A mean mood

Is your mood of the moment trying to ruin someone else's?

I don't have time to elaborate now.... but I do intend to get back to this subject!

Until then, have an awesome day.... in a GOoD mood!

Seeing behind the "Seens"

Pondering aloud....

You know.... you've got wonder what all your prayers do? What it effects? What it changes? What it does - that human eyes don't know? What it moves - that was stilled until then? What now happens that wouldn't have - if you hadn't? What doesn't happen - because you did?

Hmmm......

I wonder if it's part of Heaven's tale that's told when we get there? Will it be part of our "Entertainment Tonight" for our viewing with pop-corn and coke and plenty of butter... with milk duds and hot tamales and all your favorite kinds of candies? Will it be a kind of "The rest of the story" (as Paul Harvey would dub it) to show us our prayer's trail (where all it went, who it touched, what it changed, what it kept from changing, all its affects) alway to its end? Will our eyes finally be opened to see what all went on "behind the scenes"............. or behind the "SEENS" as I've decided to call it? Wonder what all goes on 'behind' what we can see [behind our "seens" (or, our "unseen seens")] that is actually more real than what we can?

I've been praying for a girl, her boys, and her ex-husband for how many years now? Several! There are many "behind the seen" scenes that went un-seen that are too shameful and horrific to tell in their saga. I watched (as a guest in their audience) a lot of their scenes myself. Time won't let its moments be recaptured, but time also fades (and sometimes distorts) the memory to a different story from what actually happened even if I could find the words to contain exactly what happened. Of course, what good would it do? I don't know the full story of it anyway. Sum it up to say (without seeing all the scenes behind it), I prayed so hard for that girl and her boys and her marriage. I so asked, cried, begged, and pleaded with God to put back together again what man couldn't. "Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall," I'd pray. "Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put Humpty together again....." but I knew God could! And so I prayed so hard asking Him to! It didn't seem to work. Divorce was threatened. Filed. Fought for. And finalized. It was ugly to the last drop! Mean! Mean! Mean! Vicious! And ferocious! Yet even the pen hitting the page to sign and to sever (what was once promised in a vow not to) didn't stop the ugly from its continual shredding. It's been how many years now? And it's still mean. Finished... but still not done. The fire still flames in an ever growing fury from the fuel of its hatred - that's wrought out in an ugly mean.

STILL!

Even after all of that, STILL! I still KNOW the One that can! And for some crazy reason I'm still hoping Him to! The One Who can put back together again the shredded tears and tears (as in the 'tear' that rips, and the 'tear' that drips!) of mean. So still I ask Him to! God's gotta cup-full of the tears I've cried in all my asking for Him to help do it. Just recently I cried buckets about over it all over again.... telling Him to let us SEE His GLORY here (because He indeed would get the Glory if done), because no man can repair that mean that He Alone can mend.

Anyway....................................

The 'seens' haven't changed. (Nor the scenes either for that matter.) The 'seens' that we can see still look ugly and mean. But one thing is different that makes me wonder. It 'appears' to be an even uglier 'scene'. But when I saw it, I couldn't help but wonder if it's because we can't see "behind the seens" of it... and that maybe it's not as ugly as it seems? Maybe the "seen" carries an "unseen seen" with it? And ah, that's what I was hoping for anyway.

Here's what happened. See the stage. Watch the story. We're not in its final act. But perhaps Part 3? 

This scene ("seen") shows the girl in a hospital. Horribly sick. An exaggerated and nasty looking rash all over her face. Her feet and ankles are horrendously swollen. Her feet don't just look blue, but they've turned black! Her hands cover her bowed head that aches so horribly that her hands can't stop holding it. Her eyes stay closed, but squinted tight in efforts to stop it. And her breathing is so haggard and labored and loud that my mama and hers were scared that it'd stop. What I didn't know is that she's been afraid something has been wrong for a long time. So instead of going to a doctor, she's been avoiding them like the plague. As if by her running away from them could make it not so. As if denial could fix it. As if refusal could refute it. As if disbelief could cause its disappearance. I understand that. It sounds like the very exact thing that I might would do. Running from reality, because you don't want to face it because you don't want it to be true.

Suffice it to say, the girl lies in a hospital bed as I write. They're doing tests. She's feeling better. I plan to go see her soon. But what my hope is........... that I have told God again and again and again, "Whatever...... Whatever, God! Whatever! You do whatever You can do to get their attention! You do whatever it takes to get it. PULL them, DRAW them, (YANK them if you must), but please do something to bring them back and put them back together again! Because even apart they're miserable! The hurt won't stop because they won't forgive. And both are still lost without the other."

Jesus' death brought Life! Sometimes so does ours. Not always a physical one (and I definitely hope NOT so in this case), but death of something none the less, to bring Life! For after all, sickness can be the very thing used to make one well.........................................

I don't know.

But, I do know my Hope! And I'll continue to pray. But because of my recent cried-out prayer and the hope that I still hold on to, and her mid-night's rush of last night's venture, I almost feel like that it's a wild route to my answer.. and that perhaps for just a snippet of a second that I got to peek in and to see behind the 'seens' to the unseen one..... and then, I got to see a glimpse of another 'seen' that's not happened yet (them getting back together again). Okay, so I'll admit it, I'm an optimist till the very end!... and sometimes even after then! :)

Thinking about it, I feel that I have also gotten to peek behind several other "seens" that still are not yet seen, as well. Perhaps one day I'll write a book for real? And title it: "Seeing Behind the SEENS!" .... A book that peeks behind the scenes ("seens") to tell the greater story." With stories that show the horrible things that often happen in life that are actually and in reality just being the package that answered prayers are brought to us in. Cause like I said earlier, death is often the very thing that brings life. Sickness is often the very tool used to make well. Blindness can often be used to make the person see. Prisons can be the place that God uses to set the captive free. The list goes on and on, ashes often brings beautiful.... in all kinds of creative ways.

Oh well, that's a ponder for another day. Meanwhile and until then my petitioning continues for God to SHOW HIS GLORY HUGE in their lives. And ours! I'll keep asking Him to join and to mend and to heal all that has such desperate need to be done to redeem and restore and right back again what's been left broken. I'll keep praying for both the "seens" and the "UNseens seens"..... and hope that when it's done that they (and we) can see as Peter and James and John did on the Mount of Transfiguration, "they could see no man, save Jesus Christ only" all over again!

And hey, never loose hope in your 'seens', because there are always 'unseen seens' waiting somewhere behind them. Your 'seen' might very well be the package that your hope is delivered and dressed in. For whoever would have thought that Jesus had to die to give us life? Things are not always as they're seen or like they seem............................... And the play is not over under the curtain comes down. But then again, that's really just when real "Life" gets started.

I miss them already... and we only just met!

 A couple of days ago I prayed to love some guys I had yet to meet, but the next day would get to. I prayed to love them beyond human reasoning. I guess it worked! God answered and honored that prayer! It's been two days since I've seen them... and I've only seen them that once... but I can't quit thinking about them. I can't get them off my mind! I can't stop talking about them. I can't stop praying for them. I can't stop pleading for them. I wish I could go back and talk to them again! They probably will never know... but God, You do! Please bless those guys beyond their wildest imaginations! HELP them in all the ways that they need for You to. Please save them, deliver them, ransom, redeem, and restore them. Free them with the Truth of Your Word.

Do for them as You've done for me! Do for them as You did for the Israelites, "Therefore, say to the Israelites: 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as My own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians" (Exo 6:6-7).

Show them Who You are as a Savior! Help them to KNOW the Great I Am... the LORD our God that brings us out and delivers us out from our yokes of oppression and bondage and slavery! Make them a planting of righteousness, witnesses of Yours, Displays of Your Splendor!

He saved me! And He loves the captives!

 Wow! My God will always continue to amaze me! I stay woe-ed and whoa-ed at the wonder of Him! He is beyond comprehension! Ever loving! Always faith-full! Endlessly compassionate! Forever caring. Continually stretching. A constant wonder!

How GOoD He is!

How sweet He was to me today!

Full of fear still? Yes! But still, I went!

On the way to the prison I still wasn't sure of what I would say! Worse yet, I didn't know my opening line. Not that I normally prepare one. But seriously, I didn't have a clue (even at this late hour) of where to start! I was scared beyond saying! And I sooo wanted to know what I was going to say!

I got to the yard a bit early. I was to go to the "visiting area" which is different than the main part of the prison that I'd been to before.

I was to go to the tower... and when I got there to "holler up to it." (Can you picture this?????) And then, after telling the guard who I was and what I was there for, he was to buzz me into the gate and the director would meet me there.

Okay.

I thought.

Only... when I drove up I don't know exactly what I was expecting. All I could see was a sea of men and I was going to have to walk what seemed like 8 miles beside them before even getting to the tower that I was to holler up to!!!!!

As crazy as my mind thinks, this is what was going through it. "There are people! EVERYWHERE! And, oh my, they're all walking around!"

Now, I don't exactly know what I thought they would be doing. And why them "walking around" surprised me so. Nor why it paralyzed me. I'm not sure. But honestly, I did not think that I would be able to make myself get out of my vehicle! I didn't know how I'd be able to do it!

Perhaps I didn't. But God did! And when it was time to (not a minute before!), I found myself walking the "8 miles" beside the wires that held the multitudes (or so it seemed!).... who weren't only standing there walking around,... but now, everyone of them were staring at me!

Ugh!

I heard one inmate holler to me asking if I were there for the Pre-Release program? Yes, I told him, I was. And for some crazy reason that calmed me. I guess I thought it was okay if he were expecting me. What I didn't know then, that I quickly found out, was that he (and all of the other multitudes staring) wouldn't be part of the Pre-Release crowd that I'd be talking to. Thankfully there were no vulgarities yelled. I felt that God had graciously (for me!) closed the mouths of the lions in their den. No disrespect intended. But I know that seeing a girl walking up after being locked up so long, surely provoked some mouths wanting to "say."

Finally! 

I got to the tower... dreading the "holler" that I was supposed to yell, but thankfully, the guard hollered down to me before I had to holler up at him. (Of course, on the way out I had to holler... and holler a whole bunch of times before he could hear. Oh, how embarrassing!!! Are you remembering that I have an audience of the multitudes watching me in their yard?!) He was all ready and set for my arrival. I had no problem at all getting in.

He buzzed me through the gate to a huge yard of I-haven't-a-clue-of-where-to-go-next opening. I looked back up him, asking him where I was going, and though he didn't verbally tell me, his hand pointed that way. I walked toward the pointing... and hoped I would find it!

After a few more miles (another exaggeration) I saw more inmates hanging around. Obviously these were the guys that I was being sent to. They, too, pointed the way.. and after what seemed forever I arrived at my building.

Woe, I opened the door with more people inside. A whole new bunch of them! Sitting around at picnic tables (set up for "visiting")... staring just like all the others had done! Every eye in the room held fast and fastened on me! Welp, at least I had their attention.

What to do next, I wondered?

And that's when I saw the director walking toward me. I've never been so excited to see someone I knew (or at least, someone I'd met before) in my life.

She introduced me in a lickity-split second, and boom, I had the floor!

All I know is that I opened my mouth not knowing what would come out... but to my excited amazement something did! I couldn't tell you what it was now. But it sure seemed to work for them then!

These guys were great. Perfectly attentive. They all smiled. Laughed at my weird humor. Nodded when they got my point. Awed every now and then at some points that hit harder. Raised their hands and commented along the way. I must say, I don't think it could have gone any better! I felt welcomed, heard, respected, and loved automatically. I liked them all instantly! I feel I now have their faces engraved on my mind. And now, as before, I would like to go back and talk with them again. I think this time it would be easier. And this time I could tell them how much more I care. Because this time, more than before, they're even more real! I now have a whole new bunch of boys that my heart bleeds for! I will hold them tenderly... each one in my prayers! I'll carry them to the foot of the Throne of Grace and beg God's mercy, His grace, His deliverance, His healing... they already have His heart and His love! May they feel more woo-ed to Him! May He draw them ever nearer! May He use them when they get out (and even while they're still there) mightily!

How can you love so deeply... guys you've only just met?!!! For already, they've stolen my heart.

"The Lord hears the needy and does not despise the captives" (Ps 69:33)!

