Like a Fire in My Bones video

Taking Note(s)

I take a lot of notes. Someone recently asked me if it's for songwriting. Yes, but no. I've been writing songs for less than 10 yrs, and I've been scribbling in my Bible as long as I can remember. It goes way, way back to when I was a little girl.

One time my friend and I accidentally switched Bibles. Remember the one? The Living Bible. It was a Children's Church giveaway, if you memorized Psalm 23. Or was it the Lord's prayer? Hmmm...I can't recite either one very well. But the Bible was green and had a picture of a shepherd and some sheep on it. Easy to mix up.

A few weeks passed before I saw HER name engraved on it. Boy, was I was going to be in big trouble. She didn't even keep a bookmark in her Bible, much less WRITE in it! And I'd written all kinds of stuff in there.

In the back, across from the maps: Let God's word be your map. Next to Psalm 23: think about the Shepherd, not the other sheep! In the margin, next to Romans 3:23: "This means YOU!" I was so embarrassed when I had to trade Bibles back, knowing I'd ruined hers. I wish she'd written "You're a stinker" or some other truth in my copy!

Anyways, this blog isn't about whether we should take notes or not. It's not to try to convince you that you should. A person who carries a notepad and pen is no better than a person who can absorb life without writing one word. And vice versa. This is about a sermon I heard, probably when I was 10 or 11.

It was a sermon of all sermons. I've gotta admit that I remember too few sermons. That's exactly why I take notes...so I don't forget. My pastor at Friendly Baptist had some doozies. I wish I'd paid attention to more of Brother Milton Gardner's life and teaching. But what I can remember, well, even if it's only because I'd written it down in that Bible, it was still life-changing. Stay with me.

This one sentence is etched into my memory: "Some people get all they can, can all they get, and sit on the can."

Ouch! I'm pretty sure Brother Gardner was preaching on stewardship. Ouch.

But it could also apply to other areas of life. This is extreme, but stay with me. Fill in the blank. "Some people get all the _____ they can, can all they get, and sit on the can."

Do you get all the attention you can, tuck it away (as if you can store that up!), and then rest on your laurels?

When something is on sale, do you buy all of it so no one else can have that same deal? Can't bear to leave any on the shelf as a provision for other families? Do you belong on TLC's Extreme Couponing, or more appropriately, Hoarders? I'm not accusing you, or attacking you...I'm asking you to reconsider your motivations...

Do you take wrong thoughts, perhaps even false guilts, and tuck them away, accepting them as truth, and then dwell on them?

Do you get in all the entertainment that you possibly can, squeeze it into your "things I did last weekend" aka bragging list, and think that pursuing the things of the world will serve you well? Stay with me.

Do you have a skill or talent that you have developed, but either keep it to yourself, or for some reason or another, you've buried it? - and now you're sitting on it, thinking no one cares? God cares. If it's cooking, cook for the Lord. Feed the poor. Could be music. Or wisdom with finances. Or a strong back. Or a giftedness with words. Or the ability to sit with someone who is in pain. Or availability. It could be so many different things. You see what I mean? Why are you hiding that?

Do you get all the bitterness and resentment you can, stuff it away, and then guard it with your very life?

Do you get all the Bible knowledge you can, store it away (not applying it to your life), then sit down, at ease?

For your life, today, fill in the blank: "Some people get all the _____ they can, can all they get, and sit on the can."

"Some people get all they can, can all they get, and sit on the can." - Milton F. Gardner. In a sermon that still preaches loud and clear, 35 years later.

With the Lord a day is like a thousand years - for me, too!

WEBSITE COUNTDOWN CLOCK

Letter I wrote Sept 17, after Stephen's birth on 9/11/01

Juno e-mail for wilsonarkatjunodotcom printed on Monday, September 17, 2001, 9:22AM

Dear Friends and Family,

Thanks for remembering us before the Lord this week! "And the Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear, or be dismayed." Deuteronomy 31:8.

Stephen Barry Wilson was born on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, at 2:50 p.m., weighing in at 10 lbs., 3 oz., measuring 21 3/4 inches long. He looks like a Wilson (yes, he's gorgeous!), and we're thankful to the Lord for his safe arrival.

