Blog

Our family has always had a habit of saying grace, offering a blessing, or giving thanks before meals. Does your family? Often one of the children wanted to say it. With a voice barely above a whisper, hands clasped in front, head bowed the prayer would be said: “Thank you for the world so sweet, thank you for the food we eat, for you for the birds that sing, thank you, God, for everything. Amen.” Sometimes they would switch it up with this one: “God is great, God is good, and we thank Him for our food. By His hands we all are fed, Give us Lord our daily bread. Amen.”

I always smiled and my heart warmed to hear a young one pray, especially when it was voluntarily.   Praying out loud is difficult for some people. Many people in fact have trouble with it. Teaching children to pray out loud with others helps them. They learn early that this is not a scary thing. It is just a conversation between God and His children.

My older grandson has been taught this lesson and it is ingrained in him. He is unable to eat without first giving thanks to God for providing it.  Meal or snack, it doesn’t matter if he is at home, in a restaurant, or in their van getting fast food at a drive-thru, my sweet grandboy will not take one bite until a prayer is said.   Don’t ask him to silently pray to himself. (“If anyone causes one of these little ones–those who believe in me–to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” Matt. 18:6). He will be very offended and sad for God. The day after a recent family reunion we all met for lunch after church. The total number of family members at the Mexican restaurant was somewhere between forty and fifty, closer to the later. When the food came I thought the cousin sitting next to me, a pastor, would say grace. Not so. My grandson wanted to say it. He not only wanted to ask for God’s blessing on our food but also for my father, his great-grandfather, since it was Dad’s birthday. Another proud grandmother moment.

We give thanks to Abba because He gives us everything we have. The Bible instructs us to do this in Ephesians 5:20 “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jesus thanked Him before meals: “And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat.” (Acts 27:35). “Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing.” Matt. 14:19

Meals are a great time to spend together with family. They are the perfect time to talk to our Heavenly Father and thank Him for the many things we have. Unlike some in the world, we are fortunate to eat without worry of if there will be food for another meal. My family is blessed and has much for which to be thankful. One of which is a sweet, kind hearted grandson that loves God and is not ashamed or too intimidated to pray out in public.  Another is his parents for their teaching this to him.

“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.” Matt. 10:32

 

Were you ever a Scout? I had the privilege of being a Brownie and Girl Scout when I was a young girl. It is a great organization. If you were or maybe even weren’t, you might happen know the Scout song “Make new friend but keep the old. The new are silver and the old are gold.”? The words ring true to me now that I am older more than ever. Friends are a true treasure. Verse one says: “Make new friends, but keep the old. The new is silver, and the old is gold. A circle is round, it has no end. That’s how long, I will be your friend.” Comforting, isn’t it? Friendship without an end.

Well, that is certainly true. I am still friends with some of my old Scout girls, neighborhood friends, Sunday School classmates, and school friends. Thanks to Facebook I have been able to reconnect and keep up with classmates from elementary school to college. Those childhood friendships are deeply imbedded in my heart. It had been years since I had seen some of my old classmates but when I did it was as if time had stood still. The friendship was still there. When we wrote “friends forever” in yearbooks little did I realize that we really did mean it. Those people are still my friends.

The next verse in the song says: “A fire burns bright, it warms the heart. We’ve been friends, from the very start.” True. Some people are immediate friends a. That verse encompasses not only the old friends but the friends I have since made. Some people I just have a connection with instantly. Don’t you? We just “click” right away and become close friends, like two peas in a pod.  God orchestrates those relationships. They might not have been as long as the childhood ones, but they are very, very strong. The reason for the strength is that God is in the center of these relationships. He gives us the friends we need, when we need them. Through my years of owning a Christian Bookstore I met many wonderful people. Many of the authors still maintain a friendship with me. In other areas of my life I have met people that have become like family because our friendship is so deep. The next verse says: “Silver is precious, Gold is too. I am precious, and so are you. You help me, and I’ll help you and together we will see it through.”

How true! We often get through things leaning on friends. Friends help friends when they ask and even when they don’t. Friends have a way of knowing when another friend needs help. Sometimes it might just be a card or a hug. Other times it might be a conversation. Whatever it is, friends help friends. Even if I haven’t spoken to a friend in years, I will be there for them if they need me. Whether a new or old friend is in need, don’t you want to help?

