It's not as if us old folks can afford these endings when they come as fast they seem to be coming now. I would hold back the clock if I could or add many more hours to each day just in case I would finish all the tasks I want to accomplish.
Of course, I'm the drawback since a book isn't going to get published if I don's sit down and write. A family life scrapbook or books are not going to be finished if I don't get out the pictures and start organizing the pages to set up - I do have sort of an excuse of no place to leave things out and not a whole lot of room on a smaller dining room table and two TV trays. Still it sounds like excuses to me.
Opening my dark chocolate - Dove - and reading the cute sayings they have inside each one it says "find comfort and joy in chocolate." I will admit that there are days when this would actually work for me. I am an emotional eater and chocolate is definitely my main "go to" yet God forgive me if I actually think or believe for a moment that joy and/or comfort is actually going to come from a sweet bite of yummy chocolate.
Joy especially - not being happy - but true joy within that reaches down to our toes and up through our minds - only one place it can or will ever come from - God, our Abba Father AND Jesus, my beloved.
Comfort is only from above and we know for a fact that the only one who can and does bring it to us is His Holy Spirit, my TRUE COMFORTER.
Let us all look forward during the next week as we head on in to the next year of our old lives to the Lord's blessings and grace sufficient and His presence at all times just keeps on coming as it always has.
Monday, December 25, 2017
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
HEAVEN Do I really want to go?
Don't know if it is about getting older or just being curious but books on Heaven seem to draw me more and more these days or years. Just finished A BETTER COUNTRY "Preparing for Heaven" by Dan Schaeffer. Great thoughts and questions and answers about it all. Maybe even too many and too much to actually digest all at one reading.
Towards the end he talks about who goes and who does not go and the whys and wherefores of that. I believe, as a Christian, and student of God's Word, that there is only one way - a narrow way - and that is by faith in Jesus Christ and His grace through His death and resurrection that can and does get us there.
Again my old favorite, C. S. Lewis stated it wisely well. "There are only two kinds of people in the end, those who say to God 'Thy will be done' and those to whom God says...'Thy will be done.' All that are in hell chose it. Without that self-choice (free will) there could be no hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. To those who knock it is opened."
In Revelation when it foretells of all the horrific things that will come upon the world wreaking havoc and destruction it says more than once "and still they did NOT repent." Free will allows us the choice to refuse to believe or go to heaven. I never forgot a TWILIGHT ZONE featuring a "ne're-do-well" villain who killed without mercy or reason, used women for his own amusement only, drank, gambled and seemed to enjoy every minute. One night he got shot and when he woke up a dapper gentleman told him that he was there to take care of his wound, which healed immediately, and providing him with whatever he asked. Needless to say - true to form - he had women, money, gambling until he tired of it all. In his exhaustion he asked his gentleman provider why such a man who lived the life he lived could have ever deserved to be let in the doors of heaven. The ending of that particular show still rings loud and clear. "Why my dear man, whatever made you think you went there, not at all. You are in the other place." With only seconds left you could see in his eyes the realization of what an eternity of getting what we want would actually be.
So again I say I'm happy to be a firm believer in CHRIST ALONE as the reason why we get to go to heaven rather than to be on our own and making the selfish choices we would make without Him.
Towards the end he talks about who goes and who does not go and the whys and wherefores of that. I believe, as a Christian, and student of God's Word, that there is only one way - a narrow way - and that is by faith in Jesus Christ and His grace through His death and resurrection that can and does get us there.
Again my old favorite, C. S. Lewis stated it wisely well. "There are only two kinds of people in the end, those who say to God 'Thy will be done' and those to whom God says...'Thy will be done.' All that are in hell chose it. Without that self-choice (free will) there could be no hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. To those who knock it is opened."
In Revelation when it foretells of all the horrific things that will come upon the world wreaking havoc and destruction it says more than once "and still they did NOT repent." Free will allows us the choice to refuse to believe or go to heaven. I never forgot a TWILIGHT ZONE featuring a "ne're-do-well" villain who killed without mercy or reason, used women for his own amusement only, drank, gambled and seemed to enjoy every minute. One night he got shot and when he woke up a dapper gentleman told him that he was there to take care of his wound, which healed immediately, and providing him with whatever he asked. Needless to say - true to form - he had women, money, gambling until he tired of it all. In his exhaustion he asked his gentleman provider why such a man who lived the life he lived could have ever deserved to be let in the doors of heaven. The ending of that particular show still rings loud and clear. "Why my dear man, whatever made you think you went there, not at all. You are in the other place." With only seconds left you could see in his eyes the realization of what an eternity of getting what we want would actually be.
So again I say I'm happy to be a firm believer in CHRIST ALONE as the reason why we get to go to heaven rather than to be on our own and making the selfish choices we would make without Him.
Monday, November 6, 2017
C S Lewis
Some people think he is hard to read and all his books seem text booky. I guess, because my first to read was SCREWTAPE LETTERS, that I saw his humor, great deduction of and possible ways of looking at all the various philosophies and worldly ways hitting us every day, it was easy for him to be one of my favorite of all Christian authors.
I am reading THE BUSINESS OF HEAVEN right now and as always I am fascinated by his take on thinking ways of man. Lewis told of an old man who said he had no need of religion per se for he knew there was a God. He had "felt" him alone in the desert at night. Lewis' retort was "Now in a sense I quite agreed with that man." He went on to say he believed he probably had an encounter with God. But Lewis went on to expound on how we can "feel" something as we stand at the ocean's edge, and when we look at a map or book of pictures of it, we certainly will "feel" less.
