Yesterday was one of those days!

                         

Yesterday after I took my granddaughter to school, I headed to the grocery store.  I got almost everything on my list though I did forget the chocolate.   That is probably what started my day going in the wrong direction.

I got home and put up the groceries and then just sat down for one minute.  My intention was to clean like a mad woman and get everything cleaned, washed and shiny.  It didn't happen.  The next thing I knew I was waking up from an hour and a half nap.

I decided that if I worked really fast I could get everything done.  Nope that didn't work either.  I was moving really slow.  I did get a few chores done but then I started thinking about what I would cook for supper.  I was thinking dressing with chicken on top of it with swiss cheese.

I walked to the cabinet where the cook books and recipe cards are and took the books out.  I looked through them but couldn't find the recipe.  I reached back into the cabinet to get the box of hand written recipe cards.  When I did this, I not only knocked the box out but  also a glass candler holder.  The glass shattered everywhere.  The shards went all over the counter and stove. I got the big pieces off then I grabbed a wet paper towel to get the small pieces. Just when I thought I had it cleaned up I dropped the paper towel with the sharp pieces of glass shards.  Now the glass shards were all over the floor.  I was standing there with bare feet.

I reached over and grabbed the broom and dustpan then very carefully swept and mopped that area of the floor.  I was sweeping again just to make sure and I kept seeing something red and thought what on earth is that red stuff.  Yes it was blood.  My blood.  I had felt a prick but didn't see anything but there was a little piece of class stuck on the bottom of my right foot.  I took care of my foot and went back to cleaning up the floor.  Then I saw red again.  I looked at the bottom of my foot, the band aid was holding.  Then I saw blood on my big toe on the other foot.  I got that taken care of and then I put my shoes on to finish the job.

I don't know why I didn't just put my shoes on.  It would have only taken a second and then my feet would have been safe from the shards of glass that fell to the floor.  The pain and blood I had yesterday was just a tiny inconvenience in the scheme of the day.  I was still breathing.  I was alive but if I had put my shoes on my feet would have been protected. The more I thought about that just that one act would have saved me from the cuts on my feet.

It  also made me think about the pain, the blood and the death of my Savior.  My Savior not only died on the cross, he rose again.  My feet of sin were with Him on that cross.  Everyone's sin was on the cross with Him.  The good news is that His death and resurrection gave all a path that can lead straight to Him. His one act could save you!  Leave the shards of your sin at His feet!

John 3:16-17New King James Version (NKJV)

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Interrupted Speeding

                                           

Two days ago I was heading to Guthrie to see my mom.  I was heading down Highway 51 and then would turn onto Highway 74 and then turn on Highway 33 to get there.  As I was heading down Highway 51 the traffic in front of me slowed down and in my opinion was going way to slow.  I always like to get where I am going in the least amount of time without getting a ticket.

I couldn't really see what the slow down was because of a big truck in front of me.  I tried to get around several times but there was always traffic coming at me.  That's when as I was looking around the vehicles in front of me I saw a deer bounding across the highway.  I immediately thought if the traffic hadn't slowed me down I probable would have been in that spot where the deer crossed.  I was very thankful for the interrupted speeding.

The traffic stayed really slow but I didn't mind.  I finally could see that there was a giant something on the back of a truck in front of the line of traffic.  I have no idea what it was but it was big enough that the traffic coming at it had to pull off the road.

 It is amazing what you might see when you are not so worried about making record time to get to where you are going.  I saw some beautiful houses and landscaping.  I saw two deer in a field off of Highway 74 that looked like they were racing.  I saw impatient people that went around me only to have to slow down.

I was thankful for the interruption.  I saw so much more on this slow trip than I have seen in a long time.  I believe God wants me to slow down not just to see the beauty around me that I had been missing but to slow down and notice others around me.  I speed through life without noticing the people that might need help and the people that might need encouragement or the people that might need to hear my story.  Sometimes I need to hear the people that might need to tell me their story and I need to slow down to see the people that might need to hear about my Jesus! Sometimes I need to be still, look, wait and listen.

Do you need an interruption?

