“Dave, it has to be on your end,” I said, patiently.

“Patty, I want you to turn off your phone and turn it on again.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because I can call everyone except you.  My calls go directly to your Voicemail.”

“So why couldn’t that be your phone’s fault?  You’re in Mexico.  I’m in the United States.  Chances are, I have better reception than you have. After all, my calls go through to you; yours don’t come through to me.”

This went on for a few days.  In that time, I, a submissive wife, followed Dave’s advice and turned my phone off and back on. No success.  Dave’s email let me know that he couldn’t figure out why I didn’t answer his texts.  “Because I never got them,” I answered

This was not going well.

I called Dave.  “I will visit Verizon to see if this is my phone’s fault,” I said, trying to be a good team player, even though I was positive this problem was his phone, not mine.

“Great. Unless you’ve blocked me, there has to be a problem coming from the carrier.”

“Or you,” I added.

How silly of him to say, “Unless you’ve blocked me.” Who would block their spouse? Just to make sure I wasn’t responsible for this disaster, however, I checked my contact list.

Sure as shootin’, he was blocked.

Desperate measures were needed.  How could I make Dave think that he was responsible?  Was it possible for him to block himself?  I think not.

“Well, what do you know, Honey?  You were blocked. Ha-ha. I have no idea how that happened.”

Dave then reminded me that I had blocked three other friends in the past few months.  Like this was an epidemic or something.

Anyway, we worked it out, but as I thought about how easy it was to block someone unintentionally, I considered how I sometimes do it intentionally, like ignoring a phone call or a text because I just want to be alone.

But what if I block God?  Like when I feel His nudging to do something kind that day, but I’m too tired or too irritable or too insensitive to obey.

Yes, I do that, but my New Year’s resolution is to listen to Him purposefully and do what He says.

This morning, I felt God telling me to be kind to someone I didn’t know.  I was flying from K.C. to Florida, and I had gotten little sleep, but I was determined to obey.

I won’t list here all the things that went wrong, but I still had opportunities to help.

At ticketing, I traded places with a man who was late for his flight.  Going through security, I overheard a mother instructing her teenage son on what to do while traveling alone.  I assured her that I would get her son to the right gate…which I would have, had I not been pulled out of line because I had five ounces of sun screen in my carry bag instead of the three allowed. Ultimately, I caught up with him and assured him he was at the right gate. He looked at me like I was a nut-case.

While boarding, I noticed a young girl standing by herself.  I struck up a conversation with her.  She was “really nervous” as she never had flown alone before, so I told her that I would wait for her when we deplaned and get her to her next flight.  She seemed thankful when I ushered her through the airport, although she seemed to know exactly what she was doing.

Still, not bad for one day. Let’s just hope I can say the same at the end of 2023.

 

Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker

 

When I was pregnant with our first child, my brother and his wife came for a nice visit. As they prepared to leave, Randy looked me straight in the eyes and said, “A baby will change your life.” I vaguely agreed with him, not truly understanding what he meant but certainly not disagreeing with him since he was the father of three. Like Mary, I pondered his statement in my heart and soon realized exactly what he meant. The birth of a baby rocks everything in your world.

 

When Jesus hit the stable on planet earth, His boy story rocked the world and turned it upside-down. The arrival of this Holy Boy of Joy was prophesied in the Old Testament. “All right then, the Lord Himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call Him Immanuel (which means God is with us)” (Isaiah 7:14 NLT). Jesus forever bridged the chasm between God and man.

 

As Joseph secretly considered breaking his engagement to Mary, an angel appeared to him in a dream and said, “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:20-21 NLT). Because the people couldn’t save themselves, God provided the perfect Redeemer through His only Son Jesus. And the King of kings still rocks everyone’s world who personally receives Him as Savior.

 

As the shepherds guarded their sheep at night, an angel appeared and the Lord’s glory surrounded them. Think of it — the actual glory of God is what suddenly illuminated the countryside. “The angel reassured them, ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people‘” (Luke 2:10 NLT). Reverential fear was an appropriate reaction to witnessing the glory of God, but shouts of joy would have also  been appropriate because this was the best news man had ever heard!

