Never too Late

My great-grandpa Berry did many things in his lifetime. Such as being a son, a husband, and a father. Berry served in the army. In addition, he worked as a farmer, sales representative, and a night watchman. In addition, he worked to start a church. Berry and his family went to church. He went to the same church for more than 60 years. He married a lady and they were married for over 60 years. He was sick off and on much of his life.

He was a good bench warmer all of these years, but he was not saved. Outside of the church is where he showed his true colors. Some of the other things he did included making, selling, and drinking white lighting. White lighting is a type of illegal whiskey.  Later, he moved up to taking and selling drugs. He even injected the needle that over dosed his neighbor. This neighbor died from the over dose.

By being a hypocrite, he hindered his family and community. Everyone knew that he was at church every time the doors were open. They also knew what he did outside the church doors. This gave a bad testimony.

In his upper 80’s he seemed to start to change for the good. Then one day he had a heart attack and was in the hospital for a few days. He seemed to be improving. However, he asked to see his whole family. They came and he told them that he loved them. He also talked to his pastor privately. After doing all of this, he got quiet for a few minutes. Everyone thought that he was getting tired and needed some rest.

In Church, he loved the Song “Beulah Land”. At this time, he raised his hand and pointed to the ceiling. Berry then started singing, “Beulah Land, I am longing for you”. His hand fell and he was gone.

No matter your life, it is never too late until you stop breathing.

Related articles

• Beating Out the Fire (christianresources-janie.blogspot.com)
• Confessions of a hypocrite (examiner.com)

Mother's Day Feelings

മലയാളം: Red rose (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Mother’s Day is filled with mixed feelings for women as well as men. Contrary to popular belief, men also get emotional on Mother’s Day. Some have lost their mothers. Others do not know who their mother is. Some love their mothers, while others hate their mother.

 Many of the women that I know feel abandon, abused, and neglected by their mothers. All of these things can affect the way you feel about Mother’s Day. For those of you being abused, if possible get away from the abuse. This will help now. For the other bad things, the help comes from forgiving them.

Hating your mother is a nature feeling. However, this feeling will eat and eat at you. Yes, I said, “You”. What and how you feel is not transferred to your mother. It only affects you.

 You may ask, “How do you know this?”

 I lived with an abusive mother for many years. On Mother’s Day, she was doing things that made her happy. She did not care how I felt. I on the other hand, I was upset and having a horrible day. So, “who was hurt?”

 Now, please be a good mother. You are not your mother. You have choices. Please make the right ones. Remember, you do not have to like what has been done to you, but you have to forgive those that did it. That will help you feel better and you are the one that matters.

 Remember that the Bible says, “Although my father and my mother have forsaken me, yet the Lord will take me up [adopt me as His child]” (Psalms 27:10 amp). 

 

Have a Happy Mother’s Day!

This was written by Karen

A good article to read is found at http://www.bibleabookoftruth.com/forsakenbyparentsadoptedbygod.pdf.

The Root of all Evil

There is a fine line between providing for your family and coveting money. Bible says, “… If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel” (1 Timothy 5:8). However, it also says, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6:10).

Yes, we all need food, clothing, transportation, and housing. However, do you need a brand new car every couple of years? Is it necessary to have the latest fashions? Is a mansion any better at keeping out the elements? There is nothing wrong with nice things. However, it is wrong to work all the time in order to acquire those things at the expense of your relationship with God and your family. Often times people work so hard to acquire the “good life” that they never get a chance to enjoy or live the life that they have. Before you buy the newest item, think about how much it is really going to cost. Also, ask yourself, “Do I really need this?”

Remember you only have one life to live, and your children will only be young once. Take time to enjoy the little things. Remember these words from 1 Timothy 6:7-8, “For we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us there with be content.”

The Ants

Ants (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I have often read my Bible aloud with my son in the same room. I have been doing this since he was born. Now, I am wondering if he understood more than I thought. He has started going outside to look at ants. The Bible says, “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:” (Proverbs 6:6). Everyday he walks around and observes the ants. He does not touch the ants. He normally hands me a stick, and ask me to poke the ant bed so that he can see the ants run around rebuilding their home. Apparently, he took the words go to the ant to heart. However, I do not think just looking at the ants was the original idea. I believe that the original idea was to help people learn to work hard to provide for yourself and your family. Time will tell what my son is learning from watching the ants.

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The Sea Shell

My grandparents loved to go to the coast. This was in the mid 60’s. They went to the coast about every two weeks during the summer and fall. Grandma liked to look for shells, and Grandpa liked to fish. While Grandpa fished, Grandma would walk up and down the shore looking for special shells. One day she was blessed and very happy. She found a lovely big shell. This shell was not broken. It is about 10 inches long and about 5 inches in diameter.

