FOREVER..... FRIENDS!

Yesterday's post said "nothing is forever"........ but, there is eternity for sisters in the faith!

Sometimes God in His love and mercy allows them to see each other this side of eternity. 

When we couldn't get to Ukraine in 2022, God brought Ukraine to us! 

a sweet friendship refreshes the soul. (Proverbs 27:9) *

Hallelujah! God be praised!!

*Sweet Friendships refresh the soul and awaken our hearts with joy, for good friends are like the anointing oil that yields the fragrant incense of God's presence. (Proverbs 27:9, TPT) 

TPT is, the new to me, The Passion Translation. I have included it in the Dancing Script font, a choice which my Ukrainian friends will understand.

FOREVER!

Forever---always, continually, everlasting, interminable, perpetual, on-going...for all time.

Those synonyms for forever are not relatable this side of heaven. Even death and taxes go away after we pass on.....except for believers. We may leave the taxes behind but we enter everlasting life. 

I thought of this when I went out this morning to cut magnolias for my "master gardener" neighbor and one to bring in to grace our kitchen table. They had been beautiful yesterday. 

Today....not so much! they were already beginning to fade and that's putting it mildly.

The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God shall stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8)

God's Word---forever, Forever, FOREVER, FOREVER!!!

A ROYAL REIGN!

Royal Reign. An appropriate BBC title. 

 

Across the ocean it's a weekend of celebration as Queen Elizabeth II is honored with her Platinum Jubilee.

70 years---quite a milestone. Quite an airshow! 

As the royal pomp continues from concerts and street parties, I'm grateful that a service at  St. Paul's was part of the schedule. Part of the reason the monarch has "prospered" has been seen by many as her commitment to her faith. She has emphasized family values of spiritual and moral ideas. 

For me, this has been especially true in her Christmas messages. Most times those pre-recorded televised messages which I saw focused on family both hers personally and the family of man who could respond to the needs of the "lonely, the sick and the elderly"---often children were mentioned and in 1989 she spoke to children at the end of the message. Hope and peace permeated her messages and Christians throughout the world could  recognize Jesus the one who is our Hope and our Peace. At the start of the new millennium, she reflected on the role of faith in communities & 2001 spoke of the importance of faith when drawing strength in troubled  times & comfort she received from her faith during a year of personal loss of her mother (Queen Mother) and sister, Princess Margaret. In 2002 she spoke of reliance during times of loss of "message of hope"  in the Christian gospel. In '04 she sent a separate radio Christmas message to UK troops. More and more through the years she became more personal and more focused on her faith, including references to Jesus' birth, (2007) and leading charitable lives in service to others. In 20015 she encouraged all to find hope in "moments of darkness" and quoted the Gospel of John saying 'light shines in darkness and the darkness has not overcome it' and encouraged all to be thankful....as she promised servant during the Pandemic as she evoked the parable of the Good Samaritan.

Her reign has become more royal through the years as she's recognized her spiritual lineage as a daughter of the true King!

As children of the One True King, we have our own royal reign---just without the all the trappings!

RESILIENCE

Resilience might seem an odd word choice for a Memorial Day meditation.

God has reminded us in His word that there will be tough times in our lives......

times when we'll need to keep our mindset on Christ. (James 1: 2, 12) 

Times when resilience and steadfastness are needed. 

Oxford On-line Dictionary defines resilience as the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties: toughness. It's a word often describing survivors of 9/11 Twin Towers terrorist attack and veterans of wars returning home.

Times when resilient Christians must look past their troubles and keep their mind on Him

Times of war.

Such times are happening in Ukraine even as I type. 

I know because I received an email this morning showing pictures of new devastation in Severondonetsk. Destruction by ongoing artillery from the skies to street battles leaving stench of bodies on the ground. 

But God.....will always be there with us. (Joshua 1:9)

Resilient believers never stop trusting in God. But it helps when other believers come alongside with prayers and resources to help in such battles. A fellowship of people on the same side of the struggle though not physically in the same location.

Resilience shared is resilience at its best. (Dotsy, 5/27/22)

FILLED WITH INERTIA!

Inertia is one of the few science principles I recall from the classroom. 

Early on, Captain Wood taught me that inertia is the property of matter at rest to remain at rest until acted on by an outside force. (my definition from memory) 

These past days, the onset of my COVID has shown me that sometimes we need more than an outward force to get us moving. 

Not feeling of shame from others, who can pull up by their bootstraps. Not my own self-will. Not even words & suggestions from friends. (though  much appreciated) Nothing outward has seemed to work.

