Hi, my friends.  As October 31st rolls around again, I automatically start thinking about the past.  It was so much fun in days gone by to help the kids dress up for Trick or Treat and then accompany them around the neighborhood for their night of free candy!  I've heard pros and cons about allowing children to participate in this event, but here's my take on the subject.

Growing up in a small rural area, we never "celebrated" this event, we just enjoyed the benefits of a night when we could go door to door and our neighbors would fill our bags or pillowcases with various candy items.  It was a joy to come home and reap the harvest after walking great distances to cover all the houses in our area.  I was never informed of a pagan belief that led to this night or told anything negative.  We didn't dress as ghosts, witches, or zombies....in fact, I continually dressed as a hobo because that outfit was easily and quickly obtained in my dad's wardrobe courtesy of his flannel shirts and jeans that were a mile too big on me!

When I had children, my husband had the same mindset concerning Halloween and we allowed our children to also get dressed up in a costume that often I would have personally made and go from door to door in our neighborhood until they could walk no longer.  They would come home and empty their containers in the middle of the family room floor and begin to make piles of the same types of candy.  Often they would make "trades" in order to gain more of their favorites and if Gary and I were lucky we would be given a few samples!

As Gary and I took turns walking with the kids throughout the neighborhood, we would always find other moms and dads to make the annual journey with us.  Great memories were made as we walked and talked about the weather, our kids and life in general.  In fact, I don't know another time when I saw and visited with so many neighbors and had so much fun!  So, I hope whatever you decide to do with your children tonight whether it be actual Trick or Treating, a Harvest Party, a private in-home gathering, or just sitting at home giving out candy to little ones who ring your doorbell.....make some memories or pull out the photo albums and bring some memories back to mind!  God bless!

On the days I have to substitute teach I don't usually get a chance to blog until late in the day.  This can be beneficial because I am given additional opportunities to glean a lesson worthy of sharing on my blog.  Today was no exception.  I was assigned to sub in an area of the high school called "Learning Support."  This department offers exactly that...academic support for the learning skills of students.  As I "chewed" on that term this morning, I realized we all require learning support in the Christian life.

Often when we open God's Word to read its contents we are befuddled as to its meaning.  What is it God would have us learn from this particular passage and how do we apply it to our daily lives?  Immediately my mind went to the story of the Ethiopian eunuch who was reading the book of Isaiah and couldn't understand its contents. 

The 8th Chapter of Acts explains that God sent Philip, a newly ordained evangelist, to aid the eunuch in his quest for interpretation of the scriptures.  The outcome of the encounter?  The eunuch became a Christian and was baptized on the side of the road in an available body of water.  All the Ethopian needed to do was ask...simple, right?
Seemingly so, however, the Ethopian eunuch also desired to know the scripture.  The students we assist at school need to desire to learn the skills necessary to improve their academic knowledge.  Part of asking is desiring to know the answer and following the information you receive.

Scripture plainly explains, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."  Matthew 7:7-8  The answer may come in the form of an actual conversation with another Christian, a sermon, a song, or perhaps an enlightenment of scripture while praying and meditating on God's Word.  God desires for us to know Him.  What better way to gain "learning support" than from the Master Himself!  What is your desire?

Yesterday I mentioned being able to speak openly and frequently about the Lord in our daily conversations with strangers.  When I began to read my devotions this morning I came across an interesting scripture.  It is found in 3rd John (not John 3, but right before the book of  Jude and Revelation at the end of the Bible), verses 1-8.  This scripture was written about a man named Gaius, whom is relatively unknown by Christians.  He wasn't a John the Baptist, Moses, Noah or any of the well-known stellar faith examples documented in God's Word, but virtually a regular guy doing what God had called him to do this side of heaven.

Why mention him in scriptures?  Because I believe God wants us to know that in Him we are all known....intimately.  Remember the scripture dealing with God's knowledge of the numbers of hairs in our head??  Further evidence that our Creator knows us, His sheep, by name, rank and number.  This is a comforting fact to me.  Whatever happens in this life, God is in control.  He knows where I am, what I'm doing, what I struggle with and what makes me happy.  What a mighty and awesome God we serve!  God bless!

"Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you."  3 John 5

During a series of errands today, I stopped off at a public restroom.  While I was washing my hands and applying a little lip color, a lady commented about my hair style.  She began explaining that she wanted the same style and her stylist wasn't fully understanding her desire.  She was a nice woman and her hair was styled very similar to mine.  As we chatted and laughed about the ups and downs of relaying our wants to others, I gave her the name of the place I go for hair cuts and the individual's name who styles my hair.  I didn't think twice about sharing the information that might aid her in her pursuit.

Reflecting back on that quick conversation, I am amazed at how quickly we confer with strangers about their hair styles, the weather, the length of a line for checkout purposes and often politics, but do we ever begin a random conversation about the Lord?  Is Jesus an "off-limits" subject from which we defer because we're afraid of offending? 

Meanwhile, we're not worried about ruffling feathers with our conversations on most any other subject.  Why is that?  I don't have an answer as to "why," but we need to find a way to build a non-confrontational bridge to share our knowledge of our Savior, Jesus Christ, to a lost and dying world....care to join me?  God bless, my friends.  May we continue to allow God to work through us and use our voices to proclaim His message!

I can't believe October is coming to a close.  I simply don't know where time goes anymore.  My mother always told me that the older you get the faster the clock moves and I am beginning to experience that truth as my age climbs the staircase of life.  I like where I am on that staircase.  I'm old enough to have garnered precious experiences and memories from my youth, but still young enough to go into retirement and physically enjoy the benefits.  Now that's a blessing!

It's also cool to watch your children in this circle of life.  They carve out their own lives, careers, homes and begin to settle upon the individuals God brings into their lives to be their mates.  Meanwhile, I'm not constantly carpooling, cooking and doing laundry...it's a good life!

Today looks to be a good day.  The sun is coming up, the weather is still relatively warm and fall-like and I have to gather all my thoughts and "to do" list and go before the Lord so He can order my day.  I will also be praying for Gary that he has a safe trip to New York today and that the time goes quickly until he returns on Thursday.  This just might be the last of his "long" trips with retirement looming on the horizon!  God bless, my friends....Gary, I love you!

Gary and I went to our high school's play this weekend.  "Our Town" was the presentation and I had never seen this particular performance before.  It was well done by the students and I was in awe of it's message.  Basically, we need to appreciate life as we know it this side of heaven because we never know when our time will be completed here on earth and once it is finished, we can't return.  I thought this message was particularly ironic.

I use the term ironic because I've been writing this month about my breast cancer experiences.  Since that encounter I have lived my life differently.  I am no longer hesitant about going, doing or living.  I go with Gary on business trips, visit family and friends whenever I can and spend as much time as possible with my children.  I've read Erma Bombeck's list of things she would do over and am convinced it doesn't matter if I have an opportunity to put on makeup or have my hair blow in the wind.  What matters is how I spend every minute of every day....and I want to spend those moments with the people I love and do the things God has called me to do so when my time to leave this earth occurs, I'll have no regrets and never look back over my shoulder.  Hopefully, God will then say, "well done, my good and faithful servant....enter..."

There are many individuals I encounter while power walking and bike riding on our local trail.  Most everyone I speak to by greeting, "good morning" or "hello" but mostly I just smile and keep going.  Some people don't even lift their heads to make eye contact while others are in pairs and so engrossed in conversation, they simply don't notice anyone else.  However, there was a young man that I saw on the trail as I was enjoying a longer ride and the warmer Indian summer weather and I remember chuckling to myself after I passed by him because he was wearing a tee-shirt that read, "local and available." 
Wow, I thought....what a way to advertise yourself!  He was a little overweight, struggling along as he jogged trying to get himself in shape, had either shaved his head or was naturally bald and not very tall.  As odd as the tee-shirt might have seemed and his reasoning for wearing it, I began to think.  How many times do people pass by us on our busy little journeys, crying out for someone to "read" them?  Even if they are wearing neon signs, do we heed their suttle messages and reach out?

Maybe this is a little too deep for my thought processes, but I sure hope if someone needs me or needs something I have to offer in the way of seeing, hearing, listening, or "reading" them, I am nudged by the Holy Spirit do be available. 

