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

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Whipping Cream on the Narrow Path



MONTHS ago, my pastor preached a message titled,
When We Know Where We're Going, Our Steps Are Sure
 
I still had my notes from this sermon, so I'll share them with you. . .
 
The narrow path is not made for our comfort,
the narrow path is made for His glory.
 
The Narrow Path will take us places where we seem out of place.
 
Will lead us to love people who reject us.
 
Will require us to humble ourselves and respond with kindness and compassion.
 
Will demand flexibility and faith on our part.
 
God will give us strength to go where He asks us.
 
The goal of the Narrow Path is living out the pure heart given in the Gospel as much as it is in getting to the destination.
 
Call me crazy, but I feel I saw this sermon played out tonight at the bridge with whipped cream and one of the volunteers.

 
 

Linda is a good friend of mine and a volunteer with the Bridge Ministry for the Homeless.
Louie is one of our bridge guests, a great Italian guy who rides his bike down to see us every week and enjoys his hot chocolate with a meal.  Louie smiles and is good natured and asked one time, "Where's the whipping cream'?  Linda told him if it was cold enough the next week, she would bring it.  Well, wouldn't you know, after weeks of wearing 5 layers of clothing, this week warmed up to just a one layer.
 
But Linda's pure and good natured heart thought of Louie and went out to the store to buy whipping cream just for him.
 
I went back to the notes up above. . .
 
Some people might feel out of place at the bridge. . .
but Linda does not. . .because she has a huge servant's heart! 
 
The bridge is not always a comfortable place to be, especially in the winter, but she is always there sporting one of her favorite team colors in her coat and headband.
 
She is flexible and has faith and God gives her the strength to go where He has led.
She has bad back pain, but still shows up every week and stands for a couple of hours on concrete ground. . .and never complains.
 
When the whipping cream came out and into Louis's hot chocolate, I smiled and thought to myself. . .
this is the Gospel being lived out with a pure heart.
This is living on the Narrow Path.
And God gets the glory for this simple and yet profound act
And who knows?
 
That whipping cream might just be a key into Louie reaching the great, Heavenly Destination someday.
 
Charles Stanley says this. . .
  There are only two options in life. We can either live for ourselves and produce “chaff which the wind drives away” (Ps. 1:4) or bear lasting fruit that glorifies God and benefits others.

I believe my friend bears lasting fruit and it's just been sweetened with whipped cream!

Linda and Louie
 
Are you ready to serve and love with the love of Christ with whatever the Lord gives you? 
:)


linking with

 
 

4 comments:

Shakin' the Foundation said...

I love ALL your bridge stories!! This one brings a smile to my face as well as my heart!!! What a beautiful woman of God!!
Praying for Louie!!
Blessings!!
Stacey

ps.....I am with Louie, I love my whipping cream as well :))

Beth Zimmerman said...

What a precious story! I'm sure her gift truly touched Louie!

I found you on FB and sent you a friend request.

Denise said...

Enjoyed this.

Stacie said...

SO sweet!! I love the way God is working and how you share it with us.