Thursday, March 21, 2024

. . . Good Tidings of Great Joy . . .

 


. . . Good tidings of great joy . . . ~Luke 2:10


Pictured above are my daughter, Sarah, son-in-law, John, and their three girls, Virginia, Savannah and Alexandra, when they were here visiting with us during their spring break last year.  The good tidings?  They are coming again in a few short days to see us!

This Gammie and Papa are beside ourselves with joy!  They will be arriving on Saturday, and won't depart for home until the following Saturday.  We will have an entire week dedicated to laughs, games, activities, and lots and lots of hugs to remember them by.

That being said, I will not be either posting or commenting on other blogs during this time.  Family is just too important to me.  I'm sure all of you out in Blogland will understand completely.

And when I do return to my blog, you can count on hearing plenty of stories and seeing lots of photos that show how our time was spent together over that week.

May each and every one of my precious readers have a reflective Holy Week, and rejoice on Easter Sunday!

Alleluia, the Lord is risen!  The Lord is risen, indeed.  Alleluia!

Thursday, March 14, 2024

I Weep

 


Jesus wept. ~John 11:35


I weep for hurting souls 

Who never saw the coming

Of travesty, now mourning

The ones who suffered

I weep for the children

Who never will see light 

Of day, God's promises

Denied because of

Choices, selfish, made

I weep for those whose

Health betrayed them

When it's needed most

And in the weeping, I

See hope and grace

In Father, Son, and Holy

Spirit, Three in One.

Amen!

Thursday, March 7, 2024

Tiny Droplet

 


For now, we see only a reflection as in a mirror, then we shall see face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. ~1 Corinthians 13:12


Tiny droplet

Clinging After

Rain has passed

Inconsequential

Fleeting until

I stop and peer

Into its orb

Amazed to find

Whole world reflected.

Amen!

 

 

 

Thursday, February 29, 2024

God's Wisdom, a Gracious Gift

 


If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ~James 1:5


Curious about the photo above?  Danny and I buy flowers together for Valentine's Day.  While it's lovely to have cut flowers adorning our dining room table, we're aware form the moment of purchase that these will not last forever.  Danny trims and refills the water multiple times, but their fate is inevitable.  He decides to simply toss them out of the vase and into the woods; some get caught up in the tree limbs, giving the illusion that they are blooms on the tree.  Whimsical, don't you think?

The nicest part about an early spring, for me, is seeing the gorgeous daffodils come to life in our yard.  I plant most of them in late fall in the early years of our marriage.  They have faithfully blossomed every year hence, although usually in the month of March, not February.  I can recall as if it were yesterday kneeling in the leaf-covered mulch, digging holes in the ground, and carefully covering each bulb with soil, full of hope for a cheerful spring.

It's a good thing I did so then; just the thought of getting down on my knees and trying to plant either flowers or bulbs, fills me with consternation.  Would I even be able to get back up without help?  What a difference this aging process has meant for me and done to me!






Aren't they breathtakingly lovely?

And for me, today, they are an exceptional treasure.  You see, March 1st is my birthday!  Such a perfect gift!  Not that I like thinking about getting older, especially when I'm physically challenged by chores I once did with ease.  But I hope and pray that with my age has come wisdom.  God's wisdom.  Filling my heart, mind and soul.

I'd rather have God's gracious gift of wisdom and to love as He loves more than anything else I can imagine.  And to think, all we need to do is ask Him, and we will receive it from our generous Father.  He doesn't withhold any good gift, but showers us with grace and mercy at every turn.

May I live out my days with gratitude for all my blessings.

Amen!

Thursday, February 22, 2024

Investments

 


Do not be wise in your own eyes;  fear the Lord and shun evil.  This will bring health to your body and nourishment for your bones. ~Proverbs 3:7-8


It seems the older I get (too quickly, I might add), the more supplements I've introduced to my body.  Although some have truly made a difference for the better, there are some with which I part ways.  Their promises for more energy and better health ring empty.


