A Very Special Memory 4/5/15

I just remembered (with a gentle nudge from the Lord) that today is the 57th anniversary of my “born again” day.  Easter Sunday 1958.  That ‘special memory’ is of one of the most important days of my life.

It wasn’t a surprise, but a direct result of a dear friend who had been dealing with my, “I’m not a bad person.  I go to church.  I read my Bible.  I teach Sunday School.  I’ve been the secretary/treasure of the Sunday School when I was a teenager.  How can you think I’m not a Christian?”

Many times she had talked to me about ‘being born again’.   What did she expect from me?  Finally she suggested that since I already prayed a lot and said I loved the Lord that I pray and ask God to show me what He thought.   Very confidently I replied that I’d do that just to prove her that I was fine and assured of Heaven.

I reread the story of Nicodemus (Joan suggested I read John 3 verses 1 through 21)  No problem, I thought.  I’d already read the whole  Bible through a few times before that as part of contests I’d been in during my days in church.  Won gifts for memorizing  many of the  special verses as a child.  I always loved to read and it was easy for me to learn anything that appealed to me.

But this time when I read the story of Nicodemus and compared my knowledge and devotion I realized how far I was from being as wise and devoted as him.  After all he was a teacher and very important spiritual leader. Score one for Joan and her  point of view.

Days later I had a vivid dream.  I still remember many details of that dream.

it was judgement day and I don’t remember any other people being there, except for a group of dancers doing a type of worshipful dancing to beautiful music.  (In 1958, most churches frowned on dancing of any kind.  That’s probably why the memory stayed with me.  Many years later when our CMI director introduced dancers as part of our choir and they performed the same type of dancing it caused a thrill as I recognized the same movements to music.)

Back to the dream.  For some reason the Lord was sitting behind a large table.  As I approached I threw my car keys on the table.  It seemed as if I knew if He accepted the keys I would be admitted to Heaven ( I know that’s not the scriptural description of the Judgement day) but in my dream it was.

He pushed them back to me.  Typical of my personality I said  “Lord, Why?”   His reply shook all my former confidence when He simply said, “You love pleasure more than you love me”   At that point I woke up and realized I wasn’t okay, I needed to be born again.

End of story? Not if you know me !

Easter was coming soon so I told Joan that I was going to get saved at the Easter Sunrise Service.  In my heart I thought that anyone who got up that early to go to church would be more liable to understand if I went to the alter to get ‘saved’.  Joan kind of smiled and told me I needed to wait for an invitation.  I told her Miss Smith (our current preacher) wasn’t doing that yet. (She told me afterward that she didn’t feel anyone in our  church was ready for that yet.  She had been preaching about salvation but was waiting until such a dramatic change wouldn’t be such a shock to most of the congregation.)

But typical of me I didn’t think the Lord would care if I went up to the altar at the end of the service when she was dismissing us in prayer.

Next problem for me was none of my dresses were what I thought was the proper type of dress to wear when going to the altar to get saved.  So what did I do?  I prayed for the Lord to show me the dress I should wear.  The little town closest to us had a tiny shop where I thought I might find one that would be appropriate.  Almost to the back corner of the shop I found the perfect (in my mind) dress.  So I bought it and told Joan the Lord must be okay with my plan.  Again that same smile.

Sunrise service began as I sat there in my modest pale pink dress and comfortably waited for the closing prayer.  Big surprise.  A young lady singing her very first solo in church closed the service. I couldn’t feel right in going up and interrupting her.  I went home very disappointed.  Then I reasoned that I’d wait for another Sunday when there wouldn’t be an overflowing crowd typical of Easter Sunday.

So I put on my choir robe and we went up to the platform behind the preacher to sing. It was almost to the end of the special service and preaching when I felt the Lord nudge me to go down to the altar NOW.   Oh No Lord!  Not now in front of so many people who knew me.  A lot of them didn’t even attend any church most Sundays.  The overflow doors were even open and people were filling about 1/3 of the seats.  My family, parents, all the relatives who would be at the family dinner, they would all think I’d gone to  extremes like the members of two of the other churches.  They would be so ashamed of my action.  Especially in front of all these people.  No Lord today is just not the right day!

