Back From Retreat

It's unnatural to be back. I am not myself, back here. I was gone for 3 days and they were glorious. I am feeling most un-glorious now. I was a part of something very special. But I don't feel a part of anything OR very special now. Why do I feel like I have lost something, here...when I felt I had found so much, there? I must be coming down from an emotional, spiritual high. I am back in the real world and can't find my way. I feel like I need to be rescued, but I don't know what is pursuing me.

When I was 16, I was rescued...saved by God's grace and His only Son's shed blood on Calvary. I saw a movie, "For Pete's Sake", and was read the 'Romans Road' by a college student at the movie exit, by flashlight. I recently found that movie on the Billy Graham website, Grayson. I ordered it and watched it and, although it was dated and somewhat corny, the message was the same and I cried like I did when I was 16 years old, accepting the Lord. I am back in the real world.

My job now is to bring the retreat into my real world...not retreat from my real world. I must remember my salvation. I was saved for a purpose. God was pursuing me. I must daily die to self and take up the cross. I must always be prepared for battle because the closer I get to God, the more threatening I am. "Get thee behind me, satan!"

Encouraged

I just spent a 3-1/2 hour lunch with two of my best friends who, though they may not know it, are a powerful force in my life.

The time flies when we are together. We pray and eat and talk, talk, talk! We talk about how good the Lord is. We give testimony and witness to each other. Sometimes we need to vent a little, but there is always one in the group who can help us re-focus and turn that "mourning" into dancing.

We lift up the Lord and each other, in the process! Even a small compliment is a big thing from these women, because I R-E-S=E-C-T them so much. I learn from them and when I leave their company, I am ready to do battle in the world, again...refortified in God's word through my good friends, my sisters in Christ.

Sometimes I wonder why I am tolerated among these godly women. I am always in awe that someone wants to spend time with me or even cares to get to know me better. Today they told me: I make them laugh! Well, that is certainly a "special" niche, isn't it? It's not my wisdom? No wise counsel here! It's not my biblical knowledge radiating all over the place? (Don't ask.) No, I make them laugh... and that is something.

I'll take it. Thank you, ladies! I guess just being myself is fine with my good friends and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Christmas in Fargo, ND

Christmas in Fargo was such fun this year! I really wanted a white Christmas, since we don't get many in Georgia and I have been here nearly 5 years, but it was not to be. They did get snow shortly after we left, but that doesn't really count, does it? At least, not to me.

We spent Christmas Eve at my sister, Kat's, place and had 18 adults and 7 children. Those missing were Gayle and her guy and Robin's family, which would have brought us up to 22 adults and 10 children. We did our annual pass-around and the hot items people were 'stealing' were a sort of dust-buster and a canister set. Erin shared big news that she is expecting and her dad, Dave, was able to join us this year. He had to shovel out of a snowstorm in Colorado to get here.

We spent the evening on Christmas Day with Jeremy and Tracy, exchanging gifts and eating her yummy supper. It was great fun to be able to spend so much time with them. I think we got to see them every day!

It was great to see Mom and Ken, too. They are both looking so good and much easier to understand! We went to a matinee of "A Night At the Museum" and had lots of laughs. On another night we went out to Red Lobster, Mom's favorite restaurant.

Driving back to the Minneapolis airport, we stopped off for a short visit with Rod and Nashell in Woodbury. I am sorry we couldn't see more of you, but when we come for such a short time, family is really our main purpose in Fargo. I will be back for a longer time in May, when Tracy has her baby, and can maybe see more of you all then.

I pray your Christmas'es were as wonderful as mine! Love and blessings!

A New Start

A week into the new year, 2007, and I already have to make a new start!

I have been soooo lazy! Those who know me may have a hard time picturing this but I really have been worse than usual. One day last week, I watched television all day. One day, I stayed in my Bible all morning (not necessarily a bad thing), then was on the computer in the afternoon. I barely got in a good two hours of cleaning and picking up.

You see, that was my goal, and one I thought would be easy: a room a week. Now, I am not talking about picking up, but deep cleaning, as in moving furniture, re-arranging, THROWING stuff, dusting, varuuming...! Every time I do this, I am able to part with more 'stuff' I don't really need or have room for.

Do you ever leave your own bedroom last? I do; I don't invite company in it, it's just for Jim and me, so I clean other rooms first. You can guess what happens, it becomes a disaster area. Jim asked me to please start with our room. This comes from the man, like THE HOME ON THE RANGE, "where never is heard a discouraging word" and so I know the room is really even worse that I think!

I still have today, Saturday, to meet my commitment. Maybe I could extend it a day because Monday was a holiday and Jim was home and we just lolled around. Maybe I am procrastinating, or trying to find a place to set the blame for not meeting my own deadline. Maybe if I look busy with other things, Jim will do it. Maybe, maybe, maybe!

Wish me luck!

A Good Morning

What can be better than hot-buttered toast in the morning?

Really, to wake with a song in your head that praises Our Father, stretch out the bones from their luxurious slumber, tip-toe past your sweetly sleeping husband, greet your waiting dog and your possibilities-laden day as you step outside...it's just the beginning! I start my coffee, oh, that great mix of regular and vanilla flavored coffee beans wakes my nose. I cut up fruit - this morning: 1/4 golden delicious apple, 1/4 bartlett pear, and a small handful of strawberries priced like diamonds - lightly sprinkle with sugar, and pour my coffee.

I start my devotions, this moring I am in 2 Corinthians 5:20, but something earlier in the chapter has caught my eye and I dig into a parallel commentary...resting with a sermon by Charles Spurgeon. Again, I get off track and that leads me to another reading. Time for another cup of coffee and a break before prayer time.

I am working on the end of a loaf of Pepperidge Farms Cinnamon Bread. My dog and I wait for the toast to come up; she knows she will get a corner piece. I prefer real butter and on this bread it is simply wonderful. I don't skimp, and as I sink my teeth into the first bite of hot, buttered toast, I think to myself, "This is heaven!"

I have said goodbye to my husband long ago, and now it is time to resume my study and my prayer time. What does God have in store for me today? Oh, lead me, Father, and I will follow.