Be an Expert on Today

   

  Several times in my life, I suddenly was called upon to get up and say something, and I had no prior preparation or warning that this would happen. The next day, I often think of way better things I should have said because now I'm an expert on what yesterday should have been.  

   Why is it that tomorrow I’ll be the expert on today, but today, I fumble through and seem uncertain of my decisions, choices, and words?  We’re all experts tomorrow on what should have been said and done today.  But today, I’m an amateur, still learning what to do.  I’ve often thought, wouldn’t it be great if I could live my teenage years or early adult years over with the knowledge I have now?  But then, I got this knowledge, having lived through those years and learning life’s lessons.  So, by living today, I can gain from my past and not make the same mistakes I did back then.  Hopefully, I will always make my tomorrow a better place.  Today is when I make the decision to learn from yesterday so my tomorrow is better.  So be an expert on today by learning from the one who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8). 

Hit by a Rolling What?!

Barrel looked a lot like this one

     The other day, I was out at the church all afternoon, doing various things getting ready for the Christmas Program on the 17th.  I finally started heading back into Hardin around 4 pm.  (The Church is about 10 miles north of town, a true country church!) I was just listening to Christmas music in my Jeep, and driving the short trip back into town.  Nothing prepared me for what happened next.  There was a pickup approaching heading north, when all of a sudden I saw a barrel roll off the flatbed and start rolling down the highway straight at me.  This was a metal barrel, but a half size one. I remember we had several of those around the ranch and used them for water or feed.  I think some kind of feed comes in them?  But I wasn't thinking any of that at that moment, all I knew was, it was coming straight at me, and how was I going to avoid it.  I don't remember that being mentioned in Drivers Ed class "How to avoid metal barrels coming at you," was not in the course.  Trying to anticipate it's rolling direction, I was trying to get out of its way as quickly and safely as possible, but even though I tried, the impact still happened.  There was no avoiding it.  It caught my front drivers bumper and fender, and deflected off my Jeep to roll across the road and landed in someone's driveway.  I stopped my Jeep, and put on my flashers and got out to access the damage.  Flashbacks of last year hitting a deer and totaling my first Jeep had flashed before my eyes.  I expected the worse.  

    To my surprise, there was little damage.  The bumper has a good scrap and a small crack, and the fender had come loose.  The clips that hold it in place seemed to all be there, so I lined it back up and pushed it back on.  Another pickup stopped to see if I was ok.  I told him I was fine, although my heart was still racing from all the excitement.  The driver and owner of the barrel never stopped, not sure if he even realized he had lost it.

    After assessing the damage, which I knew could have been a lot worse, I realized that there must have been an angel there protecting me.  "For He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go." Psalms 91:11   I am so thankful for his protection and care.  

  Things in life often come unexpected.  Like a sudden storm.  If you knew it was going to happen, you could have been prepared, but that's not always possible.  Like when Jesus and the disciples went into a boat to go the other side of the lake.  In Mark 4:35-41 it tells the story.  This was a sudden unexpected storm of wind.  Something you can't see coming.  Some of these disciples were skilled fishermen, they knew the sea, but it says they were afraid.  The boat was taking on water, and it looked like they were going to perish.  But Jesus spoke a few words which caused the whole storm to cease.  The wind, which you can't see, but can feel the results of, stopped. The waves, those things we can see, became peaceful water again.    Make sure Jesus is in your boat!

Game of Cat and Mouse

This is not a picture of Grace, but it looks a lot like her.
Sorry didn't have my camera ready when this all happened.

   

 Last night I was sitting on my bed (my only place to sit in my room where I stay) and watching a Christmas movie. When my cat Grace came in the room, and jumped up on my bed. This is normal so I didn't think much of it, till I looked at her, and she had a big fat mouse in her mouth. I screamed. Which scared her, and she dropped the mouse, which was still alive, and it ran off the bed, and somewhere in my room. I've had my cat Grace for over two years now, and I've never seen her catch anything before, except play with her toys. Thankfully I've never had a mouse in my motorhome, nor in my home in Kenmare. 

    I was pretty sure this was gonna be a sleepless night for me. Now I had a live mouse somewhere in my room. Ugh! I asked the lady I'm staying with if she had any traps. She found me two, and I set them in places where a mouse can get, but not my cat. I laid down for a hopeful night of sleep. 

   Again at 3 a.m. Grace brought me her wonderful prize onto my bed. I got to hand it to her, she doesn't have any front claws, but she's catching it anyway. This time, I sat up, and turned on the light, just in time to see the mouse run across my bed and jump onto the floor, and disappear again. Grace was right on it, and sat staring at my purse which was on the floor in the corner. I went over and picked up my purse and sure enough, Fat Mouse was under neath. Now exposed, it ran towards the door, and then under the door and out into the hallway and into the laundry room. That was my last sighting for the night (or morning).

   I got to thinking, I wonder if Grace just thinks this is just an automatic toy, and what a fun game of Catch and Release. She hasn't seemed to figure out that the goal is to kill it. And she's not hungry, as she's well fed. She's never been outside a day in her life, always been an indoor cat, and never been in a place that had a live mouse before. But for me, this is not a game. This is all out, Kill the Mouse! Mice are dirty, carry disease, chew up and make a mess of things, and are not welcome inside the house. I know they're a source of food for a large number of animals, but all those animals are outdoors, where the mouse belongs. This mouse somehow found it's way indoors, and thought it was safe. But now has fallen victim to a confused cat's game of catch and release. I'm hoping one of my traps work!

    Sometimes we 'play' with things that really should be killed in our life. We catch them and then let them go, just to see if we can catch it again. We're really playing with something we should be killing on first sight of it. Like bitterness, resentment, wrath, etc. Just don't catch it and let it go again, only to want to catch it again, while in the mean time that thing is wrecking havoc destroying things that are good in your life. 

"Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior." Eph 4:31 NLT 

Down in the Valley

 "Yea, though I walk through the valley" (Psalms 23:4) are comforting words. But remember to have a valley, there must be more than one mountain, or hill. Maybe you came off one mountain, to reach this valley, or maybe you're passing through the valley to avoid having to climb over the mountain. But the good news is always, there's another hill to climb, another mountain to conquer past the valley. We all love those 'mountain top' experiences, where the view before you is awesome, and you get that 'I'm on top of the world feeling.' Those times are great, but life and growth happen in the valley. Though the valley is full of shadows and can be very dark. It's there you gain the strength to climb the next hill or mountain. It's in the valley, you can eat, and drink, and grow stronger. And even though the valley is dark, and full of shadows, in order for there to be shadows and darkness that means there has to be some light somewhere. Shadows only happen when there's a light source, no matter how weak it is. 

   In the King James and New King James versions the verse starts with a 'Yea.' What a switch in our thinking to think, Yippee, yeah! I'm going through a Valley! Okay, I know that's not how that word is used in that verse, but maybe it should be a yippee, yahoo kind of Yeah! Its I'm gonna go through! Where the road isn't so rocky, and no steep paths to climb. It maybe a little dark, and the road and view not very exciting, but I'm going though, and there's another high point when I'm done! I'm either gonna climb another mountain, and see the beauty, or go through that pass, and get to where I'm going. So it's time to "Yeah!" your valley and keep walking through! 

   You don't need to run either, just walk, you'll make it through. The only thing that's gonna run is your cup running over. But don't forget, that cup is probably on the table in the presence of your enemies. But you'll have an abundance as your cup runs over! 

    Remember Jesus is the good shepherd, leading you through to green pastures, and beside still peaceful waters. He's with you every step of the way. So if your valley feels dark, keep walking. There's a table set before you and another mountain top to see. Keep walking.