James 4:17
 "If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them."

My college philosophy professor and I were good friends. Hugh Caldwell was head of an outdoor activity club and I enjoyed hiking and exploring with him and with that group of college sophomores. I would audit some of his classes occasionally - his kindness was contagious.  I never knew whether he was a Christian or not. The subject just never came up. One night before an exam, we even went ice-skating together at midnight.

As I had entered my freshman year at that Tennessee college, I pretty much took a sabbatical from attending church. My only prayers were something like - “God, please let me pass this exam.” I knew God existed and I had even written about Jesus in High School, but as dating and studying took precedence over any spiritual pursuits at that time, I simply ignored my need for prayer and for Christian fellowship.

Fast forward ten years: I asked Jesus to be my saviour and I began a relationship with him in 1985. I wanted to tell everyone I knew the good news that Jesus offers - eternal life, and a friendship with him. A couple of years later, I was fairly certain that the Holy Spirit told me something he wanted me to do - to write to Dr. Caldwell and tell him about my being born again of the spirit, and that Jesus wanted him to open his heart and do likewise. I put it on my to-do list, but I put it at the end. I had a 3 year old son at that time, and a job, and was feeling a bit overwhelmed with the demands of a working mom.

Finally, after about 2 weeks had passed, I wrote Dr. Caldwell a detailed letter about my experience with Jesus. I was content that I had obeyed the directive from the Lord. Three weeks later, I received a letter from the Dean of students with my letter to Dr. Caldwell enclosed. My letter had been opened. Dean Puckett very kindly explained that my letter had reached Dr. Caldwell the day after he had passed away, and that he hoped I did not mind that he had opened it himself. So my letter had arrived too late to be of any benefit to dear Dr. Caldwell.

Now perhaps this Dean had read the letter, and maybe it opened his eyes to the truth that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.  I’ll never know.  I do know that when the Holy Spirit strongly urges me to do something, that I had better obey the prompting quickly. Now the question - was my procrastination a sin? Probably, yes. I’m comforted by 1 John 1:9 “ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Pinching pennies turned from a hobby to a career this year as my husband and I have received too many rejection emails after job interviews. We are both 66. No need for explanations on this situation.

My go-to store for housewares and clothes used to be Macy's or Target. Now it is Goodwill. Two weeks ago I was rushed to the emergency room for chest pain and shortness of breath. After five days in the hospital and five new prescriptions, I was told to be very careful driving.  Yesterday, I got in my car in my driveway and prayed:  "Lord, please give me protection on the road and favor in the marketplace."  My kitchen needed some bowls, glasses, and odds and ends, so off to the nearest Goodwill I went.

The place was pretty crowded, just like the whole city of Lynnwood, WA is. It wasn't senior discount day, or any other special discount day, just a normal Monday. I found some white bowls, some nearly new glasses, and then an espresso coffee machine caught my eye. Standing there amidst $7.00 K-cup coffee makers and $5.00 Mr. Coffee drip machines, it was unique, and for me, too expensive - $25. My husband and I had always wanted one of these, but never gave in to such a luxury. As I turned my back on the espresso maker, a petite Asian woman wearing a manager nametag asked me: "Do you like that espresso maker?" Her brown eyes twinkled and her smile was bright. "Yes," I answered, "but that is too much money for me." Then she handed me an orange slip. "Here, show this to the cashier when you check out and you will have 50% off everything in your basket."  
"Thank you," I whispered, "why are you giving me this?" 
"No special reason," she almost giggled. "Just show it to the cashier."

I carefully placed the espresso machine in my basket, and then added a few more necessities from the houseware shelves.  

"Wow, you sure are lucky," said this young cashier to me as I handed her the orange slip and placed my finds on her counter. "These orange slips are very rare," she explained. I could tell she was not going to give me any further explanation so I did not ask her for the reason.  My thoughts returned to my driveway prayer - asking for favor in the marketplace. I knew I was not simply lucky, I was abundantly blessed.

​"So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man" Provers 3:4

Lord, show us this year, an orchard, your way,
Wisdom and patience, please send us, we pray.
Sow seeds for your kingdom and help us to share
The good news of heaven, that all may go there.
Govern our thoughts, our deeds, what we say,
Illumine your Word, keeping worries at bay;
Use us as servants, as salt, and as light
To draw neighbors to you, keep all hearts contrite. - Susan

Lake City to Fairhope, AL - When I crossed the state line between FL and AL, I felt such mixed emotions. The traffic cleared up a lot, and I mean a drastic difference.  Green all around me in AL as we drove toward Fairhope.  Stopped plenty of times to stretch legs and get coffee or water. Fairhope is like Highlands, so many similarities. My brother Tom's home is full of love and laughter and we wish we could stay longer. Sis in law Christine - thoughtful and sweet hostess. Nephew Wyatt, age 10, full of fun, games, music and creativity. Peyton, 15, lovely, graceful and sweet. Tom and John are on a vacation trip to China. Thank you, John, for our room! Our seafood gumbo was delicious and card games after dinner such fun. Tomorrow we head for New Orleans.

First day of our new life. Left Palm Beach county at 10:30 a.m. Arrived in Lake City about 6 p.m.  Tons of traffic on the turnpike.  Stuck there about an hour due to an accident.  Curt driving his Elantra and me in the SUV Santa Fe.  Great weather though. Our cars are very full - I hope we shed some of this stuff soon to lighten up. We have decided to eat protein, veggies and fruit to stay alert.  No carbs til the end of the day.  I already broke the rules.  At 3 p.m. I had a hot fudge cookie sundae at DQ.  Best thing they have ever created. But the carbs in the cookie definitely made my system sleepy.  Stopped at rest stop and we were ok.  I love my travel apps - the Road Ahead, iExit, and Waze.  All of these are so helpful.  Tonight we are in a brand new hotel in Lake City - Home2 by Hilton.  Super, clean, roomy , just fantastic and a good rate.  Found it on TripAdvisor.  My daughter in law Andrea turned me onto TripAdvisor awhile ago.  Some friends asked me to blog about our travels so I will.  Tonight I'm too tired to write well but I will do better in the coming week.  We are grateful to all of you who have wished us well and sent us off with prayers - we feel them. Sunday June 26

Fragrance from the Holy Spirit
 
The fragrance of cinnamon reminds me of making cinnamon toast with my younger brother late at night decades ago. The aroma of gingerbread cookies baking reminds me of my mother. Today my husband and I are empty nesters in Florida. Our household aromas are mostly morning coffee, biscuits, and bacon.
 
On December 20th 2014 after a long illness of strokes, pulmonary disease, and dementia, my father passed away at age 90 in New Orleans. He was a pretty good dad who loved his 6 children and his 16 grandchildren.  As a flight surgeon in the Air Force for several years, he seemed to be away more than present at home so when he was home I would sit in his lap after dinner soaking in his affection – and often his cherry tobacco pipe smoke too.  I was 5 then. The distinctive fragrance of that flavor of tobacco would take me back there instantly.
 
Dad was a man of faith who had accepted Jesus as his savior at age 13 in a church in Pass Christian, MS. With six children, my folks had faced many lean times financially. He always told us – “the Lord will provide,” with each and every trial our family faced through 13 moves all over the country. Dad was a man of prayer.
 
For one year before his death, my relationship with him had been a bit strained over some family relationship issues.  The morning he left this earthly realm, my brother in New Orleans called to let me know.  I felt numb, and for some reason, betrayed.  I had not had the chance to tell him goodbye. My sister was there, and she did. One of my brothers did. But I had not. That week I had had a houseful of guests in preparation for Christmas with little time for phone calls. For hours I was in a fog, feeling nothing.
 
At 4:00 pm that day, my husband and I went in our den and closed the door to pray and think. We prayed. We found a photo of Dad taken at our wedding. I wanted to post it on Facebook to honor him.  As I was typing what I wanted to say about my father, the whole room filled with the strong smell and incense of cherry pipe tobacco – we could almost see the smoke!  Tears filled my eyes; I broke down, and had a good cry on my sweet husband’s shoulder. I believe the Holy Spirit had given me the gift of this fragrance, assuring me that my father had indeed hugged me one last time, and had bid me goodbye – not forever, but just for now.
 
“Think of my prayer as sweet-smelling incense, and think of my lifted hands as an evening sacrifice. “  Psalm 141:2   
“For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish”
2 Corinthians 2:15
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
I hope my prayers are like fragrant incense with a sweet savor. Thank you for my earthly parents and for pleasant memories. Thank you that you speak to each one of us in very personal and unique ways.

Isaiah 61:10 I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

My filthy rags of countless sin,
Rarely letting light within,
Racing after worldly pleasures,
Flaunting many froward measures,
Seeking peace and joy in vain,
Liking self I did but feign.

My brother's life did testify
To show me that I lived a lie.
The Holy Spirit's hammer crushed
My pride, my lust, and self-will hushed.
On my knees I turned around
As my heart my Saviour found;
Giving me His pure white shawl
For your soul He gave His all.

Psalm 91:9-11
“Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place,
There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent. For He will give His angels charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways.” (Amplified Bible)

Many years ago, when our son was age two, Curt and I lived in a quad-type townhouse in Ft. Pierce, Florida (4 units per building). The whole structure was surrounded by concrete block privacy walls that opened onto an enclosed patio - one per unit.  The townhouse neighborhood was not protected by any type of fence yet, being a brand new development in 1986. Our townhouse faced a city street and across the street from us were single family homes, mostly serene, with the exception of the one that faced our privacy wall. That older couple had a teenage grandson living them, and on the weekends that teenager held band practice in their garage.

Curt was working at WTVX then, anchoring the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. weekday newscasts. With a toddler in the condo, I usually fell asleep before Curt would get home.  One Friday night, that teenager across the street was having a rather loud party in his grandparents’ house.  A pertinent detail here is that their driveway was across the street from our concrete privacy wall.  Relieved that their noise had not awakened my toddler son, I tried to sleep, but could not. So I opened my Bible to Psalm 91 and read out loud:  “There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your dwelling.”  I repeated that verse over and over until I finally drifted off to sleep.

At 2:00 a.m. I heard a very loud crash.  Curt and I bolted out of bed.  What we saw was a bit shocking - a car from across the street had pummeled through our neighbor’s concrete wall into their patio - the patio right next to ours.  Yes, a car from that teenage party.  Happily, no one was hurt.

I thanked the Lord that the car had missed our dwelling.  Naturally, I felt badly for our neighbors. However, I could not ignore this “coincidence” that the car had missed our patio/townhouse on the same day that I had read the Psalm 91 promises out loud.  As you may have guessed, I do not believe in coincidences, just in the goodness of God.