God Continues to Teach Me Archives - Page 4 of 15

Worried? Go watch a bird.

04/05/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

Matthew 6:25-27 (NIV) “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

Jesus teaches us so clearly in these verses.

I’m going to let you read a recent blog post by my son Matt who has expanded my thinking on these verses. Click here —
https://mattpearsononline.com/bird-watching-anxiety/

Matt comes from a long line of people who enjoy birds. His daddy spends a lot of time and money keeping our feeders full of seeds. Matt’s daddy learned by watching HIS daddy, and I’m quite sure the example goes back even further. Suffice it to say that the Pearson men enjoy and appreciate birds. I know for a fact that when my husband has a chance to watch hummingbirds, a red-headed woodpecker, goldfinches, a hawk or an eagle, he considers it to be a good day indeed. Perhaps more of us should take the time to stop, listen and watch birds. After all, Jesus told us to do it. Examples of God’s care surround us everyday.

A Culture of Niceness

03/29/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

The people at Chick-Fil-A could learn a lot by watching the staff members at Pursell Farms, and we all know how polite the folks at Chick-Fil-A are. Yes, it was our experience that the people at Pursell Farms took guest services to the highest level we’ve ever witnessed.

We were greeted at the gate by a guard who called us by name without ever asking who we were. He telephoned ahead to the inn. When we arrived, someone was waiting out front with words of welcome and offers to help with bags. The receptionist at the desk checked us in cheerfully and with a big smile. She answered all our questions and pointed us toward the afternoon refreshment area with snacks and fruit-infused water, tea and coffee. Five minutes after we got to our room, a treat tray arrived with homemade candies and fresh fruit.

The servers in the restaurants were friendly and attentive. The girl who freshened our room each day said more “Yes, ma’ams” than I’ve heard in months. The doorman/greeter “talked fishing” with Steve. Others at the desk gave accurate directions with helpful hints thrown in free of charge. Every single person, when I asked my Connie-style 20 questions, said that they felt fortunate to work there and seemed to genuinely enjoy their coworkers, as well as all the guests. A particularly helpful lady named Marie went out of her way to be sure I was able to contact the chef for an interview. They all took apparent pride in their roles at Pursell Farms, and the gleaming, tasteful furnishings and immaculate landscaping revealed that the pride extended beyond the walls of the buildings.

What a refreshing three days we spent. It was almost guaranteed by the attitudes of the people surrounding us. They put their needs aside and concentrated on ours.

I have no doubt in my mind that the first clue to all of this niceness also greeted us inside the gate. The first welcome sign included a Bible verse giving glory to God.

On the desk in our room was a paperback biography of Jimmy Pursell, who I learned is a strong Christian. His financial success has resulted in generous giving and strong support for VAPOR Ministries whose stated mission is: “to establish sustainable centers for alleviating poverty and multiplying disciples in third-world environments.” Check out the website here. While we were in this luxurious resort, we were also being gently reminded of those less fortunate.

When is the last time you were in a restaurant, a hotel, a business, or an attraction where you were surrounded by kindness? Is there any doubt that the founder of Pursell Farms has created a culture of Christlikeness in the behavior and actions of his staff stemming from his own beliefs and commitment to his Savior?

Being a Christian (especially when one Christian joins with many other Christians) is supposed to result in a kinder, others-focused environment. Don’t you agree?

Then, doesn’t it stand to reason that our churches should be the kindest and most others-focused place of all? Think about it.

Like their sign says, “Great are the works of the Lord. He has made His works to be remembered.” Psalm 111:2, 4

Colossians 3:12 – “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

Thinking about the Number 40 on this 15th Day of Lent

03/22/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

Baptists don’t observe Lent – at least, not as a denomination — so my exposure to the concept and the practice is pretty much limited to our 4 years in Ecuador which is predominately Catholic. From New Year’s Day until Mardi Gras, we dodged water guns and balloons (sometimes unsuccessfully). Rather than having an elaborate parade with expensive costumes, much of Latin America enjoys this (mostly) silly and harmless custom, and tourists are a favorite target. Our vehicle admittedly was pummeled more than we were, thank goodness, but we received our fair share of hurling wetness.

