“Billy Graham Ministry” at my house!

A couple of days after being home from the Hospital – I was going to start to do that which   I was told – that I should  do – walk more and get exercise – so that the medicine  would kick in and do what it is suppose to do?

Following the instructions – I put my “House-coat” on, and went outside. The weather was just so  great – so then –  there I was walking and was looking down  the street and then there was a Bus. The Driver opened the door and hollered – “Are you getting on?” There I stood – not knowing where I was going and not even- really aware that I still had my “House-coat” on over my P.J’s” – and probably looking like a mental case? So, I just got on – and took a seat – was not  even  – ask for any money??

I had no idea of what I was doing or where I was going – so I just kept looking  out  – for where I had got on this BUS – so that I could  then  get off? Some people were now  getting off – and as I was watching them – and where they were headed – this looked like  – where I should get off, too! These other people were a few steps ahead of me and  now – walking faster than me – I was just like a “TAG-A-LONG?”

Would you believe it – they were headed for my house and just went on in? There was a person at the door:  giving each person some kind of a “flyer” and a hearty “WELCOME” greeting – and I was just following them into my house? There were quite a few people in the house and all as busy as they could be. I just sat  myself down – and just watching  to see what was going on – when I took notice of  some people going downstairs – so, I follow on down.

When I got downstairs – they were moving my “MOVIE” screen over to the end portion of the room, and others were making rows of chairs – looked like 6 or 7 chairs in each row – and my “Movie” projector set up – ready with film. I just took a seat to continue to watch as my stuff was being moved around, when I heard someone say on the  “loud speaker”   and  nice and loud,  to another worker – “There sure isn’t much food in the refrigerator for all of  these people – what are we to do?” The person that I  now  –  am  guessing,  was in charge replied in a loud enough voice, so that everyone would know,  that they were going to get something good to eat,   “There is a “Caterer” who sets up and brings all  of the food  – we will not have to worry – she always brings all which,  we  all like!”

Well, I never saw so many people in my house – all so busy and doing stuff – which I had no knowledge of,  and I sure cannot remember giving my permission to have all of this going on? So,  when I got upstairs – I was walking near the bathroom and thought I had better get a shower,  and get myself dressed  – for whatever is going on in my own home?  As I was looking in the closet for a change of clothes – some woman coming in a big  hurry and  she slapped my hands- and said “You cannot  just take stuff  – from this house that we are in – we only come in where we are expected for our “Billy Graham Ministry” program  – and we will  have plenty of  refreshments,  and leave the house exactly as we found it!”  “We do not take anything,  that is not ours  – do you understand?” – – – “This is my house, and I do feel that I need to clean up and besides that – I did not know anything  about  this program  that  you have going on – in my house??”  – –  Another woman came running and in a hurry – with her figure over her mouth – and then –  when she had our attention, said “Billy Graham “ is downstairs and he is speaking – come on down stairs, NOW!”

All of a sudden – I could hear “Billy Graham” speaking… and his voice was getting louder… and I… kind of stretched and turned over in my bed… And  then, I could hear “Billy Graham” so loud and clear… opening my eyes, I could see on the clock radio – it was time for me to get up and out of this bed… “But – that “DREAM” sure felt like I was  right there  –  every step of the way –  – I was there…– it was all so real!??”


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“Birds of a Feather – Flock together…”

When you were little or even as an adult did you ever use the above saying: “Birds of a Feather – Flock together?” That was one of the most used PROVERBS or sayings that the NUNS used in the Orphanage – that is by certain NUNS – and that was in the 1940’s.

There was a Rosemary B. and a Susie C – who were very good friends of mine – and it seem to me that when certain NUNS were on duty – that is to spend an hour with the girls – a better word would be  to say – “baby-sitters” as some of them really didn’t want to be with us – and then of course, there would be one or the other  – that would actually play card games or board games with some of us girls – actually seem to be a human being?

“STILL WATER RUNS DEEP” was another one of the sayings – and this was usually said when friends like Eleanora F.  And Rosemary B. would be together – as if they would be cooking up some kind of a dangerous over throw of the Orphanage? There were a couple of other girls who were also on the constant watch list – and they would purposely pretend to be doing something that they were not allowed to. There are always some kids that just like to test the NUNS – to see what they can do – just to get some reaction from a particular NUN?

“A PERSON IS KNOWN BY THE COMPANY SHE KEEPS?”  I sometime wonder what the NUNS were thinking – did they think that every child in this world is exactly like every other one? Back then people were not reading their daily Horoscope to see what to do and how to do it, Probably – no one even knew much about what “SIGN” they were born under and nobody knew that –  some “SIGNS” do not get along with some other “SIGNS?”

“A STITCH IN TIME – SAVES NINE” – sometimes I just have to wonder if what someone was doing was not enough or that – if they would get a move on – and get busier – we would all be done and could get on with whatever the work was – that we were all assigned to be doing – There are always some kids – that figure that they can get by doing very little – or maybe nothing at all and that they won’t be noticed. There were some special “KIDS” – who you might say were the teacher’s “PET!” They were “GOLD-BRICKERS!” They were so special – they had something – that the rest of us did not have – what was it??

