Saturday January 9 2016  THIRTEEN MINUTES AND COUNTING

Here I am retired and I’m living my life by the clock.  Before I sat down I set the timer for thirteen more minutes.

Over the years Dave and I have enjoyed going to a favorite place once a year.  It is in the Amish Country by Fargo Wisconsin.  There are two cottages located on the property, one the size of a three bedroom house.  The owners of this piece of real estate are not Amish, so thus, the finer amenities of comfort exist, such as electricity and indoor toilets.  It is eerily quiet on the roads except for an occasional car and the sound of the quick paced, clip clop, clip clop, of horseshoes on pavement, and the early morning wake-up call from the barnyard rooster.  The farm is set back from the road and it’s as if you are in total isolation.  Our hide-away place is called TRILLIUM.  We haven’t been there for a few years, but I have a hankering to go back, at least one more time.  REAL SOON!

The cottage we chose to rent is not only quite a distance from the highway, but it is also past the main farm house, surrounded by gently sloping hills, lots of trees that we watched grow up over the years, beautiful raised flower gardens, and a huge, quaint barn, probably 150 years old, which we could see when we sat on the front porch swing.  Time seemed not to exist when we were there.  There was no access to television, radio, or land line phones.  At least none were hooked up.  We did not own cell phones at that time.  We absolutely loved it!  Well, at least I loved it!  Dave became accustomed to the place.

I made it a point to not have a watch or clock with me.  It was the one place in the world where we would go and let time just pass without having a clue as to the actual time.  We slept in and never looked at a clock.   Breakfast was complimented with the delivery of a covered basket, sort of like Little Red Riding Hood’s basket, filled with hot, delicious breads, scones, rolls, cookies, homemade jams and some other things I am probably forgetting.  When we arrived the refrigerator was always stocked with freshly squeezed juices, farm fresh eggs, milk, cheeses, and peanut butter.  The cupboards had the basic things needed to help create meals such as spices and condiments, as well as popcorn, coffee and teas.  (Popcorn is a food group for me)!  I am certain I have left a few things out.  We packed food with us to create a wonderful meal for each day.  Because we ate a LATE breakfast one meal in the early evening was the only other meal we ate.  It may be different now since Dave eats on a more regulated diabetic food plan.  We usually stayed for one week.

Just being in Trillium was like an oasis in the desert.  The cottage furniture was lumpy, the lamp lighting was poor, the walls and surfaces were over crowded with knickknacks, there was dust in all the unreachable shelves.  It was quite a hike on a gravel path to get from the car to the cottage and, there were no bell hops.  The bedrooms were at the top of a steep staircase and the bathtub was so small that Dave had to do pretzel maneuvers to come clean.  The appliances were old fashioned, the kitchen was outdated,  AND WE JUST LOVED IT!

That was the place where time seemed to no longer exist.  The one place in the world we could retreat to and find solace, peace, and quiet.  Work could not reach Dave and he could not call work.  I left my work behind.  It was a place where I was no longer a parent (we always went alone), but rather, I was just me, free from time and constraints.  Our children’s provider always had the contact phone number of the residents of the farm in case of emergency.  We usually went in September or October and had to schedule our next reservation one year in advance in order to have a place the following year.  We did that for many years.  And then the kids grew up and life became quiet.  And we still went.  We considered it our yearly “honeymoon”.  So, let your imagination soar!  All I can say, it was awesome.  And then we grew old and our lives have become too hectic and busy again!

While at Trillium I spent hours writing, and praying, and being alone with God.  We, Dave and I, spent hours in each other’s arms becoming reacquainted.  We played long card games.  We went on walks, sat on the porch swing and watched the sun go down.  We looked at the stars, and once happened upon a wagon train.  I kid you not.  I cannot remember how many real life, covered wagons were in that wagon train, making its yearly quest from one location to another, but I believe there were 87.  People were dressed in era appropriate clothing and there were horses and oxen and even mules that pulled the wagons.  I was invited to ride along on the top front bench of a covered wagon for a period of time.  Dave stayed with the car and later caught up with me.  The catching up part wasn’t very difficult as the wagon train was traveling the back road highways.

We had other amazing adventures when we went out exploring by car.  We went to Amish markets, and specialty shops.  We went to Amish auctions selling thousands of pounds of produce.  That part of our trip will best be left untold until a later time.  Just too much to explain.  It was just amazing.  Some days we went exploring, some days we stayed on the farm all day.  And some days I didn’t even get dressed!  But everyday we had that delicious basket delivered to our front porch at the time we requested.

So, you are probably wondering why I told you all this.  Well, I will tell you why.  Because today it seemed as if my life, was and is, being dictated by time.  Not enough time to do one thing, so we change our plans to do what had to be done, then we had to make the time to complete the other commitment.  Then we go here and there and home again and out again and…and…and…

And then, me and my bright idea, decided I had so much in the fridge that had to be used up that I must certainly make a soup.  Had one soup planned, decided on another, and then decided I didn’t think that recipe was all that good, so decided to change it.  And so the timer was put to use.  This ingredient goes in at this moment, that one such and such a time later, I’m running back and forth to the kitchen to see if the pot is boiling yet, then to put ingredients in every few minutes, then to stir, to season, then to stir again, start a new timer for the new ingredient so it won’t overcook, and so on and so on.  And it seems that time moves so quickly when it is necessary to respond to all the timers.  Doing all that made me think of Trillium.  I sat down at the computer, wondering what to write about, when the timer went off, and I had to hasten back to the kitchen.  That was the exact moment I thought about Trillium, and WA-LAH!  I had my blog topic.  The whole day was used for things of necessity that had to be finished, or accomplished to make this busy week come to an okay end.  In other words, time no longer is standing still.  And I miss it! 

Here we are retired, and I am thinking of calling  Trillium to find out when the first opening might be so we can skedaddle off to the place where time stands still!  It seems when we are home, things happen.  At some point, I think most people need to experience what we experienced when we secluded ourselves at Trillium, a place where time stands still.

There are several things that have happened in our abode recently that I haven’t mentioned.  It’s as if I am just not quite ready to talk about them yet.  Maybe another day.  But I will say, God is with me.  He is our provider and protector and our source of strength.  I thank Him daily for His magnificence and for who He is!  “God is more awesome than His Holy Places”,  quote from sermon by Damian Kyle from Calvary Chapel Modesto that I listened to today.  I feel a poem brewing in me about that quote.  To be continued…

TIME FOREVER WILL STAND STILL

By Kathleen Martens

January 9 2016

Surely somewhere in this world

Is a dwelling of refuge and delight.

