When I consider Your heavens

Thanks for the New York comments. If you're reading this and you didn't see my post asking for suggestions for our upcoming trip please scroll on down and help a girl out. I also put the request on my status on facebook and have received some fun suggestions there, too!

Maybe you were looking for the psalm of the week. I hope so! It's my all-time most favorite psalm, Psalm 8.

Psalm 8 starts will praise to God. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth. Because of who He is and what He's done. Then the psalmist (David) writes about God's creation. If you know me at all you know I love the outdoors. We worked in the yard for 2 days at the end of last week and I love it out there. I love the colors of my flowers, that my yard is a beautiful lush green, my garden where I have a few herbs & tomatoes & peppers growing, the sound of the waterfall from the spa. The weather was perfect -- absolutely perfect -- yesterday. I sat outside and read and pondered God's call in my life. I LOVE God's creation. But the psalmist wrote that when he considered all that God had made and how fabulous it is (I added that one little part) he was amazed that God made man His best and most prized creation. In fact, David wrote that God crowns us, humans, with glory and majesty.

Take your hands and make a circle with your fingers. Yes, do it, I'm not kidding. One big circle with both hands, not separately. Now, raise your hands and put your circle on top of your head. That's to symbolize your crown because Psalm 8 tells us that God crowns us with glory and majesty.

Friend, please be reminded today that God loves you, you are His prized creation, and He crowns you with glory and majesty.

That's why I love Psalm 8. What are your thoughts?

Serving the King, who crowns me with glory and majesty,

Jeanette

New York City Suggestions Wanted

Well, it's the last week of school for the two younger teens. woo hoo! I am always ready for the end of the school year. We worked in the yard almost all day Friday and Saturday and it's set for summer. Just a couple of other smallish projects but my flower beds and the new patio are done. We had friends over for Memorial Day. Of course we cooked out...that's what ya do on Memorial Day. It's almost summer break and we're ready.

So, here's the reason for my blog today. One week from today we are taking the kids to New York City. In case you don't know, we have "the list." The list is something that Johnny and I came up with a few years ago. Neither of us traveled much with our families growing up so we have places we want to go with our own kids before the grow up and leave us....which is approaching way too fast. We got a fabulous deal on airfare and are staying in a great location -- which I proudly booked online by myself but was told by a travel agent that it's a great place to stay. The agent also gave us a few tips on staying in New York and things to do but if you've been and have a tip or did something really fabulous, will you share it?

Please let me know what you liked best about NYC, things that you definitely think we should not miss, and even if there's something we should not do. Did you go to a great show? What museums did you visit? What about great places to eat?

Thanks, in advance, for your help! It's greatly appreciated!

Serving the King,

Jeanette

Just Being Green

I just returned from the Target here in our town where I used for the 2nd time ever my reusable, fabric, whatever they are called, shopping bags. I have an assortment. Two from when Johnny and I ran in the Cowtown, 2 Dallas Cowboy bags that we "won" with a bunch of other paraphernalia in a silent auction (which, BTW, the bag boy at Kroger said were his favorite!), one from church, and others. They have been in the back of my car for a few weeks but I kept forgetting to actually get them out. No, no, I wasn't really trying to be green. I'm not a wacko environmentalist and I don't believe in the global warming myth. Here's what I do believe in: the household myth -- you know, like the one about the clothes dryer eating socks -- that the plastic bags reproduce once you bring them home and put them in your plastic bag storage place. There are a lot of great uses for the plastic bags. Jessica takes her lunch in one every day to school. They are great liners for small trash cans. When kids are over swimming this summer, we'll certainly use a few sending wet swimsuits and towels home. But, it really doesn't matter how many we use. THERE ARE ALWAYS MORE! I HATE THE PLASTIC BAGS. And, that's not just for my home that I hate them. I hate to see them stuck in trees and roadside brush on a windy day. Littering is, after all, my biggest pet peeve.

So, I am officially a reuseable, fabric bag shopper. I like it. Yes, I feel a little silly carrying my random bags in the store and I'm not sure the bag boys think they are as convenient to fill but they'll get used to it, I suppose. We have to save the planet, after all. (she wrote with sarcasm)

I am serving the King, as always, the only One really able to save,

Jeanette

The Psalm of the Week

Again I want to type a big thanks to those that posted a comment on Psalm 71 last week. Loved, loved reading your comments. This week I am inviting all of you (yes, that means you) to play along...read the assigned psalm, meditate on it, and share via a comment how God is speaking to you through the psalm.

The psalm of the week is Psalm 47.

