TIC TOC, TIC TOC!

Tic Toc, Tic Toc....oh how time flies!  Our lives continue day by day and the older we get, time seems to fly even quicker than we remember.  Our parents get older.  Our children get older...heck...WE get older too.  Our grandchildren grow up and we wonder where the time has gone.

As we age, our minds begin to think about the future.  Some people worry about physical ailments, others worry about money, time spent with family, regrets, those they have lost...actually...just about everything we hold dear is a huge concern to the aging.  In reality, there is nothing we can do about any of the things we worry about.

I took my mom to a specialist today with a little medical issue.  Isn't it true when we are worried about something, many of us have enormous imagines.  We think the worst without even knowing all the details.  Yet...our minds make up these huge assumptions of what will be and it can paralyze us!  Mom had worked her mind into believing she was on the verge of death.  After speaking with the specialist, he simply said it was an issue with her current medications.  A little change could fix it all. What a relief!  A simple explanation for such a HUGE worry!

But why do we worry?  Why are things that are completely out of our control, paralyze us and make us age even more quickly?  Why do some people worry themselves to death while others seem to take everything in stride with all the assurance that things will be fine?

I wonder if Jochebed (Moses' mom) or Miriam (Moses' sister) worried when they placed him in the Nile River in a basket?  Did they fret over and animal attacking him or if an Egyptian would find him and drown him in the Nile after hiding and caring for him for 3 months?  Was it just horrendous for Jochebed when she had to return him to Pharaoh's daughter after 3 years?  Did she worry every day he would be well taken care of and not forget who his true parents were?  Tic toc, tic toc, time moves forward and there are so many unanswered questions.

Scripture tells us there is a way to be sure of our future and that we have no need to worry.  Jeremiah 29:11-13 says: For I know the plans I have you, declares the Lord.  Plans to prosper you, not to harm you.  Plans to give you a hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Promises, promises..for a hope and a future.  Promises of His care and availability to Him.  Assurance we can depend on Him.  His "declaration" to always be there.  So why do we worry?

I'm thankful to the ONE I know is beside me always.  I am grateful for His holy Word that gives me hope and assurance.  So, as the song goes....Don't worry, be happy!

SIC 'EM BEARS!

Football season is here again.  Our Baylor flag is waving in our driveway.  Season tickets have been purchased.  Tailgate spot is ready for the grill.  T-shirts and jerseys have been purchased to show our true colors.   Its time to Sic 'Em  Bears!

Baylor is now in their brand new stadium that shines like a beacon in the night.  When the Baylor Line of 4,000 freshman (yes, I said 4,000) come running onto the field with President Ken Starr leading them, it's a sight to behold.  What other president of a university puts on a workout suit and runs onto the field to welcome their players with 4,000 freshmen following, each ball game?  President Starr doesn't just talk a good game but he leads the way and participates.

Its truly a sight to behold and a joy for every BU fan in the stadium.  Even in the first game, when many dignitaries were there for the opening of the stadium, (President and Mrs. George W. Bush), President Starr stuck with the freshmen line and lead our team to the fight!

In our lesson in the life of Moses this week, God called Moses into service to lead his people, the Israelites, out of Egypt. Moses would go before them and lead them, with God's help, through many difficulties.  God told Moses He would be with him.

I often struggle with battles that seem too big to overcome.  Battles of sinfulness I keep repeating over and over.  Moses was a man of God and I am a child of God.  Whatever battle I face, God says He is with me the same as He was with Moses.

Moses became a leader of the Israelites, leading them out of bondage to God and His promises for them.  I can, but only with God's help, lead my family and friends in a direction that points to Him.  No matter the sin, no matter how big the struggle, He will be with me and I am comforted to know, God helps those He calls even when we sin.

I'm grateful for the beautiful picture President Starr represents in leading a group of Christian young men and women to battle.  He's out front, as Moses was, cheering on every student and fan, expecting victory in the game of life.  We could all use that faith and expectation.  We can have it when facing the battles of everyday life when we remember, God is with us and God helps those he calls to service even when we sin.