A place where time stands still,

Without morning or night.

Just “A WHILE” we call our own,

Where timers no longer ring.

As the ensuing hours,

More demands constantly bring.

A place of “ALONE” where all is quiet

And quells of the world subside.

Is there even one place on earth,

Where that dream abides?

Man looks for temporal value

Of a one week get-a-way.

But how can we find that one place,

Where we can always stay?

In truth I believe that I know

Just how that peace is found.

Only when you have Jesus as your friend,

Are you on solid ground.

There is a place of deep contentment

In the heart where the Spirit lives.

Both true refuge and delight

Is what to you, Jesus will give.

So ask Him into your heart

And eternity will become real.

And when you go to live with Him,

Time forever will stand still.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  Romans 15:13

Good night, and God bless you!

Friday January 8 2016  SONGS UNSUNG

I did receive an email this morning in response to the plea to my sister to add what she could to yesterday’s story.  Her email pretty much verifies what I wrote.  I did edit and take out personal comments not related to the story.  I thought it might be interesting to see another’s angle of what was going on.  First of all I wasn’t at the house to see what was going on, and secondly, being so young makes it fuzzy in my memory.  The reason I know the facts as I do, was because years later after I became an adult I obtained my medical records records from Brookside Hospital, and the words “Infantile Paralysis”, was the final diagnosis.  To be truthful, I didn’t really realize at that time that Infantile Paralysis and Polio were one and the same thing.  Most people refer to the disease as polio.  Believe it or not, when the polio vaccine was administered at the public schools, with three drops on a sugar cube, my mother stood in line with me and I was vaccinated for something I had already been exposed to first hand.  Well, I’ve never had it again!  My polio episode was in 1954.  The first proven vaccine came out in 1956. 

Following is the email from my ever so helpful sister.  The way it sounds, I guess I was a bit of a challenge as a child.  I know I liked to roam and explore and stay out until after dark.  When I was eleven and twelve years old and lived in the projects, my neighbors loved me because I would take their babies out for walks in their strollers.  I would walk for miles all around the little town of Rodeo.  Rodeo, just so you know was and still is a HILLY PLACE.  I would have done it at a younger age but was restricted in walking and playing due to a bone disorder that affected my legs which was very painful.  Once it was okay for me to use my legs again nothing could keep me in one place.  The disease I had was Ozgood-Schlatter Disease.  I have attached some information at the end of this blog if you are interested in reading exactly what it is.  It affected me for about two or three years when I was younger.

In her email my sister makes mention of watching me so I wouldn’t run across the street.  Our cousins lived across the street and I would fly out the door, the screen would slam, the gate would clunk and then the screech of brakes, as I made it across to safety.  However, one time the car actually hit me.  It must have just bumped me a bit after having applied his screeching brakes and almost coming to a stop.  It threw me forward into the street and I banged up my elbow which turned out to be all skin abrasions with no broken bones. My mom told me later she just knew I had been hit when she heard the breaks so quickly following the slamming of the screen door.  I remember the incident and at the time I asked her, “Why did that car hit me”?  I was just flabbergasted that that car would hit me!  Oh, when I think of the mind of a child it almost scares me.  I’m just glad our children are grown now, and survived their childhood.  I mean that in all sincerity.

One other explanation about Velma’s email.  She mentions our friend Albert.  We moved to the projects when I was 6 years old.  Albert and his family lived in the apartment below us.  There were many a nights when his father, in a drunken state, would pound on our door in the middle of the night because the three pound coffee can of marbles (no lid) would come crashing off the top bunk, spilling hundreds of marbles onto the linoleum floors above  his bedroom.  Believe me, it was loud.  After several times of that happening my mother promised me a good whipping if that happened again.  To the best of my knowledge I never let it happen again.  I was a good marble player and we played for keepsies.  Back to Albert.  Just want you to know he is still a cherished friend after all these years.

In case you are interested in the debacles of an old lady, read the email from my sister for the closing chapter about yesterday’s episode.  When writing to each other we use our initials:

WKM,

I cannot verify anything that happened to you after mama and daddy took you to the doctor and you didn’t come home with them.  However, I remember very vividly the day mama told me you may never come home again.  It was devastating to me.  I asked mama what was wrong with you and mama said they didn’t know.  That was after you had been in the hospital for five days.  Mama was making briskest for breakfast on a Sunday before we would go to church.  She said just pray for her like you have never prayed before that she will come home. 

Both mama and daddy spent every minute at the hospital that they were allowed.  Me, Carolyn and Scarlett were at home with Aunt Hattie looking in on us when mama was at the hospital.  Of course daddy couldn’t always be at the hospital with her because of his work schedule.

When you came home and I saw your behind (butt), I was horrified; it was so black and blue I cried.  Mama said stop that crying, those shots saved her life, and you will always have to help me look after her;  make sure she doesn’t get over tired, or hot.  Make sure she doesn’t dart into the street in front of cars (which you did often).  I could tell a few tales about that habit of yours.  I don’t think mama should have allowed you out of the yard – you were a real pill to keep alive and safe.  No amount of instructions made a bit of difference.  Hence, I have been looking after you ever since, and I guess I still am trying.

The word polio was never mentioned in our household, however, until the polio vaccine was available we were not allowed in creeks or rivers to swim or play.  Now you and your doctors know you had polio.  The last time I saw your butt was after Courtland was born and you still had scars of those shots.

What happened to you in the hospital I have no idea; however, you told me the same story that you wrote in your blog today.  I was only 13 at the time so I just listened and you often repeated it until you met Albert and I think you probably told him.

That is another thing that we can be thankful to the Lord for – that we met Albert.  I love Albert as much as you do – I feel like he is a wonderful person and is a brother to me and a great friend.  In other words I trust Albert. 

