One more piece of info in my mother's file to share is her testimony on tithing.

"When Keltz [Garrison] asked me last Sunday to bring you my testimony on tithing, I warned him that I am a very inadequate speaker, and besides this, I became a mother-in-law and a grandmother yesterday, and I'll be forty tomorrow, so I'm still reaching for my wits, but I do know this one thing for sure, that I believe in tithing, it's just plain fact that it's the will of the Lord that we give of ourselves and our money to help further his plan."

I have always felt that this world is a campground, and if we are lucky enough to become Christians, it's our command to tell others about the love of Jesus in our travels. I believe in works—not that they will get you into heaven, but the rewards are there.

I want to share this story of a glorious meeting with our Savior. In this "vision," I saw a man and a woman approaching the end of their long journey called Life. They were accompanied by a celestial messenger of the Lord, sent to guide them, as the last portion of the journey would become very difficult. Before them loomed a dark and hideous chasm, which the guide called the grave. But, he said to them ever reassuringly, "You need not be afraid of the dark and shadowed place. You shall pass through it in absolute safety. And look beyond it to the other side!" They lifted their eyes, and across the chasm, they saw shimmering even through the mists in the distance, the radiant City of God!

"So beautiful," the woman joyously exclaimed, "So very, very beautiful!" "Let us go at once!" said her husband. "No, wait," admonished the guide. "First, you must put down on this side of the chasm all of the things you carry in your hands." "Just throw them over there on that hill. That is where travelers from before have left their possessions. The couple did not move to obey. The messenger's voice became stern, Nothing except yourselves may be carried beyond the grave." "But you don't understand," the man explained. "These are stocks and bonds and gilt-edged securities. They represent a lifetime of industry, thrift, wise investment, and intelligent business management. They are like bags of gold.

You will not need them, and such collateral has absolutely no value in the heavenly city, where the streets are paved with gold. As her husband reluctantly threw down his bundles, the woman clung tightly to her treasures. The guide pointed to a box. My lace is the exquisite handmade lace that I brought back from Europe. It was the envy of all my friends, she spoke pleadingly. In the presence of the King of Kings, such showy finery is not permitted. You must be arrayed in robes of righteousness.

Hesitantly, she tossed it down but clutched a silver and velvet jewel case to her heart. Patiently, the guide held out his hand. She slowly lifted the lid and displayed a necklace for his inspection. These are pearls, the real kind, sea gems of lasting loveliness. Each one is perfectly spherical and has a deep and radiant luster. Besides, they were added three and four at a time as anniversary gifts. I so treasure my necklace for its sentimental value. This strand of matched pearls would be very costly if you bought it now; one jeweler has offered me a tremendous price.

A mere bauble, the celestial stranger answered. Do you not remember that the twelve great gates of God's city are each a single pearl? That bracelet on your arm and your fur must also be thrown aside. The woman sobbed: my beautiful diamond bracelet and my fur? Don't you realize these are perfect stones, and the fur is worth a fortune? "But nothing!" We use such precious stones as building materials in New Jerusalem. Look, the mists are lifting.

Again, they looked toward the holy city of pure gold. The glory of God's light allowed us to see colors more clearly, and the wall's foundations were garnished with all manner of precious stones.

Empty-handed, the couple went down into the chasm. With the guide, they passed into the gate beyond. Yes, they were saved as if by fire, and that which represented all their worldly treasures were left outside on the great heap of things past. Then, I understood the meaning of Revelation 18:17: In one hour, such great wealth has been brought to ruin!

Just then, another couple approached the end of their journey. They came with much less reluctance and with a much lighter load. With no regret, they laid their items on the scrap heap, the things of earth they no longer would need. Their eyes were turned with eager expectancy toward the gates of pearls and the treasure city beyond.

I saw the gates swing open wide and heard the joy bells of heaven begin to ring. Amazed and joyfully bewildered, they stood among the crowd at the gate, waiting for them and singing joyfully, "Welcome home."

