Seeing is Believing

Mary is losing her eyesight.  She is up in age now and slowly but surely, her sight is fading.  The other day, while visiting, when I asked her if she wanted me and my Pastor to pray with her, she said yes.  She wanted us to ask God to allow her to keep just a very small part of her sight.  She said she didn't need a whole lot, just a little bit....just enough to be able to see how to get around in her little trailer.  And suddenly, there it was again.....Grace.  It keeps popping up, doesn't it?

I think in reality, Mary may also be afraid.  She lives alone and doesn't have a 24/7 caregiver.  Her daughter and son-in-law are busy working and only can attend to her in the evenings with spare time. 

We were heart stricken deeply by Mary's humbleness.  I mean, if I'm gonna ask God for something, would I not ask for 20-20 vision?  It made me realize once again how selfish I can be in my petitions to our Father.

That night when I prayed my daily visit with the Lord, I prayed to God to allow Mary to continue seeing for the rest of her days.  I prayed for Him to comfort her and always let her know He is by her side.  Before too much longer, Mary will see like a hawk.

The Value of Home Grown

I literally hate to buy tomatoes at the grocery store.  At best, I prefer to buy them at those little produce stands you see by the side of the road.  Better yet, I love to grow them.  There is something so very satisfying about going out to the back yard, picking one, washing it and cutting it up for evening supper's salad. Grocery store tomatoes are not tasty or juicy and somehow they just don't seem to "be from around here".  I always look forward to April 15th.  Usually, it is a safe date to set out your plants.

Perhaps it's the loving care you give them as they grow such as the battles you fight with the cut worms, the worry you have when you leave home and remember you forgot to water them before you left and all the hastle of tieing the stalks to the stakes to make sure they can't blow over from the weight of all that lucious fruit.  And, believe it or not, I really do enjoy giving them to neighbors.  (I can never eat all that I grow and it breaks my heart to see one go to waste.  And, my wife doesn't can stuff.)

The good book teaches us that we don't need to pray for the Lord to make the job easier for us.  We are to pray that we are strengthened for the job at hand.  It's true.  Test it!  Grow a tomatoe bush this summer. 

When He Comes

The jokes and hoopla continue as we enter the eve of the latest prediction of Christ's return to us.  The story is that He will come to rapture all believers on May 21st (tomorrow).  I read headlines this morning that there will be parties going on to celebrate the fact that the guy predicting this was wrong.  (To be held on Sunday of course.)

Jesus said, "Only our Father in Heaven knows the day and hour."  I take Him at His word for this as I contemplate what His coming really means.  Prophets of the Bible related their experiences and visions in the only way they knew how at the time.  In the end, it simply means we have hope that extends into time without restrictions. 

Why would anyone have a party to celebrate the fact that Christ did not return yesterday?  I can only ascertain that they either don't know the way, or that they simply don't want Him to return.  Either way it is a sad statement that will be made and it will be a black eye once again given to Christianity.  Regardless of whether or not anyone predicts the date and time, in the end does that really matter?  There will still be skeptics, there will still be believers, and, when it does occur, those of us who are righteous will join in singing and rejoicing praises to our Lord and Saviour.  Those of us who are not righteous will bow down and confess Him as Lord of all.

Pony Express

Today is Thursday and we haven't had a mail delivery since last Saturday.  The snow event here shut down mail carriers due to ice and snow on the roads.

Today, we were able to get out of the neighborhood and go to the grocery store.  It seems like spring with the sun out and the ice melting finally.  On the way, my wife brought up that perhaps the mail would be delivered today having spied a mail truck.  We laughed and joked about where the old saying went... "neither rain, nor sleet nor snow..." (you know the one).

I guess with all the i-phones and computers, the U.S. Mail is taking a new look.  Nothing real good ever comes in the U.S. Mail any more unless it is something you bought on-line.  Even bills get delivered on line anymore and the people you owe frown when they have to send your bill by "snail mail", not to mention that the competition from UPS and Fedex seem to be more prominent.  I saw in the headlines this morning that the U.S. Treasury is now going to offer debit cards instead of refund checks to those fortunate enough to get something back this year.  I wonder how they will send them out?

The best time to get mail continues to be Chrismas.  Christmas cards are much better if delivered in the U.S. Mail.  They are more personal and bring you closer to your friends and relatives.  I can't remember the last time I received a hand-written letter from anyone....i'd still like that.  I miss good mail.  I keep a supply of stamps although I can't remember the last one I used except for mailing out some Christmas cards this year.

I guess the old saying has fallen by the wayside.  Very few things make it vital that the mail be on time in today's world of data bits and megabytes.  Still, if you really want to show someone you love them, sit down at the table with a pen and paper and write them a letter.  (If you can't remember cursive writing, print.)