Articles by Melva Cooper at Heartlight

It Isn't Over

Jmelva@cox-internet.com (Melva Cooper) — Sun, 14 Mar 2004 00:00:00 -0600

The Lord will reign forever and ever ... (Exodus 15:18 NLT)

It has been a long season, but a happy time for our granddaughters. Fourteen year-old Faith jumped and yelled and shouted words of encouragement to the Junior High basketball team as they rang out their cheers for RCS.

Although only in the fourth grade, ten year-old Mary Kathryn was invited to play with the fifth and sixth grade team. Her kind, sensitive spirit does not allow her to be an aggressive person, but she can stand in three-point land and sink that ball over and over.

Their granddaddy and I love being cheerleaders to the two of them, and most home games found us on the sidelines yelling and clapping.

The season wound down and the last scheduled game was played. This week was tournament time. Neither team won their first game; soon the tournament was over, too.

The camaraderie among the coach, parents, teams and fans becomes a special bonding time, during those many days and nights of practice and games. But, it all comes to an end. There were tears of joy and tears of sorrow that final night. Wins were discussed and reminisced and losses were put in the back of their memories.

Faith will go on to High School next year and Mary Kathryn will get more playing time with her team. But for now basketball season is over.

There is one relationship in life that never has to end. Not even for a short year as we grow and mature physically and emotionally. Knowing Jesus as our Personal Savior makes us one with Him and He never turns loose, even for a few months.

Jesus is always there when we need Him. He is always present. Anytime you can call on His name and He will be available to minister to you. He never takes a vacation nor says we will meet together in a few months. There is instant and constant rapport with the one who knows and loves you best. Make Him Lord of your life and He is always available.

God's time isn't over and His season hasn't ended. Would you receive Him now?

His Kingdom never ceases, and the Lord will reign forever and ever.

Melva Cooper is a member of the Just a Minute writing team.

Website: Just a Minute

The President Visits Daytona

Jmelva@cox-internet.com (Melva Cooper) — Wed, 18 Feb 2004 00:00:00 -0600

It seems only days since NASCAR Cup Champion Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, Dale, Jr., and other drivers were having their picture made with the President of our United States on the lawn of the White House.

Sunday, before a crowd of 200,000, plus millions more fans watching on television, President Bush was seen posing with the NASCAR drivers again. This time it was on the drivers’ home turf. And none other than the famous Daytona International Speedway.

Veterans Richard Petty and Bill Ellliott were spotted visiting with the President. NASCAR officials greeted and welcomed him to Daytona and the 500 race. All five branches of our military anxiously awaited their turn with the President.

And then, one of the most delightful circumstances this race fan had ever seen unfolded before my eyes. President Bush, with a smile on his face, gathered with the 43 drivers to shake their hand and chat a few minutes.

The bright flames of Jeff Gordon’s firesuit, the orange of Home Depot driver Tony Stewart, and the black and gold, Matt Kenseth, DeWalt colors were all highly visible. From the champions of our favorite sport to the President of the United States, surrounded by security agents and red, white, and blue flags, it was a sight to behold!

The Presidential motorcade took a slow half-lap around the flat side of the Daytona Speedway. As the singing of the National Anthem came to a close, the loud roar of a stealth bomber could be heard overhead. It was probably one of the best days ever as a driver or fan to attend the Daytona 500. The most excellent in NASCAR and in our nation gathered together for this exciting event.

Thank you, Mr. President, for bringing this time of joy to the drivers and fans. It was the ultimate in earthly racing! That moment was a glorious time with President and Mrs. Bush. But, his time was limited to a couple of hours and then Air Force One lifted off and headed to another part of our nation.

Yet, there is one who never has to leave. He makes Himself present at every race. He can be seen as drivers and chaplains bow in prayer for safety of the driver. He can be seen as wives hang on lovingly to their favorite driver asking God’s grace to shine down upon them during the race. He can be seen in the bright sunshine and lustrous blue skies overhead. At Daytona, He can be seen in the seagulls blowing in the wind at the speedway.

Jesus never has to leave. His omnipresence is always with us. If the race goes the scheduled four to five hours or runs into a long rain delay, he hovers over and around. Making Himself, at all times, available when we considerately submit a request or send a resounding cry to Him for help.

The Daytona 500 is always a special day for NASCAR race fans. Maybe more so this year than some of the others. But, it has come and gone. As we all anxiously await for another year and another race, let us put our trust in Jesus who was here yesterday, will be here tomorrow and when race day comes again.

This article was originally published on www.catchfence.com.

Melva Cooper is a member of the Just a Minute writing team.

Website: Just a Minute

Have You Caught This Aroma?

