MOCKINGBIRD MATTERS!

Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1960 novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, explores themes of prejudice and injustice. The title refers to the moral lesson that it's a sin to harm innocent creatures, like the mockingbird, which some of the characters in the story symbolize.

This morning, former next door neighbor, WH, who is spending the week here in the mountains with a few (18 of her family) sent me this pic.

A mockingbird no less!

How appropriate as hubby and I have been reviewing the Mockingbird Maturity chapter in Considering Sparrows. Today, we even discussed the unusual traits of mockingbirds, the state bird of Tennessee, identified by the collective noun, "echo".....which makes sense as it has the ability to "mimic" sounds and songs of other birds, people & mechanical noises. 

 

However, it was the book-defining quote (Burrell p. 159) from character Miss Maudie who explains to Scout, the lawyer's daughter in To Kill a Mockingbird, which amazed me. 

'it's a sin to kill a mockingbird' because they 'don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up other people's gardens, nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us.' (Lee, p. 90, emphasis mine)

Two different books, and 1 picture taken by a dear Memphis friend "sealed" the deal for me. 

Share this info. It matters!

BEST BOOK REVIEW!

Is a book worthy of a great review? How does one remember?

Usually my faves are filled with jottings on almost every page.

This book has no jottings---just lots of post-its!

Why? 

Because the pictures are as exquisite as the words are 

"spot-on".....and it was a gift from a dear friend who knows both my     heart and my needs. 

As it says in the book, "The gospel binds our hearts together to a lifeline of grace!" (p.123)

A book worthy of a GREAT review both visually and with incredible

word choices anchored in Scripture.

DANCE TO THE MUSIC!

Listen to the Music!

Dance to the Music. 

Take a Rest! Repeat!

A musical rest is part of emphasizing the music melody. Even in the melody of life, rests are important.

He (God) brings a sudden pause in the choral hymn of our lives, (L.B. Cowman, p. 44)

God has THE plan for the music of our lives!"Our part is to learn the tune and not be discouraged during the rests." (John Ruskin, paraphrased, https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1207851-there-is-no-music-in-a-rest-but-there-is)

Don't avoid the rest; it's an important part of making the music!

True for a pianist. True for an orchestra and true for all of life's songs and melodious hymns!

GIFTS THAT KEEP ON GIVING!

Fellowship, in an of itself, is a gift that keeps on giving!

Friend WH, who understands better that I, all my age-related maladies has a way of of giving that helps me embrace God's truths and my need for all of them.

Reminders wrapped in an acrostic!

A great focus to remind me to not lose sight of Who God truly is in my life (Psalm 46:10) even when I struggle to set myself aside and choose to surrender to Him! (James 4:7)

Remembering His promises is key! (2 Corinthians 1:20) Yes and Amen.

The outcome allows me to experience peace. His peace. (John 14:27)

A gift of joy in His presence! (Acts 2:28)

True peace regardless of circumstances. 

What a gift!

WEEK-END -WARRIOR!

My Saturday Saint shared these verses she had prayed for me this morning. She knew I was preparing to lead a session on Praying the Names of God by Tony Evans. She also knew my hesitancy & inadequacy in spite of sensing God's calling to this event. 

Exodus 4:11.....Who has made man's mouth?....Is it no I, the Lord? 

Now, therefore......aka.... 

.....(Exodus 4:12)

God did exceedingly above all I could ask or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)

 

Colorful Day went from black and white to bright colors! 

To Him be the glory (Ephesians 3:21)....and a BIG thanks to my Weekend-Warrior!

Camping Out

1/31/09
It’s not alliterative but it’s where the Lord had me today. This Liles crew has had many Saturdays spent "camping out” in the woods---all memorable but not all pleasant---in fact, the most memorable were those bordering on disaster. Our camping fiascos might discourage others from “risking the endeavor” but those crisis/catastrophes have become our shared jokes (which most people wouldn’t get---esp. our Deep Creek ones) Times of humorous reflections are good---definitely warming the soul. Today the Lord had me camping out in Isaiah 40 and grateful His word endures forever as it says in verse 8.

Asked for No phone calls on LHH site today b/c 6:15 am. call sent Larry’s dad back into surgery to fix a leak in his by-pass and I needed unencumbered access to MaBell or whoever we have now since I dropped the old phone in the “tub” and Larry changed phones & our provider. Some days I just want an old princess phone with the curly cord---much easier to find. We now have 3 phones and I can never seem to find any of them. Even the battery on Larry’s cell has a way of going out when I pick it up.

After popping in to check on next-door neighbor & share some of my “bountiful blessing of potato salad,” I had time for an early morning walk---prescribed by WH as a great pre-surgery prep. It became more than that. It became a praise walk! It brought me back to Isaiah 40:26, “Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens, Who created all these……” The prophet is talking about the stars---and His one big star, the sun, was warming my back as I walked. His son was warming my heart—it felt great.

I also began to reflect on the “moonlight walks” of 1984. Larry and I would take Buddy, Josh and Molly on a walking adventure (mostly in their pjs). This would occur on the night the Almanac declared the “fullest moon” for each month, There were 13 full moons that year! I even documented (your not surprised, are you?!) where we were and what we did—had a snowball fight in March, walked in alley by Winslow’s house to our childhood tree house in KY, saw our moon from a ship’s deck as it reflected on the water of the Caribbean……..

Wrote a thank you note to Michèle in Germany today b/c I received her beautiful book, Postcards from the Water’s Edge—about her cancer journey. As I went to put it in the envelope to seal it with love & a grateful heart and lots of stamps, I saw the verse on the stationery I had chosen---how had I forgotten---it was Isaiah 40:11---“He tends His flock like a shepherd. He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart…..” I am in His arms and though the tears are falling as I write, I can feel His heart!