REIGN MAN

“Ride on Ride on Majesty” was our opening hymn on Sunday as Pastor Jerry was again our guest minister.

He reminded us who may have seen the movie Rain Man that the story was about Raymond who was not given the inheritance he thought he deserved. Instead it went to an autistic younger brother Charles who Raymond did not even know existed. His plans involved kidnapping his brother and driving him to California where he hoped somehow to steal the inheritance for his own. Charles could not pronounce Raymond’s name and called his newly found brother “Rain Man.” As the story unfolds there begins to develop a meaningful relationship, eventually one into true brothers who love each other.

The Jewish Nation was looking for their inheritance and a King who would rule and reign saving them from their oppressors. They were hoping that Jesus was that expected one!

It appeared to many that Jesus might be the Messiah that they were longing for. Many had witnessed miracles and heard his teachings, and when he rode into Jerusalem riding on a colt, they waved palm branches and shouted Hosanna to the King. They believed that perhaps Jesus was ready to restore the kingdom.

A few days later their shouts of joy were turned to new chants of, “Crucify Him, Crucify Him.”

Advent comes as a brother who will save and rescue. A death and a resurrection was required to fulfill God’s plan of salvation.

At Christmas time, the baby Jesus for many in this world is a huge profit symbol for business. The manger stays until Easter when again there is money to be made with new clothing, pretty baskets with candy and stuffed bunnies being sold to the public.

Pastor reminded us that he is not against these things, but we must always remember in our fun the TRUE meaning of Christmas and also of Advent.

Zechariah 9:9 foretold of a savior riding upon a colt.
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Jesus was not a ticket to fortune and fame, but he came humbly to fulfill God’s plan set before Him. Today He sets up His kingdom in the hearts of those who accept him as Lord.

Let us Shout again - - this time with the words; “He is Risen, He is Risen as He said.”

Linked up today with
Michelle’s Hear it on Sunday
Michelle’s AKA Some Girl’s, Thought Provoking Thursday

A New Career at Age 60 (repost)

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My husband was having health problems and could no longer work, and he was too young to draw Social Security, so our finances were extremely tight.

At my daughter Judie’s suggestion I had enrolled in a Job Search program. One of my assignments was to take my resume and an application to the County Personnel Office.

Doing as I was asked, I submitted my application to the County and did not give it another thought until much later.

One eventful day, our Work Program Instructor invited a person from the local hospital to speak to us. The lady mentioned that you do not need to be a nurse or a doctor to work in a hospital. There are 200 positions available at our hospital, she informed us. She talked about the billing department, the cafeteria, and then she mentioned the physical therapy aide who would walk patients, and assist them with mild exercise.

Now I don’t usually hear voices, but that day a little bell went off in my spirit and I said to myself, “Physical Therapy Assistant - - I could do that.”

Later I spoke to my instructor about my interest in pursuing that new field. She explained that I would need to take a Health and Medical class, and that only a few were accepted. She helped me fill out the application, and I patiently waited for my interview.

To be accepted into the Health class was just like applying for a job. The day came for my interview and as I drove there, I went over the hard questions in my mind. At the office, I was welcomed by two smiling nurses. We glided over the questions and answers until they got to the one I was dreading: “What is your weakness?”

I smiled and said, “My weakness is chocolate!” The nurse laughed and said that is mine too. A few days later I was notified that I was accepted and to show up for class.

Among other things, we learned medical terms, abbreviations, parts of the body, and how to give shots. Each week we were asked to bring in a newspaper clipping that dealt with health and we would discuss the articles.

Our Nurse instructor took us on tours to different departments to see what might interest us, and we wrote down our three choices to be an unpaid apprentice. I selected Physical Therapy.

My assignment was to give several hundred hours as a non-paid, trainee in the Physical Therapy Department. 

I learned to clean the whirlpool baths, apply hot and cold packs, and give a massage to the hurting area. We assisted the patients with exercise bands and pulleys. I loved every minute of it, but my assignment term was almost to an end.

