Taking Time

I have always tried to write of what I know...to be me on these typed pages.  Life has kept me busy and while there are no regrets for my activities, this blank page seems hard to fill just now.  It isn't a bad thing or a good thing...just unusual.  Journaling over the years has been sporadic at best and my blog has been a good way to keep it up, but all of the ink seems to have leaked out of my head.
My prayer life has suffered as well.  Quick words spoken from my heart or my lips - with good intentions, but...is that how it is supposed to be?  I don't think so.  He is in my thoughts throughout the day...so, why is staying before the throne like trying to keep a paddle ball in one place?
He hears my every word, my every conversation, but am I taking time to hear Him - to tell Him all that is inside me - then to wait...for His peace that passes all understanding?  It is already mine.  It is one of His promises to me. Let my days begin and end with Him who gave His Son that I might live.
Lord, keep teaching me that You are the answer to all of the very cares that surround me and invade my thoughts and push You out.    Thank You, thank You that Your throne stands forever. Your love never ends.  You are forever accessible to all that call upon Your name.  No other gods can stand before You. You are the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Forever let Your name be praised...by me.

O Me Of Little Faith

Have you ever started to earnestly pray for someone's life to change, and over time the once zealous prayer became little more than an occasional thought?  I have seen it happen quite often in my own life - especially when the subject of the prayer is a rebellious soul...someone who has chosen to live without regard for others and without regard for God at all.
Their names are on prayer lists for so long that they become commonplace and barely seen. Before long, they are not seen at all.  The fervor of the request has died and there is no belief that anything will ever happen.  Shame on us. Shame on me.

Proverbs 15:29  The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. 

I do not feel very righteous when I fail to pray for those I love.  Perhaps this makes evident my lack of love.
Just when I was not looking...when I was too busy being exasperated, God worked.  Wait a minute.  God worked???  Where was I?
The person on my list begins to live a life that appears to be making a turn.  I do not trust what I am seeing.  Surely it is a trick.  I stick my big toe into his life.  Hmmm. Seems real.  I engage in conversation.  Hmmm.  He says the right things. (As if I am the one who could see the heart.)
I observe him going through some trials.  He is patient.  He is calm.  Wow, God.  You are amazing.  You had a plan in spite of me and my doubts.  You saw a soul when I saw an annoyance.
The Lord has done what only He can do.  I only wish my faith had not been so weak.  I am glad to know that someone's life isn't dependent on my zealousness.  I bow before Him in such gratitude and praise, and ask forgiveness.  His example of unconditional love speaks a piercing truth to my soul...love never fails.

Lamentations 3:22  The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 

O Lord, let me stand with those who remain faithful in bringing names to Your throne.  May I never cease to offer intercessory prayers.  Thank You that someone's salvation does not depend on my earnestness.  You sit on Your throne and do as You please.

Psalm 115:3  Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. 

May my prayers be constant as I love others enough to talk to You about them.

I Missed You, Blog

Dear Blog,
I have missed you.  Life has been busy, but fun.  Today Tommy and I took three of our grandchildren to a local pool.  It is wonderful for children of any age.  Half of the pool is only 2 feet deep or under.  No worries, mommies.  My phone tells me it will be 100 degrees for the next two days....and my phone is never wrong.  (:/)  So we headed out for cooler places.  It never fails...wherever we go, someone knows Tommy and today was no different.  He was playing with Luke, Emma, and Bella when a little girl approached him.
Little girl:  Are these your grandchildren?
Tommy: Yes
Little girl:  I knew it.  I recognized you.
Tommy: You did?
LIttle girl: Yes, you are a grandpa.
Yes, he is...and happy about it, too.  Tonight is the last night of Vacation Bible School and everyone is glad, except of course, the children.  As my friend Jessica put it, "We start out on Monday night with a bang of enthusiasm and by Thursday we are dragging."  Friday night the enthusiasm will return, propelled by the exuberant fact that we made through another week of VBS. Every year it is the same.
My bones are weary, my body hurts, but my spirit is good and my love for children strong.  And so it goes....  Love, Me

