Wet

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He knew he shouldn’t wet the bed at his age. He tried everything to quit. He wouldn’t drink anything after supper. He always went to the bathroom – real hard – before he went to bed. But, those dreams, tricked him. They seemed so real. He would wake up, get up and walk to the bathroom – just like he was supposed to. But, most every morning – when he found the wet sheets – he’d realize he had only been dreaming. And the helplessness he’d feel usually caused the lip to quiver and the dam to break. And, that’s how Ricky started most of his days.


But, that all changed, in an instant. Family friends stopped by for a visit. They stayed for supper, and by the time they were ready to leave, a good old fashioned Minnesota blizzard had set in. The roads were simply too dangerous – company was going to stay.

When five year old Matthew said, “We’re spending the night! Oh goody, I can sleep with Ricky in his bed,” Ricky felt sick. His lip started to quiver.

Ricky went straight to his room and plopped on his single bed and hugged his pillow. He could smell the fresh clean sheets. Clean because he had just washed them that morning and the morning before that and the morning before....

Kingdom Bloggers graciously allows me to continue posting each Sunday. Click here and I’ll take you to their front porch and finish telling you how Ricky’s night changed his life.

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Man your battle stations!

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Whoa! Talk about a piece of writing hard to print. The post over at Kingdom Bloggers this week about Spiritual Warfare was just that. It didn't want to load, then it loaded wrong, then I got late and missed church. It was a battle. You know what that's like...

We’ve all felt the adrenalin rush of life sounding the alarm – The phone call in the middle of the night; The doctors report, blunt but piecing; The notice in the mail…at work. Smooth sailing about to turn to stormy seas. The siren warning the tornado is about to hit. Blood runs cold. Face turns red.

We all have this one thing in common – in this world we have tribulation. I have battle scars – I’m pretty sure you do, too. Some we talk about – others we’d just as soon forget.


The truth is – there are more battles ahead. But that doesn’t mean we should live in fear or dread. Whatever the battle – loneliness from the loss of a loved one; the hollow hurt from a wayward child; the haunts of regret; the ache of a relationship gone wrong; the gnawing of hunger; the clawing of creditors… it may be hard – but we can win.


And in my humble opinion, here is how we can do it...

Click here and meet me over at Kingdom Bloggers and I'll share with you a battle strategy to win: http://bit.ly/wJmDIX

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The Voice. Angels pray. demons prey.

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CONTINUED FROM 1.30.12. The Voice. Eternity wears no watch.


Do you remember the post titled: The Voice – I love you? It’s about eight year-old, Ricky, and the moment of his salvation. He heard The Voice call to him and he responded with a quivering lip, and little boy knees hit wet tile floor. Little hands rose toward the man in the clouds. And a little voice whispered, “I love you, too.”


Well, in the Foyer where that story took place there was another story taking place – a story of Angels and demons. Today we continue with that story. So, take hold of the invisible zipper. Unzip the skin of this seen realm, pull back the flap and step through into the unseen realm. You’ll find the scene awaits…



Angel stared at demon. Eternity wears no watch. An eternity passed, as they faced each other. However, only one second clicked, off earth’s clock.


“Sing to me songbird. Remember? We use to sing HIS praise? ” David challenged the demon.


“stop” whimpered the smoldering dribgnos. mad that his name was reversed from songbird to dribgnos – a cursed reminder of his former being… and voice. once upon a time he sang like, well, like his namesake – a songbird. Now his voice sounded like a gravel-pitched, hoarse whisper.”


“How would you like us to change your name? How would you like…um, let’s see, how about – hoarse whisperer?”


dribgnos lifted his eyes and dared to look into David’s. he would like his name changed. maybe not to that, but anything would be better than the constant reminder, of the reversal in his destiny. every time his name was spoke, he had a flash back. one moment he was singing, the next he was stinging. he use to sing to The LORD, and what joy filled every fiber of his being. songbird’s place was right beside lucifer. but – little by little  – lucifer inched away.

songbird liked the way his voice and lucifer's would blend to sing praises to their KING. he liked the sound so much when lucifer started inching away, songbird decided to inch with him. he liked hearing his voice and actually thought for a moment that he might sound a little better than lucifer. he thought he detected a bit of gravel in the otherwise silk voice of heaven's leader of praise.

and then, lucifer announced he was moving to a higher location of heaven. songbird chose to follow. maybe he would become the new worship leader. even when The KING reached out and asked him to stay, he didn’t. three times he was asked to turn around, he wouldn’t. but his name did. everything turned inside out the moment he chose to turn his back on The One True GOD, Creator of the universe.


but now he wouldn’t go back even if he could, he was too bitter, too cold, too angry, too heartless… too dead. just like he hoped his preying would leave Ricky – once he got through weaving his web.

Angels pray, demons prey. Angels sing praise. demons seek preys... Prayers defeat prey-ers – every time.

~

** TO BE CONTINUED.

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The Voice. Eternity wears no watch.

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CONTINUED FROM 1.27.12: the voice. no.no.no.



