ANNIVERSARY ANGST, once again

8/9/12 Married for 43 years! An event worth celebrating. Certainly a time for a "worthy" gift.  Something he would like. Not extravagant. Bought earlier this summer. From a pragmatic point of view, that was a biggie because I knew we would be "on the road" a lot, even on our anniversary day. But God......had me take the gift to Ukraine for one of our missionaries----at hubby's insistence, I might add.
But Dotsy....forgot to replace it. I even forgot I had given it away. Failing to find it prior to anniversary dinner, a smiling hubby reminded me of what I had done. Acceptance. That was the best gift he could have given me. Plus, tonight he will read Matthew 16 to me as part of Allen Bible Church's NT2012 reading.
Happy anniversary, dear! Thank you for loving and accepting me as I am.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, (Ephesians 5:25-26)

Wednesday 8/8/12---GO TEAM GO!

8/8/12 Busch Stadium. Home of the St. Louis Cardinals. A sea of red! There’s nothing quite like rooting for the home team. It’s easy to get caught up in the hoopla as strains of "Take me out to the ballgame" fill the air. Opening pitches from “adorable bald children who are battling cancer, trivia prompts and even Kiss Cam. (not to mention the hot dogs, peanuts, nachos & $$ cokes) and lower temps all added to the fervor.

We weren’t FANS as such. Fans, certainly, but such fervor was incredible even for hubby, who has followed Cards since childhood and keeps up with stats and such. We were there hoping that Matt Cain (former HHS baseball player) would pitch for the SF Giants or at least friends Michael and Lane’s son-in-law, Jason Motte would pitch for the Cards. Neither happened so we were disappointed. Yet game experience was fun anyway. I just tend to get more caught up in the people aspect rather than in the score. Which is a good thing because the Cards lost 15-0.

Isn’t it great that one can enjoy life even without a check in the “win” column?

HEART REFRESHMENT

8/7/12

"God-Speak"

8/6/12 Are you knackered? That was the question Al Roker posed this morning on “The Today Show.” It was another of his examples of “British-speak” which the 2012 Olympic attendees are encountering throughout London. He also asked about a loud hailer. (megaphone)

It gave me pause as I thought of God’s loud hailer. His Word hails me everytime I open my Bible with an open heart. It’s as if He is loudly declaring what I need to hear.

Is His word calling out loudly to you?

Having spent time these last few days basking in the glory of His handiwork, I heard “loud and clear”, as nature became His megaphone. The grandeur and diversity of creation shouted of the splendor of the Creator Himself.

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. (Psalm 134:2)

Are your hands lifted?

Mine were. His “God-speak “ from His word and His creative genius surrounded me.

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: MACKINAC MOMENTS

8/5/12 Not enough oomph to load pix....but so worth it for my memory bank. Will load when I return to Memphis. So fun to see the "parking lots at the church this morn....all bicycles. There are absolutely NO motorized vehicles here. Horses and bikes. That's it. BTW---horses ALWAYS have the right of way.

♪♪ Music of Faith ♪♪

 8/4/12 Strolling the streets of St. Ignace (Ig-nis) last night, I noticed several musicians were “out and about,” ranging from Native American to gospel duos. All had an instrument case open. It’s the American way.

Though all were enjoyable, it was the familiar tunes that ”stuck” in my head. Too often it’s other things that get "stuck" in my head. Those fearful whirring thoughts that can predominate my thought life.

To combat this, I've loaded favorite hymns and praise and worship songs on my iPod and my iPad and chosen to "listen" and to be attuned to spiritual music on a more regular basis. It seems to keep me more attuned to Him.

How about you? Are you attuned to Him through music? Is music of faith filling your mind?

TWO-WAY PRAYERS

8/2/12 For an unfamiliar town with lots of one-way streets, it’s nice to see “two-way traffic” signage. Trip to Upper Peninsula thus far; Nashville, TN, Louisville, KY, Columbus, IN (adorable) and Nashville, IN.

Life lesson learned. Intercessory prayer travels well. You can just pack it up and take it with you. Added benefit---it’s two-way. I took my prayers for others and I am traveling with others’ prayers for me.” Two-way prayers”. Has a nice ring to it doesn’t it!!

GRACE INDEED

7/31/12 “Suffering is inevitable but misery is optional.” Old adage. Still true. Easier to read about than to practice. But God…..has given His grace to aid us in this choosing. I witnessed such grace last week on the way to Florida. I met Carolyn---Carolyn who has all the physical reasons to complain---3 years of undiagnosed severe headache-type pain. Chronic comes to mind. Persistent, continual, unending pain. No relief in sight. 

Recently doctors in Birmingham said her issues were “beyond them”---a phrase I am very familiar with. So in 3 weeks she heads to the Michigan Headache & Neurological Institute in Ann Arbor for evaluation and 7-10 days in the hospital for testing. Diminished pain, resolution and relief---my prayer for her. She prays for the Lord to be glorified.

Use it to shine through every moment of every situation.  Use it so that others will know that You are God and there is no other.  Use it, Lord, use it all... and, by Your grace, Lord, use me as Your instrument amidst it all. (By His Grace, 7/29/12)

She suffers. But she chooses grace, not misery. Others complain, but God……has been her all sufficient One. She lives day-by-day trusting in His goodness. She lives a grace-filled life. The title of her blog says it all, “By His Grace.” 

Grace, indeed. His grace.

BLESSINGS: THINK ON THESE THINGS

7/30/12 Meditating this morning in Psalm 103, I was overwhelmed with all the aspects of God’s goodness in my life. I did NOT want to forget them. But God….had a way of reminding me that once in the past (when there were only 3 grands in my life) I had recorded many of these. Dotsy’s Blessing Book 2007. Opening it, I was aware of that time when I was trying so hard not to get caught up in merely “ritual recording”---thus the list of "it doesn't matter" references on the inside cover. Desiring only true gratitude in order to change my focus or OCD behavior, I had to give my self permission.

Such a time has come again. A continuing change of focus, not just a chronicling of benefits, of which there are many. Beaucoups.

Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, (Psalm 103: 1-2)

Maybe all of us should "think on these things." BENEFITS & BLESSINGS.*

 *Recording them is optional.

7 GRANDS

7/29/12 I don't know if there's any symbolic significance of having 7 grandchildren.....but at this point in time, it's very special because that's how many I have. Times with all of them together at once are rare. After 7 grand days at the beach with all 7 distinctly different grands,  I know how blessed I am. I may be "pooped" but I've got a smile on my face. 
Allow me to introduce them to you with at least one of the verses from the Proverb which I have prayed for them since birth---it corresponds with their birthday. 

Lucy (9 mo.) Oil and perfume make the heart glad, So a man's counsel is sweet to his friend. Prov. 27:9

Owen (5) An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up. Proverbs 12:25

Andrew (20 mo, That would be butter on his hands and face.) Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, Proverbs 12:1

John Parker (4) A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11

Caleb (6) Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in. Proverbs 30:5

Noah (8, Tooth missing as he reminded the "tooth fairy") Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 3:3

Nathan (10) Humility is the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life. Proverbs 22:4