Road of Blessings

As I travel to my daughter’s house in Powell, there is Home Road. I love Home Road because it is a Road of Blessings.

In every season, I see God and His continuous beauty that astounds me and shouts at me to see the beauty of His hands...not only with the eyes in my head, but also with the eyes of my heart and soul.

Home Road is a long, winding road. In the spring and summer, it is framed with towering lush tress, beautiful flowers and shrubs. The grass and some of the wildflowers look so whispery soft that I want to pull off the side of the road, take my shoes off and run barefoot with childlike abandon. Weather permitting; I make sure my windows are down so I can smell the fragrance of God all around me.

During the spring and summer…every time I turn from High Street to Home Road, an old hymn comes to mind. I learned this hymn in 7th grade music class. My teacher was a lot like Aunt Bee on the Andy Griffith show and she loved God, our Country and music. So many of the tunes she taught were spiritual or patriotic. I wonder how many will remember (and sing) the hymn: I Know a Green Cathedral...

I know a green cathedral,
a hallowed forest shrine. Where leaves in love join hands above
to arch your prayer and mine.
Within its cool depths sacred, the priestly cedar sighs.
And the fir and pine lift arms divine
unto the clear blue skies.
In my dear green cathedral
there is a quiet seat.
And choir loft in branched croft where songs of birds hymn sweet.
And I like to think at evening
when the stars its arches light. That my Lord and God treads its hallowed sod in the cool, calm peace of night.

I could take another route that would save me a few miles and time...but I love the “off the beaten path” road that is a delight from God. It is out in what I call the “city country”. Not really the country, not really a crowded suburban area…just a long road with old majestic tress, weather worn farm homes as well as new homes with lots of glass and shine... all set far back off the road.

God must love autumn. It is a grand time for God as He splashes glorious, vibrant colors of green, yellow, gold, red, and rust for tired eyes and fretful hearts. I almost gasp at the kaleidoscope of colors around and above me as I drive a little below the speed limit just to take it all in. I know I annoy the people behind me who are in such a big hurry...as I look in my rear view mirror; I see worry, anger, anxiety and impatience. I pray for them to see what I see…to take a moment….a brief moment to look…really look at such extraordinary and exquisite blessings of colors from God.

Winter is not one of my best seasons…and I do not like traveling when there is snow or ice…but the drive down Home Road…even in the bleak months of winter, is often a shimmering delight. The trees speak of God’s grandeur and majesty as He tosses ice and snow on the branches of His winter canvas. Takes my breath away as I see the sun shining through the ice and bouncing off the snow to make a halo of diamond like sparkle above me.

Home Road…an ordinary country road, constructed and paved by man with painted lines, and red stop signs. To some, that is all they see…but to me, and I pray for others, that we will really see, take in and enjoy this Road of Blessings from our God and Father.


May be Copyrighted.

The Stones Whisper

I love to wander the grounds of old cemeteries. Sometimes hubby will go with me…but I often go alone. I love the stillness and quiet.

I walk among the trees that shelter and give shade in summer, brilliant colors in autumn with fallen leaves rustling across winding paths, and the starkness of bare limbs in the winter, that capture ice buds on cold frosty mornings. In springtime….the array and scent of colorful flowers, the budding trees awakening from a long winters nap, the soft feathery grass that bids me to take my shoes off and the gentle wind all speak to me of new life and that where I am is not the final destination.

I walk and I pray. I walk and read the old wind worn stones and try to recreate family ties with names, age and dates. The Stones Whisper to me…voices long silenced that yearn to be remembered.

I notice who in the family plot may have been well to do and those who had little, by the gravestones (or lack of) that adorn a small plot of grass. Some are large and works of art…others are just some concrete poured with a last name lovingly written with a stick. I see some with nothing but a small handmade cross, with names and dates crudely written by someone who loved, cared and shared a life.

I see fresh flowers or plastic wreaths with “Mom” or “Dad” in the middle. I see pictures of loved ones in small frames or beautifully etched in the stone forever frozen…not to be forgotten. I notice favorite items of the deceased... a used fishing rod, an old unopened Budweiser beer bottle with a rusted cap.

Angels, bibles, poems on stained glass, cute bare-butt cherubs, notes and letters….some written by grandchildren thanking Nana and Pawpaw for many hugs and kisses.

One sign between Dad and Mom said, “If we are not home, try Wal-Mart.” …on this same spot, are many trinkets…carefully chosen and bought mementos from Wal-Mart.

