Category Archives: Faith

Selfishness: Me First -By Karla

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Go Figure

Sixth grade kids crack me up! They are so independent one minute and a little kid the next. Some have already grown so tough that it is difficult to approach them for a personal conversation, and others still have questions about Santa Claus! The very ones that are most difficult pull their attention into a lesson are the ones who are jumping up and down on the bleachers dying to be a volunteer during an assembly. Many times, the ones who have attendance issues are the ones running down the hallways to be the first on in the classroom! 

All About Me

Relatively thinking, we live in a “me-first” or “I should get-the-best” kind of world. Often we think that it is only kids who are partakers of this slanted thinking, but we are guilty too. We stand in the check-out lines mumbling. Can they not open another line? Can’t they see me standing here having to wait? I’m in a hurry. At work when things to not seem to go the way we want, we mutter. Really, I’ve worked here all these years, and this is all they give me for Christmas? The examples could go on for a while, but the point is that our biased me-thinking is either entering our minds or lurking near unless we consciously put things in perspective.

Wanting the Best for her Children

Recently reading in the book of Matthew, James and John’s mother asked Jesus if her boys would sit on the left and the right of Him. Hello! The left and the right! She would probably think she should get her own personal grocery store! Honestly, I did think what audacity!

Our List of Demands

I enjoy watching Chip Ingrid; he says such profound things in such a down to earth manner. Sometimes our prayers might come across like a list of demands: “Dear Lord, please fix this situation, heal this person, make this bad think stop happening, please make someone do this.”

At times, we act as if we are requesting the easy life from God: “Lord, let everything go my way, let everyone I know be healthy, give my children the prosperous life, and on and on.”

Not On the Easy Days

Really? Do I do that? Maybe not in those words, but in similar ones. As I look back to the paths I have traveled, I am struck at the times I have grown in my Christian walk.

  • Not the sunny days, but in the storms
  • Not payday; but three weeks after (Good ole once-a-month teacher paydays.)
  • Not the healthy days, but the days when a loved-one was ill
  • Not the days the car cranked, but when we were stranded.

“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 your paths straight.”(Proverbs 3:5-6) 

The days the hurricanes hurled the rains into our paths; these are the times to learn to lean on God most. However, I want learned that I don’t want to only lean on God during the rough times, but on the good days as well. In all our ways, the good and the bad.

I am learning to add to my “me-first/make my life easy” prayers by asking God to walk with me every step of the way. I want to draw nearer desiring for more and more of His ways to become my ways. For my young adult children, I want to remember not to pray for them to be first or to have an easy life. For it was during adversity that I learned to walk closer with God, and so may it be for the ones I love.

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Prayer: What If We Ask? -By Donna

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Last week I was asked if I thought it was ok for someone to pray for what they hoped would happen. I was also talking to a friend recently who had been dealing with a situation for a while. I laughed and said, “ask and it shall be given unto you.” To which she replied, “Hmm, I haven’t prayed about it, I’ve just complained about it.”

God answers prayers. I know that for a fact. The Bible says so, and I have experienced it many times. I remember from my early teens two things my pastor said about prayer that have stuck with me. The first was that God answers prayer three ways; yes, no, or wait a while.” Yes prayers are the easiest to accept and be thankful for.  But, he may answer no. When God says no, He is looking out for our best interest. He has something better planned. Someday you may find yourself thanking God for an unanswered prayer. I know I have. The hardest answer is the “wait a while.” We must remember that God’s timing is perfect. Sometimes it seems like He has forgotten, but He is orchestrating each detail and step along the way.

What More do You Want?

A story was the second thing I remember my pastor saying about prayer. It illustrated how God’s answer may be different from what you are expecting. That was many moons ago but it went something like this:

A man was trapped on his rooftop by the rising waters of a flood. A neighbor came by in a rowboat and called to him, “Get in my boat! I’ll save you!” However, the man said, “No!  I prayed to God, and He will save me!” The water rose to the man’s knees. Next came another fellow in a motorboat. “Get in! I’ll save you!” cried the fellow. “No!” the man on the roof replied. “I prayed to God, and He will save me!”  Soon the water was up to the man’s chest. Then a helicopter with a ladder came by. “Grab on!” called the pilot. “I’ll save you!” The man on the roof called, “No, I prayed to God, and He is going to save me!”

