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Friday May 22, 2015 DAY 75 AWAKEN THE VISION OF MY HEART
Good morning everyone! It is actually morning instead of last night! OOPS! It is now actually afternoon of yesterday. Friday was long, interesting, full of the joy of the Lord, overload of information, AND EXHAUSTING! I actually felt tired last evening, probably due to very short nights all week. It caught up with me! I very rarely know what it feels like to be tired these days AND IT IS AN AWESOME FEELING!
There was also a bit a sadness. When you are with new people that you bond with for a week there are always farewells that must be said. God brought absolutely delightful young people into my life this week. First, there was Jessica, my little hitch hiker I told you about. Then came the radiance and glow that shines from Linda’s sweet face. Linda was such a gift to our group because she was there early enough every morning to reserve seats for all of us close to the front. For that I am forever thankful. Angelica was the next gift God had all packaged up. She is just as her name depicts, angel like and free spirited and beautiful to behold. And we all received two additional lovely ladies from Singapore, Dawn and Estelle. What a delightful pair. The love of Jesus just shines from their very presence. It was awesome to be able to get to know them in the limited time we had to visit. God blessed me with this core group of ladies and I truly felt as if I was in a little family. My friends Lana and Tim were there also but they chose to sit in the back. I was able to connect with them some during some of the meal breaks. I brought my own lunch and dinner so as to save cost and for my own health reasons. We did however have the chance to get caught up a bit at the picnic table. My regret was that I didn’t have the opportunity to spend more time on the last day with them as I felt God wanted to me to spend time with a group of three young men who drove up from Los Angeles. I asked them to go out to dinner but they were fasting and chose not to eat. Instead, we sat under the trees outside and talked and shared. I wish I had asked them what their wisdom was but I forgot to do so. Time goes by so quickly and before I knew it, it was time to go back in for the next session.
We had an interesting session on Thursday. We were taken into the sanctuary that had been transformed from an auditorium to a Healing Room. Chairs were placed back to back in curving lines, artist were painting beautiful works for art as spiritual expressions of praise, dancers were dancing with flowing scarves and graceful movements, and a worship team was singing and playing musical instruments on the platform. The lights were low and peaceful. Groups of class members were brought into the room in groups of about 100 to experience the room for a half an hour or so to bask in the presence of the Lord, to view the artist at work, to sing and worship God and just soak in the presence of the Lord’s presence. It was a beautiful place to be. We were then directed to a room where a group of people prayed with each person individually. There were four who prayed for me. It is is wonderful that so many people (over 800) volunteer on a rotating schedule to come in and pray with people for healing.
It is a good thing I was able to write my blogs at night this week, except for yesterday’s, because so much information is jam packed in my brain that it is difficult to differentiate one day from the next.
I think the word of wisdom I will leave with you today is something the speaker Chris Gore quoted from a woman who spoke it at age 92 years of age. Her name was Mrs. Lindsey and she has since died. From what I gathered, she was a woman of prominence, a great spokeswoman, and one of importance in the what she did. Chris asked her for a word of wisdom and this is what she said: “Stay humble, stay low, give God all the glory.” Quite succinct. What we must remember when miracles happen is that it is not by our works, but it is the Lord’s work and power that performs the miracle. When we are to be a servant of the Lord we are to have a humble heart and ask how can best serve rather than coming into a situation exhibiting behavior that says “I know it all”.
This past week there was a message given by one of the many speakers. I can’t remember if I mentioned before what I am about to tell you. Sorry if it is a repeat. The minister was talking about how, when we ask, God will open our spiritual vision to new truths in His word. Truth that was already there but not understood or seen as one read the scriptures. When we ask God to open our hearts and minds to the truth He has in the scripture, God will do so. Sometimes when we do not see these revelations we are not ready to receive them. The more truth we see sometimes makes some things more difficult for us. When we are ready to receive God’s truths we should also ask for patience. When we ask for revelation we must be prepared for revelation, and the patience will help us work through what God is teaching us.
I am finding that to be so true in my life. God is opening the scriptures up to me in the past few years that I am just amazed I didn’t see, nor understand. Over and over this is happening. The more truths exposed to me, the more I learn, which often reveals convictions with which I must deal with in my life in order to grow from those truths. I looked back over some of my poems on my hard drive that I have with me and one poem stood out. I will put it here. It was written about a year ago but it says so clearly what the speaker was speaking this week. I would like to share it here. With these words I will sign off. God bless you!
Awaken the Vision of My Heart
By Kathleen Martens
April 30, 2014
Open my eyes Lord
That I may see
With vision of heart
The truths You depart.