The fun of Lewis is he goes on and leads us further into it. A navigational chart or the "theology" of the ocean put in a book or an Atlas may not cause the same feeling as being at the ocean's edge with the water washing over our feet. But if we ever want that ocean to take us somewhere we are going to need the map.
I almost cry every time I read Romans 1 when it tells of the creation of God and how He meant it to reveal HIMSELF to us. And then the verse that almost causes me to weep, Romans 1:20 "...they will be without excuse..." As simple as that - you may believe in God - the devils believe and tremble but if we do not desire to learn and grow more knowledgeable of Him in a church or the Bible or prayer or fellowship with other Christians more mature who can lead us forward into it, then we do or know nothing more. It is just NOT enough. C.S Lewis is great at making us think!
I am reading THE BUSINESS OF HEAVEN right now and as always I am fascinated by his take on thinking ways of man. Lewis told of an old man who said he had no need of religion per se for he knew there was a God. He had "felt" him alone in the desert at night. Lewis' retort was "Now in a sense I quite agreed with that man." He went on to say he believed he probably had an encounter with God. But Lewis went on to expound on how we can "feel" something as we stand at the ocean's edge, and when we look at a map or book of pictures of it, we certainly will "feel" less.
The fun of Lewis is he goes on and leads us further into it. A navigational chart or the "theology" of the ocean put in a book or an Atlas may not cause the same feeling as being at the ocean's edge with the water washing over our feet. But if we ever want that ocean to take us somewhere we are going to need the map.
I almost cry every time I read Romans 1 when it tells of the creation of God and how He meant it to reveal HIMSELF to us. And then the verse that almost causes me to weep, Romans 1:20 "...they will be without excuse..." As simple as that - you may believe in God - the devils believe and tremble but if we do not desire to learn and grow more knowledgeable of Him in a church or the Bible or prayer or fellowship with other Christians more mature who can lead us forward into it, then we do or know nothing more. It is just NOT enough. C.S Lewis is great at making us think!
Sunday, October 29, 2017
NAMES
Finally something dawned. Been thinking about the meaning of names and how important that can be. Our minister of music has a daughter they named Selah. I asked if he thought she would grow up loving it or hating having to always spell or explain it. He said they have told her from the beginning that it is in Psalms in the Bible meaning to pause and consider the Glory of God. He said she is already very comfortable with being able to speak about its message for all who care to ask.
Now that is a most purposeful name -it is always going to bring up the most important subject of all - God's glory.
Our family likes keeping old family names going so we have a lot of last names as our childrens' first names. My daughter is Mary Gentry (Gentry was my father's mother's maiden name and also means to the manner born or of good heritage). Her daughters' names are Mckenzie, which means "the fair one" or "born of fire". She didn't turn out to be a total red head like her Mom but she was a strawberry blond for most of her childhood years. She is definitely fair of skin. Karissa means -with a "k" love and grace and with a "c" that everyone said it "should have been spelled" means beloved one. They are both Greek in origin and both suit our Karissa just fine.
My own name took on its true meaning once I began my new life in Christ - Anna is Hebrew and means grace and so I am now full of grace thanks to the Dear Lord. I was also named Louise after a great aunt. That is of German origin and means a great warrior. I am not much of a fighter though I don't mind an argument or two that can go on forever but I like to think that maybe it means I can and hopefully will stand up and fight for what I believe. I pray for my persecuted sisters and brothers all over the world and just wonder could I even begin to stand firm and faithful at the point of a gun or a machete being swung in my face. I pray so, hope so want to be able to and maybe since that's the name God knew would be chosen it was His way of making sure I will.
Hopefully you have a name you love and live up to and it positively affirms who you are each day.
Now that is a most purposeful name -it is always going to bring up the most important subject of all - God's glory.
Our family likes keeping old family names going so we have a lot of last names as our childrens' first names. My daughter is Mary Gentry (Gentry was my father's mother's maiden name and also means to the manner born or of good heritage). Her daughters' names are Mckenzie, which means "the fair one" or "born of fire". She didn't turn out to be a total red head like her Mom but she was a strawberry blond for most of her childhood years. She is definitely fair of skin. Karissa means -with a "k" love and grace and with a "c" that everyone said it "should have been spelled" means beloved one. They are both Greek in origin and both suit our Karissa just fine.
My own name took on its true meaning once I began my new life in Christ - Anna is Hebrew and means grace and so I am now full of grace thanks to the Dear Lord. I was also named Louise after a great aunt. That is of German origin and means a great warrior. I am not much of a fighter though I don't mind an argument or two that can go on forever but I like to think that maybe it means I can and hopefully will stand up and fight for what I believe. I pray for my persecuted sisters and brothers all over the world and just wonder could I even begin to stand firm and faithful at the point of a gun or a machete being swung in my face. I pray so, hope so want to be able to and maybe since that's the name God knew would be chosen it was His way of making sure I will.
Hopefully you have a name you love and live up to and it positively affirms who you are each day.
Monday, October 16, 2017
AT THE END
I'm fascinated by people's dying words. I just came across a quote of Leonardo DaVinci that said:
" I have offended mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have." Can you imagine? If he did not reach his idea of "quality" mine is sadly lacking in whatever it should be.
I do not thing I'm very artistic or even creative for that matter because I have had to seek out an image - can't draw a straight line or cut one either - and am using techniques in every facet of my work that someone else thought of way before me. Still I know my cards please the receivers and therefore I do place a high "quality" to them because of that.
