I enjoyed a “PROJECT” yesterday – I do enjoy this new choice to pursue a decluttering sideline helping others – it ticks lots of mental boxes in my head – I feel productive – it is useful – it is interesting – it is needed for our level of stuffing stuff in lots of places…
My sorting paper was with a friend of a friend. I appreciated more than it was more than just “keeping busy”, I appreciated MAKING PROGRESS. This woman was a schoolteacher for years and she had tremendous amounts of great handouts and art projects and we sorted to give them to her friend for her children – they will get put to good use. We reminisced about some great books she also had, like “The old lady who swallowed a fly.” CLASSIC… I am thankful that I can sing that song after 50 years – still in my head…
Seeing the papers also made me feel blessed that I grew up learning in such an environment with wonderful teachers who used these types of tools… Sometimes stuff is just that but this was good stuff.
Separately, I heard of a family that had a fire yesterday – a neighbor of a friend – and wow that is our biggest fear – fire – losing our stuff. I pray them new stuff and that they get to repair some of their heartache at some point – and counting blessings that they are all OK. It is just stuff I know – and the family is fine – but how hurtful to lose stuff which is more than stuff – when it is the stuff of memories.
I am thankful for my stuff and thankful to hold onto it – but maybe a little more organized these days – which is why I organized the different sauce packets in my fridge over the weekend – silly but so nice now to just grab my favorite sauces… Neat…
I enjoyed a “PROJECT” yesterday – I do enjoy this new choice to pursue a decluttering sideline helping others – it ticks lots of mental boxes in my head – I feel productive – it is useful – it is interesting – it is needed for our level of stuffing stuff in lots of places…
I even dreamt last night (this morning) about being productive – that was a good motivation for this morning too – and I started to clean my own house (rarely do I do that!)
My sorting yesterday was with a friend of a friend. I appreciated that it was more than just “keeping busy”, I appreciated MAKING PROGRESS. This woman was a schoolteacher for years and she had tremendous amounts of great handouts and art projects and we sorted to give them to her friend for her children – they will get put to good use. We reminisced about some great books she also had, like “The old lady who swallowed a fly.” CLASSIC… I am thankful that I can sing that song after 50 years – still in my head…
Seeing the papers also made me feel blessed that I grew up learning in such an environment with wonderful teachers who used these types of tools… Sometimes stuff is just that but this was good stuff – and stuff that can keep on giving!!!
Separately, I heard of a family that had a fire yesterday – a neighbor of a friend – and wow that is our biggest fear – fire – losing our stuff. I pray them new stuff and that they get to repair some of their heartache at some point – and counting blessings that they are all OK. It is just stuff – we know that – and the family is fine – but how hurtful to lose stuff which is more than stuff – when it is the stuff of memories.
I am thankful for my stuff of memories (and of clutter) and thankful to hold onto it – but maybe a little more organized these days – which is why I organized the different sauce packets in my fridge over the weekend – silly but so nice now to just grab my favorite sauces… Neat…
And I started to think of all the other things that I am thankful for…
I’m thankful my fridge is full of yummy food, and I can add flavor to the bland food too.
I’m thankful when I got hungry today, yesterday, later, and that day that I had remembered to pack a lunch with me. I’m thankful for stong flavors, like in fried onions, and mild ones like sandwiches, and seasonal flavors like tomatoes, and sweet ones like in ice cream, like in everything.
I’m thankful that I learned in the ways that I did growing up – in school and in life.
I’m thankful that I am still learning now.
I’m thankful I can still sort stuff, have stuff and have a car to drive my stuff around.
I’m thankful that the leaves are changing colors now, and that the sun is shining on me as I write this.
I’m thankful for being thought-filled.
Beiing thought-filled reminded me to be even more thankful of many things.
I am thankful that I can walk, step by step.
I am thankful I like to be busy, project by project.
I’m thankful when I realize I’m just spinning my wheels, and I tell myself to STOP.
I’m thankful when I feel pain and stop what I’m doing.
I’m saying for when I remember to rest.
I am thankful I can feel the sunshine right now, in the waning warmth of the sunset, of the fall, no frost yet.
I’m thankful for seeing a beautiful monarch butterfly yesterday, the last of the season.
I’m thankful that even though the thought of winter is sad. The knowledge that spring will come again is invigorating.
I am thankful that in life I’ve had a lot of time to think.
I am thankful that I’ve spent a lot of thinking about being thankful.
I am thankful that as soon as the sun went down, I felt the chill and that told me to go inside.
I’m thankful inside is warm.
I’m thankful I have a home.
I’m thankful to be home.
I’m thankful God tells me to think about my forever Home.
I’m thankful for God.
I’m thankful He makes me thankful.
I’m thankful that I try to stop NOT being thankful when I forget to be thankful.
I’m thankful God made me, flaws and all, and that He tells me He loves me.
I am glad God is love.
I love God.
Amen
—
Thanks for listening – I am thankful for you all.
Psalm 69:30-32 NIV
I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hooves. The poor will see and be glad— you who seek God, may your hearts live!
Among the multitude of funny-placed skeletons in the Halloween display of a neighbor’s yard was this intriguing plastic gravestone prop: “Death is but a passing through a door that opens to a new life.” Hmmmmm…. well true… I found this one not hilarious like the “Anita Shovel” fake gravestone – but a tough of truth – even if meant to be spooky…
I think we need to think of a new life in our future – a secured one by the sacrifice of Jesus – and a certain one not by our bravado or our horror-focus – but instead by asking the Lord to find us willing to be in repentance (as David would write in the Psalms): The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart — These, O God, You will not despise.
So, yes – our perfect “back up” plan is our PERFECT Savior – and our perfect primary plan too, of course. In other words, our Alpha and Omega of a Savior is where we are coming and going – from dust to dust…
And not to be morbid – although we know that we joke so much at Halloween – really that is where we have to find relief – in our Savior – and in a “here today – gone tomorrow – new life forever” mentality. We can not live without courage in both the here and now – and in the future some how. Courage, Strength, Contrite hearts – broken spirits – and a joy that will keep us going crossing over the end breath to the forever breadth of new life.
I am in NO rush to my time ending here on earth – and yet must be SO EXCITED to have a forever in PERFECTION of Jesus – meanwhile I will pray the song of David – “Create in me a clean heart” – “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence, oh Lord, And take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. –Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation, And renew a right spirit within me.”…
And for this perfect back up plan – let us not be afraid but be grateful that the Lord will cover us with His Forgiveness – as we pray for mercy and grace – to wash us clean from what we have done and failed to do – to make a clean new person in us from pulling us from the quagmires of life – clearing all the crud underneath the fingernails of our life stories – and wipe clean the old dredged up ugliness in the past. We pray Lord for this renewed spirit – and the whole kit and kaboodle of new life.
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness…
Amen
—-
Psalm 51 NKJV
A Prayer of Repentance
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight— That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.
Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise. For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart — These, O God, You will not despise.
Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem. Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.
