SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: SUNNY FLOWERS

8/19/12 Flowers of the field are given beautiful and varying hues by God Himself. But, the yellow ones are the ones which most often catch my eye. From England's golden oil-seed rape fields, grown on a multi-year cycle, to the beauty of the acres and acres of man-sized sunflowers blossoming brightly in Hungary, I have loved seeing those yellow crops in field after field. I love yellow flowers.

 Yellow flowers seem happy.

From Ukraine.......

to Mackinac Island........

and back home to the Agri-center in Memphis......YELLOW FLOWERS MAKE ME SMILE!!

Questions for Consideration

8/18/12 A recent newsletter from AnGel Ministries had me asking myself, “Do I really know and BELIEVE that God's power reaches it's peak when I am at my weakest point? If so, why would I ever “strive” or try to work things out in my own strength. I know in my weakness, He is strong. I know that in my head because II Corinthians 12:9 states it. But….does my lifestyle reflect it?

It’s easier for me to call upon the Lord for BIG things---like public speaking or pending projects that affect others. But does all include times when I just don’t want to do the ordinary dailies because I’m feeling tired or discouraged. Facing another sink full of dishes. Ironing clothes again---didn’t I just iron those? Somedays even answering the phone or emails can seem overwhelming.

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Phi. 4:13) Do I believe the ALL part?

Today, I think I just want to crawl back in bed to consider my answers.*

How about you? How would you answer these questions?

*But God….kept me going and ministry to others just flowed again and again. It seems His power reached me at that weak point when I didn’t even ask.

PUDDLING On…..

8/17/12 Yesterday was a "puddling" kind of day….and it ended up running in to this day. "Puddling", for me, as faithful readers know, is my euphemism for crying--- especially the blubbering kind. It can start with a knot in my throat, a welling up of tears, escaping tears that trickle down as does my drippy nose (neither of which I can feel) and eventually the blubbering comes. It’s not a pretty sight.

Puddling #1 occurred 8/13 when I heard disheartening results of CT Scan of dear, dear, friend and sister in the faith.

Puddling #2 occurred when I heard her always chipper voice explain that she knew it was bad when Dr. Mullins asked her if she had made plans for her hubby, who is both blind and paralyzed---since a 2004 accident. Since the diagnosis of stage 4 adenocarcinoma last summer, I know the prayer of her heart has been to live to take care of him.

Puddling #3 As I drove to pick her up to take her to her chemo, yesterday, K-LOVE blared out the last verse of Matt Redman’s “10,000 Reasons” as I started my car. 

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore

Puddle #4 occurred when I left there remembering the last time I had been there with another dear friend whose hubby was closer to death than any of us knew.

My emotions were set up to “puddle” and the numbers increased though I kept repressing (somewhat) ‘til I could “blubber” in private.

But God…….gave me these Claudia induced “glory bumps” as I recalled these two days.

Everytime I’m with her, she blesses me by her “dance” with Jesus. It's like she's already soaring above the clouds. abunDANCE!

Her Discovery of God in this situation is so intimate, that she said, "It’s as if I can feel His breath.” She’s Accepted her mortality without morbidity. She’s grateful for the time the Lord has given her to “pack her bags” and train everyone to help care for her Terry. She Notices God’s hand at every turn and thanks Him.She Celebrates time with family. I even watched her “train” her 8 year old granddaughter, whom she homeschools, to administer the “prick” and the measuring of her hubby’s blood sugar. More than all of that, she never misses a chance to Extend her story as an encouragement to others so that they might know the One who is the source of her strength. Tuesday night, with all the pounds left in her little frame, she spoke BIG encouragement to a group of women in the “Way Out” ministry, an incredible ministry that exists to help women leave the sex for sale industry and discover the fullness of life in Christ. She contends her pain is nothing compared to their incomprehensible pain of rejection and abuse. That, my readers, is Encouragement---the capstone of her most recent struggle.

Today, following transfusions at Baptist East, we headed to Jones clinic for a necessary shot. Entering the large room, I saw the plastic bags holding the slowly dripping meds that were hanging from the IV poles; I saw  blinking monitors, the baskets---available with blankets, and the stacks of charts/files at the big nurses desk. She, on the other hand, saw people. She smiled and greeted folks she knew and then stood, stock still.

“What pretty music,” she said.

I hadn’t even heard it----though it was certainly a step above any kind of “canned” music typical of doctors’ offices.

Heading over to the couch to await her nurse, we saw the source. A dark haired woman in a pink and red stripe sweater with gold “Gigi-type” sling sandals, was gently strumming a beautiful, small Aziliz harp. A gift that soothed.

CP closed her eyes and listened. I “puddled” quietly.

She doesn’t “puddle” I do. She smiles through it all.

BROTHERLY ADVICE

8/15/12 The following is advice from my older brother, Buddy, in his email reply to my yesterday’s “Prioritizing” blog entry. Dictionary.com defines advice as an opinion or recommendation offered as a guide to action, conduct, etc

Just a few thoughts:

Your life is none of your business; quit trying to run it.

Maybe you need less Mildred (our Mother) and more Brud (our Dad)?

There's a plan for you and you know more than most Who developed it.

Jesus took a lot of time off just to refresh.

Your expectations for Dotsy seem too high; you will be constantly disappointed.

Don't forget to love yourself.

Let go and let God lead you where He wants you to go.

All of these thoughts come to you from a brother who has learned these the hard way.

With Love and Kindness,

Bro Buddy

 Mackinac storefront reminder that there is a season to be still and listen.
 "Be still and know that I am God" (psalm 46;10)

I like the usage sentence after the definition. : I shall act on your advice.

This might be, for me,  a season to be silent and listen to some brotherly advice.

