From a Front Porch in Texas: "I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK"

From a Front Porch in Texas: "I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK"

"I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK"

Welcome to the front porch! Just finishing up a great holiday season. I am using the term holiday because I am counting Thanksgiving up to New Years Day in my 2011 holiday celebration. In summary, great food (way too much food consumed on my part!), great family gatherings, great visits with church family and friends, received some thoughtful, very much appreciated gifts. Just a great time of celebration. I read a quote that if it wasn’t for Christmas, December would be the bleakest month of the year. Parable there I am sure. If it were not for Christmas and the Christ Child, what a bleak, bland, boring life we would live!

I think most of us really enjoy this season if we admit it. Yes, it can be so hectic, hurried and just plain make us feel hassled to the bone! But, there is no time like these times of gathering. It is important. It is important that we do stop and honor Thanksgiving and give thanks to our God above and be thankful for each other and the countless blessings we have! We are blessed! Blessed! Blessed!



Christmas means-even if your baby left you, somehow you ended up on a Naughty List or you walked around impersonating Scrooge-you are blessed. Because of the Babe in the Manger your life can have hope and happiness.



I started daily posting to Facebook this past year. Well, I will back up. I vowed I would not get involved in Facebook or texting. Had heard this and that. For one thing time was a factor, another I just didn’t want to post things such as”getting into my car, driving down the road, stopping at a stop sign’. A. Kinda silly. B. Who in the world would care? Now, don’t get me wrong. I LOVE seeing in a timely manner what the kiddos and grandkiddos are doing! Love it! I am mildly interested in what the rest of you are doing. Also, I enjoy in connecting with friends and church folk from 20-30 plus years ago! Amazing.



Well, when the kids would have events and celebrations and I would ask for pictures. One word reply: Facebook. So, my daughter Lori and I jokily said, “we will go to the darkside’ that is Facebook.



Now, I would cruise and was very selective about whom I ‘befriended’, made an occasional comment and very few post. I saw so many posts in October about Halloween and ghosts and goblins…and thought hum, there has got to be more. Then it seemed the Holy Spirit began to drop little inspirational nuggets in my spirit and I would post. I remember the light going off and the thought, ‘Facebook can be more than who is doing what, where and with whom and can be a network of inspiration for believers’. Now, I can hear the sneers and jeers. Facebook and the gospel?. Facebook as a tool to inspire and perhaps even encourage, evangelize, maybe enlighten? Why not? To quote a family member…’don’t like it..don’t read it or better yet unbefriend me or delete me’. I ask why not post inspiration? Other ‘social media’ is used for the Gospel, radio, TV, live streaming, websites, on and on. I am fully and firmly convinced God can use any tool that is relevant to our generation.



100% of the time the thought or inspiration first comes through and inspires me. Sometimes a scripture, picture or a song will also come along. Interesting.



So I am here in the New Millennium …got here as fast as I could.





As 2011 bows its sleepy little head, and those eyes get heavier and heavier, I am reflecting, reviewing and revisiting the Year. Overall, rough, twisty, turny, topsy turvy, bumpy, brusey, bouncing, discouragement, down one roller coaster and doomed it seemed to ride on it forever. Trials, tribulations and tears for family, friends, loved ones. A time of battering and beating by the Storms of Life. We have thrown up our hands and cry out. Wring our hands and sob. If we could we would climb the mast of our ship like Captain Dang from Forest Gump and shake our fist and dare our God to bring it on. But we know better or should know better!



But here we are on the tail end of 2011, the tired old man gave us his best shot, one right after another, and while we all had several near misses with disaster, here we are. Still Standing! We replied on the saying, ‘I stand tallest when I am on my knees”. Yep, the knees hand in hand with a contrite broken heart move the Hand and Heart of our God. Funny thing we read and know that He is aware of even when one little hair falling from our head. So why do we think He has forsaken us when our heart is broken into a trillion pieces. Oh, He does know about every little bump and scratch life throws at us…nothing absolutely nothing that happens to us surprises Him….but because of Who He is, He allows pain, sorrow and hurt into our lives. He had to do this when His own Son was suffering for our salvation. Who do we think we are? It is too complex and complicated for me to ever explain let alone understand! But by faith I trust in the Living God and His Son Jesus my Savior! He knows best-everytime.



But, we must keep our mind stayed-thinking of-Him. Trust Him. Believe Him. Know Him. Because this life is only a vapor as stated in James 4:14, The Message "What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." As I get older the vapor seems to dissipate quicker and quicker! This is not our home nor is it our end. This is boot camp, training ground, school. Lesson after lesson until we are molded, formed and shaped into His Likeness day by day. 2 Corinthians 3:18 The Message “And we who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” Not easy! Not easy at all! We are just like little stubborn children. We have our own mindsets and views and visions. They usually DON”T line up with His Plan.



So as we close out 2011-goodbye, good riddance, so long, see ya never again. BUT, the experiences, lessons and growth are ours. We are chiseled and sharpened, polished and perfected day by day by His Grace. We are His handiwork. His vessel, once made ready become a Weapon of His Warfare, by Him we have a part in tearing down strongholds.



So today on December 31, the last official day of 2011 and for me the last post about Christmas. Let’s move on, move up, move forward. We are a little stronger, hopefully a lot wiser, a little braver, a little apprehensive perhaps, a little excited I hope, but more determined to make the best of the gifts and callings God has given us! 2012 come on down! We welcome you with Hope, Faith, Joy and LOVE. May this be the best year yet for us all is my prayer. Amen.



Speaking of moving on, time to get up from this front porch and get busy. Lots to think about. Lots to do! Until we meet again, GOD BLESS YOU!

HEARTS AND HOPE

Well, welcome to the front porch. It has been a LONG time since I have stolen a few minutes and visited the front porch. It was on my ‘to do’ list but somehow other priorities came up and the visit to the porch just got bumped and bounced right off the list. I have had small stirrings lately to visit the porch more often. It is a place that is good for my body and soul. Mainly my soul. I muse, wonder, ponder and reflect upon life. Good thing sometimes...sometimes a bad thing. Too much thinkin’ can turn into stinkin’ thinkin', well we all know how that goes.




Anyway, today’s visit is about Hearts and Hope. Just came to me as I was praying and reflecting on my way to work one morning. I have a good 50-60 minute drive each morning. No complaints. For now I know I am right where I am suppose to be as far as my job-ministry-kinda go hand in hand. But, for years now-no radio, no music just me and the Lord and my many supplications for my family, friends, church, community –world. Amazing how quickly those wheels turn when engaged in good conversation. Sometimes I arrive and my response is: whoa I didn’t get to talk to God about everyone and everything on my list! But the company and conversation I did have just helps me settle into my day.



In this Christmas season I am perplexed, overwhelmed, kinda getting exhausted and just plain down right burdened. You see I see and hear of troubles on the left, troubles on the right, before, behind and above. I sometimes think, “God”?? I am your child and don’t you see, hear or even care? Now, I know this is not the case! But, flesh creeps in with a little-no a lot of help from the enemy that would cause me to question my faithful, loving ever caring Savior. Shame on me.



However, as in your circle of family and friends-have you ever seen such a time as this? Suffering of good people, good people homeless-living under bridges, in cardboard boxes. Good people told-you’re fired and it was not by Donald Trump-but a trusted friend, boss of many years who callously throws those words into your face. The doctor says-that’s it-no more chemo for you-the end of the journey-get your house in order. An unexpected and much inconvenient hospital detour that is frustrating and baffling-tests, tests and more tests. What will the final outcome be? A mother, father or other family member who you help make funeral arrangements because the healing has not come-well the healing here on earth. The perfect healing will come later. Or the bonus promised by the employer that you desperately need to live not just have a ‘nice’ Christmas BUT was promised and not delivered! The bill collectors-they must be modern day Scrooges-sorry it is a dirty job and must be done-but whew some of us are really telling the truth when we say ‘check is in the mail’, my husband has been sick and our medical bills are astronomical, I lost my job, etc.



