The Sickness of Sin

A friend of mine was recently very ill. She tried to avoid going to the dr, but eventually had to concede and be seen. The dr determined she was sick enough to need antibiotics and other medicines to recover. She told me,
"I have to come to terms with the fact that I am unable to beat whatever infection it is on my own. Basically, I have to admit that I need help."

Isn't this a lot like our relationship with Jesus? We flounder along in our illness (sin) and try everything to find forgiveness, and fill the empty void inside that has us so unhappy. But until we admit we need help, and turn to the dr (Jesus, the Great Physician and Healer) we will not get any better. We are unable to purge ourselves of sin and darkness. We have to turn to the Savior Jesus Christ.

In Romans 6:23, Scripture tells us the wages of sin is death. Yet God had mercy on us, and sent his Son to die in our place, to give us forgiveness, and eternal life with Him in Heaven. John 3:16. All you have to do is turn your life over to Jesus, and ask to be healed from your infection of sin. There are no insurance co-pays, no waiting room, no missing work, just a prayer to the Father, and your heart is healed. He even sent a Book to guide you along on your journey. What a Father He is!

Jesus wants us to live in the light, to be happy, and free from sin. He wants our eternity to be spent with Him in Heaven. He has buckets of blessings ready to bestow on you, if only you believe in Him. Peace, forgiveness, eternal life, and a Father always ready to sit down and listen to the concerns of your heart. He loves to hear how your day went, your concerns, and your worries. Don't forget the praise; Jesus loves to hear how much you love Him, and that you think the new spring flowers are beautiful.

Ask Jesus into your heart today. It's a simple prayer; admit you are a sinner in need of healing, choose to believe in Jesus with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. Mt 22:37-38 He will come to live in your heart, and you can know a peace that surpasses all understanding, and a love beyond all comprehending. A love that died on a wooden Cross, and rose again in three days to break the power of death and give us all eternal life. Thank You Jesus

Chela

Dance is...

 Watching your dancer perfect her dance moves day after day in the kitchen, restaurants, church and hardware stores.

Long hours of practice for your dancer preparing for competition.

So much make-up!

hotel reservations, and how far is it from the convention center?

managing the jigsaw puzzle of suitcases, dance bags, coolers, blankets, pillows and kids in the car.

Mom, I need a spray tan!

No sleep!

glittery, smiling faces anxious to perform on stage

hours and hours in hard plastic chairs

Too much Adele

Your eyes well up with tears watching your dancer perform, and she is dancing for Jesus

Waiting for results, although in your heart, your dancer is always number one

 Quit thanking everyone and just get to the results already!

Tears run down your face as you hear your dancer took first

Congrats and pictures

After sitting through 500 something dances, you could surely choreograph the next competiton routine

Getting home with a tired dancer at midnight, and still getting up at 6am for school

Arriving home sick and exhausted, then still staying up to brainstorm this, because writing is my passion!

Congrats DD!! We are really proud of you, keep dancing in your heart.

Chela

a day at the zoo

It was a cold and dreary day at the zoo. Not many people wanted to be out in the chilly, rainy weather strolling through the outdoor exhibits. I was starting to regret choosing to spend the day here myself. There had only been a few people in the reptile house to talk with about the animals. It was enjoyable, telling people little known facts about them though. Such as, that frog is so poisonous that if your dog mouths it, he has only 45 minutes to reach a vet. (Sonoran desert toad). Or that frog is only poisonous in the wild, where he consumes a certain kind of ant. (Poison dart frog)
Still, the visitors were sorely lacking in number. Where we can easily have 150-200 or more visitors in an afternoon, this dreary day found only about 10. All of them bundled up in sweaters and coats, huddling under umbrellas. With plenty of time to roam, I found myself over in the barnyard, petting our new mini donkeys, William and Steve. Their hair all wet and muddy from the rain. That brought out some serious jealousy in the mini horse, who apparently found it too wet to be petted, but didn’t mind some conversation brought his way.
The Servals didn’t seem to mind the weather, and were up stalking squirrels through the fencing. One of the tortoises was busy trying to down a clump of grass he’d pulled through the fence that was bigger than his head. His buddy decided to stay under his heat lamp in the tortoise house. I think he had the right idea there. The emu kept chest bumping the fence separating him from the Servals. Does he not realize what would happen if he got in there? The Servals would invite him for supper.
Finally it was time to call it quits. What a disappointing day at the zoo; quiet, and dreary and gray. Even the meerkats were staying below ground. I headed for the office to sign out, and head home. Just before I walked out the door, my boss called me into her office. Hmm…does she need help with an upcoming event?
I walk in to find her holding the cutest baby animal I have ever seen. Sitting on her lap, wrapped up in a towel, and drinking from a bottle, was a baby beaver. DNR had found three orphan babies, and brought them to the zoo. Their eyes were open; they already had beaver teeth, and little beaver tails. They were so very soft, and fit into my hands so easily. They tried to suckle my fingers around their big teeth designed to one day fall big trees and haul them to the river to make a dam. Their fur was incredibly dense and soft, they felt like stuffed toys.
I’ve never been up close to an adult beaver, much less a baby. Instantly my mood lifted, and I knew my trip to the zoo had been worth it after all. This is something I will never forget, and when these babies grow up to their adult weight of 25-55 lbs, I’ll remember how they used to fit into my hands, and drool milk all over me.
Beavers construct dams to create large marshes that are rich in aquatic plants, birds and fish. They also build dens that are reached by several underwater entrances. They live in large family groups, and the young from the previous brood stay to help raise the new arrivals. They mate for life, and have as many as 8 kits in the spring.. They are born with their eyes open, and fully furred. Kits can swim within several hours. The adults eat aquatic plants, thistles, twigs, bark, leaves, and roots. They can live 15-21 years.
Holding and bottle feeding a baby beaver…who ever thought I’d do that in my lifetime!

