A Birthday Tribute

Today is Flag Day and for all of you who don't know, it's also my mother's birthday.  In this blog usually I address people in my life as "The" but in this case today, I think I'll change a bit from the norm and call her "My" Mother.   Because I am a nice daughter, I will not outright tell her age, just in case she minds but I will say the first number is a 7.   The last digit will remain unmentioned on this blog.

My mother has been my mother for almost 58 years.  Yes, that makes me fairly mature also, doesn't it?   My mother has many stories to tell.  In fact she and I made a day trip to Huntsville a few months ago to go to The Son-in-Law's aunt's funeral there and I learned a lot about my mother that I didn't know. I think that knowledge will remain with me and I won't share, but I will tell you that my mother taught me right from wrong, showed me the example of a Godly wife and mother, and loves me and the rest of her family unconditionally.  Guess that's how God made mothers, huh?

So today I wish her a happy birthday.  And no, I have no nice gift.  Sorry.  I do have a book I have made of my blog posts.  My mother is not computer skilled or minded at all, so she misses reading these posts and I decided this particular post in the front of her birthday book would be perfect.  Hopefully the supper I prepare for her will be to her extreme liking and she won't scold me when she sees the following photos I have shared with you.

 Is she sitting on a church porch?  Of course she is....and look at that cute pocketbook....

 I put this photo in for selfish reasons....I wanted you all to see how cute I was as a child....and that my mother AND I were VERY skinny.

The lovely shirt I was wearing was made like Dr. Kildare's medical coat in the collar area so I felt very doctorish when I wore it....which was often.

To show what a good sport I am, I put this cute photo of The Sister....a ridiculous looking expression and nerdy glasses for me, but angelic of her.

I love this one...

This one made the cut because Mother loved that big hairdo she had and I loved my white wool blazer with the emblem on the pocket.  And my glasses improved a bit.  And The Sister remained cute.

We all looked happy here on The Parents 50th wedding anniversary celebration.

This wonderful photo was taken with my wonderful camera although not by wonderful me.  The Girl had the pleasure of capturing this treasure.

And my mother, the wedding lemonade maker...happily so, it seems.

So happy, happy birthday, Mother.....love you.......

VBS

Vacation Bible School....a time of learning and sharing for children, youth, and adults alike....

I've been thinking so much lately of VBS.  I don't know the first one I ever went to as a child.  I'm sure my mother can and she can tell you everything I did there because most likely she has all the VBS goods still, 50 years later.  My mother is like that.  She loves to keep those things.  The first VBS I can remember going to was the First Baptist VBS in our downtown.  I guess I remember that mostly because the town newspaper had a front page picture of all the students in front of the church itself.  I knew where I was in the mix is the only way I could pick me out.

The VBS I remember most is one I went to at a neighboring church as a teenager.  It was during the daytime as back then many women didn't work publicly and could throw on a good Bible School.  It was three hours----9 a.m. -12 p.m. and I'm telling you, there was no boredom at all.  I remember if we didn't know them already, we learned all 66 books of the Bible and if we did, we reviewed those.  We learned Bible scriptures by memory.  Very. Hard. Ones.  And we had great teaching by our teachers.  Our social acitivites and entertainment were provided during refreshment time around the church picnic table.  I remember this a lot because a lot of the teens who went to church there went to school with me, too, and we even rode the school bus together.  That was back when there was one high school in the county so the school bus ride was very long.  I think the most I remember about that time of social time was the simple conversation and caring that everyone felt.  (And I remember that I wore dresses every day.)  I don't remember that we ever played any sports there, we just learned about the Bible and were content with that.  It's one of those memories that's more a feeling than a visual, you know?  It's a warm and sweet memory feeling and I treasure that.  Plus, I'm glad I learned those 66 books of the Bible.  Talk about pride.  I had it.  Still to this day even though I have quite a bit of trouble with those last few OT books of the prophets, I can do pretty good at Bible Trivia with those questions about Bible books.  Little did I know then....

So this past week I was one of the four teachers of 4 and 5 year old children.  Let me say here that the other three teachers were wonderful helpers.  I couldn't have picked better if I had hand picked.  It was a great week we had growing together and loving together.    The eleven children we had on roll were exceptionally well behaved, had a willingness to sit still and learn (and that's a big accomplishment for that age), and listened when you said "no".  And we did say "no".

