Susanne at Living to Tell the Story hosts a “Friday Fave Five” in which we share our five favorite things from the past week. Click on the button to read more of the details, and you can visit Susanne to see the list of others’ favorites or to join in.
1. A whole evening to read. That doesn’t happen very often. Usually I read in snatches of time here and there. But one evening there was nothing on TV and nothing happening in the blogs I read or on Facebook, and I just wasn’t in a frame of mind to do anything physical, so I spent a lovely evening with a book.
2. A really good apple and orange. One problem with eating fruit is that you never know quite how it is going to taste until you start it, even if you buy the same variety. Sometimes it more dry or tart, etc., ulike a package of Oreos, which tastes the same every time. 🙂 But a really, really good piece of fruit is…really good!
3. A good ladies’ meeting. Somehow it has almost become a tradition to have the November meeting at a ladies’ home who has a home theater (installed and left by the former owners) and watch a film. Plus this hostess usually prepares a full meal rather than snacks, and she usually includes some kind of potato soup — one of my all-time favorite soups. We watched the film “Open My Eyes, Dear Lord” about the lives and ministry of Joe and Tanna Collins — dear, sweet, ordinary people who stepped out in faith. Her testimony about the Lord answering her objections step by step was both sweet and humorous. Unfortunately the film doesn’t share the “rest of the story” as included in the article (it was probably made before the events in the article), but I printed it out and was able to share a few things from it. Several things spoke to me, but this was particularly convicting:
In 1997, the wife of a witch doctor was repeatedly beaten for attending church after she came to Christ. In spite of beatings that would sometimes leave her in bed for two weeks, she would sneak out to be with other Christians for church services. Soon, she had led 22 of her fellow Nepalese to Christ, and she would risk more beatings by spending time with anyone after church who needed to be saved.
How often I drag my feet to attend church (even knowing that God will speak to me and it will be a blessing) because I am tired or whatever — and this lady wanted to attend so much she did so despite beatings.
4. Stocking the missions closet. Our church has a little closet where we take visiting missionaries so they can choose from a variety of items as just an extra little ministry to them. Our missions conference starts this Sunday, so I have been stocking it up. It’s a fun ministry, and it is especially a blessing when something is especially what they needed or something they’re really excited to get. It’s neat to know the Lord leads in even such things. Once a missionary family picked up a little tool which I was not entirely sure even what it was — for some reason I just added it in when shopping, but they needed it.
5. Baby time. My daughter-in-law, Mittu, is baby-sitting a little 8-month old girl. I met her for the first time this week. I haven’t been around babies in a while, and I’m not normally someone who just gravitates to babies. But oh, the sweetness! It was a little preview into what it might be like when grandkids come along. I can’t wait. No pressure, no hurry, all in the Lord’s timing — but I am looking forward to it even more than I already was!
Stray Thoughts 
I know what you mean about “good fruit”! Sometimes fruit can be just plain disappointing… other times it can be a REAL blessing!
I can only HOPE that my faith would lead me to be as strong as that woman in your story… there are times when I am SURE it would be… and other times when I have my doubts. And so I just pray… mostly that I am never tested in such a way.
Sounds like Mittu is practicing too! 🙂 I have always been drawn to babies — I just LOVE them! But I find the older I get, the LESS this is so… it worries me a little! 😉 I still HOPE for more grandbabies though!
I agree with you. A bag of Oreos is far more reliable. (Although I too had a very tasty apple this week.)
The missions closet project DOES sound like fun. It’s fun to see how God works out even the littlest details.
I hope you have a great weekend!
that is so true about fruit.
I love the missions closet. That is such a neat thing to do. Great ministry.
Your story is a real eye opener. Right now I live in a country where it’s 90% bhuddists but I’ve come across many people who have come to know the truth and I’m thankful that although Thailand is a very strong Bhuddist nation they are tolerant to other religions. I’m learning not to take Christ for granted. Or church or fellowship etc.
Happy weekend.
This week I ate a lot of apples as usual (at least 3 per day) but otherwise I was busy to prepare my holidays to Egypt. I escape the horrible Belgian weather (like Jientje) for 2 weeks.
About accents, I have one too, a very british one, that’s what I have been told when I was in Madison/Wisc. quite often visiting my aunt. Only in Boston they said that I spoke well.
