Come Sit By Me

THE OLD GENTLEMAN’S GIFT I walked the quiet streets alone, the snow was drifting down, The stores were closed and shuttered in this peaceful little town, The Christmas rush was ending, for ‘twas Christmas Eve you see, I walked in search of “peace on earth,” and inner peace in me. “What is Christmas all about?” I spoke aloud in prayer, “Lord, show me the true meaning so I’ll have a gift to share.” I looked, and in the distance shone the glow of a soft light, It was streaming from a window, giving guidance in the night. I approached the little church house and could hear the children sing Of the little Lord Jesus, Who was born to be our King. So I paused and turned toward the door, hoping not to make a sound, Then my eyes were drawn to a lovely sight before me on the ground. I stooped to lift a red, red rose from its bed of pure white snow, Then quietly opened the church house door, and entered the soft, warm glow. The children told of the birt

(This story was written and published several years ago by Alice Ervin)  I would like to share a really special thing that came about by being a part of Rest Ministries.   In September of each year, Lisa Copen, founder of Rest Ministries in San Diego, CA. has what is called National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week.   (NICAW)   Each day there are several online sessions with a different guest speaker for each.   This year I logged onto one with a speaker whose name is Carol Krejci.   She had written a book entitled, “Sowin’ Seeds and Touchin’ Lives.   Carol donated two of her books to anyone who had entered to win. That was the beginning of one of the most amazing events in my life the last few months!   I won one of her books, read it and found out we lived only two hours from each other. We began e-mailing, and became fast friends.   Carol lives in a cute cottage in an old Methodist Campgrounds (still operating) in Lancaster, Ohio and each year they have what

Legend has it that in the 18th Century somewhere in Europe, any public display of Christianity was forbidden. No crosses or Bibles were  allowed and the Christians were greatly oppressed. One old man, a candy maker by profession, was particularly distressed by this. He loved the Lord with all of his heart and couldn't stand to not share that love with the world. His heart especially went out to the children when Christmas drew near and no one was allowed to have a nativity scene (or crèche`) on display in their homes. He prayed for God to show him some way to make Christmas gifts for the children which would teach them the story of Christ. The answer was the candy cane. The candy cane was in the shape of a shepherd"s staff to show them Jesus is our Shepherd and we are His flock. A sheep follows his own shepherd, knows his voice, trusts him and knows that he is totally safe with him. The sheep will follow no other shepherd but their own. This is how we are to be with Jes

I wrote this story several years ago when my husband was still alive.  I post it now as it seems to me it might bring a smile to my daughter, other family members, and friends whose dogs are "special friends" to them. Actual members of their family.  SPECIAL FRIEND Special guest appearance by Toby who is now an angel dog in Heaven 2/20/08-11/4/19 A few years ago my husband and I were visiting our daughter in Bend, Oregon.   She also has a cabin at Summer Lake, Oregon, which sits out in “no man’s land” with a salt lake in front of it, and the mountains behind it.    The rest is basically wide open spaces.    So we decided make a trip to see her cabin for the first time.   Our daughter is a writer, and into arts and crafts, so this place is a “get-away” place for her where she can have peace and quiet in order to focus on her writing, etc.. She is also into mountain climbing, hiking and many other outdoor events.   We decided to stay close by her cabin overnig

SPIRITUAL HIDE AND SEEK – REALLY? (Calling All Deer Hunters...Or not!!) I haven't posted for a while for many reasons, but I thought this would be a good time to share one of my daughter, Lisa's devotionals again.   She wrote this several years ago when she and her husband lived in a big home in the country.  This is the time of year when many are out and about deer hunting to provide food for winter, and also for the enjoyment of being out in the beauty of the season.   Enjoy!   ( I hope to start writing again soon.- Alice)  (Genesis 3:8) KJV… Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.   Living in the country I have access to several roads where there is very little traffic.   As many mornings as possible, I am blessed to be able to take a long, safe, healthy walk, and commune with God in many ways.   It began with me just walking and praying, but here lately it seems God has decided it is time for Hi

LIVING HUMBLY      By Alice Ervin As I face some difficult and frightening days ahead, I thought I would share a devotional I had written years ago that is so pertinent to my life today. Hope it helps someone as it has helped me at this time. Listening to the radio one night, I heard a men’s quartet singing a song with this title - Livin’ Humble.   (The way they said it)   As our scripture tells us, that is what the Lord wants us to do, But just how do we go about it?   The more I thought on it, the more I realized that I didn’t really know what living humbly meant until I was stricken with one physical problem after another.   I was going about each day doing most anything I wanted to, and enjoying life to the fullest for the most part.   But, was I truly being humble in my daily life back then as Jesus would have wanted me to?   I know now that I wasn’t.   It grieves me, so how much more must it have grieved the Father? What I am writing doesn’t even begin to

