Today...

- all of my family is home!
I retrieved The Johnnie from her dorm this morning, and Reedy Girl is finished with her high school classes as of lunchtime.
Bearded Brewer is scheduled off for two days (Wednesday-Thursday) and we will enjoy some down time together. What will it be? A rousing game of Apples 2 Apples or Mexican train???

- we have worked through some of our impasse with the nursing home regarding hospice for my mother-in-law
While there are some things we are not happy about (i.e. having to nag them to keep her pain at bay) they have been responsive and have taken the time to at least listen to our concerns. We'd prefer she could be enrolled in hospice, but the state bean counters and their holy "Certificate of Need" seem to make it impossible to provide an individual with services as requested. So until there's a bed... she's being watched with many kind hearts and gentle hands...

- we are full of grace and peace
Yesterday Ruth came up and led the four of us (Bearded Brewer, MIL and me) in a Rite II Eucharist. There are such comforting words in the liturgy. Though she could not speak, she was clearly following. I am grateful for the gift of grace in the Bread and Cup, and for a servant-hearted friend like Ruth. God's Presence has been touching mine all day. It's a gracious gift.

Wherever you are - may you have that same sense of God's Presence.

Blessed Thanksgiving to you!

And.... Ze last!! blogging gratitude...

Z is for...

Geesh. Ending with an "easy" one, huh?

OK...

Zinnias.. Easy to grow and in a multitude of colors. Mine were rabbit food this year lil varmints!) so they didn't do so well. But I enjoy watching them sprout and grow. One of the few things I can grow well. I love flowers like zinnias which don't have a strong odor, but still have bright colors.

Zig Zag... My life has been kind of like a zigzag... This is my third go-round in the halls of higher education. I didn't expect that I would really and truly see this dream come true. But it is... Amazing!!!

Zoe... the Greek word for life. I am someone who enjoys living. I have faced difficult questions, hard decisions, frustrating circumstances... but I am blessed. As long as I am breathing, I intend to live!! So many people give up or don't look at life as an opportunity, or an adventure. I'm not stupidly Pollyanna -- sometimes life does suck. But I thank God for life!

My 88 key Zither... OK, it's a piano. But I love playing it. (Wait... did I mention this under "P"?? Oh well.)

Zero Mostel... "tragedy tomorrow... comedy tonight!" Life is too short to dwell on the things that tick you off. (Hellloooo??? Serena?) So laugh a little. It keeps your blood pressure down.

Y is for...

I can't say it any better than this...

Y is for...

YOU ARE FAITHFUL...

Kim Walker of Jesus Culture...

X is for...

I can't believe I am trying to do this but...

X is for....

Xeroxes... The end of purple mimeographs is done. No more sniffing ink while I copy off dittos or stencils. No more forms in triplicate (except for the occasional government form.) I can get copies of articles and work through the copious research I need to do for my papers. I am used to this convenience and I love it.

XML... the genius folks who make the web the snazzy stuff it is today. No more spinning icons or sparkle text. Love. it.

We are finishing an Xciting year... The Johnnie finished high school and started college. Reedy Girl is now at AP-Obsessed High School as a freshman. I finished my church job and started working as a T.A. for Whoopin' Holiness Divinity School. And the Bearded Brewer continues to make milestones in his work. Pretty good stuff.

Thanks, God.

W is for...

W is for.... WHATEVER!!!!!!!

Sometimes I do not realize how blessed I am to write on whatever I am prompted to discuss. My citizenship affords many freedoms that I know are not present in some parts of the world. This sparked me to thank God for the right to post my opinion... even if I know that it could tick off someone. (Setting aside presidential addresses and public policy for a moment...)

In my Old Testament class this week we had to write a short essay on what it means to be "made in the image of God." We were address specifically the spiritual, moral and physical attributes of humanity, and what it means to respond to those who do not believe in God...

Everything was fine until I suggested that all human beings, even members of Al-Qaeda, are made in the image of God and created for a relationship with God. That many humans choose not to does not make them any less loved or wanted by God. And I noted that because of the effects of sin, we live in broken relationships and skewed realities. In the interests of integrity, this is what I wrote:

Being created in the image of God means that in the totality of our creation, humanity reflects the breadth, power and strength of God. We participate through His Spirit being breathed into us (Gen. 2:7), that same Spirit which was over the waters and midwifed creation. We are not separated from creation but are intertwined in God’s creative work. Physically, humanity is “unlike” all of the animals (Gen.2); spiritually, we are called to preside over God’s creation as his regents and stewards (Gen. 1:28). Ethically, we are challenged to work and preserve God’s creation (Gen. 2:15) and to obey the restrictions God placed on our use of it (Gen. 2:16-17).

