Month: January 2019

Posted on in Family

Bitter Cold!

And yet the birds await us. “Please fill the feeder!” they seem to say. They take turns on the suet block which is already out there. Even the yellow-bellied sapsucker who rarely comes this close is willing to feed on the suet this morning.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker I posted once before on a day with no snow!

Thirty mph gusts knock the snow off the deck railings and at last the birds have a place to perch without fighting snow. The wind almost knocked a cardinal off a tree branch and he had to seek a lower perch.

As I watch my husband fill the feeders, wearing his warmest down jacket, scarf, hat and removing a glove to open and close the seed holder, I wonder where the birds shelter when it is this cold? They are saying in our current conditions frostbite can occur on skin in thirty minutes. What about the birds’ toes? After a sudden snow squall moved through at twenty-five MPH the cardinals each had white snow around the feathers surrounding their eye on the side that was exposed to the snow. The red-bellied woodpeckers were lined up on one side of a thick maple tree like planes on a runway, but out of the blowing snow.

More importantly, what about the homeless man in our neighborhood? He walks and walks likely many miles per day. Sometimes he uses the toilet at United Dairy Farmers. Once I saw him go in there and slipped the cashier five dollars for him. He refuses things we have offered him and I thought she might have more luck if I did the offering anonymously. Our son has even offered to buy him fast food and he always refuses. Last year someone gave him a thermal jumper like some outdoors workmen wear. He wore it until it fell apart in the spring. But where is he today in this thirty minute frostbite warning? Where did he sleep last night? What about tonight?

Sunshine is forecast for this afternoon but the wind chill warning continues into tomorrow afternoon or longer if they extend it. I will pray for the man who is living out in this weather. His red hair and beard always confirm to me that, yes, it is the same guy. I do not know what ails him that he feels he must live that way, but Lord protect him. If there is some way we can reach out to him, please show us and we will do it speedily. Maybe I will run up to “The Dairy” and find out if they have seen him the last couple days. Perhaps buy a gift card for them to give to him?

Posted on in Faith

The Weight of Wood

How much do you think your sins weigh? Just your personal screw-ups and errors? I know mine weigh plenty.

In Pilgrims Progress Bunyan wrote: “Up this way, therefore, did burdened CHRISTIAN run; but not without great difficulty, because of the load on his back. “He ran thus till he came at a place somewhat ascending; and upon that place stood a Cross, and a little below, in the bottom, a sepulcher. So I saw in my dream, that just as CHRISTIAN came up to the cross, his burden loosed from off his shoulders, and fell from off his back, and began to tumble; and so continued to do till it came to the mouth of the sepulcher, where it fell in, and I saw it no more.”

Have you intentionally taken your sins to the foot of the cross and let go of them? I find I cannot grow until I let loose of them.

Have you ever tried to move a piece of tree that has fallen or been cut down? I blew out my back once thinking I could move just a log, about 30 inches around but only 20 inches long. Partially ruptured a disc that still gives me fits years later. Now I find out by an on-line search that a sugar maple branch that is 10 inches on one end, 12 inches on another and 3 feet long can weigh 123 pounds!

So often I see crosses in this day and age, made from wood, but on close examination you can see that the shape is made of wooden planks and hollow on the inside. I know that is more practical for hanging on a wall or erecting in a yard, but imagine if they were solid wood like His was?

Can you imagine the weight of the cross beam that the Lord had to carry to Golgotha? The actual weight of the wood and the additional weight of our sins must have made it tremendously heavy! 1 Peter 2:24 (NIV 2011) says “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

The cross used in Roman crucifixions consisted of two parts: “the upright or mortise, referred to as the stipes, or staticulum, and the tenon or crosspiece, which is called the patibulum or antenna.” “In Mark 15:36, the scripture reads that Jesus was offered a sponge with vinegar stuck to a hyssop reed. The average height of a male in that time period was approximately 5 feet, and the reed of a hyssop averages 1 to 2 feet long. These figures indicate that the cross was approximately 7 to 9 feet tall. The patibulum that Jesus’ arms were outstretched and nailed to was likely 5 to 6 feet long. The entire cross is estimated to have weighed well over 300 pounds.” https://www.reference.com/world-view/were-dimensions-jesus-cross-406d63ed53e6b194?qo=contentSimilarQuestions

The horizontal bar known as the patibulum had a weight of between 75 and 125 pounds. Some believe that this is the only part of the cross that was carried. https://www.reference.com/world-view/much-did-cross-weigh-jesus-carried-299ed7bac97a3f86

“In the Passion of the Christ movie, Jim Caviezel was seemingly the perfect candidate to play Jesus Christ. What you may not have known is that he experienced a shoulder separation when the 130-pound cross was dropped unto his shoulder.” That scene is still in the movie. “That was a heavy cross. It was probably more than half the weight of a typical Jewish man. It took great inner strength for Jesus to carry such a weight after being severely scourged with a cat-o-nine whip, hit in the head with a reed, had a crown of thorn pressed into his head, and abandoned by all his friends. “Jim did it with a separated shoulder, though we are sure he did not traverse the full length of the journey but the pain in his face during that scene would have been real.” Read more at https://www.beliefnet.com/entertainment/movies/galleries/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-passion-of-the-christ-movie.aspx?p=2#3m5q2PY4OhVyx0Tb.99

God says that you are worth all the pain and suffering that Jesus endured. He would have done it if you were the only person on earth. In Isaiah 49:14-16 (NIV 2011) we read “But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.” And God replied: “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.”

