Last week of August

Just a short post to share what a GREAT month we have had in Kansas. I love the hot and sticky weather for sure but it has been really nice to have temps in the 80's for most of the month. What has been really good is that I think this is the first August in the 12 years we've lived here that we were able to occasionally turn off the air conditioning. Well, if you don't count those times when the air conditioning unit broke due to overuse in previous years.

Psalm 23 from my heart to God's

God you are my Shepherd, my Rock, my Fortress. You Lord, fill my every need.
It is God who calms the storms of my life. Only God who leads me to peaceful waters.
My Lord, when I'm at the end of my rope, You restore my soul. Peace overcomes me.
You give me strength. You guide my steps on the path that is right, for Your sake.
God be glorified! God be honored!

Here I am, deep in this very dark valley. Yet it is here in the dark that I find You.
I am not alone. I will fear no evil. You are with me. You wait for me.
You are the God who spoke and all I see came into existence.
In Your shadow I find indescribable comfort and rest. My God is with me.

My enemies, those seen and unseen, don't have a chance because You are with me.
On my own I am easily defeated but I am not alone. Your blessing is on me.
Your favor follows me. Not because of who I am but because of who You are.
Were I to be penniless and broke, left with nothing, I'd still be rich because of You.

God, Your mercy and grace is always there. All the days of my life I will have You.
You have promised in Your word that you will NEVER leave me or forsake me.
Your word is trustworthy and true. I am content.
I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever and ever amen.

08.08.08

From darkness into Light!

She sat in deep despair
Did not know that God was there
Heart now broken, pain her friend
She thought it best her life should end

Afraid to die, afraid to live
Feels she has nothing to give
The choice is done, child now lost
But that choice had such high cost

"Sold my soul to get my way"
Didn't know the depth of shame
God so far, she tries to hide
Regret and pain she can't abide

Condemned to hell, her biggest fear
Does not know that He is near
I sit shiva with her now
Pray and hope her head will bow

To the One who cares
The One who dares
To take her sin upon His back
To guard her from Satan's attack

She hears what Jesus did for her
Forgiven and loved, the lesson learned
I hear her pray "forgive me Lord"
A child of God has just been born!

Darkness gone...she lives in Light
The road still hard but hope in sight
I wonder will we meet again
If not on earth, then in heaven

Praise the Lord for this soul now saved!
Praise the Lord for His life He gave
The truth is found in His Word
Heaven and earth...praise the Lord

AMEN

That's what I'm talking about!

Heat index 112!

Not sure how they get that number but it sure sounds hot. Yesterday was hot, humid, sticky, sweltering, in other words...PERFECT! Add to that a 7 mile walk and it just doesn't get any better than that.

No wait, it does! Gary went on the walk with me. He complained a little and I would just remind him that someday, if I should die before him, he will appreciate these days because he will remember how much I loved them.

We were on the last mile and half when I realized I was so busy walking I forgot to really look around and enjoy the day. I was in the sun and as I walked, I saw it was so hot that my wrists were even sweating. I just smiled. Earlier, we had noticed these really cute little butterflies that had been all over the place during the entire walk. Now, as I slowed my pace and began seeing what was around me I saw one of them on a flower on the side of path.

I call them "lacy flowers" because they look like lace (clever huh). A few yards more and there was a whole a patch of these lacy flowers. On each one was one of those little butterflies with their wings spread out showing the full color of their beauty on the white lace flower. It was breathtaking and I just stood there admiring it for a while.

I wondered if butterflies cared about things like heat indexes and decided they had no idea how hot it was. But I bet the flowers do and perhaps on those really hot days the flowers release more nectar than normal which makes for this wonderful lunch buffet the butterflies were enjoying. Just a thought.

Oh by the way. They are predicting it will be even hotter today, now that's what I'm talking about.