Sum Up Sunday

Another view of part of my back yard. The wind does waltz with the leaves. And I like it.

It's Sunday. I went to IBOC--my HOME church as of last week. I still can't get over it I joined. Especially since the church I called Home for 5 1/2 years, before I ventured to IBOC, I never officially joined, even tho I was involved in things--like the co-head of the Singles Ministry and even taught my first adult Sunday School class--didn't know what I was talking about--but I did it. However, I never officially joined.

And now I have: Inspiring Body of Christ Church. I sat by an empty seat that had someone's purse and such there. In a few moments the woman came back--it was the SAME woman, who nudged me last week about joining. Things don't just happen. They happen for a reason. We had a good chat.

The main thing, Pastor Rickie Rush said when folks ask what we we did this weekend we oughta tell em we praised Jesus. Not what is usually heard. I chuckle cause folks who have known me since MTV were just letters in the alphabet, really don't get my Praise. I've learned to expect that. And it's OK--these folks continue to be blessings in my life.

In the meantime, the sun has gone down on this Sunday. Finished a college paper--I doNOT like writing non-fiction. Got a cat to pet, ice cream to eat and pages of Screenwriting for Dummies to fumble through.

I am blessed.

Snow Spring

This was the scene from the side of my house. Snow. It started about 10PM or so. When all was said and done, my neck of Dallas received about 2 inches. Towns about 20 miles north of the Dallas got over 5 to 9 inches.

I had decided on Saturday night I wasn't going to church.My bed was too darn cozy. I'd watch service online. So after I got up, did some PC stuff and looked at my 'to do' list before church would be online at 11am, I would up taking a shower. Off to church I went. Sanctuary about half full. A woman and I spoke how we were both going to stay home. Alas, here we were. I did pass a few dented cars along the highway and/or in a ditch with the police right there on the way to church.

Anyway, Pastor Rickie Rush, of Inspiring Body of Christ Church aka IBOC, reminded me and the rest of the congregation: "Trouble don't last always." I needed to hear that. How the stronger the trials we go thru, the stronger the blessing. Needed to hear that too. All in all, glad I went.

Oh, and by time I left church, the snow and ice was gone. So much for the Spring Snow Storm of 2010. Because even with the snow gone, something has made me sneeze.

Yep, Spring IS here.

If you will excuse, got an orange to peel and contemplate Blue Bell Ice Cream to savor.

Must

Must:

..get trash out to the curb. Did.

...fill the bird and squirrel feeders. Done.

...pet a cat or 100. Did done.

...drink 74 ounces of water. Yeppers.

...lose 30 pounds while drinks said water. Nope. Nada.

...consider to devour a tablespoon of Blue Bell Tin Roof Ice Cream. YOWZA!

...register for workshop for college class I begin next week. Gotta do.

...curl up for today's Young and the Restless episode with a cat or 100. Indeed.

...give thanks to the One who has brought me thru this day. Amen.

Sunday Something

Pastor Rickie G. Rush, of Inspiring Body of Christ Church, preached from 2 Corinthians 4:18 today. What you see is temporary, what you don't see is eternal. How God breaks you to get YOU ready for the blessings--His plan for YOU. Your decision are not His decisions.

Yea. Feel all of that. I know I'm better than what I was. A work in progress--that's what I am--with more ways to go. I need to rejoice more in what I have--instead of worrying so much what I don't have. Which, honestly. are material things.

Oh wait, except for the man, I don't have in my life. That's not material. It's flesh. But yet, one of those things God is getting me prepared for. Just didn't want to be 100 when Mister Right Are You Still Breathing Now? appears. I digress.

I look around and open my eyes to what God has blessed me with. It's the little things. The little things, I claim should make me happy--that have grown into big things. A purr of a cat. A touch of a friend. The laughter of children--of all ages-including my own.
How He continues to prepare me. To make the images, He's flashed in my brain, come to be. I have to be ready. I can't force it. He's know what's right. I need to release more, give Him all my troubles and just give Him glory.

He doesn't ask for much.

He's not brought me this far to leave me.

I am blessed.

Two Months Lost and Found

My chums, who read this blog, will be SO glad to know my birthday is two months from today; April 8. Some years, I would start the count down around--oh, December-to my day. Usually riled up the chums. :) Well, today it is two months. I wonder if any of the goals I've set will come to pass by then?

Pastor Freddie Haynes, of Friendship West Baptist Church, from Deuteronomy 33 today. With success, you have security and the strength for another day, for all of your days. God knows how much strength you need for that day. It's all on the inside. Of course, are you open to what God has for you?

For me personally, I'm not as 'up' as I should be. I know it is there. He has always been with me. Just didn't know it. On the job front--oh wow--I still believe it's gotta be better. Yet is age discrimination coming into play? Am I at that juncture of "well, she's too old? She'll want more money, etc?" Then the house. I love my little bungalow, yet I see visions of either this house with additions or another. Then I look across the street, and see the house, identical in sq. footage, but they have a deck and a few other cosmetic things. It is been on the market since last summer--and just now has reduced its price a total of 10 grand.

I feel kind of lost. Depressed, naw. Just kinda lost. I know my character is being tested. Can I deal with stuff? The blessings are around the corner. I need to be patient and do my part to get em here. They won't show up just cause I want them to. Heaven knows it would be so much easier then. Maybe I'm thinking of three years ago, when I was sick and didn't know it. Hmm. Maybe I think God had me rest for those months, recuperate and such, and I've yet to not do what He asks of me. Maybe that what has got me lost--I've not done all He wanted.

