Author: skydivingmemaw

Me-Maw thoughts

Number 701

September 17, 2024//

Isaiah 59:19B (KJV)

When the enemy shall come in like a flood,

The Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.

This scripture came to mind as I was pondering all that has happened in our country lately.

It seems the enemy of all that is good is busy causing chaos and destruction in quantities we have not experienced before in the United States.

We who are Christians know that God is raising up voices of right and voices of common sense, to stand against evil.

I want to share with you one thought that I read a long time ago on this scripture.

The commentary on this said that many believe that the translators had the comma after the word FLOOD, in the wrong place. This thought was that it should be a few words before it after the IN.

This would cause that sentence to read: “When the enemy shall come in, like a flood the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.”

The enemy may bring chaos on every hand, but God floods this earth with a standard raised against the enemy.

Evil may get more media coverage, and our teens and youth are being attacked from every side, but God has a people who may not be in the media but are spreading Love, Peace, the Gospel, and a better way.

Multitudes are living every day as a light to a dark world!

There is revival on college campuses and an awareness of a change that needs to come.

Most American’s want peace to live, and work and enjoy their families without fear of guns being drawn at every turn. They want to be without fear of their children being given drugs or killed by a lost and confused individual.

How will this happen, by allowing the Spirit of the Lord to Flood this earth with good through each of us.

I have said it here before: We cannot do everything but each of us can do something to spread good and stomp out evil.

It is evil that would cause a creation of God almighty to shoot fellow classmates and teachers.

It is evil that would cause one of God’s creations to be bent on killing an individual running for President because they do not like that person.

It is evil that is filling our schools with drugs and violence.

But it is Jesus that can change that. Jesus is the answer because accepting his sacrifice on the Cross changes’ individuals from the inside.

We can use laws to try to keep evil under control, but you really cannot legislate good. Good must come from a changed heart and mind and that, dear reader comes from Jesus Christ, the Savior of all who believe and receive!

As Christians, do we really believe that Jesus is the answer to all the questions the precious creations of almighty God are looking for?

If we do, we need to do what Matthew 5:16 tells us to do!

Matthew 5:16 (KJV)

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Does our daily life show good works?

Good works is doing the best we can every day and doing it all as unto the Lord! It is showing kindness and mercy to those who are all around us who need to see through our life that there is a Savior who loves unconditionally.

It is reaching to the hurting and lifting them up with a word of encouragement and it is letting the Love of Jesus show through all we do.

This will bring the good and the right flooding into all the dark and hurting places of our world.

John 3:16 (KJV)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

May we show that Love!

___________________________

Father, in Jesus’ name I come. Thank you so much that our hope is built on the security and knowledge we have of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let each of our lives shine the light of God’s Love to those who are searching for the answers. Amen!

Love, MeMaw

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 700

September 10, 2024///

Today I want to interweave a couple of things together.

Last Friday I turned 80. I thank God for every year and every day that He gives me here on earth.

My prayer is to influence others for good in some way every day of my life. I want to say thanks to all who have wished me happy birthday and given me a card or a gift, and I realize how blessed I am to have wonderful friends and family.

In 80 years, I have been in the valley and on the mountain top. I have had lows and highs in my life, but I have never gone a moment without knowing God loves me and is on my side and that His way is always the best way.

On those times when I did it my way without prayer or considering the full picture, He has still been there to protect me.

I do indeed understand that walking in the light of God’s Love is the only way to peace and joy, but sometimes we know but do not heed the laws or direction of God and His word.

We were driving home yesterday after doing some work at church. Our route takes un on Hwy 42 between Jackson and Locust Grove.

I was obeying the speed limit on the part of the Hwy we were on which is 55MPH.

We were approaching a curve and had a double yellow line. Suddenly a truck revved its engine and flew around me not knowing what was coming around the curve.

Praise God, he made it but a car full of people could have been coming in the opposite direction.

As we got to the next traffic light that was red, there was that truck waiting for a green light. I had to laugh at the fact that his choice to put himself and others in danger did not get him any further before me.

I have no doubt the truck driver knew the speed limit but chose to ignore it!

I began to compare that to our lives. We get in such a hurry or are so stubborn in our ways that we disobey the directions given us in the Bible for the way to live the best life!

