is vs have

PONDERS AND WONDERS: This AM as I sat and celebrated time with Jesus!! I became more acutely aware of a truth, known to me but now like BAM....so God IS LOVE, God IS PEACE, He IS IS IS IS IS....because He lives within me, I have those characters that are HIS...but the reality is they are NOT ME!!! Sounds so simple, yet how I long and desire that when people meet me....it IS LOVE, IS PEACE...that who HE IS...would be WHO I AM.....that all the me can be snuffed out, and the aroma of CHRIST would be the sweetness to fill and bring love to the world. Is vs Have....I guess I never truly pondered all that means....except today to know HE IS I AM.....Father thank you for this time today....Lord may ALL you IS...be all I BE!! love ya

And they will know we are Christians by our LOVE

PONDERS AND WONDERS: Today as I ponder the upcoming inauguration of President Obama, I reflect on our wonderful Celebrate America Ball last evening....the words of an old folk song,....

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord, we are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord and we pray that all unity will one day be restored....and they'll know we are Christians by our Love by our love and they'll know we are Christians by our love.

I wonder what it would look like, that in unity there would be no more discord, no more agendas, no more blinders and turning of heads, no more NO MORE NO MORE......Jesus prayed in John 17 that we would be one as He and the Father, Lord may this be the beginning of the answer to Your prayer....starting with ME.

New Year to Dance

PONDERS AND WONDERS: WOW what a wonderful holiday season.....I traveled to DuBois to spend Christmas with my sons and parents and of course got to see the grandchildren!! It was wonderful, of course the underlying remembrance of Neill's soon departure to Iraq was always beneath our conversations. We celebrated with peace, joy and laughter as the boys traded sunglasses, football jabs and of course mom got to wear the "Cool" glasses as well. Spiritually it was an incredible holiday.
It began Christmas Eve at St. Rose...as the Choir sang Emmanuel, Father Sebastian walked up the aisle with baby Jesus lifted high over his head....we sang until we knew the heavens and the congregation were one....it was a tremendous God thing....I felt like I truly was celebrating the birth of my King in heaven....even now as I reflect, the moment is still so sweet. The service was full of all the awe and wonder of Christ, but Father's strong words reminding us that this time of year is that we are prepared for His coming AGAIN, not just to celebrate a birth of 2000 years ago, but are we as the virgins with oil in our lamps and ready...I am reminded of a wonderul old song by Newsong, fingerprints and noses...about children plastered to the window watching and waiting for JESUS....as children...that seemed to be the theme of the entire holiday.....that I would be as a child...in my belief, in my worship, in the awe and wonder not only of Him, but of all creation....
Following our time at the lake, I went to Jeanne's....WOW what an amazing finale to the 11 days. We bundled up and faced the wind to take sandwiches and socks to the homeless, and they were thankfully all snuggled in a shelter warm, because we found NO ONE on the streets....it was a challenge to some to realize that the time was perfectly spent, laughing, praying and celebrating the fact that there was room in the inn that night....reminded me how the plans of God are so different than my own. I then went to a wonderful Catholic Church in the hill district...it sure felt like St. Rose, same hymnals, same warm spirit..and Challenged by the Priest....we were challenged to believe and worship without limit....WOW NO LIMITS on belief or worship...well what about the big IF IF IF....or the WHO's....or the THE THE THE...simply believe and worship with no limit...then I remembered Houston....everyone worhipped in the rain that afternoon...NO LIMITS only LOVE....yep I guess that is the New Year's challenge...to DANCE in the RAIN, to LOVE and WORSHIP without LIMITS...to truly believe that HE is coming again and live like today is the Day.
I was reminded of how presumptous I can be about tomorrow. As I took Neill into my arms to say Good-bye, I thought this could be the last time I see him....as I cried in the car on the way home, I asked the Lord to let every hug this year be one without the presumption that again I will have tomorrow....that I will not only live like I am dying...but in the realization that we ALL are.....a new year Lord to Dance, Sing, Worship and truly BELIEVE....thanks Lord I sure LOVE YOU BIG

HOPE does NOT disappoint

PONDERS AND WONDERS: It is a very cold windy morning here in Mississippi. I am wrapped in my flannel jammies reflecting back on an amazing month. Filled with excitement, exhaustion and an increasing awareness of GOD in the every breath of every day. Sometimes when I write that I look and think you already know that, yet in the quiet of my heart that is a greater place I desire Him to take over. How I long for the day when my mind will be so disciplined to always think of Him first, speak with His voice, have His perfect peace a constant manifestation in my life....aaawwwwwweeeeee

I finished a week long resiliency training this week....it was so cool to watch God at work, bringing hope and healing to so many lives. There were some who were not even sure what had touched them, but everywhere was the fragrance of His presence and the touch of His peace. How I long for the world to know HIM.

I stop every Christmas at think how cool the Father must think Christmas is...to look down from heaven and around the world see the twinkle of lights. It truly is the forerunner of every knee bowing.....no matter what the persons religion, they put out their Christmas decorations.....not knowing that without Christ there would be no season!! Smile ABBA, this is the time we not only are thankful for You sending Your son. ALL THE LIGHTS AND GLITTER ARE IN ANTICIPATION OF HIS RETURN!!

Seems like the time is drawing near, so thankful that you are patient that none will perish, may my life this holiday season be truly JESUS with SKIN on and PEACE within....O how I love Jesus

Thanksgiving and giving

PONDERS AND WONDERS: As I sit on this quiet Thanksgiving night, reflecting on the past couple of weeks, I again immerse myself in the Awe and Wonder of God. Today as I sat in Mass, celebrating the day with Thanksgiving and realizing the Power of Gratitude. I often diminish the effect that an attitude of gratitude brings to my life. Becoming complacent in my thanksgiving soon leads me to boredom in the blessing and in the trial! BOREDOM ...yep, it results in grumbling and complaining, even if only to God about how the situation should change.

And YET I am reminded that when Paul was talking about doing all things in Christ, that directly followed his ability to BE CONTENT in ALL...much or little, easy or hard.....contentment and gratitude are hand holding partners for sure. As I took holiday blessing boxes to people today, I was struck by Elaina.....she is a woman probably in her 50's although the age of the street would make one think much older, she is homeless here in the Bay....and yet she was contentedly lying on the ground, with a sweater as a pillow. She was amazed that this AM a man woke her up to give her food..."What a great way to start Thanksgiving"

O Lord, that I may be as she, able to rest where ever I am, knowing in your unfailing love you will provide and keep me in the shadow of your wings. It was a day of true celebration....The Lord has provided for me a family and friends that give me BIG SNAPSHOTS of HIS LOVE, He has given me a wonderful purpose of life...JOY...in ALL things.....yes this day Lord I am thankful and ask that each and every moment of the day my attitude of gratitude will slash and spill like a ride in the rapids and I will never become bored by the Blessing of your great LOVE....YOU are the BEST JESUS......love ya