Liz's Front Porch

Traveling

                        

Hi Friends, 

Dear Heart and I are settled, most comfortably, in the San Antonio International Airport and find there are some 30 minutes before we get ready to prepare to board. Since I didn’t get time last night to check in with you, this seems a good way to use waiting time.

Did you know that along the walk ways in San Antonio International Airport rocking chairs are scattered here and there between security and the gates? So cool!

Sitting in one of the high-back white rockers, a daddy had his daughter snuggled safely in his arms. Even though she seemed a little droopy, her eyes flashed fear as she watched the crowd of strangers. But leaned against her daddy’s chest and gripped his hands as he moved both of them back and forth and back and forth.

Sometimes, when I’m hurting and confused and the world is crashing against me,  

I climb into my Heavenly Father’s arms and press into Him. It is there that security settled around me and I am comforted. As I relax, at peace in His care, I snuggle quietly, listening to His reassurances.

  then all is again well.

I wanted to snap a picture of the daddy and child, but could not bring myself to interrupt their communion to ask permission so I walked on, holding their image in my heart.

I’m holding images of all of you in my heart as I constantly ask Father to help us turn our hearts totally to Him and to please pour mercy onto our parched souls and rain onto our parched land.

This will be ready to post when we settle into our hotel in Sarasota this evening.

Be blessed, friends!

Liz – enroute!

February Fog

Have you missed me? I've missed chatting with you. But, to you awesome "faithfuls" out there who have checked in every day.... hopefully expecting to meet me on the porch...Thank you! 

Even mist is welcome and we had some minor moisture today. In these dry days, even drips are appreciated. Besides the wind and fire dangers all around central Texas and the hill country, February has been mentally and emotionally foggy. Some of us and our loved ones and precious friends--are experiencing worries, illnesses, doubts, fears, and heavy trials and we can attest that the enemy is hard at work. Let us remember: neither the fog nor the wind nor any other evil will get us down, because we serve the risen Lord.

So, for you faithfuls who have joined me on this cyber walk of trust, Easter is coming up.... right on the heels of the joy and glory and excitement of Christmas. Oh dear.... oh my... but... WAIT. . .

There is more.

A lot happened between the manger and the tomb.  

The cross.

Please join me to meditate on the passion of our Lord. Such amazing love.

In the meantime, Dear Heart is taking me on a 4-day so-journ to Florida to celebrate the 7th anniversary of our engagement. For those of you who have NOT noticed our photographs, let us assure you that sweet love truly does happen in old age!

As we travel, I'll leave messages and then I hope you'll join me on Wednesday, February 25 (Ash Wednesday) for prayers as we walk to the cross.

Love and Blessings

Liz    Oh and P.S….. When you drop in and I’m not on the porch, please leave a "comment." Just say “private” and I won’t publish your words. It is always nice to know when company calls. You are important…. As in….

1 Thessalonians five, eleven ….

“..encourage one another, and build up one another….”

Isn't it interesting J that those words are followed in verst 16 with 

“Rejoice always!!”

February Winds

I don't remember such winds in February as we've had this year.

Even though I've locked all the windows, secured all the cracks and crevices, the wind still permeates my being. Is God is calling His people to prayer?

Then morning comes, trees sway in gentle breezes, the sun shines, we hear about lives protected in the midst of fierce fires during the night.

The season of Lent is approaching. Already I am pondering the might of God's love.

In the meantime, going to the Throne of Grace is not always a mission to ask for "things." Sometimes, when we stop our lives, humble our hearts, and sit in God's presence, we simply acknowlede Him as King of our lives. We give Him love and adoration. We get still ando know Him. We remember to stop and dwell in His presence.

Funny how we find it so hard to stop to pray when He asks so little of us.

"For thus the Lord God, the Holy One of Isael, has said, "In repentance and rest you shall be saved. In quietness and trust is your strength." (Isaiah 30:15 NASV)

Let us worship and grow strong together.

Please be blessed.

Liz

Wind Noise

The wind seems to have been blowing more than usually during this unusually dry winter. And, I’ve had trouble sleeping lately. Funny how it takes time to recognize a problem, more time to figure out the cause, and more time still to know how to fix it. See why I age so quickly????

 

Wind was the culprit in my current problem.

 

I’ve never liked high winds. Soft breezes, yes, harsh winds, NO.

