a simple life...

Celebrating my jubilee year...

2011-10-31T08:19:00.000-07:00

So, I'm turning 50 this month...November 21st to be exact.

I'm embracing it.

No, really! I am totally embracing this, my 50th year on this planet.

To celebrate, I plan on doing 50 random, yet intentional, things for others between now and my birthday. (I originally wanted to do 50 things on my 50th birthday, but logistics and travel plans got the best of me!) So, for the next three weeks, I'm keeping track, being intentional in acts of kindness.

I've been inspired by the concept of "jubilee." In the Old Testament, every 50th year was consecrated as a "jubilee year." The 50th year was one of liberty, remission, respite - of returning things (in those days, land) to the original owners. (Leviticus 25)

I want to celebrate my liberty and abundant blessings by returning them to my Rightful Owner -- by passing on the gift and blessing others. I want to claim the promise God made to Abraham - "I will bless you...and you will be a blessing." (Genesis 12:2)

So, I'm launching into this jubilee with some ideas for little ways I can be a gift - to those I love and those I just happen upon...

Here are a few already in the works:

-- I ordered a pair of super-cute Toms for my daughter and daughter-in-law...I figure this counts as four things, because the two girls are getting gifts and two little children in need of shoes are also getting some! (Full disclosure: I actually ordered a pair for me, too. Hey, it is my birthday month!)

-- Sending a gift to another young friend who just returned from Afghanistan. No, really, thank YOU!

-- Ordering flowers for my mom to be delivered on my birthday. (This is already a tradition of ours - inspired by Wayne Watson.) This year, for my 50th, I figure I'll send my dad something too. Probably something along the lines of a Sonic gift card, because that's how HE rolls!

-- Donating a book to our church library. (A copy of 1000 Gifts - which we're currently studying!) This book also has inspired me to count gifts...and to become a gift:

"Spend the whole of your one wild and beautiful life investing in many lives and God will simply not be outdone. God extravagantly pays back everything we give away and exactly in the currency that is not of this world but the one we yearn for: Joy in Him." -- Ann Voskamp

-- I have plans to write a few heartfelt notes to some random wonderful folks who have impacted my life in ways small and large...

-- We'll be taking a college student to supper this week (Hi, Norm!)

-- And supporting a couple of young missionaries planning international trips.

There are more plans in the works - plans involving cookies, homemade bread, flowers, meals, smiles and children and goodness!

You're invited to this jubilee - a month-long celebration of love, joy, faithfulness, blessing and hope for the future...(you don't have to wait until you're 50 to join!)

Over-driving...

2011-06-01T14:14:00.000-07:00

So, the alleged blogging has been pretty sporadic lately. What can I say? Life is good...busy, but good. I've gotten a little lazy in my studying discipline, which has led to laziness in the writing/processing discipline, but I think I'm about to turn over a new leaf (somehow the first day of any month fills me with a sense of purpose!)

I also had one of those mornings on the farm filled with revelation in the simplest things. For example, I rarely drive a tractor. I can only barely drive a car and I am really uncomfortable behind the wheel of a huge, deadly, costly piece of equipment by John Deere. But, on occasion (the occasion being when the driving requires speeds of less than two miles per hour) I am pressed into service. This is usually when we're rolling out irrigation pipe and someone has to keep the tractor driving along a line, very slowly, through the field while the guys unroll pipe from the tractor like a giant roll of toilet paper, making sure it's lying properly in its trench.

Jesse had a short "trunk" run to roll out this morning - a replacement section, really. Seems the first pipe wasn't quite tough enough for a little uphill push of water that was required. It burst a time or two, the guys repaired it, but Jesse ultimately decided to replace that short section with a thicker, more durable pipe.

Lessons there, right? Maybe about being too "thin-skinned" and quick to burst anytime life gives you a little "push." Or maybe the need to toughen up for the rough spots in life - or better - the fact that we can't do anything about our pitiful torn places. It's up to The Farmer to repair - and when necessary, completely replace the broken places. Hmmm.

But working today, what really struck me was a tendency to "over-drive." My instructions were super simple - I was supposed to keep the huge front left tire directly on top of the existing pipe we were replacing. The path was very clearly laid out in front of me, about four feet into a tall, beautiful cornfield. But as you drive across rows, the tractor does a slight bob, a little dance, and I quickly over-correct on the wheel. Jesse usually tries to gently coach me (not today, but often), "Just drive straight, baby." But I weave, not trusting the tractor to stay on the path. How often does this apply to other parts of my life, I wondered, mournfully plowing over the outer edge of the cornfield. (That's a whole 'nother lesson - sacrificing the few stalks along the edge of the field to bring life-giving water to acres and acres of thirsty corn. But I digress.)

I definitely tend to "over-write," in case you haven't observed that by now. And I'm quite sure I've "over-parented" through the years - smothering, attempting to wrangle and control when all I really needed to do was drive straight. In teaching, even in my own spiritual development, there has been the tendency to "over-drive" - wresting control, not trusting the equipment, so panicked over doing something wrong that I over-compensate and veer off anyway.

Well, the pipe was successfully rolled out, reconnected to the line and water will be flowing through it this very evening, bringing life to the crops. And the experience has left me pondering a few questions. So much to learn on the farm.

------

I realized when I opened this up that I never posted my Scripture memory for the last half of May. So here are those verses:

"But you are a chosen people,
a royal priesthood,
a holy nation,
God's special possession,
that you may declare the praises of Him
who called you out of the darkness
and into His wonderful light.
Once you were not a people,
but now you are the people of God;
Once you had not received mercy,
but now you have received mercy."
1 Peter 2:9-10

(I tried to type this from memory and fell way short. Need to work on it some more.)

For the first half of June, I'm working on a passage that is familiar, but not committed to memory -

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Isaiah 55:8-9

I've always loved these verses, but my appreciation was renewed when I watched this video by Francis Chan recently. What a gracious, wise person he is! So thankful for good teachers!

Turn north...

2011-05-02T14:33:00.000-07:00

I had a hard time "landing" on the right scripture to memorize for the first two weeks in May...I've been blessed, encouraged and challenged by a lot of words while searching for the right "Word" for right now...then I read something by Lysa TerKeurst of Proverbs 31 Ministries and author of Made to Crave. She was writing about giving advice to her son...and taking her own advice. She shared several verses, but one Scripture in particular pierced me with strange, specific practicality:

"You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north."

Deuteronomy 2:3

I'm a chewer, a worrier, a replay-a-conversation-over-and-over, think-and-re-think kind of girl. I'm also a girl prone to wearing a path deep...same steps, missteps, same mistakes, excuses.

"You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north."

I think I'll try climbing out of a rut or two and point my feet north. How about you? Tired of circling a mountain? I'm so thankful for God's Word...

Also thankful for...
255. Woods, lovely, dark, deep
256. The intensity of the green of spring
257. Dappled sunlight through thick trees
258. Honeysuckle - thick with blooms and luscious scent
259. A convenient bathroom
260. A cold drink
261. A "crisis" averted
262. Comfy jeans
263. An air-conditioned truck
264. Holy days
265. Pretty green streak of new cotton
266. Lightning
267. My kids (Yes, thank you, Lord!)
268. "Riding and looking"
269. Unexpected encouragement from a teen (wow)
270. Miss Christine's hamburgers
271. The grace of an overcast day
272. The garden's first carrot
273. Sunrise service, breezy, joyful
274. Pancakes made by church guys
275. Sweet peas, raw, crunchy, fresh off the vine
276. Baby feet
277. The ability to irrigate thirsty crops
278. Jesse's amazing shovel skills
279. Jesse's astounding math skills
280. Wind in trees
281. Wind rippling across water
282. Cypress trees rising from the bayou
283. Diet A&W and Cheez-its
284. Old (ancient, even) equipment that still works; is still useful
285. Spiritual lessons in irrigation chores...

Becoming less...

2011-04-19T07:30:00.000-07:00

I was drawn to a simple verse to memorize this two weeks...simple, yet...not.

"He must become greater;
I must become less."

John 3:30

This declaration by John the Baptist speaks to my ever-present quest for true humility...not self-loathing, but an accurate assessment of self (not thinking "poorly" of self, but just thinking less of "self" altogether!) John the Baptist made the statement in response to some of his indignant followers, who apparently were feeling that the upstart Jesus was edging them out of prominence.

But John knew his role - he knew exactly who he was - a voice crying out; one preparing a way; the best man -- the one who rejoiced at the entrance of the bridegroom and then cheerfully retreated to a place of less prominence.

Yet how can He, Jesus, "become greater?"

He is I AM...
greatness personified...
completeness...
the way...
truth...
life...
love...
He cannot become any greater than He is and always has been. But He can, and must, become greater in my view...fill my vision, my heart, with His greatness so that my only response is overwhelming gratitude and love.

Eyes off self. Filled with Him.

We are all vessels. We can only hold so much. For Him to increase, to become greater within me, I must pour out self and give Him room.

He must become greater; I must become less. How He even continues to have patience with my striving, I'll never know...but I am so thankful!

Counting this and other gifts today:

• Michael, softly singing, strumming,
in the late hours...
• Jess, blossoming in her new life...
• Gorgeous skies, strong breezes...
• The preacher, fist-bumping a 9-year-old
during church...
• Beautiful future bride, opening gifts, blushing,
exclaiming thanks...
• Vintage milk bottles on my window sill...
• Encouraging notes from teenagers...(wow)
• Round steak in the crockpot...
• Eating cheese nips with Jesse in the tractor...
• Ernie (the dog)'s miraculous recovery...
• The...I don't know, relief maybe?,
of each other's presence...ah.
• Early morning walks and conversation...
sharing life with a friend
• A timely rain...
• A day at home...
• A convicting Word...
• Sleeping with windows open...
• Waking to birdsongs...
• Changing out the heavy quilt for the light bedspread...
• My favorite pillow...

I'm so thankful for the gift of counting gifts...thankful for the inspiration for this journey...which can be found here:

Busy...thankful...

2011-04-05T05:44:00.000-07:00

It's been a crazy-busy couple of weeks and while I've been frequently overwhelmed with gratitude, I haven't been consistent with recording gifts...

Here's an attempt to reconcile that and get back on track...

I'm thankful for so many things...

...promises, plans
...my family, growing
...my son, grown (!)
...sweet Maranda
...crops, growing, green
...the comfort of Jesse's nearness
...talking with Jessica about everything
...unexpected affirmation, so encouraging
...the challenge of study, questioning
...the unmistakable power of a thunderstorm
...the mystery of the garden

When we planted these sweet, green peas, the seed packet said they needed some type of trellis to climb. Jesse, ever the problem-solver, decided to plant the seeds at the base of the corn stalks left from last year's crop...

...and it's working. They are growing, thriving. The mystery to me is that these plants, knowing they need the support, send delicate tendrils...reaching, curling, holding...

...everything in creation knows we need something to hold on to in this crazy world...what a beautiful thing...

•••••

Memory verse for the first two weeks of April:

"Be on your guard.
Stand firm in the faith.
Be courageous. Be strong.
Do everything in love.
I Cor. 16:13-14

Giving thanks with a full heart...

2011-03-22T07:16:00.000-07:00

Counting gifts after a weekend which saw my home filled to overflowing with wonderful, crazy, delightful teenage girls! Sitting here now, in the so-so-quiet, it's hard to believe it was just a few days ago! We hosted eight girls (six teens and two college-age leaders) as part of a Discipleship Now weekend, and it was wonderful. We've also been planting corn and enjoying the absolutely gorgeous sights of spring...so here's my list for recent days...

...anticipating a houseful of girls...

...girl stuff all over my house...

...getting ready for a trip to the nursing home...precious cards, handmade, with hearts poured into each word...

...sweet girls praying for others...

...a visit to a beautiful garden, tended with love...

...True beauty...Braiden's wisdom and kindness...Amber's loving, joyful spirit...Faith's wide-open heart...Anna Grace, quiet, sweet...Makayla's faithful heart...Kristin's compassionate heart...Tessa's love for Him...Carley's tender heart...

...and more beauty in the every day...freshly planted fields...

Cory's first crop...

A neighbor's beautiful wheat field...

...a catch-up visit with closest friends...diet cherry limeade...honest, searching prayer...a tractor ride with Jesse...cold water...a new, light-footed tractor, easing over wet farmland...giggles on my stairs...

thankful.

Holding fast...

2011-03-15T07:06:00.000-07:00

New memory verse for the second half of March:

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess,
for He who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23

In these uncertain days, when we are bombarded with images of brokenness; things and lives swept away, I am comforted by the picture of holding "unswervingly" - steady, constant, unshakable, resolute. And not holding onto something flimsy or unsubstantial, but to the hope we profess.

I love the Amplified Bible's translation of this verse:

"So let us seize and hold fast
and retain without wavering
the hope we cherish and confess
and our acknowledgment of it,
for He Who promised is reliable (sure)
and faithful to His word."

This hope is not a vague, fuzzy, wishful feeling, but a firm belief, an expectation based on the reliable, sure and faithful God. What is that "hope" - that expectation?

He is God.
He is always good.
And we are always loved.
Always.

Praying that in these dark days, God's presence will be made manifest in the lives of those hurting in Japan. (If you're looking for a way to give, here's a wonderful group that is already on the ground and providing relief in the hardest hit areas.)

Holding fast, unswervingly, on this day.

Thankful...on this gray day...

2011-03-14T16:06:00.000-07:00

...on this gray, rainy day, I am thankful.

I am also heartbroken with every picture and devastating bit of news from Japan. How can I reconcile these terrible pictures with my safe, comfortable world? Although I am not promised tomorrow, on this day, my children are safe, my home secure. There is no swift, horrible current bearing down on us, ripping our lives to shreds. Two things come to mind:

• The song we practiced in choir practice last night, one of my favorites -- Blessed Be Your Name, by Matt Redman. Here's the second verse: "Blessed be Your name, when the sun's shining down on me, when the world's all as it should be, blessed be Your name. Blessed be Your name on the road marked with suffering, though there's pain in the offering, blessed be Your name."
And the chorus (or is it the bridge?) gets me every time:

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say,
"Lord, blessed be Your name."

(Job 1:21)

• Also, a devotional quoted by Ann Voskamp in 1000 Gifts:

"Here dies another day
During which I have had eyes, ears, hands
And the great world round me;
And with tomorrow begins another.
Why am I allowed two?"

There is a fatalistic streak in me that can't help but wonder why I have been spared when others are suffering. And yet, I know this to be true - I must give thanks in everything. To withhold thanks for the everyday graces does not lessen the suffering of others. If I can find the gift, give thanks, receive the grace, the joy, the gift will pass from me to others. That is the small - and huge - thing we are called to do: receive God's blessings...and pass them on.

So, determinedly, feeling oh-so-small on this day, I am thankful...

...for Lent...for remembering
...a new baby, perfect
...new parents, nervous, happy
...new grandparents, ecstatic
...a spontaneous road trip with my daughter
...conversation, meaningful
...mama's kitchen...and her table
...a hug from Matthew
...friends who know me...and still love
...a difficult phone call, made
...Deuteronomy...finished!
...the planting that is completed
...the green shoots, just-emerging
...women, gathered to study, to share life
...quiet time in a quiet house with my quiet husband...
...believing He holds everything...He always loves...He is always good...

Incline my heart...

2011-03-01T05:59:00.000-08:00

It's March 1 (who can believe it?), which means it's time to start memorizing a new Scripture.

(Quick confession: I'm kind of behind. I keep choosing Scriptures and moving forward, but I haven't nailed down the last couple. Just keeping it real. I plan to knuckle down and get after it!)

Anyway, the verses I've chosen for the next two weeks were inspired by the new Bible study we're doing at FBC Wisner - Jonah - Navigating a Life Interrupted by Priscilla Shirer. In the video for Session 2, Priscilla was talking about our "want-to," our feelings, and how we let them keep us from obedience when God "interrupts" our lives. Jonah just plain didn't want to go to Ninevah. He was probably looking around at the other prophets and wondering why their call seemed easier. He was comfortable where he was. (Ouch!) And he flat out ran away. Even though we don't always physically run, we sometimes delay obedience (also known as "disobedience") or grudgingly go through the motions while our hearts and minds have boarded a ship bound for Tarshish.

One of the Scriptures Priscilla used was Psalm 119:36-37:

Turn my heart toward your statutes
and not toward selfish gain.
Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
preserve my life according to your word.

Priscilla said David turned his "want-to" over to God. Knowing full well the inclination of his own heart, he ask God to turn it...to incline it toward Him and away from selfishness. I love that we don't have to fake a "want-to," a desire to do what is right. God knows the inclination of our heart. We can ask Him to shape it, to turn it, to make it right. When we lack the will to "turn our eyes away from worthless things," we can ask God to do it. Hmmm.

"Preserve my life" is translated in other versions as "revive me in your ways" and "restore to me vigorous life and health in your ways" and "give me life in your ways." I want that. Right now.

And I love how many times (in Psalm 119 especially) David asked God to do something "according to your word" or "according to your promise" and "according to your steadfast love." Knowing God's word, knowing how well we are loved, can give us peace and assurance when we ask Him for anything "according to His word."

I'd love to know what you're learning in God's Word this week, or what you're memorizing and why!

Thankful today...for beauty

2011-02-28T15:40:00.000-08:00

Numbering some gifts
on a beautiful almost-spring day...
• Hiking along an ancient creek
(with dearly loved ones)

• Cooking with Jesse and Jessica...

• Close friends crowded around a table
filled with good things...
• Words that bring conviction...
• Enough...
• And in my backyard...a pear tree,
blooming white...a promise of spring...

• And bright bits of yellow...

• And lush, soft green...

• A bright new rug, welcoming at the back door...

• Cut flowering branches,
bringing spring indoors...

...wishing you a grace-filled almost-spring day...

Counting gifts on the farm...

2011-02-22T12:08:00.000-08:00

It's almost-spring and in addition to getting ready to plant hundreds of acres of corn and cotton, we're experimenting with a little garden spot. On this gorgeous almost-spring day, I counted gifts...

119. The good, dark earth.

120. Jesse...every day...

121. The promise of fresh veggies...

121. A beautiful tree...budding...

122. Gorgeous blue skies...

123. Unexpected beauty...in the weeds...

Yes, these are weeds. Hen bit to be precise. A very bad weed when it's encroaching on your crops, but, when you take a closer look...

...it's really beautiful. Finding beauty in the weeds...like looking for the gift in the not-so-beautiful times of life...

(Oh, and one more for fun!)

124. A soft, gray, sleeping farm cat...

Counting gifts...

2011-02-21T13:00:00.000-08:00

Still working on counting gifts...receiving all as grace. (See this post for more explanation!) On Mondays, I'm joining a group of others in sharing some of the gifts I'm thankful for in this season. I'd love to know what you're counting today!

104. Young mothers.
105. Baby slobber.
106.Cool, smooth sheets.
107.Wisdom for the moment.
108. Truck naps.
109. Velvety soft cat paws.
110. Breezy days, open windows.
111. Church potluck.
112. Sweet goodbyes...

"Gratitude is the most fruitful way of deepening your consciousness that you are...a divine choice..." Henri Nouwen

"Count blessings and discover Who can be counted on..." Ann Voskamp

*Confession - I feel compelled to confess that I'm struggling somewhat in this discipline of practicing eucharisteo - naming gifts, giving thanks, receiving grace and joy. I have a tendency to rack up a spiritual "to do" list, as though checking boxes off a list will please God. (Crazy, right? Is this a firstborn thing or a Type A personality thing? I do not know!) Anyway, I don't know who is reading this or why I felt the need for a little "full disclosure," but I don't want to give the false impression that I have a "handle" on anything...I'm just struggling...looking for grace in the moments...trying to be fully present, truly thankful, resting in God's wildly unreasonable love for me...

One thousand gifts...

2011-02-14T16:27:00.000-08:00

I've been putting off this post...intimidated somehow. I've read a book that is so poetic and so life-changing that writing about it makes me feel completely inadequate.

The book is One Thousand Gifts - A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp and it has taken my breath away. In a nutshell, Ann, a Canadian farm wife, accepted a dare to record 1000 things she loves - 1000 gifts from God. The process became a hunt for the beautiful in the every day - and a deepening awareness of God's love expressed in the microscopic and the magnificent.

The heart of the book lies in discovering and understanding eucharisteo - a word used to describe Jesus' giving of thanks hours before his death. "He gave thanks" - eucharisteo. The root word of eucharisteo is charis, meaning grace. As Ann writes, "Jesus took the bread, and saw it as grace and gave thanks. He took the bread and knew it to be gift and gave thanks."

Ann continues, "Eucharisteo - thanksgiving, includes the Greek word for grace, charis, but also holds its derivative, the Greek word chara, meaning joy...is it that simple? Is the height of my chara joy dependent on the depths of my eucharisteo thanks?"

The entwined threads of grace, thanksgiving and joy form the refrain of the book - a deep searching for deepest communion with God by simply receiving all as gift - the beautiful and, sometimes, the ugly-beautiful, because...well, life is hard.

So, I accepted the dare, took up pen and began my own hunt for the gifts - not always profound or poetic or spiritual - but gifts -- all gift, all grace. It's a discipline, this search for grace, this giving of thanks. Ann quotes Erasmus (as I...um...often do...) "A nail is driven out by another nail; habit is overcome by habit." The habit of ingratitude - or just inattention -- must be driven out by a habit of eucharisteo.

I love her repeated refrain, backed up with Scripture after Scripture - "Eucharisteo precedes the mirace." So, in the middle of a mess, in the middle of chaos or tragedy, can I look for the gift? Can I accept all as grace and expect the miracle? The miracle of joy...of love? Recounting the gifts is receiving God's love and returning it in thanks and praise - the joy results because this is what we were created for.

Far too often, I have (as Ann says) "slapped a sloppy brush of thanksgiving over everything in my life, which left me deeply thankful for very few things." In the naming, the counting, we experience the joy.

"Do not disdain the small. The whole of life - even the hard - is made up of the minute parts, and if I miss the infinitesimals, I miss the whole," Ann writes.

Okay, I could quote the whole book, but I won't...I encourage you to read it. These are just glimpses of the first three of eleven startling chapters. I leave you with one more passage, then a few of the gifts I'm thankful for...

"And this, this is the only way to slow time: When I fully enter time's swift current, enter into the current moment with the weight of all my attention, I slow the torrent with the weight of me all here. I can slow the torrent by being all here. I only live the full life when I live fully in the moment...Giving thanks for one thousand things is ultimately an invitation to slow time down with the weight of full attention...it's not the gifts that fulfill, but the holiness of the space. The God in it...thanks makes now a sanctuary."

My list (now at 87) includes...

warm bread, fresh from the oven (and real butter!)

...coffee, prepared by Jesse...

...flannel pajamas...and a freshly-made bed...

...family...and family photos, sweet company in an empty nest...

...a favorable wind...texts from my kids...rain-soaked fields...stars in a clear, black sky...empty laundry baskets...a fragment of time to read in the truck...rain on tin roof...leftovers...

My Scripture memory for the first two weeks in February reflects this season of learning:

"Pray diligently.
Stay alert with eyes wide open in gratitude."
Col. 4:2

For the rest of February, I'm also focusing on thanks:

"At all times and for everything,
giving thanks
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
to God the Father." Eph. 5:20

I find myself literally adopting a posture of hands lifted, open, as I look with new eyes for the gifts all around me. I'm accepting the dare to live fully, right where I am.

Pure grace...

2011-01-25T09:19:00.000-08:00

I love Philosophy skincare products. (This is hardly a paid endorsement - Philosophy does not know who I am!) I have sensitive skin and have tried dozens of different products. The Philosophy products suit me. Plus, the packaging and promotion is clever...for example:

This is the cleanser - Purity (made simple).
Lather, rinse - purity. Ah.
And how about this little jewel?

Hope...in a jar?
Yes, please. I'll take some.
Then there's this...

When hope is not enough...This cracks me up...we women of a certain age can relate to this when it comes to a skincare regime! Then it may be time to turn to this:

Ah...a miracle! That should do the trick!
But my favorite Philosophy product by far is not a cream or lotion, but a lovely light scent:

Pure grace...in a bottle! It has a clean, pure, soap-and-water scent that I love. And while none of the skincare products has resulted in anything that can be remotely described as a "miracle," I find spritzing on a little "pure grace" can remind me of a miracle - the miracle of grace. It has not been spritzed, but lavishly poured and I want that scent to emanate from my life...to fill the air around me. I brought that bottle to my Sunday School class and spritzed it around while we talked about one of my favorite verses, 2 Cor. 2:14:

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphant procession in Christ Jesus, and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him."

I reminded the girls, like I try to remind myself, we should walk around smelling like Jesus - like grace...pure grace. It should season our speech:

"Let your conversation be always full of grace,
seasoned with salt,
so that you may know how to answer everyone." Col. 4:6

It should keep us humble:

"For it is by grace you have been saved,
through faith—
and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God..." Eph. 2:8

It is enough:

"He said to me,
"My grace is sufficient for you..." 2 Cor. 12:9

And as a friend sang last night,

"Grace keeps giving me things I don't deserve;
mercy keeps withholding things I do..."
(Thanks, Wayne Watson!)

We've been given so much...grace has been lavishly poured out upon our lives. Can I extend it, lavishly, generously, to others?
I want to. I want to smell like grace.
Pure grace.

New beginnings...

2011-01-18T07:29:00.000-08:00

Well, I took a little bloggy break...and I'm not sure I'm ready to end it. This ol' blog doesn't really know what it wants to be when/if it grows up... (hmmm...kind of like its owner?). Anyway, until I figure out what I'm supposed to do with this space I thought it would be worthwhile to continue to record my Scripture memory journey.

Beth Moore is once again hosting a "Siesta Scripture Memory Team," where some 8,000 women so far have committed to learning two scriptures each month. Amazing, right? To learn more about the team, you can visit Beth's blog here, and see what other sisters (also known as "siestas" on Beth's blog) are learning here and here. I'm not great at it, by any means, but taking a deliberate approach to Scripture memory has been life-altering - seriously. I highly recommend you join in, and, if you are, I'd love to know what you're memorizing and why (former reporter - I'm nosy that way!).

My first scripture for 2011 is almost embarrassing - because it was needed. I hate to admit that I need a holy reminder to put others first but, sadly, it's true. I memorized Philippians 2:3-4 in the ESV translation to try to start the year off right:

"Do nothing from rivalry or conceit
but, in humility,
count others more significant than yourselves.
Let each of you look not only to his own interests,
but also to the interests of others."

Lord, please let my mind and heart be transformed!

For the remainder of January, I'm working on a verse that struck me because I feel a little uncertain about some aspects of my life. (I am crazy about my life, don't get me wrong. I've got it good and I know it!) But things are changing and I want to navigate this season with some grace. I want to be "at the center of God's love - arms open and outstretched, ready..." as one of last year's verses stated. So, for whatever reason, Psalm 143:8 struck me:

"Let the morning bring me word
of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul."

I also really, really love the Amplified Bible translation of this verse:

"Cause me to hear
Your loving-kindness in the morning,
for on You do I lean and in You do I trust.
Cause me to know
the way wherein I should walk,
for I lift up my inner self to You."

Cause me to know - as I lift my inner self to You.

Arms open and outstretched...

2010-09-03T06:23:00.000-07:00

I'm having kind of a bumpy fall, so far. I feel a little off-balance for some reason...nostalgic, fragile, emotional. Some of that is probably the inevitable let-down after the crazy rush and push of a harvest season. Some of it may be due to the intense season of study in which I've immersed myself -- the highs and lows that come with some authentic spiritual revelation. This is also "back-to-school" time, which means something completely different when your "children" are now "adults." My baby turned 20 last week. My baby! How did this happen?

So I'm trying to find balance. My natural inclination is to straighten up, shake it off, slap a smile on my face and soldier on. (Any other firstborns out there?) But lately, I've been giving myself permission to experience whatever season I find myself in. Not that I plan to wallow in melancholy, but I'm not going to deny it either. When irrepressible joy bubbles up (as it always does) I'm not going to squelch it - I'm going to revel in it. I don't want to miss the lessons of each season.

I read a passage in The Message translation the other day that tied together a lot of things I've experienced in recent weeks so I've chosen to memorize it - Jude 1:20-21a.

