Blessing and Praise

Blessed be the name of the Lord
from this time forth and forever.

From the rising of the sun
to the going down of it
and from east to west,
the name of the Lord is to be praised!

The Lord is high above all nations,
and His glory above the heavens!

Psalm 113:2-4   

Beachcombers

We’re at the beach again.  The Oregon Coast has called us back.  Last weekend I shared that we were there for the memorial service of our dear friend – and I shared that I was leading worship at the church where her hubby is the minister.  He’s taking time away and we are there to help a bit.  We will continue to be there often – because God has touched our hearts with the need to be there!  In the process, God is giving us a precious gift.  The gift of time away.  Together.  At the beach! Just being beachcombers. For awhile.    Enjoying the tide pools. . .     Walking in the sand. . .     And finding a few surprises along the way.     Our little cabin-on-wheels is parked in a quiet spot beside the church where we can smell the salt-sea air and, if we’re very quiet, we might even hear the sound of the waves at night.  I won’t have internet access there – I’ll just be relaxing and waiting to tell you all about our weekend away.Look who’s going with us!  He’s very excited.  He loves the beach and he can’t wait to go back again!

Friday Finds and Treasures

It’s time to go back to something I started quite awhile ago when I first began to blog.  My plan is to share something I  have found while out and about or a treasure, new or old, each Friday.  If there is a story that goes with the item, I’ll share that with you, too.

This week I want to share the décor on one wall of my dining room.  My dining room is a ‘strange’ little room – not very big with openings on each side – but I really love it. There is only one wall!  On that wall I have a piece of framed artwork that is very dear to my heart.  There’s a story behind it.  Quite a few years ago my little town had a wonderful antique/collective/craft mall that was a place I loved to visit.  One day when I walked by the front window my heart was captured by a large, framed picture that I wanted to buy.  I knew exactly where I would put it – it belonged on my dining room wall.  And it was by one of my favorite artists, Sandy Lynam Clough.  I often stood at the window to study every detail of the painting and I wished – oh, how I wished – I could buy it and take it home for that one spot that seemed to need it.  The price was more than I could pay so I looked and wished and walked on.  Often.  Then one day the picture was gone.  Not in the window.  I hoped it went to someone who would treasure it as much as I.  A few weeks later, on Christmas morning, there was no package under the tree for me from my sweetheart.  That seemed strange and I thought maybe he had forgotten to shop.  All of the gifts had been opened and I have to tell you my heart felt so sad.  Had he really forgotten me?  My children and grandchildren didn’t know how terribly disappointed I was but I decided to make the best of it and not ask questions.  All of a sudden my sweetheart jumped up from his chair and said, ‘There is one more!’  ‘Where is it?’, I asked.  Out the door he went – when he came in again he had the biggest present I think I’ve ever had.  His eyes danced with joy as he placed it on the floor in front of me.  One rip of the paper and I knew!  And the tears began to pour down my face.  HE was the one who bought the picture.  I was the one who would hang it on my wall and treasure it every time I looked at it!  Of course I had to tell him he shouldn’t have spent so much.  Then, I loved the story he told.  He went into the shop and asked the owner what her best price was on that picture in the window.  When she told him, he pointed out that part of the picture had slipped out of the mat and it wasn’t quite straight.  She looked at it and agreed – and gave him a nice discount.  Then she told him exactly how to fix it so it would be good as new.  And there it was!  Now it was mine!

This beautiful painting has hung on my dining room wall ever since but I’ve always thought it needed something more.  Should I hang something above it?  Plates, perhaps?  A little shelf?  Nothing seemed to be right – until a couple of weeks ago.  At the first yard sale of the day I found it.  And I knew this was what I needed!  Three framed pieces of artwork – by the same artist.  It didn’t take long to put them on my wall.

Every time I walk by or look from the kitchen or the living room I smile.  It’s just right! And I love it even more than before.

The Way Of Life

You will show me the way of life,
granting me the joy of your presence
and the pleasures of living with you forever.
Psalm 16:11

I’m A Dreamer!

The service for my friend was a beautiful tribute to a life well lived – a life that honored God, loved her family and friends and made a difference wherever she went.  None of us will be the same because she was part of our lives.

Today we are going to relax and take time to slow the pace of life and enjoy time together.    Yesterday morning the wind was just right for sail-boarding and kites.  The sun is shining again today – who knows what we’ll see.We’ve lived at the Oregon Coast twice since we were married. It always seems to call me back and I have dreams of living here again. My sweetheart smiles and listens to my dreams. And lets me keep dreaming.  Yesterday we drove to a favorite viewpoint overlooking the ocean and when I stepped out of the car to take photos - right there, next to me - I saw this sign.     The house beside our favorite viewpoint is for sale!  Oh, the things I could do with a house at the beach.  I have ideas – lots of ideas!  My sweetheart listens – and smiles.  And says, ‘That house is in the tsunami zone!’  He’s the practical one.  A little while later he drives slowly up the hill as I ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ over more homes for sale.  Then, at the end of the road he sees one that would delight my heart – a little, old cottage with personality.  And windows that look out to the coastline below.  He quietly says, ‘One good thing about that house – it’s above the tsunami zone!’  Always thinking of things to consider, he smiles and knows I’m just dreaming.  For right now. 

Dream on, my heart, dream on.  A little dreaming never hurt anyone, did it?  Dreams really do come true.  Sometimes.

Reflections

Four weeks ago I stood here, watching the fog surround the headlands.  That day I knew that soon I would visit a dear friend of mine – probably for the last time here on earth.  This morning I stood in the same place again, watching the sunshine chase the fog away.  This time I am here to play for her memorial service.  I think I understand more about the moment she left the ‘fog’ of this life – when the sunshine of her Savior chased away the haze of this world and she stepped into the light of the Son.  Forever!

No more night. No more pain.
No more tears. Never crying again.
And praises to the great "I AM."
We will live in the light of the risen Lamb.

Song: ‘No More Night’
Words and music by Walt Harrah

Life Prayer

Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love,
so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.
Psalm 90:14