The Little Roaring Lion

Have you ever felt totally tripped up??  Or have you ever been tripped up by something totally unexpected??  Well that is exactly what happened to me Friday!  As I contemplated the scenario, I couldn’t help but think it reminded me big time of a section of scripture and a Biblical concept we often forget about.

Here is what happened.  On Fridays I teach a co-op group and have to be gone early in the morning.  So sometimes I decide to just walk a mile or two instead of working out at the gym to save time.  On goe the work out clothes and tennis shoes.  IPod and ear buds ready.  Down our long driveway.  Towards the end I tripped.  Thankfully I did not fall to the ground!  But I was deeply troubled by what I saw had tripped me.  Stretched across our driveway about 3 inches off the gravel was some kind of grey cable.  I followed it with my eyes to around the tree on the right side of the yard.  Who would had tried to trip me I wondered.  What evil person did this?  We live in the country sooooo, I was a bit concerned that we had a very unhappy neighbor or worse yet, one of my children deliberately tried to hurt me.  I was disturbed to say the least.  I fretted over this all day.  I did not return home until 5pm. 

I told my husband as soon as he got home.  Of course I had already confronted my boys and they both denied having done such a thing.  We had obligations that night, so the subject was dropped until the next morning.  I was busy in the kitchen when the boys came in with a totally WILD CAT story!  They had found the culprit!  A four legged, furry, fat, cat!  We had been having trouble with cats getting into our trash trailer and so this time one really got strung up.

My youngest son had throw some old weed eater line in the trash trailer some weeks prior, and the trailer was getting rather full.  So apparently this cat had gotten stuck, he obviously frequented the dinning hall trailer.   But on this night he was about to get caught!  Something scared him and he took off out of the trailer.  Unfortunately, he had been doing as all cats do playing with the ball of weed line.  He had gotten that heavy duty weed line tangled around his foot.  He then hopped out and ran across the driveway around the tree twice and then hid in the drain pipe at the edge of the driveway!

Now you could not see the cat.  It looked like a perfect set up of a prank.  The line was tight and low just for tripping without one seeing where they were walking.  But by investigating and following the line they found the twisted cat that had so devilishly tripped me.  I couldn’t believe it!

But it reminded me of the fact that satan, our enemy is roaming around like a roaring lion, seeking to devour me!  Just like this cat had tried to destroy my day!  This cat was just a small version of a roaring lion!  Deceptive, unnoticed, secretive, yet totally creative, least expecting……those are words to describe satan the roaring lion and this little roaring lion of a cat! 

So be on your guard!  satan is out to get you!  In any and every way he can!  This is serious business!  satan is out to destroy you……your day….your week….your year and ultimately he wants to crush your testimony!  He is not going to come announcing his presence, he is not going to send you a memo or make an appointment.  he doesn’t need to have a conference to ask you where to target his attack….her already knows.  He is going for the bulls eye and to get your where you are weakest and least expecting!  His last words to me were….have a nice trip, see ya next fall!

So…….keep your eyes open so you won’t get tripped up by a roaring lion----big or small!

Be self-controlled and alert.

Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring

lion looking for someone to devour.

1 Peter 5:8

 

 

Sketches of an Angel

A Tribute to my Dear Beloved Friend

Shannon Buttram

Taking a blank piece of paper and a pencil, God sketched me an Angel today. She sorta looked like this….

The first glimpse was in the home of a family from our Sunday school class. They had invited us over for dinner, a delicious meal and fun fellowship. God, my heart is breaking into and You have me dine with someone who looks just like my friend Shannon—thank You…. who I just found out about 4 hours ago, died three weeks ago, but for me….it was only a few hours ago. Stunned…..i walk in and see a little Hannah and Andy….I see Mike and Shannon. Now they didn’t see my Angel…..but I did. We have never been in their home until this very day….hum…I see an Angel cooking in her kitchen like years past. Though we didn’t have Shannon’s yummy salsa….or I remember the Sunday we stopped by and had bologna sandwiches….It hurt me to watch the man last night across the table, laughing along with his wife, he was kinda short and dark haired with a sprinkle of grey, his laugh and face reminded me so much of Mike, he was short and sweet, just as I remembered. Their little boy was the spit image of Andy, though younger by far than the young man Andy is now, dark hair framed his face, slender arms and legs. Yes, my Angel’s little boy. But it was the little girl that I kept having to fight back the tears. She looked so much like Hannah when she was little I wanted to run into the bathroom and bawl my eyes out. Lord……….it seems too much. My heart was so grieving for this dear family, Father, why are we here with these people today…….when I should be home mourning for my friend Shannon…… “Because my daughter, I have brought you here to mourn. See my Angel, remember her this way. Remember her as you knew her. Remember her caring, her serving, her love!”

