Election Day-Your Vote Counts

Election Day

 

November 6

 

The election for U.S. President in 2000 was so close we didn’t know who won for 35 days. In Florida the difference was less than one vote per precinct. Who says one vote doesn’t count.

A wise man told me, “Think of your salvation as an election. There are three eligible voters. God has one vote and will always vote yes for your salvation. The Devil has one vote and will always vote no. You have the deciding vote.”

Have you voted?

 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32)

Halloween

 

Halloween

 

October 31

 

“Trick or treat?”  Years ago we didn’t ask we just did tricks. Now children don masks and costumes and demand treats from grownups, like an entitlement. 

The fact that All Saints Day follows Halloween is an appropriate reminder to put away the craziness for another year. Otherwise life could become a series of Halloweens with people wearing masks all the time. I know God wants me to take off my mask and get real with Him. No tricks or treats Lord, just living everyday humbly obeying You.

 

“By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life.” (Proverbs 22:4)

Special Birthday

 October 26

This is Joy’s birthday. Friends drive us to a surprise gift. We drive through the country.The car slows by a field, then we see.  Gads! It is a glider.

 

The pilot is dressed in jeans and a plaid shirt. “Nothing to worry about,” he smiles, “ the leaves are in full color.” We squeeze into one rear seat and the pilot closes the canopy. “We are in God’s hands now,” I whisper.

 

The tow plane releases us. The noise of the wind is loud. I thought gliding would be quiet. Joy gets her wish for a bird’s view of the countryside. We thoroughly enjoy ourselves.

 

I’m just thankful the surprise wasn’t hang gliding.

 “Give all your worries to God for He cares what happens to you.” (2Peter 5:7 NLT)

Soccer Moment

October 25

 

Mario learned to play soccer as a boy in Italy. Now a waiter in the U.S.,he coached my sons in beginning soccer, stressing the fundamentals and  teamwork.

During a scoreless game there was a break away. My Robbie (10) was back, his brother Steve (9) was goalie. They met the threat, legs went every which way and Rob kicked the ball right past Steve into his own goal.

The booming voice of Mario rang across the field, "It's OK Robbie, even the great Pele' scored against himself.” At that moment Mario was God's aroma to my young boys.

 

"Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God." (Mark 10:14)

A key to success

October 24

 

His mom raised Dave, and five siblings in a housing project. At 13 Big Brothers matched him with Bob,19. who   encouraged Dave to finish school and go to college. After college Bob offered Dave a job at the TV station where he worked.

 Today, on his own, Dave is literally helping people around the world become successful in business. One of those people is Bob. Accepting an award Dave thanks God, his Mom, and Bob. He tells an audience of 10,000, "To succeed, work hard and pray.”  Not the usual street advice to succeed.

 

"The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it." (Proverbs 10:22)

Are we Deceiving Ourselves

 

October 23

 

Our facilitator, Ron says, deception is looking outward at what the world says instead of looking inward at ourselves and what God says.” We list how we have deceived ourselves. I write:

  "Judging my success by the world’s standard- seeking praise from men. Thinking that if I work hard all will be right and if I do good I am good." How are you deceiving yourself?

 

“The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, who can know it? I the Lord, search the heart. I test the mind, even give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” (Jeremiah 17:9-10)

Our Real Neighbors

October 22

 

Everything seems fine until I distinctly smell gasoline. I pull off the road, open the hood and find gas seeping out of the fuel line. It is a miracle that the engine hasn’t caught fire. Now what do I do? A car pulls in behind me. The driver sees the leak and proceeds to tape the split hose. What a Godsend he is. Come to think of it, I have had a lifetime of Good Samaritans who have come by and bailed me out of trouble. on the roadways and byways of life. Many of them were strangers but as the parable says, they were my real neighbors.

"Then Jesus said to him, 'Go and do likewise." (Luke 10: 36-37)

Make God Your Bailer

October 21

 

The rock face is straight up. My arms ache as I stretch for the next finger crack. It is out of reach. I stretch and my feet slide out and I fall. Barry Barth, my bailer, is doing his job. He holds the lifeline and I bang against the rock and dangle there. No damage to the bones just to my pride.

God is like that bailer. I can't see Him but I know He is there. He keeps me from falling too far, but allows me to climb my own obstacles. He picks me up when I fall and He renews my strength when I stumble. God can be your bailer too.

 

“The Lord is the strength of my life;  of whom shall I be afraid.”(Psalm 27:1)

Three Keys to a Lasting Marriage

October 20

There are three keys to a lasting marriage and Joy and I have embraced them for 18 happy years.
First you need true love, which is a daily commitment to put the other person first.
Second is keeping God in the center of the marriage.

And lastly pray together about everything. When we hit the inevitable bumps in the road in our relationship at least one of us has to have the wisdom to say, "Lets pray about this." And do it.

"Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perserveres. Love never fails."
1 Corinthians 13:7&8

Cheating at golf

October 18

 

We call it the Woodstock Open, named is for the cartoon character. If your golf ball strikes a tree you get a plastic woodstock. You can pass "Woody" on when another golfer hits a tree. There is a snake for a three putt, a camel for a sand trap, a fish for water etc.

 I play the Woodstock Open once a year. The cashier asks if I'm a resident. I lie. I’m an ex-resident. I save $7. I play awful, costing me  $10 in animals and I lose my self respect. Ok God, no more cheating, next time I play as a non resident.

 

"Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,

But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel." Proverbs (20:17)

God responds thru a TV

October 17

 

She said she was having trouble making her apartment cat proof. Her felines were scratching up the new furniture.

 “I threw my hands up in the air and said, Lord I need help here to cat proof my apartment." When she returned to the living room she inadvertently stepped on the TV remote lying on the floor. The TV changed channels and her jaw dropped when she heard a woman talking about making your house cat proof.

