ASAP!

Greetings to you, dear readers...  One of my problems I face, is that I always have too many ideas about what to blog about! Well, I've decided to 'wait upon the Lord' as I trust Him to cause a certain, intended idea to 'blare out loudly at me,' so I'll know, 'This is the one.'      Here's the one for now!        Recently, I was reminded of this simple truth...  ASAP usually means As Soon As Possible, especially in today's text talk, but, for all of us, it can mean  ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER...   As I am typing, I am listening to a Mark Schultz CD as he sings of times' I am walked through the valley of the shadow... and even though all hope is gone and I've been wounded in the battle.. HE WILL CARRY ME!'   I have a 'hunch' that one or more of you 'out there in cyber-space' is momentarily feeling 'hopeless..'  This is OK for the moment, but please don't forget to let HIM pick you up and carry you throughout whatever He's allowing for you to be able to grow closer to HIM..  I love the final lines of the well-known poem  FOOTPRINTS--- 'IT WAS THEN THAT I CARRIED YOU!' (referring to the single set of footprints in the sand after the 2 sets of them had been side-by-side for awhile.)  Never ever hesitate to (Always!) Say A Prayer! He's waiting for you acknowledge that HE is your LIFE and your All-in-All...

As we remember to not let our feelings 'pull our train in life' which can result in derailing us, we can rejoice in the  privelege we all have as his children and friends... The privilege of climbing up into his arms (or lap!) so He can meet our every need! Blessings to all..

FAMILY REUNIONS?

 Just the mention of a family reunion can conjure up all sorts of images...  Fried chicken and potato salad? Fun and games? Custom-made tee-shirts with family names on them? And, how about  the inevitable, 'strained'conversations?   Yours?                                                                        Today, I am writing to provide a contrast to the genetically-based family reunion.. I'd like to share the joys of being in the LORD'S family forever,.. beginning while still on Earth!   On a recent ferry ride, my husband and I were approached by some Christian friends we'd not seen for several years.. It was great to spend some unexpected moments quickly 'filling-in-the blanks' in each other's past 5 years or so. As we did, another reunion was immanent for we didn't know another church friend had just returned from Africa and was about to tap on my husband's shoulder! Needless to say, all 5 of us wished the ferry wasn't about to dock.. We'd have liked much more time to share the goodness of our LORD with each other.. I was struck by  how blessed we are, and just how wonderful it is to be 'one' so instantly with those who are HIS..    Looking at earlier this month, I wrote about the Korean and Russian Christians who were delightful to unite in song with while we were up on 'our' Deception/'Reception' Pass camping time. To those who read this, may you be ever blessed, and be ever a blessing to those you are led to 'connect' with.  Our Lord Jesus Christ is glorified as we enjoy our brothers and sisters from everywhere... anytime, anywhere!

But WAIT! THERE'S MORE!

OOPS! I didn't mean to post it yet! ... Here's the 'more..'      Just when we thought HE had us totally "wowed" out of our 'gourds,' our LORD displayed the WONDER of HIS glory one more extremely special time!! On the second morning after our 3 times of worship with other believers, HE let us go out on a kayak tour. He'd timed it so we would be found in a deep sense of WONDER as we witnessed a pod of ORCAS only 50-100 yards away from us.. One large one even surfaced within 20 yards of us! What a thrill, what a joy, and, what a display of the glory of our God!  So, my message to all of us today is, "Are we ready to witness, and to acknowledge, the glory of our LORD as HE shows it to us today?" Remember, just being welcome in his presence is full of  WONDER as we realize the price He paid to make this possible....   Be blessed, and, be a blessing! May all you or I do this day please Him as He continues to work his transforming ways within us!  Now, may the God of all hope fill you with true peace and joy as you overflow with hope as you trust in HIM... (ROMANS 15:13- paraphrase).  Good bye for now...

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED?

A Heartfelt Greeting to all who read this.... My chosen title for today comes from my increasing sense of WONDER as I grow more deeply in love with the LORD! SinceJohn's and my return from our annual 10-night camping trip at Deception Pass/ Reception Pass State Park on the north end of Whidbey Island in Washington's Puget Sound, I have found myself frequently asking others, "HOW MANY WAYS CAN A PERSON SPELL 'WOW!?'..(As in being caught in the state of WONDER!)

So-- I am playing with the word, WONDER, in the title!  This is because our LORD showed his constant faithfulness to us again this year during these 11 days away... Two of the ways HE delighted us were when we got to worship HIM along with believers singing in Russian and then, in Korean! It's WONDERFUL to sing simultaneously in English as they sing in their native languages.. I love to experience the contact with others from around the world who also know our LORD personally. What a blessing to unite in praising Jesus! Also, between the days of contact with the Russians (who were singing with an accordian accompianist) and the Korean (who sings with a computer to accompany her..), we took my guitar up onto the highest point in the park on Sunday AM so we could sing our hearts out. The Lord sent 3 separate Christian families/couples up to there so they could 'join in' for a few moments before heading back down.  All were grateful for the opportunity to sing HIS praises for a awhile with us..