Well, as you notice, yesterday turned out to be quite a busy, full day.  I was substitute teaching in our media department at the high school, ran a bunch of errands after school, prepared dinner and then visited with friends (one of whom is my New York friend spending a short 24 hour period in our area).  I fell into bed and had a wonderful "snooze" as my husband calls it!

Today is a wonderful weather day...in fact, it's probably the last of 70 degrees we'll see for a while in Pittsburgh.  So, I'm celebrating the sunshine and warmth one more time!  I'm hoping to grab my bike and head out for a nice long ride.  But as I sat down to the computer and checked my emails, I found a request from a very good friend of mine in Virginia.  She just informed me that one of her cousins has been diagnosed with breast cancer.  The email carried an attachment written by the cousin, Shelia, as she explained to family and friends her recent diagnosis and recommended treatment beginning on Friday.

My friend, Sue, asked me to write to Shelia knowing my particular background with this disease.  I would ask my readers to begin to pray diligently for Shelia and God's peace and protection over her body as she begins this journey.  Cancer affects us not only physically, but mentally and emotionally.  As God would have it, I found laying next to my computer a pin I was given some time ago.  The pin is a heart that has in its center a mustard seed.  Yep, right in the middle of the heart is this tiny seed....in fact, I never knew the size of a mustard seed until this pin was given to me some time ago.  How like God to have it surface today!

This seed is a sign of hope and the extraordinary power of my God!  For the Bible states, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'move from here to here' and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you."  Matthew 17:20-21.
A neat reminder that all things are completely possible with our Creator.

 

It's a beautiful Indian summer day here in Pittsburgh.  I've made a huge list of "things to do" and after devotions, eating breakfast and talking with my mom, I headed out for yet another "power walk!"  I just love breathing in this fresh air and since the predicted weather for this Friday is rainy and cool again, I'm trying to make the most of each and every minute of sunshine.

So, here I go....walking as quickly a pace as these short little legs will carry me!  Unlike yesterday afternoon, the newly fallen yellow and red leaves are beginning to change into a darker hue....I can see brown where the vibrant yellow used to be.  I was simply amazed at how quickly this transformation has taken place.  Then the Holy Spirit whispered a verse of scripture, "I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."  John 15:5 (NIV)  Wow....then the session on teaching the meaning began....

It was as if the Holy Spirit showed me visually how my spiritual life becomes.  I can be in the Word of God, go to a retreat, hear an enlightening sermon and I am like those vibrant colored leaves.  Even when I leave the source of the blessing, I maintain my vibrance...for a while.  If I don't stay "connected" I will become the color of the world....I'm a regular brown, mixed in with all the others.  Nothing stands out about me....I can be blown by the wind to the side of the trail or sometimes gathered up and put in a bonfire and destroyed.  However, God would have me be among the masses and used for His glory.  Just as some leaves are gathered together and put in a compost pile, we can be the "food" for someone else to be nourished and grow. 

I want to stay immersed in God's Word and the life He has for me.  I want to be a standout Christian and even if my color changes, just like my age, I pray that I will continue to be used to nourish and feed others the Living Water...Jesus Christ.  Have a good one, my friends and God bless!

I hurriedly came home from school and jumped into my sneakers and sweats and headed out for a "power walk" on our local trail.  It was nicer weather today and the temperatures were a bit warmer.  As I looked at my timer and began my surge for a good workout, I began to notice that the leaves had fallen off the trees in abundance and were all over the trail's path.  Mostly yellow in color, the leaves were absolutely stunning.  Due to our first frost last night, the leaves had abandoned their source and dropped to the ground covering the trail.  From a distance, the picture that laid before me was as beautiful a painting as I'd ever seen.  The air smells of fall....that "earthy" smell that makes one think of bonfires, freshly picked apples and cider.

As the leaves shuffled beneath my feet, I was so thankful that God had given a glimpse of His creative endeavors and laid them before me free of charge.  All I was asked to do was ENJOY!  God bless, my friends....take a walk during this Indian Summer weather and experience God's blessings!