Byron's mother is in the hospital. We got the call about 5am this morning that the ambulance was taking her in because she was hurting. After all is said and done today, the tests show she may have had a heart attack and probably has some infection somewhere. We went to see her tonight in the ICU and she's pretty miserable. She's hot and sweaty, very tired, sick, weak and uncomfortable.
Byron and I prayed for her while we were there tonight and asked the Lord to help make her comfortable, peaceful and able to rest. I wish I could say she settled right down and quickly went into a restful, deep sleep. She did settle down some and we're still praying for the good rest she needs.
I love my mother-in-law. She's always been good to me and helped us many times over the nearly 40 years Byron and I have been married. I remember her as a vital, busy wife, mother and grandmother. When all the grandkids were toddlers, we'd leave them with her and Byron's dad on a Saturday night so we young marrieds could go out as couples sans children. Some nights it was 8 young ones running around her house. She'd be up, busy changing diapers, feeding or handing out cookies while Byron's dad sat in his chair and refereed the little rascals. On Sunday nights during choir practice she'd line up the grandkids on a pew with her at one end and Papa at the other to corral them while we sang. She was a brave woman taking on that many kids at once. It's tough to see her so fragile and weak now.
Sometimes I wonder why the Lord takes some people home quickly and others seem to linger on and on. I hope when it's my time to die, He takes me quickly. I've told Byron and my girls that if the Lord chooses to honor my prayer, not to worry about me or cry any more than necessary because I'll be all right. "What a day, that will be, when my Jesus I shall see. When I look upon His face, the one who saved me by His grace. When He takes me by the hand, and leads me to the promised land. What a day, glorious day, that will be. "
I ponder on death often. Maybe it's because of my mother's extended illness before she died last year, my younger cousin Sondra's sudden death last April, or Byron's mom's struggle with her failing health over the years. I'm looking to the time immediately after I die when we won't have to struggle there like we do here. It's true, life is hard and then you die, but, at the Lord's time for us, after death...what a great day! Heaven will be sweet and Jesus, sweeter still. I'm not afraid. I'm homesick.
I love you all.
Suz
Friday, March 28, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
that song stuck in my head
Have you seen the Kia commercial where the guy can't remember which side of his car his gas cap is on? He pulls up to the pump and it's on the other side and he really struggles with the pump hose. Then it shows driver after driver doing similar things. The premise is that they have to buy gas so infrequently they forget where the opening is on their car.
It's a cute commercial, but there's a catchy, Dylanesque little ditty, reminescent of my 60s teen years, that that goes along with it that has been stuck in my head since Monday--"I just can't seem to get it right today, I just can't seem to get it right today. I think I'm gonna give up. I think I'm gonna give up." For all I know it may be a real song and I 'm just out of the loop but I do know it's a sticky little thing. Like I said...in my head since Monday!
I don't minimize the role of messages in music because we should guard our minds and what we allow in there, but I also try not to overreact to them. This one, however, bothers me. This seemingly harmless song insidiously tells me over and over again what I fight not to believe anyway--that I'm not gonna get it right today! Thanks, but no thanks, I don't need that kind of help.
While some people struggle with issues of grandeur, over-confidence and an I-can-do-it-attitude, I wrestle with doubts of inadequacy and shortcomings--because I know myself and my limitations. I surely don't need confirmation of them, and repeated encouragement to give up, ringing in my head.
I know that our Father loves me, loves us, and sees us as worthwhile despite this downer of a commercial theme song. Life is not a lost cause, and I am not a lost cause even with all my faults. Psalms 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
The Lord made us with all our intricacies. He made us. We are not a cosmic glob of cells or a jumbled up "combination of heredity and environment" (per Max Lucado's devotion), and there are those times when I just can't seem to get it right, but if the Lord doesn't give up on me, then with His help, I will not give up on myself.
This sticky song is demeaning, discouraging and insulting, but with the help of some good music, I am going to replace it with something more positive--a good message. "Oh Lord, you're beautiful. Your face is all I see. And when your eyes are on this child, your grace abounds to me." Amen.
It's a cute commercial, but there's a catchy, Dylanesque little ditty, reminescent of my 60s teen years, that that goes along with it that has been stuck in my head since Monday--"I just can't seem to get it right today, I just can't seem to get it right today. I think I'm gonna give up. I think I'm gonna give up." For all I know it may be a real song and I 'm just out of the loop but I do know it's a sticky little thing. Like I said...in my head since Monday!
I don't minimize the role of messages in music because we should guard our minds and what we allow in there, but I also try not to overreact to them. This one, however, bothers me. This seemingly harmless song insidiously tells me over and over again what I fight not to believe anyway--that I'm not gonna get it right today! Thanks, but no thanks, I don't need that kind of help.
While some people struggle with issues of grandeur, over-confidence and an I-can-do-it-attitude, I wrestle with doubts of inadequacy and shortcomings--because I know myself and my limitations. I surely don't need confirmation of them, and repeated encouragement to give up, ringing in my head.
I know that our Father loves me, loves us, and sees us as worthwhile despite this downer of a commercial theme song. Life is not a lost cause, and I am not a lost cause even with all my faults. Psalms 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
The Lord made us with all our intricacies. He made us. We are not a cosmic glob of cells or a jumbled up "combination of heredity and environment" (per Max Lucado's devotion), and there are those times when I just can't seem to get it right, but if the Lord doesn't give up on me, then with His help, I will not give up on myself.
