JESUS THE INSTIGATOR

 

JESUS THE INSTIGATOR  

When the dentist finished putting the composite filling in my tooth, the dental assistant held something in my mouth that looked like a fat pen. I heard it buzz a couple times. Then she took it out. What the heck was that?

 

The dentist explained that it is a blue light. He said it’s an instigator—it starts a chemical reaction in the two mixed materials for the filling.

 

In looking up the light spectrum I found that blue light helps boost alertness, heighten reaction times, elevate moods, and increase the feeling of wellbeing. It’s a high energy wavelength. I immediately related this to my Lord Jesus.

 

I thought of the verse where Jesus said: “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). Jesus is like the blue light. He’s an instigator. He gets things started. He starts us out as a fresh Christian when we accept Him as Lord of our lives. His light cleanses us of all sin, guilt, and shame. Later in our spiritual walk when we need new inspiration or a fresh revelation, He’s there to give a jump start.

 

We call on Jesus to give us more light on a situation where we feel like we’re in the dark or confused or anxious. Jesus makes a way out of any aspect of darkness and will continue to guide us with His light if we let Him.

 

I’ve found that when I prayed for the light of Jesus to intervene in a situation, it triggered a domino effect in circumstances that I really had no control over, things I certainly couldn’t change or fix by myself.

 

The Instigator, Jesus, gets things rolling and then we get to watch and see how awesome the results follow through, often in ways we would have never dreamed of or expected.

 

My dentist said the light instigator shining on the two parts of the composite material made it set up much faster than in the old days.

 

I want to be quicker to call on Jesus’ light in my situations. With His jump start, the results will most likely be speedier too.

 

Love, Carolyn

My books are still being offered on Amazon, and I believe Barnes and Noble. Even the older ones are great to read!

 

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=wings+carolyn+molica&crid=EZNJZZUP3KHG&linkCode=ll2&linkId=db88efb13727dcb484eb29f5b1683284&sprefix=wings+carolyn+molica%2Caps%2C353&tag=jmbcsds-20&ref=as_li_ss_tl

THE PILGRIMS, JOSHUA, AND 2021

 THE PILGRIMS, JOSHUA, AND 2021

I’m reading a book on the history of the Pilgrims. They first started off in England as a group of Christians who wanted to be free to practice their faith freely, separate from the ways of the Church of England. They ran into trouble with the authorities and some were jailed because of their beliefs, so they sought passage across the North Sea to the Netherlands, where they continued to worship as they pleased. But their living conditions dropped to poverty levels. They’d been successful farmers before, but now they could only get jobs in the lowest paying trades. Then many started incorporating new customs into their church services, and in their daily lives they started tolerating practices that were not acceptable before. They decided to move again, this time to America.

 

William Bradford was their leader, and he was a man who never gave up hope. The author writes: “They were not coming to conquer. They were not merchants looking for wealth, like the colonists down south in Jamestown. They were coming so that they might be free to be who they were.”

 

In many ways, I feel like we are like the Pilgrims. We are at the end of a year that most people want to forget. At the ending of each year, I like to reflect on the year past. I make a written or mental list of the events of the year that impressed me the most. This year I think most people would agree that the bad side overwhelmed the good by far.

 

And yet God is still with us and we will go on.

 

As William Bradford and others looked to the ominous task of crossing to America, “they admitted the dangers; the difficulties were many, but not insurmountable. And this would not be a voyage in search of gold, or to claim a new territory, or merely to explore.” In Bradford’s words: “Their ends were good & honourable; their calling, lawful & urgent; and therefore they might expecte the blessing of God in their proceding. . . . All great & honourable actions are accompanied with great difficulties, and must be both enterprised and overcome with answerable courages.”

 

I believe we have the answerable courage to seek the freedom to be who we are. I am reminded of God’s charge to Joshua, when Moses died, and all seemed lost. Joshua was still to be the special unique person God created him to be. He had amazing things to do that he wasn’t even aware of yet. But Joshua did have a few clues.

 

I believe that God has given each of us clues to our future, clues that reside in our hearts and are only waiting to be aroused to life once again, or maybe for the first time. The woes of 2020 cannot override the freedom of life that God has given us.

 

In chapter one of Joshua, God begins his story. I have shortened this passage for brevity’s sake. God told Joshua:

 

“Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go . . . . Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you.  

 

“There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage.  

 

“Only be thou strong and very courageous. . . .

 

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth [in other words, keep speaking the truth]; thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

 

“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest” (Josh. 1:2-9).

