Mama's Little Notebook
Mamas Little Notebook
United States
Food For The Soul
GUPPY By Chris Patterson
Most children, at some point, beg their parents for a pet. “I PROMISE to take care of him,” goes the familiar refrain. “I PROMISE I’ll take him for a walk and pick up his poo and give him food and water.” If you’re a mom, you’ve heard it. You’ve probably even BOUGHT it; but we all know what happens after the newness wears off and the responsibility weighs heavily on those little shoulders. WE bought it, I admit, and we succumbed to our daughter’s pleas.
We thought we were so smart by starting small. A goldfish, we reasoned, would be easy. It wouldn’t live forever, wouldn’t have to be taken for a walk, and could be left on its own for a weekend. It wouldn’t track mud into the house, deposit fleas (or worse) on the carpets, nor leave fur on our clothing. Plus, fish food is inexpensive, and a nice bowl could be found at Goodwill for a couple of bucks. Simple to care for and peaceful to watch, a goldfish would be the PERFECT beginner’s pet for our little animal lover. She’d learn responsibility, and we were all for THAT.
So off to the pet store we went. Out of 100 beautiful goldfish of all shapes and sizes, and after many passes of the little green net, the one singled out by Bethany’s discerning eye was a giant among goldfish, a “fancy goldfish” whose name (shame on me) has escaped me. I vaguely remember it being something like Fannie or Finnie, because of its large, graceful white fins. Regardless, it was a lovely specimen, and Bethany was thrilled.
While Fannie (or Finnie) only cost a dollar or so, by the time we’d purchased a bowl (Goodwill wasn’t “good enough” for her fish, Bethany insisted), food (regular, color-enhancing, special treat, and floating weekend cubes), a little ceramic castle through which Fannie (or Finnie) could swim, colorful gravel, chlorine-removing tablets, and some plastic seaweed-like fronds, our total investment for the two-inches of fancy fish came to about $35.00. We hoped the responsibility learned and the pleasure given would more than offset the cost!
And it WAS a good experience. Bethany was a very responsible pet owner and she faithfully cleaned the bowl when necessary and never forgot feedings. The fish grew to epic proportions—a five-inch vision of orange-gold loveliness, with giant feathery fins that moved so gracefully, the fish appeared to be dancing a slow ballet around its circular stage. It appeared to be happy and healthy. But then the unthinkable happened.
One Friday Fannie (or Finnie) was found floating, fins facing Heavenward, all fanning ceased. As Bethany mourned the loss of her beloved fish, she said, through her tears, “There’s a heart beating in my head!”
Once the death was accepted, my daughter’s practical nature came into play as we talked about burial options and fishy funerals. She decided she didn’t WANT her fish to be put in the ground, because she couldn’t bear the thought of never seeing it again.
Looking back, I probably should have guided her through the process with a little more wisdom. As it was, I suggested just FREEZING Fannie (or Finnie) in a clear Zip-loc bag; that way, whenever Bethany wanted to look at it and remember what a wonderful fish it was, she could just take the frozen bag out of the freezer and then put it back.
The trouble with THAT was that we filled the baggie with water before putting the fish in it. My thinking was that it would look more life-like that way—like it was still in its element. As the water froze, however, it didn’t freeze clear. Air bubbles made the water opaque so that the fish was barely visible. So, since that had the effect of causing great distress and panic on the part of my daughter, I had the bright idea of defrosting the entire baggie in the microwave.
Unfortunately, instead of hitting the defrost button, I hit “High”—and the sight that greeted us when we opened the door was not exactly comforting. Poor Fannie (or Finnie) been cooked to a delicate, flaky consistency suitable for fish tacos. Never has a mother felt so inadequate. It is truly a miracle that Bethany came through the experience without being scarred for life. In fact, I think it took longer for me to forgive myself than it did for her to forgive me.
I never told her that as soon as I was by myself, I laughed until I cried. I still wonder to this day what that fish would’ve tasted like.
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You see, there were a few times when I thought I would lose my mind,
But GOD kept me sane. (Isa. 26:3)
There were times when I thought I could go no longer,
But the LORD kept me moving. (Gen 28:15)
At times, I've wanted to lash out at those whom I felt had done me wrong,
But the LORD kept my mouth shut.. (Psa. 13)
Sometimes, I think the money just isn't enough,
But GOD has helped me to keep the lights on, the water on, the car paid, the house paid, etc..,
(Matt. 6:25 -34)
When I thought I would fall, HE kept me up.
When I thought I was weak, HE kept me strong!
(I Pet. 5:7, Matt. 11:28-30)
I could go on and on and on, but I'm sure you hear me!