Hamilton notes that we are not just an imitation of God, but a “likeness-image,” for we are “not simply representative, but representational, of the invisible God” (Hamilton, p. 27). We were created for work; it is not a penalty for sin, though the thistles and the pain of childbirth certainly are (Gen. 3). Though we are image-bearers of God, Genesis 3 also explains why humanity faces the effects of sin in broken and skewed relationships. But only in our dependence on God can we even begin to show the God we are images of – not of our own initiative (LBH p. 24).

How do we respond to those who do not believe in God? I think it is important to keep God’s frame of reference: all human beings are created in God’s image. All of them are designed for relationship with God, whether they know or desire it or not. Therefore, there is no one, not even a member of Al-Qaeda who is not worthy of hearing the Gospel. That is pretty humbling, considering that we would happily bomb out of existence those who were responsible for 9/11 and act as God’s judge and jury.

How should we respond others in the Body of Christ? By remembering that each of us is also an image-bearer of God, each has been endowed by the Spirit, and called to serve the Body and Christ, we will give each other the value and the honor due one another. We do not limit what the Spirit is gifting someone to do because of age, race or gender. And we accept that we each have a part in bringing about God’s Kingdom. And by doing this, we advance God’s purposes over our own.

I have been thoroughly nuked by a couple of my classmates for daring to suggest that any person, even a terrorist, or someone on death row, (mentioned in a later discussion), is deserving of "grace"... It was suggested that with this being the period immediately before 9/11 that I have somehow cheapened or disgraced the deaths of so many.

I am growing very weary of rhetoric and assumptions of the meanings of words and phrases.

Please take what I say at face value. I'm not running for a political office. I'm not lobbying for anything. I'm writing about what I see as the logical, philosophical end result of seeing all humanity as being image-bearers of God.

Do I fulfill this perfectly? NO. And neither do you...

Quodlibet. WHATEVER.

I continue in my quest of pursuing peace, though there are times that this pursuit is quite tiresome. However, in an attitude of gratitude, I am exceedingly grateful that I can spew off my WHATEVER opinion without fear of persecution or imprisonment.

Deb

V is for....

V is for...

VENI, VIDI, VINCI! (Sorry couldn't resist! Too many years of Latin!)

Today I'm struggling to find V words...

Victory over some difficult, emotional points in my life. God is gracious.

Velcro moments - where I have clung to friends and God and made it through.

Volumes of music... I admit they are dusty. I'm pulling them out and beginning to play again.

Vivaldi! I love hearing his music. I confess that since when I play a violin the cats scatter and people wince, I don't try to play. at. all.

OK, I give up. This is getting harder!

Deb

U.... U... U...

I need You, you you...

I can't get the BLUES BROTHERS song out of my mind!!! But off we go on today's Alphabetic blogging... U is for...

U2... Some of their songs, not so much. But many of them speak volumes to me about being an authentic "world Christian." Take a spin through their discography (there's too many to mention) and see what you think.

Utensils... Let me explain! The right kitchen tool saves a lot of time in the kitchen, which is not my favorite place to be! Having a serrated knife, or my favorite "tomato knife" (if you have one, you know what I mean!). And some of my most treasured ones are hand-me-downs from my grandmothers' kitchens. The best nutmeg grinder I will ever find, for instance, came from one of my grandmas!

Un-scheduled... When I have the time to "do nothing" it's such a nice relief. I am trying to build more of an "un-schedule" this year, so tha tunless I have a test or something that is due THAT evening, I sign off my computer to be available for the unscheduled family times I'm needed.

Understanding... taking the time to hear and be heard is a blessing in and of itself. So often the assumptions we hold are simply not valid. And many times they are skewed by politics, economics or culture. Cultivating a deep understanding of others is part of my DNA. I have been learning how to release long-held opinoins and suspend judgments. Every time I do, I am blessed.

Uncles and aunts... growing up in a large family, I had the additional benefit of having numerous uncles and aunts, great-uncles and great-aunts. There is a sense of rootedness that comes from being connected to my family tree. I try to extend that same sense to my kids, though we do not get to see extended family nearly often enough.

Stopping there for now...
Deb

T is for....

Plodding along finishing the alphabetic blogging of gratefulness... now we have T!

T is for....

Trust... I am fortunate that I have friends I can trust. Friends that I can have the hard, down-to-the-nitty-gritty discussions about life, ministry, family, and so on. I don't betray their trust. They don't betray mine. That's a huge blessing. I don't take it for granted.

