See, I am Doing a New Thing!

 

See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. ~Isaiah 34:19

This spring, we living in northwest Georgia have set record pollen counts, with a week ago Saturday topping the charts with a whopping 14,801 grains per cubic meter of air.  Oh, I feel so sorry for people who suffer with seasonal allergies, especially when pollen is reaching unprecedented levels.

I discover these unfamiliar, to me, slender flower-like strands on our back deck just the other day.  What can they possibly be?  Danny uses the Google Lens on his phone and voila!  It turns out these are the nascent flowers from our sugar maple growing right beside our house.  But why have we never seen these before?  More research reveals that sugar maples don't reach seed bearing age until they are between thirty and forty years old.  And since Danny estimates that he planted our maple a little over 30 years ago, it makes all the sense in the world.

Using his zoom lens on his camera Danny captures some amazing photos:

Our mature sugar maple is doing a new thing, and now it springs forth in a way that both delights and fascinates us.  Isn't that just how God works at times?  When we least expect anything about our old, familiar shade tree to do anything else but leaf out for the summer and to grow taller each season, God shows us that there is so much more that He does behind the scenes that we, in our limited knowledge, cannot even begin to fathom.

When the ways before us are seemingly choked with obstacles and debris, and our souls feel parched and sere, the Lord will be there always to make straight our paths and refresh us with His Living Water, the well that will never run dry.

Amen!

Renovation

 

He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. ~Mark 8:31

March, as most of you already know, is one of the busiest months we've had in a while.  With the kids coming for a week's visit, there are so many preparations and planning for feeding and entertaining the family troops.  We are so pleased, too, that we can show them our most recent, and necessary for us, home improvement project that is finished and ready by the time they arrive.

What is this project, you ask?  A complete renovation of our master bathroom!  Believe me, this is NOT a decision that Danny and I make lightly.  It takes lots of research in choosing a reliable company, not to mention the timeliness of the actual renovation itself.  We feel so fortunate to contract with a local, family-owned and operated bath company with fantastic reviews and stellar customer service.

Their pleasant, knowledgeable sales rep shows up to our home right on time so we can see samples of what we can choose in the way of shower insert, fixtures such as handlebars, which we need, believe me, showerhead options, and new water-resistant flooring.  She isn't pushy or forceful in her presentation, and allows us ample time to pick and choose from seemingly endless styles and colors.  Danny and I easily agree on what we want for this new shower; being married for twenty years (this April 2nd), we know each other's tastes pretty well, if I say so myself.

And why now to accomplish this renovation?  Honestly, we aren't getting any younger, and would like to stay here in our home for as long as the Lord allows.  Danny recently hurts his knee to the point where stepping over the edge of our old-fashioned tub is a daily painful experience.  I, too, have had my fair share of balance issues, so this decision, while an expensive one, makes perfect sense to us.

Here is a photo of our old bathroom:

And here's what it looks like after the remodeling is complete, and freshly painted:

Wow!  What a difference, right?

Yes, our bathroom is completed in one day, as promised.  However, there is a catch:  We have to wait three days before we can use the shower insert to make sure everything has time to set and dry correctly.  Immediately, I'm reminded of the Easter story, the one we will soon be celebrating, the glorious day when God the Father resurrects His beloved Son, Jesus, from the dead.

Waiting three days, taken in the context of our bath remodel, seems unbelievably easy in light of the pain, anguish and confusion that Jesus' followers must have suffered in those dark days between the Lord's death on a cross and His resurrection.  A three-day span must have felt interminable for them.  Consumed by grief and fear, they forget what Jesus has promised them would happen on that blessed third day.

But we, as Christ-followers today, know how the story ends.  And we give thanks and praise to God for the grace and mercy He shows to us through Jesus' conquering, once and forever, death and the grave.  May we all celebrate the renovation of us all from the inside out on Easter and always.

Amen!

Envision the Future, Cherish the Past

 

Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. ~Joel 1:3

The day we choose to take Virginia to explore downtown Kennesaw is bright and sunny, with a slight, invigorating chill in the air - perfect for walking outdoors.  I've known about the improvements made within the past two years in our city, but haven't explored the new park or amphitheater, so this is new for me, too!

Virginia recalls our visit to the Southern Museum of the Civil War and Locomotive History (featured above) visit when she is much younger, telling us that, yes, she remembers the huge engine called "The General," which occupies a cavernous room at the museum.  So impressive!

Although we don't go to the museum today, I note that the new park incorporates colorful displays describing the history of the railroad in our area and the infamous "Great Locomotive Chase," which took place during the Civil War as Northern troops stole The General, planning to head to Chattanooga, destroying railroad tracks behind them as they progressed.  A brief history of this event is featured at The City of Kennesaw website if you would like to know more.

