Author Archives: trishascoffeebreak

NICE DAY Part III: I Wanna Go Home!

22 Monday Apr 2019

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As spring break was nearing its soggy end, the few nice days on the beach more than filled three-year old Grayson’s bucket. He had it all, yet he was fed up. Boy do I ever identify with that!

I hope you have had a beautiful Easter weekend, full of the hope and love that Christ poured into us those many years ago. Isn’t it great to know that He never changes; unlike we ourselves, who change our minds and attitudes even in the course of a few days. As promised, this week’s post is another inspiration from the mouth of babes. I do apologize for not having it ready this morning, but I, too, enjoyed the weekend, traveling to our daughter’s

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At Steffy’s, Easter 2019

yesterday after a fun Saturday evening at my sister’s, where we ate a scrumptious meal, loved on the littles,

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Great nieces and nephews

and praised God for His constant blessings and that ultimate HOPE, the resurrection! Now that will be a most welcome change for those who die IN Christ; “in the twinkling of an eye” (I Corinthians 15:52) we shall be like HIM! [see how those words in bold make their own statement 🙂 ]

“This World is Not My Home” is an old spiritual song that most of us probably know. Let me first say, I actually love my life here – in spite of the wrong turns, rough spots and cloud bursts, it’s been a great journey so far. But for the very young, as well as the aging, this world can be foreign soil at times. The older I get, the more I understand that song, and the desire little children have to be at  home. As I was saying, my great-nephew was taken to the beach with grandparents, parents and baby brother. Now how does a three-year old get spring break – he has teacher parents. NICE! One thing however was different this year – a baby brother. That five month old just may have stolen a bit of Grayson’s spotlight, as well as some golden silence…but I’m not saying where I heard that! Haha!

The day before going home time, Grayson looked up at his grownups and said, “I’m ready to go home now”, and just to be sure they didn’t mistake that for wanting to retreat from the beach into the condo, he added, “I mean MY home, I don’t belong here”. Oh my, bless his little heart! He was fed up. He was tired. Too much had changed, and he had filled his sand bucket and dug all the holes he needed to. He knew where peace and solace were.

I’m so grateful that my nephew and his wife have made a home that their little one loves and longs for. How about us? Have we looked into our Father’s design enough to know what home he has prepared for us? It is overwhelming for me to think about eternity. But because I believe the bible as God’s inspired word, I do believe there is a place that is perfect, without change, awaiting the children of God. The more things change here, the more I want to go home. Reading about it in the never-changing word of God, I know it’s where I belong. I am enjoying this great trip He has given me, but I know I’m going to enjoy going home even more.

Finding the glimpses of God and His design within nature is what motivates me from one day to the next. As that natural beauty becomes slathered over in asphalt and shadowed by tall buildings I have to look harder to find it. Thank you God for little children who often bring it right to us. As long as He wants me here, I’ll keep filling sand pails, so to speak, and sharing inspiration, but oh, won’t it be good to go home!

Please share your “littles’ expressions” here! Out of the mouth of babes….you know.

 

 

NICE DAY Part 2: Umbrellas and Flashlights – Up In the Basement

08 Monday Apr 2019

Posted by in Children, MONDAY MUSINGS

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Umbrella Girl

 

On this rainy day, I am reminded of my little Umbrella Girl. My brother had brought his wife and 2 yr old daughter back from North Carolina, where they lived while he was in active duty with our United States Marines. Trying to get settled into our grandparents’ old home in Jones’ Mill, TN and start a farming operation, didn’t leave a great deal of time right then to play with a tot like their inquisitive Sara. One pretty day Aunt Trisha drove down to take that little golden-haired girl home to play. We hadn’t had a toddler in our family in a while so I’d about forgotten how sharp their little minds are. About five minutes out of the driveway, an unexpected spattering of raindrops fell onto the windshield. I must have said something like “would you look at that?” Sara, sitting in the front seat (no there wasn’t a whole lot of concern 26 years ago about car seats) with her little legs straight out in front of her, cast those big eyes up at me and said in a most grown-up way, “And ya haven’t gotcha umbrella!” Exactly right. I did not carry an umbrella for unexpected showers. How did she know? I have, since then, carried a small umbrella in the front glove compartment. There have been several “cloud bursts” in life, some for which I was not prepared; I have since then carried in a compartment of my heart, encouragement from God’s Word, to cover and protect. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NKJV)  Yep! We may not see it coming, but God sees all, and knows those who love and trust Him, and He will take our storms and make them work for our good. We have God’s Word on it; that’s our umbrella.

