Mary Haskett / Author

The dental office buzzed with activity. It’s a big office with several dentists, hygienists and receptionists. I checked in at the desk and sat down to wait my turn. A grandpa sat in the play area and encouraged his small grand-daughters to count the fish in the tank. A young mum sat engrossed in a book. I supposed she was waiting for her child. Within minutes my dental hygienist called my name, as I got up the young woman looked up and instant recognition flashed between us. She called my name as I did hers and we rushed to embrace each other.

“Well,” said the hygienist, “can I have a hug too!” Laughing I said, “Why not,” and delivered.

For the young woman and myself it brought to memory a prayer we had prayed some twelve years previous. Crying at that time she had told me how much she wanted a baby and it seemed it wasn’t to be. In that prayer we reminded God how he had opened the wombs of Sarah and Rachel and Hannah. And we asked if he would do it for her. A few months later with a big smile on her face she came to tell me God had answered our prayer and not only that when the time came to give birth she delivered twins! The twins are 11 now. I didn’t get to see them that day they were in one of the many clinics getting their checkups. But I did experience joy as I remembered.

Can you remember a prayer God answered, one that will give you joy in remembering?

Last week my husband and I went away for a few days. On the day of our arrival at our beautiful B&B just outside Paris…Paris, Ontario that is, we could only stagger out to dinner in the late evening then hurry back to our air-conditioned room. The next day— same story, but perhaps not quite; we went to Braeside Pentecostal Camp to have dinner in the cafeteria. I hoped to see people I knew, since that is where I went with my children when we were all much younger! Allan and I stayed for the evening service and sat in a pew in the great tabernacle right under one of the huge whirring fans. A dear lady recognized us and we exchanged pleasantries. We couldn’t stay until the end, just too hot in spite of the fans so we quietly made our exit. As we were leaving a young man came bounding across the green, “You’re not leaving without saying , hello are you?’ It was the children’s pastor from my previous church. We exchanged hugs and reminisced.

On Sunday we attended the morning service. The weather was tolerable and we were able to concentrate on the sermon.

After the service we hesitated to go to the cafeteria for lunch, since we had been fed a substantial breakfast at our B&B. But the turkey dinner, with all the trimmings, plus a choice of salads and a huge variety of desserts won out. I’m so glad it did, for even before we left the tabernacle we were exchanging hugs with some of our brothers and sisters who we knew from days gone by. Then more of the same in the cafeteria. How good it was to share and remember, to see faces beaming with the love of God. Surely it was a foretaste of heaven. Can you imagine when we all meet on that beautiful shore? What a glorious day that will be.

Today I have been viewing recent photographs of my family and photos I've taken of God's magnificent creation. I have taken sometime to upload some of them. I hope you'll have time to view and enjoy!

I'm sure it is true that we cannot love other people's families as much as we love our own, only God loves all men equally! However He does instruct us to love all men and at times He tests and tries us to see if we will obey that command!

As a footnote. i responded to the young man who wanted me to be his friend on facebook and I told him about our Jesus. He didn't respond, but let's pray for his salvation.

With love

Mary

This morning I received an email from an unknown admirer. Actually it was a bit alarming. He had found me on Facebook, liked my picture and asked if I would contact him right away. Checking on this further he had his picture up. He has a glass of “something in his hand a brown beverage; hmm and is wearing a sleeveless vest displaying bulging muscles. And his hair looks to be greased back in a pony tail. I haven’t responded to his invite yet. I haven’t told him I’m old enough to be his grandma, and even if I wasn’t I wouldn’t be his close friend as he hopes I will! I will tell him about Jesus when I do respond and let’s hope he makes Jesus His best friend.

Mind you I am smiling...well a bit!

A very personal storm hit my life a few months ago. My health was in dire need of immediate attention, so much so that a trip to the emergency was necessitated. A triage nurse assessed the situation and within seconds arranged for me to go immediately through the “Do not enter” doors and into a hub of activity. Nurses and doctors were busily treating other emergencies, but one of those special people took care of me immediately. After several hours of tests and scans the doctor ordered treatment and I went home.

Five days later I felt so ill while out with my husband I had to ask him to take me back to the hospital. We were hardly in the door when I slumped over and passed out. I came to with a nurse putting an IV in my arm. Through all of this my awareness of the one who sees all was heightened. I prayed for His healing hand upon me. These episodes caused me to take stock of my life and I realized I had said “yes” too many times to requests to do this that and the other.

As Christians we can become so concerned about pleasing people, we forget to listen to His voice and our intent is be a people pleaser rather than a God pleaser. With nudging from the Lord I stepped down from all ministries, commitments and speaking engagements. I might add the latter with some reluctance, But I clearly understood I must relinquish all and rest. Now fully recovered I’m walking softly with my Lord and paying attention to His direction for my life.

Mary

Thank you to those of you who commented on my blogs about Margaret. Sometimes and unwittingly I can be guilty of sharing things that perhaps I should not. I received an accusatory email from someone telling me I was breaking confidences by sharing my relationship with Margaret. (Not from you dear friends) I decided it was better to remove the blogs.

