Quiet Days of Rest and Renewal

This week has been a little different. As some of you who are my Facebook friends already know, I prepared for and had a colonoscopy earlier this week.  For those of you who have done this procedure before, you know what the prep is like, and also know that it's one of those things you don't want to have to do again for a LONG time.  This is my third time, and I am thankful that so far they haven't found anything seriously wrong, but enough to tell me to be sure to stay on a high fiber diet and come back in five years.  This is an important test to determine if one could have colon cancer or any pre-cancerous polyps, etc.  If you are over the age of fifty it is highly recommended that you have one at least every ten years.  Don't let the unpleasant "prep" keep you from having this valuable screening. It could save your life!

My hubby thought I looked "cute" on my prep day...so he took my picture (in spite of my protests) while I sat in the warm sunroom and drank my liquid diet and tried to sit still long enough to read...ha ha...that's enough about that subject...

Before things got too "active" I noticed that the window on the door of this sunroom was rather dirty, so I decided to step outside and wash it, and I noticed something interesting on the inside of the window :

This sweet pair of "lips" smooched on the glass.  I realized then that they were the sweet lips of my hubby, who often likes to watch me from the door when I am sitting outside on the back patio watching the birds and/or reading....

And so, I couldn't wash them off the window....could you? Again, if you are one of my facebook friends you've probably already answered this question, and everyone who took the time to respond agreed that they should not be washed off.  I don't know how many years they will last...but I they will remain there for now or until they somehow get smeared...

Here's one of my curious fine-feathered friends that I love to watch...

 I think HE likes to watch me as much as I like to watch him!!

So now that's all over and done with and I am resting and recuperating.  I have noticed that whenever I have any procedure requiring anesthesia that it takes me a while to completely recover...I tend to have what I call a "fuzzy brain", or brain fog, for a few days (weeks? months?), which causes me to have difficulty recalling words, thoughts, and typing here...if you knew how many times I've had to correct words that I've typed here you'd be amazed.  They just keep coming out backqards or misspelled...kind of dsylexci  (dyslexic)  See? Apparently this isn't unusual, especially the older we get.  I just hope it goes away soon. This is the first time I've felt like trying to write anything new this week and it's an effort to keep going...(and I keep sitting here trying to think of something to say)

Yesterday morning we took a walk to our neighborhood pond and enjoyed the beauty of the sun shining on the water.

We read in our morning devotions about the anointing of King David when he was just a shepherd boy...

I Samuel 16:7

"But the Lord said to Samuel, 

'Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him (regarding Eliab, David's brother). 

For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'"

And I asked myself, 

"I wonder what God sees when He looks at my heart?"

I pray that He sees a heart ready to serve, ready to listen, ready to learn...ready to be renewed in spirit and love...

Psalm 51:10-13

10.  "Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11.  Do not cast me away from Your presence,

and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

12.  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

13.  Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,

and sinners shall be converted to You."

Amen.

Here is Keith Green singing "Create In Me A Clean Heart"

I include this song in loving memory of my son Matthew. (2/25/1973-5/25/2014) Keith Green's music and life story (who is also now in heaven) had a profound influence on Matthew's life, and therefore remains very special to me.

Here's another song by Keith Green that means a lot to me.   I'll close with this one.  

"Oh Lord, You're beautiful...

Your face is all I see,  

For when your eyes are on this child, 

Your grace abounds to me…"