SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: MACKINAC MOMENTS

8/5/12 Not enough oomph to load pix....but so worth it for my memory bank. Will load when I return to Memphis. So fun to see the "parking lots at the church this morn....all bicycles. There are absolutely NO motorized vehicles here. Horses and bikes. That's it. BTW---horses ALWAYS have the right of way.

♪♪ Music of Faith ♪♪

 8/4/12 Strolling the streets of St. Ignace (Ig-nis) last night, I noticed several musicians were “out and about,” ranging from Native American to gospel duos. All had an instrument case open. It’s the American way.

Though all were enjoyable, it was the familiar tunes that ”stuck” in my head. Too often it’s other things that get "stuck" in my head. Those fearful whirring thoughts that can predominate my thought life.

To combat this, I've loaded favorite hymns and praise and worship songs on my iPod and my iPad and chosen to "listen" and to be attuned to spiritual music on a more regular basis. It seems to keep me more attuned to Him.

How about you? Are you attuned to Him through music? Is music of faith filling your mind?

TWO-WAY PRAYERS

8/2/12 For an unfamiliar town with lots of one-way streets, it’s nice to see “two-way traffic” signage. Trip to Upper Peninsula thus far; Nashville, TN, Louisville, KY, Columbus, IN (adorable) and Nashville, IN.

Life lesson learned. Intercessory prayer travels well. You can just pack it up and take it with you. Added benefit---it’s two-way. I took my prayers for others and I am traveling with others’ prayers for me.” Two-way prayers”. Has a nice ring to it doesn’t it!!

GRACE INDEED

7/31/12 “Suffering is inevitable but misery is optional.” Old adage. Still true. Easier to read about than to practice. But God…..has given His grace to aid us in this choosing. I witnessed such grace last week on the way to Florida. I met Carolyn---Carolyn who has all the physical reasons to complain---3 years of undiagnosed severe headache-type pain. Chronic comes to mind. Persistent, continual, unending pain. No relief in sight. 

Recently doctors in Birmingham said her issues were “beyond them”---a phrase I am very familiar with. So in 3 weeks she heads to the Michigan Headache & Neurological Institute in Ann Arbor for evaluation and 7-10 days in the hospital for testing. Diminished pain, resolution and relief---my prayer for her. She prays for the Lord to be glorified.

Use it to shine through every moment of every situation.  Use it so that others will know that You are God and there is no other.  Use it, Lord, use it all... and, by Your grace, Lord, use me as Your instrument amidst it all. (By His Grace, 7/29/12)

She suffers. But she chooses grace, not misery. Others complain, but God……has been her all sufficient One. She lives day-by-day trusting in His goodness. She lives a grace-filled life. The title of her blog says it all, “By His Grace.” 

Grace, indeed. His grace.

BLESSINGS: THINK ON THESE THINGS

7/30/12 Meditating this morning in Psalm 103, I was overwhelmed with all the aspects of God’s goodness in my life. I did NOT want to forget them. But God….had a way of reminding me that once in the past (when there were only 3 grands in my life) I had recorded many of these. Dotsy’s Blessing Book 2007. Opening it, I was aware of that time when I was trying so hard not to get caught up in merely “ritual recording”---thus the list of "it doesn't matter" references on the inside cover. Desiring only true gratitude in order to change my focus or OCD behavior, I had to give my self permission.

Such a time has come again. A continuing change of focus, not just a chronicling of benefits, of which there are many. Beaucoups.

Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, (Psalm 103: 1-2)

Maybe all of us should "think on these things." BENEFITS & BLESSINGS.*

 *Recording them is optional.

7 GRANDS

7/29/12 I don't know if there's any symbolic significance of having 7 grandchildren.....but at this point in time, it's very special because that's how many I have. Times with all of them together at once are rare. After 7 grand days at the beach with all 7 distinctly different grands,  I know how blessed I am. I may be "pooped" but I've got a smile on my face. 
Allow me to introduce them to you with at least one of the verses from the Proverb which I have prayed for them since birth---it corresponds with their birthday. 

Lucy (9 mo.) Oil and perfume make the heart glad, So a man's counsel is sweet to his friend. Prov. 27:9

Owen (5) An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up. Proverbs 12:25

Andrew (20 mo, That would be butter on his hands and face.) Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, Proverbs 12:1

John Parker (4) A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11

Caleb (6) Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in. Proverbs 30:5

Noah (8, Tooth missing as he reminded the "tooth fairy") Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 3:3

Nathan (10) Humility is the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life. Proverbs 22:4

Delayed, Delayed, ......

7/28/12.....Cancelled. That’s what the Atlanta airport board said for Delta Flight 929. The flight that was to carry Josh, Megan and baby safely to New York. Tonight all were suppose to be in their own beds in Brooklyn. At least that’s what they were telling 9 month old Lucy this morning as we dropped them off at the Panama City airport.

Disappointment----was my first thought for them. Yet, if air traffic control is shut down because of flooding, then certainly Atlanta is the safer place to be. My son’s comments were positive---they were heading to purchase a few necessities and get a hotel room. Lucy had been a “trooper” all day. Acceptance.

As the “mom”, I want everything to go smoothly for them. Setbacks in life can certainly be disappointing, even distressing and yet in the midst of all the frustration is where life lessons are learned. “Character building” is the term often used.

Replacement b/c travel pic was fuzzy & Lucy is in her beach travel dress---just prior to flight to Atlanta.

Their FB post was upbeat. Welcome to Atlanta, little Lucy.

Beach Olympics continued.....

7/26/12
The week of our beach olympics, we celebrated the food of 5 different countries. Great Britain, (fish & chips, mushy peas & tea & scones & Yorkie candy bars ) Greece,  (Spinach & feta treats & Greek salad)  Mexico, (tacos & Mexican corn) Sweden (meatballs) and USA! YUM!

All the kids helped with the cooking, decorating and table setting!!

Afternoon events moved to the "road" for cycling, (each in his own way) shooting (a fave as it is done with the feet and a big jump) and running.

Note rubber bullet approaching "shooting target."

Our ending ceremony was complete with anthems and medals for all!

SEAGROVE: BEACH OLYMPICS 2012

7/23/12 SEAGROVE: BEACH OLYMPICS 2012 A Pictorial Account
And so it begins with a parade....

And a cheering crowd....

...to beachside hurdles, long jump, javelin and discus throw, each in his own way & with personal, colorful flyswatters to mark their distance.

 Discus and Javelin competition was tough!

On to the pool for relays and water polo---

SaveSave

A Feast of Encouragement

7/23/12  Just as I’m considering Psalm 34: 8 for meditation this week, Judy D., the Texans “Ya Ya” shared Sarah Young’s “40 Days  with Jesus, Celebrating His Presence", with me. Her marker for day 23 gave Jeremiah 29:11 as a promise that offered a “feast of encouragement.” It spoke of Christ’s eternal encouragement for believers........

........Which brought me right back to the verse I had been considering. We, who have a voracious appetite for fixing our future, trust our own plans----hedging our bets economically and in aging----all to pad our future security. We too often take refuge in ourselves---trusting in our own abilities.

But as Psalm 34:8 reminded me, my security (and feasting) is in Him, the One in whom I seek refuge moment by moment. Young continually teaches the importance of being in His Presence----in the present moment. She sees that “tasting” as a feast of the richest fare and encourages all to come to His table of delights, bringing  a fork of trust and a spoon of thankfulness. (Young, p.24) To me that sounds like “tasting and seeing that the Lord is good.” 

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. 

What encouragement---to be blessed for taking refuge in Him.