Bridging the Gap

This morning I picked up my daily devotional book

Wisdom for Each Day by Billy Graham

and looked at my phone for the date.

It may become obvious to you that this means I

have not been reading it daily as intended.

When I saw that it is July 22nd, my mind 

 flashed ahead to July 27th, our wedding anniversary.

My action followed my mind, and I found the

 message for that day is one I want to share with you.

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"Suppose you are riding down a road and you come to a deep gorge. The bridge has been washed away, and jumping across the gorge is not an option. Seemingly, you have no hope of reaching your destination.

But then you notice another bridge some distance away. 

You watch people cross it to the other side.

It certainly seems sturdy.

What would you have to do to get across?

First, believe that the bridge will hold you. 

Then, put your whole weight on it and walk across.

This illustrates what it means to commit your life to

Jesus Christ. By His death and resurrection

Jesus bridged the gap between us and God--a gap

caused by sin. But simply believing intellectually

that He has done this is not enough. Like that bridge

across the gorge, we must trust Him and 

commit our lives to Him. And when we do, we

will discover that He can be trusted to save us,

because He truly is the bridge between us and God.

Have you committed your life in faith and trust

to Jesus Christ as your 'bridge' and your Savior?"

----------------------


My mind flashed again--to an experience I had in
Roatan, Honduras, at the Gumbalimba Nature Preserve.
In order to achieve my goal there--to see and
be photographed with monkeys and macaws, I
needed to cross this rather scary suspension bridge.

Actually there was a sign to the left of the bridge
pointing to the "Chicken's Walk," the cowardly way
to get across on a path!
Not wanting to be a complete coward, I opted to cross.
I certainly believed it would not "let me down."
I crossed, slowly and carefully.
Our tour guide took this picture.

 I could have looked at this bridge and said, 
"I have complete faith that this bridge would get me across,"
but opted to take the "Chicken Walk."
Only if I stepped on it with my whole weight would I
demonstrate my real and true belief.


For as long as I can remember I have given the
following definition for "belief."
"What does it mean to truly believe?
It means:
To lean one's whole weight upon."
I wonder now if, sometime in my past, I got
this definition from my hero, Billy Graham.

You, Too, Can Have A Disposal As Clean As Mine!

Brace yourselves. I have BIG NEWS.

I have discovered "How To" videos on You Tube,

and you may now call me

"Mimi, mistress of homemaking."

My garbage disposer--Disposal--has of late not

had the most pleasant of aromas.

In other words, it smelled!

I used several packages of these:

Plink citrus scented deodorizers...

with disappointing results.

I have found the easiest way to cure that problem.

*I think*

Here we go...

#1 Remove the rubber safety diffuser

#2 Close up the opening with a stopper

#3 Run about 1/4 sink of cool water.

#4 Empty all the ice in your icemaker into the sink.

I actually pulled my tray out and dumped the 

whole contents into the sink and water.

The more ice the better.

#5 Quickly turn on the disposal for a few seconds,

then reach in and remove the stopper, leaving

the disposal running.

It will whoosh up that water and ice and you will see

(I saw!) very dirty water bubbling out for quite

a period before it runs all clear!

You have to be pretty quick, because when the

ice hits the water it tends to stick together.

I broke it up with my hands cause I wasn't quick enough.

The reason I said *I think* the problem is solved is

that I just performed this cleaning so I don't

know how long it will last. 

But it is so easy that I can do it again, maybe

a little more often than once every 50 something years!

Oh--and be sure the rubber diffuser thing is nice 

and clean before you put it back in.

I used a brush on it.

You're welcome, you're welcome!

Anytime!

And thanks to someone on You Tube for the idea.

I'm Getting Bitter About This!

In 2019 I contemplated running away from home

for the summer of 2020 to escape the Texas mosquitoes.
So here we are in 2020, and HaHaHa.
"Where could I run to?"
Or, more correctly, "To where might I run?"


To read the horrors of 2019...

CLICK HERE 
and
CLICK HERE


I enlisted ABC Pest Control's mosquito service to
begin very early this year.
I think they have been here April, May, and June.
Bank loan to pay them pending!


My wonderful roofer came out and did extensive
repair work on a flat portion of my roof in back
where I suspected they might have been getting in.
I think this helped tremendously, but...


As of today, I am again in a pretty pitiful state.
I have been bitten on both arms as I peacefully slept.

"It's too dangerous now.
Let's wait til she's asleep!"

I have been taking Benadryl to try to stop the itching.
I have slathered Benadryl cream on the bites.
I have bathed them repeatedly with alcohol.
I placed the ice pack I had for my knee on my arms!
I have even coated the whole area with clear fingernail
polish, which helped only on one single bite on my hand. 
And yet, I itch crazily during day and night.
You should see me. You would say, "Pitiful!"
I will say I think this is only the second time this
summer that I have eaten up.
"Only???"


I've always said when I get to heaven I will be too joyful
and overwhelmed to ask any questions.
But if I did, I think I would ask God, "Why did you allow 
mosquitoes, and why make some of us more desirable
than others to them?"
I have a friend who has never been bitten by
a mosquito in her life.
"Go to her house, you blasted mosquitoes!"

Billy, Did You Know?

This morning I read from Billy Graham's daily

devotional book called 

Wisdom For Each Day.

The book was published in 2008.

I thought to myself, "Oh dear Billy, you had

no idea how badly we would need this on

July 4th, 2020!"

Here it is: PRAYING FOR YOUR NATION

"A great crisis in American history came at the

Constitutional Convention called in Philadelphia

to ratify a constitution for the new country that

was being born. The delegates got angry with one

another, and because they couldn't resolve their

conflicts, they couldn't agree on a thing and picked  

up their hats and coats and started to leave."

{Sound familiar? L.S.}

"Suddenly Benjamin Franklin spoke up.

'Wait a minute, gentlemen,' he is reported to have said.

'This country was conceived in faith in God.

Many of us here believe in prayer.

Let us get upon our knees and pray to 

Almighty God and see whether God shall give

to us the answer to our dilemma.'"

{Again...deja vu? L.S.}

"Upon their knees those men went, and out of

that prayer meeting came the immortal 

Constitution of the United States of America.

What dilemma in your nation--or in your life--

is compelling you to get down on your knees

and seek God's answer?"

-----------------------

Don't you wonder how much more healing would

take place if we placed our energies in prayer

rather than arguing?

Because God says:

"If my people...pray and seek my face...

I will hear from heaven."

2 Chronicles 7:14