FRIDAY FOCUS WITH TRUST!

Worry is the problem!  (Philippians 4:6)

What's the two-fold answer?
1)    Go to God through His Word!

2)    PRAY!

TRUST---HAVE IT---THRUST IT!*

*ODK had a birthday thrust of joy as all the patrons of Haywood 209 Cafe sang "Happy Birthday" to him and the stage sent him off with a slice of coconut cake "on the house" to honor his 19th!

ODK MATRICULATES TO WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY!

Grandson Owen's Swain High School Events ended last night. 

According to his first-grade brother, he became a "graduator."

Even Mr. Mike and wife brought blessings!

The Maroon Devils commencement began with the SHS Concert Band playing "Pomp and Circumstance" and the Star Spangled Banner, as all rose from their concrete stadium seats covered in sunshine! 

The ceremony itself opened with prayer delivered by one of the top 5 academic class leaders followed by the SCHS Vocal Ensemble singing Psalm 86! 

When I thought it couldn't get any better than that, the valedictorian delivered an encouraging charge to all her classmates to remember the old as well as embrace the new as practicing righteousness and serving others in their future as cited from God's Word, Romans 12:2:

Do Not conform anymore to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then, you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--His good, pleasing and perfect will.

I so agree with her choice of Scripture.

Mindset is key when young adults go forth in today's world. 

Think matriculating.

Not only did each graduate receive a diploma but a Bible as well!

Fireworks and tossing their mortarboards ended the night with a BANG!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

A blog to have you mostly use your imagination.....because I only took 1 pic.

Celebrating Mother's Day was special for BB and me & our spouses! 

Her son and my daughter treated us and our "joint grandboys" to nearby Deep Creek for picnic with all the fixin's! Plus, chatting, laughing, campfire s'mores and BB's lemon blueberry poundcake to take home!!

A perfect way to honor their father and mother. (Exodus 20:12)

Before the munching started, I followed the younger grand who removed his crocks & sat right in the water of the COLD creek. Nor far from him were LOTS of tadpoles on an underwater rock in the creek. 

We talked about tadpoles turning into frogs. 

I was unable to scientifically answer his question with eggs, gills or tails to answer his question, "How do they know how to do that?" 

I answered truthfully, "God made them to know how to do that!"

As we packed up to leave, a large pileated woodpecker joined our gathering. (photo by PopPop) 

A "Happy" time was had by all the mothers and their kin!

SOUNDS OF MOTOWN!

DATE NIGHT WITH GRANDSON!

Nothing quite like it!

Hopefully More later......computer on the fritz! Or maybe it's me⁉️

It was me!

What a great experience to share!

When they started the music with 🎶 "Can't Help Myself" 🎶 by The Four Tops my toes were tapping and I was singing along......(Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) Anyone in the audience over 60 was doing the same thing! When listening to Sly and the Family Stone's "Dance to the Music" an old fogey or two went down to dance.

I just tapped my toes louder from the aisle seat on the back row.

After the break when revue ended with The Temptations, My Girl (#1 selling Motown record of all times along with my FAVE, Ain't Too Proud to Beg, I was so glad I stayed to the very end!

My grandson couldn't believe I knew all the words----he probably was surprised I could remember! 

SO LONG, FAREWELL!

"Turning in" the last time at 1152!

Nite, I love you as we Liles and family say!

THANKFUL THURSDAY 3X

Oh what a day is on the way……Baptism for Hubby, Molly, Corey & Owen.

Three generations! 7/18/2024

Baptism dies not save one but it is on's personal ID with Christ!

Publicly baptism shows what it means to be “reborn in Christ” because it's witnessed by family, friends, loved ones and church members.

Baptism is a public confession of faith!

AMEN!!

WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY‼️

Reading books…..Making play dough……Learning to tango, play Bananagrams & get to know cousins better❣️

Lucy, a budding equestrian,  loves horses!

Terrific Tubing in an ice cold creek!

Fly Fishing Fanatic

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in truth.

(3John 1:4)

R.I.P.

R.I.P. NO. It's not Rest in Peace.

It's a play on words for wanting to be ripped. As athletes in my small town seemed to always be exercising for football and other sports, they spoke "gym-lish" often. Gym-lish is English with an athletic reference, some of which I didn't even understand as it was locker-room talk according to my brothers.

Ripped was one I did understand They wore muscle shirts to display their biceps.

These days it's even a part of a Keto Gummies ad.

Even a 5 year old gets the idea.*

What about our well-developed prayer muscles? We need to keep "exercising" even when we are weary and prayer seems difficult. Spiritual exercise is needed!

The acronym I needed today!

R emain

I n

P rayer

You will be fully and reverently spiritually ripped if you R.I.P.  daily!

* Photography by Owen a.k.a. Buh!

WOW: PATH!

WOW = Warriors on the Wall for me.

This week it has meant Word of the Week as I can't get PATH out of my head!

Grandson, Owen has always had a way with words. 

He dubbed my Master Gardener neighbor's rock pathway that ended at the fence, "path to nowhere." He asked her why she had such a path to nowhere? Not a bad question for a boy in pre-school.

In Deuteronomy 5:32, Moses, after presenting the Ten Commandments from the LORD to his people reminds them to be careful to do what the Lord has commanded them. Don't turn to the right or left. In other words stay on the straight and narrow path. In the next verse, Deuteronomy 5:33 CEB, Moses shares, "You must walk in the precise path which the Lord your God indicates for you. so that you will live, and things will go well for you...."

Have you ever wondered what the path God has for you today?

Unique for you. Specific for today.

Today ask God to clearly show you the path He has especially for you....

....even if it seems a bit rocky, trust Him.

Maybe He wants you to walk anew in His Presence today. (Psalm 16:11)

You won't know the right path, unless you ask Him. (Psalm 25:4)

Today my "path" answer was to "walk worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ."

Won't you join me on that path?

RIVER CHURCH!

Attending River Church.....it doesn't matter what you wear; the saints are glad you're there!

Nantahala flowing, then rain starts splattering.

No problem---the congregation just moved to a nearby covered porch. 

Ever been to a church service where a kayak is hanging on the ceiling?!

Not to mention the neon sign behind the preacher advertising beer. 

Laid back? YES. God--honoring? For sure.

After singing down by the river and sharing "God Sightings" and/or prayer requests, there was prayer followed by spontaneous "Happy Birthday" for our 2 grandboys.

Sermon example from John 1:35-42 talked of "sitting close" in the dust of the Rabbi's feet.* Pastor Wayner reminded all those transformed by Jesus....It's time to "grow and go" after sitting at Jesus' feet long enough to be covered by His dust. Then, as his disciples we might transform the world helping others find HOPE in pain and disappointment and LOVE from brokenness. . 

Rain slackened and we went down to the river to reflect and pray. I prayed over Owen.

Holding hands and singing the first verse of "Amazing Grace," we were dismissed with "Go in peace."

*I once taught Evelyn Gibson's group, on "Sitting in His Dust." It felt like a God Wink to me this morning....or a River Church sighting as they would dub it!

PATH PONDERINGS

"Why does she have a path to nowhere?" grandson, Owen, asked years ago. He was looking at the rocky runoff at Master Gardner neighbor's yard. 

Sometimes I feel like I'm looking at a path to nowhere. I can't seem to see beyond the rocky steps I'm encountering right in front of me. What's a gal to do? Look up? Look ahead? Maybe a little of each?

Where does one find the right path in life?

 

Certainly there are plenty of junctures. A wrong turn, just a few steps away can lead one into pitfalls of "self-pity and despair, or plateaus of pride" (Jesus Calling 10/15) or slippery slopes of self-reliance.

Proverbs 3:17 says, Her (wisdom) ways are pleasant and all her paths, peaceful.

Path pondering began yesterday and has continued to keep popping up today---looks like I might be on this path for awhile.

THANKFUL THURSDAY - SERENE SUNDAY!

Rolling along from Tennessee (early Christmas) to Missouri and onto Kansas (w/ friends, yummy greasy hamburgers and Toto at start of the yellow brick road in"OZ" to an outdoor nativity, Monument Rocks on a private farm, and a giant Van Gogh) to Colorado (w/ friends and SNOW to come)--it was a great ride!

Blessings galore and an abundance of gratitude!