Smell-Bound

BOOKS----there's just something so appealing about real books.
I like the feel of a book in my hands. I like the covers---the feel of the book jackets.
I keep trying to read on my iPad but there's just something about the feel and "smell" of a book!

I like to underline in my own books. I've underlined in an on-line book---but sometimes highlighting takes off and does too much. 

I like to pass on books that I think others will like.

When God Doesn't Fix It by Laura Story is one of those books. Most folks are probably familiar with her because of her "Blessings" song---

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindropsWhat if Your healing comes through tears?What if a thousand sleepless nightsAre what it takes to know You're near?
What if trials of this lifeAre Your mercies in disguise?

In this book Laura begins by recalling the unexpected call that changed her life. Life as she once knew it. A reminder to us all that we are all just one phone call away (p. 1) Yet, encouragement continues as she share a better story which God had for her (&for each of us) which often begins with brokenness.

Her myths at the end of each section are highlighted with the truth. Truth which needs to be taken to heart. (A complete list is in the back of the book with the reminder "Don't Forget")

MYTH--Things have to get better before I can get better.

TRUTH--My situation may not get better but I can get better. (p.272)

A real book that has reality spilling off its pages kept me spell-bound.

A real book, that I could hold in my hands, kept me smell-bound as well.

SNOW DAYS

Memphis' snow fizzled but I stayed in and read a book anyway----the magic strings of Frankie Presto narrated by the voice of "Music"---an interesting read. The blind Maestro said to his young protege Francisco, "The secret is not to  make your music louder, but to make the world quieter." (p. 137)

Lucy's snow took on blizzard proportions and she stayed in and read to her "friends."

READING-----a perfect pastime for literary ladies, both old and young!

TEA-lightfully clear----or NOT!

TEA-lightfully clear----Certainly that blog entry was NOT clear.

I can see clearly now---thanks to some help from blog readers with younger eyes. Clean NOT clear is what they read.
How right they were----Tea-Rightfully "clean" is what was written on the bottle of "refreshing shampoo from tea tree essence."

But God.....showed me a whole new idea for TEA-lightfully clean! 
Seeing truth in God's word is predicated by a clean heart. It's the only way to clearly see the truth from His word. And it's God who gives that clean heart. (Psalm 51:10) which renews a right spirit allowing clarity of seeing and hearing from Him.

Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow (Psalm 51:7)
TEA-lightfully clean heart leads to TEA-lightfully clear truth. 
Clean and clear---a spiritual duo.  

TEA-lightfully clear

God's Word is truth. (John 17:17) God-breathed. (2 Timothy 3:16) Yet, to many, parts of scripture are unclear. Direction needed. Crystal clear direction. Clarity in God's word

Isn't that what we all want? A cup of clari-TEA as we read God's word---to know His truth?

To know what God is really saying, especially to each of us personally?

Last week at BSF, Cathy, our teaching leader, gave insight into this conundrum.

All scripture is equally true....BUT not all scripture is equally clear. 

A TEA-lightful quote for me to remind me of truth that I do understand and to trust the Lord in the parts which I don't.

LOVE SONGS

Love songs----an entire night of love songs, what a gift!! (Will unwrap this gift later.)

Actually this treat began as a wrapped gift under the tree. Opening the gift was just the beginning, albeit a good one.

Hubby gave me "flex" tickets to the Memphis Symphony "Pops" concerts. Last night we used them for Love me Tender: The Great Elvis™Love Songs.

A real date night* which began with dinner at eighty3 (in Madison Hotel)

including my fave dessert, crème brûlée---with fresh whipped cream, no less......

.....and continued with good seats, (orchestra section on the aisle) and a great Elvis program which the symphony and Terry Mike Jeffery showcased skillfully. Elvis songs that most "seniors" in attendance remembered well---thus a smiling audience. The overture included hymns "How Great Thou Art" and "Battle Hymn of the Republic." The final encore song was one of my favorites, "Can't Help Falling in Love."

Elvis may have left the building but his music remains and we enjoyed every lingering bit of it-----in fact, I'm still smiling as I type up this "gift" of love, songs included for free!

*This date night was a great diversion as it became my focus. Most years (since 2009) on this date, I have focused on how many years it has been since the first time I heard the word biopsy, as it related to me----with the diagnosis, additional biopsies and ensuing treatments, surgeries etc. I still remember that day and the dread that the word "cancer" brought to my heart---long before experiencing the blessing it would truly become.

Come and Go

Come ye. Go ye. 

Come ye unto me. (Matthew 11:28) Go ye into all the nations. (Matthew 28:19)

All who have come unto Him are called to "go" whether it's across the yard to neighbors or across the globe to foreign soil. "Go" and share the love of Christ.

"G0-ers"-- long-termer stands with a short-timer!

Stateside---short term if you move a lot or long term if you remain in your neighborhood. International---short term if you go across the waters for weeks or months---long term if you reside there indefinitely, a year or more. 

Coming and going, as God directs.

W.A.I.T.

Prayer is two way! 

We cry-out, petition, plead, etc. God listens.

God speaks....but do we listen? Have we forgotten it is a conversation? Have we forgotten how to "take turns" in our prayer life.

For many prayer is "one-way". We talk and then we talk some more. (James 1:19)

We shoot those arrows in the air and then go about our way, not reading His word or staying still long enough to hear His answer. (Psalm 46:10)

In this morning's prayer time, Carolyn W. shared a great acronym, W.A.I.T. to keep us mindful of the wisdom of controlling our words. 

  W--Why

  A---am

I----I

         T---Talking

Practice listening more, with both God and others, might be a good resolution for most folks. Wait your turn to talk....but remember to listen as you wait.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY---NOAH JOSHUA

Happy 12th Birthday to Noah---actor, athlete, artist, author, musician, brother extraordinaire!

Where have the years gone! Love & Birthday Prayers!

Simmering, Sizzling, Steeping....and......

Black-eyed peas simmering with ham hock on the back burner, Uncle Bummy's sizzling in the black iron skillet, and tea steeping in a favorite mug----it must be New Year's morning. No protein shakes or grapefruit at the table, just lots of grease to go with Gigi biscuits rising in the oven.

And.....sitting. Sitting with food in lap watching the Rose parade (a bucket list destination) followed by lots of football. (Not playing, just sitting and watching.)

Not healthy but tradition all the same! A New Year's Day rule! Pork rules, that is.

Happy New Year 2016!

NEW BEGINNINGS

....welcome 2016! The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Or is it???

It seems that I'm always in the midst of a struggle as old years transition to the new ones. This year is no exception. Except....that I'm making NO resolutions.

My hubby and daughter, on the other hand,----along with a friend, a doc and a wise counselor are resolving to "help me" cut back. Maybe it's a reflection of the inner disarray that becomes "outer" when I let down my guard around them.

For a Christian, all new beginnings, in new years or new seasons, start at the cross and continue with obedience to His word.
For me, I want a renewed emphasis in my life on worship. My study in Revelation has been an impetus for that. Loving God and serving others are an overflow of worship..... so, how do I pare down? Relationships take time----time with the Lord and time with others. What a conundrum!
So far, the only fresh start I have made is to begin with a "new" Bible and a new journal. (Thanks, Nancy)

For a journaling junkie, these are essential tools. Maybe the new "journaling" Bible will help me see anew. See truth from Him rather than relying on years of "scribbled notes" (tho marginalia sounds better) in my old Bible. Maybe the new journal will help me keep up with sermon notes and improve my memory and "scattered thinking. "

Yet, the quandary remains---how can there be a "new beginning" when the old ways are so familiar!