No Room for a Snake in the House

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of
God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. Ephesians
6:10-11

Who put a rubber snake in here?



The ugly, scaly, black thing lying in the hallway was coiled with its head up just a bit. Even so, I kept a good distance as I leaned over to take a closer look. About that time, the rubber snake must have seen me because it slithered off towards the kitchen.

Thankfully, my two-year-old granddaughter, Katelyn, who hadn’t learned to fear anything, didn’t see the snake. If she had, she would have rushed past me and snatched it up. That could have been the end of Nana.




To be on the safe side, I grabbed Katelyn and picked her up. She started yelling and kicking for me to put her down. But I held on firmly as we dashed through the den and another hallway. Holding her tightly, I ran through the living room and out the front door. Crossing the front porch and side yard in record time, my feet barely touched the ground. I bound up the steps to my husband, Danny’s office and threw open the door. My abrupt entrance startled Danny.


I screamed. “There’s a snake in the house!”


He shrugged. “Well why didn’t you call me?”


“Because there was a snake between me and the phone.”


In a crisis Danny goes into his super calm mode, as if compensating for my fear. But I want him to jump up and throw on his Snake Catcher Cape. I want him to run and catch that snake.


Danny rose from his desk and walked down to the house. He searched upstairs, downstairs, and in the basement and then declared that he was certain the snake was no longer in the house. Danny said that the snake had gone back outside the same way it had come in.


Not being quite as sure of this as he was, I walked around looking at the floor for the remainder of the evening. After thoroughly searching the covers, I crawled into bed and prayed that we’d see that snake one more time. I prayed that we’d catch it so I could be certain that the snake wasn’t putting on his nightcap and turning in as well, somewhere else in the house.


A few days passed without another visit from the snake so I began to relax and agreed with Danny that the snake preferred to live outside. The following Saturday morning as Danny mowed the grass, I walked out to see him. When I reached the basement steps, something on the ground caught my eye. There it was. God answered my prayer. In His mercy, He even let us find the snake outside instead of inside the house. Catching Danny’s eye, I pointed very emphatically to the ground. Realizing immediately what I was pointing to, he turned off the lawn mover and threw on his Snake Catcher Cape. Danny came running and in one swift motion reached down and grabbed the snake behind its head. Danny put the snake in a box and gave it to a friend who actually likes black snakes.


Later as Danny and I took a good look at our 80-year-old house, we realized that we’d had a false sense of security. We found cracks and holes that a snake could easily slither through. Danny then spent a full day snake-proofing our home


This caused me to think how easy it is to have a false sense of security in other areas of our lives. We may see something potentially dangerous and think it’s not real. It won’t harm us. And then it slithers off. We may think that we have no cracks big enough for anything to slip through. We would never be tempted. We know right from wrong. We may even go to church. But something finds a hole just big enough to squeeze in. Sin can cause a lot of anxiety. It can wreak havoc in our lives if not caught and dealt with.


I think I’ll take a good look at my spiritual house. See if there are any areas that need spiritual caulking. Talking with God and reading His Word daily will help prevent cracks. Prevention really is best, in dealing with sin, and in keeping out snakes. And there really is no room for a snake in my house - physically or spiritually.

A Season of Peace

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

Gathering around the kitchen table at the homeless shelter, we lit the purple Advent candle that symbolizes peace. Peace that is sometimes in short supply for those living at the shelter. Peace that is sometimes elusive in my life as well.




This small group of women and I talked about the different things we use to fill our soul’s desperate need for peace: relaxing music, bubble baths, soothing candles, food, cigarettes, and even turning to the escape found in alcohol and drugs. We talked about addictions that had destroyed all illusions of peace for some - along with jobs, relationships, and even health.


We talked about what happens when the music is turned off, the bath water grows cold, and the candle melts down into a puddle of cold wax. We commiserated about feeling miserable after a food binge and how the desire for one cigarette just produces the desire for another. We agreed that when the high is gone and a hangover has taken its place, we are left once again searching for peace.


As we talked, we began to realize what a wonderful gift peace actually is. But how do we find true and lasting peace? How do we hold on to peace when our situations are anything but peaceful? We found the answer in Isaiah’s prophecy that a child would be given us whose name would be the Prince of Peace.


