Whom Shall I Fear?

As I gather my things for Fall and Halloween, funny stories make their way into my "funny" head!

When I say I was a good kid, I don't mean to brag it was only because I was just too chicken to do anything wrong. But that all changed one Halloween night when some friends talked me into soaping windows. I was reluctant but they persuaded me that it would be fun! (It wasn't all that much fun by the way). We all took off as going trick or treating but our bad deed was to be carried out after we had gathered all the candy that a bunch of gangly, middle schooler girls could get.

We, as planned, went to houses on the next block over as not to be recognized.  As we started out, being a newcomer to this sort of thing I was slower than the rest of them. Just as I put soap to a window, with knees already knocking, someone jumped up in the window and shouted "Boo".  Stricken with fear, my heart stopped and I fell backwards nearly in a faint. After pulling myself together I ran for my life.  Looking back I bet some mischievous adult got a good laugh that night.  Not a good first try at being "bad"! Too ashamed to tell my cohorts of my failed attempt, I just sneaked home, never to try soaping windows again. Fear had paralyzed my attempts at being “bad”!

Today I read Psalm 27 which is a song concerning fear.  What are you afraid of today?  I tried to think today of just what I fear most.  And the answer was “plenty”!  If I look around me I see wars as David did in the Psalm, I see bad people who could attack and devour, and I see a seemingly Godless world but David opens his song with:  

The Lord is my light and my salvation—

   whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life—

   of whom shall I be afraid

Psalm 27:1-2

I, as most people, fear the unknown, I fear what could be in my future as I grow old and I fear the “odds”!  By odds I mean my life has been good up to now, are my odds about to be up?  Waiting for the other shoe to drop “so to speak”!  What does God say to me in this Psalm that could help me with these fears?  

I remain confident of this:

   I will see the goodness of the Lord

   in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord;

   be strong and take heart

   and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 27:13-14

In all that I could be afraid of I must remember with David that God is good.  I must be strong and take heart and the hardest thing is to wait!  For then I will see His goodness in the midst of my fears.

but those who hope in the Lord

   will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

   they will run and not grow weary,

   they will walk and not be faint

Isaiah 40:31

Even now I recall the events of that night of “soaping” with trembling,  but what strikes me is the fear that a “BOO” brought to my fainting heart.  

Lord, the stronghold of my life, OF WHOM SHOULD I BE AFRAID!

The Lord is My Shepherd!

As I was reminded a few days ago, we are to spend 40 days in prayer for our nation.  I wondered, if our prayers could be seen in colors, how many would be red and how many would be blue?  We all have our preference, of course. but we need to pray for God’s will in this election.  We need to truly pray for our nation to be “Under God” once again!  A familiar Psalm comes to mind as I sometimes find myself worrying about what the future holds for our nation.  

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.  Psalm 23:1

Psalm 23 actually compares we humans to sheep and the Lord as our Shepherd.  Sheep which has been noted at other times are not at all wise in themselves,  they are fearful of everything and frankly needs someone to guide them at all times.  Sound familiar?  

As those who are familiar with sheep know, the Shepherd provides all of the needs of his sheep.  He guides them to green pastures and quiet waters. In my reading this morning, I read that sheep can easily become fearful and run with no direction, even running over other sheep.  As we become frightened, let us not unkindly, run over others with our opinions, we are all sheep in need of a Shepherd.  As a shepherd who cares for his sheep, he many times has to make his sheep lie down, actually force them down into the lush green grass to eat.  Isn’t this like us so many times in this election process, we run in circles and cry “the sky is falling, the sky is falling” so God in his loving kindness has to force us, again, to consider that He is still in control no matter who gets elected.  

Lord, give us wisdom as we vote for who you want in office of President of the United States.

It is said that sheep will stare at water that is tumultuous and though thirsty will not drink, so a good Shepherd leads them to quiet waters.  

He makes me lie down in green pastures;  He leads me beside quiet waters.

As we pray for our country and the election in these next days to come, let us remember that He desires that we drink from the calm waters of his assurance.  Let Him lead you to quiet waters as you dip into His word while you pray.  His Word will FILL you with assurance as you remember that our Sovereign God is in control no matter who FILLS the White House.  Remember to drink deeply from His Living Water!  

Lord, help the people of this great nation to desire a return to the truths that has made America great!  Give us all wisdom as we go to cast our votes.  Give both candidates wisdom to know that without You and your Truth we will no longer be a great nation.  May we be a Nation Under God once again.  Amen

A Few Turnips And A Milk Cow?

As I have research the ancestry of Larry and I, most times it has been evident as to what kind of legacy these long ago family members left for the generations to come.  Here is a few examples of people on my family tree and what they left for their children as well as many great grandchildren these many years later.

This list was included in my 5th Great Grandfather’s will.  In the name of God Amen. I Thomas Gardner of the Township of Springfield in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey, being sick in body but of sound mind and memory do make and ordain this my last will and testament In Promise I commit my body to the dust and my Soul to God who gave it.  And as to those worldly things wherewith it pleased God to bless me, my will is that all my just debts and funeral charges be paid by my Executors herein after to be named, out of my personal estate.  This man was born in 1724 and died in 1795.

2 Hats
2 Great Coats
5 Pair of Stockings
5 Pair of Trousers
4 Linen Shirts 1
2 Pair of Breeches
4 Light Bodied Coats
4 Jackets
1 Pair Shoes and Pair of Boots
1 Pair of Buckles and Buttons
Cash due without bond for one yoke of ox
1 Horse
3 Milk Cows
1 Beef Cow
2 Calves
1 Pair of steers
2 Heifers
4 Sheep
Wheat and Rye on the Ground
Turnips in the Ground
Corn on the Ground
Wheat and Rye in the Barn
Buckwheat in the House
Oats in the Barn
Broom Corn in the Barn
Hay in store
Flax not cleaned
Riding Chair

If I inventoried everything I have in order to put them in my will it would look much different. Most of us would need more space to write down everything we own. You may say you don't have much but remember the above list included everything even turnips that was still in the ground.

As Thomas, I would have a list that would tell nothing of what I hopefully left as my legacy. Whether good or bad we all leave a legacy.

One of my searches lead me to a man who according to the newspaper article was addicted to alcohol.  The headline read: An Old Man’s Fate!  This man, Larry’s 2nd great grandfather, as the story is told, came to Decatur with his two sons to sell his crops but after being paid, started home alone.  As he drove, it is assumed he drank from the jug he always carried under the seat of his wagon.  Driving along and drinking heavily (DUI) he lost control of his team of horses. The team of two horses ran wild and ended up running head long into a fence neither horse was hurt but the old man was found in the back of the wagon, jug empty, money half gone and dead from his injuries.  Sadly this was a good man and according to the coroner:  “Mr Nihiser who was known well in this area, was a naturally kind-hearted and industrious man, but unfortunately he was addicted to a bad habit that has ruined a great many people”.

Remember for good or bad we all leave a legacy!

As I read through the list of things that my great, great ,great great grandfather owned it tells me nothing of his legacy because a legacy is more than a few cows, a horse and a crop of turnips still in the ground.

Through my research I found that he was a decorated captain in the Revolutionary War gaining much fame because of his bravery. I read another interesting story of how he was arrested for participating in several jailbreaks and inciting riots. Hmmm, this caused my eyebrows to rise somewhat.  But come to find out he was a defender of early settlers who were unjustly jailed by the British proprietors when they refused to handover their land.  Integrity?  Yes!  But probably more important was what was inscribed on his tombstone:
"My flesh shall slumber in the ground Till the last trumpet's joyful sound; Then burst the chains with sweet surprise, And in my Savior's image rise."

If I am to read between the lines, I would say the best decision Captain Thomas Gardner, this  brave and courageous hero, ever made was to be a follower of Jesus Christ his Savior!

What are we passing to our children and grandchildren? Is it a few turnips and a milk cow or are we leaving them a life pointing them toward Christ and heaven? Go make your list, turnips and all then give it all to God.

He Wakens Me!

This morning the alarm went off at 4:00 but I actually slept in until 4:30!  Why would a retired woman like myself set an alarm for 4:00 am?  I talk now about my “old lady” alarm that sets itself.  Why? Why do my bones creak, my hair turns gray or why does my memory fail me at times?  I don’t know the answer to that but it all happens when you get a certain age.  

I do know that as I creak down the stairs my heart is blessed and my mind is excited to think that it is time to be with the Lord.  The creator of the universe wishes to have time with me!  AMAZING!  That with a steaming cup of coffee makes for a perfect morning.  Perhaps as in the scripture for today from Isaiah, the Lord wakens me.  

The sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue to know the word that sustains the weary.  He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.  Isaiah 50:4

This morning, as I went to the door, the sky was alive with stars, the air was crisp and everything in me was happy to be awake, happy to see God’s creation take the center stage to perform without flaw.  I knew is was worth losing a little sleep to see his wonders as the night sky began to give way to the morning.  

How many times do I pass the glory of God in my hurriedness?  Yes, occasionally I do hurry!  If not in a hurry, I sometimes miss it because of the worries that blind me to His beauty!  Let us be wakened by the Lord this day as we go our way!

'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'  Act 17:28

Have a blessed day! Leave a comment if you have seen his glory today!











I

Trust His Hand When You Can't See His Plan!

Everything is always changing, have you noticed that? Being a newlywed was a change, of course it was a great change I loved being married, I was proud to be Mrs Larry Nihiser but none the less it was still a change. I had barely taken a breath of wedded bliss when I became a mother and all of the happiness that comes with that beautiful time of life but still a change. Just when I was enjoying having babies at my knees, they began to troop off to school, one by one. Tears stung my eyes to watch the big yellow bus take my babies away to kindergarten …again change. My babies went from pigtails and loose teeth to lipstick and eye makeup. They went from loving Barbies to loving boys. I blinked my eyes two times and they were walking down the isle to become a newlywed themselves. Then I found my self experiencing something new and wonderful, being a grandmother and as any grandmother can attest a delightful change. I now see my grown daughters going through the same changes and so the cycle continues. One of my daughters, wrote on her Facebook wall that she had been watching home videos and said “where has the time gone?” I understand what she is saying. We also go through changes that are sometimes not so pleasant. Our bodies change and don’t have the energy it once did. Our hair turns gray and “wow, who is that woman in the mirror”. Sadly, there comes a time when we are unable to care for ourselves and after years of giving, we must accept the help of others.

My husband and his brother spent the past week getting things arranged to have their mother move to an assisted living facility. Up until now she had lived on her own. It was hard on mother and sons alike. As she, in their childhood, had held their hand and guided their way, today they hold her frail hand to steady her unsure gait. It’s going to be really nice for her there since she will be getting the help she needs but can also remain somewhat independent… still another change. She is 91 and often says “I just can’t believe I am that old” and you know I understand what she is saying. As we undergo one change after another we have to bear in mind that we have a God that never changes. The same God who knew me before I was born, still knows me today. He has not grown old, tired confused, or forgetful . His hand is still steady. He has been my best fan as I have struggled through the changes of life. He has applauded when I’ve done well and cried when I have been hurt. I am still his child, He holds my hand and that NEVER changes. He still holds the hand of my mother-in-law and someday will welcome her home for her final change where her hand will not be frail or her gait unsure and she will meet the God who is the same yesterday, today and forever!

Dorothy is now almost 94 and looking forward to another year of making candy for Christmas.  She lived in the first assisted living facility for two years but moved a few months back to a new one.  She enjoys eating out and she still loves her beloved Peppy, her doggie in fact he visits her and even had a sleepover the other night.  She continues to do well and we are blessed to have her with us. I re-posted this one because I thought of the change that took place over two years ago.  The Lord still on the throne and has taken care of her as he has all of her life.  He has been abundant in his love for Dorothy and as she has done for 94 years, she trusts His hand when she couldn't see His plan.  Change!

Happy Trails To You!

I remember a time in my childhood that was especially sweet to me! It was a time we lived in an old farm house in the country. The house, as I remember, was drafty and cold in the winter, so cold that most of the winter we spent in one room with an old wood burning stove.  It was at this time I began to regard cocoa and toast as one of my favorite “meals“.  Mom would toast the bread in an old cook stove oven while the, made from scratch, hot cocoa was warming. To this day, this unlikely treat warms my bones and my heart on a cold night.

The rest of the year my brothers and I roamed the pastures, creeks and the old barn. The hay loft was a special place that we could tunnel through the bails of hay to discover if the old cat had delivered her  kittens yet or if some hen had made a nest to hatch her chicks.

 I also had a special place that I went to pray down by the creek. I only knew to pray as if writing a letter: Dear God, please give me.....such and such or please save my little kitten or whatever came to the mind of a seven year old I, in childlike faith asked my Lord.