I imagine DaVinci, like poor Van Gogh, and many others may not have lived to see what their work became hundreds of years later. Poor Van Gogh would not have even comprehended what four million dollars for one painting even meant. I am not sure, but I do not think they had that much money in one place at that time to even know its value.
Still I could weep to think that any artist or even person, for that matter, would have to die thinking they had offended mankind because they did not delivered something of higher quality. Perhaps he was a perfectionist and that defeated him. Still he was a visionary in so many areas. Could he not see that?
We come back to my own possible last words. My father's repeated phrase to us girls was "I have made you jack of all trades but master of none." And so did he see himself in the same light. I have to admit it does defeat me at times because it has certainly become a self-fulfilled prophecy in my life.
As I have been sharing in this new 75th year - I've still to get on the ball and make it happen. I still have not done whatever I need to do to know I am "up to snuff." But Dear God please do not let me offend anyone or even disappoint them at all. Please oh please let me finally get my ducks in a row for this year and for many more to come. I will keep on until I do.
If you haven't noticed the Energizer Bunny ads lately they are too cute and for me very inspiring. I will just keep going for as long as my battery lasts. Thank you Lord it is an energizer called the Holy Spirit and He's excellent at it and I know lasts forever.
" I have offended mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have." Can you imagine? If he did not reach his idea of "quality" mine is sadly lacking in whatever it should be.
I do not thing I'm very artistic or even creative for that matter because I have had to seek out an image - can't draw a straight line or cut one either - and am using techniques in every facet of my work that someone else thought of way before me. Still I know my cards please the receivers and therefore I do place a high "quality" to them because of that.
I imagine DaVinci, like poor Van Gogh, and many others may not have lived to see what their work became hundreds of years later. Poor Van Gogh would not have even comprehended what four million dollars for one painting even meant. I am not sure, but I do not think they had that much money in one place at that time to even know its value.
Still I could weep to think that any artist or even person, for that matter, would have to die thinking they had offended mankind because they did not delivered something of higher quality. Perhaps he was a perfectionist and that defeated him. Still he was a visionary in so many areas. Could he not see that?
We come back to my own possible last words. My father's repeated phrase to us girls was "I have made you jack of all trades but master of none." And so did he see himself in the same light. I have to admit it does defeat me at times because it has certainly become a self-fulfilled prophecy in my life.
As I have been sharing in this new 75th year - I've still to get on the ball and make it happen. I still have not done whatever I need to do to know I am "up to snuff." But Dear God please do not let me offend anyone or even disappoint them at all. Please oh please let me finally get my ducks in a row for this year and for many more to come. I will keep on until I do.
If you haven't noticed the Energizer Bunny ads lately they are too cute and for me very inspiring. I will just keep going for as long as my battery lasts. Thank you Lord it is an energizer called the Holy Spirit and He's excellent at it and I know lasts forever.
Thursday, October 5, 2017
Before I Die
I'm still not quite on track with writing this every Monday and really not on track with writing as I should be at all. But not able to sleep tonight a thought of what to write about did come.
I have figured out what I want my last words or request or whatever to be right before I die.
I want everyone to pray that the Dear Lord will let me continue to pray for everyone who I pray for now and whom the Lord knows I would want to continue to pray for for all eternity or until the answers come. They speculate that we may not do anything of our earthly life as we know it but praying is a spiritual exercise too so hopefully that one can be a carry-over. I can't imagine not being able to pray.
I am fascinated by how some people's epitaph's actually read on tombstones or in biographies. I am very interested in how people die. I see saints of the Lord versus people who only loved the world and all that was in it experience drastically different home-goings .
I just read where Dwight L. Moody, a great saint of the Lord, said, "Earth is receding, heaven is approaching. God is calling me." Who would delay leaving at that moment in time?
Winston Churchill asked that the famous and usual "Taps" be played as his funeral began then made sure to surprise everyone attending when the trumpeter played "Reveille" when it was over. That is the military call to awake each morning. Churchill obviously believed that death is not the end of our life, but actually the very beginning of the best part yet to come.
I'm planning on being ready willing and able, but I'm also planning on enjoying and living to the fullest every minute of every day and hopefully many many years to come.
I have figured out what I want my last words or request or whatever to be right before I die.
I want everyone to pray that the Dear Lord will let me continue to pray for everyone who I pray for now and whom the Lord knows I would want to continue to pray for for all eternity or until the answers come. They speculate that we may not do anything of our earthly life as we know it but praying is a spiritual exercise too so hopefully that one can be a carry-over. I can't imagine not being able to pray.
I am fascinated by how some people's epitaph's actually read on tombstones or in biographies. I am very interested in how people die. I see saints of the Lord versus people who only loved the world and all that was in it experience drastically different home-goings .
I just read where Dwight L. Moody, a great saint of the Lord, said, "Earth is receding, heaven is approaching. God is calling me." Who would delay leaving at that moment in time?
Winston Churchill asked that the famous and usual "Taps" be played as his funeral began then made sure to surprise everyone attending when the trumpeter played "Reveille" when it was over. That is the military call to awake each morning. Churchill obviously believed that death is not the end of our life, but actually the very beginning of the best part yet to come.
I'm planning on being ready willing and able, but I'm also planning on enjoying and living to the fullest every minute of every day and hopefully many many years to come.
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
KEEP ON KEEPING ON!
Having said I would do a blog message every Monday and having absolutely nothing to say for the past few weeks is so totally frustrating. But this morning feeling the exact same defeated way about it - it dawned on me. Write it anyway. Even if I've nothing to say, being faithful to the decision to do a blog and then writing something even if it is just plain nonsense still fulfills that decision.
