Wistful Wanderings

Thoughts Out Loud

2011-10-03T08:19:00.011-05:00

Yesterday, our pastor began a new sermon series that really struck a chord with me; the chord that is labeled, "He's saying what I've been thinking." Thank you, Lord, for bringing my thoughts out loud.

I hope not to appear arrogant applauding a sermon which sounds like something I have been thinking. I don't mean it that way at all. This is what I mean: Thoughts that are stirring in my heart are being affirmed, through someone I respect, and the message is backed up by the context of Scripture. I love the teachings of Jesus and the way they hit the center of my soul. I am thankful for Truth being shared, unashamedly, by our pastor. He's not tossing fire and brimstone at us...he's simply sharing Scripture and placing us right there with the disciples and Jesus. I'm thankful for a pastor who does not grandstand but simply uses his gifts and talents for Jesus.

So, what did I learn yesterday? Our joy does not come from what we do but from "who" we know. And the "who" we know is not husband, wife, children, family, friends, co-workers, boss, athlete, entertainer or church official. The "who" is Jesus. Our joy is from Him...it IS Him. Can I step out on a limb and say Jesus and Joy is interchangeable? I did and I'm standing by my statement.

Looking forward to more from Brian in this new series at The Brook Church. If you live in the area - Madison, Alabama - come join us.

P.S. It's been a while since I posted to this blog...my previous post starts in 2008...talk about taking a break! : )

Empty Nest?

2008-08-11T08:56:00.003-05:00

This past Saturday my husband and I helped our daughter move into her college dorm. She is, officially, a University of Mobile "Ram." She sent an email last night telling us all is well and that she's made a ton of new friends. We're not surprised. Our son has graduated from college and in a few weeks will embark on his career as an Army officer. I suppose you could say we're now beginning that stage of life called...empty nest.

Looking at both our children...now young adults...we see the finished product of our parenting years. In spite of our failings, they've turned out well. I think we can sit back and say that we "raised them in the way they should go" and now it is up to them to continue in that path.

The important part of our family equation is that we have remained totally in love with each other. While we love our kids and have devoted tons of time to their upbringing, we have never let our relationship go by the way side. From date nights when they were small, hosted by our church in Houston, to weekend getaways when they were older, we have made time in our lives for "us."

The most important job for a man and woman is the raising of their children but that cannot surpass their life as a couple. We are so thankful, early on, we were encouraged to work on our relationship as a couple in the midst of having a family.

The drive home from Mobile on Saturday was not awkward. Walking into and waking up to an "empty" house, we find it is really not empty. We've been here and we will remain here...as a couple who loves each other and is involved totally in each other's life.

I guess my advice to a young couple with children is not to lose your self in your children. Do things together that do not involve the children throughout their growing years. Spend time each day talking with one another about things other than the children. Continue to develop your relationship just as you did when you were dating and engaged. Remain ENGAGED to one another.

A couple marries and "cleaves" to one another. They leave parents. Your children will leave parents and "cleave" to another one day. They pursue education and careers. The one thing that will remain is the two of you. As you raise your children, don't forsake the God ordained relationship of husband and wife. Grow with each other.

When you find yourself at the point of being just two again, you will be glad for the years of not only raising children but savoring and growing your marriage.

Genesis 2:23-24 "The man said,
"This is now bone of my bones,
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man."For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

I Found a Jewel at the Booklegger

2008-07-31T12:53:00.004-05:00

Last Saturday my husband and I went to the Booklegger in Huntsville. I made sure to take my allergy medicine as the mold of old books always sends me into sneezing orbit. Armed with my allergy protection, we ventured in. My husband had his list...he's an organized kinda guy and I love him for that. Me? I wanted to "happen" upon a "find" and I did!

I was perusing the section on the east wall of the store where the "religious" books are found. I narrowed my search to books that looked old. I found four books just using this method. The titles seemed interesting enough but one really caught my eye.

My husband came around the corner and said he couldn't find a thing on his list and smiled at my armful. I told him I needed to sit down and decide which one I would buy. Mind you, nothing at the Booklegger is expensive but I wanted to find just the right book.

