HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS

HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS!

Get the free lyrics at: gospelyrics.blogspot.com/

After living in the comfort and security of a small rural community, one becomes acclimated and under the mistaken idea that the entire world has the same values and ideas.  Wrong, there is a whole big world out there!  You get glimpses of it every day on television, the hurt, hunger, brutality, betrayal, and life and death situations.

Just watched the verdict on Amanda Knox, according to the report she was innocent, which means that four years of her life were spent behind bars to advance the political career of the prosecutor, who was under investigation himself.  Another sad part of this story is that it is more common than one would think.  How many times are lives harmed, hurt, or ruined daily simply for the benefit of others!  As my husband says, “Let’s look at the other side of the coin.”  What could be accomplished if we, individually and as a society spread good news?? 

A friend of mine sent me a word of wisdom that says, “There are two things that are hard on the heart….Running up stairs, and running other people down!”  Instead of running people down what if we actually tried to lift them up?  In the Bible, Jesus said, “Who touched me?” when a woman was clinging to His cloak.  As an old saying goes, “It is hard to pull yourself out of the mire by your own boot straps.” What if we allowed other people to touch us, to grab on, and give them the opportunity to hold on to our garment to climb out of the troubles they might be experiencing?

We need to apply the “Golden Rule”-”Do unto others.”   The reason the world is in such chaos, could be that we don’t go by the golden rule.  Always remember if we are not part of the solution, then we are a part of the problem!

                             
Judging from the people who are following this blog, I feel like I am preaching to the choir, because I know you to be wonderful, caring people. But maybe you, like me, need a refresher course occasionally. Or perhaps there are those who are reading this that might be uplifted by these words.  However, let me assure you, the word of God in the Bible is the best source of wisdom and advice that can be given.  Read it often, and apply it well…doing this can save you from hell…on this earth as well as eternity.  Remember to share your love of God and His joy.

 Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Candid Conversations With Carolyn Lee

SAFE IN OUR FATHERS ARMS

“SAFE IN OUR FATHERS ARMS”

My daddy loved to tell jokes and was a storyteller.  Now some of them probably were not fit for my childish ears; but since I was a Daddy’s girl, and was around him as much as possible, I heard most of them anyway.  Maybe I caught his joy in telling stories and that is why I too enjoy telling them.  Regardless, stories that are passed down are the things of which “Roots” are made.

My family consisted of my parents, a brother who was nine years older, a sister six years older, and a brother six years younger than me.  Basically I was an only child, and my older siblings have told me for years that I was spoiled. “Of course I was, and I can’t think of anyone more deserving!” I always laughingly replied.

But, there were some things that helped that happen.  By watching the altercations between my parents and older siblings, I learned what, and what not to do to avoid problems.  Another words I learned from their mistakes. They say salespeople are born and not made, and this is partially true, but you can improve your skills by applying those methods that have been proven to work. The same is true in our daily physical and spiritual life.

They also said that my “Daddy never spanked me.”  That is true as well.  All he had to do was give me that look, you know the one I’m talking about, or tell me how disappointed he was and it would just break my heart.  As an adult and a parent of four children, I have found that each child is different and the theory of using only one approach does not fit all.

When my youngest son was three, he didn’t eat his supper.  Later, when it was time to go to bed he said he was hungry.  So I sat him back at the table, and placed the same meal in front of him.  “Yuck,’ he said, “I don’t like this!” and refused to eat.  So I told him to go on to bed.  As he stomped down the hall he said, “You Stupid Mama!”  Well, using my father’s parenting skills, I thought I would “put the fear of God in him” and called him back.  I got down on my knees so we would be on the same level and asked him a question that would have scared me to death.  “Just how stupid do you think I am?” I asked.  “You real stupid Mama!” he boldly replied.  Well, what to do now?  I just asked this child to tell me how stupid he thought I was, and he gave me his opinion, which really limited my rebuking and punishing options  “Well, you may think I’m stupid, but I’m not hungry and I ate my supper, so go on to bed,” was my reply. 

