Returning home after a nice lunch out after church, I wanted to make a phone call and reached for my purse. My phone wasn't there! I checked my coat pocket, even going outside to look in the car. I was starting to feel panicky, realizing my phone was missing. I was about to tell my husband that I must have left it in the restaurant when my grandson Adam came down stairs.
"Dad just called," he announced of our son who had gone to Louisiana for work. "He said Perkins called him and said they had your phone." What? They had seen his name on my call list, and he in turn called Adam, since he couldn't call me! What a long way around!
Once before I had left my phone at a book store in Houston! Such a terrible feeling it is to be disconnected from your phone, your means of communication, your information and all your important numbers, let alone feeling your privacy has been invaded! Thankfully the book store held the phone for me until I could pick it up, and the restaurant did the same.
Sometimes we can feel disconnected even when we are surrounded by people. Maybe we have something on our mind and/or are oblivious to what others may be experiencing. It's almost like a missed call or a wrong number!
The old song "The Royal Telephone" from the early sixties, makes comparisons of our heavenly communication and the phone. It says the line is never busy and you can feel the current moving! And you can't be disconnected!
The old phones couldn't be mislaid, either, for they were attached to the wall instead of being in pocket, purse, or automobile! Sometimes I mislay my Bible. Not that we don't have several, but it is distressing when I can't find a favorite one.
Thankfully, our communication with God need not be lost. As the song says, "You can hear from heaven almost any time!" All we have to do is to tune in, for He will be listening!
Monday, January 14, 2019
Sunday, January 13, 2019
Secret Code
We finally got Howard's DNA kit ready to mail, which our clever son, Benjamin got him for Christmas. (He said he wanted to know if his father really is of Native Indian descent, which Howard had heard from relatives.)
After we finally figured out the instructions, we hit a new snag. Hubby had a hard time getting enough saliva to fill the small tube which held a mysterious substance that would bring forth results. "Spit!" I urged him, but under pressure, he was having trouble with a dry mouth. After about three tries, it seemed sufficient. We will see.
I couldn't help thinking of the incident in the Bible when Jesus healed a blind man. John 9:6 tells us, "When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay."
I have often wondered if it was the spittle containing Jesus's DNA that healed the blind man, or was it the clay that came from the earth He created? John 1:3 teaches, "All things were made by him; and without him not anything made that was made."
In a sermon recently, our pastor emphasized how Jesus cares for us, even knowing when a hair falls from our head. "But the very hairs of your head are numbered," Matthew 10:30. Luke 12:7 states, "But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows."
From today's science and technology, we know that every strand of hair carries one's DNA! No matter how long someone has been dead and unidentified, their DNA in the hair identifies them. So my supposition is, each hair is not only numbered, it is coded! Jesus knew this all along, since He is the Master of creation! And He also knows the answer to Howard's ethnicity!
After we finally figured out the instructions, we hit a new snag. Hubby had a hard time getting enough saliva to fill the small tube which held a mysterious substance that would bring forth results. "Spit!" I urged him, but under pressure, he was having trouble with a dry mouth. After about three tries, it seemed sufficient. We will see.
I couldn't help thinking of the incident in the Bible when Jesus healed a blind man. John 9:6 tells us, "When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay."
I have often wondered if it was the spittle containing Jesus's DNA that healed the blind man, or was it the clay that came from the earth He created? John 1:3 teaches, "All things were made by him; and without him not anything made that was made."
In a sermon recently, our pastor emphasized how Jesus cares for us, even knowing when a hair falls from our head. "But the very hairs of your head are numbered," Matthew 10:30. Luke 12:7 states, "But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows."
From today's science and technology, we know that every strand of hair carries one's DNA! No matter how long someone has been dead and unidentified, their DNA in the hair identifies them. So my supposition is, each hair is not only numbered, it is coded! Jesus knew this all along, since He is the Master of creation! And He also knows the answer to Howard's ethnicity!
