Making a Mess of Life!

Six -year-old Brandon decided one Saturday morning to fix his parents pancakes. He found a big bowl and spoon, pulled a chair to the counter, opened the cupboard and pulled out the heavy flour canister, spilling it on the floor. He scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, mixed in most of a cup of milk and added some sugar, leaving a floury trail on the floor which by now had a few tracks left by his kitten. Brandon was covered with flour and getting frustrated. He wanted this to be something very good for Mom and Dad, but it was turning out very bad. He didn’t know what to do next, whether to put it all into the oven or on the stove and he didn’t know how the stove worked. Suddenly he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of mix and reached to push her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor. Frantically he tried to clean up this monumental mess but slipped on the eggs, getting his pajamas white and sticky. And suddenly he saw his Daddy standing at the door. Big crocodile tears welled up in Brandon’s eyes. All he’d wanted to do was something good, but he’d made a terrible mess. He was sure big time punishment was coming, maybe even a spanking. But his father just looked at him. Then, walking through the mess, he picked up his crying son, hugged him and loved him, getting his own pajamas white and sticky in the process. That’s how God deals with us. We try to do something good in life, but it turns into a mess. Our relationships get all sticky or we insult a friend, or we can’t stand our job, or our health goes sour, or we make bad choices. Sometimes we just stand there in tears because when we can’t think of anything else to do. That’s when God will pick us up and loves on us and forgives us, even though some of our mess gets all over Him. But just because we might mess up, we can’t stop trying to "make pancakes" for God or for others. Sooner or later with God’s help we will get it right.

KEEP KICKING!

I have had this poem in my Bible since the 1980's. I think back then it was printed in The Sword of the Lord and I just put contact paper on it and stuck in in my Bible. The author of it is unknown.

KEEP KICKING

Two gay young frogs from inland bogs,

Had spent their night in drinking.

As morning broke and they awoke,

While still their eyes were blinking,

A farmer's pall came to the swale,

And caught them quick as winking.

'Ere they could gather scattered senses,

Or breathe a prayer for past offenses,

That granger grand, that guiltless man,

Had dumped them in the milkman's can.

They quickly find their breath will stop

Unless they swim upon the top.

They swim for life, they kick and swim

Until their weary eyes grow dim.

Their muscles ache, their breath grows short,

And gasping, speaks one weary sport,

"Say, old dear, I've had enough of life, no more

I'll try it. Sweet milk is not my diet."

"Tut tut, my lad," the other cries,

A frog's not dead until he dies.

Let's keep on kicking, that's my plan.

We yet may see outside this can."

"No use, no use," faint heart replies.,

Turns up his toes and gently dies.

Now the brave frog, undaunted still,

Kept kicking with a right good will,

Until with joy too great to utter

He found he's churned a pound of butter.

And climbing upon this hunk of grease,

He floated to town with greatest ease.

Now the moral to the story is this:

When in your Christian life you find

You're weary of the toilsome grind,

Don't get discouraged and go down,

But struggle on, no murmur utter,

A few more kicks may bring the butter.

The Leaning Side

LORD PROP US UP...

Every time I am asked to pray, I think of the old deacon who always prayed, 'Lord, prop us up on our leanin' side.' After hearing him pray that prayer many times, someone asked him why he prayed that prayer so fervently. He answered, 'Well sir, you see, it's like this... I got an old barn out back. It's been there a long time; it's withstood a lot of weather; it's gone through a lot of storms, and it's stood for many years. It's still standing. But one day I noticed it was leaning to one side a bit. So I went and got some pine poles and propped it up on its leaning side so it wouldn't fall. Then I got to thinking about that and how much I was like that old barn. I've been around a long time. I've withstood a lot of life's storms. I've withstood a lot of bad weather in life, I've withstood a lot of hard times, and I'm still standing too. But I find myself leaning to one side from time to time, I like to ask the Lord to prop us up on our leaning side,' cause I figure a lot of us get to leaning at times. Sometimes we get to leaning toward anger, leaning toward bitterness, leaning toward hatred, leaning toward cussing, leaning toward a lot of things that we shouldn't. So we need to pray, 'Lord, prop us up on our leaning side, so we will stand straight and tall again, to glorify the Lord.''

I saw this and thought about it and decided to see what you think about it!

I don''t know who wrote it or I would give credit.

God Of All Comfort

"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth

us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." 2Corinthains 1:3-4

I read this last night and meditated on it for awhile. The words "all comfort" - no limit to the comfort the Lord gives us. It is easy to say a lot about a comforting God. Preachers can preach on it, we can memorize it, but unless we know what it is to be truly comforted ourselves, it means absolutely nothing. We can appreciate all the good things said in time of sorrow, we can appreciate the flowers and thoughts that come along with them, friends can try and console and say "I"m here if you want to talk." All those things mean a lot but unless we find that real comfort that comes from God~we won't know what comfort is.. There are a few words in the word "comfortable". Rest, relief, satisfaction. All these we need in time of heartache and sorrow. "As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted." Isaiah 66:13. Remember running to Mommy as a little child when we had hurt ourselves? The words "It will be okay." Such comforting words! Then off we went back to play. Mommy always have the touch of comforting that child by putting them on her lap, kissing away the tears, and everything was alright. Our Comforter is not far off in heaven where we cannot find Him. He is close at hand. As a matter of fact He abides within our heart. We need avail ourselves of the Comfort of the Blessed Holy Spirit. Did you catch that? He is an abiding Comforter. he is always present and always ready to give us "joy for morning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." Isaiah 61:3 I'm so glad that I know the Comforter. The first song I really learned on the piano to be able to play at church was, "The Comforter has come." I can still sit down and play it but now it is real. Thank God for the Comfort of the Blessed Holy Spirit. I can go on with life and know that He is here to give me rest in Him, to comfort and satisfy.

