Thursday, October 7, 2010

Praise

New Living Translation (©2007)
A psalm of David. Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.

Today at mid-week communion, Pastor read Psalm 103.
I remembered that yesterday I did not praise my Holy Father...I was too tired.
     How lame can that "excuse" be???? Doesn't get much worse than that. In my weakness, when I'm tired, when everything is going wrong, when I am sick, and when I am weighed down with worry, I should praise the Lord my God even more than usual.
     I try not to be so human.
     Today is better and worse.
     The weather is Fall-Perfect.
     My family and I joined other believers at the Lord's Table.
But *sigh* even on the good days I get riled. I get busy. I get involved in "stuff." Ava doesn't respond. The checkbook doesn't balance.
     Then something inside me said, Stop. Listen. Be glad.
     While I pondered, I surfed around the web in search of the right herbs to go with the beautiful pork chops I got for Dear Heart. He loves pork. I don't make it often but wanted something special for him because I've been down for awhile now and I don't even know why. So in doing something special for him, my own spirits rose a bit.
     Surfing to find something nice for Dear Heart, I found another delightful web site by yet another delightful young woman. I'll add it to my blog list because she blogs on cooking, herbs, living frugally, and other things family.
     And then I remembered again Psalm 103. The words that really spoke to me are:
all that I am.

I don't think that means to praise
  •  just when I am happy
  • just when I feel good
  • just when things go well
  • just when I have a good night's sleep
  • just when the kids are in good places
  • just when the checkbook balances
All that I am is every day. Every part of me is who God made. AND, He made me to love Him. He made me to serve in however it is that I can serve as I am.

In His love and because He first loved me, ALL THAT I AM WILL praise HIM!
~~Liz~~
Just one of our ordinary fall-perfect days in the Texas Hill Country.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Wednesday

I'm tired.
Thirsty.
Spent some lengthy time this morning reading blogs written by younger, more talented, and much wiser writers. I know most of them on a face-to-face basis...when time permits. When time doesn't let go, I'm glad for their blogs to know their hearts. I highly recomment all the blogs listed that I follow--these are just a few.
I'm supposted to do so many things today but I'm just sitting.
I need to be in my prayer chair, but I'm dry. And I have to go and do. Then I have to apologize for things I should have done (*sigh* there's that "s" word) or promised to do and didn't.
I'd like to blame it on being old.
Problem is I suspect I've taken on an old being.
And *sigh*, I don't know the core problem.
Maybe not enough prayer time. Not enough being time. Not enough Scripture time. A sentence in my current Bible study on "What We Believe" pointed out, 'studying God's Word is prayer.' Sometimes, yes.
I hope your day is filled with the love of Jesus and the power of His Holy Spirit.
Now I'll go and do and try to let things/people/pets be.
~~Liz~~

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Good Girl, Ava !!!

     Exactly one week ago we drove into our garage, exhausted, worried, anxious, and seriously doubting the wisdom of our decision to adopt a rescue dog.
     Ava would NOT get out of the car. She had cowered on the floor of the back seat all the way home, refusing to even sip water when we stopped for us humans to hurriedly eat a hamburger in the car.
What HAVE I done?
     After unloading everything from our day-trip to fetch Ava home, in desperation, I pulled and tugged and dragged our beautiful, two-year-old Lab out of the car. WRONG !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Too late I realized my error. She was frightened and I strained my back!!
  
     Ava is decidedly "people shy" but thanks to the patient and gracious telephone advice from Fredericksburg's own Go-To-At-The-End-Of-Your-Rope expert dog lady, we backed up and started over again the next day.
     And now, just counting the things that Ava originally rebelled against doing, she has successfully:
  • slept in her own new, soft, luxurious bed on her own
  • walked out the door and walked back in the door, sans leash
  • wandered around the property with the leash hanging free...at first she would only come close enough to sit and she forced me to bring her in with the leash (?? sigh)
  • eaten a whole meal in front of us
  • learned to casually walk around the house, without leash, comfortably inspecting each room
  • been allowed to roam the property without the leash because she willingly answers my call and comes inside on her own (oh wild excitement!!)
  • decided on her own that her "best spot" is in the Sun Room (my favorite praying space. Hummmmm)
  • AND today, on her leash, she obediently walked with me to the driveway and ON HER OWN climbed INTO the car
Ava, inspecting the property just this Sunday--free but with leash

    Then the four of us drove down our country road about two miles, turned around and came home. The three humans got out of the car and as we happily called to Ava to join us we casually walked to the front porch. (she loves sitting there with Dear Heart)
      Before we even got seated on the porch, Pretty Miss Priss carefully climbed out of the car and trotted over the the porch. Daughter M gave Ava a bone treat--and she ate it!!!
     You see, for the first 3 days, I felt a total failure. I did not think I could do it. Then I cried for 2 days. A LOT. But, each day Ava decided to accept a little more love.
    You have read some of my sad, frustrated postings this week and you've followed along on this trying, exasperating, desperate, joyful, exciting, exhausting, unhappy, and absolutely thrilling trip. Let me tell you, we count all of this a dynamite success story !!!
     Thank you for all the encouragement you sent. Miss Ava has now adopted US.

Now I'll go cook my family a supper of fresh salmon and salad with finely crushed sunflower seeds and I will give thanks.

Our Holy Heavenly Father DOES hear the cry of the weak.
~~Liz~~

"Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and he has made my feet like hinds' feet, and makes me walk on my hight places."  Habakkuk 3:18, 19

Sunday, October 3, 2010

In Lieu of Football

Saturday was a clear, sunny, crisp morning so I decided 'TODAY IS THE DAY.'
     I finished taking Ava through her exercises (and trying to instill a small tad of obedience), and cut a "bunch" of basil. After washing, draining, and wraping my precious ingredient in a damp towel I placed it in the fridge and settled down with my red and white knitting to watch Saturday afternoon football with Dear Heart.
     If you know me, you'll know that as soon as my legs stopped throbbing from all the morning workouts, my attention span quickly began to wane.
     So. Off to the kitchen--but listening to the game with one ear. Using only a tiny, "play-like" three cup food processor (yes, next week I'll purchase a REAL one), I made my very first batch of Basil Pesto. I found the recipe at http://www.anoregoncottage.com/
     I'm addicted to Jami's writing, recipes, and outlook on life in general. The unusual thing is that she uses sunflower seeds in her basil pesto rather than out-of-sight expensive pine-nuts. Another plus for me is that *hit-the-forehead-moment* I now grind up sunflower seeds and sprinkle them on my salads! I still believe that tiny seeds cause an eruption of diverticuli! But, now I'm back in happy-salad-heaven again! And no tummy aches!
     I'm still praying on what to do about our new, sweet pet. Oh yes, I'm absolutely sure that God is totally interested in every part of our lives. So, speaking of praying and Ava, I need to visit with my Heavenly Father awhile then take Ava out for another romp before dark.
     Thank You, Father, for caring, guiding, loving, forgiving, and being in all of our day. Help me to allow the Holy Spirit to prepare my heart for public worship tomorrow. Thank You for faithful friends who hug me when we meet at church, at the grocery story, and on our blogs.
In the name of Jesus
~~Liz~~