HIS FAITHFUL REMINDERS

The day started with attending another church here in Fort Worth---determined to seek God's will in where He wants me and plans to use me---I purposefully declined one of Camille's friends invitations to attend her church with her family----no crutches---just looking for His leading.  I sat in the middle of a row---in the back middle of the center section.  The worship was good--the message about community--a little disappointing to me--but this is NOT about me and maybe some need to hear how important fellowship is for Believers.  So I left---not one person said a word to me---a smile from the greeter--that's it.  I left disappointed and wondering if I would ever find a church home.

THEN---I get home and a dear friend texts me that they need prayer---I go to the scripture and find the right scripture to pray for them.  Spend time in prayer---and asking God for grace for this Godly friend.

Then I receive an email asking for prayer from a long time--wonderful friend---that has borne much suffering, strife, heart-break--struggles.  Once again they are facing another crisis--they asked for prayer--I went back to the scripture--prayed for this sweet friend.

THEN---to make sure I understood He was using me for intercession---I had a feeling that I should check on another long term friend.  I have not heard from them in a while--thought things were fine--but God gave me a nudge.  Upon contacting them, I found out they are in the hospital with congestive heart failure, a broken hip and heart rhythm problems.  NOW--they did not contact me---I just knew--Every time I have been nudged to contact them---there has been a need for prayer.  When I asked why they had not contacted me--the response was "I did not want to bother you".  I gave them Romans 15:30---where even Paul asked for others to pray for him.  Reminded them it is a blessing to pray for others--and to not deny that blessing.

All this to say---God hears me--He knows I am lonesome--ALL in His perfect time--my prayers will be answered.  I John 5:14-15

WHIPPER SNAPPER--PART DEUX

SO--before I start--let's just say I am not too sore today--it's a miracle  OR perhaps the 4 Alleve I took helped!

The house my apartment is in is being painted-outside--EVEN the brick.  I met the landlord when I moved in---92 --still drives--a Lexus--no less--THIS IS TEXAS!---and still in charge of things.  We talked about the house and the shape it was in--she told me that she was having the trim painted-but surprised me with the brick also---pleasantly surprised.  When I arrived back in FW--the windows were covered with plastic--understandable---BUT the wind was also blowing 25 MPH--SO the first night back--the plastic blew and rustled all night--MISERABLE night--I am a VERY light sleeper--that serves me well most of the time--but NOT that night!

SO---after spending the day with the 3 Amigos & Mother---I came home exhausted--FELL into bed--went into a coma---UNTIL about 2 AM---I remember hearing a door slam---Whipper Snapper's front door is right below my bedroom.  THEN---loud talking, laughing, carrying on RIGHT in front of my house.  Could I just say--I was NOT happy--they finally Hushed and I was out again.

SO--this morning--I waited until about 9 AM---WAIT--I didn't tell you that Whipper Snapper works nights and also plays nights when he is not working--don't have a problem with that--BUT I respect his sleeping during the days---he needs to respect my nights---OK--back on track---at 9 AM--I turned on the vacuum---then used the dust buster (SHRILLEST NOISE I HAVE) on the stairs---up and down on his bedroom side---and for a FINAL Good Bye before heading out the door---used the hair dryer.

SOMETHING tells me the war is not over--that's OK--God has been teaching me patience!

DUMMY THAT I AM--I TOOK THE CHALLENGE!

For some sadistic reason---our children LOVE to remind us that ---the point in life has come when THEY CAN out-do us!  Back in Fort Worth---the 3 amigos and their mother were here to see me yesterday before I even unpacked.  She tells me---"Come with me to the Y tomorrow and we will go to the Power Pump Class together".  WHY SURE--I would love to do that! 

 WHAT WAS I THINKING?????

The average age in the class was raised from 25 considerably when I walked through the door.  KNEW I was IN TROUBLE--when we got a bar and   8  weights to put on it, and a step with 3 risers!  The instructor walks in---with her "Built Like a Chevy (YOU KNOW THE ROCK) Body"--straps on her microphone--cranks up the music---AND for the next   ONE HOUR---we lift weights to music.  Each song is a different body part---so that's 3 minutes + per body part!  

When you walk out of the class--ALREADY hurting and trembling---BAD THINGS are coming!  Currently even my hair follicles hurt---I can raise on eyebrow with just a little pain---all else --well tomorrow will not be good!  I spent the day with the boys and their momma--cooking, cleaning, tending the little ones --but once Doctor Daddy came home--I was off---I had NO IDEA HOW I would get up the steep stairs to my apartment---EVEN if I would have stooped to ask---Whipper Snapper is not home---SO--it was SLOW GOING--until I thought--just bite the bullet and get it over with--sprinted the rest of the way. 

