New Brain?

I've seen funny, clever, and lots of sad. Now weird. The young man on the street corner held a cardboard sign asking for spare change. For a new brain? I don't think anyone can do anything about his brain. But I know Who can give him a new heart.

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 ESV

Out of the Box

It took me a while to get up the nerve. I put off testing my new (out of the box!) food processor. My daughter wondered if I would ever use her Christmas present. So I read the manual and figured out the configuration. How about pizza dough? Wow! That was quick and easy. Too bad I got rid of a food processor cookbook thinking I would never do more than make soup.

She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. Proverbs 31:14

Streaming Love

The event was sold out. But that's okay, we don't have to go. We can gather around the computer screen at home and watch John Piper preach in Seattle. I think that was my first live streaming event. It was a great message. Now when I read the Bible I'm going to notice how often God's love and God's glory are paired together.

Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! Psalm 115:1 ESV

Count to 100

This is what I get. For being married to a first grade teacher. On the 100th day of school. Running to the store to buy more Froot Loops® cereal so the kids could eat their math manipulatives. Taking a turn at reading a book to first graders to add to their tally of reading minutes in one day. (They were only 10 minutes short of their 100-minute goal.) The best part? Listening to him rehearse happy songs about the 100th day of school.

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 ESV

Comes Together

You never know what's for dinner on Wednesday night. It's a true potluck. I love being surprised by what people bring to our small group Bible study. It always works out, even without planning. No one minds occasionally running heavy on desserts or main dishes. Or a convergence of deviled eggs.

Pictured: My daughter suggested I bake a marble cake for tonight. (Good thing I didn't make potato soup. Someone else did.)

And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, Acts 2:46 ESV

Auto-Pilot

I try to keep it together. Put things away. But where is that car tab bill? Not in the bill folder. How about under the furniture where I go through the mail? Or anywhere else I can think of? No. How hard is it to get a new copy? But wait, there it is tucked in my purse. All ready to go and pay. I have it together even when I can't remember getting it together.

She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Proverbs 31:27 ESV

Go Easy

My latest catch phrase works in multiple situations. "Go easy" can apply when someone is dishing up ice cream and chocolate sauce. Or how to treat the furniture. It's also good to remember when confronting someone. I can speak the truth in love. Gently.

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. James 3:17 ESV

1 CHANCE

I'm not going to stress. Worry about missed opportunities. But I do want to have clearness of vision. Pay attention. Maybe that's what the car owner had in mind with the custom license plate: 1CHANCE. I like Amy Carmichael's quote:

"The most powerful thing in your life is your opportunity; it is also the most irretrievable. We must have clearness of vision and a quiet mind if we are to see it, and lay hands upon it as it hurries past us on very quiet feet and disappears as utterly as the day that has gone."

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10 ESV

Blueberry Love

I love spring weather. And watching my husband work in the yard. In a few years we'll have some blueberries to enjoy. My daughter will remember how she helped weed and dig the holes.

Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you. Hosea 10:12 ESV

Ordinary Days

I'm right there. Enjoying the gifts of ordinary days. And learning how to let go. I enjoyed watching the video by author Katrina Kenison about her book, The Gift of an Ordinary Day.

http://www.katrinakenison.com/

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16 ESV

Nick of Time

Another squeaker. As in, I cut that close. I took my desktop computer in for a tune-up and to check on some problems. When I dug out my receipt I discovered that I was within two days of the three-year warranty expiring. I was just in time to get the hard drive and fan replaced. Good thing I subscribed to an online back-up a couple months ago.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! Psalm 100:4 ESV

My Helper

Another timely prayer. This morning I read in A Diary of Private Prayers:

...give me grace today to recognize the stirrings of Thy Spirit within my soul and to listen most attentively to all that Thou hast to say to me. Let not the noises of the world ever so confuse me that I cannot hear Thee speak. Suffer me never to deceive myself as to the meaning of Thy commands; and so let me in all things obey Thy will, through the grace of Jesus Christ my Lord.

