On Sunday, I had one of those days. You know the ones where nothing seems to be easy, unusual things occur, and you wonder why everything is a challenge. The day began fine with breakfast and some time reading before getting ready for church. The most stressful part was getting the 6 year old to brush her teeth, but that's fairly normal. We made it to the car and would almost make it to church on time. But then the 6 year old said, "Mama, the light was on when I got in the car." Uh-oh!
I sat down to crank the car. Then I heard that dreaded sound: click, click, click. I did the first thing that came to mind - I tried to crank it again as if that first try was just a fluke and by some miracle my car would start. I even tried a third time before I accepted that I was stuck in my garage. What now? Call Dad of course! Fortunately he was able to come to our rescue. He brought me a car to get to church and helped me connect the battery charger.
As the day continued, I could tell it was going to be one of those days. I had to go back home to get a coupon for lunch. Later I had to go back home again to pick up an item that I had planned to exchange at the store. Finally back at home, my 12 year old volunteered to help me do some baking. Within 20 minutes he got bored and went outside to play. Fortunately my Mom came to the rescue.
With a total lack of foresight, I had agreed to take the kids to a Fall Festival at my sister's church. It was SO cold! Our supper consisted of a hot dog and hot chocolate. (It's not bad if you are starving AND freezing.) I'm thinking candy is not worth this.
Back at home, I still had laundry (among other things) to finish for Monday. Even as I was writing this blog Sunday night, I fell asleep. Why did I end up with such an odd day?
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares The Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Now I'm finishing what I began yesterday. God had a plan to prosper and not harm me. Truly no harm was done and I did prosper. Looking back, I learned exactly how to hook up a battery charger; I had a great lunch with a 20% discount; and in the process of doing all my baking, I learned how to freeze a cake and make the color indigo. At the Fall Festival, I got to see my 18 and 14 year old nephews (along with two of their friends) dressed as the men from Duck Dynasty. I was told this is a reality show about hunters. If like me you have never seen it, just picture ZZ Top in camouflage repeating the words, "Happy, happy, happy."
But best of all, I got to hang out with a Scuba Diver and a Night Princess as they made their way through the Trunk or Treat. Not bad for 'just one of those days'.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Silence
I had a meeting on Friday at a location almost 3 hours from home. After the first 90 minutes, my radio station began to fizzle. Instead of searching for another station, I decided to turn it off.
Have you ever done that? It's almost unnerving. The silence is so...so loud! I had the urge to turn the radio back on, but decided against it. After a short time, I got used to the silence and even began to enjoy it. I was more aware of sights along the roadside and looked forward to what I might see around the next bend, like roadside fruit stands with misspelled words, yard art, and an elaborate resting place for pets.
While sitting in the quiet, I began to wonder why we resist silence so much. We are 'thinking' at some level every waking moment, and to some extent while we dream. As I go through the day, my thoughts consist of planning what I think must be done and what I think needs to be done; contemplating how busy I am and how tired I am; and hoping that I accomplish something significant that day. Hmmm. A lot of my thinking is wrapped up in me, myself and I. Meanwhile, all of this 'thinking' is happening with a symphony of noise from the radio, the television, the smart phone, the iPod, and the daily hustle and bustle around us.
In one of Paul's letters to the church of the Thessolonians, he makes mention of being quiet.
I Thessolonians 4:11-12 And that you aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; that you may walk properly (honestly) toward them who are outside, and that you may have lack of nothing.
I've often thought that aspiring to lead a quiet life meant resisting conflict and chaos. Perhaps it does, but it could also mean that I should aspire to just be quiet.
Why are we so uncomfortable with silence? Could it be that we might actually 'hear' what we are thinking? Could it be that we might actually 'hear' what God is saying to us?
Proverbs 8:32 Now therefore, listen to me, my children, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
This week, give silence a try. Turn off the electronics, go for a walk, and listen to the breeze through the leaves, the birds chirping, the brackets hitting a flag pole, and the quiet. The silence may be uncomfortable at first, but soon it might become something you crave.
Have you ever done that? It's almost unnerving. The silence is so...so loud! I had the urge to turn the radio back on, but decided against it. After a short time, I got used to the silence and even began to enjoy it. I was more aware of sights along the roadside and looked forward to what I might see around the next bend, like roadside fruit stands with misspelled words, yard art, and an elaborate resting place for pets.
While sitting in the quiet, I began to wonder why we resist silence so much. We are 'thinking' at some level every waking moment, and to some extent while we dream. As I go through the day, my thoughts consist of planning what I think must be done and what I think needs to be done; contemplating how busy I am and how tired I am; and hoping that I accomplish something significant that day. Hmmm. A lot of my thinking is wrapped up in me, myself and I. Meanwhile, all of this 'thinking' is happening with a symphony of noise from the radio, the television, the smart phone, the iPod, and the daily hustle and bustle around us.