 

We are the Pilgrims of today. We are about to pass from 2020 into a brand new world, 2021. We have the answerable courage to do it. God says He’s given us a future (Jer. 29:11). I believe everyone already knows at least one thing that is in that future, one thing that needs to come to life. Only you can do it. Be brave and claim your freedom.

 

Love, Carolyn

 

My books are still being offered on Amazon, and I believe Barnes and Noble. Even the older ones are great to read!

 

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=wings+carolyn+molica&crid=EZNJZZUP3KHG&linkCode=ll2&linkId=db88efb13727dcb484eb29f5b1683284&sprefix=wings+carolyn+molica%2Caps%2C353&tag=jmbcsds-20&ref=as_li_ss_tl

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Me and Peanut on the patio this morning. Merry Christmas to all of you and I'm praying 2021 is an amazing time with the presence of God a reality we all feel and know experientially this coming year.

Love, Carolyn

 

THE BIRTH OF CHRIST

 

THE BIRTH OF CHRIST

One of the things about the birth of Christ that impresses me the most, is that God sent His angels to announce this great event to the local shepherds. We never even know their names. This shows me that God is not impressed by notoriety, wealth, or celebrity. God is impressed by the humble human who is willing to believe in Him and in “his wonderful works to the children of men!” (Ps. 107:8). God sent His holy child to regular people like you and me. Historically, the wise men didn’t even show up until later, when Jesus was a young child (not a newborn). Here is a brief version of the story of Jesus’ birth from the book of Luke. Read it and see what insight the Lord opens to you:

 

“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

 

“And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

 

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

 

“And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

 

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’

 

“And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, ‘Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.’ 

 

“And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

 

“But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them” (Luke 2:4-20).

 

Love, Carolyn

THE SIMPLE THINGS CAN BE THE GREATEST GIFTS

 

THE SIMPLE THINGS CAN BE THE GREATEST GIFTS

Don’t you hate it when you read something in the Bible and you don’t understand it? I don’t like that one bit and when that happens and I tend to go over it and over it until it becomes clear. But if it doesn’t, then sometimes I have to just let it go and know that God will make it clear at a later date.

 

But today I decided to share my dilemma with Jane, and she was able to explain the section of scripture right away, and my mind was untangled immediately. I am thankful beyond words that God gave me Jane as a best friend. Having someone who truly cares about you is a gift from God.

 

God loves us so much, He gives us exactly what we need in life. We just need to take a moment to really look at what God’s given us and be content with what we have. Like it says in the book of Hebrews:

 

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).

 

I shared this last Christmas and I wanted to share it again because I love the simplicity of this old photograph by Eric Enstrom. It hangs on the wall across from where I sleep and reminds me that with Jesus in my heart and life, I can find God in even the most meager of situations.

 

Here is the expanded story of this man and this photograph. I hope it is as meaningful to you as it is to me. I WISH A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU

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”Back in the year of 1918, a bearded, saintly, old man, with foot-scrapers to sell, called on Eric Enstrom at his photography studio in the tiny mining town of Bovey, Minnesota.

From this chance encounter a world-famous photographic study was created. Today Enstrom’s picture Grace, showing the elderly peddler with head bowed in a mealtime prayer of thanksgiving, is known and loved throughout the world.

“There was something about the old gentleman’s face that immediately impressed me. I saw that he had a kind face… there weren’t any harsh lines in it,” Enstrom said in recalling the 1918 visit of Charles Wilden to his studio.

It happened that Enstrom, at that time, was preparing a portfolio of pictures to take with him to a convention of the Minnesota Photographer’s Association. “I wanted to take a picture that would show people that even though they had to do without many things because of the war they still had much to be thankful for,” Enstrom said.

On a small table, Enstrom placed a family book, some spectacles, a bowl of gruel, a loaf of bread, and a knife on the table. Then he had Wilden pose in a manner of prayer… praying with folded hands to his brow before partaking of a meager meal.

To bow his head in prayer seemed to be characteristic of the elderly visitor, Enstrom recalled, for he struck the pose very easily and naturally.

As soon as the negative was developed, Enstrom was sure he had something special… a picture that seemed to say, “This man doesn’t have much of earthly goods, but he has more than most people because he has a thankful heart.” That Enstrom’s camera had captured “something special” is an appraisal widely shared.”

Love, Carolyn

GOING TO HEAVEN ONE DAY

 GOING TO HEAVEN ONE DAY

The other day my friend and I were talking a little about what heaven would be like. In Revelation 21:4, it says: “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” That’s pretty great, but there are many more details about what it’s like when we get to heaven.

