Miracle we survive

 

September 28

 

“It is a miracle that they all survived. It is a miracle any of us survive, “ my daughter said. One of her cousins had triplets born six weeks prematurely. They weighed less than seven pounds together. My daughter had weighed more than seven pounds when she was born. I remember peering through the nursery window while a nurse held her to the glass. My first thought was thank God she is all there. I was looking at a miracle. I knew it. Babies are a gift.

 

"You are of God. little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

Hospital Visit

 

September 27

 

Before we enter the hospital Joy goes to an art shop. In her mother's hospital room family sit around the bed talking about medications and pain. Joy parts the curtains, tapes color paper to the walls and ties ribbons on the green plants. Within minutes that sterile room is warmed by sunlight and color and even the bedside conversation brightens.

God loves on us with light. You can’t see  the beautiful colors in the dark.

 

"Then God said, 'let there be light'; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness." (Genesis 1:3-4)

Important Lessom

 

September 26

 

A young electrician gingerly touched the metal box with a screwdriver. I asked him why he did that since he had shut off the power. “I always check twice,” he said. " I was working on a big unit with my boss and he went to grab the cover and I said, ‘don’t you want to test it first?”

He turned to me and said, “Are you telling me how to do my job? He grabbed the cover with both hands and was electrocuted on the spot.”

 

We all need to learn that lesson.

 

“He who hates correction will die.”(Proverbs 15:10)

Two Words

September 25

 

She told Joy things weren't going well at work, her husband seemed distant, she was short with the kids etc. I two talked in the kitchen while I sat in the living room. When we were leaving   I prayed, " Lord give me the words to say." He did.

 I whispered two words in her ear.  

 

Days later Joy reports her friend,” is full of life again and back loving her family.” She said she took your two words of advise; “Tell God!"

 

“Now a word was secretly brought to me, and my ear received a whisper of it.” (Job 4:12)

A neighbor in church

September 23

 

My friend is excited, her neighbor finally attends our church service. She tells me:

 “I ‘m glancing sideways during the service to see how she is reacting.  Her face seems non expressive.. During the message she stares at her feet and I’m confused.” The service ends and I  ask awkwardly,  'Is there anything you liked?”

Her answer surprises me. She smiles saying, “Oh! I saw God’s love before the service even started when your pastor walked in and kissed that boy in the wheelchair by the door.”

 

“Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.” (Matthew 18:5)

A way to read the Bible in a year

 

September 22

 

Cliff our men’s Bible teacher passed out an 81/2 x 11 sheet of paper divided into 367 little rectangles with four biblical  references hand written in each box.

He was awakened at three and visualized finishing the Bible in a year by reading two chapters from the old testament, a psalm, a proverb and one chapter from the new testament everyday. The class ended for me a few weeks later when I moved to Florida. I have used Cliff’s outline daily for the past fifteen years.

 

"Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.” (Proverbs 30: 5)

Live Each Moment

 

September 21

 

Paraphrasing Thomas Merton Joy says "Live in the moment and see all that God has provided...it’s awesome." She asks how my day has been. I pause. Typically, another day has gone by and I have missed those precious moments. Keeping a daily journal helps as does reading the Bible, taking a hike or listening to a child. Joy listens to chants or other music she enjoys as part of her quiet moments. I think I'll go for a walk and notice what's around me.How about you?

 

“This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
(Psalm 118:24)