Memories

 

 

Memories...

As time rolls on and I look back at my life, there are some things I would just rather forget. Please just erase them from my memory bank Lord. Alzheimers? Or perhaps just a little dementia? Uh...no thanks.

There are so many funny things from my past that still make me giggle...or even laugh out loud like they just happened.  I want to share a few with you. Perhaps they'll make you giggle too.  I never want to forget those funny, happy times.

There's the time when I was a teenager and visiting my sister and brother-in-law in Oklahoma City. She decided that we needed to go to the "Dime" store but the only vehicle available to get there was in her husband's tank of a car with a standard transmission. She'd had a few lessons operating the car. "I think I can do it", she said. So off we went. She started the car but instead of putting it in first gear, she mistakenly put it in second. We lurched forward and the car died. She started it again and we lurched down the street one jerk at a time. Our heads were whipping back with every jerk and it would die again. Well I got tickled...no...I didn't just get tickled... I laughed hysterically! In her frustration she said, "Shut up Lanna Gail!" I really tried to stop but the laughter just took over. After we finally made it to the intersection, two men standing outside the corner store stopped and stared at the sight. It made me start laughing all over again. Sorry Barb...kinda sorry.

Or there was the time when hiking on a forest trail with my daughter and two sister-in-laws.  They decided to take a sloped, pine needle, leaf covered, "short cut" when the well-worn switch-back trail was easier. I laughed so hard hearing them slip, slide and squeal falling down through the shorter path that I peed my pants!  Maybe you had to be there...

Then there was the time we went for a July camping trip to the lake with friends. Our friends brought their fireworks from the prior holiday weekend and we allowed the boys to light them off a picnic table bench at the lake's edge. The excitement really began with the finale. That picnic bench with multiple lit fireworks toppled over toward our borrowed cabin instead of toward the lake. Whistling fire whizzed past each of us at every turn. We didn't know which way to run! And you've never heard such squeals! After the last firework fizzled, there were sighs of relief. No one was hurt and the borrowed cabin was safe. Then the laughter began with the recounting of every jump and dodge we made. Someone peed their pants... just not me this time. Such a fun time.

What are your funniest memories?

Then there are memories that crush your soul. Those are the ones I don't care to remember... some of them hurt too much to mention. So why...why do we have to remember?

Probably one of the best examples of remembering are listed in Deuteronomy, the final book of the Torah. There you find a recount of some of the things the Israelites experienced after being freed from their slavery in Egypt. As they were about to enter the land they were promised, they were urged to remember the mighty signs and wonders of their sovereign Lord.  They were reminded of the covenant made between themselves and the Lord God.  They were told to remember all they endured and to teach their children and their children's children about the one true God who had saved them and would continue to save them.

The Israelites had a lot of wonderous things to remember... from the plaques to their time in the wilderness. They were rescued, led and fed -- miraculously! They spent a lot of time crying and needlessly wondering through the wilderness when they just should have just trusted the true and living God. 

Hindsight is 20-20 right? As painful as some memories can be, we can remember past experiences and learn from them. Like the time a work incident was twisted out of context in an effort to get to get me written up or fired. Later that experience taught me to be a better supervisor and manager. Other hurtful memories teach us to be more gentle, more merciful, more forgiving with others...to be more Christ-like. That's the goal right... to be more like Christ and lead others to Him.

So for me, the difficulty lies in remembering the tough stuff and applying it in a positive way today. Some days, that's a tall order. I need to stop any crying and just trust Him! Get behind me satan! The Lord intends for us to gain His wisdom in remembering. And it's important to remember that our Lord is with us through every second of every single day. We need to acknowledge His presence before we even get out of bed each morning. What a comfort! 

Life this side of heaven is short.  Make it count for His sake.

Proverbs 3:5-7. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.  Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.

Love till next time,

Lanna

For your consideration: Exodus; Deuteronomy (especially 6:4-7);  Ephesians 4:31-32.  There are so many instances of remembering, but you can start here. 

 

Kids Say the Darndest Things!

     Back in the 1950's and '60's, Art Linkletter hosted a television program named, "House Party".  On the show, he sometimes had a segment called, "Kids Say the Darndest Things".  He asked children random questions and hilarious answers were always the result.  The same is true today.  Ask a child a question and you never know what you're going to hear in response.  

     Over the years, my own children have said some pretty funny things...too many to mention.  A friend of mine told me a story about her now grown children that I just have never forgotten.  Her kids were riding in the car with their grandmother -- her mother-in-law.  She started questioning them about traffic lights.  She asked, "What does the red light mean?"  Both kids answered, "Stop." She continued the pop quiz with, "What does the green light mean?".  They answered, "Go!".  The quiz continued with "And what does the yellow light mean?"  And they both answered, "Go real, real fast!".  That story still makes me smile -- especially when I accelerate through a yellow light! 

     Now our grands are even funnier than our children were.  Now why is that?  I guess because you want your kids to do and say all the right things -- like when they repeat mini-me phrases.  Hilarious to others...not so funny sometimes when your own embarrassing words and attitudes come out of your little offspring!  Am I right?!  

     Our son was driving in his truck with his youngest in tow.  The radio was playing and through the speaker came an ugly word that shouldn't have been said over the air waves.  Our granddaughter said, "He just said a bad word, huh Dad?"  Our son answered, "Yes he did."  She sat there in quiet thought for a few minutes and then said, "Well at least he didn't say, 'S**t'!"  I don't know if he laughed at the moment or not but when our son called me with the story...he was laughing hysterically!  How could you not laugh!!

     Kids are something aren't they?  They're so innocent, trusting, inquisitive and among so many other things, they're forgiving!  I've seen children be so mean to one another one minute and playing together happily the next.  Children have no power, no standing in the community and are completely dependent on their parents for food, shelter and nurturing.  And guess what...we are called to be as children to enter the kingdom of heaven!

     The disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?".  Jesus motioned for a little child to come near and said, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me."

     Later after He had traveled from Galilee to the region of Judea, people were bringing their children for Jesus to pray for them.  I guess in an effort to protect the Lord, his disciples tried to shoo the children away.  Jesus rebuked them saying again that "the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these".  

     The good news is this...the pressure is off.  We don't have to be anyone special in this world to pass to the next.  All the Lord expects is for us to follow and love Him...to conduct ourselves as HIS children...innocent, loving and forgiving...leading others into HIS eternal light.  Now doesn't heaven sound even more awesome?!  I can just imagine the laughter now!

Love till next time,

Lanna

For your consideration:  Matthew 18:1-6;  Mark 9:34-37;  Luke 9:46-48;  Matthew 19:13-15;  Mark 10:13-16;  Luke 18:15-17.  I John 1:5:7.

PUZZLING

 

 

 

Our five year old grandson ran to the cabinet that held games and puzzles.  He came out with a colorful 500 piece jigsaw puzzle and dumped it in the middle of the living room floor.  I had purchased the puzzle some time ago thinking that our older grands might enjoy putting the puzzle together during some weekend trip to our house.  But our youngest grand really loves puzzles.  He started right away putting together colorful pieces from the middle of the puzzle.  Our granddaughter joined in and of course I couldn't resist a good puzzle!  But wait...you gotta start with the frame first right?  That's the way I've always done it.  I started explaining that we needed to start with the pieces with the straight edges.  Not heeding my explanation, they continued.  And I kept searching for frame pieces. My way isn't always the only or right way. 

It seemed like just a few minutes later, mom and dad told them it was time to go.  Our grandson jumped up and said, "Granna...you finish it."  So we picked up the pieces and moved them to the dining room table.  It wasn't long before I was in working the puzzle on my own...as any dutiful Granna would do.   

As I worked, I began to think of the puzzling things of life.  

The pieces weren't perfectly interlocking so it was a little more difficult than I thought it might be.  There were pieces that seemed to fit, but didn't match up correctly.   Surely there's been a time when you felt like you didn't fit in...I know I have.  Many times.  It's not comfortable.  But then there's times when you're with "forever" friends and things just fit together perfectly...even if you haven't talked to them in months. Then there are also those people who make you feel completely comfortable from the first time you meet.  So wonderful!

