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HE IS THE POTTER, WE ARE THE CLAY
True life stories to encourage and inspire
relationships
A MATE OF GOD'S CHOOSING 9/12/2025
They loved their 90th birthday party! Mom looked classy as usual in tan slacks, a chocolate-brown pullover and a string of pearls. My jovial Dad dressed casual in a blue-striped shirt and jeans. 38 people assembled at the farmhouse to celebrate. Photos were snapped when we gathered in the kitchen to sing “Happy Birthday” and to eat a slice of Holstein cake made by my brother’s daughter, Holly. I took my own pictures, and Mom’s wide-open smile nearly made me cry. You see, in planned photographs, her mouth is always closed, but on this day, her joy could not be contained. Did Dad’s adoring glancnces have anything to do with it?
A BIBLE LOVE STORY
It just so happens that my bible reading on the morning of this birthday occasion came from the book of Ruth. A story of God’s leading to bring a woman (Ruth) out of a foreign country to meet and marry a man (Boaz) who was in the line of Christ. Ruth had put her faith in the God of the Jews, and He phenomenally blessed her.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY?
When Naomi exits the foreign land to return to Israel, her attempt to prevent her widowed daughter-in-law (Ruth) from following fails. Ruth’s devotion is touching, and in part, her words have been used in countless weddings. Ruth 1:16, And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to turn away from following after thee; for where thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God, my God.
THE RAPTURE
AN EVENT 9/5/2025
Paper supplies for serving slices of homemade pie. A canopy in the yard for shade or (perish the thought) protection from a cloudburst! Metal chairs, borrowed from the Church in case we need them. Jugs of bottled water, stored beneath a desk for making lemonade and hot drinks. Reenactors setting up camp tonight or tomorrow morning. Guest speakers perusing notes one more time. Eleven ladies rolling out pie crust tonight and baking those luscious pies mentioned above. Tomorrow’s the big day!
A MUCH MORE IMPORTANT EVENT
According to God’s holy word, the rapture will come without warning. Are we ready? Are we anticipating the event and the thought of being with Jesus for all eternity? Do we have concern for the souls who will not be going to the same place? When they look at us, do they see a reflection of Jesus? Do words of His love issue forth from our lips? Do we love the Lord our God with all our hearts, with all our souls, and with all our minds? Are we ready?
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY?
1 Corinthians 15:52 & 1 Thessalonians 4:16 & 17 reveal, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord;
loving others
"SPECIAL" PEOPLE 8/29/2025
On Tuesday, I attended the calling hours for a dear friend, Anita, who had lived in the same nursing facility where I last worked. Being born with special needs, she was reliant on others to manage her care. She loved listening to Elvis and Pat Boone on her phonograph. She adored roomy, red purses for storing her favorite things, such as pens, paper, cards, envelopes, and money to buy more pens, paper, cards and envelopes. Her lovely smile warmed all of our hearts, but it took a while for her to warm up to new employees. Like me, for instance, when I replaced a good friend of hers who had retired. She probably wondered if I’d be patient and kind? Could she trust me? Those concerns and a wary look were one day replaced with a smile of acceptance. I am grateful for having had her as a friend!
A SERVANT’S HEART
My friend’s mother sold her home, and I offered to help with moving. My first task was to remove family photos from one type of storage container (multiple totes, actually) to replace them with more suitable ones. With great difficulty, I refrained from looking at every picture until I noticed a single-spaced typewritten page, a love story of sorts about a grandniece’s affection toward her Father’s sister, Neva. Now, Neva never knew about deadlines or worried about what to prepare for dinner or how to pay the bills. But in her innocence, she gave a young girl a desire to love and help those who could not help themselves. This special tribute to her aunt was written 20 years ago on the day before she graduated from college with a master’s degree in Special Education. Currently, she teaches young children at a special needs school.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY?
John 13:4&5 shows us, He (Jesus) riseth from supper, and laid aside His garments, and took a towel, and girded Himself. After that He poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. John 13:12-14 adds, So after He had washed their feet, and had taken His garments, and was (seated) again, He said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord; and ye say well; for so I am. If I, then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
LAUGHTER
WHERE THERE IS A WILL... 8/22/2025
Hubby bought our first flat-screen TV two years ago during a Black Friday sale. To install it, we needed to find a new home for the old one, a huge wooden-framed box on wheels. So, we relocated it to the porch, where it has remained until this day.
