My Boy Pipe

We lost our cat yesterday. Pipe was almost 15 when he passed away.He was the most talkative cat that I have been around. He always had something to say.People would want to hear him talk when we paid them to come over for a visit.He always did.What he was saying,I'm not sure, but he was a great cat, gentle, accepting of other cats that came into the house, and he had a great disposition.I found him wedged in the tailpipe/muffler area of my car on a cold November morning many years ago. He moved into our house with us, so he has always been here. It feels strange without him. The vet said he had a very strong heart.He sure touched mine, and broke it,too. Thank you Lord for giving him to us. Thanks, Pipe for all the joy you brought. See you in heaven.

Sticks and Stones

"Sticks and stones can break my bones, but names will never hurt me". What a ridiculous statement.It's not the compliments or nice things said about you that you remember,but the hurtful,nasty things. At least it's like that with me. I still remember things said to me many many years ago,and I shudder to think of the things that I've said over the years that have hurt and may still be hurting people.Lord, help me with my tongue.Let my words be gracious,like You have been, and are, to me.

The Earless Cat

We have a cat that has been visiting us. He looks like he only has one ear. The left ear is almost missing,that's why I call him the earless cat.I'm pretty sure he has a home,he just comes over to mooch food.He's really a friendly chap,but the other day he hissed at me,and then 5 seconds later rubbed all over me,real friendly like.It's real easy to be a great Christian when I'm in church,or rubbing shoulders with fellow believers.Then I get out in the world,and situations arise,and I start hissing, just like the earless one,and sometimes just as quickly. That ought not to be.Lord,I'm sorry for that contradiction that is way too evident in my life. Help me to be a more consistant follower of you.I always chuckle when a cat hisses, even if it's at me.Lord,help me to realize that my "hissing" is no laughing matter to You,but something that needs to be worked on and fixed with the help of Your amazing grace.

Ring Ring

We went through a period a few years ago where we lost something like 12 people,family and friends,to death.Throw in my mother's sickness,emergency calls in the middle of the night,calls at work,and I became very uneasy every time the phone would ring. I still am,in fact.We do have the caller id that identifies who is calling,but I still get nervous when I see certain names come up.I wonder what the Lord thinks when He sees my name come up on His caller id.Do I call on Him only in a crisis,or when something bad has happened?Sadly,that has been the case sometimes.Lord,help me to call on You ALWAYS,not just in times of trouble, but all the time,even just to say thanks. We can sit and chat and fellowship together.I may never feel at ease when the phone rings, but I want The Lord to smile when my name comes up on His machine, and I want Him to look forward to talking with me.

Patriots

Watching New England manhandle the Buffalo Bills Sunday night,and what the coach and players said afterwards,got me thinking.The Patriots were focused,driven, not at all complacent,or taking the Bills lightly.As a Christ follower,I need to exhibit those qualities also.FOCUSED on Him,not distracted or swayed by the things of this world. DRIVEN to be a good representative of Him to others,and a good servant.NOT COMPLACENT,neglecting studying His Word,praying,serving,or taking "days off" in my Christian walk.Not ever,no NEVER taking His sacrifice for me and all that He does for me,and has done for me, LIGHTLY.Even though it came at the expense of my Bills,thanks for the lesson, Patriots.May I be that good for Jesus.

One chance

I played alot of football when I was growing up,mostly touch football in the street.Frequently though,we had "big games",when the older guys would play,and they would let us play with them. There were a few of us who were about 10 years younger than them. I think they let us play just to make the game bigger,and sometimes to even out the teams.In just about every game with the big guys,they would say" Let's throw the boring kid a pass".(Yes,even way back then I was boring) I had to be ready,I never knew when my one chance was coming. It didn't matter if I made a great catch or dropped the ball,one chance was all I got. There were no more plays for me in that game,no second chances.I'm SO thankful that The Lord is not like that. He has been called "The God of Second Chances" Wow,it's so true.Thank you,Lord for your amazing forgiveness,and the countless, countless,countless second chances that you have given,and continue to give me.