We fail to think about the influence and/or danger we are putting others in with our disobedient attitude, and I will do it my way mind set.

We must understand that we are not an island and everything we do has some type of influence on those around us. It can be good or bad, uplifting or degrading, but nothing we do only influences ourselves.

It is a choice, to live God’s way or live our way that is the way of the culture and our world system.

If we choose our way or the worlds way, we live to ourselves and die to ourselves, but if we choose God’s way which is the best way we try to do everything to uplift and help others.

We need to walk the Romans 14:8 way!!

Romans 14:8 (KJV)

For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.

But just like the truck yesterday, we sometimes get in a hurry to get to the next thing or the next year or the next promotion, or the next car, house or success and we do not consider those we have to possibly hurt to get there.

At the end of our lifetime on this earth we will find that our hurry to do or go or get there was not the best way. We will find that living unto the Lord was indeed the best way and we were too busy or to set in our ways to release ourselves to it.

If you are not already doing this, I invite you to live unto the Lord!

____________________________________________________

Father, help each of us to understand your way is the best way and if we are sincerely living as unto you, you will show us which way to go and the right decisions and give us a peace that the world systems cannot give. Forgive us when we get in our mind set and do not follow your directions and words. I ask this in Jesus’ name! Amen!

Love! MeMaw!

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 699

September 3, 2024///

This morning as I got up, I proceeded to do the things I do each morning which includes a nose spray.

I poured some juice, put the water and a k-cup in the Keurig and took my blood pressure.

I reached up into the cabinet to get the nose spray and it was not there. In my sleepy state of mind, I thought I must have taken it out already and began to look around.

It was not on the counter nor anywhere I had been since getting up!

My husband had his medicine sitting on the kitchen table. It includes some eye drops, an inhaler and things like that, so I looked to see if my nose spray had somehow gotten with his medicine.

I did not see it and to say I was perplexed is an understatement. I used it yesterday and it is always in the same place.

I finally just said I give up and took my coffee to the office and began my time with Lord. Did I ask the Lord to show me where it was, not exactly but I did tell Him in my prayer that He knew where it was, and He would show me!

When I went to the kitchen to make a second cup of coffee, I looked around the kitchen again and looked at the medicines my husband had on the table and one thing looked bigger than the others and it was the nose spray.

I would never have put it there; I was thinking, but I must have. I had looked earlier in the same place.

It was like someone was playing a joke.

Now if you know me or have read MeMaw thoughts for very long you know I am prone to giving everything a spiritual application and this disappearance and reappearance of this nose spray is no different.

Of course It was there the first few times I looked! Why did I not see it? Sometimes it seems there are blinders on our eyes, or we are seeing through a fog!

The Bible talks about the enemy, the devil, blinding our eyes from clearly seeing the things of God!

John 12:40 (KJV)

 He hath blinded their eyes and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

2 Corinthians 4:4 (KJV)

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

The devil is the little g: god of this world system, blinds eyes because people do not desire truth!

Now in my case I do not believe that the enemy of all that is good cared a flip about whether I had my eye drops or not.

But I know for the truth that the enemy of good, the devil, is set on keeping blinders on people’s eyes that they can not see the truth of who Jesus is and receive the price He paid and walk in the freedom trusting Jesus Christ, gives.

He is a liar and tells us whatever will cause us to reject all that Jesus did.

So may I tell you this morning that we need to pray for all those we know, believers or not, that they will see clearly and believe all that Jesus crucifixion and resurrection gives us.

May we walk in the abundance of His Blessings and protection and pray for others who have not yet accepted Jesus as Lord, that they will. And if they have, that they will realize all the Joy, Peace and security that is theirs!

My desire is that each of us walk with a clear vision of the right way and the path that the Heavenly Father has planned for us, and in the understanding of how much He Loves us.

________________________________________________________________

Father, In Jesus name I come! I decree and declare that all who read this are Blessed with spiritual eyes to see clearly and spiritual ears to clearly hear all you desire to show us and teach us. I decree and declare the lies of the enemy are evicted from each of our lives and we see the right and the truth! Thank you for touching each of us with your amazing love!

Love, MeMaw!

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 698

August 27, 2024///

This morning my mind goes to how you and I go through each day!

