Heart Thoughts

This Thing is from Me

2012-02-01T13:20:00.000-08:00

Gathered Gleanings (from STREAMS IN THE DESERT, VOL. 1)

“This thing is from me.” (1 Kings 12:24)

“Life’s disappointments are veiled love’s appointments” …Rev. C.A. Fox

My child, I have a message for you today; let me whisper it in your ear, that it may gild with glory any storm clouds which may arise, and smooth the rough places upon which you may have to tread. It is short, only five words, but let them sink into your inmost soul; use them as a pillow upon which to rest your weary head.
This thing is from me.

Have you ever thought of it, that all that concerns you concerns Me too? For, “he that touches you, touches the apple of mine eye? (Zech. 2:8). You are very precious in My sight. (Isaiah 43:4). Therefore, it is My special delight to educate you.
I would have you learn when temptations assail you, and the “enemy comes in like a flood,” that this thing is from Me, that your weakness needs My might, and your safety lies in letting Me fight for you.

Are you in difficult circumstances, surrounded by people who do not understand you, who never consult your taste, who put you in the background? This thing is from Me. I am the God of circumstances. Thou camest not to thy place by accident, it is the very place God meant for thee.
Have you not asked to be made humble? See then, I have placed you in the very school where this lesson is taught; your surroundings and companions are only working out My will.

Are you in money difficulties? Is it hard to make both ends meet? This thing is from Me; for I am your purse-bearer and would have you draw from and depend upon Me. My supplies are limitless (Phil. 4:19). I would have you prove my promises. Let it not be said of you, “In this thing ye did not believe the Lord your God” (Deut. 1:32).

Are you passing through a night of sorrow? This thing is from Me. I am the Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief. I have let earthly comforters fail you, that by turning to Me you may obtain everlasting consolation (2 Thess.2:16)... 2:16-17). Have you longed to do some great work for Me and instead have been laid aside on a bed of pain and weakness? This thing is from Me. I could not get your attention in your busy days and I want to teach you some of my deepest lessons. “They also serve who only stand and wait.” Some of My greatest workers are those shut out from active service that they may learn to wield the weapon of all-prayer.

This day I place in your hand this pot of holy oil. Make use of it free, my child. Let every circumstance that arises, every word that pains you, every interruption that would make you impatient, every revelation of your weakness be anointed with it. The sting will go as you learn to see Me in all things. ---Laura A. Barter Snow

“’This is from Me,’ the Savior said,
As bending low He kissed my brow,
‘For One who loves you thus has led.
Just rest in Me, be patient now,
Your Father knows you have need of this,
Tho’ why perchance you cannot see. ---
Grieve not for things you’ve seemed to miss.
The thing I send is best for thee.’
"Then, looking through my tears, I plead,
‘Dear Lord, forgive; I did not know.
Twill not be hard since Thou doest tread,
Each path before me here below.
And for my good this thing must be,
His grace sufficient for each test,
So still I’ll sing, “Whatever be
God’s way for me is always best.”’”.

Sacrificial Offerings

2012-01-04T13:13:00.000-08:00

"By faith Able offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks even though he is dead.” Hebrews 11:4

Christmas 2011, a memory now, still reminds me of the gifts given, the hectic halleluiahs, surprises that bring smiles, food I’ve eaten until I’m about to ‘fat away’.

While trying to get to the bottom of my desk yesterday I ran across a gift from my almost nine year old granddaughter, Briana Faith. It’s a copied photo of her and three of her siblings with me, before Eliyah was born. That would make her about eight years old. It is carefully taped into a greeting card with a photo opening. She wrapped it herself and wrote a special note to me.

“Hi nana. I hope you like the picture I printed. It’s the one with you on it. The picture that I colored and drew and printed is the one that says Merry Christmas.” And surely she had drawn and colored and written another sweet paper for me.

Do I love that gift? Of course! There are other hand made offerings as well as bought offerings that thrill my heart and go into my Nana’s treasure chest. Briana Faith offered me a gift in faith that I would accept her offering gladly. I hope that I received it with the pleasure that God did with Abel’s gift.

But I’ve always wondered about Cain’s gift and felt rather sorry for him. The rest of THAT story must be relegated to another time and place in my writing.

The Bible says Abel offered God a better sacrifice and was commended as a righteous man. Able, by faith, speaks even though he’s dead.

Briana Faith sacrificed her time and effort to make my Christmas gift. It’s sitting on my desk where I can smile at it and remember her sacrifice. I will remember ALL of the gifts I received this Christmas from loved ones who sacrificed to bring me pleasure!

Abel had faith; Able sacrificed; Able was righteous; Able was remembered. Just in case you don’t remember, Able was Adam and Eve’s second son and Cain’s brother. What did he do? He offered fat from some of the first fruits of his flocks as a sacrifice to God. (See Genesis 4:1-8)

What will I sacrifice for God today? Will my offering be commended by God?

Jacob's Lesson in Leading

2012-01-03T05:37:00.000-08:00

HEART THOUGTS…from Helen“

“Then Jacob said to him (Esau), “My lord knows that the children are tender and that I must care for the ewes and cows that are nursing their young….
“So let my lord go on ahead ...While I move along slowly at the pace of the droves before me and that of the children…”” Genesis 33:13-14.

Jacob learned a lot from his wrestling match with God just prior to his reconciliation with his twin brother, Esau.

Jacob remembered his shepherding skills with his father-in-law, Laban. Eastern shepherds lead, they do not drive.

Jacob recognized the limitations of the little ones, the children, the nursing ewes and cows.

Jacob revealed tenderness in his character. Jacob, who wrestled with God, demonstrated bravery in speaking up for those who couldn’t do so.

******How many of us need to slow down as we delve into 2012?
• Slow down for the benefit of those in your care.
• Slow down and remember your shepherding skills, to lead, not to drive.
• Slow down and recognize the limitations of those in your care.
• Slow down and reveal the tenderness that hides beneath the toughness.
• Slow down and remember your struggle with God and how he changed your life… slowly.

“Jacob said…”the children are tender…while I move along slowly at the pace of the droves and that of the children.”

Knowing the End from the Beginning

2011-12-31T06:01:00.000-08:00

Almost a new year.
The Omega will become the Alpha in a matter of hours.
The end will soon become the beginning. The cycle continues.

Psalm 31:1 “In You O Lord, I have taken refuge
v.14 “But I trust in You, O LORD, I say, “You are my God.”
v. 15. “My times are in Your hands”

…for the end as well as the beginning
You are my refuge
You are my trust
You are my God
You O LORD, are my life.
Blessed be the LORD God, as you close out this year of 2011 and we delve into 2012, knowing that our times are in Your hands, we fix our eyes on Jesus, the AUTHOR and the FININSHER of our faith!

Gathered Gleanings

2011-12-27T07:23:00.000-08:00

THE ROAD AHEAD
I think that human life is much like road life. You stand on a hill,look down and across the valley, and another prodigious hill lifts itself upon the other side.

The day is hot, your horse is weary, and you are tired. It seems you cannot climb that long hill. But you had better trot down the hill you are on, and not trouble yourself about the other one.

You find the valley pleasant and inspiring. When you get across it, you meet only a slight ascent, and begin to wonder where the steep hill disappeared.

You trot along briskly, and when you reach the highest point, you find that there has not been an inch of the hill over which you have not trotted.

You see the impossible height to be illusory. The slight ascent looked almost perpendicular, but when you come to pass over it, step by step, you find it to be a good traveling road.

A Personal Christmas Card

2011-12-23T13:10:00.000-08:00

O LORD, I want to thank You for Bethlehem, even now war-torn.
Thank You for Jesus, The Bread of Life, Who was born.
Thank You for Mary, surrendered utterly;
(“As is pleasing to Thee, be it even to me.”)
for a donkey, beast of burden carrying them both, quietly.

Father, thanks for Joseph, both leading and following,
obedient to You though not allowing
his doubt to prevent fathering.

Sovereign LORD, how grateful am I
that Shepherds took note of a star in the sky.
For kings, curious, not knowing the reason,
drawn to a manger bringing gifts for pleasing.
Thank You for Angels, that sang out on high,
Glory! Alleluia! Both on earth and in the sky.

LORD last but not least
for a Baby who reigns as Prophet and Priest:
King Jesus! Eternal, Creator, Emmanuel,
a Babe from heaven to save us from sin and hell.

Praises be to the Great I AM
House of Bread, O, Bethlehem!
What can I bring Him?
Who owns and rules all.
Myself…as Mary, at His feet I fall.

Babe in a Manger, True Bread of Life
Asking on others you shine your great Light.
LORD, Most Holy, trembling I kneel at your feet
You, Lord Jesus, is all that I seek.
Bowing in Bethlehem, blest House of Bread,
Satisfied not with the world, only You, instead.
…Helen Lynn

GLORY, MAKE IT SHINE

2011-12-15T05:39:00.000-08:00

HEART THOUGHTS…from Helen
“We have seen His Glory, the Glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14b)

Back in the early ‘60’s, Bill Jarvis directed the choir at Pendleton Street Baptist Church in Greenville, South Carolina. As student nurses at Greenville General Hospital, just a few blocks away, a group us girls were coerced into singing one Christmas and discovered what this choir was all about…GLORY! Forever, Bill Jarvis wanted the choir to sing for God’s Glory.

Yes, I actually participated in singing The Halleluiah Chorus with that choir. I do not read music nor am I gifted with voice, just making a ‘joyful noise’ seemed sufficient, as my Daddy used to say.

But that year, Bill hammered ‘Glory’ into my brain. I was so afraid of messing the music up; I followed directions as closely as I possibly could.

Each time he said, “Glory”, he added, “Make it Shine!”

So, this Christmas, as you sing of His Glory---Make it shine! To the Glory of God.

Jesus prayed in His great High Priestly prayer in John 17:24, “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see My Glory, the Glory you have given me because You loved me before the creation of the world.”

Addendum: The only other time I’ve seen that Glory by singing (though coerced) took place at McCormick First Baptist Church under the fervent leadership of Dave Becker.
Glory! Make it Shine!

Angels and Alleluias (from KNEELING IN BETHLEHEM, Ann Weems)

2011-12-08T05:37:00.000-08:00

ANGEL-FILLED ADVENT
Wouldn’t it be wonderful
if Advent came filled with angels and alleluias?

Wouldn’t it be perfect
if we were greeted on these December mornings
with a hovering of heavenly hosts
tuning their harps and brushing up on their fa-la-las?

Wouldn’t it be incredible
if their music filled our waking hours
with the promise of peace on earth
and if each Advent night we dreamed of nothing but goodwill?

Wouldn’t we be ecstatic
if we could take those angels shopping,
or trim the tree or have them hold our hands
and dance through our houses decorating?

And, oh, how glorious it would be
to sit in church next to an angel
and sing our hark-the-heralds!

What an Advent that would be!
What Christmas spirit we could have!
An angel-filled Advent has so many possibilities!

But in lieu of that,
perhaps we can give thanks
for the good earthly joys we have been given
and for the earthly “angels” that we know
who do such a good job of filling
Our Advent with alleluias!

KNEELING IN BETHLEHEM

2011-12-03T05:19:00.000-08:00

KNEELING IN BETHLEHEM
WITH YESTERDAY’S PAIN
Some of us walk into Advent
Tethered to our unresolved yesterdays
The pain still stabbing
The hurt still throbbing.
It’s not that we don’t know better;
It’s just that we can’t stand up anymore by ourselves.
On the way to Bethlehem,
Will you give us a hand?
…Ann Weems

2011-12-02T08:16:00.000-08:00

“Do not be like the horse or the mule…”Psalm 32:9 NIV

My Granddaddy Goodson’s horse, Dan, demonstrated to me what that verse must mean. His leathery mouth was so tough; it took a special bridle with two bits to control him. Even though Dan remains to this day the horse I loved the most, he challenged me at every turn.

I’m sure that I must be somewhat like Dan to my heavenly Father, even though He specifically instructs me not to be. My stubborn, headstrong will needs extra attention. In the verse prior to verse 9 we read: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;I will counsel you and watch over you.” Psalm 32:8

Thank you, Father, for Divine Counsel, Divine Guidance, Divine Teaching and being my Divine Teacher. Even as the ‘Horse Whisperer and trainer whispers in the velvety ear of his steed which way to go as he uses the bridle to turn the animal, stop the animal, urge the horse forward with his heels, You guide me, teach me and counsel me.

Addendum: The time finally came when I could ride Dan without bridle or bit for short distances. He could surprise me at any moment, however, and did quite often. I suppose the mighty animal wanted me to know that just because he allowed me to control him, his strength was not to be toyed with. “Don’t be like the horse or the mule.”

Perhaps that’s why the Lord chose a donkey to transport the Holy Family and a donkey to transport a KING into Jerusalem.

To Grandmother's House We Go

2011-11-23T05:06:00.000-08:00

“Over the river and through the woods
To Grandmother’s house we go.
The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh
Through white and drifting snow...ooo”

I’ve always loved that old song by Lydia Maria Child. Surely it conjures up sweet memories of doing just that, but without the snow, regrettably…and the horse…and the sleigh. You get my drift. The excitement of going home for the holidays, whether it is Thanksgiving or Christmas or both, quickens the pulse.

As the LORD led me to His 23rd Psalm this morning, I prayed my way through it slowly, personalizing every word, every phrase. When I came to the 6th and last verse that promises, “and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” I saw that at some point in time I had penciled in the margin: “I’m on my way to Your House”.

During this holiday season, my desire is that you would read that dear and precious psalm as if He wrote it just for you…and I think He did. Rejoice in that Jehovah Rohi, The LORD my Shepherd; your Shepherd would pen such a love note to us. Ponder it, pray it, personalize it and as the Shepherd Himself anoints your head with His sweet oil, claim the promise that, “Surely, goodness and mercy will follow you (through the rush, the cooking, the shopping, the decorating, the tables set before you, laden with the feasts the Lord prepares, knowing every minute that you’re headed for the evermore dwelling place of our Shepherd Savior.

I’m on my way to Your House, Lord.

MEMORY LANE

2011-11-15T13:43:00.000-08:00

When does traveling down ‘memory lane’ lead you to the wrong road and possibly get you stuck in the mud?

We’ve been cleaning out the garage…again. It seems never ending. Boxes of old pictures, scrapbooks (literally so old they are scraps), children’s pictures, greeting cards and on and on it goes. It takes me forever to look through the cards, ooh and Ahh over the pictures and tear up at the love letters and giggle at the Junior High School puppy love notes folded in that special way. Yes, I am a pack rat but refuse to be a hoarder, so no interventions necessary, even though Dennis might disagree.

I found love letters from my husband when he was at football camp, coaching. Yes, he can write those also.

There’s the picture of David with the bulletin dating back to August 8, 1976, when he responded to “Jesus is Tenderly Calling” and made a public profession of faith at First Baptist Church, Woodruff, SC. Todd’s funny (and serious) Mother’s Day cards and red heart with white lace and an “I love you” inside Valentine. Caleb’s first birthday, Jacob’s 3rd, Luke’s first, Catie, Boaz, Becca, Briana and Eliyah all precious memories. Pictures of the oldest friends, still in touch, always bring smiles. I CANNOT THROW THOSE AWAY!

The problem lies in how much to throw away and how much to hold onto. Which memories lead to paths better not traveled or even into the ditch? “Momma, who is that boy you’re dancing with?” Todd asked if his Dad minded me having pictures of other guys from the past. I’ve even found myself dreaming about some of these people and places. Not in a bad way, mind you. We both had lives before we met in 1967.

So, how do we keep from getting stuck in the mud? Obvious answer: Scripture speaks a lot about remembering; it also speaks about moving on. Isaiah 46:9 tells us to “Remember the former things, those of long ago”. Memorials were set up so that we would not forget how the LORD intervened in situations a number of times in the Old Testament Passages. Check out your Bible concordance for the word, remembering.
The Apostle Paul tells us: “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.” (Phil 3:13) I could list many more Scripture passages. Truthfully, I don’t mind throwing away a lot of the things I’ve saved, but I guess my children will just have to bear up under getting rid of the rest. Sorry, kids!

I remember the good, throw away the not so good and praise God for his infinite mercy in my life…right after I finish going through this box of saved poems and prose. I’ll ‘strain ahead’ to what’s next on the schedule “pressing on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”(Phil 3:14 NIV)

Truths from "Tweens"

2011-11-03T10:16:00.000-07:00

Saturday, my eleven year old grandson and I rode through Chick-fill-A drive through. Half way around I saw the car wash sponsored by/for Wounded Warriors Project. “Ahh, I wish I’d waited to get the car washed and let them wash it. I’ve wanted to donate to their purpose.”

Boaz asked, “What is Wounded Warriors?” I explained to him about the military that have been wounded coming home with major expenses and even more major challenges.
“I could just give them some money instead of having them wash my car.” I saw one of the groups with their bucket headed in our direction. From beside came the wisdom of youth, “Well, Nana, it’s not how much you give …but how much you keep.”
So, I immediately proceeded to dig deeper into my purse and donated to a very worthy cause. My car had already been washed but now my conscience got the wax job. Thank you, Boaz

T'uther Side

2011-10-04T16:44:00.000-07:00

No matter what time of the year you go, Pretty Place, in northern Greenville County, can’t be beat for the gorgeous view. This time of the year is particularly beautiful. Once when we rode up Cleveland Cliff to enjoy the spectacular scene in the beauty of fall clothing, I noticed a small mountain home retreat with the sign identifying it as “T’uther Side”. Smiling, I thought about that a great deal en route down the mountain.

In my life I’ve often dreamed of being on ‘T’uther side’. Have you? If I had such and such or if only so and so would do this, that and the other (T’uther) then life’s view would be spectacular. The grass always looks greener on T'uther side. I wonder why we cannot be content with what we have or have not. There have been times in my life when I felt God had surely made a mistake and tried to fit someone else’s cross on my shoulders. This one surely isn’t for me.

Think about it! The Lord knows our frame. Either He is Sovereign or He’s not. ‘T’uther side looks good from here, maybe, but should I walk very far into that other side, I may fall off the cliff, because I am not accustomed to the terrain.
Maybe someday, we will learn to say with the Apostle Paul, “Not that I speak in respect of want; for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Philippians 4:11) I suppose some of that comes with age…or maybe that is T’uther Side.

Political Posturing

2011-09-19T07:46:00.000-07:00

Way back in the middle sixties, while still single, I worked as a nurse in the Emergency Room at Greenville General Hospital. A good friend who interned there at the same time gave me some advice on how to attract the male of the species.
“Remember these three things”: Dee said.

1. Always smile
2. Maintain good posture
3. If at all possible, drive a sports car, he chuckled.

I did remember his advice and tried my best at the first two on the list. I never got the sports car.

These days in the News I read so much about political posturing, I began to wonder just how to define such a term. One definition states it relates especially to party politics and results from beliefs unacceptable to government. According to the Encarta Dictionary, it can be pragmatic or carried out for reasons that best serve a desired outcome rather than for other reasons such as morally justifiable.

So, as I look at the phrase, political posturing, my mind’s eye sees posture as how one stands or holds one’s body, standing, sitting, kneeling or lying down. Is political posturing standing straight in the political arena?

If candidates demonstrate good political posturing, will they attract voters?
If they present a photogenic “smile” will that gain favor with the electorate?
Does driving the politically correct bandwagon (bus) count for more than their character?

I can’t really say what attracted my husband to me, whether it was my smile, my posture or my blue 1964 Ford Fairlaine 500. I’d like to think it was Christian character, but you’ll have to ask him that question. I know that what I’m looking for in a presidential candidate is Christian Character, not POLITICAL POSTURING.

The ‘with you’ principle.

2011-09-06T08:12:00.000-07:00

Recently I had the privilege of witnessing the ‘with you’ principle. Dennis preaches twice on Sunday mornings at Bellview Baptist Church about twenty miles from our home. I alternate my attendance in these services and opt to pray upstairs in the prayer room during the other service. Earlier in the morning I turned the oven on 350 degrees to cook the meatloaf I’d prepared on Saturday, planning to turn it off right before we left for church. Guess what!

While I prepared my heart for prayer with Scripture, the Lord brought me to Matthew 28:20...”…and lo I am with you always”. I proceeded to cross reference the term, ‘with you’.

. We have His Divine Presence with us in the pilgrimage of life (Genesis 28:15).
· His Divine Presence affords rest (Exodus 33:14);
· His Divine Presence gives courage in life’s battles (Dt. 20:1);
· His Divine Presence is a comfort in trials (Isa 43:2).

My prayer began for His Divine Presence to be manifested in the worship services. Suddenly, in the midst of my prayer I remembered my meatloaf. I also remembered I’d put it on at 7 am. It was 9 am and our oven is…well, it’s not new. My dog, Sadie, stays in the house while we’re gone! I jumped up, raced down the steps, left Dennis a note in his office, almost ran to the car and drove almost the speed limit home to turn off the oven and salvage what was left of meatloaf.

