Day 233

Scripture: Ps 56, 57, 64, 65: Nehemiah 6:1-19; Revelation 10:1-11; Matthew 13:36-43
Scripture standout: Ps 56: "³ When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 

 ⁴ In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.
   What can mere mortals do to me?

 ⁵ All day long they twist my words;
   all their schemes are for my ruin.
⁶ They conspire, they lurk,
   they watch my steps,
   hoping to take my life.
⁷ Because of their wickedness do not^[c] let them escape;
   in your anger, God, bring the nations down.

 ⁸ Record my misery;
   list my tears on your scroll^[d]—
   are they not in your record?
⁹ Then my enemies will turn back
   when I call for help.
   By this I will know that God is for me.

 ¹⁰ In God, whose word I praise,
   in the LORD, whose word I praise—
¹¹ in God I trust and am not afraid.
   What can man do to me?

 ¹² I am under vows to you, my God;
   I will present my thank offerings to you.
¹³ For you have delivered me from death
   and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
   in the light of life.

His Deed/The Day: I am in a funny place today. Someone I love was treated unkindly, and that's a nice way to describe it. I'm angry and feeling like I want to jump in and set these people straight! Today I'm praying with  and for this person I adore — my prayers are for either the right words to use myself, or for the person hurt. Ugggh. Ungrateful, ugly people an really put a kink in things!

Day 232

Scripture: Ps 107:1-7, 33-37; Joshua 3:7-17; Micah 3:5-12; Matthew 23:1-12


Scripture standout: Matthew 23: "¹¹ The greatest among you will be your servant. ¹²For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."


His Deed/The day: Ahhhhh...the firemen were back with their boots!!!!! Loads of change were emptied. Then the kids had a change fundraiser at church for the Sulzbacher Center. My wallet is light, and I am happy.

Just doing it

So, I started this little experiment before Lent and intended to try 40 days of intentional, spiritually guided, doing one good deed a day for others. When the 40 days was over, I decided I had to keep going. Not only was the project getting me into some good habits of being prayerful and quiet each day, but I was also making time to read scripture every day — which has been very nice. So I pressed on, and am now looking at a finish date of my 40th birthday in May...which I believe will be just a hair over 400 days of doing one good deed a day.

The other reason it was hard to stop after 40 is that I needed more time to make deeding a habit. I always heard that it takes a few weeks to make a habit out of something, and just a few days to break it. But making a good deed each day's priority is totally counterintuitive. It does not, and still does not, come naturally. The only thing that comes naturally is the guilt of not doing something, which encourages me to find something nice to do quick! Acting on that "urge" or, that nudge from God to "just do it" when it comes to deeding, however, is hard.

RB and I were talking this morning about that nudge that we get. It's when someone shares that they're going through something terrible and you say something nice, but ineffective like, "Do you need anything? I'm here if I can do anything for you." That is easy to say. I can do it all day long, and am quite comfortable with using those words! And it feels good, too — it feels like you're being kind and responsive, and at the core sympathetic and concerned. But it isn't, I repeat, IS NOT, helping. Helping, or deeding, comes when you JUST DO IT. RB said she ran into a friend who was in a challenging spot. RB asked if she could bring dinner over, and the friend said no, that she thought she'd be OK without it. But guess what RB's nudge said? "JUST DO IT! Just go buy or make some GD dinner and drive it over to her house!!! JUST DO IT! If she really doesn't need it, she can put that puppy in the freezer and eat it another night!" This deeding do-gooding experiment is teaching me every day that "what can I do for you" is something I should delete from my vocabulary altogether. Instead, I need to focus more on the mantra "just do it."

More later...I have other thoughts about being sincere in offers of help, and how that all works.

Day 231

Scripture: Ps 55, 138, 139:1-23; Nehemiah 4:1-23; Matthew 13:31-35; Revelation 7:4-17
Scripture standout: Ps 139: "⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit? 
   Where can I flee from your presence? 
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there; 
   if I make my bed in the depths, you are there."

Matthew 13: "³¹ He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. ³²Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

His Deed/The Day:

Day 230

Scripture: Ps 119:89-96; Deuteronomy 32:1-4; Ephesians 2:13-22; John 15:17-27
Scripture standout: Deuteronomy 32: "³ I will proclaim the name of the LORD. 
   Oh, praise the greatness of our God! 
⁴ He is the Rock, his works are perfect, 
   and all his ways are just. 
A faithful God who does no wrong, 
   upright and just is he."