We reflected on the times when we had turned to Christ seeking peace and how He had always proven Himself faithful. In that small kitchen, with the flame flickering on the candle of peace, peace began to flicker in our souls as well. No, our situations hadn’t changed but our minds and souls had been transformed by the peace of God that transcends understanding. Glory to God in the highest, for to us a child was born and He is the Prince of Peace.

Father, thank you for Your peace that is beyond our understanding. Help us to feel Your peace today.

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“Remember this. When people choose to withdraw far from a fire, the fire continues to give warmth, but they grow cold. When people choose to withdraw far from light, the light continues to be bright in itself but they are in darkness. This is also the case when people withdraw from God”. ~Augustine

Trading Places

The call came from New Hanover Hospital’s emergency room after the crisis with my three-year-old granddaughter had passed. "Mom, Katelyn’s okay, but we just spent four hours in the ER with her," I heard my daughter, Emily, say on the other end of the phone line.

Even as relief flooded my mind with the words, "Katelyn’s okay," panic rushed right in behind it as the second part of the sentence, "four hours in the ER," seeped in.

"It was just awful, Mom. We were at a self check-out at the grocery store. I was scanning our groceries and Katelyn was sitting in the cart with her baby doll. Turning my back to her for just a second, she attempted to climb out of the cart and fell face first to the floor," Emily said.

Katelyn’s little head hit the concrete floor with a sickening thud. Those in the store who observed the accident were frightened and directed Emily to the nearest medical facility at Carolina Beach where they were vacationing.

"We were so scared, Mom. Katelyn’s head was bruised and bleeding. We took her to a walk-in facility and they sent us directly to the hospital. I cried all the way there. I wanted to trade places with her, Mom. I wanted to take her place."

I know that feeling well. My heart would break as my children were growing up and experienced illness, injury and heartache. I would have given anything to trade places with them. I wanted to take their place. Parents as far back as time itself have hurt when their children hurt. Emily wanted to take Katelyn’s place and bear her pain but she couldn’t. As much as I wanted to take my children’s places as they suffered I could only remain close by and let them know that I loved them.

God loved the world so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus, so that all who believe in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24

Jesus left Heaven and came to earth – a place that is full of sin and suffering. And Jesus, being fully God, did exactly what Emily and I wanted to do but couldn’t – He took our place. There on Calvary’s Hill Jesus died on the cross for us, He paid the price for our sins - a price that was ours to pay. He suffered as He hung on the cross waiting to die. The suffering should have been ours. Jesus traded places with us. Jesus took our place.



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Going Fishin'

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. Mark 1:16-18

“I’m going fishin’, Nana,” my three-year-old granddaughter, KK, said.



As she walked from the kitchen, I smiled to myself and thought, how cute. I imagined KK casting out an imaginary fishing line and reeling in her plastic fish. Suddenly my smile vanished as I recalled some of KK’s previous escapades. Dashing down the hall to the bathroom, I expected to find her running a tub of water for her plastic fish.




About that time, KK slowly emerged from the den into the hallway. As she walked toward me, she cautiously placed one small foot down and then the other. In one hand she held a paper cup while her other hand covered the top of the cup. Upon reaching me, KK removed her hand from the cup and said, “Look Nana, I caught a fish.”


Peering into the cup of sloshing water, I recognized a fish that had been kidnapped, or fishnapped, from its home in the aquarium. KK was serious about her fishing. She never intended to use a make-believe fishing pole to catch plastic fish. KK was determined to catch real fish.


Simon and Andrew were fishermen casting their nets into the lake when Jesus came along. Simon and Andrew were serious about their fishing. They were using nets and catching “real fish.” Yet Jesus told them that he had a more important fishing assignment for them – to be fishers of men.


Even today, Jesus calls us to do the same. Do we hear His voice saying, “Come, and follow me?"

Are we willing to leave behind our busyness?


Are we willing to minister to a lost and hurting world?


Are we willing to be fishers of men?

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He Restores My Soul

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Psalm 23:2-3

Driving up the steep, curvy, gravel road, I asked the Lord to meet me on the mountain. After a season of intense trial, I needed some time alone with the Lord. I needed the peace and comfort and restoration that only come through Him.

