Liz's Front Porch

Mopping up Spills

I did it. Big time. I made a mess on my desk the other day.

It really wasn't too bad, but I was upset. Totally! There was only half a cup of coffee and thankfully no cream--no sugar! I got it wiped up before too much damage was done. But I fussed and complained while I sopped up coffee.

I didn't get the message though so, naturally, there had to be a second.

Last night, in a huge hurry AGAIN, I knocked over a whole glass of water on my desk. BIG mess. Wet water went everywhere. I grabbed towels, jerked up important papers, blotted receipts and miscellaneous instructions and cried with every swipe. Why me? Why am I so clumsy? I keep making messes!  I fumed and cried more. I slammed stuff and shoved stuff and fussed at everything in sight. There was as much self-pity wet tears on my face as there was wet water on my desk. I rushed to the bathroom and grabbed my hair drier, hoping to salvage some of the more important papers. As I stood at my desk, blowing hot air through a handfull of paper, it hit me.

I turned off the blower, hung my head, and cried tears of shame to my Lord. Only a few hours drive from our lovely, secure, dry, home in the Texas Hill Country lies the beautiful and sometimes peaceful Gulf Coast. When Ike ripped and roared through there a few weeks ago, people lost every thing they possessed except what they could stuff into a couple of suitcases. Everything. Not just a few damp papers that would dry. My friend's children lost their entire home and all its contents while they were welcoming a new grandbaby to the family in Oregon. All along South Texas, the papers, photographs, furniture, and clothes would not clean up nor dry. Things were ruined. Gone. Jobs were lost. Everything. Every thing.

I spent a long time last night pondering things. Material things. Some 'things' mean a lot. Some 'things' we accumulate mean nothing. I thought about my friend's son who had just become a grandfather. I thought about the new baby, a new life, a healthy, precious soul to be raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. They have no things left.

I thought about the life of God's own son that He gave so we His children can spend eternity with Him.

And, I thought about those irritating, daily, mundane situations that upset me.

Today, I'll hug Dear Heart extra big when he gets home from errands. Then when his daughter arrives in a little bit for a weekend visit, I'll greet her with a bigger than usual hug and I'll remind her how precious she is to me. I'll send a card to my Sunday School secret prayer partner and tonight we'll call our other kids.

And then I'll say an extra thank You to my Heavenly Father for reminding me what is really important. I will slow down.

I hope you will stop, slow down and remember how very special and dear YOU are!

Bessings from

Liz

©

Building

Good Morning!

Thank You, Heavenly Father! We have rain today! Mostly it is just a drizzle, but it is wet water fron His holy and merciful hands and we are grateful!

I don't have a hammer, but I'm building again. At my age, I never dreamed I would ever again build anything. Even all the Legos and Lincoln Logs were packed away when our last great grand went to first grade. But, at a time when I desperately need sleep, I find myself hunched over the 'Survivor' -- my trusty computer-- :-) -- building a blog site.

Well, let this old Memaw tell you something: Cyber space ain't all it's cracked up to be and I've certainly done easier things in my life. But, again: :-) .... it is fun.

My goal is to share with you the amazing love and the sweet, sweet mercy of my God and my King. Along the way, we'll share thoughts, hints, lessons, laughter, encouragement, and some plain old Texas fun.

Counting our blessings is the best way to shoo away the clouds, so there's lots of counting on Liz's Porch! I'd love for you to share your blessing list with us.

Check in now and then to see how the building is going. No telling what will happen around here!

Blessings from

Liz

©

Keep our Eyes on Jesus

Today is Friday, October 10, 2008

Today would have been my mother's 96th birthday.

Today will become known as a Black Friday--

-- for those who listen to the stock market--

-- for those who are tuned in to the world.

Good morning sweet friends.

Today my prayer is that:

• your day is being holy.
• you are blessing the laces off your kids shoes.
• you are speaking words of peace and love and faith.
• we are keeping our fingers busy and our hearts quiet
• our beings are focused on the one, true, faithful
• Triune God who loves us. Regardless. Forever.

Blessings from

Liz

©

Company's Coming

I've never before welcomed company to a messy house. And, I don't remember ever being away from home when I knew a guest was on the way.

To normal people, that's disgusting. But that's just the way I USED to be. Until this week.

I'm trying to learn.

Our expected guest is an old friend who won't have on white gloves when she arrives for a visit. She will come on in and relax while I'm at a tea party.

Yes! Adults do go to tea parties!

A local friend is honoring my great-niece who is a U.S. Marine just returning home from her THIRD tour of duty in Iraq. I'll drink tea, read a poem, hear the prayers of sweet friends, hug my young hero, and rush home to welcome and nurture our house guest.

Then, she and I together with my daughter will rush off to attend the prayer retreat in Kerrville, Texas, Slowing Down to Hear His Voice featuring Debbie Williams.

I'm eager to slow down and I desperately want to hear my Lord's voice.

While we're gone, Dear Heart will watch sports in peace and fend for himself for dinner Friday night. Then Saturday night he'll take us three tired but refreshed women to dinner. It doesn't get much better than that... for him or for us!

After public worship on Sunday our guest will depart. When the supper dishes are done, Dear Heart and I will sit on our front porch. We'll pray for a friend who just became a widower and another who is back in the hospital again; we'll call some of our kids, and while the yellow bells wave in the breeze, Dear Heart and I will remind each other how tremendously God has blessed and loved us.

What will your blessings be this week? I love taking time to count mine!

Along with King David, perhaps we, too, will claim, "Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the nations, and I will sing praises to Your name." 2 Samual 22:50 NASB

Blessings, 

Liz

   

Come On In

So glad you dropped by. It's pretty relaxed here on my front porch. Visiting with old friends and getting to know new friends is the banana pudding of life!

On my front porch, I'll share my heart with you, along with random thoughts and idle ponderings. Your comments, thoughts, ponderings, and questions are always welcome.

My college grandson is somewhat embarrassed that his (old) Memaw is plowing new fields that he hasn't walked down yet. But that's okay... he'll understand one day about time.  So, come on and plunge in with me. I plan to have a great time in this new-fangled rocker on my front porch.

I hope you'll drop in from time to time and leave a note if I'm not home!