Sic 'Em Bears

AN OLD DOG LEARNS A NEW LESSON!

Well, there he goes again.  Hershey, our family pet, is off and running, barking his head off.  Hershey barks at people walking, children playing, other dogs, cats, squirrels and in fact anything that moves outside.  Being a labradoodle, he doesn't have that high pitched bark.  But still, I get weary for constantly telling him "No barking Hersh!"

We have tried and tried to find ways to train Hershey to stop barking.  We even bought a shock collar.  Now don't go and call those people at the ASPCA.  The fact is, Hershey has so much hair, its often hard even to get a pulse from the collar through the hair to his body.  Still, we have used it and Hershey knows exactly what it is.   It comes with a hand remote we can push when we want him to stop certain behaviors.  When pushed, the collar gives a mild shock and it gets his attention.  Now, we just hold the remote up without pushing a button and he stops the undesired behavior. Amazing what result a little black, hand held remote with a long string can have on a dog.  Most of the time, the remote is not charged.  (We always forget to charge it).  Hershey doesn't know that though ,and he acts like it's a nuclear weapon.  He backs off and runs straight to us.

I wonder if God thinks I need a shock collar?  I continue to repeat the same things over and over....bad attitude, barking at people, road rage (only to myself), frustration, putting other things before Him, forgetting to be grateful for what He does for me, etc.?  I wonder if He wants to just give me a good shock sometime?

His Holy Bible is like the remote I need, when held up before me, warns me to follow His commands and shows me His grace.  It never dries out of charge (always applicable) and is always available!

I'm grateful for His just and gentle warning.   I'm also grateful He doesn't give me a shock each time I disobey, but instead, uses His Word to gently guide me with His grace.  Otherwise, when I think about it....I'd be electrocuted by now!

Thanks Hershey for teaching an old dog a new lesson!

BRONCO AND POT ROAST

When I was in school, we never had all the fancy white boards or "smart" boards they have in schools today.  Chalk boards!  Yes, beautiful black boards with white chalk!  No colored chalk, no erasable markers, no swiping my hand across a board to change the picture.  Just your simple black board.  How I loved to help the teacher erase the board.  All kids loved to help erase the board.

Not only did we not have the fancy boards they have today, but we didn't have animals in our room either.  No frogs, birds or hamsters.  Today, kids get all the great stuff.  Hamsters are the rage of the classrooms.  My grandson Huston has a hamster in his classroom.  I recently went to grandparents day and noticed this ball rolling through the room. When it hit my foot the first time, I jumped!  Not understanding what was happening, Huston quickly explained that it was the class hamster, "Bronco", exercising in the ball. 

Now, I never allowed my children to have hamsters (what I thought to be really furry rodents) in our house.  We had dogs...and I was always afraid the hamster would get out, get lost and the dog would have him/her for lunch.  They were just a little toooooo "ratty" for me if you want to know the truth.

Huston got to bring "Bronco" home from school to care for this past weekend.  I went to babysit for "H" and his siblings when I soon discovered the furry ball rolling through their house.  I (sort of) got adjusted to the little guy but still refuse to hold him.  I did however, discover a few things.  1) hamsters are pretty cute, 2)  I discovered how Huston held him and was learning gentleness and how to care for a pet,and 3) I can learn a few things from this "rat".

Huston is so proud to have the opportunity to care for "Bronco".  Do I see caring for my family and friends as an opportunity?  A privilege?  Or a burden?  God cares for me every day and NEVER considers it a burden. 

I'm grateful for the gifts of family and friends.  Perhaps Bronco can teach an old gal something about service.   Hmmmm...think I'll treat my sweet husband to a nice pot roast this weekend!

UNDER HIS WING AND CLOSE TO HIS HEART

Sisters in Christ!