Now... saying all of that... this is how I felt today: "Then the LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned with their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them... the cry of Israel has reached Me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go, I am sending you.. to bring My people out" (Exo 3:7-10).

Oh Lord, will you indeed release and free them! And set them free to stay!

Okay... who am I kidding??? I'm SCARED!

God is so sweet in His reminders!

But I'm scared!

And though He tells us "to fear not."... is it okay if we still "fear"? 

How about... if we still "fear," but walk anyway? For that's where I am. Fearful... yet willing to go to where I've been called. Trusting my God to equip with the sending. Knowing He will, because of all of the past times that He's not failed me. Still... it's out of my comfort zone, but I know it's not out of His! I promise I'm going... but honestly, I really, really, really am still very, very scared!!!!

I am to speak at a mens' prison tomorrow for their Pre-Release Program. I must admit, I am the most unlikely candidate to be chosen for this job. Humanly speaking it's pretty ridiculous for me to do so. But God doesn't necessarily "choose" who we would! Me, being the prime example in this scenario. God is into choosing the "foolish things of this world to confound the wise." I am definitely a foolish thing chosen!

But "chosen" I am and God was kind enough and GOoD enough and gracious enough to remind me of it.. in the wildest of ways ever! IF ONLY you knew of my past weekend!!! It's too much to tell here at the moment. But I do hope to share some of it soon... that is, if my schedule will let me.

God knowing my weakness, my fear, my conscious awareness of my inadequacy, my wobbling-wonder-of-oh-my-goodness because of my tomorrow's assignment.... God evidently chose to gift me with a "me-seeing-God-see-me" moment on my way to work this morning. How constantly awed I am in my Savior! Here's what He did...

The lesson that God spoke to me on the radio as I drove into work was on how He provides for is in our inadequacies! The speaker talked of Moses standing at the burning bush asking God, "Who I am" to go and to do what God was telling him to? It was about God choosing the most unlikely people to use. And how God always equips with the sending. How He's always our strength in our weakness. How He never fails us in our obedience to Him.

I wanted to cry on my drive. To think of the extend that He went to to set that all up. To plan it so perfectly. To time it so exactly. To make sure I was tuned into the station. To make sure I heard! Wow, to think that He cares when I'm scared and that He wants to settle and calm my nerves! I suppose that's an example of His being a "very present help in times of trouble" to those that cry out to Him! He hears me! He sees me! He WILL prepare and equip me! Whoa at the wonder of our God!

And now... now would be a good time, Lord! Morning comes early... and as for this moment, I haven't a clue of what You're wanting me to say! I pray for the words. And I pray for every ear on every man that will hear them! I ask You to tender their hearts! And to let them hear You speaking to them no matter what words actually fall from my lips.  I soo know that You love them. Help them to somehow see Your love through my skin while I'm standing there. Make me an instrument of Yours, a burning bush that shows the consuming wondering fire of my God... and make them want to know You and love You and serve You when done. Light a fire inside them that wants to make a difference in this life until You take them to the eternal one. Dying to self so our Savior can Live in it!

Oh Lord, I want to love these guys like You do! I really do want to see them past their skin! To see them past what they've done. To love them regardless. And to see what they can become! Help me tonight as I lay sleeping to LOVE these guys beyond measure! Give me an overwhelming compassion for them! A tenderness toward them! A love inside that defies man's reasoning. Fill me up to love them with Your love and not mine! And, Lord, help those men to feel it!

Funny, they won't have a clue that I am crying over them now. Sitting alone on my bed with You talking about them! That I take it so seriously! Thank You, Father, for giving me a heart for them! For those You sent Your Son to die in order to save! Oh Lord, please get me past myself and let me be fully useable and open and assessable for You to use! Help my focus not be on ME and my fear... but help me to be totally consumed and focused on those that You're sending me to! How honored I am that You'd pick and use my skin! May I honor You back in the way I allow You to! Let me only be the vehicle tomorrow that Jesus rides in! And Jesus, may I scoot over so that You can do Your thang! Bless 'em mightily! Bless 'em royally! And may they hear You calling their name! May they not be able to resist the drawing of their Savior! What a God we serve!

In the glorious and mighty name of the Jesus I love!

Amen!

We're "Why-ers"! We "Why" a lot!

"Why?"

It's a question we often ask, we often wonder, we often ponder. We meditate hours over it, we contemplate, we mull over, we think on, we speculate. "Why did you do that?" "Why did I?" "Why did this happen?" "Why me?" "Why him?" "Why her?" "Why did God let it?"

We're "why-ers" at heart. There are a zillion wonders of "Why" in this world. We "why" about everything. But most "whys" we won't (while in this world anyway) know the answer to. Yet, it rarely stops us from why-ing. It rarely stops us from wondering. It rarely stops us from being hurt by it, hurt from not knowing.

Wonder at how many "Why God" God gets? Wonder at the hearts that cry it? The voices that yell it? Those broken that bellow it? I wonder at His heart when He hears it?

One Sunday while in church our preacher read from Matthew 14 which tells of Peter's walk on the water. Until, that is, he removed his eyes from those of his Savior's and fastened them onto the boisterous waters instead. The waves that threatened. The winds that blew ferociously. We know the sermon. We've heard it often. It's then that Peter began to doubt and so started to sink.

Verse 31 tells us that "Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. "You of little faith," He said, "why did you doubt?"

It was then that for the first time I saw it. Well, not exactly. I've seen it lots. Read in many times. It's just on that day I noticed what it said. The preacher didn't point it out... but trust me, God had it pointed at me! The word jumped off the page at me. I knew that Jesus pointed out Peter's lack of faith and asked him why did he doubt? But it's really the very first time that I saw Jesus question as we do. Jesus Himself asked Peter our question. Jesus asked Peter, "Why?"

And now I wonder how many times Jesus has asked me my own question? I wonder how many times Jesus has asked me my same question back? When I've wondered "why" to Him, I wonder if He asks me back, 'You of little faith. WHY, Sharon, do you doubt? Why?'