VFM (my sister’s initials)

I almost mentioned the condition of my behind yesterday in my blog, but supposed I had finally grown up enough to be discreet.  However, since my sister mentioned it I will add one more tidbit of interest to the story.  I maintained the scars of those shots on my behind, shaped like a big, dark, dark (almost black) brown, crescent moon until I was past the age of 50. The larger I grew, the bigger the scar, and the lighter it became.  When I gained weight I think I just couldn’t maneuver to see if it was still there.  THOSE NEEDLES PROBABLY WERE AS LONG AS MY LEG!

SONGS UNSUNG

By Kathleen Martens

January 8, 2016

I heard a man say

Just the other night,

That for the old,

Reminiscing was a plight.

And so it seems,

That’s just what I’ve done,

By looking back at memory lane

When I used to jump and run.

Bygone days of yesteryear

In my heart are stored.

The whiter my hair becomes,

The more my memories soar.

Just to tell of escapades

I experienced while I was young,

Seems to give the heart release,

As well as songs unsung.

So listen if you will,

To the stories of old.

For when I am gone,

They’ll no longer be told.

Though children are not interested

In what happened before they were born,

When no more questions can be asked,

Then they’ll be forlorn.

I seek so many answers.

My older generation is gone.

There is no one I can question

Who can still sing their song.

But I have a sister

Who remembers much more than me

And often it is she

Who breaks my memories free.

So thank you for listening

To my tales of old.

For in my stories I am young

Fearless, and always bold.

Today Dave and I are with our grandsons.  One is in school and one is home.  It is my turn to go downstairs and play ping pong and air hockey with a four year old.  And what an amazing four year old he is!  After all, HE IS OUR GRANDSON!

It is only 9:24 a.m. and my blog is finished for this day.  The rest of the day is busy and non-stop.  I brought dinner and plan to have everything ready for the evening meal when Amy comes home.  Tonight is our final night of our week’s services.  They have all been excellent!  There is no preaching, but lots of praise and worship, and singing and coming together as a congregation to pray for certain groups on certain nights.  Wednesday night was the best!  It was the night we prayed for all the young people in the church.  There were too many children, from birth to about 10 years old, to make a single line across the front of our sanctuary.  The line had to double up.  We have a large, spacious building so that will let you know the scope of how many kids there were.  It was a hands-on prayer time.  The children also had a chance to pray for the adults.  

All I can say is, I am glad I did not miss one night.

Have a great day and God bless all of you.

P.S.

Information from the Internet:

Osgood-Schlatter disease can cause a painful lump below the kneecap in children and adolescents experiencing growth spurts during puberty.

Osgood-Schlatter disease occurs most often in children who participate in sports that involve running, jumping and swift changes of direction — such as soccer, basketball, figure skating and ballet. (This described me to a T, especially the skating aspect, but no ballet).

While Osgood-Schlatter disease is more common in boys, the gender gap is narrowing as more girls become involved with sports.

Age ranges differ by sex because girls experience puberty earlier than do boys. Osgood-Schlatter disease typically occurs in boys ages 13 to 14 and girls ages 11 to 12. The condition usually resolves on its own, once the child’s bones stop growing.

Thursday January 7 2016  THE KEEPER OF OUR SOUL

I enjoy listening to books on CD’s when driving in the car.  I am currently listening to “EISENHOWER, THE WHITE HOUSE YEARS”, by John Newton.  As I was coming home from my 90 minute massage (doesn’t that sound opulent) the  reader was reading a segment that took place in the early 1950’s.  Polio, known as Infantile Paralysis during those years, was claiming record numbers, both in death, and long term crippling.  In 1952 it became epidemic in number with 58,000 new cases and 3,000 deaths.  Eisenhower was very instrumental in making it possible for Jonas Salk to develop the vaccine.  Eisenhower did everything he could legally do to help the vaccine become available to the public. 

In 1954 I became very ill.  To the best of my recollection, through stories told to me by others, I awakened one morning and couldn’t walk.  My mother finally came into the bedroom where I shared a bed with Carolyn.  I told my mother that Carolyn had slept on my legs and they were numb and that I couldn’t get up.  I remember that happening but it is more of a picture in my mind than the words I said.  I did believe my words to be true.  At first my mother, in her stern way, just told me to get up and stop that story at once.  I didn’t have any other explanation.  I must have shown other signs of being sick because I eventually ended up in the hospital.  I don’t remember getting up and I don’t remember arriving at the hospital, but I do have vague memories of being there.

First of all, I was PUT INTO A BABY CRIB with high steel bars.  I don’t remember being “put” there but I remember later being in that crib.  I was mortified!  I WASN’T A BABY!  I remember that thought very well.  My sister Velma, being quite a few years older has a better recollection of that time than I do.  Again, if I remember correctly, Velma told me that mama came home and told my sisters that I would not be coming back home but would be going to live with Jesus.  I guess I must have been quite sick.  I was later told I had a high fever and was extremely ill.  One other memory I have are the shots I received each day with a needle that seemed to be about the length of my leg.  IT WAS SO BIG!  

My mom once told me that she called the church she attended and asked the church to pray for me.  The church set up a prayer chain, so there would be someone praying around the clock for my healing, until I came home.  I think I was in Brookside Hospital in Richmond California for about two weeks.  I am hoping my sister reads this blog and can enlighten me on my memory of this event.  Now remember, when I sit down to write I never know what is going to pop into the forefront of my brain.  And remember also that my sister is hearing impaired and I can’t just pick up the phone and have a quick conversation with her to get the facts.  If I don’t know what I’m going to write, she certainly doesn’t know ahead of time either.  When she finds it necessary to correct me about one of my distorted or fragmented memories she usually sends me an email the next day.   It would be awesome to have her responses before I start, but like I said, I never know what is going to be written.  Poor planning?  Maybe.  But actually, I like the spontaneity of being open and free to write whatever comes to my mind each day.  So sister dear, please enlighten me if there is anything anything you would like to add.

I remember Velma sharing with me how devastated she was when mama and daddy told her the news that I wouldn’t be coming home.  She harbored a lot of hurt for that comment for many years. That was probably way too much information for a young adolescent to handle.  I do hope she has recovered from that pain of the past.  Actually, she was like my second mother.  I rode her hip as a baby and was probably her shadow the rest of my childhood.  She was a safe harbor for me when I was a little girl.  I learned to stay out of the way of my other sisters.  You think I talk a lot now?  Well, my incessant talking drove them crazy when we were kids.  As you can see, I’ve had many years of practicing my speech.