John 14:6

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Isaiah 40:31

31 But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

Yesterday

                                                   

Yesterday I was thinking abut how much easier things used to be.  Maybe things were easier before all the self serve things that we have today.  Maybe the yesterday that I am thinking about was many years ago before self serve became the new normal.  Maybe I was thinking about yesterday when I was filling my car up with gas.

I remember when you could pull into a Filling Station and a person would magically appear to fill up your car for you.  Not only were they polite when they filled up your car but they would also clean off your windshield and even check to see if your tires needed air!  They would talk to you and smile!

It seems like these days people are in a hurry to get you in and out when you are paying.  Very few seem to have time to talk and smile.  They are probably just there to make their money and then get home.  What do you think?  Is it just me or do a lot of people seem unhappy?

I do know that there was One that came many years ago and He wasn't here to serve Himself?
His name was Jesus and He came so that you might have life and have it abundantly!  He came to serve and to save?  He is the one that can help take away the unhappiness!

He is the One that makes the way easier!

Matthew 20:28

Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

                         

Random Ramblings

This morning I woke up and looked at the clock.  It was 3:00 am  and I thought oh good, I have two more hours.  The next thing I knew I was waking up and looking at the clock again.  It was almost five.  It seemed like just a few seconds had went by.  How did that happen?  How come when I can't sleep time moves so very, very slow but when asleep it seems like just a few seconds have went by?

I then thought of Richard and wondered about time in heaven.  Is there a heavenly time clock?  Does it seem like seven months to him or does it seem like he just got there?  The last seven months and five days have seemed slow and fast to me but I really don't know how to explain that.  Maybe it feels  to him like just a few seconds have  ticked by.  I think that Heaven time must be different than here on earth.

I take my granddaughter to school most mornings and this morning was no exception.  She did help me get the trash taken out to the curb before we left.  As I pulled back into the driveway from the trip to her school and back when I noticed the trash.  My trash can was overflowing.  It wasn't falling out but the lid wouldn't fit down  as the the trash sacks were to tall to let the lid shut.

This made me think about all the trash that I let overflow into my life.  What sins do I hold onto in my life that I can't shut the lid on wrong thoughts, actions and words.  The only thing that I can think of to tie my ramblings together is this, don't waste your time on the trash!  Give it  to God and let Him clean you up!  I do believe that  all are on that heavenly time clock.  Don't let your time pass  and be left  with the garbage of your sin.

What is overflowing from you?

John 14:6New International Version (NIV)

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

                                 

What is important?

                                                       

The other day I lost something very important.  I looked everywhere and could not find it.  Now this something was something that in other hands could devastate me.  It was my checkbook.  I spent the morning looking and looking again but that checkbook was not to be found.  I finally went to the bank and spoke with one of the tellers.  I had looked at my account and nothing had been taken out of my account except what I had expected to come out.

The teller advised me that since nothing seemed amiss with the account to wait on two checks to clear that had not cleared.  If at that point in time the checkbook was still missing to come back to talk with them.  I went home and started looking again.  It was later that afternoon that I started going through places I had already looked and found the checkbook.  How had I missed that?  It was right there sticking up out of that box!

How often is God's will right there in front of me but I just can't see it.  Just like the checkbook it can be right in front of my face but I don't recognize it!  I might have prayed and then prayed again but not recognize God's truth!  Maybe because I am looking right past the obvious looking in all the wrong places!  It might not look to others that something is amiss in my life but oh I would know it.  I would feel that something was missing in my life!  I would look and try to figure out what was wrong but until I went to the right source things would still feel wrong.

It's right there the whole time! If I leave God in a box my life would be much different!  I only have to go to my God and ask for forgiveness and then my world feels right again.  God is there the whole time.  He is always waiting for me to reach back to the right place!  He never leaves nor forsakes me!  Without God it would be devastating!

What is important to you?  What is your life without God?

Matthew 18:11-12 (NKJV)

11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.[a]

12 “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?

Eleven Cents

                                                               

It was late December and Richard was in the hospital.  I had fallen asleep but woke up with a dread that I could not get rid of.  I reached out and touched his hand but he slept on.  I just had this feeling that my husband was not going to live much longer.

I decided to text a friend who always seemed to be awake late and asked for prayers and told her of my fears.  She texted back almost immediately with words of comfort and compassion.  She also prayed. We texted back and forth and suddenly Richard started talking.