If He is Who He says He is.... If He really is Who He is... then why do I? For after all He is our SAVE-ior. It's why He came. It's what He came for! To save us from ourselves. To save us from our sin. To save us from our prisons. To release us from our cells. To save us from our sickness. To heal us from our sorrow. And even to redeem and save us from our situation when our circumstances and situation at the moment don't change. He has a plan. He's got a purpose. Though we don't see it, there's glory at stake! There's a Display of God's Splendor to show. There's a reason. And God can use it!

"Is anything too hard" for our Savior?!

Even in our wonder of 'why'?

Hmmm... perhaps our road to "Why" just opens an avenue for the wonder of the glory of our Savior? How He'll appear? How He'll ransom? How He'll redeem and show victory through the darkness, because there's Light to magnify and reflect His brilliance on the other side?

Instead of "why"... should we not wonder where this road will take us? And wonder what all He'll show us on the journey He's got us on? And wonder at its purpose??... what glory from it that God plans to bring?

Amazing, isn't it, that most of us have not noticed Jesus' "why" before! It takes on a whole new wonder, doesn't it? Thinking of Jesus asking us, "Why do you doubt Me?" while we're asking Him why something is happening!

I love the new revelation! I just hope that the next time I wanna "Why?" that I'll remember it!

Honestly? I haven't a clue! But I know Who does!

I had a friend call me in their despair. In their wonder of the moment of the "bad place" that they're in. Actually, it's not such a "bad place" really. Not one chosen of rebellion. Just a hard place. An unknown. A place of not knowing where to go or what's next.

They called in hopes that I'd help them there.. though I didn't know what to do with it. I don't have the answers they're seeking for. Honestly, other than prayer (which is HUGE), there's not much more I can do for them.

After getting off of the phone from all the things that they said, I wrote them an email. Here's what I said... maybe you're in a hard place and you can't see where you're going? Maybe you're afraid you might lose your job (like them) and you really don't want to? Maybe something written to them might help you too?


Hey friend!

Wow! Well... what a way to drop something in someone's lap and go! I'm not exactly sure what I'm supposed to do with what you've told me. You asked for my thoughts on it. But I'm not sure that my thoughts matter so much... or how my thoughts would benefit you. One thing I'll ask though, what would you say if I asked you if you believed that it was God that brought you to the place you are now? I'm assuming that you would say that He did. Well, if He brought you there, He'll lead you to your next step. And if He has plans for you to stay - you will. If He don't - you'll leave. If He has plans for you to teach - you'll do that too. But if He has plans for something else - you won't. And if you're to have a season of silence - .... well then, it might not be as bad as you think it is. There's a season for everything, you know. I know you're well acquainted with the Scripture that says, "In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths" (Prov 3:6). Either He will or He won't, and He says that He will.... thus He has to, because He's faithful. And I (and I'm sure you) believe Him.... so then, what's the wonder?

Okay, so that's easy for me to say in my over here, huh? Because often when God is "directing your path" it isn't always so easily seen in the neon-flashing-lighted ways that we want Him to show us. Nor is it readily given out loud at the first asking. But He's Sovereign and Faithful, and He knows exactly what it is that He wants you to do and where and when it is that He wants you to do it. Matter of fact, He wants it more than you do. So, if you stay bowed in prayer and stay in His Word, He's always faithful to guide you.

One thing I tell Him all of the time, "God, I don't know till I do. And if I missed it, I didn't mean to. And if I meant to, I'm sorry. But I can't know until You tell me loud enough so that it's so evident that it's too obvious to miss."

We make our plans the best we know how, but God is the One that determines our steps (Prov 16:9; 19:21). How can we know if we don't? We really just don't know until we do... and He's better at it than we are and knows more than we do. Not only that, He knows what He wants.

I know I'm not telling you one thing that you don't already know. It actually seems a bit silly to me to even be saying it. I'm sure (or perhaps assuming?) that you'd say the same things to me if I were the one asking. You know today before you told me what you were thinking you expelled this great breath as if the hydrolics on a machine were letting down a heavy load (you can tell I grew up around construction, can't you?). But I really don't think it's as heavy as you think (or feel) that it is. If it's according to God's plan.. it's all in His hands.. and it's all up to Him. You're just the pawn to be moved at His will anyway. How will you know, unless and until He tells you? And why wouldn't He eventually, because you won't know until He does?

This is almost my favorite kind of stuff. Living the in the I-don't-knows of God.. and in the humbled waiting wonder of Him in His plan. (Of course, on this side of it anyway, on your side it's harder.) But truth be told, it's all about His will and His plan anyway... and He'll order your steps as He sees fit to, and usually by only giving you only enough light for the next step to put your foot in, and only one day at a time.

What are you asking me for? You know I don't have the answers. But I'm crazy about the One that does. Basically, you're just the putty in His hands... and if you're yielded to Him and not fighting Him in it, it's the best place in all of the world to be... and you're guaranteed that He'll fulfill His plans for you whatever that might be (Psalm 138:8).

I'm so elementary. I'm not eloquent nor studious nor highly intelligent, I'm just an old country girl that a man married and stuck in the city.... but I am one that knows where her guidance comes from! I'm one that knows The Planner! The One that has purpose for me. The One that has a will for me. And I'm happy to go to Him in all of my I-don't-knows to ask for His wisdom! Being that He is Who He is... He's always willing to give it!

I trust He'll show you His plan.... one step at a time (and rarely before it). And I trust that His plan is greater than yours can imagine!... simply because He says it is (1 Cor 2:9)! I can't wait to see what He has planned for you! It's bound to be glorious! Woe at the wonders of God... and the plans He has for those who love Him!

Oh... that is funny!

My daughter asked me if a guy could come over for a few minutes because "he is having girl problems and needs to vent"?

Hmmmm.....

Interesting!

I couldn't resist. I had to rag her about it first. Joke around. Poke fun. Play stupid.

She reminded me that he had come by the other night for the same reason. I asked her what they talked about? She said that he asked, "What does it mean when a girl tells you she's not happy?"

I asked her what part of "I'm not happy" does he not understand? The "I'm" part? The "not"? Or the "happy"?

She said, "Well, he said that a week before she told him she was happy. Then, the next week, she told him she's not."

I laughed hysterically at him saying so. I told her, "Doesn't he know that a woman is always only one moment away from a new mood?"

