Waiting
November 11, 2024 by Caro Jackson
Filed under Family Focus
By Caroline T. Jackson
The dictionary (yes, I still use one) defines waiting as “a period in which one waits.” Now that explains it all, doesn’t it? It leaves out the element of anticipation, excitement and, yes, even dread when you are waiting on some event to take place in your life. We had made plans for an extensive road trip and already packed and ready to roll when the doctors decided it was necessary to do some extensive testing on a recent and recurring medical issue my husband was experiencing. The doctors involved didn’t know what was wrong and finding out that we were going to be gone longer than a week, decided that they better test now rather than later. That way we wouldn’t have to wait! I find it necessary to share with you that the so called patient is not a patient man…having spent a life time in a very precise occupation.
As we all know, the wheels of medical testing don’t always run on the fast track and I can attest to the fact that we felt like we were on the side track. The MRI’s or the CAT scans were done on a Thursday afternoon two weeks in a row and ,of course, no results would be available before the following Monday. The following week a biopsy was again performed on a Thursday with the promise of results the following Monday. I thought all doctors took Thursday afternoons off! Yesterday was Monday and when finally pinned to a wall, the nurse responded that it might be 5 to 7 days before we heard! What was it I said about waiting?
Stop the Cycle of Shame
November 8, 2024 by Julie Morris
Filed under Health and Fitness
By Julie Morris, RN
“Congratulations!” she said cheerfully, not realizing that her words would send me spiraling into shame.
She continued, loud enough for the other nurses and even some of the patients in the ICU to hear, “Congratulations on your pregnancy!” Suddenly seeing the horrified look on my face, she changed her tone and said quietly, “You are pregnant, aren’t you?”
Hay Story
November 5, 2024 by George Dalton
Filed under For Him
By George Dalton
Five years ago my father died after a long illness and went home to be with the lord. At his funeral I met a cousin that I had not seen since we were boys fifty years ago. You know how you do when you see someone that you were once close to, “Give me your phone number; here take down my number.”
My wife and I had a ranch in East Texas. We sold all of the cattle and equipment and moved to a large city. Part of our ranch was on four hundred acres of leased land where we had several large bales of hay left in the field from the year before. The owner asked me to make sure that it was removed. I contacted a neighboring rancher and asked him if he could help me get rid of the old hay. We agreed to meet back at the ranch one morning a week after my father’s funeral. While driving to the ranch, my cell phone rang. It was my long lost cousin. He said, “I am over drawn at the bank and if I don’t get a thousand dollars today, I will have checks bouncing all over town.” I told him I was on the way to the ranch and would call him as soon as I got back. As soon as he hung up I thought of Gideon and his fleece. So I started to pray, “Dear God I don’t know this man anymore. Is he a drug addict, an alcoholic, a gambler? Father I don’t know him but you do, so please give me a sign telling me if I should give him the money he wants or not.”
When Women Aren’t Believed
November 2, 2024 by Susan Wollman
Filed under For Her
By Susannah Wollman
“Don’t look at me like that! Why don’t you believe me?” She was indignant and heartbroken at the same time. It seemed like every time she tried to tell her husband something, he laughed, ignored her, or simply didn’t believe what she said.
Why is this such a common occurrence among women—even Christian women—today? Have we simply come to a time in society that women think they have something to contribute, but men are still thinking like cave-men and consider women generally less able, less intelligent, or less likely to “get it right”? Are you among the many women who can relate to this scenario?
A Seed-Producing Life
October 30, 2024 by Norma Vera
Filed under Family Focus
By Norma Vera
When the Word of God talked about the herb, grass, and tree yielding seeds in Geneses 1:11 most of us never think anything beyond that. Often times we do not realize that we live in a seed filled world. It is as if though all of God’s dealing with humanity is about nothing more than seeds, sowing and reaping.
We have the harvest seeds (soul), tithing seeds, seeds for the sower (spiritual and physical farmer), seed of the woman, the generational seeds, and the animal kingdom seeds.