The theme of our VBS was "God's Big Back Yard...Under the Stars" and our room was starry and nightish.

We did handprints on our backpacks....

We did sand art....and yes, our shirts were collectively orange.  Bright orange.  Neon. Orange.  

We filled candy bags and made butterflies as gifts for those who served us during VBS week.

And our favorite craft activity was the glow-in-the-dark fireflies....what FUN, FUN, FUN!!!!!!!!

We had great lessons....

played Captain Midnight....

and made and ate smores.

On Thursday night, we had balloons (orange of course) with our names, memory verse ("Love the Lord with all your heart.") and colored pictures on index cards attached.  

We got ready, counted 1...2...3...and .....up, up, and away!!!!!

It was a great week for sure.

The story doesn't end here, though.  As I got my mail from my mailbox this afternoon, I noticed an unfamiliar return address, then as I looked at the addressed envelope, I saw my address with a name and VBS balloon project.  Imagine my excitement!

I opened the letter, sat in my car, and read it.  It was from a woman who had found this card and balloon in her front yard either Friday or Saturday morning.  It was the sweetest letter....this sweet woman telling this child in a letter about her experience of grace with the Lord...being saved at age 9 and now married with a family of her own who "love the Lord with all their hearts".  The letter said some more and I just sat there and cried in my car.  

Amazing to me that that little balloon could travel and land in a yard 136 miles away.  And more amazing to me that the yard would belong to a Christian woman who had the perfect words to encourage my not-so-encouraging day.  It was the Lord speaking to me through her and assuring me that "it is well".  

Some might say I'm ridiculous in believing that the Lord could do that or that the Lord could even do anything.  Doesn't matter to me.  You can think whatever you want. I KNOW that my God can do AAAANNNYYYTHHIINNNGGG.   He sends me things that reaffirm my trust in Him at the perfect time and lets me know He's right there taking care of business.  

So yes, last week it was the faces and joy of children that was a blessing.  When VBS was all said and done, it was the release of a little balloon during VBS that kept on working and brought me what I needed this week... a tiny balloon sent to it's destination by my big God.

And of course, I say a big, "AMEN"!!!!!

WELL......

Yes, it's been a month since I have posted.  Where has time gone?  In my world it's been filled with house painting, VBS preparation, and life.

I spent the last week at night with 11 four and five year olds at VBS.  I had a wonderful time.  I will post that to a separate post, but not today.  My old body and mind are exhausted from that wonderful experience.

Yesterday I got news that a very good friend who was dealing with a cancer diagnosis (and dealing very bravely with the Lord's help) had been hit with yet another cancer diagnosis.  My heart ached yesterday for her and her family.  And for me, as her friend.  I believe she's gonna beat it.  It won't be easy, but I believe she's gonna beat it.

Turmoils, problems, things that hurt and disappoint come to us all every day.  Some days are a struggle, some days are a joy.  And then there are many days in a row that are total strikeouts.  Then something, however small, comes along to show me that someone else is in control.  That happened to me yesterday.

I had to go to the store to buy ice cream ingredients.  I was at a a stop light waiting for it to turn green and as I sat there thinking, my eyes traveled down to the bumper of the car ahead.  My eyes teared up as there, barely able to be seen, was a bumper sticker that said:

GOD LISTENS.

And my heart said a loud "Amen".

PERSPECTIVE

One of the online dictionary’s definition of “perspective” is the way in which objects appear to the eye; a mental view or outlook. 

Last week I went to revival at a church that I attended regularly during my teenage years.  Any time one returns to a place of their past, memories abound for sure.  I remember the church family I was a part of there, fun times had, strong spiritual services, and many other things—some significant, some not so much.  This particular church was a church filled with paternal relatives…my granny’s church and many of her own family.  In fact most of my paternal family sleep in that cemetery.  As my daddy said, the happiest of times and the saddest of times had occurred in that building. 

I can remember in the past when I would enter that church, it would seem such a long way to get to the front….the building seemed soooo big.  When I arrived on Sunday night for service and opened the door, I immediately noted that little had changed through the years except for one thing.  It seemed such a short distance to the front.  The pews and the aisle seemed shorter; however, they were the same ones. 

