HOLD FAST

In the midst of a "tough" diagnosis of a dear friend, I have had to hold unswervingly to the truths of God's word. The Word of Life is always needful, especially during such hard times. 

I need to hold fast....to God's truth, to His goodness, to Him......and to friends who are also holding fast. Fellowship is held fast by the shared hope from the One who is our hope as we comfort one another.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; (Hebrews 10:23)

But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; (1 Thessalonians 5:22)

Hold fast to it for the sake of your holiness. “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth (John 17:17)

And if I'm struggling to remember, God has a creative way of reminding me----right before my eyes!

PRIME Connectivity

Life is all about connections. These days connection seems to be more virtual than the face to face relational kind.

Digital linking has a way of intruding on my connecting time with with the Lord. 

Awakened this week by the "bing" of my iPhone, I decided that I would not even "look" at the message until after my time with the Him.

I decided that I would NOT connect with the outside world until I had my time of inner connection with the Lord.

I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me. (Proverbs 8:17)

This week I chose not to awaken to others until I awakened to the One who awakens my soul and is my PRIMARY connection!

Signposts of Character

Crab Crossing ought NOT to be a legitimate sign in my home.

Why is it that we too often show our own worst selves among those we love most?

Billy Sunday, the fiery 20th C evangelist, said it well, "Home is the place we love best and grumble the most."

A woman of God's manner of life should be one of faith, longsuffering, love and perseverance. (2 Timothy 3:10) A worthy life. Not a crabby one!

Did I mention gratitude? Thankfulness is a "given" for a walk worthy of the Lord and another prescriptive component of said life. (Colossians 3:15) Thankful hearts are void of all hints of crabbiness.

No crabbing.....or being crabby by any other name---complaining, belly aching, carping, backbiting or bemoaning. Not allowed. At home or abroad.

Women of godly character allow the Lord to control their tongue so they can put a BIG X on "crabby"words wherever they are, especially at home.

Name it! Nail it!!

Cole said it. Sin needs to be named and nailed.
I named it---WORRY. I confessed "it." I "laid" it at the cross.

I had a sleepless night.  I must have picked "it" up---that propensity to worry.
Lists of "what if's" about self, family, friends and others whirred throughout the night.

At Benny's funeral the Baptist Hospice singer reminded me to take "it" back to the cross, as he crooned verse 3 from "It is Well with My Soul."

My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

This time, I must have nailed "it" there.....

I slept like a baby last night.

Adversi-TEA, a 2nd cuppa

Adversity: AKA----Hard places. Tough times. Rough Going.

Places I choose not to be. Yet, yesterday the Lord reminded me that it's in such places of struggle that one learns important life lessons. Obviously such lessons arise over and over for me, as I had blogged last year in Adversi-TEA, learning that my suffering is not just about me but about benefitting others. Comfort keeping extends to others---comfort keepers reach out with the comfort they receive in order to comfort others. (2 Corinthians 1:6-7)

But....today with my morning cuppa, a beloved cracked cup, I saw clearly that adversi-TEA is NOT a cuppa to sip alone. One must sip it with Him. Alone a cuppa adversi-TEA can leave a bitter taste. His compassions fail not and they "sweeten" one's cuppa. 

He is our portion forever. Adversity can and will work very much for good. That is our hope. 

A hope that never fails. This I know from personal experience.

Crack in cup can be seen above the reflection. 

Glued together because it is the remaining one of two purchased in England in blue/white pattern which I love. 

Sometimes it feels as if I, beloved of the Father, am kept together by the glue of His love and mercy.

The Lord is my portion, says my soul, Therefore I have hope in Him. (Lamentations 3:24)

FORAGERS

Foodies search far and wide for the "best food." Brooklyn offers a plethora of restaurants, diners, food trucks, open air cafes and even grocery stores for said foodies. We found such a grocery store in DUMBO, (Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass) near Brooklyn Bridge Park, Foragers.

With the BEST house roast beef on ciabatta for Pop Pop and a baked bialy for Lucy, we had a bench picnic at the park before going to ride Jane's carousel.

With Josh and Megan as our guides, we have been foragers, searching all of Brooklyn for unique food. Seek and ye shall find---especially with a good guide. Fresh oysters with mignonette, blue crab rolls, lobster potato salad and the BEST EVER crabcakes served with pickled corn and arugula. YUM! All of that was just at one place, Brooklyn Crab, in the Red Hook area.

Believers are also foragers when they seek truth and are willing to search the entire word of God---wide and deep. (Proverbs 30:5-6)

One "kids" himself when he says he wants to "find" truth and yet does not bother to study the whole word of God. Not just picking and choosing out of context, making God's word say what one wants it to say. A pretense. Pretending he/she wants to be led to truth but not bothering to truly seek that guidance.

Spiritual fodder. Fodder for the soul. Feeding truth to one's innermost being. (John 17:17)

BROADWAY BOUND

New York means Broadway to most folks----we certainly like to "take in" the newest musical when we're in "town." Thanks to sweet friend, Mary Flo's recommendation, we thoroughly enjoyed "Amazing Grace!!!! It was AMAZING!!!

