A Third Option

13 Jul

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Author, Poet and Artist

Sometimes when we go to a doctor and we’re not sure the doctor knows what he’s talking about, we decide to get a second opinion. It’s the same with making a personal decision. We can study and work at making the right one, but we may not be able to come to a solution without asking for advice from a friend. That’s all right, there is safety in consulting together. But there is another way.

A general of the Israelite army, Joshua once said,

“As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

It turned out that Joshua did serve the Lord in every possible way. Title of picture that comes with this one is Jericho. It’s the walls of Jericho and the trumpet players.

Jerico Small

One day, Joshua knew that his army was supposed to occupy the walled town of Jericho, but he wasn’t quite ready to make his move. Suddenly, he looked up and saw a big man standing in front of him with a gleaming sword in his hand. Joshua asked, “Are you on our side, or on the side of our enemies?”

“Neither, “ said the man. I am here as Prince of the Lord’s host. Take off your shoes for you are on holy ground.” Joshua took off his shoes and stood ready to listen to anything the Lord had to say.

In his commentary, Matthew Henry says this big man was the same one who came with three others to Sarah and Abraham to tell them they were going to have a baby in their ninetieth decade of life. It was actually Jesus who visited them and now he had come to see Joshua.

Jesus told Joshua that God had secured Jericho for the Israelites and he told him exactly how the army was to claim their victory. There was no need for Joshua to strategize or plan, no need for him to consult his officers. The Lord was in charge.

You may already know what happened at Jericho, but if you don’t, you can read all about God’s surprising action in the Holy Bible in Joshua Chapter 6.

Now, think about it. Could Joshua or any of his men have come up with the plan they saw worked out by the Lord? Never in a million years. And what if they had been able to imagine it? Do you think they would have had success carrying it out? Not at all. If you don’t know the story, please read it in your Bible in The Book of Joshua Chapter 6.

No one but God knew and no one but God had the power to carry out the plan. The answer he gave transcended anything a human could have thought up or accomplished. What an adventure for the humans involved!

Dear one, do you know that you and I can experience miracles every day. They may not be what we expect. Maybe they aren’t even what we think of as miracles, but if we are open to God working in our lives, we can experience surprise, synchronicity, and serendipity every day. All we have to do is forget plotting and planning, and forget asking advice from our friends. The more we practice hearing from God and following His leading, the more exciting our lives will be. Let’s do it, let’s ask for that third opinion.

Joshua, Chapters 5 and 6.

Granny~Part1

12 Jul

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

JUDY

                                                  

 

I call her my “favorite” Granny, mainly because I didn’t know my other Grandmother very well. The “other” Grandmother lived two states away, and we only saw her once in a while – I would like to think we went there every Summer, but I’m not sure.

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But Granny lived in Albuquerque near us (with my Aunt Jessie), and we saw her quite often. She and Aunt Jessie moved to Albuquerque in 1952, but before that, Granny would come and stay most of the summer with us. One of my strangest memories, is of coming home from school and realizing that she wasn’t there anymore – she had returned home to San Antonio. It was a very empty feeling.

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But then they moved to Albuquerque, and she became a very real part of my life. They lived about 10 minutes away from us, and then in the years I could drive, I would spend nearly as much time at their house as I did at ours. So that house became as dear to me as our house did.

4I remember that Granny could make the best meringue pies ever. She could seal that meringue to the pie crust so I could never tell what kind of pie it was – until it was cut.

I would come home from school and she would have a pie cooling on the rack, and would challenge me to guess what kind of pie it was. It could be one of her wonderful chocolate cream pies, or perhaps her butterscotch pie, or then again, it could be her great lemon meringue pie. And by George – I could never tell what it was. When I make a meringue pie now, even if I seal that meringue to the crust, it ALWAYS pulls away from the crust as it is browning! Shucks!! I’ve never gotten the knack – and she never taught me how to do it. I have her recipes for the chocolate and butterscotch pies, but she died before I could get the lemon. I’ve never found any recipe to match the one she had.

One memory I have of her pies is a fun memory, but wasn’t too pleasant at the time. She had made a coconut cream pie especially for my Dad, since it was his favorite. He took one bite of it and didn’t really say anything about it – most unusual for him, as he always complimented Mother and Granny for their cooking. Then Granny took a bite and exclaimed, “Whoa! Who put the salt in the sugar bowl?” Apparently she had mistakenly replaced the sugar with salt and didn’t know it until she tasted it! Into the trash THAT pie went! And Daddy was too much of a gentleman to tell her how horrible it tasted!

I have mentioned in other musings that my Aunt Jessie owned and operated a small diner in downtown San Antonio in years past.

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It was small, but well attended and even earned a write-up in the San Antonio newspaper.

