Author Archives: Patricia Ann

“Run For Your Lives!”

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Here is an awakening anecdote as given to us by Matthew Ruttan in his March 30th devotional. He goes on to write:

  • The story in today’s “Up!” is told by Tony Campolo in Let Me Tell You A Story.

There’s a marine training facility called Parris Island. A young man signed up who was a bit out of step with the others. He was nice enough—but he just didn’t fit in. As a result he got picked on. A lot. 

In his barracks there were guys who were particularly mean. One of them came up with an idea to drop a disarmed hand grenade on the floor pretending like it was about to go off. Everyone would be in on the joke and know it was disarmed—everyone except the new guy. They figure he’d freak out and totally embarrass himself. 

So the next time they were all together someone out of view tossed in the disarmed grenade. “It’s a live grenade, it’s about to explode!”

But the young recruit, instead of running away, jumped on top of the grenade, hugged it to his stomach, and yelled, “Run for your lives! If you don’t you’ll be killed!” 

They all stood there, frozen in their own shame, marveling at what he was prepared to do for them without any regard for himself.  What they thought would be that young man’s moment of great embarrassment and humiliation turned out to be a moment of great self-sacrifice and glory.

Does this remind us of anyone? Hint: It was posted on Good Friday.

I enjoy Matthew’s daily devotionals and you can too at:

http://westminsterpc.us5.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=d3d11829ab8f6afec1f211224&id=f17fa8cf60

From a Distance

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This picture always reminds me of Bette Midler’s 1990  recording of God is Watching Us: 

From a distance the world looks blue and green
And the snow capped mountains white
From a distance the ocean meets the stream
And the eagle takes to flight

God is watching us
God is watching us
God is watching us from a distance

.https://youtu.be/FWSk30Y9Qp8

Happy Sunday.

 

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Look For the Rainbow

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Unfortunate but true, isn’t it? If we want to have the rainbow, we have to deal with the rain…and so many of us do. It’s not just those dreary rainy days that nature feeds its own, but the sadness that grips us when life feeds us our share of tragedy. Still, we must look for that rainbow, otherwise we will never experience the goodness of life that lingers on. Wishing you rainbows this Saturday.

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Sharing the Blessings

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Yesterday we shared the grief of the residents of Humboldt and surrounding areas. People around the world have poured out their support in many various ways and continue to do so.

Likewise, there are many ways of sharing our spiritual blessings and I believe my blog and my book, both titled My Precious Life, are the ways God has provided me with this kind of sharing. I don’t know about you, but I appreciate the ways people share their blessings with me and I’m thankful to all of you who do so.

Rev. Matthew Ruttan of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Barrie, Ontario is responsible for this new life lesson this morning. He can be found at https://matthewruttan.com/  

Sharing the Grief

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Last Friday night on the outskirts of Humboldt, Saskatchewan, a horrific bus crash changed the lives of this community and surrounding areas forever.

Toronto’s Globe and Mail reported fifteen people, including 10 players between the ages of 16 and 21, were killed when a semi-trailer crashed into the Broncos’ bus late on Friday afternoon. As of Monday, 12 people remained in hospital: four in critical condition, four serious and four stable, according to Saskatchewan’s health authority.

There has been an outpouring of grief and support from around the world and I among many shed copious tears for the lives lost, those spared who will face ongoing traumatic healing, and those left behind to grieve the loss of their precious loved ones.

There are those who ask where God is at times like these.

The answer is He is with every single person whose life is touched by this tragic event.

The answer is He shares our grief.

The answer lies in John’s gospel, chapter eleven, verse thirty-five…Jesus wept.

 

Timely Messages

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Once again I have come across a lovely message in one of my spiritual journals. It is from a 2007 Our Daily Bread article and goes like this:

“To show his love, Jesus died for me; to show my love, I must live for him.”

And here’s one from Pearl Bailey: People see God every day; they just don’t recognize him.

Another is from Winston Churchill: Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it’s the courage to continue that counts.

We can’t change the past but we can change the future by making the right choices today. Joel Osteen

It is better to get wisdom and understanding rather than silver and gold. Proverbs 16:16 paraphrased

Make me a channel of your peace…St. Francis of Assisi

Jesus wept. John 11:35 …This for the grief stricken in Humboldt, Saskatchewan.

The Boardwalk of Life

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As we walk along the boardwalk of life, though the boards are uneven at times, may our steps be guided and our trips be few. Happy Sunday.

Then you will travel safely on your way, and your foot will not stumble. Proverbs 3:23

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Does God Have a Sense of Humor?

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All life lessons should include laughter so here are a few funnies that have come my way over the years.

GOOD SAMARITAN – A Sunday School teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan. She asked the class, “If you saw a person lying on the side of the road wounded and bleeding what would you do?” A thoughtful little girl broke the silence with, “I think I’d throw up.”

DID NOAH FISH? – A Sunday School teacher asked, “Johnny, do you think Noah did a lot of fishing when he was on the Ark?” “No,” replied Johnny, “How could he with just two worms.”

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD – A Sunday School teacher asked her young class to memorize one of the most quoted passages of the Bible, Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a month to learn the chapter. One boy couldn’t get past the first line even after much practice. On the day to recite the Psalm in front of the congregation Ricky was so nervous he stepped up to the microphone and said, “The Lord is my shepherd and that’s all I need to know.”

UNANSWERED PRAYER – The preacher’s five-year-old daughter asked her dad why he always bowed his head for a moment before starting his sermon. “Well, Honey,” he explained, “I”m praying to the Lord to help me to preach a good sermon.” “How come He doesn’t answer?” she asked.

TO PRAY OR NOT TO PRAY – Sunday dinner was at Grandmother’s house and after everyone was served, little Johnny began to eat his meal at once. “Johnny, please wait until we say our prayer,” said his mother. “I don’t need to,” the boy replied.” “You know we always say a prayer at our house,” his mother reminded him. “That’s at our house,” Johnny explained. “But this is Grandma’s house and she knows how to cook.”

SAYING A PRAYER – While praying over a person who was suffering gas pain, I closed the prayer with, “And, Lord, help him to remember that this too shall pass.”

Does God have a sense of humor? I hope so.

The Visitor

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In the past few days we have relived the death of Jesus and his resurrection from the dead.

Now He speaks to all of us for whom He died…that means all of us.

“Here I am. I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in and eat with him and he with me.” Rev. 3:20

Who will acknowledge the knock of the Visitor, hear that gentle voice and respond to the invitation to dine with the One whose love for us knew no bounds.

I was ten years old when that gentle tap came to the door of my heart. I often wonder what my life would be like if I had not invited Him in.

How about you? Is it time for you to open the door to the Visitor?

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