Time-out

We watched a grandson play soccer and basketball in CA in January. Then more recently we watched five of our grandchildren participating in the Bible Quizzing at Lancaster, PA. In every instance, there was "time-out" for the teams part way through the activity. And I'm thinking...

We attended the morning service at our church today. And I was comparing it to a "time-out" in the competition of life. We are also confronted with the strategy of an opposing team- one that wants to beat us into the dirt with no mercy. But on a regular basis I need that "time-out" to confer with the Coach and my teammates. I am not smart enough to do life on my own. I need the wisdom and encouragement of the Coach and my team mates to help me be prepared for the next round. I may not be the most gifted player on the team. But I know if I stay on His team, our team wins in the end!

2012 trip west

January 1, 2012

Marvin and I were ready to head the the west coast.
The van was loaded to the gills with 41 Christmas bundles for the Shining Light Children's Home, 54 personal care packages for the old folk's home in Tijuana, food for the crew and our luggage.

Our first stop was to worship at Lanes Run Mennonite Church. Our nephew Joel Burkholder preached the sermon. We had lunch at (nephew) Vincent & Marcella Burkholder's home along with Joel & Bonnie & family.

The next day we visited the Creation Museum at Petersburg, KY. So refreshing to visit a museum that exalts the infallible Word of God.

Our next stop on Tuesday, January 3 was a visit with my cousin Anna (Martin) & Vernon Weaver at Bluford, Illinois.

We traveled southwest from there to the Gateway Arch at St. Louis, MO. Rode the elevator to the top and toured the museum. Interesting!

We arrived at the home of our friends, Ed & Grace Reiff (below) at Fortuna, MO in the afternoon of Jan. 4th.

Such a warm welcome- in more ways than one!

On Thursday, January 5th, we arrived in the Rich Hill, MO community where six children of Paul & Elizabeth Brubaker live. This group does not use engines. In the photo below you can see the horse on treadmill that powers the washing machine.

We continued our southwest trek and arrived at Dallas,TX on Saturday, Jan. 7th. Our friends, Harry & Laverne Erb met us and hosted our tour of the 6th Floor Museum in Dallas. This place honors slain John F. Kennedy. You can hear Walter Cronkite's voice - a replaying of the stunning news cast that people our age remember hearing on November 22, 1963.

We went to church with harry & Laverne at Grays Prairie on Sunday morning, then pushed our covered wagon westward again by mid-afternoon.

Expect the unexpected! We got into snow between Big Spring, TX and El Paso, TX on Monday January 9th. Thank God for safety in treacherous travel! Oil wells, desert scrub and all are snow covered!

By 7 PM we were experiencing a different climate! We arrived at the home of my cousin, Sylvia Hasbrock and her son Jim. We had a most delicious supper at her daughter Julie's house where we were introduced to most of her children and grandchildren. So good to visit with all of them again!

On Tuesday, January 10, we headed due west. In southern CA we passed through the Sand Dune Recreational Park. The landscape here is volatile- always changing with the wind direction.

We arrived at Jonathan & Angelica's house by 7 PM- one hour later than our schedule. Thank God for safe travel every mile- 3053.4 miles since we drove out our lane! We stayed here until Friday, Jan 13th. Meanwhile the van was transferred to the Orphans for Jesus ministry, we bought groceries, picked up Karen, Leroy & Romaine who planned to help with the project in MX, and visited with our son and family.

After spending nearly $800 for groceries at Super Walmart, we crossed into MX. We arrived at Rancho Ojai about 10 AM on January 13th. The rest of the day was spent getting organized for our cooking job for the Orphans for Jesus crew.

This is the cook crew! We had excellent help! My sister & husband, and our niece and her future fiance' Jesse & Rachel were great!

And this is the crew we fed morning, noon and night for ten days!

What a group of dedicated young people! They had a mind to work, but knew how to have fun too!

This is the inside of the dining which is located about 1/2 mile from the kitchen. That meant all our food and utensils needed to be transported before and after each meal. But it works!

On Tuesday and Thursday, the cooks did the laundry for the crew. A lot of girls did their own laundry. But we had 46 pair of jeans- can you see the stack under the table? We hung jeans and towels on the rail fence to dry. Colorful scene!

On Saturday we went along to see the old folks home where Karen has worked for the past several years when she goes on the OFJ terms. It was rainy so it made the place more depressing than ever!

We visited the Shining Light Children's Home more than once. I was surprised and delighted to met Rocio- a 19 year old girl who calls me "Grandma" ever since she lived with Jonathan & Angelica soon after the children's home was established.

And this is Micaela- one of the girls that won my heart. This dress was in the Christmas bundle we prepared for her.