This sticky song is demeaning, discouraging and insulting, but with the help of some good music, I am going to replace it with something more positive--a good message. "Oh Lord, you're beautiful. Your face is all I see. And when your eyes are on this child, your grace abounds to me." Amen.
It's gonna be a good day.
Suz
Friday, March 21, 2008
calm, shaken or spun around
Holly was in a car accident yesterday. She's ok. A bit bruised and pretty sore, but otherwise all right. Her car isn't all right but hopefully it can be fixed. The young woman who hit her ran a red light and hit the rear driver's side of Holly's SUV. She's ok too although it did a tremendous amount of damage to her smaller, older vehicle. And, I, Holly's mother, am a grateful woman.
As the Lord would have it, (luck has no part in this), I wasn't far from the scene when she called me to come to her and I was there within moments. She was already on the stretcher to go to the hospital to be checked out. The no nonsense mom in me stayed cool and business like while the paramedics bundled her up and took her to the hospital. Once there, I was calm and watched the doc check her out and offered what little information I knew about the incident. I made the necessary phone calls to her husband, dad and sister, telling them what happened. And I waited.
While the doc and staff did the necessary tests and checks to be sure Holly was ok, I was outwardly patient (mostly), but I was very eager to get Holly to her house. With the report that everything seemed fine, I wanted her home so she could begin to recuperate and put this behind her but the hospital was in slow motion.
Tony came right to the hospital and his mom came in shortly afterward. While we waited, we talked about how much worse the accident might have been had Holly slowed down first. The other car would have hit her on her door instead of the rear of the car. Or if she hadn't had her seat belt on, how she'd have been all over the inside of the vehicle and had much worse injuries because it spun around 3 times after the impact. There are many what-ifs when something like this happens, and I suppose we talked about them all in a pretty calm fashion. Holly was finally released and Tony took her home. I picked up the girls from school, bought some food for their dinner and then left her in the capable hands of her family and went home.
Last night I thanked the Lord for protecting her even though somehow I was still in emotional shut down mode. It seems as long as I keep my emotions even, it's not so scary. At least, that's how it feels. This morning I called Holly to check on her. Thank the Lord, she's feeling better than she thought she would. And now, I'm not so calm. Now all the what-ifs are running through my mind at full bore. Now I'm shaken up about how close we came to a real tragedy. And yet, there was no tragedy. The Lord did protect Holly and He did protect the other girl involved.
Holly told me that after the impact and all the spinning, she just sat there in her truck trying to get her bearings about what had just happened to her. While she sat there, somewhat dazed, a small sunbeam broke through the gray morning sky and shined right on her face, warming her, giving her comfort. It was like the Lord was assuring her everything was all right.
Truth is, whether we are calm, shaken and emotional, or hit and spun around in a vehicle, the Lord is in charge and everything is all right. I am grateful for the Lord's watchful eye and his caring hand. He took care of my daughter yesterday, and the day before that and the day before that. I trust Him to take care of my family every day. No matter how a day begins, the truth is, we have no idea how it will end, nevertheless, the Lord does and I trust Him. God is good. All the time.
As the Lord would have it, (luck has no part in this), I wasn't far from the scene when she called me to come to her and I was there within moments. She was already on the stretcher to go to the hospital to be checked out. The no nonsense mom in me stayed cool and business like while the paramedics bundled her up and took her to the hospital. Once there, I was calm and watched the doc check her out and offered what little information I knew about the incident. I made the necessary phone calls to her husband, dad and sister, telling them what happened. And I waited.
While the doc and staff did the necessary tests and checks to be sure Holly was ok, I was outwardly patient (mostly), but I was very eager to get Holly to her house. With the report that everything seemed fine, I wanted her home so she could begin to recuperate and put this behind her but the hospital was in slow motion.
Tony came right to the hospital and his mom came in shortly afterward. While we waited, we talked about how much worse the accident might have been had Holly slowed down first. The other car would have hit her on her door instead of the rear of the car. Or if she hadn't had her seat belt on, how she'd have been all over the inside of the vehicle and had much worse injuries because it spun around 3 times after the impact. There are many what-ifs when something like this happens, and I suppose we talked about them all in a pretty calm fashion. Holly was finally released and Tony took her home. I picked up the girls from school, bought some food for their dinner and then left her in the capable hands of her family and went home.
Last night I thanked the Lord for protecting her even though somehow I was still in emotional shut down mode. It seems as long as I keep my emotions even, it's not so scary. At least, that's how it feels. This morning I called Holly to check on her. Thank the Lord, she's feeling better than she thought she would. And now, I'm not so calm. Now all the what-ifs are running through my mind at full bore. Now I'm shaken up about how close we came to a real tragedy. And yet, there was no tragedy. The Lord did protect Holly and He did protect the other girl involved.
Holly told me that after the impact and all the spinning, she just sat there in her truck trying to get her bearings about what had just happened to her. While she sat there, somewhat dazed, a small sunbeam broke through the gray morning sky and shined right on her face, warming her, giving her comfort. It was like the Lord was assuring her everything was all right.
Truth is, whether we are calm, shaken and emotional, or hit and spun around in a vehicle, the Lord is in charge and everything is all right. I am grateful for the Lord's watchful eye and his caring hand. He took care of my daughter yesterday, and the day before that and the day before that. I trust Him to take care of my family every day. No matter how a day begins, the truth is, we have no idea how it will end, nevertheless, the Lord does and I trust Him. God is good. All the time.