During my time as a trainee, the County had not forgotten about me. One day I received a telephone call to come in for an interview. I told the lady that I was enjoying a Health class I was taking and at this time I could not come in. The lady said she would keep my name on file and perhaps call me later.

I told my supervisor at the hospital that the county kept calling me, but I told them no.

As time went on, one day, I reluctantly told my supervisor that my unpaid time was up, and I must stop showing up unless they had a job opening. They informed me that a college student was going to be hired as permanent, and there was no other work available for me.

It was almost like an after thought but a few days later, I received a telephone call, that circumstances had changed, and to come in because I was hired. I was so happy! This was an entirely new career for me but one I certainly was looking forward to. I expected to be a blessing where ever I was.

I worked at the hospital for one year, until the Insurance Company said they no longer would accept the unlicensed assistants writing on the charts about the treatments. They insisted on a licensed physical therapy technician doing the work.

That was the reason that four of us assistants were let go, but with good recommendations. I accepted it as from the Lord.

In God’s timing a week later, I received a phone call from the County to come in for an interview, and I was hired. God had lives for me to touch during the ten years I worked for the County until I retired.

Was all that an afterthought from God? No it was all part of his perfect plan.

This post is linked to Peter Pollocks One Word Carnival
The One word this week is Afterthoughts

Also linked to Hazel’s new “Tell me a True Story” Blog Party at:
http://letmetelluastory.blogspot.com/

Where Has My Little Dog Gone?

Spitting Image of our two Dogs
image courtesy photobucket.

Our fenced yard with the sliding gate that is controlled by a remote, keeps our three dogs safely in our yard. They have a good acre to run, play, and enjoy life.

At times when a delivery person pushes the button at the front, and the gate opens, two of our dogs escape and run the length of the creek next to our property. They return just in time for the automatic gate to close locking them OUT. When we are home and see this happen, we quickly open the side gate, and allow them back into their protected yard.

This last week end was different. My brother and his wife were staying with us for my mother’s funeral which was on Saturday, and we all prepared to leave and would be gone several hours.

Greener Grass ??
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While we were gone, the local flower shop delivered a beautiful flower arrangement and left it on our front porch. Our dogs were very interested in a stranger driving in, and when he left, our two black labs followed him out the gate.

When they returned after their usual run, the delivery man was not able to encourage them back inside. He phoned and left a message on our answering machine saying that he was sorry the dogs got out.

Later that afternoon when we returned from the funeral, there was no sign of our dogs.

Our blue tick hound was very upset and lonesome. This dog escapade did no good for my husband’s blood pressure either. Taking a drive in our van to where we thought they may have run to, provided us with no such luck.

That night as my brother’s wife prepared for bed, she took my hand and said, “Let us agree together for the safe return of your dogs.” We did and believed as best we could.

Our area has been having much needed rain, and that evening it stormed raining buckets most of the night. The next day, Sunday around two in the afternoon, our phone rang.

“I have your dogs,” the voice said, “but they refuse to get in my truck, so can you come and get them.” He gave directions and my husband and I drove to where the man told us.

Happily, our exhausted and hungry dogs jumped into our van. I hugged the kind man and my husband offered him a reward, but he refused saying he was glad to be of service.  The man remarked, “If my dogs ever run away, I hope someone will do the same for me.”

I am sure our dogs held us accountable for the rain that soaked them all night, and blamed us for their sore aching bodies, and that they had also missed their regular meal times.

Why did you not provide for us in your usual manner? Why did you allow us to suffer all night in the cold? Why were our sheltered area and our cozy beds not available for us as usually? These and other accusations may have crossed their feeble little minds.

Isn’t that the way it often is when people run away from God and then blame Him for all their self inflicted troubles?

Perhaps when we feel that we are fenced in and are not allowed to roam the fields that appear so green on the other side, we should evaluate the situation again. May we always be thankful for the protection that God allows for us as we stay safe in His arms.