Now before we all sit down and have one big pity party, let’s reflect on a time over 2000 years ago. Times were kinda about the same, troubles on the left, on the right, behind, in front off and on top of! The world as they knew it was in chaos. The rich were getting richer, the poor were getting poorer, the sick seemed to get sicker, the greedy were getting greedier and the mean, and well they are meaner period. The people of God felt so hopeless and helpless. Where was this Promise? We have waited and waited and waited! Just like in our lives here in 2011. Instead of things getting better they seem to get worse. Oh, well we know why…goes back to a Garden, a Gal and a Guy and a mean old Godzilla...aka...smooth talking operator who was so convincing that the gal and guy fell for the biggest lie ever…well, the rest is His Story!



Anyway, in a little town tucked into the hills of Judea lived a young girl, wondering. Pondering what would happen to her. Did she have a hope, a future? Looked pretty bleak. Hard cold facts of life. But as the story goes she did have a Heart, a huge heart, a heart so big that her heart, soul and body would be trusted to conceive, carry and complete the PROMISE.



Wonderful calling right? Before we get too giddy and too many stars in our eyes and say things like’ what a lucky girl’. Step back. Take a second look. A young girl, minding her daily business, probably talking to God as we all should do on a regular basis. Mind you not just a’ Good Morning Lord’, and at the evening a mumbled sleepy, “now I lay me down to sleep’ greeting. But, deep soul searching, pouring out your heart to God. Talking to Him about the most intimate details of your life. Trusting him with your secrets, hopes and dreams-your very life. Few of us take the time or trouble to get to know our God on this level. It’s too personal and private we think. Really? Guess what He already knows all the nitty gritty dirty little secrets. He is just waiting for us to talk to Him about them so He can gently address each of them.



Anyway, I imagine one such morning like any other-we know those kind. Get up, go to work, take care of the kids and husband, or elderly parents or?? Many times not enough sleep, rest, even enough food. Worry, wonder where the food, money, strength will come from to get through the day. If you do have enough food and money and your needs are met-notice the operative word is needs-then Thank God in Heaven above. Countless millions do not have this luxury. Know you are promised ‘daily bread’….enough said.



Young girl perhaps mid teens we believe-going about her business on yet another hopeless day, what will today bring? When to her surprise, to put it mildly, she has a visitor. Not just any visitor but one dispatched from Heaven-from God Himself to bring her a call, a challenge a commission like no other. Talk about your life changing in a moment, an instant! This is our God! One Word dispatched from His mouth rearranges, messes with those enemies and those who have hurt us and sets our feet on an entirely different path.



Something like that happened to Mary. One minute minding her business, the next face to face with God’s Heavenly Messenger. She is told ‘not to fear’. Whew, you’ve got to be kidding. Most of us would have fainted dead away. All the smelling salts, pats on the face, cold water thrown on us would NOT have fazed us. Apparently none of that happened-remember Mary was chosen for a reason-she was made of tough stuff. What a great thing to be said of us, “made of tough stuff’. Too many of us are fluff and cotton candy blown away by any little bump or bruise along the way. Not this gal. See God does know what He is doing!





Back to Mary. Anyway, after the initial fear factor thing passed, she is told she is highly favored. Whew, that will float your boat, puff you up some, fill up your balloon, make you sit up a little straighter, walk a little taller. The Message puts it like this,



“Good Morning!

You’re beautiful with God’s beauty.

Beautiful inside and out.

God be with you.”



Me, you talking to me?? Yep, no one else around but little Mary. Kinda good news …bad news… thingee. Perhaps this is where the original idea of the good news, bad news came from?



Mary is probably feeling pretty good. Had no idea what this visitor was talking about for the most part. You see as good and pure and right and great as Mary was-I believe even she had her own dirty little secrets. Those thought of jealously, bitterness, coveting, questioning, stubbornness, disobedience…….who knows what else. She was human-but the key was her heart.



