Sounds of Today

An Unseen Presence silently nudges me awake. I have forgotten to set my alarm.

My coffee maker chuggs into action. The sound of my computer booting up.

Sighs and murmurs of my heart ascend as I meet with The One who gives me breath and strength for another day.

Birds singing the sounds of springtime as I walk to work. The hungry squawk of the ravens nearby is in harsh contrast to the songbirds.

Cheerful greetings as I enter the security door of my work.

Pleasant voices in conversation over breakfast in the dining room.

The hum of my vaccuum, and I slip into the world of my own thoughts and prayers deep within, while smiling pleasantly.

Frank chatting from his place of lonliness as I clean. He coughs, and sputters and sighs loudly complaining of growing old.....it's not a good day , but what can you do?

The grunts and soft groans from another, and I am aware more and more of the ravages of time on these bodies of flesh.

Another moan and, another prayer, how long Lord ? Wait a minute that was me ! Stiffly getting from my knees after cleaning the fourth bathroom of the day .

Today my hands were aching from so much scrubbing, though not audible to the human ear, very loud to me. What the heck ?

Finally the grateful sound of my key in my door. The songs of worship coming from the prayer room on my computer.

The crashing of my body as my couch welcomes me again, and my little buddy Sam, happliy dancing at my homecoming.

I cuddle Sam and feel bad for leaving him alone. He has picked up a new sound I have been noticing. Grunts, moans, small wimpers , and almost intelligible dog language. He is beginning to sound like those I work for, or perhaps he's immitating me . God have mercy !!!!!

An evening of resting and wondering how long I can do this. As I let the waves of devotion and prayer wash over me, it's time to let the sounds of today fade into silence.
Even though I sleep, my heart is awake listening for the Sound of the Voice I long to hear whisper me awake once again.

Uh Oh !

Big Brother took my picture. I pray he forgot to load the film in his camera. Mercy Lord!

I was driving home from visiting my grandaughters, and that flashing red hand was not loud enough. Are we supposed to stop when the light is still green, just in case ? I cannot figure it all out. I was tired and the light turned yellow as I entered the intersection....and flash .....flash.... there you have it. So we will see how much that will cost me. Just had the feeling I needed to explain that I was not speeding, honest officer .

Thank You Jesus

This has been a great week for giving thanks. Thanksgiving and gratitude for the Loving Faithfulness of my God and Friend Jesus.

He has walked by my side through good times and bad. Through the valley of the shadow of death, literally, and figuratively. Most significantly the direction has been 'through', not around, but through, from one side to the other.

There were times in my life when I used to flee from the pain of the testing and difficulty. He has taught me the best way is holding tightly to Him, through the fires of testing and tribulation, where He has walked before me.

I love the Cross! That wonderful, dreadful place where Jesus meets me. It is here and here alone, I find the place of my transformation and deliverance. Welcomed into His loving embrace, He takes me into Himself, and calls me His Bride.

Thank you Father, for the wonder of such amazing Grace and Provision.

My week at work is a continuing place of being prepared and instructed, in both my heart and spirit. Yesterday, the Lord gave me a particular spiritual encounter, with the 'other' side of the spirit realm.
It was like the veil was lifted for a split second, and He showed me a particular reality concerning one of those I serve.
This has resulted in a call to particular prayer for this dear one of His.

On a lighter note, I had a call from one of my dear sons, Jack.


Meet Jack.
Then he was four. Now he is a man. We don't get to visit much, and when we do, it seems there are always many factors that prevent real communication.

Jack called me the other evening, and we talked for two hours. We had a great 'visit'! Thank You Father! He is so fun and interesting to talk with. A great blessing to be sure.

Most of all my thanksgiving overflows for the Live Prayer Room webstream, from IHOP, where I can slip into the place of Worship after an exhausting day of physical labor.

IT FEELS LIKE COMING HOME AGAIN!

