ANCHORED BY HOPE

I just love it that our newest grandson's nursery decor is both nautical and spiritual.

In fact, it's as if those aspects are intertwined.

Adoption can be tedious as we've learned with our newest grandchild. 
An up and down roller coaster of sorts. 

Exhilarating but risky!

But God, in His love and mercy is keeping us anchored in hope by the prayers of friends!!

Friends who are warriors for us in the spiritual realm!

How grateful we are for each of you.

49th ANNIVERSARY ARRIVALS

The day began with appropriate verses.......may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. (Proverbs 5:18) 
I'm so grateful God's Word didn't say young wife as one celebrating 49 years of marriage is no longer young.

Ecclesiastes goes on to remind us the importance of enjoying moments because life is fleeting. "Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun;"  (Ecclesiastes 9:9)

It continued with cards, emails and text messages from friends and ended with "cooper" (for 49 years) gifts  from daughter's family and dinner at their house. Plus, 2 copper 2018 pennies---one for our 49th being celebrated and one for our NEWST GRANDCHILD born this year and a BIG part of the celebration!
Another BIG part was "THE GIFT!"

On this our 49th wedding anniversary, how grateful I am for a hubby who shows his love through "our" anniversary gift. A gift for "us" that he let me commission based on "the sculpture "I" wanted."  A "praise" piece by my favorite Papier-mâché sculptor, Heidi Walter. Each is covered with the sheet music of one of my favorite hymns! (Hymns that will be sung at my funeral one day.

The titles & even my favorite phrases are visible on each. See if you can guess the hymn!

---front...grace my fears relieved, back left...then He appeared and the soul felt its worth, back center...and I'll lead you all in the Dance said He, & God and sinners reconciled, back right...sing like never before, O my soul.

It's more than I could even have imagined. As she said, "there is so much more at play here!" I see something new each day!
Check out the process and read what Heidi had to say. 

Drying in the Memphis heat.

....and kindred spirits because we both love the LORD! Thanks for all hubby & Heidi did to make 48th & now 49th anniversaries so special!

ANCHORED IN THE STORMS

Anchor along the shore on the edge of the marsh in Maine caught my eye---obviously one that had kept a boat secure for a long time. A firm foundation in the sea. Security for its captain.

In Scripture, the anchor metaphorically, represents God's steadfast faithfulness to His people. Hebrews 6:19 came to my mind. Knowing the One who is our anchor in the storms of life is such a comfort. A truth offering great hope.

Whether you see an anchor on a shoreline, read a verse in the Bible, or a chapter in a child's storybook Bible.....(Mark 4:35-41)

.....the person who knows Jesus has hope! Hope in Him---an anchor for the soul!

PSALM 100 SERVED WITH A CUPPA

 Psalm 100.

A psalm I had memorized in 4th grade as part of Mrs. Munday's scripture memory assignment. Morningside Elementary School. Ah-h those were the days of prayer in public school. To this day, she remains as one of my all time favorite teachers* and this psalm in the King James translation remains in my heart.

Mama Davenport's Bible, KJV, July 1945

However, today's All to Jesus entry gave me new insight into this memory-evoking psalm.

Author Robert Morgan states that stanza 1 (vv. 1-3) are devoted to gladitude as we "shout to the Lord and serve Him with gladness." Stanza 2 (vv. 4-5) is about gratitude as one enters the His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise

That's why a cuppa spiritual at-TEA-tude this morning to start my day in His Presence---a rich blend of glad-TEA-tude & gra-TEA-tude!

*I still keep the note which she wrote to me in 2009 when I was going through my cancer treatments/surgeries.

BLOG IMAGES ??

Because you asked.......most of Dotsy Details blog entry pictures are captured by an iPhone 7. Cell phones make it so much easier & more spontaneous than it did when I carried around my BIG Canon Rebel or even my smaller Canon PowerShot. The transfer from my cell phone is almost automatic.

Thus, if something catches my eye, I snap it---usually because it triggers an idea of a blog entry.

Monday's Dotsy Details entry was from two such happenings of spontaneity. The "Over Yonder" picture was taken from a napkin label in the "Over Yonder" restaurant in Valle Crucis, NC.

There was also a t-shirt for sale. Though my childhood represented the saying I didn't like the price, so I just took a picture. Looking at the picture brought back memories of a fun weekend with friends. Most pictures I take have a story.
I included a "neck of the woods" picture to emphasize direction. but then I came across the same phrase with a heart gripping story of spiritual direction. The simple wall hanging was on the door of a resident at the KDS nursing  home. Leaving the room of one of our July birthday residents I passed the door.

Standing outside the door was a woman who inquired about "my" health. As we chatted, she revealed that she was 95 and she had been visiting here weekly for the last 45 years. I assumed she was here visiting her husband, but it was her 51 year old grandson who had been a patient since he was 6 yrs. old. as result of severe injuries from an auto accident when his grandfather was at the wheel. His parents also continue to share those weeks so that family is always there. The door hanging represented the good times he had with his grandparents as a youngster--- as all of them loved camping together. She assumed that when the Lord called her home, her grandson would follow in a few months and vice versa. Until then, she thanks the Lord for all the times she has been able to have with him. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

I was a bundle of emotions as I left---with a heart that was both sad and glad. Sad for a family whose son/grandson had experienced so few years of mobility in life and glad that God's steadfast love & grace had been so obvious in their lives as they cared for him.

