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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.”

Have you ever had trouble with your phone service? How about with your home phone and cell phone at the same time? I am. They are with different companies, too. Both companies are very sympathetic and courteous, even offering a refund on service not received. That’s great, but I just want my phones to work. Sometimes I need to call someone and I have people calling me.

Thankfully talking to God is not like that EVER. God is always available. No dropped prayers. No busy signals. No dead lines. With God everything always works. The only problem is me. I have to remember to go to Him and pray. Recently someone asked me why I pray everyday. Because my spirit needs to talk to my Creator. I crave Him. This life is too much for me to manage on my own. I need His help and guidance.

I pray for myself but I also pray for others. Sometimes people ask me to pray for them and other times I just can tell they need prayer. Perhaps things aren’t going well for them or a family member is sick. Those are great reasons to pray for someone. Maybe they or a family member needs salvation. No better reason to pray. Is a friend in need of a job promotion, send up a prayer. There is no end to why we pray.

It doesn’t matter what age we are, God hears our prayers. He hears the child’s prayer just as He does the great-grandparent’s one. Abba loves to hear from His children. Don’t you like to talk to your family? I do. When my phones were not working I had one of things I wanted to ask my parents, children, family, or friends. It wasn’t possible to call them and I missed their voices. It made me think how God must miss His children when we don’t pray for a few days. I hate to disappoint Him. Don’t you?

Remember, the line to God is always working and He is always available. You won’t be put on hold or asked to wait while He does something else. He will listen and talk to you immediately. Try it today. Your call (or prayer) doesn’t need to be a long one. Just keep in touch with your Creator.

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Eph. 6:18 NIV

“Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.”
Jer. 29:12 NIV

I love music. Songs speak to me when mere words just cannot. The old hymns run through my mind and soothe my soul when I am troubled. A song written by a friend for me is never forgotten and always in my heart. Sometimes songs get stuck in my head for one reason or another and keep playing over and over in an endless loop. Have you ever had that happen? Today the words that will not leave my mind are to the chorus of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken”. Do you know that one? It is an old hymn written in 1907 by Ada R. Habershon with music by Charles H. Gabriel.

“Will the circle be unbroken 
By and by, Lord, by and by
There’s a better home a-waiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky”

Those words made me think of family members long gone but not forgotten. They are very missed. It would be so sweet to be able to chat with them one more time. See their precious faces. Get invaluable advice or a reassuring hug. We all know that is not possible in this world. It is in the next one though because God promises eternal life to all that believe and accept. In fact when I was down because of this silly little verse, God whispered in my ear that I will indeed see those three family members again.

Talk about turning a frown upside down, that certainly did it. After that I am now more determined than ever to pray for those in my family that are as of yet unsaved. It would be a tragedy for them to miss the biggest and best family reunion ever. They would be forever missed. I am speaking about all ages, young to old. I have spoken of my faith and relationship with Jesus to family and friends. It is something I gladly do but do not want to force the conversation. Praying is different. I will pray for them daily, multiple times, to be saved. That their stubborn, hard hearts will soften so that they will accept Jesus is my prayer for many family and friends.

Are you like me? Do you have family and/or friends that would keep your circle from being complete? Keep showing them God’s love. Pray for them. One of my favorite ministers used to tell me to “keep dripping on him, Nyla Kay, because sooner or later he will get wet.” This is my advice for you, too, my friend. Keep dripping, little by little letting Jesus shine through you, until the one you are working on is suddenly washed in the blood. Be a good example. It is easier to argue and fight, but you “catch more fli with honey than vinegar” my sweet Mammaw always said. Work on keeping your circle unbroken as I am working on mine. Contact me if you need help praying or a partner.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” John 14:1 ESV