When the “dawn’s early light broke”, he saw that the flag was “still waving” .  Although it was tattered and had suffered great damage, the mere fact that it “was still there” gave proof of the victory.  This sight caused Mr. Key’s creative juices to begin to flow and he wrote a poem on the back of an envelope that later became our national anthem.

The melody is difficult for the general public to sing.  Nevertheless,  before any sporting  event and every time an American wins a medal at the Olympics; it is sung.  Every time it is sung, hearts swell into throats and tears come to eyes.  I believe our nation is in its greatest battle.  I am not referring to our troops being in Iraq and Afghanistan.  I am talking about our struggle to remain the land of the free and home of the brave.

I am thankful that I have the right as a citizen of this country to claim that flag, and all it stands for, as mine.  I am even more thankful that America is my temporary home and that I am actually a citizen of Heaven.  As an American, I have a President.  As a Heaven”ican”, I have a King.  A King that is king of all kings and a Lord of all lords.  Heaven has a flag too; and its “banner over me is love”.  Since God is love,  He is my “flag”, my covering, my heritage.

Just like the “Star Bangled Banner”, the “Banner of Love”  went through a terrible battle  This battle was the battle of all battles. This “banner”, this Love literally went to hell and back; but came through victorious so we might be free!  ”He who the Son sets free, is free indeed”!

We are a blessed people, we Americans.  You only have to travel outside her borders to discover that.  I am doubly blessed to be a Christian American.  So today, I pledge my allegiance to the flag; but more importantly, I pledge my allegiance to the Lamb.

Because of  Him,

I am, (FREE)

Ms. Patti

I had to add water to it yesterday.  I just thought due to the heat, some of the water had evaporated.  My husband informed me that he had seen our dog, Wilson, lapping from it.  (At least he isn’t drinking out of the commode). Well, I filled it to over flowing; so some of the water has got on the floor.  I mopped some of it and left some of  it for the dog.

Jesus is that Living Water that will satisfy an eternal thirst.  We are told that when He lives within, we will have rivers of water springing for out of our innermost being.  Is that for our benefit?  No, it is for those that are thirsty around us (Wilson) or to cause those around us to become uncomfortable as they realize they have a need that must be dealt with(Dad and the bathroom).

When we make ourselves available to the needs of others, we can easily become thirsty and dry.  We must take time to allow the Giver of that Living Water to  refresh and replenish our supply.  Otherwise the “water” within us will be come like the Dead Sea.  That water cannot sustain life because it has no outlet or no source of fresh water.

Right now, the words of a song are going through my mind:  ”There is a river that flows from deep within.  There is a fountain that frees the soul from sin.  Come to these waters, there is a vast supply.  There is a river that never shall run dry.”

Before we can be filled and flowing for others to “taste and see that the Lord, He is good”; there is another fountain that we must visit first.  Again, a song is going through my mind:  ”There is a fountain filled with blood, drawn from Emmanuel’s veins; and sinners plunge beneath that flood, lose all their guilty stains.”

Be filled today to overflowing!  Would you believe another song?  ”Fill my cup, Lord, I lift it up Lord; come and quench this thirsting of my soul.  Fill my cup, and make me whole”.

Well, I am going to have to close for now.  I have enjoyed listening to the fountain, but I think I had better try to beat Dad to the bathroom.

Because of Him,

I am,

Ms. Patti

Today I was in Wal-Mart and I saw something that broke my heart.  It was mama with two small children and an elderly gentlemen.  I was close enough to see and hear what was going on but not in her immediate proximity.  She took a banana off the display counter, peeled it, broke it in half and gave a piece to each child.  I don’t know if it was the child or the man with her that must have said something to her about “stealing”.  I heard her say, “that’s not stealing, it’s just a banana.  If I took a TV or something, now that would be stealing.  There is a difference.”

