Branch

 Happy Sabbath and good afternoon.

Today was a much different Sabbath for me and there is much for me to ponder and pray about from this week.  I decided to disconnect and try to rest this Sabbath.  I started feeling off thursday evening.  I had a long day work wise and am thankful that I had an opportunity to come home in the morning and squeeze in a 2 hour nap before continuing on into more work.  I entered various homes and it was so great to see some clients I have not seen in over 2.5 years and I decided to stop at the grocery store before heading home to finish my work for the day.  I felt off and sneezed and was not sure of what was happening.  Friday morning my throat started feeling weird and by later morning early afternoon I had a burning that would not go away.  I stopped in the grocery store yesterday to supply my parents' house and my house with food items we both would need when they return this weekend (they are expected sunday evening) so I followed through with that but when I got home I wanted to shut down.  I cleaned up what I could, fed peacock, bathed, and laid down for the remainder of the day.  My throat was on fire.  

My throat was on fire so much that I was afraid my airway might swell and I would have issues breathing.  That never happened but I took some ibuprofen and drank fluids and tried to remain calm as I dealt with it all.  I sent a message to two church members that I might have to sit out service for Sabbath because I was not feeling well. I got through the night and the burning subsided earlier this morning but I didn't want to reactivate a problem so I decided to take a break from church service to continue this period of rest and healing.  I turned my phone off because people would be calling demanding an explanation.  I am the pianist and am rarely missing. I can count on one hand how many times I have gone missing in all these years for covering service and although I was feeling much better and suggested I would try, I didn't do service today.  

I hope I don't have COVID or monkey pox.  About a week ago I had a rash on my upper back and believed it was because of the soap I had been using.  I still continue to use that same soap and now am not certain if it was a reaction to the soap or me just having too much sucralose in my system because I know I overdo that with my beverages and other recipes.  All these things these variants are going around and I don't want to give my family anything.  I have every intention to go to work tonight and not take off work from my part time.  The only way I will take off is if I'm in an accident or I'm having issues with my airway and have to be hospitalized. Pain, fever, no other condition is going in my opinion to stop me from showing up.  I have continued to wear my mask and will social distance. I'm just confused as to where this strep throat situation came from.

There were other things that happened this week.  I was on my way to assist my pastor with church business when I saw a baby squirrel on the road way.  As always, when I am approaching any creature, I slow down to give them room to move to safety.  I'm afraid that the squirrel being as young as it was made the wrong move and when I passed at a slower rate, I looked in my rear view mirror to see a still furry figure on the roadway.  I didn't tell pastor when I arrived at the church just yards away and kept the tragedy to myself.  I helped move the items we picked up and headed back home to rest for 2-3 hours before working wednesday night at my part time.  

I have alot to pray about and issues to resolve within myself.  I went online searching for praize vision because 9-10 years ago, when I was in between churches I used to go on there and preferred to watch a church in NY.  Pastor Jules sermons were the ones that drew me the most, not certain why.  I would get my word for the day and spend the rest of the time trying to stay in a worshipful mode until Sabbath was over while living with my parents and other family who are non-adventist.  I felt community and comfort using that platform after having my world turned upside down months before all with a new baby in tow.  

I searched this morning and found that praise vizion was no more.  Only some of the videos were put on youtube.  There used to be this vast library of sermons you could select from for many churches throughout the US and even the Islands.  I guess COVID changed that for everyone so people branched off on their own youtube, facebook live feeds and chose zoom or gotomeetings because of cost and convenience.  I then moved to Dare to dream to watch what was on and turned out that at 12pm which is divine hour for my church, the speaker was none other than Pastor Jules.  He talked about branches.  

I will admit, my branch has not been as fruitful as it should be. As he talked about it, I looked out my window to my grapevine and looked upon the withering branches of it.  We have been having extreme temperatures and drought like conditions that are burning my roses, preventing good production from the grapevine, and burning out my grass.  I didn't cut my grass for 2 weeks now and have been watering it as often as I can trying to get it to green up.  The branches of my grapevine are thin and not producing many grapes.  There are grapes on it but I think this year, the birds will get the best of it.  But back to me being a branch, what good have I been able to produce?  I have a son who tries to connect on zoom for Sabbath school in another state but at the same time, is disobedient and chooses to do other things on the Sabbath and other days of the week that are not right and he has full awareness of it.  I have not been able to sway my parents in their old age to follow Christ.  I have not been able to sway any of my family.  There are people at work where it can be clear as day that they are Christians but if people were to look at me, what would they say?  

