Rainbow Wonder

This rainbow appeared briefly
over the field house at the soccer game
and seems to be saying:

"With people this is impossible,
but with God all things are possible."
(Matthew 19:26)

Thank You, God, for these wonders of Your love:
1131. writing again
1132. another invitation from Lolly
1133. replying to email
1134. rain at the beginning of spring
1135. Your story in each of our lives
1136. Your timing
1137. taking Benjamin to Elements
1138. softly frozen pomegranate juice
1139. Victor giving Ralph and Rupert away
1140. a quiet quiet time

With gratitude,
Sally

New Growth Wonder

Sometimes
God gives a Word of Wonder
just when we need it most!

"And He who sits on the throne said,
"Behold,
I am making all things new."
And He said,
"Write,
for these words are faithful and true.""
(Revelation 21:5)

So
when life seems
dark and stark
and maybe even dead.

Wait
and
watch.

And wonder
at new growth.

God is making all things new.

Thank You, God, for these wonders of Your love:
1121. Your Word
1122. Margaret rescuing Ralph and Rupert from the storm
1123. puppies coming for comfort as the lightening flashes
1124. realizing one reason for the heaviness
1125. formulating a possible plan
1126. doing the next thing
1127. a good cup of coffee
1128. delivering the pets safe and sound
1129. wondering who I am
1130. Benjamin getting the gift certificate

With gratitude,
Sally

Rooster Wonder

Victor came home from his
Saturday morning yard sale rounds
with a suspicious grin.
"Guess what I bought for us today?"

Roosters!

We named them Ralph and Rupert.
(Rupert is in the crate underneath Ralph.)

Will wonders never cease?

Thank You, Lord, for these wonders of Your love:
1111. the possibility of fresh eggs
1112. Victor's new paint sprayer
1113. walking the dogs
1114. listening to downloaded messages while I simplify
1115. a beautiful March Saturday
1116. turkey sandwiches
1117. Going out with Vic and JV
1118. hearing "Appalachian Spring" on the radio
1119. dreaming out back with Victor
1120. making a start on my office

With gratitude,
Sally

Do the Angels Wonder?

If the angels are watching me,
observing my life,
do they wonder?

Do the angels wonder
if I will come through for God,
if I will do good and share,
if I will love,
if I will offer a sacrifice of praise?

Do the angels wonder, instead,
if I will fail God,
if I will do harm and be selfish,
if I will neglect,
if I will grumble and complain?

Do the angels wonder
how I will turn out?

I wonder.

Thank You, Lord, for these wonders of Your love:
1101. Margaret getting to the bus on time
1102. Ben being excited about the DNow concert
1103. JV feeling better
1104. knowing it is time to do it Your way
1105. Copeland
1106. Milly
1107. Kitty
1108. Little Darlin' and Sweetie Pie
1109. Snowball, Dante, and Doodlie Poo
1110. Sarah sending me the sunrise from our room at Tybee

With gratitude,
Sally

Beyond the Door Wonder

This door appears a bit intimidating.

But, look what lies beyond the door
for the one brave enough
to open the door
and enter in. . .


Oh my!

Thank You, God, for these wonders of Your love:
1091. planning to draw up some plans
1092. surviving another round of body pump
1093. kind Steve's optimism
1094. visiting with dear Retha
1095. "Seven Sacred Pauses"
1096. filling the birdfeeder
1097. this beautiful day
1098. finding my cell phone before I threw away the Chik-fil-a bag
1099. Victor delivering a sweet gift
1100. gathering round a candlelit supper table

With gratitude,
Sally

Open the Door Wonder

A few weeks ago
I began Joyce Rupp's
"Open the Door:
A Journey to the True Self".

And then I stopped.

I know that, as Paula D'Arcy says,
"her consistently strong and effective
insights and exercises lead the reader
step by step into the "holy site" within."

I long to enter into the holy site within.

And yet, something is holding me back.
I feel like the door is huge and solid and shut.
And I do not know if I have the strength to open it.

Do you have a door that remains unopened?

Dear God, please help us by Your grace to open the door.

Thank You, God, for these wonders of Your love:
1081. Kashi Honey Almond Flax cereal with blueberries and strawberries
1082. thinking about humility and falling on my head
1083. watching the DVD of the praise dance recital
1084. seeing exuberant Margaret at age nine
1085. remembering the beauty of each dancer
1086. Victor's sister Joyce - Happy Birthday!
1087. riding home safely
1088. Victor waiting up
1089. a good morning
1090. the possibility of lowering our auto insurance

With gratitude,
Sally

Come Holy Spirit Wonder

Dove descending on Green Bough House of Prayer:

Dear God,
I absolutely can not do life
on my own. I need You.
So, come Holy Spirit,
descend on me, I pray.

