FIRST-TIMERS DAY 3!

Kid's do indeed say the darndest things. Especially when they speak their own language.

Sometimes their words make us smile. Chuckle. Or...laugh out right. (Ecclesiastes 3:4)

Day 3 pre-school activity was "Dress Like a Book Character"! 

There was still a bit of problem getting him in the door---maybe it was the size of the taco.

At pick-up he was smiling. He couldn't wait to tell Mommy, "I got candy at school!"

Mommy, asked, "Who gave it to you?" 

Response, "I ont know."

Rephrasing, Mommy asked, "Who gave you the candy?"

Response, "Oh, some human."

Mommy chuckled.....cause kids do say the darndest and on day 3 of pre-school, all smiles & chuckles are appreciated. 

CLOTHED IN HUMILITY!

Clothed in humility. What does that look like in today's world?

Is it so rare, one is shocked when they see it?

How does one ...accept situations as humbling as a "pie in the face?"

Regardless of the approach??????

How does one ...tie on the servant's apron, as ταπεινότητα, the Greek word for humility indicates?

Humility is the "tea" of our souls which nourishes and enriches others!

Humility....a choice of all Christians who desire to serve others!

This group earned a big cuppa humility-TEA---make that 2 cuppas!

FIRST-TIMERS DAY 2!

Anxiety in a new place can wear one out. 

Grandmother's Praying System still at work.

Melody's quilt and a soft baby triceratops help. Familiar and favorite.

God refreshes the weary and satisfies the faint. (Jeremiah 31:25)

The Lord gives to his beloved even in their sleep. (Psalm 127:2)

FIRST TIMERS

Sometimes trying anything for the "very first time" can be oh so difficult, especially if you are only 4 years old. Even when you have rehearsed with Mommy, "Hi, my name is Jack. Nice to meet you."

Bright Adventures awaited. Teeth gritted. Tears trickled. A bit of muffled screams of "Don't leave me Mommy," ensued.

The long walk of a little boy with a (required) big backpack began. 

Two goodby squeezes from Mommy were allowed. The the teacher relented and allowed two more before directing him back to the "dinosaur" play area.

A little boy's first day of pre-school began. 

A grandmother, who was far away, put her GPS (Grandmother's Praying System) into action. 

Tears trickled from Tennessee as well......for this little first timer!

APOSTROPHES----IN ACTION!

Apostrophe---an important punctuation mark with a dual purpose. Not to be confused with an acute diacritical mark. 

Now that I have your attention, I'll share how blind I can be to apostrophes that are often right in front of me! Click the link and check your own eyesight.

Apostrophes' dual purpose; to indicate omission of letters as in southern speak, "go get 'em tigers" or with any contractions, "don't do that," or to show possessiveness. Singular possessive or plural possessive. In the above link @ Pop's Comfort Kitchen, singular possessive is used so you know the establishment belongs to Pop, aka Chuck, as my hubby knows him. As we entered the restaurant to partake of the comfort food offered there, my eyes were opened.

Pop might be the earthly proprietor of the restaurant but I love the symbolism. Look closely at the apostrophe. 

Pop has chosen to entrust his business to the Lord---inside and out.

He belongs to Jesus and so does his business. It's obvious everywhere you turn!

The food's delicious and the service is gospelicious!

It's both Pop's business and the Lord's!

FYI--Pop's Comfort Kitchen 

2990 Kirby Whitten Rd. #107 Bartlett, TN 38134, by the Kroger at Hwy. 64/Stage & Kirby Whitten

TRUE COMFORT FOOD!

Comfort Food that usually goes in my mouth is "Sweet" in nature, sometimes chocolatey in texture. But.....How quickly it fades. So fleeting.

Words of comfort in Scripture are not so. They are lasting! Satisfying! 

Sweet as honeycomb......sweet to the Soul, and health to the bones! (Proverbs 16:24)

Grace-laced!

P.S. All that being said, we're headed to Pop's Comfort Food for lunch today because our larder is empty and we're too weary from travel to even shop.

GPS---GRANDMOTHER'S PRAYING SYSTEM!

GPS.

Grandmother's Praying System. Used daily for best results helping them navigate life on God's terms. Grace-laced.

The beauty of prayer is that it knows no boundaries. I don't have to know the co-ordinates of their locations---God does. That truth is so comforting for one who has children and grandchildren in three different states. These states, Texas, New York and North Carolina, aren't anywhere near me.

For each family member, spouses included, I have a Proverb I pray for each of them. With the grandkids, it started the day we first heard of their impending birth to the day they were actually born....in God's timing, because most came "earlier" than doc's prediction. Some way early. We had one dawdler. 

