In Memoriam

A couple of months back,on May 10,I posted about my friend Sharon in New Jersey.She had been diagnosed with colon cancer.I requested prayer for her.I received word yesterday from her husband Terry that Sharon went to be with Jesus on July 17th.Interestingly enough I had sensed she had passed on before I even got word from her husband.I never met Sharon in person.We were internet friends.We originally met through an infertility support group.We began to discover we had more in common than simply our names and childless status.We both had MIL's named Evelyn.We loved cooking and flowers.We both loved old movies.And Jesus.I cried some when I received word of her passing.Though I know she passed quickly,quietly and without pain,into the loving arms of our savior,I will still miss her presence.We used to e-mail almost daily at times.And if I,who never met her in person,can feel this so deeply,what must those who really knew her be feeling?So please keep her husband and family and friends in prayer as they deal with this passing of such a treasured wife,sister,and friend.Thank you.

Photo courtesy of www.freestockphotos.com

Got Jesus?

Steve and I drove to our local library yesterday to check out some movies.As we drove we passed by several yard sales.We love them but often will simply drive by if we don't see anything we need out on the front lawn.We passed by one as we did'nt see anything we needed.Nothing had piqued our interest.As we drove away Steve said"Got Jesus?"I said"What?"He said"Got Jesus? was on the man's shirt at the yard sale we just passed."Immediately the thought came to me that it is not always whether we have Jesus.Often the question should be"does Jesus have us?"Have a blessed Saturday.

Photo courtesy of www.freestockphotos.com

Is It Really Summer?

Last week,we who live in this part of Oregon,were baking under cloudless skies and triple digit temperatures.This week,angry looking clouds,much like the ones pictured above,have blessed us with their cooling rains.And breezes,normally reserved for our coastline,have graced us with their presence as well.It has been interesting to me how these same clouds and rain,that are often grumbled about in winter,after weeks and weeks of their presence,can now be such a welcomed thing.

Summer's rain,gently,softly falling to earth from pale,leaden skies.

Soaking into parched,sun-baked,hardened ground.Barren ground.Void of life.Void of growth.

A welcomed respite from the searing,blazing sun and heat.

Our hearts and minds,Jesus,like that hardened earth,needing a gentle rain from You.

A gentle grace-rain.To soften us,refresh us,prepare us for new life and new growth.

Thank You Jesus for the rain that waters the earth and Your grace rain that waters our lives.

Written by Sharon L Goemaere

Photo courtesy of www.freestockphotos.com

Summer Ambivalence

Summer is so very fleeting;

Hearts rejoicing;Quickly beating.

Ocean's spray;Sea-salt air.

Blissful days without a care.

Sun filled days.Star filled nights.

Thanking Jesus,our hearts take flight.

Cool mountain streams,

over rocks so gleaming.

Warm sun's rays,

on earth are beaming.

So very hot,but have no fear.

Autumn's chill will soon be here.

Written by Sharon L. Goemaere

Photo courtesy of http://www.freestockphotos.com/

His Amazing Love

The following worship song by Chris Tomlin(www.christomlin.com) has been in my head for days now and I just had to share it with you all.If you know this song then I'm sure it's notes are already playing in your head.Smile.If you don't know it I encourage you to find it and take a listen.It's beautiful and it will bless you.

There is an endless song,Echoes in my soul,I hear the music ring.And though storms may come,I am holding on,To the rock I cling.

How can I keep from singing Your praise?How can I ever say enough?How amazing is Your love?How can I keep from shouting Your name?I know I am loved by the King,And it makes my heart want to sing.

I will lift my eyes,In the darkest night,For I know my Savior lives.And I will walk with You,Knowing You see me through,And sing the songs You give.

How can I keep from singing Your praise?How can I ever say enough?How amazing is Your love?How can I keep from shouting Your name?I know I am loved by the King,And it makes my heart want to sing.

I can sing in the troubled times.Sing when I win.I can sing when I lose my step.And I fall down again.

I can sing 'cause You pick me up.Sing 'cause You're there.I can sing 'cause You hear me, Lord,When I call to You in prayer.

.I can sing with my last breath.Sing for I knowThat I'll sing with the angelsAnd the saints around the throne.

How can I keep from singing Your praise?How can I ever say enough?How amazing is Your love?

How can I keep from shouting Your name?I know I am loved by the KingAnd it makes my heart I am loved by the King,And it makes my heart, I am loved by the King,And it makes my heart want to sing,I can sing.

Morning's Glory

Dawn slips silently over the mountain as if creeping on cat's paws.

Earth awakening.Rising from slumber to a new day.

Sunlight, slowly spilling it's amber warmth across our faces.Our shoulders.

All of creation rejoicing.Praising it's Creator.

Awake world!Much to do!

Time to arise!Rejoice!Praise!

Time to sing!Time to dance!

Return to your Creator the praise that is due Him.

Lift up your arms and rejoice!

A new day is begun!

Written by Sharon L.Goemaere

"The heavens declare the glory of God:the skies proclaim the work of His hands."

~Psalm 19:1 NIV ~

Photo courtesy of http://www.freestockphotos.com/

Summer Bliss

It is such a beautiful morning here that I thought I would share some quotes about summertime with you.Enjoy!

