Dorothy, my praying friend

I love listening to Dorothy pray over her list!

The righteous flourish like the palm tree

    and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

 

They are planted in the house of the Lord;

    they flourish in the courts of our God.

 

They still bear fruit in old age;

    they are ever full of sap and green,

 

to declare that the Lord is upright;

    he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Psalm 92:12-15

Dorothy is leaving soon to winter in Florida.  Her presence will be sorely missed by all who attend our Wednesday morning prayer group.  At the age of 97 years, our Midwest winter is hard on the body, so we reluctantly give her up to the warmer climate.

I want to be like Dorothy!  Study her in the picture above.  See that she's talking to God by voice, mind and by using her hands.  She is connected in prayer! 

Notice, on her lap is a prayer list which she prays over not only on Wednesday morning, but every day of the week.  Recently she asked us, "When can you take a prayer request off of your list?", and then commented, "I just can't stop praying for for things until they're answered."  She is tenacious in prayer!

Something you can't see, or hear, is how Dorothy breaks out in scripture while praying.  Her favorite and most recited is Psalms 91:1-2, He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.  She knows the Word!

Also unnoticed in this picture is the old-fashioned, aluminum hair clip curler, right by her glasses, still holding a curl in place!  Sometimes I tell her it's there and other days I just let it go.  I love this especially because it shows that Dorothy comes to the Throne of Mercy just as she is!  She is humble!

Dorothy, we will miss you over the winter!  You talk often of your church family in Florida and I'm sure they are awaiting your arrival.  Often you pray for them over the summer, so I am assured you pray for us over the winter! See you next Spring if the Lord wills!

P.S. Dorothy was my 3 year old Sunday School teacher!

Sneaking Around Corners

After living in the present, going day by day it's time to reflect...

Oh, my, how did the last year just vanish?  Right into thin air...gone!  Today is the day for remembering, the day I'm ready to recall all God's been up to in our lives since my last blog.  That last blog was difficult as I tried to make sense of our grandson's leukemia and saying "goodbye" to our daughter and her family as they moved to North Dakota.  But, with over a year behind us, full and overflowing with God's goodness, mercy and provisions, I feel the need to write again!  Here's what's been on my mind.

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."  Matthew 6:24

1950's Toy Periscope

Let's go back now, way back, to childhood days in the 1950's.  This was the time before children had shelves of toys, or bins of toys, or myriads of stuffed animals hanging in huge mesh wall-to-wall hammock-like holders.

Toys were simpler for the most part, although many children I know today still love the plain old cardboard box which becomes anything their heart and imagination desires!

I remember the girlish fun my sister and I enjoyed with the Toy Periscope, a very simple cardboard box with a few mirrors.  We tiptoed around the house, peering around corners of a wall, imagining to be spies, watching an unsuspecting brother or mom in the kitchen.  I'm sure our laughter revealed us and our antics, although in our minds we were super spies, stealth and quiet! 

And don't we sometimes think we are adult super spies?  Peering around corners, imagining what tomorrow will hold, or next week...or even "into infinity and beyond" as another well loved toy declares with gusto! 

I'm done with looking into the future, I don't need to know anything other than, Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

As Elyse Fitzpatrick shared at Revive '13, "...everything that comes to us comes from the nail scarred hands of Jesus.  He suffered for us according to His glory."  I'm in His hands, He knows, He cares, He loves, He paid the price and I am secure right there, in this moment, no need to worry about what lies ahead.

As an update, Everett has completed his intensive treatment phase and we praise God for His grace and healing mercy.  Also, for such generous love shown to our daughter's family through many of you, their church, family, friends, neighbors, hospital staff and even unknown people.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Our daughter, Lesli, and her family are happily together again!  After Dad went ahead in January of '12 to find employment in North Dakota, Lesli and the boys followed in November.  I had the opportunity to visit when baby Isaac was born in March and can report all is very well.  They have settled into life, found a wonderful church, brought home a puppy, Lily, and everyone is thriving.

It's good to be back here at Laughing at Winter!!