God is in CONTROL

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Treasures of the Snow - Job 38


He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes. Psalm 147:15-17

What is it about a snow day that makes us all feel like celebrating? We always get out the hot chocolate, make soup -- and even cook a big breakfast! Haven't done "SomeMores" or hot dogs in the fireplace -- but that would be a great option!

My students, who did show up on Thursday, were all wired -- certain that they wouldn't be back to school on Friday (of course, here in OK we tend to call things off well before the first flakes start to fall and on Wed. night the Governor did declare a state of emergency - the reason for so many absences) -- I gave my usual warnings -- "You're not the experienced driver you think you are -- drive like you have an egg under your foot -- no quick braking -- no sudden acceleration -- don't over correct if you start to spin just enjoy the ride (maybe that wasn't the best advice)-- BE CAREFUL and I want to see you all back here on Monday".


For us teachers -- it's that unexpected time off to catch up -- We got off an hour early so I loaded up my briefcase with papers to grade and a new curriculum to work into presentations --
knowing full well, that I was going to crash for the evening and get back into bed b/c I had been going to work for three days with some sort of "bug" -- achy, chilling and my head feeling like it was five times it's size.

I got home to find that my friend, Nancy, had sent the best chili and cornbread even with grated cheese to top it all off -- What a doll! We'd been living off last Saturday's potato soup and some chicken & noodles Terry had made on Tuesday!




On what day does the exhilaration of a snow day turn into "cabin fever"?
Snowbound Day 1 -
Sat in front of the fire, logging entries into Excel to figure our 2009 taxes. Something about going over the bank statements every year brings back so many memories. I saw meals out with Marshall when he came home or we went to OKC - I found ones for trips to KC and places we went with Bethany & Mat. 'Made me miss the kids -- so I decided to cook -- put in a little turkey breast and that made the house smell wonderful!

Snowbound Day 2 - looks promising
Last Saturday's garage purge -- makes me want to clean a few closets and toss some more stuff-- I have clothes older than our soon-to-be 30 yr. old daughter! -- but, in starting to sort - I found some baby fabric my Mom passed down -- what could I make for the little "Goodlets" with that? I PROMISE 2010 will be the year of the great garage sale! (didn't happen last year, it seems)

I need to get some food cooked for tomorrow's potluck -- wonder if anybody will be able to make it to services? -- On the days we have a Church fellowship after being holiday- or snow-bound everybody is thrilled to be together.

HMMMMM Day 3 is when "cabin fever" starts to set in for me" that's tomorrow -- good we'll be out by then! I still have my lesson to plan for tomorrow's Primary class-- it was to be Jesus calming the storm -- think -- we'll look at how many mentions of weather and science there are in Job, as well. The kids should be REALLY wired after three days cooped up inside! (kinda' like me :-)

Terry and I have prayed for what God needs us to be about during this time . . . and we have continued to thank HIM that we have power, that we are warm inside and have all that we need and even MORE than we need.



Maybe the best thing about snow days are that they force us to stop our routine -- realize that it's not the local meteorlogist but God that controls the climate and weather and to consider the greatest lesson the snow brings to mind:
We have JESUS -- our salvation -- who washes our sins WHITE AS SNOW!

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Through the Roof



Things were going well with my Primaries this morning in Sunday school -- it was one of those lessons that I knew I could get all my kids involved in and really be able to drive home the point of the Bible story. We started with an application activity using wet paper towels and rocks on which they'd written burdens people have to carry and discussed how heavy those can be for people to deal with. We talked about friends helping friends with their problems. (NOTE: The super paper towels today are as strong as the commercials say they are! It began to look like they were going to hold up to all the rocks (problems) we'd been piling on (and NOT tear under the weight of too many "burdens" -- should have practiced that one ahead of time!)

We then read the passage in Luke 5 about the four friends who brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus. The boys and girls were connecting well -- we discussed what it would feel like to be the man as they carried him through Capernaum -- what must have been in the friend's minds as they hurried their friend to Jesus and what the owners of the house must have thought when the guys started dismantling their roof.

Tori volunteered to be the paralyzed man as we acted it out -- she loved the idea of being wrapped up in a blanket, carried by four of us and hoisted up on the roof of our makeshift "house" (two tables pushed together).
Once we got her on one of the tables and I reminded them it was the house where Jesus was down below healing the sick, I asked them how we were going to get her down to see Jesus -- were we just going to toss her down? (No, the men in the story let their friend down with ropes, I added) Tori was poised on one table and the students pulled the other table away to make room for us to let her down and at that very instant the table collapsed and the legs fell off with the loudest racket -- the kids were stunned!!! Without missing a beat Luke yelled "Oh, no --you just smashed Jesus!"

