"THEN SAID THE LORD TO HIM, PUT OFF THY SHOES FROM THY FEET:
for the place where thou standest is holy ground."
Acts 7:33 KJV

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

MISS YOU MOM

Time will dull the edge of grief, but the loss of a mother is an emotional event of such proportions that we don't just "get over it" after a prescribed period of time.  This is an empty place that I'm sure will last my lifetime.

Three years ago today Goldie and I, kissed her sweet cheeks goodbye and she moved into the presence of her Heavenly Father and reunited with daddy, and her mom, dad, brothers, sisters, and special friends and loved ones who had gone before.  She faced death the same way she lived... with determination, purpose, and a zeal to make the most of the experience; right down to the last request of her "Beautiful" Perfume sprayed onto her Deep Rose colored Dress (that color looked good on her, she said), "Butterfly Broach," and only Happy Bright Flowers.  What a "unique lady"!

On "Mother's Day" of 2002 I wrote her a poem with this picture placed below it on a handmade card:
As this "Mother's Day approaches,
I'm as happy as can be
Cause I look just like my mother, 
And she looks just like me.
She can never disown or claim me
For everyone would see
Cause I look just like my mother,
And she looks just like me.
Sometimes I say we are different
Our actions alike can't be
But then I must be honest
Cause I act just like my mother,
And she acts just like me. 

Miss you so much Mom!
I could not be prouder to be more like anyone than you!
  In Loving Memory
Bonnie B. Cadle Pack
(July 26, 1933 - February 22, 2008)

Monday, February 21, 2011

GRACE, SPIRITUAL BIRTHDAYS, & CONFETTI

If cakes were baked and candles placed on them to be blown out for "spiritual birthdays," today mine would hold 37 candles.   
February 21st of 1974, at a Jack Van Impe Crusade held at the Raleigh County Armory in Beckley, West Virginia.

I was 16 years old and a Sophomore at Shady Spring High School.  My sister had invited me to go to the crusade earlier in the week... but my initial answer was a quick spoken "NO"!  I was way "too cool" to even consider spending my evening at a "Gospel Crusade" listening to preaching!  We were not raised in church - so even the thought was very foreign to me.  Yes, I had gone to Sunday School with my Grandparents on my mom's side of the family (Granny & Grandpa Cadle), and with my Aunt Flo and her family on occasion.  (This is when my cousin "Corky" and I got our behinds whipped over playing cards in the last pew)  We had even attended one or two outdoor "Primitive Baptist" Associations held in the woods at Streeter across from Little Bluestone Primitive Baptist Church when us kids were much younger.  Even though my answer to my sister had been "no"... I remember as the week progressed, I seemed to be preparing for that evening.  I did go and before I left the Crusade that night... I had made the decision to give my heart and life to the Lord.  I would never be the same!

The next morning was Friday... and I got up and dressed for school as usual.  When I walked in the front doors of the High School... there was a group that greeted me at the door with confetti.  The word had spread quickly, someone must of saw me make the long trek from my seat in the auditorium the night before to meet with a counselor at the stage made altar.  Around every corner those first few days, I heard:  "It will never last"!  Well, I'm quite a stubborn strong-headed kind of gal, and I am convinced the Lord used that to give me the determination that "I'd show them - I was sincere"!  When He says:  "All things work together for good"... He even meant those hard trying times when you feel rejected by those you call "friend" and even feel as if you are standing - "hair covered with confetti" - alone.  My life immediately began to change and new friends were made and old friends accepted the fact that I was not going to do the things I once did.  "Pot Smoke" being blown in my face by then a "boyfriend" - only caused me to ask him to take me home and that relationship ended.

In looking back over these 37 years... I have not always done what is right or pleasing to the Lord... but He has always been there to forgive and restore.  So today as I think of that special day - I can't help but thank God for the love, mercy, and grace given to me, and the difference He's made in my life.  And YES, I even thank Him for the "confetti"!

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."  (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Saturday, February 12, 2011

YOUR DIVINE VALENTINE

DaySpring E-Cardshttp://www.dayspring.com/ecards/subcat.asp?CategoryID=1&SubCategoryID=28&CardID=401486&Widescreen=False&CurPage=1
Please click the link and watch this beautiful Valentine's Wish from my heart and home to yours!

A Valentine may play a love song for you, but God sings you the sweetest love song in the universe. 
"The Lord your God... will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

A Valentine may give you flowers, but God sent you the most beautiful rose of all. Jesus.  
"I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys." Song of Solomon 2:1

A Valentine may bring you chocolate, but God provides you with something even sweeter, His Word.  
"How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" Psalm 119:103

A Valentine may love you for a lifetime, but God loved you before you were born and will love you for all eternity.  
"Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love...with lovingkindness I have drawn you." Jeremiah 31:3
Praying you're blessed by the wonderful love of God this Valentine's Day and always!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

MEMORIES & VALENTINE BOXES

As Valentine's Day approaches, I can't help but get a knot in the pit of my stomach with remembered anticipation.  My mind is transported back to almost 45 years ago when by this time (February 9) I would have already located a shoe box (perfect on all corners) and began cutting red & pink hearts of all sizes, collecting stickers or pictures of cute cuddly bears and arrow ready cupids, paper doilies, white or pink wrapping paper, and anything else that would make my special box unique.  That prized "Valentine's Box" that would hold messages of "Love"!  Of course we all wanted to win the prize for the prettiest box... but that wasn't the main goal.  No, this was a matter of the heart!  

