The Old Folks at Home

I thought you might like to know what we do all day. You are all busy with your daily activities, and so are we. Actually, I never knew that old retired folks could be so busy. Many of our friends are like us — old and retired — but manage to do even more than we do, the Christensens, for instance; however, for our ages, we get a lot done. Hang on . . . here are our individual whirlwinds!

I get up almost every morning between 5:30 and 6:30. Some days, I sleep in until 7:00. I’m of the opinion that “the early bird gets the worm,” “early to bed/early to rise/ makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise (I’m doubtful of the wealthy and wise part).” To be honest, though, the real reason that I get up early is that I don’t sleep well, and many mornings I’m ;inished with sleep by 4:00 and make myself stay in bed until at least 5:30. On Tuesday mornings, when I have my class at Bethlehem Evangelical Academy from 6:30 till 7:30, I hit the deck at 5:00 so that I can get socially acceptable before logging on with my sweet students.

The frst thing I do every morning is have quiet time with the Lord. I realized several years ago that my day goes much better if I talk to God about it at the beginning of the day. I love this time because Pop and Joe are still asleep and I have no interruptions. After prayer (and I pray for each of you every day because I love you) I read the Scriptures in hopes that I’ll remember what I read and that I’ll apply it to my life. For several years, I’ve read the Bible through in one year by using The MacArthur Study Bible, but this year, I’m reading The New Testament in One Year. I’ll probably go back to the MacArthur book next year or ;ind a New Testament to read in a different version from the one that I’m reading this year. I also read the devotionals in Dr. David Jeremiah’s Turning Points magazine. I love anything that Dr. Jeremiah writes. He writes connecting to the Bible, so I know that what he writes is the truth. Right now (April 2021), I’m also reading A Life Beyond Amazing by Dr. Jeremiah. It’s such a great book, roughly following Galatians 5: 22-23 . . . “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” I think you’ll agree that all nine of these are characteristics that all of us should aspire to. I try. Am I successful? What do you think? I don’t have a set amount of time to spend in my quiet time. It depends on the day of the week and the time when Pop gets up.

On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, the first thing Pop does is exercise. Ever since his heart attack in 2010, he has been regimented to this schedule. The only time he veers from exercising is when we are traveling and spending time with family and friends in various places. I’m not nearly so faithful to exercise as he is. I do try to get on the treadmill on the same three days, but if I get busy, I let it slide. I’ve found recently that it’s a good thing for me to go out with Pop after my quiet time and getting socially acceptable. Being socially acceptable is very much important to me. There have been a few times when I didn’t put on my make-up, but I was sluggish on those days. And every time I passed a mirror, I cringed. I’m no beauty, but I do look better with make-up on. I ;irmly believe that

God wouldn’t have created make-up if he didn’t expect me to use it. 😇 Not every woman in New Mexico feels the way I do, though. I was with my girlfriends in Pensacola once and told them that there was more make-up and hair spray in that room than in the whole village of Cerrillos and the hills near it! True!

We have breakfast together every day, usually not anything elaborate . . . cereal; oatmeal; scrambled eggs, bacon or sausage, and applesauce; occasionally pancakes and bacon; rarely waffles because I don’t like to make them; sausage gravy and biscuits every once in a while; and huevos rancheros if Pop has made green chile sauce, nothing too exciting. But we firmly believe in beginning the day with something nourishing.

Pop used to always have some big project going, but he’s slowed down a bit. Now his big projects are paying bills, cleaning out his email inbox, reading political and health articles on his computer, writing letters to congressmen (both Republican and Democrat), telling them what he thinks about something that they’ve said; going to the PO with Joe; taking Joe for a walk if they don’t go to the PO because Joe demands either a ride to Cerrillos or a walk in the hills (the dog can tell time and knows when it’s 3:00!); and thinking up what we’ll have for dinner so that either he or I can cook it. He’s a better cook than I am these days, so I’m always happy when the dish that he wants is one that he has kitchen duty for. As you can see, he stays busy; it’s just that he isn’t always building something, though he still does that, too.

You already know about my projects, but I’ll write more about them in another chapter. I’ll just list some without explanations: writing emails on the Search for Jesus site; preparing for and teaching my precious young people at Bethlehem Evangelical Academy; doing as little housework as I can get by with (always making the bed and doing dishes after every meal); checking emails for messages from Susan Rollwagen and Jeff Pribble; reading; watching news programs on TV; and I think there are other things, but I can’t think of them right now.

