What Are the Odds?

 

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." ~Matthew 19:26

Several weeks back Danny notices that one of our backgammon dice is slightly nicked on a corner.  That might seem like an insignificant issue, but any imperfection can affect how a die rolls on the playing board.  He decides to order new dice sets for us.  Mind you, these aren't just any old run-of-the-mill dice, but the very type used in world-wide backgammon championship tournaments.  Talk about upping our game!

We notice right away that the dice will do things we've never witnessed in our previous sets.  We can roll them as usual but at times, one of the other will actually tip up on a barely perceptible edge of a corner and stay there.  Quite the balancing act!  But the photo in the header takes the cake.

No, I don't stage these dice for photo drama.  These are exactly how they land, one neatly stacked on top of the other.  Amazed, I grab my cell phone to document this phenomenon to testify to the truth of what has impossibly happened.  Neither Danny nor I have ever seen anything to match such a stunt in all the years we've played backgammon.

What are the odds of that?  Just being a millimeter off would have made all the difference.

This past weekend marks the anniversary of the infamous assassination attempt made on President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.  As those moments of uncertainty and dread are relived on the news, the undeniable truth becomes abundantly clear.

Because Donald Trump turns his head slightly, with intentions to focus the crowd on a huge chart depicting the drop in illegal border crossings during his last tenure a shot intended to end his life only grazes his ear.

A split second between life and death.

A millimeter of a difference.

How is it even possible that the shooter fails to hit his target?  He has training, experience, opportunity.  By human logic, he shouldn't have missed.

But God.

During those appallingly anxious moments, my first reaction is shock followed immediately by prayer.  My mind races back to memories of previous, gut-wrenching assassinations in our country's past.  In light of those outcomes, my heart fears the worst, and yet, still beats with hope as tears flow unchecked.

And then, the miracle!!!  President Trump is on his feet, his fist pumping the air, blood streaming down his face.  He's not just alive, he's full of life and fight.  What are the odds of that?

What more and more people, including Trump himself, have come to realize since that horrible day is that the God who makes the impossible possible intervenes at precisely the right place and the right time.  In spite of the many in this nation who disavow Him, the Lord still envisions this country as His shining city on a hill, and continually and lovingly calls us back to Himself.

My prayer, today and every day, is that all people in this nation will confess their sins, repent, and commit themselves, heart, soul, mind, and strength, to the One who always knows the odds.

And if we do, I'd say our odds couldn't be better.

Amen!

Too Blessed to be Stressed

 

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. ~James 5:16

Our Fourth of July weekend is not at all what we expect.  For several days, Danny is dealing with an intermittent cough that simply refuses to go away.  When he spikes a fever last Thursday, we know he has to address this issue pronto.

Son, Nicco, to the rescue!  He promptly drives over and takes Danny to a reliable urgent care just north of us.  The doctor on duty determines that the next step should be a visit to the emergency room.  Danny and Nicco decide that the Piedmont ER in Jasper, GA, probably won't be a madhouse this close to the holiday, and though it's a 40-mile drive, it's much less congested than it would be if they head downtown to the main Piedmont hospital.

Imagine my surprise when, in the wee hours of the morning, I discover that Danny is back home and in bed!  What???  I think that at least the hospital would have kept him overnight for observation, especially when the doctor he sees says his pneumonia-like symptoms are triggered by a medication, Amiodarone, that Danny has been taking ever since the pacemaker incident in January of 2024.

Yes, the doc makes the wrong call.

The very next day, July 4th, sees a lather and repeat.  But this time, Nicco takes Danny downtown where he can see doctors with whom he is familiar, and who know his medical history on a more personal level.  His cardio surgeon's PA takes him off that insidious "A" drug, secures the necessary breathing treatments, and prescribes a more substantive medicine for his cough.  To top it all off, the pulmonologist with whom Danny has a scheduled check up the next week, drops in for his assessment, so that nixes the need for keeping that appointment!

But here's the biggest surprise of all.  Danny's oldest son, Giovanni, shows up unannounced at the hospital!!!  Here are the two guys clowning around.

Having his boys with him does wonders in lifting Danny's spirits and gives him the encouragement he needs to keep on keeping on.

So much so, that Danny sends me a meme on Sunday morning stating the same phrase as is featured in the title and header of this post.  How it makes my heart sing, even though it will be quite some time before we can literally return to singing together at church.

I attend our church solo that day.  Lots of prayers are said and so many folks who know and love Danny are praying for his healing, which we trust will happen in God's time.  Would all of you, dear readers, pray for Danny, too?  I trust that all your sincere prayers to our loving Father on Danny's behalf will all be powerful and effective.

And truth be told, each and every one of us who know and love the Lord are too blessed to be stressed.

Amen!

I write the draft for this post today on Sunday afternoon.  Here is the medical update on Monday from the doctors back on a regular schedule.  Danny will remain in the hospital through next weekend.  When he is discharged, he will most likely have to be on oxygen for a while.  The damage from the Amiodarone is not to be taken lightly.  He's been advised that it could take months for him to truly get over this.  Continued prayers for Danny and our family are so very much appreciated.  And while you're at it, please remember and pray for all the victims in the horrid flash floods in Texas over the weekend.  I can't even imagine the hurt and grief these families are enduring right now, but God does.