I had found a book when I was home visiting my parents in Pensacola this summer. We were in an antique store and it was there among some glassware. The book turned out to be a first edition from 1882 and was relative to my son's recently earned college degree. I bought it and also was bit by a new hobby. Book collecting!

Now, back to finding just the right book. While I had the four books in hand, I wanted one to be the right one. My choice turned out to be a 1934 second edition "Religion in Shoes or Brother Bryan of Birmingham," written by a Presbyterian pastor, Hunter B. Blakely, Jr. of Staunton, Virginia. While I have lived in Alabama for 9 years, I was not aware of this man's work. I've had time to read half the book and it's just amazing.

This man came to Birmingham just as the city was beginning to make it's mark as a strong Southern town. The story of his salvation, his time in seminary...a South Carolina boy going to Princeton...and then his call to go to Birmingham is so simple. He prayed his way through it all and never gave any credit to himself or his credentials of earning a doctorate. The simple life he lived while giving to others and forever proclaiming the message of salvation has renewed in me "religion in shoes." This is the title of the book and it's so fitting for this man's work for the Lord.

I love history, I love a great, inspiring biography, I love the love this man genuinely had for the Lord. The book is inspiring. Amazon has a few sellers who have this book available. It is also available at the main branch of the Huntsville Public Library.

Same girl, same beach...a few years in between

2008-07-11T07:54:00.008-05:00

April was about 2 1/2 years old when this picture was taken. We were living in Anderson, South Carolina while her daddy was working on his MBA at Clemson. We had come home for a visit to Pensacola and, of course, made a visit to the beach. This particular beach is on Perdido Key, just west of Pensacola.

Finding this picture made April and me laugh really hard. You see, on June 20, we had been to her college registration and then spent time in Pensacola with all the grandparents. Again, a trip to the beach was in order. The reason for the laughing you may wonder? Compare the picture above with this one....

While things change, so much really does stay the same. Still the same girl that God has known since before the foundation of the world. He knows the number of hairs in that thick head of hair! Hands on hips...then and now. Simple childlike love for God then, the same love matured and nurtured in her heart now.

Blessings of misunderstood wisdom

2008-07-09T08:03:00.011-05:00

For far too many years I have lived away from my parents. I love them dearly and miss their hugs and outward demonstrations of love for me. At times, usually when my heart was misaligned, I have been discouraged by things they may say or do. In my mind I deemed them as not understanding or even critical. As I've grown older as a parent, I can clearly understand some of the things I perceived as critical when it was, in hindsight, for my best interest and clearly on target and fully constructive.

I had to repent of dismissing the wisdom of those more mature than me. While I thought I was open minded and they were close minded, I can see now they had the wisdom and I was just plain arrogant. I thank God for showing me this and forgiving me.

As we grow and mature, we can become wise in our own eyes, which is a polite way of admitting arrogance. When I first learned of the doctrine of grace, I immediately became angry with the church in which I had grown up. I zeroed in on the "rules" which I had perceived as controlling. And maybe they were but I remind myself today that they were not there to harm me but to teach boundaries. I did not abide by rule setting in my church family but what I now see is it was their way of discipling...teaching me that there is a way to live that honors God and a way that does not. When I think back to the Bible teaching and examples I saw of men and women in the church I can say they loved with their hearts but they would not compromise with the world. It was a very straight and narrow line. It was probably more than I could do because I tried to do it on my own...in my own strength. They were teaching the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives and that "through Christ I can do all things" but I was not receiving the teaching, only rebelling at the rules. The grace was clearly there but I was too busy rebelling against rules to see it.

I've spent too many years being critical of a place, that upon reflection, I loved and I miss. Here are some thoughts today, quickly written "off the top of my head" about my most precious memories of that church.