I am sure she was shaken, speechless, surprised beyond words!



The angel assured her she had nothing to fear and God had a surprise for her! And a surprise it was!



Then she is told the most INCREDIBLE thing ever! She is going to get pregnant-not the usual way Momma told her about…aka. the facts of life we all learn about. But something, mystical, mysterious yet marvelous is going to overshadow her and conceive in her a baby. A what..Did you just say a baby? One that has ten fingers and ten tiny toes, that coos and goos a… BABY. Now, if Mary didn’t need the smelling salts, the cold water, the slap in the face now….she never will. She calmly, rationally asked, ummm, how is this possible how in the world is this possible???



As if this news could not get any more incredible…the angel calmly, gently and lovingly adds. “This child you deliver will be Holy, the Son of God”.



Mary, just as calmly, gently and loving replied, “I am the Lord’s servant; let it be as you say”.



Amazing. Absolutely amazing. No handbooks, maps or agendas. No provisions, plans or pampering. No asking “who, what, when, where or why”. Most of us would have let our imagination jump on a runaway train and never recovered from the initial greeting. Not Mary. Certainly no whining. This was Mary’s Heart. Big enough to handle this assignment, one step at a time. This assignment is her Hope. She does not understand any of it EXCEPT God has given her the Call to be a part of this glorious Promise. She is a part of the Christmas story. His Story. We wonder and ponder and ask, “What woman is this” who could answer such a call. But, as great as she was, she was a vessel for His Plan, His Promise, His Purpose. She is never to be worshipped. Instead to be remembered as ‘a servant, let it be as you say’.



One of the most moving Christmas songs is: Mary Did You Know? Take some time this Christmas season and listen to the words. No, Mary did not know…..every little or big thing that would happen to her and her Son. What she did know was she had a Heart and now because of her obedience generation after generation down unto this year 2011.. would have hope! Merry Christmas!

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS!

Well, well, here in Texas most of the snow is gone..for now...more expected this week!

So until then, I am back here on the front porch sharing with you some of  the

sights from the 40th Anniversary trip Preacher and I took this past August.

Well, we camped-as you saw on a previous visit-and we had just crossed the

Tennessee state line and BOOM.....our truck quit...

we were climbing one of the highest inclines I can

remember and BOOM..we were able to pull over to the side of the road

and surprise......no cell phone service....and car after car zooming by.

Finally, my little cellphone -worked as it usually does- if you stand just right.....

and we did finally get a signal and soon the

old faithful Dakota Blue was pulled onto

a tow truck and off we went.  Where?????...not too many options...

.we were towed to a service station and

thus the wait began....we sat and sat and sat and sat.

Just kinda kicked back and visited with others who strangely enough were in a

similiar situation and strangely enough were from the Dallas area. Nice couple..small world.

Finally, we were back on the road.

Beautiful country-absolutely beautiful!

We were running behind schedule and pulled into Gatlinburg around dusk.

Beautiful!

On a whim we stopped at a little motel on the edge of town that sat

 on a creekbed that ran right through town.

The price was right-so we stayed. 

Only one other couple in the whole place.  Believe it or not in the small world department-they were

 from Garland, Texas not too far away from where I teach.

Interesting!

AND

Quiet, peaceful, soothing..,.a little creek complete with ducks swimming by.

We had a little picnic supper on the deck, listening to the water, enjoying the cool refreshing breeze.

Priceless!

Now this is the Gatlinburg Preacher and I love...no big booming businesses..

just country-plain and simple-beautiful

SIMPLE, SERENE, SOOTHING.....  

The next morning we took a walk.  Right down the street from our little place

was this beautiful waterful.  

Well, just a few favorite memories to share on this cold February evening. 

Thanks for stopping by the front porch. 

 I have a few more memories from the 40th anniversary trip to share.  We still have sights to see,

miles to travel, people to visit and memories to share.

Well, until next time you get to stop by the front porch ......

know that we are blessed beyond measure.

Take care.

