Trekking with Me

Happy New Years!! So what in the world happen in 2016.... Dear friends got married... and had a baby in ONE year.... that seems almost magical to me especially that she was over 35... there is hope for me???  Marriage is still a hope but I am doing alright single.  Just for your information - free of charge! I had lots of family adventures which included Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Kansas City and South Carolina. Health and Simplification... A 5k and a 10k were completed!!  Cooper Bridge run -5th year!!  Martin Luther King Run - First and training for second. I completed my first WHOLE30!  This was an amazing experience and I am starting my second one tomorrow!! " The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying up! " - WHO KNEW but this truly has transformed my life! I have embraced the process and since November I have gone through my clothes, jewelry, toiletries, filing cabinet, and miscellaneous trappings! Through this process, I have created a beautiful, or...

My soul is so grieved over the loss of Robin Williams. It seems so odd that I would feel such grief over someone I did not personally know.  I know many grieve this loss, and deeply so. So this morning I stopped and asked, why does this affect me so? He connected with my soul. There was something in Robin Williams , the characters he brought to life, that connected with something in me.  He made us laugh indeed, but his dramatic performances also made us feel, there was such an authenticity in his characters.   Some of my favorite films were Patch Adams , Good Will Hunting , Awakenings .   Some of his roles were not exactly where I stand on my values and convictions, so I can't endorse everything ethically and morally.  Sadly and obviously, the spiritual state and direction of our culture is expressed in the arts.  Yet as an actor, he was able to embody and connect us to the cry of the human soul; he voiced, questioned, made us feel, ask and...

Because it's May and I have not posted one single thing in a few months, I figured it was time to blog. School is almost over, literally five more days of frizzy with pre-adolescents.  One look into every teachers eyes and you will see that we are all staring at the finish line.  This leg has taken every ounce of energy in all of us.  The kids are so ready to be free from school, books, teacher's dirty looks and visa versa. As this last week finally arrives, I am so thankful for the year behind, that victory and joy was experienced, and much was learned.  Honestly, I can barely wait to sift through and apply the lessons I learned from the blood, sweat and tears of the path behind me to the year in front of me.  AND I am greatly anticipating the weeks of summer in between to rest, revamp, reconnect, retreat, refresh and refill my depleted mind and soul and NOT think about school! Something I want out of this summer is a special time with the Lord.  I h...

It's been since August that I have posted.  Unusual for me to take such a hiatus from blogging.  I have been under a bit of stress, and to be honest, wrestling it through with myself, and the Lord. I feel like the proverbial tea bag in hot water.  My circumstances have heated up and it's causing not such good stuff to come steeping out.  Frustrations, anxiety, stress; add physical exhaustion in the mix and it just isn't a pretty picture.  I don't like what I look like when the "water heats up"... but I also know that it is in these "trials like fire" that my faith is strengthened, ugly dross comes to the surface to be washed away bringing growth and transformation.  It's uncomfortable to say the least, it is hard, I have cried my share of tears in the last weeks.  2 Corinthians 4:7-10 comes to mind:   But we have this treasure in  earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of  the power will be of God and not from ourselves; ...

The swoosh of a slam dunk always amazes me:  you are focused on your team, the sweat flying off the arms and legs of the players running, squeaking down the court, following the ball ever so tightly, intensity builds as you hold your breath, then as smooth as molasses, the ball  swooches  into the net!!  Everyone is surprised, screams, yells!  The players relax their shoulders a bit, gracefully turn around and jog back to the other end. The last player bouncing the ball effortlessly down the court for the next play to move into action. That swoosh always surprises, smooths... and continues the game.  It was hard work getting it there. That's how I feel right now. I just got a JOB!( Swoosh!) I am swirling with excitement, disbelief, amazement, gratitude.... I can hardly breath!  At the same time I feel a surge of what a deer in head lights must feel like... What! I have a REAL Job, with real responsibilities... what if... if ...*gulp* I  fai...

