FELLOWS' FELLOWSHIP

Gals have friends. Childhood friends, college friends, garden club friends, Bible study friends & neighbors.

Guys, not so much.
Unless you are Larry Liles and Charlie Mazzone.

Larry and Charlie in their Starsky and Hutch years in the 70s.
From lots of hair, even facial hair, to "glow in the dark" white hair and less hair!

Friends from the "get-go." From the competitiveness in sports at arch-enemy high schools---to ping- pong and cork ball duels at Memphis State/UM. Games of fervor!
Fellow coaches from the university supporting each other's chosen sport. Handball & Racquetball-- even being doubles partners in senior racquetball tourneys. Traveling to Las Vegas, Colorado, Houston and to Jacksonville or just across town to Redbird's stadium to "be there" for encouragement as well as celebrating awards. UM Silver M Club. Memphis Amateur Sports Hall of Fame.
So many stories. Heartwarming to hilarious!

"Ranger Years" at Shelby Farms. "Ranger Down. Ranger Down!" Oh the stories they tell! (Most not appropriate for this public blog.) From the saddle of a horse to the cold, wet seats of a fishing boat, or under water with their scuba gear at Lake Ouachita & breakfast around a campfire--a terrific twosome having fun.
Sharing the winnings on the floor at Circus Circus, in the earlier years, to sharing the load of care when each has had turns in the hospital in more recent years. They are there for each other.

A comic duo of sorts.  Think, Laurel and Hardy. "And what will you have Stanley? I'll have Tutti-Fruiti!" Being in the car with them as one tells the other how to drive is also a "road rage event" with Charlie threatening to get out of the car.

A friendship that has spanned the decades---and matured from friendship to fellowship, "walking in the light as He is the light." (1 John 1:7)
A friend loveth at all times (Proverbs 17:17) and the friendship/fellowship of these two exemplifies just that!!
All genders could learn the value of friendship topped off with true fellowship from this dynamic duo!

TUESDAY TRUTH

Worship is about God.
Worship is a time to give back to God.
Worship is being in God's Presence.
Only Jesus Himself can lead us into God's Presence.  (Bob Kauflin)
He is our worship leader.

Worship can be individual or corporate.
Corporate worship comes when God's people join together. Sitting or standing.

Worship is NOT about music style, praise songs/hymns choices or hand positions.

A worshipping church is believers together in His Presence for His glory. 

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. (Psalm 29:2, ESV)

Sunday, 8/26/18. First Evan Worship pastor, Ron Man, in his semi-farewell address, reminded the congregation of those truths. His analogy of corporate worship was given as he read from Stone Soup--a very familiar tale to this librarian, who loved it.

It clearly illustrated that as the villagers had brought to the "pot" from their own larders, God's people come to worship bringing their own full hearts of praise and gratitude.

Hearts blended together.
A great feast before the Lord in which all participate to His glory.
A sweet aroma unto Him. (2 Corinthians 2:15)
And....that's the truth. A "Tuesday Truth!"

"GOLDEN BUCKET LIST"

Yesterday ended week 2 of our 50^th Anniversary. Our 50^th anniversary will be August 9.2019…. but I decided to begin celebrating on August 10, because to me, that was the 1^st day of our 50 years as a married couple.  So,  I started a gold/50 theme to carry our each week prior to our 50^th. Many of these “unique to us gifts” are still whirring around in my head but the overriding idea is one of fun, mystery and refreshment to both of us as we age together.

The first week, I delivered a golden bowl of scrolled prayers on gold paper tied with golden ribbon. The inspiration was Revelation 5:8, where John describes the golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. This reference refers to collective prayers of all God’s people which are a sweet aroma that is pleasing to Him. My prayers for the first week were prayers for hubby with my request to be the wife God would have me be, respecting and loving hubby as a way of honoring him and in turn honoring the Lord. (Ephesians 5:33)

Look closely to see bowl in right corner of picture with a prayer scroll.

Week 2, the golden bowl was set aside to make room for prepping our golden dinner, which we shared with our neighbors on the patio. They were in on the surprise to see if hubby recognized  the color theme of our “”golden” dinner.

The "golden kabobs were the side for our scallops dipped in "golden butter" along with the grilled golden peaches. 

The evening ended with an “almost-full moon” which appeared “golden” to our naked eye but hard to catch on our cell phone.

