Circumstances of Happiness July 11, 2011

Circumstances of Happiness

 

 

Light is sown for the
righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. Psalm 97:11 KJV

 

“How can anyone be happy these days? Just look at the
headlines.”

 

Simone is a mother of three small children and works two
jobs just to make ends meet. Her day starts early and ends late. Even though
she is exhausted physically by the end of the day, sleep just does not come
easily. As she lays her head to rest her mind won’t stop. Wars and rumors of
wars, gang violence, drugs, alcohol, sexual crimes against children, she
ponders these things in her mind and worries about the future. She prays for
strength to endure everything that the world is throwing at her.

 

The bills are due and the money is tight. Her husband works
all he can but when the month is ending the money has run out. Worry is all she
feels that she can do, worry. She worries about money, her children, the wars,
the weather and all the issues of today’s world. She longs for a simpler time
when life was slower. She is convinced that life is harder now than it has ever
been before.

 

As she gets up again in the middle of the night to check on
the children, she looks in the mirror and cries, “all I want is to be happy I
am so tired of bad news, why can’t I just be happy?”

 

Annie is a nurse; she cares daily for the poor and needy
children in her community. Healthcare is a mess and most of her patients have
no way to pay for their care. Wars rage and the death toll continues to climb
with no peace in sight.

 

She takes time out of her busy schedule to read the
headlines everyday. Her father and brother are in the military she must keep up
with what is going on where they are. The President has unveiled a new program,
Israel is having elections,
and there are continued problems in theMiddle East.

 

There has been an earthquake in Ecuador
that killed 8000 people, severe flooding in Guatemala. People are hurting and
desperate. As Annie looks in the mirror she asks herself the same question that
Simone asked. How can anyone be happy living in this day and time?

 

Simone and Annie have so much in common except that Simone
lives in the year 2011 and Annie in 1949.

 

Life has never been easy. Stress, worry and fear have always
plagued mankind. The headlines in Annie’s time of 1949 were almost identical to
the headlines of today in 2011. They were even talking about global warming and
the burning of fossil fuels in 1949. Worry didn’t help then and it doesn’t help
now. Happiness was the same then as it is now, elusive.

Most of the things that people worry about never happen.
Worry stems from the fear of the unknown. What we as Christians need to do is
to turn to God’s Word for the assurance that in the end, we win. In the end
there will be no more sorrow and no more pain. We know that through the challenges
of life we grow in our faith. God’s promises bring us comfort and joy in times
of trouble.

 

Paul tells us to “count it all joy” Think about Paul and
what he endured, yet he had joy. Happiness can be found and it can be embraced
even in the midst of trials and tribulations. It is like catching on to a star
and hanging on despite the fact that the star is falling.

 

In 1949 Annie wrote her Recipe for Happiness. It is as fresh
today as it was over 50 years ago and we can apply it to our lives.

 

                    Annie Early Wheeler’s Recipe for
Happiness March 1949

                   “That Pearl of great price can never be found in
the pursuit thereof. It is like                                  a white
winged Angel just ahead of us on the road, we hasten our steps to catch when it
disappears around a curve, we increase our haste, only to see it disappearing
around the next curve, but when we forget the pursuit and turn about we find it
following us. Or it is like a beautiful white flower, to obtain which we drag
our weary feet and sagging spirits across the world vainly searching for it,
but when we forget it and turn about with all diligence, giving all our powers
to some worthwhile constructive work, lo we see it blooming on both sides of
our pathway. It requires a diesel engined freight train filled with
forbearance, self forgetfulness, tolerance of the faults of others, only
intolerance of our own, tons of the sublimity of self control, and the power to
see the good and the beautiful in all people, nature and consideration of
others, gentleness and tenderness. A generous sprinkling of merriment and
humor, carefully avoiding through carelessness or thoughtlessness even the
slightest pinch of self centeredness, selfishness, envy, hatred or malice,
which would sour the whole. Oceans of love, above all and through all and
shining like the rising sun on a spring morning. Loving service to mankind. Sir
vigorously and set in the warmest chamber of your heart, never allowing it to
cool off. Follow these rules faithfully, so that your spirit may be always
attuned to hearing the rustling of a wing and seeing a star.”