Ephesisans 2: "¹⁹ Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,"

His Deed/The Day: I had a lovely dinner last night with one of the duckiest gals in town (ha! pun alert!) We were sharing our spiritual journeys. She's great because she doesn't use polite words to describe her walk, and doesn't sugar coat the big bumps along the way. Nor does she prop herself up as a perfect person who has it all figured otu. We talked about being real, and what it looks like when you're in the muck. When you're in a particularly stinky spot, it feels like God is kicking you out of his household. But in retrospect, it's so clear how he's actually putting you in a situation that is much, much better. It was nice to look back sometimes and see how that all works.

My brother and his family are moving today. Moving is a muck, mucky muckity place to be. I know they're not thrilled with the whole process. And I can't say I blame them. We ordered dinner for them, and hopefully it will arrive today when they're at their hungriest!

Day 229

Scripture: Ps 50, 103; Nehemiah 1:1-11; Revelation 5:11-6:11; Matthew 13:18-23


Scripture standout: Matthew 13: "¹⁸ “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:¹⁹ When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. ²⁰ The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. ²¹ But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. ²² The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. ²³ But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”


His Deed/The Day: So there was a major deeding opportunity today on the streets of Jacksonville. The firefighters and their boots were out and about. Before starting this experiment, I might have groaned or muttered, "get OUT of the street, dude! Roll 'em up!" But I scrambled for my purse. I sunk my claws into it, heroically grabbed it out, unleashed the snap sending coins all over the car and saw a $5-er crumpled at the bottom of my cash file. Perfect. A fiver... more than $1 or loose change, but not TOO much. I shook, fumbling to release it and pass it on out the window. And wouldn't you know it, before I could mash the window down button the light turned green and someone honked at me. I had to lurch forward. Deed left undone. Luckily, I made it safely to my destination...to a Mexican food restaurant where my church was "giving back" to the owner for helping us re-do our kitchen. Yummy deed.

Day 228

Scripture: Ps 119:49-72; Ps 49, 53; Ezra 6:1-22; Revelation 5:1-10; Matthew 13:10-17
Scripture standout: Ps 119: "⁷¹ It was good for me to be afflicted 
   so that I might learn your decrees."

Ps 49: "¹² People, despite their wealth, do not endure;    they are like the beasts that perish.

 ¹³ This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,
   and of their followers, who approve their sayings.^[d] "

His Deed/The Day: Love days like this...Finally heard back from my cousin about her UNICEF work and made a small donation to her work. Checkin' things off the list!

Day 227

Scripture: Ps 45, 47, 48; Ezra 5:1-17; Revelation 4:1-11; Matthew 13:1-9
Scripture standout: Ps 48: "¹⁴ For this God is our God for ever and ever; 

   he will be our guide even to the end."

His Deed/The Day: Went to WeGive.org. That is a very cool site. They showcase local organizations and their needs. With a very very small donation, I signed up to help a senior citizen get utensil device that helps him or her eat with dignity. I want to start paying it forward on the senior side now...those days are ahead for us all!

On the way home yesterday, I heard that a friend was sick. So I slid into a store real quick and grabbed some frozen soup to send home with her son. This is one observation I have about deeding. I think most time it starts with the question "What can I do for that person?" Or "If I were that person in that situation, what would help me out or make me feel better?" At that point, it is deeding's critical junction. Will you, or won't you act on the answer? Sometimes it's super easy! Like today, I thought of the answer while I was passing a to-go store that I could very easily just wheel into. Sometimes, the answer takes a little more  planning or doing. But no good ever comes out of letting the answer go by un-addressed.

Day 226

Scripture: Ps 1; Acts 15:12-22a; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Matthew 13:54-58


Scripture standout: Matthew 13: "But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”

 ⁵⁸ And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith."

His Deed/The Day: This morning I shared a chippier bit of scripture with some family who are in the process of moving back to their home town. The verse I sent, along with words of encouragement, was about "planting yourself by the stream." But this verse up here is the one that makes me concerned. It IS hard to re-emerge back in your hometown. It is not forgiving and it remembers you way-back-when, and for the things that you accomplished when you were 13 years old — good and bad. I hope it's a smooth transition.

Day 225

Deed: No computer AGAIN! More attention...good stuff.

Day 224

Deed: More of the same focus on Marley...no computer to occupy my attention...Used the $1 bill Lindsey through at me for the 50-cent toll and paid for the car behind us...going and coming.

Day 223

Deed: unplugged; went on road trip to Atlanta to celebrate Marley and Ellie's birthdays. No computers, no phone obsession! awesome!