Friday, January 11, 2019
Read it Through!
Ever since last Sunday when the pastor encouraged everyone to get a "Read Through in a Year" edition of the Bible, I have been trying to find one. I'm pretty sure I have one in storage with other books, because I used it one year and did read it through. But since it is bedraggled, I wanted a new one and went to the book store.
I found a couple, one a NLT, and the other a chronological edition. Since that was all they had, the lady at the desk offered to order me one, and asked what version I wanted. I told her I preferred a KJV, although I had considered the New Living Translation.
"That's about as far as you can get from a King James," she said. So I had her order the KJV.
"What is your name?" she asked as she filled out the order. I told her, and she surprised me by saying, "Oh, you're one of our authors!"
"Yes," I said, because I had just seen one of my books malingering on the shelf. A few years ago I kept them stocked, but somehow I got discouraged and let it go.
Anyway, my Bible is supposed to come in today, and although I'll have some catching up to do, I'm looking forward to reading passages from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs! I love the variety, and change of pace it gives! Somehow it reminds me of a church service: Old Testament, announcements; Psalms, song service; Proverbs, preaching; and New Testament, altar call!
I found a couple, one a NLT, and the other a chronological edition. Since that was all they had, the lady at the desk offered to order me one, and asked what version I wanted. I told her I preferred a KJV, although I had considered the New Living Translation.
"That's about as far as you can get from a King James," she said. So I had her order the KJV.
"What is your name?" she asked as she filled out the order. I told her, and she surprised me by saying, "Oh, you're one of our authors!"
"Yes," I said, because I had just seen one of my books malingering on the shelf. A few years ago I kept them stocked, but somehow I got discouraged and let it go.
Anyway, my Bible is supposed to come in today, and although I'll have some catching up to do, I'm looking forward to reading passages from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs! I love the variety, and change of pace it gives! Somehow it reminds me of a church service: Old Testament, announcements; Psalms, song service; Proverbs, preaching; and New Testament, altar call!
Thursday, January 10, 2019
Blessed!
For some time, Howard had been concerned about a medication he has to take for diabetes. His regular meds had become prohibitively expensive. The doctor prescribed a new drug, also costly, but they happened to have free samples that he could have every month. He gladly accepted, and this was satisfactory for several months, when this courtesy was discontinued.
He had no choice but to buy the medication at the exorbitant price of $20 per pill, which would be $60 for 3 pills. Then last Sunday at church, our pastor invited all who had prayer needs to come to the altar at the close of the service. We went and prayed earnestly about the meds.
The next day, Monday, we went to the pharmacy to buy 3 of the pills. The pharmacy tech gave him the bag containing the prescription, and he did a double take when he saw the price. $4.00! He couldn't believe it, but she showed him that the insurance had kicked in and covered it! God had heard and answered our prayer! Now he will spend only $40 monthly instead of $600! Praise God!
We told the pastor about it last night at our Wednesday pre-service meal. He was thankful and asked if he could share the testimony with the church, which he did. The congregation exploded with clapping and praise at our miracle!
This morning I saw a message on Facebook from a friend who posted, "The sunrise this morning is gorgeous! Hurry and go look!" I noted that that was 15 minutes ago, but I jumped out of bed to look out the window. The sky was still rosy-red, coloring the heavy gray clouds that would soon lose their luster when they blanketed the sky for the rest of the day.
God's blessings are infinite, not only giving us answered prayers, but also panoramic scenes of beauty in His creation! He is worthy of all praise!
He had no choice but to buy the medication at the exorbitant price of $20 per pill, which would be $60 for 3 pills. Then last Sunday at church, our pastor invited all who had prayer needs to come to the altar at the close of the service. We went and prayed earnestly about the meds.
