Our Redeemer Cometh

 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. I Corinthians 13:11 NIV.

I was in church my entire life! My mother said I threw my baby bottle on the concrete floor of the church they attended! I hope she busted my bottom, but probably didn’t 

Our childhood experiences mold our thinking. I heard things as a child in the church that either I misinterpreted or was said in ignorance, but either way, my ears heard them, and my mind kept them! We have to sort out the good things from the bad and figure out the difference! Hopefully, we will use the Holy Scripture as our guide! 

Those lessons will be useful in these last days of the world as we knew it in the past! One thing we know! Jesus is coming back to take the church home to be with Him! It’s not a church with a label but those who look for His appearing!

Every day, a preacher or prophet will make the statement that Jesus is coming soon. I’ve heard it all my life. It could be so easy to become lax and think it’s never going to happen, but I assure you… That appearing will happen one day. It may not be in my lifetime, but God’s promises are yay and amen and will take place.

Things seem really bad now. The daily news is not good! The economy is bad, food and gas are going out the wazoo, and Christians are being punished. I never thought in my lifetime churches in America would be persecuted. That only happens in the countries that we send missionaries to. Things look bleak and hopeless, but guess what… I’ve read the end of the story. We win!

Lookup for our Redeemer draweth nigh!

Cajun Land

 My grandmother (we all called her mam-ma) was almost a hundred when she passed away. My grandfather (her husband) passed away before I was born, and he asked my dad to promise to take care of her as long as she lived, and he did.

She lived with us, and I was her bed partner. I loved snuggling up to her at night.

She was a feisty little thing and had 2 sisters and a brother who lived in Louisiana (her maiden name was Hebert… (pronounced A-Bear), a Cajun name, and we would travel on the train to visit them.

One time my friend from Texarkana went with us. We had a slumber party with my Louisiana cousins and talked about…. you guessed it… boys! I remember my Aunt Susie (who they named me for) was listening to us, and she told us about her boyfriends, and of course, it fascinated us. We almost fell out when she was talking about this one that was so cute, and she said he had a real pretty “horse and buggy”… I still laugh about it. 

They were such fun times, and I treasure those memories in “Cajun Land”!!

Today's Multiple Marriages

 

Since I’m not shy in giving my opinion, I’m weighing in on multiple marriages.

Now, I know some of you don’t believe in women preachers, so I’m not preaching just being a biblical Deborah!

While adultery may be a scriptural reason for divorce and remarriage, you are free to re-marry only in the Lord. An unfaithful spouse will give you scriptural freedom to get a divorce, but the same scripture is clear, you are free to only marry another believer.

When a Christian unites with an unbeliever, they are not on the same page spiritually. This is my thinking and I have no scripture to back it up, but I have to wonder, if God doesn't sanction an unbelievers' marriage in the first place, then some unions would be invalid. Everyone has to pray and seek their own understanding and answer.

Thank God for His credit line of forgiveness!

I am a little doubtful that Larry King and Elizabeth Taylor had scriptural grounds for divorcing 8 spouses. I have to wonder whether maybe they are just difficult to live with and should stay single. But that is their answer to seek. They did not ask me to give my approval or permission! hahaha

Seriously, I do think we need to clean up God's church from ALL sin! That includes lying, gossiping, and backbiting, not just unfaithfulness in marriages. We should have such a relationship with God that we want to live holy and exhibit the fruits of the spirit listed in Galatians: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control!!

August ALT Post

 Let’s Go Fishing!

Besides being an interview guru, Mike Brower is a fishing expert. Every fisherman I know has a whopper of a story to tell. Each one will try to “out whop” the other! My fishing story is one they can’t top! Ha Ha

My first fishing experience was in a boat with my daddy and Grandpa Bud and one I never forgot. He was a perfectionist. He unloaded the boat and checked it fifty-eleven times to make sure every little iota was in place. 

 

He made me wear a life jacket, which made me feel awkward and clumsy. How could I fish and relax wearing that? They wanted complete silence, and I made too much noise for them. I did not have an abundance of patience and became bored waiting for the fish to bite and ready to go home!