The next morning as I readied for church, the tears came on…..the pencil moving once again on the paper, sketching out an Angel…..Picture upon picture came flooding my mind, memories overwhelmed my senses….Consuming my every thought. Shannon’s smile and her cute little chuckle demanded my attention. The bedroom she painted for Hannah came to my mind, the bright Mary Englebright. She did such a fabulous job so creative! I see the kids playing dress up while we pray together. I see my Shannon’s heart as she cleaned my house for inspection. I smell her wisteria tree out front. I remember butch the dog…..

I heard an Angel today at church. I was singing Worthy is the Lamb, when I heard her voice. I saw Shannon’s smile, she was in her choir robe singing and bowing before her maker, who she finally sees face to face. She is worshipping with me while we sing Worthy is the Lamb…..she believed that. I cried and cried...But as I raised my hands and sang…she sang with me. We sang together, it was the most bittersweet moment. Shannon sang many times; she had a beautiful voice….one that is still heard today!

The Angel followed me to Sunday School, and as I looked around the room at the faces, though the Angel knew none of their names, she had invested in them. Shannon had spent many hours typing for me. She was my hands at the keyboard in writing some of my oldest child’s cancer journal. She typed and laid out my first entire retreat folders and my teaching notes. Plus she put them together, plus helped with all the goodies we prepared for it. As well on my very first retreat attempt, she encouraged, smiled and supported it the whole way through. Where do you find such a friend? I have used these materials and the experience, several times over…..Shannon, has gone with me everywhere! Her time spent on my behalf is still manifested in the lives that cross my pathway today.

I saw an Angel today….I got out my cards and I just wanted to be close with my friend. So I sat at the table with paper, scissors, stamps and buttons all around. And I looked over and found my Angel had come to make cards with me. Shannon had the gift of encouragement and it was something we learned together and it was a sweet, sweet connection. We spent many, many times stamping together. These was such precious times. And now as I sit at the table making cards, I missed her so much, it hurts, I cry and cut and cry and cut….. I will need to use these soon. Why Lord, why…

“Because she is your inspiration to make cards and to encourage others, she did that. You too must be reminded when you get lazy and busy, that Shannon was never too busy for people!”

I remember the surprise birthday party she had for me, when my family had forgotten me. She hadn’t. I remember when she put salt in the chocolate chip cookies instead of sugar!! I remember having Bible study together. I made cards all afternoon to be with my Angel….Lord, thank You for every moment that I had with Shannon, it has made me love You and others deeper. Her unconditional love was so inspiring. Lord, help her smile to never fade from my memory…..The Angel is an ever present reminder, that my dear Shannon is gone…………

I have been with my family today alongside my Angel, and I cried, just feeling so blessed and knowing the pain that Mike, Andy and Hannah must be feeling! I can’t imagine, but I feel guilty to enjoy one moment of the day….it was father’s day, and I wonder if Mike was not huddled in tears and loneliness.

I have cried long into a headache, I have bawled my eyes out…..then the Angel taps me on the shoulder and I see forgiveness….Shannon taught me so hard lessons about life. But ones, that though they hurt beyond words, I am so glad for them because they showed me a lot about myself that wasn’t so pretty and I worked very hard at relationship because of what I had learned in ours……

All day I wanted to be alone and cry, be alone and just remember all the things that spelled SHANNON to me. My grief was so deep…. I can only imagine her memorial service was filled to overflowing with “Angel evidence”.

Oh Lord, Angel showed me a peek at mercy today…..wonder if we had never reconciled our friendship??? Oh Lord, mercy took on new meaning today!

As I read all her face book entries tonight, I again cried thinking of my dear Shannon, more sketches of an Angel. Entry after entry, declaring her love for others! My Angel sat on the corner of my desk and showed me pictures of when we were out there to see her the two times since reconnecting. Priceless moments of heart entwined and reborn once again…stronger than ever!

I don’t want to close my eye for fear the Angel will leave. But I have enjoyed spending time, just thinking of Shannon as she is, I am very sure, in heaven smiling and laughing with Jesus. I see her kneeling at his feet washing them. I see what she always longed for fulfilled and now I can go to sleep…. praying God will leave this “sketch pad” on the tablet of my heart forever! This was only a light sketching!

Shannon Buttram

Oct. 2, 1966-May 23, 2011

A woman after God’s own heart

A woman whose smile never faded

Even when angry she grinned!

She laughed at her own mistakes and everyone else’s too

She was faithful

She was served others

She loved God

She loved her husband

She loved and adored her kids

She loved life, no matter what God sent her way

She was a fighter to the very end

She was a heartwarming encourager

She was a leader

She was a walking testimony of God’s Grace

She was a prayer warrior

She was a hard worker

She made beautiful cards

She was a painter of canvas

She was a writer

She was a Jesus Girl now with her Pappa!

