RAIN ~RAIN GO AWAY!!

It has been a LONG WET fall and winter.  Starting tomorrow we have another five days of rain coming with an expected total for those five days to exceed five inches.  My back yard is so "squishy" I have not been able to begin construction on my ark.  I may be forced to rely upon the borrowed kayak in my garage.  Unfortunately this is a ride on top kayak.  This means I WILL get wet!

The only problem with my plan, I can conceive of, is if my niece wants her kayak back.  I live three doors down from her---this is a distinct possibility.

Personally I prefer the rain to come in measured doses.  This deluge will eventually lead to a L O N G ~ H O T summer with little to NO rain.  WHY can't the rain come according to my plan?  Let's say raining once a week and no more than an inch at a time--year round.  This should keep the grass happy and the mud to a minimum.  Louisiana gumbo mud is another topic for another day.  Let me just tell you quick sand looks like a wimp compared to gumbo mud.

Why doesn't God set the rain to fall like I set my sprinkler system?  It goes off three times a week for a determined period of time in the early morning hours to not interfere with daylight activities.  The slow and measured method of watering is preferable and allows for optimum grass growth.

We were reminded of the beauty of slow and relentless spiritual growth by the High Reverend Sunday.  Spiritual growth is not explosive, not flashy, and not instantaneous.  It comes over a long period of time in small and consistent acts of  pursuing God.  Those small ordinary moments of faithfulness on a day by day basis lead to a deep and sustained relationship with God.  The "Little Big Things" of showing up faithfully in the pursuit of a deepening love of The Father.
There is no forty days and nights of flood, but instead the slow but steady streams of mercy pouring over us day after day.  How beautiful our garden will grow with day by day showers of his love and mercy.

Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them,

 so that your progress will be evident to all.

I Timothy 4:15

BOUNDARIES

With all this talk about building fences and country boundaries, my mind has wandered over to the "personal boundary" territory.   I wouldn't touch the building a fence question with a ten foot pole.  Suffice it to say, my entire back yard is fenced so tightly you cannot see any of the neighbors, but somehow the varmints still are able to get in.  THAT IS ALL I intend to say about that, so save your comments.  

I strongly suspect we all have at least one of those individuals in our lives who invade our personal space when we try to have a conversation with them.  You know the type--they plant their feet toe to toe with yours and you begin to wonder if you are having a conversation or a dental exam.  It is so distracting to have someone inches from your face that it is almost impossible to pay much attention to what they are saying while staring at their nose hairs.  You begin to wonder if your are breathing in their carbon dioxide while they are taking all the oxygen out of the air.

And then there are those individuals in our lives who know no boundaries when it comes to asking personal questions.  I am usually so shocked to be asked "None of Your Business" questions that I stand there with my mouth unhinged.   It takes me a minute to come up with the quick comeback.  Somehow the quick comeback looses much of its effect when you are late with the delivery.

We all tend to put up boundaries around ourselves in some form or fashion.  Boundaries we do not want crossed--under any circumstance.  Those boundaries are usually  "self-preservation" tactics.  It is always a boundary in a relationship with another.  In an effort to protect ourselves we install invisible walls with large "NO TRESPASSING" notices all over them.  The price you pay for not allowing any trespassing is a less than honest relationship.

This crew LOVES to get in Lulu's personal space.  This is one instance I do not mind being crowded in on.

As I thought over the boundaries we place around ourselves, I began to consider how we make a futile attempt at placing boundaries between us and God.  You know all those areas where we think "I'VE GOT THIS!"  Thinking we are handling what ever the circumstance, we take God out of the equation.  We are busy planning every step of our life and God is up there laughing at our futile attempts.  We do not want to admit we are dismal failures at this planning business and His Way is always the best way.  So we do not turn EVERYTHING over to God, we place boundaries around ourselves.  We even place a boundary around old hurts, past grudges, deep seeded hatred, and on and on ---we don't seem to want to allow God to take them from us--instead we like to lick our wounds and fuel our anger--forever!  

