What we think we know.

I just finished watching the TED talk with Anne Lamotte and the 12 things she thinks she knows.  I am amused and challenged every time.  She seems to have figured out very many things and shares them.

So, I suppose I ask what do I think I know?   How ever should I answer that.  It may be indeed a simple number of things.

1. That God is love.

2. That I’m often surprised by that love of God, especially when I completely stumble in my discipleship. That’s often.

3. That my job here is not one I earned with any of the degrees I have like. B.S., M.Div, D.Min. But with the acceptance that 46AD6577-3348-4C60-A26C-9EA002B02BE5

I am a beloved child of God as are all people whether I want to let them into my circle or not.

So it begins. The others I work on later

God Abides

Bobbie Giltz McGarey

@may 28 2019

Cousins Reunited

Since some time in the last mid-century I hadn’t seen my cousins on the Giltz side of my family. Two days ago we met again. Ok so we looked like our parents, not a bad thing, we fell easily -effortlessly into Cousin-com. What a delightful time we had. Going through photos of our ancestors, sharing the roads we’d traveled, laughing, crying, and it seemed so right.

We drove by Grandpa’s house on Lincoln Way in Massillon, Ohio. It looked like someone loved the house. We then went to the cemetery. The cemetery wasn’t groomed for Memorial Day and only individuals had put a random flag out or two. Grandma and Grandpa’s marker was completely covered with long cut grass. We cleaned it off, polished it a little, and stood and had a prayer of thanksgiving to them for all they gave us …especially the three children we came from, now we were brought together again: My Dad Maurice, Jeannie’s Dad Rolland, and Susan’s Mom Janet.

Here we were Bobbie, Sue, and Jeanie, together.

It was a good time. We hope for more to come.

It was a good time

Sunrises -Earth turning

I woke 5 minutes before sunrise. Put on my sneakers and ran toward the beach. (Run is a relative term) ( for me right now run means walk fast enough to get winded). I got to the beach and sat and started recording the sunrise. It was no surprise how it happened…it just did. …link to video to be attached. A big cargo ship headed out to sea. I saw only one guy who was walking his dog. It was quiet and beautiful. It was also quite cool when the sun went behind the clouds for even a minute.

Ah sun rise..or earth turning hang on..thanks gravity…

God abides

And I thank God

Bobbie Giltz McGarey

@2019 Virginia Beach, VA

Beaches

So I’m back at Virginia Beach for my Niece Hannah’s wedding later this afternoon. I am honored and excited to participate. It will be a good time. Many of her cousins are here too. And there is a gaggle if little bridesmaids including my granddaughter Maggie Mae. IT WILL BE GREAT. I AM HONORED TO PARTICIPATE.

Before the rehearsal we went done we went to the beach. I sat down and watched and played.

Something healing there is to the ocean. Sigh peace

God Abides

Bobbie McGarey

@may 10 19

Va beach,

Now and forever

On our trip to Scottsdale from ABQ. We stopped at the petrified forest painted desert national park. Miracles and wonders are everywhere. Trees who have turned to multicolored stone. The landscape colors changing with each passing cloud. Quiet. Profound quiet.

You can walk into the desert. I took the top photo of a tree trunk slice. The beautiful gemstone like colors imbedded in the wood stone are amazing.

Time. It’s all about time and our little span of years. Our tiny moment to make a difference for good. It is our contribution to the earth spinning around.

So friends hop to it. Make your difference. Make it for the good. It is worth the effort.

God Abides

Bobbie Giltz McGarey

@5/3/19

Enough?

When ‘Just Because’ isn’t enough

Years ago we knew a young man who really wrestled with his faith. There was never one answer to a question about faith, Jesus, the Bible stories, the Bible itself, how and why we did everything we did in the church. He was completely faithful about his wrestlings. He went to an adult class and really troubled the people. The literature they used to guide them only raised many questions for him, which he asked. One of the members of the class complained, “He asks so many questions we can’t finish one lesson!:” I asked him what was their basic goal in this class? He said it was one which had said it was one where people could think together about matters of faith. I asked how that description of the class and this young man’s questions were different. The class member paused and said…. there is no difference… and he walked away. The Young Man came into the office a few weeks later and said it was obvious to him his questions puzzled people. So he came to talk to us more.  
He was baptized because after all his wresteling he did come to see God’s grace and love at work in his life through Jesus Christ and bringing him joy and strength. His ‘affirmation’ ‘profession of his faith in Jesus as his own Savior was amazing.  
He died about three weeks after this profession from a chronic disease… Resting in the arms of God.

How do we so easily say yes when someone says…Believe this… be it a politician or a religious leader? If we cannot wrestle with the consequences of our actions or of a rule of law are we putting aside our own good God given wisdom. If God only wanted one person to have brains to make decisions then the rest of us would be mindless wonders. There would have been a species of rulers not a planet packed with children of God, created in God’s image.  

As many have said before, John Williams at Austin College for one, God gave us brains and expects us to use them.  

have a good day
Bobbie Giltz McGarey

@april252019
Albuquerque NM

Monday Thereafter

There are times I think about the friends of my youth and some of the things we did. Or I’ll hear a song from the 60 that reminds me of someone and I wonder, “when you hear that song Cecelia do you think of me?” Then I realize my life is now and I need to cultivate friends now. Tend the friends I have now. Laugh, cry, be vulnerable yes good start.

Ok gotta go meet someone for coffee. Laters

God Abides

Bobbie McGarey

@april22,2019

Facebook Bobbiemcgarey

New life PCUSA Albuquerque NM

Easter eve

God we wait till morning to shout and proclaim the joys of new life in Jesus.

A friend in India wrote it this way Chandan Kumar

Have blessed day Jesus chooses to lay down on the cross in place of us so that we can have life.

So great is his love for each one of us. Let us praise and worship Him.

May this ressurection day inspire you to new hope, happiness, prosperity, and abundance, all received through God’s divine grace. Have a Blessed time with your friends and families…. *Happy resurrection day*

Sunset

the other evening as I was leaving NewLife PCUSA, Abq, I got in the car but hesitated a moment before I started the wipers. The setting sun and horizon illumines the rain as so many crystals. It was a lovely way to unpack the day.

Don’t be so hasty in your days that you miss the crystals where they may be found

God Abides

Bobbie Giltz McGarey

@april 8.19.2019

Albuquerque,Nm

Wednesday is Coming

Why is everyone so cheering golfer Tiger Woods. Because though you know all to well his poor decisions, his addiction, his bodily pain… he changed as did all the other situations. He changed. Repented and then came back to who he truly was. As his mother congratulated him when he won the Masters, “I’m proud of you”. That blessing. He was restored.

We all want to be restored to who we are.

Easter called us to restoration. Receive the blessing. Holy Week walk before us

God Abides

Bobbie Giltz McGarey

@april 16, 2019