The Great Equalizer

The Great Equalizer

 

I have a power that must be acknowledged

I demand attendance from the living

I silence the speaking

I move the unmovable

I make people’s world come to a stop

I make the hard hearted cry

I make big burly men bow at my command

I make enemies stand side by side

I make the busy stand still

I control people’s waking thoughts

For a moment, I demand shunning to stop

I cause two women to speak that haven’t in years

I cause the rich and the poor to be on equal ground

I cause the hungry and full to eat at the same table

I make the hateful neighbor express kindness

I make all difficult situations unimportant

I illuminate bad attitudes as stupid

I make everyone question what life is about

I cause people to miss work

I redirect people’s hobbies for a day

 

I redirect everyone’s agenda to mine

I make everyone uncomfortable

I cause people to say things they’ve never said

I dictate people’s schedules

I cause angry marriages to soften for a time

I cause arguments to cease

I bring out the best in everybody

I cause time to stand still

I make speeches stop mid sentence

I make tears drench the dry eyed

I cause people to think their deepest thoughts

I am no respecter of persons

I request the young and old and all in between

I claim the rich and poor

I always arrive at the most inconvenient of times

I never come with an invitation

I do not ask for permission

I am Death

I was recently reminded of these things through the death

of a special young lady.  May we be reminded to take

 each day with a little bit more importance!

TOTEally Blessed!!

Toteing Encouragement to those who need it!

Mission trip to Tornado victims

Let me ask you a question. Who is more blessed when doing mission work, the receiver or the giver? Better stated maybe, can you give a blessing without receiving a blessing? I want to share a recent experience that answers those mind boggling questions.

The idea began as we saw Alabama & Tennessee (our sphere of influence) be totally blown away by fierce tornadoes late April. The news showed pictures of the swirling beasts that ravaged and tore through towns and countryside destroying everything in its pathway. With no respecter of persons, it left nothing unscathed. Everything it touched it blew apart. Every person it came in contact with-- changed forever. Some things will never be the same.

How do you help those who have lost everything? How do you comfort those whose loved ones where swirled up into the evil funnel monster never to breathe again? We have no words, as we sat back and helplessly watched on our TVs and listened on the radio to the destruction that transpired… just down the road.

I wanted to help, but seemed helpless in knowing how. I couldn’t offer a roof….I lived too far away for an everyday commute. There was no electricity to cook meals. Day after day, I watched helplessly as victim after victim sorted through their pile of belongings, many in which had to dig through their house pieces first. Wood beams strewn everywhere, from the camera it looked like a bunch of toothpicks! But that pile of toothpicks used to be someone’s house!

A month later…..with a plan in place, three ladies with three youth set off to TOTEally Bless those that God would show us as we headed toward the ravaged tornado eaten land. We had the idea that surely they needed totes to put their few gathered belongings in, and something to put everyday supplies in, as they sit under a tarp on a concrete pad, gone their houses. Or those in shelters would need something to tote around. Even those who had a relative or friend to stay with, as they went back to their forsaken plot, would need something to put any memorabilia they could find in. Though water soaked, perhaps torn and muddied, it still belonged to them. Broken it may be, but if they wanted to keep it, they needed a place. So the TOTE idea was born.

What we saw when we went to the first place, will forever be etched in my mind, leaving its scars on my heart forever….It was a one lane older trailer park. At the beginning you could see damaged trailers, many too unstable to be occupied. Then midway down we stopped and got out our totes. There were workers putting up electric lines. These people, that is, those who remained had been without electricity for a month. Imagine that….

The as I walked down, I saw a baby crib next to a tree near the road. Nailed to the tree were these words: LOT 8…… the lonely crib beneath the words. Can words express my heart, I think not. I went to it tears streaming down my cheeks…….a pile of trailer and contents shoved at the top of the lot, the trailer pad clear……no more home, no more family. I looked around through teary eyes there were more empty concrete pads. At the top was a pile of what someone had called home, a board over the pile with their house number on it. Probably 8-10 trailers, vanished like that….what happened to the people? A lone ball told me one empty pad belonged to a family with children.

I saw toilets tossed on the top of piles, my sense of privacy and indoor conveniences threaten to smother me. I saw a mangled bed frame and springs from another baby crib….where is the baby? Did he or she make it? I had to turn away from the piles of home, it seemed as though I was invading their privacy, though much of the pile was unrecognizable. Everywhere you turned; there was a pureed home site! But occasionally, when you zeroed in….I saw a teddy bear. At the far end pad, a bike…. will the owner ever ride again?

