Remembering Linda

4/26/09

In Memory
of
Linda A. Dickens
1945-2009

Loving wife
Devoted mother

Prayer warrior
Friend

--one classy lady who lived a life that glorified the Lord—

All who knew her will greatly miss her. She was my Saturday morning prayer “tag” partner. When I asked her to cover my 7 a.m. Warriors on the Wall prayer slot, she never turned me down. When we shared similar prayer concerns, I knew they were safe with her and I knew she would pray.
Today’s memorial service shared the essence of Linda, “servant to all” and “life-well-lived.” To which I say, A-MEN!

DAVID & BRANDY

4/25/09

CONGRATULATIONS
TO
DAVID AND BRANDY ROSE
ON THEIR WEDDING DAY!!!

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR A GARDEN WEDDING OF TWO PEOPLE WHO LOVE THE LORD AND LOVE EACH OTHER & ARE SURROUNDED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND ALL OF GOD’S CREATION, AS PASTOR ANDY SAVAGE SAID.

I HAVE PRAYED FOR DAVID FOR MANY YEARS AND WAS GLAD TO MEET BRANDY---THE ANSWER TO ONE OF THOSE PRAYERS. I HAVE PRAYED SINCE OCTOBER 5, 2008 THAT BOTH THEIR WEDDING AND THEIR MARRIAGE WOULD GLORIFY THE LORD. ANOTHER PRAYER WAS ANSWERED TODAY, APRIL 25.2009, AT 2 P.M.

Food for Thought

4/24/09 Slug Day
Today has been a sleep-in, stay in your gown, 3 naps kind of day---even if not sleeping, I’ve been drawn to the bed. Mama Davenport used to call it “take to the bed.” Lying there awake, I began to plan---1st clue that I’m no longer in Texas (Oz), I’m back in TN. (Kansas). A lot of what happened in Texas is already a blur, like a dream. Just 2 days ago I had sat on the end of the bed and read the Jesus Calling entry aloud to my friends. I had emphasized the phrases, “making things fit your plans” and “compulsive planning.” Then came the “kicker;” “A mind preoccupied with planning pays homage to the idol of control.”

I then read today’s entry---“Rest,” “wait on Me,” “be still,” “passive side of trusting” and “excessive planning.” Another kicker; “Your mind is so accustomed to this way of thinking, that you are only now becoming aware of how pervasive it is and how much it hinders your intimacy with me.”
Whoa---ever felt like someone was looking over your shoulder and straight into your thoughts/heart?
I repented of this tendency and began to resist it---and I wish this were the end of today’s blog---then you might think highly of me. But “the rest of the story” continued in the same position but along different lines.
Yesterday, Dr. Ha gave me permission to begin chewing. That’s BIG! Scrumptious, delectable, mouthwatering, yummy are some of my favorite “foodie” adjectives. I began to consider how I might enter into this new and exciting phase. Crunch came to mind---I do like something I can feel when I chew---it makes me realize I have eaten. Of course, I love sour--- pickled okra, grapefruit (a morning staple) and lemon in any form or fashion. I even like bitter when it refers to turnips and greens and dark chocolate. Salty might not be my first choice for this new phase because of some lip and mouth spots that are a little sensitive and still burn…..but I do so like salty---chips, popcorn and olives. Then, of course there is my sweet tooth---For 5+ weeks, I tried a variety of ways to poke sweet things down my throat---even trying to suck icing off of Mary Flo’s pumpkin cake with a straw. It was worth the try.

CONVICTION! What about the Lord and His food? Had I chewed on that? Didn’t I still need to “taste and see” that the Lord was good?” Had I already forgotten the rest of verse 8 in Psalm 34; “How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” His food satisfies the heart with gladness. (Acts 14:17) What about my declaration early on, that I ate His words and they delighted my heart?
I felt a word study coming on----
Sour--- "But everyone will die for his own iniquity; each man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth will be set on edge." (Jeremiah 31:30) I might have to camp out here for awhile, but certainly I understand foods that put your teeth on edge---just like awareness of my own sin of “planning apart from Him” has done to me today. Trust me, my teeth are really sensitive these days---now if I can only get my heart into that condition/state of being.
Bitter---I’m sure my Jewish friends will remember these scriptures from the Pentateuch, first as they apply to the Exodus and then as the instructions for their Passover meals (Seder Supper) observed just this month. “They shall eat the flesh that same night, roasted with fire, and they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.” (Exodus 12:8)
“In the second month on the fourteenth day at twilight, they shall observe it; they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.” Numbers 9:11
Salty---"Can something tasteless be eaten without salt; Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?” (Job 6:6) “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”(Colossians 4: 6) Salt is my favorite spice/flavor enhancer---am I allowing the flavor of His life to enhance my life, so that others might see Him?
Sweet---How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (Psalm 119:103)

Just “food for thought” from me to you.

