A WHISTLING Man BLESSING in Church

I am always amazed at the way God chooses to touch us. It is oftentimes in the smallest ways , not fancy , not ostentatious , but always effective. 

We were in church yesterday, had gotten there in one of those moods of ' Not too bad-Not too good ". The pressures of life and living , weighing on many in the building.

We go to the traditional service in our church...where old hymns are sung and everyone is dressed fairly nice. The contemporary service our church holds at 11:30, is much more laid back...jeans, shorts, whatever. But the old hymns are not usually sung ,and my husband and I still believe a church is a building that deserves some reverence when you come to worship. So we go to the fuddier-duddier service that we enjoy. 

We sat up top in the balcony, this time at the very edge where people walk by in front of us. While I was standing , singing a Christmas hymn with the congregation....right in front of me passed a blessing from God.

He was dressed a little oddly, he had a red velour jacket over pants, it was not quite zipped and his collar was askew. He was probably in his late 60's or so, and he had the most warm happy eyes.

He passed in front of us and went directly behind us, and then he started.

Whistling.

He started whistling to the hymn.

No singing, but every note, every word...was whistled.

I have been to this church for over 30 years, and I have NEVER heard anyone do that.

I turned to my husband, he turned and looked at me...I was smiling with delight over the whistling.

When we all finished, we have a' Turn and say Hi to someone' time at church. I turned around to the whistling man in his red velour jacket, he looked shy and sweet. I asked him if that was him whistling ? He says , " Yes."

I could tell that he must have had someone NOT like it before, or maybe just give him strange looks when he does it...by his manner.

I then told him I really liked it.

He had the sweetest smile come over his face...and then we all sat for the rest of the service.

During the rest of the hymns that were sung...I could hear his beautiful whistling, it had gotten drowned out a bit by some more people coming to sit near him...but it was still there...floating in the air to bless in his own special and unique way.

When the service was completely over , and we were leaving...I turned again to the man and took his hand in both of mine, and told him how much I enjoyed his whistling again.

I guess that time I blessed him, as his eyes were shining and he just nodded and smiled.

I left there appreciating so much the boldness of this shy man , of how he chooses to whistle...go against the norm...and give glory to God.

I thanked God for that small simple blessing of whistling, and I wish you all to have something really small and special touch you today from God. I also encourage you to touch someone for God today,

Gina

" When in our music God is glorified , And adoration leaves no room for pride , It is as tho' the whole creation cried, Alleluia, Alleluia ! " 

Old hymn by Fred Pratt Green mid 1900's

Don't TOUCH MY Blueberries !

MY blueberries

My youngest daughter came by our house the other morning, I was busy working on the computer...she chatted with me awhile, then walked into the kitchen. I heard her rummaging around the pantry, fridge, etc. Then she said some forbidden words,

" OHH, Blueberries ! Can I have some ?"

I stopped typing and froze.

I said loudly back, " Your dad just got me those, so NO. You can have bananas, strawberries, whatever else...BUT not MY blueberries ! "

I hear a ' Hmmpph." response from the kitchen.

 A little background info on this, I am a creature of habit, especially when it concerns food. I don't eat a lot, food is not something I think about very  much...but every morning , ( except Sundays ), EVERY morning I eat the same thing.

Blueberries & bananas on plain cheerios and a big cup of coffee.

 

Perfect breakfast

Probably for the last 5 years or so. I usually switch very 7-10 years what I eat for breakfast...no lie. My husband thinks I am a nut, but he loves to come back from the grocery store and say " I got you some blueberries. ", as he know that makes me happy.

Since blueberries are now out of season, they are harder to get. So I am especially hoarding them.

So when flesh of my flesh , my youngest beloved daughter comes by for one of her brief visits ( about 25 mins. usually ), what do I do but act ungracious.

I retold this story to my husband and again I get a stern ' GINA, how could you not share your blueberries !" I made legitimate excuses, they are out of season, they are hard to get, I don't have much.

He just stands there looking sternly at me, starts laughing, and walks off.

I called after him that I offered her ANYTHING else in the ENTIRE kitchen, but NOT MY blueberries.

Doesn't that still make me a nice Mom ?

Probably not.

It made me think of how we all are with God , about that habit or addiction, or sin that we cling to ...that we hoard. We enjoy it, it gives us pleasure. It may be food, it may be TV, it may be our internet habits, it may be a relationship, it may be shopping, it may be alcohol, pornography, it could be anything,

That we CLING to, that we won't give up.

We need it.

It brings us pleasure.

It's fun.

We NEED it.

Love these little guys

But usually what we cling to, that we think we HAVE to have to survive..or to bring us daily pleasure , 

can become a serious addiction or habit that controls us.

I am not just talking about the really bad sins, also gossip can become a daily addiction if you have to call a friend or relative and chat up about someone all the time.

If you have to watch TV constantly, it has to be on constantly for you to feel OK.

If you have to check your email or be assessable ALWAYS, that can be a

habit or pleasure that eats away at your present life.

There are many more areas in all our lives.

What area do you want to tell God, " Keep out, that's mine, I need that. "

I know I have a few, I bet we all do.

Growing closer to God, growing in our faith walk....means figuring out what God sees as valuable in our lives, what HE sees enriches our lives...and not what WE think does.

I hope He sees my blueberries as valuable.

I really need them.

Bless you , enjoy your day,

Gina

" Unto you I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens. Behold , as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the LORD our GOD, Until He has mercy on us !" Psalm 123 1-2

 

Life Lesson My 8-Year Old Son Taught Me This Morning

We were on our way to church this morning , my husband driving...me up front with him and our 8 year old son was directly behind me in the back seat. I decided to teach him something from the Bible on the way there, so I proceeded to explain to him that I had read in the Bible that children were a blessing from God..and that meant that he and his brother and sisters were all blessings from God to us.

He chimed in from the back seat and asked me what does " Blessing " mean ? I then started explaining to him that a blessing was when God gives us a special gift , like him and his siblings were to us...and then I went on about how when a friend is nice to him at school , that is a blessing. Then I said that our home is a blessing, the foods we have to eat are blessings...".

He interrupts me from  the backseat again and says , " I could have understood you , but then you had to keep on going. "

I stopped applying my lipstick, looked at my husband...and we both burst out laughing. 

One of my best and worst qualities in that department is explaining...on and on and on. So instead of me teaching him a Bible lesson , God used my 8 year old to teach his Mom one.

Think I'll stop " going on "  as much now.

 From the mouth of babes...

Later,

Gina

  

True love, an 8 year old and his dog 

Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them and said, " Assuredlly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. " Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in my name receives Me."  Matthew 18:3-5