That got me to thinking, too, about our front yard we had when I was a child.  That yard seemed so very big, had oak trees my daddy had planted.  The front porch of that house seemed large and it seemed such a long distance from that front porch to the road, giving a little girl much place to run and play, pretend and dream.  Now, when I pass by that house, it never ceases to amaze me how small that yard seems.  Yes, it’s the same yard with the same porch on the house, but that porch seems so small. 

I decided that as one got older, the perspective changes….the way one looks at things and the way one thinks of things.  As one reaches “maturity”, I think the past holds so much “experience” that it makes one hopefully wiser and does change their perspective somewhat.    Face it, I’m realistic now when I look in the mirror.  Gone are the dreams of one day being slender.  I know that’s a ridiculous thought as long as I stay healthy.  I was slender in 12^th grade and since then slender has become an unfamiliar word when used with my weight and form.  And now, I put it in perspective and it’s okay.  That’s not to say I’d not like to weigh a bit less, I would for sure, but I know that for that to happen, I have to make a serious effort to count the calories and pay attention to what goes into my open mouth.  I’m working on it.  My counting is not so easy. 

When I disagree with someone, I should always step back and look at the problem from that person's perspective.  Maybe that person is right or maybe that person is wrong but either way, I might be more understanding.  And if that person is wrong, I'll hope he would take a look from my perspective, too, just in case I would be right.  Perspective. 

In my life at this moment, I’d much rather be sitting on my porch watching birds than in a movie theater watching a movie.  Perspective.

When there’s a glass of water, I don’t look at it as half full or half empty.  I see a glass of water to quench my thirst.  Granted, that old saying giving an example of optimism and pessimism will never grow old, but I have learned that life is life and life is going to bring you some things you don’t want.  And one can’t do a thing about some of those things except endure.  Perspective.   And when life dishes out some really good things, just rejoice and be glad. 

Truly, a lot of times I am so busy looking at the outside of someone that I often miss what’s down on the inside and that’s the most important “side” of all.  Character and inner strength are what’s important.  Even though the online dictionary’s definition of perspective is “the way objects appear to the eye”, maybe every now and then I should look at life from God’s eyes.  God's viewpoint.  God's perspective.

1 Samuel 16:7 says, “….the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”

Maybe my thoughts don’t make much sense from one perspective but maybe they will from another.  Think on it.  Perspective.

ONE

When I woke up on this day exactly one year ago, I was experiencing so many emotions.....happy/sad, nervous/excited...you get the idea, I am sure.  It was my little girl's wedding day.  She had waited quite a while for her prince to come and her day had arrived.  Even though there was so much to do, it seemed I still had time to be slightly weepy.  The day was lovely with the exception of being a bit blustery, as Winnie the Pooh would say.  It was a day filled with the things that make beautiful lifetime memories.

God has blessed me as I have been allowed to watch The Girl and The Son-In-Law grow together.  He is a wonderful man who loves my girl and watches out for her needs.  The Girl is a wonderful wife who loves her husband and watches out for his needs.  They are truly servers of their Heavenly Father and seek to make their lives and their home the kind of which He would be proud.  A mother could ask for no more than that...except maybe for a son-in-law who loves cranberry sauce and jello as she does.  Which The Son-In-Law does....just sayin'....

So on this day, their first anniversary, I wanted to share a few memories from that wedding day.....

As the words of one of the songs sang at the wedding goes....

We stand here together as a family, we join hands together, lifting praises to the Father above
For sending His son.
We've chosen together as a family, to serve Him forever, knowing nothing else will matter in time.
We've made up our minds.

Through the heat of the day we will join in the fight
Till He takes us away till our faith ends in sight.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

We will serve Him, we will serve Him
We will serve Him, for He is worthy.
Serve Him, we will serve Him
We will serve Him for He is worthy.

Choose you this day, tell me who will you serve?
Let nothing stand in your way, give the praise He deserves.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

So I pray for the blessing of many more happy years together for The Girl and The Son-In-Law and for today I wish them a wonderful rainy first anniversary and as always, send much love to them.

Amen.

YAY!!!

Today might have been rainy on the outside and very wet to those of us who walked in it (even with an umbrella), but on the "inside" it was a great time of celebration.