"But you, dear friends,
carefully build yourselves up
in this most holy faith
by praying in the Holy Spirit,
staying right at the center of God's love,
keeping your arms open and outstretched,
ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ."

Carefully build yourself up in the faith - by praying, staying in the center of God's love. I love the picture of "arms open and outstretched" -- ready to receive mercy, but also to dispense it.

I pray for God's blessing and mercy on you -- as you fully experience this season of life.

Do you not know?

2010-08-16T16:56:00.000-07:00

This is a very familiar passage, but one I've never fully committed to memory. When I was running, I did recite verse 31 repeatedly to myself when I felt "faint!"

Last night, almost three weeks into a pretty grueling corn harvest season (temperatures exceeding 100 degrees, lethal dust, relentless monotony, late nights) I was feeling particularly weary and discouraged. I turned to Isaiah 40 for comfort - and found it. So I'm memorizing this passage for the last two weeks of August:

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31

I love the reminder that we cannot fathom God's wisdom - it's "unsearchable" as the ESV translation states. He is God. I am not. What a relief! And HE chooses, because of who He is, to renew our strength, to increase our power, to keep us from growing weary and faint...when we hope in Him.

Thank you, Lord!

Overflowing with hope...

2010-08-01T19:28:00.000-07:00

May the God of hope
fill you with all joy and peace
as you trust in him,
so that you may overflow with hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

This is my memory verse for the first part of August (I forgot to post my verse from the end of July...I used a portion of Ezekiel 40:4 as camp preparation - "...look with your eyes and hear with your ears and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for that is why I brought you here..." Good one, huh?)

Anyway, I was looking around for an inspirational word tonight - something that would soothe my weary soul and something that I could share with others needing a word of encouragement. This verse seems to indicate that very thing by saying that, as we trust in Him, and He fills us with ALL joy and peace, we may overflow with hope. Overflow implies spilling out or bubbling over, impacting others with the joy, peace and hope we have through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Hope. It's a precious thing. Spending a week with over 500 teenagers and almost 200 adults at Cross Camp made me realize it can also be an elusive thing. There was joy, brokenness, surrender, worship...we made much of Jesus all week long. There were also painful stories of lives and homes where hope is lost. These stories have pressed on me in the days since camp ended.

My heart is full...praying for some precious teenagers just trying to live out their faith with some integrity in some difficult situations; while also see-sawing between overwhelming gratitude and a twinge of guilt over how blessed my life has been.

The God of Hope. May He fill us all with all joy and peace as we trust in Him. And may we be faithful to share that blessed hope with others.

Sufficient grace...

2010-07-02T13:57:00.000-07:00

Memory verse for July 1...

"But he said to me,
'My grace is sufficient for you,
for my power is made perfect in weakness.'
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly
about my weaknesses,
so that Christ's power may rest on me."

2 Cor. 12:9

...inexpressible and glorious joy...

2010-06-16T12:20:00.000-07:00

"Though you have not seen him,
you love him;
and even though you do not see him now,
you believe in him and are filled
with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
for you are receiving the goal of your faith,
the salvation of your souls."

I Peter 1:8-9

Memory verses for June...more to come later, but for now, savor that love and belief in Him fill us with an "inexpressible and glorious joy..."

The Amazing Artichoke Adventure...

2010-05-27T12:17:00.001-07:00

Okay, brace yourself. I'm about to attempt a cooking post. Well, it's kind of a cooking post, but really more of a construction post. One of my family's favorite treats is stuffed artichokes. My dad's mom taught my mom how to make them, and I've been wanting to learn for years. So we scheduled an artichoke extravaganza recently and I took many, many pictures to commemorate this rite of family passage! This is basically artichokes stuffed with a cheesy, crabby, bread-crumby combo of goodness. Here goes:

We begin with...the artichoke. Mom usually tries to snap them up when they're on sale. We stuffed 10!

Spread some newspaper out to work on (makes clean-up easier) and take some scissors and carefully snip the pointy, thorny edges off of each leaf...like so:

Isn't it pretty already? Okay, then you carefully cut off the stem (so it will sit upright) and cut off the very tip-top (where it's hard to individually snip the thorns).

Put them in a pot of boiling, salted water for 30 minutes, remove carefully, turning upside down to drain, then allow them to cool. (We boiled four at a time.)

While they are cooling, prepare the "stuffing." Here is the cast of characters:

And a pound of crab meat (Mom uses white backfin crab meat. And mom knows best!) Drain it and flake it with your hands, feeling for any random bits of shell.

Okay, this is where it gets a little...um...imprecise. My mom is one of those cooks who instinctively knows when to add and when to stop. So these are approximate measurements which should make enough stuffing for 4-5 artichokes.
In a large bowl, combine 2 cans of bread crumbs...

1 1/2 cups shredded Romano cheese...(Mom substituted a combo of Parmesan, Romano and Asiago cheeses)

1 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese and sprinkle with 2 tsp. garlic salt...

Add the crab...
Side note-this colander was a wedding gift to my parents from my dad's grandmother - almost 50 years ago!!!

Another side note...this is my mom's recipe box. I may hijack it!

Add a GENEROUS amount of olive oil. (Seriously, have plenty on hand). Glug it around, stir to combine until it looks about right.

Taste and see if the seasonings seem right. Then, just grab some and start stuffing it into each individual leaf. (FYI - any time you see beautifully manicured red fingernails - they belong to my gorgeous Mom. I've never known her NOT to have beautiful hands - and I've never known her to hesitate to use those beautiful hands to prepare wonderful food for her family!)

We worked on individual sheets of foil so that when we were done we could wrap it up for storing. Uh, for the record, there is a distinct possibility that, in my enthusiasm, I might have overstuffed this one:

Drizzle some olive oil over the top of the completed artichoke...(Mom's motto: If a little olive oil is good, a lot is better!)

Bring the foil up and around and wrap tightly! Ready for the freezer!

When you're ready to eat one, pull it out to thaw, then put it in a pan with about 1/2 inch of water in the bottom and bake at 350 degrees for an hour...(we decided to eat one right then, so it didn't take as long to cook!)

I meant to take a picture of it right out of the oven, but I, uh, got a little carried away. So here's how a half-eaten one looks...(I promise, it's delicious!)

For the uninitiated, you eat these by pulling off a stuffed leaf (starting at the bottom) then rake the stuffing and the soft flesh from the top of the leaf with your teeth...here's what the pile of eaten leaves look like...

When you get down close to the center, it looks like this...

Pull the leafy part away from the base part and there is this little spiky, hairy center...

Carefully scrape the little spiky part off and you're left with...an artichoke heart. I wonder who first thought it would be worth all the work to get to the heart? Anyway, mix up a little oil and vinegar (yes, more oil), chop up the heart, swirl it around and enjoy!

So after a couple of hours of fun in the kitchen, THIS is what I had to show for it!

This really isn't difficult and it is so, SO good. We'll have one as an appetizer (two if there's a crowd) and enjoy every bite! Don't be intimidated - you can do it!

Laughing at the days to come...

2010-04-20T06:04:00.000-07:00

Scripture memory for the last half of April:

"She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come."
- Proverbs 31:25

Proverbs 31 describes a woman who is capable, intelligent and virtuous - and the highest praise is reserved for her spiritual life. As women, we can bog down in expectations - those imposed on us by society or even the church. Just reading Proverbs 31 can leave us feeling inadequate - or exhausted! But the ultimate truth of the passage is that the woman's spiritual and practical devotion to God permeated every area and relationship of her life.

I couldn't resist verse 25 when choosing a verse to memorize.
"Clothed with strength and dignity..." We don't get dressed accidentally (although my choices may cause people to wonder at times!) We choose every day what we are going to "put on." Strength is defined as the quality or state of being strong; the capacity to withstand great force or pressure; having the emotional and mental qualities necessary to deal with events or circumstances that are distressing or difficult. Dignity is defined as worthy of honor and respect. Choosing to put these on allows us to "laugh at the days to come."

As the Amplified Bible says:

"Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future [the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it]!

Naturally, I love the beauty of "laughing at the days to come." What security! I want to be THAT woman!

Something far more interior...

2010-04-03T17:00:00.000-07:00

For the first two weeks of April, I've chosen a verse in The Message translation of the Bible. I love the reminder that it's really not about me - what I do, religious or otherwise - it's about grace.

"For in Christ,
neither our most conscientious religion
nor disregard of religion amounts to anything.
What matters is something far more interior:
faith expressed in love."
Galatians 5:6 - The Message

The beginning of Chapter 5 in Galatians kicks off a theme of freedom ("It is for freedom that Christ has set us free!") and Paul goes on to explain the danger of depending on "law" rather than "grace." In The Bible Exposition Commentary, Warren Wiersbe explains it this way:

Living under grace means we "no longer rely on the external force of the Law to keep us in God's will, because we have the internal leading of the Holy Spirit of God. Christ died to set us free, not to make us slaves."

He goes on to say, " To live by grace means to depend on God's abundant supply of every need. To live by Law means to depend on my own strength, my own efforts to keep the letter of the Law and be left to get by without God's supply."

Why would we choose to be enslaved to a legalistic list of do's and don'ts, (represented in other translations of this verse as "circumcision or uncircumcision"). Yet we often do. We rush around trying to be "good enough" to earn God's love, when He has already lavished it on us. We're so focused on achievement that it's hard to readjust to the radical concept of grace - unmerited favor, freely given.

We are called to a life of grace that comes from an interior relationship that produces faith which is "activated and energized and expressed and working through love." (Amplified Bible) So, yes, we are called to act, but compelled by Christ's love, not law.

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.
Stand firm, then,
and do not let yourselves be burdened again
by a yoke of slavery."
Galatians 5:1

Let's live free.

He will quiet you with His love...

2010-03-17T06:40:00.000-07:00

The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

This, to me, is one of the most beautiful verses in the Bible. There is assurance in every word...

He is the LORD.
Your God.
He is with you.
He is mighty.
Mighty to save.
He takes delight in you.
Great delight.
He will quiet you.
With His love.
He rejoices over you.
With singing.

This was one of many verses we read during our Bible study this week (Priscilla Shirer's Discerning the Voice of God - I cannot recommend it highly enough!) and it's one I've loved for years but never fully committed to memory. So that's my plan for the next two weeks. To meditate, internalize, memorize - LIVE this verse. What a beautiful God!

I love words and reading different translations of the Bible always gives interesting insight into a particular verse. I especially loved the Amplified Bible translation of this verse, which goes deeper into the "quieting" of God.

"He will rest [in silent satisfaction]
and in His love He will be silent
and make no mention
[of past sins, or even recall them]."

So much of the time, it is my churning mind, worrying, rehashing or recalling past offenses or sins, that desperately needs quieting. What a beautiful, comforting picture of God's loving care and forgiveness. The Amplified Bible translation goes on to say,

"He will exult over you with singing."

"Rejoice" is defined as feeling and showing great joy and delight. The definition of "exult" goes a step further - it implies elation and celebration as the result of success! God is exulting, rejoicing over us with singing, because He knows the ultimate outcome of our lives - and He sees success in our future. Granted, this is not success by the world's standards, but success by His definition and on His terms. He is faithful. He is good. He is love. And He can be trusted with our lives! Live in this assurance!

My portion forever...

2010-03-01T12:30:00.000-08:00

I did actually start this post on March 1, but never got around to finishing it and now, all of the sudden, it's March 4!

Time. It's getting away from me.

I've already been working on these verses, which fall into the category of "Lord, make it so" verses. Kind of like the "instructed tongue" from last month -- I'm not there, but hoping to get there. Anyone know what I mean?

Anyway, here are the verses I'm working on:

"Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever."

Psalm 73:24-25

I'm not sure what exactly drew me to this passage at this time - except a tug to focus on God and God alone. Not His will, not what He can do for me or my family, not even what I can do for Him. I want to seek HIM.

My flesh and my heart my fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. I love how The Message puts this part: "When my skin sags and my bones get brittle, God is rock-firm and faithful." Yep. Good stuff.

I'm a word girl, and the word "portion" intrigues me. The dictionary defines it as a part of a whole; a piece of something. But the Biblical use has a deeper meaning. The Levites - the tribe set aside as priests and temple servants of the God Most High - were not given territory like the other tribes. The Lord was their "portion." They were to rely on Him and He was enough.

Lord, make it so in my life.

(I love the worship song that includes this verse...you can hear it here.)

An instructed tongue?

2010-02-15T14:14:00.000-08:00

We're starting a new women's Bible study tonight at FBC Wisner, and preparing for it has inspired my choice of memory verse for the second half of February. It's Isaiah 50:4:

The Sovereign LORD has given me
an instructed tongue,
to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.

I love this verse - although I cringe when I get to the part about "an instructed tongue." I mean, God may have given me an instructed tongue, but I don't seem to use it very often. I'd love to know the word that sustains the weary - and to be the kind of woman whose speech is marked by grace, wisdom and comfort.

Then we get to the part about "He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught." That's where the new Bible study comes into play. It's "Discerning the Voice of God" by Priscilla Shirer and it's focused on expecting, anticipating the divine voice of God. He can and does speak to His children...are we listening?

Am I?

The New Living Translation puts it this way:

The Sovereign Lord has given me
his words of wisdom,
so that I know how to comfort the weary.
Morning by morning he wakens me
and opens my understanding to his will.

I want to expect, listen, wait patiently -
and obey His voice...
what are you learning from God's word?

To follow is the only free road...

2010-02-01T07:28:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm beginning my 2010 Scripture memory journey! I skipped over January, so I'm beginning with a passage of three verses to "catch up!" Since the celebration in Houston with Beth Moore, one verse in particular in Psalm 119 has continued to resonate - verse 32.

I run in the path of your commands,
for you have set my heart free."

So often, we're convinced that freedom is "out there" somewhere, in the wild, untamed jungle of life. But it's impossible to run through that kind of jungle without getting entangled in vines, scratched and bruised by branches or stumbling into unexpected obstacles. You can only run with free, wild abandon on the path - a path made smooth by a loving God.

