Sunday Stop

The kitty looks out at Sunday. This my girl cat who meows and carries one of my shoes to me. I believe it's her "Mommy cat" meow. She never had to carry her kittens any where three and a half year ago. They were safe and secure in my apartment. Maybe she misses that she never had to carry anything. One of those moments I wish cats could talk.

With that wish, I realize I need to talk more to God. How's that for segue? :) IBOC's Pastor Rickie Rush had such a good message today. One part hit me all the way home, especially because of my Over Do it yesterday.

God has a plan for us, Pastor Rickie Rush said. That's the first time God speaks to us--about His plan. The next time is when God tells us our purpose. In the middle of all this journey, are all the 'sighs' of the purpose/blessing.

That goes back to me yesterday, I over did the card thing. I had me with my own version of a Hallmark store and one of Oprah's Favorite Things. Ever since my pesky little open heart surgery in 2006, I've 'seen' things. Clear as could be. When I sat and recuperated when it was exhausted me to walk just 10 minutes--if lucky. How would these things every really happen? Some of those things have already come to pass. There are more things God has let me see. I need to listen and TALK more to Him to see what all this is.

Or I actually do know, and I let my flesh take over with fear. Then I remember, God does not give me fear.

Then I also remember to be still and know he is God.

Things have changed so much in my life. Good and bad--yet my character continues to be built.

I am blessed.

September 11, 2001 was Tuesday

Heaven welcomed thousands of angels that day

Especially from this one place...

Never forget.

Psalms 121

Still Shines

Pastor Rickie Rush, of MY church Inspiring Body of Christ preached from the Book of Psalms, which is my favorite. Whoever woulda thunk I'd ever like ANY book of the bible? Heck, I woulda even bet against that notion! I digress, the point Pastor Rush made, which burns inside of me is how God puts something in you--not necessarily a child, yet a blessing none the less. Sometimes you grow tire of carrying the blessing around and just want it to get here. And instead of patience, you live in the Flesh, instead live in the Spirit. Been there. Done that. I even have the t-shirt. So if you do all that, you ain't ready for what He has in store for you.
And ever woulda thunk I'd ever talk about church sermons...?
Have a couple school things that will take just minutes. No paper due until next Saturday over something that hasn't nothing to do with cats not a sensational screenplay James Cameron, Tyler Perry, Nora Epheron or Steven Spielberg will haggle over. Oh well, that's be for another day. `

In the meantime, it's still Sunday. Sun still does shine. Got stuff to do and throw out. Cats, being as they are, will not assist. They obviously have other things to do...

I am blessed.

Sunday Short

A couple things--well, really three things happened during my trek to the church house, Inspiring Body of Christ Church. today. Seems like I've been visiting enough I should just join--yet I haven't--however that isn't one of the three things that happened.

Pastor Rickie Rush taught from the Book of Luke-specifically the story of Jarius who asked Jesus to save his dying daughter. What hit me about this was, I wrote a short story from a 12 year old girl's point of view about this same story. I'd tried to submit it--well, once to a Christian magazine, then to a couple others who said they had interest is possible play production. None of it happened, so the story has set still. Honestly, I'd almost forgotten it today. It was as if I was told "it's time." Stay tuned.

The other thing was Pastor Rush's talk of fear of perhaps being alone. How others don't love you like you love them. How you might do things for them, which may be a way to make sure they stay around. Like you're buying their love. Yet you can't understand why the folk leave anyway. BINGO. Another a-ha moment. I've done that with just about every man I've loved. and even some women who I wanted to be my best good girl friends. The girlfriend you drink coffee and eat cheesecake with and talk about all the men in you life. Maybe I was scared of being alone. Or scared my bold personality would scare them off. Nonetheless, if some of those people remain in my life, the relationship has shifted. I now know The One I need to lean on. I don't need to buy His love, for it's already done.