This post has been linked with Joan Davis Sharing His Beauty
And with Tell Me a True Story at: http://letmetelluastory.blogspot.com/

Old Fashioned Ways

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When my husband and I were first married we lived in a house that had been converted into two apartments, ours was the downstairs.

Our dwelling was heated by a free standing heater that would get very hot in order to warm our living quarters.

Our daughter Becky was learning to walk and she would usually run instead of just walk. One winter day she tripped and fell against the heater, burning her arm quite badly just below her elbow. The skin was burnt leaving a large open wound.

I rushed her to our family doctor, and he dressed her arm, and told me how to continue taking care of her so that the skin would grow back.

In those days there were not the exotic methods of new skin treatments, so my old fashioned doctor told me how to do it his way.

He had been a Doctor in the army and when he was in the World War II, there were times they did the best they could under the circumstances with what was available.

Carefully he explained that I must use a clean gauze pad and using a sterile stick spread a thin layer of Vaseline over the pad. This pad was then applied directly to my daughter’s wound. Carefully we wrapped around the arm with a roll of gauze and held it in place with some adhesive tape...

Today, some would frown about using petroleum jelly on a wound, but I tell you truthfully that this worked, and today Becky has no noticeable scar.

There were other times that my doctor suggested some home remedies for treatment. One time when my husband had a terrible cough my doctor told me how to make a mustard plasterer and apply it to his chest making sure not to leave it on very long. That broke up the congestion and helped with the healing time.

My Doctor would not prescribe drugs unless it was necessary. He used to tell me that too much medicine for minor illnesses would cause a person not to respond well when they were really sick. Only use a little bit, as that is all that is needed. His favorite saying was, “Some think if a little bit does a little good, then a large amount will do a lot of good, but that is not true.”

Times have changed and today our Doctors, prescribe medicine as if they owned stock in the pharmaceutical companies.

I am glad that I live in this age of new technology, but I still like some old fashioned ways of doing things.

Music has also changed with the times. Thinking back, I enjoyed the songs of the 40’s and 50’s when you could understand the words.

In the Church there are many new worship choruses, but I still take pleasure in the old Hymns of yesterday.

Here is one that you may remember and please enjoy it on YouTune.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeSjucb6Dbw&feature=related

This post has been Linked with Laura at: Faith Filled Friday
Also Linked with Charlotte’s Spiritual Sundays

Apricot Bars

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Every Friday there is a recipe sharing time at Ann Kroeker’s Food on Friday. One reason that I enjoy her site is the fact that she usually includes a story along with her recipe. Often I do the same, but this has been a crazy week for me. Tomorrow we say our formal Good Byes to my 100 year old mother as she is saying her joyful Hello’s to Jesus, and all those who went before her.

I am running out of my favorite recipes, so today I am sharing one from my daughter Nancy.

Apricot Bar Recipe

Chop in a food processor:

1 cup dried apricots
3/4 cup almonds
3/4 cup walnuts

Mix fruit and nuts with

1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup wheat germ (or flax meal)
2/3 cup flour
2 tablespoons oil
Add enough juice (2 to 4 tablespoons) to make a thick batter.

Mix well and press into greased 8x8 square pan. Bake 30 minutes or until firm at 350 degrees. Cut into 12 bars, but leave in pan to cool. Later package the bars individually and store in freezer or keep in refrigerator.

Yields 12 bars at 220 calories per bar.


This post is linked with Ann Kroeker’s, Food on Fridays at http://annkroeker.com/
Do hop on over to her site and gather up some delicious and nutritious recipes.

If you have a True story please join with me on Tuesdays at:
“Tell Me A True Story”  http://letmetelluastory.blogspot.com/

Lucky Guess - Not




The Check is in the Mail
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When we lived in the Bay Area, our Women’s Ministries from our surrounding churches would all cooperate in a monthly general meeting at one of the local churches.

It was always an exciting day, with a guest missionary speaker, and lunch served afterwards.