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Flashlight Sisters

Another story of being prepared was spurred by a sweet conversation between my two great nieces about five years ago.  If you have read my January 11, 2014 post titled “The Cream in My Coffee: A Tale of Two Sisters, then you know this story. The girls were overheard by their grandparents discussing their order of birth. The older, Katja, had told her little sister, Isabella, that after she had been “cut out of Mommy’s belly” the younger had later been placed there and was born, having in the meantime been in “God’s imagination”. (Be still my heart!) This did not set well with little Isabella! With a quivering voice she replied that “it was dark in Mommy’s belly” and that she should have been given a flashlight! It was her opinion that they should have been there together in the first place, to prevent her from feeling afraid. We can rest assured however, that being in the mind of God with His plans for us, we do not need a flashlight. David wrote, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?…” (Psalm 27:1)

Kids really do say the funniest things; they are so honest and open. They aren’t concerned with being politically correct; pulling no punches, they want us to understand them in no uncertain terms. Little Micah Simons was proof of that this morning in the church nursery. She told us “No” several times when offered the wrong book or toy – she wasn’t letting anything get in the way of her own agenda! I loved watching her take care of her doll on her own terms! But sometimes they get their terms a bit mixed up. Alan is my brother’s third child, and could say some of the cutest things, most of which didn’t make a lot of sense, but gave us so much fun!

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Making funny faces.

I recall at age four (which by the way, is the BEST age for conversation) he sat with me on our front porch and asked life questions, like “just what is a ‘hickernut’ Aunt Trisha”, and “how will we bust ‘um?” and “why are they on the ground?” Alan is still trying to get this life thing figured out, like we all had to, so what I recall him saying later that day fits him perfectly. We had just moved into our new house, and he and sister Emily were visiting. I showed them the attic, complete with some really great toys left over from my kids’ childhood. The day being a nice autumn temperature, they had some time to play up there. Later, he asked me if he could go “up in the basement” to play again. We never had a basement, nor had one been mentioned.  He’d heard that somewhere else, and put it with anywhere other than ground level. Up or down. Life for most young adults is up and down; it’s confusing to say the least. I wouldn’t go back and do it again, would you? I pray daily for the youth of our family, friends and church. Sometimes life is a real kick in the pants and I long for them to know the Warrior who will lead them through their battles and fight for them like no-one else ever could. Will you bow down with me, to look up, and plead on their behalf? “Oh our God…we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.” (II Chronicles 20:12 NIV) Help them Lord, to know up from down, right from wrong, and how to speak up for themselves through Your power. In Jesus’ name, amen.

You know, the fact that they can’t always tell us what they want, or that we don’t always listen, doesn’t stop them. Thank God that He made them persistent. I can learn from that; I can keep trying, praying, listening to God for His answers, and never give up. Keep asking questions, like Alan did that day, which is how we learn at any age. Oh, if we could just be like those little children – open, honest, inquisitive without judging – and take each day as an adventure! Most of us will admit we’ve been about as deep in the basement as we can be sin-wise; but thanks be to God, we can still be UP – up in HIs arms, under His umbrella, in His light. Have a Nice Day!!

(Part 3 in two weeks: Sweet Things Make Nice Days! Perhaps if I am brave enough a Part 4 will emerge. It’s title will no doubt be “Angry Words Do Not Make Nice Days”.)

NICE DAY!

25 Monday Mar 2019

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“CHILDREN ARE A BLESSING AND A GIFT FROM THE LORD.” (PSALM 127:3) CEV

I used to think that verse meant one’s own children, but after watching a couple of generations growing up, I realize it is certainly not a blessing exclusive to the parents. Littles of our friends and relatives, or even a toothless smile from a shopping cart at a much-needed time, can just MAKE. YOUR. DAY!! Right?

As much as I feel “nearer to God in a garden”, I know where you really can get as close to the heart of God as anywhere this side of Heaven – sitting with a three or four-year old!

