Dear Kindred,
I found this encouragement and couldn't wait to share it with you. I think this is something we all hope is true, but wonder about sheepishly. The book is called The Quotidian Mysteries: Laundry, Liturgy and "Women's Work". The author Kathleen Norris writes about finding grace in the repetitive grind of chores and relationships that must be done over and over and over again--like laundry and dishes and men. (Laughing!) Quotidian means relating to the everyday. Here's what she said:
No human being can pay full attention to the words that he or she is praying every single day, and apparently this is how God would have it. Sometimes, particularly at crisis points in our lives, we feel these words with our whole heart. They seem to burn in our chests, and bring tears to our eyes. We find that we mean them in ways that remain unfathomable ... every morning that I pray this poem, I receive a challenge, whether I consciously acknowledge it or not, and an image of holiness to strive for.
"Whether I consciously acknowledge it or not." That's the grace. Some of us did a study a few years ago on prayer, and a common lament was the way our mind wanders. One sweet girl memorably said "I always forget to Amen!"
Her words visit me so often when I don't get up quite early enough and my day stirs and comes roaring to life. I want to finish, but I can hear things going on that need my attention. Right now there is a child sitting next to me on a cooler, flipping the handle back and forth. Back and forth. What was I saying?
Oh right. Prayer! Quickly, that it's important to do it even when you're not thinking about it. We think of prayer as a mental discipline, but perhaps it would be a blessing to treat it like a physical one for a while. This one writer at least says God uses our prayers to transform us even when we're not looking. Great wonder and praise from this distracted girl right here. (We just had a broken cereal bowl. Don't think the noise of life isn't loud or that God requires you to keep on praying while someone gets injured! He knows. He knows.)
Your Study Starter for this is Romans 8, starting in verse 26. Look for the ones who pray for you when you can't or won't pray for yourself.
Let's continue to pray for each other.
Lord, be with my sisters through their everyday tasks. Reveal yourself to us as we work and hear us when we pray. When our minds are weak, please strengthen our bodies, and when our bodies are weak, please focus our minds. Use every part of us, even the prayers that bore us, to create the faithfulness that pleases you. We know that you are never bored ...
And now I really must sign off. Good day, Kindred!
Monday, June 27, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
New Pages
Dear Kindred,
God is writing a story today and you're in it.
Did you study Joshua and the story of Rahab this Sunday? Our class did. I love the story of Rahab. It makes me proud to be a woman. God uses us now, and He used us then.
What I realized anew is how much God wants us to participate in His story. He gives us jobs to do that change the outcome of the next part of His story. The ultimate ending remains, of course. But there is much to be written in the meantime. I don't understand it, but I know it's true.
Besides heat and humidity, there is something in the air. Our story at FBCP keeps on going, doesn't it?
Well, my coffee's almost done perking, but I just wanted to check in and say "Hi"; assure you that we will still have a blog this summer despite recent appearances; and make sure you are reminded today that God needs you to do your job, whatever that is today.
Take care, Kindred. Be well.
God is writing a story today and you're in it.
Did you study Joshua and the story of Rahab this Sunday? Our class did. I love the story of Rahab. It makes me proud to be a woman. God uses us now, and He used us then.
What I realized anew is how much God wants us to participate in His story. He gives us jobs to do that change the outcome of the next part of His story. The ultimate ending remains, of course. But there is much to be written in the meantime. I don't understand it, but I know it's true.
Besides heat and humidity, there is something in the air. Our story at FBCP keeps on going, doesn't it?
Well, my coffee's almost done perking, but I just wanted to check in and say "Hi"; assure you that we will still have a blog this summer despite recent appearances; and make sure you are reminded today that God needs you to do your job, whatever that is today.
Take care, Kindred. Be well.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Quiet Time: Does This Count?
Hello Kindred!
We are getting on toward Easter and Spring Break. Are you as busy as I am?
Here was my quiet time yesterday: While taking a shower I sang aloud the chorus from Revive Me Again. Here's how I remember it--if this is wrong don't tell me. We first-service people are a little hazy on our hymns.
"Hallelujah! Thine the glory!
Hallelujah! Amen!
Hallelujah! Thine the glory!
Revive us again!"
Does this count as a quiet time? I don't know. On the one hand, I sang it pretty loud. On the other hand, my heart was true and longing for revival. I needed Him and the shower, and, in participating fully in His calling, had not enough time for either, much less both.