I love the way the topic of freedom is addressed in The Reason for God (a book I'm re-reading for the third time). The author, Timothy Keller, reasons that freedom is not the absence of restrictions but finding the right ones, "the liberating restrictions." He gives the example of giving up time to practice and strengthen a natural talent or ability. "You've deliberately lost your freedom to engage in some things in order to release yourself to a richer kind of freedom to accomplish other things."

Keller also uses the example of love - the most liberating loss of freedom. In love, we have to lose independence to gain intimacy...and we're happy to do so!

Back to memory work! I'm working on Psalm 119:30-32...

I have chosen the way of truth;
I have set my heart on your laws.

I hold fast to your statutes, O LORD;
do not let me be put to shame.

I run in the path of your commands,
for you have set my heart free.

One more reflection from Beth's teaching on Psalm 119. The Psalmist uses a variety of words for the revelation of God - precepts, word, statutes, commands, teachings, testimonies, judgments, promises. The word "law" is used frequently, but not in the way we might translate it - a list of "do's and don'ts." The word law is more accurately translated as teachings, instructions, communication. One of the main things that sets us apart as the people of God is the fact that He speaks to us. This passage is my prayer - for me and for you.

(If you're memorizing Scripture, I'd love to hear from you! Let me know what verses - and why! I love to know the stories behind the choices!)

...for there I find delight...

2010-01-25T17:12:00.000-08:00

It's so hard to describe how an intensely diverse group of women can become a community through their association on the internet. During this past year, hundreds of hearts and lives became intertwined through a year-long Scripture memory challenge on Beth Moore's blog. Twice a month we'd "gather," sharing the verses we chose, revealing ourselves through the words we were clinging to for inspiration and comfort.

The year culminated this past weekend in Houston as Beth, her daughters Amanda and Melissa and the wonderful staff at Living Proof Ministries hosted a Siesta Scripture Memory Team Celebration at their home church - Houston FBC. I wasn't sure if I could go - I didn't know any other women going and I am NO city driver! Jesse came through! I was reviewing my verses on the tractor one day at the farm and he just looked at me and said, "You've worked so hard! I'm taking you to Houston!" So, we hit the road Friday, checked into the Hilton Garden Inn and went off in search of Mexican food before he dropped me off for Friday night's session. Jesse dropped me at the door and I felt a momentary (and completely uncharacteristic!) attack of shyness as I saw groups of women streaming into the church. Fortunately, one of the first girls I saw was Amanda - I felt like I was greeting an old friend!

I wandered into the meeting room (Beth's old Sunday School classroom, as it turns out) and found another woman who was on her own.

"Anyone sitting here?"
"No - please, sit!"

Her name was Karlys (pronounced car-less) and she was from LaPlace, La.! We became instant friends. She and her husband own a business that deals in pagers for church nurseries (kind of like the ones you get at restaurants! Cool, huh?) Another woman, Karen, sat nearby and we visited and "people-watched" before things got started. We were all close to the same age and were struck by how many "younger" women were there - it was a marvelously diverse group! I spotted one of my favorite bloggers, "Big Mama" (who is tiny and adorable) and couldn't resist introducing myself and chatting with her a minute.

When Beth came bursting in the room, the excitement was electric. She, Amanda and Melissa welcomed everyone and told us a few things about ourselves. There were 507 of us from 42 states (including Alaska and Hawaii) and Canada! Twenty-two denominations were represented!

Travis Cottrell led worship, which brought me to tears. Karlys and I talked later about the fact that sometimes the presence of God is so palpable and emotion is so thick and real you can't even sing. It was a relief to be sitting with someone who understood this. Sisters. So cool.

Then Beth bounded up on the platform to teach (not looking at all like someone who had endured a recent surgery/cancer scare). It was actually pretty reassuring to see her acting like we've seen her act through 11 Bible studies and numerous Living Proof weekend events. Funny, animated, touching, passionate - the Beth we know and love.

She taught through the weekend on Psalm 119 - 176 verses of an emotional roller coaster that every woman there could relate to at one point or another. Throughout the weekend, she constructed a "run-on sentence" summarizing the psalm and us as we relate to it. Here are some highlights:

I am a resident alien...

We are sojourners, pilgrims, strangers on this earth. We're not supposed to be at home here. As much as we may try to put our security in some "place" or thing or person, we need to learn to exclaim with the psalmist "you, God, are my portion." (119:57) You are enough. Only you will satisfy.

...seeking direction...

God is capable of leading us, guiding and sustaining - although the light He gives for our path may only illuminate the next step of the journey (115:105) even though we sometimes wish for a floodlight, rather than a lamp. God reveals Himself and His direction through His word and will open our minds so that we can understand. (Luke 24:25).

...in deep want of wonder...

"Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law." (119:18) We have a soul-craving for wonder - a deficit of this wonder creates a profound sense of disenchantment. The psalmist expressed passion, love, delight, joy and wonder in God and His word.

...in peril and need...

The writer of the psalm is not afraid to cry out from the depths of despair ("I am laid low in the dust..." v. 20). He brought his valid lament before God and trusted in His power to revive. There are 70 different prayer requests in the 176 verses of Psalm 119. Beth pointed out how often the psalmist asked God for His favor "in accordance with your promise." Knowing God's word and His promises can give us greater confidence when we bring Him our requests - and our lament.

...troubled by humanity...

The psalmist devotes many verses in Psalm 119 to telling on his enemies. The psalmist boldly asked God to deal with them (vs. 81-88; 118-119; 126). Beth gave a wise reminder that God will act - He will deal with the enemies of His people, but He "takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked." (Ezekiel 33:11).

-- especially my own --

Let's be honest: our own humanity is just as troubling as anything we see on the news. Beth's reminder: "We are the redeemed. Let Him redeem you!" Let His chastisement refine us and make us even more passionate. Another good word - Biblical "blamelessness" is not perfection. It simply means to walk free of the dominion of sin - do not let it rule over us (119:33). It is for freedom that Christ has set us free - we can walk free and we must! Another encouragement - 119:9-11 - when we've hidden His Word in our heart, it will keep our way pure.

knowing that, to follow is the only free road...

No way to improve on the words of 119:30-32 - "I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws. I hold fast to your statutes, O Lord; do not let me be put to shame. I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free." I love that picture of a path that has been made smooth for us, so we can run with free hearts. Freedom is found on the path.

...for a straying sheep, longing to be found.

I loved this conclusion. After all the declarations of love for Lord and His word, the psalmist had to confess - "I am a lost sheep. Come find me." How beautiful that we can always trust Jesus to come after us. Beth put it this way: "The only reason you know Jesus Christ is because He came looking for you. You may feel that you have temporarily misplaced Him - but He has not misplaced you."

Saturday, Karlys and I joined up with Melanie from Idaho (I met her the night before over Texas sheet cake!) and when it was time to break into twos and threes to share our memory verses, we headed outside for a patch of grass. It was such a fun time, reciting, encouraging (occasionally launching into a pantomime to assist a sister in need!). We high-fived and congratulated each other - and made a pact to continue on with Scripture memory throughout 2010 - holding each other accountable as we go.

When it was time to say goodbye, email addresses were exchanged, along with hugs between these sweet women and others I just barely met, but felt such kinship with. It was a unique experience...strangers becoming friends, linked by a shared love of Jesus and His word. It kind of felt like the curtain was raised just a bit, offering a glimpse of heaven.

Joining hands, hearts with Haiti...

2010-01-14T05:11:00.000-08:00

The pictures are heartbreaking. The people of Haiti, already mired in a maze of poverty and chaos, have suffered unimaginable loss. Here, on my couch, wrapped in a warm blanket, I feel helpless. But there is something I can do - that we all can do.

We can pray.

And we can give.

I read something somewhere yesterday that struck me: "Prayers are powerful and effective not because they alter God's providential plan but because they are a part of it."

In this great mystery of our relationship with an all-powerful God, He somehow esteems our heartfelt cries. When our hearts are knit together in prayer, this act of humility, this confession of our need, is somehow woven into God's ultimate, providential plan. Let us be faithful to this precious calling.

We can also give. There are several avenues currently available:

• Text the word "disaster" to 90999 to give $10 to Compassion International’s disaster relief program. (The donation will show up on your cell phone bill.) Or visit here to give. Here's an excerpt from an email I received from Compassion today:
"Without a doubt, the children we serve in Haiti are in shock and face immediate needs for food, water, medical care, shelter and counseling. We have teams prepared to respond, and we are deeply committed to helping each child."

• You can donate to Samaritan's Purse by clicking here and giving to Haiti relief.

• World Vision is another organization with a presence in Haiti. You can donate here.

• Some dear friends just returned from Haiti where they worked with several groups, including Heartline Ministries. To donate to this ministry, click here.

Let's do what we can.

Lord, show them your mercy, according to your great love...

This is what I seek...

2009-12-16T06:50:00.000-08:00

Final memory verse for 2009! What an interesting journey this has been. It's funny, I was having a hard time choosing my "final" verse for 2009, then realized I don't have to stop memorizing Scripture! (I'm slow, but I get there.) So, finishing up 2009 with Psalm 27:4:

"One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple."

We're finishing up as a Scripture memory team over on the Living Proof blog where we were told this is Beth Moore's favorite verse - seemed like a good one to end 2009!

Once again, the Amplified Bible gives more insight into the verse:

"One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and insistently require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord (in His presence) all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty (the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness) of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple."

And I love how The Message ends the verse:

"I'll contemplate his beauty; I'll study at his feet."

I strongly encourage anyone interested in a life-changing exercise to make a commitment to memorize two Scriptures per month during 2010. Throughout 2009, I chose a few individual verses and several passages. I just added them up and (if my math is right) I've memorized 43 verses this year! In all honesty, I had a couple of stumbles and sputters along the way, but -- to the praise and glory of HIS name alone - I think I now have them all imprinted on my heart and mind!

Contemplate His beauty - study at His feet! You will be blessed and have the opportunity to bless others with His word! Christmas blessings to you and yours and praying for a wonderful 2010!

To us a child is born...

2009-12-08T09:23:00.000-08:00

"The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.

You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as men rejoice
when dividing the plunder.

For as in the day of Midian's defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.

Every warrior's boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this."

Isaiah 9:2-7

A simple Christmas...

2009-11-30T06:49:00.000-08:00

I'm feeling a tug towards a simple Christmas...I want there to be plenty of room in our Christmas for contemplating THE Gift; the Presence, not the presents.

God, wrapped in infant flesh, came and dwelt among us. How do we celebrate that?

I want to focus on His Word this season - the beautiful prophecies, the fulfillment of promises, the enduring comfort, encouragement and challenges entrusted to us.

I plan to focus on family and home...not a whirlwind of shopping, events and general craziness. I want to make time to drink gingerbread spice tea, sing Christmas songs and make cookies for my neighbor kids. I will enjoy admiring my tree - especially the hand-traced angels, paper gingerbread men and popsicle stick reindeer of years gone by.

I will be deliberate in giving the gift of encouragement, affirmation and affection to those around me - in my home, my neighborhood, my church - and the grocery store.

"O Lord, you are my God;
I will exalt and praise your name,
for in perfect faithfulness
you have done marvelous things,
things planned long ago."
Isaiah 25:1

Christmas blessings, from our family to yours!

Precious beyond telling...

2009-11-16T07:33:00.001-08:00

I'm sticking with a "thankful" theme in Scripture memory for November - because I am all about the Thanksgiving this month!

"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"
2 Cor. 9:15

I've been familiar with this verse, but never really studied it in context. Chapter 9 is a timely study for me - it's focused on giving generously, cheerfully - it even references seed, sowing and harvest! This season has found us so blessed -- and this chapter stresses that God has made us "rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God." (v. 11)

I love that it all comes back to HIM. We love, because He first loved us. We give, because He has given to us. Our giving is not about us, but about reflecting His faithfulness - His indescribable gift!

The Amplified Bible beautifully expands the language of the verse:

"Now thanks be to God for His Gift, precious beyond telling, His indescribable, inexpressible, free Gift!"

Compassion...

2009-11-10T05:24:00.001-08:00

The Compassion bloggers are on the road again! They're in El Salvador this week and I encourage you to take a minute to follow them as they share their experiences with a wonderful organization and the children who are being reached, touched, loved - all in Jesus' Name. I "followed" a group of bloggers who traveled to India earlier this year and it completely wrecked me - and inspired me to sponsor a child - sweet little Sruthi! Check them out - if you DARE!

Compassion Bloggers in El Salvador

He longs to be gracious to you...

2009-11-01T08:01:00.000-08:00

It's November! Where has the year gone? And the holidays are upon us? Whew!

Okay, I'm taking deep breaths now and resolving to savor what remains of 2009. And, in accordance with a resolution made at the beginning of the year, I'm continuing this Scripture memory journey with a verse I just LOVE:

"Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you;
he rises to show you compassion.
For the LORD is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him!"

Isaiah 30:18

He longs to be gracious to you - how does that make you feel? Other translations use the words like waiting, earnestly waits, expecting, looking, longing. What a beautiful picture of God's love for us. He is longing to show us His graciousness, His mercy.

Why do we doubt this? Why do we find it easier to believe that God is waiting to pounce, to punish, to judge? That somehow when He looks at us, He's disappointed, rolling his eyes, shaking His head and making tsk-tsk noises with His tongue? The Bible says He LONGS to be gracious to us - RISES to show us compassion!

So let us wait -- look, expectantly, longingly -- for Him -- His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship. (Amplified Bible)

The unforced rhythms of grace...

2009-10-01T06:25:00.000-07:00

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Matthew 11:28-30

For Scripture memory for the first two weeks of October I wanted to memorize something in red letters - something Jesus himself said while walking on this earth. And for some reason I was drawn to this familiar passage. I'm committing it to memory in the NIV translation, but check out The Message:

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion?
Come to me. Get away with me
and you'll recover your life.
I'll show you how to take a real rest.
Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it.
Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.
I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.
Keep company with me
and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

The unforced rhythms of grace...sounds like something I'd like to learn. I also love the idea that the yoke is not ill-fitting. The Amplified Bible offers more insight:

"Come to Me, all you who labor
and are heavy-laden and overburdened,
and I will cause you to rest.
[I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]
Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me,
for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart,
and you will find rest
(relief and ease and refreshment
and recreation and blessed quiet)
for your souls.
For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good--
not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing,
but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant),
and My burden is light and easy to be borne."