 

When Odis and I dated in 1958, he wanted to take me fishing. I pushed my dull fishing outing to the back of my mind and loved being with him whatever we were doing.

 

Not being fond of the live worms that wiggled, I let Odis put them on the hook for me. I did not know that when the red and white bobber bobbled, it was a sign of a nibble, and I needed to yank the line to hook the fish. The fish gobbled up my bait, and I only fed them. I learned that I am a better observer than a participant, and Odis realized fishing was not my thing.

 

When I met the boys fifteen years later, they excitedly told me about their fishing experiences. I told them my story about their dad taking me when I was not too much older than they. They laughed as I explained, “He never asked me to go fishing again.”

 

From AGAINST ALL ODDS, We Found The Perfect Love Copyright ©2021 Suzie Tyler 

Currently available on Amazon as an eBook. 

 

Hope your summer has been great doing whatever you enjoy!!

 

Follow SuzieTK Snippets on Facebook, Word Press, and Blogger.

Bible Translations

I really like the Message Bible! I remember when the Living Bible came out, churchgoers were going crazy! “It’s changing the Word of God!” Did you know the King James was a translation? Hello? If you want to have the original go to The Jewish Bible, the Old Testament was originally written almost entirely in Hebrew, with a few short elements in Aramaic. Both the Old and New Testaments have a long history of translation.

The Message Bible uses the modern-day language we are accustomed to today and easier to understand!

I enjoy reading that God is in control and will have the last word!! This scripture makes it plain:

“Count on it: Everyone who had it in for you will end up out in the cold — real losers. Those who worked against you will end up empty-handed — nothing to show for their lives. When you go out looking for your old adversaries you won’t find them — Not a trace of your old enemies, not even a memory. That’s right. Because I, your God, have a firm grip on you and I’m not letting go. I’m telling you, ‘Don’t panic. I’m right here to help you.’”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭41:11-13‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Casual prayer??

How many times do we pray a casual prayer?

I read a story several years ago about a lady who passed away in the emergency room. She felt her spirit rise above her body and could see her family weeping because she died. She related hearing her dad say, “I wish she hadn’t died!” Immediately, she saw those words shooting thru a glass tube to Heaven. As it hit the throne room of God, they instantly sent it back to her hospital room, and the prayer restored her life! It was a casual prayer, but a powerful one!

 

I remember when my friend JoAnn and I were on our way to Houston for a casual drive. I was hurting after being deceived and rejected! I casually said, “I want a man who will love me more than life and for who I am!

 

I did not know God would answer my casual prayer in such a wonderful way and so quickly! God sent me a man who was beyond my wildest dreams! A man who loved me with unconditional worshipful love!

 

We are so unworthy of God's love! Thank you, Lord, that you love us unconditionally and answer our casual prayers!

July post in ALT Magazine Independence Day

 The Fourth of July — also known as Independence Day — has been a legal

federal holiday in the United States since 1941. But it is more than just a

day off from the office, grilling hamburgers, or skiing at the lake!

It’s the birthday of our country! 

But what does that mean?? 

On July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence

free from the rule of Britain. Two days later, on July 4th, delegates from the

13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, declaring America as

an independent republic nation. The first public reading was on July 8th,

1776.

So technically, we can celebrate from July 2nd to July 8th and bosses should

give all those days off from work. Ha Ha

Have you ever wondered why we celebrate with fireworks? Since the 12

century, China has used them to signify national pride and patriotism and

in the 15th century, European monarchs used them to celebrate national

triumphs, the restoration of peace, and even the monarchs' own birthdays. 

Over 14,000 fireworks displays go off across the nation, including Las Vegas

and San Francisco, but the largest one is in New York City attended by

more than  2 million people for the 30-minute show.

From 1776 to the present day, we have celebrated July 4th, with festivities

ranging from fireworks, parades, and concerts to more casual family

gatherings and barbecues.

A little FYI: Three presidents died on July 4th. John Adams, Thomas Jefferson,

and James Monroe.