Here is the truth about it.  God is rolling His eyes at our attempts to place boundaries between Him and us.  He knows our most intimate thoughts and understands us better than we could ever even understand ourselves.  Our trite attempts at placing boundaries between us and God is about as effective as me keeping the varmints out of my backyard.  He sees us---He knows us---He loves us---take down the boundaries--throw open the door and give Him it all.  You KNOW the plans He has for you!

The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.

 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; 

indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;

 in the night also my heart instructs me.

 I have set the Lord always before me;

 because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Psalm 16:5-8

MY JOY

TO THIS I HOLD

MY SHEPHERD WILL DEFEND ME

THROUGH THE DEEPEST VALLEY

HE WILL LEAD ME

BLESSED SABBATH,

DEAR FRIENDS!

MEANWHILE HERE IN THE HOOD

CHOCOLATE ON SALE

WHO DOESN'T LOVE 

THE DAY AFTER

VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

SEARCHING FOR HOME

I have wonderful memories from my childhood of hours spent playing games such as "Red Rover", "Tag", "Kick the Can","Mother, May I", "Chase"  among others.

Many of these games involved trying to get to home base.  As a child, I was quite fast and did very well at these games.  It was always wonderful to arrive at "Home Base" though and be "Safe".  While you were out running in No-Man's Land, you were fair game for the other players.  None us us wanted to be caught far from home!

In six years, I moved four times.  Thinking this over, I realize I have been searching for a home all of this time.  My first move was from the family home where I spent thirty years.  Many happy memories are tied to that house.  I never speak with anyone who visited during those years who does not also have fond memories of the house in the woods.  It was the perfect family home.

I have come away from each successive house with something learned, but the big lesson concerns my heart.  The house did not necessarily make a home.  There are wonderful memories of parties, holidays, small groups, visits, and the day to day living in the family home, but time has marched on.  Many of my friends are still in the homes they raised their children in and I understand why.  The physical presence in the place so much history was lived is comforting.  All of them are like me though -Empty Nestor's and the memories associated with the house are our history.  It would be wonderful to share the house their parents grew up in with my grands, but the pictures and stories will have to suffice.  A good friend recently commented "Look at your past, but don't stare at it."  Exactly!  The house is not where the memories are stored, they are stored in my heart.

So why all the moves in such a brief period of time?  I think I was looking for the home of the past.  That home is only in my memories.  My children are all grown and gone and I am living alone.  I am in a new season and life has changed from the frantic days of career and child rearing.  My hours are filled with volunteering, church, family, and friends.  My home is always open to friends and family and regularly filled with laughter and talk, but it is not the home of the past.  Life has changed and with it my definition of home has morphed.  Home is truly where my heart is--be that in a house, talking with a friend, with a group, reading with a child, spending time with family, or taking a walk in the great outdoors.  Wherever my heart is currently--that is my home.  

At this point, I look forward to residing in my final home--my heavenly home.  Until that day, I spiritually sit with the Father and His Son in the Heavenly Realms, but my earthly body resides in Ruston.  I have learned I may never feel truly "At Home" here on this terrestrial ball again, but I have finally learned to be content with where I am.  Until the final move, I will bloom where I am planted.

12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 

13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Phillipians 4:12-13

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

My mother was always insistent that unless I could be in on the beginning of a trend it was best to not jump on the bandwagon in the ninth inning.  For this reason I am announcing today

I AM NOT RUNNING

FOR THE OFFICE

OF

PRESIDENT OF THE

 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

For certain I am one of only a few of the scores of Americans who has not announced they will be running for the office.  

Politics is a dirty business these days.  You are placing yourself on the judgement seat for the entire country and will be exposed to the entire world for every mistake, mis-spoken word, stupid remark, and any other politically incorrect thing you have ever done.  Not only that, but you are also exposing your entire family to the same microscope of discovery.  It is truly beyond me why ANYONE would want to run for president. 

