New thoughts from Old books

I decided it was time to read through the Bible again. Maybe I will even finish this time. I am discovering new things each day and it has made this trip through the scriptures fun.
I hadn't ever thought of the Israelites in Egypt as anything but downtrodden slaves, but some of them owned livestock. I don't know why I missed it before, but what they took from Egypt was not just plunder.
I picked up on their ownership while I read through the plagues. The sixth plague was pestilence on the livestock, but God made a distinction between the Israelites and Egyptians livestock, so the Israeli's went untouched. Huh ... I have always heard of the 10 plagues, but there are 11, if you count the final one, the death of the first born. That is one that I may never understand, but I do find it interesting that, after the Israelites are out of Egypt, in Exodus 13 God declares that the first born are to be sanctified to God. Today I started praying differently for my firstborn child, and my firstborn grandchildren. It has made me want to be a praying grandma that influences her grandbabies through her prayers. Hang on tight kids, Grandma is praying some great prayers over those grandchildren.

More than worthy

I was reading Matthew 10:13 this morning, "And if the house is worthy, let your greeting of peace come upon it." I thought of the Turnbulls. Twice, in matter weeks, John and Debbie took in strangers. First, when Dad Sharpe died, and then for his memorial. Our family was welcomed with no expectations, just arms of compassion. They don't see their hospitality as a big thing, but we do. Coming home in the evening to a safe haven was huge. It was okay to be real. Waking up in the morning to the best cuppa tea in town and warm conversation, started our day wrapped in a blanket of love. The Spirit of God glistened in their tears and shone through their smiles. Their home is more than worthy. We have new friends who feel like family. Thank you John and Debbie, we love you.

I have wanted to be the Waltons for the longest time. This is why, Great Grandma Yola has Lucy in her lap and she is surrounded by children, grandchildren, her great grand-daughter and cousins. That's what it's all about.
I was reading my Bible the other day and this scripture stood out to me, "And Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life;." That is what I want, to be an old woman, surrounded by those I love, and satisfied with life.
The Chinese have a special word for family noise, it is a word that means warmth and love.
So, I will keep praying, and maybe my children will all come home and buy a family farm. I hear it may be legal soon to cultivate hemp in the states....

Sometimes, life is ... you know ...

Steve and I picked up this mug in California. We were there because Dad Sharpe took a very bad fall on the 18th of December and died on the 19th. We love Dad and it just doesn't seem right that his is gone so suddenly, so we bought this mug.
I was thinking about it during the sermon on Sunday. Pastor Kelly was talking about being grateful. I wondered how to be grateful when life is crap, and it came to me. Life isn't crap, but crap is part of life.
Pastor Kelly was also talking about our choices. We can sit and whine and be miserable, or we can find something for which to be grateful.
When we take crap and work it into the soil, it ceases to be crap and becomes fertilizer, a life giving thing. So, without crap there would be no life, no growth, no wonder at the incredible world in which we live.
Ironic, but get a pitchfork and work that crap into your life and be grateful for the new life that comes forth.
We miss you Dad. You brought joy and encouragement to so many, and left behind an amazing legacy. We are grateful to have had you in our lives for so many years.

The year of giving and generosity

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
Winston Churchill
I don't like a long list of resolutions at the start of a new year. I don't even like a short list. For me, the list brings guilt and failure and who needs that. I do like a thought, something to keep coming back to throughout the year, something that provokes me to action. This year, Winston Churchill's quote is my thought.
I chose this picture because sometimes, what we have to give isn't money or stuff, it's time and energy, and that is when I find I am most selfish.
Thank you to Kamron and Dan for giving themselves to help us move in July. Thank you to Heidi and Kim for watching over home and kitty when we are gone. You didn't have to and we are blessed by your generosity.