Meet Larry the Smiley Guy

I have always liked a good smile. Turn that frown upside down is what I say. So much so, that I was even nick-named smiley myself by some people. Well, you can see where I might like smiley faces. I just like them, they make me smile. I also like little silly things. So if I happen to run across some silly little thing that makes me smile or laugh I will probably buy it. That is how I met Larry.

I was perusing the isles at the neighborhood Christian bookstore, when I happened by a circular stand. It had many square bins in it with lots of fun things in them. In one bin I found a light up pen with a smiley head top on it. Oh boy, I had to have that. A smiley head that lights up, how fun would that be to write with.

Then I turned the stand and there he was, my new friend Larry. A bendable smiley guy who had a key chain screwed into the top of his head. Of course I had to have him.

After I paid for him, I immediately put his key chain on my keys and into my purse he went. I would get a real kick out of him each time I took my keys out of my purse. This was short lived though, because soon I would pull my keys out of my purse and no Larry. The screw that held him to the key chain kept coming out. I would screw him back on and go about my business but it kept happening. Larry did not want to be tied to a key chain. Instead, he was always ending up at the bottom of my purse. This is not such a good place to be. It can get really yucky down there.

So I took him out of my purse and sat him on the mail counter in the kitchen. The next week, I seemed to find him everywhere in the house. I would go into the bedroom and there he was on the dresser. Open a drawer, there he was. Into the bathroom, there he was. It was starting to get a little scary, he seemed to be taking on a life of his own.

Then next thing you know, I find him and not only has he taken on a life of his own but he now has a tattoo. Right there on his chest in big bold letters, "Smile, God Loves You!” I was shocked! Now, not only does he give you a smile, but he tells you to smile too. So I asked, "Larry, what were you thinking?" All he would do was smile. I am not a big tattoo fan but I guess if you are going to indulge, it might as well be a good message. His new tattoo is permanent. He will forever spread his message of Gods love right there on his chest.

For now, Larry is resting in the bedroom. But you just never know what he might do...

So stop by each Sunday to see what mischief Larry got himself into during the week. I will be posting a new story about his weekly adventures. If he will get a tattoo, he might just do anything!

Life Of A Bondservant

A bondservant of Jesus Christ, what exactly does that mean?

I have run across this description many times in scripture. Several of the apostles called themselves bondservants. I have even heard other Christians talk about or describe themselves as a bondservant. So I decided to embark on a quest to dig deeper and find some answers.

First I looked up the word itself in Webster’s dictionary, here's the description:

Bondservant: a person bound to service without pay, long-term, a slave.
So what does a slave do? --- Anything they are asked to do, at anytime, day or night. They are at your service to do your work at anytime, anyway you want it done.

What does scripture have to say?

In Romans 1:1 Paul calls himself a bond servant. James, Jesus brother calls himself one in James 1:1. Then there is Simon Peter in 2 Peter 1:1 and Jude in Jude 1. Paul even calls Timothy one in Philippians 1:1. I would say from this, that the Disciples of Christ considered it important to be a bondservant of Jesus Christ.

If it is important for us to be a bondservant, what does it mean?

Ephesians 6:5 says a bondservant is - obedient to his master, sincere in heart, not with eye-service as men-pleasers, but doing the will of God from the heart.

Colossians 3:22 says a bondservant obeys in sincerity of heart, fearing God.

Titus 2:9 says bondservants are - obedient to their masters, well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our savior in all things.

Paul used the word bondservant about himself to describe a servant who willingly commits himself to serve a master he loves and respects.

So are you a bondservant? Obedient, sincere in heart, God fearing, doing the will of God from the heart, well pleasing in all things, not answering back.

Are you these things always? At all times? Available to do His will, His way, in His timing?

I believe this word has much more meaning than we ever anticipated and it should be used with the utmost respect. Not to be thrown around lightly or used without thought. The choice made by many who rightfully described themselves this way lead to martyrdom. They died for their savior and their choice to obey him.

