Too much all at once.....

Here comes another Lucy blog.  Yesterday was Lucy’s day at the groomer.  She usually goes after lunch.  But today her appointment was at 9:00.  Lucy, at almost six, is not a morning dog. She sleeps in long after we are both up; long after Tommy leaves for work; long after I have made enough noise in the kitchen to wake the dead; and way longer than most frisky working dogs like our granddog, Raider.   It might be close to ten o’clock before she even goes out.  I did make her go out before we left but never noticed if she had any water.  I took the opportunity  to wash her bowls while she was gone and fill her water bowl with fresh water. Four hours after I left her there they called that she was ready.  When she comes in from the groomer she heads straight to her water for a drink and promptly outside for her potty break.  I did not notice that yesterday she started drinking and never stopped until her bowl was dry.  Guess that should have been my first clue that she never got a drink before we left.  Within 15 minutes Lucy had thrown up copious amounts of water three times.  Looking sad and somewhat ashamed (actually wasn’t her fault; or was it) she watched as I placed a beach towel over it each time; thanking God that she choose to do this on the wood floors and not carpeted bedrooms. I felt badly that my lack of paying attention had led to this yucky situation for both of us. I thought how similar this situation relates to our spiritual appetites.  There are times on our spiritual journey; when, for whatever the reason, we forget or cease to take a drink from the living water.  The times when life steers us astray with business.  The times when life gives us a huge speed bump and we are thrown off course.  The times when tragedy strikes close to home and we become just angry enough at a loving God to move away and refuse to drink from the well.  The times that require us to step back and heal what ails us.  The times when a move to another locale necessitates a delay in getting that drink.  The times we move so far away from Him that we forget just how great that drink of His closeness and love tastes. Always the loving parent, God will woo us; gently quietly pursuing us to come back to Him.  I like to think that He woos us equally; differently for each of His children, but wooing the same.  Never failing, always close; He tugs at our hearts to return to Him for the first or another drink of his water.  Like Lucy, maybe we just forget; maybeours schedules are thrown off with timing; maybe anxiety or fear or anger causes us to retreat. No matter our reason; He will not give up.  When we give in to the courting and wooing, our hearts develop an unsatiable thirst that must be quenched.  If we are wise and mature (never the case this side of Heaven) we will sip the living water; savoring each small drink, letting it’s effects infuse His love in us.  More than likely; we, like Lucy, will be so relieved to be back that will continue to quench our souls until we are over filled. Like Lucy, there is probably others around us that will watch over, guiding us to take it slow; not letting our fear of the water running dry overcome the wisdom the save some for later.  Then we too stands the risk of throwing up spiritually. Retaining some and definitely losing some. Not the end of the world. Lucy’s problem was short-lived and caused no great harm. Just a matter to be learned from for the next time we slip a little away from Him.  Let us rest in the fact that He will never tire of wooing us.  He loves to give to His children what they need..Blessings, Martha

Isaiah 44:3-4   “For I will pour water upon him who is thirsty, and floods upon the ground.I will pour My spirit upon your offspring, and My blessing upon your descendants.”

It all comes together eventually....