But make no mistake---if you're feeling blessed not to have such "tragedy" in your life, they feel blessed because God gave them Chris. Circumstances are secondary to their great love for him.

DIRECTIONAL DIALECTS

Do you ever wonder how God translates all our prayers. Not just in different languages but through myriads of dialects.

I grew up in a small town and we had our own vernacular. Think colloquialisms with a little regional dialect factored in, i.e. "Kentucky hick". We were the ones who didn't "chicken out" in red rover or crack the whip on the playground. One's mom could be "fixin' to" get the switch if you "din't mind" her. If your actions were really bad/disobedient she would threaten to "skin you alive" or "tan your hide".  If it were Saturday you could pretty much "reckon" that you'd be sittin' on the same pew tomorrow as you did every Sunday.

If you asked for directions, a simple finger point and the words "just down the road a piece" was only understood if you were from our "neck of the woods."

"Over yonder" was also a directional term frequently used if the place was within sight of the one giving the direction. It's just over yonder thru that field a ways.

Linguists or grammarians might describe small town talk as esoteric---but that descriptor would be too formal for our ears and one "might of" had to get out the Websters for direction to that definition.

God hears when we call out. Right into His ears regardless of language or dialect. (Psalm 18:6)

God gives understanding in a language all can understand. (Psalm 119:130)

How grateful I am that His word gives me directions I can understand.
Words that go directly to my heart.

Even if I'm "over yonder" in my thoughts, reading His word can pull me back in for godly wisdom with will give light to my path as I go the right direction.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT FRIDAY

If there's one thing I've discovered on our NE USA trek is food. Trust me, if it's seafood or blueberries, I have eaten it. (1 Corinthians 10:23)
All sorts of food are lawful to eat but not all is profitable. Think sufficient to superfluous!

Holy doughnuts----made with Maine mashed potatoes.
They're worth the drive!!

THANKFUL THURSDAY RECAP FROM DownEast MAINE

The earth is the LORD'S and the fulness thereof, the world, and they that dwell therein. (Psalm 24:1)

Great FULNESS of God's creation caught in a small cell phone, which did not do it justice but does evoke great mind pictures of the experience.  How easy it is to give thanks for such days---even in fog and mist, (1 Thessalonians 5:18) I learned that even the acceptance of weather can be an attitude of the heart.

I stood amazed in the surrounds of DownEast as the residents "dub" this eastern coastal section of Maine.....from early morning to setting sun. From the granite pink rock...

...and the balance rock along Bar Harbor Shore Path as we began our "misty, cool"day with a stroll.

...to the boat ride past Bear Island and the Bear Island lighthouse, located in the community of Cranberry Isles on our way to Isleford in Little Cranberry....

with an abundance of foliage both natural....

 ....and cultivated...

...to the home of one of the kindest men the Lord has ever created "to dwell therein" His world---Ashley Bryan ...

...who captures creation in his own style to share with others. Regardless of the style, (oils, puppets, collage, stained glass) Ashley does it all---while giving thanks to the Father! (Colossians 3:17)

LESSONS FROM A LIGHTHOUSE

Metaphorically speaking, Christians should be lighthouses for God’s kingdom, internally and externally. May our inner light manifest itself as a reflection to others of Jesus, the One who is the “Light.” (John 8:12 & 9:5)

Curtis Lighthouse, Camden Maine

Ram Island Ledge Light

Thus, seeing first hand lighthouses along the northeast coast of Maine, I was reminded that I, too, am to be a lighthouse for the Lord, standing firm & praying for others in their storms.

Portland Head Light

 Lighthouses are built to protect. 

Lighthouses stand strong and firm in the storm. Portland Head Light has stood since commissioned by President George Washington in 1787.

Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse South Portland, ME 

Though built in Fort William for protection, I like what evangelist, Dwight Moody said, “ Lighthouses don’t fire cannons to call attention to their shining---they just shine" just as Bass Harbor Light in the FOG!

Lighthouses are built to serve--even as inspiration for this Arizona artist at Owl's Head Lighthouse.

A light to guide us “home.”

Rockland Breakwater Light--1.7 mile walk over boulders with water splashing over our feet. I was glad to reach a "home" of solid ground!

God's love is like a lighthouse---a bright light of love reaching out to us through the darkness of any storm as I prayed for dear friend, Winslow. Shedding God's love abroad.
 A great reminder during my eastern shore travels---

See a lighthouse--Be a lighthouse!

MONDAY: A DAY OF MISTY MORNING MAGIC & FOGGY FUN

Text to follow----have to use wifi when I have it  But weather did not put a damper on this "magical" day!!!