Blessed, to be a blessing

I have received much in life and that has led me to be all the more grateful. I was born into a family with 4 other children, that was a blessing in itself. I have siblings of all ages and stages and each adds something to my life, makes me more 'me' than if I was raised without them. 

I'm richer for having grown up with kids of all ages.

Blessed to be in the family whose parents took us to church and to a church that valued God's Word. 

I have that heritage that so few have these days.

Grateful to have met and married someone who likewise was raised in church, his father's church, as a missionary in Japan. 

Blessed to have children - a boy AND a girl! Now adults who love and respect us. (we are SO blessed by that fact)

Blessed by the addition of a son-in-love who was raised in the faith, who is a leader in their family, protector, and the father of our first and favorite granddaughter.

Blessed to be grandparents to Avery - what a sweetie she is!

Blessed with health, a good home, and friends.

Grateful for work - good places to work, work that satisfies and doesn't always 'feel' like work

Blessed to be a part of a Bible study - with women who desire to mature in their faith

For these things and many more I am grateful to God, and blessed, I pray I am a blessing to my family, friends, co-workers, patients, and others.

I pray you are enjoying this day with loved ones, enjoying good food, sharing life and love together. 

We will be doing so - we are blessed.

Truth for Life

. . . in the presence of the LORD  your God, you and your families shall eat and rejoice 

in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you.

Deuteronomy 12:7b

My thoughts on Thanksgiving expressed creatively thanks to Wordle.com, 

click below, then come back!

Thanksgiving, thanks-living. . . 

In the USA we are celebrating thanksgiving this week. It is a time that is often hurried past in order to watch the latest sports event on t.v., hit the stores as early as possible, begin the decorating for Christmas. How very like us Americans, to rush through life, to rarely stop to experience today, to consider how blessed we are in our country. We have been given much.

I read a quote in an email / blog I receive daily. . . it stopped me dead in my tracks today.

"If tomorrow's supply depended on today's thanksgiving,

how much would I have tomorrow?"

Think on this.

I am grateful today for sounds, yes, sounds. For using Skype I was able to hear with my ears (and thus my heart) the voice of my granddaughter and daughter. I hadn't 'heard' them since their leaving the country last week. I was able to ask her questions, hear her answers, listen to her update, and know what are their current plans and prayer requests. It was music to my ears to hear the sound of Skype indicating an active connection on her end and a symphony when I heard her voice. 

It lasted 5 minutes but was precious!

We'll be spending our Thanksgiving meal with my step-mom and her family. We are SO grateful for their invitation; it was timely! They are warm welcoming people. They are truly family to us. I'll be baking rolls, taking a cranberry salad, and perhaps something else, I'm waiting to decide. We'll share not only the meal but love and celebrate with grateful hearts what God has done for us, what He is doing in us, what He will do in the days ahead. Having them to share this holiday with means a lot to our family as things have changed in recent years and we are seeking direction for how to celebrate, with whom to celebrate, etc. 

The baton has been handed to us and God is leading.

I'll be working Thanksgiving and the rest of the week.  I'm praying to provide encouragement and loving touches to the patients and fellow staff members I'll contact. I pray for a thankful heart that is demonstrated by my words, attitude, and actions. I know that its not the usual to choose to have elective surgery during Thanksgiving week - so I'm sensitive to that fact. Some come because they have no one to be with this holiday and 'might as well get the surgery over'; they get through it and get the attention of the staff. 

Today I choose to be thankful and to consider what I am thankful for, who I am thankful for, 

and to express my gratitude to God and people to whom it is due.

Truth For Life

So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you:

compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of God - the Message - have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives - words, actions, whatever - be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

Colossians 3:12-17

A Cup of Christmas Tea . . . 

It is time to consider having others into our homes for holiday decorating, gift wrapping, cooking baking, meals, caroling, etc. What is your style of connecting with your family, friends, and neighbors 

before Christmas day arrives?

I usually host a Thanksgiving afternoon tea for the women on our "S" shaped block but we have had many weekend trips so our November became too full for it this year. 

I have decided to change my 'usual' and host a Christmas tea - easy for me 

as I do have holiday china that I will be so happy to use. 

I'm preparing my invitations this afternoon and will also deliver them personally. I'm told the neighbors love this once-a-year opportunity to sit face to face with one another and share lives around cups of tea and treats. Its a means of hospitality that 'fits' my family well. My husband will assist as our butler, complete with a cloth draped over his arm as he serves tea, clears plates, and brings in the various courses of foods we'll prepare together and serve. I'm also hoping to get a friend to help as well.