Last week I enjoyed chatting with some lab-minded scientists, discussing the tricky situation they had for isolating plant DNA – a known tough issue with cell-wall containing material. Somehow we got on a conversation about lab superstitions like wearing your lucky socks or I had a good luck stuffed bear from a vendor show which I said protected against some degradation contaminants… We all laughed and surely many of us have not necessarily a lucky charm, a rabbit’s foot or some quirky fun way to see if we can work things in our favor. I know that this is not real – and even black cats crossing our paths are not a problem Some advice, like not walking under a ladder, we can try to tease out good general advice from bad black magic level hocus pocus.
I looked down at my water bottle provided with the luncheon, and it said “PATH” – I said to myself, “Yes Lord – I know that You want us to be aware of our PATH – where we walk – how we step – and what we say – and how we pray. I backtracked from my laughing and then looked for the window of opportunity in the conversation to try to inject that I had FAITH not folly guiding me. I told them the story of a science project which could have gone one of three ways when I saw a seemingly spurious result, and that I prayed and prayed until I talked to the client and found out wow they had the same result – it all worked out fine. I thanked the Lord for the reassurance… They smiled and we continued our conversations at the free lunch (which you could say is never a free lunch when you have to PAY attention to what you say. Always good to quench your thirst on Living Water and not just bottled)… Anyway, ALL GOOD…
It is good for us to Pray on the Path of Life and PRAISE God all the time…
I remember the advice of Jesus from Matthew 7 – The way to destruction is wide but “narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” When we follow Jesus, our witness needs to be shown of HOW we DO TRUST – and how we are not projecting or absorbing sourpuss attitudes towards things… Our way that we TRUST in the Lord – reach out to Him – and know that He gives us good things – these are crucial to show others… No lucky socks required when Jesus is the One who is taking off our sandals and washing our feet – making us clean – covering us with His Blood – allowing us to walk more cleanly and clearly and confidently following Him in His Way. To find that gate – we need to let Him guide us – and He does. Jesus wants us to keep going and keep believing.
We also have to be aware of the situations presented in front of us – does something someone is promising seem TOO good a promise? Remember the scripture that we will know by the fruits that are made from the lives lived: “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits [the false prophets] you will know them.”
It is our PATH of faith to follow Jesus, which will give us the right steps to walk WITH Him. We can keep asking for help, seeking Him, and then be open to what He shows us. His Ways are above our ways – so let us look closely at the path we walk, the gate, and our faith to follow Jesus…
We won’t be lucky – we will be blessed – and we already are…
Amen
—-
Matthew 7:7-20 NKJV
Keep Asking, Seeking, Knocking “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
The Narrow Way “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
You Will Know Them by Their Fruits “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
It is nice to now sit and rest, watching a football fill of fun, resting after outside work and pulling out an AC for the season as last night it was chilly and the heat came on! And accomplished the important thing of cleaning up my car from a trunk or treat… and it was bitterly cold yesterday, well not that bad, but the wind was whipping, and the sun had not come out. But when I was interacting with the kids, nearly 100, making slime, I certainly did not feel any bitter cold. I was in the . And it was two hours that passed quickly. And when we were done I felt that bitter cold once again. In the moment there was no bitterness, and I was engaged in instruction, helping the children. My friend with the trunk or treat car next door said “you were in your element!”
And that is the case “in the moment” – one might not notice bitterness at all.
I had to warm up for sure, crashed tired in sleep at 10 after warming up with heated packs, whew… I then had a 1am wake up, I just stirred gently awake and then realized I should check on the location of my youngest, who was attending a friend-gathering Halloween party an hour away. I worried of course, and watched the tagged movement of the car back and forth and realized they were dropping off people. No I couldn’t sleep, but I was not upset, there’s no time for bitterness when you’re praying.
And yes, a time later I saw the turn for home on my screen and a text returned saying they had been designated driver that evening, pleased to have helped, despite the miles and time. There’s no time for bitterness when you’re helping your friends be safe.
And since I had to write the prayer for church in the morning, I started thinking about Jesus being our Designated Deliverer. A Designated Driver and Defender and Deliverer. No time for bitterness when being blessed.
I did get back to sleep, just after hearing the door close, home, mom’s worrying was actually working the prayers. And in the morning I listened to the online feed for one church pastor, who spoke of Moses and the Israelites wandering in the desert (book of Exodus 15). They were bitter and wandered and wondered. They were 3 days in, past the parting of the Red Sea, and came to the first area of drinking water, but the water was bitter. More bitterness in complaining. The Lord told Moses how to make the water not bitter, and the Lord promised to protect them from disease. These wandering people were only three days in and ended up being in the desert for forty years. Ohh, how bitterness works against our ability to see God working for us.
Let us pray for our awareness of our Designated Deliverer from bitterness, and worry, to trust and obey. God takes control and takes our cares away.
Amen and here is the prayer I prepared for church (our scripture was Matthew 6 – about not worrying…):
Lord, we are grateful for your goodness. And as we remember to wait on You, we pray to seek You first- before our fears overcome us. May we praise You when things go well and not so well. May we have appreciation of Your righteousness setting things right in Your Time. We pray for strength to trust You and trust in Your provisions. Your ways Lord are above ours, so let us understand You have already figured out how we will live best lives. You provide and have provided. Let us not worry and please do shelter us Lord when we do.
May the love that You pour into us now to be poured into others, so let us let the Holy Spirit work through us. You have sacrificed for us, may we now know Lord that YOU ARE ENOUGH, and may we not conform to this world but be a living sacrifice for You, to make Your Love known.
Amen
—
And here is that bitterness sermon from Pastor Joe, And how God has us where we need to look towards Him – He can turn our bitterness to sweet: http://resources.ccphilly.org/SAM1450
Exodus 15:22-27 NIV
The Waters of Marah and Elim
Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”
Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.
There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”
Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.
—
Matthew 6:22-34 NIV
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Do Not Worry
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
It was a fabulous adventure, a mystery-dinner event that we play-acted last night after just a few rehearsals, and my role was the doctor – checking on everyone and how they were feeling – with a few mysteries of my own which got revealed “in time”… And we all worked together as the family team we are, even if we had just met. I love meeting people and we share a cause – I love working the people who know that we are in this life together and we can do great things – even if it is simply showing up for someone else.
Such a hilarious time – less stress and certainly many hands make LIGHT work – and wow the director writer concept everything young woman has a great bright future ahead of her – everyone loves someone who knows how to run the ship. We got into ship shape and sailed into the program with just a few rehearsals… whew…
Both in practice and then for the actual event, we cracked each other up with our ad-libs, staying in character, which was the treat for us too – to be witty. The audience suspected MANY people, and a marvelous time was had by all. And yummy food, and blessed after party for decompression, I loved seeing the maid still costumed doing karaoke… her kids were tired, but she could have rolled on hours and hours more… Another mom there had rode the train up to the big city and then back in the same day – time well spent and managed – and then got to this big event. Time rolls like a train – steadily at times – stopping at times – and isn’t that the most interesting thing about time, it often rolls on when we are not noticing. It is hard for us to imagine how long we live without noticing we have lived it, and then wow it is 50 years later.