To me, lunch is a useless meal, though my tummy growls around noon and I know I’m needing something. I like Samuel Johnson’s definition of lunch: “as much food as one’s hand can hold.” We usually eat lunch every day, but neither of us eats much. Many times, Pop has peanut butter and crackers (so do I) or a sausage sandwich or something else light. I try to make a salad plate most days with homemade thousand island dressing: lettuce, walnuts, a piece of cheese, a “little orange,” maybe a slice of turkey or ham if any is in the refrigerator. Lots of dressing!!

More of the same activities in the afternoon, except at 3:00, the TV almost automatically turns itself on because I must watch my kids . . . The Five on Fox News. (In the morning at breakfast, we watch news, too, on either Fox News or Newsmax.) Yes, we like Conservative approaches to what’s going on in our country. I know that most of you who are reading this, if anyone does, watch Liberal news or get the same news on Facebook or in Internet articles, but we’re not arguing politics here . . . at least I’m not. After The Five, we keep the TV on for Special Report, Primetime, and Tucker Carlson Tonight. We usually change to Newsmax when Hannity comes on so that we can watch Sean Spicer and that cute Lyndsay Keith (Spicer & Co.). We usually have TV shows that we watch after I do dishes: NCIS New Orleans, 9-1-1, 9-1-1 Lone Star, Bull, NCIS, FBI, FBI Most Wanted, Seal Team, S.W.A.T., MacGyver (sometimes), Magnum P.I., and Blue Bloods. These are spread throughout the week. There’s nothing on Thursday evening! Sometimes we watch special programs on Fox Nation. And many times we watch movies or series or documentaries on Amazon Prime or Netflix. Right now, we’re watching Season 1 of Medici the Magnificent. So good, after I finally caught on to who is who and what is happening. So you can see that the channels that we watch are Fox News, Newsmax, Fox, and CBS. The old folks stay pretty much entertained at night! (October 15, 2021 . . . Our favorite TV series now is Heartland, a delightful series filmed in Alberta, Canada . . . where our cousins live. If we have any addiction, it’s watching the episodes. We may not live to the end of the seasons. There are 14 of them, and we’re on only Season 4 right now. We loved watching The Chosen earlier this year. Such an inspiring series about Jesus and His disciples! January 13, 2020 . . . Right now, we’re almost finished watching Longmire . . . such a wonderful series . . . on Netflix. When we finish this series, I’ll bite the bullet and pay for us to watch Season 14 of Heartland. I don’t know why it’s not on Netflix. Thanks, Wendy and Todd, for letting us piggy-back on your Netflix subscription! January 13, 2022)

I had no idea, when I began this chapter, that I’d write four pages concerning what we do up here in the hills. I didn’t write about any parties because we don’t know when we’ll be having them again. We miss them and concerts. We’re not getting any younger here in our house with practically no visitors, so I hope our I-love-controlling-your-life governor loosens up more so that we can once again invite friends and family in. I must admit that any time we have a crowd, I’m pretty much wiped out for a day or two afterward. But I’m more than willing to sacri;ice my energy in order to have folks back in our house! And concerts? Oh, how I miss those!!

Onward to more chapters for your reading enjoyment!

Couldn’t find the photo that I wanted to include, so this one, taken Easter afternoon 2021 in Pensacola will have to do to show you the Old Folks.
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I need to update my work with BEA. Because of Covid and discord in the Holy Land (mostly Covid), we won’t start this year’s class until second semester, if then. Several of the teachers haven’t been able to get back to Bethlehem since their summer vacation and are having to conduct classes via ZOOM. Jeff decided that one more online class, especially an elective after school might be a bit much for the students. Both Susan and I agree. We hate not to have a new class; we’ll just have to be satisfied and look forward to 2022. I’m sure we’ll start planning sometime this fall.

This is turning out to be a Columbo chapter . . . “Just one more thing, ma’am.”

Psalm 30:5

Just before I began this chapter, I thought I’d see what Billy Graham had to say about one of my favorite verses in the Bible, Psalm 30:5. I found the following article and liked his interpretation even though mine is different. He addresses the last part of the verse:

Q: I have noticed that young people avoid attending funerals and showing honor to the deceased. Is this their indifference or is it something else?