The Lord has really encouraged me this week.  It's been a week in which offensive moves were being made, moving forward without much assurance that this is what I am suppose to do yet believing moving forward is the right move, as opposed to freezing in my steps.   A few darts came flying in my direction to cause me some unnecessary fear; that is where God strengthened me to hold up truth, stand as His Girl, and keep stepping. This came home today, even more so, in my "Time With Abba."  Tucked away in Judges, chapter 7 to be precise.  The story of Gideon; it's worth a look if you want to go re-read it for yourself. The part that particularly grabbed me is squeezed between God slimming down his army to 300, and the ludicrous trampling of the Midianites with horns, broken pots and shouting in the middle of the night.  Here see for yourself in verses 9-15: "Now the same night it came about that the  Lord  said to him, “Arise, go down against the cam...

HEY!  It's Friday!  There must be something wired into the Day of Friday.  There is a fresh energy in Friday.  It may have something to do with it being the end of the week, we have two days ahead of us that are free.  Weekends are wonderful :-)  Even when it is booked with activities, they are activities usually chosen, not assigned.  Anyhow, I have a full weekend ahead... it should be an adventure. This morning I am happy over Spring... it's in the air! I had to laugh at myself earlier this week.  I have been a little stressed, on the anxious side of things, because of money.  Ugh.  I am so thankful God takes care of me, abundantly, and yet sometimes the financial monger sneaks up behind me and bites me.  I limp about for a few days or weeks, I begin to have a complaining, whining tone to my voice, my sleep becomes fretful... and well, I wonder what is wrong with me.  This past week after one particularly bad night of sle...

Care to join me for a Sunday evening chat with a delightful cup of hot tea?  It's the perfect evening for it.  I recently bought a "Night Time Tea Herbal Blend" tea and discovered it is my new favorite!  It's very smooth, mildly spicy and softly cozy.  Perfect treat as you snuggle down for a quiet moment before bed. Loving Fall, as it has come in it's fullness this last week or so here in Columbia, South Carolina.  It's Fall when you use the blower instead of the mower to do yard work!   I blew off my yard on Friday and it looked like it was in need of another blowing this afternoon.  Instead I gathered up some pine cones and kindling to light up a fire in my fire pit.  A friend stopped by and he graciously offered to finish the process.  We soon had some flames licking up the needles and my flip-flop baring feet enjoyed the toasty heat from a few inches away from the fire pit.  Lovely. So I smell like smoke now, as I drink my Night ...

Dark, grey luminous clouds cover the evening sky as I sit here listening to some of my favorite soothing music.  A sweet peaceful worshipful atmosphere has settled in.  A whistle lets me know my water is ready for a hot cup of tea.  A July evening mysteriously, romantically invites me to sense His closeness to me, and His favor.  May I share it with you? Contentment and quiet joy fill my soul, a gift given from my Maker: Thank You Jesus. The last few mornings, Psalms 146, and 147 have started my Time with Abba with, "Praise the Lord!" I have many reasons to sing, worship and praise Him.  One main one, is He has healed my heart.  I have been nursing a broken heart of sorts in the last few months.  Well, more like a huge disappointment that knocked the breath out of me. God has shown me much grace throughout, in many ways, yet there was a lingering irritation that I just could not shake.  Like having a piece of splinter stuck way down bene...

Hello!  Happy Summer Solstice: the longest day of the year!  It's not really "mid" summer but the turning from Spring to Summer. This week I have been reading Psalm 136: I thought it timely placed in my reading schedule as it glorifies God's handiwork, "...who alone does great wonders...who made the great lights."  It is even more appropriate this day.   This morning, I googled "summer solstice;" the first article listed was a report of how this day is celebrated at Stonehedge.  It is a huge event in the druid's holiday, and many gather around this historical mystery to "worship" the earth, missing the God of Creation.  So, let us place our worship to the One who Created this unique day! Personally, I love the longer summer days, and love waking up early with the morning light.  It just delights my heart; those of you out there that are late sleepers, oh how much you miss!  I do love the mornings. So today I went to a teacher ...