We have an earthly father to emulate, but we also have a Heavenly Father who has given us some great guidelines on parenting children.  We would be wise to use both!  Sometimes the Biblical directions of “spare the rod and spoil the child,” needs to be applied.  My youngest child is by far the most strong willed, and even though she is not my biological offspring, my husband says that she is very much like me.  I have to use my best salesperson approach with her and quite often that doesn’t work, and the rod has to be applied to her backside.

One weekend, when my daughter was seven, she hadn’t lived with us long; we were visiting with her biological brother, his adoptive mother, and her mother which we call Granny J….   We were all seated at a restaurant when my daughter asked, “Granny J, does xxxxx (her brother) ever get whippings?”  She replied, “Well, yes sometimes he does.” Then Granny J went on to ask “Do you ever get a whipping?” “Oh yes, and there are two kind of whippings,” my daughter replied.

Now she definitely has all of our attention.  “Now what kind of whippings would that be?’ Granny J asked.  “Well,” my daughter replied, “Sometimes I get a butt-whooping and sometimes I get an ass-whooping!”  Wow, as hard as it is to believe, the table remained silent.  I’m still in shock, when Granny J, trying not to laugh, said, “Now, tell me the difference.”  Again my daughter replied, “Well, a butt-whooping is when your mother isn’t sure that you knew what you did was wrong, and an ass-whooping is when you knew it was wrong and did it anyway!”

A revelation to me was that while administering the “rod” I obviously must have made the distinction between the two, like “I’m gonna whip your butt, or I’m gonna set your little ass on fire!”  However it did prove the point to me that she did know right from wrong, but sometimes made the “wrong” choice.  Don’t we all!  Life is about making constant choices some for the good and some are bad.  But you can be sure that if God said, “Spare the rod and spoil the child,” that the same thing applies to His children too.  So the next time when you know to do right and you choose to do wrong, be prepared, because God is gonna give you ass-whooping!

Now back to my being Daddy’s girl.  He loved to hunt anything, squirrels, rabbits, coon, deer, and possum; if it was edible he hunted it. And yes, we did eat possum, although it doesn’t appeal to me, but as I told my youngest son, “When you’re hungry you’ll eat what is provided for you.”

One night when I was very young I begged to go coon hunting with Daddy.  Of course, he gave in but not before telling me that it was going to be a rather long hunt and that I was probably going to get very tired.  This didn’t dissuade me.  After about an hour of traipsing over the mountains, I did indeed become tired.  Patiently, he laid me on the ground, covered me with his coat, and told me he would come back in about an hour to take me home.  You know, even though it was dark and I was alone, I don’t remember being scared.  I was asleep when he came back.

You know that’s how our fellowship with our Heavenly Father is supposed to be, complete trust.

SAFE IN THE ARMS OF JESUS

Safe in the arms of Jesus, Safe on His gentle breast;
There by His love o’ershaded, Sweetly my soul shall rest.
Hark! ’tis the voice of angels, Borne in a song to me,
Over the fields of glory, Over the jasper sea.

Refrain:  Sing this between each verse for optimum benefit
Safe in the arms of Jesus, Safe on His gentle breast;
There by His love o’ershaded, Sweetly my soul shall rest.

Safe in the arms of Jesus, Safe from corroding care,
Safe from the world’s temptations; Sin cannot harm me there.
Free from the blight of sorrow, Free from my doubts and fears;
Only a few more trials, Only a few more tears!

Jesus, my heart’s dear Refuge, Jesus has died for me;
Firm on the Rock of Ages, Ever my trust shall be.
Here let me wait with patience, Wait till the night is o’er;
Wait till I see the morning, Break on the golden shore.

                                    Candid Conversations -  With Carolyn Lee

"PICKLE MOUNTAIN"

PINNACLE MOUNTAIN STATE PARK

What better way to spend a beautiful October day in Arkansas than at Pinnacle Mountain State Park?  While my two daughters are out hiking the mountain trails, and since I no longer have the legs, balance, energy, or breathe to join them; I can still enjoy the sights and sounds.  As an avid admirer of unique jewelry, Pinnacle Mountain is a jewel nestled just outside Little Rock, Arkansas and believe it or not, this is my first trip, but definitely not my last!

