Last of the fall leaves

They know their time is short, and still they hang on against the bitter wind....they cling to life against all hope.

Hope everyone had a very blessed Thanksgiving.....currently away from blogging enjoying family and friends....but will be back soon.

"Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God." Phil. 4:6

Bible humor

Elijah and the Baal worshipers….
I Kings 18:27 “At noon Elijah began to taunt them. "Shout louder!" he said. "Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened!”

Here’s a lesson not to taunt God’s prophets……
2 Kings 2:23-24
From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road some youths came out of the town and jeered at him. "Go on up, you baldhead!" they said. "Go on up, you baldhead!"
He turned around, and looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the Lord.
Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths.

Proverbs 29:20
There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.

If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom. Job 13:5

Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish. Proverbs 31:6

And just to clarify: And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled
with the Spirit Ephesians 5:18

When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. (I heard it say that this was proof that there are no women in Heaven…NOT funny)Revelations 8:1

Genesis 25:30
He said to Jacob, "Let me eat some of that red stuff, because I'm exhausted."

Poor Job….
Job 38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,
2"Who is this that darkens counsel
by words without knowledge?
3"Now gird up your loins like a man,
and I will ask you, and you instruct Me!
4"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding
and later in the same Chapter....
18"Have you understood the expanse of the earth?
Tell Me, if you know all this. 21"You know, for you were born then,
and the number of your days is great!

1 Thessalonians 4:11 "Also, make it your goal to live quietly, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you."

And from 2 Kings 9:20 "The lookout reported, "He has reached them, but he isn't coming back either. The driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi--he drives like a madman."
(Guess they had crazy drivers in Bible times too!)

Dream a little dream

Painting by Alphonse François

"While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him." Matthew 27:19

Dreams have always fascinated me. I guess because I dream a lot. It is more unusual for me not to have a dream. I have dreams where I fly through the air, drive wierd little cars, climb through narrow passageways, and ever since I was a kid I have dreamed about my teeth falling out. The Bible is filled with stories of the way God uses dreams to communicate with people.

Once I had a "healing dream." I was suffering from anorexia in my very early twenties. It was a nightmare, and my Mom and Dad suffered the most their prayers seemed to hit the ceiling and go no further, until one night. What I actually dreamed was sketchy. Different scenes played out here and there, but through it all the one thing I remember was a golden light filling everything around me. When I awoke I knew that I had been healed. I announced it and we all cried, and I remember eating my first rational meal in months and months. The power that had held my mind and body captive was broken by the Great Healer! I will never forget it.

Do you ever dream about a place you've never been before but dream about it over and over? My Mom dreams of a little messy house that she can never get clean, always the same house. I have dreamed of a little alleyway restaurant more than once, an oriental restaurant with a walkup counter....I can see it now in my mind. I always wonder if that is a real place somewhere.

So what about you? Comment and share your dreams.....I would love to hear them!

Weary travelers....

Soon we may be driving....flying.....somewhere, to greet family, friends and loved ones. Faces may show up at our door, or we may be the shining faces others greet. We come, we go. Hoping for a respite from our whirlwind of activity, our day to day stresses. We hope to lay our heavy burdens aside for awhile; hopefully we lay them down.

May we pause, knowing that we are all traveling hard journeys, going through hard things. May we meet each other right where we are, and in the midst of this may we be the recipients and the bearers of Christ's love. While we stop the madness for awhile, may we be able to leave our pack by the door, at rest at least for a time.

May we help each other lighten the load....and not add to the burden.

This Thanksgiving may we look around at all the faces we see, and say a prayer of thanks for each and every one, and what they have meant in our lives.

"Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32

Gratitude for teachers.....

Click here to read Cliffs review at Musings of a Minister......

What a wonderful book this was. I found myself smiling all the way through. What an inspiration to read about a teacher who truly loves his students and his job! It brought back so many memories of my own school days and of the teachers who invested in my life growing up. These people sacrifically gave of themselves because they believed that it was worth it to invest in kids, and me!

My first Principal, Mr. Tamblin. He used to wander the playground and talk to all of us kids in his suit. We really respected him. I remember him being very kind. My first kindergarten teacher Roberta Ruhl; I still remember how magic her classroom seemed. I remember making faces with Randall Speth during "rest period." I have to thank my first grade teacher Mrs. Campbell, although she was extremely strict and most of us were scared of her, she believed in phonics. She led me to the doorway of one of the great loves of my life....Reading. During this year, I also joined the gleeclub. I am indebted to Roberta (her last name escapes me) for teaching us every verse of every patriotic song ever written. My second grade teacher was Arlie Earhardt. She had a blonde bouffant hairdo that never moved and dimples. She was beautiful. When she read "Charlotte's Web" to us, it came alive! I can still hear her soft, sweet voice even now. My fifth grade teacher was unforgettable. Mrs. Fairchild led singing hour and had a voice like Edith Bunker, but we didn't care. She always made us laugh, and let us watch the world series because she loved baseball, particularly the Mets.

My sixth grade teacher, Mrs. Jan Wakefield was our hero. She was the one teacher we all went back to visit after we entered Jr. High. Her classroom was a haven of wonderful memories. She was like Mary Tyler Moore, very stylish. She had a beautiful smile and perfect penmanship, everything a good teacher should be, she was.

I also thank all my Sunday School teachers over the years.....especially the one who combined Bible lessons with walks to the park and DONUTS. What heroes of the faith they all were. Sunday after Sunday they dedicated themselves to us kids and role-modeled what faith should look like.

Last but certainly not least is Mr Wylie Moffat, my Choir teacher in High School. His class was one of the few bright spots of my High School experience. Yes, that is scary I admit to being a nerd. He introduced us to Opera, Broadway musicals, all of the great composers and his love of music and his passion was infectious. He had us to his home for cookouts, and we all loved him. He always forgave me when I started giggling onstage and couldn't stop. Every year, he led us to a "Command Performance" in all our competitions because we wanted to make him proud. He loved God too, and wasn't afraid to sing religious songs in school assemblies. I so admire him for that. Sad to say, he would probably get in trouble for it now, but back in the seventies freedom of expression was still allowed.

Take a moment to reflect on all of the great teachers in your life......I could have gone on and on.

Today makes 130 of 1000.....

Continuing with gratitude toward my 1000 blessings

Peace and Hope

Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation. Psalm 91:14-16

This was a very encouraging verse for me today. I pray that this gives you comfort as well. Sometimes the circumstances of life cause us to feel totally out of control, but the truth is we never had control anyway! But we know the One who does. He always has had it, and He always will have it. And because of that, we can rest easier.....So take a deep breath, feel His calm and peace that passes all understanding overtake you. Though the fires are raging around us, we will not be burned!
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble....Psalm 46:1

True friendship

After years of vain familiarity, some distant gesture or unconscious behavior, which we remember, speaks to us with more emphasis than the wisest or kindest words. We are sometimes made aware of a kindness long passed, and realize that there have been times when our Friends’ thoughts of us were of so pure and lofty a character that they passed over us like the winds of heaven unnoticed; when they treated us not as what we were, but as what we aspired to be. Henry David Thoreau

It is truly an honor to have a few friends who truly see me the way I wish I were. Sometimes I take them for granted, brushing by them with a smile and wave. But each of us knows that underneath the topical layers of life lays something unspoken, something pure and true. That in times of need or crisis, or maybe joy, that something would leap to life. If I asked them to pray I know they would not hesitate to grab my hand and bow right then and there. In one magic instant my cares would become theirs.

A faithful friend is the medicine of Life. Ecclesiates 6:16

Window of compassion

I saw a crazy lady on a bike yesterday. She was talking to herself, making wild movements. She was at a crosswalk and I was wary, thinking she might dart out in front of me. At that moment a bit of Heaven peeled back and I saw her, really saw her the way God must see her. Something moved me deep within and tears came unexpectedly. This is someone's daughter, maybe someone's Mom.

The light turned green, I moved on. But the impact is still there even today. Day after day we carry our burdens carefully so as not to upset the precarious balance we have made. Under the weight of our own we sometimes don't see others precious burdens. We say, "Why don't they just let it go?" But if we just turn and help, listen....support, acknowledge the burden; give them the freedom to acknowledge yours.

I wonder are we all just a bit crazy? Maybe we are all a bit like the woman on the bicycle; maybe we just hide it better.

Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. Galations 6:2

Miracle continues.....

My story continues from yesterday's post:
As the day approaching my transfer grew nearer, I was filled with trepidation. I went through the required equivalent of Intel "basic training" for two weeks. That I was already at Intel didn't matter. We were retooling the factory to do an entirely different process; something never done before. New process, new training. Stakes were unbelievably high. Success was crucial. It was into this atmosphere that I was thrown....new area, new people, new process; clusters of engineers waiting for results in every aisle and the margin for error slim to none. It was a hostile environment and though my co-workers were very welcoming, they were under enormous pressure to make everything work. I learned to pray like never before. I did the best I could under the circumstances.