Then came Ash Wednesday, and we passed many people on the streets with gray crosses on their foreheads. From what we learned, those people had been to church that morning where a priest dipped his finger in ashes, then placed a cross on their heads while saying the words, “Repent and believe in the Gospel,” or “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” The mood was much more somber on that day than on the day before.

Ash Wednesday marked the beginning of the observance of Lent, which is a 40-day period from that Wednesday until Maundy Thursday (the Thursday before Easter) not counting Sundays. Here is an explanation I found this week that reflects what I’ve been taught through the years:

Lent is a penitential period, involving the dual disciplines of abstinence and fasting. During Lent many Christians commit to fasting or giving up certain foods, habits or luxuries – for example meat, cakes and sweets, alcohol, smoking – for its duration (the money saved is often then donated to charity). This is done both as a form of penitence and as a spiritual tool to tame the body and ‘sharpen the spirit’ for prayer, reflection and contemplation in preparation for the celebration of Easter.

Forty is derived from the number of days Jesus spent in the wilderness after He was baptized, or others say it represents the number of hours Jesus was in the tomb.

I can recall a number of others places in the Bible where the number 40 was significant: 1) During the flood, it rained for 40 days and 40 nights. 2) The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years before being allowed to enter the Promise Land. 3) Moses spent 40 days and nights on Mount Sinai on two different occasions. 4) Spies were sent out to explore Canaan for 40 days. 5) Elijah went without food and water for 40 days on Mount Horeb. etc. etc. etc. In general, the number appears to represent a time of testing or trials.

I don’t know whether or not you plan to “give something up for Lent” this year, but I’ve thought of other “40’s” we might want to consider. We’re only on Day 15 of this year’s Lenten season. There’s still plenty of time.

Make a list of your 40 greatest blessings from God.
Do 40 hidden good deeds — ones for which you will not receive public credit.
Write 40 thank-you notes to people who have gone out of their way to help you recently.
Give your spouse a list of 40 things you love about him/her.
Decide on 40 things you love about your church and share them with your pastor and/or Sunday School class.
Memorize a Bible verse every day for 40 days.
Spend 40 minutes a day in prayer, remembering to intercede on behalf of our country and its leaders.

Can you think of other “40’s” to suggest?

Have a meaningful Lent, everyone.

And, since this happens to fall on our son’s 42nd birthday, I want to give a shout out to Matt. We hope he has a wonderful day. 🙂

15 Lessons From a Crisis

03/15/2019 By: CCPearson4 Comments

What good is it to have a crisis if we don’t learn something from it? Here are 15 lessons I learned and relearned recently that I hope to remember for many years to come.

WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE HUNTSVILLE HOSPITAL IN NORTH ALABAMA. Yes, I wish Hartselle had a good healthcare facility, but since we don’t, it is extremely comforting to know that Huntsville Hospital is only 40 minutes away. It is considered to be a premiere hospital, and it excels in the area of heart health — which is exactly what I needed.
To all of my women friends: if you experience chest pains that radiate up or out, go get checked out immediately. It might be your gallbladder, or it might be heartburn or stress, but you just won’t know until someone with skill and diagnostic equipment determines what is going on. And, if it IS your heart, you want to be IN the hospital and not home wondering. Just FYI, if the pain radiates to your left jaw that is more telling than your right jaw. Also, shortness of breath, feeling feverish or pain that returns are prime indicators.
NEEDLES MAKE ME UNHAPPY. I started to say “I hate needles,” but I try very hard to avoid the word “hate.” I have one really good vein in the crook of my right arm, but anytime a tech starts looking elsewhere I get very tense. The back side of my hand used to be my most dreaded place for a needle, but thanks to 4 days in the hospital, I’ve found new places to dread. I did learn that as a patient I have the right to ask for the ultrasound team to come in to find a good vein, rather than having a tech or a nurse keep digging with what feels like an ice pick. Keep that piece of advice in mind if the need arises for you.
A hospital is not the best place to be a food writer. Bless ’em. The dietary staff has a formidable job. I understand. And, every time a member of that staff came in my room, they were extremely courteous. MANY patients are on restricted diets, and they have to be mindful of ALL of them. I was given several options at each meal, and the food was nutritious. I certainly didn’t DREAD the meals, you understand. And, under the circumstances, I wasn’t about to ask for something “not good for me” to be brought in. How else can I say it? It was “hospital food.”
Pajama pants are good to wear under hospital gowns. Not only do pajama pants keep you warmer, they preserve at least a semblance of modesty when there is very little to be had during numerous procedures and constant tests.
I appreciate good hygiene. Oh, the joy of being able to take a shower and wash my hair! Oh, how good it feels to brush my teeth! By Day Two, I had finally obtained a tooth brush, but no showers were allowed during my stay (because of the heart monitor). That made me feel even worse, and I was hyper-aware of how good everyone ELSE smelled. Sponge baths help only a little. I have taken some record long showers since I got home and hope to never forget what a privilege it is to have lots of soap and hot water.
A good night’s sleep is a blessing. Hospitals are notorious for being places where no one gets to sleep more than a few minutes at a time. The necessary interruptions are relentless. I completely understand that everyone has a job to do, and I really appreciated it when my night nurse saw something “unusual” on my heart monitor and came quickly to check on me TWO NIGHTS IN A ROW. Really, that’s important, and it let me know that I was being “watched” even when no one was in my room. (A small hint of what it means to be watched over by God, don’t you think?) But, truthfully, I am a spoiled American. My bed at home is an oasis, and my mattress is one of my favorite material items. Hospital mattresses . . . and blankets . . . and pillows, on the other hand? I repeat. I’m a spoiled American.
Everyone has a story. Techs for taking vital signs, techs for drawing blood, day shift RNs, night shift RNs, RNs in training, people pushing wheelchairs from place to place, people carrying meal trays, people who come around to help heart patients take their important laps around the halls, E.R. personnel, X-ray technicians, doctors of all kinds, fellow patients, etc. etc. etc. They all walk into that hospital day after day with their own stories, their own challenges, their own joys and sorrows. It only takes a question or two for those stories to come spilling out. I certainly love it when someone takes time to ask a question that gets me talking, don’t you? Really. Deep down. Don’t you want someone to care that much?
Hospital stays provide a new perspective. A walk down any hall (with your hospital gown carefully tied, of course) lets you see that so many people are far worse off than you are. You are actually one of the lucky ones. In the E.R. on the first day, I witnessed a patient come bolting out of a triage room hurling expletives at the nurse who had been trying to access her condition. I was immediately grateful for security personnel and the fact that every person coming into the E.R. has to be scanned and searched for weapons, etc. On Sunday night while I was going through some dreaded preparation procedures, 23 people lost their lives in tornadoes only a few hours away and dozens of others lost their homes. I should have had ZERO complaints. Then on Monday, I had to wait SEVEN HOURS for my heart catherization to begin. That was frustrating, and my anxiety level was rising, BUT I found out that the reason for the delay was the fact that six people before me had developed emergency situations during their caths causing their procedures to take more time. In contrast, mine went like clockwork. Colossians 3:2 – “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
Healthcare professionals are wired differently than I am. They are hyper-attentive to details. They don’t mind blood and guts, and they have servant hearts. I have a renewed appreciation for everyone of them. Romans 12:6 – “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.”
God knows the Big Picture, and it’s evident in the smallest details. One in particular that I had to smile about was this. I was in the middle of preparing food and the house for company coming that night for dinner when my chest pains happened. The dinner, of course, was cancelled, but as a result of my preparations, I walked back into a clean house with food in the fridge when I finally got home. All we had to do was heat it up. Who knew I would be the one reaping the benefits from my efforts? God did.
I know that I am eternally prepared for the moment death comes, but I still have things I want to say and do before I die. In a vain attempt to keep things light as Steve and I were driving to the emergency room, I tried to tell him things I hoped he would include in my funeral, what clothes to bury me in, how to dispose of some of my possessions, etc. He didn’t like that very much, of course, and I don’t blame him. I remember, though, that my stepmother June had taken the time several years before she died to write letters to her children and to my dad. She had them in her Bible where they would be certain to find them. Those letters are priceless treasures to their recipients. I need to follow her example.
Pain signals that something is wrong with our bodies, but fear is detrimental to our health. The more nervous, agitated, anxious, yes, fearful, I became during the procedures over a span of four days, the higher my blood pressure and heart rate climbed. That, in turn, made the procedures much more difficult. More than anything, I needed to find peace and calmness — internally and externally. God keeps whispering in my ear, “Peace, be still, Connie.” I need to listen.
God wants me to be content operating in a lower gear. I confess to being a card-carrying overachiever. When someone gives me a task, I am never satisfied with a B or a C. I HAVE to make an A+. I disdain laziness, and I relish days with a to-do list and productivity goals. Now I’m searching for ways to better manage stress. Perhaps I will take on fewer tasks and allow myself ample time to complete them, rather than skidding on two wheels up to the deadine. Who wants to hold me accountable in this area? God loves me whether I make A’s or not. Romans 8: 38-39 – “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Amen? Amen.
I am loved and people truly WANT to pray for me. When I “come to the end of myself” and put down the facade I carefully construct of being able to “handle it on my own,” I invariably find that my friends and loved ones are ready to lift me up, to intercede to God Almighty, to express their love and concern, and to help me bear whatever burden I am carrying. God hears my prayers, even the ones that I can’t put into words, and He is listening to the cries of His children everywhere all the time. He’s got this (whatever “this” may be at any given time), and He Is Able.

