Precious in God’s Sight

“Precious in the sight of the LORD
is the death of his saints.”
Psalm 116:15

This is Memorial Day in the United States, a day to remember the fallen heroes. It is going to be a hot and “miserable” day for David and I. Our air conditioning system is not working and since this is a holiday the shop to call for a repairman will be closed.

We had a “miserable” time last night. David is very sensitive to heat, smells, textures, etc. and because of the heat he could not get comfortable to sleep. We tried the air mattress, we tried my bed, we tried the floor by my bed, and we tried the floor in the kid’s room. No place felt comfortable.

Then there was the issue of the pillow. I don’t have a “storage” of pillows, so he tried the few I have but they did not feel comfortable or they had some kind of smell.

Since we had to have the windows open I figure the entire neighborhood got in on the “miserable” situation. Being as he was, a desperate seven-year-old boy, I’m sure you have figured out he didn’t ask quietly for a pillow! Finally I lay down on the floor with him, stroking his back to help him calm down. I could have done that from the beginning, but it had to be his call. And he asked for help!

Not only is the death of his saint precious to the Lord, but our life is precious to him. I’m sure we put God in many situations as with the “pillow” and the “bed” when we are just miserable and desperate; but he is patient and kind in the midst of our outrageous behavior.

Today, this precious boy announced to me that I got myself a boyfriend! When I asked who it could be, the answer was, “You know!” Sure, of course, I know! David is my boyfriend!

What are we planning on doing today, my boyfriend and I? We will visit the cemetery. It was a long time since I had the strength to go and put flowers on my daughter’s grave. That’s what we will do! As for my late husband, there is no place to put flowers where his ashes are kept. We will still visit!

Memorial Day 2006, my husband and two of the grandchildren visiting Eva's grave

There is another grave I would like to visit, but we wouldn’t make it even if we tried. My mother is buried in Sweden. I guess the thought counts.

Let’s remember that we are precious to God, in life and in death. Maybe more in death, because then we will be with him forever in the home he has prepared. No uncomfortable beds or pillow there. The sun will not harm us by day or the moon by night.

You, my friend, are precious, even when life is miserable and you act out your frustration.

“The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.”
Psalm 103:8

Feeling at Home

There is a song about “feeling at home in the presence of Jesus” that is going around in my head, but I can’t remember more words. But those words are enough and I’m humming them over and over again. No better place to feel at home than in the presence of Jesus!

I have a boy staying with me that is feeling right at home! And I love it! Yesterday my living room furniture arrived and David was very excited because it made him feel right at home. He felt so at home that he invited the two guys that delivered the furniture to stay with us for lunch. He volunteered his grandmother and wondered what they would like me to cook for them. If that isn’t felling at home, I don’t know what is!

How about this?! When somebody jumps up on the table to play a card game, that is feeling at home. When I took the picture, David said, “Please don’t show mom.” Sure, he knows he should not be up on the table. We have a saying in Sweden that goes something like this, “The best thing mom has she puts on the table!”  I felt like the best thing I have was on the table!

You can see our chess game in the background. You fold down the center section of the couch and you have a place to put your drinks or a game.

David loves games, and we have been switching between chess, chinese checkers, rummikub, skip-bo, and monopoly. Mouse-Chops plays with us. He is David’s latest acquisition. I got it for him when we stopped at a restaurant so he could go to the restroom. I hope this is as far as it gets with having a mouse in the house. If you have read my blogs for a while you know I’m kind of paranoid with mice.

Getting back to the “feeling at home” theme, how about this? One of the pieces of furniture that came yesterday was a lawyers bookcase. Immediately David found a good use for it. He made it a living space for all his Transformers. They had a good night’s sleep, just as David.

My purpose for this bookcase is to display memorabilia from my years on the mission field. David couldn’t reach the upper section so that’s where I have started my display. The following is art from a town outside Huancayo. With a sharp knife they cut out patterns in gourds and then burn them to make different shades of brown. If you ever go to Peru you have to get these art works!

What more has my David-boy been up to? If it was for him he could sit all day with his DS, a device to play computer games. But he has to combine it with things that are “creative” for his mind. To play with my money, and my penny collection that I have as a reminder that IN GOD WE TRUST, can count as creative.

Something “creative” I thought of last night was to color-code my books. I have sets of books categorized by themes, but then I have quite a few that don’t belong in any of my categories and they looked mismatched in the bookcase. So I decided to put them together by color, and it sure looks much better. What do you think?