After the Orphans for Jesus week was completed, Leroy & Romaine, Marvin & I did some touristy things in CA. We visited the Creation Museum in Santee, CA and Old Town San Diego. It could be described as the Southwest version of Williamsburg, VAIn the photo below you can see the old jail in San Diego! Not a luxury hotel!

My sister is known to inhabit court houses. Here she even found one in Old Town San Diego!

We found our way to San Diego Zoo on Friday, January 27. Both Jonathans stayed home from work and school for the day. See Jonathan and Angelica posing with the polar bear statues.

Eli and Jonathan pose with the gorilla statue- don't worry , we did see lots of real animals too!

This is Gao Gao the Bamboo eating machine!

Two Jonathan stuck in a fake iceberg!

The real polar bear posing for us!

And no trip to the west is complete without a trip to the beach to watch the sunset over the ocean! I love the ocean and sunsets- the combination is described in two hymns "The love of God- could we with ink the ocean fill, and were the skies of parchment made. Were every stalk on earth a quill and every man a scribe by trade? To write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry, nor could the scroll contain the whole though stretched from sky to sky! O love of God..how rich and pure , how measureless and strong! It shall forever more endure, the saints and angels song!

#2- Beyond the Sunset- O blissful morning! When with our Savior heaven is begun! One day we will slip beyond the sunset where we will no longer been seen on earth- but be more alive than ever in the presence of the SON!

We left the van behind in CA and flew home on January 30th. Good to be home and unpack. Thank You , Lord, for helping us fulfill our dream of driving to the west - one more time!

Blessings in Disguise

We pray for blessings

We pray for peace

Comfort for family, protection while we sleep,

We pray for health, for prosperity,

We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while You hear each spoken need,

Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things.

We pray for wisdom,

Your voice to hear

And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near,

We doubt Your goodness, We doubt Your love

As if every promise from Your Word is not enough,

All the while You hear each desperate plea

And long that we'd have the faith to believe.

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You are near

And what if the trials of this life

Are your mercies in disguise?

When friends betray us

When darkness seems to win

We know that pain reminds this heart

This is not our home

It's not our Home!

"Cause what if your blessing comes through raindrops

What if your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You are near?

What if my greatest disappointments

Or the aching of this life

Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world cannot satisfy

And what if the trials of this life,

The rain, the storms, the hardest nights

Are you mercies in disguise?

(Laura Story)

only one life dilemna

A few weeks ago we attended the Christian Aid Ministries open house at Ephrata Pa. We also receive a fair amount of newsletters from various mission organizations. Sometimes I wish I had 1000 lives to give my Lord. I would be happy if He would send me in one life to Haiti to sweep floors in the clinic in Haiti where my niece serves the needy, one life to be a nanny or grandma at a children's home in MX, one life to distribute Bibles in China, one life to serve in a USA city mission, one life to help spread the Gospel in dark places of Europe, one life to wash dishes at places that minister to hurting people and the list goes on and on. If salvation were based on how much one can accomplish in life, I'd never make it to heaven.

At other times I am afflicted by weariness and am so thankful that at the end of one life, I can go Home and rest forever. I am grateful that this world is not my Eternal Home. But my Commander-in-Chief tells me that by the avenue of prayer one life can minister to many. Isn't that amazing? It is all about HIM and HIS GLORY! Just think what 1000 short lives could do if they were totally committed to Him?

Long ago my Grandma wrote the following verse in my autograph book:
"Only one life, 'twill soon be past,

Only what is done for Christ will last."

Lord, help me to focus on things of eternal value!

39 evidences of pride

This list came to me recently- I am convicted and challenged! So much of today's atmosphere smacks of "self-worth, self-confidence, self-image, know yourself, self-this, self-that, and more-self. " Oh! just to have the mind of Christ!

If you know who developed this list. Please let me know, so credit can be given to that individual.

1. Do you look down on those who are less educated, less affluent, less refined or less successful than yourself?

2. Do you think of yourself as more spiritual than your mate, others in the church?

3.Do you have a judgmental spirit toward those who don't make the same lifestyle choice you do?

4. Are you quick to find fault with others and to verbalize those thoughts to others? Do you have a sharp, critical tongue?

5. Do you frequently correct or criticize your mate, your minister, or other people in positions of leadership (teachers, youth director etc.)?

6. Do you give undue time, attention and effort to your physical appearance- hair, clothing, weight, body shape, avoiding appearances of aging?