I am looking forward to the decorating, menu preparation, tidying the house, preparing the foods, and welcoming the guests. It is our gift to the neighborhood, one that is warm and welcoming. 

That is truly a blessing! I'm thankful that we live where we do. Are you?

Truth For Life

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; 

give thanks to him and praise his name. 

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; 

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100:4-5

Thanksgiving  

A holiday we celebrate to reflect on all God has blessed us with this past year. 

 This song says it well, its an old hymn but a good one. The lyrics are worth reading.

Come, ye thankful people, come,

raise the song of harvest home!

All is safely gathered in, 

Ere the winter storms begin;

God, our Maker, doth provide

For our wants to be supplied;

Come to God's own temple, come;

Raise the song of harvest home!

We ourselves are God's own field,

fruit unto His praise to yield;

Wheat and tares together sown

Unto joy or sorrow grown;

First the blade and then the ear,

Then the full corn shall appear;

Grant, O harvest Lord, that we

Wholesome grain and pure may be.

For the Lord our God shall come,

And shall take the harvest home;

From His field shall in that day

All offences purge away,

Giving angels charge at last

In the fire the tares to cast;

But the fruitful ears to store

in the garner evermore.

Then, thou Church triumphant come,

Raise the song of harvest home!

All be safely gathered in,

Free from sorrow, free from sin,

There, forever purified,

in God's garner to abide;

Come, ten thousand angels, come,

Raise the glorious harvest Home!

Written by Henry Alford, 1844, often sung to the tune of St. George's, Windsor by George Job Elvey

To hear it visit this site

May your have family and friends at table this year, blessing God together, sharing life and love.

Hugs from my heart to your hearth,

Denise

On occasion I get in a baking mood - its best to do so when I can bake for a crowd and tomorrow is just such a day. We are having a Thanksgiving meal at work with a dessert contest to follow so I decided on the following. 

Brownie Truffles!

Yummy goodness that will please chocolate lovers!

Easy and fun to make.

Bake a batch of brownies. . . let cool until warm but not hot.

Cut into 32 portions. With clean & dry hands, roll each portion into a ball. Chill until firm.

Melt chocolate bark and dip chilled balls one at a time using toothpicks or bamboo skewers.

Loosen toothpick or skewer from ball after setting them onto wax paper or silicone baking liner. Fill in hole with more chocolate drizzled on it or with sprinkles or chopped nuts.

Allow to set up, then place on serving platter.

Sweet!

Truth For Life

How sweet are your words to my taste,

sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Psalm 119:103

My daughter/son-in-love and granddaughter have left the U.S. of A.!

Yesterday our family and our son-in-loves family gathered at DFWs international terminal to see them off. They should just now be headed to their apartment in Nairobi - weary, loaded down with all the material goods they need for their work ahead. We covet your prayers as they settle in, begin language school, and begin working towards helping others in southern Sudan.

We already miss them and look forward to hearing from them.

We are back home and spending our afternoon quietly, tears occasionally come, but I am happy for them. 

Visit this site and view this video my son-in-love's sister put together for them:

http://martynsinafrica.com/blog/2008/11/16/the-big-day/

To them I pray: God be with you until we meet again! Love, Mom

Truth For Life

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, 

who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, 

who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

Isaiah 52:7

The cutest punkin' in the patch

Meet our granddaughter - she's moving places soon! Isn't she darling? 

She was about 9 1/2 months in this photo. We love the stuffin' out of her. 

She's a wonderful blend of our daughter and son-in-love.

A granddaughter is a gift from above . . . one to cherish and to love.

TEA-shirt

I have admired the many t-shirts that feature places around the globe, winding my way through a Walmart SuperCenter a few weeks ago I happened upon one that wasn't a location but a state of mind, a favorite beverage- TEA! 

It had the popular sequins attached in a few spots to add a tiny bit of bling - and it was just subtle enough for me. I know my friends will be sitting across from me and suddenly notice that my favorite beverage, hobby, and hospitality means is spelled out before them. . . . . I don't know if your Walmart has these still and I was too busy the week I bought it to post - forgive me! Now it inspires me to be hospitable in jeans, casual, a "why don't you come on in, it won't take but a moment. I'll put the kettle on and see what cookies I have to share. . . . "

Truth For Life

Share with God's people. Practice hospitality.

Romans 12:13

How do you view life?

