Tuesday, June 30, 2009

As for us, we will walk
In the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.

Micah 3:9

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High,
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91:1
If I remain for a time in a position of being covered and protected by God, the Most High, then, I will continue in the place of His reflected image. Just my own late night attempt at paraphrasing. I started out my day memorizing and repeating this verse in my head, over and over. So, I guess it's right that I end my day thinking on the same words. I looked up the definitions of the words in Webster's, trying to find a way of making them more clear, more alive.
I like this one too.
I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:8
Goodnight All!

Friday, June 19, 2009

A Strange Day Indeed

This is the moment when I wish I had a British accent and a mustache I could twirl. If I did, I would say, while twirling my mustache and peering over my spectacles, "this has been a strange day. Yes, by george, a strange day indeed!"
~
Seriously, though, I needed to inject some humor into this day, if only for myself! This morning started out fairly normally until the UPS man showed up on my front porch. An unexpected UPS envelope was left outside of my door because of the barking of my dogs inside of the door. So...I picked up this very thin envelope and read the senders information. Hmmm, no one I know. From California. . . I open the envelope and lo and behold. Three, count them 3, USPS money orders, each for $975.25 each. My first thought was "Lord"? Nah. Couldn't be. My second thought was, "I'd better start investigating this." I noticed upon closer inspection that the name and address signed on the money orders was different than the return address of the sender on the envelope. *Aha. First clue.
  • I sat down at my trusty computer and did a search for the sender's name. Nothing. Then I tried doing a reverse lookup search using only the address. Voila! A different name attached to the address with a phone number. I dialed the number while my son stood by my side. . . A lady answered. I said to her, " Hi. You're going to think this is strange, but do you know someone by the name of __ _____? She said, "Well, first of all, no it isn't strange at all. And second, no I don't know anyone by that name, but you're not the first one to call and ask me that question. She then began a 30 minute recounting of everything she knew, which did NOT include how and why this person would have her address and be using it to send unsuspecting people all over the country either checks or money orders. She had received a call from a lady in Tennessee and from a man in Florida. She has also gotten to know her local UPS person on a first name basis, and they keep anything returned to this name and her address in their "fraud file" to investigate further. She said that no one had been able to figure out how this person got their name and address and why they would send this to them. She had seen a report on some news show about a scam where the crooks want you to deposit the checks into your bank and then they are able to see your bank and account information and empty out your accounts! Egads! She proceeded to give me the police report # she has filed at her county sheriff's department.

  • After hanging up the phone I received 3 phone calls from an "unknown" source. All 3 were some man with a very heavy foreign accent trying to tell me something I couldn't understand a word of.
  • Next, I received an email, telling me they were glad I had received my package and would I please follow my instructions and do as I was told.
  • What instructions? It was then I discovered I had indeed been sent an email at 10:30 pm last night telling me what to do with the money. Help! I was to forward it to somebody in the UK by Western Union and give them the confirmation # afterwards. But I didn't do it.
I'm too smart for that I said to myself. I would never fall for anything so sinister. Then some of the wording in his email started to click, sounding vaguely familiar. Oh boy. Am I an idiot. I know better than that. How could I be so stupid? About a week ago, I received an email from a Secret Shopper company wanting me to be a mystery shopper for them. I had tried to sign up about a year ago to do something like this, so I thought, well good, that would be fun to do! So, I sent them back all of my information. Aha. There it is. That's how they found me. In fact, in the original secret shopper email, they promised me a 200.00 fee for completing my assignments. And in the email I received today, they told me to keep 200.00 and forward the rest to them.
  • To make a long story a little bit longer, I printed off all of the emails. I have them in the UPS envelope with the money orders. I have also saved all of my phone messages from this criminal. I'm thinking the money orders are stolen probably from the USPS. So, I think I'll contact them first.

I hope this is the end of it. But all day, I felt so creepy. Like someone was spying on me, or worse, trying to take something valuable from me.

