Came across some things I do not think I have published in this blog previously. So the next few days I will be sending out some “oldies, but goodies.”
Night time and the Unresolved
Come marching to my bedroom
Tramping through my head
Hurling accusations
Quoting words once said
Reason takes a low profile
While logic flees the scene
Where is the solution
For circumstances now turned mean
Never, shoulds, and woulds
Paint dismal, hopeless scenes
Understanding vanishes
Deep each insult bleed.
Forgiveness is the answer
That makes the war to cease
Let it go. Let go. Release.
Present moment calls to me
Be NowHere in God's sweet peace
A song can be resung
The past can't be undone
But pouring in forgiveness
The fall-out is made numb
Come to here and now
Feast on today's plenty
In gratitude for all
Dare to now drink deeply
From streams of joy and love
We are granted
Only to
"Live our lives by moments"
Aren't we now?
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.
Proverbs 18:10 NRSV
Many times this has been the verse I have lived and counted upon for deliverance in tough situations. As I reflected upon this recently I was reminded that I can only run into my strong tower if there are no hindrances and obstacles between God and me. The Holy Spirit is able to help clear those obstacles away. Daily I ask the Holy Spirit to show me if there are any obstructions between me and my Lord. If there are, I pray for help in clearing those away so I have clear and open access to my strong tower.
When oppression becomes familiar and identifiable, I need to push back the darkness – run to the LORD and stand up for what He has purchased for me with His blood.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Sometimes I collect quotes that speak to my faith and spiritual growth. here are a few that might inspire you, also.
I have been an Associate of the Convent of the Transfiguration for MANY years – at last count about 29! Wowsers! Even I am surprised. The Transfiguration is an Episcopalian convent located in Glendale, Ohio a neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio. For more information click here https://www.ctsisters.org/index.php/history.html
Let us have a little sanctuary of silence in our hearts into which the voice of God alone may come.
Mother Eva Mary, CT
What could you begin as a spiritual discipline to clear a space, a little sanctuary of silence in your heart where God might speak to you?
Another woman who has influenced my walk was Basilea Schlink. She was born Karla Schlink in 1094 Germany and became a Lutheran religious leader and writer. She co-founded the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary in 1947 to 2001. The Sisterhood has branches in Germany and Phoenix, Arizona. I have a tiny booklet of her writing entitled “The Weapon of Prayer.”
Prayer: being able to say anything and everything to Him whose love is measureless and whose power is boundless. He will supply all our needs.
M. Basilea Schlink
Would you dare to try this? My mother taught me early in my life to sing “In the Garden.” The refrain says, “And He walks with me and He talks with me…” Have you ever walked with Him and talked with Him throughout a day, a week, a month? This kind of prayer is powerful and not to be discounted.
When I was visiting recently with my friend, Betty, in New Mexico she shared this quote with me. It is taken from the ESV Global SB Notes regarding Abiding in Jesus.
To abide in Jesus means living in a daily, close relationship with Him, characterized by trust, prayer, obedience, and joy. The Holy Spirit’s presence and activity within Christians gives evidence that they are abiding in Christ (John 8:31, 6:56. 15:4; 1 John 2:6, 27-28; 3:6).
That is a meaty quote that will likely take the serious Christian some quality time to unpack. Can you say that all of these areas are functioning in your life, empowered by the Holy Spirit? I will be reviewing this as a form of self-examination for some time to come.
When Jesus died on the cross they needed a tomb for His body. If you are familiar with your Bible the Jews needed to put Him in a tomb so they could make preparation for their Sabbath. Sabbath was sunset Friday night to sunset Saturday night. The plan was to return Sunday morning to finish His burial.
Joseph of Arimathea was able to provide a tomb for Jesus. He is mentioned in all four gospels. He was part of the Sanhedrin Council but secretly a believer in Jesus. He was wealthy and at great risk to himself asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Luke 23:53, “Joseph took down the body of Jesus, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid.”
At our house we have been watching a program called The Chosen. It is available through an app. To learn more click on this link.
