A "GRANDS" Day

Pancakes! Pancakes!, from the childhood library of Buddy Liles, according to the bookplate, had been read to 4 or the 6 "grands" last night to prepare them for their "squiggle pancake" morning---a fun way to start a day with kids---at least our kids liked it when they were young.

Andrew finishes flipping his "A" pancake!

Breakfast was followed by John Parker's baseball game, followed by a quick lunch and a drive into Dallas.
Fourth grader Caleb,  joined his football team, the "Texans" to play in the SMU "mustangs" stadium. What a "big league" setting for those youngsters.

3 hits for John Parker!

Caleb---#13 on the 50yrd. line bottom right

Traffic slowed the return trip home.....but we made it for the 6-8 pm "Neighborhood Night Out" with food trucks, games and a fishing rodeo. Whe-e-e-e!!

 YUM Sliders! Worth waiting in line for---so were the beignets at a different truck.

No winners from our family but that didn't dampen the spirit.

A beautiful ending to a tiring, glorious day.

Proverbs 17:6  “Children’s children are a crown to the aged,..." is a true proverb, but how grateful we were for our "adult children" who drove us around today.

ANSWERED PRAYER!

What a privilege to be a part of God's answer to an 8 yr. old's fervent, consistent prayers. Prayers that "time would fly by" so that he could see his Texas cousins. Thanksgiving plans have been made since August but that's a l-o-n-g time away for a youngster.

Sitting in my prayer chair Saturday morning, I could hear rumblings from upstairs where daughter, her hubby & 2nd grade son, Owen, are residing until their "new" to them house is ready for their family to occupy. 

"Mommy," said Owen. " I was just thanking God that "time is flying by" for me to get to see my cousins" at Thanksgiving. (1 Thessalonians  5:18)

Then he paused and I had to struggle to hear over water running. 

Owen continued, "I have an idea. If you pray with me then "time will fly by" twice as fast.

Unbeknownst to Owen, a Fall Break trip to Texas has been planned for us for weeks, and Owen is going to go too! We will pick him up from school today and "announce" our travel plans! His mom is so excited to see his reaction that she will be there as well to "video" his reaction. Of course she will. She's a photographer who is all about "family moments" and she so-o-o wants to capture this one.

Photo of Owen as he heads to Texas, after the big reveal with help from cousin Noah's phone call. 

I'm so happy I feel like I could "explode hearts all over the place."

How precious for me to eavesdrop on his precious prayer----knowing God had answered it months ago. What a privilege to be a part of an answered prayer.

Preceding Phrases take Precedence

Word order is important,  especially in Scripture. 

In my recent Fervent blog entry, I typed from memory Romans 12:12. I know that verse. I use it often in prayer for others. So........why did I transpose the phrases???

Was I so emotionally caught up in the affliction of my friend that my emotions superseded understanding! Feelings can so easily do that to me----often robbing me of my joy.

Yesterday morning I "saw" it.

"Joyful in hope" precedes patient in affliction. Hope MUST have it's rightful place in order for true patience to be available. In the Pauline epistles, the apostle Paul often writes "Grace and Peace to you from God our Father (Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 1:2, Philippians 1:2, Colossians 1:2) Grace precedes peace.
Grace always comes first! It has........to because without God's grace there is no true peace.

Preceding Phrases take Precedence----priority in importance or order.

Order for a reason---clarity from the Lord about what comes first!

Warmth Provided

Nothing like a cuppa PG Tipps, in a Sedona mug, no less, and Jan Karon's latest book to knock the chill off a cool October morn. A glorious morn. 
With book in hand, it was like going home to "heartwarming" Mitford with Father Tim & Cynthia and Dooley& Lacey all there----that was just on the first 65 pages. And a new name has me wondering, "who is Jack Tyler?"

Just opening Come Rain or Come Shine had a Ray Charles tune playing in my head.

"I'm gonna love you like nobody's loved you, come rain or come shine" used to blare forth from the HiFi at 2211 So. Virginia St.

It also had me remembering Mama Davenport throwing her little head back and having her short frame stand tall as she said, "We will get these flowers picked TODAY for Mrs. ? (a sick neighbor) come rain or come shine.

In other areas of life, that "come rain or come shine" idiom seems to speak to folks needing a little "secure" encouragement. 

No matter the weather, rain or shine---in any of life's situations, I'm there for you. 

".....for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Those words provide warmth for the hearer. 