Several years back I discovered some wonderful children's praise & worship music which set words of Scripture to music.  They were called  Hide'm In Your Heart ; by now I am sure there are more.  One of the verses he put to music was Psalm 56:3, "When I am afraid, I will trust in You." It's a sweet little catchy tune, and I find I sing it to myself frequently. Today was one of those times.  It's the end of May, my work in the public schools is finished, I have lots to focus on in the next eight weeks, yet my financial flow will change, my next step is unknown and this can cause a level of insecurity and fear to rise.  Its pretty normal for all of us.  Yet today,  as I felt that vulnerable feeling pushing it's way into my soul, I sang this little verse, and turned it into a prayer. "Lord, I am afraid because of this shift; I will trust You to provide, guide, and sustain me in these next few weeks of the summer. Thank You that You are bigger...

I am finally having success with my pancakes.  My history with pancakes has been dismal.  You can even note the near-failure cakes at the bottom of the stack.  They are on the darker side.  Not the most preferred color for pancakes. Yesterday I had a perspective change.  My brain had grabbed onto a familiar thought that in recent months has turned into a cyclical pattern: round, and round, and round.  I am really good at ruminating.  Wish that burned calories: I would never have to go to the gym. As my brain seemed to buckle down in this cyclical mode, it was gently interrupted. "What is the base of your perspective?" From what belief are you looking from?  Uh-oh, my base was not on God's goodness or power. At about that time I noticed a big dark luminous cloud rolling into the horizon.  A few days ago I ran across a passage in the Scriptures that said we see God's power in the thunder and the rain. "Is the arm of the Lord too s...

After writing the previous post, I woke early the next morning (this has been happening every day since I returned home from PCS).  My mind and spirit were churning over something I forgot: the first step when coming to meet with Abba.  Not sure why it's taken me a few days to post it: Invite Him to come. Ask Him to come.  Then, wait.  Do nothing.  He will show up. Then Open the Word... get your pen and journal ready. It's pretty simple. Be Blessed!

Wednesday I woke up very cranky: well that's probably an understatement to be honest.  I was not happy. I had to rise early, be on someone else's schedule, to do what I normally do just fine on my own.  I fought my attitude as I took a shower, praying against the foulness swelling up in me over what should be a pleasant, delightful experience. After opening my Bible to get my "normal" quiet time reading in, I read about David dancing before the LORD, and his wife, Micah, despising him in her heart.  Not thinking much of it, I dressed and shoved my belongings into my backpack. Still unable to push the complaints from fogging up my mind, I headed for the assigned area where we were to meet at 7:00AM.   I was a few minutes late.  I felt like Yo-Sammity-Sam grumbling and cursing as I walked to the meeting area where we were to have "Time with Abba" together.  I felt like I was in kindergarten or something.  I did not need to be taught how to ...

Okay.  Matthew 14 has me thinking this morning. So, in this passage we see some incredible things Jesus does: Jesus mourning John the baptist's death, and Jesus feeding the 5,000, and Jesus walking on the water. And, in previous chapters, we see Jesus healing the sick, lame, blind, deaf and mute.  His disciples have front row seats to these amazing, miraculous works.  He speaks with authority, He is continually moved with compassion to touch, heal, and meet the need of the hurting, hungry, and lost around him. Okay, so He responds to the obvious needs around Him.  He is full of compassion... we get this, right? Well, then... why the whole walking-on-the-water thing?  What need is he meeting? Why did He do this? Hmmm,... so Jesus put his disciples in a boat, and went up into the mountain to be alone and pray.  The disciples start rowing and got stuck in the winds and waves in the middle of the lake.  These were experienced fishermen so they knew...

My thoughts are not too organized right now but I have some wonderful nuggets the Lord has opened my eyes to; so as the rain sweetly drizzles down outside, may His Truth drizzle down into the soil of our hearts. The parable of the soil has come to life for me.  You know, the one about the four types of soil.  It can be found in Mark 4.  After scratching their heads, one of the disciples had the bravado to ask, "What does it mean, Jesus?"  Jesus then unfolds the parable in such a way so they can understand it.   The Seed is The Word, the living Gospel that brings life.  The soils are the different ways the Word is received, the condition of the hearts of people.  There are those who are hard and the seed simply bounces off and the "birds" come and eat it.  There are those who receive it but their hearts are rocky and the soil is shallow.  It seems to sprout up quickly but then it dies since it has no depth for the roots to go down deep...