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 ...

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 ...

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 her...

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 th...

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...