Dandelion Deal

By Stephanie Prichard –

Our front yard gleamed with the gold of dandelions. Gold, as in wealth, great riches, money in our pockets! Or so thought my little brother and I, with all the enthusiasm and optimism of a seven-year-old and a ten-year-old.

“I’ll pay you a penny for each dandelion you pick,” Dad said. “But for each dandelion you don’t pick, you pay me a penny.”

What a deal! What an easy deal! I could hardly believe my father would let go of so much money for such little work. All five of us children had household tasks assigned to us, and each nickel and dime was earned by the sweat of our brows. I had to sweep the stairs, wrestle with my parents’ bed each weekend to put on clean sheets, and either set the table every evening or clear it of dirty dishes.

So, goodness, all I had to do now was pick a hundred dandelions and I’d have far more than the eighty cents I earned with my weekly allowance. The yard was full of dandelions—hundreds and hundreds of them. Even with my brother cashing in on the deal, I’d still get three or four hundred picked.

We dashed into the yard and plucked dandelions right and left with both hands. “One, two, three …” I counted fast to keep up with my plucking. At twenty-five, I ran my handful over to my dad. So did my brother. We giggled as we dropped the flowers at his feet. The counting went slower with the next twenty-five. Even slower with the next two handfuls. My fingernails were green underneath, and my palms were yellow.

“I’m done,” I declared with handful number four.

“Me too.” My brother’s piles looked suspiciously smaller than mine, but what did I care? I was a hundred pennies rich!

“Okay, how many dandelions did you pick?” Dad asked.

I should have been suspicious since the answer was obvious—four piles of twenty-five dandelions per child—but I crowed the answer with glee: “A hundred for each of us! You owe us a hundred pennies apiece. A dollar each!”

“All right,” he said. “Now, how much do you owe me?”

“What?”

“Turn around and count how many dandelions you didn’t pick. That’s what you owe me. A penny for each dandelion still out there.”

My brother and I burst into tears. We didn’t have to turn around to know that more than two hundred dandelions remained unplucked on the lawn. And we knew our dad—a deal was a deal.
He’d make us follow through with it, and not only would we not get paid for all those dandelions we’d picked, but we’d have to pay him for the ones we hadn’t picked.

And so I learned my first lesson in Contracts 101—one of many memorable life lessons my wise father taught me over the years.

The lesson holds true for spiritual dandelions too. No matter how many weeds we pluck from our lives, there still will be hundreds we haven’t plucked. The Bible calls this “falling short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). That means we are sinners, while God is sinless. It means no matter how hard we try to be good, or how often we succeed, we’re still full of sin. We simply can’t get rid of all those weeds choking our lives. We need help.

That’s what Jesus did—He covered our debt with His allowance. He paid for all those weeds. Now, before our heavenly Father, there simply are no more dandelions to count against us.

Let’s Get Organized

By Karen O’Connor –

“If only I were as organized as Don,” my friend Dolly declared. “He has all his ducks in a row––shoes, socks, shirts, tools, toys, and tacks! No wonder God put us together. I’m finally learning after forty years of marriage the benefit of keeping things in order—well sort of. It’s not easy, I can tell you that. But I see how little time he spends looking for lost items because he knows where they are.”

Dolly admits she’s another story. Her shoes, socks, and t-shirts are well…she’s not sure where they are. “Around here somewhere,” she said, pointing to the piles of clothing on the ironing board and the sofa. “I look for them when I need them. At least they’re in plain sight.” She chuckled and waved a hand across her forehead.

Don’s tidy ways even spill into the realm of paper. Colored folders hold various documents, neatly labeled and filed in a plastic box that he can retrieve on a moment’s notice if a fire breaks out or an earthquake tremor threatens. He has a neatly typed list of names and phone numbers of friends and family members, as well, ready for the couple to take on the road when they travel. And of course he has a checklist of items they need to take in their motor home.

Dolly talked about their next trip and the chores they need to complete before meeting their friends for the caravan to a state park. While she packs the food, clothing, and personal items, Don assembles the necessary paperwork: checkbook, maps, address and phone list.

Dolly phoned me the morning before they left with the latest development. It was good for a laugh, though I doubt Don found it amusing. While reviewing the page of contact information to be sure it was current, his cell phone rang. Don needed both hands to find some data for the caller so he set down the list he was holding on top of his paper shredder. A corner of the page slipped into the feeder and suddenly the machine started gobbling the sheet before Don realized what he had done.

