Word of God | Grandma's Ramblings

I read this story a few years ago. I do not know who wrote it. It is not original with me but at this time of Thanksgiving I think it is so appropriate.

“One afternoon a shopper at the local mall felt the need for a coffee break.  She bought herself a little bag of cookies and put them in her shopping bag.  She then got in line for coffee, found a place to sit at one of the crowded tables, and then taking the lid off her coffee and taking out a magazine she began to sip her coffee and read.  Across the table from her a man sat reading a newspaper.   After a minute or two she reached out and took a cookie.   As she did, the man seated across the table reached out and took one too.  This put her off, but she did not say anything.

A few moments later she took another cookie.  Once again the man did so too.  Now she was getting a bit upset, but still she did not say anything.  After having a couple of sips of coffee she once again took another cookie.  So did the man.  She was really upset by this – especially since now only one cookie was left.  Apparently the man also realized that only one cookie was left.  Before she could say anything he took it, broke it in half, offered half to her, and proceeded to eat the other half himself.  Then he smiled at her and, putting the paper under his arm, rose and walked off.

Was she steamed!  Her coffee break ruined, already thinking ahead of how she would tell this offense to her family, she folded her magazine, opened her shopping bag, and there discovered her own unopened bag of cookies.”

I like that story – it makes me think about how well God treats me even when I am not thinking all that kindly about him. It also makes me think about how, sometimes, I do not really appreciate what I have or act like I know where it has come from.

Our country has been so blessed – but I think we have forgotten to be thankful and to remember the God who has blessed us so.

It reminds me of the story of the Israelites as they came to the land promised to their ancestor, Abraham, years ago. Moses warned them that after they had prospered in the land they were about to enter, had eaten their fill and had fine houses and large herds with silver and gold, that:

Do not say to yourself, “my power and the might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth.”  But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, so that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your ancestors, and as he swearing to you today.”

Let’s be thankful this year for all the blessings we enjoy every day. Things we take for granted. Clean water, electricity powering all our devices, comfortable bed, free public education for our children, and the list goes on and on.

Most of all, I’m thankful for the love of God that gave us Jesus Christ our Savior.

To all my followers and friends on WordPress –

Halloween decorations are off the shelf – and even before we celebrate Thanksgiving, the stores are filled with Christmas decorations and music. Many of my friends tell me they are busy with their Christmas shopping list.

It is amazing to me how much money we spend at Christmas. According to the National Retail Federation, American spent 929.5 billion on Christmas in 2022, 955.6 billion in 2023 and it is estimated to grow 2.5% to 3.5%, to a new record of between $979.5 billion and $989 billion this year.

While Halloween spending is much less, it still is amazing what we spend. Americans spent $12.2 billion on Halloween in 2023 and $10.6 billion on Halloween in 2022.

Now – I am not trying to be Scrooge. Christmas is a great holiday – and absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying all the parties, gift exchanges and family gatherings.

BUT….as you begin shopping for family and friends, may I suggest you add something to that shopping list. Find an organization that helps the homeless, those who have lost their homes in natural disasters and the many in refugee camps around the world. The list goes on and on. Check out this website to find what needs there are – both in the USA and around the world.

https://www.charitynavigator.org/discover-charities/where-to-give/

There are many local organizations that could use some help. Local food pantries, Toys for Tots, check with your local school board for church for a family that could use help.

Check out my post on Mercy Ships.

https://wordpress.com/post/barblaneblog.com/7833

Let the joy of Christmas shopping extend beyond your immediate circle.

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

I’m sure many of you have heard the story behind this song “It Is Well.” But if you have not, here it is. It is an inspiring testimony of how God is present in the middle of our tragedies. That does not mean a Christian feels no pain, heartache, sorrow. Rather it proclaims that God is present with us and gives us the courage and strength we need to face the problems life sometimes brings us.

This song has been a great encouragement to me at different times in my life. If you are struggling with a problem, I hope it will also encourage you to look to God for the strength you need.

