Humans do the Funniest things

Sometimes we humans do the funniest things!

We have been dog sitting for some friends for two weeks. Now I must tell you that is about the LAST thing we WANTED to do. But we knew that we could do it, so we offered our help in this year and they were pleased. Well, to our shock, we all enjoyed the dog. She was MUCH better than we had anticipated and it forced us to take those walks that we know we SHOULD take daily. So now that the owners are home and the dog is safely back where she belongs ....we find ourselves wondering if we should get a dog of our own.

SO....we believe we have one on the way...to be delivered tonight or tomorrow! Today my daughter and I went to two pet stores and "window shopped" for what we will possibly need. It was fun to window shop although the prices for simple necessary dog items are VERY expensive. As soon as the news gets over, hubby, daughter and I will go to Walmart to see what they have and check their prices. WHAT FUN as we prepare for the arrival of a dog.

Now we know there will be times when we will regret this decision -we will not be as free to travel without making plans for our dog. But we trust the benefits of having a pet will outweigh the nuances. Time will tell.

So who would like to make an analagy of this experience to something spiritual so I can use it for a Children's lesson?

We have to ASK!

I just got back from our Nursing Home ministry. What a JOY this ministry is. We have two teams. One goes to the assisted living section. The other team ministers in the Dementia unit. What a joy each are and yet so very different. I am the "StoryTeller" in both groups.

Since the Bible lesson today was from John 2, I brought in my wedding album. In the assisted Living section they really enjoyed looking at my pictures and talking about my wedding...then I went into the lesson how Jesus, his mother and some of the disciples were among the guests at a wedding in Cana. This is the first miracle Jesus did, and it is always a hard one to teach. As a good Baptist (smile) I would have preferred Jesus to change the water to milk, or punch or juice, but instead he didnt change the menu, he reproduced more of what they had run out of - wine. The Master of Ceremonies even described it as being the best wine ever.

Today as I was teaching, the Lord highlighted a different part of the account for me to see. Jesus didn't do anything, make any changes ,until someone had asked him to - which was his mom. But after his mom told Jesus about the problem, Jesus then intervened and saved the bride and bridegroom from embarrassment and shame.

So with us, when we get outselves into situations that would be embarrassing or shameful, situations where we cannot see the way out- IF WE GO TO GOD- He will intervene on our behalf- but he only uses what we offer him. He didnt bring in jars of wine, he used the empty jars that were already there. He used what was around him, what was already there, then he put the final touches on it- HIS touch that made all the difference!

I imagine myself being the servant and Jesus telling me to dip into the jar of water and give a cup to the master of ceremonies. I would be scared to death! I would possibly decline his request. I would for sure obey with fear and trembling afraid that the master of ceremonies would be upset when I handed him a cup of water. But Mary had told the servants to obey every word he said, and they obeyed....and they had the privilege of giving the Master of Ceremonies the biggest blessing and surprise he had that day!

So many times we have issues, and we just see the impossibility of it all. We are overwhelmed by our situation and cannot see the way out. . . .we may ask people to pray, we may say that we need to pray but so often we do not ACTUALLY PRAY. Oh how our lives would be different if we would just trust and obey! Jesus LOVES to restore what is gone from our lives, our marriages, our families, our finances, our health, etc. Jesus cares about us, BUT WE MUST TELL HIM and ASK HIM FOR HELP.

Jesus is worthy of our trust.

He will answer us, but we must tell him the situation and ask for his help. Then His touch will be life changing!

My shadow passed me!

I had the strangest thing happen last night. IN fact it happened many times, over and over and over again. And each time it seemed to startle me, and my mind was racing to remember my science classes as to WHY it was doing this. Do I have your curiosity?

My husband and I were heading home after a nice motorcycle ride. We were on I75 and to my surprise I saw our shadow to my left passing me. Yes there we were, our two torsos on the motorcycle going faster than we were. It passed by once, then again and again. Each time catching my attention and it was the strangest sensation to be passed by my own shadow!

As is true when riding on the back of a motorcycle there is a lot of THINK time, so my mind went back to when our children were small and we would take a flashlight into the children's rooms, lay on their beds with them and we would make shadows on the walls. We would get to laughing as we tried to create animals and various creations with our hands. We felt this helped the children not to be afraid of the dark, plus just good creative family fun.

