Come, Lord Jesus, Come

As the disciples watched, Jesus was taken up and disappeared in a cloud. They stood there, staring into the empty sky. Suddenly two men appeared—in white robes! They said, "You Galileans!—why do you just stand here looking up at an empty sky? This very Jesus who was taken up from among you to heaven will come as certainly—and mysteriously—as he left." Acts 1:9-11 (The Message)

Even so,

Come, Lord Jesus, come

Even so,

Take your bride away.

How my soul longs to be with you, my Lord,

Even so, even so,

Come, Lord Jesus, come.

Song: "Even So" by Terry MacAlmon

Off In Search Of Treasure

I'm away from home today. Off to the first ever event - A Celebration of Spring -at Flourishes in Washougal, Washington. To spend time with a dear friend - and shop - and meet Aleta, the new owner of Mt. Pleasant, (formerly Willow Nest, now Flourishes) - and love every single minute of it. Check out Aleta's blog for a sneek peek. There will be other stops on the way home. A nearby antique mall. Lunch at a special place. Perhaps a bit of time at the Pendleton Woolen Mill Outlet. And who knows where else! Don't worry - my camera is ready to go. Oh, joy. Oh, fun! Oh, sweet bliss!

A Cloudy Day

Yesterday morning I left home for a day of chaplain ministry in two care centers not far away. I usually don't have my camera with me on ministry days but yesterday, at the last minute, I took it along. I'm so glad I did. As I headed south toward the care center in a neighboring community I discovered the clouds. Big. Beautiful. Beyond belief. My schedule required that I keep driving but my heart just longed to take my camera and go wherever I might. Just my camera and me.Later in the morning I learned that a dear resident at the care center had unexpectedly passed away over the weekend. We were friends. Closer than any other resident I minister to. I was filled with sadness - not for her. For me. I will miss her. When I finished my time at the care center I needed a chance to step away for a while. I took time to just 'wander' with my camera and capture images of the clouds above. It was exactly what I needed. Camera therapy. Time. Alone. With my thoughts and tears. And the beauty of God's creation.

Today I will attend the funeral of another dear lady I have ministered to over the past two years. She, too, was a special friend. A family friend for many years. Her smile when I arrived always tugged at my heartstrings. She has been ill for a very long time. The last miles of her earthly journey have not been easy but she, too, is home at last. Where she so longed to be. Healthy. Whole. With her Savior. Today we will celebrate her life and recall how much a quiet little lady gave to each of us.

A song we often sing together in the care centers has real meaning to both of these dear friends. Now they both understand it better than ever.

Oh! they tell me of a home far beyond the skies -

And they tell me of a home far away.

Oh! they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise -

Oh! they tell me of an unclouded day.

Oh! they tell me of a home where my friends have gone

And they tell me of that land far away

Where the Tree of Life in eternal bloom

Sheds its' fragrance through the unclouded day.

Oh! they tell me of the King in His beauty there

And they tell me that mine eyes shall behold

Where He sits on a throne that is whiter than snow

In the city that is made of gold.

Oh! the land of cloudless skies -

Oh! the land of an uncloudy day;

Oh! they tell me of a home where no stormclouds rise -

Oh! they tell me of an unclouded day.

A Day To Celebrate

This is a day to celebrate! On this day - years ago - my life changed. Forever. This day. Twice. Today is the birthday of two precious people who came into my life. It has never been the same again. Two different days. Years apart. Birthdays of dear-to-my-heart people. People whose love I will cherish always.

On this day 34 years ago my first child - my son - was born. There is no way to tell the joy in my heart when he arrived. No way to say how much I love him. He was a wonderfully, precious little boy. Such fun. So full of important things to do and say. We have laughed and cried together through the years. Watching him grow into a man has been incredible. I look at him now and can't believe he was that tiny baby, that darling toddler, that handsome teenager. I can hardly believe that he is a dad to three of the most precious little boys ever. So like him. And now he understands the special thrill of having a son. There is no joy to compare.

