Popcorn Parties at Bedtime

        I don’t remember exactly how old I was, but I remember being little and having a bedtime.  I went to bed, but I could hear Mom and Dad still awake.  For some reason, this convinced me that Mom and Dad waited until me and Emily went to bed and had popcorn parties.  I just knew that they would stay up all night watching movies, eating popcorn , having the time of their lives, and I wasn’t happy about it. 

        I confronted my Mom about it, lol.  I asked her why they didn’t go to bed when we had to, and also that I knew their secret.  I can remember my Mom laughing and telling me that they didn’t go to bed because they still had things to do to get prepared for the next day and that they watched over us while we were sleeping.  She assured me that nobody was having popcorn parties without me!  I accepted her explanation, because after all, I knew my mom wouldn’t lie to me.

        I was reading this verse from Psalms, and I thought back to that time.

Psalm 4:8 (NIV)

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.

        What a comfort this verse is!  I’m so glad that I can lay down and sleep peacefully, knowing He’s still up.  He has things to get done…situations to work out and plans to put in place.  While I am sleeping I know He is up watching over me.  So pull those blankets up a little tighter, and rest well…He’s not out partying…He’s getting things in order just for you.

Casting in the Deep

        Several weeks ago John and I took the boat out on the lake.  It was one of those perfect days…he fished, I layed out, picnic lunch.  I decided to try my hand at fishing.  (I have a system that works REAL well for baiting my own hook, but never having to touch the worms! Lol)  I cast my line and waited.  I waited and waited, got bored, waited some more and nothing.  I eventually stopped because I was bored and pretty sure that even though I couldn’t see through the water, there were no fish there and I was wasting my time.

        We moved to a different spot.  Under a rock overhang where the water was a little shallow.  I could see the bottom and clearly see fish swimming around right there.  Seeing those fish, I picked up my pole and thought I’d give it another shot.  With that many fish one was just bound to jump on my hook and that’s what happened.

        Later, when thinking about that day, it dawned on me that a lot times that’s how we live our Christian lives.  It’s SO easy to trust and have faith when we can see through the water and know what’s coming.  We will wait however long it takes because we know that there are blessings there.  We can SEE them! 

        But it’s when we travel out a little deeper, when we can’t see what’s underneath, that our trust and faith really proves true.  I couldn’t see and got tired of waiting, so I quit until it got easy.  That’s not the way to live.  Don’t get tired of waiting for your blessing.  Keep casting that line and having faith…you might get the biggest catch when you don’t know it’s coming! 

“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”

Psalm 27:14  KJV

Familiar Voices

John and I were at mom and dad’s helping them convert home movies from VHS to DVD.   While he was showing them how to do it, we were watching one of the tapes.  I had taken my eyes off the TV for a minute and while I was looking away, I heard one of the most familiar sounds I’ve ever heard.  It was a voice that I hadn’t heard in almost 10 years, but I knew exactly who it belonged to.  My papa, who passed away almost 10 years ago, was talking on the tape.  My eyes instantly filled with tears.  You know how you always think you’ll remember forever the sound of someone’s voice, but the truth is, we forget.  I talked to him every day, either at his house or on the phone, but with time, I had forgotten what his voice sounded like.  Hearing it on the tape was so personal.  Just like he was talking directly to me, even though he was just saying something for the camera.

     That made me think of the Lord’s voice.  Some people have said that His voice has been almost, if not, audible to them at times.  I’ve never experienced that, but I have no doubt that one day, when His voice is audible to all, I’ll know it.  Even though I’ve never heard it, I’ll know exactly who it is.  It will be one of the most familiar sounds I’ve ever heard.  I’m listening for that voice.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me”

John 10:27 KJV