Ultimate Destination Heaven

Posted on November 3, 2018 by Charly

The Birthday Gift

My dad is going to be 70 on Sunday. I remember his 40th birthday party. I remember thinking, “man he is old.” Now that I’m in my 40’s and he is turning 70 instead of thinking, “he’s old” I’m thinking, “I hope he has at least 20 more years with us!” He is living the dream life. He has a dog that is definitely his best pal. He has 40+ acres of land to wonder. He has the best man cave in town. He has friends that love him. He has the best daughter in the world and the perfect son-in-law. As well as six grand-kids that think he hung the moon! He has almost all you could ask for. So what do you buy a guy like this for his birthday?

My ever so insightful teenage daughter suggested cigarettes. Truth be told he does use a lot of them and will be using more. However, we are not getting him cigarettes. I searched the store and thought about new bathroom towels, a new flannel shirt, maybe even a food saver vacuum sealer. It is tough making meals for just one or two people. He has often cut frozen pizzas in half before cooking them to make a single serving. My middle daughter said we should get him a slide because the one that used to be attached to his deck broke. He is a funny guy but I don’t think this would really be a gift for him. I came across a neat picture holder made of old weathered pallets and thought he would like some new pictures of the kids. My boys are capable of making a picture holder out of the million pallets they have in their fort. No one else was too excited about this idea though so I don’t see it happening. I had a great suggestion from a friend. A device that would warm his feet inside his boots. He could control it with his phone. He used to be into technology when I was growing up. He was the one who hooked up the VCR when we would rent it from the video store. He bought our Atari and later on our Sega game systems. The thing is it all got so complected and he really just enjoys the simple things. Actually he might really like some warm socks but that doesn’t feel like the perfect gift. Socks just don’t seem to say how much we love him.

Maybe I’m thinking too much about the perfect gift. The truth is there is not a perfect gift. He is the perfect dad and I just want him to know that. He enjoys people and he enjoys his family. I will be getting him a card and having everyone write a little message of love and birthday wishes. We will go be with him on his special day and that time spent together along with words of love will be the perfect gift!

Posted on November 2, 2018November 5, 2018 by Charly

Do You Know My Best Friend?

As kids making friends is natural and even easy. I remember when I was 7. I was in math class. Our assignment was to measure different body parts, feet, hands, fingers, nose… we were to work with a partner. I was new to the school and didn’t have many friends yet. That day in math class my partner and I were excited. Every time we measured a part it was the same. Her foot was exactly the same length as mine! Her nose was too! Her fingers and hands were also! It made us giddy and joyful to be so similar. It also bonded us for life. She is still a friend 30 plus years later.

We all have friends. I hope so anyway! There are not many things better than having friends! In fact the necessities of food, clothing, and shelter should include friendship. I think it’s important to have a variety of friends. Some that you can confide everything to. Some that are at a similar life stage as you and you can share your struggles with. Some that are older and can give you wisdom. Some that are younger and you can share your wisdom with. Some that you have known forever and although you don’t see very often you can come together once in a while and feel like no time has passed. Some that have the same views as you and some that have the opposite. Some that you can be silly with and some that you can be serious with. Some friendships have lasted more than 30 years and others have just been for a little while. Some are just starting. They are all treasured!

There is one friend whom I didn’t meet until my 20’s. I would consider him my best friend. He’s a friend I can sit quietly with. He is a friend I can talk to about absolutely anything. He holds me up when this world beats me down. He encourages me, strengthens me, guides me, protects me, heals me, and best of all loves me no matter what. He is polite and yet demanding but in such a gentle a way that always shows me truth. He waits patiently for me to ask before he shares his wisdom. He knows my heart better than I do. Like my other friendships it takes work, time and energy, to keep in my life. If I ignore him I feel the sting of his absence. He is such a true friend he even gave his life for me. Up until now you probably thought I was talking about my husband. Close but I’m talking about Jesus. The beautiful thing about friendship with him is that it is available to everyone. I can spend 24hrs a day with Him and not be hogging all to myself.

My daughter is going to be in the play “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”. It is the Christmas story reenacted by some mischievous little children. It really is a funny play! It is also touching. The mischievous children don’t know Jesus. They are fascinated when they hear his story. When I first started to learn about Jesus and my faith I focused on the rules. It took me time to develop a relationship with Jesus. The “rules” however are not a moot point. Friendship and the “rules” or commands go hand in hand.

“You are my friends if you do what I command you to do” Matthew 15:14

His commands are really quite simple. Love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself. Ok so this is very simplified! I am not a theologian I’m just a simple Jesus loving woman. Don’t be mislead. Simple and easy are not the same. It takes making difficult choices and sacrifices to simply love God and neighbor!

The one thing I regret is not sharing him with everyone I met. It’s not as easy as walking up to someone and saying, “Hey this is Jesus. Have you guys ever met?” If you know him already I challenge you to get closer to him and share him with others! If you don’t know him yet sit down or kneel down and ask him to revel himself to you. Talk to him and he will guide you towards a beautiful friendship that will help you everyday for the rest of your life. And when your life here is over he will lead you to eternity with him!

In this season of cooling temperatures and less sunshine we need to focus more on our friendships to get us through. Jesus is always with us even in these dark months but it can be more difficult as an adult to make human friends and maintain human friendships. You don’t get paired up to measure body parts anymore. We can be so busy with family life weeks pass before we realize we haven’t even texted a certain friend. It’s time to put friendships on the todo list!

Posted on October 29, 2018October 29, 2018 by Charly

This Land is Parching

(Photo from the Catholic Company on Pinterest)

I don’t remember it word for word but here is my version of a story I heard years ago:

She was small. She was delicate. She seemed insignificant. She was one of a million that were falling from the sky this winter day. As she made her decent she sparkled in the sun and twirled in the wind. She didn’t realize how following her path down through the atmosphere she would be the one who would make a difference. Her landing was soft amongst a million others who had settled on the branch of a spruce tree. As soon as she settled there was a loud crack. The whole branch snapped off and fell to the ground. It had taken her weight to make the break complete. Just a small, delicate, seemingly insignificant snowflake.

This story was used to point out how we can be significant even in our smallness. I think about my “snowflake”. My small yet significant contribution to serving God in this world. I have decided to make it be my smile. Smiling acknowledges humanity in another person. I can share it anywhere with anyone and it will never be used up. Smiles can change the world.

In this land that is parching, not for lack of water but for lack of love, we need to be the rain for one another. God will fill us with His grace and then we can rain down love and compassion upon His creation. Is a simple smile the answer to all of the worlds evil? No I’m sure it’s not. But I can’t smile without looking into someone’s eyes and taking a moment to see them. This can be a sign to someone that they matter. That they are important enough to be noticed. That can make a difference. Find your “snowflake” and share it with everyone you meet.

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

Posted on October 22, 2018December 4, 2018 by Charly

The Journey Begins

Well here it is the first post. The journey begins with the first step so they say. Actually this is about my fourth step. I have created and deleted about three blogs in the past 10 years. This one is a bit more focused but promises to be messy as no journey ever goes exactly according to plan. I like to write. I’m working on a book. The goal is to finish it. Ok so the ultimate goal is to get to heaven, but there are little goals along the way. I want to glorify God in my writing and this happens by searching for him in everyday situations. I found my first grey hair this past weekend. I think it may be a sign that I am in fact getting closer to heaven than I want to admit or at least closer to old age. Whoever said having kids keeps you young most likely was a very optimistic person. I think having 3 teenagers, 2 elementary age kids, and a toddler may have given me my first grey hair. Quite a miracle really that I only have one. I do hope I earn the beautiful grey hair that is so in fashion right now. Although for those of you that know me fashion and hair really aren’t my thing. I enjoy my tennis shoes and T-shirt’s way too much. So anyway as I share my journey towards heaven I do pray that you will join me in trying to make sense of Gods call for us all to join Him for eternity. As Paul writes to the Philippians: “their minds are occupied with earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven.” Phil 3: 19-20 let us not be the ones whose minds are occupied with earthly things like grey hairs!