Thursday, August 10, 2006

Another 5,000 pounder ...

Another 5,000 lb. granite ball floating on water.
This one lives in Gatliburg, TN. I was there on a men's retreat - skiing and the like - any of you guys remember " he dusted Mike like a beignet" ? I may have to tell that story on the blog one day - it was so funny. I happened to stumble across this picture today and thought it odd how just the other day I posted the Houston ball.
Anyway... Another hot day today, unless you were in the shade, then it was not as bad. Can you believe another cat came walking through the property next to ours, meowing like crazy. He is obviously a sibling to the other one which the kids named 'tippy'. This one is totally black and is much less trusting than tippy. Of course I fed him - I know that is what you were thinking. But I do not plan on becoming the cat man. All but Tippy will go to other owners or the pound.
It has been a blessing to have my parents in town. We enjoy each others company. I know Robin and the kids have been liking it this week - coming home to a big home cooked meal is something Robin said she could get used to. We are still on the okra kick, the plants are producing a significant number of pods almost daily. The squash is almost played out due to those stinkin' vine borers but the eggplant is doing really good since they usually suffer less damage from pests.
Pests are like the devil. Jesus said that satan came to steal, kill and destroy - that is basically what these various pests do, they either eat the leaves, the fruit once it starts growing or attack the roots/stems. No matter how well you try to protect the plants from the pest(s), some will invariably get past your attempts at protection and do some kind of damage. Knowing this, you adjust your expectations and learn to manage the pests as best you can. You also can plant resistant varieties.
As believers, we need to have our shield of faith ready, which can quench the firey darts of the enemy - and the sword of the spirit, too. That is God's form of 'pest' control. Quoting scripture, singing praise and worship songs and 'praying without ceasing'. Walking in His light daily, one day at a time. Todays manna is all we need. We are praying for an open Heaven. For God to move as He wills not only in our lives, but in others lives as well.
Thank God for his mercy. Talk to you later. George.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amen! Have been reading about manna,open windows of heaven and the shield of faith just yesterday!
I read something interesting about the shield of faith...in Bible times the shield was big enough to cover the whole body...it was constructed of a wooden frame,with 7 skins of bulls nailed to it...a picture of a perfect sacrifice nailed to a tree...Jesus is our shield!
We stand shoulder to shoulder with you,George and Robin...holding up our shield of faith...Jesus...
How we love you guys...
Cathy and Bill

Anonymous said...

ok...cathy and bill, you've just revolutionized my picture of our shield! That's incredible! It makes me want to worship! thanks!

George and Robin, your position of determination and firm faith is beautiful! Don't budge! love y'all..

Sonja said...

Psalm 28:7
The Lord is my Strength and my (impenetrable)Shield; my heart Trusts in, Relies on, and Confidently leans on Him, and I AM helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song will I praise Him!

When the Complete arrives, my incompletes will be canceled. I don't yet see things clearly. I'm squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! I'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees me, knowing Him directly just as He knows me! But for right now, until that completeness, I have three things to do to lead me toward that consummation: TRUST Steadily in God, HOPE unswervingly, LOVE extravagently. And the BEST of the three is LOVE!!!
I Corin. 13:10, 12-13 (The Message)

A greater Destiny awaits!!!!
I appreciate your "Steadfastness" and "Love" for the Lord.

Sonja

Anonymous said...