Tears... I do cry. I am a "feeler" type person. I used to try and "stuff" my feelings but I figured out that they were God-given for a reason. Tears are one way that I can release them -- whether alone with a trusted friend. I've met enough emotionally constipated people to know that being able to cry is a blessing. (So pass the tissues!)

Toll house cookies... Need I explain this one?

True love... I married my best friend and true love. Not many people can say that.

Tests... Ugh. Can't believe I typed that. But it's true. Tests help me see what I need to do, what I need to work on, and where I have at least gained some mastery.

It's all good...

Deb

S is for....

Continuing on in the alphabetic blogging of gratitude...

S is for...

Singing... I love to sing. I don't do it as often as I used to, something that is somewhat discouraging. I guess it is a function of the church we attend, the busy-ness of my life, and estrogen leaving the building...

Studying... It is a blessing that I have the time and opportunity to do my studies. I'm aiming not to just be a repository of useless theological facts, but actually have something to offer that will help someone some day.

Sense of humor... I'm glad I have one. It helps as I slug through the Pentateuch in a couple of sittings. I confess that as I read Noah's story, all I could think of was Bill Cosby's version of the story... ("What's a cubit?") At least I self-entertain well.

Siblings... I was blessed to be born into a large family. My sibs are among my biggest encouragers, and are a talented, diverse group of strong individuals. In my family there have been bankers, artists, analysts, librarians, doctors, chemists, publishers... and somehow now pastor...

Seasons... I'm actually glad summer is over, as much as I enjoy the time with family on vacation. Fall is my favorite season, but I also enjoy the others too. One thing I found out early on in my adult life was that I did not do well in a part of the country with only two seasons (humid and less humid!)

Simply yours...
Deb

R is for...

R is for....

Reading! There's a shocker. I was raised by book-oholics. I married a book-oholic (and a librarian to boot!) And, we are raising book-oholics. Right now on my non-textbook reading list is a short "biography" of the life of St. Brigid. Since I love to wear her cross, I figured I needed to learn more about her life. I'm also reading through the Jane Austen novels this year. And there's always a partly-read stack of something near the bed. Textbooks don't count as "reading"...

Relaxing... I don't do it enough. But I made time for it this summer, even with my full schedule, to enjoy family time and to "do nothing". For my birthday, the Bearded Brewer got a hammock stand for our family hammock. I actually listened to MP3s of Church History lectures while rocking away an afternoon. You know, if you have to listen to recorded lectures, they might as well be in a comfy place!!

Really good friends... The kind of friends that see past the casual answer and ask the next layer of questions. The kind who don't judge or give pat responses to the struggles I have. And the kind who believe in what I see as God's vision for my life. I am blessed. Truly.

Time to move on with my day...

Deb

Continuing to do the ABCs of gratitude...

Q is for...

Quiet! Yes. Even an extrovert likes quiet now and then. Not TOOOoooo much, mind you, but enough to settle my heart and to re-focus on what matters. Unlike the Bearded Brewer, my silent retreats are not a week, but are 4-5 hours. I go to a local retreat center with other day retreatants and soak up some God time. The next one is September 2nd at the Dayspring Retreat Center. Join me, will you?

Quintessential Christians. The ideal of my Christian experience in a nutshell, i.e. to become the essence of Christ in my world. I have so many models of this in my life to contemplate and strive towards becoming... They are incredible blessings to me and I am grateful.

I'm struggling to come up with Q's... so forgive me for stopping with two. :)

Deb

P is for...

P is for...



PROGENY!
We have two healthy, bright, caring daughters. They truly are a joy and a blessing. The Harpist (who will be known as "The Johnnie" tomorrow onward) is enjoying her last day pre-college. Reedy Girl spent the summer as a C.I.T. (counselor-in-training) and vegging before her first day of high school.


Packing...
Boxes. Suitcases. Laundry Basket. Survival foods (Ramen noodles, Microwave popcorn, protein bars...) It's finally happening. Our first-born is headed to college tomorrow, (St. John's College of Annapolis). It's a happy, bittersweet, amazing moment. Hard to believe that the toddler who invented words to explain what she saw is now headed to begin studying towards an eventual graduate degree in linguistics.

Polgara...
The Grand Dame of our feline world. She truly IS "The Duchess Who Outranks Everyone." Just ask her! (Oh yes... she blogs, too, though not as much as the chatty youngsters.) We do love our kitties! Polgara, like all of our cats, is a rescue kitty. Her mama had her litter in a dumpster, and our vet rescued the babies. Polgara and her sister (who has since gotten her golden whiskers) came to live with us in May of 1997. We won't discuss her age, as that would be indelicate, but you can do the math...