How often do you move your home?  Well, since Jimmy and I were married, we have moved approximately every 10 years.  We've lived in Dallas, Houston (really The Woodlands) and now in San Antonio (11 years and staying!) Yeah!  Moves can be stressful and they can be lonely.  The husband finds immediate friends at work while the wife gets the house set up, kids cared for, and focuses on the husband while he gets adjusted.  It can take up to two years, before the wife ever really begins to make her own friends and get settled in.  Moves are hard, can be lonely if you move where you don't know a soul.  However, they can also be a wonderful time to grow closer to God.

I'm studying the life of Moses this year.  Remember when Moses fled Egypt because Pharaoh wanted to kill him?  He fled to Midian.  He left family, friends, a comfy life in the Pharaoh's palace, his power, authority and respect as he grew up as the son of the Pharaoh's daughter, and most of all his people, (God's chosen people), the Israelites.  He was lonely, and in a foreign land.  However, God provided him a new family, a wife and work. 

When we move, I have felt like I was in a foreign country, leaving friends, position within the community, church families and others.  However, like Moses, God has provided me with new loving families, sisters in Christ, church homes and much more.  As God drew Moses closer to Himself, He has also drawn me under His wing and close to His heart.  He has filled my loneliness, comforted me, talked with me when I had no others, and given me hope in the difficult times.

My new friends, sisters in Christ, have been one of the great joys He has given.   I'm so grateful for His mighty provisions.  Grateful for His love to someone so unworthy. Grateful for my sweet family He moved us near and the future families He will provided through my children.   Mostly, grateful that He draws me near and holds me tight.

Are you about to make a move?  Just made a move?  Remember...He is moving with you!

ENGAGED!

My wonderful husband,  Jimmy,  and I have been married 43 years!  Yet, it doesn't seem that long ago, really.  I can remember EVERYTHING about our wedding.  I often wonder if today's brides remember every detail.  Weddings are sooooo huge these days.  It must cost families a holy fortune to marry off a daughter.  Not having daughters, I often envied parents getting to plan such a wonderful occasion.  Yet, I pity them to, for the extravagant amount of money weddings must cost.  Yet....it IS a once in a lifetime event.  

My wedding was wonderful.  Not extravagant at all, but simple and beautiful.  Beautiful because I can remember all the details about the actual ceremony and when I became Mrs. James C Allen.

My son Graham is engaged and will marry the girl of his dreams next year.  We are all so excited about the planning and the time leading up to the ceremony.  The venue has been picked, list started and full speed ahead for all the details.  

There is one thing I wish for Graham and our precious Carissa.  My wedding wish is that they savor every moment of the planning.  They truly ENJOY each other as they pick out all the details, register the choices of their dreams and begin to prepare for a life together.  I pray they will concentrate on the ceremony and are able to remember the details of their commitment to God and to each other.  I pray they will each have one outstanding moment they will remember for 43+ years as Jimmy and I do.

I'm so proud of them and look forward to the next stage of Jimmy's and my life with our new daughter and (hopefully) a family of little ones in the future - (a mom can only hope!!!!!)

CONGRATULATIONS GRAHAM AND CARISSA!

HOME SWEET HOME

People say home is where the heart is.  I've come to know that it is not a building, structure, piece of land or any material thing.  I have come to know that it is truly wherever one is with the people you love.


This past week, Jimmy and I spent a week at the beach with all our children and grandchildren.  The  time spent with the ones I love the most is what I call HOME.  I could have been anywhere in the entire world.  But it could not have been with any others except those we were with.


We played games, we walked and looked for shells along the beach, built sand castles, fished and caught 13 large keepers.  We watched movies, listened to a little girl (aka Atlee) sing her heart out, and played some golf.  Two of us parasailed for the first time, one enjoyed fried fish for the first time and one of us even GOT ENGAGED one early morning (aka Graham & Carissa).  We took pictures galore, swam in pools, rode in golf carts and on floats.  But most of all...loved being with each other.


Home...here on earth is just temporary though.  Those who know our Lord have a new Home, one built just for them and waiting for them.  Our Lord says he has prepared a place for us...much better than the one we currently live.  This place, before HIM, will be even greater than the time I experienced this past week.  The joy I had will be but a flicker compared to the joy I will have before my Lord.


