My first Real Job

It was the early 1940’s and my brother had applied for a daily paper delivery job with one of our local newspapers. Because there was no route available near our home, they put him on a waiting list.

Mean while as he waited for the daily route to open, my brother decided to accept a bi-weekly shopping news assignment in our neighborhood. The shopping news was to be delivered by him on Wednesdays and Saturdays and paid two dollars for each delivery. Now that doesn’t seem like a lot of money to you, but in those days and to my brother that four dollars a week was worth the hard work ahead.

Tuesday and Friday afternoons, a large truck would deliver two big stacks of newspapers that needed to be folded a certain way, and then deposited the next day, at every home for several city blocks. Our hands were black from the newsprint as we helped him fold each paper into a tight square. The bag full of papers was heavy, but after delivering to a few houses, my brother’s load became lighter.

Time went by and a few months later, my brother was approved to distribute the Local daily paper using his bicycle to deliver to a list of his customers. He was happy because this job had fewer papers, and it would pay him a nice profit at the end of the month.

Our door bell rang and it was the Shopping News manager who had been notified that my brother was going to quit the bi-weekly paper. I met him at the door, and his face was flushed as he wanted someone to sign a release that Allen was giving up the route. I asked him if he had found someone else to do the route, and he replied, “No, not yet.”

Then I asked him, “Would you consider me, if I promised to do a good job?” I told him that I was already familiar with the route, and I had helped my brother a few times.

Needless to say, he hesitated, but not for long. Actually the manager was pleased to sign me up.

So it was for many months I was faithful and happy to be a paper delivery girl.

Each week my four dollars was paid to me with cash and after tithing on my income, the balance went into a savings account.

Months went by and I entered Jr. High. Now my studies were more difficult with home work every night. It was time for me to give up my first job.

It was a new season in my life where this job simply did not fit me any longer. It was time to move on.

How about your home life? Even in our work for the Lord, there may be times when we need to back away from carrying too heavy a load. Do we really need to teach a class, sing in the choir and also be on several committees?

If God is asking you (and me) to simplify - - may we do it with a sweet smile and a firm step. There is a good reason for every season, so enter this next season - - simplified with grace.

To view or enter your post on Simplify, please go to Cheryl Smiths site at: http://www.culturesmithconsulting.com/2011/02/the-semi-circle-lifeshape/

Cyber- Life and Techno-Gloom Guest Post by Nancy Kehr

So many things plague people these days!

More than ever we need a place of solace and refuge.

Over-stimulation is here. People just don’t stop! People can’t be quiet! More to the point, they don’t make themselves be quiet. Most everyone I know is in some sort of over-drive mode. Much of it spins around the internet and electronics: games, phones, cameras, apps, TV, GPS, e-mail, social networking and more.

Constant connection is spawning a myriad of difficulties and dilemmas. It poses hazards for individuals and families, alike! Common sense, judgment and the feeling of well-being are gradually becoming compromised and redefined. I’ve heard it said that people cram so much into their lives that they tend to schedule their own headaches!

Funny, but not really! Life has a way of accelerating us to death, without adding another switch that constantly stays “ON”!

One person whom I was trying to encourage has become very withdrawn. Obviously disquieted, she exclaimed, “I don’t feel safe. They’ve gone a bit too far with technology now. It’s an invasion of privacy. We don’t need anything more on a cell phone than what we need to make a call. We don’t need games, we don’t need cameras, and we don’t need the Internet. All this stuff has gone too far. I don’t like the fact that I can be tracked just by carrying my phone!”

While I have continued to utilize invention and connectivity as great resources, my attentions are not totally spellbound by any of them. I am thankful for digital phones, cameras, websites and online connectivity. It has been useful in many ways, from business to personal. Others, however, have withdrawn into it and without realizing it, have made the cyber-world their only outlet for entertainment or diversion.

One mother recently expressed her anguish to me,

“You have to be careful what you put on Facebook and other websites like this. Employers are watching their employees via Facebook. I can see how kids could get into trouble, thinking that the people they meet on the pages are who they say they are. Then they meet up with them and end up being raped or murdered. All these things seem like fun, but they are inherently dangerous left unchecked.”

Yet, did she make any strides to monitor, or limit her children’s online forays? I highly doubt it as her kids seem to run the household. Everything is centered on and around them, their classes, their games, their activities! Her kids are too young for cell phones with cameras or even iPads, yet they have them. What is worse yet, these kids feel they are entitled to these things!

I was absolutely appalled at the outburst of another acquaintance of mine. She posed that there probably have been a lot of divorces caused by spouses who spend all their time on social media. To my inquiry, she hotly retorted,

She continued, “I am tired of my husband who can’t wait until he wakes up at midnight after going to bed at 4 PM, so he can get onto Facebook. Then he’s on it until he leaves for work at 3:30 AM, and is back on it again the moment he walks in the door from work!  Dinner has to wait while he’s doing his games! Afterwards, he eats and heads to bed. His life revolves around these stupid online games and Facebook. I might as well be single for the amount of attention I get. Can you blame a person for going out on a spouse when they are ignored like that?

When my husband was into other online games, it was the same thing. While he played the games, he got to chat with all the people playing the same game as he was. The next thing I knew, ALL he ever does, and wants to do is to chat with these people!

Things around the house and yard never get done now, because he’s on the computer all the time. So, I am basically alone anymore.

Oh well, when he dies, I’ll have everything he’s earned and a house to myself. I don’t care anymore.”

Honestly, I felt a little helpless. The isolation of cyber-living may yet trump other excesses and habits. “Everything in moderation” is still a good guide.

God doesn’t have a website, and people don’t need a phone to connect. Prayer opens immediate contact. He doesn’t Tweet, but He gave us His Holy Spirit to keep us connected to our source of Power, and to give us direction.

He has put His promises for us in a “text”, called the Bible. Peace of mind and security of soul can be found there, and there are no limits on the characters. He prepared church so we can have some face-to-face reality – better than HD any day!

Want to tap into Ultimate Connectivity? It’s not “God.com,” it’s “Come to God!”

Left or Right Brain??

Yes, I confess, I often read other people’s blogs, and one of my favorites is http://katdish.net/

I have other favorites too, but Kat is so humorous in her own light.

She had a recent blog post where she speaks of her secret shame, being that she mixes up left from right. She also has a terribly sense of direction. Anyway she found a book that had some tests to see if you were right or left brain.