I'm blessed to be 'kept '
I'm "Kept" by the Love and Grace of God
submitted by Pat Reeser- Ketchikan, AK
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When I was a little child, my Mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my Mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my Dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my Dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite!
When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my Mom apologize to my Dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Baby, I love burned biscuits."
Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides - A little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!" You know, life is full of imperfect things...and imperfect people. What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults - and choosing to celebrate each other's differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.
And that's my prayer for you today that you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker! We could extend this to any relationship in fact - as understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!
"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket - keep it in your own. "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...It's about learning to dance in the rain.
The Wages Of Sin
By Karen Nason
Romans 7:20-23
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
When we are slaves of sin, we are still free in righteousness. Sin will always enslave us, but God’s truth and righteousness are always freedom.
Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death.
Even in sin we bear fruit, so what kind of fruit did you have in the things that now bring shame? No matter what the fruit was, the outcome is the same, death.
But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.
Paul says earlier in vs. 19 that he is speaking in human terms, which is why he says here that we are enslaved to God. So, now that we are free from sin, we bear a different kind of fruit which results in sanctification and eternal life.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We are paid for our sin with death. Sin brings no other currency. By God’s grace, He has given us a free gift. Amazing, wonderful eternal life in Christ Jesus! Thank you Lord for saving me, a sinner. Who am I that you are mindful of me? I am Your child, by Your grace, it is a gift from God, that no one should boast. Amen.
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"Sometimes what seems a failure from man's standpoint is a tremendous triumph from God's because God's purpose is never man's purpose." ~Oswald Chambers
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If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love. Don't be surly at home, then go out in the street and start grinning "Good morning" at total strangers:
Maya Angelou
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"God is more concerned about our character than our comfort. His goal is not to pamper us physically but to perfect us spiritually"
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When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Horatio G. Spafford
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"No guilt in life, no fear in death— This is the pow'r of Christ in me; From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand; Till He returns or calls me home— Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand".
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"Sin will take you further than you ever want to go, will cost you more than you ever expected to pay, and will keep you longer than you ever intended to stay"
Kay Arthur
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"Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our person, but they are helpless against our prayers"
J. Sidlow Baxter
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"If we are truly surrendered to God, we will never be aware of our own efforts to remain surrendered.
Our entire life will be consumed by the one to whom we surrender"
Oswald Chambers
Sites That Feed Your Soul
5 Minutes For Faith Food For Thought
I saw a vision of a Christian being squeezed by a vise and the Lord said, “When life squeezes us like a grape, Jesus should pour out of us because we are meant to abide in Him.” Much of the talk from believers contradicts our name. We are called “believers,” not complainers. Complaining fills the void of prayer. We do not complain about what we are praying about. For example, if I am praying for my spouse for an hour a day, when I step out of my prayer closet I am not going to begin to complain about my spouse. If you are complaining about something, you are not praying about it.
Complaining is the exact opposite of thanksgiving. God is calling us to release thanksgiving when we are squeezed. The Bible tells us to “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess 5:18). Notice that it says, “in” not “for” all circumstances. We are not to give thanks ‘for’ all circumstances because not everything is from God. If you are sick, don’t give thanks for your sickness, because it is not from God, but thanksgiving in (or in spite of) your sickness is what God instructs us to do. In Ephesians 5:20, God does instruct us to give thanks ‘for’ all things, but the greek word Huper is the root of the word ‘for’ in this passage, which means ‘above,’ ‘beyond’ or ‘over.’ We are meant to give thanks above, beyond and over our circumstances.
When Jesus needed to raise Lazarus from the dead (John11:41) or multiply the loaves (John 6:11), He didn’t give thanks for His situation, He gave thanks in His situation. You don’t have to be thankful for your situation, but you need to be thankful in it. This will release the anointing of God to overcome your situation.
The prophet Daniel was known for giving thanks to the Lord three times a day. Scripture verse? What we learn from his life is that when you operate in thanksgiving, the lions of the enemy don’t have the right to chomp on you. Or who can forget Jonah? When he complained about his assignment to prophesy over Nineveh and ran from God, he was swallowed by a giant fish. If you look closely at what Jonah did inside of the fish, it says in Jonah 2:9 that he sang a song of thanksgiving. In the very next verse, the fish spit Jonah out on the dry land. The principle is this, if complaining got you into the situation, thanksgiving is the key to get you out.
We need to be a people of prayer. When life squeezes us, a heart of thanksgiving will pour out. According to James 4:2, “we have not, because we ask not.” If we need the Lord to move in our life, it is time to return to a heart of prayer with thanksgiving.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:6-7).
Daily Bible Verse
Hebrews 13 v 5-8 5Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
"Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you." 6So we say with confidence,
"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?"
Mamas Little Notebook
United States
