My Red River Trip Turns Out to be a Reboot

It’s a blessing when blog content shows up when I least expect it. I’ve cherished this time with family as we fish, eat together, travel the countryside, and carry on conversations about our lives (after so many years apart). But, this day, I wanted to go solo. I wanted to take in the sights, sounds, smells, visit the little shops, have lunch on my own -- eating what I wanted. It turned out to be chocolate ice cream in a waffle cone. Yum!

On their way to their fishing spot, I asked Larry and Staci to drop me off where the town area started. I would walk the distance to the end – going back and forth across the street, and if I tired out, then I would call on the free trolley to take me back to our RV park. Easy peasy!

The first shop was “The Bobcat” – Fine Handcrafted, Southwest & Indian Jewelry & Pottery Store. I started to walk past it. I wasn’t interested in “fine” which denoted pricey to me. But, one of “those” nudges sent me in. I’m glad I obeyed. I was met by a lovely older woman: “Welcome! Take your time. Feel free to touch, pick up, and look at anything you want. Let me know if I can help you!” I was enamored by the beautiful art and “fine” jewelry that was displayed, and told “Shirley” so. I asked how long she’s owned the store – 30 years. She closes the shop down in the winter. That’s when she works at Baylor Hospital in Dallas. I asked “Baylor on Gaston Ave?” Yes. That struck a chord with me because my mom was the manager of a uniform shop directly across from Baylor Hospital for many years. Baylor is also where my dad had brain surgery. She remembered the uniform shop. We were on some common ground.

Then even more common ground when I spied a Bible on her counter with a basket of crosses in it. A local woodcarver makes them for her to give away. “Take one or more!” I took one. I commented that I loved her boldness to display the Bible. She said “That’s my Bible.” I knew I wanted to buy a little something to express my appreciation for her generosity and beautiful spirit. I saw a basket of pierced earrings and my eyes fell on the sterling silver dimes -- $16. I can do that! I asked who the lady was – Shirley didn’t know but I googled it and found it is Lady Liberty. She said, “Just put those in your purse. They’re yours!” I resisted her offer but to no avail. Now I knew I wanted to find something that represented Red River and New Mexico here. My eyes fell immediately on this beautiful Holy Family (both front and back finished). Perfect! I asked about the artist. Shirley said: “Her name is Susie Reed. She’s from Fort Sumner, New Mexico. She’s a potter. She is a delightful lady. She took care of her brother until he died of cancer. She didn’t pot for a whole year. I have the most wonderful potters. There’s good people here.” This beautiful pottery piece (front and back) would be the Red River “something” I wanted to take home to remind me of this wonderful town, its people, its Christian values and my blessing to have experienced this sweet heaven-to-earth week here.

That was just the beginning of this God-orchestrated day as I met lovely innkeepers when I looked for accommodations for a friend coming here next week. That, of itself, gave me more insight and appreciation for this little town – such courtesy and kindness displayed everywhere. I went into several stores that were playing Christian music. I saw “The Way” Coffee Shop, with “Pray for America and 2 Chronicles 7:14” in the window. I thought: “Is this place for real? Or am I on a much-needed brain-cleanse from the gnarly, bitter, and hateful stuff that penetrates into our mind on a daily basis?” I think that’s what God had in mind for me on this trip and on this day. I needed a reboot.

I was walking on air from the sweet moments of this day -- so the walk back from town to our RV park was a cinch. Seriously, we don’t have to go to New Mexico or any other distant location to find peace of mind and to recognize God in the everyday of living. As long as "The Lord is our Shepherd", He will lead us to the green pastures and the still waters for our souls to be restored -- no matter where we are! (Psalm 23)

I had rebooted and my mind was renewed. Of all the treasures I'll take home with me from here, is God is everywhere -- it is just us recognizing Him in everything -- everywhere.

The King is Coming -- Order Up a 21-Gun Salute

It’s Palm Sunday – just one week before Easter – oh the joy of our Risen Lord! But, hold on! Without this week, there would be no Resurrection Sunday! On this day, the disciples and the crowds were fanatical praisers and worshippers – waving palm branches and shouting “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Matthew 21:9. The crowds rejoiced in His powers of healing, in the miracles He’d performed; His popularity reigned supreme. He was SOMEBODY! While kings today ride in streamlined jets, King Jesus rode in on a donkey, a symbol of meekness and peace. How different His entry was – not a 21-gun salute, but the swishing of palm branches.

But those finding-fault Pharisees complained about all the raucous: "Teacher, reprove Your disciples!” Notice that they didn't call Jesus “King.” They called Him "teacher." To them, Jesus was no greater than any other teacher. He had become a threat to their "authority." This, SOMEBODY, was getting in their way! But our “rock-solid” Lord replied, “I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out!” And we took Christ’s words so seriously, that today we join those crowds of praising and worshipping our King of Kings and Lord of Lords! We will NOT allow the rocks and stones to outdo us!