"Uh oh,he's up!"

That's what I want the devil to say when I roll out of the rack in the morning.No,I'm not going to be preaching to hundreds of people,or handing out Gospel tracts to everyone I see.But I'll be out there,in the world.I can "preach" with my life,be polite,be kind,encourage others,do good deeds,best of all PRAY for others during the day,as they are put on my heart.In a nutshell,I am to be about my Master's business,shining out for Him,being a good representative of Him in this world. I absolutely don't have it in me to do it on my own. But HIS grace is sufficient,all I need to do is ask,there is an endless supply.Lord,I sure do need it today and every day.Thanks that I can come to You and receive,and then go out and give.

Big Deal!

I usually don't write anything on weekends,but I worked today.I think it's the first time in 9 years at the school that I worked a Saturday.It was not mandatory,they needed help,and asked me,so I went. The 3 ladies that ran the school play,and needed the help, are the nicest people,very kind,and fun,some of the best people that I've encountered here. That's why it was no big deal for me to go in and help them,it was a pleasure.I did get paid for it,of course,but that wasn't the only reason I went. I like them,they are always very nice to me,so it was fitting for me to repay their kindness.Besides,it's what I'm supposed to do as a follower of Jesus,it's no big deal,it's "walking the walk".It was easy to go help out.Could I have done it for someone I don't get along with,someone who hasn't been,or isn't nice to me? Sadly,I can't say that I would have for sure. Maybe.That's where the rubber meets the road,that's where I need His grace and help.Big deal,I went to help some of my friends,that's what a Christ follower does. Lord,forgive me for those many times that I've failed on the other end,with those that I'm not especially close to. Bring some more of those opportunities my way,and help me to just go and "be" for them,and FOR YOU.

Cat Voice

Not many people have heard it. My bride has heard it for 22 years,and some of my immediate family have heard it. Cats respond to it. My 4 know it,and when they hear it,they know I am specifically talking to them. I can call our outdoor cats using the cat voice,and they will come running.In fact, I use the cat voice almost exclusively when dealing with our cats. Lord,help me to be that sensitive to YOUR voice,help me to listen for it,and then like Boots,Hattie, TC.,and Pipe,help me to come running,'cause it's there,with You, that I'll find everything I need.

Bang A Boomerang

It's the title of an ABBA song,not one of their more well known ones.It has a line in there that has been true for this boring man."Every feelin' you're showin',is a boomerang you're throwin". It's true.If I walk around with a sour puss on,or a bad attitude,it comes back to me,and things usually don't go very well. But,give someone a smile,do a good deed for someone, be pleasant, be polite,good comes back to me most of the time. I have a chance to put the "bang a boomerang" theory into practice at the school this week. Something I'm not looking forward to at all is happening on Friday. I'm going to embrace it though,have a good attitude,and I'll just bet that it will be fine,even good. Lord,help me to learn this lesson.

"I'll be there for ya'"

It was something my double play partner/2nd baseman Rick would say to me . He was telling me that if a ball was hit to me,he would be at 2nd base,there to cover so we could get a force out or double play. In spite of the tremendous amount of bad throws I made to him, ,and the several pulled muscles he suffered trying to catch those wild tosses, he was always there for me. Kind of like God. He's always there for me, no matter how many times I screw up,or have need of His grace and mercy and help,He says,"I'm here for ya'".Thank you Lord that You are,and thank you that You always will be.

Side jobs

My father was a carpenter. A great one,for sure. My brother picked up his skills,I of course,did not. In any event,he had his regular job with a remodeling company during the day,but he would also do side jobs in the evenings.We always knew when he got paid for those side jobs. Bags full of potato chips,dip,pop, ice cream,stuff we didn't get very often,and really appreciated when we got it.It's nice to reflect back,it makes me thankful.Thankful for my father,thankful that he took such good care of us,thankful that those treats were rare occasions.It made us appreciate them more. Yes,it's good to reflect back.But it's better to reflect OUT. That others would see a reflection of Jesus in me,that I may shine out for Him.Lord help me to reflect...BACK and OUT.