You Light Up My Life

 

And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. ~Genesis 1:3

We are definitely in the middle of a typical summer storm pattern here in the South.  The hot days cause a lot of evaporation that encourages the formation of thunder storms, possibly severe, to crop up in the late afternoons or early evenings.  Last Friday night testifies mightily to this seasonal phenomenon.

It's 7 o'clock, and Danny and I have just begun playing our ritual, after-dinner backgammon games.  Being the weather fanatic that he is, he has his phone open to his favorite radar detection app, so we have an accurate prediction of there the current storms are heading and when they might arrive on our doorstep.  As I mentioned in a previous post HERE, we rarely lose our power during storms, even in the worst ones.

But as life teaches us time and again, there are exceptions to every rule.

BOOM!  Our lights vanish in the blink of an eye.  Danny springs into action.  He grabs two flashlights within arms reach of the kitchen table and hands one to me.  Then down the stairs he goes to the laundry room where are emergency lanterns are stored.  He returns in no time and at least, with the extra lights, we can see enough to make do.  But what about our backgammon games?  It's obvious that one of our lanterns will have to be elevated so it can illuminate the board.

Yes, that's an industrial-sized roll of clear wrap we've had on our kitchen island since we purchased it in February of 2022, and it's still going strong!  It seems like a good idea at the moment, but we quickly realize that parts of the board are still in shadow.  Danny selects another type of lantern to sit on the other end of the board to see if that improves things.

It does, but something still doesn't seem quite right.  Yes, pun intended, a lightbulb goes off in Danny's head.  He has recently purchased a battery-powered light for his music stand, and has a strong feeling it just might do the trick.  Voila!

Happily, our games can now continue, even though I lose more than I win.  I wish I could say I'm a graceful loser, but I'm not.  Danny has so much patience for which I'm most appreciative.  After we play round after round, we're ready to switch gears.  Danny finds one of my favorite shows on my phone which we set up on a special tripod bought to make our FaceTime calls with family members hands-free.

The hour-long show concludes, and as it does, our power returns!  Just in time for me to get ready for bed without having to tote a flashlight with me.  And thankfully, too, with the a/c back up and running, we can rest assured of a cool and comfortable night's sleep.

I must confess that I have, at times, teased Danny about his prepper tendencies.  Not anymore.  He literally embodies that old boy scout motto:  Be prepared.  All his gadgets sure come in handy on this dark and stormy night.

So, honey, thank you for being here with me through the good times and the bad.  You always and ever, light up my life!

Amen!

No Matter How Different

 

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.  There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone is is the same God at work. ~1 Corinthians 12:4-6

In kindergarten, our oldest grandchild, Virginia, is introduced to the concept of making frames out of colored popsicle sticks.  Her artwork may seem primitive at first glance, but I see promise.  Her Papa and I still cherish it to this day, and it's proudly displayed on a small table beside my computer desk.

I surmise that, as much as she loves to draw and color, Virginia might just have a gift for art, one she can realize more fully as she grows and matures.  The once five-year-old is just about to turn fifteen.  No, I can't believe it, either!  And my hunch about her artistic abilities has come to fruition in those ten short years.

Her mom, Sarah, sends us these photos of her most recent creations.  I'd love to know what you think.

And Virginia's favorite character, Hugh Laurie, from Dr. House.

When we chat this past week on FaceTime, I tell Virginia how marvelous it is to have been given such a talent by God, and that she should continue to develop it for His honor and glory.  She gets it.  This isn't about her prestige, her ability, and perhaps, her future notoriety.  It's all about being thankful to the One who, in His gracious generosity, bestows unique gifts upon all His children.

I hope and pray that Virginia will always place her love for God above every other love in her life, and choose to be a servant leader in any and every endeavor she undertakes, whether it be in the field of art or in an occupation she can't even yet imagine.

And isn't that what we all should aim for in our lives?  Because no matter what our achievements and accolades received in and by this world, they cannot hold a candle to the One who makes it all possible.

For all of us, no matter how different our gifts might be, we can rest assured that it is the same Lord and God at work in us.

Amen!

There, but for the Grace of God

Our house in the winter months

 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. ~Ephesians 2:8

I'm sure that those of you who regularly read my posts already know how enamored I am with living in a forest.  Our home can truly be called The Little House in the Big Woods.  As summer is literally heating up, having this much shade all around moderates the severity of the temperature and cuts down on our air conditioning costs.

I wouldn't be honest, though, if I didn't admit that there are some drawbacks now and then.  Danny is vigilant in keeping his eyes on all our trees to determine whether any limbs are dead or dying, and if the location of such branches poses a threat to our roof, decks or driveway.  When the consensus is a "yes," he will promptly contact a trusted tree removal company to mitigate the chances of damage to the property.  In rare cases, we've had to have entire trees cut down due to disease and even a once-in-a-lifetime (knock on wood) lightning strike that adversely affects two giant pines that were growing close together in the back yard.