We gave totes to the few people who were in their unstable mobile homes. Some totes we left on door steps. We talked with the workers who were trying desperately to restore power to these trailers. Some of them were volunteers from a nearby church that we had passed. It was totally flattened. I was humbled at their hard work for others.

God had more for me to see….in the middle of the park there was a shack that looked like the middle of a trailer, like maybe the kitchen sitting in the middle of a concrete pad. What I would soon find out it that someone actually lived inside this pieced together hut!! His name was Louie. Louie had an unusual outlook on life, for you see, Louie was blind! He helped me see a lot of things. He did not have any electricity, yet he was happy! His entire square footage could be reached by leaning over, yet he was happy! He had no air conditioning (and it was a hot day!), yet he was happy! He had no refrigeration, no iced tea, or cold milk or ice cream, yet he was happy! He could not get around outside without help, yet he was happy! He was delighted at the simplest of things. He was overjoyed to have company! The tornado had taken his home, yet he was happy!

*God forbid I had a single complaint the rest of the day!*

*Thank you Louie for helping me see happiness is a choice!*

I didn’t think I could take anymore. But God had more for me to see…We went down the road and around the bend…..Nice fancy houses gone….just with a snap. One of the strange things was that you could tell you were entering a tornado area as you approached you could see the striped trees, the uprooted 150 year old oaks, the trees that had been twisted and snapped into. It looked like a war zone! What used to be a beautiful shaded countryside, now a barren wasteland. It was as though a logging company had blazed through cutting down everything in sight and then just left it there! Now again, I was seeing this one month later and still it was as though no time had passed. Huge piles of trees and branches lined the edges of the road.

I couldn’t control my thoughts as I passed the guard hut and gate that went into a gated upper class community. The hut now missing the entire front and part of the roof did a poor job of keeping this community safe. The thought came to me…..no matter how much you guard your belongings…. they can never be completely safe! Tornados are master thieves---nothing keeps them out! No code necessary….they come and go as they please, taking whatever they want!

Down another road we came to a couple of trailers. We parked and got out some totes and began to walk down the road. We stopped at a home where a young man name Juan was working. Again, I was about to be blessed. We gave him a couple of totes. He told us about his daughter and the terrible tornados that had damaged his trailer and roof. But as we inquired about his home, he pointed to across the street. ‘No I don’t live here, but over yonder. I am just here helping my neighbor.’ He said. He had put aside his own needs to help his neighbor who had extensive damage and no insurance. We prayed with him and encouraged him. He has no idea how his joy just to be alive went with me when I left him.

As we crossed the street, yet again, I was to be challenged. A young lady stopped and rolled down her window and asked if she could get us some ice cold water! Boy was I about to just fall apart at her love. Now, I of course, didn’t know her, didn’t even know if she was in a hurry, had an appointment, or was just wandering around helping how she could. But no matter the reason, her obedience touched the deepest rivers of my soul, reminding me of the living water that filled me and I need to be about sharing that living water with everyone I meet. She had to stop what she was doing, change her plans, and delete her agenda to minister to me! WOW!

How many more lessons Lord?….. We left there and went to another devastated subdivision where only two houses were left standing, one of which the roof was collapsed inside and parts of the sides were missing. Not inhabitable but the owners were there getting a few more things. They had the only running bathroom in the whole neighborhood. Though most were gone since their houses were either entirely obliterated or just a few rooms left. This woman was in an insurance battle so no settlement had been made and they were just trying to make it in a rented motel. There were some small children splashing in a kiddie pool in the front yard surrounded by insulation and other debris. They were happy, totally unconcerned about the world around them. That blessed my heart. We left the lady with as much toilet paper as possible and some encouragement as we listened to their story.

We went to the other house on that street, a man Mr. Applebee answered and we were told he was the contact person for that subdivision as people came and went checking on their place and the cleanup crews and so forth. He had a lump in his throat as he shared that he had never seen such a display help and love. I told him that it was nice to put a face to our prayers and he mentioned that he indeed was a blessed man as he looked everyday at his neighborhood and he only had to have the outside of his house replaced and a new roof.

As we drove through the neighborhood, we were speechless. A sobering sight. House after house totally destroyed. There was no privacy as you could see right inside the center of the houses if even that much remained. A life once lived there….

We saw a closet with clothes still hanging on the rack. It was totally amazing with all the wind and destruction and obliteration. I wondered if the family had huddled in that closet and their lives spared??! I was struck dumb as I thought about the bed I had climbed out of and the coffee pot button I had pushed that morning---yes I kissed my coffee pot when I got home. My kitchen aid and dishes……….where were their dishes and appliances? Yes, I felt at that moment like the richest woman on earth, like a queen living in a royal palace compared to what was before my eyes.