Hey George, I remember the Mike/beignet powder story! I read Clint's comment and was so brought back to 16 1/2 years ago, sitting in that surgeon's office, hearing "We get it, or we don't. There's nothing else we can do." I've shared the rest with you, already, so you know the story of how God miraculously healed me. When I read Clint's reference to "my cancer," I remembered how I used to do that, too...it was personal. And then God would slap me up side the head and remind me that I didn't own that stuff and I didn't want to lay claim to it, either! And Clint's story is such a wonderful one. Polly was in our home group at that time, so we were always praying and getting updates. I saw Daurie at HCA a few weeks ago, and had a moment to rejoice at God's faithfulness to that family. Wow.
We brought Joshua to St. Louis this past week and had occasion to watch God do his stuff! I thought I would encourage you with some of it. Nobody does it like He does! We left BR w/o having an apartment to drop him off at when we left town a few days later. (Mr. Procrastinator) By the time we got to St. Louis, 13 hours later), he had an apartment and 3 roommates. It's a wonderful set-up, with everything he needs (including a Regions Bank on the corner) within a mile or so on the main road. The tennis courts and brand new weight room are just across from his front door. One roommate even has an Alaskan Husky that has a gentle spirit like our Maggie, whom he had to leave behind. We went to church at Destiny Church on Sunday morning. Kent was out of town, but his son-in-law is the pastor and worship leader and we talked to him. During the service, he said he wanted to play some "old school" songs that he'd never done before, and don't ya' know, he played 3 Hosanna Integrity songs that God had used 20 years ago to encourage Jack and I! I was completely overcome by God's goodness. I told the kids that I had just gotten a love letter from God. How many parents can truly say that they have absolutely no doubts about the path that their 18 year old child has taken? What a privilege God has given us. Throughout the four days God continued to give us confirmation that this was the right step for Joshua. And we needed it, too, cuz it was so hard driving away and leaving him standing on his front steps! I had the thought "We must be crazy leaving him like this...he's 18 years old!! And, immediately, the thought came, "You would be crazy not to. This is the Lord's doing, and you know it." But you cry, anyway! Okay, so where is the encouragement for you? In hearing another testimony of God's goodness and His faithfulness. You are in the middle of His will for you, crazy as that seems. And you can cry, anyway! By the way, Robin had shared her "fourth man in the fire" story with me on Wednesday and I got such an immediate witness while reading the scripture. The fourth man is with you in the fire...not just sitting on the outside looking in, like the rest of the crowed. You'll never be alone, brother. We love you. Bev

Anonymous said...

Hey George, I remember the Mike/beignet powder story! I read Clint's comment and was so brought back to 16 1/2 years ago, sitting in that surgeon's office, hearing "We get it, or we don't. There's nothing else we can do." I've shared the rest with you, already, so you know the story of how God miraculously healed me. When I read Clint's reference to "my cancer," I remembered how I used to do that, too...it was personal. And then God would slap me up side the head and remind me that I didn't own that stuff and I didn't want to lay claim to it, either! And Clint's story is such a wonderful one. Polly was in our home group at that time, so we were always praying and getting updates. I saw Daurie at HCA a few weeks ago, and had a moment to rejoice at God's faithfulness to that family. Wow.
We brought Joshua to St. Louis this past week and had occasion to watch God do his stuff! I thought I would encourage you with some of it. Nobody does it like He does! We left BR w/o having an apartment to drop him off at when we left town a few days later. (Mr. Procrastinator) By the time we got to St. Louis, 13 hours later), he had an apartment and 3 roommates. It's a wonderful set-up, with everything he needs (including a Regions Bank on the corner) within a mile or so on the main road. The tennis courts and brand new weight room are just across from his front door. One roommate even has an Alaskan Husky that has a gentle spirit like our Maggie, whom he had to leave behind. We went to church at Destiny Church on Sunday morning. Kent was out of town, but his son-in-law is the pastor and worship leader and we talked to him. During the service, he said he wanted to play some "old school" songs that he'd never done before, and don't ya' know, he played 3 Hosanna Integrity songs that God had used 20 years ago to encourage Jack and I! I was completely overcome by God's goodness. I told the kids that I had just gotten a love letter from God. How many parents can truly say that they have absolutely no doubts about the path that their 18 year old child has taken? What a privilege God has given us. Throughout the four days God continued to give us confirmation that this was the right step for Joshua. And we needed it, too, cuz it was so hard driving away and leaving him standing on his front steps! I had the thought "We must be crazy leaving him like this...he's 18 years old!! And, immediately, the thought came, "You would be crazy not to. This is the Lord's doing, and you know it." But you cry, anyway! Okay, so where is the encouragement for you? In hearing another testimony of God's goodness and His faithfulness. You are in the middle of His will for you, crazy as that seems. And you can cry, anyway! By the way, Robin had shared her "fourth man in the fire" story with me on Wednesday and I got such an immediate witness while reading the scripture. The fourth man is with you in the fire...not just sitting on the outside looking in, like the rest of the crowed. You'll never be alone, brother. We love you. Bev