HOW THE SUPER BOWL HAS TURNED INTO THE 'SNOW BOWL!"

FORECAST!? 1/2 TO 1 1/2 INCHES!

REALITY-8 INCHES!

SNOW ON TOP OF ICE-PERFECT COMBINATION HERE IN TEXAS FOR

A DISASTER...

WINTER WONDERLAND! AND A WONDER IT IS.....

4TH DAY THIS WEEK SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES AND OF COURSE

ROADS CLOSED.

EVEN THE POND WAS FROZEN AND COVERED WITH SNOW!

DUCKS SEEM TO ENJOY......

ANYWAY, TOOK A BLOG OFF IN WRITING ABOUT THE

40 YEAR ANNIVERSARY TRIP PREACHER AND I TOOK LAST SUMMER

AND SHARING SOME OF OUR 'WARM' TEXAS WEATHER WITH YOU.

It is usually 57 degrees here ......give or take a few degrees. However, this week has been

a record breaker in many ways.  We jokingly call it 'global warming'. 

It has turned Big D into a winter wonderland...much to the agnst of the

SUPERBOWL POWERS THAT BE. 

My take on all this? a) SIGNS in the heavens and earth

b) in the light of

economical distress-let's think about our

PRIORITIES

Anyway, thanks for stopping by the front porch...BRRRRRRR cold, snow and ice...not our usual greeting.  Looking forward to warmer,

brighter, sunnier, nicer, less stressful, more relaxing, sweeter, and calmer days here on the front porch.

Until we meet again......keep the faith and stay warm!

40 YEARS IN THE MAKING!

Welcome!  Welcome!  Thanks for stopping by the Front Porch.  Busy the last few days...really last few week I guess.  School, church, family...sounds like life!  Anyway decided to take some time the next few weeks, maybe even months and look back 40 something years....walk down memory lane....stopping to smell the roses....a blog jog journal of the my life.

This is going to me sharing some pictures, memories and highlights.  So sit a spell for now and get comfortable.  We'll visit for a while and when you need to go just move on.  We'll say so long until next time.

Well, where do I begin???  Think for today I'll begin with this past summer.  Yep, this past summer.  You see the Preacher and I got to take one of those rare trips with just me and him, him and me ...just the two of us.  We decided to take a camping trip.  Now for some crazy reason we in our old days still love camping!  I love the great outdoors....I think the Preacher loves building and sitting around the camp fire...100 degrees-sweat pouring down your face....he still loves those campfires...

Anyway, featured today is the Big Blue Dodge Dakota....a good ole truck that just keeps running along.  We packed it front, back seat and the bed of the truck packed to overflowing too....just the two of us but I think I packed everything BUT this front porch.

We take off...it had been a busy summer...I worked summer school...it was close to time to start school again-but we set our date and time. set and this trip was awhopping 10 days!!  10 days away from the Barnyard....a treat indeed...thanks to young son Tim and his little two guys who were going to keep a watchful eye and the Barnyard crew


..truck packed and off we go to one of our favorite places...Smoky Mountains...we are not real crazy about Pigeon Forge and all the commerical too much to do...too much money activities.  But we do love those mountains-beautiful...refreshing for the body, soul and spirit.  So off we go into the wild blue yonder.  We had a tent, sleeping bags, and all the gear needed.. EXCEPT Arkansas, Tennessee and several other states were in the grip of a HEAT WAVE!.. Anyway, first night we stop and camp in Arkansas...at a state park...it was pretty nice a little too crowded for our liking and HOT HOT HOT....long night indeed....back on the road and what was the highlight of this little stop was a CRACKER BARREL right there ...had to pass right by it to get back on the highway.  Well, you can guess we just had to pull in there.  One of the best if not the best breakfast meals we ever had-anywhere..anytime..good stuff indeed!

