Today in (Personal) history

Most years, April 23 has been a typical day on the calendar: special in its own way, but nothing noteworthy. Yet, more than any other date, today is the anniversary of painful events in my life.

Twenty-three years ago today would have been my wedding day had I not realized two month before that if I married this guy, I would end up either dead, in a hospital, or in a battered women’s shelter. That is not what I looked forward to in a marriage. I broke off the wedding and four years later, married someone else.

Last year, on this date, I found evidence of my husband’s affair. After a week of research, prayer, and the advice of wise friends, I confronted him and learned he had known her for two years.

I find it appropriate that this anniversary falls on the Saturday of Holy Week, the time between celebrating the Death of Christ on Good Friday, and His Resurrection on Easter Sunday. That is exactly what this day means in my life.

Although I broke off the relationship two months before the wedding, April 23 is a day that reminds me of the chapter in my life in which my Good Friday was followed by the Easter of freedom, recovery and growth. Likewise, the pain of learning of my husband’s betrayal has been the Good Friday of another chapter in my life in which God has used evil circumstances to draw me closer to Him. With each of these events, God has given me a new start, a New Life, and a better understanding of who He wants me to become.

Can God Forget?

Hebrews 10:17 "And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more."

How can an all-knowing God forget our sins and iniquities?

As I lay in bed confessing my unforgiveness to certain people for certain things, the fact became obvious that in order to forgive, I must heal from the hurt of their actions, but in order to heal from the hurt, I must forgive. Somewhere in the cycle, I must choose to do both.

Sin greives God more than other people's actions and words greive us. Sin so greives God that He cannot stand to be in its presence. Yet He loves us and wants us to be in fellowship with Him. For this reason, He sent His Son to pay for our sins, to wash them white with His Blood.

It is when we confess our sins and fall under the umbrella of Christ's Blood that God will choose to not remember our sins and iniquities, to not hold them against us. The price for these sins has been paid through His Love, His Sacriface through His Son.

Eternal Salvation is available the first time we confess and ask God to be the center of our lives. Sanctification comes on a daily, sometimes minute-by-minute basis as we recognize our sins and confess them, turning from them to live our lives God's way rather than our own. It is then that God "remembers them no more."

Please go to Vonnie's blog at My Back Door to read more Monday Manna entries. Every Monday, either Vonnie or Joanne will host as we all share our thoughts on a verse posted on Thursday.

Letters to the Tooth Fairy

Welcome to Friday Fiction. Joanne is hosting at An Open Book, so after reading mine, go to her blog for more great fiction. This story is based on letters to and from my son.

Dear Tooth Fairy,
Tomorrow is Easter. If you run into the Easter Bunny, will I get candy money for my tooth?
Bobby

Dear Bobby,
The Easter Bunny and I are good friends, but I disagree with him giving so much candy to children. I left you real money.
The Tooth Fairy

Dear Tooth Fairy,
Why do you collect teeth? Bobby

Dear Bobby,
Why do you collect bookmarks?
The Tooth Fairy

Dear Tooth Fairy,
What is your real name? Bobby

Dear Bobby,
My real name is Latin. It is Dentis Mediocris, but my friends all call me Tooth Fairy. Remember to brush your teeth twice a day.
Dentis Mediocris (The Tooth Fairy)

Dear Tooth Fairy,
What do you do with all the teeth you collect? Bobby

Dear Bobby,
I don’t usually answer this question, but since you are into science, I think you will understand. I work for a scientist with the Dental Association. We use the teeth I collect to help dentists learn how to better help you keep your teeth healthy. Keep brushing and flossing!
The Tooth Fairy

Dear Easter Bunny,
Please bring me a new tooth brush with my candy. Thanks. Bobby

The Healing Begins

The purpose of Monday Manna to get together and get to know Christ more through His Word. Each Thursday, a Bible verse to ponder will be posted, either at JoAnne's blog An Open Book, or at Vonnie's blog, My Back Door. The following Monday, those participating will post their thoughts on the verse at their own blogs and link up at the bottom of the post in the Linky gadget. The main purpose is to chew on the same Scripture and learn from one another. After reading my post, please go to An Open Door and read the other Monday Manna entries. Feel free to join the fun.

Here's this week's verse.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. Romans 8:26 NIV

I experienced a time this summer where I could not pray. I knew that the knowldedge I had just gained, the confrontation ahead of me would change my life forever. I did not know how to pray, to even express what I was feeling. Did I want this change? Was it for the best? I knew I could no longer ignore the inevitable.

As I lay in bed in the wee hours of the morning, trying to pray, too hurt to even groan, two lines of a song kept going through my head. I could not think of any other words of the chorus, let alone any of the verses. When I got in my van to go to work the next morning, the radio was playing that same song, and I turned it on as those two lines played. "This is where the healing starts, this is where the healing begins." I knew that song was God's answer to my prayer that I was unable to pray.

"Thou hast enlarged my steps under me,
that my feet did not slip."
Psalm 18:36 (KJV)

Someone recently explianed to me the difference in types of martial arts. While karate and Tae Kwon Do are about kicking and blocking, but Judo is about having a firm stance and using the opponent's momentum against them. He continued by saying that in the 6 months that he has known me, he has seen me move from cowering in a corner to taking a Judo stance in facing painful situaiton.

This change is not of my own doing. It is my dependence on God during this time of trial that he is witnessing. As I rely more and more on Him, I have grown in many ways, and having a firm stance, enlarged steps that my feet will not slip, is only evidence of His Grace and Mercy towards me.

After leaving a comment, please go to Vonnie's blog, My Back Door, and read other Monday Manna blogs.

"Come Talk to Me"

The purpose of Monday Manna to get together and get to know Christ more through His Word. The main purpose is to chew on the same Scripture and learn from one another. This week's verse is:

My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my
heart responds,“Lord, I am coming.” Psalm 27:8 (NLT)

But my heart and my actions do not always follow this desire. I have often lamented that I do not spend the time with God that I desire to spend with Him, the time that I know I should spend with Him. I go through spurts where I either read my Bible and neglect to pray, or I pray and neglect to read my Bible.

I remember lamenting about this in small group once and the group leader told me that he viewed me as the type of person that lived with God as the focus of my life constantly and to not worry that I was not finding a set time of my day to spend with God. After all, my husband traveled four days of every week and I had two elementary boys at home. While I appreciated the compliment of how he viewed my spiritual walk, and I do desire for that to be true, I really did not and do not believe it can be without spending time in the Word.

Nor do I believe that it is possible without an active prayer life. In discussing our lack in the area of Spiritual Disciplines, another friend told me that another co-worker and I had been instrumental in her life in that we taught her that you a can pray anywhere, as she walked for exercise, as she drove a van full of preschoolers, doing housework While I feel this is an important part of my prayer life, an important part of my relationship with Him, an expression of intimacy with my Savior, I still desire a longer, unadulterated time with Him on a more regular basis.

Many times we tell people that we are praying for them, but then forget. We get so caught up in our own lives, our busy schedules. I have stopped telling my friends, especially online, that I am praying for their prayer concerns because I know that most of them I will forget to pray for. I pray for them when I read the concern but that may be the only time I pray for them or that concern. My friend Tammy recently posted about this on her Facebook status. She wrote:

“OK.... here is the skinny. From now on, if you ask us on FB
to pray.... I am gonna pray ON FACEBOOK for you! too many of us say "praying" and are we? Most likely not. So, I challenge each of you, if you say you are gonna pray.... PRAY... Where two or more are gathered!!”

I felt convicted by this because, like I said, I typically pray silently when I read the request, but forget to afterwards.

My heart would like to respond, “Lord, I am coming” but it does not always come. I have not yet arrived at a place in my spiritual walk where I can say that I consistently live my life in such a way that God is always at the center of my focus. But I do so welcome the invitation from God to “Come and talk with me.”

Please go to Joanne's blog An Open Book to read other Monday Manna entries.

Love is Not Selfish

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love, Honor one another above yourselves" Romans 12:10

Going through a divorce has caused me to look more intently at myself in many areas, including my obedience to his verse. Am I really as self-centered and neglegent of others as my ex-husband says I am? Unfortunately, in many ways, I am. It is human nature, and with out God's help and a conscience effort to the contrary, I can be nothing else.

A broken marriage has tested my devotion to many things -- God, values, husband, kids. I do not always past these tests, but I am learning to lean on God which makes the rest of them easier (possible) as well.

Single parenting has taught me what it really means to "Honor one another above yourselves." I cannot encourage my sons to have a healthy relationship with their father if I am not honoring him in what I say about him. I cannot teach them to respect him if I am being disrespectful towards him.

Single parenting has also taught me a lot about self-sacrafice, about putting my sons above myself. It would be easy to take the attitude that they are now teens and can do a lot for themselves. After all, I am going to school and working to pay the bills. But I am not called to merely provide for them. I am called to love them, to raise them to be Christ-like. This takes self-sacrafice towards them and more importantly, towards Christ.

God can and does use the trials in our lives to help us grow, to help us to be more like Him. Showing His love to others is one way that He is working in my life through my circumstances.

Thanks for reading! Be sure to stop by Vonnie's blog for more Monday Manna - and to link up your own thoughts on this verse!

Running from the Egyptians

Welcome to Monday Manna. The purpose of Monday Manna to get together and get to know Christ more through His Word. After reading my entry, make sure you go to Joanne’s blog An Open Book and read other entries as well. This week’s verse comes from Exodus 14:13-14 as the Israelites saw the Egyptians coming after them.

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:13-14

I have verse 14, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still,” posted in my cubicle at work. It is one of those verses that God showed me at a time that I needed it, and one that He redirects me to when I forget.

We all have Egyptians chasing us into the deserts of our lives, perhaps wanting to us to return to the slavery of addiction or sin. For some of us, the Egyptians are our financial situation in a bankrupt economy. For others it may be a rebellious teenager or a medical issue. Whatever your Egyptians are, God tells us to not be afraid.

Easier said than done, right? We may know in our heads that God says “Do not be afraid” or “Do not fear” over 100 times in the Bible, telling us not to fear various things approximately 365 times. Yet that knowledge alone does not take away our fears.

In my own life, I find that my fears may diminish in talking to a friend, but they only really dissipate when I focus on the Promises of God. Two such Promises are given in this passage. “Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.” And “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

The current desert in my life has consumed the last 6 months, and I am still in the middle of the desert. There have been times when I want to throw in the towel and give up. One morning I cried out to God and told Him I could not do this anymore. Immediately He brought to my mind Philippians 4:13; “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.” As I got to work, God directed my eyes to the index card on my cubicle wall with Exodus 14:14. The theme that God is with me in the hard times was emphasized that day in the “Life Verse” for the Christian radio station I listen to, the daily devotional I get by email, verses sent to me by a friend, and in other verses I saw and heard that day.

Regardless of what Egyptians are in your life, God will help you through the desert. “Do not fear” is possible with the Peace of God that comes from Standing on the Promises.

Welcome to Friday Fiction! Sharlyn is hosting today at Dancin'on Rainbows. Head on over to read more great fiction, or to add your own fiction to the the list

When my oldest child was a toddler, he would ask for his favorite soda pop by asking if he could have some "root beard." I would tease him that someday I was going to write a series of stories about a pirate that liked to drink root beer. When I started to write the story, Root Beard turned out to be a toy bear that loved to play dress up and loved root beer. I hope you enjoy the first story of the toys in Angie's playroom which my boys helped me to write.

Root Beard the Pirate
© 2009 Joanney Uthe, Gregory & Simon Miller

Dolly and Baby Doll, fresh out of tea, poured root beer at their tea party just as Root Beer Bear and Meow the Cat donned their pirate gear and set sail with the toybox as their ship. Root Beard the Pirate loved root beer more than any treasure buried on any forgotten island. He could smell it a mile away and didn’t care whose it was or how he got it. Root beer was his favorite and he was going to have some.

Sailing around behind the dolls, the two pirates planned their attack.

“Would you like some pie, Baby Doll?” asked Dolly as she rose to get some.

"Yes, I will help you get it.”

“With the dolls in the kitchen, this will be even easier than we thought,” said Root Beard to his matey. “You grab the cans while I finish off the cups.”

“Meow,” answered the cat.

“Where is our root beer?” asked Baby Doll when they came back with the pie. “It was here a minute ago.”

“Maybe Root Beer Bear stole it,” answered an angry Dolly.

“BINGO!” they heard a voice say. It was Root Beer Bear as he sailed away on his toychest ship.

“You…You pirates, you!” cried the dolls.

“That’s Root Beard to you!” responded Root Beer Bear. “We have come to plunder your root beer.”

“Meow,” agreed his matey.

***

“Land-ho” shouted Root Beard as they approached an inland. “We land here and seek our treasure.”

“Look, newcomers!” Dolly and Baby Doll hurried towards the pirate ship.

“Does this island have any root beer on it?” demanded Root Beard.

“Oh, yes!” replied Baby Doll, pointing east. “There is a whole lake of it.”

With that, Root Beard and his matey set off to the east. They got to the lake, really a punch bowl set on the floor of the playroom, and took a drink. “Yuk!” exclaimed Root Beard. “This is not fresh root beer. It is all sandy!”

“Meow!” agreed his matey.

“That’s because we dumped sand in the root beer,” said Dolly’s familiar voice behind them.

“Why’d you do that?” asked Mother Dog, returning from walking her puppies.

“Because we were having a tea party with root beer instead of tea and these pirates stole our root beer.” Baby Doll’s tears made it hard for her to finish.

“We would have shared with them if they had asked, but since they stole it, we got angry and ruined Root Beer Bear and Meow’s root beer.” Dolly finished.

“I see. Is this all the root beer that is left in the playroom?” Mother Dog often acted like a mother to all the toys.

“No, there is one can left. That one is yours.” Dolly handed her the last can of root beer, holding it as far away from Root Beer Bear and Meow as possible.

“Well, then, let’s all enjoy this can of root beer and be friends again.” Mother Dog lead her puppies, the dolls and the pirates to the playroom table where Dolly and Baby Doll still had their tea party set up. “And perhaps we can learn a little something about sharing.”

The Pain I'm Feeling

Welcome to Monday Manna. On the First and Fourth Monday’s of each month, we focus on one Bible verse that Joanne posts on the previous Thursday. Our contributions can be just a few thoughts, a picture you feel helps express it, a poem, a short story, a devotional. After reading mine, go on over to Joanne’s blog, An Open Book, read hers and then click the links at the bottom to the other participants.

This week’s verse is Psalm 72:18:
Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only does wondrous things! (NKJ)

I often have the radio on at my desk or while driving without really listening to it. But there are times when God just draws my attention to a certain phrase during a teaching or a certain song every time that song plays. Lately, that has been happening with a song by Josh Wilson. God is constantly reminding me that “life is not a snapshot” and He will use this time of pain to bring greater joy in the end.

Non-Fiction Convert

I once heard the opinion that everyone should read at least one non-fiction book every month or whatever time period the opinionate person felt necessary (I don’t honestly remember how often it was.) As a result, I made a New Year’s Resolution to read a chapter of non-fiction every day. I did very well with that for as long as it lasted … about January 3. I love to read and I love to learn, but for the most part, I find non-fiction to be boring. As I get ready to go back to school, I envision hours of reading non-fiction textbooks.

Elementary teachers and experienced parents alike will tell you that to get a child to read, introduce them to books that interest them. For some, that means only reading books about horses, or knights fighting dragons, or princesses, or sports. My youngest son checked out every non-fiction book the local library had on medieval history, later moving to books on WWII. My oldest reads every Sci-Fi book he could get his hands on. The same concept applies to reading non-fiction.

When I was pregnant and when my boys were young, I read a lot of books on pregnancy and parenting. Thankfully, I did not need to use all of the information that I read, like warning signs that a child is developing meningitis, but the information was important to me at that stage of my life. When my mom was diagnosed with a genetic heart condition in which Mayo Clinic told her to have all of her siblings and offspring tested, I read a lot about Idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis (IHSS). In the last few months, I have read more non-fiction than I have fiction in order to learn more about a situation in my life. As I look at the text books that I have bought for Fall Semester, I feel anticipation rather than dread.

Just as our reading habits with both fiction and non-fiction reflect our interests, so does our level of discipline in reading Scripture. There have been times in my life when reading Scripture was a chore that may or may not get done. But as I grew in my relationship with Christ, it has become a joy. My level of enjoyment in the Word is a spiritual barometer of my relationship with my Savior. When my eyes are on myself, I tend to dread and put off reading the Word. When my life is Christ-focused, I cannot get enough of the Word. At times like these, my structured Bible Study lessons (like BSF) become like when my son got a low grade in English because he did not do the assignments before reading further in the book. It is hard to pull out the clues in a mystery if you cannot put down the book long enough to write them down before you know where they lead.

Reading non-fiction makes for a well-rounded, intelligent person. Especially when that non-fiction is the Greatest Book Ever Written, the very Word of Truth Himself. And when we really get into the Word, there is nothing boring about it.

