There are some days that seem darker than others and it is difficult to imagine that every moment is holy. I know just to be alive is a holy gift.
This publication from Rabbit Room sends out a daily quote from one of the volumes that have been published. Recently it read:
Lord, may I not so much find the right words as allow the right words to find me, not so much compose as allow you to compose me.
And another day they sent out,
Lord, I confess that all these words I love and lay before you were never mine, but always yours; truth itself is never mine but always yours.
I am always blessed when another author expresses my heart so clearly and concisely. Lord, use whatever I write in whatever way you desire. Help me to have the right words. Help me express your hesed, loving kindness, for us. Show me how to collect and compose the messages. Use them as you will. As always, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
To God be the glory forever and ever amen.
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Galatians 1:3-5 NIV
My husband and I discovered early on that there thing he likes to eat that I detest. There are things I like to eat that he can eat for one meal, but does not want it repeatedly as leftovers. One of his favorite dishes is seafood pasta. He has learned and perfected his own recipe for that dish.
I was writing the blog entries as I usually do. I could hear him in the kitchen and remembered that he planned to cook his sauce this morning. I went about my prayers and writing. When I decided to take a break after 1-1/2 hours I had forgotten his kitchen work. I opened the office door and the sauce fragrance almost knocked me down! There is something about shrimp, olive oil, garlic and clams simmering in clam juice and wine that I was not prepared for at 10:00 AM! I can imagine Dana and Kathy beating a hasty path to our door upon reading this.
You see, the plan is to have the two of them over for dinner to meet each other and eat this dish Bob makes. I on the other hand will have something I like to eat. Nope, I’ve never tasted his sauce. Those who like that sort of thing say it is delicious. Mom ruined any hope of me ever eating fish with her exaggerations and tall tales. Such as, making salmon cakes for dinner using canned salmon and telling me there were no bones in it. The most brave I became was Mrs. Paul’s fish sticks. Once I left home I discovered that tuna steaks are quite tasty, as long as they are well done. In Ireland I was able to eat salmon, but here I have to make myself. Crab cakes are good. Coconut shrimp is tasty but not really good for me!
I tell Bob when it comes to clams and oysters, “I don’t eat bait!” Just pass me by when serving fish. Taking the photo for you, I was reminded his magic sauce also has butter and bay scallops in it!
I give thanks for this wonderful husband who is not afraid to take on the cooking tasks he enjoys! I just pray I never get dementia so he can tease me and try to get me to eat bait. You wouldn’t, would you, Bob? He is an incurable tease. He just might try it should things ever go that way.
I have posted this twice, but it seems to get stuck in the cloud? First I posted it too soon and took it down. Then I re-posted and Bob could only see it by paging through the posts. So here is my final attempt at rock humor!
Driving to a Convent Meeting was accidentally loaded earlier and was then taken down. Hopefully with a new title this will load a-okay on the day I desired it to go up.
I take a couple of freeways to get to meetings at the Convent of the Transfiguration. One interchange passes a landscape supply center. Passing there a couple weeks ago their sign read: “Changing the world, one stone at a time.”
I was laughing out loud as I merged with traffic. You might remember the song I like entitled “One Less Stone” by Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir? The lyrics say that when I praise Jesus there is one less stone that needs to cry out. This episode occurred on the way to Jerusalem, often called the Triumphal Entry.
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Luke 19:39-40 NIV
So yes, by praise we are changing the world one stone at a time. I also was reminded of the stone that was supposed to seal the grave of Jesus. The women on the way to the tomb …
they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb? Mark 16:3 NIV
One Gospel says the angel rolled it away, or an earthquake. What if Jesus himself rolled it away? Jesus changed the world with the one stone rolled away, meaning by his resurrection and ascension he changed the world with that one stone. Of course, it might have been the angels. As we know from later accounts Jesus can walk through walls! He can likely walk through huge stones, also.
That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. 20 As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! John 20:19-20 NLT
What stone can you change today? You do not need to be a big strong landscaper to change the world! Just praise God each hour. It is a good discipline for each of us to participate in.
I would not knowingly use what someone else wrote and claim it as my own. My notes below from June 9 may be my writing or that of someone else. Where it says From Lectio I am quoting Lectio 365 Daily Devotional.
25-6-9
From Lectio of same date. “Holy Spirit, reshape the pattern of my life. I offer you my story again today: all that is old, all that is new, all that is broken, all that is whole. Give me a glad and generous heart to receive your word.”
Many decades ago the Father asked me if I am willing to teach even if it is one woman by the well. Yes, Lord all these years later I am still willing even if it only touches one woman or one man.
I have started work on a second book. The title of this one will have to do with relationship with God. I am trying to put my experiences in words. So hard to SAY what can seem so UNSAYBLE!
Relationship is not going through the motions of religion. True relationship is more like a river flowing through the desert of life. A river that offers refreshing water, gently sloping banks to rest upon.
True relationship offers new vistas towards the mundane things of life, giving us new impetus for growth and flourishing. This is a differing sort of thing than religion offers. Seek and you will find (Matthew 7:7b). Seek the Presence of the Holy and your eyes will be opened, your heart softened, your ears enabled to hear the voice behind you saying, “Turn to the left or turn to the right.” (Isaiah 30:21) Relationship offers you mother love and father care. Going beyond that to indwelling assurance of an accompanied life. Never alone, always companioned.
Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent John 17:3 NIV
If you are taking a Sabbath rest I pray these ideas give you something to ponder and use as you wait upon the Lord.
Not liking the humidity this summer, we still need to walk this feisty beagle 4 times a day. The only time she will pee in the yard on her own is if she did not go out the night before because of thunder and is desperate in the morning. Then we simply tie her out early as her only option. Maybe we should get hard heart-ed and make this a new practice!
I was complaining to my neighbor about having to walk this dog. Then I began to notice the evening sky. I would have missed these sights had I not taken Lucky outdoors.
“The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent.”– Psalm 104:2
The snapdragons have kept me entertained as the other plants bloom and wane. This guy was an extremely busy bee!
He is inHe is outExploring for more bountyTake a rest little fellow!!
Year before last I bought a Mallow shrub. It did not survive the winter. Sadly, I could not locate teh receipt to return it for a refund. Last autumn, I bought another mallow and kept the receipt just in case. It survived the winter and is starting to amuse us with saucer-sized flowers. What a strange delight.
Enjoy your summer, whatever the weather where you abide! Keep your eyes open for those treasures in plain sight!!
As we were about to travel home from New Mexico June 10, I found new music releases to keep me on track with the Lord! Christy Nockles released The King Who Never Sleeps. Designed as lullabies, she discovered through the first recording of lullabies she made that the adults were gleaning wisdom from them, also. The new recording does not disappoint!
One song is given to you here.
At the same time I have been studying hesed, the concept of God’s unfailing love. In fact a book by Michael Card on the very topic of hesed is due to be delivered here today. I came across the concept from the teachings of Dallas Willard as told by the author Dr. Jim Wilder in the book and various recordings about Renovated: God, Dallas Willard, and the Church that Transforms.
I also received my new CD by Brandon Lake entitled, King of Hearts. I know that some of you do not like music too loud or too fast. This is truly worshipful. Hope you enjoy it! Here is The Half Has Not Been Told from the same CD.
So I am supporting my faith with this and other music this summer. I hope you are finding ways to stay close to Christ and worship throughout your every summer day.
Are you familiar with a liturgy? One online sight says, “Liturgies help provide language for hard to articulate thoughts and feelings, and ways to respond accordingly. They are a dynamic form of prayer—acting as a dialogue between you and God, and all those participating. As you read a liturgy the words form you personally and alongside others.”
Douglas Kaine McKelvey has written and collected volumes of liturgies for every occasion imaginable. I first read this portion through the daily quote you can get through the Every Moment Holy app at https://www.everymomentholy.com/
Lord, I confess that all these words I love and lay before you were never mine, but always yours; truth itself is never mine but always yours.
Your truth is in every word and yet always beyond words, and so I ask, when I have finished writing that all I have said or tried to say, may gesture at last beyond itself towards you, that you will bring me and my readers to the brink of language itself, and beyond that brink into the wordless mystery of your true and loving presence. from Liturgy of Labor and Vocation, a Liturgy before Writing, by Malcolm Guite
Malcolm Guite is a living poet, author, professor and Anglican Priest. He has YouTube videos and has written at least seven books. How had I never heard of him before this? He sums up my heart beautifully.
I keep devotionals and liturgy books to help me focus upon my Lord and my King. There are innumerable things in life to distract us from the Kingdom. Any aide that works towards keeping my focus is valuable in the long run.
The EMH books are published through Rabbit Room Press. My first volume of Every Moment Holy was a gift from my friends Dan and Betty Cooksey. I do not own every volume but the selections in this volume drew my heart. This version of Every Moment Holy uses the work of over sixty authors, poets and songwriters and seven artists worked the accompanying prints. The Foreword alone is inspiring!