And speaking of cities, ours was known as Big Shanty prior to the 1800s.  Why?  Because an abundance of fresh water and railroad work attracted men from all around to earn good money, temporary shacks, or shanties, were set up to house them on site.  In memory of that, Kennesaw hold an annual Big Shanty Festival every April, featuring arts, crafts, food and music for the teeming crowds that attend.  Lots of fun for all!

The day we visit is anything but busy, and we enjoy a fabulous time in the fresh air.

We also stop into a new coffee shop, "The Lazy Labrador," located inside a restored historical home.  The shop is full of students from Kennesaw State University, buried in their laptops, so we decide to take our refreshments outside so we can chat.  We sit in some welcome shade, enjoying the sights and sounds around us, and just as we are standing to leave, I spy this regal fellow perched on a limb, unperturbed by the human activity below.

God's kingdom, it seems, always holds unexpected surprises no matter where we turn!

We are proud of our city for having the vision to plan for the future, yet preserving the rich history of our past, keeping it vibrant and alive in the present.  May we do the same, and more, in passing on the wisdom and love of our mighty, powerful God and Savior, to all the generations who follow us.

Papa and Virginia walking through the tunnel under the railroad tracks.

Amen!

Love, Joy and Gratitude

 

Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. ~Proverbs 17:6

There truly aren't words to describe the love, joy and gratitude we experience from Saturday to Saturday of last week when daughter, Sarah, her husband, John, and the grands come to visit.  Danny and I have anticipated this reunion for weeks, and he has gone to great lengths to plan menus that will appeal to everyone's preferences at mealtimes.  As you might imagine, it's quite the feat to go from feeding two to slinging something delicious out for seven!

There may not be words to commemorate our time together, but I certainly can tell much of the story through the photos we take.  The picture in the header shows the "Three Musketeers:" (from L - R) Virginia, Alexandra and Savannah as they are creating some art at he dining room table.

Backgammon is a favorite game, not just for Danny and me, but for Sarah, John and Virginia, all of whom Danny has taught to play.

Neither Savannah nor Alexandra have expressed any interest in learning as of yet, so we play rounds of UNO instead (sorry, no photos of that).  But here they are showing off their beloved stuffed animals, including the large teddy bears their Uncle Nicco brings to them on the night he arrives to help Danny with steaks, and to set up some classic Nintendo games for his nieces.

Nicco and Sarah -

Nicco and his dad -

And who can forget our grand-puppy, Finn?  He's such a cute boy and so well behaved.

Here are just a few more favorites of mine.

In my next post, I will share our afternoon adventures in downtown Kennesaw with eldest granddaughter, Virginia.  John and Sarah opted to take the youngest girls out for pizza, as they weren't sure they would be interested in that particular activity. 

I hope you all enjoyed sharing in our grace and blessings here, and thanks for understanding my reason(s) for not visiting with any of you wonderful readers/bloggers last week.

Amen!

Grace for the Race

 

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.  The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." ~Matthew 4:1-3

Lent is traditionally known as a time of repentance and reflection as Christians prepare for the glorious resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus, on Easter morning.  The length of the season is modeled on the forty days and forty nights Jesus spent in the wilderness after His baptism, tempted by the devil, before officially beginning His earthly ministry.

Some of you might choose to give something up during this time, or take on something new that you hope will draw you closer to God as Easter approaches.  If we are honest with ourselves, we know abandoning something we like or starting an additional spiritual discipline isn't always easy or convenient.  So why do we even try?

Sunday morning, as I'm watching the Fox & Friends Weekend show, one of the co-hosts, Rachel Campos-Duffy, interviews Father Michael Schmitz, the director for youth and young adult ministries for the Duluth, Minnesota Catholic Diocese, and chaplain to the University of Minnesota located there.  The topic they discuss is Lent, so naturally, I'm all ears.

Father Schmitz explains the origin of the word ascetic, one that modern day perception associates with many early Christians who gave up worldly comforts to devote all their time and energy in contemplation and prayer.  Think monks or hermits.  He says that the Greek origin of this word actually translates to being in training.  I find that revelation to be both fascinating and enlightening!  Just as an athlete might train daily to compete in a marathon, Lent calls us to train ourselves to be more Christ-like in all we think, say and do.

And isn't that something we should choose to do each and every day, not just the forty set aside during Lent?

So, those of you who've been reluctant to commit to a Lenten season in the past, this can be your moment to start your training regimen with Jesus.  Even if your spiritual muscles are weak and flaccid, He will give you the strength and perseverance to win the race when you allow Him to come alongside you.