James 5:16 – “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

Romans 8:26 – “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”

1 Timothy 2:1 – “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people”

Daniel 3:17 – “If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.”

God is able. Period.

Then My Friends Started Praying

03/08/2019 By: CCPearson8 Comments

One week ago, chest pains woke me up very early. They only lasted a few minutes, so I managed to get back to sleep. Later, as I was getting out of the shower, they struck again. This time they were more intense, stabbing and twisting. They radiated up my neck and along my right jaw. I got dizzy and sat down. After a couple of minutes, all seemed fine, but in my mind, I knew that radiating factor was not good. But, I had things to do. Company was coming for supper, the house needed to be straightened and the table set.

I googled “Signs of a Heart Attack in Women.” One of the first ones mentioned chest pain that radiated upward, so it was time to confess to Steve what had happened. We called my local doctor’s office, I explained the situation, and the nurse’s exact words were, “If you were my momma, I’d be on the road with you to Huntsville Hospital right this minute!” That sounded pretty serious.

I figured we could go, quickly get checked out, and I’d still be back home in time to put the finishing touches on the evening meal. Alas, NOTHING happens quickly in an emergency room.

EKG was normal. Blood work (what would prove to be the first of MANY needle sticks in my future) was normal. Chest X-ray was normal. BUT, I had described chest pain that radiated to my jaw AND had mentioned that the pains happened when I was relaxed and not exerting myself. That led to another test, a CTA scan with contrast, that ended up happening at 9:00 p.m.

By then, of course, the dinner plans had been cancelled, and I had the nagging worry of having left the crockpot turned on low at home. I was still planning to sleep in my own bed that night but lost that hope when I was told that it would likely be morning before the results would be read and reported, so I’d need to stay.

I sent Steve home. Bless him. At least one of us needed some sleep, and SOMEBODY had to turn off that crockpot!

About 11:00 p.m., the cardiologist’s nurse practitioner came in and said the results were troubling. She then proceeded to draw me the following picture.

Two small blockages on each end. Two larger blockages, of undetermined amounts, near the center. The one on my LAD artery (often called “the widowmaker”) appeared to be the largest and was the most concerning. Now, I was getting nervous.

The doctor himself came in at midnight — wouldn’t that raise a red flag for you? He said they wouldn’t be able to know what to do about that LAD blockage without further tests, including a heart catherization that would have to wait until Monday. He strongly advised against going home because of the possibility of being away from the hospital if things escalated before they could address that artery. Now, my blood pressure was REALLY soaring.

I called Steve. His calm voice always keeps me from losing it. I didn’t cry.

An iv was started, injections in my abdomen (blood thinners) every 12 hours began, and a heart monitor was hooked up. When you’ve basically been told you are a ticking time bomb, sleep doesn’t happen.

At 3:15 a.m. — yes, 3:15 a.m. — I was moved to a room on the cardiology floor. Nice people. Long, scary needles.

