For Such A Worm As I

Wintertide Tractations: Mend Start. Mend is a beautiful word.  It makes me think of something that was once new and shiny and attractive that somehow broke, or became old, or unattractive, and is now under repair by one who sees the potential it still holds.  Throughout my life mending has been a part of our family's common practice. My mother used to say that when Kyrie was small she thought Mama could fix anything with Duct-tape .  Kyrie herself inherited the "mending gene" plus a huge combination of compassion and insight into the unseen "gold-mine below the surface" in any given cast-off. I've been thinking of mending in a spiritual sense alot lately.  Friends who I had such confidence in, brothers in Christ whom I'd grown with, whom I respected...they're in need of mending.  A couple whose marriage is in tatters.  A little child I know, broken in heart by parents who made foolish decisions, now trying to figure out how to live "life in the

Wintertide Tractations: Gold When I consider the word "gold", the recent happenings of this Christmas season come to mind.  First, I had the great privilege of being home and with my family for this blessed time.  The Grandparents' house was the perfect gathering place for four of my cousins and their broods over the holiday and it was delightful having them in the neighborhood and filling the dear place with laughter and chatter.  As I got to spend time with them, it was pure gold.  I watched one of my cousins interacting with her husband and smiled inside.  He made a joke which few seemed to catch, but her head went back in amusement; she got it, she understood him.  What a satisfied feeling to get to see the product of the Lord's arranging marriage.  Another golden nugget was getting to meet with Treasure who was in the state for Christmas.  She moved last year or so to serve the Lord in Houston and any time she's back visiting her family, we try to get togethe

Wintertide Tractations: Supply Start. My dear pastor, Bro. Earl, loaned me an incredible treasure: his brand-new hymnal from Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, CA, Hymns of Grace .    Wow! Can I just say, this is a goldmine of theologically-deep hymns, both ancient and new!  I keep discovering one beautiful hymn after another, as well as some I already knew. One of my favorites is the hymn "My Shepherd, You Supply My Need" by Isaac Watts.  Here are the words: My Shepherd, You supply my need; most holy is Your name. In pastures fresh You make me feed, beside the living stream. You bring my wandr'ing spirit back when I forsake Your ways, And lead me, for Your mercy's sake, in paths of truth and grace. When I walk through the shades of death, Your presence is my stay; One word of Your supporting breath drives all my fears away. Your hand, in sight of all my foes, does still my table spread; My cup with blessings overflows, Your oil anoints my head. The sure provision

Wintertide Tractations: Remain Start. Faithfulness has been on my mind alot lately.  My rough definition of the word would be:       tenacity; the resolve to remain in a state or under a certain command;  to continue allegiance despite difficulty; to take action to protect or promote the welfare or good name of that to which the allegiance is applied.   At times as I (in my mind) have looked out over the crowd of friends and family members I know and love, or as I have made acquaintance with new people, classmates, etc., my mind has touched on the idea of remaining.   Will Pete remain at church? or will he quit coming and give up on the Lord in his personal life?  Will Grey and Ann remain faithful, remain married, or will they succumb to the pressures of society and break their promise to each other "for better or for worse , for richer or for poorer" ?  Will Lesleigh, a freshman in highschool, remain fervent in her zeal for the Lord when she goes to college? At times the st

Wintertide Tractations: Guard Start. {Disclaimer: I write using pseudonyms for most people and places directly involved with my life.}  Our pastor at Victory Road Baptist Church where my family and I are members has been preaching through the book of Ephesians on Sunday nights.  In our study, Bro. Earl had taught into chapter 5 now and we have encountered the fact that being Spirit-filled will cause us to be thankful, will cause us to sing to ourselves or aloud (despite whether our voices are  "good quality" or not), will make us submissive to each other in the Lord (5:18-21).   Now we are looking to begin those commands that are directed specifically to groups of believers in the church.  Wives are addressed in 5:22-24, husbands in 5:28-33, children in 6:1-3, fathers in 6:4, servants 6:5-8, masters 6:9.   Before we can understand those positions and the responsibilities that the Lord has placed on each, Bro. Earl wanted to reiterate the need to be Spirit-filled, submissive,

Wintertide Tractations: Ready Start: When one is a child, it's easy to be ready for what is deemed exciting.  Just around the bend an adventure awaits and there's no need for delay or preparation in a child's mind.  "Diving in" and "discovering" are all the focus.  Last night as my family was visiting with our youth pastor's family at a local lights display, Spice expressed eagerness over the nearness of Christmas.  She was ready for it to be here!  Mrs. Wynneth and I laughingly agreed that we were glad for the days we still have until then!   That eager, child-readiness is something I do not want to let go of.  Not the hap-hazard, no-worries kind of mentality, not the childishness.  No, I want the child likeness .  I remember The Grandmother once putting a very definite difference between the two and I've not forgotten it.  Childlikeness.  That anticipation for what's ahead, that sparkle in the eye that loves mystery and surprises.  That l