A Psalm A Day

From time to time I write to the ladies in our church in order to give them information or encourage them.  We had been discussing the benefits of having a devotional time, but some said they did not know where to start and struggled with faithfulness after beginning with zeal.  I get that.  The world sits closely by, eager to snatch our attention from the One who loves us most.
Someone dear to me said that Psalms is a great place to begin.  She suggested reading a Psalm a day, writing down a character trait of God, and choosing a verse to dwell on for that day.  I shared this with the ladies.  I have no idea if they took my advice, but I did. Today I read Psalm 16.
Psalm 16:2   I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you." 
It is true.  Apart from God, there is nothing good anywhere...in me...in you...anywhere.
Psalm 16:5  The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. 
In biblical times, they often cast lots in order to determine something...kind of like throwing dice. Once the lot was cast, there was no arguing with the outcome.  It was settled.  He holds my lot.  He holds the outcome of my life.  He determines what comes my way.  It is settled.
Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.  
In His presence is fullness of joy.  Why would I struggle with making time for this?  Ever?  I want my days to begin in His presence..where joy lives.  The world can wait.

A Busy Week

This week has kept me occupied with many things.  I have baked kids and kept cookies...I mean kept kids and baked cookies, been shopping with my granddaughter Ivy, decorated my house somewhat for the big turkey day and the bigger holiday in December.

We are navigating away from a huge Thanksgiving.  My year has held some stress and I sat down in the floor with my legs crossed and my arms folded, refusing to get up and cook for fifty. Everyone was really gracious when I backed out of the ordeal, and I am sure they will find a way to feed themselves without my help.  I had to find a way to get up off the floor alone.  (It is getting harder and harder to do that.)

This is Holden, my great nephew

We read a story before his nap.  Hey, how did those wrinkles get on my neck?

He slept three hours!  So I baked.

Jane Lynch's chocolate chip cookies.  Yum!!

Then I cooked a meal for my brother and his wife.  Green chile chicken in the crockpot.

I lightly browned the chicken in olive oil and butter.

Then I sauted onions.
Can you tell I have been watching the Pioneer Woman?

I use crockpot liners.  I put the chicken in and covered it with the onions and green chiles and a can of cream of chicken soup.  It cooked for about 4 hrs on high.  Actually, this looks kind of gross, but it was very good and I served it over rice.

Later in the week, I took Ivy shopping at the mall.  I never, well hardly ever, shop the mall, but I have this Lego guy in my life....named Luke.

Don't worry about her telling him...I bribed her with cookies, like any Grammy would.  Notice the broken arm.  It was busy last week, too.  In fact....I can't remember when it wasn't.  Perhaps 2013?  But I can't remember that far back.

On Wednesday night, most of the crowd had left and I mosied into the sanctuary to listen to the ensemble practice for Sunday.  Tommy followed me and we sat with them and enjoyed the music.

We also saw our friend Rod in the hospital, saw Tommy's doctor, and I did laundry.  No, I did not take pictures.  But next week is Bible Study again and a scheduled mammogram...along with two doctor visits with Tommy, turkey day and a scan on Tommy's pancreas.  Who knows what will show up here.  Tune in...and Happy Thanksgiving!!  Did I mention that I would not trade my life with anyone else's?  All that happens to me is designed by God for my good.  So let me live it as it comes. And again...Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

Old Town Spring 2014

Every year I celebrate birthdays with two friends, Lola and Judy.  Judy's birthday falls on October 31st, and just like clockwork, we head to Old Town Spring for lunch and browsing the shops.  Right now the shops are getting ready for Christmas.  Store owners were frantcially opening boxes and rearranging shelves.  With all the hustling and bustling inside, I took note of the unchanging outside.

A favorite shop and always our first stop.

Bunny in the garden

Love the numbers

Bubbles!

Cute little guy!

 

Our lunch stop

Lola, Judy, and Me

See you next year!

What's In Your Yard?

I discover from time to time that odd things end up in my yard.  We have had stray dogs show up, blue finches in flocks, mice on the fence (yes), and this week was something new.
Tommy and I noticed this beautiful vine growing on one of our evergreens.  I have never seen this flower before, but it is lovely.

Sometimes I walk outside to get a better reception with my phone...and I noticed this in my tree.  Really can't figure this one out.

And then this gang of hoodlums showed up on my porch, wanting to use my bathroom!  Of all things!

Kristin, Tamrynn, Oliver, June, Cherith, Daisy, and Abner (the last two are dogs)

Oliver says hey.

God Does Not Always Change Situations - He Changes People

Burdens can be overwhelming at times, can't they?  They show up unexpectedly and plant themselves right in the middle of our carefully dictated and planned lives.  My mom and grandmother used to say, "This too shall pass" whenever trials appeared.  (My mom still says it.) I have heard that phrase a million times and have found it to be absolutely true.  Troubles do pass...eventually - and no matter how much time it takes for them to go, it is never quickly enough.  But God uses this time to work.
One of my brothers and his wife are raising three of their grandchildren, ages one, three, and eight...all boys.  There is no end in sight to this situation.  But God sees it.  He knew this would happen and how old my brother would be when it did.  No surprise to Him.
The energy level is lower.  The strength in the arms is waning.  The gray hairs are grayer and the wrinkles deeper. (Dont't tell him I said that) Days have turned to weeks, weeks to months, and soon we are dealing with years.  Through this waiting period, I have seen changes in all of them.  My sister-in-law is stronger physically, and she has always been a very determined person.  My brother has become wiser and more patient.  (Believe me, this is amazing.) The three boys have found stability and security when they needed it most.
God takes our 'inconveniences' and uses them to shape us.  We may not like the situations we are in, we may feel like we cannot breathe at times, and we may want to run as far away as our feet can take us.  As long as we do not act on those impulses, but choose to endure, then we will endure.
We are elastic. We can stretch and bend when it is called for. We just might not choose it...and so God chooses for us...and He will walk with us, bearing every burden with us every step of the way.
I learned a long time ago not to tell God what I can and cannot do.  In EVERY situation that I told Him, "I can't" - I did...and I learned things I might not have learned otherwise.

1 Peter 5:10-11  And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.  
11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.