One such meeting, our President announced that one of the Young couples who were pastors of a new Home Missions church had just birthed their first child, and they could use some financial assistance. Those interested in helping the couple were to take a card with their address on it, from the lunch table.

Out of habit, I took one of the cards, and that evening I penned a note with a congratulation card for your new baby. Inside I slipped a check and noted: for: “where needed most.”

As I was making out the check, I viewed my bank balance, and made a decision to not just send the $25 that I first had in mind, but I would send $27.89 which would bring my balance in my register to a neat even 00.00 for at least the last four figures.

Off went my “Welcome to the New Baby,” card in the mail the next morning.

A few days later, I received a cheerful thank you note.

The Pastor’s wife was overjoyed to let me know that when she left the hospital there was a small balance due. Would you believe that the balance they needed to pay their bill was exactly $27.89 the amount of my gift?

God is so amazing, and I am a firm believer that things do NOT just happen. Even in the smallest details Our Lord works out His wonders to perform.

This post is linked with these great sites, Do visit them.

Tracy at Winsome Wednesday
Jennifer at: God-Bumps and God-Incidences

And with Tell Me a True Story at: http://letmetelluastory.blogspot.com/

Growing up in the Big City

Oakland, California
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Most of my childhood was in the big city of Oakland, California, but the city was divided into smaller districts.

Each district had their own "coffee shop" with the regulars, a bank, a post office, a movie house, a drug store, a couple of named grocery stores, a bakery, a chiropractor, and some business shops such as an insurance agent, and a shoe repair shop.

These districts existed like a small town and were an island to many. Every thing near our home was in walking distance including two Mom and Pop small stores close by.

At the coffee shop we could order a fountain coke and ask for vanilla or other flavors. Our fast food restaurant was a Casper’s Hot Dog place, and a public library was near by as well.

We also had a cow boy of sorts. He was a young man who always wore a cowboy hat while he rode his bicycle. I think he was what you might call a bit "slow." Not retarded, just a bit slow. Each neighbor hood had their characters too, and our cow boy was one of them.

Our city had an excellent bus system with a transfer method that allowed you to change to another bus without paying extra.

There is safety in numbers and I did all my early bus riding with my brother my sister and usually a couple of other friends.

As kids we learned to navigate through our metropolis to down town shopping, to Lake Merritt to the museum, to go ice skating, or go to the Hayward plunge swimming pool. The ride to the pool required an extra fare when we reached a point where different cities met.

The streets were laid out in neat blocks, and at times we just took long walks. Mother would go with us when we hiked to Mill’s College, and to the hills behind it.

Our earthly city was a wonderful place to grow up, and to later find work there. A place to attend church, meet friends, to eventually marry and raise our own family within its borders.

I was thinking about the lay out of heaven today, and remembering that the Bible tells us that the streets are of purest gold, and as you look through the gold you can see the foundation which is made of precious jewels. The gates are made of pearls, and there is a tree of life that all those in heaven may partake of.

The plain truth is that no city on earth regardless of its beauty or charm can compare with the magnificence of heaven.

I do hope you have made your reservation early, so that Heaven will be your final home.

You do understand that the decision must be made while here on earth, because if you wait too long, it will be too late.

This post has been linked to: Jen’s Soli Deo Gloria
And to “Tell Me a True Story” at: http://letmetelluastory.blogspot.com/

New Hearts for Old

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Jeremiah 31:31-34 The Message Bible

31-32"That's right. The time is coming when I will make a brand-new covenant with Israel and Judah. It won't be a repeat of the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took their hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant even though I did my part as their Master." God's Decree.


33-34"This is the brand-new covenant that I will make with Israel when the time comes. I will put my law within them—write it on their hearts!—and be their God. And they will be my people. They will no longer go around setting up schools to teach each other about God. They'll know me firsthand, the dull and the bright, the smart and the slow. I'll wipe the slate clean for each of them. I'll forget they ever sinned!" God's Decree.

Sunday’s service was again ministered by our guest Pastor Jerry. I will give high lights from his message as he spoke about the Old and the New Covenants.

