The Woman Caught in Adultery

I can't imagine what it felt like to be the woman caught in adultery, in the book of John, as she was dragged in front of a crowd of men, including Jesus, at the temple. The Scribes and Pharisees wanted to catch Jesus in something they could use against him, so as they stood before him, woman in tow, they said the law of Moses would have them stone her and asked Jesus what he had to say about it. She must have been terrified thinking she was living her final moments in a horrific drama. I wonder if her husband and lover were in the crowd of men, one possibly shouting, "Stone her! Stone her!" The other looking on quietly, helplessly.

Jesus, in quiet deliberation, bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger. He then said, "Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." Then, he bent down and wrote on the ground again.They all left, and Jesus asked the woman where did they go, as if he did not know. He asked her if anyone had condemned  her, and she answered, no one had. He then said these beautiful words, "Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again."

We are not condemned. We just need to stop "sinning," or "missing the mark," or in the words of some, we need to stay "aligned with our source."  Hey, I didn't make this up. Jesus said it, not just me. So why is it that we spend an inordinate amount of time condemning long lists of people, places, and things? I think it's interesting that this story was not in the original works of John but was added later. Possibly it was added because someone felt it was needed to illustrate a point because condemnation was running rampant in the early Christian community. Whatever. Hey, maybe that's what Jesus wrote on the ground with his finger, WHATEVER!  OK, so it was not in English. I am writing only briefly in jest. This is not a laughing matter.

Do not judge others, and you will not be  judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37

God, teach us to love as Jesus loved, not just those who fit our list of winsome qualities, but everyone.

Peace.

Love, Linda

Where Fear Hides

Early in the morning, before the revealing light of full sun, the birds begin the day posturing for food. It's survival. In the very same waters, the alligator postures himself, too, for the search for food. Hmmm... I know he likes turtles, and I suspect he would eat bird with a chomping zeal, but I am not certain of all his habits. Maybe "he's" a she. Anyway, I view them all as having a certain fearlessness and focus on essentials. 

I wonder if water fowl tell gator stories to each other before bedtime to heighten their defenses. I wonder if they watch the news through neighboring windows, viewing pictures of sandhill cranes senselessly smashed on Narcoossee Road and shake their feathers and shutter in dismay. Maybe they play birdeo games where ducks shoot hunters and track gators through the marsh.

After all, without those things, life would be dull and boring. Birds would only have natural pursuits and natural beauty and ordinary survival adventures to keep them psyched. They would only have the safety of the flock and the newness of first flight to give life zeal. They would only focus on the essentials of their kind and be courageous in their daily quests. Oh, wait, maybe they are all of those things. Hmmm...I need to study them further. I only speak as an observer, not an expert. Real fear hides in the bushes for the birds, but even then, they are instinctively aware but not stymied by it. They do not appear to wallow in it as we do. Maybe we can learn from them.

I know people who wear fear on their sleeves so clearly it's palpitating. Others package it in anger. I am working on my "fearless" badge, but it still crops up, unexpectedly. My fear hides in bushes, too, but I am flushing it out. I hope to model after the birds, maybe not as they are "scientifically" but as I observe them. I find them fearless.

But those who listen to me will be secure and will live at ease, without dread of disaster. Proverbs 1:33

We're all in our places

Saturday morning, I walk with "the girls," either blood or adopted, in St. Cloud, Florida, between the hours of 6:45AM and 7:30AM, you might see us if you get out that early.  It's a comfortable consistency. I knew when I walked out of the garage to the car this morning the sky was going to be unspeakably beautiful because it was off to  a brilliant start. It did not disappoint; it entertained. The afterglow of it brought a little tune to my mind that I sang in my first grade glass with Mrs. Michael. I think I sang it in second grade, too, but I am not sure about that. I remember this; we sang it with a comfortable consistency. You may have learned this tune if you are a baby-boomer. The words are easy, and you can hum along if you know it. Here it is:  Good morning to you. Good morning to you. We're all in our places with bright shiny faces. Oh, this is the way to start a new day. tra la la... Now, I know that's not earth shaking, or is it? It was a piece of my puzzle, a developer for my picture, a meme for my mind. I think I'll just sing it for awhile, only this time with gusto...Oh, this is the WAAAYYY to start a new day!

Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.

Psalms 5:3

Scrapping? Why?

 

Here are more shots from the Turkey Rod Run, yesterday. Notice that I actually did see beautifully renovated antique cars at the show. There was a whole field of them, but you won't see those pictures because I didn't put my attention on them. I was fascinated watching people, signs, piles of  "stuff", and obviously, the food; oh, and the birds.

I brought the picture of the birds back to you again because they remind me of something I do, and I think I might put it in the "human plight" category. The place was riddled with food. Food was located in a series of booths along side streets and dotted throughout the field. The seagulls are drawn to food. If you have been to the beach and fed them and watched them splatter your friend's shoulder as I have over a few chips, you know they can be voracious scavengers, scrapping for food, but I notice they have a tendency to flock to a single piece. There was food, food, food, and the flock of birds you see in the picture are all competing for a few morsels one man, walking down an aisle, dropped on the ground. I bet they didn't see the antique cars in the field, either.

There were probably two or three hundred gorgeous cars there, but my attention was elsewhere. What a "bird brain!" I missed an opportunity for great photos, but like the seagulls, I focused elsewhere. I am not ungrateful because I had a wonderful day, but next time, I hope to expand my sights further to take in more of what is offered to me on a platter shaped like a giant infield. There is more available to us than we can imagine. Let the seagulls eat crust.

From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace. John 1:16  Peace. Love, Linda

Happy Nontraditional Thanksgiving

I had a very nontraditional but beautiful Thanksgiving. Darren and I went to the Daytona Beach Turkey Rod Run to look for "deals" for his new motorcycle repair shop he is opening in January, and then we went to work at the shop. I, believe it or not, gladly scraped dry wall plaster off floors. Life is good, and opportunity abounds. Thank you, God.

Psalms 100

Make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;

come into his presence with singing.

Know that the Lord is God.

It is he that made us, and we are his;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise.

 Give thanks to him, bless his name.

For the Lord is good; 

his steadfast love endures forever,

and his faithfulness to all generations.

What are you looking for?

I found what I was looking for!

 

Oh, that's why all the old cars are here!

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 Love, Linda

Little Apples

It's getting late, and I'm sitting at my laptop trying to write a blog not set in my mind, yet. I think I took more than my share of manna for the day. I'll have to finish tomorrow. Piece of quail anyone? Good-night. Be back in the morning.

No, I can't walk away from the computer, yet. I feel compelled to write. I think I 'll take a picture of the little apples that Nik gave me. Nikky and Bella picked them from a Michigan orchard. We live in Central Florida; it's been years since I've seen "real" apples. I forgot how  cute they can be. I know, I'll put them in a bowl tomorrow morning when the light is just right outside and take a picture of them. I bet if I put them out by my tree, the squirrels would love them! Maybe I could get a picture of a squirrel eating a tiny apple. I would also like to get a picture of my shy cardinal, but he's flighty. Maybe little apples will lure him. I'll be back in the morning with the pictures, and find  a way to tie this up with a blog bow so the package is complete. We'll both be surprised. OK, I mean it now. Good-night.

I'm back; it's two days later and a different blog came before this one, and it's very cloudy outside and the apples have diminished in number. I'm thinking the fact that apples grow on trees is a miracle. We're daily surrounded by miracles, strolling by each one mostly blindfolded. Last night, walking on the lakefront path, I saw a magnificent shooting star, close and vibrant. Yesterday for the first time in weeks, we received moist, earth quenching rain and had an early Thanksgiving dinner at my daughter's house. Yes, life is full of miracles. Daddy used to say, "If I wake up and put my feet on the floor, it's a good day." If I adopt that attitude daily, I think my miracle blinders will soon be nonexistent.

The mighty one, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.  Psalms 50:1-2

Find joy in this day.
Love, Linda

Your Father's Good Pleasure

See "It Puzzles Me" below this message/Remember Bob Proctor? He's still alive and amazing. Check out this opportunity.

Note: If you see this and wonder where today's blog is, read below this message for "It Puzzles Me". Keep reading, and thank you for becoming followers. Have a wonderful day! Linda


I just did something that's going to change my life.

Let me ask you something...

If you were just one step away from reaching your goal of flooding your life with wealth, would you take that step?

How do you know, right now, that you're not?

