Tag: story time

Story Time- My Accomplishment with Gloves

~ jesusluvsall ~ 19 Comments

It is an achievement I never thought about before mostly because it seemed so unlikely. Yet it has been reached nevertheless. You will be astonished by it I am certain of that. 🙂

What is this feat that has happened? I am glad you asked. Perhaps you should sit down before reading on.

Somehow I have managed to not lose one of my gloves all winter. The first time in memory that this has occurred. By this time I normally have lost one glove and had to buy a new pair and some winters that has happened twice. Not this year. This year I have the same pair of gloves that I bought in late October.

I am sure you are impressed and perhaps wonder how I accomplished the rare feat. I wish I knew myself. I have no secret to pass on.

Perhaps you are thinking I have too much time on my hands staying home most of the time the past several days due to recovering from pneumonia, too much time to think and end up imagining of this post. Perhaps you are right. I have been cooped up at home. But I have been sleeping the past four nights, so perhaps not. lol

Anyone who has lost one glove, knows the feeling of searching for it. That of course is nothing compared to the desperation of searching for misplaced cell phones or car keys. The frantic search that ensues is consuming.

Nothing can compare to how Jesus feels seeking us. The lengths he went to to become our Savior by dying for us on the cross and defeating death for us through his resurrection. How he is always at work now through the Holy Spirit wooing people to faith in him. Jesus will not stop seeking us until the day he returns to earth. Jesus said in Luke 19:10:


“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Think about the love of Jesus to seek you.

By the way, I am not concerned about jinxing myself by sharing this story before winter is over. I won’t need them much longer. I am about to make the switch to light weight driving gloves for early spring. 🙂

Thank you for reading. God Bless.

Story Time- Wishing I Could Move

~ jesusluvsall ~ 17 Comments

Yesterday in my afternoon class, I asked the students if they prefer winter or summer. When they asked me, my reply was that in late July and August I prefer winter because I am tired of the heat and in late January and February I prefer summer because I am tired of the cold.

Where I live, we can have extreme winters and extreme summers. It is not every year, but they do happen. In the summer we can have heat waves with over three weeks of 100 f/38c every day.

Photo by Aleksandar Pasaric on Pexels.com

In the summer of 2010, it was one of those summers that every day from June through August was miserable. We had not only the heat but also high humidity. So when I got off the plane in San Diego California on my way to Ensenada Mexico for a ministry trip, and felt the perfect 72f/22c weather with no humidity, you can understand why I wondered if they needed teachers there. San Diego has beautiful weather all year.

When I returned to my city, I Googled apartment rentals in San Diego and quickly realized I could not afford to live there on a teacher’s salary. Too bad, so sad lol.

Regardless of where we live, we long for a place that does not have the problems of daily living. We will never find such a place in this life, but there is such a place to look forward to. Hebrews 11:16 says:

“Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”

God has a heavenly city prepared for us. In heaven there are no problems, no heat waves, no artic cold fronts. no crime, no pollution, no corruption. The glory of God permeates heaven.

I still wish I could afford San Diego in this life though. 🙂

Thank you for reading. God Bless.

Story Time-My Countryside Experience

~ jesusluvsall ~ 12 Comments

This past Sunday I had an adventure out in the countryside. My Sunday morning group was invited to have lunch in the home of friends who live outside the city. As I share about my adventure, I am sure it will amuse my fellow bloggers Gary of garyfultz.com and Alicia of forhispurpose.blog. Gary is such an outdoorsman that he could have his own show about outdoor adventures and I am sure he would have made a good mountain man if he had lived in the 1800s. Alicia lives outside a small town and plays with coyotes.

.Going to my friends’ home. I drove five miles outside the city on a paved road and then a mile on a gravel road. However, returning to the city I needed to take a different route because I was going to the Ukrainian church for their Youth Group Christmas Program. So I drove on a different road. It was a gravel road. I drove on it from 190th street to 140th street where it changed to be a paved road the rest of the way. That means I drove fifty blocks on a gravel road.

