Change of Plans

Hello sisters of my heart. For today's post, I had hoped to share photos of me in my socks dropping Olivia off at horseback riding camp....however, I had a slight change of plans...

On my way home from the wedding to camp---we stopped at Kinzua Dam to stretch our legs and use the restrooms...and I fell.
For once, this fall wasn't the fault of my stumbly, bumbly footing...I was sitting in my walker (which has wheels)---wheeling backwards down a small handicapped ramp (something I do often) on my way back to the car from a restroom in a park when the wheels hit a gap in the ramp-causing me to flip backwards- banging my head hard against the pavement.
The park ranger insisted on an ambulance ride to the hospital and reported to the paramedics that I was in "an altered mental state"...because I was repeating my words and crying hysterically...I WAS repeating my words...saying "dear sweet Jesus, please help me" over and over as I was keeping pressure on my bleeding head! Apparently, he and all the park guests who ran to my aide were not accustomed to someone "praying without ceasing!"
On the way to the hospital, the ambulance attendant said to me---we were told you were in an an altered mental state and didn't know what to expect ---and now we can see he was right ---This was after much joking in the ambulance. ha.

This was my view from the ambulance...
Randy and Olivia in my little red car... Head and neck scans all revealed no bleeding in my brain. Hooray! I do have a staple in my head which closed the wound. My elbows look like they have golf balls attached- very bruised and sore everywhere--and my head hurts - feels like it was hit with a hammer...but I'll survive.
My biggest disappointment was in not being able to take Olivia to camp --after I was settled in the ER, Randy had to do that on his own--although after my ordeal he did drive me to the camp so Olivia could see I was okay...she was very concerned...and had told Randy that perhaps this bump on my head "would cause the lesions in my brain to go away and I would be all normal again." Childlike faith.

The sunset - driving home I am home - very sore - resting - and quite sad that my week alone with my husband has begun this way....sigh. However, am praising God that my injuries were not worse - because they could have been.
Hopefully, I will have the sock in the mail this week --just as soon as I'm feeling well enough to drive to the post office....be on the lookout...any of you who have yet to receive the sock....

Unexpected Treasure....

I read the introduction to one of the studies on the fruit of the Spirit which Cyndi included with the sock the other day, and thought that the story was too good not to share with you all. Credit goes to the author, Robert Strand:
There is an ancient story out of the Middle East which tells of three merchants crossing the desert. They were traveling at night in the darkness to avoid the heat of the day. As they were crossing over a dry creek bed, a loud attention-demanding voice out of the darkness commanded them to stop. They were then ordered to get down off their camels, stoop down and pick up pebbles from the creek bed, and put them into their pockets.
Immediately after doing as they had been commanded, they were then told to leave that place and continue until dawn before they stopped to set up camp. This mysterious voice told them that in the morning they would be both sad and happy. Understandably shaken, they obeyed the voice and traveled on through the rest of the night without stopping. When morning dawned, these three merchants anxiously looked into their pockets. Instead of finding the pebbles as expected, there were precious jewels!

And, they were both happy and sad. Happy that they had picked up some of the pebbles, but sad because they hadn’t gathered more when they had the opportunity.
This fable expresses how many of us feel about the treasures of God’s Word. There is coming a day when we will be thrilled because we have absorbed as much as we have, but sad because we had not gleaned much more.
...just a little something to “tuck into the pocket” of your brain....
Be blessed.

Counting my Herons (blessings)…

Earlier today, in the quiet hours of the morning, as the sun began making its way higher in the sky over our pond, I was drawn to sit on the back deck which opens up from french doors in our bedroom. Mind you, it’s not often enough I escape there (I really need to change that). But this morning, I felt drawn to sit outside. Therefore, before I had ventured to other parts of our home to fix breakfast, I found myself sitting in an Adirondack chair, enjoying the view.

The view this morning consisted of more than forty Canada Geese, dozens of swallow swooping to catch a meal in midair, and…wait, what is that? Movement in the trees…and then I saw them….The Great Blue Herons.

Typically, herons are loners, gathering only during mating season, but for whatever reason, except that God wanted to bless me this morning…at one point, I counted TWENTY-ONE herons within my view; perched on our bridge, or in the trees, in the water, or flying lazily overhead. For over an hour I watched them as one by one each would take a turn at stretching their magnificent six-foot wing span and flying majestically around the pond – low enough so I could peer into their eyes as they flew by.

They would switch positions – the ones on the bridge would fly to some trees, the ones in the trees would move to other trees, or the ones in the water (only two ever at a time fishing) would move to the bridge. I’m not sure who was enjoying the morning more…me, or the birds. Once, I caught one stalking a “snake” in the grass...as it turned out, there actually was a REAL snake near that rope...the heron won.