As Colossians 1:9 says, "For this reason, (mine, not Paul's) since the day we (I) heard about you, we (I) have not stopped praying for you. We (I) continually ask God to fill you (all nine of you) with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding the Spirit gives. (parenthetical additions, mine)

Always desiring to "pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." (Ephesians 6:18)

That's the operational goal of a Grandmother's Praying System.

FROM A CLINIC BED TO A CHURCH YARD!

An encouraging quote reverberates regardless of its location!

Thanks to the clout of high school chum, Joyce Ann, my God Wink quote from an EKG room, is now on the lawn of a church in Owensboro, KY. 

There is nothing more encouraging than the prayers and actions of friends in the faith......whether in a clinic bed or a church yard! (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

BEWARE OF "WEARY"-SHIP" OVER WORSHIP!

"Weary-ship" over worship. May it never be. Yet, too often one can slip into the busyness of service. The way of Jesus is the way of rest and refreshment in Him.

Live out your worship by practicing righteousness and showing mercy to the oppressed rather than for your own self promotion. (Daniel 4:27) 

May we not let the weariness of busyness take the heart out of worship!

CRACKED POT!

Beautiful Garden Pot. A pot with a history. It was given by sweet friend Julie, when she moved to DC & then on to Florida. A friend who joined with me in prayer for our terminal cancer friend, Claudia. It seems one of us was always with her even at the hospice center. That adds to the beauty of the pot.

Yet, there's another side....often hidden from view. A brokenness I've tried to keep hidden, since the Feb.'22 ice storm.....even though I know the beautiful story of its history.

Like me. A cracked pot. Rarely do I show my cracks. 

But God in his love and mercy....is close to me even when I am broken and crushed & choosing not to show my cracks.

He does not despise my brokenness. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (Psalm 147:3)

HALLELUJAH!

SIGN FROM THE LORD!

Sometimes when you're so down, disheartened, anxious and trust challenged... 

....one needs to look up.....to refocus.

Who would have thought that looking up from an exam table at the doc's office would give one an encouraging sign.....but it did!

What a sign....like a miracle to confirm one's continuance in faith.

For an avid reader and former librarian, even the wording was familiar. 

Just what I needed. A sign!

STREET CORNER SERMON

Sidewalk evangelist, pictured below, has it down to a straight forward message of the gospel. 

We are all sinners and all need to repent. That's why Jesus laid down His life for us. He died that we might have eternal life.

Believe it and live.

The street corner messenger might be sitting in a chair but he's putting himself out there to lay out the "good news."

We all need the Messiah! 

Gospel message in a nutshell......raised up on a street corner.

PETAL PEEPERS to LEAF SEEKERS!

Early last week TEMPS were sweltering in all caps. Folks made travel plans to go to the north east to be leaf peepers....as colors were at their peak. Now it's CHILLY in all caps. Yet, there are still a few garden gatherings to recall the lingering flowers of summer and to see all the new mums, pumpkins and fall foliage. 

Enjoy now because we know how quickly fall comes and goes. Soon first snows will be just around the corner followed quickly by spring. May we all be joyfully expectant for each season.

The beauty of each season is created by God. Those that realize this seem to enjoy each season all the more. (1 Corinthians 3:7)

GARDEN GUEST?

Garden Guest? Garden Pest?

Look closely to see the web.* 

To an arachnophobic, a spider would be a most unwelcome guest.

For a botanist or horticulturist, a spider could be a desired guest. 

I would welcome them, outside, because they eat mosquitos, fleas, cockroaches, flies and even earwigs, whatever they are. My Master Gardener neighbor, Lynda T. would probably love them as the earwigs' reputation of "janitor of the garden" precedes them. I would not know one if I saw it.

There is one spider I would not welcome......a black widow spider. A black widow, the most venomous spider in N. America with venom about 15 times stronger than the venom of a rattlesnake. Its venom attacks one's nerves.

The good news is, a black widow spider is very identifiable.

Note the red hour-glass mark on the abdomen. 

So grateful for the obvious identification that warns us to stay away.

Lately, I've needed clearly marked warnings of things I need to stay clear of to keep safe in today's world. I don't want to be cynical, but often one's naivety has them wandering into trouble. Preying on seniors comes to mind. We had to change our credit card #. Hacking into medical practices records has also happened recently.

But God..... in his love and mercy is always near. So...."when my anxious thoughts multiply within me, His consolations delight my soul." (Psalm 94:19) Then I go next door and sit in my neighbor's garden, a sanctuary in which to observe a spider that does me good, not harm.

*Photo by Lynda Terry. She must have learned the tricks of the trade from her late husband, Art, who was an amazing professional photographer! Think JFK's son, John-John, saluting his father's casket as it passed by him.Yep, that was Art's work!