Monthly Archives: April 2014

What’s in a Photograph

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Sometimes when we see photographs of another person’s journey, we get that I wish I was there feeling; not out of envy but of keen interest. A friend’s visit to the Holy Land prompted such a feeling in me.

Chapter Twenty-Six  –  What’s in a Photograph?

She was a sales rep for a company selling beautiful posters, and I saw her in my gift shop on a regular basis.

It soon became evident that we had a common bond in spiritual interests. Her name was Jennifer, and she had just returned from a vacation in Jerusalem, the Holy City.

Before her trip, Jennifer promised to bring back photos, and true to her word, she arrived at the shop with a stack of pictures for me to see.

I listened to her description of each interesting photo, but one in particular appeared to be just a hole in a cave.

As I held the picture, waves of tingling energy surged up and down my arms…….

….the hair on my body stood on end. (Job 4:15)

Tomorrow  –  A Pet Named Zoe  –  A Lesson in Pet Sitting

Give Me a Break

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We sometimes need a break from the overload of our daily agendas. When I became so overwhelmed, I actually prayed to get a break from it all.

Chapter Twenty-Five  –  Give Me a Break

While shopping one evening, I spied a book with the title, Slow Me Down Lord. I promptly bought it, enjoyed reading it, and made that my daily prayer.

Not long afterwards, I slipped on the lunchroom floor at work, and landed flat on my back. The pain was excruciating! X-rays showed a fractured tailbone. The treatment was to stay off my feet, and complete rest for two weeks; doctor’s orders¾ or God’s?

“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Tomorrow  –  What’s in a Photograph?  –  A Lesson in Sensations

 

Dancing on a Prayer

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How many times have we said to our children, in frustration, “Do as you’re told!” How many times have we, as adults, been given instructions by a doctor (in other words, do as you’re told) only to disregard their advice? After cataract surgery in my fortieth year, I did just that. “Recuperate quietly with no abrupt movements,” the surgeon said.

Chapter Twenty-Four  –  Dancing on a Prayer

There was a party going on in the neighborhood, and I thought it would boost my morale to be with my friends. I told myself I would just sit quietly in a corner, listen to the music, and enjoy some light-hearted conversation.

My toes were tapping to the music in no time. I loved to dance. Soon I was slowly swaying to the music. Surely a little bit of slow dancing wouldn’t hurt. The music became a little more up-tempo, and my body moved to the new beat. Then, the pace picked up even more, and caution was thrown to the wind as my feet found a mind of their own. Disco and jive proved no challenge as the evening wore on. I had such good fun! (But what were the consequences?)

The Lord will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life….Psalm 121:7

Tomorrow  –  Give Me a Break  –  A Lesson in What You Pray for

The Gift of Faith

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Our Faith can be likened to a muscle; if it isn’t exercised, it will atrophy. While exercising my muscles does not necessarily bring me pleasure, exercising my faith brings me not only pleasure, but great joy.

Chapter Twenty-Three  –  The Gift of Faith

In 1977, a banner heralding the message, I’ve found it! You can find it too! had been hanging in my eldest son’s room for several weeks.

Dann had left the poster behind when he went to live with his dad. I often wondered what it meant, but didn’t give it too much thought until one evening, Kelly, who was ten, and had taken over his brother’s room asked, “Mom, what does that sign mean?”

“I don’t know,” I said, “but somehow I’ll find out.”

Just then the phone rang. It was a soft-spoken woman who asked me a question.

“Have you seen a sign around with the message, ‘I’ve found it, you can find it too’?”

The hairs stood up on my arms……..

If you believe you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. (Matthew 21:22)

Tomorrow  –  Dancing on a Prayer  –  A Lesson in Carelessness

The Still Small Voice

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To me, it is astounding what we hear when we open ourselves to listening for more than life’s day-to-day babble. “Faith comes by hearing” are not empty words.

Chapter Twenty-Two   –  The Still Small Voice

Not long after the first experience, which inspired my resignation from my job at the hospital, I received some spiritual literature in the mail that was very thought- provoking. To this day, I don’t know what that material was, but one passage in particular prompted me to contact a dear friend who was in a life-threatening situation at that precise time. She was experiencing an extremely toxemic pregnancy.

It was her mother who answered my call, and told me that my friend, Anna, was in hospital at that moment, in grave danger of losing her life, and also the baby she was giving birth to……

….and after the fire a still small voice….(1 Kings 20:12 KJV)

Tomorrow  –  The Gift of Faith  –  A Lesson in Believing

The Kid on Second

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No matter the sport, there’s a fine line between cheering a team on–shouting what one might think are encouraging remarks–but instead, are discouraging to one or more players. It is not a pleasant scenario.