Fran and I lost it! We're not quite sure what they took home from the lesson from that time on. These kids give me so much joy and I'd like to think they make God grin . . .

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Meme


The kids called her “Meme” -- I came to call her “Mom” – and soon she found her own special place in my heart.
Today would have been her 83rd birthday. She is my mother-in-love. The last 15 years Meme was confined to her bed, so I'd sit in the small chair at the end of it –knitting or doing handwork of some sort – we’d talk about raising kids and husbands and recipes and girl things. She was always so eager to know what was happening in my life. Going to Burkburnett, where they lived for so many years, was always a boost for my mental outlook. . .we'd have these long chats, the kids would play, I’d cook up something I knew they liked, and we’d all enjoy a brief, but enriching family time.

I remember so many things about her:
>Her hands – she always had the most beautifully manicured hands. I remember her as classy – I tell our own daughter she favors her grandmother in that way.



>Her tender heart – children, animals and people in need of a hand-up.

>She always gave me the benefit of the doubt. . . not sure I always deserved it.

>She made the best pies . . . her French Coconut and Buttermilk were the best!

>She wasn’t real big on birthdays – but one time when we were coming through – she got up into her wheelchair – rolled into the kitchen and made me an Italian Cream Cake. It’s been my favorite ever since.

>Holidays she and Pop would cook together. She would rest and save her strength and then roll up to a special counter he’d built to accommodate her chair and they’d cook together. They always made this cornbread stuffing and got the turkey on. (not always agreeing on what should be included in the recipe.) When she died I asked for the apron she always wore. . . I didn’t want to wash it because it still smelled like her kitchen.

>One time when we breezed through there for an overnight on our way to Illinois to spend a few days with my family, she gave the kids a treasure box full of little gifts for the long ride. She knew how long 16 hours in a car could be for children, so she wrapped up a present for every hour or two. It would be something like a pack of gum or a .50 toy or small pack of crayons. They were overjoyed and I remember that trip went much more smoothly. Even though she wasn't going to have as much time with our kids, she selflessly gave so much to make them happy.

>She loved to sing hymns! When she could get us all to sing together it made her the happiest. She would have “singings” after church in their home. She’d make something simple – like baked cinnamon toast. On the day she died we all sang the songs we thought she loved the most and she seemed to linger a little longer.

>She traveled the world with her military man and Terry always said she made moving seem like an adventure.


>She collected people. Her home was always open to them. She had this sense about what they needed. When President Kennedy was shot, she was concerned for the wife of his assassin, Marina Oswald she and wrote to her expressing condolensces for her in her loss as well.


>Mom coped with a disabling disease – she contracted polio in her mid-teens. At which time she was told she would never walk again. Within a year she was walking. . .. and later would ride bikes with her kids . As she grew older the challenges to her health multiplied, once again affecting her ability to walk as post-polio syndrome set in. She hated those crutches and on our wedding day didn’t want to be photographed with them. Having to resort to a wheel chair a few years later and then be confined to her room was even harder for this very active woman.



Pop was devoted to her – and together they endured the challenges that her disease caused in her life.
She taught me so much . . .
She’s standing now . . . in HIS presence
. . .
“Her children rise up and call her blessed”. Prov. 31 We all have been blessed by her!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

My Man


This is my man 37 years ago on our Wedding Day. He caught my eye when he first spoke at our church my sophomore year of college. I heard him speak and that night prayed, “Lord, I’d like to marry a man like that”.

A year later he came to our church as the youth minister and the rest is history. One day I had to admit to God– I never thought HE would give me THAT man.

Since I married Terry, life has never been boring! We have always had something on the calendar – a dream to pursue – and vision for the future.

I used to marvel at the way God chose to make all the pieces fit in our relationship -- in areas I lacked, he was strong. It’s no secret he hates numbers – and that seems to be one of my stronger areas – He’s big picture person /I’m analytical – He’s philosophical /I’m pragmatic– however, we do have our areas of commonality, also. We share a passion for ministry, wanting to encourage people in their spiritual walk and we love to mentor couples together. . . we both love children and wanted to be parents for the longest time. . . now we’re going to do the grandparent thing together with twins!!!!

We both had parents with a disabling disease, with the other spouse being the caregiver. Terry helped me to understand my Dad’s muscular dystrophy much more completely.

He was the reason things worked so well in our household when we cared for my mother. . . getting up every two hours to turn her from side to side to keep her from getting bed sores. He would check to make certain she was alright and just wanted her to know someone would be coming into her room that often. By bedtime I was exhausted -- he'd take over and not go to bed until after the first turn.