 

When the puzzle was nearly completed, I was left with the pieces that our grandson had started with in the first place.  It seemed a hard place to start to me.  There are times in our lives when out of the blue, things fall to pieces.  Any number of things that just rip the rug out from under you before you knew what happened.  Things like the loss of a child or loved one, illnesses, marital difficulties, storms that destroy your home, or losing your job.  It's not just these times when we need the Lord.  In the easier times, we need to work on strength training -- building our faith to trust in Him so that when needed, we can stand under the strain of harder times.  It's also in those times that we rely on the Lord to guide us in just the right way to help others in the midst their storms.  The Lord is faithful and we can depend on Him to put the pieces back together.  He just asks us to trust Him.

We're also individual pieces that form the Lord's church.  Someone in Bible class mentioned that we're all pieces of clay in the Potter's hand.  Some are meant to be a plate, a bowl or maybe a vase but all are serviceable pieces.  Even a broken piece of pottery can give light when a candle is placed inside.  

Aren't we all broken in some way...made perfect by the blood of the Lamb.  We're parts of a puzzle -- perfectly pieced together to make one beautiful picture.  

 

Love till next time,                                          Lanna 

For your consideration:  Philippians 2:1-8 and I Corinthians 12:12-26. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

True or Fake?

           True or Fake?

In a world of responsible advertising versus false advertising,  reporting the news without prejudice and fake news...you have to stay on your toes...checking and verifying to make sure you're not scammed or misled.  

Several years ago, I was leaving from a visit with my mother  in assisted living.  Walking to my car, I saw something shiny and stopped to see what it was. Stooping to pick it up, it appeared to be a rather large diamond.  I looked around and thought, "Okay, do I walk into the office and ask if anyone lost a diamond?"  I imagined every nurse and little retiree would break their neck to get to the office to claim the gem.  So I held onto it trying to think how to best handle the situation.  Thinking that there was no real way to find the owner, I wondered if it was real.  Through the internet, I searched, 'How to tell a fake from a real diamond'.  To my surprise it passed all the tests.  My husband had a friend who was a novice jeweler.  He had a loupe for inspecting gems.  After work one evening, we went to see the friend and he said the thought it was real!  When we told our son that the guy said it was real, he said, "Then you should have sold it to him too...cause that's not real!"  Well I laughed but still wished it wasn't a fake.  Next, I took the stone to a reputable jeweler who confirmed by weighing that it was indeed a fake.  It took a person who had studied diamonds to tell that it was the real deal.

A year ago, my husband and I moved to east Texas to be near our kids and our grands.  It's been a good move.  Nothing better than being closer to those you love.  Besides our family, it's been fun to experience the trees and beautiful plant life here.  Spring has been especially beautiful...blooming plants like dogwoods, azaleas, camellias, gardenias and of course Texas wild flowers.  Most of the spring time flowers and flowering trees have all bloomed and shed their flowers.  But...technically, it's still spring and won't be summer until June 20th and I'm hanging on to that!  It may be really humid and in the low 90's but it's still spring! In my head I hear the mantra..."It's still spring...it's still spring...it's still spring!!" 

Just before things started budding out, my husband and I were deciding on what needed to be pruned.  We found a couple of places where wisteria was growing.  There wasn't a lot of wisteria near our former home, but what I saw was really beautiful --- as long as it was blooming ---after that...not so much.   The problem with the wisteria on our place was that the vines from prior years had wrapped around three trees in one place and around some crepe myrtles in another.  We couldn't decide...should we cut it or leave it. We would kinda like to see what it looked like while it was blooming.  While trying to decide, we made two trips to northeast Texas to see family.  Along the way, we saw wisteria blooming wild everywhere!  Although it was really very beautiful, it looked as if they were choking out the other trees around them. 

                        

Because of what we saw, we decided to cut it out to save our trees.  The vines were a tangled mess!  We worked two days trying to clean it out.  The stump of the wisteria by the three trees was as big around as a football! 

          

So all this got me thinking about the The True Vine, our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.  Read our Lord's description in John 15:1-12.  Using the metaphor of a grapevine, Jesus states He is the true vine and we are the branches.  We're a part of Him...a part of His family.  We've been grafted into the vine through His promise!  Did you know that the grafted part of the grapevine is the very strongest point? 

 

 In contrast, look at wisteria.  It's a vine.  Not a grapevine but a vine nonetheless...an imitation. It's kind of amazing how the cascading blooms resemble that of a bunch of grapes.   Jesus gave a warning to His followers in Luke 21 starting in verse 5 as he was speaking of the destruction of Jerusalem.  He said, "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he' and 'the time is near'. Do not follow them."  Don't be fooled!  "...for even satan masquerades as an angel of light."  II Corinthians 11:14.   

