CELL-LESS, no more

8/24/12 Most folks know that I don’t have a cell.  Make that past tense, now I do. There are a few concerns on my part. Keeping up with it. Knowing the number. I have never “done” numbers well and that malady has just worsened with age. The pre-fix, I knew I could get---but those last four digits could be troublesome. 

 But God…..in His goodness and mercy gave me great last 4 digits. Those who read my blog regularly will understand. Watch carefully for the date to come across the screen.  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfyFI-4ZsaE

Maybe I should use it as my ring-tone.

For sure, it should be played at my funeral,** when being cell-less won’t matter.

** ‘Cause if I’m NOT truly dead, I’ll rise up and dance or I'll at least be toe-tapping in heaven!

INTERRUPTIONS.....

8/23/12…..by any other name is still disruptive.                                                  Consequences can follow.

Grandson Owen has been having a few transition difficulties into his kindergarten world---of listening, in particular. A very verbal, only child. A child in a world of adults who listen to him. A wonderful creative wordsmith, if you ask me.

 

A few weeks ago he explained the works of a volcano “erumption” to his mother. It included the description of the hot lava overflow that exploded and streamed forth after said “erumption.”

Earlier this week, Owen’s response to his mom’s, “How was your day?” was “I pulled three clips (warnings) and THEN I lost my Bumblebee from the hive.” (separation from the group is the consequence)

“What did you do to lose your clips?” Mom asked.

“I “erumpted” 3 times---2 times during circle time and  1 time during story. Then I had to sit out during recess."

Separated & only "watching" friends play

What life lessons can be learned in a kindergarten class. 

 This week’s interruptions were "erumptions" in Owen’s words---phonetically interruptions and eruptions all run together for him. And yet it was his inability to hold back that caused him to explode (erumpt) with his “important to him words”----thus interrupting (erumpting) the group, who did not see his words or excuses as more important than the teaching. Result separation from the group. 

Quiet time this morning had me “erumpting” God by rationalizing a truth about myself that I really did not want to face.

That, my friends, is an “erumption” of the highest order.

Separation from God can be the result---until it is confessed and dealt with---thus this blog.

Erumpting no more.

"MY" Buddys

8/21/12 Everybody needs a buddy in life. Sometimes a buddy’s physical presence is desired, especially during times of both celebration and mourning. Many buddies can come and go during different seasons in life. Certainly God has provided many buddies for me along my spiritual journey. But God….has also given me two REAL Buddys in both my physical family and my spiritual family. This past week, both offered counsel as I was once again struggling with “ranking” my priorities in life. 

Older brother, Buddy, had a succinct, but pointed, list for my consideration. He’s known me for 65 years, so he has the “right”. Plus, he does it in love and kindness and I know he has my best interest at heart when he reminds me to “let God lead…where He wants…” Prioritizing starts with Him. 

But God….didn’t stop there. He had me catching up on son, Buddy’s, on-line sermon, “Traps and Tugs”.  The first part dealt with the misconception of “trying” to prioritize life with a sequential/rank list in order to follow Christ with His priorities. We tend toward rules and ranking but the Lord wants us to go beyond our “list” mentality into relationship with responsibility. He will help us navigate that life which is in alignment with Him.

Only one thing is needful. (Luke 10: 41:42) I read that in the Upper Room entry (8/15/12) the morning after I blogged of my priorities’ struggle.

But God….gave me 2 Buddys to remind me of that.

Everybody needs a Buddy---how grateful I am to have two.

“My” Buddys

Older Brother Buddy

Older Son Buddy

♪ ♩ ♪ So much to sing about….♪ ♩ ♪

8/20/12 “Though I can’t ♪ ♪ sing, the Lord seems to be nudging me to scriptures on singing unto Him,” is a paraphrase of Debbie Frazier’s comment yesterday morning as we sat pew-side together.

Of course, precious Julianne had just led us women in ♪ ♪ singing “10,000 Reasons” so I was already in “puddle” position. Yet, I knew what she meant. Our lives should be a ♪ ♪ song ♪ ♪ to Him---delight to His ears as we lift our voices in praise. ♪ ♩ ♪ ♪ ♩ ♪

But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. You are my strength, I sing praise to you;
you, God, are my fortress,
my God on whom I can rely. (Psalm 59:16-17)

Two verses worth singing “I will sing of Your love forever”….

