Thursday, September 27, 2012

Maybe Even an Air Horn

Jan Ackerson is one of my favorite writers. She can do more with 100 words (exactly 100) than most can do in that many pages. Her brief stories leave you wanting to read more, to become more acquainted with the character or characters. And, her unique twists always make you smile. Thank you, Jan, for sharing your special talent at A Softer Voice today and for so effectively tailoring this original tale to the theme of my blog. You really nailed it.



     Great-uncle Jerry frightened Rochelle when she was little—his voice always entered the room a long time before he did. She didn’t know him well; he only showed up once or twice a year, at Christmas and (with increasing frequency) at funerals.

     He outlived nearly everyone, holding off death until the age of 93. It fell to Rochelle to empty his apartment. She’d never been there; she imagined gongs, power tools, perhaps macaws.

     Instead, she found an encyclopedia with notations in every margin. A collection of hand-tied lures. A bonsai tree. In the bedroom, a fat tabby regarded her, silently.

You can read more of Jan's (very) short stories at http://www.1hundred-words.com 

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

"G" is for ... Gonna Be Gone



"Do not let your heart be troubled, believe in God, Believe also in Me. In my Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going."
John 14:1-4, NASB (emphasis mine)

A trio I sang with for a few years loved Lanny Wolfe's music, and one of our favorite songs to share was "I'm Gonna Be Gone." I couldn't find a dowload of his song and our modest cassette (yes, it was a looonnng time ago) is now nestled somewhere in a safe place. I did fine the lyrics online. Here are a few of them:
"I'm Gonna be Gone"
 
I'm gonna be gone
In the twinkling of an eye
I'm gonna be gone
Won't have time to say goodbye
I'm gonna be gone
It could be while I'm singin' this song
I'm gonna be gone, and it won't be long
I'm gonna be gone.
 
This old world's not getting better
Everyday it's getting worse
So much fighting and confusion
Going on down here on earth
But I don't let it bother me
'Cause I'm not here to stay
I know my Lord is coming soon
And I'll be caught away.
 
Chorus
 
It could be just any morning
it could be at night or noon
We don't know just when He's coming
But we know He's coming soon
I can say with calm assurance
This old world is not my home
One of the days you're gonna look for me
Praise God, I'm gonna be gone.
 
Chorus
 
 
 
Does anyone else think this day is coming sooner, rather than later? Praise God we're Gonna be Gone!







Monday, September 17, 2012

"F" is for ... Favorite

                                         
 (Photography by http://midspix.wordpress.com/)

I suppose the daily headlines and seeing prophecy played out in our living rooms as the worldwide news becomes more ominous has my mind set on Heaven and the promises that await us there. 

One of my Favorite hymns of all is Face to Face. Can you imagine being here in the middle of utter chaos and heartbreak one minute and looking into the face of Jesus the next. No more illness, tragedy, war, unemployment, hunger - just Jesus and complete fulfillment of every eternal promise.

Face to Face with Christ, My Savior                                         

Face to face with Christ, my Savior
Face to face - what will it be
When with rapture I behold Him
Jesus Christ who died for me?

Chorus:
Face to face I shall behold Him,
Far beyond the starry sky
Face to face in all His glory
I shall see Him by and by!
(Words: Carrie E. Breck, 
 Music: Grant Colfax Tullar)

"See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called the children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is."  
1 John 3:1-2, NASB

http://www.freshpiano.com/audio/JOEL_ROSENBERGER-Face_to_Fac-4.mp3

Click on I Want to Know Jesus in the right hand column to secure your reservation. Have a blessed day.