I confess that my thoughts ranged from… seeing smoke on the horizon… to charred lunch… to Sadie trapped in the burning house. And then, His Divine Presence reminded me over and over again, “Surely, I am ‘with you’ always”. His Divine Presence was ‘with me’ in my pilgrimage from Woodruff to Greer, His Divine Presence afforded me rest AFTER my pilgrimage, His Divine Presence reminded me of my error in judgment. His Divine Presence protected me and our meatloaf, our home and our dog. His Divine Presence made the pilgrimage back to the second service much less stressful.

The ‘with you’ principle played out in the practical issues of life, yes, evens the Sunday meatloaf. I am thankful for the ‘with you’ principle. Are you?

WHO'S YOUR DADDY?

2011-08-09T07:13:00.000-07:00

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God." (1 John 3:1) NIV

"I'm so glad our daddy can do so many different things. He can do just about anything!" Catie and Becca, two of Todd's four daughters, agreed with each other that their daddy is 'so cool'!

Children demonstrate the love their fathers lavish on them. Our boys loved to wrestle with their dad. Our grandsons love to wrestle with their dads. I used to wrestle the boys when they were small, but no more. I do have to admit losing an arm wrestling battle recently. Pictures of Dennis centering the football to David and Todd (and vice versa) dot our early family albums. Guess what! The crowd gathers during football season to see who can cheer loudest for their team while they eat Poppy's chili dogs.

Our youngest grandson, Luke, makes really good pancakes. He's a lot like his Poppy. He'll just have to work on his chili skills.

Our granddaughters come in the house hugging me. I like that! They wrestle sometimes too, but mostly they show their love in different ways even tho' Becca claims she's 'not a girly girl'. Our granddaughters sing a lot whatever they're doing. They dearly love to write notes and letters and they like to read. If I want to find my pencils or pens, I follow the clues to paper sources and there I locate my writing utensils along with loving notes. Occasionally I find a note to a sibling that isn't in the least bit loving. I shake my head and wait for an opportune moment to address the issue. All of our grandchildren are very bright. I don't think they got that from me.

My Daddy lavished his great love for me by teaching me stuff like horseback riding, driving the tractor, riding a bicycle and he loved throwing any kind of ball. We'd play catch and he taught me that when I needed something to do but had nobody to do it with, I could throw a tennis ball at the house and the house would throw it back to me. Good way to spend alone time. Our boys spent many hours shooting baskets in our drive-way. I can still hear the "whack, thump, whack, thump."

On my refrigerator is an old black and white photo of a five or six year old blond headed little girl sprawled out on her daddy's lap in her Sunday best. Lavished love on a Sunday afternoon. There's another old black and white photo of Dennis' dad in what looks to be a basketball or track uniform with a Mountain View School logo. My goodness, we've come full circle.

How does our Heavenly Father lavish His love? ..."that we should be called the children of God". What does 'lavish' mean? It means: plentiful, generous, abundant, extravagant, over-the-top, unrestrained.

Allow me to personalize this somewhat. 'How over-the-top my Abba lays bare His love for me by allowing me to be His child eternally'. My Heavenly Father loves me so extravagantly that He allows me to use His Name and become like Him. Everybody knows that the children resemble the parents at some point or another whether by nature or by nurture. I'm told I favor my parents. My sons resemble their parents somewhat and their children surely do resemble them in more ways than one.

My soul and body! Maybe one day I'll resemble my Heavenly Father. Seems it's a long way off, but the WORD clearly states:"we should be called the children of God". "...and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator." (Col. 3:10) Over-the-top LOVE!
My Daddy can do anything! Who's your daddy?

Thoughts on Lying

2011-07-28T05:25:00.000-07:00

"...God, who does not lie" (Titus 1:2) NIV "He doesn't break promises" (THE MESSAGE)
"Admit it. You lie. And if you say you don't, you're a liar." (Andy Simmons in Reader's Digest, August edition)

Have you ever had someone break a promise or lie to you? I dare say everyone can point a finger at someone else who did that quicker than they see those other fingers pointing back at themselves. We've all been there, done that and gotten the T-shirt.

This article in Reader's Digest entitled, LIAR, LIAR, caught my eye recently. Simmons lists the ways to recognize a lie. I won't list them, because I may get caught in one or may catch you. How do you react when you discover someone has lied to you?
• explosively,
• cynically
• silently
• revengefully
• seethingly

Invariably we hear from children, "You promised!!" or "You broke your promise". And they don't forget it, either! I've broken many promises in my life and I probably will break a few more. I don't intentionally set out to break them or to lie, but sometimes it happens. Sometimes I 'stretch the truth' so as not to hurt someone's feelings.

"You can't stop lies entirely," University of Massachusetts psychologist Robert Feldman states. Oh my, that is not encouraging. So, who can you trust?
I've been reading the tiny Book of Titus in the New Testament recently and this phrase in the first chapter jumped out at me this morning.

The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to a young Titus encouraging him in his duties to the folks in Crete. Apparently he had his job cut out for him because in verse 12 he says, "The Cretans are liars from the womb, barking dogs, lazy bellies" (THE MESSAGE) Now, I don't know about you, but that's not very heartening. We've served three churches in our entire ministry and two as interim and I surely would not say that about any of them. The fact, however, is that I've experienced broken promises and been shocked to discover liars in the congregation as well as the community. It always cuts to the core, doesn't it?

What about our family? Have you ever lied to them or caught them in a lie? Oh yes!
"Did you take that quarter out of my drawer?"

"No, Ma'am!"

"Then how come I found it in your pocket?"

"LIAR! She lies; she's a liar!" That makes sense.

"Does this tie go with this suit?"

"Um, sure, but let me see if there's a better one."

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing." NOTHING??????

Come on! And we won't even touch the politicians. That's a whole 'nother article, or maybe a book or a library.

So, who can you trust? Certainly not the Crete's. That's why Titus was left with such a task, to tell them they didn't have to lie; they didn't have to break promises. God who doesn't lie or break promises has provided a way of salvation that enables us through His Spirit to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that life without end is ours through Jesus Christ. He also helps us live a God filled life and put our lives back together and live in honest fellowship with Him. AND THAT AIN'T A LIE.

HEART THOUGHTS...from Helen

2011-07-25T20:35:00.000-07:00

Ezekiel 36:9 "I am concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown".

Our garden flopped. It's been a number of years since we attempted to plant a vegetable garden but decided to try it this spring. My husband knows how to grow a garden; his last effort resulted in more vegetables than I knew what to do with. But that was in another place in another time long ago. This year we decided on just a small plot of ground for a few tomato plants, squash, bell peppers, cucumbers and hot peppers.

We plowed, we planted, we fertilized, we watered, and we waited. The plants came up nicely, all but the cucumbers which succumbed to dogs and a resident rabbit. We trellised the tomato plants. The squash bushes did bear fruit until our hail storm. The tomato plants grew and produced tiny tomatoes which never got much bigger. Some ripened but they've all been small. It's been a disappointment over all. We've come to the conclusion that we failed to prepare the soil as we should. There's always 'next year', right?!

In the garden of my life, I wonder if I've been a disappointment at times. Scripture gives so many illustrations of gardening, but I love the one from John 15:1especially: "I am the True Vine and My Father is the gardener." Consulting with the Master Gardener always pays off. Perhaps my soil needs plowing. That's not a pleasant thought but gardens must be plowed each season. It's not that one turning of the soil will do for life.

This morning I ran across this verse from Ezekiel 36 that spoke to me. "I am concerned for you...you will be plowed and sown." The Lord God, our Gardener cares enough about us to plow us under seasonally. He knows our soil and just what fertilizer it needs to grow the crop He has in mind.

The plowing isn't fun, unless you're the one doing it, and not the one being plowed. Reminds me of the poem of Amy Carmichael:
The toad beneath the harrow knows
Exactly where each tooth point goes
The butterfly upon the road
Preaches contentment to that toad.

Father, Gardener of my soul, thank you for plowing and preparing me for what you have prepared for me.

Heart thought…from Helen

2011-06-23T16:20:00.000-07:00

Our Golden Retriever, Sadie, discovered her hunting, retrieving and stalking traits. Unfortunately, she also uncovered a nest of baby bunnies under our storage building. We had noticed for a few weeks a rabbit hopping in and out of our fenced in back yard and I figured it was because we planted a small garden. It seems now we have a family of rabbits and a problem. The baby bunnies found their way out from under their safe haven and Sadie discovered a new play thing. While sitting at the table with Todd as he ate a late supper with us recently, I glanced out the back door to see our dog with a very small animal in her mouth, tossing it about and playing with it.

“Oh, no, she’s killed a mouse and brought it to the door!” Taking a closer look, the ‘mouse’ had no ‘mouse tail’. “Oh, NO! SHE’S GOT A BUNNY RABBIT!” I bemoaned.

Todd calmly continues to fork his chicken while Boaz, (almost 10) and Dennis and I run to the rescue. As soon as we open the door, Sadie takes off for the back of the yard with bunny in her mouth. By the time the guys reach her, she had swallowed it whole. YUCK! I could not stand the thought of it, so I just stood at the patio rail and watched as Dennis and Boaz searched for what we figured Sadie continued to search for…more bunnies for dessert. I didn’t speak to my dog for a whole day, I was so upset.

Todd slices off another piece of warm homemade bread, butters it and never moves from the table, assuring me that; “That’s what dogs do, Momma, they hunt. Lizzie (their Dalmatian) killed a chipmunk yesterday”.

Sadie did find another bunny, played with it, punctured it and finally gave it up to Todd who handed it into the tender hands of Boaz who put it in a box to take home and nurse back to health?? At first they tried to put it over the fence so Momma Rabbit would come get it and take care of it. Momma Rabbit wasn’t coming near the fence with canine carnivore anywhere near.

Baby bunny became ‘Hoppy’ and grew, thriving under the attention of five children…for about two weeks, at which time Hoppy passed away, much to the children’s grief. He joined Duke and a plethora of other pets in the Lynn menagerie memorial park cemetery.

Lessons to be learned from observing pets, parents and grandchildren: Just a few from this instance intrigued me. I was horrified when our Retriever followed her natural instincts, bringing her catch home. I like bunnies! I love my dog, but I couldn’t bear the thought of one killing the other and swallowing it whole. Why am I so shocked at normal canine behavior?

Why am I so shocked at the behavior of people who just ‘do what comes naturally’? Because there but for the grace of God go I! This ole girl is only a sinner saved by grace. There is a hymn our choir used to sing in McCormick entitled, WERE IT NOT FOR GRACE. Oh, what a testimony it is for our day and time.

Why am I so shocked when my children remind me of things that we taught them? Or, perish the thought! Maybe they learned it without us. The parent becomes the pupil and the child pontificates truths. The young shepherd boy, and Psalmist, David, demonstrated ‘spiritual warfare’ in the face of Goliath much to the chagrin of his king, then later learned to soothe King Saul by playing and singing to him.

Why am I so shocked when my grandchildren show a natural, tender desire to ’rescue the perishing’? Do you remember the little boy who gave his loaves and fishes to rescue a hungry crowd? My grandchildren reveal a generosity of spirit that warms my heart.

Thank You, Father, for teaching me such lessons from everyday experiences in such a profound way. Keep my heart open and receptive to see and hear voices of truth you have for me.

My First Cup of Coffee Is the Best

2011-05-26T12:22:00.000-07:00

May 24, 2011---HEART THOUGHTS…from Helen

The first cup of coffee in the morning is the best! If you have a timer on your coffee maker, you can rise to the wonderful aroma of fresh brewed java. I like to heat our cups before pouring. As my arthritic fingers fold around the warm cup, the heat soothes the stiffness first thing at the break of day. In these latter days my taste buds really like half and half in my brew, but just to ease my conscience, I get fat free half and half. I know, I know, that defeats the whole purpose, but it makes me feel less guilty. When I sit down and sip the first sip, there’s just nothing quite as full flavored and satisfying early in the morning. The first fruits of the day…the first cup of coffee…the first thoughts in my minds turn toward having a little talk with Jesus. Thanking Him for the blessings of that first cup of coffee comes first. Now, I’m not a real hardened coffee aficionado and I don’t drink it all day nor in the evening, but I do like that first cup. None tastes as good as the first.

It reminds me of how the Lord instructed us to “Bring the best of the first fruits of your soil”… (Exodus 23:10). I rather understand that in a finite fashion. If I enjoy the first cup of coffee, the first biscuit out of the oven, the crusty hot piece of cornbread straight from the pan, the early morning tousled heads of grandchildren climbing in my lap, the early glow of daylight as the sun creeps in from the eastern sky, why wouldn’t the God of all grace, the Creator of coffee beans and cups and creamer covet the first and best of me, the crown of His creation? Think about it the next time you pour your first cup.

Elderly Examples

2011-05-13T20:34:00.000-07:00

May 13, 2011
Daniel 9:2-3 “I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. “

Last night I read the streaming message on the bottom of the television screen that ninety-two year old Billy Graham suffers from pneumonia and is hospitalized in North Carolina. Always interested in his ministry and family, I prayed for all of them during this difficult time. Just this week I received his daughter, Anne’s, newsletter. I read with great interest all that goes on in AnGel Ministries. Also, the news media seems to seek out Franklin Graham more and more for political opinions. Praise God for the witness and godly example of this entire family. My family has been influenced by that family.

The Old Testament prophet, Daniel stands among the greatest of examples that God gives us when it comes to men of strong godly character in the face of overwhelming odds even in their later years. After seventy years in Babylonian exile, Daniel demonstrates how standing tall is done. The first three verses of chapter nine describe Daniel’s continuing character into old age. While studying that chapter this morning I thought immediately of a modern day Daniel…The Reverend Billy Graham.

Daniel knew his politics. Whether or not he sought out the political arena, he seemed to have been ‘thrown into it’ a number of times. I found it interesting that the news scroll that stated Mr. Graham’s physical condition, included the fact that he had met with almost every U. S. President in office during his ministry. I’m quite sure that whatever influence he had stands out in their minds, whether or not they followed any counsel he offered.

The prophet Daniel obviously knew God’s Word. He searched and knew the prophecies of Jeremiah so well that on his calendar, the time of his people’s exile was about to expire. So, what did he do? Daniel turned to the Lord God and pleaded for his people. Daniel, an old man, demonstrates the dire circumstances of a nation, and a people that need deliverance.

I cannot count the times The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association seeks prayer for this nation and the nations of the world to come back to the Lord God Almighty. The overwhelming example of prayer through the years goes beyond the pale.

I am humbled and unashamed to say that the Lord God of Daniel and the Lord God of Billy Graham is my Lord and God. Will I follow their example to be a devout example and intercessor even into my old age?

Prayer

2011-05-04T09:57:00.000-07:00

When Preacher Blalock prayed, we stood in a circle and held hands. I could literally feel the power of the Holy Spirit through the touch of this God’s aged saint.

We visited in his home on various occasions while we served our first church and Dennis attended seminary. J.C. Blalock’s wise and Godly counsel always encouraged us, but it was his prayers that strengthened us for ministry. Have you ever pictured how our prayers come to the Father? Perhaps you feel that some prayers never rise above the ceiling, or if they do they’re lost on the wings of chance. I found a passage of Scripture that speaks beautifully to that question. It shows me just how precious to the father are the prayers of His saints. Revelation 5:8, “When he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders prostrated themselves before the Lamb. Each of them had a harp, and they had golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”

Prayers in golden bowls rising as sacred perfume to the senses of God are our feeble utterances offered in faith to the Father, bringing Him pleasure. Amazing!

I can see Preacher Blalock smiling now from on High as he remembers filling so many golden bowls of incense. Perhaps he even enjoys the sweet smelling savor as our prayers rise even now.

O Father, accept these pitiful prayers as golden bowls of perfume offered on behalf of your present day disciples.

It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better

2011-04-19T10:40:00.000-07:00

The Highway Department resurfaced our section of Highway #101 north. It needed it badly. Potholes and rough road characterized the passage of vehicles of all sizes and shapes along our stretch of road. A lot of travel on a relatively narrow road lends itself toward much wear and tear.

My heart goes out to those flagmen who stand, holding that sign, SLOW! STOP! For hours on end noisy highway department trucks backed up, stopped, hauled, men shoveled, doing their job. “LET ‘EM WORK; LET ‘EM LIVE” takes on new meaning if you’re one of those who holds that sign or if you’re the one working in the middle of the road while all the traffic rolls past you giving you the jaundiced eye and more dirty looks than you can shake a stick at. You’d think the world had come to an end because the road is ‘under construction’ and you have to slow down.

I had to sit for at least five minutes, waiting to drive ¼ mile to get to our subdivision because of the resurfacing crew. HORRORS! The lady in front of me couldn’t turn into her own driveway because of the construction crew. You’d think they’d be more considerate, huh?!

Well, the road roughened considerably before the work crew finished it’s thankless task. At first they addressed the specific potholes in the road, which caused sections to be resurfaced. That caused bumps in the road, not to mention the aesthetics of the thing. It looked really awful. One lane of traffic for a mile frustrates the driving public unbelievably. Stop and go; stop and go. ROUGH ROAD AHEAD

And then it was finished! Ahh, the pleasure of riding on smooth surface.
Life is so much like that. Continual wear and tear on life, marriages, parenting, and church politics creates dangerously rough roads. Stop and go, slow down, be patient, let go and let God. LET HIM WORK, LET US LIVE. You think it can’t get any worse and then of course, it does. It gets worse before it gets better.

It happened like that on crucifixion day. The Via Dolorosa took on a macabre procession of Stop and Go traffic, loud shouts, gut wrenching grief and horrible dread of what lay ahead. We know that the worst was yet to be on that ‘Good Friday’.
And yet, the best was yet to be on that Resurrection Sunday when Jesus paved the way for our resurrection. God the Father knew what He was doing in spite of what everyone thought. Because life became unbearable for Jesus, my Lord, life in Christ is possible for me …and for you.

It had to get worse before it got better. Can you wait three days? “It is finished!” (John 19:20 NIV)

HEART THOUGHTS from Helen

2011-04-04T07:22:00.000-07:00

"Daddy's Corn"

“For in Him, all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form. And you are complete in Him.” Colossians 2: 9-10

My daddy grew the best corn ever! Silver Queen and Seneca Chief, primarily, thrived in the black loamy soil of my folk’s home in northern Sumter County. I can still see him out in the corn field, checking the ears on those short stalks. He perfected the art of pulling corn at precisely the right time, when the ears matured to fullness. Then, he shucked it in the field, brought it in with a grin from ear to ear (pun intended), proud of the fullness of his corn crop. He spaced out the planting of his corn so that all didn’t come to fullness at same time. Two reasons prevailed: (1) So Mother wouldn’t be overwhelmed freezing it, either off or on the cob. (2) So we enjoyed eating fresh corn crop after crop.

Not only did Daddy grow corn, he gave away corn by the dozen of full ears, each dozen shucked and fresh from the field. I never knew him to sell his corn; he gave it away…fresh full ears, ready for enjoying. Mother had ceramic corn bowl/holders so we could keep corn off the plate and swimming in melted butter. Then there were the corn sticker things that went in each end, so as not to burn your fingers. None of this semi-warm corn on the cob. It was HOT.

My grandchildren love corn. When I don’t have fresh corn, I like to buy it frozen in those corn cob frozen shapes, because it reminds me of my daddy. I mix the creamed corn with the fried corn and they gobble it up like we did growing up and fuss because one of them got more than the other.

As I studied the second chapter of Colossians this morning and the fullness of the Deity dwelling in bodily form in Christ, the word study used the example of the corn and wine offered to Jehovah as tithe or the first fruits. (Unger’s Bible Dictionary) The word used for fullness is pleroma: total quantity, with emphasis on completeness. The whole nature and attributes of God are in Christ. In Ephesians 1:23 Paul speaks of the church, the body of believers called the fullness of Christ as it is the Church which makes a complete and perfect Head.

Seed corn put into the ground, nurtured, natured (rain/sun), and grown to completion, harvested in its fullness feeds the world. In the ‘fullness of time’ God came. In the ‘fullness of time’, Christ died and rose in completeness. His Word, the Seed, the Manna, THE CHRIST, HIMSELF, feeds us, fills us and completes us.

In the ‘fullness of time’ I died, was buried with Him in baptism, and raised in completeness with Him Who is the Head of His Body the Church. In the fullness of time, when we are exactly ripe, the Head will unite with His Body and we will dwell forever in His presence, united in Him. Until then, we rejoice knowing, “For it was the father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him.” (Col. 1:19 NAS)

“And in Him you have been made complete” (Col 2:10)
Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow.

Heart Thoughts from Helen

2011-03-17T08:53:00.000-07:00

HEART THOUGHTS...from Helen- March 17
...that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ's cross..." Colossians 2:14 (THE MESSAGE)

There it came, the dreaded blue flashing light; and it was RIGHT BEHIND ME. I glanced quickly at the speedometer. My speed was not over the limit. What in the world have I done now? As my brow furrowed, I took my foot off the accelerator and pulled slowly into the dirt parking lot of the roadside nursery, thoughts flashing through my mind.

Who is passing by that knows me?

What have I done?

Lord, we don't have the money for this...whatever it is.

What a morning!