Monday, March 17, 2008
dreams
I love to dream. I've had some bad ones in my lifetime, but mostly they're good, interesting and even fun. My very favorite dream, my best dream ever, was the one when I flew. I LOVE that dream! I had no kind of craft, no wings, just me and a slight breeze. I'd kind of hop up, spread my arms, and take off, effortlessly flying over hills, streams, and fields. It was fun to decide to land and then just glide to a standing position and lightly step out of the air to the ground. I've never felt so free and unencumbered ever, except in that dream. I've read that a person has this dream when she is feeling confident and able to handle her life. I'd love to feel that way again.
Another kind of dream is an awake dream. You know, those aspirations we all have to do something great or be something bigger or better than we are at the moment. As a fourteen year old girl, I used to dream of being an airline stewardess. Then, after I met Byron, my dream was to be married and cook and iron his shirts. What did you dream at 14 or 17 or 25? Chances are your dreams are much different now than they were then.
At 55 I have lots of dreams. Some more important than others and more likely to come true. I dream of a continuing closer walk with the Lord. I also dream of earning my master's degree although I'm not sure in which field yet. It's still a dream that I haven't fleshed out, so I'm asking the Lord if it's His dream for me or only my dream for myself.
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you..." declares the Lord...Jeremiah 29:11-14
Go ahead. Dream big. Put them into words. Ask the Lord about them. What an exciting time to stretch and see what He has for us.
I love you all.
Suzanne
Another kind of dream is an awake dream. You know, those aspirations we all have to do something great or be something bigger or better than we are at the moment. As a fourteen year old girl, I used to dream of being an airline stewardess. Then, after I met Byron, my dream was to be married and cook and iron his shirts. What did you dream at 14 or 17 or 25? Chances are your dreams are much different now than they were then.
At 55 I have lots of dreams. Some more important than others and more likely to come true. I dream of a continuing closer walk with the Lord. I also dream of earning my master's degree although I'm not sure in which field yet. It's still a dream that I haven't fleshed out, so I'm asking the Lord if it's His dream for me or only my dream for myself.
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you..." declares the Lord...Jeremiah 29:11-14
Go ahead. Dream big. Put them into words. Ask the Lord about them. What an exciting time to stretch and see what He has for us.
I love you all.
Suzanne
flying time and moments
Time flies when you're having fun. Actually, the older we get the faster time flies. Period. Fun or not. But there are some good things about flying time, too. The special days come around quicker. No more waiting forever for Christmas. Boom. It's here. Summer? Here and gone, and then it's time for the children to start a new school year again. Even the Bible talks about the shortness of a person's days.
As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him...Psalm 103:15-17
As a kid but I was always looking for the next thing, whatever it was. The next holiday, the next vacation, the next Saturday morning, the next birthday. In fact even now when I'm asked my age, (and some people still ask, believe it or not), if I don't pay attention, I'll say, "I'm almost (insert the next year)." Always looking forward to those birthdays. Whoo-hoo!
The problem with time passing so quickly is that sometimes I rush past some of the good stuff. I'm looking for the next thing on the list--and with the list growing and time flying, well, it's enough to make my head spin. Sometimes I have a hard time enjoying the moment even when I really want to enjoy the moment. I may occasionally caution Byron to slow down with his work or hurrying to get somewhere, but he has it down pat when it comes to relationship. There's always time for a friend with him. He knows how to 'smell the roses' where people are concerned. That's my desire, too. I want to take more time to laugh, talk and build relationships, and I want people to know me, too.
Lord, help me slow down and enjoy the moment and the people you place in those moments. Help me to focus on relationship--with you and with others.
I love you all.
Suzanne
As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him...Psalm 103:15-17
As a kid but I was always looking for the next thing, whatever it was. The next holiday, the next vacation, the next Saturday morning, the next birthday. In fact even now when I'm asked my age, (and some people still ask, believe it or not), if I don't pay attention, I'll say, "I'm almost (insert the next year)." Always looking forward to those birthdays. Whoo-hoo!
The problem with time passing so quickly is that sometimes I rush past some of the good stuff. I'm looking for the next thing on the list--and with the list growing and time flying, well, it's enough to make my head spin. Sometimes I have a hard time enjoying the moment even when I really want to enjoy the moment. I may occasionally caution Byron to slow down with his work or hurrying to get somewhere, but he has it down pat when it comes to relationship. There's always time for a friend with him. He knows how to 'smell the roses' where people are concerned. That's my desire, too. I want to take more time to laugh, talk and build relationships, and I want people to know me, too.
Lord, help me slow down and enjoy the moment and the people you place in those moments. Help me to focus on relationship--with you and with others.
I love you all.
Suzanne
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
one of those days
I should have taken it as a sign from heaven itself this morning that it was going to be a challenging day today when I salted my coffee. ick. I have never in my life tasted something that was just SO wrong! It was all downhill from there.
Aunt Wanda has been sick since Sunday afternoon, and it worries me when she's not feeling well. She tried to make an appointment with her dr or her dr's partner but both physicians are out sick, too. I've never heard of such a thing but anyway, that's what happened. The receptionist suggested my aunt go to one of the new, very convenient, pharmacy walkin clinics so she could begin a round of medicine as soon as possible and then come in to see her dr at a later time. We just happen to have one of the clinics very close to my house, so I planned to take her there early this morning. I picked up my sick aunt and drove to the drugstore so she could receive the help she needed.