Then I heard someone saying, “Mam’ there’s not a difference!”  She said, “What?”  I repeated it, “There’s not a difference.”  One of the children asked here, “What did that lady say?” and she replied, “Oh, that lady thinks there is a difference between stealing a banana or a TV”.

I went my way and she went hers.  I never saw her again in the store.  It hurt me to think what she was teaching those little girls but her actions.  I also know that the “steps of the righteous are ordered of the Lord.”  I know I was there at that time and place to be the voice of absolute truth to either the little girls or the mama or both.

My husband always taught our sons that “it doesn’t matter if it is a penny or a Porsche; it’s still stealing. No matter if it is a banana or a TV it is stealing.  The comparisons could go on and on.  People throughout the ages have “done what was right in their own eyes” and it always led them “wrong”.   I may be considered old fashioned, narrow minded or just plain foolish; but I am thankful for the simplicity of the gospel, the voice of Truth and liberty and freedom found in the bounds of Christ.

Because of Him,

I am,

Ms. Patti     

I am blessed among women because both of my sons are godly men that are rearing their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.  They also have opened their hearts and homes to children who have come from homes and been taken from homes that have no peace, protection, love or safety.  Our hearts have been saddened because two little boys that have been in our family for almost a year and a half went “home”.  One was only 6 months old when he came to us; we are the only family he has ever known and he is having a hard time adjusting.  Meme and Papa are too; but the Lord has again “extended the cords of our tents” and new children have come into our family since B & J have left.

As I said, I went to church this morning where my son pastors.  As I was leaving and walking down the ramp; a little girl ran up behind me and grabbed me around the knees and said, “Are you Meme?”  Not knowing who she was, I bent down and told her I was Mya’s (my youngest granddaughter who was standing close by) Meme.  I bent down and gave her a hug and kiss on the cheek and said, “I’ll be your Meme too if you want me too”.  She said, “Yes, my name is Gracie” and ran off with Mya.  As they were leaving I heard Mya say to Gracie, “See, I told you have was Meme; I told you she would be yours too”.  It was then that I realized that she was  one of the three siblings that I knew were coming into the family.  I just didn’t know they had already come.

I so thankful that the Holy Spirit led me to respond to that little girl as I did.  What rejection and hurt this little gal must have already been through if she had to be taken from her family?  What if I had said, “I’m am Mya’s Meme.” and left it at that?  She wouldn’t have known that I didn’t know.  The Word tells us that when we don’t know what to say, the Holy Spirit will speak for us.  I had been taught that was when we were led to give an account for the gospel’s sake.  That’s true, but He also will speak for us if we will submit our mind (and tongue) to Him.

The Word tells me that if I follow hard after the Lord that goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.  They have; but today I had a close encounter with Grac(ie).  Just as grace is God’s unmerited favor to us; His giving us what we don’t deserve—life, life eternal and life in abundance.  Today I was given the gift of Gracie in my life.  I don’t “deserve” her; she’s really not one of “mine”.  I felt such love from that little gal; again, I am so thankful that the Lord accepted her through me.

I have often said “I am Ms. Patti to the world”.  People I don’t even know, know me and address me as such.  That’s fine.  As I am getting older, I have been given the great privilege to be Meme to many through my family, my child care ministry and the children in Africa.  (They actually call me Nanya, which is Swahili for Meme).

Yes, I am truly blessed.  My prayer is that I can let Jesus love my”children” through me so one day when I am old and gray(Ooops, I am already) they can rise up and call me blessed.

Because of Him,

I am,

Meme

"The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry.  And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" So I answered, "O Lord GOD, You know." Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!  Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: "Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.  I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD."

The thought came to me, “What if the Lord told me to stop at the junk yard, get out and prophesy to those cars?”  What if the Lord had a use for them in ministry and he wanted to “resurrect “ them for His use?  What if He told me to tell them, “O Clunkers, hear the word of the Lord!  Surely I will put gas in your tanks and you shall run.  I will will restore all your missing parts, I will knock out all your dents, I will give you a new paint job and then you will know that I am the Lord.”