“EMPTY TIN CANS RATTLE THE LOUDEST” – This was for a few of the Kids – that always had something to say back to the NUN in charge. You might say that this child was sassing back at the NUN or just “talking back” with such idle talk of what she was going to do  and or some talk that was inappropriate for a nice little girl – to let come from her  “sweet mouth?”

There was one NUN – she would always say “ASK A SILLY QUESTION – GET A SILLY ANSWER!” Now that I am much older and not in the Orphanage – and that NUN has probably passed away  – it would be safe to say – that she could not come up with some kind of an answer – that would have put a “LID” on the smart KID!

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!”  “WOW” What a terrific PROVERB!  This is one PROVERB – that we should say and say it often! Everyone knows that what you say is what you get!  So for more Blessings – let’s all say:  “Count Your Blessings!”

 


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More on Parents and Children…

As I was reading some of what I had written for yesterday, it just came to me that there is something missing in our homes today. If you check – the next time you go to a neighbor or friend’s house – there is something that is very important to have – but – it is missing? Did you guess yet? It is the BIBLE – the Manuel for good living!

Every home has books on “How to Cook” – “How to lose Weight” – “How to fix this and that” and then there is a whole gambit of ‘junk’ reading – that my Mother would call trash! I know that there is some good reading – but why not have the best available reading – the perfect source for a FAMILY to find all the answers  – for keeping a FAMILY aware of what to expect in this LIFE and what is needed to know for the LIFE to come?

When we were little – that is my brothers and I – we all sat on the sofa all around my Mother – and she would read from her BIBLE. We were mesmerized by the stories as she would read – and my Mother could read all day – as everything she was reading – was so interesting.  It was the way she would read – everything just seems to come alive – as she put so much “action” in the words and stories. We were just glued in our spots and our ears just wanted more. Mom would have to stop, though – as she did have to make the meals for us.

When I was in the second grade, my Mother gave me my first BIBLE – which I still have. In the second grade  – I was not as interested in reading the BIBLE – by myself – I enjoyed my Mother’s reading – and when we were in the Orphanage – there was no real time to read my BIBLE – I may have looked at it  – but not as I would do if my Mother was there to guide my selecting – what and how to really get a start on reading the BIBLE.

Years later, when I had my own home and children – I did buy my children a BIBLE for small children – it had the most popular stories and of course lots of pictures for the children to look at while I or my husband would read to them – especially at bedtime. This of course is another book that I still have – and this book went to and from FLORIDA and to Missouri and all the other locations we moved to – and it does show some wear and tear – but I could not part with it for all the “tea in China” – as my husband would pick it up and read it – each and every time he would be recuperating from all of the surgeries – he had to have after having been shot!

Today I do have several BIBLES – and each one – has something special about it that I could not – ever think to part with any one! Each BIBLE – as I have received it – I would start that day and read  each and every day  there after – and would read through each book – until I have read through it  –  cover to cover  – marking the day and year – and also adding birthdays of family and friends – if it was their birthday – as I would also say some special prayer for them  – then and there – to be remembered forever by whoever would read in that section of my BIBLE. I would hope that someday each and every child would receive a BIBLE of their own and be able to take it to school – where they would have a class for reading the BIBLE and exploring all of the TRUTH  – for a good start in LIFE’s Learning  – as everything that we need to know – is there for those who will “SEEK and FIND!” Reading daily is the best of medicines for all of us – try it – and let me know?


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For: Parents and Grandparents…

Today I was listening to a program   on radio station 91.5 – “Focus on the Family” and it is a program that I think is worthwhile for every FAMILY – to check out. This program is on every afternoon and the subject of the message was based on Proverbs 15:16-17 and also Chapter 17:1 – regarding having some PEACE and QUIET in the HOME LIFE!

He gave a short story as an example  of how some HOME LIFE for children – and why some of our children turn out the way they do – because of the NOISE – the screaming of the parents at each other – and that children cannot get the rest they need from the daily living at HOME.

The story was about a Coach –  who would have some of the team meet at his home before their games and wait till all  of the team was ready for the whole team to get together  – and there were a couple of the boys who would just lay down on the rug in the living room  and in no time at all they would be sound asleep? The same boys would come back after the games with their coach – and would take the same place on the rug – and fall asleep – and waited until they were picked up by their parents?

After this went on for some time – the Coach inquire of the boys – as to why they were eager to just fall asleep when at his house? The answer that the Coach received was that when these boys were in their own homes  – their Parents would be fighting and screaming so loudly  –  that these boys could not get any sleep  – no rest – and this would be at all times of the day. The boys said that there just was no quiet place in their home – no matter where they would go?

So, because this was a serious problem – the Coach and his wife invited the boys to come to his house anytime that they were in need of “PEACE and Quiet” and to come and enjoy a meal also with the FAMILY of the COACH – so long as they let their PARENTS know where they would be.