I have to do better.  I have a choice to do better.  I have to take action to do better and God has given me the ability to take action.  I have to take responsibility for my actions and in action.   I don't want to be a branch cut off and cast into the fire.  So I'm putting myself on blast for not being fruitful and not doing what I'm supposed to be doing.  I thank God for today, His holy Sabbath day.  I thank Him for the pain going away from my throat and taking away my worry this morning.  I thank Him for sending my sister out to check on me.  My family expected to see me on zoom this morning and when they didn't they started calling and texting but my phone was off.  It was only when I was in the kitchen that my alexa echo announced they were calling that I went to turn my phone on and respond to them.  My son had audio issues and wanted to connect and I was not there to help him.  I don't know if they get on and are able to hear anything else that is said but hopefully some seed takes root in them.  I am thankful for my family.  I am thankful for Jesus.  I want to be a fruitful branch and am making changes today.  

Happy Sabbath

Roses

 Happy Sabbath,

I am keeping this one short. I am weak due to fasting and want to go lay down for a bit.  I had a great week and was productive at work. The Lord kept me safe on the road and permitted me to use the vehicle with the AC in this extreme heat that we have been experiencing.  I will not complain as I prefer this type of weather any day over long snowy nights and short cold dreary days.  I went out this morning to fill up the bird bath so the birds and other creatures could drink and refresh themselves.  I have not seen peacock yet but will keep an eye out while I am still awake.  He came close to sunset yesterday and I made sure he had plenty of almonds, peanuts and other goodies to eat. It is always a pleasure to see him stop by and he makes his way over quickly when he sees me at the door.  

I planted eight rose bushes along my fence line.  I have a ninth rose bush I've had for some months and that one is in the front of my home with beautiful gladiolas, and hostas in company.  I never thought I would be into flowers as I am now.  I occasionally buy bouquets of flowers to adorn my entry way in my living room and my front porch is filled with tropical foliage, lillies, and other plants.  I'm into roses.  My parent's home is like the secret garden. It is like Longwood gardens if people are familiar with Kennett Square and have had an opportunity to visit such a beautiful place.  The hydrangea bushes are literally taller than my own house, it's insane how things grow over at my parents' home and the rose bushes, my goodness.  I look online for ideas about gardens and even what is posted does not hold a candle to what my parents' have going on on their property across town from me.  Yucca bushes stand tall with gorgeous flowery blooms that you just never see.  Every direction you see something beautiful from magnolias, lillies, azaleas, to coneflowers, peonies, and rare blooms, it is a gorgeous site.  Now I'm trying to create a secret garden property of my own and that includes thujas and roses.  It will be very hot tomorrow but I hope to get out to figure out final placement of the thujas I picked up that are currently on my back patio.  I need to do measurements for courtyard I will design so that it will be a pleasant place to sit in, easy to reach and gather veggies, fruits, and flowers I may grow and provide the privacy I have been longing for.  If I can add a live water feature there, I may attempt that as well; I just need a good shovel for digging and a soggy day to soften the ground.  I could do a koi pond..I could install a flowing fountain, we'll have to see.  I am looking forward to doing more work on this property and making my home a pleasant place to live for my son and place to visit for the people I feel safe with.  I thank the Lord for roses, for the beautiful flowers, for the natural beauty He creates and surrounds us with.  There is so much beauty in this world and I am thankful for eyes to see it, to smell and hear it.  I am thankful for this opportunity.  It started with container gardening on a balcony and I fell in love with the jungle that it was becoming there and even in my kitchen.  If you can, take a quiet walk in nature today and just enjoy the beauty that God has put for us all around.  He put Adam and Eve in the garden to tend to it.  I hope that you too are inspired to start your own gardens, rely on the Lord to send the sun and rain and see how He makes all things beautiful.  Enjoy it and Happy Sabbath to you :)

