The Sacred, Velvet Night

Earlier this evening I stepped outside for a moment, and, as the darkness gently settled around me like velvet, I paused, and simply stood still to enjoy it. Ah, Bliss! I looked up and took in the moon, on the wane now, after having been full for several days. A few gauzy lengths of cloud passed over, casting intriguing shadow - patches on the ground for a moment, and then, there was the moon again, in all it's silvery - shining glory. I could see the outline of the Big Dipper, all starry, steady in it's rightful place, exactly where God put it.

I could not resist quoting part of Psalm 8 to the Lord:

1 "O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens."

Though I did not quote verses 3 and 4 tonight, I have on other nights, and feel that they are especially appropriate:

3"When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

4"What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?"

Our God is such a good God! He has created so many marvelous things, and yet He never forgets about us... even though we seem so small in comparison to His great big universe, and all the wonders that He has filled it with.

My family stepped outside to join me for a bit of "moon - gazing", and it made my heart smile. Things are changing all around us, often at a bewildering pace. But, for a moment in time on this late August night, we were together; wrapped in the sacred, velvet night that our wonderful God created. It was a memory - moment, frozen in time, that I will keep in my heart forever.

And it was beyond comforting to know later, after we had all gone back inside and readied ourselves for sleep, that there is One who will not sleep. No, for He never sleeps; instead, He watches over us, and loves us, and is there in the beauty of a Texas night in late August, when the moon is bright and silvery, and families are together.

Another Fun Friday Night...

I have just returned home from time spent with around 22 precious ladies from Church. Sisters in the Lord are so very dear to me. I have always heard that "friends are the family you get to choose for yourself", and I would like to add to that! "Sisters in the Lord are the sisters that God puts in your life to strengthen, encourage, and bless you..."

First we went to have some Tex-Mex, and then to a musical. It was such fun that I could not help thinking how truly wonderful it is to be a part of the Family of God. We can enjoy one another's company, worship together, and, when the going gets tough, we are there for one another. That has been brought home for me lately in a very big way.

Our Assistant Pastor's wife has been such a strength to someone in my family that has been going through a trial. I have watched, and thanked God for her many times! And she hasn't been alone in her ministering. Another Sister in the Lord, our dear friend Kerri, has also shouldered the load and been such a blessing; praying, offering wise counsel, or just lending a listening ear... another friend, Tara, has also spoken words of encouragement... one day I just know their reward will be so very great, for our Lord takes notice of such things, and His rewards are so beautiful... (and of course, He is the best Friend of all...)

Tonight was such a relaxing and enjoyable time of fellowship. My precious earthly sister was with me, also, and so that made it even better. Now it's off to bed with a happy heart... what a wonderful Friday night!

When you can't, He can.

We have a rather tattered card displayed on our fridge; one that I bought some time ago. It was put out by the DaySpring card company. I have been fond of their cards for years, because they generally have a scripture on them, along with an encouraging message of some sort. This particular card caught my attention when my family was going through a difficult time a while back, so I bought it, and placed it on the fridge where everyone could read it. It is so encouraging, I thought I would share it with all of you:

"When you can't, He can."

When you are the neediest, He is the most sufficient.

When you are completely helpless, He is the most helpful.

When you feel totally dependent, He is absolutely dependable.

When you are the weakest, He is the most able.

When you are the most alone, He is intimately present.

When you feel you are the least, He is the greatest.

When you feel the most useless, He is preparing you.

When it is the darkest, He is the only Light you need.

When you feel the least secure, He is your Rock and Fortress.

When you are the most humble, He is most gracious.


The scripture portion of the card is Eph. 3:20-21:

20 "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

21 Unto Him be glory..."

Lines From My Heart

Jesus, Beloved of my Soul, You are everything to me

Because You died on Calvary, My soul has been set free

Every day I love You more, You grow more precious, more dear

Your Lovely Name I will always adore

I am happiest when You are Near

To spend time in Your Prescence, Lord, is the most perfect Peace

For there I find comfort and happiness, Joy and sweet relief

Jesus, Beloved of my Soul, You are everything to me

Oh how I long for that sweet day, When Your dear face I'll see

Friendship On A Friday Night

It is late, and I just arrived home from a wonderful time spent with dear friends. My sister and I, and our friends Kerri and Yvette, all went to see My Fair Lady at our local little theater. Yvette's little girl Maddie got to go with us when another friend canceled at the last moment. I kept sneaking peeks at her in the theater, watching her watching the actors, and thought she looked so cute as she intently looked and listened. She didn't miss a thing! children are such precious gifts from God...

I am so thankful for the friendships the Lord has brought into my life. After the show, we were talking about how that Kerri, her sister Kristi, and Kim and myself have a tradition of going to musicals that goes back to our early teen years. I still treasure the memories of the girls that we used to be, and am thankful that our friendship has endured. We are still going to musicals together, all these years later.

My roots are deeply planted into the bedrock of Texas, but I also have friends that have moved away to other states. No matter how far away each of them is, though, we are still united by that enduring and wonderful bond called friendship. We may not see each other often, but we still keep in touch weekly, (if not daily), and my life is greatly enriched and blessed by each email, phone call, and card or letter.

I am tired now, but is a good kind of tired; the kind of tired that comes after a busy day, topped off with time spent in the company of those you enjoy... and that was the perfect way to end a Friday evening in the late Summer...

One Service - A Priceless Jewel Along the Way

Tonight is Sunday night. My favorite evening of the entire week. Sundays, for a child of God, are infinitely precious. I can look back over my life, and, for the most part, know where I was every Sunday for the past thirty - six years. (my parents first brought me to church at a year old) If I wasn't sick or on vacation, I was usually in the house of the Lord.

What a service we had tonight! The power of God was so strong, it is hard to even describe how wonderful it felt to be there worshipping Him in the midst of it all. At one point as the Choir sang accapella: "Holy Holy Holy -- is the Lord God Almighty -- Who Was and Is and Is to Come..." the very air seemed to vibrate with our praise, and His nearness.

I wept and worshipped and praised and felt every burden and care sink into nothingness. After the Choir finished singing, I stepped out of the sanctuary and could still hear the praise and prayer and adoration making the rafters ring. I kept thinking: "There is joy in the camp... my goodness... what a beautiful sound... Saints of God praising in the House of the Lord..."

Later, I left, and drove my grandmother home, and, as I passed the Church again on the way home, my heart just overflowed with thanksgiving... there is absolutely no way to estimate the value of one service! The entire course of one's life, the past can be wiped away and the future can totally change -- all in one service. A person can enter that service burdened and worried, and leave feeling so light and free and filled with Holy Ghost joy, and peace beyond understanding. Healings, miracles, deliverance and salvation, can all take place, and chains of bondage can also be broken in one service! Thank God for every time the saints gather in His Name...

I don't want to ever find myself in Church thinking "Here we go again, another average service...." I want to enter with expectation and hunger and devotion -- for that one service may be the very one in which I get my prayer answered and my need met...for HE is there, just waiting for us, if we will focus on Him, and if we reach out with hungry hearts and hands, He will fill us...

Aren't we blessed to be a part of the True Church that is Alive and well, especially in these tumultuous times? Praise the Lord! I must say also, that I have never gone to a service hungry for a touch from the Lord, and left without receiving that touch and getting my need met. Oh thank You Lord for EVERY service... each one is more precious to me than gold... and each one sparkles on the journey of my life like rare and priceless jewels along the way... glittering and glistening in the part of my heart filled with memories of the most beloved and treasured times...