Weddings! Weddings! With grandchildren coming of age, there are nearly always weddings on our horizon! The happy events require much planning for today's "venue" weddings. Although two of our granddaughters' weddings are months away, gowns are already selected, venues reserved, and countless details are being taken care of.
Daughter Amy, mother of bride Corrin, recently spent a day on forays to florists for daughter's meticulous requirements. Both mothers of the future bride and groom have been putting their heads together about the rehearsal dinner menu and reception plans.
All six of my children had church weddings. No venues of barn weddings or antique country houses to be considered. With only two daughters, I managed their lovely, but modest by today's standards, weddings. I didn't bear the brunt of our sons' weddings as much as did the bride's family.
I didn't realize how much is involved in preparations until I heard my granddaughter, Allison, saying they had to get printing and mailing done. I thought it was a little early for a June wedding, but a few days later I received a "Save the Date" card with important details and a great picture of the happy couple.
What if everyone were as concerned for readiness in meeting our heavenly bridegroom as modern wedding planners are today? Someday we will meet Him at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, Revelation 19:7-9:
"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (8) And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. (9) And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God."
We don't get a "Save the Date" card, but we have the Bible, which says no man knows the day or the hour of our Lord's return, so it pays to be ready!
Thursday, January 31, 2019
Sunday, January 27, 2019
A Present Help in Time of Need!
Coming home from town one day recently, we suddenly heard a very loud noise in our van. Mystified, we soon discovered it was a broken fan belt! Not sure of the implications, we continued down the road only to realize our power steering was not working! Thankfully we made it home, but we barely got into the drive way when we could go no farther.
"It's okay, Dad," our son Greg assured us. "I can fix it." Knowing that he is very capable and mechanically inclined, we relaxed, glad that we had an oldie but goodie to get us around. But before Greg had a chance to work on the van, he was called out of state for a 3-week work assignment.
Surprisingly, our son's work was finished early, and he spent the next two days at home working on our vehicle. At one point he despaired of the difficulty of the repair and was ready to call it quits, while we deliberated on putting it in the shop for what would be an exorbitant expense. Regaining his resolve, Greg tackled the job again. Shortly he burst in with the great news that it was fixed!
.
Unbelievably, the very next day he was advised that he was needed in California, messing up plans for church and a few days R and R. He had put in a call for one day's extension, via a Dallas connection. Howard and I felt so bad about his hurried departure, that we prayed that God would intervene for a little extra time. Turns out all flights from Dallas were grounded due to weather, so Greg got his reprieve for a day with family!
Looking back, we couldn't help seeing God's hand in both situations--his getting our car fixed in the narrow window of time that he was home, and the delayed flight plans! Thank you, God, for answered prayer!
"It's okay, Dad," our son Greg assured us. "I can fix it." Knowing that he is very capable and mechanically inclined, we relaxed, glad that we had an oldie but goodie to get us around. But before Greg had a chance to work on the van, he was called out of state for a 3-week work assignment.
Surprisingly, our son's work was finished early, and he spent the next two days at home working on our vehicle. At one point he despaired of the difficulty of the repair and was ready to call it quits, while we deliberated on putting it in the shop for what would be an exorbitant expense. Regaining his resolve, Greg tackled the job again. Shortly he burst in with the great news that it was fixed!
.
Unbelievably, the very next day he was advised that he was needed in California, messing up plans for church and a few days R and R. He had put in a call for one day's extension, via a Dallas connection. Howard and I felt so bad about his hurried departure, that we prayed that God would intervene for a little extra time. Turns out all flights from Dallas were grounded due to weather, so Greg got his reprieve for a day with family!
Looking back, we couldn't help seeing God's hand in both situations--his getting our car fixed in the narrow window of time that he was home, and the delayed flight plans! Thank you, God, for answered prayer!
Friday, January 25, 2019
Hand in Glove
Gloves! I don't know how many I have lost! I bought a new pair to take on our trip to Georgia awhile back. We were enjoying the flight with the amenities of a screen and ear phones in front of us to watch a movie or track our flight. We even had a seat near the front.
After a (mostly) smooth landing, we joined the line exiting the plane. Half way up the aisle, I felt in my pockets for my gloves, and one of them was gone! I probably dropped it as I was getting out of my seat! There was no way I could back-stroke through the massive line behind us! Shopping with my daughter the next day, I got a pair which I am holding on to!
My husband is the same way. "Where are my gloves?" he calls, as he is preparing to do his animal chores. New, sturdy work gloves were bought recently for him, but where are they? I searched in a drawer and found some mismatched ones for him, then I was surprised to see him going out with a great-looking pair!
"Are those my gloves?" I demanded when I saw what looked like a familiar pair.
"No," he smiled cheerfully, "These came in the mail!" What? I wondered what was in a bulky mailing envelope addressed to him! He is always getting flimsy t-shirts from some charitable organization he contributes to, and I thought it was one of them. Apparently, this was a new one!
