Christmas 2013

Christmas jammie party with my #1 Sis!!  Yummm....buttermilk with corn chips in it!!

 The reason for the Season!!

 Sweet Sis was soooooooo excited about her gift!!

 Jon Abram's military flight jacket!

 Our Margaret

Margaret and Miss Maggie

Thanksgiving

 Cousins......so happy to be together.... Margaret and Melody in from Washington State.

 Our girls..........

 Brothers..and Susie...

 Margaret cooking...

 Enjoying Uncle Phil's three books on The Delamarter Family History.......

 Unwrapping our Hallmark Christmas ornaments....

 Meanwhile, back home in Washington, the other girls kept the home fires burning. Jessica Mae cooked breakfast.

 Making doughnuts.....

 Morning devotions.

 Wrapping up Thanksgiving meals for the shut-ins.

 Jon's job.........carving the turkey.

 Margaret prepared around 30 freezer meals to leave behind for us. So greatly appreciated!

 Jon's gifts to Avon and Joe.....

 Saying good-bye.

Sunday morning.........freezing rain moving in and Little Buddy heads out to feed the birds.

Cousins Are Together Again

Singing From My Bed........

Psalm 149

Okay, friends, I hadn't intended to mention my last Sunday morning's Worship service..but when my sweet daughter shared this verse with me just now, I about had a glory spell.

4 For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

5 LET THE SAINTS BE JOYFUL IN GLORY: LET THEM SING ALOUD UPON THEIR BEDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword(God's Word) in their hand....

Last Sunday morning when I watched Hubby leave for church without me, my heart broke. I went to my recliner to watch the Hobe Sound service via internet. I only sat for a moment or two when the pain became so severe I couldn't stand it. I made my way to the bedroom, turned on my oven(heating mattress pad/blanket) and crawled in. I turned the service on my Ipad and placed it on the dresser beside my bed. I lay flat of my back and pulled the covers all the way up to my neck.
God's Presence bathed me in an even warmer blanket....and my joyful heart gave way to "singing from my bed!!"

Jon Abram's Family Trip to Mt. Rainer

Mabry Mill

My "Selfie" Camera

A lot is being said these days about "self infatuation," the constant photographing and posting pictures of oneself. It is often referred to as Narcissism....totally focusing within.

My Ipad, like most "Smart phones," has two cameras.  I can use it as a camera and take pictures of the things I view, or I can tap a little icon and the camera reverses, focusing on ME.  Oh, help, not a pretty sight at all.

I've been thinking and praying a lot lately about too much self absorption.  Too much fear of tomorrow, too many worries that drag me down. They often attack my mind like a broken record, round and round and round.  Often they are accusations of the Enemy or attacks of the Enemy's oppression. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting that one be the proverbial ostrich and ignore that often these concerns are indeed very REAL and must be addressed.  But so many times these nagging, joy sapping, praise draining thoughts are unknown curves in the road ahead, and perhaps  even ones that we may never face. 

This morning as I was using my camera, the Truth really struck me.  I've got to stop using the "selfie" camera, turned on me.  Boy, that can be pretty depressing. I've got to hit the swivel button and turn the camera and focus around and focus it on God.  Ahh.....so much to see there, so much beauty, so much promise, such a bright future beckoning me on!!

I've really been trying the last few months to consciously focus my mind on God.  When I realize that I'm getting dragged down into the Enemy's quagmire, I turn to His Word, or I turn on Godly music, I listen and I look to Him!!  It's an amazing remedy.  

He reminds me of His promises and I claim them all over again. His grace IS sufficient!  He will supply ALL my needs!!  He KNOWS my frame, that I am dust!!  He FEELS my pain!  He KNOWS my disappointments!!  He has ALWAYS BEEN and ALWAYS BE enough!! He has NEVER failed!

There is NO way that I can look to Christ, focus on Him and NOT be encouraged!!  So, yes, God is reteaching me, ever so patiently, lessons that I thought I had learned. But with life, as it evolves always seem to take on a new and different face.  Getting old is an uncharted course for me.  But none of that changes His Promises!!  Nothing changes His love for me!  Nothing will ever catch Him by surprise!

So every day, every moment, I'm going to do my best to keep my "camera" turned upon Him!!  And as I behold His face, I'm renewed, refilled, and refocused!!!