Cars sped by as the young patrolman slowly approached my side of the car. I could have assured him that I wasn't going to shoot him as so many news reporters dreadfully testify. Their caution is surely understandable. These things flittered through my consciousness as I began to search for my license, watching my rear view mirror inadvertently.

"Ma'am, may I see your license, registration and insurance card?"

"Certainly", as I started digging through the glove compartment. This one...expired, that one...expired.

"I'm sure it's here somewhere." I handed him what I thought was the correct information only to find out that our tag expired in '09, the year we moved from McCormick to Greer. OH, GREAT! No up to date sticker on license plate. My heart beat faster and my face turned crimson. "Dumb old woman"...I just knew his thoughts toward me bordered on my own.

Long story shortened: Ticketed ...150 bucks. Show up in court next month with proof of insurance and maybe the judge will pardon. Don't show up, pay the fine.
For a month that blue ticket ticked me off. Turns out there had been a snafu in our records when we moved, resulting in us not receiving a tax notice, which led to our failure to pay taxes, blah, blah, blah. Now I had to go court. Since Dennis handles paperwork in our home, he immediately went to highway department and took care of the problem, and went with me to Summary Court in Simpsonville to appear before the magistrate to explain the situation.

We arrived on time. A lot of other people did also. I thought, "There's a lot of folks going through the same hassle we are; our taxes are at work on the highways and in the patrol cars". We waited and as the room filled up, I took my place in line to present my explanation and rectification of the problem. The kind faced judge sitting behind the elevated huge desk in his black robe listened to each case in this traffic court. As I waited with my manila envelope containing proof of paid taxes and my blue summons ticket I couldn't help but think of the ultimate judgment of my soul, taken care of long ago. I approached the man in black, smiled and handed him my ticket and explained the circumstances surrounding it. He looked at the ticket, and he glanced at my insurance, registration, proof of taxes paid and said, "I'll take care of it. Next...."

I turned around, smiled at my husband and we walked out of the traffic court room, freed of penalties, reconciled with the law of the land.
Praise God my debt has been paid. Jesus 'took care of it' on the cross. I accepted His judgment of my failure to pay the penalty for my sin. My soul is worth much more than $150 and He died for me, releasing me to live for him who died for me, not dreading the enemy of my soul riding up behind me, flashing his blue lights and accusing me of failure. "I'll take care of it", is music to my ears.

HEART THOUGHTS from Helen

2011-02-18T13:23:00.000-08:00

Just in case you forgot to get your loved one(s) a valentine, I just happened to find one in my notes. Perhaps you can use it.

I am patient with you
because I love you and want to forgive you..

I am kind to you
because I love you and want to help you.

I do not envy your possessions or your gifts
because I love and want you to have the best.

I do not boast about my attainments
because I love you and want to hear about yours.

I am not proud
because I love you and want to esteem you before myself.

I am not rude because
I love you and care about your feelings.

I am not self seeking
because I love you and want to meet your needs.

I am not easily angered by you
because I love you and want to overlook your offenses.

I do not keep a record of your wrongs because I love you,
and "love covereth a multitude of sin".

...Jerry Bridges (a paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 13

HEART THOUGHTS..... from Helen

2011-02-04T13:53:00.000-08:00

"Birthdays"

"Luke, the beloved physician..." Colossians 4:14 AMP

Luke: Light-giving or luminous
David: Beloved

Luke Speir Lynn enlightened our lives ten years ago on January 24. His proud parents, David and Lisa, added their third son to our family on the day prior to David's own birthday. Weighing in at 8 lbs, 13 oz, 20 inches, the obstetrician delivering him dubbed him the 'linebacker', from the get-go. He still looks like a linebacker and he loves to play the game. Luke's physique and many of his characteristics bear an uncanny resemblance to his Poppy. Not only does he love to play football (and basketball) he knows statistics like his Poppy, watching ESPN and all the other sports channels he can find. He predicts Heisman Trophy winners with pretty good accuracy and Luke Spier Lynn's blood does run ORANGE. The boy wears Clemson shirts, shorts or shoes or jacket or tiger paws every day. To say he is an avid fan would be to understate the facts. During tryouts this past fall, Luke determinedly dieted. Each time he came to our house, he would run on the treadmill, then run to weigh on the scales. He made his weight goal with sheer determination. Seems like I remember his daddy doing something similar at that age. His MaMa told him he was getting fat after he'd visited my parents in the lower part of the state so David made up his mind not to be. He dieted and jumped rope every day, inside and out and lost weight, never to be called 'fat' again.

They say the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. Our beloved David, whose birthday, falls on the 25 is overshadowed by his third son's and he hasn't seemed to mind in the least. He is a proud father of his three sons. When David was around Luke's age and older he acquired orange everything. My mother made him orange curtains and bedspread for his room. He wore his orange overalls until they wore completely out. The orange sweat suit he acquired somewhere along the way went with him all the way through high school and beyond. To say our eldest loves football is quite the understatement. During the season our house is college football headquarters. There's nothing the Lynn men would rather do than gather and cheer for their teams. David involves himself in every aspect of Blue Ridge Youth Association sports where his sons participate.

Back to Luke. My daddy died when Luke was five months old and he attended the wake in his little carrier. Honestly, he smiled, charming every person coming through the line and was such a sweet and happy blessing at such a difficult time. Luke is a loving and considerate young man. Even though I know those moments of public affection will soon depart when adolescence rears its head, he still hugs his Nana in public and will sit and talk to me at games, when I'm sure he'd rather be with the guys. Luke also is observant. He noticed that I had trouble keeping my coffee hot in the mornings, so for my birthday he got me an insulated coffee cup. For Christmas this fella purchased a heating, vibrating, neck pillow to soothe the muscle spasms in my neck and shoulders. Luke is a straight "A" fourth grade student at Mt. View Elementary and a terrific kid! Whether or not he becomes a physician like the one in Scripture, I don't know; he will however, do well on whatever he sets his mind. We are his proud grandparents. And David, our oldest? He's a beloved keeper too!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR SON, DAVID, AND HIS YOUNGEST SON, LUKE.

HEART THOUGHTS... from Helen

2011-01-21T18:01:00.001-08:00

Snow

"...wash me, and I shall (in reality) be whiter than snow." (Psalm 51:7b - AMP)

"Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;" (Isaiah 1:18 AMP)

As a girl growing up in the lower part of the state, we seldom enjoyed a real snow. When we did, my Mother and I enjoyed walking down our country road on the outskirts of Oswego, leaving our footprints on the "unadulterated snow", as she called it.

Last week we watched it snow and snow and snow, loving every minute of it. It's mesmerizing. So is the opposite, watching the flames of a fire burn relaxes me. When you can watch it snow in front of the fire, it soon becomes paralyzing. The older I get the less I want to do anything when it snows, but sit and watch it and stay warm. I've read numbers of comments about the snow on Face book. Many are so similar to my own feelings that we should put them in a book and call it, Snow Soliloquy. Then we could sit by the fire, watch it snow and intermittently read everyone's snow sayings. In actuality a lot of us did that yesterday with the aid of technology.

But then, we walked on it, took Sadie, our Golden out in it, tromped across the 'unadulterated snow' on our patio and messed it all up. We took pictures of the beautiful 'unadulterated snow' from the road, on the road and from the front/back doors. Now it's not pure and pristine; the stunning snow is 'adulterated,' pock marked with footprints and a lot of other things. Why do you think we feel we have to mess up a perfectly beautiful snow white scene by tromping on it? And then there's the snowmen, snow ladies, snow children, snow angels, and my grandchildren dug a snow tunnel or Alaskans call that an igloo. Five children crawled in, turned around and smiled out at the camera. Definitely a Kodak moment! My other three grandchildren entertained every male child (their parents did) near and far, feeding them all pancakes. Can you imagine all that testosterone in one place? Thoughts and prayers to Lisa.

Beauty and the Beast: Snow and Sin: The beauty of the driven, 'unadulterated' snow and the beast of sin polluting us all. We loved watching it fall and cover all the ugliness: the barren tree limbs, the asphalt road, the dead grass, the un-raked leaves, everything. Now, many want it gone and want it gone NOW. Scrape the roads, shovel the walk ways, and "LET ME OUT OF HERE! I want to be about my normal business". It was fun for a few hours but let's not get carried away with this white stuff. We're southerners; we're not used to it and we've done all the snow things we can do, eaten all the snow cream we can eat, eaten everything we can get our hands on and our mouth around, had a day off from work and school, now let's get on with life as we know it". It is a temporary fix, this snow event.

The Psalmist and the poet prophet, Isaiah, saw snow as quite another metaphor. Sin and snow. Not a thought we care to think about. "Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow". What is whiter than snow? ME! All washed and covered from the stain of sin. Abba Father says, "Come on, let's talk about this sin thing, let's reason together. I can cover your sin as the snow that covers the southeast. You become pure, pristine and 'unadulterated' when you come in repentance, confessing all the ugly, dirty, dead stuff and claiming your snow status"(my paraphrase) This may take a daily cleansing from walking and playing in the world, but my crucial cleansing, my snow is 'unadulterated' and not temporary.

Go find a spot of snow on the ground that is untouched by human or animal. Look carefully at it and thank your Abba Father for providing His Son, the ultimate in snow covering for your sin.

HEART THOUGHTS from Helen

2011-01-07T12:51:00.000-08:00

"Let my one desire to be still before you." (Andrew Murray)

"For this reason ever since we heard about you (from Epaphras), we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual understanding." Colossians 1:9 (NIV) parenthesis is mine.

Ever wondered about Epaphras? His name means 'charming or foamy'. Not phony, but foamy.

He labored alongside Paul and in some way served as fellow prisoner. Herbert Lockyer calls him the man who was a giant in Prayer. I'd like to be known for such qualities. Do you have an Epaphras in your life? Epaphras, the Colossian, ministered to Paul in his need and to the church in her need. His prayer ministry is what is most notable about him.

Lockyer: "This giant in prayer knew how to lay all before the Lord, and laboring in secret, made the saints to be perfect and complete in their standing through his kneeling. He "strove earnestly in his prayers" for the Colossians." When is the last time you strove earnestly in your prayers for the saints?

Paul regarded his friend's perseverance as well as his prayers; he was a practical as well as a prayerful man. This man encouraged the imprisoned Paul with wonderfully charming good news of the saints in Colossae, probably resulting in the letter to the Colossians.

I've thanked God many times for persevering, powerful prayer warriors in my life. I honestly don't know what I'd do without them. I'd name them but would not want to omit any of them. Some have gone on to glory, but some still callous their knees in helping me to stand. Of course, my GREATEST INTERCESSOR is Christ, Himself. (Romans 8:34)

At the close of an old year, we succumb to some old habits, perhaps. Along with feeling much older, I've discovered that my prayer time suffers from insufficient time, insufficient listening as I should, over-sufficient distractions of everything and anything. Instead of choosing the better part like Mary, I resort to old Martha's busyness. It's been called the 'tyranny of the urgent'. I've confessed that and am determined to rename and recommit myself to being a Mary... Epaphras in this New Year. (Do you think it possible that they might have known each other?) Should I be successful, I'm thinking I'll see more of heaven in two thousand eleven.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, ALL YOU EPAPHRAS-ITES

HEART THOUGHTS from Helen

2010-12-13T10:36:00.000-08:00

Prayer

"He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intercede;
...so His own arm worked salvation for him" Isaiah 59:16 NIV

Lessons learned at the University of the Feet extended themselves to post graduate work in the basics of breathing. It's one thing to have limited mobility because of foot surgery but quite another to pant from pneumonia. Asthma, though not alien to me, took a back seat a number of years ago and has been controlled for the most part, for which I'm most grateful. A couple of weeks ago it reared it's ugly head as a result of an upper respiratory infection resulting in pneumonia. My, how quickly we forget just what an important role breathing plays in our existence. So, lame in the foot and lacking in proper lung performance, my life in learning new lessons took me to my old journals. I like to call it HARVESTING. In the midst of it all, I am reminded of my deep desire to be an effective intercessor and the struggles and groans that go along with such.

From my journals dating back to 1981 (and there are many more prior to that date), the pleadings of my heart record prayed prayers, praise prayers, importunate prayers, intercession, supplication, and ...you name it, I prayed it. My family, my friends, my fellowship of believers, my follies, my failures, all lay at the foot of the cross. My thoughts, my devotional times, my cares, my concerns, all, turned into prayers prayed.

So, while I've been incapacitated physically, my heart as turned once again to more strenuously to intercession.

"As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right." (1 Samuel 12:23, NIV)

What can you do when your body must be still? Breathe your prayers upward and wait expectantly.

HEART THOUGHTS... from Helen

2010-11-24T05:25:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving

“At this she bowed down with her face to the ground. She exclaimed, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me---? Ruth 2:10

“What are you doing for Thanksgiving?” I asked the teenager at the grocery store check out line.
He replied, “I’m going to my grandmother’s and I can’t wait.”
I asked, “What makes going to your grandmother’s house so special.”
He quickly responded, “She’s the best cook ever!”
I suppose you’d call that ‘comfort food’ if your grandchildren can’t wait. That’s the same answer I received from others. I can’t help but smile because I’m the grandmother now. While one of my sons will be at his in-laws this year, my other son and his family will be at our house. Hopefully, his five children will feel about my food like the young man in the grocery store.

Growing up in the low country of South Carolina, I remember going out to my granddaddy’s farm on Thanksgiving after the devouring of the feast. My siblings and cousins and I would go out to the pecan trees which lined the lane to the barn and pick up pecans. Finding those mottled brown nuggets under the multicolored leaves was like mining for gold and the end result was just as good for me. If I recall correctly at times we got down on our hands and knees to search for the bounty. We’d get two in our hands and squeeze with all our might to crack them and pick out the marvelous meat inside. The trick is not to get any of the shell along with the meat, because everybody knows that just turns your mouth inside out. That also reminds me of a t-shirt I saw with a squirrel on it that said, “My family tree has a lot of nuts.” Perhaps that could be said of your family also.

What will our grandchildren remember about coming to our house for Thanksgiving? Will it be the bountiful food or playing ball in the back yard or shooting caroms or laughing at remembered family antics (the nutty things) or watching football?

I want it to be a special Thanksgiving. A spiritual marker, if you will. Of course, these two wishes are always at the top of my list for family gatherings. I don’t want to get so caught up in the cooking, serving, and cleaning that I can’t enjoy the fellowship and share my thankful heart. I want my family to share their ‘thanksgiving’ also. And somewhere along the way, when they’re older maybe their memoirs will relate Thanksgivings at our house and they will say: “I’m going to Nana and Poppy’s for Thanksgiving and I can’t wait”. I want to fall on my face like Ruth and exclaim:

“Why have I found such favor in your eyes?”

O Lord our Heavenly Father, I am so thankful for your bountiful gifts to us even if some of them come in packages that look brown and mottled and we have to work hard to get at the good parts. I think every day will be Thanksgiving when we get to heaven!

HEART THOUGHTS from Helen

2010-11-12T12:58:00.000-08:00

"For this is what the high and lofty One says-He who lives forever, whose name is holy. ""I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite."." Isaiah 57:15 NIV

Election time: Have you noticed that that those who hold high and lofty positions in government pull out all the stops to meet the lowly voter? It's take off your tie or jacket, roll up your sleeves, put on your jeans and tennis shoes and rub elbows with the "people" time. Let's meet the constituents. Instead of the 'sacred' halls of Washington, Columbia, Columbus, Ohio, Carson City, Nevada, Tallahassee, Florida and all around the country, the candidates donned their local garb and came into folks' back yards, main streets, and town halls to taut their rhetoric. Yes! We must vote! And yes, I did vote, prayerfully and trust THE HIGH AND LOFTY ONE to raise up the leaders He chooses for such a time as this.

This passage from Isaiah 57 speaks to me of the Only High and Holy One and what He considers of utmost importance. I'll report...and you decide.

Divine condescension (His)
Contrition (ours)
Christ's indwelling (His in us)
Cause for such (Why would He do such a thing)

Remember Who He is and never forget that He is holy and one holy night He condescended to come to earth to live with servants who demonstrated contrite hearts. Joseph and Mary met the requirements. Do we?

Remember who you should be: contrite and lowly in spirit. Repentance is required to have a contrite heart. I don't know what the holy couple had to be remorseful about, but I know it doesn't take long for me to come up with a penitent attitude when I think of God's holiness. How's your heart?

Remember His purpose is to revive the spirit and heart of the lowly and contrite. It isn't to beat up on nor cast aspersions.

The High and Holy One dwells in a high and holy place but also lives within the contrite heart through the power of His Holy Spirit to revive the spirit and revive the heart. Are you in need of revival?

We've witnessed many who think they're high and holy in this election. 'But also', we've witnessed those humbled with a contrite heart. Only THE HIGH AND HOLY really knows the hearts that exhibit contrition and humility and He promised to live within and revive their spirits and their hearts. I'm amazed at the energy demanded of these candidates during such crushing schedules. Honestly, I confess to coveting some of that energy. I'm quite sure I would need the promise of revival should I be involved in the election process, other than participating in the voting booth. How do you think the high and holy One would have you respond?

"A Message from the high and towering God,
Who lives in eternity, Whose name is Holy:
"I live in the high and holy places,
But also with the low-spirited, the spirit-crushed.
And what I do is put new spirit in them
Get them up and on their feet again.
(Isaiah 57:15...THE MESSAGE)

HEART THOUGHTS .... from Helen

2010-11-02T06:10:00.000-07:00

"...she fell at his feet" John 11:32

"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news." (Isaiah 52:7)

I'm taking a page from the book of Mary...to be found in the library at THE UNIVERSITY OF THE FEET. My syllabus includes several weeks' worth of foot pain beginning with surgery on Tuesday and ending with a few more weeks of recuperative time. Bunions cause pain, preventing many activities and many pairs of shoes lying dormant in my closet. And then there is the problem of a neuroma that must be removed. So, do you have your Google search going yet? I'll save you some time because I know you rushed to do your research at the U of F library.

Bunions: an inflammation of the sac bursa around the first joint of the big toe, accompanied by swelling and sideways displacement of the joint. When I saw my foot x-rays, I nearly fell off the table. These are not the beautiful feet I read about in Scripture. Oh dear, no wonder my feet hurt. Neuroma: usually benign tumor growing on the sheath of a nerve (under my third and fourth toe).

While I'm learning more at Foot College perhaps I'll take a refresher course at spending time at the Master's feet. Mary certainly learned a lot doing just that. Spending time at the feet of Jesus, Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, demonstrates just what a real education is all about. In fact every time we encounter this Mary, we find her attending the University of the Feet, learning, feeding, and ministering. An apt lesson to learn!

Luke 10:39, tells us that "she sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said". Unfortunately, Mary received quite the reprimand from her sister for not helping Martha, prepare the food and wait on their Guest. Have you ever been rebuked for studying too much? Have you ever been scolded for partaking of 'soul food'? When is the last time you sat raptly at His feet and listened to Him?

In John the eleventh chapter, Mary sought the Lord after her brother's death when her sister informed her that "The Teacher is here ...and is asking for you." (v. 28) He sought her; she found Him. In your grief, do you hurry to Him who has the only comfort that counts?

In the twelfth chapter of John, Mary anoints the feet of Jesus with about a half quart of expensive perfume. She then wiped them with her hair. It seems spending time at Jesus' feet educates you far beyond the obvious. She apparently wanted to do her part in anointing His body for burial. Mary sacrificially broke open her most precious possession and poured its contents on His soon to be pierced feet. What does the song say? Broken and spilled out just for love of you Jesus... (Steve Green)

Lord, You know I've never liked school in any shape or form but to sit at Your Feet and to look into Your Face, surely learning will take on new meaning. I enroll now in THE UNIVERSITY OF THE FEET, knowing how expensive the tuition but I simply must learn another lesson in pain and patience as You, O Excellent Rabbi, teach me.

HEART THOUGHTS by Helen

2010-10-20T13:55:00.000-07:00

“Abide in Me” John 15:4….

Her blond hair all askew, my six year old granddaughter crept into our bedroom about four-thirty on a Saturday morning. I sensed that she was up and observed her silhouette before she slipped into the room. She whispered in my ear:

“I need to be with you, Nana.”

Naturally, I opened my arms and she climbed in to ‘be with me’. She soon slipped into slumber once again, all warm and snuggly between Nana and Poppy. Not an unusual scenario, but she hadn’t exactly expressed it so sweetly previously.

“I need to be with you, Lord.” I said as I kept my early morning appointment with the Master this morning. I walked into the study and faced the picture of Fern Beckham’s COMPASSIONATE CHRIST, hanging on the wall. I love the expression on this particular rendering of the face of Jesus. It seems to express a different sentiment for each rendezvous. This morning, He seemed to smile at me, open His arms and welcome me in.