We had Mom's funeral yesterday. I'm almost too tired to write now, but I did want to post ny grandaughter's poem that she wrote and read at the funeral. i will write more later.

MY SHINING STAR

Like a bright shining star drifting in the sky-

Now you have you wings and surely you will fly.

Above with the Lord, no dark lonely nights,

Only love and happiness in the bright shining lights.

You've lifted us up through the rough times we've had,

And now, for you, Me-Maw, we'll try not to be sad.

We were privileged to say our children knew you too.

And it may not be easy, but they will make it too.

You've fought a long battle, as long as you could,

And the Great Lord took you when He felt that He should.

I'll never forget the look in your eyes,

When we came to visit and say our good-byes.

I let you know I was okay, I couldn't let the pain show,

But I will hold you in my heart and never let you go.

It's in the Lord's Hand, the amount we can take,

And we all know He never makes a mistake.

We are al His Children, children of love.

Now, you will be watching from the great Up Above.

Pe-Paw is waiting, so now you must go,

And now you both will be watching, this much I know.

Now, not only do we have One, but Two Shining Stars.

You will be gratly missed, but no longer in pain.

aqnd I know you expect from us, nothing but the same.

We love you, Me-Maw and it's kept you alive,

But now it is up to us to continue to strive.

We hope you are proud of all we've become,

But we could not have made it without your love.

Even though it may not have been what we wanted to hear,

You always spoke your mind, always, far or near.

We love you, Dear Me-Maw and now must let go

Please hug Pe-Pawfor us and tell him hello.

Your Great Grandaughter,

Leslie

Written in 10 minutes to read at her funeral. This was before Mom passed away. I was so pround that she was able to read this. The Lord really helped. her. I will write more when I get rested.

Gone Home!

Mother went to be with the Lord about 6:30pm. My sister got in this morning about 10:AM. The funeral will have to be next Tuesday as we are waiting more family members. When I sat down here my little Bible was opened to 1Corinthians 15:19. I don't remember it being opened at all. But the Lord knew just what I needed. "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, We are of all men most miserable." I'm so glad that we have that hope in Christ that we will meet again. All because of Calvary! Keep us on your prayer list as we go through the funeral next week Love all of you. Thanks for praying!

KEEP PRAYING

Just a few lines to let you that have been praying ~ Keep Praying. Mom is still holding on ~ sleeping most of the time. She has not eaten for over two weeks. Takes very little liquids. We really don't know how she is still here except for the fact that my sister will be coming in from Pennsylvania Thursday. The nurse told me that sometimes they stay alive until a certain member of family gets there. Personally, I don't know how she is still here, but the Lord does. She has a room mate that cries and hollers all the time. Her room mate has been in the hospital over a week. She got back last night which means we can't all get in the room as before. Mom open her eyes and said something. I got real close to her and she said,"I wish I could help that poor soul." She left a letter about her funeral and we read it. I had to laugh. I don't know when she wrote this but she was telling us where her money was for her funeral and her insurance policy. She then said,"If that isn't enough ~ just pass the hat." I'm home trying to get some rest. Since my brother and younger sister is here I might try to get some much needed washing done. I will just have to give the house a lick and a promise. Especially pray for the grandchildren. They haven't seen Mom in awhile and when they came it really hit them hard. Especially my two grand-daughters, Bridget and Leslie. They were pretty close to Mom. Thanks for all your prayers and comments. It means a lot to know that you are out there holding us up to God in this time of need. I love you and will be back writing more when all of this is over.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY! Just a quick Happy 4th of July ! I heard several services going on at the nursing home today singing patriotic songs and getting in the spirit of the freedom we have to still have the Ten Commandments. Yes, there is a big plaque in front with The Ten Commandments. I thank God for that, but it may be soon taken away. Right now we still have the right to worship like we please. Some of our liberty's that our fore fathers fought for are being taken away little by little.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY !

May we all remember what it stands for. May God bless you and God Bless America! I'm proud to be an American.

Will you Pray?

I am asking that all of you pray for Mother and the family in the next few days. I have been with her for a week and half. She will not eat, drinks very little and talks very little. At the rate she is going she won't last very long. She has a Living Will that she does not want tube feeding. Hospice is coming in Monday to help with her at the Nursing Home. We know we will have to give her up and I know where my source of help comes from. I am amazed at His Grace. A lot of the family came in yesterday to see her. That is mainly the ones that live around here. Others keep in close contact. I came home to wash my hair and try and rest awhile. But just wanted to post this first. I can't express my feelings right now. Just lift us to the throne every time you think of it. Thanks! Aliene