The Blooming Desert!

It has been awhile since I last wrote.....I've had a few distractions in the last three weeks:

~~packing up and loading all my furniture into a huge Budget rental truck, and cleaning up the mess before leaving my beloved little artist's cottage on the lake in Deerfield Beach.  However, the next day, as Scott(son), Mary (his wife), and Brendan (grandson) climbed into the truck, and Kimmi (granddaughter), Clifford (dog), Krissy (cat) and I squeezed into my car, I didn't look back.  I was ready to see what's next on the Lord's plan for me.

~~driving 14 hours a day for 3 days,  kitty meows at least 50% of the time, dog vomit twice, and was nearly run off the road by a huge 18 wheeler, and driving 8 hours on the last day before unloading into my new desert dwelling just before the sun went down.  We had arrived! 2400 miles! Krissy and Clifford and I were home!

Thank you for your prayers! Despite it all, we are all safe. Kimmi and Brendan were great and very helpful, walking Clifford, carrying cat carrier, cat litter bag and supplies, plus, computers and bags every night into the Embassy Suites, and pumping my gas 2 or 3 times each day.  Scott, stopping often for potty breaks, was patient as I got slower and slower loading up every morning.

 

 Mary, who had flown back  to Phoenix on Wednesday, had left the refrigerator of my new house stocked with enough to get by for a few days, cleaning products, new towels and decor in the baths, laundry soap, etc, a vacuum cleaner, garbage bags, an assortment of sweets and snacks, greeting door ma, colorful "welcome" door wreath, and a beautiful large potted brilliant purple plant on the the front porch.   I was so blessed.  The desert was already blooming.

Since then I have been making this my home....moving furniture around, unpacking 50 some boxes, hanging towels, curtains and clothes, and turning my breakfast nook into a great little mini-office adjoining my kitchen.  As I had hoped, a part of my garage has become my artist's studio as well as keeping my car sheltered from the heat, etc. Then there have been the electronic wars for TVs, Computers, telephone (including a new more complicated cell phone), remotes...not my best area of adjustment.  But we are all up and GO!

Next, my ventures out to grocery stores (I rediscovered my treasured Trader Joe's), hardware,  Goodwill and Target stocked us up with the necessaries. I found Brendan's football practice one evening as I took him there and watched in the chilly AZ evening; and Scott and I watched his first game of the season way out in Apache Junction (sounds real "western", doesn't it), then picked up Kimmi and came back here for spaghetti and meatballs and Monopoly (Denver Broncos style). Mary was flying (working).  Pure joy to have them for dinner and fun.

I visited a church which I had scoped out while in Florida on the Internet. Mountain Park Community Church is about 10 minutes or less from home, and I'm pretty sure it will be my home church. It is about the size of SRC and very active.  Womens' Bible Study is doing Beth Moore's "Daniel", and now her study is on Revelation.  Tonight I will be attending a Seder dinner.  Friday, instead of a Good Friday service, they have a "Stations of the Cross" event where we can actually journey through the scripture and historical accounts of the events, and climb the small mountain behind the church up to the cross.

I have asked the Lord each week when I attended services at 10:45 on Sunday for a confirmation.  The first week the pastor's sermon was part of a year long series about getting to know Jesus more intimately and I liked it very much. Then this last Sunday, I asked again, and was almost blown away when a drama was performed between Pete (Peter) and Andy (Andrew) from the audience and then on the stage as they hilariously maneuvered their way through the Palm Sunday crowds, and then pondered on the washing of their feet by the Lord at the upper room. I loved what I saw and heard from the pastor.  I only wish the worship was longer....you know me. 

And all around me the desert is breaking into spring bloom (along with the allergies).  It truly is spectacular.  My next goal is to take some pictures and send them out by email. The weather is mild, cool in the mornings, warmer in the afternoons and yes, very dry.  But I feel better and am not suffering the terrible fatigue that was plaguing me in the Florida heat and humidity.

Most of all, though, I really do miss you!  That is the huge void here and no amount of activity or comfort can erase that.  Sniff, sniff.....

Thanks for plowing through this....thought you might like to know the details of God's faithfulness to me.  I'll try to keep the next posts much shorter and less self-centered. 

