A Pirates Life...not for me either!

So, here we were at Disney World two weeks ago.  Wayne and I, our daughter Laura and her three children. 

 

I am going to talk about the oldest grandchild...Percy Lee III

He turned 9 just a few days ago.

 

 

 

We took the ride on a boat through the caves of the pirates.  Of course the ride was spectacular like all Disney attractions. 

We floated among the caves, dwellings and stomping grounds of various pirates.  It was cool and damp, the scenery lighted by campfires and smoldering buildings and dingy lamps.  Pirates lounged in filthy tattered clothing occasionally raising a booze bottle in a drunken cheer.  Some sprawled happily in pigpens, some against trees, all incessantly singing

 "Ho, Ho Ho, Ho, a pirates life for me!..." 

 

The music made me feel a strange sensation of romance and exhilaration and I found myself anticipating joyous grand dancing halls,  luxurious gowns and black shiny buckled shoes gliding across polished marble floors.

But in reality, the words of the song, which I just now read...and will not post here, speak of looting and pillaging, ravaging and squander.

That is what we saw depicted there in the caves.

In spite of the seemingly joyous promise of the catchy familiar tune, the intelligible message was deceptive.

Even when we turned a corner and saw  the Captain with tables piled high with gold and every manner of trinkets and baubles, the deplorable scene remained.

 We emerged from the attraction, squinting into the sunshine of the real day, Wayne and Percy Lee and I, and chatted about the amazing artistry and creativity of it all.

Then Wayne expressed what we all had been thinking when he said

 "It doesn't look like such a fine life to me though."

 

And that is when we discovered something wonderful about this little big boy of ours;  He surprised us by saying

 'Yes Poppy, I do not understand why they think the gold is enough!"

 

He is growing up, he is wise and perceptive for a 9 year old I think.

 

How often we grand parents worry about the future and how these little ones will cope with the world they are growing up in.

How can we teach them all they need to know and warn them against all the evils and the "second-bests?"

 

 

 I think we should stop worrying.

  God has put in their minds and hearts the ability to figure some things out.  As they grow and mature and move into discipleship with Jesus, the Holy Spirit of God will be faithful to teach and guide. 

 

I was worried a little about the influence of the pirates, but I need not. 

 Percy saw the truth. 

 Perhaps it is the influence of family values repeated continually;   the life of satisfaction with daily frugality and the joy of extravagance on vacation and special days. 

His Poppy is a good example of that.

  He lives in freedom and pleasure of spending with the family, in the brightness of  a special day that which he earned honestly on the other days.

Yes Percy Lee, you are right;

 the gold is not enough.

 

 

by Charlene...proud Nana

 

 

 

 

The Books On My Shelf

After reading tonight, I sit here wondering why that wall of bookcases does not emit some electrical force.  For on those shelves, silently pulsating between inconspicuous covers,  great wisdom, insight, comfort, bewilderment, joy,  sorrow and every emotion known to man awaits.

When I pass my hand in front of the TV screen, there is a tingling feeling and an audible snapping sound. 

That is how I shall from now on think of my bookshelf...as a living force pulling me in.

Tonight I want to talk about this book: 

 

'10 Lifesaving Principles for Women in Difficult Marriages'

 by Karla Downing

thttp://www.changemyrelationship.com/contactKarlaDowning.html

Tonight before leaving the house, knowing I would have some reading time, I rushed to my den at the last minuet to grab a book on Personality Types.

 I was not able to find one quickly, but instead a small unassuming book caught my eye and remembering a conversation I had had with a friend weeks before, I grabbed a little book called  '10 Lifesaving Principles for Women in Difficult Marriages' by Karla Downing.

  I have been reading now for almost 2 hours, and I decided it was time to stop because I needed to breathe.

   Ms. Downing has found a way to walk into the home of hurting families, homes of broken women,  weeping children and bewildered husbands.  She has pulled back the elaborate drapes and raised the dusty broken venetian shades that have hidden this reality of thousands and thousands of families.   Neither wealth, nor fame, nor Faith have protected families from 'Difficult Marriage' and the devastating repercussions reaped by every member in that family.

   My husband and I and unfortunately, lived in such a relationship for many years and as I read Karla Downing's words it is a bittersweet experience. 