COUSINS COMING
To prepare the porch for company, I had certain goals in mind. One was to replace the two damaged seats in porch chairs, which had been relocated to the basement months earlier, and another was to get rid of that TV! I managed the chair repair alone, but would need assistance for the TV project. So, Oaklynn and I took a set of wrenches outside and worked until we loosened the wood frame. Jul helped us remove this, and we carried it to the burn pile for disposal. The part we left on the porch was too heavy for us to move. Later, when I hosed off the porch, I spied the nearby TV lying on its screen side. The vinyl steps were wet, and I thought about giving that heavy thing a shove off the edge. After some deliberation, the idea appeared doable to me, so I manuevered it into place, gave it a push and W-H-O-O-S-H off it flew like a toboggan on a snow-covered hillside! Having stopped about 10 feet from a huge, bushy arborvitae bush, I used no small amount of elbow grease to rock it back and forth by pushing on one corner and then the other until it came to rest under low-lying branches. Where there is a will, there is a way! Right? Mum’s the word!
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY?
Ecclesiastes 3:1&4 tells us, To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; Proverbs 17:22 announces, A merry heart doeth good like a medicine, but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
heaven
JOY TO COME 8/15/2025
Every summer, we hold our Church picnic at a youth camp situated on a lake that is about 5 miles long. The actual Church service takes place at an amphitheater near the water, providing the congregation with a gorgeous panoramic view. The Pastor had this picture in mind when he wrote his sermon, using several verses from the Psalms and a few observations by Charles H. Spurgeon. Meanwhile, as I considered one of his statements, “How can anyone look upon such magnificence and not see the hand of God that created it,” my attention fell to a curious chalk message written on the cement to the Pastor’s right. It read, “The best is yet to come.” Hmm.
HOURS LATER
At home, my thoughts return to the sermon and the note. John’s bible is close at hand, so I pick it up and look inside the front cover, where he had inscribed a few quotes. There’s the statement I am looking for. The one that gives me a glimpse into my husband's present reality, and mine yet to come. Life is not death, but death is life. Amen.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY?
1 Peter 1:3, 4&5 tells us, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to His abundant mercy, hath begotten us again (born again believers) unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, (a done deal) reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Corinthians 2:9 adds, But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.
respect
TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WELL 8/2/2025
One thing we kids knew back in the day was that our parents were not our friends. This is not to say we thought they didn’t love us. No, on the contrary. They gave us rules to keep us safe and chores to teach responsibility. Even as toddlers, we learned to pick up our toys and put them away. Our parents did not tolerate disobedience of any kind – especially a smart mouth – which could be remedied quite nicely by inserting a bar of soap, the Ivory brand was used at my house! A simpler time with far fewer expenses meant most mothers did not work outside of the home, and they washed clothes on the same day each week, hanging them outside when the weather permitted. They ironed everything the next day; there were no permanently pressed clothes back then. At our house, bread was baked from scratch (I was so jealous of kids who had store-bought bread in their packed lunches at school!) Somehow, amid all of their responsibilities, mothers still found the time to cook all the meals; fast food hadn’t hit the scene yet, and only travelers and wealthy people ate in restaurants. On Sundays, we went to Church faithfully and minded our p’s and q’s. Sometimes afterwards, we would visit family elsewhere and get acquainted with cousins we saw at reunions. Yes, by today’s standards, parents were sterner back then, but children did learn to respect their elders.
FAST FORWARD
On or around her 5th birthday, a child asked if she could have her ears pierced. After a short discussion, a parent, a grandma and a younger sister traveled to the nearest Mall. Once the child made her choice and the post earrings were in place, the younger child desired to do the same. The parent disagreed, however, saying in essence, “You are too young to take on this big responsibility.” The remark led to a flood of hysterics, and a full-blown temper tantrum ensued. The grown-up responded by giving in to the child’s demands. Although not all parents are lax with discipline today, we do see a trend that proves many are.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY?