We're moody characters! Emoters! Always emoting some emotion or another in only a matter of seconds! Any reason can set it off! Or simply no reason at all really!

Bless our guy's hearts! Who can understand us! If not for Jesus, we'd all be crazy!

I love my girl!... and the guy who's trying to understand a girl that he can't. :)

Funny too!

While looking for a picture to put with this post. I ran across a blog that said, "Whatever it is, I hate it! I am in a bad mood. Or maybe it's a sad mood. Possibly even a minor depression. Hopefully just a funk. Maybe I'm just in need of junk food? Honestly, I have no idea what kind of mood I'm in. I have cried two or three times today. I have gotten angry way more times than I should have. I have laughed less than half as much as usual.... I am not normally like this. I don't know what's causing it. I don't even know what it is. But whatever it is, I hate it."

Case in point!

Point successfully made! :)

Listen!

Listen! You might be surprised!

God tells us that from the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34; Luke 6:45). And it does! We can't help but spill what we're filled with. The mouth tells on and exposes the heart!

Listen!

Not to what others say. But listen to what you do!

For who can discern the heart? Who can figure it out? Who can repair it, restore it, redeem it, renew it... but God?

Listen!

For we won't really know or realize what's in our hearts until we hear it speak out. Take notice. Recognize it. Listen and see. And then know, that it only speaks (unless being deceptive or lying) of what we put in it. What are you filling your heart with? What comes out of your mouth that gives proof of what you are?

Does it whine a lot? Complain much? Ridicule? Persecute? Peck on? Pick on? Does it show it's disastisfied? Envious? Hurt? Jealous? Embittered?

Does it put down? Make excuses? Always want? Tell the negative? Praise at all? Lift up? Build up? Put down? It is pleasant to hang around?

Does it see (and so show) the good in others? Or only tell of the bad?

Is it content? Critical? Cynical? Judgmental? Hurt? Harmful? Mean? Enraged? Mad? Joyful? Happy? Sad?

The heart is deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9)! It will lie to you like a dog! But the mouth reveals what's in it. Your tongue exposes it. Your saying shows it.

Listen to what you say to see what's inside!

On Wednesday at one of my PWHD (Princess Warriors in Human Disguise) Groups someone asked the question about abiding. We were talking about the scriptures in John 15:4-9 that say, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered;... If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples. As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue [abide] ye in My love."

I would say Jesus is attempting hard to make a point, for in six verses He uses the word "abide" eight times! Then, interestingly, it is used three more times in the next two verses and the once again in the sixteenth.

For years I had the hardest time with that word "abide." Or even the versions that changed that abiding word to "remain." I still, for some reason, had a hard time grasping its meaning. Finally, I got it! We're abiders! We're all abiding in and remaining somewhere! We're dwellers. We're tarry-ers. And in our dwelling in a place or a thing, we're filling up with what and where we're dwelling.

Abide is the word "meno" in the Greek. It's defined as:

• to remain
• to sojourn
• to tarry
• not to depart
• to continue to be present
• to be constantly present
• to be held, kept, continually
• to continue to be
• to last
• to endure
• to survive
• to live
• to continue
• to dwell
• to wait for
• of one who cleaves and holds fast to a thing

What are you abiding in? Where are you remaining? Tarrying? Continuing? Sojourning? Staying? Being constantly present in? Refusing to depart from?

What holds you? Keeps you? What do you cleave and hold fast to? What are you living in?

It can be as simple as a TV series or sports, the past or the future, an old hurt, an old want... or maybe a new one. Whatever you "abide" in... it "abides" in you. You think about it and thus talk about it.

It can be a bitterness, a death of something, a guilt, a regret, a grudge, a resentment, a love, a longing.

What do you "dwell" on? Where's your heart stayed? What's stayed in it?

If you don't know. If you're not sure. Listen! Your mouth can't help but reveal it. We spill what we're filled with. There is no stopper strong enough to stop it up. It will eventually spill over and out!

We sing what we see. What are you seeing that your saying reveals?

Listen!

And hear what's inside. You might be surprised what others are hearing.

I'm challenging you, because I'm challenging myself. Listen! But be careful not to listen so much to others, our biggest challenge is to listen to our ownselves!

Lord, today this verse is my prayer, "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer" (Ps 19:14)!

Driving three Daisies!

     I was the chauffeur in Driving Miss Daisy... but my vehicle held three "Daisys" and my venture wasn't filmed. I took them to Atlanta where we stayed with my aunt (another "Miss Daisy") who is dying. It was both bitter... and sweet. They couldn't seem to keep from sharing their sarcasm and their strong opinions, or from showing their attitudes, or telling me which lane to get in, which turn to make, where to stop, where to get gas, and where to eat... but then, they would apologize soon after they did so (usually after they'd gotten their way). Three "Daisys" on our drive there and back, all with very differing opinions and advice..... I found myself enjoying them and mostly playing along with them... though sometimes just ignoring them (basically because there's no way in this world that I could make three turns in three different directions all at once).

    My Aunt Carol (the one we went to see) looked defeated and beaten. Tired. She seemed to me to accept the fact that she wouldn't live much longer, as if she'd given in to its battle. At first I thought that she had become okay with the fact, but then I changed my mind. Because she couldn't talk about it, and didn't like anybody else to. They (ignoring Aunt Carol not wanting to) talked a lot about death and funerals. These are all very funny ladies, so despite the sadness that loomed heavily in the air, and though they cried, we also laughed. A lot!

    Uncle Bill seemed lost. Defeated too. And he was already mourning his loss, though she hadn't "left" yet. It was obvious. Not because of his words (he didn't talk much), but it showed all over his face and you could tell he wanted to run from what he found himself facing. I've always loved Aunt Carol, but never have been around Uncle Bill very much. I didn't have an opinion about him one way or the other, but I found that I liked him this week. And that I wished somehow that I could help him. I found out that he's a reader (he loves books) so already I automatically felt a bond because I shared his passion. If I didn't have to leave, I could have sat with him and listened to him read or talk about what he'd read for as long as they'd let me.