 

The angel further announced, “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger” (Luke 2:11-12 NKJV). Born in most-humble circumstances, the Good Shepherd was found by lowly shepherds. What a strange beginning for the Holy Infant who was sent to save the world. But, we find that the Mighty God colored outside the lines. The Bread of Life taught truths and performed miracles that were outside the religious box. The Prince of Peace came to rock the world, set up the kingdom of God, and make a way for those in darkness to have great joy.

 

Jesus taught His disciples, “I have told you these things so that you will be filled with My joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! (John 15:11 NLT). Joy is an important trademark for believers. The following scripture is one of many ways Christians celebrate the birth of the Christ child at Christmas: “And Nehemiah continued, ‘Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!’” (Nehemiah 8:10 NLT).

 

The Key: ’Tis the season to be full of the glory and unspeakable joy of the Lord.  

My friend Sherrie told me that she has cut back on Christmas gifts.  At one time, she gave 80 each year, not to relatives but to all the employees at the condominium complex where she lived.  She shared how much she loved shopping for something people wouldn’t buy for themselves.

Sherrie stopped when she realized that only 15 of the 80 ever said thanks, and one asked her to take back the gift and just give him the money it cost.

We all know that it’s no fun to give a present that is not appreciated, and even though we don’t give to be thanked, it is hard to reward ungratefulness year after year after year.

I wonder if that is how Jesus feels. His gift to you and me was about as personal as possible, and it certainly went far beyond the pajamas and gift cards I deliver.

He sacrificed his life for us, yet people get so wrapped up (pun intended) in the shopping and decorating, they can’t find time to even thank him for leaving Heaven to be born in a stinky, wooden trough so he could die on a blood-stained, wooden cross.

I reiterate: For you. And me.

Is Jesus anywhere in your Christmas plans?

A toddler, Spencer, was at the mall with his mother and grandfather when he noticed the long line of families waiting to get their kids’ pictures taken with Santa. Spencer had been taught that Christmas is a celebration of the birth of God’s Son, and with the innocence of a child, he turned to his mom and asked, “Where’s the line to see Jesus?”

 Both his mother and grandfather–Becky Kelly and Steve Haut–were so struck by the profoundness of this little boy’s question (and the message inherent within it) that they collaborated to write and record a song based on that experience. The recording was appropriately titled: “Where’s the Line to See Jesus?”  The words in the song are insightful:

“…Where’s the line to see Jesus?

He was born for me

Santa Claus brought me presents

But Christ gave His life for me.

In the blink of an eye

At the sound of His trump

We’ll all stand in line at His throne

Every knee shall bow down

Every tongue will confess

That Jesus Christ is Lord…”

Please don’t be like my friend’s ungrateful staff who failed to recognize the intent of their gift’s giver.  Take the time to be grateful, especially to the One after whom this holiday is named.  Happy birthday, Jesus!

Keys to the Kingdom

By Carolyn Tucker

 

Dressed to the Nines

 

“She looks like she just stepped out of a bandbox.“ Where I come from, that’s a nice compliment. My Mom’s favorite piece of attire was shoes, and so is mine. She taught me the importance of coordinating the appropriate shoes with the style of clothing. She told me, “Shoes make or break the outfit.” About 30 years ago, when the physicians started dressing casual, I was a bit shocked. Being trained by my mother on how to put an outfit together, it was distressing to see the doctor look like my friendly next-door farmer. Because of the relaxed-clothing style, my confidence in his medical skills plummeted to the cellar! I realized I needed to quickly adapt my opinion regarding a physician’s attire. Now I just look at his shoes and that makes everything alright.

 

God’s Word tells believers how to be properly dressed in order to defeat the devil in the combat zone. “Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm“ (Ephesians 6:10-13 NLT).

 

The military issues tactical gear for the brave men and women who serve in our Armed Forces. The Bible teaches us about warfare in the natural world and in the spiritual realm. I’m  always impressed with the description of David’s three elite warriors in the Old Testament: “Josheb-Basshebeth…fought with his spear against eight hundred men and killed them all in one battle. Eleazar…stood his ground and fought the Philistines until his hand was so cramped that he could not let go of his sword. The Lord won a great victory that day. The Philistines had gathered at Lehi, where there was a field of peas. The Israelites fled from the Philistines, but Shammah stood his ground in the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. The Lord won a great victory that day” (2 Samuel 23:8-11 GNT). These mighty men would have been defenseless without their weapons.