"My" Molly's Birtday

4/23/09 HAPPY 30th MY MOLLY!
Having called you Benjamin for 9 months, we rejoiced When Dr. Albritton told us that we had a girl. We actually asked him to check and be sure. “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes,” was the first verse that came to mind. We have celebrated your arrival every day since and even used the verse when you married Corey. Today will be no different---we will just have more “boons” so Owen can join in as well.

Happy Spiritual Birthday to Nathan as well. My journal entry from 2007: Nathan invited Jesus into his heart today. I know no greater joy than this----salvation for my children and grandchildren.

Dotsy's Grateful Heart

4/22/09 Day in the Life of an A.D.D. blogger
As most of you know, one of my favorite subjects to teach is children’s literature. As I’ve said before, there’s just no such thing as a good book that is written only for children, If it’s well written, all readers can enjoy it or learn from it, regardless of age. Mr. Putter and Tabby Write the Book was the inspiration for this blog---with sincere apologies to Cynthia Rylant.
Just like Mr. Putter, I wanted to write---mystery book for him, the day’s blog for me. I had everything a writer needed; a quiet room, a journal and lots of colored pens, alongside my Bible, computer and jump drive. I thought and thought and nothing came to mind---except “Writing the Blog.” Pleased with that idea, I went down and brewed a cup of tea and got a high protein Ensure, chatted with Mary Flo and took coffee and tea up to JoLynn and Diane. I had spent approximately 2 minutes on the computer and an hour and a half on pre-breakfast. Returning to my quiet room, I read Jesus Calling and My Utmost for His Highest, jotted some notes in my journal and decided fresh air would do me good. I donned tennis shoes and my mask and left with friends for a morning stroll down Turtle Creek---and what a beautiful Texas spring morning it was!
Returning to my quiet room after my walk, I took my last antibiotic, rinsed my mouth and slathered my lips with bacitracin ointment. I read Chapter 3 in Timothy Keller’s, The Prodigal God. Then I opened my computer once again and began recharging it. The power cord to the computer was working; the power cord to my brain had fallen asleep….but my stomach was awake and talking to me. Breakfast at Kuby’s up in Snider Plaza seemed a great idea so once again, I set out with friends in tow. A nice long breakfast with mushed up eggs and grits eaten with an eensy white handled spoon, that I now carry with me everywhere, hit the spot. I was ready to return to the quiet room and write again---but first I had to buy an adorable light weight raspberry jacket at Unmistakably Molly and a kiddie lit book at the Learning Express toy store. Returning to the quiet room, I read the book to get some ideas for the blog and settled down to write. But writing is hard work, so I took a little nap.
Awakening, I showered and dressed and of course, put some self- tanning lotion on my legs. I almost felt like my mother, who in the midst of having a heart attack during her hot oil treatment, wouldn’t go to the hospital until she washed her hair---she wouldn’t dare go out “looking like that.”
Then I opened all the shutters to let in the light. Looking out the window at all the spring colors reminded me that Diane wanted to go to Sprinkles---so a quick car ride got us there. By this time, JoLynn remembered that we all needed to look for “raspberry and brown” clothes for the chosen color scheme of an upcoming event. We never found the clothes but we found a variety of raspberry and brown delights in the form of Celebrity Café cookies, donuts and cupcakes---all of which our bodies will now be wearing to said event.
Returning to the quiet room to a fully charged computer, I checked e-mails, made a few phone calls and wrote out a list of menu options for a take-out dinner from Mi Cocina in Highland Park Village. Then I had to put my feet up because all this blog writing was really wearing me out.
But what about writing the blog? I sat on the end of the bed with computer in my lap and with a tired hand, opened the blogspot document. There was the blog---already written. I had done it sometime earlier and completely forgotten about it. Gratitude welled up in my tired body and I thought about Mr. Putter. He never wrote his mystery novel but ended up writing a “list of good things” instead. His neighbor, Mrs. Teaberry, told him not to worry. The world was full of mystery writers, she said, but writers of good things were few and far between. Mr. P was thrilled with her “review” because every writer and blogger loves a good review.
I did the same. I wrote a list of grateful things. I think I’ll call it Dotsy’s Grateful Heart List. That way if you ever “google” me you’ll find that you, my friend and reader, are on the list. If not, just know that you are there. It’s no accident that our paths have crossed, even if only in cyberspace. I pray that you will be as blessed by reading about my MAC journey as I have been by traveling it.
A good analogy would be that of birthing a baby---once the delivery is over, you tend to forget the pain and just focus on the blessing at hand. I, according to Dr. Saporito, have good statistical indicators that my Big MAC attack has been eradicated. Though there were some struggles and painful lessons along the way, all I can remember are the blessings. That in itself is a big blessing.

