Preparing For Winter in the South

October 1, 2013 / kstrick7 / 2 Comments

Fall is in the air, in northeast Mississippi. It seems just like yesterday, we were complaining about the hot, humid, weather. Now, it seems we may be getting a much needed break. This time of the year puts me in mind of my grandmother & preparation.

You see, as I was growing up, both sets of my grandparents planted & grew gardens. Me and my brother stayed with my Mama Boyce & Papa Clyde, (Daddy’s mama & daddy) while Mama & Daddy were at work. This meant after school & summers were spent, doing whatever it was we could get away with, at their house on Leedy Hill. Papa Clyde & Mama Boyce always had a big garden every summer. We affectionately referred to it as the truck patch. I never really knew why it was called a truck patch. It wasn’t even close to a truck. If anyone out there knows, please enlighten me. Anyways, we worked in the garden all summer long. We would get out in the hot morning sun & pick whatever it was that was in at the time. We picked purple hull peas, squash, tomatoes, okra, corn, cucumbers, butter beans, green beans, pretty much anything you could think of. Then, there were plums, apples, strawberries, mucadines, peaches, pears, all kinds of fruit trees, too. My brother can still tell you the exact whereabouts the pear tree was on the property. I’m sure because he picked up many a pears off the ground, before they ruined. Mama Boyce made sure little went to waste around there. We shelled peas & butter beans, snapped green beans, shucked corn, & basically helped to work up the vegetables, so that Mama Boyce could put them up. She canned & froze the vegetables. She made pickles out of the cucumbers & okra. She would call my Aunt Edna over to make jelly.

My Aunt Edna laughs & says, “Mama had a child for everything. If she needed something from town, she would call on Mary Helen. If she needed to go to the doctor, your Daddy took her. If she had to go to the hospital she wanted Tooter to help her. If she needed help when she got out of the hospital, she would call Nancy. If anyone was coming to visit or if the garden came in, she called me.” Looking back, summers were dedicated to preparing for winter. It was a canning, freezing frenzy of a time. Mama Boyce & Papa Clyde were determined we were going to have plenty to eat, while it was cold outside. We had a big family, so that was a lot of preparation. They most certainly knew the importance of working & not being lazy. The result, from the summer garden, was food in abundance all winter long. It was a matter of taking care of their own. Not haphazardly tossing caution to the wind, just sitting around waiting for someone else to provide for us. They realized things just did not happen. They taught us hard work & preparation is key to success & survival.

Proverbs 6:6 says Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

There is a method to the madness of an ant. It’s preparation. Just as my grandmother saw the importance of preparing for the winter. There was no rest for those few months. But, in the colder months, when our bellies were full of warm comfort foods, we understood why she insisted we be such worker ants. It’s easier to appreciate the bountiful harvest, once the hard work is over.

There is something else that’s being prepared right this minute. That’s our home in heaven.

John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

²In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

I am so thankful for my preparing grandmother, but I am most thankful for my preparing Savior. What a blessing to know Jesus is making preparations for me to come be with Him. That makes me smile! I hope it makes you happy, too. His preparations for us as Christians, in the end, will make everything worthwhile. Just as my earthly grandmother was so thoughtful in her preparing for our needs, the Lord is thinking of us right now, while he prepares for us to be with Him for eternity. That should just make us feel really good. Like chocolate gravy & biscuits good.

I am so glad you came by to visit with me today. I always love when you stop by. I hope you are getting some good fall weather wherever you are. Enjoy the rest of your day! As for me, I have to be going, because I should be washing clothes.

The art of loafin’

August 17, 2013August 16, 2013 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

photo credit-scenicreflections.com

Today, while in one of our local eating establishments, I saw a young lady I go to church with. Her mama & little brother were with her. She also had her sweet baby girl, who is almost 2 & her brand new baby boy, with her. Her baby girl was running around, trying to make as many friends as she could, with the patrons, before her mama whisked her away & back over to their table. The baby boy was taking a bottle & fretting a little.

I asked my friend, “What are ya’ll doing?” She smiles and says, “Just loafin’.”

For those of you who do not understand what she meant, maybe I can enlighten you, on one of the ways of our culture. In the South, there is a certain art to what we call “loafin’ “. When we are out & about, without any real designation to where we need to be going or what we should be doing, we are loafin’ . Some may say “loaferin’. Either way, you have no schedule, no concern whatsoever for time. Things are slow. You are unhurried. There is no need, to pay any mind, to how long it takes you to do anything. You have no agenda. No thought of what you may or may not do next. It’s an innocent way of wasting time. Some people may like to refer to it as, “chillin'”, “cruisin'”, or as my middle daughter says all the time, “just hangin’ out”. You have no regard for much of anything but right there in the moment of killing time. However, you can’t loaf or loafer all the time. That would just make you lazy.