He was talking in his sleep.  I can't remember exactly what he said but it had to do with Jesus dying on the cross.  He kept telling me that I needed to give an offering to Jesus because Jesus had died on the cross.  Without thinking I told him that I didn't have any money.

That was the wrong answer!  He started telling me that I should give at least eleven cents and again I told him that I didn't have any money.  What was I thinking?   I should have just said, yes I will give at least eleven cents.  He started lecturing me on what a terrible person I was because I didn't want to give to the Savior and how on earth could I not have eleven cents.  I learned that night to not ever try to reason with a person that is sleep talking.  I also learned that a person can go from fear to laughing pretty quick.  For some reason this struck me as funny and  I could not stop laughing.

The next morning he did not remember anything but it is etched in my memory.  Even in my husband's dreams he was dreaming about Christ and how He died and rose again for us.  I also need to remember, even though Richard was dreaming when he called me a terrible person, that I am a terrible person!  I need to offer not just eleven cents but my life! Only with Christ as my Savior am I worth anything!  Christ paid my debt!

Has Christ paid yours?

Wow!

I was reading in Nehemiah the other day and one of the scriptures that I read made me think wow.  I don't ever remember reading that part before though I know that I have read the book of Nehemiah several times.  I was reading in chapter nine about the people confessing their sins and praying.  Their prayer praises God for leading His people and their ancestors out of Egypt and  for never abandoning them even when they made an idol shaped like a calf.  The prayer also remembered how God lead them by a pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night, and sent them manna and water.  God gave them everything that they needed,

Now for the wow part, God not only provided everything for them but also their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell while walking around in the wilderness for 40 years!!

I don't know how that slipped past my eyes without my stopping with wonder and awe!!  I don't know about you but if I walk to much there are times that my feet swell up and hurt!  I can't even imagine keeping a garment for 40 years much less wearing it everyday.  If I did wear a garment for 40 years I can only image that it would be ripped and tattered.


God was provider then and He is provider now!  He has provided a way for me and for you to live eternally in Heaven!  His Son died a terrible death on a cross and three days later rose again for sinners and we are all sinners!  The ripped and tattered parts that are carried by sinners can be made whole because Jesus paved the path for us to live eternally with Him.

God gave us everything we need!

John 3:16-17New International Version (NIV)

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him

Nehemiah 9:19-21New International Version (NIV)

19 “Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud did not fail to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. 20 You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. 21 For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness; they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet become swollen.

I used to play-------

                                                   

How many people used to play a musical instrument?  I used to play the piano.  Now I am not saying that I played well but maybe when I practiced I played good.  I played good enough that when the pianist was not available I would fill in as a teenage and actually later on was the pianist for a small church, which was quite a while ago.   I must tell you though the more I practiced the gooder I got.  I don't think I ever got to the excellent level but I did get gooder!

Today for some reason I played the piano.  Wow, I am not even close to gooder. In fact it sounded quite terrible.  The dog even started howling!  I just told him to hush and kept going.  He eventually quieted down.  I probably played for thirty to forty minutes and I must admit that even though I didn't sound gooder,  the sound was a little better than when I first took a seat at the piano.


Then the thought hit me, I am only gooder through Christ!  I am not good on my own!  I am only gooder because Christ died and rose again!  I might get gooder at playing piano by practicing but I only had to accept Jesus as my Savior to know that when I die I will be in paradise with my Savior.

I also had the thought hit me that I did need to get gooder at reading my Bible, praying and listening to the Holy Spirit!  God will take my gooder and make it excellent!

Only through Christ can anyone be excellent!

John 3:16-17 (NIV)

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Yesterday was a two shower day

                                                   

                                                                               

Yesterday was a two shower kind of day.  It started out normal, you know, shower, getting dressed  and head to Sunday School, church,then lunch and a nap.  Well after my nap I decided that maybe it would be a good time to go fill up my gas tank.

I have done this many, many time and I have never had this happen.  I went to my normal place to put gas in my vehicle and got everything started and things were normal until the tank was full.  I took the hose out of my car only to be sprayed with lots of gas.  My car also got a bath.  Oh my it was horrible.

