hot
overwhelming
yummmmy
perky
unusual
mediocre
ingenious
cushiony
long-awaited
favorite
decadent
impressive
We ate.
We walked.
We laughed.
We laughed ALOT!
It was an exceptional day to be together.
The best adjective to describe it:
Blessed.
Why is it that verses like this ~
The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. Proverbs 18:10
make me feel all warm and fuzzy;
While verses like this ~
He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. Proverbs 18:9
make me want to squirm?
There are, after all, written one right after the other in this chapter of Proverbs.
I think some days, the Lord
gets tired of my quest for emotional inspiration,
and instead wants to
measure my obedience by the sweat of my brow!
My goal today: to work diligently. (The sweat is just going to happen on its own – it is, after all, July in Florida!)
I cannot remember being nervous at all.
I only remember being incredibly happy…
…and feeling extremely loved.
We were just babies, and we didn't have a clue what things the future held for us; but our Lord has been wonderfully faithful to us for the past 23 years.
…and here's to many more!!!
I read this verse today, and thought it was so succinct:
Hosea 14:8a:
"Ephraim shall say,
'What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him…'"
This is what keeps our hearts right toward the Lord!
We hear Him – through His Word
and
We observe Him – through His Works
It moves us the Worship and Obey Him!
So…
"What have I to do any more with idols"???
Verse 9 of the same chapter gives excellent advice:
"Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein."
Let's HEAR and OBSERVE Him today…
and allow what we hear and see to change our WALK!
…that they had to say it twice???
Me thinks the company protests too much!!!
A love note from my sweetie
It seems to me that "being married to your best friend" has become quite a cliche' these days, but for me it is utterly true. I have never had a better friend than Doug. And I am incredibly thankful!
I am so thankful for music.
Sometimes I forget just how much it can minister to the soul and spirit.
On Sunday, I was feeling particularly low.
I was grieving the loss of friends.
I was sorrowing that those friends are no longer walking according to Scripture.
I was contemplating my role in their decision to live an unGodly manner.
I was feeling guilty and sad and angry and exhausted in the midst of my mental ramblings.
Thankfully, I did not mullygrub in those thoughts all afternoon. I dwelt on them for a bit, talked them over with Doug, and moved my mind and focus onto other things.
But I have to tell you that those emotions continued to color the rest of my afternoon. I felt moody and lethargic and reluctant.
Eventually it was time for choir practice and I dragged myself there. Honestly, had I not been singing in the evening service, I would have been so tempted to stay home. But the Lord knew well beforehand what emotions would overtake me, and planned out the schedule and led our director to plan it just so…and I had to be there!
We started practice, and I felt my spirits start to revive. My energy level rose. My sadness disipated. My anger waned. I was able to focus on notes and parts and timing; and the music ministered to my heart.
I thought the really odd thing was that we were practicing patriotic songs for next Sunday. They were not even songs that spoke to my need or to the circumstances in my life.
Simply the act of singing, the discipline of singing truth when I didn't feel like it, the focusing on things that were good and right…helped me so much!
Praise the Lord for music – good music – that honors Him.
I'm appreciative of a church that encourages our participation in the music service.
Thank the Lord for a music director who is in tune with the Lord's leading.
I am grateful for music and for the way it moves me along, in spite of circumstances or emotion, to focus on Christ.
Thank for, Father, for meeting my need, by allowing me to worship YOU with my voice!
Obtaining Mercy 