"Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (I Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Friday, April 22, 2011

PRICE TAG

Mom and Dad rented a booth in a flea market. Nearly everything in our house had a price on it. It was really scary the morning I woke up with a price on my forehead. The thought of my parents selling me took me back a moment. It's a joke now, but at that moment, there was nothing funny.

Jesus had a price on His forehead before He even left heaven to become part man/part God. I think knowing that He wept and sweated drops like blood comforts me in a way. That part human knew that price tag. He knew the cost. His human side looked for a way around the problem, His God-side opened His arms wide...

and died for my sins.

Praise God, the price has been paid.

Monday, April 11, 2011

A full Weekend

I'm a homebody. Staying home makes me happy. I'm not very out-going (except with those I trust with me!). Had a sweet between lunch & dinner meal with my dear friend Jill Owenby. I always enjoy my time with her. We delve into our love with Christ and talk openly about the questions we have and the praises we have... along with being totally honest with one another. I love spending time with her. She is such a special friend.

This past weekend not only did I need to study my lesson on Psalm 18, but Melissa came in on Friday evening. I love it when we spend time together. It's becoming too few and far between. But... you know in the circle of life, it is the normal progression! We played games together on Friday night. I had missed playing. We laughed, she froze and I sweated. Funny that 24 years difference in age can make such a difference!

Saturday morning we woke up and went to the grand opening of a Christian bookstore in one of the malls. The owner is my oil-painting buddy and former receptionist of my church. We drank coffee and congratulated her. Then off to visit a sweet friend who had surgery a couple weeks ago and was still recuperating. Talked and laughed with her.

My Sunday School class had our mission project to do that afternoon and Melissa joined us. We packed bags for the children of the poor of our area. It was so fun. They would hit a gong each time we completed 1,000 bags. We, along with several other volunteers packed over 30,000 bags in 2 hours. Then we went out to eat at BRIXX Pizza. It was fun to be with several of the ladies in my class along with Melissa. We laughed, talked seriously, and then laughed again. Such a sweet time of fellowship.

Sunday morning, Melissa went to her church and I went to mine. My class was having a covered dish and spa day. We never ask what anyone is going to bring to our covered dish fellowships. And yet... we always have a smorgasbord of food, which is ALWAYS delicious! Our spa day consisted of hand or foot massages or a back and shoulder massage. Because my feet are so ticklish and I just can't stand for anyone to touch them, I decided I must try to get past this. I had a foot massage. Except for the beginning, I felt totally comfortable. I think I'd like for that to happen again. Maybe I CAN get a pedicure! We'll see!

Then I rushed over to the nursing home to visit my little homebound friend. She wanted to get away for a while, so I took her out to just walk around and then she wanted to eat...so we went to Apollo Flame and both of us ordered pizza. We talked and she just loved it. Getting out of her "prison" at times just pleases her. Gives her a reason to keep on keeping on. We got back and just sat on the front porch of the "home" and watched the sun set. I finally made it home and sat on my couch for a moment... and thought...wow I'm tired. Went to bed and slept all night long. God is good ALL the time.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

How do we do it?

I work at my church in pastoral care. That's dealing with the hurts, pains & deaths of life. Days like today, overwhelming me with death, murder, sickness, pain and heartache... bring me down. I just don't know how to get out of this funk I'm in. The phone rings and I cringe knowing it's some more bad news. An email comes from someone with the subject : PRAYER REQUEST. I breathe deeply before I look at it. Days like this are very few. But when they come, they are over-whelming. What do people do without the Lord? How do they put one foot in front of the other while going through the emotions of life? If I did not have my God, my Maker, My Hope, My Lord, My Savior, My Redeemer, I just don't know what I would do. Thank you God that you know those groanings within me. I give them to you, knowing you are my warrior.