Golf Tournament Tomorrow

I am playing in a golf tournament tomorrow with three other ladies. Now, you remember my golf has been pretty stinky lately, so, I was worrying this morning about what I will be able to add to the team tomorrow. Then I read all my devotional material, checked the blogs I try not to miss, and attended my Friday morning prayer group. On the way home I let all of that soak in and realized how silly any worry about tomorrow is.

First, I really need to practice all my advice about living in the present. I sure can hand that advice out right and left. Live and breath now! My day has been so blessed, why bring into it tomorrow.

Second, these ladies don't expect me to be a pro, they just want me to join them in a fun event. So I will go have fun. I will take with me to the first tee: laughter, smiles, joy, and understanding along with some skills, a set of clubs and a few golf balls.

You see it is time to walk my talk as the saying goes. If I bring all those good things to tomorrow, my Creator will see that they are used to the best advantage for the day.

I'll plant some seeds.

A Little More on Witnessing

Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Isaiah 46:9

The tournament is over, I was nothing but consistent, improved one shot the second day! But, I had a great time. I really enjoyed the three gals with whom I was paired, there was a lot of laughter.
A couple of thoughts about yesterday's post...witnessing is a perfect time to "remember the things I have done". Not only do you have a chance to lead another closer to God, you yourself have a chance to remember, as you relate your beliefs, all the things God has done for you. All the times God has shown you the way. So it is a two way path, side by side; tell/remember. What a beautiful path to walk.
Also, keep in mind your witness is added to all the other ones God has arranged for this person. It is not all up to you, you may be the first to share with the other or the last, so don't get discouraged. You are one of a great cloud of witnesses. That always gives me comfort and strength when I tell some one else the Great Story.
We don't have to shout or get in someones face...we just need to listen for the right question, remember what God has done for us, answer the question, and then thank God for the opportunity and all the others in the cloud with you.

Trouble Witnessing? Just Listen

A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies. Proverbs 12:17

I am in the second day of a two day tounament. Didn't do too good yesterday. No, that is not the truth, I did very well on 15 holes and very poorly on three. On most of the good holes I couldn't have done better, but, boy oh boy, on those stinky ones I could half my scores and still improve! Bad.
To me these two days of golf are a great chance to witness. Now, four or five years ago I could not have said that. I was afraid to witness, I was embarrassed. Basically I didn't know how to do it. I was afraid I would say the wrong thing or give the wrong information. But I think I have now found the key, at least for me. Listening and telling the truth.
First, I usually don't initiate the subject. I listen for The Question. When you spend time with folks, have conversation say on the golf course, in waiting rooms, at parties there are usually many chances to listen. Really focus on what the other is saying. Most often they will ask you what you would do about something or other. How you would respond to a friend causing a problem, what would you do about a child that is going astray. People really like to talk about their hurts and problems. Listen to them, first, this is a chance to show them someone cares. Second, it is a chance to speak of love and forgiveness.
As far as giving the correct information, all you can do is give honest testimony about how love and forgiveness have worked in your life. The Holy Spirit will take what you say and make it useful to the other.
Just listen to what others are saying and asking. Then honestly respond to them with God's love. That is a witness.

Reverence Of The Lord

He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure. Isaiah 33:6



Sorry I have not been here. It has been a busy week. No golf as my ankle sprain is still bothering me. As I played through it in last week's tournament, I thought I had better treat it better this week. So ice is the name of the game. However, I have still had "places to go and people to see"! Today I help register the men playing in a tournament at our course. They donated a putter to our raffle, so this is gratitude day. Thanks fellows.

Gratitude day. Wouldn't it be nice if we treated every day as a "gratitude day"? If we payed special attention to being thankful for every little thing others do for us? Really meant our "Thank yous"?

I have spent much time this week thinking about how our Creator is the sure foundation of my life and how to share that with non-believers. How to recognize the chances God puts in front of me to witness. To explain that "fear of the Lord" means reverence not a boo/scare.

