Bring on the Cheese!

My 13-year-old grandson is here with us for a few days. I have to share him now. Big cousin Payton gets his time. Quite a comparison between Nana's and Payton’s uptown apartment where the guys have their gaming fun, rooftop lookout, nerf gun wars -- guy stuff! But Bryson was ready for Nana’s “chill-place" where there is my old Nintendo 64 game that we played for hours, then for ice cream at the newly-opened Bruster’s Ice Cream, and not to be overlooked -- taking a trip to Dollar Tree. This time Bryson set the game-rules. He wanted us to pick five items each to make something.

Back at home, we worked on our projects. Twenty minutes later, were our “big reveals”. He purchased socks to make face masks. I purchased play dough, moss, little logs and a page of stickers. Bryson announced: "You win!" Lastly, we watched my favorite reborn TV show, "Extreme Home Makeover”. I get such feel-good feelings, inspired by the families that suffered some down-and-out situations and were completely turned around by the retored or newly built home for them. Bryson’s comment about it? "Cheesy!" LOL!

That “cheesy” comment reminded me of Simon Cowell’s comment when a couple sang and performed a magic act on America’s Got Talent this week. They sang "There were bells on a hill but I never heard them ringing. I never heard them at all, till there was you” while they, out of the air, pulled out red hearts and flowers. Simon buzzed them and said “Too cheesy!”

This day, July 8th, 1966, two "cheesy" kids' favorite song was "Till There Was You" and it was our wedding song this day, 54-years-ago. I am still cheesy about the 13-year-old boy who fell for this 12-year-old girl, got married at 17 and 18 and we lasted until death parted us…..temporarily.

I reminisce about a not-cheesy covenant made before God, this day. I believe those sacred vows and the covenant we made, gave us “sticking power”, when, many times, we could have cut bait and exited the drama and the shaky times when another day with each other seemed almost too much to handle. What was it that caused "until death do us part" to be the deciding factor that created an inseparable and unrelenting love that knew no end? It was that covenant of "For better or worse", for richer or poorer", "in sickness and health" and "until death do us part". Those were our promises to each other and before God. They stuck in the good and the bad times. I am saying.....tough times don't last...but tough people who give God first place in the mix of literally everything that concerns them.....is what sustains, equips, and remains forever true.

I’m sending kisses heavenward today because I know that’s where my Sweetheart is cheering me on to my finish line. What was it that mattered most while he was still on this side of heaven with me? What is it that matters most to me today? The ONE common denominator -- God, Who blessed us with 44 years of marriage on earth, and is still the ONE who blesses me on this side of heaven. God is still the ONE who continues to wake me up each morning with joy in my soul and a song in my heart. That “triangle” covenant: God, Ron and me – had sticking power. It was a signed, sealed and delivered covenant! It may sound a little cheesy -- but bring on that CHEESE!

That Filet Knife Can Sure Slice and Dice

All that blood! On our fishing trips, I am the designated cook. It’s my pleasure. I love rustling in all the fisher-people for their next chow-down. My son, Larry, is the fish-filet-er. He uses the sharpest filet knife to get the perfect, boneless filets for our big fish-fry. It was that knife that was laying on the counter when I needed something sharp to open a plastic bag. I grabbed it and sliced open the bag AND the palm of my hand. All that blood! Fortunately, it wasn’t a deep cut, but still in an area where a band-aid just couldn’t keep the blood from flowing.

I thought about that "bloody" scene when I read my devotion scripture from Exodus. Imagining my scene with the filet knife was minor compared to all the bloodshed in those sacrificial offerings. It makes me squirm a bit, but I get it. Blood played such an important role in the everyday life of the Israelites. When Moses splashed the blood of animals on the altar and sprinkled it on the people, everyone saw it as a beautiful, moving gesture. Can you even imagine – ALL THAT blood? But, that blood, the substance that gave life, sealed their covenant with God. It connected them with the altar of His presence.