There is one thing, though, that we should be aware of: what we are doing to guarantee us a home in heaven. Unlike “loafin”, our spiritual journey should be a work in progress. We can’t be lazy when it comes to the most important thing on our list of things to do while living, “Prepare to get to heaven”. We should be attentive each day of what work we should be doing to get to heaven. Then, take action to make sure we don’t miss out.

Jesus tells us in John 14, beginning in verse 1-3:

“Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in me. In My Father’s house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, & if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am , there you may be also.”

I want to be where Jesus is. I know to get there, I can’t “loaf’ around. One of the things I must do is have faith, but I am told in James 2: 17 that faith without works is dead. I can’t have a dead faith!

I Corinthians 13: 13 says, “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three: but the greatest of these is love.”

I must also work on having love for those around me. I must treat people as I want to be treated (Matthew 7:12). I must be meek, a peacemaker, pure in heart, merciful, & let my light shine (Matthew 5:5-16). I have to be always endeavoring to keep the commandments of the Lord.

Jesus talks about not knowing when Judgment Day will be.

Matthew 24:36 says, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.”

Whew! That’s a lot for an ‘ol girl , like me, to work on. My prayer is we strive to be as Godly as possible. Not letting one day slip by us when we could have served God. We just don’t know when Jesus will come back to get us. In our Christian life, we can’t be caught “loafin’.”

I am so glad you came by to visit with me today. I have been so busy lately. Not only has it been summer with kids out of school & such. My oldest daughter got married! (I will fill you in on that later.) Until then, I have to go, because I should be washing clothes.

Peace doesn’t mean you won’t have problems. It means problems won’t have you.- Lecrae

When you get tired of it all, God’s there

July 29, 2013September 12, 2016 / kstrick7 / 26 Comments

(The Living Bible translation)

Sometimes I get tired. I am tired of my problems, tired of my circumstances, tired of things not going my way, tired of people not listening, tired of feeling upset, angry, disappointed, irritated, unappreciated, anxious, irritated, sad, & by the way, irritated! (Isn’t there a pill you can take for some of that? Sheesh!) I normally try to be an upbeat person, but you know, it can be tiring. That’s when I start to realize,

“What am I doing?”

I am trying to “do” all this life stuff by myself.

Well, that’s just nonsense. There is Someone who promised me They would help, if I would let Them.
Matthew 11:28-30 says this, about that:

v. 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
v. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
v. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

Our preacher spoke about this on Sunday. Here are some of the highlights:

1. Jesus invites us to Him. We have a tendency to want to do things our way. Jesus will not snap His fingers & take away all the problems we have created for ourselves, by bad choices. He will give us comfort, if we seek Him. Often time we struggle with messes we make. Our struggles could be from forgiveness to or from others. It could be from our finances, our family, addictions, to a lustful heart, envying, jealousy, or hatred. But, Jesus forgives. The apostle Peter had one of the biggest mouths of anyone. He was notorious for speaking before he thought. However, Jesus saw him fit to preach the first gospel sermon.(Acts 2) In the end, Peter was humbled. In I Peter 5: 6-7 he said, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

2. Take my yoke. Lay down your old ways & pick up a different set of priorities. In a yoke, it takes 2. You are connected to the Lord & His care, when you are yoked to Him. We should do what Jesus wants us to do instead of what we may want to do.

3. Learn of Me. If you continually do the things of the Lord, you will learn to love those things. We must make it a priority to follow Jesus in our lives. Only then, will you find rest.

My husband has always been taken back with how well I sleep at night. He says it does not matter what kinds of situations we are in, or what kind of storms of life are brewing, that I can sleep no matter what. Well, I guess I have conditioned myself to let a lot of things go, when it gets time for bed & be at peace with whatever it is going on. My only reasoning for this is the peace that passes all understanding that’s talked about in Philippians 4:7. (and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.) I just say my prayers & leave it with God. Sometimes that’s easier said than done. But it’s not impossible!
I hope if you are feeling tired of it all, you will know, there’s an answer to it all. Jesus! He will care for you & keep you as close to Him, as you will let Him. I can’t tell you how the love of God feels. It’s something you have to experience for yourself. I can tell you it is the best feeling in the world to know you are loved by Him. Just remember God is ABLE to do anything we ask. Ask for peace. I am so glad you stopped by to visit with me today. It was wonderful to spend some time with you. I hope to see you again, soon. However, I have to be going for now, because I should be washing clothes.

