CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON

A coaching son. 5 Spring Sports with "playing" grandsons.  

Soccer. (1) Baseball. (1)  Football. (2) Basketball. (3) The weekly schedule resembles an algorithm---I couldn't even begin to inter the data needed to implement said schedule to fit all 5 kids, all sports and factor in a dad who must arrive early to coach each one on different teams while holding down his "full-time" job.

Arrival times at practices and weekly games with Daddy coaching each one of them is a logistical nightmare to me----but....day by day, step by step and with a carpool here and there, they work it out.

This week the season was over for the final sport and "all" participants were winners even though only one made it to the playoff finals.

Completion made it a championship season. Winning or just learning----all were champions!

However, the 8th grade boys' Tiger team actually got the shirt to prove it with Coach Buddy (Daddy) smiling on!! (Oldest grandson, Nathan, front left)

Going Forth....

"Go ye into all the world" of Allen Independent Schools kindergartens in 2016-17.

Pre-school graduations---a feather in the cap of the Liles family as Andrew's accomplishment marks the end of 11 years at GEM Express---all 5  of Buddy & Day's boys were  enrolled there during that time!

For Andrew, it was a tassel to swirl and swat at while saying "cheese" for the iPhone cameras.

Locate the swinging tassel in middle of back row in front of a face and you'll find Andrew.

For you will go out with joy And be led forth with peace; (Isaiah 55:12) there was lots of joy as they "marched", tumbled, & jumped off the stage to stand with their parents for photographs.

Go forth, Andrew (and classmates) "In the path of righteousness"---

----for as the Proverbs 12 chapter I pray for Andrew says, "In the path of righteousness is life," (verse 28)

Furnishing....

My Utmost For His Highest (5/10)--- Furnish your faith with resolution....(2 Peter 1:5, Moffat) started me thinking.
Son Buddy's recent sermon (Matthew 6:19-21) reminded me that I need to choose real treasure for "furnishing" both my home and my faith---a step up from "does it "spark joy" as Kondo espouses in her Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up.
Today's Streams in the Desert entry added fodder to my faith flame. (All that alliteration is inspired by friend Bernie.) To walk the way of faith, we must "furnish" our faith life with training---training rooms filled with the trials of faith, the discipline of faith, the patience of faith and the courage of faith. All "life's furnishings" required before the final victory of faith. (Streams, May 12)
But where do I start?

Fan the Flame---"Start a Fire" lyrics say it well

You only need a spark
to start a whole blaze---
Start a fire in my soul,
Fan the flame
and make it grow---
It only takes a little faith.


Start a fire in me today O Lord---furnish my soul with all of Thee.

A Love Transfer

Love isn't put in your heart to stay;

Love isn't love 'til you give it away. (Unknown)

Not sure when or where I learned that little ditty, but it was ringing in my heart this morning after Andrew, our rough and tumble 5 yr. old grandson, (ck out the bruised eye & band-aids) came sneaking up on me while I was having a "quiet time" on the patio.

Hiding something in his hand behind his back, we played a guessing game of sorts and he revealed he had found something special on his walk with PopPop.

Eventually, I gave up and he showed it to me announcing, "This is for you."

A treasure---just as he had said. A heart-shaped leaf.

God's gift of creation (Gen.2:9a) lovingly transferred through the grimy hands of a young boy.

Brown and a little crispy.....and I loved it! Of course I did.

Next week when we head for home, I won't leave my heart in Texas. 

I plan on taking it home with me, pressed between the pages of my journal.

Green Thumb Generosity Generates Blessings

The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof...(Psalm 24:1a)

Every morning as I sit and look out at God's garden---given first by Him & now shared by others with me, I am grateful that this "brown thumb" gal is so tangibly loved by others. Others with a horticultural "green thumb."

The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. 

And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:12)

As my mother and grandmother before me, I have been blessed with friends who share slips, dividing and cuttings of flowers, and trees and bushes with other terms of propagation, I don't even know. (in water, in dirt, in perlite, "buried") Others have "gifted" me---son Josh with my Mother's Day cherry tree 30 years ago and Daddy's white dogwood tree, given by dear, dear, friends in 2011.

But.....sharing from their own gardens---their green thumb should shine in heaven.

• Mother--"pinks" and baby's breath
• Mama Davenport--snowball bush originally from Hampton Station, KY & growing in 2 more spots before winding up in my yard
• Mommar's day lilies--mother-in-law
• Beth and JoLynn's hostas--from Tuscany Way
• Mrs. Neely's 4 o'clocks--former "elderly" neighbor
• Wynellen's phlox and butterfly bush--former neighbor
• Mimi's Lenten Roses & Solomon's Seal--GAC swim buddy and "round the block" neighbor
• Jerrie's big green and yellow unknown variety, 365 friend & more
• Winslow's Louisville KY goose neck--high school chum & college roomie
• Lynda's assorted perennials and ferns--master gardener and next-door neighbor, along with lots of "much needed" advice.

Even FL friend, Julie provided (when she moved to DC) a variety of patio pots and a "weathered bird" art which I love.

....the world and they that dwell there in. (Psalm 24:1b) 

All of those who dwell in God's world and have crossed my garden path, or lack there of, have generously blessed me with their " great" green thumbs! 