Thank You, Lord, for these wonders of Your love:
1071. our wonderful wellness center
1072. Sue's "good morning" greeting
1073. a very challenging new body pump routine
1074. exercising with others
1075. exercising to music
1076. exercising with encouraging teachers
1077. exercising in the morning
1078. Carolyn pulling up right beside Bertha
1079. giving her a hug after too long
1080. picking up Victor's starched and ironed shirts

With gratitude,
Sally

Road to Calvary Wonder

A cross on the road to Calvary:

This week in Beth Moore's Bible study,
"Living Beyond Yourself", we learned
10 Characteristics of the Crucified Life:
1. Few will understand.
2. You must abandon your own will and your own agenda.
3. Your intimate spiritual companions will be few.
4. Intense times of aloneness with God are required.
5. You will be constantly on the witness stand.
6. You must go "outside the camp" (outside your comfort zone).
7. There will be times when your dignity is forfeited.
8. You must forego your rights.
9. You must accept that death is painful.
10. Because He was forsaken, you never will be.

Am I really ready to live the crucified life?
Can I go with You, Lord, on the road to Calvary?

Only through You living in me, dear Lord.
And, thank You.

Thank You, God, for these wonders of Your love:
1061. finishing book #1 on time
1062. feeling better
1063. talking with Dad
1064. rotisserie chicken
1065. printing Margaret's certificate
1066. talking with Andrew
1067. JV reminding me to service Lucy
1068. pretty, colorful flowered napkins
1069. a page full of thoughts on the vision
1070. Ben getting even taller - overnight!

With gratitude,
Sally

Abiding Wonder

This dead branch
somehow stopped abiding
it the tree.

"Abide in Me, and I in you.
As the branch cannot bear fruit
of itself unless
it abides in the vine,
so neither can you
unless you abide in Me.
I am the vine,
you are the branches;
he who abides in Me
and I in him,
he bears much fruit,
for apart from Me
you can do nothing."
(John 15:4-5)

Maybe my problem is that I am not abiding.

Thank You, Lord, for these wonders of Your love:
1051. Margaret passing driver's ed
1052. a day to get better
1053. warmer weather
1054. petting Sweetie Pie
1055. JV spring cleaning at Harvey's
1056. Ben wanting to go to prayer team
1057. Margaret recommending a movie
1058. Ben taking the ball past two defenders
1059. adjusting the calendar
1060. a window by my secretary

With gratitude,
Sally

Celebrating Wonder

These are roses from a special celebration. . .

Celebrating is a wonder!

"The more you praise and celebrate your life,
the more there is in life to celebrate."
-Oprah Winfrey

"Stop worrying about the potholes in the road
and celebrate the journey!"
-Barbara Hoffman

"Celebrate what you want to see more of."
-Thomas J. Peters

Let's celebrate!

Thank You, God for these wonders of Your love:
1041. Margaret bathing Sweetie Pie
1042. Sweetie Pie smelling good
1043. Victor taking me out to eat and taking time to talk
1044. prayer
1045. hope for the dress Margaret loves
1946. seeing Lucy at Harvey's
1047. the desire to learn something new
1048. Victor encouraging my dream
1049. the example of a man riding his bike at 87
1050. remembering that life is fragile and life is precious

With gratitude,
Sally

Wonder of the Sun Coming Up Every Day

Sunrise at Tybee. . .


As faithfully as the sun rises every day,
so faithfully will You take care of us, O God.

Thank You, Lord, for these wonders of Your love:
1031. Little Darlin feeling better
1032. Cassidy spending the night with Margaret
1033. knowing there will be a way to pay
1034. a full fruit stand
1035. "Hope" and a flower on my orange mug
1036. the soccer tournament being cancelled
1037. a free Saturday
1038. money in savings
1039. Victor calling early
1040. Sarah calling on way to Athens

With gratitude,
Sally

Altar Wonders

Resurrection Altar:

Pentecost Altar:


These altar wonders
were created by Amy Love
under the direction of the Holy Spirit
for the Academy of Spiritual Formation (#34).

Were we ever amazed and blessed!

Thank You, Lord, for these wonders of Your love:
1021. artists
1022. lunch with Vic
1023. grapefruit juice
1024. pomegranate juice
1025. being coached for conversation
1026. celery with Zax Sauce
1027. JV anticipating the trip to Spain
1028. making it through Body Pump
1029. school holidays
1030. rearranging furniture

With gratitude,
Sally

Spring Wonder

These signs of spring from last year. . .