I think my follow through might just be as important as if I truly had a great message to share. There is something about taking the next step or doing the next thing on the agenda in spite of how we feel or think or even are within our heart and soul each day. How many times in life will we be totally thrown down or punched in the gut and not know what to do or how we feel or what in the world we want to do about it.
Well, then just do whatever it is in your life that you are supposed to do. I am grieving right now with a couple of Moms who just miscarried and the grief is huge HUGE but they also have other children and I know in both instances they are being brave, strong, responsible and doing what they need to do each moment as it demands. Diapers to change, food to fix, games to play and time to rest, when the babies are down, are the things that come to mind. Doing the next thing is all that the Dear Lord looks for and is gracious enough to grant His loving arms to help us accomplish.
Life that is in tragedy as our dear hurricane victims, or in sorrow as my dear young mothers or just in a blah state of mind and daily routine like me or anyone else, the Dear Lord is hoping we are still faithful to Him, to our loved ones, to our work or ministry and we thank Him each day that it is a new day to hope and to expect great things - even miracles. So let's just keep on keeping on. I am and I will, but Dear Lord never leave me or make me do it alone.
I think my follow through might just be as important as if I truly had a great message to share. There is something about taking the next step or doing the next thing on the agenda in spite of how we feel or think or even are within our heart and soul each day. How many times in life will we be totally thrown down or punched in the gut and not know what to do or how we feel or what in the world we want to do about it.
Well, then just do whatever it is in your life that you are supposed to do. I am grieving right now with a couple of Moms who just miscarried and the grief is huge HUGE but they also have other children and I know in both instances they are being brave, strong, responsible and doing what they need to do each moment as it demands. Diapers to change, food to fix, games to play and time to rest, when the babies are down, are the things that come to mind. Doing the next thing is all that the Dear Lord looks for and is gracious enough to grant His loving arms to help us accomplish.
Life that is in tragedy as our dear hurricane victims, or in sorrow as my dear young mothers or just in a blah state of mind and daily routine like me or anyone else, the Dear Lord is hoping we are still faithful to Him, to our loved ones, to our work or ministry and we thank Him each day that it is a new day to hope and to expect great things - even miracles. So let's just keep on keeping on. I am and I will, but Dear Lord never leave me or make me do it alone.
Friday, September 22, 2017
DOLDRUMS
In my day we called them the "doldrums" when we were not so much depressed as just a sort of mental blah or dare I say "funk"? How outdated is that word today? It seems my 75th birthday gave me a sucker punch I wasn't expecting and I haven't bounced back yet.
Nothing seems to be happening. I wanted to be faithful every Monday to a blog post and haven't had a word come to mind for two weeks. It was August 14th and I am almost into October and can't seem to get a handle on anything. But at this age wasted time is not an option. God's Word says that He will redeem the years the locust has eaten (Joel 2:25). So I am going to hope and pray that He gives me back these weeks somehow in some sort of productivity with results.
I'm wanting to find a way to earn some income writing. My only problem is I'm NOT writing. For me this "getting old" stuff constantly baffles me or just plain trips me up. Either way, it can be a real challenge and an even greater frustration.
Still I know you have to agree when I say - we've only one option and that is just awake each day with hope and a positive attitude and an "I will and I can" that won't quit. Hopefully I will take my own words to heart and today is the day that it will finally come together and happen for me.
Nothing seems to be happening. I wanted to be faithful every Monday to a blog post and haven't had a word come to mind for two weeks. It was August 14th and I am almost into October and can't seem to get a handle on anything. But at this age wasted time is not an option. God's Word says that He will redeem the years the locust has eaten (Joel 2:25). So I am going to hope and pray that He gives me back these weeks somehow in some sort of productivity with results.
I'm wanting to find a way to earn some income writing. My only problem is I'm NOT writing. For me this "getting old" stuff constantly baffles me or just plain trips me up. Either way, it can be a real challenge and an even greater frustration.
Still I know you have to agree when I say - we've only one option and that is just awake each day with hope and a positive attitude and an "I will and I can" that won't quit. Hopefully I will take my own words to heart and today is the day that it will finally come together and happen for me.
Monday, August 28, 2017
3 WEEKS IN
I watch old shows more than new ones for reasons too many to waste time sharing. One of the "teasers" for Monk shows him cutting off bread edges (as I also prefer) and throwing them and the bread too into the trash. Natalie asks, "What's wrong with those?" Monk replies, "They're not snuff. Got to be up to snuff!" He keeps cutting and throwing away slice after slice.
I began a new year of life 3 weeks ago and that's how I feel, "just not quite up to snuff." I want to be SNUFF! I want my 75th year and every year after to be more than it's or I have ever been before.
I do not want to feel less energetic, no, rather much more vigorous as if I could run a 5K. I don't want to succumb to something silly as Pinkeye and have to stay home for days, no, I want to feel healthy, vibrant and blossoming like the beautiful blooms all around.
Most of all, I want to wake up, jump out of bed and begin whatever great task I have to do and accomplish it well or more than that, fantastically. So far these days, I've been waking up wanting to turn back over and go back to sleep. No No No. This just can't go on. No matter what, this has to stop!
I don't do being "ill" well. In fact I am miserable at it and in it. I was trying very hard to be totally surrendered and accepting of the Lord's will over mine. I kept reminding myself that if He were to decide to ask illness or bed-ridden of me that I would be faithful and obedient and could still do - at least I hope He would allow me - my most favorite thing - PRAY! Dear Lord, please, if you were to decide that for my years left then do at least let me continue to be a person of prayer. People could let me know what to pray and I could stay busy doing that each day.
But I am over the Pinkeye and I am starting to feel better so the hard part is to get busy and figure out just what He wants me to do and what I should choose to do to fill my time and fulfill my purpose and continue to do His will and be His servant and live it all to the fullest - SNUFF!
Yep - I have to measure up to being SNUFF!
I began a new year of life 3 weeks ago and that's how I feel, "just not quite up to snuff." I want to be SNUFF! I want my 75th year and every year after to be more than it's or I have ever been before.
I do not want to feel less energetic, no, rather much more vigorous as if I could run a 5K. I don't want to succumb to something silly as Pinkeye and have to stay home for days, no, I want to feel healthy, vibrant and blossoming like the beautiful blooms all around.
Most of all, I want to wake up, jump out of bed and begin whatever great task I have to do and accomplish it well or more than that, fantastically. So far these days, I've been waking up wanting to turn back over and go back to sleep. No No No. This just can't go on. No matter what, this has to stop!
I don't do being "ill" well. In fact I am miserable at it and in it. I was trying very hard to be totally surrendered and accepting of the Lord's will over mine. I kept reminding myself that if He were to decide to ask illness or bed-ridden of me that I would be faithful and obedient and could still do - at least I hope He would allow me - my most favorite thing - PRAY! Dear Lord, please, if you were to decide that for my years left then do at least let me continue to be a person of prayer. People could let me know what to pray and I could stay busy doing that each day.
But I am over the Pinkeye and I am starting to feel better so the hard part is to get busy and figure out just what He wants me to do and what I should choose to do to fill my time and fulfill my purpose and continue to do His will and be His servant and live it all to the fullest - SNUFF!
Yep - I have to measure up to being SNUFF!
Monday, August 21, 2017
How Worldly Am I?
In my devotions Sunday it talked about when Jesus tells His Apostles He is leaving but not to be sad because they will see Him again. Of course for them it meant He was going to rise from the dead and they saw Him again in a few days. For us it means we have waited over 2000 years and He still has not come back, but we have Him with us in the Holy Spirit's indwelling so we should be joyful.
I was thinking about if He were to come this very minute and everything of my life and this world were to be over and His new earth begun. To be absolutely honest - do I really want to say goodbye this very minute to my family, my life, my things I enjoy doing or eating or looking forward to?
I'm happy He didn't come on Friday and we got to take a delightful and well planned trip to Chattanooga, Tennessee. We wanted to celebrate our 75th, 50th and 20th milestone birthdays together while we were together. Karissa was in Japan and I in West Virginia when MG had her 50th in June and Karissa will be back at Princeton when she celebrates her 20th on September 22nd. We had a marvelous time - all we could have hoped for and much more.
I'm glad I got to be alive for another eclipse and one sort of amazing since it was ONLY crossing the USA. I enjoyed a chocolate covered HOT Krispy Kreme donut that they featured special for today and my cute granddaughter waited in line to get a dozen.
I want to be ready to die at any moment. I want the Dear Lord to believe I do consider this a foreign land and my real home is being built up there with Him and waiting for me to come. I hope all my loved ones will be going with me so I won't have to miss anyone ever again. I want to be joyful in all types of tribulation, suffering and pain that my loved ones are experiencing believing that this is nothing compared to the GLORY that awaits us all. I want to think of our lives as James told us but a "vapor" meaning no longer than the breath I just took.
But I must confess I am not always in that frame of mind. I am not always that ready to let go of any of it and definitely not this very minute. Obviously I must keep praying and working hard at becoming more spiritually minded. Yes, I must and I should pray that I start NOW. Maybe we should pray for each other. God bless.
I was thinking about if He were to come this very minute and everything of my life and this world were to be over and His new earth begun. To be absolutely honest - do I really want to say goodbye this very minute to my family, my life, my things I enjoy doing or eating or looking forward to?
I'm happy He didn't come on Friday and we got to take a delightful and well planned trip to Chattanooga, Tennessee. We wanted to celebrate our 75th, 50th and 20th milestone birthdays together while we were together. Karissa was in Japan and I in West Virginia when MG had her 50th in June and Karissa will be back at Princeton when she celebrates her 20th on September 22nd. We had a marvelous time - all we could have hoped for and much more.
I'm glad I got to be alive for another eclipse and one sort of amazing since it was ONLY crossing the USA. I enjoyed a chocolate covered HOT Krispy Kreme donut that they featured special for today and my cute granddaughter waited in line to get a dozen.
I want to be ready to die at any moment. I want the Dear Lord to believe I do consider this a foreign land and my real home is being built up there with Him and waiting for me to come. I hope all my loved ones will be going with me so I won't have to miss anyone ever again. I want to be joyful in all types of tribulation, suffering and pain that my loved ones are experiencing believing that this is nothing compared to the GLORY that awaits us all. I want to think of our lives as James told us but a "vapor" meaning no longer than the breath I just took.
But I must confess I am not always in that frame of mind. I am not always that ready to let go of any of it and definitely not this very minute. Obviously I must keep praying and working hard at becoming more spiritually minded. Yes, I must and I should pray that I start NOW. Maybe we should pray for each other. God bless.
Monday, August 14, 2017
ANOTHER BIRTHDAY
The first day of the rest of my life - UGH - YIPPEE YEA - ugh... I know "it's better than the alternative!" Still - I consider my birth years like the New Year - a chance to start again but at what that's my problem. Start what? Accomplish what? I want to write two books that continue to sit unwritten in folders of notes and attempts and and and...
I want to finish a scrapbook of my life and the girls that sits on many shelves in many not done yet scrapbook albums with boxes of pictures here and there and heaven knows where.
There is the stamp album of 40 years that I know my kids don't want or care about, so maybe I could make a few dollars for fun money. Then I think of getting to the box or trying to evaluate it all with catalog values or the really hard part of finding a stamp collector that still exists, who would want to buy it. Seems impossible, so needless to say that has been put off for years not months.
I do have a very blessed and abundant daily life and it never ceases to make me happy. Went to a church meeting tonight and when someone mentioned it was my birthday, Pastor ended the meeting with everyone singing HAPPY BIRTHDAY to me.
I do want to make the remaining years the Lord has in store for me to be totally surrendered and used up by Him and Him alone and His work and His will and His plan for me NOT MY OWN.
So in saying that then I must end with saying this - Dear Lord help me to be obedient, available, open and listening for your still quiet voice. Simply said - Dear Lord HELP ME! Amen.
Wednesday, August 9, 2017
SO BORING
My dear friend commiserated lately that after 54 years of marriage having to fix one more dinner is just so boring. It made me think about the things that I now am just too tired to care. Still having to do it for 74 years-same old same old. Well, it may seem funny, but mine is brushing my teeth.
My dear mother was very careful to make sure we saw the dentist every six months and brushed every morning and night and so it goes. Now I walk up to my sink and just stand there wishing I didn't have to do it again.
I'm better about flossing because I never did that until I moved in with my Mom at 48 and saw this 80 year old lady so faithful to floss her teeth every night. I thought if she could have that habit then there is absolutely no excuse for me not to. And so I began and so I do but that isn't boring yet because it hasn't been as many years.
I may have mentioned this one before, but my other annoyance is the end of a day. I sit there in the midst of whatever I am doing or trying to finish and the clock strikes 11PM and I know it is really past time for me to be in bed. Not only that, but I will still have to go into the kitchen and make sure the dishes are in the dishwasher and the counters and sink are clean. Then I go to bed, have my evening devotions and sure enough the clock has already struck midnight and then some. It is just so bothersome. I haven't finished my day at all. I just hate it.
Oh well, at least we get to wake up to a new day every morning. That's a great gift and I truly am always grateful to my Dear Lord for granting it. So off I go - can't wait to see what's in store and what new thing I will learn today.
My dear mother was very careful to make sure we saw the dentist every six months and brushed every morning and night and so it goes. Now I walk up to my sink and just stand there wishing I didn't have to do it again.
I'm better about flossing because I never did that until I moved in with my Mom at 48 and saw this 80 year old lady so faithful to floss her teeth every night. I thought if she could have that habit then there is absolutely no excuse for me not to. And so I began and so I do but that isn't boring yet because it hasn't been as many years.
I may have mentioned this one before, but my other annoyance is the end of a day. I sit there in the midst of whatever I am doing or trying to finish and the clock strikes 11PM and I know it is really past time for me to be in bed. Not only that, but I will still have to go into the kitchen and make sure the dishes are in the dishwasher and the counters and sink are clean. Then I go to bed, have my evening devotions and sure enough the clock has already struck midnight and then some. It is just so bothersome. I haven't finished my day at all. I just hate it.
Oh well, at least we get to wake up to a new day every morning. That's a great gift and I truly am always grateful to my Dear Lord for granting it. So off I go - can't wait to see what's in store and what new thing I will learn today.
Monday, July 31, 2017
BEING MYSELF
I did not know what to write about until I saw this message in a Jacquie Lawson Birthday card for old people. "BE yourself, everyone else is taken." Oscar Wilde
That is so true for me - I have always wanted to be someone else. I grew up wanting to be a ballerina for the New York City ballet. Imagine how ballerinas look, size, weight, etc. a certain body type for sure. Well, now imagine me taking ballet for six years 10 till 16 from a very sweet understanding teacher who saw my desire and ignored the rest. I was not so short as just plain chubby. My body type has always been drawn to overweight not dreadfully so than to thin or skinny. I won't say I lack grace or the ability to move nicely, but chorus ballerina for the New York City Ballet -- NOT!
I've talked about some of my dreams that I had to let die. That one was major. Then I wanted to be a Carmel cloistered nun which meant I would never see my family again nor even be allowed to go to their funerals. I thought I was willing, but not to break my mother's heart, I hesitated and the spot was filled by another girl. So that dream of total prayer and contemplative life in and for Christ also died. I am not so sorry since the life in Christ I have been given has been quite blessed and wonderful in a million ways. Still there are days when knowing I would only have to pray and possibly clean and do laundry too, well such simplicity can appeal at times.
When my life turned around and I became much more dedicated to God's Word and I fell in love with Bible Studies. I wanted to be Kay Arthur - founder with her husband, Jack, of Precept Ministries teaching the world how to study the Bible inductively. She teaches and gets to go all over the world to speak and to writers' conferences and Christian seminars and takes a trip to Israel every year. But the Lord would always chastise and remind me, "Annalou, I already have Kay Arthur, right now I need you to become the person I want YOU to be. So listen up, obey, learn and grow!"
So even though I will be 75 in a couple of weeks - I am definitely still trying to do as my Dear Lord said. I am trying to learn and grow every minute of every day He has decided to grant me.
I hope and pray that you all are also seeing our older years not as a hindrance or a problem or annoying and inconvenient at times with what I want or hope or plan to do, but rather as the amazing gift they actually are. For some it grants us more time, maybe even more money therefore more opportunities than ever before to do or become anything we have ever dreamed or desired.