*Lord, forgive me for my lack of appreciation and gratitude for conveniences!*

*Lord, forgive me for not valuing my neighbors!*

*Lord, forgive me for my apathy for life!*

*Lord, forgive me for my complaining tongue!*

We made two more stops. One was at a church around the area, in which we went in to see if they knew of other families that might need a tote. We talked with the pastor and he was so touched, he did have some of his own flock who had lost everything. We left him a few totes to bless them with and we left TOTEally Blessed.

We then went to another county and followed the devastation to another trailer park. Besides the dreadful look of trees snapped off everywhere and debris strewn, there was this strange, yet familiar sight. The whole front row of concrete pads were empty! I knew immediately why, it was not because they did not have customers, I wondered if those customers were alive. Indeed the landlord confirmed my suspicion that the whole front row was swiped away. She did not tell me if they had casualties, as that would breach confidence, but looking at the place, surely some of these occupants were in the death toll number. The woman went on to tell us where the storm shelter was and that they had over 270 people in it. When I went outside to get in the van, I looked to where the storm shelter was, the tornado literally went right over their heads straight to the front row!!

She was teary as she told us about that dreadful night. She was glad we brought totes with supplies for they were all still without electricity and just last week had run out of donations to give to their renters.

Hot, tired and thirsty, we climbed back into the church van, we had given away 46 totes that day in hopes to be a blessing to someone…

*But we were the ones TOTEally Blessed!*

I realized as I sat in my air-conditioned home, eating a warm,

home cooked meal, sitting in clean comfy clothes,

drinking a cold glass of iced tea this thought:

Contentment has a price!

Today, I got it for free… Someone else paid for it!

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.

But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

I Timothy 6:6-8

Who’s the Project Me or the Kids ? Boomerang Ministry

 

Have you ever been asked to join on a task, or a mission opportunity and think, “Sure I would be glad to help and minister in this way.” Thinking that your addition to the group of workers would benefit the goal of the ministry. Or perhaps maybe you agree because it is something you like to do or maybe it is something you are good at so a “yes” was easy to come by. Whatever the reason, even if you feel it is simply because God has asked you to be a part of this work.

Recently I had one of those “WOW” unexpected experiences. One where I thought I was going to do the ministering (that is what they asked me to do) but instead I was ministered to by the very people that was “the project”. Here is what happened………

A little back ground first………..I had been writing a book for over a year and it was near completion. Actually I was in the final editing stages. The final two weeks of editing the book that then would go out to the world…..scary to think about. Anyway, I had already had some other “assignments” for God that had hindered the completion of this deadline. Therefore, I had to extend it a week and felt like I could not ask for another extension. However, the task they wanted from me was not hard, and I didn’t need to do anything at home, but work hard the day of the event which was on a Sunday so I thought that was easy enough. I would be exhausted, but at least It would not take up my typing time with this deadline looming over me.

Now these people had no idea what my book was about, they did not even know I had written one! (But God did!) But the very event they wanted my help with was the heart of my book!! How could I deny doing this as I looked at the pages every day of my book, I could not turn my head away and say no………….

The event was a Valentine Banquet for the Bus Ministry kids and their families. The idea was for the kids to serve their parents. My job was simply to help them color place mats. That sounded easy enough. Now I love to do crafts, and most people know that, but doing crafts with little kids well, that is my least favorite group to work with……………………but, this was simple I thought……..

I asked some of my youth gals to join me in “serving”. So it was that after church that morning, I had brought lunch fixings and prepared lunch for my boys and the youth girls that were going with me. No need to go home as we live a good distance from the church and we needed to be at the community center by 12:30 or so. After downing our lunch, we left. The youth girls did a fabulous job organizing my job! They took over and were great with the kids. I helped decorate the tables that we had set up the day before. We put place cards at each place. There were balloons, candles, hearts, confetti, etc. It really was done up so nice for these kids and their families.

It was not long after putting the finishing touches on the tables that the kids began to arrive! What seemed like mass chaos was really very normal. But what I found was that my heart was having a hard time taking in the faces of these children. Looking into their eyes was my undoing. Just what did I see?

Oh such longing to be held, longing to be loved. Some eyes still haunt me today. Eyes that say does anybody care? Eyes of disappointment that their parents or guardians (many don’t have parents or one parent is missing) didn’t show up. I wanted to gather them up into my arms and make all their sadness go away. I wanted to tell them everything was going to be alright---but then that would make me God. For I can’t make any promises. I can’t tell the abused little girl that it will be alright. I can’t tell the little boy that his papa will get out of jail and all will be well once again. I couldn’t tell the angry filled eyes that would not look at me of an older kid whose dreams had been crashed asunder that tomorrow his dreams would come true. The eyes that just wanted a mamma to hold them.

