Tributary

You're on a journey you started a long time ago. You're pretty new to traveling this path, so you made sure that when you started out you had all the supplies you needed - a compass, nourishment, a map to guide you. You'd stop along the way to get refreshed and replenish your supplies. Beautiful scenery kept you in awe. The bumps and potholes along the way were easily side-stepped. Once in a while a storm would come and you'd have to stop or backtrack a little until it passed. You'd then get back on the road, stronger for the storms and eager to press on. Then something happened. Somehow, somewhere you took a wrong turn. The storms that were few and far between now seemed relentless. One after the other they pounded you. It was getting harder and harder to see the road ahead. Then the compass jammed - the needle just spun in circles. The map didn't seem to make sense anymore - it was like trying to read a foreign language. Your nourishment dwindled - you became hungry and thirsty. Days and nights passed. You kept on walking. You had to. You knew if you stopped you would surely die. Weariness overtakes you. Darkness surrounds you. You lie down and fear the journey has ended. A gentle nudging. A soft touch. Your eyes open - you are not alone. Someone is there offering you nourishment. Silently you accept. Together, in the quiet, you walk alongside. One by one others join you. Each offering a touch - a word - a song. Soon the darkness begins to lift. With each step forward you become stronger. The paths begin to clear. Sunlight brightens the days. Moonlight shatters the night's darkness. The destination is clear. You are heading towards home. Tributary High in the mountains a spring pours its life into a tiny stream which begins a whispering journey. It is joined to another stream which soon becomes part of an even stronger current. Carried and carrying, supported and supporting, the growing, travelling and mingling continue until finally the stream, swept joyfully along with its brothers and sisters goes tumbling, rushing, racing and roaring into the Great Body to fulfill its destiny and to become -- fulfilled...

Running on Empty

Did you ever feel like you were just running on empty? Facing each day doing what needs to be done, yet never having a feeling of accomplishment? Never feeling that refreshment - the satisfaction of achievement? Setting goals, but never seeing the fruition of them? That's how I've been these past months. I would move through the motions of the daily process - but there was no joy in any of it. Even in my bible reading, prayer life and church attendance - I was there in body - but never in spirit. I turned 50 back in February and decided that I need to accomplish some personal goals during this, my jubilee year. I've always been one to over extend myself - never saying no to anyone, putting myself last and then always finding myself totally wiped out. This time I decided to keep my list small and sweet - setting it at only 5 items. Simple enough, right? One would think. Here is the list: 1. Begin a personal Bible study. 2. Pick one ministry at church that was new ground to me and get involved. 3. Read through my Bible. 4. Lose the 50lbs I've been carrying around - it really isn't helping my out of control Diabetes. 5. Run a marathon (or at least 1/2 marathon - 13.1 miles) None of these things were too difficult to achieve. Over the course of the past weeks I thought about my list. I wasn't feeling very good about myself. I looked at the calendar - July 1. Hmmm.....how many of these things have I started? None. Nada. Zip. Zero. Needless to say, it was a very depressing weekend. I was chatting on IM with my dear friend, Colleen, and she reminded me of many of the things I've accomplished - things that others may not have been able to stand the test of time with. Her few simple words were the encouragement I needed to get off my butt. I sat last evening and picked up my Bible. Not only did I pick it up - but I read it - truly 'got into it'. The Lord led me to this scripture - one I've known and memorized years ago - but it took on some new meaning this time: Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1 Wow. Sort of it home where it hurts. What kind of witness had I been? I had told people of my goals - yet failed to follow through on them. I spent much time and prayer last evening. This morning when I woke up I got to work. Here's my list again - with the actions I've taken today: 1. Begin a personal Bible study - I ordered Believing God, Beth Moore - I'll have it Wednesday. 2. Pick one ministry at church that was new ground to me and get involved. - I called our ladies ministry person - I'm going to join in on a new ministry - Blossoming Beauties - it's for moms and daughters (grandaughters) meeting once a week. 3. Read through my Bible - I started this morning. 4. Lose the 50lbs I've been carrying around - it really isn't helping my out of control Diabetes. - I attend my first Weight Watchers meeting this coming Thursday. 5. Run a marathon (or at least 1/2 marathon - 13.1 miles) - I pulled out my training schedule and walked 2.5 miles this morning. Whew. Now that I've spilled my guts to the entire Internet Blog-o-sphere - I expect to have some accountability!! LOL If you don't see me posting updates - question me!! Hound me!! And remember - should you find youself running on empty - pick up God's Word - it's all the nourishment you need to run the race!!!

Rainy Days and Mondays and Tuesdays and Wednesdays...........

Let's see - I'll need some gopherwood and some pitch - a hammer......... Well you get my drift. I cannot recall in all my years living here having so much rain as we have had in the past two months. I believe we've only had like 5 or 6 days of sunshine since early May. Talk about depressing. This year's rains have been especially challenging. Thunderstorms, hail, damaging winds and our most recent occurence - flooding. As I listened to the news last evening and saw the devestating results my mind drifted off to scripture where the Lord promised - made a covenant - that He would never send the floods to destroy all the earth again. Genesis 9:9-17 9And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; 10And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth. 11And I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. 12And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. 14And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: 15And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. 17And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth. In the midst of my prayers for those whose property has been damaged and loved ones lives that have been lost, I take comfort in the fact that there will indeed be a rainbow at the end of this. That, in fact, the 'Sonshine' will indeed shine through and that despite all the devastating news - the Good News will have the victory. May God bless you richly today regardless of the circumstances you may be facing.