I will Celebrate!

I will Celebrate!, a set on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
I first encountered DeWitt's photography and thus outlook on life at a Sustaining Congregational Excellence conference last March. in honor of DeWitt Jones' 'Celebrate What's Right' photography and how I choose to embrace life ... a daily commitment.
As I look at his work from day to day, I am reminded that in the midst of everything ... there is so much that is right, big and small! I hope you see it too and are equally blessed.

it's truly all in how you look at life. I am choosing to embrace what's right and celebrate it, bring it clearly into my mind's eye and let it illuminate my being, a daily to devotion.

the road to Ruidoso

We took off Friday morning hoping to have a couple of hours to spare before the offices of our accommodations closed in New Mexico. It was a pleasant ride - the youngest is a very good road buddy. We had food, we had music, we made restroom and gas stops - and we made away into the southwest - Blythe, Phoenix, Tucson, Las Cruces. I actually did a lot of the Arizona drive.

The scenery was indicative of an imaginative God with lively skies and wonderful mountainscapes and desert vegetation. The youngest can identify cactus. There was a section of mountains that the rock reminded me of "The Never Ending Story" - remember the rock guy - Rock Biter "Where-where-where I come from in the North, we used to have exquisite gourmet rocks. Only now... now, they're all gone." The formations had the same rounded shape. My S-I-L's favorite quote "They look like big, good, strong hands, don't they? I always thought that's what they were". A delightful movie; but I digress.

By Las Cruces, our Garmin was indicating our timing was tight - would we make it before Crown Point Condominiums closed. Oh yeah, we lose an our traveling into Mountain time. The youngest has been very amusing describing my stress as to whether we'd make and his dad trying to reassure me. A half hour away, I called to let them know our predictament; they were willing to make it so we could get a key to our place, even if they closed. However, in fact, we made it with minutes to spare.

We were using a timeshare with a full kitchen - so along with clothes, I packed a lot of things I preferred not to buy like seasonings, condiments, etc. You buy those things and you come back with double your need. Also while those places provide things like dish soap and stuff - usually more is needed, so I brought that too. So the Rondo (our car), same name as the Celtics basketball player, was packed to the gills with all the creature comforts of home - I even had a candle. I like places to have a familiar pleasant smell, so I bring my own. Didn't use it this time though, the clean fresh, woodsy air seem to more than suffice. I keep a bag with such things as these for when ever the ocassion arises - its filled with samples of things, like ketchup packets, lotion, aspirin, antacid, tissue - you name it. We unloaded Rondo and settled in for a night's sleep at Crown Point, Ruidoso, NM - our home away from home for the week to come - leaving most of the unrefrigerated fully unpacking for the next day.

'Compacency Kills'

was the theme of Fontana's community prayer breakfast this morning.

People around the nation took and are taking time to pray. I found myself again at the Woman's Club, although this time I had a brief moment on stage lending my voice to the altos of the ecumenical choir; Ace was singing soprano, of course. The choir itself practiced only twice on two songs - 'Let there be Peace on Earth' and 'God Bless the USA'. Pastor Dan Burr of Crossroads Community Church, who I've always seen at these events over the past years, whipped us into shape in short order making us a meaningful and moving contribution to the program. The most moving offering for me was he, his son Aaron, and a Donald Hayes, 'the Crossroads Three', resonating the room with 'Shine on Us'. His wife Karen was also an alto in the choir; our two churches have been closely linked in years past.

This was the first prayer breakfast without Bea, and yet her presence was felt. I was saddened - she and I would always say we would get together for lunch, yet it never happened. Bea caused the cream in coffee to rise in people; she glowed with the sweetness of the Lord. It was a blessing to have her memory with us today. As a side note, it is my understanding that the local post office in South Fontana has been dedicated to Bea Watson's memory. Bea, let's have lunch! My thoughts and prayers are with you Larry.

To get back on point, the theme 'Complacency Kills' was based on Psalm 28:7. Scriptures were also shared from the Torah, the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Book of Morman, and the Holy Qur'aan (read in native tongue and english). Councilwoman Janice Rutherford Lim was MC. While Mayor Mark Nuaimi, although expected, was unable to be present, Councilman John Roberts was also present. Many people from Fontana and other local civic offices were also present. I recognized many and appreciated seeing many, like an representative from Amina Carter's office. The place was filled - it was truly the crux of our community in faith and culture.

