What's Faster Than The Computer?

   I'm told that many young ones today do not know what a typewriter is? I started out with a pencil and progressed to typewriters, Teletype, computer over a sixty year period. I'm very elderly you know.  :-}

   What a wonder the computer is!  I write an e-mail , click "send",  and in a few seconds it arrives miles or continents away.  It just amazes me, but there is something  greater than that ... something even faster.

   Isaiah 65:24 reads: "It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer."  WOW!  That's faster than a fax! You get an answer before the message is sent!

   God  reads our hearts and always knows our needs ... often while we are speaking. And the desired  blessing is on it's way from God's throne with the answer. (Daniel 9: 20-23.)

   Yes, prayer is faster than any modern means of communication. I need to use it more often. It is the Christians open line to heaven.

   Even while we're asking, God's power and love can bless.
       To praying trusting souls,
             He often grants ...
                  More than they can ever express.

Weaving light and growth as I journey,
              Virgene

Foot note to Epiphany (A response to comments).

In weaving my tapestry of  celebration of  Epiphany's throughout the year, I was blessed by creating  a visual aid. Perhaps it might bring joy to you. On January 6th I pondered how I could celebrate the unveiling of  the disclosures of my Lord as I journey through the year. I ask myself ...
   How may times was Jesus revealed to me the past year in memorable events?
      What did I learn about Him in each one?   Since my memory only came up with three, I realized there had to be many more. What could I do to celebrate each blessing?

   Plot each epiphany on a time-line graph, showing both. the highs and the lows.  Draw a small foot-print at each unveiling of the gift of  God's presence. Make a brief  note to identify  your revelation. I record events of joy..challenge...trial...and realize how my Lord blesses in all of my journey.  When you complete the year, you have your "Foot-prints of  Faith".  Fold  your graph and place it in your Bible. When you need a visual aid to remind you of God's faithful presence, reach for your "Foot-print of  Faith."

SEEKING EPIPHANY

   Is it possible to realize happiness every day? Perhaps ,  if I recognize what it is that makes me joyful?

   Thorton Wilder's play, "Our Town" is hauntingly real as Emily, still longing for the life she just left, wishes to revisit it one ordinary, unimportant day of  her life.  When she gets her wish, she realizes how much the living take for granted. Eventually the visit is too much for her to bear. "I didn't realize," she confesses mournfully, "all that was going on and we never noticed, ... Goodbye world ...  Momma.. Poppa...Goodbye to _________. (She lists many of the  little everyday thing that make her smile and brought her joy.) "Oh earth you are too wonderful for anybody to realize you."

   As my neice Stacy, stated, " I need Epiphany... .  "And I need to be seeking epiphany... " Occasions on which I can experience the Sacred in the Ordinary -- and come to the awakening, as Emily finally does. I can no longer afford to throw away even one important day by not noticing the wonder of it all. I must be willing to discover and then appreciate the authentic moments of happiness available to all of us every day.

   But, how can I conquer his lack of awareness?
       Recongnize the signs and symptons of neutral living?
          Begin healing this disease and disintegration of  premature death of  happiness?

   What makes me joyful?  LOVE!  I want growth in awareness ... understanding ... transformation ... integration ... wholeness.  Therefore, I am taking baby steps toward joyful living --now!  I'm acquiring a clue from Emily of  focusing awareness of  all the little everyday epiphany's that made her happy.

   And best of all ... I will be victorious! Not because of my efforts, but because of  Ephesians 1: 18,  "By having the eyes of (my) heart flooded with light, so that (I) can know and undersand the hope to which He has called (me)."

   This is a twist on the concept of seeing and speaks of our  "inward eye."  When it is enlightened we see what is ordinarily overlooked.  The "outward eye" gifts us with the vision to see what surrounds us. The "inward eye" (the Holy Spirit) brings wisdom and vision that really matters. How vast are the resources God's power open to those who have faith!

   Will you join me in this pilgrimage of weaving a pattern of wholeness? Your fellowship through your sharing  thoughts and comments will teach and bless me, plus add so much to my journey. We really do need each other.
                                                              Virgene

Snoopy's Warning! WOOF! WOOF!

