O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.

You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,

even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"

even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!

Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you.

If only you would slay the wicked, O God!
Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!

They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.

Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD,
and abhor those who rise up against you?

I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
--Psalm 139

Daddy...

"And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." --Ephesians 6:4

(daddy standing in front of the cabin before he started the rebuilding)

Two things I feared growing up...the LORD, and my dad. It wasn't so much that I was "afraid" of him, it was just the fear of disappointing him. He was a fun dad, my friends always loved him. He made them laugh. He worked hard all his life to give us the things that we needed, and even the things we didn't need. He and Mom always took us to church, I never saw him drink, He never used bad language. He rarely go angry. I'm sure he did get angry with us girls. But he was always kind about it. I never wanted to see the look of disappointment in his eyes. I'm sure it was there, but he never held on to it. For my senior Prom I had a bright idea to have a new hair cut. It was super short, I cried and cried. He told me it looked pretty. Later, (not too long ago) we were discussing it and he told me "the truth". He told me once when I was heartbroken, (over a boy no less), that "time heals all wounds". Indeed they do. He took us camping, and did fun stuff with us. I can imagine it was difficult at times living with four women. He never complained. He didn't hug us daily, but we knew that he loved us. He did just what our Father in Heaven wanted him to do, Train Up A Child In The Way He Should Go; And When He Is Old He Will Not Depart From It. - Proverbs 22:6.
He played in a blue grass band, "Southern Grass". The equipment vehicle was an old hurst. Golly, I hated that thing, but you know what, my sisters and I rode in the back of it anyway...can you imagine the looks we got???
I remember taking hiking trips and camping out. It's been at least 10 years since I've gone with him...the last one I remember, our hike to Gregory Bald
it was a long hike, but boy was it ever worth it. He sings in church with Mark and my b.i.l Jeff. It's heavenly music. I'm so proud of him. He loves to garden...has countless rows of potatoes, and they are the best. I can't imagine my life without him...though I know he won't be here forever...I'll always have the good memories and I can always say I'm proud of my raisin'...I love you daddy.

(that's me standing just in front of daddy with dark hair)

What Makes a Dad
God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it ... Dad
(author unknown)

We have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.
-2 Corinthians 4:7

My life in Christ has helped me to accept the nature of the clay jar that I am. I have weaknesses. I have strengths. For some people who know me, my strengths outweigh my weaknesses. For others, my weaknesses outweigh my good traits. But we all live somewhere between what we have been and what God is reshaping us to be.

This is an image of God's kingdom. We live in an "already-but-not-yet" time. God's salvation in Christ has already come, but it is not yet enjoyed by all people and all creation. Jesus gave us a glimpse of God's future glory, but its full realization remains future. We live between the already of what God has done and the not-yet of what God will do. The work God has begun in us is not complete.

Yet God's glory is seen clearly in our sinful, broken, imperfect humanity. "We have this treasure in clay jars." We can focus on the clay jar, or we can focus on the treasure. We can condemn each other for being a cracked, chipped, misshapen, leaky, brittle, traditional, or contemporary jar. But if we focus on the treasure, we have hope - hope for me, for you, for enemies as well as friends, for the world - because the treasure is God's extraordinary power at work in us.
(Mike Ripski-- Tennessee)

Dear God, fulfill your purposes in the world and in us. Amen.

I have posted on the primitive gathering blog...

I have a choice...

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. --Psalm 121:1

I have a choice.
Yesterdays message inbox from my kind friend in Texas...

Hi, Sherry,

One of my dear friends sends me once in awhile what she calls Thoughts from my Rocker. She is one of my heroes and I especially enjoyed this one. I immediately thought that it might speak to you also.....hope so.

Love and hugs,

Evalene

I can focus my mind on the day's headlines:
FUEL COSTS
PRESIDENTIAL RACE
UNEMPLOYMENT
GLOBAL WARMING
NATIONAL SECURITY
IMMIGRATION
WAR
FORECLOSURES
HEALTHCARE
SALMONELLA
They are hard to miss - they're in bold print in the paper and shouted by TV anchors.
They pop up on my computer screen first thing every morning.
But they stir up such anxious feelings that I choose to turn away from them after a brief update.