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While they had a “cook” for the diner, Granny made all the pies. And people would come in for a slice – or even purchase an entire pie to take home to their families! They were that good.

~~~~~~~~~~To be continued~~~~~~~~~~

How to become a winner. | Janet Perez Eckles

11 Jul

Recently, I sat beside my dearest friend at a banquet presented by AWSA (Advanced Authors and Speakers Association) as I munched the yummy dish before me, I listened to the awards being issued to illustrious authors in various categories. There was even an award to singer, comedian, and author, Chonda Pierce.

And when the details were announced about the candidate for the BEYOND ME AWARD for modeling a “You first life in a me first world,” I was quite impressed by the description of that individual.

Suddenly, my friend elbowed me. “Stop eating.”

I gave her a puzzled look.

When my name echoed in the room as the winner, I tried to swallow, but it wasn’t easy as the excitement, surprise, joy and deep gratitude nearly choked me.

I did not deserve this award. And nope, contrary to what you might think, the award which is given to those who go “beyond themselves” to reach out to others didn’t define me. But rather it defined God’s grace and His loving nature.

That night I lay on the pillow of disbelief and gratitude. Not only was the award lovely, it served as the reminder to keep going, keep on believing, serving and hoping. Pressing forward through struggles, pain, hardships and disappointments. While we press on, in spite of the enemy’s discouraging whispers, we draw closer to the reward that has nothing to do with earthly recognition, but everything to do with God’s eternal rewards.

via How to become a winner. | Janet Perez Eckles.

via How to become a winner. | Janet Perez Eckles.

People Need People

10 Jul

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

Louise Gibson

Life does present challenges that tax us to no end.
When bad things happen, and they often do,
that is when we need a friend.

Do you remember when someone encouraged you-
Perhaps when you were feeling low?
It helps to share your burden.
There is strength in numbers, you know.

Relate to people.
Call, text, or write a letter.
Just knowing someone cares
will make them feel much better.

Caring needn’t be costly-
Amazing what a smile can do.
It’s the best face lift in town,
and warms the heart of another, too.

Can you connect my puzzle?

9 Jul

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

I'm a winner

UPDATE 7/16/2015

After posting this, I began working with Earl of Earls Help Desk.  He was able to rejoin the links and make the website play nice and I am extremely grateful.

Our book website Rebekah Lyn Books is shedding! That is right, it is shedding it’s links and I have no idea how to fix this. I joined a Facebook group for WordPress but have been too intimidated to post a question. At the tiniest mention of the word code my brain begins to swim and twists.

I have been inwardly beating myself up about this but today, as I sat down to challenge the beast, I remembered something. Everyone has things they don’t do well. If I can embrace that God created us to be unique parts of the Body of Christ, then I need to embrace my inadequacies as well. I am deciding to see them as a part of the puzzle that is me, that needs to be connected. I am going to post on the Word Press page and if anyone of our readers here  have advice to share, I will gratefully receive it. Rebekah Lyn Books is a self hosted site running WP 4.2.2 The theme is Magazine Child and it has Genesis (not sure what that means)

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Midnight Excitement~Part 1

8 Jul

A Slice of Life

 Bill Lites

Bill Cross Plane

 

The other night, at 2:30 in the morning, the wailing of sirens and flashing red and blue lights bouncing off my bedroom walls jolted me out of a sound sleep. “What was going on?” I said to myself. I sat up and looked out my front bedroom window just in time to see a small dark car (with its lights off), followed by four Titusville city police cars, zip around the corner in front of our house and race off up the street. I thought, “Wow, a movie style chase scene right here in our quiet little neighborhood!”   I had never seen a movie or TV chase scene that took place anywhere but on a busy city freeway or on an open two-lane road out in the middle of nowhere. I wondered, “How could anyone expect to get away from the police in this maze of one-block and curving streets that make up our small neighborhood?

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I waited a few minutes to see if anything else was going to happen, and then laid back down to try to go to sleep. A short time later I heard the wamp-wamp-wamp of a helicopter buzzing around overhead and more flashing red and blue lights. When I looked out the window this time, there were two cars at the intersection, a police car facing one direction and the other car (with its lights off), facing the opposite direction. I thought “What kind of a standoff is this?” Just then, the car (with its lights off) sped off up the street, and the police car wheeled around to follow after it. This time I sat there waiting to see if there would be any more activity. I could see the helicopter flying around in large circles with its search light probing the area.

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It wasn’t long before the first car (with his lights off) came speeding back down the street it had just gone up, whipping around the corner, and headed for the dead-end of our street just two houses down. I said to myself, “They’ve got you now Dude.” That short portion of our street has a big steel barrier across it with nothing but thick woods on the other side. Just then the three other police cars came roaring up and uniformed officers piled out of their cars and headed for the woods.

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A couple minutes later, as the helicopter continued to circle overhead, illuminating the woods with its search light, several Brevard County Sherriff cars, red and blue lights flashing, came zipping into the intersection to join the fracas.

