"Here kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty!" We called; we looked; we looked; we called.  No Hattie. 
A few years ago on a Wednesday, our beautiful "miracle kitty" http://carol-thecommunique.blogspot.com/search/label/cats went missing.  Growing up on a farm, I had experienced the comings and goings of our many felines, but when on Friday morning Hattie was still missing, our hopes to find this little critter who had worked her way into our hearts began to wane. 

Grimly inspecting road kill as I returned home from the grocery store, I found myself praying, "Lord, if Hattie is alive and to be found, would you show me?" 

Thinking about the last time I saw her, I recalled that it was late afternoon on Wednesday. She was walking toward the pasture and the shed that housed the neighbor's lawn/snow equipment. Could it be? Could she be trapped in the shed? That sense of "knowing" that I've had on occasion welled up within me, and I could barely wait to get home.  Even before I unloaded the groceries, I sprinted to that shed and opened the door. 
Pitiful, frightened, and hungry, there was our forlorn cat. 

Yes, yes, I know. It was just a cat. Yes, yes, I know. The shed was a practical place to look. Yes, yes, I know. I know these things, yet I know God loves all his creatures, and this time the tender hearts of some girls rejoiced as our family cat was found. 

Sometimes we know exactly for what we are looking, like a lost kitty. My focus was centered and distinct as I searched.  But sadly there are times on our life journeys when our vision isn't so clear. There are times when our focus on what truly matters is askew. There are times we choose to walk a dead-end path searching for life in soul-sapping places. 

Brother Mick's sermon text this week is John 1:29-42, the passage where John acknowledges who Jesus is, and John's disciples go with Jesus. Mick has entitled his message, "What are you looking for?"  "What is (it) that we are seeking...an easy way through life...some kind of great reward for doing 'what we are supposed to do'...a great reward in the end...the desire to live as God's people in the kingdom way? The way we answer that question says much about our own motivations, desires and intent as we follow after the Messiah."  Please join us at 10:15 AM for our worship time, and at 9 AM for our Christian Ed hour. 

Keep Lizzie Stoltzfus in your prayers as she is in Haiti with Smith and Rhonda to begin work on a new school building.  

Stephen and the other Lizzie got married this past Saturday in a beautiful wedding. :) There are two Lizzies in the family now! 

Remember to bring items for the Bridge of Hope January ingathering--canned vegetables, cleaning supplies, dish soap, laundry detergent, paper towels, sponges, toilet paper, trash bags, and umbrellas. You don't have to bring everything; one or two items would be terrific! 

On Wednesday nights at 6:15 PM we share a meal together before our 7 PM classes.  Everyone is welcome! 

Prayer for today: Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost...Is. 55:1 
Living Water, we desire to be refreshed, revived, and restored by you that we can in turn can share healing and hope with a thirsty  world. Fill us with your Spirit fruit, that no matter our life circumstances, You will be evident. Help us to focus on what really matters in our lives.  Come Kingdom of God. Be done will of God, here on earth as it is in heaven. In JESUS name. Amen. 

Without question or doubt, you are loved by God, and I love you too!

Love and Light,
Carol

http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/

"Always remember who you are, whose you are, where you are going, and what you believe, because it does make a difference! Oh, and don't forget to attend a church of your choice this weekend." jd

Another Divine Coincidence?

     As I walked up our long lane earlier this week, memories of our kitty Hattie filled me. I don't know why I thought about her, but allow me to tell you about her.
     In 2006 I was still driving the beautiful lilac minivan that I call Hilda (Yes, present tense. We still have her. She is now in skilled care.) when nearing the road I almost ran over a teeny, tiny, runt of a kitten. I tried unsuccessfully to herd this creature with my giant vehicle, so I got out to move it over to the side, looking around for its mama who had most likely deserted this sickly creature. No sign of Mama. Yuck! This scrawny, itty bitty kitty's eyes were pasty, blind, and gooey. Those of you who've had farm cats know what I'm talking about. There was so much gunk, I couldn't tell  if those orbits were open yet.  I held her in one hand as she hissed weakly. As an animal lover, I could not bear to just leave this kitten to its death; however, I remain the practical "farm girl" and wasn't about to rush it to the vet and spend lots of money we didn't have.

Now enter Divine Coincidence. I had just  cleaned out the garage the day before which if I'm being honest, may have been the first time since living here that the garage was cleaned! Sorting through pet supplies I had come across an unopened tube of vet ophthalmic antibiotic ointment. Yep! It's true! I couldn't even recall why I had it.  Soooooo....
     I decided to revive my nursing skills and attempt to bring this little creature to health, gently cleansing its eyes with a boric acid eye wash and applying the eye ointment 3-4 times/day.  Emergency kitten formula was made of evaporated milk, egg yolk, light corn syrup, and water. I warned my soft-hearted daughters that this kitten may not survive, but I was going to make an attempt to save it knowing their kind-hearted dad would eventually warm to the idea.  After a sluggish start, Hat Trick aka Hattie Wenger filled out into a beautiful cat. Yes, she did see the vet once we knew she would survive.  Her life was short; she died without explanation two years ago, but during her short life, she brought much joy, snuggles, and laughter to us.