Walking up brick steps to a large oak double door and being greeted by my pastor
Breathing in the smell of church…wooden pews, ladies perfume, men’s cologne, the aroma of the much awaited dinner on the grounds
Seeing the long glass windows, not mosaics, yet a beautiful opaque hue that cast warm light throughout the sanctuary
Hugs from senior citizens who asked me if I was walking with the Lord at school
Hugs from aunts and uncles who prayed for me
A beautiful picture of a river above the baptismal pool
Music from the organ that called us to worship and prayer
The choir
Christmas and Easter cantatas
Prayers from the heart of men in the church who thanked the Lord for choosing to meet with us
Songs of praise and worship sung from a musty smelling red hymnal
A monthly Thursday night gathering for the Lord’s Supper where we sat with our family and were served individually by our deacons…we entered the sanctuary in total silence and left the same way.
Sunday school and training union
Teachers who shared God’s word and love with a face that showed the intent and content of their heart
Summer church camp
Missionaries coming to visit with reports from the field
Slide shows of the people they were reaching
Displays of trinkets and goods from their foreign countries
Praying and committing money for their work
Making friends with their children, becoming pen pals and getting mail from Brazil
Seeing men and women follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and praying at the altar
Singing, crying and rejoicing at the altar when a person proclaimed Jesus as their Lord and Savior

Lord, forgive me for not seeing your glory and the blessings of your people at this church where I knelt at the age of 12 and proclaimed you as Lord and Savior. Thank you for this heritage and for the loving people who encouraged me, admonished me, prayed for me and loved me. I didn't see it all then, but I see it clearly now. May we all see with clear eyes and hearts the need for wisdom from the older generation.

Momentous May

2008-05-22T16:25:00.004-05:00

Just two days past my daughter's high school graduation, I sit here in awe of God and thank him for the events we have lived through. Beginning on May 1, April turned 18. She is the most wonderful daughter and friend a mother could have...I love her dearly with every ounce of my being. The day after her birthday, we traveled to Birminhgam to see our son be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve. He will be on active duty for three years serving as an officer with the Engineers. He graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham on May 3. He is such a joy to be around and has grown into a young man that I strongly admire and also love with every ounce of me. We have all rejoiced, hugged, laughed and partied for most of the month now. As Mike and I sat back and observed the last event, April's graduation, we were just blown away at the way God has worked and moved in our family. He deserves all the praise we have for where we are today.

Father, I thank you for everything we have for it all comes from you. This has been quite the month and I thank you for the protection and teaching you have guided April and Nicholas through as they have completed these steps in their education. Bless them, Father. May they recognize with focused eyes and hearts Your hand in their lives. Amen.

Never Cease Praying

2008-03-25T21:14:00.008-05:00

I used to cringe when my mother or father would tell me, "I know you better than you know yourself." I was way too independent to think that anyone could know me. Now, as a mother of one grown son and a daughter on the threshold, I see things as my parents did.

It's not a prideful issue to tell your son or daughter that you "know them." The issue is one of being with them through it all and understanding their moods, their personalities, their likes and dislikes and most of all their dreams. When you see a dream shattered or maybe just moved in a different direction, you ache when they ache.

My son and daughter are similar to me in many ways. They day dream and wish and wonder. I think it's the creative side that God placed in the three of us. Also, moving so much in the Army made us look ahead to the next assignment and begin to prepare our hearts for a move. I used to tell them even though it was hard to leave houses, churches, friends and schools behind, God would provide for us in our new situation.

We've been living in one place for the last 9 years, save the time my son has been at college. I think somewhere along the way we never gave up the excitement of the new things coming our way. When you live with the mindset that the glass is half full and looking ahead to the new plans or new people in your life, we can easily feel disappointed, hurt and be discouraged over the things that take a turn we did not expect or want. If we set our minds on the perspective of God's best for us, and agreeing with Him in His plan for us, the disappointments are easier to accept. The hurt can be strong but we can accept our circumstance and continue in our walk with Him.

Through the years, I always took the time to ask God to prepare the hearts of my children for the changes ahead as we moved. I must confess I stopped praying that prayer once we settled in one place. Now more than ever I need to pray for my children. I need to pray for them to be content. I need to pray for them to continue to seek the things that satisfy them while bringing honor to God. I need to pray for their future spouses. I pray for my children to seek God's face in their future and never to settle for anything less than His plan.

Our Sovereign God knows His plans for my children. He knows my children personally. He knows them because He is our sovereign God. They are His. Prayer will strengthen my heart as the Lord hears and answers me according to His perfect will and leads my children throughout the constants and the changes in their lives.