A Remarkable Coincidence

We were at dinner at a nice restaurant recently and a woman at the table next to us was talking loud enough for us to hear about Revelation. She had, I presume, her husband and two ladies as her audience. I pretty much agreed with most of what she was saying. The two ladies must have been in agreement, but they didn't know a lot of what she said and asked questions.

I don't know how my husband felt, but I wanted to go over and listen and even enter into the discussion. I can always learn more. As it turns out, our adult Sunday school class at our church is about a third of the way into our own study of Revelation.

Then, two nights ago, my husband and I were watching the History channel and there was a fascinating show about how Sir Isaac Newton had sealed away documents of his own beliefs concerning Revelation. Except for one item which my doctrine disagrees with, he was right on and I was amazed at how all these years, we didn't know that he had such interests. In fact, the show believes it was more like an obsession.

I would like to be like the woman at the table who in an audible voice, but not yelling, spoke what she thought without fear. I don't want to be like Mr. Newton and seal my beliefs in a cask. He did it apparently because of persecution. Still, I would like to be more bold.

Why is the book of Revelation coming into vogue again? We aren't near a millennium turning point. Perhaps it's just a coincidence, or perhaps The Lord is reminding us to be full of oil. That's always a good thing to do. He is coming back, just as He said.

Sampling the Competition

I have recently sampled several children's books at our public library. I had been reading the old Nancy Drew series. I finished all they had and happened to end on the oldest of the old series. I also got the oldest one of the new series, where they had modernized Nancy and the stories. I didn't want to read those because I was afraid it would ruin it all for me. But I got curious. Here are the major differences that I noticed: The old series had pictures. They were corny, but I enjoyed them. In the old series, church was mentioned several times, even prayer. The housekeeper played a major part. Also, Nancy had a boyfriend. In the new series, Ned Nickerson was absent. I missed him. Bess had a romance, but not Nancy. The major difference was that the new series moved at a nonstop pace. I rather enjoyed that I could put an old book down and do some living. Nancy escaped death at least three times in the new book. She has quite a record. Also, the old books used to use funny substitutions for Nancy like: the amature detective said, or the young sleuth did... I thought them funny and charming. The new book nixed that. So here's the thing: the old books were quaint and endearing while the new ones were fresh and exciting. Most people would prefer the latter, I think. I'm not so sure that I do.

I read a fantastic book called "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly. The cover had black silhouettes on yellow of the heroine and birds and butterflies, etc. Calpurnia came alive one summer when she was "introduced" to her grandfather, a naturalist. The story got off to a slow start. There was no real conversation until near the end of the first long chapter. But once it got going, it wove a spell over me of natures' miracles, of family love, and of the hopes for a girl at the turn of the l800s. By the end, it was nearly an all-nighter as I tried to find out if something wonderful was going to happen or not. It's what I would call an "instant classic." It's old-fashioned, but also modern in its appeal. I have to see if I can buy it. I definitely want to read it again and again. I also want to say they the author's choice of words at times was as unexpected and beautiful as a butterfly landing on your hand. Just exquisite.

I read two other books that week. One was called "Scarlet Stockings: The Enchanted Riddle" by Charlotte Kandel and one about toys that talk. Don't remember the name of that one. These were pretty good, too.

If this is the state of the children's market, just from several random picks (all in the K's), I won't worry too much about my grandchildrens' future reading habits. About the competition? Only the best will do. But for our children, that's the way it should be. Have a great weekend. Nancy

( My new blog, Tell Me A Story, will continue the Scribblers story on Fridays. To get there, click on "See my complete profile," scroll down to my two blogs, and click on Tell Me a Story. You're there. Of you can use the URL http://havenword.blogspot.com/)

Holding On, Letting Go

My daughter is getting married in July. She is busy, busy, busy. Even though she lives with us right now, we hardly see her. She is either working, doing bridal things, or visiting her fiance. Dawn and I have had some fun trips buying little things like ribbon and material for favors, helping her check out a Photobooth place, being there when she got her dress and laughing as we checked out some funny sunglasses at a party store.

Dawn and I have always been sort of buddies. I was her mother and raised her for sure, but we have always had fun together. I played dolls with her and taught her how to do paper cutting. We have spent many happy hours shopping till we drop. How am I going to replace my best girlfriend? I know it's not supposed to be that way, but it just is with us. She feels the same way, I think. At least she said so in a Mother's Day poem way back when.

There is going to be a big hole at our house soon. Yes, I get my closet back, but that doesn't make up for losing her. Oh, she will still be in the area, at least for awhile. Still, it will never be like it is now. A daughter is a special person. My daughter is amazing. She makes me laugh. She is unique in all the world. I can't wait to see her on her wedding day in her gorgeous dress.

So Dawn, I wish you and Dave all the best in the world. Be sure to come over sometime and we'll go shopping.


