Lest We Forget

 

All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations. ~Psalm 22:27

Today marks 22 years since the tragic events of what is now known as 9/11.  For most Americans, and many other nations of the world, it was an unthinkable atrocity, one we hope and pray will never happen again in this country that was solidly founded on God's principles of freedom and justice for all.

We who are old enough all remember where we were and what we were doing when news of the fallen towers broke.  In our overcrowded school, my homeroom/classroom was in a trailer.  I had just dismissed my students to their first period block.  As this was my planning period, I switched on the local news to listen passively while I graded papers and prepared for the day ahead.  I couldn't imagine in my wildest dreams those stomach-churning headlines blaring across the air waves.  As I had no television set where I was, I couldn't corroborate what I was hearing.  In fact, I wouldn't see those horrific and heart-rending images of the falling towers until I got home much later that day.

Still, I recall going numb inside, the pain, sorrow and disbelief too much to bear in the moment.  Now, 22 years later, the agony is still fresh in the minds and hearts of Americans.  The senseless annihilation of innocent lives for no other reason than being a citizen of the United States was something incomprehensible, a nightmare from which there was no waking.

So many families still suffer today from the loss of loved ones at the towers, the Shanksville plane, and the Pentagon, on that fateful day, and following that event as fire fighters and police succumbed to the effects that the collapsed buildings had on their health as they bravely attempted to rescue all the victims they could from the smoldering rubble.  Their courage and sacrifice make each one on them American heroes.

May we all mark this tragic anniversary by remembering each and every individual who died on 9/11 and in the aftermath, and turn to the Lord in prayer, that He will protect us from such heinous acts going forward.

And may we also pray for unity in this country without an event like 9/11 bringing us together as one 22 years ago.

Amen!

Where were you on 9/11?  Please share in the comments. 

 

'Ear Ye, 'Ear Ye!

 

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ~1 Corinthians 12:12

I love how God has given each of us unique talents and gifts that we can share with others and use for His service and glory.  Anyone who has followed my blog for any length of time knows that Danny is an excellent chef.  That doesn't happen by accident or happenstance.  He spends many hours perusing cooking sites on YouTube for new ideas and inspiration, and when one seems worth trying, he's all over it!

Probably our favorite thing about summer is the prevalence of fresh sweet corn at the market.  Whenever I taste it, I'm transported back in time to when I'd ride with my grandmother to roadside stands in the country to select what promised to be the best, most tender ears for a family feast.  When I was older, I learned how to shuck the corn in preparation to boil it.  That was not an easy task considering one had to meticulously remove not just the husks, but also the stubborn silks stuck in between the kernels.

When Danny discovers this simple method to clean an ear of corn, I am beside myself!  Some creative chef discovers that if you microwave the whole cob for four minutes (per ear), removing the husk is miraculously easy.  Here is the process:

After the corn is microwaved (yes, it's HOT!), cut the stalk remainder off.

Grab the ear by the top, and slowly squeeze it out of the husk.

And, voila!  A completely clean ear of corn is revealed!

Not only is it cooked and ready to eat, but the kernels can be added to other veggies for a combo dish, as Danny has done in the photo at the top of this page.

And all because one person decides to share this technique with others.  His or her special gift is now something that can improve the culinary skills of chefs all over the world.  How wonderful is that?

God never meant for us to hoard our gifts from Him, but to use them to His glory with a servant's heart.

I, for one, am glad this person didn't hesitate to do just that!

Amen!

Grand Times With the Grands!

 

 

But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." ~Luke 18:16

Because my daughter, her husband, and our granddaughters live in North Carolina, Danny and I have to make plans way in advance to travel in order to see them all.  Oh, how we wish they lived closer to us, but circumstances are what they are, so we make the best of it, even in the oppressive heat of August while their schools are still out.  I know I make it sound in my previous post that the whole gang will be coming here to stay, but pictured above is the Vrbo we rent for the week of our stay.  It's the first time the youngest girls, Savannah and Alexandra, will be spending consecutive nights with us.  They do better than we expect, and a grand time is had by all!

