We often work too hard and might forget that life is too short not to enjoy the time we have. We place stock in the accumulation of things – the blessings from God – the special remembrances. When it’s time to clean the closet, we have an opportunity to count our blessings. In our middle years of life, we clothe ourselves with the garment of work and discipline. When we don the apparel of perfection, the disguise simply acts as a cover-up for the things going on within us. The fabric wears out. The threads begin to fray. There is nothing left but the worn, tattered rags of a frayed and meaningless existence. Clean out the closet.
My motto is, if you haven’t worn something for more than a year, it’s time for it to go. I usually go through the things in my closet in autumn and spring. My husband, on the other hand is a bit of a pack rat and places a lot of sentimental thoughts on his stuff. We are opposites in a lot of ways, but in this area, we tend to disagree. Even those differences might need to be tossed out. Clean out the closet.
Wasting our time thinking about what could have been or what might be becomes a waste of time. We need to snuggle in the warmth of the attire Christ gives us through His love. Before Jesus came into the world to save it, we were all clothed in filthy rags. In God’s eyes, we were disgusting. When Jesus died and was resurrected, our sins were wiped away – eliminated – discarded forever. His payment made it possible for us to wear a royal cloak as heirs of heaven. First, we need to cast off those old clothes. We need to ask for God’s forgiveness, repent and receive His precious blessings with thanksgiving. Then the closet will be cleansed, and we can approach Him with confidence. He has already cleaned out the closet.
The definition of the word, “curmudgeon,” can best be described in pictures rather than words, The Muppet’s grumpy fellows sitting in the balcony come to mind. I also think about Clint Eastwood telling those delinquent kids to get off his lawn. It also stirs up an image of Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau complaining about the number of fish they caught and the freezing temperatures. A curmudgeon is usually associated with the elderly. I guess that would mean I’m one of them, but usually we think of men getting grumpier as time goes by. Of course, I don’t want to be considered sexist or intolerable. I must be careful not to be offensive to anyone – not because it’s the right thing to do, but it might cause activists to protest my thoughts and words. The point is, being a curmudgeon has no boundaries. You can be one, no matter how old you are.
The truth is, when we get old, we tend to have a lot more time on our hands. We spend a lot of that time looking out our windows. If you have a creative mind, you can conjure up all kinds of scenarios that might be happening right in your own neighborhood. You sometimes feel that now that you’re old, you have a right to be grumpy. The world owes you. We think about the past a lot and wonder why things aren’t like they used to be. We can’t believe the morality of today. We don’t understand a lot of things that are going on – not because we’re addled, but because most of it doesn’t match up to our way of thinking. We worry about money. Will there be enough to keep us alive for a few more years? We’re stressed about our health and mortality. We go crazy about the state of the world, politics, elections, relationships, people that don’t believe as we do. Most of those things are situations that just about everyone is concerned about. It’s not just the elderly.
We’re all unique. Even those grumpy folks we encounter from time to time. We all feel grumpy some of the time. There is most likely a reason for the grumpiness. We can’t walk in their shoes, but we can show understanding and compassion as they go through those difficult times. If we’re guilty of being the grumpy ones, ask God to turn things around in your mind. Focus on the positive things. Don’t give up. God also gives us wisdom in that department.
Philippians 2:14-16 – “Do all things without grumbling or disputing,that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.“
It’s Curmudgeon day. Make someone happy. Laugh with them. Lift them up and encourage them. Tell them you understand.Share a silly joke.Turn their frowns upside down. Share God’s love with them.
No, I haven’t been to the Ark Encounter, but I’ve read the book. There are so many questions with this story that boggle the mind. In fact, you might call it a conundrum. A conundrum is defined in the dictionary as a confusing or difficult question – a riddle or puzzle – a pun. The story of Noah and the ark is filled with conundrums. How did he get two of every kind of animal on that boat? How did they feed them? Did the animals eat each other and call it a cruise with an endless buffet? Was the meat Kosher? Well, the questions create all kinds of images and make us laugh, but Noah was really faced with a conundrum when God approached him one day and told him to build an ark. Can you imagine?
First of all, where did he get all the materials? I don’t think there was a Home Depot in the neighborhood. There wasn’t a lot of wood to be found in his little town. How about that gopher wood. Did someone have to go for it? God was very specific in his blueprint for this vessel. He also provided for the necessary elements to make it happen. This story could be considered an epic tale or a legend. However, the fact that it’s included in the Bible and that almost every nation has some kind of great flood story to tell, is more than enough proof for me.
