Tag Archive | church

Anticipation of Easter

Mar30
Hinchee Family Easter 1969
Hinchee Easter 1967
Hinchee Cousins at Granny Hinchee’s House
Friends ready to go to Easter Service 1969

Do you remember when you were a child and the anticipation you felt as Easter drew near?
I don’t know about boys, but I vividly remember going shopping to pick out
the perfect Easter outfit.
Not just a dress – but the matching assessories as well.

The perfect dress that “looked like spring”.
Hat
White Gloves
White lacy socks (for the younger years) or stockings. (I still remember my first pair. They made me feel so grown up!)
All new under garments were a must! (Does anyone remember the scratchy crinolines which made out dress move like a bell when we moved from side to side and caused it to puff out perfectly whenever we had the opportunity to spin around? Ah, what fun!)
White Patent Leather Shoes
White Purse complete with a new lace hankie, a  small comb, a small mirror, a stick of chewing gum  and a small coin purse with coins inside to place into the offering plate at Church.
A Spring Coat to match the dress if Easter came early in the Spring. (I think we called them dusters?)
A small corsage from Dad Hinchee made me feel quite grown up! I still love wearing flowers – in spite of allergies.

This was just part of the anticipation. Of course, Moms enjoyed preparing “Easter Baskets” which were waiting for us when we arose on Easter morning. (I enjoyed the marshmallow treats and gave Mom the jelly beans and creme eggs.)  I don’t know about you, but I am much older than my sister and brother and dyeing the eggs, preparing the baskets and watching Melissa and Steve squeal with delight on Easter morning was the best part of the tradition!

In 1969, our family celebrated Easter as new believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. We added going to Church when we were saved in October of 1968. The first Easter at Church was extra special – two of my friends joined us and also believed on Him that Sunday!

After Church, the Hinchee family gathered at the Grandparents home for a wonderful meal cooked by one of the best cooks in Roanoke!

However, none of the trappings could compare with the true meaning of Easter. The resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! “He is not here, He is risen, as He said!”

For centuries, the anticipation of the coming Messiah is evident in the Word of God. God had promised to send a Savior. He established the Passover, laws, ceremonies, traditions that would point to the Cross. His Word revealed prophecies of the coming of the Messiah and our Salvation. That the LORD would lay on Him the iniquities of us all. (Isaiah 53).
The Passover is a picture of Christ. The Tabernacle and the altars with their offerings were a picture and yet when John the Baptist said of Jesus Christ, “Behold, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.” was lost on the Rabbis, the religious zealots, those who were searching diligently for the Messiah didn’t even recognize Him when He bore their sin (and ours) on the cross of Calvary.

All the years of Easter traditions before I received Christ at the age of eleven did not point me to Christ. They didn’t symbolize New Life in Christ or that His shed blood washes us white as snow. – that in Christ, we are new creatures! I was just playing dress up until the Gospel reached my ears and my heart and He made me brand new!

Now, I am anticipating not only the celebration of His defeat over death when He arose from the dead but also the things to come. Thankfulness that He suffered for me and cleansed me from my sin – past, present and future! A home in Heaven,  The rapture. The wedding feast – as we are the Bride of Christ adorned for her Husband! (Okay ladies, now that is a good reason to go out and buy new Church clothes – right?)

I’ve been changed by the blood of the Lamb. He gave His life for me and arose that we may have new life! Does my countenance show it?  It’s not about the clothes or the sweets that remind us of His sweet sacrifice but it has everything to do with Him. How about you?

Worthy is the Lamb

Versatility

Feb19

SAMSUNG

John’s parents gave us this small mahogany “card table” when we bought our first home. Dad and Mother Purdy had received it as a gift or bought it for their first home – a long time ago!  It is called a card table but we have never used it for that.

Liz

Anne

We usually open it up on holidays as we did last Thanksgiving for my beautiful nieces. I love to dress up the table with a lace cloth but with Turbo Kitty, Alice running around, we settled for a cotton tablecloth Mother Purdy had used for this table during the holidays.

Turbo Kitty inspects table

So where does the versatility come in? This table can be used three ways. You have already seen two ways. It takes some work getting it from this position (My favorite because the wood looks so pretty against the wall and anything displayed on the table is enhanced by the depth of the wood.

