We are in the liturgical season of Advent, but in general public, we party as if it is Christmas. It is hard to be quiet and prepare in public. The mood is festive, not anticipatory waiting. My gift shopping is close to completed. We celebrated our family gathering and gift exchange on Saturday, and the greatest gift we recieved was being together with our family. I would say "especially our lost granddaughter" - but truly I was happy to see each and every person. I was happy to see my daughter in law's enjoyment of our gifts to her - I was happy to see our son being able to spend time with his daughter. I was happy to see our 14yr old granddaughter with all her make-up and our 17 yr old being so "grown up". I am always happy to spend time with my daughter and son.
Now I am in an advent mode - trying to sit quietly with scripture and with God. Reading and hearing the prophet Micah as he reminds us to be preparing our lives and our hearts by doing God's work - caring for others, not putting ourselves first. Not being greedy.
My greed sometimes in other's happiness - perhaps I get too much joy from purchasing and making things that will bring joy to another - a form of greed, of which I am guilty.
So today, I will go to the church, and prepared Christmas cards for those who are not able to come to church and remind them that they are still in our hearts. And in that way sit with God and listen. May we all remember to slow down and listen - stop, watch and listen, not just for oncoming trains, but for God to be in our hearts.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Friday, November 30, 2012
Owning the truth
Today Sandpiper used John 17: 37 where Jesus says "Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice". Those of us that know the truth - that Jesus is the Son of God, and thus God, know of His kingly stature - not someone like Pilate, someone come to rule the world in an earthly manner.
And Sandpiper went on to say that if you know the truth (emphasis mine) - the truth owns you. I find this disturbingly appropriate this morning. Over the last couple days, I used the savings acct with my inheritance to pay a bill - off setting what I had spent for Keith's weather station and our fun trip to Va to be with Robin and family (and Mira and family). And in my haste when I made that transfer, I thought the amount in the savings acct was $5000 less that I thought I remembered it to be.
I have "fretted" over that for the last several days. Gone over my notepad of what I had spent the inheritance money on. My fear has been - since I deposited the $25,000, that I would "fritter it away" and not know/remember where it had gone. I wanted that money to "count for something". I guess maybe I thought it would devalue Florence if I could not account for my spending.
Well, after compiling what I could here at the house to verify my accounting for what I had spent, I was ready to confront the bank- so I actually took a minute to look again at the bank account on the web, and indeed, the truth was what I remembered. not what I thought I had seen - and as someone famous had said, that truth freed me from worry.
So, let there be two lessons from this - one, if I trust myself to know the truth, trust yourself/have faith in your intuitions. And, don't spend so much time worrying, double check the account - maybe I saw some number incorrectly. Enough said.
Faith in God, faith in myself. Gotta love it - and myself.
And Sandpiper went on to say that if you know the truth (emphasis mine) - the truth owns you. I find this disturbingly appropriate this morning. Over the last couple days, I used the savings acct with my inheritance to pay a bill - off setting what I had spent for Keith's weather station and our fun trip to Va to be with Robin and family (and Mira and family). And in my haste when I made that transfer, I thought the amount in the savings acct was $5000 less that I thought I remembered it to be.
I have "fretted" over that for the last several days. Gone over my notepad of what I had spent the inheritance money on. My fear has been - since I deposited the $25,000, that I would "fritter it away" and not know/remember where it had gone. I wanted that money to "count for something". I guess maybe I thought it would devalue Florence if I could not account for my spending.
Well, after compiling what I could here at the house to verify my accounting for what I had spent, I was ready to confront the bank- so I actually took a minute to look again at the bank account on the web, and indeed, the truth was what I remembered. not what I thought I had seen - and as someone famous had said, that truth freed me from worry.
So, let there be two lessons from this - one, if I trust myself to know the truth, trust yourself/have faith in your intuitions. And, don't spend so much time worrying, double check the account - maybe I saw some number incorrectly. Enough said.
Faith in God, faith in myself. Gotta love it - and myself.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Temporality
This is a new word for me - and I love learning new words. My (old) dictionary defines temporality as the quality of state of being temporal. So, the next step is to define Temporal - lasting only for a time - temporary, not eternal - of this world, not spiritual - hmm, civil or secular, not ecclesiastical - of or limited by time. I guess that defines me / life.
In my reading of today's devotion in The Upper Room Disciplines, today's author uses Revelation 1: 4b-8 as her text. There are serveral references in that passage of God/Christ as the beginning and the end, And the author's reminder is that while God is everlasting, we are temporary. I am again reminded of my instructions as I was being prepared to join the church, of God's infinite-ness. God being the Alpha and the Omega - ominipresent, omniscient, omnipotent.