(My new blog, Tell Me A Story will continue the Scribblers story on Fridays. To get there, click on "View my complete profile," scroll down to my two blogs, and click on Tell Me A Story. You're there. You can also get to the new story blog by using the URL http://havenword.blogspot.com/)

News

Happy spring! I want you to know that I have put all my Scribblers stories on my new blog called Tell Me A Story. I will probably keep putting on a new chapter until it is done in July, I think. I'll remind readers for awhile. Meanwhile, this blog will be all regular writings. I want to thank Rebekah f0r helping me to put all those stories on the new blog and helping me with my gadgets. I had lots of fun. Hope you like the new look. Nancy

How to Get it Nailed Down

I guess I'll tell you about the speech I did on Wed. It was so great to speak again. It was a step in the direction I would like to be going - helping adults, mostly younger ladies, learn some things I've learned through much difficult trial and error. I can do this through my blog, through my little booklets of "letters from God," and from speaking. This teaching was on studying and receiving the promises.

How To Use The Word You Hear

I. In the Bible. I showed how I underline and put notes at the top of my Bible. Not only can I find things, but it is a way to reinforce the fact I am getting, so I remember it.

II. I do studies, from large, to medium, to small, to smallest. Read and study the material, underline in pen, next time in yellow marker, next time in pink or blue (because it's darker.) Lastly, put the best of the best on cards. Then you will need a...

III. Card Box. You can use the metal ones used for recipes (mine used to have a lobster on it) or use a cardboard accordion one. My categories are: healing, my husband, my 3 children, family, prophecy, my ministry, the nation, general, and misc.

IV. Take notes. Even if you get sermon tapes at your church, take notes Sun. to get the 2 or 3 special features that apply to you. Take them home, put them on cards, underline them.

V. Prophecies. If you are at a church that believes in this and you get one prayed over you, write it down. It is special for you.

VI. You can take a tape and play it and write it down (this takes time, but is worth it,) or you can speak your favorite scriptures into a tape recorder. Listen to it, and next time, speak it out with the recorder.

VII. Get one idea a day from Scripture. Write it down. Memorize it, work it out, use it.

VIII. Make the stuff you read and hear your own. When you hear a challenge to it, use the Bible. Ask God to help you find truth. Be like the Bereans - Acts 17:11.

IX. Read the whole Bible some time in your life.

X. God will bring all of these studies together. Now speak it out. Read your cards out loud. Use them as part of your prayer time.

XI. It's fine to throw things out. You will have a huge paper trail. Keep the precious Scriptures, get rid of things you are done with. God will help you to do this. It's all in the Bible and He can give you fresh manna.

XII. You can even take quotes from favorite inspirational fiction.

Conclusion. To keep what you read and hear, get it from the material to your mind, then the long distance from your mind to your heart, then speak it out and live it out. Then the promises and changes will come.

(I didn't include my examples or Scriptures because of the space limitations, but I hope you enjoyed and can use ideas in the outline.)

Top O' The Mornin'

Happy Saint Patrick's Day. My daughter and I have red hair, fair skin and look the part. We are both one eighth Irish and proud of every bit of it. I love this day. I remember when I was in the first grade, we colored pictures of the day. One of them was called Patrick Potato. Here's how the poem went:

Patrick Potato was backed in his skin,
Brown without and white within.
When his overcoat burst with pride,
a bit of butter was placed inside.
And so our Betty ate him skin and all,
and that's how she grew so strong and tall. Anonymous

I can't believe I remember that from all these years, but I do.

I like to keep up the tradition by putting out my Irish maidens salt and pepper shakers. The larger statue I got later at Salvation Army for a few dollars. She has such a lovely face.

Tomorrow, I plan to wear my mint-green argyle sweater, shamrock earrings and pin, watch my grandson and give a speech at church. That will be a big treat for me since I haven't done that in some time.

I used to love to send Saint Patrick's Day cards, but it got too expensive. Here's a message usually found in them:

May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind by always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face
and rain fall soft upon your fields,
and until we meet again,
May the Lord hold you in the palm of His hand. An old Irish Blessing

Wear green and have a great day! Nancy

Daily Portion

I. "Give us this day our daily bread.." Matt. 6:11

We need physical provisions: food, shelter, clothes, jobs, companions, etc.

II. "So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart." Acts2:46

We need fellowship and communion with others.

III. Jesus said, "I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple..." Matt.26:55

Jesus speaks to us every day: teaching, correcting encouraging.

IV. The Bereans "searched the Scriptures daily." Acts 17:11

The provision of the Word.

(These first three things show God's daily supply.)

V. "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." Luke 9:23

Give up something of self and take on something given to you by the Lord on a daily basis.

