Tag Archives: Jesus

Baby Jesus in July

Cool Mint waterHot, hot HOT!

It’s hot. And muggy. And it’s Georgia in July so DUH, it’s supposed to be hot. And muggy.

I live in a farming community about 2 hours from the coast. It’s hot but it’s been worse. Truth is, despite today’s heat index of 99, so far this has been a mild summer.

Truly, we don’t have it nearly as bad as the folks out West. Pray for them…it’s bad.

Here, after several years of drought and scorching heat, we’ve had nearly a month of daily rain with more on the way. A hurricane maybe. So far, I’ve heard very little complaining. The farmers are thankful and I am too.

I also live in a 1920-era, solid frame house with hardwood floors and 11-foot ceilings. #BLESSED.  It’s not fully updated but we do have indoor plumbing and central AC! Praise Him!

However, we’re careful to keep the thermostat on 80 for fear of causing a shift in weather patterns from all that cooled air escaping through our poorly fitting doors, ridiculously thin windows and meager insulation. We’ll fix that. Someday. Maybe. Let me tell you more… →

motherhood & family life, , ,

the heart of a prayer

She was ready to go.

getting-ready-to-play-piano

Months had passed since she’d entered the hospital for a “routine” check on her dying heart. While her strength was rapidly fading, her courage never wavered and her spirits remained high considering all she’d been through up until this point.

The fact was; her heart was failing and now a kidney was too and the wait was taking it’s toll. Time was not on her side.

If it was time to go, she was prepared knowing that her greatest battles had already been fought and won.

She’d been a tremendous beacon of light and support for the transplant community. More than a spokesperson; she was a valiant warrior and everybody’s favorite cheerleader. She’d been a faithful member of a loving community and the unchallenged reigning “Queen of Hearts” of her family.

Just a few months prior, she’d gotten well enough to share the joy and dance lightly with her husband of 38 years at their oldest daughter’s wedding and the youngest had just announced her first grandchild would be born in the coming year.

God had been so good, so gracious and while they hoped for more time, she was not about to complain. Let me tell you more… →

lost & found, , , , , , ,

One!

1Oh. My. Word.

I’ve been spinning around in circles all day trying to mentally, physically and emotionally prepare  for an event next weekend and I almost forgot: Today is the 1 year blog-aversary of this place and space called “Dancing on the Dash”!

I kinda doubt I’ll make a habit of making a big deal of it after this but I felt the need to mark the occasion with a special cup of coffee and a special thanks to you– my friends and my readers. This post is a bit of a hastily planned afterthought but–here goes anyway!

I had no idea most of you were out here. In fact, I had no idea there’d be a single soul to read at all and for a long time, the enemy discouraged me with all sorts of lies about why it was going to be a waste of time.

but the word of the Lord….

Camp on those words my friends– look them up in 1 Peter 1:24-25 and own them because if God has set you to it, He will see you through it.  Listen to His voice, HIS words and obey that call on your life. Those are the enduring, living forever words you can bank on!

I honestly had no plan, no great rhyme or reason to guide me to this place today….I only knew one thing became more clear as the year went on: God said “Go and tell. Use what I’ve taught you and what you know to be true, teach others what you have learned and help them to follow Me too– and I promise to be with you til the end of time.” (my paraphrase of Matthew 28:19-20)photo-on-2013-01-25-at-19-06-2

So here are a few things  I’ve discovered in this place over the last year:

1)   There is no more compelling and powerful story than the one God wants to tell through your life.  It’s not always pretty, it’s seldom neat and tidy and there’s often more dirt than diamonds but it’s a beautiful and glorious thing in God’s hands. If you are His child, then it’s always going to be His story in you.

2)   When you’ve slammed headlong into that wall of pride, hit the rocky bottom of that valley of sin and finally find yourself face down before the Lord and humbled; HANG ON TIGHT…. the best is yet to come-– here is where His greatest work can begin.  Your life is gonna TEACH! (amen?)

3)   To thy own self be true. (Thank you Mr. Shakespeare). No matter what everyone else is doing, pay attention to what God wants to do in and through you.

I think Jesus demonstrated this best walking on the beach with Peter. After asking if Peter loved HIm (THREE TIMES?!?) and commanding him to feed His sheep and tend His lambs, Jesus says simply: “Follow Me.” Peter immediately looks around and asks about “the other disciple..” who was following behind them and I LOVE Jesus’s response which basically says, “mind your own business and pay attention to what I have for YOU to do.” (again, my paraphrase!) But there it is….listen to the call to feed and tend and follow…and be true RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE.

So….thank you for joining in the journey as I’ve discovered what it means to “dance on the dash” — even though it’s been kinda awkward and stumble-footed at times! I’ve really learned so much.

Most of all, I’m grateful….to finally find my heart and voice and to discover the sweetness of community with others who are out here singing a song similar to mine and although the words to our verses are slightly different, they’re also so familiar and amazingly,  somehow we always join up together at the refrain:

“Holy, Holy, Holy! Selah!

 

my testimony unfolding, yield, , , ,