And my more recent recognition that this all present, all knowing, all powerful God LOVES ME NOT MATTER WHAT! What wonderful knowledge.
And this passage again from today -"The confidence in our anticipation is the sense in which that always-future-coming reflects the everlasting nature of the God we have always known in and through Jesus Christ."
And then, this other recurring thought - I miss being involved in a spiritual formation / spiritual development group. I continue to pray and look for opportunities to form or join such a group. In the meanwhile, I am thankful for a spiritual leader that stirred my thought proccesses.
Hmm, always-future-coming. Save your fork, the best is yet to come.
Thanks be to God.
In my reading of today's devotion in The Upper Room Disciplines, today's author uses Revelation 1: 4b-8 as her text. There are serveral references in that passage of God/Christ as the beginning and the end, And the author's reminder is that while God is everlasting, we are temporary. I am again reminded of my instructions as I was being prepared to join the church, of God's infinite-ness. God being the Alpha and the Omega - ominipresent, omniscient, omnipotent.
And my more recent recognition that this all present, all knowing, all powerful God LOVES ME NOT MATTER WHAT! What wonderful knowledge.
And this passage again from today -"The confidence in our anticipation is the sense in which that always-future-coming reflects the everlasting nature of the God we have always known in and through Jesus Christ."
And then, this other recurring thought - I miss being involved in a spiritual formation / spiritual development group. I continue to pray and look for opportunities to form or join such a group. In the meanwhile, I am thankful for a spiritual leader that stirred my thought proccesses.
Hmm, always-future-coming. Save your fork, the best is yet to come.
Thanks be to God.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Publish?
I am considering making this page known to others. I know it can be "found" and may be seen by others who just click the "next blog" choice at the top of the page, but not sure.....
Reasons for letting others know about it - as a way of keeping myself and others informed on a more or less regular basis of what I have accomplished. Like yesterday I:
finished the knitting on sweater for g for Christmas
did a massive trim on the butterfly bushes beside the deck - several of the largest stems were broken in this last storm and decided while I was at it, to just do them both in a similar fashion
walked the back of our property and saw all the damage of the two storms- hard to pinpoint what was just this last as the foliage had been on when the June storm occurred, though I think most of the damage on the back "hill" was this last storm. And realized that I NEED HELP TO GET THIS CLEANED UP!
Walked a mini loaf of bread up to Dewey's house - they have two horses up there! (left it on the fr ont porch bench ( and need to remember to call and see it they found it-)
Cleared up my confusion about socks for G - will try to get a pair made for him for Christmas. I did not want to "take away" from A his homemade sock knitting if she wanted to make them for him.
Changed sign at Crim to read "Operation Christmas Child Shoe box collection site.
Finished book "Cider House Rules"
Did not get done - vacuuming in house -
A real walk (though I did walk to D's house and did get to The Workout.)
Reasons for letting others know about it - as a way of keeping myself and others informed on a more or less regular basis of what I have accomplished. Like yesterday I:
finished the knitting on sweater for g for Christmas
did a massive trim on the butterfly bushes beside the deck - several of the largest stems were broken in this last storm and decided while I was at it, to just do them both in a similar fashion
walked the back of our property and saw all the damage of the two storms- hard to pinpoint what was just this last as the foliage had been on when the June storm occurred, though I think most of the damage on the back "hill" was this last storm. And realized that I NEED HELP TO GET THIS CLEANED UP!
Walked a mini loaf of bread up to Dewey's house - they have two horses up there! (left it on the fr ont porch bench ( and need to remember to call and see it they found it-)
Cleared up my confusion about socks for G - will try to get a pair made for him for Christmas. I did not want to "take away" from A his homemade sock knitting if she wanted to make them for him.
Changed sign at Crim to read "Operation Christmas Child Shoe box collection site.
Finished book "Cider House Rules"
Did not get done - vacuuming in house -
A real walk (though I did walk to D's house and did get to The Workout.)
Friday, November 9, 2012
Courage and Faith
This passage from today's reading in the Upper Room Disciplines:
Based on Ps 127, as well as this week's reading in Ruth:
"Courage is an element of trust, and trust is an element of faith. Faith is the underpinning of holy risk. In the face of doubts and despair, in the presence of foes and fears, the faith that is our heritage from God, God's great gift and blessing, provides courage and confidence." (Martha Highsmith)
I have taken on many different "jobs" during my life. As I think about courage and faith, I realize that when I have spoken up and volunteered to do something just beyond my confort level, it has been with the base of knowing that it is OK to fail - and that comes ,I BELEIVE, from the knowledge that I AM LOVED - and isn't that the gift of Grace?
And isn't it the love of others that gives us the lift to do things? I am thinking this AM about getting ready and going to the church to help prepare for tomorrows dinner - and all the other things I have to do - prepare the cards for the congregation to sign, bake breads for pastor for the veterans on Sunday- exercise, and maybe get in a walk. Then there is all this mess around our house to clean up from the storm.
And knitting projects to be accomplished, and the Prayer Shawl group. My mind is a whirl of things to do. But then I am lead back to "why me" - why am I the one to push the prayer shawl ministry? Why am I the one to bake the bread? fix the cards, etc. Sure, part of the answer is "why not you?" - but my constant prayer is to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
God has put many people in my life to be my "support staff" - to be my encouragers. I think back to Susan Pickering's parents - they thought I was worthy of taking into their lives and on their boat - and gave me things to do. Lorita Duffield thought I was worth the effort to lead me to become a nurse. Mrs. Chaffey thought enough of me to allow me to be supervisor - in charge of the Broaddus Hospital. Norma Workman had faith in me to nurture me in OR. Joy Don took me into a larger environment in both WVUH and the world of AORN. I could go on an on...up to Alicia-
Alicia had faith in me to nurture my faith, to have me lead a group of others in the Prayer shawl ministry. To have us care for their daughter through her senior year in high school. And now I am considered a strong part of Crim UMC. Tonya thinks I am worth the effort to teach me in bells, and the friends I have made through the church are beyond the basic word friend. We are family- family in Christ's body.
Which leads me back to courage and faith. Because of my faith, I have the courage to make the "sweet tea" - to prepare back packs bags, to listen to God and make notes on cards. Thank you folks and God especially for your ongoing support.
I like Alicia's ending......To God be the Glory
Based on Ps 127, as well as this week's reading in Ruth:
"Courage is an element of trust, and trust is an element of faith. Faith is the underpinning of holy risk. In the face of doubts and despair, in the presence of foes and fears, the faith that is our heritage from God, God's great gift and blessing, provides courage and confidence." (Martha Highsmith)
I have taken on many different "jobs" during my life. As I think about courage and faith, I realize that when I have spoken up and volunteered to do something just beyond my confort level, it has been with the base of knowing that it is OK to fail - and that comes ,I BELEIVE, from the knowledge that I AM LOVED - and isn't that the gift of Grace?
And isn't it the love of others that gives us the lift to do things? I am thinking this AM about getting ready and going to the church to help prepare for tomorrows dinner - and all the other things I have to do - prepare the cards for the congregation to sign, bake breads for pastor for the veterans on Sunday- exercise, and maybe get in a walk. Then there is all this mess around our house to clean up from the storm.
And knitting projects to be accomplished, and the Prayer Shawl group. My mind is a whirl of things to do. But then I am lead back to "why me" - why am I the one to push the prayer shawl ministry? Why am I the one to bake the bread? fix the cards, etc. Sure, part of the answer is "why not you?" - but my constant prayer is to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
God has put many people in my life to be my "support staff" - to be my encouragers. I think back to Susan Pickering's parents - they thought I was worthy of taking into their lives and on their boat - and gave me things to do. Lorita Duffield thought I was worth the effort to lead me to become a nurse. Mrs. Chaffey thought enough of me to allow me to be supervisor - in charge of the Broaddus Hospital. Norma Workman had faith in me to nurture me in OR. Joy Don took me into a larger environment in both WVUH and the world of AORN. I could go on an on...up to Alicia-
Alicia had faith in me to nurture my faith, to have me lead a group of others in the Prayer shawl ministry. To have us care for their daughter through her senior year in high school. And now I am considered a strong part of Crim UMC. Tonya thinks I am worth the effort to teach me in bells, and the friends I have made through the church are beyond the basic word friend. We are family- family in Christ's body.
Which leads me back to courage and faith. Because of my faith, I have the courage to make the "sweet tea" - to prepare back packs bags, to listen to God and make notes on cards. Thank you folks and God especially for your ongoing support.
I like Alicia's ending......To God be the Glory
Monday, October 22, 2012
Monday morning
King wanted me to be up way earlier than I did this morning. Of course he succeeded in getting me out of bed, but I shut him out of the bedroom for a few extra minutes. But I am glad to be up before the sun tops over the hill and to see the sunlight through the trees light up my neighbors first. Thanks be to God for sunlight streaming in.
Today I read a passage from Job, (42:1-6) and again am reminded of the expression that we want to have a relationship with God, but we want to be the advisors - hmm. I think I struggle the very most with not my will, but "THY will be done". I am not sure why the need to be in control is so strong in me. I do not see myself as a born leader - I think I am more support person, cheerleader, facilitator, but I accept that those terms sometimes mean taking the lead actions.
Yesterday (as many days) I struggled with doing too much vs walking away. I really want to go away for a few days, and felt like others were asking me to take on addition tasks - what to do with the turkeys for the Bazaar, what to do with and for the back pack feeding project. Get the Pampered chef stuff taken care of (and be sure not to leave anyone out for fear of hurting someone's feelings....).
As I sat in the front listening to the pianist play quiet music for the prelude, I truly surrendered and sat quietly, and asked God to lead me and calm me. Of course it worked. I was then reasonably calm to start our service with annoucements and then the start of worship.
I guess that is the same thing I did when I surrendered this morning, got up and sat here quietly with my morning devotion time and watched the sun light up our neighborhood. It is now high enough to be in my eyes as I sit here at the kitchen table, and I feel prepared to face the day and the world, knowing that God literally has my back, and with Him, all things are possible. Even tons of tasks to include walking and exercise.
Thanks be to God.
Today I read a passage from Job, (42:1-6) and again am reminded of the expression that we want to have a relationship with God, but we want to be the advisors - hmm. I think I struggle the very most with not my will, but "THY will be done". I am not sure why the need to be in control is so strong in me. I do not see myself as a born leader - I think I am more support person, cheerleader, facilitator, but I accept that those terms sometimes mean taking the lead actions.
Yesterday (as many days) I struggled with doing too much vs walking away. I really want to go away for a few days, and felt like others were asking me to take on addition tasks - what to do with the turkeys for the Bazaar, what to do with and for the back pack feeding project. Get the Pampered chef stuff taken care of (and be sure not to leave anyone out for fear of hurting someone's feelings....).
As I sat in the front listening to the pianist play quiet music for the prelude, I truly surrendered and sat quietly, and asked God to lead me and calm me. Of course it worked. I was then reasonably calm to start our service with annoucements and then the start of worship.
I guess that is the same thing I did when I surrendered this morning, got up and sat here quietly with my morning devotion time and watched the sun light up our neighborhood. It is now high enough to be in my eyes as I sit here at the kitchen table, and I feel prepared to face the day and the world, knowing that God literally has my back, and with Him, all things are possible. Even tons of tasks to include walking and exercise.
Thanks be to God.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Weather and servant
Yesterday was a beautiful weather day. A bit cool in the AM as I took my walk - the brilliant blue sky of fall. As we drove north the colors of the trees were vivid. Truly at peak in my mind, with several trees down to bare "bones" already.
After we were done with our appointment we then stalled a bit a the mall, and met up with our son, his wife and their grandchild at a local restaurant for supper. The baby was fussier than normal. He had been to a new sitter, and was either or both tired and hungry. As I think this AM, I guess we are all a bit out of sorts when we are either tired or hungry and certainly both. As this young child depended on his grandparents to know what he needed to make him happy, so I depend on God to know what I need. I mean, after all, isn't He omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent?
But then I am reminded of the prayer we are all taught "our father which art in Heaven"- Hmm, Our father, maybe that means I need to be a bit patient - maybe someone else's need is a tad more important than mine? And then, that of course leads back to today's reading in Mark (10:35-45) and servant leadership.
So, let me today be a patient, servant leader. Let me be in a state of constant prayer for not just myself but for others. May I again today pray to be the best me I can be to serve and be an example to others.
Thanks be to God
After we were done with our appointment we then stalled a bit a the mall, and met up with our son, his wife and their grandchild at a local restaurant for supper. The baby was fussier than normal. He had been to a new sitter, and was either or both tired and hungry. As I think this AM, I guess we are all a bit out of sorts when we are either tired or hungry and certainly both. As this young child depended on his grandparents to know what he needed to make him happy, so I depend on God to know what I need. I mean, after all, isn't He omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent?
But then I am reminded of the prayer we are all taught "our father which art in Heaven"- Hmm, Our father, maybe that means I need to be a bit patient - maybe someone else's need is a tad more important than mine? And then, that of course leads back to today's reading in Mark (10:35-45) and servant leadership.
So, let me today be a patient, servant leader. Let me be in a state of constant prayer for not just myself but for others. May I again today pray to be the best me I can be to serve and be an example to others.
Thanks be to God
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