After breaking my right foot in early spring, I’d been unable to walk or drive for ten weeks. As my world shrunk to four walls, the days crawled by. Satan didn’t waste this opportunity, this time of weakness and discouragement, to attack. Life delivered another blow that threatened to break my very spirit - my soul.

As I returned to the doctor for check-ups and x-rays, the news was the same time after time. The bones haven’t healed. The bones haven’t healed. “Why aren’t your bones healing?” the doctor finally asked.

The news from my spirit was the same. The heart hasn’t healed. The heart hasn’t healed. “Why isn’t my heart healing?” I cried out to the Lord.

I felt so helpless. I felt so alone. I felt so wounded. The words that usually poured from my heart onto the page ceased. This had never happened to me before. Yet, that’s exactly what Satan wanted.

Ten weeks after the fall that broke my foot, I returned to the doctor for yet another x-ray. With the report in hand and a smile on his face, he walked into the room and delivered the wonderful news - your bones have healed. Even though my foot was tender and painful to walk on, I enjoyed every step I made. I enjoyed getting into my car and driving once again. My foot had been restored.

But my heart - my spirit - that was another story. Desperately needing to get away, I made a reservation for a few days at Pilot Knob Inn. Arriving at the tobacco barn cabin, I unpacked my bag and laid down for a nap. As I closed my eyes, sleep didn’t come – prayers did. Lying on the bed, I began to feel God’s mighty presence as I poured out my heart to Him.

The room was dark because the view from the small window was obscured by trees. Suddenly, an intense light from the sun shone between the leaves and forced my eyes open. I hadn’t seen even a tiny opening in those leaves but God allowed the sun to break through and flood not only my face but my heart. As I shielded my face from the bright light, I felt that I, like Moses, had seen the goodness of the Lord pass by me.

Throughout the weekend, each time I tried to nap, my nap time turned into prayer time. I was drawn to God’s Word and read Scripture that I’d highlighted while going through previous trials. I read all the verses I could find pertaining to healing.

Thinking my broken spirit couldn’t be repaired in one short weekend, I merely hoped to find peace and a little restoration. Packing my car to return home, I realized how little faith I have in our big God.

I’d asked the Lord to meet me on the mountain and He had met me on the mountain. I asked him for a little peace and restoration. God gave me His peace that passes understanding and He healed my broken spirit. I returned home to the same problems I’d left behind only now, by His grace I knew I could handle them. The Lord restored my soul.

Are you at a place in your life where you need to be restored?

Do you need a healing touch from God?

Pour out your heart to the Lord and He will heal your broken spirit.

Father, thank you that you are able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine. Thank you for being the Lord who heals us.

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In Our Father's Arms

Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does
what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 1 John 3:7 (NIV)

The blonde curls bounced as the blue-eyed little girl pranced down the aisle. The pastor had called for all the children to join him at the front of the church for the children’s message. The little blonde-haired girl joined the circle of small boys and girls seated on the carpeted floor.

When the pastor concluded, each child began to find the way back to their seat in the large worship center. As the little girl found her way back to the correct section, she paused as her eyes scanned an endless sea of faces. Not seeing her parents, she bravely proceeded up the aisle with slow, but certain steps, her eyes timidly taking in the faces seated in each row.

As the little girl continued her slow journey, another couple began waving their hands so the little girl would see them and then hopefully notice her parents close by. But as the little girl looked at them, her pretty face frowned with an expression that said, “No, you’re not my mommy and daddy.” And she kept right on walking. As the little girl got closer to her parent’s aisle, her father stood so she could spot him. A smile replaced the frown as the little girl climbed into her daddy’s arms where she felt safe and secure again.

As we go through life, do we let the waving hands of someone else or the distraction of something else take our focus off of following after our Father? Or do we just keep walking with slow, but certain steps until we see Him? We too will feel safe and secure again - in our Father’s arms.

Father, please help us to keep our eyes and hearts focused on You today. Amen

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Purple Basil Nightmare

Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.
The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." – Mark 14:38

One day, I saw and purchased a beautiful, ornamental purple basil plant thinking it just the right addition for my little herb garden. This plant grew very fast. The dark purple, frilly leaves were beautiful and it smelled wonderful. I enjoyed its beauty all summer long. When winter came, the basil plant died and I soon forgot it.