What a shame it would be to stop making the effort, when just a little bit more would make it all worthwhile.

What a shame it would be to have taken all those steps, only to miss this very last one.

This next step you take may very well be the one that makes all the others count.

You owe it to yourself, and the efforts you've made, to take this step.

Its simple... go to this website and read the entire letter from top to bottom.  I promise you - you'll be a changed person for the better.

http://www.sixminutesmail.com/greetings.php/aHR0cDovL3N0b3JlLnNpeG1pbnV0ZXN0b3N1Y2Nlc3MuY29tLz9haWQ9NTk3ODQ2/?a=tr&cid=2752320

Warmly,

Darren Oliverio

P.S. Don't delay - run to that website now.  At some point success is just one step away. Keep going and you'll be there.

It Puzzles Me

Yesterday I went to Big Lots to buy water and see if they had a new supply of postal tape for my Ebay packages. I passed by an end cap filled with puzzles. I've passed puzzles many times in the last year, but this time they called me loudly, so I answered. Since it is approaching Christmas, I found a fitting puzzle and brought it home. It's now in pieces on a board, for quick removal, on my dining room table. Its a puzzle that has limited bright colors, so I know I will spend time studying subtle shades and hues to complete the picture. My brain likes that for some reason, so I torture myself with it periodically.

Jigsaw puzzles are not the only puzzles that call me to involve myself with them. Sometimes, life puzzles "holler" at me loudly; I can't help but take notice. As a matter of fact, one has a hold of me right now. It puzzles me. What I am thinking about is us as puzzle pieces, and I am wondering how come so many of us spend a large chunk of our limited earth ticket as a piece in a puzzle that is obviously not right for us. I believe that when we are in the right puzzle, things fit and the final product flows to completion. At that point, it's time for a new puzzle,so, as a puzzle piece, we begin a new scene. A puzzle piece in a 1000 piece puzzle will stay in one place longer than a piece in a 250 piece puzzle, but  I don't think we are meant to be in just one puzzle in a lifetime; I think we complete LOTS of puzzles in various aspects of our living. After reading over that, I am sure I am not the only person puzzled now! Anyway, to wrap this up, well,  just how will I wrap this up? Any suggestions? I do have a good verse that follows along this line. It's amazing how there are good verses for everything. It's this:

For God is a God not of disorder but of peace. 1 Corinthians 14:35

If it's "hollering" at you, chew on it for awhile. Peace.

Love, Linda

The Daily Things Alert

This morning, I woke up, got out of bed, poured the water in the coffee maker, switched on the hot plate, walked down the hallway, turned up the AC, opened the door to the garage, turned off the alarm system, walked back in the kitchen, poured my now  finished coffee, strolled back down the hallway past the AC to the garage door, opened the door, checked to see if the alarm was off... wait, I just told you I already did that, so you know I did that. Why don't I know? The obvious answer to me is related to the fact that my morning behavior is routine. My routines sometimes  lose themselves in the day because they are automatic.

Automaticity is a critical element to learning and attaching information to long term memory,so what's the problem?  A lack of awareness, thoughtfulness, living in the "nowness" of life.

Take a moment and check off a list of things you do routinely every day. Like myself, you probably find the number surprisingly long. I am not saying life is to be without repetition. It is a crucial part of our balance, but the word balance becomes key. When our routines place themselves at the head of our life, and we begin doing even the smallest of  daily things without thoughtfulness, thankfulness, and vitality, we are sacrificing rich moments of living in a manner similar to erased words on a chalk board. A faint trace of the words linger on the board in the form of white dust, but the words are gone only to be replaced with new words, and unless someone takes notes, they are lost.

There is a verse in the new testament that always bothered me in  its coldness. It is a message to the church in Laodicea in Revelations 3:15-16. It reads, "I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth." Ouch! They had become so complacent in everyday living and commerce that they lost true zeal for a rich life connected to God. If I could go back in a time machine and watch how they handled daily things, I imagine their personal lives would look very much like ours today, only the scenery would be different. The words "I am about to spit you out of my mouth" is our alert.

Thank you,God, that in the seeming harshness of this message is the grace and renewal available for each of us for each new moment. Thank you for letting me know without a doubt that your desire is not to spit me out, but to love me. Give me the awareness each day to be thoughtful and thankful in even the smallest of routines; remind me of things I should note before that moment is erased. I love you.

Love, Linda

What 's your name?

Note: And I won't say this again.I miss my Amish Friendship bread. That's all about that.

I don't know the name of the little, yellow flowers that grow wild along the shores of Lake Toho, but I think highly of them. Why? Well, they're flowers. Flowers are good, pretty, delicate,fragrant, elegant...After all, they are flowers. I hear that word, and I don't just visualize a specific part of a plant; I feel it. Flowers.

I just sent out a package for ebay yesterday. It was a fifteen year old box, yellowed and worn with an odd assortment of balsa wood and plans for the building of a glider. It was a homely box of wood, but it had a name, and it sold magically fast when I uploaded it to ebay. The name- Gentle Lady 2. Ahhh, sounds like soft sands, colorful sail boats, and gentle water lapping against a sun bleached wooden dock. No, it was just an old box of cut balsa wood and some plans. Granted, it will be treasure to someone who loves building gliders, but to most, it's just an old box of wood with a lovely name that sold with tremendous speed.

I worked with someone who was trying to change her behavior and having difficulty with it at times. When she got mad at someone she would say with strong inflection, "IDIOT!" I assumed their was a person somewhere "out there"attached to that name. Since I am intrigued about our "connectedness," I wonder if, when the word IDIOT leaves her mouth, the person on the other end doesn't quite feel as well as they did moments before? Hmmm... something to think about, and while I think of it, I will remember flowers and the Gentle Lady 2. By the way, I called that box of wood a "her" as I sent an email to the buyer stating, "She's in the mail."  As I write this, I'm thankful Mama would not let us call people names. I understand it is a difficult habit to break.

I think the book of Isaiah modeled a beautiful "name calling" lesson when prophesying the birth of Jesus.

For a child has been born for us a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6

No wonder he lived up to expectations...
Love, Linda

Watch the Batter

The little soccer player  is my granddaughter, Bella Grace. I put her picture in this blog to distract you from what is really going on this very minute. You should pay attention to how really cute she is in her little outfit and not to the drama that's taking place in my kitchen, or to be exact, in my oven right now. It's shameful. It might not have been shameful if I had not taken pictures and written thoughtful blogs about the Amish Friendship Bread with such sincerity. I expounded upon the importance of following the Amish Friendship Bread protocol to the very end, but now. Oh, I can't tell you, yet. Doesn't she look a bit pensive in that picture? She was very shy on the field her first game, but she overcame it. However, she is much more a dancer than a soccer player. She loves to sing and dance. O.K., I know it's not going to work. You know it's only a diversion. This is what happened; it's something NO God fearing Amish woman would do, and it marks of selfishness. I think I hit on that in a previous blog, too. Now, I am going to have to eat crow. Well... not really crow. Actually, I will be eating lots of Amish Friendship Bread. Extra Amish Friendship Bread. My portion of bread, and three other portions. It looks lovely, and I tasted the batter, and I think it is going to be, oh, so delicious. I should feel bad, but I really don't. There is a sick part of me that is glad that it happened. So what if I forgot to dip out the three bags of starter before I added the final ingredients to make the bread. It is freedom I say. Freedom! That cycle of making the bread every ten days and trying to pretend I had enough friends to keep the noble cycle going was getting difficult after one cycle. I think, yes, I think it was really meant to be, but just in case, I will ask forgiveness. That always helps. By the way, if you're not doing anything, you might want to drop by. I have some fresh baked goods to share. Something good is bound to come from all of this. Yeah, it's called extra Amish bread for me! I have to go. The timer is beeping, and the kitchen smells sooo... good.

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

AMEN!!!  (lol)
Love, Linda

Deeds of Power

O.K., so they're not pretty pictures, but when is laundry pretty? I just realized, too, the black panties on the dryer are Sally's.  Too much information. I've washed so many loads of clothes I can't count them. Sounds like a word problem.

Seldom do I think, when doing laundry, that it resembles in any possible way a "deed of power." Oh, but it is. The laundry "doer" gets to make all of the decisions.  What detergent do I use? Hot or cold? Do I throw his white underwear in with the red bandana and the new blue jeans? Do I check everyone's pockets, only my pockets, or no pockets? Who should get this curled up $10 bill that just went through the washer and dryer? Should I turn the washer on in the morning when he's in the shower when I know the water pressure will drop?  Should I fold the clothes and put them away right after they are done or leave them on the dryer until I need the space for the next load? What do I do about Sally's panties? Do I call her and say I have them or just wait until she comes back to my house? Yes, laundry is  absolutely a "deed of power." The one who does the laundry has the power.

So what happens when I go in the laundry room and the button on the washer won't pull out or the water doesn't come on? What if the electricity is off on laundry day? What happens to my "power" then?  Sometimes I'm geared up for a "deed of power."  I gather everything needed and rush into the laundry room, but nothing happens because a vital connection to the source of energy that creates the contacts that produce the water that flows into the laundry tub is broken, disconnected. To be a doer of "deeds of power" there must be a connection to a power source. Jesus of Nazareth, God in the flesh, did not do miracles for those who were not connected to his eternal source of power. I want to remember that daily, so I don't strip the beds, throw in the towels, pick up the socks and fill my basket only to find the power's disconnected.

I am thankful that my power source is always a prayer of faith away.

And he did not do many deeds of power there because of their unbelief. Matthew 13:58

Find joy in this day. Love, Linda

My best friend-me.

     The best friend I have in life is me. It doesn't matter what I do or where I go, I'm there. It reminds me of a country song that won't come to me right now. I don't want to butcher it and tick off country music fans, so I'll move on. If you think of it, will you write the words I'm hunting for in my brain in the comments so that incessant part of my brain that won't let something go I can't remember will have peace?
     Today, I'm doing things I never imagined. I created a book I'll finish this spring. I signed up for a domain name so I can develop a website for selling products for others and myself. I 'm involved in a law suit based on personal convictions about our students' education. I'm helping Darren open a motorcycle shop, and selling motorcycle parts on eBay, and I write a blog everyday. Who am I? No one could have told me, January of this year, that life, in the guise of trouble, would take such a complete turn for me in an amazingly short time. Through it all, I have more peace of mind than ever before, so I've decided peace of mind has little to do with circumstances.
     I discovered THIS in my recent mad course of events, LOVE THYSELF. I like that "King James" sound that takes me back to Mama practicing verses with me at night, sitting on the edge of my bed. THYSELF.  People who loved me and gave me a  rich, spiritual foundation left me with memes that crept into my soul as,"Love thy neighbor." As thyself got lost somehow. The message of love is vital but impossible as a one-part lesson. Lessons on self love were not the trend during my foundation building, but thank God, we had come far compared to "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." So what is this all about? Be your own best friend. Love thyself, and no matter where you go or what arises in your path, you will have an amazing peace and capability to handle it with confidence. Then, loving others follows naturally. Self love leads to enlightenment.

So that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you,what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.
Ephesians 1:18-19


Find joy in this day. Love, Linda

YES!

     Years ago, my sister Sally gave me a card with a beautiful poem by

e.e. cummings simply written on the front. It had a basic, black font with a solid, green background. I loved that verse so much that I remembered it by heart. Occasionally, everything aligns, the poem comes to the forefront of my mind, and I renew my relationship with it. This morning is one of those times. The poem, possibly not exactly as e.e.cummings wrote it, but as I remember it, says this.

"I thank you God 

for the leaping 
green spirits of trees,

for the true  
blue dream of sky

for everything which is natural,

which is infinite,

which is 

yes."  

For in him every one of God's promises is a "Yes."  2 Corinthians 1:20a

Today is a day for "YES"!  sol ( smile out loud)
Love, Linda

Thoughtful Decimation

I like to get up early, before the sun comes up, pour a cup of hot coffee, put sweet creamer in it, and head for the back porch. It's my quiet time before the day breaks loose with its callings. This morning, as I sat watching the sky take shape, a young squirrel climbed up the screen covering the pool area and ran up to the roof top. The squirrels often climb the screens, and I am always amazed at their nimble ability to do so without tearing them. However, the squirrels who preserve my screens so delicately, are the same pesky, little creatures (I say that affectionately) that decided two autumns ago to decimate the end caps of my gutters by ripping and chewing them to shreds to attain acorns they could easily reach from the open gutter. Darren had a sheet of copper in the garage he cut into new end caps, and the problem was solved, but the question still lingers. Why did they do that when it was absolutely unnecessary? For those of you who have read previous blogs, can you feel a shift from squirrels to people coming your way?

