Tuesday 29 January 2008

God has a plan!


Today is my grandson's birthday, he is 9. This picture was taken at last years party. He is the boy in the black & gray sweater, front row next to his sister. He was born in Siberia, my daughter and son-in-law went to Siberia in September 1999 to bring him home. Not only does God have a plan for this boy, but also his parents - and grandparents as well. How are you doing with God's plan? He has a plan for all of us. Be obedient and follow where He leads.

Monday 28 January 2008

My Weekend Challenge

I met several strangers over the weekend. No spectacular encounters, however I noticed that my demeanor changed - I found myself "looking" for opportunities, and being friendlier.

Sunday in church was a different story. Steve came and sat with Judy and I. I really did my best to be a friend. Steve must be near 45-50 years of age. When he was in his late teens or early adult years, ,"friends" talked him into trying LSD - one time. It screwed his mind up forever. He can communicate and function but at a very simple level. I am going to do my best to be a friend. I also stopped at the back of church and greeted Greg after service. Greg chooses to be homeless, has been at least 4 years. He usually comes into church, backpack and all, and slips in a pew near the back of the sanctuary. People at church have welcomed him and he feels a part of our "family".

I hope I am available, a servant of Christ, each day not just the weekends.

Friday 25 January 2008

Say hello to a stranger!


I have decided that by Sunday I want to say hello to a stranger or someone I need to speak to.
I guess I had better keep an ear open the next couple of days to Gods voice. Will let you know Monday how it went!

Wednesday 16 January 2008

The Saviors touch


Today I worked with Classy (click on Classy to see her story) a chestnut mare at the horse rescue site. I first met Classy last Spring. She came to the rescue farm in poor health and also had difficulty breathing, only getting 5% of needed air. As a result they put in a permanent Trach. The Trach needs to be cleaned daily, today was my turn. Classy gets a little nervous when you take the warm damp cloth and start wiping around the Trach. With soft voice and gentle strokes along her neck with my hand she was able to remain fairly calm. At times I had to work kind of vigorously to get the "crud" out of the hair around the opening. I learned the hard way not to get my face to close to the opening when she coughs!

I am preparing to teach an Adult Sunday School session this Sunday about the "Transfiguration" (Matthew 17:1-13). In verse 7 Jesus came down and "touched them" and spoke to them because they were on the ground face down, terrified. I am so glad when I am nervous like Classy, or terrified like the disciples that I can feel Jesus touch and hear His soft gentle voice.

Monday 14 January 2008

Commitment & Priorities

Recently I posted on another blog, Robin subject was entertainment. After posting I got to thinking about my commitments and looking at areas in my life where I could bring Christ a little closer to the center. I started reflecting on my past and the following question came into my puzzled mind and I decided to share my thoughts.

If you were moving to another state, job relocation, retirement, or whatever, what would be your #1 priority in determining where you purchased your home?

driving time and ease to get to work?
Schools? (if you didn’t home school)
neighborhood?
Church?

My career with the federal government resulted in my family living in six different states. Always we would determine where we would go to church as our first priority. In Louisiana for example we were 10 minutes from church. I drove 45 minutes one way to work. I told the Realtor when looking for our home that our church was priority, I could drive the longer distance to work.

Today a couple we know from Michigan came into our church here in Florida. Last Spring they bought a beautiful home to retire in Florida. We spent most of the afternoon in fellowship with them today. Problem – their home is 45 minutes from the church. They will miss lots of fellowship and church services because of the distance. They selected a nice home but compromised on their church involvement. They have pushed Jesus a little closer to the edge of their life circle, He should be in the center. Am I making any sense? Our life decisions plus the mundane decisions should have Christ at the center.

Keep Him in the center as much as you can!

Thursday 10 January 2008

Relationships


In 1997 my daughter asked about her family heritage and I had very few answers. Since then I have become "addicted" to family history. In 2001 I discovered family roots from an island off the coast of Sweden called Ă–land. I found family! After over 110 years of no contact we are now family again. In 2002 they came to Michigan to visit us, in 2003 we went to Sweden and lived with them for 2 weeks. Anna-Lena, my 2nd cousins daughter, is so close in heart and spirit I consider her as my own daughter. She is a wonderful, beautiful, blond "Swede" who has her masters in music, teaches music in high school in Sweden. We are at opposite ends of the spectrum as far as religion is concerned, but we do not argue, we love each other too much to risk hurting the other. You can see her comment on my posting titled "startled and frightened!" below.

Relationships, I cherish them so much. Family is important. I have learned through the years to work hard to make family ties strong. I hope you are working hard at yours as well, regardless of your differences. The picture above was the first picture I received from Anna-Lena. I cried. She is family.

Sunday 6 January 2008

Startled & Frightened!


Not too long Amos and I went for a trail ride of a couple of miles through the woods. Now Amos does not 'spook' very often. He is a quiet, gentle horse that even my grand kids (ages 8 & 6) can ride. This day was a little different! I could see around the trees up ahead a deer frozen in time, intently watching us. The doe was less than a foot off the trail and I knew that deer and Amos were about to have a confrontation. Only Amos didn't know it - he had not seen the deer. Suddenly it bolted and so did Amos. He just knew something was after him. He whirled and for a split second or two was out of control! Quickly he realized I was still there in the saddle trying to reassure him all was okay. With gentle reassurance, no panic from me, he quickly gathered his composure and was calm. We turned around, headed back down the trail and watched the deer as it bounded off into the woods.

Sometimes as I go through life and those "unexpected events" come up - I bolt or panic. I forget I am following Jesus who already knows whats there. Today as the pastor was preaching I noticed a note I had put in my Bible: "Fret and worry are the result of not calculating with God." I hope 2008 will find me doing more calculating with God.

Thursday 3 January 2008

Worthless Worry

I read in my devotions today about "Worthless Worry" (GRACE for the Moment, Vol. I, Max Lucado). The flower (from my garden) in this posting just doesn't look worried. I wonder why I worry and fret so much? Worrying and fretting must work - 90% of what I worry about never comes to be so it must work. Why can't I be just like the flower? It loves the rain and the wind makes the flowers roots go deeper. When the sun comes out, and it will, the flower beams!

As I study my SS Lesson for this Sunday I see where the disciples got in trouble for worrying (Matthew 8:23-27). Do you think we have a "trust issue" with Jesus sometimes as we follow him. Side note: My wife just came up behind me, hugged me, and said in a soft tone; "I love you!" Then she brought me chocolate! I trust her! She loves me! Where were we, oh yea, trusting Jesus and following Him. Maybe we are not listening to His voice when He bends over and says; "I love you!' To bad He doesn't bring chocolate - - - He did give His life for me.

Wednesday 2 January 2008

Choices R Mine

Life for me has always been simple. It is a matter of me making the right choices. Having a blog is new for me. I am sure Amos, my horse will approve. So here goes a new adventure for me.