One of the tests: Point your finger at maybe the corner of the room, and shut one eye, then the other. Usually one eye will see the corner but the other will be off center.

Honestly I do not know what that proves, but it was an interesting test. She was taking the test as her husband walked in and asked her what she was doing. She explained and told him she was left eye dominant. She did it again for emphasis and her husband exclaimed: Kat, that is your right eye! See what I mean. Hilarious I thought.

My husband has a problem reading instructions and directions. I do the reading and he discovers his method to put something together. Oh Well.

I believe he may have passed this mix on to our youngest daughter who has always had trouble comprehending anything told to her verbally. Actually this also applies to paper. She additionally mixes up left and right, and back and front.

When she was a child, I would ask her to use the back door, and she would head for the front. She cannot follow a recipe or understand instructions, yet she went to college and has her doctorate.

My conclusion and this is what I think - - - -

Left or right mixed up people must be a genius. What do you think?

Mud Pies

In my early years, for one Christmas I received a small child’s set of bake ware. The collection included a cake pan, pie pan, cookie sheet and a bread pan. When my pie pan was new, my mother allowed me to use some left over pie dough and bake my own pie.

The most fun was in the summer when I could make a mess of mud with the garden hose, and fill my pans with imaginary mud pies and mud cakes. I would decorate the cake with sand and add to the topping some small pretty rocks. Next was to set my goods out in the sun to complete the baking process.

My thoughts go to the Garden of Eden when God made his own mud pie and formed man. God was pleased with His design, and to see if the man was done, he poked his finger in Adam’s tummy (thus the belly button) :-)  "Yes," God said, “This is a Good creation.”

Sadly we all know the story how Adam and Eve sinned, and were evicted from the Garden along with every other good creature that God had made.  Lest they eat of the Tree of Life and live forever in their sinful state, it became necessary for God to take harsh measures.

Because of Adam and Eve’s willful act against God’s commandments, mankind has had to toil and earn his keep by the sweat of his brow. Access to the tree of Life was no longer available.

However God Made a Way. There is one beautiful event that can occur within a person and that is because of the sacrifice of Jesus. We can be turned into a New Creation. (Not a new mud pie but close.)

We may still look the same outside, but the new handiwork of God is performed on the inside, and that is where our personal Eternal life begins. One day, those who are thus changed, will be able to experience continued eternal Life in Heaven with the Lord.

There we will sit down to feast at His table. There will probably be a variety of fruit, and I am not certain, but perhaps there will be some cake and pie.

This post has been entered in Ann Kroeker’s, Food on Fridays at http://annkroeker.com/
Do visit her site and gather up some delicious and nutritious recipes.

My recipe follows: for Easy and Simple Mud Pie.

MUD PIE  from COOKS.COM

1 pkg. Oreos, crushed
1/4 c. melted butter
1/2 gallon coffee ice cream, softened
Hot fudge sauce
12 oz. Cool Whip
In a 9x13 inch pan, mix Oreos and melted butter. Press to make crust. Freeze 30 minutes. Spread coffee ice cream over crust. Freeze 1 hour. Spread a thick layer of hot fudge sauce over ice cream. Freeze 1 hour. Spread Cool Whip over hot fudge sauce. Freeze 4 hours.   Before serving, let stand for 5 minutes.

Optional, use two store purchased ready chocolate pie crust. Other flavors or Ice cream can also be used.

Stone the Messenger

I don’t want to hear it!! I’ll do as I please! Don’t tell me what to do!

This is the way some people act when the messenger brings something they do not want to accept.

Young children should be instructed to listen to their elders, but when they are older, they often decide to go against what they have been taught. It is just plain old fashioned rebellion and stubbornness which is in the heart of many of us at times.

The Prophets and messengers in the Bible were often censured and criticized, and sometimes stoned and killed.

The people did not always appreciate the words “REPENT,” turn from your wicked ways and serve the Lord. They had planned to sin, and no one was going to mess with their decisions or their lifestyle.

As a young lad, Joseph had dreams of grandeur that were opposed by his brothers. In fact his dreams caused much family friction, and the brothers hated Joseph. One ill-fated day, they decided to kill him because of his message.

Joseph’s brothers declared; “Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.”

In the book of Numbers, Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb, tore their clothes because the people would not receive their message - - - The congregation was so angry with their words that they challenged everyone to pick up rocks and to stone Joshua and Caleb to death. God stopped their foolishness by appearing as the “Glory of the LORD” in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.

I am reminded that at church not all the messages preached by the minister are received by everyone. Some of the congregation will listen and receive, while others are not willing to hear, and are not ready to apply the ministry lesson to their lives.

Not all words from God are heard or read at church. God has many methods to get his point across. Some messages coming at us through the gate of the ear or eye cut across the grain, and pull up the hairs on the back of our necks. Ouch!

In today’s world we do not stone the messenger, or kill them, but we can stop up our ears and not pay attention. Some will say, La, La, La, I can’t hear you!!

If some of these Words from the Lord are coming your way by what ever means, and the Holy Spirit is urging you to make some changes, please do not hesitate to HEAR His Voice. Listen carefully and then by all means obey.

Proverbs 29:1The man that with a stiff neck despises him that reproves him, shall suddenly be destroyed: and health shall not follow him.

Sacrifice

The practice of a blood sacrifice began in the book of Genesis, and was carried through the entire Old Testament until the Final Blood Sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross.

After that final sacrifice by Jesus which purchased for us Salvation, God no longer required a blood sacrifice.

Instead the Apostle Paul states in the book of Romans that we are to present ourselves to God as a “Living Sacrifice.”

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

I have personally known friends who have sacrificed and gave up all for the cause of Christ. They had been called to serve The Lord, and when their fiancé was not interested in their call, the women followed Jesus, leaving behind their hope for a husband, a family and children of her own.

One friend has worked as a Missionary for Child Evangelism Fellowship, and her influence and sacrifice has brought thousands of children to find Jesus as Savior. She is a “Mother in Christ,” to children world wide. Her sacrifice of service continues today.

Another women, Lillian Trasher, ten days before her wedding, broke off her engagement and became a missionary as she followed Jesus to Assiout, Egypt where she established the Lillian Trasher orphanage. Many there called her “Mother” and she was indeed,

”The Mother of the Nile.” She was also known as the "Lady on a Donkey," as she rode a donkey requesting food for her orphans. Usually she was given more children and her orphanage grew in numbers.