I use the word decimate because the connotation is strong, and that is exactly what the squirrels did to my end caps, but does that word fit anything in your life? I know I have decimated things in my life with thoughtless abandon only to come back later in the throes of brutal consequences to ask myself, why did I do that. It's a very human quality, and squirrel, but wonderfully, the same grace that keeps me feeding the squirrels after their episodes of destruction, keeps God feeding us after every episode of unnecessary decimation in our life, and (this is the really great part) God, after the simple act of heartfelt request, continually wipes our slates clean. The only tally sheet running is the guilt tally sheet that we choose to keep out of some hidden, aberrant disrespect for ourselves. The presence of grace for every new moment is remarkable! However, I believe thoughtless decimation cannot be part of our lives if we want to feel the grace. It blocks the connection. I am sure that if the squirrels had eaten the copper end caps, too, I might not be feeding them right now. I'd still love them as creatures of the earth, but I wouldn't offer them food. I would leave them to their own devices.

One way to begin the art of becoming a thoughtful "decimater" since all decimation is not bad, some things must be demolished to start anew, is to begin by building up ourselves and each other. If that is a habitual pattern, it's a simple step. If not, it will take at least thirty days of constant attention, to make edification a routine in your life.



Therefore, encourage one another and build up each other. I Thessalonians 4:11a puts it in a positive light, and another very practical way of saying it comes from 1 Corinthians 11:16 which reads, "But if anyone is disposed to be contentious-we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God."

Find joy in this day. Love, Linda

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Last night I went with my sisters to  Harmony High School to see my niece, Cami Rose, play in the musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The cast, and of course Cami Rose, did a wonderful job relaying the story of a mismatched group of spellers and their eventful day at the county bee, touching on the lives and times of young adolescents put in the spotlight. The play is based on a simple premise that flows deeply into the heart of the pressures and expectations we place on youth in our society.

Last year, I was the coordinator for our county spelling bee, playing the real live role of Cami Rose. I remember being on the stage and making the point often that everyone was a winner knowing that middle schoolers' don't often feel that way. I also remember trying to issue messages of comfort because tensions were evidently running high for the finalists. It was a tense, edge-of-your-seat culmination after several rounds of back and forth. Fortunately, it ran smoothly without an apparent hitch, unlike a bee I judged a  few years prior.

The ending of that bee felt triumphant. Tears of approval flowed shamelessly down my cheeks when a brave but scrawny little guy, who now has a chance because geeks are cool, won the bee. The look on his face was priceless, and his mom was beaming. However, after the bee a parent complained to a local news station about the outcome stating her daughter was not treated fairly due to the mispronunciation of a word, which as judges, we had thrown out because of that very fact. The determined anchor woman came to the district office seeking my boss for the story, but was sent away because she insisted on knowing the name and whereabouts of the complaining girl. She did not even ask about the winner. I think that whole episode was described in the Putnam County Bee in the words, "life is pandemonium." Pandemonium: n. Wild uproar or noise. [Pandaemonium, capital of Hell in Milton's Paradise Lost]. The local news channel ran a brief story that night at 10:00PM on the disgruntled parent and child. They never mentioned the winner of the bee. No wonder our kids think life is pandemonium. We are addicted to it, but it is not hopeless. There is a cure for the addiction that takes only thirty days of reprogramming, but it works; my mama tried to teach it to her children all our lives with these three, simple words, "Think lovely thoughts."

Finally,beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  Philippians 4:8

As for the unusual artwork. That was a collage made by my daughter, Nikky, during her teenage years. It seemed fitting. Find joy in this day and "think lovely thoughts."
Love, Linda

Breath and Life and Understanding

I read a piece by C.S. Lewis about his childhood. He had a remarkable imagination and boundless creativity. His relationship with God took on many twists in his young life and at times, he doubted God's very existence; however, he experienced God's presence even though he doubted. I believe this because he  describes an episode when he was exposed to a piece of text that took him to a place where the far, northern light captured his mind, body and spirit. It transformed him and later became a crucial element in his works.

I know that feeling; just this morning, when I rose early to walk with my sister, I was captured by the light. It stopped me in my tracks, and I could only stare at the sky and say, thank you. For a brief moment, I felt that light, and it added flame to my own spirit. Early this morning, I believe I connected with God who dwells in me, and together we looked at the shining face of creation and said, "This is good."
I am honored that I am given moments when I utterly feel at one with that indescribable presence.

In the second book of Esdras, that may not be in the Bible you read, a beautiful verse describes that entwined relationship that Jesus teaches us about in chapter fifteen of John with the words, "I am the vine;you are the branches." The verse in Esdras reads like this,
He formed human beings and put a heart in the midst of each body, and gave each person breath and life and understanding and the  spirit of Almighty God, who surely made all things and searches out hidden things in hidden places. 2 Esdras 16:61

Thank you, God, for breath and life and understanding, and for those moments when we experience the spirit of the almighty God within us. Teach us how to experience them more often as you grant us your loving grace.

Confidence Bag Depletion

I’m awaiting arbitration because I spoke out about a writing initiative our new superintendent brought on board in our Florida school district. I was a learning resource specialist for seven years, grades six through twelve, with a writing emphasis. The new initiative promoted writing as a test practice with extensive time spent mastering one single model essay for all, “with liberty and justice.”  Real world writing across the curriculum was not to be discussed, at least I was not allowed to talk about it; actually, after one eventful Friday the 13^th, I was not allowed to talk about anything, but this is not about the initiative or the elimination of my position; although, I would not be sitting at home at 8:00AM this morning writing a blog if it had not happened. The thought I am now putting to paper is about the after affects of prolonged disrespect.

Picture a bag of confidence.  We are each born with a bag of confidence wonderfully crafted to expand. However, the yen, or is it yang, of that expansion is shrinkage. Ouch. I felt a pinch. When disrespected (as I was when they placed me in a warehouse which I lovingly called the Rubber Room named after a video project from New York City, and they took away all peer contact and academic freedoms for expressing my opinions) for a period of time, insecurity worms began to sneak into my confidence bag. The longer they were there, the more opportunity they had to create homes and reproduce. These newcomers to the confidence bag do not yield expansion because they feed daily on the cloth of the bag, leaving nasty, little holes. My confidence began leaking out of the bag in tiny increments until my bag was small and tattered, but just as the coat packed in winter storage ravaged by moths is not evident until the temperature drops below 50 degrees, I did not realize my confidence bag’s demise until I entered into a situation when I pulled my bag out to use it again. The effects for me and others experiencing confidence bag depletion, can range from niggling anxiety to all out terror, no matter how daunting or simple the challenge.  I think, then, that what I am writing for you today is an FYI.  I started this with all seriousness, but after leaving the page to feed the birds and wash out the birdbath, I’ve lost my taste for this morsel, so I will end with this slogan for the day:

STAMP OUT CONFIDENCE BAG DEPLETION.

Whew, I’m glad that’s off my chest. This verse fits beautifully, reminding us of our indestructible tool for stamping out confidence bag depletion:   “Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, ’Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you.”  Mark 11: 23. Now that promotes confidence!

Love, Linda

new every morning

For those of you who have joined my blog, thank you. I am not sure  how it all works, and I am learning more how to design it everyday, but I know in blog world, adding followers moves my positioning. That will be helpful to me when I begin marketing my  inspirational book, which I plan to have ready May 2010. 

   

     Exodus 16:31, "The house of Israel called it manna; it was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey." I am beginning to think I should call this blog, manna, because it comes to me new every morning. I sometimes get a thread of a thought the night before, but that thought may not be connected to the blog for the day. It feels precarious like walking on the stones that circle the tree in my back yard. It's definitely wide enough, but the fact there is a two foot drop on one side changes the feel. My faith is being tested daily, and I am learning to embrace it. I think about the birds and squirrels that come to my feeder, I give them manna that tastes like sunflower seeds and, who knows, maybe they think it tastes like honey, too. They come regularly because they know I am mostly faithful, but some days, the feeder sits empty, and I know without a doubt, they find food elsewhere, and as soon as I make a trip to Big Lots for more seeds and fill up the wire basket, they are back on board, new every morning. There's a wonder in this I want to share with you in words, but that is all I have to say for now. Find joy in this day and feel the newness of this moment... and this one...

