God's country

Leaving behind the rolling, forested hills and the large rushing creeks and rivers of West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky, my family travelled west in a station wagon filled to the gills and pulling a homemade pop-up tent camper made by my parents. We were modern day pioneers, leaving the land of the familiar and venturing forth to a place with the nickname of the “the land of enchantment.” To this eight years old child’s way of thinking, a land of enchantment must be filled with pixies, fairies and gold dust. Instead, I found many true treasures: wide open spaces, the starlit sky that seemed to stretch right up to the throne of God, and sunsets that must be fresh from His palette of many glorious colors.


My greatest treasure in this new land however were the people embraced by my soul and entwined in my heart. I met real cowboys and ranchers who were more comfortable riding fence and hearing the silence of God than sitting in a church pew listening to my daddy’s sermon and hearing the choir sing of God’s majesty. Daddy learned how to cowboy in the next few years and enjoyed the company of many of those good, hard-working men.

Our neighbors became our family; this young family of four, their grandparents who came to town often from San Lorenzo, and their glamorous and single Aunt Josie from California. Momma traded fried chicken for fresh homemade flour tortillas and I knew we always got the better end of the stick. Grandpa Joe tweaked my blond braids and the red ones of my little sister as he doled out candy from his pocket most every visit to all of us waiting on the curb of Kelly Street. Years later I would have my little neighbor friend in my wedding. After many more years, her son would be the ring bearer in my son’s wedding.

The land of enchantment was true to its name then and now. The compassion, respect, love, and acceptance I have received from its people, I treasure.

Have fun—Alliterate!

Want to extend your conversation with someone? Try answering a typical question with a little bit of pizzazz. Yesterday …. yes, on a Monday …someone asked,”And how was your weekend?” I responded with “Super!” “Oh, really what did you do?” received an answer that brought a laugh and a lifted eyebrow, a query for an explanation. My reply was, “It was great because it was full —of dirt, dancing, dragsters, and dominos. “ If I had toted my camera around with me, I’d scrapbook it! So what’s the truth behind all those “D’s” which made for a dandy weekend? The truth of the alliteration was I got my hands dirty while repotting plants; we went to a street dance downtown; walked around some ‘you wouldn’t believe it if you didn’t see it’ modify cars, that were down but not totally dirty (some would be offensive to liberated women of the world united); and wrapped up the weekend with my dapper and dynamic parents playing dominos and joining us for dinner. “So how was your weekend?”  Now for a repeat of a super weekend, even though I know "It's only Tuesday!" and I do  love what I'm doing between now and then!



Remembering that “This is the day that the Lord has made and I am rejoicing in it,”

Mimi D.

There's nothing new about S.P.A.C.E.

There's nothing new about  S.P.A.C.E, a way of enriching our relationship with God during ou study of the Bible.{ Sin, Promise, Attitude, Command, Example}. Read the previous blog for more of an explanation.


In Psalm 19, David speaks of his relationship with God that revealed his knowledge of his propensity to sin. He had it, I’ve got it, and so do you and every one else walking on two legs and putting slacks on one leg at a time. It’s a good read, Psalm 19 …..Including “Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sin.” Check it out.

We can ask like David did, “Cleanse the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work.”

And what do we gain for admitting our errors and mistakes? Just the way to grow in a better life. That’s all. The gardener knows the need to feed the soil before planting. So you can learn from errors and move beyond them. Ask for forgiveness if needed. Don’t waste time and energy in self – justification. Ask God to help you learn from mistakes and move on down The Most Excellent Way, His road for you.

Hugs and blessings,
Mimi D

A Powerful Statement to Get you through Friday !

A powerful statement by Alexander Maclaren:  The riddle of Providence is solved when we have grasped this conviction—all events do serve me, for all circumstances come from His will and pleasure, which is love.  Everywhere I go—be it in the darkness of disaster or in the sunshine of prosperity—I shall see standing before me that familiar and beloved shape, and shall be able to say, "It is the Lord!" John 21

How do you get to such a place of conviction?  Something that really helps nurture our relationship with God is during our daily quiet reflection, give God SPACE:  While reading through HIs Word, look in the passage for a SIN to confess, a PROMISE to receive, an ATTITUDE  to change, a COMMAND to obey, an EXAMPLE  for me to follow.
Be mindful of His Presence with you and in you today!

Hugs,
Mimi D

Reminder: You are special and beloved!

Good Monday morning!  Well here's to hoping anyway.....This liitle bunny is Starburst. He is helping us keep the grass between the blocks of our front walk mowed. I will try to keep the coyotes away from him. I saw two taking a short cut through our property on Saturday! Bob saw a little garter snake while discovering some cane sprouting in our arroyo.  It's been a 'nature weekend' for us!  The next one will be full of watching Lance Armstrong and the likes of him tackle our mountain roads ala bicycle. The five day Tour of the Gila starts Wed.

Just like the bunny you are special and beloved by the creator of both.
Make someone smile today!
Mimi D.

Inspiration requires exhaling

Inspiration requires exhaling and in doing so we create more room for more  inspiration.  It's a wonderful habit to develop. Here's a quick exercise that will get your blood flowing through a heart of gratitude.  Choose someone—friend, co-worker, family member, neighbor— close to you and write them a list of appreciation for the little things they do for you. You will be blessed by letting a wave of gratitude wash over you....and any little nit picky things about them that drives you nuts, will be put in perspective; they really are just gnats in the big picture.
Hugs to all
Mimi

Let Inspiration have it's work in you — TODAY!

Invite Inspiration 4/22/10


Breathing in divine influence

Along The Most Excellent Way there are places to pull off the road and take in a scenic view. Often we don’t do them because pedal to the metal we are ‘making good time!’ We need a change of perspective here folks; for it may be as we pull off the rapidly moving thoroughfare of life that we find the inspiration to stay on the Most Excellent Way, living a life based upon and living I Corinthians 13.

Three great sources of inspiration: People, Nature, and a nurturing relationship with God. Inspiration requires lingering, not an easy task in today’s world but definitely beneficial. It is the key to being able to do the rest of the list.

Give God’s Word S.P.A.C.E. in your life’ an idea that first heard from Billie Hanks. When I read a passage of Scripture I look for a sin for me to confess, a promise for me to receive, attitude for me to change, command for me to obey, and an example for me to follow.

Two definitions for inspiration are “breathing in” and “divine influence.”If you have never tried this, today is a good day to begin!

Hugs to each of you,

Mimi D.