PRIORITIZING: 1, 2, 3 OR P, P, P……..

8/14/12 A friend has been praying for me about this somewhat frustrating area of my life. Keeping focus on what’s most important. Setting my priorities and matching my actions to them. So…..maybe I need to try to “do something” about it. That was my first “wrong” thought. I’ve been trying for years. Making lists. Checking twice.

I have learned to say “No” more often.

Actually, I’m no better since I retired at getting “it” all done. Grocery list is in order by areas I transverse, if transverse can be a verb. I know I try to keep from back tracking and re-crossing all those aisles. Even coupons are compiled ahead of time. Errands are listed in order of proximity to said route as well. All of this to save my time in order to have more time for the priorities in my life----and yet the planning tends to wear me out. Priorities take a back seat to the “required” or the urgencies.

Second wrong thought was my new alliterative method so I could be sure to choose the best out of all options that daily present themselves. I, at least, have come to the conclusion that I can’t do it all. I might even have to give up my crossword puzzles. OUCH!

Pick out most important areas to cover.   (Might need to give up good stuff in order to have time for the best.)

Ponder all the options.  (There are so-o-o many options mixed with the daily urgencies/requirements.)

Pitch those that don’t make the cut. (Does that mean giving up what gives me pleasure??)

This pithy list looked like the answer.

But God…..showed me that the best “P” was omitted---PRAYER!

How can I ponder anything apart from that basic????

So, I’ll “pitch” one more list/method and get back to the basic. I’ll email my friend, Betty Ferrell, and thank her for prayers, hoping she’ll keep praying and not give up on this slow “prioritizing” learner.

3 Letter Word

8/13/12 We all get so hung up on 4 letter words. PROFANITY! It “rings” in school hallways. It’s on TV----sometimes just to get laughs. Too often, profanity blasphemes the name of the Lord. It’s all too easily accepted---freedom of speech is the claim. To me, it’s sin. That’s the 3 letter word that causes the most harm. 

Result of sin---separation from God.

Even Dictionary.com defines sin as willful or deliberate violation of some religious or moral principle. Where are the moral principles? Nowadays, many sins seem acceptable. World “thinking” condones it. It’s celebrated on front pages of newspapers and even “above the fold”, which all journalists know gives it credence, of sorts. No matter how we try to water it down, or blast its acceptance on airways and through cyberspace, sin is still sin. Sin’s acceptance is man’s viewpoint and has become a way of life. Don’t be fooled. It’s not God’s way. It’s still that 3 letter word that can have a negative impact on one’s life.

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. (Colossians 2:8)

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: INSIDE AND OUT

8/12/12 Sanctuary—a sacred place, a quiet place, inside or outside where one can meet with God. The natural beauty of God’s creation can often draw us into His Presence. Though awed, we can be still and worship regardless of all that is going on around us.

That’s my definition---this week’s pictures reveal clearly where my words fail.

Church of Abraham Lincoln, Springfield, IL. In the sanctuary stands the pew of the family.

A welcoming sanctuary

Trinity Episcopal (1637) where I knelt & prayed for bereaved friends.

Established by Jesuit missionaries in 1670 on Mackinac Island, MI.

Little Stone Church near the Grand hotel where I read aloud Psalm 51. "Create in me a clean heart, O Lord, and renew a right spirit within me.

Mission Church

Cedarburg, WI

Sunday morning parking on an island that allows NO motorized vehicles

Spire proclaiming the cross is a harbor welcome to Mackinac Island.

Reminders of my "Me and Thee" chairs---the purple one must belong to Him. After all, a King is royalty.

Great sanctuary to behold a sunrise

???Wedding Questions???

8/11/12

The answer to ALL their questions …..“I do” or “I will”.

Is there anything sweeter than couples standing at the altar declaring their love and lifelong commitment? 
From....

the flowers...

to the awaiting groom...

the smiling bride....

the attentive nephews...

the solemn vows.....

the mother of the bride

the luscious cake

the dance....

the kiss.....

the toasts.......

the laughs.....

....and the keepsakes,

Wesley and Michael had it all!!!

Two are better than one,
 because they have a good return for their labor:

If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
 But how can one keep warm alone? 

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

How blessed this young couple is to have Christ as the center strand of their cord.

CONGRATULATIONS WESLEY & MICHAEL

Home Again, Home Again

8/10/12….The  minute I typed the title, this entry took a different turn. Echoes of the “olde”nursery rhyme filled my head.

To market, to market, to buy a fat pig,

Home again, home again, jiggety-jig.

Not counting my 2 early summer glorious trips to North Carolina and 10 days in Ukraine, I have trekked with hubby through 11 states since July 28. The latest trek was 2,468.7 miles. So…. home felt good. But…..the trip was also good----did I mention not one single bad meal along the way! From fancy to hearty. Even the Wisconsin cheddar cheese curds and Beechwood Cheese Co.’s Moraine Muenster on wonderful crispy crackers hit the spot for our “car” lunch. Of course we topped off all that salty with a little chocolate cheese fudge.

There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil (Ecclesiastes 2:24)

Work became toil, and life offered drudgery and frustration after the fall, but to those who please God, He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy (2:26). for God’s glory brings joyful satisfaction and fulfillment.

In my rationalization, those verses in Ecclesiastes came to mind. But God……reminded me that indeed He does provide good things for us to enjoy. I not only had gastronomic feasts on this trip, I had visual feast from God’s creation as well.

Now I have the “fat pig” syndrome of 5 extra pounds. (That would be on top of other recently acquired poundage.) So....... now that I’m home again I’m going to have to dance a few jigs to slow down all that “jiggety flesh” that was a result of a GREAT trip!

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)