I began to consider my blessings. Ever since I was a child, two of my all-time favorite birds have been the Canada Goose, and the Great Blue Heron. I recall in my college days, the geese would fly in formation over campus on their way to parts unknown. Oh, how I loved to listen to their woeful honking overhead as they flew by. And occasionally, I would catch a glimpse of a heron flying from our campus lake perhaps to some nearby wetlands. Once, I was blessed to see TWO herons up close and personal as I canoed through the wetlands at Presque Isle State Park on Lake Erie. Blessed.

Ah, but I never, ever could have imagined that God would place me in this place, on this property, surrounded by these magnificent birds…counting my blessings today…all 21+….
One of these days, perhaps you, my scarf sisters will be able to visit here and sit a spell with me, taking in the view....until then, I’ll be here waiting...me and my socks.

(p.s. Don't forget to click on the photos to enlarge them...wouldn't want you to miss the heron's peering eyes....too bad I wasn't quick enough to snap the photo when he was at eye level....)

A Spiritual Gatekeeper

God has had me reading in Hosea the last few days....and I'm reminded that one of the spiritual warfare basics of our call is to be spiritual gatekeepers. Just as Hosea was a gatekeeper for his people, the sinful, disobedient Israelites, who had turned away from God, so too, I need to be a spiritual gatekeeper in my home and my family.
The Lord has been dealing with me that I'm not spending enough time in intercessory prayer, which is important in helping to maintain a wall of protection against demonic attack. My prayer life has been suffering greatly lately...and the enemy is having a field day with my emotions, especially.
I read something E.M. Bounds said: "Prayers outlive the lives of those who uttered them." Growing up, I recall my mother and grandmother praying. When I would visit my grandmother, I would often find her sitting in her chair, with God's Word open on her lap or on the side table...and she would share that she had been praying for me or some other member of my family. When I visit my Mom, she can often be found sitting at her kitchen table, with praise music playing softly on the radio, her open Bible before her, and she shares with me often the prayers she prays for myself and my family.
Contemplating all of this...and knowing the chaotic, emotional state that I've been feeling trapped in lately, the Lord has really been dealing with me that I need to get back to serious...and I mean serious...as in prayer and FASTING serious-- intercession for my immediate family. Today, I made an executive decision, and asked the Lord to give me time to spend in His Word - uninterrupted - and not at the expense of my family. Randy and Olivia need to witness me spending more time in prayer. Olivia took an afternoon nap, and Randy sat down to watch an episode of Bonanza....and I grabbed my Bible and headed to the park.
...additionally, I received a wonderfully enlightening email which has given me some things about which to pray and consider....I praise God for His direction in my life, for those He has called to speak into my life...for those not afraid to listen to His voice and share their hearts....While praying, God led me to Hosea...again..."Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you." Hosea 10:12Today, I broke up some fallow ground...and I began to sow some righteousness in the form of prayer...God is good.
And tomorrow...I may even wear my socks! ;)

Painting Pictures of Egypt....

I am fairly sure I've blogged about this before....but for the first time in a very, very long time, I'm finding myself hiking up the same mountain that I thought I had conquered years ago. It's complicated, but suffice to say, without going into a lot of unnecessary detail, that I've been painting pictures of Egypt, looking for comfort in the familiar, even though the familiar is not at all God's best for me. Please take a couple of minutes and watch this music video before reading further.

So...I'm painting pictures. God wants me to paint masterpieces of magnificent vistas, and I'm stuck in Egypt- making sketches - painting pictures - sketching and re-sketching and painting and re-working a canvas that has no business being reworked.. Not a good place to be. Ironically, the sock which Cyndi sent me is covered in "paint splotches"

ha...God does indeed have a sense of humor. As for the sock that I will pair to this one....it's buried somewhere in the abyss of one of my places I put things that I want to remember where I placed it. (...probably in the same spot that my stepdaughter's wedding shower gift is...which I still haven't located...but that's another blog....)Today, I had planned to wear the socks when I enjoyed a time of lunch and prayer with my dear friend, Marty. But, since I don't know where the mismatch is...the sock photo will have to follow later... Pastor Marty (Martha), her husband and daughter will soon be embarking on a Grand Adventure as the Lord has called them to pastor a church in Christchurch, New Zealand. Really? Marty is like my "local" scarf sister...her heart and mine are entwined...forever friends....and I don't even believe I yet realize the magnitude of how things may change when she leaves. ...sigh. But God has a plan. This I know. This Grand Adventure...I believe I'm a part of that somehow...even if just to be her warrior intercessor. How and when God will reveal the plan? ...don't know. Am I saying I'll be traveling to New Zealand? No. In fact, I don't think I ever will. But then again, I have learned not ever to say never when God is involved. In the meantime, my Martha, my forever friend, has always been available to encourage me in the Lord. We've had a few bumps along the way when the enemy tried to take us out. But he lost - and God won. I shared with her today that I'm feeling a bit like I'm being pulled back to "the dark side" - God is at work - calling me to a higher calling - I'm up to my ears in grad school, training to become a Licensed Professional Counselor; the Holy Spirit has been speaking to me about some things involving ministry and prophecy...and again...too complicated for this short venue....amongst all the good that God is doing, the enemy is HAVING A FIELD DAY...and sadly, I have been relinquishing some of my armor and allowing the enemy to penetrate my heart. No more. Today - a day of reconciliation with God. No more wallowing in the pride of "I can do this alone - I don't believe I can ever go back to where I was - I'm stronger, better, more capable..." Well, guess what? I can do NOTHING apart from God. The end. It's time to pick up my sword, cry out to God, hold fast to His side...and allow Him to fight the battle for me....spiritual warfare.Marty presented me with a most awesome gift today - completely unplanned, the Holy Spirit directed her to give me her new Bible:

