Thankful Thursday

Ok, it isn't Thursday, but I'm still thankful. Actually, I have been thinking of what am I thankful for -- that I could include something here no the board. Here goes.... I am thankful for:
1) No train at railroad tracks. On average, a train passes through town 1 every 15 minutes. Typically, there is one that gives everyone the opportunity to stop -- especially when running late... I was running late, so I figured I'd be stuck there for at least 5 minutes. No stop... I was on time for an appointment.
2) Glasses /contacts. With that resource I can see like a normal person. I recognize that being able to see 20 / 20 with visual correction does not necessarily make ME normal... But at least I can see...
3) Internet / web connection. Through this wonderful mode of communication I can "chat" with family and friends, teach courses from the comfort of my recliner, and search for answers to questions. Communication is wonderful!
4) Sewing machine, fabric, and patterns. I love to sew and am thankful that in 1979 (give or take a year) I was given a sewing machine. It was not a new machine, but pretty close. It is not any newer now, but it still works just fine. This summer I have actually done a few fun things without a time pressure. And, now I am in love with sewing all over again.
5) Slight breeze, sunshine, flowers, trees, birds, and bunny rabbits. Quite a list of beautiful things outside, and more could have been added, but I picked the first 6 that came to mind.
6) Rocking chairs and swings. Just sitting and rocking -- slowly moving back and forth can make time seem to stand still. That unhurried atmosphere that encourages simplicity is welcome when classes and committees and activities require thought and planning and coordination of efforts. But rocking does not require thinking or planning, but can simply be enjoyed for a moment or an hour.
7) Answer to prayer... Last Sunday I substituted for Connie at church and had my usual shaking like a leaf for the prelude and first hymn. This is typical, but believe me not the preferred for me or anyone close enough to see me. Our prayer of confession was, "Triune God, you dance among us in joy, inviting us into the mystery that you are. Yet we want understanding; we want answers. Forgive our thickness. Encircle us in your oneness, and teach us to trust you with abandon, as we invite others to join the dance; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." I thought of the Lord and that phrase "encircle us in your oneness..." And I prayed again. "Lord encircle me with your oneness that my hands would be still and my heart calm as I lift my music and heart before you."
And my hands were still. I played without any further shaking, and my heart was filled with joy as I knew the reality of God with me.
Thankfully, Connie is back for this Sunday. But now I know without a shadow of a doubt that God can do miracles -- even within and for me.

And I am thankful.

Not a dancer

Last night watching "Dance with the Stars" I realized that I am not a dancer. How did I figure that out? Well, you see, I just got my hair cut. Not short (well, OK, maybe short), but it is definitely not long and flowing such that when I move around the room in time with the music it flips easily from side to side....

So, nope, not a dancer.

Of course, I can't do those lovely graceful steps or light and bouncy around the room either, but that is another story in itself.

We'll just leave it that I am not a dancer, because my hair is short.

But what am I then? What label can I put on myself that would be a drawing card for conversation or for others to have something to talk about?

What would I want people to say? That I am a great mom? Great teacher? Wonderful listener? Quickly offers helping hands? Cheerful? Beautiful? (hahaha -- enough with what I MIGHT be...)

As I look at qualities or elements that are important to me, I realize that the one thing I hope people see is that I love God... And that I follow Him... And serve Him... That my life is not about me... But Him...

By God's grace, may I each day live such that others might see Him working in me. The church at Colossae was encouraged to "be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light." (Col. 1:9-12)

So... today I will not dance (with a star -- and be on TV), but I will dance in my heart for the Lord (even with short hair). May others see God's love in action -- through me... with short hair.

Nor silver or gold...

Today's scripture reading included Acts 3:1-26, telling of Peter and John going into the temple. A crippled man sitting outside spoke to them, asking for money. But Peter, rather than reaching into his pocket, reached to him with words, saying, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazareen -- walk!" (Acts 3:6)

Peter saw an opportunity to reach out with Christ's love and healing of both physical and mental anguish - and the man was healed.

Thoughts flooded through my head.

Does God have lots of blessings for us? Does He have lots that He wants to give to us? What does Jesus Christ offer to us?

Here in acts we see healing in His name. We celebrate the Easter message with the vision of eternal life. Jesus says, "For God so love the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16) Through Jesus' death and resurrection, God has claimed us back to Him. For mental heath, we are offered peace. "And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:7)

Then, I remember back to the story read as child about blessings -- you know, the beatitudes. Jesus himself offers to the crowd:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(Matt. 5:3-11)

I'll stop with that... but take a moment and look at the blessings that Jesus offered! To His listeners!

So, as a servant of Christ, I am recipient of lots from God. Wow!

Okay... so maybe I should stop right there with the message. Just take the good things and run.

Go home, sit on the couch like a queen, waiting for God to pour forth upon me...

