"the lifter up of mine head"

12/21/13 Psalm 3:3 is a psalm I have prayed for others lately----BUT GOD...... answered it for me as well.

A simple e-mail from Samaritan's Purse lifted my spirits. No request from me. No fanfare. Just a BIG God-wink. He knows of my "heart for Ukraine. He placed it there.

And then in order to lift my head, He sent my shoeboxes there!!!

Can you read it ???? Your shoebox has begun its journey and will be delivered to a child in Ukraine.

"Trusted Book Review"---Do you trust me?

12/19/13 Trust me---always read a book prior to seeing the movie. Let the author's words create your own mental images, not Hollywood.

 I actually read parts of the book years ago as a review for some of my high school students. I knew I would return to it in the future. My future was 2013. The reading began with an audio book. The reader was excellent but I kept a print copy bedside because some of Max's illustrations/writings added to the charm of the book.

Note: Both print & audio books were checked out from my local library. I'm a grateful library patron.

As much as I liked the Book Thief  by Marcus Zusak, I can understand why others would not. 

Understandably the holocaust topic is too grim for some readers. The book also has profanity, though much of it is in German and when translated, probably means dirty, filthy pig.

NYTimes review was not exactly favorable. "A little fussy---with some slack moments. Needs to be more certain of own strength. Young-adult fiction."

"It deplores human misery. It celebrates the power of language. It may encourage adolescents to read." Maybe that's why it tugged at my heart."

Regardless of the NYX  review I found the book riveting. Set during the holocaust and narrated by "Death," the novel is gripping as are most stories set during that horrific time.  

The author's words were powerful, yet realistic. 

I'm so glad I read it before I saw the movie!

Trusted Book Reviews

12/18/13 Reading Pastor Cole Huffman's 2013 Book List, I was excited that I had read 3 of his books and agreed with his insights and assessments. 

I can always trust His book recs.

• Surprised by Oxford by Carolyn Weber--an all time fave of mine---"Beautifully written, great narrative tension...read bulk of it in one weekend." (CH) 
• Help, Thanks, Wow: Three Essentials Prayers by Anne Lamott --- More liberal than I, but has quite a way with words. CH's fave sentence was, "Gratitude begins in our hearts and then dovetails into our behavior. It almost always makes you willing to be of service, which is where the joy resides. It means you are willing to stop being a jerk. "(p.56-57) 
• The Little Way of Ruthie Leming by Rod Dreher who watched his former home town come together in community to aid his dying sister. "A powerful forgiveness story." (CH)

I am also glad to have a new Dorothy Sayers title, Letters to a Diminished Church, to add to my "to read" list----because I can trust the reviewer.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013...Prayer Question

Why is it easier to ask folks to pray for you when you have cancer than when you are just ill-tempered and having "come aparts?"

"7" Word Meditation

12/16/13  7 words from God's word. I have been mulling just seven words lately as I have struggled to pare down in every area of life. To simplify. To get out from under my "overwhelmed" condition.

Do all things decently and in order. (1 Corinthians 14:40)

Jen Hatmaker had a similar epiphany and in her witty and truthful book, 7-- an experimental mutiny against excess, she documented her "journey of less." Seven months, seven areas, reduced to seven simple choices. Some months she only ate 7 foods. Other months only 7 articles of clothing were worn. Her experiences and foibles provided an entertaining read.

Hatmaker's goal for her exercise in simplicity, was to create space for God's kingdom to break through. A noble goal. Certainly nobler than mine. I desire relief. 

Too much stuff, even events on my schedule were robbing me of my joy with family, friends and the Lord. I had even considered "drugs" but upon re-reading parts of Hatmaker's book, I decided to forgo the doc visit and with the Lord's help/direction, rid some excess in my life---it's indecent to not only have so much but also to do too much. It's indecent "to be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ." (2 Corinthians 11:3)

My plan allows for God to teach me rather than just checking one more endeavor off of my "spiritual" list. In other words, I've given myself permission to allow God's grace to trump completing "my goal."

Goal: Throw away, give away or delete from my calendar........7 things a day for 7 weeks. Giving away includes boxing up for daughter's garage sale or delivering to charity by the last day of project. (2/1/13)

My favorite "creative culling" so far included combining vitamins and supplements (more air than pills) from 2 or 3 bottles in to 1 (purchased on sale, I'm sure)  so that there was room in my "basket." Then I could read the colored labels on top---thus helping diffuse my frustration when SEARCHING for right one for my daily  pill box. Frustration so robbed me of my joy, that when my vitamin D or my 81 mg aspirin fell on the floor, I treated the mishap as a life or death matter. If others had seen or heard my tizzy, they might have called 911.  Days like that had me reconsider doc's RX as an option. Such tizzies can happen when one is so-o-o concerned about order that indecency creeps in and negates the intent of the verse. 