When he heard the motor humming, he grabbed the page in a frenzy and jerked it upward, lifting the entire shredder off the floor! Quickly, he pushed the ‘reverse’ button and was able to salvage at least part of the page. “The top of his specially-typed list now looks like the Jetson kid’s spiked hair,” said Dolly, laughing.

“Poor Don! He’s been attentive to our papers and possessions for so long,” she added, “keeping every one in perfect condition, this was a blow to his ego. Maybe now he won’t be as quick to tell me he wishes I would learn from his example.”

Signs of the End Times? The World Powers Against Israel

By Dianne E. Butts –

Bible verses like Zechariah 12:6-9, Micah 4:11, and Micah 5:7-15 talk about Israel being attacked but not being defeated. These verses cause some people to watch carefully what is happening with world powers—both what is going on within them and how they are being positioned in regard to Israel.

What do you see going on in countries around the world? What do you think of it? And specifically, what do you think about what is happening with countries around Israel these days? Could what’s happening with countries being in upheaval around the world be a sign of the End Times?

I found these interesting tidbits in the booklet 101 Last Days Prophecies published by Eternal Productions:

• The Bible teaches that in the End Times the nations surrounding Israel will be united against Israel. “This has never happened in history. Yet today, Israel is surrounded by Muslim nations sworn to her destruction” (p. 11-12).
• “Since 1948, tiny Israel has been attacked in three major wars and several lesser wars. Yet despite being vastly outnumbered, they have defeated all attacking foes… An invincible Israel makes no sense—unless you believe God’s Word” (p. 12-13).
• “Israel would be partitioned by all nations (Joel 3:2, Daniel 11:39). This is another unimaginable prophecy! In 1947, UN Resolution 181 planned the partitioning of Israel. Currently, the West Bank and Gaza have been separated into Jewish and Palestinian settlements. Dividing Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria are also being negotiated today in order to create a Palestinian state” (p. 13).
• “Russia (Magog) would rise as a military power and lead an attack on Israel (Ezekiel 38). Today most of the southern states of the former Soviet Union are both military powerhouses and Muslim” (p. 15).
• “Iran (Persia), Sudan (Cush), and Libya (Put) would also partake in this attack (Ezekiel 38)” (p. 15).
• “Turkey (Gomer) would also join in the attack on Israel (Ezekiel 38). In 2002, Turkey elected a pro-Islamic party to govern the country. In 2005, Hitler’s anti-Semitic manifesto Mein Kampf became a best seller in Turkey. In 2007, Turkey elected an Islamist president” (p. 16).
• “Jesus said there would be ‘distress of nations, with perplexity’ in the last days (Luke 21:25). Today, with nuclear proliferation, global terrorism and grave ecological fears, the nations are in a quandary with no apparent way out” (p. 16).
• “Egypt would exist in the last days—but only as a ‘lowly kingdom’ (Ezekiel 29:14-16). Egypt was one of the world’s greatest ancient civilizations. Yet today, as prophesied, Egypt remains—but only as a third world nation—which will, “never again exalt herself above the nations’ (v. 15). And while God’s Word foretold of the demise of many other ancient people groups and kingdoms (which have long since vanished), Egypt remains” (p. 18)!

I hope you find these notes as fascinating as I do. They might give us both something to consider as we watch world news unfold. And they might give us insight into what is happening, where we are on God’s timetable, and what will happen in the near future. That is, if what we are seeing happening in the nations really are signs of the End Times.

Things Are Looking Up!

By Cynthia Ruchti –

My mother was a great diagnostician. As a registered nurse, she put the gift into practice both at work—sometimes upstaging the doctors with her insights—and at home with her five kids and anyone in the community who preferred consulting with Mom before calling the doctor’s office.

She rarely misdiagnosed. Some rare combination of observation, instinct, training, experience, and God-directed wonderment caused her to proclaim, “That’s ringworm, honey.” Or, “Your leg cramps? Try taking more calcium.” Or, “If my guess is right, you have Lyme disease.”

I follow in her footsteps in a lot of ways, though I left the medical field (lab assistant) decades ago. In an effort to self-diagnose my recent headaches, I walked myself through a Mom-like problem-solving routine.

Getting enough sleep? Pretty much.

Too much caffeine? Not enough? I’ll work on that one.