The whole area was swarming with uniformed officers, and one of the Sherriff Deputies removed a German Shepherd dog from his K-9 SUV on a leash.

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As this scene unfolded before my eyes, I wondered what the suspect(s) could have done to warrant such an extensive manhunt. I would have to watch the local NEWS in the morning for sure. About ten minutes later an EMT vehicle threaded its way through the crush of official vehicles in the intersection and stopped. The EMTs got out with their emergency bag and headed for the woods. I couldn’t see where they went, but my neighbor told me later that by then they had the suspect out of the woods and handcuffed, at the dead end, out in front of her house. She said that after putting on gloves, it appeared the EMTs didn’t have anything to deal with on that suspect, as it seemed that they only questioned him.

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—–To Be Continued—–

 

Janet and the Paint Puddle

7 Jul

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

JUDY

                                          

Fred and I waited until he graduated from college before we married. We had known each other about three years and engaged for half that time (I invite you to revisit my October 5, 12, 19, 2014 posts on “How We Met”).

As soon as we left the wedding, we headed for Fort Worth, Texas, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where Fred was to study for the ministry. While there for four years, I went to work, getting my “PHT” degree – you know – Putting Hubby Through, while Fred achieved his MDiv and MRE (Master of Divinity/Master of Religious Education).

When no ministry openings came available for Fred upon his graduation, and his Draft Board became interested in him, he began checking into the military openings. And so we found ourselves in the United States Air Force.

We spent one year in San Jose, California, while Fred studied Meteorology. We then spent three years in Wiesbaden, Germany. Our next tour was 13 months in northern Maine. And the follow-on tour was in San Antonio, Texas, where Fred was an instructor in the Air Force Officer Training School.

After living in apartments and government housing all that time, we decided it was time to finally own our own home. And we found one that was quite comfortable, and a new construction.

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The entry to the house was divided from the living room by a half-wall, with spindles to the ceiling.

After we had been in the house for several years, we thought of painting that half-wall and entry way, and set about to do it. We laid out a cover for the carpet, just in case. We had a step-stool to get the higher-up areas. We had our rollers, brushes, and paint trays that we kept filled with paint.

Karen was in school, but Janet was still at home with us. We were busy painting, and had warned Janet to stay either in the living room or her room, but do NOT come in the entry way. However, I frequently found her edging her way around one of the half-walls and into the entry way, rather than going the other way, through the kitchen and family room. And then, as you might surmise, I looked up, saw her squeezing by that half-wall again, and I yelled, “JANET!” Startled, she looked up, whirled around and lost her balance, and SPLAT! landed right in the middle of the “puddle” of paint in the paint tray!

Fred was rather furious, but I picked her up (she was bawling by this time), and took her to the nearest bathroom. While she was in the tub, with me “hosing” her down, the whole thing just tickled my funny bone. I began to giggle – as did she – and we had a great time cleaning up.

She survived the paint – and we survived the painting. And it’s a sweet memory.

The Emperor’s Children

6 Jul

My Take

DiVoran Lites

The emperor locked his children In the

Grateful to be an American | Janet Perez Eckles

4 Jul

We were the envy of the neighborhood. Our neighbors watched us ride in a cab toward the airport. We were leaving Bolivia and heading to the land where dreams come true.

And along with dreams, integrity fueled my father to enter the U.S. with documents in hand, sacrifice in his heart, and commitment in his resolve.

Now, years later, as naturalized citizens, each 4th of July fireworks of gratitude explode in me.

Yes, America has her issues, problems and struggles. But to me and my family, it is still the greatest country on earth. And America   is uniquely special as he is the place where her founders honored God above all.

Through the years living in our new home, we learned the joy of prosperity and also the sadness of trials. But how sweet to know that mountaintop episodes make us grateful, but rough valleys make us grow.

Read more via Grateful to be an American | Janet Perez Eckles.

 

 

Gorgeous Inside

3 Jul

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

Louise Gibson

It’s actually a rather nondescript house,
plain, and is easy to ignore.
It sits on a busy thoroughfare
that I pass when on my way to the store.

But as I drove past the other day
I noticed a “For Sale” sign in the yard.
Attached to the sign was a smaller notice
that happily announced: “I’m gorgeous inside”.

Now I have to confess that intrigued me.
What could make this otherwise forgettable
house gorgeous inside?
It also made me wonder,
could that sign be applied to us
as followers of Jesus? The One in whom
we safely abide?

What does the Bible say about inner beauty?
Romans 7:22 says, “In my inner being I delight
in God’s laws.
In Romans 8:6 Paul speaks of
a Spirit controlled
mind that is characterized by “life and peace”.

And in Galations, we see that letting the spirit
take charge of our inner being will build in us
the fruit of the spirit, a beautiful array of qualities
such as love, joy, peace, patience and kindness.
“Delighting in scripture and allowing the Spirit
to work in our heart will make us look good on the inside-
and will pay off in a life that honors God.”
Dave Brown

Righteousness in your heart produces beauty
in your character.