Gasp! and Longing

We have a new pastor, Newlin Schafer, at our church. He was installed on the 16th of the month and has already preached for us three times, once prior to the official start of his service. This week his doctrinal word to examine was 'longing'. He spoke about the various things people long for, in his case, longing for the birth of their next baby, and so on. Pastor also mentioned about longing for people to come, even standing on one's tip toes to see down the road for the company to arrive. Yes, that's me, alright! I get so excited when company is coming.

A couple weeks ago Mom and I were talking on a Sunday afternoon. I asked her about church and the hymns they sang, etc. and also about Bible study. The subject for summer is taking a walk through the Supplement hymnal, examining the hymns. When I was there in May, we looked at "In Christ Alone", fleshing out the doctrine found in the text of the hymn. The hymn Mom and the class looked at that particular day she declared was from Advent season, but I couldn't find it in the CWS. I did find it later in the next section of the hymnal but that's okay. For our discussion, and theirs, one of the words they fleshed out was 'gasp'. What was something that made a person gasp? Seeing a mouse? No, we're talking about good gasps here. 

I came up with seeing something beautiful, scenery or landscape (the Amalfi coastline came to mind) or a garment that just strikes you right. Mom said looking at a baby, the parents gasp in amazement. All good things. I remember gasping and then bursting into tears when I saw the view from kitchen through the family room and porch to the lake when I toured that home I bought on Doctors Lake. That is a true GASP!!!

Then, I suggested, "Company coming!" and she disputed that. Nope, not gasp-worthy in her book. Of course, I didn't back down and insisted I DO gasp when company comes, that I love to entertain and enjoy people. Mom's answer was, "Well, what if a person doesn't want any company? What if it's not someone you want to visit?" Oh, that just made me so sad to even think that, but she was right---not gasp-worthy if you don't want them to come. 

May I long for the coming of my houseguests and visitors and gasp when they arrive! And may I long for the coming of the Lord to take us all home to Him. I know for sure that is gasp-worthy, with the trumpet sounds and angels and singing and seeing Christ face-to-face. "...what bliss beyond compare..." GASP!!!

Love when my friends meet!

My day began with a last meal with Terri for a long while as she is leaving tomorrow morning for a vacation to Indiana with Charles. His family lives there and other than traveling up for his sister's funeral, they haven't spent 'good' time together. When Terri and I are together, it's also a good time. She brought Justin a funny birthday card about being 30, with a gift card inside. Nice! 

We enjoyed our breakfasts, Justin having his meal and I had my new favorite breakfast sandwich. Terri mixed it up today with a different choice than the Fruity Nutty Waffle she likes to get. She was planning to go see Gretchen one more time before her vacation. She is a doll! We hugged and kissed, then parted company, and headed back home.

I worked at my desk for a while before heading to the pool to have lunch with Debbie and her granddaughter, Violet. Dick is gone on a golf outing so the 'girls' were enjoying a pool day. Debbie has completed her radiation treatments following the lumpectomy and still has to protect the site of the treatment which is raw yet like a sunburn. She and I sat in the shade under the umbrella and watched Violet play in the baby pool. 

Something so cool happened, though. My new 'friend' from the neighborhood, also named Deborah, was talking to me from the pool, telling me that the Chef had hired one of her boys from the school where she teaches 'at risk' boys. I was glad to help facilitate that and glad that she shared the news with me. I, then, introduced the two Deborahs to each other and she joined our table. They had so much to talk about since Debbie runs the Teen Court in Clay County and is always looking for participants and the other Deborah is looking for outlets to help her students. LOVE IT!!! 

They are making plans to get together and see what can be worked out between the school and Teen Court, and Deborah might even get to help Debbie as a volunteer. The students who help with Teen Court can earn their service hours this way and learn much in the process. I am so excited for these ladies, for their efforts on behalf of the kids, and for The Club for extending the opportunity to these kids who are trying to get straightened out. God's blessings abounding!!!