Thursday May 12 2016  BREATHTAKING BEAUTY

My mind is cluttered with all the things that I haven’t done yet.  I hope that makes sense.  I do have one more item checked off my list and that is a good feeling.  No, actually I have two items crossed off.  The first being the promise to myself to go to the Madison Arboretum during the lilac’s prime blooming period.  And today was the day.  I can always tell when the perfect day comes because our lilacs in our yard bloom right on schedule with the Arboretum lilacs.

Awakened this morning to sunshine, blue skies, and beautiful white puffy clouds.  And I knew this was the day.  I didn’t know how Dave would feel about it though as I know he is so busy working in the yard and does not like too much to interfere with that at present.  He suggested we drive separately to the gym because he was ready to go and I still had a few things to do before leaving.  That’s all the encouragement I needed.  He hurriedly left so he could get back sooner, I dawdled and finished my tidying up in the kitchen.  (I DO NOT LIKE COMING BACK TO AN UNTIDY KITCHEN!)  And then I left with a lilt in my step because I knew my solo trip to view the lilacs would be ever so much more enjoyable without Dave looking at his watch every few minutes.

And it was!  I had a delightful time, all alone, just me and my cell phone camera.  The Arboretum is about 6 to 8 miles from home.  It is about ¼ mile south of a busy Madison freeway thoroughfare that runs east and west.  If it weren’t for all the noise due to the traffic hum, and the buzz of neighboring businesses, it would probably be the most beautiful place in Madison.  I am so much more attuned to the hum of traffic and the noise pollution of machines and businesses than I was before God healed my hearing.  I never regret being able to hear, now that I have adjusted to more noise in my life, but some days I would just love to turn the noise off.  However, even above the din of man-made noise I could still hear the birds singing.  And that was awesome.

The lilacs cover acres of beautifully groomed grounds interspersed with trees in full bloom at this time of year.  The overwhelming fragrance of the blossoms of all the lilacs and trees was intoxicating.  I went from bush to bush and buried my face in the blossoms and inhaled the heady perfume that permeated the air.  I discovered that each variety of lilac has a different scent from that of its neighbor.  I also discovered that the lighter colored blossoms had a lighter, less over powering aroma.  The darker the blossom, the more powerful its cologne.  I will include some photos.  The darkest blossom had my most favorite lilac scent.

To sum it up, this morning was a beautiful experience.  For the last week I have been waiting and longing for the perfect day to go and walk among the cloying, over abundant, heady perfume.  Going alone was wonderful and it felt as if I were enjoying a bit of heaven on earth.  This exercise in solitude is part of my long ranged blueprint to make certain I am not scattered or lost in the shuffle of life.  This morning gave me opportunity to take time to LIVE!  My work is still here waiting, but the blossoms will soon be gone.  And as the years fly by, my opportunity to walk amongst such startling splendor here on earth, will also be gone.  My advice for others today: LIVE EVERY DAY AS IF IT IS YOUR LAST, AND LIVE EVERYDAY DAY AS IF YOU WILL LIVE FOREVER.  Because, when you have the Lord living in your heart, you will live forever!

NATURE’S GRACE

By Kathleen Martens

May 12, 2016

Exquisite beauty with startling grace

How can it be?

Unless it’s the fragrance of heaven

Reaching out to me.

Delicate arrangements

By nature’s hand

Grown in such mystery

Upon the land.

Amazing wonder

In illusive design.

Only the idea of God

Could purpose it so fine.

Tint of the blossom

In astounding detail

The evidence of perfection,

Never does it fail.

And my mind is calmed,

My soul is soothed.

My heart sings,

And my spirit is moved.

And I thank My God

For such astounding glory

In using the lilacs

To share part of His story.

Today I communed with God as I walked through the breathtaking beauty.  It is well with my soul.

God, thank You for lilacs.

Lord, thank You for fragrance.

And most of all, thank You for today.

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU.

P.S.  Oh yes, I almost forgot to tell you.  The other accomplishment I succeeded in doing today was going to the nursery to buy my geraniums for my outdoor pots.  All in all, it was a satisfying day.

Song of Solomon 2:12 “Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come…”

Tuesday May 10 2016  WHAT CAN I DO?

Have you ever been in a real life situation where you really didn’t know where your next meal would come from?  And I don’t mean traveling the highways wondering what fast food place will pop up along the way so you can buy something to eat.  I’m talking about not having the money to even purchase another meal and having absolutely nothing in your cupboards to prepare.  We’ve had our lean times during our marriage but we never went without something to eat. 

As I open my refrigerator door and see all the stacks of fresh foods, ready to prepare and eat, I just marvel at the opulence of having so much food available to me.  It never ceases to amaze me and bless me to see the provisions which God has enabled us to purchase.  I thank God many times during the day for all He has provided.