Time – I carried the old fashioned timepiece as a fashion accessory, a chain with watchface, it was 1960s or 1970s not 1800’s, but I found it quite suitable for the scene of the doctor checking for a pulse. I held it and it was snapped into my vest, a gorgeous quilted maroon fabric I got at the thrift store. The whole ensemble came together in 10 minutes and well that was time well spent. And well the people of the time – the gentleman of that time – had to have precise time pieces and synchronized their watches on chains often.
This watchpiece necklace however was my grandmother’s – my dad’s mom – from the 1970’s. I can remember my dad giving it to my grandma because the watch she wore on her wrist was one that would wind by you moving your arm normally and my grandma was in a nursing home and she was very very sedentary, having lost a leg to “the sugar” as they called it in those days. My grandma never complained and kept as busy as she could in craft projects and watching TV, which I also remember the day my dad brought her a great big TV she could have at her bedside – wow. I remember so much of those 10 years of me visiting her in the nursing home – every other day – my dad found time (or tried to) every day to visit her if only a short time – and my dad was busy – but how important to visit – it was not a text message or phone call, but a check-in – and also his random timeslots he thought would keep the nurses on their toes too – helping them know that he might be in to see her – and hopefully that gave her better care. I remember my family saying it simply could not care for her at home and for 2 small children at the same time and both working too. We can never be in two or more different places at the same time. I do remember so much time was spent for me in childhood – time then seemed so slow and now it flies. I know that I had a blessed childhood full of love and that is priceless. I pray every child gets a memory database full of cherished times.
Time does fly – it is a memory now – 50 years ago – and it is a recurring fresh thought that the time we spend with people is SO important – family who are friends and friends who are family – and even random people to whom we can make a difference… Honestly it is the time of our lives that we can be semi-stewards of – as we get to choose what we do in leisure time – which is much more these days than our parents had or our grandparents or before them… Let us use our time wisely.
And there are times we can not take – just not enough time in the day – so true. And there are times (not often for me) where time stands still – but I have seen it – and more often when you are trying to fit MUCH into a moment, well it seems there is time for it! Especially when I am in a situation where I think I have synchronized my clock with God’s. Remember it isn’t the other way around. God’s Time is His Own – we barely live within the sweeping hand of time – hold onto life while we can.
“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” – 2 Peter 3:8
I can not even imagine what time feels like to God – I know that we need sleep and wow I was so tired I could have slept on the dining room table last night at the after party while the maid-dressed spitfire of a lady was dancing and singing karoke… I was ready for my crash. And I can not even imagine that God never tires – never rests – is all- knowing – that alone should make us realize that His Ways are above our ways. We are human people being human and God is perfect. Of all the time we have – may we be praising the Lord for the time He gives us – and praise Him in all circumstances good and bad.
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.” – Isaiah 40:28
So – I could spend all of time writing how amazing the Lord is and how we should make the most of our time – but really – WE SHOULD MAKE THE MOST OF OUR TIME. And we (I certainly do) thank the Lord that He makes us stop and rest too – resting restores our minds, our muscles, our movement – to get up and do it (living each day) again…
And so I put this beautiful watch away – actually hang it to the wall where I notice it on occasion and remember the memories – remember the shortness of life – remember to keep moving. I try not to watch the clock but sometimes I do… I don’t wear a watch (I use my phone) – and this past year has been a whole other type of time management – but I do remember that TIME IS A GIFT…
And the time we have is well worth living within God’s Time – He is beginning and end – we are given precious moments for Him for sure.
Let us LIVE the Time of our lives, because WE CAN.
AMEN
AMEN – and thank You Lord for the rest so I can be onto my next great adventure today…
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” – Revelation 1:8
Joshua 1:9 ESV Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Jeremiah 29:11 ESV For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
1 Peter 2:9 ESV But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Romans 8:1 ESV There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 138:8 ESV The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.
I felt Tuesday was a good stay at home day, sat outside in beautiful weather. I didn’t feel super productive at my job searching, except for realizing a direction that I didn’t want to go in. That was a true gut feeling I got while talking to a fellow graduate from my PhD institution, whom I networked with to discuss her workplace. She only started there two months prior, she’s 25 years my junior and has her whole life ahead of her feeling… cool… and for me, I now appreciate the ugh moment for the direction NOT to go in, even if I took the hit of making it me also feel temporarily unmotivatated. It’s OK, and goes with the territory of job searches which are also life direction decisions. Pondering is painful and yet productive. I am not in a due or die scenario – just would be nice to know the future, right?
And then, after an afternoon of more pondering and around the yard projects and resting my bones from overexertion the day before, I opened up the Bible Gateway scripture of the day email, and wouldn’t you know it, God sent the Jeremiah 29:11 message to me AGAIN. He has sent this relentlessly to me this season of life. FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU, SAYS THE LORD… TO GIVE YOU HOPE AND A FUTURE… Yeah, thank You Lord, AGAIN.
Wednesday was very different in movement and motivation, I took a ride with my daughter on her commute and she dropped me off at the train station (she also picked me up that evening – so nice that she drives – even if I still do hold on for dear life, LOL). I rode up early to the Big Apple, and had enough time before a “lunch and learn” in lower Manhattan (building right on the subway line) to take a “quick” ride on the Staten Island Ferry, round trip to see the Statue of Liberty in a distance and the skyline, and it is for free. 25 minutes each way. And I gave myself enough of a buffer for the chance I had to wait for the ride back. It worked out fine, I hustled in an NY minute around the corner and jumped last minute on the returning vessel. Actually all the trains and boats I hustled and got on within 3 minutes of them leaving – now THAT’S timing.
Oh it wasn’t like I was the only one there doing that same thing, and it’s a BIG boat, orange brightness keeps you from confusing it with others boats. Sturdy solid and sightseeing sweet. Sure, it was a JOY ride.
Yes, a JOY ride meant it wasn’t because I had to ride, didn’t have to commute, didn’t have to bear a weeks-long travel excursion endured for immigration like my ancestors (and I appreciated seeing in a distance the Ellis Island and NJ railroad buildings), and it was free. And the Statue of Liberty? A precious gem we all wanted to see.
My ancestors came from distant lands to see their futures. We can trust that the Lord knows ours. He has secured forever for us.
Joy. JOY. JOY RIDE.
A joyful heart is good medicine, and a joy ride is where we hand back some or all of our cares. And even though we live in a world of schedules and paying the bills, and whatnot, most of us have freedom to take a moment to pause, and may we always praise, even in the pondering and praying, and participating in play.
Jeremiah 29:11 and another 2 scriptures which appeared as scripture cards in my pocket on Wednesday reminded me to PRAISE the Lord and PRAISE the JOY RIDE.
Proverbs 5:21 For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and He ponders all paths.
And Psalm 145:3 God is magnificent. He can never be praised enough. There are no boundaries to His greatness.
YES!
And then later as I networked and dug into my afternoon science conference (and the free lunch and goat cheese canapes at the reception), I felt free for conversation and connection making. I don’t know the benefits on the future, I just knew the joy of the moment. As I rode home on the train, I listened in to my Bible study zoom call and we talked about God giving us opportunities to grow, and how much He loves us.
As I rested last night, I rested in the Lord. And this morning? Always start with praise. God can not be praised enough.
Clearly when people come into our lives, we can connect, even if they never met us. We can connect in prayer.
