FORTRESS OF FAITH

9/28/11 A fortress of faith sounds even sturdier than a wall of faith. It was today's Commercial Appeal newspaper’s lead in to Rabbi Grossman’s Rosh Hashanah message, but it reinforced my latest THOTS (Trusting Him On This Subject): walls/fortresses of faith are “besieged by hostile forces.” The Rabbi was recalling as an 11 year old finding his mother crumpled in the floor and crying because “her mother, eight sisters and one brother had perished in the Nazi gas chambers.” (CA guest column, 9/28/11) In later years, he read on the walls of such a gas chamber, Psalm 44: 17, "All this came upon us, yet we have not forgotten you." He ended with prayerful words, “May He who makes peace in His high places, make peace for us and all of Israel.”

I concluded that there can always be love, peace and respect for mankind in my wall of faith.

THOT: The mortar that holds my wall together must be grace. His grace extended to me. That grace extended by me to others. L'Shanah Tovah Tikatevu or “Happy New Year” to my dear Jewish friends who will probably serve apples today, in one form or another.

DOORWAYS

9/27/11 "Keep evil at bay TODAY," was a thought bantered around at H2H last week. Sounds easy enough but when it comes to making right choices in a fallen world, not always so easy---especially those kudzu thoughts. They start with just a simple crack in the doorway to your mind. Soon they take over. So what's one to do?

Erect a wall of faith. Brick by brick. Cemented with God's word. Similar to Isaiah 28:13 when Isaiah built his hearer's knowledge of God's truth "precept upon precept, line upon line" in order that they might not have to fall backwards, be broken or snared. Which is sadly what happened when they didn't build on simple truths. Their wall of faith crumbled. Where was the cornerstone of their faith? (Isaiah 28:16) Eventually the cornerstone of their faith was rejected. (Psalm 118:22) Theirs was not a stable edifice. They opened the door to deceit and closed their ears to righteousness.

An open doorway to an unrighteous mind can start with just a toehold of complaint, bitterness, resentment or anger.

Simple two point answer of what one is to do: build a wall of faith through the study of God's word; don't open the doorway to your mind to impure thoughts. Stop them at the threshold. If it opens slam the door loud and clear with the truth of Scripture.

"ALL THINGS CONSIDERED"

9/26/11 "ATC" with the voice of Robert Siegel often catches my ear if I’m in the car late afternoon. Yesterday’s interview with Rachel Held Evans really caught my attention. Mrs. Evans, an evangelical Christian, has spent a year trying to live out biblical instructions for women. My favorite part was when she told of the Jewish orthodox woman whose hubby “sang” Proverbs 31 to her on the Sabbath as a way, not to push her to do all written therin, but to celebrate all that she had done for her family during the week. That interview had me considering relevant biblical instructions for my own life. Hiding God’s word in my heart was my first consideration.

For today’s Meditating Monday this radio broadcast had me choose “considering” verses that one might deem relevant for his/her own meditation. There are lots. I’m choosing 4 verses that caught my attention. Choose the one that “speaks” to you and then consider it and all things about the verse over the next few days.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:2-5)

Don’t consider yourself wise. Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. (Proverbs 3:7)

Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, (II Corinthians 3:5)

.....and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, (Hebrews 10:24)

Sunday Storms

9/25/11 Warnings postponing my post ---will return when warning is lifted.

Just changed blog because I have storms on my mind.

Storms in life too often interrupt my peace. I prefer joy.

Yet I have learned that striving for that joy and peace is wearisome. Acceptance is key. Accepting that life will never be perfect this side of heaven, no matter how hard I try to make it so. Choosing to see joy in the imperfections and interruptions that life sends my way.

Accepting that I am His in the lull before the storm, in the midst of the storm and in its aftermath.

He Himself is our peace, (Ephesians 2:14)

Looking and leaning toward the Light

9/24/11 Light and water are two of the natural resources necessary for plant growth. These are basics taught in kindergarten.
Like these trees at Ben's Park in Harbor Town are leaning toward the light for growth, most plants do the same thing---looking to the sun for needed light. This often shapes them in a recognizable way.

How similar that is to our own spiritual growth, as we look to the "Son" for growth. Hopefully this shapes our growth in such a way that others can see our Christian "bent."


Water is also a necessity. That's why trees that are planted by rivers have roots that go deep, rooting them to flourish and establishing them to weather storms. How blessed we are to know the One who is the "living water" and who can establish us in His love when we plant ourselves close to His word.

Today I prayed Ephesians 3:17b-18 for my Saturday folks...." And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ."

To which I say A-men---which means , "so be it."

ORGANIZED CLUTTER IS STILL CLUTTER………….

8/21/11 Organized clutter IS clutter…………I know that…… Maryanne Macdonald taught me that in one of her continuing ed organizational classes back in the 90s. But it’s still hard---especially when I found these cute “Dotsy” bins to keep up with my Dotsy Details blog stuff. (Just in case I might ever need it.) I still intended to cull a little---I have always been a lady of good intentions. This time I meant business.,,,,,,,until I got to the sentimental stuff. Then I really struggled. I’ve tried to give it to my children but mostly they say, “You keep it or just throw it away.” How can I throw away…. the best of show rosette that Josh won in the junior horticulture division at the Mid-South Fair....Or Molly’s Italian leather size 0 baby shoes, a “namesake” gift from my college roomie, Molly P….or Buddy’s poem’s published in Ridgeway’s literary magazine, “The Carousel” ?????

