STEADFAST LOVE

"YET DAY BY DAY THE LORD ALSO POURS OUT HIS STEADFAST LOVE UPON ME, AND THROUGH THE NIGHT I SING HIS SONGS AND PRAY TO GOD WHO GIVES ME LIFE." PSALM 42:8 THE LIVING BIBLE. THREE YEARS AGO, WE WERE WALKING IN THE LIGHT OF A DIAGNOSIS OF COLON CANCER IN BOB'S BODY. TODAY, WE CELEBRATE EACH DAY OF GOD'S STEADFAST LOVE. HE BROUGHT US THROUGH SURGERY AND CHEMOTHERAPY. OUR LOVE GROWS DEEPER EACH YEAR. WE DO NOT TAKE A SINGLE DAY FOR GRANTED. WE JUST CELEBRATED BOB'S 50 YEAR CLASS REUNION. THIS IS A PICTURE TAKEN THAT DAY. IF WE LOOK HAPPY, IT IS BECAUSE WE ARE. BLESSED. THANKFUL FOR LIFE AND FOR EACH OTHER. GREAT IS HIS FAITHFULNESS. MY LITTLE SCRIPTURE PICTURE OF PSALM 42:8!

NEW ADDRESS

Where do you dwell? One of the first questions you ask someone when you meet them is, “Where do you live?” I think I am going to start rephrasing this question. My person may live at 265 Lake Coweta Trail, Newnan, Ga. but my real home is not here. I may start asking, “Where do you dwell?” This morning I was reading Psalm 90 and my heart was moved to dwell on this Psalm for a good while. Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born Or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. Yesterday, I was obsessing about something that was troubling me and my wise daughter said, “Stop it momma. Stop right now. Don’t go there.” She is correct. I need to fix my eyes and thoughts on the Lord and let Him be my dwelling place. I may change my address today. When asked, “Where do you live?” I may just answer 265 Faithful Lane, Everlasting. People may wonder if I am really mixed up. I will not care. My heart will be at rest in this new dwelling place!

MY GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEEDS

WE GOT HOME LAST NIGHT FROM A WONDERFUL TRIP TO THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY. WELL, IT STARTED OFF PRETTY ROUGH....A FLAT TIRE (AND BY THE WAY, IT WAS A NEW TIRE,)IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE IN SOUTH CAROLINA. HAD TO WAIT FOR 2 HOURS FOR THE AAA TO COME, THEN A 2 HOUR ADVENTURE TO WALMART FOR A NEW TIRE. WE WERE THANKFUL TO FIND A PLACE TO PURCHASE A TIRE ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON. WE GOT SO VERY LOST TRYING TO FIND THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY FROM BREVARD. DON'T KNOW WHY IT WAS SO DIFFICULT THIS TIME, BUT WE FINALLY ARRIVED AT THE MT. PISGAH INN ON THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY. WOKE UP TO CLOUDS NESTLED IN MOUNTAIN VALLEYS AND COOL WEATHER.

WE TRAVELED (GETTING LOST AGAIN)OFF THE PARKWAY TO TRY AND MAKE IT TO BOONE, NC. OUR BRAKES WERE SMOKING ON THE MOUNTAIN GRADES SO WE DECIDED TO TRY AND FIND A ROUTE THAT WAS A LITTLE LESS HILLY! ALMOST OUT OF GAS, WE WERE THANKFUL TO FIND ANOTHER WALMART IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE IN A DESOLATE PART OF NORTH CAROLINA THIS TIME. THANK YOU WALMART. ALSO, SEVERAL KIND PEOPLE GAVE US DIRECTIONS. "YOU GO TO THE TRAILER PARK WITH THE BEAUTY PARLOR NEXT TO IT AND TAKE A RIGHT. REALLY!!!! NEVER FOUND THAT LANDMARK, BUT DID FIND THE DUMP WHERE A COUPLE OF GOOD OLD BOYS RESCUED US. THEY ACTUALLY TOOK US SEVERAL MILES TO A TURN OFF TO TAKE US TO A HIGHWAY THAT WAS TO LEAD US TO BOONE....OH, YES, A TINY LOGGING ROAD!!!!! WOKE UP IN BOONE AND HEADED TO BREAKFAST AT STICK BOY BREAD COMPANY. I THINK THIS WAS A DREAM AND I WISH I COULD WAKE UP THERE AGAIN TOMORROW. DELICIOUS BREADS AND PASTRIES. YUMMY COFFEE. (BROUGHT HOME LOTS OF THINGS FROM THERE TO THE GRANDS!)

THE HIGHLIGHT OF OUR TRIP WAS A VISIT WITH BUDDY AND BEV PRICE, CAROL ST. CLAIR'S DEAR PARENTS AND HER SISTER, SUSAN AND HER HUSBAND CARL. THEY LIVE IN BANNER ELK, N.C. CARL IS THE PASTOR OF BANNER ELK CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP. BOTH COUPLES ARE EQUALLY AMAZING. THEY INSPIRE ME TO PERSEVERE AND LIVE FOR GOD'S GLORY.

THE PRICE'S AND CLAWSON'S LIVE ACROSS THE PARKING LOT FROM THE CHURCH. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL CHURCH AND THE STORY OF GOD'S PROVISIONS FOR THE BUILDING OF THE CHURCH IS QUITE A STORY. I HAVE MANY SPECIAL MEMORIES OF TIMES SPENT AT THE PRICE HOME. THEY HAVE ADOPTED US AS PART OF THE FAMILY.

BOB AND I WERE BLESSED FROM OUR TRIP. WE HAD SO MUCH FUN LAUGHING AS WE KEPT GETTING LOST. WE RELIVED MEMORIES WITH CAROL AND THE PRICE FAMILY. WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT HOW THE LORD HAS BEEN SO FAITHFUL AS OUR PROVIDER OVER THE YEARS. THE LAST PICTURE IS A REPRESENTATION OF HOW GOD SUPPIES ALL OUR NEEDS, AND SOMETIMES IN WAYS WE COULD HAVE NEVER IMAGINED. LOOK HOW HE FEEDS THESE BIRDS!!THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN AT THE FARMER'S MARKET IN ASHEVILLE, NC. THOSE BIRDS WERE HELPING THEMSELVES TO THE CORN DISPLAYS!!

I LOVE THE PICTURE OF THE PATH UP TO ONE OF THE LOOKOUT SPOTS ON THE PARKWAY. WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS, BUT WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT NO MATTER WHAT PATH WE WALK, THE LORD IS FAITHFUL AND HE WILL SUPPLY ALL OUR NEEDS ACCORDING TO THIS RICHES IN GLORY.

HE KEEPS ME DANCING!!!! p.s. GLAD TO BE HOME TO MY PRECIOUS GRANDBABIES NOW!!!!

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

I can remember the day I really packed up my heart to run away. I was a young mom with a 10 year old son and a four year old daughter and the wife of a hard working, gone a lot, husband. I just couldn’t do “it” anymore. I did not really know what “it” was supposed to look like but I sure had been searching. I remember writing a letter to my husband about apathy, a new word in my vocabulary, but one that was being spoken often to my thoughts. I did not know where I was headed, but I remember just wanted to run away somewhere, anywhere! I actually was physically packing for my church’s lady’s retreat that was being held in the North Georgia mountains. I do not remember the exact location of the event. I do know that in my running away from home and all the frustrations there, I found the roadmap that would help me on my pilgrimage. A pilgrimage to the heart of God. So, because the Lord keeps showing me the word “path” in my daily life, I am going to follow His leading. Seems like every day in my daily devotional and scripture readings, my “visual” learning process is being nudged. Doodling drawings, paintings, words on paper, photography……here I go. No longer running away, but walking beside the Lord, holding His righteous right hand. Can’t wait to see where He is leading me. On the road again. Xxoo 8/23/12

FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS

I am doing the book study this summer, A Confident Heart by Renee Swope. Meeting with about 11 women in our neighborhood. All ages...all kinds of circumstances going on in each of our lives. All reading the same truths about our constantly faithful Father. I have a dear friend walking through a hard time with her daughter. As I was doing my morning reading from A Confident Heart, I felt the Lord gave me this life application from my life right now to share with her. This is my God moment today. Focus on today and face the LIGHT. Here is my little story.....true and made me think about you (dear friend and you know who you are) and your circumstances surrounding your lives right now. I got new lenses for my old frames yesterday. The doctor said my vision had drastically changed in my right eye. I have been experiencing paralysis in my eyelids when I woke in the darkness. My left eyelid opened fine, but my right eyelid would not open. A strange feeling. I had to force it open to be able to see clearly. Well, I thought the new prescription would take care of my problem. Hummmm! Not so. Well, not yet but now I have an even more frustrating problem. I used to be able to read everything far off with no problem at all. Clear as a bell. Now, everything far off is not clear at all....just can't get my eyes to focus. I bet I move my glasses up and down a hundred times to try and fix the problem. They told me it would take me awhile to adjust to the new prescription. I am not sure. Time will tell. For now....I am just trying to focus on what is right in front of me. Don't worry about what is far off. Praying time will take care of the far off. The Lord, the Light, the step you are on is the same Lord in the FAR OFF. Focus on HIM. He will lead you and your family to the next step. DO NOT TAKE YOUR EYES OFF HIM. FOCUS ON HIM. THE LIGHT.....NOT THE SHADOWS.

GOD CAN USE ALL THINGS

Hot, hot weather.  My car thermometer read 111 degrees on Sunday.

My garden is almost done!  Dried up mostly except for the okra.

So, I have neglected it.  Didn't think there would be much to the harvest and not worth my time.

I went out early this morning after I finished doing a little quiet time drawing.

I had painted two sunflowers.  One downcast, old and tired.  (Hmmmmm!  Kind of like how I have been feeling.)  The other one standing tall and looking joyful and full of hope.

The drawing really was blah and I laid it down and headed outside to pick the garden before it got too hot.

I harvested a few almost stewed tomatoes and lots of okra.  Sadly, much of the okra was too old.  Not cut in it's prime.  Hard and not useful for anything.  So I thought.  The Lord gave me an idea.

Cut it up and paint with it. 

So, I did.

Used the old, hard, no good okra to make my picture really happy!!!!

God promises to use everything for His glory.  We are never unusable, not valuable to Him.

Just ask Him to use your life, no matter how old you are, what trouble you have walked through, mistakes you have made.  He loves us unconditionally and eternally.

Thank you Lord.

A happy painting and okra and tomatoes for dinner!!!!!  I am going to post that in my One Thousand Gifts journal for today.

BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS

REFRESHED. ENCOURAGED. LOVED. FILLED UP TO OVERFLOWING. HAPPY. FULL OF JOY. RESTED. I HAVE BEEN COVERED IN LOVE AND BLESSINGS THE PAST WEEK. THANK YOU, LORD, FOR ALL THE PEOPLE YOU SENT TO BLESS MY BIRTHDAY WEEK. I STARTED THE WEEK BEING PAMPERED AND SHOWERED WITH LAUGHTER, INCREDIBLE FOOD (DID YOU SEE THE AWESOME CUCUMBER BOWLS MY TALENTED FRIEND JUDY MADE???) AND WITH GIFTS TOO. EDIFYING WORDS ARE PART OF MY LOVE LANGUAGE AND I RECEIVED LOTS OF CARDS AND E-MAILS. THANK YOU, LORD, FOR NUDGING PEOPLE TO SEND ME WORDS OF LOVE. LAST WEDNESDAY, MY DAUGHTER, AMYBETH, GAVE ME A WONDERFUL GIFT. A TRIP TO PHOENIX, ARIZONA. WE MEET UP WITH TWO OF MY "ADOPTED" DAUGHTERS, KATIE GARRETT AND STACY OKLAND. (WHERE WERE YOU GINNY? WE MISSED YOU.) WE SPENT 4 DAYS RECALLING GOD'S FAITHFULNESS IN OUR LIVES. STACY AND KATIE HAVE BEEN AMYBETH'S BEST FRIENDS SINCE 5TH GRADE. THE GIRLS LIVE ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES BUT TRY TO GET TOGETHER EVERY YEAR (THAT IS EVERY YEAR THEY ARE NOT HAVING BABIES.) THEY PICK RIGHT UP AS IF THEY SEE EACH OTHER EVERYDAY. THEY SHARE WHAT THE LORD IS DOING IN THEIR LIVES AND ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER TO PERSEVERE TO BE THE GODLY WOMEN THEY ARE. I AM SO VERY PROUD OF THEM ALL. EACH OF THEM HAVE 3 CHILDREN!!!! PSALM 119:90..."YOUR FAITHFULNESS CONTINUES THROUGH ALL GENERATIONS." WE DID NOT STRAY FAR FROM THE HOTEL. WE FLOATED IN THE LAZY RIVER, SWAM, SLIDE DOWN THE WATER SLIDE...AND I TOOK REFRESHING WATERFALL BATHS IN THE 103 DEGREE WEATHER. I ENJOYED GETTING UP EARLY IN THE MORNING COOLNESS, SITTING OUTSIDE WITH THE RABBITS AND BUNNIES IN THE CACTUS GARDEN, SKETCHING AND DOING LITTLE WATERCOLOR PICTURES. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!!!! THE GIRLS WOULD JOIN ME FOR COFFEE LATER IN THE MORNING. NO INTERRUPTIONS FOR CHILDCARE....JUST UNINTERRUPTED FELLOWSHIP. WHAT A GIFT LORD! THANK YOU. IT WAS SO PEACEFUL. GROWING OLDER IS DELIGHTFUL. THE LORD REMINDED ME, AS I WAS LOOKING UP AT THE PALM TREES AS I LAID BACK IN MY INNER TUBE AND FLOATED PEACEFULLY ALONG! PSALM 92:12-14....SAYS IN A PERSONALIZED WAY, KATIE, YOU WILL FLOURISH LIKE A PALM TREE...FLOURISHING IN THE COURTS OF GOD, AND STILL BEARING FRUIT IN OLD AGE! HOW ENCOURAGING IS THAT? I AM THANKFUL FOR MY GOOD HEALTH. FOR BOB'S GOOD HEALTH. FOR LIVING CLOSE TO MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. MY SON,ROB, MY GOURMET CHEF, SMOKED SOME DELICIOUS BAR-B-QUE AND BROUGHT IT TO NEWNAN ON SUNDAY, AFTER WE GOT HOME. HE ALSO MADE A SPECIAL TRIP TO GET PETIT-FORS(SP) FOR ME....YUM. HE MADE ME A DARLING WATERING CAN FILLED WITH HERBS AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS POURING OUT WATER (REALLY RECYCLED FISHING LINE!!!) HE IS VERY CREATIVE AND TALENTED. ALSO, THE MOST THOUGHTFUL GIFT GIVER I KNOW. BOB ALSO GOT ME A CAKE WITH DAISIES ON TOP....MY FAVORITE FLOWER. SUGAR OVERLOAD!!! I AM JUST FILLED UP TO OVERFLOWING!!!! THANK YOU LORD FOR EACH DAY. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE LOVE YOU POURED OUT ON ME THROUGH YOUR CREATION. THROUGH THE PEOPLE IN MY LIFE. I AM TRULY BLESSED. I AM TRULY AT REST. PSALM 116:7 "BE AT REST ONCE MORE, O MY SOUL, FOR THE LORD HAS BEEN GOOD TO YOU."