October Blue Skies Beckon

I am an imperfect blogger.

I break all the rules.

I've been away for a long time with no guest bloggers and not enough time to pre-post meaningful contributions so no one would notice.

Don't know how to do all the cool stuff the techno-wizards do with their cyber canvas. Mine is a little like me: a bit old-fashioned, we can safely say.

Funny, I never thought I would use that word to describe myself. When I was growing up with one foot in the strident feminist world of a law student in the '70's Era of Empowerment and one foot in a beautiful traditional family in conservative Mississippi, I saw myself as a trail blazer. A pioneer of sorts. One to take on the challenges of the day with conviction and gusto!

Now the pioneer of today is a famously popular Pioneer Woman who can man-handle a ranch, a recipe, a family and run a small empire. What a woman!

And I'm on the eve of another birthday reflecting with deep gratitude for the people I've known, the places I've seen, the life experiences I've shared that make me who I am today: an imperfect, old-fashioned, trail-blazing woman. The trail is not the one I imagined hiking when I was in my 20's, but it is the one I am grateful to walk as I hold the lantern up pointing the way to One who loves us with an everlasting love and will never, ever forsake us. That trail can take more courage and boldness than I ever imagined in a time when Jesus' name is said to be 'hate speech' to some.

Maybe life's stages--like lilies of the field--offer us times for cocooning as buds and times for opening wide to embrace the world that awaits.

Let the Light of God shine brightly from October blue skies to direct your path today!



Lilies by Rhymes Stabler. Thanks!

Hand of the Artist; Heart of God

God is so good and His mercy endures forever. Come quickly, Lord Jesus.

Mary's handwritten words accompanying this watercolor in rich browns and blues were among the blessings in my day yesterday. The beautiful painting was a gift from my friend since first grade. Reproduced here after scanning and copying, the colors and shading are not accurate, but I wanted to share this image.

Mary, though bound by the crippling effects of rheumatoid arthritis, displays an artistry and fine coordination that defies her hands' limitations. People are surprised she can write, and to see Mary paint is astonishing. Maybe her spirit of gratitude and joy for the presence of the Lord in her life tempers the pain of her disease just a bit, making it bearable 'for the glory of God'. She lives to make Him known and to share the love of Jesus with all. I am learning much through my friends, and Mary is a great example of perseverance and faithfulness.

I have a dream of helping Mary share her paintings and her faith. I am contemplating this idea....

Psalm 57:10 was the inspiration for her the one pictured here:

"For Your Mercy reaches unto the heavens and Your truth unto the clouds. "

For the ancient writers, such a distance was unfathomable. The psalm gave voice to their conviction that as far as one can see, God's mercy and truth are higher still! Thanks be to God.