Welcome

Why a blog from me, someone who has never been a writer, someone who has never been articulate or had a solid grasp of the grammar world. Because God told me to write. Several years ago a life storm invaded my family. God kept telling me to write it all down. I argued, but He would not let up. This went on every day for a couple of weeks until one day out of frustration, (I'd like to say it was out of obedience), I picked up a pen and paper and wrote for 7 hours straight! Do you think maybe I needed therapy and God knew it?

I've been writing ever since and have learned to love it! I started out sharing my stories with friends and family. I've now been published in a Nashville church paper, Our Daily Journey (a devotional site of RBC Ministries), PCCWeb Daily Devotional, Ruby for Women Ezine Magazine, and I am a contributor in the book Alabaster Jars, Life in Abundance Collection 2.

Why Ponderings? During this life storm, God led me to a pond in the woods behind my home. There He met me each time, teaching new lessons, reminding me of old ones, showing His presence and allowing me to feel His love through the surroundings of that pond. I found myself returning over and over to ponder, pray and praise. A healing of my heart took place and out of the experience came my first book, Ponderings From the Pond, then a second book, Ponderings From My Porch, and now a third book is in the works along with a memoir about my storm.

Why am I making myself so vulnerable? Because God has done so much that I cannot keep quiet. I have to share. Jesus's last words to his desciples were, "Go,tell." We are his disciples too and this is just one of my ways of telling.

I'm no scholar but I have heard God's voice in my spirit, experience His love daily, and have a desire for others to experience this also. I would love to share with all who visit and I would love to hear from you. If my sharing gets just one to ponder, to be quiet with the Father, to see and hear from Him or to be reminded of something from Him, then this is worth my vulnerability.

As you visit me, sometimes we will be at the pond, sometimes we will move to the front porch, and sometimes we will just be here, there, and yonder. Thank you for coming and please feel free to come back anytime, you are always welcome here.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19:14

*****EXCITING NEWS*****

My first book, Ya Know What I'm Say'n, has been released.


Ponderings

Ponderings

Sunday, October 7, 2012

A Vet and Buelah Land

My husband and I went downtown this past beautiful Saturday afternoon and met Jack.  He's a 64 year old, Vietnam Veteran. My husband and I shook his hand.  We always try to shake the hands of veterans and military people when we meet them. He was quite the talker and I enjoyed listening to him. I wondered if many ever stopped long enough to listen.

I asked him where he was from and he replied with, 'Oh, you won't have heard where I'm from, I'm from Checotah, Oklahoma.  I laughed saying I was an Oklahoma girl, of course I had heard of Checotah, Oklahoma! 

He told us he was sober for 40 years. I wasn't so sure about that, he didn't appear to have been sober all those years because of the rough exterior showing a hard life that had been lived, but it wasn't important in this moment. Without asking, he began to talk about his salvation experience years ago, talked about his church, which we knew of, and people that we knew from different places in town.  He shared about the bible and kept talking about the Lord and prayer and how nothing else was as important as He.  I shared something personal with him about my family and he teared up and said he would pray.  I believed him. 

Some people ask if I believe everything people down there tell me.  I am not naive. But I have decided to believe what I'm told until it is proved otherwise.  And if I am told something that is not true, I have come to the realization that the Lord has put me out there to share His love however He directs me, and if that is to just listen to someone talk, then that is what I need and want to do.  There is much love shown in keeping the mouth shut and the ears open.  Many down there need that.  I did manage to get some words of my own out though here and there.  We talked about the Lord together, shared prayer requests, and a handshake.  It was a lovely day! If Jack was touched in just one small way by our visit, if he felt the love of Christ through touch, listening, being smiled at, then I decided at the end of the day, it is worth it, even if everything he said may not be true.

Jack is not homeless but he lives in poverty. He told me this day he believes He is rich though. He said our riches are not here on earth but with Him in Heaven and he was ready when it was his time. Oh the things we miss when we pass by ones who sit lonely on those park benches. He sang for us the song Beulah Land. It touched my heart to be standing in front of this man, knowing he didn't have much but yet he said he has everything because he has the Lord. Again, he could've been pulling my leg, but I choose to go on and listen. I'm getting stronger as I meet people downtown. I did shed some quiet tears this day with him and for him. I would have bawled like a baby several years ago. 

Imagine this older gentleman in his frail voice singing. . .(he knew every word!)
Buelah Land

I'm kind of homesick for a country
To which I've never been before.
No sad goodbyes will there be spoken
for time won't matter anymore.

Chorus:
Beulah Land, I'm longing for you
and some day on thee I'll stand.
There my home shall be eternal.
Beulah Land -- Sweet Beulah Land

Verse 2
I'm looking now across the river
where my faith will end in sight.
There's just a few more days to labor.
Then I will take my heavenly flight.


Oh the lands that we walk on this earth, may we share our love of our Lord and may God's grace, the costly grace, spill over onto us and others, may the doors of closed hearts open up to the One and only Savior, may closed eyes open up and see and may cloudy minds become clear. . . and may we walk the floors of Beulah Land together one day.


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2 comments:

Denise said...

Thanks for sharing. I have always loved that song.

joy said...

Beautiful. Bless your heart and your hubby! I admire what both of you are doing for the needy!