Memorial Box Mondays

Today I wanted to share the story of how God brought my husband and I together. When I get my memorial box set up, I will put a small ceramic cowboy boot inside to remind me of the most wonderful blessing I have ever received from God....Have I tweaked your interest?

When I was 18 I went to Bible college about 2 hours from my hometown. During one of the weekends for families to visit, my older sister, who helped raise me, came to see me along with her good friend. They both worked at our home church together. They had taken a tour of the small campus and then met me at the commons building. We were standing on the second floor overlooking the commons area below and visiting about their tour.

My sister said to me, "Renee, we met the man you are going to marry!" "What?" I asked. My sister said again, "We met the man you are going to marry. He is such a nice young man. He wants to be a missionary and we can just see the two of you living in Africa and working in the mission field." I was more than a bit stunned and did not know what to say, except to ask, "Who is he?" Just then he walked in the door below...and my sister's friend said, "Oh there he is!" I looked down and saw Joel. Now, my first impression of Joel had not been positive......and my reply was, "He is loud and obnoxious and he wears BOOTS!" (I was a city girl and he was a country boy) They both just smiled and said, "We will PRAY about it".

Six months later we started dating.....one year after that we were married. We have been married for nearly 42 years and Joel STILL wears cowboy boots! No matter where we have lived ~ in the west, midwest, or across the ocean~ whether he is at home, in the pulpit, or performing a wedding ceremony ~ his boots are always on his feet. I have come to love them along with his western hat, jeans, and denim shirts.

We like to say we were prayed together, and those who are prayed together stay together! God had a plan for good for us.....and our vows began that journey of goodness together. Because of that...and Joel...cowboy boots will always hold a special place in my heart.

Everything We Think

Because I am human and imperfect I confess...........

Sometimes I get very down on myself.....
Sometimes I find myself believing the worst about someone.....
Sometimes I find myself believing the worst about myself.....
Sometimes I let fear or anger THINK for me....
Sometimes I think life is too hard.......
Sometimes I let Satan get into my thoughts.....
Sometimes my negative thoughts push God to the side.....
Sometimes my mind becomes a battlefield.....

Do you ever have the same problem? Our thoughts are powerful in helping or harming us, therefore it is vital that we tame them. From where does our strength come to do so when our mind becomes a battlefield? The Bible says in Philippians 4:8,9 :
"Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable~ if anything is excellent and praiseworthy~ think about such things." A clear answer for us as Christians.

So when thoughts enter our mind that bring us to a place outside of God's desires for us, first of all remember the verses in Philippians, and then take to heart what Maxine says in the above cartoon....."Don't believe everything you think!"

For more inspirational posts, go to Spiritual Sundays ~ www.bloggerspirit.blogspot.com Thank you for Ginger and Charlotte for hosting this inspirational blog.

Wednesday Words of Worship

My husband just came home from church. As Lutherans we have a special Ash Wednesday service at the beginning of Lent. Communion and worship unite us as Christians at the beginning of this Holy season. Ashes are put on each person's forehead in the shape of a cross as a sign of repentence, while these words are repeated~ "Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return." These words help remind us that we are mortal and our hope is in Christ alone.

I do miss going to church. I miss worshiping with others. I miss the fellowship with other Christians. Yet, I am blessed. Yes, I may not be able to attend church, but I am blessed. I am married to the pastor! He comes home and serves me communion in my corner of the world. I am able to listen to the service on tape, and hear the familiar hymns of my past. And tonight from my husband's hands I will receive communion and I will hear the words that bring me back to the familiar through traditions well established. Words that remind me that my hope is in Christ! "Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return".

Memorial Box Mondays

Last week I started posting my own Memorial Box Mondays (A Place Called Simplicity) to share my stories of how God has blessed us, and to remind myself of God's love and faithfulness throughout our lives.

Today I am remembering a time when God's answer to our prayers was a strong NO, and how God used that "no" to bless our lives forever.

We were living in Duluth, Minnesota where Joel was a Lt. in the Air Force forecasting weather for pilots. It was 1974 and we "just knew" that God wanted Joel to apply for an early out of the military so he could go to Seminary to become a pastor. We even looked at a house in St. Paul, MN near the seminary, and planned to give the agent an offer the next week. We drove back home, and the next day Joel went in to the base to fill out papers, but the person in charge told him he could not apply for an early out because he had orders to go overseas. He was stunned! He was sent to another office to get more information, and they told he was being sent to The Philippines ~ and when he asked if it was "unaccompanied" or with his family, to his relief it was an accompanied tour. We were very surprised that we were wrong about what God wanted for us.....and that God had not blessed Joel's desire to enter seminary immediately, but we were relieved Joel was not being sent to Viet Nam as the war there was still going on. We left that summer for a 2 year tour in The Philippines. It changed our lives forever in a very positive way, expanding our world and deepening our faith. We brought home many memories we cherish, and two special blessings~ a daughter and son that we adopted while living there! I can't imagine our lives without them. God's plan was certainly best.

I will add a photo of a 1950's house to my Memorial Box as a reminder of God blocking the way for us and opening doors we could not have imagined. By the way, after we left The Philippines, Joel entered the seminary and has been a pastor now for 30 years.

Perspective

Matthew Henry was a godly English professor and devotional writer who lived over three hundred years ago. One day while traveling from one town to another, he was beset by a band of highwaymen who mugged him and took all his money. In his journal he wrote this in response to the situation.

"Let me be thankful, first, because I was never robbed before;

Second, because although they took my purse they did not take my life,

Third, though they took my all it was not very much

And fourth, that it was I who was robbed and not I who robbed."

Here is a man with a great perspective on life.

Please be sure to visit Ginger and Charlotte at Spiritual Sundays.

www.bloggerspirit.blogspot.com

Thankful Thursday Thoughts

As I continue on in a CFS/ME and Lyme relapse, I am grateful for my Woolie (wool comforter) sweet caring husband, and my sofa sanctuary. I am blessed!