 

Even though it may look like the real thing, you've got to test it!  II Timothy 2:14-19.

 

 It's noted that wild grapevines also climb trees but they only do so to reach sunlight.  They do not kill trees.  Satan comes to kill and destroy--just like wisteria. And following him in a life of sin leads to death but a life in Christ leads to life everlasting. 

 

There's a comforting point found in Romans 8 and starting with verse 31.  It asks, "If God is for us, who can be against us?"  Then reading further, it says, "...we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Isn't that awesome!?!   

So in conclusion, don't be fooled!  I John 4:1-18

     1. Test the spirits to see if they're from God. 

                    2.  The one who lives in us is greater                              than he who is in the world. 

          3.  Love one another for love comes from God.                God is love.

          4.  God loved us and sent his Son as an                           atoning sacrifice for our sins.

          5.  Acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God.

      

 Love till next time,

           Lanna 

For your consideration:  Galatians 3:26-27, Galatians 4:6-7, John 17:6-26, John 10:10

             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hysterical or Historical?

 

Several years ago, my younger brother told a story from the pulpit that I've never forgotten. Wanting to use it for this article, I sent him a text asking for permission to use it and asking if I had the story straight. I actually thought the story was just one used for application purposes... but no... this actually transpired between my brother and a friend. My brother's friend told him that every time he and his wife got into an argument, his wife got historical.  And my brother said, "You mean hysterical?". His friend answered, "No! She gets historical! She brings up everything I've ever done wrong since we've been married!" It was funny when he told the story, but I had to look at myself and wonder if I had ever been hysterically historical. It did teach me to try to restrain myself.  

So historically speaking, I love it. I love history. I love antiques. I love the stories behind the antiques. We have traveled to our nation's capital on a couple of occasions. During those trips, we've seen where our country got it's beginnings... where people fought and died for our freedoms. And as I've told you before, we've been to Israel and Jordan. We've seen the locations of the beginnings of our faith and freedoms in Christ.

Lately, it seems to me that a lot of people are turning away from faith in God.  And that's disturbing to me.  What do people do who have no faith?  I don't get it.

So let's look at history.  How do you know about William the Conqueror, William Wallace, Mary, Queen of Scots, Henry the Eighth, George Washington and so many other historical figures?  We don't have photographs of these people.  There certainly aren't any videos of what happened in history during these times.  Did you know that even though we do have pictures and video records of what happened during the Holocaust -- there are those who deny it ever happened?

So how do we know about historical people in the past? Someone wrote it down. It's as simple as that... and that's what we have in the New Testament... history. Christianity exists because of what happened to the historical Jesus.  Luke is the author of the historical accounts of Jesus and the beginnings of the church in the books of Luke and Acts. He addresses both New Testament books to "most excellent Theophilus".  Theophilus is said to have been an official in the Roman empire. Read Luke 1:1-4 and Acts 1. It's like he was writing: "Here's what happened Theo." That's the way it's written... this happened and then that happened. I call it "Eye Witness News".  

John notes his testimonial regarding the crucifixion of Jesus in John 19:35:

"The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true.  He knows that he tells the truth and he testifies so that you also may believe." 

Then at the end of John's book, he writes:

"Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples which are not recorded in this book.  But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."  John 20:30-31.

 There are those who would argue the validity of the New Testament. Well... there are several secular historians of the time who validate the existence of Jesus and Christians. The most famous Roman historian, Cornelius Tacitus, tells that the Great Fire during Nero's reign was incorrectly blamed on Christians. Then you are probably also aware of the writings of Flavius Josephus. He wrote:

"And there arose about this time Jesus, a wise man, if indeed we should call him a man; for He was a doer of marvelous deeds, a teacher of men who receive the truth with pleasure.  He won over many Jews and also some Greeks.  This man was the Messiah.  And when Pilate had condemned Him to the cross at the instigation of our own leaders, those who had loved Him from the first did not cease.  For He appeared to them on the third day alive again, as the holy prophets had predicted and said many other wonderful things about him.  And even now the race of Christians, so named after him, has not yet died out."  (Antiquities, 18, 3.3)

Wow! How about that!!  Of all the historical happenings and writings of the past, none of them contradict the New Testament.  

And I have to remind you of something that happened after the day of Pentecost. In Acts, chapter 3, starting in verse 1, we read about Peter and John as they were entering the temple courts.  They encountered a lame man whom Peter healed in the name of Jesus. After the miracle, Peter began preaching about our Lord and gave them a history lesson. The high priest ordered that Peter and John be put in jail. The next day, they were brought before the high priest and elders. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter gave them an earful! (Acts 4:5-14) They noted that the lame man was healed through the name of Jesus Christ--the man they crucified but was raised to life by the power of God.  They received a holy tongue lashing! The Sanhedrin court then met away from the apostles and discussed what they should do with these men. They couldn't deny the miracle of the lame man. So they ordered that they not speak or teach in the name of Jesus again. But Peter and John told them, "Which is right in God's eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:19-20) After further threats not to speak of Jesus, they let them go.  

Then later, reading beginning with Acts 5:12, the apostles were healing sicknesses of all sorts at Soloman's Colonnade--which was inside the palace gates. The high priest and all the Sadducees were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in a public jail with a guard at the gate. During the night, an angel opened the jail doors and brought them out. The angel instructed them to go back to the temple courts and tell about a new life in Jesus. When the high priest arrived, they called together the full assembly of the elders and sent officers to get the apostles. When the officers got to the jail, they found gate locked and the guard still at the door, but the apostles weren't there. The officers went back and reported that they were missing. Then someone came in and reported that they were in the temple courts teaching! The captain with his guards went out and brought the apostles in to appear before the Sanhedrin.

"We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood."  Once again Peter and the apostles answered that they must obey God rather than men.  They went on to further place blame where blame was due.  Needless to say, the high priest and the court were furious and wanted to put the apostles to death.  But a Pharisee named Gamaliel who was a teacher of the law stood up and ordered that the apostles be put outside for a little while.  He addressed the court and reminded them of two different men who rose up with a great number of followers -- but after both men were killed, the followers fell away and were scattered.  He suggested that the apostles be left alone -- because if the Christian movement was of human origin, it would fail -- but if it was from God, they would only find themselves fighting against God.  BAM!  And here we are today.  Not wise to try to fight against the Lord Almighty!

 All scripture is inspired -- or God breathed. (II Timothy 3:14-17).  No fairy tales here.  Just the facts.

Please get out your bible and read the book of Acts.  It reads like a novel to me. Search out the truth for yourself and use your knowledge of historical facts to teach and inspire others...leading them to a powerful faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  You'll be hysterically historical for Him.  And that's a good thing.

Love till next time,

Lanna

For your consideration:  Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:1-2, Acts chapters 3-5.   John 19:35 & 20:30-31;  II Timothy 3:14-17

 

 

   

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

The Chair

"Well excuse me but I think you've got my chair.  No that one's not taken, I don't care if you sit here, I'll be glad to share..."  

If you're a George Strait fan like me, you know that's the opening line to his hit song, "The Chair".  It's said it was written in 20 minutes by Hank Cochran and Dean Dillon.  Smiling, I remember going to my first and what we thought was possibly his last concert at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on March 17, 2019. I heard that very song and so many of his hit songs live!  Our daughter and daughter-in-law cooked up this deal where they would both be online when the tickets went on sale.  Our daughter was going to buy tickets for my husband and myself and our daughter-in-law was going to buy tickets for her parents and we would go to the concert together.  The only problem was, our daughter was able to get tickets but it sold out so quickly that our daughter-in-law was unable to get a set.  My husband wasn't thrilled about the idea of the crowd so I asked our daughter-in-law's mother to go with me. We had a ball!  

There we were singing our hearts out and beaming with the excitement of middle schoolers.  The music was so loud that we couldn't hear ourselves sing.  But I can tell you that even as loud as it was, my phone holds recorded proof that I can't sing "The Chair'' nearly as well as I thought I could.  (Among one of cell phone's useful tools...it's also an ego buster!)  We had a great time!

It's funny what you remember as you get older.  I don't remember going many places as a family when I was a young girl.  On one occasion, I remember we went to a county fair.  Dad went off with my older sister and brother and mom and I went to play bingo.  We hadn't been there long when "BINGO" mom had won!  WOW!  I never dreamed she would actually win!  There were all sorts of prizes in the center of the bingo play area...sparkly lamps, watches, other jewelry...wide-eyed and excited I wanted to help mom choose which item of bling that would come home with us!  She scanned the items..."Mom, look at that!" or "How about that!?!"  After examining the prizes, she chose...a plain, unstained, wooden folding chair.  Wait...what?  That?  Why?!  She chose the chair because her feet hurt and she wanted a place to sit -- that was valuable to her.  Looking back, I'm sure that's why she chose Bingo -- so she could sit.  I had no idea.

Fast forward many years later, I was trying to think of something special for mom for Mother's Day.  Someone said she and her mother were going for pedicures.  What a great idea! I thought mom would enjoy some pampering of her feet.  I made the appointment for the Saturday before Mother's Day and called mom to surprise her with news of our up coming mom-daughter date.  When I told her, instead of the expected excitement, there was a moment of silence and then she said flatly, "No, I don't want that."  Oh.  "Okay...well I'll just cancel the appointment and figure out something else", I answered.  She said, "I just don't want anyone touching my feet."  

On the evening before the trial and subsequent crucifixion of Jesus, he shared the Passover meal with His disciples.  There were miracles in the preparation for the meal.  Jesus sent Peter and John into Jerusalem.  Upon entering the city, they were to look for a man carrying a pitcher of water.  So what's so unusual about that?  Women were the ones who carried water! When they found the man with the pitcher and they were to say, "The teacher asks where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?"  With that, the man takes them to a large upstairs room that is already set up for them to prepare the Passover meal. (Luke 22:7-14)  So at some point during the evening, Jesus takes another opportunity for a teaching moment...for His time with them is now very short.  He removed his outer robe, took a basin of water and began to wash His disciples' feet -- a task reserved only for slaves to perform.  Jesus was trying to teach them how to lead as a servant with humility --- they just had no idea.  Poor Peter, he was as skilled at chewing leather as I am!  He said, "No! You will never ever wash my feet!" Jesus said, "You don't understand now what I am doing, but some day you will." (John 13:7)  After Jesus finished washing the disciples' feet, he sat back down and tried to further explain the idea of servanthood.  Did they get it?  They should have -- they had seen our Lord perform so many, many miracles in service to others with humility.  That same evening, they argued for a second time about who among them would be the greatest!  Our Lord was patient with them-- promising a "Helper"-- the Holy Spirit would be coming.  They just really didn't get it until later when they received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.  They had no idea.

Paul explains it well in Philippians 2:1-11...saying that Christ took on the human form of a slave in full submission and obedience to God the Father.  He further encourages us in verses 12 through 18 to show the manifestation of our salvation in faithful service to God with joy!  

All those years seeing mom mess with the corns and callouses on her feet -- I didn't get it.  I had no idea her feet hurt so badly.  I should have paid attention.  Ok so what's the point?   We're all busy...no matter the time of year.  But we need to pray that the Lord helps us see the needs of others no matter how busy we are...to serve others with quiet humility.  We are the Lord's ambassadors...His conduit connecting souls to Him.

So in George's ballad, the guy used the chair as a pick up line...not very honorable but it was effective.  Mom used what I saw as the ugly chair prize as sweet relief...not pretty but effective.  Lord, please allow your Holy Spirit to open our eyes to those who need us.  And please help us to act on the "Chair" moments that come our way effectively and to Your glory.   

Love till next time,

Lanna

For your consideration:  Luke 22:7-29, John 13:1-17 and Phil. 2:1-18.  

Remembering

Well here it is the last day of January.  How are those New Year's resolutions holding for you?  My husband's diet is still going well and is down several pounds.  I didn't set any resolutions this year...well I do have that perpetual one about keeping my mouth shut...but that's an ongoing struggle.  Someone once said -- "The Lord gave us one mouth and two ears to do twice as much listening."  I just keep trying.  I also always seem to be on a perpetual diet as well...so no sense in setting a new resolution that I'm bound to break.  

