Saturday, August 27, 2022

TRUST

TRUST! Easy to type. Hard to hold on to some days.
Yesterday's phone call from doc had me tightly embracing trust in Him once again.
What a great reminder this was------
But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; 
they shall rise up with wings like eagles; 
they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. 
(Isaiah 40:31)

..........an advertisement that "drives it home"!

*This entry is dedicated to Beth Dixon, who shall one day "walk with the Lord Jesus" in heaven!

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

SUNFLOWERS!

Sunflowers are a national symbol of Ukraine.
This picture of a field of sunflowers in Ukraine was today's bright bloom for this their 31st anniversary of Independence. My friend shared that 4 hrs & 44 minutes of air raid sirens had blared before 2:30 pm, EET. Still their President Zelenskyy hailed a reborn Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth sent encouraging words encouraging them to celebrate their culture, history and identity; US President Biden sent a gift, nearly $3 billion of military aid.
It has not been a day without tragedy ----but the people of Ukraine remain as hopeful as their fields of sunflowers.....their symbol of resistance, unity and hope!

Tuesday, August 23, 2022

CELEBRATION!

Celebrating Ann Martin's 1st birthday in heaven! 
A time to remember our true friend who would have been 94 today!
She loved breakfast at Perkins so we met there to pray and remember.
Trips together. Meals together. Swimming together. Singing old hymns together. Laughs together. 
  • Awakening to Shirley's buttery biscuits at Blackberry, riding in the golf cart w/ her doggie Abbey, treated to Judy's crepes w/ fresh fruit & real whipped cream, rocking in the chairs with Farmer John at the Barn, campfire s'mores, 4th of July lunching on the grounds & listening to Luke Bryan's Spring Break live concert from our lawn chairs. 
  • Her top level cooking from Etheline's coconut cake, her Brad's, birthday pumpkin roll and her roasted red pepper soup. Who takes time to roast peppers anymore? Lunching with her sweet Marika when she was in town.....from Napa Cafe to good ole Elmo's.
  • Swimming together at the Q for years, sometimes at the office and once even breaking in to Rawl and Julie's for a dip.....by scaling the gate!
  • When she had trouble speaking we could hum a familiar old hymn and she would start singing.. In the Garden, Old Rugged Cross, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus and Jesus Love Me.
  • Many laughs included Mike & Larry being her boyfriends. Others are censored (per request by friends) but often dealt with food and weight and back to food....while interspersed with bodily function jokes.
Ann was a friend who gave wise counsel; Her life as a friend is clearly reflected in these verses.
A true friend sticks by you like family. (Proverbs 18:24)
Sweet friendships refresh the soul and awaken our hearts with joy! (Proverbs 27:9)

Thanks for the memories, sweet, Ann; You certainly refreshed my heart with joy even during my darkest of days!

Monday, August 22, 2022

SOUL FOOD

Soul Food. Not served just on Sundays in sanctuaries.  In some countries such service is against the law.
Soul food is also served throughout the week. 
On delivery trucks, think18 wheelers......
Like Travis' verse, John 3:16 & Bible pic on Wilson truck he drives
On products. On billboards. A way of conveying the product advertised with shared Biblical values of the consumer.
But..........Soul food served that way is done at a risk. Risk of being offensive to those of differing beliefs.
Bible verses used in NASB, NIV, and NKJV have been copyrighted since 1985 and long passages of scripture may constitute infringement. 

Serving Soul food is more than peddling religious beliefs; it's a courageous act!
True soul food is worth more than the economic "bottom line." It's trying to witness and communicate reverence to God.
"Clean up" on aisle 9 is familiar but a sack of potato chips, on said aisle, with a Bible verse on it can also get our attention if we have eyes to see. That my friends, is a gospelicious idea. 
Check it out just above the bar code!
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said,"Look the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)

Taste and see that God is good even in your neighborhood Kroger......right on aisle 9. 
Pick it up and read it. Soul food for ingesting right at eye level.

Soul Food that satisfies.....
Try it....you'll like it!

Sunday, August 21, 2022

AUGUST 20. 2022!!!

Look who turned 3! OUR SWEET GOLDIE!
TRUSTING!
TALENTED!!
TERRIFFIC!!!
...& added LOTS of sprinkles to her birthday cake!

Saturday, August 20, 2022

FULLNESS WRAP UP!

Fill-up needed for the day? Regular. (Joy) Mid-grade. (Joy & Peace
Premium Octane. Fullness of God.
Where does one go for this premium fill-up?
God's word of, course!
...to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:19)
Where else would one find all the fullness of Him!

Friday, August 19, 2022

FILL ME UP!

It's always smart to start our day with Joy in our heart
As we go through our day we  might run low on joy; Anxiety can set in.
We might need a little PEACE added. 
Brim's, a Bartlett TN (Memphis area) snack food company, reminds us that "life is so delicious" when we fill it with PEACE. Sounds like an abunDANCE to me!
You will keep Him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, because He trusts in You. (Isaiah 26:3, capitalization emphasis by Brim's)
What a yummy mid-day reminder for me!

Thursday, August 18, 2022

FULLNESS!

What are you full of? Oops, sorry I had to end ? with a preposition.
How often have you heard, "you're full of bull" or other choice disparaging words?
Fill in the blank, I am full of __________________!
Would others fill in your blank the same way?
In what ways do you show others your fullness? 

Some companies can outwardly show their fullness* through their products.
Aldi has it stamped in their egg cartons. 
This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)
JOY!
A great morning reminder as I reach for my eggs to fill my day with JOY!

*For all grammarians.....fulness and fullness are semantically related to plentitude. You can use fulness instead of noun fullness. Others see fulness as misspelling.

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

JOYFUL!

Some aspects (nouns)  of life become even more fulfilling with the addition of the suffix ful. 
My "cottage" garden, though imperfect, gives me joy.
When a yellow swallowtail joins the remaining blooms and covers the weeds, I am joyful!
Full of joy! 
In my garden. "In His Presence is fullness of joy!" (Psalm 16:11, emphasis mine)

Wednesday, August 10, 2022

WORD PLAY!

The Ripley Tomato Lady at the Agri-Center's shirt says it all. 
7 Days 
without PRAYER
 makes us 
WEAK

She (Blessed Girl) was proud to show it off!

In other words, to find strength in today's crazy world, "pray without ceasing." 
(1 Thessalonians 5:17)