SHOPPING PARTY TODAY!!!

10/6/12 TODAY....from 10-6p at Impulse Boutique in Collierville (by Huey's at Poplar & Houston Levee).
The Kyle Kiihnl Foundation will receive a portion of the profits, so....
SHOP, SHOP, SHOP!! Thank you, Impulse Boutique!
Remember,
Don't Drive Drowsy ~Just Pull Over~

BIRTH OF A BOOK

10/4/12 It’s Here!!!! My box from Books-a-Million was waiting for me when I came home last night. Michèle Phoenix’s long awaited novel, Tangled Ashes has been published by Tyndale. Having read an unedited version, I can tell you ---it is a must for your bookshelves!! 

This is my own review.....Michèle Phoenix weaves present day human drama in with WWII history. Architect/craftsman Becker arrives in the French village of Lamorlaye to begin restoration on a castle with a shadowy past while dealing with his own past. As always her characters resonate as they try to transcend their own flaws and weaknesses. The author gives insight into the Nazi occupation of France with it's hospital for the Fuhrer as an integral part of the story that lays the groundwork for a surprise conclusion. This book grabbed me at the beginning and held me til the end. Well-written....a worthy read!! 

Just check out this concise synopsis given by Michèle herself on YouTube. 

A MUST SEE of only 1 ½ minutes.

Can order with chance of a free book by clicking  link.

accorDANCE---same word different verse

10/3/12

Studying in the book of James, I sense the Lord is trying to teach me some new steps----those in complete accordance with His word. The accorDANCE is a dance of unity and harmony, as long as God is doing all the leading---which is always in accordance with His law.

Though it helps to have others come alongside, those also desiring to walk according to His good and perfect will, these steps take practice.  Private lessons. Then accorDANCE steps, once learned, can be shared as a way of encouragement, even testifying to God’s faithfulness in one’s missteps along the way!

This “dance” seems to have many facets and I ‘m sure I’ll be “learning” new steps as I go. 2 Kings 16-18 has provided much for deeper consideration. But God….today has me focusing on His love.

 Hear my voice in accorDANCE with your love;…..(Psalm 119:149)

 In accorDANCE with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now. (Numbers 14:9)

Hear my voice. Forgive my sin. Those are the first two steps of accorDANCE!

We would do well to remember that as we are led in the accorDANCE by Him who is our great love.

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES CONTINUE---Don't lose me. Keep checking back.

10/2/12 Don't give up on me---will try tomorrow to "find" blogger help.
Today at the Apple Store, the tech guy was unable to help because both my iPad and AirMac opened all blog entries and info, as did 2 of the store computers----all pictures and all Seeing God's Hand entries. He did mention that blogger had made changes and so problems could have resulted from the recent update---sound familiar. It's the upgrade nightmare we all experience at one time or other.

Might work at computer store----- but, people in different states and even other countries have said that for over a week it doesn't work for them. Only titles of entries appear----& they're unable to get all info. No way to connect for older posts either.

Hope to ask a computer teaching friend to help me tomorrow and then, armed with that info, I'll try to email for blogger help.
 Aggie in France said, "I don't want to lose you." Well, I certainly appreciate her encouraging words because I don't want to lose my readers either.

Please let me know if you are having difficulties as well----since more and more folks seem to be able to pick up Oct. entries, though Sept. ones have disappeared except for those titles, and I can use that info to try to "show" accurately the pockets of problems.
Some people seem to be having no problems but those with problems are increasing exponentially.

INTEGRITY: A MEDITATION OF QUESTIONS

10/1/12 Yesterday’s blog picture of a child’s word sculpture, ”Have integrity”, had me musing that phrase. What does having integrity look life in one’s life?

Then, this morning’s Commercial Appeal quote on the business page caught my eye. The way to live with honor is to be in reality what you appear to be. (Socrates, 5^th century B.C.)

Noted Christian author Chuck Colson, had much the same thought. “We must be the same person in private and in public. Only the Christian worldview gives us the basis for this kind of integrity.”  

Indeed, God’s word has much to say about integrity but one verse that gives credence to these aforementioned thoughts is from Psalms. 

I will walk within my house in the integrity of my heart. (Psalm 101:2)

That’s the meaning embedded in both the Socrates and Coulson quotes---where no one else sees, a person of integrity will still choose complete honesty. Ask yourself these questions to see how you fare along those lines of integrity. In the privacy of my own home……. What am I watching? Am I setting worthless things before my eyes? What am I reading? How am I using the computer? What tone of voice do I use with those who are closest to me? Is it different from the voice I use with my church friends?

Those answers will reflect your “true” walk of integrity.

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: ARTS IN MEMPHIS

9/30/12 An Artsy Ending To The Month.
From theater in Germantown to Hattieloo in the  Park, statues along a gallery walkway, Symphony in the Gardens (sort of), and school childrens’ word sculptures beneath a flagpole, it’s been a great week for exploring the “arts” in Memphis.

Garden walkway at Dixon Gallery and Gardens

Steel Magnolias at GCT with my T-Cups friends

Hattieloo in the Park---I do so-o-o LOVE Hattieloo, as everyone knows.