Now, this next incident I am going to tell you about, I do remember.  I remember the day I stood up in my crib.  It was a shock to the doctors, not to mention my mom and dad.  I didn’t see what the big deal was about because I knew all along I wasn’t a baby.  Eventually I was discharged.  On the last day I was there my mom and dad brought me a coloring book with my own crayons.  We were poor as church mice and that was a great boon for me to have a coloring book and colors!  I stood in the crib and my dad colored the last page in the book.  If you only knew the impression that made on me!  That was just not the dad I knew.  But I knew my parents were happy because they were usually more stern looking.  After that visual memory I don’t remember anything about coming home.  Though my mother always believed that my coming home was a result of all the prayers of her Christian friends.  And in my heart I too believe that to be true.  I have had no lasting crippling affects attributed to the polio.  However, I do have one leg that is noticeably smaller in muscle mass in comparison to the other leg.

I had not thought of this memory in years.  This afternoon as the book jogged my memory, it caused me to reminisce back over my life and discover a whole lists of miracles that God has done in my life since I was that little girl who lived  to come home to her sisters.  I think it would behoove us to occasionally stop and look back over our lives and to give thanks once again for all that God has done for us over the years.  And when I pause to look back over my parenting years, and remember all God’s provisions and miracles, it’s as if I can never thank Him enough for intervening in so many ways regarding our children.  Both of our children are alive today because of great interventions of God’s miraculous touch. 

Stop a moment today and think back to some of the pivotal points of your existence when God’s involvement had profound results in your life.  When you lack something today of which to give thanks, think of all the other times His power has had intervened for your safety or decision making.  We worship a mighty God.  We can never give Him enough praise and thanks just for being who He is.

THE KEEPER OF OUR SOUL

By Kathleen Martens

January 7 2016

When we least expect it

God shows His hand.

He is the first and the last,

The world He commands.

When we call out His name

We never walk alone.

And if we so choose,

We are one of His own.

God gives us strength

For He is our strong tower.

He fills us full of His Spirit,

Which fills us with power.

It is through faith that we walk

The righteous narrow road.

And He is right beside us

To take away our heavy load.

So much praise due our God

And hallowed be His name.

All the earth will one day bow

To the King who died in shame.

All so that we would live

Forever with God above.

Our protector and defender,

Pours over us His love.

So remember to take time

To shower Him with praise.

He is the keeper of our soul.

And the one who numbers our days.

I pray that God will be with each who read these words.  That He will keep you in the hollow of His hand, protecting and defending you.  I pray that one day you will know the depth and height, the length and breadth, of His love for you.  Amen

God bless you!  Have a great day!

Wednesday January 6 2016  TOZER SPEAKS

WHAT WORDS ARE WORTHY?

By Kathleen Martens

January 6, 2015

This blank screen stares back at me.

“What do you wish upon my screen”,

It asks in silent repose?

“What words have you worth to deem?”

I consider this simple question

And listen in case I should hear.

But there are no words yet captured,

None which have even come near.

I look into the horizon of my thoughts,

Perchance, there are words galloping away

That I can call back and corral

To fill my quota today.

If you think it’s easy for topics to come

Just stop and think awhile.

Do you have words worthy of sharing”

Or words that will bring others a smile?

I truly desire the words I write

To have meaning for the one who reads.

Words that will mend and build up,

Words written that other may need.

So today I will borrow a few.

One sentence from each day.

I’ll give you a glimpse into the mind

Of what my friend, Mr. Tozer, has to say.

Following are brief quotations of Mr. Tozer embodied in a critical article for review in hopes that you too will find his words worthy of buying for yourself.

As I wrote in an earlier blog my new daily devotional this year is a book by A. W. Tozer printed posthumously in 1981 “EVENINGS WITH TOZER, DAILY DEVOTIONAL READINGS”, compiled by Gerald B. Smith.   I will quote one sentence from each day from January 1^st through today January 6^th.  Just one sentence is going to be very difficult because each sentence rides upon the previous sentence.  The nuggets are priceless.  I thought you might enjoy his quotes.

January 1^st

“GOD RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE UP AT THE LAST WHERE HE BEGAN AT THE FIRST, AND YOU ARE IN THE HANDS OF GOD WHETHER YOU WILL OR NOT.”

January 2^nd

“CHRIST IS ALL THAT THE GODHEAD IS!”

January 3^rd

“WHAT WE HAVE IN THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS DEITY PRESENT AMONG US”

January 4^th

AS GOD’S SELF-KNOWLEDGE LIES IN THE ETERNAL SPIRIT, SO MAN’S SELF-KNOWLEDGE IS BY HIS OWN SPIRIT, AND HIS KNOWLEDGE OF GOD IS BY THE DIRECT IMPRESSION OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD UPON THE SPIRIT OF MAN.”

January 5^th

“GOD CANNOT APPROVE ANY OF THE FRUITS OF SIN.”

January 6^th

“THEOLOGICAL TRUTH IS USELESS UNTIL IT IS OBEYED.”

I would love to peek ahead but I cannot.  His writings are like rich desserts to me and I want to savor a bit each day!

It is time for me to ready myself for the evening.  It is tough going out each night.  Could it be age?  I think I took my trip last year JUST IN TIME!  I’m so glad I did.  Or…maybe I just need to get revved up to take another one.  Just kidding sister!  Our house is our focus and that’s my final answer.

Good night and God bless you!

P.S.  Words in red are indicative of WISDOM or BIBLE SCRIPTURES.

Tuesday January 5 2016  MORE SURPRISES LOOM AHEAD

Another short blog because we are off and at it again today.  Will we ever begin working on the decluttering process?  We don’t know.  Dave now has had the opportunity of being home fulltime and experiencing how TIME EVAPORATES!  It is as if there is an invisible hijacker just gobbling up our precious hours.  There is always something that is urgent that must be done.  Right now it is the situation with our house.  We no sooner get one decision made when another urgent decision must be considered. 

After exercising this morning we went to a shop to check out counters for the dressing room.  After looking at the cost of everything we decided that we don’t want to put the expense into changing anything.  So, decision made!  We will put everything back just as it was.  Okay, that decision completed.  Then we talk to the contractor who does all the final investigating to make certain everything is as it should be and he pointed out another serious decision that we must make.  He informed us that the water penetrated into the bottom of the vanity and it may be swelling from the inside.  More than likely it is.  That might possibly cause the floor of the vanity to disintegrate and collapse.  Oh man!  So we must decide if we want to go through a rebuild.  That is a big decision and a lot of future chaos!  So tonight we will sleep on that matter.