VI. "I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Jesus our Lord, I die daily." I Cor. 15:31

Lay life down to desires and if need be to death, every day.

(The last two things are a daily sacrifice.)

In our daily supply, we get and give some away. In sacrifice, we give and get His life.

Panning For Gold

Most people love gold. But do they love it because it is shiny and sparkles in the sun, or because it is rare? If gold were as plentiful as rose petals or as common as rain would people put less stock in it? Snowflakes are lovely and intricate. So are flowers and sunsets. These are fragile, elusive and free. Even if you could hold them in your hand, it would be fleeting. Gold has weight and lasts virtually forever. Lesser metals like silver, copper and iron are weighty, too. Why is gold so prized?

Gold is the stuff of myth, of King Midas and of Saint Nicholas. They say that in heaven the streets are paved in gold. I wonder what we'll think then? Will we prize it as we do now? It will still be beautiful, but there will be Someone, a Presence, that far outshines the gold for beauty or the color for warmth. No, I believe earth is the place for our fascination with this substance that seems to absorb and then reflect the sun.

I like to wear gold jewelry in winter when all outside is cold and gray. It burnishes against winter's hues of purple, forest, navy, and red. Just to wear a small amount of it pleases me more than to be decked in several less valued items.

Gold can be found in rushing streams. When you pan for gold, you stand in the force of life and scoop up a tray full of pebbles, water, and silt. You take the time to sift and search for the treasure.

Gold isn't always easy to see. Sometimes you have to get in the muck and feel around till you find it. Those who search for it may pan for many hours or days to find even one nugget. When they find it, they look in the same place again. Good things like that tend to cluster together. You must find the outcropping,the vein.

There's always the chance that what you found isn't gold at all but fool's gold. It is important to take it to a higher authority and see if it has any value. Many people are confused by this substance. They gather it for a long time before having its value tested.

This is the idea I want to explore for myself. What is real and what is false? In what ways can I be sure of the high quality and how avoid the other? In as many ways as possible, I want to go where life is and start panning. I want to keep scooping and searching, always taking my findings to the assayer. I will keep the precious few nuggets in my sack, cherishing them, using them and always seeking out more of that pure gold.

Quotes, The First Three

(First I'd like to say that my post for Scribblers was a mess this time. I had the hang of the paragraphing thing and then today, it all decided to go spastic. So, since it was a very long chapter and it wouldn't let me fix it, I'm just leaving it. Sorry, it doesn't look as nice as I would like it to look. Hope next time, the thing cooperates.) (As I was fixing this post, I noticed that a whole new set-up is in place. This is way over my head. I would like my old set-up back, but I don't even know what I did to get it this way. You have to laugh, don't you?)


QUOTES:

I have an envelope chock full of quotes. When I read non-fiction I take quotes; when I read even fiction something will catch my eye or my heart. I write down things I have seen on overpasses, bumper stickers, church marquis, radio, T.V., and movies. My Bible scriptures are all in a different place. These are what I call inspirational quotes.

Today, I'd like to share three with you. The first one comes from The Lord Of The Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien. Sam and Frodo are in the ruins of a place where their kings had statues. The enemies had marred them and one king's head was on the ground. A lovely spray of white flowers was on its head. Sam says, "Look,the king has got a crown." Frodo answers, "They can't conquer forever." I don't think that last quote made the movie, because I was looking for it and I just love it.

The next quote is from The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis. Aslan is in his country by a stream and a character named Jill is thirsty. She wants a drink but is afraid the lion will get her if she drinks. She says to him that she will just go and find another stream. He answers, "There is no other stream."

In Peace Like a River, Leif Enger says "Once touched by truth, a little thing like faith is easy."

These are three of my very favorite books. Which quote did you like best? Does it ring true for you? See you next time, Nancy

A Trade-Off

Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; but much increase comes by the strength of an ox. Proverbs 14:4 NKJ

I love that scripture because I like things neat and clean. Maybe one of the reasons I don't cook is I don't like messing up the kitchen, but I love to clean it up. So I can sympathize with the owner of the trough who wants it clean but look at all the money and provision that comes from an ox and a frankly messy barn.

In life, there is often a trade-off. I look out my window on the way to work and I see dirty, bedraggled snowmen, melting and looking shabby. But the melt also means that there is a warm spell and spring is in the air. Fresh snowmen look pretty, but that means there was fresh snow and winter is still very present.

Even in the Christian life, we think we can have it all - spiritual, material and smooth sailing. But if there's no wilderness experience, you never learn to fight. "He teaches my hands to make war," Psalm 18:34 NKJ. He helps us have peace in the battle so that as we fight against things that come against us, we can actually have it all. Most of all we have Him with us saying, "here we go, hold on, I'm in this with you.

The trade off is: we give Him our troubles, He gives us His presence, power, and ability. That's a pretty good deal.