Those of us who know Him as Savior and Lord cannot be silenced by a few who would “reprove” us. We know what this week represents. We stand in allegiance to Him as in this week, He was our humble, suffering, sacrificial servant. He suffered rejection, lies, beatings, floggings, being nailed to the cross and dying for us. We are doing our best to follow His lead because we've learned not to run away or cower in the face of difficulty. We want the world to know that Jesus Christ is King and it is worth the price of ridicule and rejection to proclaim Him as our Lord and Savior. This Holy Week, we continue to journey on with our precious Lord. What a gift it is to know the promise that awaits us if we stay with Him on the road. If we are faithful servants, we will also know the empty tomb, and best of all, we will abide with Him forever in eternity.

Not only did our King know precisely who He was when He entered Jerusalem, He knows who He is as He enters the Jerusalem of our lives. He touches ALL people – those with rank, and those who are broken, rejected, and unloved. He never refuses anyone who comes to Him for help. He helps those with shattered dreams and bruised spirits. That's the kind of Lord He is! That's the kind of KING He is! Today, He desires to transform us, touch our lives and make us new. He loves us so much that He was thinking about us then....and He is still thinking about us today. “Hosanna! Our King has come!

Keep Your Eyes on the Ball

This is a great "Dad/Son story":
“My 7-year-old son seems to have natural abilities for sports, and most recently, for baseball. I’ve taken him for batting cage practice, I throw the ball to him a lot and I go with him to his team’s practice, but I don’t really know what to tell him to do because I wasn’t a baseball player. I really did want to help him so I asked one of my “jock” friends, “What should I do to help him? My friend responded “He’s seven. You only need to tell him one thing…..”WATCH THE BALL! It works for any sport when you’re seven…..just WATCH THE BALL!” I loved that. He said “Keep your eyes on what is the most important thing….the ball. That one thought will provide the foundation he needs for any sport that he’ll play."

I remember when my sister-in-law and I took golf lessons together. We’d swing our club to hit the ball and miss it, or we’d hit the ball and it would only go about three feet. The golf pro repeatedly said to us: “Keep your eyes on the ball!” WATCH THE BALL! All three of us eventually determined that golfing probably wasn’t our sport. One, because we laughed ourselves silly when we were together, and two, because we just couldn’t keep our eyes on the ball.

I loved this second photo here of a T-Ball coach telling the adorable little boy "Keep your eye on the ball (from a YouTube video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYcEHGx4BnA ). The little guy literally put His eye on the ball. I loved, even more, when the coach lovingly hugged the boy and showed him what he meant. I think of our Heavenly Father, when we’re focusing on all the distractions, issues, anxieties and worries of our lives, and Him taking our faces in His loving hands and saying “LOOK at ME! Watch Me! Focus on Me!”

All sports players have been taught that “Watch the Ball” principle, and now it’s a habit for them, and that’s the habit that has served them well. It’s getting all distractions out of the way and focusing their attention on “the right things”. I gave that analogy to emphasize the importance of keeping our eyes on Jesus and His Word so that we can stop the intruders of our thought life that try to come in and steal our peace and joy from us.

Hebrews 12:2 says “We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith….” When we take our eyes off Him and His Word, life will take our eyes to so many things – the wrong things – the distracting situations, people and problems. It works for successful athletes who have developed a habit of keeping their eyes on the ball. Perhaps we would be become successful and fruitful followers of Christ, if we habitually focus our attention on Him and His Word.

Twila Paris sang this song and it still blesses me and reminds me where my eyes should be focusing today:
I'm not looking behind me, at mistakes I've already made.
Hope is living inside me. I believe that my debts are paid.
Trusting You now, I know I can make it
I made a vow, I don't want to break it

Lord, I'm keeping my eyes on You, following You, following You.
My Lord, I'm keeping my eyes on You, following You,
Following You, my Lord.

It's a New Dawn, a New Day, a New Life & I'm Feeling Good!

Okay, I admit it.....I AM a morning person. When I wake up, I don’t feel the need to pull the blanket over my head and long for just a few more minutes in bed. In fact, I don't even need an alarm clock -- mine is built-in -- usually, right on time between 6:00 am and 6:30 am. I like to get up, get my thermal mug of coffee, post my morning FB message, and enjoy a few precious quiet moments at the beginning of the day before the phone starts ringing and my daily responsibilities begin.

And, also, (most of the time) I start my day in a state of joy and happiness. I love the feel of a new day, with all the potential of new opportunities and moments to enjoy. I love Michael Buble's rendition of this song: “It’s a new dawn; It’s a new day; It’s a new life, for me, and I’m feeling good!”

Here's the Bible's take on that: "Because of the LORD’s great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23 These verses say it's possible to start each new day with a fresh beginning -- clean slate. God promises that His great love for us and unfailing compassion (or mercies, as some translations put it) are new every morning. So, whether we are a morning songbird, or a night owl, the point is that everyday is a brand new day with God. So, say: "Good-bye YESTERDAY, with all your mistakes and worries and fears, and good morning, TODAY, with the opportunity for NEW LIFE!"