I would only pray that I could become a person worthy to be called a bondservant. To stand for Christ the way the disciples did. I am not there yet, not even close, but I am working towards it. Are you?

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope today you have wonderful day and a thankful heart. God Bless!

Blessing In An Envelope

Yesterday as I trudged out to the mailbox to pick up the mail, I was filled with internal dialog. It went something like this....

Financial stress has been mounting. The holiday season is upon us. My son's wedding in Texas is coming in January. There is never enough money at the end of month. House is on the market but not selling. What are we going to do? "Lord, we need a miracle here."

I open the mailbox, take out the mail and trudge back inside. Bill.... bill.... bill.... Hmmm. What’s this from the Carpenters Union? Probably just another health benefits notification. I start to put it all on the table. I'll just let my husband deal with it, I think to myself. Something changes my mind.... No, I might as well open it.

I stand and stare in amazement. It’s not a health benefits notification, it’s a check. And not a small check. It appears that the Union is paying us vacation benefits that we didn't even know we had. Once again the picture is much bigger than we can see from our vantage point. I was worried but as always God was not. He of course knew this would happen.

The tears begin to stream down my face as I pick up the phone to dial my husbands number. When he answers all I can do is sob. "Honey, what’s wrong?!?!" he says to me. "What happened?!?!" After I finally gain my composure all I can say to him is "I can't believe God, He is so good!" Once again God had delivered a miracle our way. This time it came through the mail in a little white envelope.


Why is it that we continue to doubt the goodness of God? Or that we hold onto our worry when we shouldn't? Why is it that we can't just put it all in His hands and leave it there? Over and over again He shows us that He is faithful, that He will take care of us. He provided manna to His people everyday for forty years, now that's a faithful God. Our flesh just seems to get in the way.

Today is Thanksgiving and I am once again in awe of God. I am thankful for many things but most of all for His faithfulness and love. I am blessed even when I least deserve it.

Words of a Father

I started my day today with a sadness that I could not pin point the cause of. It’s that feeling that comes over you in a crowded room when you feel so alone. I have always pondered on that, how we can be surrounded by people in our lives but feel completely alone.

I think it started with looking back on the times I had with my children. They are growing up and I sometimes feel left behind. I know that I am loved and appreciated. But I miss them and at times like these I want them to come back and be little again. I want them to need me like they used to.

I took my hurting heart to my heavenly Father, curled up in His lap and spent some time in His embrace. As I poured my heart out to Him, I could almost feel His hand stroke my hair, saying it will be OK, I will hold you till your done. The tenderness of a Father that loves His child seemed to pour over me.

What I knew at that moment is, I am not alone, I am never alone. My Father with His watchful eye never lets me out of His sight. He is always waiting for my hand to grasp His and hold it tight. He never leaves me alone. I only need to turn my eyes towards Him and speak His name and He hears. The moment the words leave my lips in prayer, He has heard me.

So I tell Him of my broken heart and how my feelings are betraying me. I tell Him how I feel so much less than I should be. How I should be stronger and more grateful for the things that I have but I'm not. As I pour out the words, they seem so shallow, so unworthy of speaking them. I have so much to be grateful for and yet I can not find that place today. "I can not find it, please help me find it", I say to Him.

I take it to my Father and lay it at His throne, my burdens, my hurts and I humbly ask for Him to replace them with a grateful and joyful heart. I need a change inside today and I am not able to make it happen.

It is only in the arms of my Father that I once again feel loved and protected. As He says to me, "no hurt of yours is too small or unworthy to give to me. I will take them all. I will replace them with my love; you are mine, my beloved. Nothing I have, will I withhold from you, for I love you. I have paid a great price to have you as my own. I will give you all I have in heaven. Just wait and you will see."

Words only a Father would speak to his child. I thank you Father. Just your words spoken over me begin to change my heart. For I know that I am loved. I am loved so much that my Father sent His son to die in my place. I am loved and when I am reminded of that, how can joy not invade my heart.