Prayer...
Intercessory. Contemplative. Scripture. Music. Art. Healing. Blessing. And all the other kinds of prayer I am forgetting... I don't spend enough time in full awareness of the closeness of God.

Piano...
Time to get back into my school year habit of playing my piano. I confess I play when every one leaves the house these days because I am so rusty...

Praise...
Kinda goes with the last two, but I find I can focus on the things that matter if I keep my

Perspective
and stay

Positive
about what is going on in the world, in my life, with my family and friends. It is easy to get angry, bitter and callous. My natural tendency is to be positive, but not in a stupid Pollyanna way. Life does suck sometimes. But God is in the middle of it. And that is the balance that I strive to keep.

Peace out...

Deb

O is for...

O is for...

Opportunity... I think about the discrimination that my grandmothers and mom lived through. I think about the jobs that they never considered, or the places they never went for an education... because women just "didn't do that"... Yeah... I am grateful!

Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent God... Some times it is hard to grasp the depths and the heights of an eternal God. (Wait - SOME times? Make that ALL the time!) To know that I have instant access to that kind of power and love. It's mind-blowing and amazing.

Openness... I was thinking today of the people I share my heart with and vice versa. The fact that we can live and talk and do life together with an open-hearted conversation is such a blessing.

October... Fall. Football. End of summer heat. My favorite MONTH of the year!!!

Ohio State... Yeah. Kinda goes with October. Go Bucks!

N is for...

N is for...

Boy... this one was hard. But I came up with something.

NOs.

I know that sounds crazy, but the "NOs" in my life have usually come with a really good reason.

NO... to the guy I was first engaged to. Yeah, he chickened out (his loss) but it was a good thing. God's NO meant I met my wonderful Bearded Brewer.

NO... to the church I thought I would work in forever... It was a great experience, don't get me wrong. But God has other places and plans for me. First stop, being a grad. assistant. And from there... who knows??

NO... to healing people I love who had cancer. And cats who had to get their golden whiskers.

NO... to "fixing" financial woes...

It's in the NO moments that I experience pain, anger, frustration, and loss... and where I also see God's kindness, patience, and providence. It's then that I realize how God's power works through me, in spite of me...

I really hesitated to put up this blog post. I mean, isn't being thankful for NOs kinda like praying for patience??

And yet... that's the word I've got.

So thanks (?) for NOs...

Deb

L is for...

L is for LUGGAGE....

We're on vacation and I haven't gotten around to doing more blogging. I'm grateful for this time with my husband and kids... grateful for a quiet corner of the universe where I can pray, rest and get back to "center"...

SO

I'll get back to the alphabet later.

There's leisure time to be enjoyed...

Deb

K is for....

The letter K in my alphabetic gratitudes...

Kairos and Kairos Outside... I am privileged to share in a ministry that reaches out to men, women and teens who are impacted by incarceration. Whether it is a friend or a relative, friend or foe, living with the results of someone you care about being in prison is life-changing. I am grateful that God allows me to serve the women of Kairos Outside.

Jesus said,

"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, 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." (Matthew 25:35-36)

I am just going to blog about this for my letter today.... so sit and enjoy a virtual cup of tea and let me share with you about a very special ministry that I am involved with called Kairos Outside...

Kairos Outside began in California in 1989 and is a ministry designed to reach out to wives, mothers, sisters and other adult female family members/friends of the incarcerated to let them know there is a Christian community that cares about them and their needs.

Kairos Outside is set up as a weekend retreat to help strengthen the family unit and encourage small support groups. On two weekends a year, we provide a secure place for 24 women to share their struggles.

Kairos means "God's special time". In the lives of these women, we know it will be God's special time for them.

I am sharing this information with you because I will be one of the team members serving on the next Kairos Outside Weekend in Maryland. Kairos Outside #7 will be held September 25-27. 2009. The theme of the weekend is Soar With Jesus. My job is to serve as one of the Spiritual Directors (pastors). I am stepping out of my comfort zone, but I know God goes ahead of me and will be my Helper.

We need your help in a prayer commitment and financially to share this weekend of God's love. You can help us make it possible for this important ministry to continue.

Please take a few minutes TODAY to remember these women and to prayerfully consider a contribution. Donations of all amounts are greatly appreciated! It costs $180 to sponsor a woman for the weekend. $56 will provide all of the meals for one woman. $7 pays for breakfast, $10 pays for lunch, and $12 covers the cost of dinner. So, as you can see, any size donation is a blessing.

Thank you for your help as we share the goodness of God with these women.

