I’m glad Halloween is over !

Every year I am faced with a dilemma – do I totally ignore it, or do I participate in it with an element of goodness.

A number of years ago, I learned about the origins of Halloween and the meanings of the “traditional” activities that go along with it. Unfortunately, they are all based on “evil”. There just doesn’t seem to be anything “good” about this so-called “holiday”.  Somehow, celebrating evil just doesn’t seem right.

Well, what about carving pumpkins with happy faces and trick or treating with happy costumes ? Why not try to make this “holiday” good? Can that be so bad?

As Christians we are called to live “holy” lives. “Test all things; hold fast what is good, abstain from every form of evil.” (1 Thes. 5: 21-22)

Over the years, my husband and I have abstained more and more from the activities of Halloween and now find it very easy to “pass-over”  to that which is “good” – thanksgiving to the Lord, and the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas !!

Someone who has friends must be friendly………(Prov. 18: 24)

What is a true friend? The Bible lists the attributes of friendship as being loyal, willing to sacrifice, likemindedness.

Sometimes people who we consider to be our friends are “masquerading” – they appear to be true friends at first, but at some point let us down. Perhaps they were the kind of person who based their friendship on what they could “get”, instead of what they could “give”. When  they found out they were’nt going to get anything from you, they moved on to someone else.

There is one “true” friend who will  never leave you nor forsake you. That friend is Jesus Christ. He came to “give” Himself, so that we can be His friend forever. He shows no partiality, no hypocrisy – we all can be His friend. He loves us unconditionally.

All we have to do is believe that He died for our sins, rose from the dead and accept His lordship over our lives. There is no “masquerading” – the entire story is out in the open for all of us.

“Give” yourself to “Him” – and you won’t have to “get”…….

Our return flight kept being delayed in half hour increments. Finally, we all were allowed to board the replacement airplane. Apparently, the plane that was originally scheduled to be used had some sort of mechanical failure. While we all boarded and found our seats, I found myself being thankful that this newer aircraft had been provided for us.

An hour into our flight, I began looking around for the screens that should be providing entertainment. There were none on the seatbacks in front of us, and no screens folding down above us either. I double checked the movie schedules in the airline catalog in the seat pocket, and thought to myself, “we are supposed to have a choice of movies, so where’s the screens?” As time dragged on, I realized – NO MOVIE !

I couldn’t believe it – this was a four and a half hour flight, and no movie ?? With mixed feelings of indignation, panic and boredom, my thoughts traveled back to how thankful I had been when we first boarded the aircraft. After all, shouldn’t the fact that we were riding in a safer plane be more important than gratifying my craving for an entertaining movie to pass the time?

Looking out the window, surveying the blue sky and puffy cloud formations, a song came to my mind:

“Behold He comes – riding on the clouds – shining like the sun – at the trumpet’s call – lift your voice – it’s the year of jubilee – out of Zion’s Hill salvation comes”

My pity party turned into the pleasure of praising the Lord -

- a much better way to spend the time !

It was time to retrieve our one year old grandaughter from her bed. Our three year old grandson went up the stairs ahead of me to help out. As I approached her room, I heard our grandson exclaim, “she made a big mess!”  I wasn’t too concerned at that point. I figured she probably just threw all her toys out of her crib. But upon arriving on the scene, I quickly realized it was a whole lot more than toys all around her crib. She had thrown up, let’s say – spewed, all over herself, the crib, the carpet, her blankey – and it was tangled up in her hair…………..

Well, since it was a hot summer afternoon, I decided that it might be best to just take her outside in the back yard and hose her off. I also took the pad from her crib and took that outside to hose off too.

One thing led to another, and the three of us had a wonderful time hosing off the pad, and each other for the next couple of hours. We ended up using the pad for a clean place to stand and sit while running the water over us.  I thought to myself that what had seemed a depressing, messy situation had eventually led to something very good.

Many times in the Bible we see how God brings good out of bad circumstances. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Rom. 8:28)

“He” can take any mess………….and clean it up !

Our microwave is over 25 years old !

We bought it in the mid 80’s. (Not brand new, but used) It also went through our house burning down in the 90’s. During that event it suffered water, heat and smoke damage. We cleaned it up and it ran fine. We’ve been using it everyday, many times a day all these years, and it is still running fine ! It’s big, simple, and let’s face it – a working “wonder”. It seems to never “wear out”  !

In the Bible, we learn that God’s provisions for the children of Israel never wore out during their wilderness experience.

 ”And I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet…” (Deut. 29:5)

Whatever wilderness experience you may be going through, God’s promise to provide for His people has never changed. His “working wonders” go beyond clothing, shoes, and microwaves……….

……..to the promised land of eternity with Him – forever !

Putting up a tent is not always easy - especially if you haven’t done it in a very long time.