Some they had never seen before took them by the hand and said, "Next to the dear Savior, you are our best friends." Then the newcomers were amazed and said, "How can this be since we have never known each other before?" And some answered, "Why, we came from the darkness, but messengers came to us bringing the Good News of Salvation, and that is why we are all here. Since we arrived, God has looked over his account books and told us that you sent the messengers to us. So when it was announced in the city this morning that you were coming, this crowd of those whom you helped win to Him was assembling to greet you. 

And then, with hearts aglow and joy more rapturous than earth can ever know, the husband and wife thought back to the times in their earthly home when they had tithed earnestly and had invested all the money they could spare to the church's mission.

O' the Savior's face beamed upon them in glorious light as he said, Well done, good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a few things, and I will make you ruler over many things.

Then, I understood the meaning of an Abundant Entrance. Hear the voice of Jesus as he says to you,  "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:19-20.

Not one worldly possession will help a lost brother or sister find their way to Salvation, but your testimonies and tithes will!

This is why we tithe! Lorena and John Dayton

I remember my mother writing their tithe check and placing it in a First Baptist Church envelope on the kitchen counter by the phone each week. They tithed every week. I have witnessed the goodness of God when we give above our tithe sacrificially, too.

Retail sales & customer service, according to Lorena...

As I finished going through my mother, Lorena Dayton's files, I found it interesting to read pages and pages of  retail sales & customer service "tips." She taught customer service for years and made a living in commission retail, which was important. I, too, worked in commission retail for many years. It makes you build valuable relationships with your customers. Every retail business should have a percentage of sales commission connected to personal performance. It allows employees to be creative to make a few more dollars, have better knowledge of the merchandise, and less inventory in the end. It also makes them quicker at unpacking, pressing for presentation, and stocking the store. "Train, motivate and reward sales associates."

But, less I digress...

My mother began her retail career at the Dixie Shoppe when she was fourteen. She worked there until they closed. She worked for Nan's, Payne's, Bud's Furniture & Appliance, Ramsower's, and Marse & Son, so from 1944 until the early 2000s, she spent over fifty years serving Plainview! My dad, John Dayton, worked at Sears for nearly forty years! We were a retail and customer service family!

from her papers

• It starts with a commitment at the top.
• Know the merchandise.
• Know their name.
• Always greet the customer "at" the door.
• Attitude with greeting customers.
• Don't size up customers.
• Don't leave a looker for a buyer.
• Show them how to navigate your store.
• Always be positive.
• You do have something they want; help them find it.
• Have an opinion, but be careful when to use it.
• Be honest, but know that we all see things differently, even in fashion.
• Why are you here? To sell!
• Creating eye-catching displays draws the eyes to groupings.
• Don't talk so much that the customer can't tell you what they want.
• Like everyone, even if you don't.
• Don't talk adversely about anyone.
• Keep morale up, especially in front of customers.
• Wear your store; it is the best advertising.
• Don't avoid customers.
• Determine what the customer needs, and then fill those needs.
• Everything you do and say has got to fit the customer's emotional buying decision.
• Good grooming matters.
• Never negatively talk about another store.
• Create a "selling plan," a personal goal to meet.
• Don't be so engrossed in stocking or displays that you offend your shoppers.
• Watch what the customer looks at.
• Put something with what they are interested in and accessorize it, too.
• Sell them one, but encourage two, maybe three or more items.
• Record their name, size, likes, number (spouse name and number, too, for gift times) in your store customer file box or notebook; call them.
• Have confidence in your knowledge.
• Have fun, listen, and have empathy.
• Create individual looks with the merchandise to meet specific needs.
• Be organized in displays and workrooms.
• Talk good business.
• Always be appreciative so the customer knows they matter.
• Study fashion magazines to know and grow to sell classic and trending.
• Show the customer color, style or size that they ask for, always direct them to a focus.
• Ask them to describe their style.
• Suggest alterations to create a better fit; know who to recommend.
• Set your store apart by how you care for and present your merchandise, there is a way to floor-box those shoes; shuck them.
• Customers enjoy what you have (or have heard good things), or they wouldn't be there. Prove them right.
• Always answer the phone with the store name, your name and "we have what you need," how may I help you.
• The first impression is key if you want to unlock a second.
• Talk about happy thoughts even in "drought" times.
• Every customer wants to feel worthy of your time and product.
• "We've made a mistake; let's get this straightened out."
• Follow up with a call to thank a customer for their purchase or send a card.
• Make sure the store name is visible in-store and outside, front & back.
• Knowing your customer matters!!!

