FAREWELL OCTOBER!

OCTOBER 2024..........A MONTH OF FIRSTS!

Our 1st month in a new state, 

town, 

street, 

home,

Darnell Farms

first teenage granddaughter,

new friend 

Halloween

FAREWELL!

TIME PERSON OF THE YEAR 2022!!!

Today's reveal of Time Magazine's Person of the year included not only Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, but also the "Spirit of Ukraine." 

Safety concerns keep me from listing the Ukrainians whom I know, who seek the peace and prosperity of the city in Ukraine where the Lord has placed them. (Jeremiah 29:7) As they seek welfare all the displaced people who flee to their city they are blessed themselves! 

These brave souls understand their exact location where they live was set by God that they might seek Him knowing He is always near!(Acts 17:26-27) 

"In Him, they live and move and have their being." (Acts 17:28)

That my friends is the true Spirit of Ukraine!

FALL WALK-A BOUT!

Fall began for us last night at 9:04 pm CDT.

So grateful for God's creation of seasons,...."seedtime and harvest, cold and heat" especially in the area where I live. (Genesis 8:22) A move from petal peeping to leaf peeping.

Today is the first time temps have dropped in weeks enough to take a "cool" morning walk. A glorious time in" my" neighborhood. (Acts 17:26)

Without a doubt gingko fall foliage is my favorite.....

.....one on the left is beginning its magnificent brilliance while the one on the right is just beginning. A great motivator to keep me walking daily. BTW, yesterday's USA 9/22/22- 6A, gave a map w/ dates for leaf peepers in all states to plan peak times for their fall foliage peeks.

Sometimes yard signs show support of coming and goings in which neighbors participate. Ride for Education. LeBonheur Children's Hospital. St. Jude.

This one was so timely---a great reminder that this weekend is the Pink Palace Crafts Fair. Hooray for 50 years of art, food and fun!

So many eye blessings on my walk means I'll share more in the coming days.

I conclude with "changing" door wreaths. I love Mimi's! A great reason to always walk down her street. 

Door wreaths are a reminder of the good ole South......and why I so  love my fall "neighborhood walk-a-bout!"

CHOOSE: SEASONAL CONTENTMENT

Sitting at the breakfast table looking out at the patio it would be easy to bemoan the "leaf situation." That is,  if I were the resident"raker." 

But....I have never even turned on a leaf blower so my thoughts were more positive than hubby's who tries to calculate the number of leaves left on the trees against the meteorologist report for upcoming rain. Then he weighs all of that against the arrival of the first grands on Monday for Thanksgiving.

I, on the other hand, am grateful for the God-designed seasons (Genesis 1:14) and think about what fun those Texans will enjoy running through those leaves and hearing them crackle beneath their feet. And our little New Yorker will love them as well as there is ground beneath theses leaves and not asphalt an just throwing leaves in the air and watching the wind blow them can be fun.

This morning as I remembered  Genesis 8:22, " While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease,"  I was content to sit with a cinnamon stick in my cuppa and watch the leaves dance. In this season of my life, I'm thankful that the Lord has chosen for me to dwell in a part of the country that has a bit of all the seasons to enjoy. (Acts 17:26) 

That's my Friday choice----seasonal contentment with a leaf strewn view.

CHOOSE: POSITIVE THOUGHTS ABOUT MEMPHIS

Watching the "nightly news"can rob me of my joy.
So I continue to subscribe to the Commercial Appeal, my local paper and "look for" good in "my" city, where the Lord has placed me. He determines the "exact places where they (I & you) would live." (Acts 17:26)  I am thrilled when I see hopeful info like last Friday's list of areas all over Memphis where the Tennessee Shakespeare Company would perform "Shout-Out Series" in public spaces. Admission Free. Hubby and I went downtown to Shake(s) Rattle and Roll at Madison Avenue Park. Click here for the TSC Shout- Out schedule. You'll be glad you did!

Who knew there was a park in this itty bitty green space at 151 Madison Ave. ?

They wove Shakespeare into the music and lyrics of Memphis music. Think, Soul Man. Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay and Blue Suede Shoes. Creative!! Great performance---worth the drive!

This morning's CA newspaper had a picture of the performance with the back of hubby's head in the foreground.

I would know that glow in the dark head full of gorgeous white hair anywhere, even from the back, CA  10/11/17 p. 4A

Today's Commercial Appeal made it easy to choose positive thoughts about Memphis. 

CHOOSE: NEIGHBORING

"Community" verses continue to speak to my heart.

Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him.
(1 Corinthians 7:17)

Whatever situation my town/city and I are facing is not a random selection but is ordained by God.

My situation and assignment take place just east of the "mighty Mississippi" and extend to my immediate neighborhood.

He has placed me on "my" street for the last almost 39 years.

From one man He made all the nations, that should inhabit the whole earth; and He marked out their appointed time in history and the boundaries of their lands/habitations. (Acts 17:26)

Choosing neighboring in my city and "my" dwelling place on "my" street, seems all the more important when I remember that He has placed me there----for His purpose.

CHOOSE: 901

Believe it or not, choosing 901, for me, is a biblical choice.

Acts 17 reinforces my belief that God who gives all men, life and breath and everything else (Acts 17:25) has placed me here. He chose my time in history and where I would live. 

"...He determined allowed periods and the boundaries of their dwelling places." (Acts 17: 26, ESV)

God chose 901 for me so it only stands to reason that I would try to make a difference in the 901 area for His glory. 

More than that, I choose to inhabit my habitation with prayer. I think the prayer choice is key to receiving God's blessings on "my" city.

CHOOSE: TO LISTEN TO YOUR HEART

Words can come at us from every direction. A cacophony. Too loud to discern......
....But a picture can speak volumes enabling one's heart to "hear" with a quiet, yet distinct, voice.

In this instance, the Memphis representation of Jeremiah 29:7 by our pastor's wife, Lynn, spoke straight into my heart. It was her depiction of the verse which gave personal relevance to an already brewing conviction of my heart.

I desire to "work and pray" on behalf of "my" city, starting on "my" street, knowing that the Lord "...has determined the boundaries of my dwelling place." (Acts 17:26)

This "visual encounter" aided me in Choosing to Listen to My Heart."

A Local Cuppa Minis-TEA-ry

and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, (Acts 17:26, NASB)

Continuing to ponder, "How does one "bloom where planted?"...spiritually, that is. Since God has determined that at this time I will live in Memphis, TN in Eastwood Manor area, specifically at 1152, then I know that I am here in this locality for ministry.

How does one do that? Minister in their neighborhood? 

In a nutshell, "Be open to others." (notes from Allen Bible Church 9/14/14)

• OPEN EYES--observe needs--see as God sees
• OPEN EARS--listen with all ears and you'll find commonalities
• OPEN HANDS--be receptive & responsive to both give & receive help when needed
• OPEN LIVES--be relational, move toward them, feel compassion and share life's moments

Jesus came and dwelt among us; (John 1:14) or as Eugene Peterson describes, "He moved into the neighborhood." That's where He ministered. We should do the same.

Next time you serve a cuppa fill it with minis-TEA-ry for your neighborhood friends.