Sweet because:

•   here is hope for you weary, broken, dying sister of mine.
•   I am hearing someone finally, so simply explain what I believe is God's mind on marriage.
•   there is acceptance, and understanding of the unique difficulty Christian and other Religious   women face in difficult marriages and she has so wisely laid out a path that can be applied to each situation
•  there is understanding of where I have walked, where my husband has walked,where my dear children have walked. Understanding of where YOU are walking.
•   I am comforted to realize that someone knows that my goal and daily prayer through those years was to be a good, Godly wife.
•   How freeing to realize that someone knows why I did not appear to be.

Now the bitter:
Part of the bittersweet is loosing it's bite even as I write, but ... I am remembering the devastation  and hopelessness that overtook my whole being when, during those years, I went to a pastor for help for us and received chiding instead.  Yes,  chiding for...(yes, you guessed it)...not being submissive.

   But, I share that with thankfulness for the tremendous Grace of God, who reached around those experiences and healed Wayne and I...is healing us.

   I have longed to reach into the lives of other women with vials of that Grace which was poured out on us.

 That is why I have, and continue to study and practice Christian Life Coaching..
 That is why I try to write of uplifting yet ordinary ways to experience more joy in life.

 That is why I am pointing you to this book and the ministry of this woman...as a vial that, when opened, will pour Grace into your lives that thousands of my words may never accomplish.

   I have not met this lady Karla Downing, I do not know anything about her except what I have read online and understand from this little book, but because I believe my life purpose will be so much more quickly realized by pointing you to this book of hers, I happily recommend you purchase a copy and walk into life.

Charlene

Grace and Beauty

 

This week marks a year since a wonderful woman left this family.  Waynes Mom died last year.  This morning I found this letter I had written to her I think a year before that.  I post it today as a memorial to her,  to comfort myself, and her kids and to keep her memory and example alive in all of us who knew her, and also to spark interest in and an example of,  living in Strength and Beauty and Grace.

To my mom-in-law
I guess this is as good a time as any, maybe better, to share with you something I experienced when we were with you at the hospital;
First of all, I was surprised to learn that you are in pain with your back most of the time.  I didn't know that and I don't know how you could be silent on that point.  I usually feel the need to express my pain, I guess to provide an excuse for my shortcomings as a housekeeper or something like that.  I also learned that you had dealt with this abdominal pain in silence for almost too long.  I admire this about you, your strength and solidness.  (But please don't do it again :)  As you lay there in that hospital bed, never once did you complain about the bed.  I have lain in them myself and know that I would have been trying to get a better position; knees up, knees down, head up, feet up, fix the pillow, no fix it again.
But you just bore whatever discomfort with grace.  And that is what I want to say to you the most if I just knew how.  In your frailty, with all the years lived, the hardships and disappointments endured, the sadness's experienced, at this time in your life I saw beauty on your face.  I saw grace.  I saw the love and concern of your friends and family for you.  That is a result of a life lived well, unselfishly.  I just wanted to tell you that you are an inspiration to me to remember that when I look in the mirror and see age and wrinkles and gray, that those things do not matter.  I want to live life so that others will see in me what I saw in you as you lay there in the hospital bed; grace and beauty.

“Do not judge others, 
and
 you will not be judged.

 For you will be treated 
as 
you treat others.

The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.^"