What kind of friend are you? Do you think you would be friends with yourself? Do you like the way you treat your friends? The Bible says in Luke 6:31 “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” We should all be the type of friend to others that we want to have ourselves. One of the best things you can do for your friend is pray. Lift your friends up to God. Your old and new ones. Ones you have had since you were little and ones you have just made. Friendship is a precious gift.

Yes, we all need friends and can never have too many. Like the song says our friends are like silver and gold. Precious. The song closes with: “Across the land, Across the sea, Friends forever, We will always be.” Ahhh, such a nice sentiment. No matter if close by, still in the same town, or far away in another state or country, solid friendships last. Call a friend today. Check on them. Say hello. Don’t take your friends for granted. Take them for coffee!

“Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another to show love and to do good.” Hebrews 10:24

I am not brave when it comes to pests around the house. My cat, dog, and husband are in charge of extermination. They all three do a great job taking care of me and our house. Recently in a blog I shared that I review products. One product I found that helps immensely is an ultrasonic pest repeller. It is effective for rodents, insects, mice, cockroach, spiders, rats, ants, flies, fleas, bugs, lizards, and snakes. The one I reviewed was sold by T & T Company. It works like a charm. No more stink bugs, flies, or wasps. Spiders are all outside, too.  Love it!

As good as the ultrasonic pest repeller is, there are some problems with it. The path in front of it needs to be clear so that the ways get out into the room. Chairs, appliances, purses and such block the waves.

Occasionally we have mice here in our little home. Recently our cat was on duty in the kitchen by the dishwasher. Diligently he sat for hours watching and waiting. No mouse. Historically if a mouse is coming inside it makes its way in through a small top kitchen drawer. (Ewww, I know.) I learned long ago to use that as a junk drawer. My hubby decided since the cat had no luck it was time to call in the big guns, him. A mousetrap was baited with peanut butter and placed in that notorious drawer. Every morning before coffee I would squeamishly check to see if there was an executed mouse. Nope. After a few weeks I got lax and the every day slipped to every other or so. Still no mouse. My cat obviously was stalking an imaginary one.

This week after coffee I decided the mouse check was long overdue. I opened the drawer and…no mouse. Guess what?! No mouse trap either. Immediately I woke up my hubby to ask if he had spared me the sight and thrown “the body,” mousetrap and all, away. Confused doesn’t even begin to describe the look he gave me.

We have a mouse conundrum. Do we have a Mighty Mouse running amuck with a mousetrap joined to his foot or tail? Perhaps our rescued cat opened the drawer and disposed of the dead mouse for me. He is extremely grateful that we saved him. A dear friend of mine recently had her rescued cat bring her a mouse, and he is declawed and only has three legs. Maybe rescue furbabies have super powers because they are so thankful. They turn all of their energy and gratitude into loving and caring for the humans that saved them.

What would you do if you were saved? If someone set you free from a caged in life and gave you a life of total safety, nurture, and love? Would you use all of your strength and energy for them? Well, guess what…we have been saved by the precious blood of Jesus. We might not have super powers but He does. His blood frees us from sin and gives us life after death, eternal life.

If you haven’t already prayed the prayer to accept Him, you should seriously think about it. Talk to someone about it. Send me a note and I will pray with you. Let Him rescue you. I’m so happy that I did.

“Then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment,” 2 Peter 2:9 ESV

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

 

Since retiring I have been reviewing books and products. Have you ever done that? Do you do it now? I enjoy reading the different types of Christian books that have come from the publishers for reviews. Many of the books I never would have picked up, and boy would I have missed out on a good read. The variety is really exhilarating. I have enjoyed everything from baby board books up to theology and judicial ones. Historical fiction has topped the list as my favorite with Amish fiction coming in a close second if not a tie for first place.

Products that come in to review are the same. I see a wide range of things.  There have been a hammock, copper mugs, face paint, karaoke microphones, and kitchen gadgets. Some of the items are so nice it is a tough choice on how many more to buy. (Like these copper mugs.)  Very seldom do I receive a product that I cannot give a favorable review but I must tell the truth.  Sometimes products are different than what the seller states.  If a product quits working part or all of the time, consumers need to know.  If there is not honesty the reviews mean nothing and help no one.

