Reality Check with Ann Downing...

Oh wow, haven't heard this song, "Why Should He Love Me So?" in many a moon....then all of a sudden today it started traveling in my head and down to my heart. I'll have to say it didn't put me on one of those trips where I feel like a "worm", not worthy of love of any kind from anybody for any reason. It did start me to thinking that it really is an amazing mystery how God, my Abba Father, could love me so much. That got me to remembering that classic of Dottie Rambo's... "He left the splendor of Heaven, knowing His destiny 'twas the lonely hill of Golgatha, there to lay down His life for me... If that isn't love, the ocean is dry, there're no stars in the sky, and the sparrow can't fly If that isn't love, then Heaven's a myth, there's no feeling like this, it that isn't love" It's now floating around in my head and heart that I don't have to dig and dig and dig to know why He'd love me so....

I always knew I had a good woman for a Mama. Mama wasn’t known for her words, although she spoke plenty of good ones!! Her favorite way, in my opinion, to show her love for my sister, Lavern, and me was in her consistent, quiet steadfast support, many times not saying a word but just being there as if to say, “nothing can make me not believe in you and love you”. I’ve learned a lot from Mama….and the more days that pass since she went to Heaven just confirm that she was one of the wisest women who ever lived. Every morning in my devotions’ time as I’m journalizing I most always write out my thanks to God for my Mama….and the legacy she left behind. Mama went to Heaven on Mother’s Day, 2005. I only hope and pray that the rest of my life here on earth reflects just a smidgen of her grace and dignity…and consistent love. I sure do miss you, Mama!!! Ann D

Oh wow.....it would be great if we could make all things alright for all people, wouldn't it? I mean, when you know that you know that you know you've blown it with someone, didn't really think things through and boobooed big time and then apologized God's way, then what do you do? I'm learning through this thick head that it's ok if they don't choose to "like me" while they're hearing what I say in the way of an apology, yet "smarting" over what I said or did that they feel "made" them feel badly. What do we do? We just ask God to help you love 'em, you think? Is that it? Is that enough? It may not be to them right now, but it will be...and it can be for us right at this moment. Come to think of it...I'm sure grateful that a lot of people have let God love me through them after I've ripped their hearts to shreds. Yep, you just love 'em....knowing God does, too.

Earlier this year, I released a new CD. Of course, I always have my favs from each one, sorta. However this particular CD includes songs I've co-written, all but one, and in going back over some of the lyrics today (trying to learn 'em to stage 'em), I'm finding words that have been poured onto paper that I don't even remember thinking, much less writing down. I truly think God speaks many times in ways that we aren't at the time even consciously aware of. Today found me going over and over "There's Still a Cross"....I don't remember Daryl W and me saying this in that writing room several years ago, but this is profound to me today....."The sinless blood of Christ redeems each guilty life....the highest price is settled on that hill". Today, you may not have consciously thought of that "price", but don't miss the truth. THE PRICE HAS BEEN SETTLED BY JESUS. And... THERE'S STILL A CROSS where sins are wa...

Why does it sometimes seem we'll never get back on track? Never find that right road, never make that turn that will get us to where we're trying to go? I think we never want to stop trying to prove that we can be independent, have a mind that thinks for itself. I mean, those GPSs are wonderful.....well, if they're so wonderful, why do we argue with them and keep going even when "Recalculate" is heard over and over and over? Maybe somewhere along the way we're thinking that surely we should have known how to find our way by now without a "talking person in a box" having to direct us..point out when we're made a wrong turn or didn't make a turn at all. Whatever the reason we get frustrated enough to argue with a little gadget and sometimes defy that voice and keep going, let's never forget that it's never too late to recalculate. We can go back, our dear Lord God will help us get back to the last place we saw the light even i...

Can we please try to remember that this isn't Heaven yet...we're on the way, an imperfect journey, but we're gettin' there....together. I need for you to walk with me, I want to walk with you, we aren't walking alone...I need for you to be a little patient every now and then and you need me to be a little patient now and then. Thank you for bearing with our journey together...that we will be grown up boys and girls, as best as we can....

Recently we had a fundraiser for Middle Tennessee Women's Retreat that I host each year in the Nashville, TN area. We sold bulbs...all kinds. I love spring flowers. As a kid growing up in Mississippi,we had hillsides' full of jonquils, iris, hyancinths, etc, that were a clear sign that spring wasn't all that far away. I decided to get several different kinds of bulbs to plant in my courtyard and around the oak tree outside my front door, around some shrubs out there...I got 'em everywhere :). Now that's all well and good....but I'm having quite the challenge!!! I have to fight the urge to go out there and scratch around in that loose dirt to see what's happenin' under the surface. I'm soooo anxious to see green things piping up outta that dirt!!!! I wanna see the blooms tomorrow. Anything ring a bell here with anyone? Yeah, we plant a seed, really do want to trust God with it, and yet, far too often we "cave in" to trying to ...