Step 1 - close the table

Step 1 – close the table (I have added felt to protect the wall but it is not adhered to the table.)

Step 2 - Twist the table counter clockwise

Step 2 – Twist the table counter clockwise

I don’t think the table likes this part. It complains and squeals – just like us when we are asked to step out of our comfort zone.

Step 3 – Open the table, dust it and you have seating for two!

After dinner, just reverse the order and it can become a display table.

Isabel's gifts

Through the years, this little table has served as a guest table, a sideboard, tea table, dessert table, display table, sofa table, a lamp table, a place for the cats to watch the birds from our front window and as it is called – a card table. Pretty versatile, isn’t it?

IMG_0488

Did you know that we are to be versatile as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ?  We may think, “I’m a ___________” when we are really an instrument with a divine purpose. To serve wherever He calls and to do whatever He asks of us. So the next time you are asked to work in the nursery, teach Sunday School, give your testimony, pray, sing in the choir, pass out bulletins, write an article, write a book…  I have found that the more I do for the Lord; the more He will enable me to do in His name.  After all, just as this table had a designer who had made plans for versatility, the Lord designed you with talents and gifts. How sad it would be to remain a display table in the corner when He had planned for me to serve to others the Bread of Life!

You may ask, “How can I serve or speak when I am so nervous?”

1. Pray – (John 14:13-14;  James 1:5;  I John 5:14)

2. Prepare – (2 Timothy 2:15;  I John 5:10-15)

3. Practice – (2 Timothy 2:1-3, 3:14-17)

And remember, God chose an elderly man to build the ark, a shepherd to lead His people, a boy to slay a giant, fishermen to follow Him and to preach the Word, and more importantly, God Himself, left the glory of Heaven to be born in the lowliest of places to be our Savior – The Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world and then He arose from the dead that we may have everlasting life!

Since He has done so much for me; how can I give Him less than He asks of me? Versatility – for Him.

“Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”

Colossians 3:23

What does this have to do with an old table? We were also designed for a purpose. To glorify God. To serve Him in any way that He asks – just be willing to turn and go the way He directs!

Have a wonderful week!

Love in Christ,

Kathy

I Peter 3:15

 

A Walk in a Lovely Town

Nov24

 

November, 2012

We stepped inside this lovely country store and it was as if we were crossing a threshold into the past. From shelves containing books about local history, old fashioned cookware, toys and clothing. Add local music and food and this gal didn’t want to leave. I could have stayed several hours as I perused aisles for future purchases; convinced that my husband will bring me back again soon. We had lunch while listening to local musicians and bought a book with a pictorial history of the area.

Where is this lovely spot located? Along the curvy roads of South western Virginia. Floyd, to be precise.  My first impression as we pulled into the parking lot which faced the country store, I remarked that we must be in Mayberry! Why? Notice the shop beside the store.

Yep, looks like Floyd left the Andy in Mayberry and opened his barber shop in Virginia!

The gentleman sitting in front of the charming country store chatted with my husband and promised to come inside later to play some music.

Music in the Floyd Country Store

There were other wonderful shops as well.

Notice the caption on this sign – one doesn’t see the invitation to loiter very often!

“Loitering Allowed!”

We spent a lot of time in the consignment shop too. I will save my purchases for another post. I will say that I found something from the 1920’s. This is important because, The Vision of a Mother’s Heart and the sequel I hope to finish by the beginning of the new year take place in a small community in rural Virginia during the “Roaring Twenties!”

One of the things I was looking for on this trip was to see houses that may have been built pre-1920’s and may have had a wrap-around porch. I will give you a hint about the sequel. Isabel stayed with a wonderful lady near Floyd County for a while. She was a very kind woman who lived in a house with a wrap-around porch.

I couldn’t resist getting a pic of this outfit. Reminds me of the Roaring Twenties!

Within view of the town is a beautiful sight. A white Church with it’s spire reaching up to  the sky. Couldn’t help but wonder if there was a Church bell, calling citizens to Church every Sunday morning.

As we were driving out of town, I saw a blue house that will be perfect for a scene in Hope Beyond The Sunset. You will recognize it when you read the story.

