G.R.A.C.E.

Acronyms of Grace for Wordsmith Wednesday.

Acrostics often help me to recall truth, especially as I age. I often remember  EGO= Edges God Out. GRACE= God's Redemption At Christ's Expense.

All to Jesus, my Robert Morgan devotional guide, has seemed to emphasize "grace" this week.

8/10 Indeed we have all received grace after grace. (John 1:16)

ended with, a new to me, acronym for G.R.A.C.E.

God's Riches Available to Claim Everyday!

Hubby reads Bob Goff's, Live in Grace-Walk in Love to me each night. Last night grace jumped off the title page and right into my psyche. Love to others is an overflow of God's grace to us. Grace's practical application =Walking in love! 

This morning, (8/12) Titus 2:11-12 was the "grace" intro to Morgan's entry.

For the grace of God......teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled....lives in this present age.

One more "grace" filled verse had me humming, "Grace, grace, God's grace" as I stirred in extra measures of God's grace in my  morning cuppa and praying Acts 4:33 for our country during these tumultuous times......that we might be of one heart and one soul with...."much grace upon us all". (Acts 4:33)

G.R.A.C.E. acrostic as prayer prompts for our nation....

God Releases Altruism, Compassion & Empathy....so that we might give

Give Real Assistance & Care to Everyone! 

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

Can anyone find a positive during this pandemic?

Coral Ridge Presbyterian church in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida did. 

They chose to honor the death of one of their saints with masks, social distancing and livestream. 

For me, that broadcast allowed me to attend the service of Kaye Carlson, my dear friend Julie's mom. My fiesty, fearless, comforter and best friend was how Julie described her.

A beautiful organ prelude had a few notes changed by one of her former choir members as a way to honor "Miss Kaye" beyond the ordinary funeral fare. 

Her memorial service began with praises and honor to Jesus.....a celebration of Kaye's life with Him as her Lord and Savior. "Great is Thy Faithfulness," sung by all, echoed that relationship.

Scripture reading of Psalm 121:2--reminded us all that our "help comes from the Lord"; John 14:1-6--comforted all with assurance that Jesus, "the way the truth and the Life," is the way to the Father; and Romans 8:37--was a powerful proclamation that nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

How spot on was the pastor when "and so it is" concluded his reading! Amen!

Friends and family thanked God for every remembrance of her in their lives and  descriptors shared of Kaye are way too lengthy to mention here. All rejoiced in knowing her, saw her as the "Queen of Hospitality" whose door was always open to extras. Kaye fed the multitudes and was famous for her potato salad. Daughter, Julie, shared that her mom was such an anchor for all their souls as wife and "life of the party" to their dad, a mom to Steve and her, a surrogate mom, a foster mom, a grandmother, a Gigi, a sister, a choir member, etc. With an affinity for all the writings of "The Bard," Julie had to read the works of Shakespeare to fully converse with her. My favorite part of Julie's sharing was Carlson Family's Friday Fun Night---attendance was required and her mom orchestrating many trips, from campgrounds (not w/ tents) to IA and MN. Her brother Steve found "FIREWORKS" in Tennessee. That really resonated with me because Tennessee is where my path crossed with Julie and I got to meet Kaye.

She is her mother's daughter. Together we tag-teamed in caring for mutual friends, Claudia and Terry Parlow, through both paralysis and cancer. I'm sure we were strengthened with prayers from her parents, Kaye and Jim, along the way. 

Kaye's memorial today was also the day she married Jim 60 years ago! What a memory for a life well-lived with her spouse.

The service ended as it had begun-- honoring Jesus with the standing and singing of the "Hallelujah Chorus" followed by a bagpiper playing "Amazing Grace" as the family exited.

What a celebration of life and of two funerals---Kaye's and Jesus'.

POSITIVE PANDEMIC PLANS--KEEP PRAYING!

3/21~and so it begins---life as we've never known it before. As the weeks go on....

GOOGLE reminds us to "Keep Washing Our Hands". 20 seconds!!!

3/22~Grace for theMoment~Pray for all people, asking God for what they need and being thankful to Him  (1 Timothy2:1) ....starving children, hurting people, people in cancer wards & in assisted living...look beyond the darkness, so as not to miss the answered prayers. 

4/3~ Trust in the Lord with all your heart and stay home to stay safe. Is that a mixed message. I don't think so. I see it as a way of showing respect for others. Keep reading God's word.

5/5~Mask-up Memphis Keep wearing a mask to show respect for others!

Fear not for I am with you; (even behind your mask)

Be not dismayed, for I am your God. (Isaiah 41:10) Keep trusting God.

People party as May ends and Covid-19 related deaths in our nation spike.................

6/15~ Keep watching out for others by respecting their lives with clean hands, a well fitting mask and social distancing. Death has a human face.

7/4~We too celebrated Independence Day from our patio/porch. in unity---apart, together. (Psalm 133:1)

.....and now we will enter August with an even greater resolve to keep praying!