Procrastinator's Club: Cardholding Member

A friend posted the following as her status on Facebook: “I don't know if there is such a thing, but I am a member of the procrasinator's club. Can anyone relate?” I have seen similar threads on Facebook and on the forum that I frequent, with various fun answers.

 I thought about joining, but put it off.
 Your membership dues are late
 When is our next meeting? I think we should put it off for a few more days, don't you?
 Yeah I still have the application lying on my kitchen table... One of these days....
 I was going to, but then I thought of something else to do first
 I haven't had the time to get around to it yet. I'll try to squeeze it in....
 I'll join when all the flowers in this vase are wilted... (*Places a vase of fake flowers on the table*)

While it is fun to joke about procrastination, for some of us, it can get us into serious trouble. I am by no means an expert on how to overcome procrastination, but I do recognize a few things in myself in this area.

I tend to procrastinate on some things and not others. I can find all sorts of reasons to procrastinate on housework, yet find plenty of time to communicate with friends via the computer. I can clean a room that I want to start using in a different way, when the most commonly used room in the house needs to be cleaned also. This selective procrastination is proof of Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:21 and Luke 12:34, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” So, where really is my heart? Are my priorities in order? Do my actions match what I say is important to me?

When I find myself procrastinating on things that I claim are important to me, I need to realign my priorities. For the most part, the key is motivation. I need to find within myself the motivation to do the things I want to do. Someone once asked me which came first, motivation or action. I found it an interesting question because one needs motivation to take action but once started, the progress itself is motivation to keep going and to finish. The person who had asked me said that his psychology classes taught that motivation comes from the action. People are motivated once they start. In order to get motivation to do something, one must first start it. I am not sure I totally agree with that. As a cardholding member of the procrastinator’s club, I need motivation to start. Yet I have often found the very concept of action creating motivation to be the motivation that I need. I can convince myself that by simply starting, I will gain the motivation I need to continue and to finish.

While housework and other tasks are important in the here and now, there is one area that it is extremely important to not procrastinate, our spiritual life. When my kids mention dying, I remind them that we will all die unless Jesus comes back first. The thing is, none of us know which will happen first or when. We may have a few decades or a few minutes left on this earth. Are we prepared for what comes after, whether in death or in His Second Coming?

For those of us who do know Him as our personal Friend and Savoir, how often do we spend time talking with and listening to Him? Can we really consider Him to be Lord of our lives if we never converse with Him, never seek His Wisdom in our everyday circumstances? If we never read His Word? Can we consider Him our friend if we never talk to Him? These are the areas in which I never again want to find myself procrastinating.

I have to go. I have housework to do and dinner to make...

Monday Manna for July 19 -- He is Near

This is my first time joining in on Monday Manna. The purpose of Monday Manna is to get together and get to know Christ more through His Word. Please visit Joanne Sher's blog at An Open Book to read more on Monday Manna entries. This week's verse is Psalm 34:18.

The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Psalm 34:18 NKJV

Last Halloween my friend’s husband left her and their two sons to move in with his girlfriend. She was devastated and angry. As I watched her through the next several months, I saw a wonderful strength in my friend that she had not had before. She was learning to depend on God in a new way: her faith was becoming more real and more personal.

About six months later I entered a personal crisis in my own life. Nothing I had ever experienced prepared me for the level of pain brought about by that crisis. I now know why they use the expression of ripping out one’s heart.

Like my friend, I learned to lean on the only One with all of the answers. Yes, there are a few good friends who have walked me through the worst of the pain, but ultimately, it was God’s wisdom in these woman that brought comfort.

My prayers have changed from a list of praises and requests to pouring my heart out to God. All of my confusion, hurt, and anger in the situation, I discuss with Him and lay at His feet. He is the source of my strength, my comfort, my perseverance to endure. He has become my Lifeline.

I still turn to my core group of friends, perhaps more than I should. But ultimately, even their input pales to the peace that envelopes me when I lean on my Savior.

Humble Circumstances

The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.

James 1:9-10

I grew up on the wrong side of town -- if a town of 750 people can have a right or wrong side. Although I won't say anyone in our town was rich, the railroad tracks basically divided the haves and the have-nots and we lived on the wrong side of the tracks. My parents struggled to keep food on the table for their eleven children, even with a huge garden, food stamps and a business that allowed them to buy food at wholesale prices. We were poor and the entire town, perhaps the entire county, knew it.