Many stones tell me these are the Mom and Dad…brother or sister…uncle or aunt or best friend of…and the names are listed…legacy branded in stone.

Then there are those small stones where the birth and death dates are the same. The graves of a mother and father who next to them you see 2, 3 or more small stones of children lost before the age of 5. I touch the small dates and my heart grieves for the mother named Abigail who lost a child every year for four years. There are many stones with scripture references…and I wonder how many really knew the One who was and is the Word.

I walk and I pay close attention to those spots where there is nothing…no stone, no marker, no flowers, no mementos…just grass covering someone who lived and died and only God knows their name.

The Stones Whisper to me. They whisper a reminder that life is fragile and short. Am I living it with joy and excited anticipation of what the next moment will reveal of God’s plan for me?

They whisper to me to be thankful for my life and my loved ones that still love, laugh, care and share in the flesh. Am I allowing the unimportant, the mundane, the petty worries or concerns or the daily urgents to rob me of precious time spent with all I love?

They whisper to me that no plastic flower, or picture, or any words etched in stone can bring them back to life or give us a peek at their final destination. Am I sharing the wonderful news and assurances of my life as a follower of Christ? Am I sharing that I have full assurance of my final destination and that it will be eternity spent with Jesus Christ and all believers who have gone on before me, as well as those who pass after me?

They whisper to me of voices from scriptures that tell me I will not find the living (or peace, joy, assurance, rest, or eternal life) among the dead…but only through the One who is alive and working in my heart every day.

"He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. Mat 28:6

“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory.” "‘ O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’ The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:51

He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Rev 22:20

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Gone too Long

My last post September 1, 2010....????? Difficult times these last few months..but God is so faithful and His kindness is everlasting. I will be working on getting some more of my thoughts in my blog over the next few weeks. Thanks to all of my faithful readers and friends.

God's Time Machine

I am searching for something…in the far corners of my mind. With a tiny flashlight of expectant hope, I am pushing memories around, stirring up years of brain dust, leaving footprints on the floor of my mind looking for a time machine…God’s Time Machine.

Ah yes, there it is. Buried deep among years of collected thoughts, sights, dreams, failures, hopes and experience. I find it needs some care. I apply gentle cleansing powder of honesty, some squirts of childhood oil, while checking the springs of cherished family and friends and tightening all the lose nuts, bolts and ends of memories too long neglected.

I’m ready to hop on God’s Time Machine and go back to visit those who lead me to the Lord. In my mind, I see ordinary people, no one special. All filled with God’s spirit, love and care, who came up beside me and held my hand, hugged my heart, soul and body. They shared God’s word, His love, His kindness, His expectations, and His discipline. People who cared enough to disciple this wild, unruly, worldly misfit, imprisoned in a cell of sullied theology, materialism, anger and disillusionment. They shared the truth and the truth set me free.

Church, Sunday school, small bible studies, retreats and most importantly home groups is where I was led and fed. Many moments , hours and days of prayer, meals, breaking of bread in communion, tears, laughter, birth, death, hardships and blessings…all shared while teaching me peace, rest, trust, kindness, and how to grow strong by the streams of Living Water.

Growth is often painful…the strong spiritual bones and muscles forged from discipline were often difficult and unwelcomed at times. But my faithful (and determined) disciples who would not let me merely dabble or fake my way in spiritual exercise….they walked the talk and took me with them on the treadmills of their experience, knowledge and holiness. The saw pass the problems, pimples and poutiness of my spiritual adolescence and saw the potential.

There was Doy, Kathy, Marty, Keith, Karen, Greg, Robbie, Debbie, Ruthann, Dan, Carol, George, Diane, Wendy, Joanie, Carl, Bill, Hoppy, and many more. All once strangers that God had cross my path. Now they are dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Some have gone home to the Lord already; they will be there to greet me when God calls me home. Some moved away and I have no idea where they are. Others I still have the blessing of talking with and sharing. This I know...that I will spend eternity with all of them. That is an awesome and thrilling thought that gives me hope and an assurance of a glorious future.

Those wonderful disciples planted, others watered and God caused great growth in me…all for His glory. They taught me well how to reach out to another and over the years I have worked with God in what He has initiated, inspired and included in my life. What an honor, privilege and blessing.