I remember playing shadow tag, where we tried to step on each others shadow for points, thus it was active as you not only had to keep yourself from others but your long shadow from contact with others.

I remember Peter Pan always made such a big deal of his shadow. I watched that movie over and over mismerized by the shadow, as well as dreaming I could fly to avoid growing old.

Shadows are fun because they are not real, and yet they reflect something that is real. Shadows require an object and sunlight to create a shadow that you can make move the way you move. Although sometimes your shadow is much taller than you are, much wider or more slender than the real object. It is not an accurate representation, but it is a result of something real.

I am so glad that the Bible says we walk through the valley of the SHADOW of death (Ps 23:4). As a Pastor's wife, I have seen several people take their last breath. It is a beautiful experience to be in the same room with a Believer in Jesus who one second is in a bed before me, and another second is in the presence of the Lord. It is such a holy experience. One second there is life in the hand I am holding, and the next second it is obvious, that the body is still and lifeless. Believers just walk through the shadow of death, the sting of death is gone, for we walk right into GLORY!

All of the above, in greater detail, went through my mind as I was riding on the back of our motorcycle. I was praising my Lord that a simple, but startling, Shadow of myself passing me on the road caused me to thank Him for my past, present and my future with Him.

Healthy Choices

Life is not easy, I bet you never knew that! (smile)

I find Life to be full of choices and I am always seeking God to help me make wise choices for myself. I have made many bad choices in the past that have hurt my loved ones. I do not want to walk that way anymore!

Just a few minutes ago I found myself having to make one of those choices! I heard an invisible voice say: 'Who will know?' ; 'Who will care?'; 'It is the only way you can get the benefits.'; 'It is only a website!'

Let me explain. I am always looking for good graphics online and I am about to teach a sign language class, so I have been spending more time online looking for deaf related graphics. I learned of a website today that has many good graphics, even deaf ecards, and the opportunity to interact with deaf people around the world....so of course I went to the website. It is a dating website. I am happily married and desire to stay that way.

Well I began to fill out the required form so I could obtain the benefits....then I came to the place where I had to make a choice: Do I want to meet a man, a woman, or a couple?

Well I do not want to meet anyone for the purpose they are talking about. For about two seconds I pondered what to do: "What would it hurt to just fill out the form?" But I am not looking for a partner, so it would be dishonest to who I am.

Since it was required to make a selection, I closed the site and praised God that HE gave me the strength to do what was RIGHT.

Would it have hurt anything to have filled out the form and just gotten my graphics? I will never know. But I must tell you there is much peace in my heart for having made this decision.

We all must protect ourselves, our minds, our hearts, our bodies, and our marriage at all times.

This was only a very small thing, and it took all of about ten minutes in whole- but I feel like a Giant! I know that today I voted a YES for my marriage! I know that I made a wise choice. Thank you Jesus.

Singing her into Glory

Life can be so tough and yet GOD remains to be so good.

We had gotten the phone call that my aunt had a major stroke and not expected to live. My sister and I strongly felt that my mom needed to be with her sister. We got busy making arrangments to take my mom to Ohio to be with her dying sister. We knew there was nothing much we could do, but we could sing to her as she went to Glory and that seemed like a pretty wonderful assignment to take on.

We left Florida Sunday afternoon and arrived in IN on Monday night were we needed to pick up our mom who was in IN to attend a wedding. Tuesday morning we headed to Ohio. We dialed our cousin on our way and I had mom talk to her sister on the phone telling her that we were on our way. To try and wait for us. It was a tearful moment indeed. We felt guilty and nervous as we stopped to eat on the way, trusting that we would not miss her by this hour delay. We prayed that God would favor us by having her live until we arrived. And yet we knew that request sounded selfish. Holding one back from stepping into Heaven is definately a selfish act, yet we found ourselves expressing it, and praying for it.

Aunt Ruth was alive upon our arrival. How grateful we were and remain! We did thank GOD for caring about us even in our selfishness. Of course we shed many tears to see her in this condition, yet we were able to sing several songs as we held her hands, rubbed her legs and reminded her over and over that we love her.

