Too Many Adjustments For This Old Gal

Okay, so Blogger is playing games with us and wants to change the way we do things here. I am trying it to see how it works so I will know how to complain...or adjust as necessary. I guess that is what is happening in all of life these days...we have the choice to complain, or adjust as necessary. I might as well warn you...I am struggling with the thoughts of all the "adjusts as necessary" we are having to make to adapt to the way things are right now.  

Probably my biggest adjustment will be when we finally are able to go back to church. Even though we are free to go back to church again, we really aren't free. I mean, we are free as long as we can socially distance ourselves from everyone...six feet apart in seating and standing and basically putting an invisible bubble around ourselves.  And then there's the mask...I don't even want to go there. And the offering plate...must not be passed from person to person anymore. Gotta find some "safe way" to give our tithe to God's House.  But even bigger and more difficult than that is the "no singing" policy. They (they being the "experts" on these things) say that choirs should not sing. Congregations should not sing. Singing apparently causes us to breathe out too much air and suck in too much air and it just might kill us.

Yes, I am having a difficult time thinking about all of these adjustments. I am truly having to pray really hard about this. I want to go back to church more than anything right now. But I want to go back to church the way it was. Our church was full of singing and rejoicing and praising the Lord together...and hugging...lots of hugging. Just thinking about taking all of that away is making me very sad and somewhat depressed, I might as well be honest.  Singing especially. That is one of the biggest parts of worship for me. I love to sing praises to the Lord. I've been singing since I learned how to make noise in my crib. I sang "Jesus Loves Me" from the time I could form words. I sang "Jesus Loves Me" to my babies in my womb and then when I held them in my arms for the first time and every time I could. I would still sing it to my grown up babies if they'd let me.  We sang it every Sunday morning in our worship service as the little children would line up to go out for Children's Church. 

I'm sorry. Obviously I am not adjusting to this idea very well. But let me tell you why.

Remember when Jesus was entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the Sunday before His crucifixion?  Do you remember how as He entered the city on the colt,  (see Luke 19:35-40):

"The whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying:

"Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!"  Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

39.  And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples."

40.  But He answered and said to them, 

"I tell you that if these should keep silent, 

the stones would immediately cry out."

That's how I feel about this whole thing...especially the not singing part.  There is no way that I can sit through a whole worship service and not sing praises to my Lord. I have visions of myself jumping up from my seat and singing the Doxology from the top of my voice:

"Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!

Praise  Him all creatures here below!

Praise Him above ye heavenly host!

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!

Amen" 

Much like this Mockingbird was doing this afternoon, from the tip top of the tallest tree, singing his heart out:

I know, it's only an hour or so on a Sunday morning. I should be able to adjust for that amount of time. And I suppose I could if it wasn't the fact that all these adjustments totally change everything about the way we worship together. The new "rules" tend to squash our joy and peace and enthusiasm for being in God's House.  I guess if you are a person who likes to just slip in the back pew and sit there for an hour and not speak to anyone or do anything but sit there, then it won't make much difference to you. But to me worship is active participation in the service. It's singing, praying, partaking in the worship of giving our tithes and offerings, participation in the Holy Sacrament of Communion. It's greeting our friends and visitors and making them feel welcome in God's house. It's filling up the pews with our family and friends and sitting close together, squeezing a hand or putting an arm around a shoulder when you know that person is praying and hurting and needing someone to agree with them in prayer either in their seat or kneeling at the prayer altar.  It's shaking the Pastor's hand at the close of the service as we go out the door, thanking him for his message that touched our hearts and brought comfort to our souls. 

Somehow I believe that God is bigger than all of these "rules" and new "adjustments".  I know what people are thinking and saying..."She doesn't care about health and safety". "She's a rebel and we need to stay away from her because she might burst out singing and breathe on us and give us the virus."

Well, maybe I am a rebel. I'm having to pray about that, because I certainly would never want to be the cause for someone else's pain or illness.  But I don't want to be cringing in fear every time someone comes near me to welcome me. I don't want to hold in the songs that keep bubbling up out of my heart that is filled with the joy of the Lord. I don't want to be the one that makes the rocks cry out because I refused to praise my Lord.  So you might want to pray for me to be able to adapt and adjust to whatever the new rules might be, because above all else, I want to praise my Lord and worship in His house again, no matter what.

Okay, stop the presses a moment...take a deep breath! One of my friends from church emailed this quote to me today...and I just re-read it and realized I should have been doing this instead of ranting.

"Take a deep breath and let the peace of the Risen Christ fill you now."

John 20:19

"Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them,

"Peace be with you."

Prayer:

"Risen Christ,

Breathing out, I release my fear. Inhaling, I receive your peace. Your peace renews my spirit.

Hallelujah! Amen."

(Rev. Leigh Anne Taylor President, The Fellowship Revitalization Coordinator,

Lynchburg District of the Virginia Conference, Lynchburg, VA)

On a much brighter note, as we left the house this afternoon to take a ride and go for a walk after a day full of rain (praise the Lord for the rain!), just as we turned onto the highway we looked up and saw this beautiful rainbow:

And it reminded me that God is with us and has promised to always be with us. Even in the midst of this stormy time of riding the waves of this "pandemic", His promises are true. He will not forsake His children. The rainbow is God's symbol of hope and promise. We will get through this time.

I need to be patient and trust Him with all of these concerns and "adjustments". He knows my heart, and He will help me.

"Just take a deep breath and let the peace of the Risen Christ fill you now."

Amen.

Now,  concerning the changes in Blogger, I've been using the changed interface to write this post. I am not real happy with the way it handles the pictures especially, and some of the other formatting issues. I know they are going to try to force us to change over, but I did see where the original format will still be available. I don't know for how long, but my first choice would be to stick with the original if possible. But I guess I will have to pray about this too!!! You know, it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks! LOL.

I hope you will have a blessed and beautiful week. I apologize for being negative. But these are issues I am trying to work through, and perhaps you are too. Let's pray for one another, okay? Okay.

Are YOU Experiencing a "New Normal" in Your Life? - Updated 8/19/2018

I was just going back through some old posts written over the past several years regarding my "mother-in-law".  There were many...and I may just have to compile them into a kind of book someday. As most of you are aware, "Nanny", my mother-in-law, passed away this past week at the age of 95.  She was an amazing woman until the very end.  We are now experiencing another kind of "New Normal" in our lives...adjusting to life after "Nanny".  It will take some time to adjust...she was such a huge part of our lives for so long. I've been a member of this clan for 49 years, and so I feel like a very large part of my life and heart is missing today.  But we know where she is!  And the things I wrote almost eight years ago (see highlighted below) have now come true for her...

Original Post 1/16/2011:

I do hope to get back to some kind of "normal" someday...I guess I just need to adjust to our "new normal"...and I am very thankful for what God is doing here...but I still need His wisdom and grace each day...  

This was going to be my status statement on my facebook page today, but then I thought perhaps it might need too many explanations, so I decided to move it over to my blog instead.  For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about, here goes...

A couple of weeks before Christmas my 87 year old mother in law came to live with us. Now, don't get me wrong...I dearly love my mother in law...she is a beautiful and wonderful person... and we have always had a great relationship...one that has spanned over 41 years!  We have been through a lot of trials and joys together.  She has been a strong support for our family during times of illness and trauma.  She was there for me following my two major surgeries...caring for my personal needs as well as the needs of my home and family when I was unable to get up on my own.  She also came to stay with us many years ago when our son Matthew was undergoing surgery for a brain tumor, and I don't know what I would have done without her help during those very difficult and uncertain days.  She has helped us pack and move more times than I care to remember...and was there helping with the unpacking and resettling as well.  When our children were very small she and my father in law came almost every Sunday afternoon with a car load of groceries to help us through some difficult times.  When my husband felt the call to prepare for the ministry, and our plans got turned upside down because our 18 month old son was hit by a car and we had to make some quick decisions about employment and housing, it was my in-laws' support that carried us through the remainder of that very difficult school year so that we didn't have to drop out of school prematurely. 

The list could go on an on...and actually this has been a very good exercise for me to pause and remember just how much genuine unselfish love this dear lady has showered on our family throughout the years.  It actually is helping me to put things in perspective...

Yes, we are experiencing some major adjustments with these changes that are happening in our home presently...but how could I allow it to be any other way?  How could I not open my home to this dear one who has sacrificed so much for me and mine throughout the years? That's what family is all about...when things get difficult for one or the other...we do whatever we need to do to help the one in need.

Jesus said in Matthew 25:34-36, 

"Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'"  

And He concludes this portion in verse 40 with His response to the "sheep" who wondered when they had done all of those things with the following words, 

"And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'"   

My mother in law truly exemplifies the "sheep" in the above passage...she has literally fulfilled all of the examples given in verses 35-36 in caring for our family so completely throughout the years.  I have no doubt that God, the Great King, will one day say to her, "Vivian, come you blessed of My Father and inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."   And, knowing my dear humble mother in law, she will respond with awe and amazement, "Lord, when did I do any of those things you mentioned?" and He will tell her, "When you so lovingly cared for your children and grandchildren, and for your own husband and mother and father and sisters (and her own mother and father in law as well)...when you always put others ahead of yourself...and when you loved your daughter-in-law like your very own daughter...even when she was not always as grateful as she should have been and was too proud and selfish to understand how much you truly cared... Yes, Vivian, assuredly I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." 

Yes, our family is experiencing a new kind of normal these days...we have added the laughter and sweetness of my mother in law to our home.  And even though she is going through some major adjustments in her own mind and heart and body, she continues to try to do her very best to care for the rest of us at the same time.  We are blessed by her presence, for however long God allows her to stay...and we know that He will give us the grace and wisdom we need each day. 

Thank you, Father, for this lesson today.  It has helped me to recognize exactly what You intended all along.  Amen.



This was our son Benton and my mother in law  on "Nanny Steiner's" 87th birthday in July last year. She loved hearing us sing "Happy Birthday" to her!  Such a great lady!!!

How about you?  What kind of "new normal" are you experiencing these days?  My prayer is that God will give you His insight and grace to help you get through each new day.


Postscript 8/19/18:  I know this gracious woman is rejoicing in the Presence of Jesus today...and enjoying all the joys and beauties of her heavenly home.   And we will see her again someday...thanks to Calvary!!



New Creatures in Christ - recycled

This post is being recycled from its original posting on 12/30/2010...and the message is still the same today...some excellent points to ponder as we prepare for the closing of one year and the beginning of the new.

This Nativity Ornament has been a part of my parent's Christmas tree ever since I can remember.

II Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

As I reflect back on this past year and all of its important events in my life, I can't help but think that through all of its trials and tribulations, old frustrations and new beginnings , closed doors and open windows, losses and gains...that God has been busily re-creating, molding and shaping and refining me into the "new creation" He desires me to become.  Every aggravation, new challenge, defeat, and victory are all a part of that bigger picture...the grand scheme...the masterpiece that God is creating in my life.

Looking ahead into the New Year I can't help but wonder what joys and travails are awaiting my discovery...but I can only move forward with faith, trusting in the same God Who brought me through this past year...the God Who never changes...He is the same, Yesterday-Today-and Forever...

In the words of an old A.B. Simpson hymn:

"Oh, how sweet the glorious message simple faith may claim; Yesterday, today, forever, Jesus is the same. Still He loves to save the sinful, heal the sick and lame, cheer the mourner, still the tempest-Glory to His name!"

"Yesterday, today, forever, Jesus is the same; All may change, but Jesus never! Glory to His Name!"

"For I am the Lord, I do not change..." Malachi 3:6


We can trust fully in this God, Jesus Christ, that little baby Who was born in a manger...Who came to save us and set us free from all our sins and shame...He is still working in our lives today just as He did when He walked upon this earth... and He is preparing us for His soon return...of that I am certain. 
 
Dear friend, are you ready to meet Jesus face to face?  Do you know this Saviour Who is working behind the scenes of your life, re-creating you into the beautiful image of Himself?  Perhaps this New Year will be full of life-changing events in all of our lives.  My prayer is that we will face each new challenge full of faith and trust in our life-changing God.  May it be a year of truly becoming a "New Creation" in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

The Bend in the Road

Tonight as I headed down our road for my evening walk I was captivated by the sight before me: 

The further I walked, the more brilliantly the light shone around the bend in the road. I was drawn toward this light and mesmerized by its glowing entreaty.

The refrain kept coming into my mind,

"When you come to the bend in the road",

and so many thoughts persisted as if God were giving me a special message...for me, perhaps...

but also possibly for you.

I am not a poet, so I won't even attempt to write in rhyme or verse.  

And actually, I discovered that Helen Steiner Rice has already written such a lovely poem about this very subject...so I will include that for you at the end of this.

Have you ever come to a place in your life where you felt like you had come to a roadblock...a dead end...a point of no return?  Perhaps a loss of job, financial security, home, marriage, spouse, parent, child, or friendship has left you feeling alone, empty and uncertain about your future...and all you can see is darkness and sorrow ahead.  

Believe it or not, we've all been there at different times in our lives. I've been there...perhaps more often than I'd like to admit or remember. We may each be affected differently by whatever our circumstance may be.  Some may respond with extreme fear and anxiety while others may react in anger and be unable to forgive or reconcile themselves to their changed position in life. There may even be those who respond with an attitude of accelerated activity and charge ahead recklessly without appearing to care at all about themselves or others around them. Others may be so caught up in grief that they cannot even begin to overcome the deep sorrow that engulfs their very souls. 

Regardless of how you appear to respond to the disappointments and challenges that life throws in your pathway, we can all agree that these kinds of events change our lives drastically from the outside in...and from the inside out.  Nothing will ever be the same again.  In some cases that is a bad thing...and perhaps in other cases, it could actually be a good thing. Obviously, that depends upon the severity of the situation as well as the condition of the heart and soul of the one traversing this journey.

What was impressing me about this vision of the bend in the road tonight was the divine light shining forth, beckoning me to continue on in my journey.  Not to give up or give in to defeat, fear, anxiety, sorrow, or even complacency, but to persevere and stay strong in my faith in the One Who was already walking before me, just around the bend,  shining His love-light toward me, guiding my pathway and keeping me headed in the right direction.

"Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel;

Who makes a way in the sea and a path through the mighty waters...

'Do not remember the former things,

nor consider the things of old.

Behold, I will do a new thing,

Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it?

I will even make a road in the wilderness

and rivers in the desert.'"

Isaiah 43:14, 16, 18-19

"And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. 

He will be with you,

He will not leave you nor forsake you;

do not fear nor be dismayed."

Deuteronomy 31:8

Needless to say, this little walk tonight had a profound effect on my heart and mind. I couldn't wait to get back home and start putting these thoughts down on "paper" before they drowned in the sea of too many distractions and pressures waiting to overcome me when I got back home. It is my hope that anyone reading this will stop and realize that you are not alone in your present "bend in the road" of life.  That is all that it is...a bend...not an end.  Read what Helen Steiner Rice wrote and be encouraged and blessed...

The End Of The Road Is But A Bend In The Road

by Helen Steiner Rice

When we feel we have nothing left to give
And we are sure that the "song has ended"--
When our day seems over and the shadows fall
And the darkness of night has descended,

Where can we go to find the strength
To valiantly keep on trying,
Where can we find the hand that will dry
The tears that the heart is crying--

There's but one place to go and that is to God
And, dropping all pretense and pride,
We can pour out our problem without restraint
And gain strength with Him at our side--

And together we stand at life's crossroads
And view what we think is the end,
But God has a much bigger vision
And he tells us it's only a bend--

For the road goes on and is smoother,
And the "pause in the song" is a "rest,"
And the part that's unsung and unfinished
Is the sweetest and richest and best--

So rest and relax and grow stronger,
Let go and let God share your load,
Your work is not finished or ended,
You've just come to "a bend in the road."

There really isn't anything else for me to say, except keep moving forward, my friend. God is with you...He's already waiting for you, just around the bend.

Friday Foto Friends - Signs of Seasons

Friday Foto Friends Signs of Seasons

Spotted Horsemint, also known as Bee-Balm

 Hello to all my Friday Foto Friends!  I look forward to this time each week...an opportunity to share some photos from whatever has been going on in our lives.  These are some of the pictures I captured on our walks each day...subtle signs of the changing of the seasons.  The summer flowers are fading and now the late summer/early fall flowers and berries are appearing...preparing for the "cooler days"  of fall ahead. Where I live, in Florida, a cooler day might be when the temperature stays in the low 80's instead of the 90's...but we will be happy to have it.  We get especially happy when the temps drop down in the 70's in the daytime and the humidity drops as well.

God's Bouquet:  Beautyberry  and Spotted Horsemint with a trail of wild grapevine surrounding it.

Ever hear about "paw-paws"?  These are wild paw-paw fruits...almost ripe and ready for the wild animals to enjoy. They are edible for humans too, but these aren't really big enough to get much out of.  They have large seeds.

Close up of the Beauty Berries.  The birds, deer, and bears will enjoy these soon. It is also an edible weed, but very tart, and not recommended.  It can be made into a natural insect repellent!

Not a weed!  This is one of my beautiful Don Juan Roses blooming in our Memorial Garden. It smells divine.Click HERE for more about the significance of the Memorial Garden

Goldenrod is starting to bloom everywhere I look...

This is wild sumac...the blossom will turn into red berries that the birds love.  We have a lot of this growing around us here in the forest. I consider it to be a natural bird feeder! The Cardinals and Catbirds seems to love the berries.

Here is a red-bellied woodpecker pecking away at this old dead tree. Last year the woodpeckers had built quite a nice nest in this tree and then a storm came along and blew the top off, leaving them exposed to the elements! So they just moved to another tree the same day!For more about THAT story, click HERE

This is one of our beautiful mama deer in our neighborhood. She was looking at her fawn, to make sure she was safe since I was hanging around.   For more about THIS story, click HERE

She was just fine...

Listen to the words of King Solomon, written in the 10th century, B.C.

"To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born,

And a time to die;

A time to plant,

and a time to pluck what is planted;

A time to kill,

And a time to heal;

A time to break down,

And a time to build up;

A time to weep,

And a time to laugh;

A time to mourn,

And a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones,

And a time to gather stones;

A time to embrace,

And a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to gain,

And a time to lose;

A time to keep,

And a time to throw away;

A time to tear,

And a time to sew;

A time to keep silence,

And a time to speak;

A time to love,

And a time to hate;

A time of war,

And a time of peace."

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Yes, the seasons are preparing for change...all of nature testifies to this.  We ourselves are changing day by day.  We grow, we mature, we get older...and hopefully wiser.  If we look around in our world, we see many other signs of change...change in our culture, our environment, and in our society. Many changes we wish we could stop...some changes are not good...and we oftentimes become anxious about our future.  

But there is one thing we can be sure of:

  

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." 

 (Hebrews 13:8)

So, 

"Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have.  For He Himself (God) has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you"

So we may boldly say:

"The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

Hebrews 13:5-6

 As we approach this season of change, whether it be seasonal, personal, or things of the world,  let us put our trust in the Lord and not fear.  He has promised to be there for us, no matter WHAT the changes of life.

Now, jump on over to see what others are sharing on Friday Foto Friends (Click HERE)!

A Little This, A Little That

What do you do when you are feeling kind of hemmed in by circumstances beyond your control? You know, when you'd like to be out doing things you enjoy, but you've taken on a responsibility that is a bit confining, at least for awhile...and you struggle against feelings of rebellion because you can't do what you want to do...

You stop and realize that this minor restriction is only temporary...and that perhaps your little inconvenience might actually be something that is a huge blessing to someone who is very dear to you.  You put aside your selfish ambitions and do whatever it takes to bring a smile to another and restore a sense of security and peace to one who may be feeling a bit lost and alone.

You search for ways to include such a one in your normal routine so that he/she feels accepted, loved and useful again.

That may not always be an easy task, especially if the one you love is struggling with the onset of dementia and has had to leave his/her home, give up independence and become dependent upon others who are still very active,,,and who are trying very hard to understand the changes that are taking place in the one they love...

It isn't an easy task when the dear one truly dislikes having to become dependent, but cannot remember that he/she has told you the same thing over and over again several times in the last hour or even few minutes.  Or when it becomes obvious that the once strong, beautiful, generous and intelligent person no longer finds it possible to manage simple tasks or prepare food, drive a car, take proper medications, or take a shower without a struggle and a lot of fear.

A wonderful flea market find...a vintage bowl...

So you do a little of this, and a little of that...take short walks around the yard with the loved one instead of the long delightful walk you have always enjoyed morning and evening on your days off from work.  You find simple tasks that can be done without too much danger or confusion...such as putting the silverware and napkins on the table at mealtimes...drying a few dishes,  or folding some towels.

 Take a little ride and enjoy the beautiful scenery within a few miles of your home, but not venturing too far from places where one can stop for a restroom if necessary.  If possible, check out the local flea market and take a short walk in and out, looking at interesting items that may bring back memories of the "good old days".   Maybe even purchase something that seemed to bring a smile to a previously unsmiling face.

And a vintage sugar bowl...

These are little things that are simple to do now...but as the disease progresses we know that even these little things may become more and more difficult.  So...we thank the Lord for the good days that we have now. We take it one day at a time as far as any major decisions or plans for the future. We are thankful that we are sharing this load with other family members and not bearing the full responsibility alone.  We thank the Good Lord for the many years of blessing and joy this loved one has brought us...and the many ways she has blessed us with her love and generosity and kindness over the years.  I inwardly thank my mate who remembers to give thanks for this dear one at each meal while asking the blessing...and helping her to feel that love and appreciation for her presence with us.

Yes, a little this, and a little that...to help ease the moments that are sometimes awkward and frustrating and create instead moments of joy and laughter whenever possible.

That's what is really important. Not my selfish ambitions or my momentary inconveniences.

For previous thoughts on this subject go back here.