  • I proceeded to my 1:00 job interview at a well known coffee shop and will find out Monday if I will be working there for the rest of the summer.
  • I went to work at my job this evening and when I got home, my daughter called me asking if I had seen her wallet. We then embarked on a heartrending search for her wallet, which contained many, many valuable items. My heart was breaking for her and me both. I drove back through the gas station, where she remembered using it last. I retraced her drive watching along all of the curbs and in the grass on the corners. I got out and actually looked in all of the trash cans at the gas station and on the top of all the gas pumps, while customers looked at me like I was a suspicious character! Can you imagine!! My daughter called her bank and reported her card missing. I drove on back home, remembering that her address was on her DL and maybe, just maybe, as I fervently, fearfully, prayed, that the person finding the wallet, would be a kind, honest sort and would find our phone number.

  • I was home not very long when the phone wrang. rang, I mean. It was a very young sounding young man, who asked if I was my daughter? I said "no, but this is her mom!(with every hope in my heart)" He said, well, I think I found your daughter's wallet. " I wished I could have reached through that phone and hugged that boy. I told him "Bless you! Oh Bless You!" He offered to meet us at a local elementary school parking lot to give it back. He had found it at the gas station. I can't describe to you, the renewed faith this gave to me! I had been calling this day a stinky, awful, stressed out day. And within seconds, I was praising God and telling this boy"God bless you!".
So, my daughter's wallet was returned with everything still intact. I'm so thankful. And, I think we both learned valuable lessons today.
  • I forgot to mention, at some time this morning, running out of breakfast cereal and the fighting between siblings and parent that ensued and as a result, my son storming off on his bicycle while I'm worrying myself silly over him. Then, hugs and forgiveness afterwards. Oh, my. No wonder I'm tired.
  • Well, I couldn't waste a crazy day like this. I hate to admit my foolishness in such a matter, but let it be a warning to all!
  • Oh, did I mention I got soap in my eye while showering to get ready for my job interview? Oh, never mind.
"Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise." 1 Corinthians 3:18
  • Oh, shoot. I hear strange noises out in my garage! Will this day never end? I hope it's the neighborhood cat. Sigh. . . .

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

new growth


One of the perks of not working full time at the moment, is I have ttttiiiiimmmmeeee to read and reflect that I didn't always have before. In reading the post about pruning on The Master's Artist blog, I remembered my old rose bush that I trimmed way back earlier in the spring. It was here when we moved into this house a little over 10 years ago. It had grown to be as tall as the house itself and was looking very woody and dead in some places. So, I trimmed it back, as far as my clippers would allow and sort of forgot about it since it's towards the back, on the side of my house.
*
The amazing thing about it is, new green growth is growing out of what looked to be dead, and the roses are a bright pink color instead of the deep, dark red they were before! Even they are expressing the newness of new life.
*
Maybe that's what I'm experiencing in this in between time. Maybe this is a time to be open to newness, new color, new growth, new ideas. . . For some reason, worry about money hasn't hit me yet. I'm just more aware of God being in the details, details I see in the beauty of creation around me, details in creating and accepting what I have been given to create, and the joy in all of that. I think it's a kind of healing for me. I can certainly use all of that I can get!
*
Well, my dogs can't decide whether to play or take a nap. I think they've decided on the nap. I just put my tea bags in for some fresh brewed iced tea for today, my daughter's still asleep, my son's not home yet from his sleepover, I've emptied the dishwasher, and I'm soaking up the quietness of the morning. Love to you all.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Sweet Lamb of God

Lamb of God

Your only Son, no sin to hide

but you have sent Him from your side

to walk upon this guilty sod

and to become the Lamb of God.

~

Your gift of love they crucified

they laughed and scorned Him

as He died

the Humble King

they named a fraud

and sacrificed the Lamb of God.

~

O Lamb of God sweet Lamb of God

I love the holy Lamb of God

O wash me in your precious blood

my Jesus Christ the Lamb of God.

~

I was so lost I should have died

but you have brought me to your side

to be lead by your staff and rod

and to be called a lamb of God.

~

O Lamb of God sweet Lamb of God

I love the holy Lamb of God

O wash me in your precious blood

'til I am just a lamb of God.

I woke up in the night singing this song over and over. When I woke up this morning, I was still singing this song. I'm not sure where it came from, well, yes I do. It's very comforting. I didn't know all of the words, so I was just sort of humming the tune in my head. I've been searching for a beautiful version of it to share, and this is the best I've found. I love being able to read all of the words too. Karen over at Loved and Engraved gave me the idea. Maybe we could have a classic hymn sharing blog theme. (or something like that). Anyway, sit back, close your eyes and enjoy.

(*A beautiful arrangement of the Christian hymn "Lamb of God" played on my Abell D Irish Whistle, the same one that Sir James Galway plays on The Lord of the Rings. Accompaniment CD is from a book available online. Flutemark)

Monday, June 15, 2009

No Fear in Love

There is no fear in love,
but perfect love casts out fear.
1 John 4:18
God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we're free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ's. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.
We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.
1 John 4:17-19
Do everything in love.
1 Corinthians 16:14
So, it occurrs to me, that if I am living my days in the presence of God, who is love, that my fears will diminish, and love will increase. I'm reading a book by Jan Karon called " Home to Holly Springs". It fills me with the sense that God is in the details of my life. If that is true, then the details take on new meaning. I have tended to skip over the details, because the big picture is what matters. However, the big picture is made up of all of the details. If I take care of the details, then the big picture will take care of itself. (I think). I guess what I'm trying to say, is that I'm learning to trust that God will help me with the details that I'm afraid of, and if He cares about the details, then they aren't so overwhelming to me. The big picture is too big for me to take care of, anyway. I think I'll trust Him with that. Jan Karon's books are precious. Her characters often refer to "praying the prayer that never fails". And that is my prayer today, for your day and mine.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Sing Out Loud

"It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can do only a little. Do what you can."

***

Anyway

* * *
You can spend your whole life buildin'
Somethin' from nothin'
One storm can come and blow it all away
Build it anyway

*

You can chase a dream
That seems so out of reach
And you know it might not ever come your way
Dream it anyway

*
God is great, but sometimes life ain't good
When I pray it doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anywayI do it anyway

*

This world's gone crazy and it's hard to believe
That tomorrow will be better than today
Believe it anyway
You can love someone with all your heart
For all the right reasons
And in a moment they can choose to walk away
Love 'em anyway

*

(Repeat Chorus)

You can pour your soul out singin'
A song you believe in
That tomorrow they'll forget you ever sang
Sing it anyway
Yeah sing it anyway

*

I sing
I dream
I love anyway

*

Martina McBride/Brad Warren/Brett Warren

*Sydney Smith

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

To Know This Love

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!


Ephesians 3:16-21

This is my prayer for you today!~and for me, for all of us!

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Do Re Mi

This video is so much fun. I just found it on facebook. Maybe you've already seen it, but if not I hope you enjoy it! It made me smile :)

Sunshine on My Shoulders

There are songs that are so woven into our memories and days that they become a part of us. This is one of those songs. Written in the early 1970's, it was one that I learned to play on my acoustic Yamaha guitar. (I even had a dream once that I married John Denver).

I'm enjoying a quiet, peaceful afternoon. Mowing my yard, thinking back over this past week, planning my flower beds in my mind, thanking God for His wonderful blessings, of sitting beside my daughter in church this morning, taking communion, of friends and fellowship, and knowing that my God is greater than can be imagined.

The sunshine is shining on my shoulders today as I work outside and I wish you the warmth of sunshine on your shoulders today, too!

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

I love this subject for our new Brenda Photo Challenge hosted by Karen at Loved and Engraved. This has been a busy week, but I like the fact that God is reminding me to remember the beauty of what He is accomplishing around me.
This is a beautiful sight to all proud parents who only have
eyes for one of the 1200 high school graduates. My eyes were glued on the 19th row, 7th student in from the right side. Her expression says it all! The day finally arrived! Yeah!
My amazing 12 year old son graduated from 6th grade and my wonderful parents were able to be here to share the excitement of both graduations and the beauty of new beginnings and looking to the future!
"I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for."
Jeremiah 29:11

Monday, June 1, 2009

Seek Him

Seek the Lord and His strength,
Seek His face continually.
Psalm 105:4