A Poet?

Daddy would have said that I was a poet, but didn't know it, but my feet show it, they're longfellows. Now that you have had your daily groan, I'll move on to the reason for this poetical post.

I am studying "Jesus the One and Only," by Beth Moore with the ladies of my church and a few others as well. We are up to the point where Jesus is sleeping in the boat while the Sea of Galilee rages around the disciples who weren't anywhere near asleep.

We have the privilege of seeing the end from the beginning on this situation. The disciples are in fear for their very lives and Jesus is asleep in the bottom of the boat. They don't understand God's plan, that Jesus wouldn't die an anonymous death like that, that His sacrifice would be public and demoralizing for all of them. Anyway, the situation recounted there inspired this bit of "no rules" poetry.

In the boat with Jesus Christ
While waves rise up
And winds whip and roar
The mast is rocking side to side
And He sleeps.

In the boat with Jesus Christ
The sails are torn by the winds
The waves splash water in the boat
We sceam in fear of sinking
And He slumbers.

Our urgency and emergency
Cause us to to act without thinking
To panic in unbelief
We can't believe He's sleeping
When death we are facing
And winds keep our heart racing

Wake up! Wake up! Lord
Don't you see we are dying?
My child, even though the storm rages
And you cannot see where you are going
Don't you see I am with you?
And I won't lose the way.
Be still, you waves.
Be quiet, winds.
Be still, my child
And know that I am here. © February 22, 2011

Book Blog Post

It's not everyday that a fluffy book (read that fiction) will cause me to write a whole post about it, but I read a book today (only 76 pages long) that caused me to sit back and think. The book is Holding Heaven by Jerry Jenkins. It's about more than just the birth of Christ but I won't tell you all that it encompasses. In the beginning of the book Joseph is telling Jesus His story. At the end of the book Jesus is telling Joseph the end of the story. One line will stick with me for a long time to come. "[We] are powerless in the face of God's will." There is nothing else I can say about this.

A Painful Walk Down Memory Lane

A year ago my mother had been diagnosed with a tumor the size of a tennis ball in her brain. I was making preparations to go and help out as soon as I could. A year ago I was waiting to hear her prognosis and figuring out what life was going to be like for a while.

Last week I heard Lysa TerKeurst on Positive Life Radio talking about a Bible College Chancellor who was stepping down from his post to take care of his ailing wife. Her health had been at issue for a while, but it was coming down to a point of need for more intensive care from him. His attitude was that he didn't HAVE to take care of his wife, he GOT to take care of his wife. It was a privilege.

So I looked back to a year ago, when I was planning to go help my mother--not because I had to, but because I got to. Now, let me tell you, I am sad, there are days I still cry, Mama is gone. She lasted ten weeks from diagnosis to death of her earthly body. It was hard, it is still painful at times--even more so because my husband lost his father this year as well. But I can still look back with a bit of light showing through to see how privileged I was to take care of my mother in her waning days. It's worthy of thanksgiving, and it's worthy of praise. Amen and Amen

Random Randomness

I recently visited a church and had people come up to me and say, "I'm so glad you are here today." Then they walk off and never give me another thought. No one thought to ask my name, introduce themselves, or inquire into my life.

At this church visit, I watched the gamut of worship--full out abandon to staid participation. I've decided to ramp up my worship--God is worth it!

I have some more thoughts but they are over there ---------> and I am here X. I fell taking out the garbage a few minutes ago and I just don't want to get up. =)

Waiting

It seems that I am not the only one who is waiting on God to reveal what He has in store. This week I had a talk with my son who said he was waiting on God to show him what's next for him. He said everything is a struggle right now and that all he could think of is that God is preparing him for something new.

Later this week, I had lunch with my former boss who said that she's in a place of peaceful waiting for what God is going to do in her life next.

All three of us have come to the decision that waiting for God and His timing is just fine. I'll just have a glass of tea while I wait.

That Quilt

The quilt top is finished. I don't have my camera with me because I sent it with my husband to Arizona. Soooooooooooooo there are no pictures.

Back to the husband in Arizona, he's there on a short term missions trip sponsored by my church through Mission Discovery. The destination of the trip is Hard Rock, AZ, the Navaho Global Mission (I think--I could be wrong here). My husband's specific job on this ministry is to build a stock fence around the church's cemetary to keep cattle out. After that, he is driving over to Texas to do some clean up at his dad's house to get it ready to sell in order to settle his dad's estate. So, he took my camera and my luggage with him. I am flying down next week to help in this endeavor and I sent my luggage ahead to pare down the cost of flying. Sooooooooooooo pictures will come as soon as I get a camera back!

Waiting, Fighting, and Praying

I've been thinking about this post for a while. I have a bit of a headache right now, so I am not sure how coherent my thoughts will be, but I hope that you'll be able to follow my meanderings.

I went to my oncologist this week with a pre-conceived notion of what would happen there. I knew that there would be changes in my medical protocol or treatment, or in my tumors. I knew that something would be different. BUT it wasn't. No changes in tumors, no changes in treatment, no offerings of anything different. I thought I was prepared for anything that might come my way but I don't think I was prepared to hear that there were no changes in my tumors.

Now I am sure you are wondering where I am going with this and I am not sure I have all the words I need to make myself clear, but hang tight. I'll get there eventually.

This particular appointment had been a matter of prayer for me and several of my friends. To see that doing nothing was an answer for prayer was a bit disconcerting to me. I want to feel like I am doing something, that I am fighting this evil thing that lives in me. And sometimes my monthly injection doesn't feel like I am doing much. This morning as I was working through my Bible Study and my morning devotions, the thought hit me, I am not fighting cancer, but I am fighting principalities and powers and I do not war --- well, let me let Paul tell you how I am fighting: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,..... So now I see what God is telling me. I AM fighting, I am doing all that I need to do and I need to wait on Him. So I pray as I wait, and I wait as I pray, but in the meantime, life goes on and I need to live it for Him.