That’s as far as I’ve gotten in my creativity for the moment. I have my office to set in place, I have to be creative in putting pictures on the walls… By the way, I’ve decided to color-code my rooms. Since the whole interior got painted in off-white when I tried to rent the house, I now have to give it color in other ways. My bedroom will have shades of blue in memory of my late husband. That was his favorite color. My bathroom themes is yellow, since that is one of my favorite colors. My living room has shades of brown, tan and orange. I love fall colors so my afghan in that color scheme will be my inspiration. This is as far as I’ve come for the moment.

As David said, when the furniture arrived, it made me feel right at home! The best part of it all is that I feel the presence of Jesus. With him at our side, anyplace can feel like home!

 

Beaten in Chess

My seven-year-old grandson David is visiting me for a few days. He is a hyperactive boy with his head full of ideas. Today we have played Monopoly, Chinese Checkers, and Chess. A few weeks ago he discovered a Chess set that used to be his grandfathers and he has started playing. His dad is teaching him.

I played Chess when I was 12 years old. I can’t remember ever playing it again. Playing with me David won his first Chess game ever, which made him very excited. “Now I can beat Dad,” he said. But beating his grandmother who hasn’t played for over 50 years can’t compare to a game with his father. We played three games, and I lost in all three. “You are not paying attention,” he said.

He might be right! I want to unpack and organize my office. But the books can wait, and they won’t go anywhere. But I will not always have the company of this fun-loving boy. Relationships are what counts.

Tomorrow is going to be exciting. They will deliver the couch and the recliner I ordered when David’s sister Lana was here. Cable television will not be installed until June 8th. Due to the storms and tornados the technicians are very backed-up. But that’s the least of my worries. I told the guy I ordered the service from that I might pop in to the neighbors to watch the news. Then, of course, I could go on the Internet! Why didn’t I think of that before?

I know in my heart that this move back to Springfield is a God-thing. This afternoon I was given a project pertaining to a children’s Study Bible based on the work of the Holy Spirit. I’m excited to be part of a team work again. What a privilege to be able to use one’s talents for the glory of God’s Kingdom.

I wonder how many games of Chess I will lose tomorrow. By the way, the first time David played Chinese Checkers he won. That time I was so busy teaching him how to make good moves that I missed my own moves.

Remember what the bride says in Song of Solomon 1:6?

My mother’s sons were angry with me
and made me take care of the vineyards;
my own vineyard I have neglected.

When it comes to the heart, it’s not like a game of Chess or Checkers. It doesn’t matter how busy we are tending for others, we have to take care of our own heart.

Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.
Proverbs 4:23

It’s evening. David and I managed to blow up an air mattress. Now he is playing Monopoly as a bed-time game. He just called and asked if I could keep him some company. I guess that is what I’ll do. Books and blogs can wait. But not a grandchild that needs his grandmother!

Stolen Bibles and a Restored Marriage

We had a representative for The Gideons visit us at church on Sunday. If you ever stayed in a hotel you most likely found a Bible in the nightstand, placed by this organization. Over 100 years ago they placed the first Bible in a hotel room in Montana. Today, they are organized in more than 190 countries around the globe.

This organization of volunteers was founded in 1899, and is “the oldest association of Christian businessmen and professional men in the United States of America.” It’s amazing what a dedicated effort they have made. The Gideons print Bibles and New Testaments for distribution in more than 90 languages. The numbers are staggering! They have placed more than 1.6 billion Bibles and New Testaments worldwide.

Go to http://www.gideons.org/ to read all about their amazing ministry.

One of their many success stories is about a couple whose marriage was going down the drain. They spent a weekend at a hotel but the situation was so bad they took separate rooms. They split, and after several months this is what they discovered. Each one had found a Gideon Bible in the room and started reading it. They both took the Bible home with them and the Word of God did its work. Both the husband and the wife accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Needless to say, their marriage was restored, thanks to some “stolen” Gideon Bibles!

The original Gideon, a man chosen by God to defeat the Midianites, was living proof that with God on your side you don’t need a great army nor sophisticated weapons.

When God called him to do the job he gathered an army of 32.000 men. That was too many! Ten thousand that trembled and feared left, but God considered even 22.000 too many. The final number came to 300, divided in three companies! Here is a picture of their weapons.

Gideon placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of his men, with torches inside. That was it! Read the amazing story in the book of Judges, chapters 6 & 7.

Judges 7:17-22

“Watch me,” [Gideon] told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, ‘For the LORD and for Gideon.’

Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands. The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!” While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.

When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords.”

Gideon and his men blew the trumpets and held up the torches, and the enemy fled turning on each other!

Just as the trumpets and the torches, and great valor and trust in God, were the means of defeating the Midianites that had oppressed and impoverished Israel, two Bibles placed in a hotel by a volunteer Gideon were the means to save and heal two broken people.

