Sugar Coma, 9/30/06

Ever had a sugar coma? My takes the form of a dry, parched mouth and a neckache, akin to a hangover which I'm thankful to not have experienced in quite a few years now. But these neckaches have been occasional. Messes with my sleep, which in turn messes with my husband, who in turn messes with me!

Where the Spirit is, there is liberty. Was blessed to get in a little walk before work 2 days ago with Pau even in the stroller for quite a bit of it- a huge feat! Can always use the excuse of crossing Pomeroy (too much traffic) to get him saddled in there and then just try to go fast (I actually began jogging , daydreamed of getting a better stroller like a beast-of-burden hand-me-down from K-and will call her to see if she has anything comparable-and becoming a runner, 90 seconds later I was thru running) and keep him distracted/occupied with talk about anything and everything or singing until he finally fusses for a breakout. As we headed down Waypoint Rd. toward Camino Caballo, I thought of Georgina and how I'd meant/planned to leave my phone number for her for her Japanese exchange student to call...she was to be here thru July. Oops, missed it! But instead of beating myself up about it, I'm moving forward/on. So I pressed toward her home and heard a lot of commotion. Saw Bunyon Bros. tree service vehicles at her place on the corner. Pau and I strolled up to chat with the Stop sign guy. I wanted to invite him to our church, but how to get the ball/conversation rolling and not come across all Jeezy-wheezy (as Kathy LoBello used to say)? I didn't have to worry about it b/c the Holy Spirit led the rest. Introduced myself and his name was David. "Biblical name? What's your background...?" He shared how he's been here about 6 mo. I wanted to say something about come to City Church and he said, "I attended Jubilee in Yute Creek (? I must've misheard him and not knowing CA, I tend to not say anything while trying to process where somebody means) and I've been looking for a church here. I want to get involved."!!!! I physically stepped toward him (involuntarily) and invited him, looking in my stroller for a touchcard, wishing I'd had the foresight to bring one, mentally noting to have some in there in the future.

Meanwhile this Rotweiler-looking black lab mix trots over. I stroll Pau around so she doesn't have sandwich-access, just in case...Nick warned me about recent child-maimings by strays. David kindly takes her collar while we chat. She remains docile and seems friendly. I notice Georgina up on her deck in the distance watching the guys take out the Eucalyptus trees. She may/not have seen me, but retreats inside before the end of our conversation. And it's only 8:20 in the a.m. I assume that she recognized me simply due to the stroller and Paulo, but maybe not. Pau and I go back home and the doggie comes all the way, despite me telling her to go home, being somewhat forceful, patting her behind and whatnot-she's just a loveable lump of fur. I was apprehensive of what might happen back at the Palace. Would she dig up Mae's gorgeous gardens? Try to eat Ginger or Pantera? Raise Cain with Ginger barking up a storm? Turn evil and vicious toward Duas Avos, Paulo or Mae if they came outside unknowingly? Poked my head in the door with my hand on her collar, keeping her away from Pau, still in his stroller observing and no doubt learning stuff. Hello?! Someone bring the phone outside! Avo Avelinha uses her emergency yelp to summons Mae, pronto. She's sweet on the dog from the start and hangs on to her as I call the County # on her tag. They give me 2 #'s saying both show as black labs, not rotweilers. The first one, no answer. The 2nd one is a rental property biz. "Ken" graciously says he'll check around w/ those who live in Nipomo and call us back. I leave for work realizing I could lure her back to her original place on Waypoint, and that's what I carefully do in the car. She's back by David and I roll down my window and hand him a touchcard with my name on it. You see, the Lord chose to speak thru that mutt!

Food for Thought, 9/28/06

I was trying to remember which Scriptures came to me yesterday a.m. as I studied them and this chapter came back to me...The Lord's been working on me about my pride. Part of the crux of this chapter is in verses 3-12. When I asked our Pastor about praying out loud versus just in my head as I have done most of my life, he quoted verse 12 as part of his answer and it got me studying this chapter, but not reading the whole thing completely until yesterday.