Annie Wheeler—March
1949

 

Dear Lord. Thank You for the joy of Your salvation. Help me
to spread it. Help me to be a reflection of You. In Jesus Name, Amen

 

 

There is no secret to being happy. It is not a great
mystery. We just have to be able to set ourselves apart from the cares and
worries of the world. We must have the ability to forgive and forget, putting
God first, our family and friends second and ourselves last. As we keep our
focus on God and others, happiness like that elusive butterfly will come and
sit softly on our shoulder.

 

 

 

Grace and the Angels Sing July 9, 2011

reposted:

Grace and the Angels Sing

 

I can’t really remember much about Uncle Joe but my Mother
remembers him well. I have heard the story many times. I feel as though I was
there too. From her childhood she recalls Uncle Joe’s farm with fond memories.

 

The story begins with Mother and her cousins cuddling up in
homemade quilts in front of the fire on a cold night. Intently they would
listen as Uncle Joe told them his “special” story. It was always the same story
and never varied in the details. As he began to speak in a kind gentle voice it
was obvious that the experience he was about to share had changed his life.
Peace and serenity would come over him like a flood while he shared the story
with them. Joe gently remembered out loud his experience with angels, singing
angels.

 

Psalms 91 promises us that God will “send His angels to keep charge over us to keep us in all our ways, lest
we cast our foot against a stone”. Scripture does not tell us exactly how
the angels will do that, but we know they do. Uncle Joe had proof, he was
living proof. The proof and the story continue through me. Stories like this
always should.

 

Times were hard in the early 1900s. Purchasing a new horse
and buggy was like buying a new Cadillac. Joe’s father was a farmer who worked hard
to make a living and to keep the family farm going. In the spring of 1918 the
family purchased a new horse and buggy. It was Joe’s privilege to go to town,
pick it up and bring it home. The spring of 1918 brought no exception to hard
work so 23 year old Joe was excited to pick up the new rig in town.

 

The rainy season was fast approaching and some of the
farmers were low on supplies. A neighbor had planned a supply trip into town so
Uncle Joe hitched a ride into town with him. The plan was for Joe to ride to
town with the neighbor and pick up the new rig and bring it back.

 

Usually it was a 12 mile trip into Cullman, Alabama
from Jones Chapel where the farm was. On this day the trip would be longer. The
main bridge over the rapid Crooked Creek had been washed out in a recent storm.
Clarkston Bridge was notorious for being washed
out in the spring which made the main road too dangerous to travel. The bridge
was at the bottom of a steep curvy hill and it would be almost impossible to
stop on such a grade. The long way around made it a half days trip to town but
it was the only option with the bridge out over Crooked Creek.

 

Joe and the neighbor cheerfully left Jones Chapel early that
morning and the sun was shining when they departed on their way. They arrived
in town about one o’clock in the afternoon with the sun still shining. He
picked up the new rig and then stopped into the general store for some needed
supplies. This all took a little longer than he had expected. He hitched his
horse to the post and loaded all the supplies onto the new buggy. In the store
the other farmers were discussing the impending weather. All indications were
that there was a strong storm brewing in the west. Knowing that most bad
weather comes from the west he contemplated staying the night but thought he
could make it home before night fall.

 

As he traveled along the road toward home he began to notice
that the sky was quickly turning dark. He could smell rain coming as most
farmers can. As he topped the hill he could clearly see a serious dark and
ominous cloud approaching. The wind began to blow and the horse was frightened.
Joe was frightened.

 

Joe wasn’t used to the roads on the long way around. He had
only traveled that way with his father on one other occasion.

 

The storm grew stronger as it closed in on him. The winds
began to howl and blow the trees in a circular motion. The rain was so hard he
could not see. He realized that he was lost in the storm. The horse was new so
he knew he had no help coming from the horse. Joe was afraid he would drive off
into the now swelled and raging river. He feared that bridges were washed out
on every road. He prayed and asked God to show him the way.

