Adar 1, 5785

Today, as we were studying the Torah, a rainbow appeared on the Scripture we were reading. The portion was describing the Temple Menorah and the priests.  These are thoughts on the words it encircled.

1.  Pure Oil.  Our lights should have pure oil as the source of our flames.  Pure Oil has one and only one source:  crushed olives.  Yeshua.  His suffering.  Our suffering with Him.  I connect this with being annointed with His Oil.  Our suffering takes on new meaning as it unites with His.  Sets us apart as His priests.  And gives meaning to our earthly pain.  

"Crude" oil seems aptly named.  Associated with earthly wealth.  Dark oil.  Appears on the shore of Galveston, washed up by the tides.  Burns with much smoke.  

Pure oil is golden.  Smokeless.  Associated with the heavenlies.

2.  Aaron and his sons to be priests.  Set apart ones.  As priests, we are now set apart in service to Him.

3.  Before the Ark of Testimony.  Adonai"s provision.  Includes the covenant of marriage and instructions  for living in unity with our Bridegroom.  Manna of the Bread of Life.  The sprouted staff of Aaron...the almond tree.  (First sign of spring and life in nature).  

4.  This was to be an eternal observance throughout every generation to come.  Including OURS!!

5.  Moses was called to lead the Israelite from a life of power and luxury.  He was to prepare by changing golden shoes  and robe of a ruler to the sandals  and cloak of a shepherd.  

Aaron was called to serve from a life of a slave.  He too was asked to change his garb.  But in his case he was to change from the rags of a slave to an elegant, pristine, and elegant robe of linen.  The garb of a priest!!  

Both were brothers and both became the servants of Adonai Himself!!

 Trying to make myself write at least briefly each morning.  

A lovely sunrise.  Thoughts on Torah this morning:  Acacia wood was used to build implements in Holy Place in Tabernacle.  Over laid with gold.  Acaia trees had thorns.  Yeshua's crown was of thorns, perhaps from acacia wood.  Thus this tree represented not only the royalty of Yeshua but the curse He bore for us.  The Ark of the Covenant was transported by the priests using poles to carry it.  Yeshua carried his pole (execution stake) to make us priests.

The layout of the Tabernacle made a "face"!!  The ark in the Holy of Holies was in the location of the brain.  The Menorrah and the Table of Shewbread were in the location of the eyes.  (One to see by means of being light, the other, something TO see!)  The ark of incense would have been where the nose would have been.  And the table for sacrifice where the animal was sacrificed and consumed was where the mouth would have been.

All fitting the face of Adonai!  He is very specific in every detail of His Word.  

Yeshua truly is the Living Torah.  Every word speaks of Him.

Had good communication with Jan and Judi, Jaime and Elizateth, and Gail this morning.  Was able to explain to Gail about waiting for trip.  So relieved that she understood.  Hopefully we can do this when Becca retires.

Sweet conversation with Leonor, as well  So very thankful for her in our lives.  Joining her in prayer for BeOne.  May Adonai's will be done.

Trying to start my taxes.  Must wait for Becca's help to begin.

 

 

My Bo

How much you are missed today, little Brother!  And how much all of us Bishop Girls would love to be able to thank you!  Your generous legacy has given each of us financial freedom in a way we never would have dreamed of.  Options.  And opportunity.  Such blessings we would have never dreamed of.

You would be so proud of your nieces, Tim.  They are each taking your blessing so seriously.  I hear "We want to honor Uncle Tim" almost daily.  There has not been even one dispute or argument over this gift.  Each girl has been responsible and loving and wise.  They look at your provision as a legacy and an honor.  I can sense your presence on so many occasions as I hear them discussing how to invest or save.  And each wants to be so wise.....  Each looks at this as a carrying on of your Name, Bo, not as merely finances.  And this makes your sister so thankful.  For I know Love was behind your gift and Love is still at the heart of it.