   No news on TV or papers this week for me.  All the negative vibs caused more stress--or so I thought.  The break from it did help, but then I felt guilty for "running away" from reality and responsibility-Woe is me!  There must be a balance here.
   I want to make my second blog something positive.  However, my thoughts keep returning to a Charles Schulz "Peanuts" strip and this one had a negative overtone.
   "Peanuts" was always my favorite because C. Schulz always had a wonderful lesson if you "put on your thinking cap."
   So in your minds eye see--Snoopy, rising up on top of his dog house; saying "The World famous watchdog is ever alert---" He jumps to the ground.  Next, he's at Lucy's bedroom window- "Woof."  She sits up, then turns over- "That's all right--Everything is fine--Thank You."  Snoopy  then appears at Charlie Brown's window--"Woof!"  Charlie silts up then lies back down--"thats okay-Everything is all right--you're a good watchdog--Go back to sleep". Snoopy walks away with a big *Sigh*!  Finally, he's back lying on his dog house--"You try to warn them that the world has gone mad, but they won't listen..."
   Yes, Snoopy's  warning put in a nutshell-"WOOF! WOOF!"  But for me, I must ask myself a few questions.
   Do I ignore warning signs?  Another warning Luke 16:28
      Am I at ease, with a false sense of security?  See Amos 6:1
         Am I ignoring warning signs letting the "world" make decisions and control me?
            Will what I value last for eternity?  Amos7:7 Vision of the plumb line.
   Speaking of Visions---Do I need a new Vision?  The Lord stands ready to inspire with the vision of an alternative world if I'll but listen.  There is power residing in a vision.  Like a star it draws us into the future; it guides us on our way.  It weaves a goal worth living and dying for.  Some of  MY old visions have failed, run their course, or been corrupted.  At times I have felt exiled, oppressed, fearful and helpless but then I met my savior.  Yes, I have been knocked down but never knocked out.
   A New vision promotes life as we know it ought to be.  Isaiah 43:18-19 tells us about victory when God's children cry unto Him.  He reminds them of His mighty victories in the past, then states, "But forget all that--it is nothing compared to what I'm going to do.  For I am about to do a brand-new thing.  See I have already begun."
   WOW!  I have been given Hope-defined as a strong desire accompanied by expectation of fulfillment of the unique vision my Lord has planned for me.
   I believe Faith-defined is a way of being.  It is action, something we do.  It is the expression of meaning revealed in a person's life style--a gift of God's grace.
   And I have the potential to  develop it---if I will jsut listen. "WOOF! WOOF!"
                 On a pilgrimage seeking integrity,
                             Virgene

"I Am" (Redefining Yourself)

"I am not who I think I am.  I am not who you think I am.  I am who I think you think I think I am." (Robert
Schuller.)

Right or wrong, sometimes we define ourselves through other peoples eye's.  A Marti Grau mask that hangs on my wall often reminds me that I have observed myself and others hiding behind a mask.  Are we endeavoring to do what we think others expect and what will please them:

Why do we conceal or disguise our original or genuine self?  To gain approval?  Love?  Or culture? Are we people--pleasers?

I attempt to see each individual as the unique person who the Lord has given special gifts to accomplish the purpose for "being" and bringing His plans to fulfillment.

Why give the power He has given us away for lesser values?

I long to mature in God's purpose for me--to know who I Am.  There is power in our belief.

I smile when I remember Sophia Creamer.  In a Koinonia group discussion she disclosed that she and Roy had a major disagreement.  A college girl listened intently, and finally burst out, "Sophia, You are such a wonderful Christian lady, "How can you fight with your husband?"  Sophia, always her authentic self, replied, "Honey, It wasn't a fight.  It was a disagreement.  And besides, if we agree with each other all the time ... one of us would not be necessary."

I Am (Redefining My Self)

The "I" that is me----You can not see.

You see only the form that you think is me.

The form you see, will not always be;

But the "I" that is me ....lives Eternally!

Shouldn't we put into practice our true identification as the eternal experiencer

rather than the object of the experiencer?

Who Am I?

Acts17:28

In Him...I Live...I move...I have my being.

Therefore who Am I?

I am in God...in the great I Am.

I Am.

Thank you, Lord.

At last I know who I am.

I am a pilgrim and Truth Seeker,

Weaving my own pattern of wholeness in my journey-both in this

(earthly) life and to (Eternal) life.

Striving for Integrity,

     Virgene