In this place of intimacy, meet with my Beloved, and let Him wash me, love me, and renew my heart, soul and spirit. I am so grateful Jesus for Your Faithfulness and Lovingkindness. I love You.

Characters and Friends

I have been working for about two months at a senior independent living apartment community. While my physical frame groans under the strain of overload, there are some very wonderful side benefits to this place.

The Lord has already given me a soft spot for the elderly, but lately He has been working overtime, tenderizing my heart toward those He cherishes, especially as they near the end of their lives.

My favorites from day one have been a little couple, especially the husband. He looks so cute in his red sweater and I always tell him so. Riva, cannot see very well, so she hangs on tight to David as he moves slowly down the hall with his walker.She has a smart sense of humor.
David can see better, and still drives his car once in a while. He is so friendly and has a bright sharp spirit. I am looking forward to cleaning their suite.

The thing that amazes me as I clean the apartments, is the things that people choose to bring with them when they leave their homes and have to downsize.
Mr and Mrs. T. have large pictures that they worked on together in needlepoint.
Now, Mrs. T is blind with macular degeneration, and Mr. T can see somewhat better, so he takes care of her, and pretty well I must say.
When I come in once a week to clean, he changes the towels, and does the laundry. He also goes to the activity room every day at 10 a.m. and works out on the treadmill. He is 94 years old.

Then there is Frank. He is also blind with macular degeneration, but every day, he cooks his own lunch, does his dishes, and chats away loudly as I work. His hearing is impaired, so he comes up about six inches from your face to speak to you.
I am getting used to this. He has had a very good life, and has told me so, and I remind him of this when he gets to feeling down.
It's so funny, even at this age, he shows me his new blankets and tells me these are his favorite colors. It's a hoot and a blessing.
One day he walked by the lady at the front desk, and said, Hi there, you're looking good today ! So I reminded her that he was blind :) but that it was still a compliment.

One of my favorite "Ladies" is Mrs. C. She is eighty nine years of age and enjoys having a chat when I come. The first time I met her, she said "I shall be so very embarasssed if you find any dust or dirt. My mother taught me properly concerning such things." She too has macular degeneration, but I tell you, her suite is so clean I cannot find very much to do for her.
She uses her walker and is continually moving her stuff around. I think of Rebecca every time I am in there for she and Mrs. C. would be able to have some good worldly and proper conversations.
Mrs. C. seems to me like a 'queen mum' type with a hint of social snobbery, that at her age is still evident as she name drops, names that in my low born state I miss completely. She's a sweetie and I am so fond of her.

My last lady for now is Ruth. A classy lady, her children set her up beautifully, and visit often. Last week, when I cleaned her suite, I noticed 'reminders' everywhere, and lovely family pictures strategically placed throughout her new home.
Later that day, she came out to me asking for directions to the dining room. It was right in front of her.
As I helped her, I was reminded of early alzheimers. My heart breaks for her, and the journey ahead for Ruth and her children. I wanted to 'look after' her.

These are just a few of my 'friends', that I am enjoying, appreciating, and praying for these days.
Where will I finish out my later days Lord? Will I remember You, the Love and Life of my heart.
As my eyes grow dim , will I loose my Sight as Eli did? Please God , I pray not. Will my hearing fail? Will I forget the sound of Your sweet Voice, of Your song over me in the night? Oh Please Jesus I pray not. Holy Spirit, cover my friends tonight Lord, and keep them in Your care.

As an afterthought, I was on hands and knees this afternoon, cleaning a very messy toilet bowl, inside and out. As I was doing this, I said to God, as for humiliation, it is easier to clean it up than be the one having to be cleaned up after.

Then He reminded me that He is in each place. When It was my little Aunt, He was in me comforting her, and He was in her being comforted be me. What an Amazing God I love.

One more honorable mention. My mother in law, Hilda, is in her 98th. year, and she has served the Lord most of her days. Tonight she too waits in a 'home', not really her home, alone. Waiting for her Jesus to come for her.
What must that be like?
Waiting for Jesus! Getting to SEE HIM FOR REAL!