As I was driving, I kept looking for deer that might jump out. I also wondered if I might see coyotes or even a mountain lion. It was a real outdoor adventure for me. You will be glad to know I made it safely back to civilization. When I reached the paved part of the road, that was my thought, “back in civilization”.

I know you might be wondering how it is that a man who has been on eleven ministry trips to other counties could feel a bit overwhelmed by the drive on a gravel road. In my defense, those trips were all to other cities in other countries. They were in civilization too just in a different country with a different language. In such a setting I am in my element.

Photo by Jessica Lewis Creative on Pexels.com

My gravel road adventure gave me a new appreciation for the journey Joseph and Mary would have taken from Nazareth to Bethlehem that first Christmas. They would not have even had a gravel road to journey on. The setting of the birth of Jesus was primitive by today’s standards, even countryside standards. Our Savior, the King of the Universe, chose to leave his throne and glory in heaven to be born in very primitive and humble surroundings.

By the way, I need to wash my car but it has been so cold this week that I can’t because the doors could freeze shut. That will have to wait to next week when it warms up.

Thank you for reading. God Bless.

Story Time- Selling That Ugly Chair

~ jesusluvsall ~ 22 Comments

Many years ago in what seems like another lifetime to me, I sold office furniture. During my first week, one of the senior sales people told me, “remember Matt ugly sells.” I wondered what he meant by that.

There was a chair on the display floor that I thought would never sell. It was UGLY at least to me. I realized what that senior sales person was talking about during that first week on the job. A married couple walked in and after seeing that ugly chair excitedly expressed, “what a beautiful chair.” The chair was already marked down with a ‘final’ price which they eagerly paid. I was happy to have the sale, but wondered about their taste.

The worth or value of anything depends on what worth or value we place on it. For me that ugly chair was not worth the asking price. For that married couple, that ugly chair was a bargain at its clearance price.

As we celebrate Christmas, part of that is celebrating the worth or value God places on us. God values us so much that he sent Jesus to be our Savior by being born as a human baby for the purpose of growing to be man to die for us on the cross. Romans 8:32 puts it this way:

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

The classic Christmas song O Holy Night has a lyric that expresses it as:

“Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth”

If we ever wonder what we are worth to God, we only need to think of Jesus leaving heaven to come as a human baby to become our Savior. As the acronym says:

God’s

Riches

At

Christ’s

Expense

Thank you for reading. God Bless.

Story Time-Where Are Those Gloves?

~ jesusluvsall ~ 17 Comments

Where I live, we are going to have a big cold front come through dropping our temperatures from 68f/20c today to 34f/1c tomorrow, so it is time for my annual game of-Where Are Those Gloves?

Photo by Dom J on Pexels.com

Those sneaky gloves like to play hide and seek with me. Some years they are so good at it that I end up buying another pair of gloves and when I do, that’s when the old pair of gloves suddenly reappears. My search today will probably result in me going to buy another pair anyway.

My Lord of the Rings hoodie is ready to go. I washed it the other day, but I think I may need to wash some sweaters today. I don’t break out the winter coat until it is much colder than it will be tomorrow. I still have that coat I bought several years ago that has a rip in the side. We will wait and see if I need another one.

Back to those sneaky gloves. I have a feeling they might have been hiding in my old van that I had towed away. But I will look around one more time. If I find them, I will rejoice because that will mean I won’t need to go shopping. If I do find them, I will update you so you can rejoice with me. 🙂

Jesus talked about the joy a person has in finding lost things in Luke 15 and used that to share about how angels rejoice when one person comes to know Jesus.

“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’  In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Thank you for reading. God Bless.