Do you remember a recent post titled: The Voice – I love you? It was about eight year- old, Ricky, and the moment of his salvation. He heard The Voice call to him and he responded with a quivering lip, and… “little boy knees hit a wet tile floor. Little hands rose toward the man in the clouds. And a little voice whispered, ‘I love you, too.’ ”


Well, in the Foyer where that story took place there was another story taking place – a story of Angels and demons. Today we continue with that story. So, take hold of the invisible zipper. Unzip the skin of this seen-realm, pull back the flap and step through into the unseen-realm. You’ll find the scene awaits…

~

“I knew you’d ask” “Gabriel said, “And why not? It’s a simple message, from HIM.”


When Gabriel mentioned HIM, he looked toward heaven. dribgnos looked toward hell and cowered like a whipped pup.


“but wwwhy… you?” dribgnos stammered.


“I was told to go to this child and tell him simply what HE tells everyone; ‘I love you.’ It’s nothing new. But yes, this child is special. His voice will echo throughout the earth. He will carry The Voice of The One Who Sits on The Throne.”


dribgnos began pacing again, and whispering under his breath … “The Voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of The LORD; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.’ The book of Isaiah… or something like that, i think.” dribgnos clenched and unclenched his fists and teeth.


“Before the great and dr… dreadf… dreadful day of The Lord… hearts of fathers to the children… the crooked places shall be made straight, the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”


dribgnos tried to quote every text from The Book his low lord lucifer told him to pay attention to, but, they were all mixed up. he continued to mumble to himself…“The Voice said, “Cry out!” And he said, “What shall I cry?”


dribgnos stopped. his eyes bulged red. he repeated; “What shall I cry. A wicked smile creased his ugly face. “What shall I cry…WHAT shall I CRY.” he shot a crooked finger toward the child, “HA…that’s it. He won’t have a voice, i’ll steal the word. He’ll stammer and stutter and drive himself crazy. ‘WHAT shall I cry, WHAT shall I cry? WHAT shall I cry,’ dribgnos danced. “He may feel the need, and hear the call, but he won’t heed; because, i’ll confuse his mind… and no words will come. HA!”


A putrid stench filled the unseen realm as laughter drooled from the bared fangs of the demon.


“So… you’ll try and make him turn out just- like-you?” David spit the words at the demon.


dribgnos ignored the Angel. his pacing turned to prancing; “oh… but he’ll cry. he’ll cry a lot. i’ve already taken care of that… ‘cry baby’s quiver – here comes the river.’ ” dribgnos strutted proud of his plan derived by perverting The Word – just like lucifer taught him.


Gabriel and David turned toward dribgnos wanting to spit on the wretched parasite, and squish him like the bug he was. David started toward the rodent. Gabriel didn’t stop him. He towered over the back pedaling demon and waited for the go ahead, to behead, this putrid being, and send him forever to the pit – but no such word was given.


Slow and calm Gabriel spoke. “Try as you may, dribgnos, The Word shut up in his bones will come. His voice will be heard. The Voice has spoken.” Gabriel was gone.


Angel stared at demon. Eternity wears no watch. An eternity passed, as they faced each other. However, only one second clicked, off earth’s clock.

~

TO BE CONTINUED

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Mrs. Claus

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I climb a lot of ladders for my job. Kids must think it’s cool, because whenever they’re around, and I’m up on a roof-top, they point and stare. I usually ask their names, and then say “Nice to meet you, what’s my name?”


They giggle and say, “I don’t know.”

“My name’s Santa,” I tell them.

They giggle a little more, and before they can say anything, I say, “No, just kidding…BUT I do work for him.”

“Huh?” Wide eyes get wider.

“Yeah, I check out the best places for the reindeer to land and stuff so Santa doesn’t get hurt.”

“Wow!”

...And Mrs. Claus is my mother-in-law, or at least I think she is. Or, maybe, she just works for him – Santa Claus; Papá Noel....

Hi, thanks for stopping by!  

The past few Sundays I've been honored to write for Kingdom Bloggers. You can see the rest of the story by clicking here. 


Oh... almost forgot. I hope to see you right here tomorrow morning.  We'll continue the story about Ricky and the Angels and demons in: "The Voice - Eternity wears no watch."
~

the voice. no.no.no.

~

Do you remember a recent post titled: The Voice – I love you? It was about a little boy named Ricky and the moment of his salvation. He heard The Voice call to him and he responded with a quivering lip and a… “little boy’s knees hit a wet tile floor. Little hands rose toward the man in the clouds. And a little voice whispered, ‘I love you, too.’ ”


Well, in the Foyer where that story took place there was another story taking place. Today I’d like to take you there. You’ll have to reach out your hands before you and take hold of the invisible zipper. Unzip the skin of this seen realm and step through the flap into the unseen realm. You’ll find another scene awaits…

~

the voice screamed… “NO! NO! NO!”

In the Throne Room he stood, pointing an accusatory finger. the voice echoed from heaven, through the solar system, down through the atmosphere. All the way from The Throne Room to the Foyer – where a little boy kneeled, on tear splattered tile.