My blonde haired grandson loves Hattieloo as well, "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown"

"Have Integrity"---by a young Idlewild Elementary sculptor

Rain didn't dampen the spirits of Memphis Symphony Orchestra's Big Band---we just had to move inside to hear Scott Moore lead the musicians in "Begin the Beguine" and a new rendition of "Rhapsody in Blue"---my parents would have been dancing in the aisles, especially since Scott played the trumpet at our daughter's wedding.

GROWing??

9/29/12 Today’s question is about growth.

How’s your spiritual growth? How does one measure his/her spiritual growth?

Monday’s (9/24) meditation verses (Colossians 1:9-14) give much fodder for querying.

I began in verse 10 asking hard questions? I know what the answers should be, but God….knows the truth.

Ask yourself these spiritual growth indicators, as I did. 

• “Is my walk worthy of the Lord?” 
• Am I pleasing Him? 
• Am I increasing in the knowledge of God?

If the answer to the last one is not a yes, then, according to the pithy punches of Pastor Cole, you might end up too trendy or too rigid and thus end up walking in spiritual circles.

If one doesn’t increase in the knowledge of God he becomes like a ½ baked spiritual casserole. (Huffman, 9/2/12) Not too appetizing is it?

May that thought and the thought of walking in spiritual circles drive each of us to spend more time with Him and in His word so that “growth” might occur.

Street Corner Reflections

9/26/12

What I saw with my eyes…..

Corner of Grove Park and Poplar---a youngish woman dressed in colorful attire with a turban-type wrapped head piece---- scratching her entire body almost spasmodically and certainly inappropriately, even pulling up her shirt and scratching under her arms……as she opened her car door in the CUMC parking lot, I saw that it was her “house”---homeless

Corner of Mendenhall and Poplar---a bearded man in blue shirt & clean jeans, cinched at waist to keep them up---directing an orchestra, only he could see----often switching to guitar strumming or keyboarding, though no instruments were visible, just his movements----mental instability

Corner of Shady Grove and Yates---2 well dressed gentlemen in dark suits wearing yamakas, the Jewish skullcaps, accompanying a lady who was wearing a white doily type head covering similar to ones I saw Catholic women wearing bobby pinned to their coifed hair when going to mass at St. Peter & Paul’s in Hoptown---orthodox Jews on the way to Shul for Yom Kippur services

Seeing the first 2, I felt fearful. Seeing the Jewish trio I felt no fear. I, who thought I had no “real” prejudice, was clearly shown that sin in my life.

Have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? (James 2:4)

 What God saw with His heart………mankind, His creation---in need of a Savior.

I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation, the one who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. (Acts 10:34-35)

Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that He promised to those who love Him? (James 2:5)

What I now see………………All people are in need of God…………..as well as people who reflect His love to them. May that be my reflection.

“Dancing” in my head…………

 

9/25/12 Preparing to speak to “He Cares” (homebound group) at my church on Thursday has kept thoughts “dancing” in my head all week. 

I assume there is a new “dance” coming---or maybe new steps for an old dance, or maybe just light, easy tripping movements.

Or.....just maybe I'm to encourage others to open their hearts to the love of the Lord so that each one can hear His unique song. A song for his/her soul. A song for his/her own life. A song leading to worship of His holy name in a new way---maybe tapping their toes or fingers in a new dance for themselves. 

 “Raz, dva, tri.” Let the dance begin! 

Meditation Practice w/o dangling participles

9/24/12 Monday blogs are normally somewhat easy to write because I usually start the week with selected scripture. Scripture for meditation. Then, I just share it. Today---not so easy. I felt like Miss Rosa Nourse, 7^th grade teacher at Virginia Street School in Hopkinsville, KY, was looking over my shoulder. She was a stickler for correct grammar. The improper usage of the predicate nominative pronoun I and dangling participles were two usage problems that she attempted to pound into our heads. The nominative gaffe caused me to shudder recently when during a prayer, the participant requested prayer for “my wife and I”----Miss Rosa would NOT have been pleased. I, on the other hand, felt bad that I even noticed it because the request was so heartfelt.

As for the participles (all those words ending in  “ing”)….. this week’s meditation includes several participial phrases. I’m fearful that I won’t set them off with commas or that any paraphrasing and explaining I do, might not relate back to the subject. Hm-m-m, even “relate back” sounds like a redundancy. But oh-h-h the fear of a dangling modifier that would dishonor Miss Rosa’s teaching.

But God….is the One who inspired all scripture so unless the chosen translation messes up, then it will be correct in the way it speaks to one’s heart. In meditation, that’s what counts. Chew on all 5 of the participial phrases listed in this prayer and see if you don’t agree. Pray it for yourself and others.

Because of this, since the day we heard about you, we haven’t stopped praying for you and asking for you to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, with all wisdom and spiritual understanding. We’re praying this so that you can live lives that are worthy of the Lord and pleasing to him in every way: by producing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God; by being strengthened through his glorious might so that you endure everything and have patience; and by giving thanks with joy to the Father. He made it so you could take part in the inheritance, in light granted to God’s holy people. (Colossians 1:9-12)

Praying it for my family, I experienced great joy----with or without the dangling participles. I was too caught up in my prayer time to even notice.