I was inspired, yet again, by Bro. Brad, to write this post. If he is reading this, he knows I was listening…. Thank you, Bro. Brad for preaching the Word in it’s simplicity.

Was God in Oklahoma?

May 22, 2013 / kstrick7 / 2 Comments

I am a “Why” person. I like to know “Why” things happen. Sometimes my curiosity gets the best of me. However, I have learned that sometimes it’s not necessary to know why, but to know how. It’s no secret there was a tornado in Oklahoma City this past week. Some people like to start with the why’s when tragedies happen. “Why did God let this happen?” “Why did this happen to innocent people?” “If God loves us, why did he not keep those people safe?” These are all very good questions, but maybe the answers are outside the box. Some people might get angry at tragedies & ask, “Where was God?” I will tell you where God was. He was in heaven ready to help. The Bible tells us in Psalms 46: 1 He is a “very present help in time of trouble”. All through the Bible, God was there, when people were experiencing a hardship or problem. God was not with these folks to answer their whys. He was there to show them how He loves & cares for them all through hard times.
God was there with Joseph. Early in his life, it would seem that Joseph had problems. His brothers were jealous of him, so they sold him as a slave. They deceived their father Jacob into thinking Joseph was dead. Later in life when his brothers needed him, Joseph responded with kindness. He told them how God was working in his life in a special way. (Gen. 50: 20)
God was there with Moses. When he was placed into the water by his mother to escape being killed, God was there. Through divine providence, Moses ended up being the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Later, God chose him as His mouthpiece. (Ex odus 4: 15)
God was there for Jesus. Even though Jesus was despised and rejected by many. (Isaiah 53:3) God was with Him. When He hung on the cross, He was carrying out the plan of God. Jesus was doing the will of the Father. (Luke 2:42; John 6:38)
God was there for the apostle Paul. Paul suffered for the gospel of Christ. Among those problems were being shipwrecked, beaten, and in perils. (II Corinthians 11:23-28). He also prayed that God would remove his thorn in the flesh. (II Corinthians 12:7) Yet through it all God was with Paul. Paul declared, “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (II Corinthians 12:10). This strength was not his own. In prison, he stated, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”(Philippians 4:13)
The Bible makes the simple point that God does not prevent trouble from happening. He is there in the midst of our troubles. A small child can fall with a parent close by, however, the parent is there to help and pick up the child. God works in the same way. He will be there for us when trouble comes. The Christian has the assurance that, “If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” (I John 5:14) The Bible promises us that, “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are open to their prayers.” (I Peter 3:12) God has promised to be with His people (Heb 13:6) When a person is a Christian, trouble may come (II Timothy 3:12), but God is there.
I am so glad you have come by to visit with me today. It just makes my heart happy when you stop by! I have been so busy here lately with kids, Miss Neenee’s softball & school coming to an end. I may have to change my blog to I should be washing dishes because they are about to take over my kitchen! I do have to go now, because I should be washing clothes.
Parts of this article was taken from “The Messenger” from the church of Christ at Marion, IL with Brother Bill Brandstatter

On That Red Dirt Road

March 14, 2013 / kstrick7 / 6 Comments

I was listening to the radio the other day. I love country music. So, of course it was on a country station. I have heard the song “Red Dirt Road” by Brooks & Dunn ever since it came out. It’s a song about a person’s life that was experienced on a “Red Dirt Road”. Well, of course I relate to that. I was raised on Rural Route 2, right where the black top ended. (Which is just about the wording of the 1^st line of this song). In Northeast Mississippi we had lots of red dirt roads. But while I was listening to this song, for some reason it clicked finally what the duo was saying. They talk about all this stuff that happened on the red dirt road, which was their life. The song’s chorus goes like this:

It’s where I drank my first beer.

It’s where I found Jesus.

Where I wrecked my first car: I tore it all to pieces.

I learned the path to Heaven, Is full of sinners an’ believers.

Learned that happiness on earth, Ain’t just for high achievers.

I’ve learned; I come to know, There’s life at both ends, Of that red dirt road.

I think there is a lot of truth in this. The part about happiness on earth ain’t just for high achievers- really is true. Even the simplest of people can be completely happy. Happiness is an easy thing to achieve, if you are willing to do what the Bible says. In Proverbs there was a man named Agur. He declared what he had learned on his “Red Dirt Road”.