We tend to have our agenda for the day and our goal is to get this stuff done and make it through the day.

We are thinking about just getting our list completed!

Interruptions are not welcome nor are they thought of as opportunities but that is exactly what they are.

Each day should be lived with eternal values, knowing that this life is just a vapor and eternity is long.

Our daughter Donna has a plaque in her kitchen that I took a picture of, and the picture is on our refrigerator. It says:

“DON’T COUNT THE DAYS, MAKE EACH DAY COUNT!”

What a powerful way to live our lives and to affect others for good!

Yes, it is good to be responsible and to know what needs to be done, but we must not get so caught up in our agenda, that getting through the day is all we are thinking about.

We should face each day with the assurance that we can make a difference in the lives of others as we do not grumble about interruptions or situations that come up that do not fit our daily plans.

We should count them as opportunities that can help someone and/or teach us something!

I want to point you to two translations of Psalm 90:12 in the Bible!

Psalm 90:12 (KJV)

So teach us to number our days,

That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Psalm 90:12 (TPT)

Help us to remember that our days are numbered,

and help us to interpret our lives correctly.

Set your wisdom deeply in our hearts

so that we may accept your correction.

If we are open to letting each day be a day of spreading good and letting our smile or our words lift another person up, we are affecting lives for good.

The last part of verse 17 of Psalms 90 tells us that Lord God Almighty will help us live everyday thinking of others and eternity!

Psalm 90:17B (TPT)

Come work with us, and then our works will endure,

and give us success in all we do.

What will my day consist of! Running and not paying any attention to those around who just may need a word of encouragement.

Will we take a few minutes and make a phone call to someone who is going through a difficult time or someone you have not talked to in a while?

Will we write a card expressing uplifting thoughts?

Will we stop and pick up something the person in front of us in line drops, or will we be in such a hurry, we just sigh as they take the time to set the other things on the counter and pick up what was dropped.

How will we treat the person who needs out from a side road into a line of cars backed up? Let the car out or take every possible inch we can get because we are in a hurry!

Jesus never hurried, He was interrupted, He stopped His journey for one! He did the Father’s will by making each moment count without hurrying past those who needed Him!

May I tell you that this would needs us to take time to:

“MAKE EACH DAY COUNT”

__________________________________

Father, I come in the name of Jesus and thank you that you will help each of us live each day with eternity in mind. As we go through our days, may we understand that each situation and each person we see or talk to on the phone needs us to be unhurried and aware of them. Help us walk through each day with your Peace within, which will then allow us to spread peace. I release this day to your Lordship! Amen!

MAKE EACH DAY COUNT!

Love, MeMaw!

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 697

August 20, 2024///

How is your balance? This was the question asked of myself and Ronald when we went for a check-up at the Doctor.

We were truthful and both told her our balance was not the greatest. She proceeded to give us some advice about balance exercises, etc. which we appreciated.

The scales used a long time ago for weighing certain things had containers hanging on each side and if both sides hung exactly the same, they knew what was on one side equaled what was on the other side.

Our car tires get out of balance and the car does not want to drive straight ahead with ease.

We needed to do something to get our walking in balance!

The scales needed more or less on one side or the other to balance.

Our car tires need balancing periodically!

Well may I discuss with you this morning that our lives need balancing. We get affected by all that is around us and we just weave when we are walking through each day.

We spend way too much time concentrating on the negative rather than the positive. We need to balance our thinking, and let our mind and be on good things, and our mouth speak positive. Balance out the negative in our world.

We need balance!

Like our tires we need to let Father God renew us in our Love for Him and spend time reading and meditating on the word, praying, and worshipping with other believers and then we will get our lives in balance and all things will run smother down this road called life.

We need balance!

We need to balance our work time, our rest time, and just for fun time. All of this allows us to feel refreshed and be an encourager to others.

We need Balance!

Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes, in the Bible, give a list of “There’s a time to,” and it list different things.

When we get overwhelmed with life and our daily tasks, we need to get alone and let our loving Heavenly Father refresh us.

When Jesus was here on earth in the flesh He was always doing right, but He took time to refresh and spend time in meditation and prayer.

Jesus had Balance. He laughed, he wept, and He praised. He prayed and He ministered life to others.

He worked many miracles and taught crowds and His 12 apostles.

