Tag Archives: scripture

A Mouse in the House

Posted on by

I’m sure we’ve all had to deal with mice at one time or another. They have an uncanny habit of inhabiting even the grandest of homes. Normally, I had no trouble catching the little creatures, but one in particular proved to be a problem.

Chapter Twenty-Eight  –  A Mouse in the House

Before Zoe came to us, Jerry and I had an unwelcome house guest — a mouse! I called him Mercury because he was as elusive as the substance in a pre-digital thermometer. Have you ever broken a mercury thermometer and tried to clean up the spill? It’s tricky.

I truly believe the little beastie had been to mouse school. He knew every trap in the book, and every food in the trap. At breakfast, the bait was a bit of peanut butter. It was still there at lunch time, so I replaced it with a piece of cheddar cheese. Meat loaf was his choice for dinner. None of these foods whetted his appetite, and I wondered what he was living on………

….the earth is full of your creatures. (Psalm 104:24)

Tomorrow  –  The Way I See It  –  A Lesson in Laying Down Your Life

A Pet Named Zoe

Posted on by

So many pets had come and gone in my life, that I vowed not to have another one after our last pet, “Kelly, the dog”, went to doggie heaven. It just hurt too much to lose them. Such was not the case, as this next chapter will reveal.

Chapter Twenty Seven  –  A Pet Named Zoe

Zoe was no ordinary cat. She was born in a fishing shack on the shores of Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong, the last of a litter of six kittens waiting for a home.

Two old fishermen had looked after the kittens since they were born, and they were not pleased to have one left.

Zoe was always underfoot, sniffing out the fish. With a shrug of their bony shoulders, the fishermen decided to get rid of her. She’d make a good meal for someone.

A little girl who had just arrived in Hong Kong from Canada was looking for a pet. Amberley, a slender, blond youngster with legs like a colt, and a frisky personality to match, was walking with her parents and siblings, getting to know their new surroundings, when they saw the fishing shack in the distance. Curious, Amberley scurried ahead to check out this strange looking building. Her parents called words of caution after her. The child poked her head in to investigate the shack, and heard, meow, meow, meow.

“Mom! Dad!” she squealed in delight, “over here, quickly, please!”

….some people have entertained angels….(Hebrews 13:2)

Tomorrow  –  A Mouse in the House  –  A Lesson in Resignation

Give Me a Break

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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 Kid on Second

Posted on by

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 Mustard Seed Gift Shop

Posted on by

“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

Posted on by

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

 

A Leap of Faith

Posted on by

I had spent twenty-one years of my life at home being a wife and mother when my husband and I separated. It was now time to get back out into the working world.

 

Chapter Sixteen  –  A Leap of Faith

I searched the classifieds for a new job but nothing appealed to me. Then one day, these words came to me: If you have that much faith in me you will not worry where your next job is coming from. My fingers flew over the typewriter keys as I typed my resignation. Let me state here that I was still a single mom, with an outstanding mortgage, a home repair loan, and a car loan (I had dumped the Toyota for a beautiful Datsun 200SX) but I did resign. It was my leap of faith. Years later, I came across a scripture: Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21). It reminded me of that leap.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven…(Ecclesiastes 3:1)
 
Tomorrow  –  Seventy Times Seven  –  A Lesson in Forgiveness
 
 

Worry-Wart

Posted on by

Worry was a way of life when I was a young mom in a challenging marriage–until I learned to “take it to the Lord in prayer”.  It was a lesson well learned, and although it didn’t save my marriage, it saved my sanity.

Chapter Fifteen  –  Worry Wart

It was the early 1970’s. I had a husband, who for years had no qualms about drinking and driving. It worried me sick as I waited up so many times for him to come safely home from a night out with his buddies.

I also had three teenagers who didn’t always keep to their curfew, causing even more worry. Two younger children brought different kinds of worry. I was a true worry-wart…..

“Therefore I tell you not to worry about your life…(Matthew 6:25)

Tomorrow  –  A Leap of Faith  –  A Lesson in Being Aware