29June2019 Quickshot: Bringing in the Sheaves

With enough sunny, hot weather, the hay fields are dry enough for harvesting.  It's amazing to witness the labor that goes into agricultural life surrounding our city.  Although this field was cut by hand, the wheat is being bundled by a baler probably older than the men using it. 

26June2019 She puts the "snicker" in snickerdoodle.

L was the star pupil in her cooking class this week.  We're trying to figure out the Arabic word for snickerdoodle. 

13June2019 Quickthought: Fast

It started as a Valentines card, or maybe it was Mother’s Day but the hand scribbled index card made it to the family wall of fame, aka the refrigerator door, where’s it’s been nearly two years.

You ar FASt with LOVE! 

What a simple, yet profound compliment.  Think about the mind of an 8 year-old boy.  Fast is everything.  Run fast or at least fast enough to beat your sisters, finish that stinking homework fast, eat supper fast and go play, fast cars are cool cars, fast is the best.  To say that someone is fast with love, now that’s something. 

Now, I’ve never been fast and but I’m even slower, like 16-minute mile slower, with age and a surgically repaired knee.    But there are some things I’m faster at than 8 year-old me.  I’m faster at recognizing problems and coming up with solutions, I’m faster at evaluating people, I’m faster in the decision-making process.  When pressure hits or my devotion life is weak, I’m faster at losing my patience, saying something rude, thinking poorly of folks.  And the distance between thinking mean and speaking mean is much, more shorter.  #A’s note above, is a great reminder of a better way to be fast.  Fast with Love.  Here’s what it looks like:

Love is patient and kind;

love does not envy or boast;

it is not arrogant or rude.

It does not insist on its own way;

it is not irritable or resentful;

it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends…

Lord God please make us fast with love!

4June2019 Quickshot:

Is there anything more satisfying that a field full of camels eating breakfast?

2June2019 Turned Tassel

David's words to his son, Solomon, as he hands over the throne of Israel and the task of building the temple in Jerusalem are so appropriate for J as his high school career comes to a close and his next steps loom before him.  These words, instructions really, are perfect for each of us as well:

1. Know the God of your father.  All of life hangs from this most important step.
2. Serve Him with a whole heart and with a willing mind.  Keep in mind He searches all hearts and understand every plan and thought.
3. Seek Him - If you seek him, He will be found.  If you forsake Him, He will cast you off.
4. Be careful now, whatever He has given you to do, be strong and do it,
5. Don't be discouraged.  He, the LORD your God, is with you.

-1Chronicles 28 paraphrased