My pastor preached on this passage a while back and he suggested that if our yoke is burdensome, uncomfortable and ill-fitting, chances are it's not the one Jesus has placed upon us.

One commentator offers this: "Jesus' yoke is not lighter because he demands less, but because he bears more of the load with us."

His yoke is easy...

Numbering our days...

2009-09-18T07:37:00.000-07:00

I'm a little late posting a memory verse for the second half of September...pondering the subject of "time" lately, so I chose one I sort of already know - also because I feel a need to spend a couple of weeks reviewing and cementing a few earlier passages! So, here's the memory verse for the rest of the month:

Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12

I decided to break out a couple of words for closer inspection -
Number - as a verb - count, assess or estimate the quantity of something...
Aright - correctly, properly...
Gain - secure something desired, favorable, profitable; reach a desired destination...

I think we can all agree that "a heart of wisdom" is something desirable...something to be secured...a destination worth reaching. And attaining that has something to do with how we "number our days;" how we view, live in and respond to time itself.

I just finished up "When the Heart Waits" by Sue Monk Kidd and she concluded with a discussion of some "gifts of the soul" that come to those who've trusted in God as they wait. These gifts include delight, enjoying the gift of creation, God's nurturing heart, authenticity and compassion. Also numbered among the gifts was "attunement" - learning to be genuinely present in life, in the here and now, rather than dwelling on the past or anticipating the future. She writes:

"Time isn't a straight line along which we travel.
It's a deep dot in which we dwell."

In "numbering my days aright" I want to dwell deeply in the present - the gift of this day God has given - and make the most of every moment - every opportunity to drink in beauty and delight in God; to share love and compassion; to live authentically.

Teach me, Lord.

Disturb Us, Lord...

2009-09-10T09:02:00.000-07:00

I read this poem on the LPM blog a few minutes ago and wanted to pass it along.
Man.

Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.

---Sir Francis Drake

Caught off guard by grace...

2009-09-04T13:39:00.000-07:00

I'm reading a really good book, but it's taking me a long time to get through it. It's called "When the Heart Waits - Spiritual Direction for Life's Sacred Questions" by Sue Monk Kidd and it's one of those books where I have to read a little then think a lot. The book itself (as the title suggests) is about the lost spiritual art of waiting, so maybe my pace is appropriate.

I feel like the book is a tea bag and I'm a cup of hot water, and sometimes it just takes a while for the flavor to gain full strength and permeate my feeble mind and heart. (Sorry, I'm not that great at metaphors.)

Anyway, there were a few passages recently that have rolled around in my head and I thought I'd share them. One passage talks about being "caught off guard" by so many things about God...

"The immense, unreasonable love for us, the outrageous insistence that in the weak and broken there is divine Presence, the indomitable faith in us as children of hope, to mention a few. But most of all, I'm caught off guard by God's grace-fulness, by a grace-ful universe, by the grace of the ordinary. We've underestimated the presence of grace among us. We've built up a callus over it with our cynicism and the religious certainties that render us incapable of being surprised. If we are to wait, we must relearn the extravagance of grace."

----

She also quotes Eugene Peterson (author, Presbyterian minister and translator of The Message) in talking about the motivation behind "waiting prayer":

"The assumption of spirituality is that always God is doing something before I know it. So the task is not to get God to do something I think needs to be done, but to become aware of what God is doing so that I can respond to it and participate and take delight in it."

------

And in contemplating the posture of Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus, she writes:

"What has happened to the experience of sacred adoration, of sitting and delighting in God's presence in the fiery place of the heart? God created us in order to share the delight of being alive with us, in order to love us and taste our love, to delight in us and enjoy our delight. God wants our hearts..."

Steeping...

Delight...

2009-09-02T07:00:00.001-07:00

It's September...and it actually feels like fall (my favorite season!). As I was thinking about a memory verse for the first two weeks of September, I kept coming back to Psalm 37:3-4. God kept bringing it before me, in a variety of ways, and last night it was the passage chosen for the sermon at the back-to-school rally I chaperoned. (Okay, I get it! You don't have to hit me over the head - well, sometimes He does.)
So here it is:

Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:3-4

I'm doing my memory work in the New International Version, but I loved a couple of other translations of these verses. For example, the English Standard Version says, "dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness." Befriend faithfulness. Hmmm.

And the New King James Version says "dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness." Consume it, take it in, savor it.

And here's the passage in the Amplified Bible:

"Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart."

I plan to focus on delighting in the Lord in the coming days. I want to take my greatest pleasure in Him - His creation, His Word, His children -- all that He is, not just what He does for me.

Delight yourself in the Lord...

I LOVE a parade!

2009-08-24T15:16:00.000-07:00

I got tickled reviewing my memory verse for the end of August...

"But thanks be to God,
who always leads us
in triumphal procession in Christ
and through us spreads everywhere
the fragrance of the knowledge of him."

2 Cor. 2:14

What had me laughing is the fact that I originally chose the verse because I was drawn to the idea of emanating the "fragrance of knowing Him." I still love that challenge. But somehow I kind of skimmed over the whole part about God leading us in "triumphal procession in Christ." How could I have ignored that?

I have always been a huge fan of parades - particularly when I get to be part of the "triumphal procession." Those who know me will not be surprised by this. Some of my fondest childhood memories involved our annual participation in Baton Rouge's downtown Christmas parade. My dad was an active Jaycee, the men's group that sponsored the parade, so we were always drafted to ride floats. (Me? The center of attention in a costume on a float riding before hundreds of people? Oh, twist my arm!)

Mom usually made costumes to coordinate with the theme of the float we were riding. One year we were dressed as ice skaters in little felt skirts on a float with a frozen "pond" and (inexplicably) a huge bell. It was freezing and rainy that night, so instead of gliding on the pretend icy pond in our cute skirts, we huddled for warmth beneath the bell - a good plan until a huge gust of wind blew the bell and showered us in icy cold water.

But my favorite parade was the year my dad was president of the Jaycees. He got to ride in a shiny convertible and his family accompanied him. I think my brother and sister thought it was boring, but I was thrilled! Mom made us girls matching capes - faux camel hair lined in faux leopard (like I have to specify "faux" anything!) I arranged mine just so, with the front folded back a touch so the leopard lining was showing. I'm pretty sure gloves were part of the ensemble, and we perched on the back of that navy blue convertible and I waved regally as though everyone was there to see me.

I was raised with no shortage of love and praise. Yet, I seemed to have an insatiable appetite for attention and admiration. Maybe I was just a dreamy little girl who longed to be a princess, or beauty queen or famous. As much as it hurts to admit it, I've spent much of my adult life in a struggle with that desire for fame and admiration - I just learned to cloak it beneath something more substantial than a faux fur cape.

In the past few years, God has been gently prodding me in this area - revealing that weakness of pride and giving me a growing distaste for anything false or pretentious in my own heart and mind. It hasn't always been pleasant, but it's been a necessary part of my journey toward Christlikeness - and Christ-centeredness. A few years ago, Isaiah 26:8 became my theme:

"Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws,
we wait for you;
your name and renown
are the desire of our hearts."

When HIS name, HIS fame become our desire, then HE will lead us in triumphal procession in Christ - so we can spread HIS fragrance. Now, that's a parade I want to be part of.

Fragrance...

2009-08-18T05:40:00.000-07:00

"But thanks be to God,
who always leads us
in triumphal procession in Christ
and through us spreads everywhere
the fragrance of the knowledge of him."

2 Cor. 2:14

Is that a weird choice for a memory verse? For some reason, I feel called to "smell" more like Jesus. As I'm moving through the day, I wonder what kind of aroma surrounds me. Some days, I'm pretty sure I'm like Pig Pen, the old Peanuts character, with a cloud of dust (complaints, worries, anxiety) that threatens to overwhelm anyone in my path. Other days, I'm probably like an overly made-up old woman with a cloying, heavy scent of self-centeredness -- (eau de me, me, me!!!)

By definition, fragrance is "a pleasant, sweet smell." Those who belong to Christ should be redolent of love, mercy, compassion, joy -- the kind of scents that draw people closer and make them want to breathe deeply.

"...the fragrance of the knowledge of him..."

Mmmm. Can you smell it?

The wisdom that comes from heaven...

2009-08-02T12:36:00.001-07:00

"But the wisdom that comes from heaven
is first of all pure;
then peace-loving, considerate, submissive,
full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere."
James 3:17

This is the scripture I'm memorizing for the first two weeks of August. I don't know what it is with me and lists, but I've noticed a lot of the verses or passages I've chosen this year include lists - with lots of adjectives. I've always been a classic "over-writer" - very fond of layers of descriptive words. But I don't think God could be accused of "over-writing" anything, and He uses repetitive, descriptive words to get His point across. Maybe that's not a bad thing!

Anyway - I love this description of the wisdom that comes from heaven - wisdom we can only get from God, from walking in step with Him. The Amplified Bible offers even more layers of words:

"But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); then it is peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle). [It is willing to] yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted and straightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering, and insincerity)."

I love the juxtaposition of peace-loving and considerate with wholehearted and straightforward. It's all about balance - with a healthy dose of purity and sincerity!

Here's The Message translation of verses 17 and 18:

"Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor."

What I learned at camp...

2009-07-30T06:20:00.000-07:00

...I learned 7th and 8th grade girls are smart...and curious.

One of my favorite moments (this, in a week jam-packed with fun, with spiritual challenge and insight, with intense community and sweet fellowship) came in the middle of teaching 22 7th and 8th grade girls about the Beatitudes. The girls were focused, engaged, writing down Scripture references, participating in discussion.

Then a girl raised her hand, looked me straight in the eyes and asked in a clear voice without a hint of self-consciousness:

"How do you hunger and thirst for righteousness?"

Wow. How, indeed?

I told her she was on the right track because she was asking the right questions. I told her to ask God to give her an appetite for righteousness. I told her to feed her heart and mind with Scripture, to spend time in prayer.

I think I gave an acceptable answer, but the truth is, I just felt like bursting into tears. I was overwhelmed with emotion that a young girl really wanted the answer to that question. I also felt completely convicted and utterly inadequate.

Do I hunger and thirst for righteousness? Do I really?

Almost two weeks later, I still see that little girl's face and I'm still wrestling with lessons learned from girls with seeking hearts.

Blessed...

2009-07-01T15:17:00.000-07:00

I'm gearing up for Cross Camp '09, so I've decided to devote the month of July to memorizing our theme verses from Matthew 5 - The Beatitudes. As I've been preparing to teach these truths to 7th and 8th grade girls at camp I've been struck by how radical Jesus was - and is.
Blessed -- happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous; with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions -- are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed -- with a happiness produced by the experience of God's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His matchless grace -- are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed -- happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous, with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions -- are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
You get the idea (definitions of "blessed" courtesy of the Amplified Bible). Life-joy, satisfaction, happiness, favor - regardless of outward condition. I want that. I'm just not always anxious to embrace my poverty of spirit, to mourn, to be meek.
Please pray for me as I prepare to teach and interact with kids who need to grasp these truths! I'm anxious about imparting truth without apology, but also with compassion, passion and clarity!
So here's my scripture passage for the month of July:

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst
for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are tbe merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted
because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you
and falsely say all kinds of evil against you
because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for great is your reward in heaven,
for in the same way
they persecuted the prophets before you.

Matthew 5:3-12

Immeasurably more...

2009-06-19T17:40:00.000-07:00

My heart is so full! I'm a little behind posting a memory verse for the second half of June, and I've decided to just continue to commit to memory one of my very favorite all-time passages. Here it is in it's entirety:

"I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

Ephesians 3:17-21

I worked on the first half earlier this month, and as I work on this second half, I'm struck by how well it describes my feelings of overwhelming love and gratitude - yes, He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine - and He chooses to do it! Not only that, He does this magnificent, immeasurable work "according to His power that is at work within us!" He can do what He wills, and He chooses to exercise His power within our lives - that's amazing to me!

I love how The Message puts it:

"God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us."

What an amazing God!

Well, this has been a full month - to put it mildly! My firstborn, my daughter, is now a married woman! If you don't believe me, check here for photographic evidence! The whole experience was beautiful and I'm eternally grateful to God for His work in her life and the life of her wonderful husband Joe, and in the lives of our family and friends.

I'm also prepping to teach 7th and 8th grade girls Bible study for a week of Cross Camp - so please pray for me! I'm immersing myself in the Beatitudes and feel completely humbled to have the opportunity to share these truths with these girls!

Meanwhile, some women are going to journey with me through the book "Me, Myself and Lies" as part of a summer Bible study orchestrated by the one and only Beth Moore - we'd love for you to join us! Check it all out here.

And, things on the farm are WIDE OPEN! Cotton, soybeans and corn are growing and we're watering around the clock until God decides to bless us with some rain!

So, that's the crazy month of June around my place! What's up with you?

It's June!

2009-06-01T05:16:00.000-07:00

June.
My baby girl is getting married in just a few days.
It's hard to put my feelings into words.
Gratitude.
Love.
Excitement.
And just the slightest twinge of sadness.
I read something the other day that made me pause - "Raising a child is the only relationship you have where, if you do it right, it will end in separation."
I'm genuinely happy and thrilled for my daughter, and our family, and trusting that we'll navigate this new season with some grace. (Lord, let it be!)
So, my scripture memory project for the first two weeks in June is an old favorite passage which I've never completely committed to memory. It's my prayer for our family - and yours!

"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

Ephesians 3:17-19

I love The Message translation of these verses also:

"And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God."

Reach out and grasp the love of Christ!

Compelled by love...

2009-05-15T06:26:00.000-07:00

For Christ's love compels us,
because we are convinced that one died for all,
and therefore all died.

2 Corinthians 5:14

This verse became very meaningful to me last summer as I was preparing to teach Bible study during Cross Camp, our summer camp for students. I wanted then, as I want now, to be motivated, driven, compelled, controlled by Christ's love!
(Memory verse for second half of May!)

Growth...

2009-05-14T06:20:00.000-07:00

This is a beautiful time to be on the farm...
things change so quickly...
Here's the corn in April...

and now in May...

April...
and in May...

My favorite turnrow in late March...

...and just the other day...

Yep...it's beautiful. And I'm thankful...

