Changes

If you've been reading my posts this fall, you know I've been working on changing my diet due to food allergies.  I'm still adjusting to the restrictions and testing different foods.  I've discovered that I can eat the old-fashioned chocolate oatmeal drop cookies as long as I use almond milk instead of cow's milk. This is wonderful considering the sweet tooth I've always had!  Beyond a few allergic reactions, the results have been almost unbelievable.  In less than 3 months, I've lost 25 pounds!  I'm back to what I weighed in my 20s and I celebrated by buying new jeans.

I've changed what I eat.  I had a problem, found a solution, reached a goal and I'll need to keep working on the solution so that I don't end up with the same problem again.  However, one day I will no longer need to be concerned with food allergies. 

I Corinthians 15:52 ...in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

The Pleasure of a Good Book

I actually had two days this week with no meetings scheduled, so I should have hunkered down in my office to catch up on the day-to-day work.  There was plenty of work at home too, but I wanted a break from everything so I took two days off.

When my body and my mind are tired I've found the best thing to do is just sit, read and escape for a while.  I had saved up a few books by my favorite author, Dee Henderson.  It had been so long since I had carved out time to read that I had forgotten what a great writer she really is.  She pens what I would call a Christian crime drama.  By the end of each book you know the characters because they've become your friends.  You feel their stress and joys.  You understand their questions for God and their conversations with God.  You've probably even had some of those same conversations.

Dee Henderson was blessed with an extraordinary talent for writing.  She has chosen to use it for God's glory.  I wonder if I'm using my talent for God's glory.

Romans 12:4-6a For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them.

I encourage you to read Dee's work.  She's written 18 novels and it's hard for me to pick a favorite.  I would suggest starting with the O'Malley Series.  Dee's current goal is to get teenage girls to read this series for examples of good Christian relationships as they begin to date.  What a splendid idea!

Meetings, Meetings, and Something Else

Over a third of my just completed workweek was spent in meetings.  I can handle a couple of meetings and still get my work done, but seven meetings in five days was a bit overwhelming.  I don't like it when I can't just sit, think, plan and do what needs to be done.

In the midst of it all, my son had an earache, so I scheduled a doctor's appointment during a lunch break between two meetings.  Fortunately he only had a cold - so we went to grab some lunch instead of having to grab a prescription.  I could have taken him back to school but he asked nicely and I took him back to the office with me.  I knew he could handle some down time.  I'm so proud of him as he was recently given a Golden Helmet Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement and Athletic Performance in football.

II Timothy 2:5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

It's not often I get the pleasure of an afternoon listening to a 13 year old tell me about his world (along with how out of touch I am).  As the day wore on, I happily finished with my last meeting, knowing I would get to spend more time with my son.  I even convinced him that he wanted a haircut - quite an accomplishment with a teenager.  :)

Talent to Share

This week I crashed our church's Wednesday night Halloween event for our kindergarten, first and second graders.  I had heard that one of our church members had quite a talent for pumpkin carving and was going to tell the Salvation story to the youngsters.  I wanted to see what he had in store and I am so glad I did! He lit the pumpkins and walked them around the room so all could see them as he told of...

the birth of Christ,

Christ as a man,

the Last Supper,

the Cross,

He is Risen,

and becoming a Child of God.

Yes, those were all carved in pumpkins and these pictures don't do them justice! (If you cannot see these pictures in the email, please open this entry on your computer.)

This has been on my mind all week. I was thrilled to have witnessed it and amazed by how a man can take an unusual talent and use it to teach others about Christ.

Philemon 1:6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

God made each one of us for a purpose.  Now I'm wondering.  What good thing did Christ place in me that will allow me to effectively share my faith?