Illumine Your word
So wisdom it brings
So the knowledge You give
With me forever lives.
Let me hear what You say
As I devour Your word,
Awaken my soul
That Your truths I know.
If I must suffer
With more knowledge received
That which I acquire
Replace with Your fire.
Awaken Your Word,
Burn it deep in my heart
That the sound of Your voice
Be my pages of choice.
For Your Holy Scripture
Lights the way of my path
To the place I belong
To bring others along.
Open my eyes Lord
That I may see
The lost ones You bring
To tell of my King.
My increased sorrow
Is turned to joy
As I toil long and steady
For a harvest that’s ready.
Give me wisdom and knowledge
Though it may mean more grief
Eternity is long,
Time on earth is brief.
March 13, 2015 Day Seven (Part 1)
MORE BLESSINGS
Almost one week on the road. It has been a fabulous experience. I packed soothing and inspirational CD’s. Some, which are by my favorite favorite artist, David Hollandsworth. When I listen to the music Hollandsworth creates, it’s as if I am listening to part of heaven, exciting, soothing, peaceful and inspiring. I only have three of his CD’s but with the other three CD’s I brought I don’t seem to tire of any of them.
To update my travels. I had a marvelous time visiting with Kathleen and Matt. I like Kathleen’s philosophy of retirement. The first night I was there I asked her when she got up in the morning (trying to be a considerate guest) and she replied, “when I feel like it”. Oh, so I asked her what time she went to bed and she replied, “when I feel like it”. Hmmm was my thought response. So I ask, well what time do you normally go to bed? “Oh between 1:00 or 2:00” (that would be A.M.). Okay, I’ll just follow suite I decided…when in Rome do as the Romans… Well they kept me up until almost midnight that first night and I’ve been paying for it ever since. Up late, sleep late and my day is about gone before it gets started. So…I think I like my way best. Early to bed, early to rise. That way my day seems much longer and if there is anything I like doing less than sleeping I haven’t discovered it yet. I don’t like to give up one minute of my day to resting or sleeping. I have too much I want to do. So…here I am on the road, fitting in to all kinds of schedules, sleeping in all kinds of beds, travelling all kinds of miles and loving every minute of it. I am learning something everywhere I go! I’m asking everyone for their very best advice for my life. I listen and enjoy what is said and then, unfortunately, before I get to my next blog time I forget what was said. So maybe I should start recording it and collecting all the sage advice, some from those even older than myself.
The time at Matt and Kathleen’s was restful, peaceful and lots of fun. We played many card games, ate lots of good food (most of which I brought and prepared), planned a destination trip to ALDI’S (yes the discount grocery store), worked out at the Y, and attended the ladies Bible study. Great study it was too, and of course, I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. We then went to lunch, went back to Matt and Kathleen’s, packed my bags and hit the road toward Branson. I thought I left on time because I was going by my car clock, only to find out when I hooked up my GPS for the first time, that the times didn’t coordinate due to the fact that it WAS NOT 3:15 p.m. but 4:14 p.m.. I had forgotten to move the clock an hour forward last weekend. Oops! Very seldom do I wear a watch or look at the time. For me, that is a beautiful place to live.
I have experienced blessing after blessing since leaving my home. While in Willow Springs I walked into the YMCA to work out. My friend is a member there and she said they offer a free pass on the first day. I mentioned this and Hannah asked me how long I would be staying. I told her I would be coming back two more days and knew that I would be paying for those days. As I spoke she wrote out , not one free pass, but three free passes that I could use. I was so surprised. When I was in Rolla the most reasonable quote I received on the phone for a day pass at private clubs was $10.00. Sorry, but that is a little too steep for me so I worked out in the home where I was staying. It was so refreshing to receive a gift of the three passes from the Y. When I left the third day I thanked the personnel and met two wonderful people, Logan and Terri. I shared a little of my story and asked them if I could mention them in my blog. I got the okay. So…Terri, thank you for the generosity of your club to allow me to stay healthy a little bit more affordable. I appreciate that your YMCA reached out to a stranger and made me feel so welcome. My hat off to the OZARKS FAMILY YMCA in Willow Springs!
I found Willow Springs to be a delightful interlude of life in the slow lane. Probably no more than 2,000 to 3,000 people. I stayed in a house on the hilltop that overlooked one end of town and a beautiful park. The train rail was very close and I could hear the comforting sound of the trains going by all times of the day and night. Didn’t hear much of them at night as I slept so deep and peaceful. Every where I have gone I have had deep, relaxing, refreshing sleep. I took a couple of pictures of some buildings while in Willow Springs. I will log them later. When things get boring I want to remind myself to tell you the story of the “house on the hilltop”. Quite interesting!