    But back to the "Daisys." They apologized (it seemed) for everything. They apologized for their feebleness, and how slow they were. They apologized for their wobbleness when they stood up, and how long it took for their legs to work. They apologized for their "old skin" and all of their wrinkles, and the bruises that had blotched them all purple. They apologized for their "old woman" hair and how they couldn't "doo" anything with it. They apologized for their "cantankerous" ways, and for their constant complaining. They apologized for what they ate, and what they couldn't eat anymore. They apologized for not being able to hear, and what they couldn't see. They apologized for their hurt, and how many pills they took.

    I loved them (because they were so blooming precious) and yet felt sorry for them because they seemed so sorry for what age had done to them (that they had no control over and couldn't do anything about anyway). Not one of them seemed comfortable in their aged skin... and every one of them felt the need to apologize to me over and over again about it.... as if they thought that they'd disappointed me somehow. I thought that they were beautiful, each one of them in their "aged-ness"... but I hated how it made them feel and the insecurity that it gave them.

    I thoroughly enjoyed being "the designated driver" to those precious "Daisys." I'm sure they will be going back to bury the fourth "Daisy" before too long, and I'll offer to drive them again. (You could learn and glean lots from such Daisys.) They thanked me for what I'd done, yet I couldn't convince them that I found the pleasure all mine.

    I don't want to live to be old.... where I feel the need to have to apologize for what all "old" has done to me. Or rather! I want to live old and appreciate old graciously!

    Oh.... how I love those daisy ladies!

We didnt...but God did!

My oldest girl has always wanted to go to California. She's always wanted to fly. She wanted to go there after she graduated. She wanted to go to school there. To study fashion. And she was accepted by one of the top-rated fashion schools. They actually pursued her. She didn't pursue them. The admissions lady that worked there even told her that that wasn't normal, that usually it was the other way around. Her parents (my husband and I) wouldn't allow her to go. We did labor over the pondering of it. But the fear of sending your daughter that far away all by herself at that young age and to a place that is so very full of "worldly".... we couldn't do it. The final decision making moment though, too, was because we really couldn't afford it. After seeking such wisdom, we felt it was God's answer.

That was two years ago. Prissy ended up going to the University of Alabama her first year instead. This past year she stayed home, doing online classes from here. And though her passion for fashion hasn't died, recently she told me that she was glad we didn't let her go. She told me that all of the eight girls that she would have been living with are now lesbians. She told me that she didn't know what she would be now if we had let her! Woe, at the grace of God!

God has been working on her. Wooing her. Drawing her to Him. It's been a wild journey! One He obviously set up Himself... as only He's able to do. Talk about being pursued! She's now being pursued by her Savior... and she's been thrilled and awed and whoa-ed by His wonder! It's been a journey too incredible to tell! But I have loved watching the thrill of it from the sidelines!

And now. Today HE has her taking her first plane ride. HE has her flying (of all places) out to California! Who would have thought it but Him! Who could have planned it so perfectly! He planned the trip, provided for the payment of the trip, and then offered her the invitation! Today her and her dad (that sweet husband of mine) left at His bidding! Woe, does she ever have a trip in store.

It's to a place called J. H. Ranch. It's purpose is to magnify the glory of God, what He did, what He still does, and what He has yet to do. I can't wait to hear all that she'll have to tell when she gets back... though I know most of the awe will be kept hidden deep in her heart. Not because she won't want to share it, but because those kinds of intimate moments alone with God aren't tellable!

She texted me a little while ago. First she awed over the wonder of flying and the beauty that's there. And then while driving from Sacramento to San Francisco (where Tim and her will spend one day before heading to the ranch) she told me that she was about to cry. I asked her why? She responded, "Because the world is so big and so beautiful! Why the heck have we just stayed in one place?" Oh my, her appetite has been whetted! Her curiousity opened. Her awe full-blown. Her want-to now wanting more! It makes me wonder what God is setting her up for and WHERE all He plans to take her???

No doubt, she'll see Him magnificently in the beauty of the ranch and all of its surroundings and in the things that they'll tell her......... But it didn't take that long to start, this God journey has already started with God! While she was packing her bags this morning she was telling me about all that she had prayed to Him right after she got up.

In her "Student Information" part of the application some of what she wrote was this, "I am looking forward to a lot of things. I'm looking forward to being in Cali and enjoying God's nature. I'm looking forward to challenging my walk with Him! I'm looking forward to spending quality time with both my earthly father and my Heavenly One!.... I want to grow closer to God! I want to strengthen my faith! I want to learn how to pray a prayer pleasing to Him, trusting Him instead of begging for things that "I want." I want to learn how to study His Word, instead of flipping through the pages not knowing where to start. I want to learn how to start living my life, stop making plans and enjoy the present...."

Indeed, He is woo-ing her, drawing her to Him, awe-ing her, and making her more aware! I cannot even begin to, I cannot thank Him enough!

"I know the plans I have for you... plans to give you a hope.. and a future" (Jer 29:11)!

Proverbs 16:9, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” Another version says, “A man’s mind plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.” Another, “We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.”

Proverbs 19:21 says something similar, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.”

God knows.... Now, I wonder where all He'll take her! :)

I feel so loved!

I feel soo loved!

I've been out of town. I've been in Gatlinburg with two of my very bestest, BESTEST, FAVORITIEST friends!!! It was wonderful. We had a blast. It was such fun. We all needed it. We couldn't thank God enough for giving us the opportunity to do it. I am blessed beyond measure in the richness of Christ that I have in those I love and that love me back. The encouragement, the advice, the counsel, and the wonder we share together for our Lord is more than I'll ever understand or deserve.

But then...

On the way home from dropping the second friend off at Atlanta's airport my vehicle evidently grew tired. It did (but for a while I didn't think it would actually be able to) get me back to where I belonged.

But let me tell you what my man did.

He ran to the rescue. He came to get me. He came to sit and wait with my vehicle for a tow truck (should my vehicle have needed it) and loan me his car so that I wouldn't have to.

How's that for a knight in shining armor?.... that rides swiftly to the rescue on his white horse that happens to be a white piece of metal.