SO---YES---Camille you CAN finally out-do me in the weight room---BUT WATCH OUT--I'm on a mission now!  

LIMBO LAND

I am back in Fort Worth and the countdown has begun to the final trip to my new home Fort Worth.  I will be here 10 days and then back in R for 3 weeks--back to FW for a week and then back in R until the end of the school year--less than a month.  THEN--I will be here to stay---ministry responsibilities over and time to begin a life here.  My sweet friend and counselor Barbara, told me this was a good way to transition.  Not so sure about that--but it is a good way to memorize the road and all points between the 2!

Have had such a great visit with LOTS of my buddies while in R---but that started the process of trying to wrap my mind around leaving them all.  God has RICHLY blessed me with a plethora of friends that I love dearly.  I can't even begin to imagine how I will ever have such wonderful friendships here.  Time--prayer--living life together--that has molded these friendships into precious pearls.  I can't imagine life without them --a stone's throw away.

Meanwhile I am here--a wonderful surprise--the house is being painted outside and is looking great--the bummer--when preparing the house for painting--they blew LOTS of dust into my apartment--May take a while to get that cleaned up.  The 3 Amigos have already come for a visit--I have been shot with the cap pistol, begged for chocolate & spit up on---LIFE IS GOOD!

EFFORTLESS COOLNESS!

The REALLY COOL thing these days is any form of exercise---running, boot camp, weights, bikes---anything that looks like you are exerting an effort!  We all high 5--pat each other on the back---talk the talk--walk the walk of physical fitness.  It is just "The Cool" thing to do!

Today I discovered the "Ultimate Coolness"-----with NO EFFORT---I had everyone waving--wanting to talk over my workout regime---admiring my obvious effort.  The only thing is--I didn't even have to break a sweat---SCORE!!!  

All I had to do was put my bike rack on my car and strap on the bike---occasionally wipe off the non-existing sweat---put my helmet in the back window---and everyone was totally impressed with me and my coolness.  Why you can't even tell the tires are flat after not riding for a year when it is suspended in air behind the car!

One problem---those that hang around the back of your car AND just can't resist squeezing the tires----YES, I KNOW THEY NEED AIRING UP---you are just supposed to look and admire--NOT inquire!

YOUR POWER

We ALL have a "Super Power"---a power that we hold over others---a tremendous power--that can cause others to tremble --to lash out in anger---to cry--to laugh--to glow with pride.  The power held by us all is that of our words.  I have been reminded several times over the course of the last few days of that great great--power.  The power that can last a minute--an hour--a day--weeks--or even a lifetime. 

While thinking over this power--I was even confronted with a living example.  Here is the bottom line of what I concluded---we may say something in total innocence---with not one negative thought or intention--BUT because of the life experiences of someone that we are speaking to---they are stricken---even paralyzed speechless because of what we have said.  This has left me pondering what have I said--quite innocently--that caused another pain?

We all desire to be blessed-----and our words are usually the only means we have to bless those that are dear to us.  So I will chose my words carefully --hopefully---and listen to what is said to me without the cloud of the past.

NEED A GOOD DOSE OF GUILT---CALL ME!

Having a difficult time getting those projects done?  Feeling over-whelmed by all that you have stacked around you to get done?  Call me---I seem to have the gift of giving guilt---

We ALL work best under different conditions---I make lists---LOTS OF LISTS----lists of the lists I am keeping.  THERE SHALL BE NO COMMENTS FROM MY JAMES RELATIVES!   I celebrate marking things off my lists!  I keep the same list until EVERYTHING is marked off the list---WeLL--let me back-track--occasionally I have to make a new list with a carry over item or two--LONG TERM projects!  I like to start a project and finish that same project before moving on.  For obvious reasons--sometimes we can't finish an item on our list---but that is OK--I can handle that frustration.

SO my Inn Keeper-here in R---Helen --is a very talented person with MANY talents.  She has projects scattered all over the room that are in various stages--some almost finished-some part way---some not even started.  I asked her today, "What is that green pile by your couch?"  She told me it was a CHRISTMAS QUILT that ONLY needed binding to finish.  She told me she would get to it and that the binding was already half way on.  I REALLY REALLY only said , "Oh".

Within 15 minutes she is clearing away the other projects around the sewing machine and when I asked what she was doing.  She told me that she was going to finish that quilt.  I PROMISE --I did not say another thing---WELL MAYBE I did say---We work very different--I normally finish a project before moving on.  ANYWAY---I may have ALL her projects finished before I leave in May..  SO you need an old fashioned dose of guilt-----CALL ME--I am available!