We know the rest of the story. God lived up to his part of the covenant by making the Israelites His special people and by giving them the Law. But they didn’t always live up to their part. Sure, they promised to obey God’s commandments, but they often failed. Nevertheless, in the face of their failures, God remained faithful to them. He wouldn't give up on his beloved people! But that just wasn't good enough to God. Over time, He prepared for them AND us a new, better covenant, one that would be sealed not with the blood of animals but with the blood of his own Son, Jesus. Now, Jesus’ blood, shed on the cross, has the power not only to cleanse us from our sins but to give us the grace to live in holiness and blessing. Through His blood, we are forgiven, healed, and protected. Thank you, Lord, for YOUR blood sacrifice for us.

Jesus initiated this new covenant at the Last Supper when He said, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which will be shed for you” (Luke 22:20). Every time we receive communion, we relive the Last Supper. God reminds us: “I have made an eternal covenant with you. I have given myself to you, all of myself, so that you can live with me forever.” What a GIFT!

This is our God, a God who continues to pursue His people, even when we stray. This is our God, who renews His covenant with us every time we receive the Body and Blood of His Son. What a gracious Father we have!

This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you. (Exodus 24:8)

In the Sight of God and All These Witnesses

Right in the middle of church yesterday, the pastor said “Please be seated. We are having a wedding now. And, up came a lovely bride, handsome groom, their two attendants, and on the front row behind the couple were their children. The pastor said "They were married seven years ago, but today they want to be married in the church in God's sight and all these witnesses.” I suspect they felt married all those seven years, but along the way, they realized they wanted their family and their lives covered by the full blessings of God – no holds barred. Two young people, years before, threw caution to the wind and got married in a "quickie" ceremony because they desperately loved each other and that's all that mattered at the time.

This day they were making a covenant with God and each other for a lifelong, faithful relationship together. The marriage covenant is a mystery of drawing down the presence of God, of engaging His help and power in our lives. Dr. Scott Hahn says it this way: “We are sitting on a stockpile of spiritual power that we have barely begun to tap. Do not be stingy with God's blessings. Do not withhold invoking God's name over your loved ones. Every time you invoke the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, you are tapping into the great oaths that God swore when He fashioned the world; but even more, you are tapping the greater power of Jesus Christ, Who has sworn a new covenant oath, having taken upon Himself the curse for our sin.” We pray that sacred ceremony gives them “sticking” power for many years of wedded bliss.

While their short eight-minute ceremony was going on, I reminisced about a covenant made before God, this day, July 8th, 1966. That covenant was made by my sweetheart and me as we were united in the sacrament of holy matrimony. It was a special, picture-perfect day when my sweet man and I became husband and wife. I don’t believe in superstition -- you know – the groom not seeing the bride during the day of the wedding, or the throwing of the bouquet ensuring the catcher will be the next to get married, or rice being thrown at the couple that means they’ll have prosperity and fertility, though we stuck to those traditions. But I do believe those sacred vows we made and the covenant we made before God, gave us “sticking power”, when, many times, we could have cut bait and exited the drama, and the shaky times when another day with each other seemed almost too much to handle. What was it that caused "until death do us part" to be the deciding factor that created an inseparable, unwavering and unrelenting love that knew no end?

As young as we were (18 & 17), we knew what a covenant before God was and when we vowed before God: "For better or worse" (and, believe you me....we had some "worst of times") and "For richer or poorer" (Lord have mercy -- we had some mighty poor seasons) and "In sickness and health" (we both knew "sickness") and "Until death do us part". Those were our promises to each other and our vows before God.....and they stuck in the good and the bad times. I am saying.....tough times don't last...but tough people who give God first place in the mix of literally everything that concerns them.....is what sustains, equips, and remains forever true.

I’m sending kisses heavenward today because I know that’s where my Sweetheart is cheering me on to my finish line. What was it that mattered most while he was still on this side of heaven with me? What is it that matters most today? The ONE common denominator -- God, Who blessed us with 44 years of marriage on earth, and through all my years on this side of heaven, is still the ONE who blesses me today. He is the ONE who continues to wake me up each morning with joy in my soul and a song in my heart. That “triangle” covenant: God, Ron and me – had sticking power. It was a signed, sealed and delivered covenant! Spending FOREVER with God AND my Sweetheart will be awesome, and FOREVER is a long, long time.

Lord, Have Mercy!

I’ve heard people say “Lorrrd, have mercy!” as a quick retort when yet another “I can’t believe it” circumstance happens. In reality, that is what we should say, rather pray, anytime we encounter a roadblock, a rock landslide, “rocked my world” or rock crazy situations going on in our world. God is our ROCK in all of life's ups and downs and His DIVINE MERCY is at our beckoned call when tough times come or when we are the ones who made a huge mistake and created the tough times.

DIVINE MERCY: God's mercy was given in His covenant as He promised protection, provision, guidance, and His constant presence to His children. Because God is the initiator, the mercy He gives is gracious, unmerited, undeserved, is compassionate and leads to forgiveness, and to the steadfast love that God sustains – in our relationship with Him.

In Psalm 51:1-2, David cried out, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions…” A plea to God for mercy is asking Him to withhold the judgment we deserve and instead grant to us the forgiveness we, in no way, have earned. David encountered that mercy after he had relations with Bathsheba and had her husband, one of David's most honorable soldiers killed. God forgiving him, was truly Divine Mercy.

Yesterday was Divine Mercy Sunday and my assurance of God’s divine mercy was reinforced. Divine Mercy Sunday is a time that is specifically dedicated to the great gift of the Lord's mercy and love. We are NOT our past and God's mercy is real and available. Of course we celebrate His mercy every time we cry out to Him for mercy when we have failed Him, and every time we forgive another or someone forgives us. Mercy should be a part of the life of every Christian as sometimes we hurt others and sometimes others hurt us. “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” Matthew 5:7

When God forgives us, His ocean of mercy washes over us to wash us clean – through and through. That is Divine Mercy. Think of the mercy of God and Paul. We know Paul was a great evangelizer and wrote much of the New Testament. He led many to Christ, but think about his past. Before his conversion to Christ, he arrested, tortured and killed Christians. That was his job! (If you haven’t seen the new movie “Paul, the Apostle of Christ”, you really should. These words will come to life when you see it.) Paul was paid to gather up those who followed Christ. He participated in the killing of Stephen, the first martyr. He did that a lot. But God showed him mercy and with Paul's cooperation, Paul became one of the great saints of the church.

What could be worse than being a Roman soldier who helped facilitate the crucifixion of Jesus? Longinus was that solider, but during the last hours of Jesus' life He recognized Jesus as the Son of God. Jesus showed Longinus mercy and he, too, became a saint.

Perhaps you know someone who represents a living saint to you -- someone who turned from a life of self destruction or a hard-stoned criminal whose life was turned around because of God’s Divine Mercy. Maybe that is you. None of us need to be defined by our past because Divine Mercy is open to us all. Whether our sins are small or great, the mercy of God is available to all of us. The mercy of God is real! The mercy of God is His love! The mercy of God is the power of the resurrection still working today. You are not your past. Believe in it! Embrace it! God’s Divine Mercy forgives, forgets and even forges the way to becoming all God destined for us in the first place. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.

Lamentations 3:22-23 “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.”

You've Got a Friend in Me

With six grandchildren, I've watch many animated movies and among my favorites was Toy Story. "You've Got a Friend in Me" is the theme song. Maybe we should use it as our own theme song:
You've got a friend in me. You've got a friend in me.
You've got troubles, and I've got 'em too
There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you
We stick together and can see it through
'Cause you've got a friend in me. You've got a friend in me

Yesterday, I heard a speaker say, “Often we look and act like we have it all together, but in reality, we are struggling and hurting and we could sure use a friend that we could like, love, and TRUST." That resonated with me. And, that friend is one we trust so much that we can bear our aching heart to as we cry bucket loads of tears. That friend is so trustworthy that they will cry and laugh with us, and best of all, our friend provides a “safe” place for us, because what is said in our time together, stays there. The speaker went on to say “Look at how Christ modeled His life. In the garden, as the Son of God, He chose to reveal to his three closest friends the anguish that He was in. He didn’t put a brave face on for the disciples. He shared the anguish of His soul as He cried, ‘Let this cup pass from me. ” If Christ could bear His soul – we need that, too.

