Sally thought Jamie Lee Curtis looked great with short hair. Even with the gray. What do people have against gray? Gray was all Sally ever knew.
Okay ~ I just commented on a post about how older women lob off their hair. And it had a picture of Jamie Lee Curtis.
Who, of course, looks great. But she always has (and always has worn her hair short).
With Janet Lee and Tony Curtis as parents -- can't blame her for looking like that.
What does this have to do with treasures of the transformed life?
I don’t know, but funny how so many women commented on why women of a certain age shear off their hair.
Me included.
Bottom line.
Why does someone being different bother us?
As in women over 50 with gray hair down their backs.
That’s the best part of church. Getting to know the woman over 50 with gray hair flowing down her back. And finding out that she’s an accountant with a hobby in entomology.
And that she loves to go read to a certain little boy at the primary school every Wednesday.
Or that she loves to make baklava and take it to the shut in down the street. She delivers some once a month and chats with her elderly friend ~ never once looking at her watch.
An I doing my part? Have I ever judged someone who appears to be doing less than I am?
Never. Well, there is that woman (she must be at least 58) with the really long gray hair. What is she thinking? Doesn’t she know that long hair on anyone over 45 is terribly aging.
Sally tried to give everyone a little smile. Hers was a funny smile. Okay. Most couldn't tell she was smiling. But if you were an oyster ~ you knew.
Great quotes in this reading.
Act if what you do makes a difference. It does. ~ William James
Indifference is the essence of inhumanity. ~ George Bernard Shaw
Act like it makes a difference, if only to reach out with a smile. A simple act of kindness can pierce the most hardened soul.
Commit to the church and plug in doing what you love to do.
* Paint.
* Volunteer to teach.
* Bring audio/visual equipment.
* Bring really good cookies to the Family Night Supper.
No act is too small. That’s how God works. It’s not just about one person doing lots of great things. For us to stare at and go “Wow.” That person is really amazing.
It’s about everyone doing their thing that together turns into something great for God’s glory.
Sally didn't use many dirty words. "Priorities" was one that slipped through her mind every now and then.
It’s 5:30; I’ve been out of bed for an hour — and already behind schedule.
But that’s life is for most of us. Not that we all get up early — but we all cram our day with stuff. Stuff we have to do, stuff we want to do, stuff we shouldn’t do…and so on.
To accomplish stuff in this life, we have to prioritize. Everyone knows that.
It’s just the application that’s the problem.
Why don’t people head to church?
John Ed (and as any preacher, sure he’s heard and seen it all) gives these ideas: all this starts on page 141. Grab your book and read it sillies.
* outside looking in ~ people are watching so-called “Christian’s” behavior.
* busy, busy.
* getting along ~ somewhere along the way, someone at church hurt our feelings.
* meeting needs ~ this church isn’t meeting my needs.
Love this quote he included by Emily Dickinson.
“They say that God is everywhere, and yet we always think of him as somewhat of a recluse.”
She, of course, was the recluse. Starting in her 20s, she gradually withdrew from the world. She lived and loved through her poems.
We only have her writings today — because they were discovered by a sister in a box after Emily’s death.
God is so much bigger than the box we try to put him in — he is like us, but so much bigger.
Whatever negativity is keeping us from church, why not ask is it just us? Is it our wounds that we transfer to God?
Don’t transfer — be renewed.
Open the Word and open up to a church family.
God gave a Loaf to every Bird —
But just a Crumb — to Me —
I dare not eat it — tho’ I starve —
My poignant luxury —
To own it — touch it —
Prove the feat — that made the Pellet mine —
Too happy — for my Sparrow’s chance —
For Ampler Coveting —
It might be Famine — all around —
I could not miss an Ear —
Such Plenty smiles upon my Board —
My Garner shows so fair —
I wonder how the Rich — may feel —
An Indiaman — An Earl —
I deem that I — with but a Crumb —
Am Sovereign of them all —
She is rather pretty. Would let the hair down a bit..
Sally invited lots of people to church. Well, she thought of many people she wanted to ~ but then she forgot.
Mathison:
“The church is God’s family on earth. … Someone may say, ‘I’m going to be a Christian all by myself,’ but before long, that person will get out into the world and become a target of Satan.”
He makes the point that even gang members don’t go anywhere alone. (What about the bathroom?)
We all need to be fed and protected in relationship. Whether mega-church or small gathering, the church saturated with the Holy Spirit lifts people.
The church carries us, brings us laughter and provides shelter from the world.
It’s a place to learn about and share the love of a Savior.
