from an overturned tractor.  From some distance the parrot's owner heard the bird calling "Help, help," in it's croaky voice.  Ignoring it for awhile, the guy and his friend went to check on the parrot, which clammed up immediately. Thinking nothing was wrong, they began to hear faint cries of help from the pasture. The parrot had relayed the calls for help which the owner could not hear!

These were old presentations from "It's a Miracle," hosted by Richard Thomas of "The Waltons." One dramatic story was of a woman debilitated by multiple sclerosis. She was at the point of death after trying everything until a bee keeper persuaded her to submit to a bee sting! Willing to try anything at this point, she agreed and immediately felt something different. Welcoming the bee stings, before long she was walking and leading a normal life again!

God's creations are incredible! Seemingly everything has a purpose that is largely undiscovered by humanity. What a marvelous, indescribable Father we have in Heaven. I think I'll give Tom and Jerry an extra treat!

Fog

"Why is it so late getting daylight?" I wondered aloud waking up  this morning. "Must be cloudy," I thought. Then I looked out the door to see a heavy fog! Oh, no! That meant treacherous driving to church if it didn't clear up. These curvy mountain roads dip low where the fog could settle in the valleys! I hoped it wouldn't keep us from church!

We attend the second service, so what seemed against our better judgement, we got ready and headed out. Surprisingly, it didn't seem bad so far! Then we got to a dip where a sign at the top of a deep ravine  read: Enter at your own risk. Flooding possible.

Suddenly the valley was flooded, not with water, but with sunshine! The fog dissipated, and our spirits lifted at the sight of a beautiful day! I thought we were running late, but when we drove into the church parking area I looked at the time, which read 10:45! The exact time  the service  would begin! Praise God! We made it!

It occurred to me that sometimes we get into a fog, spiritually and mentally. All we can perceive is gray, colorless circumstances and dullness. We can visualize that this or that will go wrong and nothing will turn out right.

This morning the pastor's message dealt with David's predicament when, while he was in a battle, the wives and children of his entourage were kidnapped and taken away. His loyal men were so grieved that they threatened to stone David. 

Samuel 30:6, "David was greatly distressed, for the people talked of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in spirit, each over his sons and daughters. But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God."  The scripture goes on to say that all was recovered!

If and when a fog of mind from the enemy attacks you, remember David, and encourage yourself in the Lord!

Picture Perfect

"Howard, where is that packet of nails we bought?" I questioned, after looking all over the house for it. I had unearthed yet another family picture and found a perfect spot for it on the wall, but my nail search was to no avail! Determined to hang the photograph, I followed his directions no less than three times before I gave up in frustration.

My dilemma made me think of the verse that goes something like this,  "For want of a nail, a shoe was lost. For want of a shoe, a horse was lost. For want of a horse, a rider was lost. For want of a rider, a battle was lost."

The thought came to me later of  the three treacherous nails on the cross borne by our Savior, Jesus Christ.  For want of those nails, there would be no sacrifice.  For want of His sacrifice, there would be no forgiveness. For want of forgiveness, there would be no salvation. For want of salvation, mankind would be lost.

If my nails don't show up, I will buy more to hang the picture.  I love the design of it, with each photograph framed individually in an artistic layout. Time goes by so swiftly that in every photo each dear face is younger and blessed in memory.

Pictures are dear to us, but even more important is that we become a reflection of Jesus and present a life-style that would bear His image. The best picture!

Mountain Mementos

"Look, Howard," I remarked to my husband as we drove in the driveway. "That dove has been sitting on that high line wire in the same spot for days!"  It was true. Every time I looked, there it was, in the self-same spot with no other doves in sight anywhere.

Then today, as I stepped out on the porch, the line was empty.  "I wonder what happened to the dove?" I mused to my spouse, the porch sitter.  Just then the dove flew in and alighted onto its regular perch.

Thinking about the dove reminded me of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 3:16 says, "When he had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon him."

It made me think about the flood when Noah released first a raven, then a dove to see if the waters had receded.  Genesis 8:11, "Then the dove came back to him in the evening, and behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf was in her mouth; and Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth."

Maybe our dove was watching over us?  In this new location of mountains, hills and valleys where the scenery is breathtaking, but the roads are like roller coasters?

My husband related something our son-in-law, the naturalist, told him. It seems Steve was propagating a branch of something, and he explained to Howard that the branch could be kept in water and would live, but it would not produce fruit.  Only if it developed roots could it reproduce.

I reflected on this and thought how our roots need to grow deeply in Christ if we are to lead others into the Kingdom. A shallow, watered-down testimony may be rootless and ineffective!  We must remain full of the water of the Word and the Holy Spirit of the sweet, heavenly Dove!