God’s book is filled with stories that cause a conundrum. We might call them impossible narratives. We wonder how, why, when, where and who accomplished them and that makes us suspect the truth of them. However, God’s Word is truth and I believe that this story was an actuality. I also believe that God can do anything, provide everything, cause things to happen that seem inconceivable and turn things around at a moment’s notice.
We face conundrums each day. We struggle with problems that seem impossible at the moment. We try to fix the unfixable. We hang on to our own abilities instead of trusting in the One who created the world, the universe, everything. If we turn to Him in the first place, we’d probably have less conundrums to worry about. The solutions to our problems are all in God’s hands and part of a greater plan for us. That doesn’t mean we should sit back and wait for things to happen and problems to just go away. Noah didn’t sit there and angst over the state of morality in his world. He didn’t complain to Mrs. Noah about the condition of the politics of the time. He built an ark and through him, God saved the world.
I’ve talked about my “Jewels of deNial” group in the past. This is an acting troupe which deals with the issues of aging. We’ve covered topics like technology, medical problems, memory issues, traveling in the golden years, physical maladies and dependance on others for help. One topic we’ve avoided is death. This is something most of us usually try to avoid. We may not write a will, because it adds a finality to life We may not prepare for our final days as we should. It’s not an easy subject to face into, but one that we all have encountered during our passage through time. I cringed a little as I thought about writing our next episode. Since our group is presenting the comedic side of aging, this seems a tough subject to approach from a humorous standpoint.
Death is a reality. Just like all the other truths of life. It may not be on the top of our funny bone list, but to get through it, there needs to be an easier way of coping than retreating. We encounter death through all generations. It isn’t reserved for us old fogies. Life can end at any age and it’s never an easy process. It seems much more difficult to lose a child, or a young adult who is just beginning their own adventure. It seems more logical to lose someone because of their long existence, yet the sting of death has no boundaries. The grieving process cannot be catalogued into a set pattern of behavior, because we are unique individuals who do so in our own way. What works for one person, may not be the solution for another.
Death is nothing to laugh at – or is it? Monty Python found humor in the Black Plague in his movie, “In Search of the Holy Grail.” We laughed when bodies were being gathered up by the cart full and one reluctant fellow said, “I’m not dead yet.” We chuckle as comedians approach this topic, but it’s an uncomfortable laughter to say the least. However, humor is how I look at life. Why not look at death in the same way? I don’t mean to poke fun at it or demean the necessity of the process of grief. I do think that we get through it with much help from friends and family and certainly through our faith in God.
I’m confident that once death comes, it is just a transition from a life of darkness into one of pure light and perfection. God wants everyone to be part of His family. He has prepared a place for anyone who chooses to become part of it. Even during the tears, sorrow, sadness and helplessness of death, we have the hope of a future. Laughter will be part of that perfection. I’m sure of that, because I also believe God has a sense of humor.
“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!” Psalm 30:11-12
Today is one of those days when I’ve just got nothing. It’s Throwback Thursday, so I could show you a ton of old pictures, but who cares? It’s warmer than it has been for some time, but how is that really important? I could talk about my thoughts on why PETA is suggesting that the groundhog should be replaced with a coin, but I’m sure I’d get all kinds of “radical” responses. I could write about the ups and downs of living, but who wants to hear depressing things like that? Maybe a positive post that encourages others, lifts them out of anxious moments, but don’t even get me started.
I’m not ready for negative today. I truly don’t like confrontation. I can’t stand rejection, but how do I avoid those things. I definitely love the warmer temperatures, but they’ve been rearranged into a sea of fog and dampness. I always hope to encourage others, but some days I need more encouragement than I can deal out. I could go on a rant about the politics of today, but no one wants to hear my opinion. I should really spend the day dusting, but I’ve heard that dust is made up of dead skin, so why would I want to remove parts of us? I could talk about the aging process, but why add to people’s anxiety? There are topics which need to be addressed, but I’m too tired to deal with any of them. I think I’ll just go back to bed and hope that my muse pays me a visit.