Finally, we make it to Tennessee....second night we found another state park with some of the most unusual camp sites I ever saw.  Huge pillars holding up huge beams on which you pulled your truck, RV or whatever on and set up there high in the air overlooking a beautiful lake.  We make camp, fixed some supper and yep Preacher built us a nice fire.... It was a little cooler-still hot-but oh so pretty and the night sounds so relaxing.  Take a look at those pillars....a real wonder to build...the bonus was that no one was close by at all...as a matter of fact we drove all around and counting us there were only 3 campers in the whole park....nice...quiet and relaxing......say you gotta go...understand...stop by again and I'll be ready to share more adventures and pictures of '40 years in the making'!  Until we visit again..........be blessed from the front porch.

LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW AND IT DID!!

And snow it did...an unusual site here in the barnyard!

A WINTER WONDERLAND

Tim's car.....snowbound!

The path to the barnyard...snow covered-but beautiful!

Yes, it did snow today....big flakes, wet the kind that sticks to the trees and roads and everything.  It would have been great snowman weather...no grandkids around to do that and frankly I'm getting too old and its just too cold for me and the Preacher to frolic in the snow.

Instead, we went to church-had a good service...slip and slid all the way home...to a Sunday dinner of ribs, mac and cheese, veggies, bread and a brownie dessert.  Cozy fire and hot coffee made the afternoon perfect!

He took a nap, and me I did the usual ...farm chores, house chores and catching up on this and that.

Anyway, thanks for stopping by the snowy....cold front porch.  By the way...at the end of the week temps will be back in the 60's.......go figure!  IT'S TEXAS! 



"I HAVE CREATED FIRE!"

Welcome to the front porch! Well, the Preacher did it! He built a big roaring fire! It is nice and warm, and oh so cozy. Now the bad weather has not moved in .....yet. It is suppose to start late tonight and early tomorrow and continue throughout the day. This is NOT want any preacher wants to hear on a Saturday!!! It is hard enough to get church folk to be faithful in attendance-even on a good day. But especially around here-
s n o w sends chills and thrills and general over all p a n i c to people in the Dallas area. So we will see. For the meantime, to quote Tom Hanks in his big scene....."I have created fire!'...I guess it is a 'man thing??" Anyway, thanks for stopping by...brrrr...bundle up, stay warm and stop by again real soon!

THE FRONT PORCH IS READY!!

Well, the front porch is ready indeed! The preacher said, "There's a cold front coming and I need a little firewood'. Firewood, firewood and more firewood! The woodbox is overflowing and there is more wood stacked on the front porch. Our sons, Tim and Joe, would be pleased! They love building fires and at Christmas kept all of us warm and cozy (sometimes a little too warm!). An unusual cold spell is due this weekend...maybe a little snow! Did I say SNOW? Yes, sure did!! But with soup simmering on the stove, warm bread baking in the oven, a fresh hot cup of coffee, sitting next to the warm fire, and chatting with the Preacher....what could be better??.....God is indeed good! Until we chat again on the front porch, stay warm in body, soul and spirit!

1/1/11 The New Year Begins

Greetings from the front porch here in Texas. Kinda cold here tonight. BUT Happy New Year. A New Year, new season and new beginning. A time of lookng back-some regrets, missed opportunities, shortcomings-overall a time to let go...'it is what it is'-has become my new motto. Things happen both good and bad with so much of it being out of our control. Let it go-'forgetting those things behind and pressing forward to the mark...the prize set before us'.


What lies ahead in 2011??..Joe just preached via ustream about the unsteadiness of 2010. His message was to take a cue from Joseph and as we encounter and endure our season in transistion-a prison of sorts-to look at the people God places in our path. Joseph's first encounter was with the butler, one who prepares, then the baker-one who takes all the ingredients and makes 'it' all come together and then finally pharoah-the one who promotes and lavishes blessings and favor on us.


Interesting....can we get a little closer to 'heaven in 2011?'...by that I mean seek Him a little longer and stronger...trust Him a lot more for what He has in store....serve Him in what ever position or situation we may find ourselves in.

What joy to know no matter what 2011 brings We can abide in Him and He abides with us.

Until next time we meet on the front porch...May the joy of the Lord be yours.