Do you need to be with Him? He senses your presence and eagerly awaits…

HEART THOUGHTS from Helen

2010-10-08T12:32:00.000-07:00

Lessons learned at the end of the leash

“My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.” (James 2:1 NIV)

Freckles emerged on our scene as a nine day old pup. She did not meet the requirements of the Great Dane breed’s coloring to be used in reproduction, so we took her in. We reared her on a bottle until she came of age. Fawn, brindle, blue, black, Harlequin, Merle and Mantle describe Great Dane colors. She matched none of these. She mingled between a harlequin and a merle. Thus, the name Freckles. Dennis’ mother never remembered her name and called her Pepper. Freckles, AKA Pepper, thought she was human and manifested many characteristics of the species. Freckles and Oliver became fast friends. I never worried about being alone and rarely did I feel it necessary to lock the door when Dennis happened to be gone. My dogs intimidated most strangers.

We owned a green Volkswagen and often took our dogs to ride along with our boys…Now there’s a picture! Back when Gas Stations attendants filled your car and washed your windshields, we found out just how protective Freckles could be. The station owner, whom we knew well in our small town, stuck his hand in the window to give us our change and our Dane nearly took it off. She shook that little green VW getting to the window. Size does matter when canines come on board small automobiles

Another such incident took place when we hosted a Sunday school party at our house. One fellow decided to make friends with Freckles. Phil said, “I deal with dogs all the time. No problem”. He put one foot inside her pen and she moved her dog house three feet trying to get to him but not to make friends. Great Canines show their devotion in daunting and myriad ways
She loved David and Todd. They straddled her like a pony and played with her but when Dennis rough housed with our boys; Freckles would stand on her back legs and look him in the eye, daring him to hurt them.

Our Freckles however, developed some weird characteristics. She wanted puppies so badly that she thought she was expecting when it wasn’t so; clinical term being Pseudocyesis. So, she adopted a leather belt. She carried it around, cuddled it, and took great care that nothing happened to it. She also adopted one of the boy’s stuffed animals, carrying it around and never so much as breaking a stitch on it. Finally, Freckles did indeed birth three pups, all strange colors. Her Harlequin husband’s features predominated. It was a cold Saturday in February when I sat in the large dog house in our back yard assisting with the delivery. Bless her heart, every contraction that gripped her body, she jumped to her feet, circling, looking for the result. She and I spent some meaningful hours crowded in that dog house.

As time went by we moved into the old parsonage behind Fairview Baptist Church in Greer while Dennis served on staff. We anguished over how to deal with our majestic Great Dane and her fiercely protective attributes. Finally we felt it necessary to find another country home for Freckles where she could roam and not be cooped up in town with a lot of strange people surrounding her. She just wasn’t a people puppy with anyone but her own. Our love for the Great Dane breed remains with us today. To be as big as she grew to be, she never exhibited any rowdy behavior in our home and she spent a lot of time in the house as well as outside. Great describes the majesty of the Dane.

GREAT Lessons:

Taking in the unwanted reaps GREAT rewards.
Great devotion comes in all sizes, shapes and colors.
Great family values rub off on pets and people
Great breeding may matter to some
Great Love requires a recipient.
Great sacrifice is painful

HEART THOUGHT from Helen

2010-09-29T12:38:00.000-07:00

All of us acquire tiny sample containers of various products. One of my small jars contained hand lotion. After I used up all the sample of lotion, I washed the small jar and put vitamin capsules in it to carry in my purse. The first time I swallowed those vitamins, they tasted worse than usual, until I realized that the taste of hand lotion had permeated the vitamins. The container had so absorbed the perfume of its contents, it was a part of it...making my vitamins taste like perfume.

We are all just clay containers, absorbing whatever is instilled within us. I wonder just what we taste like to a world that needs the nourishment of heavenly vitamins. Our grandchildren preferred fruity tasting vitamins when they were younger. Perhaps the taste of fruit...like" love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control "(Galatians 5:22) might be just what the doctor orders and "against such things there is no law".

HEART THOUGHTS from Helen

2010-09-22T12:05:00.000-07:00

Lessons learned from an Old English sheepdog, extraordinaire

You know the saying that when God closes one (or two or three) doors He opens another. After our terribly bad luck with dogs for a few years, our Good Shepherd knew the time was right for another try at raising a dog.

A dear couple in our Sunday School class in Woodruff owned the momma Sheepdog that mothered three gorgeous pups. Late on Christmas Eve after they had come over to share in Santa gifts and the boys nestled all snug in their beds the Armours presented us with the cutest eight week old red ribbon bedecked Old English sheepdog pup I have ever seen. Our hearts melted.

Sir Oliver Cromwell V graced our home for a little more than nine years. His endearing way of waking me in the mornings would be to just plop his head on the bed breathing in my face until I woke up. The old country farm house that we occupied in Woodruff during our coaching days grew dramatically cold during the winter months which gave Oliver the perfect opportunity to cover both our little boys with furry warmth at night.

We never told Oliver that he was anything but a regular ole dog thus when he sired several litters of very well bred Old English sheep dog pups, his blood line displayed itself beautifully. In fact, Oliver had one blue eye and one brown one, but his pups always had blue eyes. Dennis loves to tell the story of the day we took Oliver to meet one of his 'brides to be'. He had been wandering around in the pasture and generally being a dirty dog. We should have at least bathed and groomed him but this opportunity sort of popped up out of the blue. When we drove up in the yard and out came the bride, Penelope, we knew we were in trouble. Gorgeous, groomed, polished, cleaned up for the wedding and here's this "Guess who's coming to dinner?" dog, jumping out the window. It was a Kodak moment or in today's cyber lingo, an LOL moment for sure. Penelope's parents were not ecstatic and I don't think the couple ever made it to the honeymoon. Absolutely her loss.

Oliver demonstrated his intelligence in so many ways but his gentleness, humility and love for children stands out. Every sheep dog needs something to shepherd, so ours chose to herd up all the cows in the pasture behind our house much to the displeasure of their owner. He just couldn't help it. We called him from the pasture and he would stop and look at us...then look at those cows, hesitate a moment and then the call of the wild took over. He never hurt them only herded them.

The German shepherd across the street liked to play with Oliver. They played beautifully together as long as they romped in Major's yard, but as soon as Major came in our yard, it changed the whole complexion of things. . Major fled the scene. To be as gentle spirited as he was, he did not like other dogs in the yard

Oliver accompanied us to Greer and then to our first pastorate in Calhoun Falls, SC. The town loved him but he became known as our prodigal due to his wandering into far places where he had no business. Our first Sunday in town, Mr. Johnny Burton told the congregation:"If the new preacher and his family are half as friendly as their dog, I believe we'll get along just fine." Mrs. Mable Cobb, our dear neighbor was terrified of dogs until she met Oliver. He would wander into her wash house out back and stand there listening to Miss Gussie as she carried on a one-sided conversation. Oliver became personally acquainted with the black and white patrol cars in town. They brought him home a few times from his wanderings. Once Officer Dixon told Dennis: "Preacher, if I'm gonna be haulin this dog around in my car you're gonna have to give him a bath." Sheepdogs require a lot of grooming so we decided to have him sheared yearly. He loved it and pranced around for days showing off his 'new do'.

The report has it that Oliver presented himself at the bank window one day. Whether he made a deposit or withdrawal no one said. He also loved to meet folks coming out of the local Fast Fare hoping to con them out of their snack food. The people in our small town befriended our sheepdog but the canines never figured out exactly what to do with him. He wasn't popular with his peers. Another German shepherd episode took place when a neighbor dog came into our carport. He didn't do it again and our shaggy dog whupped him good.

When chastised our Oggie could hang his head lower than a whale's belly in the bottom of the ocean. We felt so guilty disciplining him and truly he needed very little except for his tendency to wander. He had a habit of coming to our kitchen door each morning for his piece of toast, preferably buttered. One morning he actually brought his bowl and just stood there until we filled it.

In his last year we realized that Oliver's eyesight and hearing deteriorated greatly. During a thunderstorm he became disoriented and disappeared for two days. We were frantic until Mrs. Claude Simpson came by to tell us there was a dog in her shed that looked like ours. He was so terrified that we could barely coax him to come out.

We happened to be out of town when we got the phone call from our deacon chairman. Oliver found his way to a teenage carwash at a nearby church where he lay down to enjoy the kids which he loved to do. Unfortunately one of the guys accidentally backed over him in his jeep. The whole town mourned our loss. His picture made the front page obituary when I wrote an article for the local newspaper entitled an "ODE TO OLIVER". So many memories of our version of Disney's shaggy dog pop into mind it's hard to do just one article.

Lessons learned?

Love flows from the Gentle giants of the canine species unquestionably; shouldn't ours?
Joy unspeakable exudes when you get a 'new do' or a 'do-over'.
Peace resides when you abide by house (yard) rules.
Patience takes the prize for adults and children
Gentleness goes a long way in a world gone mad
Humility and longsuffering ...against such there is no law.
Faithful friends leave fractured hearts when they find their final way HOME.

HEART THOUGHTS from Helen

2010-09-10T18:17:00.000-07:00

One Drop Remaining

“Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” and she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” (2 Kings 4:2 NASB)

I wonder …If there were but one drop left in your cup, what would you do with it?
Back in December of 1981, our family of four emptied our house into a moving van and left every familiar face and moved to a small town in rural South Carolina to pastor our first church, while Dennis finished seminary. Since my salary as a nurse ceased and his salary as minister of youth /activities at a large church dropped dramatically, we decided we’d stock up on some food stuffs. We purchased a case of macaroni/cheese, a case of Rice-a-Roni, a case of corned beef hash and I don’t remember what else. It evolved into a joke in our home what was for dinner each night. We had a set routine and it varied very little and the house usually entertained visitors unawares and sometimes unannounced. I wondered what it would be like to live in such uncertain circumstances. We never hungered … physically nor spiritually.

The Shunamite woman came to the prophet Elisha with a story of emptiness.

• First he told her to gather jars from all the neighbors.
• Secondly, she was to pour out what little oil she had into the borrowed jars.

This woman, freshly widowed, fearing for the captivity of her sons to pay her debts, wondered what her decision would cost her. In her emptiness she poured out herself and her oil in obedience to this man of God, trusting.

When she began to pour, miraculously, more and more oil flowed from her jar. The borrowed vessels filled until there were no more. As soon as the supply was full, the flow of oil ceased.

Would you be obedient enough to pour out the last drop in your cup?

What would happen if you did?

What will happen if you don’t?

I wonder…

HEART THOUGHTS... from Helen

2010-09-03T14:39:00.000-07:00

“…it is hard for you to kick against the goads.” Acts 26:14 NIV

Lessons from the leash

It was summertime in the south. It was hot! It was also the beginning of football season in Woodruff. Dennis prepared to go with the team to football camp in North Carolina. On Saturday we rode to Pickens to a kennel to pick out a collie pup for me and our two young sons.

Instead of a puppy, we came home with a two year old female collie named Cher. She was with pup and we couldn’t have been more pleased with the prospects of raising collie puppies.

On Sunday after church, we connected Cher’s collar to a rope and attached her to the clothes line to give her some running room until we could prepare a bigger space for her outside. We had no idea how she would adjust to her new surroundings so far away from her kennel so some precautions seemed appropriate.

Two little boys and a husband about to leave town for a week kept us busy, so we didn’t check on Cher for a while. When I glanced out of the high kitchen window in our farmhouse kitchen, I noticed she was at the near end of the clothesline close to a bush. Something didn’t look right. I looked again to pay closer attention. Cher, wrapped around the bush, pulled at her leash. I ran out the door and down the steps while calling Dennis’ attention to the problem.

She had bound herself so tightly around the bush, her collar was choking her. Her breath, nearly gone, she fought us as we did our best to loosen the noose around her neck. Panicked, we both pushed and pulled as she slowly choked to death right in front of us. In the hot August afternoon, the sweat and tears flowed freely as we realized we’d lost our brand new expectant dog.

The misery of that steamy August Sunday continued as I dealt with the inevitable fact that Dennis had to leave for football camp that same afternoon. I remember listening to his green Volkswagen crunching out the gravel drive way leaving me alone with my grief and two little boys. The vision of that beautiful collie struggling to loosen herself from the ties that bound her never left me. What killed her left a deep impression on both Dennis and me. We are careful about dog collars and where and how we confine our canines. But there are other lessons to be learned from Cher.

Best laid plans of …men and families often run awry (Steinbeck paraphrased)
Pulling at restraints can choke
If you get caught in a thorny bush …stand still until help comes
Don’t fight the hands that seek to free you from your plight
Facing grief alone sends you to The Burning Bush that is not consumed…where God speaks.
Looking back at unpleasant experiences may lead to holy ground; slip off your shoes.

“Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground”. (Exodus 3:5)

HEART THOUGHTS from Helen

2010-08-27T13:43:00.000-07:00

"Blackberries"

I don't like to see blackberry season come to a close. I still see a few around at the roadside stands. Steamy hot summer days spent picking blackberries conjures many memories. Our family of four covered every inch of flesh we could with old clothing, sprayed with insect repellent to deter chiggers and headed for those briar infested bushes. When the boys were small we made quite a game of it and every time we saw the big juicy berries, Dennis would cry, "HARK, I see blackberries." We'd all go scrambling to where he pointed. Hence, in our family, blackberries retain the name, HARK. We dared to place our feet and hands in places I never thought I would to pluck those elusive sweet 'hark' berries.

One blackberry season years ago when depression dulled my senses, Dennis and the boys persuaded me to forge into the bushes again. We eventually found a patch of trellised vines. Nice picking! That night I dreamed...A huge cluster of perfect blackberries appeared before my face. A quiet voice encouraged me,: "This fruit is yours for the picking. All you have to do is reach out and take it."

Since that time, blackberries bring sweet memories of the Fruit of the Spirit He offered, and I continue to taste, as long as I reach out and pluck the promise.

"The Spirit, however, produces in human life fruits such as these: LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GENEROSITY, FIDELITY, TOLERANCE AND SELF-CONTROL...and no law exists against any of them." (Galatians 5:22 JB Phillips)

HARK! There must be some blackberries hiding within all that fruit.

HEARTH THOUGHT from Helen

2010-08-20T13:48:00.000-07:00

LESSONS FROM A LEASH... Part 5

Enoch walked (in habitual fellowship) with God (Genesis 5:22, AMP)

I've heard it said that every walk with the master is the very best walk a dog ever takes. Willie Baby was my second collie and resided with my parents in the lower part of the state until we could bring her upstate. Not my choice of names, but she was Willie Baby when I met her so I didn't change it. Willie Baby loved to go for walks. She would get her leash and stand by the gate until I joined her.

Walking with the Master may be addictive. It became so for Adam and Eve. I would presume that each walk that the original couple took with God was also the very best one ever, until that last time that God came looking for them. Enoch's habitual walk with God certainly kept him in good standing and then he walked right on into glory. (There's a story about another Enoch, a dog that took a prayer hike with Todd and Joice from Alaska to Canada)

Walking with the Master overcomes obstacles and brings great rewards. Willie Baby married Charlie, a friend's German shepherd. One of the pups became a gift to my parents. My mother named him Chili (Charlie/Willie). Mother always had good names for animals. Chili turned out to be their best dog ever.

Walking with the Master takes you wherever He leads. When Dennis took a coaching job in Woodruff with the legendary Willie Varner, Willie Baby accompanied our family of three. W/B and I strolled David all over Woodruff. One older gentleman commented one day, "I bet that dog would tear anybody up if he messed with that baby." I couldn't help but be comforted that he thought so, but she was a gentle spirited collie. Unfortunately, Willie Baby disappeared from our household in Woodruff, never to be retrieved. We never knew what happened to her.

Walking with the Master demands determination and commitment. It didn't take us long to acquire a female German shepherd we named Princess. She met an untimely demise; she was poisoned after we moved to Fountain Inn. Following Princess we acquired another collie that we named Lad, a dog. He was a pretty little thing but died after being hit by a car. For several years the Lynn family had really bad luck with dogs. We didn't give up however. The dogs that followed include Cher, Frog, Blackie, Oliver, Freckles, Lulu, Sebastian, Wiggles and now Sadie. Just think of all the dog stories and leash lessons we have to look forward to in the coming weeks.

Leash lessons:

Daily walking with the Master may be addicting.
Daily walking with the Master overcomes obstacles, even strange names
Daily walking with the Master strengthens you to follow wherever He leads
Daily walking with the Master motivates you
Daily walking with the Master aids in the grief process
Daily walking with the Master demands determination and commitment
Daily walking with the Master may lead to slaying giants.

Three year old David asked, "Mommy, read me story."
"What story do you want to read?" I asked.
"You know! That story about the giant and the German Shepherd."

Our David learned early just what biblical shepherds can do when they walk with the Lord.
"And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day." Genesis 3:8 (AMP)

HEART THOUGHT from Helen

2010-08-13T08:53:00.000-07:00

“Take time and trouble to keep yourself spiritually fit. Bodily fitness has a certain value, but spiritual fitness is essential, both for this present life and for the life to come.” (1Timothy 4:7b-8) JB Phillips

Are you physically fit but spiritually flabby? We live in a nation that fanatically demands physical fitness.

Our ten year old grandson, Boaz and I went for a “walk/run” recently up to the Richard Jackson Park off Hwy 101. Wonderful place to go and exercise on the well kept track around the baseball fields that predominate the park. The complete outside loop measures 5/8 mile. We did about two and a half loops until the heat beat me. Boaz is going out for football for the first time and I decided to give him opportunity to start getting in shape. It also gave him a chance to run my golden retriever, Sadie. So, off they ran and I walked behind enjoying watching them run. It’s a pretty isolated park and hardly anyone else was there, so the quiet morning exercise encouraged me and exhausted my companions.

Years ago I faithfully followed the ‘shape up’ crowd into aerobics, exercising to Christian audio tapes. One of the cool down tunes was “El Shaddai”. I’m not too sure that God Almighty, the Powerful smiled on my sweaty, contorted limbs and yet I determined to present a fit, not flabby, body to Him. Shortly thereafter, I herniated a disk, which brought aerobics to a halt. Years later, we purchased a treadmill that has been enjoyed and used by everybody in our household over the years. It recently underwent its own work out to get in shape and got a tune up. I love it. I can listen to my music and walk and worship as I walk.

Our forefathers had no problem staying physically fit. Hard work took the place of aerobics. Totin’ and hauling, shoveling, digging, building, animal husbandry, gardening, washing and cleaning, substituted for pumping iron and working out at the gym. Today’s sedentary society finds that sort of ‘exercise’ archaic.

My grandchildren can do push-ups with the best of the crowd and do them regularly. Sometimes, they do them to show off; sometimes they do them for disciplinary reasons. Nonetheless, it doesn’t hurt their physical fitness.

Don’t misunderstand. I am a strong advocate of physical fitness. Our lives, however, and now my age, consist of more than the physical. A person IS a soul that indwells a body, NOT a body that happens to possess a soul. Our primary need is SPIRITUAL FITNESS. Just as physical fitness calls for discipline, spiritual fitness calls for determination. We will not always inhabit these earthly tents, but our souls exist eternally.

Are you physically fit…but spiritually flabby?

HEART THOUGHTS... from Helen

2010-07-30T13:31:00.000-07:00

"Sisterly Love"

“The person who obeys God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:35, THE MESSAGE)

My older sister, Judy and I use what might be termed ‘sister speak’. Sister speak involves code words from years of memories shared. She’s my ‘Big Sisty’ and I’m her ‘Lil Sisty’. Silly? Probably. But who’s to say what constitutes silly in family traditions. We giggled a lot as little girls. One such giggle fest took place in church. A vivid memory unfolds, as I remember somehow one of us breaking a little strand of fake pearls and them all tumbling to the floor (not carpeted) in the middle of the service of this little country church. Judy and I got the giggles and couldn’t stop. We often got the giggles when we’d go out to eat which wasn’t a frequent thing back in the day. Daddy got so embarrassed one Sunday we were threatened with having to go sit in the car. We couldn’t stop.

Judy is three and a half years older and my brother, Gene is seven years older than me. I am the baby in my family of origin. My mother still calls me her ‘Baby Chile’.

Sisters share a lot of history, both good and bad. We fought over who would wash the dishes and who would dry the dishes. Who would dust and who would cook. We joked over the old song “Clementine”. You remember that one, don’t you? One of the last lines being: “til he kissed her little sister, and forgot his Clementine.” I did tease her about that. Even though it never happened, I loved picking at her about it. I don’t think she always appreciated it. We argued over the telephone as teenagers. Only one phone at the end of the hallway and I can see her sitting with her knees pulled up to her chin whispering into the mouth piece so no one could hear. I did the same thing when it was my turn.

Judy always looks her very best, not a hair out of place, not a wrinkle in her attire… so not like me who flies by the seat her pants... She is well put together. Another memory that comes from our church growing up years is that of an older woman talking to mother after the service. “That Judy is the prettiest little thing.” As I looked up into their faces I waited for her to include me; she didn’t. She distinctly looked at me and said nothing. Oh well!!!!

My sister, Judy, reveals her generous and empathetic heart to all who seek her shoulder to cry on. She truly exhibits care and understanding for those in pain and need. When my daddy died Judy took my mother in from Bethea Retirement Community to house and hold her close in her fresh widowhood. At the time Dennis and I took care of his aging mother in another part of the state. Judy and my brother-in-law, Jim, took such good care of mother, spoiling her like she’d never been spoiled her whole life. She thrived on it. She lived close to our old home place and in the same town as her other family members and doctors. They couldn’t have done a better job of honoring our mother.

