Category: God

  • “A Wrinkle in Time”

     

    Feeling like a misfit?  read on…

    I just finished a delightful book, A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle. The book is a classic from the 60’s which somehow I missed during my teen years.  I can honestly say any age reader will reap rewards when they take the time to sit and enjoy this sci-fi tale.  Back cover description:  “a scientist has vanished.  Now an eerie midnight visitor leads three children in search of him—through  wrinkle in time, to the deadly unknown terrors beyond the tesseract!”

    And if you don’t know what a tesseract is (I didn’t until I read the book), you definitely should read this book.  The main character, Meg, the oldest of four children, predictably flounders as a teenager.  She wants to appear strong and lovely, but wrestles with her looks and teachers in general.  During the story, Meg learns to appreciate her God-given looks and brains as she strives to unravel the mystery of finding and resucing family members.  She discovers that true beauty can be found on the outside, but more importantly, on the inside of each of us.

    “No matter your age, if you have never read these books, and have a little bit of the “intelligent misfit” about you (or ever did), I strongly recommend you pick these books up! (quote by a Wisconsin reader).

    There are a couple more books in the series which I plan to read. Excellent choice for those (young and old alike) who struggle with self-esteem issues, and just don’t seem to fit in anywhere.

  • Do you have a song?

    “A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.” – Chinese Proverb

    I came across this quote while exploring Maya Angelou’s web page.  The quote made me ponder. Do I have all the answers? Of course not, but I do know the One who does have all the answers. In fact, He made up the questions to go along with all the answers He possesses. 

    All the answers can be found in the Holy Scriptures if we take the time to dig and ask. I’m eager to begin the study of the book of Psalms called in Hebrew, the “Ashrei,” which means “Happy are they.”  Psalms are all about God and His relationship to His creation, nations of the world, and most importantly, His believing people.  “The Psalms reveal the faith, doubts, victories, failures, and hopes for the glorious future of those who seek God with their whole heart.  The Psalms teach us to worship God in truth and to worship Him because of who He is not just because of what He gives.” (taken from Becky Reynolds study on the Psalms)

    I, too, have a song.  Do I always feeling like singing or shouting for joy?  No, sometimes I make a conscious choice to be happy because I really do have a lot to be happy about. 

    Many times (too numerous to count) God rescues me. Thankfully, He is slow to anger and rich in love.  He stands beside me when I was sick and when I am not. He promises to never leave or forsake me even when I deserving leaving and forsaking.  He is my rock, my fortress where I can go when the storms of life surround me. 

    So, you see, I have much to sing about.  If not me, then the stones will cry out!

    “I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name forever and ever.” (Psalm 145:1)

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  • Watch those words!

    Lord, set a guard upon my lips,
    My tongue control today;
    Help me evaluate each thought
    And watch each word I say. —Hess

    God’s Word should shape our words.

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  • Wind Storm Across Lake Michigan

     

    Muskegon Pier Wind Storm

    Sand stings my face.  Hubby and I brave the wind storm and head for the beach to take pictures and document the effects of high winds across Lake Michigan. 

    Crashing waves.  Angry waves break over Muskegon Lighthouse pier.  Rolling, rolling frantically to an unsuspecting sandy shoreline.  Lake Michigan churned simulates a voluminous soap-suds illusion. 

    Enthusiastic surfers walk the pier, and then jump off the end all on a quest to ride that surf in toward the beach.  One solitary, crazy power boater attempts to navigate the channel. He bobs continuously as we watch from the safety of shore. Now and again, the boat disappears in the rising of the surf. 

    “Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.  If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your right hand will hold me fast.”  (Psalm 139:7-10)

  • Picture of calm

     

    Pictured Rocks at sunset
    Miner's Beach near Munising, Michigan

    Picturesque.  Calm and serene.  Untouched.  Set apart from human spoiling.

    It’s amazing to me that the setting remains virtually the same whenever I return whether in 5, 10, or 20 years. 

    Steadfast.  Faithful.  Vigilant winds toss young saplings and mature, strong trees just the same.  Do I hear the Maker of the winds say, “I may be strong and mighty, but compassionate and caring when it comes to my people.”

    “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.”  (Psalm 24:1)

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  • Red sky in the morning

     

    All night long into the wee hours of the morning does the wind blow and the boat rocks–first to the port then back to starboard.  up and down, back and forth.  The wind blows continually.  Whitecaps whip across Muskegon Lake. 

    I awaken early with a surprise chill in the air as I turn one more fan off.  Daybreak peeks through my covered hatch over my head as if to say, “Daybreak is here now…you cannot ignore.” 

    As I rise and go to the companionway, I spy the reddish-pink colored sky and recite a famous saying,

    “Red sky in the morning, Sailors take warning.  Red sky at night, Sailors delight!”

    “The Lord reigns in majesty…the seas have lifted up their voice, the seas have lifted up their pounding waves…mightier than the great waters…the Lord on high is mighty.” (Psalm 93)

  • Marked by Love

    ‘Our lives should be marked by love for Christ and others–not obsession with self.’

    What’s it all about?  Our Daily Bread goes into more detail:

    https://odb.org/2010/08/07/what%e2%80%99s-it-all-about/

  • Happy 35th Babe!

    3 pale yellow roses=10 years & 1 deep yellow=5 years

     

     

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Believe it or not…today marks our 35th wedding anniversary!  I tell people Steve married young (I mean, really young!)  Wow, those 35 years have been quite the journey with ups and downs, ins and outs, and round abouts.  But, we made it – by the grace of God!

    Happy 35th, Babe…I love you more than yesterday, but not as much as tomorrow.

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  • health update

    God is so good – I spoke w/the Gastroenterology doctor’s nurse on the phone yesterday for an update on my medical status.  I told her I felt I was getting stronger every day – she was pleased to hear of my progress, so we are on the same schedule as before. 

    The Plan: to  take the meds as prescribed until the 9 wks are over – then in September, I have a follow-up app’t to determine if the colitis is gone/subsided (I’m praying for it to be gone–GONE!) If gone, I shouldn’t have to continue w/maintenance medication which would be excellent.  Thank you all for your concern & prayers – they are worth their weight in gold!

    Result: just keep doing what I’m doing in order not to upset the applecart!

  • discouraged?

     

     

    “I have had enough, LORD,” he said…Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.” (1 Kings 19:4b, 5a)

    [God] provided a prescription for discouragement. He didn’t scold. Instead, because the Lord doesn’t confuse physical weariness with spiritual weakness, he let Elijah sleep. [Then Elijah] was ready to receive some much-needed insight. – Gigi Graham Tchividjian

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