BUT WAIT! There's more... Just when we

SOMEBODY'S HUSBAND???

Whenever it's tempting to wonder if the Lord REALLY knows what HE'S doing... Stop, and remember this brief message!  Seven decades ago, my in-laws began having children... The first was a boy, as was the second.. I'm assuming that they couldn't help but hope for a girl the third time, but they were presented with their third son! Not only that, but the fourth was also a son...  I don't know about them, but I am very glad their third was a boy because he has been my best friend, husband, and lover for nearly 38 years now! If he'd been a girl....  Oh well... Would I have a delightful husband??? Only God knows..

Most recently, we have welcomed a refreshing lady into our lives... She is the only daughter in a family of seven children... You got it! She was the last to be born!  Six boys before her folks 'finally' got a daughter.  I personally, am very glad they allowed themselves to continue to produce children because I am thrilled to meet their daughter.....  ONLY OUR LORD knows who needs to be born when and how their presence on Earth will impact SO MANY OTHERS.. (In this case.. This gal is able to impact others to the GLORY OF GOD!)

PSALM 139:13-16  has some 'priceless' verses which remind us that HE knew us in the womb and He has our days numbered.. For me, this is extremely comforting.. KNOWING HIM, rejoicing in the fact that his thoughts about me are more numerous than the grains of sand, and TRUSTING his sovereignity, continue to keep me 'Going, growing, and glowing!' To God Alone Be the Glory!

ONE MORE NOTE-- Our third child was the 'tie-breaker' since we already had our boy and girl, but the important fact here is she almost was a 'wasn't!' Contraception attempts failed and other choices were made which opened the door for her birth... Her husband and children are very glad, as we are also! She's had 3 possibly deadly events in her life, but the LORD certainly has her days numbered as she lives her life in communion with Him.. YES LORD! Her 'Life verse' is Philippians 1:6- For me to live is Christ.. To die is to gain!'  HE doesn't want her to be 'home' with Him quite yet! YES LORD!

DELIGHTED


“ by”


Sheila Dean









Lord, I’ve often heard it said that those who love you are


surprised by your way- It’s no wonder it seems that way, as we rely upon You


day by day!


Recently though, it has come to me,


that you want us to be as delighted as we can be!


You speak to us saying,


“Dear ones, there’s no end to my displaying


of peace, hope, and joy directed towards you!


Observe and receive all that I so willingly do—


I don’t desire to surprise you,


For you know my sole sufficiency in all I am


and have for you!


However, I do delight in causing you to rejoice


as I enlighten your way of my choice-


It’s my pleasure to care for you in every


detail of your daily living.


There’s no end to my resources issued forth


as I exercise divine giving!


Abundant grace is meant to delight you!


SO, go ahead and be tickled!—


Even giggle a little-(or a lot!)


For, as you do, it’s a gift to me to see


you’re rejoicing in whose you’re not!”


Lord, I thank you deeply for the privilege of


casting my cares upon You-

For, You do delight me as I realize all You do!

Dear Readers- This was an experiment to see if I could cut and paste one of my (His!) poems onto a blog.. I think it's working... 
The title of this post is meant to be          "DeLIGHTed"!

I will simply say at this point that most of us may have heard the 'punny' phrase associated with JOHN 15 which is about the vine and the branches.. 'I am 'divine,'  and you are 'de branches!'  Well, my thought today is that sinceHE is also the LIGHT of the world, we are to be truly 'deLIGHTed' ones!  I have much more to say about all of this, but I will leave you for now... Please, do let the LORD delight you continually as you trust him in all matters of your earthbound life!    Because HE loves us, Sheila

THE ULTIMATE HEALTH CARE PLAN

I often tell others that when I'm not at my school doing my paid job, I am at my other 'job' which pays far better than the wages I receive from my school district.  Most days, as I walk away from school, I look forward to visiting 'my' senior citizens... Some days I will lead a lightweight Bible study. Sometimes I'll sit in someone's room for 30-90 minutes to just 'be there' as I listen to concerns, etc. On other days, I will 'make the rounds' in the care facilities where I am committed to sing at bedsides to individuals (and their roommates!?). There are no words to effectively describe the depths of joy experienced as my LORD restores me during these times. (My paid job can easily 'deplete' me at times!)

As I was reading the Gospel of Mark this AM, I noticed once again this comment by Jesus..."It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Mark 2:17) It finally dawned on me that we do have the ULTIMATE HEALTH CARE PLAN!  Do we realize it and, are we grateful? Jesus promises abundant, peaceful, hope-filled, joyful life! All of these are wonderful 'medicine' to our struggling souls as we suffer the 'ills of society' which can impact us frequently...  I, myself, have learned to delight in 'Doctor Jesus,' as HE constantly cares for me far better than any earthly physician ever could!  How about you?