You are precious in His sight. Drop your sins at the foot of His cross and let them fall into the abyss. Thank Him today for each and every blessing and especially His sacrifice on your behalf. Walk with Him, talk with Him, rejoice that He has called you His own!

Posted on in Book quotes, Faith, Memories, Spiritual growth

Holy Treasure Placed in My Ear

If you want to build a ship, don’t herd people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work but rather, teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.

ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPÉRY

Wikipedia says: Antoine Marie Jean-Baptiste Roger, comte de Saint-Exupéry was a French writer, poet, aristocrat, journalist, and pioneering aviator. He became a laureate of several of France’s highest literary awards and also won the U.S. National Book Award. Bob’s favorite book of his is “The Little Prince.” My favorite quote of his is “Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction.” Our long marriage has proven this to be true!

This quote about building a ship made me think about drawing people to a relationship with God. How can I make them long for the endless immensity of His holy love, the tremendous power of His resurrection life for changing and transforming us? His endless promises for good and the joy of Spirit- filled living?

Bob told me a story about talking with men in his Silver Sneakers group. It seems one man knew rather a lot through a work relationship about a man whom Bob knew tangentially. And pondering that sent sparks of inspiration!

In Exodus 20:18 the people trembled with fear when they were at Mount Sinai. God wanted the people to come and meet there (EX 19:10-11). They were so afraid that they asked Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” This was a major twisting by the people of what the Lord had instructed. He wanted the people to experience Him. Here they are, holding the God of Glory at arm’s length. And it has been like that for ages. Congregations asking the Pastor to bring an inspired word, but please do not ask them to go to God for themselves!

My mother taught me to sing when I was just a small child. Her father had been a Methodist minister and she was made to sing for his services when she was growing up. She also taught me to sing the alto parts as she was soprano and wanted to harmonize. One of the first songs was “The Garden Song” with lyrics by C. Austin Miles. We sang in the car so obviously, we sang a cappella.

I sifted through You Tube versions to try to find one I liked best. I think I probably liked the singing in the car with Mom the best. Here are the lyrics

  • I come to the garden alone
  • While the dew is still on the roses
  • And the voice I hear, falling on my ear
  • The Son of God discloses
  • And He walks with me
  • And He talks with me
  • And He tells me I am His own
  • And the joy we share
  • as we tarry there
  • None other has ever known.
  • He speaks and the sound of His voice
  • Is so sweet the birds hush their singing
  • And the melody that He gave to me
  • Within my heart is ringing
  • And He walks with me
  • And He talks with me
  • And He tells me I am His own
  • And the joy we share
  • as we tarry there
  • None other has ever known.

So you see early, early on in my life I was taught, through this song to go and listen for the Lord. Choose to walk with Him and talk with Him. Listen for His voice.

I had a Lutheran priest ask me once in amazement if I really believed that. I replied, “Absolutely!” because you see, by the time I spoke with that priest, I had experiential knowledge of this Bible truth. I did not know Jesus tangentially through sermons, but with my own understanding and through my own Bible study, prayer and seeking Him.

Jesus said He came that we could have access to the Father, direct access. And through His death and resurrection He made certain that access is available for all who believe.

Do not satisfy yourself with the Pastor of your church going to God for you. Go seek Him and share with your pastor your experience. You will both be blessed!

Posted on in Family

Snowmen!!

We were out shopping recently and a few of the houses had built snowmen from the recent snowstorm of 6 inches here. One across the street from my daughter’s house was sporting a red hat. I only saw it from the rearview mirror. It looked like a red beverage cup?

In another neighborhood there was another snowman sporting a red hat that resembled a red beverage cup. Must be the new style?

Sadly, I did not get a photo. Maybe tomorrow I can send my in-house photographer out to get one?!

My daughter said they likely got the hat from a snowman kit. Hmm…

Grammy learns something new most every day!!

Turns out the first hat was a baseball-type ap as captured by my in-house photographer!

Searching for the photo of the Snowman Kit I also found a pattern to knit a snowman hat! Yikes! Do people really and truly have that much time on their hands when the homeless in the streets need warm hats and scarves? All a matter of priorities I suppose!

Posted on in Family

Chankanaab

Chankanaab is a National park in Cozumel, Mexico. We visited there many years ago for our wedding anniversary. For a first time snorkeler it was a dream come true! I laughed so hard (because I was having so much fun) that I repeatedly blew my mask off and had to rise to the water surface to put it back on!

