Take The Time

Have you ever wanted to slap someone upside the head? I wanted to do that to myself earlier this week. We drove to one of my favorite places in Nashville—Radnor Lake—and met our son and his family there for a hike. I’d taken my camera with me two weeks earlier when we visited, but it rained before we’d walked far, and I didn’t get many good shots. This week, just before we pulled into the parking lot, I groaned. I’d forgotten to bring my camera. I didn’t take the time to plan well for our outing.

While we walked, we found many photo opportunities, but I needed to use my cell phone. I knew my pictures would not look good. We saw deer, squirrels, turtles, ducks, geese, a turkey, and a chipmunk. That’s not all. One of our favorite sightings was a bald eagle perched high in the branches across the lake. Without my zoom lens, I had no possibility of taking a quality photo.

 Toward the end of our hike, I mentioned that there were owls in the woods, although I’d never seen one. Within five minutes, my son spotted an owl in a tree about twenty feet away.

 Twenty feet! And me without a camera! Why didn’t I think about that before I left the house? How could I forget something so important to me?

 Do you ever do that? Do you forget things that are important to you too?

 As I get older, I forget things more often. On mornings when my routine changes, I sometimes forget to have my quiet time with God. I focus on getting out the door and later realize that I skipped my time with Him. Time missed for prayer, to read and study His Word, and to thank Him for His blessings. On those occasions, I make time later in the day, but I prefer to start my day in communion with Him.

I love those special moments of quietness in the morning when I lean upon Him and find comfort in His Word. As situations arise throughout my day or I read of someone’s difficulties on social media, I’m ready to go to prayer for them because I’ve already spent time with Him.

Remembering to take my camera when I go hiking is important to me. But remembering to spend time with the Lord brings greater benefits for myself and others. I hope I never make a habit of forgetting to take the time for those special moments with Him.

I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word.
Psalm 119:16, NLT

The best I could do with my cell phone.

New Beginnings

When I think of Spring, my thoughts go to new beginnings—trees budding and blossoming, daffodils and tulips erupting from the ground, and warmer temperatures. Here in Middle Tennessee, Spring also brings plenty of rain.

We lived in New Mexico during Nashville’s floods in 2010, but during the weekend of March 27, we experienced the area’s second largest rainfall with over seven inches. One of our favorite places to walk has been closed because of flooding. We are thankful another location reopened and that it didn’t flood where we live with our daughter and her family.

My 2021 verses, as I mentioned in an earlier blog, A New Year Filled With Joy, are 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
(NIV)

Give thanks in all circumstances. Besides keeping us dry through the downpours, God has blessed us with precious time with our daughter and her family, along with our son and his family. He kept us safe and warm during several days in February while stranded at the house because an abundance of snow caused a slippery subdivision.

I’m keeping a gratitude journal this year to remind myself of God’s goodness. Every day I add something for which I am grateful. Often, it’s sunshine since Tennessee isn’t as bright and cheery as New Mexico. Other times it’s something to do with my writing or a church service we attended. I’ve also noted thankfulness for God’s Word and how it strengthens me and fills me with hope. I’ve been grateful for simple things too—café mochas, walks along the river, holding my husband’s hand, laughing with family, watching birds outside my window, and a good night’s sleep.

Although it may seem odd, I often thank the Lord when our offer on a house isn’t accepted. God knows what we need and if it doesn’t work out for a specific house, then I believe it’s not where He wants us. He has a plan for us, and I trust Him with that.

My verses say to be thankful in all circumstances. I believe I am. New beginnings are all around me. In His time, a new home will belong to my family and me too.

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Photo by Laura Ockel - Unsplash

In His Time

For those of you who are following my home-buying saga, let me be transparent. After looking at over thirty-five homes and losing eight that we loved, I’m tempted to say, “this stinks.”

Let me tell you about one of my favorite houses. Most of the homes we’ve made offers on have been brick, but one was a pale blue vinyl and the smallest home we’ve considered. The one-acre yard screamed my name with a lovely view just over the back fence. Two cows enjoyed their afternoon rest. My heart leapt for joy when I saw them. I squealed and called out, “Hello cows! How are you today?” One stood and stared at me. I don’t think she’s had many strangers say hello, but I love cows. We lived on a farm for a few years with Kenn’s parents and raised lots of them. Although I walked through the house, I didn’t need to. The cows convinced me to make an offer.

I stated this in my last blog: “But we persevere. We strive to find a home despite these difficulties. God is still in control and knows where our house is located and when we’ll find it. He has a plan for us, and we trust He will provide us a home soon.”

Do I still believe that? Yes! But I need to reevaluate the word, soon. How long is that? Does it mean any of these?

• Before long

• Any old day now

• Before you know it

• Lickity-split

• In no time

We moved to Tennessee eight weeks ago. Maybe I should have used one of these instead.

• Sooner or later

• Sometime

• Eventually

• In the long run

• In the course of time

Instead of using the word “soon,” or any of those above, a better way for me to state this would be, “in His time.” God will provide us a home when He’s ready and when we’re where He wants us to be.

In the meantime, we’re not giving up. We’ll continue to look for a house and walk in faith. We want to be in His perfect will and place.

When disappointment and discouragement creep in and I’m tempted to say, “this stinks,” I read my Bible aloud to increase my faith and spend extra time in prayer. I know that in His time we will find our home.

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message,
and the message is heard through the word about Christ. 
Romans 10:17, NIV

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Photo by Priscilla Du Preez - Unsplash

Perseverance

This past Sunday after church, my husband, youngest daughter, and I met our son and his two children at a local park. We chatted, laughed, and played our version of soccer—we stood in a circle and kicked the ball back and forth. During one of my sit-it-out breaks, a girl about seven years old asked me if she could sit on the bleachers next to me. I smiled and said yes. Then I scooted down the row to give her more space to distance myself and not cause her family alarm. After all, there’s Covid and she shouldn’t be talking to strangers, should she?

Within a minute or two, her older sister, about ten years old, approached. She spoke in hushed tones, but I heard something like this.

Older: Come on. You shouldn’t be here.
Younger: She said I could sit.
Older sounding stern: Ignore them. Let’s go.

I had to laugh. I could see their two personalities shining forth. The younger girl was extroverted and wanted to have fun and watch our family play. I assumed the older girl knew the “don’t talk to strangers” rule and wanted to protect her little sister. Like me, the older girl was the introverted rule follower, and she persevered in her sternness until her little sister followed her back to their parents.

Merriam-Webster defines perseverance as the effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition. That’s where our family finds itself today. We lost house offer number four mentioned in my last blog, and this past weekend, we found out we lost number five as well.

Here in Middle Tennessee, houses are selling for five to ten percent over the asking price. Buyers waive home inspections and agree to pay cash for amounts over the appraised value or waive the appraisal. They make offers on homes without seeing them—houses are contracted before they’re available for showings—even before the agents post pictures.

But we persevere. We strive to find a home despite these difficulties. God is still in control and knows where our house is located and when we’ll find it. He has a plan for us, and we trust He will provide us a home soon.

Let us not become weary in doing good,
for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 
Galatians 6:9, NIV

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Photo by Mick Haupt - Unsplash