Leslie Jordan & David Leonard, All Sons & Daughters
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There was a lull in the sanctuary the other morning as the worship pastor’s guitar faded; the piano’s tones softened on the keyboard. A quietness fell while we waited a few moments and listened.
From the back of the room a voice was lifted in confidence and confession–
“I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your wonders of old.”
Norm shouted his praise from Psalm 77 and we ‘amened’ the words on the other side.
It is not remarkable that there would be a moment of spontaneous sharing like that on a Sunday morning at our little Foursquare Church.
What is remarkable is that Norm is frail and bent over and confined to a wheelchair.
And without his oxygen tank towing forever behind him, he cannot breathe.
You would think he’d bemoan this fact each time he had a chance. That he’d recite a litany of ‘woe is me’s’ about his limited abilities to get around, his waning strength this last year, his reliance on the kindness of others to get him hither and yon.
But no, he shows up at church and our small group, he brings the Word and with all the breath he has in him, he belts it out.
Later on that day, I read these words:
There are countless hours in each day I never give a second thought to the fact that I can breathe, unassisted. I am upright, mobile, strong and healthy. I can shout and sing, laugh and yell. All manner of expressions are mine because of my Maker.
It is GOD’S breath in my lungs, whoooshed into me at birth, gracing me with strength and health these 60 plus years. I probably think about that fact a total of 30 seconds a week (or maybe never). In/out, in/out, sing, talk, laugh, shout, pray….how many ways can I use my voice? How many times can I lift it in song? Countless, countless number of times. Without giving it a second thought. This week I want to put on thankful, breathing praise in and out, and remember everything I have is a gift. Everything. ~~~~~~~~~~
What is something ‘every day-ish’ that you take for granted? Share in the Comments.
No matter where I live, I recognize the song of a red-winged blackbird. In rushes near the shore’s edge of a California beach, along the canals and waterways in the San Joaquin Valley, the tall grasses along a Louisiana bayou or deep in marshes along Washington’s coast, the voice of the songbird is the same….
The Scent of Water** and the ticking of clocks is keeping me awake. the fragrance drawing me to the well of the Word, the Giver offering refreshment for my soul. The time keepers clicking through the dark marking the minutes– telling me twice, “take of each one” “make of each one” the most that you…
The wind is washing waves over me, moving birds and branches with a jet engine pushhhhhhh… tumbling, not sand, but sky high sentinels shouting in whispers, not of water but waves on sullen shores of sky far, far from the summer season a world of blue water away.
Red in the blueberries, bidding farewell to the season Red on my table, my plate, and in a bowl (a bounty of tomatoes–all shapes and sizes) The red Cardinal Flower, last blooms in the garden Red near the park as the maples mark the cooler days And the best red I’ve read…
I read recently there’s a bit of controversy about Sarah Young’s devotional book ‘Jesus Calling’, that perhaps it’s ‘extra-biblical’, even new-age-y. The articles I read didn’t cite any of the particular daily devotions, just made rather sweeping statements about the fact she ‘claimed’ to hear from Jesus and wrote down what He said to her in…