Fire Department Division Chief Thom Wellman gave the keynote address on 'Complacency Kills'. I was convinced in his closing that complacency absolutely does kill, that it is an innocuous and pervasive parisite void of shape, smell, form and yet deadly. He compared it to nuclear fallout I believe. He spoke to time, distance, shielding; tactics used to survive nuclear exposure. Limit exposure, get as far away from it as possible, and shield from any exposure to it at all; especially when options one and two are diminished. He pointed out that due to the inconspicuous nature of complacency, we need our friends to identify we are tainted with it. It is difficult to identify for ourselves. He said complacency begins with a choice which in essence we commit to which leads to compromise. The point though is that in this day and age we must actively avoid the deadliness of complacency. Since, it cannot be laced with an identifiable odor like household gas, I agree. How horrible it would be to become complacent, to embrace lukewarm living, to invisibly expose others to deteriorated values and a diseased moral standard. That alone is enough to bring me to my knees.

Each table had a time to pray together about concerns we face in common. One specific of ours was to protect our children in the schools from violence and from inappropriate and harmful teaching, girding them up to identify and withstand such things and to be lights in darkened environments - that they would be protected from the fiery darts that surround them from day to day.

I was blessed for having been there and certainly glad to take the time with others to go before the Lord in this time of prayer.

poem - commitment or contentment

I did it my way ...Lord help me not to say...

(The poem on commitment read in last Sunday's sermon)

COMMITMENT OR CONTENTMENT?

I'll go where you want me to go, Dear Lord.
Real service is what I desire.
I'll say what you want me to say, Dear Lord.
But don't ask me to sing in the choir!

I'll say what you want me to say, Dear Lord.
I'd like to see things come to pass.
But don't ask me to teach girls and boys, Dear Lord.
I'd rather just stay in my class.

I'll do what you want me to do, Dear Lord.
I yearn for your kingdom to thrive.
I'll give you my left-over change, Dear Lord.
But please don't ask me to tithe.

I’ll be what you want me to be, Dear Lord.
I long to see the church alive.
But don’t ask me to come out at night, Dear Lord.
I’m always too worn out and tired.

I'll go where you want me to go, Dear Lord.
I'll say what you want me to say.
I'm busy just now with myself, Dear Lord.
But I'll help you some other day.

_{author unknown to me}

ouch!

Did You Miss it?

That was the title of the sermon today - there were some guys on the road who missed the essence of what had just taken place. Jesus comes up beside them and breaks it down - Moses to then present-day-prophets - the Bible as it were, then.

The point of the sermon was, being on the other side of the events, Christmas - did you miss it? There are those out there who completely missed it, wrapped up in the hoopla of the times. We can reveal to them the true essence of what it was about. Kewl, huh? The husband delivered a good word today. Help those out there to understand by the Christ in you. Blessings to you.

You Are Worthy Doe

I'm often prompted to pray for the people in an accident when I hear of or pass one by - the people, their families and friends. That is not the case here, although I was driving home the day of this accident and heard about it on news-radio. It had happened earlier but traffic on the freeway in that area was still disrupted. But the fact that I received no prompting doesn't mean that God wasn't at work - He doesn't really need me anyway! This accident didn't effect me, bother my traffic conditions, nor require my prayers - or did it? What is surprising all the time is however remote to my own life something may seem to be, the fabric of it may be stitched more closely to me than I think. I take that wee bit of information and apply it to everything I observe.

Today my sister in the Lord, colleague, and fellow-commuter, shared with me about her nephew. Her sister had been called back from a cruise because her son had been in a serious accident and not likely to survive - the earthbound powers that be were going to try and keep him alive about 48 hours to give her time to get back.

He was at work driving what they call a light truck when the big rig jack-knifed in front of him and he was unable to avoid slamming into it. His vehicle became engulfed in flames and he was trapped inside for at least some 20 minutes. Although ladies, unable to themselves extricate him from the vehicle - the steering column had come forward and pinned him inside - screamed to nearby officers for help. A passerby who walks with the Lord heard the screams of the ladies and clearly the directive to circle back and assist the person he saw was trapped, and was able to remove him from the inferno. Immediately thereafter there was a final explosion - and if the picture is still with the story under the link, you can see how the vehicle faired. He, himself, had 3rd to 4th degree (to the muscle) burns and was rushed to UCI burn center where he is now under the care of the chief of staff.

He, himself, had a relationship with the Lord where he felt unworthy; after all, he had mis-spent times of his life. At UCI he was given his prognosis, and he gave a call to his brother and one more person - he was urged to have a good talk with his Maker. Now in the midst of organs shutting down, smoke burned lungs breathing being assisted, skin grafts healing, comatose, among a myriad of symptoms, he hangs on with a wing and a prayer of many. A police officer, maybe one of ones standing by possibly following procedure, came by to share with the mom don't think me a hero 'but I was able to pull your son to safety'. However, the ladies who screamed for the young man's life, the gentleman who obediently came back for him, and his mom constantly, are often there in support.