January 1st is a lot of things to a lot of people.  A time to make resolutions -- things like dieting, exercising, or reading your bible every day.  It's a time to start over...put away the things of the year gone by and get a fresh start.  But January 1st has an extra special meaning for me...it's my birthday.  Every year on my birthday I heard the same stories from my mom and dad.  Mom would say, "The doctor said I'd never carry you past Thanksgiving."  And she told the hospital staff after delivery, "Don't let that baby roll off that table!"  (I was a large, month old baby by the time I was born.)  And dad would say, "If your mother had just taken that caster oil when I asked her...you would have been born earlier and been a tax deduction for the year before!"  (Have you ever tasted caster oil?  It's really nasty!  I don't blame her for not taking it!)  I can still hear their voices in my mind.  Happy memories.

So this year when my sister called to wish me a happy birthday, she reminded me of a rather unforgettable milestone birthday...my 50th.

When she turned 50, I was so upset.  I couldn't believe my sister was 50 years old...I was only 5 short years behind her. I called to wish her a happy birthday and almost sobbing I said, "I can't believe you're 50!"  To which she replied, "What are YOU crying for?!  It's MY birthday!"  Then she said, "Just you wait..."  

And after 5 years, she didn't forget her veiled promise.

Fast forward 5 years and she called to say, "What's the significance of November 12th?"  And I answered, "um...I don't know...what?"  She said, "You'll find out..." and hung up.  Huh?  I thought about it for a few minutes and then shrugged it off and forgot about it.  On November 12th, I received a birthday card from my sister.  On the next day, I received another card...and another on the day after that...and another and another!  By the time my birthday finally arrived, she had sent 50 cards -- one every day for 50 days!  Sometimes I would get two cards in the mail because of the weekends!  I was never so glad for my birthday to arrive so I could get relief from the constant reminders that I was turning 50 years old!!  BAH!!

Now, if I ever mention something about getting older, my sister asks, "Are you complaining?"  And quickly I respond, "No no...I'm not complaining!"  It was a funny, unforgettable time...but I don't want to go through that again!

Women seem to have a good memory...of good things and bad.  I sure wish I could forget some of the bad things in life but I guess it's God's way of teaching us and trying to give us wisdom.  

Three days after Jesus' crucifixion, a group of women were on their way to His tomb with spices they had prepared for his body.  As they walked, they wondered how in the world they were going to move the stone away from the door.  Upon arrival to the tomb to their surprise, the stone had been moved and the body of our Savior was gone!  The Word tells us that two men dressed in clothing as bright as lightning met them there.  They said, "Why are you looking for the living among the dead?  Don't you remember that Jesus told you that he would be killed but he would rise on the third day?"  AND THEY REMEMBERED!  They were so excited that they ran back to the disciples and told them everything!  Now during the first century, the testimony of women was not considered credible.  Unbelievable right?!  And so the disciples didn't believe them! They didn't remember that Jesus had told them on three different occasions that this would happen.  In fact, the first time Jesus told them what was going to happen, Peter rebuked our Savior for suggesting such a thing!  Poor Peter...he needed that "keep your mouth shut" resolution because Jesus shot right back and said, "Get behind me Satan..."  No one dared ask Him about it when Jesus spoke of it again.  I'm thinking that Peter must have wondered if the women were telling the truth because he and John (probably John) ran to see for themselves. 

I think the disciples had a preconceived idea of Jesus' mission.  They thought He would be an earthly king like David.  They were fixated on the idea of sitting on His right or His left!  "Me, a fisherman...or me, a tax collector...sitting in the King's court!"  They just didn't get it.  They didn't soak up every word that Jesus spoke.  There were a lot of things they didn't get.  The Holy Spirit made all the pieces fall into place for them.  They finally understood our Savior and their mission...our mission.

So I've said all this to say, remember.  Write things down to help you remember.  Commit scripture to memory.  Do twice as much listening...listening to others and listening to what the Lord is trying to teach.  In this way, we can be a brighter light and more effective in our walk...glorifying our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Love till next time, 

Lanna

For your consideration:  Psalms 90:12,  Luke 24:6-12,  

1st prediction - Matt. 16:21-28, Mark 8:31-33, Luke 9:22-27

2nd prediction - Matt. 17:22-23, Mark 9:30-32, Luke 9:43-45

3rd prediction - Matt. 20:17-19, Mark 10:32-34, Luke 18:31-34