Ladders to Heaven

Read Genesis 28:10-12,16-17

Several years ago, I had two gerbils with a two-story cage. They slept on the top and ate on the floor. Now they had a habit of knocking down the ladder that went from one floor to the next. They did this deliberately. Of course, they could always get to where they wanted by crawling on the sides.
God gives us ladders to help us get closer to Him. Why do we keep knocking them down? We have prayer, the Bible, praise, and His presence. We knock the ladders down by pride, thinking we can do it on our own.
Sometimes the gerbils would try to jump to the next floor and miss. Then they had to hang there, barely able to pull themselves up. There was always the possibility that they could fall and get hurt. I faithfully and consistently replaced the ladder because I loved them and hoped they would get some sense.
God keeps replacing our ladders and making new ones. He wants the best for us which is total dependence on Him.
Father, thank you that you always want to connect us to You.

Carry On

Scribed by Gracie Prior

Dearest One,

So you have failed, have you? Is it the first time for you or just one of many? It doesn't matter. There is only one cure for failure. Success? No, that is not it. The cure is to go on. You might try to find that place in yourself , but I'm calling you to turn to Me. I am your God. I know about the failed life. Some of my best friends failed Me. There are even those who would say I was a failure. To the natural eye, that may be true.
But gladly, I am supernatural. Because I live, now My life is a saving success. You, in your sorrow, come to Me. Let's reason. Do that thing one more time. Try a new way. You were born for great things. But you need Me. I am the one who causes the dead to live, the soldier to fight on. I alone have the victory.

Love,

Your Jesus

Train Station

This is an in-between day. Not good, not bad. It doesn't advance the plot. It's not even like those novels where a whole chapter is an extra-interest story. No, today is just a day to rest. It's a day to trust God and see the future as He sees it.
On a day like today, I could sit outside and have my quiet time, just enjoying the Lord's beautiful world. I could pray and meditate on His promises. I could collect all the things I have seen and heard lately and put them together so they make sense. As a writer, I need and relish this kind of day. Tomorrow will be busy. Today is my treasure, a little station where trains come and go and I sit on the bench being alive and loving Him.

One More Mystery

Yesterday, I had to go out and sweep up all of those little "airplanes" that the maple trees send down. And I know this is just the first wave. I can see many more on the trees. It's hard to keep up with them. I also hand picked them out of my garden. What I discovered was that it doesn't take much to make a maple tree. Some of them land seed-heavy down and stick up like a dagger in the ground. Before you can even get to them, they have started the process of a new plant. I see many one or two-inch plants when I am weeding. God surely loves maple trees. That got me thinking. Why are some things so easy and some so hard. Maples easy, turtles hard. (All those newborn baby turtles that are born on the beach and have to "run" the gauntlet to the sea to survive.) I guess it's just one of His mysterious ways. And then I think some more. I love maple syrup. Pancakes wouldn't be the same without it. Then there's that riot of color splashing the roadways during fall in Michigan. Too bad for the turtles, but I'm very glad that maple trees are easy.
(Just want to remind readers that Gracie Prior is my pen name that I use on some of my literary pieces. Blessings on this day. Nancy)

To Grandma

By Gracie Prior

This is to my Grandma whom I loved most of all. You would never know, that at my age, I would still love you so. I dreamed I saw you in Heaven, but you were in the farmhouse kitchen holding out a tray to me, an offering, a servant. Your sweet blue eyes looked all love at me.

I saw details: the old calendar, the stove, the clock, the refrigerater. So real. You put the tray on the diningroom table - a last offering. It said, "all is ready now. I will see you soon."
When I see you, will I remembeer all you were: the goodness, the peace, the aprons, the treats for me? Will I recall the barn, the smell of hay - such a smell it forever draws me back to that place?
You gave me freedom from criticism, from jobs to do, from competition and the openness of all-inclusive love and pure joy.
There was the droning of the bees outside, the rough pillow on my cheek, the sweet just below the surface sleep as the Cleveland Indians ballgame played in the background.
The nights - huge beds, rain on roofs. The porch - the fragrance of honeysuckle, the train in the distance and the thump of the swing.
As Emily would say in Thornton Wilder's Our Town, "Oh, world, you're too wonderful for words," once upon a time at a little Ohio farm with Grandma.
(This is one of my strongest memories. I have so many more of this time. Nancy)

Read Exodus 3:1-12
But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" Exodus 3:11(NKJ)
In this story, Moses didn’t want to convinced him that He would be with him.
Sometimes we have to do things that are hard. The whole thing feels like a set up and we believe we are in a no-win situation.
Not too long ago, I was in such a position. I had to confront a shop owner about defective merchandise. This was not the first time this had happened. I felt like a pest and I always want to show a Christian witness. That’s hard to do when you have to complain.
I did not want to go. The Lord said, "Go, and I will be with you."
A lot of prayer went up for my situation, my witness, the workers at the shop, and the business itself.
When the day came, God went before me and gave me favor with the person I needed to see. I was able to explain myself and healing of attitudes took place.
So when something feels like a set up, take it to God. He may be doing a special work in His Kingdom through you.
Prayer: O God, we ask you to step in when we wonder how we can accomplish your purposes. We thank you for your wisdom and love to work through us. Amen.

Grateful Thanks

This is the one month anniversary of my blog. What new territory this is. I am in awe of all of the possibilities and have learned so much. There is still very much to assimilate. My writings have been varied because there are many things to be interested in. My hope is to continue thoughts on aging, writing, and faith. I have a big project for the summer and hope to surprise readers in a few months with something a little more literary. My other desire is to continue learning more about you and this whole exciting process. Heartfelt thanks to all who have tuned in so far, and for the lovely comments. I would also like to thank God for continuing to teach me patience and for showing me how much He loves me. Till next time, have a gorgeous day. Nancy