I only feed th handicapped ones

We had a few days off and decided to drive to Santa Cruz for the night. I was waiting to meet with my son and husband to visit a restaurant with a beautiful ocean view when I walked over to where the seagulls where all in a row on the pier bench. An older lady was there feeding them. I exchanged a few words with her and then she said, "I only feed the handicapped ones and so the others are mad at me." I thought right away of when Jesus said that it was not the healthy who needed a physician, but those who were sick. She was giving to the seagulls who seemed to have more of a need for her help. Lord, use me to give to others who are in need. Send me to help them and to do in in your Name.

We are Free

I taught several PE classes today at our local high school. Many of the kids were swearing and it always discourages me a bit to hear that language. I prayed for them and did my job. A few hours into my teaching, a student asked me, "Are you a Christian?" I said, "Yes." He said he had seen me in the choir and in the plays at our church. I was thankful that I could admit to being a Christian without fear of persecution. I was thankful that I could testify for Jesus and pray that these students would have an open heart and mind toward Him. There are so many things to be thankful for each and every day and we have so many freedoms in our country that many people do not have.

Cuba and a jumprope

In my Sunday School class last week, some men were returning from a trip to Cuba and describing it for us. One man moved me when he said God has called him to give out of his abundance to other people. I asked God if He would use me to give to others. I had just purchased a brand new jumprope and took it to my job as a substitute teacher. Before the first recess, I gave it away to a student and saw all the girls playing with it on the playground. It blessed my spirit to see them using the gift that I had given them. In the same way, we bless our Lord when we use the gifts He has given us for His glory.

An audience of One

We have a friend who is an amazing cello player. At one time, a friend of his allowed Doug to borrow his 250,000 dollar cello. When he found out this man was playing his cello in Churches, he took it back. The man eventually did become a Christian and then he passed away. Doug wen on to teach children in India to play the cello and has now returned to teach at our local Christian School. Doug has played for thousands of people and even the pope, yet he says he plays for an audience of One-Jesus alone. I love the cello. It is one of my favorite instruments. At a recent event I attended, Doug was going to play the cello. I was feeling weak, tired and even had a bad headache. I just closed my eyes and as I listened and worshiped God with a raised hand, I felt peaceful and all the aches and pains disappeared. I gave glory and thanks to God for He alone has the power to heal. I thank Him for giving us the musical talent and for using it for His glory.

Shattuck Square in Berkeley

On Shattuck Square in Berkeley there is an Indian Restaurant we have visited several times. The food is very delicious.
We had had a difficult day discovering our dog has an enlarged heart and will need to be on medication for the rest of her life. There were a couple other situations that were getting us down, so my husband and I decided to drive to Berkeley and visit a music store and an Indian Restaurant. When we were settled in the restaurant, we asked the waitress if they would accept a two-for-one coupon we had. The girl said they would and asked where I got the coupon. I showed her my large coupon book I have been using for the past year which will expire in a few weeks. She was genuinely impressed and asked if she could look through it. She did and went to the counter and shared it with her other family members. You would think I had given her a million dollars and I told her to take all the coupons she wanted. When we paid for the bill, we saw she had torn out half a dozen coupons and was excited about taking them to other restaurants and using them. God will choose to use us to help other people even when we feel down and discouraged. That will encourage us and lift us up again.

A birthday brownie

A taught a sixth grade class and was feeling weak and tired. A student raised her hand and asked me, "Would you like a brownie? I made then for my birthday and I would like to give you one." The little girl with the blond curls looked so very angelic. I replied, "Yes, thank-you, I would love a brownie. Happy Birthday. What are you doing today?" She said, "Going out to dinner with my family." She looked like a picture of innocence. I said, "Well, have a wonderful time," and sat down at the desk, hopeful about today's youth. Such sweetness in one adorable package and a brownie in addition!

Tori and Mateo

Yesterday I taught blind and deaf children. They inspired me. The blind and deaf He's given joy. I saw the girl. I heard the boy. They offered a gift. I received...I adored...For my sight and hearing I praise the Lord. I can see His creation and hear His songs. I can sing His praises all day long.
Tori and Mateo inspired. Mateo is deaf and has amazing facial expessions. I kept thinking of what it would be like to never hear a symphony or laughter. Oh God, I'm so grateful for my hearing. Tori had just a tiny bit of hearing and vision. She was in constant motion. She never stopped moving all day long. I had such a deep love for her and I barely knew her. I knew it was the love of Jesus. I thank God for these children who have so much to give.

Lithia Park

When my children were seven, four and two we had an amazingly perfect day. All of us were in Ashland, Oregon for a Shakespeare Festival with some friends and we decided to spend the day in a beautiful park. There were lovely shade trees, a creek and play equipment. I have such a vivid picture in my mind of my two youngest children at the time holding hands standing in the stream. At that moment, they could conquer the world together and my husband snapped some beautiful photos. I spent a lot of time watching my kids play on the playground and when we all thought we had died and gone to heaven, my two and four year-old children ran into an actor on Sesame Street--a man named Luis. The kids were so excited. Now, when I look back I think that this has got to be one of my most treasured memories.

This is not a small child

When I delivered my third child Bethany, the weight the nurse gave her was wrong. The nurse told me she weighed nine pounds. I knew that was wrong because the next day, she weighed eight pounds. When the nurse weighed her for the first time, she turned to me and said..."This is not a small child." I remember those words so clearly. To me, they signify that she will be great someday. If she is not small she will be great. She has turned out to be a great person. She has accomplished a lot in her twenty years, but most of all she is great because she is cherished by God and by others. She is a wonderful daughter, friend, worker and student. In God's eyes she is precious and beloved.