Friday Fill-ins
Here we go:
1. The last meal I had at a restaurant was chicken quasadilla (sp?) and pretzels at Quaker Steak and Lube, kids eat for free, gotta love it!!!
2. drivers pulling out in front of me (and there is not one soul driving behind me, ugggggg! is something I intensely dislike.
3. The full moon was yesterday, lol.
4. Do you want a pop? (for those who say soda…its the same things, hehe) is one of my favorite local expressions.
5. Sometimes it’s best to leave the mess behind and get out of the house.
6. The Sin Eater (an older movie but well worth it) is the best movie I’ve seen so far this year!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to watching the Olympics, tomorrow my plans include a Luau Party and Sunday, I want to rest, my body is killing me, the baby is soooo low!
Bold witnessing
I have to say when I read this, I was very humbled. I am 99% sure I would have dissappointed the Lord on this one. I just cried and I won’t chalk it up to hormones. I cried because I was faced with a flaw in myself, and I thank God that he loves me so much to show it to me. This is long but well worth reading. My question is how many of these encounters have we missed out on? I don’t think I want to know personally. But am I willing to miss out on anymore? I pray not.
HAIRBRUSH EXPERIENCE OF BETH MOORE AT THE AIRPORT
For those of you who do not know Beth Moore, she is an outstanding Bible teacher, writer of Bible studies, and is a married mother of two daughters. This is one of her experiences:
April 20, 2005, at the Airport in Knoxville, waiting to board the plane, I had the Bible on my lap and was very intent upon what I was doing. I’d had a marvelous morning with the Lord. I say this because I want to tell you it is a scary thing to have the Spirit of God really working in you.
You could end up doing some things you never would have done otherwise. Life in the Spirit can be dangerous for a thousand reasons not the least of which is your ego.
I tried to keep from staring, but he was such a strange sight. Humped over in a wheelchair, he was skin and bones, dressed in clothes that obviously fit when he was at least twenty pounds heavier. His knees protruded from his trousers, and his shoulders looked like the coat hanger was still in his shirt. His hands looked like tangled masses of veins and bones.
The strangest part of him was his hair and nails. Stringy, gray hair hung well over his shoulders and down part of his back. His fingernails were long, clean but strangely out of place on an old man.
I looked down at my Bible as fast as I could, discomfort burning my face. As I tried to imagine what his story might have been, I found myself wondering if I’d just had a Howard Hughes sighting. Then, I remembered that he was dead. So this man in the airport… an impersonator maybe? Was a camera on us somewhere? There I sat; trying to concentrate on the Word to keep from being concerned about a thin slice of humanity served up on a wheelchair only a few seats from me. All the while, my heart was growing more and more overwhelmed with a feeling for him.
Let’s admit it. Curiosity is a heap more comfortable than true concern, and suddenly I was awash with aching emotion for this bizarre-looking old man.
I had walked with God long enough to see the handwriting on the wall. I’ve learned that when I begin to feel what God feels, something so contrary to my natural feelings, something dramatic is bound to happen. And it may be embarrassing.
I immediately began to resist because I could feel God working on my spirit and I started arguing with God in my mind. ‘Oh, no, God, please, no.’ I looked up at the ceiling as if I could stare straight through it into heaven and said, ‘Don’t make me witness to this man. Not right here and now. Please. I’ll do anything. Put me on the same plane, but don’t make me get up here and witness to this man in front of this gawking audience. Please, Lord!’
There I sat in the blue vinyl chair begging His Highness, ‘Please don’t make me witness to this man. Not now. I’ll do it on the plane.’ Then I heard it….’I don’t want you to witness to him. I want you to brush his hair.’
The words were so clear, my heart leap into my throat, and my thoughts spun like a top. Do I witness to the man or brush his hair? No-brainier. I looked straight back up at the ceiling and said, ‘God, as I live and breathe, I want you to know I am ready to witness to this man. I’m on this Lord. I’m your girl! You’ve never seen a woman witness to a man faster in your life. What difference does it make if his hair is a mess if he is not redeemed? I am going to witness to this man.’
Again as clearly as I’ve ever heard an audible word, God seemed to write this statement across the wall of my mind. ‘That is not what I said, Beth. I don’t want you to witness to him. I want you to go brush his hair.’
I looked up at God and quipped, ‘I don’t have a hairbrush. It’s in my suitcase on the plane. How am I supposed to brush his hair without a hairbrush?’ God was so insistent that I almost involuntarily began to walk toward him as these thoughts came to me from God’s word: ‘I will thoroughly furnish you unto all good works.’ (2 Timothy 3:17)
I stumbled over to the wheelchair thinking I could use one myself. Even as I retell this story, my pulse quickens and I feel those same butterflies. I knelt down in front of the man and asked as demurely as possible, ‘Sir, may I have the pleasure of brushing your hair?’
He looked back at me and said, ‘What did you say?’
‘May I have the pleasure of brushing your hair?’
To which he responded in volume ten, ‘Little lady, if you expect me to hear you, you’re going to have to talk louder than that.’
