I realize this is Daddy's Day weekend, but forgive me if I spend a little time talking about Mama's and Grandma's. This week I said goodbye to one of the "Mama's" in my life. Nanny was 90 years old and was the mother of my first husband. Its a bit strange I suppose to write about her, but even though her son and I parted ways, she and I remained friends.

Many times over the years Nanny was there for me, supporting the kids and me both emotionally and financially. She never reprimanded me nor scolded me for the divorce. Her love was constant and even though we did knock heads a few times over little things, we understood each other and we loved. When I remarried, she accepted my husband as a family member and loved him without question.

God's love has many faces, but I am convinced that His love in the heart of a mom or grandma has special qualities that make it deeper, fuller somehow. We have all read the old thing about our hearts walking around outside our bodies once we become a mom. Of course it is true, and it carries down to the grandchildren and the great-grands.

Years ago I had a pin that read, "Mother's are made in Heaven."  How true! God's  love in a mother's heart is a work of grace. When everything in the natural says walk away,  if it concerns your child or grandchild, you hang in there. You forgive. You start again. You look for the best. You make excuses for the wrongs. You do all possible to make life a little easier for your child; to maintain the relationship.

Nanny had every right to throw our relationship away, but she chose not to. Its a lesson worth learning. How many stories do we hear about estranged children, grandparents, parents who have gone through some sort of separation? We do have a free will, we have a choice. We can stay and work it out or  walk away and let unforgiveness slip in. 

Thank you Lord, for unconditional love. It comes from you but it takes many faces. Today I'm thinking of the face of a loving Nanny.  

Recycled Teenagers

I read an interesting phrase the other day that describes us pretty well at this point in our lives: Recycled Teenagers. Don't you love that? Think about it:  We stay up as late as we like; then we sleep in as late as we like; days roll into each other without too much to distinguish one from another; chocolate is in full supply and great demand. No one really tells us what to do, even though they try; hormones are in full swing -- only "out" instead of  "in"; we can sit for hours in front of a TV or computer screen, oblivious of what is happening around us.

So, where am I going with this? Hummm...not real sure - just rambling around while I sit on the porch and talk with a few of my grandsons. Its amazing how their brains work, ...uhhh... OK, forget everything I said in the first paragraph. O.M.G. I do NOT think like them. Can you imagine being inside one of those brains???

Uh-ohhh...Grandaddy just joined us and now its really getting interesting. What is it about men that no matter their age they can relate to each other? We are bouncing back and forth between 1950 and 201l;  discussing girls, cars, sports and God. Guess what? Its all basically the same. So, OK, 1950's would find loafers or sneakers instead of flip-flops, but other than that, not much difference.

I love these summertime talks on the back porch. I love hot weather .. and  air conditioning, swimming, dirty little feet and sweaty hair all matted to beautiful little heads, pizzas - pizzas -pizzas, midnight ice cream socials and loud Scrabble games with impossible words like mrpesto.. (Mr. Pesto);  obnoxious burps, hysterical laughter, pillow fights, and lazy days. Humm...perhaps I do think like them after all.

Sooooo.....the "parents" just arrived. Guess I should try to act normal around them, problem is, I'm not sure what that is at this point. They are all very serious and expect people to sit straight, talk with normal words that can be understood, stop at one bowl of ice cream...blah blah blah....boring.....

Ooops - gotta go - there is a Frisbee game going on with the styrofoam plates --

Lovin' the season!!!

Stormy Days

I took this photo a few years back during a road trip from WY to GA. The storm had chased us down the expressway for several miles so instead of relaxing with a nice swim after a long day of driving, we spent some time sitting in the hotel basement. Really, the cinder block, no furniture, basement. Interesting.

Stormy days and nights, whether caused by weather or by life situations, are unnerving. Lately, my husband  and I have seen both kinds of storms, and once again by the grace of God we have emerged unscathed.

My heart is saddened by many of the recent events: storms both weather related and life related. My most recent life storm caught me off guard and I must admit that during the intensity of the situation I was not thinking of praising God. Begging, pleading, yes. But praising - not so much. 