I have one nephew and one niece on my side of the family.  They are children of my only sister and her husband.   The Nephew graduated from college a couple of years ago.  Today, The Niece graduated from college, Covenant College, at Lookout Mountain, Georgia....barely in Georgia.  The Son-In-Law remarked on the way home that it was unique in that a Georgia college was graduating in Tennessee, a whole other state.

Today was all about The Niece.  She has grown into a beautiful, sweet, kind young woman.  Wasn't it just yesterday that she was a babe in arms?  Sure seems like it to me and I'm sure to her grandmother and mother.   It's a girl thing, you know?

Our family is so very proud of The Niece so I wanted to mention her in my blog world.  Here she is.....

The graduation ceremony was quite different from public colleges in that God was front and center in the whole celebration.  One scripture I heard more than once was one we can all live by...."Do justly, Love mercy, Walk humbly with thy God."  I pray The Niece will do those things as she travels down her path set before her.  I know she will....

CONGATULATIONS!!!!!

SAVED

Well folks, it's very unusual for me to sit down and write without having had a thought for a time that I have pondered.  It's supper cooking time here at my place.  I have lasagna in the oven, salad draining on the counter, and a frozen package of Cole's garlic bread waiting for the oven. 

On this particular day I have not accomplished a whole lot for sure.  Seems like a lot of days lately I find no accomplishments.  There are clothes to alter, fabrics to sew, ironing to do, scrapbooking that calls me from afar and a house that could stand to be cleaned.  And I want to do all these things...well maybe with the exception of the cleaning of the house and the ironing.  I do dislike ironing.  Maybe I'm just growing slower as I age....or so that's what I'll like to think.

For some odd reason, our cable company has decided to take away The Andy Griffith Show during my supper cooking time so I've had to adapt this week to other forms of kitchen entertainment.  I've pulled out my old CD player as my undercounter one is temperamental these days.  Yesterday my kitchen cd choice was Guy Penrod.  He used to sing with the Gaither Vocal Band and in my opinion, he has one of the prettiest men voices I've ever heard.  Really.  Today I have on the Gaither Vocal Band...duh....Both CD's have a song that is swiftly becoming one of my favorites...so much that today it has touched my heart and caused me to tear up in the eyes.  Now songs that make that happen in the heart have to be considered good. 

This song talks about being a "sinner saved by grace".  The song talks about being loved and forgiven and how He gently leads us back.  Gently.  Can my salvation get any simpler than that?  I think not.  It has made me be thankful all over again and again and again for the precious gift of salvation that I have in my heart and for my heavenly Father who loves me more than anybody loves me.  Granted in the song it talks about in the past being very much sinner-ish and granted honestly, I was a pretty good girl most days but still I was lost without the Lord until I heard the Lord call me.  My heart knew his voice and still does and for that I am so grateful.  I pray I never get so far away that I don't recognize His voice.  What a tragedy that would be!  I can't imagine such.   I don't tell Him enough how grateful I am to be called a child of His.  And without a doubt, I can't humanly go a day without sinning but He doesn't go a day without forgiving either.  What a blessing!

So, of course, I know you all want to know the words of this good song so here are the lyrics:

If you could see what I once wasIf you could go with meBack to where I started fromThen I know you would see
A miracle of love that took meIn it's sweet embraceAnd made me what I am todayJust an old sinner saved by grace
I'm just a sinner saved by graceWhen I stood condemned to deathHe took my place
Now I live and breathe in freedomWith each breath of life I takeLoved and forgiven, backed with a livingI'm just a sinner saved by grace
How could I boast on anythingI've ever seen or done?How could I dare to claim as mineThe victories God has won?
Where would I beHad God not brought meGently to this place?I'm here to say I'm nothingBut a sinner saved by grace
I'm just a sinner saved by graceWhen I stood condemned to deathHe took my place
Now I grow and breathe in freedomWith each breath of life I takeI'm loved and forgiven backed with a livingI'm just a sinner saved by grace
Now I grow and breathe in freedomWith each breath of life I takeI'm loved and forgiven backed with a livingI'm just a sinner saved by grace
Saved by grace
And of course, I say loudly, "AMEN!"

TREES

In the years since I developed a love of photography, I have had a fascination with trees.  I love the different shapes, the unique branches, and all the other qualities of these towering creations.  My family is very patient when I find a tree to photograph.