Three year old Grayson, one of my great nephews, found Spring peeking into the back door of Winter, and able to go outside after a nasty round of influenza A, was observed enjoying his own blessing. Kids are the best at observation and appreciating!! At three and a half now, he is so old and accountable that he is allowed to go into their fenced backyard by himself. Last week his daddy shared with me what his neighbor observed as the door slid shut between Grayson and his grownups. He said the boy looked each way, taking it all in, then proclaimed in as manly a voice as possible, “Nice Day!” Knowing a thing or two about this little guy, I wrote the following for Grayson.

GRAYSON

As in any good family yard, we have many things to do. There’s mud for playing, and a dog, uh-oh, what’s on my shoe? Toys, a trampoline, a slide and swing set; I can’t wait to play ball, but it’s not summer yet. The neighbor is grilling, but I am not. Dad said we’d play – I think he forgot. No flowers yet to pick, nor grass for bare feet, but with that bright sunshine, life is sure sweet! A look to the left and a look to the right, I breathe in the air and I feel alright! Not a worry in my pocket, just one thing to say, with a nod to my neighbor, I shout, “NICE DAY!”

Yes, children are a blessing for a number of reasons. They ground us, in more ways than one! Getting my head out of the air and back down to basics is one of the best reasons for being around them. God said “…But to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8b) Who is more honest than a three or four-year-old? Who  needs more mercy than a little child? Humility – oh my, they are the best at that! They have no other choice, being so dependent on all of us. They are the best reminders of how God wants us to be.

Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven”. (Matthew 18:3-4) NKJV

Part 2 of  “Nice Day” is taking form already as I recall several other touching or funny ways our “Littles” have blessed us.  They really do say the funniest things! So, bye for now, I hope your Monday is going just right! See you back here in two weeks, with a few quotes from Katja, Isabella, Alan, Sara, and more!

 

 

MAKE WHAT YOU WILL OF IT

11 Monday Mar 2019

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Happy first Monday of DST! I’m sure many more households had their version of adjustment, and ours was typical of needing to be reminded – again – that it is what you make of it. Yeah, yeah, the facts of an hour darker, and the weather, can be called “it is what it is” but that’s as far as our attitudes have to be dictated. The day, the moment, the situation, whatever you are living, is lived in light of what you make of it. 

I am a light-lover; no, not one who loves lightly, but a lover of light. I was not looking forward to daylight savings time because if the sun ain’t up, neither am I.  Well, not voluntarily anyway.  It actually is my favorite to be up and watch the sunrise – I stress BE up; it takes a grand alarm clock system to do that, but once up and awake I am happiest just about dawn. My first awakening today was a phone call about 20 minutes before my alarm was to sound. Viewing what appeared to be wet outside again sent me back under the covers grumbling about the weather man. I fell asleep and dreamed about the outcome of that day-opening phone call. Next, the old-fashioned clock radio blared a ten minute warning that my cell phone alarm would soon be calling me out. One peeping eye confirmed the dreariness of the day. Back under the covers. As I took the ten minute snooze, a cold little nose in a furry little face told me to stop snoring please, and as I did, he snuggled in between my husband and me, luring me to doze again. When that dogged cell phone commenced its irritating tune that I really need to change, I saw no promise of sun. Clouds, drizzle and dampness outside caused a Monday malfunction – I went back to sleep. Another phone call brought me to my senses and I faced the day, about an hour late.

As sluggishly as my day approached the starting line, it is pacing itself pretty well and I hope yours is too. I found a few markers along the route to point out how to make more of the race. Those would be prayer for hope; scripture for direction,  and love for endurance. That first phone call – one requesting prayer for her day; my sweet daughter was concerned about some who were about to lose their jobs today, and she asked my prayer for their sakes. And I thought, yes, how wonderful that we have an intercessor to take all our concerns to God Who sustains us not only in hope for eternal life, but in our day-to-day matters. That sweet Holy Spirit! He comforts us and understands our groaning from dawn to dawn, all day long, never leaving, no matter how many clouds overshadow the way. “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” (Romans 8:26 NKJV)

Next came the morning walk with that fur faced alarm. Chilly air on my face and bird melodies in my ears, made it good to be alive. Once he had communicated with the world, you know the sniffing input and the output which should be self-explanatory, we happily returned to a warm house and hot cup of coffee. Ain’t life good?

