From my heart ...

From my heart ...

Friday, October 29, 2010

'Tis the Season

I believe ... Somebody's comin' to town,

I believe ... He knows if I've been naughty or nice.

I believe ... I'm on His list, and He doesn't need to check it twice.

I believe ... He knows if I believe in Him.

I believe ... He has the perfect gift for me.

I believe ... He cares enough to send the very best.

I believe ... He can be anywhere and everywhere at all times.

I believe ... His arrival may be just around the corner.

I believe ... I'm ready.

Are you ready?



Matthew 24: 44 - "So you also must be ready, because Jesus will come at an hour when you do not expect Him."

'Tis the season ... 'Tis always the season.

Jesus is coming ... again. 

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Lindsey's Jesus

Lindsey is our precious seven-year-old granddaughter.  She's "Princess" to her mommy and daddy and, in fact, to all of us who love her so much.



Lindsey has Tay Sachs Disease.  If you're unfamiliar with the disease and its process, please scroll down until you reach my two earlier posts about Lindsey - both dated June 21, 2010.

There is no treatment.

There is no cure.

There is no fairness.

This has been a particularly rough week for Lindsey.  The breaths we all take in and out, moment by moment, we seem most often to take for granted.  Such is not the case for Lindsey. 

For Lindsey, breathing is a mighty and exhausting task.

In the case that you're wondering "Where is God in all this?" ...
  • He's with Lindsey every minute of every day.
  • He has his loving arms wrapped tightly around her precious body, around the clock.
  • He's with her Mommy and Daddy, giving them guidance, comfort, and reassurance of the hope we all have in Jesus.
  • He's with her Gramma (me) and Papa Joe (Lindsey gave her Grampa that name), comforting us as well.
  • He's continually walking side by side with all of us who love Lindsey so much.  He never leaves.  Thank God.
  • He's touching hearts because Lindsey's story is so powerful.
  • He's allowing others to observe His mightiness through the undying love and care provided to Lindsey by her Mommy and Daddy every minute of every day.
  • He's caused others to reach out to us, wrap their own loving arms around us, and to make God's presence so real, so wonderful, so perfect.  I am so glad to be a part of the family of God.
  • He's strengthening hearts like nothing we've ever before experienced.
  • He's causing us to lean on Him more and more each day.
  • He's allowing us to share Lindsey's story with others, and bring Glory to Jesus' name through it all.
  • He has a purpose in everything He allows, even though we might not have a clue regarding that purpose right now.  But, I know His purpose will be revealed in His perfect timing.
That all being said, I am choosing to trust in the Lord with all my heart, and lean not on my own understanding.  In all my ways, I will acknowledge Him. ... see Proverbs 3: 5-6.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

The Fashion Plate - Not!

I'm quite comfortable with the skin I'm in.  So, I don't feel any particular peer pressure to spice up my wardrobe.

So fixated am I on my uniform of choice:  t-shirts, blue jeans, and bare feet (as discussed in my recent blog), that I'm doubtful anyone has ever mistaken my identity with that of a fashion magazine super model.

Nope.  I'll be the first to admit that I am not at all the fashion plate.



My kids, in fact, get quite a kick out of rummaging through my clothes closet only to find a lot of boredom hanging (no pun intended) around in there.  My t-shirts, for example.  All the same style, just displayed in a rainbow of colors.

I lack any variety when it comes down to my footwear as well.  Same styles.  Different colors.  Most are patent leather.  And, lots of 'em.  I can't help myself.  Its a "girl-thing."  Even though I prefer sportin' my bare naked feet, and bright pink toenails.

Same old story with my socks and underwear.  Plentiful and colorful, though not of the leather variety.

My blue jeans?  All bought at the same place, at the same time, and off the same designer's rack.  Hey!  I recognize a good deal when I see one.

My kids have even been known to introduce their friends to my bedroom closet, and indulge in a bit (or a lot) of insuppressible laughter at my fashion sense (or nonsense).  Apparently, they're easily entertained.

Joe (my husband) doesn't even waste his precious time anymore inquiring what I'm going to wear on a particular day.  He already knows.  He just doesn't know what color.  A girl's gotta keep some things a mystery.

I'm not really a cheapskate.  Well maybe I am, though I prefer to think that I'm a woman "adorning myself in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation ... not with gold or pearls or costly clothing." - 1 Timothy 2: 9

Yeah ... that's it.  I'll go with that one.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

T-Shirts, Blue Jeans, and Bare Feet

Few days lately have been more relaxing to me than this very afternoon, while I rest quietly in the shade on my front porch in my really-needs-to-be-painted rocking chair (I'll get to it later); sporting my fits-just-right t-shirt, my really-loose-fitting blue jeans with ragged-bottom-edges, and my bare-naked feet (except for the bright pink toe-nail polish).



It doesn't bother me in the least that the nothing-compares-with-it North Carolina fall breezes are insistent upon turning the crisp pages of my just-purchased book about Christmas and second chances before I'm even close to prepared to read what happens next.

And every once in a while, when I least expect it, I realize its taken me a too-long period of time to devour just a very few pages of my book simply because my dog-tired eyes have softly closed, apparently unbeknownst to me.  That is, until the fall breezes make the unanimous decision to turn yet another page, or ten, of my book - startling me contentedly back into the comforts of my own home.

Comfortable.  An accurately concise description of the depths-of-my-soul feelings on this not-a-cloud-in-the-sky afternoon in October.