Where is your home?  Do you know you have a one prepared just for you, waiting?


I am grateful for the time I spent with those I love this past week...the time I call my earthly home.  And I look forward to my future home when that joy will be even greater.

RAIN AND RAINBOWS IN MY HEART

We had an enormous rainstorm last night.  The lightning and thunder woke me up with a bang!  It lasted a long time and I was worried our new umbrella would blow away in the wind.  We didn't realize we would get this terrible storm and would need to strap it down.  The violence of it all is what struck me as odd.  I wasn't expecting it.  I knew yesterday there was a possibility of rain during the day.  But since we had none, I thought we missed it and would have to water the lawn and hand water our deck plants.  I even took an umbrella with me on all my errands.  

Isn't it funny how when you expect the rain, it never happens.  But when you don't expect the rain, there seems to be a violent storm!  The good thing about this storm is that it provided such good water for our yard and beds that were so thirsty for nourishment.  As you can see from the picture above, this morning's view from my back window is lush and pure.  Funny, how just at the right moment, a little water can cleanse and nourish a dry, ugly, wilted body of ground.

That's what God does with me.  Some days I feel dry, ugly, wilted and in need of a flash flood to wash over me and sanctify me.  Cleanse me and make me pure, clean, lush and beautiful like Christ.  When He does that....I am new again!  Beautiful, just like my yard!   I feel fresh, clean, pure and right with Him!  

There's a rainbow in my heart today....a reminder never to destroy again....but to give life!  I am grateful for the sanctifying rain and rainbow in my heart!

PRETTY PANTRY

I've been disgusted with my pantry for the past several months.  You know...one of those places in your home you need to get to and clean up, organize, but just can't get the UMPH to get started?  Well, my friend is in town staying with me while attending some meetings.  I need to be available to deliver her to and from and therefore knew I would be home for several days.  Therefore I decided to tackle the job.  Now to be very honest, I have to give credit to my sweet daughter-kin-law Alix.  After seeing her new and beautifully revamped pantry, I was inspired to do the same to mine.  Yes, I copied hers.  Thank you Alix!

We had not painted the pantry when we moved in 11 year ago.  I knew painting must be done.  Just organizing shelves over old dirty shelving with dirty walls would not do the trick.  I needed to add additional shelving to accommodate additional space for larger items we have acquired for storage through the years.  I would need many 39 gallon trash bags to  purge the many expired items that had been hanging around that pantry for a while - YUK, and would get to do a little shopping therapy on the side for baskets and jars to accommodate similar pantry items (that always makes a job a little more fun)!

I started out by emptying the entire pantry and purging everything that was old and no longer usable.  Things that had been lurking in the back corners and things that were stale and out of date.  I got rid of unusable kitchen items - appliances we no longer used, items that I could no longer find their cords and things that weren't good for me, like those wonderful candy corn pumpkins (oh darn!!!! Sigh!!!).

Then, on for the shopping....first to the hardware store for paint then to Walmart and Target for storage items and labels.  I always like to take a big break after the dirty work and before the real work begins.  I painted, I organized, I packed baskets, I labeled and then carefully arranged on shelves according to how I would use them.  I even rearranged a few kitchen cabinets to better suite pantry items (aka... coffee and spices).  Behold...the transition is complete!

Before:

After:

The Inside of my pantry is now clean, new, fresh, organized and is a pleasure to not only me but to Jimmy.  It's a delight for him because He can find things and enjoy not only the cleanliness but the beauty of it.

Isn't that the way God feels when we repent and purge our hearts, minds and souls from the old ugly sins that lurk in our dark corners?  Our Insides are made like new.  They are the same, but with a freshness like being painted over and made to look new again.  God does the work and we are His pleasure as He steps back to look at His handiwork deep within our souls.

