Autumn

October 25. Two months until Christmas.

It's still 70 degrees here, so I expect we're all a bit unprepared, a bit un-adjusted. One day we could wake up to snow. This is Wisconsin, but even for here, this is bizarre weather. I did have a few fires on cool mornings, but overall... it's been warm.

It's time to change the photo on the top of the blog. The zinnias are about done. Not frozen yet, but I think they dried up. We've had a very dry fall.

The squirrels are in full preparation mode. I detest squirrels. They dig and bury items that sprout, and they eat all the bird seed. Rats with bushy tails. As I sit at my desk I see them all over the place in the trees.

The bird bath is the center of activity. I've never seen this before. There are quarrels at the bath as to which robin should flutter about in there first. Truly, there are a half dozen robins who are quite intent on cleaning up. They jump in and almost roll... fluffing their feathers every which way. And they're huge. Big fat robins. Are they readying to fly south?

Staring out the window is a huge temptation when your backyard is a woods. I love it. I feel my blood pressure lowering.

Yesterday a couple and their mid twenties daughter returned to church. Hadn't seen them for a while. Their thoughts were turned towards God last week when their 21 year old son, their baby, died of a drug overdose. Are there words to say? I hugged each of them tight.

As *problems* have arisen since then, the irritations of life, I've been comparing them mentally with what I *could* be coping with this morning. This is a healthy and timely reminder to me to count my blessings. And to GET OVER IT. This world ain't my home, I live here with a whole herd of imperfect people, and they're stuck with me. But I have health, relative wealth, safety, and four living breathing healthy children. Thank you Jesus.

Nothing much today. I'm just watching the robins and counting my blessings.

Young at Heart

Last Friday I was numb. A stressful week...we'll leave it at that. And so I cranked up the fire, brewed the coffee, and sat in my pajamas intent on *wasting* some time. First up was the crossword puzzle. I used to do them a lot. Now it's rare. Time. Who has enough?

I digress... So...the crossword is in the same section as the movies and the restaurant reviews. Mmmm. Delicious section that is. An article caught my eye - it contained a list of movies starring older actors, or the theme of aging. I wrote down some titles, cut out the article (which is now lost - likely recycled), and ordered a few on NetFlix.

Last night Frank and I began "Young at Heart." What an absolute gem. Here's how it is described on the Netflix envelope:

Coldplay, the Clash and Jimi Hendrix will never sound the same once you've heard the Young@Heart chorus, a group of Massachusetts senior citizens who thrill audiences worldwde with their unusual...and unusually poignant...covers of rock songs. Stephen Walker's humane and heartwarming documentary, which premiered at Sundance in 2008, follow the elderly ensemble as they prepare their latest show for public performances.

I love old people. Truly. And these spry 80 year olds are the cream of the crop. Simply adorable as they try to learn the lyrics to punk and rock songs.

I completely recommend this movie - for an entertaining, feel good, real life encounter with aging with grace. Wow. I can't wait to finish it tonight.

Another benefit... one of the women, 92 years old, is highlighted often. Her face is layer upon layer of happy wrinkles. She looks like a beautiful senior citizen version of a very wrinkly faced dog. I mean that as a compliment. Her face is amazingly layered and just exudes beauty.

But anyhow, this morning as I put on my eye cream and Oil of Olay, I actually thought...geez...you look YOUNG. Ha. That is a fringe benefit indeed. I feel like a youngster after a few hours with that group.

Rent it. And then come back to comment. Enjoy!

My own way

Precious morning time. Seated at the dining room table with my pumpkin coffee, my iPad Bible, our new Bible study book -Beth Moore's "David: 90 Days with a Heart Like His," my journal and my colored pens. And on this kinda sad, tired, slightly overwhelmed feeling morning, God sliced right through the centuries to speak right to me. 1 Samuel 8:1-22 is the text. Israel wants a king, which so saddens the prophet Samuel. They want their way, not God's way A couple of Beth's observations speak deeply to me.

"One lesson speaks of patience. God had already planned a king for the people. Their lack of patience was to cost them dearly. If they had waited for the Lord's choice instead of demanding their way, how different might the story have been?" (p. 47)

I had never thought about the fact that of course God already David picked out, the king in the lineage of Jesus. Patience. God has a plan. The best plan for all involved.

"Often when God does not readily give us what we want, it is because He knows what our desire would cost us. Faith sometimes means forgoing our desires because we trust Christ to have a better plan for our lives." (p. 47)

Yes, yes, of course. It's good to be reminded of the basics, isn't it?

I love this morning hour with God. My flexible job sometimes demands abbreviated Word time, abbreviated "journal sit and ponder time." Flexibility goes both positive and negative of course. But today, today I can get to work a bit later because I have to work bit tomorrow and Monday which are generally my days off. So today I am savoring, and pleading for an attitude adjustment in this blue spell.

