More Than the Watchman

I prepare for the night ahead. The darkness here in the desert can be quite cold--so I cocoon myself in future warmth, layer after layer of protective covering anticipating the deepest, the most penetrating bone-cold winds sweeping across the vast spaces of my soul.

The night will be long,

I've served this shift before

and the moments, the minutes, the hours

pass as winter sap from the tree--

I look ever so often to the eastern horizon

Waiting for the faintest sparkle of the tourmaline sky,

I pace from one end of my post to the other,

Ever on the lookout for trouble, for any sign of the enemy.

At times my heart beats like the flap of the eagles wings

Once it's spotted prey--

The night brings not so familiar sounds--

Sounds I don't want to be familiar--

Core of my being raps hard and I look to

The eastern realm again.

And then the quiet,

The orchestral din of reverberated nothingness,

The clashing cymbal of thought upon anxious thought--

One more quick look--

Can it be the fringe of amber sun spilling

Over the horizon onto saffron sands?

It has come--Hope rises once more.



I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
My soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Psalm 130:5-6

This has always been one of my favorite scriptures. I think it so interesting how the last line is repeated. In literature repetition is used for a purpose--to make a statement, to get a point across--David is voicing his soul's quest in terms the people of his day can understand. This morning as I was reading this passage, I wanted so much to know how much I should desire God and how much I should be willing to WAIT on Him. I tried to portray this in the writing above. I hope it speaks to you.

Please visit TUESDAYS UNWRAPPED to read about gifts from God in the midst of the ordinary.

Weekend Worship at Highland Park Methodist

Worshiping with you is such a privilege, dear friend. And as we think upon the One who is above all things, who created all that was made from nothing, let us enjoy the fruit wrought by skillful hands. Beauty that belongs to Him only in the form of a majestic church, the incredible Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas.

I was privileged to be there this past week and want to share some of its grandeur with you on this blessed Sabbath. Many thanks to our lovely friends, Jerry and Jane, who drove us around and were so patient while I took many pictures inside and out.

I wanted so much to jump to the inside of the sanctuary this week. It is so unique and meaningful and I can't wait until next week to share it with you. Won't you prepare your heart this coming week as I prepare mine--we will step behind "the veil" together and rejoice in His presence. I think you will love the inside of this structure and see Jesus in a way that will bless you deeply and richly. Would you meditate on these scriptures with me this week?

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' From Matthew 24


Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. Psalm 100:4




The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon. Psalm 29:5



My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God. From Psalm 84






The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.



To him who rides the ancient skies above,
who thunders with mighty voice.
Proclaim the power of God,
whose majesty is over Israel,
whose power is in the skies.
You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary;
the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.

Psalm 68:32-35

Dianne

I long to always be ready to serve "one of the least of these."

I am linking to Spiritual Sundays, an inspirational place to visit.

Reminded Me Of You

Earlier this afternoon I passed by this beautiful meadow of wildflowers and couldn't help but think of you.



So after dinner hubby and I drove back over there to take a few pictures just for you. I never dreamed when I started this blog that I would be blessed by so many beautiful people.



Some of you have been an "Aaron" to me for many months now--praying for my son, Jeff (who had a heart attack and has diabetes) when I was too weak and brokenhearted to offer much in the way of prayer. Some of you are new friends--just in the last week or so but I already know your heart and your spirit. It is evident to all that you are a woman of God. How I cherish each of you, sweet friend.



I hope you enjoy the pictures. They are dedicated to you.



My wish for you today includes the hope that you will discern truth, the knowledge to use it wisely, love to light your way, faith to accept Jesus in all His fullness, courage to face any personal issues that need addressing (I have many), sunshine after the rains, and a home filled with rare and beautiful treasures.



You are a treasure to me.

Loving you,
Dianne
2010-the Year of Longings
I long to be a trusted and true friend.

Grandparents' Day-the Bond of Unity

Last Friday was Grandparents' Day at Kennedy's school. Her grade performed a funny, amusing and full-of-truth musical about the body of Christ and how we need one another.

Bond of Unity from Elizabeth Dianne on Vimeo.

Now IF you watch the video above (and I am NOT going to hold my breath-LOL) watch how the first few guys in the front row are "too cool" to really sing. After raising three sons and teaching school for twenty-two years, I'd recognize "that look" anywhere. Please don't get offended if one of them is your son or grandson. (Kennedy, if you read this post after you become an adult, I am sure you will understand the first sentence of this paragraph--sorry Honey.)

Agree to Agree from Elizabeth Dianne on Vimeo.

Kennedy is on the far end of this song. How do I always manage to sit on the opposite end of where my grandchildren perform? I have a real uncanny knack for that. What talent!! And you've heard it said, "We agree to disagree." Well--this song speaking of the body of Christ is "We Agree to Agree."--what a novel idea--

At one point they sang the song that was popular years ago "Dem Dry Bones." It was not written (by James Weldon Johnson) to teach about the body of Christ but was incorporated in a really cute and meaningful way to bring comprehension to the fact that all of us united are the body of Christ--something 4th graders could identify with (and grandparents). --I had taken quite a few pictures and couldn't get my camera out in time for that song. I was disappointed because it was really cute.

Ezekiel cried, "Dem dry bones!"
Ezekiel cried, "Dem dry bones!"
Ezekiel cried, "Dem dry bones!"
"Oh, hear the word of the Lord."

The toe bone connected to the heel bone,
The heel bone connected to the foot bone,
The foot bone connected to the leg bone,
The leg bone connected to the knee bone,
The knee bone connected to the thigh bone,
The thigh bone connected to the back bone,
The back bone connected to the neck bone,
The neck bone connected to the head bone,
Oh, hear the word of the Lord!

Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk aroun'
Dem bones, dem bones, gonna walk aroun'
Dem bones, dem bones, gonna walk aroun'
Oh, hear the word of the Lord.

The head bone connected to the neck bone,
The neck bone connected to the back bone,
The back bone connected to the thigh bone,
The thigh bone connected to the knee bone,
The knee bone connected to the leg bone,
The leg bone connected to the foot bone,
The foot bone connected to the heel bone,
The heel bone connected to the toe bone,
Oh, hear the word of the Lord!




Kennedy, Caroline and Traci came over to the house after the performance and reception.




Kennedy is a "Gin Rummy" freak and we had to play a little out on the deck--Traci, Kennedy and I--Caroline is not too fond of card games. Her mom beat her. It reminded me of my dad always trying so hard to let my little sister win at Sorry, but he would always draw the very card he was trying NOT to draw and end up knocking her off the board when she was just about to "turn the corner headed for home." She was too smart for him to fool her and fake it.

Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. Ephesians 4:3

Weekend Worship at St. Peter's Episcopal

For the beauty of the earth,
for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

For the beauty of each hour
of the day and of the night,
hill and vale, and tree and flower,
sun and moon, and stars of light;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.




For the joy of ear and eye,
for the heart and mind's delight,
for the mystic harmony,
linking sense to sound and sight;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.



For the joy of human love,
brother, sister, parent, child,
friends on earth and friends above,
for all gentle thoughts and mild;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.



For thy church, that evermore
lifteth holy hands above,
offering up on every shore
her pure sacrifice of love;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.



For thyself, best Gift Divine,
to the world so freely given,
for that great, great love of thine,
peace on earth, and joy in heaven:
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise

Hymn lyrics from "For the Beauty of the Earth"

Folliot S. Pierpoint

Music: Conrad Kocher

I am linking to Spiritual Sundays, an inspirational place to visit.