"Long stormy spring-time,wet contentious April,winter chilling the lap of very May;but at length the season of summer does come."~Thomas Carlyle

"To see the summer sky is poetry,though never in a book it lie,true poems flee."~Emily Dickinson

"Ah,summer,what power you have to make us suffer and like it."~Russell Baker

"In the depth of winter I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer."~Albert Camus

"Then followed that beautiful season...Summer...Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light;and the landscape lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood."~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

A Glorious Day

Yesterday was a glorious day.I cannot recall when I have enjoyed an Independence Day with as much joy as I did yesterday.My day began early as is my habit.I knew it was going to be hot later on so I did much of my work up early.I was blessed by a late morning call from one of my sisters down in California.I don't get to see all my sisters down in CA often so phone calls are always a real treat for me.We chatted for almost an hour until her husband's rumbling stomach told her it was time to go feed him.Smile.I made lunch for my husband myself and then we took a nap as the heat of the day continued to climb higher.We awoke and left for our town's annual Fourth of July Parade.We met our daughter and granddaughter there.The sun was beating down from clear blue skies.An occasional breeze brought much needed relief to our 90 degree plus temperatures.My husband Steve,bless his heart,volunteered to go buy shaved ice for us all at a nearby stand.While they were in line I sat in the back end of our van enjoying the pre-parade preparations being made.Though many people had arrived very early to get the best seats I saw many were still arriving.Husband and granddaughter arrived with shaved ice in hand.I had chosen grape.As a child I loved grape snowcones with a passion.Turns out there was about 100 flavors of shaved ice. But I was just happy for something frozen.Our granddaughter Hope chose lemon.Brave girl she is at 6.Smile.My husband shared that while he and Hope stood in line she began to rub his arm.She then loudly announced to all within ear shot"Bapa,your arms are hairy,you need to shave them!"Laughter ensued from one end of the line to the other.I just love kids.they can take a miserable situation(standing in 90 degree plus heat in a long line) and turn it around so very quickly.Soon we all settled in to watch the hour long parade.It was incredible.Loads of floats from local businesses.Fire trucks galore.Classic cars.Military vehicles.And thankfully children armed with squirt guns(to douse roasting people with) and loads of candy to toss at waiting children.Our granddaughter really scored in the candy department.Big grin.All too soon it was over.We stopped at a couple of stores for supplies then slowly made our way home where we grilled burgers.Cheeseburgers.And they were much better than any a fast food restaurant could produce.At some point daughter and granddaughter left to go the local high school for contnuing festivities.I took an extra shower.What a blessing that was as we have no AC.Later I settled in to watch a little tv with my husband.It was too hot to cuddle so we each positioned ourselves by a fan and watched some tv.A little before 10 we made our way outside with some chairs.The cooling night air was like a sweet caress on our warm skin.A myriad of stars began to blanket the sky above.And then the fireworks began.And they were incredible.Purples.Oranges.Greens.An amazing array of colors and sizes.And the night air scented with the smells that only summer seems to produce.The smell of cooling plants.And fresh barkdust.And fresh hay and mint in nearby farmer's fields.We watched with the awe and wonder of children though we are middle aged.And we visited briefly with the Mexican neighbors to our left.We all enjoyed the color and the sounds of the night.And then when it was all over we all went to our respective apartments.And some of us slept.And we thanked God for giving us such a glorious day.

A Heart Committed

"My dear Jesus, my Savior, is so deeply written in my heart, that I feel confident, that if my heart were to be cut open and chopped to pieces, the name of Jesus would be found written on every piece."
Author:St.Ignatius of Antioch

A Cancelled Check

I've been thinking alot about the past lately.I'm not really sure why.Maybe it's a middle age thing.Maybe not.Maybe it's me trying to make sense of some of the things that have gone on in my past.Maybe not.Or maybe,just maybe,it is God trying to show me that the past is just that,the past.And maybe He's trying to gently remind me that we can spend too much time in the past.Trying to figure things out.Trying to re connect with a part of us that, though gone,may still,in some ways affect us today.My former pastor,from my youth,used to say this about the past(and life in general"yesterday is a cancelled check,tomorrow is a promissory note,today is ready cash spend it wisely."I cannot fix my past,either things done to me or by me.It is past.Things that happened then are not to be focused on now.Unless it is to help me make better choices now.To propel me forward.Sadly enough,my focus on the past lately served little purpose that I can see.If anything it robbed me of a sense of a better tomorrow.Will Rogers said"Don't let yesterday use up too much of today."That's exactly what I had been doing.I had been letting thoughts of the past rob me of too much of today.It was,in a sense,sucking the life right out of my spirit.It was crushing my creativity.I'm thankful to Jesus for revealing that to me.I want to continue to move forward.To pursue His destiny and calling for my life.But too much time spent mentally in the past was ruining that.Making it null and void like a proverbial cancelled check.And all the while the Lord was whispering"Forget the former things;do not dwell on the past.See,I am doing a new thing!Now it springs up;do you not perceive it?I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."(Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV).So,Lord willing(and He is :-))I am going to make peace with my past completely and continue to move forward in what He is doing.I do not want to live my life like a cancelled check.How about you?

Blessings~Sharon