Song of Deliverance

2/8/12 

Soothing sounds of “You Deliver Me” were being sung by Selah. They’re also the vocal group that sing, “You are My Hiding Place."

You are my hiding place

You always fill my heart

With songs of deliverance

Whenever I am afraid

I will trust in You          (http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/s/selah)

How interesting that this Dove Award winning trio is uniquely named with the exclamation that ends the Psalm verse from which " You Are My Hiding Place" was written. If there’s a story there, I don’t know it. I just know that today that song of deliverance spoke to my heart.

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah (Psalm 32:7)

Thank you Lord for delivering me from my self.

"Sing, Sing a Song"

2/7/12 

"Sing

Sing a song

Sing out loud Sing out strong

Sing of good things, not bad 

(Something ??) happy, not sad."

Scene: Mid-70s, our big ($212 a mo.) MSU faculty rental home at 3958 Central. Son, Buddy, in front of our console TV singing along, loud and strong (especially loud) with Bob as he sang to the Muppets on Sesame Street. After all these years, I still remember the words, at least some of them. I wonder if Buddy does.

Those words whirring in my head brought me up out of my sad song revery. Though not a hymn or a scripture, the lyrics seemed to provide deliverance from my song of complaint and frustration. I needed to change my thinking and my singing. Singing of good things, not bad, led to thinking of more things that were "good, honest just, pure, lovely." Thinking changed thus singing changed. Eventually my heart began to change "back" closer to where it needed to be. A grateful heart is reflected in songs of praise and joy, not sad songs. 

Soon I hope to be singing out those songs loud and strong.

New Song Needed

2/6/12 "Same old song." I need new lyrics for the same old song that I've been singing these last few days. Try as I might, I couldn't find a song of complaint, song of frustration or song of overwhelming anxiety in my Strong's Concordance. But.....I've certainly been singing them lately. I found songs of lament, songs of deliverance and lots of songs of praise. I know my songs haven't been songs of praise. When one's posture has her shoulders up around her ears, it's doubtful she's singing praises to the Lord.

Complaint. Despair. Frustration. Much like the "noise of thy song" (Tyre) which the Lord caused to cease (Ezekiel 26:13) I imagine my song grates on Him as well. A song of self. That music stinks.

My focus needs to look upward and not inward. Psalm 98 is a good place to start on this Meditation Monday---the sub-title naming it,  "A Call to Praise the Lord for His Righteousness."

I need a new song----a song of praise to my Lord.

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: A Super week

My "first" daffodil---with hope of more to come!
"Consider the flowers of the field....Matthew 6:28, Arabic ver.)

Scripture nudge--For with Thee is the fountain of life....(Psalm 36:9a) 

Scripture nudge --"living water...a wellspring of water  of eternal life."
(John 4:11, 14) 

Good Golly Mamarazzi photography workshop class
http://goodgollyphotography.blogspot.com/

A SUPER bowl spread!

Super Bowl XLVI

2/5/12 

AFFIRMATION

2/2/12 Some days one's psyche could use a little encouraging or affirmation. I have recently had such a day----similar to Alexander's, "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day." But a blast of guilt and shame came instead of affirmation. I sank right into self-pity.....and I know where that originates. Self-pity comes straight from the pit.
Affirming others is a biblical art---in Paul's letter to Philemon he commends him for affirming others in the faith.

I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers,.....For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you. (vs. 4-7)

I know that my focus needs to be on affirming others. Refreshing others.....and not worrying about being refreshed myself! Easier to type than to do. In fact, I like Alexander, considered going to Australia. (To visit Sarah Young) But, like the wisdom of Alexander's mother, I know that some days are like that..... even in Australia.

Some days I could do with remembering that I need to please God, not man. (Galatians 1:10) My affirmation should come from Him. The only place I saw it that day was from my toothbrush. Maybe that was a "God wink"---His creative affirmation. At least I smiled.

ROR = an acronym lesson

2/1/12 In our abbreviated world of texting and e-mailing, acronyms are a way of life. Financiers know that the IPO for FB will result in millions for those young upstarts of the company. NASCAR folks know exactly what those letters stand for, but I don't have a clue. Internet slang has people LOL after their puns---just don't confuse it thinking it means lots of love or you could hurt someone's feelings.

