Did you ever clearly see someone younger about to make a mistake? Did you try to warn him? Did you give him good advice while there was still a chance to change his mind and did he ignore you and plunge ahead to certain disaster anyway?
It happens over and over again.
Then disaster strikes and he cries because his life is in a mess.
And you, kindhearted and compassionate person that you are, want to help him out of the dilemma so the tears will dry and the sun will once again shine on his young face and all will be right with the world.
Momentarily. Until the next crisis--and the next poor decision.
And the next mess is served up--with a side of tears and misery.
You want to help again, but this time the Lord says, "No."
And you hurt for the young one and you cry for the consequences he must now face.
"Lord, I don't want him to hurt."
"Sometimes it's harder to do nothing," He says.
It is harder to do nothing--to let the reaping commence. It's frustrating. He didn't listen when given sound advice. He stubbornly chose the wrong fork in the road because he KNEW better than someone older--someone wiser--than himself.
And the Lord says to you, "...why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? Matt 7:3
Is this how the Lord feels when I ignore His voice over and over again? He alone knows what's best for me in every situation, but do I always ask His best for me? When he sees the impending heartache payday for my decision, does the Lord hurt for me in the same way I hurt for my young friend? Does He allow me to reap my harvest of pain so I will learn to listen more closely to Him the next time?
Oh, me.
Forgive me, Father. Help me to hear your voice--and do it.
Suz
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
nature things
The rain is trying to stop, the sun is trying to shine and Byron is out in his workshop. Life is getting back to normal after TS Faye. I fixed his lunch and took it out there and decided to sit with him while he ate. As we talked and enjoyed the relatively dry weather we had a tiny visitor come in the shop to pay a visit. A hummingbird flew into the building, checked out the red rope hanging from the open garage door and flew out again. Not believing her eyes, she flew back in, flitted around the rope and then back out. Never to again return.
I sat there with my mouth open surprised at what I'd seen.
"Has that ever happened in here before?"
"Nope."
"Wow."
I had to smile. I love "nature things" and this was a genuine treat for me. I love the frogs' chorus after the storm. The lizards all over my window screens. The dragon flies meandering around my yard. The lone fly that keeps buzzing my face. OK, maybe I don't love ALL nature things, but you know what I mean.
From our front porch I have often seen hawks soar overhead and heard their screaming as they hunt for tiny animals (or maybe chihuahuas) for lunch. We often hear large Pileated woodpeckers call like chimpanzees in the jungle and Byron and I like to watch the little bats that come out at dusk and snarf down as many as 10,000 mosquitoes each and every night. Go, bats, go.
Occasionally we have a gang of wild turkeys mosey down our driveway and across our small road and I have played peek-a-boo around a tree in our yard with a raccoon late at night. The most exciting thing we've seen was a black bear lumbering along the street and down into a wooded area. What a night!
When I see something special like this I feel like the Lord just gave me a treat. You know, like that small, simply great, sweet that you've been hungry for? Well, for me the treat is an out-of-the-ordinary nature thing.
Thank you, Father. The little hummingbird present you gave me today was just what I've always wanted. I love you.
Suz
I sat there with my mouth open surprised at what I'd seen.
"Has that ever happened in here before?"
"Nope."
"Wow."
I had to smile. I love "nature things" and this was a genuine treat for me. I love the frogs' chorus after the storm. The lizards all over my window screens. The dragon flies meandering around my yard. The lone fly that keeps buzzing my face. OK, maybe I don't love ALL nature things, but you know what I mean.
From our front porch I have often seen hawks soar overhead and heard their screaming as they hunt for tiny animals (or maybe chihuahuas) for lunch. We often hear large Pileated woodpeckers call like chimpanzees in the jungle and Byron and I like to watch the little bats that come out at dusk and snarf down as many as 10,000 mosquitoes each and every night. Go, bats, go.
Occasionally we have a gang of wild turkeys mosey down our driveway and across our small road and I have played peek-a-boo around a tree in our yard with a raccoon late at night. The most exciting thing we've seen was a black bear lumbering along the street and down into a wooded area. What a night!
When I see something special like this I feel like the Lord just gave me a treat. You know, like that small, simply great, sweet that you've been hungry for? Well, for me the treat is an out-of-the-ordinary nature thing.
Thank you, Father. The little hummingbird present you gave me today was just what I've always wanted. I love you.
Suz
Monday, August 18, 2008
osmosis
I love Florida sunsets. Each one is unique and striking to see. I think the way I like to best see one is when it first starts and it's still pretty light outside. I like to put on my sunglasses and look at it closely. The glasses may dull the tropical colors but what is left is what I enjoy--the detail of it all. The glasses let me see the sunbeams of light slipping through the cracks and openings in the clouds. The rays are well-defined and if I were high enough up there, I imagine I would be able to slide right down to earth on one. Like a huge beam-of-light slide.
I like to imagine that those beautiful beams are God's love pouring down from heaven to earth to me and that I can bathe in those dramatic rays and soak His love through my skin and muscle and bone. I imagine that it goes straight through to my heart; straight through to the real me in His full power and majesty. The Lord has all this love and I want it. I need it.
It's like osmosis.
Spiritual osmosis.
In nature, osmosis is when a high water potential moves through a semipermeable membrane to a low water potential. "Water is sometimes called "the perfect solvent," and living tissue (for example, a human being's cell walls) is the best example of a semipermeable membrane. Osmosis has a number of life-preserving functions: it assists plants in receiving water, it helps in the preservation of fruit and meat, and is even used in kidney dialysis." (Answers.com)
Spiritually, the Lord has a high Living Water potential. I, human being Suzanne, have a low Living Water potential. The Lord moves his living water through my skin, bone and muscle to my heart--to my spirit. This osmosis action balances out my Living Water levels.
I become more like Him and it happens without any input of my energy. The Lord gives, I receive. I am gifted His Living Water--His love--His eternal life.
Natural osmosis releases energy and can be made to do physical work like moving a rock with a tree root. When I receive Living Water from the Lord, a spiritual work takes place, I receive eternal life and I work to let others know of this precious gift.
John 4:10..."If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."...14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." 15 The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty..."
Are you thirsty? Depleted? Would you like to stand under the fountain of Living Water the Lord provides for us all? Do you need an infusion of God's Holy Spirit? Dear one, look to heaven. Our Father makes spiritual osmosis abundant and freely available to anyone who asks. The Lord offers. Receive. You will never regret it.
Father, I love your artwork in our spectacular sunsets. Your creativity takes my breath away. Thank you, Lord for using natural things to teach us spiritual truths. What a great God you are! I love you.
Suz
I like to imagine that those beautiful beams are God's love pouring down from heaven to earth to me and that I can bathe in those dramatic rays and soak His love through my skin and muscle and bone. I imagine that it goes straight through to my heart; straight through to the real me in His full power and majesty. The Lord has all this love and I want it. I need it.
It's like osmosis.
Spiritual osmosis.
In nature, osmosis is when a high water potential moves through a semipermeable membrane to a low water potential. "Water is sometimes called "the perfect solvent," and living tissue (for example, a human being's cell walls) is the best example of a semipermeable membrane. Osmosis has a number of life-preserving functions: it assists plants in receiving water, it helps in the preservation of fruit and meat, and is even used in kidney dialysis." (Answers.com)
Spiritually, the Lord has a high Living Water potential. I, human being Suzanne, have a low Living Water potential. The Lord moves his living water through my skin, bone and muscle to my heart--to my spirit. This osmosis action balances out my Living Water levels.
I become more like Him and it happens without any input of my energy. The Lord gives, I receive. I am gifted His Living Water--His love--His eternal life.
Natural osmosis releases energy and can be made to do physical work like moving a rock with a tree root. When I receive Living Water from the Lord, a spiritual work takes place, I receive eternal life and I work to let others know of this precious gift.
John 4:10..."If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."...14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." 15 The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty..."
Are you thirsty? Depleted? Would you like to stand under the fountain of Living Water the Lord provides for us all? Do you need an infusion of God's Holy Spirit? Dear one, look to heaven. Our Father makes spiritual osmosis abundant and freely available to anyone who asks. The Lord offers. Receive. You will never regret it.
Father, I love your artwork in our spectacular sunsets. Your creativity takes my breath away. Thank you, Lord for using natural things to teach us spiritual truths. What a great God you are! I love you.
Suz
Thursday, August 14, 2008
suffering
It's been a tough week.
I've been having some pain in my side and stomach so I went to the doc. She ordered a CT scan with contrast. While I was having the scan, my vein collapsed sending the iodine contrast into my hand rather than through my vein. It hurt like nothing I've ever had hurt. I yelled rather loudly for them to stop the test and called on Jesus to help me.
More than once.
Did I mention loudly?
The top of my hand swelled up like a goose egg but the radiologist said my hand would be back to normal by 2pm or 3 pm that same day.
It wasn't.
So I went to my primary care doc. He called his radiologist colleague who said to wrap it and hold it above my heart. He wrapped it and I bought Popeye's chicken for supper. My hand stayed swollen until the next morning.
While my hand was hurting so bad that I cried I thought of those who are chronically ill and hurt badly all the time. My CT test results showed I have a light case of diverticulitis and a kidney stone, but I'm on antibiotics and I should feel better soon. I am tired and my body hurts tonight but I don't have cancer and my severe pain was short-lived.
And Jesus did help me.
My hand is back to normal and by His grace I'll feel better soon.
Lord Jesus, thank you for helping me the other day during my crisis. I was scared and hurting and you rescued me. Please touch the one who suffers daily with constant pain and disease and ease her suffering. Ease his suffering. Let them feel your presence in the midst of their hurt. You made us, Father. You are our healer. We depend upon you. Your word says ...for I am the LORD that healeth thee. Exodus 15:26 and we believe your Word.
Thank you, Lord. Thank you for your loving touch.
Suz
I've been having some pain in my side and stomach so I went to the doc. She ordered a CT scan with contrast. While I was having the scan, my vein collapsed sending the iodine contrast into my hand rather than through my vein. It hurt like nothing I've ever had hurt. I yelled rather loudly for them to stop the test and called on Jesus to help me.
More than once.
Did I mention loudly?
The top of my hand swelled up like a goose egg but the radiologist said my hand would be back to normal by 2pm or 3 pm that same day.
It wasn't.
So I went to my primary care doc. He called his radiologist colleague who said to wrap it and hold it above my heart. He wrapped it and I bought Popeye's chicken for supper. My hand stayed swollen until the next morning.
While my hand was hurting so bad that I cried I thought of those who are chronically ill and hurt badly all the time. My CT test results showed I have a light case of diverticulitis and a kidney stone, but I'm on antibiotics and I should feel better soon. I am tired and my body hurts tonight but I don't have cancer and my severe pain was short-lived.
And Jesus did help me.
My hand is back to normal and by His grace I'll feel better soon.
Lord Jesus, thank you for helping me the other day during my crisis. I was scared and hurting and you rescued me. Please touch the one who suffers daily with constant pain and disease and ease her suffering. Ease his suffering. Let them feel your presence in the midst of their hurt. You made us, Father. You are our healer. We depend upon you. Your word says ...for I am the LORD that healeth thee. Exodus 15:26 and we believe your Word.
Thank you, Lord. Thank you for your loving touch.
Suz
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
too much fun
Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged...Proverbs 17:6
Summer and Hannah came home with Kayla and me yesterday after a little school shopping with their mom and me. As we were on our way home, Summer said,
"Suzy, I had too much fun today!"
It surprised me to hear a 7 yr old say it at all, nevermind her saying it so matter of factly.
"You did? How did you have too much fun, Summer?"
"Suzy, I just had too too much fun today! Too much fun."
"Summer, HOW did you have too much fun? Tell me about it."
She was smiling and thoughtful going over the day in her mind. She wasn't being silly at all when she told me about her "too much fun-day."
"First, we went to Isabelle's house to play. We put sparkly eye shadow on and looked pretty. Then we went to Sonny's for lunch with you and Kayla and it was good. Then we went shopping and I got two new shorts and tops for school. Then we went to Publix and you bought me Mentos. Now I'm coming over to your house and we're having dinner. I just had too much fun today. I just had too much fun."
Spending time with her best friend prettying themselves up. Simple, good food for lunch with good company. A couple new school outfits at great sale prices. A small treat at the grocery store from your grandmother. Relaxing at your Suzy's house watching tv before dinner. Spending time with family and more good food. No fireworks, no theme parks, no extravagant gifts, no big crowds. It was pretty simple, huh?
Some of my best-ever life experiences have been the least expensive and the least complicated and some of the simplest yet best lessons I've ever learned have been at the hand of my children and grandchildren The Lord is good to me and I am grateful.
The life of the godly is full of light and joy...Proverbs 13:9
I had too much fun, too.
Suz
Summer and Hannah came home with Kayla and me yesterday after a little school shopping with their mom and me. As we were on our way home, Summer said,
"Suzy, I had too much fun today!"
It surprised me to hear a 7 yr old say it at all, nevermind her saying it so matter of factly.
"You did? How did you have too much fun, Summer?"
"Suzy, I just had too too much fun today! Too much fun."
"Summer, HOW did you have too much fun? Tell me about it."
She was smiling and thoughtful going over the day in her mind. She wasn't being silly at all when she told me about her "too much fun-day."
"First, we went to Isabelle's house to play. We put sparkly eye shadow on and looked pretty. Then we went to Sonny's for lunch with you and Kayla and it was good. Then we went shopping and I got two new shorts and tops for school. Then we went to Publix and you bought me Mentos. Now I'm coming over to your house and we're having dinner. I just had too much fun today. I just had too much fun."
Spending time with her best friend prettying themselves up. Simple, good food for lunch with good company. A couple new school outfits at great sale prices. A small treat at the grocery store from your grandmother. Relaxing at your Suzy's house watching tv before dinner. Spending time with family and more good food. No fireworks, no theme parks, no extravagant gifts, no big crowds. It was pretty simple, huh?
Some of my best-ever life experiences have been the least expensive and the least complicated and some of the simplest yet best lessons I've ever learned have been at the hand of my children and grandchildren The Lord is good to me and I am grateful.
The life of the godly is full of light and joy...Proverbs 13:9
I had too much fun, too.
Suz
Monday, August 4, 2008
beach trip
What a great time we had this weekend! Sixteen of us went to Daytona Beach for short time of r&r and we had a blast. We played in the pool. Some walked the beach. Most slipped repeatedly down the water slide (exciting photos to come). We relaxed and even rested some. It was a fun time with my family.
We all went out together to a seafood restaurant called Inlet Harbor for supper on Saturday night. After our meal we stepped outside on the patio and heard live music, so of course we headed right that way. The kids hopped on the dance floor to have a little fun and with a little pleading Byron agreed and he and I made our way out there, too. We've been boogying down a little lately and we are really bad at it. I'm not just being modest. We're really awful but I'll bet you no one has any more fun than we do. Byron said if we're going to keep doing this we're going to have to practice at home. My gut feeling is that we'll probably just be awful at it and continue to have fun. Hannah, Alexandra, Cody and Sid all had fun to the music. Summer said she liked going to the party and would like to go there again. That child is a girl after my own heart.
There was one night I just couldn't sleep though. Don't know why. It just happens sometimes. I'd already stayed up till midnight watching Iron Chef America. (It was an amazing Barrundi fish battle with the challenger, Chef Pagano, but Bobbie Flay won hands down.) So, here it was 2:30 am and I'm wide awake. I couldn't turn the tv on. It would disturb Byron and Kayla. I couldn't turn the light on to read. Same reason. I couldn't go outside and sit on the bench outside our room. The burglars would get me.
So I did what anyone else would do in that situation. I got a bottle of water, a bag of chips, my notebook and pen and went to the bathroom so I could have light and wrote down ideas for my blogs. I got 6 pages of ideas out of the bargain. Not a bad deal. When my eyes started getting heavy I took it as my cue to put everything away and make my way to the bed and it still took me nearly 30 more minutes to doze off.
We left the next morning after sleeping in a little bit and headed for Cracker Barrel and then home. I was very tired after our short beach trip. I'm not sure if it was the dancing or the waterslide that finally did me in. No matter. It was all fun and I'd love to do it again next year.
I love my family and I love the Lord for letting me have them in my life.
Suz
We all went out together to a seafood restaurant called Inlet Harbor for supper on Saturday night. After our meal we stepped outside on the patio and heard live music, so of course we headed right that way. The kids hopped on the dance floor to have a little fun and with a little pleading Byron agreed and he and I made our way out there, too. We've been boogying down a little lately and we are really bad at it. I'm not just being modest. We're really awful but I'll bet you no one has any more fun than we do. Byron said if we're going to keep doing this we're going to have to practice at home. My gut feeling is that we'll probably just be awful at it and continue to have fun. Hannah, Alexandra, Cody and Sid all had fun to the music. Summer said she liked going to the party and would like to go there again. That child is a girl after my own heart.
There was one night I just couldn't sleep though. Don't know why. It just happens sometimes. I'd already stayed up till midnight watching Iron Chef America. (It was an amazing Barrundi fish battle with the challenger, Chef Pagano, but Bobbie Flay won hands down.) So, here it was 2:30 am and I'm wide awake. I couldn't turn the tv on. It would disturb Byron and Kayla. I couldn't turn the light on to read. Same reason. I couldn't go outside and sit on the bench outside our room. The burglars would get me.
So I did what anyone else would do in that situation. I got a bottle of water, a bag of chips, my notebook and pen and went to the bathroom so I could have light and wrote down ideas for my blogs. I got 6 pages of ideas out of the bargain. Not a bad deal. When my eyes started getting heavy I took it as my cue to put everything away and make my way to the bed and it still took me nearly 30 more minutes to doze off.
We left the next morning after sleeping in a little bit and headed for Cracker Barrel and then home. I was very tired after our short beach trip. I'm not sure if it was the dancing or the waterslide that finally did me in. No matter. It was all fun and I'd love to do it again next year.
I love my family and I love the Lord for letting me have them in my life.
Suz
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