Looking Back

This morning I am sitting in bed looking back through this blog.  Normally I would be in church on Sunday morning, but I haven't been feeling well for the last few days, so I'm at home. 

It has been delightful to look back through my entire blog and reminisce a bit.  It's a bummer to see that many (perhaps most) of my pictures are gone.  That happened when my picture hosting program on the internet ceased to exist.  I received a warning that it was going to happen, but thought it didn't matter since my pictures are all stored in a file on my computer.  I didn't stop to think that a lot of pictures in my blog were transferred from that picture hosting program that I had used to edit my pictures before posting them here.  Oh well; it would take too much work and time to repost all of the missing pictures.

While looking back this morning, I came across a silly little limerick that I wrote several years ago--which I had forgotten all about, but I do remember writing it.  The funny thing is, according to the old blog post, I was sitting in bed with a cup of coffee (just like now) when I wrote it.  Here 's what I wrote on 9/27/2007:

"Where did this wee bit o' wit come from? I have absolutely no idea! I was just lounging in my bed, enjoying the cup of coffee my dear husband had brought to me, marveling at the lovely view out my bedroom windows (the full moon still visible in the marbled waves of the light morning sky), when all of sudden this silly rhyme began building itself, unbidden, yet determined to continue forming. Finally, it demanded that I get out of bed and transfer it from a short memory to a hard drive!"

Are ya bein' a twit?
Are ya throwin' a fit?
Are ya stuck in a snit?
Then get up 'n git!
Jump outta that pit!
Take a break for a bit.
Find a place ya can spit--
See whatcha can hit.
Rest yer mind while ya sit.
Determine ta quit
Squeezin' that zit!

 Have a joyful day, okay? 

Days of Summer

It's the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer again, and it's 107 degrees outside!

Lazy? Yes!

Hazy? Not really. I just checked and the sky is clear blue!

Crazy? Hmmmm...sometimes I wonder about this one. But then, I talk to others my age...and...they struggle with this question also! (Does putting my cup full of coffee in the pantry instead of in the microwave mean anything?)

I don't know if anyone else experiences this as frequently as we do, but it seems like the "crazies" in life keep multiplying like rabbits! It used to be that once in a great while one would have to put up with the occasional mistake that would show up on a bill or in some other business transaction. But, what used to be infrequent has become much more frequent, and it seems to be much more difficult to resolve than it used to be.

We also notice that when we make phone calls to get "mess-ups" straightened out, the "customer service" agent that we get on the line, seems to lack intelligence and common sense! Is this progress??? Is this the outcome of our current educational system at work???

Whatever happened to accuracy and intelligence and logic and common sense???

Aarrgghh...pardon me while I rant and rave for a moment.

Okay, now back to the lazy, hazy, CRAZY days of summer...

Praise

What does the word praise mean to you?  That question was asked in my Bible study lesson.  According to Lysa Terkeurst, in her book Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl, "Praise is the key that releases God's character back into even the ugliest of attitudes and darkest of situations." 

That statement intrigued me when I read it and I stopped to think about it.  It seemed to be a simple question with a obvious answer.  However, when I paused to give it more consideration, I realized my quick answer was either wrong or only partially right.  My first thought was, thanksgiving or thankfulness.  Of course, I was thinking spiritually!  When I am thanking God, I am praising Him, right?  What if I were praising another person?  Is it the same as thanking that person?  Probably not. 

To praise someone is to extol that person's virtues.  That said, I realized that if I am going to offer my praise to God, it will include extoling His virtues.  (Of course, that should include my thanksgiving for Him--who He is and what He does.)

If the above statement is true, "Praise is the key that releases God's character back into even the ugliest of attitudes and darkest of situations." , then it will be the acknowledgement of God's virtuous, perfect character that allows Him to take control of even the worst of circumstances, and enables me to yield myself to His control in any situation.

This morning, in my "quiet time" with God, in my regularly scheduled Bible reading, I read Psalm 36 and came upon a perfect example of praising God.  King David of old said to God: 

"Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.  Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths.  You care for people and animals alike, O Lord.  How precious is your unfailing love, O God!  All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.  You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your rivers of delight.  For You are the fountain of life, the light by which we see."

Psalm 36:59 New International Translation)

Now, that is praise to our God!     

The Road Less Taken

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

                                                                                           Robert Frost

I have always liked this poem.  This part of it was mentioned in the sermon at church this morning.  As I began thinking on that statement, I reminisced the “roads” I have taken in my life journey.

What difference has it made in my life to make the choices I made?  As I ponder this, I realize that I will never know.  So what’s the point? 

The point is that I have no regret about the “roads” I have chosen, and I am so thankful for that!  I have no doubt that God has led me and influenced the choices I’ve made, and that’s a wonderful realization! 

As we have moved from place to place along our journey, it has always been perfectly clear to us that God is/was directing us in our choices and decisions.  We have chosen to follow His leading, and that has made all the difference!

For me, the road less taken was the one I was uncertain about--the one I wasn't convinced I should take.  There is peace and contentent when the road chosen is the one God chose for me.

And, that has made all the difference.

Secret Treasure

She showed off her treasures,

so fragile and old.

Proudly she displayed them,

their value untold.

Covered only by dust,

in stillness they slept.

Their beauty now faded,      

their secret well-kept.

So gently she touched them,

as each one she wound.

Still figures came to life,

quiet became sound.

Awakened by music,

and dancing with glee,

Her treasures came alive,

their secret now free.

What secret do you hold,

kept quiet by you?

Protected as treasure,

well hidden from view.

Maybe you’ll meet someone

lacking joy today.

Would you share your secret,

to brighten life’s way?

As you release what’s yours,

your reward will be

Increase of your treasure,

secret joy set free.

In God We Still Trust