In one of Paul's letters to the church of the Thessolonians, he makes mention of being quiet.
I Thessolonians 4:11-12 And that you aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; that you may walk properly (honestly) toward them who are outside, and that you may have lack of nothing.
I've often thought that aspiring to lead a quiet life meant resisting conflict and chaos. Perhaps it does, but it could also mean that I should aspire to just be quiet.
Why are we so uncomfortable with silence? Could it be that we might actually 'hear' what we are thinking? Could it be that we might actually 'hear' what God is saying to us?
Proverbs 8:32 Now therefore, listen to me, my children, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
This week, give silence a try. Turn off the electronics, go for a walk, and listen to the breeze through the leaves, the birds chirping, the brackets hitting a flag pole, and the quiet. The silence may be uncomfortable at first, but soon it might become something you crave.
Monday, October 15, 2012
What's it worth?
I had a yard sale this weekend. My children are growing, so there are always clothes, toys and books that need to find new homes. (I also needed to rid myself of the 150 sweaters and 100 pairs of shoes from that last estate sale I attended.)
The hardest part of a yard sale is deciding on a price for an item. You know how much you paid for it, how much you used it, and how much you think it should be worth now. So what's it worth?
What are your children worth? Just like you, I would give anything to help them.
John 1:12-13 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
So if we believe in Jesus, we are given the right to become the children of God.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Now what are you worth? If you are only worth what someone is willing to pay, then you are priceless because God gave His only Son for your everlasting life!
The hardest part of a yard sale is deciding on a price for an item. You know how much you paid for it, how much you used it, and how much you think it should be worth now. So what's it worth?
It's only worth what someone is willing to pay.
What are your children worth? Just like you, I would give anything to help them.
John 1:12-13 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
So if we believe in Jesus, we are given the right to become the children of God.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Now what are you worth? If you are only worth what someone is willing to pay, then you are priceless because God gave His only Son for your everlasting life!
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Treasures in a Barn
I went to a Barn Sale this weekend. My best description of a Barn Sale is a man's version of a yard sale. I saw the ordinary things you expect to find in a barn: fishing gear, lighting fixtures, nuts, bolts, hammers, ladders, outdoor furniture, etc. I also found some extraordinary items as well. There was an old horse-drawn wagon, an antique writing desk, and an antique wash stand from Germany. The wash stand looked like a standard waist-high rectangular piece of furniture with double doors at bottom. I reached to pull out the top drawer and discovered that it swiveled around to reveal two old wash basins. "Wow" was all I could say.
But without a doubt, the best find at the Barn Sale was not a thing, but a person. That person was a cherished friend that I had not seen in about a year. I was thrilled to see her and spent quite some time talking with her and her family. I ended up buying a few items, but by far my memory of the Barn Sale will be about the person I saw.
I almost didn't go to the Barn Sale because it was about 40 minutes from my house and with such high gas prices, I did question my sanity in taking the trip. Was the drive worth the time and the money that I would spend getting there?
Remember the story of the shepherds tending their flocks, then being told by an angel that Christ the Lord was born in Bethlehem.
Luke 2:11-12 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger.
These shepherds knew exactly who they would see in the barn. Did they talk amongst themselves about the long walk, about needing to rest while the sheep were resting, or about what might happen to their flocks if they left them? Not at all.
Luke 2:15-16 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.
Like the shepherds, knowing who was going to greet me at the end of my trip to the Barn Sale would have made all of my second guessing disappear. But best of all, knowing that Christ will greet us at the end of our earthly journey removes any doubts about the journey itself.
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
But without a doubt, the best find at the Barn Sale was not a thing, but a person. That person was a cherished friend that I had not seen in about a year. I was thrilled to see her and spent quite some time talking with her and her family. I ended up buying a few items, but by far my memory of the Barn Sale will be about the person I saw.
I almost didn't go to the Barn Sale because it was about 40 minutes from my house and with such high gas prices, I did question my sanity in taking the trip. Was the drive worth the time and the money that I would spend getting there?
Remember the story of the shepherds tending their flocks, then being told by an angel that Christ the Lord was born in Bethlehem.
Luke 2:11-12 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger.
These shepherds knew exactly who they would see in the barn. Did they talk amongst themselves about the long walk, about needing to rest while the sheep were resting, or about what might happen to their flocks if they left them? Not at all.
Luke 2:15-16 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.
Like the shepherds, knowing who was going to greet me at the end of my trip to the Barn Sale would have made all of my second guessing disappear. But best of all, knowing that Christ will greet us at the end of our earthly journey removes any doubts about the journey itself.
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
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