Ezekiel heard the Lord speak to him and gave him the instructions to speak to the bones so that would live again.  If you  read all of that text you will find that Ezekiel, even in this vision, was struggling with his flesh. He did not sound too convinced that this miracle was even a possibility.  He had no faith for the problem, the situation, or even his own faith.  He did, however,  have faith in the Creator of those bones.  He knew that the Lord had at one time breathed life into them.  He knew that the Lord had once put sinews on their flesh and covered them with skin.  He knew if the Lord had done it once; and could do it again if He said He would. So he(Ezekiel) did and He did. 

If you would like to read this whole story it is found in the Ezekiel 37.  There is a picture of a heap of old dry bones, and yet when the prophet speaks the Word of the Lord; it says each bone began to come together with the bones of the original body.  When the bodies were complete there was still no life in them.  I know there is a lot of symbolic and prophetic implications here; but I just want to share with you the “simple” message I received from it.  Again Ezekiel was told to call to the four winds of the earth to breathe life into them; and so he did and He did.

You may be in a “valley” of the shadow of death and you are looking at a heap of dead relationships, dead and dying bodies, dead visions, or a seemingly dead ministry. I am so thankful to serve a God of the impossible!  He is able to heal and restore when all hope and all life is dead.  He has the ability to take all the pieces of our broken hearts and put them back together again. 

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall and when he fell and was broken; none  of the king’s men or horses could bring healing to him.  But the King of kings can gather up the pieces of our heart and lives and make us whole again.  Every death of one we loved, every disappointment in life or one we loved, every offense, every failure, every. . . . (you fill in the blank) takes a piece of our heart and spirit.  Only the Lord can collect them all back again and breathe into us new hope, new faith, new beginnings and new life.  By the wind of the Spirit, He will bring a refreshing and renewing that in the natural seems impossible.    

It takes faith to please God,  When our faith is weak, we know that God can, but aren’t sure if He will, we still have the ability to see Him do great things! How? by our sheer obedience.   Mountain movin’ and body buildin’ take a lot of faith.  Obedience just takes being faithful.  That is what I am doing in this blog.

I started this blog over a week ago.  If you have been reading the previous ones, you probably noticed that I hadn’t written in a while.  Oh, I have had some experiences that I wanted to tell you about; but I couldn’t put any of them into words.  It was as though the Lord was testing me on what He had showed me.  So, out of obedience I am writing this.  As I am closing, I can hear the chorus to an old hymn that I grew up hearing:  “Trust and obey, For there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

Because of Him,

I am (trying to be obedient and faithful)

Ms. Patti

1. It must be on fresh bread, he’s not much of bread eater so when he does eat it, it has to be fresh.
2. It has to be all beef bologna, preferably the kind that comes in a roll.
3. It has to be real cheese, no cheese food allowed.  I guess he got spoiled all those years we lived in Wisconsin.
4. It has to have a little, but not too much, suave, as he calls it.  I would call it Miracle Whip, not mayonnaise or any off brand.
5. The Miracle Whip is the key.

That’s an “Adams” sandwich.  The Hatfield’s have another idea of the “best sandwich”.  A Chicago style Italian Roast Beef.  My husband became “addicted” when he was growing up in Chicago.  He loved them so that he opened a sandwich shop selling them.  For those the hot and sweet peppers are the key. The businesses didn’t last long; the family literally “ate up the profits”.

The sandwich is a common entree in this 21st century but it first came to be in the 18th century.  It was John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich(Islands), that asked for some meat brought to him between two pieces of bread so he could continue playing cards while eating without getting his cards greasy from eating meat with his bare hands.

As a child care director and trainer, I encourage staff to use the “sandwich method” when discussing negative issues with parents or other staff.  It is also an effective method for for anyone talking to anyone.  “The sandwich method” is saying something positive, then discuss the negative issue, then end with something positive.  “Sandwich” the bad between two “pieces” of good.