As I started to relax again, I started shaking inside and then all over.   I knew without a shadow of a doubt that He wouldn’t say anything more.  I had a choice.  Go now or fall down right up there in the choir area.   I turned to the lady next to me and said,   “I have to go down to the altar.  Will you come with me?”  She agreed and I went.   Such joy!  Such peace!  I’ve never been the same!  Praise our wonderful Lord!

Were there repercussions?  Even more that I expected. Not as vocal as far as the family was concerned.  Mostly quiet disapproval.   A hurt attitude if church interfered with some of the family plans, mostly by making us late getting to dinners etc.  I found out later they had expressed the thought to others that it was just another of Jackie’s whims, she’ll soon get over it.  When  Bill got saved a few months later they told the same friend that now they supposed we’d both stay fanatical.

The surprise came when Miss Smith told me how many of the people asked what was wrong with Jackie when they shook hands with her after the service on their way out the door.    Lots of them understood a few months later when the church had a revival service (the first in several years)   That’s when Bill was born again and our lives changed forever.

Have you joined us yet in making Jesus the Lord of your life?  It’s the only real security in this world and for all eternity !

 

I’m Impressed

In beginning the narration part of the ‘Special Memories Recital’  I am constantly impressed by the leading of the Lord on many parts of the narration. Five different friends at different times; while I am still in the thinking about and planning stage of the narration; have shared things that will become an important  part of it.

Tonight, thanks to Penny, I have the 7 points that will tie it all together.  Now as soon as Bill’s initial recovery is past I will be confirming which students will be attending.  Then will be scheduling who wants to perform and what they want to do.

In the meantime I will be doing more of the housework that Bill usually does.  We are trying to do some of the catch up things in the next 3 days before the cataract removal.  That will give me more free time to be with him, do things with him and for him after the 2nd.

We are so blessed! I’m loving the time we are able to be back with our church family.  There is something so special with being with other Christians in united worship.  We’re praying for continued good health and nice weather to enable us to be there.

To give you a little preview of the recital; we will be covering the benefits of music,  singing, and lessons; along with recognition.   So far about a dozen of my former students,  a special friend and my 5 current students will be sharing their music.  We plan on having music and memories from 1pm until 3pm.  Then munchies and more memories until shortly before 5pm.

Tonight my mind is so full of all the important, mostly joyful things, that need to be done in the next 8 weeks it is hard to stay focused on any one thing.  Have patience with me please. 🙂

Some of those events,  Michele called tonight and she will be planning to be here for Lyndi’s dance recital and Mother’s Day,  folks that are planning to be at the recital or helping with it,  invitations given and students planning to attend lists.  Then the ‘Special Memories Recital’ itself.  Love the preparations and the event itself.

Most important events in the next 8 weeks started today with Palm Sunday services and of course the most important day of our year  Resurrection Sunday or Easter.  Such a joyful ending for a week with a crucial, apparently sad day, occurring near the end of it.

But then RESURRECTION !  The foundation of our hope, our faith, our love, our lives!

The very best ending for any of my blogs.  Have a very blessed day!

 

 

 

Three Times in a Row PTL

For the third time in a row we were able to attend church this morning 🙂 ❤ This was a real blessing since we have been prevented by cold temperature, bad roads, and physical limitations.  We have been able to hear the sermons, thanks to Aaron, but it just isn’t the same as being there for the worship, singing and the friendship of other believers.  So we are rejoicing and praising the Lord for the privilege 🙂

Another blessing this week was the developing health benefits I experienced from being in the group of Clean Eating and Fitness.  I noticed several days this week that it was much easier to think about what I was eating.  As a result many healthier choices were made in what went into my very undisciplined mouth. I will be asking how to invite others to join tomorrow; so if you’re interested just message me on Facebook.

Now, 7 days later, it was 4 times we were able to be back worshiping at our church It is wonderful to be with others in our church family ! We’ve had the benefit of the teaching before but missed the church family so much.  Facebook helps us keep in contact but nothing can take the place of ‘face to face’ fellowship.

If I had the monetary means I would have an elevator installed so I could attend all the wonderful activities that we miss with our physical limitations.  The stairs to the fellowship area are very hard for us to go up safely.  I’m so thankful that the Lord and many of our church family understand my caution.

Blogging regularly will be one of my top priorities for the next 10 weeks to keep me focused on what is really important in our time schedule.  I have been asked several times when the next book will be published. It is time to work on that, as well as prepare for the “special memories recital”.

In the midst of that Bill has a cataract surgery; writing the narration for the recital needs to be completed; former students have to be contacted to see what talent they are going to share; munchies for the recitals need to be planned; regular schedules need to be taken care of  etc etc etc.

Any suggestions on how to put 24 hours worth of work into 16 hours?  Me neither 🙂 Many years ago when I complained with not having enough hours in the day, the Lord asked me, ” if He gave me more hours, how many hours of work would I try to put into the extra hours.”  He knows me so well.

I continue to gain much of my strength and a little more discipline every time I take the time to go to church or spend time reading the Bible.  Hopefully before my 80th birthday I will complete the 75th time of reading completely through this wonderful book.  Hope to be disciplined enough some year to match the times I have completed reading it through with my age.  That is close to the top of my long-range goals.

“In spring a young man’s fancy turns to love” is a well know quote.  Well I’m definitely neither young or a man, so spring gives me very different thoughts.  It is always a time of more busyness and completing the cleaning I usually start at least by mid January.  This year the cleaning is only beginning.  The especially confining temperature of winter plus a mild case of the flue, combined with being exhausted much of the time caused many extra hours of sleep.  I think I slept more in the first two and a half months of 2015  than during any other 10 months. Coupled with the age related limitations I’ll need a miracle from the Lord to complete my  daily goals. The older I get the more I appreciate the benefits of serving the Lord. 🙂

How does the Lord daily bless you?

 

March is Memories Month

March is for memories this year  My goal for this month (God willing) is to write the narration for the “Special Memories Recital” with memories from some of my music students. I’m finding when I think of one memory it triggers other precious memories. I hope to type these random thoughts to use in a picture/thoughts book to display at that recital on May 30, 2015.

Today will be a hodgepodge of memories and thoughts i seem to be receiving as part of this month for memories.  Ramble with me if you’d enjoy the various memories of this month. Plus memories of years gone by.

Triggered by a comment on Facebook today are many shocking times in my life. Literally! Until the last few years I was subject to giving and receiving many static shocks.  Too numerous to share in this post, one in particular came to mind as Carol shared her post.

We were at a sales convention in Illinois where a top executive of Creative Expressions was to be the keynote speaker.  He was a charming gentleman from the East Coast with his distinctive accent.  We were arriving at the same door at the same time. Being a courteous gentleman he put his hand on my back to escort me through the door. At the same time reaching for the metal door bar to open it for me.  The static spark snapped as he received the  shock from touching me and the bar.  His comment,  “What a sparkling  personality you have!” as he jumped from the contact.

Over the years I have shared that shocking ability with many people, in a store when the clerk touched my hand and change flew everywhere.  In a factory when the supervisor touched me and post cards were scattered.  Until I learned how to avoid it, when a party hostess reached to take my coat in the winter.  When Bill and I kissed when we were standing between the refrigerator and the electric stove   and   and   and   ………..

So many memories connected to other people,  when a single memory brings more memories.  Time after time I’m impressed by how blessed we have been and continue to be by the people and things God has brought into our lives.

As I approach my 80th birthday my brain, with all the memories, is like many attics filled with all the bits and pieces of our lives.  Surfacing like things floating on water with no specific connection to each other.  Things that have been forgotten until someone or something reminds us.

Friends like Robert and Shirley, not on the front surface of our thoughts until a post on Facebook refers to Shirley’s sister.  Memories flooding, bringing back times when we were all young; raising our children in the same church.  How they helped welcome us into the church when we moved to Charlotte.

That reminds me how we came to go to the Assembly of God that first Sunday and why we stayed.

We had intended to go to the Pilgrim Holiness Church in Eaton Rapids when the children and I came over to join Bill.  We set the alarm so we would have time for the four of us to get ready and make the drive to Eaton Rapids.  For the only time ever;  it never failed again, the alarm did not ring.  No time to get ready and make the drive. We didn’t want to be late the first time we went there.  So I asked Bill where we might go in town.

He said, ” Dwight told me that Pastor Taylor has a church in Charlotte.  Why don’t we go there?”  We had known the Taylors when they were pastors in a church near Applegate.  We had met them when  they bought groceries at Mom’s store.

So we went that first morning and  the Lord impressed us to stay.   A special memory that has been the source of numerous others.

When you think of special memories what is the first one that comes to your mind?

Waiting to finish this today the Lord added another very pleasant memory.  A matter of business put me in contact with a lovely young lady with an equally lovely name, Starlene.  After the business was concluded we chatted briefly but long enough to know I would like to know her better as a new friend.  We never know what blessing the Lord will provide as we serve Him with an obedient heart.

The last memory of this blog is the memory of a favorite Christian author C.S.Lewis and one of his quotes   “Nobody can always have devout feelings; and even if we could, feelings are not what God principally cares about.  Christian,  love … is an affair of the will. But, the great feelings come and go,  his love for us does not.”

 

Celebrate 1/31/15

Many people are celebrating today for many different reasons.  For some it is the end of the month of January and one month closer to spring.

For a multitude of others it is the day of preparation for the Super Bowl.

But for us it was a far different kind of celebration.  We went out for breakfast at a favorite restaurant.  Unusual because we’re seldom at a restaurant before evening but since they close at 2pm on Saturday we went for a delicious breakfast treat.  The occasion?  62 years ago on a Saturday we went on our very first date! The memories flood back.  I can still remember that girl who went back to ask her mother’s permission to go out with Bill;  then came back out and was too timid to tell him the result of that request.

After quite a while, we were relieved when mom came out of the office and said, “Will you two go to Croswell and pick up the meat order for me?”

On the way there Bill mentioned that when I hadn’t said anything before, he felt mom had said ‘no’.  Then I finally told him she had said that it was fine.  How blessed we were that she figured out what had happened and sent us on the errand.

Now 62 years later, again on a Saturday, we both agree that it was the Lord that brought us together.  And kept us together through the good and bad times; for if we  agree on almost any subject without working it through, it is always the Lord.

Our families were very different when we were growing up.  Bill’s father was the ‘head of the house’ no questions asked.   My mom made most of the decisions, dad seldom disagreed, but when they did there was often heated discussions.

So  Bill expected out house to be as calm as theirs was.  I was used to speaking my mind and seldom agreed with what he said.  I even had the preacher change the vows at our wedding.  My quote,  “I don’t lie and I certainly won’t promise to obey any man.”   In 1953 that was a drastic departure from what most brides were expected to say.

Bill agreed to the change, much to our preacher’s surprise.

I don’t remember much about the movie we watched in Port Huron that night or even the theater we attended. One of the very embarrassing  events of my life was not easy to forget.  It’s strange that we forget a lot of the happy events of our lives; but the embarrassing ones remain all too clear.

Want to hear about  that night?  I hope so for I plan to share it.

Remember please, that I was a healthy active farm girl used to working early; helping with the milking,  going to school and helping in the store after school and weekends.  Why would that contribute to being embarrassed?

When Bill asked, after the show, if I wanted to go to a restaurant, I agreed.  Isn’t that how most dates progress? No problem there.  Then we ordered and Bill asked me what I wanted to eat.   So I ordered what I often did on a typical date.   2 hamburgs, fries and a malt.   That’s not unusual, right?

Then Bill ordered and I wanted to crawl under the table!  Guess what he ordered? Black coffee!  That’s all.   His comment?  He just wasn’t hungry.

After 62 years that is no longer a surprise but that night I was so embarrassed !

Obviously through the years I have adjusted to that; but on a first date it could have been our last date if he hadn’t been so considerate about my unease. So good at helping me relax and enjoy the rest of our time together.

Do you believe in circumstances or is this an example of the Lord’s plan for our lives?

New Address, Same Author

Since I have tried for a month to get back in my former blog address and was unsuccessful I simple changed addresses.  so let’s renew old acquaintances as we make new friends.  Hopefully this will last for another 3 or more years

What’s been going on in my life and thoughts for the last month?  Lots of things and thoughts.  Mostly how to reopen my blog so I could write. 🙂

Like many of our Michigan friends we were surprised when winter arrived much earlier than it has in many years.  But it did happen when I was a much younger person.  It happened one beautiful Thanksgiving Day.

Well at least it started out to be a beautiful, sunny Thursday!  It was long ago and I have forgotten what the temperature was on that morning.  We had gathered at my folk’s farm. There would have been probably 7 ladies, 5 men, 2 boys and 2 girls.  There, as usual, we had a great meal and lots of good visiting for the afternoon.

Imagine everyone’s surprise when late afternoon someone noticed that it had not only been snowing, but there were several inches of snow covering everything.  Though we usually had supper before everyone left for home the adults decided to leave early. Especially since Uncle Charlie, Aunt Hazel and her mom lived in Detroit.  Uncle Bud and Aunt Nellie would be taking her mom home a few miles away and the country roads weren’t plowed as soon as convenient many times.

Since no one had put on boots that morning and the snow was already above the ankles and still snowing it presented a problem.  Dad had 2 pair of overshoes fortunately; he shared one pair with one of the other men and they went out and started the cars.  Then they made seats out of their arms and carried the ladies, one by one out to their cars.  No one got stuck on the way home, but I think we ended up being snowed in for a few days.

With the weather forecasts available now it might not have come as such a surprise and we could have been prepared.

But with the number of accidents, when the roads first get slippery, many drivers are just as unprepared today.

The Bible speaks of another time in the future that many are unprepared for.  Music also portrays the thoughts and reactions to that future event.  If you’re interested you can read about it several places in the Bible.  One song phrases it “I wish we’d all been ready.”  Another asks the question,  “say will you be ready when Jesus comes?”  Jesus said that no one will know the exact day or hour but gave us some signs to watch so that we could be prepared.

If you are interested in having more details about what I think and expect from this event you can comment here or message me on Facebook,  As I learn more about how to do things here I plan to blog regularly a few days every week.

My preparations for the next few weeks will be varied and many.  This week will be spent mostly in getting ready for a Christmas Bazaar and Expo.  I will be displaying some of my craft items and 3 books I have written.  The titles are:  Dearest Claudia How I Love You.  it is a true account of a young woman’s battle with cancer several years ago.  Much of the research came from a running account that her husband kept for her.  It starts out with this quote,  “Dearest Claudia, how I love you.  You will not remember much about this day so I thought I’d keep a record for you ……” The second title is my own account of the first of the many times I’ve had cancer and was not surprisingly, for those who know me  “Why I Had Fun in Spite of Cancer”  The third is a romantic mystery novel.  Set in the 1970’s  which is also when it was written,  it is the story of a young couples expectations which are cruelly hampered by the young woman’s terrible fear of the color white.  The mystery deepens because her lack of memory about what caused that fear.

My preparations for this sale of the crafts has been slowed because I’m looking for a particular pattern that is ‘somewhere in my house’.  if you know me or as you learn to know me, you’ll find that is often the case when I’m looking for some particular thing.  Do you have that problem?