My new pantry gives me great joy.  How much more does God delight in MY new pantry?  I am grateful for His work in me.  Time to get on my knees again so He can get to work!  :)

IT'S OKAY BABY



I get soooo distracted!  When I'm supposed to be focused on a project and there are things around me that are pretty, or there are other things I would rather do, I get distracted and taken away from the very thing I'm supposed to  be doing.  When this happens, I fall behind, things don't get done and often times, a catastrophe happens.  I don't keep my eye on the main thing.

My precious granddaughter is spending the afternoon with me.  She has had lunch and now it's one o'clock and it's nap time.  She's never slept in "big girl" bed before.  She still sleeps in her crib.  Since she's almost 3, I decided it was time she could take a nap in the queen bed in our guest room.  I put bumpers along the side so she couldn't roll out and placed her favorite blanket on the bed for her.  I told her it was a "princess bed", just like Sophia's.  She LOVES princess Sophia!  She was really excited to sleep in our 4 poster "Princess Bed" just for her!

She actually, ALWAYS goes to bed for naps or at night, GREAT for me.  She just a little angel!  And today was not different.  She usually plays a few minutes in bed before settling down and taking a good long nap.

I guess there was a lot of pretty things in the room, things she had really never seen.  The night stand had a little gold clock with open hands sitting at the far end.  It was a while before I checked on her because I heard her talking to herself and knew she often did that sitting up in bed for a while.  When I peeked through the door, she was standing at the door with the small minute hand of the clock clutched in her fingers.  Her eyes her looking down and wee small voice said, "it broke". 

Catastrophe!  She wasn't doing what she was supposed to do.  She was distracted by the worldly things she was seeing around her that were soooo  attractive.  Though she knew she would get her long awaited popcorn if she settled down quickly and took a good nap, she just couldn't resist.  I knelt down, took the tiny minute hand from her, hugged her and said, "Lovey will fix it baby.  I still love you very much.  I know you didn't mean to.  But let's take a nap so you can get that popcorn when you wake up."

Isn't that a picture of me when I take my eyes off of Christ?  Catastrophe!  Nothing goes right.  I mess up, I am broken and my relationship is severed.  But he leans down and wraps those arms around me when my eyes are downcast and says, "that's okay baby...I died for those sins....I love you anyway....let's get back on track now....Jesus will help you!

I'm grateful for the gift of a child who can remind me to keep my eyes on Jesus!

BEST FRIENDS

I have a three year old granddaughter who is really the apple of my eye.  Blue eyes, blond hair and smile that melts your heart!  She is bubbly, cheerful, runs up to me to give me a kiss and hug the minute I walk into the door.  She is usually always happy, happy, happy!  She entertains herself, dances around and is just a joy to watch.

She came home the last day of preschool this year with a shirt on that had hand prints of all her cute little school friends on it.  As you can see from her sweet smile, she was delighted to be wearing this new creation,  AND, she could tell you all the names of her classmates and friends.  Next year, she won't attend school as often and will have a new class and new friends.  For one so little, this was just a season for her for most or all of these friends.  She may never see them again or may have a few in her classes the next few years of school.  But for the most part, friends in her life will come and go for the next few years.

I've thought about friends in the past.  Friends I've had long ago.  Friends I miss very much.  Friends I talk to only a couple times a year but seem to never feel as if we were ever apart.  Friends that I've let go because the season has passed, life has happened or God brought them in my life for a period of time for whatever reason and that time is over. 

But true friends last forever.  Even if you only speak a few times per year.  True friends are those you trust.  Those you count on.  Those you can pick up with wherever you left off.  Those you spend time with and the time flys and you don't want it to end.  Those who cry with you, cry for you, laugh with you and when they laugh at you - you are laughing along with them.  Friends always are honest with you and you never mind it because you know they love you - even if it stings a little.  You love them for it because they love you enough to dare to risk everything to be your friend and be truthful.  I can go on and on, but I think you get the picture.  I've had many friends through the years.  They have come and gone and many more have stayed.