I think I’ve justified myself by thinking if I have “like things” together, ( another Maryanne tip) especially if they are color-coded and labeled and stored in alphabetical order, retrieval will be easier. But will I remember this formula? Will anyone ever even want me to retrieve them?

Let all things be done decently and in order. (I Corinthians 14:40) KJV

This verse could have affirmed my rationale except that in context, it really deals with orderly worship. But it did open my eyes to question this pseudo-rationale of mine. Am I worshipping my “stuff?” Is it fitting to hold on to so much stuff saying it’s of sentimental value, when those who hold this memory really aren’t interested? Having just cleaned out 2 houses, following deaths of loved ones, I’ve seen that what one person treasures another can throw in the trash. Eventually most of it will be thrown away. Why prolong the process or leave it for others to do after my death?

Quite a conundrum----but one fact remains, organized clutter is still clutter, even if I can find it easier.

Pausing for a Posting

9/19/11 This "posting" in a dear friend's kitchen gave me pause. Pause to think about my own life. Is my heart so hid in the Lord that to truly understand me, one most know Him. Is that true in your life?

May my soul glow with the e†ernal divine occupant of my being so that others might see Him.

Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:2-3)

Leaning.........on Love

9/17/11 I such a weird little bird when it comes to note taking----very visual. Several of my journals allow for this so I avail myself of those "provided lines" underneath or beside the text. But.....that's usually not enough. I find myself dating, jotting, scribbling or drawing on the text itself.

Thursday's (9/15) Jesus Calling entry brought me back to "leaning." I saw the One who is Love, as "the One" on whom I can lean---not self.

The word lean wasn't even in the text but the essence of it was----if I'm still working harder and harder to be worthy, to be accepted by His love, I'm leaning on self, not on the One who loves me regardless. Thus the leaning L ( ⁄ for love) is there to remind me to lean on the One who loves me---without condemnation. Without "my" work and strivings. Just with my willingness to lean.

SHUTTERED! SHUDDERED! SHATTERED!

9/15/11 It was shuttered. I shuddered at the thought.

You know it’s coming…..but it’s still a shock. A neighborhood institution that is no more. It’s almost like a death.

Border’s Bye-Bye

Kurt in “Sound of Music” sang it well. “So long

farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye. I leave and heave a sigh and say goodbye -- Goodbye!”

Borders has shuttered its doors for the last time. Sadness looms for the regulars. It’s been a part of our lives since ‘95, I think. Friday night dates. Saturday morning coffee (tea) klatches. Three different school library accounts. Educator’s week specials. The red Border’s Rewards card for perks.

Connections. That was the real perk. Joanne who knew my reading preferences and led me to so many books I might have missed. Gail, at check-out, who always asked about Molly and “little’ Owen. Kim’s daughter in the café, whom I never got to say good-by to because when I went for my last cup of hot tea for old times sake, both the cuppa ingredients and Kim were no where to be found. “Red,” whose name I don’t know, with his big smile and long stride, was a regular on Friday and Saturday nights. I think he walked from a near-by home. An adult with childlike ways.

Connections to be sadly missed.

Bumping into friends. Friends who knit. Storytellers. Aspiring writers. Fellow teachers from former schools. Former students. How truly sad I am.

No more smells of new books or fresh brews. No more bluegrass pickin’ sounds on Friday nights. No more children in the aisles and sitting on the platform in their area. No more seniors bumping elbows around the “bargain books” table. All this will fade away as another bookstore collapses & bites the dust. How sad!

Not only did I shudder when “they” shuttered those glass doors for the last time, I realized that my “Borders” retirement dreams had been shattered. Dreams of spending mornings there browsing the new releases, scanning the travel section and maps and enjoying a cuppa while reading magazines too esoteric for a subscription, but a pleasure just the same,

Good-by old friend---you will certainly be missed by this household.

Reading Rekindled

9/14/11....but not as an eBook on a Kindle or Nook, or iPad but with a real book. I gave the book One Thousand Gifts to a dear friend----not one of "the" gifts that I mentioned yesterday that I will be distributing for this next year---though I do feel that the gift was God ordained. He had me buy the book in Dallas to give away, even though I had never read it. That's a big "no-no" for me. To date I have read parts, but my friend has read it and it has ministered to her in a big way. She told me about the website/blog of the author---a "Holy Experience. Said author is a talented writer, young, married to a farmer and homeschools six kids, not exactly my peer, but her blog has a way of sharing God's grace regardless of age. What I like is that she focuses on seeing life as a "gift" and encourages everyone to live fully where ever God has placed them.
It has rekindled my interest in reading this book in its entirety because seeing gifts from God and passing them on is my new pursuit of sorts.