Scripture – a big part of my writing – came into play as I sat down to work toward a deadline for an article submission. Reading again those steadfast promises lifted my mood and attitude like sunshine themselves. The fog was clearly lifted!

That last phone call was from my sister. Bless her heart! May I say again, Bless Her Heart! Still wearing a back brace, she needed help to take a rectal temp on her 19 pound grandbaby; (maybe a little moral support?) and later finding 3 out of 4 grandchildren have influenza A, and the fourth with a stomach ache – well the whole family really needs blessing, right? And I counted my blessings at that moment! Only love – L. O. V. E. – took me into the house with my flu vaccine already four and a half months old. Get it? (I hope we don’t.) By the way, the sight of that sweet baby boy melted my heart. Even sick, they are so worth it all!

Arriving back home and greeted by my fur baby spinning in circles, I knew it was a good day. I am alive. With loved ones. A modern washer and running water. With hope, and scripture, and love. And the sun came out! OK, I tried to have a bad day, really I did, but God just kept pushing all that good stuff under my nose, and here I’ve gone and had a good day after all. Key words (I have emphasized) for making it a great day are in the following verses.

17 God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind.
18 So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.
19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. (Hebrews 6 NLT)

IT TAKES PRACTICE: Cultivating and Turning the Other Cheek

24 Sunday Feb 2019

Posted by in Encouragement, inspiration, Uncategorized

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“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” Matthew 5:44

MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERAPlant zinnias, reap zinnias.

February 24, 2019. My apologies to those who may not be enjoying sunshine today! You will eventually.

It’s been two weeks since I shared a thought or two here; (thank you Linda Pugh for missing me) and as of Wednesday, I was finished with 2018 tax preparation for our farming operation. Whew! I don’t know which was worse, that, or the torrential rainfall of this month! Neither one inspired me to write (Understatement). The sunshine of this morning couldn’t be more welcome, and I know you were happy to see it too!

We had a truly inspirational Ladies Retreat this weekend with four fabulous speakers who brought inspiration from the depths of their hearts. Chelsea Hendrick, Rebecca Simons, Vicki Simmons and Kelly Mackey each filled us with encouragement from real life hard stuff, and I applaud them for allowing us to warm our hearts by the fires of their own trials. The light from all the beautiful hearts present this weekend helped me find my way through another otherwise gloomy weekend.

Speaking of light, have you noticed how one color takes on different hues according to the light around it? Paint on the wall in morning light, a dress on the rack under fluorescent light, or even your make-up in daylight compared to the bathroom bulbs, have all looked so different in varying sources of light.  Just like those colors, my understanding can change somewhat under the light of different moods. I know I’m not alone in this. So, I’m thinking it was this glorious sunshine that made me happy to get out of bed, even before the alarm sounded, and even made me wear a purple shirt! No, I’m not a purple girl; give me greens and blues, yellows and browns, but I leave purple to my daughter, Stephanie. She loves it. Maybe it was even the bright morning, on the heels of the awesome speakers, that made me see something I hadn’t before, as we looked this morning at the sermon on the mount by Jesus.

The meaning of turning the other cheek, blessing your enemies and praying for persecutors is still what I’ve always thought – be like Jesus. And it is still in hopes of helping them see God, and pointing to Jesus. I also believe it is to praise God since we are “in His image”.  But what struck me this morning – and I’m sure most of you already knew this – is that it’s also about the one being spoken to here; the stricken, the persecuted, the wronged. God loves His children like we love ours, but more. And He is perfect in the instruction He gives us, for our own sakes! As I read Matthew 5, I thought of the heart as fertile ground, which we all know sprouts what is planted in it. The more it is cultivated, the more it produces, and eventually you no longer see the ground, but the leaves, vines, and blossoms of the garden.  What if God said, curse those who curse you, go ahead and stir the strife when another starts it, and tell the world how unfairly you were treated. Oh my, what a harvest of hardened hateful feelings we would be growing; and rather than perfecting the peace of Jesus, we would be perfecting the practice of evil.  He knew that to cultivate peace and goodness, we need to practice it in the fertile soil of our hearts. Oh yes, I’ve done it both ways! And I can tell you first hand that in the days when I spit back in the spite of others’ meanness, I felt the strife. When I learned to pray for them, I felt the peace and warmth that God desires us to feel. Isn’t He wise? How marvelous to bask in the sunshine of His love for us!