Lunch?  Washing down some cashews and m&m's with a diet coke (yes - diet!) sounds reasonably nutritious.  Certainly satisfying, anyway.

It seems I've waited a near-eternity for these days when there's nothing too awfully pressing that requires my immediate and undivided attention.

On the other hand ... where in the world did the years go?  Wasn't I just eight years old yesterday, playing with Barbie dolls in the back yard of our Michigan home?

I fondly recall - as clearly as if it happened only yesterday - a summer's day in 1966 when, after having played hard all day with the neighborhood kids (there were lots 'n lots of 'em ... remember, I'm a baby-boomer), I told my mom, "I want to stay eight years old forever."  And I meant it.

As a matter of fact, even now whenever I find myself in the company of an eight year old child, I like to tell them, "Eight years old was my all-time-favorite age ever."  I had the time of my life when I was eight, and not a care in the world.

Fast forward ...

I'm going to be fifty-three years old in January.  Fifty-three!  It doesn't seem that long ago that I was under the impression that people who made it to the ripe-old-age of fifty-three were lucky to be alive.

Hey!  I am lucky.

And, as luck would have it, today I happened upon some thoughts which belonged to my dear Grandma Ghiata (who lives in Heaven now with Jesus). 

"Happened upon some thoughts?"  Yes!  These particular thoughts she wrote down.  My Dad shared them with me some years ago.  I read them, then tucked them away in a folder in a filing cabinet - for safe keeping.  I "happened upon" them again today, and I'd like to share them. 

                                          ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~

Here - in part - is my Grandma's long-ago-written letter to her friends and neighbors in her hometown of Spruce, Michigan.

In Grandma Gunda Anderson Ghiata's own words:

"Its later than you think.  This is a saying that has given me much thought of late, and as we know, we shall all come to the end of our journey here sooner or later, and it may be sooner than we think."

"I would like to take the opportunity to tell you the reason of the hope that is in me.  I do feel that the majority of my friends believe that I have only joined another church or sect and left the faith of my upbringing, which is not so.  I was brought up in one of the best religions one can find anywhere, and if religion is all that is necessary to take one to Heaven, I would still be where I was.  But at the age of 17, I was brought under the sound of the Gospel."

"I have been burdened a great deal as to my responsibility of making more public the faith I have in our Lord Jesus as Savior of my soul."

"I learned through the scriptures that I was an unsaved sinner, though religious.  Romans 3 verse 23 says, 'All have sinned and come short of the glory of God'."

"I was alone at home one afternoon and with a deep longing to know my sins forgiven.  God's Holy Spirit revealed to my soul the work of Christ on the cross which He accomplished for the very purpose of putting away our sins, and eternal life is ours when we put our trust in Him."

"I know I am saved and have eternal life because God's word says, 'He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life'."

"I have no religion, but a Savior; and am only a sinner saved by the grace of God through faith in the precious blood of Christ."

"May you also (if you are not sure of salvation) see your need of a Savior, and trust in Christ alone for salvation and forgiveness of sins."

"Your Fellow Traveler To Eternity, Gunda Ghiata"

                                          ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~

Indeed, this will go down in my own history as having been one of my favorite "t-shirts, blue jeans, and bare feet" days ever. - Lori Ghiata Bowser

Monday, October 4, 2010

A Sight To Behold

Did you happen to drive down Hanes Mall Blvd. in Winston-Salem yesterday?  The sight just west of Stratford Road was similar to sightings in thousands upon thousands of cities across the United States and Canada.

Yesterday - October 3, 2010 - was National Life Chain Sunday.



In our own neck of the woods, some dear friends and I joined nearly 100 other folks in peaceful, prayerful silence ... standing up for the unborn ... holding signs for passers-by to read the messages in our hearts.

Our messages?
  • Adoption:  The loving option.
  • Life:  The first inalienable right.
  • Pray to end abortion.
  • Jesus forgives and heals.
  • Abortion hurts women.
  • Abortion kills children.
  • Lord, forgive our nation.

We stood for the unborn.  We stood for the speechless.  And, we stood to restore hope to their mothers.

Not all unborn children are safe in the warm embrace of their mothers' wombs. 

These are the children for whom we stand, speak up, and pray passionately.

While some unborn children will someday meet their mothers face to face, others have their lives deliberately and brutally ended before they're allowed to take their first breath.

Deliberate?  Yes!  Abortion is contemplated and purposeful, thus deliberate.

Brutal?  Yes!  Abortion is brutal destruction of life.  Research it for yourself.  And, if you have the guts - view one for yourself.  You'll need a vomit bag.

Shamefully nauseating!

I'm fully aware that there may be some folks reading this particular blog today who may consider me insensitive.

To the contrary!

I am entirely sensitive to the plight of the unborn ... for those unable to stand up and make their own voices heard.  If by some miracle they were able to speak, I believe their messages would be similar to the messages on our signs yesterday.

Wouldn't that be a sight to behold!

P.S.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DANNY!  Danny was born to me 36 years ago today.  I was just 16 years old, unwed, and scared at the time.  But, I believe God blessed me beyond my dreams for my selfless and moral decision for life for Danny.  And, I guarantee ... Danny's glad for my decision as well. 

I love you, Danny.

Outta Control

I'd like to think that I'm far from being a control freak.  I'd like to think that I'm more than willing to allow others to ...