Day 146

Scripture: Ps 119:97-120; Ps 81, 82; 2 Samuel 9:1-13; Acts 19:1-10; Mark 8:34—9:1


Scripture standout: Ps 81: "Open wide your mouth and I will fill it."


Mark 8: "“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."


Morning thoughts: A huge tree just toppled over yesterday at the house next door. The good next door, as in, not the mean next door neighbors next door. I am anxious to see it again this morning. How incredible that this huge water oak tree, which must have been three or four-stories high, just fell. No cars were passing through at the time. No kids — like mine! — just so happened to be riding their bikes in front of that house at the time. There were not children playing at the end of the park where the top of this mighty tree landed with a boom. It did not fall on a house. Protection for sure.


His Deed/The Day: The tree is gonzo. City workers came and crunched up every little last bit of the tree today. The fearful thought, now a distant memory. Done.

Today's deed? Well there were two. First, I circled back on an offer too good to be true. Someone had suggested they take the kids for an overnight visit. OH the dream! But I sensed it wasn't the right time. So an out was drawn...and taken. Second? It's something I'm about to do right now once I fish around in my purse...I will follow through with an offer to host a visiting church family to dinner. There is a long list of people we want and need to have over to dinner, and we'll start with this family.

Tonight I was part of an impromptu birthday dinner celebration with friends I wish I saw more of. In our wine stupor, we talked about people to whom we were drawn to friendships. One of the leaders of this discussion is a girl who is all about being honest. She's real. She's hysterical. She's not up to admitting her faults and moving on to the good stuff. If there was a Housewives of Jacksonville FL, she would be on it, and the viewing audience would love her for her authenticity. It got me thinking...does self-deprication, humor and an admiration for the real make a person a desirable and reliable friend? I think so.