Rabbit Room Press publishes works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry that embody the mission of the Rabbit Room—cultivating stories that nourish Christ-centered communities for the life of the world. We believe in creating books that are beautiful both inside and out, books not limited to any specific genre or market but which adhere to a basic belief in the value of creative writing and storytelling. A well-written and well-made book can help to shape the world around it, and Rabbit Room Press is dedicated to creating such books and putting them into readers’ hands. When author, singer, and songwriter, Andrew Peterson, visited the Oxford home of C. S. Lewis in 2006, he returned to Nashville with a conviction that community nourishes good and lasting artistic work—and that creative work nourishes community. Soon afterward, the Rabbit Room was born with the mission to create and curate stories, music, and works of art to nourish the life of Christ-centered communities for the life of the world.
If you are looking for fresh and even ancient inspiration in everything from changing diapers, to making coffee, preparing for death or welcoming a new child these collections have you covered. You can even find them used at some book sellers.
I do not even remember how I came across this! I listened this morning for the first time to a discussion about an old hymn and then the actual singing of the hymn. I found it to be a most delightful YouTube video. It was also early morning on a cloudless day as I listened. This only heightened my awareness of the light. I hope you like it, also! Luke Powell gives a very nice discussion of how the author Walter Chalmers Smith weaves the theme of God and light throughout the hymn. I had never thought of God and light quite that way before. At the end the he plays and sings the hymn.
Immortal, invisible, God only wise! Yes, the describes the song of my soul, too!
I have been cooking every time I step outdoors. Twenty minutes of working in the garden and I am soaked as if God decided to baste me!
Did I show you the rose? Last year the deer kept eating the new shrub almost to the ground. I was not even certain it would survive the winter after that abuse. Yet here it was blooming large and glorious! And oh, the fragrance of an old fashioned tea rose.
“I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses”
This photo was from June 17 and it is a good thing I took a photo, because the next morning it was gone. Deer bit it off. Unbelievable!! None of the subsequent flowers were as large or as fragrant as that first one. So Bob had the idea we protect the shrub with berry netting. I put up the netting and refreshed the bars of Irish Spring soap. They were deterred! Next I noticed Japanese Beetles eating the flowers. I sprayed like crazy and removed any bugs I saw.
A week or 2 later, I noticed there was hole torn in the netting, perhaps by deer teeth?!? Bob and I spent just about 20 minutes the other evening replacing the berry netting around the rose bush.
You can see where the Japanese beetles have eaten leaves. I cut the remaining flowers and brought them indoors. By the time I came in the house every stitch of clothing was soaked. I am not exaggerating!
The same day, earlier in the day, I began cooking. We had visited the Country Market. I went to work making green beans and ham with potatoes. That required more than one boiling pot! My neighbor had commented, “Them’s some good beans!” so of course, I felt compelled to make him some more. Plus the price was down to .99 pound for fresh green beans!
I went on to cook the spaghetti squash. I am a diabetic married to a man who loves spaghetti. Well the sauce isn’t too bad but the carbs in spaghetti are not good for me. Spaghetti squash gives me a nice alternative!
half an empty squash shellspaghetti sauce shreds – enough here for 3 servings
I usually freeze the squash into servings for myself. Having just made fresh pesto sauce I am certain we will be feasting on this soon!
Yes, I have been cooking in more ways than one! Hope you are finding ways to remain cool or at least cool off when you have been basted out of doors!
This month we finally made it to the Cincinnati Art Museum. Bob wanted to see the exhibit “Farm to Table.” Such a catchy contemporary title, don’t you think? It featured food in works of art and as the museum says, “The exhibition showcases over sixty paintings and sculptures, including the work of Claude Monet, Eva Gonzalès, Victor Gilbert, Paul Gauguin, Jules Dalou, and Vincent van Gogh, artists who examined the nation’s unique relationship with food. The bounty of France’s agriculture and the skill of its chefs had long helped to define its strength and position on the international stage. ” For more details click on the link below.
The painting above was huge. The features on the faces of the sheep enchanted both Bob and me.
Here is the description of another painting.
We studied the painting and discovered many unusual details such as the man with his hand on the bottom of a woman. What caught my attention the most was the woman along the back wall. Is she crocheting or knitting?
I find the detail almost unimaginable. How did they paint these?
We finally decided she is likely knitting and holding her needles in continental fashion. Obviously, she was relaxed and enjoying her work in the midst of the hubbub!
I give thanks to God for those talented enough to paint these amazing descriptions of daily life. To me, some of them actually looked as accurate as photographs.
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”– 1 Peter 4:10
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” – Philippians 4:8
Treasures in Plain Sight, A Christian Blog 