What amazes me is how the new parents were willing to feed transplanted chicks! I could imagine one eagle saying to the partner,“But honey, they multiplied over night!!”
If you listened to the 4 minute video Marcie Logsdon, veterinarian, mentions “if the baby is there and begging to be fed, the adults feed it.” Oh! if only humans could be so kind and giving! Perhaps since this is our national bird we could all take a lesson from the Bald Eagle parents.
35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25: 35-40 ESV
Awoke singing this. Memory from the past? Foretelling the future? Just a fact, Jack? Do not know, but it hangs in my brain this past week.
Very Last Day Peter, Paul and Mary Everybody gonna pray on the very last day Oh, when they hear that bell a-ring the world away Everybody gonna pray to the Heavens on the judgement day
Oh-well, you can sing about the great king David And you can preach about the wisdom of Saul But the judgement falls on all mankind when the trumpet sounds the call All equal and the same, when the Lord, He calls your name Get ready, brother, for that day
Everybody gonna pray on the very last day Oh, when they hear that bell a-ring the world away Everybody gonna pray to the Heavens on the judgement day
Well, one day soon all men will stand His word will be heeded in all the land Men shall know and men shall see We all are brothers and we all are free Mankind was made of clay Each of us in the very same way Get ready, brother, for that day
Everybody gonna pray on the very last day Oh, when they hear that bell a-ring the world away Everybody gonna pray to the Heavens on the judgement day
Oh-well, the law is given and the law is known The tale is told and the seed is sown From dust we came into dust we'll go You the know the Lord once told us so Each brother takes his hand Heed the meaning of the Lord's command Get ready, brother, for that day
Everybody gonna pray on the very last day Oh, when they hear that bell a-ring the world away Everybody gonna pray to the Heavens on the judgement day
Written by: Noel Paul Stookey, Peter Yarrow Album: In The Wind Released: 1963
A recent quote from the Calm app reads: “We do not need to be fixed. We try to use more force and the key is how to use less force. How to become more efficient rather than more effortful.” wrote Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen.
Can I do that? Just breathe and use less force in seeking change or comfort?
Another quote. The Danish writer Isak Dinesen wrote, “All suffering is bearable if it is seen as part of a story.”
A different experience had me re-imagine, recall if you will, a situation that brought me incredible delight. I remembered how sore my jaws were after smiling so hard on our wedding day.
September, 1970
I was instructed to apply that image when in distress. Molly, recall that joy when TMJ hits. (as part of having Fibromyalgia, temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ) can occur. It is usually short lived, i.e., a day or two.)
Linking TMJ and joy. Worth a try! This page from my Mary Engelbreit calendar expresses it well!
Art by Mary Engelbreit Quote by Manson Cooley
Another quote read, “The most valuable thing we can do for the psyche is let it rest, wander, live in the changing light of a room, not try to be or do anything whatever.” May Sarton
By the time this post is up I will know if a date has been scheduled for my revisionary left foot big toe surgery. Take out steel plate and 6 screws, clean it all up, remove any new arthritis, replace it all. Eight weeks NO WEIGHT BEARING. In other words, sit down, rest, wander in my mind, live in the changing light of a room and not try to go any where except on a knee scooter-roller whatever you call the contraption. Not try to do much of anything.
Doc told me a year ago I need to have it done as it did not heal correctly six years ago. I asked what if I don’t have it done? He said eventually you will not be able to walk. Well, I am having pain and spasms in that foot. Every night I must elevate it and even ice it.
Yep, seeking all the calm and joy I can store up for this adventure!
Not certain which book I was reading but it said, “How often we are headed in the wrong direction, fighting the wrong fight, battling with reality and losing. I thought of the aspects of myself that are like this woman and this man: how I strive over and over again ….”
“I am somewhat dismayed at how often we hang on where we need to let go and give up where we need to persevere.”
Lord my God give me wisdom to let go into your arms. Give me strength and courage to persevere when I feel like giving up. Help me entrust my life to my faithful Creator.
Grateful living is important in the world because in our constant pursuit of more and better we can easily lose sight of the riches that lay right in front of us and within us. Guri Mehta
Are you in a constant pursuit of more and better? Do you easily lose sight of the riches that are right in front of you?
I can do both of those things. I can be in constant pursuit of more and better, and likely do it with no conscious effort. So soaked in this American culture, asking where is the next great thrill? Where is the next thing I can afford to add to our collection of things? Things we cannot possibly take with us.
What about the things right in front of me? Can I realize there are riches? Not just compared to impoverished countries, but compared to my life decades ago. Yes, there was a time we barely scraped by with the funds Bob earned. We worked and scrimped and saved. Now we are both retired from earning wages and live off what we saved and what he inherited from his parents. Living conscious of our means we seek to not go into debt we cannot repay.
But what about the non-monetary things? The experience of living in close proximity with the neighbors who are both terribly ill makes us more aware of the treasure our love and marriage provide. They have five or six more years of marriage than we do, but in this day and age the longevity of our relationship is nothing to sneeze at. We are blessed.
I have always said, “Divorce is not an option. Murder maybe, but not divorce!” And yes, there are times when we each think of murdering the other. We have not changed each other over this half a century as much as we have adapted to one another. Yet, we are deeply blessed. Grateful living indeed.
As my chronic pain seems to increase and health challenges arise I want to see the life I have as one to be celebrated with gratitude. As evening falls and the physical problems seem to intensify I want to find a way to enter into acceptance of them and rest without trying to do battle. It has been said that we increase our suffering by resisting and wanting things to be different than they are. I know that to be true.
Lord, I need your help to come to the place of rest in all of this. Your remind me in Matthew 11 “Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Yes, Lord, help me enter into your rest when it comes to evening pain and distress. Help me rejoice in your presence and great promises. I know you have promised to stay with me to the end. Be very present Lord, I pray.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”Matthew 28:19-20 NRSVUE
I first heard about CeCe Winans many years ago when I worked at “Having The Courage To Change,” a housing center for women who were coming out of prison and/or drug and alcohol treatment. The women there loved her music and soon I did too!
Do you worship every day? If not, try this one.
All my life you have been so so good.
I’ve known you as a father. I’ve known you as a friend.
As the saying goes: “No god, no peace. Know God, know peace.”
I do not care how you worship. Do you know Jesus and have you spoken with him today?
My new project entails gathering the object lessons the Lord has given me over the years to encourage me and keep me walking the road laid out before me. I will likely post of few of these during the coming months. The following is entitled “Called At the Beach To Write More.”
How does an object lesson usually come to you? Mine can jump up any time I call upon the Lord for guidance. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, so I shall be saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:3 NRSVUE
While walking the beach in Florida we were searching for shells. I came upon this one. It is called Sunray Venus Clam.
It reminds me of lined paper. (College ruled is my favorite).
Then I came upon this one.
Atlantic Pen Shell
That got me thinking about ink wells, and fountain pens. Oh my, this was a call to write more!
Then the Lord answered me and said: Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it. Habakkuk 2:2 NRSVUE
Years ago a cousin older than me gave me the above verse to hold to. I was not certain she heard right. Time has shown she evidently heard exactly right for me!
The shells comprised another confirmation that I am to write and keep telling what God is doing in my life and can do in the lives of others. I keep these shells around to remind me, lest I ever doubt the call again. Or for the times I get just plain lazy about it. Lord, prod me with the shells and forgive me for being lazy, I pray.
This has become to me a perennial song. Perennial typically describes things that are permanent, constant, or repeated. At times I am compelled to sing it. Sometimes multiple times in a row.
Me, too, Lord! I want what these lyrics speak. Here is the video followed by the lyrics (in case you don’t like jumpy words.)
Abandoned
Benjamin William Hastings
Somethin’ isn’t adding up This wild exchange You offer us I gave my worst, You gave Your blood Seems hard to believe You’re tellin’ me You chose the Cross? You’re tellin’ me I’m worth that much? Well, if that’s the measure of Your love How else would I sing?