People use the expression, “Bless your heart,” and it means a term of endearment, and is not referring to the physical organ that beats in our chest.

In the Scriptures the word heart also refers to our Spirit. God writes his new covenant on our minds as well as our heart, but we do not know God with our mind. The personal experience of receiving a “New Heart,” is in our Spirit.

It is when we believe that Jesus died (as we will soon celebrate,) that he was buried and raised again that glad Easter Morning, and ask him to enter our life, and give us that new heart that we are converted.

The heart change happens immediately, but often our mind, will and emotions take a bit longer to catch up with what God has done for us inwardly.

The Bible tells us that the natural man’s “heart” is corrupt and full of foolishness. The people of old were not able to keep the Law, and they were often carried off into exile when they forgot to worship and serve the Lord God.

Being a good person by obeying the law is a problem and is difficult to do. There was no unction or inspiration in the old covenant to cause us to be a good person.

A change was needed, thus the New Covenant was written with the Blood of our Savior and was inscribed in our heart. The New Covenant comes with Power to be a Christian.

Our spirit is changed, and our thinking, must also be changed. That is why it is important to feed on God’s Word and communicate with him in prayer. Our mind, will, and emotions are in need of a change and the Word of God washes us.

One thing we know is that God will NEVER change, and He keeps on loving us and forgiving us and working with us to help us live according to His plan for our lives.

This post is Linked up with Michelle’s  Hear it on Sunday

You Let Her Go

Goodbye for now Ruth Stanton
 12-30-1911 /  03-24-2012

You let her go

But just for a little while

You let her go

But you will see her smile

And when you do

A vibrant Ruth she will be

And when you do

Restoration you will see

Her eyes closed here
As if in sleep she'd be
Her eyes closed here
To awake in Eternity!

 "We let her go

'Tween tears and a smile
We let her go
But just for a little while!

Nancy Kehr 03 25 2012

Family Secrets Are Not All Beautiful

Secrets
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After that phone call from the Care Home yesterday afternoon, I decided I must make another attempt to encourage my sister to visit our mother. She received me with open arms, and was happy to be able to go with me for perhaps a final visit to our mother. 

I am glad we went, for a couple of days later Mother passed to the other side, at 10:30 PM, March 24, 2012

My younger sister is not homeless, but she does have an emotional problem, and she will not take the medicine prescribed for her. At times she has such weird thoughts, and believes others are spying on her or are out to harm her.

My brother took her into his home many years ago as earlier did my parents, but she created such havoc that they could not allow her to stay. She lived in her car for awhile, and then in a camping trailer in the woods, and other places where ever she could.

Finally our widowed Mother purchased a single wide used mobile home for her, and her Social Security pays for the rent in the trailer park leaving her with enough money for her drink and food.

As a child she was the most beautiful girl outwardly, but after she broke both wrists at once, she seemed to change. Mother waited on her daily and she enjoyed the attention.

Image courtesy Photobucket.com

There are days when I visit her, that I never know which girl she will be. At times she welcomes me, and we talk fairly normal and enjoy a visit time together.

On a recent visit I took her some groceries, which she shoved  back at me and told me to leave, and take my goods with me, along with a few other choice words.

I chose not to invite her to our mother's 100th Birthday celebration, because I knew how she would cause a ruckus when she saw her two grown children there. She always yelled at them and accused them of not caring about her. Naturally her children did not want to be around such a livid display, and were terribly embarrassed. It was easier for them to just stay away and they did.

My husband also stays away from her as best he can and advises me not to “punish” myself, - - but after all she is my sister !!

Even when you have those in your family who may at times seem strange or difficult to get along with - - they are still your family.

Let’s face it – we probably seem odd at times to others and it is a wonder that our family and friends put up with us.

I am so very glad that we are not the final judge of who makes it to heaven.

God certainly understands our eccentricities. Perhaps that is why He made us all so different.


This post was Linked with
 Faith Filled Friday with Laura

And with Deidra’s Sunday Jump Tandem