Every Purpose Under Heaven

 

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. ~Ecclesiastes 3:1

This is our thermostat on Saturday morning.  Do you see the outdoor temperature?  Yes!  Fall is not only here on the calendar, but in the air, too.  Now, I know some of you who live farther north are accustomed to these cooler temps in September, but in Georgia, it's an entirely different story.  These morning lows are a much more common occurrence in October and November.

Does this mean we won't experience days when it feels like summer has made a comeback?  Of course not.  But when I look at the weather forecast 10 days out, every morning shows low temperatures in the 50s and 60s; the afternoons will see highs in the mild 70s and doable 80s.  Since Danny and I are both cool weather people, this is ideal for us.

Danny takes full advantage of these moderating temps to clean both of our decks, one on Friday and the other today.

Can you tell that the back deck is still wet?  You can also see that the leaves are beginning to fall; these are dull, sere and brown as we've been deprived of decent rain totals through the summer months.  Quite the unusual condition in our neck of the woods.

Other perks I enjoy in Autumn are wearing long-sleeve shirts and sweaters.  I much prefer to bundle up against the cold than endure the sweltering heat.  Cooler weather also encourages both of us to spend more time outdoors taking walks or enjoying time sitting on the decks, breathing in fresh air for a change, and observing the sun's shifting patchwork of light as it dances through the trees.

These last four months of our calendar year always awaken in me a deep nostalgia for days gone by.  So many sentiments and traditions packed into the year's last hurrah - Fall's arrival, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas - all with their own unique scents, flavors and celebrations unrivaled by any other time of the year.  Memories often bubble up unbidden as we prepare for each holiday to unfold.  Perhaps, these "ber" months should be named the Remember months.

That being said, I don't want to simply be content to lose myself in the memories, but intentionally make new ones going forward, carrying on the priceless traditions that we have treasured for years, leaving a bright legacy and future for our children and grandchildren.

Indeed, there is a season, a time and a purpose for every activity we undertake on God's beautiful earth.  May we savor each moment and thank Him for every blessing He sends our way.

Amen!

With You on His Mind

 

"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy." ~Exodus 20:8

Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." ~Mark 2:27

I have a question for all of you.  Are you someone who is constantly on the go, or someone who intentionally moves through life at a relaxed, measured pace?  Honestly, now that I'm retired, I can say the latter goal is easier for me to pursue with regularity.  I couldn't say that when I was a working, single mom. During those times, I could barely take a moment to breathe let alone spend time in quiet reflection.  I was the epitome of a driven and determined overachiever who could balance a job, a budget and a family life with the best of them.

At least, that's what I thought at the time.

Pastor Jared's sermon this Sunday focuses on the concept of Sabbath rest and why it's crucial for us to deliberately put aside time each week to spend with God in prayer, reflection and renewal.  In a culture that worships the twin golden calves - accomplishment and accumulation - this time of rest may seem an anathema, the enemy of all we're created to be and become as a productive member of society.

But all this meaningless, endless, frenetic activity produces in the end is damage to our mental and physical health and well-being.  God includes observing the Sabbath in the Ten Commandments because it is designed for our own good.  After all, if the God of the Universe had to rest after He created our world, and we are made in His image, shouldn't it follow that we require that same type of rest?

Jared explains, too, that the Hebrew word for Sabbath - Shabbat - literally means to stop.  But not simply are we to stop, because the word also infers that we are to delight in the stopping itself.  Wow!  What a relief to know that it's not only okay to run from the rat race and leave the car pool lanes behind, but also to realize that our loving Father expects us to do just that!

Maybe you have a job that requires you to work on Sundays.  That's alright.  You can observe your Sabbath when time allows you to.  There's no right way or right day to rest in the Lord.  And there isn't a magic formula or one-size-fits-all plan one has to follow.

Jared will be the first to tell you that even, and especially, as a pastor, he struggles with having that extended time to simply be still and know that God is sustaining His children with every breath we take.

So, here's the challenge:  Will you take some time this week to contemplate the concept of the Sabbath and consider the ways that observing it can transform your life for the better?  Or, if you already have a Sabbath routine, please share it with us in the comments.