 

Joe buckled down and trotted the horse a little faster
hoping that he was on the right road. The rain was coming in sheets. The
thunder and lightning cracked as the wind howled more ferocious around them. He
continued to pray. The new horse was resistant and Joe struggled to keep him
moving.

 

He looked for shelter where he could wait out the storm.
There were no houses anywhere. No shelter from the storm. The roads were
becoming muddy and dangerous. He knew he was probably getting close to the
river, known for its rocky edges and rapids after a rain. The further he went
fear consumed him. He could not see a foot in front of him. Stopping in mud and
lighting was not an option. Never before had he felt so afraid in a storm. This
storm was bad, real bad. Just as it started to hail he faintly thought he heard
singing. It sounded like a church congregation singing. Suddenly he heard it
clearer and louder. Almost as loud as the wind and hail flailing around him

 

The horse had been walking slowly without such a strain. As
Joe began to hear the singing it seemed as though the horse was following the sound
of singing. He continued to trudge through the storm. The singing got louder
and clearer. All of a sudden on the far hill he saw a glowing light. Bright the
light beamed into the storm unlike anything he had ever seen before. The light
seemed to appear suddenly in the dark. Pulling on the reigns he directed the
horse toward the light.

 

Joe saw that the light and the singing were coming from a
church. The entire hillside was illuminated from what appeared to be lanterns
in a church window. Still he saw nothing that he recognized. Remember this was
1918—no electricity. No flood lights only gas lanterns.

 

As he approached the singing was the sweetest he had ever
heard. Uncle Joe recognized the song, it was Amazing Grace. The echoes of sound
surrounded him as he heard gentle singing “Amazing
Grace how sweet the sound”. Oh how sweet the sound was to Uncle Joe. Peace
washed over him and replaced the fear even though the storm continued to rage
around him.

 

Exhausted, cold, soaked and somewhat confused he was drawn
to the church by the brilliant lights and singing of a congregation. The closer
he got the faster he reined the horse. The animal had almost given all it had
but as though led by a spirit it sprinted as Joe called out commands to
giddy-up.

 

The light was directly ahead, bright lights shining in the
dark stormy night. As he got closer he could see clearer. He could now clearly
see the church with a lantern burning inside the window and a pot bellied stove
red from the warming fire inside. He recognized the church to be one close to
his home, Pilgrim’s Rest
Baptist Church.
He had been there many times but he had never seen it quite like it was that
stormy night. Never had he realized how awesomely beautiful the church was.
Pilgrim’s Rest took on all new meaning for Joe.

 

As he approached he saw many horses and buggies hitched to
the rail. He got close to the other buggies as the rain continued to pelt. A
loud clap of thunder rolled in the sky as he hitched his buggy beside the
others. Joe felt peace as he realized that he had found his way and had found
shelter in the storm. He recognized his surroundings. He recognized the church.
Uncle Joe had found his way.

 

He felt safe that he recognized the church to be Pilgrim’s
Rest on the banks on Crooked Creek at Clarkston Bridge.
If he had gone any further he would have driven off into the rapids of Crooked
Creek and would have surely died. Peace, calm and a sense of safety came over
him as he knew God had heard and answered his prayers.

 

As he shook off the rain from his hat he started to get down
from his buggy to go inside and get warm. When his foot hit the first step
down, in that instant, he was totally alone. Everything went dark and the
singing stopped. He turned to look at the buggies and they were all gone.
Everything had disappeared and all was quite except the storm. As mysteriously
as the lights and singing appeared, they disappeared. There was no one there.
No singing. No people. No light. No buggies there beside his. No lantern in the
window. No pot bellied stove blazing red with fire. Nothing but silence and
dark and the sound of the storm. He was totally alone.

 

Uncle Joe knew that instant he had been graced by the
presence and protection of angels sent by God to protect him. It was angels
singing. God had sent them to show Uncle Joe the way home. There never was one
doubt about that for Uncle Joe.