I got ready to feel guilty about it and then I just stopped. It was funny. My spirit lifted. I couldn't think of why it wouldn't be pleasing to Him. I did feel revived; I didn't remember to thank Him till this morning, but better late than never.
Am I hopelessly misguided and pitifully off the mark or am I bold in the nature of the spiritually mature? Would David do this? What about Beth Moore?
Don't have time today to analyze it! Pray for me, Kindred! I do for you!
We are getting on toward Easter and Spring Break. Are you as busy as I am?
Here was my quiet time yesterday: While taking a shower I sang aloud the chorus from Revive Me Again. Here's how I remember it--if this is wrong don't tell me. We first-service people are a little hazy on our hymns.
"Hallelujah! Thine the glory!
Hallelujah! Amen!
Hallelujah! Thine the glory!
Revive us again!"
Does this count as a quiet time? I don't know. On the one hand, I sang it pretty loud. On the other hand, my heart was true and longing for revival. I needed Him and the shower, and, in participating fully in His calling, had not enough time for either, much less both.
I got ready to feel guilty about it and then I just stopped. It was funny. My spirit lifted. I couldn't think of why it wouldn't be pleasing to Him. I did feel revived; I didn't remember to thank Him till this morning, but better late than never.
Am I hopelessly misguided and pitifully off the mark or am I bold in the nature of the spiritually mature? Would David do this? What about Beth Moore?
Don't have time today to analyze it! Pray for me, Kindred! I do for you!
Friday, April 8, 2011
Easter Table Attitude Adjustment
Dear Kindred,
I don't know if you have had the chance to check out our new Facebook page, but head on out there when you get a second. We have some photos of our recent retreat and some Easter tablescape ideas from the 2010 Tour that I think you will be inspired by. Add Easter eggs to any one of them and you have got yourself a backdrop for a lovely celebration. Wouldn't Jane Colgan's bear table be equally delightful with bunnies instead of bears?
Speaking of fancy tables, maybe you've heard that they are doing a sequel to "Upstairs Downstairs" on PBS soon. I missed the first one; I remember my grandaddy taping them on the VHS. One of the creators of the original was talking about it on NPR this morning. She said they were watching some show with a fancy dinner party and wondering who had cooked all that food and polished all the silver and arranged all the candlesticks. She said it gave them the idea to do a story about the downstairs people--the ones who serve.
Two things hit me as I drove along:
1. At my house, the upstairs people and the downstairs people are all same one person, me.
2. Being one who serves is a Christlike thing.
It's an incredible thing we do as women, both making the celebration and participating in it. We cook the food but we also serve it and eat it. If there are tables, we set them. But we also head them up, continue the conversation, and clean up after. Historically each of these roles were filled with a separate team of people: Servant, Host, Guest. These days I sometimes feel my teams are called Me, Myself, and I.
Marie Hicks and I were chatting before early service last week. She was getting ready to go home and throw her mother a birthday party. She was about to run down her list for me, then she became momentarily silent, whelmed a bit by the magnitude of what the next two hours held for her. I understood, and I bet you do too. We never blame each other for feeling put upon. We know how it is. We share this burden as we should. We're not complaining exactly. We just want to know that someone else understands.
Read John 13 about the Lord's Supper in preparation for your Easter celebration and know that Your Lord understands. See that at this last feast he too was the host and the guest of honor. Now watch Him make himself the servant, with the towel and the bowl of water. Be shocked along with the disciples that the only One who should be served lowered himself in service. Then rise and do likewise.
I'm claiming John 13:3-4 as my attitude adjustment for this season. Because of what he will do on that cross, it all boils down to this. Once I remember that I know these same things that Jesus knows, I can gird myself accordingly for whatever comes. I can stand up, lay aside my struggles, and become the one who serves.
Happy Easter, sweet Kindred. Love each other well!
I don't know if you have had the chance to check out our new Facebook page, but head on out there when you get a second. We have some photos of our recent retreat and some Easter tablescape ideas from the 2010 Tour that I think you will be inspired by. Add Easter eggs to any one of them and you have got yourself a backdrop for a lovely celebration. Wouldn't Jane Colgan's bear table be equally delightful with bunnies instead of bears?
Speaking of fancy tables, maybe you've heard that they are doing a sequel to "Upstairs Downstairs" on PBS soon. I missed the first one; I remember my grandaddy taping them on the VHS. One of the creators of the original was talking about it on NPR this morning. She said they were watching some show with a fancy dinner party and wondering who had cooked all that food and polished all the silver and arranged all the candlesticks. She said it gave them the idea to do a story about the downstairs people--the ones who serve.
