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

November 15, 2023

LIFE IN THE FOLD

I get my nephew's two kids on the school bus in the mornings. Before the school year began, I thought, "I don't necessarily need to dress up most mornings, unless I have something else going on later in the day." By dress up, I don't mean to dress fancy or in my Sunday duds, but to look more presentable and not just my most comfy clothes.

Honestly, when the weather is nicer my usual daytime choice of clothing is capris or longer shorts with a short-sleeved shirt. In cooler weather it is joggers or yoga pants with a long-sleeved shirt or sweatshirt. At least that is what I wear when I go outside our home.

At home, my favorite summer clothing is called a patio dress; which is heavy cotton, loose like a mu-mu, length right below the knee, with a little embroidery at the neckline to pretty it up. I have these dresses in several colors and love them! They are so loose and extremely comfortable!

One morning, after the school year had shortly begun, I decided since it was going to be a really hot day that I would just wear one of my patio dresses to go get the kids on the bus. After all, who was going to see me other than the bus driver and a few little kids! Afterwards, my plan was to go home for the rest of the day.

Shortly after getting to my nephew's home, I got a text from his 15-year old daughter. This is her first year of high school, where wearing your student ID lanyard is required. She had forgotten to put hers on that morning and asked if I could bring it to her school and drop it off for her in the office. It gets marked down if they don't have it, and after three times, they get detention. The high school she attends is huge and that was the first time I had ever been there, so was a bit unsure where the main office even was. Thankfully, I found it right away... but that office staff, a few students, and a couple parents got to all see my pretty patio dress!

I can't say that I was embarrassed, because I thought it was more funny than anything. I thought, "Well... the first time I decided to dress really casual and I have to go to the high school and drop something off!"

I'm with the two kids for about 45 minutes or so in the mornings. Their cousin, who is in first grade, gets on the bus with them at their house. Her mom has to be at work early, so drops her off in the mornings.

A few mornings ago, my 5-year old niece decided that I needed my hair fixed. I didn't have any plans for the day, so let her mess with my hair. She was standing behind me on the couch and was parting it down the back... then she put a unicorn paper birthday hat on my head.... then tried to attach a balloon to the unicorn hat.... then was using a plastic play dish to smooth my hair... then got some little toy and said she needed to zap my hair (whatever that means -- she said because it was standing up).... then tried to put a headband on my head..... She was having fun, and I really didn't care because it kept her happy and occupied. Before we headed out to the bus I did run my fingers through my hair to try and restore a little order to it!

After the kids got on the bus, I noticed that the cousin had taken her backpack off while we were waiting on the bus and left it on the front porch. She takes her lunch, which was inside the backpack, so I had to make a quick trip to their school and drop it off in the main office for her. You would have thought that I would have borrowed a brush from my nephew's wife of one of the kids to run it through my hair first, but I didn't even think about it. I did finger brush it a little. I thought, "Oh well! No one knows me and they don't really care what my hair looks like!"

The thing is, most days I either know that I'm coming home after seeing the kids off to school or that I have errands to run or taking my mother-in-law to an appointment, etc. But there have been things pop up occasionally that were unplanned. The majority of time, it wouldn't matter if I wore a big mu-mu casual dress or if my hair is a mess or if I have on pajama pants and a sweatshirt with house-shoes when going to get the kids on the bus in the mornings. It's only those rare occasions when the unexpected occurs!

I suppose if I were wise, I'd plan ahead and carry a small bag in the car with me at all times with a change of clothes and hairbrush in it. That way, if I received a text or call or something happens, I can be prepared to run to school to drop something off or pick up a sick child, or meet my mother-in-law at the hospital e.r. (which has also happened 2-3 times) or take her to urgent care, or run an errand where I need to run inside a business, etc.

These examples are not a life or death situation and really isn't a big deal if my hair is messy or I'm dressed super casual. I doubt anyone is offended or cares what my hair looks like or what I'm wearing, in most instances!

But there is a life situation that is life or death and it does matter whether or not we are prepared!