In the Garden, In the Park

Happy Sabbath and good morning,

It is a beautiful morning and there is some rain on the horizon but I welcome it for my roses and other plants that need it. I am going to worship with my church family in the park today and am waiting for someone to come pick up a heavy item that they said they needed for the event. Personally, if they can get batteries for the mics, we would be able to just go ahead. I am trying not to feel down due to the lack of communication. These are my favorite people and though many are from the islands they all still seem to operate on CP time and that is not how I roll. It is 9:14am and I wanted someone to pick up and test the generators at 9am. We need to be there and seated by 9:30am but I have a feeling this lack of communication is very pervasive and will affect many other aspects of the service in a way we don't want. I had a lovely talk with another pianist and singer who I asked to play and sing for the service and she agreed. I intend to bring all equipment for her no matter what happens with the rest of the service.  We went over songs no one ever sings and played them together over the phone on our pianos. I look forward to hearing those songs she picked out and also to spend time surrounded by the Lord's creation and worship in a different place. I may go for a walk down by the creek as well with the children,  we shall see. God is good and I pray HE has his way today and guides us through this confusion we are in to higher pleasant ground.

Happy Sabbath :)

4:25pm update. I was right but God is still good. I ended up being the media lady and with God's help, connected the congregation online with us on site, worked out audio, did photography,  and made sure the pianist and speakers had what they needed. I was frustrated with my people but I was not surprised.  If anyone is going to prepare I'm definitely going to make sure I'm ready. I don't know about them. They, we all need prayer.

Please keep my church in prayer and for me to not lose heart.

Beautiful Rain

 Happy Sabbath

I am looking out my window and it is not raining now but it is expected to rain and there to be thunderstorms later on.  It rained last night and I am thankful for that.  My roses are getting enough water and continually blooming this summer because of it.  I watched the neighborhood peacock Pierre come up and drink some of the water in the blue plate I set out for him (it's really a frisbee but I use it as his feeding disc).  I didn't want to pour the water out as I saw him drinking so I pulled a doubled over clear plastic pot with drainage holes I drilled in prior and put his bird seed and nuts into that. He has one long feather remaining of his once gorgeous train hanging on for dear life.  I found two peacock feathers in the yard and forgot to bring them in yesterday when I was doing lawncare, so I will get them when I hopefully go out tomorrow, clean them and put them with the rest I collected for decoration.  They are such pretty birds and to me the most beautiful in the world.  I am thankful that the Lord has them not only wild in North America because they are native to India, but frequenting my back yard and gracing me with their beauty.  

I was sitting looking out my bedroom window into the backyard and surprised, thinking how far my property has come.  At one point, nothing was there. It was just a field, hill and a pine tree off to the side covered in poison ivy.  I am still working on ridding my yard of the poison ivy but now I have a volunteer maple, peach tree, vineyard, gazebo, raised garden, huge vegetable garden at the bottom of the hill, greenhouse, bird bath/feeding station, swing to relax in, and stage for plants next to grills and other yard furniture.  I am trying to create a secret garden...much like that from the 1987 film and I am in rose and boxwood mode so there is so much to be done.  God sends these beautiful creatures into my yard and I enjoy looking out my window watching the blue jays, cardinals, doves, and other birds come to my patio and enjoy the snack that Pierre left behind after he pecks over my raise vegetable garden.  That doesn't upset me any more.  

This week was a good week and today was a good day.  Work went well and I was able to see all my clients as planned.  I had good food, was able to get some rest, and declutter more around my house.  Sunday, I finally decluttered my bookcase in my bedroom.  I planted more hostas, and split up my daisies which are trying to hang on (it is just so hot outside).  The trees I typically buy to fill my pots that flank my front door entrance are thriving with the extra water I am giving them.  Everything is doing well...even the spiders that like to come out and invade my home this time of year. 

Spider or no spider, God is good and worthy to be praised.  Continue to thank Him for every day you are given because each day we have is truly a gift.  It's cloudy but beautiful outside and I am indeed thankful for this beautiful Sabbath day.