I had a blast with my friends. But the love I felt when I got home totally overwhelmed me! Wildly, I have never loved my man like I love him now. Not because of him coming to get me, but because we've been through so much, we've stuck it out, we've hated each other.... UNTIL we loved again! And oh, the bliss, of the second portion of love! Real love! Not infatuation. Not conditional. Not in the lovely. But love that is kind when I don't deserve it. When love has reasons for counting wrongs, but doesn't. When love tries patience, and patience perseveres. When love doesn't fail, no matter the failure between us (even if it first falls and has to get up again)........

I love.... and I feel very much loved! I have never felt so loved... and have never loved so much.

Don't even try it! I'm not herdable!

I ate dinner with two friends that I haven't seen since high school! Wow, that was wild! Talk about going back in time! We had a blast in our time travel!

As we were leaving Michelle was telling us about her brother's dog that is now living with her mother. She told us that it was a breed that was embredded to herd. Thus, being that the dog tries to herd everything in her path, she's afraid for her mom. Her mom's older. Feebler. She's afraid the dog (in her herding attempt) will try to herd her and hurt her by causing her to fall down.

In my crazy way of thinking, I loved the visual!

I loved it!

I told her that I've had a few people in my life trying to "herd" me too. And now, after hearing about her dog, I've finally figured out the name for it. I told her that next time someone tried to herd me astray and make me fall that I was going to know exactly what they're doing and tell them, "I am not herdable! Not get ouf of the way and leave me alone!"

Hilarious! I think Michelle thought I was crazy. But like I said, I've had a blast with the visual!

How are your fillings?

On my facebook's status this morning I posted, "How are your fillings? And I do mean fillings... I don't mean feelings. What are you filling up with? And how's that working for ya?"

The thing of it is, we like to share our fillings! We like to fill others up with the same fillings that we're filled up with until the other person is soon filled with the same fillings that we are so that they're feeling the same things that we do.

After posting my status, it didn't take long for my day to provide me a prime example...

Thankfully, this morning it happened to be my husband's actions that illustrated the point so perfectly. It just as easily could have been (and too often has been) me. We've all done it. We all do it. Daily! Here's an example of what I mean.

My husband woke in a good mood. We were readying for church. He was singing. He had his praise music on. He was anticipating the day. But soon, something happened that quickly irritated him. Did I say irritated? The man was beyond irrate! NOT happy! NOT happy! NOT at all happy! Shall we say: Fuming!

So... being that he was quickly 'filling' with fury... he wanted to share.

I thought, "No thank you, I'm happy with my fillings! Yours doesn't look so appealing! Doesn't look fun! I don't want to be filled (and thus feel) what you're feeling. Thank you though. Maybe some other time."

I tried to discourage his fillings and fill him with what I was filled with. I was still in my good mood. He wasn't having it. The ire within him was rising. He was still filling with aggravation. He didn't have room for mine.

So.

Knowing that I couldn't hang around him too long while he spilled without having his fillings spilling over into mine, I left the area! I went to the sweet haven of my bathroom to finish painting the face and dooing the hair for church that was to start in a little while.

I tried again in a few minutes.

He did too.


I wondered (seriously!) if I even wanted to ride with him to church. I was afraid I'd be filled with fury after listening to his by the time we got there if I did. Instead, we both knew that the other didn't want to hear it. I kept my mouth shut in my happy. He kept his shut in his mad.

The funny thing about fillings... is that once it starts filling up with whatever it's filling up with, it looks for similar fillings to add to the filling. In other words, in his irrateness, he looked for other things to get mad about. Any mad would do. He went back and brought up yesterday's... and then found things to borrow from tomorrow's. He was mad again about things done in the past, and was madder about what would possibly happen that hadn't happened yet.

That's the crazy thing about fillings!

Fillings rarely make sense!

Church helped. He got away from the object of his anger and was surrounded with happy people. It honestly worked for a while.

Until!

We went out to eat after church. And while ordering we got a phone call. Totally different incident. But similar, in that what he had previously planned was (as earlier) quickly changed, and he became furious again. I told him that once he realizes that he has absolutely no control over almost everything, he'll be miserable. There is freedom once you figure that out and quit trying to.

It didn't help.

Again, he sponged up yesteryear's aggravations and anticipated the future ones.

I tried hard for a while. I was happy. Seriously so! I kept telling him and I literally held up my hand, "Nope. I don't want to hear it. Let's don't talk negative. We've got so much to be thankful for. Don't ruin our lunch."

Well. Fury doesn't like to be thank-full. It doesn't have room for it! It's already fury-full! And it surely doesn't want to be told to exchange its fury for thank! I know this. But still, I was trying.

I finally began getting a bit irate myself. I told him. "Do not pour your fillings into me. If you've got ugly fillings (feelings!) please keep them to yourself. I don't want 'em! I don't want to be filled to feel bad!"

Of course by this time, he'd poured so much of his fillings into mine whether I wanted him to or not, that I was filling up with what he was. Not anger toward the things that he was angry about, but angered toward and at him!

And I'll be dog! After I was fuming with my fillings of fury, he was all happy then! He'd accomplished what he'd wanted to... to get me filled to feel like he was!

Ugh!

I sat there for a few minutes silently steaming. Not talking at all. (I hate to do that in public!) Sitting there in my silent 'filled up' moment, I knew I had a choice. I decided not to stay there. To let it go. To fill myself with love again. For, after all, our subject matter in class was: Love is patient. It's kind. It doesn't boast. It keeps no record of wrongs................ I kept remembering what was said.

Finally, both feeling better by the time I left, I told him in the car on our drive home. "You know, the bible tells us that from the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Sometimes we have great need to just shut up! Sometimes it's quite embarrassing what our mouths are revealing that our hearts are filled with!"


We're vessels. "Jars of clay." Skinbags (as I like to call 'em). Containers. We're made to fill up. We're made to hold. We're made to contain. We're filler-uppers. We can't help it. Every day that we live we're filling up (and spilling out) with something.

How's your jar? What's your vessel containing? What's your skinbag holding? What's in your inside that bleeds to show out? What do you daily and constantly fill it with? What are filled up on? And how much does the fuel that you chose to put inside you cost you?

How are your fillings feeling? How's it working for ya? And dude, how's it affecting others around you?
.

Let's love 'em to death!