I hope I blessed Kathleen and Matt with my short stay. I know they blessed me. I packed a lot of food before I left home and was able to share some of what I made last summer from the vegetables I received from a from a local organic CSA farm. We have been members of WHOLESOME HARVEST CSA for several years and we love what we receive. I was able to help with most of the cooking while at Kathleen’s and Matt’s and delighted them with yummy lunches. Kathleen made me take pictures of food I prepared because the presentation so delighted her. I so enjoy working with live food and creating wonderful dishes. It was actually a blessing for me to do it. And…for the most part, they liked it.
Before I left, Kathleen showed me the beautiful quilt she is in the process of making. Oh my! My head just spun when I saw all that when into it from the design, piecing, sewing it all together, quilting and finishing. Not my cup of tea. It actually made my brain go haywire. It was also my privilege to sleep under the very first quilt she made. It was beautiful. I think I might have a picture of that too. While she was showing me her quilt I was admiring a beautiful necklace she had on. I complimented her on it. She reached up around her neck, unclasped it and said, “here, I want you to have it”. I tried to refuse it but she would not take no for an answer. So, again I have been blessed by something I never anticipated. Now it makes me hesitant to give a compliment. But…maybe I will still do so.
I am in a time crunch and must leave quickly. Will proofread this after it is published and make corrections. Know that when I am doing these blogs I am usually squeezing them in between the actual “living” part. I know I have more to tell you about today ( BECAUSE IT IS ANOTHER BLESSING) so I put “part 1” on today’s date. Look for part two at a later date. Bear with me as you stumble through all my mistakes, but must get it published before I walk out the door so I can turn my computer off. More later.
Missouri
March 7, 2015 DAY ONE
I wish I could capture words as I live through each moment. But alas, if I am writing, then I am not doing. So I must rely on my 24 hour memory to write all that my brain was experiencing yesterday. It was a beautiful, wonderful, uneventful day of driving. It was my wish to have it so. My prayer this past month was that God would allow the storms to go before me or come behind me. Because of my postponement of leaving last week I missed an awful ice and snow storm at exactly the place I would have been had I left on time. Today I sat in the church in Rolla Missouri and the pastor told about how the church had been used as a safe place for 60 of the people who were stranded on the highway after being involved in a 25 vehicle car crash on Interstate 44. There were no services at the church last Sunday due to the horrible road conditions and all the people who were stranded without a means of transportation, using the church as a place to stay. The church body braved the storm and accommodated the people with places to sleep and food to eat. Well, that was one storm I missed.
Back to yesterday, the sun was shining, the sky was full of beautiful clouds, the land was covered in snow and the air was pristine. I saw a wolf alongside the road, dead, but still beautiful. And I must admit I have never seen such beautiful artistic power lines. Really amazing works of art. I so much wanted to stop and capture their beauty with the camera but knew it would not be safe with people speeding by at 80 miles an hour. The speed limit was 70 and they were all passing me so I figure they were going 80. Fortunately there was not much traffic and I don’t recall there being any construction. I also was surprised as I drove into Rolla to see so much carnage and twisted burned out MAC trucks still on the side of the Interstate awaiting removal. So many skid marks and deep gouges in the earth made the accident all too vivid and real.
My first stop was in St. Louis where I promptly got lost following map quest’s written instruction. “Lost as a goose” as my mother used to say. So what does a damsel in distress do? Well, ask for instructions of course; did it on my hands free car phone by calling my source point, my nephew Eric. I only got lost a couple more times. Finally, safe and sound, I arrived on a quaint narrow street from the 1930’s. Beautiful, all brick homes with gingerbread and arched doorways and steepled gables. And we were all hungry and that is where the pizza above originated from.
Now, just so you know, my car is packed to the gills. I didn’t have time to cull my last clothing list so I stuck it all in. And after one day, my car is already a mess. And it will stay that way until I get to my next stop tomorrow evening when I plan to take everything out, and start over!
I’ll tell you one thing, I never realized just how much God still has to teach me. And…He is using every day to do so. I think I am in for an interesting trip!
Briefly, as this message is getting wordy, everything that was in my front seat was rearranged to the back seat (bigger mess) so nephew Eric could ride to Rolla with me. His wife followed, for a while until she realized I drive the speed limit and then I followed her for about two minutes. She arrived a few minutes before we did. And oh what a delight I walked into. Eric’s wife’s aunts graciously opened their home to me, sight unseen so I could stay in Rolla and visit my Aunt Gracie. A home that you actually felt love dripping from the ceilings. Their story is amazing and interesting and too long to tell in this post. Remember this adventure is to tell it like it is. Stay tuned to hear about these two identical twin ladies with hearts of gold.
