Dad's Boat

          Dad was an avid fisherman.  I mean AVID.  He was able to retire early so he could go fishing everyday, and he did.  Our freezer was always full of wonderful chinook and salmon, steelhead and crappie.  Dad used his small boat to do amazing things.  He fine tuned his motor to skim over 2 inch rapids and had the other fishermen jealous.  He was followed much of the time to his favorite holes because they wanted to know where he caught the big ones.  Dad usually talked to whoever was in his boat about Jesus.  The older he got, the more he talked, and the bolder he became.

          Isn't that how we should all want to be?  Fishermen that others want to follow toward the Master, our Lord Jesus Christ?   I desire to be good at what God has called me to do, so that by using that platform others will follow Jesus, too.  What is your platform?  Your hobbies and interests?  God is waiting for you to use them for His kingdom.  We make speaking for Jesus a separate activity in our lives.  God desires to go fishing with us so He is always present speaking through us.  

         Dad's boat now sits in our garden near the fort, and the grandchildren play all kinds of things in it.  We just couldn't bear to part with it.   Because, once again, the memories give us great cause to sing the praises of Jesus.                                                                                                          K.C.

Wagon's Precious Haul

         This old wagon hauled around a lot of precious cargo over the years.  That cargo of six has since grown up  and grown older, although it is still precious.  Many memories float through my eyes each time I view this old wagon.  You see, this is not just a wagon; it is a reminder of God's amazing goodness to our family.  Even though this cargo has long ago dismissed this wagon and moved into life, I still look on this wagon with gratefulness.  What opportunity, what privilege, what treasure, what love fills my heart when I look on it!  Young moms, take stock of your wagon.  The years fly by so quickly - fill your heart with memories that cause you to praise the Lord Jesus for His goodness to your family.  When you are filling your heart with these memories, it is much easier to look with eyes of thanksgiving and praise rather than complaining and nagging.  

       So, now we have a new wagon - a Gorilla.  That first cargo has their own precious cargo and do they like to fly around our garden on that Gorilla!  I am making brand new memories, and they don't know it, but they are making memories, too.  When Mema (that is me) is gone to heaven, they will chat around the table about zinging around the garden on the Gorilla.  May Jesus fill their hearts with joy and love and wonderful memories.  And may your heart be filled with memories that you are making, full of joy and grateful love.  Someday this Gorilla will be a relic in the flowerbed, too.  To remind them of God's amazing goodness to them.