She took the shell home and placed it beside the heater in the living room. At night, she would use it to keep the bedroom door open. Everyone who saw the shell wanted to it. Many people offered her money. She would not sell it. I saw it many times and loved it.

Years later, I had a daughter. When she saw it, she also loved it. I had always told my grandma, “When you die, I want the shell.” After my Grandparent’s 60th wedding anniversary, my daughter, Janie, and I were visiting them. She asked, “Janie, do you want the shell?” Janie said, “Yes, I do.” Grandma said, “Go get and old towel and wrap the shell up. Then take it home with you. Promise me that you will pass it down to you children. Always keep the shell in the family.”

Janie loves the shell and is taking care of it. She plans to see which one of her children to pass it on to.

Written by Karen

The Snakes who terrorized a young girl in Mississippi

My family lived in a Ranch style house that was in the middle of a bid field.  On the ranch were many ponds to water the horses and cattle. There was a large pond in front of our house. We had a long cement porch that reached around the whole house. The bad part about this house was there were three large rooms, but you had to go outside to get to the next room. I am 6 or 7 years old.

One day my mother, my 10-year-old brother, and I were in the living room. I wanted something to drink.  I had to go outside and down towards the pond to get to the kitchen. Right there on the porch was a 5 or 6-foot diamondback rattler. The snake was hissing at me. I started yelling. My mother and brother run out to see what was wrong. They see that the snake is way to close to me and it seemed to be charming me. My mother comes up behind me and Paul, my brother, goes around to the other side of the snake. My mother pulls me back while Paul hits the snake with a hoe many times. This causes the snake to lose its head. When my daddy comes home from work, I tell him, “The snake lost his head.” Daddy was glad that we were not hurt and that the snake lost his head.

It seemed to me like at least one time a week I found a snake on the porch. I found diamondbacks and water moccasins. All of the snakes were deadly. Thank God, none of the snakes ever bit me. All of them lost their heads. However, I became scared to go outside by myself. Finally, I refused to go outside by myself. One day, mother checked the porch for snakes. Since there were no snakes, I came outside onto the porch. I started praying. It came to me to ask my mother and daddy to pray with me. We went to church about 4 times a week. That night when daddy got home he asked, “Did any snakes lose their heads today?” I said, “no, but I know how to keep them away.” Daddy then said, “I want to hear this.” I replied, “Help me ask God to please keep the snakes away.  Even though my daddy was studying to be a preacher, everyone including him, laughed at me. This made me feel very bad.

The next day I went outside by myself to talk with God. I walked the porch and all around the yard.  I told God, “Please help me. Show them you will keep the snakes away from me, the house, and the yard.” My family lived there for another 4 years. No one found another snake in the yard. However, many snakes were found on the other side of the fence and in the pond. The owner of the land finally had to get a group together to go kill the snakes that were in and around the pond that the cows drank from.

Daddy told the owner that I had been finding a lot of snakes in the yard, but lately none had been seen. The owner of the house and land said, “I wonder why?” I spoke up, “I know why. I talked to God and asked him to keep the snakes away from me and my play yard.” This time no one made fun of me.

Written by Karen

Just Vaccinate Me

When I was about 2 or 3 years old, my daddy, Marcus, worked for a seismograph company. He was the head leader. Therefore, his job was to cut the trail. We went to church 4 times a week because daddy was in training to be a preacher. While cutting the trail, Marcus would come across many bad things. He had a machete that helped. Daddy wore long sleeves, long pants, and boots. All of this helped to protect him. Marcus had a wife and two babies at home. He needed to work, and this job paid top dollar at this time. However, Marcus was allergic to poison ivy and poison oak. The trails were covered with both. Marcus would come home covered in a rash. Only his eyes did not get any poison ivy or poison oak in them. Marcus would go to church. While there, he would be prayed for. He always prayed for God to clear the rash up. The next time Marcus cut the trail the poison ivy and poison oak rash would return. Marcus was badly tongue-tied. This made it very difficult for people to understand him. This night was a church night. As usual, Marcus was covered in a bad rash. Therefore, he went down to be prayed for. However, he was feed up with being healed and then getting it again. Therefore, Marcus said to the church and the pastor, “Ju-st Vac-cin-ate me!” The church prayed again. God cleared up the rash. The next day Marcus went back to work. He cut a trail that was full of poison ivy and poison oak. However, he did not get a rash. Marcus lived over 40 years from that night and never got poison ivy or poison oak again. My mother, my brother, nor I ever got poison oak or poison ivy. God saved us from that bad stuff and vaccinated daddy for the rest of his life.

Written by Karen 

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