The next day, Monday, we went to the pharmacy to buy 3 of the pills. The pharmacy tech gave him the bag containing the prescription, and he did a double take when he saw the price. $4.00! He couldn't believe it, but she showed him that the insurance had kicked in and covered it! God had heard and answered our prayer! Now he will spend only $40 monthly instead of $600! Praise God!
We told the pastor about it last night at our Wednesday pre-service meal. He was thankful and asked if he could share the testimony with the church, which he did. The congregation exploded with clapping and praise at our miracle!
This morning I saw a message on Facebook from a friend who posted, "The sunrise this morning is gorgeous! Hurry and go look!" I noted that that was 15 minutes ago, but I jumped out of bed to look out the window. The sky was still rosy-red, coloring the heavy gray clouds that would soon lose their luster when they blanketed the sky for the rest of the day.
God's blessings are infinite, not only giving us answered prayers, but also panoramic scenes of beauty in His creation! He is worthy of all praise!
Sunday, January 6, 2019
Christmas Past
What a wonderful one it was! Christmas Day found us at our church helping in the church's annual outreach in feeding hundreds of people a delicious Christmas dinner! We thought we had never seen so many pumpkin pies we sliced and packed in styrofoam containers going with the meal to hospitals, shut-ins and nursing homes. When all was complete, we ate and visited with delightful strangers across the table!
The next night, our innovative son Greg kept the Christmas spirit going by starting a fire in the fireplace where we roasted chestnuts, reminiscent of the "The Christmas Song." Our oldest son, Mark, and Rhonda, our daughter-in-love, were here to take us home with them for a week in Austin, Texas. Besides shopping, eating out, and exploring, the greatest treat was visiting their church and hearing Pastor Mark's message.
A special surprise came in the form of youngest son, Jamie and family from Houston dropping in! How sweet to see the grands, Anne-Marie, 12; Maddie, 9, and Isaac, 5. We all piled in cars and went to an amazing outdoor light show at a water-front coffee shop, the two-level patio full of people strolling, enjoying hot chocolate and coffee while a gifted pianist pounded out hymns and carols. Flashing lights flickered overhead with scenes of shepherds, the nativity, stars and angels, interspersed with Santa and reindeer to the tune of old Christmas favorites.
Besides the wonderful gifts we received, there was one caveat. Howard was to receive it in the mail, which he did when we got home. I laughed when I read the label on the box: Ancestry DNA. Jamie said he wanted to find out once and for all, if his dad was or was not of American Indian heritage, which Howard has always stated. Now we wait with bated breath for the test outcome!
No matter if he is Indian or not, all who believe are God's children, for Jesus gave his life for our sins. Coming to earth as a baby was His Christmas gift to us!
The next night, our innovative son Greg kept the Christmas spirit going by starting a fire in the fireplace where we roasted chestnuts, reminiscent of the "The Christmas Song." Our oldest son, Mark, and Rhonda, our daughter-in-love, were here to take us home with them for a week in Austin, Texas. Besides shopping, eating out, and exploring, the greatest treat was visiting their church and hearing Pastor Mark's message.
A special surprise came in the form of youngest son, Jamie and family from Houston dropping in! How sweet to see the grands, Anne-Marie, 12; Maddie, 9, and Isaac, 5. We all piled in cars and went to an amazing outdoor light show at a water-front coffee shop, the two-level patio full of people strolling, enjoying hot chocolate and coffee while a gifted pianist pounded out hymns and carols. Flashing lights flickered overhead with scenes of shepherds, the nativity, stars and angels, interspersed with Santa and reindeer to the tune of old Christmas favorites.
Besides the wonderful gifts we received, there was one caveat. Howard was to receive it in the mail, which he did when we got home. I laughed when I read the label on the box: Ancestry DNA. Jamie said he wanted to find out once and for all, if his dad was or was not of American Indian heritage, which Howard has always stated. Now we wait with bated breath for the test outcome!
No matter if he is Indian or not, all who believe are God's children, for Jesus gave his life for our sins. Coming to earth as a baby was His Christmas gift to us!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)