God's love, peace and blessings -

Deb

* Checks should be made payable to Kairos Outside of Maryland and may be mailed to me (I will send them on) OR you may mail them directly to Kairos Outside of Maryland, P.O. Box 401, Burtonsville, MD 20866

P.S. Check out the Maryland Kairos Outside website here!

JJJJJJAYyyyyyy!

J is for.....

JAYS - they make my kittehs happy. Nothing like a little live entertainment for a bored housecat to keep peace in the ranks.

JAVA... OK, I put Coffee under "C" and this is kinda double-dipping. But I do enjoy a GOOD cup of coffee in the morning. Just one big mug. I actually am decaffed the rest of the day. It's the smell as much as the taste. Right now we are drinking coffee from a ministry in Nicaragua. Wonderful stuff - and buying it invests in the ministries our church supports there.

JOB... My husband has a steady job. I have a job as a TA which of course is not for the big bucks. But it is a job. Even The Harpist was given a work-study job as part of her financial aid. There aren't enough jobs to go around. I'm grateful.

JUSTICE... Yes, there are still wrongs and prejudicial decisons and laws made in the US. But we have a greater chance for true justice to be lived out in this country than in many around the world. It's not a small blessing.

JUICY BERRIES... Oh mannn!!!!!! LOOK at these puppies! They were being closed out from a roadside stand yesterday. Four pints were mine for $2.50! They exploded with juice when we ate them on cereal this morning. Dead ripe, juicy, sweet-tart blackberries. There will be a whole section of heaven with blackberries in it. I'm sure of that!

Having a very JAZZED day -

Deb

The after midnight edition of IIIIiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!

Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii..... should be in bed. But I'm not. So let's blog a little, shall we???


Ice cream... Graeter's to be specific. Nom. smulch. yom. drool... Unfortunately, I need to be blessed with it a little less.

Ice cubes... Ok, just travel in Europe and drink luke-warm coke. Trust me. A blessing.

Inhalers... Yes, I am tired of sucking down micro-particles. But I am rather fond of breathing. How many people in the past died because they did not get the treatment they needed to live healthily with asthma? Probably far too many. SO - - because my next breath is clear and non-wheezy, and because I think maybe, finally!!! I have licked whatever bug knocked me low, thank you God for inhalers!!!

Introspection... It was an important skill to learn, being the extrovert type. But, as I've gotten better at it, I can honestly say I am glad that I have grown a wee bit in the last couple years. Taking the time to stop, pray, listen and respond to God has helped me in so many areas of my life.

Intercession... I remember specific instances where knowing someone was praying for me made the difference in coping with a difficult time. When my dad was terminally ill, there were people praying for me. There was this sense of a physical burden being removed from my shoulders, and being taken by 'someone' else. I have never forgotten that. When God wakes me up (or keeps me up) I search my mind for who I could pray for. And then I do. A blessing.

Intelligence... There are days I could use more of it. But I know that I have been given the ability to think and reason and respond to the ideas and life events around me.

Interdependence... There are several people that I have found are those "strong tower" people in my world. I lean on them. They lean on me. We kinda prop each other up, you know? And in those special relationships, where God is the third strand? Wow. Pretty amazing.

Ideas... I am an outside-the-box thinker. Big time. (Just thought I would be Captain Obvious in case you hadn't caught on to that one...) I like to explore and try new concepts. It's what keeps me fresh and positive.

And on that note - I will try the "new concept" of sleep. Maybe...

Deb

H IS FOR......

H is for.......

Harshes... I'm one of many. And I love them all dearly.

Home... I am truly blessed to have a safe, lovely place to live, with people that I trust and am secure around. I know of too many people who could make that statement. It's humbling. I want to be more aware of this particular blessing.

Hope... I am constantly amazed at the HOPE that God pours into my heart and life. Reminders that there is so much more to my existence than what is known and seen outwardly. And a future that does give this deep-down peace.

Henry... He's a good kitty. He's fun, gentle and a very VERY good purrer. And he is very good at holding down my papers when I am trying to write.

Harpist... It's a treat to have someone who can play such a beautiful instrument. We will miss our Harpist next year when she goes to college, but are cheering her on for her next big adventure.

Husband... God blessed me with a great one.

Deb

and ON TO THE G's.........

G is for......

GOD.

Almighty.
Beautiful.
Caring.
Daddy.
Everlasting.
Faithful.
Gracious.
Hearing.
Immanent Incarnate Immortal.
Just.
Kind.
Loving.
Master.
Never-failing.
Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent.
Paid in full.
Quick to forgive.
Righteous.
Savior.
Truth.
Understanding.
Voluminous.
Wise.
Xactly....
Your God and Mine.
Zenith.