Hello Friends!
This space is for all of us to gather and share. Our Local's member wanted to share some things so he asked me to post this for us all. Happy to gather for Thankful Thursday!
Why are you thankful, and what is #ThankfulThursday anyway?
The Black Telephone
Those of us old enough to remember when the phone was wired to the wall, usually in the kitchen, can relate to this story. I loved this read.
When I was a young boy, my father had one of the first telephones in our neighborhood. I remember the polished, old case fastened to the wall. The shiny receiver hung on the side of the box.. I was too little to reach the telephone, but used to listen with fascination when my mother talked to it.
Then I discovered that somewhere inside the wonderful device lived an amazing person. Her name was "Information Please" and there was nothing she did not know. Information Please could supply anyone's number and the correct time.
My personal experience with the genie-in-a-bottle came one day while my mother was visiting a neighbor. Amusing myself at the tool bench in the basement, I whacked my finger with a hammer, the pain was terrible, but there seemed no point in crying because there was no one home to give sympathy. I walked around the house sucking my throbbing finger, finally arriving at the stairway.
The telephone! Quickly, I ran for the footstool in the parlor and dragged it to the landing. Climbing up, I unhooked the receiver in the parlor and held it to my ear. "Information, please," I said into the mouthpiece just above my head.
A click or two and a small clear voice spoke into my ear. "Information."
"I hurt my finger..." I wailed into the phone, the tears came readily enough now that I had an audience..
"Isn't your mother home?" came the question
"Nobody's home but me," I blubbered.
"Are you bleeding?" the voice asked
"No, "I replied. "I hit my finger with the hammer and it hurts."
"Can you open the icebox?" she asked.
I said I could.
"Then chip off a little bit of ice and hold it to your finger," said the voice.
After that, I called "Information Please" for everything. I asked her for help with my geography, and she told me where Philadelphia was. She helped me with my math.
She told me my pet chipmunk that I had caught in the park just the day before, would eat fruit and nuts.
Then, there was the time Petey, our pet canary, died. I called, "Information Please," and told her the sad story. She listened, and then said things grown-ups say to soothe a child. But I was not consoled. I asked her, "Why is it that birds should sing so beautifully and bring joy to all families, only to end up as a heap of feathers on the bottom of a cage?"
She must have sensed my deep concern, for she said quietly, " Wayne , always remember that there are other worlds to sing in." Somehow I felt better.
Another day I was on the telephone, "Information Please."
"Information," said in the now familiar voice.
"How do I spell fix?" I asked
All this took place in a small town in the Pacific Northwest . When I was nine years old, we moved across the country to Boston . I missed my friend very much.
"Information Please" belonged in that old wooden box back home and I somehow never thought of trying the shiny new phone that sat on the table in the hall. As I grew into my teens, the memories of those childhood conversations never really left me. Often, in moments of doubt and perplexity I would recall the serene sense of security I had then. I appreciated now how patient, understanding, and kind she was to have spent her time on a little boy.
A few years later, on my way west to college, my plane put down in Seattle . I had about a half-hour or so between planes. I spent 15 minutes or so on the phone with my sister, who lived there now. Then without thinking what I was doing, I dialed my hometown operator and said, "Information Please."
Miraculously, I heard the small, clear voice I knew so well.
"Information."
I hadn't planned this, but I heard myself saying, "Could you please tell me how to spell fix?"
There was a long pause. Then came the soft spoken answer, "I guess your finger must have healed by now."
I laughed, "So it's really you," I said. "I wonder if you have any idea how much you meant to me during that time?"
"I wonder," she said, "if you know how much your calls meant to me. I never had any children and I used to look forward to your calls."
I told her how often I had thought of her over the years and I asked if I could call her again when I came back to visit my sister.
"Please do," she said. "Just ask for Sally."
Three months later I was back in Seattle .
A different voice answered, "Information."
I asked for Sally.
"Are you a friend?" she said.
"Yes, a very old friend," I answered.
"I'm sorry to have to tell you this," She said. "Sally had been working part time the last few years because she was sick. She died five weeks ago."
Before I could hang up, she said, "Wait a minute, did you say your name was Wayne ?" "
"Yes." I answered.
Well, Sally left a message for you. She wrote it down in case you called. Let me read it to you. The note said, "Tell him there are other worlds to sing in. He'll know what I mean."
I thanked her and hung up. I knew what Sally meant.
Never underestimate the impression you may make on others. Whose life have you touched today?
<3
Interesting summary by @Numb3rsDontLi3
Link in his description to Baphomet is a reptilian video by Penny Bradley. I haven't listened yet.
Hello Friends!
This space is for all of us to gather and share. Our Local's member wanted to share some things so he asked me to post this for us all. Happy to gather for Thankful Thursday!
Why are you thankful, and what is #ThankfulThursday anyway?