As years passed, mother aged, Judy and Jim aged and health issues cropped up that resulted in mother’s decline leading to the stroke that hospitalized, and then required nursing home rehabilitation. It was an evident fact that Mother needed more care than we were able to administer at home, so she resides at National Health Care in Sumter. Only those siblings who have had to make such decisions and then live with them know the trauma that accompanies them. And who is it that takes care of all the paper work, the day to day business, the laundry, the loving, and the phone calls the encouraging, the trips to doctors, and the birthday parties? It’s Judy and of course her hard working husband, Jim, right alongside.

I admire my sister’s gifts of service, love, hospitality and over all willingness to do whatever is necessary ‘because that’s what family does’. Judy is a hugger and an affectionate sibling. She and I have a sister’s bond that cannot and will not be broken. Do we always agree…does any sibling? But we choose to move toward what we do agree on and carry on. As Judy struggles with her own health issues, she continues to listen to others and encourage them in theirs, because she knows whereof she speaks. She’s right as she reiterates the saying of today, “It is what it is”.

I think of sisters in the Scripture such as Rachel and Leah in the first book of the Bible, Mary and Martha from the tenth chapter of Luke. There are so many lessons to be learned from each one. Over time I believe we can identify with both sisters in both stories in a variety of ways at different times in our lives. The Lord loved both sets of sisters and He chose to display their good traits along with their better ones. Jesus, Himself had two sisters, I believe, and brothers in his earthly family. He surely knows the interchange, good, bad and indifferent, that takes place in the family unit.

Jesus also said at one point, “For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:35 NASB)

I’m so thankful to say that my sister does the will of God. In ‘sister speak’ you could say, we are sisters times two.

HEART THOUGHTS from Helen

2010-07-23T13:56:00.000-07:00

LEASH LESSONS – PART FOUR

“Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation.” 2 Corinthians 7:10 (NKJV)

Pierre Beauregard III, a medium French poodle gained access to our home shortly after our matrimony. Dennis felt sorry for him. Beau belonged to my groom’s longtime friends who loved him dearly …until they adopted a baby boy that they loved more and Beau got relegated to the out of doors, a place he was not accustomed to and didn’t care for at all. Can’t you just see it now, Coach Lynn walking a chocolate poodle in the rain in front of our honeymoon cottage on Brushy Creek Road in Greer? It wasn’t a good fit. But he meant well…Coach Lynn, that is. He wanted to save this dog from a chain and possibly the pound.

It all went down hill shortly after our marriage when Beau didn’t want to relinquish his spot beside me in the bed. (Yes, we rue the day we allowed him on the bed) He made the mistake of growling at his master. Not a good thing to do. This dog demonstrated no sorrow whatsoever for his errant behavior and continued to defy the master of the house. I don’t suppose dogs show godly sorrow but I know a lot of them do show some humility.

We acquired a fence in our back yard for Pierre Beauregard to romp in while Dennis coached and I worked in the Emergency Room. We knew we were dealing with a shrewd yet smart animal when Beau dug out under the fence and came to the front scratching on the door to get inside. After many efforts at containing him, frequent baths due to the mud puddles he dug getting out of the fence and enduring the condescending looks of the groomer when we took him to be trimmed; we decided to just not keep him in the fence because he wasn’t staying in anyway. What was Beau’s solution? He dug himself back under the fence into the backyard and presented himself at the side door to be admitted. OH, he did frustrate the newlyweds. Dennis, who was teaching/coaching at a local high school at the time advertised at school for a new home for our poodle. Pierre Beauregard sensed the future and began to ‘do his business’ right in the middle of our living room in front of the television. He was placed with a student whose parents called us shortly thereafter to ask if he was up to date on his shots. It seems Beau had bitten his groomer. Poor Beau just couldn’t get over the rejections in his life. I have to admit, we were among those who rejected the impudent little poodle and we are dog lovers.

Lessons learned from Pierre Beauregard III:

Rejection in any shape or form may result in rebellion
Rebellion may develop into a number of reactions
Reactions vary from compliance to lack of repentance to outright revolt
Revolt rarely wins friends or influences people, especially when the people rule
Relocating a rejected poodle to the newly wed game has its repercussions (or… timing is everything)

We didn’t really want to get rid of Beau. Our desire was to rescue him, love him and give him a better life. He failed to adapt to us and us to him.

Do you suppose that God, our Father has that in mind for us when we find ourselves in a rebellious situation no matter what the cause? I’m glad He doesn’t reject us as children but He chooses His own restraints in teaching us important lessons even if they come at the end of a leash or inside a fence. How do you respond to God’s restraints?

“Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation.”

HEART THOUGHTS from Helen

2010-07-16T11:22:00.000-07:00

LEASH LESSONS, PART 3

“I delight to do Your will, O my God”. (Psalm 40:8) AMP

Tanmarque’s Happy Princess fulfilled a youthful dream when my grandparents surprised me with this precious collie pup. Princess proved to be my Lassie for true and real. As an adolescent I marveled that she always desired to please me.

Princess memories flood my mind as I smile remembering them. Some of the most memorable include her uncanny ability to sniff out snakes and slay them by carefully stalking, then snatching them quickly and shaking the life from them. I attribute her determination to a bite she received on her nose as a pup. Her elongated nose grew to enormous proportion one summer day and the vet felt it was snake bite. This collie demonstrated her hatred for creepy crawlies by a definitive snake bark. Our family came to recognize this bark and to heed it appropriately. One dark August night she tended her ten pups in the back yard pen when we heard that specific bark. Sure enough, she found a huge rattler, which my daddy killed, probably saving her life after we rescued all the pups in our kitchen. Her protective instinct would not be deterred. We forced her inside also.

Let’s back up a bit to those ten pups. My mother (ninety-four) insists that I include this part of Princess history. After giving birth on our screened front porch on a hot summer day, Mother discovered Momma collie going back and forth into the living room from the front porch. She investigated and found that dear royal Princess felt that nothing was too good for her babies so she carried each one gently into the living room and tucked them in the corner of the couch. I happened to be working at the time, so didn’t get to witness this enthroning of the babies. Mother couldn’t decide whether to be upset or laugh. We never forgot it. Princess delighted to do for her family what she felt to be the very best. When said pups left the nest their momma, just like mine, knew just what to do. She instinctively separated the pup leaving and gave it her best wishes, nosing and licking it as if she knew.

While in high school, Princess trotted beside me as I walked to the bus stop two tenths of a mile down our dirt road each day. Her deepest desire was to be with me and to be obedient. She also knew instinctively when my bus returned and she joyfully greeted me when I arrived.

Princess, I’m sad to say, acquired a taste for the neighbor’s chickens which he finally despaired of enough to shoot her. She came home and died under her beloved dogwood tree outside the kitchen window. At the time I attended nurses training in Greenville and didn’t get to tell her goodbye. For years afterward, I dreamed I heard her barking; thankfully it wasn’t the snake bark. I don’t believe there are poisonous snakes where she resides.

Lessons learned from my precious Princess?

Devotion unspeakable
Love unbounded
Faithfulness undeniable
Joy unspeakable
Confidentiality unequalled
Patience unending
Delightful obedience…

Shouldn’t all these attributes define our desire/delight for our Master?

“I delight to do your will, O my God”

HEART THOUGHS from Helen

2010-07-09T12:09:00.000-07:00

LESSONS LEARNED AT THE END OF A LEASH (Part 2)

“He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” Psalm 40:2 NIV

Duchess joined our family around the same time that adolescence arrived for me. She derived her heritage from the Heinz 57 family. She was black as the ace of spades and apparently acquired some shepherd and some lab in her ancestry. Duchess, though a medium sized friendly dog tried her best to keep up with whatever went on at our country home. She dearly loved to go rambling around the country side where we lived on my Granddaddy Goodson’s farm in Oswego, South Carolina. She loved to follow my Daddy when he drove the tractor. She loved to go down the lane with Momma and me to gather eggs from the chicken coops. But the singular thing that I remember about Duchess, my dog, was that she dearly loved flopping down in any mud puddle she came across. I can see her now just plop right down and smile all over herself, long pink tongue hanging out the side of her mouth, happy as she could be. Momma would fuss and I would get to hose her off until the next time.

Isn’t it funny the things we remember about our pets? I wish I had a picture of Duchess to show you how happy she was in the mud puddle. You’d have thought she was part pig. She did not, however, endear herself to us when she chose to run up and shake her muddy self all over us.

What did I discover from Duchess?

Mud Puddles can serve a purpose
Duchess taught me that it is the simpler things of life that make us happy.
Flopping down in a mud puddle beats running around like a chicken with its head cut off
Mud puddles are for cooling off sometimes. They may not be the most attractive way to relax but they surely can help the immediate heat of a situation.
Dogs named Duchess may not act like the royalty the name implies, but they get the job done nonetheless
Dirty is a relative term. To Duchess being muddy meant nothing more than temporary comfort from the heat of the day. She knew I’d wash her up and she’d be soot black and shiny again.
Don’t stay in the mud puddle too long and be compared to the “sow that is washed goes back to her swallowing in the mud.” (2 Peter 2:22b) NIV and end up lazy, listless and at loose ends.
And by all means, when you’ve been in the mud puddle, don’t run up to your friends and shake your mud all over them.

HEART THOUGHS from Helen

2010-07-02T12:10:00.000-07:00

"Life's Lessons learned at the end of a leash"

Mr. Trouble II: The name itself alerted us to the possibilities of taking on our friend's Boston terrier. I was around the age of six when our family agreed to adopt Mr. Trouble from church friends who were to be deployed overseas. This small black and white bundle of energy with nerves of steel quickly stole our hearts. He adjusted well to our family of five and we soon accustomed ourselves to his antics. The only problem with this situation resulted from Benji, the black cocker spaniel next door.

Trouble, (for short) and Benji, kept up a running battle with each other and I do not exaggerate when I say "running battle". They hated each other from the moment they lay eyes on each other. It was quite a precarious situation to let Trouble out without first checking next door to see if the neighbors deemed it necessary for Benji to also take his business outdoors. If it so happened that both dogs were out at the same time, you could see them squaring off at each other.

Trouble lined up in the corner of our yard, scratching the ground with his paws like a Spanish bull, and Benji, lowered his head in the opposite corner of his yard, as if waiting for the signal to begin round one. In the middle they met like boxers in a ring and CLASH, SNARL, JUMP, REAR, GROWL AND BITE. No amount of hollering from any of us could dissuade them from their battle. After many attempts at various ways of safely and not so safely breaking up these dog fights, we came upon the idea of turning on the garden hose and soaking down the two antagonists. That seemed to do the trick until the next time both dogs went outside without a leash.

I've often wondered what makes certain dogs get along and others to be natural enemies. The same could be said of the human species. You know what I mean; sometimes you just naturally have an aversion to another person for no apparent reason other than they make your skin crawl and your blood pressure rise. I wish I remembered who authored a book about 'irregular people 'in your life. If I recall correctly, it dealt with this issue quite well.

How do you deal with conflict or that 'irregular person' in your life? Some folks naturally enjoy lining up on opposite sides of the yard just waiting for the right moment to:

Jump in and attack, usually with words that bite and snarl or actions that intentionally irritate, clash and cause unnecessary controversy.

Some may remember the old idiom, "fight or flight". Which applies to you?

Is your response to 'ignore it and it will go away?

Then there is the person who hurries down the other isle of the grocery store to avoid confrontation.

Some people just deny it's even a problem.

The Biblical account of David, the young shepherd turned warrior, grieved over his nemesis, King Saul, who sought at every turn to take his life. He tried everything he could to remedy the situation. (See 1and 2 Samuel in the Old Testament)

There are many other pairs of antagonists in Scripture: Cain and Able, Hannah and Peninah, Rachel and Leah, Jacob and Esau. Conflict remains as old as time.

"A soft answer turns away wrath" (Proverbs 15:1 KJV) surely did NOT work for Mr. Trouble and Benji. But would that plus, "Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. "(Luke 6:28 NIV) work with those irregular people in your life? Sometimes it does and sometimes, it just doesn't! I suppose we are to try anyway, no matter what the result of our efforts may be. After we've made an effort at all the remedies we know to get along with no results, we may need to drag out the garden hose and squirt some fresh cold water on the situation. This time of year with 100 degree temperatures, that might feel pretty good if you like that sorta thing. A cup of cold water in the Name of Jesus may just do the trick...or a glass of iced tea, or lemonade or even Diet Coke.

What I learned from Mr. Trouble II:

conflict exists (sometimes for reasons beyond our comprehension)
confidence in my ability to deal with it depends on the methods I incorporate
Christ Jesus IS THE CUP OF COLD WATER SPLASHED IN MY FACE to remind me
Who is the Master

HEART THOUGHTS from Helen

2010-06-24T12:14:00.000-07:00

"Recognizing a Crooked Stick"

"To their shame they are a perverse and crooked generation..." (Deuteronomy 32:5)

"And the crooked shall be made straight and the rugged ways made smooth." (Luke3:5b)

Someone has said that "the best way to show up a crooked stick is to lay a straight one beside it." That reminds me of an early summer morning thirty-something years ago.

As was my custom, I woke early and made my way through the old country house in which we lived in Woodruff. Quietly, so as not to awaken little boys and their daddy, I walked through the den toward the kitchen. In the early light of morning, I glanced at what I thought to be a stick on the carpet. Coming back the same way, I looked closer at the 'stick' to see that it was crooked...symmetrically. Realization woke me quickly and my instincts took over.

Grabbing the first thing I could get my hands on, without taking my eyes off the now moving ''stick'. I proceeded to immobilize it by digging the broken end of a yard stick into its middle. Vaguely, I remembered fussing at the boys the night before for breaking my yard stick and for leaving stuff scattered everywhere.

Now, what do I do? The wiggly 'stick' wanted to crawl up the yard stick. The carpet wasn't firm enough for the jagged end to pierce the thing. I certainly wasn't about to turn it loose long enough for it to crawl under the sofa and get away from me. Finally, after exerting all my strength, I pressed the life out of it.

Our oldest grandson posed recently in his back yard, holding up what appeared at first glance to be a five foot stick. It wasn't a stick. On their arrival home from church, their dogs alerted them to the problem in their garage. Their crooked 'stick' met its demise at the hands of Luke, their nine-year-old.

How can you recognize a crooked stick? You lay a straight one beside it. We live in a crooked and perverse generation. If you don't believe it, watch the nightly news. Can you recognize the difference between false doctrine and the Truth? Jesus is the yardstick...or the hoe handle. He's our example and serpent slayer, no matter that the 'stick' still slithers its crooked body all around.

HEART THOUGHTS from Helen

2010-06-16T13:15:00.000-07:00

WEATHER FORECAST:
"Rain, heavy at times, with the threat of thundershowers."

From my office I see the magnolia tree in our front yard. The limbs hang heavy with rain drenched leaves dripping as the "heavy at times" inundates them. I watch them droop and begin to assume the position myself. Do you ever do that, gaze at outward circumstances and soak up the sorrow? Shortly afterward, on the radio, this wonderful old hymn sang its way into my ears, then my soul:

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine.
O what a foretaste of glory divine.
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His spirit, washed in His blood.
Perfect submission, perfect delight
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love
Perfect submission, all is at rest
I in my Savior am happy and blest:
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
This my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
..Fanny J. Crosby

The trees, not long ago, thirsted for water. Perfectly submitted, absolutely un-anxious, the trees felt blessedly assured that water would come. Perfectly delighted they stand tall as showers of mercy wash them today. The leaves hang heavy because they can hardly contain the blessing. It drips on me.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long

HEART THOUGHTS from Helen

2010-06-04T10:36:00.000-07:00

"Celebrations"

"Celebrate this as a festival to the LORD for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come (Leviticus 23:41) NIV

Celebrations, holidays, birthdays...What's your take on memorializing a significant event? How do you usually observe Memorial Day? Is it a day of remembrance or a day 'off', a day of play and/or partying? I am always moved by the images that I see in National observations to our fallen war heroes. In particular, the military men who fold the flag so precisely capture my attention. We own such a flag folded in honor of Dennis' Uncle Arthur who served in five major battles of World War II. I watched as the flag snapped this way and that until it was precisely wrapped and handed to the families of fallen men and women. Throughout the 'holiday weekend', I've seen many quips, cartoons, and eloquent speeches given concerning our men and women who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. One cartoon in particular is of a man grilling the usual food stuffs outdoors. The thought bubble over his head listed the many things on the menu but...going up in the smoke above the barbeque were pictures of the military who are forgotten in the rush of 'celebration' to meet and eat and disregard the real meaning of the day. All over the world all year long we tend to forget the meaning of real celebration in lieu of the party that accompanies them. Christmas has become Santa Claus and gifts; Easter eggs and bunnies, holidays instead of holy days.

Today I just want to give tribute to the military and their families who don't 'celebrate' but commemorate Memorial Day. I appreciate the sacrifices made for our political freedom. I remember also, the PRIME EXAMPLE OF SACRIFICE made on a Roman cross for our spiritual freedom. Men and women who follow in Christ's footsteps as the ultimate model of and for freedom "memorialize" the experience and demonstrate what in actuality it is meant to be. Thank you! Thank you, Thank you!

It's also been a week of celebration in our family. Catie, (Catherine Joy) our oldest granddaughter, and Jacob Hayes, our second grandson, graduated from Mountain View Elementary this morning. These fifth graders will go to Blue Ridge Middle School next year where our oldest grandson, Caleb, attends. This Nana and Poppy will thrill to experience three in Middle School and five still in Elementary School. WHOA! There will be many more graduation celebrations to attend.

But before I continue there is something I'd like to say about Mtn. View Elementary School. We are thrilled to have our children and grandchildren associated with this school. Tommy Hughes, our long time friend and principle of Mt. View, epitomizes what elementary school should be all about. He's by far the best principle I've ever known. He loves the kids and they love him. His heart beats for their well being and education. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Mr. Hughes. You are loved.

Not only did we celebrate graduations but also two birthdays. Catie, born on Memorial Day eleven years ago and Boaz, her brother is ten today. Remembrances abound in the Lynn household this week. I remember not being able to get to Canada in time for her birth. I called Todd to inform him of when I would be arriving and he was in the delivery room with Joice where the birth was taking place. He shared his first words about his baby girl while on the phone to me. "Oh, she looks like a little smurf".Catie doesn't resemble a smurf anymore and in fact gave a lovely parting speech this morning to her school.

Boaz, coming one year later, was also born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, while his parents were in Seminary. It's a tad difficult to monitor travel so far when babies decide to be born, so, we missed his birth by one week. Most folks raise their eyebrows when first hearing the name Boaz these days. It's not your common popular baby boy name. I researched the Biblical Boaz considerably after Todd decided to change his name from Elijah Christopher to Boaz Nathaniel on the second day of his life. When he told me on the phone that he had some news about the baby, my heart did a double flip, fearing a medical problem. It was only a name change due to the fact that his dad felt he didn't look like an Elijah to his daddy and Boaz seemed to fit the baby boy. I love the name Boaz and what it stands for...kinsman redeemer. It's indicative of our LORD and what He's done for us. We do celebrate both our grandchildren's births proudly.

Obviously the LORD God, Himself felt that celebrations served a good purpose. Just read about the Jewish feasts in the book of Leviticus and all throughout the Scripture.

Birthdays, Memorial Day, Graduation Day, all hold significance in our lives. How will these things be remembered in the years to come?

How do you celebrate important days in with your kin? It will become a family heritage and a gift to your progeny.

Remember the real meaning of the day
Renew old memories that glorify the occasion
Refresh each other with true stories of bygone days
Rekindle relationships
Rededicate yourselves to the Lord God Who grants you all celebrations

HEART THOUGHTS from Helen

2010-05-28T10:41:00.000-07:00

"A Lesson from a Puppy"

"I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You." Psalm 119:11 (NIV)

We have a new canine cousin to complete our extended family. Our oldest granddaughter, Catie, received her birthday present early. She's wanted a puppy since their previous dog Duke died several months ago. Duke, a lab, husky mix from Alaska, truly exhibited all the traits of a good family pet. Duke was a good dog. He'd been shuffled around many times in many ways and always loved his master and family. After a proper time of grieving, our youngest son, Todd, agreed to this rescue pup for Catie. They went to the Humane Society to search for the proper pup. The result is "Lizzie", a twelve week old Dalmatian mix. Lizzie, whom Catie says, 'called to her' from her kennel, is now a part of the Lynn canine enclave. In my eleven year old granddaughter's words, "Lizzie seemed content to be alone but also wanted to be loved." Our other son, David has two rescued dogs: Rugby, a yellow lab and Toby, a black dog of undetermined origin belonging to Jacob their eleven year old.

This pup is nothing like the pups in our past. She's been to visit a few times and I am so enthralled with watching our twenty-two month old golden retriever, Sadie, and Lizzie. They do what I call a dog dance. After checking each other out all over they have become the best of friends and have a ball. In the dance, our Sadie is the jitter-bugger and Lizzie is the slow dancer. They pounce and play and stop on a dime and twirl around and race off to another part of the house or yard.

