Hallelujah! We Are Not Alone

Can’t see much in the photo above? Neither could we. It was pitch dark and we were stranded.  It was a few days before Thanksgiving and Rusty and I were on our way back from Vicksburg, MS when the dreaded battery light illuminated on the dashboard. This was a surprise to us since we had just recently had the car in the shop for that very reason. The alternator was checked, and it was diagnosed as only needing a new battery. A brand-new Interstate battery was installed and for two weeks there were no issues. However, circumstances changed on this night as we were left stranded 20 miles south of Pine Bluff on an extremely dark night.  If you've ever traveled Hwy 65, you know that there are long stretches of nothing but farmland south of Pine Bluff. Of course, that's exactly where our car would decide to take its last breath and leave of sitting with not even enough energy to illuminate the hazard lights.  Thankfully, law enforcement pulled in behind us to keep us safe as we...

  My favorite Christmas movie is Christmas with the Kranks. It's based on the John Grisham book Skipping Christmas. The comedy stars Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis who plan to skip all of the holiday festivities and spend the money saved on gifts and parties on a cruise for themselves instead. This doesn't sit well with some of their friends and neighbors as they are now considered the Scrooges of the neighborhood.  While I have no desire to take a cruise and I don't have an issue buying gifts for those in my circle, I have had a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit this year. The thought of putting up a tree and wrapping gifts hasn't been very appealing to me. I wondered if I was the only one feeling this way but have since heard others say they aren’t feeling very festive this year either. Holidays can be hard. Many are missing their loved ones at this special time and many are struggling with the economy and wondering how they'll provide for their children...

  This past weekend, our church took a group of thirteen to work in the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child Processing Center near Dallas, Texas. Some in the group had been before, but for many this was a first-time experience,   and it was the first time I ever remember arriving at opening time. Although I’ve always felt welcomed and appreciated by the staff, the coaches are normally busy supervising their workstations when I get there.  This time was a little different. Coaches are easy to spot in their bright yellow shirts. They are volunteers that have committed to at least one week of service. Their job is to explain the process, supervise the work, and be there for assistance.  However, at 9:00am, their duty was welcoming the groups of volunteers coming through the door.  We were greeted by shoebox costumes, waving hands, cheers, and cowbells. Most of all, everyone was smiling. Their joy was evident, and they were genuinely happy to see us.  T...

  When my sister, Amy, and her husband, Art, come for a visit, we like to shop Flea Markets. On one of their last trips, we went into a large store with around 100 vendor booths. Amy spotted a nativity set in one of the booths that reminded her of one we had as children. Although it was reasonably priced, she went on her way without purchasing it. The next day she called and asked if I would mind to go get it for her because she regretted leaving without it. A couple of days later, I walked into the store with only one thing on my mind... find the booth and get the nativity set. I had only made it a few steps past the door when I heard someone yell my name. As I turned to see who had called out, I saw an old friend that I'd worked with at the Post Office over 10 years ago. She said that she'd often  wondered how I was doing, but wasn’t sure how to contact me.  She had taken a part time job in the Flea Market after retiring from the Post Office. Normally, she wouldn't have...

  Once again, many of our family gathered for Thanksgiving at a mountain cabin. This time, we stayed in a few different places, but the main meal was enjoyed from Mt. Nebo in Dardanelle, Arkansas.   One night a family member and I had a conversation about some of the struggles we face in life and how it's always our human desire to be able to change circumstances on our own.  While this may seem like a good temporary fix, we know that anything we do on our own is bound to fail if we don't seek God first. They said that it was in those times they are often reminded of the scripture’s instruction to  Be still and know that He is God.  The next evening, I was reminded of our conversation and the scripture as we all watched the deer nearby and anxiously stood still as we waited for them to come closer to us. I also watched Rusty waiting patiently on the back deck for the sun to set while he took photos of the process. Both instances required nothing more than b...