And remember, when God created the Sabbath, He already had you on His mind.

Amen!

Missing My Friends!

 

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.  If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.  But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. ~Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Danny and I spend the bulk of last Friday afternoon figuring out and implementing Feedly on my laptop.  Why?  Most of you here on Blogger know that our reading list simply up and quit working without warning earlier in the week.  Fortunately, this hasn't affected my blogging friends who use Wordpress, but without being able to see so many dear friends on Blogger, I am truly feeling your absence and the comfort your words always give me.

So far, posting blogs and answering comments have not posed a problem (knock on wood).  The issue is with those Blogger members who don't regularly comment on my weekly blog.  If you're suddenly NOT receiving comments on your posts from me, it's because I don't have a photographic memory and can't recall your websites.  You can help me, though, by emailing your web address to me at marthaorlando@gmail.com, or simply by leaving a comment here that contains your name as it appears on the address.  Either way, that should work.

I'm usually pretty quick in responding to comments, but we have an unusually busy week ahead, so I could fall behind just a bit.  I hope and pray that I'll hear from each and every one of you sometime during this week or next.  Until then, know that I miss you all greatly and I can't wait to reconnect with you on my Feedly account!

Amen!

Dear Friends,

I'm breaking with my usual format here because I need to let all of you know that my Blogger Reading List isn't updating.  This means, I cannot see nor comment on your latest blogs.  Oh, how I miss y'all!!!

I do hope that Blogger will come to its senses soon so I can be back in touch with all of you.  In the meantime, I so appreciate your understanding and patience.  If you do leave me a comment here, I can click on it to see your latest posts; that would be a marvelous help!

Love and blessings to all!

 

Let Us Do Good

 

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. ~Genesis 50:20

While we have time, let us do good. ~St. Francis of Assissi

This week marks the 25th anniversary of the horror that was 9/11.  Like so many of you, my memories of that tragic day are as crystal clear as if the event occurred only days ago.  It is a moment in time that forever changed our country and the world in ways we could never have imagined, and in its wake, propelled us into wars against terrorists who still see America and Western civilization as the enemies to this day.

The Siller family lost their youngest sibling, Stephen, on that fateful day.  He was a dedicated husband, father and firefighter in New York City at the time.  Stephen had just completed the night shift and was preparing to return home when the first plane struck.  Instead of retreating, he ran through the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel to the Twin Towers, intent upon saving as many lives as he possibly could.

Tragically, like thousands of others, his own life was taken from him that day.

The Sillers, like so many others, were devastated by this unimaginable  loss, not just for themselves, but for the countless thousands adversely affected.  Stephen's brother, Frank, had a vision to create something worthy that would honor all those who perished on 9/11 and keep the memory of his little brother, and the earth-shattering event, alive for all who cannot afford to forget.

Let Us Do Good tells how the Tunnel to Towers Foundation came to be as a result of Stephen's sacrifice.  For those of you unfamiliar with T2T, it is a charitable organization that pays off the mortgages of families with small children whose husband or wife perishes in the line of duty.  Started initially to help first responders, their mission has expanded to include Gold Star families and building handicap-accessible, mortgage-free homes for disabled veterans, police and firefighters.  In recent years, the foundation has acquired and refurbished hotels in various cities around the country to get homeless veterans off the street and give each one the help, healing, counseling, and community to help them reenter society.

Frank says his family owes their unswerving dedication to duty and service to the way his parents, Mae and George, raised each of the seven children.  It makes perfect sense, then, that out of the ashes of Stephen's death a phoenix of hope would arise in his memory, spreading genuine love and comfort to those who have lost loved ones who have so bravely served this country.

I highly recommend Frank's book, especially as the 25th anniversary of 9/11 is fast approaching.  You can order your copy from Amazon HERE.

And if you would like to join the Tunnel to Towers Foundation as a monthly contributor, I hope you will consider doing so.  Danny and I each give the suggested $11 per month.  It isn't an imposing amount for most families, and it's this continued participation by millions of us that will support those who have sacrificed so much for our freedoms long into the future.

