Tuesday 4: Dreams

 

Tuesday 4

Just four questions weekly

Monday, January 11, 2021

Dreams


This meme was begun by Toni Taddeo and kept going in her memory.

This week is another old one from Toni....
My Dreams ~ Try Using Photos!

1. My dream house is?

My dream house has evolved over time. I used to want a big farmhouse in the country, with big porches and a big country kitchen and plenty of room for everyone to roam and have a peaceful, happy time together.  Now that we are retired, my dream home is more about location than actual house...I love the look and feel of a log cabin or a timber frame house, but more important is the location...it definitely needs to be where I can see the water, preferably a nice private lake that one can canoe/kayak on, enjoy the natural beauty surrounding it...and plenty of room to roam.  Porches to sit and enjoy the view and visit with friends.  A Firepit and time to gather with family and friends...actually pretty much what I have now, but if I could change anything it would be to move it a little more out into the woods away from the noise of the traffic nearby.

(Pinterest photo)

(Pinterest photo)

My photo from my deck on Still Waters Pond

My photo from my yard on Still Waters Pond

Our Porch on Still Waters Pond

2. My dream car is? A comfortable SUV with seating for at least five. I don't dream about cars, just want something that is affordable and practical for our lifestyle and that is what we have.

3. My dream vacation is? 

This pretty much sums it up:

4. My dream life is? 

Probably ditto the sign above. I would love to live like that all the time, but also have our church family that we enjoy to worship with and have fellowship, Bible Studies, and just enjoying our friends and family as often as we can. I always wanted to own  our own retreat/camp where people could come and stay and relax and be restored from the sorrows that have touched their lives...a place where we could minister to people who really need a place to get away...thinking especially of pastors and wives who rarely have any time to themselves and need to just rest and relax without any pressures; also people who are caregivers for loved ones and need some time of respite away from their burdens for a while...

Over the years we have dreamed about this so often, and even tried to start a non-profit group to provide such a place, but it never really materialized.  I would love for our home to be this kind of place. Of course we have a guest room that is always ready, but it isn't anything particularly special, and not all that "private"...I would love to have a guest house that can be used specifically for that purpose. I keep dreaming about it and maybe someday it will happen.  But until then, my motto has always been:

"Mi Casa es Su Casa",  which means in Spanish, "My house is your house".  In other words, make yourself at home.

I have written about this before HERE  and ALSO HERE  and Again HERE,  so at least you can see I am consistent in my dreams!!

Now, let's go see what others are dreaming about today.

Friday Fotos -While the World is Going Crazy

While the world seems to be going crazy, I have withdrawn to a safe place here beside "Still Waters Pond",  retreating away from the constant hubbub on the television about the pandemic. Thankfully I am able to do that. I know that is not the case for everyone, and my prayers go out to those who are truly being affected either medically, physically, emotionally or economically by this current world crisis. Even if we are affected one way or another, I believe it is important to come away from the fray and rest awhile. Turn off the television, take a walk, go for a ride...redirect your focus to more positive and pleasant venues for a while.

Hence, I spent as much time as possible sitting on the deck overlooking the pond this morning, until it has gotten too warm this afternoon.  Here's a few pictures of those who joined me:

 Mr. Canadian Goose was way on the other side of the pond early this morning. I could not see his mate anywhere, but I feel sure she wasn't far off. We've never seen them come here alone before.

 I am happy that the Goldfinch is back, enjoying the thistle seed in the sock feeder.

 He brought his mate along to enjoy the banquet!!

Giant Blue Heron was having a nice lunch on the other side of the pond...

And guess who is taking up residence in the new birdhouse?

No, it's not a bluebird as I had hoped.

It is a Carolina Chickadee, and he/she has been busy all day bringing nesting materials to the house to prepare it for his/her new family...

 Although I would have preferred an Eastern Bluebird family to move in, I know I must not practice discrimination with our tenants, so if the Chickadee wants it first, he will get it! You snooze, you lose!

Hopefully we will get to watch this new little family come and go as we have a front row seat from the deck.

Over in the shadows there was a male cardinal getting a little drink from the bird bath.

That particular bird bath has a couple of small cracks in it, and it doesn't seem to be holding water very well.  I guess I need to replace it.  Sorry, Mr. Cardinal.  I do have a better birdbath up closer to the deck, but I noticed a neighborhood cat standing up and getting a drink out of it this morning, so that is probably why Mr. Cardinal decided to use this birdbath instead.

I promised you a picture of the finished product of our newly sealed front deck here yesterday.  It is finally done and dry and it turned out pretty nice. It is just a clear coat, but it did actually add a little bit of color to it.  We are pleased and will get our back deck done the same way in a couple of weeks.

Our local Christian radio station, 91.3 Hope FM, posted this picture below on their Facebook page this morning, along with a link to the CDC Checklist, for our information.

It is important for us to remember that our Lord is always with us, no matter how turbulent the storms of our lives..  He is there to help us and will give us peace.   Let us always keep our focus on Him no matter what the circumstances.

Have a blessed and peaceful day and weekend. I hope you will take the opportunity to get away from the noise as often as you can.