The last thing was during most of the service a six month boy, Micah kept me company. He was on my shoulder or either on lap. Micah's smile brightened the room and my heart. Even fed Micah his bottle and happy he didn't even spit up on me after. Having Micah in my arms made me realize how much I miss not having my own family. Never thought I would be this age and not have my own kids. I have those where I am their other mom or big sister. It's a role I've learned to cherish. Yet some where in the last 20 years, I lost 20 years. Just need to make sure I don't miss another 20.

In the meantime will enjoy the rest of the Sunday.

I am blessed.

To Say

Just remember what the Word says.

Today is the day the Lord has made-rejoice and be glad in it. Hey, I know things kinda--well, suck--yet we keep on going. Builds character. Gain strength. Put trust and faith in the One who knows.

He even says to promise to give Him all our troubles. He will rescue us and all we gotta do is give Him glory.

Easier to say. It must be done.

He didn't bring us this far to leave us.

Felt like to preach a little. Felt pretty darn good.

We are blessed.

Rain Part II

Another storm brews, yet I'm about to leave my bungalow to help a chum set up for her writers' conference tomorrow. And to think I have two co-workers who still do NOT have power from Wednesday's storm! Might get it back by Sunday or sometime next week! And of course, it's suppose to maybe be in the triple digits this weekend. Say a prayer for them!

As for me, I gotta get out of the house to help my chum. However, before I do-with this rain, I think of folks who have tried to--well, rain all over me. Act as if they support me, even encourage-yet really they don't. Try to lower me to their not as confident state. That hurts because, my feelings for them are genuine. Yet they choose, and so must I.

Yet, their hating only strengthens my trust as I look unto the hills for where my help really comes from.

So to get on with this Friday, we are set to cue up Barbra Striesand! WHAT? Yep, doing a little Broadway, as Babs tells us to not rain on her parade!

I second that emotion.

Enjoy!

So You Try

To be patient. Ain't your best characteristic. You're grateful to have a job, yet not the job you want to be grateful for. One of your buds, Bucket (who has been your computer guy for anything you've asked him and says he wonders if you'll invite him to Burger Island again) leaves a week from Friday. And you think another chum, Movie Man may follow suit. Now you know Movie Man reads this blog and he will say, "You don't know that." Let's just cut to the chase, yes you do.

Back to the matter at hand. So what about you? You think of the positives. How you are truly blessed. How He got you up this morning. How He got you through this day. You remember how He said he would rescue you as long as you promised to give Him all your troubles. And all you had to do was give Him glory (That's from Psalms 50:15 if you thought it sounded familiar).

Yet you still wonder, "When is it my time?"

When He says it is.

Patience.

Another House Part II

Visited Friendship West Baptist Church with Pastor Freddie Haynes. I hadn't been there in a couple months, yet I was pulled there today. Pastor Haynes is quite the 'lively' character. Admits to 'telling it like it t-i-s' and regrets not a word from his mouth. Yea, he's brash and bold. Gotta admit I kinda like that.

Friendship West Baptist Church is a megachurch---a Black megachurch. Pastor Haynes makes no bones about it being any other than a Black church. Other megachurchs, with predominately Black congregation, I've heard say their congregation is made up of every race. Pastor Haynes, really hasn't said that in three time I've visited. Maybe he has and I've just missed it.

Anyway, Pastor Haynes preached from 1 Corinthians 13:11. How it's a tragedy if where we are right now, is just where we're suppose to go. Need grow up, like Paul said in Corinthians. Not just chronologically, but spiritually. As bold and brash as Pastor Haynes was, he brought it on home to me. We know we are growing because what once fit, doesn't fit anymore. Then how the past no longer makes us settle in our future and lastly, we know we're growing when we begin to come into our own. God is where we get the strength from. Put your trust there and don't look back.

Think thoughts you've never thought before. Step steps you've never taken before. Believe like you've never believed before. Just remember to look unto the hills and see where your help does come from. That's Psalms 121 and Pastor Haynes didn't put that in....I did.

A good day.

Sunday Thoughts...

Church this morning. God is welcome in my house everyday. For at least one day, I can go to His. Sermon was on 2 Corinthians 4:7-9. About being a clay pot. How treasures inside are worth more than the vessel they’re stored in. Something to give pause on. .