I drove home as fast as I could and parked in my garage and since no one was home I started stripping as soon as the garage door was closed.  I then ran to the shower.  I then had to throw away the shoes and wash my clothes and open the garage door so that the car would air out.  That gas splashing all over me certainly got my attention.  From now on I will be more careful when taking the hose out of my gas tank.

The gas splashing everywhere made me think of how sometimes I just go through the motions and do not pay attention and don't realize that sin is splashing all over and all around me. Before I realize it I am stinking with the smell of sin.  I need to shower myself in the word, in prayer and with the love of my Savior!  I want to smell like Christ!

Do you need a shower?

John 14:6-7 (NIV)

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know[a] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

Is how you look what defines you?

                                               

One of the things that I remember from high school and even as early as second grade is that sometimes how you look depends on what group that you are in.  I remember in the second grade sometimes feeling like I was on the outside looking in but it got even worse in high school.  I have to say that by high school I didn't really care if I was in the "in" group and was even friends with some of them but I was not in their group.

Looking back most of those in that group were the beautiful, the best dressed, most athletic, the top grades though I must admit that some of them were very nice and very sweet when one on one.  In second grade I didn't understand why some might not talk to me but by high school I didn't care.

I didn't care because at an early age I discovered that there was someone that didn't care what I looked like.  He didn't care how many times I messed up.  He loved me just like I was and am.  I knew that He didn't care what group I was in, what I dressed like, or where I lived.

He cared about what was on the inside of me.  His name is Jesus and He changed my life.  He gave me peace and a different attitude (most of the time). I can talk to Him about anything and everything and He is never condemning.  He did not come to condemn but to save!

Do you know the One who came not to condemn but to save and change your life?  If not you can know Him and you can know Him right now!!  Don't let your looks define you!  Let God's grace define you!!

Romans 5:8 (NIV)

8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

John 14:6 (NIV)

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

A Bittersweet Week

This week is one that I have looked forward to for quite some time.  I have been paying off the house and other loans this week. The fact though is that this week is one that Richard and I talked about and looked forward to together.  We had plans together for travel, remodeling and various other things.

The fact that I am using life insurance money to pay things off brings back memories of all those plans.  That is why it seems so bittersweet.  I am able to do this and earlier than planned because of my husband's death.  He used to tell me though that is why he had that insurance and that if something happened to him to pay things off and keep vacationing.  He wanted to make sure that in the event of his death that his family would be secure.  Though this week has been bittersweet I am thankful for my husband and that he had this plan in place.

There is another that had a plan in place for me.   It is Jesus.  His plan lead Him to a cross where He died and then rose again for me.  That also seems bittersweet when I think about that it was my sin that took Him to the cross.  His plan also included a way for me to be with Him in heaven when I die. Once I get to heaven there will be nothing bittersweet!

I have accepted that plan.  What about you?

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

John 10:28-30 NIV

John 3:1 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

I'm Okay

I have had so many people checking on me to make sure that I am okay!  I just want everybody to know that I am truly okay!  There are days that I think of Richard all day long and even let a tear or two escape but that doesn't mean I am not okay.  I will always, always miss my husband but I am okay!

Do you know why I am okay?  I know that my husband had asked Jesus into his heart and I know that my husband is okay.  He has no more pain, no more sorrow because his soul left his body and soared to meet his Savior!  He is more than okay, he is in paradise!

What my husband would want me to ask you is, are you okay?  Do you know where you would go if you died today?  Would you be okay?  If not you can be!  Accept Jesus as your Savior, Believe that he died and rose again, Confess Him as Lord of your life!

Romans 10:9(NKJV)

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

HE is Risen!

                       

                      

Luke 24:1-7New King James Version (NKJV)

He Is Risen

24 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them,[a] came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened, as they were greatly[b] perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee,7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’”

Jesus is alive and because of this you and I can live forever! He will never forsake us or leave us! Because of this I know what happened when Richard, my husband, died.  He was not forsaken when he died.  He was whisked into the arms of His Savior!  Do you know what will happen when you die?  All you have to is accept, believe and confess.  What a great day this would be to ask Jesus into your heart! 

John 3:16-17New King James Version (NKJV)

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjR_A2pGPrY

What do you reach for?

