Poor Chloe needs some lovin'

Just after I got home from major surgery in August and Ben was still in the hospital for congestive heart failure (Man! August was rough!), my sister called me. She knew that I had wanted a papallion puppy for ever. She occasionally would email me pictures that she had found on Craig's List. But this call was special. That night she had found a papallion on line whose owner was leaving the next morning for Florida and the puppy had to be picked up immediately. Well, what was I to do? I couldn't go get her; I didn't want to bother Ben with the decision. So my sister picked her up for me. No chew toys, no crate, and one cup of food. I was assured that she was crate and paper trained. Nope! I kept her about a month, taking her outside in the rain when she cried to do her business. Nope! She just wanted to go outside. The last few nights before I gave her away she cried all night long. I took her to the farthest corner of the garage and let her cry. Finally I decided she had to go. I gave her to a family at church who had just lost their dog in a house fire. I found out this week they gave her away too! Before you get a pet find out what you are getting in for! Papallions, I now know are very stubborn and fiesty! I just need me an old dog that wants to lay around like I do, eat and sleep and sleep and eat some more.

"Lord, Prepare me to be a Sanctuary"

In the book of John, we find the words of Jesus, "I go to prepare a place for you...." While we recognize that this place is heaven, there is another place that He prepares for us--right here on earth. The place He is preparing in heaven will be a beautiful, amazing place. The place(s) that He prepares for us here can be very messy, very uncomfortable places--places we would not choose to go if we had a say in the matter. One of those places is illness; another might be poverty; another grief; another loneliness. The one that I know about is illness. I would never have selected cancer as a destination; it was selected for me. I have never doubted that the Lord knew what He was doing when I started on this journey. He did not leave me and He will not forsake me now. He is already in my future and knows exactly what my tomorrow will be like. He will give me strength and grace to face the day just like He did today. No, I haven't been comfortable today and I won't be tomorrow either. But the fact that He has prepared the day for me means He will prepare me for the day!

"The Red-backed Hymnal"

I know that there is not a Church of God member (and other denominations, also) who is not familiar with the old "Red-backed Hymnal." If you check out the contents, you will find that the preponderance of topics is heaven. I love the old, old story told in the pages of that book. "When we all get to heaven," "Heaven's Jubilee": the list goes on. When we sing about heaven, we start thinking about heaven. This world is not my home: I'm just a passing through. These songs make me want to "go home." Having a chronic disease like ovarian cancer makes me want to go home, too. I am reminded of how temporary this life is. There is comfort in that fact!
Yesterday we sang "Victory in Jesus" although it was "off the wall." Nobody remembers that it's really page 120. In the last stanza we find the words: "...the Old Redemption Story..." It's an old story that's still new and fresh and exciting. To know that God sent His Son to be my Savior is the greatest miracle in the world. In the wonderful plan of redemption, He knew that I needed a Savior and Jesus was willing to give His life for me. Thank You, Jesus!