October, 21, 2024

Most people love solved mysteries. Dealing with a mystery that seems unsolvable is not so much fun. On the other side of the mystery, after understanding the reason behind it, gratitude fills your heart. Sometimes the mystery turns out to be a blessing in disguise.

Like the wet, drizzly evening when I fell face down on concrete because I didn’t step high enough over the curb. Miraculously, I didn’t break my glasses, but I couldn’t see out of my left eye. An emergency appointment with a retina specialist was scheduled because my ophthalmologist thought I might have a torn retina. The good news is, I didn’t. The bad news is that macular degeneration was detected in my right eye. Discovered in its early stages and with immediate treatment, there was much to be thankful for. What a blessing in disguise! Had I not fallen, the disease could have advanced significantly before I became aware of it.

Marlin’s mystery turned out to be wonderful for him, not so much for the plane full of people. Marlin was late for his flight due to a delayed lunch and slow traffic. God, why did I have to get behind a stop-and-go school bus? Why was the only parking spot so far away from the terminal? Dashing to the Northwest ticket counter, he heard the dreaded words, “I’m sorry, sir, but that flight has departed. Why is this happening, and what am I going to do now?

At that moment, a door opened behind the agent, and a gentleman asked, “What’s the problem?” Motioning to Marlin, he said, “Come with me.” (These were the days before tight security.) Marlin trotted off behind the fast-paced man and galloped down a flight of stairs and into the bowels of Dulles terminal. Unbelievable! There in the distance, the plane sat on the runway. “Jump in,” the man motioned toward a parked station wagon. They sped across the tarmac, arriving at the plane in seconds. The steps were lowered. Marlin bounded up the steps and boarded the plane that supposedly had just departed.

“Why is this plane not leaving?” barked the man in the seat behind Marlin. His face was red from frustration and impatience.

“Sir, I don’t understand it,” the puzzled stewardess answered. “This has never happened before, but for some unknown reason the food pod arrived bolted onto the carrier, and no one could find a wrench!” Marlin praised God silently. He thought it best not to let the angry man behind him know that God was the one who hid the wrench.

Is there a mystery going on in your life? Be patient. Maybe the solution will come as a blessing.

Charlotte

This story is in, “Family Stories for God’s Glory,” entitled, “The Day God Hid the Wrench.”

October 10, 2024

Children are such precious gifts! The Word of God says so, “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.” Psalm 127:3 NLT

In “God in Life’s Moments,” you read about my husband, children, and grandchildren. But nothing about great-grandchildren. We had none just a few short years ago when I wrote the book. They kind of arrive in bunches. Now we have six wonderful little greats, with seven and eight on the way. What joyful gifts of God they are. The only problem with them is that they all live far away, even in other states. None of the children asked our permission to have our wonderful grandchildren many miles away. The result is that the grandchildren followed suit, and now our wonderful great-grandchildren live far, far, away. Thank God for digital photos and facetime.

Did you know, that as God’s child, He doesn’t want you far, far away? He wants to be close to you, so you can learn to know Him, feel His love, and enjoy conversations with Him. He is delighted in you and wants to share life with you.

Enjoy His presence today,

Charlotte

September 28, 2024

Hello Friends, Have you missed me? I’ve taken a little break from blogging. But here I am, back again, back from California where I had the awesome privilege of attending Joni Eareckson Tada’s retreat. If you don’t recognize that name, it’s likely because you are too young. In l967, Joni dove into the Chesapeake Bay into shallow water and broke her neck. She had just graduated from high school and had her whole life planned with what she wanted to do. God had other plans.

She has lived with quadriplegia in a wheelchair for almost sixty years! Part of the purpose of this retreat was to celebrate her seventy-fifth birthday and forty-five years of ministry. Joni started a ministry, Joni and Friends, to help disabled children. They have provided over 230,000 wheelchairs to the needy. But more importantly, Joni makes sure every person receives the good news that Jesus Christ loves them.

Joni is one of the most joyful people I know. She glows with joy despite being in constant pain. With God’s help, Joni has taken her “lemons and made sweet lemonade.”

You may think I digress from the purpose of my blog, (godinlifesmoments.com) But not really. Because the stories of our family include what everyone faces. Life is not always a “bed of roses.” Our challenges do not compare with Joni’s horrific ones, but everyone will experience hardships. Life is like that.

The dreaded D’s, Disease, Depression, Death, Doubt, Despair, and Disaster, are only a few. Kimberly deals with Lyme disease, Sierra with Crohns, Marla fought cancer, I experienced depression and the death of both parents. Our faith has carried us through. A relationship with Jesus is the answer.

Don’t despair dear ones,

God is with you and for you,

See you soon, Charlotte

August 24, 2024

Have you ever discovered an email you thought you sent, but didn’t? Have you ever committed to an important meeting and realized too late that you didn’t show up? How about that load of laundry still in the washer that never made it to the dryer? Ever ruined a loaf of bread because a distraction messed with your mind and that last cup of flour never made it into the dough? These things happen because of distractions. Our busy lives are filled with distractions, making it hard to focus.

“Family Stories for God’s Glory” tells the story of our young granddaughter who knew how to focus. During our family vacation, Nikki made a molded handprint to take home as a memento of her time at the beach. Stirring the stiff mixture of cement caused blisters to form. Her cousins played nearby making lots of happy noises. They fell on deaf ears as Nikki continued to keep her focus on her work. Nothing was able to snatch her attention or distract her from her project.

Our Heavenly Father would be pleased if we learned from Nikki how to focus. Make time to focus on your loving Savior. Let nothing superceed your enjoyment of spending time with Him.

Blessings on your days,

Charlotte

August, 5, 2024

There was only one time that I wanted to cry at our auction. We were downsizing from 4,000 sq. ft. to a small apartment of l,200 sq. ft. The time had come when we needed to make a major life change. When our eleven-year-old grandson spotted our oak kitchen table among the things to be auctioned, he exclaimed. “But, MeMee you aren’t selling the kitchen table, are you?”

“Well, Bryce we have to. There isn’t room for it in our little apartment.”

“But MeMee, we’ve made so many memories around that table!”

“We will make memories around a different table,” was my half-hearted reply.

Bryce was right, of course. Memories are treasured things. But we can keep them in our “trunks” even after we move on to make new ones. “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” (Eccl. 3:3 6b NIV)

Enjoy filling your “memory trunks”,

Charlotte

July 26, 2024

Some of the most heartbreaking words in the Bible are found in John 1:10-13. When Jesus looked into the eyes of those He loved with all His heart; He found no recognition. He not only found no recognition but actually saw rejection there.

I experienced that same “I don’t know you” blank stare with my grandson. He’s not to blame. After all, he is only a baby. We live many miles apart, and it had been weeks since I had seen and held him. How can this be? He must learn to know me. He is mine. I’m his grandma, his own flesh and blood. I must find a way to tell Zachary how much I love him. I will buy him a gift, the best I can find.

God loves us passionately, but the relationship between God and humans had been broken. No one could experience that love or have any connection with Him. There was no way to get to God. But His love would not let that brokenness continue. He sent us His Best Gift, His only Son, Jesus. Jesus would give His life so we could be reconciled to our Father God and receive the gift of eternal life.

Jesus willingly came knowing that He would die for us. How heartbreaking it must have been when He looked into the eyes of those He loved and saw no recognition. They didn’t know Him. They rejected Him who was their only hope to know God.

Zachary had no choice, he was simply being a baby. But we can know our loving Father. We have a choice. He made a way through Jesus. Right on the heels of “they rejected him,” comes the glorious truth, “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:10-13

Thank God for making a way!

Charlotte