Jmelva@cox-internet.com (Melva Cooper) — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 00:00:00 -0600

But thanks be to God! For through what Christ has done, He has triumphed over us so that now wherever we go, He uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the Gospel like a sweet perfume. As far as God is concerned there is a sweet wholesome fragrance in our lives. It is the fragrance of Christ within us, an aroma to both the saved and unsaved all around us. (2 Corinthians 2:14-15 LB)

In February our thoughts turn to love as Valentine's Day approaches!

Can't you smell the aroma of perfume and the fragrance of the roses that will be in abundance? Beautifully decorated boxes of sweet chocolates will be given to our cherished ones. Hearts of every color and size will be splashed across those gifts so carefully selected in love.

We can be grateful for these delicacies God has given us to enjoy, but the aroma that pleases Him most is the fragrance of Christ within us. That is the sweet perfume that He desires we spread to those all around.

This year as that special day of love arrives again, I pray that our lives will send forth the pleasing aroma of Christ to both the saved and unsaved. May these hearts that beat deep within us be full of the sweet wholesome fragrance of Christ, as we allow Him to use us to help spread the good news of Jesus around the world.

Melva Cooper is a member of the Just a Minute writing team.

Website: Just a Minute

That Long Awaited Snowfall

Jmelva@cox-internet.com (Melva Cooper) — Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 -0600

Snow! Snow! Snow!

For several days, The Weather Channel had been predicting snow for our area of the state -- maybe even two or three inches. Since snow is something that we seldom see, the grandchildren were very excited. Perhaps they would even get a snow day from school.

At last the day arrived that the long awaited snowfall was to be here. Day became night, and the radar showed the snow was all around us. Every few minutes, one of the grandchildren would open the door and peek out to see if the white stuff was falling.

Finally, I knew from their excited voices they could see snow! Everyone went running out into the yard so they could actually feel it. One of them had on socks. The other two were barefoot -- no coats, no shoes, no hats and they didn't care. For a fleeting moment, they were allowed to take in those snowflakes rarely seen in this part of the country with their own eyes, noses and mouths.

Three year-old Brooke, who probably had only seen pictures of snow, but never the glistening white flakes falling from the sky, came running back in the house. Sensing fear in her voice, she snuggled up to me sitting on the sofa and said, "Grandma, I am afraid"!

Thinking it was all the noise and hoopla the other three grandchildren were making, I gathered her close and explained it was just the beautiful snow about which they were excited.

Brooke proceeded to tell me, "Grandma, I know all about that snow; it is the dark that makes me afraid!"

I cuddled her even closer and thanked God she felt safe from the dark in the arms of her grandmother. Next, I asked God to help us teach her that the arms of Jesus are even more secure than the ones that physically held her that night.

May Brooke always know that when she is afraid she can put her trust in God. Whether it be a dark, snowy, wintry night or the fears that sometimes appear in the bright sunshine of the day, God tells us from His Holy Word that when we are afraid we are to trust in Him.

"What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee." (Psalm 56:3 KJV)

Thank you, Lord, for that reminder from my precious granddaughter as she experienced fear on a cold snowy night. Protect Brooke and keep her all the days of her life!

Melva Cooper is a member of the Just a Minute writing team.

Website: Just a Minute

Bethlehem

Jmelva@cox-internet.com (Melva Cooper) — Thu, 25 Dec 2003 00:00:00 -0600

"Come on, let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord told us about. (Luke 2:15 NLT)

Many times during the Christmas season my three year old granddaughter, Mary Kathryn, said to me, "Grandma, tell me the story of Bethlehem. Tell me the whole story of Bethlehem." She never tired of hearing about an angel appearing to Mary, proclaiming that she was going to have a son and his name was to be Jesus.

So, with the Bible or her picture book that played Christmas carols, I read or 'told' her again and again about Jesus birth in Bethlehem. From a figurine that depicted the town of Bethlehem complete with manger scene, Mary Kathryn loved to see the lights in the buildings and listen to the music as we repeated the story of Bethlehem one more time.

Seemingly absorbing the details, I described to Mary Kathryn how Joseph and Mary made a journey from their home in Nazareth to Bethlehem so Joseph could pay his taxes. Baby Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room for them in the village inn would almost make her cry.

Her eyes would light up when I talked about an angel notifying the shepherds out in the fields about a Savior, Jesus Christ, being born in Bethlehem that night. It pleased her that this was good news of great joy for everyone. The highlight of the story always was the angels from heaven breaking forth in song and praising God.

Although at that young age Mary Kathryn's picture of Jesus was a baby in a manger, I knew it must not be her last. Soon, I would share with her how that tiny helpless baby lying in a manger in Bethlehem grew up to die on the cross for our sins. I would tell her he arose from the grave and ascended into heaven and will return to this earth as King of kings. Mary Kathryn would someday understand that baby Jesus, as she knew Him, lived a remarkable life and desires to be her Lord of Lords too.

But, for that time in the life of my very young granddaughter it was all about Bethlehem! And I loved sharing the story over and over with her. So, come, let's go to Bethlehem and see this wondrous thing that God has done!