Random Journal Day-Teach Me Lord, To Wait! UPDATED FROM 5/2/2013

SEE THE UPDATE AT THE END OF THIS POST.   Originally posted on 5/2/2013, updated 5/9/2014 and AGAIN ON 5/9/2015:

Random Journal Day is a day when we pull out our old journals and share something from our past...hopefully something that reminds us of how far we've come in life...where we once were...and if we are able...we can see the way God was preparing us for our future today...at least that's what I've noticed from my former writings.  Sometimes I discover that the dreams I had twenty years ago are actually coming true today...like this one, written on July 1, 1990! 23 years ago? Can that be possible? Wow...

I wrote this during a time when we were serving in a metropolitan church way up north.  I was having a difficult time adjusting to my role as Pastor's Wife in this particular congregation...and also trying to adjust to life in the suburbs of a large city...a place I really did not like much at all. It was a struggle for our complete family the whole time we were there. It seems as though we were all a bit like fish out of water.  Here's what I wrote on that Sunday evening:

"I seem to be having some troubles adjusting here-more than usual.  I find myself wanting to 'withdraw' from people more and more.  I'm lonely for a real friend-but I'm afraid to even try to find one.  I just don't feel accepted or a part of things.  Even though people are very nice to me, it seems so superficial...no one seems to care about me.  I know I shouldn't be so sensitive--I should be the one caring about others.  But I'm having a real struggle in even being around people."  

(NOTE: We had just moved there a few months previous to this writing...and I had left behind a very active women's ministry in which I was a Bible study leader and had many good friends...so this was a big change).

I went on to say:  "I find myself really wanting to retreat-to hide-to withdraw-to insulate myself from the outside world.  This isn't me~I've always been a 'people person'.  But now I'm afraid to reach out-afraid of rejection-afraid of being inadequate-not having anything to say or contribute.  Not having anything in common with anyone-not even my own family. (? Not sure where that came from, but it's how I felt at the time).  I feel so isolated-cut off--out of sinc."

Sounds like I was depressed now that I look back!  I didn't realize that at the time...depression is something for other people...not me! At least that's what I've always thought!  But now, in hindsight, I can see where I probably was depressed and just didn't recognize the symptoms.  It's strange, but this was written just a few months before our middle son, Matthew, was diagnosed with a brain tumor at the age of 18. That started a major time of testing, total dependence on the Lord, and a huge amount of questioning as well. It also started a period of new growth...spiritually. I didn't realize THAT at the time either. Oftentimes we don't comprehend what God is truly doing inside our hearts and minds while we are in the middle of the battle.  We just put on our combat gear and start headlong into the fray. Especially when one of our children is at risk.

That's what I did. I jumped in and started fighting the unseen enemies of fear, anguish, and yes, anger. Anger that my son was suffering and fighting for his own life at the age of 18...right when he was supposed to be enjoying his senior year of high school, preparing for graduation and going off to college in a few months. Doubts assailed me...why was this happening to us? And yet, God, in His mercy, reached down and showed us His mercy and love. He became the Comforter in our time of sorrow and uncertainty. He became my best friend.  And best of all...He became the Healer...miraculously, mysteriously, and wonderfully! Not only did He heal our son, He healed my soul from it's depression.

I wish I could say that everything was wonderful from that day forth...but it wasn't exactly. Not too many months after all of this turmoil we were on the move again...and my journey in search of a place of peace and retreat continued to grow in my heart.  As I look back I realize now that the seeds for where I am today were planted back then.  Little by little we are developing our home into the kind of "retreat" I once dreamed of...but not just for me.  My dream is to share this place with others who need a place of comfort, rest and retreat from the world for a while...so they will be better prepared to face the world again when the time is right.  God does work in mysterious ways.

Isaiah 40:31 is a favorite verse of mine...and probably yours too:

"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint."

"Teach me Lord, Teach me Lord~ to wait..."

What's YOUR dream today? What are your fears, anxieties?  Turn them over to the Lord...He is ready to carry you through to the next place...He will not let you down. You just may be surprised at the way He chooses to lead you through...but He WILL lead you through. Trust me. I know.

Oh, By the Way:  This is a picture of the Mother's Day Card my son Matthew made for me around the time of this journal entry...I thought this would be a good time to share it with you....it's pretty special to me....

Happy Mother's Day to all!

UPDATE: 5/9/14:  I posted this last year just before Mother's Day.  Some things have changed since then...as most of you know.  My son Matthew, who created this lovely Mother's Day Card, may soon be leaving this earth for his heavenly home, after a lengthy battle with cancer. Makes this card even more a treasure to me than even before, realizing that I may never receive another from him.  But I have so many priceless memories stored in my heart that nothing can take away from me.  Important message here: Mothers and Fathers, be sure to take the time to create special memories with your children while you are able.  Don't waste time pursuing things that cannot ever be more important than the time you spend with your family.  We never know how many days we will have together. Make every day count.