Today's My Utmost for His Highest entry dealt with the "reality of redemption"---ROR in my marginalia. Christ's suffering was a reality that offered redemption for the whole world. ROR> Phonetically did you hear the "roar"? That's the sound of angels in heaven approving and applauding someone's acceptance of the Lord's redeeming grace. AKA the Reality Of Redemption.

He redeemed us through His death on the cross. That's the gospel....condensed.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)  

ROR is what keeps me AGOG---Awed by the Gospel Of God!

MOUNTAINTOP EXPERIENCES

1/30/12 Remembering my 2004 "mountaintop experience" at The Cove continues to draw me. Oh, how sweet are those mountaintop memories. I want to to return. I want to experience anew that rich experience I had as I encountered God afresh during my stay there. Yet, I know that it's down here, in good ole Memphis, where my life meets reality. Sometimes brutal reality. Admittedly, the glow of a life-changing experience can seem preferable to suffering, but God can meet us at our point of need.

Therefore, I need to continue in His Presence right here where "the rubber meets the road." Where the truth of my faith is fleshed out daily.  In the ordinary---in the mundane--- in the daily grind, even in the pain, I can find Him. His power is as real down here on the meager bluffs of the Mighty Mississippi as it was in the majestic Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina.

Like Peter in Matthew 17, it's easy for me to want to stay on that mountaintop---secure in the shelter of His love and majesty. 

1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

Peter was even willing to build a shelter for each of them. They couldn't stay there (v.9) and I can't either. Neither can you.

But God ....is allowing me to return, albeit briefly. I received my confirmation today. 

SABBATH SNAPSHOT: Faces of Thanksgiving

1/29/12 Celebrating my "new" face with Dr. Louis Carter, a compassionate man of God and world renowned plastic surgeon, who just this year received the Surgical Humanitarian Award.

Dr. Carter is THE doctor who spearheaded the search for my "team" to do my surgery when Memphis doctors and others declared me "beyond" them. I was unknown to him----but God.........brought him to Memphis---via Africa, Hawaii, Houston, TX & Chattanooga "for such a time" in my life. After a twisty, circuitous path, he found my team in Dallas, TX.

That path was "SEEING GOD'S HAND" in such a way that it still takes my breath and makes me smile at the same time. I will be forever grateful!

SATURDAY SURPRISE

1/28/12 Sitting in my usual Saturday morning spot with a cuppa and my Bible open to Psalm 1, I heard a loud clanking sound. It was the men from Macon Road Landscape delivering our memory tree. A Cherokee Princess white dogwood from 21 dear, dear friends. A gift in memory of both of our parents.

What a glorious surprise! 

How appropriate that I was meditating on Psalm 1, especially those first 3 verses.

¹Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

 ²But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

 ³And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

As they were leaving the driver said, "Have a blessed day." I feel blessed indeed. I hope the leaves on this special tree will flourish and not wither. Can't wait to view my "Saturday Surprise" this spring when it's in bloom!  

Hardhead, Bonehead, Numskull.....

1/27/12 ....any of those terms indicating an osteo diagnosis would be okay by me. The result desired, from my recent test, was bone in the forehead area---not anything tumorous. After a week of waiting, I just wanted to know the diagnosis.
Though I had prayed for, and requested prayer for, patience and calm as I awaited results, the silent phone was getting to me. So, after much prodding by Claudia and other friends, I called the doc just as his office was opening at 9am. I was instructed to leave a message.  More waiting ensued.
At 4:15 the phone rang. It was Dr. S's nurse. That voice was a good sign. Previous experience has taught me that when it's the doc who calls, the diagnosis can be pretty grim or at least unsettling. "Mrs. Liles, your skull scan showed ______ (fill in the blank with any of those "osteo" words) with an extra little boney knot on your forehead. Dr. S just wants to watch it---so he'll see you in 6 months." End of conversation.
Relief is such a great emotion.
Gratitude ensued---that's an even greater emotion for this numskull.