I just thought I’d bring you up to date on the perils of living with the likes of me.  You never know what is going to happen from one day to the next.

I must retract part of what I wrote yesterday.  I told you about the situation with Dave’s mom and dad wanting to move to Rose Street.  Dave informed me that I had a couple of facts incorrect.  So, as one of my readers informed me, she wanted to know more about this story, here goes.

Dave’s father was born in 1893.  In the 1920’s he built a little craftsman type bungalow in Anaheim California with the help of a friend.  When he came home from World War II he and Dave’s mom moved into the house.  Nine months later Dave’s oldest sister was born.  Eleven months later his second sister was born. And thirteen months later Dave was born.  When Dave was born, his mom had a twenty four month old toddler, a thirteen month old baby, and a newborn baby boy.  The house was small and had only two bedrooms.  So about ten months later the family moved across town to a three bedroom house.

The entire time Dave and the girls were growing up, his parents planned to move back to Rose Street, as soon as all the children left home.  If you read yesterday’s blog you will know that that never happened.  They kept the house as a rental and after the children were grown and moved out they sold it.  Until it was sold they continually asked the question about anything they purchased for the house,  “Will it fit on Rose Street”?  Thus, the story of Rose Street.

One other interesting story about Dave’s father.  He actually served in both World Wars.  He volunteered both times.  In WWI He actually fought the Bolsheviks in Siberia, Russia.  He was 49 when he enlisted in WWII.  Dave’s father spoke fluent German and in World War II he went to Sicily before the invasion and spied on German troops acting as if he were one of their own.

He met his wife at a Navy Day Dance in LaCrosse, WI.  They dated for two months, married on the day after Christmas in 1942, and then he was shipped out three weeks later, and was gone for two and a half years, came home, and two years later and three babies.  He was obviously an overachiever considering he didn’t become a father until just before he turned 51 years old.

He was a remarkable man in so many ways.  He was 5’6” and never weighed over 150 pounds and sired a 6’2” son who crossed the 150 pound mark in about the fifth grade, and has never seen it since.  In WWI Dave’s dad was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross which is one step below the Congressional Medal of Honor.  When he mustered out of the army in WWII he came home through Camp McCoy Wisconsin and he was the most decorated military person in the camp at that time.

He was a prolific writer of letters to his sweetheart back home.  None of the letters Ruth wrote John were preserved because every letter he received had to be destroyed.  Dave’s mom gave all the letters to me that she received from John during the war.  I have read every single one.  There were over 200 letters if I remember correctly.  That is another book just waiting to be written.  Many of the letters were censored at first but he became better at writing discreetly, and his later letters were less marked up.   He never talked about the war.  We only know what we know because of newspaper clippings and some of the things that Ruth knew, as well as all his medals that spoke loudly of his achievements.  Our son now has possession of his medals.  Dave’s sister was given his WWII uniform. It was in amazing condition.

Just thought you might like to see a peek into the illustrious life of a very humble man.  I loved him from the moment I met him.  He was in his 80’s when I first knew him.  After reading all the letters he wrote to his new bride I realized what a wonderful romantic he was way down deep.  He had a twinkle in his eye and was a true man of valor.  And he was a lover of God. 

HIS HONORABLE NAME

By Kathleen Martens

January 5, 2016

Words of love written to a bride,

To none other did he confide.

He was a soldier in the bleakest hour,

Short of stature, but a man of power.

About himself, not a word did he mention

None knew the scope of his dimension.

Never a comment of medals earned,

And his head was never turned.

He fought two wars but not for glory,

Nor did he ever tell his story.

He diligently did what was needed,

And his orders carefully heeded.

Few men still walk this earth

That can hold a candle to his worth.

Though he was not a man of fame

The greatest gift to His children, his honorable name.

P.S.  I had to stop writing half way through the poem and leave for service at church.  Home again and poem is finished.  So I will say:

GOODNIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU!

Sunday Sabbath  January 3 2016  GOD’S DESIRE

The first week of January is a time our Pastor calls our church body together for a week of PRAYER AND FASTING.  Meetings are Monday through Friday evenings from 6:30 p.m. until 8:00 p .m..  Each night has a different focus on what is to be prayed.  Fasting is not necessarily giving up food but can also include fasting from television or computers and phones.  It may also include giving up other activities that a person believes the Lord is calling them to give up. 

Just think of the possibilities if each God fearing church in the United States all joined together for the same week of prayer and fasting, joining together to pray for our churches, country, and our leadership.  The scripture calls “THE CHURCH” to pray.  Prayer changes things.  Prayer is powerful.  If “THE CHURCH” no longer prays, then who will do it? 

In case you have not noticed, our country is ailing.  If it were diagnosed in medical terminology it might even fall into the “terminally ill” category.  Sin is rampant, the government is corrupt, our freedoms are being taken away, and most people just put on blinders or join in with the corruptness.  Perhaps we, as believers, should remember the verse in 2 Chronicles:

2 Chronicles 7:14 New King James Version (NKJV)

^“14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

“…and will forgive their sin and heal their land…” is the promise that God gives to us if we will humble ourselves and pray.

For those who read this blog I would ask that if you believe in the miracle of prayer, please unite with our congregation this week as we join together in prayer.  Distance is no deterrent, God has no barriers in hearing from everyone, everywhere, at all times.  I have many more readers from afar than I have in my own community.  One reason is because not too many in my own community know I even write a blog, and secondly, because most of the people who contact me through this blog are those I met on my trip across the country last year.  Whoever you are, wherever you are, if you are a believer, please add your prayers to ours.  Monday we are praying for Revival in the Church.  Tuesday our prayer is for Awakening the World.  Wednesday is prayer for Youth of All Ages.  Thursday is a time when we will pray for the Prophetic Word that God Has for the Vision of Our Church Body and Friday will be an evening of Celebration to the Lord.  Celebrate the Lord with us wherever you may live!