Who is to say that this young man in the prime of his life is in God's plan to go on with his life which will include months and months of healing or to go home to the Lord. Only God knows. But the Lord brought those ladies, and that man, and has miraculously sustained him to date.

Because of the HIPAA laws, the hospital listed him with a fictitious 'Doe' name to protect his privacy. Not ficticious to God, this man who felt unworthy of the Lord, by the grace of God was called 'Worthy Doe'.

My prayers are with you Worthy, and with your family! God bless the agape obedience of those who were there for what He considers of worth!

It's Tuesday and I'm Ready for the Weekend!

I'm at Taco Tuesday enjoying some lunch and a moment to blog. It's my last workday this week. That's the beauty of 9/80 - with Wednesday being a holiday and Friday my regular day, I was able to take Thursday as a vacation day and have a 5-day weekend! I have errands to run, but I hope to see my brother!

7/5 UPDATE: I didn't get to see my brother yet but we did talk over the phone - we'll see each other some day.

for your time of struggle

Daughter Dearest ...

buffeted against the wind, ever my child,
a wearied willow bent;
you'll still reach for the stars and sway.
for though fires and threats loom,
your watered and deeply rooted limbs
protect your bloom.
our Creator greater than they will help you to sway
when the air seems still

stretch out those roots
soak up stilled waters
you will survive.
beyond the surface, in the depths of your eyes,
and the innermost depths of your soul,
it's there that you know.

stand up little one
hear my voice call
I love you! I'm here!
It'll be a scraped knee is all.
Take my hand and lets once again stand;
you and I; yes we can.
Those stars won't be up there but around you everywhere!

with love from maumz
heart crying your tears
strength lent to your fears
hugz and kisses always yours
kneebent anguished prayers to Abba Father's ears
for you, precious, adored.

_{written by SRNorman}

make time to serve!

Right now I am on the air bike. I wanted to put my mind to something to do, so I grabbed my PDA.

Friday, Fontana had its annual national day of prayer breakfast. The only recently retired city council clerk, Bea Watson (a wonderful lady), has been organizing this for several years now. It is held at Fontana Women's Club. This year the theme was 'make time to serve'. I always enjoy attending this event. I've been the last three years. It always remembers our country and its founding principles, our troops and most importantly that God is integral to these things and our very life.

In years past, they showed a film with Red Skelton about God in our Pledge of Allegiance - priceless!

The theme was taking time to serve, reminding that it only takes one person to make a change. The music was thought provoking - one should think about the words when they sing America the Beautiful. Pastor Dan of Crossroads Church, who I've always seen here, was the singer and there was also performances from a duet and a quartet. From the color guard and prayers, I enjoyed it all. Another annual event of note is the annual Inland Empire's breakfast.

With our ever so busy lives, think about all things you make room for and ...remember ... take time to pray - the easiest service of all! The life you change may be your own!

Time passes quickly on the air bike with a PDA in your hand.

A friend's needle

Can I needle you for a minute? Listen (read)...

“Did I tell you about the needle story?”, she said. We agreed that she had not. She urged us on to finish with what we were doing and then she would tell us. But we knew her stories were always excellent and so we assured her we were done. “Tell us the needle story now!”, we said. So, as best as I can recollect, here is the story told to us by our friend who had not been with us in awhile because of the things going on in her life:

When I left you guys last Tuesday, I went home and got on my computer. I was on there for about an hour arguing with my ex, so absorbed I lost track of the puppy and you know how when its quiet they are up to something.

I went to get up to see what the puppy was up to and it felt like something was slicing around my ankles. I looked down and there was thread all around my feet. I had had a large spool of thread that I had used to repair the puppy’s teddy bear and the puppy had gone crazy with it! There was hardly any thread left on the spool. The puppy had been up and down the stairs and all over the house with the thread. He had run around the chairs wrapping my feet in the thread and he had it all over himself, some of it too tight. I had to cut it all off of him. But the darning needle was gone and I was suddenly afraid the puppy had swallowed it.

I felt awful, having been wrapped up on the computer arguing with my ex and not paying attention to what the puppy was doing and, now, he might have swallowed the needle. I had a cat that once had swallowed a needle, and only because it had gotten stuck in the upper part of his body, it hadn’t made it fatally to his guts. So I began to look all over for the needle, up and down the stairs. The thread was everywhere, but I couldn’t find the needle. I got very upset because I was worried the puppy had swallowed the needle and it was very late and I had to get some sleep in order to go to work in the morning. But I couldn’t sleep without knowing where the needle was – the puppy!

