dear reader

Thank you for your faithful visits to Sonflower and spending your precious time to share comments and insights along the way. I must let you know that for a variety of reasons I will not be continuing Sonflower. It has been a pleasure to spend time with each one of you. You encourage. You have pointed me to the Son too. Let us keep looking to Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. God bless you all.

~Angie

sweet treats

Four peeled Clementine oranges sat in bowl at the center of our dinner table. Passing over tenderloin and noodles, my little Zach reached for his orange with great anticipation. The sweet, juicy treat was more than he could resist, but I quickly reminded him it was intended to follow his meal, a way of cleansing his palate.

After explaining the art of eating to him along with finishing my own meal, I too stretched across the table for my orange. Thumbs diving in, I broke into the small orange pulling apart segments, revealing a single white seed.

At this sight, my mind chewed on the meat of God's word.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. Galatians 5:22

Consider now His fruit. It too is irresistible. It is sweet. It satisfies. And yes, it has seed hidden inside.

When the fruit of the Spirit is offered to others, it is deposited with a seed that is sure to germinate and produce like fruit if there be any good soil hidden inside and yet another comes along to offer a bit of living water.


O Lord, help me crucify this flesh with its affections and lusts and live, yes, walk in the Spirit where there is life...life more abundant, not only for me, but also for others. Thank you for your life-giving fruit and your Spirit manifested in so many wonderful ways.

perspective

Driving in car with Flydaddy:

"That's a pretty little area," I point to an offroad spot along the countryside.