.

“The voice of the Lord is powerful; The voice of the Lord is full of majesty." (Psalm 29: 4)

God uses a calling card

October 16

 

When we were moving to Sarasota a pastor in Hartford wrote the name of a Christian couple to contact. We didn’t contact them.

In Florida, an attorney says, "My wife and I are helping some folks start a church." He hands me a calling card for the church with a map on the back. On Sunday ,after the service we meet the very couple that our former pastor wrote about. We know this is the church where God wants us to be. When a note didn’t work He provided a calling card with a map.

 “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)

Successful Marriage Secret

 

 

October 15

 

Joy stands in the doorway to our little office and leaning on the doorframe she says, "I feel overwhelmed." I rise and take her by the hand saying, "You know where we go when we feel overwhelmed?"  We walk to the adjacent bedroom and kneel by the bed and pray.

Keeping God at the center of our marriage and keeping Him our focus and making each other a priority has made for a lasting and loving relationship.Love is not a feeling it is a choice.

 

“Let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” (Ephesians 5:33)

When God Speaks--Listen

October 13

 

I can't find my checkbook. Had it earlier in the day. I'm getting really stressed and Joy suggests wisely that we pray about it. Moments later I return to my office and a voice in my head says attaché' case. I open it and there is the checkbook.

 

Joy is having nightmares and asks me to pray with her. We both ask God for help with this. The nightmares stop.

 

Today she says God spoke to her through Proverbs 1:33  "Whoever listens to me will dwell safely and will be secure without fear or evil."

Prayer Answered on Voicemail

October  12

 

Our surrogate son car salesman on voice mail yells he slammed the phone with such force that it breaks. His manager fires him.

While I'm praying for guidance on how to respond. I play the next message. It’s the same voice but only this time his tone is  normal. God answers my prayer for guidance by sending me chapter and verse in the voice of the person seeking help.

"I found what I was looking for in the One Minute Pocket Bible for Business Professionals." My friend reads,

 

"Oh my God I trust in you,

Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me."  (Psalm 25:2)

Answering a Call

 

October 10

 

She is terminal. I must talk with her now in the hospital.

My sister listens intently but bristles when I read, “the righteous fear God.”

“I always had a problem with needing to fear God,” she protests. I say, “Think of fear as respect.” (Where did that come from?) She says I can do that.Later she recites the suggested prayer asking Jesus to be her Lord and Savior.

Over dinner my nephew tells me that ten years earlier he prayed by her bedside, “Lord don’t take her until she is yours.”

 ( The Lord honored his prayer and took his mother six weeks later.)

 

“In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:6)

Balloons and Worship

 October 9

I saw a new community church in Florida use balloons to create a cheerful approach.

 There were directional signs with balloons bobbing in the gentle breeze. More balloons lead up to the doors. Every kid loves to see a balloon including the kid in us. By the time people get to the front door they are in a mood to celebrate with those inside singing praises to the Lord.

What a way to begin a worship service.

 

"Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples!

Shout to God with the voice of triumph!

 Sing praises to God, sing praises!

Sing praises to our King, sing praises!" (Psalm 47: 1,6)

The Last Seinfeld Episode

 

   October 8

 

Although we had stopped watching, the hype of the final Seinfeld program lured us to watch..

The episode was surprisingly serious. Jerry and his friends are tried and convicted for their antics and for not being sensitive to the needs of others. The characters, put in jail, don't get it.

. What will the last episode of my life be like? I know I will be found guilty of being judgmental and insensitive to others. But unlike Seinfeld's, my judge will be fair and forgiving. I’ll bet my life on it.

 

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1John 1:9)

Something Told Me

 

October 7

 When I was 19 years old I lived in Tracy, California, and had been out with some friends in Stockton, about 20 miles away.  I was driving home alone about 2 am old Highway 50. The highway splits into two high narrow bridges over the San Joaquin River, one for north bound and one for south bound traffic. The bridges are steep so that you can’t see the other side until you get to the top. 

 

There was no traffic on the road at that hour and I was traveling the speed limit. I was in the left hand lane going up the south-bound bridge when, for some unexplained reason, I steered into the right hand lane. A moment later I was in the middle of the bridge when out of nowhere, a car came speeding the wrong way in the lane I had just left.

If I hadn’t changed lanes there would have been a head on collision in the middle of that high and narrow bridge. There was nowhere to go except over the edge into the river below.  I know that I would not have survived the crash or the river.

 

Decades later I still shiver at the thought of what could have happened that night.  There was no reason for me to change lanes. I was saved by an angel that night, I’m absolutely sure. 

 

“For he shall give his angels charge over you,

to keep you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:11

 

Mary (Kiser) Bartlein

Panther Ridge, Florida

A Directed Golf Shot

October 2

 

The first hole at the Blue Rock Executive Golf Course on Cape Cod is 90 yards.  You can see the green from the waiting area. It is crowded and Joy prays, "Lord just let me hit the ball." It is quiet. Whack!

 The ball bounces in front of the green and rolls up to within a few feet of the cup. There is applause. Joy turns and curtsies.

 Joy taps in for a birdie- more applause. She bows and says, "That's it, It’ll never get better than this; I retire." And she did.

 

"I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them."

(Mark 11:24)

Old Car and Prayer

 

October 1

 

 The car won’t start. Ugh! We are going to Florida even if we have to jump-start this car all the way from Massachusetts. We stay with family in New Jersey. We ride to church in their van. During adult Sunday school I hear, "we need to pray for my brother-in-law's old car, that it will start and make it to Sarasota." The car starts the next three days and we arrive safely in Florida. The next day the car barely starts. I drive it directly to a repair shop grateful that we made it to the Sunshine State .

 

"This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us.”(1John 5:14)