Locker room jokes....

Locker room jokes....

Getting ready for water fitness is funny. But this morning, one woman was joking about not looking like her mother "at this age".  Here we are a bunch of woman in a locker room, some sixty year olds, but most 70+, baggy skin, most overweight, gray hair, wrinkles in every imaginable place....amongst us are teen girls just finishing their workouts for one of the local swim teams, slender, not an ounce of flab anywhere, fit, trim, wonderful long hair, no wrinkles....quite a contrast to say the least....

One woman pipes up saying, " I remember thinking I am never going to look like "that", my mother ...." As she stares looking into the mirror..." And here I am, looking at her!"  We all chuckle...thinking we have said the same thing...and here we all are, looking at our mothers...as the teens walk out saying the same thing we have in the past, "I am never going to look like that"....

Age....it does give perspective....and laughter...for those of us who have lost our mothers to another world, we  are joyous and sad at the same time, missing them and rejoicing that they are in a Better place...

We carry on, the  matriarchs of our families...hoping that we can give wisdom, time, joy to those coming behind as we gathered from our mothers...

We do look like our moms...I want to be remembered for a smile or encouragement, not the wrinkles that are quickly invading my life...

thank YOU for mothers, mine and so many more who bring joy to their families...maybe I do want to look like her after all...

Proverbs 31:26, 28-31 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

A pencil...

The pencil....

I received a photo yesterday of a child holding two pencils...it was one of those photos that hits you in your gut...

I can go to the dollar store, the office supply store, the grocery store,  even the hardware store and buy pencils, pens by the "bushels"....and here was a child holding his prize pencil of one inch next to his brand new pencil....oh, I am so callous with my drawers of pencils and pens, my abundance in a world of need...I take for granted so many things in life...little things like a pencil...

The accompanying picture was the "library" for the child with the new pencil. The  "library" was a tree with children sitting around on dry, red earth...heads bent, devouring little books accumulated from wherever in their brightly colored cotton shirts and shorts somewhere in Zambia....such a contrast to the abundance of books in my own home, let alone the vast libraries we have in our towns or even the bookstores, the grocery stores or the thrift stores, online ....million of books waiting to be devoured with such enthusiasm ...or reading them in the comfort of a Lazyboy chair or desktop computer or curled in bed or a patio chaise lounge on a patio in comfort...

Such contrasts....Jesus said in Matthew 26:11 "The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. " NIV. Basically, there will always be the poor...there will always be the contrasts...but there are times when the contrasts are so stark...so revealing...

What will this child write with this new pencil? Will he pen a great poem, write a letter that's transforms his life, Learn a new math structure, draw a picture for his home...

And here I am writing on an electronic device with no pencil in hand ...what power we both have to encourage, to tear down, with the figures we put to "paper"... Are we using it to the best of our ability ?
Am We doing enough? The best? To what we are called?   For the price of a pencil.....a book...

Thank YOU for the reminder of the simple things that mean so much...let me not take for granted the abundance you have bestowed....help me to be a good steward...no matter where in the small or large.....

Luke 16:10-12 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?
And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? NIV

Walking in disappointment ...

Walking in disappointment...

 Lately, there has been one incident after another with myself and some around me that have met with  one disappointment  after another, life changes, health changes, death, etc..etc...I don't know why they are happening, only God knows that...but was reminded that no matter the disappointment, Jesus is walking there beside us...we may not recognize His presence at first, we may question the circumstances, we are so caught up in life that we don't see His provision, His Love, His comfort...or maybe we haven't recognized our need to call upon Him as our savior...and we are ask Him to be...He is readily available in all circumstances...

Job sat and listened..
Daniel entered the lions den..
The disciples took the Word to the World...

These men on the road were enlightened and encouraged...overjoyed when they recognized that Jesus was there all the time, even when they didn't recognized Him...

Luke 24:13-35 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.
They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.
As they talked and discussed these things with each other,
Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.
He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

For those who have recognized their need for a savior, and have asked Jesus to save them, they have the promise of the abiding Holy Spirit to be with them and in them all the time...never leaving in anyway....we may not recognize Him, or acknowledge Him, but He is there always...ready to strengthen and comfort, deliver truth to our souls...

Thank YOU, Jesus, that you walk beside us...

John 17,... Praying for me ....

John 17... Praying for me and you...

It is always more than amazing that Jesus prayed for me or anyone that believes because of himself and those who came to believe because of his disciples' testimony. He prayed for us two thousand years ago. Not only that,   In psalm 139, God knew us before were  formed and while we were forming..plus, He knows our paths, our words before we say them, He knows how many hairs we have,..in my finite mind that is unfathomable, He has our days counted, he has given me sunrises and sunsets to enjoy, blesses my days, has plans for me, I am written on the palm of His hand....he died for my sins...

But, that the creator of the vast universe would take time to pray for me...is just sooo _____________. I cannot even think of a word so big and comforting...

Thank YOU so very much...

John 17:20-26 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.
May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity.
Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
"Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.
I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

Editing again....

Editing again....

I have been working on all of my grief blogs.

First, all of the pictures had to be removed, put into gray tones, sharpened, renamed, put into separate files, and finally sent through another program just for pictures.

Second, all grammar had to be corrected, spelling rechecked, unneeded spaces deleted, hard page breaks added, eliminating whole passages..

And now, I am working on copyrights of any outside quotes, writing letters and notes to other authors that I have used or making sure that each quote is labelled with the proper wording as well as adding a bibliography. ( it is fun hearing from "real" authors, though).

All of this entails re-reading each entry over and over again, going back to previous notes, journals, places of pain and triumph, grief and joy, tears and laughter...plus hours of sitting at the computer...

In some ways, it is reliving days and nights of grief, the mountain tops of joy and the valleys of despair, the unevenness of the grief paths, the loss and the growth, the new chapters of life, the newness of widowhood, the readjusting again and again, remembering friends who are living through similar happenings, losses and gains,  the beginnings of the new normals, the notes others wrote in encouragement, reliving conversations with many people, the letters my children wrote, and finally the comforting words spoken to my heart through the Word of God....He was and is always there, thank YOU...

I don't by any stretch of the imagination know what tomorrow holds, but have solidified in my heart that God is there as well, just as He has been in this whole life process so far...thank YOU again...

Because He Lives, Bill and Gloria Gaither....
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4M-zwE33zHA

2 Timothy 3:14-17 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,
and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. NIV

Undaunted, Christine Caine, Zindervan, 2012. Chapter-"Scar Tissue".

Light in darkness ....

Light in darkness....

John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 12:26, 28, 35-36, 46 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.
My Father will honor the one who serves me. Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer.
Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you.
Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

For suggested summer reading, I am reading a book by Christine Caine, "undaunted", about human trafficking, not my usual genre, but oh so enlightening... As well as looking into ministries which work with persecuted Christians around the world...then another friend has felt the call to visit brothels giving light in Jesus' name...all bringing light to dark places...in a crazy darkening world...

It reminded me so much of standing in Western Asia amongst tombs of Muslim leaders. We weren't to speak of Jesus. But, He was so evidenced in the people I was with...the tour guide even spoke of visiting the Christian church should he even have the opportunity....the light shone through the darkness which prevailed in the tombs, streaks of light beaming all around us, a reminder that Christ is the light and He shines everywhere ....

Thank YOU...that no matter where the darkness, Your light shines through for those who believe...there is hope in the darkness...


Scarlet cord ministry
house of the rising sun ministry
A21 ministry
Soroptimst Bra project

Etc. etc.

Unique...

Unique .....

Jesus Calling, June, 19th...."My guidance for each of My children is unique. That’s why listening to Me is so vital for your well-being. Let me prepare you for the day that awaits you and point you in the right direction. I am with you continually so don't be intimidated by fear. Though it stalks you, it cannot harm you, as long as you cling to My hand. Keep your eyes on Me, enjoying Peace in My Presence....."

Father's Day....I have two sons and two sons-in-law...each one is so unique just as their wives are. Each fit together in a wonderful union. Each personality is different, each upbringing is different, each calling is different and none of them look anything alike...unique...they do have some common interests...some common senses of humor and all have a common faith which points them in the same direction...and I love them all for who they are...

Thank YOU for each, their uniqueness...their measure of faith, their gifts and talents... Build them, mold them into the men you desire them to be...let them reply on You, their creator...let them find their peace in You, their guidance for their lives in Your Word...

Philippians 1:3-6 I thank my God every time I remember you.
In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.