Spring came and I looked at my garden and saw little, purple basil plants coming up all over the place. I felt so proud. Boy, do I have a green thumb. Those little plants just kept coming up, and coming up, and coming up. Before long, they were trying to take over my entire garden.

Hold on there, I have some other things planted in this garden. I didn’t want to just pull up the basil but I had to give the giant hibiscus a little space. And my purple salvia and lilies were completely surrounded by basil. Then, I started noticing the purple plants in my other flower gardens.


Soon my neighbor told me she had purple basil coming up in her garden.

“Just sharing,” I told her with a neighborly wave as I backed up to return home.

It became a serious problem when my Aunt Millie, who lives in the house below me, told me that my Uncle David had taken a strange, purple plant to the city horticulturist because it was coming up all in their yard. Soon my section of the neighborhood had become a purple basil nightmare. I was even pulling it from the cracks in the sidewalk.


That purple basil plant was beautiful. I hadn’t seen any harm in it. I just wanted to enjoy its beauty and fragrance. My experience with this plant sounds like what happens in our lives.

The “purple basil” may be anything Satan puts in our path. It may be beautiful and fragrant. It may make us feel good. But before we know what has happened, it has taken over the garden of our life and choked out the things we really wanted to keep. The hazard is it may even spread and affect people around us.


I should have found out more about that basil before I planted it. The horticulturist told my neighbor that it spreads and takes over everything.


We need to be aware of those appealing, beautiful traps that Satan puts in our lives because they too can spread and take over everything. God’s word and His Spirit living in us will help us to be alert before the purple basil nightmare occurs in our lives.

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Uprooted

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

The gladiolus plants stood tall and proud in my neighbors’ garden just waiting to burst forth into bloom with their beautiful pink, purple, red, white and orange flowers. But my neighbor decided she was tired of her gladiolus garden so she uprooted them - flowers, stems, bulbs and all.

Tossed into a pile, they were destined to be thrown away.

As any good neighbor would do, I walked over to see what was going on and arrived just in the nick of time. I gathered an armful of the long, green stems with the bulbs still attached and rescued those plants.

Preparing a new home for those orphaned gladiolus plants; I dug little round holes into the rich soil of my flower garden and dropped the bulbs in. As I worked transplanting those brown, onion-looking bulbs, I suddenly realized they were actually, well...ugly. Had I not known the potential inside those bulbs, I certainly wouldn't have put forth the effort to transplant them. But I knew inside the bulb, which at this time appeared to be all dried-up, lived everything needed to once again grow strong, tall stems and produce beautiful flowers. The bulbs just needed someone who cared to replant them in just the right soil.

Sometimes we, too, may be uprooted. Major moves, divorce and loss of loved ones can all leave us feeling uprooted in life. We may feel that we’ve been tossed into a pile and thrown away by those we love and maybe, even by God. We may even feel that our heart has withered down to just an ugly, brown bulb.

But just like that gladiolus bulb, inside we still have everything we need to grow back strong and tall. We just need someone who cares. That Someone is the Lord our God. When we cry out to the Lord, He hears our prayers and sees our tears and will heal our broken hearts.

Just as the flowers from those transplanted gladiolus plants bring beauty and joy to others, the Lord can use us to do the same. Because we’ve been there and survived being “uprooted,” we can reach out and minister to others. And with our mended hearts planted in His love, we’ll survive any uprooting life may bring our way.

• Have you ever been uprooted in life?
• Have you ever felt like you were thrown away by those you love?
• Have you ever felt abandoned by God?

Even when we’re uprooted in life, the Lord our God is always with us. He will quiet us with his love when we cry out to him.

Father, thank you that we are eternally secure in You and that You will never let us go.

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Spirits Can Be Restored

You also, like living stones, are being built into
a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood,
offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to
God through Jesus Christ. - 1 Peter 2:5

An empty old Georgian style house with magnificent columns in front sits on my street. Passing by this old house, I think how beautiful it must have been when it was first built and in times past. Neglected for many years, the white paint is fading and peeling. The house has even been vandalized inside and out. Having been empty for so long, it’s hard to know how much damage has actually been done. How much would it cost to restore this old house? I wondered. Can it even be saved?

