" I Didn't hear Nuffing"

" Ouch ! "  .... I wish I'd of said that when  I heard all those ugly words coming over the phone.  It was unbelievable , she just kept on and on using my Lord's name in vain , all because she didn't understand correctly  a  certain letter (ABC) I had mentioned ..... the words burst forth from her mouth like   some people eat chocolates..... I was thinkin ,'please  quit , just quit .... well , she finally did .... I was too stunned to even say 'ouch' ,  and we went on with our business .  So many times people don't think about the word they (yes, me included) use .  Did you know the words , Gosh, Golly ,  Gee, etc. are forms of  the word,  God and Jesus ?  How many times do we hear those words used so casually  ? I shudder when I hear them . God doesn't like when we use His name in vain .

   Got that off my mind ... that phone call  made me stop and think .

    Some time ago my ' love'  and I went to Va.... it had been yrs since I hit them mountains and they were beautiful for sure . But I decided  it was a good place to  drive through and not live there . ummmm ..... on our way home , as I was driving  , we came through some construction work. They were cutting the side of the huge hill , and it was high then went way low . I think they were trying to move the dirt to make it a more level road , not sure , but one  place intrigued me so much  that I wished I  had  stopped to watch it a bit . The huge hill lane went almost straight, slanty, up . I wondered what in the world could go up that lane and not spin out or flip over ? ...guess I will never know . Some of those hills had to give up their heavy burdens of dirt and be  made into something entirely diff than what they had been ...Flat , thats what ... It took alot of groanings with the heavy equipment to  make a road passable for the traffic and so the road could be useful. The construction looked like it could of been a painful decision , do we do it this way or that way .... would this be good for the road or not ?  Will it hold up if we  put  this much dirt here and not here ?  The foundation is what was most important . I am sure it wasn't a decision made overnight . It was carefully studied out and planned .  

    God does that with our hearts . Sometimes we have such huge mountains in our lives , He has to chisel them down to where mankind can handle it . It's a very painful, long process for us . I don't think God sits up there and looks down and thinks , " Ok, that person has a huge mountain to be removed and tomorrow thats gonna happen . No, He's a God who is gentle and kind , not knife happy with His cuttin down . He  does things slowly and with the correct timing for our lives and keeps chiseling at our lives with the good and  even bad  in order to mold us where He wants us to be .  Sometimes we get so chiseled' we aren't sure can we climb that highest slope anymore or not. It looks too impossible , yet we start up very slowly and  before we know it we can look back and see the 'lane' that we made going up that  hill. It's a feeling of satisfaction  filled with God's love and peace . We get geared up for another climb that may not be a tuff as the last one and we can rest awhile until God wants us to climb somemore .

     I am stealing this peice of thunder from my  nephews sons and it  was good .

      These 2 little boys were talking   , when one said to the other, ' God told me to be a fireman when I grow up." ..the sec one says ," How do you know  He told you ?" ... the first one says , " I prayed and He told me." ....Okay , says the second one  , 'I'm gonna go pray too." ..... into the bedroom he went ...soon he was back out  and very disgustedly says , "  I didn't hear nuffing from God." 

     How many times do we say that indirectly to ' self " ?  I do . I'm ashamed to admit it , but I do . My attitude shows it , my 'thinker' gets  uneasy when I don't know  what God is up too. ( and I am glad I don't know that .) But  sometimes hearing 'nuffing' from God means , He is working behind the scenes and He's not ready for us to know what He is doing . Sometimes He chooses to be silent to see  if we are learning what He's trying to teach us .......and sometimes it's our fault we don't hear 'nuffing' from God cause we have moved spiritually  and  thats why we don't hear 'nuffing'.

      Today as you go through  the  rough spots in your life , and the huge hills seem impossible to climb  alone , grab ahold of someone who is also struggling and  help each other along . Push , pull,  do whatever you can to keep from going back down the  long  high 'slopey' lane , keep going up and up until you reach  the 'peace'  plateau , then wait till God speaks to you  , He doesn't always say ' nuffing' , He's a God of words .

    When God seems to say 'nuffing', watch out , He's up to something.

by Miriam Bontrager 1-6-2012

The Kitty

Hey , Hon , that nice kitty we have , the one with the bright  calico colors ? ah huh" , I answered Lb very slowly wondering what was coming next  .... It came .....

    First let me tell you that the love of my life has a real talent , if you want to call it that , to drive over  dogs or cats , and to plum kill them dead . One minute I see the dog running and the next minute he's as dead as can be .  Let me also hasten to say , it's usually the  good pets that we really enjoy that get killed . The others have a way of avoiding the truck or tires . 

    This kitten did what it should not have done ...not at all , but it's been teaching me perserverance ....It climbed up into the fan  of the pickup and tried to hide . LB looked for it and  he thot  it must of jumped down as he couldn't see it anywhere . SO he starts up the truck and ka-thunk and he knew what happened .  He quickly turned off the truck and saw what happened . The cat , the pretty cat had been injured quite badly . Lb's big working hands  gently picked up that hurting kitty and took it over to a cage  for its ICU unit . We didn't use Iv's or shots, we  fed and watered it and hoped she would make it . Its one leg was  way out of proportion and  we didn't know if  she's ever be ok . But this little thing had the gumption of a tiger ..... it didn't let its injury  stop life . Everyday I would see it doing more and more . I think the sec day  we let it out of the cage as by then it was gettin around quite well . We would see that it had made its trip  around the house and other places . It would follow us out to the barn area where all she wanted was to see what we were doing . But it was good for her leg . She would flop  around and then next we knew she'd stand up , brace herself and if she could of talked  I think she'd of been saying to herself " I can do this , I can do this ." Away she'd go . It seemed it had accepted its pace in life and decided to deal with it peacefully . 

     One day we noticed she didn't have a limp, she didn't flop , she walked very proudly around the yard ......  she was healed and was enjoying life again .  I  named her Perser, short for perserverance ....

    Why am I writing about a cat ? She taught me well. A lesson I should of known after living for all the yrs I have already . But seems the older we get the more we need to be taught and re-taught . Is that why God tellsus parents to teach our children precept upon  precepts . From early morning to night time , when we are sitting up or lying down ?    ...teach , teach and teach ...and drill the  precepts into their hearts ?

    This cat  taught me  to keep on when I feel like giving up. Even when it hurts , keep on through the pain , keep on going . Life can dole out quite some misfortunes at times , but through those , don't give up . I wish it was as easy to do as it is to write this . Today this cat walks tall , she's  beauitful ( as  a cat can be,)  and it seems she very grateful that she is  healed . Not everyone gets healed through the pain and circumstances , but we can walk tall with our head held high regardless of the outcome ....once again I wish this was easy to do . It's not easy to lose a loved one , dealing with an illness or a broken marriage , or whatever is in your life , its never easy to climb up the mountain again , but we have to do it in order to get on top. The valley is lush and green full of  good things also, but its  at the top of the mountain where you can see the best sunrises and sunsets . Jesus often went up into the mountain alone , to pray , to be alone , to  talk to His Heavenly Father .

   Today as you deal with life and its circumstances , think about my cat ,  it didn't give up and die , it fought for all it was worth to live and  it made it even tho it hurt through  the process . God is good and He  is always ahead of us in our every walk . He knows our needs before we even ask or think it .  I just read a verse this morn. I think in Is. that if we seek God , He will find us even before we speak ..... ahhh what more do we need ?

   Encourage someone today to keep on  regardless how bad the situation is . God has a plan  and somehow  He will show us that plan  if we allow Him too.

by Miriam Bontrager 8-25-2011

Instant Prayer

   Wham  ! The ball flew right toward the pitcher !

    Our 9 yr old ,shorter- than- others- his- age  grandson,Grant ,  was pitching ..... his daddy a coach , the boy at bat was a big guy for playing on the team . The coach knew the big guy  hit hard , fast and a straight liner . He had told his son to pitch  a certain way when this guy comes up to bat  . but this pitch snuck in and the ball was on its way to wherever balls go when hit .  This one flew  straight for Grant , but with fast thinking he moved his head to the side and the ball flew on by . Praise the Lord ! ...

     Instant prayer  ? Awww, how I love it .... After the game , Grant told me that just before the 'big guy' swung , " daddy said he  prayed , please Lord, don't let it hit  my son." ...the ball didn't , God chose to let it fly by 6" to the side of his head  .

   Instant prayers ....does God like instant prayers ? ... I think so.... The Bible says , ' praying always , pray without ceasing , pray one for another ..... If God would of wanted us to pray in our closets all the time , He would of told us that thats the only place  prayers get answered . But He didn't .We can pray anywhere we are  ..... I  believe God loves all the instant prayers that head His way every minute of the day.  But let me be quick to suggest that  He also loves those heartfelt prayers that only  come from a 'closet experience" , somewhere between God and you only , that no one understands but you and Him . It's that aloneness with God that is  special , where you can pour out your heart to Him and know He understands  when you feel like no one else does . You can talk to Him and  tell Him your inward feelings and thots  , be they good or bad , He understands . It's that precious peace that comes once you have told Him how you really feel..... you don't have to tell God ' Hello, how are you , I am fine" kind of conversation . God knows whats really wrong anyway .  He wants to hear your heartfelt desires and feelings . He wants you to be honest with Him and  tell Him how it really is in your life ...none of this 'I am fine,thank you" . He knows how 'fine' you really are anyway .

    Group praying .

      A few weeks ago I was privileged to be in a  group that gathered together for  7 evenings that we called 'dipping in the River'( Naaman dipped 7 times)  . We got together  7 nights filled with prayer, Bible Study and  praying for a dear lady who has cancer . In the studies we all came to the ulimate conclusion we all know , God is the Healer . How blessed it was to pray together  believing that  God's divine will , will  be done . We could leave it in God's Hands and be at peace with it .

 God and I alone .

     As I stated earlier The 'closet praying is something special between you and God . The closet praying  can be driving down the road, talking, praying  out loud to God . Sometime ago I was at Walmart when a young man came up to me and struck up a conversation . He ended up asking me to pray with him  right there in the aisles of the busy store of Walmart ...  I did alot of 'instanting' praying while talking with him . Then put to practice  what God answered instantly for me . I was certainly blessed by the instance . Walking away I was filled with awe how God kicks in His sufficient grace when in need of some 'extra' umph of His Word. That was a special 'closet ' moment between God and I .

    How often do you drive by someones house and breathe a prayer for the people inside ? How often do you see a vehicle speeding down the road and you say an instant prayer for them ? ....how often do you  pray for someone sitting across the room from you or someone  sitting beside you in church ? ..... We can put on such fine 'airs' making it appear we are ok, when in essence we are , hurt , depressed , discouraged , and need some instant prayer but of course we don't tell the person thats sitting beside us .... after all they might find out how I am really feeling , when all it would take for your pain to go away is an 'instant prayer' from someone . . .

    I know an older lady who has been praying for  mothers who have young children  at home . Day in and day out they hear the cries of their children , be it happy ones or sad ones . Mama's get tired too and sometimes the stresses of life can be overbearing no matter how much they enjoy their role in life .  They can use lots of  instant prayers . This lady has recieved many blessings  already by making this her ministry  and the young mothers gobble it up ...

    Instant prayers are a vital part of our walk with the Lord . It plays a large part in daily practicing walk  our with God .  

   Be instant in praying always ..... pray for someone you see or think of  today . It might make their day !( and yours as well.)

by Miriam Bontrager 7-28-2011    

Instant Prayer

   Wham  ! The ball flew right toward the pitcher !

    Our 9 yr old ,shorter- than- others- his- age  grandson,Grant ,  was pitching ..... his daddy a coach , the boy at bat was a big guy for playing on the team . The coach knew the big guy  hit hard , fast and a straight liner . He had told his son to pitch  a certain way when this guy comes up to bat  . but this pitch snuck in and the ball was on its way to wherever balls go when hit .  This one flew  straight for Grant , but with fast thinking he moved his head to the side and the ball flew on by . Praise the Lord ! ...

     Instant prayer  ? Awww, how I love it .... After the game , Grant told me that just before the 'big guy' swung , " daddy said he  prayed , please Lord, don't let it hit  my son." ...the ball didn't , God chose to let it fly by 6" to the side of his head  .

   Instant prayers ....does God like instant prayers ? ... I think so.... The Bible says , ' praying always , pray without ceasing , pray one for another ..... If God would of wanted us to pray in our closets all the time , He would of told us that thats the only place  prayers get answered . But He didn't .We can pray anywhere we are  ..... I  believe God loves all the instant prayers that head His way every minute of the day.  But let me be quick to suggest that  He also loves those heartfelt prayers that only  come from a 'closet experience" , somewhere between God and you only , that no one understands but you and Him . It's that aloneness with God that is  special , where you can pour out your heart to Him and know He understands  when you feel like no one else does . You can talk to Him and  tell Him your inward feelings and thots  , be they good or bad , He understands . It's that precious peace that comes once you have told Him how you really feel..... you don't have to tell God ' Hello, how are you , I am fine" kind of conversation . God knows whats really wrong anyway .  He wants to hear your heartfelt desires and feelings . He wants you to be honest with Him and  tell Him how it really is in your life ...none of this 'I am fine,thank you" . He knows how 'fine' you really are anyway .

    Group praying .

      A few weeks ago I was privileged to be in a  group that gathered together for  7 evenings that we called 'dipping in the River'( Naaman dipped 7 times)  . We got together  7 nights filled with prayer, Bible Study and  praying for a dear lady who has cancer . In the studies we all came to the ulimate conclusion we all know , God is the Healer . How blessed it was to pray together  believing that  God's divine will , will  be done . We could leave it in God's Hands and be at peace with it .

 God and I alone .

     As I stated earlier The 'closet praying is something special between you and God . The closet praying  can be driving down the road, talking, praying  out loud to God . Sometime ago I was at Walmart when a young man came up to me and struck up a conversation . He ended up asking me to pray with him  right there in the aisles of the busy store of Walmart ...  I did alot of 'instanting' praying while talking with him . Then put to practice  what God answered instantly for me . I was certainly blessed by the instance . Walking away I was filled with awe how God kicks in His sufficient grace when in need of some 'extra' umph of His Word. That was a special 'closet ' moment between God and I .

    How often do you drive by someones house and breathe a prayer for the people inside ? How often do you see a vehicle speeding down the road and you say an instant prayer for them ? ....how often do you  pray for someone sitting across the room from you or someone  sitting beside you in church ? ..... We can put on such fine 'airs' making it appear we are ok, when in essence we are , hurt , depressed , discouraged , and need some instant prayer but of course we don't tell the person thats sitting beside us .... after all they might find out how I am really feeling , when all it would take for your pain to go away is an 'instant prayer' from someone . . .

    I know an older lady who has been praying for  mothers who have young children  at home . Day in and day out they hear the cries of their children , be it happy ones or sad ones . Mama's get tired too and sometimes the stresses of life can be overbearing no matter how much they enjoy their role in life .  They can use lots of  instant prayers . This lady has recieved many blessings  already by making this her ministry  and the young mothers gobble it up ...

    Instant prayers are a vital part of our walk with the Lord . It plays a large part in daily practicing walk  our with God .  

   Be instant in praying always ..... pray for someone you see or think of  today . It might make their day !( and yours as well.)

by Miriam Bontrager 7-28-2011    

Come Unto Me

   ......  " Daddy , why doesn't mama tell you anymore that she loves you? "

  ......   " God, why  is my child brain  damaged ? "

   ...... "  Please  heal  my husband, Lord.."

  .......  " Why, Lord, why ? "

......    " Broken relationship with the Lord "

     Broken relationships , broken hearts , broken lives , people running from their past , running and running , ruining lives as they run..... Why , God ?

    God says , "  You may question Me , but  don't always expect an answer .  My ways aren't your ways , nor my thots your thots . All I ask is that you 'Come unto Me."  I will give you rest while going through the storms in your life . ...I can give you peace that you will never find anywhere else , but  through Me ...... Come  crying , come broken-hearted , just come ... I will give you rest ."

    Broken relationships , broken hearts  , can be mended .

    Finding peace can be ever so dificult .

      In church Sun.  our "sharer"  talked about peace .....where do we find it ? What is it ?  Is it sittin in the woods with God's nature ? Is it a quiet moment in the house ? ...Jesus was in the hinder part of the boat with the disciples , sleeping , when they woke Him up and asked " Don't you care that we are about to perish ?  Jesus was at peace through the storm  . He was the  "storm stiller"  Himself , yet He let the storm rage till the disciples called out to Him in desperation , " Help us , don't you care ?"  ...Jesus cared  ..... He always does  . He calmed their  storm for them , and did it right away  . They were amazed at His power He had .....   This is one of my favorite stories in the Bible ,  I believe Jesus gave us this story so we   know there is peace in our storms . We can sleep through them , or we can be afraid and  wallow in them  with fear like the disciples did .   Believe me , Jesus  made us very human and  He's the one who gave us feelings and there are times when we   are full of fear and  unrest , facing the unknown , and it's scary ..... there's nothing wrong in those feelings unless we wallow in them and let them take over our life . God made us to be human .

    But Jesus said , "Come unto Me , all ye who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest ." Matt. 11:28. He will still the storms in our life , He will heal us the way He sees best . Today I was talking with my antie and she asked , " Has Jesus ever given less than the best ?" ... Jesus always gives us the best . Sometimes we feel like  He could of done better , but whoa,.... He  is the one who  knows every little detail in our life and and He works  in our lives what He sees is the very best . ... I was God's idea  at the very beginning and why do I think I need to control what He thinks is best for me ?    God doesn't miss a move I make  . I think God smiles when He sees His people trusting Him and letting Him take control .

    Today let Him take control  of your every detail . ....  it's such a pleasant and cozy feeling to know without a doubt that God   wants us to come to Him for rest ....now thats what I call peace , real peace ...resting in His bosom with His arms around me , just holding me .....

     Today as you  think on Him , visualize yourself " coming unto Him ".... He will heal you ...It's His job ..and He does it very well beyond what we can ever think or even thought about  thinking .

 by Miriam Bontrager  5-19-2011