The writer of the hymn, Horatio Spafford, was a successful lawyer and real estate investor in Chicago. Along with his wife, Anna, and their five children they were active in service to their church and their community in Chicago. In 1871 their young son died of scarlet fever and the great Chicago fire destroyed their real estate properties living them in difficult financial circumstances.

Two years later, in 1873, the family planned a trip to Europe. When business required his presence in Chicago, he sent his wife and four daughters on to Europe. On the trip, the ship was struck by another ship and it sank. His wife was rescued, but all four daughters were lost.

Spafford booked a ship to Europe to join his wife. As the ship neared the place where his daughters had been drowned, he wrote the words of this song.

Reading a friend’s blog today got my mind thinking about how fast this year has gone by. How fast my life is going by.

As I thought about the years already past (76) and wondered how many years lie ahead of me, I thought of the story in the Bible of Enoch.

In the genealogy of Adam, we are told:

Enoch lived 365 years, walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.

He lived to be 365 years old, but Enoch had such a close and intimate relationship with God that one day he just vanished—God took him.

The writer of the book of Hebrews explains what it meant that “God took him.”

It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God.

In my head I have this story.

Every day God and Enoch would take a walk. First, as a child Enoch no doubt had a lot of questions for God.

As their friendship grew, their walks got longer and longer. The childish questions became more difficult as Enoch became older, but God had no problem answering them. He was patient and loving. Every day Enoch would rise from his bed excited about another walk with God. He wondered what he would learn today.

Finally, after many years of shared moments with God they came to the end of their walk. God said, “Enoch, we are closer to my house than yours. Why don’t you just come on to my house with me?”

And Enoch happily said “YES!”

In good times and bad – blessed be the name of the Lord!

One of the most beautiful worship songs I know. Close your eyes and invite Jesus’ presence to fill your heart.

DISCLAIMER: I am not advocating for either candidate. How you vote is strictly your privilege as an American and I do not desire to try to influence anyone in any direction. But as one who loves the Lord and hates it when I hear someone say “Jesus Christ” as a swear word, I can’t stop from speaking out. I want to tell them “Please don’t do that. There are plenty of cuss words you can use but don’t invoke my Savior’s name like that.” So it has bothered me all weekend as the name of Jesus has been used, I think, for political purposes and I have to air my pain and, yes, even anger. If as you read this, I offend you, I am sorry.

Growing up in church, I learned the Ten Commandments early in life. One of them said (in the King James language) “thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain.”

To me that meant I should not swear or use God’s name as a cuss word. No “God dam” or “Jesus Christ.”

While I still believe the commandment includes that, I realize today there is many ways we can take the name of the Lord in vain. Sadly, I have seen it done more and more in our highly divided political situation.

At a recent political rally some young people tried to interrupt the speaker by yelling “Jesus is Lord.” When the speaker moved on and rejected their calls, immediately the speaker was accused of being against Jesus.

When we say “Jesus is Lord” our motive should be one of praising Jesus and trying to bring glory to His name. It should never be to cause confusion or division. You would not go into a Hindu temple or a Jewish synagogue and cry that. You would understand they would not agree with you, and you would only cause a problem for everyone. It would not bring glory to Jesus.

So, in a crowd where someone is trying to speak on political issues it is not the place to interrupt with what is not really a praise to Jesus, but rather a disruptive tactic.

Jesus is Lord and should be praised, but his name should never be used as a political tool.

When we call ourselves “Christian” we are also taking on the name of the Lord. We are saying we are part of Jesus’ family. If our actions do not reflect the goodness of God, we are taking his name in vain.

As a young girl sometimes when my siblings and I would go to an event, my father would say, “Don’t do anything that would discredit the family name.” He was teasing us as he did not think we would do that, but still, it did make us stop and think about our actions.

My prayer is that I will live in a way that I never bring discredit to the family name of Jesus Christ. And I pray that we will not allow his name to be used for political gain.