Bike Shop: A Father's Sacrifice

Thinking about my dad today . . . how he worked hard, sacrificed.

As a fulltime missionary with Children's Bible Mission, he supported his family with church donations. No extra cash really, especially at Christmas with three children to think about.

I don't think it dawned on me as a child that Daddy did some of the work he did in order to supplement his missionary offerings.

Jobs like putting bikes together at the Western Auto located on Main Street in our tiny town. Most afternoons during the holiday season, I'd walk from elementary school to the lot behind the store. Yards away as I crunched over the gravel, I'd see Daddy in a small white shed, door open, bent over a bike, tightening a bolt.

Whistling a tune, he'd pull out his trusty bandanna and wipe sweat from his brow. Even in the colder months, Daddy stayed hot.

His face split into a generous smile when he saw me approach. We'd catch up on the day for a few minutes, then I'd turn and skip away home.

A simple exchange. Yet it meant the world to me. Mostly in hindsight. At the time, it just was . . . after all, that was my Daddy. A constant. I didn't really stop to think about this comfort I curled up in. I merely experienced it and went on my way.

Yet now I see how that earthly touch is similar to my relationship with my heavenly Father. A constant comfort that at its best is simply experienced, not necessarily mused upon, but delighted in as it unfolds day by day. A child coming to her Father, enjoying His presence, His provision, because that's what a child does with a faithful Father.

Reflections from Cambodia: Looking for the Lovely

I'm sick. A cold bug hit me four days into our stay in Phnom Penh. Now I sit on a metal chair watching young missionary families stream through the door for the Christmas service. In spite of the fever I feel, I can't help but tear up at the sight of these willing servants devoted to sharing Jesus with the Cambodian people.

Later, after a variety of musical selections and message, I venture from my seat, refreshment plate in hand, and visit with a few missionary moms. One's a veteran of 20 years, another a newbie to the field, but both testify that applying Philippians 4:8 (looking for the lovely) in the midst of sewer rats, rotting garbage, people darkened by sin and deception, oppressive heat that stifles the breath, language sounds that are foreign to the American ear, and a host of other challenges, was the turning point in their ability to endure daily.

I smile, a thrill skipping up my spine. Their words echo my heart. Part of my personal quest in coming to Cambodia is to embrace God's adventure and look for His beauty at every turn. I'd found Him in the faces of these missionary wives, my own daughter included, who sat a few feet from me smiling and talking with another young wife. These are precious reunions for missionary families spread out over the provinces, who only come together on occasion to worship and encourage one another.

Though weak from my cold, I'm empowered by what I've witnessed tonight, determined to continue my quest to enjoy the journey God has for me right now, right where He's placed me.    

Experience the Sunrise this December

Most mornings I walk in my quiet place. As the sun peeks over the Blue Ridge Mountains with a wash of amber over the valley, I pause, close my eyes, stretch out my arms, and verbally praise my Savior. The warmth I feel in my body and in my spirit recharges me and fuels me for the day.

So smitten with the sunrise am I that I've often struggled to capture its beauty on paper, mostly with pen and ink with various pastel shadings. The exercise helps me feel close to Abba Father.

Yet, at no time did His sunrise mean more to me than after the loss of our second baby, a little boy born at four months gestation. In the aftermath, I longed to make sense of the senseless.

Alone and depressed one cold morning, I knelt in front of our living room recliner. With compelling cheeriness, the winter sun poured through the double windows as I poured out my heart to God. Exhausted, I reached for my Bible on the coffee table. Flipping the pages, I landed on Luke 1:78-79.

Because of the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Sunrise from on high shall visit us,
To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death.
To guide our feet into the way of peace.

I perked up. It was as though God faxed that scripture through rays of sunlight just for me that morning. Since we'd recently gone through the Christmas season, the passage was especially meaningful. My Sunrise, my Savior, had chosen to leave heaven in the form of a helpless babe in order to lift me out of my sin and darkness. On this life-changing morn, He reminded me that His light extended beyond my initial salvation to illumine every dark thing thereafter that tried to invade my soul, including depression in the aftermath of my loss.


This December Sunrise experience was a pivotal point in my healing journey in 1982.

Years later, Luke 1:78-79 continues to impact my life and prayerfully others' lives as I draw upon this scripture for my novel, December Sunrise.

 A young girl's heart for helping takes her to a dark place 

only the Light of Christmas can illumine. 

 A little girl’s Christmas wish comes at a high cost.