I am praying for the Pope right now, praying his recovery is good. I know that he has the best care, or at least I hope he does.
I often forget to continue to pray for people whom I prayed for recently, I like many are affected by the new requests, new events, pushing old ones out of our current memories. It’s like visiting a friend and 24:7 being with them, but after that we forget to check in, we mentally move on. It’s not that we love them any less, we just are newly preoccupied with the current scene.
And yet I often pray: “Lord, help all those I forgot about.” I do this because I am far than even close to awareness. That’s something we all cope with, limited brain soace, and not choosing ignorance, just human-ness. We pray for awareness or we want more ignorance of awful circumstances. We won’t ever match God’s awesomeness and care.
Apostle Paul would write the Philippians 3:12 “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”
And so, today I pray to be aware, even as I choose to not have overwhelmed thoughts. Today I pray for the pope, for the thoughts I has yesterday, and for the forgets before that.
Lord, thank You for everything amazingly You do. Thank You For You.
t is seriously fall – maybe an indian summer is what we called this as a kid – mid 70’s day – sunny – nice breeze…
The sunshine feels good. I found this morning that things are blooming and growing here – still in this fall weather. My chrysanthemum recovered a little and there are a dozen flowers for a last ditch effort to bloom. My forsythia has a few blooms out of season. And the ever-growing strawberry plant is still cranking out fruit – just 2 today but enough to taste the sweetness. Strawberries thrive while tomato production took a nose dive. At least everything is still alive. This sounds like a devotion – to keep blooming even in late stages of our seasons.
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.” from Psalm 92
Me too – us too – trying to thrive in this season of life – if you are reading this email blog then you are still alive! GOOD! And we are to sing praises to the Lord for He has us here today – for His purposes.
And like the colors of fall, the anthocyanins and carotenoids now showing their reds and purples, oranges and yellows, we need to show ourselves to be in this season – be a colorful unique bearing of His fruit. If our leaves and fruits are colorful and vibrant in this season – then we too can show our colorful sides – even if we are vintage – sure – or late bloomers – sure – remember we are not in our winter of a season yet. We could keep looking around the corner to colder weather and colder lives but right today we have a moment to be warm and to thrive.
To thrive is a stage of being alive and appreciating it.
Let’s Keep Going!
Amen
Psalm 92 NKJV
Praise to the Lord for His Love and Faithfulness – Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath day. It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night,
On an instrument of ten strings, On the lute, And on the harp, With harmonious sound. For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands.
O Lord, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep. A senseless man does not know, Nor does a fool understand this. When the wicked spring up like grass, And when all the workers of iniquity flourish, It is that they may be destroyed forever.
But You, Lord, are on high forevermore. For behold, Your enemies, O Lord, For behold, Your enemies shall perish; All the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.
But my horn You have exalted like a wild ox; I have been anointed with fresh oil. My eye also has seen my desire on my enemies; My ears hear my desire on the wicked Who rise up against me.
The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord Shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing, To declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
Making a difference is an opportunity and a calling, and often pulls on skills and resources we already have. And it’s SO easy sometimes, when God lines up the circumstances.
My sermon benediction yesterday was going to be freeform, but as I closed my door walking out of the house, I spotted the bag of charms I have been moving around for years, starfish trinkets. Of course the Lord had me notice it then and connect the dots in my head about a sermon of the whole body, all of us together, being the best we can be and helping others. All for the glory of God…
And so my benediction spoke about how each of us can help, not necessarily even knowing who or the results of our helping is. Oh how we can help just one person and that makes all the difference in their life.
And then I relayed the story of the child throwing the starfish back into the water… (see below)
Yes if we just help one starfish, one person, one mission, we are blessed to do that. And assuredly God will find others for us to help too. And surely, we have been helped by others…
And most crucially, I addressed in my sermon that if we introduce people to God, our reflection of His loving character shone through us, it’s like bringing in family, sheep of God’s fold, yes…
Yes, God loves them
I appreciated seeing so many people at the after church event for the community helping pack school snack bags for the kids in the homeless shelter, they really shined love and I enjoyed chatting with a lady at the beginning of the line, as we fluffed open the bags, we chatted about her family and a baby shower coming up. I was happy to search the score of the football game for her. Nice…
And how sweet the little kids who came to help. And then one little boy had just had enough, became restless naturally. It was easy remedy thought and action for me, I was right next to the cabinet of markers, paper, stickers. I mean everybody loves markers! Everybody loves stickers! And so the little boy nestled into his work and mom kept continuing being able to pack the bags. Simple sense of the Spirit… later, as we almost finished, I was able to show him the small pumpkin I had made (carved a heart in) for the message for the earlier service. He asked if he could color it. And I, of course, said yes. And then he decorated it is stickers in paper, and was SO proud. Mom was so worried that he was doing something he shouldn’t have, but I was so happy to oblige a child. And I made sure that there was paper underneath his coloring, so it wouldn’t bleed through to the tablecloth.
Isn’t that what the Lord does for us? He helps us in small ways. And He also helps us in big ways. God certainly keeps us busy. And when we say “look what I’ve done, He us always listening in love.
The little boy asked at the very end when it was time to leave, if he could take the pumpkin, and I was very happy to let him take it. His mom was in slight shock, but what easy giving… I even handed him the paper that said, how God helps us. That being a christian is like being a pumpkin…
This was at the most less than an hour of my day and yet like throwing one seed or many seeds, we get to bless and feel blessed. It was nothing special, I just showed up. And I knew where the stuff was. It’s just using your natural talents to notice what God puts in front of you.
And so here is the Starfish story to encourage you to look for those easy projects because you know it will make a difference, and God knows the results, that’s okay with me…
Okay Lord and Amen
The Starfish Story
(Adapted)
Original by Loren Eiseley
1907-1977
Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.
One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance during the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.
As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young child reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.
He came closer still and called out “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”
The young one paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”
“I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” said the somewhat startled wise man.
To this, the young one replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”
Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, “But, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!”
At this, the young one bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. And as it met the water, said : “I made a difference for that one.”
Wisdom for the Whole Body – (OURS AND THE BODY OF CHRIST)
James 1:22-27 NIV22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
SERMON
**** BOX OF PRAYERS – Taking a moment to think about those people whom we prayed for last week in the box of prayers – I sometimes forget to pray – so we do send them prayers – we share in their burdens and their joys…
In our scripture this morning, we are continuing to explore wisdom – this in faith expressed in action and in care:Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirrorand, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
What a unique this part of scripture – we know that this is from the book of James = he was said to be Jesus’s brother and the first major religious figure/leader in Jerusalem of the early church = I heard that he prayed so much that he was on his knees constantly… And the book of James teaches in the early verses that we are to accept trials – THAT we are to NOT to act badly if we don’t get our way – and we are to LOOK to the Lord for helping us, realizing that HE is in charge, not us. And so we see the writer James, like many of the disciples after Jesus’s time on earth, taught with direct instruction – to have the wisdom to reform ourselves – rid ourselves of evil – do the best we can – and this section urges us to NOT forget the Word of God… We are to study it, try it, be in it, and let it be in us.
