Rejoice, for He knows your name!

Have you ever been somewhere and others there knew each other, but you were not familiar with anyone?  No one knew your name?  How awkward that feeling is.  While people are talking in their own groups, milling about, laughing, meanwhile you are alone and standing out like a sore thumb.

How comforting it is to know that our Savior knows our name.  He knows everything about us; the good, the bad and the ugly!  He created us, He formed us, He chose for us our appearance, where we would be born, and who would be our parents.  He set a path for us from the beginning of time.  He truly knows us and He knows our name.

Isaiah 49:1 states that the Lord called us from the womb, and He named our name.  In context here, the Lord is referring to Israel.  But, this verse is a great reminder of how intimately he knows us, counts our heartbeats, and listens to our thoughts.

Isaiah 49:16 tells us the Lord has engraved us on the palms of His hands.  Taking some creative license here, think about it this way: How painful would it be to engrave something on the palms of our hands?  I am reminded of the 'Home Alone' movie when the robber touched the hot doorknob and it left a burned engraving on his palm.  Our sin, our neglect of our Lord, our betrayal and disobedience are the pains our Savior felt from the nails through His hands.  Christ willingly did this for us as He suffered on the cross to save us.  He knows us.  He knows our names.

Just as sheep know their shepherds voice, Christ knows us and we know Him (John 10:14-15).  

Rejoice!

For our Savior who created us, knows our name!

Isaiah 43:1-3

But now thus says the Lord,

he who created you, O Jacob,

he who formed you, O Israel:

Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name, and you are mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned,

and the flame shall not consume you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 While cleaning out some things this morning, I found the narrative above that I had written last year
for a women's event leaflet.  The verse from Isaiah 43 was one that a Bobkitten gave our group of high school friends to meditate on and keep in our hearts through our trials.  It was a timely reminder to day to read this and see how God has brought this verse to my mind last January 2011, and again in August, and today as I read it.  Thank you, Lord, for laying before us your wonders and comfort!

*Sheep picture borrowed from Pinterest via flickr.  manyfires (Danielle Hughson)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/manyfires/6324316271/

A new year begins.....

The decorations are put away.  The house seems lighter and brighter.  Could be that the sun finally came out for a few hours this afternoon.

The fog I have been in seems to be lifting a bit.  It has  just over three weeks since Mama passed away.
The days have been so busy with cooking, shopping, cleaning, Christmas gatherings, and doing things at my parents house.  Yesterday I spent the day lounging around, and it helped me refocus.

As I put away my treasured Nativity scene, I thought about the shepherds in the field, the Wise Men from afar, and Mary-the blessed Mother of Christ.  She had none of the conveniences we have as modern mothers, yet she birthed our Savior.  I wonder how she cleaned the Christ babe, kept him dry and warm, in that dirty, smelly and dusty place.   Do you think she and her mother packed a few soft cloths for swaddling clothes and maybe a sheep fleece for a blanket?

Maybe we will have a chance to ask those questions someday.  But, maybe it will not be something we will care to know once we see Christ face to face.

I am grateful that He came to this sinful earth and saved us.  How hard it must have been to leave the heavenly realm.  Thank you Jesus for such a selfless act.

The world is moving on to a new year.  May your days begin with some time in thankfulness to Him, who came to us.  Let's start the new year off with continued praise and adoration to our King.  Glory to God in the Highest, and Peace, Goodwill, toward men.

Her journey here is over...

  Dear Friends,
    I have been absent here in blog world for a while.  My focus and efforts have not been here, but with my mother who passed away last Friday.
   
    Mama slipped out of this earthly world into the heavenly realm surrounded by her family.  There was such mixed emotions as we knew she was beholding the face of her Savior, but we were losing her here in our tangible existence.  

   I have had so much comfort in knowing that she followed her Lord and is walking the streets of gold, and breathing easily and likely feasting on heavenly food.  I know I will certainly see her again when my journey here is over.

   I plan to write about her at a later time.  For those of you who have been here to support and offer comfort to our family, we are so grateful.  Keep us in your prayers as we adjust to this life without her presence.  She will be so missed!

Mama and Daddy meeting Paisley, 3/2010

 

October Past.....

While browsing through pics this morning, I found a few from last year's fall collection that Robin made.

Pae in a pumpkin

(2010)

Addison, Millie, Ansley and Paisley, Oct. 2010

Little Nesters.........

(2010)

Sisterhood of the Traveling Prayers

Last year about this time, seven high school friends (some all the way back to grammar school) gathered together from all over the U.S. for a mini reunion.  It was an extraordinary event that none of us will ever forget.  It renewed friendships, bonded a sisterhood, and started a prayer group.  Those"Girls in Grandmother Faces" are also the "Sisterhood of the Traveling Prayers".  (Thank you, JM for that most appropriate title!).

Bobkittens, 2011

This year our destination was Denver, CO.  The mile high city.  Whoa, we could tell upon arrival that the air was thin!  We descended on the Denver airport sporting our Bobkitten t-shirts that our host's husband surprised us with last year.  The girlie squeals were heard as we met in the HUGE terminal.  It was SO MUCH FUN!!

Bobkittens, 2010    'THE WAY WE ARE'

A lot has happened over the past year with family members and children.  We had much catching up to do!  Many sweet moments and memories were made.   We talked, laughed, cried, reminisced and prayed.  Our conversations were serious, silly, hilarious, genuine and certainly heartfelt.  Once again, the voices haven't changed, the hearts feel somewhat young, but the bodies look different and are not as forgiving as in younger days.

Lu, our host, presented us with matching t-shirts featuring our high school senior portraits.

That's THE WAY WE WERE.  

Friendship does not look upon wrinkles, gray hair (or dyed to cover gray) rolls and sagging skin.  We can laugh just as hard, cry just as long, and pray even more intensely with more years of experience behind us as we ever have.  

Our host turned into a five star chef for the weekend, and treated us to some recipes I just might share, with her consent!  (My recipe list on this blog never got off the ground, did it?)  We ate GOOD, at her house and at a few restaurants.

             chicken fruit salad for lunch

           

 Blueberry French Toast Casserole for breakfast- 

Can I say, "eye-watering FABULOUS?"

       Below, a hot turkey sandwich with yummy white sauce and melted cheese and almonds.......Drool, people.  I did.  This was at Adam's Cafe in Manitou Springs, Colorado, before the famous Cog Rail Ride up to Pikes Peak.  

Below is G's salad.  I could just go face down and feast feast feast....

          Bobkitten gifts.

 It was so fun to carry on the black/red damask theme from last year's gathering.  We would SO make our Home Ec teacher, Mrs. Mary Katherine Hammer, proud!  (From the food, to the decorating, and on to the beautiful table accents, it was tastefully and artfully done!)

 We visited many sites in the Denver, Colorado Springs area:  Glen Eryie Conference Center, Garden of the Gods, Rocky Mountain National Park, Red Rock Amphitheatre and Pikes Peak.  Colorado is a beautiful state.  So clean, everything human built looks new; God built, looks ancient.   

How majestic is your earth, Oh, God!

Taken from the summit of Pike's Peak

Witnessing the Rocky Mountains up close and personal, the colors, the depth, the height and the broadness, gives you a feeling of humbleness.  There's nothing cozy about the Rockies.  They command a respect and presence of the Most High God.  

This gathering was much like last years, but also very different, being in a city most of us had not visited.  It brought excitement and wonder to the Girls in Grandmother Faces.  As our weekend progressed we shared and prayed about events of the past year, and some of long years ago, and vowed that our prayers would be consistent for each other~thus, we are also the Sisterhood of Traveling Prayers.  It doesn't get much better than that.  I know I have six 'sisters' I can call or email that reach back to the past-some all the way back to grammar school-that know my story, have heard my triumphs and heartaches, and rejoice and weep with me over the pains life throws at us. 

Bobkittens, Sisters, Girls in Grandmother faces, I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!  You have uplifted me, made me smile, caused me to laugh, and brought me to tears.  May we always stay close and in touch!

Until next years reunion, remember the verse Lu gave us as a reminder and comfort of our Heavenly Father:

Isaiah 43:2-3

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you: and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.  For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of  Israel, your Savior."

Pictures from Ginny, Janet, and myself!  Thanks, girls!