But they came at the right time! Almost as he was walking out the door! It almost seemed like God granted his desire and need! When Howard came back in, he exclaimed how good the gloves felt and how warm they kept his hands!
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble," Psalm 46:1. Some versions say "...in time of need." He certainly was that day!
After a (mostly) smooth landing, we joined the line exiting the plane. Half way up the aisle, I felt in my pockets for my gloves, and one of them was gone! I probably dropped it as I was getting out of my seat! There was no way I could back-stroke through the massive line behind us! Shopping with my daughter the next day, I got a pair which I am holding on to!
My husband is the same way. "Where are my gloves?" he calls, as he is preparing to do his animal chores. New, sturdy work gloves were bought recently for him, but where are they? I searched in a drawer and found some mismatched ones for him, then I was surprised to see him going out with a great-looking pair!
"Are those my gloves?" I demanded when I saw what looked like a familiar pair.
"No," he smiled cheerfully, "These came in the mail!" What? I wondered what was in a bulky mailing envelope addressed to him! He is always getting flimsy t-shirts from some charitable organization he contributes to, and I thought it was one of them. Apparently, this was a new one!
But they came at the right time! Almost as he was walking out the door! It almost seemed like God granted his desire and need! When Howard came back in, he exclaimed how good the gloves felt and how warm they kept his hands!
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble," Psalm 46:1. Some versions say "...in time of need." He certainly was that day!
Monday, January 21, 2019
Reading for Meaning
My One Year Bible came in recently, so I have had a lot of catching up to do, since the reading selections began with January 1. Thankfully, I am now current on today's date of January 21!
I have just finished reading the saga of Joseph's life, and the overwhelming account of his revelation to his brothers that he is now a ruler in Egypt! Although it is a well-known story, it was so gripping I had to read ahead to tomorrow's portion. Feeling the emotion they shared brought tears of my own!
I love reading this way! It keeps me on track as I delve into perhaps what might be neglected parts of the Word. It is heart warming to come across familiar verses. such as, "And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and behold, the camels were coming." Genesis 24:63.
Or Jesus saying, "And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." Matthew 6:28-29.
Also, Psalm 8:4, which ponders, "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man that thou visitest him?"
Consider Proverbs 3:27, "Withold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in thy power of thine hand to do it."
Not to forget Jesus's words in Matthew 12:50, "For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."
All found in the Bible, in whatever version you choose!
I have just finished reading the saga of Joseph's life, and the overwhelming account of his revelation to his brothers that he is now a ruler in Egypt! Although it is a well-known story, it was so gripping I had to read ahead to tomorrow's portion. Feeling the emotion they shared brought tears of my own!
I love reading this way! It keeps me on track as I delve into perhaps what might be neglected parts of the Word. It is heart warming to come across familiar verses. such as, "And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and behold, the camels were coming." Genesis 24:63.
Or Jesus saying, "And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." Matthew 6:28-29.
Also, Psalm 8:4, which ponders, "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man that thou visitest him?"
Consider Proverbs 3:27, "Withold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in thy power of thine hand to do it."
Not to forget Jesus's words in Matthew 12:50, "For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."
All found in the Bible, in whatever version you choose!
Saturday, January 19, 2019
Higher Ground
Our small electric heater that takes the chill off the bathroom, after never having a problem, unexpectedly stopped working the other day and was returned to the store. It was replaced, and all was cozy again until one frosty morning this one died, too! Enough was enough, so another trip to the store was necessary. You guessed it, same scenario!
Before they took it back this time, the men in the family unplugged the heater from the bottom of the duplex outlet and tried it in the upper outlet. Presto! It worked fine! It was the connection all the time! And to think we kept exchanging the perfectly good heaters! LOL!
Seriously, though, sometimes it seems our prayers are like the unproductive outlet. They aren't going anywhere. They are not making a connection! They may start out well, full of warmth and power, then they cool with a feeling of disconnect. It's time to check our connection! Take it from the lower level into the upper outlet!
The Bible tells of how the shepherds took their sheep to a higher table land. The 23rd Psalm says, "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Verse 23:5.
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23:6.
We just need to go a little higher with our prayers!
Before they took it back this time, the men in the family unplugged the heater from the bottom of the duplex outlet and tried it in the upper outlet. Presto! It worked fine! It was the connection all the time! And to think we kept exchanging the perfectly good heaters! LOL!
Seriously, though, sometimes it seems our prayers are like the unproductive outlet. They aren't going anywhere. They are not making a connection! They may start out well, full of warmth and power, then they cool with a feeling of disconnect. It's time to check our connection! Take it from the lower level into the upper outlet!
The Bible tells of how the shepherds took their sheep to a higher table land. The 23rd Psalm says, "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Verse 23:5.
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23:6.
We just need to go a little higher with our prayers!
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