I am awed by the beauty of trees in the fall season.  For example, the beauty of the Washington State trees.......

...the Montana aspens......

...and our own trees in our neighborhood.

 This is the red maple my parents gave us for one of our first anniversaries....over 30 years ago.

There are trees with snow as they are bathed in sunshine....

....trees that have no leaves but have "character".....

...trees that stand alone...

and trees with large trunks as well as trees with a purpose.

 There are even trees that "reflect".

A year or so ago, The Girl had a turn of doing her office Friday devotion.  She shared it with me.  It was about trees.  She has given me permission to share with you.   

"My mother really, really likes to take pictures.  Recently she's been really into taking pictures of trees. Trees with leaves, trees without leaves, dead trees...you name it, she finds something artistic in it.  Last summer, my family and I went fishing in Louisiana.  There was one particular tree that caught her attention as we sat on the boat.  It was a big tree, not very attractive to the untrained eye, but it was on a small piece of land that sat in the marshy waters of southern Louisiana.

It made you wonder how in the world it could stand up straight in the middle of all the muck and grass and water.  It brought to mind the old song "I Shall Not Be Moved."  I've thought of that tree often lately as the children's choir at our church sings the old hymn often...and wondered what exactly makes a tree planted by the water so special--why not planted in the forest, or on a mountain?

The Bible says in Jeremiah 17:7-8 that 'Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.  He shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.'  

I did a little research on trees, and it turns out that one of the most important parts of the tree is the roots.  No matter what a tree looks like--how big or how small it is--what kind it is--it is anchored by the part of it that we don't see.  It is important that new roots be able to grow and spread out--with good soil, good nutrients, and as few obstacles as possible.  Roots serve three main functions:  absorbing water, absorbing nutrients and minerals, and providing structural stability.

Roots feed a tree, keep it nourished so that it can grow and bear fruit, and keep it tall and strong when the winds blow and the storms come.  So how are we like a tree?  And how can we grow roots that keep us standing tall and bearing fruit to share with the world?  We need to feed our roots with God's Word and stay in constant fellowship with Him so that we can constantly be refreshed with His living water.  Maybe that's why the tree is planted by the water--as a reminder that we should walk closely with God!  With God as our source of strength, we will be able to withstand the winds and storms of life as they come.  Not only that, we are promised that when the drought comes and when we are put through the fire, we will still bear fruit.

That's a source of comfort to me in these times--a promise that, if we stay rooted in God and His Word that we will endure the drought that we are in right now, whether it be from the economy, health issues, or just being in a 'desert' period of your life.  He won't let us just wither up!"

And to The Girl's words, I say, "AMEN!"

UP

And what about some of the rest of the story?

A time after the resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples.  They were afraid, thinking they had seen a spirit.

"And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled?  and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?  Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have."  Luke 24:38, 39

They then believed.  He asked them if they had any meat and they gave him a piece of broiled fish and honeycomb to eat.  

His disciple, Thomas, was not in the number there.  The other disciples told Thomas of the meeting with Jesus.  He said that unless he saw the nail prints in Jesus' hands, put his finger in the nail prints, and thrust his hand into his side, he would not believe.  Thus, the phrase "Doubting Thomas".

Eight days later, Jesus appeared to them again with Thomas in the group.  Jesus told Thomas to see the prints, "and be not faithless, but believing".  Thomas answered, "My Lord and my God."

Jesus then said to Thomas "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."  

I figure those that have not seen, yet believed would include me in that number.  By faith I do believe in Jesus and the work he did here for me and for my salvation.

Jesus then said from Luke 24:44-48:

"And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.

And said unto them, Thus it is written and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

And ye are witnesses of these things."

Jesus also told them "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghose is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."  Acts 1:7,8

What happened next, you might ask?  And where is Jesus today?

The first chapter of the book of Acts also documents the ascension of Jesus.  It was while the disciples watched that he was taken up and a cloud took him out of their sight.  They were looking up toward heaven and "two men stood by in white apparel"  and said, " Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?  this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."  Acts 1:11

That tells me to look up.  Keep looking UP.   Jesus will come again in the clouds to receive us "unto himself that where he is, there we shall be also."  This is one of the very greatest promises made to us.  

When he returns in power and glory, we shall see Jesus....just as he is!

AMEN!