Happy Testimony Tuesday, Y'all! This week, I am struggling to give up my vices. Last week I wrote about my health thing. During this health scare, I have still been smoking cigarettes here and there, and drinking here and there. Nothing like the amount I was used to...but still I feel like a failure. I feel like most of you can identify with trying to purge yourself of a nasty habit you let go on for far too long. Everyone has "vices" and the Bible says we are to deny ourselves and pick up our cross.
What does that even mean? Deny yourself and pick up your cross. Deny Yourself. I think we can take a look at what is happening with the LGTBQ social warriors and Israel vs Palestinian social warriors. They serve SELF, they do not deny themselves, but rather force the population to side with them. I serve myself every time I light a cigarette or drink wine. Boy is it hard to crucify your flesh! What a wonder Jesus truly was down here on Earth!
I think Veronica and Amy Jo hit the nail on the head when they said "God speaks a language only you can hear" or "he speaks to you in your own language" I think that is really beautiful. I think some people need the rigid structure of religion and others are like John the Baptist in the wilderness proclaiming Christ is coming! I also think that we should allow ourselves some grace. God is working through us and for us. But we have to meet him halfway, we must deny our flesh so that Christ can use our vessel for what it was designed for. I also think God is compassionate and for kids who grew up with trauma and vices, he understands but encourages us to change.
A reader reached out to me last week and told me I need deliverance. They do not like that I coin myself a "functioning suicidal." for me, it is tongue in cheek. And for other suicidal survivors, they understand that the urge to die never goes away...but God renews your zest for life and that's the truth that I sit in. I also confessed I don't know who 'that' Alysha is, she has no vices and is clean and modest and pure in God's holy love. I'm scared to be her... I am a wretched sinner who needs God's mercy and love.
Let us try to deny ourselves and pick up our cross. It's heavy but God makes it light. I wouldn't change my life and the things I went through. I don't want a do-over. All I want is for God to see that I am trying and that I love him completely. I share his compassion with strangers and I see his face in a newborn baby's eyes. I love the Lord, so I will keep trying to do my best to please him.
I pray you all can confront the things you need to deny of your flesh and that Christ gives you the strength you need to be your best today! You don't have to do anything other than submit and show up. The Lord will do the rest! All the glory and honor to our Father, in Jesus' name. Amen.
Happy Tuesday, Ya'll! Recently I have been battling a little health issue. It may be a BIG health issue but as we have learned on this blog community... HEALTH CARE HAS BEEN INFILTRATED, and I don't trust them as far as I can throw them. Do not worry about me, I have plenty of prayer warriors lifting me up, and I trust the Lord with my life. My mom gave me some basic antibiotics and I'm changing my diet and adding some vitamins to my life. I think this was the Lord's way of telling me I am approaching my 40s... so I better take better care of myself.
Self-care has always been a struggle for me. As a "functioning suicidal" I'm always like "What's the point" Even if I had something major happen in my life, I'm not sure I would do any treatment. I think the children help with my longevity. As the Bible tells us, Children are a gift from God. So, I guess for their sake, I better be here for a while.
Do you know what it means for me to be sick? NOTHING. I work 45plus hours a week, I also run a small business with my boyfriend, and I am raising 3 kids, 2 cats, and a dog. I have a little home that I need to make happy and clean... No one in my family can think for themselves so they call all day for me to be their own GOOGLE. BIG SIGH. Truly, when I say time is my enemy, I'm not lying.
I am part of the millennial generation that gets lost in "doom scrolling" to relax. I watch funny Instagram reels and often a biblical or Christian-themed reel pops up. These really speak to me sometimes and I know that's God's way of getting in when my cracks are starting to show. I watched the cutest little girl telling her Mom, "Mom, you are like Martha and I am like Mary. You do all the hard work and I get to talk to Jesus. Jesus told me when you are tired, come to him and he will give you rest." Out of the mouths of babes, I tell ya! I started crying and told Jesus "I am tired, I am sick, and I need rest."
After crying, I went outside and sat on my porch. My boyfriend's friend came over and was venting to me about his wife. She has some really bad emotional issues and she sounds like a younger, broken me. So you know what instantly happened. I witnessed to him, I testified, I told him nothing would fix her until she submits to Christ and starts fixing herself. No amount of skydiving, ziplining, or spending time with your husband will fill the void. Only Christ.
After crying about myself, God gave me the opportunity to still reach out to others. I am so blessed that I can look outside my struggles and still try to care for others. It made me remember the saying "You can't pour from an empty cup" and I agree with that 100%. I need my daily dose of time with God to make it through the day.
This weekend I focused on resting, taking vitamins and just giving myself a little break. My health things seem to be getting better so I know God is hard at work in my life. I hope that when you are in the struggle you can still see how you can impact someone's life for the better. We all are struggling, and we all need each other.
God bless you, my friends. I pray the Lord shows his mercies on you each morning and you can rejoice in the good news each day!
With Love, Ally.