January 1, 2022

Christmas is in the rear-view mirror. We work and plan for that special day and then...poof! It’s gone for another year. And here we are in a new one! As we walk into a new year, a lot of us make New Year’s Resolutions. (I’ve already broken a couple and it's only the first day of the year!)

Making New Year’s Resolutions can force us to look at our past. A lot. Have you ever felt like your past mistakes were following you around…like they define who you are and how your future will be shaped?

God’s word says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)

Even believers forget and fall into dwelling on the past. The Word of God is a constant stream of renewing power as the Holy Spirit reveals our loving Father's truths about who we really are and what His plans are for us! When we step into that stream...it is easier to get a grip on what God has planned for our lives.

I have the above scripture printed and posted on our bathroom mirror – as a reminder. I’m trying to keep that scripture at the forefront as I've stepped into this new year. I guess I've made this scripture my new year’s resolution!

May God’s richest blessings be yours in the coming year!

And always remember...if you have a pulse, you have a purpose.  Make your life count!

Thanksgiving & Hallmark Movies

 With all the preparations that lead up to Thanksgiving Day, it’s almost like we only blink our eyes and then it’s time to begin with all the shopping, baking, and parties for the next big day!  It’s predictable.  Predictable like a Hallmark Christmas movie!  (You know…the two romantic leads get close to sharing their first kiss, and a phone will ring, and the kiss is interrupted!  You’ll have to wait until the two have some major drama/fallout and the movie is nearly over before you get to see them finally have that first kiss!  Seems like all those movies are alike but I still love watching them!)

 

Yes, these last two months of the year can be kind of predictable in a lot of ways.  

 

So, how about this idea?  Do something unexpected!  When your neighbor isn’t home, blow all their leaves to the street before doing your own.  Bless a worker at the fast-food drive-thru with a $5 tip.  Pay for the order in the car ahead of you in line.  Send a note to someone who had an influence on your life from years ago.  Tell that person how important they have been in your life.  

 

Bless someone! 

You’ll likely find some extra joy in your busy life!  Giving, sharing, blessing someone is a way of giving thanks!  I look at those opportunities to give thanks to the Lord for allowing me the privilege to bless someone else.  In that blessing, I get a blessing!  We learn in Genesis 12 that you and I are blessed to be a blessing! 

 

Let Thanksgiving be your time of “thanks – giving!”

If you have a pulse, you have a purpose.  Make your life count!

Church Pew Pads

I spent part of yesterday on a special sewing project as I mended worn places on the pew pads in our church sanctuary.  They’re attached to the wood, so one can’t just go in and turn the pads over to hide the bad places.  

That would be easy, wouldn’t it?

Easy, but not practical, because the worn places would still be there.  

See where I’m going with this?  Just because people can’t see the bad things in our lives doesn’t mean they don’t matter – or even exist in our minds/hearts.  Maybe those things happened a long time ago and you’ve kept them hidden.  But those places are still there.  Hiding them doesn’t change anything.  You know they’re there – buried deep – and they don’t just go away.  

But when the Lord comes and mends those broken and bad places...takes them away when we ask for His forgiveness...we have to receive His forgiveness.  That’s not always easy.  Sometimes it’s hard to receive Christ’s forgiveness when we can’t forgive ourselves.  

Do it anyway.  

Don’t just turn the pew pad over.  Take care of it.

And remember...if you have a pulse, you have a purpose. Make your life count!

Eight Years...

Eight years since I held my sister's hand...we used to hold hands walking in a mall, or sitting together in church.  I know that seems weird to somebody else but it was normal for us.  We were sisters, very close, and very affectionate.  It was an unusual closeness between sisters.  The older we got, the more it meant to spend time together.  The last Facebook message she sent to me was to tell me she was checking flights to come and visit me in Cleveland, Tennessee.  Which was less expensive?  Flying into Chattanooga or Knoxville airport?  What dates would be good for us?  She never got to fly down.

Eight years since I spent the night sleeping in her room...when we were kids we shared a room.  Then when we moved to Ohio we each had our own rooms, but it seemed like I'd end up sleeping in the extra bed that was in her room because we'd do our homework together and listen to the radio.  Many times I'd fall asleep in her room and just stay there all night.  When we lived together in Wilmore, Kentucky (before each of us got married) it was just normal for us!  Together again!

Eight years since I leaned over her bed and sang one of our songs in her ear and told her where her parts came in...and we had been singing together for many years!  Our first duet in church was "There's a Song in the Air" at Christmas-time in Woodlawn, Virginia.  I was six and she was nine.  That's where it really started and then we went on to sing duets for - basically - the rest of our lives together!  

Eight years since our family members and friends began to gather at a hospital in Cincinnati to say our last goodbyes.  Vangie was already being kept alive by machines.  Did she know we were there or even heard the words we said to her?  Maybe she did.  I've heard that a person's last sense to go was their hearing when they're in a state like that.  I sure hope so.  

There was so much I wanted her to know before she went away.  

We weren't done.  

