SelahV Today by hariette petersen

A FEW REFLECTIONS ON 2009

So many things have happened in this year.  So many little memories grabbed my heart and held it captive.  So many people (via blogs, the news, books, emails, and daily events) gained entrance to my mind and meandered around for various reasons.  Some stayed, some drifted away, others left abruptly for reasons of their own.  I've seen so much of God in every day.  Sandpaper and thorns, green pastures and still waters.  Tiny miracles, sweet fragrances.  Glistenings and gleanings.  Friendships renewed and strengthened; acquaintances developed, and acquaintances lost.  Life and death.  Yes.  2009 has served a feast of goodness to me as well as crumbs of sadness.  As I brush away the crumbs, I am strengthened by the bounty of God's grace.  For in His grace I've grown.  I've learned.  And He has shown me mercy wherein I've squandered opportunity and neglected to follow His path more closely.  As I reflect upon 2009, I am reminded of many things of which I'm grateful:

Grateful I was able, by the generosity of others, to attend my father's funeral in January.  Grateful my relationship with my brother was strengthened as a result of taking my father back to his resting place in Virginia.  Grateful for the childhood memories revisited in my hometown of Triangle and Dumfries.

Grateful for the opportunities afforded me to write.  A weekly newspaper column, "Common Matters", for The County Times.  SBC Voices and Devotional Christian with Tony Kummer.  And of course my blogs.  Honored by being asked to review books for Hannibal Publishing from time to time: Alcohol Today, Families in the Bible, Lessons from a Broken Chopstick.  I hope you ordered them and read them.

Grateful that Jordy healed from multiple surgeries and fractures.  Overjoyed that Ryan graduated from high school and discovered fire-fighting as a vocation where God can use him to minister to others in our community.  Thrilled that everyone survived the year with minimal difficulties and mishaps.  Grateful for many hours of giggles, laughter, creativity and joy discovered with my four young granddaughters, Brooklyn, Abby, Haylee, and Kinsey.

Grateful the Lord has moved my granddaughter, Bethany, and her family back to Oklahoma.  It will be fun getting to know my great-grandsons better--even if I have to travel to Oklahoma City to endure the Zoo, and many amusements there with them.  Such travail.  Wonder if I could get one of those electric scooters....hmmmn.

Grateful for my husband's continued health and the love I receive from him.  Grateful God's power sustains him and allows him to sit beside my side and snore as we watch football games, Nascar races, and tennis matches.  May we have many more years to do that and may his snoring always be music to my ears.

Grateful for words of knowledge and wisdom shared by various bloggers I've met throughout cyberspace.  You know who you are.

Grateful beyond measure for the readers of my blogs who've prayed for me, rejoiced with me, reasoned with me, and chuckled with me.  Grateful for the chance to help David Brumbelow launch his website and blog, Gulfcoast Pastor.  Loved that experience.  (Anyone need a blog?  I'll help ya.  C'mon Win!) 

I'm not sure I'm grateful yet for Facebook and Twitter.  Those communication oddities have yet to fuel me, sustain me, or capture my attention in ways I think some are mesmerized.  However, I am grateful for the folks I've enjoined in conversations there.  I rather like emails.  Speaking of which...I have a few emailing buds who have regularly joined with me in chatting back and forth about everything from God's will to satan's devises, from book choices to the logic and reason of hobbies.  I've shared prayer requests and lifted others in prayer.  What God has done throughout the year has been amazing indeed.  My granddaughter, Abby, was saved.  People endured tragedy and crisis.  People were healed.  Depression was lifted.  Disillusionment replaced with hope.  God met needs where no one else could.

Maybe I should be grateful for the annoyances, the barbs and the less than prudent comments I've encountered infrequently throughout blogland this year.  The crumbs of life.  Indeed I am grateful for the patience and tolerance I've gained in their midst.  Sandpaper, I suppose.  I've learned not to indulge some in their desire to make ripples in my pond.  And I've discovered once again that God never abandons or quenches the bruised reed or smoldering wick.  God is so good.  2009 has been a blessing sprinkled with occasional heartache--I rejoice.  I look forward to what the new decade will bring.  Do you?  selahV

EVER FEEL LIKE...

...the Potter made the vessel and then placed it on a shelf for another day and time?

I emailed a friend and asked him that question.  He responded with one word:  "Yes." 

I had been having trouble writing.  I had difficulty squeezing out anything that made any sense.  I didn't even feel comfortable commenting on other's blogs.  Every day something occurred in my life that I wanted to talk about.  Every day situations popped up that I found funny and encouraging.  But for some reason I couldn't connect words to describe what I found funny or encouraging in the midst of chaos and difficulty that might seem relevant or worth hearing to another.  Nothing seem to roll off the tips of my fingers.  What once came easy, seemed so difficult.

I remembered a sermon from several years ago when a pastor preached about the potter making a vessel and how it is the potter's choice to do with the vessel what he wills.  The preacher said, "Sometimes God puts us on a shelf."  My writing quandry and that sermon recollection is what prompted my question to my friend.  Do you ever feel like that?  If so, maybe you'll find comfort in the words my friend added in another email to me a bit later in the day:

"However, I think He still has a purpose for us in the meantime.

