RELAX! RECHARGE! RENEW!

Relax. Recharge. Renew.

3 Rs for the aging! Cannot be done alone! In His Presence is key!

Sarah Young (May 25) reminds readers the importance of turning from problems (ours) to Presence (His) Tangled thoughts with anxious knots get us no where....except maybe the ER!

Choose time in His Word. A creekside walk. A Porch "sit." 

Maybe even a nap to recharge one's body. 

A Word Search of "fear not" verses for a mind renewal. (Romans 12:2)

As for me, this week, I am camped out in the Psalms! 

abunDANCE STEPS!

Lively steps........are they needed to dance?

Are lively steps possible if an aging one falters at every positional change?

abunDANCE steps are enjoyed moment by moment, bit by bit, even as one watches the joy in another's face! The face of one who is actually physically moving to the music of life, the Lord has given them.

Maybe it's time to clean the "dance shoes" out of the closet and give to someone who still has the "Tap" moves. 

Learn to "go forth in the dance of the merrymakers," metaphorically and physically.....even from a sitting position as you celebrate their joy.

"Tap your toes" in delight for them. May that please the Lord.

GIFT FROM THE HEART!

Little things can grab the heart in a big way!

"Jesus quiets our hearts with His love." (Zephaniah 3:17)

When a 6 year-old holds something behind his back and tells you to close your eyes, one knows something is about to happen. For me, yesterday, I was given the "Okay" to "open." There in his hand was a beautiful gift....followed by a big hug!

Gift from the heart! A dandelion, with a short stem, presented with a big smile and a request to put it in a vase. My heart was touched! 

An itty bitty slightly squashed dandelion gift that was sweet to my soul. God made it and a 6 year-old gave it. 

Praise be to God for this "heart gift."

FOREVER FRIENDS!

There are no words yet……only tears!

Rest in peace, sweet Ellen, my dear, long-time friend❣️ l love you and so cherish all our memories & times together! You will always be a part of who I am—the kind, gentle parts. 

Ellen Thomas Cockrell

 12/12/1947-10/16/2024

May You O Lord, quiet/calm alll her family and friends with your love. (Zephaniah 3:17) 

JOY! JOY!! JOY!!!

A joyful face says it all!

A big thanks to Pace McKee for sharing Ron Man's quote from the recent council retreat.

IF YOU HAVE JOY IN YOUR HEART, NOTIFY YOUR FACE!

PROXIMI-TEA!

My morning cuppa! Proximi-TEA! 

First, I had to throw my cuppa anxiety-TEA down the drain.

Then, I picked up God's Word to move-in closer.......and

On the small table beside my prayer chair, was a calling card from one of our church elders of Care Ministries. He has been in a whirlwind of health problems for many weeks now. Yet here was his card encouraging me---with this verse clearly at my side.

For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. (Zephaniah 3:17)

Closer proximity to Him is essential, especially in the "whirlwind" of physical 

unknowns/fears of self and others. 

A cuppa with the Lord in His word and a cuppa proximi-TEA shared with a friend can wash away the fears and dreads of the unknown. 

SATURDAY SHORT IN SOUTHERN SPEAK

Hooray for Interpretations I understand from Scotty Smith. Siri creates words I don't "get." I prefer Pastor Smith's familiar words.

Mind-bogglingly loved.

Diddly-Squat matters.

Just what I will need for a Saturday morning after a 9 hour drive to arrive in the the Smoky Mountains.

N.A.P.

I am always up for a nap....or down for....the quick snatch of sleep time.

But this morningI found a better N.A.P.! It was on my laptop screen and I cannot remember the source. Imagine that!!

How blessed it is to be able to give others a Non Anxious Presence in the middle of the storms of their life, your life or both.

Today, may all "busy, hurrying and scurrying" folks heed and N.A.P. knowing God is with; Our Sovereign Lord is in control.

RACE TO EMBRACE

These days we all seem to be racing somewhere. 

Racing to and fro and getting nowhere.........Too often describes my race (unless exhaustion is a place).

Obviously my goal/destination needs to change. Does yours? 

We all need to race to Him. 

• Early in the morning as we first open our eyes. 
• In the middle of the day as we face struggles and disappointments. 
• As we close our eyes to sleep. 
• Even as we take our last breath.

He's waiting there , wherever we are----ready to embrace us. 

Race to the "new" realities he has for believers. A better reality.

"Withness." With Him. Regardless----as we run the race set before us by Him! 

A race marked out uniquely for each of us by the One who is always there to embrace us. (Hebrews 12:1)

PEACEFUL PONDERINGS

Lysa TerKeurst has faced the realities of suffering in her life, from physical to emotional betrayal. She expresses these in seeing beautiful again. 