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What I'm looking forward to in the desert

     One of my big concerns in moving to Phoenix is the loss of the lush Florida flora...the green, the colors, the jungle, the fruits from my trees...and the fauna....the ducks, water birds, iguanas, squirrels, and other visitors to my back yard.  I've lived in Phoenix before for seven years before my husband died and I know the monotone landscape that is everywhere except where thoughtful gardeners have planted trees, and fought the summer heat to keep their grass and shrubs alive.

     And then I remember my mother's patio garden which she started each January when she and Daddy came to their home in Sun City to escape the Denver winter each year.  She filled at least a dozen huge pots with soil and fertilizer and petunias, begonias, allisum, and so many other plants I can't name and nurtured them until they spilled out like waterfalls.  Then she teased and fed her roses and other perenials into full bloom in just a few weeks, it seemed, while all the neighbors came down to oooh and aaaah. It was truly the desert in bloom.
     Then about a week ago during my quiet time in the morning, I heard the Lord speaking to my heart that He is taking me back to the desert where I will  experience the desert in bloom!  And just to confirm it (I wasn't really sure if that message wasn't just hopeful thinking), that evening as I got into bed and picked up Richard Brooks' commentary on the Song of Songs, I saw it again!  I usually only get a page read before I nod off, but this time I chuckled....knowing my Bridegroom was turning my doubts into certainty.... a lovely good-night bouquet of love.
     Brooks was refering to Song of Songs 2: 1-2 where the Lover calls Himself the rose of Sharon, and His beloved replys that she is a "lily amongst the thorns". Brooks was linking this to a beautiful prophecy of Isaiah's about Israel, which also speaks to us each individually.
 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
  the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;
 it shall blossom abundantly
  and rejoice with joy and singing.
 The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
  the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
 They shall see the glory of the LORD,
  the majesty of our God.
(Isaiah 35:1-2 ESV)".
     So I went to sleep that night and since with a true assurance that this move will not be to a drab monotone but to a blooming desert....which is the most unusual and exotic scene you can imagine... with all the cacti sprouting brilliantly colored flower bonnets.  I can't wait to experience what all that means.  But I'll be telling you......just as soon as I can get past this giant chore of moving.   I hope to keep writing weekly, but forgive me if I miss once in a while until I get set up again there. 



 

  

Cleaning out the garage

I just spent many hours writing my monthly article for The Good News/FL newspaper, March edition. It is about Redemption.  I got the idea several weeks ago, when there was much chatter on the news about Newt Ginrich's conversion, and his belief that he has been forgiven and has changed.

It made me think about what really happens when we become "born again".  I know all the Christian doctrines and believe them with all my heart, but how often have I taken each one out and dusted it off and re-examined it, allowing the Holy Spirit to teach me something new about this invaluable inheritance we have from God the Father, because of God the Son's act of redemption for us.
                                                                                                                                                                     
It was more than just His love for us that gave us new life.  It was the redemption price, the cup of wrath....with all its blood and suffering... that paid the price for my helpless fallen state.  In Misty Edward's new release, The Measure of a Man, she sings a 13 minute spontaneous song called The Harlot that paints this picture even better than the movie, The Passion of the Christ.  

Our sinful state is nothing to make light of, regardless of how much God loves us, His created ones. It infects our minds, motives, personalities, will, self-image,  and actions with our own selfishness, pride, arrogance, and all the deceptions of the devil, the evil one.  That's why the story of Adam and Eve's fall is so crucial to us still.  They had ALL of God's love and attention, but fell to the deception of the devil, becoming aware now of good and evil.  God could no longer have them in His paradise that He had made for them.  He is completely without sin and unable to abide with it. The Bible is very clear that this separation has been passed down though ALL generations; only His grace at the time allowed those who had faith to have a relationship with Him.  

In my article, I write about the plan that the Trinity had before even the foundations of the world to have the Son, at the Father's desire and command, go down to earth and pay this awful price for the root of sin in our lives.  They desire to have a relationship with us....a spiritual family, sharing intimate love with each other, and changing the world around us with that love. But it demanded a price...a redemption fee....the Blood of the Lamb of God.  It is only by faith and acceptance of this vital truth that we experience this "new birth".  We were bought with a price.  We must believe that.  And that is the Holy Spirit's job...to give us wisdom and understanding of all that Jesus has done for us.  What a plan!

