Time to Leave

 

December 30

“Everything will be fine you’ll see,” his mother said lovingly to the boy.

“But suppose the world does end,” he insisted, “I won’t ever see you again.”

She assured him, “I’ll see you in Heaven. You will go up from here and your Dad and I from the Civic Center.”

“How will I find you in Heaven? It will be more crowded than the Civic Center.”

She hugged him. “Remember Heaven has pearly gates? Wait for me there. Ok?”

“That’s a deal Mom.”

 “Mizpah, because he said, ‘May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from another.” (Genesis 31:49)

Go Figure

 

December 29

Before they left the funeral home the sisters prayed for a sign that their deceased dad was all right.  A few days later Diane was listening to Public Radio while driving her car. Faith Middleton, was interviewing an author who responded to a question by saying, “It all began when I was shipwrecked off the coast of Africa.”

That’s exactly how her dad started every bedtime story when they were girls. She called her sister who had heard the same program. They took this as a sign their dad was ok.

 “Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever.” (Psalm 136.3)

It is all attitude

It Is All Attitude

 

December 28

 

She was in her 80's and walked a mile everyday to the church office arriving with a smile and a kind word for everybody.

Then there was Leo, “Mr. Fix It,” drawing after his car rolled backwards demolishing a metal shed he had just erected. What are you doing Leo?  “I'm designing a new shed and this time I'm making it out of wood, so if this ever happens again, at least I'll have some kindling left."

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

The Day After

I admit to a day after Christmas let down. I don't want to let go of the spirit of Christmas.
Why can't we continue to smile at each other and wish each other good will as we did
yesterday? Why not continue serving and giving to each other. I want to hold onto the
spirit of Christmas and not go back to "normal."

"Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude praising God and saying: 'Glory to God
in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men." (Luke 2:14)

Christmas away from home

 December 25  Christmas Day  from my journal

 

Christmas away from home

 It is my first Christmas away from home courtesy of the U.S. Army. I’m stationed in the Panama Canal Zone. My view of Christmas is snow, sleighs and evergreens.

Here there are palm trees, plastic wreaths and cardboard snowmen. I’m just not in the Christmas spirit. I go to the chapel for a candle light service complete with familiar carols and readings. Leaving, it dawns on me that the first Christmas was in a desert. I get it loud and clar.

“Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)

 

Merry Christmas everyone. Peace

The Wise Men

 

December 23 from my journal

 The story is familiar. Magi come from the East, following a bright star. "On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary and they bowed down and worshiped him." (Matthew 2:11)

HOUSE! What happened to the stable?
The wise men traveled better than a year to find the new king' When they didn’t return to Jerusalem, paranoid Herod orders all children in Bethlehem two years and younger slain. Wise men obey God and act on faith. I should too.

"And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod they returned to their country by another route." (Matthew 2:12)

"Its a wonderful Life"

 

 

December 22 from my journal   three days to Christmas

 

The video I bought Christmas week  was Frank Capra's classic, "It's a Wonderful Life." I didn’t know the story but I like Jimmy Stewart.The main character George Bailey is a family banker. He is a good man but blames himself when things go wrong. He had misplaced his faith.
The message is an important reminder that when our heart is right and we help others God will bail us out just as George Bailey was delivered in the film. It is a wonderful life when we see God in it.

“The blessing of the Lord makes one rich and He adds no sorrow to it.” (Proverbs 10:22)

The Best Place to be

December 21  four days to Christmas from my journal

 The front page of The Hartford Courant has a picture of toll stations on a bridge. Both have green lights but one is empty while the other has a line of cars. The caption explains the commuters are going out of their way to show their appreciation to a friendly toll taker on his last day at work. That picture shows me I can be God's aroma of love to everyone, no matter what I'm doing or where. Isn’t that the best place to be, in His will?

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”

(Colossians 3:23)

Christmaas Presents

December 20

Every year this woman has raised funds and donated gifts to needy families. But this yeat she was feeling depressed over not selling her house and had no energy for anything.

 One weekend her house sold and on Monday her boss informed her that all the sales associates decided not to exchange Christmas presents but buy toys instead and donate them to ‘her project. She told me“It was  God saying; Ok the house is sold here are the toys, now go distribute them.Isn’t our God awesome?”

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, For He is good, For His mercy endures forever.” (Psalm 136:1)

Christmas Shopping

 

 

December 18       seven days to Christmas from my journal

 While Christmas shopping Joy saw a young mother struggling with two little girls. She was speaking sharply to them. I said to those girls “aren't you fortunate to have such a nice Mom who brings you shopping with her.” Walking down the aisle I heard the woman address her girls in a pleasant tone of voice.

 “That was God using me to reach that young mother." Joy mused, "God wants to use us to give words of encouragement."I can do that I thought. Who can I serve with encouraging words today.

 "Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.”(Matthew 20:26)

My Radio Debut

            

 

December 12

 It is my big chance to do the midday café show, on campus radio. I am the fill-in disc

jockey and my own engineer. The hour goes well, I think, and I fantasize some pretty coed making her way over to Davis Hall to get a glimpse of the man behind the voice. I end on time and reach for the main power switch. HORRORS. It is already off. My voice has never left the studio. If I am not connected to my power source all I do is for naught.

 

"I am the vine. You are the branches, he who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

Remembering Pearl Harbor

                                                

December 7

 While vacationing in Hawaii. I visit the Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor. 

In the motor launch to the sunken battleship Arizona I notice there are as many Japanese tourists as Americans. Pearl Harbor is as much a part of Japanese history as it is of ours. I am surprised by this but not angry. I'm proud that this nation has followed the policy of reconciliation with its former enemies. It really is the only way to lasting peace. Jesus must be pleased also.

 "I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you." (Matthew 5:44)

from my journal gofigure america.blogspot

Selling a house by owner

 

December 5

It is a buyer’s market with the average house sale taking six months. We are moving in a month and need to sell fast. I am pounding a for sale sign into the ground when a car stops in front of our house. The driver says she has been looking for a house on this street. A week later she buys our house. Realtors call and can’t believe we sold the house so quickly. They didn’t know that we had asked God to be our real estate agent.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God.” (Philippians 3:6)

Every Day is a Gift

 

December 1

Another day to hear the birds sing,

A chance to see another sunrise,

An opportunity to learn something new,

More time to forgive and to forget,

Another day to appreciate all that grows,

Lord thank you for another day to serve,

Another chance to make a difference,

More time to laugh, linger and love,

Everyday is a precious gift.

“Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:13)