How’s your vision? Needing new glasses can cause headaches. Can’t afford the answer to that one.

Wait a minute.

Sitting at the computer more hours than the day is long. Reading. Hunching over to read fine print on websites and blogs.

I’m suffering from an excess of looking down!

Some of that I can correct with some ergonomic changes, and with neck exercises. But the best cure is to spend more time looking up. Brilliant deduction, Sherlock.

Life is like that, too. The economy is…down. Gravity drags us…down. People are downhearted, downright discouraged, and downtrodden by the insults of life. But real life isn’t in the dust at our feet. It’s not embedded in the carpeting.

“Look up,” Jesus said, “for your redemption draweth nigh.” That’s how I remember it from hearing it as a child.

A current translation adds an element of headache-easing posture. When the world is swirling, reeling, chaotic, confused, Jesus tells me to stand up straight. “Stand up straight and raise your heads because your redemption is near,” Luke 21:28 CEB.

My redemption and my Redeemer are always near. Up.

PRAYER: Lord, I think I’m beginning to understand better what You meant when You told me You were the “lifter” of my head (Psalm 3:3). Help me live with straighter posture, no matter what the news, the bills, or the doctor tells me. Cause me to live aware that You are near. Up.

“Now when these things begin to occur, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption (deliverance) is drawing near,” Luke 21:28 AMP.

Fried Green Tomatoes

By DiAne Gates –

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope” (NAS Jeremiah 29:11).

I decided to grow tomatoes this summer. I visited the nursery, picked out varieties of tomatoes, and took them home to plant. I gave them a drink of water, and dreamed of eating tomatoes in sixty days.

Each day I gave them water and inspected the new growth that appeared overnight.

Until the first worm appeared.

I squashed the yucky creature and mourned over the sculpted bite marks in the leaf.

This routine continued ‘til tiny green lumps replaced yellow blossoms. I licked my lips, anticipating those homegrown delights.

Sunny days transformed the tiny spheres to large and green, each one hanging on their stalks and changing color as they ripened. I counted the days, envisioned salads garnished with tomato wedges, or sliced tomatoes sprinkled with basil and goat cheese. My taste buds danced a jig of anticipation.

Then, one morning, I walked into the garden as the sun cleared the treetops. Would this be the day?

I gasped.

One lovely tomato hung sideways, gaped open, and dripped juice on the leaf below. Hungry ants gobbled breakfast while a mockingbird sat in the tree above, screeching at me for interrupting its breakfast, intent on stealing what was mine.

I’d show him.

I plucked the maimed fruit and tossed it away. That bird swooped in as if it was the last particle of food on the planet. Through the day I peered from every window to be sure he contained himself to the castaway fruit. But yesterday, he returned and pecked three more of my delicious-darlings.

I raced to the closet where the Christmas ornaments waited for next season, grabbed a box of shiny red balls, dug a roll of wire out of the drawer, and cut pieces to thread each scarlet oval. I dashed back to the garden and tied them onto the tomato cages, hoping to fool the bird with fake red globes.

While I was gone, that bird pecked holes in another ripening tomato.

These tomatoes would never make a salad. But the taste of fried green tomatoes sashayed through my mind. Ah ha! Even though the fruit was mangled, I could repurpose them into a delectable delight.

My plan changed those damaged tomatoes into a scrumptious meal just like God uses broken, battered, blemished people to accomplish His plan. We are created in His image and are His treasures. Though we bear the bruises and welts of sin, He loves us and knows the plan He purposed for our lives.

Like that rascal mockingbird, bent on gobbling up my tomatoes, Satan eyes us, waiting to subvert God’s plan and destroy us.

Jesus stands ready to answer our cries. He will rescue, cleanse, and set us back on solid ground. God’s love is deep and wide and He will transform us into the image of His Son. We are the object of His mercy and grace. No scar of sin is beyond His ability to forgive and heal.

My Mama said, “You can’t stop the birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from making a nest there.” We have a defense against Satan by placing our faith and trust in The Lord Jesus Christ.

It’s your choice. Run to Jesus when Satan lobs flaming arrows or allow this enemy to build a nest in your mind, deceive your heart, and destroy your soul.

I’m on my way to the garden this morning. Did those red Christmas balls solve my problem or will there be more fried green tomatoes on the menu tonight?

« Previous Page — Next Page »