Read the article in the March issue titled I am redeemed!

Back to the title of this blog, I guess this was sort of a week of very hard work (the price I paid) in order to now have a manageable and user-friendly storage closet (which is my garage since I really don't have one).  I have to move all this stuff in 4 weeks, and that was the motivation behind it.
Not the best analogy, but the best idea I could come up with.

See you next week.  Don't forget to put your email address in the email notification box at the top right, so you'll know when I write again.  AND....please let me know what you think. Just click on the word comments below, write, and click on publish

Election Day in Florida

As a Fox News junky, the election is really on my mind today. Like most of my friends, I feel this is a critical time in our country.  As a Christian, we've seen the results of a liberal, progressive government and are shuddering in dread at what the future might hold if that doesn't change. 

I believe Christians have a critically important role to play in this.  Of course, we must be informed.  I repeat WE MUST BE INFORMED, and there is no excuse for not spending the time in this endeavor. That is why I prefer Fox News because I believe you can get both sides of most issues, and although many of the commentators have specific viewpoints, they do allow the other side to voice their points.  This is an incredible gift to us, considering many countries and much of the world do not have the ability to make an informed choice if and when they can vote.  I know it's one more thing I have to do, but the alternative is the pollitical pit we are in.

Second, my next top prioritiy is to pray for wisdom to interpret all the information I've ingested. Without the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I am just like the great mass of people who hear a few news clips, see a few political ads, and who vote for the guy that their friend is voting for. This election is far too important for that.

James 1:5-8    If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

I lack wisdom, so here's my prayer this morning.
Oh, Lord, how we need You to help us elect a new president who will restore us to the American Dream  - the pattern which came from You in our Declaration of Independence and Constitution.  Lord, help us to once again be a nation that honors You and is a light on a hill, a Christian nation, an example of God's grace, where all can be inspired to do their best and love one another.

Father, put into place the man who can lead us in these paths, and break through the greed, selfishness, and political power and wealth conclaves.  If not Santorum, my first choice, keep us from making a terrible mistake, and from losing the election to President Obama.  When I vote this afternoon, help me to know for whom to vote.

Forgive us Christians, Lord, for taking our freedom for granted, for being deceived into bellieving the sugarcoated lies of those who have selfish and misguided motives.  Forgive us for not taking the time to be informed, to pray, and to vote.

I pray specifically for Newt Ginrich, Lord, that You will continue to reveal Yourself to him, that his  heart will be sincerely humble and open to Your love and guidance.  I pray for Your protection around him from the Deceiver, the Corruptor, from pride, selfishness and other weaknesses.  Help him to listen to his advisors and place wise advisiors around him; and if it is Your will, place him in the presidency.

I pray for Your widosm for Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul also, Lord.  Help them to really know You .  Help them not to lose sight of your presense and power in their lives. Give them all a will to be obedient and humble before You and those they serve, and help them to listen to Your leading.  Thank You that all these candidates proclaim You as their Saviour.  Help them to be entirely sincere in their politics, as well as their private lives.

     Let Your Kingdom come, Your will be done
           on earth, Lord, as it is in heaven.
     Amen

Is He listening?

A week ago I awoke with a real sense of anxiety...the preparations and repercussions of the move, my dog, Clifford, has diarhea again, and a lot of pain in my body.  As I walked Clifford, I cried out to my Lord, my Husband, to come alongside me.  Be my strength, my wisdom, my source of provision. "I have so much to do this week and Kathleen, my sister, is coming tonight.  Take my yoke on Your massive shoulders and hold me tight", I whispered. 
Then followed a list of specific requests:

• What do I feed Clifford?
• Let the plumber come tomorrow on time to fix the leak under the sink.
• Help me get the emails out about Kathleen's performance on time.
• Most of all, keep me close to You, my Love.

John 2:1-12
Jesus came to the rescue of some friends and His mother at the wedding at Cana.  I believe He did this out of compassion and love for them.  Also, He listened to His mother's concerns;  she knew Him and His heart and tapped into that even when she knew that there were far more improtant things on His mind.  And He listened to her and her request, and then her command to the the servants spoken in absolute faith that He would answer.

vs.3 When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."  "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come."  His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you".
vs. 7 Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"' so they filled them to the brim.  Then He told them, " Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet".