Chapter Twenty-One  –  The Kid on Second

The batter hit a line drive straight to second base. The player made a valiant attempt to catch the ball but missed, allowing the run to count at first.

“Get that kid off second base. He’s killing the game. C’mon, get him off there!”

It was the blonde screaming like an irate parent. She belonged to our team. The kid at second heard her and hung his head.

There was an overthrow to short stop, a fly ball dropped in center field, and another fumble at second base before the inning was over. The third out was finally called, and the team came off the field, a look of dejection on all nine faces. The score was eight to one for the other team.

“Never mind guys, just get that kid off second and you’ll be okay,” the blonde yelled…..

 

The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.(James 3:6)

 

Tomorrow  –  The Still Small Voice  –  A Lesson in Acknowledging

The Time I asked God for a Sports Car

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It has been said that God does not answer frivolous prayers, especially for things like a new sports car.  I had a much different experience.

Chapter Twenty  –  The Time I Asked God for a Sports Car

I knew I needed a new car when I could see pavement through the cracks in the floor of my ten-year old Toyota Corolla. This unpretentious vehicle had served me well all these years, until it began to literally fall apart at the seams. Rusted hunks of metal ravaged the once sturdy body.

Now I had my eye on a beautiful, brand new Datsun 200SX on a nearby car lot. It was sleek, black, and out of my price range. It spoiled me for any other car I looked at. “Lord, I’d sure like to own that car,” I prayed…….

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)

Tomorrow  –  The Kid on Second   – A Lesson in Diplomacy

My Answered Prayers

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I believe that prayers are answered; maybe not always to our liking or to our understanding, but whether it’s a yes, no, maybe, not now, not yet, or even “I’m sorry”, there is an answer. This chapter tells of some of the answered prayers I’ve experienced.

 

Chapter Nineteen  –  My Answered Prayers

My sister and I had spent the better part of our childhood in foster homes, and for some reason, when we finally went to live with our mother, I became aware of how precious life was.

“Please God, don’t let my mother die until I am grown up and have a family of my own.”

I somehow believed that would make a huge difference in the hurt level. That prayer was also answered. I was thirty-six years old, and the mother of five children when Mom died suddenly of a brain aneurysm in her fifty-ninth year……

“According to your faith will it be done to you…”(Matthew 9:29)

 

Tomorrow  –  The Time I Asked God for a Sports Car  –  A Lesson in Things Hoped For

 

 

The Mustard Seed Gift Shop

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“Some day I’m going to have my own business.” It was New Years Eve, 1976, when I made this statement to some of my closest friends. It’s known as planting a seed.

 

Chapter Eighteen  –  The Mustard Seed Gift Shop

It was Monday, September 16, 1985, when I turned the key in the door of my shop, and took another step on my spiritual journey.

The first trade magazine I received in the store included an article which ended with, “…..when God put a pricing gun in your hand, and said, ‘All Things Are Possible.’” It gave me the tingles when I read it.

I had written a poem with that title in 1984, shortly after resigning from my job at the hospital. The poem is about having faith as a small mustard seed, and was, in part, responsible for me becoming the owner of this shop….

Do I have any power to help myself, now that success has been driven from me? (Job 6:13)

Tomorrow  –  My Answered Prayers  –  A Lesson in Praying

Seventy Times Seven

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There are times in life when bitterness and anger towards others can actally make us sick, spoil our zest for living, and slowly steal our happiness, like a thief in the night. It happened to me a long time ago. I found the antidote in forgiveness.

 

Chapter Seventeen  –  Seventy Times Seven

The anger I carried inside was making me sick. It felt like a grapefruit-size growth taking up precious space in my body, threatening to annihilate me, and it was directed at my husband. We had recently separated, and it was not amicable. Bill’s verbal abusiveness and alcohol dependence had taken its toll on our twenty-one year marriage.

One day, my sister came to visit. She knew about the separation, but did not know the details. I had shared these with no one. Eyeing me over the rim of her coffee cup, Mary bluntly said, “Patsy, you look very unhappy.” Astute observation, I thought…..

“Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven.”  (Matthew 18:21,22)

 

Tomorrow   –  The Mustard Seed Gift Shop  –  A Lesson in Entrepreneurship andFailure