And, believe me, there are many more treasured tidbits!

In Exodus 3 ...

Be Still, My Soul. I read something this week that suggested that maybe it wasn't as much about Moses and the burning bush as it was about God telling him to remove his shoes because he was on Sacred ground and he would have to be still and in oneness with God. 

Beginning in verse 3 ... Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up." When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am." "Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." Then he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob." At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. The Lord said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt." But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain." Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?" God said to Moses, "I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'" 

When we are in the presence of the I AM, will we remove the dirtiness of the world and become pure in heart and mind? Will we spend time listening to where he leads our mission? Will we sit in awe of His glory? Will we trust? 

I do not own the rights to the lyrics or music, but He is worthy to be proclaimed.

We face burning bushes at every turn, and God is with us. He is in the fire to mold us and make us unto His will while we are waiting, yielded, and STILL. Have thine own way, Lord. Have thine own way.

Years ago, my mother made a shoe with strings to help teach her grands to tie shoes. It was hard to get the kids to be still, but when they would be, they learned!!!

I have known this young woman since forever. Pretty much she has been found behind a camera, like today at the WBU football game. She is a beautiful photographer on every level. We have known her family since we were kids, although we are a bit older than them. It has been fun to watch Claudia Lusk grow up.

Our Five Friends Fun group met for coffee at the Brew tonight, minus one Donnet Evans. Glenda and Greg Feris were in town, so Susan Barkley, Karen Henderson, and I met up with her for a sweet visit.

Regardless of where I am, God sends encouragers to me. Sometimes, it is simple words; other times, it is a heart gift with words. This week, as I went into the hospital to get my Meals on Wheels route food to deliver, a long-time precious soul came up and said she had something for me. I am not very good at accepting gifts. I feel undeserving, but God has taught me lessons and grown me in this area through the years. E.B. said she had seen this gift and knew it was for me! This is not the first time she has encouraged me and blessed me. God uses her in many lives, and I'm blessed to be on her Holy Spirit radar!!! God knows!

So to the high achievers & basic believers...

In my life, I have tried all sorts of ways to keep up with the prayer requests that I am so honored to present to God. I have been a "high achiever" and have had cards in beautiful gel pen writing with clips, art, and whatever. I've had spirals and binders with dividers, stickers, and page markers. I even had a "war room" cabinet where I kept my stash. Another time, I had a vintage ticket holder where I wrote them on paper and layered them over that pointed piece. I am typically an overachiever in style and end up burned out because it ends up taking so much extra time. So, I try another way. 

I've decided that being a "basics" believer suits me best. I have a small blue dragonfly (there were hundreds at my mother's graveside service) notebook where I keep those who ask me to pray and those God places on my heart to pray for. But I don't write on the pages; I use Post-its!!! This has worked so well for me. I can group, move, make additions and corrections, etc., which is so easy for me. I wanted to share it in case you are looking for an easy way to manage those you wish to lift to the Father.

"When life gives you more than you can stand, kneel!"

I am a prayer warrior. I know the power of prayer. I see God at work every single day. I know his miracles. To humble myself before him for another's hurting heart or joyful praise is my jam. When you need prayer, I'm here.

Three photos from my day.

I found more things in my "Nanny" file!

Long ago, God brought two special friends into my life in a community called Plainview, Texas. They most likely started out being friends with my brother because they are closer in age to him. I can't remember how I first met them, but it was long ago and a very good thing.

Carolyn and Danny Andrews have been mainstay friends for as long as I can remember. Even when I can no longer remember, I will recognize them as friends who have loved and supported me throughout my life.

Carolyn sent me this precious photo of us, a reminder of God's deep and abiding love that we share ...

And then there is a PHS yearbook photo from their yearbook of the brother my parents were so proud of; he is on the left...

Our precious Miss B and her adorable friend Miss A just finished WBU cheer camp and are all smiles!