Will keep you posted through out the year as we add to our weekly "golden bucket list" journey to our “golden anniversary” next year!

WINSLOW'S WARRIORS!

What is a warrior? Warriors in the faith come along side each other to encourage and build one another up. (1 Thessalonians 5:11) Maybe being a warrior entails pushing that wheelchair so that she can sit outside the "facility" for the first time since July 2.

Warriors are there day and night, either physically or spiritually or sometimes both.
Warriors are the watchmen, appointed by God, to pray day and night and to take no rest for themselves & continually cry out to God until God makes wherever his people minister a praise in the earth (Isaiah 62:6-7), ie a place of sanctuary, a happy place, of sorts.
With dear high school, Winslow, the call to be her warrior has brought us all together again on her behalf.

Since we love one another as God has loved us (John 13:34), and are called to prayer, fellowship & breaking bread together, even if it was benedictine on a cracker,  (Acts 1:14 & Acts 2:42).  There was "light" from the fellowship (1 John 1:7), & speaking aloud in psalms & hymns, making melody with with our heart unto the Lord, in oneness inside room 111.

From ICU to rehab to the hospital and back again there has been a cadre of folks, armed with "Winslow Will Win" purple bracelets ready to pitch in on her behalf!!! Note Dotsy's right wrist.

Now you know what a warrior is in the deepest sense of the words. Among believers, it's the ones who stand on your side---lift you when your down, kneel in prayer when you can't, and some times "bust you out" of a "facility" so that you can see the outside world again and even do a little shopping!!!

What a thrill to end the day encircling her chair, holding hands and praising the Lord who had "strengthened (Winslow's) weak hands" and answered prayers from "His Word which help the tottering to stand and to have strengthened her feeble (left) knee." Job 4:4)

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Respect seems to be losing steam in today's culture. Respect for authority, be it parents, teachers or law enforcement. Respect for restaurant patrons who don't need to hear your cell phone conversation. Respect for others, without labeling.

Today, Aretha Franklin, who was born in Memphis, TN,  died in Detroit, MI.  The daughter of a Baptist preacher, she grew up singing "gospel." In the 60s, "The Queen of Soul" sang of respect. Her grammy award winning rendition, R-E-S-P-E-C-T, was originally written and recorded by STAX artist, Otis Redding, a Soulsville star! The song was playing Tuesday night as I entered the STAX museum for a meeting---so it's fresh on my mind.

The song's lyrics, "wanting just a little bit of respect when you get home, "focused on the need of "respect" for those in a marriage relationship. All relationships benefit from respect as one chooses to honor others as created by God, regardless of gender, race, faith or age. In an interview Franklin once said, "even a 3 yr. old wants respect!"

Philippians 2:3, which encourages others to put self aside, sums it up well---".....with humility of mind regard one another more important than yourself."

R-E-S-P-E-C-T, a good and valuable quality, does not need to be lost from our society. If the spelling out of respect, helps to keep this character trait at the forefront of our mind, let's all start singing together. 

ANCHORED BY HOPE

I just love it that our newest grandson's nursery decor is both nautical and spiritual.

In fact, it's as if those aspects are intertwined.

Adoption can be tedious as we've learned with our newest grandchild. 
An up and down roller coaster of sorts. 

Exhilarating but risky!

But God, in His love and mercy is keeping us anchored in hope by the prayers of friends!!

Friends who are warriors for us in the spiritual realm!

How grateful we are for each of you.

49th ANNIVERSARY ARRIVALS

The day began with appropriate verses.......may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. (Proverbs 5:18) 
I'm so grateful God's Word didn't say young wife as one celebrating 49 years of marriage is no longer young.

Ecclesiastes goes on to remind us the importance of enjoying moments because life is fleeting. "Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun;"  (Ecclesiastes 9:9)

It continued with cards, emails and text messages from friends and ended with "cooper" (for 49 years) gifts  from daughter's family and dinner at their house. Plus, 2 copper 2018 pennies---one for our 49th being celebrated and one for our NEWST GRANDCHILD born this year and a BIG part of the celebration!
Another BIG part was "THE GIFT!"