Verse 45 of Matthew 5 finishes Jesus’ thought: “so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

Have a beautiful week, whether rain or sun, bless others and be blessed!

 

 

YOU GOTTA ASK TO GET SOMETHING!

13 Wednesday Feb 2019

Posted by in MONDAY MUSINGS, Prayer Life

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Hoping to warm my hands around a nice hot cup of coffee for the drive home, I stopped by a coffee shop and saw one of my favorite flavors was featured. “I’ll have a medium with cream please” was answered with “drive up to the window and we’ll have it ready”! The window opened, I extended my card, and heard, “well, I’m sorry, I can have that flavor brewed in about 5 minutes, or I still have our other flavor if you’d like that”. Uhhhhh…..weeelllll… with the menu long behind me, my mind went blank, and I sort of stuttered out something to the effect that I would just take a regular coffee with cream. (Wasn’t that what he sort of just offered me?) Well, my husband must have felt sorry for me because at that moment, he leaned over and suggested, “hey, you oughta just give her a cup of coffee for that”, to which my face turned red and I handed my card out to the guy anyway. No, he said, it was on him. I drove home holding a LARGE cup of coffee for a 50 cent tip. Gary asked me how I liked that; I said, “you mean besides the embarrassment?” With a shrug, he said “You gotta ask or you get nothing. Put that in your blog.” I guess he meant put that in your pipe and smoke it.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 NKJV

So often, I’m afraid, we go without answers and assistance because we do not ask. And I happen to know our Heavenly Father is way more eager to give, than the coffee guy is, although I have to say he was awfully nice!  James 4:2 tells us that though we may lust, covet, fight and even murder to have something, we do not have because we do not ask. Those are strong words! A child of God has the most powerful ‘amazon’ ever; no credit cards needed. “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:11

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.” Psalm 23:5

 

Variety: Love it or Hate it

03 Sunday Feb 2019

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February afternoon

Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019

There are clearly some advantages to our Western Kentucky weather. Today is a prime example. While we hate the ever-changing never-know-what-you’ll-get weather patterns, it’s when we get a bright, warm, taste of spring like today that makes me grateful for the changes. I also relish occasional snow days when the whole world looks pure and clean and the only choices I have to make for the day is which flavor of coffee do I want to make. Variety really is the spice of life.

I also enjoy variety when it comes to writers’ thoughts, though not too wide a variety, as I’m a more conservative thinker. But no matter how you think, if you put effort into your own sharing,  you will enjoy the penned thoughts of others that are different. One such writing form that is different, but one that I can truly identify with, is Adventures of a Labor Nurse. Warning: it is not for the faint of heart. She puts it all out there, and if you haven’t looked into the face of the smelly, bloody miracle of birth before,  then you might tread lightly going there. I love it!

Foods! What can I say that wouldn’t take volumes of cyber space to even begin to do justice to the rich cuisine we enjoy every single day. I’m even talking about the beans and tater meals – I mean how many varieties of beans and potatoes and methods to prepare them are there? See what I mean? We have all benefitted from our cultural stew pots.

As nice as the spice is, there is Life beyond change, with more important things than blogging, coffee and food. I am completely ‘fall on my knees’ grateful that the Lord God is faithful to stay the same. No variation there! His way, His love, His opportunities, His grace, all of it, every part of Him is forever the same. That’s because it’s already perfect. Nothing is needed besides it and nothing is complete without it.

 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.  James 1:17

“Barnes’ Notes on the Bible” enriches the phrase ‘no variation or shadow of turning’ penned by James. Because God is the Father of lights, James wanted to be sure we understand that God the Light, is different from the sun, our light, this way:  whereas the sun changes every day, causing all sorts of variations in climate, weather, shadows and so forth, with God there is none of that!  Barnes notes “the word which is here rendered “variableness” … occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It means change, alteration…and would properly be applied to the changes …in astronomy.”  James knew his science from the master!

So, no matter how our lives change we can be absolutely sure that the One who created all this beautiful (and sometimes not so pretty) variety, is holding it all together; steady, unmovable, eternal in all His purpose and plan. Variety is the spice; God is the Life.

