I just don't understand......

Yesterday was primary voting day and I was up at 5 am and at my poling position by 6am then home about 8:oopm. This is the third time I've worked the polling places and am alway a bit dumbfounded by it all. Our precinct has approximately 500 registered voters....of that amount 49 had voted early and yesterday for 12 hours we had 54 voters. That is less than 20% voters eligible to vote. I think it is fair to say that every single one of those eligible not voting people will be impacted just as much as those that voted by what occurs in government in the future. It seems to me that they ought to be concerned enough about their own future to express their opinions in the rare privilige we have of voting for our leaders. To say I don't understand doesn't even cover my confusion. Of all the voters we had come to vote,I would safely guess that 80 percent of them were 65 years old or older, of which category I am one. Candidates spend thousands of dollars campaigning so I dare say that not being informed elections are occuring is not the issue.....those of us who do vote are relieved to have a break from all the phone calls and TV ads. Of course we still have the general election in November so it isn't over yet...but this election was important just as well, for the winners won possibly only because others didn't vote. Oh well.....it seems it is not for me to know why, but I do grieve over the apathy of so many of our citizens who don't seem to realize that they are an important part of whether we will continue to have a democracy . There is a terrible complacency in our lives not only in our citizenry....but in our values and morals as well. May God have mercy .

It's hard to believe it's been a month since I even looked at my blog spot. Time is passing so very quickly that it's hard to keep up with it. This month of May was a bit different....I needed to work some additional days to cover for the other employee that is having some medical tests etc. It was Mothers' day, birthdays, a baby shower for a granddaughter having her 2nd baby etc. etc. In addition to that I was called to fill in at the Vote early poll, and then had training for the poll I will work at on election day, the first Tuesday in June....right around the corner. It's at the polling place by 6 am and polls closing at 7pm. A long day, but most always an interesting one. My son has opened a shop in an indoor small mall in the mountains, and I've been painting crosses, and rocks to put in there. So I've been a busy busy person lately....too busy really....but still make time to get into the Word and have time with the Lord. This weekend it's a graduation for a grandson and the beginning of a new month. Six months already into the year....better start looking at Christmas before long with 15 grandchildren, 2 great grands plus children and spouses. Life can get tedious....tiring.....and overwhelming at times. It's just during these times that we need to make ourselves spend time in the Word and get rejuvenated in our spirits to face what ever might be right around the corner. I myself am experiencing some disturbing discomfort in my body at the present and think I might have to go to the doc before too long. Would appreciate any prayers that would be sent on my behalf. At these times it's only human to be concerned and go through all kincs of fearful what ifs along the way....but the Lord promises to give us strength to face any and all happenings that come our way. At 74 I realize more and more everyday how limited my time may be here and so desire to make good use of every day that the Lord allows me to remain. The Bible tells us we are the salt and light of the world....and this world gets darker with every passing day. May the Lord give us the strength, courage and determination to remain true to His Word and in His love be His hands, feet and love to all who come into our sphere of influence. We are blessed beyond all peoples on earth and need desperately to take up the work of interceding and praying faithfully for our nation.

Well it's been about 2 weeks since I aired my thoughts here! Sometimes I don't know exactly what hits me or why, but for some unknown sane reason I decided to paint my shed....I mean paint something whimsical...First I had to clean out my shed, which had not been really attended properly for about two years. Needless to say, there were enough mouse droppings to sink a ship(not really,but still too many). So I prayed that I wouldn't get the Hunta virus and dug in. At 74 I've always been a hard worker, but lately my WANT TO is much bigger than my CAN DO. Anyway after I had it all cleaned up, that's when I decided to paint a mural?? These days it seems like we can get so caught up in all that's wrong with the world around us that we forget to stop and smell the roses. Well, my roses aren't blooming yet....so I tried an alternative. As I sat,battling the desert wind trying to paint with acrilyc paints, I could barely get the brush to the building before paint was dry. That along with some ridges in the side panels made this effort a bit hectic....but I really got a kick out of it. It's really not quite finished as I have some things to add like a caterpillar or two, some bees ( in honor of my missionary kids who are beekeepers as well, perhaps a hanging basket and of course some hummingbirds for the feeder .

My daughter Maureen, who teaches at the university in Roswell, emailed and said she hoped the hummers didn't break their beaks trying to drink from that metal image.....At any rate I've worked on it a couple of days and have to say it lifted my contenance a great deal. I just did something that was silly and had no purpose really but for my pleasure and don't feel a bit guilty about enjoying it! When I thought about our Father God and His creation I couldn't help but think about some of the creatures He might have just had a little fun with as well....the spoonbill platypus, the anteater, the giraffe, and maybe just maybe.....Adam and Eve.... for we can be real comical sometimes. The wierd thing to me is that even if we're not comical to begin with in appearance, it seems we spend loads of time and money trying to make ourselves look as ridiculous as possible. Oh well, I'm the only one that will enjoy this latest masterpiece....but you know what , I think I may just try loosening up more often....'What is that verse...A merry heart doeth good like a medicine......so try it....you'll like it!

What a friend we have in Jesus!

Today so far has been a great day. It's beautifully sunshiny outside and not too hot yet here in the desert. But it's getting there! I have a great furry friend here on earth. His name is " Sparky". I should have named him Slowpoke or something milder , because he is a real trip. He was born in the land of Schnauzers, and lately during the colder months I just let his coat grow. Well it grew, and grew and grew. Their coat is real peculiar...you can brush and brush, but two minutes later its all krinkly and twisty looking. But I love his krinkly look a lot better that the Schnauzer cut. He looks more soft and cuddly....just more friendly and cozy somehow. Well, this morning I took him to the groomer and she, having raised Schnauzers, advised me just to shave him all over for the warmer weather. I really didn't want anything so severe, but figured it will grow out eventually. At any rate I went to my meeting at church with the ladies and my daughter picked Sparky up for me and took him home. When I got home I was absolutely shocked,after having this ball of fur for months before. My heart sank, I felt like crying really, where was my cozy, furry , friend. Ok...so he looks messy that way, but I like it! The thing that touched me more that anything was his demeanor when I got home. He's always there jumping and barking to greet me, but this morning I really believe he was letting me have a piece of his dog mind. I didn't think he'd ever stop for awhile. I can't explain it, but the barking was different than when he is excited, and his expressions from his eyes....don't know about you but I really believe they're a whole lot smarter that we give them credit for. At any rate I began reflecting on how like Sparky I have felt before in my life. When I had been going along doing my own thing and being tolerated we might say and then one day the Lord says " OK that's enough of that judgemental attitude, or lack of compassion, or getting a little too friendly with the world etc. And somehow through His Word,He gives me "A DO" as they say these days. Right down to the bare bones cutting away all that mental wool that I've let accumulate spiritually in my life. When I'm getting reconciled with what He's doing, I'm certain that my demeanor reflects my shame and embarrasement at the attitude I had exhibited. Sparky kept looking straight at me and I felt I could read his mind saying..." Isn't this awful....are you still going to love me.....will you still cook me those great meals you do....I know I'm awful to look at right now....but please ....PLEASE....love me. Unlike me, Sparky really didn't do one thing to merit the embarrasement and shaving he went through, but somehow I think he sensed my disappointment and sadness over his new look...and who knows...maybe realizes that he looks a lot different as well. I sat down and he jumped up into my lap and with those gorgeous questioning eyes of his...I could hear his question...are we ok after this...still pals, you're still going to take care of me right??? I said Oh, Sparky, I love you,you are so precious to me...and I think I saw alight come into those eyes. And I am so thinkful that my Lord assures me as well in those "shaving" times...Pat, I love you, you are precious to me. Aren't we the lucky ducks to have such a friend in Jesus?!

What would it take?????

This morning I got into the book of Ezekiel. A book full of prophecy and examples of how God's people ignore His instruction. Ezekiel was captive in Babylon when this book was written and he had a vision that would have caused me to drop dead. I tried to invision what the vision looked like and thought that some Hollywood producer could make a killing on a movie with these creatures Ezekiel encountered. If you have time it would behoove you to read the first couple of chapters.....at any rate God's instructions to Ezekiel would have made me lay the whole experience on to my most vivid overactive imagination. Actually , putting it in a"WHAT IF" example in my life it would sound something like this. Pat, I want you to get some unperishable food together... like wheat,nuts,raisins...some water and I want you to make a wooden model of your town...purchase the biggest castiron skillet you can find....then I want you to go to the main street in your town.....set up the model....put the iron pan in front of the model....lay down on your side on the street every day for 24 hours a day etc.etc.etc. Of course in our day and time I would be arrested, put under psychological examination, put into therapy and be labeled a kook for the rest of my life. What amazes me most about this situation in Ezekiels life is his unquestioned, yielded obedience. Of course he didn't drop dead at the vision and I'm certain it was sufficient evidence of God's power to encourage him to obey.

Awestruck???yes but never doubting or disputing God's directions.

So....my question this morning was..."Father, what would it take for me....right now in this comfort zone...to be moved into unquestioned, yielded obedience to what ever sort of unimagenable assignment You would want to send me on?" I don't even like to think about it

for I'm not at all certain I wouldn't expire considering it.....but worse yet....refuse to obey.

It's an awesome thing to fall into the hands of God.

Father please help me to have that heart that will be totally , unquestionably, trustingly committed to whatever You desire for me to be and to do. Drive any thought of embarrassement or inabililty to accomplish from my mind and replace it with the strongest gratitude and unswerving confidence in Your power to accomplish the work You begin. Forgive my pride when I want to protect what I think of as my "image" and cause me to find my strength and joy in nothing else but being a willing vessel for Your kingdom. My heart truly desires this, however my flesh trembles at the contemplation of what may be "just around the corner."

That hymn , that I'm not certain of all the words, but goes something like..."Encamped along the hills of night, Ye Christian soldiers rise, and bear the battle ere the night etc.....Faith is the victory,Faith is the Victory...oh glorious Victory that overcomes the world. Father, You've give each of us a measure of faith....now in these day....I'm asking for TONS. We are the light of the world....don't hide it under a bushel....we are the salt of the world......There's a job to do, a fight to fight, a faith to share.....may we all , like Ezekiel, be pliable in the potter's Hands and do like we tell our children so many times as they are growing up....JUST DO IT!

Almost 4 months into 2010

It's been ten days since I blogged....what a word. Blogged....almost sounds like clogged to me and there are too many days when I feel CLOGGED....just plain stopped up mentally and spiritually with all the crud that's going on in this world today. I need some spiritual Drano.....I was thinking about how years ago when my children were small, the house we had purchased was on an acre and a bit outside of town proper. It was old and a bit unique....the bathroom was just off the kitchen, which I didn't like too much and after about 15 years we opened it up from a small porch off the kitchen and closed it to the kitchen area. But it was still next to the kitchen of course....and one day my kitchen sink was stopped up. For two days I poured Drano and every other thing I could think of trying to get it unstopped. I plunged it, got a water hose and tried to force water down it....you name it I tried it. With five children and my husband overseas with the military, I couldn't afford to call a plumber. On about the third day I just gave up.....sat down at the kitchen table and talked to the Lord....saying something like....Lord you know our situation, I need that sink to work....I can't do anything else about it so would you please send someone who might be able to help me with this problem. I was so down mentally about the whole situation and sat at the table for a while, probably with my head in my hands and my heart on my sleeve. As I sat there lamenting my situation ....alone with 5 children...no family around....no one at all to ever give me some relief or help. Oh...by the way....thinking back I think I could have called my pastor or something,....but then of course.....I could never ask for help. I can't say for certain how long my pity party lasted, but I was abruptly stirred from it when I heard....BLUB BLUB BLUB BLUB BLUB BLUB... I went to the sink and the sound was not coming from there but from the bathroom....I went in there and the bathtub ,that backed up to the kitchen sink wall ,was collecting some of the nastiest, black, smelly crud I ever have seen. The problem was now in the bathtub...but wait...it's going down....YEA...and the sound of the mess gushing down the drain was a sound for sore ears and a sight for sore eyes. You know my husband used to tell me that I could make something spiritual out of going to the bathroom. Well this time he was right.....later as I pondered the occurances of the day I thought how I get clogged up sometimes with self pity, feeling things will never change etc. but when I get into the Word..it really is like spiritual Drano....it begins to unplug all the messy stuff that wants to steal my joy and make me fear the future. So , even tho' sharing this crazy happening is a bit nutty...maybe it will stir you to take some spiritual Drano when the world, the devil and the flesh are trying to discourage you and steal your joy. Listen for the BLUB BLUB BLUB in your spirit....it's a wonderful sound.

Here it is April 6....Boy does it ever fly lately....time....you know!!!! This morning as I was in one of my favorite books of the Bible, Peter....I decided to pick up my English Standard Version of the Bible and just read Peter from there. 1 and 2nd Peter are wonderful instructions for us as believers and I've never tired of reading it . While reading 2nd Peter Chapter 1, I saw something new and pretty liberating for me. In my KJV the 10th verse of the 1st Chapter says, ...."give diligence to make your calling and election sure, for if ye DO these things, ye shall never fall." Seems like I've always been saying to the Lord in one way or another.Lord I really do want to DO what You desire for me to DO. It seems like I'm always falling short in one way or another. Never feeling like I'm DOING what I should be DOING! Well when I read that verse this am from my ESV that same verse reads" Therefore brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you PRACTICE these qualities you will never fall. " Now that may not seem like a big deal at first, but when you think about it, there's a big difference between DOING and PRACTICING! I need to go to the 3rd verse in the 1st Chapter for a minute and quote" His divine power has GRANTED to us all the things that pertain to life an godliness,THROUGH the KNOWLEDGE of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence."There again,....there's a big difference between GRANTED AND GIVEN ! GRANTED suggests an opportunity, permission to use,allow etc. But we still have to USE IT,BELIEVE IT, TRUST IT. How many millions, possibly trillions of dollars are spent on pursuits in our lives that we want to master??? We will spend countless hours PRACTICING something that we want to get really good at.....more than hours .....Years......a Lifetime!!!! Practicing , practicing, practicing aiming at that HOLE IN ONE in golf, that concert at Carnegie Hall on the piano, that Master Painting that might hang in a prestigious gallery someday....on an on....whatever it is that we really want to succeed at....we PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. When I was about 7 years old, my grandmother started trying to teach me to play the piano......day after day it was ..." Patricia....you must PRACTICE your scales."...well I didn't enjoy practicing the scales,.....I wanted to play a song or two.....and guess what.....I NEVER LEARNED TO PLAY THE PIANO!!!
Just thinking about this really encouraged me in a way and took a load off my shoulders. I think I'll do better at PRACTICING the instructions in the Word, (because there is in the PRACTICING to do something and realizing imperfections)than the feeling of utter failureabout having not DONE it successfully.. There's something about the word DONE and DO that seems to me to expect ACCURACY AND COMPLETION. Yep, I am feeling much better about PRACTICING!!! There's an old saying PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!!! Kind of makes me look at Ephesians 4:13 with a lot more hope and positive expectation......" Till we all come in the unity of the faith , and of theknowledge of the Son of God, unto a PERFECT man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."

Well today is the last day of March....it has flown by as usual. Thinking on the Easter Week, today is called Spy Wednesday....did you know that. It is called that because this is the day when Judas got so disillusioned with seeing that Jesus was not going to overthrow the Roman rule there....which is what all the zealots were fighting for.....that he collaborated with the priests to betray Jesus. In that culture , the sign of loyalty,devotion and strong friendship was to kiss the person on the cheek....I think it still is practiced today....but just to think that Judas betrayed the Lord with that sign of loyalty is hard to imagine. I wonder at times how we betray the Lord without even realizing it. The way we treat others, the way we gripe and complain, the way we criticize and moan and groan about the least little thing! May this Easter season get past all the really great family celebrations, egg hunts, baskets, new clothes, gifts, etc.etc. and get right down into the deepest part of our spirit in deep humility and gratitude for the inexhaustible love of our Father God in making a way to be reconciled to Him through the sacrifice of His Beloved Son Jesus Christ. And may it grow stronger each and every day that lies ahead of us from now on so that we , unlike Judas, will not ever knowingly betray our Lord again. Times ahead are only going to get more trying I'm sure. There is a song we sing at times that has been running over and over in my head these last days and it is good sound , valueable, profitable advice. It goes something like this....
Where can I go when all around me is dark and drear, Who can I turn to when my heart is filled with fear, I go to the Rock of my Salvation, I go to the stone that the builder rejected, I run to the mountain and the mountain stands by me....When all around me is sinking sand...on Christ the Solid Rock I stand, When I need a shelter, When I need a friend, I go the the Rock!!! What a Friend we have in Jesus!!!

Good Morning....I hope it is a beautiful sun shiny day where you are like it is here. A beautiful day! Seems like this whole week I've been trying to picture just what was going on in our Savior's life during this time. Last night I was thinking about TODAY!.....Passover in the Holy Land....and Passover when Jesus was there. A holy day for the Jewish people, remembering their deliverance from Egypt, the sacrificial lamb, and the blood applied to the doorposts which kept the death of the first born from touching them. I pondered Jesus telling the deciples about the man they would see and tell that the Master had need of the upper room to celebrate the passover. He instructed them to prepare the room and the meal. I sort of imagined that( seeing as how Lazarus was raised from the dead just recently, and Jesus later had a meal with them( remember the Mary and Martha spirit) they may have traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate the passover with the Lord as well might others have !! Mary Magdalene???? Jairus?????( his daughter raised from the dead) the Roman centurian whose servant was healed???? the woman with the issue of blood healed by just touching the hem of His garment???? ( I said I imagined!) It could well have been that there were more than just the deciples with Jesus celebrating Passover. Little did they know , that as they killed the Passover lamb for the meal, that their high priest would shortly fulfill that prophecy of a lamb being slain for the whole world.
Applying the blood to the doorpost (another thought)....the Bible tells us we overcome the enemy by the blood of the Lamb and by the Word of our testimony. What a wonderful day to consider the monumental , incomprehensible gift of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Every day of our life as we meet life's challenges, the enemy's tactics and mostly our own undisciplined flesh, we have His blood and our faith in His being the promised Messiah to overcome all obstacles. Remember He said....in this world you will have tribulation, but I have overcome the world. So,though we may not sit at a Passover meal per say.....we can still rejoice and praise Our Father God for the Precious Lamb of God. Happy Passover....Jesus is ALIVE!!!

Well, it's been two whole weeks since I've written anything. Seems like there's so much going on and time going too fast to boot. I've been trying to get back to what I feel the Lord laid on my heart back in September of 2009. There's so much to the story that it would take pages and pages....suffice it to say that I have been battling initiating an intercession effort in our area on behalf of our nation, the world, etc. I must confess that I'm a bit timid about all this , but one things for sure, we cannot turn away from what the Lord is wanting without suffering the consequences....which for me is not punishment, but the sorrow in knowing I am failing to be obedient. So....this morning I have put all my info in my documents and plan to print them out as soon as I get a printer..;...which I hope is not too far away. I am aware that there are not 10...not 5....maybe two at the most that visit this blog....but you know.....God is able to cause all things to come into alignment with His will and purposes. I am praying that the Lord will open the doors for the information He has led me prepare to reach those who will join in the effort of praying for our world. In the Old Testament.....over and over again.....His people went before Him and confessed....O Lord we have sinned against You and You only....Please hear our prayers, forgive us and return to us Your favor.....(MY interpretation). I think we need to do the same....we need to confess the sins of our nation, our government....and yes....our personal sins we hate to admit are really sin in God's sight. Oh God ....we have sinned....we have allowed the abortions of millions, and millions of infants, we have allowed the acceptance and condoning of homosexual marriages, we have failed to come to the defense of all those Christians being killed and persecuted all around us....we have failed to obey Your Word.LORD we have taken lightly our relationship with You and Your Word. We have failed to stand up to the education system when it teaches our children everything we know and beleive to be against You and Your Word. We have failed to be the light and the salt to our part of the world. We have embraced so much of what the world offers as entertainment...excusing and over looking....actually becoming immune to....the sin, lust and activities contrary to Your will for us in what they send over the airwaves. Lord , Please .....we humble ourselves before You, We seek Your face, We will turn from our wicked ways, We will pray not just now....but regularly...and we anticipate Your hearing our petitions and believe that You can and will heal our land IF we obey. Our God is an awesome God....plentous in mercy and loving kindness....His Promises are sure and we will see His Power when we turn to Him with our WHOLE HEART.