We are hoping that we will be singing when she goes to Glory....whenever God calls her home. Our aunt is very ready to go to be with her Lord. Her death will certainly be a graduation. All that she has believed by faith is about to become sight. WE cannot help but be jealous of her, but we know that God has things for us to do yet here on earth and we will remain faithful to Him, as He has been faithful continually to us.

Death is such a sad part of our lives, and yet it is a part of life. And yet how special to know that our Aunt will go from this hospice room into the presence of God. We hope that indeed we will be with her at that moment where her spirit will leave her earthly body and be transported into Heaven. What a moment that will be. At that moment the room will transform from being a room of gloom, tears and memories to a room of Glory! We will join the angels in singing the 'Hallelujah Chorus' as another precious Child of God enters the place God has prepared for those who love him. Her earth walk is about over. Her life goes on into eternity! All because Jesus loved us so much that HE made a way for us to go to Heaven. Thank you Jesus.

Never too old to learn

I must say I am ashamed of myself at what I am about to confess.

Let me explain:

Our adult daughter lives with us and I do her laundry every week. I do it mostly because I enjoy it and the washer and dryer are located in OUR bathroom. Our bedroom and bathroom are off limits to others, hubby and I reserve the LOVE SUITE for us (smile).

The last few weeks we have been out of town on the weekdays and I try to get everything done, but I have had to leave a few things in the dryer. Last week when I came home, exhausted on Friday night, I found our little load of towels in a heap on our bed. Now I always wash, dry, fold and take hers into her room. She takes my laundry out and plops it unfolded on our bed so she can do hers. Yes, a bit of anger rose within me. 'What would have been so difficult to fold up the few towels that I had left in the dryer?', my mind argued. OF course my dryer was full of her clothes. So for the first time EVER in her lifetime, I emptied the contents into a basket and put them in her room. I felt dirty inside for doing so. I knew I was justified by human standards, but it wasnt me. I love her.

She didnt say one word about the fact that I had not folded her clothes. I knew that her clothes would look alot more wrinkled every time she got dressed this last week. I felt bad inside for having been so selfish and unloving.

This last week I received a phone call which led to out-of-state travel plans. The trip was unexpected. It was a trip of LOVE. After my mom, my sister and I were on the road, my sister handed me an envelope. She said it was from my daughter. My daughter had put half of her paycheck into an envelop for me, to be sure I had enough money for this unexpected trip! She gave it to my sister to deliver saying that Mom would never accept it otherwise.

Well you can imagine what this did to my heart. She may not fold my clothes but she DOES love me and shows me in HER way, not my way.

I didn't end up needing her money, so was able to give it all back to her, but it would not have been necessary. She gave out of her love for me. Just like I do laundry for her. In fact she came back from being with her horse early knowing I would not have a car when I got home and I may need to go somewhere.

Her clothes are now in the washer and I will have them folded and in her room when she gets out of work.

I am never too old to learn, and neither are you (smile).

"Lord, Help me to love like You love---unconditionally!"

My mom, my sister and I decided to head to KY to be with my brother who is to undergo a heart procedure tomorrow. As we were driving today through beautiful Tennesse I made several observations:

First of all there were MANY cars on the road, every color, shape, style- but each one occupied by at least one human being (dah!). Most cars held a couple, or a family and I couldn't help but wonder where are they going. Are they heading to work? Are they headed home? Are they coming back from getting bad news from a Doctor appointment? Is the couple headed to marriage counseling? Are they coming home from a funeral? Are they going to pick out wedding rings? Are they going to a party?

It all reminded me of LIFE. As each car is different, so is every human being. We all have different shapes, speak different languages, have different personalities, but each going along on the same road of life. Sometimes we pass someone, sometimes we speed, sometimes we get pulled over, sometimes we take an exit, sometimes we stop at the rest area, etc. Sometimes along life's road it rains, or the road goes up or down, winds to the left and curves to the right- but we are all traveling the same path. Some people following the speed limit, but many doing as they please.

I wondered also about what they were doing in their cars to make the travel fun and enjoyable, or did they all say: "Are we there yet?", a dozen times in a mile. Our particular car was filled with singing and chatter. We listened to upbeat Praise Music, listened to a good Biblical challenge on the radio, listened to an audio book about Missionary Burnums and munched on healthy fruit. Just like life, we all have a free will, and yet we all travel down the same road. We choose to make the trip a delight and that is what is was.