Around the same time, my Mom took a terrible fall and my brother's wife told him she wanted a divorce. I couldn't leave to help my Mom or brother and I was devastated. I cried at the drop of a hat. Pressure at work was tremendous and I got my first bad review ever at Intel. In my OM's words: "I wasn't working out." He was right I wasn't!

Around the same time, I started attending Saturday morning prayer with a man who led Bible study at Intel's Bible based Christian group. He got a conference room and we layed our heart's on God's altar together. Another of God's miracles. He brought us together at a special season in both of our lives. Right away we became unlikely friends. He black, me white. He a father of seven, me no kids at all, but it didn't matter. Will's passion and zeal for God was infectious, and his excitement about reading the Word re-ignited my desire to study and dig deeper. He encouraged me to "seek the kingdom first" and boy did I; at the end of my strength, I was powerless to change anything.

So my career was in the tanker and I was emotionally drained and very sad that I could not seem to help anyone I cared about. Even so I knew that somehow God would see me through the other side of the tunnel, though I had no idea how. In faith I continued to put one foot in front of the other. Around that time they were pioneering a place called the ROC (Remote Operation Center) outside the Fab. They were asking for volunteers for this new program so my OM graciously asked me if I would be willing to do it. As I felt my doubts rush in, I felt myself saying yes anyway. Really, what did I have to lose? I took a giant step of faith and jumped off the abyss. God caught me.

Nobody was more stunned than I when next review time I was presented with a promotion and a bigger raise than I have ever gotten before or since!
God took what looked extremely hopeless to me and brought me out the other side. Look at what Psalm 40:1,2 says:

1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.

He literally picked me up and set me into a new place called the ROC, how cool is that? I have now been there for 5 years and it doesn't seem possible. I think about all those years ago when I put in for that transfer never imagining what I would have to go through and never knowing what I would be rewarded with at the end. But God knew all along.......

Wherever I am, there He is.

This week I entered another dimension and went back into the "clean room" where I worked 5 years ago. Within about 10 minutes it all came back like I never left. To those in the Semi-conductor industry, wearing gortex suits, (we call them bunny suits) klevlar gloves, and a hood that completely covers the face, not to mention constant “white noise” are all considered normal. Up until 5 years ago it was part of my daily routine. I found myself there again this week while they made repairs to the air conditioning ducts in our office. This week I found that sometimes it is good to go back. It reminded me of all that God had brought me through, and it was humbling.

Part of this story is about how God took a small town girl without a college degree and supplied her with a wonderful job and career that has lasted almost 14 years now. It is my hope that others will be encouraged by my story, and assured that when all seems hopeless to us, God does His best work yet.

I had been working at Intel (computer chip producing giant) for about 9 years when this part of the story starts. I had recently been selected (to my dismay) to go work next door to one of the toughest areas, due to "business need." I would be dealing with "defects" on computer chips all day long. I was petrified. But I had no choice. Desperate prayer became a part of every waking moment. One of the first people I see there is one of the kindest men I have ever met and he is also a Pastor. I said "thank you, God." Small miracle number one. Each day before work, I prayed in the bathroom stall for courage to make it through; to learn all that I had to learn. God was faithful. He supplied me with good trainers, good people; I got reaccquainted with two Christian women and we went to lunch and prayed, and together helped each other out.

Then came a day I had an opportunity to go back next door where I started out. I was just beginning to feel comfortable where I was, but something urged me to fill out a REQ transfer. With my hands hovering at the keyboard seemingly with a mind of their own, I remember thinking that I could always change my mind and stay if they approved it. I hit "send" and my fate was sealed, though I didn't know it at the time. A few weeks later, my Manager called me into a meeting and told me my transfer was complete. He then told me the area I would be going into and it had nothing to do with what I had selected on my transfer form. Once again due to "business need." I informed him I had changed my mind. He said, "This is irreversible." I said, "Can I contact the hiring manager and tell them myself?" He said, "It's too late, I already sent the paperwork, it's a done deal." Steel bars clanged shut in my mind and from then on I felt the chill of fear and dread surrounding me. What had I just done? My release date was set and there was no going back........Miracle story continues tomorrow........ Continuing with gratitude toward my 1000 blessings, join with others at:

112) for His provision at every stage of my life 113) my 3 month premature birth and that my Mom happened to be close to Stanford Hospital. In 1959 it was a miracle that I survived. I am glad my Mom was visiting her sister that weekend. 114) for always providing me with His Hands and Feet in the shape of good people who have been there for me 115) experiences and challenges that have stretched my faith 116) God's discipline to help me grow and keep me on the right path 117) people who lovingly bring my faults to my attention and keep me humble 118) people around me who really listen to what I have to say 119) laughter, always laughter! 120) answered prayer, always at the right time.

