SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: Around UM & the East End of Town

11/13/11 Sing to him; sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! (I Chronicles 16:9)

"To Him all majesty ascribe and crown Him Lord of all!"

INTERNATIONAL MARKET ---Providing a way for women and children to sustain their freedom through learning a skill and supporting themselves financially.
Products hand-crafted by the poor...
the vulnerable....
&......survivors of human trafficking
Micro-loans for India---rumor has it that one of last year's donors to India named his water buffalo "WAR EAGLE"!!

Buying clean water.

A little help goes a long way.
Remembering sacrifice is honorable.
Greentrees Assoc. flags line Kirby parkway.

Ginkgos on Goodlett---
Ginkgos on Grandview---

Grateful Heart

11/12/11 Grateful heart. My daddy had one. For as long as Daddy could make coherent speech, he would say, "I'm thank the good Lord for each day He gives me." He saw His days as a gift-- proof of all that the Lord had done for him, just by giving him breath for one more day. What a model for me!

"Gratitude. . .that heart-attitude that turned my "mourning into dancing" when I received the "C" diagnosis. The attitude of gratitude that I need more of in my life, now that I'm on the other side of that suffering. "A grateful person is God-centered and others-conscious." (Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Revive your Heart conference notes) A realization that God is at the heart of every aspect of my life will realign me with Him. God-centered = more gratitude. More gratitude = God-centered.

It's seeing more of God's hand of goodness in my life----eyes to see last night's full and glorious moon, the brisk temps that allowed me to wear my old comfy warm-up and the sound of Daddy's voice on a CD.

It's that praise tune that is whirring in my head. "Give thanks with a grateful heart. Give thanks to the Holy One. Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son."

If that were all He had done, that would be enough!

11-11-11

11-11-11 Not sure what all the hoopla is about this date. Of course, if you marry today, it's a pretty surefire way to have your spouse remember your wedding date.
For me it's only about Veteran's Day. This is the first year I have not been able to pick up the phone and call my favorite veteran. That saddens me in a way that surprises me. Daddy died 5 months ago. But....this past week has had all kind of memories catching me off guard.
This morning I used my purple pen in my journal---for my "purple heart" recipient, Daddy. I thanked the Lord for that purple heart because that wounding saved his life. The very next day as he recovered in the Philippines at the army hospital, the platoon sargeant who took his place and several members of his platoon, if not all, were killed by a Japanese ambush. Daddy rarely spoke of it. Maybe it was just too painful. Sometime those of us stateside forget what are troops are doing for us.

Freedom is so costly. Daddy, like many vets today, never saw the birth of his first born. Until his death, he bore the deep leg scars of a sniper's bullet and the deep emotional pain of losing his army buddies while he was allowed to live.

Today, I'm celebrating his memory by listening to the CD I recorded in 2002 of him reading aloud Brown Bear, Brown Bear along with Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and What a Wonderful World as a keepsake for his great "grands." Thanks to him and all our vets who have contributed to making the USA a "wonderful world" for our families!!

ABCs addendum

11/9/11 Late posting---still mulling over some comments/responses from Wednesday's blog.
Said mulling took awhile and the original words I wrote listing more ABCs have now been set aside. Certain implications began to become clear through e-mail comments and discussions with others as we began to see the "self" agenda/focus (or ABCs) of our own lives. Interestingly enough, ideas that were first tossed around---All 'Bout C limbing, All 'Bout C arping, All 'Bout C hallenging, were about "others." More often than not, a relative. Hm-m-m why is a negative ABC so much easier to see in lives of other people???

All 'Bout C heap---my daughter labeled me with that one. I negated it by saying I was just frugal and that didn't start w/ "c" so that didn't count. Yet, with Molly's label, I realized that for those who know us best, their perceptions of irregularities of our own lives and our penchants for "self-serving" or rationalization can offer opportunity for spiritual growth---finding balance. I realized that whether I'm frugal or cheap, the nomenclature doesn't matter---it's the intent of my heart. Am I watching my $$ as a good steward of God-given resources? Or....am I showing a lack of trust in His on-going provision by padding my accounts, just in case? Is that an obstacle for the spiritual growth of my own children? More mulling began.

Then the biggie came to the surface. Too many of us were focusing on others. Negatively focusing. That was not the intent of the ABCs blog. The intent was for a little soul-searching for ourselves, not bashing others--- a reminder that the tenets our lives need to be All 'Bout C hrist. An e-mail from Margie Honor had me immediately seeing her as All 'Bout C ompassion! Christ was all about compassion, so her life would be one for me to emulate in that area. Mercy might not be my spiritual gift but it doesn't mean that I can't grow in that area. Look around for positve ABCs in others & commend them. Use their "glowing" ABCs to spur positive "growing" ABCs for yourself!

Are you seeing faults in others easier than taking inventory of your own ABCs? If so, take heed, lest you too shall fall.

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! (I Corinthians 10:12)

Those are my additional thoughts, what are yours?

ABCs---of one's life

11/8/11 ABC. Those three letters are often used to indicate the basics. The foundation. What are the ABCs of your life? All 'Bout C____? What's life mostly 'bout for you?
Asking myself this question, I realized that too often my ABCs for living are All 'Bout Convenience. I like ease and expediency. It influences many of my decisions. My errand list reflects this as I try to accomplish the most in the least amount of time while saving on gasoline. Even my grocery list reflects the ease I appreciate when systematically navigating the aisles from my "list." Lack of ease in said task results in extreme frustration when Kroger changes the aisles. How dare them cause me to have to backtrack. I can get testy! I can also be All 'Bout C ash! I like the sense of security knowing that there's $$ in the account to cover the expense.
Those are my basic failings. How 'bout you? What are your ABCs?

• Are you All 'Bout C uteness ? Are you in a panic to keep your wardrobe current, your weight lower, your teeth whiter and your wrinkles covered?
  
• Are you All 'Bout C liques ? Do you think your "social status" is improved if you are seen with the "right" people?
  
• Are you All 'Bout Coverups ? Do you worry if people knew the real you, that you wouldn't measure up---so you keep your distance.
  
• Are you All 'Bout C onsumerism ? Do you try to feed your deep felt needs with the latest and greatest gadget, home decor update or automobile?
  
• Are you All 'Bout C harts, calendars or computers ? Is "your" agenda on your Daytimer or in your Backberry or on your iCalendar with instant updates? Does achieving "YOUR" agenda rule your life?
  
• Are you All 'Bout C ontrol ? 'nuff said b/c others probably see it more readily than you do.

I could go on but now it's your turn. With some God-led soul searching, discover the basics of your own life rules. Fill in your own blanks. Ask yourself what others see as your basic tenets for living?
Maybe you'll discover truth from underneath the mire of self (your own ABCs)---that for Christians our ABCs should be All 'Bout C hrist ? He is foundational. By His grace all the other aspects of life for us will follow the basics of kindness, mercy, peace and love.

In Him we can live and move and have our being. (Acts 17:28)

That's basic.

Kindness Kindled

11/7/11 Some things just lift me up---kindness of others, prayers of the saints, even fresh flowers. Yesterday's latest window ledge gift encompassed all three. The donor was a neighbor and wife of a retired pastor. She has a very full plate and yet she reached out to us. The cheery arrangement was in the small vase that I had once given to this "kind" one. That brought back memories of Mother. Mother never let a kindness go unreciprocated. She believed in giving back---returning in kind. Unrequited was not an adjective in her kindness vocabulary. More often than not, if an object was involved, her kind action had a way of including the same pan or vase or bowl in which original kindness had first been delivered. Kindness. It's certainly a godly attribute worthy of our thoughts today.

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. (Galatians 6:9-10)

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: BROOKLYN, NY

11/6/11 Sabbath snapshots are just my way of visually remembering times, usually from the previous week, that reflect the glory of God. Places of worship. Events and people who draw me to worship more fully. Snaps of God's creative wonder. How can one not see God every time they hold a newborn baby or step outside and open their eyes to all that He has created! My hope is that you will see God as I have seen Him this week.

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. (Romans 1: 20)

Psalm 8:2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength...
Marion age 1 week New York Marathon Reminder to Pray for John Payne in Wheelchair division

Memorial PresbyterianFruit Galore: Inside and Out
7th ave. Flower market

5th Ave. Brooklyn
Walls of color
Farmer's Market/Prospect Park

"Unleashed" doggie time 8-9 am

NEW YORK! NEW YORK!

11/2/11 "Hooray! Hooray!! We're on our way.Our trip to"…. see our new grandbaby…. "starts today!" (That saying is a Liles family tradition.) Will post if and when I can but that’s not exactly top on my list. Can’t wait. So excited!

Meditation from the Heart of a "wannabe" Shepherd

I am grateful for the feeding, love and care which I receive from the one who is the Good Shepherd and who call His own sheep by name. (John 10:3)
May I in some small way begin to unfold the reality of a shepherd's life so that I might model it and touch others with the caring service that this truth teaches.

Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly--not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. (I Peter 5:2, NLV)

Sabbath Snapshots: Way Up North

10/30/11 Baby Marion's grandparents from Massachusetts have had snow since Thursday which has impeded their trek to see their "brand new " grandaughter in Brooklyn. This morning they awakened to 27" more inches. Just had to show how different their Sunday was from those of us who live below the snow belt. And we thought our sunny 52° was cold this morning .

Grandma MJ shows her TRUE feelings!

Grandpa Doug actually broke the snow blower. Note fall foliage on trees in background. If there's this much snow in October, I can't even fathom a real winter storm!!!