Mama's Petunia Garden

        Mama's Petunia Garden

 

 

 

October 22nd will be the Fifth anniversary of Mama's Homegoing. I do miss her so much. She was 93 years young.

 

Mama loved flowers. The last few years of her life on this earth, she had those old timey petunias growing around the house. Everyone who came to visit took some of them home, including me.

 

The first two years my petunia garden was a delight. The petunias seem to just multiply and they were so beautiful. Then the next year not one petunia came up. The bed was so empty. As I sat on the porch and looked in the corner where they were planted, it was so sad to not see them blooming, mostly at a time I really needed to see them. I needed something that Mama had grown, something she had touched.

 

A good friend of mine who took her Heavenly Journey Home last year, had given me some yellow cannas and where I had put them they had not really grown, so I decided to move them to that spot, the exact place where the petunias had been for the last two years. The cannas are still blooming, and the yellow flowers are wonders to behold.

 

A few days ago, I walked outside in the yard. As I walked, I noticed something in the flower bed that was not a canna. I walked over, and my eyes filled with tears as I realized it was the most beautiful petunia plant. The leaves were dark green, and on the plant was one bloom. A lavender petunia with white around the edges. The first words out of my mouth was thank you God, thank you for letting this petunia grow and bloom this week, the very week that I needed to feel a touch of my Mama's Hand.  It let me know she is okay and I will be okay. And also, I thought, God is also letting the yellow cannas grow around the petunia, so I can  remember Kaye and Mama. Kaye loved mama and they both loved to plant flowers, so God gave me and extra blessing.

 

An extra note, the petunias at my sister, Ruby's house, where Mama lived her last eight years, did not bloom this year either. But when I called Ruby today to tell her about the one petunia blooming in my flower bed, she said Pat, would you believe that I also have one petunia plant that has grown in the back yard also. Of course, she started crying, and I joined her as we rejoiced together in the special way that God decided to bless us today. Yes, one, lone petunia, but that is all we needed.

 

Thank God for the small Miracles that He blesses us with, to show us His love.

 

Fannie Mae Wade Hunter 12/26/14 - 10/22/08 My Mama’s Bible   Written and Copyrighted Coffee With Pat Ministries 2008   Mama's Bible, so ragged and worn, Its pages are scribbled, ripped and torn. Its been around for ages, she's had it for years, Some pages smudged by rain and some by her tears The name on the cover is faded, it's true. There might be a page missing, or two. To look at that book one might scoff and frown They may say, "Why, there's no use in keeping it around. "A new Bible, I'm certain, is what you must need, With pages so perfect, and pictures indeed." But friends, I know better and I'm here to persuade' There's more in that ol' book, more than I can say. For she read it and held it so close to her heart, Its Knowledge and Wisdom and Love to impart. She held it so tightly, through storm and through chill, But ever much closer when her children were ill. Her faith can be seen on each page and each line, Her writings of love time after time. She carried it high through thick and through thin, So proud of the holy scriptures contained within. Of all of the treasures in this world we can hold, This Bible of mama's so ragged and old. Is far more precious than silver and gold. . No memory is more precious, none that I hold so dear, When the storms of my life bring me much fear The vision of mother, the love on her face . . .  As she read that old bible and told me of Jesus saving grace.   Poem and Devotion Written By: Pastor Pat Aman  August 26, 2008 - Copyright     Devotion Written By: Pastor Pat Aman  Book © 1996/2009 "Coffee

                     Holy Ghost Revival

2 Chronicles 7:13, 14, "If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 

 

Today we read church signs, bulletin boards, newspaper articles that say, "Come to A Holy Ghost Revival." But they forget one thing. They forget to invite the Holy Ghost when they make their invitation list. Churches everywhere are seeking Revival, but none are preparing for the Revival. How do you prepare for Revival. Pray! Pray! Pray!

 

Too many churches have 3 day Revivals, some a week, but how many pray week after week, really understanding that Revival must begin with their own heart. It is time churches stop saying, "Well, you know the week of June 6th or September 8th, will soon be here, and you know we must plan our yearly Revival." Who are WE going to get to come preach our Revival?

 

It is time we decide to pray and have Revival all year long. No man or woman can bring a Revival to your church. If you do not pray and prepare, you will just have someone come, preach, and then when they leave, you will go back to the same routine of just attending church services. Yes, bored, dry, and no anointing at all. You will have the same few people, doing the same things, going on with the same programs. If you want Revival, again, Pray! Pray! Pray!

 

Christians must seek the face of God on their knees. Churches must have corporate unity to bring the anointing, that will bring a true Holy Ghost Revival. Too many people are seeking God for answers, and wanting to work for God, but they are not getting up off the pew and working to get the job done. You cannot just come to church week after week, and not do some foot work, and win lost souls to God. Remember, if Peter had not got our of the boat, he would have only knew the disciples, but he took a step of faith and got out of the boat and meet Jesus.

 

 I do not know about you, but as I wrote the words above straight from my heart, I can tell you now, I want a real Holy Ghost Revival, and I am starting it within myself on my knees. How about you?

 

 I read the article below about the great Revival  of 1799, and I want to share it with you.

 

I truly believe the quote from: Alex Dodson

"We live in a day when the preaching of the Word of God has taken a back seat in many evangelical churches to other things. The great pulpits of the past have been removed and the stage opened up for the worship team. It is not that the worship team is doing something wrong but that what they do has priority over the preaching of the Word of God which used to be pre-eminent in our worship services. Many Christians no longer take the Bible seriously or have no confidence in much of what it says. We are living in a time of compromise. No longer is the Bible revered as the very Word of God. Even seminaries compromise with modern day science theories and philosophy. The whole Bible is not considered trustworthy anymore. Darwinian philosophy has taken the place of a truly Biblical and Christian philosophy in the public schools of this land and even in some Christian schools."

In the last several months, I myself, have noticed that people do not even take their Bibles to church. The scripture is on a screen in the front of the building behind the pulpit, so why carry my Bible into the sanctuary?

 

Now that is not a problem, unless, it means that Christians cannot even find their Bibles anymore at home. If they are not taking the time to pick their Bible up and study God's Word, their lives will become totally dormant.

And then we wonder, hummmm? Why and I having such a bad day or week?

God Bless You,
Pastor Pat Aman Lenox Massachusetts in 1799
Notes taken from events of Rev. Samuel Shephard of Lenox, Mass. who wrote about what happened in his church in 1799.

 In 1799, there was a revival that swept through the Northeast. Many came to Christ through the standard means of the faithful preaching of God's Word and prayer. We have not had a national revival in the United States since 1858, when the Prayer Meeting Revival began in New York City.

 

I came upon a list of seven characteristics in a general accounting of what occurred during this revival in Lenox, Massachusetts. Most interesting to me was what did not occur during this revival. It was not driven by emotional outbursts, but rather was a solid contemplation of the individual's position before God and state of the soul. I intend to summarize the seven points below without much comment. It was a work of God. There was a marked change in the appearance and pursuits of the people. The revival began in the church.

 

When God is about to bestow spiritual blessings upon a people, it is His usual method, first to awake His professed friends out of spiritual sleep. There began a striking importance given to the means of grace. Prayer became precious. The Lord's day was honored. People studied and cherished the Bible with a newfound love.

 

Every opportunity for religious instruction was prized, and fellowship with the people of God involved serious conversation. Nothing was said about dreams and visions, hearing unusual voices, or seeing uncommon sights. No extravagance, either in gestures or outcries, appeared. No wild enthusiasm attended the revival in any stage of it. There was a unity of faith and understanding.

 

There was a focus on the need for regeneration (being born again). There was an additional emphasis on the need for a moral life as evidence of having been justified. All these, and other, aspects of the faith were "received by all with one consent." The revival in this town proved the "death-wound" to vain amusements. The youth are remarkable for their sobriety.

 

One distinguishing feature, both here and elsewhere was humility. Humility has been the common effect of the operation of the Spirit in the hearts of sinners in every age during a revival. The author gives the end result of the effects of the revival in Lenox. He says the result was: happy families, happy neighborhoods, happy societies, happy towns, happy states, happy kingdoms, and a happy world.

 

 If you are one who longs for revival this list is an example of what one looked like. I found numbers four and seven the most interesting, because both of these are not typically what we look for when there is an outburst of God's grace and mercy. I'm not intending to say that God has to work this way. In fact, I gave this list because of how surprised I was by it. If we seek revival, it may be the case that the Lord brings it in ways that we are not expecting.

 

Blessings, Love and Prayers,
Pastor Pat Aman

Also, please know that:

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with Joy.
Philippians 1: 3-4

I end each message with "My Blessings, Love & Prayers," I truly mean that, and I pray for each of you every morning and evening.

The Desires of Your Heart

Tonight as I read these scriptures I realize how true they are to the Righteous of God.

God cares about each of us. He knows the desires of our heart. He even knows the simple things that we need to enjoy life.

Read these scriptures and then at the bottom you will read how God has bless Joe and I in even the simple things. The things that some people take for granted everyday. The gift of Love.

The Heritage of the Righteous

Psalm 37

³ Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

⁴ Delight yourself also in the Lord,And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

⁵ Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.

⁶ He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,And your justice as the noonday.

⁷ Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.

⁹ For evildoers shall be cut off;
But those who wait on the Lord,
They shall inherit the earth.

¹⁰ For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more;
Indeed, you will look carefully for his place,
But it shall be no more.

¹¹ But the meek shall inherit the earth,And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

¹⁷ For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,But the Lord upholds the righteous.

¹⁸ The Lord knows the days of the upright,
And their inheritance shall be forever.

¹⁹ They shall not be ashamed in the evil time,
And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

²² For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth,But those cursed by Him shall be cut off.

²³ The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,
And He delights in his way.

²⁴ Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;For the Lord upholds him with His hand.

²⁹ The righteous shall inherit the land,And dwell in it forever.

³⁰ The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom,
And his tongue talks of justice.

³¹ The law of his God is in his heart;None of his steps shall slide.

³⁴ Wait on the Lord,
And keep His way,
And He shall exalt you to inherit the land;
When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it

³⁹ But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
He is their strength in the time of trouble.

⁴⁰ And the Lord shall help them and deliver them;
He shall deliver them from the wicked,
And save them,Because they trust in Him.

As each of you know we have two daughters by birth. Because of their life occupational choices they have been going to school all their life.

We also have an adopted daughter who also seems to be making herself a career woman. She has her Master's and is a College Basketball Coach.

One of the things we told them was not to get married and have children until they finish their education.

Well, when we said those words we did not know that they were going to make a career out of going to school. LOL!

Our oldest is a Head Assistant Principal, and she is now in her last year working on her Doctorate. When she finishes in May 2014, I understand that she is going to begin school again. Another degree. I told her all contracts are now null and void. Forget what we told them.

Our youngest just finished her Surgical Residency last July, and is a small animal surgeon.

My point here is, Joe and I will be 60 years old on our birthdays. We pray that God will send our daughter's a sold out man of God for them to fall in love, marry and yes, have us some grandbabies.

Well, we are still waiting. God does have a sense of humor I have learned.

About 3 years ago, we have friends visiting us from Louisiana. We were all talking  one day about having grandbabies. I casually mention in the car on the way to eat at Andy's, I guess I will have to adopt me some grandbabies. (Oh, we were going to Andy's to see is Joe and Cleo could eat the big Hamburger Deal they have. You eat a huge burger with fries in a certain amount of time and it cost you nothing.)

As we were on our way, we passed by Golden Carroll, and the men decided to stop there instead. Using the excuse they wanted buffet. We think they just chickened out of eating the homogenous hamburger.

We went in and got our food and was just enjoying talking. Then I noticed a couple with 3 children. The parents were making sure the children were using excellent manners, eating their food and not wasting it. Also, saying yes ma'ma and no sir. And held hands and said their prayer before they ate.

Now you are talking about around the ages 9, 6 and 4.

I could not stand not saying something to them. You all know me and my big mouth.

I went over and thank the parents for raising their children to be respectful and in what truly seem like a Christian atmosphere. I also told them how precious the children were and how beautiful they were.

And of course I mention we did not have any grandchildren, and I hope when we do that ours were as wonderful as their children. Then I said, "I guess because our daughters have made a career out of school, and we are just going to have to adopt us some grandbabies."

When I said that, the couple looked shocked. She look and her husband and said, "Tell her what I just said." He in turn said, "She just said that we were going to have to adopt our children some grandparents.

Now for the rest of the story: We now have 3 beautiful grandchildren, now ages 11, 8, 6. God also blessed us with a new daughter and a new son.

We are now Papa and Nana, and we are having a ball. Papa is putting erector sets together with the boys and I am taking the granddaughter to get our nails done this weekend.

Papa and I have taken them to the movies. We have seen Monsters University, Despicable Me 2, Turbo, and I think the next  movie we are going to is Planes.

Anyway, God has blessed us with grandbabies that may not be our blood, but we could love them no more then if they were. They are such a joy and we want to be around them all the time.

Even if our 11 year old granddaughter painted my fingernails green and blue and ask me to wear to church last Sunday and I DID. Oh, my toenails were blue.

We now understand what it means when someone says, "You will do anything for your grandbabies.

Now, I want you to know that yesterday and today, I told out oldest daughter, "Do you realize that is you and your sister get married and have children in the next 5 years, Daddy and I will be 65 years old. And when they are 10 we will be 75 years old. And when they graduate high school we will be 85 years old.

When I mentioned it again today, we said, "Mama, this is the second day you have told me this." I said, "well, I will say it again tomorrow, because I heard the 3rd time is a charm." LOL

Anyway, church, God has given Joe and I desires of our heart. We now have three beautiful adopted grandbabies. He has did it He's way right now. 

But, I do have faith that if He does not return soon, we will have more grandbabies to love.

Bring them on. The more the better.

Oh, and it looks like our friend who was here is going to get her a grandbaby real soon.

Ain't God Good!