Ephesians 6:1-4 teaches us, Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right. Honor thy father and mother (which is the first commandment with promise), That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
HE'S APPROACHABLE
FIRST THINGS FIRST 7/26/2025
If you could see my kitchen calendar from May to mid-July, you would wonder how I am managing. Although I pay close attention to the entries and use a highlighter to separate the time of the activity from the activity itself, there is a better, sure-fire way for me to cope. And it’s all about God. I prepare myself for each day by spending the earliest part of it alone with Him. First comes prayer and then the reading of the Word, which my husband and I used to share in together, and now, of course, I do this alone. I know how easy it is for those of us who are retired to stick with a routine such as this. Your schedule might be more challenging, but perseverance leads to blessings and rewards.
A COMMITMENT
Years ago, I consumed historical fiction romances, and some of them were racier than I care to admit. However, the Lord tugged at my heart, and I became more selective about my book choices. God also convicted me of reading fiction all the time and not giving the bible any attention. So, I made a promise to Him to read the bible every day before reading anything else. This has been a good rule of thumb for me.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY?
Psalms 66:16-20 says, Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what He hath done for my soul. I cried unto Him with my mouth, and He was extolled with my tongue. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. But verily God hath heard me; He hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, who hath not turned away my prayer or His mercy from me.
BLESSINGS
IN AWE OF HIM 7/11/2025
These days, I am overwhelmed by the blessings our great God has showered upon those who love Him, including me! He welcomes us without reserve, then woos us into a sweet fellowship which is more fulfilling than any other we will ever know. His word is all-powerful, and it clearly outlines what He expects of believers and how we are to be witnesses to those who are not. He is so good to us that we can see Him working in and through our lives every single day, including Wednesday of last week, when Jul and I witnessed a miracle.
THAT PESKY CRITTER!
My granddaughter successfully turned the key to unlock the side door of the garage, but even so, the door wouldn’t budge. After a few tries, she enlisted my aid. We guessed correctly that our “culprit” was a groundhog that had taken up residence in the garage, which lacks a cement floor. The critter dug a tunnel on the other side of the door under the hinges, and loose dirt caused the bottom hinge to spread somewhat. After ramming the door a few times with her hip or mine (we looked ridiculous), we discussed our options. The two garage doors were bolted shut on the inside. We had no options. I finally decided to pray. Immediately after, Jul placed her hand on the door, but before she pushed, the door fell open! We looked at each other incredulously. But we shouldn’t have.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY?
Luke 18:1, Jesus says, And He spoke a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint. This verse and a few that follow are about retribution for a persistent widow by a nonbelieving judge, and the passage goes on to say our awesome God will surely avenge the elect because of their persistent prayers. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 encourages us to, Pray without ceasing.
SERVING
DO UNTO OTHERS 7/4/2025
“What do you think Grandpa is doing up in heaven?” I asked our great-granddaughter, Oaklynn, on a recent day at dusk, while we were walking around a country block near my home. She didn’t hesitate a beat and answered with exuberance, “He’s taking care of the babies!” Not a surprising answer from this grandchild, Hubby babysat while her Mom, her Mimi, and I worked and were unable to do so. Those two became the best of buddies, for as John used to say, “We grew up together.” This may sound like an odd explanation, but I knew what he meant. I told two friends at lunch about Oaklynn’s remark, and the one from Church agreed that John surely did get a kick out of the children at Church. “But I especially recall the rapport he had with people older than himself.” Tis true! He always took time to converse with senior citizens, and he loved volunteering to cook meals for the shut-ins.
IN HIS HONOR
Months ago, I read a short story about a daughter’s quest to honor a departed mother on her approaching birthday. What were a few favorite activities of Mother’s? This thought exercise led to a meaningful idea. Her Mom used to be pitiful at raising houseplants until someone gifted her with an African Violet. Soon her house bloomed with the plants, and she started giving them away. The daughter called her siblings, who each agreed to buy a violet, repot it into a better pot, and give it away on their mother’s birthday. On July 11th, I will honor my late husband, John Frederick Horn, by cooking and delivering food to a senior citizen. On this 1st birthday since his passing, if you knew and loved John, please do the same. Someone will be greatly blessed.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY?
Galatians 5:13&14 speaks of liberty as no longer being under the law, but free thanks to Jesus’ willing sacrifice on the cross. Forgiven! For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, (selfish, sinful behavior) but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
Last week's blog about asking God for someone to bring me a lunch at work was brought to mind this week when someone who did not know I wrote that, bought a wonderful meal to me at work. Does God have a sense of humor or what?