Receiving a product or book that doesn’t live up its hype or advertising is very disappointing. I hate buying something, expecting it to be what was said, and then find out it is not even close to that.  Even though it helps others, I hate writing negative reviews. Positive reviews are much easier.  When I was writing my latest product review I wondered what type of review I would receive if someone reviewed me?   Am I a “what you see is what you get” type?  Maybe I am different than what was expected.  Would I live up to my promises? Do I deliver what I say? Do I have good values? Am I a good listener? A helper? Am I self-centered or selfless?  If I say I am a Christian, am I one all of the time or like some products am I faulty and defective?

How about you? Do you think you would get 5 stars or less?  What would your review say? Are you as pretty inside as you are on the outside? Do you lift people up instead of tear them down? How are your priorities? How do you take care of your family?  Does your light shine as brightly for Jesus on Thursday as it does on Sunday?  Are your words and thoughts as pure outside of church as they are inside of it?

One day we will receive a review from God. When all is said and done and He takes assessment, there will be a review written on our lives. We all hope for a 5 out of 5 star review, don’t we? Ah, but will we receive it? Will Abba say “well done, my good and faithful servant” in that final review?  Let’s hope, but we can do more than only hope.  We can live and obey.  God has given us instructions on how to live. He is there for us to talk to and pray with anytime. We just need to keep reading, studying, and living according to His word. And shoot for the stars, the 5 star review, my friends. Are you going for those 5 stars?  I am going for them, too.  Maybe we can help each other achieve that goal.

“The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!'” Matt. 25:21 NIV

Summer is over for the children in Southern Indiana. School started yesterday, the end of July. Yes, really that early. My oldest grands, twin girls, are already in sixth grade. They have grown into lovely young women. My grandsons are both riding the bus to school. One is in third grade and the other begins Kindergarten. Such big boys they both are. Our Kindergartener is a sweet, cheerful, happy special needs boy named Isaac. His big brother is Isaac’s biggest fan.

As Isaac starts school I can only hope and pray he won’t be teased and bullied.  The same with my older grandson, Alex.  My prayers are that he isn’t bullied.  Isaac might not fully understand why kids bully him, but his big brother will.  His heart will be broken that someone is being mean to his little brother. Alex has a sensitive spirit and cannot understand why people are want to intentionally hurt. He only wants to protect and love. His heart breaks when he sees someone or some animal hurting. Once when we were talking about bullying he told me “I hate it. It makes no sense at all.” I agree, my sweet grandson. Totally.

 

No one is exempt from bullying.  Kids can be bullied for a variety of things. Home life, grades, illness, having an impediment, a disorder, wearing glasses, or “just because” are some of the reasons given for bullying another. Jealousy and greed are two others.  Even adults continue the bullying with politics and religious views.  It needs to stop.

Were you ever bullied? Are you now? In school I was. A lot.  Elementary through High School. There were three reasons that I was bullied although back then they called it teased. I was overweight, wore glasses, and raised in a single parent home. My Daddy died when I was twelve and I was bullied because I had no father. Kids can be mean, cruel actually. The good news is that I lived through it and I survived. Unfortunately we hear about many kids that don’t want to continue life because of it.

Have you talked to the children in your circle, really talked to them, about how to treat others? There is no shame in being different or weak. Some things in life happen that hurt without having others continue to remind us of them.  Enough already!  Everyone has problems.   In actuality bullies are the ones with bigger issues. They tease, knock down, and mock to make themselves look better. Self esteem is what they lack and confidence, most likely love, too.  Isn’t it unfortunate that bullies need to make others feel bad in order to feel good about themselves?

Bullying is a serious thing not only from a physical aspect but mental and emotional, too. Those words and wounds can stick with people for years. I still remember the majority of names I was called and things said to me. Oh, but I can also remember my friends, my true friends, coming to my aid and giving me support.

Join me in praying for the sweet innocents that need sheltering from being bullied. Pray for a shield of protection around them.  We also need to pray for the big old bullies, too. They need help. Bullies have gotten way off of track and need help getting back on. Let’s pray for them, too.

School should be filled with learning, fun, giggles, friends, and carefree times. It shouldn’t be a time of dread, gloom, frowns and heartache. We can lead by example. Let the kids hear positive, nice words from us. They mimic what they see and hear. Teach them to be a friend and helper not a bully.  This is a lesson for life.