I've learned by the examples of older men and women, who I've observed as a younger woman, that giving, serving, caring heals US. It gives us purpose, meaning, and richness to our lives. If we lose our lives, we gain them. Its not just serving to serve, but serving as Christ leads us to serve. Its caring because we know by experience, His caring for us. Its living with a view that life is so much wider, deeper, and colorful than just 'me, myself, and I' or "me and those who are mine'. 

This video clip speaks it well. . . in this thanksgiving season, consider this:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfeXxkbgCVE&eurl=http://mommylife.net/

Truth for Life

Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Matthew 10:39

Where in the world has she been?

Well, busy for one. And I have been places: Dallas, Italy, Oklahoma City, you no, 'been places'.  Work has been nearly full time, home life - yard work continues, Bible study has been so practical it has taken time to take it in and live it out, family life - visits to see our precious grandbaby and daughter and son-in-love.  Life has been rich and full.

At such seasons I made the decision to use my time and energy for what are my highest priorities. I missed preparing blog posts; I didn't forget I had this blogspot, really. I just knew I had to keep pressing on.

Next weekend we say a precious goodbye - which means truly "God be with you!" to our daughter, son-in-love, and granddaughter. They are flying out of DFW to London and then onto Nairobi, Kenya. Their mission? Southern Sudan. When the new year dawns they will enter Sudan and begin the work that God will lead them into. If you pray, pray for them, pray us parents/grandparents as we give our blessing in words and deed so they are free to follow our Lord. Thank you!

As I study the gospel of John, I am reminded of how Jesus truly loved and thus understood the needs of His disciples. He patiently gave them a heads-up on what was about to develop as He walked into His arrest, trial, and crucifixion. He gave them an awareness of the time He would be dead and then alive. He prepared them with hope of a future with the presence of His Spirit; He would send them God's Spirit to comfort, remind them, and direct them into the greater work, work greater than even Jesus did - they would take the truth into the world, from close to home to far places.  We are never alone in this life, we are never orphans. He is within us, resident, available, willing to lead us into the abundant life, deep joy, and true peace.

What 'bit of earth' do you tred each day? What area of this earth has God given you to reach with His message of truth and hope? I ask myself this question, too. Am I aware of His-opportunities in my heartaches, heart breaks, joys, delights, and basic everyday life? Am I living in the present so I am available to listen to those with whom I sit? work with or for? serve? am served by? pass by? assist? 

Lord, make me mindful of Your voice, Your leading, Your nudges to re-present you to this world that is lost, to my fellow believers who need re-minders of Your truth. To review Who you are - and to be grateful . . . . grateful for all we received from the hands of God. 

Rambling on, but its a beginning of being back in the seat of the writer of this blog.

Enjoy the photos, a variety of the past weeks. . . . knitting scarves for loved ones, a prayer shawl for a new friend undergoing recovery from cancer surgery, etc. 

This posts scripture verse is for my daughter and son-in-love, its a small part of my blessing for their work on the mission field that begins in a week.

Truth for Life

I thank God every time I remember you. In my prayers for all of you, I always pray for joy.

Philippians 1:3-4

Sofa, shawls, surgery, storms, and seasons change!

News, news, news! I should have my car back this week, by Wednesday possibly! God be praised! I've been driving a big black Dodge Charger - not my 'type', but was thanking God for this safe, smooth riding vehicle. I've had my needs met, and then some. I am blessed. I asked God to show Himself strong as my car was in need of much repair and the outcome could be more than we were ready to handle. He did it! He did it! He really did it! He can do so for you!

Knittingwise I need to start a prayer shawl for a new friend who has a form of cancer that is only treated by surgery. She is going to MD Anderson at the end of this month and will be there for about 6 weeks. I am praying for direction as to type of yarn and color. Then I will knit and pray with great focus as much as I can make time in the remaining days in order to get it completed for her trip to Houston. 

We have ordered a sofa! We have none in our living room and we were finally able to shop, decide on style/fabric, and place an order. I'm so happy! The man who helped us could 'see' the atmosphere we want this room to have as we begin to fill it with furniture. We have waited 2 years and it will be worth the wait. Its easier to live without a sofa if its 'just the 2 of us' but I so miss hospitality and we've had to alter our means of having groups over in the past 2 years. I can't wait to once again have a room to offer when we meet with people. In 4 to 12 weeks we'll have the sofa. Then we'll look into other chairs, coffee table, etc. 1 thing at a time. Paying cash bit by bit - so it will be a slow process but a happy one as God guides us to building a welcoming home, good quality, well priced choices. 