The edge of the water used to have steps cut into the coral so you could just sit and watch the many colored tiny fish or go in gradually from that point. The water is so salty that you are made naturally buoyant. This is a gift to those of us who are not strong swimmers as the salinity makes it hard to sink below the surface.

Then Bob pointed out to me that there was a dock out in the water that we could swim to. If I got tired, I could get on that little perch and rest before we swam back. Little did I know that submerged in the water was a statue of Christ looking up at us with His arms open towards us. I was delighted.

Lord of the wind and waves , spoken of in Matthew 8:27 and Mark 4:31, honored in this lovely place of salinity and fish. Bless the ones who put the statue there, Lord. Thank you for the gifts of seas and fish, buoyancy and sight!

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Nature, Poetry, Spiritual growth

Transfigured Rock

What if I told you a story about myself?

Once I was frozen in my feelings. Our alcoholic family of origin lived by the Alcoholic unspoken, but strictly enforced, rules of “Don’t think,” “Don’t talk,” “Don’t feel.” When I began attending Adult Children of Alcoholics meetings and Al-Anon I started breaking all of those rules. It was as if I was “breaking out of an inner prison” as I first wrote in 1982.

Someone at a Christian group told me about this book. The first time I read “Codependent No More” I bought my sister a copy and told her, “She lived in our house. She got in our heads. She wrote it all down!” I was truly amazed that someone else on earth not only understood the life in our house on Skyview Lane, but published what she knew!

There is a hillside on the way to my house now that is studded with stones. When the temperatures get frigid, as they are right now, the water might drip from the stones, but it quickly freezes into bars. It often reminds me of the prison I once lived in.

The stone that was once my heart has thawed and been healed in so many profound ways. I would be hard pressed to list all of those ways! I have been learning to think and feel and talk in appropriate ways for many years now. I do not ever want to go back to the ways of my upbringing. I spent hours in sessions of therapy trying to untangle the mess that was made in me.

I see a woman in the rock.
In case you do not see her, here she is enhanced.

I am certain my husband and I made some mistakes while raising our children. We used to joke that they might one day need counseling as I have needed it. But “we did the best we could with what we knew at the time.” And I, too, believe that my parents did the best they could with what they knew at the time. Hope my children can understand how not having alcohol as a constant influence in our home set them free from many weird things.

Posted on in Nature, Poetry, Spiritual growth

Living Water Photos

As I wrote this poem on the other blog I was amazed at the photos ….

At the shores of Living Water
Hear crickets there

Flow of Living Water invites me deeper,
Quieter

Petrified Wood

I was struck while choosing these photos for my stand-and-tip blog how much the stone around the mouth of the water resembled petrified wood.

And then how much Grand Canyon itself looked like the petrified wood!

What an amazing creation!

Grand Canyon

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Book quotes, Nature

For One Moment

Rumi wrote:

“But listen to me: for one moment, quit being sad. Hear blessings dropping their blossoms around you. God.”

In re-reading Radical Acceptance I have been reminded how very much I admire the poet Rumi. Found I could get a Kindle version on Amazon for $1.99. Yeah, baby! Same version that I have in paperback, too!

So for one moment, TODAY, can you challenge yourself to quit being sad? God is dropping blessing blossoms all around you. Now perhaps Ann Voskamp can step up the microphone at this point and remind you to find 3 of the 1,000 gifts that flood your life. Just 3.

Here is one I wrote recently. Perhaps I already posted it but the image remains with me though the moon is not full right now.

“Moon shadows out the bedroom window at 1:00 AM are as if an architect has been doodling straight black lines drawn with a ruler on hillside brown background.”

And #2 on the morning walk today, January 8, 2019 shows our back hill with husband and this item complete with flower bud!

This is just WRONG for Ohio!

#3 Wind is driving high cumulus clouds across a blue sky at many miles per hour! What a sight after days and days of GRAY.

What are your three?

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Nature

January Warmth

I know that some parts of the US are being hammered with winter weather. Not so in Southwestern Ohio. In fact, yesterday was sunny and temperatures in the 50s! I, personally, would enjoy some snow. It is January! I enjoy the silence that snow seems to amplify. Not to mention crusted tree limbs, bird prints, etc. Guess I will have to post some of those snow memories in another blog entry!

This morning when I went outside to empty the compost bucket, (without a coat, mind you!) on the way back into the house I noticed daffodils leaves about 2 inches tall!

Warm or frigid, my preferences or not, the season continue to unfold with daylight lasting longer than a few weeks ago, and flower bulbs persist in rising through the leaf litter. Another treasure in plain sight!

Posted on in Humor, medical treatment

Treasures in Plain Ear

Acts 2:2 (NKJV) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

For almost one year my husband has had to sleep with a cannula and 2 liters of oxygen each night. He does not like that, but tries to be compliant with his pulmonologist since the health crisis of January 2018.

Last night he awoke hearing something and asking “Is that You, Lord?”

His cannula had slipped in the night and was in his ear instead of his nostrils.

img_2885

He awoke wondering what the sound was. He did not want to post that on Facebook, so I said I would need to use it for the blog. Written here with his permission!