O HAPPY DAZE......

From Easter & two birthdays to Flat Stanley fun, Mother's Day & 2 pre-birthdays it's been a Kodak worthy family journey.

Daze from frolicking days with family is always worth it!

GLORIOUS PALM SUNDAY!!

Johann Sebastian Bach said it well. "Aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.

To that I say, "Amen!"

Today's Palm Sunday service at church, with orchestra, choir, readers and amazing vocalists (Ephie Johnson, Reagan Strange and Shekinah Toebbe) did just that!

The Lord was glorified and my soul was refreshed.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

SIGNAGE---THAT GAVE PAUSE

I didn't stop dead in my tracks as it wasn't sudden or fearful....

but I did pause to ponder the sign as men of the cloth scurried past.
Do we more often take the path of working toward financial gain than the path of living for heaven?

Wonder if the finance committee has a meeting?

It seems seems that lately I have done more pondering as I've been "thinking carefully" (as Webster defines pondering) about heaven. I recently attended 3 funerals within 8 days. Factor in a heart catheterization requiring a stent for hubby and two recent hospital visitations, with one pending, and you'll understand my concern for self as well as others. 

I've prayed for all and actually prayed in person with two. My heart desires a heavenly trajectory for each.

But God......in my morning reading from Randy Alcorn's book, Heaven, reminded me.....It is God who "set eternity in the hearts of men" (Ecclesiastes 3:11).....That's God's idea, not ours. (p. 114)

Salvation is God's work. (Psalm 3:8, 1 Timothy 2:4)

SANCTUARY FOR THE SOUL: LITERATURE & FLOWERS

Nothing quite speaks to my heart like the beauty of God's creation. (Psalm 104:24a)

Pair that with creativity used by man to display said blooms and place them in a church for all to view and one enters a sanctuary for her soul.

 Breakfast for the Bard

Lunch at Anne Hathaway's Cottage

Calla lilies as I've never seen them before.

Plus, a Knot Garden display greeted us as we entered and Tennessee Shakespeare Company provided vignettes of works of Shakespeare as we exited. 

I came away refreshed and humming "For the Beauty of the Earth."

GOSPEL MESSAGES!

Growing up in a small town, I often heard, "gospel truth" used figuratively and "nothing but the gospel truth" when used for emphasis. People weren't ashamed of the gospel. (Romans 1:16)

Some people live out the gospel.

Some people preach the gospel.

some people study the gospel.

Some people teach the gospel. 

Some people wear the gospel.

Last week on WKNO I saw the Temptations (all 5) "wearing the gospel."

Check out the "I ♡ Jesus" to right of lapel.

I love the Temptations toe-tapping Motown music and that's the gospel truth! Motown music has my all time favorite dance tunes. Hubby and I always dance to "Ain't True Proud to Beg" whenever the song plays---no matter where we are.  Just ask our kids. Even my cell # ends in 1966, the year "Ain't True Proud to Beg" was released by Motown Records. So.........imagine how excited I was to see them "wearing the gospel" on national TV.

The real undeniable. absolute, infallible gospel truth is the truth found in the well known verse,
John 3:16.
In 1 John 3:16 the gospel message includes living it out.

This is how we now what love is: Christ gave his life for us. We too, then, ought to give our lives for others! (Good News Translation)

A self-sacrificing gospel message for all believers to live out is, "give" to others. 

PAUSE IN PROCESS

Last September (2018), I considered "pause" as a being verb in my  s l o w i n g entry. 

I needed to progress in  my pausing process, which sounds oxymoronic, at best.
But.....pausing is a prerequisite for "restoration 101"!

So......in December I found a book, The Art of Rest, to read all about it and now I can't remember any profound truths I gleaned from the book---nor can I find the book. But,.....in January, I went ahead and chose "pause" as my 2019 word anyway.

I'm scribbling synonyms and antonyms on any surface (mainly journal, scratch paper and napkins)and i'm still struggling to hit the "pause" button......because my world never stops!

How grateful I am for my "beckoning Lord, who says "Come" (Matthew 11:28) and  my Shepherd who leads me beside still waters---those solitary places of quiet repose where I can pause and be refreshed as I allow Him to restore my soul. (Psalm 23:1-3)

NATIONAL NAP DAY!

Today is "National Nap Day"!

Who knew? I, and all the other consummate nappers in the nation, knew!

My friends often teased me that teaching kindergarten was my favorite assignment because 5 yr. olds have scheduled naptimes.

Baby Jack is enjoying nap time at the beach being lulled to sleep by the sounds of the ocean.

For all in our family, there is nothing quite like a "Big Water" nap.

If you don't have swooshing ocean waves to soothe you to sleep, meditate on these calming scriptures from God's word.

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe. (Psalm 4:8) 

God takes care of His own even while they sleep. (Psalm 127:2, CEV) 

When you lie down you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. (Proverbs 3:24)

Ah-h-h sweet sleep.....even in the middle of the day.

SOUL FOOD ---FOR 2

There is soul food and then there is soul food. Some is even served with a kiss on the head. 

Going to check out a new place as it is Memphis Black Restaurant Week. I just hope they have butter rolls as good as Peggy's and Madea's.

Regardless of the restaurant, if I go with friend, Nora, the conversations enhance the meal. We have a background to share. We have fellowship because of our Savior and we can "taste and see" the goodness of the Lord while we nosh on neckbones, pigs feet, turkey necks or smothered pork chops and turnip greens. Soul food for two---though I admit just tasting, right off Nora's plate, some of the less familiar ones.

TRUTH: A NEW YORK TIMES LIST

Sharing papers is a Longreen tradition---at least with my north and south neighbors. It's the way I have the Sunday "NYTimes Book Review" to peruse. It's worth the wait.

Today as I settled with my morning cuppa and the "Times," I discovered a "kid's section." Who knew! ("Tongue in cheek" Editors' note: This section is not to be read  by Grown-ups.") 

Apart from games, maps, hat making, instructions, recipes and writing contests the entire back page listed 19 "The truth is kids....."

Examples: ....kids don't let differences divide them; .....kids bring people together; kids appreciate a good story; .....kids can handle the truth.

As one who appreciates even numbers, I would have added----Kids must know truth in order to handle the truth accurately as #20! (2 Timothy 2:15)

The sum of God's Word is truth. (Psalm 119:160) It all adds up and would be a worthy addition to the NYTimes truth list.

FUNCTIONAL AGING (A.M.A.P.)

At our church, the LLL or Triple Ls are the ones whose class members would all check the last box on the age information-----above 65! Chronologically aging.

Functional aging is physical and out of our control. Attitudinal aging is a choice.

I'm wondering if checking that last box for some years now should have been an alliterative reminder for me---one who, too often, languishes in lethargy or lapse into anxiety.

Lethargy looms.  Lethargy lingers. Lethargy lessens.
Anxiety accelerates. Anxiety agitates. Anxiety adds angst.

Lethargy and anxiety are on opposite ends of a dysfunctional spectrum, but both are disturbances in a healthy relational life. Think sluggish vs wired!

Attitudinal lethargy and anxiety have their root in our thought life.
It's a mind battle. It's our "thoughts" which need positive intervention.
A.M.A.P. ---As Much As Possible.

I need A.M.A.P. of God's word in my thought life to be "transformed by the renewing of my mind." (Romans 12:2) I need to apply Philippians 4:8 as I capture thoughts at the entry level. and "think on these things."
True. Honest. Just. Pure. Lovely. Admirable.
Meditating on these truths will "please my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)

Functionally.....A relaxed (not sluggish) attitude lengthens a man’s life.  (Proverbs 14:30, TLB) and a cheerful heart is good medicine.  (Proverbs 17:22).....
......RX = daily dose ASAP of a cheerful heart. A.M.A.P.