 

Many years later Uncle Joe worked with the crew that rebuilt
the Clarkston Bridge over Crooked Creek. As Uncle Joe
grew older he never forgot the angels singing. The story never changed but the
experience changed his life. He always said, “Angels singing is just not
something that a person could forget”. He told the story many times and each
time he would sing the verses to Amazing Grace, singing sweetly and softly with
almost a mystery to his voice. His face would light up as he seemed to take
himself back to that stormy day in 1918. Through each verse his voice would get
louder and more determined as he sang the last verse. “When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun”.

 

Amazing Grace how
sweet the sound, especially when angels sing.

This is a true story.

© 2008

 

 

Angels on Earth July 9, 2011

reposted:

ANGELS ON EARTH

Scripture: For He shall give His
angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways Psalms 91:11

 

My position as a Director of
Nursing in a long term care facility sometimes required long hours. On this
particular day in January of 2001, I was running later than usual on my commute
to work. The day before, I had worked 16 hours and I almost took the day off
because I was so late getting home the night before. But I really needed to
attend an important meeting at 10 am.

 

I had sold my 1997 Mustang in order
to get a bigger car with a smoother ride. I borrowed a car from my Daddy until
I could get another one. So, I was driving what I lovingly referred to as, “the
land barge”, a 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis, built like a tank.

As I was driving to work, a day
just like any other day, I stopped at a red light at a busy intersection. I
remember thinking that I should pull up to the driver beside me and tell him
that his hubcap was about to fall off. The next thing I remember is hearing a
loud noise and looking to the left. I saw a huge truck on its side sliding
toward me at a phenomenal rate of speed. Sparks flying I knew that it was going
to hit me and it did. I only had time to say, “Lord, that is going to hit me!”.
I grabbed the steering wheel as tight as I could. It happened so fast.

 

I never lost consciousness. I do
not remember feeling the actual impact. Jesus and His mighty angels got to me
before the truck did. I do not recall being knocked 275 feet into a gas station
parking lot. I don’t remember being airborne. I do remember something else
though. I remember an incredible feeling of awesome peace and love like I have
never experienced before. I had a glimpse of heaven. The hedge of protection
came between me and that huge truck. My car was crumpled into a heap of metal
and I was trapped inside. But inside the car were angels. I saw them and I felt
them. They were there immediately, and I remember saying to them to go ahead
and take me if it was time. I had no fear of going with them. I wanted to go
with them. Nothing else mattered. I did not hear any audible voices but I knew
somehow that I was not going to die, not yet. Somehow they told me that. Jesus
was there. He did not speak but I felt His arms around me. Even after the
paramedics got me into the ambulance, the angels were still with me, I knew
they were there and that was all that mattered. Their presence was
overwhelming.

 

At the hospital I could hear all
the nurses and doctors talking and scrambling while they worked with me. I knew
that I was critical and that I was loosing blood. I could feel myself slipping
away. I knew that the angels were there just in case. By the time I was
evaluated in the emergency room the pain was almost unbearable. Again, I saw
the light of the angels, small tiny brilliant lights circling around above me.
Even through the pain I smiled and felt comforted by their presence. I talked
to them, this time asking for them to take me because the pain was so intense.
The things of this earth were “strangely dim”. The next thing I remember is
seeing my husband and my parents. Then I started to cry. Doctors were rushing
me to surgery. A surgical nurse leaned down and called my name, “Angela, in a
minute you will be asleep and you are going to be fine.” Then she started
praying for me so quietly and sweetly in my ear as the anesthesia took effect.

 

I woke up in the ICU and recovery
began. The first thing I told my mother was about the angels. I continue to
improve everyday and I have come a long way in healing since that day. My life
will never be the same. I strive to never forget the feeling I had that day. I
almost left this world, and in the process I was given a great gift from God.
He offered to me the blessed assurance of His presence and His awesome power
and love. I never want to forget this small glimpse of heaven. I felt the
incredible love of God present with me in “the land barge”.

 

 

Lord Jesus. Thank You for Your
awesome love and protection. Thank You Jesus for the angels that watch over us.
Bring to our remembrance Your Words as You tell us “Fear not, for I am with
you.”. In Your Holy name I pray. Amen

 

Angela Posey-Arnold

Written in 2001 Published 2002