At this point, I took a deep breath and blurted out, ‘SIR, MAY I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF BRUSHING YOUR HAIR?’ At which point every eye in the place darted right at me. I was the only thing in the room looking more peculiar than old Mr. Long Locks. Face crimson and forehead breaking out in a sweat, I watched him look up at me with absolute shock on his face, and say, ‘If you really want to.’
Are you kidding? Of course I didn’t want to. But God didn’t seem interested in my personal preference right about then. He pressed on my heart until I could utter the words, ‘Yes, sir, I would be pleased. But I have one little problem. I don’t have a hairbrush.’
‘I have one in my bag,’ he responded.
I went around to the back of that wheelchair, and I got on my hands and knees and unzipped the stranger’s old carry-on, hardly believing what I was doing. I stood up and started brushing the old man’s hair. It was perfectly clean, but it was tangled and matted. I don’t do many things well, but must admit I’ve had notable experience untangling knotted hair mothering two little girls. Like I’d done with either Amanda or Melissa in such a condition, I began brushing at the very bottom of the strands, remembering to take my time not to pull. A miraculous thing happened to me as I started brushing that old man’s hair. Everybody else in the room disappeared. There was no one alive for those moments except that old man and me. I brushed and I brushed and I brushed until every tangle was out of that hair. I know this sounds so strange, but I’ve never felt that kind of love for another soul in my entire life. I believe with all my heart, I - for that few minutes - felt a portion of the very love of God. That He had overtaken my heart for a little while like someone renting a room and making Himself at home for a short while.
The emotions were so strong and so pure that I knew they had to be God’s. His hair was finally as soft and smooth as an infant’s.
I slipped the brush back in the bag and went around the chair to face him. I got back down on my knees, put my hands on his knee and said, ‘Sir, do you know my Jesus?’
He said, ‘Yes, I do’
Well, that figures, I thought.
He explained, ‘I’ve known Him since I married my bride. She wouldn’t marry me until I got to know the Savior.’ He said, ‘You see, the problem is, I haven’t seen my bride in months. I’ve had open-heart surgery, and she’s been too ill to come see me. I was sitting here thinking to myself, what a mess I must be for my bride.’
Only God knows how often He allows us to be part of a divine moment when we’re completely unaware of the significance. This, on the other hand, was one of those rare encounters when I knew God had intervened in details only He could have known. It was a God moment, and I’ll never forget it.
Our time came to board, and we were not on the same plane. I was deeply ashamed of how I’d acted earlier and would have been so proud to have accompanied him on that aircraft.
I still had a few minutes, and as I gathered my things to board, the airline hostess returned from the corridor, tears streaming down her cheeks. She said, ‘That old man’s sitting on the plane, sobbing. Why did you do that? What made you do that?’
I said, ‘Do you know Jesus? He can be the bossiest thing!’
And we got to share.
I learned something about God that day. He knows if you’re exhausted, you’re hungry, you’re serving in the wrong place or it is time to move on but you feel too responsible to budge. He knows if you’re hurting or feeling rejected. He knows if you’re sick or drowning under a wave of temptation. Or He knows if you just need your hair brushed. He sees you as an individual. Tell Him your need!
I got on my own flight, sobs choking my throat, wondering how many opportunities just like that one had I missed along the way … all because I didn’t want people to think I was strange. God didn’t send me to that old man. He sent that old man to me.
John 1:14 ‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth’
Life shouldn’t be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather, to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly shouting, ‘Wow! What a ride! Thank You, Lord!’
Please share this wonderful story.
If your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light…….. Mt. 6:22
By God’s grace I am what I am….. 1 Corinthians 15:10
‘Life isn’t about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain!’
Play time is over
Okay summer is almost over, the nights are cooler and the last fair of the season is coming up in two wks. This has been a great summer. It went by fast ( thank God, lol). All pregnant mamas will understand. I have been active in a couple of Christian Group Forums, an October Due Date Baby and I like Cafe Mom group. I have met a lot of wonderful ladies. I have also been busy with birthday parties, kiddo milestones, new additions to the family, family weekend day trips, guests (had a blast with them), picnics, fairs, getting active in our new church (we took up membership beginning of summer) and of course… being pregnant, LOL.
It’s time to get in the swing of things again. I have been invited to participate with this years Blogger assignments. This is a great way to start the fall season. I look forward tomeeting my new classmates!
Wow, awesome skit
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Found this skit on God tube. At first it seemed pretty extreme, but I could see the battle in the spirit realm and all I could say was Praise you Lord.
My Favorite songs and Favorite Band
Please pause Circle of Friends song on right side bar before playing these and close pop up that appears when you press play.
Casting Crowns- Praise You in the Storm. (My song of comfort from Jesus)
Talk about ministering songs, this is one of them. I am reminded as I listen to this that we will always have tribulations and storms. God did not promise that we would not have them even though we are Christians and His children. BUT, He did promise that He would be there we us to help us through and give us the strength to carry on.
“I’ll praise you in this storm, and I will lift my hands.