What a day this has been..... Services for my good friend Millicent were today. We had the privilidge of putting together two tables of some of her favorite things and pictures of the families. Everything from her favorite perfume...White Diamonds....her purple boa, jewelry she had made, great knick knacks etc. She loved fairies....so of course there were a couple of those as well. We also made a mock refrigerator out of poster board and with some metal behind it put all her inspirationsl sayings..magnets.. etc she kept on her fridge on it with the caption... Cool spot...warm heart. The service itself was just full of treasured shared times with Millicent from her family and friends. Much laughter....many tears....and a time of really paying tribute to a wonderful part of our lives. Millicent loved tea parties, and after the service there was a tea party like no other for the reception.....I'll wager that she was looking on with great satisfaction at the wonderful spirit present among all there......and there was a church full. What a gracious family she has and how she will be missed was very evident among all there. It makes me want to be a lot more like Millicent in these last years of my life.....if I can get into the swing of it all. One of the grandaughters had some words to say about her and made the remark " she always made me feel so important to her and so loved." That's what I want my family to know....how important they are to me.....how much they are loved and treasured. Millicent had so many little notes and inspirational quotes around her and there was one on a small tapestry that really impressed me. Her daughter gave it to me after the reception and I will treasure it always. But what I want most of all, instead of just reading it, I want it to be a reality every day of my life. I am sharing it now with you....hoping you will see great merit in its advice.
"ON THIS DAY...Mend a quarrel. Search out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion, and replace it with trust. Write a love letter. Share some treasure.
Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in a word or deed.
Keep a promise...find the time. Forego a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Listen.
Apologize if you were wrong. Try to understand. Flout envy. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Appreciate,be kind, be gentle. Laugh a little more. Deserve confidence. Take up arms against malice. Decry complacency. Express your gratitude. Worship God. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love.
Speak it again. Speak it still again. Speak it still ONCE AGAIN! What a world this would be......!!!! I'm pretty certain that whoever put this in this format knew the Bible pretty well....for Our Savior , Jesus exemplified these attributes in His life and it's His desire for us to have this kind of experience in life as well....for it surely is one that will bring great joy and blessings in the doing! Be inspired!!!!

This morning I received the news that my friend Millicent Shyne had passed over to be with the Lord. For the past couple of years she has been living with her daughter in Florida. It's hard to explain the emotions that envelope us during these times....sadness, relief, joy...and so much reflection. How blessed I have been to have Millicent as a friend. She impacted my life in ways I can't convey appropriately for they are so many. My daughter Kathy worked for Millicent when she was in high school, and that was sort of the beginning of our becoming friends. Howbeit, we purchased our first home through Joe Shyne upon our arrival in Alamogordo in 1965. Millicent was Serbian in nationality and personality. Vibrant, passionate about life, generous, artistic, a real bookworm, energetic, courageous, magnanimous, honest ,candid, entertaining...etc.etc. Millicent loved to entertain...her parties were beyond portraying. She came up with; games, (hilarious,amuseing) as well as treasured prizes. I doubt there will ever be anyone like her again. She embraced me and my family and early on in our friendship encouraged me to get my real estate license. She not only encouraged others to excel and explore unthought of avenues in their life, but she helped in the process, bringing instructive books etc. to aid the process. Her love of books, music and art brought a greater appreciation of things,( before her presence in my life) I probably never would have encountered otherwise. Millicent always made one feel better ,happier, invinceable sort of, after being with her. The numerous lunches, parties, gifts, words of wisdom,phone calls, and heart to heart , woman to woman sharing blessed and continues to bless my life. She has impacted not only my life, my family's lives, but the community's and uncountable other lives along her journey of life. Although we were expecting to hear of her passing eventually, the news still brought a sadness and a longing that her presence could have continued all the days of our lives. I think this is one reason I so appreciate and cling to my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, for Iknow beyond a shadow of a doubt that Millicent is now in that great cloud of witnesses. Though some theologians might take issue with my interpretation of that, I believe that my loved ones who have gone before us, having accepted the Saviour, are cheering us on from that heavenly home. My prayer for all who may read this is that you may experience the delight and joy of having a Millicent Shyne in your life and appreciate the blessing of true friendship.

As I begin to write this I have the CD of our choirs new music playing and at this moment I'm sheltered in the arms of God is playing and what a joy it is to know this. So let the storms break high, the dark clouds rise they won't worry me, for I'm sheltered in the arms of God .He walks with me and none of earth can harm me for I'm sheltered in the arms of God. Soon I shall hear the call from heaven's portals...Come home my child it's the last mile you must trod, I'll wait with the and follow thee safe withing the arms of God.
Before I turned on my computer I had been going through my unsorted mail and reread the beautiful birthday card I received from my daughter Mary. Some of the verse says, "as I understand a little more about life, and as I learn a little more about myself and as I see a little more of the world about me....My thoughts were drawn back to my own relationship with my mother who passed over January 14, 2009. For the first 9 years of my life I lived with my grandmother and then went to live with my mother when she returned from working in the atomic bomb plant in Oak Ridge Tennessee. The next five years were difficult to say the least and I've had to have a lot of healing during the years ahead. However...like the sentiments in the card, as I have had to experience life, and have learned more about Mom's struggles I have realized what incredible tenacity and determination she had to have to raise her family. At the memorial service for Mom, being the oldest, I was asked to give a tribute to Mom and this morning (as I was searching for something else in a recent journal) I found some notes I had made in advance. I share them now as a tribute to my mother.She did the best she knew how to do at the time....and bore tremendous burdens within herself that I'm certain prompted much of her frustration, anger and moments of ill advised choices. Like most of us, as Mom grew in the Lord, she learned the Word and the Lord began to free her step by step bringing her into a close relationship with her Dearest Friend. I have felt led to record my notes here as there are so many in our family that Mom prayed for regularly...every moment it seemed at times...and now a year later, I want to remind us of all she was and is at this very moment in that great cloud of witnesses. My tribute:My joy at this time is knowing that my mother has entered that great cloud of witnesses who have finished their race, kept their faith and at this very moment are realizing and enjoying the promise of eternal life provided us through our Saviour Jesus Christ. When Mom was young, she loved to dance and one of my fondest memories of her are hearing her sing all the oldies she loved to dance to. I remember her singing quite frequently. the song ONCE IN A WHILE won't you give one little thought to me.Now I think it was more a wish..than just a song. It was a desire for many of her relationships with her own parents and siblings. I think , if you're old enough, we could all join in and sing another oldie now..."Regrets, I've had a few...I did it my way." However, the songs she continued to sing in her later years were..."Through it all I've learned to trust in Jesus, I've learned to trust in God, I've learned to depend on His Word. and
One day at a time sweet Jesus...Lord help me today ..show me the way ..one day at a time." So many gathered here today out of love and respect for Mom know how very talented she was...resourceful, artistic, great cook,seamstress and how very competitive. (now there's a thought ,maybe we can win once in while at dominoes now), energetic, determined ,inventive etc. We the family have all benefited from those genes , however I encourage my extended family to contemplate and examine all her heartaches and trials( that were many and seemingly unending),and know that the greatest gift to us is her ever growing ,strengthening faith in God and her lessons learned and shared from doing it HIS WAY. Every single day, maybe several times during the day, she lifted every single one of us by name before the throne of God and even today I believe she is still pulling for us. Her deepest desire was and is that when the last puzzle piece of our life is in place, we too may say with confidence..."I have kept the faith, I have finished the course and Iam entering into the eternal life promised to all who believe in, trust in and obey Jesus Christ the Messiah and God's Word made flesh."This is getting quite long....so I am going to continue my notes tomorrow...I don't think I said all of this, nevertheless....I wrote it and want to share it, in hopes that those who knew and loved Mom would...ONCE IN A WHILE GIVE ONE LITTLE THOUGHT TO HER. Thanks Mom....see you soon.

This is really wierd. I sit down and write my deepest thoughts knowing there aren't but two people reading this right now.......Oh well....I've got blogs everywhere.....and if Idon't know how to access the real one....how can anyone else. Computers are so SIMPLE to so many...but not this kid. I'm really hoping I can learn to function properly soon. My new computer didn't have any instructions with it as I said before.....now I have learned that I can find tutorials on the web....but not being that proficient in that area....what's a body to do? Anyway, is Monday....and somehow, someway...my granddaughter in Hawaii sent me a facebook message. All these sights...why can't it just be ONE??? I have a lot I want to accomplish these next three days....but THIS Monstrous machine challenges me to try,try again. Hope all is well and blessed for anyone , any human being that might by chance just read this.

Well, another work week has come to an end. When I embarked on this blog endeavor 4 days ago I wondered if I would ever have a decent site. Thanks to my Wonder daughter Mary, she made me look like a pro....Thanks Mary. Anyway,I thought I'd share about the names on this blog....when I had to put in a name...the notice kept coming back...sorry this name is already taken...or something like that. Needless to say I was getting a bit frustrated since it's almost impossible to know what millions of people have already captured. At any rate I thought,(which isn't always a great idea) "Let's see....Jesus was born in Nazareth, so He was a Nazarene....the Bible says we will reign with Him as kings and priests.....so since the likelyhood of my being a female king seemed unlikely..I decided on Nazarenequeen.....that must have been taken , for it came back," how about nazerenequeen? Just one little letter did the trick. Ok for that one....now Little Foxes.
This verse in the Bible has given me much thought over the years and I have experienced the little foxes in my life as well as seeing them active in others around me. The verse says, the little foxes spoil the vines. After some delving into finding the implication to our lives in that verse I learned that in Israel, there are little foxes, not much larger that a squirrel really, and they climb up in the center of the grape vines and eat the fruit....from the inside out...they are not always noticed because of their size. At any rate they ruin the vine. There's great application in the Word as to Christ being the vine and we the branches. Now it stands to reason I think, that we can apply the example of little foxes in our life to the things we allow in our life that spoil and inhibit our life in Christ. Sometimes these things cannot be seen from the outside as well. As for me I had a great big little fox in my life that took me some time to recognize and some time to be healed from. Anger...lots of it for things that happened in my childhood....Bitterness for not having any help in raising five children....the military life has a way of separating families for long stretches of time. Loneliness, thyroid problems, not a whole lot of money floating around etc.
Over the years I began to have asthma problems and other physical problems. Weight gain!!! As I got into reading my Bible regularly, I began to see how all these symptoms we experience can be little foxes that eat us up from the inside. Unattended,one day we see that the vine has been spoiled indeed. Christ the vine, who offers us love and peace, help and guidance is somehow separated from an engaging relationship with His branches because of the little foxes having free reign. But all is not lost ....all is not dismal ....all is not without hope. For when we take His word to heart, believe it, use it, trust it.. as we discover and identify our Little Foxes...and bring them to the Lord for healing He does just that. Sometimes it takes a while , we can't heal ourselves. He is the Potter....we are the clay....still on the Potter's wheel.....He is molding us after His image...all we have to do is to follow His instructions...."If we confess our sin He is faithful to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness." Our part....identifying the little foxes....taking them to our Saviour and receiving His healing touch. The Bible teaches about the branches that are not bearing fruit and how the vinedresser has to cut them off...we need not fear being cut off...when we are open to see the areas in our life that are not pleasing to God. The Bible says often says..."Let him who has ears hear what the Lord says...." May we have ears to hear and strength to obey!!! Take heart wounded soul....the Lord will finish the work He has begun in us. Oh What a Saviour!!!