 

Maybe for me it goes back to the 1953 tornado in Waco, Texas. No, I did not live there when the downtown buildings crumbled into a pile of bricks, but I saw the results the week following the destruction. I moved to Waco two years later to attend Baylor University.

 

About 20 years later, I attended a church party at the lovely home of friends. I asked the hostess, “Doesn’t the wind up here on this hill bother you?”

 

She looked at me blankly. “What do you mean? We’ve always lived on hills. Never noticed any wind.”

 

Time didn't help. All these years later, I live on a little hill and I notice the wind. A lot.

 

During the past few months, windy nights have particularly distressed me. Sometimes routing me out of bed to walk the floor. The good part is that on many of those nights, I curled up with my Bible for comfort. Every time, God showed me something new.

 

Yes, you’re right: the more we seek God, the closer he becomes!!

 

But the howling wind continued to make horrible, hissing, thrashing, banging noises. It seemed to blow through my soul. Whistling. Screeching. Squealing. Thump, hammer, pound.

 

A few nights ago the squealing screamed at my soul, stopping me in my tracks. I stood in the middle of the room. Quietly. And, of all things… the sound was coming from one, lone window. One tiny-little-barely unsealed-less than a micro crack!!

 

I heaved the window up, slammed it down, and shoved the lock in—TIGHTLY!

Guess what?

Sweet silence. Quiet. Calm. No more wind sounds.

I slept.

 

The next morning dawned quiet, still, and clear. Standing quietly in the Son's light, I understood how the enemy sneaks in, pilfers, steals, and fills the room of our minds with garbage. Or fear. Or old beliefs. Or just plain lies. Simply because I didn't shut all the openings.

 

I’m trying desperately to keep my mind so steadied on God’s word  that I will know the origin of stuff that blows around trying to lie to me and steal my joy!

 

Trust in the Lord, and do good;

dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

Delight yourself in the Lord!

Psalm 37:3 & 4 (NASV)

 

P.S. I have a praise report to share... I got word today that a new anthology will be released March 10. A Cup of Comfort® Women of the Bible Devotionals. Three devotions I wrote are included. AND, this volume is the 12^th anthology containing my work. God has touched me so sweetly. I’m grateful to ALL of you who keep encouraging my words! Chek out Liz Writes From Texas 

Hugs and Blessings,

          Liz

Clouds

Funny how life happens during the living of it.

The first Sunday in February dawned bright and clear. Then a cloud descended on our Choose Life Sunday School Class. A friend shared with her fellowship of believers that a debilitating disease had struck her husband. He just turned 60 years of age. So young. And he won’t recover. At first, friends don’t know what to do. So, we stood with clenched fists. Then we cried out for God’s mercy to enfold our friends and we begged for huge helpings of grace for them. Then the human anger subsided and individually we mopped up the muddy mess our tears had made and we collectively RAN to the One who will provide knowledge, wisdom, and comfort. We will know what to do. When. And how. And our prayers will tightly cover our friends.

On Monday, the wind began to blow and Dear Heart and I went to a funeral. We celebrated the life of a lady who, infinitely loved, had lived a long and remarkable life. After serving faithfully as wife, mother, granny, teacher, confidant, and friend she escaped the suffering and confusion and pain of mortal life to rest in her Father’s arms. Their children, grandchildren, spouses, and a horde of other family and friends surrounded her husband of 63 years. But, of course, he sat alone. Bittersweet, you know. Again, we friends ask our Teacher for wisdom and time and thoughtfulness to grieve with him.

I don’t know how others coped with these particular heartaches in our one little community but our family received a sweet balm of comfort. Unexpectedly. My daughter’s son and his delightful intended came to visit. Just because. Drove all the way from San Antonio after college classes. They solved one of the computer/bookkeeping problems that had clouded my soul, Dear Heart made a fire, they talked, I cooked, they chatted, we laughed, they told stories, we ate, they asked questions, we hugged, his mom beamed.

Somehow our upside down world was—though slightly leaning—right side up again.

Today, Dear Heart had a medical appointment with more to come, I had a dental appointment, and life goes on. We’ll write some cards, send a few e-mails, make phone calls but mostly we’ll stay seriously prayed-up.

Please take time to do the same. Sometimes the living gets rough around the edges.

Big hugs, loving blessings, and remember to rejoice!

          Liz