In the meantime, Happy Throw Back Thursday. Happy Irish Coffee Day. Don’t take any wooden nickels. Don’t jump into a frozen lake. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. Enjoy your day. Live it up. Go with the flow. It’s almost Friday and the weekend is right around the corner.
When you’ve got nothing, you can always think of something.
“Winsome” is one of those words we don’t use in daily conversation anymore, but it’s a lovely word. It’s an adjective which means – sweetly or innocently charming. Maybe that’s why we don’t use it much. Our world has become less innocent, more bitter and less charming. What happened to those days of innocence – when thoughts were on simple things that would amuse or entertain? Oh, well, that isn’t the reason for this post really. I’ve done my share of complaining about the state of our emotions lately. It’s time to be winsome. At least a little winsome.
Yesterday, we had a meeting with Paul’s primary doctor. Another trip to ER required a follow-up. The day before I received a knee injection and was feeling a little sorry for myself. We all have days like that. Where things don’t always go as planned. We’re traveling through life with a feeling of being on track and something happens to disrupt that. It seems to happen a lot as we get older. However, if I’m honest with myself, life has always put detours in our way, but with God’s help, we’ve managed to get through them. Life tests can be difficult. There’s no getting around that fact. No matter what we do, or how hard we try, things happen that disrupt your daily living. Some days, you just wait for the axe to fall, because you know it will.
So how do we get back on track? I guess the best way to do that is to return to the Bible for advice. God has a plan for each one of us. He has control over that plan and will direct it for our benefit. He has paid a great price to redeem us. He will never leave us. His love is indescribable. The example His Son lived during His time on earth can serve us well. We can never live up to it, but He has shown us how to treat others. We learn so much about our Heavenly Father through Jesus. When we trust in His direction, His will, His consistency, His presence, His kindness, His empathy, His love, we will be able to get through the tough times. Life is not going to be perfect in this world. The rulers of planet earth are not winsome. The politicians may be charming, but they don’t truly have our best interests in mind. Many people have lost their ability to smile, to laugh at themselves, to have fun. Confusion and dissension are all around us, but GOD is still in control. Trust in His complete love for you.
When children are between two and three years old, they begin to ask the familiar question, “Why?” Most parents can relate to that question and how it continues on and on. The fact that our kids are asking the question, is not to irritate us, even though it often does. Instead, their curiosity about their world is opening up and ready to soak in as much information as possible. Why do we have to wash our hands? Why do we have to take a nap? Why, why, why? As we grow older, we continue to ask why. By the time we reach old age, the whys aren’t’ use much anymore. We simply have filled our data bank to the brim and one more fact just might turn us into zombies.
My grandmother had a great way of dealing with frustration. When it became too hard to cope with the life changing events of losing five children to untimely death; managing a farm; nursing a husband who survived 2 massive stokes – she would go to the woods. She’d sit there for a while and look at the beauty of God’s creation, focus on it for a while, cry a little and then return to her life with a new outlook. We all go through times like this. We may even cry out to God and ask, “Why?” When trouble comes, we might even blame Him for causing them. When anxiety comes on, we again tend to ask, “Why, God?” When full-fledged depression hits, it’s easier to blame someone else for our state of mind. Instead of asking “Why,” try asking, “Why not?” By doing so, we’re opening the door to discovering why. Like little children, we expand our horizons when we ask, “Why not?”
Kids will continue to ask the repetitive questions that drive most of us crazy, but there is a reason for those questions. They really want to know. Their maturing minds are sifting through things that will eventually define who they become. Sometimes a parent might simply say, “Because I said so.” That might quiet the questioning a bit, but don’t discourage that curiosity. Positive and negative energy have one thing in common. They are both forms of energy. Choosing the negative will often lead to a defeatist attitude, self-reliance and never getting anywhere. If we decide to go the other route, we can become energized, push forward and never give up. Turning our attention to the only power source, will allow us to become fully recharged. Our Creator knows what’s best for us. After all, He has promised us that He has a plan for our lives.
I’m not a big fan of Picasso, but obviously a lot of people are. Art is in the eye of the beholder, I guess. However, the above quote from him, does make sense to me. In a time when the world wants us to redefine ourselves into something that isn’t really who God created us to be, it’s important that we understand who we are when we become part of His family.
It’s hard to believe that we can be redefined even in our older years. We’re supposed to have it all figured out by then – right? The truth is we are in a constant state of redefinition. We may take on a job we’ve never done before – we might go sky diving – we may try a new hair style or a new fashion trend. Life doesn’t stand still when we age. It’s actually being renewed with every breath we take.
I looked up the word “redefined” in the dictionary and found that one of its synonyms is “redeemed,” which is exactly what we are when we’re reborn in Christ. We’ve been purchased with a price. The price was so great that it required perfection. God knew that we couldn’t come to Him because of the sin originally planted in us by the devil, so He took our place in the form of His sinless Son, Jesus. Through Him, we are made new – we’re redefined. Because of His grace and unconditional love, we have a new identity. Instead of unforgiveable, we are forgiven.
With grateful hearts, let us now lead new lives that point others to Jesus.
Dear, Lord – I have done nothing to deserve the kindness of your perfect love, but you continue to lavish me with it every day. I have nothing to give you except my heart and even that was yours to begin with. Help me to use the right words to share your love with others so that they may have inner peace and the knowledge of forgiveness. We have been made new by what you have done for us. Amen!
My life is filled with twists and turns, with bumps along the path. A crooked road that’s filled with holes – reminders of God’s wrath. The way becomes corrupted with thorns and tangled webs. My feet are often stifled, my hope and spirit ebbs.
It seems as though I’ll never reach the end of that dark road. I feel I just can’t carry another heavy load, But there beyond my mind’s dark fears, lies light to lead the way. My Lord and Savior, Jesus is reaching out to say,
“Come follow me, my little lamb. I’ll lead you to your rest. I’ll never let you fall again, no longer will I test. Your journey has been difficult, but you’ve not been alone. Come follow me, my servant, and let me take you home.”
The week is coming to a close. The frigid temperatures should also be winding down soon. My heart has felt slightly frozen this week as wind chills cast a giant shadow over us. Each day seemed to run right into the next. We stayed inside to keep warm. Only a short trip here and there to warm up the tires and keep the car from freezing up. With each week, we count it a blessing to have more time together. Even though isolated somewhat from the outside world, we have each other.
Dear Heavenly Father, you have provided for all our needs. You continue to be with us each day and bless us with your abundant love. Though danger fills the earth and cares become a burden, you are there to keep us safe. I thank you for your love, your consistency, your tender mercy, your eternal safety even when things seem hopeless. You are always available. You will never leave us. Thank you for all these gifts, in Jesus’ precious name. Amen!
Exactly what does it mean to come to grips? This isn’t a common idiom these days. Instead we might say something like, “get in touch with your feelings,” ”learn to cope,” or “don’t sweat the small stuff.” Since today is National Thesaurus Day, I thought I’d check it out. According to them, synonyms for “coming to grips” are – clash – collide – contend – grapple or to meet head on. So what happens when someone comes to grips with something? There can be chaos, confusion, stress, anxiety, depression, decision making and problem solving involved.
In our nation today, we’re faced with these things on a daily basis. Simple things can turn into life changing events. The smallest of problems can become major issues. It’s all a matter of how we look at things. The world tells us to let go of those things. Put them on the back burner. Deal with it and forget it. Don’t let those little things get to you. The Bible has an even easier solution.
Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Psalm 55:22 reminds us, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”
Jesus told his disciples this – “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Paul told the Phillipians, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
When we place our trust in our Creator, our Father, our Savior and Redeemer, we are allowing Him to work in us. The problems we face daily, don’t have to become an obsession or unsolvable. Letting them get the best of us isn’t going to make the situation any better. It may sound too easy to place everything in God’s hands. We may feel we have to do something to repair or fix the problem, but the truth is that He invites us to come to Him with all our cares and He has promised to give us rest. So, when someone tells you, “get a grip,” you can say with confidence – GOD HAS THIS!
A funny fact about January Wednesdays in Minnesota is that they’re just like every other day of the week. For us, the temperatures have kept us homebound and we’re feeling the stress of cabin fever. When you’re 81, all days become just like the day before, unless you have a printed calendar to refer to – you tune into the daily news – or open your computer to check the date. And who in the world came up with the spelling for the word Wednesday? Someone who wanted to confuse us even further, I’m sure.