And if we forget God’s Word, well James then states that we are like someone who looks at a mirror but then forgets what we look like – wow that is both being like someone who needs to constantly focus on ourselves and yet we are to know that we ARE children of God – we SHOULD know God in us – and then we can keep going – to help others. We are WARNED that if we lose focus – and forget God’s redemption – then we might even go against those teachings – it is human nature sure – but sin happens. We are human. WISDOM SAYS REMEMBER WE ARE GOD’S CHOSEN.
And if we are the person who doesn’t remember ourselves – then we forget what we are supposed to do – what God wants – AND we won’t remember how we have been blessed either – and TRUST and FAITH has been key for me this year – to remember.
AND another interesting thing about looking in a mirror is that we see flaws to fix – we are checking to see if we look OK – and should go back and change our mismatched clothes if we see that – but further we can interpret this scripture to also say: let us be able to walk away from that mirror and NOT forget to work at changing ourselves –
There is that great saying – I thought I could change the world – but I found it was better if I simply started with myself.
I didn’t have a mirror but I had this framed scripture: “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” – isn’t that what we should see in the mirror – see our blessing of God making us and taking care of us – that is the reflection we hope to see.
Sometimes there are funny mirrors like in those amusement carnival type places – and we get all stretched out and morphed – we look funny… God doesn’t see us that way – he knows us – and we are not to judge others either – so let us pray that we see past what might be off-putting or even funny in others – and we still are to help them – realizing that they are children of God too = made in His image too. I especially wish for us to remember the part that we were made in God’s image – that could be the greatest self-help formula ever – well it should be. We can be encouragers and reminders of how God sees us = sees the people we meet. Maya Angelo would say: “Stand up = remember you are a child of God and stand up straight…”
** Our next section of scripture for this wisdom for our whole self – and the whole body of Christ – the body of the church = the bride of the bridegroom who is Jesus –
25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it — they will be blessed in what they do.
So what kind of freedom are we talking about here? Freedom to rob a bank? No of course not – freedom to live? Well of course – and really this IS about forever freedom from the sting of sin and death – we can live as loved children of God and remember the Law of Moses has been fulfilled by Jesus – and the prophesies have been fulfilled. The perfection in law from Moses’s time was/is the ability to have forgiveness – which is now what Jesus offers. Jess fulfills all this. And we can tell others this too.
Jesus speaks to us = the Holy Spirit moves us – we are to not forget what we have heard. And we are to live in wisdom of being fulfilled with God’s Word – with His Plan – and not chase after wrong pleasures or after the world… One of the things we marvel at sometimes is people who get so bogged down in the world – we do too. Equally we could say this for those who are what we call successful or overboard in privilege. Both can get under the water in woe, as we can. Both these types of people, including ourselves, might see a fuzzy look in that mirror… or a view that is enhanced too much (like photoshopping photos artificially) or terribly looking into a mirror that is cracked – shattered – they might see themselves like that… or into a mirror set like in a funny house that shows you 20 images of yourself and you are trapped and don’t know how to leave the funny house… In other words, we want to stop that – and we are to look into that mirror more reflectively of what the Lord thinks of us and not of us thinking (too highly or too low) of ourselves – and not of others what they think of us either… Unlike funny house 20 plus images (so confusing) let’s focus to God’s image of us. He wants us to see us redeemed in Him.
Titus 2:11-14 would state: For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Our third section of this scripture for wisdom – is probably one of the best pieces of advice for living that we could ever hear – “26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.” Ohhhhh = that great thought that we have 2 ears and one mouth – yeah keeping tab of ourselves – not forgetting our projection of what our image of God should be – hold that tongue from lashing out…
Philippians 1:27 -29 Life Worthy of the Gospel – “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ…
“Stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,..”
And if we fail (when we fail to act appropriately) – let us try to remember we have an advocate in Jesus – Who asks for our repentance and is great in mercy and grace. Whom are we to NOT know what the Word says – that it says we are seen by God in the covering – the cloak of the blood of Jesus’s forgiveness – we are to look in the mirror and then NOT forget that God knows us from the inside – God sees our hearts – even hears our unspoken prayers – God sees us from the soul – and His ultimate grace and mercy are not that He puts blinders on to our misdeeds and our original sin – but that He puts blood on us – His blood = BLOOD NOT BLINDERS = we are not looking in a mirror that has been blacked out – but one that shows us covered in white – being purified – because of Jesus… God knows we are human and we need forgiveness – we need nurturing – we need to realize that we are under His Wing.
Here is one of the great sayings about pumpkins this time of year –
Being a Christian is like being a pumpkin – “God picks you from the patch and brings you in (John 15:16)” – “Then washes all the dirt off of you (2 Corinthians 5:17)” – “He opens you up and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removed the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc. (Romans 6:6)” – “Then He carves you a new smiling face (Psalm 71:23)” – “And He puts His light inside you to shine for all the world to see (Matthew 5:16)” – (I did a demo with precut pumpkin and pulp – cut with heart to SHINE LIGHT)
And our last section of scripture for wisdom – What we are to do with the wisdom we get? – 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Well – we have to practice about not being polluted by the world – to reduce our worldliness – and the reason God wants us working for Him and looking to Him – yes for LOVE – is also to love others – to reach the marginalized. We are to remember these people in multiple ways – yes to tend to their needs materially and physically – to be the people who listen to Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
And remember that we are to help people SPIRITUALLY too –
This is a greatest gift for us to share with them – it is how to love them enough to introduce them to God – God in us – God in our sharing and caring – God who gives salvation – God in whom we trust (if we don’t demonstrate that we trust God, then what IS our faith demonstration)…
For we may find that in society, many fall under a special type of orphans and widows
Orphans – can be people who do NOT know they are children of God…
And Widows – can be people who do NOT know that they are in the Body of Christ = the Bride of Christ – we need to share with them that they DO belong – and that is why we reach out to others = we can say “we are all in this together” – and that is really true!!!
God’s greatest commandments are that Jesus tells us is that we are to Love God and to love one another as ourselves. And tell them that they don’t have to be reformed to be loved – that God loves us first – the way we are – and then helps us from there. It is from our wisdom gained which tells us to Love God – and act in LOVE – Jesus said in Matthew 22 verses 36 to 39: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
This scripture is what we need to tape to our mirrors everyday – to remind us to be our best reflection of HIM… (and I have handouts for these scriptures to color!)
Amen – and won’t you please pray with me: Lord, let us listen and act – help us remember and speak humbly while living boldly – help us accept and follow You to give us the freedom of life everlasting – and let us let You clean us so that we SHINE Your Love to others – AMEN
And for a Benediction, let me hand out these small starfish charms – you may have one or two – and remember the great story (not scriptural but fitting) – of the boy who was seeing starfish washed up on shore – and started throwing them back into the sea – and a man walking by said there are SO MANY – you will never make a difference – And the little boy said I can to THIS one… So yes, we can go help even just one person and we don’t always have to know the result – God knows and that is enough… AMEN and have a great day!
