Living Deliberately

Today was an amazing day filled with a variety of people, conversations, situations, theophanies, laughter, tears, discoveries, dreams......the entire day was intense in a good way. It ended with some time in the GTCA with my Core group girls - together we dug into the Word and into each other's lives - I love the deeper level of intimacy and trust that's come with the new year.

An old favorite quote keeps coming to mind from Thoreau. "I came to the woods to live deliberately, and not, when it came time to die, discover I had not lived." Yes.

Facebook Fanaticism

Loyal blog readers - all two of you - I've been on blog hiatus as I've checked out the wonders of Facebook land. For a communication freak like myself it's probably the last thing I need to be on, but it sure is fun! If you haven't already, join me there:-)

crazy little theophany

So two posts ago I mentioned the book "31 Days of Praise" that I wanted to find. Today I went to McKays (I am seriously addicted to that place!) I was almost ready to leave but something drew me to an area in the bookstore that I don't usually look at, and there, like it was just waiting for me, on the end of a shelf, leaned that very book!! Out of the gazillion books in that store - there it was!

I imagined the Lord's delight as He knew how tickled I would be to find this treasure. Maybe He leaned over to the nearest angel and said, "Oh, she's gonna love this one!"

It will never cease to amaze me that He can run this entire universe and also be aware of each care and desire of His children's hearts. Wow!

Jane Austen Fans Unite!

I would be remiss if I didn't advertise the fact that every Sunday night for the next couple of months one of Jane Austen's books/movies is being featured on Masterpiece Theater on PBS at 9 pm. Delicious!! No commercials, lovely accents, lots of curtsies and bows and innuendos....ahhh... So in this house at 9 pm on Sunday nights Mr. Dale is banished to the bedroom to watch his beloved sports while I control the remote in the living room and spend a couple of hours relishing the romance of days gone by! Local fans are welcome to join me - candles and Kleenex provided!

Musings

I love my Sunday School class even though or maybe because it makes me cry almost every week. The class is for ladies only and is made up of a broad spectrum of individuals. Every week someone shares a story from their life that magnifies the faithfulness and glory of God.

Today a woman shared about her mom being diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in August of 2007 and passing away in November of that same year. She shared about their relationship before the illness (which was rocky) and also how God gave her the grace to care for and love her mom and the many lessons she learned on this difficult journey. She shared a neat prayer from a book called "31 Days of Praise" by Ruth Myers ( a definite must get and read) and also several passages of Scripture that were meaningful to her.

All of this of course brought back memories of my mom's final days. I'm thrilled that she's with Jesus but I sure miss her here on earth! The tears flowed freely.

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This month for my devotions I've been using a wonderful little book by Macrina called "The Song of the Seed". One of the chapters this past week was "The Feast of the Awakened Child" which focused on Jesus raising Jairus' daughter from the dead in Mark 5. One of the things Macrina suggests you do after meditating on this passage is to "look underneath the age you are, and allow yourself to have a glimpse of some of those other ages. Does your 3, 7, or 11 year old child have something to say to you?" She then shares the following from storyteller Sandra Cisneros and I think it's just a delightful little piece of writing:

"What they don't understand about birthdays and what they never tell you is that when you're eleven, you're also ten, and nine, and eight, and seven, and six, and five, and four, and three, and two, and one....Like some days you might say something stupid, and that's the part of you that's still ten. Or maybe some days you might need to sit on your mama's lap because you're scared, and that's the part of you that's five. And maybe one day when you're all grown up maybe you will need to cry like if you're three, and that's okay. That's what I tell Mama when she's sad and needs to cry. Maybe she's feeling three."

Variations

From

Emma Wheeler Homes

to

Young Life Leadership

to

the Mountain Opry

It is a crazy, varied life and I'm enjoying the ride!

Discipleship

Today I spent some time in another world and I didn't leave the city limits. I spent a few hours in a home in one of the urban housing projects. The drama and the language, the sights, sounds, and smells assaulted my white, middle class, middle age senses.

Years ago I found the following piece that really spoke to me and it's one of the influences the Lord uses to make me step out of my comfort zone in obedience to His call on my life. I came across it again recently in a book I'm reading by Brennan Manning entitled "The Signature of Jesus - A Path to Living a Life of Holy Passion and Unreasonable Faith." Manning sets it up by saying that it was from a note found written in the office of a young pastor in Zimbabwe, Africa, following his martyrdom for his faith in Jesus Christ. It's strong stuff and I certainly don't emulate all of it but it's a beautiful reminder of what being a disciple is all about.......