But completely, deeply, sold-out, sincerely abandoned I’m completely, freely, hands-to-the-ceiling enamored My one-life endeavor to match Your surrender To mirror not my will, but Yours Oh, I’m completely, deeply, don’t-care-who-sees-me abandoned
Oh, I surrender all
I just can’t get over it What kind of self-control is this? When You had angels at Your fingertips But on the Cross You remained And I can’t repay that kind of love But I can praise with everything I’ve got Since death had all of it’s power robbed Then just like the grave
I’m completely, deeply, sold-out, sincerely abandoned I’m completely, freely, hands-to-the-ceiling enamored Oh, my one-life endeavor to match Your surrender To mirror not my will, but Yours Oh, I’m completely, deeply, don’t-care-who-sees-me abandoned
Oh, I surrender all I surrender all I surrender all
The whole of my heart, the best of my soul Each phase of my life, each breath in my lungs Consider it Yours, Lord Consider it Yours, Lord The failures I hide, the victories I don’t The battles I fight, each crown that I hoard
Consider it Yours, Lord Consider it Yours, Lord All the glory forever, the grave that You won The praise of the Heavens, the kingdom to come Oh, consider it Yours, Lord Consider it Yours
I’m completely, deeply, sold-out, sincerely abandoned (hey!) I’m completely, freely, hands-to-the-ceiling enamored Oh, my one-life endeavor to match Your surrender To mirror not my will, but Yours I’m completely, deeply, don’t-care-who-sees-me abandoned
Oh, I surrender all
No, You’ll never leave me abandoned I surrender all
Written by: Cody Carnes, Benjamin William Hastings, Brandon Lake, Christopher Michael Davenport
I had to ask who is Christopher Michael Davenport?
“Grammy-nominated songwriter and worship leader Chris Davenport has been a quiet fixture within worship music for years.
“Through his contributions with UNITED like “Another In The Fire,” “Grace To Grace,” and “Seasons,” as well as collaborations with artists like Phil Wickham (Hymn Of Heaven), Brandon Lake (Too Good To Not Believe), and Cody Carnes (Be Glad), Chris has established himself as a unique, authentic, and influential voice within the worship community.” Now we all know more about him.
Make sure we never abandon God! “My one life endeavor to match your surrender…”
I was wondering aloud to Bob the other day about the stars when the sun rises and we can no longer see them. I am still pondering the wonders of the heavens several days later as I write this.
“Modern astronomy has mapped the position of every visible star with extraordinary precision. We know, down to the arc-second, where each star sits at any given moment from any point on Earth. This isn’t guesswork — it’s celestial mechanics, the same science that lets us predict eclipses centuries in advance.
“When you give us a date, time, and location, our software calculates the exact arrangement of stars above that place at that moment. It doesn’t matter whether it was noon or midnight, overcast or clear. The math doesn’t care about the weather or the sunlight. It cares about the geometry of Earth’s rotation and the stars’ positions — and those are always known.
Isn’t it amazing that even though we cannot see them the stars are there, above us, as we circulate around the sun.
“New research led by Sarah Caddy, a PhD candidate at Macquarie University, shows that this is possible. Caddy and her team have successfully captured one of the brightest stars during daytime observations, opening up new possibilities for astronomy.
“The first time I saw stars during the day was actually whilst hosting a group of primary school students at Sydney observatory,” said Caddy. “The kids really wanted to look through the telescope, so despite it being midday, we pointed it at the brightest star in the sky – Sirius. You can imagine my astonishment – and their excitement – when we could actually see it!”
So I tried to read up about the movement of stars and other celestial things like planets. To tell the truth, the science is WAY beyond my comprehension. I do know that when ever I am able to stay awake past dark and the sky is clear I am fascinated with the stars and planets I see. I can only imagine how tremendous those creations appeared when there was no light noise created by mankind. One night in the mountains of Colorado we were able to see the Milky Way in its glory. Wow!
The book of Common Prayer says:
At your command all things came to be: the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses, and this fragile earth, our island home. By your will they were created and have their being.