He has this optimism and objectivity when I’m faced with a test or trial – that it’s going to work out – and it’s not worth all the "flap" until we see how things work out. He always helps me see that there are two sides to every situation.

No place was too remote for us to go to. He went to India five times, I went with him three of those (Jokingly he says that when they started taking their wives -- they didn't have to live out in the huts any longer.) He could navigate us through all kinds of airports, train stations and into little villages, finding us a place to stay, creating a temporary home for 2-3 weeks before we moved on to set up the next preacher training school.

One year for our anniversary Terry recorded a favorite song that we used to love to sing back in the 70’s when we first got married and were trekking around the world, “Please Come to Boston”. We’d get in our little Dodge Charger – head off for some distant destination (my man has always loved a road trip) – hear the song on the radio and sing to our heart’s content.
I’d have to say the song I’d pick for him is “Wind Beneath My Wings”. Terry’s always been my biggest encourager. As a young wife and mother, having a lot of self-doubts – he always made me believe I could do anything. He’s helped me develop certain gifts and talents. He loves me dearly – what more could a woman want???

Happy Anniversary --Love YOU, Babe!

Saturday, January 9, 2010

'Commands His Angels Concerning You . . .


We were between guests and I was rushing to get the Christmas decorations packed away, since I could then get through the guest bedroom which leads to the attic. My neice and her new husband were coming through to spend the night last night and the house was so badly in need of deep cleaning - I'd finished the vacuuming earlier and had only one more box to take upstairs. I was really gonna' get the house in great shape before Chelle and Michael arrived about bedtime.

Then the unexpected -- as I was rearranging my Christmas stash in the corner of the attic, I stepped back and found myself dangling between the attic floor and the garage below.

All sorts of things came to my mind --
"WHEW, I'm not going all the way through - - -
"Oh no, this is my only pair of jeans and they're ripping on that nail that is holding me."
"Why didn't I bring my cell phone up here with me?"
"Wonder if I broke this hip? -- that will really change my next few weeks!"
"How am I gonna get my other leg untwisted to hoist me up?"
"Wonder if I can walk and get myself downstairs."

My left leg kept me from going on through and when I stood up both legs would still work. . . so I headed for an icebag and decided to stay put until my man got home.

Terry drove into the garage about 15 minutes later - saw all the broken dry wall hanging and the huge gaping hole and thought I had landed in the garage. He rushed in the door hollering, "Are you all right?"

I have to say -- after only 1 1/2 short hours in the ER at St. Francis -- nothing was broken, just a big bump on my upper thigh and a bruise that has become the size of the state of Montanna.

When all was over and we were headed out of the ER, Terry's favorite line for the whole thing was "you always have been able to bring down the house".
I'll let him have one corny line after all he did to take great care of me! :)


When Michael and Chelle arrived and went to the garage for something to drink, he came back and said that judging by all he saw in our garage I'd have really hurt myself if I'd gone through. . . a choice of landing in the plastic recyclables can, snagging myself on the gas-powered weedeater, or landing on the church's lawn mower.

All sorts of lessons I learned yesterday --
> Listen to my husband, he told me he'd help get the Christmas decorations to the attic.
>Slow down, take my cell phone and wait until someone is in the house if I'm going to the attic.

It's amazing how many scriptures on falling were in my quiet time this morning--
thankfully, nothing about being an independent eager beaver that won't wait for help -- I was relieved to see.


He will command his angels concerning you - -

My favorite -- "Even to your old age and gray hairs, I AM HE who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you . . . I will rescue you. Isa 46:4


This gray haired lady better stay off the rafters -- Thank you Lord, for no broken bones!

Saturday, January 2, 2010

A New Year


It's a new year -- very little history is written within these first two days of 2010. It's an open road before us. Where will the road lead? Who will become nearer and dearer to us this year? What experiences will HE bring us to and through, to teach us more about HIMSELF? That story is yet to be written.

I was restlessly flipping channels this evening and caught Gloria Gaither sharing that Frances Shaeffer's question "How then shall we live?" deeply impacted her in college and later prompted her to write a song which has become an important close for many of their performances -- I Then Shall Live

What struck a chord with me was her honesty when she said, "I hope people realize that the words to the song, are what I aspire to -- I'm not there all the time -- but this is my heart's desire." She continued with the thought that we have to set our aspirations above and beyond us to become more what we are to be.

It resonated within me so deeply-- the words that I write here in this blog or share with others are not where I live all the time -- but are my heart song that brings me back to what I hope to be in HIM. . . reaching for more of HIM.

What will the New Year bring for any of us? GOD alone knows --
My heart's desire is to live this year as these words from Gloria Gaither --


Gaither Vocal Band I Then Shall Live lyrics

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