just a minute before I go shopping

Larry is golfing; Luke is at Miss Dorothy's; and I am patiently waiting for my BFF to come pick me up for a morning of shopping. It's peaceful in the house: the cats (Tiger and Kali) are snoozing on the rug in the living room, and our horse of a border collie is lounging on a chair (outside, of course).
Today I am praying that I will keep my eyes focused on Jesus, and that I will allow the world to become strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. You just have to love old hymns.....
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus.....look full in His wonderful face....and the things of earth will grow strangely dim....in the light of His glory and grace."

I am a sucker for an old Baptist Hymnal. The kind we used in the small country church my family attended growing up. I used to think that was so outdated, given that we have such beautiful contemporary praise and worship these days. But I have begun to cherish those songs as I have gotten older: part of my heritage in the Lord.

Okay - I guess I'm running out of reflection time. May God be the God of my purse on this shopping trip!!

Almost a New Year....

As 2008 draws to an end, I (like so many others) start to reflect on what the year has been....and what changes I want to see in the coming year. This year has been an emotional roller-coaster for me; I have allowed myself to drift away from my relationship with God - and little by little, I have made my way down into a pit. At this point, I'm aggravated at myself, and a bit miffed that knowing what I know, and having experienced the joys of fellowship with God - it was so easy for me to take the bait. And still, through it all.....through my Israelitic (is that a word) mind, through my stiff-necked rebellion and through my determination to hang on to my flesh -- God is still in love with me. How absolutely, absurdly, phenomenal is that? To love this girl, made out of dirt and stubbornly obsessed with herself, to the lengths of death on a cross?
My hope for 2009 is that I would fall head-over-heels for Jesus Christ; that I would know Him more deeply and intimately; that this uphill/downhill relationship I have with Him would be forever changed.....that it would grow deep roots in love.
May God have His way in this girl's life this year....and the year after that....and the year after that.......
Bless the Lord oh my soul! And all that is within me - - bless His holy Name!!