A BIG thanks to Lucy who helped us "spiff up" for our big matinee event.

DONUT DAY

What a way to begin a day--- donuts with Lucy from Doughnut Plant in Brooklyn.

Oh my....so-o-o many choices.

Guess who chose chocolate!

A yummy way to begin our day!

Tea with Lucy

Here, there and everywhere. Tea with Lucy is a treat.

A new tea set for Lucy. Would you like a cup of tea with me? Sure!

 Pets are served too as I discovered when I went into Lucy's bedroom this morning. She must have had a tea party after hours.

Bitty Baby likes to be served tea as well.

Plus, we had "Teatime in the Tub?" When it's pretend, why not?

Even sipping from Shug's real tea is a tub treat!

Dine. Read. Repeat

Lucy starts her day with silver dollar pancakes (pancakes are not healthy food, as she says) eggs and bacon at Tom's on Washington Street. YUM!

Since PIZZA will be on our menu later today, sometime after birding at Jamaica Bay......

we just had to read together, The Little Red Hen Makes Pizza.

Brooklyn: Boundless Energy

We're here---after an hour plane delay, we made it to Brooklyn---a great place to be to celebrate a wedding anniversary.....with family!

Brooklyn: Prospect Lefferts Gardens with COLD water & duck boats.

Lucy walking to Alice's for supper on the balcony overlooking the NY skyline with her Alligator Purse.

Sharing Memories

Headin' to Brooklyn New York to see family. If I don't post til next weekend, you'll know why.

Taking Lucy some old faves from our family including the "Lady with the Alligator Purse" ditty and of course the "old" person to go with it. 

So excited. Haven't seen Lucy since last Christmas----and pre-schoolers (3) grow so quickly.

Brainworm/Earworm/Songworm

Brainworm. Earworm. Songworm. By any such name, all are equally irritating.

Repetitive. Stuck. 

Unwanted. 

Catchy in a negative way.

Unlike the urban dictionary definition, my brainworms can be words only w/o melody---I can get a brainworm, usually between 2 am and 4 am ---pithy disturbing phrases like "if only".....or "what if." Then my brain begins to fill in the blank over and over again. Thought after thought.

Trying to capture & replace those "brainy earworms" of thoughts (2 Corinthians 10:5) can lead to a musical interlude earworm melody to full blown songworm---not something like "Come Thou Fount" but more like zumba songs. Songs that I can't even understand the words to----I only know the first few repetitive words----haven't a clue what the song is really about---I just know those pounding, too upbeat for the middle of the night, phrases. Think "bang, bang da, da, da, da, bang, bang....." or "I'm all about that bass, 'Bout that bass, no treble" over and over and over again. There is no rest with those vibrating words in my head.

"Earworm" Used by permission of the artist, Owen

I need more pithy scripture lyrics with a slowbeat replacement melody---esp. this morning when the ear worm went from 2:30 til sometime after 5.














Be gone Brainworm/Earworm/Songworm...whatever you are.

Just because.....

you wanted to do it.

Have you ever bought anything for lots of reasons but none in particular? As a "frugal Fanny," I rarely buy a grocery store item for no particular reason, unless it's on sale.

But I did today---though there was an underlying feeling of nostalgia that prompted the purchase.

Do you recognize it?

I have probably eaten papaya before in a mixed "tropical" fruit salad, but I've never bought one. This one was already cut in half so I could see it looked ripe. So....in to my Fresh Market bitty basket it went.

Prior to that, I spent several minutes recalling Lynda Lou Graham Cross. Lynda Lou my Pi Phi little sis in 1965. Lynda Lou, a "campus cutie" and Derby Day queen." Originally from Madison, TN, she left MSU after her sophomore year, married and moved to Lepanto, AR and on to Jamaica, where she and her family lived on a "papaya plantation." Eventually Lynda Lou returned to the Mid-South, in MS Delta area. Then I lost track of her. Standing there in the produce department, my heart hurt thinking about that loss. (Psalm 14:18)

All of those memories prompted by a papaya plant. So....naturally, I had to buy it....just because!

"Spot On"

Sometimes a devotional entry will be "spot on"----a full spotlight shining on me and my shortcomings, needs, frustrations, desires, etc. 

Last Wednesday (7/31) on a patio in Texas, my on-line entry of Jesus Calling---with words used by Sarah Young---got my attention.

Frustrated.

Frazzled.

Upset with self. 

People know me to say, "It's so hard being me." How that must sadden God's heart----my low opinion of myself. My self-deprecating humanness.

Since then, I have been meditating a good bit on one of the the scripture passages for that day, John 20:19. I've practiced being still enough to hear the resurrection blessing, "Peace be with you." 
Peace from God, available to me through Christ----I just need to appropriate it into my life.

Then, yesterday's sermon gave me more points to ponder. I recognized the one who destroys my peace and the One who not only grants me peace but assures it as He calls me by my name.

Satan knows my name but calls me by my struggle. (Oh how I fall into that "shame" so easily.) But God knows my struggle, yet He calls me by my name. (John 10:13)

"Spot on" devotional followed up by a "spot on" quote!