SATURDAY SADNESS

7/13/13 On our last morning with Josh, Megan and Lucy, the sadness begins to creep in---"so much felt, so little said" syndrome. Hard to express the "tearing away" feeling of the heart when one has to part from loved ones. But God....has brought to mind that we'll see them in October. They're coming to Les and Ashley's wedding.....and it's in Memphis. YEA!!!

At Lucy & Dixie's (the dog) favorite "rock beach" at Orient Point where we'll catch the ferry later this morning as we head up toward Maine and they all head home to Brooklyn.

Lucy "talks" to Daddy. She's only 21 mos. but  is a real chatterbox---and  you should her her sing!! She has quite a repertoire!

S'MORE SWEETNESS.....

7/11/13 S'more Sweetness found on Long Island from Lucy. Posting will be sporadic as time is spent "at the shore" with family and at on Isleford in the Little Cranberry Isles in Maine afor Ashley Bryan's 90th birthday celebration.

Lucy checking out Shug & Pop-Pop as they arrive on Long Island, the North Fork area.

S'More

7/9/13 S'more--one of the first contractions that children instinctively learn when their marshmallows are toasting over a campfire. S'more means they want some more of that sweetness. 

That sweet food that is made by putting a melted, (or charred) marshmallow & a square of Hershey's chocolate bar between two graham crackers. Some more sweetness. Isn't that what we all want?

As David reminds us to "Taste and see that the Lord is good;" (Psalm 34:8), Jeremiah prayerfully reminds the Lord, "Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart;" (Jeremiah 15:16). 

I've found that the more I know Him and his word, the more I want to know Him and His Word better.....so sweet are His words to my life. Addictive. Just like kids with their s'mores. I want some more of Him.

HURRIED FORGETFULNESS: A Meditation

7/8/13 Recent post had me pondering some questions about worrying and hurrying. Pondering those resulted in some guided meditation. (Allen Bible Church, 7/5/10) Pondering brought focus!

Listen to His will: Focus. Pray. Rejoice. Give thanks.

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

The Lord gives His will but also gives His warning so that hurry & worry won't result in low-grade joylessness---aka as a life more filled with "blahs" than "ahs."

In David's Psalms (his journal, of sorts) he reminds us to remember all that God has done for us. 

Remember His warning:

Bless the Lord, O my soul and FORGET NONE OF HIS BENEFITS. (Psalm 103:2)

It might take a little time to recall God's benefits and to say thank you. But....as author Timothy Jones states, "As I take time to enjoy God, I find myself lifted out of life's littleness."

Hurried people become forgetful & ungrateful, which can lead to lives of irritation & "demandedness." One demands more from God & others in order to serve self.

Grateful people don't forget to say thank-you. 

Our forget-filled lives: Hurried.Worried. Ho-Hum.

His will: Be Thankful

His warning: BEWARE OF HURRIED FORGETFULNESS!

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: Long Island

7/7/13 Man versus animal continues----but more luck this week. Hubby finally caught his "coon"---actually 2 of them. Will post when they "arrive"---via L's iPhone. 

That's okay though because I have a picture of Lucy at the "shore"

---the anticipation of our upcoming trip has me packed and ready to go!

Hurried Forgetfulness

7/6/13 With more than "our normal number" of  upcoming summer trips, excessive planning has been creeping in to my mindset. Forgetfulness has been rampant. But God....showed me a 7/5/10 Allen Bible Church post that I had printed off 3 year ago. Is there a "July" pattern here?

Hurry, Worry and Ho-Humness too often mark the lives of Christians. Notes that followed indicated that, too often, we describe ourselves by how busy, frenzied and time-squeezed we are. It's as if busyness is a badge of honor. Worry means our lives are significant. In truth, as one man said, "When I listen to myself, I'm coming to realize, I'm too much laced with discontent?"

Questions popped out at me:

Despicable Me 2, a family treat

• Are you worried and hurried? 
• What would God say to you? 
• God has spoken, without stutter, concerning His will for life. Am you listening?

As I pondered these questions, I began to heed those underlying warnings.

Then, I got an offer I couldn't refuse.

I decided not to hurry but to forget all the to-do list items and enjoy the moment.

 I went to a "kiddie" movie.

A Fun Filled Fourth

7/4/13The Brooklyn Liles started the day with a swim at the shore and a parade. The Memphis Liles/Kennedy clan continued the day with lunch and beyond. Now I just need the Texans to send a picture.

Thanks Soozee for the pic

Owen and his neighbors Hailey and Lizzie.

Friendly Farewell

7/2/13

How does a group say good-by to a leader? To one who has been such an inspiration and mentor? Whose life is a “living out” of the truths she believes? Betty Ferrell, a faithful leader of our small “Prayer for Revival” group is such a woman. Beginning a new season as a widow has Betty moving to North Carolina to be near family. It’s bittersweet.  

Excited for all that is ahead for her, we talk, laugh, reminisce and hug because she will be sorely missed. Yet, we don’t really say farewell to such a friend. It’s sort of a substitute for farewell---more of an au revoir---implying hopes of seeing again. 

Besides she’s taking all of our prayers right along with her. That’s what prayerful friends do; they send you off with prayerful farewells. 

Thought Provoking

7/1/13 Thought provoking---that's what words are. Only man has the language of words. Words used in conversation must be delivered carefully. Even more care must be taken with the written word. Written words can take on a life of their own as we have seen recently in the news of exposed tweets and leaked emails. 

Words, spoken or written, have tremendous power. Words are not the problem---the problem comes from the one who speaks them or the one holds the pen that writes or the keyboard that types them.

Words can slander, shame, destroy and shatter. But God .....shows us that Words can also edify, comfort, and give hope.

When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise. (Proverbs10:19)

Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. (Proverbs 15:4, NLT)

Words can bring death or life! (Proverbs 18:21) My marginalia--"Talk too much and you will end up eating everything you say."

Words wield power. 

Mama Davenport's Bible. I have never known anyone more godly than my grandmother, Mama. This soft spoken woman had  a vast vocabulary that only included words of kindness and encouragement. His Word greatly influenced her words.

Today on Meditation Monday, use God's Word to provoke thoughts about the implications of word choices.

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: Around the neighborhood

6/30/13 Sometimes beauty is right before your eyes. It's like "seeing God's hand." It's there all the time; one just has to notice. Beauty of friends & family helping with grandson supervising, children laughing & playing and yummy s'mores when temps drop.