While driving in Colorado we passed a particular cattle ranch going to and from the ranch where we were staying and the town of Pagosa Springs. I spotted something I had never seen before! A skunk with huge long legs. I laughed out loud and made Bob turn around so he could see it too!!
Do you see it? Almost center of the photo? Just a bit right of center!
Yep! Every time we drove past I looked for the long-legged skunk. Trying to get a good photo for you. It was not always in the pasture.
I found this hilarious! Maybe it was the altitude. Maybe it was the injury from the ATV. Actually it’s called ” ‘Riggit’ Galloway cattle. They are a well documented archaic strain of Galloway, easily identifiable by the white stripe, running down their spine. The white colouration may include a widening of the stripe to cover much of the back, particularly on the hind quarters.” Information taken from the website https://www.riggitgallowaycattlesociety.co.uk/
Colorado likely has their own name for it. In the Old Testament (Genesis 30) distinctions were made between animals with spots, without spots, etc. I wonder how this kind of distinguished cattle would have been categorized?
It was seventy degrees some days last week but the snowballs here just keep flying! On the date of my birthday Bob was walking our Lucky and she was attacked by a pit bull. Bob kicked the dog and punched it several times in the face while the owner tried to get it under control. It had gotten out of it’s choke chain. He arrived back at home with Lucky limping, bleeding from her shoulder and her eye. The only way we could pick her up was in a towel and even then she cried out in pain.
I called my daughter to tell her we were going to the vet. Before she heard my news she enthusiastically said, “Happy Birthday!!” I replied, “Not yet.”
After multiple phone calls we got her in to the vet. Due to Covid we had to wait in the car. They sedated her and did x-rays to see if she had broken bones or punctured organs. She did not. Shaved the shoulder bite and stitched it up. Two groin bites. Her bleeding eye was so startling! We went home with 3 Rx and eye drops for her. The vet said, “This is one lucky dog!” I am certain that Bob saved her life as much as the vet. He had flashbacks of the incident for several days.
So yes, I was a little distracted last week. SARCASM! Majorly distracted. She would barely let us touch her for the first 2 days. Her pain was great. She did not jump on furniture (which she is allowed to do) and was almost in a stupor of shock and pain.
After the first 5 days or so we did offer her a car ride without her harness due to the stitches in her shoulder. Just attached her collar to the car cord. She is getting spoiled with hot dogs since we put her pills in hot dog pieces twice a day. She is healing nicely.
We are hoping and believing the vet will have nothing but good news this week. Sadly, she will have to get boosters on her shots as the other dog was NOT up to date on his shots. We have asked the owner to remove the dog from the neighborhood by next weekend. The owner will also pay the vet bills for Lucky from this incident.
Not the birthday that Bob had planned for me. He did however have my favorite cake already made before this happened! Lyn’s Cream of Coconut cake. Delicious!!
Maybe in another post I will show comparison photos of her before and after injuries. I am so grateful we still have our little timid beagle!
“Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.”
Yes, I want to thank my God and Father for a long and wonderful life. The sacrifice of Jesus for our sins. The resurrection that goes beyond my comprehension though I hope to participate in that same resurrection. For a terrific marriage of over 50 years!!! For two great children, now adults. For three grandkids whom I love. For our Lucky-to-be-alive dog. Maple trees, daffodils, seasons, all the myriad of things I get to write about. Friends, old and new.
When we first arrived in Colorado, Bob had taught the family how to drive the mule and the ATVs. They especially liked those ATVs! One evening Bob was going out into the meadow with Emily and Ellie on the ATVs. He really wanted me to go as his passenger. So I agreed and off we went. Through the meadow and the hard to open gate, on to the next meadow.
Aspen and pine
“Branch-hand” above LOL
Prairie dog holes
Wild snapdragons, I believe
Moments before the big mishap!
So we were tooling around the meadow, taking in the sights and even doing selfies! So unlike us old folks.
We came to a gully-ditch. Emily got off their ATV and guided Ellie how to drive through it. We came over and they assured Bob that he, too, could drive through it. As the passenger, I never even saw the thing. After Emily gave Bob instructions everyone began hollering at me to “HOLD ON!!!” There is a steel bar that runs around the passenger area of the ATV. I suppose it is designed to tie down cargo, but also provides hand holds for a passenger. So I held on and Bob drove into the ditch. Little did I know I was about to join the Camp Grenada group.