Two things hit me as I drove along:
1. At my house, the upstairs people and the downstairs people are all same one person, me.
2. Being one who serves is a Christlike thing.
It's an incredible thing we do as women, both making the celebration and participating in it. We cook the food but we also serve it and eat it. If there are tables, we set them. But we also head them up, continue the conversation, and clean up after. Historically each of these roles were filled with a separate team of people: Servant, Host, Guest. These days I sometimes feel my teams are called Me, Myself, and I.
Marie Hicks and I were chatting before early service last week. She was getting ready to go home and throw her mother a birthday party. She was about to run down her list for me, then she became momentarily silent, whelmed a bit by the magnitude of what the next two hours held for her. I understood, and I bet you do too. We never blame each other for feeling put upon. We know how it is. We share this burden as we should. We're not complaining exactly. We just want to know that someone else understands.
Read John 13 about the Lord's Supper in preparation for your Easter celebration and know that Your Lord understands. See that at this last feast he too was the host and the guest of honor. Now watch Him make himself the servant, with the towel and the bowl of water. Be shocked along with the disciples that the only One who should be served lowered himself in service. Then rise and do likewise.
I'm claiming John 13:3-4 as my attitude adjustment for this season. Because of what he will do on that cross, it all boils down to this. Once I remember that I know these same things that Jesus knows, I can gird myself accordingly for whatever comes. I can stand up, lay aside my struggles, and become the one who serves.
Happy Easter, sweet Kindred. Love each other well!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Rainy Day Reading
Hello Dear Churchwomen,
(Your name is coming soon.)
Today it is pouring rain. It’s a good day to stay inside and read. I know that many of you consider these inside days good opportunities to clean out the pantry, but give me a blanket and a book every time. It is a well-proven fact in this house that the empty cereal boxes will wait as long as you have. Even longer than the dishes in the sink.
In case you can’t tolerate long periods of reading--or books of any kind--here’s a nice thought for spring from Annie Dillard. I printed it really big and added some pictures, which is what my husband, the ultimate nonreader, has told me to do.
Look at an overwhelming ball of buzzing bees, or a turtle under ice breathing through its pumping cloaca. Look at the fruit of the Osage orange tree, big as a grapefruit, green, convoluted as any human brain ... Look, in short, at practically anything--the coot’s feet, the mantis’s face, a banana, the human ear--and see that not only did the creator create everything, but that he is apt to create anything. He’ll stop at nothing.
If you're in need of some creative power in your life I hope this encourages you. It did me. He hasn't forgotten. He is not sleeping. He will stop at nothing to create what we've been hanging on for. Whether we know what it is or not.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Interview with Jamie Thorn
This week I had a quick phone conversation with Jamie Thorn who is busy planning the Women's Retreat next weekend. I caught her while she was picking up her kids, and she was kind enough to answer my questions.
Ginger Myers: Do you have a title?
Jamie Thorn: “The Chair” is what they said. I’m heading it up, but I’m not doing near the work that everybody else is.
GM: So who do you have on your team?
JT: Amy Minchin, Publications
Kirsten Wert, Registration
Miley Gowing
Jeanna Lankford
(Long pause and the sound of a baby making noise. You know how they do when their mommy is on the phone.)
Pat Ford is programming, making sure that everything that the speaker is not doing gets done. From music to drama
Christy Roth is doing decorations
Karen Brantley is doing the food.
Karen Shell is prayer.
Linda Hinson is the overseer. Is that ten?
GM: Yes it’s ten, including you.
JT: Yes, that’s it.
GM: Tell me how it has been working with the Hampton Inn on Pensacola Beach.
JT: The really nice thing about doing it local is we have the flexibility for everyone to come to this, from the ladies who don't drive anymore to the new mom nursing a baby. It is a lot easier to get there. Anybody can come.
GM: So, I am hearing a lot about this year’s speaker. Have you read her book?
JT: I have not read it, but many of the team members have, and everyone that I have spoken to has said that they could not put it down.
GM: How did you decide on this year’s theme?
JT: Just a minute ...
(Pause while Jamie tries sweetly to quiet the baby. He’s not buying it, and continues to make noise.)