One of the main reasons we rent this particular home is because of the game room set up in the garage.  Yes, we all manage to spend some time there, but as this space is not air-conditioned, it makes it difficult to play there for any stretch of time.  Mom and Dad stop by several evenings after work to see the girls and us.  John, it seems, has a better tolerance for heat than Gammie and Papa, and the girls truly appreciate it!

Virginia is NOT a picky eater; anything put on the table is fair game for her.  Alexandra will try new things, too, but Savannah has to be coaxed to take a taste of anything new to her.  Her favorite meal, which we prepare for her multiple times, is mac and cheese.

Making a face when she first tries French toast, Savannah changes her mind.

Due to the steamy temperatures, we don't do any sight-seeing on this trip, but the girls are more than happy to spend time with us at the house.  What a joy!  There is nothing like being around children to inspire the soul and make us feel young at heart in spite of our advancing years.  

We are so blessed to have these three beautiful granddaughters, and we let God know just how grateful we are to Him for all the smiles, hugs and happiness they bring to our lives.

Yes, I am sad when the time comes to leave for home, but I know how much I will treasure these memories until our next visit.  Through these precious girls, we have tasted the kingdom of God indeed!

Amen!

Giving Back to Caesar?

 

Then Jesus said to them, "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's."  And they were amazed at him. ~Mark 12:17

We all, undoubtedly, recognize an United States' quarter the moment we see one.  I can remember helping granddaughter, Virginia, learn about the various coins, their monetary values, and encouraging her to master basic mathematical equations using each coin's worth.  I believe she was in first grade.

But coins are also one way we can keep American history front and center.  Our Founding Father, and first president, George Washington's, face appears not only on the quarter, but also on the dollar bill - a double dip!  And one this great man most certainly deserves for all his many accomplishments that led to the creation of this great nation.

It seems very appropriate, too, that Washington's face is turned toward our nation's motto, "In God we trust."  He was a man of stalwart faith, never doubting that God had His mighty hand on this fledgling country as we defeated the British in the Revolutionary War.  This motto was nationalized under President Dwight Eisenhower in 1956, and has stood the test of time.

Until recently . . .

Study the quarter, minted in 2023, below.  Notice anything different?

That's right!  George Washington's face is looking away from the sacred script.  What kind of subversion is that?  What genius in this administration thought it was an appropriate move to make?  Don't we have a plethora of other problems, like inflation, the border crisis, and energy woes, that need to be addressed?

Does this reflect a country's willful abandonment of God, or is it done to spite those Americans who believe this nation is still under God?  Maybe, one of you reading this, has the definitive answer.

In the meantime, perhaps in defiance of this "new and improved" coin, the state of Louisiana has passed a bill requiring our country's motto be on prominent display in every classroom in every school in the state.  Good for them!  My hopes and prayers are that no one will think a law suit is in order to "correct" the will of the people.

Our so-called leaders so easily dismiss the statement in our Declaration of Independence:  We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

We are not endowed by our our government by these rights; they come directly from God.  Our nation owes everything, and then some, to Him and Him alone.

If we fail to put our trust in God, the cards will be stacked in Caesar's favor.  He already wields enough power, doesn't he?

I think so!

Amen!

Due to entertaining grandchildren for awhile, I'm going to be taking a break from blogging here.  I'm not sure how long my hiatus will be at this point, but it will also involve my not frequenting your blogs either.  I know you all, my friends, will understand and know I'll keep you all in my prayers!

For God Alone

 

I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High. ~Psalm 9:2

One of the most gratifying experiences Danny and I share as a couple years ago is singing together in our praise band, Crossroads, at Kennesaw United Methodist Church.  When we are assigned a new pastor, the last thing we expect is to get asked to step down from our positions.  Well, not in so many words, but the writing on the wall is loud and clear.  Se don't know to this day why or how we rubbed the pastor the wrong way, but we decide to leave without casting blame or badmouthing her decision.

When I first arrive at Shiloh Methodist (pictured above), before Danny starts attending with me, it isn't long before I'm telling folks what church I used to attend, and how we were involved in the music ministry.  Shiloh is too small of a congregation to have a choir, so much of the music is led by our amazing lay leader, Sandy, at each service.  When I tell her about Danny, she doesn't hesitate to jump on the opportunity to ask him to participate in the music on a rotating basis.