Yet I remember as a kid thinking that while I was not good enough for most of my classmates, I was still better than certain families in town. At least my parents worked to put food on the table and our family didn't need Special Ed for any, let alone most of our kids.

I am pretty sure this is not the kind of pride in humble circumstances that James is recommending in his letter. When we compare ourselves to others, we will always find someone to make us look good and someone to make us look bad. Our standard needs to be set higher than other people -- it needs to be Christ.

Human interpretation of what is a high or low position does not match God's. We tend to look at circumstances, actions and other outward appearances, but God looks at the heart.

We have all experienced circumstances where we may wonder where is God in this. Sometimes I can even convince others that I am humbly walking with God through the difficult times, when in reality, my pride is preventing me from doing so. Yet, in each of these circumstances, I know that God still walks beside me, holding me up. It is when I rely fully on Him that I am truly in the high position of true humility.


Heavenly Father, help me to be humble in all things, whether the world sees me as in a high position or a low position. I know that my worth comes solely from You and Your Son's sacrifice on the Cross. I want to live my life in a way that points to You and not to me. Help me to be a witness to all those around me by my life. I pray this in the name of Your Precious Son, my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Welcome to Friday Fiction! Sara is hosting today at Fiction Fusion. Head on over to read more great fiction, or to add your own fiction to the the list.

This story was written as a writing assignment on a writers' weekend on the North Shore of Lake Superior in northern Minnesota. Notice that the letter "a" is not used anywhere in the story. That was the challenge of the assignment and a great way to practice word choice.


CURFEW IGNORED© 2007 Joanney Uthe

The little green building sits serene, hidden in the trees on the shore. Only the sound of moving liquid interrupts the thoughts of the only non-sleeping resident. Tired from the night’s enduring encounter, she sips her hot coffee, seeking the solution to the problem still lingering. Should she confront the child who refused to obey curfew once more? Does the emergency room visit drive home the point in his stubborn pride? Would her words only serve to drive him further from her?

The ship on the horizon blows its horn, interrupting her thought, reminding her of his first ride on the pontoon. Only five, he bounced on his uncle’s knee, helping to drive the vessel. Swimming off the dock would follow the next evening. Monthly visits to the Superior resort deepened his love for his uncle, for this hidden respite. When, over the time of his young life, did his love for dihydrogen monoxide become his tool for torture of his mother? Where did she not succeed in getting him to know her love for him?

When the door behind her opened, she turned to see the object of her musings. Eyes shut to slits, one bruised from the night before, he hugged her gently. “Sorry, Mom, for the fright. I didn’t know the rocks would be so slippery. I envisioned this weekend to be perfect, to show you I desire to do better. Didn’t intend to go to the emergency room.”

“So, who is this? Where is my son? Why the pre-written discussion?”

“I’m serious, Mom. I do intend to do better. It sounds pre-written, ‘cuz I thought through my words before coming out here.”

“Better. Right. How much better did you do in the two weeks since you told me you were done ignoring curfew? Where did you meet the girl you were with? The one who phoned for help?” Trying not to cry or to yell, she kept her voice quiet.

“I would’ve been here by curfew, but some girl fell on the rocks by where I left my truck. I helped her, but I slipped myself. I couldn’t find something to hold onto to. Unlike the girl who didn’t get wet, I went in the sound. She is the one who phoned for help. I never met her before helping her.”

His story mirrored the one the girl recited the night before in the emergency room. She knew she should let go of her ever-tight hold on his life. He would be finishing High School next spring, then off to the University. Yet, thinking of loosing him brought memories of the loss of every guy who’d been in his life. Jim never knew his pop who’d died before Jim turned two. Now his only uncle, the one who owned this resort, lie buried in the ground. He’d been Jim’s role model for most of his young life. Where would he turn now when he needed help? Who would believe him if she didn’t.

“Sorry for thinking the worst. I’ve never been so frightened in my life, Jim. I thought I might loose you. We just lost Uncle Bob. Kind of lost my mind, I guess.” She returned his hug. “I love you, Son.”

“I know, Mom. In the bed in the emergency room, I worried you would be worried. Sounds funny, doesn’t it? I’m so sorry for hurting you, Mom.”

“You’re forgiven, Son. So, how ‘bout some muffins?”

