Day 172

Scripture: Ps 38; 1 Kings 9:24-10:13; James 3:1-12; Mark 15:1-11


Scripture standout: Ps 38: "⁹ All my longings lie open before you, Lord; 
   my sighing is not hidden from you."

Morning thoughts: I know what Marley wants for her birthday next month. I hear about it — a lot. She wants Pepper, the new Husky dog from American Girl,

and some game where you can magically lift a ball in the air by using your brain powers.

She also wouldn't mind having an iTouch that takes video.

And any dollars that  that could be deposited in the "Go-Cart Fund" she and Ethan have established, would be GREATLY appreciated.

She wants some of those running shoes that look like you're in bare feet.

She wants to one day live in the playroom. She wants to have a life like iCarly. She wants to be a rock star one day. She tells me this. I hear it. And Lord knows, I see it!

I also hear Marley sighing when she has to do her homework. I hear her screech like a dying eagle when Ben taunts her. I hear her sweet, soft breathing when I peak in on her at night.

Moms know. God knows.

His Deed/The Day: A friend is gathering goods and items for a mother who sleeps under the bridge with her two kids. Uggh. I can't even begin to imagine. I brought her a Winn-Dixie gift card to share with the mother. That is such a drop in her bucket. Also called a friend to thank her for a nice evening. I need to do that more often — call people and thank them for their hospitality. It's so easy, and so meaningful. Today someone sent me a "atta-girl" letter about the new Teachable Moments stories in the paper. Made my day! I'll have to do more of that for people too.

Day 172

Scripture: Ps 26, 28, 36, 39; 1 Kings 8:65—9:9; James 2:14-26; Mark 14:66-72


Scripture standout: James 2: "¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."


Morning thoughts: I tried to go to bed at 7:45 last night. I had not slept much at all the night before, so directly after dinner I told everybody that mom was going night night. I put my head down on the cool pillow and snuggled in. First Ben came in with a stomach ache. Eyes still closed, I directed him to take a shower. He did. He returned to my bed. He writhed. I patted his back, eyes still closed. Eventually, he moved on to something more exciting. I slept. About 9:30, Marley came in to my room in tears. She couldn't go to sleep she explained through her sobbing. Her night had been all messed up because no one tucked her in properly, she said, heaving. I was still half-asleep, and not feeling very comforting. I might have been a little, angry. Sleep had been so lovely! After some grumpussing words to her, I finally got up and followed Marley back into her room and dug deep for my calm, more understanding mom. I rocked her a little, I got her a cup of water. I spoke in soothing tones and waited. To the scripture's point, back rubbing and rocking works much better than, "just go to bed!". She went to sleep, and so did I.

His Deed/The Day: Today I felt compelled to check in on a friend who has taken a new job. Last week, she was feeling disheveled and sick about her decision to say the least. I haven't heard back yet, but maybe she knows she is missed and people are praying for her!

Day 171

Scripture: Ps 25, 9, 15; 2 Chronicles 6:32—7:7; James 2:1-13; Mark 14:53-65


Scripture standout: James 2: "⁵ Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?"


Morning thoughts: 
His Deed/The Day:

Day 170

Scripture: Ps 26:1-8; Jeremiah 15:15-21; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16:21-28


Scripture standout: Romans 12: "¹³ Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality."


Morning thoughts: Thinking about all the people in New York City this morning who are hunkering down. Hurricane Irene passed through there today. My sister-in-law said everything was closed last night, even Bloomingdales' windows were boarded up.

His Deed/The Day: Today we are practicing hospitality by having two families over for dinner. One we know, the other is new to our church. In addition to feeding them, my goal will be to speak their names often.

Day 169

Scripture: Ps 20, 21; Ps 110, 116, 117; 1 Kings 7:51—8:21; Acts 28:17-31; Mark 14:43-52


Scripture standout: 1 Kings 7: "¹⁰ When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD. ¹¹ And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple.

 ¹² Then Solomon said, “The LORD has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud; ¹³ I have indeed built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever.”

Morning thoughts: There it is again! Another dark cloud reference about God's presence. I'm thinking about that this morning as all those people along the east coast flee Irene. Do good things come out of the dark clouds? Besides destruction or death, do dark clouds also yield things like...neighbors helping each other clean up or doctors stepping in to treat the injured? Deep thoughts from a half-awake mom and her coffee.