Lillian Trasher: The Greatest Wonder in Egypt (Christian Heroes: Then and Now) by Geoff Benge and Janet Benge (Authors)

God may not ask you to sacrifice your family and leave for the unknown. Most often he is requiring you to stay where you are planted and bloom for him as a LIVING Sacrifice in word and in deed. Your ministry first is to your own husband and children, then to your family and friends.

Also daily offer to the Lord, your “Sacrifice of praise.” Your verbal praise in song or in prayer becomes a sweet smelling Sacrifice to the Lord.

This post has been entered in “One Word at a time” the word is SACRIFICE. Visit and enjoy other posts at: http://peterpollock.com/2011/02/sacrifice-blog-carnival/



To enjoy Previous Posts you may have missed - - Click on the Blog Archive side bar.

Pocket Full of Kisses

My Dad’s favorite place to hide and smoke was under the back porch! He was only nine years old then, but continued to smoke most of his adult life.

A person doesn’t develop a habit from smoking one or two cigarettes! It is continual repetition that trains the mind to call out, “I must have another cigarette.” In no time at all, bondage occurs and smoking becomes a strong addiction.

As a child, I can remember our house filled with smoke and my eyes burning, and I told myself, “I will never marry a man who smokes!”

Years later, my dad contracted a terrible case of Pneumonia. When he could not walk from one room to the next for lack of breath, his thoughts were that he was not long for this world.

My brother, Allen, came to visit him, and they discussed his smoking.  My Dad declared that he was ready to give up cigarettes.  Allen laid his hands on Daddy’s chest and prayed a strong, powerful prayer for deliverance from the infection, and also from cigarettes. 

Almost immediately there was a change in our dad’s breathing and he was able to get up and take a few steps. Daily, he gained strength as his solid determination to stay free grew.

Amazingly, the desire for cigarettes had left him, but another interesting phenomenon lingered.  His hand automatically reached into the pocket where his pack of cigarettes had been kept. Apparently his hand was still in bondage to the habit of reaching! 

Since my dad was a thinker, he arrived at a solution that worked for him. He chose to keep small candies in his shirt pocket so that when his hand wanted to reach for a cigarette there was a sweet substitute for him to enjoy instead.

Often, his pocket filled with small kisses, Dad delighted in sharing these candies with the children at church. Usually he would also offer a kind word, and our children remember feeling so special for Grandpa’s “sweet” attention and encouraging words.

Let me I urge you not to fall back into old ways. Don’t go back to that from which you have been set free!

Do not be like the dog who returns to his vomit, but keep yourself free and clean.

Many have employed various methods to enable themselves to break certain habits. That is only half the battle! Determination and a new direction are needed! How does this occur? You will need to reach for God’s Word and put it in your mouth!  Share your victories with others.

Galatians 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Changing our World by Sacrifice

Words are powerful. They can hurt, tear down, heal, build up, encourage and challenge.

The word SACRIFICE will be the theme on Tuesday at the Changing our World One Word at a Time Carnival.

Some will write about Abraham when God asked him to sacrifice his son. It turned out that God Himself provided a sacrifice, so Abraham was only being tested to see if he was willing to obey.

Others will write about the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross when He gave his own life’s blood to pay for our salvation.

There will be some very interesting posts this Tuesday. Mine will be different.

At first I thought to write about the widow who gave up her last portion of oil and meal, in order to feed the prophet who demanded that he feed her first. This was a test for her, because she had a young son who was also hungry. Because of her obedience she, her son and the prophet were able to enjoy daily food as the oil and meal was replenished each day by a miracle.

Have you ever sacrificed something you wanted badly and instead shared with others?

I remember one event in our young married life. We did not have a car, so we were walking as we returned from a church service. My husband asked me how much money we had to last the week. I told him I had put our last $5.00 in the offering that night. He was not too happy, but what was done was done. We had enough food in the pantry so we would not go hungry. He probably had to sacrifice something he wanted that week.

The Bible tells us to cast our bread upon the waters and it shall return to us after many days. This verse is not referring to actual bread, but our subsistence.

Many times God has asked us as a family to sacrifice money to help others in need. The support of missionaries can be far reaching. As they labor for the Lord, we also shall share in their reward.

I can honestly declare that God has been faithful and has provided for our family for many years.

Is God asking you to sacrifice something? It may not be money. He may be asking you to step back from friends who are pulling you away from the Lord. He may be asking you to take a new direction for your life.

If God is asking you for a sacrifice, I would urge you not to weep and beg to be let go, but instead to obey quickly, wash your face and do what God is requiring of you.

Roller Skates

They are building a new Sonic Burger in our city and according to information I was told, the attendants will be wearing roller skates.

Wearing roller skates is not a new thing. In the 1950’s our city had drive-in fast food establishments, where the waitress on skates would bring a tray and attach it to your driver’s side window. She would skate back and forth taking orders and serving the food.

During that same decade, I worked at the large Montgomery Ward Catalog store in Oakland. On one of the upper floors, catalog orders were being filled by associates on roller skates. The service was faster as they skated to retrieve the items, placing them in a numbered bin so the entire order could be sent down to the pick up department on the street level.

Customers could phone in their order, or in many cases go to the catalog counter in the store, and place their request. Within a few minutes they would have their purchased items and be on their way.

I am reminded that when I pray, I often wish the angels were on roller skates. Some prayers take a long time for an answer. Did God hear my prayer? Does He even care?

Yes, God hears all prayers but He also know what is best for you. When we agonize over a request, and the answer does not come, we often loose our trust in God. Actually the slow answer is because we want our own way, and our prayer was actually a demand for God to obey us and give us what we wanted.

We ask WHY? I am reminded of the Bible verse that says, the secret things are know only to God. He has his reasons for delay and we must trust Him no matter what the outcome.

For most of us, God is putting together an answer and it is on its way. His delivery will be on time, and in His perfect timing.

Aunt Edna’s Cheese Fruit Salad

When ever we enjoyed a visit to my Aunt Edna, we knew she was preparing something special for our dinner.

Aunt Edna baked wonderful cakes and pies, and she knew just what our young bodies were craving in the line of food, but my favorite was her salad.

I always hoped she would treat us with her fruit salad, because it was so exceptional and out of the ordinary.

She used fresh bananas, and the sauce she made for the salad kept the bananas tasting and looking good.

My mother gave me Aunt Edna’s recipe, and I used it many times for parties and pot luck dinners.

Here I will share it with you and hope you will enjoy it as much as we do.