A: Adults have the responsibility of teaching the younger generations. While this may not be the philosophy of society today, it is certainly what the Bible teaches. There are many parents who try to protect their children from attending funerals or going to see the sick. Young people will not understand the importance of many things if they do not see correct behavior exemplified.

Nowhere has God promised anyone immunity from sorrow, suffering and pain. The world is a “vale of tears” and disappointment and heartache are as inevitable as clouds and shadows. Suffering is often the crucible in which faith is tested. Those who successfully come through the furnace of affliction are the ones who emerge like gold tried in the fire.

The Bible teaches that we can unmistakably triumph over bereavement. The Psalmist said, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).

We should not peddle our sorrows and bewail our bad fortune—that will only depress others. But sorrow or mourning, when it is borne in a Christian way, contains a built-in comfort. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4).

Suffering is endurable if we do not have to bear it alone; and the more compassion that is expressed by loved ones, the less acute the pain because someone is there to share in the grief with us. This is an important life lesson that must be taught and passed down to the next generation.

You might like to know that the first funeral that I attended was in 1963, when I was pregnant with you, Wendy. The President Emeritus of Mississippi College, Dr. Nelson, died, and I decided that, since I might have to go to a funeral of someone I loved someday, I’d go to his. I didn’t know him, but I admired him for what he had done for MC. So . . . I was thankful in later years when my loved ones died. Smart move on my part.

Here’s what the verse means to me: I know for sure that even though God may be really displeased with me, even angry with me, that the anger lasts for just a little while. I know that if I ask forgiveness, I am immediately forgiven. That’s just one of the wonderful things about salvation. And I also know that He loves me in spite of the times that I fail Him, that His love lasts forever. Even though the word forgiveness isn’t in this verse, to me it’s there. (1John 1:9 — If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins.)

The last part of the verse, “weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning,” has the words that apply to me so many times. Mine is a different interpretation from Billy Graham’s. I can’t tell you the number of times that I have awakened in the night just to go into buckets of tears . . . as quietly as I can in order not to wake my sweetheart. And what brings on the tears? Cynthia. Sherry. The condition of our country under the Biden administration. And you, my sweet family. I weep for you collectively for work situations, financial conditions, family problems, and your spiritual lives. You see . . . the thing that I want most in the world is for all of us to be Christians so that we can live together forever in Heaven with Jesus and all of our friends and family who are there . . . our Christian friends and family. I need you with me here and in the hereafter!

One of my favorite Christian authors is Dr. David Jeremiah. It took me probably 40 years to realize what a wonderful writer and evangelist he is. I can remember Carol Wilson telling me about listening to him on the way to school (Woodham). I didn’t pay any attention to her, and I certainly didn’t try to find him on the radio as I was driving to school. I had no idea that he had written books that I would love. Just within the past couple of years, I discovered him, and I can’t get enough of his books and sermons. My favorite book is Revealing the Mysteries of Heaven. I wish each one of you would read it. You may borrow my copy, or, if you want, I will buy a copy for you.

There is a video with Dr. Jeremiah on YouTube. You can find it by searching “Angels Transport Believers to Heaven?” I hope you’ll find it and watch it. Many of Dr. Jeremiah’s videos about Heaven and salvation are right there for you to view. In the meantime, go to this article https://www.oneplace.com/ministries/turning-point/read/articles/your- heavenly-escorts-16251.html125 to read what he says about going to Heaven.

I don’t think I need to tell you again that I want you to experience the love of God through belief in and acceptance of Jesus here on earth and eventually in Heaven. So many times I’ve spoken at the funerals of friends and imagined Jay saying to that friend, “What took you so long? I’ve been waiting for you. You’re gonna love it here!” Jay will be waiting right there with Jesus to say that to those of us who are Christians. I’m not afraid of death. I look forward to having that angel transport me to my new home in Heaven!

A Little Bit of Bible
(Some of my favorite Bible verses, but not all of them by any stretch of the imagination!)

As I’ve been writing this book, I’ve noted Bible verses that mean much to me. I’ve listed them in the order in which they appear in the Bible and have told you a bit about why they are so special to me. The Bible is the inspired Word of God, so I feel that He speaks to me through these verses! I’ll try not to sound preachy . . . at least not TOO preachy!