The worst American accent for me is texan ! I hardly can understand a word, lol ! All the others were more or less OK, like NY, Los Angeles, Denver etc.
Oh, number one takes my breath away. A whole evening to read! Such a joy. I could do it if I would just be disciplined to turn everything off (especially the computer). Glad you seized the opportunity.
Your week seems well-spent in meaningful things. I look forward to grandkids, too, one day in the distant future. {smile}
Blessings to you.
I’m not someone who normally gravitates to babies either, but once in awhile one (aside from my own) captures my heart. You’ll be an awesome grandmother when the time comes.
We are so spoiled here being able to go to church at anytime. We have no idea sometimes what others go through just to attend what we take for granted. Beautiful story!
Thank you for sharing the story of the woman in Nepal…..we too often take our relationship with Jesus and with His people for granted. And more so, we forget to see the lost and reach out to them.
A whole evening to read! luxury! Of course, it is a luxury we’d all have more of if we’d turn off the computer &/or TV. 🙂
Grandchildren are worth the wait!
Thanks for stopping by my list!
While I love vegetables, I do not eat fruit very often, but once in awhile, a crisp, juicy apple tastes so refreshing! 🙂
Oh, the whole evening to read sounds lovely…*sigh*….if I do happen to have one, it seems sleep comes so quickly and I end up dropping the book and scaring myself to pieces! 🙂
What a testimony this precious woman has! We are spoiled indeed, Barbara! I almost didn’t go to Bible study this past Wednesday evening because I was really dragging and needed some “me” time but I went and was indeed blessed and strengthened and felt so much better afterward, just as I knew I would!
Would you be so kind as to share what sort of items you stock in your missions closet? It sounds like something I would be interested in doing!
AND I know all about that holding-a-baby-thing! 🙂 Today was Daniel’s Friday off and I still had him bring little Jaylon over for a couple of hours! I just can’t get enough of that little bundle of love! 🙂
Have a wonderful weekend, Barbara!! ((HUGS))
Joe and Tanna Collins went to the same Bible college as my dad and FIL in Greenville, although several years later, as they were in my generation. Wes and I didn’t know them personally, but we knew of them (we have several mutual friends), and their deaths were a shock. Tanna had a wonderful, wonderful testimony of surrender to the Lord. I think of her many times and realize just how self-centered I really am!
A whole evening to read? I’m jealous. And it’s true about fruits. Oh my, beaten for attending church – that’s so scary, but a reminder for us not to take our religious freedom for granted.
I love it when I have quiet time to read without the pressure of other things to do. Or reading in a coffee shop. Sounds like a great week.
#4 — I just love it when I don’t know why I’m compelled to do something and it turns out to be exactly what someone else needed. God is just cool, isn’t he?
An ENTIRE evening to read at home? I’m jealous. I feel guilty doing any pleasure reading because there is also a textbook that should be read or studied. =/
But I did just start the book that I put in my fave five. I’m only 20 pages into it, and it’s good because I am able to do well just reading a few pages at a time. Even though it is HARD to PUT DOWN!
So you don’t like the music eh? haha. It’s ok. I’m not yet in love with it, but it does give me a good feeling like I’m home. :]
Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my list. We have 2 little grandsons and they have reminded us of everything that is sweet and fun about babies!
We love rocking and reading. We are thrilled our boys are building their own households of faith and bringing up these little guys in the Lord!! WHat a blessings.
Have a great week.
Oh that evening to read sound scrumptious. I like the idea of the mission closet. What a great idea if there is storage space.
What a fun week you have had, Barbara! We need to get started praying about the grandbabies… 😉
I love fruit and eat most kinds, including my daily banana. With the banana, you’re right, you don’t know until the first bite if it’s a good one!
An evening to read sounds wonderful!
Oh yes, babies! I love to hold them. Makes me miss The New Boy though.
Have a good weekend!
I always love this post.
Oh, an evening to read. How lovely! And I know what you mean about a good piece of fruit. So often I forget how delicious that is, until I have one. I had a fresh pear this last week that was amazing! YUM!
Your missions closet sounds like such a blessing to others.
“One problem with eating fruit is that you never know quite how it is going to taste until you start it…” How true! I also know the feeling of eating a really good one. So satisfying…