get a cuppa

and read on!

 

July 21, 2005  It's time to take a little break from blogging --- but that doesn't mean others have or will...... in the right column there are lottsa great blogs and other things to look at.

 

 

July 19, 2005    These have been busy days and busier ones are coming---yikes!   I don't know if I've ever looked after a baby (that wasn't my own) as young as the one we'll be watching a couple of days a week for the next 6, or so, weeks.  The brothers, a 3 week old baby and a toddler arrive each morning at 6:30 (gasp! I know! cramping my style!) and are picked up around 1pm.  The young mother and dad are working and finishing college---I admire their tenacity... well, no, wait: I admire covet wish to have their get-up-and-go!  See... I think a lot of my get-up-and-go actually got-up-and-went somewhere else.   I see all the youngers scurrying around.  Little ones always seem to have to *run* everywhere---like they're in a hurry.  They're sort of demanding---ironically, though, they think they'll never get old and things will never happen, or take *forever* to finally happen.  But yet, they run.  They run everywhere.  In a hurry to do everything---and yet they're still not sure if they'll ever really get old.  Old people are old... but young people seem to think they will be young forever.  Funny... how many years we spend wanting to get-up-and-go!  And when we finally have a little better understanding of what's really important and what we really want, our get-up-and-go  is... going.
 

So, more perusing the news.  Bush makes a Supreme Court Justice selection of Judge John Roberts.  It'll be interesting to watch what happens or what the reaction will be from either side of the aisle.  Sometimes I wonder who the real enemy of this country is.  Sometimes terrorism doesn't seem to be the greatest threat---seems the greater threat is the threat of self-destruction.   It seems to me the enemy within is sort of a mixed-bag of arrogance, immorality and ignorance.

You gotta wonder... I often shake my head at the legal actions that become wrestling matches between Microsoft and anyone daring to beat the mega-conglomerate in just about any market---computer or otherwise.  I used to wonder when or where it's all going to end up... just consider: a man, who's net worth is over n-i-n-e-t-y billion dollars and who owns it all already and now haggling over Google's actions... I sure think those Googleboys have quite a thing going---but certainly don't have the monopoly on the machines, the programs, etc., etc. designed, dominated and powered by the mighty-giant Microsoft.    Interesting... how life goes.  

Last night, my husband showed me a comic strip that paralleled something I'd been discussing with him over the weekend and a bit to what I was sharing yesterday regarding the societal-thought-reengineering process I've been observing.  Perhaps, just a day before, I'd read an article entitled:  "Study finds prayer doesn't heal" and I  immediately thought: God is not a puppet and surely needs clinical trial --- God is not a pawn or an instrument to be manipulated on command and prayer (just like grace) isn't something we determine and manipulate.   So, to read of the studies concerning the relative effectiveness of prayer vs. other methods of treatment seemed to me to be an affront to God and surely makes an exhibition of the arrogance of man. 

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.  Isaiah 55.6-9

Well... so this, from the article: "...The study, which involved 748 heart patients about to undergo catheterization or stenting procedures, showed that intercessory prayer failed to reduce the incidents of major complications, rehospitalization or death."  and went on to state,

It didn't take reading the entire Newsmax article: Birth Control Patch May Pose Health Risk for me to conclude that the docs' opinions and the logic of the FDA  were absolutely ludicrous.  If you read through to the end you'll start wondering what in the world is going on and where will all this faulty logic take us?  I'm thinking they owe an apology to Merck (think: Vioxx).

Apparently doctors are not alarmed at the fatality rate of the use of the birth-control patch.  Isn't that astounding?  An article included death rates for contraceptive pill users and contraceptive patch uses and compared the "danger" of the two and the fatality rates of those and other pregnancy/hormone related numbers.  Then other death rates per one hundred thousand... death rates with included rates for  such activities as rock climbing, motorcycling, and terminating pregnancies.  Death rates for terminations of pregnancy always bring out the cynical side in me---they're always skewed and incorrect!  There's always some rate of something like 10-20 deaths per one hundred thousand terminations.  Well---in reality there are at least One Hundred Thousand and twenty or so deaths when One Hundred Thousand pregnancies are terminate.  