Q & A

4/21/09 Questions and Answers Because you asked………….

Biggest praise?---so many—But God………He took care of everything. I think Larry is grateful I didn’t lose my teeth—I’m grateful I never had to vomit when my mouth .. was sewn shut
Biggest physical struggle?---breathing
Weight loss?---considerable---no complaints there
Biggest Blessing?---Seeing the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Family, friends, people from near and far … surrounded me with love and prayers. God continually used … His people to meet my every need.
Biggest surprise?---people read my blog---got so many e-mails on … avoiDANCE one, that was a real surprise
Food I ate the most?---Ensure and smoothies with soy protein---& …………every soup known to man, thanks to so many folks for those!
First soft food I ate?---mashed potatoes
Food I craved that I couldn’t eat?---salty and crunchy come to mind, like potato chips and popcorn
Anything I didn’t miss?—make-up—masked folks don’t need it
Any disappointments?---I never figured out a way to get Mary … Flo’s coconut cake into that syringe
Funny “masked” happening?—postal worker saying to me, “I’m okay with your disguise as long as you don’t hand me a note.”
What will I do first with my new mouth? (when I have permission)
Brush my teeth. Elmo kiddie toothbrush is waiting in the wings.
Quote received the most?---"During the storms of life we need to learn to "dance" in the rain."
Sweet compliment?---Nathan, “You have a mouth, Shug. You look really good.”
Sweet prayers?---Caleb’s “ouchie” prayer
Noah’s prayer that I wouldn’t be “ska-uhd” (scared) of the doctors
Precious memory?---TLC from family
Memorable messages?---people saying “Keep Dancing.”
1st verse sent to me and one I received most often? (same answer)
---Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Serene Sabbath and Medical Monday

Time with family and friends on Sunday and doctor appointments on Monday=No postings.

Medical Update

4/18/09 Medical Update
Monday’s (4/13) surgery was #3 in the mix. I would say “but who’s counting”--- but I am. 12:45 surgery took 1 1/2hr. and recovery took a little longer than anticipated b/c of a spike in my blood pressure. (not sure why) A dose of something fixed that so I got back to my room at 4:50---they kept me for awhile, making sure I could go to the bathroom, stand, eat and not get sick, etc. Praises all around for sweet Dr. Cook who once again gave me the “perfect cocktail” so I didn’t get sick. I might have to schedule my next surgery around her b/c she told us she’s expecting. Finally was dismissed around 6:30---yea---didn’t have to spend the night. By 7:00 I was snoozing at the Ridley’s.
Since then, my body has told me to rest, so I do. Two RN friends told me that anesthesia can suck the life out of your body for weeks---I tend to believe them---no complaint, just awareness.
Larry left today—hard to see him go---and Diane and JoLynn, are coming to “nurse” me and take me to 3 doc appts. next week. I will get the stitches in my lips out on Monday morning and see the mohs surgeon that afternoon. I will see Dr. Ha (plastic surgeon) on Thursday morning and hopefully be dismissed to go home for a long spell. That’s the plan as I now know it but I have learned in the past few months how easily plans can change.
I have moved from liquid diet up to “soft” though lack of “control” in my mouth has made me prefer to eat unobserved. Drooling seems to be an acquired feature with my new lips. Talking to the nurse on Wednesday, she explained that my “out of control mouth” experiences were common and most folks need physical therapy---I had strange visions of my lips doing calisthenics. Truly, I have no complaints---just can’t wait to brush my teeth!

Peter Encounter--again

4/17/09 Another Peter encounter

If you ever have a chance to go on a mission trip for which you feel totally inadequate and unqualified and certainly don’t know the language, GO! I did just that along with 7 “qualified women in March 2008.Three spoke Spanish—it was the native tongue of one, all were very spiritually mature, one had a seminary degree, one had a medical background with midwifery credentials, one was a prayer warrior extraordinaire, one had more compassion in her little finger than I did in my whole body, one kept us all organized and then there was me---though I did tend to “pack” a lot of items which later became useful.

One of my assignments was to teach a Peter passage to the women at the Tlapaneco Easter conference in El Llano, Mexico. I prepared volumes---and just a few days before leaving found out that we would not be teaching just the missionary girls but all the women—most of whom were not literate. Very little translation has been done in their language that deals mainly with ideas. Separate and simplify became the key idea. My passage in Mark dealt with the Lord asking Peter who people thought He was and concluded with Him asking Peter, who spoke for the disciples, who he thought He was? Peter answered, “Thou art the Christ.” (Mark 8:29) That was the question I had for the ladies. Who was Jesus? What did it mean for Him to be Lord in their lives?