We each knew how many mates were in our class - so the perfect Valentine card with just the right saying on it was chosen for each one.  My mom always made sure no one was left out because she had watched her little girl cry on the occasion when I would realize that "child X" had not given me a Valentine, but had given to everyone else in the class.  She always assured me that if this happened - it was an oversight (mom's do that you know).  Even the words on the back that were written before our names - were of utmost importance.  Most were signed: “Your friend, Sylvia”... OH, but there were usually a few that rated the words:  “Love, Sylvia!”  You had to be my very special or best friend to merit “LOVE” or be that little fellow whom I always tapped on the shoulder when we would sing... 
"Blue Bird, Blue Bird, through my window - Blue Bird, Blue Bird through my window, Blue Bird, Blue Bird through my window, Oh Johnny are you tired?  
Take a little boy and tap him on the shoulder, take a little boy and tap him on the shoulder, take a little boy and tap him on the shoulder, Oh Johnny are you tired?"   

Before the day of school ended, the teacher would allow each of us to go get those prized boxes - remove the lid - and place our hands on the long awaited words written on the cards.  It was always such a treat to view the different types of cards found for the year.  Most were ones we had all sorted through at K-Mart or Hills Department Store... but on occasion someone had found a box of unique cards that caused some excitement in the classroom.  Other times there would be someone who got creative and made lovely handmade cards.  To the little girls these details were important - but of most importance was what they said, and what was written on the back.  Each card was read with care and oft times you would hear a groan, an "ol' brother", or a giggle.  Before we put our boxes in our book-bags, ready to go home... they were always counted to make sure no one had left us out.  That was how you could tell if someone was mad at you at the time... LOL!

On this Valentine’s Day my wish for each of you is this:  that your Valentine’s Box will win the prize, it will be full to the max of special words from special people in your life, that you will never feel left out, and that your heart will be filled with “LOVE”!

Here's my special Valentine to each of you... signed:  "Love, Sylvia"
"BE MY VALENTINE" OR THE BIRD DIES!  

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Holding "THINGS" Loosely

This morning after my Bible Study... I sat pondering one particular verse that I had just read.  A question stuck in my mind that I just could not shake:  "What does it mean to "be in the world" but not be "of the world"?  I had just answered a question in my workbook that asked me to do a comparison and contrast between our prominent "functional gods / idols" (things that take precedence in our life) verses GOD.

functional god verses GOD
created  -  Creator /  death  -  Life  /  changing  -  Unchangeable  /  false  -  True  /  unpredictable  -  Faithful  /  temporal  -  Eternal

While questioning myself as to where my "treasure" is and what it lies within...  an overwhelming thought came to my mind and I had to grab a pen and scrap of paper. Lessons learned from times past... the Lord may give me something and if I don't write it down... It's GONE (must be the age).  Here is the elegy that was impressed upon my heart:

Hold THINGS loosely -
For tomorrow they may be,
Gone in a moment -
No longer to see. 

But cling to the Lord -
A stronghold He will be,
Steady and sure -
The Great "I AM" is HE!
                                             ~Sylvia  (Exodus 3:13-14)

I felt with what I had just written the Lord had led me to the answer of my own question... "What it means to be in the world but not of it" - yet in my stillness, on the heels of that inspiration came another... and I kept writing:

When the waves of this world
Are tossing you to and fro
And the whirlwinds of life
Around you doth blow
Cling to the Master
Who commands the sea
Safe in His watchcare
Forever we'll be.
                                         ~Sylvia  (Psalm 107:28-29)

"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?"  (James 4:4-5) 

The Lord is jealous when we allow anything in our life to take HIS place... whether it be things, people (spouse, children, family member, friend), careers, wealth, etc.  He desires to be our "ONLY" GOD!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Ridding the Clutter

Just a couple weeks ago... I began the immense task of cleaning out my closets - ridding them of clothes I never wear, or clothes that I "dream" of wearing again one day, shoes that hurt my feet but look cute and match a particular outfit, purses that I'll never carry again - because I carry them till I'm tired of them - then I change and usually never go back.  Steve has one closet in our bedroom and I have one - but I also have the two closets in the two guest bedrooms... UGH... so this was quite an undertaking :)  All three relatively full of a whole lot of... "I have nothing to wear!"

Today while doing my Bible Study "No Other Gods", I found it no coincident that the lesson was on "ridding our hearts and lives of clutter."  Why do we fill our life with so many things that weigh us down?  Things we never use.  Thoughts that hold us back.  Habits that limit us.  Distractions that derail us.  Negative people that drain us.  Fear that paralyzes us.  And countless time zappers that sabotage our performance and productivity.  There is also valuable room being wasted in our hearts because things that have built up in it may be too old, too outdated, too big for us to deal with alone, and even too small to matter in our lives.  In the "spiritual closets" of our heart we allow clutter to build up:  feelings of hurt, resentment, hatred, jealousy, apathy, dissatisfaction, bitterness, etc.

We need to let some OLD STUFF go!  Create more room for qualities of Christ that we can use daily... such as love, mercy upon others, compassion, understanding, humbleness, and forgiveness.  God has shown me that not only my "physical closet" needs a good cleaning (which I have accomplished), but so does my "spiritual closet" (which I continue to work on).  MAKING ROOM FOR THE GOOD STUFF!

Lord, Search the corners, closets, and hidden areas of my heart.  Reveal to me the things that need to be "cleaned-out" from my life... making more room for YOU!  Amen 

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10