Yesterday in my Life Group I asked my ladies to define worship. I am reading Desiring God by John Piper and on page 84 he wrote, "...worship is a way of gladly reflecting back to God the radiance of His worth." And on page 92 this, "Worship is authentic when affections for God arise in the heart as an end in themselves." Not because we are trying to get anything or find entertainment from it or accomplish anything other than praising the One that is worthy to be praised.

What does Psalm 47 say about worship and/or praise? As a result of reading the psalm, what are you challenged to do, if anything?

"Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with a jubilant cry." (verse 1, HCSB)

Serving the King,

Jeanette

It's Raining Outside

We had big plans to work in the yard today. BIG plans... we decided to extend our pool deck and have a place Johnny dug out for it. Right now it looks like a pond and I don't think we're gonna get the rock in it today. We also bought some bushes to put out...our college son was going to GET to dig some holes for them today. Guess we won't make him dig out a big mud hole... But, BTW, the college boy is home. Home for the summer. His new apartment at DBU won't be ready until August 1st so he's here. We're glad to have him. Johnny even peeked in his room this morning to see him sleeping. Jessica says he's forgotten how to be a part of a "functional family" so he may have to be reprogrammed. I hope it's a smooth process!!

Jessica and I went with a group of ladies from our church to a homeless ministry last night. We walked down the street and handed out hotdogs and asked people if we could pray for them. We got some interesting answers. One lady, apparently a regular, was looking for someone to pray for her. Two other women were not one bit interested in being prayed for. We chatted with one guy who obviously had a lot of knowledge about the Bible but with an interesting theology. All in all, it was an interesting night and I'm looking forward to future ministry opportunities.

And for those of you with comments to my last post, thanks a bunch! I love it that I can read God's Word and it speak directly to me. And even though God had a specific meaning and purpose to the written text, I can apply it to my life and you can to yours. It's the application that varies, not the meaning. I like to read how God is speaking to individuals so maybe next week I'll try a new psalm and maybe you'll respond again...and, maybe some of you nonresponders will decide to participate next week! You never know whose life you may bless by sharing what God is teaching you!! For real...

Serving the King,

Jeanette

Looking for Encouragement

I'm looking to God's Word for some encouragement today. Let me start by typing that all is good at the Dickerson house. We're in the final weeks of school for the 2 younger ones and Josh is moving home this week for about 2 1/2 months at home before moving into an apartment. I may have a different opinion about Josh moving home this time next week so check back for that! LOL Really, just kidding! Johnny is doing great, I'm doing great. In fact, we're working on a project that is super exciting for me and I cannot wait to see how it works out.

For weeks and weeks the Bible verses that have been open on my spirally (like that word?) index cards is Psalm 71:14-15 -- But has for me, I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more. My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness and of Your salvation all day long; for I do not know the sum of them.

I just opened my Bible to read the entire chapter of Psalm 71. It is awesome! It is a reminder that God is my refuge and my resting place in times of trouble. I love this -- verse 3 states, "Be to me a rock of habitation to which I may continually come." A rock of habitation. The place where I live, where I dwell. So, I dwell in the presence of God and not in the presence of my enemies or my problems. That's a choice I have to make.

Hey, is there anyone out there reading this post? If so, check out Psalm 71 and send me your comments on the chapter. What is God saying to you through His written Word?

Waiting patiently for your response...

And, serving the King,

Jeanette

Feeling Distant

I haven't been blogging too much lately. Nothing much is going on. In fact, I went to the chiropractor today and the dr. asked what was new. "Nothing," I replied. Nothing's new. Yet, my days are full and I have some exciting stuff on the horizon.

Johnny and I are training for a 15k trail run put on by my brother's running club. It's in NOVEMBER so we have a while. I've got my training schedule down to add one mile every month to my distance. That means, in May I have to run 4 miles at least once a week. (In June it will be 5, July 6, etc., until November) Since today is May 1st, I attempted it. I didn't quite get to 4 today (only 3.7) but, hey, it's only May 1st!!

And, we're working on a new project that I can't quite let the cat out of the bag on just yet but am SUPER excited about it. I so want to type just one more sentence about it but don't have words without jumping the gun... arggg!

Or, as Jacob would say, "Blarg!"

Jessica and I leave on Monday for her class trip to Chicago. I've never been out of the airport in Chicago so I am looking forward to it. Maybe I'll even post some pics and some trip info....if, that is, my laptop is able to be repaired. The sad little thang is sick...to my utter frustration...

Blarg.

Serving the King,

Jeanette