"God help us to weave a tapestry of love and not hate in our children, a spirit of tolerance and caring, a dedication to freedom for all and not just some. God help us to sow seeds of peace and justice in our children's hearts today." ~ Marian Wright Edelman


I do believe that that's so much of the key! We need to LOVE our children!!!! And LOVE 'em to death!!! To the death of their doubts, and fears, and insecurities, and inadequacies, and shame! To the death to their thinking that they're not enough, and never will be! To the death to their feeling that they don't measure up, and that no amount of striving will fill its measure to get them to be! To the death to feeling that they'll never win their parent's approval! To the death of feeling unloved, even when they're unlovable.... or do horrid things of sin, because we're all fallible!

The list is endless! But I think what our children need most is for us as parents to love 'em! To totally love 'em to death!!!!.... so that they can live!

He's my son

He's My Son

By: Mark Schultz

I'm down on my knees again tonight

I'm hoping this prayer will turn out right

See there is a boy that needs Your help

I've done all that I can do myself

His mother is tired

I'm sure You can understand

Each night as he sleeps

She goes in to hold his hand

And she tries

Not to cry

As the tears

fill her eyes

CHORUS:

Can You hear me?

Am I getting through tonight?

Can You see him?

Can You make him feel all right?

If You can hear me

Let me take his place somehow

See, he's not just anyone

He's my son

Sometimes late at night I watch him sleep

I dream of the boy he'd like to be

I try to be strong and see him through

But God who he needs right now is You

Let him grow old

Live life without this fear

What would I be

Living without him here

He's so tired

And he's scared

Let him know

That You'e there

CHORUS:

Can You hear me?

Can You see him?

Please don't leave him

He's my son

Susan wants to be made well.

A friend wrote to me. Here's what he said. "Susan is a Godly woman. She has lung cancer. Stage 4. Doctors refuse to operate. Please pray for a healing."

I wrote back:

I will pray..........

Father, have mercy! Susan wants to be made well.  Jesus, I pray that You will heal her in Your mercy, through Your grace, in Your power, for Your Name's Sake and for Your Glory.  "In Your Name, Jesus," I ask. And Jesus, You said Yourself, "I tell you the Truth, My Father will give you whatever you ask in My name... so that the Son [so that You!!] may bring glory to the Father." 

Jesus, today bring Your Father Glory!

You said, "You may ask Me any-thing in My Name, and I will do it."  Here's an "any-thing," Lord, we're asking You an "any-thing." YOU SAID that You would do the "any-thing" that we asked You to. 

You said, "Don't you believe Me..... [Don't you] believe Me when I say..... [Don't you believe Me] or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves." 

I do believe You.  I do believe You when You "say."  I believe what You've said! 

I believe, too, because of the evidence of those miracles then, and all the evidence I've been shown before and that I've seen since. And after asking Philip if surely he could believe because of the evidence of the miracles that he had seen You perform, Jesus, You then said, "I tell you the truth, any-one who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing.  He will do even greater things than these, because I Am going to the Father.  And I will do what-ever you ask in My Name, so that" You may bring glory to Your Father. 

Ah, Jesus, YOU said, "I tell you the truth!" 

"I tell you the truth...." is it true or is not? 

You said it was true.  I believe Your Truth.  I believe what You've said.  I believe Your word!  I believe what You've spoken.  I believe just because You said so! I believe the Words You've had written in Holy Writ to share with me today.  God breathed. God inspired. The Word that is Alive and Active!  It lives!  It acts!  It does! It is sent forth to accomplish it's purpose. It always accomplishes what it was sent forth to do. It's never said in vain. It never comes back void. You are Truth. And You said, "I tell you the truth!"

Lord, I used to get stuck on the "greater things than these" part of that verse. Asking You so many times about the "greater things than these."  Telling You that I don't see the "greater things than these" that You promised. Asking You, "Where are the greater things than these" that You were talking about? 

But now, my eyes constantly wonder at the "what I have been doing"....  Those "miracles themselves" that You called "evidence."  Why are we not seeing the same things that You had been doing like You said we would? How can we get to the "greater things than these" if we've not yet done the "what [You] had been doing"?

I pray to You today, Lord God Almighty, what Habakkuk prayed to You in his year:  "LORD, I have heard of Your fame; I stand in awe of Your deeds, O LORD.  Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy." 

I remind of You of what is written of You in Psalm 77:14 - "You ARE the God Who performs miracles; You display Your power among the peoples."

It does not say, You were the God who performed (as in used to, but does not anymore); but that YOU ARE the God Who PERFORMS miracles.  "Performs" - as in STILL DOES!  It's part of Who You Are!  It's What You Do! It's like when Moses asked for You to show him Your glory, You said, "I'll show you My goodness."  Because that's how we see Your Glory - through Your goodness - through what You've done!  

And always the "why?" behind the reason You do it is "so that the people will know that You are God and that there is no other." 

Display Your power among the peoples today!  DISPLAY Your power, Your Wonders, Your Deeds, Your Glory, Your Fame.... so that the people may know!  It's for YOUR NAME's sake I ask!  For: Your Name!  For: Your Glory!...... and because You say so in Your Word, and You are Truth.  I'm asking You to heal Susan, to make her well;  because You said I could ask You, and You said You would do it if I did. I'm asking You based on what You said.  And I'm believing You, because You said it!  I'm asking in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.

"Let this be written for a future generation,

that a people not yet created may praise the LORD;

"The LORD looked down from His sanctuary on high,

from heaven He viewed the earth,

to hear the groans of the prisoners

and release of those condemned to death.""

[kvj= "To hear the groaning of the prisoner;

to loose those that are appointed to death."]

So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion and His praise in Jerusalem

when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the LORD."

~ Ps. 102:19-22 ~

"Praise the LORD, O my soul;

all my inmost being,

praise His holy name.

Praise the LORD, O my soul,

and forget not all His benefits -

Who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,

Who redeems your life from the pit

[kjv= "Who redeemeth life from destruction"]

and crowns you with love and compassion,

Who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagles." 

~ Ps 103:1-5 ~

"Yes, LORD, walking in the ways of Your laws,

we wait for You;

Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts."

[kjv="the desire of [our] soul [is] to Thy Name,

and to the remembrance of Thee."]

~ Isa. 26:8 ~