                                    

In an earlier blog, I mentioned my love for Cades Cove in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee.  Pinnacle Mountain also has a lot to offer in the way of natural beauty, and outdoor entertainment, and I am encouraged by the number of people that I see out enjoying the beauty and benefits of God’s nature.  There are joggers, dogs walking their owners, children playing on the equipment, baby and older strollers, and in this case bloggers. 

 A child strolling by just told me, “I love Pickle Mountain,” a memory has been captured for both of us.  Perhaps when you are younger, or older, the ability to share your joy with others is easier.  Or maybe some of us like to visit with complete strangers, possibly to live vicariously through their activities, or perhaps to view the world through their eyes or learn more about people outside of our circle of acquaintances.  Whatever the reasons, sharing our happiness with others is a part of the magic of life and I hope that none of us fail to take the opportunity of verbal communication.  The ability to communicate and share our spiritual happiness can also make wonderful memories as well.

This is a shot of the trees along the path I was able to negotiate.  Aren’t they magnificent? 

              

They come in different sizes, some lived and survived while others of their counterparts didn’t endure, though some are bent from the force of the wind, they have lived to provide shade and comfort to those of us who walk beneath their arms. 

 
Just have to put in the poem because it says it so much better than any attempt that I could make.

                                                     Joyce Kilmer, 1886-1918

I THINK that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain,
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

Dear Lord, help me to bend to your will, to understand that I need the rain and even the storms to develop into what you want of me.  Help me to bend my knees in prayer, and depend upon your sustenance for survival, and remind me to give back to the earth and its peoples the joy of living to magnify your wondrous beauty and grace.

THE ROOSTER AND THE SUNRISE

THE ROOSTER AND THE SUNRISE

When we were growing up, we grew or raised most of our food stuff.  To this date, I can’t grow a garden, I don’t care for milk, and I don’t like chicken. 

The reason behind the gardening is that I didn’t pay attention, and just did what I was told.  My dislike for milk had other reasons. We had to go collect the cows from the pasture, and I was afraid of the bull. Then we hand milked the cows in small enclosed stalls, while we were hot and sweaty with the flies buzzing around and her tail slapping our face.  After that we would take the milk and skim it or process it through a cheese cloth and put it in a refrigerator that had seen better days and never got it very cold.  The smell of hot milk has never left my nostrils.

Aw, now for the chickens.  We had a flock that had to be fed and housed every day, along with gathering the eggs.  Now that wasn’t too bad a chore, unless there was a snake in the nests.  The yucky part came when it was time to kill and clean the bird for human consumption.  Not too sure we ever got that part down, and other than to tell you it started by wringing its neck until dead, I’m not going into the full details in fear that you might not ever eat chicken again! 

One of the things about having chickens is that every morning that old rooster would announce the arrival of a new day.  He crowed, and strutted, just like he was taking credit for the sunrise.

When my first child arrived I’m afraid that, like that old rooster, I tried to take the credit!  I would spend countless hours looking at him, admiring my handiwork and saying to myself, “Just see what I have created!”  Well, it didn’t take long for God to let me know that I didn’t have a thing to do with the creation of that child any more than the rooster thinking he created the sun.

We as Christians sometimes take on that same attitude.  We announce that we have arrived! We peck at the others in the flock telling them how to act or behave, forgetting Gods part in our salvation.  The Church as a whole has also taken on the attitude of crowing and strutting, letting the community and other churches know how well they are doing.  For example, we have had this many people saved, we had so much $$ contributed, we are the best place for you, etc. 

We all need to be careful, because God created everything, is the salvation of everything, is the provider for everything, and if we are not careful, He is going to pluck our tail feathers, and wring out neck to let us know that He and His Son is in control of the sun and His creations!

Candid Conversations With Carolyn Lee