Three years ago I attended this same week’s event.  I was quite ill at the time.  I had been diagnosed with a serious long term illness, was extremely obese, could barely maintain my daily existence, was in so much pain, and had a terrible agonizing deep cough without a diagnosis.  That first week in January I attended each service.  One night I was so sick that I went into the church library so I could still hear the service but not disturb everyone with my hacking cough.  That was an amazing week for me.  I came to terms with many issues I was going through and turned to God and began to diligently seek the Lord as to what His will was for me as well as for the church body. 

The following week I was diagnosed with pneumonia, thus the cough.  The cough was so severe that I broke two ribs from coughing so hard.  I was put on antibiotic medication that seemed to help and then my heart began terrible irregular palpitations.  I had a history of this so I didn’t want to tell Dave because we were leaving shortly on a vacation to Florida.  So, I kept my mouth shut, did not go see my cardiologist for fear of having to cancel my trip, and boarded the plane. Well, you guessed it.  I only got worse.  I couldn’t do much on the trip but refused to see a doctor.  When I was previously in Florida, visiting our daughter, I had such a bad Atrial Fibrillation (A-Fib) episode that I was taken to the hospital by ambulance and spent most of my time in Florida hospitalized.  It was later discovered that the medicine subscribed for my pneumonia was actually causing deaths to those who were diagnosed with A-Fib.  That would be me!  But, as you can see, I didn’t die.

After the January services I knew that God was working deep in my life.  Finally, in March, two months after the Prayer and Fasting week at church, I finally surrendered myself completely to be obedient to what I believed God was asking of me.  I knew I needed to start following the orders of my General Practioner and the neurologist (whose care I was under) if I was going to have a chance to get my health back.  Those were difficult months for me.  It took me six months from my diagnosis in September to finally come to terms with the fact that it was probable that I had MS.  I think I just couldn’t accept the diagnosis.  I refused to look it in the face.  I refused to do what needed to be done for the recovery of my health.  In that first six months I only acknowledged the fact that I MIGHT have MS on two distinct nights that I remember well.  Those two night I stayed awake and cried.  Finally, in March I gave it to God.

I knew I would need to lose weight.  My balance was off and my entire body hurt.  Then, add into the mix the broken ribs, and I was really ready for a pity party.  Instead, I chose to lean on God, keep my spirits up and finally surrender to Him what I believed His Holy Spirit was prompting me to do.  I believed that God was giving me instructions to be obedient to three things.  The first, I was to exercise as prescribed by both doctors.  The second, I was to eat healthy and take half of my food off my plate before eating.  The third, to be obedient to God.  Sometimes I have a little trouble with obedience. 

So that evening I sat down at the table after surrendering to God and agreeing to follow His plan.  I served up dinner and I looked down at my plate, piled high with lots of good food, stood up, and took my plate back to the kitchen.  Dave asked me if I had forgotten something.  I told him yes I had.  I had forgotten to take half of my food off my plate before I ate.  Then I explained to him my “conversation” with God earlier in the day. He just sort of looked at me and nodded his head.  Then I told Dave I would be joining a gym the next day to get started on the physical therapy that the doctors prescribed.  He said okay!  So I did.  I think God let me forget to take half of my portions off my plate that first night so I would actually see how much food I consumed.  The first two weeks were a bit rough.  After those first two weeks my stomach shrunk and the half portions began to be too much.  I found myself cutting back more and more and then eating smaller meals more frequently. 

At first when I joined the gym I could only use a recumbent bicycle and do a few exercises on a bench.  I had to do my floor exercises on the bench because I could not get myself up off the floor.  I had periodical meetings with a trainer who worked with me and helped me with strength building and balance so I could eventually use more and more equipment.  It was very difficult and humbling to go to the gym every day and see so many slim, healthy, and vibrant people working out on all the equipment and I couldn’t even get up from the floor.  I chose to weigh on the 1^st and 15^th of each month.  I lost about 1 to 1½ pounds every two weeks.  Not a quick weight loss but it was steady.  Some weigh-ins I would drop perhaps two or three pounds. By June I had lost about 30 pounds.  My neurologist was astounded at my progress.  By September I had reduced another 20 or so pounds.  At that time I had another complete M.S. workup, including another MRI, and extensive neurological testing.  When I returned for the evaluation later, the neurologist was amazed at my progress.  My MRI was better than normal for my age, the neurological part of my exam was excellent, and my pain levels were almost non-existent.  I was discharged from her care but would need to return if any of my symptoms returned.  She did say that the symptoms could return, but as of that moment she would say I did not have any symptoms of MS.  She told me a lot more, and it was all good!  I am believing my symptoms will never return!

I really do believe that the beginning of my healing began that week in January when I attended the meetings at church for the week.  I was struggling, and when I look back now I can see how God was with me all the way.  It was only through Him that I was able to stand up, face my situation, do what He put in my heart for me to do, and to go forward with my life instead of giving up on myself.  And to this day, I don’t really know if even those closest to me knew how much I struggled with what I was going though.  There were only about three or four people that had been told about the MS diagnosis.  I always felt like I had to be strong.  And now I realize I was standing on my own confidence and not on God’s confidence.  Not only that, as a friend pointed out to me, I was not allowing the body of believers to pray with and for me.

I said all that I’ve said above because of a sermon I heard this morning.  The sermon hit a bull’s eye today.  It was presented by our Minister of Youth, Derrick Wright and is titled: “THIS ONE THING”.  You can listen to it by googling “City Church Madison Wisconsin”.  Go to Media and then the Sunday Sermon for today, January 3, 2016.  It is well worth listening to!  Believe me, I will be listening to it again.  It opened my eyes to some self-realization which I needed.  I understand a bit better all that I was going through three years ago.  Yes, three years is a long time ago and you may wonder why it is relevant for today.  The sermon made it relevant for today.  I have a better understanding of the difference between “self-confidence” and “God-confidence.  The second reason is realizing the difference between doing things for your own glory, rather than for God’s glory.  And the third reason is understanding the difference that GOD DOESN’T NEED ME, but, HE DESIRES ME.  The sermon was filled with so much more.  Since this blog is way longer than I intended it to be I will stop here and let you listen to the sermon for yourself.  Just try to take the time to do so if you have a chance. I use my gym time to listen to sermons!