This coming Sunday will be our debut!  Danny has selected the song, "How Great is our God," by Chris Tomlin.

It is one of my favorites, and I'm so blessed to be able to sing harmony with him on this number.  During our practices, all the joys of singing God's praises with him come flooding back to me.  I'm overcome by emotions I haven't felt in way too many years, and I'm so grateful to God for the gift of song to honor Him with the praise He deserves.

Oh, and why are we practicing in what we call our "middle room?"  Because it is sparsely furnished and uncarpeted, the room mimics the great acoustics found in our church sanctuary.  It allows Danny and I to develop a better feel for what the real experience will be like.

In the pre-electronic days when our little church was originally built, sound had to carry all on its own, allowing everyone to clearly hear the hymns of joy and worship, receiving the Word of God with unmistakable clarity.

When I look back on those years of wires, ear buds and microphones, I sense that our desire to draw closer to God and His people was hampered by the illusion of performance.  That's antithetical to the concept of worship, even when our outward signs would have us thinking otherwise.

I pray that we will know this coming Sunday that our presence in that holy place is for God alone and for His faithful people.

Amen!

Gone But Not Forgotten

 

Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. ~Exodus 20:12

My mom and dad pictured here with me as a baby.  So young and handsome!  We lost dad to Alzheimer's in 2014, and I miss him to this day.  Mom passed away in July of 2021, ten days before her 93rd birthday.  Today, if she were still with us, she would be 95.  Of course, we still miss her and always will.

Here are just a few photos of her and the family to commemorate her birthday.

With cousins, Ann and Kay, and Kay's husband, Bill, on the porch in Oxford.

Proud to be a great-grandmother!

Dad loving on Virginia before Alzheimer's extinguished his light.

Mom with granddaughter, Sarah, on her 90th birthday.

Happy Birthday in Heaven, Mom.  You are sorely missed.

Amen!

Calling Card

 

Blind Pharisee!  First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. ~Matthew 23:26

Danny and I are pretty good at keeping our house up on the inside, even though neither of us enjoys cleaning, especially bathrooms, and for my part, ever since I have that bout with pneumonia, I still find it difficult to get down on my knees, mainly because getting back up is always a challenge.  Months back, we did have a young lady who cleaned for us, but when she repeatedly didn't show up on the day and time promised, we finally gave up on her due to her unreliability.  So disappointing to wake up expecting to have a sparkling clean home at day's end, and to find ourselves right back at square one.

Happily, Danny is referred to a local cleaning service, so we decide to take the plunge.  And this time around?  We are richly rewarded!

Natalia is a legal immigrant from Brazil; she speaks limited English, but through the aid of a translator app on our phones, we are able to communicate with her perfectly well.  (Sometimes, I am so thankful for current technology!)  From the moment she enters the house, she is hard at work, leaving no speck of dust unconquered.  Natalia doesn't know what it means to cut corners when it comes to cleaning.  By the time she leaves, the whole house is spic and span, and smells fresh to boot.  When a home is treated to that type of deep cleaning, it takes a long time before it's in need of another such round of housekeeping.

We only engage Natalia once a month, but in the meantime, it's easy for Danny and I to maintain the daily routines of sweeping, wiping counters down, and generally tackling the day-to-day necessities of house cleaning.  And, thank goodness for me, there's no bending down or getting on my knees!

The cherry on top, so to speak, is Natalia's "calling card."  She never fails to make a rosette at the end of a toilet paper roll and the top tissue in our Kleenex boxes.

How sweet and thoughtful is that?  Honestly, I hate to be the first one to use the bathroom after she leaves!

I can't help but reflect on how Jesus describes what spiritual cleanliness truly looks like.  If we don't dig deep within, scrubbing away all the stains of sin we carry, then nothing else we do or say can come from a pure heart.  May we let Him help us to be clean from the inside out, that we might shine His love for us to others every day.

Lord, leave Your calling card for all to see in me!

Amen!