Without warning a wave swept him off the roof, and he drowned. As he entered heaven, he questioned God. “God, I prayed to you, and I trusted you to save me. You let me drown. Why didn’t you answer my prayer?” God replied. “My son, I sent you two boats and a helicopter! What more did you want?”

Ask Him

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! Matthew 7:7-11

God is our father.  “… how much more will our Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him.”  But what if we don’t ask and miss out on a blessing He had planned for us?

-Donna

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Guidance: No Sense. -By Karla

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Ok, I have a little sense, but not so much when it comes to directions.

Which Way Is Up?

Over the years, I have provided my family with lots of stories that give validity for their harassment. I have tried to come up with some way to explain my actions but had little success. When I turned 16, I told Mom I was ready to go take my driving test. Concerned because she did not think I had studied enough, she asked if I was sure.  Now, I would almost swear that I never said the following, but apparently, there are too many witnesses.  

“I have just one question,” I must have blurted without thinking. “How do you know which side of the road to drive on?”

Just Point the Way

Another directional story that seems to haunt me from my youth is one my Aunt Anna likes to share. In the middle of some blabberings, I simply pointed to Nana’s house. The two houses are only a few hundred yards from each other. Lord only knows what I was trying to tell because my pointing ended the story. I remember them standing me in front of the living room window, where I could see her house. However, for the life of me, I could not figure out which way her house was so that I could point in the right direction!

Better Late than Never

Over the years, I would like to say that I have been cured from my directional disabilities, but that would be a bold-face lie. Before navigation systems were on our phones, my girls were in their prime basketball and volleyball days.  God love them. I know they started a ton of away games wondering if I would get lost and miss half of it. Once I got to a game with less than two minutes left to play!

The Stories Just Keep Turning Up From Nowhere

And don’t even get me started talking about the times Donna and I have been lost; there are several hundred blogs for those stories.

Once I even got lost on the beach!  Now to be perfectly honest, I didn’t even tell anyone about that one except Donna because we were on the phone when the realization hit me!  t was December, and I decided to take a stroll on the beach and watch the sunset. Taking off my shoes, I put the condo key inside them, and tucked them under my a chair. I walked for about a mile; then headed back. The problem was that we was so involved in our conversation, that I did not noticed I had passed the beach chair by a mile or so! My phone died; the sun set completely, I was barefoot and had a serious need to find a potty.

The beach was deserted by this point, and I was uncomfortable walking alone in the dusk.  Heading for the road, I thought I would be a little safer. Up ahead, I thankfully saw a very nice hotel, and knew I could make a pit-stop. Though shoeless, I darted for the ladies’ room. After hours of walking aimlessly, I came to familiar surroundings, located my sandals, and made my way home.

Finding Our Way

Life sure is filled with numerous, complicated situations that require us to know how to find our way. Recently, while in the nursery, a young girl came in, sat, and begin to talk. Forming a little bond over the past year, we chatted, and I prayed with her. She is from an unchurched family; she needed to learn how prayer helps us find our way. Our world is filled with chaos, some that we do not even create, prayer guides our unknown paths.

How blessed we are, but often lazy. We have access to a Bible; all we need to do is open it and read. The closer I get to God, the more I want others to know how He desires to navigate us in the right direction.

 Isaiah 55:8-9 says,  “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” He has the best road for us to travel, so that we will never get lost. We need to invite God with us, lighting the path to our destination.-Karla

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Role Model: More Than A Teacher -By Karla

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About a week ago my two older sisters and I had the privilege of visiting a special lady.  She is loved by many as a teacher and a Christian lady from home in Fannin County, Georgia.

As a Little Girl

In elementary school, I was amazed by the fact that Mrs. Buttram taught Mom and Aunt Annan during her first year of teaching. Mrs. Buttram was also our neighbor. Mom would send me down to her house to fetch a cup of sugar or flour when baking. I would run through my yard and stop at the huge retaining wall that formed a barrier between two yards. With all my might and courage, I would talk myself into jumping off the wall, taking the shortcut to her house.  Greeting me at the door, I always noticed her sweet voice and smile.

Several years later we had moved from right above her house, down the hill on the other side of her. Riding my bike to the end of the road, I would often meet her, after she had worked the long hours as a teacher. She always waved and rolled down her window for a friendly little conversation.

Now a Teacher for Me

As a junior in high school, I was both excited and a little nervous when I saw Mrs. Buttram’s name on my schedule. What if I did not live up to her expectations? Of course that wasn’t the first time I had been nervous about having a teacher. With two older sisters, it was always a little difficult to walk in their footsteps. As the passed, I quickly settled. She always showed love and compassion for her students. The only time I ever saw her upset was when a boy cheated in her room. She handled the situation with such grace and made all 30 of us think twice of ever cheating on anything.

During the days that led to Christmas, she played an Elvis record. My four friends and I had our own little quintet when we joined with the whoo-who-ya-whoo-ya’s in his version of  Blue Christmas! Mrs. Buttram would just smile as us, but we knew she expected us to work in between our serenades.

Developing a Love

It was in her class that I acquired my love for written words. We wrote poems, essays, and personal narratives. She giggled at my adaption of the ever-popular Peter Cottontail when I turned the words to “Little Tommy Turkey Tail trotting down the turkey trail”.

Perhaps more importantly, she took the extra time share the remarks, “Simply beautiful” on a story I wrote. Those comments were written about 34 years ago, but I still remember. The story was something about a girl who was peacefully pondering life. (We were required to illustrate our works, but I don’t draw. So, I cut a picture from a magazine where a girl sat on a mountain ledge. She advertised how easy it was to hike while wearing a pad!)

Teacher, Neighbor, and Church Member

One Sunday about seven years ago, I was at my home church in McCaysville, Georgia. Mrs. Buttram was still singing in her same sweet soprano voice. A lady, standing next to her, lifted her hand in praise to God. I thought how the lady’s hand was probably in Mrs. Buttram’s view of the congregation. I learned something new that day. Mrs. Buttram was not distracted by the other lady’s hand; in fact, Mrs. Buttram lifted her hand in adoration as well. I had many times thought of lifting my hands, but I was too worried about what others would think of me. That Sunday, I realized that it only matters what God thinks.

Last week, we drove Marietta to visit Mrs. Buttram, who now lives with one of her daughters.  Among the stories we shared about memories in neighborhood, we took the time to reminisce about her teaching days.

Then I gave her two magazines, “Good News” Rome editions, containing articles that Donna and I have written. I explained to her how much her encouragement meant to me over the years.

What a blessing it was to hear her say, “I’m so pleased, Karla. May I keep these to read?”

So many years have passed since I bravely jumped off the retaining wall going to her house. That wall that I used to look up to now seems so small. However, Mrs. Buttram will always stand tall in my eyes!

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Attitude: Baby It’s Cold Outside! -By Donna

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Karla and I are so much alike, except when it comes to temperature. As you can see from the picture, this is what the settings sometimes look like when we are traveling together. What you can’t see is that I am wearing leggings, jeans, shirt, sweater, socks, boots, jacket, and drinking hot tea.  Karla is wearing a sleeveless shirt, open-toed shoes, and a cooling rag. Her hair is pulled up, and she’s drinking cold water. It hasn’t always been like this with us, but these hot flashes make traveling with her a little more challenging. I despise the cold!

Some of my Christmas gifts this year from my children included a gigantuous furry blanket and fuzzy slippers that you heat in the microwave before wearing. I’ve always been cold-natured, so, when I saw this week’s forecast, I was dreading it.

14 Degrees

Tuesday morning was the first day back to school.  As usual, I went out and cranked my car, then came back in to do a few things while it warmed up. When I crawled in the car, the outside temperature said 14 degrees. I immediately had to catch my breath from the frigid air that was blowing full force out of my heat vents. Yep, no heat.  The fifteen-minute drive seemed like forever. As I fussed and complained aloud, my warm breath came steaming like smoke from my mouth. By the time I arrived at work, my toes were frozen and my fingers literally ached from the cold. This is insane! I am freezing.

As complaint after complaint fell from my frozen lips, Emily’s friend went through my mind. He works outside. I texted to make sure he had warm gloves and multiple pairs of socks to wear. How awful to work out in this weather. Then I pictured the homeless man and his dog that I pass several times a week. I envisioned an elderly person sitting at home with no heat. Forgive me, Lord. I am so blessed to have a car, unlike the homeless man and his buggy. My dog is curled up on the sofa, while his walks the cold streets with him. I have a warm workplace, while others are outside on a rooftop. And when I return from work, I come inside to my warm home, slide on my heated slippers, and snuggle under my gigantious blanket, while others suffer in homes without heat.

Attitude Adjustment

Sometimes we get so accustomed to things; we take them for granted. Not really having the time or money to fix my heat at the moment, I have driven this way for three days. That first day was all complaining, which I know Satan loved. (He knows just how to get me; he knows I hate cold) But after my attitude adjustment, I just laugh at him, sing my way to school as always (just dressed in a few more layers), and pray for those less fortunate in this weather.-Donna

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Christmas Eve -By Karla

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In my late 20’s through my 30’s I was a member of the choir at church.  I loved it, being a part of a musical group and singing hymns.  A time or two I was asked to take a small solo part in a song, and I thought I would die.

As a kid, my comfort zone was about a six by eight! I had been in the band and loved most every minute of it, but tryouts were awful! I remember a moment during my high school years in which I cried because I got so nervous! My poor band director sat alone with me in that small room which come to think of it was only about six by six, so I guess that day the zone was even smaller! I think I made him as uncomfortable as I was making myself. He kindly offered, “Karla, what can I do to help?” I begged, “Don’t make me sight read.”  He shook his head, “You will sit last chair, and you’re too good for that.” I appreciated him.  He calmly sat while I eventually  composed myself.

During the past decade, I have expanded the walls of my tiny comfort zone. Soon after I joined Emmaus Baptist Church, I began singing in the Praise Team.  With only about six members this was quite a stretch for me. The man who operated the sound system would mouth, “Karla, your mic is not on.”  I would continue to sing somewhat shrugging my shoulders not making even the slightest motion indicating I would be turning it on.  In fact, I might even admit praying for them to forget to turn it on before we started! When he caught on to my tricks, I would just place myself as far away from the microphone as possible. When he would motioned for me to scoot up, I must have thought I was playing mother-may-I because I took some serious baby steps toward the mic and planted myself for the next 25 minutes!

A few days ago on Christmas Eve, I had prepared to sing a duet with my dear friend Jenni.  The first song we had planned did not work for us.  After searching, we finally settled on “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing”. We rehearsed several times feeling somewhat confident.  Sunday morning arrived, and I was having sinus issues.  We did a run-through, and after deciding not to sing with the Praise Team, I thought I could hit the high notes required for that one song.

Jenni grabbed the microphone, and I cringed. I only do this with the mic in the holder! We began singing as I felt my throat closing and heard my voice tighten. This is NOT good! I aimed for my soprano notes, but I missed the mark by a mile.  Breathing deeply, I strived again several more times, but to no avail.  It was not going to happen.  Having to hold the microphone was the LEAST of my worries.  I wanted the song to be over fast!  I was thankful when she altered her voice from the practiced alto notes to singing the melody with me because of my weak attempts as the notes rose.  Though the song seemed to creep in slow motion, I survived.

Shaking my head a little and apologizing to Jenni, we sat down.  Pastor Scott began the short sermon, but my mind was having a hard time allowing my mistake to take a backseat to the true meaning of Christmas. Continuing, deacons began serving communion.  The pastor spoke of Jesus’ body being represented by the little bites of unleavened bread, and he signaled us to eat the bread.

A few rows up from me, I noticed Mr. Archee, who is about 80, fighting to peel back the plastic from his bread. Joe, a man who has a lively love for Jesus left his seat, walked across the aisle, and slid down beside Mr. Archee.  He fumbled with the older man’s wrapper until he had the bread opened and Mr. Archee could partake of his communion.

