More a-May-zing

Reflections on the final day of May. Clouds. 

Baptisms and confirmations and professions of faith. 

Majesty, Change My Heart Oh God, praise, prayer, faith and fellowship. 

Kite-flying with kids. 

Showers of presents in anticipation of a baby boy. 

A mother's love never ends ... and it is such a rich blessing. 

The love and compassion of siblings and their families. 

30-plus inches of rain in 25 or so days ... swollen rivers ... scary puddles ...

Reminders that it's time to put work into its place. I'm not sure how -- but I really need to find a way. Crazy as it seems, I've sometimes concluded God must want me to be spending the extra time I spend at work. I seem unable to keep it from happening, so maybe it is in his plan and He is working it for good. Perhaps? I just know I'm glad I didn't let my tiredness from last week and potential anxiety about next week keep me from doing some things  this weekend. I almost did let it, and  I have been missing things I would like to do, because I basically put work first. 

As I wrote yesterday, May started well. and it is ending well. There were some rough patches in between. I want to not feel let down or discouraged by  stormy days, long hours at work, and ball games that don't end well for my team. And I sure don't want to let those kinds of things distract me from doing what my heart desires: worshipping, praising and serving God; enjoying family and friends, serving and caring for those in need; and enjoying music, words and nature. 

a-May-zing

May has been a roller-coaster ride. It started with the wedding weekend with beautiful weather in Arkansas, and I came home to rain and storms that continued for the most part until a couple   of days ago. But now it looks like the month will also end with a weekend of beautiful weather, and as a result, I'm hoping to make another out-of-state road trip. Unlike the four-night stay in Little Rock and Greenwood, Arkansas, this will be a day trip to Gainesville, Texas. The highlight again will be family. 

And suddenly the malaise created by weather and work anxiety dissipates, if just for the moment. And as always, I am grateful. 

That's still all ...

One moment at a time. 

That's still all I can focus on. 

And it is enough. 

Not looking back. 

Not looking ahead. 

Grateful for this moment. 

Grateful to God for this moment. 

One.moment.at.a.time.

Concentrating on "one day at a time" or "just for today" was helpful on Thursday and Friday. 

But as I lay in bed Saturday morning -- my mind racing through the hours ahead, trying to turn the possibilities over to God, but not really letting go -- I wondered if that really was enough. 

After more praise and praying, intercession for others and asking for willingness, wisdom and strength to know and do God's will, I turned to my daily Jesus Calling devotional. 

He called me to focus on Him "right now," in this moment:  "The most important thing to determine is what to do right now. ... Trust Me to show you what to do when you have finished what you are doing now. I will guide you step by step, as you bend your will to Mine. Thus you stay close to Me on the path of Peace."

And so I wrote a blog post, which wasn't even on my list of things. This could be interesting. 

"Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails." —Proverbs 19:21

“For I am the  Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” —Isaiah 41:13

From Jesus calling, May 16:

"I am your Lord! Seek Me as Friend and Lover of your soul, but remember that I am also King of kings—sovereign over all. You can make some plans as you gaze into the day that stretches out before you. But you need to hold those plans tentatively ...  Instead of scanning the horizon of your life, looking for things that need to be done, concentrate on the task before you and the One who never leaves your side. ...  This will unclutter your mind, allowing Me to occupy more and more of your consciousness.

"Trust Me to show you what to do when you have finished what you are doing now. I will guide you step by step, as you bend your will to Mine. Thus you stay close to Me on the path of Peace."

One.Day.At.A.Time.

One day at a time. 

That's all. 

That's enough. 

May or not

May has gotten off to a busy start, including many things I would like to write about. But where is the time?

So I am just checking in, meeting that self-imposed deadline and hoping to provide myself a bit of encouragement to write this weekend about traveling to Arkansas for my niece's wedding and just all the blessings involved with that. 

Maybe I will also write about the weather. 

Dare I write about how frustrated I am that so many of my good intentions for a more caring, serving, compassionate and outward-focused life remain nothing more than dreams? 

I may or not. 

A high standard

During the month of April, in recognition of the 20th anniversary of the Murrah Building bombing and the Oklahoma Standard of compassionate response that ensued, the OKC National Memorial & Museum asked that every individual, company, organization and school commit one act of service, one of honor and one of kindness. They also asked that people capture and post stories, photos and videos from their own life – or those they see in the community – that demonstrate acts of service, honor and kindness by using the hashtag #OKStandard on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

This was on my mind all month, and during my visit to the memorial and museum on April 12, I bought a couple of blue rubber bands with the words service, honor and kindness and OKStandard, one of which I wore every day after that. 

My goal was to do each of those things and write about them. But here it is the last day of the month, and I'm not aware of any specific things I did that qualified. 

I can think of more things I didn't do than that I did. I feel like I really have to stretch to come up with service, especially.

The act of honor was to sing On Eagles Wings during the remembrance service our church had on April 20. Visiting the memorial and remembering probably also counts. 

But nothing is standing out at this moment as above and beyond acts of kindness or service. This disappoints me. 

I hope it's a case where I'm just not remembering. But the thing is, April 30 is an arbitrary end to the Oklahoma Standard campaign. As usual,  I can and do plan to keep trying.