I noticed that a mountain towered above us on the left side of our car. The right side of our car was a steep drop-off leading to a valley. Every once in a while, we curved to the left and then the right, we climbed up and then we went down....I noticed villages, towns nestled in the valley below. I spotted an occasional Church steeple too. There were also clusters of houses carefully placed on the mountain. Isn't LIFE the road between mountains and valleys? So many great times, and yet so many challenges....all a part of life. The path of life also bends, curves, winds, never knowing when the next turn will come, but knowing it will come soon. But we have a free will to choose how we will take this ride through life. I personally choose to go through this life with a positive, optimistic attitude for I know my ultimate destination is HEAVEN.

All along the road from FL to KY there were signs announcing the next city and telling us how many miles to go. These were markers that kept us excited knowing we were on the right road and making progess. Earth walk is like that too as we walk each day toward Heaven. We do not know how many miles we have to go, but there is alot of positives along the way to assure us we are on the right road.

Life can be tough. Life can be challenging. But life is good because we serve an awesome God.

My mom, my sister and I arrived safely here in KY and surprised my brother. He was pleasantly shocke that we would come all this way just to be with him and his family. We love him.

Someday when our earth walk is over, we will arrive at our final destination of Heaven, and our Father will be waiting, arms open, to welcome us. He loves us.

Enjoy your earth walk today. Make today count!

Children's Ministry

My husband pastors a small struggling Church. The Lord sent us there to breathe LIFE back into this discouraged congregation. It is a hard work. Three steps forward, two back sort of ministry...but we remain faithful. We KNOW God can resurrect the dead, for HE did that in us.

The church did not have any children attending when we came less than two years ago. When my husband and I taught a Good News Club at our local elementary school last year, that was an amazing contact to MEET and start a friendly relationship with the children in the neighborhood of the Church. Now when we walk along the sidewalk, kids shout and wave. As a result of our first year of teaching, we had two boys come to Sunday school. But their parents did not come, even though the boys prayed Sunday after Sunday that they would come as a family. Each Sunday was precious with them as they knew NOTHING about the Bible. It was a JOY and a great responsibility to teach them about God. Then one day their family moved and they are gone.

We have had children come and go and they all come without parents and thus the committment cannot be there. It is too easy for them to join their parents who always tend to do something FUN on Sunday, their day off. So it has been a challenge indeed.

Yet I find myself full of faith and hope for this Church because I know the lost cause I was as a person. I have faith that more children will come and we will be prepared.

We entered a new 'Bible and Book' store today in Jacksonville, FL. I found myself walking to the children's department where I bought several small items to use as prizes when they win the review game, etc. My heart and mind are always rolling over into the children's area...and with that comes a prayer that GOD will bring them in. We will be ready when He does.

We know that GOD can do anything and everything. He loves people and we are ready to introduce young and old to HIM.

I trust you have a passion to introduce people of all ages to JESUS. He alone bring peace into the lives and minds of people.

Have a GREAT day in JESUS!

9 years!

Yesterday was the 9th anniversary of my healing from a terrible mental illness that definately would have killed me by now, if GOD had not intervened. I know that for I was determined to die. I felt compelled to die. I was convinced my death would be a blessing and a major relief to my family- the best love gift I could give them. I seriously attempted suicide many times and each time AMAZINGLY (and to my GREAT disappointment) , I found myself alive. I was so deceived, I believed so many lies, I was so very miserable. I figured for some unknown reason to me, GOD wanted me to live.

I was the President of our Community Bipolar support group. Each day I spent major time on the computer gathering information to present to our group. I liked to teach about medication, play a group game, alittle humor and conclude with an encouraging article. One day as I was searching for material I came across WHOLE PERSON COUNSELING in San Angelo, TX. I emailed Dr Basil Frasure a simple question about Bipolar disorder, and he quickly replied. I sent him another email, at first being general in my questions, but then more personal and specific as I began to trust him. This man was a Biblical Counselor. I was a Christian by my own profession in Jesus Christ as Savior. I always knew that God had the power, but figured since I had never seen anyone healed, He surely would not heal me. Why should He? Who am I? I was hospitalized many times as I struggled with this illness. The doctors could not stabilize me no matter what dosage or medication change they would try. Even bilateral ECT treatments did not give me peace of mind. In April of 1998 I was once again hospitalized, my husband didnt know what to do for me.