“Sounds good. I’ll get the mix.” Jim stopped when he got to the door. “Mom, will they need to sell the resort with Uncle Bob gone? He’s no wife or kids to inherit it. Whose job would it be if they do sell? Poppy couldn’t do it from the nursing home. You’re his only sibling. Would you be the one to sell it?”

“I don’t know.” She’d pondered the question herself but being too tired from buying the coffin, informing his friends, etc, she didn’t expend too much energy on it.

“I don’t think this incident should define our goodbye memories of the resort. Let’s enjoy the rest of our time here.” Jim held the door open for her.

“I hope this trip isn’t goodbye to the resort. But I think you’re right. Let’s enjoy our time. Together.”

Friday Fiction: Prostitute Provisions

Welcome to Friday Fiction! Catrina is hosting today at A Work in Progress. Head on over to read more great fiction, or to add your own fiction to the the list.

This is my first time participating in Friday Fiction. Since Cathy used her entry from "Every Cloud has a Silver Lining" I decided to do the same. It didn't win an EC, but it was the closest I've come. (I think it placed 12th overall and 5th in Advanced.) I had made a few changes to the story that hopefully are improvements.


PROSTITUTE PROVISIONS
© Joanney Uthe

"Time to go to sleep, Obed."

"Please, Grandmother. Just one more story. Tell me about when you lived in Jericho. When you met the spies."

"Only if you promise to go to sleep afterwards." After receiving the promise, Grandmother began her story:

I was young when my parents gave me to the temple, forced to choose between child sacrifice and prostitution. There were days I wished they’d chosen differently. I hated my job from the very beginning, but it was part of our religion. We didn’t know the true God like your people do. Men worshipped our gods by using prostitutes like me.

Men can feel very vulnerable and need someone they can share feelings with. Listening to their fears and worries was part of the job. Often I only pretended to listen. But then they started telling stories about a strange people who didn’t have a land of their own. Of course, we all believed that a people without a land must have a very small, weak god. But oh... the stories that these men told disputed that belief.

I began listening intently to their stories, increasingly interested in these people who had been wandering in the desert since before I was born. People without a land who had defeated the mightiest kings of the Amorites. Our city was undefeated in battle, yet the stories of these people made even our bravest soldiers tremble.

We heard rumor that these people believed their God was going to give them a land – ours. Everyone became frightened. People became suspicious of all strangers. Yet the more I heard, the more I wanted to know about these people’s God. Could their God, who wanted to give them our land, hear me even if they were not yet here? I began praying to this unknown God.

As discontentment with my job increased, so did my desire to learn more about these strange, feared people. I no longer believed in the teachings of the temple that employed me. I couldn’t explain it, but somehow I knew that the gods of my people weren’t real gods. Everything about these gods was wrong, especially the prostitution. But what could I do? I continued to pray to the God of the desert wanderers.

One day two Israelite spies came to my door. Fear within the city dictated that I refuse to open the door, except that I was a temple prostitute. If they wanted to worship our gods, I must oblige. I wanted to turn them away, but a voice told me to let them in, to take care of them, even to hide them from the authorities. I turned to see who had spoken. No one was there.

My heart was pounding almost as loud as their knock. When I summoned up the courage to open it, I noticed a man following them at a distance, watching where they went. I knew the man, a temple regular, would report these men to the city officials. I had to act quickly to protect them. After feeding them, I led them to the roof of my house. The musty smell permeated my nostrils as I covered them with drying flax. I prayed to their God that they would not sneeze if anyone came searching.

I brushed the dust off myself when another knock came to my door. I’m sure the neighbors thought that these calls were related to my temple work, that the gods would be pleased. But I only wanted to please one God – the God of the Israelites. I had concluded that it was His voice I heard directing me in what I should do. The voice telling me not to worry about what to say to the soldiers at my door and that I would be calm during the conversation.

When the soldiers asked about the Israelite spies, my calm words surprised even myself. “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, the men left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.*” It worked. The soldiers left the city looking for the spies. Before the men turned in for the night, I had them promise that when they attacked Jericho, they would spare me and my family.

You see, Obed, God used my job as a prostitute to prepare me to be open to Him and His people so that He could use me in giving them this land. This is how I met your grandfather.

"So I an not a true Israelite?"

"You are an Isrealite in God's eyes because you are an Israelite in your heart. Your mother, Ruth, was not originally an Israelite, either and I don't know of anyone who doubts her loyalty to our people."

"Tell me that story, too. Please, Grandmother."