NEW GOALS
"YOU HAVE TO CHANGE" 1/3/2025
Right or wrong, we are alwaysresponsible for reacting in a Christian manner, no matter what. God holds us accountable to a high standard – the life lived by our dear Savior. A long time ago, at the insistence of a close friend, I had to face the facts. Hubby and I were not getting along and if nothing changed, we would remain unhappy forever. I prayed earnestly for a long time until one evening on my way home from work I implored God one more time to intervene. Then something miraculous happened! In an audible man’s soft voice from the direction of the empty seat beside me, I heard the words, “You have to change.” “What do you mean, I have to change?” I retorted with irritation, listing a couple of Hubby’s faults for good measure. When I paused, the voice restated what it said before, “You have to change.” My thoughts? This is either an angel or the Son of God speaking to me! Pay attention! Suddenly I recalled a kind act Hubby did for me every morning and an uncharacteristic softness stole into my heart. Thirty years later, it is still there.
GREAT ADVICE
Today the memory of that night came to light when I considered the three goals I made for myself for the new year: to be less critical, be a better wife, and humble myself before the Lord. “You have to change.” The words once turned my life around, and if I apply them to other circumstances today, who knows what will be the outcome? After all, I can use some tweaking!
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY? I always believed those words would not be audible to anyone else in the car, had I not been alone. In Acts 22:7-9 we read in part about Paul’s conversion. And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, “Saul, Saul, why persecutes thou me?” And I answered, “Who art Thou, Lord?” And he said unto me, “I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.” And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of Him that spoke to me.
DESPAIR
PART TWO OF "YOU HAVE TO CHANGE" 1/10/2025
Last week I shared a personal story about how the Lord miraculously intervened to heal my broken marriage. He could have chosen a different method, like conviction through His powerful word or directing us to the right godly counsellor. Why a miracle? I don’t know. It was His choice. A valuable lesson I learned that night is that I am not responsible for the behavior of others, only my own. In short, we can’t fix them we can only fix us. But the good news is, when we change, they change too.
SPECIAL MUSIC
My favorite place to practice singing is in the basement. I set my CD player on the chest freezer, like it’s my desk, and plug in the cord before setting CDs in an array in front of me. (CD’s? I know. I’m old school.) I start by singing with the artist until I can remember the prompts and go it alone. This reminds me not to handle anything alone without first seeking the original Artist’s help. I love these lines from Lauren Daigle’s song, Trust in You. “I’ve tried to win this war I confess, My hands are weary I need your rest, Mighty Warrior King of the fight, No matter what I face You’re by my side.”
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY?
Psalms 145:18&19 tells us, The LORD is near unto all those who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry, and will save them.
MARRIAGE
PART THREE OF "YOU HAVE TO CHANGE" 3/14/2025
Someday I planned to write about the miracle God used to heal my marriage, but the truth was, I didn’t want to hurt or embarrass the other person involved, John. But God. God knew how badly I wanted to share my husband’s and my story, so on the second Friday in January, when I settled down to write this weekly blog, out of the blue, a strong impression changed my mind about the subject matter I planned to use. Now, I must add that at this time I had no idea my husband would be passing away in less than a week! There were no signs of decline – although he was a bit depressed about leaving the Cardiac Therapy class he attended for a few weeks. What we hoped would strengthen his heart had to be discontinued because his blood pressure wouldn’t cooperate. Once I finished writing the blog I asked John to read it and to give me his honest opinion. His face showed no expression until the very end when he smiled, and advised, “Yes. Go ahead and use it.”
A NIGHT OUT
Twenty-seven years earlier, two months after the marriage miracle, we were returning home from a “date night.” Sitting as close to each other as humanly possible, we were sublimely happy. However, John knew nothing about the miracle as yet. I asked, “Have you noticed a difference in our relationship?” “You bet I have! What happened?” My reply? “God gave me the kind of love for you, that I should have already had.” I filled him in on all the details (a few I did not share here). When I finished, he cried. He knew everything I said was true because of the change in me.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY?
Genesis 2:24 says, Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh. (Like being glued together). Ephesians 5:33 adds, Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife, see that she reverence her husband.