 

When we leave the house, we wear the appropriate clothing and footwear for the activity  we will be carrying out. In fact, we wouldn’t leave home without it. As Christians, God has outfitted us with the spiritual equipment of a fully-armed soldier that we’re to put on everyday. “Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Ephesians 6:14-17 NLT).

 

Christ followers must make the daily decision to live by faith equipped and empowered to stand firm and defeat the enemy. God has properly outfitted His soldiers to fight victoriously. Even though the devil does his dead-level best to dress us down, he’s a defeated foe because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. “No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us” (Romans 8:37 NLT).

 

The Key: Be sure to wear all of God’s armor when you fight in the pea patch.

“Some people create their own storms, then get upset when it rains.” anonymous

Have you ever met a wimp? I have. As soon as life gets tough, they don’t; instead of being a problem-solver, they point fingers.

Someone/thing is responsible for life not offering them the all-you-can-eat-dessert-buffet they deserve. Some even blame God for not being their personal caterer, wondering why He wimps out instead of ordering up whatever it is they want.

Well, God is not a wimp. We are, but He isn’t. Still, too often He gets a bad rap.

You know what I’m talking about. Things start to go south, and we despair for someone (other than ourselves) to be culpable. Who better than the only One—the miracle-maker—who could really
make a difference…BUT DOESN’T? After all, how can an all-loving God stand by as tragedies unfold?

We all have stories. Listen well to others, and you will hear them. My friend’s 10-year- old granddaughter died. After decades serving God, my prayer partner had to place his adult daughter in rehab. A Christian woman, spending hundreds of hours on her knees, has not seen God change her overbearing son-in-law. A second marriage is dissolving, in spite of Christian therapy and mental illness. A young woman prays to marry and start a family, but the years go by and she doesn’t meet the right one.

Some people believe that if we just lived up to our Christian label, if we really, truly lived a life devoted to God, bad things wouldn’t happen. (The disciples would have a lot to say about
that.) Others have an outlook I question.

Look at what Chintan Jain wrote: “If you still want to blame God for all the problems in your life, then you can but with a simple condition:
…only if you dedicate all your hard work to him.
…only if you have celebrated all of your happiness with him.
…only if you have the ability (or) skill to accept that you have failed.”

I understand what Jain is trying to say, but I disagree. There never is a time we can blame the One who loves us in spite of ourselves, who lavishes us with blessings when we don’t deserve them.

I am not guiltless when it comes to blaming God. Embarrassing to admit, but that’s how I reacted when our baby died and again when my brother died.

Other people saw miracles; why couldn’t I? I failed to understand that God would never be the source of my problems. Never. His goal is always that we grow in our faith and that we lean on Him.

Satan is the one who seeks for us to accuse God of being unloving.

“No one undergoing a trial should say, ‘I am being tempted by God.’ For God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone” (James 1:13).
Good things can come from life’s disappointments. I became a Christian following my baby’s death, and I became a better teacher after so many students described why my brother was their favorite teacher. Amazing, isn’t it? When we get something good that we don’t deserve, we celebrate, but when it’s bad, we blame God.

As one author put it, “God is the author of a lot of things, but He is not the author of our pain.”

We wimps need to remember that.

Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker

 

My first pet was a little black and white Rat Terrier named Stormy. He came into my life as a delightful surprise, as I wasn‘t expecting him. We spent lots of time together and had fun playing in the great outdoors. I would imagine the acquisition of this puppy was mainly my Dad’s idea and, of course, my Mom agreed. As I think back on this wonderful childhood experience I realize that my folks knew I would benefit from a pet, so Dad searched out the options. My little pal was born on a stormy night and Dad brought him home to me on a stormy night, so that’s how his name was chosen. I didn’t ask for a dog, but I sure did love him. As a little kid, I wasn’t smart enough to ask for special things that would help mold me into a well-rounded person. Thankfully, my wise parents lovingly provided the proper life tools I would need as an adult. And I didn’t even have to ask.

 

In the New Testament, a Roman military officer approached Jesus and presented Him with a critical situation: “When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with Him, ’Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.’ Jesus said, ’I will come and heal him’” (Matthew 8:5-7 NLT). The officer didn’t ask Jesus to come to his house because he knew that any Jew who entered a Gentile house would be considered ceremonially unclean. However, the compassionate Healer didn’t hesitate to ignore manmade religious traditions. Beautiful story short, Jesus knew the desire of the officer’s heart. The young servant was healed and Jesus didn’t even have to be asked.