For you are who you are no matter where I am.
And every tear I cry, you hold in your hand.
You never left my side and though my heart is torn.
I will praise you in this storm.”
My heart just leaps from my chest when I hear these words. He will never forsake me.
Casting Crowns- East to West (My song of salavation from Jesus)
The scripture says that He has thrown our sins in the sea of forgetfulness, as wide as the east is from the west. But it is amazing how Satan wants us to think that sea is a little pond, that we can see to the other side and see all our repentant sins in the middle.
“I know you have washed me white.
Turned my darkness into light…
I’m not holding onto you but you are just holding onto me…
In the arms of your mercy I find rest.
Cause you know just how far the east is from the west.
One scarred hand to the other.”
Casting Crowns- Lifesong (My song of praise and devotion to Jesus)
Sometimes I think we are harder on ourselves that Jesus could ever be. That we are not doing enough for the kingdom and can never do enough (another lie from Satan). The scripture says that we all make up the body of Christ. We each have OUR part. We all can’t be the hands or lips, but we each have a part. Now what we do with the part we were given is up to us. We all know the great commission is going into all the world and proclaiming the Good News but will we be faithful with our personal commission? The part and giftings that were given to us by God individually.
“Lord I give my life a living sacrifice,
to reach a world in need,
to be your hands and feet.
So may the words I say,
and the things I do.
Make my lifesong sing,
bring a smile to you.
Let my lifesong sing to you…”
Hope these minister to like they do me. God Bless.
The ‘Middle Wife’
The ‘Middle Wife’ by an Anonymous 2nd grade teacher
I’ve been teaching now for about fifteen years. I have two kids myself, but the best birth story I know is the one I saw in my own second grade classroom a few years back.
When I was a kid, I loved show-and-tell. So I always have a few sessions with my students. It helps them get over shyness and usually, show-and-tell is pretty tame. Kids bring in pet turtles, model airplanes, pictures of fish they catch, stuff like that. And I never, ever place any boundaries or limitations on them. If they want to lug it in to school and talk about it, they’re welcome.
Well, one day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very outgoing kid, takes her turn and waddles up to the front of the class with a pillow stuffed under her sweater.
She holds up a snapshot of an infant. ‘This is Luke, my baby brother, and I’m going to tell you about his birthday’
‘First, Mom and Dad made him as a symbol of their love, and then Dad put a seed in my Mom’s stomach, and Luke grew in there. He ate for nine months through an umbrella cord.’
She’s standing there with her hands on the pillow, and I’m trying not to laugh and wishing I had my camcorder with me. The kids are watching her in amazement.
‘Then, about two Saturdays ago, my Mom starts saying and going, ‘Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh!’ Erica puts a hand behind her back and groans. ‘She walked around the house for, like an hour, ‘Oh, oh, oh!’ (Now this kid is doing a hysterical duck walk and groaning.)
‘My Dad called the middle wife. She delivers babies, but she doesn’t have a sign on the car like the Domino’s man. They got my Mom to lie down in bed like this.’ (Then Erica lies down with her back against the wall.)
‘And then, pop! My Mom had this bag of water she kept in there in case he got thirsty, and it just blew up and spilled all over the bed, like psshhheew!’ (This kid has her legs spread with her little hands miming water flowing away. It was too much!)
‘Then the middle wife starts saying ‘push, push,’ and ‘breathe, breathe. They started counting, but never even got past ten. Then, all of a sudden, out comes my brother. He was covered in yucky stuff that they all said it was from Mom’s play-center, (placenta) so there must be a lot of toys inside there.’
Then Erica stood up, took a big theatrical bow and returned to her seat. I’m sure I applauded the loudest. Ever since then, when it’s show-and-tell day, I bring my camcorder, just in case another ‘Middle Wife’ comes along..
Now you have two choices…laugh and close this page or pass this along to someone else to spread the laughs. I know what I did!!!
Live every day as if it is your LAST chance to make someone happy!
I hate my Job
When you have a ‘I Hate My Job’ day, [even if retired you have those sometimes] try this:
On your way home from work, stop at your pharmacy and go to the thermometer section and purchase a rectal thermometer made by Johnson & Johnson. Be very sure you get this brand. When you get home, lock your doors, draw the curtains and disconnect the phone so you will not be disturbed. Change into very comfortable clothing and sit in your favorite chair. Open the package and remove the thermometer. Now, carefully place it on a table or a surface so that it will not become chipped or broken. Now the fun part begins. Take out the literature from the box and read it carefully. You will notice that in small print there is a statement:
‘Every Rectal Thermometer made by Johnson & Johnson is personally tested and then sanitized.’
Now, close your eyes and repeat out loud five times, ‘I am so glad I do not work in the thermometer quality control department at Johnson & Johnson.’
HAVE A NICE DAY AND REMEMBER, THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE ELSE WITH A JOB THAT IS MORE OF A PAIN IN THE BUTT THAN YOURS! |
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Woohoo Pens!!!
Got a date with Lord Stanley!!!!!!
Pens take conference… Lets Go Pens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
