THERE IS NOT ALWAYS FIRE.
THANK GOD!!

 

Selah.

Very recently my husband was making hobo potatoes. This time, instead of outside on the grill, he wrapped them in foil and used the oven. After a while it got smokey in the kitchen…  Butter had dripped out from a small tear in the foil.

No biggie.

But:

The next day he went a ‘fishing with our son and his three daughters. Challenge came: for me. I was preheating the oven for a turkey t.v. dinner. If you remember, I haven’t cooked a meal from scratch for I don’t know how long. (God is great!) Yes, Duane is the cook and I am the baker (sometimes.) A t.v. dinner does me fine when he’s not available: or when I’m good, a diet drink.

So as the oven was preheating after a time it became smokey…  I mean smokeeeeee.  I honestly think this was the smokiest our Falcon Heights home has ever gotten. Smoke in the kitchen, smoke in the dining room, smoke in the living room, smoke in the office and bedroom. Smoke from the upper room made it look like there was a fire up there.

I wasn’t in a panic.

Selah.

My very first inclination was to open all the windows to get the smoke out ASAP. Silly me! No, let’s improve on that statement with full truth; stupid me! I should have first called our alarm company and let them know there was no emergency at all! (My dog didn’t think so though.)

No, instead my first goal was to open all windows to get the smoke out as fast as possible; and then try to turn off that annoying, but possibly, life-saving alarm. Stupid me!

But there will good news in this Joy Story (there always is!)

Yes, Tina was really nervous. (She’s our Terrier mix.) Pewter (our Russian Blue cat) was even a little uneasy; very unusual. That’s because the smoke was really bad.

After working to quell the smoke, the thick, stinky, and annoying smoke, I got this ‘brilliant’ thought: “I hope the alarm company doesn’t contact the police…”

They did.

Selah.

I didn’t even hear the phone ring. By this time the alarm had stopped, the smoke had very much been alleviated, and I ran to the phone…

I called back the alarm company, assuring them it was not an emergency and I didn’t need the police or fire departments. Too late!

She (Brianna) cancelled her call but they were already on their way. I hated that! And I will tell you why momentarily. Before I let Brianna hang up I first wanted to brighten her day: I told her how great this alarm company was and I never wanted to change to another…  But then I added some personal kindness to her. I told her, “My granddaughter’s name is Brianna!”  Of course she liked that. I shared that with a happy smile voice. People love to have their names recognized and appreciated. Think about it. Do it.

Selah.

As I was signing off with Brianna I told her I could hear sirens now. By this time I was standing outside because Tina was still shook up and was barking. I had to deal with the call before I could sit down with Tina and Pewter…

Yup. The sirens were for me! For me!

 

NOTE:
Did you hear that? The sirens were for me! An officer who doesn’t know me rushed to my home to possibly save my life! Willing to lose his!

For those of you who disrespect, bad-mouth, or even hate police officers: SHAME ON YOU!!

 

Selah and amen!

I hung up with Brianna and started towards the officer, telling him everything was okay. He parked across the street, a house up. He didn’t hear me, he was not close enough so I told him again.

He said the call had been cancelled but he was almost here anyway.

I told him what had happened and told him if he wanted to come in and check he could, it would make him feel better. He told me he wasn’t a fireman but he’d check. But first I asked him if I could shake his hand..

I told him I get very emotional (and I did, I got choked up.) but I wanted him to know how much I love and appreciate the police. I always choke up because I know their love for people and the dangers facing them constantly. I’m not ashamed I cry. I always like to let them know I know they risk their lives just putting on their uniforms! It’s true! There are so my wicked and dangerous people who hate the police! They hate other people too just by their look; ‘wrong’ skin color, ‘wrong’ sex…  Some people want to and will murder for evil reasons! Satanic!

Selah.

This young, blonde man is one of my heroes. He looked in the oven, saw it was now fine. I realize this kind of call is the kind officers love: a mistaken call, an unnecessary trip!

Selah.

I just had to shake his hand one more time before he left. And, I also asked him to tell the other guys how much I appreciate all of them!

Do you?

I didn’t get embarrassed; we all do stupid things. I should have called first. The taxes I pay were used a bit for the police that day…  I am so thankful that they are there!

I love my security company!

I love and thank God for the police who are willing to die just because of what they wear, willing to die for a stranger!

Embrace this:

 

Revelation 12:11
They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

 

 

 

 

 

SCRIPTURAL TRUTHS TO THIS JOY STORY:

 

 

Matthew 25:37-40
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

 

 

Matthew 22:35-40

One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

 

Matthew 10:7-8
As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

 

John 13:34-35
 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

 

John 15:9-13
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.  If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.  My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

 

Galatians 5:13-16
 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh

 

 

Romans 12:9-13
 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.