Friday, September 29, 2017

Cut. Discard. Refocus.

Mostly, we women are more relational than men. (Note: I did not use the word "rational". ) We hang on to people and stuff.  Lot's wife looked back. That was not smart.

Paul had been the designated cutthroat for the Sanhedrin. Wherever he traveled for the Gospel his reputation preceded him.  Was this then,  his "thorn in the flesh?"  Maybe.

The Apostle declared to the Philippians that knowing Christ was worth losing everything. My personal losses are accumulating.  Lord, do I honestly embrace what Paul ultimately understood?

              HIGHER GROUND

I'm pressing on the upward way
New heights I'm gaining every day.
Still praying as I'm onward bound:
"Lord, plant my feet on higher ground."

LORD, LIFT ME UP AND LET ME STAND
BY FAITH,  ON HEAVEN'S TABLE LAND.
A HIGHER PLANE THAN I HAVE FOUND;
LORD,  PLANT MY FEET ON HIGHER GROUND.



Love,  Jo

Friday, September 22, 2017

Who knew?

Char brought life to all those she touched. That Yamaha Grand and I  played no dirges for her memorial. One of my more pragmatic friends Emailed: "Jo, don't mope around. You're right behind her!"

Good for our Hobby Lobby family-in-Christ. In a few weeks, in the mall near our United States Capital in Washington, D.C. they will open a massive Bible Museum,  the likes of which do not exist anywhere else in the world.  Chuckle.

Did the publishers of the "Roman Gazette" have a clue as to what Kingdom work was going on in the emperor's palace?  Did they know that Paul was chained to a different Praetorian Guard every few hours?  Did they know that those guards were hobnobbing with the rest of the staff?

We read in Philippians 1:13: "...so that my bonds are manifest in all the palace..."  and in 4:22: "All the saints greet you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household." 

So, while it is still day, let's

           SEND THE LIGHT 
     
There's a call comes ringing  o'er the restless waves;
Send the Light; send the Light
There are souls to rescue; there are souls to save.
Send the Light; send the Light.

Send the Light, the blessed Gospel Light
Let it shine from shore to shore.
Send the Light, and let its radiant beams
Light the world forevermore!

Love,  Jo


Friday, September 15, 2017

Home

We came together as young mothers. For the next fifty-some years my friend Char and I prayed for our families. She leaves behind children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who have heard and observed the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ lived out in a woman of  beautiful faith.

Char's memorial will begin in a few hours in the church her mother began with a handful of new believers. That church now covers a city block and continues to be a beacon of shining Light.

I know the hymns my friend loved and will play them as we celebrate the life of our beloved Charlotte Reeves. Two weeks ago, together the two of us sang...

Precious Lord, take my hand;
Lead me on, let me stand. 
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on to the Light.
Precious Lord, take my hand;
Lead me Home.

When my way grows drear, 
Precious Lord, linger near.
When my life is almost gone.
Hear my cry; hear my call
Hold my hand, lest I fall.
Precious Lord, take my hand;
Lead me Home. 

...and He did.

I go to prepare a place for you. ...so that where I am, you may be also.  Jesus

Love,  Jo


Friday, September 8, 2017

Running

The couple came through the door of Triassic Winery last Sunday afternoon. I gave them some time to settle at a nearby table, then walked over to chat with them.

"We are from Burbank, were choking on smoke from the fire above us, started driving and here we are.  ...and there's even music!"

"Hello. Take a deep breath of fresh air, relax and tell me what songs you would like to hear."

"We're Lutherans. Do you know any Lutheran  hymns?"

 "Sure. Name one."

 "Would you happen to know 'Beautiful Savior' "?.

I played it,  they hummed and listened to more music for an hour or so before leaving with a smile on their faces and a wave goodbye.

So many are running. ...from fires, winds, floods, earthquakes, life,  death and God. After listening to the disheartening news on TV last night I needed some fresh air. The full moon was edging up over the mountain to the east. The crickets were cricketing, the donkey down below was braying his nighttime lament and above, a few fluffy clouds were lazing about. Gradually, our never-changing, personal Lord came into focus.