Last Tuesday, we experience a particularly drenching rainfall accompanied by thunder and downdrafts to beat the band.  No tornado sirens scream, but since I'm here in the house by myself (Nicco has taken Danny for a pacemaker check in downtown Atlanta), it's all I can do not to head downstairs to our safe room.  Thankfully, the storm is short lived.

But the damage is done.

A dead limb, not previously perceived as an immediate threat, succumbs at last to gravity's pull.  Not during the actual storm, mind you, but two days later, making it that much more dangerous for the unsuspecting.  What shakes me up the most is where it lands - right over one of our two compost piles!

And the place from which it broke.

All I can think of, and thank the good Lord for, is that Danny was not dumping the raw waste from our kitchen into that compost bin at that fateful moment.  The weight of the limb and its impact could have killed an elephant, let alone a human being.  There but by the grace of God, could have been Danny when that ill-fated branch fell.

Ahh!  The grace of God is truly amazing, indeed!

Amen!

God's Peace and Presence

 

For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. ~Isaiah 55:12

I'm so grateful to live where we do.  When I need to be reminded of God's peace and presence, all I have to do is step out on our deck, sit on one of our benches and look up.  The trees, their branches laden with a myriad of summer leaves, tower above me, their soaring heights forming a cathedral ceiling of green.  Their light-seeking faces lifted in prayer and praise to the One upon whom they depend for life and growth.

And in the winter months, when twigs and branches display skeletal features, still they stretch and strive to adown the sky with unique acclaim for the One who created them.

When the weather is inclement and precludes sitting outside, I can always find solace in God's word.  I keep my Bible, devotional and grace journal in what Danny and I unceremoniously call the "Middle Room."  This is originally Nicco's bedroom growing up.  Now it serves as a place of study and reflection for me, and the space where we break forth into singing as we practice the praise songs we sing at our church.  So many positive vibes and thoughts happen here.  It creates a quiet, yet palpable, spirit of peace.

The table itself is a source of joy for me.  Many a happy meal is shared by both my mom and dad when just Danny and I would visit.  Later, after dad's passing, Virginia and I would often go to their home in Oxford, Georgia, to stay with mom for the weekend.

Yes, that is a very little Virginia at age seven!  But she is seated at that very same table where memories continue to be made.

There is a part of me that wishes the both of us felt confident enough, health-wise, to travel like we used to, seeing sites that aren't in our own backyard, but those days aren't in the offing.  All the more reason to thank the Lord for all His past blessings that give us cherished memories, and to embrace the blessings of each new day He sees fit to give us.

And if you're planning a vacation away with your family or friends this summer, may you go out with joy, and be led out with peace in all your adventures.  I would love to hear about your plans in the comments!

As for me, I'll be content to sit on our deck, and hear the birds singing along to the rhythm the rustling trees create as they clap their hands for joy.

Amen!

God Shed His Grace

 

Why are you cast down, O my soul?  And why are you disquieted within me?  Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God. ~Psalm 42:11

When I happen upon this quote by the Reverend Billy Graham, I'm instantly inspired.  My word for the year - GRACE - clamors for my immediate attention.  But it's the way he links grace with mercy and hope that really gets my thoughts whirling.  How is hope even possible for our minds to grasp if our loving Father didn't place it there when He created us?  And how can we even begin to comprehend the depth of God's mercy and grace unless we confess that we are sinful beings in desperate need of a Savior?

It is all interconnected.  Inextricably intertwined.  A trinity without which we neither live, move nor have our being.

Simple, isn't it?  Then why, when we see the chaos and confusion in our world today, are so many people despondent and discouraged?  Their souls, as so aptly expressed by the psalmist, are cast down and despondent.  They crave solutions, release, happiness, freedom, but hopes placed upon anything other than God will never satisfy.

To paraphrase a popular song (or two), they are literally looking for love in all the wrong places, not realizing that they can't get no satisfaction outside of God Himself.

Blessedly, here in the United States, there appears to be a spiritual revival afoot, especially among the younger generations.  This could not happen at a more crucial time in our country's history.  In a Fox News op-ed written by the Reverend Samuel Rodriguez and published on June 1st, he states in part:

This is the age of Aquinas and Augustine, of Kierkegaard and Lewis, of Tolkien, Lennox, Wright, and others.  An age where orthodoxy is not an obstacle but a lifeline.  Young men and women are hungry for truth, tired of relativism, and ready for something real.  This is the pendulum swinging back.  Not toward nostalgia - but toward a rediscovery of eternal absolutes.

He goes on to highlight the cultural shift in perceptions about God and Christ as witnessed in American Idol contestants unapologetically performing worship songs, to the NFL players (and many college players, too) sharing prayer time before and after games.  Rodriguez attests:  The name of Jesus is being lifted - not with fanfare, but with authenticity.

If this trend continues to gather steam and attention, who knows how many lives can and will be saved for eternity?  A nation that places its hope in God will not just survive, it will thrive!

So, thank you, Reverend Graham.  The evangelism to which you committed your long and illustrious life has proved fruitful, indeed.  God's mercy is reigning over this land, so there isn't a reason for any of us to be downcast.  May we freely lift our unified voices to boldly and joyfully sing:  America, America, God shed His grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.

Amen!