Just recently I enjoyed a weekend in the woods on a women’s retreat and spent some time re-living the “tenting” experience. Eventually it took about ten of us to complete the task of putting up this particular two-room model. Even though we had the official directions, we still needed some people who had previous experience to finally finish the job. We took pictures of it, hoping that with these visual aids, it would be easier the next time.

In Biblical times “tenting” was a normal every day occurrence. They were used by shepherds, armies, and common people on the move. The Lord Himself requested the ark of the covenant to be housed in a tent of His specifications to be “on the move” with His people.

“For I  have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought up Israel, even to this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another.” (1 Chron. 18:5)

As Christians, God may ask us to be “on the move”, from place to place, to serve Him and His purpose. We are reminded that we are “only passing through” this life here on earth, until we get to our final eternal home in Heaven.

Jesus tells us that “in My Father’s house are many mansions;  if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2)

Our “final” move from here to eternity, will be a whole lot easier !

Mushrooms are the “fruiting bodies” of fungus ?  Fungus – “fruit” ? !             When did this happen ?

Apparently this is not new information, but to me it was. For most of my life, mushrooms have adorned my pizzas,  salads, omelettes, burgers ……  I  have happily eaten and enjoyed them,  especially when sauteed with a healthy dose of garlic and olive oil.

Sure, they are classified as “edible” fungus (fruit !) - but this now presents a mental dilemma. The term “fungus” brings to mind something bad – to be avoided – toxic. Some mushrooms are poisonous – period !  But on the other hand, good has come from fungus, such as penicillin, and yeast. So there are “good” mushrooms and “bad” mushrooms !

Well, whether or not ”edible” mushrooms are going to harm anyone, I am reminded that I need to take responsibility for whatever I put into my body – to be aware of any benefits, or possible harmful effects. This also pertains to my spiritual health as well. “Good” teaching will be of great benefit, “bad” teaching will poison my soul.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits……..every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit…….therefore by their fruits you will know them.” (Math. 7:15-20)

Be  “A-ware” of what is good – or bad (fruit) ………so you won’t be poisoned !

“Follow me!”

We’ve all heard that phrase at some time or another. When I was a youngster playing with a group of friends, the “leader” person in the group would at some point beckon us to “follow”. Most of the time, I was a follower. As I look back, I can see how easily I put my trust in someone simply because that person decided to be the “leader”.

As time went on, I found out that some of these leaders weren’t very nice. In fact, some of them were downright bad, and I ended up getting into trouble because I chose to “follow” them. Frankly, no matter what age we are, we can still get into some kind of trouble by following “blindly”…….

“Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?             (Luke 6:39) 

In the Bible we are reminded many times that we can get into trouble by putting our trust in man instead of God.

“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” (Ps. 118:8)

“Follow Me,” Jesus said to His disciples, and to anyone who desired to trust in Him.

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”  (Mark 10:45)

He came to die so we all could live………

…………………  ”follow Him” !

We live in a “throw away” society.

When we’re done with something, we throw it away. Whether it ends up as garbage, or just out of our life, getting rid of whatever it is,  seems to be the most convenient thing to do. On the other hand, there are other things in our lives that we just can’t bear to get rid of – and we can become “hoarders”.

Basically, it comes down to a personal  perception of value. If we don’t place much value on something, it becomes easier to throw it away, to give it up. Sometimes throughout our lives, these values can change, and with these changes come seasons of “cleaning up”……….getting rid of clutter, physically and mentally.

Little children save their pennies and baby toys until they discover there are other “bigger” and “better” things in life. Childhood relationships are traded in for more “important” relationships, those with greater “promise” of gratification. Until maturity brings an awareness of what is really important in life, we ride the teeter-totter of “throwing away” and “hoarding”.

“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”              (1 Cor. 13: 11-13)

Perfect love is never hoarded, never thrown away…….

—–only freely given….

You’re all “washed up” .

This was/is a slang term here in America. When someone says “you’re all washed up”, it usually means you’re finished – done. It can also refer to being over the hill, past one’s prime, no longer successful or needed.

Women over fifty years of age can feel like they’re “washed up”. If you’ve been a full time mom and your kids are grown and gone with lives of their own, you may feel that you are no longer needed. Losing your youthful beauty and physical stamina can leave you with that “over the hill” feeling. If you are looking for a new career, the “past one’s prime” dilemma can bring you down.

In the Bible there are references towards Godly wisdom which adorns those who have a living relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. The elderly are still greatly needed to present a living example of instruction to young men and women. As Christians, Jesus promises that we are “never” washed up. The Holy Spirit is constantly on hand for our regeneration and renewal.

“but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”  (Titus 3: 5-7)

So if someone says “you’re washed up”, you may want to consider by “whose point of view” ?

Personally, I’ve chosen being “washed up” through Jesus……with the promise of being eternally “prime” ! 

You can too !