I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed.
I have the Holy Spirit's power.
The die has been cast.
I have stepped over the line.
The decision has been made - I'm a disciple of His.
I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.
My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure.
I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees,
colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving and
dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions,
plaudits or popularity.
I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded.
I now live by faith, lean in His presence, walk by patience,
am uplifted by prayer, and I labor with power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven,
my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions are few,
my Guide reliable, my mission clear.
I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away,
turned back, deluded or delayed.
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the enemy,
pander at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up,
paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ.
I am a disciple of Jesus.
I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know,
and work till He stops me.
And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me...
my banner will be clear!

Crew

Crew called me this morning on my way to work. Tara and Mark have been reading a Bible story book to him and he wanted to share his new words with me. Words like Adam, Eve, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jesus and Hallelujah. What a gift to this grandma's heart to hear these words in his precious little voice....how thankful I am that Mark and Tara are teaching him the Word of God at such an early age....the legacy of faith continues.

I am also so thankful for a daughter in law like Tara who keeps a long distance grandparent in the daily loop of Crew's life and learning. Our boys grew up just down the road from one set of grandparents and in the same general vicinity of the other set and that was pretty wonderful. The story of our life has turned out differently but it challenges our family to be intentional and creative in staying in touch.

Where are your Green Pastures?

My dear friend Shirley recently asked a group of us this question after meditating on Psalm 23 :2. I've put my reply below but would love to hear yours - leave me a comment or email me!

My green pasture at home is my corner in the family room which was lovingly dubbed the "Girl Talk Cry Area" by my middle son, Dan, when we first moved here. The GTCA holds my comfy blue recliner and I am surrounded by my favorite things - my Bible, my journal, pictures of my family, my mom's "Reflections", books, cards and other writing materials, a candle, Kleenex, and fresh flowers. I am also surrounded by the echoes of conversation that have taken place here with family and friends over the years. It is a holy, sanctified place and I am most happy when I'm sitting there,all snuggled up in my mom's old white terry bathrobe which feels alot like one of her hugs that I miss so much.

My green pasture away from home is McKays Used Bookstore which I love to enter without my watch or cell phone and with a prayer that I will hear the Spirit's voice to find the treasure waiting for me there as I look for books that will enrich my walk with the Lord and also find books that will encourage someone else on their journey. It is one of my favorite places in the world.

My little pity party.....

It's a quiet week at the Young Life office as the entire staff is in Orlando for the YL All Staff conference. Dan keeps texting me with the fun details of this amazing conference. I'm trying to keep a good attitude about not being there but I sure hope I can go to the next one!

Victoria

Many of you know our friend, Victoria, who has been our Little Sister for about 4 years. She is 15 years old now and we love it that she still wants to hang out with us! She came to church with us today and then home for lunch and then she and I went to the Hunter Museum for the afternoon. They offer free admission the first Sunday of every month! We had such a good time at the museum! I let her take the lead in how much time to spend at each piece and she didn't rush through but was thoughtful, asked great questions, made good comments. It was fun to introduce her to this part of Chattanooga culture!

Happy New Year Chattanooga Style!!

When we're in Chattanooga for New Year's Eve we usually spend it with our friends, the McMahons. Dave has this tradition of making his own ball that he drops from their little balcony in their entryway. We synchronize with the Times Square Ball and do the countdown - it is silly and very fun! Pictures just don't do the ball justice - it's a basketball of great beauty all covered in orange (of course) Christmas lights. Before the ball dropped we had some great food and played Pictionary. Fun times!

Mom

Yesterday was the anniversary of mom's death. And I've been wondering what to write to commemorate such a sad/happy occasion. I've decided to let mom speak for herself. One of the most wonderful things she ever did was fill in a memory book for me after I gave her one for her birthday in 1997. In typical mom fashion she not only filled in the original book in her handwriting but also typed all of her answers so all of my siblings could have a copy too. And she asked my dad all of the same questions and typed all of his anwers for all of us so we have a really complete history of who mom and dad were. (The book I gave her is from Word Publishing and is titled "Reflections from a Mother's Heart - A Family Legacy for Your Children" and I would highly encourage everyone to have their parents do this soon. What a treasure to leave for generations that follow!)

One of the last questions in the book is "What word best describes your life? Explain why."

This is what mom wrote and it definitely sums up her life........

"Steadfast" - Webster defines steadfast as "unyieldingly firm in purpose, faith or attachment; loyal". Looking back over my life I would like to think that the word describes who I was. I was there when the kids needed someone to share their joys and disappointments with, when my mom needed a shoulder to lean on when dad died, when Sid needed to lighten up. I was there because I loved you all so much and my happiness and joy came from making your lives happier. The strength to stay steadfast came from faith in the One who is the Solid Rock, ever faithful, never changing, always caring, loving Friend."