Isn't that what all that I've shown above means? I am the recipient -- from God. He has gifts -- for me! Yipee!

Well... The thoughts in church didn't stop with those above. Instead, I thought of the word "relationship". The definition says, "the quality or state of being related; connection." So then I thought of "connection" -- what does that involve? Can I be lone and have a connection? Can this "connection" be one sided with one side doing all the work? The dictionary says,"to join or fasten; link; couple." At this point, I am thinking that God wants and will give me many things. But there is something required of me as well. I'm not a queen on the throne (or couch) just waiting for Him to serve me.

Instead, I looked up the word "relationship" and see that with God the relationship is entered in by my faith. He expressed His love for His people (Jews) through the covenant. And yes, we now have a new covenant through Jesus Christ. "The fulfillment of God's purposes of salvation expressed in the covenants of the OT, mediated by Jesus Christ and sealed in his blood. It is a covenant of grace, the benefits of which include forgiveness, a renewed relationship with God and, through the Holy Spirit, an inward transformation that enables obedience to its demands and so ensures that it will not again be broken." (Zondervan Bible Dictionary)

Again, I could stop right here. I have the good news of what I CAN HAVE.

But it just doesn't seem right. Yes, God has much for us. But we are in a relationship. I can't do all the taking...

So... what can I give back to the God above all Gods?

The first thing that came to mind is Jesus stating to the disciples the great commission. He told His followers to go into the world and make disciples. (Matt. 28:19)

When preparing for KIDS Club one night, I was talking with my daughter to get ideas. She asked me how the kids would put the message for our lesson into action? Our faith journey, relationship with God, our receiving from Him, is not just a one-way street. Instead, we need to put our faith in Him to action. Apply what we know and see and understand to actions or words that tell others the Good News.

If someone gives you something, what do you do in return? So, I ask you, now that we see all that God gives to us -- what do you offer Him in return?

Billy Graham said, "God has given us two hands -- one for receiving and the other for giving."

And Fr. Andrew said, "The highest love of all finds it fulfillment not in what it keeps but in what it gives."

What do you offer back to God?

Praise be to Him!

Mark 16:1-20

The Resurrection
1When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him.
2Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.
3They were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?"
4Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large.
5Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed.
6And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him.
7"But go, tell His disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.'"
8They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
9[Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons.
10She went and reported to those who had been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping.
11When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it.
12After that, He appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country.
13They went away and reported it to the others, but they did not believe them either.
The Disciples Commissioned
14Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen.
15And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
16"He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
17"These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;
18they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
19So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
20And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.
____________________

Praise be to Him, the Father - Son and Holy Spirit -- now and forever! Amen!

When we are living

The following hymn pressed on me that as a servant of Christ, my life should be actively showing that love for Him. I belong to Him!
Note: This work is under copyright, so please do not copy from here to use in publication. See The Presbyterian Hymnal , 1990, Westminster / John Knox Press.

When We Are Living

When we are living, it is in Christ Jesus,
And when we're dying, it is in the Lord.
Both in our living and in our dying,
We belong to God.
We belong to God.

Through all our living, we our fruits must give.
Good works of service are for offering.
When we are giving, or when receiving,
We belong to God.
We belong to God.

Mid times of sorrow and in times of pain,
When sensing beauty or in love's embrace,
Whether we suffer, or sing rejoicing,
We belong to God.
We belong to God.

Across this wide world, we shall always find
Those who are crying with no peace of mind,
But when we help them, or when we feed them,
We belong to God.
We belong to God.

Sunday Psalm

Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

Against you, you alone, have I sinner, and done what is evil in your sight,

so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgement.

Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me.

You desire trugth in the inward being;

therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness, let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.

Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a enw and right spirit within me.

Do not cast me aware from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustatin in me a willing spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.

Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.

For you have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased.

The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,

then you will delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your alter.

Menu Plan Monday

Trying something new with thinking ahead -- also wanted to record some delicious looking recipes.
Main ideas:
1. Avocado Shrimp Salad -- Dad might enjoy this dish since it has avocado and shrimp...
2. Thai Shrimp and Noodles -- I think Sarah has this dish or something very similar. Certainly looks good to me today...
3. Greek Seafood Salad -- Something about this one caught my eye. Maybe it is just all the veges with shrimp
4. Chicken Biscuit Potpie -- I know it is spring, so I shouldn't be turning on the over. However, since we don't have an actual over (or stove) at the new house, can I cheat?
5. Blackberry Cheese Pie -- yep... I stole this one off Sarah's site.
6. Peanut Butter Pie -- okay... I'm ready to get down to cooking and eatin'
7. Baked Sweet Potato Chips - these chips are low in salt -- and certainly look interesting...

Wonder which one(s) we'll try tonight?