We are called to reach out. That was Jesus’ last request before he rocketed off this rock to join the Father.
What if you had the most wonderful secret in the world, or knew the most wonderful person. Wouldn’t you want to share it? Now sometimes we don’t want to share things — like awesome babysitter’s numbers or great recipes or we experience feelings of jealous when our BBF seems to be falling for another.
But what if this person’s love, kindness, generosity only expanded. There was no fear that by introducing them to everyone — the party would only get better, the energy more powerful — relationships only become more purer, stronger and dependable?
Who could I help bring into God’s family?
I bet if we ask that question, some one will come to mind, if not right now within the next few days.
Let’s pray that the Lord free our minds and loosen our tongues to invite all to join the party.
Two Sundays ago, our pastor handed out purple rubber wristbands with www.AComplaintFreeWorld.org stamped on them. By slipping it on, you pledge not to complain for 21 consecutive days. Each time you grumble, the band switches to the other wrist and 21 days starts over. As of this writing, I’m still on day one after wearing this darn bracelet for nine days straight.
As an oyster, Sally never knew her father. She knew she had one; she just never knew him.
Everyone has a biological father.
I think that’s for certain.
Most of us, probably have an earthly father. This could be a biological father or not.
A father figure. And hopefully, for most of us that person did the best the he could with the circumstances life gave to him.
Mathison writes, “Here on earth, we fathers do the best we can, but we’re human and we sometimes mess up. God doesn’t mess up. He’s perfect in everything he does. By default, then, God’s a perfect father to us.”
What is your image of father?
Did you know Hugh Beaumont was a Methodist minister?
Bruce has his hands full as step dad to those Kardasian girls. Drama, drama, drama.
What’s your idea of the perfect father?
Is there a perfect father?
A perfect father who knows your name — not because you’re in a perfect 1050s sitcom or a reality televison babe-tte.
How important is it to me that God knows my name?
Is this a trick question?
How does my relationship with my own father affect the way I see God as a heavenly one?
Sally was excited to go to church. They made really good coffee.
The key to a good party is…
Through very unscientific observation, contrary to what some may think it’s not food, drink, great 70s music or a guest list with the “right people.” To me, a great party starts with energy. And the only way to create that energy is
Lots of people, small space.
I don’t mean crazy amount of people in tiny space — that is hot, too noisy for conversation and above all a fire hazard.
But people talking to people (with a little food, drink and great 70s music) create energy.
A packed house at church is no different.
If you show up ~ something is going to happen. You might volunteer to bake a cake, get invited to the coolest Sunday School class in Bay City or hear a message that might change your life.
Be honest. Once you get there, have you ever regretted going to church?
If someone asked me how many Sundays I’d be at church in the next year, what would I say?
First I’d apologize because I am weak in math, but what would happen if I committed to going every Sunday that it was physically possible? If I committed to going any Sunday, I was within a couple hours drive (excluding having sick young child — not including husband — or me with over 101 temp.)?
What am I likely to miss at when I’m not at church?
Yesterday, I would have missed people who lift you up with a smile and hug. That’s Sally’s favorite part too. Hugging her friends.
Well, that and a good dance tune.
I’ll leave you with this, for honestly it’s been in my head for halfway through writing this post and in my car (with Micheal W. Smith) for the past few weeks.
I think this was my stereo. It was definitely my little yellow spacer thingy.
Sally had a dream. One God placed in her heart. (Well, it would be in her heart, if oysters had hearts.)
“I have a heart, silly.”
Sorry Sal. Yes, oysters have a three-chambered heart which pumps colorless blood to all the body.
Not making that up.
Colorless blood? Can that really do the job? Like if Sally had to run a marathon or something.
Yes, sorry Sally, you do have a heart and a soul and you pray like mad all day long to Jesus.
There’s one thing I respect about you Sally. You seem an humble little bivalve. I know that only pearl oysters produce pearls. The oysters I love to eat with wild abandon swimming in cocktail sauce are not pearl oysters.
You are special.
There is the power in you to create a jewel.
Some of Mathison’s questions for Day 14.
How much water have you had this week?
Okay. Is that like literally how much water or spiritually? If you count all the glasses I made myself ingest and the tons I swallowed swimming at the pool, I’d say about 32 oz.
What is God waiting for me to partner with him to do?
Ride a tandem?
What’s in my mind’s eye?
Dreams. Again that’s personal. But Sally just put 500 down on a Cannondale. One thing about Sally, the girl knows what she wants.
All Sally would need is a little help reaching the pedals.