As I was admitted to the hospital, I was able to spend about an hour in quiet time, with no nurses, TV, etc. I must confess, that even though this was my 9th baby to be delivering, I could not for a moment take it lightly. More than ever before, I was determined to depend on the Lord for His help, for life itself.

Then, right at 8 am I clicked the button to watch the morning show or something. I was shocked to see a WTC tower on fire, and suddenly saw the other tower being hit by the next plane. The first thought I had was how many people were in those strong towers and powerful jets and how they exercised faith in the structures and planes when they entered the doors that morning, not knowing what the day held. In devastation, I began to cry out for God's mercy for the souls and lives of those involved.

The first thought God brought to mind was "The Name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to Him and are safe." And then. I remembered that the name "Stephen" means "crown of victory"! As we trust in the name of the Lord, we'll experience safety and victory. "Barry" means "bold, strong, of one mind"!

As the buildings collapsed, and so many rescue workers were perishing, I committed Stephen to the Lord in a new way. Realizing the brevity of life, I asked God to use our baby to rescue the perishing and care for the dying. In a way, the day passed quickly, as I struggled to remain focused on delivering. a baby, as life ended for so many.

Just before Stephen's birth, his heart rate dropped. The nurse put an oxygen mask on me, and it partially covered my eyes. Moments seemed like hours to me as she coached me to "breathe deeper, for the baby"...I could not see the concern in her eyes. Barry's eyes told the story, and I suddenly heard that she was saying "for the baby", and realized the baby's distress. I cried out to the Lord, and he heard me. With only three pushes, Stephen was born. The cord was wrapped around his neck, but had suffered no setback. We praise the Lord for His deliverance, once again. It was no accident that Stephen was born a week "late", as the Lord wanted to offer a future and a hope, on a very tragic day. 

In closing, I'd like to give a reminder that 2 Corinthians 3: 17 says "Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

Serving the Lord with gladness,

Eva Wilson, for us all

There's no telIing how old Barry and Eva are, but the children's ages are as follows: Daniel. 15; Elizabeth, 13; Ruth, 11; David, 9; Michael. 7; Jonathan, 5; Lydia. 3; Hannah. 17 mos; Stephen. 5 days.

The Countdown!

COUNTINGDOWNTO.COM

from one big event to another :)

It sure seems like we go from one big event to another on our calendar...the tweets, fb updates, calendar reminders, the alarms never end!

But with all the huge things happening, only one of them is truly amazing...hint hint it's the one squeezed in between the Happy Home conference & Write About Jesus :)

Sept 8 ACSA Houston Chapter Meeting 9-11
Sept 22 United in Him music festival, Lake Jackson, TX
Sept 28-30 Happy Home Conference at our church
Oct 7 Liz comes home, after 2 yrs in India!
Oct 11-13 Write About Jesus workshop for songwriters in St Louis area
Oct 13 ACSA Houston Chapter Meeting 9-11am
Oct 20 Glenn Green Concert 7:15p at Second Baptist North Campus

PS mark your calendars for all that other great stuff :)

Calico Meringues (cookies)

Calico Meringues 

(Barry's mom's recipe - can easily be cut in half)


2 egg whites
1/2 c sugar
pinch of cream of tartar (if you have it)

can add 3/4 c plain m&m's if you want. or choc chips. or crushed peppermints. andes choc chips are great at Christmas

Beat egg whites with cream of tartar until foamy. Gradually beat in sugar to make a stiff meringue. Fold in candy or choc chips, if desired.

Drop mixture by teaspoonfuls onto greased & floured cookie sheet. (I don't flour it...I think it's weird haha). Garnish each with an m&m, if desired.

Bake in 250 degree oven for 30 minutes. Cookie should be firm to the touch, but not browned. Cool on cookie shirt or wire rack. Store tightly covered.

For fun, you can drizzle a little melted choc or even white almond bark.

*don't call them Calico Meringues unless you have m&m's in them...haha...people won't trust you...I call them Peppermint Meringues or Cocoa Meringues, etc, depending on what I added. They're perfect without any flavoring. Fun