When I was five, we had underwear to tell us what day it was. Mom would line them up consecutively so that we had a clear hint us. through the week There were dish towels in the kitchen with the days of the week printed on them. Sometimes they got mixed up and it threw a wrench into the entire works. When you’re employed it’s fairly easy to determine what day it is. You’re on a specific timeline that keeps you more aware of it. Every day of the week becomes just another day when you are no longer on a schedule – or if you don’t have labeled underwear to help you figure it out – or at least you can’t find it.
Add to all that, the fact that our memories are failing. We go from room to room and can’t remember why. Our motivation has been lost somewhere between the kitchen and the living room. Wouldn’t it be nice to have those old dish towels again? Aging is not what it’s cracked up to be. When we’re young our minds are free from so much information. Our data bank is just beginning to fill up. Through adolescence, the age of discovery and exploration, begins to become a slave to our hormones. As young adults, we’re on such strict schedules, everything must be plugged into our calendars, so we don’t forget an appointment. When you start a family, you need smart watches, smart phones and smart everything to sort things out. By the time we reach old age, it’s no wonder our smart brain has turned to mush.
So, we resort to looking out the window for a camel. We refer to a calendar. We gauge our time by what game show is on TV or which doctor we’re scheduled to see. It shouldn’t be complicated, but it has become our current reality.
When I turned 21, my world seemed perfect. I was going to be married within a year. All the arrangements had been made. My father kept asking how many people were going to attend and kept a tally up until the day of the wedding, so he would know how much he’d have to fork over to the event center. I, on the other hand, was oblivious to anything other than finally becoming my own person. I still lived with my parents. I’d never lived on my own. I wanted my independence. During that year of waiting, the company I worked for was held up by two armed robbers. My life was now turned upside down. I was convinced that I’d never live beyond my 21st year. The thieves knew we had money on hand. I was the cashier on duty – the one they first approached. They ordered everyone to hit the floor, except for me. I struggled to open my cash drawer. The lock wouldn’t turn. My life flashed before my eyes. I knew I was going to die. Instead, I was told to get down on the floor and they broke the drawer open. I survived to tell this story.
There were many other tales similar to this one. For many years, I wondered how God could allow things to happen that made me anxious, frightened or worried. I knew He existed, but my image of Him was that of an angry, jealous God. I was terrified of Him. Each Sunday, I’d watch our aging pastor rise to the pulpit and spew words that would add to my fear. At the end of each sermon of fire and brimstone, he would almost whisper, “but by the grace of God, you are saved.” The fear of God was growing inside me. I attended Christian schools all the way through my senior year in high school. I did what was expected of me, yet in the back of my mind, I never thought it as enough. I could never measure up to God.
The man I married is a great example of what a Christian life should be. I thank God every day that He placed Paul in my life. I would not have survived without him. I was easily swayed by what was happening in our world at that time. Racial injustice, women’s rights, war and rumors of more, declining economy and so many tough things to ponder at such a young age. There were little things being woven in the tapestry of my life that would eventually lead me to a real connection to a loving God. Things like watching the birth of my three children. Praying with them during a tornado that just missed our house. Seeing my husband build a business that would include Christian values and ethics. Being reminded by my oldest daughter how he would start each morning at work in prayer and devotion. She was witness to this when she worked for him one summer. These tiny things made a huge difference. Each one of those incidents was molding me along the way. Troubles came. Financial issues always seemed to top the list. We struggled to get through. Illness came too. Children were hospitalized a few times, and of course there were the many trips to the ER. Not to mention several possible death experiences for both my husband and me. It seemed this journey was shaping that frightened little girl into a woman of faith.
Through this life, I’ve learned that God is not a terrifying judge who has already determined my fate. I’ve learned to put my trust in Him to lead me in the right direction, since I can’t do that alone. I’ve been so blessed to have a godly husband, who helped me to find Jesus. Whether we’re just little ones, who seem so innocent; middle-aged adults who struggle through life’s challenges and problems; or those of us in the “golden” years of aging – we all need Jesus. He is the true Son of God, who took on human flesh to become our brother, our friend, our Savior. He loved us so much that He died for us. Because He is also true God, He rose from death and promised to prepare a place for us in heaven. He’s always been there for me. I didn’t always recognize Him, but looking back, I can see times when He was right beside me all the way.
1 John 3:1 ESV ”See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”
Have we changed at all in these past 50 years? Is that mountainside ringing out freedom for all races and religions? Are we still battling the hatred and anger against one another, rather than learning to live together as brothers?
When Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke these words our country was consumed with racism. The call for freedom went unheeded for a long time and the people came together to raise the call again.
Today we hear the cry, “black lives matter” or “all lives matter” and still the problem of racism fills our streets with protests, acts of violence on both sides and more of a rift than there ever was between law enforcement and the common man. Now it seems that evil has replaced good and being part of any service vocation is now frowned upon.
Respect for life is not limited to the black race. We have problems with unborn lives not mattering. There is concern for the homeless, the poor, the aging. Christianity is taking a huge hit and the “church” has become an extension of society by falling to popular social issues and looking for a place to be entertained rather than to be forgiven.
So many strides were made in the last half century towards reunite our nations and I’m sure Dr. King would be sad to see what is going on today. Freedom never comes without a cost. Thankfully I have a Savior who has immersed Himself in all the yuck of this world and taken it to the grave to be buried at the foot of the cross. Now there is true freedom – not because of what we’ve done, but what Jesus did for the world.
To soar with the eagles no matter how high, To reach all my goals or at least I can try, To try and to fail but never give up, to turn to my God to fill my cup, To speak what I feel without fear of dissension, To believe what I choose without intervention, To live without fear and to follow my dreams, To love and be loved with a peace that redeems. The only thing needful for freedom that’s true Is to love one another as Jesus loved you.
Yesterday, I started a series on how important Jesus is for all of us. It actually was to be one post, but I got a little carried away, which happens to me often these days. Through all the stages of our lives, from young to old, we need His presence in our lives. Here is part two.
Children have many of the same problems we had when I was growing up, but everything now is right in their faces. They’re exposed to so much darkness – ugliness – sin – immorality – hatred – all about me syndrome – and fears for the future. The choices for future occupations have widened so that it often takes more than four years of college to figure out what you’re going to do when you grow up Crime rates are on the rise. The crimes seem to be even more heinous than they used to be, but I think the fact that we hear about them more, contributes to the anxiety over them.
During that second part of my 80 years, things continue pretty much the same, but they’re packaged differently. A terrorist attack on NYC changed life as we knew it. A surge of patriotism rose from it. Still, a new sense of vigilance was necessary as we became suspicious of different cultures and nationalities. Another war erupted in a part of the world that seemed to be from another time in history. Drugs became readily accessible to take some of the edge off – some prescribed while others were purchased on the street. Homelessness reached an all-time high. A worldwide pandemic forced isolation. A love affair with technology rather than interaction face to face became the norm. The desire for success and wealth became the utmost goal for many. Racial tensions remain. We became more concerned about ourselves during this time as a nation. Technology surges on and soon artificial intelligence will make it possible for us to sit around and do nothing. The sexual revolution created all kinds of new letters to the LGB logo. Not to mention gender identity. It’s enough to shake your brain.
The darkness of this world seems impossible to overcome when we examine our past. However, that doesn’t mean it has to stay this way. When you look at two generations alone, you can see the common thread is a very dark and frightening world. So how do we fix that? Only God can solve these issues. He has given us the tools to help our children endure what life throws their way. He gave us Jesus, His only Son, true man and true God – to carry our burdens to the cross – to take away our sin – to give us hope for a future with Him. I don’t know how many years I have left to wander this mortal coil, but I do know that the only One who can and has changed everything is Jesus.
Tomorrow, I’ll touch on some of the big events that brought me to my knees and turned my heart in the right direction. By the way, the journey is ongoing. We never stop learning, even when our memories fail. We all have a story, don’t we? Mine doesn’t hold some big transformation or a light on the road to Damascus experience. It does show a gradual growth of faith that occurred in my life. Jesus will change all hearts when they come to HIm and let Him do so.
2 Peter 3:9 ESV “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
John 3:18 ESV ”Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
The lovely picture associated with this post was found on the internet. I often search for images that will give my posts an extra punch and this particular one grabbed my attention immediately. When I saw it, it stirred thoughts about our current generation of children and all the issues they face on a daily basis. Things were much simpler when I was a child, yet there were still things that created doubt, brought feelings of fear, loneliness and depression. Even though my roots were often tangled by the surrounding grime of life at times, I was reminded by my parents that God was my lifeline and Jesus my Savior. It took me almost 40 years of living before I truly appreciated that information, but the message is now engrained in my heart and soul.
