Movin' On

Feeling melancholy, but moving on. I'm back home, safe and sound, but miss The Happiest Seaside Town in America. Island lifestyle compels me to return each year, sometimes more than once.

But something just caught my eye. The word "melancholy" contains the word "holy." Qwinkydink? Maybe not. The Webster definition of melancholy is "sad and pensive." That's definitely me. Webster defines "holy" as connected to God or religion. That's me, too, because that is His view of me.

So I may be sad and pensive for a while, but I'm connected to my Jesus. He knows me, understands my every thought. He will lead me through the narrows and bring me out on that wide, glorious path.

Shalom to us all.

"My Immortal," or "To Be Mother, Wife, Daughter of An Alcoholic"

My Immortal

I'm so tired of being here
Suppressed by all my childish fears
And if you have to leave
I wish that you would just leave
'Cause your presence still lingers here
And it won't leave me alone

These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase

When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me

You used to captivate me by your resonating light
Now I'm bound by the life you left behind
Your face, it haunts my once pleasant dreams
Your voice, it chased away all the sanity in me

These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase

When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me

I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone
But though you're still with me
I've been alone all along

When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me
Ah, me... ah, me... ah...

Written by Ben Moody, David Hodges, Amy Lee • Copyright © Reservoir One Music

I Want to Break Free

Freddie said it best;
     God knows best:

I want to break free
I want to break free
I want to break free from your lies
You're so self satisfied
I don't need you
I've got to break free
God knows,
God knows I want to break free

God knows, I do not want to go back. This is my home - the only place I've ever felt free and happy. Of course, I know those aren't the requirements for our life in Christ, but dang! I'm so tired of my "roles." I don't want to be wife, mother, grandmother.

But the inner voice says, "Be care what you wish for."

Don't Mess With a Black Swan

A black swan waddling up to tell me to get lost!

This guy was annoyed that I was too close to him and his mate.
He puffed his feathers, hissed and bit the fencing to get his point across.

Ducks resting in Eel Creek

#1 Happiest Seaside Town in America

#1 Happiest Seaside Town in America - Coastal Living 2014

Of course, we've known this for decades. I'm in my favorite home with my favorite four-legged creature beside me, watching people bike past my door on their way to the beach or around the island. The wildlife loop on the refuge is open and early in the morning, we can see lots of birds,  white tail and sika deer, gray squirrels, white egrets, white, blue and green herons, the famous ponies, turtles, and if we're really lucky, otters. And mosquitoes ... always the mosquitoes.

Psalm 146:5-6

How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, 

who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever;

Word for Me - September 3

Micah 7New King James Version (NKJV) 
  

1. Woe is me! For I am like those who gather summer fruits, Like those who glean vintage grapes; There is no cluster to eat of the first-ripe fruit which my soul desires.
2. The faithful man has perished from the earth, And there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; Every man hunts his brother with a net.
3. That they may successfully do evil with both hands— The prince asks for gifts, The judge seeks a bribe, And the great man utters his evil desire; so they scheme together.
4. The best of them is like a brier; the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge; the day of your watchman and your punishment comes; now shall be their perplexity.
5. Do not trust in a friend; do not put your confidence in a companion; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your bosom.
6. For son dishonors father, daughter rises against her mother, daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own household.
7. Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.

This passage in Micah fairly describes the present state of our republic: much evil and treachery. Sometimes it's found within families, friendships, even churches - the Powers That Shouldn't Be - they're everywhere, in every walk of life. We resist where we can, occasionally triumphing, but not without excessive hand-wringing.

What shall we do when we see such deterioration all around us? Jesus tells us through a parable in Luke 19:13 tells us to 'occupy until I come.' Be still and know that He is God. Live your life in full view of God's loving watchfulness. Look to Him, wait for Him - God will hear us when we call.

Here Am I

Another jumble of words to fill the blogosphere. But it's mine, so I'll carry on for a while. I've recently acquired a few new toys and I want this space to record our progress together.

I also want to share the encouragement spoken to me from the Word of the Lord. There has been much as I wait before Him. And while I am deeply moved when the Holy Spirit makes God's Word come alive, I know it is not 'private interpretation,' as stated in II Peter - it's for all of us - the Body of Christ.

Psalm 95

Come, let us bow down in worship,

let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;

for he is our God

and we are the people of his pasture,

the flock under his care.

Long ago, I learned this Psalm set to a lovely tune. I've been singing it for several days, experiencing joy from knowing the simple fact that we are His sheep and He will care for us and provide pasture. And what is pasture? A place of nourishment, safety and protection, rest, all under the watchfulness of the Good Shepherd himself, Jesus.