Just a quickie

I'm rushing off again this morning, but I did want to write SOMETHING. I think about things to say all the time, and then once I get on here, I just can't think of how to organize my thoughts. They seem to jump all over the place.
I've thought about our prayer meetings and wrote a long entry in my journal about that.
I've thought about Sunday evening services and its demise. (I have written about that.)
I've thought about the rise in moral relativity and how the post-modern view has permeated our land, but also our churches. (Related, I believe, to our lack of desire for hearing the word of God preached, hence the demise of the Sunday evening service.)
I've thought about the Scottish Covenanters; I'm still reading Men of the Covenant on Sunday afternoons. Then I looked through our hymnbook and saw many Psalm tunes written during that time, 1615, 1630, and wondered if those Scottish families sang the same Psalms we sing.

Now I've started work again with Plant Essentials, the company that provides plants to Lowes. Yesterday was the first day and it was MISERABLE. I only work for 4 hours, but it was raining, 43 degrees. My hands through the gloves were wet and frozen, the wind blew through my two layers of clothes and I'm wondering if I really want to continue. My other problem is I don't really NEED this job, so why am I doing it? They asked. But I always have trouble with commitment. Here I am committing myself to working every day, I feel trapped, suffocated. Today it's supposed to be mid-60's. Maybe once the weather improves, I will enjoy it. Meantime, I keep thinking I'll quit.

Friday, however, we leave for Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. Ah, warm beach once again. After yesterday, I can think of nothing else!

The Cry of my Heart

This is the English rather than the American version so the words are slightly different from what I sang growing up. The original is in German, I believe. It still is majestic and worshipful and expresses the deep desire of my heart that soul and body cries out for the living God. "Who have I in heaven but thee and there is none on earth that I desire besides thee."
Great way to start out a glorious sunny morning in spring!

A New Paul Potts

Britain's Got Talent has done it again. Another 'dark horse' competitor blows the judges and the audience sky high, just like Paul Potts did a couple of years ago. It's one thing when professional singers sing like this, but some "wifey" (although she's not married) from Scotland sings like this, WOW!
I can only give you the link to Youtube. But if you watch it dry-eyed you did better than I did. Of course, "I dreamed a dream" from LesMiz chokes me up every time! The audience itself will get you worked up, then the judges give their comments, including the cynic, Simon Cowell.

Bud Watch

I just saw that blog title on someone else's blog and thought I'd upload this photo of "Bud" my father-in-law.

We all did have so much fun playing cards, even though it was about 84 degrees in there! Bud kept telling us, particularly Stephanie and me, (and more me she caught on faster), how to do everything. His children will completely understand!

Think Andrew looks like his g'pa? Naw....

Forever friends

I know I have neglected this blogging sphere lately for my new interest in Facebook, but I have been so blessed countless times by reconnecting with old friends. They really are "forever friends". These friends that knew me in my hormonal teenage years, yet still talk to me! These friends with whom I talked and prayed and sang my way through college. I am so blessed now to be in touch with them again, to pick up where we left off, to renew the friendship as an older woman. When we moved all over the world during our Navy career, I often thought how nice it would be to have stayed in one place where grandparents, parents, and extended family all still lived. Where all my friends were still living. But now I see the richness of this life that God has given to me. I am overwhelmed by His goodness! We have little control over our plans for our lives. It IS God who guides our steps. "Man plans his way, but God directs his steps."

I've added a new blog to my list, Bob Thompson. He and his wife were great friends of mine in college. We were class officers together, we sang in choir together for two years. Linda and I were on the same hall. Our choir director often told us that our friendships would last the rest of our lives. That we would continue to pray for one another because we really knew each other's strengths and weaknesses and understood one another. It has been true! If you have time, check out Bob's blog. To think we've known each other for 35 years!

God's compassion

During my morning devotions I think of all kinds of things to say if I were talking about it to someone. So today, I thought I'd just share some of it.

One doesn't normally think of God as compassionate when thinking about God in the Old Testament. But after reading through the OT several times, I'm seeing it more and more clearly. Today, as many days before, I see it in his compassionate election of the nation of Israel and His dealings with them. I have been struck by its parallel to our election.

God told Israel that He didn't choose them because they were "more in number" or more desirable than any other nation, but because He loved them. Same goes for us. He didn't choose His people, Jew or Gentile, because there was SOMETHING about us that was desirable. Neither did He choose us because He "saw" that we would choose Him. Did He see that Israel would one day "choose" Him? On the contrary. He told them that they would be stubborn and rebel. Yet, He would still atone for their sin. Amazing!

This idea, that God chose me simply because He loved me amazes me. What devotion it draws! What love! Election is a doctrine of love. Just as a lover draws his beloved. It's not a doctrine of separation, but of compassion.

I'm baaaack!

Promised photos. Sunset the first evening was brilliant.




















Tuesday afternoon at the beach. I love the color of the water. There were para sailors out all afternoon. That's what's in the distance.









My good friend, Trisa, who ate with this crazy family and then spent the evenings with us playing cards.
Sweet times. Great memories.

I've been up since 2:50am central time, so I'm just a little "buzzed" right now. But thought I'd put up some photos.

Glad to be home safe and sound, even though it is COLD!!!