 

For one thing, it’s not us just going up in the air and floating around in a beautiful place. Jesus told his disciples there are mansions in heaven, for one thing, and there’s much more. There are many books and movies about people getting visions of heaven, and even going to heaven to see some of the amazing things, then coming back to talk about what they saw and did. One of the best books I’ve read was My Dream of Heaven, written in 1898 by Rebecca Ruter Springer. There are a few things that are obviously inspired by the time and culture she lived in, and they may not apply to us today, but overall I think it’s an excellent book that inspires people with new confidence and excitement about some of the amazing things we have the opportunity to experience in our eternal home.

 

If you get one of these books, get the brownish-gold one with the forward by Vicki Peterson. I just got one of mine off the shelf to re-read – never can hear too much about heaven when it comes to needing some inspiration for future times.

 

We are told several places in the Bible that Jesus will be coming back one day to take the remaining believers on earth to heaven, but no one knows when that day will be.  

 

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:16-17).

 

No one on earth really knows exactly what it will be like in heaven, but we know it’s going to be good. If you want to be cheered up about some of the great details of your future home, I highly recommend getting a copy of Springer’s book. There’s even a section on artists. 😊

 

Love, Carolyn

 

Here’s the link to the heaven book:

 

https://www.amazon.com/Dream-Heaven-Rebecca-Ruter-Springer/dp/1606830139/ref=sr_1_1?crid=7HDKSHGU4QYA&dchild=1&keywords=my+dream+of+heaven+by+rebecca+ruter+springer&qid=1608167126&sprefix=My+dream+of%2Caps%2C334&sr=8-1

GOD'S GIFT TO US, AND OUR GIFT TO HIM

 GOD’S GIFT TO US, AND OUR GIFT TO HIM

I asked Jesus what he wanted for his birthday, and I kept getting the same answer: “For you to be happy.” I thought surely I must have made that up. That can’t really be Jesus’ answer, can it? But it totally makes sense since that was God’s original plan for man—to be happily working with Him, expanding a huge, wonderful, beautiful body, soul, and spirit family throughout the whole earth.

 

But after Adam turned against God, and man seemed to get farther and farther away, “It repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart” (Gen. 6:6). Man’s thinking became so corrupted that “every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen. 6:5). Wow! It’s difficult to imagine people having all evil thoughts, all the time! That means no love for their children or their husbands or wives, no compassion, no mercy for anyone anywhere – yikes!

 

It was so bad that a flood came on the earth, and only Noah and his family survived. Even after the flood, mankind still had sin in his blood. It was passed down through the generations with its proclivity for rebellion against God. This rebellion was inherited from Adam. Man was having a harder time being really happy, because of the sin passed down.

 

So, what about Christmas?  Once Jesus was born, there was one man with uncontaminated, non-rebellious blood. That is a really big deal; no wonder a multitude of angels showed up and were rejoicing! New blood was introduced on earth. Jesus didn’t get his blood from his mother but from God. In the womb, a mother’s blood doesn’t even mix with the baby’s blood. Jesus’ blood was not prone to disobedience, rebellion, pride, or other human failings. The same relationship Adam had with God, in the beginning, was now made available again through Jesus. That gave God peace. When Isaiah prophesied of the coming Messiah, he wrote: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given…, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor,…The Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6).

 

When a person gets born again, they receive that new blood of Jesus too. In fact, everything is made new by the introduction of God’s spirit to live within us. The old sin nature is wiped out, forgiven, and forgotten. Holy Spirit comes to live on the inside, and that changes every single cell of our bodies if we want it to. As the Bible says in 1 Peter 1:23: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”

 

Romans 10:9-11 tells us how to be born again, in other words, how to be a spiritual person and not just a flesh and blood person: “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from death, then you will be saved. We believe with our hearts, and so we are made right with God. And we declare with our mouths to say that we believe, and so we are saved. As the Scripture says, ‘Anyone who trusts in Him will never be disappointed’ (International Children’s Bible).

 

God told us in 1 Peter 1:23 that the spirit in us starts as a seed. Just like a baby begins with a seed and has to grow, so will the spirit of Christ in us grow. Spirit needs spiritual food. God needs for us to first believe that the gift He gave us is real. Just believing it, gives a boost to the seed. Then the seed needs to increase in faith and be fed the truth from God’s handbook, the Bible. The living seed God gave us will never die, but if we want, the seed can grow up and immerse with our bodies and souls. Taking the responsibility of growing that seed is our gift to God.

 

Christmas was all about God’s gift to man and our potential gift back to Him. God’s gift of Christ’s incorruptible seed to dwell within us, gives God peace when we accept His gift, and gives us peace as well, knowing that we will be with Him forever.

 

Love, Carolyn

 

GOD'S MERCY IS AMAZING

 HIS MERCY IS AMAZING

Today my work friends were on a job where they had to come up with a way of painting some carved rockwork so that a video would show up beautifully on it. It's quite a complicated problem, and they are on a tight schedule. Things that were tried previously didn't work. I'm sure they'll come up with a great solution, but I felt like God was being really merciful to me when my boss put me on a totally different project! There's no cause and effect when it comes to God's mercy. He shows us mercy just because He loves us and understands our dilemmas. Mercy has been defined as divine favor when we don't deserve it.

 

Another time I was developing a technique with paint to make three Masonite boards look like real steel. I decided I had to combine two different techniques to get the right look. It was a rush job; I was scurrying, and I wasn't happy with the final pieces. I was complaining the whole time in my head, but God's mercy was greater than my grumbling. The client loved the pieces.

 

The word "mercy" is used 262 times in the King James Version of the Bible, and the first time is with Abraham's nephew Lot. From what we see of Lot in the Bible, he was not a very spiritual man, and not a very wise one either. When Abraham took him to Canaan with him, they stood up on a mountain and looked down at all the land God had given Abraham. Abraham asked Lot which part of that land he would like to have. Instead of deferring to his elder, he immediately chose the greenest, most beautiful part of the land. He chose Sodom and Gomorrah. Not a good choice for him.

 

Lot wasn't spiritually strong enough to prevail over the evil that had taken over. The practices in those cities and the hearts of the people were so confused and perverted that destruction was imminent.

 

God sent two angels to rescue Lot and his family. Lot happened to be at the gate of the city when the angels came. The news spread fast that there were two strangers that entered their city gates. The angels took on a human form in this situation.

 

"The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth and said, "My Lords, please turn aside to your servant's house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.'

 

"They said, 'No, we will spend the night in the town square.' But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

 

"But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot, 'Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.' Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, and said, 'I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly'" (Gen. 19:1-7).

 

The people in the city of Sodom were so depraved that all of them came hungrily to Lot's house to get at these two strangers. When it says that they wanted "to know" the two men, it means they wanted to rape them, and it's translated that way in many versions of the Bible. Can you even imagine a whole city so spiritually and mentally perverted that they all would want to come and see such a thing?! 

 

How could Lot stay in such a place? And he called these men his "brothers." Other translations say "friends."

 

But God obviously had mercy on Lot, and knowing that destruction was coming, He sent two of His angels, looking like men, to get Lot and his family out of there.

 

"But he [Lot] lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. And as they brought them out, one said, 'Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.'

 

"And Lot said unto them, 'Oh, not so, my Lord: Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:

 

"Behold, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there—is it not a little one? —and my life will be saved!' He said to him, 'Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there" (Gen. 19: 16-22).

 

Not only did God have so much mercy on Lot that he let him and his family escape (except for his wife who, of her own free will, looked back), but when Lot pleaded with God to be able to go to a smaller city in the valley, God once again had mercy on him and told him he wouldn't let the destruction come on the city Lot wanted to stay in.

 

God's mercy is enormous. I can't say that I am naturally a merciful person, but Jesus tells us: "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful" (Luke 6:36). God has shown me mercy (favor when I didn't deserve it) and today was a good reminder that I need to be merciful too.

 

"Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us" (Eph. 5:1-2).

 

Love, Carolyn

 

FREE thru this coming Sunday: My booklet of true stories about the words we speak:

 

https://www.amazon.com/WINGS-Journey-Faith-Sample-Words-ebook/dp/B00BLS8SOU/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=carolyn%20molica%20sample%20a%20words&qid=1607525370&sr=8-2&fbclid=IwAR1YIZa_FkVEaau6vM9FHCRB24cZtFk9G6WCewwI-BTlI-iFMabLh9DzpW4

THELOVE OF GOD IS THE GREATEST GIFT WE CAN KNOW

 

THE LOVE OF GOD IS THE GREATEST GIFT WE CAN KNOW

We see a lot of chaos in our world right now and a lot of angry people. Many are fighting to change personal environments as well as situations in the world around them to make it a better place to live. But in the midst of anger, mistrust, and confusion, we need to take some time to focus on love.

 

Our celebration of Christmas is in three weeks. This is a time of year to get out of ourselves and get into God. The love of God is still the greatest gift we can know. Romans 2:4 reminds us that it is “the goodness of God that leadeth thee to repentance.” If we don’t exhibit the goodness of God, then who will?