 

In another New Testament account, the Prince of Life and His entourage are about to enter the city of Nain when they are met by a funeral procession. “The young man who had died was a widow’s only son, and a large crowd from the village was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. ’Don’t cry!’ He said. Then He walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. ’Young man,’ He said, ’I tell you, get up.’ Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk! And Jesus gave him back to his mother” (Luke 7:12-15 NLT). The mother didn’t even ask for her son to be brought back to life, but Jesus understood her broken heart and dire situation.

 

“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4 NIV). This scripture became very real to me in June of 1996 when I was privileged to study voice with a Christian professor of music. I hadn’t even thought about praying and asking for the opportunity to acquire voice lessons, but God knew it was a desire of my heart. Although I’d been singing most of my life, it was by the “letter” method — open ’er up and let ‘er fly! The professor was in town for a limited time, so I approached him after a campmeeting service and asked if he would consider giving me voice lessons. He did not know me, but right there on the spot he answered, “Yes.“ I was totally elated with his immediate affirmative response.

 

At the conclusion of my vocal studies, Professor Garen L. Wolf confessed that when he told his wife he had agreed to give me (a complete stranger) voice lessons, she declared, “You don’t even know if she can sing!“ He responded, “The Lord told me to do it.“ As the tears welled up in my eyes, I knew I had experienced a musical miracle that only God could have orchestrated.

 

The Key: Love Jesus with all your being and He will give you the longings in your heart.

The story is told of a little girl who developed the bad habit of lying. On her birthday, she received a Saint Bernard puppy but told all of her friends she’d been given a lion. When her mother heard this story, she was not happy. “I told you not to lie. Honesty is very important. Now go upstairs and tell God you’re sorry. Promise Him you’ll never lie again.”

The little girl slowly climbed the stairs to her room, said her prayers, and then came back down to play. Her mother was waiting. “Well, did you tell God you’re sorry?” she asked. “Yes, I did,” her daughter quickly responded. “And God said that sometimes He thinks it’s hard to tell a Saint Bernard from a lion, too.”

If there is any sin more prevalent than the lie, I’m not sure what it is.  The book The Day America Told the Truth reports that 91 percent of those surveyed lie routinely about matters they consider trivial, and 36 percent lie about important matters; 86 percent lie regularly to parents, 75 percent to friends, 73 percent to siblings, and 69 percent to spouses.

As surprising as those numbers are, who of us hasn’t been guilty?  We download illegal songs.  Cheat on our tax returns.  Embellish our accomplishments.  Permanently “borrow” the stapler from the office. Tell our friends we will “pray for them” but don’t. And then… we justify. Not the way to make God happy. After all, He watched the downfall of man begin with lies.

Think about it.  Satan introduces himself to mankind by lying about God to Eve– “You shall not die.”  In other words, “God fibbed when He warned you of the consequence of eating from the tree of life.”  Eve and Adam learn quickly that God means business, as they are banished from the Garden of Eden one itty bitty bite later.

In the book of Job, Satan lies to God.  “The only reason Job obeys you is because you’re so good to him.”  At Jesus’ crucifixion, the same liar convinces the masses to support the Romans and religious zealots who have sabotaged Jesus’ ministry. In the book of Revelation, Satan embodies the antichrist who tells a lie so believable it brings about the end of the world.

As one author put it, in Genesis he uses a lie to corrupt a godly man.  In Job, he uses a lie to criticize a good man.  In the New Testament, he uses a lie to crucify the God Man. It’s no wonder John 4:4 warns us:  When men are deliberate liars, they prove their kinship to the devil, for Jesus said: “The devil … he is a liar, and the father of it.”

I know someone who lies to make himself feel important and then gets angry when confronted.  Repentance is not part of his vocabulary.  In fact, typically more lies follow in the cover-up.  I wish he could have the same outcome as the store manager who heard his rookie clerk tell a customer, “No, ma’am, we haven’t had any for a while, and it doesn’t look as if we’ll be getting any soon.” Horrified, the manager came running over to the customer and said, “Of course we’ll have some soon. We placed an order last week.” Then the manager drew the clerk aside. “Never,” he snarled, “Never, never, never say we’re out of anything- say we’ve got it on order and it’s coming. Now, what was it she wanted anyway?”

The clerk answered, “Rain!”