One of Sadie's newest play toys is an orange hard rubber bone. She hasn't taken to it vigorously yet, but Lizzie decided she liked it. On our trip outdoors Saturday, Lizzie took the orange bone and headed immediately for the soft dirt of my flower bed by the patio. I was sitting in my chair observing the dog dance while four little girls played inside. Lizzie proceeded to dig fast and furious with orange bone beside her. Determined to bury 'her 'bone before Sadie picked up on her stunt, she would dig and glance at Sadie who wasn't about to be left behind in this game. So, both dogs began to dig scattering dirt all over the place. If it hadn't been such a funny dance they did, I'd have been really ticked, but since I hadn't put any flowers where they were digging, I just watched, smiling.

How does a puppy know to bury a bone? Or better still, why does a dog bury a bone? Seems to me they'd chew it up rather than bury it. We've had other dogs that buried bones that we found in our back yard at a much later date. Seems a waste of a good bone to me.

Since pondering these things in my heart, I've come up with my own personal analogy. It may not be too spiritual but when I read the above verse from Psalm 119:11, I couldn't help but nod my head and think of Lizzie (Dennis calls her Elizabeth).

When I come across a particularly appropriate scripture, I want to hide it in my heart for whenever I may need it, either for myself or someone else. I often write them on index cards and carry them in my pocket or purse to dig out and hand to someone with whom I come in contact during the day. Oh, I cannot tell you the times the Lord has provided 'bones' to be gnawed on, absorbed and shared. I usually call them gems of treasure, gold, silver, precious stones mined from digging into the WORD, but in this instance, bones buried in the deep dark part of my heart seems to work for me ...and for Lizzie.

HEART THOUGHTS from Helen

2010-05-20T13:11:00.000-07:00

"You cannot purify the water by painting the pump." (Adrian Rogers)

We all know the function of a pump. It propels water by forcing it through a pipe. The pump, though important, serves only as the means of obtaining the water or whatever else happens to be in the well.

The recent and current news coverage of the uncontrollable oil leak from the floor of the Gulf of Mexico reminds us of the grave importance of accuracy and safety in pumps. In the spring of my twelfth year I learned how to use a hand pump. More importantly, I discovered just how vital water is to everyday life.

Our family lived for a short while in Angola, Indiana, where my Daddy joined the road construction force that built the Indiana Turnpike. Before housing became available, we lived in a rather primitive cottage, situated beside a small fishing lake. By primitive, I mean, we did not have indoor plumbing and frequented a small house behind the house for necessities. The kitchen (?) inspired my mother's ingenuity to say the least and my sister, Judy and I learned how to prime a pump, among other things. To obtain water to do all the things that water does, we pumped water into the kitchen sink and proceeded from there with our daily chores, always leaving enough water contained to pour into the pump to prime it for the next person. Water first, then other things.

The pump, obviously very old, was not a thing of beauty. The pure water that we urged from its well, however, cleansed us, fed us and hydrated our bodies. It was essential for our livelihood. The appearance of the pump had nothing to do with the purity of the water that flowed upward from the well. As my Mother so aptly quotes: "What's in the well comes up in the bucket", or pump as the case may be.

Three of the special uses for water in Scripture include cleansing, purification, and baptism. Moses, instructed by God, told the Israelites to wash themselves physically and spiritually, to prepare to meet Jehovah God for worship. (Exodus 19:10) Washing on the outside doesn't do a thing for the inside. God demands spiritual cleansing before we can come into His presence to commune with Him.

Are you having trouble communicating with the Father? Showering your body, (painting the pump) may improve your outward appearance and that's good, but more importantly, launder the inside. HOW? Come clean with Christ Jesus about your sin. Keep short accounts on a daily basis. Sometimes, moment by moment, we need to confess. You do remember when Jesus took up the basin and the towel to wash His disciples' feet. Peter objected at first and then told the Lord to wash him all over if that was required. Jesus reassured Peter that he was already clean within but needed that daily cleansing from walking in the world. The feet would do nicely this time. (John 13:6-10, my paraphrase) He who died for our sins prepares us for spiritual unity..the washing of the water by the Word (Ephesians 5:26).

Painting the pump may improve the outward appearance, but purifying the water within requires more than a bucket and a brush.

HEART THOUGHTS from Helen

2010-05-13T13:26:00.000-07:00

"Crucified with Christ"

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." NIV

I'll never forget the day that the above verse of Scripture came alive for me. I'm not talking about my salvation experience here; I'm talking about an "AHA moment" when God reveals Himself afresh through His Love Letter to us. You know, those moments when the light shines on a passage and it bounces off the page to your brain and into your heart. It was the early '80's and we lived in Calhoun Falls where Dennis was pastor of First Baptist Church while completing his Master of Divinity at Erskine Theological Seminary. I, in the meantime, earned my "PHT" (putting hubby through) degree, learning what it means to be a pastor's wife, raising two boys and using my nursing skills at the local clinic. Nights and some days were spent typing papers
for Dennis on an old Royal manual typewriter.

My prayer closet consisted of a rocking chair squeezed between the bed and the double windows in our small bedroom overlooking a prolific fig bush in our backyard. As the early morning sun shown revealing a new day, our dear Old English Sheepdog, Oliver, liked to prop his big fuzzy head on my foot and glance at me through shaggy bangs that almost covered his mismatched blue and brown eyes.

One such morning, Galatians 2:20 rose from the dead, so to speak, in my heart. We all know or think we know about crucifixion. At least we've read about it and watched it on television and in movies. The only thing we can actually say about it is that crucifixion means "death" in the most horrible fashion imaginable. In as much as I can identify with crucifixion, which is not at all, it declares that I am dead. My flesh may be still walking around in this earth suit, but as Eugene Peterson puts it in THE MESSAGE, my ego is no longer central. What I want is not uppermost in my mind. I am dead to myself.

In the biography of Amy Carmichael, Elizabeth Elliot's title to the book seems to explain it beautifully: A CHANCE TO DIE. A chance to die...to self. Paul puts it this way in 1 Corinthians 15:31, "I die daily". Sounds pretty radical, doesn't it? If I die daily to myself, the Word says, Christ lives in me. Christ died once so that I may have the choice to die daily to my own flesh so that He might live in me. It's not me that's living this life, it is Christ living in me, through me, for me. Each day, the life that I now live in my body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Now I don't know if that's 'theologically' correct, but I know that the Good News of that verse freed me to realize anew the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ.

I almost ran to my spiritual mentor with gladness of heart. "Did you know that I've been crucified with Christ? It's no longer ME that's living, but Christ living in me, and that the life I'm now living, I'm not living for Helen or in Helen's strength or knowledge, but I'm living it by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me?"

Wise person that he is, he smiled a knowing smile. He already knew that.

Did you know that?

"I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that. " Galatians 2:20 (THE MESSAGE)

HEART THOUGHTS from Helen

2010-05-05T11:06:00.000-07:00

"The Power of Prayer"

Former Governor Mike Huckabee’s interview with Franklin Graham last night on television demonstrated the forever truth that God's children stand firm in their commitment to pray whether the government approves or disapproves. The National Day of Prayer garners more and more attention, even though"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." much of it is negative this year. No matter! God knows and predicted as much. (James 1:2 NIV)

"All these were constantly at prayer together." (Acts 1:14)

A number of years ago, my Sunday School Class in Travelers Rest met to pray corporately for revival. I assigned an area of the church sanctuary for each member to cover in prayer. The north wall, the south wall, the east wall and the west wall, including the choir loft and the balcony were manned by intercessors. Each warrior held an assigned list of names from the church directory. It was a about 7:10 pm when the vigil began. I stationed myself behind the piano.
At about 7:45, my knees demanded a position change so I moved from the floor to the pew. In so doing, I glanced around the sanctuary...and saw no one. UH-OH!! I sucked in my breath in surprise. Immediately I sensed them all to be there, even though I couldn't see them. They WERE there, but they were all on their faces before the Lord. In awe, I finished my prayers in praise.

Our mandate to pray for revival included this note from Ron Dunn's book, DON'T JUST STAND THERE; PRAY SOMETHING. "At Pentecost, they prayed ten days, preached ten minutes and three thousand were saved. Today, we pray ten minutes, preach three days and are ecstatic if anyone is saved. "

David Brainerd prayed in knee deep snow until the snow melted; he got pneumonia and died.
When will we realize that we can never pray enough? We can not fathom the depth nor the height to which God Almighty (El Shaddai) will go when His children come to Him humbly seeking His face.

It was one of those awesome, holy moments, when our hearts united, we fell to our knees and God showed up!!

Do it again, Lord!

HEART THOUGHTS from Helen

2010-04-30T10:09:00.000-07:00

"Roller Coaster Ride"

“It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going.” (2 Corinthians 5:7) THE MESSAGE

Roller-coasters fascinated me in my much younger life. The thrill of the climb and heart stopping plunge downward sent a rush of adrenalin that must resemble that of the old commercial the “Dew-crowd”.

I’ve since come to realize the danger in such a drastic transposition, both physically and emotionally.

“Lord, since I’ve’ been there and done that, level me off, emotionally, in this up and down world of confusing circumstances. Even when You say “No,” as You did to the Apostle Paul, don’t let me lose my enthusiasm. He didn’t fold his tent and silently creep away into the night when Your Spirit kept him from going into Bithynia. Lord, forgive me for demanding my way, but grant me a glorious gladness in doing it Your way.

“Lord, Paul’s journey took him from mountain top to valley, from freedom to bondage, time and again…and he was obedient. Even when prison doors shut him in and stocks bound him down, he sang! Help me to praise You in the dark dungeon of disappointment. In paralyzing stupidity, speak through me that others may hear me praising, not screaming.

“Father, give me that holy boldness, that gift of encouragement, to share joyously Your love and provision, no matter the outward circumstance. You gave it to Paul, would you grant it to me? And, yes, Lord, I read of the price he paid. In fear and trembling, again, I stand waiting for my ticket to rise and fall as You determine the course ahead. Grant me that infinitely greater power to ride out the turmoil of this world, because I have been born from above."

(addendum: This Heart Thought penned May 1, 1995, grabbed my attention this morning. I’m not sure of the roller coaster ride of that moment but I can well guess that daily we all experience the same rise and fall of facing life’s challenges. Since I’ve been there and done that actual roller coaster thing, I’ll be content to wear the T-Shirt and wait for life’s next hill to climb and depth to plunge.

What roller coaster ride are you experiencing? Just because you can’t see over the next hill, doesn’t mean you’re alone on the journey.

“We live by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV

HEART THOUGHTS... from Helen

2010-04-22T10:58:00.000-07:00

"A Picture Worth A Thousand Words"

“If you’re swept off your feet, it is time to get on your knees.” Frederick Beck

“And when King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth and entered the house of the LORD…" Isaiah 37:1

Hezekiah prayed to the LORD saying, “O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel who is enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth, You have made heaven and earth.” (Isaiah 37:15-16)

A picture is worth a thousand words. One morning during my teenage years, I inadvertently intruded on my mother’s private worship time. I opened her bedroom door without knocking and discovered her on her knees before the Father. That memory is indelibly imprinted in my mind.

Perhaps that’s the reason the story of Hezekiah strikes a chord with me. Around 701 BC, Judah’s king heard distressing news of enemies surrounding his kingdom. He sent emissaries to hear what Assyria field marshal, the Rabshakeh, had to say, instructing his men not to negotiate with the enemy. Threats from without being fierce, the king ran to God’s house, seeking God’s will, God’s protection, God’s guidance.

Have you been swept of your feet in fear?

Not only did Hezekiah run to God’s house, but he sought God’s man of the hour, Isaiah. The prophet consoled King Hezekiah, assuring him of God’s protection and provision and God’s revenge on the enemies of His people. In essence, he told him not to be afraid, He would take care of Assyria. Because of Hezekiah’s faithfulness to seek God, his fear turned to faith.

To whom do you go when surrounded by enemies?

Lessons learned from King Hezekiah (Isaiah 37)

No matter how Satan attempts to frighten us into surrender ,run to God of the Angel Armies, kneel before Him alone, plead our case
Never negotiate with Satan
Seek godly counsel
Trust God’s Word in faith

Judah’s king Hezekiah faced three tests in his life. The Assyrian king, Sennacherib, numbers just one of such tests.

I don’t know what test or what enemies surrounded my mother at the time I discovered her kneeling in prayer…perhaps among them was her teenage daughter, or two, or a son serving our country in Germany. Nonetheless, she taught me by her example. She will be ninety-four years old on April 25. The enemies that surround her today include the inability to kneel because her knees won’t allow it. Perhaps she wore them out in prayer. She is confined to her bed almost exclusively. She is unable to read her Bible due to the enemy of macular degeneration, but if you begin to quote a familiar Scripture, she can finish it for you. Does she pray? …oh yes, without ceasing, just as the Word instructs.

Fear not, Mother, God has promised to take care of the enemies that surround you. Happy Birthday!

HEART THOUGHTS from Helen

2010-04-14T13:12:00.000-07:00

"What Kind of Tree Is That?"

“Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to the level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well formed maturity in you.” Romans 12:2 (THE MESSAGE)

“Nana, what kind of tree is that?” Nine-year old Boaz asked from the car in my front yard.

“Bradford Pear Tree.”

“Does it grow pears?”

“No, actually it doesn’t.”

“Then why is it a pear tree? “

“Good question, Boaz. The Bradford Pear is shaped like a pear but bears no fruit except for the beautiful blossoms.”

Spring brings new life. Have you noticed? The sap in the trees couldn’t wait any longer! It bubbled up from the roots to the trunk to the branches to the limbs. Now, spring nudges the old away and pushes the new, tiny, fresh green buds out the ends of the tree fingers.

Baby buds look so fragile...so clean; as with all new life that springs from renewal. Just soaking in the glory brings a smile.

The growing stage of life in Christ follows the beginning state or ‘the Will Principle’. Once we set our minds on things above, His thoughts bud within us; not unlike new growth on the trees. New, fragile thoughts spring into refreshing ideas that grow into action and produce the Fruit of the Spirit.

Our body grows by producing new cells. Our lives sustain that production. The newness shows life. We don’t even think about it; we just expect that it will happen. And it does.

Expect newness in your walk with Christ. His mind constantly renews us, like spring births new life. Renewal brings newness, new insights and fresh spiritual energy. The world’s stagnant conformity must fall from our limbs when we submit to Spiritual growth. Truth wakes us up…eager to meet the new day.

Renew your mind. It’s invigorating! And, besides, renewal is a command.

HEART THOUGHTS by Helen

2010-04-08T12:01:00.000-07:00

"HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THE BODY OF CHRIST"

During this past week we observed the remembrance of Christ’s week of passion. In a number of ways we experienced just how beautiful is the body of Christ on earth today. The story and depictions of the crucifixion distress us with horror of Christ’s physical body during the horrendous events of that weekend. The excruciating scourging, spitting, pulling out his beard and all the other despicable things done to Him during the mock trial and agonizing via dolorosa cause us to wince and turn our heads. Have you ever wondered at the hands that made that cruel crown of thorns? You cannot possibly weave a crown of such dire pain without shedding your own blood on the sharp points. The same blood that made the crown would be mingled with that of the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself. Thought provoking…

Frances J. Roberts, in her devotional book, COME AWAY MY BELOVED, states: “The world is waiting for a robust Church to minister to its needs; and how can an ailing, dismembered Body bring healing to a sick and dying world?” We witnessed that robust Church Body this past week.

Early in the week we received news of dear friends whose oldest son died of cancer. He was thirty-nine. Talk about passionate agony and grief! In the midst of it, however, the BEAUTIFUL BODY OF CHRIST came to stand by this grieving family in a precious way to minister in the name of Jesus. How beautiful were the hands that prepared the meals, served the meals. How beautiful were the hearts that hugged and eyes that cried, the feet that walked the way of suffering, waited in line to pay their respects. How beautiful were the visits, the condolences that honored and ministered as the present day Body of Christ. Just as He said we should do, so we tried our best to do in His Name. How beautiful is the Body of Christ.

On Maundy Thursday we gathered around the tables of a small country church to share in the Lord’s Table in honor of that Last Supper He shared with His disciples. “This is MY BODY which was broken for you”….”This do in Remembrance of ME.” This is My BLOOD which was shed for you”.

Then on Friday we traveled to our former church in McCormick to share in precious celebration of the LIVING LORD’S SUPPER. Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper was dramatized by local men in period costume and looked just like I pictured the disciples to look. It was spectacular and humbling. Each disciple’s monologue ended with “Is it I, Lord?”

Such appropriate music accompanied the presentation by the group, CHOSEN, that my heart thrilled to hear them sing once more. One song, however, persists in my mind. Twilia Paris captures the week for me in some of the lyrics of HOW BEAUTIFUL…….

Is the Body of Christ
How beautiful the hands that served the wine and the bread and the sons of the earth.
How beautiful the feet that walked the long dusty roads and the hills to the cross.
How beautiful how beautiful is the body Christ
On Easter Sunday we gathered as a family and prayed around the table at our oldest son’s house to enjoy family, food, and fellowship and to celebrate the fact that our youngest granddaughter, Eliyah, who is five years old, made a public profession of her faith in Christ.

How beautiful is the Body of Christ

Heart Thoughts from Helen - April 1, 2010

2010-04-01T12:43:00.000-07:00

“Rabboni!” (John 20:16-NIV)

I never liked school. You could say I was a school refusal. My mother would bribe me with quarters and fifty cent pieces (back when there was that) to stay in my first grade class room. It wasn’t the teacher, Mrs. Reed who was a very nice lady. I just wanted to stay home with my momma. And I was stubborn. I’d put my blond head on my desk with my fist clenched tightly around that piece of money and cry and cry. My memory fails me as to when I realized that no amount of crying would keep me from school. Learning my lessons lasted a long time. As a matter of fact life’s lessons linger for a lifetime.

Of course later on in junior high and high school I enjoyed all the extra curricular activities which overcame the school phobia. Still, testing beleaguered me. Even now I don’t test very well.

Mary Magdalene, a tested woman of faith learned to trust because of her trials. Demon possessed when first she met Jesus, she learned that He could and did free her from her tormenters. From that day of deliverance, she organized the first women’s ministry. In gratitude she served the entourage of followers and ministered to the needs of the Lord Jesus Christ. After witnessing the crucifixion in anguish of heart, she could hardly wait to minister one more time to His stricken body. One of the last at the cross, she was first at the Resurrection. This woman in Scripture whose name cries out through the centuries teaches us even more of life’s lessons from that first Easter morning.

Mary of Magdala, beset by grief, overwhelmed by sorrow, tested to the ‘enth degree, sought the body of her Lord. She couldn’t wait to get to the tomb, worrying the whole time how she could roll away the stone to get to her appointed task.

The Master Teacher taught Mary Magdalene forgiveness; He taught her freedom from bondage; He taught her agape love; he taught her ministry; he taught her that suffering serves a purpose; He taught her that this ultimate test at Calvary did not end in death but life everlasting.

At the moment, she wasn’t testing very well. She sought the Savior who found her rather than her finding Him. He was a one on one teacher. He was her Personal Instructor who spoke her name. In a moment’s time, Mary recognized the Master and responded to Him. “Rabboni!” Teacher… O to sit in that classroom.

From that moment on that graveyard gave way to the great mystery and became the world’s first school of evangelism. He commissioned her to go and tell His brothers that He conquered death. From the depths of despair to the heights of heaven, lessons learned at the feet of her Rabbi would never grow dim. Mary Magdalene passed that test with flying colors and flying feet as she ran to tell the GOOD NEWS.

Are you a school refusal in the Lord’s graduate school of suffering? Do you hate testing? I am and I do, but having the Risen Lord Jesus as my Rabbi makes a huge difference.

The lesson for today? He is risen! He is Risen, Indeed.

Heart Thoughts from Helen

2010-03-25T05:36:00.000-07:00

Of Palm Trees and Parades

Palm fronds: a leaf from a palm tree, used as a symbol of victory or success

“They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” (John 12:13 (NIV)

When I think of palm trees I think of gentle breezes, blue green waters, and sand between my toes and the sun on my face. I think of a picture of my husband leaning against a palm tree on a Caribbean beach just a couple years ago. I don’t usually think of palm trees as symbolic of Jesus ‘victorious entry into Jerusalem except at this time of the year. I don’t usually consider palm trees and parades in the same thought. They are, however, pertinent to the Passion of Christ.

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (John 12:13 NIV)

Most folks loves a parade. In McCormick, the small town in which we lived for eleven years, parades drew the town’s people en masse. Some of our grandchildren enjoyed these parades as demonstrated in many photographs we’ve taken during that time. Instead of palm fronds, candy is strewn all across the street. It’s a festive time. From where we lived, just two blocks off Main, we could walk to the parade. Older people brought lawn chairs and sat out in front of the old train station/ antique store. Christmas parades, Gold Rush Festival parades, July 4th parades. What is it that gathers a crowd to a parade?

One of my greatest desires as a girl was to ride a horse in the Christmas parade in Sumter. As a teenager my dream became a reality. I loved every minute of it: from the long ride into town to the lining up at the end of the parade (we all know why the horses are last on the list of entries), riding down Main Street on the crisp December day. It was thrilling. Don’t ask me why.

“See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zech. 9:9)NIV

Jesus chose a colt, the foal of a donkey (Matthew 21:2; Zech.9:9) to ride in a parade into Jerusalem. The same Jerusalem that He wept over not long before transformed into a victory procession for the King of Kings. I’m thinking of a donkey on which His mother, Mary, rode into Bethlehem prior to His birth. No parade for her. And then there’s that white horse in Revelation 19 whose Rider is called, Faithful and True. Now that will be a parade you don’t want to miss.

People placed palm branches before the KING before they knew how He would reign. They didn’t know what victory would be won the following week. But He did!

Palms branches prior to His Passion,

Palm branches before the brutality,

Palm branches: symbols of victory and their owners showing no shame shortly thereafter.

The palms of hands that struck Him bear no resemblance to the “Hosanna” palms strewn before his humble yet regal ride through the city for which He wept. “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often I have longed to gather your children”.

And now they gather…but not to be drawn together under His wings as little biddies for refuge.
Palm branches, praises sung, prayers prayed, preparation for a preponderance of agony, a parade of people pleading for a Savior.

Oh, the pathos of the week to come. Then, that same gentle Jesus made a whip and did some holy house cleaning in the Temple. “My House will be called a House of Prayer, but you’re making it into a den of robbers” (John 21:13)NIV

After I rode on horseback in the Christmas parade years ago, I had to turn around and take that horse back to the barn, brush, water, feed him and then go home. The parade was over but work prevailed. After my grandchildren watched the parades in town, ate all that candy and one or more got down off their Poppy’s shoulders, we went home to do whatever needed to be done.

What happens after the parade? You do whatever comes next.

What did Jesus do after the parade? He purged the Temple; He prepared for pain. He poured water in a basin, took up a towel and washed feet. I wonder if Jesus needs to purge our temples today. Not just the local church, but THE Temple of the Holy Spirit, my body, in which He dwells?? Perhaps our feet need to be washed from walking in the world.

Will you celebrate this Palm Sunday singing Hosannas to the king of kings and then be shocked when He proceeds to ‘clean house’ before He can use you in His service? Will you, like Peter at first refuse to let Him wash your feet? Will you fall asleep when He wants to meet with you during the wee hours of the morning? Or will you run scared at the first sign of danger? Will you betray Him like Judas, or deny Him like Peter? Will you be available to care for His family like John? What will happen to the palm branches after Palm Sunday? What will you do after the parade?

O, Holy One of Israel, impress upon my heart the meaning of it all.

Heart Thoughts from Helen

2010-03-18T06:58:00.000-07:00

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killer of prophets,
Abuser of the messengers of God!
How often I’ve longed to gather your children,
Gather your children like a hen,
Her brood safe under her wings---“ (Luke 13:34, THE MESSAGE)

I have a framed card with a hen gathering her chicks under her wing. It was given to me by a dear friend a number of years ago. At the time I taught large couples Sunday School Class and had developed a deep and lasting love for them. They represented my ‘chicks’ and I did love having them all under my wings. Their hopes were my hopes, their grief’s grieved me; their spiritual growth sent my spirit soaring. I learned much more from them than they ever learned from me.

Nothing pleases a mother more than to have all her ‘chicks’ gathered around her. From the above verse I guess you could say that Jesus felt the same way about His children.

Yesterday, we visited my mother who resides at National Health Care in Sumter. Not long after Dennis and I arrived my older sister and her daughter joined us. Mother will be ninety-four on April 25. In recent days she’s experienced some mental confusion and her only remaining sighted eye is failing her. Thus we all gathered to evaluate and encourage.

Sisters, or at least I and my sister and my mother and her sister, Aunt Margaret (now deceased) laugh a lot when we get together. Yesterday was no different even though the circumstances were far from amusing. Perhaps its inappropriate affect that causes us to ‘make light’ of what we can so that the obvious remains out of sight and out of mind. Rather like the pink elephant in the room. Nevertheless, my sister, Judy, Shery, and Mother and I laughed a great deal. Laughter and tears often trade places back and forth in unusual circumstances. My heart cries out for Jesus as He wept over Jerusalem, seeking to gather her as a hen gathers her chicks….but they would not…….

Is Jesus still weeping over those He can’t gather under His wings before He comes again? Are all His ‘chicken chillun’ (as my grandmother Goodson used to call us) gathered in under His wings? Are there any sisters or brothers clucking and running the other way? Don’t refuse and turn away. Can you see Him sitting on that hillside, weeping?

The way of love is never an easy way. Jesus wept over His city and, alone, faced the cross on their behalf…and ours.

If we set our hearts to Him as our example, we must be prepared to suffer. “It was the way the Master went: should not the servant tread it still?”

Beloved, let us love.

Lord, what is love?

Love inspired My life, and led Me to My Cross, and help Me on My Cross. Love is that which will make it your joy to lay down your life for your friends.

Lord, evermore give me this love.

-- Amy Carmichael

Heart Thoughts from Helen

2010-03-11T09:58:00.000-08:00

COMMUNION WITH THE COMPASSIONATE COUNSELOR

“Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: God appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory,” (1Timothy 3:16(NIV)

Lord, my heart is full. Can we walk and talk together a bit?

Friends, who come from Jesus, are a special grace! They come, tense with cares behind and before, and share heart to heart.

Comfort my friend, Lord.

Where eyes are dulled by pain; shine your light there. Where foreheads furrow in futility and fear; smooth the brow.

Yoke the load alongside Yourself. Master of the wind and sea, steady the boat.

Lord, like Moses, my shoes are off; my knee is bent. My head is bowed. The ground feels holy. You are greatly to be reverenced. “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” (Hebrews 12:28 ASV)

Answered prayers that include ME! I stand amazed, humbled beyond words. How do You do that?

And, Lord, thank you that Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105) You’re doing it again, shining Your light on the path for those seeking guidance.

Father, you’ve strengthened my weaknesses, forgiven my selfishness. Thank you for this conversation made possible through Christ, My High Priest and Intercessor.

Heart Thoughts from Helen

2010-03-04T06:01:00.000-08:00

“Take heed, be quiet, fear not, nor be fainthearted,” (Isaiah 7:2)

Earthquakes, Tsunamis, blizzards, mudslides, floods, gale force winds continents away are referred to as ‘natural disasters‘.

Fiscal fiascos everywhere including unemployment, bank failures, health care push, housing market gone bonkers in what is called ‘economic downturn’ or ‘recession’. We could call them ‘un-natural disasters’.

Elected officials at each other’s throats; backbiting while smiling simultaneously. They promise things they do not or cannot provide. Tea parties in the name of citizen revolt labeled ‘political unrest’. YA THINK!!!???

Wars in Afghanistan, troops still in Iraq, rumors of wars everywhere it seems. Unrest here, assassinations there. Braggadocios dictators ranting and raving.

Just that is enough to make us all tremble in terror or attack in anger at the state of the world. And that doesn’t even begin to mention the universal unrest and rumors of nuclear warheads wiping Israel off the face of the map as well as the United States. How in the world did the United States of America come to be called “The Great Satan”?

What about our battles on a more local level? I just read the book, STAYING TRUE, by our state’s first lady, Jenny Sanford. While the whole world rocks and rolls with the punches, the heads of state and their families undergo their own personal purgatory. And our state isn’t the only suffering state in that regard. Staying true remains a constant struggle for those in the political arena as well as those of us who are among the rank and file. Spiritual stamina strikes a shockingly loud cymbal crash when all else fails.

Locally, rains, snows, floods, families unemployed, children exploited, divorce, the guilty rich go free while the poor pay their dues in jail.

Nursing home patients sit/lie in wheelchairs, staring with unseeing eyes at the hallway hubbub. Hospital corridors winding around and around in a maze of misery for patients and visitors all waiting for some good news.

All this isn’t really new, you know. In the days of Isaiah, the same issues with slightly different twists took place in a far away part of the world that has huge implications for the worldwide community. Just when all seems lost and impossible and unbearable, the LORD God Almighty comes forth and speaks. In this instance, through His prophet, Isaiah: “If you will not believe, you surely shall not last”. But just prior to that He gives us some pertinent instructions:

• Take care
• Be calm
• Have no fear
• Do not be fainthearted

Is that a message for us today? Personally, I take it to heart and am reminded daily to implant it on my brain, carry it in my heart, and share it with whomever will listen.

I choose to believe!!! And because I believe I will last throughout eternity with the LORD God Almighty, because He says so!

In light of that fact, I attempt to ‘take care, be calm, have no fear, and not be fainthearted’, no matter the natural disasters, political unrest, economic downfall or personal failures and defeats, bad health, death and taxes. Our God Reigns!

And…”my life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:3) ALLELUIAH!

Heart Thoughts from Helen

2010-02-24T10:58:00.000-08:00

“Wait thou only upon God” Psalm 62:5

There stood an old woman on the hillside waiting in front of a modest house. Her face turned toward the wind, her arms crossed her sweatered chest, waiting. Her expression was a study in solitude, not smiling, just waiting... Who would come over those red clay hills to relieve her of her burden? Would anybody come? How long would she stand there and wait?

A dog sat by the side of that back road we wandered onto. The animal was alone, but by the expectant look on his face, he waited…alert, watching, and anticipating. There were yellow school buses on the road about that time of the afternoon. Was there a child watching for a faithful friend and waiting…?

When I traveled across the country roads of Sumter County to high school on a yellow school bus many years ago, my faithful collie dog, Princess , knew exactly when to meet me at the bus stop to walk me down that two tenths of a mile to my house. She waited for me rain or shine. I waited for her.

It has been said that we spend much of life hurrying so that we can sit and wait. Ever been there? Perhaps you’re just waiting for the other shoe to drop after a series of life’s hard knocks.

Waiting can be used constructively. I carry reading material and pen and paper everywhere I go so that in the waiting rooms of my life, I occupy myself reading or writing. Some folks like to be people watchers, waiting and watching other folks. Folk’s faces reveal a lot about folks. Being still requires practice.

Do you ever try to just be still before the LORD? It is one of the hardest things to do in life. So many of the things that we wait for are unimportant; so how do we decide what and who is worthy of our waiting?

What/Who are you waiting for?

Scripture directs us to: “… wait only upon God and silently submit to Him; for my hope and expectation are from Him.” Psalm 62:5 (AMP)

But WAIT! God is worth the wait. The Sovereign Lord of the Universe may be waiting for you this very moment to come to Him with all your hopes and expectations. He is faithful and well worth the wait.

Heart Thoughts from Helen

2010-02-17T12:56:00.000-08:00

"Thoughts On Whistling"

“In that day the LORD will whistle for the fly that is in the remotest part of the rivers of Egypt and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.” Isaiah 7:18

“He will also lift up a standard to the distant nation, and will whistle for it from the ends of the earth and behold it will come with speed swiftly.”Isaiah 5:26

A whistling woman and a crowing hen,

Both come to no good end.

We were busying ourselves cleaning up the Emergency Room after much trauma traveled through. I was whistling quietly as I worked in the utility area when my faithful volunteer and co-worker rebuked me with the above quote. It stopped me dead in my tracks. Being a young graduate nurse at the time and unwise in many ways I did listen when my elders spoke and I do to this day. I never forgot what she said. I did not, however, understand why whistling while you work would bring ‘no good end’.

Recently I began a precept Bible Study on the Book of Isaiah that has also stopped me in my tracks each time I study, mining the jewels that hide within the verses of this poet prophet.

If we are to believe Scripture and I DO, the Lord of Hosts (God of the angel armies) sits in judgment on His children whenever necessary. Prior to doing so He warns, He begs, He pleads with them to return, repent and be restored. They, (like we) through willful ignorance continued to rebel.

So, the LORD whistles! Can you imagine what that sounds like? I’ve never been a good whistler and can’t put my fingers in my mouth a certain way and do that really loud whistle. But when I read those passages, my mind conjured up the old western movies when Rowdy Yates of Rawhide fame swung his lasso above his head and yelled to the cowboys: “Head ‘em up, move ‘em out.” The herds of cattle mooed their way across the prairie in a cloud of dust headed for an unknown destination. Though I’m sure that’s not what God’s whistle sounds like, the memory puts a pucker on my lips as I ponder the possibilities of the shrill call of Omnipotence that can be heard all the way to Assyria and Egypt. Please do not assume that I think Clint Eastwood or James Drury looks or thinks anything like the Lord Almighty. Ahh, but I did like the old westerns. But I digress.

God whistles for the nation of Assyria, the enemy, to come in with flags flying and bees buzzing. But not only does he whistle for the armies of Assyria to seriously switch His children’s legs but He also whistles for the flies of Egypt. Flags, flies and bees. What would it be like to witness God Almighty whistling for flies to settle on the cliffs, thorn bushes and on all the watering places? Pesky flies. And a foreign flag to fly over Father Abraham’s family, the house of Israel. How absolutely unthinkable!

I wonder when or if the God of the Angel Armies whistles in our lives? Does our nation like the nation of Israel need a spanking? Has He wooed us, warned us, and waited for us to want to know Him more, to obey Him, to repent of our rebellion? Is there an Isaiah in our day to hear the Lord, heed the Lord and whole heartedly agree to “here am I, send me,”?
Can we identify the Assyria, our enemy… nationally, locally, personally in our lives?

And what about those pesky flies? I cannot abide flies and this past summer I challenged my grandsons by offering them a quarter every time they killed a fly in my house. I discovered the reason my cache of quarters emptied quickly when I realized they were intentionally leaving the door open for the flying nuisances. Will God whistle for the aggravations in your life to absolutely drive you nuts?

The next time you’re whistling, remember what happened in the past and how God recorded it for our benefit.

I’m not sure what the LORD Almighty sounds like when He whistles, but I’m pretty sure it won’t sound like a woman and it may be that no good end is in sight. If, and when He does whistle for the enemy, swift will come the judgment!

Heart Thoughts from Helen

2010-02-11T14:09:00.000-08:00

A VALENTINE HEART THOUGHT…from Helen

“In a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality” (2 Corinthians 8:2)

“The Shining Barrier”, describes the bond of two lovers in the book, A SEVERE MERCY. A true story of his marriage, penned by Sheldon Van Auken, this book captured my heart back in the late ‘70’s. True to the theme, it glows with a depth of commitment not frequently seen today. The abundance of their joy expressed itself in giving to each other.

In the above mentioned love story, giving ‘a cup of cold water in the middle of the night’ evidenced one way that husband and wife’s devotion shone during what proved extremely trying circumstances. I’ve thought about the shining barrier and that cup of cold water quite a bit. I don’t shine too brightly in the middle of the night, but the depth of the nocturnal need could arouse the servant in me. Lest I give the story away, suffice to say, it’s a page turner and a two hanky book.

Love demands expression. The Shining Barrier may seem to be made of concrete or solid steel at times, however, it is true that you can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving. Whether it is a cup of cold water in the middle of the night for ANY reason, or just hand holding for NO reason, love demands expression. And, of course, a box of chocolates (preferably with nuts) can go a long way in shining through some Valentine-ish barriers if they are sugar free, of course.

Jesus celebrated love by loving to give. He performed His first recorded miracle at a wedding. Wedding feasts originate with the love of one for another. Love that demands expression shining on the faces of two individuals pledging to shine through every barrier, in sickness and in health, richer poorer, etc. Jesus demonstrates the love of the Bridegroom giving His intended, the Church, an engagement ring in the Person of The Holy Spirit. He is the guarantee given to us that the best is yet to be. The engagement ring I wear on my ring finger left hand accompanies the wedding ring placed there forty-two years ago. Through the years, ‘the shining barrier’ may seem somewhat tarnished and a cup of cold water in the middle of the night could easily have been splashed in each other’s face (not actually). But then there are the truly shining moments when love endures and self is denied at all cost. Those of us married for any length of time KNOW that the sugary Valentine “love” advertised today leaves much untold of true commitment.

Until Jesus, THE BRIDEGOOM, Himself comes for His Bride and the wedding feast commences, The Spirit of God bears witness in our hearts what truly stands as The Shining Barrier, The Light of the world. That love demonstrates expression: “For God so loved the world …that HE GAVE His only begotten Son.” (John 3:16)

Love loves to give, not in measure but abundantly. (Amy Carmichael)

How do you express your love? Is it a shining barrier?

Heart Thoughts from Helen

2010-02-03T13:12:00.000-08:00

“We don’t put up with put downs.” As I searched my notes I ran across this quote from an unknown author. It could be a motto put to good use in homes, churches, offices or most any place we congregate.

Eliminating the negative, however, does not always create something positive. In fact, emptying does not always guarantee a filling. And then there is this: ‘hurt people, hurt people’. When we feel the sharp sting of pain from someone, we automatically strike back in kind. We could go on and on with all these quips, but to what avail? Perhaps it is easier, at times, to go round and round the mulberry bush so that we don’t have to deal with real issues. Let’s go back to the initial quote, not putting UP with put DOWNS.

Affirmation goes a long way in nurturing relationships. Put downs usually put up road blocks in communications. It may exert your ingenuity to find the positive in others, but the effort pays lasting dividends.

Do you think that failure to praise God may be interpreted by Him as a put down? When we feel betrayed by God, do we turn on Him in ignorance and arrogance?

Psalm 100 gives five directives in the same number of verses.
• Shout for joy to the LORD.
• Serve the LORD with gladness. Come before Him with joyful songs
• Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His.
• Enter His gates with thanksgiving Give thanks to Him and praise His name.
• For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.

When you find yourself tempted to put down someone or something pick up your Bible and read through the Psalms and see if affirmation and honor come as quickly to your tongue as did the negative opposite.

“We don’t put up with put downs”. Perhaps a good motto in every avenue of life.

HEART THOUGHTS from Helen

2010-01-27T13:14:00.000-08:00

"Too Hot To Handle"

Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” Isaiah 6:5

I took one look at my son and I knew something wasn’t right. He didn’t feel good. Sure enough, he’d eaten hot wings the night before (and I do mean “HOT”). The consequences of his bravado showed themselves drastically for a number of hours. All the men in my family pride themselves on loving ‘hot stuff’. Hot peppers, hot wings, hot sauce, you name it, they want to try it. “Oh, that’s not hot!” I’ve heard it numerous times over the years. Apparently this time, the hot stuff was hotter than hot. Slowly I opened my purse and offered a quick solution, the antacid. It was accepted with thanks.

You’ve answered the questions on doctor’s information sheets, “Do you experience frequent heart burn? “ You know the vivid images of acid reflux as the man sits on the side of the bed in the middle of the night, rubbing his chest and then the x-ray picture of fire shooting down his esophagus. Time to run for the antacids: Rolaids, Tums, Prilosec, Prevacid, Zantac, whatever your drug of choice. Heart burn racks up some big time press on television, radio, billboards, drugstores and every other place you look. Do you think it may be a problem??? After some research into the sixth chapter of Isaiah, , I re-discovered the cause of the “Woe is me” Isaiah as it relates to the lips, the tongue, the body, in general. Not just ‘woe is me’, Isaiah, but ‘woe is ME’, Helen. Not that I’ve experienced anything as awe inspiring as Isaiah did when he saw the Lord, but nonetheless convicting in my own life. Unclean lips or heart burn…or both. You may also remember the old idiom, ‘through the lips, over the tongue; look out tummy, here it comes’.

Matthew 15 burned my conscience and I don’t like hot stuff, “But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean’. For out of the heart come evil thoughts…” (v. 11, 18) “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks (Matt. 12:34b). These verses sent me running for the spiritual ROLAIDS. What did Isaiah do when convicted of his sin? “I am a man of unclean lips.” He did the only appropriate thing to do.

James 3:6: “The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell”. There are a number of other references on the tongue / lips that behoove us to fall on our faces and repeat after Isaiah, “Woe is me”.

Do you experience frequent heartburn? Is it of a spiritual nature? Please do not misinterpret what I say here. Physical heartburn or acid reflux may or may not be related to your spiritual condition. The ‘unclean lips’ passage reminded ME that not what I put in my mouth is the problem, but what comes out of my mouth that pertains to ‘heart-burn’ (Matthew 15:10). So, if you like hot stuff, that’s fine; just think about what comes out of your mouth after you put it in your mouth. You may discover that it’s too hot to handle. And ‘heart-burn’, if it pertains to spiritual conviction is a good thing. My drug of choice will be as the prophet’s: “Woe is me”. And I’m so thankful that following Isaiah’s conviction and confession, his sin was forgiven and God commissioned him to be the poet-prophet par excellence!

Holy Father, Lord of hosts, thank you for conviction, thank you for Your sacrificial gift for my forgiveness. Thank you that when “Woe is me” burns my heart, You readily provide the remedy.

Heart Thoughts from Helen

2010-01-20T11:18:00.000-08:00

January Birthday Thoughts

My mother loves to tell the story of each of our births, mine and my two siblings. Each year she reminisces of the days leading up to and following. Our births are special to her and she makes them special to us.

Luke Speir Lynn, David Gary Lynn, Briana Faith Lynn. What do these names have in common other than their last name? Their birthdays all come in January. Their lineage is important. Remembering their birth and retelling the story may seem redundant to some but it’s good for me and it seems to strike a chord for them. God deems our heritage as important.
David Gary, our first born son, breathed his first breath at Allen Bennett Hospital in Greer, forty-one years ago. My eyes weren’t big enough to behold that precious little boy of seven pounds, nine ounces. Cotton top, squished in face, perfect! David loves adventure, was an avid football player, now just as ardent a fan. David loves a challenge and is goal oriented. He’s also a very good writer. As a newborn, he would lie on his daddy’s chest on the couch while his daddy sang to him…………………the Greer High Alma Mater and HOME ON THE RANGE.

Luke Speir, third son of David, born in Lancaster, SC, nine years ago the day before his daddy’s birthday. As soon as we got “the call”, we traveled in the darkness of early morning from McCormick to the hospital there. As we stood with baited breath outside the door, I finally heard the doctor say, “Ah, this one’s going to be a linebacker”. Cotton top, broad shouldered, stocky baby boy. He loves sports and taught me all about who the nominees for the Heisman Trophy were this year as we watched the WHOLE program on television. Right now he plays church basketball and is an enthusiastic hustler on the court, still built like a line backer and so much like his Poppy, it’s scary. He bonded on his daddy’s chest also as a baby. I didn’t hear his daddy sing to him.

Briana Faith, fourth (third daughter) of our youngest son, born in Juneau, Alaska, seven years ago. I arrived the day before her home birth. It was an experience I’ll never forget. Midwives, parents, grandparents gathered in that small Alaskan apartment in the middle of the night for the birth of this brown haired, olive skinned baby girl. “Baby Fafe” is what her small siblings dubbed her. Now she’s known as Briana. I still like Baby Fafe, myself. Her brown eyes light up when I tell her story. She loves to read and write and play dress-up. Briana is the natural nurturer and loves baby dolls. Her daddy bonded with her on his chest and still sings to her, but it’s not the Greer High Alma Mater.

Why is all this important? It is to me and as I read Scripture, the Lord God Almighty recorded the genealogy of so many Biblical characters, it must be important to him. We rush through the reading of them in the Bible, but our own heritage has become a huge business. History…, do we learn from our ancestors? Oh yes, we learn-the good, the bad and the ugly. Will we benefit from it? When I look at David and Luke and Briana, my smile broadens and I thank God for their earthly heritage but I thank God especially for their godly heritage and that they have been and are being raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Our youngest son, Todd, asked me last week what I had prayed for them as they were growing up. “I prayed a hedge around you, Son. I prayed that you would marry a godly woman” Today, I pray they all will be protected from the world, the flesh and the devil.

Happy Birthday David Gary, Luke Speir and Briana Faith. Jesus loves you, this I know; for the Bible tells me so.

Heart Thoughts from Helen

2010-01-14T13:43:00.000-08:00

" DeClutter Your Life", or some such article grabbed my attention this morning. There it sat half hidden, scattered amongst periodicals such as GUIDEPOSTS, TURNING POINT DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE, WHISPERS OF HIS POWER (Amy Carmichael), Corrie ten Boom's, I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK, and last but not least, READER'S DIGEST. I laughed out loud (or I think the cyber saying is LOL). Underneath all this literary load, rolled up towels encircle the big basket that sits next to the tub. You guessed it! It's the 'reading room'. At times, it's the only quiet, private place around.

Many years ago in our coaching era when we lived in Woodruff with our two little boys, we hosted a Sunday School 'fellowship' at our old country home. Now, this old house is a story in itself, but that's for another heart thought. A dear friend arrived early and I eagerly asked her if she noticed anything different. We had opened up some of the old previously unused rooms in the house to accommodate our growing class. She glanced around and eventually remarked:"Oh, you cleaned up". I laughed then and I chuckle now thinking about it. With two little boys it was quite the task to keep the old barn like house decent and being the not so neat freak, it was indeed a joke for our house to be 'company ready'.

It's January when all thoughts turn to de-cluttering the premises. Just glance in any store noticing all the organizational helps available. Myself, I'm a pack-rat. They say the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree; my ninety-three year old mother still loves her 'stuff' surrounding her. Dennis is... well, not so much a pack rat but not exactly Mr. Clean either. That usually leads to quite a few discussions at our house as you may well imagine. I'm not sure who wins those deliberations and at times we get rather heated on the subject. To tell the truth, I don't like clutter, but neither do I like to throw things away that I might need at a later date. I like things nice and tidy and clean, but seldom do they end up that way. I can always find more interesting things to do with my time than clean house.

Saturday, as Dennis searched through a box in our garage for a three ring binder for me, he found several and was going to chunk the whole contents of two of them. I flipped through one and found a wonderful wealth of information from a 1987 Billy Graham School of Evangelism conference. We settled on saving part of one and throwing away the other.

Josiah, of 2 Kings in the Old Testament Scripture " did what was right in the sight of the Lord "(2 Kings 22:2) This boy, crowned king at age eight accomplished many things during his reign in Jerusalem. One such significant accomplishment included having the temple decluttered. Lo and behold the Book of the Law surfaced in the midst of the mess. Imagine that! The Word of God found in the House of God. The beauty of this story is that Josiah called all his heads of state together and read God's Word in their hearing. He renewed the covenant of the Lord and all the people pledged to do likewise.

I wonder what I'll discover in all my disorder.

Just think how the Lord blessed Josiah when he found the Book and read the Book and shared the Word from The Book with the people. "Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord"(2 Kings 22:19)...God spared Josiah the grief of seeing His judgment on the people.

To declutter or not to declutter; that is the question. Of course, compromise calms many ruffled feathers in most nests this time of year. Compromising the Word of God however, just won't fly.

Heart Thoughts from Helen

2010-01-06T20:51:00.000-08:00

"The Blowing Wind"

The rugs on my patio blew past me like leaves in the wind. I held onto the door to keep it from blowing off the hinges. Howling, cold gusts up to 40mph (or so it seemed) persisted all day and all night. Anything not anchored blew away.

The wind blew in the year, 2010. And the wind still blows cold air across the foothills... I'm listening to it now as it whistles around the trees and the corners of the house. I can't see it, but I certainly hear it and feel the whip lash when I venture outside. Mercy! What a bad hair day. I thought the wind blew this way in March, not January.

Our Sunday School lesson on Sunday began with The Preacher in Ecclesiastes as he spoke of the wind. "The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes ever returning on its course." (Eccl. 1:6). The Preacher, Solomon, seemed to be in a deep hole throughout much of the book.

When I was a girl and nothing suited me, my mother taught me this little rhyme: Nobody loves me; everybody hates me. I'm gonna eat some worms. Little bitty fat ones, big long skinny ones. OOOOHHH boy, ain't they good!! It never failed to elicit a smile to blow away my morose mood. I wonder if Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, thought to cheer her son with some little silly ditty.

Solomon, in all his glory wasn't exempt from needing the cobwebs blown out of his head. January tends to be the month when we slow down from the holiday rush and yet we find ourselves wondering what's next. What will 2010 blow in? Will the well folks become sick and the sick become well? Will our financial futures improve or worsen? Will terrorists succeed in their ever determined mindset to destroy us? Will Jesus come again in 2010? 'The wind blows....round and round it goes ever returning on its course."

Jesus waxed eloquent about the wind: "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." (John 3:8)

The wind will blow some things into this year that we won't have a chance to change. We won't know whether we're coming or going. The Spirit of God blows the Word of God and implants it into our hearts to hold onto in the midst of the whirlwind.

James 1:6 "But when he asks (for wisdom) he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."

Solomon saw how needless it was to chase the wind. Jesus tells us that the wind cannot be traced but that neither can the Spirit of God be tamed. James says that it's not good to be doubters, tossed by the wind.

Personally, I have no desire to chase the wind, nor trace the wind nor be tossed about by the wind. I would, however, love to experience the mighty blowing of the breath of the Holy Spirit this year in our homes our churches, our nation and our world. I know that Pentecost will not happen again, but the wind outside reminds me of just how much we need a fresh wind from heaven to blow in 2010.

Acts 2:1-2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting."

Heart Thoughts from Helen

2009-12-30T12:19:00.000-08:00

Heart Thoughts on 2009

"I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last!" (Rev. 1:11 KJV)

Once again we have reached the first of a new year...the last of the old.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have angels come to clean up the Christmas clutter? It's not so much fun to pick up as it is to open up. After the gifts and celebration dies down, emotions play about the decorations like our eight grandchildren with their gifts.

God did indeed define 2009 with many emotions, activities and changes. We retired from a wonderful pastorate in McCormick, South Carolina to return to the upstate, where our marriage began almost forty two years ago. Emotions ran rampant as we left dear friends in a dear place after eleven years of ministry.

February 1, my dear friend, Diane Martin, went home to be the Lord. That same day we celebrated and grieved our last Sunday in McCormick. The day was fraught with emotion. God's grace truly is sufficient.

Shortly after our move back to Greer I was hospitalized for nine long days resulting in surgery. I hadn't really recuperated from shoulder surgery in November of 2008 so this unexpected problem caused a much longer recovery time than expected.

"The Lord will go before you!" (Isaiah 53:12). The troops moving at the head of an army are called the VANGUARD. The Lord was my vanguard; the first to see the New Year and to prepare the way for us the remainder of this year.

"The God of Israel will be your rear guard!" (Isaiah 52:12b)

Alpha and Omega. Vanguard and rear guard.

I'm glad to say that the rest of this year has been less eventful than the first. I have fully recovered and am doing well at present.

Since both our son's family's live within six miles of us, we enjoy spending time with them and the grandchildren. We have never lived this close to our whole family before.

My mother who celebrated her ninety-third birthday in April continues to live at National Health Care in Sumter close to my brother, sister and her family. We see her as often as possible. Her mind is still alert even though her body doesn't like to cooperate.

Philippians 1:6 tells us: "He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."

We trust that the Alpha and the Omega continues to perfect in us what He began many years ago.

And this last thing from Amy Carmichael:

"He who begins finishes. He, who leads us on, follows behind to deal in love with our poor attempts. He gathers up the things that we have dropped...our fallen resolutions, our mistakes...He makes His blessed pardon to flow over our sins till they are utterly washed away. And He turns to fight the Enemy, who would pursue after us, to destroy us from behind."

As God defined 2009, I pray He will reign again in 2010.

Heart Thoughts and Merry Christmas from Helen - December 23, 2009

2009-12-23T10:26:00.000-08:00

MANGER

In a marred and mundane manger
A tiny baby lay
"Call His Name, 'Jesus', whispered the daddy.
Mother Mary pondered within her heart.
Tracing with her fingers his fragile face, nose and ears,
"What child is this, O Blessed Lord?"
She breathed deeply the smells of the cave.
How perfectly woven in her womb He'd been formed
Mysteriously planted by God's Holy Spirit,' twas said.
Laid in a manger, The Creator, in miniature...born.
The Savior swaddled, sleeping in sweet hay
Mighty God in a manger lay.
A manger chosen of the Almighty
To enfold the Son of God.
A manger, roughened in by man made tools
Now smoothed by the years, licked clean by beasts of the field

A Manger, I would choose to be
In the scene so simply sanctified.
Enfolding Emmanuel, Rocking the Rock of Ages
Surrounding my Savior, yet indwelt by Him.
"Abide in me" I'd say. "And I in you" is His omnipresent reply.
"Rest here, little one as long as you can
There are world's to save in earth's short span.
This Master in miniature mouths a smile.
He knows the future,
Even past and present;
Eternal "I AM", wrapped in cloths snuggled in a manger.

What is a Manger, I ask the Almighty.
A Manger contains food for animals to eat;
A box, a trough, fashioned by hand.
"All we like sheep gather at this manger to feed our deepest need.
Manger in a cave, carved in a wall stall
Manger in a cave, holding the Master of mankind
Yet indwelling that manger,
Would you be a stranger?

Indwelt by the Baby of Bethlehem
I would submitted be
How else can I understand
Unless He lives in me?
Come, Lord Jesus, Bread of Life
Come to be born again this night.
Bethlehem...House of Bread. ... Land of Strife.
But a manger that holds the Very Bread of Life
Thank you for Your sustaining might
Thank you for the symbolism so clear to me tonight.
Babe in Manger
I am in You and You are in me:
what a mystery!

Heart Thoughts from Helen - December 17, 2009

2009-12-17T08:05:00.000-08:00

"Mary Did You Know?"

"The Messiah will lead you out of exile and bring you through the gates of your cities of captivity, back to your own land. Our King will go before you-the Lord leads on." (Micah 2:13)

One of my favorite Christmas songs is Mark Lowery's, MARY DID YOU KNOW? It always starts more questions in my heart about that little family so long ago. So, this is my addition to the song. Neither intrusion plagiarism nor impunity intended. Just my own wonderings and heart thoughts.

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would take you from Nazareth to Bethlehem to Egypt and then back to Nazareth...on a donkey?

Joseph, did you know that the baby boy born to the love of your life would demand that you not only care for but share them with the world?

Shepherds in the field, did you know that the baby boy born in your sheep's barn would not only lie in their manger but would Himself be a Shepherd and then the Lamb of God Himself to take away your sin?

Sons of David, did you know that the baby boy born in Bethlehem, the House of Bread would feed you as the Bread of Life and lead you out of bondage...if you only believe?

Angels, did you grieve to see Him leave Heaven's portals as King of Glory to be a weak and helpless thing?

Wise Men, then and now, did you know that the Christ shines light from the cradle to the grave, granting wisdom to the simple, knowledge to the ignorant?

Christians worldwide, do you know that the time draws nigh when Baby Jesus, born in a sheep stall, grew up in stature and in favor with God and man was crucified, buried, resurrected and is waiting for Word from the Father to come and take His Bride Home? He's waiting to come again as He said.

Jesus, did you know that we long for your soon coming? Of course You do. Maranatha, Alleluia.

Heart Thoughts from Helen - December 9, 2009

2009-12-09T11:09:00.000-08:00

"Turning Loose of Things Left Behind"

December of 1981: Two weeks before Christmas our family pulled out of the drive way of our house next to the church where Dennis served as minister of youth and activities. It was time to move to our new church as the pastor's family. We sold our home the year before so that we could be freed up to go out 'not knowing', as did Abraham and Sarah.

"It's a small house and a small church, but we can do it." Words uttered by Dennis echoed in my mind. There were moments when I believed that and other moments when I wasn't so sure.

Moving and changing schools for our boys two weeks before Christmas created challenges not dealt with prior to that experience. At first I thought, "This won't be too hard. We've moved before." But it was hard. I will never forget leaving them at John C. Calhoun Elementary School that chilly December day. David was twelve; Todd, nine.

Another challenge included downsizing into that small dwelling next to the church. How do you pastor a church, anyway? What is the role of the pastor's wife? Will the boys find good Christian friends and adapt to a new school? How would we afford Christmas? All of these questions kept me in a quandary.

We loaded the van and two cars. The boys went with Dennis and I followed, loaded to the hilt. As I glanced behind me, there sat Oliver, our Old English sheepdog, panting at me from his perch amid the odds and ends in the back seat of the car. I found to my horror that my fingers, white knuckled, gripped the steering wheel as tightly as I gripped the 'things' I thought I had yielded to the Lord long ago.

"Release my fingers, Lord, from this death grip on all the stuff I'm leaving behind: my job, my home, my friends, my church, my former life. Help me to release my grasp. It's only seventy-five miles." I prayed.

The Lord did help me to let go just as He's helped me to let go so many times since that Christmas twenty eight years ago.

Mary and Joseph left everything behind, also, as they traveled on their traumatic trip so long ago. Not only did they leave everything behind, but Jesus left all when He came from heaven's glory to earth's simple stable, on that silent holy night. How tightly did Mary's fingers grasp the mane of the donkey as she travailed through the night? Did her white knuckled fingers cling to Joseph's as she labored in the smelly straw of that stable? How her hands must have gently trembled as she swaddled her newborn. Oh how those precious tiny fingers tightly grasped His mother's as she cared for her baby boy.

Philippians 2 5-6..."Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient....."

To what are you grasping tightly this Christmas?

Heart Thoughts from Helen - December 2, 2009

2009-12-02T11:50:00.000-08:00

"Left Overs"

"Gather up now the fragments---the broken pieces that are left over---so that nothing may be lost and wasted." (John 6:12) The Amplified Bible

What to do with 'leftovers'? There's left over turkey, gravy, dressing, cranberry sauce, left over sweet potato soufflé, left over squash casserole, green beans, a few leftover 'Nanny rolls'. As I looked in the fridge after my daughter-in-laws so graciously cleaned the kitchen, I discovered a multitude of plastic bowls. Some containers had fitted lids while aluminum foil covered the ones that had no findable lid. (You all have plastic containers in your cabinets that the lids have gone the way of socks in the dryer, haven't you?) My goodness, what bountiful leftovers!!! The left over cakes and pies were gobbled while watching Carolina beat Clemson on TV, the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

The Food Network will, I'm sure, share many recipes for Thanksgiving leftovers. Personally I just like a good old turkey sandwich slathered with cranberry sauce on a homemade roll.

Gathering up the pieces of the past, I recall when our oldest son, David, was a toddler, my husband, Dennis, coached in Woodruff. Following one Thanksgiving feast we stopped by our pastor friend's house while walking off the 'glut'. Preacher Morrow offered us 'a bite to eat'. We were stuffed to the gills but David asked in typical toddler talk, "Wanna gobble-gobble sandwich"'. That Thanksgiving fragment has not been wasted through the years. Our dear friend, Bobby Morrow recalls David's gobble-gobble sandwich fondly. "Don't let anything be wasted".

Our now, forty-year old son, David, doesn't remember that day but writes of gathered fragments of his own three boys quite often. Gathering up the pieces of their childhood will fill many baskets.

As Thanksgiving Day waned, 'gobble-gobble sandwich' son and wife Lisa gathered up some of the Thanksgiving leftovers along with their sons late in the evening and headed home. Our youngest son, Todd, his wife, Joice and their five children plus Joice's Mom, Becky, garnered their leftovers as they headed home. We shared our leftovers. And of course we cooked the turkey carcass and made 'gobble gobble' vegetable soup plus a lot of cornbread which came in handy on game day when the crowd reconvened....

Jesus prepared for the five thousand by the seashore from one little boy's contribution. He anticipated the leftovers, giving instructions for them following the meal. "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." John 6:12. After He had given thanks, He distributed to the disciples five small barley loaves and two small fish which fed five thousand and ended up with twelve baskets of leftovers.

What 'leftovers' do you have from Thanksgiving? Do they fall into the culinary category or the memory mixture? Do you have some broken pieces left over? You may have twelve baskets full. Jesus instructs us to 'gather them up and don't let any of them be wasted."

How will you deal with your leftovers?

Heart Thoughts by Helen - November 25, 2009

2009-11-25T09:35:00.000-08:00

“At this she bowed down with her face to the ground. She exclaimed, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me---? Ruth 2:10

“What are you doing for Thanksgiving?”
I asked the teenager at the grocery store check out line.
I have asked several people in recent days about their plans for the holiday.

“I’m going to my grandmother’s and I can’t wait
So I asked the young man what made going to grandmother’s so special.

“She’s the best cook ever!” I suppose you’d call that ‘comfort food’ if your grandchildren can’t wait. That’s the same answer I received from others. I can’t help but smile because I’m the grandmother now and guess where our sons and son’s wives and eight grandkids and maybe an extra or two are coming!!!

Growing up in the low country of South Carolina, I remember going out to my granddaddy’s farm on Thanksgiving after the devouring of the feast. My siblings and cousins and I would go out to the pecan trees which lined the lane to the barn and pick up pecans. Finding those mottled brown nuggets under the multicolored leaves was like mining for gold and the end result was just as good for me. If I recall correctly at times we got down on our hands and knees to search for the bounty. We’d get two in our hands and squeeze with all our might to crack them and pick out the marvelous meat inside. The trick is not to get any of the shell along with the meat, because everybody knows that just turns your mouth inside out. That also reminds me of a t-shirt I saw with a squirrel on it that said, “My family tree has a lot of nuts.” Perhaps that could be said of your family also.

What will our grandchildren remember about coming to our house for Thanksgiving? Will it be the bountiful food or playing ball in the back yard or shooting caroms or laughing at remembered family antics (the nutty things) or watching football?

Since this is the first time we’ve hosted Thanksgiving in our new home since retirement, I want it to be a special Thanksgiving. A spiritual marker, if you will. I don’t want to get so caught up in the cooking, serving, cleaning up that I can’t enjoy the fellowship of my family and share my thankful heart. I want my family to share their ‘thanksgiving’ also. And somewhere along the way, when they’re older maybe their memoirs will relate Thanksgivings at our house and they will say: “I’m going to Nana and Poppy’s for Thanksgiving and I can’t wait”. I want to fall on my face like Ruth and exclaim:

“Why have I found such favor in your eyes?” O Lord our Heavenly Father, I am so thankful for your bountiful gifts to us even if some of them come in packages that look brown and mottled and we have to work hard to get at the good parts. I think every day will be Thanksgiving when we get to heaven!