How Deep Are Your Roots?

I love this picture of the tree by the stream.  It reminds me that if I am going to keep growing in my faith, I have to grow my roots deep in His Word.  And, sometimes, it isn't easy!

During this season, I am praying about several opportunities that let me serve Him right here at home.  They are mission based, but don't require immunizations or passports.  So, I pray and I wait.  I pray and wait some more.  And, some more!  I learn to listen....to Him through His Word, devotionals, songs, prayers, and folks that I know are walking along that path with God. I see. I hear. I get it!  But, then I question myself! This is a hard thing that He is asking me to do in some ways.  It requires complete trust and obedience.  You know, some days I believe I can do it, and a few hours later, I am questioning again!  Mercy! Do any of you all ever feel that way?

  But then, I go to His Word and hear Him speak to that place in my heart--the place only He can fill:

³⁵ For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. ³⁶ I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
³⁷ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? ³⁹ When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
⁴⁰ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,^[a] you were doing it to me!’  Matthew 25: 35-40

I have heard this Scripture all of my life.  It's not a new one that God gently led me to.  But, I saw it with fresh eyes and a tender heart yesterday.  That's how He speaks to me....when I am not  really looking...He surprises me with a Word. I just love surprises!

 Praying about growing my roots deeper, my friends.

Sweet blessings,
Susan

Tea Anyone?

As one gets a bit older in age--I really am not referring to myself or my friends here---one realizes that one needs to slow down (Did those words actually come from my mouth?) and just visit.  Mama and Daddy used to tell me that constantly.  Oh, I tried to sit and visit, but when I could see that the dishes needed to be unloaded from the dishwasher, or I needed to throw another load of laundry in the dryer, I would keep "visiting" but would begin to multi-task.  My sweet hubby reminds me that when I multi-task, things don't always work out for the best--the way that I invision.  I hate to admit it, and please don't tell him, but he is right! Shhh!

For the past few years, a darling girl that I grew up with (we're talking kindergarten all the way through high school) has been organizing a yearly get-together with the girls in our high school class.  The last two years when I saw the date, I already had plans.  This year, "darling girl that I grew up with" let me know 6 months in advance the date of our get together! In essence, put this on your calendar now and do not plan anything else! So, I did! Mercy!

The day came for the luncheon.  I drove down to Columbia to ride with another friend to the restaurant.  I have no sense of direction, so I figured it would be the smarter thing to do than to ride around the state of SC for an extra 45 minutes looking for this little town! On the way to Ridgeway, my other friend mentioned that we would have to wear hats....I'm thinking that my running hat is 100 miles back at home.  Guess I won't wear a hat.  And, found out that this restaurant was a tea room! Mercy! I have never done a tea room before! I'm a chick-fil-a gal through and through! I simply decided that I wouldn't worry about it! I just wouldn't wear a hat.  Period.

Weeeelllll, when we got to the restaurant, 10 of my friends that I had not seen in FOREVER y'all...and I mean over 30 years for some of us....came up and suddenly, this huge lump formed in my throat! Mercy! Tears flowed as we hugged and loved on each other! It was so good to see the precious girls that I had grown up with.  It was truly a blessing from above as we played dress up in big old floppy hats just as some of us had done years ago in the little red playhouse in my backyard.  Time stood still for awhile.

We were served lunch, and it was simply delicious! We tried varieties of hot teas...and the girls at my table agreed that we liked our plain 'ol sweet iced tea the best!  We caught up on children, grandchildren ( I still cannot get over the fact that some of my sweet young girlfriends are young grandmothers!!), husbands, and others who couldn't be there.  It was truly a sweet time.  When we had to leave, it was so hard.  More hugs and kisses and " I love you's" went around the group.  Y'all, time does not stand still.  I believe that it gets a little faster each day.  Make each day count.  Don 't wait until tomorrow.  Make that phone call or write that note (snail mail is still wonderful!). Make plans to sit and visit for awhile with your friends.  It's so worth every sweet moment.

Wanted to share a few of the pictures that I took--and that my friend Teri took too! Hope you enjoy!

Sweet blessings,
Susan