I enjoyed my trip home north – and then the break in the mountains for a moment of real peace – like a quiet that you could hear – the calmness of the earth with just the most gentle breeze in the trees – and on our morning walk we saw the sun shimmering over the local little lake created by a dam. The colors of the leaves are starting to get near peak – and this peek at the peak was a welcomed site. The reflection in the water was spectacular and I laid right down on the dock (without the goose poop) to capture the reflective image – beautiful… Once I got home, I returned to laundry and chores like mowing the grass – my temperature jump was like 40 degrees – and that is the sign of the season – it is seasonable and variable and changeable – and so am I … so are we… Remember the good stuff and let the bad stuff (and goose poop) roll away…
We are human and goose poop will be there – we plan things and they are not always pristine and good days – this is human life and we just make the best of it… The scripture of the day gave me the same feeling – what we plan is one thing but what God plans is His – and His Plan will stand. And one could say that we have to find God in all the trials as well as the golden moments… And God’s counsel will stand, His plans, His directive, His PLAN, and I feel that – and try to live in that – and make the best – and knowing we are simply human, just ask for the forgiveness of life…
SO HUMAN – I am human with a Holy Spirit hope for filling a hole of soul… I appreciate my cup being refilled. I need it and drink voraciously these days, so yeah Lord please refill our cups. As we are but human – we need You, Lord.
And on this break (a vacation from vacation of the vacation – the decompression time in the mountains) I continued mentally this take of just doing the best we can in human existence. On my evening outing with my friends to a local meditation center near their mountain house in the woods – where they invited me to go after our delicious dinner – they said we would go then we were to come back to have ice cream – and even showed me the ice cream (yum)… Their house in the woods is marvelous and move in ready and heated with all the amenities and yeah pretty darn sweet! (and so would be the ice cream!)
At the meditation center, the instructor’s wife gave me a song booklet and we had moments of times of silence and then of singing. The hope was to be quiet and calm by focusing on the music after the singing (and it was a really cool instrument that he played). I first took a moment to look at their garden before going in and knew I would enjoy meeting the people after – and so I sat quietly during the experience and tried to quiet my rumbling tummy (that is impossible – that is life)… And so during the hour event, I really did not worry about quieting my mind in meditation too much = my mind rages on because honestly that would take 5 years of processing if I never did anything from this point forward – and you know I will have many more activities and outings… So I simply sat and rested – I enjoyed listening to my inner prayer – thinking of God’s gifts – my song from my drive was replaying in my head – “Oh Lord, You’re Beautiful” by Keith Green – and then I say quietly being OK that I was listening to the small sounds that could not be blocked out of my ears – like the sound of an electric (perhaps the heater) quiet muffled beeping electronically, and the movements of people in the building, and the simple sounds of not silence…
And I WAS thinking of God and we did hear the example of Jesus saying: You are the salt of the earth – if it goes bad then it is good for nothing – to keep the spice of life going – to be effective in life – to be working the work we are able to do – improve ourselves and that will help us cope in life too… And well the thoughts in my head moved from God back to Ice Cream!!!
Ice cream!!! – I am totally human – we all are – and we have a mind that wanders but a God that is SOLID – and although the ice cream is best when it melts and is gooey – God is not gooey but SOLID and SPIRIT and SOLACE and SOLEMN and STILL a Father who pulls us in like under His Wing – He gifts us so much – and we get the enjoy the desserts of His Labor… And we can rest in His Plans as much as in His Arms… “The fear of the Lord leads to life” – and this can be taken to be His and be against evil – and listening – and fill that hole in our soul with His WHOLE – to bring wholeness to our hope.
I was blessed to be in the company of friends and in the counsel of God. This is the wisdom that we will cherish…
And as our young lives melt away into older ones – and as our summer melts away into autumn – let us melt away from our preconceived plans and be satisfied with His – seek His advice – and simply BE… Then get back to being the Salt of the Earth – and tasting the ice cream joy of the moment….
Amen
Proverbs 19:19-23
*Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days.
*There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.
*What is desired in a man is kindness, And a poor man is better than a liar.
*The fear of the Lord leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.
I heard a song lyric that said: “as our days fly away” – and the fall season makes you feel that. It’s going to be cooler and cooler, frost will come soon especially up here in the north. It’s time to be mourning summer and embracing the season that we are entering. Remember, also, that spring is just around the corner.
I’m appreciating the fall now, the gardens are full of hearty crops like squash, cabbages, brussel sprouts, pumpkins…And I’m fully embracing fall colors now too, and the harvest season of hope and hunkering down. We harvest what others have labored for.
It’s joy in the color of summer simmer in the flowers refusing to fade, the taste and color of sweet grapes, and deepness of red in the weathered storage barn. Fall here is matched with crisp temps, as crisp as the dried leaves crunch under your feet.
A pumpkin at a farm stand spoke to me and I GOT IT. It was BIG, shiny, warted-well, and true pumpkin orange. Only $5 and well worth a treat to me myself, because when you KNOW YOUR pumpkin, you KNOW it!!!
Pick a pleasing pumpkin in this season of life, you might tire of it in 2 months, but now it’s perfect!
I found an old photo of me with a carved pumpkin, like from 45 years ago, wow, and I can understand in my life, then and now, how PLEASING it must have been to have that pumpkin… The fall season as a kid was full of fun, and we need to embrace those moments now. I can understand those song lyrics of days and lives flying away.
So how we embrace today does matter, whether we are 8, 58, or 88.
I found the last 2 days of the Jesus Always book devotions very important in my life, now and always, for me and for all of us.
Be less distracted by the troubles in the world and more attracted to God. God asks us to focus on Him, be preoccupied with Him and recieve Him. Jesus said: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart – and with all your soul – and with all your mind – and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39). And to break free from self absorption by learning to recieve God’s love and loving God back… Self absorption might make us miss the joy God wants to show us. And surely we would miss the oppotunities to share God’s love with others. Self absorption also makes life’s stings more painful. It is better to forget ahead towards God’s love and leading than take in opinion of others on our lives. Be knowing we are God’s child, not stucj in a chokehold of chiding that the world gives. We work our lives for Him, not others.
I remember that’s Jesus says to His disciples, the harvest is upon us, but there are not enough workers to gather what others labored for. Meaning the disciples are to share the good news of forgiveness and mercy and love, and from this love, the worship of God in spirit and truth, the news of salvation will spread.
Listen to God in THIS season. Plant, sow, harvest.
Embrace the season we are in, and pray to have peace in it. Pray to put aside pressures to conform to the world and instead pick up on the clues of God’s bounty. He will carry us through, so carry God in your day, love Him with all heart mind and soul…
Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
It’s beautifully Fall up here at home north, it is sure crisp, it is not peak color yet but leaves are getting there (late this year), and the colorful mums and pumpkin displays are quite amazing to feast with ones eyes… and the grapes are great! Dry this week, chilly but seasonal.
More great in yesterday’s adventures was the pure giddy laughter of Mom and her cousin as they reminisced, 80 plus years of life, when we stopped by her place to bring some of my aunt’s photos (it is a gift that keeps on giving). And as we timed it right, we then were able to take our cousin on a road trip (10 minutes only) over to where both their moms were as children. And their maternal sides had farms near each other, after those folks came over from the old country.
