Thanksgiving Praises!Turkey times Three!

It was our third Thanksgiving at our little church in Tulsa for our family of six.God had blessed our little church's efforts and hard work and we had a nucleus of 25-30 kids in our Sunday School ministry,most from very troubled homes,and not a lot in material goods.Through VBS and other efforts,we had befriended their parents and gotten some of them out to church for programs,etc.It was coming up on Thanksgiving and I had just had my second surgery in about a year,so I was in bed for a few days,trying to recuperate and as was my habit,when I was feeling a mite discouraged,I got out my Bible and pen and paper and started making some special plans for holiday celebration.I wrote down:Thanksgiving baskets,including Turkey and all the trimmings for each of our Sunday school children's families.I visualized all these baskets and made plans to share my desire with our little church family when all of a sudden,in the midst of my happy planning,the reality of our own personal situation just crashing down on me.The whispers and the taunting of the enemy began,Ha,ha ha,look at your great and mighty plans for everybody's Thanksgiving baskets when you only have right now,how much for grocery money this week?Is it 8.00 or 9?Now tell me,how in the world do you think you are going to pull this off?"I listened,momentarily,but then I let him have it,with these words,"My God owns the cattle on a thousand hills! and I recalled something I heard someone say,"he even owns the taters in them there hills!"So be gone! It will be done.What could be so hard about supplying what would amount to a flock of turkeys when indeed I had connection to the one who owned every bovine animal?To make a long story shorter,I will say that I pushed forward with my plans and ,knowing the state of our budget,of course, my husband was skeptical.I prayed and spread the word to our little group and that Thanksgiving,all our children and families,probably 10-12 total had an abundant Thanksgiving meal including a turkey.
Now for the best part.Clear up to the week before Thanksgiving,I did not have the means or even a turkey for my own family little alone one for an extra family,but I knew God was going to answer and did he ever?I ended up with not one,not two,but three turkeys given to me,so I had two to give away.The third turkey God prompted someone in Kansas to call his brother, a grocery store manager there in Tulsa,to be sure I had a turkey for Thanksgiving.What a wonderful prayer answering God we serve today!Maybe someone reading this needs this reminder.Please be assured that He can and will do the same for you.How blessed I am today,this day before Thanksgiving, and how thankful I am today for all you family and friends and "thanks again,dear,brother,Stephen, for listening to God's prompting that Thanksgiving so long ago,to bless me with that third turkey!"Happy Thanksgiving one and all!

Out on a limb with the Clifton's: Craft ideas

Out on a limb with the Clifton's: Craft ideas

Celebrating 39 years on November 21

"Wood stoves still warm me from the inside out!"

I close my eyes and I can still feel the warmth ,smell the delicious smell of the wood both in the big,round, black main stove in the center of our humble home in Star Holler and the special mix of smells of the wood,bacon,biscuits and gravy that wafted out most mornings as breakfast was being prepared on that old wood cookstove by my sweet mother.Of course the rest of the story,about the main stove was the memories of shivering on the backside as you warmed from the frontside only,at first when you first got up,but never you mind for the warmth,from the inside of your happy,childhood,safe,home quickly reunited the front and back as you turned back and forth to warm every part.I can't burn outside here in town,so, my children bought me a chimenea a few years ago for Christmas.So now,when I need that,warmth from the inside out,I build me a little wood fire and as always,it refreshes my spirit and revives my bruised and torn heart.Thanks Children!
My phone rang Sun. eve before church.I said,"Hello!" A little voice says,"Hi Gwammy!" I answer with our little game we play;"Hello,who is this anyway?" The little voice echoes with excitement as he says,"It's Wicky and you know what,Gwammy?"I can tell he is busting to tell me something.I answer,"What,lil Ricky,what is it?" "Gwammy,we got us a Woodstove!"I answer,with tears in my voice,"Oh,Ricky,I am so excited"The other part of this is throughout much of that day,I was feeling sad and praying for a couple of my loved ones,definitely in need of what I call "wood stove thoughts,"if not the wood stove itself.The remarkable part of this is,as I learned from talking to my son,Ricky2 after my conversation with "lil Ricky" is that "lil Ricky",on his own,asked for my number cause he "needed to talk to Gwammy." Thank you,loving,Heavenly Father,for yet again the sign from above of your special love and concern for me.If any who is reading this are feeling cold,lonely,in need of warmth,reach out to a loving Heavenly Father and may He grant you,your"wood stove" moments,whatever it takes to make you aware of His special care and give you the warmth of spirit and body you need.