31 Days::Day 31 - One thing I do...

The past few days here on Pollywog Creek have been perfectly delightful, but its' felt cruel of me to say so. It's like the spring day my mom died. The air was fresh and cool, bursts of pink dotted the rows of azaleas, and mockingbirds sang into a cloudless cerulean sky. And it made me mad. Because in my heart it was raw and rainy - and it didn't seem fair to my mom that the world around us was rejoicing as she struggled to take her last breaths.


But these days have been so very beautiful, and I'm grateful for the gift of open windows, and air that is fresh...


...and the golden light that paints everything green and yellow.


I sit here now in the quiet darkness of early morning - tapping out my final just one thing thoughts, deeply, truly, grateful for this new day. For most of this journey with RA, I've dreaded the morning - knowing the chances were great that I'd wake in pain, and even the small tasks of pouring a cup of coffee would be difficult. Then I began to dread going to bed at night because restorative sleep was elusive and it only led to the dreaded waking up.

I can't tell you when I stopped all that useless dreading, but I do know that even when I wake exhausted and in pain, it's been replaced by joy - the joy of  a new day and new opportunities, the joy of the Lord that strengthens me for the moment and I know will strengthen me to press forward in the day ahead.

So I return to the theme verse I chose for these 31 Days. Paul admits he's not perfect - but he declares this one thing - that he will put the past aside {the wasted days of dreading and struggling with life in a fallen world} and in the new day he will move forward in the work God gives him.

Me, too, Paul. Me, too.

Day 31 - Philippians 3 { I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. - vs 13 }

31 Days::Day 30 - Peace. Be still...

Peace. Be still. Jesus speaks to the storm and the winds stop and the seas calm...and he then rebukes the disciples who fail to trust Him.

All day long I think of this story from scripture we tell in lifegroup and I name my "storms" as the monster storm Sandy blows terror and destruction along the Atlantic coast.

Supersoaker Sandy, she's far to the north, but I know what it is to huddle in fear in the dark of night while hurricanes roar beyond boarded up windows or to be paralyzed by the terror that can grip a heart.

I fall asleep praying for those I know and love in Sandy's path, that Jesus will speak, Peace. Be Still, to the storm's rage and hearts' fear, and to the "storms" that can paralyze me.

Day 30 - Romans 16 {The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. vs 20 }, finish couch cushions, sweep and mop floors.

31 Days::Day 29 - Thirty-six years holding on with one voice...

It's been a wild ride - I tell you - an abundance of highs with an equal share of terrifying lows between long stretches of daily coastings and bumping forward, but as anyone who has held on will tell you - the ride is worth every moment. 

But the truth of it is, we'd never be where we are today had we not, eventually, made a covenant before the Lord that we would hold on to Him and the Truth of His Word to the end.  

The apartment and neighborhood where we were married 36 years ago.

Only by the grace of God are Louis and I celebrating our thirty-sixth anniversary today. {I've told part of our story here, if you haven't already read it or you want to see me me in a wedding dress.}

God in His providence arranged for me to read Romans 15 this morning, and there could not be a more fitting verse for this day than the ones I share below - for it is truly the God of endurance who has shown us - Louis and me - that when we live in harmony with one another - in Christ - that with one voice we will glorify Him.

Day 29 - Romans 15 {May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.vs 5-6}, finish Thanksgiving wreath, laundry.

31 Days::Day 28 - I {LOVE} Sunday...

For God, who said,  “Let light shine out of darkness,”
has shone in our hearts  to give the light of the knowledge
of the glory of God
in the face of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:6 ESV

Day 28 - Romans 14 {... For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. vs 17-19 }, sabbath rest.

   

31 Days::Day 27 - With one voice...

Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down on the collar of his robes!
It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the LORD has commanded the blessing,
life forevermore.
Psalm 133 ESV

Day 27 - Romans 13 { ... Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law... vs 8}, make Thanksgiving wreath, wash and change bed linens.

31 Days::Day 26 - River walk...

{...a few photos from that leisurely walk along the river I mentioned yesterday}

Only five more 31 Days - and truthfully? I'm ready for them to come to an end.

A few weeks ago I mentioned to a friend that sometimes we need to pull away from what is pulling us down, and it's obvious to me that I need to take my own advice. Too much time online - writing {even short posts} and reading {many other posts} every day - is pulling me down {comparing myself with the accomplishments and giftings of others} and pulling me away {an abundance of wonderful blogs and not enough time} from other projects and priorities that are important to me. Know what I mean?