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July 18, 2005     All my one-liner comments in yesterday's blog stemmed from my perusal of the few websites I read for daily news and information.  I try to read a few so that I see different angles to what amounts to the same spin----just extremely different perspectives of that spin, most of the time.    Something I'm always finding rather intriguing, is the disparity in thinking when an issue is presented.  For example... it used to be that a "God-fearing" Christian man was honoured and that the foundations of that man's life were respected and thought to be praiseworthy.  Deceptive, immoral, irreverent behavior was thought to be *extreme!*  If a man were to have a narrow set of parameters in which he operated and yet he was fair and just, then, his narrow perspective would have been revered, giving him a mark of distinction.  He would never have been called ---extreme--- in fact, quite the opposite.  Behaviours that deviated from that narrow path were considered *extreme!* 

Now, fast forward to the present.  Now that man would be a radical extremist!  Away with him!  Banish him, castigate him and put an end to his speaking: for he is EXTREME!   You hear radical right wing whacko enough times, and you begin to believe the lie, too.  Hear homophobia often enough, and you begin to believe the lie, the disorder, the extreme(!) too.  Hear the word: choice,  enough, and you start believing that oppression really might be taking place after all; that if people didn't have *choice,* then WHAT? they'd have to *live* with their *problems* and *ruin* their lives.  See... like the analogy of the frog slowly simmering to death, that's what's going on in our world.  First get people comfortable with concepts by repeatedly delivering the lie so that it's no longer thought a lie and then get them to equate the former way with evil and oppression and they will eagerly endeavor to promote and defend the new way.  It will still be a lie but will be bought as truth.  It's happening all over... and it's been happening for years.  Slowly. Very slowly.  Like the little foxes that spoil the vine.  Like termites slowly devouring the foundation and walls of the home.   One day, quite by surprise, the dwelling will collapse. 

These are incredible days in which to be alive.  Incredible!  Watch Israel.
 

  Be still,
and know that I am God:
I will be exalted among the heathen,
I will be exalted in the earth.
Psalm 46.10

And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness. The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.  For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off:  That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought.   Therefore thus saith the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale.  But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.  They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.   Isaiah 29.18-24


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I had the privilege of chatting on IM with Timothy in Mexico tonight.  What a blessing it is to be the mother of that boy.  He is finishing up his time of language study there and will be home in a few days.  I'm already feeling sort of melancholy about it as I know that in a  couple of weeks he will leave for three months to work on a boat in California.  I guess I know it's a good thing for him, a good opportunity to grow, to help and to earn money for the next Mexico trip this winter.  I guess I know all these things---but my heart has a time trying to come to terms with the beneficial circumstances the LORD continues to provide for him. 

Then I stop and consider those who've never heard.  I consider those who will die and enter a Christ-less eternity.  I consider the small sacrifice it really is to be part of a very big picture and then I remember the precious mother of Samuel: Hannah; and I wish to join her in saying:  "For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:  Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD." 1Samuel 1.27-28

I've always known Timothy was called by the LORD to something unique and I've always known that for how ever long he lives, whatever God calls him to do and wherever he lives----it would be a great blessing.   Little 'melia, especially, misses her Timothy.

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July 17, 2005     What to say, what to say.  Today's version of the news... Death, deception and slander scattered all over the news.  Israeli missiles are firing at cars.  Thousands more babies have been killed in clinics around the world.  Thousands more die of starvation.  The very nation needing help the most lends it hand to the production of deadly weapons ultimately to be used against the very hands that were reaching out to feed them.  Bizarre.  Gazillions of dollars spent entertaining ourselves to death. Hurricanes leaving behind swaths of death and destruction. The world is crazed by the distribution of ten million copies of a satanic book.  The US slowly dismantles the documents of Independence and freedom and slowly erodes the great blessings once enjoyed by a nation that had God's obvious providential blessing---ironically repeating the evil histories of other nations. Immorality is lauded, The world winks at sin.  Believer's children dabble in darkness---ignorant of the power and subtle presence of the enemy of their souls.   It all seems so hopeless...   