Day 222

scripture: Ps 37:1-42; Ezra 1:1-11; 1 Corinthians 16:1-9; Matthew 12:15-21
Scripture standout: Ps 37: "⁷ Be still before the LORD 

   and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
   when they carry out their wicked schemes.

 ⁸ Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
   do not fret—it leads only to evil.
⁹ For those who are evil will be destroyed,
   but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land."

His Deed/The Day:

Day 221

Scripture: Ps 38; Ps 19:25-48; Lamentations 2:8-15; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; Matthew 12:1-14
Scripture standout: 1 Corinthians 15: "⁵¹ Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— ⁵² in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed."


His Deed/The Day: Went to support our niece in a long...really good and totally cute...and late theater performance at the end of the longest day ever.

Day 220

Scripture: Ps 147; Ecclesiasticus 38:1-4, 6-10, 12-14; 2 Timothy 4:5-13; Luke 4:14-21
Scripture standout: Ps 147: " ¹⁰ His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, 
   nor his delight in the legs of the warrior; 
¹¹ the LORD delights in those who fear him, 
   who put their hope in his unfailing love."

His deed/The Day: Today, I swung through the organic food market for a smoothie and to pick up some salt — some very organic salt — for Marley's volcano project. I nabbed some veggie patties for good measure and a bag of Pirate's Bootie, the healthier version of my much adored Cheese Puffs. My basket also included some Humboldt Fog cheese and some milk. Things were getting a little heavy as I was waiting in line. When the cashier asked who was next, a plastic surgurized older woman pushed forth ahead of me and another woman. There was an aghast silence as everyone stared befuddled at this woman and her pushiness. But you know what? No one said a word. The cashier, the other woman and I shared a compassionate smile. That's all. Today's gift was restrain.

Day 219

Scripture: Ps 25, 9, 15: Jeremiah 44:1-14; 1 Corinthians 15:30-41; Matthew 11:16-24
Scripture standout: 1 Corinthians 15: "What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. ³⁷ When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. ³⁸ But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body."


Ps 25: "⁴ Show me your ways, LORD, 
   teach me your paths. 
⁵ Guide me in your truth and teach me, 
   for you are God my Savior, 
   and my hope is in you all day long."

His Deed/The Day: Went to the UPS store today to mail some birthday presents. Everyone was grumpussing in there because they didn't have internet service, and apparently it wasn't the first time. So everyone was filling out forms and calling in credit cards, etc. etc...slow, slow, slow, back to the old days. Anyway, there was a particularly grumpussy older woman in line and smile as I might, I could not get her to return a smile. She was not happy. Instead of writing her off, I decided to eavesdrop. Turns out, I knew who she was and asked her if she was my acquiantaince's mother. And her face lit up, and she was so excited to engage. She even shared some compliments about my work, which is a rare occasion! Is engaging a deed? I'm going to say yes...

Day 218

Scripture: Ps 96:1-13; Isaiah 45:1-7; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; Matthew 22:15-22
Scripture standout: 1 Thess: "² We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers."


His Deed/The Day: Ben was confirmed this morning in the Episcopal Church! Bishop Keyser laid his hands on Ben's head and made it official. We were so proud of him. David and I were so happy to look around and see our good friends and family there supporting him. "We always thank God for all of you..." That was definitely resonating today.

Donated an extra $1 to a hunger relief organization with our afternoon Pizza Hut order.

Day 217

Scripture: Ps 20, 21, 110:1-7; Ps 116, 117; 2 Kings 25:8-12, 22-26; 1 Corinthians 15:12-29; Matthew 11:7-15
Scripture standout: 

Psalm 116

 ¹ I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; 
   he heard my cry for mercy. 
² Because he turned his ear to me, 
   I will call on him as long as I live.

 ³ The cords of death entangled me,
   the anguish of the grave came over me;
   I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
⁴ Then I called on the name of the LORD:
   “LORD, save me!”

 ⁵ The LORD is gracious and righteous;
   our God is full of compassion.
⁶ The LORD protects the unwary;
   when I was brought low, he saved me.

 ⁷ Return to your rest, my soul,
   for the LORD has been good to you.

 ⁸ For you, LORD, have delivered me from death,
   my eyes from tears,
   my feet from stumbling,
⁹ that I may walk before the LORD
   in the land of the living.

 ¹⁰ I trusted in the LORD when I said,
   “I am greatly afflicted”;
¹¹ in my alarm I said,
   “Everyone is a liar.”

 ¹² What shall I return to the LORD
   for all his goodness to me?

 ¹³ I will lift up the cup of salvation
   and call on the name of the LORD.
¹⁴ I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
   in the presence of all his people.

 ¹⁵ Precious in the sight of the LORD
   is the death of his faithful servants.
¹⁶ Truly I am your servant, LORD;
   I serve you just as my mother did;
   you have freed me from my chains.

 ¹⁷ I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
   and call on the name of the LORD.
¹⁸ I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
   in the presence of all his people,
¹⁹ in the courts of the house of the LORD—
   in your midst, Jerusalem.

   Praise the LORD.^[a]

His Deed/The Day: Today, Lindsey and I had the good fortune of being given two free spots to run in the Girls on the Run fundraiser 10-miler at White Oak Plantation. This is quite an opportunity. White Oak doesn't open up for just anybody. Not to mention, we needed to get a 10-mile run in. And the participation fee is pretty steep, and these passes were a gift! So we trekked out there and had a completely delightful...and free..run. Instead of relishing in a good "bargain" experience, I figured it would be much more effective to make a donation to the organization in the same amount. Deed done.

Day 216

Scripture: Ps 16, 17, 22; Jeremiah 38:14-28; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Matthew 11:1-6


Scripture standout: Ps 16: "⁸ I keep my eyes always on the LORD. 

   With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

 ⁹ Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
   my body also will rest secure,
¹⁰ because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
   nor will you let your faithful^[b] one see decay.
¹¹ You make known to me the path of life;
   you will fill me with joy in your presence,
   with eternal pleasures at your right hand."

His Deed/The Day: I am not good at giving strangers compliments. It feels weird sometimes, as much as I know how meaningful they can be. Today, I was interviewing a teacher for my TU project. She was really funny and outgoing, but she was not excited about the fact that I had to take her picture. I wouldn't have been either — she'd just finished a sweaty game of duck duck goose, had no makeup on and was definitely in Friday 3 p.m. mode. Not the best time for this plain-ish, larger-framed gal with the hearty laugh. But I took one anyway. And when that girl smiled, wowweeee! She looked so pretty and had the bluest eyes I'd ever seen on a person! And I told her so. It didn't feel weird at all.

Day 215

Scripture: Ps 18:1-50; Jeremiah 38:1-13; 1 Corinthians 14:26-33, 37-40; Matthew 10:34-42


Scripture standout: Ps 18: "¹² Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, 
   with hailstones and bolts of lightning. "

Matthew 10: "³⁷ “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸ Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹ Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it."

His Deed/The Day: Continuing the prayer vigil for a loved one. Spent some work time figuring out the upcoming Interfaith Forum. We'll be discussing faith's role in education. Hopefully that is a deed...to promote community discussion on what people of all faiths can do to support kids in our classrooms.

Day 214

Scripture: Ps 119:1-24; Ps 12, 13, 14; Jeremiah 37:3-21; 1 Corinthians 14:13-25; Matthew 10:24-33


Scripture standout: Matthew 10: "²⁹ Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.^[a] 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."


His Deed/The Day: OK, so someone must have heard my yappin last night. My extra rider was sick — so no ride. Decided to give a pittance to WJCT, our public radio station. I love NPR, and finally I feel like  I answered the naggity nag nag in my mind that I need to play my role in its support.

Day 213

Scripture: Ps 5, 6, 10, 11; Jeremiah 36:27-37:2; 1 Corinthians 14:1-12; Matthew 10:16-23
Scripture standout: Matthew 10: "¹⁹ But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, ²⁰ for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."


Ps 11: "¹⁴ But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; 
   you consider their grief and take it in hand."

His Deed/The Day: Today I'm going to stand by a loved one's side in spirit...

It was a pretty full deeding day. I signed up for a couple of events that also raise money for different projects or charities. We bought an Icee and gave a dollar more for breast cancer awareness. I inquired about my niece's dog, who is having surgery today...dug deep.

But a situation with which I've been struggling reared up again tonight. There is a family who lives nearby us — they're great and so much fun, but they constantly call for favors. Our kids are friends, kind-of. But not in a buddy-buddy, invite-each-other-over all the time kind of way. Yet, everytime the phone rings from these parents it's about if I can pick up so-and-so. Or if I can do this for them. Or if their child can come over after school. Or if they can drop them off early because they have an appointment — or worse yet, are in the Bahamas on vacation. With each request I cringe. I NEVER ask them for any favors. Yet theirs keep coming, and coming, and coming, and coming. And they're never even tempered with a nice invite to do something fun. Just favor after favor after favor. All easy favors, all no skin-off-my-back favors, but favors nonetheless. Tonight was no exception. But tonight — as I happily agreed to help — I decided I was going to keep on giving...because that's what I'm supposed to do. And I'm not going to !@#$ about it either. That's what blogs are for, right?