Another cardiologist came in about 7:00 a.m. that Saturday. After listening to my chest, back and neck, he said he heard an obstruction in my neck. So, in addition to an electrocardiogram and regular blood draws to measure heart enzymes, an ultrasound of my neck was ordered. What? More obstructions and blockages? I asked what that could mean. “You could have a stroke,” they said.

Saturday was a complete nightmare for me. In addition to the constant parade of nurses, doctors, trips down the hall in a wheelchair for tests, trying to go to the bathroom dragging an iv pole and my portable heart monitor bag, my veins were beginning to be uncooperative. About mid-afternoon, a tech came in to draw blood, and the stick was excruciating. That was when I cried.

I was in pain. I was scared. I had a bleak-looking future. It all came gushing out through my tear ducts. Less than 48 hours earlier, I considered myself to be “the picture of health.” Now, I was a mess.

After awhile, I insisted that Steve go home and get some rest. We were scheduled to start a new Life Group on Sunday morning at our church. He was going to have to do that without me and needed to prepare. Plus, I was craving time to just “be” between needle pricks and checks of my vital signs.

That’s when I reached out to my friends on Facebook. Until then, only a few people knew the situation. I was in desperate need of heavy prayer support . . . and I got it.

Within a short time, hundreds of people were interceding to the Father on my behalf, and I could feel down deep in my soul that He was answering their prayers. Some people feel very negatively about Facebook, but that night and through the next two days, the connection it provided with friends was a life- and sanity-saver.

I got a couple of good naps Saturday night – hallelujah. Sunday brought far fewer needles and interruptions. I spent time in God’s Word searching verses about His peace. I found this again — John 14:27 — “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

I gave myself a sponge bath (no showers were allowed) and put on a fresh hospital gown and some lipstick. I still had to face the preparation for the heart cath and the actual procedure, but I knew my friends were praying. It made all the difference in the world.

Monday morning I was up and going by 4:30 a.m., knowing that patients would be taken back for caths beginning at 7:00 a.m. Our son Matt arrived from Franklin, TN to sit with his parents, love on us, provide some laughs and put his pastoring skills to good use. After SEVEN HOURS of waiting, it was finally my turn.

From that point on, the miracles started happening. The heart blockages were not bad enough to require any stents. The ultrasound on my neck showed no problems. And, I was given the news that once I went through the recovery protocol, I could GO HOME!!!!

As you might expect, I have spent the last three days catching up on sleep and processing all that God was teaching me through this trial. Most of you don’t know this, but back in 1994, I got a dire diagnosis. After a biopsy, a doctor in Decatur called to tell me that I had a vascular malignancy. He said that he was going to send the sample off to New York for further evaluation before we could decide how to proceed. I was home alone when he called. Our kids were teenagers. I was stunned. My future was very uncertain. But, after a harrowing week, the news was amazing. Instead of cancer, I had a benign hemangioma! I’ll never forget my sister-in-law’s words. She said, “Connie, I believe that test left Decatur malignant and arrived in New York benign BECAUSE OF ALL THE PRAYERS.”

I can’t help but wonder if the same thing happened with those heart blockages that showed up last Friday night. Just maybe, they started out bigger and shrunk as the prayers began. Whatever the case, I am so very grateful for the gift of another day and for the amazing blessing of friends who truly care. Thanks be to God, and thank YOU, my praying friends. Thank you. Thank you.

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow, Praise Him all creatures here below, Praise Him above, ye heavenly host, Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

By the way, the source of those original chest pains is still undetermined. It wasn’t my heart. I no longer have a gallbladder, so it wasn’t that. The likely culprit is stress. Now to see if I can learn to manage that aspect of my life.

When Your Grandchild Leads by Example and Habit

03/01/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

As I described in last Friday’s post, we recently spent three days in the Smoky Mountains with our oldest grandchild, Allie, who is in her final semester of high school. The goal was quality time, so we did everything possible to achieve it.

On Saturday night, while keeping logs on the fire, watching a movie and eating S’mores, we devised a plan for Sunday morning. We settled on each of us having extended individual quiet times and then listening to one of her Uncle Matt’s sermons via his church’s website. All members of the Pearson clan are accustomed to getting up on Sunday morning and heading out to our various churches for Bible study and worship, but we were away from our normal routine. Isn’t that what we generally face when we’re on vacation?