It's Spring !

For lo, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth;
The time of singing has come.
And the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land...
Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. Song of Sol.2

Freedom !

This is a quote from an amazing fellow traveller found here at
The Uprising


He throws Freedom like a grenade into our bondage
and it explodes out from every inward room
until Life , that Consuming Fire,
lays waste every rival leaving ravishes of Love in it's wake.

Freedom

found me...rescued me...freed me!

Though you were ruined and made desolate and your land laid waste....those who devoured you will be far away.Is.49/19

Is.62:2...you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.
You will be a crown of beauty in the hand of your God.

No longer will they call you Deserted, or name you Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah, for the Lord will take delight in you, and your land married.

....as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.

The Edges Of His Ways

These are the edges of His ways; But what a whisper of a word we hear of Him!
And the thunder of His power who can understand? (NKJ.Job 26:14)

And this is only the Beginning, a mere whisper of His rule. Whatever would we do if He really raised His Voice. (The Message.Job 26:14)

Sometimes it's good to remember, and regain a little perspective on Who is REALLY on the Throne.

Yes,there really is a Throne, Yes, He really does see, He really does hear, and Yes, He really is coming to bring justice to His beloved creation, and that includes us.

Welcome here Lord.

Thank you

I want to give a great big loving thank you to two very special people tonight. The first is my very own lovely daughter in law Yvonne Parks.


This lady designed my original blog. One day, in a deep blue mood, I decided I was finished with blogging, so I deleted it.

Now, Yvonne knows me, and if I had mentioned to her that I was planning on doing this drastic deed, she would have counseled me to let her put it away for me for a bit. She would have known that I would later change my mind....again. But checking with her did not even occur to me.

I have become very withdrawn and kind of reclusive since I moved back to this dread city, so I have not been very communicative, but that is no excuse.

The thing is, I did not know all that was involved in designing a blog template from scratch. I just figured that a computer whiz genius like Yvonne, would just click something a few times, and voila! An amazing creation. Plus she was doing this for a lot of people back then, and liked to play at this stuff.

She actually taught herself ! How amazing is that! When I looked at a design your own template page the other day, I thought,what language IS this ?

I wish I had known. I would never have removed it. Too late I discover my error, and I am sorry for that.

Now my dear Yvonne is doing amazing creations and actually getting a fair wage finally, and was too busy doing valid work to begin again for me.

No wonder! What grace she has toward me . If that had been me I would have freaked out, but she is so loving and tender hearted.
Thank you Yvonne, for everything you have done for me, and for loving me through all the seasons of my crazy life, without judgment.

Then I decide, o.k. I can do this...right ? HA! I picked the basic template and then very soon discovered how really illiterate I am at this stuff. I do know how to click a mouse, when someone has shown me the way, but that's about it.

So, what's a girl to do ?

Then I remembered another wonderful friend that the Lord dropped into my life through the blog world.

This lady came into my life during the stressful time of my journey, when I was living with my dear little Aunt T. in Trenton. This lady even drove up to see me , and taught me a few new tricks on the computer, like how to make a music video.

Amazing!

Not only that, in a huge loving gesture she and her family became the tender 'caregivers' for my little buddy Sam, when I went to IHOP.

Meet Carol-Ann. Here she was getting ready to give my Sam a grooming. Pretty great for someone who had never had a pet before, let alone someone else's.


This lovely friend of God came to my rescue and has helped me get back on the blog. It was through her that I came to the true realization of the time involved .
It is one thing when one is playing around with something for oneself, but to lovingly sacrifice valuable time for another, that is love. Jesus kind of love.

I just had to give a huge loving tribute to these ladies. I love you both and am very grateful for the example of love you have shown me.

Quiet Thunder In My Soul

"He is Coming . Have I trimmed my wick?"