Stuff

New orchid bud reaching for the sun

Hope in the one cleared space, an orchid in bloom

I’ve been trying to clear everything around me to no avail, even the desk on which to write. As soon as I get it cleared, more stuff stumbles in from the car. We’re clearing out personal stuff from the condo so we can rent it; bringing boxes to our place in the islands. The boxes of stuff form more obstacles to hurdle. Then in the attempt to find more places to put stuff, an old school cabinet stands inside the door awaiting refinishing, drawers and structure competing for what little space there is left.
I can’t get to my computer. The three printers that we own are all in the room as well, hoping that one of them will finally behave itself and scan or print on demand. But no, everything seems to have a life of its own and not helping me one bit.
I saw some progress last Sunday when someone came and took the bed out of the loft so I could make room for filing cabinets and a clothes rack. But with the bed gone, I see the rug needs stretching before I organize the room. Perhaps I just rip it out and have bare floor or just ignore the bump in the rug if I can. Everything is in disarray, not just little bumps in the rug. See why I haven’t written the blog in a bit, no place to write and brain too scattered like the room. Sometimes I think I just need everything cleaned out and start over.

“In the quietness of prayer, let me believe that a simple and determined surrender of my will to Him (Jesus) will bring the heart cleansing (and house order) that I need.” Andrew Murray

Press on

Race Horse Refreshment

Race horses' refreshment (click on blue  link for video)
Heading back to Garrison Savannah

When we were in the Barbados, early every morning the trainers brought their thoroughbred race horses from the barns at Garrison Savannah past our hotel for cleaning and refreshment in the warm Carlisle Bay of the Caribbean. There they exercised their legs and welcomed the salt water over their bodies before the heat and business of the day. This early morning refreshment kept them going throughout the day so they could press on and win the race set before them.


We've had too much racing and not enough refreshing upon return from summer weather in West Indies. We arrived home during a snow blizzard in Seattle and Neil's mom not doing well. She died Monday this week, January 5 the day after we prayed with her, and read her scripture. assuring her of her salvation. She had run the race well, praying every morning for refreshment and in the end surrendered herself to her Lord, arms out, palms up.

Oh Lord help us surrender to your will. Help us to increase our time of refreshment with you. I know we have too much stuff, grief included, dragging us down, holding us back, like weights entangling and causing us to trip not run. Yet here we acquire even more as we clean out Mom's apartment. Set us free from the burdens and material goods pulling us down. Free us from our hold on this life on earth.

"Bretheren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."(NKJV) Philippians 3:13-14
"Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free and don't be entangled again with a yoke of bondage." Galatians 5:1