• 2 Chronicles 7:14 — If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

For several years, this verse has been coming to mind regularly as I watch news on TV. Our country is in bad shape and is in dire need of God. He has given us his plan for us to get back to the United States of America that he desires for us. I want to post it on my Facebook page, but I’m afraid some people will consider it political rather than Scriptural and write negative comments. I’m not into dealing with negativism.

• Proverbs 3:5-6 — Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

God knows much better what we need in our lives than we do. These verses give me instruction for the way that I should live.

• Proverbs 10:12 — Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.
It breaks my heart that there is so much hatred in the world today. Sometimes it’s not easy to love, but we are commanded to do just that. I can’t think of anyone that I hate. Can you? And I absolutely believe that love covers all wrongs. I may hate what a person does, but I absolutely do not hate the person.

• Jeremiah 29:11 — “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

This, to me, is one of the most comforting verses in the Bible . . . to think that our almighty God knows us personally and has plans to prosper us and to give us hope and a future. Can you even grasp this truth? It surely is dif;icult for me to. He knows each one of us personally and has plans for us . . . great plans. Amazing, isn’t it?

• Jeremiah 31:3 — “I have loved you with an everlasting love . . . “

Whenever I hear this verse, I think of Billy Graham. I don’t think I’ve ever heard one of his sermons without hearing him say to his audience the words of God, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” Some of the most comforting words in the Bible . . . to me.

• John 3:16 — For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

When I was a child, I had a hard time with this verse. I learned it in Vacation Bible School at the Methodist church in Logansport, where my grandparents lived. I memorized it, not from reading it over and over, but from hearing the teacher recite it. I thought it said that God loved us enough to send “his only forgotten Son.” I couldn’t figure out why God forgot Jesus! It didn’t take me too long to see the verse and to memorize it with the right word. This verse has been called “The Gospel in a nutshell.” It tells everything that a person needs to do to have salvation: believe that Jesus is God’s Son and accept him as Savior. In doing that, a person is assured of eternal life in heaven with Jesus!

• John 14: 1-4, 6 — “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” . . . “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

I think the first time I was aware of these beautiful verses was sometime in 1961, when Frank and I took Miss Nellie McGee’s Oral Interpretation of the Bible class. I don’t remember whether or not we were required to memorize other passages of Scripture, but I DO remember that we had to memorize John 14:1-21 with proper enunciation and expression. We had to get in front of the class and recite. Was I nervous? You betcha! Frank and I had rehearsed and rehearsed in front of each other, but that recitation wasn’t scary. Reciting with Miss Nellie in the audience and not wanting to disappoint her was excruciatingly terrifying! Both of us did fine, as I remember. I can still recite verses 1-6, but the remainder are a bit (actually a lot) fuzzy. I recognize them when I read them, but I can’t recite them. Miss Nellie would really be disappointed in her students! I love the verses because they tell me what is waiting for those of us who are Christians . . . and verse 6 is, once again, the plan of salvation.

• John 20:30-31 — Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Every miracle (called signs in the book of John) that Jesus performed, he performed for a reason and with a meaning. We have in the Bible only some of them. And, once again, in the second verse here, we have the plan of salvation. So simple yet the most important decision that a person can make. Accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior assures us a place in eternity in heaven with God, with Jesus!

• Romans 3: 22-24 — This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

I love these verses because they assure me that I’m not the only sinner in the world. We are all sinners! But we have hope. Jesus died so that we could be saved, so that we could be forgiven of our sins. God’s grace is sufficient for us to have salvation!

• Romans 8:31— What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?

I know all of you have heard this verse. God IS for us, and no one can harm us if we have Him on our side.

• Romans 12:14-15 — Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

My favorite Bible professor at Mississippi College was Dr. Ernest Pinson. Marilyn had had him as a professor and assured me that I needed to take as many Bible courses as I could from him. The first time I saw him was when I was in registration line, signing up for courses in the fall of 1958. I wanted to have him for Old Testament, one of our two required courses. He signed for me, then said something like, “Miss Cheatham. The first time I heard your last name was in a law firm in Laurel . . . Lide and Cheatham.” He smiled at his joke and at me. I knew I’d love this man who had the reputation of being the hardest Bible professor at MC. I took every class that I could from Dr. Pinson, and most of the time I was the only girl in the class. All the others in the class were ministerial students. I can see him walking into the room, his big Bible and notes in his arms. He’d look seriously at the class and say, “Ah, Miss Cheatham. The rose among the thorns.” We had a mutual admiration society! I say all of this to say this: When I took the course in Romans from him, I remember his telling us, when we got to Romans 12:15, that it’s easy to mourn with people who are mourning but that it’s not always easy to rejoice with those who are rejoicing. Why? Because sometimes we’re jealous over their reasons for rejoicing. He cautioned us that we’d have to be very careful in following Paul’s words in this verse. I never see that verse without thinking of the professor who taught me the most, whom I loved so much, and whom I can hardly wait to see in Heaven!