He says to the snow,  ‘Fall on the earth,’    and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ Job 37:6 It was November, 1950.....Thanksgiving holiday weekend.  My family, which consisted of mom, dad, and 5 children, still lived in the small, 3 room house in the little Southern Ohio town called Bainbridge.  No running water, heated with coal and wood, and cooked with the same. My oldest brother and his family had come for Thanksgiving Day and was to spend the entire weekend with us.  Their family consisted of my oldest brother, Eddie, his wife, Hazel and three children. All totaled there were 12 people in that small home. Looking back I can't remember how this was even possible. I do remember there were two mattresses on each of the two full sized beds.  A small daybed in one side of the kitchen where my one brother slept. He was the oldest of the five of us who still lived at home.  Mom would drag a  mattress off of each bed, find room somewhere on the small living room

Do you, like me, get up each morning and think this very thing?  Most all of us do, I think. I want to share this today for those who are "HURTING IN ANY WAY!"  Years ago I wrote devotionals for a ministry in San Diego for people who suffer with invisible chronic illnesses. Although I wrote this several years ago and in the Winter time, I find it applies to me today in many ways. Maybe there is someone out there who might need to read this with me today.    WHAT SHALL I WEAR TODAY? “To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”   Is. 61:3 As I sit by my patio window and have my quiet time with the Lord, I look out at the bright sunshine glistening on the snow. It is beautiful, but so deceiving. The temperature is in the single digits. For some of you I am sure you would be glad for it to be this "warm." I am one of the blessed ones who ge

BEND IN THE ROAD It has been a while since I have felt up to posting on here. I won't even try to explain all that has been going on with me the last while. But I would like to share something that is on my heart at this time. It is a bit different from the  stories of my childhood. I hope you will bear with me, and read on. “I will turn the darkness into light before them, and make the rough places smooth.   Is. 42:16  Before I moved to my new Assisted Living home, I used to  sit each morning in my living room by the patio door for my time of devotion and prayer. Across the room hung picture over my couch which showed a smooth road lined with beautiful Fall colored trees.   At the end of the road shown in the picture was a bend.   I would sometimes   imagine how much my life has been like this picture.   For a long while I walked on the smooth road with ease, delighting in the glorious colors of God’s blessings and provisions. Then, I would come to a ben

Psalm 19:14 - “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” This is one of those times when I really need someone to "sit by me" in so many ways With this post I have moved from my childhood years to the present day - the date, April, 2019 .... a time when I have to make a move from living indepently to an assisted living facility.  Not easy for some to do, but I have found, at my age, the body decides when it is time to "do it's own thing" no matter what we think.  And, with the doctor also saying this change is necessary, I am willing to accept it as gracefully as possible!  While sorting through my belongings to decide "what to keep and what not to keep," one thing I find that helps me when I might tend to feel sorry for myself is to look at my refrigerator magnets.   Yes!   I said, “Refrigerator magnets!“   They  get my mind off of “me and things” and onto

Yes, this is really Alice.....author of Come Sit By Me blog. I have had some health issues lately, and some serious decisions to make, so have been a bit slow with my thoughts and writing. So, this being Sunday, I thought this might be a perfect time to share a devotional that was written by my daughter, Lisa a few years ago.  I hope you will be as blessed as I am as I remember this "precious" day, and how thankful and blessed her Dad and I were for her decision.  Much love Lisa! DID SOMEONE KNOCK? Revelation 3:20 (KJV)  “   Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Another beautiful day You have made, Lord!   Thank You for  the time you have so generously given me in my “too busy” life to take a walk and just be alone with You. I thank You and praise You! About fifteen minutes into my walk I pass a woods. This morning I seem to hear more woodpeckers than u

“Consider how the lilies grow.   They do not labor or spin.   Yet, I tell you, that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.”   Luke 12:27 “I’m looking over a four leaf clover, that I overlooked before…….”   Does anyone out there r emember that little song?   It had cute words, but I will be concentrating on the first line in what I am about to share. When just a child I remember how  each year when Spring arrived my Dad would plow a plot of ground to be used for growing vegetables.   Food to be used each day, but also to be canned and preserved for Winter.  How good it would all taste when the snow was flying! When Dad would plow this vegetable garden, he would also plow  a smaller plot for Mom to have a flower garden.   On special days, Sundays usually, when company might be coming, Mom and I would go to her flower garden to cut a bouquet of multi-colored flowers to use on the table, and other places throughout the house. The only problem w

CAUGHT IN A WHIRLWIND    “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;  persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”   II Cor. 4:9 After just having extremely severe storms the past few days, my thoughts go back to another time when my late husband and I were caught in such a storm while on our way to a college graduation in the next state over.  The day started out as a beautiful sunny Spring day.   The drive was to take about four hours.   Just about 10 miles from where we would be staying, and while driving on the interstate, the sky became more and more black. We knew we were going to run into a storm before we got to our motel.   But, what happened was not just an ordinary storm.   We hit a "wall" of rain, hail the size of golf balls that were hitting the car and splattering.   The wind was whipping things around in the air; leaves, sticks and who knew what else, were being plastered all over