Stand Still

In Sunday School class this morning, we were studying the crossing of the Red Sea. When we read the verse, "Stand still and see the Salvation of the Lord" I thought of a song I used to sing in church when my kids were little. It has an important message and I would like to share it today.

My God Delivers Again Standing there at the Red Sea God's people began to complain, that Pharoah and his mighty army would take them in bondage again." "Stand still and see the Salvation of the Lord!", Moses cried. Then, God parted the waters and they crossed to the other side. Chorus:

God delivers again! Yes, God delivers again! When it seems that all is lost, He reaches out His hand. Then all the forces of evil have to flee at God's command. And just when things look hopeless, God delivers again.

How many times in our lives has God "parted" our Red Sea and let us cross over to something better. How many times has he fought our battles and filled our needs. Those precious words "Stand still and see the salvation" should be constant reminders to us that we need to put our trust and faith in Him and let Him part the waters that keep us from living the fulfilled life He has planned for each of us.

Happy Anniversary

Today is mine and Allen's 29th wedding anniversary. We met on a blind date. He worked out in the shop on night shift at a company that I worked in the office on day shift. The receptionist knew both of us and thought we would be a good fit. We started dating on January 17th, 1981. We went to see Urban Cowboy on our first date. My twins had just turned 3 and my best friend, Becky, was keeping them at my house while I went out on our date. He was such a gentleman. Opening doors, helping me in the car, walking on the outside of the sidewalk, just wonderful. I came home from the date and he walked me to the door and kissed me good-bye, making plans to come back the next day and cook me supper. WOW. I went in, shut the door and leaned against it and told Becky that I was in love and I wanted to marry him. She laughed at me. We spend every moment together from then on. In just one short month, we both knew it was the real thing and he asked me to marry him. We got married on March 27th and it has been one thrill after another for the past 29 years. Do I believe in love at first sight? Oh yeah! We've all heard the famous words "You had me at hello". He had me the moment our eyes connected and he smiled. I cannot imagine my life without him. He is my sweetheart, my lover, my friend, my soul mate, my helper. I would not trade him for all the tea in China or all the oil in the Gulf. So, honey, happy anniversary. I love you!!

Where God leads, I will follow

We never know from moment to moment what God has in store for us. I love to go to yard sales. I plan for them, make sure I have cash out of the bank, plot out my travels so I can go to them in order. I also like to go when it is a pretty day. Today there were several in the paper that looked pretty good. But it was raining and I didn't know if I wanted to fool with going to the ATM. I stuck what little cash I had in my pocket and decided to drive by the one that seemed the most appealing and see what they had. It was an estate sale. They were selling everything to help pay funeral expenses. I felt a little strange when I walked up to the house. Here were people who had buried a loved one and was now having to part with her belongings. I wondered "Why am I here?" Is this rude of me or cold hearted to benefit from someones loss?" Then I thought about it and realized that they needed the money or they would not be holding the sale and that by making a purchase or two, I may be able to ease their burden. When I went into the house, the first person I saw was one of the sister-in-laws that was helping with the sale. She had a New York accent and welcomed me and told me to look around in all the rooms because everything was for sale. She definitely had that "Yankee" look about her. You know, unapproachable, rough. But it was at that moment I knew why I was there. Her eyes were very tired and you could tell she had shed many tears and this was not easy on her. I walked up to her and put my arms around her and told her I was sorry about her loss. She opened up and shared with me the story of how she had lost her sister-in-law to cancer and what a horrible battle it was. We talked about how she is in a much better place and she shared how her sister-in-law was always telling them that she was ready to go and couldn't wait to walk on the streets of heaven. We walked around the house together and she would share little stories with me about the items we looked at. There was a collection of angels that had meant a lot to her sister-in-law. There among shelf after shelf of white alabaster and ceramic angels, was a small little cherub with a flower halo that was in the exact color scheme of my bathroom that has flowers in it. I bought that little cherub to remind me that even through the most simplest decisions, God is working in our lives to put us in the right place at the right time.

Future Rock and roll band

I just had to share this short video clip. My granddaughter, Alexis, and grandson, Caleb, love anything musical. We recently went to Mr. Gaddis and they had an arcade game called Guitar Hero. Hope you take a minute to watch this little video. They are so precious.

The Yarn Junkie

I am addicted to yarn. I love the bright, bold colors, the soft pastels. I can spend hours and hours in yarn departments at AC Moore, Walmart and JoAnne's. When we went to Myrtle Beach last year, I found a yarn store that carried specialized yarns I had never seen before. It was awesome. I ended up going back again before our vacation was over. This is just a sample basket of my yarns. I have a 3 drawer chest that is full of yarn and a huge tote back that has yarn in it. I love my yarn. One might ask, So? Lot's of people like yarn. Here is the problem. I do not crochet (other than a chain stitch. Never could figure out how to turn around and go back for the next row). I do like to knit, but I find that it gets boring and tedious after awhile so a small child's scarf can end up taking me three years to complete. So I started looking for crafts where I could use yarn without knitting or crocheting. I discovered plastic canvas. Over the years, I've made many boxes, baskets and goodies from plastic canvas. Working the needle in and out much as you would cross stitch, it allows me to work with many different yarns. Once you establish a pattern, you can stitch to your hearts content. I find it so relaxing and it allows you chances to be creative. I seldom make my projects from patterns or I'll find something I like and modify it to fit my needs. I love it. Here are a few of the items I've kept, most of them were given away.

Walking with my Friend

I sit here in my garden and I turn my eyes to God. I see Him in the blue sky and the green grass that I trod. I feel His touch in the warm air as it breezes o’er my skin. I know that I am not alone; I’m walking with my Friend. He’s always there beside me, no matter where I go. His love will ever guide me down the rough and rocky road. He is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He’s my rock and my salvation. He’s I AM and my Friend. His love is everlasting, by faith I know His grace. One sweet day in heaven, I will look upon His face. He’ll say “Welcome home my child; your journeys at an end.” And I will spend eternity, just walking with my Friend. Walking with my Friend copyright owned by Brenda Keefer. Please do not copy with permission.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Do you ever have those times when there are so many decisions to make and you are not sure what you want to do? I shared with you a few weeks ago the excitement of a new dress and shoes for Easter. The excitement has dulled once I started shopping for the new dress and shoes. My body is not made for today's clothing styles. My arms are still slender with tiny wrists, my top half is nothing to brag about. But if I buy something in a size to fit the top half, my hippo hips, excess tummy and thunder thighs groan and moan against the tight restraint. So I'll look for something to be comfortable around the waist and hips. Then the top is so loose, I'm hitching and hiking it up all day. So I decide - TWO PIECE WITH ELASTIC WAIST. No can do. Same problem. They are not a mix and match set. I need one size for the upper half and one size for the bottom half. Arrggh! It is so exasperating. Add to that the fact that I am 53 and do NOT want to look like I'm 53. I still like the dainty petite looking styles that I wore in my 20's. The world is just not fair. So I figure I have several nice dresses that would be suitable for Easter that I have not worn that often. I'll just get new shoes instead. Again, 53 year old body wanting the shoes like I wore when I was 20. Why do we yearn to be what we used to be? I will never be 20 again. I will never be able to walk in 4" spike heels again. I will never be able to wear the dainty, petite little dresses again. So I ask myself, "Why do I bother?" Why make myself deal with all these decisions? But faced with all these decisions on clothing and shoes has helped me to solve one of life's greatest mysteries - Why do we spend so much money on things for our grandchildren? Because it is too depressing to buy things for ourselves at this age.