Still small voice

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:

And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 1 Kings 19:11,12

Tomorrow, a personal story of God's provision in my life......

We all pray....

We all pray whether we think of it as praying or not. The odd silence we fall into when something very beautiful is happening, or something very good or very bad. The ah-h-h-h! that sometimes floats up out of us as out of a Fourth of July crowd when the skyrocket bursts over the water. The stammer of pain at somebody else’s pain. The stammer of joy at somebody else’s joy. Whatever words or sounds we use for sighing with over our own lives. These are all prayers in their way. These are all spoken not just to ourselves but to something even more familiar than ourselves and even more strange than the world....Frederick Buechner

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).

The eyes have it....

"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! Matthew 6:22,23

The eyes are truly the "windows" to the soul. They can mirror all kinds of things and just one look from someone can send all kinds of signals without a word ever spoken. They can welcome or rebuff, set us aglow with peace and well-being, or send sparks flying into our soul....They can wound and wither us, but they can also warm us to the very depths of our soul with their reflection of kindness, love. God knows that the eyes reflect what is truly on the inside. Haughty eyes get top billing on the "seven things God hates" roster! Haughty eyes see themselves as "superior" to everyone else.
Proverbs 6:16-19
16 There are six things the Lord hates—
no, seven things he detests:
17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that kill the innocent,
18 a heart that plots evil,
feet that race to do wrong,
19 a false witness who pours out lies,
a person who sows discord in a family.

I am trying to be a kinder person. Too often my eyes reflect many things other than kindness. Impatience, irritation, admonishment, anxiety. Too often my eyes have been rejecting and not welcoming; eyes of judgement meant to send someone to a cold lonely place. But Lord, help my eyes more and more be a reflection of You. Help my eyes be a safe place to rest upon for someone else. Not haughty eyes, but eyes like those of a child, pure and guileless, open and innocent as Heaven.

Monday blessings....

I missed my morning prayer and walk today,
but now my day is swiftly moving by and I feel a bit paralyzed.
Off kilter....Can I start again?
My morning walk will be now be a noon walk and the window of silent morning prayer has passed by, and I now hear cars, people moving about, signs of life.
It feels different....Will You still be there to meet me?

Sometimes life is like that too.
Our life has gone down a certain path and now we feel that it is too late.
To move, to make a change....to make up for time lost.
To make amends.

But it never is.
While we have breath, we have hope, we have life.
We have second chances.

So, though the morning is long gone, and the afternoon shadows
lengthen.....Go.
Meet the day, meet life again, start over.
Take a walk.
And though you think the hour my feel too late for you,
it is never too late for God.
It is always His perfect timing.

Go here for a bit of Autumn blessing.....

98) Fresh starts 99) cool breezes 100) music that matches your mood 101) always another good book 102) birds that always sing again 103) challenges that make me put my trust in God 104) people that forgive me 105) real love that comes from above 106) fresh sheets 107) heaters that still work 108) parents that can laugh 109) people that keep us in line 110) more memories to make

Continuing with gratitude toward my 1000 blessings, join with others at:

The One True Light...

"The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great light, and those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, upon them a light dawned." Matthew 4:16


The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:5

We have only to look around to see that our culture is obsessed with darkness.....The spectacular success that catapulted an unknown homemaker to bestselling author of the current "Twilight" series proves this. But this is not new. Darkness has been around since the beginning. It changes shape with the times, partially masquerading itself for a new generation, but it is still the same. Satan has no new tricks. While I certainly understand the draw and popularity of these books, we must be keenly aware of the underlying danger that resides beneath the surface. Satan always wants to look attractive and harmless. "And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light." 2 Cor. 11:14 Obsession with darkness leads away from the True Light, the One who holds the sun, moon and stars in His hands. And the one to "whom every knee will bow" one day, whether they believe Him now or not.

Even the original queen of Vampire books, Anne Rice has gone back to her Christian roots and writing books about Jesus now.....

Get to know the True Source today......Here