That is so true for me - I have always wanted to be someone else. I grew up wanting to be a ballerina for the New York City ballet. Imagine how ballerinas look, size, weight, etc. a certain body type for sure. Well, now imagine me taking ballet for six years 10 till 16 from a very sweet understanding teacher who saw my desire and ignored the rest. I was not so short as just plain chubby. My body type has always been drawn to overweight not dreadfully so than to thin or skinny. I won't say I lack grace or the ability to move nicely, but chorus ballerina for the New York City Ballet -- NOT!
I've talked about some of my dreams that I had to let die. That one was major. Then I wanted to be a Carmel cloistered nun which meant I would never see my family again nor even be allowed to go to their funerals. I thought I was willing, but not to break my mother's heart, I hesitated and the spot was filled by another girl. So that dream of total prayer and contemplative life in and for Christ also died. I am not so sorry since the life in Christ I have been given has been quite blessed and wonderful in a million ways. Still there are days when knowing I would only have to pray and possibly clean and do laundry too, well such simplicity can appeal at times.
When my life turned around and I became much more dedicated to God's Word and I fell in love with Bible Studies. I wanted to be Kay Arthur - founder with her husband, Jack, of Precept Ministries teaching the world how to study the Bible inductively. She teaches and gets to go all over the world to speak and to writers' conferences and Christian seminars and takes a trip to Israel every year. But the Lord would always chastise and remind me, "Annalou, I already have Kay Arthur, right now I need you to become the person I want YOU to be. So listen up, obey, learn and grow!"
So even though I will be 75 in a couple of weeks - I am definitely still trying to do as my Dear Lord said. I am trying to learn and grow every minute of every day He has decided to grant me.
I hope and pray that you all are also seeing our older years not as a hindrance or a problem or annoying and inconvenient at times with what I want or hope or plan to do, but rather as the amazing gift they actually are. For some it grants us more time, maybe even more money therefore more opportunities than ever before to do or become anything we have ever dreamed or desired.
Monday, July 24, 2017
A New Day
When I had to work 40 hour weeks all the time - Monday was a sad "back to it" kind of day. Now that I only work part time then my days off are always this marvelous gift with all its possible surprises and miracles just waiting to happen to me.
I have been very happy to notice lately that the old cliche՜, "learn something new every day" is actually true. I really do learn something new every day. I get very excited over them even when they are - well others would say - "stupid" - but I jump up and down and say wow I never knew that.
Here is a great illustration - I love brown butter which means you put a pad of butter in your skillet and have to wait for it to brown. Now if you walk away or forget you have placed that pad of butter in the skillet it will get very smoky and you will hear a screeching loud sound that almost breaks your ear drum. Even when you stand up on a chair and push the center in it will NOT stop. It just keeps screeching on and on and on. It eventually stops after you open the front door and wave it back and forth thus dissipating the billows of smoke.
I thought those things were to protect us when a fire broke out on the stove or because of a candle falling over or whatever. When I asked my friend about exchanging it for one that would not do that just because of smoke and no flames involved. He very kindly said, "Annalou, it is called a "SMOKE" detector because it detects smoke. It is not going off until there is no more smoke."
I am honestly telling you I learned something new. For me I always thought it would be flames not smoke that set it off. I promised my daughter I would NOT wander away from the kitchen when I put anything on the stove. I've only broken my promise once so far. I'm praying I won't again.
Getting older can be fun and knowing my mind is still interested it growing makes it a happy time too.
I have been very happy to notice lately that the old cliche՜, "learn something new every day" is actually true. I really do learn something new every day. I get very excited over them even when they are - well others would say - "stupid" - but I jump up and down and say wow I never knew that.
Here is a great illustration - I love brown butter which means you put a pad of butter in your skillet and have to wait for it to brown. Now if you walk away or forget you have placed that pad of butter in the skillet it will get very smoky and you will hear a screeching loud sound that almost breaks your ear drum. Even when you stand up on a chair and push the center in it will NOT stop. It just keeps screeching on and on and on. It eventually stops after you open the front door and wave it back and forth thus dissipating the billows of smoke.
I thought those things were to protect us when a fire broke out on the stove or because of a candle falling over or whatever. When I asked my friend about exchanging it for one that would not do that just because of smoke and no flames involved. He very kindly said, "Annalou, it is called a "SMOKE" detector because it detects smoke. It is not going off until there is no more smoke."
I am honestly telling you I learned something new. For me I always thought it would be flames not smoke that set it off. I promised my daughter I would NOT wander away from the kitchen when I put anything on the stove. I've only broken my promise once so far. I'm praying I won't again.
Getting older can be fun and knowing my mind is still interested it growing makes it a happy time too.
Monday, July 17, 2017
ONCE AGAIN
So much for being more regular-hah! Well again I am telling myself to do a blog every Monday before everything else, well after devotions, of course, and maybe breakfast and coffee too and ...
No, definitely before anything else so here I am. My latest comment and sense of overcoming emotions about old age is this. Lately it seems like time and I are in a race and time is winning out big time. I want to ignore it or come out victorious or depend on the lesson of the tortoise and the hare - slow and steady wins the race.
Heaven knows I am SLOW so what's the problem? Why don't I feel like the victor in it? I definitely do not feel like I'm winning any victory in anything. I do no accomplish all I wish to do in any given day. I do not become more efficient, more productive, more successful or more determined to complete or even begin all those things I want to do or need to do or-on and on it goes.