GRIEVING
WHAT IS HEAVEN LIKE? 2/28/2025
Will we sit at the feet of Jesus, see his nail-pierced hands and feet, and watch His shining face when He speaks of the kingdom to come? Do we eat food because we want to and not because we have to? Do we need any sleep at all? Will the angels sing? Will we?
GRIEF IS A PROCESS
Looking back these six weeks to the days when l first lost John, I must admit, after the shock of his passing, my thoughts raced to list all the things we could no longer do together, like plant a garden, work in the yard, watch movies, go thrifting or out to eat or hang out with family and friends. Poor, pitiful me, I thought, the one left behind picks up the pieces, alone. After these self-centered moments passed, I stared at the places in the house where he normally could be found. Although he wasn’t present anymore, I could conjure up a mental picture of him at the drop of a hat, and I did. I wanted to share my thoughts with him about this or that and found myself doing so, often. Most recently though, I am finally connecting the dots, considering his lengthy hospital stays (which he hated) and the painful issues he suffered in between. It’s over now, dear one. Rest easy.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY?
In I Thessalonians 5:17&18, Paul advises, Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. In EVERYTHING give thanks. Even while grieving.
I HAVE LOST HIM TO A BETTER PLACE 1/17/2026
This is not my typical blog, but a declaration of love to the man I married 51 years ago and lost yesterday. He was the love of my life. We hung out in next to new shops, antique stores, and flea markets. John loved to grocery shop until he dropped and I would go along for the ride. We enjoyed worshipping with our friends at the Carrollton Bible Chapel for 45 years, where his humor is legendary. He will be missed by his friends, family, and facebook followers for his satirical wit. I look forward to seeing him again on the "other side." His faith in Jesus was the only ticket necessary to go there.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved," Acts 16:31
holy spirit
BACK IN THE SLAMMER? 11/29/2024
When the dishes were finished after an incredible Thanksgiving meal at the family farm, Emily and I decided to check on the calves and kittens at the calf barn. Along the way, we untied Dad’s beagle, Red, who couldn’t have been more overjoyed! Emily had a strong grip on Red’s leash until she leaned over for something or another and then off he went like a shot! Past the barn, making a sharp left-paw turn, racing across the pasture toward the township road – Oh no, I worried in despair, he’s heading for his girlfriend's house and we’ll never catch up with him now!
IN RETROSPECT
Later, while the family conversed in the living room about this or that, Emily, Mom, and I sat on a couch discussing Red’s latest escapade. Yes, we did apprehend the roving Romeo, in the neighbor’s driveway after he had the chance to say “howdy” to the love of his life. Mom laughed warmly, saying, “Good, now your Dad won’t have to “spring him from the slammer.”
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY?
I can’t help but think that Red’s behavior is much like ours. Psalms 143:10&11 says, Teach me to do Thy will; for Thou art my God. Thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. Revive me, O LORD, for Thy name’s sake; for Thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
faith
NEVER FEAR, ONLY TRUST AND OBEY 4/23/2021
Our 3 year old great-granddaughter, Oaklynn, and my husband share a special bond they developed when he babysat her as an infant and toddler while Mommy worked. This bit of information will be detrimental as you continue reading, so please keep it in mind.
TOOTHPASTE DILEMMA
While Oakey and I were brushing our teeth, somehow or another, toothpaste got into her eye. Oh - how she wailed! It would be futile to try to rinse the offending goo out with water, so I grabbed the Visine out of the medicine cabinet. "These drops will help." "No-o-o!" she wailed on. John's voice came to us in a clear and unworried tone. "Why don't you come here and let my magic hanky take care of it?" (His what?!) She rushed to his side, weeping less, as he explained calmly how the magic hanky would immediately draw out the pain. She laid down, and he covered her eye with the cloth but a moment, pulled it away with a flourish, and asked, "Does it hurt anymore?" Joyfully she replied, "No!" Although he never tried this before, Oakey trusted him so completely, the ruse worked! A verse from an old hymn reminds me about this kind of devotion.
Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet
Or we'll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do
Where He sends we will go,
Never fear, only trust and obey.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY?
If we trust in God the way Oakey trusts in Grandpa, the peace mentioned in Philippians 4:1-7 will be ours! In Psalms 37:3-5 we see how this actually transpires.
1st, TRUST in the Lord and do good, so shall thou live in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 2nd, DELIGHT thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
3rd, COMMIT thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.