Tell Me a True Story Blog Party week of 07/25/16

Reading a True Story from the Bible

 

You are invited to enter YOUR True Story at our Blog Party.

 

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Make a Vow to God - - To Read Your Bible Every Day

Christian Youth Camp is a Good Investment

 

It was summer time, and our church announced the opportunity for those 12 years and older to attend Christian Youth Camp at Lake Tahoe.   Because our dads both worked for the Southern Pacific rail road, they could obtain a free pass for me and my girl friend Gracie for the train ride from Oakland to Lake Tahoe.   From there to Zephyr Cove we would need to pay for a short bus ride.  Our youth sponsor was traveling with us and another young man from one of the other churches so we were well chaperoned.   

Gracie and I arrived tired but excited as we checked in and were assigned a cabin and beds.  The girl instructed us to keep our money with us and to watch our purses.  “No need to tempt anyone,” she said. 

The mornings were filled with breakfast and singing then a chapel service, and afternoons were free to hike or swim in the freezing cold lake.  I sent a letter home on Monday saying there was horse back riding available for $4.00 and by Wednesday I had a letter back from Mom with the money enclosed.  Gracie and I both took advantage of the horseback ride and the next day we had some sore legs, but we didn’t mind. 

The music at the camp was outstanding with guest singers and musicians who motivated and inspired us to serve and love our Lord.   

Naturally Gracie fell in love with the male soloist and I thought she was being silly.  He was agreeable to give her his autograph, and our Youth Sponsor told us to back off as he was happily married.  After all, we were 12 years old going on 13. 

Each night after the evening meal there was a moving and inspiring service with special missionary speakers.  We were encouraged to become the best Christian that we could be. 

One ultimatum that hit home to me was the importance of daily reading our Bible.  

The speaker challenged us. “If you are serious and determined to be the best Christian that you can be, then tell God that you will read at least one chapter from the Bible every day for the rest of your life.”  

That night I made a vow to do so, and I must say reading God’s word has kept me from a lot of trouble.   

The only time I failed to read my Bible was if I was so sick I could not lift my head to read.  Those times, I repeated scriptures I had memorized.

If you have children, or can sponsor a child to attend a Christian Youth Camp, may I suggest that it is an excellent investment? 

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Tell Me a True Story Blog Party - Week of 07/18/16

Reading a True Story

 

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Butter the Real Thing

 

  Holding up a pint glass mason jar before the first grade class, our teacher poured it half full of whipping cream. 

She was giving us a learning experience that we would all participate in and then profit therewith. 

Her instructions were for us to take turns shaking the jar, and then pass it on to the child next to us. 

She had been teaching us about the farm, and all the animals found there.   

Naturally a cow was one of the important members of the farm and the cow produced milk which many of us drank at least a glass a day.  

Most of us were only familiar with the glass bottles of milk left on our porch by the milk man, and on this day we were going to learn about butter. 

Each student faithfully shook the jar and we watched carefully as small curds began to form at the bottom of the glass bottle. 

Finally our teacher informed us that we had made butter from the cream and now we were all going to enjoy a reward for our labor. 

She produced a tray where she had carefully set out, small crackers, one for each member of our class. 

Carefully our teacher took a small knife, and spreading a little dab on each cracker, she then passed them around to each of our class mates. 

I remember thinking how good real butter tasted, because up to then, at our house we were only served margarine, a butter substitute. 

Today my thoughts are about the real thing, be it faith, hope, love, or even religion. 

Although I realize Christians must walk by faith, there are many times when I want to see and feel and know the real Jesus. 

I do not want to settle for a substitute faith in the false be it an idol, king, ruler, or even another god of some sort.  (Some will substitute an organization with nice people for a Bible Believing Church - - - don't be fooled.)

How can we know truth and the real from the false?  Sometimes it is difficult to tell, but often it is by listening to the Holy Spirit and then by experience. 