Too Busy to Write

Isn't that sad?  Well, it is to me.  I am too dry to write anything worth reading...so you can stop now if you like because there is no telling where this post will end.  It is 10:03 and I have to be somewhere in twelve minutes.  And so it goes.
I am missing the out pouring of thoughts and ideas that usually flow through my brain.  Too many tangibles have taken over and that is fine, really.  I am just sad not to write.  So.  My goal is to get to the point of breathing again.  I know it will happen soon... after all, how long can a person hold her breath?
I hope you all have a wonderful day full of His mercies which are new every day.
BTW - with this whole big brother thing looming in every corner of the internet, I feel even more challenged to keep posting about our Great Sovereign Lord...Who is also in every corner of the internet.  Just think about that.  Love you all..............Me

Never For Only One Reason

Romans 8:28  And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 

That verse is often used to comfort and remind.  Sometimes it is very hard to believe.  God's word is always true, even if it doesn't always feel true.  (can't trust those feelings - they often betray you)

When God allows trials to come our way, or He chooses another path for us than the one we wanted, or when we fight against the 'goad' with which He is chastening us - remember He is God, always good, always right, always just.

What happens to us is never for just one reason.  Chances are others are involved.  There is comfort in knowing that someone may someday benefit from the pain and agony we are going through right now.  God is teaching us to trust Him.
He works all things for good if we love Him and lay our burdens at His feet. All things.

1 Peter 5:6-7  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 

Sylvan Beach and Morgan's Point

This evening Tommy and I went down to Sylvan Beach in LaPorte.  I know I have written about it perhaps more than once, but I am seldom there in the evening.  There is a pier that is lit at night for the fishermen.  People strolled down the sidewalk by the very calm waters.  My little phone camera took some great pictures and I just wanted to share.

 Then we took a drive down Park Street to Morgan's Point.  It is like driving along the Hamptons.  I did not get pictures of the houses, but maybe next time.  It is an amazing little piece of history along a tiny peninsula in the middle of the ship channel. Huge old houses and mansions with servants quarters out by the street bring to mind stories you may have read in a book.  It is all quaint now and so very lovely.

We had friends that lived there years ago and while the back of their big home faces the streetside, the front faces the bay.  It is stately and two stories high, except for a hidden staircase that leads to a third story consisting of two rooms...a reading room and a library of very old books.  The window in the reading room  opens out to a little landing with just enough room for someone to sit.  Ruthie had placed a green velvet covered lounge chair in the middle of the room - perfect for browsing through dusty books and/or snoozing.  Wish I had a picture, but George and Ruthie are long gone and new owners have redone everything, keeping the charm, but adding a facelift.

 All of this beauty is within twenty minutes of my house.  Sigh.

The Sterling Mansion where Governor Ross Sterling lived.  At one time it was called the Sterling Osborne Mansion.  I could not get a picture of all of it.  Huge.

gods at war

(I added the sticker.)   :)

We are doing a study of the book "gods at war" by Kyle Idleman on Wednesday nights at church this summer.  We began tonight. Different ladies will be leading each week, but tonight was my turn.  The book is excellent and convicting.  (Aren't all things most excellent also most convicting?)
The title says it all.  These gods are at war for our affections and attention and devotion.  They never cease begging for it. They are beautiful and alluring, and ugly and distasteful - all at the same time.  We pursue money, success, peace, popularity, possessions, friendships, and intimate relationships.  It isn't that any of those things are wrong on their own, but God made us to be worshipers.
It may not be that we intend on worshiping someone or something else rather than God, but when we put more energy, time, love, and emotion into anything other than our Creator...if He and His design for us is not the source of our joy, we better do some self examinating.  Little gods don't become little gods overnight...but the infatuation grows until God is dethroned and something else in enthroned.
We are born worshipers...and if we are not exalting our LORD God, another will creep in.  John Calvin said that our hearts are idol factories.  I know mine is.  The war within never ends. Sigh.
I encourage you to read the book...along with The Book.  God shares His place with no one.  No one.