Add to that your own party (political family) will fight, bicker, name call, and attack every thought you have ever considered having during the race. For the months leading up to the primaries and continuing until the last person standing, your political family will do their best to destroy your reputation and attack your integrity.

Then we have the party conventions and we all kiss and make up and join together for a few rounds of "Kum Ba Yah."  Only those with thick skin could possibly act like they like each other after the months of debasement and ridicule.  I have noticed that seldom is one of the "Other Runners" chosen to be the running mate.  Perhaps there are some lingering hard feelings!  But for the sake of politics, we all join hands and attack the new enemy--those in the other party!

And then we have another round of announcing to the world every flaw and incorrect thought each candidate has every had.  Speaking of pulling back layers, this is not introspection but inspection by those who are delighted to pull back our layers and expose every moment of our entire life to the rest of the country.

What happened to the days of polite agreement to disagree?  When did it become the norm to campaign by attack?  I enjoy healthy debate, but this is not debate this is all out frontal attack.  We do not seem to be able to debate with respect anymore.  Gone are the days of sticking to the issues and hands off families.  All is fair and fair is a moving target on a downward spiral.

All of this serves as a distraction from that which is eternally important.  The media loves to whip us all up into a frenzy of hatred.  When our eyes are turned toward man, they are off Jesus.  The love we profess as Believers is put on the back shelf when it comes to the opposing political party.  What a sad state of affairs.  

This is my last political statement for this year.  About once a year I forget and step into the cess pool of politics.  Forgive my momentary lapse into that which is temporal.  I am back to the eternally important--Jesus.

OH, And HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

27 “But to you who are listening I say:

 Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also.

 If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.

 30 Give to everyone who asks you,

 and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.

 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? 

Even sinners love those who love them.

 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you,

 what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 

34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment,

 what credit is that to you? 

Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.

 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, 

and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.

 Then your reward will be great, 

and you will be children of the Most High, 

because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 

36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Matthew 6:27-36

THE CASE FOR INTROSPECTION

There is a commercial for a local hospital on television for a 3-D mammogram.  Standing in a tight group are several nurses and they begin to talk about the special test they have which peels back the layers of tissue looking for the hidden cancer cells which might be lurking inside.  As the commercial continues the women begin to leave the group until all you see is the one woman with a pink smock instead of white.  They are demonstrating how the test slowly peels back the layers until the hidden enemy is found.  What a great concept to explain how the test finds the unwelcome cells.   I found this similar commercial on YouTube.



Until you begin to peel back the layers, you have no idea what is compromising the cells contained within the patient.  Layer after layer must be exposed and examined when trying to determine the wellness of the body.

Recently I read an article about dying to self and began to search for how we manage to do this.  After mulling it over, I decided until we know who we are and why, it would be difficult to leave our old self behind and become a new creature in Christ.  Our third week of our Small Group study addresses the heart and soul of who we are.  The four parts of the soul are:

the mind-your thoughts
will- your ambitions
emotion- your feelings
conscience-your moral compass

"When Scripture speaks of your heart, it's referring to the intersection of these four internal characteristics.  The heart is the centerpiece of the soul." Priscilla Shirer  The very essence of who we are not physically but the all important "What's on the inside."

We must begin to peel the layers back of who we are based upon all the external factors which have influenced us to understand what we are trying to leave behind.  As if we are peeling back the layers of an onion, we must slowly expose each and every layer to understand the whole.  Until we have exposed all the worldly influences which have impacted our beliefs and behaviors, how are we to change?  How are we to begin our journey of sanctification?   A good friend often says, "We need to get free of all of that!"

Thus the need for my months of introspection.  Without realizing why, I knew I needed to discover who I was.  I have dug deep and made discoveries that helped pull the pieces of the puzzle together.  Understanding my actions and reactions has come with my discovery of the inner workings.  Until I understand the one I am leaving behind, how will I truly put on my new self in Christ?  My heart yearns to know Him in a deeper and more intimate way.  How better to begin than to understand where I am starting from and what I need to turn away from.  

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Philippians 1:21