After quite a little wait, we were summoned back into the inner sanctum of the examination room. The dr or pa, I'm still not sure which, was flustered because of an untimely computer glitch just before we came in. She then proceeded to sit at a computer in the room and ask my aunt about her medical history. The medical software asked at least 200 questions and required some typing. After answering all the questions, sometimes after a couple of tries because Aunt Wanda couldn't hear the quickly speaking, soft spoken woman, the software then diagnosed her illness (sinus infection), and told her which medicine to prescribe for my aunt. There wasn't much medical expertise called for at all. I could have done it myself except I'm not allowed to prescribe meds! If that weren't enough the woman trying to help my aunt had little to no typing skills. We were back there for over an hour just trying to get what we needed in the first place. After sending the prescription across the way to the pharmacy for filling we were told it would be another 20-25 minute wait for the meds. By that time I was ripe for the picking and my patience level was nearly non-existent, so we left to do a short errand and came back through the drive-through finally securing a bottle of Cipro.
I took her home, stopped at the grocery store and bought way too many groceries. When I walked into the house, I stepped in a small mound of poo of the doggy kind, and tracked it over the kitchen floor. (Byron was kind enough to see I was frazzled and he helped me clean up the mess and carry in the groceries.)
Just when I thought it was safe, Kayla came home from school and in her rush to get to the back of the house, fell down hard on the floor. Kayla is a tough cookie and rarely complains even when she feels bad so it hurts my heart when she falls. She said she wasn't hurt, but I know it's painful. She maneuvered herself up from the floor and then headed once more through the doorway, but her ankle gave way again. This time she hit the wall with her arm, scraped her wrist and hurt her elbow. At least she didn't hit her head. So now she's in her room waiting for her regularly scheduled visit with her physical therapist. I think she'll need Brandy today.
Why is it that some days seem nearly idyllic and others are full of stalls, glitches and patience testers? Seems like there are days I can just take it better than others, too. I guess I'm not taking it very well today and the day isn't even over yet. It's only 4pm! I still have the whole evening left to go.
I'm glad that no matter what happens, whatever comes my way, however much my patience is tested, tried, stomped and mashed, nevertheless, the Lord of heaven is on His throne and all is right with my soul.
I love you all.
Suzanne
Aunt Wanda has been sick since Sunday afternoon, and it worries me when she's not feeling well. She tried to make an appointment with her dr or her dr's partner but both physicians are out sick, too. I've never heard of such a thing but anyway, that's what happened. The receptionist suggested my aunt go to one of the new, very convenient, pharmacy walkin clinics so she could begin a round of medicine as soon as possible and then come in to see her dr at a later time. We just happen to have one of the clinics very close to my house, so I planned to take her there early this morning. I picked up my sick aunt and drove to the drugstore so she could receive the help she needed.
After quite a little wait, we were summoned back into the inner sanctum of the examination room. The dr or pa, I'm still not sure which, was flustered because of an untimely computer glitch just before we came in. She then proceeded to sit at a computer in the room and ask my aunt about her medical history. The medical software asked at least 200 questions and required some typing. After answering all the questions, sometimes after a couple of tries because Aunt Wanda couldn't hear the quickly speaking, soft spoken woman, the software then diagnosed her illness (sinus infection), and told her which medicine to prescribe for my aunt. There wasn't much medical expertise called for at all. I could have done it myself except I'm not allowed to prescribe meds! If that weren't enough the woman trying to help my aunt had little to no typing skills. We were back there for over an hour just trying to get what we needed in the first place. After sending the prescription across the way to the pharmacy for filling we were told it would be another 20-25 minute wait for the meds. By that time I was ripe for the picking and my patience level was nearly non-existent, so we left to do a short errand and came back through the drive-through finally securing a bottle of Cipro.
I took her home, stopped at the grocery store and bought way too many groceries. When I walked into the house, I stepped in a small mound of poo of the doggy kind, and tracked it over the kitchen floor. (Byron was kind enough to see I was frazzled and he helped me clean up the mess and carry in the groceries.)
Just when I thought it was safe, Kayla came home from school and in her rush to get to the back of the house, fell down hard on the floor. Kayla is a tough cookie and rarely complains even when she feels bad so it hurts my heart when she falls. She said she wasn't hurt, but I know it's painful. She maneuvered herself up from the floor and then headed once more through the doorway, but her ankle gave way again. This time she hit the wall with her arm, scraped her wrist and hurt her elbow. At least she didn't hit her head. So now she's in her room waiting for her regularly scheduled visit with her physical therapist. I think she'll need Brandy today.
Why is it that some days seem nearly idyllic and others are full of stalls, glitches and patience testers? Seems like there are days I can just take it better than others, too. I guess I'm not taking it very well today and the day isn't even over yet. It's only 4pm! I still have the whole evening left to go.
I'm glad that no matter what happens, whatever comes my way, however much my patience is tested, tried, stomped and mashed, nevertheless, the Lord of heaven is on His throne and all is right with my soul.
I love you all.
Suzanne
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
a story
Once there was a young girl about 10 years old who rode a church bus to Calvary Baptist Sunday School every week. Her mom and dad didn't attend because they were always busy with other things but they let her go and she loved it.
Her Sunday School teacher was Mrs Pribble. She was a very kind woman, probably in her early 40s, married with children of her own. The girl doesn't remember exactly what she looked like but she kind of recalls high, rouged cheekbones, button earrings, chunky necklaces on flowery dresses and tightly curled dark brown hair.