I've also ditched my daily tumeric I have been taking for joint pain, especially in my wrists.  Too much time on the keyboard?  Probably.  Instead, I've opted for this:



Danny researches this product thoroughly, and in only two weeks of taking it, I can feel a measurable improvement in pain-free mobility.  It's a win-win for me since it also helps with hair growth and skin health.  I'm already takin Nutrafol, recommended by my dermatologist, for battling thinning hair.  Who would ever think that the product, so widely advertised, would actually do the trick?



I highly recommend it to any of you who are struggling with hair loss.  However, keep in mind that is by no means inexpensive.

But in my book, Nutrafol has been a worthwhile investment for me.

Yes, good health and nutrition are the bulwarks for living our best physically, but what about spiritually?  How can we boost the quality of time we spend with God each day?

We invest.

In His Word.  In prayer.  In quiet contemplation.  In listening for and to His still, small voice.  Not just daily, but moment by moment.

And as we do, we come to realize that all our surroundings speak to the sacredness of life and living well.



(I will be reviewing Sacred Surrounding by my good friend, Jean Wise, soon!)

God is with us, for us, in us.  At all times and in all places, no matter what circumstances we face or what troubles may come.

No matter how much our joints might ache or how disheveled our hair looks, God loves us just the same.

Every one of us.

Amen!


Thursday, February 15, 2024

Alpha and Omega

 


"I am the Alpha and Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." ~Revelation 1:8


Tenuous times

Temporary times

Uncertainty rules

Obedient hearts 

Now wander, wonder

Pray unceasing

For closure sure

A future hope

In faith reveals

A promise made

A promise kept

He is the Alpha

And Omega

Today, forever.

Amen!

Thursday, February 8, 2024

Just Then, the Bed Broke!

 


In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. ~1 Timothy 6:19


My grandmother, whom I called Nana, had a unique way of always looking on the bright side of things, no matter what the circumstances.  She had a favorite saying when it appeared as though everything was going downhill fast: "Just then, the bed broke."  In other words, life happens in ways we least expect, and we have no other choice but to go along for the ride.

One time, when we were visiting her and my Grandpa, Nana had all of the grandchildren piled on one of the beds, giggling, bouncing, and creating genial chaos when, lo and behold, the bed actually broke!  We kids were momentarily shocked and dismayed at what our rambunctiousness had seemingly caused, until Nana, with her ready smile, declared, "Just the the bed broke!"  Oh, how we screeched with laughter and relief!  No one was going to get in trouble that day.

I wish I'd inherited more of my Nana's indominable spirit.  The other night around 3:00 in the morning, our bed frame gave way out of the blue.  Can you see it listing in the photo above?  The slope it created made it impossible to sleep there.  Danny takes the small double bed in our guest room.



I take the living room couch, where I'm used to taking my naps.



We weather the night fine, but when morning dawns, we are left with an unexpected dilemma - how are we going to remove the damaged frame to allow the bed and box spring to rest on the floor itself.  Because of his recent surgery, Danny is prohibited from moving or lifting anything heavy with his right arm.  Our thoughts turn to Nicco for help, but we quickly realize this is too big of a job for him to do successfully on his own.  The bed is just too cumbersome for any one person to maneuver.

Danny wonders if some new friends from church might be able to help.  They've been checking in on us since the recent incident, and as soon as we contact them, dad, Matt, and son, Joe assure us they'd be glad to help out.

Such a welcome turn of events!  In no time, it seems, the three guys dismantle the frame, move it to another room that can easily store it, and put our bed to rights for the time being.  Once again, we have a firm foundation upon which to thankfully enjoy a rejuvenating night's sleep.



Our bodies certainly need a firm foundation, but so do our souls.  Are you depending upon Jesus for that flawless foundation He has prepared for all of us?  It is there where we can grab hold to the life that is truly life, and rest peacefully in His arms.  No bed can break there!

Amen!

. . . Good Tidings of Great Joy . . .

  . . . Good tidings of great joy . . . ~Luke 2:10 Pictured above are my daughter, Sarah, son-in-law, John, and their three girls, Virginia,...