Another way the word, Sandwich, is used is to describe the generation that is between their children and their parents.  I have been so blessed this week to be able to care not only for my father but four of my grandchildren as well.  It has been a long time since there has been this much activity in my home.  It has been great; and I have been so happy to be in the middle (the meat) of all the meals, baths and laundry.

Jesus hung in the middle of Heaven and Hell to make a way that He might “sandwich me in” between His mercy and His grace. Just like the Miracle Whip and Hot Peppers are the finishing touch for the family sandwiches; it is the Oil of the Spirit that makes this divine union possible. 

The Holy Spirit reveals to me my need and the longsuffering love of a merciful god.  He also draws me to that merciful savior and the faith to accept His amazing grace. 

Now I am blessed to “stand in the gap and make up a hedge”(Ezekiel 22:30) for those that don’t know Him.  When I allow His love to flow into me and I allow it to flow out to others; a hunger for His righteousness is created. “O, taste and see that the Lord, He is good”.(Psalms 34:8).  “The Bread of Life”,He is good! 

Because of Him,

I am,

Ms. Patti  

The last time my husband went to Africa, I was unable to go.  He went to the preschool where I had been teaching on previous trips.  When this little guy saw Babu (Swahili for grandfather) he wanted to know where Nyana (Swahili for grandmother) was.  When he was told that I wasn’t there, he left but soon returned.  He did not come empty-handed; he had a rock in his hand.  According to him it was “the best rock in all of Kenya!” and he wanted it given to me.  It was just a rock about the size of an egg and as smooth as silk; but nothing really special except for the giver and the spirit it was given.

Also on my desk was a rock, about the same size, given to me by a school age child at the daycare.  It was a rock of fool’s gold.  The young man said, “Ms. Patti, I want you to have this because I know you like ‘sparkly’ things.”  Both gave because they loved and had nothing else to give.  Both gifts had no monetary value; but had great sentimental value.

I remember a missionary story of a young boy in the Philippines giving the missionary a crude necklace made of coral. The missionary was so pleased and thankful; then realized that coral like this was only found at the sea shore—20 miles away.  When she asked where he got the stones he told her “at the shore”.  She then asked him if he went to shore by himself.  He replied, “Yes, long walk part of gift.”

My husband has often used the illustration of two men walking together.  One stops and exclaims, “I just found a piece of gold.  I am going to keep this safe on my mantle at home so all can see it and I can tell the story of how I found it!”   They walked along a little farther and the other man stops and exclaims, “I just found a clump of dirt. I am going to keep this safe on my mantle at home so all can see it and I can tell the story of how I found it!”

The “gold” man said, “That’s ridiculous, that dirt clump has no value.”  The “dirty” man said, “my dirt has just as much value as your gold if you are just going display and not use what you have been given.”

When Moses was arguing with the “Great I Am” about God wanting him to go free His people from Pharaoh’s Egypt.  God asked him what he had in his hand.  “Just my rod” was his answer.  Over the next 40 years that rod was used to show the power of God.  It turned into a serpent and back to a rod, it was held over the Red Sea and it parted,  and it struck a rock in the wilderness and water came pouring out.   

Do you feel you have nothing of value that God can use.  It may be useless or of little monetary value, but when given in love to LOVE(which is God) great things can be accomplished for the cause of the cross of Christ. 

This morning is Palm Sunday.  The Sabbath when Jesus came into Jerusalem with praise and adoration of the people. The took their cloaks and palm leaves in their hands and laid them down before him in worship.  Within a week’s time some of those same people clenched their fists and cried “Crucify Him”.  Others took swords and spears, and whips and nails in their hands and murdered God.

What is in your hands?  I am sure that God has placed in our hands wealth, resources, giftings and talents that are much more valuable than a rod or a rock.  He can do great things when we surrender all we have, and are, to the Rock of our Salvation and of all Ages.