Story Time- In Search of Pumpkins

~ jesusluvsall ~ 7 Comments

This week I am on a search for pumpkins for a fall festival at the school where I teach in the mornings, so if you were hoping my post today is about Linus from Charlie Brown looking for the Great Pumpkin, sorry. 🙂

Photo by Kristina Paukshtite on Pexels.com

Because of COVID, starting in August 2020 my church has been doing First Free Loves LPS-Lincoln Public Schools. We have done various things to show support for teachers and schools. So when I was asked if my church could help with money for the fall festival, I gladly asked. The answer was yes,

The problem? Somehow that also has meant the task of finding 60 mini pumpkins and 20 regular ones has fallen to me, to me the least likely person one would select for such a mission. Shopping ranks below doing laundry and is equal to going to the dentist in my mind.

The regular pumpkins are still plentiful to find, but those mini ones not so much. I will make one more valiant epic effort today to find some.

My search brought to mind what Jesus said about us in Luke 19:10:


“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Jesus left heaven to be born as a human baby to grow to be a man to die for us, That is the extent Jesus was willing to go through on our behalf. Jesus seeks us out of his great love for us.

My search will continue today. Perhaps a rescue team will be needed to find me as I go out into that realm called shopping.

Thank you for reading. God Bless.

Story Time- About The Color Gray

~ jesusluvsall ~ 21 Comments

A curiosity to me is a choice I have seen some young women make when it comes to hair coloring. I am not referring to purple, green, red etc. The choices that are curious to me are gray and white. Each time I see a young woman who colors her hair gray or white, I feel like saying, “why hurry about that?” The time will come when it happens naturally but then perhaps they will color their hair a different color. 🙂

Photo by Anastasiya Lobanovskaya on Pexels.com

I joke with my students that I color my beard white to look older because I am young and want them to respect me as a teacher. I don’t think anyone has believed me yet.

In recent years, I have come to appreciate what God said in Isaiah 46:4

Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

In the summer of 2020 during the pandemic, classes I had taught for twenty years were canceled abruptly with no notice. I would have to wait until the fall to start with different classes. It meant my main source of income for the summer was gone with no chance to line up anything due to the pandemic. But God took care of it through his people sending money anonymously. That lasted during the three months of lost income and more than made up for the lost income.

Last month when my van died and I was not sure how I would get a vehicle, it was through God’s people being generous that last week I was able to buy my car. It is perfect for my needs being easier to get in and out of as someone living with psoriatic arthritis would want.

By the way, the color of my car is fitting for my topic today. It is gray. 🙂

Whatever age we are, we can look to Jesus for help.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2

Thank you for reading. God Bless.

Story Time- My New Friend Indy the Golden Retriever

~ jesusluvsall ~ 25 Comments

Yesterday I visited my friend to watch a college football game. It was my first time at his house and knowing he has two dogs, I bought some dog treats to bring with me. One of the dogs, Indy, is a golden retriever. Indy stayed with me practically the whole time.

I was wearing shorts and Indy paid attention to my one bad knee. He would lick it at times. It is uncanny how dogs know when a part of our bodies is in pain. My knee was a bit worse than usual because I walked on it too much Friday due to taking the bus because of no working vehicle.

I grew up with a golden retriever. She was my best friend as a child. She slept in my room and always found her way to me under the kitchen table. Yes, I am a softy when it comes to dogs giving those sad eyes while I am earting.

When I think of dogs, the word faithful comes to mind. Show them a little love and attention and they will stay by your side.

If only we could be more like that when it comes to Jesus. I think about the love and attention he showed us when he died on the cross and continues to show us as he stays with us every second of every day.

I hope to visit Indy again and of course my friend Todd and his family too.

Thank you for reading. God Bless.

Story Time- A New Use for Blueberries?

~ jesusluvsall ~ 27 Comments

Stop the presses!!! Breaking News!!! A discovery that needs to shared with all of humanity about our friend the blueberry!!!

Yesterday I went to the organic/natural food store that is next to my office, aka coffee shop, to buy some food. I had a craving for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I checked and saw there was one gluten free bread left, made out of oat flour, so I got the bread. Next was the creamy organic peanut butter, but wanting to eat healthier, well actually because I need to lose weight it has nothing to do with wanting to eat healthier, instead of jelly I went to get some organic bananas for peanut butter and banana sandwiches. I also got some blueberries that I like to mix with yogurt.