And as I read this morning in verse 6 of Romans 12 - Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them... - I can't be using the gifts God gave me if I'm spending too much time admiring and longing for the gifts of others. There's too much work to do in God's Kingdom for me to be  wasting time so foolishly {wanting the gifts of others}. Yes?

Addendum: Just watched Sarah Mae's talk from last night at Allume {free if you register at teachthemdilengtly.net } and she confirmed everything I wrote above.

Day 26 - Romans 12 {...Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. vs 9-10}, not sure about the lovely "just one thing" category, but my one chore is to clean out the desk in the dining room.

31 Days::Day 25 - Oh, the depth of the riches...

The Lord is my light and my salvation; 

whom shall I fear? 

The Lord is the stronghold of my life; 

of whom shall I be afraid?  

Psalm 27:1

I'm anxious to be out the door these gloriously golden late October days, because I'm learning it's the light I've been missing - cooped up in the house to escape the harshness of summer.

I leisurely {as though I have the ability to do differently} wander along the river at the park in town or around our pond here on Pollywog Creek and whatever it is that otherwise weighs heavy seems to slide right off. Sluggishness gives way to a lilt in my limp as the light filters through the live oaks by the river and the feathery leaves of the cypress trees flutter into the pond and where warblers hop from limb to limb.

While cleaning out old files several years ago, I found the outline of a talk I'd given to a group of women at least ten years before, where I applied the characteristics of light to the ways God had revealed Himself to me. I've shared that outline before, but it seems appropriate to me to do so again today, because it's light I seem to be missing.

Light shows us the way out of darkness... I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness." John 12:46 

Light shows us the way in darkness... Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. Micah 7:8 

Light reveals what is hiding... He uncovers the deeps out of darkness and brings deep darkness to light. Job 12:22 

But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible... Ephesians 5:13 

Light heals... He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3 

Light shines through "cracks" and weaknesses... For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. II Corinthians 4:5-6 

Light attracts... Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life... Philippians 2:14-16 

Light reflects... Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. Isaiah 60:1-2

Day 25 - Romans 11 {... Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! vs 33}, new cuttings of asparagus fern and flame bush blossoms, a mountain of laundry.

31 Days::Day 24 - A yellow grace falling...

Down here in the land of swamp cabbage, alligators and skeeters, fall is so subtle and slow to creep in on the back of summer that except for the shorter days and longer nights....

...and the explosion of yellow goldenrod and wild daisies gracing the edges of our rural roads and dotting countryside fields...

...those who haven't lived here long {and even some of us that have} might miss it. 

We get behind the wheel of our days and take the same roads we've always traveled - so sure that we know what's out there that we don't even bother looking.

While I complain about the heat and skeeter bites, dentist appointments and dirty laundry, dogs that dig holes in our flower beds, and the same-ole-same-ole, I miss the glorious rising and setting of the sun, the clean air that fills my lungs, and the yellow grace falling all around me.  

{Golden rod has the bad reputation for aggravating our allergies, but in reality, its pollen is sticky and not air-born.}

Day 24 - Romans 10 {... For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” vs 13}, more fall decorating, more cleaning inside windows.

31 Days::Day 23 - Knowing fully...

Yesterday had already unfolded into yet another pray day when I read the email in my inbox - the one telling me that as the sun was rising over fields of sugarcane to the east, my gratitude-counting friend Marilyn was flying home to Jesus.

The prayer shawl she crocheted, while cancer-fighting drugs dripped into her veins, lays in a heap on top of our basket of blankets and the gratitude journal the three of us shared - Marilyn, Joyce and me - is open to Marilyn's last entry where I read it over and over again - remembering the joy she discovered in counting 1,000 gifts while numbering her last days.  

When I open the curtains and look out the bedroom window, I see our new-to-us dog Red sleeping as close as she can to the fence separating her from our old-to-us dog Jake, and I want to capture it with my camera - but the view is veiled by the dirty windows. And I think of Marilyn - who like Joyce and me - once saw in a mirror dimly and knew in part - who today is face to face with our Lord and knowing fully His immeasurable gifts.

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

1 Corinthians 13:12 ESV

Day 23 - Romans 9 {...as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” vs 33 }, more fall decorating, clean inside master bedroom windows.