TO WORSHIP

Oh Lord, our Lord,

How excellent is Your name in all the earth,

Who have set Your glory above the heavens!

...When I consider Your heavens,

the moon and the stars,

which You have ordained,

What is man that You are

mindful of him

And the son of man

that You visited him?

For You have made him

a little lower than the angels,

And You have crowned him with glory and honor.

Oh, Lord, our Lord,

How excellent is Your name in all

the earth!

Psalm 8:1, 3-5, 9

When does worship take place? Used to be a standard answer for me was

Sunday morning, 10:30.

If you asked me now, I'd have to say....anytime.

For me personally there is no better time than this minute.

Please don't hear this as a brag...it's not.

It's just that each day has it moments of reminiscing. The reminders of grace and joy and all the chapters thus far in my life. All are testimonies to God's unlimited patience and grace, love, mercy...well,

you get the idea.

This morning I heard the thunder and walked out on our back porch to hear it just a little better.

As the clouds rolled in and the sound echoed across the fields, there was a stern blue jay grabbing a quick bite of food to feed his baby now out of the nest. The thunder rolled and out on a lone limb sat three baby bluebirds waiting for their father to bring on the bugs. This had to be their first day to sit together outside the box. It was time to worship.

These last few weeks have overwhelmed me. There is no time to waste. Worship is all there is to hold these moments in grateful awe. What would I do with these gifts of such joy? Just write about them?

A young dolphin comes to my shore and swims along the beach bank as I walk it. I worshiped.

A Florida sea turtle comes up from a bog in the Everglades and stares straight into my eyes. Just he and I. Obviously seeing his first human and blinking as he takes a good look, I feel the tears of

wonder start to come as I leave him hoping he will never know harm. It was time to woship.

But the same feeling can make it's way into my spirit when I'm bathing a grandchild or watching

the sun rise glorious over the cedars. When old friends visit and I see their smile once again.

When holding hands to protect a child and listen as someone shares their God story with me.

There is no better time to worship and adore the King of all kings, the Lord of all, the Creator of the universe. There is no time like the present. What has He done for you just this day alone?

Light of the world

You stepped down into darkness

Opened my eyes, let me see

Beauty that made my heart adore You

Hope of a life spent with You.

Here I am to worship

Here I am to bow down

Here I am to say that You're my God.

You're altogether lovely

Altogether worthy

Altogether wonderful to me.

I'll never know

How much it cost to see my sin

Upon that cross.

Here I am to worship

Here I am to bow down

Here I am to say that Your my God....

by Tim Hughes

(abbreviated)

It's No Wonder...

It's no wonder that I have no problem with a relationship with my heavenly Father. It comes as no surprise to me that it seems natural to talk with Him and ask Him questions, to trust Him and know He has my best interest in mind. It's not so hard when you've always had a great example for a DAD.

When your dad works hard for others and gives his best all the time..

When your dad finds good in folks even when they're not quite his type..

When your dad can fix most anything that's broken..

When your dad lends his wisdom to those who want it...

When your dad makes life simple by living unselfishly...

When your dad has always been faithful...

When your dad knows how to pray ...

When your dad would lay down his life for his family....

When your dad gives all just for the joy of giving...

I've been blessed with this example all my life

and so have my girls and now their children.

I've also been blessed to have married a wonderful dad himself who loves and respects my dad

and seeks to emulate him.

Yes, Heavenly Father, You are the best Father and You gave my family one of Your best examples on this earth.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights,

with whom is no variation or shadow of turning.

James 1:17

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, DADDY!

It's the Thought That Counts

She walked in our door last evening with a jar in her hands.

"This is for you, Marmee. It's a cicada I got for you," she said as she handed me one of her mom's drinking glasses covered with a cloth and tied with ribbon. There hung a big black and orange cicada among leaves she had added for him to eat. I stared at him and he was probably buzzing at me. I'd had more than a little up-close and personal time with about 10,000 of his nearest relatives, but he was special. He was a gift. A gift from the heart of my beautiful Bri. He looked extra buzzy and I gladly placed him on the kitchen counter. She was pleased.

My neighbor came down our drive with a box in his hands. In it were two tomato plants. I had been needing some tomato plants since our Big Red excavated our garden plot so well that Nothing is safe there anymore. I took them with great joy and gratitude because there is a promise of a possible "real" tomato in my future from my very own flower bed...now mini-garden. He knew I love tomatoes.

A couple of weeks ago two of our grands spent a couple of days with us. My dog, Fluffy White,

was placed in solitary confinement because of her grouchy attitude toward my Audrey and my Whitaker and any other active person within her domain. After they were safely at home once again, I sat down to do a little catch-up computing. From behind me I hear a sound, "Hummph..

hummph..." Low, but persistent, I tried to ignore whatever it was but it was not to be daunted.

I turned in my chair to find Fluffy White wagging her tail and staring at me. In her mouth was one of the grands' stuffed animals, making her voice sound like a pillow talking. As I started to fuss, I realized that their had been very little time for dogs the last couple of days, it was time now for a little "toss the toy" before she went to bed for the night. Her gift of the unharmed toy, only

dog slobber, was a reminder that everyone needs a little attention, especially spoiled have-you-all-to-myself dogs.

Walked into my daughter's home after their vacation and was met by two grandchildren, Whitaker giving me a cross covered with shells he had picked from the beach. He was so proud to give it to me. Then Audrey presented me with a piece of paper covered with some of her favorite stickers destined for my refrigerator door. It always helps to know you're still remembered when someone is far away.

Just last night my Xavier crawled across the kitchen floor to me, pulled up on my crop-pant-legs and hugged me. That was a first hug from a rough and tumbling tiny tot now so mobile it's scary.

From cicadas to tomato plants to art projects to talking dog to crawling hugger...it all adds up to small gifts given and smiles exchanged and joy happening. It truly is the thought that counts...and putting that thought into action is best of all.