Jesus will give you the grace to finish your race with flying colors.

Amen!

FYI - I won't be posting next Tuesday as our daughter, son-in-law and the grandchildren will be visiting with us that week.  Good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, I'll be back here the following Tuesday to visit with all of you.  If you leave comments on this post by Saturday morning, I should have no problem responding to them.  Thanks so much for understanding and your loyalty to Meditations of My Heart.

The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia

 

With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.  And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all. ~Acts 4:33

We rarely lose our electricity where we live.  Oh, sure, we get a few blips and brief episodes from time to time, but nothing to even make us think that we should invest in a generator for the house.  We are most fortunate, indeed.

Fortunate, that is, until a week ago Sunday.  At around 5:30 that evening, Danny is just getting ready to prep for dinner when BOOM!  Not only do the lights go out, but we sustain some eerie electrical pulses that are downright scary.  Danny rushes to unplug our computers, hoping that said pulses haven't already fried the wiring.  Whew!  Thankfully, they survive the shock, but we are left in the dark (yes, pun intended).

What to do?  Both of us have had a long day and our stomachs are getting restless.  Lunch seems to be light years in the past, and cooking is now out of the question.  Danny declares that we'll simply have to go out to eat if we want to have anything decent.  That's okay by me, except for two reasons: 1) What happens if we can't find a restaurant with power? and 2) Neither one of us is comfortable driving in the dark.

Danny reminds me that while our neighborhood is serviced by Georgia Power, many others in the local environs subscribe to another electricity provider, Cobb EMC.  He is sure we can find some place that is up and running just fine.  The only obstacle now, it seems, is getting our garage doors open without the automatic assistance we're so accustomed to.  Turns out, they are no match for Dan-the-Man with an engineering degree from Georgia Tech!

We drive through our dusky neighborhood, made gloomier by overcast skies and no lights in sight.  But as soon as we turn onto the main road leading to Kennesaw proper, the promise of maintained power welcomes us and fills us with renewed hope.  Danny's original idea is to head toward Highway 41, but when we get to downtown Kennesaw, only a mile or so from our home, we decide to try a new, for us, restaurant whose facade is pictured above.  Yes, it's pricey, but we rationalize not having eaten out for Valentine's Day, and the short distance back to the house, makes this a worthwhile venture in every way.

We are not disappointed!

We split an entree of mahi-mahi tacos and fries - delicious!  And our waiter gives us excellent service without hovering as is the case in some places we have dined.  We enjoy every morsel of our meal and will most definitely return there in the future for a special occasion.

By the time we're ready for the drive back home, we wonder if the electricity will be there to greet us.  Lo and behold, as we enter our neighborhood and see lights in all the houses, it has!  No LED flashlights nor lanterns required, and full stomachs to boot.

What first appeared to be a power catastrophe becomes a powerful memory, and we are so grateful to God for His powerful light shines eternally shines into our lives and our hearts.

Amen!

Grace is a Blessing

 

I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus. ~1 Corinthians 1:4

Have you ever noticed that when a word chooses you for the year, you begin to see it everywhere?  When the word Grace takes up residence in my heart for 2025, that phenomenon has occurred with regularity.  What a joy that is!

Pictured above is the daily devotional, New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp, I've chosen to read each day of this year.  From the first of January until today (February 17), Tripp has mentioned God's gift of grace in all but eight of them.  All but eight!!!  I'd say that's like batting a thousand.  And this is the journal I use to record all the grace moments I come across in my daily readings.

In her post for January 20th, Pamela, who blogs at Closed Doors, Open Windows, shares this wonderful acrostic for the word grace that the pastor at her church often uses.

G - God's

R - Riches

A - At

C - Christ's

E - Expense

Many of you may already be familiar with this "definition" of grace, but for me, it is a new and welcomed revelation.  Thanks, Pamela!

It reminds me, once again, that grace is freely given by God, not because I've earned it or deserve it, but because His Son, Jesus, laid down His precious life for us in order to pay for the sins of every man, woman and child, past, present and future.  None of us, I dare say, can fathom the immense cost of Jesus' sacrifice, leaving the joys of heaven to be born, live and die as one of us here on earth.

Yet, because God so loved the world, He did just that.

My signature sign-off here at Meditations of My Heart when responding to comments has been Love and blessings for years.  Now, being inspired by grace, I've decided to wish all of you Grace and blessings instead when you take the time to read and comment on my posts.  Your kind, thoughtful and caring words never cease to fill my heart with gratefulness for each one of you.

I will close today's post with one quote from Paul David Tripp about grace:  I need your grace.  Grace to remember, grace to see, grace that produces a heart of humble joy.

Grace and blessings, dear friends!