There's nice ring to the success, you have security and the strength God has given you. I can be found.

Sunday Be Done

It's a cold Dallas Day and I wanted comfort food. I am so becoming one with the crock pot. Indeed. I have beef stew crocking. Smells pretty darn yummy! Reminds me of long ago days back in Iowa when my Dad made up a pot. He didn't crock it tho. Nope. It simmered on the stove after he boiled the meat to get its broth. Hate to admit, I cheated--sorta. I bought the beef pieces all ready cut up for the stew. Oh well. And then I realized I'm missing the corn bread. We always had cornbread, Next time.

On with the day. I planned to visit Friendship West Baptist Church, however I wound up going to The Potter's House. It's about a quick 10-15 minute zip down the highway from me. GREAT message. Bishop TD Jakes asked, "What are you going to do this year?" Are we being productive to tap into that plan, that calling God has for us? Are we around the right people or do they drain us? The sermon was a touchdown for me. Unlike what the Dallas Cowboys couldn't get last week. I digress.

Just can't believe the long New Year's Weekend is over. Christmas stuff is marked down to 75%, while the Valentine hearts stare you in the face. Tomorrow it's back to work. But ya know, after Bishop Jakes' sermon today, I am rejuvenated to make the workday count because it's just one more day to the blessing God has instore.

Sounds like a good New Year to me!

Sun Sunday

Rejoice in the day the Lord has made and be glad in it!

Headed to the Inspiring Body of Christ Church with Pastor Rickie Rush. You talk about a hallelujah kinda of time. Pastor Rush's message was on "Heavens Best and the Devil's Nightmare'. How God has always been up in you, yet you weren't ready to see what He has for you--so the Devil (who just happens to be liar) preyed on your weakness. The impatience of the wait for the Blessing, so you tried to do it all yourself--and failed. I am so guilty of this. To push where you should have learn patience. How you wait is key.

Nothing happens by chance. I picked a seat by a mom and daughter. They were first timers at IBOC. The mom was a cat person--so you know we became best friends. And the daughter, a sweet young lady that just got out of jail. She called it, "been away." I asked her if she planned to go back. No. She heard of IBOC on the radio, and God told her to get out of bed and come to church.

During Pastor Rush's chat with visitors who stood up (I visit enough so I quit standing up). He spoke with this young lady--OK after I pointed at her. She told him how she arrived this morning,--OK after she was a bit shy, and I whispered, "Tell him what you told me."
All SO good. I didn't know this young lady, yet I was proud of her. The young lady, on the other side of me--they both chatted to each other. They may have had the 'been away' thing in common.

We exchanged numbers and e-mails. She even asked me if I'd like to join her and her mom for lunch. I couldn't this Sunday, I told her, yet I would certainly take a rain check. Nice, nice people. And mom likes cats.

The Devil is a liar. Remember that.

Rejoice!

Sunday Thoughts...

Attended the Inspiring Body of Christ Church, with Pastor Rickie Rush, again today. The message: I Need This Storm (Mark Chapter 4). How the deeper you get into Jesus, the more fierce the Storm becomes. Satan desires to snatch it all away from you. I know God wants to see you character—if you can handle the more blessings He wants to grace you with. One of my Storms was the heart valve (mitral) replacement surgery in 2006. Without my faith I would not be here this day. If my brief illness occurred a few years prior—a ‘whiner’ I would certainly be. "Why me?" I would have cried then. Today, on this day in 2008, I can still ask “Why me?” and only my response is “Why not me?” My belief is strong. My God didn’t leave me—Psalms 50:15 assured that. God had me rest for those few months for a purpose. Too bad my chest had to get cracked open to do it! Honestly, I probably wouldn’t have rested any other way. He knew that. My adventure brought me closer to Him—which was the intention. There have been some Storms since—nothing with my health—just the usual—money, job and can the Dallas Cowboys have another great season, only this time win in the play-offs? Whatever the Storm is, my God provides. Being this whole Christian thing is hard work---you learn by doing. Seek ye first and it all falls into place.

Donny Osmond. The first time I snapped his picture was either July 23 or 24, 1974. Need to dig out my diary for the right date. It was at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas. My very first plane got me there. Donny stood outside the hotel’s restaurant where flashcubes flashed all around. We were both 16. Fast forward 34 years. I’d love to share a few minutes to sip an icy beverage as both put on our reading glasses to locate and discuss scripture. Lively conversation to be sure.

God has brought me far. Just didn’t know it at the time. I admit to my past. I have a testimony. It doesn’t seem that long ago I downed my favorite alcohol beverage and heard “Last Call” more times than I can say. Don’t hide from my faults, because the Storms I survived may help somebody else. Let’s face it, during my whole Osmond travels, where I was just a handful of Black girls in the crowd, did I ever think to discuss the Word with Donny, would be something to get excited about? Indeed, God has brought me far.

Sunday thoughts of how I’m glad the Starbucks closest to my house is NOT on the 600 store closing list. That I have a house of my own, with dishes piled high that I get to wash. Cats that give me some space on my own bed. A car, with warranty, sits in my drive way. And of course, tonight, since the cable bill is paid up, I can watch Aaron McCargo Jr get one step closer to being the Next Food Network Star.

On this day, I journeyed to God’s House, because He’s in mine every day.

On this Sunday I realize again, how much I am blessed.