One Sunday Mrs Pribble said there would be no regular lesson that morning. Everyone was going into the auditorium to hear a missionary speak. Her name was Millie Kiuna and she was from Japan. She was a beautiful young Asian woman dressed in her silk kimono. She spoke lovingly of sharing Jesus with the Japanese children. She told of their eagerness to ask Him into their hearts and how happy they were when they did. After sharing her missionary stories about life in Japan and of the happy, saved children, Millie Kiuna asked if anyone there would like to ask Jesus into his or her heart that morning. The little girl in Mrs Pribble's class was one of many to go forward so Millie Kiuna would pray with her to be saved. She asked Jesus into her heart and from that moment on she knew it was in her heart to be a missionary.
Many years passed and even though sometimes she strayed from Jesus, she never truly lost sight of her love for Him, of missions, and telling the world about the Lord. She married, had babies and tried to do the best she could on her home mission field by teaching Sunday School and children's church, helping her husband on his own bus route, and working at the food pantry at her church. She even encouraged her husband to go on construction missions trips with their former church. If she couldn't go, at least he could enjoy her dream. She did all she knew to do, but it was just never enough for her.
Then it happened. There was to be a co-ed missions trip to Macedonia at their new church and she was getting to go there with her husband. The planning and preparation for the trip stirred many memories of Calvary Baptist Church, Mrs Pribble, Millie Kiuna and a little girl praying at the altar. She wondered about the women, especially her kind teacher, and wanted to share her new adventure with her.
The girl, now a grandmother, wanted to try to find her Mrs Pribble. She knew she would be elderly if she was even still living but she tried. Searching on the internet she tried "Pribble and Calvary Baptist Church." The first page gave her a link to an article about a young man by that name who was ordained in the very same church and where he was currently located. She contacted him and asked about Mrs Ruby Pribble and if she could be the same one she had known so many years earlier. Pastor Pribble assured the woman that Mrs Ruby Pribble was indeed his mother and most definitely alive, well and still serving the Lord at 80 years of age. He encouraged her to call his mother and gave the woman her number.
What a perfect story this would make if Mrs Pribble remembered the girl who'd been in her class so long ago, but she didn't. It mattered little, however. She was excited to get to know the woman now and wanted to hear all about the trip and what was done. They've kept communicating over the years since then.
The now-grandmother has been on several missions trips, she loves them as much as she thought she would, and, if the Lord allows it, has plans to go on more. Her small-circle view of the world and her love for the Lord's people in it has widened and her love of the Lord has flourished and deepened. It hasn't turned out exactly as she thought it would but it's where she is and she loves it.
I love you all.
Suzanne
PS
Mrs Pribble said Millie Kiuna is still alive and well, ministering to children in her native Japan.
Her Sunday School teacher was Mrs Pribble. She was a very kind woman, probably in her early 40s, married with children of her own. The girl doesn't remember exactly what she looked like but she kind of recalls high, rouged cheekbones, button earrings, chunky necklaces on flowery dresses and tightly curled dark brown hair.
One Sunday Mrs Pribble said there would be no regular lesson that morning. Everyone was going into the auditorium to hear a missionary speak. Her name was Millie Kiuna and she was from Japan. She was a beautiful young Asian woman dressed in her silk kimono. She spoke lovingly of sharing Jesus with the Japanese children. She told of their eagerness to ask Him into their hearts and how happy they were when they did. After sharing her missionary stories about life in Japan and of the happy, saved children, Millie Kiuna asked if anyone there would like to ask Jesus into his or her heart that morning. The little girl in Mrs Pribble's class was one of many to go forward so Millie Kiuna would pray with her to be saved. She asked Jesus into her heart and from that moment on she knew it was in her heart to be a missionary.
Many years passed and even though sometimes she strayed from Jesus, she never truly lost sight of her love for Him, of missions, and telling the world about the Lord. She married, had babies and tried to do the best she could on her home mission field by teaching Sunday School and children's church, helping her husband on his own bus route, and working at the food pantry at her church. She even encouraged her husband to go on construction missions trips with their former church. If she couldn't go, at least he could enjoy her dream. She did all she knew to do, but it was just never enough for her.
Then it happened. There was to be a co-ed missions trip to Macedonia at their new church and she was getting to go there with her husband. The planning and preparation for the trip stirred many memories of Calvary Baptist Church, Mrs Pribble, Millie Kiuna and a little girl praying at the altar. She wondered about the women, especially her kind teacher, and wanted to share her new adventure with her.
The girl, now a grandmother, wanted to try to find her Mrs Pribble. She knew she would be elderly if she was even still living but she tried. Searching on the internet she tried "Pribble and Calvary Baptist Church." The first page gave her a link to an article about a young man by that name who was ordained in the very same church and where he was currently located. She contacted him and asked about Mrs Ruby Pribble and if she could be the same one she had known so many years earlier. Pastor Pribble assured the woman that Mrs Ruby Pribble was indeed his mother and most definitely alive, well and still serving the Lord at 80 years of age. He encouraged her to call his mother and gave the woman her number.
What a perfect story this would make if Mrs Pribble remembered the girl who'd been in her class so long ago, but she didn't. It mattered little, however. She was excited to get to know the woman now and wanted to hear all about the trip and what was done. They've kept communicating over the years since then.
The now-grandmother has been on several missions trips, she loves them as much as she thought she would, and, if the Lord allows it, has plans to go on more. Her small-circle view of the world and her love for the Lord's people in it has widened and her love of the Lord has flourished and deepened. It hasn't turned out exactly as she thought it would but it's where she is and she loves it.
I love you all.
Suzanne
PS
Mrs Pribble said Millie Kiuna is still alive and well, ministering to children in her native Japan.