• Romans 12:18 — If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

I really don’t have trouble with this verse. I get along with everyone. That may be because I don’t speak up when I need to sometimes. That’s okay with me because I don’t fret if I don’t get my ideas out if they are going to cause problems. Something of a wimp, I guess, but it’s too late in my life to change my ways.

• Galatians 5:14 — The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

All children who go to Sunday school learn the last part of this verse. I sometimes wonder if adults even remember this verse. ‘Nuff said!

• Galatians 5:22-23— But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

These verses are my favorites in helping me to live the way that God wants me to. I pray every day that I will exhibit all of these characteristics in the way that I act. If I have any success, it’s all because of the Holy Spirit in me. He’s been in me ever since I accepted Jesus as my Savior way back at Carrollton Avenue Baptist Church!

• Ephesians 2:8-10 — For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Grace means that God gives us something that we don’t deserve — salvation. There is nothing that we can to to earn salvation. God gives it to us even though we’re sinners and don’t deserve it. It’s a gift from God. He didn’t want us to be able to boast that we have earned our salvation. He gives us salvation and then we can do the good works that he “prepared in advance for us to do.” It thrills my heart to know that I didn’t have to do good things to earn salvation. God gave it to me through the shed blood of Jesus. Now I have the privilege of doing the works that God planned for me to do. It is my privilege to please God!

• Ephesians 6:2-4 — “Honor your father and mother — which is the cirst commandment with a promise — that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."

  I love these verses because they address both children and parents. Pay attention!

• Philippians 1:3 — "I thank my God every time I remember you."
  This verse is so very true. I pray for each of you every morning, and I always thank God for you!

  • Philippians 1:21 — "For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain."
  This is the key verse of the whole book of Philippians, one of my favorite books in the Bible. You can tell that it’s a favorite by the number of verses that I’ve listed here. To me, this verse means that Jesus is the most important person in the world to me, and, because of this relationship, He is my life. I am not at all afraid of death; in fact, I look forward to it because the minute I die, angels will come to transport me to Paradise to be with Jesus. That certainly is gain!

  • Philippians 4:6-7 — "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."I love this verse because it reminds me that I need to get over worrying. You know me, and you know that I have a very difficult time with this. I always say that I inherited worry from my daddy. I don’t think he knew this verse. I really do try not to be anxious (not to worry) and to turn all of my cares to Jesus. I’m always trying, praying that God will take worry out of my mind.

• Philippians 4:8 — "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things."

Just look at all of these things that we should think about! I don’t know about you, but living in today’s world makes this verse very difficult to live up to. I try, but TV and social media make my trying very difficult.

• James 1:17 — "Every good and perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

Did you know this? God never changes, and every good gift that we have comes from God. All of you are good gifts to me!

• 1 John 1:9 — "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

When a person becomes a Christian, all his or her sins (past, present, future) are forgiven; however, in this lifetime, we must ask forgiveness for sins that we commit now. God is always willing to forgive the sins of His children.

• Revelation 21:1-4 — "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the cirst heaven and the cirst earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. they will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. For the old order of things has passed away.'”

Until just recently, I have not wanted to read the book of Revelation, not wanted to study it. I always thought it was too mysterious to understand. And then I found Dr. David Jeremiah’s book Revealing the Mysteries of Heaven. Right now (September 8, 2022, [the day Queen Elizabeth II died]), I’m in the midst of reading it for the third time. Dr. Jeremiah can explain everything so that even I can understand. Do you remember the verses from John 14, some of my favorite verses in the Bible? These verses in Revelation 21 give a description of what Jesus mention in John 14. These verses tell about what Jesus has prepared for us. I highly recommend that you read Dr. Jeremiah’s book! You may borrow my copy anytime!❤