I felt I had to find the needle. This was not something you ask God. It was my responsibility. I was supposed to be watching the dog. I had to find it. And then I grew very upset! In despair, this became my life. I can’t find this needle and I can’t find my life – something in my life is lost! I wanted God to show me where the needle was; to find it! If He couldn’t find the needle, how could He find my life? That part of me that ignores that I know better kept saying God couldn’t find the needle, right? He’s not down here – He’s out there.

Early in the morning, I arranged with the veterinarian to x-ray the dog. But I had to go to work! How was I going to do all this? But I had to know where the needle was! I asked God please find the needle and I heard Him answer me, clearly, “Go upstairs, and stand by the window and wait.” “Right,” I responded and then immediately said “I’m sorry Lord”. I went upstairs and stood by the window. It was still overcast. All I could think about was that I had to go to work soon. How long was I supposed to wait? Why am I waiting? It is silly of me to ask God to find a needle. How long should I wait?

As I realized the sun was beginning to lighten the sky, I just had to get ready to go to work. I started to turn to do so, when a glint of something below caught my eye. It was the needle! Buried in the carpet with only a glint of it exposed by the sun showing, was the needle! God showed me where the needle was. God could do that. God did! God can find my life! How wonderful is our God!

The only thing God asked me to do was tell people. So I am telling everyone; I am telling you!

Thank you my friend for sharing God in your life; it ministered to us all. What a wonderful treat for our Tuesday Women's Study. So many messages to us in there. We serve a mighty, loving, unfathomable God.

So I’m sharing my friend’s story with you.

Early Morning Clouds

Surly nomadic clouds marched intently across an unlightened celestial plane, some darkened while others boasted of hope and expectation with a few subtly lined with promise. Their fleeting reign of purpose would refresh the land.

Don'tcha just love how the Lord just brings things together in your head in a neat little package wrapped up like a gift!

Sunday at Couple's study part of what we went over in Moments Together for Couples was Fathers as Servant-Leaders. Well with most this concept sat okay, but with some the discussion was discomfiting. It said:

"Serving his wife rounds out the husband's and father's role. Some men cannot understand the biblical definition of a leader as a servant. Even though He was Lord, Jesus said, "the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve" (Matt. 20:28).
As your wife's servant, can you name her top three needs? What worries her? What circumstances quickly put her emotional gas tank on empty?
Men, let me challenge you to lead, to love and to serve."

My wonderful husband was actually able to answer those questions. My point though is for devotion today I was reading Meyer's "Stooping to Rise" and he says:

When our Lord stooped to live visibly amongst men, He refused to avail Himself of the homage due to His original nature. He had been in the form of God, but was content to veil His glory, to assume the form of a servant, to be made in the likeness of men. In the cradle of Bethlehem, in the home of Nazareth, in the voluntary limitations of His earthly ministry, in His obedience to the death of the cross, there was the hiding of His power. He refused to use the attributes of His intrinsic Deity, that He might manifest the Love of God, that He might bear away the guilt of the world, and work out and bring in an eternal righteousness. Therefore He is exalted and bears evermore the name of Jesus---the Saviour of the world.
The Apostle says, let this same mind be in you; think these-thoughts; follow in the steps of Jesus. We must show a holy emulation as to who shall stoop the lowest, and follow the master the closest. The most urgent Matter for each of us to consider is not whether we are orthodox in our creed (though that is not unimportant), but whether at any cost we have the mind which was in Christ, whether at any cost to ourselves we are manifesting the love of God to those around us.

As any of us lead, this is so very important to incorporate into our walk to have any Godly success. Any who know my husband might raise an eyebrow or snicker (now stop that!) when I say he is such a man, because he definitely has a stand-his-ground, firm nature; but he constantly makes an effort to understand, please, and be a blessing to me. I realize too that Jeremiah 5 says the Lord is my Husband and so He initially set the ultimate example.

Thank you Lord for the gift of your Word, your Love, and for the gift of my husband.

the poet knows it ...

I am Sacred
I neglect me.
I don’t look in the mirror or see me when I do.
I don’t know the sound of my own voice
amidst the chaos warring in my head.
I don’t acknowledge my Sacredness.
I don’t protect and nurture it.
I misplaced the fact that I am more
than a vessel used to perform and produce.

I disregard the quiet
that feeds me,
the solitude that grounds and rejuvenates me,
the joys that stimulate and fuel me.
I’ve misplaced the fact the world’s demands
will not make time for me,
nor will the world miss a rotation if I make time
…though it may gripe,
for the world does not see or value the Sacred in me.