Dearly loved...

2009-05-01T05:35:00.000-07:00

These are interesting days. We've been busy on the farm all week, rolling irrigation pipe across our corn fields in anticipation of dry days ahead. My part of the work is fairly simple - drive a tractor approximately 1.2 miles per hour across bumpy rows while the guys guide the plastic polypipe into the trenches dug by the tractor, securing it in place with clods of dirt. (I admit it - sometimes I sing the "Green Acres" theme song at the top of my lungs while doing this!) But, for the most part, my mind has time to freely roam - and roam it has!

I've been completely obsessed this week with the Compassion Bloggers - a team of fantastic writers who are in India to love on children and families and increase awareness of the fantastic work of Compassion International. I've cried over each post - these stories are heartbreaking, life-affirming, perspective-shifting - you name it! If you dare, check out my new friend Pete Wilson, or catch up with Angie or Melissa. Warning - you will be moved!

Meanwhile - it's MAY 1st!!! Which means it's time for a new Scripture to memorize! Here's mine for the next two weeks:

Therefore, as God's chosen people,
holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness,
humility, gentleness and patience.

Colossians 3:12

I'm praying for a deepened understanding of the love of God - the love He's poured into my life and how I am to love Him, and how that is supposed to affect the way I love others. And as we race forward toward my daughter's wedding day (June 13th!) I want to be less concerned with things like a "mother of the bride" dress and more concerned with clothing myself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience! Lord, please! Make it so!

And, just because I think they are so wonderful and adorable, let me share a link to just a few fantastic photos of the happy couple!
God bless!

Compassion Bloggers Trip...

2009-04-27T16:09:00.001-07:00

I've been totally enthralled by this trip!
I encourage you to follow along
on this adventure and pray for the travelers
and those they will touch and love in God's name!

Anthem...

2009-04-18T15:31:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love Jon Acuff's blog, Stuff Christians Like . I thoroughly enjoy his posts, and his commenters never fail to make me laugh - and think. Today, he asked folks to share their life anthems, and a commenter named Elena (all of 18 years old) shared something that just blew me away. She said her youth minister taught it to her and she memorized it and repeats it often. I asked her if I could pass it along and she encouraged me to do so:

I am a part of the fellowship of the unashamed.
The die has been cast.
The decision has been made.
I have stepped over the line.
I'm His disciple.
I won't look back, let up, slow down,
back away or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense
and my future is secure.
I'm finished and done with low living, sight-walking,
small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions,
mundane talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position,
promotions, plaudits or popularity.
I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized,
praised, regarded or rewarded.
I now live by faith, lean on His presence,
love with patience,
live by prayer and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven,
my road is narrow, my way is rough,
my companions are few,
my Guide is reliable and my mission is clear.

I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured,
lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice,
hesitate in the presence of adversity,
negotiate at the table of the enemy,
ponder at the pool of popularity,
or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up or slow up
until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up
and spoken up for the cause of Christ.
I am a disciple of Jesus.
I must go till He comes, give till I drop,
preach till all know and work till He stops me.
And when He comes for His own,
He will have no problem recognizing me.
My banner is clear.

Refuge...

2009-04-15T11:14:00.000-07:00

Scripture memory for the second half of April...

My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.
Selah
Psalm 62:7-8

I'm finishing up the passage I began on April 1st. I love looking at Beth's blog to see what other sisters are memorizing. I actually have a little word document on my desktop where I cut and paste Scriptures for potential future memorization (I know, how dorky can I be, right?).
Anyway, I've enjoyed learning, and reviewing, the verses I've learned so far in 2009. God has used them to encourage me and given multiple opportunities for me to use them to bless others. If you're working on Scripture memory, or just want to say "hello," hit comment and share!

I will not be shaken...

2009-04-09T05:33:00.000-07:00

As I was contemplating my memory verses (I'm working on Psalm 62:5-6 the first part of April, then 7-8 the last part - see below), I was intrigued by the word "shaken."

"He alone is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will not be shaken."

Shaken suggests to be moved roughly, to and fro; often the picture is of someone being shaken in anger, or in attempt to get them to wake up. But looking further in the definition is the key to this verse, I think: to weaken or impair confidence in, especially by shocking or disturbing; to cause a change of mood or attitude by shocking or disturbing.
When God ALONE is our rock, our fortress, our salvation, we won't be easily shaken - shocked, disturbed, blown about by circumstances or people into a weakened state of belief. (Interestingly, as I've worked on repeating this verse, I keep forgetting the word "alone" in verse 7. Hmmm. This could explain my tendency to be shaken!)
One more quick "word study" note: while fortress can suggest a walled, fortified city, the word used in many places in the Psalms describes any place of hiding or refuge. That reminded me of Psalm 91:1 -

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."

So, anyone out there working on Scripture memorization?
Click the comment button and share!

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone...

2009-03-31T16:19:00.000-07:00

Scripture memory for April...

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.
Selah
Psalm 62:5-8

I love it when the writer of the Psalms talks to himself:
“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone…”
That’s kind of the idea behind memorizing Scripture:
– to speak truth to ourselves;
– to speak encouragement to our own souls;
– to remind ourselves of God’s love and faithfulness.

I love the way The Message translation phrases part of this:

“He's solid rock under my feet,
breathing room for my soul.”

Anyone need a little breathing room for your soul?
I know I do.

And I know my salvation depends on God, but my pathetic, prideful heart needs the reminder that my honor depends on him, too.

Find rest…O my soul, in God alone.

Inhabiting our praise...

2009-03-23T20:02:00.001-07:00

Someone said something in prayer Sunday night that I've heard before, but you know how sometimes it's as though you're hearing something for the first time?

Let me back up:

Sunday night was the annual "Spring Sing" at Temple Baptist Church in Winnsboro, a gathering of choirs from throughout the parish who each sing a couple of songs then we all get together for a song at the end. Our choir has jokingly referred to it as "Battle of the Choirs," but, of course, it is NOT a competition! Our choir also usually complains about anything that requires any kind of extra practice or preparation. Choirs are large and small, young and old, with songs in just about every kind of style - some styles, honestly, I prefer to others.

So Sunday night, one of the pastors (I'm so sorry, I can't remember who it was - update: my friend Jimmy says it was Prentis Gandy - thanks, Jimmy!) prayed the opening prayer, mentioning that God "inhabits the praises of His people."

Wow.

God Himself inhabits the praises of His people.

I've heard it before, but found myself wondering if it was scripture, or just a saying - yep, it's in the Bible - the King James Version:

But thou art holy,

O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

Psalm 22:3

How amazing is that? I found myself moved by each selection, offered sincerely in praise, which God Himself favored with His presence.

Want God to draw near?

Praise Him!

Overwhelmed...

2009-03-19T06:35:00.000-07:00

I encourage anyone reading this to click on Beth Moore's blog (there's a link just down and to the right of this post--->) and take a few minutes to watch the short videos on the life of a minister's wife. I sat on my little worn corner of the couch and bawled after reading these raw, honest statements from some amazing, called, Godly women. I immediately turned off my computer, found Loretta, my minister's wife, and just about scared her to death by collapsing into tears while trying to express how much I love and appreciate her! I am crazy about that girl and I don't tell her enough! Seriously, she is amazing, beautiful, funny, super-talented, devoted...and she has really great hair!

When's the last time you let your minister's wife know what she means to you? Or lifted a prayer on her behalf? I encourage you to do it today and I'm pledging anew to pray for and love on my preacher's wife (who also, happily, happens to be my back-door neighbor and dear friend)!

I LOVE YOU, LORETTA!

Devoted...

2009-03-15T12:36:00.000-07:00

Sticking with a "love" theme, here's my new memory verse for the last two weeks in March:

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
Honor one another above yourselves."

Romans 12:10

The combination of a call to love with the concept of honoring others above myself drew me to this verse. In our study of Esther, we've been looking at the villain's insatiable craving for honor and, honestly, that's made me pretty uncomfortable. I've spent a lot of my life seeking the approval of others - desiring to be honored, admired, held in high esteem. I'm sick of it. I want to seek the approval of God - and be free to honor others -- above, always above, myself.
I love how this verse appears in a couple of other translations:

The Message (v. 9-10):

Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it.
Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good.
Be good friends who love deeply;
practice playing second fiddle.

New Living Translation:

Love each other with genuine affection,
and take delight in honoring each other.

English Standard Version:

Love one another with brotherly affection.
Outdo one another in showing honor.

I love the way the message says "practice playing second fiddle" and the New Living says to "take delight in honoring each other." But my favorite might be the ESV - "outdo one another in showing honor" hits all my over-achiever buttons!

Are you memorizing/meditating on a particular scripture? Hit the comment button and share!

The divine nature...

2009-03-11T11:29:00.000-07:00

Something from our homework in last week's Bible study has been rolling around in my head all week and I thought I'd share it. (We're just over halfway through with "Esther - It's Tough Being a Woman by Beth Moore)

"Discontent with selfishness and weary of ego, we finally become willing to lose ourselves in something greater. In doing so, we find Christ as we've never known Him and, there, pooled in the reflection of His eyes, startle to discover that a part of ourselves resembles Him. That, Beloved One, is what happens when human flesh and blood - with all its frailty - participates in the divine nature."

All...

2009-03-06T06:04:00.000-08:00

I just noticed something. I've been choosing Scripture to memorize on varying themes -- gentleness, anxiety, coping, and love, to name a few. But there's a common thread through most of them...the repetition of the word "all." Hmmm.

All.

Completely. Fully. Entirely.
Wholly. Absolutely. Utterly.
In every respect. Without reservation.
Without exception.

All grace, all things, all times, to all, transcends all,
all your heart, all your understanding,
all your strength...all.

I think I'm being called out to something here...
and I'm not special or unique.
We're ALL called...
to give ALL,
to accept and give ALL grace,
to love ALL with ALL...

I'm just sayin' is all.

To love...

2009-03-01T17:50:00.000-08:00

"To love him with all your heart,
with all your understanding
and with all your strength,
and to love your neighbor as yourself
is more important than all burnt offerings
and sacrifices."

Mark 12:33

I've chosen this verse to memorize for the first two weeks of March. I was drawn to Scripture about love for this month, and looked at a lot of them before settling on this one (I love www.biblegateway.com for some key word look-ups!) This particular verse struck me because of the reference to burnt offerings and sacrifices. It reminded me of another verse I've been pondering these days, Galatians 5:6 (from The Message):

"For in Christ, neither our most conscientious religion
nor disregard of religion amounts to anything.
What matters is something far more interior:
faith expressed in love."

Many times in my spiritual journey, I think I've substituted activity, religion, "burnt offerings and sacrifices" for love - heartfelt, deep, all-in love. That's how I want to express my faith - in love!

Soften this old, distracted, anxious heart, Lord.
Fill me with Your love!

If you're interested in joining in Scripture memory, click on the comment button and let me know what you're learning! (And if you haven't checked out Beth Moore's blog lately, click on the link at right - LPM Blog - there are around 2000 women memorizing all kinds of Scripture in 2009!)

In ALL things, at ALL times...

2009-02-15T11:27:00.000-08:00

Here's my memory verse for the last two weeks in February:

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you,
so that in all things at all times,
having all that you need,
you will abound in every good work."

2 Cor. 9:8

I love how The Message puts it (in verses 8-11)

"God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it,

He throws caution to the winds,
giving to the needy in reckless abandon.
His right-living, right-giving ways
never run out, never wear out.

This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God."

I love it when Scripture references farming...we're watching wheat grow on our farm right now...it's beautiful; from seed to beautiful lush green, to golden wheat, then bread -- a promise of future growth! What scripture are you memorizing?
Fallen behind? Jump back in!

Time for a new verse!

2009-02-01T14:09:00.000-08:00

It's not too late for anyone interested in memorizing some Scripture for 2009! If you want to participate, post your scripture here by clicking on the comment button below! The verses I've learned so far have been put to good use in my life! Hope it's the same for you. Continuing on a theme of humility, gentleness, battling anxiety and promoting peace, here's my next passage:

Be completely humble and gentle;

be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit

through the bond of peace.

Epehesians 4:2-3 (NIV)

If anything is excellent or praiseworthy...

2009-01-26T05:39:00.000-08:00

The final two words describing things we should fix our minds on (Phil. 4:8) are "excellent" and "praiseworthy." These underscore other words on the list - excellent is defined as "extremely good, outstanding" and praiseworthy as "deserving approval or admiration." Taken as a whole, these words paint a picture of a mind focused in such a positive direction - true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy.

I have contemplated these things and studied these words and still find the natural leaning of my mind to be nowhere near this ideal. I'm more inclined (still) to worry, to stew, to think negative thoughts (mostly about myself, which makes me just as self-absorbed as a conceited person).

But in the learning, in the meditation, I can see some progress - a growing awareness of the need to "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corintians 2:5). When the worry crops up, if nothing else I can repeat Phil. 4:6-7, present my requests to God - with thanksgiving - and expect His peace, which is beyond my understanding. When a negative thought comes up, I can remind myself to think instead about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy.

Ultimately, success in this area has less to do with my "ability" to focus my mind and everything to do with the worthiness of the One on whom my mind is fixed.

"You will guard him and keep him
in perfect and constant peace
whose mind is stayed on You,
because he commits himself to You,
leans on You, and hopes confidently in You."
Isaiah 26:3 (Amplified Bible)

Think about such things...

It's tough being a woman...

2009-01-24T13:07:00.000-08:00

We interrupt this exhaustive look at Philippians 4:8 to bring you an important message:

Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman
the new Bible study by Beth Moore

will begin this Monday, 6:30 p.m.,
at FBC Wisner in the choir room.

Any and all women are invited, but only if you sometimes have a hard time coping with life, if you're interested in learning your destiny, if you need to know God is there when He's not obvious, if you feel overwhelmed, underprepared, overworked, underappreciated...well, you get the drift. It's for YOU!

Those blog visitors who can't participate in the study can still help out. I'm conducting an informal survey in conjunction with the study and I'm DYING for your input. If you would (and please do), click the comment button below then click on the box below "leave your comment" and jot down three reasons why it's tough being a woman. If you want to remain anonymous, feel free. I plan to share some responses during the course of our study. So come on, express yourself! Get it off your chest! (And please refrain from man-bashing!)