My first draft of this article stated that I had forgotten to praise Him during my stressful time, but the Lord reminded me differently. No, I did not raise my hands and break out in song, but I did walk the halls and thank Him for his goodness and His healing. Praise comes  naturally to the Believer; so natural in fact, we sometimes do not realize we are doing it. It is something He has worked into our hearts; part of our love relationship. We praise Him because deep in our spirit we realize He is worthy.

This morning's devotional was about just that:

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Praise isn't a churchy thing - it is a heart statment and we walk in it daily.

Much love to you all - one day we will reign together with Him. Won't that be awesome????

Awesomeness!!

I love teenagers; I enjoy their company, their enthusiasm and energy. I like their emotions too; the way their faces and eyes give them away even when they try to hide. I realize as a grandma, I have a little different perspective on teenagers. If you are a parent of teenagers, my only advice is to hold on, pray and ride the storm as your children gradually unfold before your eyes. Watching them mature into their own skin is frustrating, frightening, unnerving and wonderful. Absolutely wonderful!

Last night I attended a youth service here in N.C. I was not certain what to expect since we are, after all dealing with teens, but let me say: it was great! My husband and I stood in the back because we wanted to observe the worship and watch our grandson playing his bass guitar and singing on the stage. My goodness! Blond curls, blue eyes, skinny jeans and hand painted tennis shoes.

He was amazing. And he sang. I have been in many services with him where getting him to sing was a job - but he sang, he played, he worshipped. He was awesome.

In the back of the room was a table with several young people sitting and working. There in the middle was our next grandson busy on his laptop putting words on the overhead screen. Watching him bouncing in his seat, singing and typing all at the same time, I had flashbacks of his mom and uncle both taking their turns on the overhead. He was awesome!

At the end of the table was his younger brother bent intently over the soundboard, listening, adjusting, moving with the music. One more awesome!

Royce and I have 15 wonderful grandkids, each awesome in their own way. Each has his or her own place in God, their particular set of talents and interests,  last night I watched as these three took their place in the house of God and it was a good thing. God has once again proven himself faithful.

The promises He has given us, the words He has spoken, the prayers prayed, the tears shed, none of it is wasted. Every time we go before Him in prayer or to look upon His face, something is done in the spirituals. Something timeless and lasting. This world is of course temporary, but the things done in the spiritual - they are everlasting and they are life.

After a few moments they began to sing about loving His presence. Hands went up all over the congregation and young voices raised in love to Jesus. This grandma stood in the midst and raised hands and sang along .. "I love Your presence."  I was no longer a spectator. In His presence age doesn't matter. One last awesome!

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever. With my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 89:1

We are climbing Jacob's ladder, children of the King. Climbing a ladder is fun when you are too little to actually do it;  it is exciting when you are first allowed to climb; it becomes work when you reach the age that you must climb to access roof tops, and scary when you reach my age.

But, climb we do and climb we must. Whether it is to reach something high on a shelf or to reach something high in the spirituals. Climbing is all of the above: fun, exciting, work and scary. Of course Jacob saw the ladder into Heaven while resting comfortably on the ground, using a rock for a pillow. God spoke many promises to him during his dream; promises of blessings over him and his family.

If we read the account in Genesis 28, we understand that although Jacob was lounging when the Lord appeared in a dream; showing him the ladder and speaking promises over his life, we understand that Jacob was on a long and uncertain journey. After deceiving his brother, Jacob was fleeing to his mother's family in order to avoid Esau's plan to kill him. With no modern communication devices, he did not know what or who awaited him.

Climbing, whether physical or spiritual, is a part of life. One step at a time, rung upon rung, precept upon precept, we press onward up the steps of  Jacob's ladder. Sometimes gracefully, other times showing parts of ourselves that should be kept hidden; but always moving upward toward the prize of the high calling of Christ. That we might know him.

Had Jacob chosen to remain at home and hide behind his mother's skirts, he may never have seen the ladder or received the promises over his life. It took being pushed out of the nest and traveling out on his own to come into that place where the Lord appeared to him. Being shoved out of the nest is never a pleasant thing, but it appears to be a necessary event in many of our lives. That pushing comes in different ways and at different times. Many of us have been pushed out of several nests, but always the Lord is there, waiting, speaking, encouraging, helping and bringing us closer to Him.

Keep climbing, keep looking up, do not look back and do not look down lest you lose your balance and/or your courage. God is with us as we climb, He is waiting for us to ascend to that place in Him where we rest complete.

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.  Phil. 3: 13 & 14

Mountains and Rainbows

"When you're up on the mountain"....I love that song. It goes on to talk about being on the mountain and everything being so easy and faith runs high. But then, its down in the valley where that same faith is really put to the test. Most of us can relate to that principle. Mountain top experiences are wonderful but life seems to be more realistic in the valleys, closer somehow.

A walk through the valley is peaceful with the soft damp air, lush green ferns and vines. Even the moss and the ground is a bit softer and easier to walk on. Something about the valley makes me want to stop and ponder, relax and look inward. In the valley He restores my soul. Its that quiet, uninterrupted intimacy with Him that makes the valley so appealing to me.

Like most of you, I have had my walks through the valley - even  the valley of the shadow of death. The shadow lands are still and quiet; you can feel the very breath of Jesus on your soul. His nearness in those times is comforting and peaceful while strengthening at the same time.

Back in the year 2000, Royce and I were in the Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming. Mountains in the west are different from the ones here in the south. For one, there are very few people around, but other than that, the mountains themselves are different. There is not as much undergrowth and the roads tend to go more upward instead of around and around to get there.

That day I remember riding on the crest of the mountain for miles. We were literally on top of the mountain and yet we were in a meadow. Wildflowers were everywhere and the antelope really did play around. The air was thin and crisp and even though it was June, the coolness on our face was wonderful. At one point we stopped to take photos of the flowers and as we walked arm in arm it was so peaceful that words would have been an interruption. We stopped and he wrapped his arms around me and we looked at each other in the stillness. His kiss was still sweet on my lips as we started our drive back down the mountain.  

Halfway down, the sky clouded over and rain came in spots here and there as we drove. After a bit the clouds cleared and the sun came out again. Then, off to the side we noticed a beautiful rainbow. Since there was no one else around, we decided that rainbow was our special gift from God.

Little did we know that in only a few days, the photo of that rainbow would be posted on the wall in his hospital room in the burn unit. Yes, the mountain had been wonderful, but now we started our walk through the valley. Faithful as always, the Lord had given us a wonderful mountaintop experience with a little reminder to look at in the hospital. There was and is, and will always be: a rainbow.

He is faithful.

The Purple Chair

The Lord is with me wherever I go. Why then does it seem that He is more with me some places than others?  Did you ever notice that? Some places have a special closeness to Jesus. For me it is in my purple chair in the bedroom, in front of the bay window. I think the Holy Spirit is partial to that area too.

When I go to my chair I really do not have time to pray before He's there. Isn't that interesting? Perhaps it because we've met there so many times before, but it's like he's waiting for me. What an awesome thought: that Jesus is waiting for me. And, even more awesome, He enjoys being with me.

I remember when we were in the burn unit in Utah: I was sitting all alone in a crowded hospital cafeteria when He showed up to sit with me. That moment is forever etched in my being. The fact that He came was wonderful enough, but he came as my Friend! Not to preach or even to talk, but just to sit with me and be my Friend. The revelation of Jesus as my Friend was amazing on an entirely new level for me. Later, someone told me that He chooses his friends. I cannot even begin to put into words what that does for my heart. Over the years our friendship has grown and deepened, just like any earthly friendship.

He is still Savior, Deliverer, Mighty God, Holy One. But, think about it; if He is all those things but not your friend, he remains distant. Am I a name dropper? You betcha! When it comes to His name I'll let everyone know I have special treatment - I'm HIS!

Today its the purple chair, in 2000 it was the hospital cafeteria, or the cement bench outside the hospital. I'm thinking perhaps our place of visitation with Jesus is anywhere we get still and quiet and open to His presence. Of course He is always with us; He promised that. But it is different when He breaks through into our consciousness and we talk with Him face to face.

It can be noisy and busy all around us, but deep inside our spirit we open and there He is, waiting to help, comfort, correct, guide, encourage and listen -- whatever we need at the moment. He is indeed an awesome God!

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

This is my command: Love each other.

John 15:15 - 17