What to do; what to do? Funny I haven't thought to pray about it. I pray about everything and I do mean everything so why have I not brought this to the Lord and begged His assistance, His wisdom, His overcoming power, His Holy Spirit comfort in it all? Today I will do that. Today I will follow through on the things I planned to do today. Just today to accomplish it will help me to know I can continue to do it again tomorrow.
I won't plan to do too many things - just a few so I don't defeat myself from the get go. So far so good. I did my devotions. Doing my blog. Have a crafting idea I need to work on for a possible Christmas item I could beg my dear sweet friends to buy as gifts. But it means I have to make it become a finished product first. Yes, there's the problem. Am I going to make it work or not? Am I creative enough to pull it off? I haven't a clue. So far I can't quite get it to cooperate, but am going to keep on trying. That will be enough to challenge myself with today.
If I have any followers, then I hope and pray you too can face whatever factors of getting older are driving you crazy and you will meet them with boldness, self-confidence and a trust that by God's grace we can and will face it all and be the victor.
No, definitely before anything else so here I am. My latest comment and sense of overcoming emotions about old age is this. Lately it seems like time and I are in a race and time is winning out big time. I want to ignore it or come out victorious or depend on the lesson of the tortoise and the hare - slow and steady wins the race.
Heaven knows I am SLOW so what's the problem? Why don't I feel like the victor in it? I definitely do not feel like I'm winning any victory in anything. I do no accomplish all I wish to do in any given day. I do not become more efficient, more productive, more successful or more determined to complete or even begin all those things I want to do or need to do or-on and on it goes.
What to do; what to do? Funny I haven't thought to pray about it. I pray about everything and I do mean everything so why have I not brought this to the Lord and begged His assistance, His wisdom, His overcoming power, His Holy Spirit comfort in it all? Today I will do that. Today I will follow through on the things I planned to do today. Just today to accomplish it will help me to know I can continue to do it again tomorrow.
I won't plan to do too many things - just a few so I don't defeat myself from the get go. So far so good. I did my devotions. Doing my blog. Have a crafting idea I need to work on for a possible Christmas item I could beg my dear sweet friends to buy as gifts. But it means I have to make it become a finished product first. Yes, there's the problem. Am I going to make it work or not? Am I creative enough to pull it off? I haven't a clue. So far I can't quite get it to cooperate, but am going to keep on trying. That will be enough to challenge myself with today.
If I have any followers, then I hope and pray you too can face whatever factors of getting older are driving you crazy and you will meet them with boldness, self-confidence and a trust that by God's grace we can and will face it all and be the victor.
Monday, January 23, 2017
AM I OLD IF I THINK I'M YOUNG AT HEART - NO!
I have decided to try to continue my living life while getting older and older blog with a new twist. First I want to be more regular. Second I want to sort of let it be my ongoing talking to "myself" which I do all the time and have as long as I can remember. People think this odd, but in my case I have always and still am talking directly to God, my Abba Father, Jesus, my dear Lord and Savior and to the Holy Spirit that dwells within me. I talk to Him because the Lord said He would come as our comforter and teacher and guide. I am always needing any and all of these things on a minute by minute daily basis, therefore my talking is pretty incessant at times.
I was talking to a younger person the other day about how she doesn't understand that even though we know we are "aging" we are not "thinking" of ourselves as old. Such as I am in my 70's and a friend who had knee surgery, hip replacement, clavicle shoulder surgery asked if I ever had any aches or pains. And at that time I thanked the Dear Lord and said "no." Now, just a few months later I am having this dull ache in my left leg and my left foot seems too weak to step up first.
But in spite of "feeling" old or "looking" old - which I definitely do in any mirror I happen to glance at, my mind has never "thought" of myself as aging or being old. I can still enjoy looking at a young handsome man. I still love the Hallmark romance movies, especially when they hold hands or kiss, because even though I have been divorced and never loved by a man, I still adore romance, marriage, the wonder of intimacy between men and women and the whole, I believe, miracle of TRUE LOVE.
My point today is just to thank the Dear Lord for letting my old age be fairly healthy, very happy and a little independent. It is also blessed and I mean the pouring rain showers of blessings every day. I would love to live to see my 100th birthday if I could keep feeling this well and active and compos mentas (sound mind). And I hope to always never ever "think" of myself as old or even getting older. Though I don't want to ignore celebrating birthdays so that's a problem well maybe not. I'll just enjoy them anyway.
I was talking to a younger person the other day about how she doesn't understand that even though we know we are "aging" we are not "thinking" of ourselves as old. Such as I am in my 70's and a friend who had knee surgery, hip replacement, clavicle shoulder surgery asked if I ever had any aches or pains. And at that time I thanked the Dear Lord and said "no." Now, just a few months later I am having this dull ache in my left leg and my left foot seems too weak to step up first.
But in spite of "feeling" old or "looking" old - which I definitely do in any mirror I happen to glance at, my mind has never "thought" of myself as aging or being old. I can still enjoy looking at a young handsome man. I still love the Hallmark romance movies, especially when they hold hands or kiss, because even though I have been divorced and never loved by a man, I still adore romance, marriage, the wonder of intimacy between men and women and the whole, I believe, miracle of TRUE LOVE.
My point today is just to thank the Dear Lord for letting my old age be fairly healthy, very happy and a little independent. It is also blessed and I mean the pouring rain showers of blessings every day. I would love to live to see my 100th birthday if I could keep feeling this well and active and compos mentas (sound mind). And I hope to always never ever "think" of myself as old or even getting older. Though I don't want to ignore celebrating birthdays so that's a problem well maybe not. I'll just enjoy them anyway.
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