And we know how this first quiet miracle of the Lord turned out.  The water had turned to an excellent wine, better than had been previously served and depleted.

Oh, Lord, thank You for reminding me that you care about even the small things in my life.  You always hear my requests, and mercifully and graciously answer them even better than I expect.  I love You, my Lord, my Husband. Let me be bold and step out in faith as Your mother did, knowing that Your Holy Spirit empowers me, teaches me, gives me wisdom, leads me, and dwells within me at all times. Amen
PS All those prayers were answered perfectly!

What are you seeking?

     I find myself preoccupied with the many tasks I have to accomplish today, among them writing this blog on a regular basis.  It is my way of keeping in contact with you, my friends and dear ones, and perhaps finding new followers as I prepare to move to Phoenix in March, and leave so many behind here in Florida.
    John 1:29-42
    So I come to you, Lord, like Andrew and John did when they heard their rabbi, John the Baptist(JTB) point out Jesus as the Lamb of God.  Coming from JTB this was a weighty title.  It meant something to them other than a casual reference.  They grasped the spiritual attributes of a Lamb of God without understanding why JTB might have called Jesus that.
    So, they went to Jesus and perhaps listened to Him as He interacted with the people around Him.  This was the beginning of His ministry immediately after JTB baptized Him and, perhaps, even before His wilderness experience with the Devil's temptations, and as yet there were probably no crowds.
      And Jesus, amazingly, asked, "What are you seeking?"(ESB) or "What do you want?"(NIV) They didn't really know...they just wanted to check Him out, be near to Him.  After they had followed Him to where He was staying that night, Andrew even went and got his brother, Peter, and brought him to see this man whom they now believed was the Messiah.
    I've often wondered if I would recognize Him if I lived then and in those circumstances.  And then I remember another scripture, John 15:16, where Jesus tells His disciples, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last."
     You, Lord, it's really all about You, isn't it? You are the One who draws us to You, and the first thing You do is ask us, "What are you seeking?"  Well, Lord, I could travel down that road for a long time this morning, but I feel an urgency to get on to my work.  So, in answer to Your question, this morning I say:

• Thank You for caring about me and what I need...specifically for this day.
• Thank You that I know You will answer me in the most creative way, and I will watch for that answer.
• Thank You that nothing I want or need is too insignificant that You don't have a comment or an answer for me.
• Lord, I need help with my computer and its problems.
• Lord, I need help and energy to perform the tasks ahead of me in preparation for the move.
• Lord, I want You to connect my friends on a regular basis to this blog, so we can keep in contact, sharing our spiritual and not so spiritual journeys.

Thank You, my Beloved, for asking "What are you seeking?"

My heart burns for You....

In my walk this morning with earbuds in place, I listened to an album, Consumed, by Jesus Culture,and the refrain "....my heart burns for You..." kept coming to me over and over again when I returned and sat down to have my quiet time (QT) with the Lord.

Lord, how do we get to the point where You are more than just a "household Name" in our lives? What makes my heart burn for You? Another song in this album says, "We are Your burning ones". Lord, help me to understand how to set my heart on fire for You.

Mat. 2:1 - 23 and John 1:1-18
Just meditating on the real effects of Jesus' birth on His family, His visitors, and His neighbors...all were profoundly empacted by "Immanuel", God with us, most tragically, the families who lost baby boys after the Wise mens' visit. How long did it take for them to understand and accept that these children died because Jesus lived and was among them? Did they blame God the Father? Bodie Thoene's historical fiction series, A.D. Chronicles, include a shepherd who was one of those, who became bitter and then was converted later during Jesus' ministry.

But John's first few verses speak most to me of the revelation of the incarnation of God, the Word, amongst us.
Vs. 18 No one has ever [completely]seen God; the only God [Jesus] who is at the Fathers's side has made Him known!
Known to those who saw Him then
Known to those who have heard and read about Him since
Known to me

Lord, You chose to reveal Yourself to me, individually! You chose to make Yourself real to me, to tell me in so many ways that You love ME! You are always behind me, beside me, and in front of me.....I feel Your touch when I cry out for it. You answer little prayers like the one I prayed at the beginning of this entry, and You teach me about Yourself. This is Your gift to each of us who choose to believe. You have made Yourself known to me!

That makes my heart burn!