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!
Thursday, September 19, 2019
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
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!
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!
Sunday, September 15, 2019
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!
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!
Saturday, September 14, 2019
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!
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!
Thursday, September 12, 2019
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!
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!
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