A Fun Filled Fourth

7/4/13The Brooklyn Liles started the day with a swim at the shore and a parade. The Memphis Liles/Kennedy clan continued the day with lunch and beyond. Now I just need the Texans to send a picture.

Thanks Soozee for the pic

Owen and his neighbors Hailey and Lizzie.

Friendly Farewell

7/2/13

How does a group say good-by to a leader? To one who has been such an inspiration and mentor? Whose life is a “living out” of the truths she believes? Betty Ferrell, a faithful leader of our small “Prayer for Revival” group is such a woman. Beginning a new season as a widow has Betty moving to North Carolina to be near family. It’s bittersweet.  

Excited for all that is ahead for her, we talk, laugh, reminisce and hug because she will be sorely missed. Yet, we don’t really say farewell to such a friend. It’s sort of a substitute for farewell---more of an au revoir---implying hopes of seeing again. 

Besides she’s taking all of our prayers right along with her. That’s what prayerful friends do; they send you off with prayerful farewells. 

Thought Provoking

7/1/13 Thought provoking---that's what words are. Only man has the language of words. Words used in conversation must be delivered carefully. Even more care must be taken with the written word. Written words can take on a life of their own as we have seen recently in the news of exposed tweets and leaked emails. 

Words, spoken or written, have tremendous power. Words are not the problem---the problem comes from the one who speaks them or the one holds the pen that writes or the keyboard that types them.

Words can slander, shame, destroy and shatter. But God .....shows us that Words can also edify, comfort, and give hope.

When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise. (Proverbs10:19)

Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. (Proverbs 15:4, NLT)

Words can bring death or life! (Proverbs 18:21) My marginalia--"Talk too much and you will end up eating everything you say."

Words wield power. 

Mama Davenport's Bible. I have never known anyone more godly than my grandmother, Mama. This soft spoken woman had  a vast vocabulary that only included words of kindness and encouragement. His Word greatly influenced her words.

Today on Meditation Monday, use God's Word to provoke thoughts about the implications of word choices.

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: Around the neighborhood

6/30/13 Sometimes beauty is right before your eyes. It's like "seeing God's hand." It's there all the time; one just has to notice. Beauty of friends & family helping with grandson supervising, children laughing & playing and yummy s'mores when temps drop.

Dance, anyone?

6/29/13 As a mom, as a grandmom (aka Shug) as a teacher, my desire has been, and continues to be, to live a spirit-filled life. Not just that those whom I nurture or come in contact with at church, at work or thru my blog hear my words and see my, hopefully worthy "walk," BUT also are encouraged to "follow suit." To pursue a life filled with the vitali-TEA of Christ. To not just walk but to "dance!"

To dance with the "Lord of the Dance."

I keep calling out because I want everyone to "join the dance." "My" Ukraine ladies dance. Thru them the ladies in India are dancing. I want Memphis to dance.

But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, "We played the flute for you, and you did not dance..." (Matthew 11:16-17) 

Our lives matter. Our days matter. Won't you join me in the dance? 

"Pouring Out ......

6/28/13 What is a life of simplicity? To the Christian, it boils down to "simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ." (2 Corinthians 11:3) How does one "share" that life with others?
For over a month, I scripturally explored such a life in order to "pour out" into the lives of others. Pouring out those truths which the Lord had shown me.  Though the group represented only 

1½ generation span, my desire for each was similar to Paul's for all God's holy people "......you will shine among them like stars in the sky."(Philippians 2:15)

My prayer for the group is "that their life is "played out" before the world-----fully lived and Spirit-filled." Then, others might see folks who love the Lord more, and love others better while blessing Him and benefitting others through God inspired service.

Pouring out a full-bodied pure assam leaf tea from the Brahmaputra Valley of India to promote the  rich,  refreshing  enjoyment of a cuppa and the practice of hospitali-TEA! 

 Service is the "pouring out" (practical application) of one's life to profit others. It flows from the heart.

Simplici-TEASession #4 practicali-TEA w/ generosi-TEA & hospitali-TEA Notes
Fosters's Outward Expressions of Simplicity Notes

WACKY WEDNESDAY

6/26/13 Wacky Wednesday.....it's that time of summer when we head to the art gallery to learn about artists and create our own art that is "similar" to that of the "masters." "My" Molly does a great job co-ordinating the activities for the kids. So.....Shug and Pop-Pop, both like to go to WW with 6 yr. old Owen. Our big day ended w/ everyone going to Theater Memphis for "Singing in the Rain"---a MUST SEE!!! Shug & Pop-Pop went with friends and Molly & Owen had a mommy-son date night.

WACKY WEDNESDAYS----DON"T MISS---FREE ADMISSION --10-12

Aspiring artists see movies & create Claude Monet flowers as they learn about the artist.

This month's activities are co-ordinated with the Carroll Cloar exhibit.

Snaggle-tooth mails his picture postcard at the Carroll Cloar  interactive gallery for kids.

Play with color and light--- important aspects of art 

Art books provided--more inspiration. Owen's fave was Magritte's Marvelous Hat  with 

transparent pages adding another level of surrealism.

Mommy & son "date night" at Theater Memphis. 

GREAT FINALE for a Wacky Wednesday full of "the arts."

Owen "meets" Lydia Hart, the STAR of the show and a friend of his mommy.

Ah-h-h, that we all should have more Wacky Wednesday's in our lives. They're there. Glorious things are hidden in the ordinary days. The more we celebrate those, the more extraordinary they become.
As the Belgium artist, Rene Magritte (1898-1967) said, "Everything we see hides another thing, we always want to see what is hidden by what we see."
I say, "Celebrate the ordinary! When we celebrate the ordinary, the extraordinary becomes visible."

Emergency Meditation

6/24/13 Cling to God's Hand. Hold His hand that you might not stumble or fall headlong. But God is the One who holds your hand. (Psalm 34:23-24)

Therefore when phone calls interrupt one's "peace" he/she can remember the One who is actually doing the holding......

My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken. (Psalm 62:5-6)

.....even sitting in the emergency room waiting on tests for "my" Molly.

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: Michèle!!!!!!!!!!

6/23/13 Michèle!!!!!!!!!! THAT'S 10 EXCITEMENTS! (Owen's perfect definition of exclamation points.)
Michèle Phoenix, with whom I share not only the 1 John 1:3 type of believer's fellowship but also the 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 fellowship which is shared by sisters in the faith on the same side of the struggle. Her MAC cancer journey began a year ahead of mine. She lived in Germany at the time, but God....brought us together using daughter Molly's relentless searching on the internet. Michèle even involved her choral students from Black Forest Academy----who "sang" from afar, songs of encouragement to me. We have sent met stateside 4 times and now that her ministry to MKs (missionary kids) has her living in Wheaton, IL I hope He blesses us with lots more meetings.

"Scar to Scar" celebration at Charlie Gitto's "on the hill" in St. Louis with Michèle Phoenix and her mom.

This weekend we met in St. Louis to encourage her as her book "Tangled Ashes," a great novel with a little mystery intertwined, is in the top three finalist for the ICRS (International Christian Retailers Show) "Christy" award. Being a finalist is BIG and I hope she wins----but regardless,  Michèle is the WINNER in my book as she has continued to live out 2 Corinthians 1: 3-7 for me.

St. Louis pix for Michèle & Sally.

Saturday Conviction

6/22/13 Saturday Conviction came in the form of a question seen in a store window in St. Charles.

Cute cobblestone town---the question, not so cute?

"Have you prayed about it as much as you have talked about it?

Convicting is a better question descriptor on this Saturday in Missouri.