Friendship, Laughter and My Social Media Daze

I uploaded my own social media icons to my blog this week thanks to a tutorial by Meg ,a small town woman I have never met. I , myself, am a country girl who grew up miles from a small town along a stretch of highway in beautiful rural Nova Scotia. I loved my life . I lived most of it outside. There was a pristine lake outside my bedroom window with undeveloped land on the west side covered in Rock Maples that turned incredible shades of fluorescent reds and oranges, yellows and pinks every fall.I really miss the summers and autumns.

The year I graduated ... sigh...(1985) was the first year our school had a computer class offered.The Comodore 64 came out the year after.I can still see the blinking green dot in my dreams.Our family telephone was a party line.Two longs and a short.

I was terrified the first time I sat in front of my very own computer.I was sure I would break it with one wrong keystroke or one too many clicks of the mouse!After moving west email was a major miracle.Instant connection over thousands of miles when long distance charges were exhorbitant.

I still have a pay and talk cell that I haven't used in 2 years
.I am itching for an iPhone.
I am working on writing a book and really want a MacBookPro.
I started blogging.
I am on Facebook.
I am on Yahoo IM.

And then I met Shawntele and she introduced me to twitter and promptly moved away!!!
(looking around for something to throw)
I can be on the phone, grabbing a link over IM and tweeting at the same time!I have ten tabs open and am copying HTML code while reading a tutorial and answering my son's question from down the hall.

This is the future. I am living it.

I am a country girl..far from home.So far out of my comfort zone.Tonight as I was doing a zillion things with my phone pressed to my ear and a precious soul on the other end I laughed until my cheeks hurt, shrieked and held my belly with tears rolling down my cheeks!
It feels like another planet.An alternate reality.
I am learning a whole new language.
But with friends to help anchor you...the winds and the speed of change surrounding human interaction reminds me of  a sky full of kites; each one unique and flying it's own pattern, catching it's own updraft.
Dancing to it's own melody.
Blow wind blow.
So....how are you handling the insane speed of advancing technology?
Drop me a line. I'd like to know.

B90days: The Whole Duty of Man

 And we are half way through...B90Days. 

Smack dab in the center are the Books of Wisdom. 

"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:

Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man."

~~ Ecclesiastes 12:13 ~~

du·tyNoun/ˈd(y)o͞otē/

1. A moral or legal obligation; a responsibility

I have heard it said that duty is a four letter word...

It's definitely not a comfortable word at all... 

We are not a people who love obligation...

or... fear...

What does it mean to 'Fear' God ?

 "The acute awareness of the presence of God's power 

that produces in me a sense of awe 

and calls forth from me honor, respect and reverence."

Graham Barker

Fear.

Commands.

Duty.

as a tri-fecta...not so appealing...

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, 

and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

~~ Proverbs 9:10 ~~

 and....

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied:  

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart 

and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  

This is the first and greatest commandment.  

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 

~~ Matthew 22:36-40 ~~

I am undone.

I am humbly aware that Love alone transforms a rebellious creation.

Love alone transforms me.

A love first directed, then received..then returned.

From God..to me..and returned...to God.

This is my sole purpose.

Surrender is sweet when a designer is acknowledged.

Purpose transforms.

A pitcher pouring crystal clear, refreshing water into a glass...

A bowl cradling steaming soup...

Potter.

Clay.

A soul nourished and strengthened by it's creator....

Worshiping ...

Obeying...

Returning....

Where are you on the journey ?

Have you acknowledged you have a designer ?

Are you aware of your purpose?

Have you surrendered?

Come let us return to the Lord.... 

Come let us worship and bow down...

Prayer....

My life has become a life of prayer.

Restricted movement and the inability to drive or travel far from my house

has produced a life I have cried out for.

Who knew?

I have discovered that there are only so many minutes where I can lift 

my own name, my own needs, on trembling lips to the Father.

I have discovered that He knows everything before I even speak. 

Trust has blossomed in depths I never knew I had.

I am seeking, what He so desires to give: Relationship with Himself.

I hunger for Him..more than answers.

Even more than relief.

I have had dark mornings of pain made bearable by phone calls to mom 

filled with prayer and the reading of the Word.

I have lain face to face with my husband, hands clasped,

tears rolling down my cheeks, teeth gritted against the pain...

crying out to God on behalf of those we know....and some we don't know.

I am:

Sustained.

Held.

Loved.

I have had IM chats with friends south of the border: 

Praying. Seeking. Agreeing.

Husbands of friends adding their prayers to the bowl 

lifted to the Father on my behalf..

Each one treasured and precious...

And I have slept under the shelter of His wings...

carried by those who also love and trust...

...those learning to love and trust...

to the One...who loves unconditionally...

the One who sees everything...

the One who holds everything together...

In the sharing of my burden I have become more aware 

of the burdens of others.

I am caught.

Captivated by what captivates the heart of the One who holds me close.

And I pray.

Drawn deep...bolstered by His assurance...

HE DOES ALL THINGS WELL.

I find myself praying until I fall asleep.

I find myself praying as I wake.

Praying as I stumble around my house.

Praying as I shuffle up the street on my daily walk.

Minute by minute I am casting myself into the secure arms

of my savior and God.

Believing in His sufficiency for every situation.

Bringing everyone I know to His throne of Grace.

There is no safer place.

There is no other place to go.

Peace lives here.

I am finding an instinct developing that I am overjoyed to see.

My reason/understanding bowed down:

His character..

His name..

His word...

Elevated.

It is well with my soul.

For all who are praying, thank-you.

I pray you continue to pursue Jesus... in every situation and circumstance.

I pray that you find NOTHING satisfies or sustains you 

compared to His presence.

I pray His word becomes a light to your path, 

life and health to your spirit, soul and body.

I pray that your faith grows and trust blooms 

in the desert places of your life.

Cry out to Him.

He will answer.

With Himself.

There is no gift more precious.

Love is...

1. A husband carrying you to the bathroom  at 4am 

after you wake him screaming,

holding you in your most vulnerable state.

2. Sons who take over all the house hold chores without complaint.

3. Strong arms to lean on when navigating stairs.

4. Encouraging messages first thing in your inbox.

5. A mother who picks up the phone in the wee hours 

while I'm waiting for meds to kick in and listens to me cry.

6. Neighbors within hobbling distance with swings in shady places 

not afraid or embarrassed by the tears slipping down my cheeks.

7. Sisters far away holding tight. Praying hard.

8. Friends who share their burdens while shouldering yours.

9. Kisses...lots of kisses.

10.Telephone prayers.

...and a million other things tiny and big...

How blessed am I !

Love is what defines me.

I pray that you love lavishly today those who cross your path..or your mind...

...and I pray that you know you are loved in return.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
            His love endures forever.  

~~ Psalm 136: 1 ~~