Because of Him,

I am (In His hands)

Ms. Patti

I don’t really remember her as a baby but as a toddler.  Perhaps the reason I remember is because my memory has been “jogged” lately by some old 8mm home movies.  My dad recorded a lot of our family history through the lens of his movie camera.  Since he has Alzheimer’s, we had some of them put on DVDs in hopes it would “Jog” his memory but it didn’t.

One of the “clips” shows us playing in our back yard.  Pam is in a frilly dress “toddling” to get to me; and as soon as she does, I run away from her.  No, not in a “tag” sort of way.  No, a “I’m oblivious of you” sort of way.  There is another film that shows me playing in a sand box.  She climbs in; and I climb out.  Another portion of the film shows me on my first day of school.  I am on the sidewalk with my friend and we are waving good bye.  (I can’t believe that my mother let me walk to school on the first day; but it was another era.)  My sister is laying on the sidewalk crying because she wants to go with me.  I come back to her and give her a peck of a kiss and then my friend and I walk away until we are out of the camera’s view.  Meanwhile my mother is consoling her by showing her a bug.  Looking back, I am ashamed that I did not show my sister more compassion.  On the other hand, how “attached” to me was she really if a bug could take my place?

I cannot remember my sister and I arguing or fighting.  I also remember telling her that if she didn’t “do for me or give to me”  what I wanted; I would send her back to the Salvation Army.  Where I got that idea, I’ll never know.  More than that, why did she believe me?   I am ashamed that I treated her that way.  I am thankful that she loves me anyway; could it be because we are sisters? Because we have relationship? Because we are not only of the same mother but the same Father as well.  We are sisters because of Adams blood line.  We are also blood sisters because of cross of Christ.

While thinking of her, I have asked the Lord to help me never treat her, or any other sister, like I did as a child.  When “sisters” make an effort to be with me; help me to acknowledge them and not just go on my own way, leaving them standing alone in the sand.  When circumstances cause us to have to part; help me never give them a goodbye kiss of Judas.  “Help me to make new friends and keep the old because some are silver and some are gold.” Help me to remember that I will reap what I sow.  If I discard relationships and fellowship without thought; I too will have the value of a “bug” to others.  Instead, help others and me find “Salvation” in each other as we serve together in the “Army” of the Lord.

My sister and I have led different lives and have had many miles between us most of our adult lives.  Every experience I have had with the friends and family in the faith have worked together for my good to make me who I am today.  I am thankful for each one.  I am thankful to be the sister of my sister.  Happy birthday, Sis.

Because of Him,

I am,

Pam’s Sister, Patti

Just for fun…
WHAT DOES YOUR DAY MEAN?

MONDAY:
Monday’s child is fair of face.
You are good-looking, especially when you smile!  
You are beautiful inside and out. 

TUESDAY:
Tuesday’s child is full of grace.
You have many talents, and are fun to be around.  
You dance through life!

WEDNESDAY:
Wednesday’s child is full of woe.
You are a serious person, and try to change things that seem unfair.
You make the world a better place!

THURSDAY:
Thursday’s child has far to go.
You have many ideas, and you want to do them all.  
You will go far in life!

FRIDAY:
Friday’s child is loving and giving.
You are caring and sharing.  You are kind,  
you love people, and people love you!

SATURDAY:
Saturday’s child works hard for a living.
You are ambitious, enjoy work, and like to accomplish things.  
You know what you want!

SUNDAY:
But the child born on the Sabbath day,
Is fair and wise and good and gay.
You are sunny, fun, and loving.
You bring much joy to other people!

When both my baby sons were brought to me in the hospital right after delivery, I counted toes and fingers and thanked the Lord for giving me a healthy son. Then I prayed for their wife-to-be.  I knew Jesus loved them and God had a plan for their life.  I knew it would be my husband and my responsibility to “train them up in the way they should go”.  It would be our responsibility to teach them the commandments of the Lord when they ‘went out and when they came in, when went to bed and when they got up”.  I knew they would be mighty men of God; but I also knew that if they did not find their “soul mate”. By that, I mean the one that God had chosen for them from the foundation of the world;  they would be hindered in fulfilling their callings.