"Another time, Obed."



Story based on Joshua 2
*Joshua 2:4-5
The story of Ruth and Boaz can be found in the Old Testament book of Ruth.

You May Be From Minnesota if......

We have all read lists about being from some region or another. Here is a list that I have put together based on things that I have actually experienced while living in Minnesota.

*You wake up to your alarm clock saying that the warm spot in the state is Faribault at 21 below.

*The radio announces that we have now had over 100 consecutive hours of sub-zero temps.

*The television news reminds the public that even though temperatures are now above zero, it is still cold and you need to wear gloves or mittens while pumping gas.

* The governor cancels all public schools because of the dangerously cold temps and wind chills, only to have his daughter sulk because her school had not (yet) canceled and he couldn't control whether or not private schools held classes. (Same day as the state high being -21)

* You remember the Halloween Blizzard of 1991 (36 inches) and the Thanksgiving Blizzard the same year (24 inches.)

* You know what "Black Ice" is and at what temperature exhaust fumes freeze.

* School is two hours late because of the dangerously cold temperatures and even though it is 20 below when the bus picks up your kids, the school needs to remind the Middle Schoolers to wear coats. (This happened today.)

* Your elementary schools have a policy stating at what temperatures the kids will automatically have indoor recess.

* You see kids/teens in shorts walking into a store while the outside temps are sub-zero.

* Your driver's education included taking the car to a vacant parking lot in the winter. (Okay, I did not actually experience this myself, but know many people who taught their kids this way or were taught this way.)

Chirst In Me

Jesus answered: “Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? John 14:9

When I started my new job last October I was somewhat shocked at the reality of spending eight hours a day in a non-Christian environment. It did not take me long to realize that my co-workers were part of the "unbelieving and perverse generation." Although I did not feel that I was, I prayed that I could be a light in the darkness of my part of the office.

Some of the anti-Christian comments made by my co-workers have made me hesitant to openly speak of my faith, so I often question if I showing Christ to my co-workers at all. I have noticed a very slight difference in the frequency of the some of the perversion.

Two incidences have given me hope that my character, if not my faith, have at least made an impact on my co-workers. I made a negative comment about one of the attorneys in the office and immediately apologized to the co-workers who heard it. One of them said something to the effect that they all say things even worse than that about other people so it was not big deal. But another co-worker repeated the line that I have adopted from another friend when I say something I shouldn't have said -- "Bad dog, no biscuit."

The other is when one employee was swearing and another said something to him. He made the comment that it was nothing unusual but if Josh started swearing, it might be worth noticing because Josh does not swear as often. Then it was said that if I started swearing they would look for flying pigs.

I hope that through these character differences, my co-workers will see Christ in me. Because if they do not see Christ in the followers of Christ that He puts in their lives, how will they listen when someone tells them about Him?

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philipians 4:6-7 (NIV)

When I first started reading Christian fiction, I found one author whose stories I enjoyed that seemed to have a reoccurring theme that "worry is a sin." If I recall, in several of her books one character or another would remind or inform the main character of this concept in those exact words. This concept was new to me at the time. Although I've never considered myself to be a worry-wart, I still had worries and considered it natural.

Learning to turn everything over to God is a challenge that I don't always succeed at accomplishing. I worry about my kids and their future. I worry about my husband making it home from a business trip safely. Yet as I worry, I sense God's gentle reminder to turn it over to Him. When I obey this nudge, I am filled with His Peace about the situation. I can feel His guard of protection on my heart and my mind.

God Dispenses Wisdom Through Others

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all, without finding fault, and it will be given him. But wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." James 1:5 and 3:17 (NIV)

I went to bed last night and woke up this morning with a heavy burden on my heart. I did not know what to do some information and my feelings surrounding it. Reading these verses this morning reminded me where I needed to turn for the wisdom to know what to do in this situation. But prayer alone did not seem to be the answer. The more I turned this over to God, the more I felt that I needed a close girlfriend to share my burden.

After debating with myself I decided to write to a wonderful Christian lady that I know. I spent my entire lunch hour (half hour) typing an email expressing my pain and confusion. Even before I received a response back, I felt a peace come over me that I had not had since before the whole issue came into play. Immediately I knew that the email had been the right choice. Only God can give that peace.

I value my friend's wisdom. I appreciate her gentleness, consideration and her mercy. I need her sincerity and submission to what I may not want to hear.