But my best friend is always faithful, truthful, kind, generous, thoughtful, loving, forgiving, encouraging and is always, always by my side.  I can call him day or night and he's there for me.  In my tears he comforts me and in my joys, he's rejoicing with me.  In my frustration, he's calming me and in my anxiousness he's slowing my pace.  He's the song in my heart and the joy of my day.  And I can't wait to visit with him every day.

Do you have a best friend like me?  I'm so thankful He chose me?





SUMMER NIGHTLIGHTS

Remember the movie "Grease"?  I love musicals and I especially loved that movie.  Since I was raised in that era, I related to the music, the clothes and all the fun times.  There was one song that Olivia Newton John sings called  "Summer Nights".  The lyrics talk about all the fun these kids had during the summer - what they did in the lazy days of summer.  It all sounded so dreamy!  The other kids kept singing in the background - "tell me more, tell me more"!


I really had this image that this summer would be my "Summer Nights".  This summer would be my lazy days of summer, playing a lot of golf, taking the grand kids to the pool, traveling, working in my yard, sitting and reading when I like and just relaxing.  WRONG!!!  This summer has been like my "Summer Nightlight"!  I feel like I've been up all night, every night.  No, I've slept, but I'm exhausted!  I'm busier than I've ever been.  I don't know what happened!  All my well laid plans, or rather my plans to DO NOTHING got changed by I don't know who!!!  I've only played a little golf, only taken the little kids to the pool about 2 times, been to the dentist, doctors, no travel yet and running more errands than I have in my entire life!  SOMEONE is working behind the scenes to determine my days other than the way I had intended.


I spoke with my son Graham, yesterday.  His life has had an adjustment recently that was unplanned.  As we spoke, Graham told me he had been reading scripture to help him through this change in his life.   I suddenly recall the verse he quoted.  I'm ashamed to say I, myself had not remembered this verse as I grumble about my "Summer Nightlight".  Ps. 139:16 When I was woven together in the depths of the earth your eyes saw my unformed body.  All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.  Well!  There you go!  God already had these "Summer Nightlights" planned before the beginning of time.  They were planned for His glory and to be used to in His way, to point to Him and to glorify Him!


You mean it's NOT all about me and what I want to do?  Hmmmm......


Isn't God good to give us children to point us to Him?  Isn't it humbling to FINALLY realize NOTHING is about ME and EVERYTHING is about GOD?


I am grateful my Lord loves me enough to gently humble me through the words of my sweet child.

DINNER ANYONE?

The Chimney in Dallas, TX is one of my favorite French restaurants.  I don't know if it still exists, but I love that place.  It was DIVINE when Jimmy and I lived in Dallas.  The veal was cooked to perfection.  The vegetables were exquisite.  The sauces......well......what can I say!  They tickled the pallet until I would squeal!  And the bread?  Filled my belly and warmed my heart.  Then add a glass of suitable wine and the perfect desert.....one was in HEAVEN!  It was truly a gift from God!!!!!!

You know....that is what the gospel of Jesus Christ is like.  When Jesus told the disciples to feed the 5000, He did so because he had compassion for them.  He saw their need - their true need, not just the physical hunger in their bellies.  But their true need and wanted to give them not only their physical need but the BEST of what they REALLY needed.  HIMSELF!  He filled them and satisfied them and even had leftovers.  He is like a fine French meal that is exquisite in every way.  Delighting every part of our senses.  He meets our needs and fills us.  He is perfect, warms our hearts, suitable for our needs and can satisfy us completely.  And desert?  Well.....eternal life in HEAVEN of course!

Dinner anyone?

MY "NO FUSS" CHRISTMAS

Only 5 more days until Christmas and the activities around the city seem quite normal.  My usual "on-line" shopping for everyone has been completed, the grocery shopping done, presents wrapped and lunches celebrated with friends.  However, something is different this year.  It's quiet, peaceful, and not at all stressful.  I didn't put a lot of decorations up and due to some recent interior home remodeling/redecorating, we decided simply buy a "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree with multi color lights.  We didn't place any ornaments on it but simply placed it in the dining room window and put stockings over the fireplace.