JT: We really felt like most of the previous retreats were based on how to be a good friend, and how to be a good mom, and more enrichment for ourselves. This one is we feel more like stepping beyond ourselves and doing the work that the Lord has for us to do.
GM: Jamie, thanks for your time. Sounds like you need to go.
JT: Have you got what you need?
GM: Yep!
JT: Okay, thank you!
Friends, think for a minute that ten of your sister churchwomen, despite the regular course of their usual responsibilities, have also made the sacrifice of time and effort to plan a place for you to get before the Lord. Do you feel blessed? I do. Were you planning your own time before the Lord? I wasn’t. They have enhanced our lives this day, and I am so grateful.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Quick Cold-Weather Tip
Hello, Friends!
I just got back from the grocery store. Walking into the building in the freezing cold with the wind whipping my hair into my mouth, yuck, reminded me of a cold-weather tip I can share with you.
Did you know I used to live in Michigan? I sure did. We spent two long years in the grayest, coldest place on earth where mammals still survive. Perhaps the ice caps are melting now, but in 2002 and 2003 Michigan was still frozen solid. They have no preschool in Michigan. Did you know that? It's just one of the reasons that no one there is friendly. My attitude gave new definition to the words "bitter cold." However, I learned something during that time that gave me great encouragement in my day-to-day that I thought we might all be able to use in the current cold snap.
Here's the tip: You can leave your groceries in your car while you run other errands!!! Isn't that exciting? Haven't we all had a list of things to accomplish before winding up at the grocery store? Because you can't keep your milk and frozen pizza in the hot car while you return things at Dillard's and mail a package to your nephew for his birthday. But then you get stuck in the drive-through line at the bank or the roll of paper in the cash register runs out, and there you are. Standing still. The clock ticks, and the paper won't roll like it's supposed to, and your mental grocery list gets shorter and shorter. Poof! It's gone. No time for grocery shopping. Time to whip a meal out of thin air using your last half-apple and that stupid box of teeny Saltines that you can't remember why you bought.
Well, while the weather is this cold, fear not! Get your groceries and then go run all those errands! Your milk stays cold. Your chicken nuggets stay hard (not that it matters with all their preservatives anyway). Park your car in the garage with the groceries in it, and go put that baby down for his nap. Check your email. You've got lots of time.
So there you go! I hope I have saved you some time and groceries today. Or perhaps you are encouraged just knowing that you were never so pathetic as to be excited about something like this. Either way I hope your weekend goes smoothly, that you stay warm, and that your meals are satisfying no matter where they come from. Give thanks for them. And I do for you.
See you Sunday!
Ginger
I just got back from the grocery store. Walking into the building in the freezing cold with the wind whipping my hair into my mouth, yuck, reminded me of a cold-weather tip I can share with you.
Did you know I used to live in Michigan? I sure did. We spent two long years in the grayest, coldest place on earth where mammals still survive. Perhaps the ice caps are melting now, but in 2002 and 2003 Michigan was still frozen solid. They have no preschool in Michigan. Did you know that? It's just one of the reasons that no one there is friendly. My attitude gave new definition to the words "bitter cold." However, I learned something during that time that gave me great encouragement in my day-to-day that I thought we might all be able to use in the current cold snap.
Here's the tip: You can leave your groceries in your car while you run other errands!!! Isn't that exciting? Haven't we all had a list of things to accomplish before winding up at the grocery store? Because you can't keep your milk and frozen pizza in the hot car while you return things at Dillard's and mail a package to your nephew for his birthday. But then you get stuck in the drive-through line at the bank or the roll of paper in the cash register runs out, and there you are. Standing still. The clock ticks, and the paper won't roll like it's supposed to, and your mental grocery list gets shorter and shorter. Poof! It's gone. No time for grocery shopping. Time to whip a meal out of thin air using your last half-apple and that stupid box of teeny Saltines that you can't remember why you bought.
Well, while the weather is this cold, fear not! Get your groceries and then go run all those errands! Your milk stays cold. Your chicken nuggets stay hard (not that it matters with all their preservatives anyway). Park your car in the garage with the groceries in it, and go put that baby down for his nap. Check your email. You've got lots of time.
So there you go! I hope I have saved you some time and groceries today. Or perhaps you are encouraged just knowing that you were never so pathetic as to be excited about something like this. Either way I hope your weekend goes smoothly, that you stay warm, and that your meals are satisfying no matter where they come from. Give thanks for them. And I do for you.
See you Sunday!
Ginger
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