…. and meditating on as well.

For we believers do have so many reasons to sing His praises….and for some it seems there is so little time.

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: SUNNY FLOWERS

8/19/12 Flowers of the field are given beautiful and varying hues by God Himself. But, the yellow ones are the ones which most often catch my eye. From England's golden oil-seed rape fields, grown on a multi-year cycle, to the beauty of the acres and acres of man-sized sunflowers blossoming brightly in Hungary, I have loved seeing those yellow crops in field after field. I love yellow flowers.

 Yellow flowers seem happy.

From Ukraine.......

to Mackinac Island........

and back home to the Agri-center in Memphis......YELLOW FLOWERS MAKE ME SMILE!!

Questions for Consideration

8/18/12 A recent newsletter from AnGel Ministries had me asking myself, “Do I really know and BELIEVE that God's power reaches it's peak when I am at my weakest point? If so, why would I ever “strive” or try to work things out in my own strength. I know in my weakness, He is strong. I know that in my head because II Corinthians 12:9 states it. But….does my lifestyle reflect it?

It’s easier for me to call upon the Lord for BIG things---like public speaking or pending projects that affect others. But does all include times when I just don’t want to do the ordinary dailies because I’m feeling tired or discouraged. Facing another sink full of dishes. Ironing clothes again---didn’t I just iron those? Somedays even answering the phone or emails can seem overwhelming.

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Phi. 4:13) Do I believe the ALL part?

Today, I think I just want to crawl back in bed to consider my answers.*

How about you? How would you answer these questions?

*But God….kept me going and ministry to others just flowed again and again. It seems His power reached me at that weak point when I didn’t even ask.

PUDDLING On…..

8/17/12 Yesterday was a "puddling" kind of day….and it ended up running in to this day. "Puddling", for me, as faithful readers know, is my euphemism for crying--- especially the blubbering kind. It can start with a knot in my throat, a welling up of tears, escaping tears that trickle down as does my drippy nose (neither of which I can feel) and eventually the blubbering comes. It’s not a pretty sight.

Puddling #1 occurred 8/13 when I heard disheartening results of CT Scan of dear, dear, friend and sister in the faith.

Puddling #2 occurred when I heard her always chipper voice explain that she knew it was bad when Dr. Mullins asked her if she had made plans for her hubby, who is both blind and paralyzed---since a 2004 accident. Since the diagnosis of stage 4 adenocarcinoma last summer, I know the prayer of her heart has been to live to take care of him.

Puddling #3 As I drove to pick her up to take her to her chemo, yesterday, K-LOVE blared out the last verse of Matt Redman’s “10,000 Reasons” as I started my car. 

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore

Puddle #4 occurred when I left there remembering the last time I had been there with another dear friend whose hubby was closer to death than any of us knew.

My emotions were set up to “puddle” and the numbers increased though I kept repressing (somewhat) ‘til I could “blubber” in private.

But God…….gave me these Claudia induced “glory bumps” as I recalled these two days.

Everytime I’m with her, she blesses me by her “dance” with Jesus. It's like she's already soaring above the clouds. abunDANCE!

Her Discovery of God in this situation is so intimate, that she said, "It’s as if I can feel His breath.” She’s Accepted her mortality without morbidity. She’s grateful for the time the Lord has given her to “pack her bags” and train everyone to help care for her Terry. She Notices God’s hand at every turn and thanks Him.She Celebrates time with family. I even watched her “train” her 8 year old granddaughter, whom she homeschools, to administer the “prick” and the measuring of her hubby’s blood sugar. More than all of that, she never misses a chance to Extend her story as an encouragement to others so that they might know the One who is the source of her strength. Tuesday night, with all the pounds left in her little frame, she spoke BIG encouragement to a group of women in the “Way Out” ministry, an incredible ministry that exists to help women leave the sex for sale industry and discover the fullness of life in Christ. She contends her pain is nothing compared to their incomprehensible pain of rejection and abuse. That, my readers, is Encouragement---the capstone of her most recent struggle.