During the first half of my life, I struggled with things like a poor self-image. I had a fun sense of humor but wasn’t much in the looks department. I often found refuge in reading books and coming up with my own ideas for stories. There were about five times that I ran away from home, but I always returned after I realized I didn’t have any money or food.The things I faced as a child were less intimidating than kids face today, but we did have things to worry about.
A world war was just coming to an end. Another war in Korea was looming. A sexual revolution was going on and women were pushing for equal rights. A president was assassinated. His brother would run for president and be murdered before the election. Martin Luther King, an advocate for racial equality, lost his life to an assassin’s bullet. Weekly air raid drills were held in elementary school. Bomb shelters were built. The space program was established. There was corruption in government, that became known to the world via the news media. The Viet Nam war ignited. Men fled to Canada to avoid the draft. Others enlisted and served in this gruesome, senseless war and were poorly received upon their return. PTSD was a term that resulted from that war and probably existed from the times of the earliest battles. A drug culture was born. Abortion was illegal. Then I got married and had children of my own. One of my first thoughts was, how do we protect our little ones from all the ugliness in the outside world? By then I was almost halfway through my life.
Tomorrow, I’ll be talking about the second half of my life and how Jesus finally got through to me and changed it forever. Stay tuned.
This certainly has been an unusual winter for us up here in Lake Woebegon. A storm which was expected to drop several inches and create blizzard conditions eluded us. I guess it could be called a “NOstorm.” I find it really interesting how weather experts can get us all riled up – much like the newscasters of today. When even a glint of a bad situation arises, all hell breaks loose and it’s nothing but gloom and doom from there on.
We were prepared. Our driveway had recently been cleared of ice and snow by our son in law. Paul put gas in the car and took it out to warm up the tires. No plans for the weekend except to stay warm. When I woke this morning, I expected to see snow up to the second floor of our house, but nothing. We still have a little of it on the ground from the last “NOstorm,” but nothing worth getting up in arms about.
It gets me thinking about what slaves we’ve become to the media. It isn’t about to change much either with a political election looming in the next several months. Our opinions are negated – our ideas are sometimes considered offensive – our voices are silenced. We hang on by a thread to false promises, unfinished business, fear and even propaganda at times. I’ve taken a vacation from watching the news. It has made a world of difference in how I feel about things. When we have life threatening issues in our life, the last thing we want to hear is bad news. I still tune in for the weather and headlines, but even those have become like a catchword from the Enquirer magazine. Flashy words, inescapable phrases that lure us in, fear mongering and much more can infiltrate our minds and send us reeling.
So, this weekend will be colder than it has been for a long time. We’ll need to snuggle up in a warm blanket and drink some hot cocoa. Visions of snowmobiles speeding across an expanse of white and a sled dog race will have to wait. Cross country skis and snowshoes will be brought out, but it won’t be the same without our normal snowfall. So, the weather won’t be so frightful – though reports were quite inciteful – Just look outside the window – where’s the snow, where’s no snow, where’s the snow?
As I reach the end of my years, I find I have a lot of good information stored up in this old decrepit mind of mine. If I don't write it all down, it may vanish and no one will have the advantage of my thoughts. This is why this blog exists. I love the Lord, Jesus with all my heart and soul. I know I'm undeserving of all He's done for me, but I also know that His love is beyond my comprehension.
I've always wanted to write. I never kept diaries, but tucked my thoughts in my head for future reference. I use them now in creating stories, plays, poetry and my blog.
I continue to learn every day. I believe the compilation of our time spent with God will have huge affect on the way we live. I know I'm a sinner and I need a Savior. I have One through Jesus, Christ.
My book, "Stages - a memoir," is about the seven stages of life from the perspective of a woman. It addresses all the things girls and women go through in life as they travel it with Jesus, and it is available on Amazon.com.
Life is a patchwork of moments — laughter, solitude, everyday joys, and quiet aches. Through scribbled stories, I explore travels both far and inward, from sunrise over unfamiliar streets to the comfort of home. This is life as I see it, captured in ink and memory. Stick around; let's wander together.
God's amazing grace removes walls and replaces those barriers with Jesus, freedom from sin's consequences, freedom to forgive, and freedom to love unconditionally.
atimetoshare.me 
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