All glory to you, our mighty God! Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest!
This prayer has been on Lectio 365 for several weeks. It’s impact hits me only occasionally. And then WHAM! it hits me just what we are praying.
Lord Jesus Christ, alive though you died, meet with me now, speak to me now, and grant me your peace, both here in these moments of prayer, and throughout the day to come. Amen
“Alive though you died.” Revelation 1:18 Did you catch that? We are speaking in prayer to the risen King. He died. He rose again. He dwells with us and lives in us through the Holy Spirit.
“Meet with me now.” Christ is able to do that.
“Speak with me now.” Nothing is too difficult for the King of kings. Jeremiah 32:17 Open my ears to hear you I pray.
“Grant me your peace.” Regardless of what this day or hour or week may bring, your peace please. That peace that is beyond all understanding. Philippians 4:7
Lord Jesus Christ, alive though you died. Yes, I truly believe this prayer and the outrageous claims of Jesus. After three days dead he did rebuild the temple of his body. Complete with scars inflicted by man upon his hands and feet and side. He came and was seen by the disciples. He ate meals with them, even cooked a meal for them on the beach! He showed them his scars beautified by the Father. And this same Savior is with us today, decades and centuries later.
The Collect for this past week at church read:
O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Certainly gives us plenty of meat to ponder for our journey this week! “Loving you in all things and above all things.”Help me do just that Lord.
God is so good and wants to give good things to us. Matthew 7:11 NRSVUE
Seek him and you will find him when you seek for him with all of your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 NRSVUE He will not disappoint us.
It is not unusual when I complete a project to feel a release, a let down, perhaps a turning loose of the tension. When I was in retreat and folks around me were celebrating the publication of the book of poems, I was asking the Lord, “What next?”
Several times during the appointed times of prayer at the Convent we read Psalm 139. Verse 4 in the prayer book, which is verse 5 in most Bibles, struck me. The first time I just noted it. The second time I wrote it out. Now I have been doing some study through the Logos app regarding that verse.
The promises here are astounding. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Even though I do not feel your touch, your word assures me you lay your hand upon me. I am yours. I am never abandoned, never alone. You shall lead me and hold me fast.
Matthew Henry wrote: “Thou knowest me in every part of me: Thou hast beset me behind and before, so that, go which way I will, I am under thy eye and cannot possibly escape it. Thou hast laid thy hand upon me, and I cannot run away from thee.” Wherever we are we are under the eye and hand of God. Perhaps it is an allusion to the physician’s laying his hand upon his patient to feel how his pulse beats or what temper he is in. God knows us as we know not only what we see, but what we feel and have our hands upon. All his saints are in his hand which tenderly holds their aching head.
U wrote: In proportion as we are fully reconciled to God, and love Him, and rejoice in Him, it will become a cause of joy to reflect that our best Friend is never away from us, that our Protector’s hand is never removed, that the great observant eye of divine love is never closed.
He continues, “We may judge as to our position before God by this test—is the thought of His constant observation of us a subject of joy or of dread? If we dread it, surely we have the old spirit of bondage still upon us. But if we rejoice in it, then we may know that we have received the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry, “Abba, Father.” Spurgeon went on to take a military point of view with the idea of Beset me behind and before. My response was, “Really? Do we have to take that view?”
Nelson Study Bible said, “The purpose of His intimate knowledge of His servants is protective and helpful, not judgmental and condemning.”
Yes Lord, I believe this. You protect and help me. As I confess my sins you are faithful and just to forgive me my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) Therefore, I can rest in your encompassing care and closeness. You are my Abba, Father.
And the New Commentary on the Whole Bible by J D Douglas 1990 says,”laid thine hand upon me—This is the body language of blessing (Gen. 48:14, 17). This level of being known and accepted overwhelms the psalmist.”
For me there is nothing to fear in these verses, nothing to run from. Why would I not accept the hand of blessing from my God upon my head? We are known and loved. Do not be overwhelmed. Sit with your God and receive.
Treasures in Plain Sight, A Christian Blog 