Glorious Day

The pianist knew one speed: fast.

She knew one volume: loud.

Loud benefited one member

of that tiny country church.

Miss Rae was about a hundred years old

(at least she seemed so to me, a child still in the single digits),

and deaf as a doorknob.

That didn’t stop her.

As the pianist pounded away at selections from the Baptist Hymnal,

Miss Rae could hear just enough to pick out the words

but not the tune.

In a voice I’m not sure was ever melodious,

she warbled along at top volume

about two measures behind the rest of us.

“Living He loved me;

Dying He saved me;

Buried, He carried my sins far away.

Rising, He justified freely forever;

One day He’s coming

Oh, glorious day!”

Every hymn was an off-key round, with Miss Rae taking up the rear.

Stifling giggles or (later) rolling our eyes,

my sister and I made fun of her

unmercifully

(at home, and in private, of course; our mother would have killed us otherwise).

When Casting Crowns recorded their new arrangement of this old song,

Miss Rae’s face (and voice)

returned unbidden to my memory.

I hadn’t thought of her in years.

Now, looking back,

I see sunlight streaming through windows

of that little church and hear her singing

and realize

how infinitely tender

those inharmonious songs

were to her Savior.

How precious

was her unashamed praise!

It was a sweet, sweet sound in His ears.

Be blessed,

Ginger

Maybe It’s Just Me…

There comes a point in every 7th grade teacher’s year

when her students turn into

mini-8th graders.

(Like, right about now.)

This means, among other things, that they get

boring.

BOR-ing.

Every amazing teaching idea,

project,

or joke

falls flat as yesterday’s pancakes.

One day they are interesting people interested in interesting things (well, some of them),

and the next,

yawn.

This year I have noticed a strange phenomenon.

As I’ve racked my brain for ways to turn

lessons on sentence structure

into something more exciting than the cafeteria’s menu,

I’ve evolved into the

World’s Most Boring Blogger.

I’ve got nothing.

Zip.

Zero.

Nada.

When I get home,

I do laundry,

cook supper,

and navigate (usually unsuccessfully)

dark waters of teenage drama.

That,

and read cozy mysteries.

(Some of you secretly watch Oprah;

I read light-weight novels.

Pick your fluff.)

Alas, right now I have no stunning posts

on any of these subjects.

All the deep stuff

isn’t for public consumption

right now.

So, for today,

the most exciting news here

is whatever is exciting

over there

where you are.

What’s happening at your place this week?

Be blessed,

Ginger

Marching On

It’s March,

and here,

in an unusual meteorological twist,

the weather is lovely and truly spring-like.

This month,

I’ve turned another year older,

(belated birthday giveaway coming soon)

given my porch rocker its first workout of the year,

and eaten my fill

of PW’s Chocolate Cake.

 With all this spring fever and chocolate,

I should be sharing

in the spirit of renewal and hope

budding out all around.

March never makes me feel like that.

Instead, I confess

the crud,

too little exercise and too little sleep,

and a host of other things, large and small,

have made March feel like Mile 13 of a marathon.

My Father is speaking to me:

Hold fast.

Run strong.

So I keep running.

How’s your race this week?

Be blessed,

Ginger

She Speaks…and coughs

I just realized that today is the last day to submit an entry for a scholarship to attend She Speaks.

Speaking (and breathing, if you read yesterday’s post) is close to my heart today, because I  am speaking at my church tonight.

I didn’t start out to be a speaker.

I was just a Sunday School teacher who loved words and the Word.

About six years ago, I realized something.

I loved God, but I didn’t really trust Him.

He prompted me to pray a dangerous prayer,

one I will never regret praying, though it has taken me on the wild ride of my life.

I asked, “Lord, will You teach me to trust You?”

I imagine Him smiling….

then roaring.

He isn’t a tame Lion.

What has followed has twisted and turned and hurt.

A lot.

Yet, today I can say

I trust Him.

I trust Him.

One day, a few years ago, a friend sat at my kitchen table and asked me if I ever wanted to write a book.

“No,” I hesitated, “I don’t think so…but, I don’t know, I might want to speak.”

She grabbed my hand.

“When it comes, and it will come, don’t pull back from it.”

A few months later, I stood in front of a sweet group of young moms and told a story on myself that I never wanted to tell.

Then I watched Him take my most spectacular failures

and bring Himself glory.

This post is not particularly eloquent.

Sometimes I am not.

Tonight He wants me  to speak about some things that are so new,

so raw,

in me

that I will need tissues

for more than just my allergies.

I dread it-

and I am eager for it-

all at the same time

because I trust Him,

and I want to see His glory.

Be blessed today,

Ginger

I Need a Few Daisies…and Prayers

(Image: tinywhitedaises)

On this grey day,

I am struggling with

the upper-respiratory crud,

and I am speaking tomorrow night

at our Ladies’ Weekend.

I need a strong voice.

Oxygen would be nice, too.

Seriously,

the worship leader,

another speaker,

and the event coordinator

have all fought

some sort of yuck

this week.

I believe the Lord

has a Word for the women gathering this weekend!

Would you join me in praying for us?

Thanks!

Be blessed,

Ginger

 

If You’re Looking for Me…

I think

I’ll move into

this little green cottage

any day now.

(image from tinywhitedaisies)

Be blessed,

Ginger

This Week

This week I have:

• gotten drenched in a mammoth downpour
• basked in mild sunshine
• gotten blown to bits by howling wind
• shivered
• run three miles
• skipped two workouts
• cried while praying every day
• gotten bad news
• gotten good news
• received a kind compliment
• laughed with a friend
• listened to my child sing in a concert
• eaten too much sugar and too few veggies
• slept too little
• watched gorgeous sunrises
• pondered God’s Word
• chose to believe it, one day at a  time

What’s your week been like?

Be blessed,

Ginger

On a Tuesday

Outside my window: the first of the daffodils!

Frustrating me: my fancy-smancy camera, because I can’t figure out how to get crisp, lovely pictures of my daffodils with it

Looking forward to: speaking at our spring Ladies’ Gathering in a few weeks

Making me long for May: kids with too-early spring fever and the stack of ungraded papers on my desk

Heavy on my heart: my little town and its teachers and business people, who have yet to experience any form of “economic recovery”

Speaking peace to my heart: God’s faithful promises spoken through His word (hanging out in Joshua 1-3 lately)

Formerly in my empty bowl: nutella and strawberries—mmmmm…..

Memorizing: 2 Corinthians 5:17

2 Corinthians 5:17 (New International Version)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Be blessed,

Ginger