In My Mind I'm Gone to Carolina

John 11:35
Jesus wept.

As I reveal in my last post, when I announce that I simply have to take a break from blogging, the support of your kind words and the promised prayers have buoyed me in ways you cannot possibly imagine.  I am grateful to all of you beyond measure.

And I feel I owe each and every one of you an explanation for my prolonged absence here.

I receive an email from my daughter, Sarah, mid-January, with the last news I ever expect to hear.  Her husband, John, has been offered a much better job opportunity in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  She's excited about the move, but scared at the same time.  Sarah has never lived anywhere but Georgia, has always been in relatively close proximity to my husband, Danny, and me, and we've always been available when our help is needed.

Eldest granddaughter, Virginia Rose, and I are joined at the hip.  She is unabashedly my heart.  You who have consistently and faithfully followed my blog already know that.  So, my first reaction to Sarah's missive?  Retreat to the deck and dissolve into a tirade of tears.

Grief overtakes me, overwhelms me, and in the ensuing weeks, I find myself miserably dancing between all five stages of grief:  Denial; Anger; Depression; Bargaining; Acceptance.  Yes, it's an all-out pity party, with depression taking center stage.  

Whatever will I do without my girls???

As if this turn of events isn't enough of a travesty, other sad and troubling news seeps into our lives during this time.  The deaths of a mother and her still-born baby.  A dear friend diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.  A car accident which takes the lives of a beloved blogger's brother and sister-in-law.  A marriage disintegrating into divorce.

The evil one, it seems, knows exactly how and when to pull out all the stops.

Yet, I cling hard and fast to the love of God as shown through His Son, Christ Jesus.  He became one of us that our relationship with the Father could be restored.  He felt every emotion we feel, and He understands our grief and our hurts.

When we weep, Jesus weeps with us.

And that has been my comforting reminder during this excruciating chapter in my life.  I so want God to turn this painful page, but I know He will when the time is right.

Are any of you grieving a loss?  It would be my honor to pray for you.  And I would so appreciate your prayers for John, Sarah, Virginia, Savannah, and Alexandra as they begin this new adventure.

Prayers for Danny and me are welcomed, too, as our hearts are breaking.

Amen.

Redeem!

Job 1:20-21
At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head.  Then he fell to the ground in worship, and said:  "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart.  The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised."

Everything falls apart

When least expected

Fallout noxious

Bids death, not life

Grief overwhelming

Sorrow pummels joy

My heart is breaking

I know God is there

Yet in my soul

The chasm widens

Day by cruel day

Like Job, I beg respite

From will of God true

If in my sin these acts

Are deemed as justice

I have no defense

Redeem, oh, Lord, redeem!

Amen

~

Dear Friends,

It seems that 2020 is not starting out on a good foot for me and our family.  In light of that, I need to step back from blogging for an indefinite period of time.  If you follow me on a regular basis, you know I customarily post on Tuesdays and Fridays.  I certainly won't be dependable in that, at least during February.  I also hope you will forgive me if there are days where I don't respond to your blogs.  Just rest assured that I am thinking about you, praying for you, and loving you as brothers and sisters in Christ.

May God's blessings and favor shine in your lives!

Change

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Change in the offing

And I resist

With all I have

Yet God bids

Put self aside

Not yours, but My

Will be done

In My time

In My place

In My love

Sufficient grace in Me

Is here

Is now

Will forever be

Amen

Different Gifts, Same God

Romans 12:6-8
We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.  If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

I've always loved these verses from Romans 12!  It assures me that God has provided each one of us with unique gifts and talents to develop, share and employ for His glory.

I'm so thankful my Father saw fit to grace me with a penchant for writing, has allowed me to pen and publish six novels, and now allows me, through this blog, to encourage others in their walk with the Lord.

Our granddaughter, Virginia Rose, is demonstrating, at the age of nine, how God has blessed her with artistic skills.  Just as I had a passion for books and writing as a child, Virginia loves, loves, loves to draw!  First photos shown here are ones she creates from her imagination.

And the next batch?  Virginia uses internet images to draw these creatures free hand.

Okay, friends, I know I maintain a hefty Gammie bias, but honestly, I do think these drawings display a precocious aptitude for art with Virginia.  It is my hope and prayer that she will continue to pursue her passion, polish her skills, and do it all in thankfulness for this amazing gift God has given her.

What gifts has God blessed you with?  Please share in the comments!

Amen!

Beyond, Beyond!

Psalm 121:1
I lift up my eyes to the mountains - where does my help come from?

I write the poem penned here toward the beginning of last year, before we had the exceedingly great joy of taking our granddaughter, Virginia Rose, for her very first visit to witness the awe and splendor of God's creation.  You can read all about our adventures beginning here.

I glimpse the mountains

When I dare

To take my eyes

Off the road

En route to fetching

Granddaughter, precious

The ridge traversed

Offers sights

In treasured dreams

Horizon promised

Met and longed for

I say, upon return

"Look to your right,

Virginia - mountains!"

"I see them, Gammie.

I want to be there!

Can we go?"

"Not today,

But someday . . ."

Lift your eyes

Unto the hills

Beyond, beyond

Salvation's come

Amen!

Pining Away

Psalm 29:5
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

Sequestered in an enclave of forest splendor, the last thing my husband, Danny, and I ever wish to do is to remove a tree from our yard.  But after an errant lightning bolt strikes a stately pine tree last summer, taking the brutal brunt for all the other trees nearby, we know we have no choice but to have it removed as a matter of practicality and safety.

But the imagined cost of the project causes us to delay.

Until . . .

A wild and vicious winter storm is predicted to hit us in a few days.  His pragmatic mind in full gear, Danny calls our trusted tree service; fortunately, the company can come out the very next day!  The cost is far more reasonable than we calculated, and these Johnny-on-the-spot experts not only dismantle the looming nemesis of the dead pine, but also eradicate some other limbs threatening our roof.

So, bring on the tornado threatening winds!  We are ready!

And yes, obviously, we survive the maelstrom, thanks be to God!

Had that one pine been allowed to stand?  It could have spelled disaster.  As the owner of the tree service explains to Danny, having a dead tree on our property, without us doing anything to ameliorate the situation, would make us liable, not our insurance company, for any damage its fallen trunk could cause.

Yes, I am so sad that we had to let this noble tree go, the one that laid down its life for its friends.  (John 15:13)

The one upon whom a neighboring sweet gum wrapped a trusting root around.  A tree we will have to keep a close eye on come spring because of its close proximity to the fallen giant.

And I am reminded of this - the voice of the Lord, booming in the lightning strike, can break the cedars and pines.

But He always knows what He's doing.

We cannot know, as the pine did not, what day will be our last.

Yet, we can ever hold fast to God's power and promise, that as believers in Christ, we will inherit eternal life.

A life that will never end, and a life that will be honored greatly if we are willing to take the fall, as that stalwart pine did, for our brothers and sisters in the faith.

Amen!

Putting the Resolute in Resolutions

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:  The old has gone, the new is here!

Did you make any New Year resolutions?  Are you managing to honor them several weeks into January?

If failure is already rearing its ugly head, you're not alone.

And failure is why I quit making resolutions many years ago.  How disheartening it is when I have grandiose plans for changes and improvements in my life, only to have them crash and burn.

As I ponder why so many resolutions fall by the wayside, I have a revelation.  My former desires involved me, myself and I.  God was absent from the equation.

Yes, we may want to lose that weight, maintain a healthier lifestyle, keep in better touch with family and friends, but if God isn't the architect of these longings, we don't have a prayer.

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that in Christ, we are new creations - blessed and loved and set apart - by the God who loved us all so much that He was willing to give His only Son to cleanse us from sin, and reassure us that we are heirs to the eternal life Jesus has promised.

If that knowledge doesn't make us feel new and revived in the New Year, then I don't know what can!

Maybe, friends, that's the only resolution we need.

We are loved.

We are redeemed.

We are made new.

Let us resolve, then, to let God guide and provide in all that comes our way in 2020.

It's the most resolute of resolutions.

And one that will never fail.

Amen!