Pray for my aunt, she fell last night and had brain surgery today. I went to visit this afternoon but no family was present and she is in ICU so I was unable to visit her. I think I saw her reflection on the door's glass window as I peeked into the area looking for family members. I have been praying since I heard - she has a dear husband, son, daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandkids, and great-grandkids. She is dearly loved. Thank you for praying for her with us!

My Bible study has begun again and we are spending this week reviewing the gospel of John. It makes me think of the saying "how do you eat an elephant? one bite at a time" It should be a fun discussion tomorrow to list all the events/themes of the 21 chapters of John and then to list how Jesus is portrayed. What a time of heart felt application this is! It is always timely to study God's Word. How often we forget that fact, neglect the practice, or think of it as tedious, boring, out-dated, etc. But when we turn our hearts and eyes to it - we find truth, comfort, direction, correction, peace, hope, and strength.

We had the deeeeeelight of visiting our granddaughter, daughter, and son-in-love this past weekend. What fun! We spent hours playing with Avery, talking to her, taking photos, working hard to get her to laugh, smile, and encouraging her in her new accomplishments of cruising about their living room. Speaking of living rooms - they have less furniture in theirs than we do! They are selling 90% of their belongings to prepare for their move to south Africa. If they didn't feel called, this would be a terribly difficult process. Instead its a hard one but they have their hearts set on missions in Sudan. 

We drove home Saturday afternoon getting some of Ike's wind and rain - it made for a bit longer trip but we made it home safely. Once home, we had some rain but today is a fabulous sunny, blue sky, puffy clouded day with cool temperatures. It inspires us all to have such a day!

I'm so glad that God made seasons, we find something to enjoy and delight in as each new season arrives, and the former one passes. He watches over us and demonstrates His loving care, sometimes immediately, sometimes slowly, but He loves and cares.

Happy Fall Ya'll!

Truth For Life

Each day that we live, He provides for our needs

and gives us the strength of a young eagle.

For all who are mistreated the LORD brings justice.

He taught His law to Moses 

and showed all Israel what He could do.

The LORD is merciful!

He is kind and patient,

and His love never fails.

Psalm 103:5-8

Labor Day is upon us!

Monday is set aside to honor those who labor. Its a day to rest, relax, and spend with family and friends. Its a gift of time. It marks the end of summer for us in North America. And it marks the time of the new school year, fall activities, and leads to the end of year holidays. Its a time to consider the use of the time we have ahead before the next year is rung in.

Is there time in your calendar for a tea party for one, two, or more? Is there time for a meal hosted at home with family and friends? Is there time to do what you truly feel God has called you to do? Are there hours in your days, moments in those hours, in which you might want to schedule making calls, writing cards, placing emails to connect with others and plan times to actually be together? Before you fill your days with to-do's fill in to-be's. What are you called to be? 

Is there time in your day to be quiet, to open God's Word, to read thoughtfully, listening intently, noting what God reveals to you? Is there time to ponder upon what you read? Is there time to put feet to what you learn? Is there time to journal, to record your thoughts, your prayers, your cares? Is there time to serve others that God nudges you to serve? Is there time for more than yourself and your family and your job? Not loads of time, but any time to respond rather than react? To care for those who are todays "widows, orphans, and strangers" that God asked the nation of Israel to care for - their care mattered to Him then and it matters to Him now. When I'm too busy to care, I'm too busy. I have resembled that last remark more often than I care to admit just now.

I agree, it is a constant challenge in our time on earth to live lives that count for eternity. There is time that is measurable such as our calendars, day-timers, daily work schedules, etc. How can we adjust those details to allow space in our lives for a cup of tea with a spouse, friend, child, or neighbor? Is there time in those slots to really hear someone else's heart? Is there time to respond to a need when you feel the nudge to reach out to another? To remember that someone in  your prayers each day? 

There is time to plan for those openings, they may not be actually scheduled in with a certain name, date, etc. ahead of time; but if we leave space in our lives, emotional and physical space, we will be more present in life. We will feel more fulfilled, we will be more in tune with God's leading. This will give us the experience of timely acts and responses. We will have time that touches another, that receives as well.  We will use our time wisely, and find in that, we may sense His leading us. both to do and at times to not step in to help. 

We will also sense when our limits are being reached and learn to graciously to allow others to fill in the time needed by another.

Dear reader, I know this is not new to you, it is perhaps a 'known' fact for most of you. But for today's post I felt it time to re-member these things. There is time for what is needed, there is time to care, there is time to share, and there is time to rest. 

There is time for God, there is time for His Word. 