Proverbs 30:7-9

Two [things] have I required of thee; deny me [them] not before I die:

Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

Lest I be full, and deny [thee], and say, Who [is] the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God [in vain].

Agur wanted to be rid of a life of excessive pride & lying. Then, he did not want to be rich or poor, since there are problems with both. In verse 9 he explains if we are prideful or rich we think we don’t need God. If we are poor, we could be tempted to steal & curse God (a big ol’ helpin’ of a “Why me, Lord?” attitude). I think there is a BIG lesson in those couple of verses. One that I needed to hear for sure. I need to be more content. I need to enjoy what God has allowed me to achieve on my red dirt road of life. (Instead of always looking for something more to make me happy.) Did you notice Agur did not want a lot of money? I think if we had a lot of money we would be in a constant state of greed, making sure nobody’s trying to get our money. Then we could be worried that something would happen to our money. All that time spent trying to keep hold to all that we have. When, you can’t take it with you. In my life time, I have seen so many people act so silly over stuff. You know what? When the Lord calls them home, what’s going to happen to that stuff? Somebody else is going to end up with it. I haven’t ever seen a U-Haul (full of stuff) pulled behind a hearse. Have you? I think ol’ Agur hit it all right on the head.

I hope you don’t mind that my post today includes, Jesus, beer, & happiness. Because I don’t believe in any way, that those things go together. It just worked out that way, for once. I will ask for forgiveness because Lord have mercy, I don’t want anybody to be offended by it. Ya’ll just have to understand where I am coming from with this. I’m so glad you chose to stop by & visit with me. I love it when you come by! I have to be going for now, because I should be washing clothes.

The Real Recipe for Happiness

August 12, 2012 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

So many times I have heard or read about people who say,” I just want to be happy.” Then it is proceeded by some life changing event like divorce. There are books written on how to be happy. There are people who give seminars or talks on how to be happy.

What makes you happy? Is it your favorite breakfast from your favorite resturant?

Best omelet ever from Hazel’s- this makes me happy!

Is it being close to the ocean?

The beach makes me happy!

Is it family?

These faces make me happy.

However, I want to take just a minute to look at what Jesus says what it means to be truly happy.

In Matthew 5:2-12 (the Beatitudes) Jesus gives us the total instructions on how to be truly happy. So, while you read over these ask yourself, are you truly happy?

Are you poor in spirit? v. 3 We should seek to be enriched by God, who is a spirit.
Do you mourn? v. 4 Can you mourn your sins & short comings with Godly sorrow?
Are you meek? v. 5 We should allow God to rule our thoughts & actions instead. We should be more concerned with God’s way than what we think is best.
Do you hunger & thirst for righteousness? v.6 Is the Bible a regular book on your reading list? We don’t go one day without eating food for our physical bodies. We should not go without feeding on God’s word for our spiritual bodies.
Are you merciful? v.7 We should show appreciation for what God has done for us. Have you ever heard someone say they just won’t forgive someone for being wronged? A refusal to forgive will make you one of the most unhappy people on Earth.
Are you pure in heart? v.8 If our hearts are full of Godliness, wholesomeness, & righteousness, then we won’t have time to let bad things in.
Are you a peacemaker? v. 9 Do you stir up strife or drama in your home, church, work, or wherever you go? Are you always miserable & just can’t help but spread it around? That’s where the the term misery loves company comes from.
Have you been persecuted for righteousness? v. 10 Are you the one who is not going to be swayed by wrongdoing, no matter what? No matter if someone gives you a hard time about it? Or do you give in?

If you will remember the Hebrew writer speaking of Moses in Hebrews 11: 23-25 stated that Moses chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin. It’s all a discipline thing. We have to bring ourselves into subjection to Christ. We live in the world, with sin. So, we are not immune to trials, problems, or bad things happening to us. But we do have an awesome God that we can turn to. We must be patient & know that no matter what the Lord will take care of us & our situations.

In v. 12, of the Beatitudes, it tells the ending of the story on how to be happy.

Matthew 5:12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “ Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be.”

We should make an effort to be happy, God’s way. That’s true happiness.

*** I must make mention the biggest part of this blog was from a sermon from church. I asked our minister could I use it to share with my friends on my blog. He happily agreed. Thank you Bro. Brad for such a great message from God’s word!

Thank you so much for stopping by today. I have enjoyed you visiting. I must be going now, because I should be washing clothes…….