His Deed/The Day: I'm making headway on the "speaking people's name" more often challenge. The other day, I encouraged Marley to make sure she welcomed two new girls to school and spoke their name. I told her how much people like to hear their names. But by golly, it occurred to me how hard it is to do! I'm terrible at it! Right before I say someone's name, I get petrified that I'll mess it up. Or that I am thinking of the wrong person. Or that there's some funny accent I'm not recalling. So I don't say it most times. Maybe it comes from my experiences. People get my name wrong ALL. THE. TIME. I'm Suzanne to many. It's a great name, but I have another syllable in my moniker. Susan is another misnomer. Again, love the name — but it ain't mine. Sue is different. It's a nickname plain and simple. It is a deliberate shortening of my full name. Sue works. Suzanne — wrong.

Today at Dollar Tree I saw someone I knew and shouted their name clear across the store. They nearly dropped the no-name bottle of Dollar Store shampoo they were considering. Deed done.

Day 168

Scripture: Ps 16, 17, 22; 1 Kings 5:1—6:1, 7; Acts 28:1-16; Mark 14:27-42


Scripture standout: Ps 16: "⁸ I keep my eyes always on the LORD. 
   With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken."

Mark 14: "³² They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” ³³ He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled.³⁴ “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”

Morning thoughts: Deadlines!!! No thoughts...other than, gitterdun!


His Deed/The Day: Decided today that I am going to attempt to speak a quasi-not-familiar-person's-name once a day. Done. Day 1. Done.

Day 167

Scripture: Ps 18:1-20; 1 Kings 3:16-28; Acts 27:27-44; Mark 14:12-26


Scripture standout: Ps 18: "¹ I love you, LORD, my strength.

 ² The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
   my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
   my shield^[b] and the horn^[c] of my salvation, my stronghold."

¹⁶ Now two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. ¹⁷One of them said, “Pardon me, my lord. This woman and I live in the same house, and I had a baby while she was there with me. ¹⁸The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us.

 ¹⁹ “During the night this woman’s son died because she lay on him.²⁰ So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast. ²¹ The next morning, I got up to nurse my son—and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn’t the son I had borne.”
 ²² The other woman said, “No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours.”
   But the first one insisted, “No! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine.” And so they argued before the king.
 ²³ The king said, “This one says, ‘My son is alive and your son is dead,’ while that one says, ‘No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.’”
 ²⁴ Then the king said, “Bring me a sword.” So they brought a sword for the king. ²⁵ He then gave an order: “Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.”
 ²⁶ The woman whose son was alive was deeply moved out of love for her son and said to the king, “Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill him!”
   But the other said, “Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!”
 ²⁷ Then the king gave his ruling: “Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother.”
 ²⁸ When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.

Morning thoughts: I'd never read that story from 1 Kings before! I guess it is not one they highlight for the fifth-grade Sunday School class. What a terrible, but wonderful story! What a yucky story about prostitutes living in the same house having babies galore and rolling over on one — but what a beautiful story about the ends to which a loving mom will go to protect her baby.

This is what my babies look like these days, sniff:

I may not make them sit in a five-point harness in the car, and I may let them eat Little Debbie snacks, but like most moms, I'd do anything to protect them.


His Deed/The Day: Picked up the tab.

Day 166

Scripture: Ps 91; Deuteronomy 18:15-18; 1 Corinthians 4:9-15; Luke 22:24-30

Scripture standout: 1 Corinthians 4: "⁹ For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. ¹⁰ We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! ¹¹ To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. ¹² We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; ¹³ when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment."


Luke 22: "Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. ²⁷ For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves."


Morning thoughts: Today's devotional from Forward Day by Day resonates — puts some meat on the thought that our real calling as humans is to serve others as much as possible. Here 'tis to share — talk amongst yourselves:

Luke 22:24-30. But I am among you as one who serves.

Jesus taught the apostles that he was their servant, not only by his words but also by his actions. His last meal with them, when he washed their feet, was the highest demonstration of this and the model of leadership he left with his followers. Peter objected. Jesus’ words and actions were shocking. He was their teacher and leader. How could he be servant as well?

In cultures where elders are respected, obeyed and served, the gospel must be profoundly disturbing if it is taken seriously. Korea is one such country. Respect is shown in many ways—for example, by not standing on a teacher’s shadow. Most of all it is tied up in the language with special ways of speaking to “juniors” and to “seniors.” Most Korean translations of the gospels have Jesus speaking to the disciples in a way which says “you’re lower than me”—a form they couldn’t use to address him in reply.