Decency (God's way) and order (God's methods and timing must go hand in hand!) 

Think about that along with those 7 words from God's word.

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: TREE TOPPERS

12/15/13 Festival of Trees at the Pink Palace benefits LeBonheur Children's Medical Center as well as all the children who go there to check out the Enchanted Forest. Admission supports this "crown jewel" of our city. For those who don't have time to go, ENJOY some of the winners!

The Reason for the Season Luke 2:8-14---a real WINNER!

"TREE HUGGER"---looked so-o-o real

My Texan fishermen would love this one....

......"Sportsman Christmas"---1st Place Best Theme

"Blazing Trails" for Jesus---2nd place for "Best Theme"

"Have Yourself a Despicable Christmas" would be the choice of all 6 grandsons!

Seize the Clay's "Snow Queen" won 1st Place "Most Creative"

WHAT A GIFT!

12/14/13 A REAL Gift. A Gift of Love. A Labor of Love. 

A gift from the heart of the Lord through the heart of the giver.

Each year the format provides "light," as well as "encouragement," through 12 Days of Christmas. 

This year, like all years, the theme is unique. This year's topic is especially apropos because giver and receiver have prayed and weathered many storms together understanding that storms filtered through His hand can make us stronger.

Gems Gleaned thus far:

• Weather Words used metaphorically in scripture can give insight and new perspective. 
• Stormy circumstances are inevitable. 
• The Lord is in the storm----in Psalm 29 His name is given directly 18 times. 
• It is incorrect to assume that storm/suffering occurs because it's beyond God's control. 
• In storms of life, Jesus is our "safe room." 

A "peek" ahead found this shining jewel. "Better to go through the storm with the Lord than to have smooth sailing without Him. (ODB. Fisher, 5/25/13)

What a gift, indeed!

Consider this...........

11/12/13 What spiritual truths do you want to pass on to your children or grandchildren?

What thoughts would you have them ponder?

I wanted to encourage you and tell you how kind God really is, ......so that you will have faith in Him....and keep on having faith in Him. (1 Peter 5:12)

Book Reflections & reviews...........

12/11/13........With so-o-o many books available in so-o-o many formats, it's hard to choose ones that are worthy of one's limited time. "There is no end to books, and too much study will wear you out." (Ecclesiastes 12:12)
It's even harder to recommend a book because there's a responsibility that one feels. Yet, as any librarian knows, when trying to lead a patron to their next great read, much of it depends on the patron's preferences as well as their life views.
For me,  to answer the question, "what's a good "new" book to read?" I just tell what I've read lately and then usually add a few disclaimers with my "choice"rationale. I just finished a new "quick & easy read" book and it was what I needed as my life has been one of ups and downs lately, and I needed a quiet gentle book. I found a book that touched me in such a way.
What really sold me on Mitch Albom's, The First Phone Call From Heaven, an allegorical story that deals with the power of belief, was the acknowledgment from the author (p. 327)

Finally---and firstly----anything created by my heart or hand is from God, by God, through God and with God. We may not know the truth about phones and heaven, but we do know this: in time, He answers all calls, and He answered mine. (Mitch Albom)

That to me is an "A-men" review.

Hopeful Meditation #3

12/9/13 Today's Streams in the Desert was "on the mark" for my season of struggle. Sadness continues to "catch me unawares." (a Hoptown phrase) Not only was a verse of encouragement provided but other thoughts for contemplation as well. Thoughts so appropriate for this Monday Meditation.

There is a compensation in every sorrow, and the sorrow is working out the compensation. It is the cry of the dear old hymn:

"Nearer my God to Thee, nearer to Thee,
E'en tho' it be a cross that raiseth me." 

.....weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. (Psalm 30:5b)

There is a peace that cometh after sorrow,
Of hope surrendered, not of hope fulfilled;
A peace that looketh not upon tomorrow,
But calmly on a tempest that it stilled.
A peace that lives not now in joy's excesses,
Nor in the happy life of love secure;
But in the unerring strength the heart possesses,
Of conflicts won while learning to endure. (Streams in the Desert, 12/9)