But God.

 But God,
who is rich in mercy,
for his great love wherewith he loved us,
 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ,
(by grace ye are saved;)
And hath raised us up together,
and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace
in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
 For we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2.4-10
 

  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil,
as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 
1Peter 5.8

  Finally, my brethren,
be strong in the Lord,
and in the power of his might.
 Put on the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore,
having your loins girt about with truth,
and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Above all, taking the shield of faith,
wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
 And take the helmet of salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,
and watching thereunto
with all perseverance and supplication
for all saints;
Ephesians 6.10-17

 

   Hearken unto this, O Job:
stand still,
and consider the wondrous works of God.
Job 37:14

 

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What a light our Lord is in a world of such darkness.

----------Amen

Pamela I am always touched when I stop by your site. You have put together something which I would say is a work of Art!! I love catching up on your Blog page. I enjoy your style of writing and your bits of humor tucked in here and there. Thank you for your minisrty to so many ladies needing a good role model today. Also thank you for the hours you have spent over these pages and the Prayer for just the right content. I can heartily recommend your website, it is a real blessed resource. Love in Christ Robin LeClair Thank you for your encouragement.  At a time of reevaluating things and praying for future direction

I have a question to a thought which I just had. You mentioned once that while you and your husband are both Christians, your thoughts might differ slightly on some topics? Is that correct? I have a problem. My husband does not want me to wear dresses all the time. He forbids me from throwing out my shorts or my jeans. So, I pray about it, but he doesn't change. I should wear what he wants, right?

Yes, our thoughts on some matters differ slightly---these are probably better described as shades of the same colours, for the most part.  I would seek common ground on the matter of dress.  While I would earnestly pray about the situation, I would implore my husband regarding matters of modesty and femininity (and then I would be quiet about it---more words are not going to benefit you or him) and I would seek to meet his preferences in as modest and feminine a manner as possible.   Prayer avails much---first in our heart.  Dresses all the time----that's not worth quarreling over. Your godly life, obedient manner, loving way, radiant countenance and sweet heart is what matters.
 

 

July 16, 2005  Been too bizzy to blog.   We had our annual KlaHaYa Days  rain fest backyard party last night and so we were working around to get things spruced up and ready.   KlaHaYa Days is the annual town festival---lots to see and do during this week in old Snohomish.

The downpour late yesterday afternoon really dampened already low spirits around here.  Seems like it dawned on everyone in the family yesterday morning that Timothy would not be here for the party and that my parents would not be here and that this one would not be here and that one would not be here... and then the phone calls came from different friends who wouldn't be able to come --- and then more rain!   Refusing to be downhearted, I suggested that we just proceed and see what would transpire and so after changing things around and getting increasingly more "behind" in preparations and working to provide "shelter" from the storm, we continued on and were so blessed by the many friends gathered for the evening.  The barbecues were fired up and the grilling began and, amazingly, the weather cleared quite a bit and the rain stopped for *much* of the evening.  I suppose the inconvenience or discomfort from the rain was not too severe.  And by the time the fireworks display began, the rain had subsided completely and we enjoyed the show!

What? No pictures?  Yep, that's right... one of the few times in our family history that an event wasn't documented in pictures.

This being our ninth year here, we're very thankful for this place---this home, and then to be able to enjoy the tradition of this annual party, to have family and friends gather year after year, to renew old friendships, to have the different ones playing and growing up together, the olders playing volleyball, and to be able to visit and then each year to watch the fireworks from the yard... well, it's just really been a humbling blessing.  I say humbling, because it's truly been incredible to be on the receiving end of such tremendous bounty and blessing.  It is humbling because I fully recognize my failings and shortcomings and that old friends are more precious than gold, and what's more, the LORD loves me---He loves us--- He loves us so much and lavishes on us: His grace.  How great is the "...love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God..."  Amazing love.