Matthew 7:1-2

     <sup>She walked slowly toward the church, a smile brightening her face as she saw her friend waiting for her.  Coming to this meeting at a church she had never attended was an act of support, not something she was comfortable with.  In fact, she had told her friend Cora that if she wasn't going, neither might she. 
     Fran was disappointed as she approached the door, it was as she feared.  The music coming from within the church vibrated physically in her chest, and once they entered, the only way to hear each other was to actually put mouth to ear.  There were several others from their church group there and Fran cautiously settled in with them exchanging genuine greetings.  She had grown to really like these people and had started to trust them.  They had worshiped together and prayed together and shared many heart issues over the year or so that she had been meeting with them at a Home Church on Saturday evenings.  Tonight they were meeting at this church to support friends in this fellowship.
     Now, as the meeting started, and the pastor invited everyone to worship Jesus, repeating several times the invitation to abandon themselves in praise, not worrying about what each other might think, Fran got a little nervous.  With her Baptist upbringing, her only exposure to Rock music had been mostly by mistake and in short episodes in movies involving bar scenes.  Unfortunately, to her, when she closed her eyes, she felt like she was in that atmosphere.
     So, she opened her eyes and followed along with the unfamiliar words of these worship songs, wanting to be seen as one of those Praising God, not wanting to look like what she was, a fish out of water.  An old Baptist Lady in a charismatic worship service. 
     There came a time after two or three songs that seemed to her like fifteen, that she sat down.  She continued to pray, asking God to protect her from a closed mind, asking for The Holy Spirit to speak peace to her heart and give understanding of the situation. 
     She remembered how Sarah, one of the youngest members of the group had called her that week, gently insisting that she Fran come to this meeting because she felt God had impressed that on her heart.  Fran respected Sarah's  opinion, and had come mainly in response to that request.  As she sat there now, she stopped trying to fit in, and concentrated instead on meeting with God.  And, she admitted, thinking of the possible repercussions of leaving early.
     Well, she left early, and once the decision was made, she felt so relieved, that she had no sense of guilt, only the guilt of having none. 
     As days went by and her mind often returned to the experience,  she talked to God about it, and became aware of a few life lessons.
     She realized that God was still working on a request that she had made several years before when she became aware that others felt she had a judgmental attitude. This had been hurtful to Fran, because she had not thought that of herself.  It seemed to her that she was always standing up for the under-dog and the misunderstood. How could she be judgmental?
     Nevertheless, she was willing to leave that behind if it was true, and in months and years since then, had realized it was somewhat true of her. 

     And now, Fran realized that if she had not known the depth of spiritual maturity of her friends who danced to the 'rock' music that night in the strange church, if she had not heard at other times their quiet praise and expressed adoration for her Lord Jesus Christ, if she had not seen the 'fruit' in their lives, she would have judged them nonspiritual, perhaps unsaved.  Because of the way they chose to worship that night.
     As it was, she had to conclude that different people worship differently.  Is it possible, that young people who grew up hearing loud rock music are not offended by it and are able to utilize it guilt free in worship and praise?  Are those exposed to dance in one setting or another, able to utilize dance in their worship? 

This realization also released in her heart a bit of confidence that those of her friends who knew she left early would remember her quiet praise, her love for God, her heart for the lost and her Love of Jesus Christ.  And then, even their opinion of her seemed not to matter.</sup>

 ^{She suddenly saw  herself as an old wineskin hanging by the fire,}

 ^{wrinkled and dried out from the smoke of many fires,}

^{yet still functioning as a vessel of the Holy Spirit as Jesus had promised.} 

 ^{Still holding precious aged,  fragrant and tasteful wine.}  

 But something else came to her during those days.

     <sup>Just as she so strongly felt an abhorrence at the judgmental practice of so many 'churched' people to kick their young when they are down, and shun the unclean until they appear washed, she felt now strong desire to understand the kicker, understand the "shunner."
     She realized that she could no longer judge that person who sits in the seat during worship service, never showing emotion, never raising a hand in praise, and never speaking an Amen in agreement during prayer. 
     She knelt by her chair then, the moment she realized her sin and confessed.  Then, she rose in thankfulness for the wisdom and bravery of a young woman who had expressed her belief that this old woman...well, (a little old) should come to that service. 
     Without this understanding gained from that evening in a strange church with strange worship, she would not have learned this lesson.  Would not have realized she carried a judgmental attitude still.

And as I write, I am so aware that without this knowledge and understanding, without this forgiveness, I would not be able to go forth in what I believe is my ministry...to bring Christs healing, affection and unity among the women of God in churches wherever God leads.
Charlene</sup>
PS Worshiping happily as a slightly charismatic, slightly old Baptist 

 Spirit of his Son

 

 

I sat here this evening for time with Gods Word, specifically to practice the presence of God as I have been hearing about from various sources for several weeks. I harbored no idea of what that would 'look like'.  I began to read scripture, then stopped after this one verse.

 

Galatians 4:6
Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."

As you know, there are several titles for the Holy Spirit that are very familiar to me,  they are names, and evidences that we are accustomed to: The promised Holy Spirit, The Counselor, Teacher.  But this description, 'Spirit of his Son', stood out to me. I pondered that.  What followed in my time of devotions tonight, I want to share.

I know this may be a bit juvenile, but as all matter exists in one of three ‘forms’, solid, liquid, vapor, I have found it helpful sometimes to think of God like this. The Holy Spirit represented by ’vapor’ flowing, filling vessels, taking their form for His dwelling or the fragrance in the breath of praise, and so on.

But for some reason, when I read …”The Spirit of his Son”…Spirit of his Son  in  our hearts, I was a little bit shocked.  WHY WOULD HE DO THAT?
Such a precious, expensive, costly gift.  What Power poured into such weakness! What glorious majesty living in such a humble clay pot!
“God, help me to comprehend what that means.!”

I know, there are doctrines, and verses and snippets of sermons in my mind. The knowledge is there. God is Gracious and Merciful to me, and gives me Faith to believe what I read in His Word, but… 

"God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts!"

I sat and pondered this for a few moments

My mind, (as it is wont to do quite often), wondered to a room in the Assisted Living Home in New Brunswick, Canada. I can see in my mind my parents lying there asleep. I easily envision them, but wait, is Mom up and wondering around, in Alzheimer's confusion, tidying up and putting away things where they may never be found again? Is she filled with one of those awful waves of anger that come over her unbidden as the disease progresses through her brain? Are they remembering each other? Is Mommy afraid to get back in that bed with that strange man? Is Daddy reaching out to his bride of 64 years, reassuring her that he is indeed her Gordie?

Oh God I begin to cry, “lay your peace around them!”    And I turn to prayer, with hands outstretched toward My Father for these His children. I imagine an angel by the bed, then I imagine Gods hands around them, and peace replaces my anxiety.

I turn to praising God.

  Almost without a conscious effort I am worshiping Him, and together, it is as if I move in flight, I sprinkle faith and love, to each member of the family and others that come to my attention. I am conscious of not being alone, of course I am not, for how can I a mere human, even imaging this kind of ministry.

 I am Not alone….I am humbled, yet happy and I am surrounded by warmth and a most mellow Peace.

  Even when my attention is directed to a little crack house where exist souls I love and weep for, even there….most powerfully there, Faith, Love, Forgiveness, The Sprinkled Blood of Jesus, plainly do the work that I long for and cry in anguish for on other occasions. Tonight, the work of prayer was done peacefully. And my soul felt satisfied that blessing was directed to those I prayed for.

 

 Romans 8:26

 American King James Version
Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered

Weymouth New Testament

"In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness; for we do not know what prayers to offer nor in what way to offer them. But the Spirit Himself pleads for us in yearnings that can find no words,"

 

  and once again I had no requests, just worship and adoration and thankfulness.

After some time I returned to reading.

I was using my laptop tonight and as began to read again the scripture for the day, my eyes went to the cross references.

Now, those of you who know me best know that I have felt that the ‘locust have eaten’ many of our last 40 years; that the journey, for several reasons has been a wilderness, and as we work through the effects of the wilderness experiences we often ask “Why?” This is never far from my heart especially when my mind goes to my children and grand children


 

Well, the Holy Spirit used this time tonight to pour out a Double Blessing on me. Through that wonderful time in the Presence of God, this mounting up with wings;  not only was there ministry to others through the power of prayer, but to my heart as well.
That amazes me,

And this amazes me:

 there in the margin of today’s devotional these Words catch my eye:

“…in the wilderness these forty years…”

 

I felt a tug at my heart, then I skimmed the verse, a little surprised that it was listed as cross reference for the main verse. I have heard it before many times of course, but tonight it was a message for me. My Rhema.

I read the passages as a whole as they were written there in the Daily Studies http://biblehub.com/

 

John 13:7 Jesus answered and said to him, "What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter."

 

Deuteronomy 8:2 "You shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.

Ezekiel 16:8 "Then I passed by you and saw you, and behold, you were at the time for love; so I spread My skirt over you and covered your nakedness. I also swore to you and entered into a covenant with you so that you became Mine," declares the Lord GOD.

Hebrews 12:6 FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES."

1 Peter 4:12,13 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; • but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.

2 Corinthians 4:17,18 " For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, • while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

And that, my friend, was Gods gift to me during time of devotion tonight. Isn’t God good!

 

 

     When I chanced upon the following comments about our injurious  preoccupation with our weight and personal appearance,  I thought it should be shared here as it relates to us accepting ourselves as Our Heavenly Father sees us.
     Renewing our relationship with God, and regenerating our walk with Him is, as you know, the theme and goal of  Pathways to Renewal .
     I wish as you look in the mirror this evening you will get a glimpse of the beauty He sees in you.


Now this article from a man I do not know...but I like what he says here............

“There is nothing more rare, nor more beautiful, than a woman being unapologetically herself; comfortable in her perfect imperfection. To me, that is the true essence of beauty.”
― Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience  

   “Get Off The Scale!

You are beautiful. Your beauty, just like your capacity for life, happiness, and success, is immeasurable. Day after day, countless people across the globe get on a scale in search of validation of beauty and social acceptance.

Get off the scale! I have yet to see a scale that can tell you how enchanting your eyes are. I have yet to see a scale that can show you how wonderful your hair looks when the sun shines its glorious rays on it. I have yet to see a scale that can thank you for your compassion, sense of humor, and contagious smile. Get off the scale because I have yet to see one that can admire you for your perseverance when challenged in life.

It’s true, the scale can only give you a numerical reflection of your relationship with gravity. That’s it. It cannot measure beauty, talent, purpose, life force, possibility, strength, or love. Don’t give the scale more power than it has earned. Take note of the number, then get off the scale and live your life. You are beautiful!”
― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

His Eye is on the Sparrow

 

I found this letter I had written to Mom and Dad about 3 years ago.  I decided to use it today because the message in it never grows old, it applies to me today, and most of us with aging parents can benefit from the comfort spoken of.

 

I will break into the second paragraph of that letter.....
     "My heart has been heavy as I pray for you both sometimes.  I have been looking in the Bible to see how God has directed us to pray for and care for our aging parents.  I know that you are in a safe and nice home there at THE GOLDEN YEARS ESTATE,  but I wish I was nearby to be able to spend time with you both and take care of you when you need it. 
     I think it must be hard to grow older.  I am already at 56 feeling some apprehension about the future.  I can’t imagine how you must be dealing with being in your 80’s and 90’s.
I know your faith is in Jesus.  That is what gives me Peace about being so far away from you.
     I was praying for you both one night last week.  The TV was on a Christian station but it was turned down low.  I wasn’t paying it any attention.  I was feeling the pain of separation from you and the miles in between us seemed so long.  I suddenly thought I heard a familiar song on the TV and then I realized what it was.  I turned it up and tears come to my eyes as I heard a lady singing this song that Mom always sang, especially in the car:

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

 

Refrain

I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

I sing because I'm happy
I sing because I'm free
for His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches me

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

I sing because I'm happy
I sing because I'm free
for His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches me

 

     This was pretty amazing to me that God would bring this song to me just when my heart was burdened for you both.
     I think God was whispering to my heart that because you both, Mom and Dad, love the Lord, and have followed and served Him these many years, this song applies to you.  I can trust Him to take care of you, even better than I could if I were there.
     So, for today, pretend that I have come in the door and given you a big hug and I brought this message to you.  HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW, AND I KNOW HE WATCHES YOU. 

     AND ME.

Lots of love to you both,
Charlene"

As with all my blogs, my goal is to strengthen and edify the sisterhood of believers, thus strengthening the family.

I welcome your comments that will shed insight on this aspect of our lives, and encourage someone else.

CfR

Long Shadows #1

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Reminding myself to not try and accomplish a whole weeks worth of activity on this Monday morning.

A REFRESHING

Somehow just enjoying this small pleasure removed a lot of the burden to accomplish dealing with the whole yard. 

That was not even a realistic goal.  And so  I have been reminded myself to slow down, live within the possible and within my limits. 

Hmmm that feels a bit like refreshing for today.

As with all my blogs, my goal is to strengthen and edify the sisterhood of believers, thus strengthening the family.

I welcome your comments that will shed insight on this aspect of our lives, and encourage someone else.

CfR




Long Shadows #1

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Things

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Flowers #1

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Our Home #1

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long shadows2

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