The contents of this blog was not premeditated, nor even planned, when I sat down to write.  It just felt like it was the right time to share it.  When we have miracles happen in our lives I do believe we are to give the glory to God and share our testimony with others.  It has taken me a long time to share mine publicly.  Whether I was misdiagnosed with MS, and perhaps never had it at all, I will never know.  I choose to believe that God healed me of whatever I had.  He gave my life back to me.  My feet are no longer crippled like they were previously.  My knees no longer have the pain they once felt.  I can walk long distances.  I can climb rocks and hike on back trails and even on mountains that have no trails.  I can work out on many different kinds of exercise equipment, and do so several times each week.  I am able to play with my grandchildren on the floor and can pop up right from the floor ALL BY MYSELF!  I no longer have chronic excruciating headaches.  I can cook for long hours without taking a break, and I sleep like a champ (hopefully without snoring).  And at my age I had the courage to take off on a trip for four months, solo, with God as my companion.  And oh, let me tell you, even with all the naysayers, it was one of the most spectacular events of my lifetime!  Just me and God!  And it was amazing!

So…I think I am going to go to each of the meetings this week and seek God’s face.  I look forward to joining with our church body to seek God’s face and to know what He has for our church body.  I will also open my heart to new possibilities that He has planned for my walk with Him.  He doesn’t NEED ME, but I CERTAINLY DO NEED HIM!  

Philippians 1:6 New King James Version (NKJV)

⁶ being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

The following poem is inspired by Derrick Wright’s sermon today.  I incorporated the words of Derrick’s daily prayer in the poem’s message.  I hope it will bless you as much as his sermon blessed me.  Thank you Derrick for sharing your heart!

GOD’S DESIRE

By Kathleen Martens

January 3, 2016

Sometimes I walk a lonely road

And heavy burdens I bear.

Though I may not realize it,

Right beside me God is there.

Sometimes I choose not to listen

To the tender word God speaks.

I’d rather do things my way,

Than consider God’s way to seek.

I work and labor and toil

In the work that God needs done,

Before I finally realize

 I’m not really the needed one.

For God is the almighty King,

Source of all power and might.

There is nothing I can do,

That He can’t do outright.

Then I realize He does not NEED

From one so weak and tired.

And though He doesn’t NEED me,

I am the one that He DESIRES.

Finally my eyes are opened

And for Wisdom I do pray.

And favor with God I ask

In my prayers every day.

And I ask God for favor

From my fellow man.

And That God’s presence and power

Allows me to do all I can.

And I thank God for His power

As revelation is released

Of who God is in my life,

That His love is increased.

That I will help others,

In so many different ways,

With the strength that comes

From my Savior each day.

And I always ask my Lord

That He teach me something new.

For God is my instructor

And what He says is true!

Long Blog but I hope you made it to the end.

Good night and God bless you!

Saturday January 2 2016  A NEW YEAR PRAYER

Today is a packed day so I am hoping to write my blog (and finish it) much earlier than usual.  It is now only 12:15 p.m. Central Time.  So here goes.

This morning as I was in my library studying the WORD OF GOD, I read a passage of scriptures that spoke to my heart.  I felt this passage is to be my New Year Prayer for 2016 and I would like to pray it over all those who read my blog.

Ephesians 3 New King James Version (NKJV)

“…I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,^[c]15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, ¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, ¹⁷ that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— ¹⁹ to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, ²¹ to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

This will be my prayer for myself each day as I begin my morning with the Lord.  A couple of months ago I read Psalm 5:3 and felt that it was one of two passages that I have chosen as my scripture verses for the year.  The other passage is also from Psalm 5, verses 11-12:

“³ My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;

In the morning I will direct it to You,

And I will look up.”

“¹¹ But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;

Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;
Let those also who love Your name
Be joyful in You.
¹² For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous;
With favor You will surround him as with a shield.”

I will write these scriptures in the front of each new journal and read them often. 

I am leaving shortly to attend the funeral of my friend’s mother.  She was a woman of God so I know it will be more of a celebration of her life and rejoicing with the family for her entrance into heaven.  When we know that our loved ones are bound for heaven after they die, it makes it so much easier to say goodbye.  There is always sorrow but intermingled with joy, knowing that the goodbye is just for a while.  For me it is awesome knowing I will again someday see my mom!

Now a quick update as to what is going on in regards to the flooding that seeped in the walls and between the floors.  A part of our dressing room floor (which is actually the master bedroom of the house that we turned into a dressing room) has been removed to allow huge drying dehumidifiers to stand like sentinels in our dressing room with huge tubes pumping hot air between our walls and floors and ceilings below.  There are hoses that drain the collected dehumidified moisture into the bathtub in the next room  A lot of water is being reclaimed.  We were told the machines would be in place until Monday of next week but I don’t see how it will be dry by then with so much water still being extracted.  The downstairs also has the same contraption plus two high pressured wind fans that help dry out the wallboard and rooms.  Not a pretty sight.  We are coping well.  We just walk around all the mess and the huge vanity that sits in the middle of our dressing room floor.  We are just thankful it isn’t worse.  Lots of hoses everywhere so we leave some lights on at night to help us navigate to and from the bathroom.  But all’s well that ends well and we are hoping for a good ending!

I wrote my poem this morning in my journal which I rarely do since I have been writing my blog.  I miss writing my poetry in my journal.  So today I penned a poem when the inspiration arrived while I was sitting in my library enjoying the presence of the Lord.

PEN IN HAND

By Kathleen Martens

January 2, 2016

Oh, how I miss pen in hand,

So easy my thoughts to land.

The feel of paper between my fingers

Defines memories that seem to linger.

Thoughts come softly tiptoeing in

Captured on paper as my friend.

I pause and think and write some more

As my muse opens never-ending doors.

There is nothing quite like paper and pen

That allows those thoughts to pour in.

Purple fingers, a sure reminder,

Of where my words I will find them.

My pen writes what my heart speaks,

As new expressions my soul seeks.

Release comes when my spirit has spoken

And what needs fixing, is no longer broken.

Such a salve when words are released

And freedom seems to be increased.

Just to express what I desire to say

Puts a bright slant on my entire day.

There you have it friends.  A short blog and I’m ready to leave (except for my lipstick).  Have a wonderful day.  God bless all of you.  And remember, you can always read the prayer from the scriptures and know those words are being prayed over you.