Cheese Fruit Salad

1 large can pineapple chunks
6 bananas
½ pound American cheese cut in small pieces

Sauce

Juice from can of pineapple
2 T lemon juice
1 egg
2 T flour mixed with
 cup sugar

Cook sauce until thickened - - -
Cool and fold over fruit and cheese.
Serve chilled.

This post has been entered in: Ann Kroeker's Food on Fridays at http://annkroeker.com/
Do visit her site and gather up some delicious and nutritious recipes.

I was Electrocuted !!

The final touches were being put on our dinner, and I was browning the fat from the chicken fried steak in order to make the gravy. I was happy and singing a tune to myself.

While still holding on to the cast iron skillet, I reached the short distance to the refrigerator for some milk.

What happened next was shocking to say the least. Electric volts went through me, and I screamed while falling backwards, my hand still holding the skillet. As I fell, the skillet slipped off the burner, breaking the electrifying connection.

My husband does not like screaming, so he rushed to the kitchen to see what the noise was all about. There I lay on the floor, with the skillet next to me, but fortunately not on me. No words would come forth from my lips, until I finally was able to recover myself.

Slowly I explaining what had just occurred, and I was in no mood to sing anymore. My husband lovingly assisted me to the sofa to lie down, and he finished making the gravy.

That night we had dinner buffet style, helping ourselves from the stove. I was not injured, but was still shaken, so the kids did the dishes, and all was well again.

This incident caused my husband to determine that either the electric stove or the refrigerator needed to be grounded so he called our friend who was able to take care of it for us. None of us wanted a repeat performance of this kind.

I am reminded that the Bible speaks of building your life on a good foundation, and being grounded in the Word of God and knowing what you believe.

Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.

Colossians 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven . . .

In Christ there is a time and a place to become electrified in Him. We sing an old song, Oh Lord Send the Fire Just Now. That song refers to the Holy Spirit Baptism with fire.

May I urge you to understand that if God zaps you with His fire, you may think you are being electrocuted!

Recognize that what is happening is scriptural and that he is filling you with His powerful anointing current so you can be His witness in this world.   Acts 1:8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgHKKLopKik

I LOVE TO WIN

One of our favorite games to play when the children visit is “Flinch.” It is a fast and fun game of cards with a specially made deck just for this game.

My husband recently whispered to me, “Hazel, please, won’t you allow your grandchildren to win once in a while?”

I winced, because I knew he was right, but, oh that was so difficult for me to allow someone else to win the game because I am so very competitive, and I hate to loose.

The taste of the thrill of winning is always there for me, but when I realized that I was depriving my children and grandchildren of that very same thrill, it taught me a lesson in giving.

Now it is easier than it used to be for me to give in and allow them to defeat Grandma and be the champion.

When I play a game alone on the computer usually at, Pogo.com, I enjoy playing against the computer. Jungle Gin is one of my favorite games. It is a game of Gin Rummy with special effects. My attitude is “I will win.” Even when it appears that I am loosing the game, I continually say to myself, “I can still win this game,” and most of the time I do.

There are times in life when it seems that defeat is eminent. When bad things happen, it is wise to keep telling yourself, “This too shall pass, and with God’s help I will be a winner.” Bring to your mind some of the Scripture verses you have memorized, and hear your voice remind you that God will bring you through this triumphantly.

However if you are wallowing in the mud, thinking all is lost, and you find yourself enjoying a pity party, it is time to get up and wash your face (like King David did.) It is this moment to tell your self, what is past is done, and I shall begin again for the game is not over yet.

In your church, there may be young ones or new Christians who are ready to participate in teaching, or in the service. The choir is usually a good place to allow them to begin to have a part. They need to experience the thrill of being used by God.

In all this, it is a win - win situation when others step up to bat and it is their turn to hit the home runs in the ministry and in life. I do not mean for you to sit back and relax, for there are many games for YOU to win even yet. God is not through with you.

Psalms 92:4 For thou, LORD, have made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.

2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ, and makes manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place.

Nothing Was Going Right, Where's the Aspirin - Guest Post

Enjoy todays Guest Post by daughter Nancy Kehr

How frustrating! While in the middle of a project for my dental assisting school which would meet the next day, my printer quit working. Perhaps it needed a little cleaning or suffered a small jam. I pulled it apart and did everything I knew to do but it wouldn’t come back online.

Okay. Fine. My copier could be used to complete the job. With ten pages down, and fifty to go, I was moving right along. That is, until I wasn’t moving right along any more! It couldn’t be! I checked the error code. The toner cartridge was out! Makes sense – that’s why I was shaking it all last week - to help it go further! Now it was spent!

Well, perhaps I could use the copy function on the fax machine. You know, exasperation has a funny way of creeping up until you can feel your heart beating in your ears! At least I could.

How could the fax also be out of toner? I was saved by a phone call.

Not so fast, though! Well into the call, my phone’s battery started draining abruptly! Fumbling around for the cord so I could plug in before I lost the student on the other end, I knocked over my oversize cup of coffee! Tethered to the wall with a short cord, I found myself out of reach of most everything. After slopping up the mess, I forgot I was still connected! When I turned to go into the other room I all but choked myself! The receptacle released the plug with a vengeance and it snapped at my head as I continued forward in a daze! Goodness!

I shook it off and checked the time. I knew had to hurry. A student would be waiting for me at a coffee shop to do some paperwork. One swift move and a little bit of tire-squeal ushered me into the parking stall. I hurried inside. All was well. I had arrived before my student with a few minutes to spare. Coffees ordered, I began enjoying mine. I enjoyed it right to the last drop, but no student showed up. Of course I didn’t have my phone since it wouldn’t work apart from the electrical supply. Fifteen more minutes passed. I sighed a big one, and snatched up my books and purse.

Fling! Plop! Plunk! Someone was dropping all their stuff on the floor next to me. They had some pens and a lipstick just like mine. Oh no! They were mine!

All the stuff was trailing from my own purse. Of course, everyone in the shop seemed to have nothing to do but gawk at my misfortune. My cheeks were burning. All I wanted to do was run home! What a waste of time.

Throwing myself right back into work at my home office, I typed like mad to get my work completed. The harder I worked, the more it became apparent that, somehow, suddenly I lost all my typing skills!! Everything was coming out transposed! From became form. To became ot. Three became there, and so on.

My head and neck hurt, and my coffee rumbled back up my esophagus! I didn’t feel so well. I wondered if there was something I could take, Aspirin for my head or something for dyspepsia?

