Recalculating

If you have a GPS in your car you have probably heard that word many times and it probably doesn't bring pleasant memories. Usually it is because you have ignored or missed a turn that the GPS wanted you to take. Last weekend we went on a road trip and we heard it often. I am not always a good follower of instruction. We were going to a totally unfamiliar place and so I programmed the GPS so we would have important places already in memory.

We were attending our grandson's wedding and the ceremony and the reception were in different places. We arrived in the city early and tested the GPS routes to make sure it was correct. In between the 2 locations we diverted to deliver some things to my daughter. We then continued on to the reception site. All worked well in the daylight  and we returned to the hotel to get ready.

We arrived at the designated time and the ceremony went well. We had to sit around for a while to get pictures taken and when we left the church it was quite dark. We punched up the GPS destination for the reception and tried to follow the instructions. After we arrived at the wrong destination we realized that the GPS had reinserted the intermediate destination from the afternoon. We tried again and it looked like it was working but then we heard "recalculating" and immediately knew that we had missed a turn. All efforts to correct the problem just made it worse. We were on a cloverleaf intersection on Interstate 10 and it would not let us off. We must have gone around 4 or more times before we finally got off and were able to make it back to our  hotel. By this time it was very late for us so we missed the reception, but it did set us thinking;

What do you rely on as a guide? In life there are lots of voices out there, all wanting to lead us to where we think we want to go, but they aren't always reliable. But there is a guide that is reliable and will never fail us and that is the Bible. When we rely on it to illuminate and direct our path we can avoid stumbling or getting lost. God's word is always true and faithful.

It was just a little error

It happened this morning during the opening praise and worship song. The band played and the congregation started singing. The second phrase, which was supposed to be "Join with the Heavens", was missing one little, tiny, small thing - the "n" in the word Heavens. The new phrase was "Join with the Heaves".  Needless to say (but I'm going to anyway) at that moment I cracked up. I turned to Clarence only to find that he was struggling to hold in the mirth as well. Those around us who happened to miss the error in spelling must have wondered what had struck us as so funny. I don't know about others, but I smiled through the first few songs - the music team was undoubtedly pleased to see such a happy countenance in the midst of worship and praise. 

I've got to be honest though and tell you that, for my part, all semblance of praise and worship was gone because I couldn't stop thinking about how funny that was. It was one little error but it took my mind and heart away from what I was supposed to be doing, praising and worshiping our great God.  It makes me think about my life  - just a small sin, nothing big, but no matter how little it might be it takes me away from what I am supposed to be doing. Because of that one small sin my relationship with God is shattered. I can't love him the way I should, or worship him, or praise him, or serve him, or come to him in prayer with anything less than repentance and asking forgiveness. Isn't it great that when we choose to come back to God and admit our guilt, no matter how big or small the sin might have been, he wraps us in his arms and holds us so close we not only hear it, but we can feel his deep, joyful laughter - this time not because something funny happened, but because something wonderful has happened and he is glad to have us home.

Luke 15:7  "I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."

It happened to me!

I've been telling my friends for years that someday I was going to win Publisher Clearing House. Well, it finally happened and a few days ago my check arrived in the mail. Wow, what a surprise. I enter often but never thought in a million years that it would truly happen to me. Now, I don't recommend that you enter these contests and then go off and spend the money before you actually have it, that could be disastrous, but do keep entering.  Just don't make any big plans.  Yes I won, but most people don't, so be careful about where your focus is.

That reminds me of this week's Life Connection class which is about the rich young ruler who was obeying all the commandments, and being as "good" as he could on his own, but he knew that something was still lacking in his life. When he asked Jesus "What else? What do I still lack?" Jesus looked at his heart and told him what he saw. . . the thing in which he found his purpose, the thing that he was trusting in and leaning on, the item that he was putting before God.  Jesus said "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." (Matthew 19:21)  Sadly, he didn't rush off to do what Jesus told him, he went away in sorrow because he had great possessions and he didn't want to let go of them.

It doesn't take a big bank account to put something before God - in other words, you don't have to be rich to make the same mistake as the rich young ruler. I have a lot of stuff. Is there anything that I'm putting before God? I've got time as well, just as much as everyone else, am I being selfish with my time?  If my response is yes to either of those then I'm no better than the rich young ruler unless I am willing to let go of whatever it is and focus on my heavenly father. How about you? What are you hanging onto that God wants to take out of your hand?  If we would always remember that our treasure is not here on this earth, but it awaits us in Heaven, then we'd be a lot happier and a lot quicker to let go and allow God to use us and our stuff to glorify himself.

So, back to my check. I had told the ladies at work that if I ever won PCH then I would gladly share with them, though fortunately I never did set an amount or a percentage that I would be willing to share. When I made my grand announcement they quickly reminded me of my promise. "Did I say that????" Well, I do like to keep my promises if I can, so sometime next week I'm headed to work with a box of donuts . . . don't get that look on your face that says I'm a real cheapskate, after all I didn't say how much I would share did I?

OK, it's time to confess, with buying a box of donuts I'm sharing 100% of my check, in fact I'm kicking in a few dollars of my own because that $5.00 just doesn't cover the whole cost. Hey, it was a real cashable check from PCH.  It wasn't the big one, but you've got to start somewhere! I'm going to keep entering so I'll have more to give away . . . hmmmm, or maybe I should just start with some of that other stuff that I mentioned before and that I already have . . . 