We do have a trustworthy friend in Jesus. He is always there for us. He truly understands everything about us because He felt the same pains that we do. But, we also need a friend or friends that we love and trust and are able to reach out to them for encouragement. When I lived in Tulsa, I had a precious group of loving and caring women that were in my weekly Life Group. My home was our "safe space”, because we liked, loved and trusted each other. We shared our hearts openly because we knew what we shared was held as sacred. Galatians 6:2 says “Help carry one another's burdens, and in this way you will obey the law of Christ.”

Monday night was the first team meeting for a beautiful spiritual retreat that will take place in March. This team is a group of 40 women who will grow together throughout the next 16 weeks as we pray and prepare together for the retreat, but the most important facet of our coming together is that we are sisters in Christ and we will feel safe in that place. We covenant together to encourage and support each other. WOW! Forty friends to “safely” share each others joys and sorrows with.

The Christmas season is here and no doubt there will be added stress and pressure because of all the many activities that come along with it for many, and for others who are alone and lonely and long for this season to be over for another year. We need to find a “safe place” and a trustworthy friend, one of God’s kids, who will encourage us and lift us up. They are out there. To find that friend, it's up to us to show ourselves friendly. Maybe YOU and I could be THAT ONE that can offer ourselves as a “safe place” for others to come to for comfort and prayer. Instead of displaying a “Do Not Disturb” sign on our hearts, it’s time to put up an “Open” sign that says “Here’s my shoulder – go ahead and lean on me!” They will know they can come to us for hope, encouragement and support. After all, aren’t we supposed to be the “Good News” carriers? If you haven't heard it from me before, please hear it now "You've got a friend in me, and I love you so much."

1 Thessalonians 5:11 "And so encourage one another and help one another, just as you are now doing."

A Love That Lasts a Lifetime

Day 291 of Photo Insprations -- A Love That Lasts a Lifetime
I had that kind of love with my sweetheart.  We were going to grow old together.  We were already planning a big famly vacation to celebrate our 50th which would have been in 2016.  But my Sweetheart slipped out of this "heaven on earth" to be in the REAL DEAL -- Heaven in Heaven.

So, when I see older couples so devoted to each other, still holding hands, seeing after each other, and still desperately in love with other -- it makes me so proud for them. I often think about "the way we were" and "the way we would have been", but it doesn't take away the sweetness I see in others.

This precious couple, Bob & Coreen Marson, attend my church and if ever there was an example of devotion and love, these two have it.  They've been married 60 years next month.  Bob is Coreen's caregiver.  Several years ago she was diagnosed with dementia, but It only seems to have progressed to not knowing her numbers and some people.  If you didn't know them, you wouldn't know there were any issues at all. I think that's what Bob's tender loving care has done for her.  I see such love in her eyes; she's always smiling, and she loves it when we hug her.  She'll nestle her sweet head right into your shoulder.  And, Bob gives 100% care to her and he does all the cooking -- and that's a really good thing.  He was always the best cook as he handled all the pancake breakfasts, special events and meals by our Men's Ministries group.  He also helps get her dressed  and makes sure all her needs are met.

That's the way they covenanted together 60+ years ago.  For better or worse; in sickness and in health.  A love that has lasted all these years.  I heard someone once say "“Love is not a matter of counting the years, but making the years count.”  And they've done that.  I called Bob to tell him I was writing a blog about them and he told me the secret to their many years together was they have never gone to bed until they've resolved any issues they had.  He said, "It's sure good to get up in the morning and not have any thing wrong between us.  It's just so great to have a clean slate to start a new day together."  

Bob and Coreen have been through thick and thin together; they’ve weathered their share of arguments. It can’t always have been easy, but then, neither life nor love are!   Sticking together, even through the rough patches is a test of character and of the strength of their love.

I agree with the physician that once said, "The best medicine for humans is love." Someone asked. "What if it doesn't work?" He smiled and said, "Increase the dose."