He slept and He ate, and He never got in a hurry, nor let what seem to others an emergency, rule His actions. He was steady and sure because He knew who He was!

When we realize we are loved by the creator of the universe and take time to really revel in that, we can stop the hurry and worry and just live each day to its fullest!

We need balance!

Real true Balance comes from knowing that all is vanity except knowing who we are through Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 6:10 (KJV)

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Galatians 2:20b (KJV)

: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

May each of us decide to get our life in Balance and get rebalanced when we feel the pressure mount!

__________________________________________________

Father, I come in Jesus’ name and thank you that if we let you guide us, we can keep getting our lives back in balance as the world systems around us pull us out of alignment. I pray that you will stir up within each person that reads this the truth of who you are, and we each give you our way, our day, and our life! Amen!

Get and stay Balanced!

Love, MeMaw

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 696

August 13, 2024///

If you are like me, when we look around us, we see so much need and so much turmoil and so many issues in America and our world.

It seems that common sense has fled, and things are happening that our parents and grandparents would never have believed.

We sometimes get discouraged when we look at all the evil and problems around us, but this morning I want to remind you of the good we experience and the good that is around us.

Even though good and evil are in a fierce battle in the United States we still have the freedom to worship as we please or not worship at all if we please.

We can read or have as many Bibles with us and in our homes as we want in this great United States of America!

We in America are free to have as many children as we want where parts of the world cannot do that.

We have the freedoms to work and travel and live our life apart from the fear of guns in our face and punishments we do not understand.

Even though our government does not always do right or what we want, we still have voting rights and can make our voices known.

Much of the world are not as Blessed as we are in the U.S.A. and as erroneous as it may seem to some we are thought of as a nation of freedoms for all.

On a personal level, if you are reading this you have a computer or phone or both and access to internet!

I would think most of you reading this did not sleep on the street last night or freeze or burn up (depending on where you are), because your electricity was out!

Do you have clothes to put on this morning and something to eat? If so, you are more blessed than much of the world, even many inside the United States!

Water to drink is a Blessing that many do not experience in our world!

If we can walk, move, drive, or work we are more Blessed than many people!

Most of us have family and friends who love us and will be there when we need them.

Can you read? You are Blessed! Can you write? You are Blessed!

Children, Grandchildren, Great-Grandchildren: these are all wonderful Blessings in our lives!

May I encourage you today to begin to be thankful for your Blessings!

If you are reading this, I would venture to say you at least believe there is a God who created all things.

May I tell you that the creator God of the universe is where all Blessings come from! He will pour out Blessing after Blessing on us, as we acknowledge our Blessings!

Look at James 1:17 in two translations of the Bible!

James 1:17 (KJV)

¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

James 1:17 (TPT)

¹⁷ Every gift God freely gives us is good and perfect, streaming down from the Father of lights, who shines from the heavens with no hidden shadow or darkness and is never subject to change.

I understand that God’s ways are so much different than our ways and His Love for us is so much deeper, but I tend to think He is like most earthly parents who desire to give their children more and more when those children express appreciation for what they are given!

Are we like selfish children who desire their way and want what they want even though it is not the best for them? Have you ever seen a child who received so much but was never thankful for it? Are we like ungrateful children when it comes to God’s blessings?

Are we breathing, we should praise God. We must realize that it is God that gives us breath and keep our heart beating and our body functioning.

No matter how tough things are for you right now, just began to praise God for what you do have beginning with the breath you breath. You will find an attitude change and a shift in your approach for the day!

Discouraged? Remember the Bible says, “Where evil abounds, grace does much more abound”! Grace is unmerited favor and blessings. May we walk the path of an attitude of gratitude!

_________________________________

Father, creator God of the universe, I come to you in the name of Jesus! I just want to thank you for your blessings on myself and each person who reads this. May we understand that our very breath is from you and just as a good parent you desire to Bless us! May we open our hearts and receive from you! Amen!

Blessing after Blessing!

Love, MeMaw

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 695

August 6, 2024//

As I was reading the Bible this morning it occurred to me how difficult what happens when we believe in Jesus, is to those who have not received.

Christians sometimes talk in a language that may seem foreign to a nonbeliever but is the key to living the best life here on earth and spending eternity in a perfect place with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Jesus, much of the time, used stories and illustrations to explain His point, and that is what I want to do today!