BUT I could tell them about my Jesus Who can heal the broken hearted, and through trusting in Him, change their hearts. Maybe their situation would never change, but they would be changed from the inside out so that no matter what happened, they could walk through it with Jesus.

If paper had eyes, this paper, then it would not be able to contain the emotions that looked at me that day. It would be void of words to describe the eyes of the broken hearted, the broken lives and homes of these children.

Yet the most magnificent thing was that they were the most grateful kids. Even with many of them in situations beyond belief, they were smiling at me. It was really a mixture beyond description. A thankfulness and excitement for the party/dinner and the songs they were going to sing on stage later. Maybe it was the smile of a soon to be full belly of a kid that usually went to bed hungry. I don’t really know. But it was a tonic that left my head reeling!

The kids, though precariously, served their family the dinner one piece at a time, their faces beaming to serve. Then they got up and sang their hearts out about Jesus! It was so sweet, so precious to see.

Then while they were all eating 3 of my youth got up and impromptu sang. If I was not already undone, my tears fell overboard! I bawled. The praises they were singing seemed to open up the flood gates and I couldn’t contain the tears any longer.

Though physically my hips, knees, shoulders and back were killing me, I could not sit still. I just wanted to grab a hand, pat a head, hold a small one in my lap. I simply wanted to love them, the very thing they needed. The Valentine Banquet could not have been a more appropriate theme for ----Just lovin’ ‘em!

Now let me explain partly why I was so exhausted. The night before the Banquet, I had edited my fingers to the bone, but by 11:15 pm, I still had 11 pages to go. I set an alarm for 6:15 (the latest time possible! I leave for church at 7:15) for fear I would miss early service at church which starts at 8am. But for those of you who know me I am badly mechanically impaired.

So long before I was rested and ready to get up, I heard my alarm go off!! I groaned and got up to turn off my alarm. In the midst of doing so I moved one too many buttons. I was confused because now the clock said 4:05 am! Then it said 6:15am! I flipped all kinds of switches, by then I had no clue what time it really was. So to my dismay, I had to climb down stairs to see the clock on the stove. You guessed right, it was 4:05 am!! No wonder I was tired. I crawled back in bed refusing to get up.

I lay there ten minutes awake. I finally threw back the covers and went down stairs. On the way down I said, “I am not, I repeat, am not going to open my computer!!” I was so sick of editing, my mind was fried, my fingers twisted. The last thing I wanted to do was work on the document that early in the morning after not getting much sleep. I knew I would be gone all day, but still I just didn’t think I could do it.

I sat down in the recliner, the computer haunting me, laughing at me, mocking me that I would never be done. I closed my eyes against the onslaught of condemnation from my computer (the enemy). It just stared at me silently willing me to open it.

I opened it!! I finished the last words at exactly 6:15 am!! The time my alarm was SUPPOSED to go off. Now if that is not God’s favor shining upon me then I’m blind! So now you know just how epic the rest of the day, The Valentine Banquet for the bus kids, was to me. Over the past week as read and edited The Bus Ride, I read about the life of a bus kid. Her abuse, sadness, and loneliness leaving ugly scares on my own heart. To read about how unloved she felt was more than I could take.

So I saw that little girl I had written about in everyone one of those faces that day. Who could have planned an ending to my book like that but to visit the very hearts of this story that took place somewhere else, some other time with different lives. But the bus ministry is not held by time, it is needed as much today as it was then!

So I left there asking God: Who was the project? Me or the Kids!

Etches of February

 

Where does the time fly??!!  It certainly seems to take off with a roar and then is no more!  I wanted to write about what a Dazzling December we had.  But here it is March, soooo, let me share with you what a Fabulous February we had.  Take a peek.