Emma’s Christmas list isn’t like other kids’. Instead of toys, she wants her mama’s cancer to go away, the town to stop arguing over the Ten Commandments, and nice Mr. Whitmire to reunite with his estranged daughter. Grandma Doreen holds the key to a family secret that just might fulfill some of Emma’s desires, but not before tragedy strikes.

Filled with the wonder and hope that only His December Sunrise can create . . . 

Experience the Sunrise this December!

December Sunrise available here.

 

The Christmas Child

My grandson, Ethan (4), cupped my chin in his hands, looked into my eyes, and said, "God wants to do great things with little children."

He reminded me of this statement two or three times throughout our Grandma/Ethan date. I couldn't help but giggle.

On reflection, I realize how powerful a line my young grandson delivered. For isn't that the very heart of Christmas?

God wants to do great things through a Child.

And so He did. 

God came down in human flesh, clothed as a baby . . . as one of us. Humble beginnings in a manger. Feeling the same soaked diapers we experience, the same hungry stomach gnawing, the same loneliness, sadness, grief.

In order to identify with mankind. With you. With me.

To know how we feel, in every way . . . physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. He became one of us. 

And then He died, for us. Because He could. Since He was also fully God, He was the only One who could bear our sin, offering redemption through His blood.

Oh, glorious Christmas Child! The One who invites each of us to become little children in the attitudes of our heart. To be humble enough to admit our sin, draw near to Him, and accept His gift.

The ultimate Christmas gift from one Child to another.

~~

Eileen Rife, author of Second Chance, invites women to discover who they are in Christ and what part they play in His amazing story! The article above is taken from a newly-released devotional titled, Penned from the Heart, compiled by Marilyn Nutter. www.eileenrife.com, www.eileen-rife.blogspot.com,

What Eileen Does for Christmas

So much fun at Christmas time! Wrapping presents, singing for the nursing home residents, decorating . . . 

And baking cookies for the neighbors!

Well, we nibble on a few, too!

My Waldock grandkids work together to bake sugar cookies. Up to our elbows in icing and sprinkles with plenty of giggles to go around.

Love the holiday season! How about you? What tradition does your family practice?

Snowman Gabe

Grandson Gabriel helps me make our Christmas snowman cheeseball.

Cream cheese

cheddar cheese

almond slivers

chives

red pepper

Roll in balls, coat with Parmesan cheese, and decorate with peppercorns and carrot for nose

Enjoy!

A Peek at Our Christmas

Our Christmas tablescape . . .

And on the menu

Roast beef wrapped in bacon

Potato boats with cheese

Peas

Applesauce

Cole slaw

French vanilla ice cream 

with fresh strawberries, 

whipped cream, almond slivers, 

and chocolate peppermint shavings.

The food's great, but the Light of the World, Jesus, is the center of our celebration!

Christmas jamming

Our youngest daughter and husband, expecting their second child in June!

An unexpected treat this year for Chuck and me--the kids went in together to gift us a trip to Lancaster, PA to see the Sight & Sound theater. Yippee!

 

 The grandkids pulled together the Christmas story. Uh, apparently they ran out of costumes. I see Captain America in this pic!

Ethan, our little shepherd boy, greets Mary and the baby

Kylie passes out gifts

Michelle reads a Christmas story. We all write on slips of paper what we can give to Jesus, then place them in a silver box to draw out and read.

Happy Christmas kids! Later, we Skyped our missionary family in India!

Lots of fun!

 

 

~~

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Beauty

Have you ever wondered why we spend so much time fixing up our homes and ourselves. Painting, plucking, and powdering? Why we flip through remodeling and gardening magazines searching for the right faucet, seedling, or statue? Why we frost cookies, decorate Christmas trees with silver and gold, and light candles to fill our homes with spicy fragrance?

            Because deep within the heart of every man, woman, and child is a longing for beauty. God, the Beautiful One and Creator of all things beautiful, designed us with that desire.

            We need look no further than the Babe in the manger to capture beauty in its truest form. The Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace all rolled into the Person of Christ is the One in whom all things exist and hold together.

           The phrase “God doesn’t make junk,” is actually true. In the beginning, God looked at creation and labeled it “good.” Only when sin entered the world did disarray, disorder, dysfunction, and disease in all its ugliness plague mankind.

           Yet, man retained his innate desire for a perfect world, one of unity and beauty.

           All our days we strive for the good, the right, the lovely, but that desire did not originate in our own thoughts. God planted the seed deep within that nothing can destroy. That yearning for the beautiful is meant to drive us to the Beautiful One who holds the key to perfection. Only in His death, burial, and resurrection can we know Him and truly understand what beauty really is. It is through His promise of a restored heaven and earth that one day true, undaunted beauty will be unveiled.