There is time to stop, boil water, steep tea, prepare the cup, to sit and savor life. Too often we live life gulp by gulp, purposing to get as much done as possible, to be productive, to make our goals, to set higher goals, to delegate, defer, or take on and take over. You alone know what you tend to do.

Yet its time, to look at our use of time, be purposeful in our use of it. We will get no extra time, no matter how fast we run through a day. How do I know about this? I've 'researched' it thoroughly.

Personally.

And been humbled, jumbled, perplexed, fatigued, drained by some of my 'plans' and yet, I'm beginning to know that its always best to stay humble, to be flexible, to allow space in my life, to do what I can in the time that I have and not worry about the time "I don't have", to focus on the task before me (especially since most of my tasks are caring for people!) and to let God be God. To demonstrate by my daily plans that God is for me, in me, and works through me as well as others.

Let us learn from His Word, we are made in His image but we are not Him. There is a distinct difference. *smile* Let us trust Him to guide us in the use of our time: the time we plan and the time that is timely. 

Truth for Life

What do people really get for all their hard work? 

I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. 

Yet God has made everything beautiful in its own time. 

He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, 

people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end.

Ecclesiastes 3:9-11

Fun video clip.

I'm a Mac computer fan, have been since the late 1980's when we got our first Mac. Love my iPhone and MacBook, have an older Mac desktop (thanks to my son-in-love), we have 3 iPhones in my immediate family in Tulsa. 

Here is an ad that features Mac's and tea - a little different twist. Its tea I don't need and wouldn't want to sip, but it is a cute mention of teas.

www.apple.com/getamac/ads/?sr=hotnews?sr=hotnews.rss

See the one titled: Calming Teas

Truth for Life

Whatever you do, do all for the glory of God.

I Corinthians 10:31

"Deer in the headlights!"

Left the house at 6 this morning to head to Oklahoma City. I had a seminar to attend for the day. I was going to meet a friend. I was ready, listening to a CD on John 15. And. . . . oh, no! I saw him, he saw me, he was young, uncertain. . . . stopped, started, stopped, and started again - right into my lane. Yes, a deer! Perhaps the headlights confused him, I slowed, I tried to anticipate his choice of direction to avoid him, but that was not possible. He ran right towards my car. I nearly missed him, nearly.

THUMP!

It was awful. 

I am grateful I did not lose control of the car, I did not hit anyone, no one else hit me or the deer. It died - I felt great grief. I continued to slow down and drove to the side of the road as soon as it was safe traffic-wise.  My car was functioning well. . . but when I got out to look at the evidence - well, it was NOT a pretty picture. I had lights hanging from cords, dangling from the 'sockets' they had been firmly affixed to for years. . .  and the front hood was bent up, the grill broken, sighhhhh. I have an 11 year old vehicle with 140, 000 miles but it is paid for, drives well, gets great mileage, and well, its not time for us to replace it. 

Tonight it resides in a body shop, it awaits an estimate from our insurance company. The body shop feels they can fix it. They said it was worth repairing and in their opinion 'is not totaled'. I pray not.

My dear husband came to me and gave me his car so I could continue on. I had a headache but otherwise was unharmed. I had adrenaline flowing but was able to get into his much larger vehicle and complete the trip. I had the whole incident in the back of my mind as I listened to 6 hours of teaching on medications and their impact on my work in physical rehab. My friend was not able to attend as she had a major car breakdown in southern Oklahoma and had to spend the day limping to a city far from her breakdown, paying huge towing costs, in order to get up and running. We kept in touch and by tonight she was headed to her Saturday seminar destination. 

So, until Monday, I do not know the direction I will be taking. I will either be picking up a rental on the insurance company or receiving a small check and looking for another good used reliable means of transportation car, in tidy shape inside and out. Its in God's hands - as the whole day was. From sun up to sundown, and all through the night. He is in charge, overseeing, protecting, providing, and guiding.

Tonight, I am home, safe, sound, just car-less for the time being. It could be an entirely different scenario - and for that I am most grateful.  On my way home I looked, fearful to see it, but did not see the deer carcass on the road. I knew I'd cry if I saw it. I teared up as I looked for it. But it had already been removed from the highway. "Life goes on." I am alive, I have no pain, I am humbled. 

I'll never hear the quote: "like a deer caught in the headlights" without remembering this morning. It was surreal.  I wish you a very safe weekend, time to reflect upon God's presence, His wisdom, and His truth. Tonight, I thank the Lord for His protection and safe keeping.

Truth For Life

I will lie down and sleep in peace,

for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8