In Matthew 25:1-13, Jesus tells the parable of the ten bridesmaids/virgins; five being wise and five were foolish. They were all waiting for the bridegroom to come. The wise took extra oil for their lamps, but the foolish didn't take enough oil. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

At midnight they were roused by the shout, "Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!"

All the bridesmaids got up to prepare their lamps. The foolish ask the others, "Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out."

The wise replied, "We don't have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves."

While they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast and the door was locked. Later when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, "Lord! Lord! Open the door to us!"

He called back to them, "Believe me, I don't know you!"

Jesus ended the parable by saying, "You, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return."

How we are dressed, spiritually, is vitally important when Jesus returns or we die; whichever should come first. We can't think, "It doesn't matter, nobody cares, if I've let sin in my life and my [spiritual] garments are dirty and wrinkled and impure." We can't think, "I'm a good person! I'm kind to others and don't lie or steal or cheat. I believe in God." Yet we fail to fully submit ourselves to the Lord. We say we love Him, yet live to please ourself. We make excuses why we make the choices that we do and justify our lack of commitment.

Perhaps we may even attend church, yet we never really develop a relationship with God. We never surrender our heart. It's all about other people's perspective of us and thinking that we are holy and good; yet we are living as a fake.

In both of the above examples, people are living as the foolish bridesmaids. They aren't preparing for the bridegroom's coming, only having enough oil for the day and not preparing for the future. When Jesus returns they will find that their lamps have gone out and they have no oil with which to fill them. In that moment, they can't depend on the true believers to give them what is needed to meet the bridegroom and be a part of the marriage feast. While they are scrambling around, praying and crying and repenting, they'll find that they are too late and the bridegroom has already come and gone. All those years that they could have been preparing is over and now it's too late.

Be prepared to meet Jesus at all times!

JON'S PERSPECTIVE:

At work, we keep a first-aid kit handy. It helps keep us prepared for minor scrapes or cuts, along with a few other possibilities. It has bandages and gauze wraps. I haven't looked in it for years, but I expect there is some antibiotic, burn cream, an eye-wash bottle, and maybe even a tourniquet. A lot of people don't know this, but a tourniquet can be more harm than good, if you don't know how to use it. In fact, many of the things in the kit don't do as much good without knowing how they should be applied.

But what should belong in a spiritual first-aid kit? As a kid, I had a tiny Bible with Psalms and the New Testament. It didn't have the rest of the Old Testament, to save space. It included a list of scriptures that were supposed to be the best start to teach someone about Jesus and how important salvation is. I should probably know those scriptures, but I only remember a few. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.", "God gave His only Begotten Son [Jesus] that our sins might be forgiven." (I doubt I quoted that exactly right), maybe "Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life." I think there were 8 total.

Carrying around a tiny Bible might be good for a spiritual first-aid kit. But I'm not sure I could read it now, even if I had it. Still, I should re-learn those verses so I can be prepared if I need them.

More important is the preparation we have in our hearts. Do we know how to apply the scriptures? Do we know how to recognize Jesus's voice? If He tells us to get up and leave town, would we know it was Him who told us, and would we do it?

ON THE MENEWE:

Luscious Cake

Mix the above ingredients together and beat well. Pour into a sheet cake pan and bake at 350 for 30 minues. Cool.

Mix topping ingredients and spread over cake.

Best if cake is chilled before serving.

THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER:

I recently took my 11-year old great-nephew to the orthodontist to get his top braces and expander taken out. When they removed them, they discovered that one of his baby teeth was barely hang on. The purpose of the expander and braces were to make room in his mouth for his permanent teeth. We were sitting in the waiting room while they made his retainer and he gave the tooth a little wriggle and it came out. When the orthodontist was doing his last check, he was looking at the x-rays they had just taken and said, "Oh! You had the tooth in the x-rays we took a few minutes ago and now it's already gone! You had 4 baby teeth left on top -- so now only 3." Later, after I'd dropped him off at school, another tooth came out. Apparently, his braces were holding those baby teeth in place!

THOUGHT TO PONDER:

All the forces of darkness cannot stop what God has ordained. -Isaiah 14:27

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO YOU:

We love you!

Loretta & Jon

http://www.graysheep.org