On this our 49th wedding anniversary, how grateful I am for a hubby who shows his love through "our" anniversary gift. A gift for "us" that he let me commission based on "the sculpture "I" wanted."  A "praise" piece by my favorite Papier-mâché sculptor, Heidi Walter. Each is covered with the sheet music of one of my favorite hymns! (Hymns that will be sung at my funeral one day.

The titles & even my favorite phrases are visible on each. See if you can guess the hymn!

---front...grace my fears relieved, back left...then He appeared and the soul felt its worth, back center...and I'll lead you all in the Dance said He, & God and sinners reconciled, back right...sing like never before, O my soul.

It's more than I could even have imagined. As she said, "there is so much more at play here!" I see something new each day!
Check out the process and read what Heidi had to say. 

Drying in the Memphis heat.

....and kindred spirits because we both love the LORD! Thanks for all hubby & Heidi did to make 48th & now 49th anniversaries so special!

ANCHORED IN THE STORMS

Anchor along the shore on the edge of the marsh in Maine caught my eye---obviously one that had kept a boat secure for a long time. A firm foundation in the sea. Security for its captain.

In Scripture, the anchor metaphorically, represents God's steadfast faithfulness to His people. Hebrews 6:19 came to my mind. Knowing the One who is our anchor in the storms of life is such a comfort. A truth offering great hope.

Whether you see an anchor on a shoreline, read a verse in the Bible, or a chapter in a child's storybook Bible.....(Mark 4:35-41)

.....the person who knows Jesus has hope! Hope in Him---an anchor for the soul!

PSALM 100 SERVED WITH A CUPPA

 Psalm 100.

A psalm I had memorized in 4th grade as part of Mrs. Munday's scripture memory assignment. Morningside Elementary School. Ah-h those were the days of prayer in public school. To this day, she remains as one of my all time favorite teachers* and this psalm in the King James translation remains in my heart.

Mama Davenport's Bible, KJV, July 1945

However, today's All to Jesus entry gave me new insight into this memory-evoking psalm.

Author Robert Morgan states that stanza 1 (vv. 1-3) are devoted to gladitude as we "shout to the Lord and serve Him with gladness." Stanza 2 (vv. 4-5) is about gratitude as one enters the His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise

That's why a cuppa spiritual at-TEA-tude this morning to start my day in His Presence---a rich blend of glad-TEA-tude & gra-TEA-tude!

*I still keep the note which she wrote to me in 2009 when I was going through my cancer treatments/surgeries.

BLOG IMAGES ??

Because you asked.......most of Dotsy Details blog entry pictures are captured by an iPhone 7. Cell phones make it so much easier & more spontaneous than it did when I carried around my BIG Canon Rebel or even my smaller Canon PowerShot. The transfer from my cell phone is almost automatic.

Thus, if something catches my eye, I snap it---usually because it triggers an idea of a blog entry.

Monday's Dotsy Details entry was from two such happenings of spontaneity. The "Over Yonder" picture was taken from a napkin label in the "Over Yonder" restaurant in Valle Crucis, NC.

There was also a t-shirt for sale. Though my childhood represented the saying I didn't like the price, so I just took a picture. Looking at the picture brought back memories of a fun weekend with friends. Most pictures I take have a story.
I included a "neck of the woods" picture to emphasize direction. but then I came across the same phrase with a heart gripping story of spiritual direction. The simple wall hanging was on the door of a resident at the KDS nursing  home. Leaving the room of one of our July birthday residents I passed the door.

Standing outside the door was a woman who inquired about "my" health. As we chatted, she revealed that she was 95 and she had been visiting here weekly for the last 45 years. I assumed she was here visiting her husband, but it was her 51 year old grandson who had been a patient since he was 6 yrs. old. as result of severe injuries from an auto accident when his grandfather was at the wheel. His parents also continue to share those weeks so that family is always there. The door hanging represented the good times he had with his grandparents as a youngster--- as all of them loved camping together. She assumed that when the Lord called her home, her grandson would follow in a few months and vice versa. Until then, she thanks the Lord for all the times she has been able to have with him. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

I was a bundle of emotions as I left---with a heart that was both sad and glad. Sad for a family whose son/grandson had experienced so few years of mobility in life and glad that God's steadfast love & grace had been so obvious in their lives as they cared for him.

But make no mistake---if you're feeling blessed not to have such "tragedy" in your life, they feel blessed because God gave them Chris. Circumstances are secondary to their great love for him.