Unveiling the Masks

Our pastor is going to college right now. Actually the entire congregation is in college with him. He is so loving his courses and shares some of his newly acquired knowledge and facts with us on a regular basis. Neuropsychology is what we are all learning about now. Applying the actual physical workings of our body to the way our minds and thoughts work. Our senses and our sensabilities. Our perceptions of our world and how our brain processes those perceptions. He very skillfully shows how all is in the Bible...how our physical bodies work and the spiritual application of physical to spiritual lives. HUH? you say. Ok. Though our eyes we see. Stuff comes in and goes to the brain. The brain interprets what the eyes send it. Because of the way our eyes are made, we all have a blind spot for each eye. So here comes the signal from the eyes to the brain...with some gaps. Now, our brains are pretty smart, and clever, and fills in the gaps and will also make adjustments in the interpretation of the whole thing so the gaps make sense in our own understanding. OK. Next. We also have our outward showing self, our inward hidden inner self, our masks and our little deceptions. All this is clearly laid out in scripture. What does it all come to. God knows every thing about us. Every minute detail. We try to act one way for people to see so they believe we are that way, when we really know we are not. Then we act certain ways because of unseen and unknown stuff hidden in our depths (gaps) we are not even aware of. Then there is the real us...or me. And what God wants is for us to be honest with Him, honest with ourselves and transparent to others so nothing can hide. He is willing to heal our inner most depths, our hidden pains and hurts and brokeness. We need to be willing and open and honest for the Holy Ghost to reveal to us where the areas of our lives need work, and be willing to do the work to fix the problem. Prayer is where this happens. The message was excellent. I am hoping it will make the web site of our church so I can listen again.

Messages In Reverse

So,OK, you know that I was in Boston on Sunday morning taking a test. When I was done with that...and happily so I will add...I drove to George's place in the country, a 2 1/2 hour journey. George and Laurel were expecting the arrival of George's dad. He was coming to help set up the "shop" for all the work planned to spiff up the house. A nice visit, some snacks and real good coffee, and I hit the road again, heading for church and the evening service. I arrived an hour and a half ahead of schedule...wonderful. Time for a quick nap. I had been talking with the Lord while driving. Airing my mind, trying to make sense of some things and just plain ole communing with Him, best I could while driving. God is a good listener. The service....W H A M !! God surely was listening to me and to Pastor and to many of us I suppose. WHAM WHAM WHAM!! Some times we just need to be rocked to our socks and have things put in perspective. Repentance. Clean honest vital repentance. God spoke clearly to the congregation and in so doing to individuals as well. It amazes me how the words that are spoken so profoundly impact lives in very different ways. The same words. People get from God what He knows they need if they are open and honest and willing to receive with open hands and open hearts what God has for them. Conversions from sinful lifestyles and choices to righteousness, peace and joy happen in a moment of time, things get real clear and a sense of cleaness fills the depths of the soul. And it was the peace that really got me. Oh, what glorious peace. Knowing ..rock solid knowing God is in control ( of course we know this intellectually, but there come times when it is rock solid knowledge) and when I hold my piece...He will make peace. God is the Peace Maker. Then, on the suggestion of our head sound man, I got the morning service CD. The one pastor preached when I was taking my test. What did pastor teach/preach on?!?! PEACE. How Jesus Christ is the ultimate PEACE MAKER and how we need to put on Christ in our lives...and often times that means holding our piece so He can do what He does best, better than anyone on this ole earth can...MAKE PEACE. There was much more to the lesson...perhaps you already realize I was blown away...though not really, how so like God to use messages in reverse to help me in my right now moment. Grace and Peace to you.

The Test Is Done

Life brings to us many tests. Some tests happen just by living, tests of faith, tests of patience, tests of commitment, confidence, character...knowledge. Most tests provide us an opportunity for growth and the chance for a deepening of character, faith, commitment, confidence, patience. Tests. Today I took a test to evaluate the knowledge I have gained through study and work. Study, study, read, study, read, review and study some more. I choose to take this test. Months ago the decision was made, the money paid (a tidy sum, I might add) and today the test. I drove to just outside Boston, Winchester, Mass, to take the test. There were 35 of us taking the test. From Philadelphia to Maine nurses gathered to be tested, and we all choose to do it. WHY??? A sense of accomplishment, of pride and commitment to the work we do. Not one of us will receive any monetary compensation at our places of work for taking and passing this test. On purpose testing. This is a good type of test. Some aren't so good, aren't chosen on purpose, but fall our way. At times our steps and choices lead us to tests we would rather not encounter. Never the less we are tested. And today. This test in done. 175 questions covering GI nursing. Critical thinking. Nursing practice and research. This test is done! In 5 weeks I will hear the result. Oh that the results of all our tests could be thus known. Pass. Fail. Grow. Learn. Develop. Mature. Patience. Strength. Compassion.

Beautiful moon

I was driving home from prayer. The route took me "over the mountain" - our "back way" to church. Dark already, clouds moving with the wind and every once in a while a glimpse of the moon. It was beautiful! Orange semi-circle crescent shaped, reflecting the sun back onto the clouds as they swept in front and over its glow. I stopped and tried to take a picture, but I don't know my camera well enough for the proper exposure. So I just sat and marvelled at the sight. Mountains and the lake in the distance were the deep purple of night in the moons glow. The clouds were silvery, then reflected the golden hue of the moon. I was able to sit and watch quietly for a long time before another vehicle came up from behind. Time to move on, I did enjoy the peace of the moment.
I still am having trouble getting pictures on the blog. The right place doesn't come up when I click on pictures and I don't know how to fix it. I really need to invite Michelle and her family over for dinner, then steal her away to my computer for a moment of instruction.
Grace and Peace to you.

An Idea Gone Web!

Have you ever had an idea that seemed like a good one? Good, partly because it made sense to you and you had an interest in seeing it come to fruition...or come to pass so you yourself could benefit. I enjoy reading my daughter-in-law's blog. I keep up with their family happenings, get to see up to date pictures of everyone, she provides interesting and fun links, it is rather a good time. Writers of blogs are uninhibited by an editor or review board. There is a special freedom in blogging, as well as an awareness that someone who doesn't know you could be reading your thoughts. Blogging is sharing wholly and randomly and kind of anonymously, kind of. So I shared my blogging idea with my Pastor. Wouldn't it be so neat to have church members blog on our web page, so visitors could read how exciting and fun and common place the life of an Apostolic Christian is?!!? To see for themselves (the web page visitors) our walk with God, our daily steps ordered by Him and how following Biblical principles and relying on Jesus Christ for strength is soooo helpful. I am glad to be a Christian, cannot imagine any other way to live that could bring such joy and peace and grace, even in troubled times. To see how God is good all the time. I was initially told, it would be too complicated to have a blog site on our church's web page. OK, I understand that, being particularly handicapped in the IT department and technically challeneged, after all I am Grammie Betimes. SO, today I am surfing my favorite web places and find that sure enough, there is a link on our church web page to "Member Blogs". I didn't know that had been done! Yikes! There is my blog! And my lovely daughter-in-laws. OK, what a good idea! Now lets get more members blogging. I can think of at least three women that have much wisdom and fun to share. And our Pastor is a great blogger. Yes, we will have to get some of the men blogging too! Oh, what a good idea! Yikes! Off to study now. Until next time, Grace and Peace to you and yours.

Warm Fall Weather

Usually by this time of year the leaves all over Vermont have gone through their brilliant changes. Reds and golds, yellows and orange blanket the hills and mountains with a spectacular array of a natures quilt. Not yet this year. It has been unseasonably warm and the leaves turning has slowed. Here and there are hints and little pockets of color. No cool mornings recently either. Temperatures in the 60's, 70's and 80's keep it warm and comfortable. I wonder when the cooler weather does arrive what we will see. I am glad that it has been warm for all the moving and rearranging households that has gone on recently. Ben and Stacy are in their new place. It has lots of windows and is bright and airy...if you can say that about the appearance of an apartment. The daunting task of unpacking and arranging is at hand and some dear friends are there to lend a hand...I will stop by for a time on Saturday to help.
Grace and Peace to you

George's New Old House - This Old House?

Sunday we are going to visit George and Laurel in their new house. I am so excited! It is one hour away in the country. I keep hearing descriptions of an old, not fully modernized farm house on an old dirt road with a long driveway and a barn and outhouse...and a pond and some wonderful meadows. It sounds very rural Vermont and I cannot wait to see it. Laurel describes dragonflies in the bathroom and Gary (the cat) jumping up, swooping in on the dragonfly, catching and eating the whole thing! Cats are like that. So for the adventure of a life time awaiting us with our visit to George's new old house...and I truly am excited to go. Will let you know how it goes...and maybe some pictures! Until then, enjoy the beautiful fall weather.

Florida and General Conference

Hello,
Arrived home, in Vermont, from our trip to Florida...Tampa that is. Some time to enjoy Florida and then General Conference for the UPCI. Now for some wonderful blogging about conference, go to www.ninetyandnine.com ... ok ok, another lesson from Michelle needed, for now try to cut and paste the address. Florida was hot, humid and rainy. Though most of the days did have sun and were pleasant. We did encounter one heavy downpour while traveling, bringing the traffic to a crawl, I was thankful. I have to admit, I do enjoy the hot.We went to church in Tampa on Sunday - met many nice people and a wonderful family that blessed us with hospitality and friendship. The Smoots. They are all special people. Henry, Kathy and Dorothy...thank you for your kindness and help. Church was anointed and set the stage for General conference. Monday Wanda and I did some traveling. Tuesday we drove into Tampa, which gave me chest pain. Yikes it is a big city with big city traffic. Lorraine joined us Tuesday evening and we got ready to go to Conference. Wednesday morning we did the tourist thing in Madeira Beach - shops and restaurants. Then off to the PMA music fest. Wonderful. Thursday was Ladies Day in the morning, and opening session in the evening. We were at the conference all day and late into the evening...and were tired puppies by the end of the day. Friday an all day session again at the conference with Youth Service and the Foreign Mission Service. The anointing wonderful. The messages powerful. God is God everywhere, and the burdens of the hearts of the ministry were shared. Comical moments were interlaced with anointing and serious considerations. It was a time of renewal and commitment, and splendid confirmation that Jesus Christ in Vermont is the same as He is in Tampa and India and Africa and Australia and Chicago and California. We all gathered to worship our Lord from all corners of this nation and the world. It was wonderful seeing so many believers of like precious faith.
Home now, and a renewed effort to reach out to people who do not know Jesus Christ for themselves. Oh, how He loves everyone and wants to take us up into His arms to heal, to help to strengthen and to set free from bondage's that hold us back from being all that we can be. So, enjoy your life, but most of all, get to know Jesus Christ, let Him into your heart and soul...if you're not sure how, send me a comment, and I will be happy to introduce you to the most wonderful of all.