Last Sunday the lesson in Sunday School was in Genesis.  The lesson was about Eve, fruit and a serpent.  You probably remember that God had told Adam and Eve not to eat from a certain tree.  The serpent was very cunning and talked Eve into reaching up and plucking that fruit from the tree.   After she ate the fruit she also gave fruit to her husband.

This made me think about my sins.  What is it that is so enticing about sin.  Could it be that serpent whispering in my ear that this is good, this is beautiful and it will open your eyes.  The serpent wants me to reach up and grab that apple.  He wants to send me spiraling down into the pit of sin.  The serpent wants me to run and hide from God.   He wants me to offer sin to those around me.

The serpent wants me to forget that my Savior, Jesus, died on the cross.  He wants me to forget that Jesus covered my sin!  He wants me to forget that my Savior rose again!  He wants me to think that my sin is unforgivable!  He wants me to think that if I reach for that apple that I will know the truth.
He doesn't want me to know the truth.

What is your apple that you keep reaching for?  Don't let the serpent entice you to keep reaching for it because there is a Savior that will cover you with His blood!

Revelation 1:5

and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,

1 John 1:7

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of JesusChrist His Son cleanses us from all 

sin.

Happy Birthday in Heaven

This is Richard's first birthday in heaven and I can only imagine what he might be up to today! Is he at the feet of Jesus or is he floating around enjoying the scenery?  I do know that he has no more pain and no more sorrow!  I do know that I will see him again!

Happy Birthday, Richard!!

We will miss you until we see you again!

The stuff that matters

                                           


I have spent several days going through my husband's stuff.  He used to get on to me because I
had too much stuff.  I must say that I think he had more stuff than I have.   Most of my stuff can probably be thrown away.  Most of Richard's stuff was stuff that mattered very much to him.

Some of the stuff I found was a brief case full of letters, love notes and cards from me.  I found a folder with pictures, notes and achievements that belonged to the kids.  There were his hats, boots,  belts and momentos from vacations.  There was a sack full of maps that he used to plan those trips.  There were cards from the 3rd grade Sunday School from several different years.
There were plaques and awards from jobs where he had worked that dated back to his teenage years.  I found several Bibles.  Some of the Bibles were from family members that had passed on, several of them were his that dated back to when he was a child.

All the stuff that he had packed and stored in a very neat order mattered to him but most of all his family mattered.  There was a time when he tried to keep us all packed and in a neat order.  He eventually figured out that it wasn't going to happen and loved us just like we were,  We were the stuff that mattered to him more than anything except for his Savior!

I do miss my husband but I know he is healed, has no more pain and no more sorrow.  He knows that he will see his family again but that the stuff that he had on earth doesn't matter anymore!  He is with his Savior!

What about you?  What stuff matters to you?

John 5:2 (NIV)

24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.

Do you wear the shoes that only fit perfectly?

                                                          

                                               

Have you ever put on shoes that didn't quite fit but you liked them so you bought them anyway and you ended up never wearing them?  Maybe though you only buy and wear shoes that fit?  I was thinking about this the other day when I saw a pair of shoes that I let my daughter talk me into buying online.  Of course they were too narrow and tight for my fat feet but I wore them once.  I don't think my feet will ever be the same again.

This made me think of the many shoes that my husband used to wear.   He wore the shoes of husband, father, Sunday School teacher, provider, golfer, fisherman, cook and he wore these shoes very comfortably.  He also wore many shoes that he didn't particular like or have to.  He wore the shoes of  washing dishes, changing diapers, taxi driver, sweeping, mopping and even sometimes cleaning the bathrooms.  He also wore the shoes of cancer.

In wearing the shoes of cancer Richard touched many lives with his strength and determination.  He also touched many lives by sharing his testimony of being in a win-win situation.  The final shoes he wore here on earth was the shoes of death.  He now wears the shoes of every lasting life!

His wish would be that you would wear the shoes of eternal life!  He is living an eternal life because he accepted Christ as his Savior! What about you?  If you died today would you be able to put on the shoes of eternal life? 

The shoes of eternal life will fit perfect!  You will never be the same!

John 3:16 (NIV)

 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Ephesians 6:15 (NIV)

 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.