In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Who Will Take Grandma?

This was one of my favorite poems growing up as a kid.  My mom, who worked for the Senior Citizen's of Minnesota found this poem and then shared it with me in the late 1970's.  I knew then I would always have room in my home for mom.  And I did.  💗

Here is the audio version as well.  ENJOY!


WHO WILL TAKE GRANDMA?

Who will take grandma? Who will it be?
All of us want her, - I'm sure you'll agree!
Let's call a meeting, - let's gather the clan.
Let's get it settled as soon as we can.

In such a big family, there's certainly one
Willing to giver her a place in the sun!
Strange how e thought that she'd never wear out,
But see how she walks, it's arthritis, no doubt.

Her eyesight is faded, her memory's dim,
She's apt to insist on the silliest whim.
When people get older they become such a care!
She must have a home, but the question is where?

Remember the days when she used to be spry?
Baked her own cookies and made her own pie?
Helped us with lessons and tended our seams,
Kissed away troubles and mended our dreams?

Wonderful grandma!  We all loved her so!
Isn't it dreadful she's no place to go?
One little corner is all she would need.
A shoulder to cry on, her Bible to read.

A chair by the window with sun coming through,
Some pretty spring flowers still covered with dew.
Who'll warm her with love so she won't mind the cold?
Oh, who will take Grandmother now that she's old?

What? Nobody wants her? Oh, yes, there is ONE
Willing to give her a place in the sun.
Where she won't have to worry or wonder or doubt,
And she won't be OUR problem to bother about.

Pretty soon now, God will give her a bed,
But who'll dry our tears when dear Grandma is dead?

by Clara Clark-Grantz [1910-1989]

Saturday, December 1, 2018

The Pressing of New Wine

Good wonderful December 1st afternoon (or whatever your time zone says the time is)!

This song! Wow. Just so, so good!

I have SO many friends being pressed right now. I have many dear friends struggling. Some friends are battling sickness/disease. Some are battling marriage/children issues. Whatever the "battle" you find yourself in right now, just know GOD IS NEAR and He is FOR YOU! He is WITH us! In this season of Advent remember - EMMANUEL, God WITH us! HALLELUJAH!!!

If you find yourself in the "wine press" right now, this song will remind you what it really going on and what it really is all about. See, in the life of the Christian there is our part and then there is God's part. Our part is to surrender and this opens the way for Him to do His part, and He will do His part —  to bring about the good fruit in us! He is pressing His church (the bride, us!) to find Him in this season, to yield to HIS ways, to let Him "drive", if you will.

One way I do this (yield) is to quiet myself (sometimes I am right in the middle of life - like at Starbucks, or at a swim meet, or driving... you know - doing life) or maybe I have time to just be home and sit.  Either way, I start (I put on my headphones if in public place or I get in my office), and I turn on the music, melting into a chair and  then cranking up the sound. (Not too loud but loud enough that it is the ONLY thing I hear.)  I get still. I close my eyes (unless driving) and I listen. I let the words wash over me. Sometimes I raise my voice and I declare the words with the singer by singing along. Sometimes, with considerable volume (shouting) I declare the words over me — building me up in my  most holy faith.  And yet other times, I just weep and let the words permeate into me. I yield to His way. I let God cleanse me, purify me, fill me, saturate me, ENCOUNTER ME. I give permission to Him and HE begins to work Himself into those places of doubt and unbelief in my mind that I don't even realize have crept into my thinking. I decrease and He suddenly increases as changes me.

With all the busyness of this season, take time to rest and maybe even sit and listen. Be quiet before the Lord and just let Him love you. Be still and KNOW that He is God.

So, this song ministered to me recently and I think it will bless you ALL too — in all that you find yourself “pressed” about. Such a good reminder! Such a powerful declaration! HE LOVES YOU!!! HE IS FOR YOU! HE IS WITH YOU! HE WANTS TO REDEEM ALL THAT IS BROKEN. Did I say — He loves you!

Surrender ALL that concerns you to Him! He wants to handle what you can’t. He WILL make you into all that you need to be. He will finish what He has started.  (He started you by knitting you together in your mother's womb.)  Our perfection NEVER will compare to His perfection. He wants to make ALL THINGS new — redemption!

So, stop and cue up this song. Sit back and crank it up…then just let God pour over you, onto you and INTO you…. Let Him detox you. "Tis the season — Emmanuel, God WITH us!