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3: 22,23  
PS
If you take the time to read the verses leading up to Lamentations 3: 22 and 23, it may feel like watching the 11:00 news, so I only recommend it on an up day. However, it emphasizes that no matter how low you may feel, God is a only a prayer request away, and thoughts can be turned around in a moment.

When is it finished?

     The Amish friendship bread is finished. It now sits on the counter slightly mutilated. Its texture is tough and chewy on the outside and sweet with chocolate chips, sugar and nuts on the inside. It is a siren calling to all who pass. I ate it for dinner, for snack, for breakfast. Last night I woke up sensing I was alone in bed. I looked at the clock next to me and saw the time to be 11:57PM. I knew where Darren was, and in the morning the bread bore additional scars of a midnight confrontation. Now, I can't wait until it is finished on another level, so the temptations in my kitchen are put to rest.

"It is finished" has tremendous historical connotations for Christians and those who follow Christianity. They were the words of Jesus as he hung on the cross, culminating a glorious, miraculous, painful journey. I would venture to say that not one of us believes that at the end of that journey, everything was really "finished."  His works had just begun on a new level and had always existed on an old. So when does something begin and when is it finished? The deeper I think of it, the more I have no answer. The Amish bread began as a timeless thought and expanded until it became a tasty, tangible temptation, and my practical side knows it will live on as part of the earth. Somewhere in the seed of it all an element of faith culminated into a product in my kitchen. I don't know where else to go with that thought right now, but it fills me with wonder and reminds me of Hebrews 11:1 which reads, "Now faith is the assurance ( or substance) of things hoped for, the conviction ( evidence) of things not seen." As I read further down in Chapter 11 of Hebrews, I find these words also, "so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible." The germination of a seed of thought that started with bread and manifested as words on this page is beginning to grow. Where did that thought begin? Will it ever be finished? Is anything ever finished? Whew, time for a rest. My brain is on overload...and there is something calling me from the kitchen.

Love, Linda

 

The Beauty Shield

The orchid is from Martha’s nursery, Better Blooming Orchids, even without a picture, if you have seen a flowering phal, you know what it looks like with its soft delicate petals and creamy purples and pinks. They come in many colors, all with an individual imprint of charm. It represents the intricate beauty of this world that we walk by on a daily basis and often miss completely. I wonder, if we stop and revel in the soft beauty of a flower, bird or sky will it stick to our skin and stay with us throughout the day and shape our thoughts and decisions? I believe it does. Therefore, it does. Isn't that what faith is all about?

God, let the beauty in this day shield me from those things that are not so beautiful at this time but can be transformed in a quick eye blink when your love is added to the mix. Let me be invisible to those that worked so hard to make me invisible, so your power and love can pour forth through my words and actions, and they will not even see what hit them, but all of us will drive home at the end of this day, transformed.Thank you because you have said,"ask, and it will be given."
Love, Linda

Note: My arbitration today is delayed. Their lawyer called in sick at the last minute. Miracles are in the air. I will be baking my Amish friendship bread today after all.  Things that make you go hmmm...

The Amish Friendship Bread of Life

In the technical world, you could say Amish friendship bread is “viral”. My batch started in Ohio and ended up in my kitchen .The Amish bread is brewing on my counter top. After day one, I thought I killed it, but it is evident from the ripe smell and expanding mass in my old, green crock pot that it is very much alive. I downloaded the recipe and put tally marks on the copied page to make sure I follow the time table carefully. I assume the time table is very important for the completion of successful, Amish friendship bread.  The process pokes at my metaphorical side, and I can’t help but think about the waiting periods in my life when I felt resolution was far away or non-existent, but upon reflection, life is very much like the making of Amish friendship bread. Once you put all of the right ingredients in the pot and stir it occasionally, it meshes together with the most remarkable chemistry and actually does all of the work necessary for success.

Allowing the batter to work is crucial. Manipulating the batter only when necessary is vital. Trusting the bread to be delicious is essential, and imagining the sights and smells of the fresh baked loaf, hot out of the oven with a melting pat of butter absorbing into the first slice, is divine.

In the technical world, you could say Amish friendship bread is “viral”…

Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him. Psalms 37:7