Instead I focus on my personal headlines:
- How many more Medicare quarters must I earn to be eligible when I reach 65?
- What should I wear to the outdoor wedding next month?
- I wonder how the kids at church camp are bearing up working in this heat.
- How will my daughter and her husband make mortgage payments on the fixer-upper
they just bought if he loses his job?
- What if Illinois cuts my teacher retirement pension?
- What do I say to my friend who is hurting?
- I need to schedule a dental appointment.
- Do I have time to run to WalMart before work?
It's obvious, of course, that my world view is so small.
The thoughts and concerns that rerun through my mind and my heart all day and
disturb my sleep at night are all about me and mine.
I choose to turn from the anxiety created by world news, yet at times I'm in danger of drowning
in the anxious thoughts I collect in my own little kiddie pool of a mind.

I've been reading the words of Isaiah, the Israeli news anchor back in 700 B.C.
In the middle of all his anxiety-producing pronouncements, there's this:
"You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You and hopes confidently in You. So trust in the Lord - commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him - forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting rock - the Rock of ages." Isaiah 26:3-4 Amplified

Stayed on - focused on - planted on - grounded on - firmly rooted in - standing on - remaining in - GOD.

Jesus said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
-Matthew 9:37-38

Creator God, help us to recognize you in those around us, and teach us to serve one another through your grace. Amen.

I'll be posting on The Primitive Gathering blog later today...

It is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and only him shall you serve...

And just as it was for Jesus, baptism (no matter how old we are) is the beginning of our ministries. The Prayer Book tells us what that ministry is. The mission of the church, the mission of the Body of Christ, is to "restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ." That is our ministry. It is a ministry we can fulfill only as a community, as the Body of Christ in this time and this place.

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
Matthew 3:13-16

I'm thinking back...last August as my Uncle John, (a retired minister), baptized Cody in the river...My heart is overjoyed...still at the significance of that day.

(please note that I am merely reflecting on what baptism is to me and my family...each of us has our own belief about this ministry...we are one with God)

Lord, help us to remember that no matter what happens, you are always ready to be our guide as we pray, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." Amen. (Janet George - England)

Praise him...

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
-Psalm 150:6

Each day of a recent camping trip, our family was awakened by a chorus of birds. The first few mornings, I complained about the racket and suppressed the urge to scream, "Be quiet!" But then my wife reminded me of Psalm 150. This passage commands us to praise the Lord with all of our being through music, dance, and voice. The concluding verse of the Book of Psalms is this command: "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord." Could it be that these early-rising birds, nature's musicians, are simply praising God? Perhaps their shrill voices are saying, "Good morning, Lord. Wake up, creation, and praise the Creator!" Can I say that I awake each morning praising and worshiping my creator? Do I start the day thanking God for my family, health, and daily necessities? I can only imagine what our world would be like if we all were to begin each day with praise, worship, and thanksgiving as we reflect on the goodness and love of God, our creator and savior.

Dear God, help us to start each new day with praise and worship. Amen.

Celebrating America...

The Lord says, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine."
-Isaiah 43:1

We had a cookout with family...I ate too much, and why do I do that? Then we were off to the City park bidding on a space to view the fireworks display while listening to "Diamond Rio" play in a distance. It was much fun, and we even had rain...much as we need it, I didn't complain, and the crowd didn't seem to mind either.

Father in Heaven, help me to be like fireworks, bursting with color and noise, spreading your light into the world, so that all who see me and hear me know that I am yours...

One Nation under GOD...

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

-Psalm 119:11-

~The first fold of our flag is a symbol of life.

~The second fold is a symbol of our belief in the eternal life.

~The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veteran departing our ranks who gave a portion of life for the defense of our country to attain a peace throughout the world.

~The fourth fold represents our weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in times of war for His divine guidance.

~The fifth fold is a tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, “Our country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong.”

~The sixth fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

~The seventh fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country and our flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.

~The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered in to the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and to honor mother, for whom it flies on mother’s day.

~The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood; for it has been through their faith, love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great have been molded.

~The tenth fold is a tribute to father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since they were first born.

~The eleventh fold, in the eyes of a Hebrew citizen, represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon, and glorifies, in their eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

~The twelfth fold, in the eyes of a Christian citizen, represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies God the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost.

When the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, “In God we Trust.”

(Click on the picture above for a video)

Lord, help us to know that you are always with us, guiding us when we are unsure of ourselves. Give us confidence to know that with your help, we can accomplish what you ask us to do. Amen.