Sabbath Snapshots in the Delta

10/16/11

Starting the day the Gideon way!

Fields white unto harvest----a great analogy with John 4:35 "Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest."

Town churches in Greenwood, MS

413 Grand Ave. --Hilly's house in movie "The Help"

Actual country church---also used in "The Help" as Aibileen & Minny's
By 11:30 the ground was filled with cars.

A bright spot of yellow that grows along the I Canadian RR tracks
just north of town on Money Road

Porch sittin' sparse

Porch sittin' ---crowded

Tallahachie River Bottoms

Praises for a bright sunny weekend in the Delta!

Let's Dance!

10/14/11 This entry is about dancers in my life---two who have helped me to dance. Dancing for me is a life fully lived. A life I live with the Lord. It's an abunDANCE, as it's full of God's purpose for me while on this earth. It gives me eyes to see His hand in my life through good and bad times. Dancing is passionate. It's embracing those whom God sends across my path---every single one, even the irregular ones who annoy, hurt, and try to rob me of my joy. Learning to live the life God has planned for me and living without fear requires dancing in His arms. Surrendering to Him. Following His lead. It requires spiritual maturity and in my case encouragement from others. Especially those who already know the steps.

Meet Doris and Marge. Two such dancers. They have chosen to live the "dance" God has chosen for them. I have learned much by watching. Though their lives are intentional in choice they make it look easy---like an overflow of love from above. They laugh. They garden. They cook. They read. They selflessly see to the needs of others. They seem tireless. In Him, they live and move and have their being. (Acts 17:28) There's a deep assurance of God's presence in their lives that touches all who cross their paths.

What connects me to them? Certainly we are connected spiritually. Our paths crossed through introductions years ago from other dear friends. A friendship that has grown through the years. We are all family oriented, wives of the husbands of our "youth." (Proverbs 5:18) We share interests: travel, good food, and good literature. Strangely, we all love "Keeper of the Bees" a somewhat obscure classic from the 20s. I know both and yet they still have never met. Maybe I need to make introductions.

What connects them to others? Their lives----every facet of it. They seem to feel and trust the rhythm of God's music for their own lives. They have His ear. They hear His love song.
During their own fearful times, their courage is infectious. Cheer, strength, and peace seem to flow, as one "whose mind is stayed on Thee." (Isaiah 26:3) They know from whom their hope and trust rests and their thoughts are fixed on Him.

"Given to hospitality," has these two dancers opening their homes and hearts to others. "Hospitable to all strangers, but especially to those who were of the household of faith," is the way Romans 12:13 states it. Financially, they have given and given and given, even during times when there might have been little for family, much less others----they gave anyway. Nowadays they both have acquired homes just to share with others. As God blessess, they bless whether out of their lack, or out of their abundance.

The countenance of Doris and Marge is glowing. Smiling. Always smiling. Roman 12:12 describes these dancers as "never flagging in zeal, aglow with the Spirit, serving the Lord." They live above their circumstances because they are always looking up! Pretty much each and every Sunday you will find them pew side at a local UMC, where "Lord of the Dance" is on page 261 of the Methodist hymnal.

How blessed I am to know them. May you, reader, be blessed as well by using their lives as a model. A model to follow as you become a "dancer," not a critic, for those in your life.

Consistently Doris and Marge respond to His grace. They dance. Their lives say to others, "Join us. Let's dance!" Won't you dance too?

THANKFUL THURSDAY

10/13/11 SO-O-O thankful for uninterrupted quiet times. Add to that a cuppa, some digestives from England and a smooth jazz worship CD and I'm in heaven. In a way, I really am, as I sit in the Presence of the One who sits at the right hand of the Father. A "tea with Thee" experience. PRAISES!

Wednesday Walkabout

10/12/11 Merriam-Webster defines the term walkabout as “a short period of wandering bush life engaged in by an Australian aborigine as an occasional interruption of regular work.” For Ellen and me it was a running together of words as we estimated the number years we’d been walking. “Let’s see, we’ve “walk’dabout”---well it was the year John and Josh turned 15 so that’s 1990---Wow, we’ve been “walkin’about” 21 years and mostly on Wednesday. I remember that because she would drive to my house and then have to get back in time to work in Christ Methodist’s church library. Most of those years we both worked full time so it was a great interruption for both of us---a time to move our feet and our mouths. Wednesday is always the day I pray for Ellen too so that evens it all out nicely.

John15:15b….I have called you friend, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

This fall I’ve been going to her house to walk. Her “hood” has more trees and manicured lawns than my “hood” so our walks have been a vibrant visual feast. Do you have a friend like that? One with whom you share faith, friendship, the ups and downs of life, lots of stories and lots of years? If so how ‘bout starting a walkabout with them? Certainly burns more calories that “doing lunch.”

Enjoy today’s pictorial stroll---we don’t exactly burn up the pavement but we’re still “walkin’about”--- ‘cause that’s what our Wednesdays are all about.