You'll be glad to learn you're not alone!
I love being a woman (tough as it is) and I love YOU!

Whatever is admirable...

2009-01-24T06:53:00.000-08:00

Thinking about whatever is admirable..."arousing or deserving respect or approval." Basically, it means thinking about things that are worth thinking about. Synonyms: commendable, praiseworthy, laudable, estimable, exemplary, honorable, worthy, deserving, respectable, worthwhile, good, fine, great...
Many of the things we're admonished by Paul to "think about" have overlapping meanings. The recurrence of the word "good" in either the definition or synonyms of the words reminded me of something Jesse told me when we were dating. I, of course, was a journalism major and word fanatic. Jesse told me farmers had two adjectives: "good" and "very good." We've laughed about that through the years, but really, the more I think about it, good is, well, good. Simple, but profound.
Good.

Think about such things...

Whatever is lovely...

2009-01-23T17:57:00.001-08:00

In the continuing saga of filling my mind with all things of a Philippians 4:8 nature, I looked up definitions/synonyms of the word lovely...
Lovely: exquisitely beautiful; (informal) pleasant or enjoyable, delightful.
Synonyms include beautiful, attractive, appealing, adorable, exquisite, sweet, charming, enchanting, engaging.
As I contemplated "thinking about such things," it made me wonder. Why is it so easy to replay scenes in our minds that are embarrassing, sad, anger-inducing or mortifying? I know I've relived some of my klutziest moments hundreds of times, along with those (too frequent) instances when I've stuck my entire foot inside my big mouth. Why not work to replay the pleasant memories, the exquisitely beautiful moments we all experience?

Think about such things...

Whatever is pure...

2009-01-22T06:35:00.000-08:00

More thoughts on our thought life (Phil. 4:8)
The definition of pure includes the following: not mixed with any other substance or material; without extraneous and unnecessary elements; free of any contamination; wholesome, untainted by immorality; perfectly in tune and with a clear tone.
Synonyms include: uncontaminated, undiluted, unalloyed, sterling, solid, refined, clarified, clear, flawless, perfect, genuine, clean, sparkling, wholesome, natural, healthy, uninfected, virtuous, moral, ethical, good, righteous, honorable, reputable, exemplary, irreproachable, chaste, decent, worthy, noble, blameless, guiltless, guileless, spotless, uncorrupted, undefiled.
For some reason, "guileless" caught my attention. "Guile" is sly or cunning intelligence and it makes me uncomfortable to think about the times I've used God-given intelligence in a sly or deceitful way - to get out of something, to make myself look better than I really am. Yuck. I am sick of that game. I'm trying to keep my feet firmly planted on a path to a completely authentic life - and that has everything to do with the things I fill my mind with. I want my mind to be pure - perfectly in tune, clean, genuine and good.

Think about such things...

Whatever is right...

2009-01-21T06:34:00.000-08:00

More thoughts from Philippians 4:8...
Right: morally good, justified, acceptable; true or correct as fact; according to what is correct for a particular situation or thing ("the right way home"); the best or most suitable of a number of possible choices (hmmm).
Also, denoting the side of a person's body which is toward the east when they are facing north. (I'm sorry, this made me laugh out loud! As a directionally-challenged person who often confuses left and right, much less north and south, this cracked me up! I get that this is the most accurate description of "right" vs. "left," but it's just easier for me to check to see what hand my wedding ring is on!)
Correctly, morally just, honorable; goodness, righteousness, virtue; integrity, morality, truth, honesty; honor, justice, fairness.
In the verb tense: to remedy, repair, rectify or mend.
And synonyms: just, fair, proper, good, upright, righteous, virtuous, moral, ethical, honorable, honest, lawful, legal, correct, accurate, exact, precise, proper, valid, suitable, appropriate, fitting, balanced, healthy...

Think about such things...

Whatever is noble...

2009-01-20T05:24:00.000-08:00

Continuing on the Philippians 4:8 theme, here are a few definitions and synonyms for noble:
Having or showing fine personal qualities or high moral principles and ideals; imposing or magnificent size or appearance; of excellent or superior quality; a person of noble rank or birth.
Synonyms include aristocratic, high-born, virtuous, good, honorable, upright, decent, worthy, moral, ethical, reputable, magnanimous, unselfish, generous, magnificent, spendid, grand, stately, imposing, dignified, proud, striking, impressive, majestic, awesome, glorious, monumental, statuesque.
I thought it was interesting that a lot of these words suggest something high and lofty. Applied to our thought life, it seems to be an exhortation to take the high road; to avoid descending into negative, base and ugly thoughts. After all, by virtue of our spiritual adoption into God's family, we are of noble rank -- daughters of the King! Our minds should be dedicated to the highest principles and ideals, to all things good!

Think about such things...

Whatever is true...

2009-01-19T06:52:00.000-08:00

I've been meditating on Philippians 4:8 quite a bit, and studying specific words within the verse for additional insight and inspiration. In considering the meaning of "...whatever is true..." I've run across some interesting (and convicting!) definitions and synonyms.
For example, definitions include: genuine, real, accurate, exact, exactly in tune, measured relative to true north (hmmmm), correctly positioned, balanced or aligned, level, upright, loyal, faithful, accurately conforming to a standard or expectation, faithful, honest. I want my mind to be correctly positioned, balanced and aligned. I'd like my thought life to be in tune, measured relative to my True North.
Among the synonyms: verifiable, unelaborated, unvarnished. Whoa. I started thinking about how often my mind churns over situations, conversations or relationships that bear no resemblance to the truth by the time I finish stewing over them. Anybody but me?
Other synonyms: genuine, authentic, real, sincere, unfeigned, from the heart, honest, constant, devoted, staunch, unswerving, unwavering, trustworthy.

Think about such things...

Filling our minds with all things good...

2009-01-13T18:51:00.000-08:00

Hey y'all! Time for a new Scripture! Okay, well, technically, you have until the 15th of the month to begin, but I'm headed out of town early in the morning and I'm not sure if I'll have computer access for a few days, and I didn't want us to fall behind!!! I'm staying in Philippians 4, just moving to the next verse. It's another one I've been "familiar" with for years, but I'm ready to commit it to memory and looking forward to some meaningful word studies - this is GOOD STUFF! I'd love to hear what you're working on, and if you have any words of encouragement or inspiration about the way God used your first memory project, let me know!
(And if you're interested in an inspirational "tutorial" check out Beth's blog - it takes several minutes to watch, but she's got some really good insight. Just click on the link to her blog at right and scroll down to the "mini tutorial.")
New folks, it's not too late to start - just jump on in, the water is fine! (See Ephesians 5:25-27)
So, here's my scripture for the next two weeks:

Philippians 4:8

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true,
whatever is noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable—
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—
think about such things."

It will not return empty...

2009-01-03T06:30:00.000-08:00

"As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower
and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
Isaiah 55:10-11
----

I'm finding this to be true of our Scripture memory project. God has already used the Words He planted in my heart to accomplish some much-needed change. When anxiety rises up (and lately it seems to constantly bubble just beneath the surface of my life!), I repeat my passage (usually with hand gestures!) and it brings peace.
I've also pondered definitions of key words in the passage and gained needed insight. I highly recommend it! For example, gentleness is a particular theme that has intrigued me. Not only does it mean kind, mild, tender in temperament or behavior, but the verb means to calm or pacify, to make docile by gentle handling. Hmmm.
Also, guard (as in the peace of God will "guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus") not only means to watch over to keep safe, but to watch over to control entry and exit. I don't know about you, but I'd like for the peace of God to determine what enters and exits my heart and mind!
I hope you're reaping the benefits of hiding God's Word in your heart!

Renewing our minds in 2009...

2008-12-31T09:13:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, y'all! A couple of us followers of Beth Moore's blog (check it out by clicking on the link at right if you've never visited) were intrigued by a scripture memory challenge she's issued. The idea is to commit to memorize (or seriously meditate on if you're absolutely convinced you cannot memorize) two scriptures a month for 2009. Lisa Fun-Lowe and I were chatting about it and decided to do it and thought we'd see about some accountability through this blog. Here's the deal: choose a scripture on the first and the 15th of each month to memorize. For accountability purposes (and to inspire other sisters!) you should get on and type it on the blog. Beth suggests one of those index card ring binders so you can write it out and carry it around with you, so that's what Lisa and I are doing. At the end of the year, we'll have 24 new verses memorized! I don't know about you, but this seems like just the thing I need to get my mind (heart, life, etc) right this year! I'm excited - and worried about follow-thru - so, my first memory work will be about worry! I've learned part of this passage before, but I'm committing to nailing down the entire short passage for context purposes. Anxiety and gentless will be themes for me, I think! So here's my first one:

Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Why not join in? Let me know if you're game!

Christmas - I Corinthians 13-style!

2008-12-11T11:27:00.000-08:00

My friend Dolly sent this poem to me and I thought it was worth sharing! Some of us (ahem) can allow the busy-ness of the season to sap all of the joy from it - here's a great reminder for us all!

1 Corinthians 13 Christmas Style
©By Sharon Jaynes

If I decorate my house perfectly with lovely plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls, but do not show love to my family - I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family - I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family - It profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Love never fails. Video games will break; pearl necklaces will be lost; golf clubs will rust. But giving the gift of love will endure.

2008-11-27T05:56:00.000-08:00

I am thankful for...
...our kids, home from college for the holiday, piled up together in a warm, slightly messy house.
...Jesse - all things about him, but at this particular moment, his coffee. (I think I hear him stirring up pancakes, too - God bless him!)
...extended family headed in for a day of good food and extravagant laughter.
...deep friendship.
...an astounding, creative God who makes it all possible. The fact that He even bothers with me is amazing. The fact that He is relentless, stubborn and lavish in His love...that leaves me breathless!

...and I'm thankful for you!
What are you thankful for?
Have a blessed holiday season!

Greetings!!!

2008-11-17T07:30:00.000-08:00

Hey! Just getting back from an amazing trip to the Pacific coast - can I just say, we serve an amazing Creator? I had to keep reminding myself that He just spoke it all into existence. Wow.

Anyway, catching up on laundry, emails and the blog world, I came across a recent post by Melissa Moore-Fitzpatrick (Beth's daughter) on the Living Proof blog (you can link to the blog at right). Within the post was a "homework" assignment she's given to a Bible study class she and Beth are teaching in Houston and I thought it was great. I think it would be fun for anyone interested to pick a passage and get after it! Share some of your insights with the rest of us, while you're at it! I've been hung up on John 17:20-26 lately, so that may be the passage I work on - or one about the vine and branches (John 15:1-8), since I just visited a vineyard :). Here's her tips:

Choose any passage (about 5-9 verses) of interest, preferably a passage that you are not overly familiar with.
Read the passage several times, at least twice out loud.
What book of the Bible is your passage in? Who is the author? Who are the Recipients? What is the occasion and genre of the book?
Compare your original Bible translation (whether it is NIV, NASB, etc.) to other translations- use at least three or four translations. Make note of the significant changes/differences in a chart or some other helpful way.
If there is a word that sticks out to you in your original Bible translation, use a concordance to do a word study on that word. What is the Hebrew or Greek word that your English translation is rendering? Where else is it used?
Are there any topics/places/concepts in your passage that are unfamiliar to you? Use a Bible Dictionary to look up unfamiliar concepts and to answer general questions.
After you have done as much of the leg-work as you know how or have time to do, then consult one or two solid commentaries on your passage.
Conclude with how these resources contributed to your understanding of the passage.

sigh

2008-11-05T04:37:00.000-08:00

I always hate to see a Bible study end...but I loved the quote from Eugene Peterson's book, A Long Obedience In the Same Direction, and I think it applies to seasons of study like the one we just completed:

"They are not monuments, but footprints. A monument only says 'At least I got this far,' while a footprint says 'This is where I was when I moved again.'"

Let's keep moving! Again, I encourage all those reading these words to take a minute and share -- something God is teaching you, a prayer request, a Scripture reference. Join the conversation!

-----

Please pray for our new president...and pray that the church will rise and make God famous by the way we love our brothers and sisters. It's time to reach out. Let's do it.

Stepping Up...

2008-10-31T07:28:00.001-07:00

It's hard to believe we're almost finished with our journey through the Psalms of Ascent. Our ladies will meet one last time at 6:30 Tuesday for hot soup and warm fellowship as we wrap this study up. I'm hoping to get another study going after the first of the year (suggestions? I'm leaning toward Beth Moore's new one - "Esther - It's Tough Being a Woman").
So, even though we're finishing this study, we still have hearts set on pilgrimage - our destination and our fellow pilgrims! With that in mind, I thought it might be fun if the bloggers among us kept in touch here, maybe posting each week something God is teaching us through His Word. (Kind of an accountability challenge!) It could also be a forum for sharing prayer requests. Let me know what you think. It will only work if we have PARTICIPATION! A one-way conversation is no fun - believe me, I should know!!!
By the way, this conversation would be open to anyone - not just those involved in our last study. So spread the word! I'm excited to see how this little experiment works out! Let's get it started. If you're reading this, click on the word "comments" just below this post and let me know what you think! Looking forward to hearing from you!

Loving deeply...

2008-10-27T11:40:00.000-07:00

I'm just overwhelmed about our upcoming Bible study tomorrow. I just previewed the dvd and I'm sitting here weeping. (What is it with me this week?) Anyway, tomorrow's session is about being the best possible traveling partners on this pilgrimage together. We'll be looking at schemes of the enemy to oppose us as we journey. We have to be willing to forgive, to encourage, to love deeply, to fight for each other. This is so important. We need some unity, don't we? I was reading John this week (in the tractor!) and I was struck again by the way Jesus prayed in John 17 - for himself, for his disciples, then for us. The prayer he prayed for us can be summed up in a simple statement: Make them one.
Lord, make us one. Make it so. Amen.

Of tears and sneezes...