Monday, March 10, 2008
thanksgiving
Heavenly Father,
It's easy to praise you. You make it easy. There are so many blessings you have given me that I could never begin to list them all, but I want to thank you for the ones that are on my mind tonight.
Lord, thank you for my family, my dear husband, for letting Kayla come to live with us, and for our daughters. Thank you for the compliments given to me about Amy and Holly yesterday at the reception. I know how good I think they are, but it was especially nice for someone to tell me how kind and lovely they are (inside and out), and that I should be proud to call them my own--and I am, Lord, I am. Thank you for their husbands and the care and love each one shows his wife. I am blessed with good sons-in-law.
Thank you for how Summer's face lit up and she smiled and laughed when she saw the punch fountain at Amy's house Saturday night. She's such a joy. Thank you for Hannah's and Alexandra's thoughtful help on Sunday afternoon. They seemed grown up one minute and full of giggles and secrets another. How I loved seeing them play and dance around after the party. Thank you, Lord, for Sid's boundless energy and smiling face. He continually amazes me.
Thank you for the gathering with friends tonight at the restaurant. Lord, sometimes I can't tell where where our family ends and friends begin. We have been so blessed by dear friends at church and in our neighborhood, and in faraway places, that I am overcome with gratitude to have them in our lives. I never felt this way before about any group of people. I trust them. I easily call them my family. Thank you for our church and thank you for our pastor who doesn't compromise the Word.
Thank you for our home that's dry and cool. Thank you for our 3 pups that greet me with wildly wagging tails and excited barks EVERY time I come home. Thank you for letting me see the hummingbird in Jamaica that flitted from red powderpuff to powderpuff.
Lord, thank you for a healthy body and a sound mind. Thank you for strength for the day's work. Thank you for work.
Father, thank you for speaking to me and thank you that I'm learning to better hear you. You make my heart soft and I long to know you more and more. Thank you, dear Father, for your patience with me, for your mercy, for your grace and for your limitless love. Thank you for precious salvation and Jesus. Thank you beyond measure.
I love you, Lord. I love you.
Suzanne
It's easy to praise you. You make it easy. There are so many blessings you have given me that I could never begin to list them all, but I want to thank you for the ones that are on my mind tonight.
Lord, thank you for my family, my dear husband, for letting Kayla come to live with us, and for our daughters. Thank you for the compliments given to me about Amy and Holly yesterday at the reception. I know how good I think they are, but it was especially nice for someone to tell me how kind and lovely they are (inside and out), and that I should be proud to call them my own--and I am, Lord, I am. Thank you for their husbands and the care and love each one shows his wife. I am blessed with good sons-in-law.
Thank you for how Summer's face lit up and she smiled and laughed when she saw the punch fountain at Amy's house Saturday night. She's such a joy. Thank you for Hannah's and Alexandra's thoughtful help on Sunday afternoon. They seemed grown up one minute and full of giggles and secrets another. How I loved seeing them play and dance around after the party. Thank you, Lord, for Sid's boundless energy and smiling face. He continually amazes me.
Thank you for the gathering with friends tonight at the restaurant. Lord, sometimes I can't tell where where our family ends and friends begin. We have been so blessed by dear friends at church and in our neighborhood, and in faraway places, that I am overcome with gratitude to have them in our lives. I never felt this way before about any group of people. I trust them. I easily call them my family. Thank you for our church and thank you for our pastor who doesn't compromise the Word.
Thank you for our home that's dry and cool. Thank you for our 3 pups that greet me with wildly wagging tails and excited barks EVERY time I come home. Thank you for letting me see the hummingbird in Jamaica that flitted from red powderpuff to powderpuff.
Lord, thank you for a healthy body and a sound mind. Thank you for strength for the day's work. Thank you for work.
Father, thank you for speaking to me and thank you that I'm learning to better hear you. You make my heart soft and I long to know you more and more. Thank you, dear Father, for your patience with me, for your mercy, for your grace and for your limitless love. Thank you for precious salvation and Jesus. Thank you beyond measure.
I love you, Lord. I love you.
Suzanne
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
concrete miracles
Pastor Steve Puffpaff, the missionary at City of Refuge, spoke to us last Wednesday about miracles and how they had prayed for 2 years for the driveway that was completed by our team last Friday. He said now that whenever they become discouraged or they feel overwhelmed by all the work yet to do at the children's home, they will look down the mountain at the driveway and see how the Lord provided yet another miracle for them and the kids, and will gain strength from it. He called it a concrete miracle.
I started thinking about past miracles in my own life and how when I feel vulnerable to certain hard circumstances now, I do the same thing. I remember what the Lord has done for me at other times of concern and heartache. These memories bolster my faith and help me to trust the Lord for the new situation.
I remember a night when Byron was very sick with infection and fever. His mother came over to our house, and we prayed for him. Within a very short time, he was up and around feeling stronger and getting well again. Then there was the time a sibling of mine was up for a court case. We prayed for her and the outcome of the hearing. The judge dismissed the case, drastically changing for the better the way her life was to go over the next several years.
Do you have a home or a spouse or a child you've prayed to receive? What about all the times we pray for traveling mercies and then we have safe trips? Have you asked the Lord to bless your meal and not gotten sick? We prayed for safety for our team on the trip and no one was injured or became ill, and we all arrived home safely last Saturday night. With sudden air turbulance during our flight giving us a slight scare and our wild ride up and down the narrow, winding mountain road, getting home safely seems a pretty solid miracle to me.
I guess the old song Count Your Blessings makes a lot of sense. "Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your blessings, see what God has done. Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your many blessings see what God has done. "
We live by faith, but we are encouraged by what we see and know to be true. What concrete miracles do you have to turn to when you're scared or unpleasant stuff happens? If none immediately come to mind, look around with a grateful heart and the Lord will reveal them to you. There are more blessings, more miracles, in our lives than we could ever imagine or count. God is good. All the time.
I love you all.
Suzanne
I started thinking about past miracles in my own life and how when I feel vulnerable to certain hard circumstances now, I do the same thing. I remember what the Lord has done for me at other times of concern and heartache. These memories bolster my faith and help me to trust the Lord for the new situation.
I remember a night when Byron was very sick with infection and fever. His mother came over to our house, and we prayed for him. Within a very short time, he was up and around feeling stronger and getting well again. Then there was the time a sibling of mine was up for a court case. We prayed for her and the outcome of the hearing. The judge dismissed the case, drastically changing for the better the way her life was to go over the next several years.
Do you have a home or a spouse or a child you've prayed to receive? What about all the times we pray for traveling mercies and then we have safe trips? Have you asked the Lord to bless your meal and not gotten sick? We prayed for safety for our team on the trip and no one was injured or became ill, and we all arrived home safely last Saturday night. With sudden air turbulance during our flight giving us a slight scare and our wild ride up and down the narrow, winding mountain road, getting home safely seems a pretty solid miracle to me.
I guess the old song Count Your Blessings makes a lot of sense. "Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your blessings, see what God has done. Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your many blessings see what God has done. "
We live by faith, but we are encouraged by what we see and know to be true. What concrete miracles do you have to turn to when you're scared or unpleasant stuff happens? If none immediately come to mind, look around with a grateful heart and the Lord will reveal them to you. There are more blessings, more miracles, in our lives than we could ever imagine or count. God is good. All the time.
I love you all.
Suzanne
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
purpose
On each missions trip I ask the Lord what His reason is for me to be on the adventure. What am I supposed to take away from the whole experience? We go to be a blessing to someone else, and I know we go to help people get jobs done which might take them a lot longer to do than if we hadn't helped, but when it's all said and done, the Lord works on both ends: He works on behalf of both the blessor and the blessee.
Starting at the beginning of the week, I asked Him often about my role in our latest trip. I asked Him why I was in Jamaica. What was I supposed to get out of the trip, what was I to learn, what was I to take back home with me? I also asked Him why I heard His voice more clearly on these trips? Why did He seem so much closer to me there than at home? Was the Lord more present in countries far from Florida? It was the last day when He finally told me. Thankfully, He keeps it simple for me and answered me in one word.
Purpose.
Our purpose for serving Him is clearly defined on these trips. We have a main mission, a project. This one happened to be a very long, much needed, concrete driveway for the children's home.
Before we leave, we prepare and then we gladly go with our project planned, our tools in order, and our bodies willing to expend themselves for the work. We are ready for some sacrifice of comfort, ready and willing to try new things, and we are open to new people with new cultural experiences.
When we arrive we take time to commune with the Lord because our need for Him is so evident. We are not in a familiar place. We are not as self-sufficient as at home so we pray together, and independently. We pray sincerely and passionately about the task at hand. We pray with fervency for one another on the team and our needs, and for the needs of our new friends. We depend on God.
That's why His presence is more real. It's not that the Lord is any different in other countries. It's that we seek Him differently in these places. Our outlook is more outward toward the Lord, than inward to our own sufficiency. We have purpose and we know how to seek God about it.
So, then what happens to me at home? I don't lose focus completely. I still pray and hear from the Lord, but my purpose seems to be not as tightly defined, not as singular. It's not just one project on the agenda. It's not meeting specific new people and experiencing specific new things. It's my daily life with many avenues of concentration and I choose which one to travel. If I select one that's more urgent but less important, I feel as though I've wasted time. If I select the more important, the urgent screams in my face and I become frazzled because of it. We--I--need the Lord's direction everyday and His guidance for our walk, for His perfect purpose.
Romans 9:17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."
Starting at the beginning of the week, I asked Him often about my role in our latest trip. I asked Him why I was in Jamaica. What was I supposed to get out of the trip, what was I to learn, what was I to take back home with me? I also asked Him why I heard His voice more clearly on these trips? Why did He seem so much closer to me there than at home? Was the Lord more present in countries far from Florida? It was the last day when He finally told me. Thankfully, He keeps it simple for me and answered me in one word.
Purpose.
Our purpose for serving Him is clearly defined on these trips. We have a main mission, a project. This one happened to be a very long, much needed, concrete driveway for the children's home.
Before we leave, we prepare and then we gladly go with our project planned, our tools in order, and our bodies willing to expend themselves for the work. We are ready for some sacrifice of comfort, ready and willing to try new things, and we are open to new people with new cultural experiences.
When we arrive we take time to commune with the Lord because our need for Him is so evident. We are not in a familiar place. We are not as self-sufficient as at home so we pray together, and independently. We pray sincerely and passionately about the task at hand. We pray with fervency for one another on the team and our needs, and for the needs of our new friends. We depend on God.
That's why His presence is more real. It's not that the Lord is any different in other countries. It's that we seek Him differently in these places. Our outlook is more outward toward the Lord, than inward to our own sufficiency. We have purpose and we know how to seek God about it.
So, then what happens to me at home? I don't lose focus completely. I still pray and hear from the Lord, but my purpose seems to be not as tightly defined, not as singular. It's not just one project on the agenda. It's not meeting specific new people and experiencing specific new things. It's my daily life with many avenues of concentration and I choose which one to travel. If I select one that's more urgent but less important, I feel as though I've wasted time. If I select the more important, the urgent screams in my face and I become frazzled because of it. We--I--need the Lord's direction everyday and His guidance for our walk, for His perfect purpose.
Romans 9:17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."
The Lord raises each of us up for His purpose-- to display His power in us and to proclaim His name in all the earth. I want to proclaim His name in all the earth--in other countries and especially here at home. This is my purpose. Lord, help me fulfill your perfect purpose for my life, each day, and in every way.
I love you all.
Suzanne
Monday, March 3, 2008
things I won't have
We returned home from our missions trip to Jamaica about midnight Saturday night and Sunday morning I awoke in my own soft, comfy bed in my own pretty bedroom and the humidity level was perfect. I wasn't in a tiny, sparse bedroom with a less than soft mattress surrounded with only the basic necessities. My shower at home is larger and I'm pretty sure when I turn on the faucet I'll have water, it will be just the right temperature and I won't have to brush my teeth with bottled water.Sometimes we focus on what we leave behind when we go on a missions trip, but we also leave much behind when we come home. There are some things I just won't have here that I had on this trip. I won't get to open my windows at night and have the perfect sleeping temperature. I might still go to bed early, but I won't get to hear my dear friends joyfully visiting and laughing until bedtime sharing experiences and getting to know one another in different ways than at home. When the alarm rings I won't walk out my door onto the porch and see the beautiful Blue Mountains of Jamaica. I won't see coffee trees and monkey puzzle trees on the mountainside just outside my door or see the Caribbean ocean peeking between the mountain tops in the distance.
Here at home, I won't walk up to the kitchen to cook breakfast for my fellow workers with wonderful new friends or have my first cup of Blue Mountain coffee of the day on the verandah overlooking the hills and valleys of Content Gap. I won't share a good morning meal with my buds before a long hard work day or have devotions with them where the Spirit of the Lord is so very present. I won't get to share labor and laughter with my friends as we clean up after the meal or as we walk up or down just "one more" flight of steps.
I won't get to worship in the rearranged dining room on Sunday morning or Wednesday night and sing Jamaican worship songs with fun motions with the happy children of the City of Refuge or hear moving testimonies of what God is doing in the lives of the older children who want to preach or become the prime minister of their country. There won't be an intense session of intercessory prayer on Sunday night for the children's home on the mountain top overlooking the many lights of the city of Kingston.
There won't be lots of children laughing and playing with one another, running races, shouting cheers and playfully competing in Sports Day around here, and we won't share hot dogs and macaroni and cheese on the verandah after a long, hard playful morning. There won't be sleepy children walking up to the kitchen on Saturday morning in the new pjs we brought for them to get bread for their house for breakfast, and I won't get to play with my little girls or see their sweet smiles as we spend time together.
We won't be trying new Jamaican foods like pumpkin soup, oxtail beef stew, cho cho and carrots, and collaloo or having a freshly baked cake every day for dessert. We won't have to have water carried up the stairs to the kitchen in 5 gallon bottles and then heat it in big pots on the stove for cleaning up the kitchen. There won't be huge piles of pots, pans and dishes for us to wash, or women's laughter in the kitchen as we clean them up for the next meal.
We had an excellent trip. The Lord blessed us and our labor. No one got sick or injured, the much needed 1000' concrete driveway was completed, and, as happy as I am to be home with my family and familiar things, I will miss these new friends and the new experiences.
Here at home, I won't walk up to the kitchen to cook breakfast for my fellow workers with wonderful new friends or have my first cup of Blue Mountain coffee of the day on the verandah overlooking the hills and valleys of Content Gap. I won't share a good morning meal with my buds before a long hard work day or have devotions with them where the Spirit of the Lord is so very present. I won't get to share labor and laughter with my friends as we clean up after the meal or as we walk up or down just "one more" flight of steps.
I won't get to worship in the rearranged dining room on Sunday morning or Wednesday night and sing Jamaican worship songs with fun motions with the happy children of the City of Refuge or hear moving testimonies of what God is doing in the lives of the older children who want to preach or become the prime minister of their country. There won't be an intense session of intercessory prayer on Sunday night for the children's home on the mountain top overlooking the many lights of the city of Kingston.
There won't be lots of children laughing and playing with one another, running races, shouting cheers and playfully competing in Sports Day around here, and we won't share hot dogs and macaroni and cheese on the verandah after a long, hard playful morning. There won't be sleepy children walking up to the kitchen on Saturday morning in the new pjs we brought for them to get bread for their house for breakfast, and I won't get to play with my little girls or see their sweet smiles as we spend time together.
We won't be trying new Jamaican foods like pumpkin soup, oxtail beef stew, cho cho and carrots, and collaloo or having a freshly baked cake every day for dessert. We won't have to have water carried up the stairs to the kitchen in 5 gallon bottles and then heat it in big pots on the stove for cleaning up the kitchen. There won't be huge piles of pots, pans and dishes for us to wash, or women's laughter in the kitchen as we clean them up for the next meal.
We had an excellent trip. The Lord blessed us and our labor. No one got sick or injured, the much needed 1000' concrete driveway was completed, and, as happy as I am to be home with my family and familiar things, I will miss these new friends and the new experiences.
I love you all.
Suzanne
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