With all the ease of a "no fuss" Christmas, I have found the opportunity to really focus on preparing my heart on the true meaning of Christmas, how I might share who this child is and why I celebrate His birth.  Why DO I celebrate His birth?  What do I want others to get out of this celebration?  Is it just a time for love and greetings?  Is it a time to wish for world peace?  A time to enjoy presents?  A time for children to have a break and get gifts from a jolly old guy in a red suit?  REALLY!  What do I really want others to know why I celebrate this Christmas season?

1.  He fulfilled the OT promise and came
2.  He was born a baby/human but was God
3.  He lived a perfect life
4.  He experienced ALL and was tempted in EVERY way but never sinned
5.  He carried the sins of EVERY man on the cross
6.  He died that ALL who believe may have eternal life
7.  He rose from the dead and sits at the right hand of God
8.  He has a place for all who believe in heaven with Him

This I know....This I am sure....This I celebrate...."No Fuss"....Merry Christmas!

JIMMY'S NEW CHRISTMAS CLOSET

People say I'm organized.  But Jimmy, my husband, is the "master" of organization.  Always has been.  However, there is one area in our home that has eluded his organizational skills....his closet.  He has just contracted The Container Store to design and install a closet system in his master closet.  This process is rather extensive.  One must first "gut" whatever "system" you currently have in one's closet, purge whatever one no longer needs of your personal items, clean or wash away the dirt and paint fresh before a new system can be installed.  This process has taken him a couple of days to complete in preparation for the new system's instillation tomorrow.  But when it is all complete, WHALA!!!! It will be Beautiful! Fresh!  Clean!  Organized!  Just what a closet is supposed to be!

Isn't that why we celebrate Christmas?  Isn't that what Jesus came to do?  He was sent to redeem our souls - provide a way for it to be purged from sin, made right with God, clean and pure, fresh and new again.  Like a new closet system....able to function in a way that would glorify the Father.

I think I'll buy Jimmy a new Christmas tie to hang on his new tie rack!  Merry Christmas Sweetheart!

Shoot Me Now, PLEASE!

Jimmy and I only had boys.  Girls were NEVER on my desire list when it came to having children.  In fact....I had people lined up to take a girl child away if I delivered a girl.  Boys were on my wish list.  Girls would require shopping, dressing, sewing, tiaras, lots and lots of shoes, dance lessons and costumes, rows and rows of net and HAIR....mega hair and nails!  This was just NOT me!  BOYS were my deal.  Soccer games, basketball and so on.  I was meant to be a boys mom!

If I were to have a girl, there would be a wedding!  A very EXPENSIVE wedding.  That would require me to SHOP!  GAG!  Anyone who knows me well, knows I would rather have my hand slammed in a car door than shop!  And on a budget?  Trying to please someone else?  DOUBLE GAG!  Yes, I planned the rehearsal dinner for the boys.  And I even made a very large todo of it.   We had themes and mariachi bands and football fields and all kinds of things.  But it wasn't a full blown wedding with dresses and decorated tables, with bridesmaids dresses,  and all the other trappings.  Boys...that's the way to go.

Well....I've blown it now.  I have a sweet friend.  Sandra.  My nail tech.  She's getting remarried.  In six weeks.  Her late husband planned her first wedding.  She's panicked.  Doesn't know a thing about planning a wedding.  I opened my BIG MOUTH.  "Oh I'll help you!  Don't panic!  It will be fine!"  STUPID ME!  WHAT WAS I THINKING?!!!!!!!!!

Now I have a daughter.  Shoot me now!

BLESS HER HEART

In the south, women often comment about other women and add a "tag" phrase ending with "Bless her heart"!  It sounds sweet and thoughtful, complimentary in fact.  But actually, it usually means something totally different.  For instance, if a women were walking down the street wearing a dress two sizes two small, cleavage showing waaaaaay too much for what would be considered a woman NOT of the "evening" and strutting herself with great confidence, another woman having lunch at a sidewalk cafe with friends would look up, and upon seeing her might comment, "look at that sweet women...bless her heart!!!"  In this case, it would mean, OMG!  What a TRAMP!  See, sometimes OUR words don't often reflect what they mean.  Our yes' are not always yes and our Nos are not always no.