How I wish someone would move in and fix up that old place! I know it has the potential to be so beautiful. That dilapidated old structure is a lot like many of us. We come into this world so beautifully created by our Maker. Then someone we trust hurts us; emotionally, physically or both. We may shut down emotionally because it hurts too much to feel. We may not care about our appearance. Beautiful spirits are broken and sometimes even destroyed. After our "spiritual house" sits empty for so long, others may start to wonder if we can ever be restored. What will it take to restore us? How much will it cost? Can we even be saved?

The answer to this question is simply yes. If we allow Jesus into our hearts, He can heal the scars caused by abuse and repair the broken spirit. And unlike that old house on my street that would probably cost so much to restore, the cost of Jesus’ restoration is free. And Jesus’ work is always beautiful; after all, He is the Master Carpenter.

Do you have broken windows and peeling paint in your life?

Have you perhaps given up on experiencing healing and peace for yourself?

Is there someone in your life whom you've given up on?

Remember, we're never too broken for God.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for being the Lord who heals us. Help us to feel your healing touch today. In Jesus name, Amen.

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Mama, is it free?

Arriving at the homeless shelter for Bible study, I was greeted with an invitation before even setting foot on the back porch.

"I’m being baptized next Sunday night. Will you come?" Jane* asked.

"How wonderful! I wouldn’t miss it for anything!" I replied.

Jane excitedly shared that she’d accepted Christ as her Savior during Sunday school the previous week at the shelter.

Mary*, another resident, then told the group that she was going to be baptized on the same night. Even though Mary had accepted Christ many years ago, she’d never been baptized.

Then 12-year-old Kristen* informed the group that she’d attended Bible School the previous summer and she’d learned all about Jesus. "And I want to be baptized too."

"Wow - what a night! This is so wonderful." I told the group. And it was. Everyone was excited. Everyone, I soon realized, except for Kristen’s mother.

"Mama, can I? Can I be baptized?"

"You don’t need to be baptized now," Mama responded.

A quiet fell over the group as the little girl’s face drooped with sadness.Kristen crossed her small arms, dropped her head and tried to hold back the tears that were welling up in her big blue eyes.

Even as my heart ached for Kristen, we began our lesson which interestingly enough was on the plan of salvation. We talked about how God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that whoever believes in him could have eternal life. We talked about Jesus being the way, the truth and the life and the only way to the Father.

As we talked, the little girl continued to plead her case. "I know that. I learned that in Bible school. Mama, why can’t I be baptized?"

"Hush. We’ll talk about it some other time," Mama said.

Mama had attended Bible study every week since moving into the shelter. She clearly believed in God. But when we talked about the prodigal son returning home and his father not only forgiving him but welcoming him home with open arms, Mama’s head didn’t drop fast enough to conceal the fact that she couldn’t accept that forgiveness for herself.

"Mama, I need to do this. Please?" the little girl begged.

"I said ‘No’," came Mama’s reply.

Wanting to plead this little girl’s case, but knowing I couldn’t, we continued on and talked about the plan of salvation known as the Roman Road.

"There is no one righteous, not even one."

"For all have sinned and fall short

of the glory of God."

"For the wages of sin is death, but the
gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

"But God demonstrates his love for us in
this: While we were still sinners,

Christ died for us."

"That if you confess with your mouth,

‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

"Everyone who calls on the name

of the Lord will be saved."

A simple prayer confessing we are sinners, but that we believe Jesus died for our sins and we want to accept His gift of eternal life is all it takes, I told them. And then the child who had been told "no" so many times because the things she wanted in life cost too much asked, "Well, Mama is it free?"

Silence once again fell over the group that was gathered around the table. Even Mama didn’t have a quick answer to that question. The little girl’s eyes then turned to me. And the answer that sprang from my heart was, "Yes, baby girl, it is free. It is God’s gift to us and it is free to all."

Mama eyes turned to me and I gently held her gaze.

"Mama, why don’t the two of you talk about this later? When the pastor comes by to talk with the ladies who are being baptized, I know he’d be happy to talk with you as well," I said.

"Okay," Mama replied and Kristen’s face broke out in a smile.