It saddens me to think of all the people in the world that really do not know where their next meal will come from.  And some days no food is available.  In general, when we think of food shortages, what may come to mind are third world countries.  Rarely do we realize all the hunger that actually occurs right here in our own cities, yours and mine.  Dave and I saw many homeless people as we traveled south recently and the faces of the homeless still haunt my memory from the trip I traveled last year.

When we were in Lexington, Kentucky a few weeks ago Dave and I decided to drive downtown to visit some of the gardens and view the sights.  As soon as we parked we were approached by a homeless woman who asked us for money.  She did not appear to be a drug addict or an alcoholic but we were still hesitant to give her money.  Instead,  I asked her why she needed the money.  She said she was hungry and just needed a small amount of money to buy something to eat.  I told her that we do not give money but we would take her wherever she wanted to go and buy her something to eat.  She actually argued with us a bit but we stuck to our word.  Finally she told us where she would like to eat so we walked to the restaurant, asked her to choose what she wanted, and we would stay with her as she ate.  She was quite surprised.  I asked her if she would tell me her story.  I also asked if I could take her picture.  She responded that I could take her picture if we would give her money.  I told her no, I was not buying her picture and would not be giving her money.  The only reason I wanted to take her photo was so I could remember her and pray for her.  If she didn’t want me take her picture then I would respect that.  We talked awhile and Dave and I heard her sad story.  It seems every story of every homeless person always has such sadness and sorrow that began years and years ago.

After a while she said that yes, she would like us to have her picture.  She wouldn’t come into the restaurant to eat but chose to sit outside on steps leading up to an unused door.  She said on some days she doesn’t eat. She wasn’t able to eat all she purchased so we had it packaged up so she could eat it later. We prayed for her and as we left I looked back and watched as Dave quietly tucked money into her hand.  She had told us earlier that she uses the money on cold days to ride the bus all day making free transfers all over town just to stay warm.  Her warm coat was left behind recently when she had to escape a dangerous situation.  And she said for a few dollars there was a lady that would let her sleep on her couch sometimes and she could take a shower there.  She told us a lot of things that I would not think of repeating in this blog.  All very sorrowful.  My heart still weeps. Not just for her but for all the others who are in the same predicament.

As we walked back to our car we passed restaurants with outdoor sidewalk seating areas.  The last thing I heard as we walked by, were the words spoken by a tall older man as he came to a table of diners.  This is what he said:  “I’m hungry, do you have anything I could eat?”

OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART

By Kathleen Martens

May 10, 2016

Oh God,

What can I purposely do

To help the lost and dying?

I hear their words in the streets,

I hear their hearts crying.

How can I feed all the hungry?

How can I help their soul?

What is it You want me to do?

What should be my goal?

My heart aches with their pain,

Wherever I go there are only more.

And I know You love each and every one.

How can I open their door?

What is my place in the world

When I pass the hungry on the street?

How can I possibly feed

All the famished that I meet?

Open my eyes to their pain,

Open my heart to what they need.

Give me directions for my part

And Your words that I should heed.

And never let me take for granted

That I have food to eat.

Show me Lord how to reach out

So the needs of others I meet.

I ask for wisdom and for grace

To be unselfish and willing to give,

So that the starving too will eat

And have another day in which to live.

Look around and realize what you have.  Do you have a computer on which to read this blog?  Do you have a comfortable chair to sit in to enjoy a television show?  Do you have food in your refrigerator and in your pantry?  Do you have a bed to sleep in and warm blankets for a cold winter night?  Do you have a warm coat to wear when you step outside?  Are you worried about where your next meal is coming from? 

NEVER TAKE FOR GRANTED ANYTHING THAT YOU HAVE.  AND ALWAYS GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR EVERY MEAL YOU EAT.  AND ASK YOURSELF, WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP EVEN ONE PERSON?

God, thank You for Your love.

Thank You for the jobs that sustained us over the years.

Thank You that I have enough money to buy food and pay for heat.

Thank You Lord for the afternoon in Lexington when we met the homeless woman.

Thank You for allowing us to minister to her needs that afternoon.

Lord thank You for food pantries.

Lord thank You that I am able to donate to the food pantries.

Thank You Lord for my shoes.

Thank You for my warm coat.

Thank You Lord for something as simple as nose tissue.

Thank You for toilets in the next room.

Thank You for a bed to sleep in.

Thank You for clothes to wear.

Thank You for my toothbrush.

Thank You for the medicines I need.

Thank You for medical insurance.

Thank You for sweet potatoes.

Thank You for fingernail clippers.

Thank You God for this day that You have made.

GOD BLESS YOU.  REMEMBER TO GIVE THANKS.

Matthew 25:  34-40

³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’