Sisters....

My sister-in-Christ, Connie, steps out boldly:
http://picturetheword.blogspot.com/

On Emma's time

I watched Jane Austen's Emma the other night. I love both versions: one with Gwyneth and one with Kate. The story is so sweet. I couldn't help but stare when I saw Emma and Harriet Smith talking, taking tea together, nearly knee to knee.
Hardly ever do we meet over tea; knee to knee; face to face, to catch up on all the news. We meet for coffee in shops; we meet for dinner in restaurants; we email; we Facebook; we Myspace, we text. In Emma's day, face to face was the only way---save for letters hand-delivered---to communicate. They savored every moment of someone coming to visit. Things were tidy (cuz the "help" did it!) and upon the arrival, everyone straightened up to look as if they hadn't a care in the world when the visitors were announced. Then the visiting began and the focus was on each other, on each other's face and words.
I see my friend Connie very infrequently even though we talk on the phone every day. It was as if God heard my yearning at watching Emma. Connie called me up and said she was coming over to bring me some books to read--and I put the kettle on. It was a sweet visit; hugging in the flesh, face to face. Gracie adores her, and they made over each other grandly (we had to roll the hairy effects of the loving off of Connie's lovely outfit!)
It was the most peaceful part of my day.
Matchmaking aside, Emma knew what she was doing.

Crossroads rest stop...

Well, I may not know where I'm heading, but I'll tell ya one thing. Going back to substitute teach at my favorite school after Christmas break and getting mob-hugged by about 30 little kids is just about the bestest thing in the whole wide world.

New reasons to knock the dust off. . .

Matthew 10:14
If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.
I've always liked this verse. It's sort of a second chance (and isn't our big Daddy the God of second chances?) and speaks to me of moving on, unhindered.
A pastor friend of mine did a live-stream message last week about moving on in 2009. He referenced that passage and put a new light onto it.
We see this as shaking the dust off so we can forget what has not been received and move on.
How about shaking the stuff off so we don't drag the old garbage to the new place?
Ho ho! That's interesting! How much of our old junk do we haul around on our "shoes?" Some of it, I think, we'll really need to scrape off!
Let's move on into 2009 and try not to take a bunch of baggage with us. Let's forgive and forget--perhaps even farther back from 2008! Let's take ownership of what we actually own and let go of what we don't. We can only handle so much. Embrace the new. Let go of the old.
What are some things you need to let go? I'm thinking my list is pretty long!

Shaky start to the new year. . .

Hmmmm. Maybe it'll get better.
Robert and wife, after actually living together for a month or so as a family, married over a year,(along with several other issues) have decided to call it quits. None of us are happy about this, of course, because Michael is at the top of our concerns. However, the kids are looking out for his best interests (so are we all!) and staying in the same town; both will be financially sound as Bob's wife is in the police academy there. She'll be a good officer. Bob is headed to Afghanistan in a couple of months.
No stress there. Please pray for them, and the little one especially.