• Feb 1:  received my manuscript back with a 2 week final deadline on editing the entire thing one last time! OOOO! that is scary!
• Feb 3:  my husband left for CA to board a ship for work.  What a bummer—a cruise without me—But at least i got some beautiful flowers out of the arrangement!
• Feb 2-5: cut 243 squares, embroidered them with the names of Jesus, sewed them together, then clipped all the rows, both ways.  Washed it!  It was an Alabama football rag quilt, a group gift for our Sunday School teacher.  Had fun making the matching bag and card for the gift as well.
• Feb 6: Hosted a Sunday School breakfast for Faithful teacher  Worked on D-Now stuff in the afternoon.  Went to Super Bowl party that night.
• Feb 8-9:  Worked on D-Now stuff.  Baked for Stellar Kart.  Got caught in a snow storm----got really flaked out!
• Feb 10: from 7pm until 11:30 pm helped set up light and sound, and worked on D-Now decorations
• Feb 11:  Worked all day on D-Now, it began at 6pm brought home 6 girls for a sleep over.  Was a fabulous night setting our hearts afire for God once again.
• Feb 12:  Youth D-Now continued 8 am thru 6pm.  Great to see youth’ hearts moved as well as my own.  Lots of tears, but for a good reason!
• Feb 13: RESTED
• Feb 19:  begged for an extension on my manuscript!  Even though my fingers were busy typing every spare moment, it wasn’t enough!
• Feb 20: worked at a Valentine Banquet for our bus kids and their families.  It was heart wrenching but you will understand why so if you read my book.  I will write an article about this particular day and event and post it later.  But just know it was a hard day not only on my body, but my heart more so.  Also had several of my youth girls join me.  It was awesome to see them minister in several different ways.  Up at 4 am i finished the last words of my book before working with the very heart of what my book is about.  A real face to face with my Abba that day!
• Feb 26: Husband came home!!  Hooray!  We had a party for him!

And with this kind of February, I am afraid March will March right on in!  Oooopppsss!  It already did!  I hope Marvelous March  has me obeying God to do whatever He has for me! 

A little bit of Heaven – December Living!

This December was special. For several different reasons, we have not been in a church that really had any Christmas activities for many years.  So we were about to have our socks blessed off!    Here is a sneak preview………….of our month long celebration of our Baby King Jesus!

Dec. 4:  We had company for the day, encouragement on the way (We were the cheering squad!  Keep running hard!)

Dec.5:  The children’s department put on a play/musical.  It was sweet!

Dec. 6:  Served lunch at Mottlow Com. College (Everyone still remembered my oldest son who attended there last year—makes you wonder why!!??)

Dec. 7-9: Served drinks and meals with the youth for the dinner theater each night!  Loved the show, music, food.  But my favorite was serving!

Dec. 9:  Sam home from college

Dec. 10: Sunday School Party!

Dec. 11:  Celebrated my oldest son’s belated birthday- bowling

Dec. 12:  We had company

Dec, 13:  A date with my Honey going to see Disney on Ice!

Dec. 16:  Home school co-op registration

Dec. 19:   Took kids to Disney on Ice in the afternoon  after church

Dec. 19:  Traditional Christmas story night and ornament gift

Dec. 22:  Grammy arrived, lots of cooking!!

Dec. 24:  Bible story  and caroling, Silent candle light communion at church

Dec. 25: The celebration of all celebrations

Dec. 28:  Youth Senior girls sleepover!!!  Some didn’t sleep at all!!

Dec. 29: Left for the Brown’s in Washing DC. until the New Year!

Did I mention hand making 150 Christmas cards in my sleep!

Sandwiched between 

Dazzling December

and

 fabulous February

was

Just January!

The Evil Blender

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9

Who me?  My heart deceitful?  Really?

My blender was on the fritz and I just happed to see an advertisement for the most magnificent Blender ever on TV one morning while was working out at the gym.  Hmmmm…..that blender does everything but the dishes!  So I began my devious plan…..
I had convinced myself that I could make the fabulous “power” drinks with this awesome blender. It would be so healthy and maybe it would help me to loose a few pounds I thought to myself.  Why you could even make fresh soup with it and it would be heated to boot! 
Just watching all those veggies and fruits going and whalla a delicious drink. So I was sold. But the price was ridiculous, something like over $200!  So I still needed a blender but I could not bring myself to consider one that expensive.  BUT then there is always eBay………….
So, my wonderful husband found me a blender exactly like that one for a fraction of the cost.  Actually it cost me no more than getting a replacement average blender like the one I had.  So I was so excited.  When it arrived…………..
Did I immediately shove spinach leaves, tomatoes, apples and carrots down it’s throat?  Why no………..immediately my heart began to convince me with this powerful machine I could make the most awesome blueberry shakes with the blueberries we had picked in the summer and the fresh cream from the cow.  In just a push of the button it was a dream come true.  I have never seen it work like that and it was so frosty like………….hummm……..
I wonder if i could make my own Java Chiller/frappe?  I made the coffee and put some creamer, caramel, and chocolate syrup, so ice cubes and put it in the freezer to chill.  I got out the ice cream, the ice, the chilled coffee.  Got all the yummy ingredients into the blender hit the on button and in less than an nano instant java “killer” was ALL over the place……..
Something had gone wrong and it had leaked all out the bottom and was melting fast.  I lifted the container only to have more pour out.  What a mess, I duped it in to the sink.  Humph!  I was not chilled nor thrilled with this turn of events!  I cleaned up the offensive container and examined it over.  I could not figure out the problem so I put every thing back together best I could and tried again.  Same thing…………….! UHG! What is the deal!  This is such a sticky mess!  So finally hand stirred the contents left and drank it.  It was delicious, I drank it all the while  this “possessed” machine stared at me.  I turned my back to it, not even wanting to look at it while I sucked down the last bit.  later………
I went to clean up the kitchen and clear the counters.  I picked up my fabulous blender and in the process I leaned it forward and sweet coffee pour out all over me, the counter, down into the cabinets, between my toes.  It was like the flood gates had been released and the yummy liquid came rushing at me.  I was so shocked I could barely move…………..
I put the offensive blender base, vent side down in the sink just incase there was any more liquid in the thing.  I wanted out of there.  After soaking several towels and heading to the shower myself………
What a blunder of a day…….did I ever use it for the “reason” my heart said to buy it?  Have I yet made a power drink??  No……….but it is interesting that I immediately thought of two shakes that my heart would love to have and managed to try both back to back…………interesting………..