And then I went to Bible study and read John 14. We are learning about the work of the Holy Spirit. I need all the help I can get.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 14:26 ESV

Post Office Stories

I don't mind waiting in line. My daughter not so much. She took pictures with my cell phone. Here's the floor pattern. Here's the rope. And so on. I find it interesting to catch bits and pieces of people's stories. A woman mailing a package to Russia. A man mailing a diamond ring back. I wonder what the rest of that story is. A woman shipping cookies to kids in college. We could have swapped recipes. I was mailing muffins to my kids at college.

that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, Colossians 2:2 ESV

Weekly Blessing

God knew what I needed. I'm glad God didn't answer my prayer to be able to give myself a shot every week. My older daughter stepped up to do it. When she left for college my neighbor two doors down took over. Plus my other friend who is my back-up shot giver. I am blessed by the weekly visits and chance to catch up.

that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. Romans 1:12 ESV

Good Care

My husband doesn't have to do anything for Valentine's Day. He's already paid it forward. He takes good care of me all the time. But he surprised me with balloons, candy, and flowers.

Today he went on a day trip to Seattle with our older daughter. I'm glad they could share some father-daughter bonding. That makes me happy.

Pictured: I saw these two dogs in a car the other day. Very cute!

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:18 ESV

Lunar New Year

It's been a while since I heard that drum and saw the performers. Growing up in Asia it was a regular event, especially at Lunar New Year. Today my daughter and I heard firecrackers and saw lions dancing in front of our Vietnamese hair salon in Olympia. And enjoyed free food. My daughter even received a red envelope with a crisp one dollar bill in it.

Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil--this is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 5:19 ESV

Opening Ceremony

I let my daughter stay up past her bedtime. It is the opening ceremony of the Olympics ceremony, after all. I'll have to get out a world map. I think they've changed half the names of the countries since I was in school.

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah Psalm 67:4 ESV

Snippets to Go

I like running errands. Within reason. It gives me a chance to listen to Christian radio. I am almost always blessed by the sermon snippets I catch. On second thought, I don't have to leave home. I could stream the radio through my computer.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV

The Welcoming Committee

I have been waiting for this. My Bible study through the book of John came to chapter 14. My great-grandmother loved this chapter and read it every night. Until her death at age 106. I look forward to seeing her and the rest of the welcoming committee when Jesus comes again.

John 14:1-3:"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 ESV

Table for Three

I arrived first and put my name on the list. Table for three please. Soon after I sat down, my two friends showed up. Three free breakfasts, coming right up. Plus two coffees and one juice. We had good service and good fellowship. My kids at college did the same thing.

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 1 Timothy 6:17 ESV

Someone Noticed

That's twice now. I missed Sunday school two weeks in a row. And both times a friend emailed to say she missed me. That's the body of Christ in action. I love that.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV

End of the Weekend

The weekend ended too soon. It was good to have my daughter home for a couple days. We sent her back today. With our car. She and our son can use it this week and then someone will drive it home next weekend.

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 1 Peter 3:8 ESV

Water Fun

My younger daughter was an honorary member of her friend's family today. With a sack lunch bearing her name and everything. They loaded their van and went to a water park one-plus hours away. My daughter had a great time. And then my husband met up with them and went on the slide with her. Over and over again. Maybe next time I'll go. I might even go in the water. They said it was warm.

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 1 Timothy 6:17 ESV

Pray First and Later

We almost always remember to pray first. We ask God for safe travels. But how often do I stop and thank God when we return? I am thankful for a good day trip to Bellingham and back. Mostly sunny and a spectacular rainbow on the way. Four of us went and visited our two at college, and brought back one with us.

He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. Psalm 91:4 ESV

No Unfinished Business

Who knows what tomorrow holds? Besides God. Last week I told my friend how I deal with life's uncertainty. Have no regrets. Don't have unfinished business. Say what needs to be said. Make amends if necessary. And go about your life. My friend took that to heart. And called someone she needed to talk to. Good for her.

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV

All to Jesus

Do I really mean it? At Bible study this morning I sang the hymn, I Surrender All. Sometimes it's a little. Or most. But all? I'm learning to trust. The more I learn about Jesus, the more I trust Him. He knows me. Loves me. Is working in and through me.

All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 ESV

Happy to Go

I was so glad to see him leave. My husband returned to work today. One week later. He couldn't wait to get back in the classroom with his first graders. He was just in time for the delivery of frog eggs.

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. 3 John 1:2 ESV

Above all, Faith

The more I know, the more I know how little I know. But I am encouraged to keep on keeping on. In faith. I like what writer Leslie Leyland Field says about the Myth of the Perfect Parent in January's Christianity Today. She says:

"Children are not tomatoes to stake out or mules to train, nor are they numbers to plug into an equation. They are full human beings wondrously and fearfully made. Parenting, like all tasks under the sun, is intended as an endeavor of love, risk, perseverance, and, above all, faith."

With thanks for the link to my writer friend, Leslie Gould.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/january/12.22.html?start=1

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV