SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: A SMATTERING OF THE WEEK

9/22/13 Diversity --- much of the beauty of life can be found in the diversity of nature, in people and in God's Word. Such has been my week.

#4 Numbers 6:24-26. If you read 9/18/13 blog you know why this is #4. It's what I viewed as I sat getting my hair cut on Friday by sweet prayer warrior, Pam S. Plus she gave me some home-grown tomatoes.. Now that's service above and beyond.

No ruby throats seen at our kitchen window. They all seem to have migrated but according to the "lady" at Wild Birds Unlimited, we should keep our feeders out because the Rufous Hummingbird, a Western species, often winters here.

I might not sport a "green-thumb" but many in Memphis do, especially some of my neighbors.

Cool temps and shiny "hot" cars---perfect combo for a grandson's day at a Car Show to see Great Uncle Bobby's antique. Oops, I must be an antique as well---this was a car from my teen years!

SATURDAY QUESTION?

9/21/13  After reading today's Jesus Calling, I had to ask self, "Is my schedule so packed that I am unable to hear the "holy whispers" of the Lord?"

After rationalizing t'was NOT trivial stuff that was filling my calendar, but important "spiritual" matters of "my" ministry, I still  had to ask self, "Is my schedule so packed that I am unable to hear the "holy whispers" of the Lord?"

If the answer is "YES", I need to change my schedule!

Friday, September 20, 2013

Sporadic internet access has kept me from posting so here is yesterday's entry. 

9/19/13 Thursday's plan:
Availability for prayer for a friend's surgery 2 pm.
Location Methodist University chapel.  Faith-based partnerships between God's people and the community are such a winning combination.

 Problem #1---chapel stained glass is still in same location. There's a cross----but there's NO chapel. It's as if it's walled up---or that I'm walled out.

Problem #2---the first person I asked hadn't a clue where the chapel was---or if there had ever been one.  There was a chapel. I know that. That chapel was there a little over over 9 mos. I know because I knelt at the altar as I prayed for another friend who was undergoing surgery for lung cancer.

Solution: Chapel found. Reward: A nurse came in to pray as well. What a comforting thought that is.

How do I know.....?

9/18/13 "How do I know?" is a question one often ask's self about a variety of topics. Personally, I'd like it in sky writing just to be sure----especially in the area of God's will, purpose, etc. 

I often use a 3 x "heads up rule" to help me focus on an area----in a "before the fact" situation. 

This week, the DAY AFTER my blog post, the Lord used 3 "after the fact" occurrences to give me affirmation for that entry.

Verses for meditation are posted on this blog each Monday. The day after the most recent (9/15/13) meditation posting, 3 God winks were received. My passage choice…..Numbers 6: 24-26 was the RIGHT one for meditation this week.  How do I know?

1. 1.     Benediction at funeral
2. 2.    Greeting on a card I received
3. 3.    Citation on a card I was sending which I didn’t notice until I was sealing the envelope.

#2

1. How grateful I am to know.

Visual Payer Prompt

9/17/13
"One look is worth a thousand words" (Printer's Ink, 1921)

When I passed this scene today as I was leaving a funeral, it tugged at my heart. I stopped for a look. I felt compelled to snap a picture. 

Maybe the picture will say a thousand words to you or convey a message that prompts prayer.

Speechless, but prayerful. That's what it did for me as I lifted heart felt prayers for mercy and comfort for the victims' families of the Washington Naval Yard.

Meditation: Visual Aid

9/16/13 A visit last fall to the Chatlos Memorial Chapel at The Cove in North Carolina, aka Billy Graham Training Center provided me with the "visual"aid for today's Monday Meditation. This verse is one I often pray or my "daily" folks so.....I thought a little more insight, via meditation, would be helpful. 

God's grace. God's countenance. God's Peace. Word pictures can also be visual aids as we meditate.

