OBIT! OBIT!! OBITS!!!

It's that time of life---at least for us! Three funerals in the last three days.

Last month there were 2 others we were unable to attend.

One was live-streamed which I so appreciated!

The beauty of the live-stream was that we not only saw our friend's family during the recessional but we were able to sing along as the words were on our screen. Gripping words. Beautiful words.

God teaches us in His word that our days are numbered. In Psalm 90 Moses prays, the value of knowing our days are numbered....."that we might gain a heart of wisdom." 

We might miss those who have passed on but to the Lord, but "precious in the sight of the Lord are the death of His saints; devoted, faithful servants, godly ones,  loved ones, righteous ones.(Psalm 116:15) regardless of the translation one uses.

Precious

יָ֭קָר (yā·qār)

in the sight

בְּעֵינֵ֣י (bə·‘ê·nê)

of the LORD

יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)

[is] the death

הַ֝מָּ֗וְתָה (ham·mā·wə·ṯāh)

of His saints.

לַחֲסִידָֽיו׃ (la·ḥă·sî·ḏāw) 

WHERE ARE YOU HEADED?

Do you sometimes feel at your wits end as if your falling headlong into the deep?

This signage reminded me of that question from a long ago journal entry.

I'm not even sure what this signage indicates. It certainly caught me off guard as it reflected those long ago feelings mixed with today's realities.

The answer 36 years ago, 13 years ago, 2 years ago and the answer now are the same.

God is with us.....regardless of the outcome.

This mirror which I see daily as I get our of bed was delivered by Art Bouck who was in Switzerland per a Hans Schaefer request from Michele Phoenix at the Black Forest Academy in Germany, has attested to that truth for over 13 years.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.(Isaiah 41:10)

 Ask self, "Where am I headed?

SIGNAGE!

For years I've had a fascination with signage. It's such a directional noun. Someone with an aka nickname of Ms Rand McNally has collected images during many travels.

Paring down has me finding many of those images.

Images circa 1998. Location England. Through a couple of roundabouts to a road filled with crossing signs. 

Today those distances seem to reflect life. It seems to be passing by as quickly as Diane, JoLynn and I cruised down those village roads. (Proverbs 3:2-4)

Just yesterday I was headed (running excitedly) to Virginia Street Elementary School with a friend. It's a good thing because Mother didn't get her driver's license until I was in 10th grade, I think.

Even more quickly than that our children had their own children to walk to the pre-school door, high school graduation and drop off at college.

Elderly. What a term. I'm there but I still don't like the term or the condescending glances I feel when I'm out and about.

But God reminded me: 

• Regardless of our ages Lord, Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom, (Psalm 90:12) 
• doing everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to the Father through Him,(Colossians 3: 17) 
• letting my adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.(1 Peter 3:4)

O God, when the time comes may I eagerly search for the perfect signage.

Highway to Heaven.

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!

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!

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!

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!

AUGUST 20. 2022!!!

Look who turned 3! OUR SWEET GOLDIE!

TRUSTING!

TALENTED!!

TERRIFFIC!!!

...& added LOTS of sprinkles to her birthday cake!

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!

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!

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.

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)

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)

AUGUST 9, 1969

Mr. and Mrs.

....or maybe you've just been together 

long enough to pick up

 each other's weird habits!

TRAVELING TREATS!

Traveling treats will resume when I get my computer back from Apple Store.

Last pic taken @ Welcome to I-30 AR travel center.

CAMPGROUND COUSINS!

Memories from Deep Creek campground week with 4 cousins... my paraphrase from Ecclesiastes...

There is a time for everything,

    and a season for every activity under the heavens: including telling "Star in the Middle" story 

2     a time to be born

and a time to die, (& bury the cicada)

    a time to plant (with all the needed accoutrements)

and a time to uproot,
3  ....... a time to heal, 

(Uncle Josh showed PopPop exercises, Jack held the equipment & offered to take his temperature while Goldie supervised.) 

    a time to tear down and a time to build,
4     a time to weep and a time to laugh,

    a time to mourn (because 5 of our cousins could not join us),and a time to dance, (even singing and dancing in the rain with Shug)

5     a time to scatter stones

 and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace

and a time to refrain from embracing,

6     a time to search

and a time to give up,

    a time to keep

and a time to throw away,

7     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent

 and a time to speak,

8     a time to love...............

   ............. and a time for peace.

He has made everything beautiful in its time.

He has set eternity in the human heart;.........I know there is nothing better for people that to be happy.....

...and to do good while they live that each of them may eat (birthday cupcakes)

and drink, and find satisfaction in their toil---this is the gift of God. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-13)