Several tears rolled down my face, as I was reminded that it is our efforts that God desires, not perfection. My attention totally focused on the love of God.

 

-Karla

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Memories: “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” -By Karla

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I love the holidays!  I mean LOVE them! There is something magical about this time of year.

Turkey Cookies

When Lindsey was four and Rachel was almost a year old, I started making cookies with them the day before Thanksgiving. I have always cheated and used a mix because it is easier. It’s never been about how they actually taste; it’s the process and the memories.

In the early years, Lindsey had a blast tracing her elementary-school hands with a butter knife. Meanwhile, I worked the dough around Rachel’s little fingers, trying to place them just right to form the head and feathers. We made turkey cookie after turkey cookie with sprinkles galore!

Year after year we baked. Sometimes it was just the three of us, but other times we invited friends and extended family.  It seems like I blinked and they had grown up. Though our schedule does not allow us to make our turkey cookies the day before Thanksgiving, we manage to still carve time sometime over the holidays to gather, roll, cut out our turkeys, smile, and make memories.

Mom’s Famous Dressing

When Mom was sick years ago, I offered to help cook her part of the holiday meals. I consider myself fortunate that she taught me how to make her dressing. That first year without Mom, I can remember being so nervous making it. It’s not like any of the forty-plus family members and friends, who gather for meals over the holidays, would have cared if it did not taste good, but I did! For some reason, I needed it to be as good as hers.

It never failed. Even fifteen years after her passing, Papa Berry, my adult dad, always made sure to walk by me with his plate filled, and pat me on the shoulder. “Karla, your mom would be proud. It tastes just like hers.” He was such a sweetheart; I know some years the dressing was much drier than others.

As one decade rolled into another Rachel started helping make the  dressing, and I know this would make Mom smile.

New Traditions

With the girls being older, I try to put up the Christmas tree the week of Thanksgiving because they have more time to visit.  Over the years the location of the tree has seen different spots, but the golds and reds still grace its branches.  In the background we play Christmas music, usually drink hot chocolate, and sometimes even have a muted football game on.

Family Time While Shopping

On the days that follow Thanksgiving, my sisters and I do some shopping. For us, it is more about spending time together than the materialism. We always have some fun story from these trips.

This year, one store had a line a mile long. We took turns standing in line while the others browsed the racks for that special something. Finally, I told everyone to head toward Panera with my great-niece. Sharing that I would pay for everything now, we could divvy up later. Looking in the stroller, I was surprised that Gail was buying three stuffed animals, but I paid for them as well as everything else.

That evening, we had some serious laughter as we divided up our purchases. My sister Gail grimaced when she realized she owed me money for the two stuff animals she was only letting her granddaughter hold in hopes to keep her satisfied. had let my great-niece hold simply to occupy her time in line.

I then explained the problem with the third stuffed animal.” It did not have a price tag, so they just charged me the same price as the larger one she had just rung up. ” Gail said, “She only had two. Where did the third one come from?”  We burst with laughter when she shared that I had paid for a twenty-five year-old-stuffed animal.  She had brought old one from home and did not realize they had even taken it into the store!

Most Importantly

These are just a few of the reasons, plus the beginning of the possibility of a snow day, that make me love this time of year. How blessed I am to know the most important meaning for the glow of the season. I have in my heart, the birth of Jesus.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

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Broken: The Shell -By Patty (Guest Blogger)

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On a recent trip, Karla and I took a walk down the sandy shores of Panama City Beach. As we strolled, we talked about many things. On this particular day, Satan was accusing me of being a bad parent. This is a fear that haunts me daily and torments me when I allow it. Feeling broken, I bared my soul to my dear friend. We would occasionally stop and pick up a seashell that drew our attention. Through my teary eyes, I searched that sandy beach for the perfect shell.

Later after we had returned to the condo and showered, I gazed in amazement at a little shell that Karla had given me. It was a beautiful Calico Scallop. It had pink and white tones and was just perfect! But then, I began to look at it closely, marveling at the workmanship. As I examined it, I noticed a crack here and a chip there, and finally, I saw that it was not perfect. The shell had been out in the ocean, being pounded and beat into the shore. Despite all the storms it had endured and the cracks that it had acquired, it was still beautiful and was serving its purpose: to glorify God.