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: Symphony in the Gardens

9/15/13 "Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing...."Robert Louis Stevenson wrote those words 100 years ago about enjoying a swing. I recalled those words as I sat in on the lawn of the Dixon Gallery with bare feet and a lap full of munchies listening to the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. A perfect ending for a "sabbath" day. 
This biannual event, one of my favorites. occurs in May and September. Last September's event was a rain out and we all had to divide up and squeeze into the gallery. Outside is certainly my PREFERRED setting. Tonight's was perfect--low temps, no biting insects and great classical music followed by the MSO Big Band orchestra. A blazing sunset was the finale.

A BIG thanks to the Coes of Dominion Partners and the company's president, Brian Kinney for their sponsorship. Brian's sister, Maureen, was a dear college chum and Pi Phi "sis.". We remained good friends until her sudden death 8 years ago.

Table settings can be thematic......they even had a dish of silver bullets and the "William Tell Overture" playing.......

........Elegant......

...or plain like ours, BUT our pimiento cheese sandwiches were tasty!

Positions for listening to the symphony come in a variety of  ways....this entire family of 4 read. (mom is hidden) Their books were from a library---that warms an old librarian's heart.

A loving pose for listening to a Brahms piece.

A shoulder for sharing love for each other and for Dvorak's symphony #9 in E major, 

Alana Olswing, a high school senior and violinist for the Youth Symphony, wowed us all---thus the standing ovation! 

Gift to Self

9/13/13 Friday the 13th----not always a bad day. Today it's been an especially good day because I have decided to give myself a gift. A nap!! A nap without guilt attached.

Our H2H (Heart to Heart) Women's Bible Study this year is so-o-o timely. For everyone, old and young alike. The topic is "The Gift of Rest" written by our director, Crickett Keith.

Already I am gleaning info about true rest. There is no true rest apart from Him.

So far, we've discussed various kinds of rest. Earlier this week, I had rich times of "soul rest" as I spent time in God's Word and Prayer. (Matthew 11:29) On this Friday the 13th, I'm dealing with a lack of physical rest. There is a "need" for this rest. 

Today I'm greatly feeling that need. So, I'm seeing some available time as a gift from God (Matthew 11:28) and I'm "opening" that gift of time and re-gifting it to myself in the form of a nap.

TEA & TOUR

9/12/13 Great event at "The Brooks"-(Memphis Brooks Museum of Art)----the tour of the  Carroll Cloar exhibit---artworks of the American South, which was made even better because of "relationships" and tea. Of course, a cuppa always makes good things even much better. Attending with friends, Ann & Janice, made it special but when our docent turned out to be the mom of David and Michael whom I taught  at the Children's School 40 years ago, "better" became great. Barbara L. was an EXCELLENT docent, a tremendously gifted guide. Plus, I got to catch up a little on her boys. It was fun to share memories and to remember my "teacher" visit to their house on Rich Rd. Once again my recall is much sharper concerning "by-gone days. Fun memories for a former pre-school/kindergarten teacher.

Of course, culminating with tea and scones and other goodies at the Brushmark---actually in the board room, made the entire time ranked in the "best" category.

NO photography allowed at the exhibit BUT this print hangs in the hallway that leads to the chemo room at Jones clinic so I have seen it often. The original is in the exhibit. I wonder if the girl sitting on the can on a lonely afternoon is  Charlie Mae, an African American acquaintance from Cloar's childhood, who appears in many of his pictures. Exhibit ends in 3 days (9/15/13) so I'll need to return quickly if I hope to find the answer.

PRIVILEGES......of Retirement

9/11/13 Grandparents' Day..........especially a privilege at a school that not only invites you to join your "grand" for lunch but  gives you a gift when you sign in and welcomes you with big signs throughout the campus AND prepares a special turkey & dressing lunch. Not to mention the principal gives her faculty duty free lunch yet she "works" cafeteria duty the entire time, even wiping the tables. My favorite part was her announcement (sly) reminder as she commended the 4th graders for living up to the school's expectations. Grandson, Owen, said his school had a lot of rules and "spectations."

The other plus was sitting across the table from Kate, a youngster I had prayed for in her early years when I was teaching at HHS with her mother. That was a BIG plus. Such a cutie. She told me her grandmother had come the "other" day before this. I think this is a three day event. 

Grandparents' Lunch at a school that cares about kids---a real privilege!