. . . make me long for the
wonder of spring
that is coming soon.

The signs are already here, again.

O God, thank you for spring wonder!

Thank You, Lord, for these wonders of Your love:
1011. learning a new body flow routine
1012. seeing Bridget and she's doing fine
1013. excitement about these next three months
1014. three more weeks in our Lenten journey
1015. bright sunshine
1016. a quiet house
1017. beautiful cello music for relaxation
1018. a great sweater hand-me-down
1019. a purse with many compartments
1020. Victor feeling better (I hope)

With gratitude,
Sally

Get Over Yourself Wonder

I started a new Bible study yesterday called
"Living Beyond Yourself:
Exploring the Fruit of the Spirit".

One dear girl there
captured my feeling,
and really my highest hope,
exactly when she said
she had mistakenly recalled
the title of the Bible study as
"Get Over Yourself".

Come Holy Spirit,
Come Heavenly Dove,
and please help me to
get over myself!

Thank You, Lord, for these wonders of Your love:
1001. being invited to the press box when the rain came down at the soccer game
1002. Ben dressing out with the varsity
1003. a soft blue notebook to continue listing wonders
1004. Emma reading 1000 Gifts too
1005. picking up our fourth set of senior pictures
1006. visiting with sweet Andrew at the games
1007. Sarah asking about Margaret's prom dress
1008. a very challenging new body pump
1009. being missed
1010. balancing the books

With gratitude,
Sally

I've Only Just Begun Wonder

Today I listed my 1000th gift. . .
I've thanked the Lord for
one thousand wonders of His love
this year!

And I've only just begun!


(some of my favorite wonders!)

Thank You, Lord, for these wonders of Your love:
993. Victor asking "Are you OK?"
994. no more jellybeans!
995. talking with Bobby and Betty
996. prom dress shopping with Margaret
997. my new diet
998. beginning a book that might make a huge difference
999. praying for Ben
1000. counting gifts/being thankful for wonders

With gratitude,
Sally

Reaching Wonder

"I will pour out my Spirit
in those days.
I will display wonders
in the sky
and on the earth."
(Joel 2:29b-30a)

When will you pour out
Your Spirit Lord?

I am reaching for
wonders in the sky,
but sometimes I feel bare. . .
as barren as these branches.


Please God, pour out Your Spirit on me.

Thank You, Lord, for these wonders of Your love:
977. beautiful babies, a boy and a girl
978. the bright red cross in the light fixture
979. the sweet song of the youth choir
980. finding favorite books to give
981. remembering reading aloud
982. getting supplies in a quiet store
983. communion
984. sharing a hymnal with Margaret
985. salads at Zaxby's
986. JV's checklist
987. responsible children
988. the third week of Lent
989. a baby shower for Jace Micah
990. Annella's soft blue hand crocheted baby blanket
991. playing the baby game and laughing
992. visiting with friends and family

With gratitude,
Sally

Look Up To Wonder

Last night at the soccer game,
we looked up to the wonder
of a pink sky at dusk.


Saturday Quote:
"I think we all have a core that's ecstatic,
that knows and that looks up to wonder.
We all know that there are
marvelous moments of eternity
that just happen.
We know them."
-Coleman Barks

Help us, Lord, to look up to wonder!

Thank You, God, for these wonders of Your love:
961. "Always We Begin Again"
962. having life put in perspective
963. lacy bare branches against first light
964. mother-daughter stories
965. comforters to keep us warm
966. a faithful scarf to tie
967. Timothy's great hiding place
968. the hot-cold game
969. nearly halfway: take stock
970. getting rid of excess
971. boundaries
972. March
973. an apple to keep me awake
974. Your Kingdom coming
975. conference coming closer
976. learning something new

With gratitude,
Sally

Still Waters Wonder

"The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside still waters;
He restores my soul.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff-
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long."
(Psalm 23)

Thank You, Lord, for leading me
beside these still waters.
I will not be afraid,
for You are with me
all the days of my life.

Thank You, God, for these wonders of Your love:
945. Beth's family
946. a sweet text from Andrew
947. Margaret pining for her lost childhood
948. a reminder to play the harp
949. a glimpse of the Dixons' beautiful, peaceful yard
950. inspiration
951. reading the last devotion
952. knowing that I will keep counting
953. going to sleep early
954. waking up from fitful dreams
955. "Prayer for Today"
956. Stephanie's art
957. holding on
958. talking to Temple
959. Victor's job and his ability
960. these early morning hours

With gratitude,
Sally