The closer we get to God, the easier it is to understand and soak in the wisdom, knowledge and love of our Maker. I want others to realize the joy of learning to sit still and just make their life open to the wonder of the Maker that made them.

May you take that time today; be filled with the wonder and love.

Retreats Change Lives

"Before the Lord God made man upon the earth He first prepared for him a world of useful and pleasant things for his sustenance and delight. In the Genesis account of the creation these are simply "things". They were made for man's use, but they were meant always to be external to the man and subservient to him. In the deep heart of man was a shrine where none but God was worthy to come. Within him was God; without, a thousand gifts which God had showered upon him." From The Pursuit Of God by A.W. Tozer

As you will recall, I asked you last Thursday to pray for my retreat weekend. Well, THANK YOU. Words can never describe what an incredible weekend I had. I have never been covered with such Christ like love in my entire life. If anyone ever approaches you concerning sponsoring you for a Walk to Emmaus...do not take a breath before you say yes. On second thought, don't say yes SHOUT YES PLEASE!! Know that that person loves you so much.
I came home with a new book. I have heard A.W. Tozer quoted many times, but I have never read anything by him. So when I saw this book I grabbed it up. It is wonderful. The part I used above really struck me in a deep place. Not only was I showered with "a thousand" of God's gifts this weekend, I was able to clear out my altar space inside my heart.
If you are looking for a meaningful book to add to your study time, I am highly recommending this one.
God bless you and thank you for those prayers.

Still Trying

Still Loving the Neighbor !!

You know when you sincerely start to work on this it is really hard, and I hate to admit that. It hurts to admit you are having trouble with a direction from Christ that sounds so Christian-like. So basic. I always try to start these soul searching, walk the path improvements close to home. Family, then start practicing the "walk your talk" with your closest friends, then spread out to notice the people around you as you do your daily errands, work your job, commute. Then take it to the people outside your "beltway".
I am about politic-ed out. Two more nights of the second convention, plus all the hype and too many talking-head discussions. This is where loving your neighbor really gets hard. When will we learn we have one nation to love and take care of, protect and serve? Not divide and win, pull down and stomp on. How do I love (either side) people that look for the most damaging information they can find, just to use it to take someone else down. Where is forgiveness, patience, just plain old civility?
I know it starts with me. I need to overlook, forgive, realize these are egos vastly out of whack. Crippled egos that are not looking for guidance from the Holy Spirit. I need to look at these people as children of God, God's creations that God loves. Try to love them with Christlike love. I am really trying, but this is difficult. Only prayer and constant reminder of God's love for all will keep me trying to see past the horrible things that are being done in the cause of winning an election.

Prayer Friday

Each one should test his own actions. Galatians 6:4

Loving Creator, Living Christ
Thank you for the many blessings and graces received. Thank you for the breath you supply me, for vision and love.
Lord, as I walk this week please guide me to look at every thought I think, word I speak, and action I take. Let me be aware of my thoughts so that I can remove the negative hurtful ones and replace them with seeds of your love. Let only words of love and sweetness come out of my mouth. Guide my every action to do no harm.
Bless the children of God that read these pages. May we be aware we live in your love and light.
All God's children say, AMEN

When the Tree Blooms, Then What?

Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. Isaiah 35:1-2

OK, so it's not a picture of a crocus. It does, however, show how the desert and parched land can be glad when rain comes!

It's not an almond tree either. This morning I was reminded in my reading of St. Francis confronting the almond tree.

When we burst out of our wilderness and blossom, we rejoice and feel great joy. When the Holy Spirit leads me deep into a truth, I feel so good and warm and lovely. But how do I show my flower, my blossom? I spent some time this morning in my prayer chair with this question.

My blossom will turn into fruit, unless I only bloom superficially.

I've studied the fruits of the spirit before...Galatians 5:22-23...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Today, though, I touched them in another place. I need to see the blossoms on other brothers and sisters. I need to look at the blooms on others so I can see them on me. We bloom together; almond trees, crocuses, roses, cow cacti. Me, you, us. I am going to look all day for the goodness blooming on everyone God puts in my path. Then they will see it burst forth on me.