For my fellow history buffs reading this blog, Floyd, VA was once named Jacksonville to honor Andrew Jackson, the seventh President of the United States (1829–1837).

Floyd, Va is also recognized as one area ministered to by Bob Childress of The Man Who Moved A Mountain. (By Richard C. Davis and is available on Amazon.com.)

That’s all for tonight, friends. Hope you enjoyed our little journey into the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwestern Virginia. I know we did!

For more information about the area, click on the following link. http://www.floydvirginia.com/visitors-guide/

Nevrdun News – Could We Be Losing Something?

Mar20

The following post is a newsletter written by my dear friend of Nevrdun News.

Do you remember when we dressed in our finest clothes to wear to Church out of respect for the Lord? It doesn’t need to be a distant memory of the past. We can give our best to the Master today.

 

Image

 

“We’re losing it,” I thought.  “We’re losing it.“

 

We were in a rural area yesterday, way out.  As we passed a tiny country church, an elderly gentleman with a cane in one hand and a Bible in his other was slowly picking his way across the uneven ground to his car.  I wish I had been brave enough to stop and ask if we could take his picture.

 

Try to envision a tiny country church, beautifully maintained, surrounded by fields lush with fresh spring grass sprinkled with Texas wildflowers.  Cattle are contentedly grazing as the old man leaves the building, slowly making his way to his car.  A warm breeze is blowing, occasionally gently lifting the end of his tie, for you see, he is wearing a suit and tie. 

 

His generation and those before him wore their best clothes to church on Sunday mornings.  Some reading this will be too young to remember those days.  Wearing your best clothes was a way to outwardly show honor for the occasion.  It was an outward sign of respect for God.

 

Oh, I know what some of you might be thinking.  “God doesn’t care about the outside, what matters is the inside.”  Now don’t get me wrong, I’m right there with you.  After all, we go to a Cowboy Church.  Jeans are the standard fare.  In fact, that’s pretty much all I ever wear.  A pair of black slacks for the occasional times I need to “look professional” and jeans for everything else.

 

But sometimes I wonder, in all our casualness are we losing something?  We’ve taken the steeples off our buildings and the hymnbooks out of our pews (pew?  what’s that?).  Our “sacred” music has been simplified to the point where people no longer know how to read music and organs are becoming a relic of the past.  Our once reverent sanctuaries have evolved into entertainment inspired modern auditoriums sprinkled with speakers and big screens and Broadway lighting.  And why carry a Bible when the Bible is on your smart phone?

 

I don’t know.  I’m just thinking out loud I guess.  I can’t put my finger on it, but it just seems like we are losing something.

       

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“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD”

Psalm 122:1

 

Church Song Requests – Repost from The Vision of a Mother’s Heart blog.

Mar6

In The Vision of a Mother’s Heart, one of the chapters portrays Song Requests in Church. Little Jimmy was confused about the title of his favorite song but the song leader knew which song he meant and they all sang Trust and Obey.

On their way home from Church, “Mama” announced that she had borrowed a hymnal from the song leader so that the children could copy the songs so that they would learn the songs they sang most often.

The Church where I grew up asked for requests almost every Sunday night. When the music director asked for requests, we all knew that Mr. Drain would request page number 292.

Hymnals

 
Surely Goodness and Mercy by John W. Peterson and Alfred Smith. We sang all of the verses as well as the chorus at the end. We sang this with enthusiasm. We sang with joy. We sang with smiles as we watched Mr. Drain singing with all his heart.

Back in the “old days,” we had hymnals. Children stood by their parents and learned to read the music as well as the words as they shared their song book with Mom or Dad. Many of us remember all five verses to How Great Thou Art and Just As I Am because the hymns became a part of who we are. Sometimes I fear that we will have a generation of children who do not know how to read music because they have missed out on this wonderful tradition of sharing a hymnal.

What about you? Do you have any memories of learning hymns with your parents in Church? What would song would you request? Did you learn to read music at Church by singing along using the hymnal? I would love to hear your stories!

I must admit that I prefer the older songs. Songs filled with doctrine and have a good melody as well. Crown Him With Many Crowns, Wonderful Grace of Jesus, At Calvary, and Mr. Drain’s favorite – Surely Goodness and Mercy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDMqlwsfa2k