Eternally His, Trisha

Sundial

About 3:15 Sundial time

Thoughts on Visits, Rest and Mamas

28 Monday Jan 2019

Posted by in Prayer Life, Reflections, The unexpected

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A Visit

I visited Mama this afternoon. Oh, it was so wonderful to see her looking so well; productive, happy, and in good health. We talked a bit and I helped her find the missing part of a small crib she had about finished putting together. She was holding a little baby and it was for that baby that she was assembling the crib. Someone who looked familiar walked through the house where she had lived on Miller Ave, called my name and left, and she was trying to tell me who it was. He wore a large black fireman’s hat. My husband walked through next, in a red jacket. (Yes, we do dream in color.) Then I woke up.

Needs:   I wanted to get this written down before I had time to forget this happy feeling I have from my dream. I no longer feel depressed like when I lay down for a nap this afternoon, nor do I feel quite as dissatisfied with myself as I did. Not normally a depressed person, I had chalked it up to mid-winter ho-hums, even though it was a beautiful sunny day. I wanted something; but couldn’t put my finger on it. I felt torn between funeral home, hospital, hospice and shut-ins, and a strong desire to sleep. Several people I know have passed away lately, and some others are hanging on the edge of eternity, so I felt sad about those situations. I think I wanted to be in so many different places at once, that I just crawled into the middle of it all and went to sleep. Or, maybe I just needed sleep. My sister says I’m a real mess when lack of sleep takes over.

Retreats:   Now, where was I going with this? Oh yes, sometimes we just have to retreat. Pull the quilt over it all and leave with Winkin, Blinkin and Nod. Life’s a battle as well as a journey. Scripture says the battle belongs to the Lord and that He has planned our journeys, but as we live it, effort and emotions can take their toll so God said rest. I admire those folks who seem to never wind down, energizer bunnies, who amazingly make it to every wake; visit, cook and care, spreading themselves among their communities tirelessly. God still said rest. I’m thinking those industrious people must know their own limits, though we can’t see it, and still make space for rest.

Rest For The Weary:    One of those who we’ve lost this week is Dr. Ron Wuest. He cared for his patients in body and spirit. My family and I have missed him very much since his illness forced him out of practice. Missing his wake and funeral, I felt like I had let him down. But I know he would be right in saying, “when you feel you need to rest, rest!” Another one gone is a friend’s mother, also a sister in Christ. Knowing they are saying goodbye to her is likely what triggered my dream. Besides those two, there is sweet Peggy Carraway, who decided her battle here is about done, and is now at the hospice house. She has a bright eternity to look forward to, and deserves a rest, but it is just one more reminder of the brevity of life. There are so many good friends suffering now in many ways, and I carry them in my heart. I pray for their peace, comfort and healing. In the past, when I carried a load of concerns I could always park it at my Mama’s house, and it would be much lighter when I picked it up to leave again. Now, with her gone, I forget now and then that I need to unload. I do pray, and always feel comfort there, knowing God hears and will answer. But sometimes there is that something else; God knew and I didn’t. I really needed my Mama lately and He gave me a beautiful dream – a visit and a rest. Indeed, I thanked Him for it when I awoke.

Now, if I get to helping myself to too much rest, I hope somebody will rescue me and put me back on my hamster wheel! Have a great week friends, and don’t forget to rest when needed.

I’LL TAKE A SIDE OF FAITH WITH MONDAY’S MEATLOAF

21 Monday Jan 2019

Posted by in Faith, MONDAY MUSINGS

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Sweeping over an icy crust of snow, the 20 degree wind made quite a statement. Dear friends had just made their 0700 exit out of the driveway for their eight-hour trek home. The house pulled its quilt of quiet over my ears, and I felt secure, knowing my God hears my heart and would take Kim and her family safely home; and that I could retreat into a warm house and begin plans for the day. Priority #1, another cup of coffee with my fur baby and the newspaper. How suddenly that security can flip.

On my way through the hall, I tripped on a small bag that my friends had forgotten. Calling to see if I could catch up to them, I received no answer. A couple more calls and texts, coupled with finding out their family back in West Virginia knew nothing of their visit to Kentucky,  left me feeling a bit less secure. Another hour later I had imagined them knocked in the head and their car taken along with daughter, phone and Lifesavers! Whoa, how fast I can go from “God’s going to take care of them” to “they’ve met with disaster’!  A look at the newspaper was NO help – headlines of shootings, accidents and the like. Oh ye of little faith…

When Peter asked Jesus to command that he walk on the water to his Lord, his faith and the Lord allowed him to do so – walk on a boisterous sea! Even then, while accomplishing that amazing feat, Peter saw the contrary winds tossing the waves, and he began to doubt. He feared. And began to sink. Thank Goodness, Peter cried out to be saved, and grasped the extended hand of the Lord. Jesus said, “Oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14: 28-31)

I knew Who it was to whom I prayed; I believed He heard and would deliver. But as soon as I caught a glimpse of a possible situation, I left ‘Amen’ and let ‘what if’ rev up my heart. So I wasted a little time I could have spent in that peaceful morning calm, but was again reminded of His faithfulness and goodness. A sweet text let me know it was a matter of her phone being on vibration, and the other two passengers sleeping. Stopping for gas, she saw my (several) calls and messages, and apologized for my worry. No, Kim dear, it is I who apologize to our Lord for taking my eyes off Him and looking into the world of possibilities. And, yes, we had meatloaf this evening, it is Monday!

Then those who were in the boat came and worshipped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:33 NKJV

 

BEAUTY AND THE DEEP

14 Monday Jan 2019

Posted by in MONDAY MUSINGS

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a little beauty mask fun – clean pores and laughter

There’s an innocent little lie that many a young girl was told through the ages. “Beauty is only skin deep” was meant to make adolescence somehow less painful for those of us who saw freckles, crooked teeth and plain hair staring back from the mirror. Which wouldn’t have mattered if we didn’t leave the house and meet the golden curls with a button nose and rosy complexion, and hear how pretty they were but because they were immature enough to flaunt it, that it was only skin deep. Hearing that beauty was only skin deep made me think not only that there was not much under those lustrous locks and long eyelashes, but even worse, with no outer beauty, I was a lost cause. Nothing. Not even skin deep. It’s probably why I love Anne of Green Gables.

Well, I grew up in spite of it; and praise God, His word expounded on the issue of beauty. In fact, it put the old adage to death.

“Do not let your adornment be merely outward–arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel– rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” I Peter 3:3-4

The thing we girls should have been told is “beauty is what lies beneath the skin, in the heart”. Even if I’d been afraid of a ‘skint knee’ bleeding out my beauty, at least I would’ve known it wasn’t all that outward stuff. Anyway, kids eventually realize the difference between flesh and bones, and the invisible heart and soul. Now, don’t get me wrong – I am all for teaching children to appreciate and compliment others for their accomplishments, and there’s no way around recognizing a pretty little cocker spaniel versus a scrawny old mutt. But boy oh boy, have I ever loved some of those mutts! Why? Because we find out real soon that they can be loyal, smart, and clean up real well! There’s nothing wrong with attractiveness, as long as there’s acknowledgement that it is in the eye of the beholder – an opinion, and that true beauty is defined by the Maker – a thing of the heart.

Notice that Peter used the word adornment to speak of outward beauty. But he used the terms heart and spirit to describe incorruptible beauty. Adornment can be changed on a dime. The heart and spirit of a person are developed over time, formed in a furnace of trial and error, and have a way of becoming a permanent fixture. A gentle and quiet spirit, and the inside heart of a girl, not the outside looks; those are the things of beauty. Don’t let the world tell you or your daughters or your sisters that they need a certain body type, eye color, hair style or hip shoes to be beautiful. Point out how beautiful their grandmothers are (yes the ones with wrinkles, gray wiry hair, and chicken wing arms) because of the love they lavish on others. Point out how pretty the mentally challenged child is when her eyes sparkle at ‘hello’. Remind them that babies are so beautiful because of their innocence. When you are looking into their eyes right straight into their hearts, every single day, when they are at their worst – tell them they are beautiful! They’ll know what you mean.

The valuable and virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 has 21 verses of descriptors and none of them say anything of her looks, but one points out that if she does have charm and outward beauty, they are deceitful and passing (vs 30). Yes, girls, beauty may start at skin level, but goes SO much deeper than that. Our grownups didn’t mean any harm, bless their hearts; they were just repeating what they’d been told, I’m sure.