Thank You Jesus

Thank You Father for this wonderful weekend. Thank You for our hotel. It was inexpensive, and had everything we wanted and more. The heated pool was so nice to relax in after a long day. Thank You that dh was able to spend the weekend with us. This made things so much easier and less stressful for everyone.

Thank You for safe travels up to the dance competition. Driving in a big city makes me really nervous and flustered, but You kept us safe. Thank You for the waitress at the crab shack, and I add in a prayer for her son, for healing, if it could be Your will.

Thank You for the long hours of dance competition. Thank You for the talent you have given these young ladies and gentlemen. Thank You for sticking with me when I lost it after 8 hours, and carrying me through the remaining six hours of the event.

Thank You even that the light wouldn't change to get me back to the event after running out for drinks. You saw me through a round a bout way, and still got me back. I am grateful for that.

Thank You that everything ran so smoothly. Thank You for dd's talent, her courage, and her ability to perform so beautifully. Thank You for her first place award. There were so many talented young people there.

Thank You that dd's boyfriend was able to make it up for her performance. I ask also that You extend Your healing hand to his Grandma, who has been in poor health.

Thank You for ds and his friend, who were able to get both our computers up and running. Thank You for the restaurant that employed ds when he needed it. I really liked the set up. Sorry I didn't like the eggplant, but at least now I know.

Thank You for safe passage home, and that I didn't hit the car that stopped in the middle of the interstate. That was so scary, but You kept us safe.

Your hand was in this trip, and we were abundantly blessed. Thank You so much Father. I love You!!

Chela

Just want to say hi

Every weekday morning, I take my dd to her friend's house, and they drive in to school together. A few houses down, a gentleman waits in front of his home for the local transit. I assume he is on his way to work. The gentleman seems nice enough-older than myself, not especially tall.

I know it's early in the morning, but I still try to give a friendly wave as I pass by. However, every time, the man shuns my attempts. He pulls his hat down over his eyes, or covers his face with his hands. I find it so frustrating; I just want to say hi.

After some months of this, I mention the problem to dd, and point out the man to her when I drop her off at her friend's home. DD replied, "Oh, that's Butch. Look, he's waving to all the cars."

I feel bouyed by this observation, and this time, I make sure to give him a big wave and smile as I pass by. Only to be greeted by a quick lowering of the bill of his hat, and a ducking of the head. Complete disappointment once again.

I wonder if he is special needs, and is uncomfortable with such attention. Perhaps he was only waving at the cars traveling in the other direction, that were further away from him. I don't know, it's so frustrating.

The only thing I can do is pray for him, and hope he knows the love His Savior has for him, and that some random lady that drives by most every weekday has noticed him, and cares deeply for him. Maybe one day he'll see my smile.

God bless
Chela

my crazy daughter

My dd is 17 years old.

She's an honor student.

She's near the top of her class.

She just found out that girls have kidneys too.

God bless the friend who had to tell her this today.

At age 16, she discovered that grasshoppers eat grass.

She thought they ate aphids.

Perhaps I have failed somewhere as a parent.

Chela

The Cat that Saved a Ferret

Hershey was a pretty kitty that lived in a nice home with a family and lots of other animal friends. She had 3 other cats to play with, and two dogs she liked to boss around. Her favorite friends were two ferrets named Allie and Daisy. Allie and Daisy loved to play, and roughhouse, and tease each other and the cats.

Hershey thought it was amazing that her friends liked to play as much as she did! They'd hide in the ferret gym and pop out like jack in the boxes, they'd steal toys from around the house, and hide them in the cabinets. They loved to hide under the couch or the fridge, and pop out at Hershey. The three of them loved playing together all day long.

One day, Allie and Daisy were playing in the house, when they found a hole in the wall. Holes were mysterious and alluring to a couple of mischievous ferrets. They simply must be thoroughly checked out and investigated. Hershey told the girls to check it out, and get back to her about what they saw, for the hole was too small for a kitty to fit through, but perfect for a ferret.

After a while, Daisy came back, and said the hole didn't hold any food, but it was pretty interesting back there anyway. There weren't any trolls or monsters, and it was a good hiding place for hide and seek. Allie had decided to stick around and check things out some more.

Sometime later, the people started to worry about where Allie was. They had found Daisy puttering around, but no Allie. They looked everywhere, but couldn't find her. They forgot to check the hole in the wall. More time passed, and Hershey thought she had better start looking for Allie. It had been way too long since she had gone into the hole.

Hershey sat listening very quietly at the hole, and heard some scratching sounds. Fortunately, just then, Mommy came by and noticed Hershey. 'So that's where Allie is!" She exclaimed. All of the people came to the hole,and called and squeaked, but Allie would not come out.

Finally, Mommy went around to the other side, and opened the wall to get to the hole. Poor Allie was trapped! She had her neck caught between two pipes, and couldn't get free! It took some thinking, and some frantic praying, but finally Allie was loose. Thank goodness, she had been stuck far too long. It was scary and dark in there. Allie was beginning to lose hope that anyone would come.

After some cuddling, and checking over, Mommy determined that Allie was okay. She looked lovingly at Hershey, and gave her a sincere thank you for saving her little friend's life. I think she also gave her a yummy treat. Then they sealed the hole. And that is how the cat saved a ferret.

****It would have probably been hours before we realized Allie was back there. We asked Reno if she was in there, but he said no. Hershey truly saved Allie's life.****