Will someone someday pull their God’s Time Machine out of their forgotten corners of memories and write my name in a journal or story as one who shared the truth that helped set them free? Will someone share how I hugged, loved, and gave them a glimpse of peace, rest, and trust? Will someone remember how I stood beside them and helped a little with their growth?

I pray so…

God’s Time Machine is creeping to the here and now…today…and ready to go into the future. To reach out and disciple someone for God’s glory and honor. I am excited about those He has already in mind to cross my path. I look forward to coming up beside someone with love and care, to hold a hand, and hug a heart, soul and body... and share the precious life saving and spirit freeing Jesus Christ and His Word.

God’s Time Machine is cleaned, oiled, tightened and ready to go wherever God sends me….to whomever He wants me to touch…to join Him in His experience of calling others to Him while using me to touch them in some small way. Me, an ordinary woman, no one special but who so desires to do for another what so many others have done for me over the years.

Have you looked for God’s Time Machine in your life? We all have one. Find it and do a little gentle cleaning, oiling and tightening, and look back and remember those who helped you along the way. Then reach out to another in discipleship. Join God where He is and in His experience with precious ones…the time spent with another is such a blessing and never wasted time while riding God’s Time Machine.

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Service for The Great I AM

”I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service” 1Ti 1:12

The Alpha and the Omega, The First and the Last, the Beginning and the End, the Bright and Morning Star…The Creator of the Universe and all within. The One who threw the stars in the sky and named each one. The One who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand. The One, who sees all, knows all and is all. The One who is King of kings and Lord of lords. The One who knows every hair on my head, every fiber and DNA, every cell and nerve… and who knows my thoughts before I know them…considers me faithful and puts me into service.

Wow.....

Doing service for the Great I AM? Sobering thought…but exciting at the same time. Like loving the beauty and majesty of the ocean but knowing (and respecting) the power of it. Trembling expectation when God calls me is a sensation I do not take lightly or frivolously. Serving God is serious business and is the only business that will follow me into eternity. God is working all around me and I need to join Him in whatever and wherever He leads me. No matter the dimension of the service…may I do it willingly and faithfully.

God is truly in the business of motivating me…while I know serving Him is serious…I also know the joy, delight and fun in doing so. The God who made all things in such wonderful variety thrills me with His creativity. From hummingbird to vulture, catfish to porpoise, lion to wild boar, and hippo to platypus, I stand amazed at His obvious delight in creating. The many people I know and love….all different…all special with personalities like no other. It is the same with the special opportunities He sets before me…all different and made to order from the One who knows me and knows what needs to be done.

Desiring to serve, I draw and rely on His strength, sprinkled with a dash of His wonderful grace, a pinch of His compassionate mercy and a pouring of His infinite wisdom and discernment…I bow my head in thanksgiving that one more day has been granted to me for Him to put into service.

As I thank Him, I also pray:

Dear Savior,
A living sacrifice I want to be, not for me but for You and the people you have cross my path today. Clear away the sticky cobwebs of prejudice, preconceived notions, unrealistic expectations and pride. Check my sometimes-myopic spirituality that can blind me to the things you want me to see. Open my deaf ears that tend to hear only what I want to say. Help me to really look to see, listen to hear. Help me to gather my thoughts…and inspect them before speaking and may whatever I say be kind, encouraging and a delight to the one hearing…and a sweet sweet fragrance to You my Savior and King. May they see You dear Jesus…only you. Amen


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Dancing Pizza Man

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, Colossians 3:23


While driving down the main street in my little town, I noticed a young man swinging a sign of a special offer for $5.00 pizza's.

He had those little things in his ears from his iPod with what looked like giant white floss going down somewhere in the deep pockets of his very baggy pants that hung very low. He had on dark, mirror like sunglasses...you know… the kind that when you look at the person you see only yourself looking at the person. A dirty ball cap covered long and uneven dishwater blond hair. He was tall and skinny (wonder how he kept those pants from falling?) with a long nose and long fingers that you could plainly see while he swirled the sign around to music only he could hear. He totally fascinated me. I was so entertained while sitting at the light. Drumming my fingers on the wheel, bopping to his movements and smiling.

It was always warm out but he was always jamming! This young kid put so much effort and movement into swinging that sign to whatever he was listening. He was throwing the sign up and then catching it, making it spin faster and faster in his hands, while dancing, dancing, dancing. He didn’t look bored or exhausted...instead, he looked as though he was enjoying himself and his energy was infectious... you wanted to get out of the car and join him (well, at least I did!)