It's not always an easy read, but she weaves hope and peace in her entries.

• In the midst of struggles, others watch our reactions. (CONVICTION, mine) Responding in gentleness is a better reminder. (Philippians 4:5) (p. 48) Responding in peace is always preferable.
• When  something moves our focus from right to wrong....a slight and seemingly innocent amount of skewed thought can take root. (p.50) Skewed thoughts will rob us of our peace. (DAL)
• Your hurt will not be wasted. (p.56)
• Though others hurt you deeply, allow peace to flood your heart. "Peace that allows you to live like you are loved." (p. 62) God's word reminds us of that in Zephaniah 3:17.
• "Fear, pain, and insecurities can really do a number on our hearts." (p. 64) As Jesus said to the disciples,  "My peace I give you." (John 14:27b) As His present day disciples, we have access to this peace as well.
• THERE IS A PLACE TO ATTACH OUR HOPE, BUT IT'S NOT TO OUR DESIRE FOR CHANGED CIRCUMSTANCES, Mark 14:36.... ends with strongest statement of trusting God that I can find in the whole Bible: Yet, not what I will but what you will. (p. 70)
• When TerKheurst wrote of her emergency colon surgery she learned that, God loved her through the life-saving pain. God's silence was part of the rescue. Psalm 145:18. (p. 75-76) Relief is a peaceful response.
• "His words are a lifeline to me. A whisper from my God. A personal note. A treasure......More important than just reading (just, my addition) His words, we must choose to receive them and live them! (p. 77, 80)  (emphasis, mine)

May these words and scriptures bring you peace and comfort this weekend.

COOKING UP NEW WORDS

There are so many new words that even the Oxford English Dictionary and Webster add new words annually. Lately most of them are concerning our digital age or are words I have never even heard before. Of course, even we elderly know "fake news," selfie (a 2013 word), baby bump and brexit.

Here are a few new ones to me......

blamestorming---the word coinage might be new & very political but it sounds like the blame game siblings play in their early years of "not me."

"ping me"---Not sure of that---does that mean text or just any digital communication whose notification involves a "ping" sound?  I can't distinguish my phone pings from hubby's phone pings.

worstest---that just sounds like bad grammar to me

Friendsgiving---I like the sound of that if one includes inviting international friends or friends w/o family to their Thanksgiving table, but if the focus is more on alcohol with friends (OED) than giving thanks, then count me out.

fitspiration---I'm too old for that word to be in my vocabulary---it describes people or photos of fit folks that are inspiring. At my age, old people who are still sane and mobile inspire me.

word salad---sounds like the way I talk when I'm talking in circles and hubby and others don't have a clue to what I'm saying. 

But God introduced a "new word"  for our family this past week via Pastor Cole, who's really good at word creation! A fitting one as we "wait," with our daughter and her family, for adoption news.

Pop Pop's Hands

Hopetimist----I like the sound of it.
Not just an optimist, or an immature cock-eyed optimist---who thinks that thinking good thoughts alone, or working hard will make all things "perfect," because that's not always true.

HOPEtimist. (emphasis mine) One who is hopeful and on their knees trusting the outcomes to the Lord. (Zephaniah 3:17)

Be strong and take heart all  you who hope in the Lord. (Psalm 31:24)
That's Bible-speak for a hopetimist!

DELIGHT---FUL prospect

8/21/10 Damson Plums----just those 2 words from yesterday’s Felder Rushing’s “Southern Gardener” column in the CA brought delight to my thinking. Damson plums equate to damson preserves and no one took greater delight in making them and sharing them than did my mother. Dark plums bubbling and splattering as they simmered in her dented dutch oven on the back burner----what a smell! She would “put them up” in small Mason jars and give as birthday gifts to her Tuesday bridge club, all of whom delighted in the gift. Mother found delight in sharing lots of things; slips from her garden, her sweet and sour pickles and homemade mayonnaise. For the family we would delight in her Gigi biscuits and fried apples- ---frozen “go boxes,” of sorts. Quart jars of her custard to take home after Christmas were worth fighting for and nephew Bryan almost OD’d on his take. (Mother always made sure he got his share.)

He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. Psalm 18:19

What is this spacious place? What can it be but God, Himself----(Madam Guyton---Streams in the Desert, 8/21)

It delights me to ponder the truth that God delights “greatly” in me. (Zephaniah 3:17)

So how am I going to apply this info? How am I going to “Dare to Dance”? (D2D) Maybe I need to give up my “Debbie Downer” role and start “delighting” in doing for others.

Delight seems to be 2-edged---somewhat equal for the giver and the receiver. A “back attcha” type equation. (dg+ dr = D) Delightfully given plus delightfully received = total delight.

Sunday Summary

1/24/10 WARNING----You might not want to read this. It might wear you out. But…..if you decide to read it, please continue to its conclusion because there is always hope at the end of this turbulent tunnel called life.
A “War of Words” has been going on in my mind these first three weeks of 2010. Warring is difficult----battles wear me out. But…..they are necessary otherwise the wrong thoughts will take over. Those thoughts of fear and uncertainty can become the focus and that wrong focus can wear one out! "For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7)

Granted there are things that I can’t change---aging, the Haiti catastrophe, work hours, grant deadlines, family illnesses and choices of others. Possibly my reactions and responses to these givens need something, but what? Turning off the nightly news might temporarily relieve me of the claustrophobic thoughts/fears of being buried alive and weeping for those who have had to endure that. I try to push down that fear with scripture knowing that He has not given us a “spirit of fear” but of power….so where’s my power-----what can I do to help the Haitians. God has given me valid ways. Now, how do I help others see God’s goodness in the midst of this?


Haitians have needs, family has needs, friends have needs. I have needs---coherent thoughts and an ability to articulate words that seem to “trip” coming out of my new mouth. I need more time for praise and prayer for folks with appropriate scripture verses and a computer that doesn’t frustrate me. I need to remember to remind my husband of how grateful I am for his support (dishwashing hands) and the down time he allows me, especially on weekends.
I’m overwhelmed. I need a nap! Actually, I really need exercise but the bed draws me more often than the walk, the weights or the swimming pool. I need a “mind” so that I don’t forget my keys or glasses as I rush out the door at 5:30am.


Doc visit last week reminded me that my own “forgetfulness” is probably exacerbated by aging (can’t change that), effects of anesthesia and surgery (can’t change that either) as well as stress and fatigue (3:15 am wakeups don’t help). Uh –hello, that list is not exactly an ah-ha moment, so what do I do about it. Doc rec was a good vitamin----which I forget to take ½ the time and cutting back. Where do you cut? I need more time and energy to minister to others. I’m too tired to even talk on the phone most nights. The One who is necessary, is NOT where I need to cut back but I am having to make creative adjustments and they don’t look very spiritual. I need to quit worrying about what the world sees (as if my testimony is of utmost importance) and only care about what God wants. His Goodness can get along without me. (Oh my---now there’s a thought that shouldn’t come as a shock.) God doesn’t need any of us but He delights in all of us. (Zephaniah 3:17)


Oh, He has given me glimpses of His grace all month---Michèle’s call, card & needle work reminders from HHS chum, pimento cheese, an encouraging blog comment, caring wise brothers, celebrations in Texas, Berlin UMC ‘s “Lord of the Dance” and timely e-mails. God’s way is glimpses of grace. I just happen to want gobs of grace and I want it yesterday. I want time. I want energy. I want it all and yet I can’t keep all those plates spinning. Sounds like too much of me and so little of Thee. How sad!
Once again I return to the juxtaposition of my human frailty and God’s strength. At this crossroad, I need to choose His power and give Him my limitations.
God Calling 1/23 entry “It (God’s power) is breathed in by the soul who lives in My Presence.”

This is the air I breathe
This is the air I breathe
Your holy Presence
Living in me

(Mercy Me, 2002)

For 3 weeks “Word and Prayer” have been my bookends. Even though limited, this time is vital. It’s just not what it was when I was in Dallas----I’m not in Dallas anymore and God has really had to protect my back side as I have returned to work with less mind, less strength and new demands. He has given me grace for one step at a time. Grace for today. I know that’s true. I lived it for an entire year. That’s what I need to remember.
The Zephaniah verse also says “The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior” (In Him, the war is already won.) and Romans 8:37 reminds me “…in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty. (Zechariah 4:6)
So welcome to my "Sunday mind"----not one of warring but one of acceptance. Now I can leave the war room and go to the ballroom where I can dance. I want to dance!

Serene Sabbath

1/25/09 Serene Sabbath---planning to "be still" For those who have asked, son Josh's web site will give you instant updates even when I get wherever I'm going---he has a "magic phone"---iPhone, I think" so he can do all this from any distance---All you need to do is enter your e-mail address and your e-mail password and then he approves you and you'll get the messages. www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/610549/

This is the day the Lord has made: let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24) Today's verse in the Upper Room (which I try to read along with Daddy) is one of my favorites, Zephaniah 3:17 (between Habakkuk and Haggai---bet that helped a lot didn't it?? 

As a librarian, I commend the use of a Table of Contents, especially when they have a listing in alphabetical order.) The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. Maybe rejoice is the word of the day---I think I'll just rejoice quietly. Today's My Utmost for His Highest said, Be in a state of expectancy---my marginalia was ----expectancy NOT expectation.