A funny thing happened on my way to the bananas. I got distracted by talking with someone. Who would have guessed that could happen? When I got home, I realized that I did not actually buy the bananas. They say necessity is the mother of invention, which is where my friend the blueberry comes in.

I said to myself, “self blueberries are a fruit. What if you made a peanut butter and blueberry sandwich. That is exactly what I did. So without further ado, I present to you the amazing peanut butter and blueberry sandwich.

I realize this may revolutionize culinary skills all around the world, so I will not seek a patent for my amazing discovery. It should be shared freely with all humanity. 🙂

What is next you might ask? I am glad you asked. There are possibilities such as blueberry’s distant relative the strawberry. Perhaps a peanut butter and fresh strawberry sandwich. But whatever version is attempted, we owe it all to the blueberry.

Whenever a new creation for food is successful, because 99.99% of the time mine are not, I think about how we can become new creations in Jesus. 2nd Corinthians 5:17 says:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

We can have a fresh start in life and change when we come to Jesus.

I wonder what else can be done with our friend the blueberry. Perhaps more to come. 🙂

Thank you for reading. God bless.

Story Time/Burned Eggs In Brazil

~ jesusluvsall ~ 40 Comments

June and July of 2015 were my best summer ever. I spent most of those months in Rio do Sul a small city in Santa Cantarina Brazil teaching English in a university.

For most of my time there, I stayed solo in the apartment of some missionary friends who were traveling elsewhere in Brazil. I took care of my breakfast and the university took care of my lunch and dinner. Most mornings I ate fresh fruit with yogurt, but one morning I decided I wanted some eggs.

Photo by Nishant Aneja on Pexels.com

I started cooking the eggs and then checked my Facebook. I had a message from a friend who was applying to Medical School. She wanted me to look over her essay for the application. There was only one small grammar mistake. Her essay was excellent. The process took about 45 minutes. When we finished, I remembered something- THE EGGS.

Photo by freestocks.org on Pexels.com

The pan I was cooking in was a non-stick pan with a white coating inside. But if you burn eggs for 45 minutes, the non-stick part doesn’t work so well. I soaked the pan several times and scrubbed it. I went to a few stores to try to find another pan.just like it to no avail. Finally, after scrubbing it several times, I got it cleaned.

When I talked with the missionaries about my adventure with the pan, the wife told me she bought it at a garage sale in the U.S. for a few dollars. We had a good laugh.

We needlessly worry at times. Sometimes it is because we try to do things on our own not knowing fully what to do. Sometimes it is because we do not want to look bad or be a failure. There can be many reasons we worry.

Worry is different than having an anxiety disorder. I want to make that clear. People who have anxiety disorders have anxiety because of a physiological cause. It is important to seek help.

Worry is really trying to keep control over something fearing possible outcomes. We worry needlessly many times. Jesus talked about worry in Matthew 6:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

We are more valuable to God than anything else in all of creation. If we worry, we are basically not trusting in God’s love for us, his ability, or his desire to help us.

God loves us so much that Jesus came to die for us, so we can have eternal life. As the bible says in 1 John 4:

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love”

Love is what can drive our fear and calm our worry. If we struggle with worry, what we need is to spend time in the presence of Jesus basking in his love for us.

Think about it. Jesus already knows all of our mistakes, sins, failures, problems, and loves us. He invites us to come to him. We don’t need to hide anything from him and we can’t anyway. He knows it all, loves us, and invites us to come to him for help.

Now I wonder who wants me to come cook for them after they read my story time today? Vote in the comments from these candidates 🙂

Dawn of drawingclosertochrist.com

Jenny of progressinbloom.com

deandra of Imago Dei at deandrahurst.com

Sherita of plantingseedsingodsgrowinggarden.wordpress.com

Rene of hearttokens.home.blog

Herry of herrychiccounsels.com

Beverly of becomingtheoilandthewine.com

Thank you for reading. God Bless