Today all the olders are away... another had a birthday party invitation and so I've savored the moments  to enjoy the youngers,  to work with them and also to be quiet.  Pretty sweet of the LORD to give me what I needed instead of what I thought I wanted.  But then, He's like that.

 

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July 14, 2005    Men do a lot of stupid things for sexand money or for that and power or for that and glamour or for that and revenge or for that and what they think will be personal gain.   I've known many men who've lost everything of value  because they believed a lie.  Men who sought to gain what they were duped into believing was freedom and pleasure.   Men who've given up a lovely women---a lavish banquet for a cup of spicy chili.    Men who seem to be stuffing their pockets with charcoal briquettes --- carelessly ignoring the acres of rare diamonds in their own yard.  The consequences of immorality and/or infidelity are anything but freedom and pleasure --- about as freeing or gratifying as sitting bomb-laden vehicle in Baghdad.   Deceived into believing their actions have no consequence, or worse, that they can handle them, they take a bite of the bait.  Instantly: no undoing what's been done.  Sort of like stupid things we've said, we can never "un-say" and likely, we all have former friends who will never forget those stupid things we carelessly uttered.  Or, like the oft used example of squishing out and emptying a tube of toothpaste and never being able to get all the gel back into the tube again. 

Sometimes, a man will see that his house is on fire and he'll do everything ---anything--- to put that fire out and rebuild the house.   A humble man... a repentant man.

Sometimes, though, even in the face of seeing that the aid cars have been summoned and the fire trucks have responded, and the hoses are blasting water at the flames, it seems as though that man hurries to the scene of his house fire to refuse their aid and prevent their working to put out the fire.  It even seems that some men attempt to turn away the fire hose or to retrieve and return the massive amount of water back to the fire trucks instead of allowing the power of the water to put out the destructive flames.  All for a taste of "freedom."  Or so they thought.

The Word says:   "For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life." and, "To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress."   Proverbs 6.26; 28.21

Okay, so, where on earth was I going with all that and where in the world did all that come from?  Certainly not simply from a multiplicity of experiences of personal acquaintances. Well, it seems that Arizona Senator John McCain, a defender of virtuous living and clean movies,  has stepped across the aisle to make an appearance in a new movie: Wedding Crashers, a be-as-nasty-as-they-can sort of movie that's got ads all over luring teenagers and tantalizing men all over the place.  Makes you sort of wonder how nasty will "main-stream" get?  Sodom surely seems less and less extreme and more and more familiar as we take in the view these day.   Now, it wouldn't be surprising if interest concerning John McCain as a viable candidate or as "Presidential material" has just lapsed a bit.  You'd think that a man of his caliber and political position would scrupulously measure his steps and would seek to avoid any appearance of impropriety to avoid totally jeopardizing his reputation.  It's been a rather depressing week all around; I don't quite know why this has struck me so powerfully, but it has, it just has.   What a cap to a week of depressing political  news and events around the world.

I guess I was better off just working around our home and yard----but I can only do head in the sand sort of stuff for so long till I wonder: what in the world is going on... and then I wish to return my head to the sand.

Maranatha. Even so, Maranatha.
 

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     Thank you for the good letter... an angle that needs to be addressed----thank you for writing it:

I've never commented before but I'm always blessed by your blog. I have recently been thinking along the lines you mention here, as I watch people--something I love to do. The other day I observed a cab driver flirting with a prospective client. This particular cab company does tours in our city and the cabbie was trying to muster up some business for a tour with a particular group of tourists. He was asking a very nice and attractive lady if her husband was the "jealous type" and if so, then he (the cabbie) would "behave himself" during the tour. This implied, obviously, that if the husband was NOT the jealous type then he (the cabbie) WOULDN'T "behave himself." This, from a man who claims Christianity. I happen to be acquainted with the cabbie and his family. What kind of testimony is that? Now, I understand that the cab driver was only messing around, but I also know that he has a lovely wife, several children, and a few grand children, and if his wife heard him commenting in this way to this other woman, she would be very unhappy. Not only is he damaging his marital relationship, he is damaging his testimony as a Christian. I also know that "messing around" can be a seed that very likely may bear rotten fruit down the road. I'm sharing this little story with this thought in mind: it occurred to me that flirting can be classed with adultery. I don't read anywhere in my Bible where Jesus flirted with the women He came into contact with. To the contrary: He held them in high regard and conferred mercy, forgiveness, and dignity upon them. If we, as Christians, are meant to be becoming more like Jesus, through His incredible grace upon our lives, should we not be concerned with the words of our mouths (symptomatic of the things in our hearts) and our living out publicly what we believe? Jesus said that if a man looks on a woman to lust after her, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart. So this type of flirtation...ANY flirtation as far as I'm concerned, is adultery of the heart. Pretty serious stuff. Well...my opinion is very strong here, and you may not want to include this comment on your site, but I thank you for this venue in which I can get it off my chest, as it were! It's been bothering me for some time, and it's something I'm taking to prayer. I am asking God to help me have His grace on people, understanding that none of us have "arrived." The cabbie may be weak in one area, where I am weak in others and I don't want to forget that I, too, am a work in progress! Maybe I should do less people watching and put my head in the sand sometimes too! :-) Thanks, Pamela, for a great site.

Honey Bee   MomIsHome

I so appreciate your sharing about hopelessness!! I KNEW you must have gone through some deep waters yourself to be filled with so much depth. (It is hard to find Christian friends and fellowship with ANY depth) YOU'VE DESCRIBED MY LIFE AND MY WALK! Oh, isn't it good to connect with others who have felt the same! God bless you sweet sister! I have my rose colored glasses on today.

Yes, I am grateful for the privilege we all have to share with one another.  I pray the LORD will bless you, too.  I truly appreciate your encouragement.

July 12, 2005  Perhaps we've been trying to pack too many  minutes into each hour lately, but it sure seems like time's going too fast for all that needs to be done each day.  So much of what goes on and depletes time and energy would take far longer to document and would be of little edification.  But, I do appreciate the regular notation of thoughts and events and so... blog.   I work to refrain from thinking that time's wasted looking at the funny shaped clouds or reading (just one more, please) story books to the children or walking the floor with a too-sleepy grandchild or the myriad of activities that always take a lot longer than what seems at the moment to be adequate.  I can't really remember the last time I read stories to my first-born or watched the swings of the second-born or brushed the hair of the third-born or fixed a sippy-cup for the fourth-born or held the fifth-born on my lap or had a tea-party with my sixth-born or took a walk with my seventh-born or danced with my eighth-born or nursed my ninth-born or finger-painted with my tenth-born or played dolls with my eleventh-born.  And because all these things were and are more important than a host of other things, as I wash fresh-picked raspberries, I try to allow as many helpers to join me and to hear the stories as they remember them and to share with them the precious stories of their lives. 

I am leaning to be still while I'm busy
instead of being too busy to be still.

And you can quote me on that... as I truly will need the reminder!  More on this another time.

chrisgln@bigpond.net.au Oh it is so true! So busy with little ones that you can't savour the moments that make up the memories! That is why I always had the camera on top of the fridge with film and flash ready to go- we didn't have digital cameras back then of course, and certainly no computers for home use. That is why now my adult children and grandchildren come to our place and automatically start posing when they see my camera! I taught them well..(smile) or in this case "cheese!" I love your quote and have taken it on board. Putting it into practice is an art but is something of great value. Thank you for posting of this. Love to you all, Glenys

I prepared an addition to my "Special Occasions" recipe page so that I could print out the German Chocolate Cake Recipe... Thank you all who wrote to ask for the recipe.  It's a tasty cake---and I share this bcz most in our family don't care very much for cakes---but they do surprise me with the things they do like (which sure seem pretty close to "cake" to me!).  Anyway... here's the specific link to my German Chocolate Cake recipe.

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What others have said: happytobehome:   I've never made a german chocolate cake but it's my very favorite kind and we buy one from the store for my every birthday. Can you send me your recipe?

(I will be posting comments when appropriate below related blog topics  instead of recording them on a separate page to reduce the urban sprawl of this website.)

Amy Forbes What a cute daughter you have. btw I came here through Donna's blog at pausingtoponder.com. http://retrospective.co.nz

kstanley1952
This is the time we need to pray. Pray that God will give the president and congress the wisdom to appoint a new justice that will up hold the constitution. They are not to make the laws buy interpert the laws. I pray that God is watching over us all, believers and non-believers and with his love it will prevail. I am concerned with the way the world is today. So many things just not right. I mourn for the days that seemed more pure and closer to our God. But if we stand upright and show that good prevails and the bad things NEVER last then the good should shine through and all will be good with the world. I always tell my kids that bad never lasts - it can't it ends one way or another, but good (God) presses on and has no end.

 

 

July 11, 2005  I've vacillated much of my adult life between looking through rose coloured glasses and occasionally battling hopelessness.  As for the rose coloured glasses: not literally, but certainly figuratively.   As for hopelessness, I suppose it depends on the season---some seasons extending longer than others.  I've just gone along under the assumption that everything was going to work out fine or that things probably really aren't as bad as they seem at the time---and then hopelessness washes over like a wave.  Things seem hopeless ---- situations, relationships, jobs... plans.  And then I stop and consider the mercies of God.  I consider His handiwork, His past dealings and current provisions and then as if throwing off the blanket of despair, I look and see the mercy of the LORD and marvel over His goodness and faithfulness.  I'm so thankful to watch and walk with the LORD and am so thankful for His mercy---His tender mercies are *new* every morning.  Great is His Faithfulness.

One thing I'm discovering in the life of believers is that *seems* a whole lot easier to "fellowship" on a very surface level and go along accepting nourishment from what we later discover were crumbs instead of feasting on the ever-unfolding and deepening and sustaining friendship that is like an ongoing feast.  Sometimes years are spent attending special occasions marking significant life events, developing a relationships that are, in reality, simply acquaintances gathering at appointed times sharing the viewing of momentous occasions.  Collect enough of these memories, and one might be persuaded to believe they've experienced true fellowship.   But that's what we've been conditioned to do and to accept:  "churches" filled with people that each only really knows on the surface no matter how many common events have been shared and each one is conditioned to accept or believe that common experiences are enough to be bonding.  Going through events bond us on a superficial level but that's about all unless we are truly disclosing or revealing our thoughts, prayers, and experiences together in and through each season.  Time frames and formats almost guarantee that that intimacy can't or won't happen. Seeing one another is a sweet thing, but *being* with one another is sweeter---but it's risky... really risky.  Toes get stepped on, feelings get exposed and even bruised and our true selves are revealed in light of Scripture and friendship and as the body walks together, joints get strained, the fibers that join us together get pulled, weighed down, tired, and all the while another thing is happening: the body gets stronger, healthier, more sensitive to strains and how to work together to anticipate and help the strains and the body begins to flourish.  It doesn't happen by accident and it doesn't happen over night.

It's only when smaller gatherings are established and true fellowship is *undertaken* that a resulting intimacy begins to happen.  I say: begins, because it takes much time, much emotional investment and much *risk* to actually develop true fellowship among a gathering or body of believers.  I genuinely believe, this depth doesn't and perhaps cannot occur in most 'churches' today.   It's not just the sizes of them, either.  It's more than that.  It's the form and function and the conditioned expectation of non participation.  It's becoming increasingly evident, and increasingly believers are weary of the loneliness and stagnation of their lives and faith and are coming to see the counterfeit and are longing for true fellowship --- hence the proliferation of "cell groups" and bible studies and house churches.   None will flourish, however, until candid and transparent relationships are established and nurtured.  It takes risk to go beyond the very surface levels and get past the facades and assumptions.  This is exacerbated by the masks believers have been conditioned to wear and accept on others.  

When the veneer is stripped away, sometimes the raw tender skin can't handle the brushing and initially resists further exposure---but amazingly, once those steps are collectively taken in a fellowship and the expectation of truth is a reality, and acceptance is authentic, then genuine fellowship begins to take place and genuine love develops and we know, deep down, that that's what we've been longing for: genuine love;  love that bears all things, hopes all things, believes all things, endures all things... love that never fails.  In reality, as believers, what we're really longing for is Jesus --- more of Jesus and we want Him to be and be seen in others and we want Him to live in and through us.  But Jesus isn't a story or a picture or an ideal, Jesus is our hope of glory---He is our all in all and what we must do next is to demonstrate Him to one another.  We must be willing to be prayerful, humble, patient, forgiving, forbearing, transparent and very willing to accept one another's strengths and weaknesses and even knowing all that we know, be willing to walk and work together.  It takes a unique bond, though, and that is the bond that can only be met through Jesus.  He gathers different ones at different times in different places to demonstrate His life, love and blessing.  I think He wants to do this all over.  He sets the lonely in flocks and makes them a family.  What love.  What mercy.

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You know why I share what I share?   Because I am grateful---grateful to God for His tremendous blessing and provision and I just want to share it.  That's all.   I try to remember and reflect that and pray it's evident and when it's not, I pray for God's mercy. 

 I received a letter this morning that confirmed why I do some of what I do.  You see, when I was a brand new bride, I called my husband at work and asked him about a recipe in my brand new, clean and sparkly, Betty Crocker cookbook.   It's no longer clean and I usually don't need to ask the types of questions I asked in those days because I've learned a few things over the years and I just want to share a little bit of what the LORD has done for me.  I don't share because I think I've got it all together (I don't) or because I want to make a name for myself  (I don't) or because I am looking to be some big deal... yada, yada, yada (because I'm not).  I share because someone shared with me and I'm going along with an ability and desire to do the same for others.  I know that both the ability and desire is from the LORD.

By the way,  I got the answer to the question: "Honey, when the recipe says to pare and core the apple, does that mean to peel it and cut it up?"   My blessed teacher said, yes, sweetheart... and he taught me a whole lot more about love and life.  Along the way, the LORD sent me many other teachers, many other encouragers, many other helpers and many blessings through all of them.  So.................. to be a sweet heart... that's my desire.  That's the reason for this website, for my writing here and for my love for the brethren---that means the sistren, by the way. ;-) 

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A long time ago, the boys fastened a long board across the inside top of the 10' tall cedar hedge and
what an amazing thing to look out and see that Joey had helped dolly up to the top of the hedge. 
Surprise, mama!

But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.  Psalm 86:15

 

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Our country's in for some radical changes once again as the resignation of Supreme Court Justice, Sandra O'Conner has been announced. As the US Supreme Court ages, it's been interesting to see the inconsistencies of the justices in decisions that are handed down.  It seems to me that much of the time the split decisions are not so much because of conservative or liberal bias as there seems to be an innate sense that there must be two sides taken on every issue---thus proving that they cannot come to a consensus.  At one moment, a conservative, and the next, a liberal, Mrs. O'Conner leaves a big gap on the bench so to speak---and now the battle and quibbling begins as the next candidate is presented.  Makes me wonder if there will not be three vacancies... William Rehnquist if he decides to just go ahead and get some rest, and David Souter---if he has to get all wrapped up in moving and building a new house for himself.  She may not have made decisions I thought she should've made, at least one of her last and perhaps one she'll be honoured for was her dissenting vote on property rights as the Court's ruling on Monday further eroded the extent or value of personal property rights.  O-well... with senate and house representatives seeming much more interested in personal posturing and political spotlight and advancement, it'll be a rigorous time of naming and confirming the replacement Supreme Court Justice(s).