Today, following transfusions at Baptist East, we headed to Jones clinic for a necessary shot. Entering the large room, I saw the plastic bags holding the slowly dripping meds that were hanging from the IV poles; I saw  blinking monitors, the baskets---available with blankets, and the stacks of charts/files at the big nurses desk. She, on the other hand, saw people. She smiled and greeted folks she knew and then stood, stock still.

“What pretty music,” she said.

I hadn’t even heard it----though it was certainly a step above any kind of “canned” music typical of doctors’ offices.

Heading over to the couch to await her nurse, we saw the source. A dark haired woman in a pink and red stripe sweater with gold “Gigi-type” sling sandals, was gently strumming a beautiful, small Aziliz harp. A gift that soothed.

CP closed her eyes and listened. I “puddled” quietly.

She doesn’t “puddle” I do. She smiles through it all.

BROTHERLY ADVICE

8/15/12 The following is advice from my older brother, Buddy, in his email reply to my yesterday’s “Prioritizing” blog entry. Dictionary.com defines advice as an opinion or recommendation offered as a guide to action, conduct, etc

Just a few thoughts:

Your life is none of your business; quit trying to run it.

Maybe you need less Mildred (our Mother) and more Brud (our Dad)?

There's a plan for you and you know more than most Who developed it.

Jesus took a lot of time off just to refresh.

Your expectations for Dotsy seem too high; you will be constantly disappointed.

Don't forget to love yourself.

Let go and let God lead you where He wants you to go.

All of these thoughts come to you from a brother who has learned these the hard way.

With Love and Kindness,

Bro Buddy

 Mackinac storefront reminder that there is a season to be still and listen.
 "Be still and know that I am God" (psalm 46;10)

I like the usage sentence after the definition. : I shall act on your advice.

This might be, for me,  a season to be silent and listen to some brotherly advice.

PRIORITIZING: 1, 2, 3 OR P, P, P……..

8/14/12 A friend has been praying for me about this somewhat frustrating area of my life. Keeping focus on what’s most important. Setting my priorities and matching my actions to them. So…..maybe I need to try to “do something” about it. That was my first “wrong” thought. I’ve been trying for years. Making lists. Checking twice.

I have learned to say “No” more often.

Actually, I’m no better since I retired at getting “it” all done. Grocery list is in order by areas I transverse, if transverse can be a verb. I know I try to keep from back tracking and re-crossing all those aisles. Even coupons are compiled ahead of time. Errands are listed in order of proximity to said route as well. All of this to save my time in order to have more time for the priorities in my life----and yet the planning tends to wear me out. Priorities take a back seat to the “required” or the urgencies.

Second wrong thought was my new alliterative method so I could be sure to choose the best out of all options that daily present themselves. I, at least, have come to the conclusion that I can’t do it all. I might even have to give up my crossword puzzles. OUCH!

Pick out most important areas to cover.   (Might need to give up good stuff in order to have time for the best.)

Ponder all the options.  (There are so-o-o many options mixed with the daily urgencies/requirements.)

Pitch those that don’t make the cut. (Does that mean giving up what gives me pleasure??)

This pithy list looked like the answer.

But God…..showed me that the best “P” was omitted---PRAYER!

How can I ponder anything apart from that basic????

So, I’ll “pitch” one more list/method and get back to the basic. I’ll email my friend, Betty Ferrell, and thank her for prayers, hoping she’ll keep praying and not give up on this slow “prioritizing” learner.

3 Letter Word

8/13/12 We all get so hung up on 4 letter words. PROFANITY! It “rings” in school hallways. It’s on TV----sometimes just to get laughs. Too often, profanity blasphemes the name of the Lord. It’s all too easily accepted---freedom of speech is the claim. To me, it’s sin. That’s the 3 letter word that causes the most harm. 

Result of sin---separation from God.

Even Dictionary.com defines sin as willful or deliberate violation of some religious or moral principle. Where are the moral principles? Nowadays, many sins seem acceptable. World “thinking” condones it. It’s celebrated on front pages of newspapers and even “above the fold”, which all journalists know gives it credence, of sorts. No matter how we try to water it down, or blast its acceptance on airways and through cyberspace, sin is still sin. Sin’s acceptance is man’s viewpoint and has become a way of life. Don’t be fooled. It’s not God’s way. It’s still that 3 letter word that can have a negative impact on one’s life.

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. (Colossians 2:8)