As the passage continued, the Lord explained all the suffering and rebukes, which he would endure, followed by His death and resurrection. Peter didn’t want to hear it, so he rebuked the Lord. But the Lord rebuked Peter saying, " Get behind Me, Satan for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” (Mark 8: 33) Have you ever wanted to tell the Lord the way you think things should be? We all have our own agendas, don’t we? We are more interested in my way rather than Thy way.

In his satire, Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis writes of a conversation between the senior devil, Screwtape and his nephew, Wormwood, a tempter in training, on ways of securing damnation for earthly man, “the Patient.” Saying the “safest path to hell is a gradual one,” Screwtape wonders why his nephew wasn’t able to seduce the Patient who was hanging between belief and unbelief. The jr. devil tried to defend his actions, saying, that every morning the Patient took a walk just to be quiet and reflective and every night he would read a good book. His conclusion was that somehow between those walks and those books their Enemy (God) was able to get His voice though to him.
Sr. devil understood the mistake and admonished jr. identifying the costly mistake saying he should have only allowed him to walk for physical exercise and to read that book only so he could quote it to others. Allowing him to enjoy pure pleasures you put him within the Enemy’s (God) reach.
That sounds like man’s agenda versus God’s agenda to me---and when we’re seeking pleasure and recognition for self and not God, we put ourselves in a dangerous place. Our actions/agendas still have all the semblance of God’s plan. Often we put His name on our plans and decisions whether we’ve consulted Him or not. Bottom line---we are focused more on our plan than seeking His plan for us. It’s easy to do--just a gradual falling away. Not overt---just subtle----just the way Screwtape would have liked it.

As I said, our agendas are often forefront in our thinking. This lesson which I thought was for the ladies of El Llano continues to teach me---not the deep theological truths or verb tenses or comparisons with Matthew’s account, just truth to reckon with in my own spiritual life. Who do I say that He is? Am I focused on my agenda or His? Simple questions but my response can have a profound impact on my life. So can yours.

More Food from Galilee

4/16/09 More spiritual food from Galilee.
Would you believe there’s a Galilee Grill in Dallas and it has a buffet each weekday? That’s what I feel like I’ve had as I have been intrigued by all the teachings that occurred around the Sea of Galilee---a buffet of life lessons. Of course, my favorites involve Peter because I can so relate to his good but faulty intentions, his impulsivity and his blunderings. Son, Buddy said that, like Peter, I “have had to learn to keep my mouth shut.”
Peter went fishing “in the deep” at His Master’s bidding and he also had a faith walk in the deep with His Master. "In the deep" seems to be where our faith is tested and our trust is nurtured.

Following the miracle of the loaves and fishes Jesus performed a second miracle to deepen His disciples’ faith. (Matthew 14: 22-34) Again, Peter was involved in a big way. According to Dr. Constable’s notes, there are two kinds of storms: storms of correction when God disciplines us; and storms of perfection when God help us to grow. (www.soniclife.com)The disciples were about to enter a storm of perfection on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus had departed to be alone and pray while they, at His bidding, were proceeding across the lake. Sounds like “into the deep” to me. According to my Ryrie Study Bible notes, the time frame was somewhere between 3:00 and 6:00 a.m. or the fourth watch (v.25) according to the Roman division of watches. I don’t know about you, but for me things that occur in the wee hours always seem a little worse and more fearful.

During this time while the boat was “battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary,” (v. 24) Jesus came walking to them on the water. When the disciples saw Him, they were frightened and cried out in fear, “It’s a ghost.” (v. 26) Maybe the dark of the night combined with the fog/mist/rain of the storm obscured their vision.

Immediately, (I like that adverb when it relates to Jesus responding to me.) Jesus spoke to them saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” (v. 27) Those words alone must have been comforting—knowing that although they were “in the deep” with the storm brewing around them, they weren’t alone. But Peter said, ”Lord if (since) it is You, command me to come to you on the water.” When the Lord bid him, “Come,” (v. 29) Peter got out of the boat (a real act of trust) and walked on the water toward Jesus. But seeing the wind,(storm) he became afraid and began to sink. (I guess he took his eyes off the Lord and began to refocus on his fear.) Before you condemn Peter, think how easy that is to do in your own life.

As Peter cried out for the Lord to save him, immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and said, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” This part of the story ends with all in the boat worshipping Him but it wasn’t the end of Peter’s story. You see even that little bit of faith that Peter had was real and the Lord continued to teach Him and “grow him” in his faith until such a time as He gave him the task to “Feed my sheep” and Peter began to preach the gospel. “And it shall be that everyone who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Acts 2: 21) His storm on the Sea of Galilee was a storm of perfection---a time of spiritual growth.

I see my MAC storm of cancer as a time when the Lord is helping me to grow spiritually---I hope the Lord sees it that way as well.