What in this life did God give us that is better than fellowship. When friends come together and laugh God must burst with pride. Love comes in many different guises, but the purest has to be friends that are not related by blood. We are not obligated to each other by history or family. We simply have formed a bond that goes beyond obligation. We really cherish each other.
Thank you Lord for friends to grow grow old with and friends with which to laugh.
Thank you for friends that do not see the dust.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
PEACE
You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. Isaiah 26:3
Golf day ! Didn't play too badly, not as good as Tuesday but not bad. Played with a lovely lady who lives here in the winter. She was so calm and serene the whole round. It was like watching a smooth, slow river run. No ripples, smooth stroke, easy stride. Watching her reminded me to keep my peace. When I got ready to come apart, or get a little frenzied, I would take a deep breath, look around God's beautiful piece of creation and say a little praise prayer. I knew God had me where I was supposed to be...outside, getting exercise in great company. Laughing, breathing, listening to the birds, seeing the beautiful mountains. Right where I was supposed to be. God was right in the middle of it all. It is so nice when we finally figure out God is not just in church. God is at the grocery story, doctor's office, filling station, school, and yes on the golf course.
Golf day ! Didn't play too badly, not as good as Tuesday but not bad. Played with a lovely lady who lives here in the winter. She was so calm and serene the whole round. It was like watching a smooth, slow river run. No ripples, smooth stroke, easy stride. Watching her reminded me to keep my peace. When I got ready to come apart, or get a little frenzied, I would take a deep breath, look around God's beautiful piece of creation and say a little praise prayer. I knew God had me where I was supposed to be...outside, getting exercise in great company. Laughing, breathing, listening to the birds, seeing the beautiful mountains. Right where I was supposed to be. God was right in the middle of it all. It is so nice when we finally figure out God is not just in church. God is at the grocery story, doctor's office, filling station, school, and yes on the golf course.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
A Heart AT Peace
A heart at peace gives life to the body,
but envy rots the soul.
Proverbs 14:30
OK, so no golf to day. But a related task. I am cleaning house for the golf group and husbands. They are coming for dinner Friday night. I thought about not dusting in a couple of spots and telling people if they pick up a picture they need to put in down in the exact spot so the dust line wouldn't show, however, that sounded a bit lame. So I dusted those spots and felt better.
Remember what we discussed yesterday? About letting go some attitudes or bad feelings? Did you do it? Well... housecleaning is a good time to work on that. I always try to remember to pray and thank God for my blessings while I work. Thank you Lord that I have this home, a safe place to live and entertain. I worked on a bad attitude as I cleaned. Lord, so and so has a maid service. Opps, didn't sound too grateful, sounded like a little envy to me. So I figured it was a good time to dig a little deeper and see if I had a little problem brewing. I peeled off a layer or two of some envy that I didn't realize was starting to run around in my mind. Want my soul to be calm and beautiful...not rotting!
If you don't know how to start praying or talking to your Maker, I have a good place to start.
Just say...Thank You for all You have given me, thank You for all You have taken away, and thank You for all You have left me with. A good friend of mine told me that. It sure is good when you cannot think of anywhere to start. I sure have a lot I am left with to be thankful for. Starting with the good friends that are coming over Friday night.
but envy rots the soul.
Proverbs 14:30
OK, so no golf to day. But a related task. I am cleaning house for the golf group and husbands. They are coming for dinner Friday night. I thought about not dusting in a couple of spots and telling people if they pick up a picture they need to put in down in the exact spot so the dust line wouldn't show, however, that sounded a bit lame. So I dusted those spots and felt better.
Remember what we discussed yesterday? About letting go some attitudes or bad feelings? Did you do it? Well... housecleaning is a good time to work on that. I always try to remember to pray and thank God for my blessings while I work. Thank you Lord that I have this home, a safe place to live and entertain. I worked on a bad attitude as I cleaned. Lord, so and so has a maid service. Opps, didn't sound too grateful, sounded like a little envy to me. So I figured it was a good time to dig a little deeper and see if I had a little problem brewing. I peeled off a layer or two of some envy that I didn't realize was starting to run around in my mind. Want my soul to be calm and beautiful...not rotting!
If you don't know how to start praying or talking to your Maker, I have a good place to start.
Just say...Thank You for all You have given me, thank You for all You have taken away, and thank You for all You have left me with. A good friend of mine told me that. It sure is good when you cannot think of anywhere to start. I sure have a lot I am left with to be thankful for. Starting with the good friends that are coming over Friday night.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Too Many Layers
The weather here can get pretty chilly, a few days down right cold. So when you get dressed to tee off at 8:30AM you layer yourself up. Some days "up" is four pieces of clothing on top and two below. Then as the day progresses and it warms up the layers start coming off. It is a real eye opener to realize how much better you can play without all those clothes. My swing is a lot less restricted in a short sleeved shirt than it was on the first tee with a shirt, two sweaters and a jacket.
Kinda like life, don't you think? The more layers of the outside world I peel off the less restricted I am in my walk to get closer to my Maker. Attachments are a lot like two sweaters and a jacket. So look around and see if there aren't some attitudes, grudges, some little worries that can be shed. We don't have to start with anything big and heavy...just start. Once we start peeling off some of those attitudes we don't need the easier it is to clear our minds and start focusing on hearing that small still voice in our ear. Find a quiet spot, get comfortable, look into your thoughts and find that first little worry, or maybe somebody did some little act to tick you off a bit. Lay them aside...they aren't that important...will you even remember them in a year. Then say a thank you prayer, take a breath, feel a little lighter, a little less restricted. Maybe one more little worry before you get up...
Kinda like life, don't you think? The more layers of the outside world I peel off the less restricted I am in my walk to get closer to my Maker. Attachments are a lot like two sweaters and a jacket. So look around and see if there aren't some attitudes, grudges, some little worries that can be shed. We don't have to start with anything big and heavy...just start. Once we start peeling off some of those attitudes we don't need the easier it is to clear our minds and start focusing on hearing that small still voice in our ear. Find a quiet spot, get comfortable, look into your thoughts and find that first little worry, or maybe somebody did some little act to tick you off a bit. Lay them aside...they aren't that important...will you even remember them in a year. Then say a thank you prayer, take a breath, feel a little lighter, a little less restricted. Maybe one more little worry before you get up...
Monday, February 25, 2008
In his hand is the depths of the earth, the heights of the mountains, the sea and the dry land-all that God has made. Psalm 95:4-5
I wish once in this lifetime everyone could see a sunrise over the mountains in New Mexico. This morning it was incredible. The clouds and clear air made it all pink and lavender, all I could do was stand there and tell the Maker how breathtaking it was.
The golf course where I do my damage several times a week, has all the elements of the above Psalm except the sea. However, the sea was here ages ago, so I guess that was covered at one time. On one hole we tee off from a hilltop down into a valley, then attempt to hit our second shot between two small man made lakes. A difficult narrow, little passage. You really have to keep your focus here, your eye on the target, head down and follow through. If this doesn't sound like a life lesson, I don't know what does.
When we come to those narrow paths in life how much wider they become when we keep our heart focused on God's Will. Our target. See the target, get your grip, and follow through. Don't look at the water on either side, concentrate on that flag stick. Amazing how the ball just flys toward the hole.
How does this get easier....we'll talk about practice another time. Right now, today, concentrate on the target.
I wish once in this lifetime everyone could see a sunrise over the mountains in New Mexico. This morning it was incredible. The clouds and clear air made it all pink and lavender, all I could do was stand there and tell the Maker how breathtaking it was.
The golf course where I do my damage several times a week, has all the elements of the above Psalm except the sea. However, the sea was here ages ago, so I guess that was covered at one time. On one hole we tee off from a hilltop down into a valley, then attempt to hit our second shot between two small man made lakes. A difficult narrow, little passage. You really have to keep your focus here, your eye on the target, head down and follow through. If this doesn't sound like a life lesson, I don't know what does.
When we come to those narrow paths in life how much wider they become when we keep our heart focused on God's Will. Our target. See the target, get your grip, and follow through. Don't look at the water on either side, concentrate on that flag stick. Amazing how the ball just flys toward the hole.
How does this get easier....we'll talk about practice another time. Right now, today, concentrate on the target.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Addressing the Ball
Living in a place where golf can be played on almost any day leads to using the game as a metaphor for life.
Two of my passions in life are prayer and golf. Deep still prayer is where I love to live. It gives my life peace and calm, love and patience, hope and faith. Then there is golf. It does not always give my live these same qualities. Not always. Yet as a match unfolds it can be a great training ground for all of those Graces. So...I am having faith that this blog will help me develop these gifts by writing about golf and my experiences on the links.
I pray nothing on this site comes across as flippant, just humorous and human. I will poke fun at myself and the game but not at the underlying profound belief that my Maker's Spirit is present with me on every hole and with every shot.
This blog will be my observation of what is going around me while I am learning to bring the Presence of the Spirit of God to the fore front of my life. I believe we are given an opportunity to live in a Valley of Vision, a world to observe and experience. I have chosen to live my experience by following the way of Jesus Christ. I am a learner and a seeker.
Come join me on the Course, please.
Two of my passions in life are prayer and golf. Deep still prayer is where I love to live. It gives my life peace and calm, love and patience, hope and faith. Then there is golf. It does not always give my live these same qualities. Not always. Yet as a match unfolds it can be a great training ground for all of those Graces. So...I am having faith that this blog will help me develop these gifts by writing about golf and my experiences on the links.
I pray nothing on this site comes across as flippant, just humorous and human. I will poke fun at myself and the game but not at the underlying profound belief that my Maker's Spirit is present with me on every hole and with every shot.
This blog will be my observation of what is going around me while I am learning to bring the Presence of the Spirit of God to the fore front of my life. I believe we are given an opportunity to live in a Valley of Vision, a world to observe and experience. I have chosen to live my experience by following the way of Jesus Christ. I am a learner and a seeker.
Come join me on the Course, please.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