So....I have remained at rest. More like zonked. 

For me, my physical lagging, lack of zeal (Romans 12:11) has required an inside action. 

It has been a result of being "alive with Christ." Through His strength and the prayers of many in the household of faith.

I have at least had hope that soon things would change, not by my strength or who I am, but because of His strength and who He is! 

But God......in His love and mercy made me "alive with Christ." (Ephesians 4:4)

Originally this entry was written May 15. Hmmm,,,,,,obviously inertia kept me from clicking on 

ROOTED IN TRUTH!

Last night's performance of "Rooted in Truth" was amazing! A perfect prelim for today........

.......National Day of Prayer.

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:6-7, NKJV) 

Sister Natalie (left) & brother Martin congratulate sister Miriam after her performance. How fitting it was that she was part of the "sign language" troupe as that is the way she communicates with her brother.

I am full of gratitude this morning for being a small part of this precious family's life.They help keep me grounded/rooted.

WONDERFUL WORDS!

What a germane topic for "Wordsmith Wednesday"---Wonderful Words!

There's nothing quite like waking up to just the words one needs to hear!

So grateful to friend, Doris, who shares insights from a wordsmith friend of hers. Scottie. His sporadic  devotionals always seem spot on! This one builds with comparatives and turns us to Jesus, our portion, our peace, and our passion. 

We women know---if we compare, we despair. 

What a peaceful way to begin our day. So-o-o-o calming. 

Who doesn't need "calming" words these days! 

Before I could even finish this blog entry, a text from my dear Ukrainian friends shared that they are hearing bombing in their city today for the first time. They who have been feeding and sheltering hundreds of people daily since this horrific war began, as well as risking their own lives to transport the most vulnerable out of the war torn east to the borders, are now under attack. 

Help them, Lord. Be their strength, portion, peace and the lifter up of their heads

May all who read this lift prayers of comfort and safety on their behalf.

SILVER CELEBRATION!

The "Silver Fox"...................

.....celebrates his silver birthday or 3x 25!

DECLARATIVE SIGNAGE

Declarative signage makes a declarative statement.

Lord give us all eyes to see "signs" which you have allowed to cross our paths!

I wonder if the car passing on the left of the Big M truck had eyes to see. Gospel message in a nutshell!

Each day we make choices----the narrow path where Jesus leads to discipleship and service .....or the wide path of pleasure and money which can easily lead to self-serving sin! This transport company/driver shared this truth visually. Hooray!

How about you? Do you live out gospel truth for others to see in your life? 

Our lives can be "declarative signage" for all to see as we make right choices.

Hmmm......maybe that becomes an imperative!

SNOWBALLS EVERYWHERE

Snowballs everywhere! Bushes, that is! It's 70º after all. 

My snowball (viburnums) bushes have a rich heritage and a circuitous journey.

They originally were propagated between family home places in Kentucky & Tennessee and back again---same Hooper/Davenport family generations just at different locations.

From this one plant have come snowball bushes at homes of extended family or friends in Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee (4 towns) and Texas. A gift that keeps on giving.

Now I'll need to bring home some bluebonnets from Texas and see how they will bloom in Memphis....

......as part of a new floral family heritage tale. 

"Winter is past: ...........the flowers appear on the earth. (Song of Solomon 2: 11-12)

4/26 Morning text shared picture of this Batesville MS "heritage" snowball bush. How appropriate is the cross-shape as she is one of my ever faithful prayer warriors!

4/27 Morning text from Ellen in Walnut Grove/ St. Mary's area blessed me with another beautiful thriving "heritage" snowball bush photo.

4/27 PM text from "Alabama Ashlee" (before I even posted am one) thrilled my heart!

Both Mother and Mama Davenport are smiling down from heaven seeing their Hooper/Davenport/Adams/ Liles snowball bushes are continuing to spread joy!

4/28 Oh my, I received another snowball pic.... a Germantown "heritage" snowball that is showing signs of a cross formation! S & T must be using spiritual fertilizer.

4/29 This Texas snowball bush even comes with it's own Rhodesian Ridgeback guard dog, Zeke. The owner is our older son, who is the great, great, great grandson of the original planter.

Addendum--2 years later in Apri 2024, after dying way back in 2023, this heritage snowball bush resurrected itself on Pleasant Run in Allen, TX. WooHoo!

Is this a "Battle of the Bushes"? 

In no way....this is a celebrations of Pa Hooper my great, great, grandfather on Mother's side born in the late 1800s in Hampton Station, KY. His daughter, my "Mama Davenport" was my spiritual mentor!