Ironing

My mother taught me how to iron. Lesson one: make sure you grab the right end. I had the burned hands to prove the validity of lesson one. Lesson two: don't leave until you've unplugged the iron. I had the shirt with the iron shaped burn mark to prove the validity of lesson number two.

Somewhere between these two lessons, my clothes were supposed to get iron. When I got to college, that all fell by the wayside. I learned if you packed enough clothes into your dorm closet, they basically iron themselves.

Interestingly enough, one of the hymns of faith was written while ironing. "In Times Like These" was written by Ruth Caye Jones during the depths of World War II. One day, while ironing, the words came to her. She jotted them down and put them in her apron pocket. Over the next several years, this hymn became widely used, especially at Billy Graham crusades.

It's not difficult to see why this hymn became so popular. In the midst of the darkness of a world war, the words of the hymn gave great comfort:

In times like these, we need a Savior

In times like these, we need an anchor

Be very sure; Be very sure

Your anchor holds, and grips the Solid Rock!

We live in an evil, tragic world. If ever there was a time to proclaim the message of Jesus, it is now. If ever there was a time to proclaim the hope we have in Christ, this is it. Our world needs the Solid Rock.

Happier Birthday

My birthday was yesterday. We had a fun celebration.

When our kids were little, we enjoyed planning their birthday parties and gifts so much.  We would pick out just the right invitations, work on their guest lists, prepare the food, decide on a cake, and count down the days. Even now that they are older, their birthdays are very special to me.

Part of the birthday fun was remembering back to the days they were actually born. However, NO birthday was as exciting as the days they were born AGAIN. Before they were born, we prayed for them, waited anxiously for them, and rejoiced when they actually made their arrivals. Conversely, after they were born, we prayed for their salvation (their rebirths), waited anxiously for God's timing for it to occur, and rejoiced when those days came. It was even a HAPPIER birthday!

On the other side of the coin, next week will be the first time my mother hasn't been here for me to contact on her birthday. She's now in Heaven where birthdays are a non-issue! I miss her so very much, but would not call her back for anything.

Celebrations are wonderful things, and I'm glad we get to enjoy with each other. But no earthly celebration will compare with the one that is to come.....that day when we walk into Heaven, and see Jesus face-to-face in a land where there are no tears, no sorrowing, and no sin. Wow..."What a Day That Will Be!" Just as it is written, "Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And [which] have not entered the heart of man--all that God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9. What a wonderful promise!