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” Matt. 5:11 ESV

“Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
Psalm 82:4 ESV

“There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Prov. 12:18 ESV

School starts this week here in Southern Indiana. Our grandchildren have a very different schedule than we did back in the days when summer vacation lasted from a Memorial Day to Labor Day. Isn’t that when summer is? Things continue to change so here they are going back to school. Short summer for my grands.

One thing that doesn’t change is God.  What God said yesterday holds true today, tomorrow, and always.  If He says it, you can believe it.  God made the Earth and gave its care to man.  Scripture says:  “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” (Gen. 1:26)  Since we are stewards, our Master (God) will one day require us to give Him an accounting of how we have done with what He has given us (this land). In your opinion, how are we doing?

A friend had posted on Facebook about garbage and littering in our area the same day my son phoned to talk to me about it. My twin grandgirls had been taking a wonderful day camp provided by the Harrison County Purdue Extension. The camp extended their knowledge of our land and nature. Both girls soaked in the information and are now Junior Master Naturalist!  Awesome.  After a canoe trip they cleaned up lots and lots of trash. None of that garbage was dropped by the class but every bit was collected by them. They were being good stewards of our world that Abba has entrusted to us.

My son was so inspired by these Junior Master Naturalists and their duty to our land that after a few hours kayaking he too went on a search for trash. It wasn’t hard, he said.  It was everywhere.  In a short time he gathered quite a bit.  Sad, isn’t it? Why would someone carelessly and irresponsibly throw an empty cup, can, or broken chair away on a beautiful creek bank? Why do people drift by, drive past, or walk over trash? We should stop, collect it, and dispose of it properly. Don’t get me wrong, I am guilty of this, too. While I might wait and throw my garbage in a can, seldom if ever do I take the effort to clean up after someone else. I should.

It is going to take a joint effort from us all to get our beloved planet cleaned up. Big task, I know, but we could take baby steps. Start by picking up that soft drink bottle or can instead of walking around it. Keep a trash bag in your trunk just in case you get inspired to clean up as you hike. God gave us, mankind, the responsibility of caring for this land. What kind of job are we doing?

We started this with speaking of changes. The truth is we cannot change others but we can change ourselves. We can also change our world.  Think about being a good steward and cleaning up litter. I know I will. It is time for action.  Time to change.  Past time.

“Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.” I Cor. 4:2 ESV

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” Gen. 2:15 ESV

“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein” Psalm 24:1 ESV

I am a word person. Not much or numbers. I leave those to my parents, retired banker and mathematician, and sister, accountant. Numbers are so final. Black and white. Give me words any day. Don’t misunderstand me. There are some words that drive me bonkers or make my skin crawl. Obviously what my sweet Grandmother would call “ugly” words are tops on that list. Back then I didn’t appreciate her calling foul language “ugly” but now I see perfectly why she did. That language is so offensive it even takes away from the beauty of the one speaking those words.

One word that makes me cringe is step. What about you? How are you with steps? I don’t like that word at all. Stairs hurt my knees, but that is not what I mean. Let’s talk step in regard to family relationships. Growing up I heard about stepparents and siblings….through Cinderella. Those steps were horrendous! It would scare any child away from wanting a stepparent or step sibling. Do you remember how they treated poor Cinderella? They worked her endlessly, gave her no love or affection, and laughed while doing it.

My husband came into our marriage with two children. They easily slipped into my family, life, and heart. At times people tell me how my daughter favors my sister or cousin. One person commented on how she gestured when speaking. “She does that just like you and your mother.” Remarks have been made that things my son said were straight out of my mouth. “He has your values.”

The stories of a wicked stepparent were found to be untrue when my mother married Dad. Yep, they were quickly shot down. He is a sweet, gentle giant and loves us like his own. Doctors we both go to caution me about health issues “because of your Dad” only to laugh when reminded he is my second Dad and not the first. When people find out they are shocked. He is never called step nor are we.

In my family we have a lot of steps. They are the good kind that I love dearly. I have banned the word from my house and vocabulary. My children are my children. Dad is my father. I have more cousins than I can count. When someone asks me how many nieces and nephews I have, it takes me a while to add them all up. Why would I put “step” into a discussion that doesn’t really need it? Family is family. Love is love. Speak it and believe it. Get off those steps.

Proverbs 16:24 “Kind words are like honey–sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.”