Home Course

Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Proverbs 4:25

Hey friends, I'm back!! Safely drove around 7,620 miles. We saw so much of this beautiful country and had contact with so many beautiful souls. I know we are supposed to be in hard times, however, almost every gas station and motel were busy. Restaurants had diners, store parking lots were full and golf courses had players. Amazing how I did this with my eyes directly straight ahead, on the road all the time. Well, maybe I peeked over now and then.
We saw some really interesting golf courses as we flew by, didn't have time to stop at any. Courses where the grass was so green because of all this years rain in parts of the country, others that were brown and dry as a bone. Hilly ones, flat ones, some with lots of trees, some with none. All a home course to someone. I'll be so glad to play my home course next week for the first time in about four weeks.
Yes, we are to keep our eyes looking straight ahead, focused on the Jesus way to the Kingdom, but that path goes through an amazingly beautiful place. God's created world and its people are diverse and beautiful, don't miss that on your walk. Look straight and directly at all the good and beauty around you. Enjoy it and praise the Creator that you are walking through it. Enjoy your home course.

Kepp Us Safe

Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge. Paslm 16:1

Headed north in a few hours to play in a golf tournament tomorrow. Happy Father's Day to all you Dads. Dad's remember in your weakness is your strength. When your heart melts over the laughter of your child, your love wells up and bursts through. Use that strength, the strong flowing of love to guide those children. Children, thank your father for all the hours of hard work he has put into raising and caring for you.
For those of us whose fathers have passed on, may their souls be in the refuge of our God.
My last conversation with my Dad was about golf. Yep, believe it or not it was. He was at home and I called to tell him of some feat I had accomplished on the course. He thought it was so funny he called me back in about an hour to make me tell him again. One time he took me out on our home course to a grove of trees on the fourth fairway. He taught me a shot to get out of those trees. He said if I was always going to hit into trees I might as well know how to get out from under them. I still get under trees and I think of him every time I hit a low shot out!

Seek The Kingdom

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

OK, so how do you seek the kingdom at the golf course? How do you see the kingdom at the golf course? Can you find the kingdom at the golf course? Is the kingdom at the golf course?
You drive through the gate, use the big parking lot of asphalt to park the car. Pass through the entrance hall, go down the steps next to the dining room, then around the corner into the locker room, get your golf shoes on and then proceed to the pro shop. Now, get the cart with your clubs, go to the hill where the practice range is, loosen up by hitting some shots with your seven iron. Back in the cart, ride to the first tee, play your round of golf. Finish round, back to the pro shop to record your score, locker room, shoes off, dining room, lunch, parking lot, car, home.
So where is this kingdom in all of this? How do I see it, find it?
You could substitute grocery store, school, office, church, movies, restaurant, anything you want for golf course. So how do you see it? I can only tell you how I have started trying. The key to me is in the next chapter of Matthew, 7:3-4. I have to get the plank out of my eye so I can see. My plank is my ego. The kingdom is where God rules, not my self will or big ego. God's rule is love. I need to start seeing all the places I go, situations I am in, people I am around, through eyes that are clear. Eyes that see with love. All acts I perform need to be done in loving kindness. The more I see with eyes of love, the more I do with loving kindness, the closer I get to perceiving the world around me as the Kingdom of God. God's rule without the interference of me, me, me and my will.
It is slow work, but with the help of the Holy Spirit who is always there, it can be done. It will be done.

Dancing Carts

...hide me in the shadow of your wings... Psalm 17:8

When you live in the desert of the southwest you get used to sunny skies. As I look around me on this hilltop this morning there are maybe three or four puffy little clouds in the whole sky. It is funny on the golf course to watch the dance of the golf carts. That's what I call the scurry and maneuvering of the the cart drivers to find shade. Going from shot to shot, carts pull into the closest shade they can find. Sometimes it is just a pee wee suggestion of a shadow. Hard to find places of comfort and relief.
We are blessed that our Creator has big wide wings under which we can find peace and relief. Whether we are looking for a place to hide from "the wicked who assail me", or a loving embrace, it is always there. However, you need to look for it. You must seek it out and then put your attention and intention on the presence in which you find yourself. Give your mind, body and spirit over to the safety of the shadow.
If you have trouble finding this shadow of peace and comfort, start with centering prayer. Go to the site over under Links called Contemplative Outreach and click on the information it gives you on centering prayer.
Let's spend this day walking under the shadow of God's wings, always mindful of being in the apple of our Creator's eye.