As I wrote this just now, the awaited phone call came:  A few minutes ago, Char, my oldest friend of fifty-seven years slipped into the arms of our

          BEAUTIFUL SAVIOR

Beautiful Savior; King of creation.
Son of God and Son of Man
Truly I'd love Thee; Truly I'd serve Thee,
Light of my soul, my joy and crown.

Fair are the meadows; Fair are the woodlands.
Robed in flowers of blooming spring.
Jesus is fairer; Jesus is purer;
He makes our sorrowing spirit sing!

Fair is the sunshine. Fair is the moonlight.
Bright the sparkling stars on high.
Jesus is brighter; Jesus is purer
Than all the angels in the sky. 

Beautiful Savior; Lord of the nations;
Son of God and Son of man. 
Glory and honor, praise, adoration
Now and forevermore, be Thine.  Psalm 45:2

                                The Lutheran Hymnal
                                Author Unknown
                                Published in Leipzig in 1677
                                Translated in 1873
Love,  Jo

Running

The couple came through the door of Triassic Winery last Sunday afternoon. I gave them some time to settle at a nearby table, then walked over to chat with them.

"We are from Burbank, were choking on smoke from the fire above us, started driving and here we are.  ...and there's even music!"

"Relax and tell me what songs you would like to hear.."

"We're Lutherans. Do you know any Lutheran  hymns?"

 "Sure. Name one."

 "Would you happen to know 'Beautiful Savior' "?.

I played it,  they hummed and listened to more music for an hour or so before leaving with a smile on their faces and a wave goodbye.

So many are running. ...from fires, winds, floods, earthquakes, life,  death and God. After listening to the disheartening news on TV last night I ran. ....outside to my deck. The full moon was edging up over the mountain to the east. The crickets were cricketing, the donkey down below was braying his nighttime lament and above, a few fluffy clouds were lazing about.. Gradually, our never-changing, personal Lord came into focus.

As I wrote this just now, the awaited phone call came:  My oldest friend of fifty years,  Char,  a few minutes ago, slipped into the arms of our

          BEAUTIFUL SAVIOR.

Beautiful Savior; King of creation.
Son of God and Son of Man
Truly I'd love Thee; Truly I'd serve Thee,
Light of my soul, my joy and crown.

Fair are the meadows; Fair are the woodlands.
Robed in flowers of blooming spring.
Jesus is fairer; Jesus is purer;
He makes our sorrowing spirit sing!

Fair is the sunshine. Fair is the moonlight.
Bright the sparkling stars on high.
Jesus is brighter; Jesus is purer
Than all the angels in the sky. 

Beautiful Savior; Lord of the nations;
Son of God and Son of man. 
Glory and honor,, praise, adoration
Now and forevermore, be Thine.  Psalm 45:2

                                The Lutheran Hymnal
                                Author Unknown
                                Published in Leipzig in 1677
                                Translated in 1873
Love,  Jo

Friday, September 1, 2017

Waiting...

Her family and friends wait.  Char sleeps most of the time now and awakens to speak in a whisper. She and I said our goodbye to one another last week. We prayed as we have many times, and then we sang: 

Precious Lord, take my hand; 
Lead me on; help me stand. 
I'm tired, I'm weak, I'm worn. 
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on to the Light. 
Precious Lord, take my hand; 
Lead me Home. 

In Houston some of Ted's and my beloved friends wait to return to their homes. Others did not evacuate but are dealing with the mess left behind. Our dear Round Top Retreat friends,  after twenty-two inches of rain fell in one day snapped a picture of a rainbow that appeared. 

...so let's watch for the rainbow, keep on with our assignment, and be ready for the sound of the trumpet. 

             IS IT THE CROWNING DAY? 

Jesus may come today.

Glad day! Glad day!
And I would see my Friend.
Dangers and troubles would end
If Jesus should come today. 

GLAD DAY! GLAD DAY!

IS IT THE CROWNING DAY?
I'LL LIVE FOR TODAY, NOR ANXIOUS BE
JESUS, MY LORD, I SOON SHALL SEE
GLAD DAY! GLAD DAY! 
IS IT THE CROWNING DAY? 

Love,  Jo



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