I will still write about Margaret, but keep my writings in a file. I talked to Margaret this evening and she was quite happy with what I had written. And we had a good chat too.

Blessings and God's peace for us all!

Mary

A terrible thing happened to me a few days ago. I inadvertently clicked a wrong command and deleted all my files. Since then frantic efforts on my part, and more calming efforts by a savvy computer friend, left my “save as” cupboard bare.

Initially I said to my husband, I am not going to lie awake stewing over the loss, I’m not going to think about my master pieces—at least in my mind—that are gone for good. I have to focus on the future, pick myself up and start all over again.

Not only did I lose everything, the internet refused to cooperate, a page would pop up telling me the web page was unavailable and to check this, that and the other. This meant I couldn’t even email friends and grieve my loss with them. After all we are told to share one and others burdens and this burden required much sharing. It was so heavy.

Well today is the first day of my start over. This morning with my computer tucked under my arm— it’s a lap-top, my husband and I drove out to the store where my two and a half month old machine had been purchased. It’s probably not very polite to call this technological marvel a machine, but there you are. I confessed my errors to a very smart young man in the service department. He told me he wouldn’t be able to retrieve my losses. There was an inkling of hope lurking in the back of my mind. However, he told me with confidence that he would reinstall the two drives that worked the internet and he’d be done in five minutes. “If you’d like to wait over there,” he said, indicating a row of chairs. Mind you I’m old enough to be his grandma, but I thought I should do as he suggested. He was certainly the one in charge. It did take a little longer, because other customers came in and he made note of their requirements. None of them had messed up like me though.

A few days have gone by and I have moments of despair, but for the most part I’m pressing on. Today my step daughter phoned to say how sorry she was and gave me contacts who might be able to help. Plus she prayed with me. This was good, very good, because whether or not I get my files back I know Jesus cares and knowing this the doldrums have departed.

We have so much to be grateful for. I read Fay’s blog about Tim Huff’s book, Bent Hope, dealing with the lonely lost and depressed people of our world. I say again we/I have much to be grateful for.

Mary

This past week I had cause to rejoice as two of my friends in our Ready Writers group were winners at The Word Guild of Canada Awards night at the World Vision Center in Missisuaga. Fay Rowe won for her wonderful book Keepers of the Testimony, which I had the honour to endorse, and Donna Dawson won for her mystery, suspense novel Vengeance , which I also endorsed.YEAH!

Be my guest click on their web sites and read more. Also view the pictures Fay has put up on her web site.

Congratulations to my dear friends.

Love

Mary

    Character is what you are when no one else is looking or you think their not; like the times when my mind wanders during a sermon. I rebuke myself and return to see the pastor talking directly to me. I try to look interested as my pastor with great enthusiasm expounds on well--something, and I hope my nods of agreement are being executed at the right time!  What sort of character is that? Not very honourable I guess. I repent and ask God to forgive me of my short comings. I want to improve in so many areas. For instance I don't want to think negative thoughts about others and refer to certain persons in moments of exasperation as my nemesis. When that happens I'm in to asking forgiveness again. Unfortunately I've had to ask forgiveness on that one more than once. It's a good job God is a merciful God, otherwise this character would be in deep trouble! Then there's times in the shopping malls or out there somewhere and I don't want to talk to someone I know, so I gaze intently at some item that I've no intention of  buying. It's not that I don't care for that person, but it's not convenient right now. If I think about it I don't even know why!

In the 1950s psychologists, Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham determined four components of humans and their characters; their goal to assist us to better understand ourselves and others. Their concept known as the "Johari window" identified four characteristics in us humans. The first characteristic is the self that we see and others see. The second is the self that others see, but we fail to see. The third is what we know about ourselves, but no one else knows and the last characteristic is unknown--period!

These psychologists didn't come up with anything new. We only have to read Scripture to realize that God sees all aspects of our characters. For man to improve his character he must follow the laws of God. In psalm 44 the psalmist gives glory and recognition to God, but later he talks about God having drawn back from His people because of their sin, but at the same time he says, "Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart." (V-21).  David too had a deep understanding of God. Psalm 139 expresses many of his sentiments. He tells God that whatever he does, whatever he thinks, wherever he goes he knows God sees and knows all concerning him.

Like David I say, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139 23-24 KJV).

Food for thought . Don't you think?

Be blessed and encouraged as you march onward and upward with Jesus.

Mary

Today I uploaded my little book on prayer to my store page.

It is amazing the way God moves us on in life and the surges of joy that come as we reflect on His kindness  The joy I experienced in writing this book put me in mind of CJ Lewis' book Surprised by Joy, at least the title!

I've reflected on this joy and believe it comes, because I've submitted the book to God. He will decide who will buy it, who will be encouraged by it and who needs to read it, and as I so often say, "Over to you Lord."

Blessings to you this day

Mary