I Knew IT Would Be Beautiful

Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. Psalm 57:8



I knew it would be a beautiful day! The dogs started playing at 5:30 this morning. Waking me up as all three of them chased each other through the house. Barking and running as if they could just not keep the energy in. They were so joyful I couldn't get angry over the interrupted sleep. I just felt as if the day was starting out with fun, love and energy. Then the computer brought me an "I love You" message from the spouse far away in Florida.

THEN...I went to a site I love, but has been silent for oh, so long, and hallelujah there it was...a new posting. And it was about letting your soul sing out LOUD! Visit it at http://www.anewlifeemerging.blogspot.com.%20my/My day is just getting better and better by the moment.

I cannot wait to see what the Merciful one has put in front of me today. I know it will be joyous and probably noisy.

Support

My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:8

Golf tees. When I was a little girl, just starting to play golf, golf tees were predictable little tools. White wood, 2 inches long, pointy on one end, scooped out top, holders for your ball to rest on when teeing off. They held up your ball so your driver could get better contact. No choice, white 2 inches, usually free in the pro shop. Need I tell you in this day and age we have revolutionized the little tee into a complicated utensil that can cost more than casual change ?? First they added color, then logos, or your name if you had that big of an ego. Then the material changed, plastic or some such polymer. The simple scooped round top now has prongs...three prongs or four. They are three inches long or an inch and a half. There are as many choices as there are choices in deodorants. Good grief. You should see me trying to get my ball to sit still on a three inch, three pronged tee in the wind. It is not a pretty sight. Still, you need the support under the ball to complete a successful drive. A sturdy foundation on which your ball can rest.

OK, I know you know where I am going with this. Praise be we have the strong right hand of our Creator to uphold us. It is ageless and does not change. Same now as when I was a little girl. My soul clings to to it and rests in its support. Thanks be to God.

Prayer Friday

I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer. Pslam 17:6

Today the smell of onions from the field down below is surrounding me as I write. I cannot see the onions fields from where I sit, but I know they are there by the essence of their odor.
My spouse left this morning for a short business trip, yet his "feel" is still here in the room with me. His essence is left behind to remind me of him.
When you pray know that the essence of that prayer is around you all day. Its "feel", its spirit and power is carried by the Holy Spirit through the heart of our Lord.
Mighty and Wondrous Creator, we are so blessed to be in your creation today. We praise and thank you for all you have given us, all you have taken away and all you have left with us. Please open our eyes, ears and hearts today so we can be aware of you at all times of the day. We want to live in your will. Thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit, who will not leave us. Please guide us to recognise those people you have put in our path today that need your love and help. We pray all of this in the name of our Christ, AMEN.

Essential Church

Let us not give up meeting together... Hebrews 10:25

The author of one of my favorite blogs, www.walkingwithfather , gave me a wonderful chance to ponder a very good question. If there was no Christian church in your area, what would be important to you in starting one up. I started thinking, what would I really miss not having? So I came up with my essentials: Risen Christ and Holy Spirit, prayer group, love and warmth shown to each other among gathers, Communion served weekly, outreach mission, a sermon and altar call, altar made easy for kneeling, music.
What about you? Let me know and go visit the Walker. He has a partial list for you to think about. Let him know what you think also. Even if you don't want to share, it is a good idea to mull over and his site is really good.
God bless you when you ponder (or mull if you are a better muller!).