"Yes it is, but it looks nothing down here as it does from above. I've flown over this very spot many times by helicopter. Amazing how differently it appears from above," he answers.

~~~~~~

From above...how must things appear? I'm remarkably familiar with this earthly perspective which is full of limitations. Obstacles occlude my view. People get in the way. Mountains are difficult to scale.

From above...He says He hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph 2:6).

From above...O to have His heavenly perspective! Yet, His word says that he MADE US SIT together in heavenly places. This faith flight, which causes us to rise above a temporal existence has already been performed. I/we only need to appropriate what has been done.

So then, how do things look from above? Perhaps this helps us understand better...

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory...therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (Col 3).

walk and talk

I often instruct my children (who come to me multiple times a day for questions and discussion) to "walk and talk". Many times I am on my way to do a task or we are headed to fulfill something in our schedule, so we simply walk along as we talk. Don't get me wrong, we do have our moments of intimacy...sitting on daughter's bed, brushing hair, with love whispers or test flying folded airplanes with son sharing sweet nothings all the while.

But what about this idea...walk and talk. Isn't that the concept behind our relationship with Abba Father? Consider Noah. Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God (Gen 6:9).

Think. Did Noah have tasks to complete along with a busy schedule? Ahem, 120 years to build an ark, animals to gather, all the while preaching to a mocking crowd of gawkers. Yes, surely He needed to walk and talk with his Father. Not only that, but he required specifics to build this never before built ark.

Are there specifics in your life that you need answered by God? I sure do. We have another potential move on the horizon and need to know the where, the how, and the when. Look at Noah's undertaking. As he walked and talked with God, he was instructed on which materials to use, how many cubits, stories, windows, and where/which animals to bring on the ark along with the necessary food and supplies for his long voyage.

God is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore. I am so glad He is concerned with the details of our lives. We need only walk and talk...and listen.

channels of blessing

For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened, but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality. 2 Corinthians 8:13-14

taken from KP Yohannan's Revolution in World Missions:
Born into affluence, freedom and divine blessings, Americans should be the most thankful people on earth. But along with the privilege comes a responsibility. The Christian must ask not only why, but also what he should do with these unearned favors.

Throughout Scripture, we see only one correct response to abundance: sharing.

God has not given this superabundance of blessings to Western Christians so we can sit back and enjoy the luxuries of this society--or even in spiritual terms, so we can gorge ourselves on books, teaching cassetes and deeper-life conferences. He has left us on this earth to be stewards of these spiritual and material blessings, learning how to share with others and adminster our weath to accomplish the purposes of God.

A solution?

Gospel for Asia is bringing the truth of Jesus to the over 2.7 billion unreached people of Asia. The harvest is ripe, but the workers are few. 100% of all giving goes into the field. None is taken for adminstrative purposes. Consider...

still celebrating

I can't believe my last post was July 4th. I realize I have mentioned something in the past about blogging without obligation, but I somehow feel remiss when I go long lengths of time without staying in touch with anyone who would take the time to visit this place. Please forgive me for the lack of attention to you, my friends.

So much has happened this summer, most of which revolved around a major job change for my husband. He is still flying helicopters, but this time in a big ship that flies over big water, which requires big faith for this little girl.

Today I felt that familiar lump in my throat, the one I felt even as a young'n on the first day of school. I always seem to exit the school bumping into others for a last chance glance at my dear ones. I rest in the fact that they stand on solid ground. Little boy has his Bible tucked in backpack and young lady dares to be a Daniel. Each is prepared to give answer for the hope that is within them. I surrender them to His good care. Hot tears in the back of my throat disappear.

I choose instead to linger on these gifts given over the summer...

Zach's first official fishing rod.

Pop demonstrates the perfect cast.

The way Olivia always walks arm in arm with me.

Reminds me of street scenes from my trip to Spain and Italy.

Love gifts from Mom and Dad. The blessings never stop!

Laure...sensing...knowing...helping me hold my hands raised in praise with her words and shared song.

braids, beautiful braids

long, heart to heart visit by phone with my dear friend and cousin

a perfectly cooked fried egg on toast made for me by 9-yo son

birthday celebration with the best mother-in-law a girl could ever hope for

Doorbell rings. Opening the front door to the most wonderful neighbors singing "Happy Birthday" to me

marker memories

spending the day with a boy of many talents and his wonderful parents

Sweet Sandy, who taught me that when she falls to her knees in her sometimes feeble state, that that is where she needs to be anyway, talking to Jesus. Sandy, if you're reading this, know that WE got the blessing when we came to your home. I'm looking forward to our next visit!

Glory to God from whom all blessings flow.

I look forward to getting back in touch with you all now that I have more time!

celebrating freedom

I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. Psalm 119:45

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. Luke 18:19

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

pressed but not crushed

We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Five minutes until 12pm, I file in behind other parents at the high school gym waiting for basketball camp to let out. I glance over at 9-year-old son leaning against bleachers as another group of boys play five on five. Our eyes meet and he instantly casts his down to the shiny wood floor where tennis shoes squeaked all morning. Dejected is the best word to describe his countenance. My mind races.

Boys are called to line up on the court to receive ribbons. The same three boys spin their blue, red, and white treasures on fingers while mine walks to me as he did yesterday, shoulders slumped, head down.

We make our way to car where he instructs me to not ask questions. I don't. Silence.

Upon coming home, excitement builds at the prospect of seeing Dad's truck home. This time it doesn't matter that Dad is a scholarship athlete or NAIA National Champion in basketball. What's important is that he is a champion encourager and lifter of a little boy's chin...Dad, who has a way of bringing all things into perspective.

I stand on the sidelines with pom-pons, make lunch, do cheers and toe-touches of sorts. We pull back from our family huddle, ready for another day, another opportunity to build character...the same kind of character that comes when same said boy had to ride sister's purple bike for a period of time...the same kind of character that comes from being the new kid in school...the same kind of character that comes from going into the girl's bathroom on the first day of school...character.

This boy's got character.

.

We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4

summer gifts

take me out to the ball game

~a great minor league discovery &

a little boy's persistence to remain in this position the entire game~ .

milk moustaches at lunchtime

our nightly dose of Andy Griffith

~we never grow tired of this classic~

newly discovered nearby pond

we enjoyed a sunset into the water

and mother duck with ducklings in tow

~thank you Lord for this precious moment with my son~ .

traintrack adventure

.

remnants of another visitor ~thank you Lord, for Christian neighbors~

remembering His nail-pierced hands ~praise You Jesus~ .. .

making a new friend ~God's perfect timing~

good news

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!

I had surgery this morning to remove a skin cancer. There ended up being more to it than I thought...IV, five-inches worth of sutures, and a lovely bald spot at the crown of my head. The surgeon went all the way to the skull to make sure there was no infiltration. The underlying muscle was also removed so pathology could check for sarcoma.

Upon coming home, I pulled out the mirror to assess the damage. Boy did I have a flashback. You see, one evening when I was about 10 years old, I was shining my daddy's dress shoes with his electric shoe shining kit. My long locks draped over shoulders got caught in the spinning mechanism and boy did I hear the most awful sound coming from the motor on that electrical unit. It all happened so quickly. Dad looked at me. I looked at hair wrapped around the shoe shiner. Dad looked at Mom. Mom looked at me. Mom looked at Dad. Their expressions are seared in my memory.

I immediately wanted to run to the mirror. The song "You're So Vain" was written for me during those pre-adolescent years. They wouldn't let me see myself in the bathroom mirror, which only created more anxiety, but it was inevitable. That night I caught my reflection in the sliding glass door of our dining room. About a three-inch bald patch sat on top of my head in plain view. It wasn't anything a side combover couldn't handle. That was the 70's style anyway. Let's just say that Donald Trump would have been proud.

Today, I could care less about my hair (or lack thereof). I'm just praising God for the good report.

Anyway, I hope you all are having a great summer, but for goodness sake, wear your sunscreen and hats!