Sunday, March 13, 2011

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

So, in the last month my life as taken an unexpected turn. It's meant a lot of heartache, tears, prayer, and changes. I've been re-reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. One of the "verses to remember" is Romans 12:2b - "Let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God - what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect." This verse really hit home and I read it as a prayer - "God, transform me inwardly by a complete change of my mind. So that I will be able to know Your will - what is good and is pleasing to You and is perfect." I need to pray that every day. Maybe I'll put it up on the bathroom mirror.

Chapter 25 quotes Psalms 24:18 - "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. He rescues those who are crushed in spirit." Warren says, "Your most profound and intimate experience of worship will likely be in your darkest days - when your heart is broken, when you feel abandoned, when you're out of options, when the pain is great - and you turn to God alone. It is during suffering that we learn to pray our most autentic, heartfelt, honest-to-God prayers." This guy is good and he knows where I'm at right now.

So, God's using this experience to transform me. I don't know for what, but I don't need to know. God knows. I don't need to see where the road leads. I just need to continue down the road.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Rest in Peace, Smokey Joe

My dad calls all cats "Smokey Joe". I'm not sure why. A few years ago a cat showed up at his house who he called, yep, "Smokey Joe".

Daddy would feed Smokey and then tell him to "go home". I told him, "Daddy, I think he IS home." Smokey would come and go for a while. Over the last couple of years, though, Smokey pretty much stuck around.

Smokey had been around the block a time or two - nicked ears, scars on his neck - but like most cats Smokey appreciated a good head rub.

He was always at the carport door in the morning to greet Daddy and ask for breakfast.

This morning when Daddy went to feed him, he found that Smokey had passed away.

Tears filled my eyes tonight driving to my knitting group when Daddy told me on the phone. This beautifully marked cat who never was really family had still become part of our lives.

We'll miss you, Smokey Joe. I hope you find peace in kitty heaven that eluded you in your early life.

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Seriously?

I haven't blogged since October? Really. Wow! Okay, I'm going to do better. I've had some time open up on my calendar, so that sounds like a good thing to do.