SILENCE TO AWESOME

TODAYS SCRIPTURES:

Silence:

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:21

"Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10

Awesome:

For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. Deuteronomy 10:17

How awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the earth! Psalm 47:2

I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." Isaiah 6:1-3

SILENCE TO AWESOME

Silence - Silence is a wonderful thing, because when we are silent we can listen. We can hear God telling us, "This is the way, walk in it." And when we are still, we can know God.

Then you have to consider our five year old grandson's birthday party. Timothy turned 5. He will be known as Timmy for the rest of this writing because he is - for sure - more Timmy than a dignified Timothy.

Timmy and his brothers recently received puppies. (Link: My Hectic Life with 4 Boys) Their father (notice I said father) thought this would be a good birthday gift for Timmy. I asked Timmy if he wanted things for the puppy and he thought that would be a good idea for birthday gifts. So shopping I did go.

A box of dog treats. A dog toy. A Dr. Seuss book with dog in the title. Coloring books about dogs. And because Timmy is a five year old, a Spiderman gift just for fun. Off we went with his gifts and the ice cream. Grandpa has become the designated supplier of ice cream for birthday parties.

Currently, Timmy's favorite word is awesome. He looked in the sack and saw five wrapped gifts. "Awesome." He unwrapped the dog biscuits. "Awesome." He unwrapped the dog toy. "Awesome." He unwrapped the Dr. Seuss book. "Awesome." He unwrapped the coloring books. "Awesome." He unwrapped the Spiderman toy. "Awesome."

Now I want you to go back and read that last paragraph aloud. When you come to the word Awesome, I want you to jump up and down and say it in a voice that could shatter windows and set every dog in the neighborhood howling.

Silence and "Awesome." Quite a contrast, but isn't that what our lives should be? We are constantly being told to be still. To wait in silence. To listen. BUT have we lost the "Awesome" part? When was the last time you saw something and said, "Awesome." ?

If you saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filling your church, would you shout Awesome?

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

When needed, can you quietly wait for God to direct you? Can you sit in silence? BUT -- When do you say "Awesome."? When do you get more and more excited? When are you thrilled at a box of dog biscuits?

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.

LET US PRAY

To an Awesome God, To the Awesome God that created this world, Who created me, Lord, when I wait, silently to hear your voice, let me have patience. Give me patience to know you are God and that you will show me the way to walk. As I walk your path, turn my eyes to the east and west and let me say, "Awesome." As I walk, turn my eyes to the north and south and again see your wonders. "Awesome." Lord, lift my eyes up to the heavens and let me shout, in a voice full of excitement and wonder, "AWESOME." To you, the Holy, Holy, Holy Lord Almighty, I bow my head and gratefully say, "Awesome."… Amen

FEBRUARY IS ALMOST OVER

TODAYS SCRIPTURES:

Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. Psalm 61:1-3

When the lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The lord has done great things for them." The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126:1-3

FEBRUARY IS ALMOST OVER

I don't know about the state you live in, but February in Indiana is just yucky. Yes, the sun does come out - occasionally. And yes, the snow looks pretty. But February is like being in the middle of nowhere. It isn't winter and it isn't spring. When the snow melts, it is muddy. And you see all the trash people have thrown out. The sky is usually a drab gray and the air is damp. It is still dark when you wake up.

Bill says there is a reason there are only 28 days in February. We couldn't stand it if there were 30 or 31. Of course, every four years they have to make it worse and add a day. They couldn't put that extra day in a good month like September when we would appreciate another nice fall day.

Do you get the idea that I don't enjoy February? My mother never did either. She would start to get that shut-in, give-me-some-sunshine feeling. That is when she would come stay with us for two or three weeks. I think like so many people, mother had seasonal depression. The weather just plain got to her.

Mom would come and we would get out the card table so she could work jigsaw puzzles. She and I would play Rummy Cube, in the evenings. She would request mashed potatoes for every meal and spoil the kids.

When she visited, one thing mother enjoyed was being able to laugh. She said when you lived by yourself you just do not laugh aloud. One night we left her with the kids and they watched a movie. When we came home we could hear them laughing before we opened the door. They were laughing so hard they had tears running down their cheeks.

Was the movie that funny? I don't know. All I know is that the house was filled with a wonderful, joyous sound. I know that mother got to laugh out loud.

In Psalm 61, the people were down. Their hearts were growing faint. In Psalm 126, joy was restored. Mouths were filled with laughter.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Are you ever depressed? Does the weather get to you? What does make your heart grow faint? Where do you turn to find your way back? Do you look for someone "higher than I?"

I want you to know that I am not taking depression lightly. IF you suffer from depression, do not try to hide it or think you can handle it on your own. Please consider counseling and medication.

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.

LET US PRAY

My Dear Lord, Sometimes I wake up and it is still dark outside. I just want to stay in bed and pull the cover over my head. Sometimes I just feel off. I am not sure what is wrong. It is a sadness. Sometimes a lonely feeling. When times like this come and my heart is faint, let me look up. Up to one higher than I. And let me look up until that time passes. And I know it will pass. Just like the month of February, my drab, gray time will turn to spring. And my heart will be filled with laughter. … Amen

WATCH WHERE YOU GO

TODAYS SCRIPTURE: Mark 13:32-33, 37

(Jesus speaking) "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. …… What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!' "

WATCH WHERE YOU GO

When you walk, do you look at your feet? Do you watch each step? Or do you look ahead?