The following Sunday evening the baptism of those three was a glorious affair to behold. And even though Mama didn’t attend, a radiant-faced little girl stood in the baptismal waters as she announced that she had accepted the one thing in life that is truly free to us all, the gift of Jesus Christ as her Savior.
* Names changed

Father, thank you for the gift of eternal life that is free to all who call on your name.

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Pass It On

Pass It On

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,

who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those

in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

With arms crossed and eyes narrowed, Judy (not her real name) glared at me and demanded, “Why do you do this? Why do you come here?” Judy, who’d come to Bible study every week since she’d moved into the homeless shelter, never joined us at the kitchen table. Instead, she retreated to the safety of a corner in the kitchen. Judy’s body language shouted the distrust born out of her life circumstances. Having only visited the shelter for a few weeks, I was taken aback by Judy’s questions. Stumbling through an answer, I tried to ease her fears.

Later, searching my heart for just why I had felt led to teach a Bible study at The Shepherd’s House, I remembered a day when I had dropped off a clothing donation at the shelter. I recalled seeing the women and children who were living there and the pain reflected in their eyes – pain that I understood. I then realized that God had been preparing my heart since childhood for this ministry. Circumstances in my life have led me to have a heart for hurting people. Those same circumstances have also taken away the tendency to be judgmental.

Several years ago while going through a very long and painful season, many people did so much to love and care for me. One friend in particular was always very loving and giving. After several months, I finally asked how I could ever repay her kindness. My friend replied, “You’re not to repay me - you’re to pass it on.”

Suddenly realizing the answers to Judy’s questions, I wrote a letter and shared my story with her. “Although I’ve never been homeless,” I told her, “there’s not a lot that any of the residents have experienced that hasn’t touched my life in one way or another. Thankfully, God has always placed special people in my life who have shown Christ’s love to me. And that has made all the difference. So, Judy, I do this, I come to the shelter because I’m passing it on.” The following week, Judy joined us at the kitchen table.

Now, whenever a new resident moves into the shelter, I take the time to tell them who I am and why I come. I encourage them that someday when they get to the other side of whatever trial they’re facing, they too will have the opportunity to minister to others. And when a resident asks how they can repay my kindness, I always reply, “Please, just pass it on.”

Are we able to encourage others who are walking through difficult days by sharing how God has been faithful to us?

Do we take the time to share our hearts as we reach out to minister to others?

Do we take the opportunity to pass it on?

Father, thank you for the comfort You bestow on us through Your Spirit, Your Word and Your people. Help us to pass it on. In the precious name of Jesus. Amen

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I Wuv You Berry Much

How great is the love The Father has lavished on us,
that we should be called children of God!
And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1

Spontaneously saying a prayer of thanksgiving as I pulled out of the parking lot of First Presbyterian Church, I very earnestly thanked God for ‘Mothers Morning Out’- in my case ‘Grandmothers Morning Out’ – and drove away to enjoy three blissful hours of being all alone in my quiet house.

I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to care for Katelyn, my two-year-old granddaughter, during the day. I love having such a big part in her life but this little blessing of mine is a handful and can zap every ounce of energy from this Nana’s body. Some days when my daughter, Emily, picks up Katelyn she says, “Wow, Mom! You really look tired.” I have to admit that there have been days that I felt I could collapse as the door closes behind them.

Katelyn’s saving grace with Nana is the fact that she’s just as sweet and loving as she is wide-open. She’s also very funny. I went through the stage of having to chase her to change her diaper but one day I stopped and said, “Katelyn, I’m not chasing you anymore.”

Of course, Katelyn’s new favorite saying became, “I not chase you anymore, Nana.” Hard to keep a straight face with that one sometimes.

Katelyn is also very perceptive for her age. She can tell when Nana is about at the end of her rope and she’s learned just how to handle the situation. As we drove along the other day, I looked back to see ten wiggling little toes. And I’d just put socks and shoes on those toes and asked Katelyn to please leave them on. Turning around I thought,

This child is going to get the best of me yet.

About that time Katelyn said, “Nana?”

“Yes, Katelyn?” I replied in a weary voice.

“I wuv you berry much.”

I glanced in the rearview mirror and couldn’t help but smile.

Katelyn knew Nana needed that.

“I love you very much too, Katelyn.”

And I felt my heart swell - Nana’s hearts are just like that.