I most often prayed for a horse as I remember! I wanted a grand horse like I saw on TV! I imagined myself riding "Flicka" from the Saturday morning show "My Friend Flicka" or maybe Dale Evans' horse, a palomino named Buttermilk! I could imagine what people would say as I headed up the many parades I would be invited to ride in. I could see my  beautiful steed with a fancy saddle and well groomed mane. I would wear a white cowgirl hat and boots to match my sparkly shirts. People would cheer as I road by waving!

One day after praying for my dream horse, I roamed around looking for something interesting near the creek. Eyes glued to the water I searched the little stream for pretty rocks or maybe an arrow head. Suddenly my excursion was interrupted by a sound that could only be a a a.......horse! After all I had heard that sound as Dale called Buttermilk over to eat an apple or a cube of sugar! There before my eyes was not one horse but at least ten of them! And they were all mine.....God had sent them! I had prayed for them and they were MINE! Thank you Dear God I prayed, as I ran toward my herd of horses! I could not take my eyes off them, there were paints, black ones and white ones and a beautiful palomino. Which one would I ride first, and what would I feed them and...and....! My dreams were interrupted by something I only noticed when I nearly ran into it! A fence! To my chagrin, they were the neighbors horses but for the rest of the summer they were mine all mine until I told my brothers of my find. As I think back, it's a wonder we weren't all killed as, in secrecy, we tried to ride bareback on those bucking, kicking and biting equine.

For a few moments I was a proud owner of not one but many horses, my prayers had been answered. I don’t remember ever being disappointed in God though I guess I could have been.  I didn't get exactly what I wanted, but with my childlike faith I knew He had given me my dream horse! And actually, in that moment in my seven year old mind, I rode in parades, I taught, her tricks and I lived my the fantasy. I just knew that he heard my prayers and sent even more than I had asked!

It is amazing how God works! That's the closest I ever got to owning a horse but it was glorious! The memories of "My Horse" still warms my heart, but, more so, the distinct feeling that God cared about the prayers of a barefoot, dirty faced little girl with big dreams has never left me. Praise God!

I wish I had that kind of simple faith now as an adult.  I wish instead of being disappointed that the Lord didn’t take away the disease, I could rejoice that he is giving me grace to handle it. Instead of instant healing, should I be disgruntled that I was lead to a good doctor who knew the answers?  No less a miracle in my mind.   I wish I could recognize, as I did then, his miracles and praise Him. Instead many times I stand looking for my “version” of that miracle and think he didn’t deliver!

Yep, for that summer, for that moment in time, I was the proud owner of not one horse but a herd of them.  I could still sing “Happy Trails” as I think of it, even these many years later!

He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. Matthew 2-5

“Happy Trails to you until we meet again”!

So Very Weekly!

Since retiring almost five years ago, I sometimes forget what day it is. But it's not long before I figure it out as I reach for the little orange container that holds my medicines. As I slide my finger across the letters I finally figure out that Monday pills are gone so it must be Tuesday! I just love old people, don't you!

In years gone by there were dish towels in my drawer that had been beautifully embroidered to sing out the days of the week. These towels are considered antiques now to be sure.

I noticed that they now make children's undies that have Dora merrily pointing to the day of the week or some super hero holding up the Monday through Sunday as if they were heavy.

My fear now is they will come up with the geriatric version of underwear that proudly display the day of the week! How embarrassing if you're hauled into the hospital on Wednesday and you are still wearing Tuesday underwear!

All this said, I also use the days of the week to pray for my kids and grandkids. It works out nicely that I have five daughters to which Monday through Friday was assigned and then there is Saturday for Nick. When I pray for each of the girls, I include their husbands and kids. So my oldest daughter Christa is my Monday girl, Kelly my Tuesday girl etc according to birth order. Not rocket science but it gives me some order so I can include everyone and concentrate my prayers specifically on that particular family.

As I thought of this today it reminded me of the greatness of our God! In my finiteness, I have to devise a plan that a fifth grader could understand, yet my heavenly Father hears each one of us as we speak. He doesn't have to keep track of our needs by looking at the calendar, he just knows our needs. He doesn't have to pull out his pill box to know who to pray for on that day.

Think of it! The One who keeps the universe in order takes time to hear our prayers and to pray for each of us! The One who made you and me, says bring your burdens to me and I will give you rest. The One who named the stars knows your name and my name. How fabulous is that? Amen!


Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26




=