Run for the Son

June 11, 2012 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

Recently, I have begun participating in 5k races. Most often, on the last mile, there will be someone, that has already crossed the finished line, which comes back to encourage those of us, who have not made it, yet. When I was racing Saturday there was a runner, who had crossed the finished line. He then, came back into the race to give other reassurance, that they could make it to the finished line, as well.

When that guy came by me & said, “Good job! You’ve almost made it!” It made me think of how Jesus cares for His own. Even though we are out in the world, Jesus is there to cheer us on to the finished line of life.

He gives us comforting words in the Bible, to help us along.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus

He cares when we have troubles.

Psalms 34: 15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry.

He mends broken hearts.

Psalms 34:18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.

He wants us to have a rich & fulfilling life in Him,

John 10:10 …I have come that they may have life & have it more abundantly.

As Jesus waits on us, He keeps the avenue of prayer open to the faithful. In that, we may petition Him in prayer & He will hear us.

John 9: 31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will He hears him.

He wants us to be faithful to the end.

Revelation 2:10 …Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

As we keep running our journey of life, we can know Jesus is there. He is in our hearts, cheering us on to the finished line. Let us always strive to run our race of life, for the Son.

Stumbling block inventory

May 9, 2012 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

Finding faults in others is a popular pastime. Unfortunately, a lot of us find it’s easy to join the fun. Concentrating on the flaws of others can be a great way to feel better about ourselves. That’s typically, the problem! Avoiding the faults that need to be fixed in our own lives, not only dampers our spiritual growth, it too gets in the way of God’s work through us. God’s effectiveness through our lives is made better or is hindered by the way we live.

In Romans 14:13 the apostle Paul tells of the character we should have.

Therefore, let us not judge one another, anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

Back up in verse 10 he states:

But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

We are all in this together. Why be so petty about things?

If we want to be authentic & useful for the Lord, we must continually take a stumbling block inventory. At times stumbling blocks are things that in and of themselves may be real. Yet in certain contexts, may be inappropriate. But sin is clearly a stumbling block to others. Gossip, slander, boasting, bitterness, greed, abuse, anger, selfishness, and revenge all close the hearts of those around us to the message God sends through us. Just to think, our lives, may be the only Bible some people ever see. Now, that’s a big responsibility that we have. To keep ourselves clean & unspotted from the world. (James 1: 27) You may say, “but you just don’t know how mean this person is or how hurtful they have been to me.” I do know this, there is no problem too big that you & God can’t work out. Let God have His way with people. In life people will be mean, rude, unfair, gossipy, hurtful, and greedy. Pray for those people. Don’t let their hatred consume your heart & make you the same things they are. We must be the bigger person.

In Matthew 5:43-44, Jesus preaching his sermon from the mountain said this:

“You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. v.44 But I say to you, love our enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”

Now, that’s a tough pill to swallow! Pray for someone who has said bad things about me? Pray for someone who has embarrassed me? Pray for someone whose selfishness has caused me to hurt? You may ask,”Why does that person deserve my prayers?” If you look at it from God’s perspective- these prayers are for your benefit. For you to keep a heart that’s willing to mention a person who does not deserve God’s graciousness. Those people are the ones who need it the most. And it’s hard to keep bitterness locked up in a heart full of prayer. God does not want us to be angry. He wants us to love. And what better way to keep that love in your heart, than to lift up someone in prayer? It’s hard to be selfish or mad when you are asking a blessing over someone who’s wronged you. Get the picture? God loves us & does not want us to be someone who lets a situation eat at them. He wants us praying for each other & not being someone with so much emotional baggage that His work can’t be seen in us.

I Cor 13: 4-5 says thatprov love is kind, does not envy, does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil.

We should strive to condition ourselves to be kind, no matter what. God says in order to love, we must be kind. In the end, our kindness is what matters the most. We have to be responsible for what we have done in our lives, how we have acted & treated people, not how they have treated us. God will have His day with those folks! He even says so –

Romans 12:19…”Vengence is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

Now, don’t you think God can handle these hard to deal with people better than you? Of course He can. A dear friend of mine has said her mother used to say, “Kill them with kindness.” I think that is a very good lesson. When someone hurts your feelings, just be kind. When someone says mean things about you, be kind. When someone is rude to you, be kind. That way, they can see God living in you. That will either turn them toward God, or just make them mad. Either way, you have done your part by being what God wants you to be- kind.

So, let’s replace our faults with the wonderful ways of Jesus. This will help others to see our Savior more clearly.

Some of this message was taken from an Our Daily Bread article written by Joe Stowell. I have so many thoughts about this subject. Maybe I will write more about it later. But for now, I have to go because I should be washing clothes………..