The things our hearts deceive us about are limitless.

  So lesson learned:

Never Trust my Heart!

(I was going to put a picture---but it was a mess!)

Riptide Christians

Allow God to take you wherever He wishes!

I was leaning over the railing at Monterey Bay watching the sea otters and harbor seals play. They are so cute as they splashed at each other, dive under the water, come up laughing (barking). They seem to have this serenity about them that just amazed me. It did appear that life was all about fun and games. I watched mesmerized by their carefree nature. I knew God had a lesson for me….

I want to be like the animals of the ocean, the sea otters, sea lions, dolphins and seals; allowing God to take me wherever the current flows for His glory and His “porpoise”! I don’t want to be held back by worry or fear nor shackled by bitterness and hate. I want to be free to go with the flow! Now, the sea animals do swim and go where they want to in a general sense, but the current tides do take them in and out.

I want to be like the dolphins when the tide takes me out into the depths of the seas making me rely on God in a BIG OCEAN (world). Boy that can mean an ocean full of things from moving across country to a new community, going to a new church, getting a new job, giving a speech in front of hundreds of people, getting married, having children, etc…..

I want to be like the seals when the tide crashes me on the rocks of life, causing me to cling to God for every breath. This may be a loss of a job, a loss of health, a divorce, cancer, death of a loved one, depression, etc.

Go with the flow and let God grow you whether you are in the depths of the sea with darkness surrounding you or the searing pain you experience as you are dashed against the rocks. Cling desperately to Him; allow Him to have His way in your life.

My prayer for you and me:

That we go freely and joyfully wherever He takes me!

A song comes to mind that expresses this thought

Wherever He leads I’ll go B.B.McKinney

“Take up thy cross and follow Me” I heard my Master say; “I gave My life to ransom thee surrender your all today!”

He drew me closer to His side, I sought His will to know; And in that will I now abide—wherever He leads I’ll go.

It may be thru the shadows dim or o’er the stormy sea; I take my cross and follow Him—Wherever He leadeth me.

My heart, my life, my all I bring to Christ who loves me so; He is my Master, Lord and King—wherever He leads I’ll go!

Wherever He leads I’ll go, Wherever He leads I’ll go

I’ll follow my Christ who loves me so—wherever He leads I’ll go!

L i v e L i f e on “P o r p o i s e”!

And then He said to them all: “If anyone would come after Me,

he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me!”

Luke 9:23

 

Heaven’s Ashes


As I gaze out the window and watch the snowflakes swirl around the house, I am amazed at the look. It is so beautiful to see the snow falling. Absolutely breath taking the view before my eyes. The snowflakes quickly band together forming solid covers on everything outside. I have watched with fascination, the farm yard, the out buildings and vehicles slowly turn white. This so completely draws my eyes and my heart to think of God.

So I look up to where all this glorious white wonder is coming from and I am shocked! For as much beauty as the snow possesses, the sky is frightfully dark. Can this be? That something so beautiful can come from such and ugly sky? How can something so pure and so white come from something so angry and black?

I couldn’t help but think about the passage in Isaiah 61:3 where it talks about God making beauty from ashes. He does that in our lives today! He takes our failures & weaknesses and turns them in to something beautiful and useful for His glory and His purpose.

We are like the snowflakes from our individuality, there are no two alike, to our sinful heritage, the black in our lives, to the pure snow white heart God gives us through His salvation.

An extra special lesson for me today is Christmas! So I can’t help but think about Baby Jesus coming into the dark world, He being the pure, sinless, snow, covering us with His Salvation. Making something beautiful out of the ashes!

So when you see snowflakes, look at the sky and praise God for the beauty He has made out of your dark messed up life!