It's great to have a green thumb but it's even greater to share that skill with others!!

Digital Destiny

The way we communicate with others seems to be changing---even with family and friends. There seems to be a "need" to be plugged in or connected virtually, even while you are sitting with others.

Text messaging sometimes seems preferred over face to face conversations.

We've all seen it---the cartoon of two at a table together----heads buried in their iPhones  The joke caption implies they are texting each other. 

Recently, as I headed out the door, I got a mouthful of yummy Dove chocolate before I got an eyeful of wisdom. It was a great reminder to detox from the digital device for some one-on-one time with a friend.

Leave your phone behind. Revive the art of conversation.

It carried over to "dinnertime" when dining with several friends at TOPH. 

Same message. Different messenger. 

Our "trip hostess" asked that we all put our phones down, except for our "trip" photographer. How grateful I am for her wisdom. Her courteous reminder. 

A  2^nd reminder of the day----we control our digital destinies in our relationships.....

.......Not giving up meeting together (maybe just giving up the device for a while)....encouraging one another....toward love and good deeds. (Hebrews 10:25, 24)

FELLOWSHIP OF BELIEVERS

Fellowship. A step up from friendship!
Fellowship among God's children begins with Christ (Romans 8:16) as they share a heart's message motivated by the "mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2:16)

Sharing and caring are the manifestations of such a fellowship; it's life sharing!
With this group, FUN would be added-----------
----------along with a cup of tea for the T-Cups!

MINDFUL!

Are you mindful of what your mind is full of?

Yesterday's Jesus Calling, 4/22, spoke of the need for freedom from compulsive planning---OOPS!! "When your mind spins with a multitude of thoughts, you cannot hear My voice." (Oh my, I think Sarah Young's been reading my mind!)

The previous (4/21) entry identified "...your mind is the last bastion of rebellion." 

I certainly need to relinquish "control of my mind" to the Lord because I'm certainly doing a lousy job of it. Sarah's scripture citation supported the positive result--peace.
For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6
Who wouldn't want to reap a mind full of peace by being mindful of Him first!

**Should have posted this yesterday....but finding it in my drafts, today, I just changed a few adverbs that needed changing. I thought I was through with this "mindful" message!
But God .....showed me this morning, a "new to me" scripture* which I have embraced for today and hopefully days ahead! He defined for me a faint spirit.
A faint spirit would include all of the "if only" regrets, "what if" fears and whys of life of a compulsive planner, who works so hard to plan life so that he/she can "help God"---by serving others. People, with a faint spirit, (think, in one's own strength) lose courage, become despondent and can burn out.

Today, may I wear "a garment of praise instead of a faint spirit." (*Isaiah 61:5)
How's that for a "mind full" of being mindful of Him through praise!

FEARLESS

The fearless have courage.  They are the brave ones.
I am more likely to possess that trait in the daylight hours.

The "fearful" talk that I  hear in my head between 2 and 4 am seems to come down from the ceiling---similar to a night in a ER hospital room when I heard announcements for a doctor, or a code blue.
A jolt of words that seem to "rattle" me and stay with me. Hard to get out of my head.

I, like a few other folks, need to fear less and trust more especially during the night watch. Those hours when the thoughts in one's head can resurrect fear.
More often than not, they are thoughts of which I have no control over the outcome---think worry. (Philippians 4: 6-7)

To be fearless in the wee hours, I need to fear less of those things which I cannot control and trust more in the One who controls everything.

Tonight's bedtime story will be the twenty-third psalm---

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)

Celebri-TEA---smallest cuppa is more than enough

Author, screenwriter, TV star, Alan Alda, is truly a celebrity. Just his name brings his face to mind. Just a glimpse of his face or the sound of his voice usually brings his name to mind.

But....what I appreciated in his book, Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself, was his understanding of the impact of celebrity on our lives---not always in a positive way. 

Celebrities are affirmed by # of hits on their FB or number of retweets on their twitter accounts, to mention a few. Name recognition becomes key. Everyone "knows" the Kardashians, who are famous for being famous!

USA Today keeps us abreast daily of WHO is "trending." Naturally, celebrities are always the ones trending! That's what trending is----more media exposure.

"Google Trends" in 2005 had Angelina Jolie trending back and forth as a popular search term with Hurricane Katrina (Oct.) When she and Brad Pitt announced a baby, (Dec) the search term, Angelina, got more attention ("hits") than the Iraq war. (Alda, p. 185)

Familiarity. Their names can be bantered around as if they are family members or BFFs. Politicians used to court celebrities---now they try to become celebrities themselves. Name Recognition is so powerful.... (Alda, p. 186)

Felons have been elected to office because their name is known----at least in our town and in DC. 

In our culture, these days celebrities can win without qualifications. 

That's a cuppa celebri-TEA I don't want to serve to anyone, much less sip for myself.

But God....reminded me of my responsibility--thanks to Lo's scripture choice during our prayer time.

This small pre-election cuppa celebri-TEA was more than I could swallow during the debate debacles.
Once the election winner is confirmed, I will honor Titus 3:1, regardless of the outcome---celebrity or not.