I love spring. Actually I love all the seasons because I love change.  However, spring is one of my favorites.  It signals the end of the cold, drab months; when the landscapes are all brown and dormant; the birds are hiding someplace warm and the colorful flowers are yet to be seen. So when February brings those days of above average temps and warm sunshine, I am lulled into the false sense that surely Puxatawny Pete was incorrect. I tell my self, that these sort of days will be the norm and spring will come early this year! By February I have cleared the house of all the clutter from the holidays; cleaned every closet and drawer, filled the dumpsters and delighted the nice people at Catholic Family Services with my trunk full of black trash bags bearing "what was I saving that size 6 dress for!" items. That's when I decide to pull out decor items that will brighten up the house with less drab colors.  This year I made a TJ Maxx run and added poppy laden dishes for the kitchen, bright new cup towels (as if I needed more); changed out some towels to spring hues and started to get than twinkle in my eye that the formal dining room table needed something "springier" for its center. This coming together began last Friday when my friend,Joanne, and I got together for one of our famous fun days. After lunch we made the usual round of must do errands sandwiched together with the new shops we wanted to check out. First stop was a western decor shop we had never been in. We are both traditional styled decor girls; but we are always into a challenge. There on a table with an almost halo aura set a gorgeous, just my color green, glass hurricane. The glass was thick with the look of hand blown.  Price was even reasonable (in my eyes, not Tommy's). I purchased it not having a clue what was going to finish it out.  Next stop was a new shop.  When I walked it, low and behold, the most gorgeous display of huge silk hydrangeas. Yep, in my favorite green hues with just a tiny hint of pink.  Perfect!!  Not even going to go there on the price of each single flower...but, they were huge; like none I had seen...I am practical so I decided on the least amount that would work and purchased them. Bringing my purchases home, my mind started to remember the things that I already had that would bring this centerpiece together.  Several years ago, this same friend and I had obviously splurged on our Christmas gifts to each other.  Purchasing them both at the same exact store. While she chose green (of course) glasses for me and I a cream apothecary jar for her new house; they both came gift wrapped in wonderful paper with a soft silk organza handmade bow and an attached cross with a tassel. This store is known for it's exquisite gift wrapping.  I saved the ribbon and tassel because I loved them. Why the tassel was so special I would have loved it alone for a gift. I displayed it different placed in the house and even placed the ribbon in a crystal bowl; just because I thought it was special. The stems needed to be shortened so all the pieces of this centerpieces had to wait for Tommy's strong hands to weld the big wire cutters. When he left for work this morning the "coming together" was ready for completion.  I am not artsy crafty; not the best decorator; however, I do have an eye and a heart for what goes together. Placed the stems in the hurricane; added some pale pinky cream left over ball ornaments to soften the effect of the bare stems at the bottom; retrieved the favorite ribbon and tied the stems together so they wouldn't "flop" apart; took the cross tassel and secured it with the ribbon so it would hang at just the right length over the edge of the hurricane; and stood back practically patting my own back!  There, after several years, was a wonderful creation. My heart is reminded of how God orchestrates our lives in just the same way.  So that it comes together eventually. Things happen, events occur, words are spoken; all at separate times. He knows best and all these things will come together in His time.  I doubt that He pats his back and does the cabbage dance like I did this morning; since He is not as surprised as I was that it all worked out great.  But I do believe that a smile crossed His face this morning. I realized that I had saved some of the decor items for some reason.  Maybe because Joanne gave them to me; maybe because they were my favorite color; maybe because the cross tassel reminded me of the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for me on the cross and the sacrifice God made in giving up His Son. And most of all I saved them because God had a plan for me.....A plan that on this day that centerpiece would come together and bring me joy;  and a plan for all of us before the beginning of time His Son would die for our sins and we could enjoy eternal life......Blessings, Martha

"For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome."

Jeremiah 29:11

Rough Patches

I have been fortunate to have great, oil rich skin.  I probably did not put as much value on this as I could have.   Putting body lotion on as a sweet smelling treat; instead of a necessity like most of my friends.  Applying it in the winter months; not so much in the summer.  Growing up in the south, the moisture and humidity certainly helped. Moving to West Texas in my twenties should have alerted me. However youth is not very far sighted leaving a nonchalant approach.  As I entered my sixties (couple of years ago) I began to notice that only the skin on the lower part of my calves was starting to show some wear and tear in the moisture department. There was a look of roughness to the skin. A patch of skin that stood out; causing concerns about aging.  I admit I wasn't very happy and wondered if this was to be a constant in the remainder of my life; and just what else in my body was going to start looking like that.  So I began to pay extra attention to that part as I applied body lotion. Within a short while the skin began to look better; more supple and less crepey (not creepy..) Other parts of my body fit the creepy description for sure! One morning last week, as I applied the lotion, my thoughts went to the rough patches that life gives us. We learn from an early age that rough patches are a part of life.  If we are fortunate, we have wise people in our lives that prepare for this.  Teaching us that while the rough patches are there; we can and will survive. Hopefully this special people equip us spiritually and emotionally to handle these rough patches in life.  I had a sweet grandmother who was a guiding force in my life; loving me and filling me with deep spiritual convictions that served me well then and through the rest of my life.  Rough patches, while never fun or easy;  serve to increase our faith and determination; instilling character and strengths in us.  Rough patches begin early and crop up uninvited. I haven't met many people who would say they wished a life with no rough patches for themselves.  These patches are a badge of honor for most. Something that happened, was endured and then passed; with the assurance that "This, too, shall pass!" Leaving us on the other side stronger and wiser. So what kind of lotion do you apply to life's rough patches?  Maybe life lotions have the same qualities as body lotion. Giving us comfort, easing the unpleasantness; helping us to cope until the rough patch moves on to smoother times. Just like body lotion eases the discomfort of the skin until it is smooth again; spiritual lotions ease the mind and soul until life is smooth again.  Maybe I would not have had the rough patches on my legs if I had applied lotion to the skin over the years. So applying spiritual lotion throughout our lives must have a benefit to our souls.  Reaching out to God and our Saviour, Christ Jesus; talking and praying to Him; learning about Him through His Word; responding to His willingness to always be there for us; these are the spiritual lotions that will soothe, grow and sustain us. Rough patches are a part of life; unavoidable, however applying body lotions and spiritual lotions are a beautiful way to lead us through and beyond them...Blessings, Martha


"Yes, though I walk through the (deep, sunless) valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod (to protect) and Your saff (to guide), they comfort me."  psalm 23: 4

It's me God, Martha......: Rough Patches

It's me God, Martha......: Rough Patches: I have been fortunate to have great, oil rich skin. I probably did not put as much value on this as I could have. Putting body lotion on ...