Finding Grace: Maurice

 Sometimes we find God's grace in the most unusual circumstances. Enter Maurice. When we were in the beginning stages of care giving for my parents we used to go to their favorite diner after church on Sundays. Around 2011 we were sitting in their favorite booth. In walked a tall, suited gentleman who was/is the spitting image of Morgan Freeman the actor. He walked up to the table and shook our hands. My parents were acquainted with him and my husband and I were almost sure he was a preacher. We found out he lived in the same neighborhood as we did. My husband later saved his life once ( another story for another time).

Fast forward to May 2022. Life has been complicated and sometimes arduous, most especially with the advent of  the issues in our current world. God has been giving me that scripture " I will never leave thee nor forsake thee (Hebrews 13:5) It is a running theme and I could not seem to escape it. Well, I didn't want to escape from such a quote worthy verse, I wanted to fully ingest it, eat it up, believe it until it was truly part of me. My faith was waning a bit (a LOT) and I was weary. I needed a haircut, which is my therapy. Is it yours? Out of the blue my hairdresser called (she's never done that before) and said didn't I think I ought to get a haircut before I started chopping on it myself. I told her "Too late" but I would love to come in.

The hairdresser is on the other side of town. A huge drive with many perilous pitfalls. Remember, I am a small town girl living in a city that has outgrown the name: Small Town. My husband drove me to the appointment, and we decided afterward to visit our old neighborhood. 

We drove past Maurice's house which is at the entrance of the neighborhood. Yep, there was his old Lincoln, a car past its time, but forever in his heart with its associations to his deceased wife. We drove around the whole neighborhood and made the full circle. On our way out we neared Maurice's house. We noticed the garage door was open. As we approached, there sat Maurice looking just like he did all those years ago. My husband stopped the truck and got out to greet him. Maurice, ever the gentleman, came up to our truck. I opened the door and he took my hand. The first words out of his mouth were "Isn't God good! He will never leave thee nor forsake thee". Then he said he had just turned 89 on April 29, and while he had a few health issues he was doing well, and America was still the greatest place on the earth to live! We made our small talk and ended with promises to visit him soon.

We barely got back on the road when my eyes started leaking salty tears. In one day God reminded me that He is indeed good and will never leave me or forsake me.

God has been urging me to write again. So here I am. I just wanted to tell you that it doesn't matter if you live in a mansion or reside in your car, God will never leave you or forsake you. It's in His Book, and He never lies. 

So this is the finding grace part of my little Finding Grace, Going Mobile blog. I hope to write again soon now that I am semi-retired. 

Remember, God is Good, All the Time.

Take care,

Theresa

Surround Yourself With Beauty

I have a theory! Well, anyone who knows me will tell you I always have a theory about something or other. Anyway, the theory is this: If the world was surrounded by beauty (earthly and spiritual) we would act better, be calmer, even, treat each other with more kindness. Kind of like music having charms to soothe the savage beast.

A painting by Kathryn Winter, my mother-in-law.

What if every child walked into a clean, kept yard, then proceeded into a tidy house filled with objects of beauty. Now being a Christian I can't leave out the Holy Spirit, for He is a spirit of beauty and peace. If we fill our homes with God's spirit, and have objects of beauty that's got to have some effect right?

Waiting for my alyssum to grow in around my rocks
 

If I was in a beauty contest (yeah,right!) and they asked me the age old question, "If God granted you one wish what would it be?". I would answer, "A beautiful home for every child, filled with love and laughter, and the spirit of God.

My dianthus are starting to grow around the rocks

You notice I didn't say what size, or mention expensive at all because that is just not important.

I hope you all have sanctuaries. Here's the definition of a sanctuary:

sanc.tu.ar.y

noun

1. a place of refuge or safety.

sentence: "people automatically sought a sanctuary in time of trouble"

 

My geese from England on an Irish Chain quilt I made
 

I hope you all had glorious Easter celebrations. Isn't it wonderful to know our Saviour is risen, and is with us, not in some old musty tomb!

 

What if we all prepare our homes like Jesus is preparing a place for us? A thing of beauty I think!

 

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I  am, there ye may be also. John 14:3

 

Have a wonderful week, and say a little prayer for our country, I think she needs it about now.

 

Blessings, Theresa

 

 

 

 

Life Is For Living

We are settling in. Truly, settling in. Mobley is now at the forefront of all our busy industry. We have accomplished much in a short time. However, it was just a short time ago that I heard God whisper.

I never called it a whisper until I started reading "My Heart's Song". If you never met Geneva or read her blog I encourage you to go there. Do not stop, do not pass go, she is worthy of your attention. The address is http://www.my-hearts-song.com/ (click it, lol). When she embarked upon her journey of mobile home makeover/renovation, God had to whisper to her.

My whisper (a big one) came after mom passed away in March. "Life is for living", God said. I pondered this and realized I had put off life. I wanted all the planets aligned before I would act. I dreamed big, and filed those dreams in the big filing system in my head.  I was paralyzed with the "what ifs", and the "I can't's, let's include the "I won'ts", too. Succeeding is truly more terrifying  than doing nothing at all, or doing things but burying them in the ground.

I am taking baby steps, but I am determined not to be a "man" pleaser anymore. If you don't like my blog, you are welcome to leave. If you don't like mobile homes, you are welcome to leave. If my style is not your style, I pretty sure some other blogger has your style down to a tee. It's all about living!

But, if you are prepared to put up with my ramblings, dip your toe in my paint palette, and have some fun, let's go! God, Himself, whispered to me, "LIFE IS FOR LIVING".

 I welcome your comments, and any help or guidance you are prepared to offer.

I have decided to have a little friend help me. Her name is Bitsy. She will pop up in photos and may even host the blog occasionally. She's definitely more fun than I and has retained her childlike spirit. She is likely to belt out a song at any given moment. "The B-I-B-L-E, Oh, that's the book for me", is definitely her favorite song.

Here are some pictures of Bitsy. As usual, she's up to some antics. I think I will start next with some pictures of the kitchen, as that is the heart of the home.

Bitsy is always a little shy at first.

But after she get's to know you,

 

She will talk and talk and talk, that's our Bitsy.

A big beautiful bunch of bountiful blessings to you, Theresa