Christ Above All

Psalm 139 (Most of it)
The Message
God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I'm an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I'm thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I'm never out of your sight. You know everything I'm going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and you're there, then up ahead and you're there, too— your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful— I can't take it all in!

Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you're there! If I go underground, you're there! If I flew on morning's wings to the far western horizon, You'd find me in a minute— you're already there waiting! Then I said to myself, "Oh, he even sees me in the dark! At night I'm immersed in the light!" It's a fact: darkness isn't dark to you; night and day, darkness and light, they're all the same to you.

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb. I thank you, High God—you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day.

Your thoughts—how rare, how beautiful! God, I'll never comprehend them! I couldn't even begin to count them— any more than I could count the sand of the sea. Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you! Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I'm about; See for yourself whether I've done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life.

My heart is heavy today. I have decisions to make that are not easy. It doesn't mean they don't need to be made. I have come to realize that I have allowed my eyes to lose their focus. I have let other things take first place in my life. The Lord knows my thoughts. He knows everything I think I've kept hidden. He knows that I have looked away from Him and grown complacent. This has affected my relationship with Him and blurred my vision. I want Christ to be my compass, my source of strength, my comfort and protector. I will look to Him for guidance. Only He can meet my needs and satisfy the empty places.

Today's Thought

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."

~Aristotle

Project #3: Lamps

I went to my favorite haunt tonight: Value Village. I found two glass lamps that are kind of ugly but show promise. I picked up some brushed nickel spray and other random items from Jo-Ann Fabrics so we'll see how they turn out when I'm all done. I don't have a definite idea yet what I'm going to do to them but I know where I am going to begin. I need to take the lamps apart so I can clean the inside of the glass and also spray the ugly, fake gold stuff. I'll do that tonight. This weekend I will buy plain, inexpensive lampshades and use what I got at J.A.F to make them look the way I want. I'm making progress. When the lamps are complete the only unfinished business will be the headboard for my bed and the picture I want enlarged for the bedroom wall.

Bedside Tables

Storms and Anchors

I received a letter today from Women of the Harvest - also called Women of Compassion - depending on what country is being visited. They still need massage therapists for the retreat in Goa, India this October and also asked if I would be interested in serving with the team that goes to Dubai, United Arab Emirates in March. Why, oh why, can't I be self-employed so I had the freedom to go to every retreat, every year?

Last night I completely took apart the nightstand I built the evening before. This morning, I started over. I finished building two of them before I had to work. Later, I will sand the edges, whitewash the boards and add a layer of finishing gloss.

Today we had rain off and on. When I ran to the store it was coming down pretty hard. I got soaked. I don't know why, but it reminded me of my summers on the Vineyard when I'd sit out on the deck in the middle of a big nor'easter. The rain would be coming down, the wind blowing, the sea-grass whipping around, sand would get in my eyes and I would watch the anchored boats bobbing wildly up and down in the crashing waves of the ocean. I would think how glad I was to be sitting safely on shore and feeling sorry for some of the crew that were left on the big yachts. It had to be scary. It was scary where I was and my feet were firmly planted on the ground. There is something big and awesome and breathtaking and powerful about storms. As long as I know I'm safe, I don't mind riding them out and taking everything in. God displays a side of Himself in the strong winds, the driving rain, the white-capped waves. It is breath-taking to witness. Lots of times during those East Coast summer storms, I would sing at the top of my lungs because the wind was so loud no one could hear me. I loved to sing "How Great Thou Art," but one particular night when I watched a boat moored out in the harbor - the only thing I could really see was the light from its cabin - I thought of the song, "We Have An Anchor." The little light was shining through a window, the boat was bouncing up and down and looked like it would flip over at any time. The next morning when I walked out with my hot chocolate, the storm had subsided and the small boat was still there, floating placidly in the water.

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?

It is safely moored, 'twill the storm withstand,
For 'tis well secured by the Savior's hand;
And the cables, passed from His heart to mine,
Can defy that blast, thro' strength divine.

We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Savior's love.
~Priscilla Jane Owens

I love the second verse, particularly the phrase...and the cables, passed from His heart to mine...it speaks to me deep inside. Sometimes I feel alone. Sometimes I am afraid when I think about the future. Sometimes I wonder who will be there to protect me and keep me safe. Will I always be by myself? Will I be the only one looking out for my welfare? Not really. My safety, my welfare, my life is well-secured by the Savior's hand and I am connected heart to heart with Him by a cable stronger than anything made by man.

Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.
~Hebrews 6:18b-19a

The Dresser Is Done!

Entering the Final Stretch

The dresser drawers are almost done. Tomorrow's post will have a picture of the dresser, COMPLETELY FINISHED!!