I was reading about Nicodemus who was a religious leader but was thinking in the natural and could not grasp Jesus declaring He must be born again. In his natural mind that was not possible.

Jesus was talking about receiving life inside us to give us peace, guidance, and help us live the best life that we are all created for.

Jesus explained that we cannot see the wind, but we see and feel the effects of it. In the same way we cannot see the spirit of man that is deep inside, but we can see the results when we let Jesus rule the deepest part of us.

I want us to think about a beautiful house we see from the outside and we are told it is ours and it is fully furnished with all we need, if we decide to accept it.  If we do, we can receive the key to a much better place than where we are living.

We can admire it from the outside and think of how we would like a change in our life, but until we say yes and take the key, we will never really know how it feels to live there.

When we receive the key and unlock the door and walk in, we see a wonderful place to call home. We can decide we are going to stay right in the first few rooms, or we can venture further into the rooms and things that have been provided for us.

This gives us a new place to live and a new view of life and the better way to live.

When we bypass the difficult to understand language and just understand we are loved, and Jesus came to earth as an expression of God’s Love to man! And we want the way He leads us; we have the keys to a better life as we allow the real us to line up with the greater plan for us. We can then go further into the house of His love and receive more peace and joy!

But like Nicodemus, we sometimes have a problem getting past the natural seeing to receiving the supernatural.

If you have never received Jesus as your personal Savior, it may sound strange but if you want a better life, just open your heart and be honest in prayer and you will walk through that door of better. Don’t reject it! Try it! It is real!

To you who are Christians, I encourage you to pray for others that they will open their hearts to receive the life that cannot be explained only experienced.

John 3:16–17 (KJV)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.                                    ¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

_______________________________________

Father, in Jesus’ name, open each reader’s heart to receive the better life you have provided. The life of Peace that the world cannot give nor understand.  I release each of us to your lordship! Amen!

Love! MeMaw!

ME-MAW THOUGHTS

NUMBER 694

JULY 30, 2024///

I want to share the highlights of a true story that Max Lucado shared in the introduction to his book, “Jesus, the God who knows your name”!

It shows what I desired to share with you today!

IN A HAITIAN ORPHANAGE, there were fifty-seven children. One of them was named Carinette! Each one is precious, but Carinette stands out! Each one is dark skinned, bright-eyed, curly haired, and speak Creole and love fun! But Carinette stands out!

Her food of rice and beans, and playing on a grassless playground, sleeping beneath a tin roof and her routine is exactly like the others. Yet she is different!

But her eyes have a light in them, and she has a bounce in her step and a spark in her! Why? If you ask her, she will tell you! She will tell you about the visitors who came!

Visitors who traveled from faraway world just to see her! They were looking for a little girl just like her! They knew her name, her favorite song and they knew that she loves to look at books and jump rope!

And in the moment that changed her forever, they invited her to live with them!

THEY ARE COMING FOR ME; she will tell you!

She will show you pictures of her soon to be home. Her adoptive parents brought her pictures, a teddy bear, granola bars and cookies. She shared the goodies with her friends and asked the director to guard her teddy bear, but she kept the pictures.

The pictures remind her of the father who knows her and the home that awaits her. The pictures convince her to believe the incredible: somebody knows her name and has promised to take her home.

AS A RESULT, CARINETTE IS DIFFERENT! Her world changed the day she learned that someone far away knew her name and was coming for her.

ARE YOU WILLING TO BELIEVE THE SAME?

Are you open to the idea of a heavenly Father who knows you? Would you consider this a life-changing idea: the Almighty and all-knowing God has set His affection on you! He knows every detail about you! He knows your interest, your hang-ups, your fears and failures! HE KNOWS YOU!

1 Chronicles 28:9 says in part:

for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts:

Zechariah 2:8 says in part:

For he that touches you touches the apple of his eye.

THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE KNOWS YOUR NAME AND WANTS TO BE WITH YOU FOREVER!   ******************************

I pray that as you read this it will touch you in the way that you need touching.

Maybe you are discouraged and need to be reminded of how precious you are to the Father in heaven!