Another pretty much 100 degree Summer Day in Texas. Also my 20th Anniversary of my move to Dallas from Iowa. Sizzlin then too. I recall my inner debate if I should get a/c in my new car then. About a week before my move, I had it put in. Smart.

Disco music plays from one of my cable stations. Heard a familiar tune—took me back to about 1981 or so. Spandex skirt, 4 inch heels, jheri curl and a boyfriend that shouldn’t have ever been on my Hit Parade. Three out of four ain’t bad. The song? “Lover’s Holiday” by Change, with a young Luther Vandross. As I danced the light fantastic around my house, my cat, Big Boy watched. He seemed to say, “Have you lost your mind?” He ran.

Wimbledon: Venus & Serena. Singles and Doubles 2008 Champions. History.

Presidential Election: When IS November? Possible first Black President. Possible Black First Lady. They will be servants of all the people, not servants of those that reside in the White House. Still believe he needs to pick Hillary as VP. History.

NFL Training Camp: Soon.

Autobiography: of my experiences Donny Osmond-not just a “My dad tipped the maitre’d 40 bucks in Las Vegas so we could sit close.”

My own business: Dream to come true

TV Tonight: New Food Network Star: Aaron McCargo Jr—LOVE HIM. He came alive on Rachel Ray’s show. He could fix me pizza anytime!

Life: I am blessed. Psalms 121

...and so they say I've moved....

Then why do I still have junk in my apartment? Because I ran out of tape for boxes and thought I'd packed it ALL...just a couple hand fulls are left. And then to clean it---sure...sure....I so underestimated this adventure. Physcially--more than anything. I wondered, would I need 911? I was worried about my heart--more so, I felt such under stress--would I get this stuff done? It didn't seem like THAT much before I started. The boxes were in the way of furniture--just seemed like being cramped in. Then when the cute 25 year old mover said the removal of my washer caused a leak - I knew my day was done. The maintenance guy was like, "Well, your mover didn't put the this in the that so the water would stop..." To be, why just not turn off the faucet. After I called it day, and thought I'll just do this at my own pace. By Friday night---I want that puppy done. It's not alot. Just the stress off this whole move....I mean, I BOUGHT a house! The move was Monday the 7th---and did go smoothly, these two kids had to move my piano. And that was on the 2nd floor. By Monday night, my feet were hurt so bad, to rest was impossible.

My poor cats---yes, I'm a cat lady....they hollered on the 30 min trip here. It was warm, the a/c wasn't cooling them. I put them here in my office. They stayed in the carrier or huddled in the corner behind my desk. It's much better now--they've staked out windows.


But let me tell you---Tuesday...April 8, was my birthday! A milestone indeed! My "L" birthday--a roman numeral. It doesn't feel like it. Wasn't I 35 just last year---guess that was 15 years ago--and that night...OH MY! See, what happened was....oh wait, that's another post....nonetheless, God blessed me again to wake up that morning, that just happened to be MY birthday--in my own NEW house. Plus I received my e-card from Donny Osmond. Yep--if you're part of the Donny.com, you get a birthday greeting! Nice. God is so good--including another present he sent my way--I have a job interview, with my same company- -tomorrow-yep on my day off! The HR person called late Tuesday afternoon to set it up.

So with boxes all around with "where will this stuff go?" Cats too and fro--they did find the litter boxes--an apartment I need to clean out--and a housewarming gift of groceries would be cool--yet this is MY house--with over 200 channels to watch, since I can't afford to go any where else!--Oh, and I am all 21st Century because I have a DVR--and to think I still had dial-up until last May. Anyhoo--that's OK. A new chapter begins--hurt feet and all! I'm more calm...God is good. In Him, all things are possible, because I look to the hills. I know where my help comes from!

Now, I gotta flip on VH1 Classics--they actually show videos.....I still hate some of them like I did in the 80's...and THAT hair.

Time for some popcorn!