But today, I simply miss YOU!  How I'd love to simply call you up and laugh or talk with you a while. We were so very different, but at the foundation, our hearts were knit, after all.  And that foundation still exists and is being passed on to the next generation.

And in our eyes, Tim, you are a true kinsman redeemer of our family.  And not only is your physical gift appreciated. but YOU are.  And your name is being honored.

I love you

My Friend Millie

Millie adds so much joy to my life.  I'm so thankful for her!

AfterChristmas Cleaning

Our Christmas Tree is coming down today, marking the finale of 2014.  And what a year this has been!

  The #1 Highlight was the arrival of Miles Geoffrey.  Such a beautiful baby boy!  And such a miraculous birth story, complete with a life flight to Great Falls.  Even though I know him solely through FaceTime now, I love this little guy so very much.  Seven months has sped by.  Seven months since I've seen my youngest and her precious brood.  And, sadly for me, no end to this separation of time and distance seems to be in sight.  And I'm so grateful that Anna has been so faithful in letting me glimpse her world.

God has filled this time with Himself.  And He has greatly blessed this span with touches of Heaven.  The greatest of these is being able to have Becca, Liz, and Paul in my life.  Kinder, more loving 

children can't be found.  Liz and Paul left Saturday.  Thank you, Lord, that they are but two hours away.  And Becca is right here in Dalton.  What blessings!

I look forward to 2015.  Getting our little home clean and in order seems symbolic of getting my heart and life prepared for meeting this new gift of time.  Who knows....this may be the year of meeting You, face to face!

A Mighty Fortress

The Citidel.  Halifax's bulwurk of protection.  Hundreds of years old.  Never put to the test.  And yet maintained, guarded, and displayed by troops to this day.  Vigilence exemplified.

May our nation's citizens, as well, guard and protect our freedoms.  Paul Ryan's quote: "In a nation where all is free except its citizens" rings in my heart.  May our eyes be opened to the battle which surrounds us here.  And may we, as Citizens, not only of the United States but also of Heaven itself, watchfully stand and watch and pray.



Despise Not the Day of Little Things



Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

And yet I say unto you: 

That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 

Matthew 6:28-29

Inverness, contd

Inverness

Years ago, right after my mother died, Becca took me to Maui.  Until I saw Cape Breton, Maui held my heart as the most beautiful ocean view in the world.  Now, the Lord allowed me to see the ocean in a totally new setting, just as gorgeous, and now just as dear to my soul.

Inverness by the Sea.  We stumbled upon this beach simply by "accident", although I am now more convinced than ever that there are absolutely no accidents for a child of our Heavenly Father.  An old fisherman in a grocery store where we stopped told us that in order to get an ocean view we should just drive down the road, and, when we came upon a place to turn, we should do just that.  This was the result of following his directions.  We spent a heavenly couple of hours here, following the boardwalk, and later, simply meandering down the sandy shore.  Again....we were virtually alone.  An older lady walking her dog, an old fisherman doing the same, a fellow sea gazer attempting to capture the view, frame by frame, as we were.  All seemed to share our hearts of wonder and gratitude for the paradise before us.

The Cabot Trail

What a glorious gift from our Lord to be able to behold such a place.  And we were virtually alone on the path around the perimeter of Cape Breton.  I had forgotten how much my heart had yearned for the ocean, and its symphony of sounds---sea breezes blowing through the conifers, crashing waves on the rocks below, an occasional sand piper crying from the shore.  The colors were as vivid as any I've ever seen.  I debated in my mind as to which was the deeper azure--the ocean below or the sky that surrounded me.  And the unspoiled purity of the place.  I've never breathed in air that was cleaner or a more delightful concoction of smells---the salty mist of the ocean, the wet red soil's earthiness, the occasional pungent waft from nearby fir trees.  The sea breezes became soft caresses on my skin.  Could I have been literally brushed by the wings of angels here?  Only eternity will tell.