I am Broken

Suddenly, I was this shell. I saw myself in the ocean being beaten and tossed about in those strong waves. My mind reflected over the many storms that I had gone through and the times that my heart had been broken. Tears flowed as I thought back to the day my biological mother left me at nine years old to be given up for adoption. Painfully, I thought of the adopted parents, who after nine years of living with them told me that they had done everything they could for me, I was now on my own. I remembered the day that the man I loved walked out on me and our week-old baby.

Sadly, I thought of how I had been chipped and cracked and even rejected by those who passed by. I had been broken and cracked and felt useless to others. Then, I remembered that this is how God found me, broken, chipped, and scarred. But He picked me up anyway.

No Such Thing as Perfect

My thoughts went back to the many shells that we passed by because they did not make it through the harshness of the ocean. They were broken and useless. This is how the world often views us. They look at our chips and our cracks, and they do not have any use for us. The world does not care that we are beautiful despite our environment. You see, the world is looking for that perfect shell. Webster’s dictionary defines perfect as “Complete in all respects; without defect or omission; sound; flawless.”  Well, that is quite a definition to live up to. Especially since there is no such thing as perfect in this world.

I smiled through my tears as I realized that there is a God who looks at me through perfect eyes. When Jesus found me, I was broken, weak, and useless. But that’s where I had to get to allow Him to pick me up and to make use of me.  I still have the chips and cracks that the world left me with, but I know that God uses those imperfections so that I can encourage others with similar wounds. Far from perfect am I, but I am no longer useless. I am fearfully and wonderfully made by the same God that created that shell (Psalm 139:14). The shell and I have the same purpose: to glorify God by being who He made us to be.

If you are feeling broken and cracked and beaten down by the ocean, don’t despair.  All you have to do is ask Jesus to pick you up. He will gladly do so. Take courage, you are useful despite your cracks and chips. He will use you to do what we were made to do: Glorify Him by being us.

-Patty

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Thankfulness: Attitude of Gratitude -By Donna

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As I sat on my porch steps dropping candy into trick or treat bags, I was thrilled at the number of children who said thank you. It was more than I expected in this day and age.  But those who didn’t reminded me of a story in the book of Luke. Ten men with leprosy cried out begging Jesus to heal them. He told them to go show themselves to the priest, and as they went, they were healed.  One  man, when he saw he was cured, came back to thank Jesus.  One! Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine?”

I believe many people feel entitled and therefore they don’t say thank you. Yes, it’s the cashier’s job to take your hard-earned money for the overpriced item you are buying.  But, thanking her is respectful, and those may be the only kind words she has heard that day.

“Say thank you.”  If you have children, you have probably said that umpteen times to them.  At first, they say these words because they are told too, even when they aren’t thankful. Then it may become a habit, but hopefully with time they will say it with a grateful heart.  Being thankful to others blesses both the giver and the receiver.

When something of magnitude is done for us or given to us, we are quick to say those words, but we often forget to say thanks for the little things. As a teacher, I try to emphasis the importance of saying thank you to my kindergarten students.  Some day, as I am passing out papers, I hear “thank you” twenty times in a row, and I have to say, “you’re welcome” back each time. It seems excessive, but it makes me smile.

“Thanks”giving

With Thanksgiving approaching, we all get “thankfulness” on our minds. But shouldn’t it be a daily practice? We often get overwhelmed, distracted, or in a hurry and forget those words. We slip into a mode of negativity, worry, and frustration. Gratitude can alter our frame of mind by helping us realize all we have to be thankful for.

The old saying, every cloud has a silver lining, may be true if you look hard enough. For 25 years, I lived in the middle of 40 wooded acres. When our surrounding land was clear cut, I listened to all the negatives from others about how it looked like a tornado had come through and wreaked havoc. And truly it did. I was accustomed to driving through the canopy of trees and acres of plush greenery. Now, it was a bare and dusty wasteland. But one night while sitting in my recliner, I saw the most beautiful sky as the sun was setting. I had never seen that glorious view because the trees had blocked it for years. Thus, the silver lining.

