My Life as Mama Jodi

What would be your cardboard testimony?

Be blessed!

The Wooden Bowl

I guarantee you will remember the tale of the Wooden Bowl
tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now, a year from now.

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year - old grandson.
The old man’s hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered.
The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather’s shaky hands and
failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor.
When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess
‘We must do something about father,’ said the son.
‘I’ve had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.’

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner.
There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner.
Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl

When the family glanced in Grandfather’s direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone.
Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor.
He asked the child sweetly, ‘What are you making?’ Just as sweetly, the boy responded,
‘Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up.
‘ The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless.
Then tears started to stream down their cheeks.
Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the husband took Grandfather’s hand and gently led him back to the family table.
For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason,
neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled

On a positive note, I’ve learned that, no matter what happens,
how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things:
a rainy day, the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I’ve learned that, regardless of your relationship with your parents,
you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life

I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as making a ‘life.’

I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands.
You need to be able to throw something back

I’ve learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you
But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others,
your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you

I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.

I’ve learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone.

People love that human touch — holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn.

I’ve l earned that you should pass this on to everyone you care about I just did.

I have some issues with my mom, therefore I don’t talk with her at all. I have been going to some counseling sessions with my Pastor’s wife for the last few months trying to deal with all of this.

She just called me to say I had been on her mind since yesterday (I didn’t get to see her as I had nursery duty at church), and wanted to call to see how I was doing and say that she would be my “honorary mom” from now on.

Switching to this church last November has been the best thing for me and my family. This phone call just made my day complete!

How did you spend your Mother’s Day? I had nursery duty at church today, which was actually pretty fun this time. The kids were so much fun. We let them color some construction paper and attached a poem to it with a packet of flower seeds and had them give this to their moms. They were so touched. I am not to bummed that I missed the service as our Pastor’s wife did the message, and it was what she preached on at our Ladies Retreat this weekend. We then went out for lunch at Rio Grand. I had a yummy steak and some tilapia, I had some left over so we got our doggie bag. The waitress came back and said there was a mishap and my plate got knocked off the counter, so they were going to make up another steak (I had about half of mine left), I told her that wasn’t necessary, so she said I could have a free dessert to go. The manager then came over and said that our bill would be adjusted, she took of $10! WoW!! My meal was only $15, so I got a great meal for $5 and free dessert to boot!!

The weekend retreat was amazing! It was a great bonding time for all the women! I feel so much closer to all the women now. On the way back to our cabin one of the gals and I saw a someone in our cabin and we both said at the same time, “Oh someone beat us back to the room”. We got there to find the door locked, so when we opened it up, Sherry said “Hey, who beat us back?” No one answered us, we kinda looked at each other with that look of concern. We said hello again and still no answer. I checked the back door, but that was locked, so they didn’t go out that way. She had a pocket knife in her purse, and I grabbed the iron, and we searched the cabin, to find no one, thankfully. So we deemed them our guardian angels. Everyone teased us as they thought we were a little crazy, but her and I both know what we saw.

We had a time of rest and renewal in the Lord, my time of “washing my hands” (symbolic of being washed in the blood of the Lamb) was an amazing experience, Pastor Judy prayed over me, and just confirmed all I had heard from God prior to me going up there for prayer. The scripture I pulled out of my “treasure box” confirmed everything yet again: “My heart has been sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and my body washed with pure water” Hebrews 10:22.

All through out the night I kept hearing “Be Still”, as this has been my theme scripture for the last few months. Just “be still and know He is God”. I was thinking about this, and started humming the song “Still” by Hillsong, and the next think I knew this song started playing, right before I went up for prayer. It was a God thing for sure.

When the sun is shining brightly,
And our life is running smoothly.
We find it easy to smile and be pleased,
To praise and give thanks to God.
But when dark clouds begin to gather,
And our life looks grim and bleak.
We begin to grumble and complain,
And blame God when things go wrong.
It is when the clouds are the darkest,
That we should draw closer to God.
For he is the silver lining in every cloud,
The light in the center of our world.

~© Doreen Robinson~

I received this in an email from my secret sister.

‘A woman’s heart should be so hidden in Christ
that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.’
When I say… ‘I am a Christian’ I’m not shouting ‘I’m clean livin”
I’m whispering ‘I was lost, Now I’m found and forgiven.’
When I say… ‘I am a Christian’ I don’t speak of this with pride.
I’m confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.
When I say… ‘I am a Christian’ I’m not trying to be strong.
I’m professing that I’m weak and need His strength to carry on.
When I say.. ‘I am a Christian’ I’m not bragging of success.
I’m admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.
When I say… ‘ I am a Christian’ I’m not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.
When I say… ‘I am a Christian’ I still feel the sting of pain..
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.
When I say… ‘I am a Christian’ I’m not holier than thou,
I’m just a simple sinner Who received God’s good grace, somehow!’

This song was posted on Online Christian Parents and I had to share with you all.

“DOES HE STILL FEEL THE NAILS?”

1st verse
They tell me Jesus died
For my transgressions
That he paid that price a long, long time ago
When he gave his life for me
On a hill called Calvary
But there’s something else I want to know

Chorus
Does he still feel the nails
Every time I fail
Can he hear the crowd cry “Crucify” again
Am I causing him pain
Then I know I’ve got to change
I just can’t bear the thought of hurting him.

2nd verse
It seems that I’m so good at breaking promises
And I treat his precious grace so carelessly
But each time he forgives
What if he re-lives
The agony He felt on that tree

Chorus 1x

Holy, holy
Holy is the Lord
Holy Holy
Holy is the Lord

Do you still feel the nails
Every time I fail
Have I crucified you Jesus with my sins
Oh I’m tired of playing games
I really want to change
I never want to hurt you again

Holy, Holy
Holy is the Lord
Holy, Holy Holy is the Lord

It was so beautiful out today!!! I started out my day by reading my devotion, this one was James 1: 2-3 “Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” Then off to church, we had our pre worship, then our Pastors wife opens up with a verse…. and it was James 1: 2-3. Then the whole sermon was on how we shouldn’t run from our problems/troubles. I swear He’s trying to get my attention today. We had an awesome worship time as well. We sang this song, that really touched me “Holy God” by Brian Doerksen

[(chorus)
Holy, holy, holy God
Holy, holy, holy God]

Creating, commanding
Transcendent Adonai
Defending love, destroying sin
The warrior divine

(chorus)
Forgiving, redeeming
From every tribe and tongue
Arising first, the nail-scarred Lamb
Salvation’s champion

(chorus)
Romancing, pursuing
Reclaiming to restore
Releasing hearts, transforming lives
The lion’s mighty roar

Here’s a video of it:

After church we went out to lunch at “The Corner Bar” in Rockford, for chili dogs (I had a club). This is where Trent wanted to go for his birthday dinner (tomorrow is his 13th bday). Dropped the boys off at home, and then John and I went to some open houses. I’ve got that bug again. I have finally lit the fire under John… the house will be on the market very soon!! I hope it doesn’t take forever to sell, as I found 2 that I really, really like!!

Matthew 18:20 ~ For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Does this count?

It doesn’t matter how many people you send this to, just remember, if it made you smile, your friends will smile too.

May God richly bless

I got this prayer off of Online Christian Parents and wanted to share it on here. I am going to scrap this along with the picture of the two of us below a few posts and hang it on our wall.

Lord Jesus,

Grant that I and my spouse may have a true
and understanding love for each other.
Grant that we may both
be filled with faith and trust.
Give us the grace to live
with each other in peace and harmony.
May we always bear with one another’s weaknesses
and grow from each other’s strengths.
Help us to forgive one another’s failings
and grant us patience, kindness, cheerfulness
and the spirit of placing the well-being
of one another ahead of self.

May the love that brought us together
grow and mature with each passing year.
Bring us both ever closer to You
through our love for each other.
Let our love grow to perfection.

Amen.