In –  PROVERBS – the above Chapters,  state –   that it is better to just have a piece of bread with peace and quiet and a little joy of LIFE –  – than to have a  feast with strife  – and as in the story that was told of the children who were always in fear of being in the middle of their  PARENTS   fighting  and screaming – leaving the children to be scared at all hours of the day and night?

On the radio program – it was suggested that the PARENTS have a discussion  of whatever is upsetting them – and if they can not contain their discussion in a civilized way – then –  take the problem to their bedroom –   close the doors and  – try  not to have  your children and the whole neighborhood think that you, PARENTS want to kill each other with your words –  and never let the children hear everything and always  live live in fear!

 

 

 


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“Make Good Reading – Count for Something…”

Are you still working on your New YEAR’S Resolutions? Sometimes – when the NEW YEAR begins – it takes awhile for me to get into the swing of doing a lot of new things – that I had  selected to do – or maybe I should say – incorporate – with all that I am doing and still want to continue to do, too???

This year, I want to start to memorize new verses from the BIBLE – that is verses that have a special meaning to me – and that I feel will be beneficial should I want to talk about the particular verse with someone? When I was in school – and that was a long time ago – I must have missed that day  – that they taught the children how to memorize material – that was important  for  –  you – so that  for the rest of your LIFE – you would always be able to recall – when ever  important  material was needed?

Sometime ago – when I was looking through my Mother’s Bible  – I found on one of the first pages in her Bible a list of five (5) different important things  that each child should learn and memorize, forever! At that time – there was one item that I had  felt that I should learn – memorize – so that I could recall the whole verse by verse and at anytime – that was “The 23rd Psalm.” So, not knowing any special way  –   this is what I did – I counted the words in each line  – and as I was in bed at night – I would say each line , as best as I could remember , and using my fingers counting the words for that line. Some lines came to memory very quick  and  easy and  soon – I would say the whole Psalm as many times as I could  before  falling  to sleep  – but  then  – when I fell   asleep –   that was it for me and   the night’s learning.

That was my way of learning the “23rd Psalm” and before I knew it – I could say it anytime as –  I had committed it to memory. So, getting back to this New Year’s  resolution – today as I was reading the BIBLE – I came across a verse – that I think I am going to use as my  “start up verse”   – of leering more verses – those that I think will help me – and maybe – you just might like this verse, too?

Look up –  “PROVERBS 13:20”  “Walk   with wise men and be wise.”  “Companion of Fools and be broken.”  There a few more words – and in  your  or another Bible – you could read something  – maybe just a little different – but just those few words – they stand for so much – at least I think  for young people to pay attention – to these words – just so that your LIFE will be  just  a little better for you – and the best thing to learn early   in LIFE – is that your friends and peer group – will either  be a help to  you  – or they will act as  your friends – but they will work against you  in  harmful ways that you will not realize –   until it is too –  too  late!

I still remember some of the things that some of the NUNS  would say to us, KIDS – when we were in grade school – “Birds of a feather, flock together” and then there was –  “Empty tin cans  –  rattle the loudest” – so you can easily figure  out – – what they were trying to tell some of us, kids – RIGHT??   “Good Words will help you climb the ladder!”   “The Ladder of LIFE!”


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“Snow-sledding -Sliding in Snow!”

Dune Buggy 001

“There is enough “SNOW” out there to do whatever you want – and  have  lots of  “FUN”!”

Sunday –   the report  on the radio – said to expect “SNOW”  to start coming down after  4:00 p.m. – –   and we did not  believe the forecast…   but –  late in the evening it started to come down and the “SNOW” just continued  and when we woke in the Morning – “SURPRISE” – it was the white stuff all over and so nice and thick – and  so nice and cold – we are going to get to play – outside all day and night!

Early Sunday morning – – the kids were dressed to stay out as long as they could –  and so at the SUNSET PARK – where  the sign reads “NO SLEDDING DOWN HILL”  – that is exactly where they all were – and the freezing cold did not stop them – there is  a place to get in from the cold  – and have a cup of “HOT CHOCOLATE” to warm the finger tips – and give it another run up and down the “FORBIDDEN” hill!

“MR. COLD WEATHER” does not stop “KIDS” who want to play in the freezing  white and cold stuff –   – and all day –  – even  –  if it  takes  forever  – the day  is  not long  enough   – to get all  worn out – – from having too much “FUN” in the SNOW” – and two days in a row – who ever had so much  good  FUN??!

Monday and Tuesday – so cold and so much SNOW – – will it hold out for tomorrow,  Wednesday – and they can do it all again?? Just think of all the stories the “KIDS” will  be able to tell – all day at school? Will all the “KIDS” have so much excitement to entice their friends with – – to see if they will come over and share in the “SNOW FUN”  – that is the next time we get so much of the white stuff  – just for the “KIDS” to play in  – all day with friends – – just having so much more free “FUN”!


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