Romans 5:3-5
3   And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

God always meets us when we slow to listen, and amazingly, He knows just what to say. :)

Theology

Studying Theology over here. Couple thoughts.

1. My right hand just rubbed against bare wood on the desk as I wrote review notes on an index card. That bare wood is from my father's hand rubbing there as he wrote 50 years of sermons at this desk. That just warms my heart. I've been missing him lately.

2. I wanted to share the definition of Verbal Plenary Inspiration. (the Trinity Evangelical Divinity School view of Scripture) That description is derived from 2 Tim 3:16

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

All = plenary = the whole of Scripture

Scripture = verbal = The words themselves are inspired

God breathed = inspired = exhaled by God.

The Bible is the result of the creative initiative and action of God.

Stream of Consciousness

There are so many blog posts rolling around in me as I journal, and yet of course my to do list is longer than my day, preventing me from pouring them onto my keyboard. But, what the heck, I'll write a little here and there.

HELLO!

Our Anna Grace is 18 today. Amazing: another child brought to adulthood. One to go. It is one of life's pleasures to see your children grow into delightful people. Many times recently I've questioned if I was cut out for four children [I'm not good with chaos] [I totally melt down at times in chaos] but truly the benefits outweigh the exhaustion. [I'm in the exhaustion stage of life] Happy Birthday Anna Grace. We can't imagine a more well rounded, sweet Christian daughter than you.

What I love about Anna is that she grabs all of life - enjoys so many different activities and people, and is so content in her own skin. It's a joy to watch. [She's starkly different than her mother was at 18] [thank God] And yes, we definitely have our mother daughter face to face conflicts, but those are so a part of the normal process of gaining independence that I'm thankful for them too. We have a very honest relationship. I love my Anna Grace.

This week end my friend Kathi and I were at The Moody Church in Chicago for a 1.5 day seminar on the Middle East Conflict and how it relates to the Bible. Amazing. The featured speaker was Joel Rosenberg. My father so enjoyed his book, "Epicenter" when it was released in 2006, and would have LOVED this conference. We loved this conference, and I wish I had more time to study it. I'm hoping an elective will come along in seminary so that I can spend more time in Prophecy.

One of the speakers was a former driver and sniper who worked for Arafat. He was touched by the love of Jesus through a patron at a restaurant in which he worked, and turned his life around. Now his life is spent spreading Christ's love in the Arab world. What an amazing story of God's grace.

There are so many good options for how to spend time. And there is so much in the Word that I look forward to delving into. I wrote in my journal this morning that the definition of SWEET is when "my ought-to collides with my want-to." Studying the Word is that for me. I ought to. And I want to. Sweet.

Speaking of which, it's time to spend some time with David - a man after God's own heart. And then I need to spend a few hours on Theology - we have our mid term this week. And in between I'll be puttering around, setting the table for the big birthday dinner, making rolls, prepping for the requested chicken shrimp stir fry. The requested angel food cake is in the oven now. There are presents to wrap too. And sunshine to bask in here at the dining room table. Life today is very pleasant.

MARGIN. Kathi loves that word, and we yakked about it on our way to Chicago. What a great concept - to build margin into our days. BALANCE. Another word to chew on. And SIMPLICITY. I'm entering the stage of life where I want less stuff and not more. More beauty. Less stuff. More experiences, less stuff.

I'm singing tomorrow at the funeral of a 70 year old woman. That feels so young to me. She left behind five grand children under the age of 11. Whew. It's hard to ponder.

It's one of those days where there is just a lot swirling about in my head - can you tell? I am thankful beyond words for a Monday off. I am so glad that we have chosen over the years to have me work part time. I likely have the higher earning potential of the two of us, yet I can't express how thankful I am that we have not built a life on two full time incomes. These scattered days off keep me whole. It's my margin, creating balance in a world swirling with options. It's why we could have four children, how we could create and maintain a lovely home, how we can and could take the time to care for aging parents, and why I now can be in seminary. God has allowed me this flexibility, and for that I am extremely grateful. Each of us has different callings, different options, and different definitions of margin. I think of the verse in Psalms 16:6 "The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed my heritage is beautiful to me."

[There is no time to write it now, but it is pure fact that a difficult childhood has greatly contributed to who I am, and what my priorities are. And a marriage that keeps me on my knees is the same one that allows for me to be a part time worker. God works in mysterious ways, doesn't he?]

Enjoy your Monday. Don't forget to create a moment or two of margin, and count your blessings. Lately I've been back into knitting. I knit and talk aloud to God in the morning, reciting my blessings and concerns. It might only be ten minutes, but it's really helping me to stay focused on prayer. I'll post a photo of the latest project soon...

Well, this post is really all over the place. So is my brain. Welcome. :}