When I typed out the word “later” and it became “alter”, my eyes locked onto the word. It just seemed to hang there in front of me. With all the effect of a flashing neon-light, it hit me!

Oh great……. That’s what was missing…..altar!

In all my haste, I hadn’t made any time for God. My insulation was threadbare and so were my nerves. I needed to go to "The Altar."

Well, I don’t have to be told twice…..I made a beeline for a quiet place.

Maybe things weren’t going to be perfect, or work they way they should that day, but I had a foolproof coping method. I needed to get my heart and these raging thoughts under control.

There is just NO substitute for the inward peace that fellowship with the Creator brings! It’s the best Rx I can think of!

Asphalt

Our young neighbor girl stood at my front door and asked if she could walk with us to school. I invited her into the house and gathered my brood so we could all walk together.

As I looked at our little friend, I asked her, “Is your daddy a roofer?”

She looked up at me and said, “Yes, how did you know?” I told her, “Our daddy is a roofer too, and we mothers just know some things.”

The truth was I knew, because one look at the blouse she was wearing, and I could see a tiny black dot of asphalt.

Her mother had the same problem in her laundry that I did.

Although I was very careful to wash my husband’s clothes separately and hang them on the line, it was inevitable that a speck or two of asphalt was deposited and hidden in the washing machine. It would then be transferred unknowingly to our other clothing.

Energine Spot Remover was the chemical of choice to remove asphalt from my washer, and it often worked on clothing, but it did not always remove everything.

More than once, I took out my “Tri-Chem” fabric paints and drew a flower on my girl’s dresses. The boy’s clothes seemed to escape the asphalt, how - - I did not know.

One day the wife of our roofer friend asked me how I dealt with the asphalt in my life. She informed me that she would get so angry to the point of tears, and she simply could not cope with this problem.

I suggested that because roofing work was our bread and butter, that we should accept asphalt as a necessary evil and try to live with it. I told her that in life there are a lot of situations we must simply put up with, and in our case asphalt was one of them.

Understand that I am not suggesting that we put up with sin and filth in our lives, but as we age and get older, there are many changes in body and lifestyle that can occur. In some cases we must put up with aching joints, hair falling out and other signs that we are not as young as we use to be.

Learning to be frugal has always been my practice, and there are many ways we can become skilled in saving money and stretching our dollars.

Loosing a spouse, by death or divorce can bring unwanted anguish and unplanned change, and even anger, depression and despair.

With God’s guiding hand, He can facilitate what ever changes are ahead and He can smooth the progress, no matter what are our circumstances.

You are not alone. Many are experiencing similar situations. One thing we must always remember is that God has promised to never leave us or forsake us.

A Place of Refuge

A shelter, a sanctuary, a place of protection, a haven; these words come to mind when I think of a refuge, a place where it is completely safe.

During World War II there were many here in the USA who built bomb shelters, some in their cellar, others in a specially built refuge in their yard.  England was famous for their bomb shelters.

I am told of storm cellars, in the South used when news of a tornado warning came over the radio.

In the Bible, Moses was instructed to build three entire cities and call them a “City of Refuge.”

If someone had accidentally killed someone, and the victim’s family was out for revenge, the person accused could run to the city of refuge and be safe. The only draw back was that he must remain in that city, live there and not depart for any reason.

If the person did leave the city, then he was fair game for the vengeful family, and his blood would be on his own head.

I am reminded of the song, “A Shelter in the time of storm.” Jesus is that shelter. He is our provider, our protection, and he understands our every need.

Jesus can understand our trials and our emotional pain, because He was betrayed, abused, abandoned, despised, rejected of men, including his closest friends. Yet He was able to say, “Not my will be done, only your will, Oh My God.”

His shelter was in knowing He was going His Father’s will.

In life we face many situations where we do not feel secure. It may be time to run to that “Rock that is higher than I,” and find your shelter in Christ and in His life style for you.

There is a bottom line. STAY there in that shelter, that place of safety, and do not leave for any reason, for if you do, you are a target for the Enemy (Satan) to attack you.

Psalms 4:8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for you, LORD, only cause me to dwell in safety.

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous run into it, and is safe.

Snowed In and Corn Bread Pancakes

My folks built a cabin in the Stanislaus National Forest and as children, we always enjoyed getting away for a few days at our cabin-in-the-woods.

Later, as we married, we often took our own families up to the cabin many times for a family reunion.

On one ill-fated trip, it was just my husband, me and our four adolescent children. The night prior to our departure for home, it began to snow. It snowed all night, and in the midst of it all, the electricity went out.

The next morning, we realized that we could not possibly leave. The snow-covered dirt road was too steep for our vehicle to traverse, and naturally, we had not brought any snow chains with us.

We decided to make the best of a bad situation and call it an adventure.

At least we wouldn’t starve! My mother kept her cupboard stocked with dry foods, spices and condiments. Dried beans, chili powder, cornmeal, flour, sugar, and powdered milk determined our lunch and dinner.

Cooked oatmeal with a small amount of milk could make a filling breakfast.

The old wood stove which heated the cabin, had a flat top where a tea kettle full of water usually sat. Beyond that, I had never tried to cook with it!

Beans, sorted and washed, went into a sizable cast-iron kettle. Soon we had the makings of chili, flavored by a few pieces of bacon, since we were out of hamburger.

The chili took quite a while to cook, so we played cards, worked puzzles, and read some old magazines. My husband decided to fix cornbread.

Without an oven or electricity, we had to improvise. Since it would fit on top of the stove, out came Mom’s flat frying pan! The cornbread didn’t turn out, but we had invented delicious cornbread pancakes instead; were they ever scrumptious with the beans!

Later that afternoon, a kindly neighbor stopped for a visit and offered to help us get out of there the next day. True to his word, he arrived the next morning with a tow chain and explained the exit plan, which worked like a charm!

While I have never desired to repeat another snowed-in experience, that was a memory I will always treasure. Now we make cornbread pancakes purpose!

For your cornbread pancakes, just use this or your Jiffy mix, and a greased griddle or flat frying pan. Turn when brown, and if you have a bit of butter, coat the top of each cake.
Corn Bread Southern Style
1 ½ cups yellow corn meal
½ cup flour
2 Tablespoons baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1 cup milk

Sift dry ingredients into a bowl. Add oil, egg and milk and stir just until blended. Pour into an 8 inch square pan, or a 12 muffin tin pan. Bake in a hot oven at 400 degrees 25 minutes or until done. Serve with butter, or when cold crumbled in milk or butter milk.