Friday January 1 2016  CONSIDER ALL THAT’S IN YOUR HEAD

On my title line above this sentence is the first time I have written 2016 as an actual date.  A New Year gave me pause to wonder about all that might happen this coming year.  Would you like to have a glimpse of just what might happen this year?  I’ve given that some solemn thought and have decided from a serious point of view that, no I would not.  I think it would be quite overwhelming.  The most crushing would be to know what is going to happen, both to and in, our country this year.  If I gave that topic some thought I think it would be disconcerting.  If something drastic takes place would it be better to know ahead so you would worry about it, or to not know and just go about your normal everyday life.  How would it affect our lives if we really did know the future.  I think that would be a stressful way to live. I know that both life and death happen.  I certainly hope a catastrophic event will not take place where I am, but I would rather not be burdened with the knowledge of knowing if a horrible situation was going to take place.  God can handle it.  I can’t.

Had I thought in that manner I certainly would not have set out on my odyssey in March which took me to deserted back roads, mountains too high for me to climb, back woods bear country, and miles and miles of driving in isolation and unknown areas.  Was I cautious?  Well, I would like to think I used common sense and was therefore alert and watchful so as to avoid dangerous risks.  I drove in the daylight and planned my daily driving distance to not be farther than a six hour drive so I could take about eight or nine hours to get where I was going.  I have a penchant to stop and get out, speak to strangers, and discover out of the way places.  I tried to make wise decisions before doing any of those things and I did arrive home safely.

Instead of worrying or fretting about the state of affairs our country is in, I choose to be informed and well read about what is happening, know what precautions to take, avoid dangerous environments, understand our governing processes, be informed about the candidates that are running for the top position in the country, and to give everything over to God.  If and when disaster strikes, then I will do what I can do, and must do, and rely on God for my strength, courage, and refuge.  But, as you can tell by last night’s blog and tonight’s blog I do stop to think about a lot of things.  And I guess that is a good thing.  I just wish I could get into the head of others and really know what they think.  Now to me, that would be interesting, and maybe a little frightening. 

How do you think?  Do you really take time out of your busy schedule to actually just sit down and deliberately THINK?  Do you let your mind stretch itself by what you think about, by what you read, or by what you watch on television?  I do what I call “intentional thinking”, which I have mentioned in previous blogs.  Dave and I are reading the book YOU STAYING YOUNG which I mentioned in a blog recently.  We read a few pages together at the morning breakfast table and then discuss it.  I did find out one thing about myself when I turned a page and viewed a drawing that illustrated how some minds map out thoughts.  It’s point was to show the reader how a brain can think, organize, branch out, and compartmentalize all sorts of data.  It used the illustration as a positive way to exercise the brain power you have to keep it strong and healthy.  To Dave it was somewhat askew.  To those of you are list makers it would probably seem more than askew, perhaps a bit disjointed and cluttered.  The caption above the drawing gave this description: “MIND MAPS, DEVELOPED BY TONY BUZAN, EXERCISE THE BRAIN BETTER THAN LISTS CREATED AND NOVEL DECISIONS MAKE NEW PATHWAYS IN THE BRAIN.”  Well, when I first turned the page and looked at the drawing closely, reading all the words written in the pictures, I realized I had just viewed the pattern of the way in which my brain processes.  It is cluttered.  It goes in different directions, but with a reason and pattern for what I am thinking and planning.  I couldn’t help but laugh after I read the caption, to know that I wasn’t so weird after all (My husband just verbally inserted this comment “ONE PERSON’S OPINION” as we were proof reading. Hmm…). The author was encouraging people to allow their brain to be used in this manner to exercise it and make it grow.  So, I guess I am blazing new paths and it will help keep my brain healthy.  I’ll just have to blaze a new path about turning off water faucets!

In all seriousness, STOP, AND TAKE TIME TO JUST THINK!  Search out answers.  Be inquisitive and stretch your brain muscles (or whatever it is that needs stretching).  People think that three and four year old children have lots of questions.  I had lots of questions when I was younger, but I have even more now.  That is one reason I love talking to Dave every morning.  After all the quiet hours of the evening and night I awaken with lots of questions.  He doesn’t always have all the answers or even the answers I think I WANT to hear, but he is always patient and gives a lot of thought to his answers.  If he doesn’t know the answer, he often researches my questions, and then educates me at the breakfast table or dinner table.  I sometimes try to imagine other couples and the kinds of conversations they might have when waking up or at the table and just can’t imagine anyone else talking about the things we talk about. (Another Dave insert:  “THAT’S TRUE”). It’s as if we (or at least me) never have enough time to talk.  I just wish all that brain exercise would help me retain more than I do.  I just hope my brain keeps working for a bit longer (a LONGER bit longer)!

CONSIDER ALL THAT’S IN YOUR HEAD

By Kathleen Martens

January 1, 2016

When you really take the time

Thinking can be quite sublime.

But you must first find a thought,

One that is deeply sought.

Important ideas may be found

In your brain just laying around.

Everyday there is something new,

That which must be sifted through.

Unless you ponder you do not find

That special muse that’s one of a kind,

Allow moments to just ruminate,

So that you can then meditate.

Think on that which is good

For it is easily understood.

Contemplate not on the bad

Perchance it may, make you sad.

Let reason rise within your brain

So that you will stay quite sane.

Well balanced stability helps reflect,

On what you may expect.

Consider all that’s in your head

And upon what your brain is fed.

Allow your thoughts to deliberate,

So that you can contemplate.

Plan, consider, and envision each day

What it is your brain wants to say.

And study hard to make it grow,

The bigger it gets the more you know.

Organize and design, the perfect plan

And reflect on all you can.

Cogitate from deep within

Discerning where you have been.

Rekindle childhood fires

By imagining your heart’s desires.

Be the best you, you can be.

Allow your thoughts to go free!

So, I guess what I’m saying in this poem is, give pause, and allow your brain to go on holiday to think about whatever it wants to think about!  You might just go along for the ride and see where it leads you!  It’s what I call CREATIVE THINKING!

Today is the day I gave myself permission to start my new Tozer daily devotional.  I will only tell you the title since I really don’t like to break copyright laws.

So here is the title:

January 1

“GOD IS ALWAYS FIRST AND WILL SURELY BE LAST”

“I am  Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, saith the Lord.”  Revelation 1:8

Good night and God bless you!

I pray that you have a healthy and safe year.  

P.S.  I get to read another Tozer devotional tomorrow!