Steve and I were fine with the plan until Allie emerged from her room on Sunday morning with her hair fixed cute, her make-up applied and wearing a pretty dress. When we commented about how nice she looked, she said, “Well, it IS Sunday morning.” Yes, indeed.

That did it. We needed to find a church service and go to worship together. We googled First Baptist Gatlinburg, FBC Pigeon Forge and FBC Sevierville. After factoring in distance, service times, descriptions of worship styles and plans for later in the afternoon, we decided to attend the 11:00 service at FBC Sevierville. It proved to be a great choice.

First of all, FBC Sevierville has a well-conceived and implemented plan for first time guests. The signs instructed us to put our flasher lights on. It was raining, but when Steve stopped to let Allie and me out near the entrance, a greeter with a huge umbrella was johnny-on-the-spot and escorted us all the way to the door. He may have gotten wet, but he made sure we did NOT.

Inside the door, we were greeted warmly, our questions were answered, and we received a nice guest bag. Seats in an unembarrassing place (a.k.a. not on the front pews) were available, and we slipped in as the music began.

Oh, the music. That, of course, is my heart language — especially sacred praise and worship music that is sung and played in an excellent way. An orchestra with at least 25 instruments was on stage in front of a choir of about 50 singers. The selections were a mixture of traditional with more recent songs, and the choir sang a stunningly beautiful arrangement of “How Great Thou Art.” I couldn’t help it. Tears rolled down my cheeks.

The preacher’s message focused on the words “ALL” in Proverbs 3:5-6.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and He will make straight your paths.

It was a great passage for two retirees and a high school senior to hear AGAIN. You have to believe God had orchestrated our steps that morning.

After the closing prayer, a pipe organ with a skillful organist at the bench cranked out a spirited, classical postlude. Yes, I said a PIPE ORGAN! When was the last time I had heard one? Was it when I got to play one every Sunday at Central Baptist in Decatur? Those sounds might not have meant much to Steve or to Allie, but they meant the world to me. It was as if God was letting me know He saw me and wanted to meet with me that morning.

If Allie hadn’t packed her pretty dress . . . If Allie hadn’t said, “Well, it IS Sunday morning” . . . . We would have missed it. I would have missed it.

Extended quiet times would have been great. Hearing Matt preach via the computer would have been great. But, I thank God for allowing Allie, because of her lifetime of habits, to nudge us toward corporate worship that Sunday morning.

When a Granddaughter Wants You All to Herself

02/22/2019 By: CCPearson2 Comments

I am an extremely blessed grandmother of 7 granddaughters with #8 due in July, if the sonogram is accurate. Steve would want me to quickly add that they are HIS granddaughters, too. Many times we spend time with them when they visit with their whole families or during Cousins Camp. Occasionally, we’ll have two at a time, but rarely do we get individual time with these precious girls. Last week we had an opportunity to do that, not once but twice.

Penelope Delia Rodgers was born on Valentine’s Day in 2010. I was actually present IN THE DELIVERY ROOM for her birth and remember that she had the reddest little baby lips I’d ever seen. Penelope went home to two waiting sisters, and another sister joined the family exactly one year and 10 days later. No way was Penelope going to be swallowed up in all of that femininity without distinguishing herself. She has been noticeably independent from the beginning. She’s not afraid to go against the grain and often brings insight (and an impressive vocabulary) into conversations that go far beyond what might be expected for one so young.

For her birthday this year, she requested a trip to the mall. Translation: Please give me some birthday money and let’s have a grandmomma/granddaughter shopping trip. When most of her shopping experiences are treks to Costco with the whole family of 9, an individual excursion to the mall with plenty of time for leisurely browsing sounded like a great gift to her. Granddaddy didn’t want to be left out, so she happily agreed to include him. That would mean TWO adults giving her undivided attention.

The way Penelope poses when she wants to get a “reaction.” 🙂

She loved spending some of her money at Claire’s on jewelry and such, but she mostly enjoyed Books-a-Million and came out with three new volumes in a series she’s devouring. We gave her at least a dozen choices of places for lunch, and she chose the Chow King Buffet. Ha! Possibly our LEAST favorite place to eat, but this was all about Penelope. Right? Penelope chatted amiably and appeared to truly love her day of spoiling.

