WEEK END MUSINGS

- OUR FIRST FROST  -

...the first frost changes the landscape...

and is the beginning of the end of summer's lush beauty.

...but i make a silent committment within myself...

to enjoy this season

...and the wintry weather of winter...

'the quiet time.'

...these beauties survived this frost...

...love this quote...

***********************************

we had lots of rain for three days...

attended a wedding on saturday...

a baby shower on sunday...

(but no pics of either event!)

...truths spoken from our worship...

standing up for truth doesn't necessarily make everything ok...

sometimes God still sends us back into the 'wilderness.'

(think of Joshua - Numbers 14)

...to become a full-blossomed flower...

- be vulnerable -

- requires courage -

- and hope -

- and faith -

...we dare to take the leap...

because we have the eternal arms of God beneath us

...HE IS OUR SAFETY NET!...

...to remain 'closed up' we cannot bloom, release our fragrance and be all God wants us to be...

...blessedness...

ox

Lord...

Lord, I come to you like a broken rag doll,

My dress is torn and stained

My arm is half hanging on.

My eyes aren't shining and trusting

Like they once were.

My expression isn't innocent

And transparent anymore.

I'm not the unused, brand-new ragdoll

I once was.

Yes, my smile is still there,

But not as spontaneous as it once was;

It's a little forced now...

A bit more tired.

I need to be picked up by you, Lord,

picked up...

held tightly...

loved...

and reassured.

Reassured that no matter how I look,

Or how dirty and scuffed up

and broken I am,

You love me just like when I was brand-new.

Would you please hold me, Lord?

- Robin Williams -

...blessedness!

ox

WEEK END MUSINGS

our churh had a retreat this week end at penn valley, located in the mountains of central PA...

 a lovely, lovely place...

...games...

...those who play...

                                                

                                                                                              

                                                               ...several injuries...

...and those who watch...

...future player...

...campfire...

...eating...

...good cooks...

...praise and worship...

...and teaching...

...our speaker, Dan Beachy, is a veteran counselor/teacher...

...resourced from the book 'Connecting' by Larry Crabb...

...lots of stuff to think about...

...the book speaks of the 'Four Metaphors of Sin'...

...and how we attempt to bypass God's way in dealing with life issues...

...instead, we 'build a city,' or...

...'dig a well'...

...or go to 'fire lighting'...

....or 'whitewash' our walls...

...read it...good stuff!

gleanings from his teaching...

city-building is simply coming up with a strategy to live in case God checks out...

well diggers are thirsty...instead of pursing the Giver of Water, a cistern is dug...

firelighters attempt to light their own fire when they think God isn't coming through...

white wall washing is to simply cover up to look better than what the reality really is...

OUR MESSAGE OF CONNECTION CAN CHANGE!

...read the book!

...traditionally, we finish the worship service with the song...
- Our God is Alive -
...it's sung with belief and power!

...blessedness...

ox