Let us do good while we can.

Amen!

The Simple Truth

 

"Please test your servants for ten days:  Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.  Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." ~Daniel 1:12-13

Danny and I subscribe to the MAHA movement long before HHS Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., introduces this concept to the country, raising a new national awareness regarding our health.  We've always known that fresh is best and have genuinely tried to put our beliefs into practice based on the knowledge we glean over time.

One influencer who Danny finds to be reliable is Bobby Parrish on YouTube.  He is full of current healthy bargains you can find at places like Costco, Aldi and even Target.  Because of Bobby, we not longer purchase products containing sunflower or canola oils or those listing any ingredients we can't pronounce.  And when something claims to have natural flavoring, buyer beware!  At the moment, the FDA does not strictly regulate this aspect of the food industry, but we're hoping they will begin to clamp down on this ugly loophole during this administration.

You can rightly assume at this juncture in the post, that we no longer buy any item, especially fruits and vegetables, unless they are organically grown.  Yes, they can be more expensive, but how does one put a price on overall health?  Honestly, I'd rather eat less and eat clean than eat more because the product costs less.

Lately, Danny's pursuit of healthy products extends beyond food to include the daily soaps we wash with and even the lip balm I apply multiple times a day.  Burt's Bees has always been my go-to brand.  Not anymore!  Why?  Danny discovers that the brand is now owned by the  Clorox Company who keeps Burt's image, but drastically changes the formula to cost less for them, yet the same, or more, for us.

Yuck!  Really???  Instead, I now use, thanks to Danny's intrepid research, Tallow Lip Balm made by a company called Texas Tallow.  It has six simple ingredients:  Beef Tallow; Organic Coconut Oil; Natural Beeswax; Vitamin E Oil, and Organic Shea Butter.  What a world of difference that makes!

And as I examine the tube more closely, I make and unexpected and delightful discovery.

Do you see what I see?  Yes!  It's the fish!  The universal sign for Christianity.  This tiny logo reveals what at the heart of this manufacturer, all it stands for, all it promotes, all it produces.  Signs like these make my heart rejoice and appreciate all the more the people whose bottom line isn't profit, although I'm sure they will be profitable as the Lord blesses their endeavors.

So how did things turn out for Daniel and his companions, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, when they chose to eat simple foods over the rich diet offer to them?  Daniel 1:15 says:  At the end of the ten days, they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food."

And that's the simple truth we would all do well to live by.

Amen!

Running the Race

 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ~Hebrews 12:1-2

How many of you watched the Freedom 250 Grand Prix held in Washington, D. C., this past Sunday?  I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a fan of racing in general, but the excitement I feel for this one being held on a special course in honor of America's 250th birthday, is unmatched.  Anything that celebrates our country in such a patriotic way floats my boat!

Oh, how I love the pageantry and symbols that represent our great nation!  From the flyovers to an eagle soaring, from military bands to the Star-Spangled Banner, from President Trump waving the green flag to begin the race, to Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, waving the one at the finish line, I am transfixed from the get-go.  Yes, once the race begins, I mute the sound because watching the television with its constant display of stats is more than enough information for me to understand what's going on.

I did enjoy seeing our nation's capital city as the cars whizzed by landmarks while navigating the twists and turns of the streets.  The drivers cannot be distracted by such sights for a second if they hold out any hope of completing the race in one piece.  Yes, there are a few collisions, but thankfully, no injuries occurred either to the drivers or the thousands of people lining the course.

The concentration and physical strength necessary to handle a race car is phenomenal.  I'm in awe of all the young men who participate.  And the winner?

Kyle Kirkwood of Jupiter, Florida!  How fitting that this all-American race honoring our 250th birthday is clenched by one of her native sons!

In our lives, we all have races that are marked out for us.  Will our journeys be hindered by distractions?  Stymied by sins?  Or will we fix our eyes steadfastly on Jesus, the only One who can keep us on pace and on the right path.  He is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.

There is no other.

Amen!