PIVOT

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--PIVOT

Five minutes to free-write about it

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The last few days have been pivotal (in the sense of a turning point) for both me and my plants.

The wildflowers I had planted and thought would be too strangled to bloom because I accidentally overcrowded them by adding too many seeds to the pot, are looking beautiful. And the tomato plant that had been sitting on a sunny windowsill in my bedroom and was looking half dead, immediately perked up when I moved it out to the balcony.

As for me, I'm perking up as well, and having a renewed desire to start taking pictures again as I'm out and about doing errands. Yesterday I had the energy to pull over twice and get out of my car to take these pictures of some pretty purple umbrellas outside a local eatery, and a July 4th fireworks stand.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

Way, way back in the day, when my children were the age my younger great-grandchildren are now, my son found a ring in the playground.

I never found out who it belonged to, and it fit perfectly, so it became a well-worn piece of jewelry. In fact, it's one of the few rings I ever wear anymore.

I wonder who it belonged to and what became of her.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

TUESDAY THOUGHTS

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;

Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

(Psalm 34:8, NKJV)

Still pondering the events of the past almost two months and the amazing and unexpected ways the Lord moved in my life, providing tangible evidence that He is in control and can be trusted to know what's best, no matter how things may be looking from my point of view.

I'm also thinking of how perfect the timing of the messages in my devotionals have been. Like the one early on that exhorted me to welcome my challenge as an opportunity to trust God, and to hold His hand tightly as He walks through it with me. And the one today, at the other end, having personally experienced these truths play out in my own personal circumstances:

                                                Do not presume to know what's best

                                                When you begin to pray;

                                                But say to God, "Your will be done,"

                                                Then trust His perfect way.  (David Sper)

VIBE

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--VIBE

Five minutes to free-write about it

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VIBE: A distinctive but intangible quality surrounding a person or thing (Vocabulary.com). -- Distinctive feeling or quality capable of being sensed--e.g. good, bad, or weird (Merriam-Webster dictionary).

That is what the promptings of the Holy Spirit feel like to me. It's that still small voice within that, if I am sensitive to, points me in the right direction by alerting me as to whether something or someone has a good vibe attached to it or not. However, in order to benefit from its guidance I need to trust God and obey--even when it goes against what my own senses or intellect would like me to believe.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not

depend on your own understanding. Seek his

will in all you do, and he will show you which

path to take.  (Proverbs 3:5-6, NLT)

PART

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--PART

Five minutes to free-write about it

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One of the things I pray for during my morning quiet time is that the Lord would increase my inner strength so that I don't cave in when buffeted by the storms of life. But, truth be told, I tend to feel a pang of fear when I pray it, because I know that in order for the Lord to answer that prayer I will be tested.

And tested I was, when I unexpectedly wound up in the ER during the month of May--not once, but twice--and at the beginning of June, had surgery for something unrelated that I had been led to believe I was not a candidate for. 

The way the Lord orchestrated all the details was so mind boggling it gave my confidence in Him a much needed boost, driving home the point that He is on the throne and in control. My part is to trust Him whether or not I understand the whys and wherefores. His part is to work out the details. 

Though I am feeling stronger, I'm still in recovery mode and do not yet know for sure what the final outcome of the surgery will be, but some of the lessons I'm learning are to stay present in the moment so I don't miss out on today's blessings by letting fear of tomorrow rob me of their joy, and not to let the things I don't know keep me from experiencing the comfort provided by the things that I do. Things like Jesus is my good Shepherd who will never leave me or forsake me, and who is always by my side. Or that God is my father, and I am His beloved child. 

I don't need to go down trails of what ifs, because I can be rest assured that He sees things I do not see, and knows things I do not know, and is working all things together for my good and His glory as He weaves the tapestry of my life.

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We need have no fear of someone who loves us perfectly; his perfect love for us eliminates all dread of what he might do to us. If we are afraid, it is for fear of what he might do to us. and shows that we are not fully convinced that he really loves us. -- 1 John 4:18 (TLB)

BACK HOME

Just a brief update to let you all know that surgery was successful, and I am now back home, learning to be patient and accept help as I recover, and pondering many things. 

 

One of the things I've been pondering is the miracle of how this surgery even came to be. That deserves a post all of its own.

In brief though, I firmly believe the Lord used the small bowel obstruction that landed me in the ER just to introduce me to the wonderful thoracic surgeon who repaired the hiatal hernia I had been told was too risky to repair and that it was a surgery I would not be a candidate for.

I have already posted the details of how an X-ray taken as I was being prepped for pre-op revealed that the obstruction was gone (here in this post if you want to read it), and the surgery was cancelled. 

The thoracic surgeon who was going to collaborate in the surgery recommended that I go home, gain some strength, and reschedule the hernia repair for a later date--as opposed to him doing it then. 

His plan was to do minimally invasive robotic surgery--unless he went in and found there was a lot of scar tissue from a previous laparoscopic surgery I had had, which is what had been thought to be the cause of the bowel obstruction that disappeared. And plan A is what it turned out to be as there was no scar tissue to be found either.

When I ponder how the Lord orchestrated the details of a surgery that had never even been on the radar before my visit to the ER for something totally unrelated, my awe is too great for words.

DEAL

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--DEAL

Five minutes to free-write about it

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This was one of the views from my window for almost three weeks. Three weeks on an IV with no food or drink. 

It's funny how hard it has always been for me to lose weight, and how quickly I managed to lose 8 lbs. Now, instead of stepping on the scale in the morning to see if I have (hopefully) lost sometihng, I'm stepping on to see if I've managed to gain anything back. But I digress. 

One morning I woke up fine. By the end of the day, I was not. 

Since then, it's been a challenging time of unexpected ups and downs, ever changing plans and schedules, encouraging news and news that's not so encouraging, having every single available vein poked so many times they had trouble finding new ones--even with the help of an ultrasound (and I am a big wimp with zero pain tolerance and needle phobia). 

Throughout it all, what's kept me going is reminding myself that Jesus, my good shepherd, is right there with me, holding my hand, sometimes even carrying me. It's also reminding myself that even when I don't understand--and more so then than ever--I need to trust that God is in control, that He sees the end from the beginning, and that His plan and timing are always the best. Sometimes He reminds me of it too, such as in the form of a miracle. 

Like being on my way to surgery for removal of a small bowel obstruction and having one more X-ray before a nurse--very aptly named Rejoice--came to prep me for Pre-Op, but the surgery got cancelled.

The X-ray revealed there was no longer any obstruction and the surgery was no longer needed. The thoracic surgeon who was going to collaborate in the surgery and repair my hiatal hernia at the same time opted to postpone the repair until June to give me a chance to go home and regain some strength, and then, hopefully, he would be able to do the repair in a less invasive and more effective way.

However, the deal is this. One miracle does not necessarily mean assuming a second one will follow. It may or may not, but should not be taken for granted.  

The deal is that peace comes from putting my trust in God--no matter what--and seeking His face rather than His hand. It's looking at life's challenges as opportunities to acknowledge my neediness,  rely more fully on Him, and increase my intimacy with Him as my dependence deepens.  

I loved the words of a Sing Devotional I was listening to the day I was discharged (which unfortunately did not have a link I could link it to or even go back and listen to it again to get the name of the man who was leading it), but in essence, he likened pain as going from an open wound to a tender scab, and eventually to an empowering star. 

The worst of times, in retrospect, he went on to say, is often the best of times even if it doesn't feel like it at the time, because it's during those times when God is able to change our hearts and teach us the deepest lessons, and we learn to rely on Him instead of on ourselves.

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Hiatal hernia repair surgery is scheduled for Tuesday, June 2nd. Will keep you posted.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

DECISION

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--DECISION

Five minutes to free-write about it

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Have any of you ever decided to declutter and then later regretted having gotten rid of some of the things you did?

I used to save cards, letters, kids' artwork and term papers, and such, and had three large boxes full. And then I got on the decluttering bandwagon and convinced myself I needed to go through these boxes and only save the things that meant the most. So I did, and pared them down to just half of one box so there would still be room for anything down the road I felt I really couldn't part with.

The same thing with my clothes. Anything in my closet I hadn't worn in over six months got donated to the thrift shop or to our church's clothing giveaway, for someone else to enjoy.

Why I decided to do these things, I do not know. It's not as though I live in a cluttered apartment, but it seemed like the thing to do.

Invariably though, there always seems to be something that I think of that I would like to wear that I haven't in a while, only to discover I no longer have it. And this morning, I thought of something I wanted to read that had once been in one of my boxes of mementos, only to realize it was something I had gotten rid of. 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

TIMING

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--TIMING

Five minutes to free-write about it

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Friday's prompt made me think of how important it is to be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and quick to obey before the moment passes.

Most times I do respond right away to spiritual promptings, but other times I don't, and the moment passes, and the opportunity is lost. 

Just this morning, for instance, I was talking to someone at church and had a strong prompting to ask him a certain question, but it felt awkward and I didn't do it. Maybe there will be another opportunity, maybe not, but I'll never know what the Lord might have used that question to accomplish had I obeyed at that moment in time.

The same thing has happened in my writing. I'll feel prompted to write a post (especially on my other blog--At The Foot Of The Cross), but I'm in the middle of work or what I think is some other priority, so I just quickly scribble a note or two on a scrap of paper so I don't forget to do it later, but when later comes, the passion of the moment is gone, and if I do write something anyway, it does not have the impact it would have had, had I done it when I first felt led to do so.

Which made me think of a passage in the Old Testament (Numbers 14:1-45) about the consequences of missing God's timing.

The spies sent out to scout the land of Canaan brought back a negative report, and as a result,  instead of trusting God, the Israelites disobeyed Him and refused to enter the Promised Land because they were afraid. Then, when God told them they would die in the wilderness for their unbelief, they tried to make up for their disobedience by setting out to fight their enemies even though Moses warned them not to do it because God was no longer with them. 

They refused to listen, did it anyway, and as a result, they were defeated.

FRIDAY FUNNY

 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

UNSCHEDULED

This post was supposed to be for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--SCHEDULE

Five minutes to free-write about it

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Participating in Friday's prompt was on my schedule, but the day did not go according to plan. Instead, I spent a good part of it sitting in the garage waiting for my car to be repaired. 

On Thursday, I had rolled my car window down and then not been able to roll it back up again. Not a good thing with all the rain in the forecast. Also not a good thing because, as I found out, it's the only window in a car that you have to be able to open and close in order for the car to pass inspection, and my inspection was almost due.

A friend had recommended this place. It's a new garage in town, which I had also received a discount coupon in the mail for, and it did not disappoint.

True to the sign, the people working there were very friendly, accommodating, and willing to go above and beyond.

They first took the door off to see what was preventing the window from cranking back up and see if they could fix it. Unfortunately, they could not. The very old mechanism (my car is 26 years old) was broken beyond repair and had to be replaced. 

And so on Friday, instead of tackling the things on my schedule, I did things that were not. Like take pictures of my visit to the garage, and read a digital library book on my cell phone that I had not had time to read, and that was about to expire and get automatically returned.

The interior of the building was very clean and bright, and the waiting areas were very comfortable and had several amenities, such as a refreshment bar, with coffee, water, and snacks; a trolly with free pens, flashlights, squishy toys, key chains, and other items (I was not ablt to get a good picture of); and a most amazing children's area.

The children's area had games, books, a little table and chairs, and a red phone on the wall with a sign that said to pick it up and someone would bring you a lollipop.

I did not pick up the red phone and get a lolliop, but I did accept the gift of these squishy cars and flashlights for two of my great-grandsons.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

FOR ANONYMOUS: WORDLESS WEDNESDAY-2

 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

DECLINE

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--DECLINE

Five minutes to free-write about it

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Look what I got in the mail.

Sandra from  Diary of a Stay at Home Mom was celebrating her 20th blogversary with a special giveaway I didn't even know I had entered until she notified me that I was the lucky winner.  

How could I decline such a delightful surprise?

If you are reading this post, Sandra, thank you so much. You made my day.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

LAZY

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--LAZY

Five minutes to free-write about it

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My first thought was of a very old song, Those Lazy Hazy Days of Summer. I looked it up on YouTube to refresh my memory, and though the lyrics are less than edifying, the tune is very catchy, and now I'm having trouble getting it out of my head. 

This week I cheated a bit by reading what some other people had written before writing my own thoughts, because to me, lazy means sitting around doing nothing, and I don't do that, but I do procrastinate a lot and am easily sidetracked as well. 

What I discovered was that the word seems to mean different things to different people.

My master to do list is long and overwhelming, and though my spirit is willing, my flesh is weak (not my words, but definitely my thoughts). Even though I try to keep the daily list short, I still have trouble getting through it because of how easily I get sidetracked, and because I sometimes just freeze and waste a lot of time trying to just get started. 

Jesus had an antidote for that --  "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Mark 14:38, NIV)

Through this post, I am committing to be more intentional and consistent about praying over what to include in the short to do list for the following day that I write out before going to bed each night, and praying for the Lord to enable me to resist the temptation to get sidetracked and help me stay on track.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

HARMONY

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--HARMONY

Five minutes to free-write about it

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Yesterday was the first day of spring and this blog's 19th anniversary, but the day did not play out the way I had expected it to.

It was a very dreary day with lots of rain and a few thundershowers,  

I don't know if any of you are affected by the weather and changes in barometric pressure, but I have always been very sensitive to both. 

As a result, instead of writing the special post I had looked forward to doing, I allowed my aches and pains to seduce me into attending a pity party where my thoughts were out of harmony as to whether or not I should even continue blogging, take a break, or just say goodbye. 

And then this morning, I woke up to a beautiful, blue sky day and wondered what all that had been about. 

Things seem to look so much more harmonious (at least to me) when the sun is shining, and when I remember to keep my focus on the Lord, knowing that He is in control, that the clouds will pass, and that whatever lies ahead, Jesus is my good shepherd and is walking by my side (Psalm 23:4). 

Catching sight of these tiny wildflowers in the grass of our courtyard gave my spirits an added boost, reassuring me that yesterday's gloominess, notwithstanding, spring really is here. 

WHAT'S IN THE BOX?

My blog is 19 years old today, and I wanted to post something a little more significant than an answer to "What's In The Box," but time has escaped me, so this will have to do for now, just so the day does not pass unacknowledged. 

I will try and post a proper post in the next couple of days--maybe as part of this week's FMF challenge, which I obviously didn't have a chance to write today either.

Anyway, several of you were wondering what was in the box I posted a picture of for Wordless Wednesday. The answer is, that's it. 

I had ordered a battery from Amazon, and that's how it was delivered. One little battery rattling around a big old box with no padding or anything.

Happy First Day of Spring!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

POLITE

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--POLITE

Five minutes to free-write about it

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At first, no thoughts came to mind, but after reading Gina's post where she mentioned being a New Yorker, and the memory it triggered of New Yorkers being considered rude, many thoughts started popping in--way too many to fit into five minutes--so this may wind up being a very disjointed ramble.

Why is that association so commonly made about New Yorkers? Is it because life is so much more rushed and stressful (or was, back in the day when I lived there)? Though I never considered myself a rude person, maybe I was. 

When I relocated to Virginia, there was much I needed to learn. Like slowing down and not always being in a rush, being more patient, not being so pushy when I needed something done and the person who needed to do it did not go about it as fast as I thought they should, and not always trying to be at the head of the line. For sure the pace of life was much different in this neck of the woods, and it took some time to adjust my ways.

Totally unrelated, the prompt also brings to mind how what is considered polite in one culture may not be in another. Like, for instance, the habit of burping at the table. To us here, how rude. And yet in other cultures, a loud burp after the meal is considered a compliment to the chef, as well as a way of letting the other people around the table know you enjoyed the meal and feel happy and well fed.

One last thought. Though these days, for the most part, my focus is no longer so much on me as on trying to be gentle, kind, and considerate to the people I interact with, and on being sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to guide me, there is a new challenge.

Though my heart's desire is to be an encourager and to speak and act in ways that honor Jesus, point others to Him, and that give Him glory, you would never know it if you heard me on the phone, screaming and yelling in increasing frustration at the robot on the other end as I try to get it to connect me to a live person. This seems to be a test beyond all tests. Please pray for me to be able to keep my cool and turn it into a testimony. 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

BURY

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--BURY

Five minutes to free-write about it

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Disclaimer: My brain is tired, and all I could think of for this week's prompt, BURY, was the above verse (John 12:24), and  this song--"Glorious Day," so I can't claim to have written anything and was going to just skip, but then thought maybe the song would encourage someone. Hope it does.

 

I was buried beneath my shame
Who could carry that kind of weight?
It was my tomb
'Til I met You

I was breathing, but not alive
All my failures I tried to hide
It was my tomb
'Til I met You

You called my name
Then I ran out of that grave
Out of the darkness
Into Your glorious day
You called my name
And I ran out of that grave
Out of the darkness
Into Your glorious day

Now Your mercy has saved my soul
Now Your freedom is all that I know
The old made new
Jesus, when I met You, whoa, what a day

When you called my name
And I ran out of that grave
Out of the darkness
Into Your glorious day
You called my name
Then I ran out of that grave
Out of the darkness
Into Your glorious day

I needed rescue
My sin was heavy
But chains break at the weight of Your glory
I needed shelter
I was an orphan
But You call me a citizen of Heaven
When I was broken
You were my healing
Now Your love is the air that I'm breathing
I have a future
My eyes are open

'Cause when you called my name
I ran out of that grave
Out of the darkness
Into Your glorious day
You called my name
And I ran out of that grave
Out of the darkness
Into Your glorious day

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

BENEDICTION

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--BENEDICTION

Five minutes to free-write about it

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Wishing you this benediction from the Old Testament:

May the LORD bless you and protect you.

May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you.

May the LORD show you his favor and give you his 

peace.  (Numbers 6:24-26, NLT)

And this one from the New Testament:

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, 

and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

(2 Corinthians 13:14, NLT)

And, a Happy Valentine's Day too!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY