Today, my devotions tell me, "Do not miss the joy of my presence by carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders."  and to laugh.  And Yancy shares to enjoy the gifts God lavishes on us.  I see the spring clouds, the green grass, the many birds.  An old song from the hymnal comes to me,
Teach me Lord to wonder, teach me Lord to see.
Let your world of beauty capture me.
Praise to you be given, Love for you be lived.
Life be celebrated. Joy you give.

I get the hymnal to read the rest and it is just what I need:
Let me God be open, Let me loving be.
Let your world of people speak to me.
Let me God be ready, let me be awake-
In your present Kingdom my place take.
Teach me God to know you, Hear you when you speak-
See you in my neighbor when we meet.
Praise to you be given, Love for you be lived,
Life be celebrated; Joy you give.   Walter Farquharson 1936

Thanks Walter!  Thanks God!  Surely you are just as attentive to each person on earth.  How do you do it?!
What a mighty God we serve!

Spring

A cool breeze coming through open, screened windows.  Sunshine I feel as I wake up.  Cows lowing in the field.  Sandhill cranes, morning birds, making their noise. Zip's warmth next to my leg. The promise of summer in Montana.  A Sabbath day ahead. Last Sunday Jim talked about all the ways Jesus shows His love for us and then we joined him in sharing the things we notice.  We talked about stars, how plants bloom, laughter, more.  I praise you, God and thank you for this day.

He cares about you.

Years ago, when we lived in Mississippi, I found a scripture in I Peter that blessed me enough that I decapauged it on a napkin holder and put it on my table.  I threw it away awhile back.  This morning it was on Pray-as-you-go.  It reads, "Cast all your anxieties on Him, for He cares about you."  This morning that testimony of Peter has blessed me again.  This weekend we are doing a couples retreat in Billings.  I'm casting that anxiety on Him.  It is still amazing to me that the God of the Universe cares about me.Thank you, dear Jesus.  I hope by my actions today I can love you too.  "We love Him because He first loved us."

My Teacher

I wrote this before Dad died.  I thought I might read it at his funeral but it didn't seem right.  But I want to include it in my blog.

My Dad has been my greatest teacher.  Today I thank God for him.

What did he teach me?

                From Dad I learned that people are not good or bad.  People are just people who do good and bad things because of their own life experiences.  People do bad because of their own insecurities or sometimes their ignorance or self centeredness or any number of reasons.  People do good for many reasons.  Sometimes because they need praise.  Sometimes because they want to go to heaven (which in my opinion is the worst reason to do good).  Sometimes because they have had so many blessings they can’t do anything else.  When I’ve done good it’s because I ‘ve had the peace of Jesus Christ inside me and doing good just results.

                From Dad I learned that the deeper you know a person the easier it is to love them.  You can’t stop half way in the knowing because then sometimes you don’t get to the love thing.

                From Dad I learned that life is hard but forgiveness makes it easier.

                From Dad I learned that kindness is very important.  He is very kind.  But even very kind people do very unkind things.

                From Dad I learned not to be a respecter of persons.  I learned that because he chose to care about some people who were the most difficult people I know.  And he chose to cast off people who were very good  because they were fat or black.  By the time he died he’d learned that he could vote for a black president and hug very fat women.

                From Dad I learned that people change.  I learned to not hold people to their sins.  To use new eyes and give people a chance. 

                From Dad I learned to be tough.  To be proud of yourself.  That there is a pride that adds to life.

                From Dad I learned that selfishness hurts.

                Because of Dad I learned about Grace. 

                There have been times in my life that I prayed he would die so I wouldn’t have to deal with him.  I thought my life would be better without him.  And now I think I won’t be able to stand it when I can’t stop by and give him a kiss and a hug.  I look into his eyes and I see one thing: love.  I see the man who adored me as a baby, delighted in me as a toddler, held me when I cried, defended me as a teen, watched me cheerlead, sacrificed for me so I could eat and have a roof over my head and have gifts at Christmas and birthdays.  I see a man who was weak when it came to alcohol and women.  I see a man who was physically strong and tender hearted.  A man who lived with guilt and shame.  He does not feel worthy of the love bestowed upon him.  I see his faults as I see my own.  I know him like a child knows her father.  And I love him deeply.

               

Susie Woods

I have 3 Susan sisters.  My own Susan Jean.  Terry's sister Susan Jean and Rand's wife Susan (Jeannette i think).  Today I want to honor Terry's sister - we call Susie.  In Terry's life she is stability.  I don't know anyone he admires more.  When he talks to her I hear a lightness and joy in his voice.  We don't really do much for Susie.  But she's done so much for us.  I look around my house and see a cookie jar, paper plate holder, plastic bag holder, drink cups, and probably stuff I'm forgetting that she has made and sent us.  At Christmas our tree is filled with ornaments she made and sent to us.  She has her own family but she always finds room in her life for us.  And not just us.  She finds room for taking care of those she loves around her.  She is like a strong spot in the middle of people's lives.  I have been so blessed as I have watched her faith grow and as we have shared a love for the Bible and for God.  Lately I have realized she is praying for me and I am so thankful for that blessing.  It gives me peace.  In the Reiff family I think she is the one most like her Dad and yet I also see that spunk that her Mom had.  I love that Reiff ability to make quick decisions and stick with them.  Susie is a great volleyball ref - one of the best in Missouri.  She does crafts, bakes, tries new activities, is a great friend for her friends, has a good sense of humor, runs Laurel Club, supports her children and grandchildren, is a positive church member, thinks of others....I could go on and on.  Here's to you, Susie!  I love and admire you.  Thanks for all you do.

The Kingdom

The Kingdom came one night at Pizza church.  People cried.  People laughed.  Love was flung around like a basketball.  Love was deep and strong. The Kingdom came one morning at church.  A grandmother had died.  Another grandmother had arms around her great nephew.  People hugged.  People cried.  Love was deep and strong. The Kingdom came in my bed one night.  We talked into the night.  Healing happened.  We cried.  We laughed.  Feelings were shared.  Love was deep and strong.  The Kingdom came at reunion.  Walls came down.  People shared from their heart.  Trust was easy.  Love was deep and strong.  The Kingdom came in our family once.  We didn't plan it.  We sat in a hostel.  We laughed.  We shared.  We didn't cry but love was deep and strong.  The Kingdom came to me one morning.  I sat alone and praised God.  It felt so good I cried and I laughed. I rested. Things were tough but God was enough.
I always think I'll do a study on the Kingdom and find out what all those parables really mean and I think I still will.  But once in awhile  the Kingdom just seems to fall into my lap, our laps.  And I know what it is.  I can't explain it.  But I know it's there.  I usually laugh.  I usually cry.  And Love is deep and strong.

It was a bad week.  I had 2 hard days.  Have you ever just not known how to talk to anyone about how you feel?  And you thought people were tired of your complaining so you were just quiet?  but I needed to get it out.  I needed to be fed spiritually.  I needed to verbally process.  I had missed a call from Diane, my sister in Missoula.  No message and I got busy and didn't return it.  Tuesday we were going to Missoula to see Matt and his family.(Maci - yeah!)  On the way over I called Diane and she was so excited about getting together.  We sometimes don't when I'm there because I'm busy with Matt's family or she's busy with her activities.  She said she could spend the day with me!  Wow!  What a treat!  Wednesday morning I got up early and went to her house.  She was having a fast and pray day to prepare for her family's trip to Africa.  She was preparing for her prayer time and was glad I could join her. She  had some needs that she shared with me and I shared with her but mostly we talked about God and how amazing and astounding God is.  She read Isaiah 58 and a devotion from her book she has to read to prepare.  Some of her readings were about prayer and it's importance in preparation.  I had been starting to do prep for our reunion I direct.  I needed to hear that message.  She needed to be with family.  She was lonesome for Mom and Dad and so was I.  Some of the things we shared were things only kids of Mom and Dad would feel and understand in the same way.  I really can't explain exactly how it all came together but we each had a need and that need was met though our meeting.  We each believe God was in that meeting, that time together.  We each believe prayer is important.  It is one of the greatest gifts I have that I have sisters who share my faith.  Especially who openly profess and inwardly praise God through Jesus Christ.  Thanks Diane.  Thanks God.  You did it again!  I never can figure out just how You do it but I know You know me and so quickly move to show Your support and Love.