This post has been entered in: Food on Fridays at http://annkroeker.com/  
Do visit her site and gather up some delicious and nutritious recipes.

What is that Awful Smell?

For several days, I searched and searched but could not discover, “What was that awful smell?”

I poured vinegar down my garbage disposal, wiped down my stove top with vinegar, washed an area rug, checked my trash masher - - - NO it didn’t seem to be in any of those places.

I called my husbands attention to the matter because his nose is more sensitive than mine.

Together we had to locate the problem, because it seemed to be getting worse.

The stove was calling to us to check it out more thoroughly. I removed the filter associated with the stove fan and cleaned and scrubbed it. Next a good wipe down inside the filter area.

NOT there. But close now.

Gingerly my husband lifted and removed the burner pans and dismantled the burners. As he peered at the drip pan under the burners, there it was.

Apparently a few days earlier as we were cooking some home made soup it had boiled over and fell down unto the drip pan under the burners. What ever it was, it had begun to ferment and create its own brand of disgusting odor.

Now fixing the problem was simple. Wipe with paper towels, scrub with cleanser, and then a rub down with vinegar. A final scrub around the sides and tops of the drip pan and scrub all the burner pans.

What a relief and good as new again!

I am reminded of many smelly things in this world. Our false pride and hypocritical humility must be a stench in the nostrils of God.

I can only hope that if it is me causing this unpleasant smell and reeking odor to God, that I will quickly acknowledge the fact and determine why and where it is coming from.

I am not a believer in too much introspection and self-examination, but at times it may be necessary.

I ask God to show me what it is that needs to be eliminated, changed, or corrected and ask that direct me in His paths of righteousness.

Search me O’ God, and cleanse me from every form of wickedness what ever it may be.

Create in me a clean heart and allow me to enter boldly into your throne room with a spotless, willing and obedient spirit!

Throw Away Scraps Renewed

We carefully cut into 6 inch squares some of the left over material from dresses my mother had made for my sister and me as we grew up. These were leftover, bits and pieces, good for nothing waste.  Could there be a decent use for these unsightly odd looking snippets?

Yes, now there was a new purpose, and it was to use the scraps of yardage and potentially sew the squares together into a pretty combination for a quilt top. The throw away scraps had a renewed purpose. They would amount to something lovely and good for something after all !!

Once all the narrow pieces were sewed in place, then each strip was then sewed to the previous length until the whole was large enough for a quilt.

Mother would purchase a contrasting flannel yardage for the back of the quilt. Inside she would place an old blanket or a flannel sheet. The quilt was now ready to tie.

My dad had made mother a set of wooden frames to stretch the quilt, and we armed ourselves with a large needle threaded with crochet thread, and we were ready to begin.

At each corner of the small squares we pulled the needle through and tied a double knot. Also we placed a tie in the center of each square.

When we had completed as far as we could reach, we rolled the frame and secured it fast with clamps.

With us all working together, in no time at all the quilt was tied. Now it was ready to tuck the edges inside and use a blanket stitch (similar to a button hole stitch) around the entire quilt.

If the quilt ever got dirty, it was securely made so a gentle wash would not harm the back or the insides.

To these home made quilts, my mother would usually baste a long 12 inch deep piece of muslin across the top of the quilt. This protector could easily be removed and the muslin washed and put back after it was dried.

Quilt making is almost a lost art, but it would be something that would renew the families love of working together on a project. If you do not sew your own clothing, there are usually remnants sold at the yardage store for only a small amount of money. Think about this wonderful project that you and your children would enjoy helping to create.

I am reminded that in life, you may often feel like you are a piece of scrap left over and wasted, but I have good news. You are not a throw away! God is able to take your life and renew it into something beautiful and into a fantastic work of art.

First you must submit yourself into God’s hands. The needle God uses may hurt as He ties you all back together, but soon you will understand it was all for your good, and you will be pleased and satisfied with the end result.

This post has been entered in the “One Word at a Time Carnival hosted by Peter Pollock. At: http://peterpollock.com/2011/02/renewal-blog-carnival/ The word for this entry is Renewal. Do visit and enjoy what others have written using this word as their theme.

She Spit on The Table! by Nancy Kehr 2-07-11

Enjoy this Guest Post by daughter Nancy Kehr. 

The world of microbiology was opened up to me in college.  Bacteria! They were everywhere, especially in the mouth!

Through the years, I have worked in a few different disciplines, but have always gravitated back to the dental field. Needless to say, I developed a penchant for cleanliness!

I was one of those mothers who made sure my children’s hands and faces were always clean. While five little noses were judiciously wiped, and coughs or sneezes covered, it was unthinkable that other mothers could be so totally oblivious to the snot-bubbles sliming their children’s faces.

Others had no problem whatsoever picking up their baby’s pacifier from the ground, putting it in their own mouths and sucking it clean, before delivering it to a screaming baby! Didn’t they see what was on that thing? Ugh! My germ-alert immediately roared and my stomach rebelled! Of course, spit-washing a kid’s face was totally out of the question for me!

Not that I turned my children in to clean-freaks or anything, but a healthy appreciation for a more hygienic environment was developed. I must say, we suffered fewer incidents of illness than many of my friends’ children.

Even with our favorite game of bowling, we were careful to wipe down the borrowed balls and shoes handled or worn by anyone who had to rent equipment.

One evening, after a hard day at home-schooling, I rewarded my children with a surprise trip to the bowling alley! Excitement ensued when they found out that we’d be eating there as well. Busy as it was, we all crowded around one little table in the restaurant area. It was a mess! We cleared it the best we could and waited for one of the high-school girls to come over. Nuts! It appeared that they were all getting off at the same time. Finally, when no one came, we went to the counter and requested a wipe-down.

Minutes later, a scruffy, frizzy-haired lady with rounded shoulders, sporting the overall look of an unkempt backwoods mama, sauntered up to our table.

“S-matter”, she croaked as the putrid smell of stale smoke offended our nostrils.

We showed her the table. Struck with horror at what happened next, my kids’ faces froze in disgusted revolt. You know, I could have sold those looks to a sci-fi show!

Our scroungy waitress whipped out an old, well-used red kerchief from her backside, spit on the table and began to wipe! She really worked at it. She spit again!

Gasping, the kids instinctively drew back, eyebrows raised! The woman studied the table, turned on her heel headed for the kitchen doors as if everything was okay now!

“Maaawwmmmm ---- Ewwww….”, was all the kids could say. I was dumbfounded. Was that lady for real?

Poor thing. I think she was! I also think that it was probably the only job she could get. It distressed greatly me to think that she might also be handling food.

Appetites gone, the kids and I lost no time. We gathered our stuff and bolted down to our reserved alley! A few minutes into the game, they forgot all about the incident. Not me! I kept rolling it over in my mind. Cootie-lady could certainly use some prayer. I wondered if God asked me to hug her right then, if I could do it. I concluded that I could, but I would have to run right home and shower. It’s funny now, but those were serious thoughts for me then!

For years, it was a joke at our house whenever someone was asked to wipe down the table before a meal.

“Sure”, they’d say! “I’ll just spit on it!”

Jesus healed a blind man’s eyes. He spat in the dirt, made mud, put it on the man’s eyes and then told him to go wash. You know, I’ll admit, I have really had to consider whether or not I would have allowed Him to do that to me.

Spit? Dirty mud? On me? That would have taken some concerted effort on my part!

We all have filters through which we view things. God has brought this simple incident to my mind many times when I faced a challenge that abused my senses …..or even my sense of civility.

Once, while I was handing out food and clothing, a very smelly woman staggered in front of me and woman purged herself on my shoes. Later, some people mentioned to me that the way I handled myself, and her, showed God’s Grace to everyone else waiting in line. Honestly, it was all I could to keep my own lunch down.

Years ago, a pastor declared, “Nancy you will hug the leper.”

Shuddering at the thought, I recoiled from his words. I never did well with putrefying smells! Have I learned? Yes. That doesn’t mean that it ever gets easier, but obeying God does, and He provides His Grace for the situation.

So you may wonder……Have I relaxed a little since then?

Not on your life!

I like things clean and sterile! BUT...God has energized both my husband and I to enter the lives of the not-so-lovely now and again, so that they can see Jesus.

I just keep the baby wipes handy!!

Spit Bath

Although I was very young probably no older than three years, I remember the old large galvanized laundry tub sitting on our kitchen floor.

Mother had filled it half full with water and then she added some hot water she had boiled on the stove to warm it up a bit. This was our Saturday night bath, and my Dad was first. I do not remember him getting in or out, but the memory of him sitting there with mother washing his back was vivid.

Our house did have inside water, but no bathroom, instead we had what you might call a path to a standing outhouse on the alley. We were poor, but better off than some.

When I was five years old we moved from Exeter to Oakland because my dad had secured work on the Railroad as a switchman. Times were better! We now had a bathroom, several bed rooms, and I enjoyed my own bed.

Each night as we prepared for bed, mother would fill a small basin with warm water and we lined up for our “bath” of sorts. Standing at the kitchen sink, mother would lather up the “wash rag” and scrub our neck, face and arms. Then she would give us a quick rinse with another “rag,” and a small towel finished us and it was off to bed.

Although we conserved everything, water included, we did get our weekly Saturday night bath. We did not swim in a full tub, but the water line was maybe 2 inches deep. Enough for us to sit and allow mother to give us a shampoo with bar soap and a rinse with a glass of water with a bit of vinegar in it.

Now we were clean enough to wear our Sunday best for church the next day.

Arriving at church, Mother would give us a quick once over look. I hated this part, because crystal-clear in my memory was the garish look in her eye as she inspected our faces. Usually she would open her purse and pull out her cotton hanky and wet it with a bit of spit.

I would close my eyes in a tight squint as she gave me the final “spit bath” prior to us entering the church sanctuary.

I am reminded that the Bible says that when we come to Jesus that he will bathe away all the spots of sin and we will become wrinkle free and shine like the sun.

Jesus said in another place that there are times when our feet have touched the world, and have become soiled with earthly dust, it is needful that only our feet be washed.

Jesus was saying that although we are a Christian, and are clean, we may need that touch up “Spit bath.”

Although I hated it when mother gave me a spit bath, may I ever be ready to say, “Oh Jesus go ahead and Spit on me.”

Recipe for Home Made Dry Laundry Soap

Saving money by making your own DRY Mix Home Made Laundry Soap

My post today is about making home made Laundry Soap. The only food involved is Baking Soda which is needed in this recipe. Warning do not eat your soap!! (Smile)

However I will digress and tell of the time, years ago that we made Lye soap for a missionary friend who was serving the Lord in Japan.

The recipe she gave sounded easy and she suggested saving our old bacon grease for the fat. She wanted us to make her some lye soap and ship it to her. Apparently she was not close to a Shop and Save!

I had an old refrigerator vegetable bin that I could use for the soap to cure. Once it was cut, wrapped, and packed we shipped it to our friend. If you tackle this, be sure to wear rubber gloves, goggles and use equipment set aside for only this lye soap makings. A search on the inter-net will give you several suggestions to make this soap.

Old fashioned homemade Lye Soap is often made with lye and lard and not any of that sweet smelling stuff that's in all the other soaps. There's nothing quite like this homemade lye soap recipe for stopping the spread of poison ivy or oak, or taking tough stains out of clothes, especially salvaging antique linens.

I am reminded that spiritually we need to be washed and all the tough sin stains removed. Jesus is always ready to give us a good spiritual bath and clean us up to be white as snow.

Psalms 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Now back to the original post thought. No LYE and No lie!

Home Made Dry Laundry soap is easy and not dangerous to make. This recipe is from Jessica who commented on Lynnae McCoy’s interesting site at: http://beingfrugal.net/

Home Made Laundry Detergent  (DRY mix)

1 bar soap shredded (Fels Naphtha or Ivory) unscented.
1 cup washing soda (Arm and Hammer)
1 cup baking soda (yes baking soda)
1 cup 20 Mule Team Borax

Grind together in your food processor. Store in a plastic container, and it takes up almost no space. Use 2 Tablespoons for a full load. Put soap into the washer prior to adding your clothes. It can also be used for general housekeeping. It costs 3 or 4 cents per use.

Try Dawn to fight laundry stains, and white vinegar as a fabric softener. (The smell disappears when the clothes dry.)

White vinegar is so versatile! Use it as a rinse aid in your dishwasher, as well as for keeping ants off your counters. (Bugs can’t stand the taste of acid.)

This post has been entered in: Food on Fridays at http://annkroeker.com/  
Do visit Ann Kroeker's site and gather up some delicious and nutritious recipes.

Scroll down to my previous post to view the Recipe for Liquid Laundry Detergent

Saving Money on Liquid Laundry Detergent

Saving Money – and finding new ways to economize. 

Home made Liquid Laundry Soap
1 cup washing soda (I use Arm & Hammer)
1/2 cup borax (20 Mule Team)
1 bar soap (I use whatever’s cheap unscented)
Approximately 3 gallons water

You’ll also need a plastic container of some sort to mix this in (I use a five gallon bucket with a lid), something to stir it (I use a large wooden spoon), another pot to boil soapy water in and something to cut up the bar of soap (I use kitchen vegetable grater). 

First thing, put about four cups of water into the pan and put it on the stove on high until it’s at boiling, then lower the heat until it’s simmering.

While it’s heating up, take a bar of soap and cut it up into little bits. I found a lot of success using our box grater, which resulted in a ton of little soap curls.

When the water is boiling, start throwing in the soap. I recommend just doing a bit at a time, then stirring it until it’s dissolved. Don’t make the mistake of just tossing in all of the soap at once, which wasn’t particularly helpful:

Stir the soapy water with a spoon until all of the soap is dissolved. Eventually, the water will take on the color of the soap you added, albeit paler. I used Pure & Natural soap for this, which was a white soap that looked a lot like a bar of Ivory. In the end, you’ll have some very warm soap soup:

Next, get out your large container and add three gallons of warm tap water to it. I’m using a bright orange five gallon bucket that I had lying around:

To this bucket add a cup of the washing soda and the soap solution you made and stir. The borax will do a good job getting clothes clean and fresh smelling, so I recommend adding a half cup of borax to the mix. After stirring, you’ll have a bucket full of vaguely soapy water:

At this point, let the soap sit for 24 hours, preferably with a lid on it.

When you take off the lid, you’ll find any number of things, depending on the type of soap you used and the water you used. It might be firm, like Jello; it might be very watery; it might even be like liquid laundry detergent. Just stir it up a bit and it’s ready to be used.

You can transfer the soap to empty milk plastic bottles or other bottles that will be easier to store.

Shake or stir before each use.

Don’t worry about the texture – it’s completely fine. Just use a one cup measure of the detergent per load of laundry. If it’s got “globs” in it, get a mix of the water and of the globs – it’ll break up very quickly in the washing machine and wash your clothes well. If you have a front load washer only use one half cup.

My next post will be an easy to make and easy to store - - Dry mix for Laundry Detergent.

Falling Stars

With all the city street lights it was too bright and it would not work for us. To view the falling stars you needed a place where it was dark and you could relax and pass the time.

As kids we would walk several blocks up the hill to the cemetery, and lay on an area that was soft grass. The wait often seemed a long time, but our eyes would scan the heavens and before long we would see a star slide across the dark blue of the sky.

Shooting stars what were they? Were they pieces of a meteor falling out in space? Or were they Angels on a mission? What ever the answer, we were thrilled when we could watch the heavens display their own demonstration of fireworks.

“There is one,” we would cry out, and before long, we would view another one shooting across the sky.

In those days, our entertainment was simple and usually confined to street games, such as kick the can, red light, and hide and go seek.

When it rained, we played board games, or worked picture puzzles. In the evenings there were our favorite radio programs, such as Amos and Andy, Fibber McGee and Molly, and the comedians, Bob Hope and Red Skelton. I loved to read, so books were a favorite past time.

And then watching the falling stars, that was my favorite thing. I felt closer to God on those nights as we scanned the heavens. We would wonder what was beyond those many stars and the distance far into space that God was from us here on earth.

As I grew older I came to understand that God was not far away, but I could invite him into my heart and his promise was to never leave or forsake me.

I believe Jesus wants us to be stars (not the falling kind) and shine for him while we are here on earth!

Another promise in the Bible was one that Jesus said as he departed to return to heaven,

“Do not be afraid, for I am going away to prepare a place for you, that were I am there you may be also.”

The host of believers who viewed Jesus rise up into a cloud, and disappear before their eyes, saw the Angel of the Lord appear to the told them. The angel told them - - -

Acts 2:11 Why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

In that day, Jesus will be the STAR of heaven as he calls all the believers to come home to be with Him.

Angels Around Us

The Bible records many wonderful appearances of angels unto Godly men, and we wonder why we do not see angels here on earth more often.

In the Old Testament, angels usually appeared as men and did not look any different than everyone else. Perhaps that also might happen to us, and we do not realize we may at times have seen angels unawares.

Using the Free E-Sword Bible on line I did a search for the words Angel of the Lord. 
Wow so many!! Here are a few that I discovered.

The Angel of the Lord appeared to Hagar and gave her encouragement and a prophesy in Genesis chapter 16 and also in chapter 21.

The Angel of the Lord spoke to Abraham from heaven in Genesis chapter 22.

Jacob was spoken to in a dream as an angel appeared to him.

In Exodus, Moses saw a burning bush and the Angel of the Lord spoke to him out of the fire. Exodus 3.

As the children of Israel left Egypt the Angel of the Lord was in the pillar of fire by night and in the cloud by day. Exodus 14

The Angel of the Lord with a huge sword, stood in front of Balaam’s ass but only the animal could see him at first. When Balaam whipped his donkey, the animal spoke and then God opened Balaam’s eyes to see the angel. Numbers chapter 22

In Judges chapter 2, all the children of Israel could hear the Angel speak.

Judges 6, the Angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, but he thought it was a man. The angel instructed him to place a sacrifice on some stones, and when the angel caused the sacrifice to be consumed by fire Gideon realized the person was indeed an angel.

What a story in Judges 13 when the Angel of the Lord appeared to Hannah she though he was a man of God and told her husband. When the angel appeared to Manoah her husband, the Angel also caused fire to consume a sacrifice. Manoah asked, “What is your name?” The angel replied, “Why do you ask seeing my name is secret?”

The Angel of the Lord appeared to Elijah in I Kings 19 and instructed him. Again in 2 Kings chapter 1, and 2 Kings 19 the Angel won the battle over the enemies.

I Chronicles 21, King David saw the Angel of the Lord with his sword stretched out over Jerusalem, and David and all the elders fell on their faces before God.

The Angel of the Lord shut the lion’s mouths when Daniel was cast into the lions den. Daniel 6

Understand that because angels often look like anyone else, you may have indeed seen angels many times. One thing to remember is that regardless of what we see with our natural eyes, there are always angels around us protecting and guiding us.

Psalms 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps round about them that fear him, and he delivers them from destruction.