As he drove down the black bar I was holding to came up and banged me in both elbows. I instinctively let go. At which point I proceeded to get a whiplash from my groin to top of my head. We made it to the other side. I was not thrown off the ATV. I cried in pain, shock and surprise at being hurt. I composed myself after a couple minutes and we continued. We reached another gully as we headed for home. As they debated how to cross I insisted Bob just let me off! I began to walk for home.
They got across that gully and I got back on. We made it home. Both my elbows turned dark purple. The ATV had hit my back across the bottom of my shoulder blades and along my lower back. Lots of pain that night. Went to bed with pillows under both elbows, neck and any other place that hurt.
I moved very slowly the next day and the day after that. I missed posts here the last few weeks because of doctor appointments, x-rays, physical therapy and finally an MRI. Determination is I have more arthritis in my spine than previously. As far as anyone can tell nothing is broken. Bone bruises on elbows may take a long time to go away. No results on MRI yet. From what I have read whiplash can also take a long time to heal. Oy! soft tissue, please heal.
So our Camp Grenada experience continued. One friend said it sounded like a bad movie. But you know what? It was a beautiful place. We were so grateful to be able to take family and friends there. We likely can never go back because of breathing difficulties. Overall, it was a grand way to celebrate 50 years of marriage. Betty is finally out of the boot and did not have to have surgery for her broken ankle. Bob;s wounds are all healed up. We think his knee is not torn again. Time will tell!
My dear friend, Betty, remembered this saying and I will adopt it for myself.
“Growing old gracefully means letting go of the things you can no longer do and rejoicing in the things you can still do.”
Ah! Grandeur of Yellow Ponderosa Pine right outside your window!
It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night. For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy. How great are your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep!
We drove to a trailhead and hiked a while with Emily and her girls. It was slow going as it is hard for people with compromised lungs to hike at 8,000 Feet.
Some of the aspens were just beginning to turn their bright yellow. “Quaking Aspens” fascinate me. They remind me of the Bible verse Isaiah 55:12
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
So here are the old folks hiking with the young’uns, who were actually far ahead of us. Our daughter though did decide to stay at our side at all times.
The trail is basically between our shoulders!
Since the trail did not go where the girls wanted, we went separate ways back at the parking lot. As Bob drove the other side he pulled over for these photos of the canyon the stream had carved.
We could never see where the trail we had been hiking went! Oh well. It was a lovely day and we enjoyed the walk.
This is the “Dot” where we moved after the Cookseys went home. See the lovely landscaping? the reflection on the storm door? the huge poles around the porch with one right at the stairs?
Bob was also getting excited about the stars. One night I was already in bed reading. He went outside to look at the stars and decided there were too many lights on in the cabin. So he went in and turned them off. He thought he knew just where the pole and the stairs were. I had left a flashlight right at the door, but he never noticed it. He never even thought to grab one.
He fell off the porch and thanks be to God he did NOT crack his head on those large stones!! I thought I heard him cry out. I called to him. No answer. I called louder; no answer. So I went running to the front door just in time to see him coming through the door dripping blood from his leg and arms.
I am so thankful my sister keeps a first aid kit in each cabin! I cleaned him up, got him bandaged and put to bed with some Tylenol. His right knee was already bruising. And sadly, that is the same knee upon which he has had meniscus repair – TWICE!
Next day he was stiff and sporting many bruises. We were so thankful he had NOT hit his head. We were too far away from civilization for emergency medical care. I decided I should increase my prayers for safety for the family for the remainder of this trip! Yikes. “Here I am at, Camp Grenada!”
Now his gashes and bruises have healed up. He has a new scar on his leg to remember Colorado! Those stars were lovely, though.
He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them. Our Lord is great, vast in power; His understanding is infinite.
Psalm 147:4-5 HCSB
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD rescues them from them all.
Treasures in Plain Sight, A Christian Blog 