Or maybe you feel like you could never be loved by one so great, or maybe you have never given thought to the Love the Father has for you!

Wherever you are and whatever you believe, may I tell you God, who sent Jesus to be His expression of love on the earth and take the penalty of our sins, Loves you unconditionally!

I pray we can all walk in that love as we navigate this thing called life!

__________________________

Father, I come in the name of Jesus and thank you for your love! Thank you for knowing each person who reads this by name, and you know each of us better than we know ourselves! That kind of love cannot be explained, just experienced! Be very real to each of us today, deep inside! Amen!

Love, MeMaw!

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 693

July 23, 2024///

As I looked on the internet at the speech Sarah Huckabee Sanders made at the RNC convention, I was struck with a truth I want to share here. This is not political so regardless of your views read on and be blessed!

She spoke of a day when she was the White House Press Secretary under President Trump. The White house had a bring your kids to work day!

She took her four-year-old son with her. Sometime in the day all the children brought to work at the White House with their parents, were gathered in the Rose Garden to meet the President!

As President Trump and Sarah came outside her four-year-old broke away from the other children and ran as hard as he could straight toward the President. The President got down to his level.

Her son though, sidestepped the president and ran straight into her arms!

The most powerful man in the world had nothing on his mom!

May I tell you when I heard that story, my heart immediately went to the truth that the most powerful or important people in our lives or the world, have nothing to compare to our Heavenly Father.

We must bypass all others and all else and run straight into His Arms!

Oh, we cannot physically run into God’s arms, but we can open our hearts to Him and the Peace and security He gives deep inside us feels like a great big hug!

Isaiah 26:3 (KJV)

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,

Whose mind is stayed on thee:

Because he trusteth in thee.

To Sarah’s son it did not matter that his mom was standing right with the President, he knew she would welcome him with open arms.

May I tell you that it does not matter who we are or where we are our Heavenly Father God will welcome us with open arms!

We hear so much about peace in this world. We all want the wars to cease, the hate to stop and people to live peacefully with each other. We want the security to know we are safe in our homes and on our streets!

But no real peace or safety can be found outside of God the Father and Jesus our Lord!

Sarah’s son knew his mom’s arms were a place of safety. Where is our safe place?

Who do we run to!

Psalm 4:8 (KJV)

 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep:

For thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

Our Father arms are open wide, when we receive the sacrifice of Jesus and give Him our lives, we can walk in peace and safety because we are in the care of the creator God!

Jesus promised:

Matthew 11:28 (KJV)

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

John 14:27 (KJV )

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

May we find our safe place in Him!

_______________________________________________

Father, thank you that in a world seemingly gone crazy, we can have peace and safety in you! You are able to give us peace and safety as we run into your arms and receive the love you have for us! You are our strength, our place of safety and our loving Father who knows us better than we know ourselves! Thank you for loving us! I pray this in Jesus’ name! Amen!

Love, MeMaw

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 692

July 16, 2024///

I know I shared a story last week, but I want to share another one. It is so powerful that it needs to be shared! Let it touch you as you read it!

______________________________________________________

A few years ago, a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago. The convention lasted all week, and all the salesmen had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night’s dinner.

As they hurried to the airport to catch their return flight, they rushed down the airport corridor with their briefcases in hand. In their rush, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples.

Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all continued running so they would make their plane.

All but one.

He stopped after running a few more yards, took a deep breath, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned.

He told his buddies to go on without him, waved goodbye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor.

He was glad he did.

The 16-year-old girl running the apple cart was totally blind. She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.

The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display.

As he did this, he noticed that many of the apples had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket.

When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, “Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?”

She nodded through her tears.

He continued on with, “I hope we didn’t spoil your day too badly.”

As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, “Mister…..”

He paused and turned to look back into her blind eyes.

She continued, “Are you Jesus?”

He gasped for a breath. Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: “Are you Jesus?”

Do people mistake you for Jesus?

That’s our call, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world–shopping, working, reacting to others that are serving us—that is blind to His love, life and grace.

If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would.

Knowing Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to church. It’s actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day.

You are the apple of His eye even though we, too, have been bruised by a fall. He stopped what He was doing and picked you and me up on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit.

Let us live like we are worth the price He paid.

 ———————————————————-

I cannot add to that!

Love, MeMaw!