THE NEW EWE

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'"

Luke 15:4-6

August 11, 2021

LIFE IN THE FOLD:

One of my sisters has had her daughter and family living with her this summer. They have been in a transition period between selling their home and closing on that, finding another house in the area where they felt like they needed to be, and now waiting for the closing to take place so that they can get moved in and settled. In about three weeks, they should be able to get the keys to their new place, move in, and begin the process of putting down roots and making that into their home.

Each evening before bed time, my niece and her husband have devotionals with their four kids, and my sister has been joining them most nights. A few days ago, they were each sharing what they were thankful for and my sister said, "I'm thankful when God says no."

Her oldest granddaughter, who is 14, was like, "Grandma! Why would you say that?"

My sister explained to her that sometimes we really want something, but God says no, because He has something better or different for us. Sometimes He says no, because He knows that we don't need what we're asking for. But God always has our best interest at heart when He tells us no.

It was like a light went on and her granddaughter suddenly got it. She said, "Oh, you mean like when God said no when my parents put an offer in on all of those other houses, because He had something better for us?" "Yes!"

The housing market is crazy right now! It's a good market for sellers, but difficult for those desiring to buy a home. My niece and her husband knew the area where they wanted to live and sometimes houses already had a contract on them by the time they found out about them. Other times it was a crazy game of people trying to outbid one another, offering much more than what the seller had listed their home -- and was a game that they didn't want to play; nor did they have the money to do that. They had put an offer in on a few houses, but the seller received higher offers. They had looked at a couple different houses near where my sister lives, which would have been really convenient for them all. In fact, one of the homeowners had talked to them and asked if they would want to buy the house, so that they wouldn't have to go through a realtor. But neither of those homes felt right, for different reasons.

One of the houses "seemed" as if it would have been a perfect fit when my sister looked at it, but neither my niece nor her husband really liked it that well. Someone else bought it, and since moving in, have had various water issues in their backyard to deal with. Had my niece and her husband not listened to God when He said no, then they would be the ones who were dealing with that.

The house they are in the process of buying had been on the market for four days, without anyone looking at it; which is unheard of. They made an offer for the asking price, which was accepted, and the realtor (which was the grandfather of the seller) didn't allow anyone else to look at the home. Had he done so, there likely would have been higher offers made. But we believe that this was the house that they were supposed to buy, and God worked out every detail on their behalf. He stopped saying no, and said yes.

Prior to my sister telling her granddaughter to be thankful for God's "no's", she had been praying about something big. It looked as if what she was considering would be a good choice and beneficial for her. But then God said no and closed that door. She was fine with that and happy not getting what she had thought she wanted, knowing that God was giving her the needed answer she had been seeking. It ended up being a great teaching moment for her grandkids.

There are times when we pray and ask God for things, believing that what we want is exactly what we should have. It may seem as if what we are asking for would be best for us. Sometimes it may be that our desire is something that we really, really want. There are occasions when we become upset when God says no. We don't like hearing no and like having our own way. But our own way isn't always God's best way.

For the past twelve years I've done some babysitting. I began babysitting Jax, first, when he was a baby and watched him for about three years. Then a few years later, I babysat his baby sister, Jovie, from her being a newborn until she was three. For the past three years I've babysat my nephew's two little ones.

As much as I have spoiled those kids when they've been in my care, I've also realized that I'm responsible for teaching and training them; as well as protecting them. I can't always give them everything that they want or allow them to do whatever they would like to do. It's not in their best interest to consistently tell them yes. If I do, then I'm not being a good caregiver. They could end up getting hurt or sick or being in danger.

I'm bigger and older and wiser than they are. I know what could happen if they run into the street or climb up the steps to their pool. I know that eating cookies and fruit snacks for breakfast and whenever they want isn't good for them. I know that I can't always dress them and put on their shoes, so they need to learn how to do so themselves. When potty-training, I have to be consistent in taking them to the bathroom and be prepared for pee-pee accidents occasionally. I can't allow them to climb up on the back of chairs, or on top of the table, or onto things where they could fall and get hurt. I knew that I couldn't always carry them around, but had to let them hold onto my hands so that they could learn how to walk on their own. There are things that would be dangerous for them to play with, because they don't have the experience or wisdom to know how to do so safely. I can't let them grab my glasses or hit or bite or spit. Sometimes I have to say no, because I love them too much to say yes.

It's the same with our Father. He loves us way too much to always give us what we desire and to allow us to do whatever we want. God says no, because He loves us too much to always say yes. He can see what lies ahead, He knows the results of giving us what we want, wants us to develop and mature spiritually, and knows a lot more than we do. He wants to protect us and care for us, in the best way possible. He is always right there with us, keeping His eyes on us.