The second two-on-one time was more extensive and had been carefully anticipated for months. Our oldest granddaughter Allie Grace Greenhaw is a senior in high school. She’ll graduate in May and then head off to college. We so wanted a time to just focus on her, to encourage her and to spoil her a bit heading into the final push of school. After carefully examining her school schedule and the many commitments on her calendar, we found that President’s Day weekend was available. We decided that a cabin in Gatlinburg could provide some cozy times by the fireplace, a chance to soak up nature (something she craves) and some great food. With my infamous Clipboard-of-Fun-mentality, I started suggesting snowtubing at Ober Gatlinburg or tickets to some of the popular shows. Allie said, “If it’s all right with you, could we just snuggle by the fire, eat s’mores and talk . . . and maybe take a hike or two in the woods.” Why, yes, Allie, we’d be mighty fine with that plan. We picked her up from school on Friday and headed to the mountains.

Allie has a gentle nature, and we learned on the trip that she was voted the female student with the “Best Christian Attitude” in her senior class. What could possibly be better? She’s smart but rather shy. We saw almost none of that shyness, however, as she talked and laughed and asked us dozens of questions. She happily answered a few that we threw out there, too, for the purpose of good conversation, you understand.

The time with Allie gave us a chance to hear her heart about her future and to share some of our own college adventures. It was so reassuring to know that at age eighteen her Christian values are deeply rooted and her thoughts about church/worship styles/theology and the like are rock solid. She’s already picked out a church that she can’t wait to “plug into” next fall. Again, what could possibly be better?

Our hearts are full as a result of the time we were able to invest in these wonderful granddaughters. What blessings they are and what bright futures they have! Praise God.

3 John 4 — “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

Psalm 128: 5-6 — “The Lord bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life!
May you see your children’s children! Peace be upon Israel!”

Proverbs 17:6 — “Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
and the glory of children is their fathers.”

James 1:17 — “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights”

When Something Lost Is Found Again

02/15/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

It was early in 1985. I was sitting in a class called “Methods for Teaching Elementary Music” at Oakwood College in Huntsville, AL. For some reason, I looked at my left hand and noticed that the diamond had fallen out of my engagement ring. Since there were only 8 of us in the class and since I was the only white student, my frantic twisting and turning as I looked all around my desk was hard to ignore. I’ll never forget what that kind teacher did. She asked me what was wrong. When I told her, she said,”Okay, everyone. We are going to help our fellow student retrace her steps until we find that diamond.” They all stood up and starting searching with me. We walked outside and out to the parking lot. A few feet before we reached the driver’s side of my car, someone said, “I see it!” And, there it was. My diamond, shining on the pavement. What a relief! What a feeling of gratitude to that teacher and those students.

Recently my family found something that had been lost to us for decades. We knew it existed, and we longed to see it again and know what had happened. But, until a few days ago, it seemed hopeless.

Now, what was lost is back where we can see it and touch it. We have been thrilled, relieved and so very grateful.

Have you ever lost something very precious to you? Did you agonize over what might have happened? Did you search diligently until you found it? Did you go out and replace the lost item, or did you simply mourn the loss and move on?

Some things that are lost CAN be replaced. Other things cannot.

All of this has led me back to Luke 15 — the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, the Lost Son. Look at the responses when each of these items of great value was found after being lost:

Luke 15:6b-7 — “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!” I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Luke 15:9b-10 — “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!” In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

Luke 15:23-24 — “…bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.” And they began to be merry.

AMAZING GRACE, HOW SWEET THE SOUND

THAT SAVED A WRETCH LIKE ME

I ONCE WAS LOST BUT NOW I’M FOUND, WAS BLIND BUT NOW I SEE.

If you were lost and then found your way like I did when I was 8 years old, then you can know that our repentance and salvation caused a party to break out in heaven. Don’t you love that?

If you are STILL lost, I urge you to find your way home. Admit you have done things that separate you from God. Ask for His forgiveness which is made possible by the death of Christ on the cross. Receive the free gift of salvation which is yours for the taking. Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Know that this decision makes the angels sing.