And eight years since I posted this on Facebook, January 19, 2013:

Vangie is being kept comfortable now. Doctors figure it won't be long before she moves to Heaven. She's prayed for healing for 10 or 15 years and is going to finally get it. And she'll get to meet the two babies she carried under her heart but never got to hold. 

Thank you for your prayers...

I think about my sister every day.  I miss her.  And when it gets close to the date when she went to Heaven, you'll probably see me write about her again.  Numbering the years.  

Always remember...if you have a pulse, you have a purpose.  Make your life count.

September 1st

Today, I'm sharing something I praise God for because, even when I didn’t know it, God had his Sovereign Hand on me. I hope you’ll stay with me till the end. Maybe I've posted something similar before, but this was on my heart yesterday, which was September 1st. Here goes... 

47 years ago today, I almost married the wrong man. 

Our invitations had been printed, inviting family and friends to an afternoon wedding on September 1, 1973 in Sabina, Ohio. Peach colored bridesmaids’ dresses, black groomsmen’s tuxedos were on order. My wedding dress was hanging on a closet door in my apartment. Everything for the rehearsal dinner and wedding reception had been ordered, awaiting the occasions. All the plans were made! 

…except for one thing. One Sunday afternoon, just six weeks before the wedding, he and I sat on the floor of my living room and got real with each other. We knew we loved each other, but there was some confusion on both our parts, and we had to admit that we didn’t love each other enough to stay together the rest of our lives! After several hours of talking, and tears shed by both of us…we decided we couldn’t get married. It was a mutual decision. It was a decision that was best for both of us. You see, neither one of us had invited Christ to have control of our lives. We went to church when it was expected of us (when we were visiting my parents or his over the weekend). But Jesus had no part of our lives, together or individually. 

It was a few weeks after that Sunday afternoon decision, I visited my parents at Camp Sychar, the camp meeting I’ve attended all my life. Dr. Dennis Kinlaw, president of Asbury College at that time, was there that day. He had lunch with my parents and me, asking what my future plans were. I chattered a little about singing in coffee houses and working my third year at a job that was okay. Not great, but okay. Just after saying goodbye to my parents, he turned and asked me a question I couldn’t answer. “Just what is it you’re looking for, Beth?” 

Simple enough question. But I couldn’t answer it. I’d been doing lots of things, working that full-time job for the state of Ohio, and a part-time job as cashier at a popular Italian restaurant in Columbus, singing folk music in any coffee house that invited me, and not one single thing brought me joy. I made money to pay my bills with a little left over, but that was all I had to show for it. I just looked at Dr. Kinlaw and honestly said, “I don’t know.” He patted my shoulder and said he’d pray that I’d find it, then walked away.  

Seven hours later, during the evening service, I couldn’t wait for the preacher to stop preaching so I could go to the altar! I knew I needed Jesus. I’d talked a good game for years, went to church (when I had to), tried to be good. But that night, the place in my heart that could only be filled by Jesus, was a gaping empty hole! I practically ran to that altar! My daddy and his best friend – another dear pastor, Dale Riggs – came to me and prayed with me as I asked the Lord to change me, fill me, and help me. I finally said a strong Yes to Jesus that night and I’ve never looked back! 

All this is significant as I tell you this: there were circumstances that had to fall into place for me to be where God would bring Joe and me together. 

While I was planning and calling off a wedding in 1973, Joe was taking a summer semester Greek class. 

While he was at home packing up to go back for his last year at Asbury Theological Seminary – I was stepping out in faith and leaving Columbus, Ohio to live with my sister for a while until I knew what God wanted me to do. 

While I was telling my parents I’d never marry a preacher, God was setting me up to meet Joe Green six weeks later. 

While I didn’t always attend, I was at an evening service at Wilmore UMC when Joe walked in with a bunch of girls from the college. After that service, he put the girls in his car and came back in and found me. He said, “You’re Vangie’s sister. You sing. I’d like to hear you sometime. Why don’t you sing for your supper tomorrow night!” 

That was it. Three months later we got married. I don’t recommend that for everyone but it’s worked out well for us for 46 years! 

There are a lot of other things that seemed like coincidences but when we’d look back we realize they were God’s way of getting us both in His Will. God had His hand on both of us! We may not have been aware of it at the time, but He had plans for us! Together! Thanks be to God! 

Don’t ever wonder if God cares about every aspect of your life, dear ones! He does! And there are promises of His goodness, mercy, grace, and care all through His Word. Get into it and find out! You’ll never be the same after you’ve said a strong YES to Jesus Christ! The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are moving together as One to guide your life! 

Give your future to Jesus! Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV) "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." 

God bless everyone reading these words! I love y’all, and that’s why I wanted to share this personal story with you. I know it’s long, but I’m praying it will give you hope and confidence in The One who holds you in the palm of His hand!

Determination

During this Coronavirus situation, our church staff is sending a devotional every day to members and friends of Alcoa First UMC. My turn falls on Tuesdays, so I thought I'd share this one on my blog as well.