Upon returning home from the hospital I overdosed again a couple days later. My husband didnt know what to do, but was now willing to go 'outside the box' for help. He asked me if I believed my condition had a spiritual base. I told him that I knew it had. He asked me what we do for it. I then told him that I had been emailing this Biblical Counselor in Texas (1400 miles away) and he once said that if we could ever make the trip to Texas he would rearrange all his clients and give me a full solid week of intensive counseling - some eight hours a day. My husband spent the next couple of hours reading articles from WHOLE PERSON COUNSELING website. He agreed with everything he read. He made a phone call to Dr Frasure and we were told to come immediately. My husband then went to our Church and asked if they could help financially. They were glad to use the benevolent fund for this purpose. (One of the best investments this church ever made- in my opinion (smile)

My husband sat in every session with me. I was not an easy counselee, but Dr Frasure stayed composed, calm and focused. He was very gentle and yet firm. He would pray often, which at first drove me nuts. I thought it was a tactic he used when he needed time to know what to do next. I later found out that he truly seeks wisdom from God, the Creator of my body and mind. Dr Frasure used the Bible from cover to cover making the Truth of the Word alive and applicable to ME. He gently led me through alot of forgivness and walked me through past hurts that brought me to a place I could listen not only to him, but to God myself.

At the end of that week, Dr Frasure prayed over us and I was healed. There is a wonderful story of how I KNOW I was healed, if you want to know that...you can email me and ask! :)

ANYWAY all that to say: Yesterday when I woke up, my thoughts were of LIFE and energy flowed through my body to live each moment no matter what the day held. I thought how very different my thoughts were before I was healed. I would HATE to wake up and try to sleep as long as I could. I hated life and hated me. I am so very grateful to GOD who reached down in HIS love and mercy and healed ME.

April 24, 1998 the Lord healed me, gave me back my mind, my will, my life, my marriage and a FUTURE that is bright and beautiful.

THANK YOU JESUS!
THANK YOU DR BASIL FRASURE!

Cancer Walk

Here we are at the Proton Beam Cancer Institute in Jacksonville, FL. My hubby is half way through his treatment to evict the invader called Prostate Cancer. He was 55 at his diagnosis. He is 56 now and we are walking hand in hand through this process. So far we are VERY pleased with this Institute. The staff is very professional and yet very friendly. Everything seems to organized and the Staff seems to work well as a team. It is amazing how FRIENDLY the 'patients' are each other. It doesnt matter what kind of cancer they are in for, everyone here talks with each other. Some real friendships are made here. We live about five hours drive from this facility so we stay in the area during the week, and head home each weekend. We are putting lots of miles on our trusty Sebring Convertible. The cancer treatment is totally painless and yet we have heard glowing reports from graduates who come back for the six month check-up....so we walk in encouragement and trust his cancer will be GONE as a result of this treatment.

We did learn from the Doc last week (after our asking questions) that he will be susceptible to other cancers. So hubby will have to keep a watch on his colon especially. First it is near the prostate. Second, his mother died of colon cancer. So we will have to keep a close watch.

We have been on the Hallelujah Acre Diet now for a year. We trust that the change in our eating, has not only kept the cancer from growing while we were waiting to get approved for this treatment, but that it will keep other cancers from moving in. We are thankful for a certain restaurant that is located in this area that helps us to stay on our diet even while staying in someone else's home: We go to Sweet Tomatoes Restaurant every day for a HUGE tossed salad. We are grateful to the many friends who have passed coupons on to us to give us a discount each day.

I am so grateful to be alive today! I am so grateful that I have my husband beside me today!
But whatever the rest of this day holds, or tomorrow....our lives are willingly placed in the hands of our precious Lord Jesus to whom we trust and adore. We pray that our lives, with or without cancer, will honor and glorify HIS name.

Have a GREAT day.
Bonnie