March 8, 2015 DAY TWO
…A day that was more priceless as gold. Spent the entire day with my precious Aunt Gracie, my mother’s sister. It was one of her “good days”. She is experiencing memory loss. Some times the loss seems more severe than others. Aunt Gracie seemed to be her same usual jovial self. She remembered me, my face that is, but not a lot of the details of my life. She still had a recollection of my children at different times during the day. She asked the same questions over and over and I answered each one as if it was the first time. Moments are always new to her and she seems content most of the time, but at others, shows concern for what she know is happening to her. Even if she didn’t remember me, I remember her, and I wouldn’t have missed this opportunity for anything. I so wanted to see her one more time in my life and I have done so. We talked and talked and shared long ago memories that she recalls vividly. It was so fun to hear her tell of them, and how new and refreshing they are to her. I think she especially enjoyed to have someone to listen to her. Her precious Bob is in recovery from a serious fall several months ago. He is able to walk with the aid of a cane but I can see the sadness that he has due to his loss of activity. He was always such a hard worker and doer of anything that needed to be done. It was such a beautiful thing to see how devoted they are to each other.
I went to church with her and then met up with her daughter and we all went out to eat. Aunt Gracie’s appetite is alive and well. When seeing how much she loves to eat it is surprising that she is so tiny and thin. She seems like a delicate flower, fragile and beautiful.
March 9, 2015 DAY THREE
My last day with C and S. Worked out on their stationery bike, more delightful conversations and story time, preparation for my next trip, packing up for the ride south and then time to meet my Aunt and Uncle before leaving Rolla.
Gracie and Bob were able to meet up with me the next day for a lunch at a Burger place. I passed on the menue, she ate half a burger. But she was not having a good day. She was unable to stay long and we parted with tears and hugs.
Went back to C and S home, packed the car and I was on my way.
March 10, 2015 DAY FOUR
Started the journey Saturday and now it is Tuesday and I feel as if I have lived a lifetime in between. And what a beautiful lifetime! Amazing how much can be packed into three days. Today I am resting. On Saturday I met up with my nephew Erik and wife Karen at their home and had a wonderful LATE LUNCH, as I was late for my first scheduled appointment. I tried so hard to arrive on time. I did everything except speed. I suppose if I had not left 2 hours and 40 minutes late I would have had a better chance of being there on a time. It was a lovey surprise to find out that Eric and wife were going to my second stop with me. Karen had made it possible for me to spend two night with her aunts in a location where I needed accommodations. If nothing else wonderful happens on this trip it will have been worth it just meeting these two delightful, godly ladies. WOW! What a weekend of learning and blessings from the Lord.
These two ladies, I will call them C and S, are identical twins. They are so full of the Lord that God’s love just drips from the ceilings of their home. I could feel the Lord’s presence when I entered their home. I have never felt so humbled to be in the presence of such loving and caring people. The parts of their story I heard while there would make a long interesting book and a better movie. I will have to write more about them later as I do have their permission to do so. They have lived an amazing 82 years. I wish I could have spent many more days learning from them and hearing about the wonderful miracles that have happened and are still happening in their live. From the moment I walked in and met Miss C my learning experience began. God started doing a work in me that even surprised me. I believe I was supposed to be there exactly when I was there. I was presented with a wonderful opportunity to reach out and share God’s love with a young man who was staying with them. As a new believer he was searching for so many answers. I know the words God allowed me to share with him touched him deeply and possibly will make a great difference in his life. It is always a great joy to be able to pray with others. However, this was a situation where I think I was much more blessed than those I was with. The seed had already been planted and God allowed me opportunity to water.
I arrived in Willow Springs last evening just in time for dinner. So wonderful to sit down and have dinner with friends that I haven’t seen for awhile. I am currently visiting with Kathleen and Mat formally City Church attendees. We played a wonderful game of 9 hole golf (cards). It was wonderful because I won! Up way too late again and so today I slept in, raided the fridge, spent time with the Lord, and finally showed my face between 12:30 and 1:00 p.m.. This was all done with advance notice as it was Kathleen’s (the other Kathleen) idea. What a great idea. I’ll try to log a picture of the homes I’ve been to so you can see the different places and styles.
After updating the blog I will go work out at the YMCA. I’ll try to log a picture of the homes I’ve been to so you can see the different places and styles. Hopefully this will publish with the slow internet speed here at the Willow Springs Library. None of the homes I’ve been in have WiFi. And not many more do that I’ll be with the next week or so. Uploads may be far and few between.
Visions of Poetry 