A female Cardinal has decided to use the front door of our little house in Maryville as her target. Every day. There are lots of similar glass storm doors in our neighborhood, but she prefers ours! I call her my Kamikaze Kardinal! She is determined, that’s for sure! And I’m amazed that she doesn’t have some kind of permanent damage from the way she crashes into that door. She either flies straight into the door from our little Japanese maple bush, or she sits on our welcome mat and flies up into the glass. Since I’m home all the time now, I’ve realized that she almost has a rhythm in her crashes because I can just about time her next hit! We even put shower caps on our rear view mirrors to keep her from hitting them, too. She NEVER gives up! Since we live in the south, all I can say is, “Bless her heart.” She certainly is determined.

Determination. With what’s happening in our world right now, we have to be determined about a lot of things: determined to do social distancing, determined to stay home. I read the other day: ‘We’re not stuck at home, we’re safe at home. One word can change your attitude and one cough could change your life.’

Another thing that we must be determined about is trusting God even when we don’t see His hand or His plan. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Okay, God. Anytime you want to reveal yourself in this, I’m open to it. But you know what? He’s already revealing himself in every situation! Just because I can’t see Him doesn’t mean He’s not working!

God’s revealing himself through the doctors, nurses, and hospital workers who are on the frontlines everywhere, doing all they can to make/keep people well…through the scientists and medical people that are working for a drug to fight this virus…for a vaccine. He’s revealing himself through all the law enforcement officers, EMTs, civil servants, the pharmacists, the people who keep the shelves stocked…and I could go on and on.

My husband, Joe, gave me an example about trusting God: "Have you ever signed your name to a blank check, and let someone else fill in the amount? Or a contract, and let someone else decide all the terms and conditions? We’ll never know the will of God if we approach it saying I want to find out God’s will before I decide if His will fits my plans."

There comes a point in our lives where we must say, God, I don’t like what’s happening, but I love You. I don’t understand all this, but I trust You.

Prayer: Father, this is a strange time, and we know we should trust you, but it’s hard. Will you please take our fears and doubts, and help us learn to trust you even when nothing is making sense right now? We don’t like what is happening, but we love you. We don’t understand all this, but we trust you. Amen.

Saying goodbye...

It didn't take long for me to realize how much I missed having a dog around the house. It'd been about a year since our toy poodle, Abraham "Abie" had crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Telling Joe I'd never have another dog because it hurt too bad to say goodbye, he knew in his heart I couldn't hold out. Obadiah "Dobie" joined our family in 2004. Our daughter accused me of getting another toy poodle to replace her when she was planning to leave for college in the fall of that year. He wasn't a replacement, but he sure was good company when I was missing her so much!

Yes, she was only 12 miles up the road at University of Tennessee.
Yes, she came home on the weekends to do laundry.
Yes, she'd call me sometimes while walking to her classes.
(...and, yes, I missed her so bad I could hardly stand it, but I'd never admit that to her.)

For 15 1/2 years, Dobie was a part of our family. He knew us so well that he had us figured out! He knew our schedule! This dog wouldn't even stand up from his bed, stretch and yawn prior to going out for his morning constitutional until he heard Joe putting his keys in his pocket! Dobie had his own little routine, as well!

Over time, this lively little guy settled into a more quiet lifestyle. Dobie loved to be next to us in a chair or on the sofa. He didn't actually sit on our laps much - unless he was riding in the car. And he didn't particularly like riding in a car, but the Valium prescription the vet gave us made trips a lot easier.

We lived in Alcoa, then Cleveland (TN), Kingsport, and finally in Maryville. Dobie adjusted well to each house but the last one. By the time we moved to Maxwell Lane, he couldn't see much and his hearing was rapidly diminishing. Seizures started to occur a lot more often, and the last two seemed to really mess him up. Our little guy's life had been much more difficult these last several months and we knew it was just a matter of time. When he would just stand in the middle of a room, not understanding/seeing where he was, we would move one of his little beds nearby and help him into it. He'd curl up and sleep for hours. He stopped eating, pretty much stopped drinking...and I think he was trying to tell us it was time to say goodbye.

Joe and I were in the car driving to a funeral on Saturday when I suggested maybe we needed to make the final arrangements for Dobie. He said that he'd been feeling that same way all morning. So we did it...

Sunday night, I gave him a bath and washed his blanket. On Monday, Joe and I took Dobie to his former veterinarian in Kingsport, Dr. Gary Andes, and signed papers for euthanasia. Gary was so kind and gentle with him - and with us, knowing we were hearbroken to do this. Then we took Dobie's body to Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home where our nephew Jacob and his friend Steve Britt, carefully took care of our little guy. (The funeral home has a cremation service for pets - dignity and kindness for our sweet Dobie.)

I placed his frog leg (remnants of his very first toy from our dear friend Sue Martin) in his front paws, then wrapped Dobie in his favorite yellow blanket and said goodbye. And now we have a beautiful little wooden box with his cremains to remember him.

He's a dog! But it was heartbreaking to let him go! He was our fur-baby! I don't like goodbyes anyway, but this one was pretty tough. Dobie had a good life and he knew he was loved...even to the end.

He was the best dog we ever had...the smartest and healthiest...and still had all his teeth! He gave us a lot of joy and unconditional love, and we're grateful. Let me leave you with a few shots of this sweet baby-dog...