I know there have been days that if God ever did get tired,
I would have made Him feel exhausted.
I’m sure there have been days He must have felt like
He was right at the end of His rope with me.
I wonder if He’s ever thought,

This child is going to get the best of me yet.

However, God’s Word tells me that He is “a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love.”

Just the same, I think I should learn from Katelyn and remember to say,

Father, I love You very much.

I know His heart will swell - Father’s hearts are just like that.

Do we remember to ask our Father’s forgiveness for the times that
we feel we have pushed Him to the “end of His rope?”

I hope that we also remember to tell Him,

“Father, I love you very much.”

Father, thank you that you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love. We love you very much. Amen.

I'd love to have you visit at http://www.inspirationfrommayberry.com/.

A New Year's Resolution

A New Year’s Resolution

Yet, O LORD, you are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
Isaiah 64:8

The young woman’s body shook and her tears flowed. Kathy* had just moved into the homeless shelter and she was in the early stages of drug and alcohol withdrawal. When Kathy learned we were having Bible study, she ran from the room, came right back, Bible in hand and tears still flowing.

Having just celebrated the New Year, we talked about resolutions and how a resolution is a change we want to make in our lives. We talked about the Potter and the clay, and how our Father is in the continual process of molding and changing our lives to shape us into the beautiful vessels that He wants us to become.

We talked about how we, as the clay, must be pliable and willing and trust the Potter. How we must make sure our clay stays soft and doesn’t dry out. How we must be willing to place our clay in the Potter’s hand. How we must get to know our Father and let Him prove Himself trustworthy and how we do this by reading His Word - and learning how much He truly loves each one of us.

We then made a list of our resolutions for the New Year and Kathy shared that she had already made hers. She had been saved through faith in Christ just a month earlier. Ever since that time, she had planned for the next day to be her last day to drink and get high. Kathy had some serious pain in her life and she was afraid of being sober. But she had truly encountered Christ and during the past month, through studying God’s word and praying to Him, He had given her the power to finally say “no more.”

So on this night, as Kathy suffered through the early stages of withdrawal, her determination was evident. Even as her body shook and her tears flowed, she held tightly to her Bible. As we talked about the Potter and the clay, and God molding us and changing us, this young woman seemed to cling to every word that was spoken.

As we were finishing up, something truly divine began to happen. Another resident began to encourage Kathy as she shared how God had helped her survive a similar experience. She was so very kind and loving and supportive. An older resident then spoke up and said she had been there too. She assured Kathy that she would make it through this time - and they would all be there to help her. Then the older resident closed her eyes and lifted her face toward heaven and sang “What a Day That Will Be.” As she sang to her Lord, all of her worries and concerns seemed to just melt from her face.

*name changed

These women laid aside their own problems to minister to Kathy.

Are we able to put aside our problems and minister to others in need?

Do we truly encounter our Father when we close our eyes
and lift our faces toward heaven?

We will if only we have faith as great as this precious homeless woman.

Father, we ask that you give us the power to trust you and leave our burdens at the cross. We ask that you give us a heart that always allows us to minister to others. And we pray that in the midst of our problems we would be able to close our eyes and lift our faces toward heaven and sing praises to you. In the precious name of Jesus.

I'd love to have you visit at http://www.inspirationfrommayberry.com/.

Susan Shelton Dollyhigh

Susan Shelton Dollyhigh was born and raised in the small, quaint town of Mount Airy, North Carolina. Mount Airy (better known as Mayberry), is Andy Griffith’s hometown and the place that inspired The Andy Griffith Show. Susan and her husband reside there still today and have two grown children and one granddaughter.

Susan uses her inspirational stories as teaching tools at The Shepherd’s House, a homeless shelter for women and children. Susan has a passion for the homeless and for the last four years has taught a Bible study at the shelter.

Susan never intended to become a writer. She never intended to write even one story. But God intended for her to share her life and personal experiences as He restored beauty from the ashes of her life. She is very humbled that God would chose to use her to share the message that His power is indeed made perfect in weakness.

Susan is a free-lance writer and columnist. She was recently announced as the grand prize winner in Women of Faith’s Shine the Light Contest and the story appeared in September/October issue of Connection Magazine.

Please visit Susan at her website: www.InspirationfromMayberry.com.