How very much more is God's compassion for us as God sees us with our goopy, blind eyes bringing us healing, hope, and purpose?  Thank you, Jesus!

This week Brother Bill Blank will be sharing a bit on Bitterness. How's that for an an alliteration? :) His exegesis will be from Ephesians 4:29-5:2. "Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up....Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love..."
Wouldn't the world be a better place if we believers would take this word to heart?

I'll be with you in the Upper Room at 9am, and the service begins at 10:15am.

Next week begins the season of Lent. Those of us in Lancaster county will eat fasnachts on Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday or Pancake Day or Mardi Gras, take your pick.  Now is the time to give some thought as to whether you will give something up for Lent like sugar or social media on Sundays or potato chips. Perhaps you'd like to take something on like daily meditation or daily random acts of kindness or volunteering.  On Ash Wednesday, Feb. 13, the church will be open from 8am-8pm with a bulletin guiding you through various stations in the sanctuary. I've found this to be a very meaningful way to begin our focus on Christ's journey to the cross, and what this means for each of us.

http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/

Prayer for today: Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong: for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants, they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good. Psalm 37
Loving God, we rejoice in your presence and acknowledge your Spirit's guidance in our lives. Help us to recognize that we are created by your hands in unique and marvelous ways. Lord, grant clarity and wisdom to those of us seeking answers today. Lord, grant strength and courage for those of us struggling today. Lord, grant healing and hope for those of us broken today.  Come Kingdom of God. Be done will of God, on earth as it is in heaven.  In Jesus Name. AMEN.

Without question or doubt, you are loved by God, and I love you too!
Call/Text/FB/Email!

Love and Light,
Carol

 

"Always remember who you are, whose you are, where you are going, and what you believe, because it does make a difference! Oh, and don't forget to attend a church of your choice this weekend." jd

Tromping through the timber was a favorite activity of my sisters and I. We especially loved it when Grandma Moser would don Grandpa's bib overalls and head out to the blackberry patch. (Oh, I wish I had a photo!) One hot summer Illinois day when Grandma was costumed and had her bucket in hand, a whole procession of us decided to join her. Diana, Karen, Mary Jo, myself, Lassie, and of course the felines, Rascal, Tiger Lily, Fluffy, Angel, and PJ led the parade on the cow path through the woods. Many days the creek was dry, but this time there was a nice gurgling stream of water. My sister Karen was concerned the kitties couldn't cross the stream, so she put one of them (I don't remember which one) on her shoulder and took a giant leap over the brook.  I'm sure someone understanding Newton's laws could offer a scientific explanation for what happened, but what I know is that Karen's body crossed the creek, but since the cat didn't leap with her, the claws came out and desperately tried to hold on to a moving girl and slid all the way down her back. OOOOUCH! (Happy Birthday, Karen! Thanks for the idea, Korinne!)

OK, how does this tie into the message.... ummmmmmm... doesn't really although Mick will be talking about idols, and the Egyptians had many graven images of cats. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastet

This week Brother Mick is back in the pulpit with a message he has titled, "Accustomed to Idols" with sermon text from I Corinthians 8:1-13. http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=194453063 In his preparatory notes our brother states, "We are surrounded by idols in our society, and we have, for the most part, become immune, habituated, uncaring, and just plain accustomed to it all."  You are invited to join us for what is sure to be an insightful look at ourselves and an opportunity to transform.

Stephen and his friend Lizzie will be leaving on a mission trip with Lizzie's church next week.  If you've ever been with Steve on a work project, you know that much will be accomplished! Blessings!

The Upper Room will be open as usual on Sunday morning.
It was great to see Eric Y. on Wednesday night!

My prayer for you today:  Creator God, whether our hearts are glad or sad today, you alone are our fortress and hope.  We lay our hopes and fears, our joys and sadnesses, our anger and resentments, our agonies and expectations at your feet. You don't stomp on them with disdain or annoyance. No. As a gentle parent you take what we give, and you offer forgiveness of our sinfulness, healing and wholeness in our brokeness, and laugh with us in our joy. By your Spirit and your ultimate love on the cross, we become your children, ambassadors of your kingdom way. Come Kingdom of God. Be done will of God, on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus name. Amen.

Without question or doubt, you are loved by God, and I love you too!
Love and Light,
Carol

Always remember who you are, whose you are, where you are going, and what you believe because it does make a difference! Oh, and don't forget to attend a church of your choice this weekend!" JD