However, we can always depend on God's yes being yes and His no being no.  His Word NEVER fails, is ALWAYS true and always means what He says it means.  I am grateful He is faithful, dependable and reliable.  I am grateful His Word is ALWAYS true.  YES it is!

RIPPING MADE PERFECT

Now that I have granddaughters, my interest in sewing has increased.  I never liked it when I was younger.  And since Jimmy and I only had boys, I never needed to sew.  But since having little girls in the family, I have begun to love sewing for them.  As my interest in sewing renewed, there was one distasteful memory about sewing that quickly came back to mind.  "Ripping"!  Yes...since I'm not the pro my mother and sister are, I tend to do a lot, and I do mean a LOT, of ripping.  For those of you who are not familiar with the term "ripping", it is a process of removing a previously sewn seam and re-sewing it again.  It sounds easy enough....but not so much.  And when you must "rip" over and over again...it gets tedious!  NOT my favorite part of sewing in the least.  Ripping is done when there has been a mistake made and one must alter the garment, making adjustments to make it right.  It seems harmless, easy enough by the maker.  But even then, there can be seen, small holes in the garment where it had been previously sewn (scars). 

Sometimes God has to "rip" out, or convict us of, our old sin nature to make us right with Him.  It must seam tedious to Him to do it over and over again.  But when He finishes, we are perfect...just right....His creation.  Our sins, previously sewn could leave scars.  But with His touch, those holes (scars) are removed and the garment of our lives are made whole and beautiful again.

I am so grateful he doesn't leave us as ugly, filthy rags but makes us into beautifully, perfect garments! 

GRIEVING AND REJOICING

Several years ago,my earthly father died the day before Easter.  It took several days to plan the funeral because of the celebration of our dear Lord's resurrection.  It was a very difficult time for our family.  We should have been celebrating, but instead, we were grieving.  

I wonder when Jesus was hanging on the cross with all the sins of mankind, past, present and future placed upon Him, how God felt to make Himself "unavailable" to His son?  I'm sure He was there (like a parent watching their small child from the shadows, unseen by the child).   But making Him bear those sins alone for 3 dark, lonely and painful hours must have been excruciating for our Father.  I can only imagine the pain He must have felt, the grieving He must have been going through.  To "assign" your loved one that duty because you love others soooo much.

As I remember and feel my grief and miss my dad, I must also remember how much my heavenly Father loved me to give up His son on my behalf and for those that have preceded me to be with Him.  I rejoice in my grief as I look forward to the day I will see  Him face to face and also see my earthly father seated with Him in heaven.

He is not here....He is Risen!

HE'S NO OZ

I was watching Dancing With The Stars last night.  Dorothy Hamill is a competitor this year and has had an injury.  She came on at the end of the first elimination show and announced she would be leaving the show because of injuries even though she had not been in the bottom two in scoring.  I joked, she needed a Dr. Oz that night.  (Get it....Dorothy and Oz?  I know...lame!)

Funny how we often turn to our great "Ozs" when things go wrong.  Or the great Oz of "good luck" when things go our way. Perhaps the great Oz when we just want a parking space or want to win the lottery.  Apparently the great "Oz" is designed to be our own personal assistant and provider.  But the funny thing is....like in the movie....he's just a dream with no real power.....a wanna be.

Yet scripture says in "Him" all things are possible.  "He" has a plan for us, a plan to prosper us, not to harm us...a plan for us to have a hope and a future.  I rejoice when singing "turn your eyes upon "Him" (Jesus), look full in "His" wonderful face.  Then....the things of the earth will grow strangely dim in the light of "His" glory and grace."  He's no Oz....He's oh so much BETTER!