September 6
He had come to help my dad repair the front porch but now Papa felt he had to go home. Dad reluctantly drove ‘Papa’ to the bus station in Proivdence.
The next day the deadly hurricane of 1938 hit the Rhode Island coast. All the phone lines were down so dad drove to Tiverton only to find the bridge to Portsmouth was gone. He rented a boat. On Papa’s road all the houses were crushed or gone, except one. Papa had boarded up the windows and all were safe.
What had urged my grandfather to return home? He didn’t try to explain it.
“Whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure without fear of evil.”
(Proverbs 1:33)
Monday, September 6, 2010
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Power of Prayer
September 5
Never underestimate the power of prayer.
A granddaughter in Connecticut, who has had diabetes since she was two, is rushed to the hospital. She doesn’t respond to treatment and is listed as critical.
I call a niece in Spokane for prayer. I pray and prepare to fly from Florida to Connecticut.
The next day my son reports Jessica is doing so well the doctors are talking about letting her go home. My niece calls and before I can tell her the good news she says, “I have been praying most of the night for Jessica to be healed and be back home by the weekend.”
"If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:14)
Never underestimate the power of prayer.
A granddaughter in Connecticut, who has had diabetes since she was two, is rushed to the hospital. She doesn’t respond to treatment and is listed as critical.
I call a niece in Spokane for prayer. I pray and prepare to fly from Florida to Connecticut.
The next day my son reports Jessica is doing so well the doctors are talking about letting her go home. My niece calls and before I can tell her the good news she says, “I have been praying most of the night for Jessica to be healed and be back home by the weekend.”
"If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:14)
Dealing with Anger
September 4
We are in the house, voices raised. Joy yells, "pray." We both kneel. I reach out to hold her. She pulls back and snaps, "don't touch me, I don't even like you now." She demands, “Jesus we can't handle this, we need You now!" Her arms come around me. The anger subsides and our voices are now sof.t. We forgive each other. God answers knee-mail.
"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another; even as Christ forgave you, so you must do. (Colossians 4:13)
We are in the house, voices raised. Joy yells, "pray." We both kneel. I reach out to hold her. She pulls back and snaps, "don't touch me, I don't even like you now." She demands, “Jesus we can't handle this, we need You now!" Her arms come around me. The anger subsides and our voices are now sof.t. We forgive each other. God answers knee-mail.
"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another; even as Christ forgave you, so you must do. (Colossians 4:13)
Friday, September 3, 2010
Tommy at the Church Fair
September 3
It’s time to leave the church fair. My three-year-old grandson wants to sit in the driver's seat of the fire truck-again.I carry him screaming and kicking to his stroller.
Joy leans over him and says, "Tommy calm down.” He stiffens and shudders a couple of times, wiped the tears from his eyes and softly repeats, "Tommy calm down." He takes Joy's hand and they walk to our van. Later Joy says "I have never seen a child get in touch with himself like that, the Spirit was with him."
“ I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." (Luke 18:17)
It’s time to leave the church fair. My three-year-old grandson wants to sit in the driver's seat of the fire truck-again.I carry him screaming and kicking to his stroller.
Joy leans over him and says, "Tommy calm down.” He stiffens and shudders a couple of times, wiped the tears from his eyes and softly repeats, "Tommy calm down." He takes Joy's hand and they walk to our van. Later Joy says "I have never seen a child get in touch with himself like that, the Spirit was with him."
“ I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." (Luke 18:17)
First Church in Wethersfield
September 2
Joy and I met and later were married in the First Church of Christ in Wethersfield, Ct.. Since then many of life’s happiest and saddest moments have been connected with this 360-year old church,
For many years every Sunday service began with the minister quoting Isaiah.
“Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.”
(Isaiah 40:31
Joy and I met and later were married in the First Church of Christ in Wethersfield, Ct.. Since then many of life’s happiest and saddest moments have been connected with this 360-year old church,
For many years every Sunday service began with the minister quoting Isaiah.
“Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.”
(Isaiah 40:31
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Every Parents Nightmare
September 1
This is the day I receive the call every parent fears. It is my former wife and she is hysterical. Our youngest child, Steven, has died in a house fire. He was 18. The world stops. I’m numb. Tears flow freely.
For many nights after the funeral, I tried to respond to the cards and notes. One night I threw down my pen dropped to my knees and cried out to God. That was the night my Shepherd took this broken lamb in His arms, coddled me and whispered in my ear, “Here I am.”
"You shall call and the Lord will answer; You shall cry and He will say Here I am." (Isaiah 58:9)
This is the day I receive the call every parent fears. It is my former wife and she is hysterical. Our youngest child, Steven, has died in a house fire. He was 18. The world stops. I’m numb. Tears flow freely.
For many nights after the funeral, I tried to respond to the cards and notes. One night I threw down my pen dropped to my knees and cried out to God. That was the night my Shepherd took this broken lamb in His arms, coddled me and whispered in my ear, “Here I am.”
"You shall call and the Lord will answer; You shall cry and He will say Here I am." (Isaiah 58:9)
Will Work for Food
August 31
Ever see a person with a cardboard sign that reads, "will work for food?"
I ask, “Does your sign mean what it says, will work for food?” He says yes. I drive him to my house and he mows my lawn. He is desperate for money to pay the rent and to buy food for his wife and child. He has some leads for work but nothing has come through.I pay him in cash, not food, and drive him to his neighborhood. We are both blessed this day.
"He who despises his neighbor sins; But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he." (Proverbs 14:21)
Ever see a person with a cardboard sign that reads, "will work for food?"
I ask, “Does your sign mean what it says, will work for food?” He says yes. I drive him to my house and he mows my lawn. He is desperate for money to pay the rent and to buy food for his wife and child. He has some leads for work but nothing has come through.I pay him in cash, not food, and drive him to his neighborhood. We are both blessed this day.
"He who despises his neighbor sins; But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he." (Proverbs 14:21)
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