With tears in my eyes, I opened it...to a completely random spot...and this is what I read:When Israel was a child, I loved him,
And out of Egypt I called My son.
As they called them,
So they went from them;
They sacrificed to the Baals,
And burned incense to carved images.
I taught Ephraim to walk,
Taking them by their arms;
But they did not know that I healed them.
I drew them with gentle cords,
With bands of love,
And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck.
I stooped and fed them.
He shall not return to the land of Egypt...
(Hosea 11:1-5a)Yes Lord, I hear You loud and clear....no more wallowing. No more talk of returning to Egypt. There are souls to reach. God has much planned for me to accomplish for His kingdom...I best get to work...

He's Always on Time....

Would anyone care to venture a guess as to what this is? No, it's not just an abstract art photograph...it's a close-up of the tire in my little red car...with a metal rod impaled straight through the rubber. Olivia and I were scheduled to be in Erie for her final bridesmaid dress fitting, however, moments after we drove out of the driveway, we began to hear a clu-thunk, clu-thunk, clu-thunk with each revolution of the tire. Oh no. Now what?!

Now we'll be late for Olivia's dress fitting appointment...that's what. This is sort of par for the course for how things have been happening in my life lately. And admittedly, I'm not doing too well with all that is going on. I've been out of control emotionally...and not leaning on the Lord as I should...and the enemy is taking FULL advantage. Taking every opportunity to attack - from every angle. I just told myself the other day that I really need to get my heart and my head wrapped up in His Word --because I haven't been there near as much as I need to be in order to counteract all that the enemy is throwing at me. The verse of the day which came through my email just two days ago was the list of the fruits of the Spirit.... Okay, yeah, I need to review them and start applying them to my life...and allowing God to shine through. He can't shine through if I'm neglecting Him....need to get back in the Word.....perhaps I'll do a study on the fruits of the Spirit....because believe me, right now, I am lacking the fruit of the Spirit in my life. I have my moments when I'm high on that mountain...but more often than not lately, I haven't been doing too well at withstanding the enemy's attacks... That was two days ago. Today - after returning from getting a new tire...and a road trip to Erie to the bridal dress fitting...I received a package in the mail. The sock has landed! But not just a sock....look and see what dear Cyndi sent along with the sock....

That stack of books....nine of them in all...each one is a separate Bible study on an individual fruit of the Spirit. Are you kidding me??! God knew exactly what I needed...and used Cyndi to supply that need...the nudge to get my act together... I honestly have no idea what I'm going to share with you on my journey with the socks.... I do know that even earlier this evening, I reached for a snack of fresh fruit instead of the dish of gelato I was craving....and all because the book on "self-control" was at the top of the stack....see, already God is using those books and I haven't even begun the study yet.... ....stay tuned...you never know where God will lead next....

Breaking Chains

"They cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love" Psalm 107:13-15

I am truly thankful for all of your love and encouragement. Since my last post, I have improved a bit and I do believe that everything will be okay. I have mixed feelings about sharing my thoughts, but I am much more thankful I did it  than I am embarrassed. I believe that sometimes we have to admit openly that we have a problem in order to change it because as humans we like to hide in our sin. I am reminded of the ABC’s of salvation. ADMIT we are sinners, BELIEVE that God can save us from that sin, and CONFESS. Only if we confess can we be encouraged and strengthened by the body of Christ, and also strengthen and encourage others.

Today is the 4^th of July, so naturally, my thoughts are on freedom. I know that God has set me free from all the chains of captivity, including the emotional ones. I am reminding myself every day to stand on that promise and thank God for all the blessings and grace I have in my life.  I love this song. It has meant a lot to me in the past referring to my chains of addiction, but I know that it is the same for these emotional chains too.

I have been claiming this song and I think it is really appropriate to share, especially today as we here in America celebrate freedom.  Happy Independence Day! The sock is headed off for a new adventure, so watch your mailboxes! I love you.

                                   Amazing Grace- My Chains Are Gone