Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Conversation @ Home

January 31

I ask my wife how her retreat went.
"Remember how you felt when you had a defining moment?" she said. "Just imagine feeling that for an entire weekend. I didn't want to go home. I didn't know how to leave."

"Were you afraid of leaving God behind?"

"Something like that," she whispers.

“Well you didn’t," I offer, "God is never far away. We just need to stay in touch."

"For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:21)

Wheelchair Story

January 30

A young lady tells me, “ I need to tell you my wheelchair story.” After a few weeks in Florida she sits in an emergency room scared and alone. “Praying softly I hear God say, ‘ I’m sending you an angel.”

She waits. She notices an older man in a wheelchair. They talk and after awhile her name is called to see a doctor. She realizes her fear is gone.. She thanks the man for talking with her and then adds; “I don’t even know your name. I’m Sherry.”
He says, “My name is Angel.”

“And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Matt (21:22)

I Killed a Man

January 29

It’s true! I killed a man. A nice man some people thought. I knew differently. He appeared to be the ideal family man. I knew different.

" He walked in lewdness, lust, drunkenness, revelry, drinking parties and abominable idolatry." (1 Peter 4:3)

This man needed to be destroyed. I killed him. I killed my old self. I'm a new person. Alleluia! There is a second chance God. Praise the Lord. Now I really know differently.

“ I say to you, unless one is born again, he can not see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Ice Storm

January 27

Everything is glare ice, "creek, crack crash." Branches are snapping off the trees like brittle spaghetti. It is still raining so I retreat from the yard and stand under the overhang of the house. There is a large crack and thud. A huge branch falls from the elm and is imbedded into the ground where I had been standing moments earlier. I stare in disbelief.

Some would say 'thank your lucky stars.’ That is how I felt once, but now I say luck and stars has nothing to do with it. What do you say?

“The very hairs of your head are numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." (Matthew 10:30-31)

Friday, January 25, 2008

Cranston

January 26

For three days, I clearly hear the word Cranston in my head. Why Cranston?

Today, I find behind other books, The Miracle of Lourdes by Ruth Cranston.
I guess I’m suppose to read this book.
The author goes beyond documenting several miracles at the healing pool at Lourdes. She writes, “The one way to peace and bliss, every great prophet has told us, is to give yourself away.” Have you given yourself away?

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. (Matthew 16:25)

My Nephew's Van

January 25

My Nephew is driving alone along Route 20 in Charlton Ma. A tractor-trailer drifts over the centerline and hits his van behind the driver's seat pushing him off the road. The rig crashes head on into the car behind, killing the driver. My Nephew is unhurt. The truck driver is arrested.

In an instant, a life is taken, one spared.

"Watch therefore for you do not know when the master of the house is coming-in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, lest coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. What I say to you I say to all, Watch!" (Mark 13:35-36)

Thursday, January 24, 2008

City Slicker

January 24

I was a teenager from the city and had never ridden a horse. We walked the horses across a divided roadway onto a trail. After a gentle ride in the woods we turned toward home. My horse took off. I was hanging on for dear life. She bolted across Route 1A, horns blasted, breaks squealed and I screamed.

God's angel directed traffic that day and even provided the mud for a soft landing when I fell off when the horse stopped abruptly in front of the barn.

"He shall give His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways."
(Psalm 91:11)