I’ll Never Be an Angel

02/01/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

As much as I’d like to envision myself with wings, dressed in an intricately-designed white, flowing dress with blonde ringlets around my face and a flawless complexion, that will never happen. Nor will it, according to what I read in the Bible, EVER be the case with any of us. That isn’t really the way angels even look — except for the ones we might put on top of our Christmas trees. As a matter of fact, angels may have been rather frightening looking. Why else would many passages associated with angels begin with the words, “Fear not?” The first reaction to actually seeing an angel must have been shock and terror, not something we associate with the first mental picture I described at all.

Human beings are NOT angels, nor will we become angels. According to Psalm 8:5, we were made “a little lower than the angels.” Look at the whole passage of Psalm 8:3-9:

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

God . . . then angels . . . then us.

As I study more, I notice some very important roles that angels fulfilled in Scripture. First, they were messengers — which is what the word angel actually means. They were also protectors, ministers, mediators between God and humanity, warriors and worshipers of God Almighty. Look up these verses to see those roles for yourself: Psalm 91.11, Psalm 34:7, Isaiah 6:3, Hebrews 1:6, 2 Kings 19:35, Hebrews 1:14, Luke 22:43.

On a recent trip to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, I saw a surprising number of angels. Four trees were carved with them and placed throughout the town. Bay St. Louis, as you might remember, was in the bullseye when Hurricane Katrina roared ashore on August 29, 2005. Homes, businesses, roads, bridges, the entire infrastructure were all decimated in the hours of the storm’s heaviest intensity. Yet, there are stories from survivors of finding miraculous objects and trees where they clung desperately while the water raged. Those survivors are convinced angels, in their roles as protectors, were in that place specifically for them. They know they experienced a miracle. They live with a greater resolve and sense of purpose.

In an effort to “do something” to try to comfort the people of Bay St. Louis during their massive rebuilding efforts after the storm, Dayle K. Lewis from Indiana began carving angels from some of the downed live oak trees. They were actually carved with a chain saw, but the details will astound you.

No. We are not angels, but we CAN do some of things that angels do. We can try to console hurting people and minister to them, and we can worship our Creator. And, we can be God’s messengers, sharing His word whenever and wherever we have the opportunity.

What is Your Word for 2019?

01/25/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

We’ve already reached the last Friday of the first month of 2019. This year, as is true for all of them, is slipping by at lightning speed. What kind of tone have you set for this year? What is your attitude and mindset? What changes have you implemented to make this year better than last year — physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, and, of course, spiritually?

Benjamin Franklin is credited for saying, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.”

Winston Churchill said, “Those who fail to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.”

And, Thomas Edison was quoted as saying, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

I think I like Thomas Edison’s quote the best. It seems to be the most encouraging, the most motivating, the one that propels us forward.

But, of course, a number of Bible verses also mention planning. Proverbs 16:9 “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”

And just a few verses before that in Proverbs 16:3, we find: “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.”

So, my conclusion is that God, as is ALWAYS true, is in charge. His will WILL be done. His will is only revealed to us in tiny moment-by-moment increments, but in the meantime, I believe planning for the future is wise.

As 2018 began to wind down, I noticed quite a few of my friends pondering what their “word” for 2019 would be. In other words, what theme, what marching orders, what motivational tool would they use to launch their year?

I saw some very good ones: flourish, forward, kindness, joy, improve, seek, surrender, release, etc. etc. All of those suggest forward motion and very good choices.

I chose the word POSITIVE. Not in the Pollyanna, pie-in-the-sky sense, but a mindset to seek the positive in others, to find the positive in the crises and challenges that come in my life, and to realize that when circumstances could combine to beat me down, I can take the blows and then stand back up.

I read another great quote recently: “”People who wonder if the glass is half full or half empty, miss the point. The glass is refillable.” That’s it. We are GOING to be defeated, disappointed and disheartened from time to time, but “the glass is refillable.” God IS able.

2 Samuel 22:33 – “For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock? God is my strong fortress, and He makes my way perfect.”

Ephesians 3:20 – “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”

It’s not too late to choose your word. Need a little help making your choice? Check out this article filled with suggestions. I can’t wait to hear what you’ve chosen.

https://www.blessingmanifesting.com/2017/12/choose-word-of-the-year.html/

Tags