My soul is learning to be both still and quiet.  Man's words would have somehow spoiled the beauty here.  God's voice had already spoken this landscape into being......and that was enough.

Badeck, The Beginning of the Cabot Trail

Badeck, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia

We arrived in Badeck, the final home of Alexander Graham Bell.  Two of the most beautiful bits of history that I gained here were the fact of Bell's true humility and his love of the simple beauty of nature.

He wished to be remembered solely as a teacher of the deaf.

He wanted his home to overlook the ocean and to be away from the bustle of big cities.



Views around Alma.

View from our little hotel:  Bay of Fundy at low tide, complete with rainbow.  Little local snack shack where we had a wonderful lobster roll for supper.

Views from Alma, New Brusnwick.  The top left picture and middle bottom picture were rainbows we saw on our way.

Trip to Nova Scotia

At this very moment, Becca and I are in Alma, New Brunswick.  Tomorrow we're headed to Baddeck, Nova Scotia.  I've dreamed of this trip for a life time.  At 63 I've decided to attempt to fullfill my "bucket list".  If I have energy, I'll comment on the pictures.  If not, I'll simply post pictures.  The beauty is overwhelming....and I never realized how HUGE the landscape is here.  For family who is sweltering in the heat, I hate to tell you.....but I know we'll be wearing sweatshirts tomorrow:)
Now....I try to post.  It's been over a year......

A Beautiful Summer Evening

Liz has been here today. What a blessing this has been. This afternoon Rebecca, Liz, and I drove to Chickamauga Battlefield around sunset. Becca and I had watched "Glory" last weekend, and the Civil War and it's stories became alive for us through this. Since Chickamauga is just down the road from our little home, we drove there after dinner tonight.
The total peace of its rolling hills, wooded landscape and verdant pastures was such a contrast to the horrific battle that had taken place there 150 years ago. Deer and wild turkeys were in abundance this afternoon. They seemed totally unperturbed by our presence. Liz even called to a young buck and his doe. They braved an approach tp our car after her call. And they seemed just as curious about us as we were about them. I love occasions when supposedly "wild" animals stop and stare at me. I felt at times tonight that they were literally looking into my very soul.
The intense heat seemed to wane a little as we waited in the shade for these beautiful creatures of God. And I could not help but think of the Psalm, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, and He leadeth me beside the still waters."

Caleb

This BB is just too tired to blog much this evening. This "Mountain Mama" is exhausted after her trek to "Almost Heaven"......
But I simply had to post a few pictures of my youngest grandson. He is a delight and a joy. A beautiful blessing from our Father. Caleb seems laid back and relaxed but is very alert when awake. The miracle of his birth still amazes me of God's care for His children.
And to think that this granny now has two grandsons!! What a gift and what a joy!
Will write more another day soon, after I recouperate from the blissful, joy-filled days of the past few weeks.....

Easter Memories

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day
And there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its pow'r
Till all the ransomed Church of God be saved to sin no more.

E'er since by faith I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.

Morning Has Broken

These were the views outside my window this morning. It's Friday, which means a very "laid-back" day at the office. The springtime and the mountains are calling me. The hills are beginning to "green" before my eyes. It's as if God is taking a watercolor brush to the greys and browns. He touches them with pink and white and soft green and highlights His handiwork with the golden light of the sun. Life is peaceful, even amidst the turmoil that has become the definition of our larger world. Here, on my little mountaintop, "all is well," and my soul is filled with His presence. He has set my feet upon a Rock and has transplanted this Texan to grow, anew, in North Georgia.

Another Macon Cherry Blossom Festival

Thank you, Dad and Bea for showing us around your beautiful city yesterday.
The drive was enjoyable and refreshing. The hues of pinks and whites everywhere were simply stunning.
Thanks for making the delicious lunch, for chauffering us around, and for sharing your hometown with us.
The day was so special, and we appreciate all you did for us!