Grace for the Cure

This morning's paper was pin! I love it when the world recognizes the need for a cure for cancer, especially breast cancer.

Race for the Cure is what man is doing to meet the financial needs for research in that endeavor.

As I read the ad, the script R, glanced in part, looked like a G to me. 

Grace for the Cure---what an eyeopener.

While man "races" for the cure, God provides grace for the journey.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness...."

 (2 Corinthians 12:9)

God's grace and power---so needed to those walking and even stumbling in this hard place today, while waiting for their own "cure" protocol.

"The Wait"

I'm typing as I sit in the "gowned waiting area" at the Methodist Hospital Breast Center. Trust me, gown is a loose term---real loose! Though one lady across from me seems to have on a deluxe model which actually has some oomph in the fabric and it actually covers her torso.

It's the waiting that is hard. My turn next.

Just a week ago I was at a different doctor for a biopsy and then came the real wait. Waiting for test results. Two days later a  "good" report was given. Today a different scenario but same need for waiting.

3D  screening complete. Doc will review. Please return to the waiting area. 

Just a month ago, my dear friend was in this place and a "wait" ensued after diagnosis of "biopsy needed" was given. Results showed cancer. More waiting as an MRI was ordered. Results showed more cancer on a different side. More waiting. Surgery needed. Doctors needed to coordinate their schedules. More waiting. Surgery schedule for 3 weeks later---therein was the real waiting. Surgery seemed successful with post-op positive indicators....BUT.....more waiting  needed for the official results.  

So what does one do while she waits. Pray. That's the easy answer, yet it's hard to do when one is right in the midst of the wait.  A wait filled with concern. A perfect time for intercessory prayer.

"Mrs. Liles." Diagnostic needed. Enter darkened room for further pictures.....two places on the left breast.  A least the "goop" is warm. 

Four years ago I had observed women in this situation in a  Waiting Room Angst blog entry.
As I wait in this dark place, it helped to go back and read it.

Ultrasound complete. Please wait in here until the doctor can review.

Renee returns. It's okay. Pretty sure it's a benign cyst.
You may go now....We'll just WAIT and watch.

Breakaway

Will post as soon as I can breakaway from the "tyranny of the urgent!"

10/3/15
Obviously the "tyranny of the urgent" never loosened its grip. Those said urgencies, great or small, have to be attended to----in this case, think family needs of the moment, (feeding, clothing, bathing, cleaning up vomit)

Distractions that need our attention taking us away from our intended goals. I was committed to getting this entry written in a timely manner. Now I don't even remember why I needed to breakaway.
I think I've done this before---or at least lost my original commitment to distraction. I know I did in September 27, 2014.

Maybe the month of September is more about urgencies getting in the way than breakaways occurring.

Tea With Thee aka PB&J

Thanks to Kristen T. for a *new perspective, encouraging me in searching Scripture (Acts:17:11) praying for me, praying with me and on Thursday serving me tea.

Times with the Lord for me are usually accompanied by a cup of tea. Location rarely varies. Times can vary. Accoutrements vary. (different tea blends, different Bible translations, different journal, different devotional books, different colored pens)

But.....Kristen *cuts to the chase with her simple PB & J. Sarah Young espouses the same simplicity, which she used when writing Jesus Calling.

P (pen) B (Bible) & J (journal) So simple. So palatable.

A daily P B & J----it's good for the soul. I'll take mine with a cup of tea, please. 

FERVENT

Fervency in one's prayer life is marked by great intensity, along with the ardor of a loving heart.
For me, nothing "ups" the fervency of prayer petitions like the needs of a loved one, especially when they are unable to pray for themselves. That's when Roman 12:12 returns to my prayer radar.

I pray that the suffering saint, undergoing a lengthy surgery, has the strength to be patient in the midst of intense pain with rehab to follow----a time of great affliction. Prayers that she and all of their family can count on the "hope within" to bring them joy.
I, and other prayer warriors, then can step up to the plate and fervently petition the God of the universe for mercy and the continuance of that goodness as He works out His plan on the loved one's behalf.

Be patient in affliction, joyful in hope, fervent in prayer. (Romans 12:12)

Fervent prayer! What a responsibility. What a privilege!

mIStake

BIG mIStake made by Sprite. The company now advertises with the "the world IS yours" quote.

But God's word says, "The earth's is the LORD'S and the fulness there of, the world and they that dwell therein. (Psalm 24:1)
Coca Cola's thinking is mISconstrued and a common mIStake in the world's thinking.