The Archangel Gabriel heard. He was sent to witness the awakening. He stood just to the left of the kneeling child, Ricky.

Another Angel from the Host of Heaven – Ricky’s Guardian Angel, David, stood by Ricky’s right side, and covered the ears of the boy.

Pacing back and forth behind the trio was dribgnos; the demon assigned to Ricky. dribgnos covered his own ears. The echo pounded in his head like a migraine, NO! NO! NO! he stopped six feet from the weeping child, pointed a trembling, crooked finger, and released the words that pounded. dribgnos tried to imitate the sound echoing like-a-lion’s-roar in his head, but it sounded more like a scared cat. “no. no. no.”

The child heard nothing, but Gabriel’s voice singing, “I love you.”

dribgnos screamed, “it’s not time, he’s too young, he’s mine, he’s mine. no. no. no. lucifer will have my head.” Squeezing his skull with talons he dropped to one knee. “not again.”

Gabriel looked and remembered the pathetic creature’s former self, before the rebellion, before the fall, before he was cast from heaven and before his wretched decision to turn – turned him inside out.

“Praying? songbird.” asked Gabriel.

“don’t call me that, you, you, you…” dribgnos grabbed his head acting as if some sudden pain pulled him away from the conversation. he was in pain, yes – but that was nothing new. he grabbed his head to hide two things: the fact that he couldn’t think of anything to say…and the quiver in his chin.

“Cat got your tongue, songbird?” David laughed. His voice flowed like a song.

“it’s not over, i’ll get him” dribgnos whimpered, and then looked at Gabriel, “why?”

“I knew you’d ask” “Gabriel said, “And why not? It’s a simple message, from HIM.”

When Gabriel mentioned HIM, he looked toward heaven. dribgnos looked toward hell and cowered like a whipped pup.

***TO BE CONTINUED

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Happy Birthday Urijah

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Yesterday my grandson, Urijah Nathaniel Brooks celebrated his first birthday. Following is  a repost from one year ago.


She worked a crossword puzzle to keep her mind off the discomfort. But soon it couldn’t be ignored. She’d put her hand on her stomach and whispered, “there’s another one.”

We started timing.

 “Maybe we better go.”

 “I’m not going in until I’m sure.”

 Twice they went to the hospital. Twice they were sent home. This time Kayla wanted to be sure her contractions were the real deal.

 So she waited…so we timed. Seven minutes apart, then five, then four, then more severe, then…

 “Oh, I think we better go.”

 10:30 p.m. Daddy drove – fast and furious. They unloaded at the now familiar hospital entry. I slid behind the wheel to park.

 This time there was no wondering. She wanted to push.

 The familiar elevator ride; beep – we ascended through second floor. Beep – we rose through third. Beep-beep to the top of the hospital; the place life began for many…and ended for some.

 Room # 5406 became Kayla’s temporary home. Monitors attached and questions asked – lots of questions. Have you eaten anything? How far apart are the contractions? On a scale of 1-10 what is your pain level? Any tobacco use…medications? She’d answer when she could and gasped and grasped white knuckles to bedrail when she couldn’t.

 With each wince from my daughter eyes would burn and jaw would clench; not hers – mine. I wasn’t having the baby but I felt it. Not in my belly but in my heart. I hoped they didn’t notice these contractions were tearing me up.

 And then it got worse. “We’ll try to give you something for the pain but…I’m going to try the other arm.” Needles and nurses attempted to find a vein – in vain.

 Contractions continued about two minutes apart topping the chart. When I heard: “I’ll check again to see how far you’re dilated.” I decided that was my cue to exit. “I think I’ll get some coffee and then…I’d probably be of more use in the Chapel.”

 Coffee in hand I rode the elevator to the bottom; the Chapel floor. The nurses needed help finding a vein so I went over their head to get it.

 From below – I looked up. Dear God…nothing eloquent or memorable would come; just a heartfelt cry for a needle to find a vein; a girl to dilate and deliver. The big white Bible lay open in the front of the chapel.

 

“Thus says the Lord who made you and formed you from the womb, who will help you: Fear not…” Isaiah 44:2

Her room was quiet when I returned; the atmosphere different. The only sound the beeping machine. Kayla lay still. A large arc appeared on the paper water fall documenting a big contraction; but not a wince from Kayla.

 She had dilated from a three to a seven. The IV found a home. And pain meds were delivered...

God heard.

 My faith grew.



The door should have been a revolving one. Nurse Lisa instructed Kayla to let her know if she felt the urge to push.

We waited and watched.

“He’s facing the side. He needs to turn.” They rotated Kayla from side to side and then on her knees.

 Once more from Chapel below on my knees, prayers ascended to turn and to deliver.
From the belly of the hospital these words were read:

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given.” Isaiah 9:6

And five floors above Life pushed life from belly to world.
 I'm pleased to announce to you. On 1/24/11 at 2:57 a.m. 8lb 2.9 oz; 20 ½”; Urijah Nathaniel Brooks was born.

 And if I ever lost faith in prayer; tonight it was reborn.


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