PANDEMIC 2020 QUESTION

How does one know the COVID 19 pandemic continues in the USA?

The answer is simple---when the most traffic on the street is Amazon Prime delivery vans.

The answer might be simple but the ramifications are not. 

John Mark Comer states in The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, "Shopping is the number one leisure activity in America, usurping the place previously held by religion. Amazon.com is the new temple."

Comer had more for me to consider but those 2 sentences gave me food for thought as I took my walk................and turned the corner to see not 1 but 2 Amazon Prime deliveries being made on the street. Hmmm-mmmm!

WAITING.....WAITING....WAITING.........

Waiting is not Easy!  (Click to share with a young child.)

Sometimes a children's picture book can simply say it well. 

Many Mo Willems books resonate with me whether Elephant and Piggie, Pigeon or Knuffle Bunny books. Knuffle Bunny was such a favorite, that going "boneless" became a shared word in our household. If you've ever had an obstinate grandchild go boneless on you, you get the picture.

During this pandemic season, I have found myself waiting for my life to return to normal. I am now realizing that I need to learn to embrace these moments as normal. Day in and day out, I must celebrate each day as God guides.....even if I "feel" like I'm going nowhere.

I just need to "wait" for the Lord. As it reminds me in Psalms 27:14, I just need to be strong and take heart as I seek His direction. I've been losing heart lately & growing weary (Galatians 6:9) instead of considering Him. (Hebrews 12:3) I need to keep hoping for what I do not see instead. (Romans 8:25)

I need to celebrate life as it is as I wait.

4th OF JULY

Independence! (Allen Bible Church, RightNow Media)

I needed this reminder, today. How about you?

He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)

P.A.U.S.E.

This entry has been in process since July 1. That was just 2 days ago and I'm still trying to untangle all the sudden changes that have brought planning to a screeching halt.

I noticed in yesterday's journal entry that "pause" was ending as "my word" and I was picking up seek as my focus. What had I learned during my "pause" time of reflection?

I added a Practice Thy Presence ("PTP") addendum....... Practice the Pause to enhance Practicing Thy Presence---at least it does for me.

Angry---PAUSE!

In doubt---PAUSE!

Tired---PAUSE!

Stressed---PAUSE!

When you pause---PRAY!!!

Put

Aside

Unnecessary

Stuff

Everyday

Unraveling requires lots of "pause" time to ponder!

CAPTIVI-TEA

A cuppa captivi-TEA is often needed to calm one's soul---or at least one's anxious thoughts.

Topsy-Turvy times call for a cuppa to soothe.....and to take captive those overwhelming thoughts of fear, and questioning thoughts of why?
Thoughts are just words in our heads. 

Proverbs 25:11-13 reminds that words fitly spoken are worthy---valuable to an obedient ear and refreshing to the soul. 

Encouraging thoughts give birth to encouraging words. Maybe the truth of that counts even when one is talking to herself. I know it counts when I'm talking to God.

Pouring over Gods word in Psalm 62, I'm reminded that when I pray I pour out my heart to God. His thoughts become my thoughts.

Tea is to be sipped but these days I seem to need to pour out a big cup and take a BIG gulp of captive-TEA, sweetened with acceptance......to soothe both my soul and my anxious thoughts. 

50 YEARS AGO TODAY

Time has moved so-so-soooo quickly, it almost qualifies for a time warp in my mind. 

It seems like just yesterday when I awakened Larry in the wee hours because my water had broken. He was so befuddled he slipped his billfold in his undies before he slipped on his pants. We quickly headed down Union Avenue toward Baptist Memorial in downtown Memphis as the sun was just coming up---3 weeks ahead of my scheduled due date!

Our first child. Our first son---though gender was not identified until 12:26pm. A beginning of the blessings of motherhood.

Today our Buddy is 50 & I continue to pray from Proverbs 22 for him---praising the Lord for many answers to those prayers!

50 years of blessings began 6/22/1970. How grateful I am!

AROMATIC MEMORIES

9 years ago today Daddy died. I feel sad all over! I still miss this gentle giant in my life.

A punctual man. His kids could pretty much set their watches by him.

Early to rise with his 1/2 grapefruit for breakfast to always be on time at Hopkinsville Livestock Company on 1st street. Sick day was not a term in his vocabulary.

Daddy always worked. In earlier years he workd in Clarksville on Wednesday & Russellville on Sat.

His Post Office run would be followed M, T, R, & F by lunch at Roundies, with jello as his dessert. 

As I said in a 2018 blog entry: Remembering Daddy........

His character is etched on my heart. My hope is that the next generations, his grandchildren  and "great grands" will consider the character of their Grandaddy Brud and emulate it as they remember him.

Of course, the greatgrands will ony remember as they have been told be cause the few who were born before he died were youngsters. 

It's important to tell those of next generations of the goodness of the Lord as we share the memories and stories of ones in our family who followed Him. (PSALM 78:4)