Thank God -Even for the Bad

Thanking God should be a daily practice. It is easy to thank Him for all our blessings, but the Bible says, “in all things give thanks”.  Depending on your circumstances that may be difficult. Thank God during hard times. I have had to learn to do that over the past two years, but God blesses me when I do.

One time recently on the way back from Daytona, the truck broke down. It was at least 95 degrees. We pulled off the highway into a vacant parking lot. As I sat in the back seat sweating like a pig, and the boys were out looking under the hood, I thanked God that the truck broke down. As weird as it sounds, for no reason, it just came out of my mouth. And I meant it. Literally, when I opened my eyes, someone pulled up beside us. He had seen us from the highway. He went to Autozone, got the part we needed and brought it to us.

When Tucker jumped back into the truck, I said, “Well, I am glad I thanked God for the truck breaking down.”

In disbelief he questioned me, “Why would you thank God for that?”

“Because you’re suppose to thank Him for everything, and look what He did in return.”

Teach children the importance of the words thank you and that it is not just for the Thanksgiving holiday. Let it last throughout the year. Thank someone everyday, and thank your God. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his love endures forever.”, 1 Chronicles 16:3

-Donna

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Laughter: LOL. -By Donna

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    “Giggles, Thank you for visiting Shorter College…” was how the letter I received began, after Karla and I toured the school in 1986.  And oh my did we get a look that day from Mama because of those giggles, but that’s another blog. I love to laugh and I have spent a lot of my life chuckling.  However, laughing at myself was not something I was able to do.  Embarrassment always took over, and I always worried about what others thought of me.   

    The first Sunday after moving to a new house, I misjudged the distance to my church. On the way, I realized how much further the drive was now and I would be ten or fifteen minutes late! I knew Satan would love for me to turn around and go home, so I decided I was going regardless. Walking across the parking lot I decided, being the braver new me, to speak to a man who was also late. “Better late than never!” His reply, “Yes, ma’am.”

   As I walked up the front steps, he allowed me to go first. He then opened the doors for me and said, “Perfect timing!” As I looked, they were doing the “turn around and shake someone’s hand.” Oh, thank you. Now it won’t be as obvious that I am late and people won’t be staring at me. I slid in about four rows from the back and began shaking hands with the people in front of me. Although we had now begun singing, I felt hands on my shoulders. I turned around and a lady leaned in and whispered, “Your skirt is up in the back.” I nonchalantly pulled it down and said, “Thank you.”

“Why didn’t he tell me?”

    Yep, I had walked in with a man behind me and was standing in church with my skirt tail up. I shook my head and grinned to myself. Thoughts filled my head. Why didn’t he tell me? He must have been embarrassed to say anything. What color underwear do I have on? Yellow with white flowers. Oh, you just think you are going to distract me today, Satan. I casually glanced back to see how many men were sitting in the three rows behind me. Then I realized how in the past I would have been devastated, probably to the point of not coming back. I would have worried myself crazy that people were laughing or talking about me. But although embarrassing, I was able to laugh at myself. I know I am far from perfect, but that is OK because I am secure in God’s love. He made me who I am, and I am the only one that can be me.

Laughter is a Gift

     We live in a fallen world, and if we are going to survive it, we need to laugh along the way. There are times when we should be serious, but sometimes to face the day we need to laugh at ourselves. (Proverbs 15:15) “All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.” God gave us the ability to laugh. It is a gift from Him. He knew how important laughter would be and how it can benefit us physically, mentally, and spiritually. God doesn’t want us to just live; He wants us enjoying life.

    Your happiness is a witness for Christ. When life is tough, laugh and have joy. People will notice the gladness in your heart and wonder where it comes from. “Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, ‘The Lord hath done great thing for them.’ (Psalm 126:2)

    My favorite Bible verse is Proverbs 31:25 “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” Recently, I have had to find humor in the unknown future. We can all do that because God exists and He keeps his promises.–Donna

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