We have participated in seeking, learning, and maybe shaking the jar a bit.  

Then there is the taste.  Oh that sweet taste, when we enjoy the real and we know - - that we know - - it is real.

Psalms 4:8  O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

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Tell Me a True Story Blog Party - Week of 07/11/16

Reading a True Story

 

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Anyone Find my Quarter? 

 

Deprived? No our children were not without!  Although they did not have everything they wanted either.

They had small allowances that gave them a few extras, but that seemed not to be enough.   

One day as they all sat around our kitchen table with their friends; four young girls laughing and remembering how they used to come up with extra money. 

My youngest was the most creative.  They all laughed as they told on her.  She would enter the local transit bus that she rode to school, and then pretend that she had dropped something.  Has anyone found my quarter?   

She kept repeating the question until some kind person would fish a quarter out of their pocket or purse and hand it to her. 

At Christmas they would go as a group up and down the street; ring a door bell and sing Christmas carols while holding a “tip basket.” 

Most of what they did, I am happy to say that I did not know about it at the time, but only learned about it later.  

My daughter is grown now, but she is still creative and has progressed to E-bay and is doing pretty well at buying and selling to make a profit.  She also uses coupons and rebates - - not because she is deprived, but because she is able to share with homeless centers, schools and other worthy projects. 

I believe our quarters can be stretched and multiplied as we find direction. 

Have you found any quarters lately?

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Tell Me a True Story Blog Party week of 07/04/16



Reading a True Story

 

You are invited to enter YOUR True Story at our Blog Party. 

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The Fourth of July usually meant a family reunion at my folk's cabin in the Stanislaus Forest!  

It was here that we would gather to celebrate our Freedom and Justice for all in the United States of America.   

My dad allowed us kids to invite our friends and, in later years, we also followed suit, allowing our children to bring their friends.   So with Mom and Dad, Aunts, Uncles and our five teens with three of their friends we were ready to celebrate the 4th of July. 

Old Aunt Emma came at the invitation of my mother’s sister.  She was a child at heart and enjoyed the festivities right along side all the young people.  The campfire, roasted hot dogs and marshmallows, singing and lighting sparklers for the holiday thrilled everyone!   

Aunt Emma loved the excitement!  As each sparkler was lit, she loudly exclaimed, “Whoopee Day!”   

Her enthusiasm spilled over to our teenagers who echoed her gleeful cry as each sparkler was lifted in the air.  Soon we all joined in with the phrase, “Whoopee Day!”  It became our “happy” word for the next year.  Aunt Emma’s youth was spent, but she enjoyed herself with child-like abandon!    

Tom, one of our youth group teens, seemed to get a kick out of Aunt Emma!  Perhaps she reminded him of his own grandmother.  Tom demonstrated his own free-spirit and his attentions soon centered on one of my daughter’s friends. 

 

The next day, we spied our daughter's friend up a tree with Tom climbing up after her, throwing leaves and pine cones.  She yelled at him, “You are crazy,” and he returned the compliment with like words.  His playfulness soon compelled her. 

Youthful exuberance!   Whoopee Day!  That was the way they met!  Their friendship continued with church as their base for building their relationship. That friendship led to marriage, and decades later they are proud grandparents, enjoying their retirement. 

Now some might say that this was an extraordinary way to meet someone and find a mate!  Perhaps it was! 

If you are single and desire to find a loving, faithful and trustworthy companion with marriage in mind, do consider attending a good church that has other single persons who love God, and want to follow Jesus.  If you are widowed or divorced, join a church singles group.  Small groups are where you meet people.   

If you don’t put limits on God, He can meet this need and help you enjoy life right where you are.  Trust Him, in whatever situation you find yourself.

Whether it is your habit to praise God with words such as Hallelujah, Praise the Lord, or Thank you Jesus, it might be in order to once in a while shout “Whoopee Day” for This is the day that the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalms 118:24 

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Be sure to encourage your fellow bloggers near you

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