7. Are you proud of the schedule you keep, how disciplined you are, how much you are able to accomplish?

8. Are you driven to receive approval, praise or acceptance from others?

9. Are you argumentative?

10. Do you generally think your way is the right way, the only way, or the best way?

11. Do you have a touchy, sensitive spirit? Easily offended? Get your feelings hurt easily?

12. Are you guilty of pretense? Trying to leave a better impression of yourself than is really true?

(Would people be shocked if they knew what you were like at home?)

13. Do you have a hard time admitting you are wrong?

14. Do you have a hard time confessing yous sin to God and others? (Not just in generalities but specifics)

15. Do you have a hard time sharing your real spiritual needs/struggles with others?

16. Are you excessively shy?

17. Do you resent being asked or expected to serve your family, your parents or others?

18. Do you become defensive when you are criticized or corrected?

19. Are you a perfectionist? Do you get irked or impatient with people who aren't?

20. Do you tend to be controlling- of your mate, your children, friends, those in your workplace?

21. Do you frequently interrupt people when they are speaking?

22. Does your husband feel like he can never measure up to your expectations of what it means to be a good husband, spiritual leader etc?

23. Do you often complain- about the weather, your health, your circumstances, your job, your church?

24. Do you talk about yourself too much?

25. Do you have a sharp critical tongue?

26. Are you more concerned about your problems, needs , burdens, than about others' concerns?

27. Do you worry about what others think of you? Too concerned about your reputation or your family's reputation?

28. Do you neglect to express gratitude for "little things"? To God? To others?

29. Do you neglect prayer and intake of the Word?

30. Do you get hurt if your accomplishments/or acts of service are not recognized or rewarded?

31. Do you get hurt if your feelings or opinions are not considered when your mate or your boss is making a decision or if you are not informed when a change or decision is made?

32. Do you react to rules? Do you have a hard time being told what to do?

33. Are you self-conscious because of your lack of education or natural beauty, or your social status?

34. Do you avoid participating in certain events, for fear of being embarrassed or looking foolish?

35. Do you avoid being around certain people because you feel inferior compared to them/don't feel you measure up?

36. Are you uncomfortable inviting people to your home because you don't think it's nice enough or you can't afford to do lavish entertaining?

37. Is it hard for you to let others know when you need help (practical or spiritual)?

38. When is the last time you said these words to a family member, friend, or co-worker: "I was wrong; would you please forgive me?" (If it has been more than a month, mark it down).

39. Are you sitting here thinking how many of these questions apply to someone you know? Feeling pretty good that none of these things really apply to you?

Forty Six Years and counting

Forty Six Years and Counting

Years ago we were young, in love and full of dreams for our future together.

We have shared many joys and sorrows of life

that were part of the dim unknown future

on August 14, 1965.

Sometimes we have taken each other for granted,

On this anniversary we grieve with a dear couple who have barely made it past their silver anniversary before the dark cloud of cancer appeared on their horizon.

And we feel so blessed to still love each other and have the privilege of growing old together.

We did not know how hard it would be to earn a living and make ends meet.

But God has faithfully provided for our needs and beyond.

We have chosen God's Word as our guide for living.

Sometimes we were faithful, many times we were not.

We thank God for His mercy and forgiveness.

He is a God of "new beginnings".

We did not always handle stress in a good way during the heat of the day,

but today we enjoying the opportunities to spend more time alone together

while we watch the steadily approaching sunset on the horizon.

This was the opening song at our wedding (adapted version):

All the way our Savior leads us, what have we to ask beside?

Can we doubt His tender mercy who through life has been our guide?

Heavenly peace, divinest comfort, Here by faith in Him to dwell

For we know whate'er befall us, Jesus doest all things well.

All the way our Saviour leads us; Cheers each winding path we tread,

Gives us grace for every trial, feeds us with the living Bread,

Though our weary steps may falter, And our souls athirst may be,

Gushing from the Rock before us, Lo! A spring of joy we see.

All the way our Saviour leads us; oh, the fullness of His love,

Perfect rest to us is promised, In our Father's house above

When our spirits clothed immortal, Wing their flight to realms of day

This our song through endless ages; Jesus led us all the way.

Three centuries

No I am not three centuries old...yet. But recently an 80+ year old man asked me, "Did you know my father?" I did not know his father. My first thought was, "How old do you think I am?"

But on second thought- I have known the parents of quite a few people who are 80 or more years old. I well remember my grandparents- the parents of my 97 year old aunt who passed away this year. My 4th-5th grade school teacher was an 1800's model. I could go on and on naming people from the nineteenth century who have touched my life in one way or another.

When you think about it- I have known people who were born in the nineteenth century, twentieth century and now the twenty-first century. People from three different centuries have touched my life in one way or another. I am blessed by the perspective that gives to life today.
I am even more glad my life has been touched by an eternal God.