I forget who me is.
I forget to like and adore her
(too awestruck by others, too busy immolating them),
despite what anyone else may say or see.
For they do not know her or her journey.
They don’t make or break her.
They have come and gone and will continue to.
Their liking and approval does not add to or diminish her.
I’ve misplaced the fact that I am Sacred.

Bind it to my forehead,
engrave it on my heart…
I am Sacred.

_Mishelle

samplings of a poet

betcha didn't know it; the eldest is a poet...

Dearest,
Others will love you
But no one will know you and understand you as I do
For I designed you specifically
So that to me you were perfection

Others will love you
But I will never leave you
I will never withdraw my heart from you
I will never stop pursuing you

Others will love you
But I will protect and defend you, and avenge those who hurt you
I will comfort and guide you through rough and dark places
I will work even in the bad things to bring about good for you

Others will love you
But I have been with you every time you’ve fallen
For every heartbreak and disappointment
I have taken notice of every tear

Others will love you
But I plan to heal you, to make you whole and radiant
To deposit love where you have only known hurt
Joy where you have your deepest sorrow and hope where you’ve given up

Others will love you
But I will never stop forgiving you
Washing you clean, building character in you
And believing in the best in you

Others will love you
But I will bleed for you, and embrace pain and humiliation for you
I will lower myself to nothing to lift you up
I will rearrange time and space that you might seek me

Others will love you
But I will stand in your place
I will volunteer to be beaten, stripped, slapped, laughed at, accused and hung from a tree
Because I would rather die than lose you

Others will love you
But I went to war against Satan to win your heart free
And rose from the dead to give you the power to choose
That maybe you might choose to give your heart back to me.

She credits the following as inspiration from a passage from the book Captivating

A Royal Invitation
You stand in the grand ballroom of life
The King enters, stops and looks straight at you
As though no one else were there
But they are there, staring with all their judgments
Your past failures and their expectations

The King walks across the room, His gaze fixed on you
Because He is captivated by you
He extends His hand, bows, and says,
“May I have this dance everyday of your life?”

You may think, “Why me, I’m not any good at dancing,
I may mess it all up and there are so many
Other things I must do to ensure this ball goes well.

The King answers your heart, “Trust me. I am the King.
I have chosen you. You have captured my heart.
I will lead, if only you will dance with me.”
He cares nothing of the opinion of others.
He waits for your response.

by Mishelle Rodriguez

Lessin's Landscape

Well I thought I was fully inspired, but I then received an email from Dayspring with Roy Lessin's latest poem "Landscape" right after I was blessed with the good news I was waiting to hear for my serenity prayer time. So here you have it!

"Our lives are the brush, His blood -- the paint, this world -- the canvas, our ministry -- His masterpiece. We at DaySpring invite you to celebrate the masterpiece of ministry by enjoying Roy Lessin's new poem entitled 'Landscape.'

Landscape
By Roy Lessin,
Co-founder DaySpring Cards

Your life's like a landscape and God has the brush.
The work is in progress, He's not in a rush.
Each stroke has a purpose, nothing's by chance.
To see all His wisdom takes more than a glance.
Notice the sunbeams that shine on the dew --
Even the clouds can't keep them from view.
Look at the pathway that turns at the hill --
Its course will reveal what's next in His will.
The stream that's flowing with water so blue
Is bringing down blessings meant just for you.
The trees that are planted close to the stream
Will bring forth more fruit than you've ever seen.
The bird in the nest with mouth opened wide
Is just a reminder that God will provide.
Now look at the sheep in the meadow that's near
And notice the Shepherd that keeps them from fear.
He's brought them to pastures which give forth the best,
That cool and refresh, and keep them in rest.
The eagle above, that soars o'er the gale
Is God's way of saying, "My strength will not fail."
That part of the painting which now seems unclear
Will take on new meaning with each passing year.
So trust God to work in His own perfect way
And rejoice in the beauty He's painting today.

And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again. Philippians 1:6 NLT"

Waiting....God's Choice

Well continuing in the same vein, these words of inspiration ...

you will also find at my desk asking me to remember.
I’ve had them too for some time as well, the paper coloring reveals.
Yet the encouragement is timeless, especially in 'serenity prayer' time.

One is by Irving D. Larson
(whose work with effort can be found on the internet)
and the other by Roy Lessin

Lord let me ...

I've had this inspiration from an Amanda Bradley card for umpteen years now. I can't remember the inside sentiment for I only have the cover, nor the ocassion; but even today, I still love it- it remains an assuring source of comfort for me. Maybe you will too.