But it seems that sometimes He does something in our lives and it is not until years later, that we see the good results and purpose for what He did, maybe years before.

One of my favorite stories is a a seminary student who could not get a job on a church staff.  The only thing he could find was a job working on outboard motors for boats.  He learned everything about outboard motor repair.  He thought it was a total waste of time when he could have been getting experience in the ministry.

He later became a missionary in Africa where the only way you could get around to the villages was on a huge lake.  All the missionaries had available were beat up old boats and worse outboard motors.  The outboard motors were in constant need of repair.  God seemed to have known what He was doing."

We need to keep telling our story.  We need to share how God works with us each day.  There is a purpose in doing so--even if we don't understand it.  selahV 

S'NO SWINGING IN THIS HAMMOCK
GLOBAL WARMING TOOK ALL THE SNOW AWAY TODAY.   AWH!

BLIZZARD OF '09 IN OKLAHOMA

Hunkered down at our daughter's house on Christmas Eve, we watched the unexpected blizzard of '09 paint her windows with snow.  Most of the day winds made visibility about 2 feet in her front yard.  We had no idea how much snow was piling up until the wind died down and clearly exposed two and three-feet drifts.  All afternoon and evening my grandsons and their dad responded to 911 calls transferred to their fire-department to help stranded motorists.  At one point, my daughter and my husband were among the stranded when Highway 7 was closed down and they tried to find an alternate route home on back roads.  According to my husband, the roads were totally clear and then a 3-foot snowdrift appeared making a road impassable.

Christmas day broke with brilliant sunshine and fields ladened with drifts that beckoned children to come play.  My son-in-law dug through one of the snow-drifts next to the house and created a tunnel for the kids to crawl through.  My granddaughters from Texas had not come prepared for a blizzard (they'd planned to be back in Texas on Christmas Eve afternoon).  I layered them in sweatshirts and jeans and wrapped a pair of pajamas around Abby's neck as a scarf to close the gap in her neckline.  They tromped out the door and proceeded to construct a snowman about 18 inches tall.  Kinsey asked for a baby-carrot to use as a nose; M&M's acted as buttons for his eyes and smile.  The snow was not the best for sticking and rolling so their snowman was more a sculpture.  For our family it was a white Christmas to remember for its laughter, joy and togetherness.  For others it was a Christmas of standed hours, fear, and heartache. 

In Oklahoma, the storm was historic in proportions.  We adults realized its severity and the problems created for hundreds of people on the day before Christmas.  Last-minute shopping halted, family plans interrupted, flights and traveling canceled.  Good Samaritans tried to assist others, and some lost their lives for their efforts.  For the joy we rejoice, for the tragedies we mourn.  We pray for families who grieve and we realize afresh, that life is a fragile thing.  Memories are a blessing.  And Christ Jesus is the consolation.  selahV   

   

FILLED WITH EXPECTATIONS

This time of year there are so many people filled with expectations.  Some children write Santa and make wish-lists for Mom and Dad. 

Yesterday I went to my daughter's to drop off our presents and hide them in her garage till Christmas Eve when we'll all gather together, tell the Christmas story and then open gifts.  Haylee climbed up in my lap and said, "Three more sleeps, Grama, and it will be Christmas!"  She was so excited--so filled with expectations.  She has no idea what she is getting.  She hasn't asked for anything.  She just knows I bought her something and that her mom and dad are getting her something; and she is anticipating the joy.  More than anything she is excited about what she has made her mom and others and is looking forward to giving.  Isn't that a novel idea?

God is so filled with blessings for us.  He wants to give us all we need to be filled with joy in Him.  Yet, all too often we sit around and write our imaginary wish-lists and come to Him like He is Santa.  God is God.  His desire for us is that we live in His presence and allow Him to be God and meet our needs.  God's never late in His timing.  We may get antsy and want to speed things up and, at times, try to help God out in fulfilling our desires.  Anytime I've done that, I've wound up with far less than the best of what God has planned.  Hope in the Lord, and wait upon Him.  He will deliver and reward us with far more than we dreamed possible.  And what we thought we wanted will pale in comparison.  selahV

Calling all Tech Dudes...

Any suggestions on how to convert my son's old videos (home videos) onto DVD discs without having to pay an arm and a leg to professionals?  Isn't there some kind of converter machine and software?  Thanks.  selahV

FINALLY!

Thanks to a group of fresh voices to heaven, I slept for 6 straight hours last night.  Wow!  Now if I can be so blessed to receive that for then next 4 nights, I might be human again by Christmas!  Thanks so much my wonderful blogging buds!  You are such a blessing to me.  selahV 

Anyone Know?

How long can a person go without sleep before crumbling into a heap of twisted thoughts and short-circuited emotions?

CONGRATULATIONS DUE

My friend and sister in Christ, Trish Reilly, graduates from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary today.  Trish has been a blessing in my life and a prayer warrior for my needs.  Anyone who takes the time to further their understanding of scripture and doctrine in this manner deserves more than a post on my blog.  Unfortunately, this is what I can offer.  Though I'd love to hug her neck and pray blessings upon her, I can't be there in Dallas, today.  I am so sorry I was not able to attend this extremely important event in her life.

Students go through many struggles while attending seminary.  The devil seems to want to discourage them and destroy them.  How great it is when the devil loses once again. 

Dear Trish, I so wanted to see you accept your diploma.  I can't even imagine how relieved and proud you must be.  You have every right to feel like crowing with joy.  I'm sure you feel like that about the idea that all the long hours of study, interpretation papers and tests are "over".  The late nights, the struggles.  But I also believe you are very humbled by the fact that your Creator has provided and strengthened you every step of the way.  You've been through some extremely tough times in losing your mother, and two aunts in this last year of your seminary journey.  Many would have settled for less than their best to get through a class.  Not you.  You fought to do all that was necessary to grasp the material you had before you so God could use you in the future.  Well done, my sister.  Well done.  I'm so proud of you.  May God enrich countless others by all the knowledge you've gained and the wisdom He has bestowed upon you in the process.  I love you.  selahV 

THE HUMOR OF GROWING OLD TOGETHER

When I met my husband, his gorgeous, thick hair immediately grabbed my attention.  I fell head over heels in love with him the moment I heard his deep voice say, "Hello".  His dark brown eyes seemed to see right inside my mind.  Today he swears he didn't know I thought he was the most handsome man I'd ever seen.

By the time he was thirty, just about all his hair decided it had fulfilled its purpose atop his head.  By the time he was forty, he had to give up the ghost and start wearing glasses.  This past week we scheduled him an appointment to have his hearing tested; he's having a tough time hearing me these days.  And to be honest, I've been having a harder time hearing him, too.  A friend of mine said that, "As the male grows older, he loses the upper range of his hearing.  As the female ages, she loses the lower range of her hearing.  Since the male has a deeper voice, and the female has a higher voice, they can’t hear each other." 

Do ya think God thinks we've heard enough of one another by the time we've been married 44-plus years? selahV

CHRISTMAS ANGELS WATCHING OVER ME; YEAH!

I went to the mall with my granddaughters yesterday so they could play in the play area.  On the way into the mall, I pushed the button on my keychain to lock the car.  We were inside the mall about an hour and a half.  When we came back to the parking lot, my trunk lid was open.  Wide open.  I took a quick intake of frigid air and my heart leaped in fear.  All my shopping trips for Christmas gifts were inside my trunk.  Immediately I realized I had probably popped the latch on my trunk when I locked the car on my way into the mall.  I went to the trunk and took a quick inventory.  Not one item was gone.  I thanked God for watching over my car.  There were all kinds of cars around mine.  Anyone could have taken anything they wanted and walked it over to their car and put it in their trunks.

Some folks may think this a fluke.  I credit the Lord for protecting over my trunk.  He probably had a shield of angels around my car.  selahV

PRESSURE COOKER SITUATION

I don't work well under pressure.  My stomach knots up.  I'm easily annoyed and impatient.  A timed situation is a weight on top of my head that pushes my brain into my shoulders with each tick-tock of the clock.  I need time to do things well, or I don't want to do them at all.  Friday night my granddaughters, hubby and I built a gingerbread house out of graham crackers and icing.  It's an annual event at our church.  My granddaughters revel in the experience each year; they mark their calendars as soon as we find out the date so we can all work on it together.  It's a blast.  Each family group is only given bowls of icing and graham crackers.  We each bring all the decorative candies or cookies we want to dress it up.  No two houses are ever alike; designs range from log cabins and traditional homes to dog houses and sugar-cube castles.  My problem comes from being alloted one short hour to assemble this house and decorate it.  Pressure cooker crafting does not mix with my character.

Friday night I was annoyed with several things.  Mostly I was annoyed at myself for my inability to figure out how to get my roof to stay up on the walls we assembled.  We covered the graham crackers with chocolate icing and stuck peanut brittle on it to resemble a stone home.  Then we placed the crackers up against nutty butter wafer cookies.  The cookies worked as our brace.  The walls went up beautifully.  For the first time ever, we managed to get them to stand without falling over.  But our woebegotten roof sagged and sat precariously upon its walls.  It was so frustrating trying to keep it from caving in.  When the girls added the mini-M&M's to the roof as Christmas lights, it came close to collapsing.  When we finished, gaps in the roof clearly revealed that our roof needed critical re-roofing and an engineer's assistance.

I realized tonite that I'm a lot like that gingerbread house.  The Lord gives me the Foundation of my faith to stand erect like the walls of my house by the salvation through His Son, Jesus.  He provides the glue to keep me from falling apart by the direction of His Spirit and the promises within His scriptures.  When I allow myself to get all caught up in the things of this world to decorate, or embellish my faith, I'm certain to crumble beneath the weight of man-made grace, progressive liberties, weak-kneed doctrine, and legalistic viewpoints.  The world may pass off its logic and reason to try and batter my faith, but the foundation remains strong no matter how many times a roof caves in from the weight of embellishments. selahV