Honestly, I have had the opportunity to tell the kids yes a whole lot more than saying no. I allow them to sit on my lap and crawl all over me. I allow them to play and be loud and laugh and run. They can have cookies and fruit snacks for dessert or as a snack. They can get messy and dirty and play in the dirt. If they want to stay in their pajamas or run around in their underwear, that's okay, if we're having a stay at home day. I'll rock them and sing to them and read them stories whenever they want. If they want to take a bath, are having fun, and want to play in the bathtub for half an hour, then I'll say yes. I'll watch the same silly kids shows with them over and over again; because it makes them laugh and makes them happy. I'll lay beside them at nap time, if they ask. I change their poopy diapers over and over again when they're babies, and clean up their pee-pee messes when they're learning how to potty train. I will play peek-a-boo with them over and over and over again. When they say my name repeatedly, I will answer. After they learn how to do so themselves, I will go ahead and help them dress or put on their shoes, every once in a while when they ask or get frustrated. I will drop whatever I'm doing and hold them whenever they ask or pick them up when they want a hug. I'll hold them for hours on end, when they're not feeling well and want to be cuddled.

Sometimes it may feel like God says no much more than He says yes, but truthfully, He really doesn't. He does things for us every single day that we don't even notice or acknowledge. He holds us, protects us, provides for us, keeps us healthy and safe and strong, gives us life and air and breath, gives us beauty to enjoy, provides friends and family that loves us and encourages us, blesses us with homes and vehicles and finances and jobs, carries us when we're weak and can't get through the day on our own strength, hears our prayers and cries of our heart, provides His Word to teach and instruct and encourage us..... and the list could go on and on.

Each and every thing that God does for us is for our own good and so that His purpose for us can be accomplished; even when we don't like it or recognize it. Sometimes He says yes, other times He says no. But each time, His answer is out of His deep love for us; wanting His best for our lives.

So learn to be thankful when God says no! Trust that His plan is always good and perfect. And know that His love for us is unending.

JON'S PERSPECTIVE:

Growing up, it felt like my parents said "no" much more than "yes". I'm sure most kids feel that way, too. I realize more now how much just went unsaid. We always had air conditioning or heat when we needed it. I didn't think to thank my parents for getting the system fixed when it was broken, or for paying for the electricity and gas. We always had enough food. I never thought to thank them for that, either. We always had many, many other things I never thought to be thankful for. It was when I wanted to delay mowing the lawn for a week, and got a resounding "no" that I wanted to speak up.

We do occasionally think to thank God for our meals, for our home, for our HVA/C, nice yard, and other blessings. But I'm sure there are hundreds of little things we don't usually notice. It might be a green light when we wouldn't usually get one, a little more money in our wallet than we put there, or avoiding a wreck we didn't even notice.

When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, he started off with praising God's greatness and how thankful we are for His blessings. That's a good point. We should focus first on what we have received. Then ask for what we want. We need to take time to set aside our desires for a few minutes, and be thankful. And not to get our desires in trade, but because He deserves our thanks.

ON THE MENEWE:

Breakfast Muffins

Preheat oven to 375.

Roll out crescent rolls and cut into 24 circles with a biscuit cutter. Spray 12 muffin cups. Place cut out crescent in each muffin cup.

Cook sausage; drain. Sprinkle sausage on dough in each muffin cup.

Whip eggs in a bowl (do not cook); salt and pepper, to taste. Pour raw eggs on top of sausage until muffin tins are 1/2 full. Do not overfill.

Sprinkle cheese on top.

Place the remaining circles of crescent dough on top of each muffin cup.

Bake until light brown.

THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER:

Here are some cooking hints and tricks:

Here are two tricks for shredding chicken easily for recipes: (1) Use a portable mixer to shred while meat is hot. (2) Take a chicken breast that is hot and put it in a plastic bowl with a lid. Shake the bowl hard, and the chicken will shred.

Tips for frying squash: Slice the squash in a bowl. Break an egg over the top of the squash. Put the lid on the bowl and shake, to coat. Add yellow cornmeal mix. Shake again, to coat. Put all of the mixture in a pan (with some oil in it) and fry, with the lid on. Stir as needed.

When making corn on the cob, shuck the corn and place in a pot of water. When water comes to a boil, cook for about 10 minutes.

When boiling potatoes for potato salad, put your eggs in the pot with the potatoes. When the potatoes are soft, the boiled eggs will be done.

THOUGHT TO PONDER:

God is still writing your story. Don't let go of your faith because of what you have yet to see. - TobyMac

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO YOU:

We love you!

Loretta & Jon

http://www.graysheep.org