        So, as you gather to celebrate Christmas this year and enjoy the glittering tree, blazing fire, golden, roasted turkey, and laughter of family and friends, remember the One who gifted you with all things beautiful.

           And humbly thank Him.

~~

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Christmas with my Life Group!

Life Group progressive dinner. Appetizers: sausage balls, cheese ball and crackers, punch, pastry puffs, and veggie tray. Yum! Could've snacked on this all night. 

Main course at our house. Lasagna, green beans, corn, and rolls.

 Sharing an Advent devotional

On to the next house for desserts: chocolate covered fruit, pudding, pretzel sticks, baklava, coffee, followed by a white elephant exchange. Yeah, I lucked out! Brought home Caress Body Wash and cloth and Bath and Body vanilla sugar lotion and lip balm. My favorite!

Me and my honey--grinning lovers--after demonstrating ballroom dancing.

For more about me, visit my Author Page

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Exploring the City

India boasts quite a variety of homes, from the higher caste to the lower caste.

When I pulled my bedroom curtain aside this morning, this is what I saw--a blanket-covered lump sticking out from under a rock truck. One by one, four men crawled out yawning. They've been working all day drilling a bore well in hopes of hitting water for the new home construction. Dirty and noisy!

Strolling Bangalore

The chip shop where they fry up the potatoes in the huge vat located in the front. Delicious!

Stray dogs and garbage go hand-in-hand here.

Open-air markets line the streets, selling everything from mattresses to dish detergent. 

India's coconut "Sonic!" The merchant whacks off the top, then plops a straw into the hole. Or if the customer prefers, the seller chops the coconut in two pieces, then slices off a portion of the outer shell in the shape of a spoon so that the buyer can scoop out the white coconut meat. 

One coconut costs R 18 (18 rupees, equivalent to about 0.30 US).

Mr. Lee...zard

Another mosquito deterrent is the common household lizard. So before you consider smacking the little fellow, think about how vital a role he plays. Just last night, Chuck and I saw about a two-inch lizard climbing its way along the wall that borders the stairs. As long as I don't step on one in the middle of the night, he's fine. He can stay. 

Around and About India

Cattle often roam the streets. No one bothers to hurry them along even if they end up in front of your vehicle, since they are considered sacred. You will also see cows, goats, dogs, and pigs rooting through the garbage along the sides of the road. The "rag pickers" also have their shot at the trash. These are people who make their meager living by rummaging through garbage for items they can sell. 

Life in India is quite diverse. Here is another crude home right across the street from an upscale ice cream shop. 

One of many huge ant hills you can see in India.

The Boat Tree

The large orange flowers are housed in a pod shaped like a boat.

Washing dishes is an event. Fill two pans with water boiled on the stove. Add detergent and wash, rinse, and stack. Dishes are washed once a day.

Laundry Time in India

One of my favorite household chores in India is hanging laundry on the roof. A soothing time of contemplation. Washing machines are front loaders and very small, so the Indian housewife washes frequently. 

The alternative for most Indian women is washing clothing in the river and beating them on a rock. Then they hang the items wherever they can--on fences or over bridge railings.

In my novel, Chosen Ones, Constance hosts a tea party for Maggie and Yvonne on her roof top. Many Indians deck their roofs with gardens, a lovely sight to behold!

More Christmas Program

More Christmas program

On Kitchen Duty in India

On kitchen duty in India. The life of an Indian housewife in her kitchen.
Not sure what's going on with the sound. If you're not able to hear the commentary, here's some info:
The Indian housekeeper uses a small gas range.  Petrol tanks last about 2-3 months, with a reorder time of one week. Delivery comes to the house.

Milk is purchased frozen in bags and must be heated on the stove before used.

The water is not safe to drink. The unit pictured purifies the water for drinking and teeth brushing. 

Most kitchens are equipped with a counter top range, but this one is not. The fan and light is still on the ceiling however. :)

Notice all the neat cubby holes and cabinets for storage.

Out the window you see the walled garden which I detailed in a previous video.

My character, Maggie, learns to cook Indian foods, such as dahl (lentils), curries, curd rice, and other recipes.

The dining room. Notice the sink in the corner. Every Indian home has a sink in the dining room for easy clean-up before eating. Nice touch!

Washing dishes. One pan for suds, another for rinsing. Water is boiled on the gas stove and used to wash since the tap does not have hot water.

Homemade apple butter. You can also make homemade peanut butter by roasting peanuts in the oven, placing them in the blender with a little oil. Homemade humus is good too, made by boiling garbanzos or other beans and whipping in the blender. 

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/all-day-apple-butter/