Mr. J., I love you and I'm so proud of you. I'm proud to stand beside you and say that I am your mother. You are a strong man of God. He has great things ahead for you. You and your beautiful wife have blessed us with the privilege of loving your sweet boys. Happy birthday, dear son. You have changed my life forever. I wouldn't want it any other way.

Ten years ago - again on March 8th - another special person entered my life. And once again my life was changed. My first grandchild, Miss A., was born early on the morning of her uncle's birthday. Another day to celebrate and rejoice. Our dear daughter worked hard to bring her sweet girl into the world. And she looked so like her mother. There were tears and laughter and dancing and smiles. We were, oh, so proud. We still are. She has become an active young lady. Clever and smart. Loving and thoughtful. Being a grandma suddenly had new meaning. She and I were close from the start. We have a special bond and love to be together. We have plans that will take years to accomplish. Oh, for the time to do them all!

Miss A., I love you. You are growing to be a very lovely young lady. We have such special memories together. There have been silly moments and sad moments. We have snuggled and loved and tickled and giggled. I am so proud of the way you are growing up. I am happy to be your 'Mamack'. I'll always be there for you. No matter what. No matter where.

Mr. J. and Miss A.

(At his Ordination into ministry)

March 8th is dear to my heart. A special day. With special memories. Firsts. My first child. My first grandchild. Reason for joy. And a few happy tears.

Prayer And Thoughts On Life From A Five-Year-Old Boy

Our dear grandson, Mr. G., recently prayed at bedtime: “Dear Jesus, I was wondering if you would help my big brother's owies get all better? And I was also wondering if you would help my owies get better too 'cause I have lots of 'em? Thank you that the Bible lives in our heart and thank you that you live in our heart and thank you that we get to go to heaven. Amen.” Several weeks ago he shared his perspective on life with his daddy: “After you’re all done being little then you grow up and be a daddy, then when you’re done doing that you become a grandpa and get to have a mustache (my sweetheart has a mustache), after becoming a grandpa you get to be like Nana (my dear little mother) and then when you decide you’re all done, you just go to heaven – Right dad?” His dad replied, "That pretty much sums it up".

Profound thoughts on life. Out of the mouths of babes!

Why I Did Not Pursue A Career In Art

I admire the work of true artists. Some of the blog friends I have met through the last few months are so creative with their art. I, however, have not been blessed with such talent. It was obvious early in my life that I should not pursue a career in art. I would never make a living at it - no one would buy what I offered for sale. But I did try to share my view of life and the world around me. I did try to portray what my young mind saw. Here are a few of my not-award-winning pieces. A portrait of my mother obviously showed how I viewed her. While my perspective was off by a long-shot my view of her was right! A mother with a big smile. Notice that she is just head - with a BIG smile - and legs. And her purse!

It didn't get better as time passed. The following year - in First Grade - I missed a few important details. Like the shape of the spots on cows. By the time I was in Second Grade no hidden talent suddenly surfaced. One of the favorites that my dear mother saved was my rendition of 'The Shepherds'. She always thought the shepherd on the left looked like George Washington. I have to agree.Interestingly enough, there are talented artists in my family. My grandmother and my aunt were very good. My cousin offers his work for sale in galleries near his home. They were gifted with the enviable ability to translate what they saw - with their eyes or their imaginations - into works of grace and beauty. I did inherit artistic, creative talents. Mine are in music. I'm very happy with that.

Songs In The Night

Where is God my maker,

Who giveth songs in the night?

Job 35:10

It is easy to sing when we can read the notes by daylight; but he is skillful who sings when there is not a ray of light to read by, who sings from his heart. No man can make a song in the night of himself; he may attempt it, but he will find that a song in the night must be divinely inspired. Let all things go well, I can weave songs, fashioning them wherever I go out of the flowers that grow on my path; but put me in a desert, where no green thing grows, and wherewith shall I frame a hymn of praise to God?

No, it is not in man's power to sing when all is adverse. . . Since our Maker gives songs in the night, let us wait on him for the music. . . Let us not remain songless because affliction is upon us, but tune our lips to the melody of thanksgiving. Charles H. Spurgeon