Liam's Grandma or Maggie in Real Life

Chilling

This video really needs no intro.

Saving Graces or Traveling Mercies

Many years ago, during a rough patch in our lives, I was backing out of the driveway, tears rolling down my face. As I stopped at the end of the drive before backing into the street, I said a small prayer that God would throw me a bone and send me a sign that everything would be OK. I continued backing out, turned the wheel, put the car in drive, and started up the road.

I had barely begun my drive when I saw a beautiful dove standing in the middle of the road. I stopped the car and opened the door swiftly, in an attempt to scare her (or him) out of the street. She didn't budge; instead, she walked right up to the edge of the car where I sat and looked directly at me, tilting her head this way and that, and blinking her black eyes every now and then.

Perplexed at this behavior, I said, "Stay there; I'll be right back." I carefully pulled the car to the side of the road, parked and got out. I walked right up to this bird and told her that I needed to take her out of the street so that she didn't get hurt. She allowed me to pick her up and I carried her home. By this time, I had a huge smile on my face.

We sat together for awhile in the driveway, me staring at her and talking to her in disbelief, asking her where she had come from; she walking around me, and up to me several times, not saying a word. After several minutes, I decided to get a box for her to rest in. "Hold on," I called from the garage. "I'll get a nice box for you."

While I was digging around, she walked to the edge of the garage, seeming to wait for me, tilting that tiny head and strutting back and forth, almost impatiently.  As I emerged with a small box, I stooped to sit beside her again, but at that moment, she took flight, wings flapping strongly, and was gone. I stood there in the driveway for a very long time, looking toward the sky and around the mammoth trees that flanked the house, but I couldn't see her. I sat down again in the driveway, feeling somewhat overwhelmed, but joyful. "Thank you," I whispered, as I rose, tears filling my eyes again, and retreated to the garage with my box.

Walking back to the car, my heart felt light and I knew that everything had changed, everything was better, everything back in order, once again.

Copyright 2008 liamsgrandma

Hyperactive Church Ladies

My Church is made up of many ministries and small groups. I lead a couple of ministries and one small group for women who are married to non-Christians. We meet every Thursday evening from September until June, and take the summers off due to busy schedules, but always promise to get together once or twice during that hiatus. Last Thursday was our first time together in awhile. Needless to say, we were running our mouths, mostly at the same time, nodding our heads, and everyone getting every bit of each conversation that was going on.

My friend, Karen, held the soiree at her house, where we ate together on the patio and her mom, Ernie (whose real name is Grace), also joined us. Ernie is an 80 year old spitfire from Arkansas who, one can readily see on first-glance, was a knock-out in her day. Ernie loves the Lord and has that southern style of wit and dry humor.  Because of health issues, Ernie now lives with Karen and Allen (Karen's husband).

I am not certain I can adequately convey and share the frenzied joy of the evening through this blog, but I will try:

"You look great!"

"No, YOU look great!"

"I had a wart."

"You're kidding!"

"Right here on the edge of my nose. It was so bad that I went to the dermatologist and he froze it. Then this dried up thing was just hanging there a few days later. So I went into the bathroom and cut it."

"Oh, no way! That's nasty!"

"Way! I did. It bled like a fountain pen. I had to stick pieces of cotton up my nose."

"You cut that thing yourself?"

"She's quite an operator," Ernie mused.

"Bled like a sieve."

"Please. Spare us the details."

"That thing was so big, I could've named it. Or given it it's own zip code."

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Later on, after dinner on the patio, we made our way into the house because it began to rain and the mosquitoes were becoming annoying. 

"Oh, look," Karen called out.  "My body in a box is here!"

"Good place for it," Ernie said quietly.

"No, seriously, mom.  This is guaranteed, with just 10 minutes of workout a day, I'm going to look like this...."  And Karen held up one of the videotapes with a buff beautiful woman on the outside. 

"Uh huh.  And I'm Brigitte Bardot," Ernie replied.

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Finally, we got to our prayer and study time and had a wonderful study.  We talked about stress and how to handle it through going to God in prayer and by reading His Word.  We shared scripture and each of us left there feeling renewed, refreshed and revitalized - exactly what the Bible says we need to do .... lift one another up, pray for each other and get together often.

I look forward to our next time together.  Hopefully, Karen's wart troubles will be over and she'll be just as buff as the woman on the cover of the video.  I'm thinking that even if this is true, there will be some other drama in one of our lives worthy of a blog post.

Copyright 2008 liamsgrandma

National Day of Prayer & Surgery

For to us a child is born,                                                            
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  - Isaiah 9:6

May 1 regularly marks our country's National Day of Prayer. The above scripture is from Isaiah where one can find many scriptures like this one alluding to the coming Christ.  As it says, the government will be on His shoulders.  And so, appropriately, the nation confesses and appeals to Him today.  Hopefully, many will be moved by this corporate prayer as a nation and it will cause people to turn to Him and pray regularly and consistently.

My Church is having prayer services today from 6-7 am, 11-noon and 6-7 pm.  Additionally, people are invited to come and pray throughout the entire day.  We are praying for our nation, our families, the media, our government, our soldiers, our leaders and our schools.  My women's group meets tonight for our weekly study and we will take time to pray together for these things in addition to the things we pray for each week as individuals who need prayer. To find out more about National Day of Prayer, click here to go to their website. 

Liam is scheduled for surgery tomorrow.  THIS is something that I will be praying for today and tomorrow - that all goes well and that we can all stand it with Liam going without eating for several hours - 4 hours before surgery is what they require.  I hope surgery isn't delayed a nanosecond.  There's nothing worse than a hungry baby screaming like there's a four alarm fire - and he's it. 

Meanwhile, Catherine worked last night and Grammy was the babysitter until Grampa came home and we shared the little peanut.  And Liam was so good.  We dropped mommy off at work and came home and he fell asleep for two hours while I prepared a delicious meal of fresh Sockeye Salmon rubbed with my wonderful blend of herbs and spices.  While that baked, I boiled some baby red potatoes and  drizzled them with a butter/olive oil blend and fresh rosemary.  And to go with it, a delicious spinach salad topped with a balsamic vinegar dressing (all homemade, of course).  Liam even slept through dinner and beyond.  He was a very good boy last night!

I will leave you today with Nehemiah's prayer which speaks of his nation's sin and asks God to restore them.  It is very moving, especially when we think of our own country and our own appeals for restoration.

                                                          Nehemiah's Prayer - Verses 1:4-11

4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 5 Then I said: "O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father's house, have committed against you. 7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

8 "Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.'

10 "They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man."