(POPUP TRIVIA: "Yesterday" by the Beatles is the first song that I ever did as karaoke, in Japan...sung as a duet with Yoshida-san, who was the co. crackup/funnyman...his serious Japanese slurring accent and my mostly off-key, low voice made quite the amusing combo, even if I was petrified at hearing myself magnified to my worst fear sounding even worse than when it's just me that hears me)

6Now godliness with contentment is great gain. I pray for this for all of us.

1 Timothy 6

1Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. 2And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

3If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

6Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

11But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, 15which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.

17Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

20O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—21by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith.

Grace be with you. Amen.

The Lord of Hosts was spoken to me at the Healing Rooms a while back...I keep being led to passages where He is thus called. Just now it was Isaiah 54 which also contains verse 17: I've been praying out loud the first portion of this, that no weapon formed against me will prosper-I've been claiming this as truth instead of whatever the devil tries to throw at me in this world.

¹⁷ No weapon formed against you shall prosper,

And every tongue which rises against you in judgment

You shall condemn.

This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,

And their righteousness is from Me,”

Says the Lord.

This Psalm was also laid upon me at the original composing of this post-
Psalm 24
A Psalm of David.

¹ The earth is the Lord’S, and all its fullness,

The world and those who dwell therein.

² For He has founded it upon the seas,

And established it upon the waters.

³ Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?

Or who may stand in His holy place?

⁴ He who has clean hands and a pure heart,

Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,

Nor sworn deceitfully.

5 He shall receive blessing from the Lord,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him,
Who seek Your face.
Selah

7 Lift up your heads, O you gates!
And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
The Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O you gates!
Lift up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
He is the King of glory.
Selah

I sang on 9/29's walk: "The King of Glory comes, the nation rejoices. Open your gates before him, lift up your voices. Who is the king of glory? How shall we call him? He is Emmanuel, the promised of ages." I always enjoyed that song growing up at St. Chaz.

Moku Yobi (Thursday in Nihongo, aka Japanese)

Awoke and got up at 4:30 am, w/o looking at the clock, just knew it was time, even tho still dark...heard that 1 crazy rooster with his lone WAKE UP EVERYONE that really is not disturbing at all and barely audible; that was my confirmation. Plus I had to pee.

The Lord has been berry, berry good to me (say it like Billy Crystal in his 'you rook mahvelous' voice, as I would).

I am enfused with His energy. My body still feels a bit achy in the back, per usual a.m., but my hands have this slight desire to get busy, and my mind is fully awake now and striving to be productive in a hopeful, optimistic sort of way. The world looks rosy; I'm not naive, but not conformed to this world...renewed by the transforming of my mind...in Christ Jesus (Romans 12:2). An interesting scripture caught my attention yesterday. 1 Timothy 6, which I've posted separately comes back to me, but that's not the one I mean...let me see if I find it on Quick Verse...
uh-oh gotta go
have a blessed day

Sep. 25, 2006

It's 5 am and I just woke up. And felt like getting up out of bed. Even though it's still dark and the roosters aren't even loud yet, just a couple of them, not even bothering my sleep. My body is tired, yet rested.

Dreamt about PC. We were at a house belonging to her. I went into Matthew's bedroom at one point to get Jonathan for a visitor who'd come over to see him. MCT pulled his sheets up as he lounged in bed busy with something. Midday, just comfy in there, not in pajamas. I made sure not to invade his privacy or look directly at him. There was a sort of known disdain for me. A haughtiness of types. Meanwhile PC and I laughed about OMYGOSH how could anyone deal w/ raising FOUR wild (ebeests) children with all their messes (while in one of their's totalled rooms). PC had long, full beautiful hair, dark blonde. We stopped in at a vendor's boutique which had high=quality lingerie and some scarves for like $3. I wanted to get a rose-printed sheer scarf for Grandmom's bday (this Fri.) and a new beautiful, proper-fitting bra.

The refrigerator here is making noises which remind me of the frog we usually hear around 6:30 am. It seems sick.

I have today off!!!! No concrete plans but a few errands...might find that scarf for G'mom.