How hard it is to accept God’s humility. God took on human flesh, an act of humility. And being humbled even further, God claimed the role of a servant. The servant Jesus calls us too to serve, with the apostles, in the same way.

His Deed/The Day: Late night quoroot delivery to a little Afghan friend who is recovering from surgery.

Day 165

Scripture: Ps 5, 6, 10, 11; 1 Kings 1:38—2:4; Acts 26:24—27:8; Mark 13:28-37


Scripture standout: Ps 5: "³ In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; 
   in the morning I lay my requests before you 
   and wait expectantly."



Morning thoughts: Summer is finally over. There have been many highs, but certainly there have been some painful stretches. I love summer, but I have to say — I'm glad school is starting today. Very glad.

I think more than anything, I'm looking forward to routine beginning again today. Could I possibly be that rote? That boring? That robotic? Could a schedule really make me that much more satisfied and comforted?  I am so lame, but whatever. I have missed my morning time, as early as it is. I like getting something big, like exercise, accomplished before the sun rises. And I have missed my morning quiet time. I am looking forward to "laying my requests before" God this morning — on Alhambra North, just before I make the turn back on to Barcelona at around 6:15 — and waiting expectantly for some response.


His Deed/The Day: Checked in with two local writers who have written or are working on books. Geez, writing books is hard business. It's a long road, maybe it's nice to have someone hold up a sign saying "you can do it!" as you drive by.

Day 164

Scripture: Ps 1, 2, 3, 4, 7; 1 Kings 1:5-31; Acts 26:1-23; Mark 13:14-27


Scripture standout: Acts 26: "¹⁶‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me."


Morning thoughts: My feet are KILLING me, and I am not surprised. My foot horrors happen every year as summer draws to a close. My feet — which have enjoyed wriggling around in the sand or going on beach walks or soaking in the tepid pool for three months — get dry and crackledy. They chafe the floor when I walk, sometimes — oftentimes — they snag the carpet. They make sharp sweeping sounds when I slide them between the sheets at night. If I'd just leave them alone or buff them in the shower — maybe be better about pedicures — then the pain would never come. But I secretly enjoy giving that dry, crinkly, chad-hanging skin a tug. Pick. Pick. Pick. And I'm always left with a painful slice of raw skin that makes it nearly impossible to walk properly. Sigh.


His Deed/The Day: Today's deed is interviewing another fabulous teacher for the Teachable Moments project. It suddenly occurred to me last night that this work falls into the deed category. It is work, yes. But I am having some perspective that I can use my gifts, or experience, in writing to share the awesome stories that are coming out of our classrooms. Isn't that deeding? I can give public props to our teachers from this vantage. Maybe God is using my rat-a-tat-tat-typing-fingers to let other people know how great his teachers are. Could be! Pretty neato! I wonder if it's possible to break all kinds of work down to the core, and find some deeper meaning or purpose? I be it is...

Day 163

Scripture: Ps 138; Isaiah 51:1-6; Romans 12:1-8; Matthew 16:13-20


Scripture standout: Romans 12: "² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."


Romans 12: '³ For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your^[a] faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,^[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.


Morning thoughts: Love that.


His Deed/The Day: Fell on the sword today for Marley, who did not ever send a thank you note to a friend who hosted her this summer. It was my fault. In all my rushing around and juggling, I forgot to follow up and remind Marley to write the darn thing. Uggh. How embarassing. So I called myself out on it and came clean. Felt good. Hopefully, made her feel good that Marley and her mother aren't total slacker bumpkins.

Day 162

Scripture: Ps 137:1-6; Ps 144, 104; 2 Samuel 23:1-7, 13-17; Acts 25:13-27; Mark 13:1-13


Scripture standout: Ps 144: "² He is my loving God and my fortress, 
   my stronghold and my deliverer, 
my shield, in whom I take refuge,"

Ps 104: "²⁴ How many are your works, LORD!
   In wisdom you made them all;
   the earth is full of your creatures.
²⁵ There is the sea, vast and spacious,
   teeming with creatures beyond number—
   living things both large and small.
²⁶ There the ships go to and fro,
   and Leviathan, which you formed to frolic there."



Morning thoughts: We are at the beach this weekend for the last summer hurrah. Last night, the kids had a very successful crab hunt competition. Shine a flashlight on the beach at night and the "teeming numbers of creatures" are obvious and amazing!


His Deed/The day: Today's deed was not killing David, who had a fun evening out here at the beach between the beer and wine.

Day 161

Scripture: Ps 140, 142, 141; 2 Samuel 19:24-43; Acts 24:24—25:12; Mark 12:35-44


Scripture standout: Ps 141: "³ Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; 
   keep watch over the door of my lips."

Morning thoughts: Yikes, I have to be on live radio this morning. I'm excited, but mainly nervous. Another gal and I are sharing details of this editorial project I've been working on all summer. It's the project that has helped tip the work-balance scale this summer — it's the project, probably, that has driven me to the brink of insanity this summer.

As I sit here trying to calm my nerves, I just have to remember that I'm not actually the one talking. My words will come from a much smarter source. Why should I be worried about that?


His Deed/The Day: My mother in law is out of toilet paper at her house. So on the way out to the beach, we stopped to pick some up at the gas station. Held the door for a creepy guy with tats totin' a 12-pack.

Day 160

Scripture: Ps 131, 132, 133, 134, 135; 2 Samuel 19:1-23; Acts 24:1-23; Mark 12:28-34


Scripture standout: Mark 12: "²⁸ One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

   ²⁹ “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.^[a] 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’^[b] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[c] There is no commandment greater than these.”

Morning thoughts: Love God with all your strength. Love your neighbors as much as you love yourself. Is that why God populates our community with people who are very difficult to love? Is that the challenge? I have a friend going through a very tough situation with a neighbor. She's in a position of leadership, and this guy publicly harasses her and is verbally abusive through vehicles like Facebook. How in the heck is she supposed to love THAT neighbor? Maybe that's where the secret of living a godly life lies. Maybe when you can figure out how to love the person who chafes you most, you've discovered the meaning of life. Them's tough marching orders...


His Deed/The Day: Loving nice neighbors is a lot easier, it seems. A friend and sort-of-nearby neighbor has been battling salmonella of all things. Yikes! A quick inquiry resulted in a need for a few things from the store. Done!

Day 159

Scripture: Ps 119:145-176; Ps 128, 129, 130; 2 Samuel 18:19-33; Acts 23:23-35; Mark 12:13-27

Scripture standout: Ps 128: "¹ Blessed are all who fear the LORD, 
   who walk in obedience to him."
Morning thoughts: Wiped.

His Deed/The Day: Heading to the Itchnetuknee for a day of tubing. Fun for Ben! Floating down the river, hen back to scale the mountain.

Day 158

Scripture: Ps 121, 122, 123, 124,125,126; 2 Samuel 18:9-18; Mark 11:27—12:12; Acts 23:12-24


Scripture standout:  Ps 121: "¹ I lift up my eyes to the mountains— 

   where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the LORD,
   the Maker of heaven and earth.
 ³ He will not let your foot slip—
   he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
   will neither slumber nor sleep.
 ⁵ The LORD watches over you—
   the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
   nor the moon by night.
 ⁷ The LORD will keep you from all harm—
   he will watch over your life;
⁸ the LORD will watch over your coming and going
   both now and forevermore.

Morning thoughts: I had a very cathartic exchange with another mom at the pool yesterday. She has three children who are about my kids' ages. She told me she was eager for school to start, and had a pit in her stomach about this week. She had to travel for work, she was lining up sitters and trying to be fun at the same time. She went on and on about the equation: Semi-more-than-part-time-job + being a mom to your children (especially during the summer when expectations for fun are at a high level) + keeping a home = work + guilt + stomach ache 24/7.

This is the first summer I've felt under the gun with my work and family balance. When everyone's in school and I have chunks of time to work (both in the house and on the computer). And then there's time in the morning to be a present mother and wife. It has worked pretty well. I'd never looked around before to see who else was in my situation. I felt some relief knowing I wasn't the only one with a stomach ache each summer morning — wondering how its going to be keeping everyone happy and focusing on work.

Sometimes God sends a little angel who makes you feel a little less alone in life's daily struggles. Thank you, God!

His Deed/The Day: I lifted my eyes up to the fake rock mountain with the bright blue gurgling waterfall coming off of it — and all the other worn and weathered wooden walkways at The Mandarin Mill Putt-Putt Golf — and said, "Sure, I'd love to play golf this afternoon with you." Fun mom, at last! Deed done. Now I'm lifting my eyes to the other mountain before me — nearly 100 emails and several unfinished stories. Sigh.