Happy Sabbath to you :)

Unspoken songs

 I hear the sound of prisoners praying, and their walls come tumbling down.  I hear the sound of foot steps their marching. As they come into the world. Thinking of You, satisifies me. I can fly, I'm alive in You. Work while it's day yeah, its what I hear Him say. End time evil is on the way, yeah.  Seeking Jesus, is just a measure.  A stone drops and no sound returns. My eyes on Jesus, no thought of turning.  He's got me wasted, I'm drunk in love with you. Seeking Jesus, is just a measure yeah. A stone drops and no sound returns. My eyes on Jesus, no thought of turnning.  He's got me wasted I'm drunk in love with You, in love aahh ovee love.  

I'm sure the lyrics are wrong.  This was a song sung by the popular christian band Unspoken many years ago...back in 2005/2006 or so.  I bought a replacement album and forgot what happened to it.  The first one I had I believe was lost in one of the first car wrecks I had.  I scoured the internet and found another copy on ebay but I have no clue where it is now.  I'm going to spend time cleaning my house this month so hopefully I come across it.  I love that song and also the one they sang Praises to the King.  Praises to the King, the One I love, oh praises to the King, yeah, the one I love.  I don't know why they won't list those songs on their website or youtube because most of the original singers are present and they were amazing worship songs.  I received a cd from a bro who invited me to come out to a free concert they were throwing at one of the universities I worked at during the time and later took classes and graduated with my masters.  

Happy Sabbath.  I am sitting home alone and these songs are coming to mind as I just left a good zoom church service.  For sabbath school someone called me and asked if i could do special music last minute and I agreed.  I looked a few songs and one was from when I was with the Mennonites ...What will you do with Jesus".  That song along with the songs from Unspoken were my absolute beginning to my Christian journey.  The person then called my name and I turned the hymnal at random and ended up instead singing Just When I need Him Most. #512.  I didn't have a moment to practice it or see if it would work for my voice.  I just turned the page and started to sing and I thank the Lord because that was the perfect song for the moment.  Just when I needed Him, he turned me to the right song to sing in that moment.  It was also the right song for my voice as I prefer to sing at a lower octave and like alto more than soprano range songs.  There were other favorites played today and I am thankful that my internet also worked well without a hiccup.  My son is out of state and attended service for a little bit.  It was good to see him and he was behaving himself pretty well.  I hope that his internet will work better for next week but I am glad that he was able to get on and I could see his adorable yet annoying face.  Love that boy.  

I am thankful for the visit from the peacock.  My son has been gone but peacock (Pierre) comes by nearly every day.  I have not seen his buddies but that's okay, I'd rather it just be him anyway.  I fed him this morning and looked out over my lawn that I am also thankful I was given an opportunity to mow yesterday.  They warned about thunderstorms but I saw not one drop fall.  I purchased a bird bath and set up the heavy mass in the back yard.  I also purchased peacock plants and other items to beautify the property as I am considering making my son's garden space into a secret garden.  

I am thankful for my roses coming back and blooming.  They just needed more water...really water every day and I have been trying to do that and they are responding beautifully.  I have buttercup yellow roses and am considering getting a baby pink.  I like light playful colors. I don't want red, at least not right now.  I hope to do some landscaping tomorrow morning and get more hostas and lillies in the ground.  My gardenias are coming up and my daisies are in full bloom. I will see if i can separate the bulbs and spread the daisies out more instead of leaving them in the cluster they have been in.  

I am thankful for a good week at work. I received a large and unexpected bonus...the bonus is almost the amount of part of my paycheck I get regularly in one account.  I am also getting a raise which I look forward to seeing.  I am thankful for these financial blessings and that my family is doing ok.  God is good and I I hope I can keep the right attitude and do more for Him in the coming weeks.  There is much being planned for by the church and I like doing the behind the scenes, on the ground prepping stuff.  I am going to have my final meal for today but wanted to get on here and share that God has been good to me. Every day He has been good to me.  Thank Him for His goodness in your life and if you are unsure, call on Him and just keep looking up.  He is here for you.