Burma and my Other Grandmas - 625

  Wilma had been praying for several years that God would help the elderly that were confined to their houses due to physical limitations or other health issues.  She would say, "Lord, please comfort the shut-ins."  Sometime last year God had been coming through on her prayer and i was part of that answer, well for a few of my grandmas so far.  i didn't see it coming, i was just looking for more lawn jobs and several elderly women needed help at a reasonable price.  The Lord told me, "Don't worry about the money.", and that has been my approach to work all year.  He didn't tell me that i would get cookies and coffee, or iced mocha's and good conversation. 

i was blessed with three grandmas who i just hang out with each week, whether it be for a breakfast biscuit and coffee before yard work, or watching church on Sunday's before i make an omelet for us.  There have been more blessings in the relationships i have with these women than money could ever fulfill.  Today Burma and i watched service and then i surprised her with a tomato, garlic and pasta frittata with fresh herbs.
  Burma is a blessing for certain, as are Ava, and Peggy.  i pick up with Wilma's prayer and pray that other elders out there are cared for by someone, family, or in my case, just an adopted grandson.  Blessings to the elders as there is the wisdom of our past and lessons worth listening to.  Better company than an old book because you get to relive their history and learn their wisdom.

Love and Blessings in Jesus,

~ antbrother

Father Sky - 401

Some rough storms came through last night feeding up from the gulf and connecting to a low pressure system blowing out of the northwest.  Tornado fatalities in Arkansas.  Prayers go out to those in bereavement and loss from this passing line of storms and time.  Starting the year with nothing and some with even less due to the loss of a family member or friend.  These are the circumstances that many face in life through this walk.  Each day may open up something that we had never anticipated, in a moment the whole world around us has changed and we are challenged to face the new landscape before us.  Wandering in our minds as lost orphans, our foundation as we knew it disappeared.  So many trials and yet we must continue to walk through this incident for the promise of a clearer sky on the other side of the storm.  The sun will rise again on another day if we are blessed with that option.

  Where do we search for meaning in these trials and changes to our lives?  Where do we find comfort and strength enough to wash away the pain?  Few have answers and some know that just being present in silence with a friend speaks an enormity of words through our hearts.  We each need to search within our hearts and the silence within - that still small voice of our Creator is there amidst the outer noise and chaos.  He brings solace and peace, He settles the heart, He strengthens us when we are weak so that we are able to continue.  Others need us too, so we cannot just disappear within our own troubles and sink into despair.  The peace that transcends all understanding, may you find it in your heart and live there with God.

Loving and Blessed New Year to All,
~antbrother

385 - Very Much Alive

i smirk thinking about a local car dealer - Sam Stevens - in one of his commercials, climbing out of the trunk of a car and stating, "Hi, Sam Stevens here, and i'm not dead."  Such are the small town tv ads that show us a humorous side of our neighbors, just that touch of humanness that unites us.  Some days it may seem like we, as people united in this world together, are still locked in the trunk of the car. But we have a choice.   Let's chose to step out into the world for a while since you are reading this now and are very much alive and breathing.  Thanks to that first breath of Life that primed the pump for us all at birth.

This winter cold spell sure has sent many of us indoors to deal with the change in weather.  i pray for those that work outside in the elements everyday and those others that just have no shelter, or anything that we would call shelter.  Last year i was behind an industrial rip saw working indoors but not in a conditioned or heated space.  The wind was kept out by the metal building but that was about it.  This winter has been a bit different and i have been able to work in between the breaks in the weather.  Work has slowed considerably to just a couple days a week, so i have been forced to search for income in other areas, eat less and simpler meals and conserve.  Prayer is always the first step, in or out of season - in good and bad times, and i do know that any trying times are merely God strengthening our faith.  Whenever paying work has slowed in the past, God has placed a need to serve someone in my path, a definite ministry outlet.

i am not up on a scaffolding working on exterior trim today due to the freezing rain on the tail end of this arctic front.  i should be back up there tomorrow though - as the the ice thaws and the rain briefly subsides.  Prayers go out to the Salvation Army bell ringers all over the country.  You are continuing in a ministry outreach effort that God began in the heart of a man named William Booth.

http://www1.salvationarmy.org/heritage.nsf/0/c2af02232cb1f005802568cd0034a9fa?OpenDocument


Stay warm, be blessed.  Love,  ~antbrother

ThanksLiving - 363

Something like 80+ people showed up for church tonight and our Thanksgiving dinner and service.  it was more just like family getting together before dinner and then having a really long prayer before we ate.  Pretty cool for a church service.  i'll have to upload a couple pictures to share some of the night with you, some of the family and friends that i have come to know over the last several years.

It really something amazing, what has occured within this county jail.  What God has created here is beautiful.  It is a place of family and friends where many do not or have not had family or friends in their past.  Nothing like real family, someone that truly loves you and you can feel that, you know that these people are real.  So, we had a GoOD night, some singing, a great sermon on Hebrews (be content with your blessings), some fellowship and a lot of food.

Come join us if you happen to be in West Point, MS on any Tuesday night at 7:00 at the Clay County Jail.  God Bless and a joyous evening to you.  We don't eat this well every Tuesday, just at Thanksgiving and Christmas.