You and I can be a modern-day Gideon. We need to believe God for whatever circumstances we are in, and trust him that even with the most meager “weapons” we can be victorious.

A Boat-Ride in a Duck

If you are not familiar with Branson, Missouri the title must sound funny to you. But that is what we did this morning. Last year my daughter and I spent a few days here on vacation with the children. Their dad had just got a new job so he couldn’t be with us. This year he could take some days off work. Last year we had a train ride with the children; this year we made a boat ride in a Duck. It’s a vehicle that rides on land and on water.

We had a relaxing tour in God’s beautiful nature, riding up and down some of the Ozark hills. Then we drove around in Table Rock Lake and the children got to steer the boat. Each passenger got a “quacker” so there was quite a lot of noise going on. To ride a Duck was an option to visiting the Titanic.

When David built a big boat with his Lego’s I told him the story about the Titanic. They have built a big replica in Branson. You can tour the boat and then find out if you were a passenger that survived or one that perished. I had built some excitement with David. But for him it was enough to drive by and see the big boat. His dream of seeing the Titanic had come true! Maybe when he gets older he will want to take a tour inside.

I am not very inspired to write. With the tornado that hit so close to home and more tornadoes forming in Oklahoma and stormy weather heading this way my heart feels heavy. Last time I checked the news the death toll had gone up to 117 in Joplin and many are still unaccounted for.

What can I say? Please keep the affected people in your prayers and all those that have lost loved ones. For the friends that are wondering how I am doing, I’m fine. But my heart is hurting.

Maybe tomorrow I can write something more inspiring!

A Tornado Close to Home

Last night my son-in-law called to warn me that a tornado had hit the city of Joplin and was headed my way. What would I do if it came through my neighborhood? I figured the best thing would be to take shelter in one of the bathrooms. Later in the evening he called again because my grandson needed to know I was okay.

Since I am still getting settled in I have not taken the time to decide what kind of television service I will have, so I could not keep up with the news. This morning I read about the ordeal on the internet. At least 89 people died in what may have been the single deadliest tornado in the USA since 1953.

An earthquake comes with no warning, When a tornado is on the way usually sirens start blasting and you can hurry to take shelter. Joplin residents were notified with 25 warning sirens blasting throughout the town, some 20 minutes before the tragedy hit. But the storm was so loud some might not even have heard the warnings.

This hits home because Joplin is a town one hour drive from Springfield, and I pass through it every time I go to visit my daughter. I feel the pain like it would have hit me.

This is ironic. I came home from church yesterday thinking about writing some thoughts on Harold Camping’s predictions that on May 21 an earthquake would shake the Earth, sweeping true believers to heaven. Back in 1994 he had a failed prediction about Jesus Christ’s return to Earth.

One of the news reports says his supporters had posted about 2,200 billboards around the country about the coming apocalypse. As anybody knowledgeable about the Bible could have “predicted,” that earthquake did not happen. Today is May 23!

This is what Jesus said about the day of his return:

“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come” (Mark 13:32,33).

But there are signs of the times that alert us that his return in imminent. The increase in wars and natural disasters are warning signs.

“Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains” (Mark 13:5-8).

The citizens of Joplin were warned about the coming tornado, and many could seek shelter or the death toll would have been much higher. We are warned through the Word of God about the coming disasters, but many do not heed the warnings.

“Be on guard! Be alert!” said Jesus. The first step is to make Jesus Lord and Savior. He is the only way to God.

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

I’m writing this with loud rumble of thunder in the background. Don’t worry; my computer is a lap-top so I am not connected to the electrical energy source. That could be bad if we got hit by lightning.

That reminds me of what Jesus says in Matthew 24:27, “For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”

There are two phases in the coming of the Lord. First, he will come to take up his Bride, the Church, to celebrate the wedding supper of the Lamb. That will be the time when all Christians disappear from Earth. Later, he will come in all his glory as the King of kings and Lord of lords to reign.

Let’s not get into any theological matters, but once again take warning that Jesus is coming, and he is coming soon. Be ready! Be alert! Be expecting him!

I can’t wait! That is going to be the most awesome day. No more suffering! No more grief! No more pain! Only the glory of meeting Jesus face to face!

More to it than blowing balloons

Maybe blowing balloons contributed, but what Lana had was an ear infection. No wonder she cried all night!

Being in another State and out of network for the medical insurance made Lana’s visit to the doctor quite expensive. Top it off with our visit being at an Urgent Care facility. Similar to going to the ER. What option did we have? None other! But she was diagnosed and got her prescription for antibiotics. Now, a day later, she is much better and has been talking 90 miles an hour, making my ears sore! Having to compete about speaking-time at home with three siblings I guess she took advantage of the opportunity. Her little mouth has been going non-stop!

All week Lana has been talking about buying flowers for he mommy, so this afternoon we went to Walmart and found us a beautiful set of orange carnations. She wanted to buy roses but I told her those would be wilted before her mom even got here. We had enough flowers to divide in three vases. She was very particular about some of the flowers being for me! I love it when kids show concern and generosity.

I was reminded the other day of a time when I was everything but generous. It was Valentine’s Day and my husband had bought me a stuffed gorilla with a big heart that read I LOVE YOU. It was a time when we were struggling financially and every penny counted. Instead of being thankful for his loving thoughts and actions, I got MAD! Yes, mad like MAD with capital letters! I wished he hadn’t spent money on me when we barely had enough for food. And I told him that! Why didn’t I keep my mouth shut?

I’ve kept the gorilla. And now that my dear hubby is gone, it’s a precious reminder of his love and my stubbornness. How could I have been so insensitive? My grandchild Sarah slept with me this past weekend when the family helped me move to Springfield. When I got up in the middle of the night this is how I found her, hugging the gorilla.

There is more to ear aches than blowing balloons. There is more to love than spending the money on food. So if your spouse spends money on you that could be spent on food, don’t be stubborn like I was. I’ve regretted that so many times I can’t count them! The worst thing with getting MAD and being stubborn is that you can’t take it back. Once it comes out of your mouth and heart, it’s out!

I have now returned to the house where this loving but sometimes a little thoughtless husband and I spent the last years of our life together. The inside of the house is repainted, the big old tree by the bedroom window is gone. The couch and the recliner that we had for many years are gone. I’m starting fresh, a new life, a lonely life, a life together with a stuffed gorilla to remind me that I need to be more considerate and kind.

Talking about balloons. The year I got the gorilla I turned 50 and received some birthday money to accomplish a big dream: take a ride in a hot air balloon. Guess what?! Yes, that’s right! The money went to food! Now I’m glad some of our food money went to buy a stuffed gorilla. I’ll keep it close to  hug it as a reminder of a dear, old man who left a big, empty space in my heart and a very empty side of the queen bed in our bedroom. That’s where little Sarah was sleeping when she hugged the gorilla!

The more I think about it, the more I love the gorilla!

Could Balloons be the Culprit?

After an almost sleepless night, with a crying child at my side, I just wonder if balloons could be the culprit.

I have my grandchild Lana staying with me for a few days and yesterday she learned how to blow up balloons. Any new acquired skill is exciting, and for Lana to learn to blow up her own balloons was very special. She went at it most of the day!

By midnight she came to me crying and complaining her ear was hurting. I felt helpless. Not even some Tylenol did I have available. So I’ve had this child crying by my side most of the night. As soon as it was decent enough to call her mother, that’s what I did. We are in two different states and to visit a doctor would be out of network and more expensive, so we want to pursue other options before we take her to a physician.

It’s a good thing Walmart has around the clock service, and I have a store not too far from my house. I got me some Tylenol but found no OTC ear drops. We will go with the miracle cure-it-all Apple Cider Vinegar!

While working on getting these few medications set up for Lana I spotted a balloon on the floor. Aha! Pretend you are blowing up a balloon. Which muscles in your face get a hit? When I gave Lana some bread before the Tylenol she said she can hardly open her mouth it hurts so much. Of course, if you have been blowing balloons all day those muscles are sore.

I will keep a close watch on my girl, but if my grandmotherly instinct isn’t way off the wall, she might just be suffering from a blowing-up-too-many-balloons syndrome.

As for me? I have a case of too-little-sleep.

Both of us will have to catch up on what we missed out on last night! An hopefully nothing more serious is the matter with Lana.

Moving Forward

Sometimes when I log in to write my blog I have to put in my password. For all my activity on-line I have close to 40 passwords. This evening I could not remember my password and had to reset it. When I later looked over my list I realized I had reset it to the same password I had before! W hat kind of  “senior moment” is that?

I managed to download my pictures, so let me show you some of the crew. The ones that worked that hardest didn’t want their picture taken.

Here I am with my “mini-crew” on a perfect spring day in the state of Oklahoma. Some “bigger” people failed us but these little ones followed us through the whole process.

The moving truck all loaded up and ready to go! What a blessing it is to have the possibility of renting a covered truck to do the move. Quite different from the covered wagons the first settlers traveled in. We are spoiled now days, and we take most things for granted!

What I absolutely did not take for granted were these wonderful people who came to help unload. By “picture-time” some had gone home. I haven’t stopped thanking the Lord for sending his angels to help me.