That was not a one time prayer, but my prayer for them through out their lives.  However, the first time I held my boys and prayed for their “help meets”; I actually thought I was praying for little girls not yet born.  Little did I know that they both were “terrific” little two year old toddlers. 

“My girls” don’t complete my boys.  They are both very strong and accomplished  and  successful in their own endeavors and passions in life.  Their wives compliment them perfectly.  I may not be a great grandmother but they have given me five of the greatest grandchildren in the world.  They have all been born with in the first decade of this millennium and four of them have already accepted Jesus as their savior and have followed Him in water baptism.

Besides being two of the greatest wives and mothers in the world, they have opened their hearts even wider to be foster mothers  Without them, these children might not have ever known the true love of God and a mother.  They, like God, love them all the same, unconditionally. 

As a director of a child care center, I see so many children being raised by their grandparents.  This is so sad for both the child and the grandparents.  Children deserve to have loving parents that care for them and make the hard choices and decisions for their good.  They also deserve to have doting grandparents that spoil and pamper them.  When the grandparents are the “parents” both are cheated out of a family relationship that God intended for them each to have.  I want to thank both of my “girls” for taking such good care of my grandchildren and giving me the opportunity to be “MeMe”

Happy Birthday, girls, I love you.

Because of Him

I am blessed,

Ms. Patti

Erma Bombeck once said that when you are choosing a name for your child, go to your back door, yell at the top of your lungs the child’s FULL name three times.  If you can say it three times  and not get “tongue-tied” and you still like the name—it is a good choice.

As a child I thought “Judy” was the most beautiful name in the world.  I got the idea that you could change your name for $25.00.  For a child in the late 50’s and early 60’s to save that much money, was nearly impossible.  I was no exception; so Patti I was and Patti I am.

When my family moved from Wisconsin to Kentucky in the summer of 1968 I was having a hard time adjusting.  Leaving all my friends, starting a new school and entering middle school was a very overwhelming.  My confidence and esteem were shaken, so my mother had, what she thought, was a great idea.  She told me that since no one knew me and I would be introducing myself to new friends, I could tell them my name was another version of “Patti”.  In other words, I could tell them I was: Patsy, Patricia, Pat, or Trisha.  I didn’t like any of those, so I told my first period teacher that I was “Patrice”. 

I will never forget the first class of my first day of school in Kentucky  was a Kentucky History class so, as a kid from Wisconsin, I was lost already.  I was born in Cuba City, Wisconsin and the locals called it “Cuba” for short.  When my teacher asked where I was from, I told her, without thinking “Cuba”,   She got so excited  and then so disappointed when she realized I was not one of “Castro’s Kids”.

Later in the class she asked the question, “Patrice, what is the difference between weather and climate?”  Guess what, I just kept sitting there.  She asked again, and then I realized she was talking to me.  It was then I decided I was going to have to “come clean” and admit I was “Patti” if I was going to keep my grades up.

When I married I had another name change from Adams to Hatfield; but there is another one yet to come.  When I accepted Jesus as my Savior at the age of four, my “name” was written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.  But, I wonder “What Name?”.  Patti, Patrice, Adams, Hatfield,—Judy?” 

In Bible times a person’s name was very important because it reflected who and what the person was.  For this reason, a child was often times not named until they were a toddler and their “personality” emerged.  We also have record of God changing some people’s name when their lives and mission changed. 

The Word says when we get to Heaven, He is going to give us a new name.  It also says that we will be known as we are known.  I believe that means our new name will be the description of how we are known to others and to God Himself.  I desire to have my new name be, “one who loved the little ones of all ages.”  What ever He chooses, I know that when He calls my name to either “Come up Thither” or “Come Home” I know I will answer.  Even if He names me Patrice (or Judy).

Because of Him,

I am,

Ms. Patti

aka (Phoebe/Judy)