UPDATE 5/9/2015:  I can't believe I wrote this last update exactly one year ago.  In just a couple of weeks from that day, our precious Matthew left this earth for heaven.  Tomorrow, May 10, 2015, will be the very first Mother's Day that I will not hear his voice wishing me a Happy Mother's day.  I will miss that sweetness more than I can imagine right now.  So thankful for the time we had together just prior to his passing away. I will treasure those memories forever.

Be Still and Know...

"Be still, and know that I AM God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10

This past weekend I had the privilege and joy of attending a ladies' retreat at the "Life Enrichment Center", specifically "The Mary Retreat", a "retreat for women who do too much."  As per the website description: "This 24-hour time apart is designed to allow those of us who practice discipleship in the active, doing form -- the "Martha" style -- an opportunity to change roles and sit at Jesus' feet like Mary (Luke 10:38-42). The agenda for this retreat is very simple - step away from the frantic pace to spend time resting and reflecting: an opportunity to "BE" instead of "DO."" 

On the "Welcome" sheet that was left on each of our beds as we entered our rooms was written the following words:

"Have you arrived distracted? Take a few moments now to center yourself, asking God for a new kind of strength-strength to relax.  Be still, and know God is here. Sit at Jesus' feet this weekend.  Just...be.   Welcome Home."

And that is exactly what I attempted to do...spend time resting, reflecting, relaxing, reading, writing, time alone with God.

But then I also found myself sharing thoughts and dreams and desires with precious friends

who came in search of the same thing.

We gave each other space to spend time alone

in their personal journey...











and then we also came together to laugh and play and find our "inner child" again:

S'mores anyone???

coloring time can be very therapeutic

We embraced one another with words of encouragement, prayer, testimony and love.

I am still trying to sort out my own personal thoughts and reflections from this time of retreat and rest. 

When one is so used to having a programmed life,  full of schedules, deadlines, agendas and scripted times of worship and organized religious experiences,

it isn't so easy to just put yourself at the feet of Jesus and expect Him to meet you there.  

We are so used  to being led there by the worship leaders, the pastors and teachers...or by being the leaders who are expected to "perform" in a certain way at all times so that others may be taught and brought to a place of worship and praise.  We sometimes neglect our own

personal spiritual experience and growth. We do what

we believe we are supposed to do for others and forget that in order to be able to lead others we must also do what we are supposed to do for ourselves. 

That's what happened to Martha  (Read Luke 10:38-42). She was so busy tending to the needs of others that she resented her sister Mary, who had discovered the joy of sitting at the feet of Jesus and growing in grace and beauty and truth. Martha was a good person, doing what seemed necessary, but her own personal spiritual growth was lagging behind. She was missing out on the joy of serving her Lord because it had become a job...and not an act of worship and love. She became all "knotted up", like this tree; unable to let go of her sense of duty.

She needed this masseuse to knead away the knots in her mind and body and soul...like I did:

Ahhh! That feels SO good....

Martha's  personal spiritual well was drying up and she was becoming dehydrated.  She needed to learn to take time to draw from the fountain

of the living water of Jesus...and to become revived, refreshed, and renewed.

That is why I went to this particular retreat this weekend. I could have gone instead to another retreat that was being presented by a dynamic well known woman Bible teacher, with lots of praise and worship time and divinely inspired teaching.  But I chose to draw from the well of quiet, peace, and restoration. To sit by the water and be inspired from God's Word as He led me to the verse above, "Be STILL and KNOW that I AM God!"  These words and reminders from Psalm 46:10 were everywhere...first in my early morning devotional reading down by the lake,

then in the scripture verses I prayed as I walked through the "Labyrinth" walk...

and then in the Prayer Chapel as we knelt and prayed and prayed for one another:

and most definitely as my precious sisters in the Lord went with me on a little spiritual walk down memory lane at the place where I first committed my life to the Lord... at the lighted cross on the water at the youth camp across the street from the adult Life Enrichment Center where we were staying:

Several of us sat together on the "silver benches" along the lake shore and shared our testimonies of our individual walks with the Lord..such a precious time with sisters in Christ...truly the highlight of our weekend...we didn't want to leave that place.

But the time came to leave...and we parted knowing that somehow we were changed inside.  The time of rest was accomplishing its task...restoring, renewing and refreshing us for the days and tasks ahead. 

My prayer is that I will take this peace and rest with me wherever I go and whatever I do.  In our bedtime devotions, my roommate shared a reading from the book When God Whispers Your Name, by Max Lucado, from Chapter 24, "The Gift of Unhappiness".  In this chapter Max Lucado quotes the former journalist, Malcolm Muggeridge, who said in his book, Jesus Rediscovered, 

"Thou has made us for Thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in the Thee."

 (Amazing how God chose this particular random devotional for us to read that night, along with the morning devotional in my daily devotional guide that just happened to focus on the Psalm 46:10 verse for that day...coincidence? I don't think so)

For this peace and rest to last...it has to be centered in Christ. There can be no rest or peace unless I know Him.  Do YOU know Him? Have you found that rest and peace in Christ?  If not, I implore you to not wait for a spiritual retreat to seek His face. You can do it right now.  Just...

"Be STILL and KNOW that I AM GOD...."...."I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!  The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge."           Psalm 46:10-11

 "Welcome Home"