And then we saw another cousin (cousin by marriage to me) who works locally, whose coworkers my mom knows too. (Honestly my mom knows half the people in that town with her clubs and family history, LOL…)
And in the middle of town was a cute new cafe in a real house, so charming and filled with joy and homey feels and good lunch. A precious reminiscing time.
It was one of those moments and days to realize how blessed, and blessed not just for the travel but for the time off to both adventure and to be.. “under the shadow of His Wings“.
That’s how I’ve felt this summer, “under the shadow of His Wings”, from Psalm 63. I am to realize (we all are) that God protects us and keeps us. “Your lovingkindness is better than life…” and in David’s time there were lots of pitfalls and whatnot. We have plenty of those. We need to take a moment to praise where we DO see God’s grace and mercy, and when we forget to look.
David writing the Psalm 63 is when he in the wilderness but remembering times God gave him a more lush life. Yet even in lean times, David would praise in joy at God’s lovingkindness.
So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.
And may we all PRAISE in this harvest season. May we count our blessings even in dry spells. And may we always look for how we are under the shadow of God’s Wing, and He keeps us moving…
Flying (and driving and riding) in faith through life. I know that I have been afforded this time to see what I can see, be where I can be, and know blessings of family…
1 year or 10 years from now might be quite different than today, TRAVEL TODAY!
Amen
Psalm 63 NKJV – Joy in the Fellowship of God
A Psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah.
O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.
When I remember You on my bed,I meditate on You in the night watches. Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.
But those who seek my life, to destroy it, Shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
They shall fall by the sword; They shall be a portion for jackals.
But the king shall rejoice in God; Everyone who swears by Him shall glory;
But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.
It is a blessing to be home at my family north, ut is a different land even if it’s not that far away. And I marvelled at the tree colors in the mountains – so beautiful. It was a wall of wonder and one could appreciate that but I didn’t stop for a picture, I keep driving past, I remembered previous times I tried to take a photo, didn’t come through to the extent of the beauty, you will have to take my word for it.
While in this wall of color, I was catching up on my sermon listening to Pastor Joe of Calvery Chapel, online, tremendous teaching! We walked with Moses out of Egypt and now are right up against the Red Sea with Pharoh’s chasing fleet close behind, actually camped knowing there was no way out, stuck, surrounded… Moses and the Israelites were down but not doomed. Pastor Joe reminded that we need to get to the place where it is ONLY God we look to.
It was an amazing miracle, one that we imagine but you would have had to be there to experience it luke that – in awe but in sure-footed march accross the bottom of the riverbed, no mud, just marvel… and swiftly… Walls so enormously tall. And like the colors but much more impressive, a marvel while moving… You couldn’t even imagine…
So, we do know God rescues. God leads and covers us. Moses visualized a cloud pillar and a fire pillar protecting and guiding and we have that in our souls now. We have guidance and have to look while walking. God makes a way where there is none. This is Salvation’s Way too… see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today.
The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.
These stories were explained and remembered, written down, taught… Future generations all the way in Isaiah’s time were taught: For when Your judgments are in the earth, The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
It is ONLY God in His righteousness Who can rescue, recover, redirect, reassure… Let us believe and rely on Him always. AND KNOW HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IN US NOW.
Lord, You will establish peace for us, For You have also done all our works in us. Isaiah 26:12
Our saving is His Grace upon us. In MERCY AND LOVE.
WE DO WONDER, AND KEEP WALKING. Walls of Wonder and the Way.
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.
Exodus 14:13-31 NKJV
And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”
And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen. Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”
And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them. So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night.
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. And the Egyptians pursued and went after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
Now it came to pass, in the morning watch, that the Lord looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud, and He troubled the army of the Egyptians. And He took off their chariot wheels, so that they drove them with difficulty; and the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.”
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen.” And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and when the morning appeared, the sea returned to its full depth, while the Egyptians were fleeing into it. So the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained. But the children of Israel had walked on dry land in the midst of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
So the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Thus Israel saw the great work which the Lord had done in Egypt; so the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord and His servant Moses.
—-
Isaiah 26:9-13
With my soul I have desired You in the night, Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; For when Your judgments are in the earth, The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
Let grace be shown to the wicked, Yet he will not learn righteousness; In the land of uprightness he will deal unjustly, And will not behold the majesty of the Lord. Lord, when Your hand is lifted up, they will not see. But they will see and be ashamed For their envy of people; Yes, the fire of Your enemies shall devour them.
Lord, You will establish peace for us, For You have also done all our works in us. O Lord our God, masters besides You Have had dominion over us; But by You only we make mention of Your name.
Yesterday we had a community festival where our community-minded church had a table, gifting free bible stickers and verse cards and bookmarks, some bibles and kids bible stories and bracelets. Plus kids could decorate rocks, which was a big hit. It was nicely attended for a small event. And you can NEVER measure any impact of an event like that is – and we never would be able to measure our church impact in the long run because ‘it’ is a faith thing not a weight, unit measure, or monetary value or widgets being produced. We don’t know the state of the people’s faith, all we know is we have to have faith to put ourselves out there to increase the Kingdom in whichever way God needs us to work, one seed at a time… It was not even a table to recruit attendees (although we would love them), it was an outreach table to simply say: we are here and we care and we want you to know the Lord. So, it’s not measurable, but I do hope the Lord shows me some sign of impact because I just like to know sometimes…
Well, I appreciated the kids, and just as we started, all these boys on bicycles came up and took the free faith bracelets with scriptures on them. I knew that I’m watching the Holy Spirit work, even if I will never know that impact. And in sincerity, us as adults should try to interact with kids of all ages because we are role models whether we are known or not.
And honestly, I don’t need to know the impact of a bracelet or book – I’m not the one keeping score. I know the Lord is holding count, and covering children in His Love, in their faith, for His Mercy, and all for Salvation’s sake.
And then, I opened the prayer box – and yeah the weight of the prayer requests are mighty – and yeah wow. It is not a burden that would be measurable – prayers are burdens shared and burdens carried – but not quantitative – they just ARE. And we are to be humbled to share in burdens – we are to carry each other by holding each other up. Paul would write to the Galatians: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
The first of the papers included ones that I wrote while talking to folks – one for a mom – one for a dad with cancer – two for missing a grandma – and a JOY for a boy whom we prayed for last year and he is recovered – doing great – Praise God. Then I opened the last paper – wow my heart and my tears and my soul just I don’t know how to describe it but I knew that the Lord gave me that burden to carry to pray for the person – it was a woman’s writing that said “I have a lump in my breast and I am praying it is not cancer.” = Yeah I felt humbled in prayer and placed in purpose. It was like her lump went to my throat – and I will take that on as a prayer – plus I know that we will pray as a church for this person – and I know that God sees more and more prayers – that we DO matter when we pray – and God DOES hear and God does heal – we will see that burdens are bear-ed bared and shared. And well, it made me in near tears at that moment because I also counted my blessings over trouble… Yes, I was tired but I didn’t have that issue. I didn’t need to think about achieving or counting or chatting or interacting – it was just about prayer at that moment – it was just about burdens shared. I thought back to the afternoon and yes I remember one woman who wrote a prayer paper while I was chatting with a child – and she said thank you and was off – and I didn’t chat – it was like a driveby ‘write and go’ moment. I am humbled to share that prayer request with you folks – for all those notes and especially the one – the drop and go – the “God knows the situation” prayer – the moment to know that others DO know that God heals…
We do too…
SO let us pray for all and all pray for one – and I know we can hold a blessing of burdens immeasurable because God – His Glory is Immeasurable too…
AMEN
—
Galatians 6 NKJV Bear and Share Burdens
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.
Be Generous and Do Good Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Glory Only in the Cross See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.
Blessing and a Plea And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Here is the note which put a pause in my grumbling to turn to prayer… for a woman who slipped it into the prayer box without us speaking about it… God bless her and keep her!
And wow just a short brief 5 lines of scripture have a huge number of BLESSED BUZZWORDS – of TRUE SALVATION SPEAK! Peter is gifting knowledge and assurance and reinforcing to the folks what they already know – God is Awesome – God is our Father who knows and who saves and who is always with us…. What a Heavenly Inheritance!!!
Let us read these words revealed and be healed.
Amen
…
Here they are from 1st Peter 1:1-5:
Jesus Christ
Peter
apostle
pilgrims
foreknowledge
God the Father
sanctification
Spirit
obedience
sprinkling of the blood
Grace
to you
peace
multiplied
heavenly
inheritance
blessed
abundant
mercy
begotten
living hope
resurrection
from the dead
inheritance incorruptible
undefiled
does not fade away
reserved in heaven for you
kept by the power of God
through faith
salvation
revealed in the last time
Amen Amen
—
1 Peter 1 NKJV
Greeting to the Elect Pilgrims – 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
A Heavenly Inheritance – 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
I am glad it’s Friday, I have been working my plans for the weekend with renewed energy. And I am planning on traveling up home next week so that helped me buckle down to home stuff this week. I like making my plans and truly keeping busy with purpose because this keeps me motivated and keeps me in a form of schedule and without that I get lost. And planning relaxing time is a great venture too – planning that time includes bringing books or puzzles, writing or who knows…
It is Friday, and you wouldn’t think without working 9-5 M-F, that Friday wouldn’t feel like Friday, but it still does… and it is 85 plus summer feeling… and I have come out to my favorite pondering porch of this season, with laptop, book, and phone for writing, at a local mansion/park on the water. The trees sounding in the breeze surely does please!!! It is like a private park, so nice…
It is OK to pause in a plan to ponder.
I decompressed my day yesterday with movie clips of “Evan Almighty” – so funny and so meaningful too. Fictitious yes, but thought provoking yes. Evan (Steve Carrell) is a newly-elected congressman who THINKS he is going to do things he values, but instead, God (portrayed in the flesh by Morgan Freeman) wants Evan and his family to build an ark. It is not Evan’s plan at all, but God essentially backs him into a corner, and gives him all the tools, animals to help, and a book called “Building Arks for Dummies”. God even shows up to motivate Evan’s wife (frustrated with Evan’s craziness) to go back to her husband as they are a fabulous family unit. It is a good movie even if totally goofy in premise and not necessarily scripturally sound, like Noah doesn’t get to be Moses too (I won’t spoil the scene for you). Anyway, there IS a great message here, which is that God’s plans are well above our plans.
We think ahh, our plans… but whose plans? Just we are to pray that our plans align along with God’s plans not vice versa.
I don’t know the little plans for me, but I understand there’s a BIG ultimate plan, long term. We are but pondering points of time, and we best keep working our piece of God’s pie…
In the movie, the humor abounded, but sometimes we are in tough spots picking God’s Will over our own. Are there many good choices? Yes, like picking ice cream flavors, all good. In life, we have a big question of following God’s lead. It is easier to know His Path for us if we check in often.
Unlike the movie where the actor says ‘do random acts of kindness’, we know. God has us doing deliberate acts of LOVE.
Pondering is a place we pause. God’s reasoning in our lives is s cause
Amen
Psalm 123:1-2 NKJV
A Song of Ascents.
Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the Lord our God, Until He has mercy on us.
I went to sit at the Garden of Reflections yesterday, a nice green grassy area remembering September 11th – with peaceful places to pause – even if the memory is not of a peaceful day. This was my first visit this year and well, it is technically sentimental for me as it was 12 years ago that I wandered here on my awakening day – Feb 1st – and I had realized that after 6 weeks of pondering and writing out my awakening that I was now 100% with Jesus… yeah… That day I picked up one of the many decorative trinkets which was no trinket at all – it was John 3:16 on a coin – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” – AND YES I COULD FINALLY BELIEVE IT.
This time at the sculpture from the steel beams there were not the multitude of trinkets and coins – but one perfectly placed charm – of “the tree of life” – a charm that I also have in a necklace and earrings – and I know that we as the tree are to stretch out our branches and become fruitful and change with the seasons – prepare for winter – spring out again in spring – and be a home for critters – and be a sight for visitors – shade in the summer and even a place to climb and rest in the branches. Our own TREE of Life is surely planted by the Lord – and as Psalm 1 calls out: “and like a tree firmly planted I’ll be, grounded in the Word.”
And God will prune our tree as He sees fit… And today is another day to GROW!!!
And so on this day, you (I) might expect some earthshaking feeling when I stepped onto the grounds where I knew I was reborn in Jesus, not turning back, but it was not that same day it was 12 years ago… We change and we grow… And there was a decrease in stress for sure, but the place of my life is different now than that day – it is different this morning than it was even last night – and last night was different than the middle of the day. It is not that my fire has diminished but that my embers are old and glowing rather than young and leaping flames… My faith still has a holy hold of me but maybe I can describe faith moved from a bonfire to a campfire to a torch – and now I keep moving that LIGHT to other places…
Still, it was good to sit – and work on my laptop and well I also accidentally fell asleep for a short nap – and clearly the Lord has put mechanisms into our lives that keep us alive and waking up from a choking neck bend, so it was good for that reflex to rescue me (honestly it is better to go to the beach and nap there!) – and I can attest to our mechanisms of life are a mystery and a marvel!!! And if these are marvels of our life – imagine the much bigger marvel of how God keeps all the plates spinning in the air at the same time.
Knowledge is knowing that the Lord has a plan – and that we are to bear witness that our hope is the result of us knowing the Good News – not just us living in it’s LIFElight (or limelight) but to Light Life.
Today will be a whole new day of wonder – and as “we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” – we are to remember that each day has it’s own adventures – covered in mercy and grace…
Keep living in the branches – and hold onto that Vine of Jesus – feed from it – God is pruning us to make us more Christlike – and we shall sing praises in the Garden of His Reflection…
Amen
The “Jesus Always” devotion reminded of this scripture: “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” from 2nd Corinthians – which also has the great scripture of us being jars of clay – hard pressed on each side… I surely am not as pressed as disciple Paul was – but I get the same reminders from it: ponder the steps of life – don’t dilly dally in worry – work while walking – wonder out of just a wander – and always look for the LIGHT.
John 15:1-17 NKJV
The True Vine “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
Love and Joy Perfected “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
2nd Corintinans 4:6-18 NKJV
For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Cast Down but Unconquered But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you.
And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
Seeing the Invisible Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, whilewe do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