The Last Dance

10/11/11 ….at least for awhile. It’s just my final “dance” THOTS based on Timothy Keller's book, The Reason for God; Belief in an Age of Skepticism. Believe me, I’m just scratching the surface. According to Keller, we were made to join in the dance. (Naturally, I agree with that!) “If we will center our lives on (H)im, serving (H)im not out of self-interest, but just for the sake of who (H)e is, for the sake of (H)is beauty and glory, we will enter the dance and share in the joy and love (H)e lives in.….we were designed then, not just for belief in God in some general way…..We were made…..to make the purpose and passion of our lives knowing, serving, delighting, and resembling (H)im. Our world was made in joy and therefore is good, in and of itself. The universe is understood as a dance of beings united by energies binding, yet distinct, like orbiting planets, tides and seasons, tones in a chord, like a mother with a baby stirring in her body. ”(Keller p. 219) Rev. Keller says, ,”Creation is a Dance!” I couldn’t agree more.

Yet, somewhere along the way our self-centered world has left many without real relationships. Alienation sets in. There’s no one to join in the dance. Self absorption. Many are concerned with their own needs and building their resume with accomplishments to bolster a sense of pride.

Many need to return to the dance.

I know what it’s like to dance with the Lord---to follow His leading and to share in the joy of a relationship with Him that spills over to others. It’s about Him and His glory but oh how it benefits me. In the first step one can move out of self-centeredness into relationship. The first turn can move you from fear to trust. Just stay close enough that He can whisper His directions in your ear.

Thanks Rev. Keller for the reminder.

Word of God--- كلمة الله

Word of God كلمة الله

10/10/11 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (II Timothy 3:16-17)

Meditate on these verses. Think about the purpose of God’s word----whether it’s read right to left because it is written in Arabic like Rina’s, who comes from Sudan, or it’s written in English, the purpose is evident….to equip us all for God’s work.

BTW, she was reading in II Kings with chapter 10 on the right hand page and chapter 11 on the left.

Apply the كلمة الله to your heart.

Sabbath Snapshot

There’s not a plant or flower below, but makes Thy glories known,

I sing the mighty power of God, (Watts, v.3) Sung today at Allen Bible Church.

A Dance continued...

10/8/11 ... in Timothy Keller's book, The Reason for God; Belief in an Age of Skepticism, as The "Dance of Love." "God really has love as His essence." (Keller p. 216) G. K. Chesterton wrote 'for the Christian it (love) is the purpose of God.' (Keller p. 216) A dance of love is a dance of relationship. If in the pursuit of life, one is drawn to money, power or success/accomplishment over human relationships, that person is "sitting out" the dance of love. Those self-centered pursuits are not about relationships. "Self-centeredness destroys the fabric of what God has made." (Keller p. 217)

In the dance of love, take your place with the Lord. But God....doesn't want one to stay there as a way of shutting others out. The dance of love has an "other orientation." For believers, it's a committed relationship with both Him and each other. Choose to dance the dance of Love. See life as a big dance party, if you will. As the Lee Womack song says, "Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance. I hope you dance. I hope you dance."

But you can't go it alone. The Dance of Love is all about relationships. Him first. Others next....and the dance continues.

DANCE OF GOD

10/6/11 "Dance of God," the final chapter in Timothy Keller's book, The REASON for GOD: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, caught my eye for a very obvious reason----Dance. Having begun my "dance with the Lord" in new ways with my '09 cancer diagnosis, I was drawn to read what a scholar had to say about what has been "my" way of experiencing trust and intimacy with the Almighty God as He leads me in "our" dance---the one chosen just for me.

Keller sums up God's dance in several steps. Step one included understanding God's own personal dance, "The Divine Dance" as he explains the doctrine of the Trinity. Starting with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit glorifying one another, he stresses that such a "divine dance creates a dynamic, pulsating dance of joy and love." Perichoresis is the Greek word for this (think choreography) "meaning literally to dance or flow around." (Keller, p. 215)

Whereas self-centeredness is static and demands that others orbit around us, the inner life of the triune God is utterly different as it is characterized by self-giving love. (Keller, p. 214) The first few pages had so much food for THOT, I'm still digesting it.

But God....has me realizing that the "dance" starts and ends with God and when I join Him in the dance, He can teach me to delight and serve others and center on their desires and interests. I know that I'll have to stay in the "closed" dance position with Him in order for Him to have complete access to my ear so that He can continue to teach me these truths.

FORGING FRIENDSHIPS

10/5/11 Pastor Cole spoke Sunday on forging friendships of the soul based on the picture given in scripture of the lives of David and Jonathan. A soul sister (or brother) is essential because we all need that kind of friend.

Such a friendship is:

1. Reciprocal/mutual---someone who believes in you as you believe in her/him

2. Strengthening---keeping his/her focus on God’s purpose & vice versa

3. Authentic---being real and vulnerable because it’s a trust relationship where both are fully present to God

To me there is never any posturing or competition. It’s about acceptance. Loving and enjoying each other for who we and where we are in our spiritual growth. When our friend goes into firey situations, we’re there. Going through the fire together strengthens that bond. A “forged” bond that time and distance cannot break.

Years ago my neighbor, Cheryl McClure, gave me a cross-stitched sampler made by her mother. It read “Our best friends are those with whom we become our best selves.” How true. What a godly expectation that is.

I Samuel 20:23b ….Behold the Lord is between you and me forever.

If you have forged such a friendship, no one or no situation can come between you and her/him. Enjoy the blessing.