For many, deceit holds the key to money, fame, revenge or power. I’d rather hold the key to truth and integrity.

One will keep me in bondage.  The other will set me free.

 

 

 

 

Keys to the Kingdom

As a kid in the 1960s, I liked to watch the CBS game show “To Tell the Truth” where four celebrity panelists questioned three contestants. One contestant always spoke the truth about himself/herself and the other two pretended and lied. This was very interesting to me and I was often surprised at who the “real” person out of the three turned out to be. Some of them were super-good liars and pretenders and were able to trick the celebrities and the viewing audience. God knows my name and frame and He knows my heart. He’s the God of all truth. He knows more about me than I do. I scratch my head and smile in the fact that He knows everything about me and loves me anyway! He knows the real me.

 

I find consolation in this scripture: “As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:13,14 NKJV). Our heavenly Father has affection, mercy, and deep compassion for His children who revere and obey Him. He knows how we’re formed and all about our weaknesses and frustrations. He never gives up on us and is sympathetic to our difficulties. God’s not looking for perfect people, He’s looking for nonpretenders with perfect hearts.

 

Sometimes a vehicle ends up with a bent frame. An individual can also have a bent frame from all the hard knocks in life. But God knows what shape we’re in. And if we’re bent out of shape, He can restore it because God is in the business of restoration. He doesn’t throw any part away, He simply works it over and uses it for His glory. God isn’t generic; He’s specific and intentional and He knows what He’s doing. We can trust Him wholeheartedly because He’s proven mile after mile that His speedway record is unbeatable. If believers stay within their God-designated lane, we’ll never crash and burn.

 

A famous musician/entertainer owned a fleet of cars and, after he died in 1977, some of these cars were eventually showcased in Memphis. Although they were meticulously  clean, not one little dent or ding was repaired because each imperfection was proof of use and told a story. Real believers can be compared to these unique vehicles. We may have some cracks in the sidewalls and dents on the body, but we’re willing to be used in the service of Christ Jesus. But it’s sure not a job for sissies! And there’s no place for a U-turn when we’re barreling down the Interstate. Once we get headed in the right direction toward heaven,  what’s the sense of slowing down and turning back? In the song lyrics of Vestal Goodman, “I’m too near my heavenly home to turn back now!”

 

There’s no restoration job too big for God. He can fix a blown head gasket (mental issues) a misfiring cylinder (emotions), or rebuild an engine (physical needs). Just imagine seeing your vehicle up on the racks and, after a quick inspection by the most-qualified mechanic, he tells you, “She can’t be fixed, just tow ‘er to the junkyard.” God will never haul us away; He’ll always restore us if we’ll ask Him to do it. King David prayed, “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and make me willing to obey You” (Psalm 51:12 NLT). This was the prayer of a nonperfect regenerated man desiring a holy heart. Repentant prayers and changed hearts lead to God’s restoration. Our heavenly Father knows the real us (with all our imperfections, dents, and dings) but He still wants to use us if we’re willing to be humble and honest servants for the Kingdom of God.

 

The Key: Will the real you please stand, be restored, and get back on the road again?!

Mattie Nelle Dixon, 98, former resident of Fort Scott, Kansas, passed away Thursday, December 1, 2022, at the Medicalodge in Frontenac, Kansas. She was born in Pittsburg, Kansas on February 14, 1924, to John W. Gier and Mattie (Winterbower) Gier.

She married Floyd J. Dixon, Jr. on September 21, 1941. He preceded her in death May 9, 1988.

 

Mattie attended Sunrise School and graduated from Hepler High School. She was a member of Hiattville United Methodist Church, Emera Chapter #427 of Hepler, Kansas, and Ideal Chapter #369 of Hiattville, Kansas Order of the Eastern Star, and served as organist for many years.

 

She worked as a shipyard welder during World War II, and returning to a farm in the Hiattville area, she worked several years at the O’Bryan Ranch.

She also worked at Dr.’s Basham – McKenna Clinic, and retired from Fort Scott Family Physicians in December of 1989.

 

Caring for her were nieces Judy Smith, Fort Scott, Dorothy Kurth, Carrollton, Missouri, and Cleo Hilstand, Larned, Kansas. Other survivors are nephews and a niece.

Preceding her in death were her parents, half-sisters, and a half-brother, and her husband Floyd.

 

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 7, 2022, at the Walnut Cemetery, in Walnut, Kansas, under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Hiattville United Methodist Church, and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, Kansas, 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

 

I am on the Keto diet.

Unless someone puts a French fry in front of me.

Or a piece of garlic, parmesan toast.

Or onion rings.

Or chicken strips.

Or…you get the point.

On Keto, I am to fill my plate with kale, spinach, zucchini, a couple of hard-boiled eggs (which are just nasty) and some blanched almonds (also on the nasty list). Then I top all of that nonsense with a drizzle of olive oil.  Yuck!  Why don’t I just suck on a blade of poison ivy and call it good?  Same difference.

Let’s face it.  Discipline is hard work, even though it is the magic sauce that helps us get where we want to be.  In college, I was one of the most disciplined gals in my sorority.  When many of my friends skipped class to hang out at the bar and play the card game Pitch, I was frantically scribbling notes and asking questions and contemplating potential test questions.  Play cards instead of being in a classroom?  Not on my radar.

I have always been a disciplined employee.  Show up early.  Work harder than required.  Take work home with me.  My mother never preached that message, but she sure did demonstrate it, so I credit her with modeling for my two brothers and me how to be responsible.

In an odd way, being disciplined allows me to take steps to better myself…to feel as if I’m in control of my future. And that means never giving up. Pablo Casals was considered the greatest cellist to ever live. When he was 95 years old, he was asked why he continued to practice six hours a day.  “Because I think I am making progress,” he answered. Of course, he wasn’t starving himself on Keto, so that comparison sure falls flat.

The aim of Christian discipline is to tame your body, soul and spirit in the way of godliness. 1 Corinthians 10:13 is a reminder that I have a Helper waiting to support me with my eating habits.  No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. In my case, I can substitute the word “craving” for “temptation” and be consoled that this is a battle I can win.

My problem is that I’ve never met an unhealthy food I didn’t like. And yes, I know that I need to put my faith where my food is, but won’t I hurt people’s feelings at the church potluck if I don’t at least “try” their goodies?  And should I invite new Christians over for dinner and feed them wheat grass and beets?  Are you feeling my pain?

A few weeks ago, I was to meet a saint-of-a-friend who was visiting from another state. We settled on Common Ground, and I asked if noon was okay so we could have lunch.  I shouldn’t have been surprised by her response: “Oh, Patty, let’s just feast on the word of God.”  My response shouldn’t have surprised her: “Can’t we do both?”

 My friend had put John 6:27a (NLT) into practice:  But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you.                                                     

I’ll let you know how this Keto thing works out.  So far, not so good…but there’s always tomorrow.

 

 

 

Keys to the Kingdom

My Mom left a legacy for being one of the best country cooks in Cedar County. No brag, just fact. Hospitality was one of her gifts and she truly enjoyed loving and blessing people through her cooking and baking. One Thanksgiving, in particular, stands out in my memory. Along with everything else, Mom’s dressing was made from scratch so she had  placed a huge bowl full of torn pieces of bread, biscuits, and cornbread on the kitchen counter. Shortly afterwards she exited the kitchen and, within minutes, Dad came in from doing the chores. With his hawk-eyed attention to detail, he spotted the bowl and promptly took it outside and fed it to the bird dogs. It looked like scraps to him!

 

My brother’s favorite holiday was Thanksgiving because it’s more of a quiet day to reflect and express thanks for the goodness of God. I admit there are days when life’s not all it’s cracked up to be and the climb gets hard. But even in those times, believers are to be thankful. Why? Because in your loneliest hour of life, God is there with you. “…be content with what you have, for He has said, ’I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5 ESV). This promise gives us a reason to be thankful when life gets tough.

 

When families and friends gather for the Thanksgiving meal, you can be sure no one will be hungry when they push away from the table. Likewise, Jesus’ kitchen is never closed, it’s always fully stocked and all partakers are satisfied. There’s no reason to look elsewhere because the best feast is at Christ‘s table. Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life. Come every day to Me and you will never be hungry. Believe in Me and you will never be thirsty“ (John 6:35 TPT). This promise is a reason to rejoice and be thankful.

 

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT). Some believers seem to search for God’s will all their lives, but this one plain and simple verse lays down the basics of His will. Christians are to be marked by love and thanksgiving. Being thankful is the opposite of being critical. A negative attitude and mindset causes a person to only notice what’s wrong. We’re instructed to give thanks to God no matter what happens in our lives. God is still God and worthy of our praise. We are to be thankful “in” all circumstances, not “for” all circumstances. Giving thanks to God keeps our minds  in a joy-filled perspective and proper focus. Because of Jesus, there is saving blood that will never lose its power and we can be eternally grateful and thankful for that!

 

In 2019, my late husband and I were dining in Pittsburg with a couple of our dear friends. During the meal, Linda kindly spoke to Jimmy and said, “I understand you have some health issues.” I wondered how he would respond and then he softly replied, “God’s been good to me.“ Remembering that truthful answer deeply touched my heart as I thought about writing this column. Instead of talking on and on about the diagnosis and prognosis, my husband spoke of the goodness and faithfulness of His loving heavenly Father.

 

While chained in a Roman prison, Paul wrote a strong message for all Christians: “I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe Him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead…” (Ephesians 1:19,20 NLT). If our problems are no bigger than raising Christ from the dead, God will  take care of them. Therefore, we can live in victory, joy, and thanksgiving.

 

The Key: Because of the great faithfulness of God, believers should be thankful 24-7.

Every year at Thanksgiving I write an article about how I’m going to be more thankful, an area in which I am frequently tested.

This past week, for example, I was at the Immigration Office here in Mazatlán, 40 minutes from where we live, handing in paperwork that I had started at the Embassy in Kansas City and needed to finalize here.  It was my third trip because I just didn’t “have things completed correctly” the first two times, as didn’t several other people waiting to have their numbers called. Trying to be thankful.  Trying to be thankful.            

This trip, I had only two hours allotted because of a hair appointment (important!), but I figured I could at least hand in my latest version of paperwork and again be told what I had done wrong.  Signing in, I was given the #18 card (not good), but when the lady called out “#15,” I knew I had a chance.  And I would have, had two, selfish people not walked in the door and gone straight up to the window without being given a number. Not thankful.

I began grumbling. Not exactly to myself.  Which is where things got interesting.  You see, I had taken along my Bible to catch up on my assigned reading for my upcoming Zoom study on Proverbs.  For an hour, I underlined key phrases (most of them, actually) that would make me a better person…verses like Proverbs 12:25: Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad.   I was not glad. Or thankful. And that’s when I heard my name.

“Patty”?  I turned around to find Teresa, a friend of a friend, right behind me, smiling. She was there to help an elderly woman figure out the paperwork nightmare, as she had for several other people in the past. They had waited for a couple of hours, only to be sent to “the Coca-Cola lady” (called that because she also sells Coke products) down the street to have some copies made, one which had to be filled out in blue ink. (Mine was in black ink.) “Blue ink? Where does it say ‘blue ink’?” I groaned.  Of course, it didn’t.  Less thankful by the minute.

About that time, an elderly couple entered and struck up a conversation with Teresa.  (Even though holding a Bible, I looked as approachable as a cattle prod.)  Poor things had bussed to Mazatlán from Phoenix, but when they crossed the border, no one stamped their passports.  They had asked the bus driver about it, but he said that it wasn’t necessary.  He was wrong.

They would not be able to return home without that stamp.  Starting off at Mazatlán’s U.S Embassy, they were informed to come to Immigration for help.  Teresa told them to walk up to the window and ask.  “Proverbs” had kicked in, I guess, because even I didn’t object.  There they were advised to return to the border (11 hours away) and get their stamps.  Not even the Coca-Cola lady could help this couple. “Oh well,” the elderly man said, “I guess we’ll see a lot more of Mexico.”

He was finding something to be thankful for? And here I was, Bible in hand, fretting over making my hair appointment. What is wrong with you? I asked myself.  By the time #17 was called, I had to leave.  The next day, I was back, 45 minutes early.  Waiting outside, one of the workers—who must have recognized me—asked to see my papers. Soooo thankful.

She took them inside and quickly returned to explain that my passport has a small space between La and Roche, and when I typed it into my documents, I didn’t add the space. (I never do.)  I needed to “have things completed correctly” and return. Soooo unthankful.

That’s when someone nearby told me to go see the Coca-Cola lady down the street who (for a fee) corrected my paperwork.  Returning to Immigration, I was #10 in line, and six hours later, I had the document I needed.  Sort of thankful.

  But not really. I guess I’ll just have to work on this thankfulness thing next year.