Death by Chocolate

We've got a new database at work and things have been tough lately. I've been going early and staying late. Tuesday was a beautiful 70 degree day so I went to the store during my lunch break and bought a pint of ice cream called "Death by Chocolate".  I took my ice cream, along with a good book, and sat out in the sunshine for a little while. Ah, what a stress reducer.

OK, I can already see some of you letting your jaw drop because I ate a whole pint of ice cream. Let's look at this realistically. A medium shake at Whataburger has as many calories as my pint of ice cream, and I didn't have a hamburger and fries with that . . . I'll bet you would have.  And mine was wonderful, solid ice cream without the added milk and air bubbles, just ice cream melting in my mouth and tasting wonderful . . . chocolate with chunks of brownie or something, and a few nuts tossed in there, mmmmm, mmmmmm good.  If my time has come to go, death by chocolate might be my method of choice, and I would certainly have a smile on my face as I left this earth.

No spiritual thoughts in this blog, I just wanted to see if I could make your mouth water. Did I?

Sad Mamma Kitty, Happy Us

Our five kittens are gone. The two male kittens left today for a country home, they will be the only two that will be outside kitties and their new owner is hoping that they will be good hunters like their mamma. The three females went before Christmas and were to be inside cats.  We think that our favorite of the five, a female, is now living in Fort Worth, her new owner was just visiting here in Brownwood. That one is going to be spoiled and has a little Yorkie to play with.

The question of the day is how do you tell a mamma kitty that her babies are no longer here but they are OK? Though she is currently quiet, Patches has been walking around the house and calling them. She has done this after every departure but this is the first time that no kittens at all responded. She is sad because she can't find them. We are happy because they have all gone to good homes. We think she will adjust soon and my logical mind says that she does still have Coal and Toki, though I don't think she is thinking of them as her babies anymore.

We've got to say that God answered our prayers. We had gotten attached to these kittens and asked God to provide good homes for them, and He did. We were disappointed when only three went before Christmas, but if they had all gone before Christmas then this family who just lost their male cat wouldn't have been able to take these last two. God's perfect timing, even with distribution of kittens. We had some that needed a new home, and God made sure that people who had a home and wanted a kitten saw our ad. Isn't it great that we can trust God with every aspect of our lives no matter how big or small?  Even with providing homes for cats. With that in mind, whatever your need might be right now, don't hesitate to tell God about it and ask Him to provide.

Hallelujah, God be praised

This morning we attended a special Christmas service at our church. Scripture was read, readings shared, and songs were sung. Among the songs were many traditional Christmas hymns, but one of a different variety touched my heart today. Searching the internet for the words we sang this morning was a challenge. I discovered that the song itself has many different versions with most of them being nothing I would sing. But the version this morning was about Christ's birth and His reason for coming.

I had heard the song before and knew the somewhat haunting tune, so singing along was easily done with the words before me on the screen . . . until we reached the last verse. I could only stand there awed by the truth of the words "I know you came to rescue me. This baby boy would grow to be a man and one day die for me and you. My sins would drive the nails in You, that rugged cross was my cross too, still every breath You drew was Hallelujah".

Hallelujah means "God be praised, an expression of worship and rejoicing". I looked it up to be certain of the meaning. I know the truth that Christ came to this earth to rescue me from sin, and I often think of Christ suffering for me on the cross, the cross that I so much deserve, but to think that maybe while He was suffering He was whispering the word Hallelujah, praising God, worshiping and rejoicing that my redemption would soon be completed . . .  how could this be? How could Jesus possibly be praising and worshiping God while my sins were in the process of covering Him?

You won't find it in the scripture where His last words are recorded, but I know Him personally, and whether He said the word verbally or not I'm convinced that His heart surely shouted Hallelujah, God be praised. I can only sit here with tears in my eyes doing some worshiping and praising of my own. With a thankful heart I repeat Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah.


Lyrics can be viewed at:
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/cloverton/ahallelujahchristmas.html

Or listen to a beautiful recording:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuNAknMZlqo

Who's on your ladder?

The week of Thanksgiving I had a couple extra days off.  The bedroom needed a new coat of paint so out came the paint, brushes, plastics to protect stuff, and that all important ladder to help reach the top of the walls. It didn't take long for Toki and Coal to come find out what was going on. Coal got bored quickly but Toki wanted to be there, just to keep an eye on things. Based on the blog title, you have probably guessed that the best place from which to watch was high up on the ladder.

Except for those times when I needed to use the ladder, it was a great place for her to be because I knew she wasn't underfoot or leaning her little body against the wet paint. Granted, those times when I made her get off she kept an eye on the ladder for an opening to get back on, but she patiently waited and didn't leave the room. She didn't say anything, she was just there keeping me company and listening when I talked to her. She didn't help with the painting, and in fact got in the way a few times, but her presence did make a tiresome job a little bit brighter. 

As I pondered her "assistance" I thought about the many people who have been there for me. Not sitting on a ladder staring at my every move of course, but just being there. Many times when I have had to do something I didn't really want to do, or I was going through a difficult time in my life, there was a friend or two willing to just hang around with me. Step in with the work if that is what I needed, sit and chat for awhile, or just lend me their ear so I could talk it out myself.

I'm reminded that when I know someone is struggling a bit with life, I just need to be there for them. They probably don't need my mouth as much as they need my ears so I don't need to be concerned that I don't know what to say, and if I can help with whatever is going on that's great, but if I can't just my presence may be encouraging. I think I'm going to try and keep an eye out for those God given opportunities to help someone else along the way, whether it's by jumping in to help get a job done or just quietly staying by their side. I hope you'll look for those opportunities as well.