2008-10-24T08:38:00.000-07:00

Mother alert: This mom cried all the way through the last couple of days of Bible study homework. Maybe it's just the season I'm in -- a newly-empty nest -- but picturing God's love in motherly terms really got to me! For the past 20 years, my identity has been more wrapped up in motherhood than any other identifier -- wife, daughter, editor...Christ follower? So in recent months I've been trying to allow Christ to help reshape my view of life and my role in it. But I couldn't suppress a nostalgic twinge when reading scriptures that compare God's love for us to that of a mother who gives birth, a nursing mother, a mother who comforts. Nursing my children was one of the great joys of my life - the feeling of overwhelming love and an elemental, nourishing physical connection. When the baby is hungry, everything else stops for a quiet moment of perfect stillness and loving care. God loves us like that! Here's the other thing: Mom's the only one who can fill that role. Likewise, God is the only one who can provide the nourishment we need to thrive and grow. What a beautiful thing! Has this week's study prompted any nostalgia in any of you? What are you learning from God's Word this week?

(Oh, and the 'sneezes' part of the title has to do with my STILL runny nose, which made the crying even messier! Dang allergies!)

Have a great weekend!

Happy? Really?

2008-10-18T10:49:00.000-07:00

I've always been a cheerful person...to the point of being annoying at times. Even when I didn't feel particularly cheerful, it's been my practice to slap a big ol' smile across my face before greeting the world. Fake? Sure, sometimes. But my mama raised me to put on a happy face (preferably with a little blush and lipstick, thank you!) The older I get, the less interested I am in faking out the world with a cheerful demeanor.
I want real joy. Complete joy. Happiness, even.
And that's God's plan for all of us.

Psalm 128 says,

"How happy is everyone who fears the Lord,
who walks in His ways!"

As we studied this in Bible study this week, I loved the picture of a heart that operates even in the midst of suffering with "a keen sense of God's presence and a lively perception of His activity."
The result? "A life that operates overall at optimum earth-satisfaction, joy and purpose without the crushing burdens of self-glory and sin."
WOW. God's ways are right. They lead to joy.
And happiness.
No need to fake that smile. We are blessed.

---

Hope to see all the Bible study girls Tuesday for a wonderful session on the Feast of Tabernacles. So much meaning. It will radically change the way you view some of the scriptures that are probably very familiar to you. Exciting stuff! See you there, I hope!

Breaking, mending...

2008-10-11T18:14:00.001-07:00

Well, it's been a weird week...Michael broke a bone in his wrist and had surgery Thursday, so I've been in Baton Rouge trying to strike a balance between "caring mom" and "obsessive, overprotective mom." (The latter is my natural inclination!) I was catching up on some Psalms this afternoon and was struck again by the power of God's Word. Like...

"The Lord has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy..."
and
"Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy..."
and
"Unless the Lord builds the house
its builders labor in vain..."

One of the things that really hit me in Bible study was the idea of "sowing" and "reaping." We sow God's word when we plant it...apply it in our daily lives. We have to sow the seed to reap the harvest...it won't do us any good to hoard the seed or even eat the seed. Hmmm.
So, how is it going with you? Any thoughts from God's word this week?

Calling all psalmists...

2008-10-08T08:05:00.000-07:00

We had a good night in Bible study last night! One of the exercises in the study of the Psalms of Ascent is to rework each psalm into a personal expression, praying it, making it ours. Gladys Edwards shared one of hers in class - a powerful expression of thanks to God for being "for us" (Psalm 124). She shared her Psalm 122 with me and I asked if I could share it with you. Just as the original Psalmist spoke with both joy and longing of his church and his town, Gladys expresses hope and confidence for our community.

I, Gladys Marie Hamlin Edwards, was glad when they said unto me,
"Let us go into the house of the Lord"
because we can depend upon God for help.
All my help comes from the Lord.

Let's get excited to worship and praise the Lord.
Now we are standing on the inside of the house in the presence of God.
So we can pray for peace in Wisner
and may all who live in this town prosper.

For the sake of the town of Wisner I will say, "Peace be to everyone."
In order to find peace of mind and peace with others
one must find peace with God.

The people of Wisner must seek to please God
and in turn eliminate eveil.
REAL PEACE comes from Our Father in Heaven.
We must follow Him and obey His commandments.
Enter the house of the Lord with Praise and Thanksgiving.

For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I, Gladys Marie Hamlin Edwards,
will seek to do what is best for the town of Wisner.

----

How about you? Got a psalm to share this week? Or an insight, prayer or praise? Feel free to comment by clicking the comment button below!
Do your homework, girls! You will be blessed!

Our eyes look to the Lord...He is on our side!

2008-10-06T17:55:00.000-07:00

This week in Bible study we'll view a very interesting dvd on the first of three major Jewish feasts which are linked to our study of the Psalms of Ascent. We'll be talking about Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, both of which have so much relevance to our lives and our pilgrimage. I'm always amazed at the beautiful correlation between Old Testament traditions and their fulfillment in Christ.
BE THERE!
And if you have any insight or revelations or "aha!" moments from this week's homework, click on the comment button below and share with the rest of us!

----

In our girls' Sunday School class, we're going to be doing part two of a discussion of dating - YIKES! We had some lively discussion Sunday and we'll be delving deeper into what God has in mind for His precious daughters. Pray for me (please!) and for the girls. If they can get a handle on God's design for their lives at this age, they can, hopefully, avoid some unnecessary heartbreak. (Can I get a witness, sisters?) Any thoughts or insights to share with the girls would be appreciated. What do you know now that you wish you knew at 13? 15? 17? Thanks!

A few Bible study pics...

2008-09-30T18:53:00.001-07:00

Some photos of small group discussion during Stepping Up Tuesday...these are some fabulous women! There is a real sense of anticipation as we journey on to the next place with God.

Yay! Bible study tonight!!!

2008-09-30T04:51:00.000-07:00

I'm SO excited to be meeting with a great group of pilgrims (sans starched white collars and buckle shoes) as we continue "Stepping Up." I hope everyone had a great week - and completed their homework - in preparation for tonight. But come on, even if you're behind! We're going to (try) to start promptly at 7, share a little about what we learned during the week and then enjoy this week's video (here's a teaser: it's all about music and song and it's GREAT!).

On another topic, I was reading Tozer in the tractor again (that could be a series, don't you think: Tractor Time with Tozer?) and wanted to share some of his thoughts on meekness. This book was written 60 years ago and the writing has an old-fashioned quality yet the truth is absolutely timeless. This passage has meant a lot to me over the past two years as my heart makeover (with Jesus as my "contractor") has progressed:

"The meek man is not a human mouse, afflicted with a sense of his own inferiority. Rather, he may in his moral life be as bold as a lion and as strong as Samson, but he has stopped being fooled about himself. He has accepted God's estimate of his own life. He knows he is as weak and helpless as God has declared him to be, but paradoxically, he knows at the same time that he is, in the sight of God, more important than angels. In himself, nothing; in God, everything. That is his motto. He knows well that the world will never see him as God sees him and he has stopped caring. He rests perfectly content to allow God to place his own values. He has attained a place of soul rest. He has found the peace which meekness brings."
-- A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God.

Time to step up!

2008-09-23T06:18:00.000-07:00

I'm beside myself with excitement about "Stepping Up - a journey through the Psalms of Ascent." A group of women will begin the Beth Moore study tonight where we'll be challenged to go up - move to the next step in our relationship with God. We're different ages, different stages of life, all setting out on a journey carrying different luggage. We're pilgrims, clinging to this promise of God:
"I'll shower blessings on the pilgrims who come here,
and give supper to those who arrive hungry." -- Psalm 132:15
Are you hungry?
I am!
See you tonight!

Broken shells...

2008-09-19T15:44:00.001-07:00

Jesse and I are at Orange Beach, which is beautiful, though rainy today. The sky is gray, the gulf is gray, the waves are huge. We've enjoyed two good beach walks today - the one this afternoon ended in a soaking wet jog as we attempted to get back to the condo in a sudden downpour! Something that struck me on both walks was the number of really large, beautiful seashells scattered along the water's edge. Every time I reached down to pull a particularly large, colorful one from the sand, however, it was only a piece of a shell. The jagged, broken edges were submerged in the sand. It kind of reminded me of our lives at times. We want to be seen as beautiful, perfect, together. So we desperately try to keep our jagged, broken edges covered. I guess we're afraid that once our brokenness is revealed, we'll be cast aside. Thankfully, God makes it clear in Deuteronomy 31:6 that He is the Keeper of broken things.

"Be strong. Take courage. Don't be intimidated. Don't give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He's right there with you. He won't let you down; he won't leave you."

Let's accept - embrace even - our own brokenness and be like God in our love for the broken.

------

(Betsy's teaching her younger 'sisters' in Sunday School in my absence - pray for her! And I'll see the 'big girls' when we kick off our study Tuesday - Can't wait!)

Repurposed...

2008-09-15T06:35:00.000-07:00

A fellow blogger, "V," wrote something that I think will resonate with a lot of us in the "be all you can be" generation. She certainly captured the essence of much of my journey for the past year -- the essence of what I'm hoping for. I asked her permission to share it with you, and she graciously agreed. Her blog can be found at http://repurposed.wordpress.com.

"I’m a recovering business - administrator.

Previously driven by all things productive, motivational and rewardable.

Currently driven by all things true, honest and pure.

Previously devoted to things to fill the void.

Currently devoted to nothing that serves myself.

Previously devoted to acceptance and admiration of others.

Currently devoted to redeeming things others have passed by, passed on, passed over or dismissed.

Life is too short to be plagued with worry, with fear and with
any sniff of doubt.

Life was made to be whole, complete and find its purpose in
redemption.

I’m a Wife. I’m a Mom. I’ve lived to be older than my Mother.

I understand the fragility of life.

I understand the permanence of kind words, actions and love for those placed in our lives.

I live very far from perfection, but I am being perfected.

I live far very far from having it all, but I am supplied for.

I fight against wanting more and am learning to live with less.

I fight against judgment and am learning to live in awe of the gifts within others.

I fight for others on the things that matter. I fight against things unseen.

I am a warrior.

I am wholly REPURPOSED."

A prayer...

2008-09-13T14:23:00.000-07:00

I read this prayer on a tractor this morning and thought it was worth sharing...

"O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, that I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, 'Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.' Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long. In Jesus' name. Amen."
-- A.W. Tozer, "The Pursuit of God"

Blogging 101...

2008-09-12T08:38:00.000-07:00

Okay, girls, I'm new to this, and I know some of you are too. if you want to leave a comment, you click on the little thing below the post that says "0 comments" or "2 comments" and you can type a message where it says "Leave your comment. " When it says "Choose an identity," you can just click "anonymous" if you don't want to set up a blogger identity, just be sure leave your name in the comment and I'll know who you are! I think if you click " google/ blogger" it will prompt you to set up a blogger identity, which is pretty simple and kind of fun if you plan to post on anyone's blog! Welcome to the wonderful world of blogging!

And for the 'big girls...'

2008-09-09T12:03:00.000-07:00

...the women are invited to join us in a new in-depth Bible study on Tuesdays, beginning Sept. 23.
"Stepping Up" by Beth Moore is a look at the Psalms of Ascent. It's a six-week study of Psalms 120-134 (with homework!!!) that will challenge and inspire serious students of the Scripture and those brand-new to Bible study. Here's what Eugene Peterson says about the psalms:
"There is no literature in all the world that is more true to life and more honest than Psalms, for here we have warts-and-all religion. Every skeptical thought, every disappointing venture, every pain, every despair that we can face is lived through and integrated into a personal, saving relationship with God -- a relationship that also has in it acts of praise, blessing, peace, security, trust and love. Good poetry survives not when it is pretty or beautiful or nice but when it is true: accurate and honest. The psalms are great poetry and have lasted not because they appeal to our fantasies and our wishes, but because they are confirmed in the intensities of honest and hazardous living."
I want to press to a higher place with God. I want to step up. Come along...

This Sunday...

2008-09-09T12:01:00.000-07:00

...our Sunday School class (girls in grades 7-12) is looking at the family. I'm going to have to break some tough news to the teen girls: their parents are flawed -- deeply and without exception. And yet, we're still called to honor our imperfect parents. What does this mean? How does this work out in real life? And what about siblings? The good news is this: God isn't asking us to fix every family struggle - He's calling us to obedience and asking us to trust Him. We're also called to I Corinthians 13-style love:
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
We'll look at some other Scriptures and have a lively discussion of all things 'family.' Join us!

I have no idea what I'm doing...

2008-09-09T11:03:00.001-07:00

Well, after blog-shadowing friends and family for about a year, I decided to jump into it myself. My initial thought was to provide a spot for our girls' and women's ministries - a place to share thoughts, insights, concerns, celebrations...who knows?

a simple life...

Celebrating my jubilee year...

Over-driving...

Turn north...

Becoming less...

Busy...thankful...

Giving thanks with a full heart...

Holding fast...

Thankful...on this gray day...

Incline my heart...

Thankful today...for beauty

Counting gifts on the farm...

Counting gifts...

One thousand gifts...

Pure grace...

New beginnings...

Arms open and outstretched...

Do you not know?

Overflowing with hope...

Sufficient grace...

...inexpressible and glorious joy...

The Amazing Artichoke Adventure...

Laughing at the days to come...

Something far more interior...

He will quiet you with His love...

My portion forever...

An instructed tongue?

To follow is the only free road...

...for there I find delight...

Joining hands, hearts with Haiti...

This is what I seek...

To us a child is born...

A simple Christmas...

Precious beyond telling...

Compassion...

He longs to be gracious to you...

The unforced rhythms of grace...

Numbering our days...

Disturb Us, Lord...

Caught off guard by grace...

Delight...

I LOVE a parade!

Fragrance...

The wisdom that comes from heaven...

What I learned at camp...

Blessed...

Immeasurably more...

It's June!

Compelled by love...

Growth...

Dearly loved...

Compassion Bloggers Trip...

Anthem...

Refuge...

I will not be shaken...

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone...

Inhabiting our praise...

Overwhelmed...

Devoted...

The divine nature...

All...

To love...

In ALL things, at ALL times...

Time for a new verse!

If anything is excellent or praiseworthy...

It's tough being a woman...

Whatever is admirable...

Whatever is lovely...

Whatever is pure...

Whatever is right...

Whatever is noble...

Whatever is true...

Filling our minds with all things good...

It will not return empty...

Renewing our minds in 2009...

Christmas - I Corinthians 13-style!

Greetings!!!

*sigh*

Stepping Up...

Loving deeply...

sigh