Sunday, February 1st, I played hooky from church and instead celebrated Sunday by taking a grandson shopping. When our daughter's boys reach seven, we go birthday shopping. Noah turned seven in December and we finally found a day that worked for both of us.

Much to his disappointment, the first stop, in Target, was to buy clothes. Then we found the toy aisle and Noah picked out a toy. He also spent his it-is-yours-to-spend-how-you-want ten dollars. Hey, I think clothes, a toy and ten bucks was a good deal.

Noah has been to Wal-Mart and thought that is a big store. He had never been to a MALL. As we walked through the mall, Noah noticed all the stores but was more interested in stepping ever so carefully that his feet were always in the middle of the tiles. He did not want to step on a crack. This was fun and he thought the only thing we were going to do now was get something to eat. So he kept his eyes on the floor. Not looking ahead. (That was my job.) Not looking at anything except those tiles. Not looking up until --

"Oh Grandma, look at that. Do I get to ride?"

You see, Glenbrook Mall has a two-story carrousel and Noah looked up just at the right moment. I am glad I had not told him about it, because the look on his face was one of wonder. Yes, he rode. And on the top story. All smiles as it went around and around. A perfect way to end our shopping day.

I wonder how often we keep our heads down. Looking at each tiny step we take. So concerned about 'stepping on a crack' that we miss the wonder waiting for us.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Have you ridden a merry-go-round lately? Have you almost missed something wonderful because you failed to look ahead? Or failed to look up?

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.

LET US PRAY

What do you have in store for me Lord? What wonders await me? Will I go around and around with joy? Smiling? Or will I miss out because I cannot take my eyes off the ground? Will I forget to watch? Let my steps be sure and straight so my eyes can always be on you. Let me lift my head so I may see the wonder of your creation. And let me bow my head as I offer my humble prayers. Dear Lord, let me always watch, because, when the time comes for Your return, I want to be ready. Amen

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PS -- Susan Ring has posted the painting I described in my January 16 blog. Go to www.susanringart.com. Then click on gallery page and then oils. Coming home from Culver is the first picture on the left. Enjoy

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RANDOM THOUGHTS

TODAYS SCRIPTURE: PSALM 143:8 (One of my favorites!)

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go for to you I lift up my soul.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

Today's blog is random thoughts. They are in no particular order and written for no specific reason. Just random thoughts that have entered my tiny brain this week.

I shouldn't admit this (and hope you don't think less of me), but I do watch the show Saving Grace. It would be X rated because Grace is not ashamed of her bare backside and Grace does not follow the Ten Commandments. The show is about an angel trying to save Grace. The other night we caught a rerun of the first show. In that show, when the angel and Grace were talking, she asked the normal questions. Why this? Why that? The angel said, "If you had all the answers, you would not need faith."

Unending -- That is how I would describe laundry. Our daughter, who has four boys, five if you count her husband, would love to have my unending laundry. Hers is more like an un-scalable mountain. The trouble is that the laundry is never done. No sooner do you set the empty hamper in its proper location, than someone will decide to take a shower. Or toss a shirt in for no reason other than they have worn it for the last four days. Unending laundry. Oh, thank you God that we have clothes to wear. That we have a washer and drier. Thank you God for unending laundry. Another sign of a blessed life.

Leftovers can be fun. When trying to decide what to fix for dinner, I remembered the leftover turkey from Thanksgiving. So I used the turkey and made a big pan of turkey and dressing!!! Boy did it taste good. I asked our son if he would like some for his supper. He said no. Guess what -- Once mentioned, the turkey and dressing kept sounding better and better. Yes, I received a call saying, "Can I take back my no?" Leftovers taste good and these leftovers brought back pictures of a Thanksgiving table and family. (A note to Terri: I froze some for you. Will bring it over next Friday when I come to spend the night with the boys.)

I am going to try to insert a picture. Other than pictures of our children and grandchildren, this is the best picture I have received in an email. Just look at the picture. Allow yourself to feel. Look at the smile on Jesus' face. Look at the calm on the face of the girl. May the picture give you comfort this week.

It did not take long to find this picture. I just googled Jesus hugging girl. Here is the link.

http://www.zinch.com/TalentShow/ViewDetails.aspx?FileId=362192&CatId=27649&SubCatId=27653

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Do you need all the answers before you have faith? Have you ever considered laundry a blessing? Have you ever said no and then changed your mind? Can you imagine what it would feel like to have Jesus hug you?

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.

LET US PRAY

Jesus, I have come to talk to you. I am thankful that you are never too busy for me. That you strengthen my faith when I have questions. I ask that you open my eyes so I see my chores - laundry, washing the car, fixing the garage door, all those jobs - as blessings. Give me wisdom to know when I need to change my mind and the courage to do it. And Jesus, I do picture myself in your arms. I can imagine what it must feel like to be safely held. Surrounded by your love. And feeling the joy of your smile. … Amen