Be Like Helen Dawson

 

When I was a child my mom had a friend who took us to her bible study. I was about nine. I remember going and coming home in her van. I remember the presence of God with us. She didn't do anything memorable herself, but somehow her steadfast faith made an impression on me and I recall it all these years later. I am almost certain she prayed for me, then and probably for many years afterwards. I am certain of it, actually. She impacted my life.

I asked my mom about her this morning. Turns out, she was a teacher. She was the same teacher who confiscated candy from me one day in Jr. High and had it drug-tested just in case. She told my mom. They waited for the results. It was candy. I don't know why this story makes me smile so big now. I suspect she watched us kids with concern in those days and my friends' friends or a friend may have been on her radar, so she watched me too. That warms my heart today. It also reminds me that the Lord has been with me all along. 

Thank you, Helen Dawson, wherever you are.

How does the Lord feel about you?

 

(Trouble me) disturb me with all your cares and your worries 

(Trouble me) on the days when you feel spent

Why let your shoulders bend 

Underneath this burden 

When my back is sturdy and strong? 

Trouble me

(Speak to me) don't mislead me 

The calm I feel means a storm is swelling 

(Speak to me) there's no telling where it starts or how it ends 

(Speak to me) why are you building this thick brick wall to defend me 

(Speak to me) when your silence is my greatest fear?

Why let your shoulders bend 

Underneath this burden 

When my back is sturdy and strong? 

Speak to me

(Let me) have a look inside these eyes while I'm learning 

(Let me) please don't hide them just because of tears 

(Let me) send you off to sleep with a 

"There, there, now stop your turning and tossing" 

(Let me) let me know where the hurt is and how to heal

Spare 

Spare me 

Don't spare me anything 

Troubling

(Trouble me) disturb me with all your cares and your worries 

(Speak to me) and let our words build a shelter from the storm 

(Let me) and lastly, let me know what I can mend

There's more, honestly 

Than my sweet friend, you can see 

Trust is what I'm offering 

If you trouble me

"Trouble Me" by Natalie Merchant, Dennis Drew, 10,000 Maniacs

End of War

 

The war ended that day. Suddenly, without warning, it stopped in its tracks. The tanks were recalled by the king, the plans rolled up and tossed away. It was finished. Lost or won. It stopped and we all looked up and forgave our enemies. Did we have enemies? Not really. The battle was between good and evil. We only chose sides. Then it was over and we went home. 

Not Mine, but Now Yours

 

Blues

 

Do You Want to be Carried?

 

“The LORD your God who goes before you will himself fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness, where you have seen how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you went until you came to this place.”

Deuteronomy 1:30-31

 

Do you know God?

Rescue

 

Why Jesus?

 

All I know is this.

I once was lost, rudderless, without direction, with no purpose. Is this it? Go to college, I was in college, get a job, a good job, buy new dishes, put them in a house. I had a growing sense of dissatisfaction. Though I did not want to face it, my sins were calling out from the ground. A million tiny shards of shouldn't-have-done-that. No one really gets away with anything. 

Who prays a prayer like this, humble words asking Jesus to be Lord of their life? In our modern over-uneducated world where I roar and you roar, where we are our own gods, who bows the knee like that and asks for the leading of a man dead 2,000 years?

Ah, He is alive. He died for our sins and rose again. He defeated death.

He answered me. He came to me. The veil parted. I can see now. And what do I see?

I see you and me standing before a great chasm. Was once and now is  not. That's the name of it. I am different. I have been transformed. I am forgiven. I am loved. You are too. Do you know it?

He is real. That's why. Try it and see.

Resurrection

 

Restoration

 

Rest

 

Do you like to get letters?

 

“The proper definition of a man is an animal that writes letters.” 

Lewis Carroll

I write to a college friend in Northern Ireland, though it's been a while, and my sister-in-law in the Netherlands. I write to a friend way up where it snows 6 months out of the year. We were in 8th grade together. I have a friend in Japan who sent me the Blessing of Aaron in Japanese. 

I write to you.

Blogging is writing letters, don't you think?

 We become penpals here. I am watching Pamela's grand-cranes grow up. They recently hatched. Baili taught me to wash wheat. I had no idea that was a thing. Mrs. Marmelade (not her real name) posts pictures of my old home state of Michigan. Nice. Nana sets tables. Victor writes books. Ottawa is blooming with tulips and cathedrals. And you. What's going on with you?

Sandra asked for eclipse photos. Here they are:

My techie son blurred our messy garage from the background!

How to make this contraption: click here.

A storm blew through here last night and made everything beautiful:

Can you see the spider web?

One More One for Israel

 

Ransom Captive Israel

 

Do you have 8 minutes?

Will you take a walk with me?

 

It's a hot day close to the end of Pollen Season. The yellow has cleared a bit, now the invisible floats through the air. We saw baby ducklings or maybe they were goslings. Let them be, so no photos. Here are a few stops along the way:

Claude Monet's geese. 

In this focus they look like an Impressionist painting. Do you think so too?

Purple flowers. These sprang up like weeds, but I think they were on purpose:

Tree:

Tiny, yellow and purple:

Hope your day is sweet.

King of the Jews

 

Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, 

“This is the King of the Jews.”

Luke 23:32-38

God Leads

 

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, 

and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 

And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. 

For the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys. 

Exodus 40:34-38

Ask. It's not a secret.

Listen. He longs for you to hear Him.