I didn’t necessarily want to get out and buy pizza, but I wanted to do a few dance steps all the way into the store to tell the manager what a treasure he had outside on the sidewalk (who knows , maybe HE WAS the manager).

I waved as I pulled away from the light and he acknowledged me with a swagger type nod.

I have seen this kid several times and each time it was the same effort, the same enthusiasm, the same dancing, dancing dancing, and each time I was drumming my fingers on the wheel, bopping to his movements and smiling.

I don’t know if anyone went in and bought pizza’s because of him. I am sure that some people made fun of him and hurled unkind remarks as they drove buy…..but I wanted to hire him to work with me. Anyone who can put that much effort into holding up a sign on a hot sidewalk with exhaust fumes blowing his way every time the light changed has potential.

I don’t know if this kinetic kid knows the Lord or not. I don’t know his motivation for working as hard as he did holding a “two for one” offer of hot pizza with real cheese. But I know this…there are times that God gives us a glimpse of something that He wants us to see…and often times we miss it. I did not miss this visual lesson.

Because of trying times at work, my zeal, my enthusiasm, my desire to work has waned. I am tired and find myself looking more to the employer than the Lord for strength, energy and help….and there lays the problem.
My motivation should always come from the One, and the only One worth working for! Jesus Christ can give me so much more of what I need to do the job, do it well, do it with gratitude and joy and dance, dance, dance all the way. I want my efforts and attitude to be infections….

I want others to see me work at it with all my heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.

I noticed the other day there was another person holding the sign…this one older. He had the same look, did a few steps but lacked the funky gusto of the first kid. He looked forced and bored (now maybe this one was the manager!) Made me sad….but then I thought, “Maybe someone felt the same way I did…saw the potential and had the ability to hire the kid.” I hope so…I am sure he could liven up an office in no time!

Barb the Cashier

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Php 4:9-14

Paul said…”I have learned the secret of being content”…

I have been shopping at my neighborhood Kroger store for 18 years. There is a cashier that has been with Kroger’s the entire time. Her name is Barb. When we first met, she was bagging, collecting the carts and cleaning anything spilled on the floor.

No matter what time I was in the store, she seemed to be there. From the early breaking of dawn to star filled midnight, any day of the week….she was there.

Barb always had a smile and a kind word…while working double shifts, in foul weather and a few big messes on the floor. Her tiny frame would be pushing those carts in rain, sunshine, snow and ice….and always with a sweet smile and a cheery warm hello that could melt the ice she was maneuvering.

She was the best bagger…I knew my eggs and bread were nestled safely in the crisp plastic bags for the journey home.

She worked her way up to cashier (still working crazy hours) and that is when we got to know each other….as well as people passing at any time of day or night can get to know each other. She has a husband and family. I asked her once how she worked the many different hours with a family. She looked at me, smiled that sweet smile…and said in a tone that told me I should already know the answer. "Why, this is my job and I work when they need me.” No complaints, no moaning, no pity parties….just a sincere answer from a hard working woman doing her job.

Barb is now at the new Kroger’s closer to my home. She is still a cashier with the same beautiful long hair, only with streaks of gray all through it, and now working daytime hours.

I rarely see her when the stars are out or on the weekend. She has earned the right to a day shift M-F. Occasionally I will see her Sunday afternoons and I will ask...”Why are you working today Barb?” and her answer is the same as many years ago…”because they need me.” Oh, and always with that sweet smile and great attitude.

Last time I saw her, the store was not busy. I was the only one in line so we had a chance to “catch up”. I asked her how she was…and her family. She said, “My husband is unemployed and cannot find a job.” I quickly said I was sorry and she said, “It is okay…I have my job and insurance and a company that is loyal to me.” The smile was slightly different this time…not a defeatist or depressed kind of smile…just a smile that spoke of known pain, trials and weariness. She shook her head as if to drive out any negative thoughts or expressions and then asked me how I was doing.

As I was telling her about Austin and his wanting to swim "all by himself” I couldn't help but notice several things…She looked in my eyes and was very interested in what I was sharing…she has a ribbon that holds the many roses, pins and awards of customer service….and she still smiled.

I walked away with a lighter step and a renewed determination to smile more, listen more, talk less and most of all ….to be more content. She had no idea what a light she was to me. I think I will write a letter of appreciation for her and her excellent customer service and attitude and maybe add another rose to her ribbon.