Independence Day, New Year’s Day, Christmas Day, and Veterans Day are

the only 4 holidays designated as a legal federal holiday on the same day

every year. Any of the days that fall on Sunday are observed on Monday.

So eat some barbeque and pop some firecrackers and celebrate the

freedom of our nation!

Happy Independence Day!

June Blog for ALt Magazine

Happy Father’s Day to All Dads!

Babies usually say dada before they say, mama! Most little girls idolize their fathers, and that superman status is maintained in their eyes until they become a teenager... Then it fades until they are ready to find a husband, and they look for someone like Dad, their first superstar!

I was no exception! My Dad was my hero! I thought, “My daddy can fix anything!” I respected his values, and my biggest fear was disappointing him!

In the fifties, church attendance was a family affair, and parents were revered. Most Americans were patriotic, and boys were proud to serve in the military. Today that sounds like a fairytale.

My fondest memories are of Sunday family dinners. My Dad worked from 3 to 11, and on Saturdays, he drove to Fouke to work at the farm. Sundays were set aside for rest and worship, and no one worked. The meal cooked during church, and after the service, we joined around the table, said grace, and sat down to eat together. We discussed our weeks' activities with no TV or cell phone distractions and learned about life from our parents, not a TV screen. 

When television arrived at our house in the mid-50s, shows were family-oriented. Lucy and Desi Arnaz slept in twin beds, and they could not mention the word pregnant.

The challenge of fatherhood is greater today than at any other time in our history! The family unit has changed, and over 69 percent of homes have more than one father figure! Technology has replaced our quality time, and the family is no longer respected. Today, it is not unusual for teens to be texting during mealtime with no communication with parents.

Writing this article has reminded me how different life was in the fifties. Entering the world of modern conveniences should have made life simple, but it has become more time-consuming. We have made significant trade-offs for our lifestyle. I hope it has been worth it.

Happy Heavenly Father’s Day, daddy.

Preface for AGAINST ALL ODDS We Found The Perfect Love

PREFACE

My high school romance began on February 13, 1958, followed by a separation through no fault of our own.

Fifteen years later, I found my high school sweetheart, who had been divorced for three years and raising his three boys. Most people thought I was nuts and did not believe our marriage would last. They were not counting on my deep feelings for this man that had continued through the years. I was unwilling to pass up my "second chance" and went against friends and family's advice.

With 450 miles between us, the odds of finding each other without Google was a miracle. We did not know what happened to each other but had kept a silent connection with an invisible bond.

I hope those who read my story will realize how life can begin again with pure love. Be encouraged. Happiness is still in your future when you put your trust in God. He is the giver of second chances to those who have experienced a divorce.

This book has been a labor of love spanning six years of research. It has been challenging to get data for circumstances happening over 50 years ago. Most people did not remember the events I was enquiring about or had died. They had torn buildings down to make way for progress, making it impossible to define without digital maps.

 Writing my life story has not been easy. We both had gone through a lot of turmoil during the fifteen years we were apart. While therapeutic, and I have recalled several wonderful loving memories, the painful times and events have made me deal with emotions I had suppressed. God taught me a lot about myself, and I have grown intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. Odis' example of perfect love helped me to learn to trust again.

The most challenging part of writing a book is research. The Google search app has saved many hours of work in my quest to find information. I am thankful to my sister Racine, my friend JoAnn, Odis' friends Dalton, Willie, and Danny for allowing me to be a pest with many phone calls and questions to write my story that began at Lake Texarkana in 1958.

I am grateful to Odis's mom, Vivian, for not throwing away history.  She had copies of his tax returns starting in 1956. With his W2's, I put together the dates of his employment history from Texarkana until we married. She also had a small address notebook with every significant event in their life that proved invaluable. Odis kept a file of all the court documents of his divorce and custody battle. Sometimes being a packrat pays off.

AGAINST ALL ODDS We Found The Perfect Love

Available as an ebook on Amazon.com

Print available later.

On Loan From God For 24 Hours Introduction

Everyone wants a telephone line to Heaven. If one were available, we could talk with our loved ones who have left this earth. I wanted 30 more minutes with the love of my life. 

A few nights ago, I dreamed that Odis was talking to a men’s group, comparing the military soldier to that of the warrior as a Christian. I was in another part of the church, helping with the music, and when I finished, I walked down to the floor where I knew he was speaking. 

He was in a green army uniform with lace-up boots. The meeting was over, and I grabbed hold of his arm and walked up a long concrete ramp, holding on to him for dear life.

 

The dream seemed very real to me. For a moment, I thought he must not have died, and I only imagined it. As we reached the top of the ramp, I woke up. 

Be inspired by this short story, available on Amazon ebook and print

https://www.amazon.com/Loan-God-24-Hours-LOAN-Hours-ebook/dp/B07NGMDDR6

God's Facebook Page

Everyone that has a Facebook page puts on their best face for all to see!

But what is on God's Facebook page? 

Do you put one thing on your page of how much you love Jesus and your friends while on God's page, he writes down the real you! Your lies, backbiting, and how you loathe your friends.

Someday, our secret thoughts may be put on a blackboard written in white chalk for all to see!

Be real and truthful or stay silent on how you portray yourself for the world to see!

#GodsFaceBookPage #TruthorDare #RealorFake

The miracle of Chronicles 14:1

 

When I traveled with Marejohn Brock, we were in more spiritual meetings than out! I didn’t have time or opportunity to get in trouble!  

I will never forget coming home on a Sunday from a meeting and Odis gave me some startling news!

We rented a house on Kings Highway for over a year and had talked to our landlord about buying the house! She said she would think about it!

The news was, her son was moving back to Nash and wanted to live in her house so we would have to find a place to move!

I had all my church and Aglow friends praying for a house for us. God gave me the scripture in First Chronicles 14:1 and I claimed it by faith!

Odis was driving down Post Street and saw an empty gray brick house with a carpenter doing some remodeling! He stopped and asked him if it was for sale.

He told him he had just built a new house a few blocks away and planned to rent it but might consider selling it! Odis said, either way, he wanted it! I went over that evening after work to look at it and realized they had built it just for us! There were three bedrooms and 2 baths. They had built one large room onto the back that was big enough for my grand piano and away from the rest of the house with a private entrance! Perfect for me to teach piano! 

There was a garbage disposer, dishwasher, two ovens (as if I needed that), and two built-in cabinets on each side of a fireplace that could hold my trinkets in one! The other was perfect as a gun case for Odis! There was also a carport and a huge detached garage! God perfectly built and ordered it just for us!

God is good and fulfilled the scripture He had given me!

And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and masons, and carpenters, to build him an house. 1 Chronicles 14:1 KJV

Mothers Day Blog printed in ALT Magazine

 SuzieTK Snippets

 

A Mother’s Day Message

 

We have all made a plaster of Paris handprint to give our moms for Mother’s Day! We waited for her to unwrap it with pride and felt joy for the hugs we knew were coming! 

 

While Mother’s Day is a joyful occasion, there will come a day when we no longer have our mothers!  I remember the first time I had to experience it. I could not attend services that day when everyone else was celebrating their mother’s being alive, and I had to wear a white corsage for the first time instead of a red one! I chose instead to go with my sisters to the cemetery, take flowers, and discuss our “mom memories” together as her girls.

 

This day can also be a sad time for those who have never been a mother or lost a child at birth or later. No matter where you are in the sentences of these paragraphs, you are unique to be born a female, and we all have an extraordinary calling!! Isaiah 54:1 ESV*

Mary, the mother of Jesus, was chosen to birth the Savior! Whether you are a single mom, a new or seasoned mother, an adopted mom, a mother-in-law, a stepmother, a grandmother, or a great grandmother, God has a special plan for you that only you can fulfill! 

 

Whether you rock the cradle of a future president or give spiritual guidance to the next Billy Graham, God has chosen you for that special role that only you can play!

 

We all have a mother, whether by adoption or biological, and we celebrate her with joyful remembrance!

 

Have a blessed Mother’s Day! You are God’s special creation!

 

*“Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married,” says the Lord.