At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David's ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fiancé, who was obviously pregnant by this time.

And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn.

That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior -- yes, the Messiah, the Lord -- has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!"

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others -- the armies of heaven -- praising God:

"Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and peace on earth to all whom God favors."

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Come on, let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

They ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished, but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God for what the angels had told them, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had said. (Luke 2:1-20 NLT)

Melva Cooper is a member of the Just a Minute writing team.

Website: Just a Minute

6 Dollars Worth of Thanksgiving

Jmelva@cox-internet.com (Melva Cooper) — Fri, 28 Nov 2003 00:00:00 -0600

"Give and it shall be given unto you ..." (Luke 6:38)

Our eight year-old granddaughter, Mary Kathryn, was excited as she bounded through the door with her report card for the past nine weeks in her hand. She could hardly wait to show her granddaddy all the A's that report card contained. To her that meant $1.00 for each A that he had promised to give her.

Sure enough, with a grateful heart for the excellent grades he saw before him, granddaddy reached in his billfold and counted out $6.00 for six A's. With a bounce in her step and joy on her face, Mary Kathryn hurried to her room with the money. This was hers to spend as she chose!

I prayed she would spend it wisely, but delighted in watching her little mind spin trying to decide how to use it. A couple of days later Mary Kathryn asked me to take her to the Dollar Store. She said, "Grandma, I want to spend four of my six dollars to replace the items in our treat box at school. That will leave $2.00 for me." Well, that pleased this grandma very much so I made arrangements to take her as soon as possible.

Picking out just four things at the Dollar Store wasn't all that easy. She loved everything. She would put some items in our basket and then change her mind. She rearranged everything in that basket several times. Finally she had it narrowed down to six items. Exactly the amount of money her granddaddy had given her.

"Help me choose four things grandma," Mary Kathryn pleaded.

I wanted the decision to be hers. I decided to not rush her and to give her all the time she needed. It was a perplexing place for an eight year-old to be. There were six treats she really wanted to share with the other children at school. But, she only had $4.00 to spend if she kept $2.00 for herself. She already had those two items picked out and put on the other side of the basket.

Silently, I said a short prayer for her. Suddenly, her eyes lit up! I knew she had decided what she was going to do. My sweet Mary Kathryn, who has a heart of gold and is such a giver, said, "I know, Grandma, I will just use all of my $6.00 to give to the treat box at school." My heart melted right there in that Dollar Store.

All the while I thought she was struggling in her mind trying to come up with the right amount of toys for her dollars, Mary Kathryn was using her heart to solve the problem. She would give it all. Immediately, God reminded me that he says in his Word, "Give and it shall be given unto you." That was the answer. This Grandma makes that Biblical principal complicated sometimes. And, yet, it seemed so simple to this young child who has been taught that God will take care of her needs.

Lord, may her heart unceasingly be generous, and may she always believe that you do as you promise in your Word. Give unto Mary Kathryn as she so graciously shared with her friends!

Melva Cooper is a member of the Just a Minute writing team.

Website: Just a Minute

Real Peace

Jmelva@cox-internet.com (Melva Cooper) — Sun, 12 Oct 2003 00:00:00 -0500

"God blesses those who work for peace." (Matthew 5:9 NLT)

All summer, we watched tiny, exquisite, awe-inspiring hummingbirds feed from the tasty sugar water that my husband had so generously supplied to them. They would circle the feeder, suspend themselves in mid-air for a few seconds, and then would make a dive straight to the tiny feeding troughs on each side. Their long beaks would soak up the juice. Swoop after swoop was made until they were full and would then flit away.

It is truly peaceful sitting at our kitchen table and observing God's beautiful handiwork in the form of miniscule hummingbirds. However ...

Fall is here now, and the hummingbirds understand it is time to fill their tummies before they head south for the winter. Hummingbirds are very territorial, so the fight to maintain control of the feeder begins. They zoom back and forth trying to get to the food. Peace turns to chaos as the aggressive birds literally strike one another. War is raged in their pursuit of getting their time at the feeder. Gone is the serenity that viewing the hummingbirds gave me during the summer.

Do you know peace in your life? Or, do you find your days filled with conflict? Are you often belligerent and contentious with those around you?

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Romans 15:13)

What thoughts do you let fill your mind?

And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)

In our world of noise, confusion and relentless pressures, we often long for peace. Peace comes as we allow the Holy Spirit to fill our lives and as we intentionally turn our anxieties over to God.

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Jesus gives us peace, but we must be willing to accept it.

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful. (Colossians 3:15)

Let God's peace guard your hearts and minds as you live in Him.

And now may God, who gives us his peace, be with you all. Amen. (Romans 15:33)

Work hard at living in peace with others.

Try to live in peace with everyone, and seek to live a clean and holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14)

Melva Cooper is a member of the Just a Minute writing team.

Website: Just a Minute