 

The gift of Jesus into our world is the greatest gift God could give us. Jesus being in our lives gives us a forever home, a place of stability and security we can always retreat to. We need to remember that Christmas time is a time to show God’s love to people like God showed His love to us.

 

“But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor. 13:13).

 

Let’s see how Jesus can show us as individuals how to share some of that love.

 

And I’m not talking about giving money to charities for a tax return.

 

I’m mainly talking about showing God’s love to the people who stand with us day by day. It’s those people who we need to be thinking about. They understand how we really feel. They understand when we’re cranky and tired. They’re probably cranky and tired too. So let’s not forget to tap into God’s love and give a little extra of it to those who’ve loved us enough to put up with us this year.

 

Love, Carolyn

GREAT MEMORIES

 GREAT MEMORIES

Every once in a while, I like to reflect on what a blessing it was to visit my grandpa and grandma on summer vacations when I was in grade school.  Remembering all the fun things we did was such a delight and did good for my heart. I hope we all have some of those good times we remember from when we were little. Recalling them brings a sweetness to our souls.

 

Psalm 11:4 says: “He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: The Lord is gracious and full of compassion.” God’s love and compassion is shown to us by a variety of His works: through wonderful loving people, through animals, through sunrises and sunsets, through many aspects of the natural world He created.

 

When we open our eyes and our hearts to Him, there are many amazing and wonderful works He’s already done for us, things that we can get pleasure from if we will remember.

 

Psalm 77:11 says: “I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.”

 

In the Bible, God told people to write things as a way to help them remember. I find that writing things down helps me to flesh out a memory. It helps me to see more of the details of what makes the memory so good. So I did this with visits to my grandparents, and I’ll share it as an example of something you might want to do sometimes, or have your kids do.

 

“Some of my best memories are of gramma and grandpa’s house in Bakersfield, California. Many summer nights were spent sitting restfully under the grapefruit tree, while the blue neon-winged Junebugs buzzed as they hit and clung to the screen door on the porch. That grapefruit tree was huge and widespread, giving shade to all of us (sometimes seven people, sometimes 16), seated comfortably on bouncing green metal chairs. It was delightful, about 70 degrees I imagine, just perfect.

 

The fence around the property was thin twisted metal wire, somewhat protective, decorative, and a nice complement to the freshly cut green grass. I loved that house. Everything was intriguing to me at eight years old, and especially my grandpa’s small round trailer, parked under the slatted wooden shelter. My sister and I would make mud pies and entertain ourselves at the tiny kitchen table in the trailer. There was a drinking fountain outside the trailer that shot way over the basin and onto the brick patio. Half the fun was trying to control the water and retrieve it to use for our mud pies.

 

The grapevine trellis: I don’t remember eating the grapes, but it provided a wonderfully cool resting spot for Midnight, the cat when he wanted to watch grandma and me hanging laundry out on the line. Midnight and I had a special connection of love, unspoken. I loved climbing into the apricot, fig, and orange trees they had in the back yard. My grandma had an orange juice squeezer made of porcelain, just big enough to put half an orange on and twist until the small gutter was full of fresh orange juice. I don’t know if I’ve tasted juice that good in over 50 years, but I’d know it’s distinctive bite if I did, for sure.

 

The fern on the front porch was spectacular: delicate and dangerous! Who could fathom such a conundrum? A soft feathery fern, with very sharp thorns on the long stems. But it was grandma and grandpa’s house after all: mysteries at every corner. I loved it, always an adventure. We’d take trips to the desert to dig up shark’s teeth from long ago, and my grandma would pick up interesting rocks and sticks that looked like birds or animals or other familiar things she thought they looked like.

 

We had all kinds of adventures but one of my favorite’s was Sunday school. I loved the stories of Jesus and I especially like the crafts we did to re-emphasize the story and make them stick in my eight-year-old mind. My grandma was the teacher and I remember the small wooden chairs with metal arms as we sat around a big rectangular maple-colored table, me being enthralled by the Bible stories. Then when I got to sit next to my grandma at the adult church, I sang very quietly so I could listen to her. She had the most beautiful voice. I thought she must sound like an angel.”

 

Those of you who have children or grandkids, I urge you to make your experience and influence on them as memorable as mine was. These wonderful acts don’t go unnoticed, believe me. They are such a wonderful secret gift, never even forgotten by God Himself!

 

Love, Carolyn

 

You can find my books and booklets on this link:

 

https://www.amazon.com/WINGS-Journey-Sample-SUPERNATURAL-POWERS-ebook/dp/B00HZ2CB58/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=wings+Sample+F+Supernatural+powers&qid=1606953296&sr=8-1