Don't Lose It

Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 2John 1:8

Yesterday I played in a golf tournament called the Orange Blossom Special. We had four player teams with the task of finishing the round with a ball marked with a large orange spot still in our possession. Each player had to substitute this special ball for their own every fourth hole. If you lost this ball your team was out of the major part of the competition. Talk about pressure! I mean we have water holes on this course people, desert terrain, sticker bushes, rabbit holes. You've seen nothing until you have seen 4 women over the age of...(OK that I won't tell, some of them read this blog!) wade into nasty water up to their shorts to find a stupid golf ball. Well, we finished the round with the orange ball, but we didn't win a reward. As Judy said, "we set our goal to low, we came in with the ball, but we forgot to score well with it"!
We came in with the ball, for one good reason...we protected it. We kept our eyes on it continually, we chased it down into difficult places, some of us didn't hit it too hard as we were afraid to hurt it.
In the passage above John is talking about losing what you have learned of God's truth to false teachers. Once God has led you to sense of peace and calm about a situation, or has helped you uncover an important truth through Bible study or a life lesson, protect it. Keep your eyes on it at all times so you don't lose it. If it starts to slip away from you chase it down in prayer and hold on to it in your heart.
We do it for a silly golf ball in a game. How much more important it is to do it for God's truth in real life.

Run Through the Door

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. Revelation 4:1

When I was growing up, still in school, this weekend was always the best one in the year. It was the water shed of all weekends, it was off with the old on with the new. It was the end of the year for me, the start of summer. I am not a good enough writer to explain the absolute joy this weekend brought to me, the anticipation of great things to come. I knew there would be swimming every day, golf, picnics every Monday night, baseball games, being outside morning till night, running up to the neighbors, going to the lake, just days and days of freedom.
When I woke up this morning I actually had a glimmer of that same old feeling inside me. Not quite as strong as when I was 9 or 10 years old, but I could feel it. An excited feeling in my belly of things to come...swimming, visits and travel to family already scheduled, a bunch of golf tournaments, dinners with friends. This morning it was like a door was standing open and I was excited about getting up and running through it. Just like the old days...just get up and run through it, enter the summer full tilt.
In Revelations, John saw a door standing open in Heaven. That must have been an exciting feeling of anticipation. As above so below, I love that thought. The door to the Kingdom is here and open, we just have to go through. Run through with hope and joy at what we will find. Here in our lives on earth we get glimmers of what it is like in the Kingdom that is so near.
The door to summer is open, so is the door to the Kingdom.

Water In The Desert

They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Isaiah 11:9.

Upon waking some mornings we find that the farm down in the valley has been irrigated. Today I tried to capture it for you. It is such a beautiful site, my pictures could never do it justice. The water comes from the Rio Grande river that flows about a mile from our house. The dry desert soaks up the water and the green plants thrive, later to be harvested. You can almost feel the land take in the moisture as it covers acre after acre.

This passage from Isaiah is the one about the branch from Jesse. The Spirit of the Lord rests on this branch. One day the knowledge of the Lord will cover the whole earth. If you need peace today, get your Bible and read Isaiah 11. I love to look at this view off our little hill and feel God's love and care soaking into me just as the desert soaks up the irrigation water. I pray I am as open to the "knowledge", to the closeness of my Creator, as the land here is to the water.

Someday the whole earth will know God. You don't have to wait until "someday", soak God up now, today.

Who Is LikeYou ?

Who is like you--majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? Exodus 15:11

5:27 am, this morning, he/she came back. Loud, insistent...the mocking bird. I didn't have to get up until 6:30, she didn't care. This bird saw the majestic, glorious, wonder of the morning and broke into song. Sang until 5:41. Twenty one minutes. Do I keep my praise going as loud and as long as 21 minutes. Do I go out on my patio for twenty one minutes and shout and sing to my Creator when I am overcome with the beauty of my surroundings, the majesty of the mornings here in southern New Mexico?
Nope. But then God didn't give me the abilities of the mocking bird. God gave me a smile and a voice to cheerfully say "Good morning" to say "Thank you" to say "I love you". The mocking bird has captured in his brain the songs he has copied from many other birds. I work on capturing in my heart the love God gives us at each breath, so I can pour it out like a song to wake people up to God's kingdom.