This week I have a little angel staying by my side, my grandchild Lana. This afternoon we went to Slumberland to pick out some furniture for the living room. We met a very kind salesman that wheeled me (in the chair with wheels!) and listened patiently to Lana’s chit-chat , at some ninety miles an hour! She had comments about everything, but at the end of the procedure the salesman thanked us because it had been a fun experience for him!

I think I have mentioned my desire that this summer be a “Joy and Delight”! I felt joy bubbling up inside of me when we left the store. I have very special plans in the making and this shopping trip was part of the preparation. Every item was on sale, and I got a lamp for free with the three monkeys: hear no evil, say no evil, see no evil.

These monkeys can inspire us to keep a close watch on our behavior. It’s easy to slip into forbidden territory. May God and his Word always be our guiding light!

I Made my Golden Move

I am amazed beyond amazed! I’m back in my old house, surrounded by boxes to unpack, but I’m here. That’s what counts.

The moving week started out with 90 degree weather. My daughter was busy with her mom responsibilities, but in between she helped do some packing. In the middle of everything David got sick with some viral infection, covering great parts of his body with red dots. He was put on Prednisone. That gave him what I call “false energy” and made him talkative to the max.

With ample time I ordered a U-haul truck to be picked up in Muskogee, but on the contract it said “preferred location.” Friday evening I received a message that the truck was to be picked up in Coweta, which made it an hour’s drive from Fort Gibson. I needed to have that changed but when I tried to call, I was put on hold for close to an hour. Finally my son-in-law managed to get some sense to the matter, after several “run-arounds”. To make a long story short, the only break we got was a fifty dollar discount on the price and some extra free mileage.

We were excited about three teen-agers that were going to help us, but at the last minute they cancelled because of a basket ball tournament. That put us in a real bind. Another teen-ager that was going to help said he could come with his stepfather. That gave me a little peace of mind to get some sleep the evening before the move.

Saturday morning—M-Day—I stayed home with the “mini-crew” while their parents drove to Coweta to get the truck. The teen-ager arrived but without his stepfather. We started hauling some boxes from my room down to the porch. Then is phone rang! His grandmother had taken a fall so he had to drive home and help her. That was the end of that story! Then one of the girl’s Sunday school teacher arrived, and carried another set of boxes down the stairs. But she was in a hurry because of some baby-sitting situation. That left us on our own!

My daughter and her husband and I did it! Most of my contribution was to take care of the “mini-crew.” They were very willing to help but for the most part got in the way. We loaded boxes, my bedroom furniture and a washer and dryer. Then it was time to empty the storage. Three heavy four-drawer filing cabinets, five big book shelves, a love-seat, and boxes upon boxes… My daughter and my son-in-law loaded them by themselves!

I had purposely not ordered the biggest truck. Now it was decision time on what to leave and what to take! So, the love-seat stayed behind. That was some kind of jigsaw-puzzle to carry up through a narrow staircase. Just so you know! That love-seat stays with the house, if you should buy it when selling time comes!

As if all this work wasn’t enough, the two oldest girls—Lana & Brianna—had a dance recital in the evening! No rest for the weary! My daughter had to get her daughters ready—curl their hair and put on make-up. By five pm the whole family was off to town. I stayed behind to clean up some of the mess. You probably know how it is; little nick-knacks here and there! But I drove in later and arrived just in time to see the girls dance.

Does this sound golden and glittery to you? Such a miracle as to get the truck packed is more that golden to me. And guess what?! We had cool weather. No sweating!

The second half of the miracle came Sunday. At eight am the mom and the dad with their tribe were ready for the drive to Springfield—my daughter driving the truck. She has practice. She and her dad took turns driving when we moved from Florida to Colorado, and due to a misunderstanding she drove the truck through Dallas in rush-hour traffic! Now, that’s my daughter!

Her husband drove the stick-shift mini-mini-van (that’s why she preferred to drive the truck!) and I packed my Chevrolet Cavalier almost to the roof, and off we went! We had been tested to the max in Fort Gibson with invisible angles to strengthen us, but in Springfield we had angels with skin on! The first one to arrive was my realtor. We kidded with him and told him the unpacking of the truck was his punishment for not selling the house!

Ten friends from Faith Assembly of God came to help us unpack. My grandson David was very amazed at so many people that came. We got unloaded and I got my bed set up and even made! I had help to put away dishes and to stack boxes. And here I am a day later, still amaze upon amazed! Miracles happen, and this was a big one!

(Tomorrow comes the third part of the miracle story, with pictures and all! Now it’s time for some shut-eye!)