Delectable Thought

I took the notion to go on a road trip with my sons of thunder, solo. No other adult...just me. Yes, I am slightly crazy, but hey good times were had with our Virginia cousins---my nieces and nephews. Here's a few pics as proof. My sweet niece Abigail. She's eleven and quite nearly perfect.  Here's a picture of both my nieces. That's little Caitlyn...she's got more sass that anyone I know, but is so much fun and a barrel of laughs! The party follows her for sure! Throw in Austin. He's fourteen and little JO trying to be all grown up, too and the party's almost complete. My nephew Zach and my sweet baby James were both napping during this picture, I believe. Zach's twelve and JM's two, but when naptime calls, you answer no matter your age. Amen? Fun was had and then the fun came to an end and the sons of thunder and I packed up Zack's truck and began the eight hour journey home. This picture was taken at about hour eleven of our journey---a journe...

In Philippians, Paul speaks of contentment and even states that whatever his circumstances, he has learned to be content. Chapter 4, verses 11-13 are quoted often when referring to difficult circumstances. I think if you look back closer to the beginning of chapter four, you'll find a nugget of wisdom and perhaps the answer to truly being content whatever your circumstances. In verse 8 he says, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Now, some might say that there are circumstances in which there is nothing worthy of praise, there is nothing honorable, there is nothing good to think on. But I think if we take this verse and another verse in Colossians then we get an answer to our contentment issue. In the third chapter, second verse, Paul writes, "Set your minds on things that are ab...

Contentment is something most people strive for. Usually we think about contentment when we aren't content. It usually goes something like, "If I only had this... or if I were in this place...or if I wasn't here..." Sound familiar? We may think of contentment as a lofty aspiration and something that only really wealthy or incredibly aged people have. I've met quite a few people who are in their eighth decade and are quite discontent with their lives. They long for the times when their bodies were healthier or their minds were sharper or their families lived nearer. Perhaps it's the longing for things not obtained that produces this lack of contentment. But what if the exact spot we're in in our lives this day is exactly what God intends for us? What if we chose to live in this day instead of looking at this day and deciding that it's not right because we don't have everything we want or desire or wish for. It'll require a chang...

We set a date---a family date. There are no highheels and fancy clothes on family dates. There's just ordinary clothes and everyday shoes. We may visit the park or just get an ice cream or two! We don't set high expectations We only desire that we are all together. For now there are only three But all around us are the whispers of the unseen faces that all belong in this family. Three are those that have gone ahead Already living in the life that's to come. One (the loudest whisper) has yet to join this family. Yet, he's there and we wonder What he looks like What he smells like What his laugh sounds like. If he'll like us and maybe one day love  us. For now, we have our family dates with only the hope of him. But soon, we have the reality of him. Until then... we wait.