Interruptions or Opportunities?

It was nearing the end of the day and I was desperately trying to finish up last-minute things. Concentration was needed for I had discovered that some of the work lost, when Quick Books crashed several days previously, was still lost, and I had to go back and try to recall what had been done. I was tired and my head hurt. At this untimely time, one of the guys stopped by my desk with another request. I groaned inside and tried not to glare. The phone rang and another customer stopped in...

At home later that evening these words came to me: People are not interruptions to your day. They are golden opportunities to share My love. As I pondered those words I felt something shift inside me. What if I would see interruptions as opportunities to share God's love?? It changed the whole outlook on my days.

The next day my patience was tested, to be sure! My boss needed help with a project he was working on. He apologized for the interruptions and I could smile and say, "It's okay." Another worker needed much help that day, too, but it didn't bother me like it would've previously. The phone rang...and rang...and rang...but here, too, was a chance to offer kind words.

I thank God for the people He has in my life. It makes life much richer and more satisfying and gives me the opportunity to be an instrument of His love.

Pooh Bear

I'm feeling like "Pooh Bear"...

One day Pooh came home to find Piglet trying to reach the knocker to knock on his door. He kindly helped him and then said, "What a long time whoever lives here is answering this door." And he knocked again. "But Pooh," said Piglet, "it's your own house!" "Oh!" said Pooh. "So it is," he said. "Well let's go in."

*************

It was a busy week with the phone ringing almost incessantly. At times it was hard to get anything else done, certainly not without interruption. One morning I needed to call a vendor to make a correction on a bill they had sent us. I pulled out the bill and dialed the 800 number at the top. Almost immediately I heard my other line ringing, which is not uncommon these days. I decided to hang on and hope someone else in the office would pick up the other line.

Meanwhile, the number I was calling rang and rang. I thought it strange that they wouldn't have someone to answer the phone. Finally a salesman picked up our line and I heard him say, "Hello, hello?" I thought, That's strange, how did our lines get tangled up? I didn't say anything cause I didn't want to cut off whoever was calling. Finally he hung up and my phone went dead, too.

Then I began to wonder out-loud what had happened and Larry, as puzzled as ever, said that the name on the caller ID, on the call he answered, was Sturdi-Bilt. Suddenly, I began to laugh! "I think I just called myself!" I gasped between spasms of mirth. (I never call our 800 number and obviously didn't know what it was.)

And so, we had our laugh for the day! I felt a little foolish and slightly put out with myself. After-all, don't I already have more calls than I can handle??

So as Pooh would say, "We can't all and some of us don't!"

Things You Never Knew About Me

Recently one of my friends wrote a post on "10 Things You Didn't Know About Me". It got my mind rolling and I thought it would be fun to try something like that, so here goes...

1. I once climbed an elevator leg late at night, at the local feed store, with a friend and her brother. I was scared to death but the view and company were marvelous!

2. I have a cousin who was a photographer in the White House for about 10 years. He has now retired and travels, taking pictures of the world.

3. I don't like lemon in my water nor do I care for sour cream.

4. I love sleeping in and breakfast in bed (even if I have to get out of bed to make it)!

5. I once petted a baby skunk (and it wasn't at the zoo).

6. I lived in the same house for 8 months with 3 Labs. I would probably do it again but only for the love of babies.

7. A friend let me attend the birth of her baby and I got to hold the newest newborn ever!

8. My great-grandfather built Hopefield Mennonite Church close to Moundridge, KS.

9. In my zeal with a scissors, one day at work, I snipped off a piece of my finger. I had fun "grossing out" the guys by showing it around.

10. I love fishing (if I have someone to put the worm on the hook)! And eating them is even better!

11. My first trip to Glacier National Park was at 6 months old. I don't remember that one but I have been there several times since and the "11-mile hike" stands out in my memory. The last 3 miles were all downhill and I fared better than my Dad, whose knees wanted to give out.

12. I still dream of a man to share my life, and... triplets.

Life

The gentle breeze and pleasant 80-degree weather is a delightful way to end the week. After strong, damaging winds, drenching rain, and hail, it is a blessed reprieve. I breathe in the smell of freshly-mown grass, and buds nearly ready to burst into bloom are a welcome sight.

The battles in the spirit realm were raging, as well. One night a friend stopped in to offer words of encouragement and hope. As she was leaving, she snapped this picture of a warrior angel over my house.

I felt comforted, safe and protected. That night it felt like something was broken in the spirit realm and things slowly began to turn for the better.

Today was a day of rest and refreshment with just enough work to get by.:) I love Saturday mornings when I don't have to rush off to work but can take all the time I need talking to God. I stay in that place until He speaks and my heart feels at rest again. I needed that today for I did not feel at peace when I awoke this morning. There were two glaring things (totally unrelated, I thought) staring me in the face that I wanted answers for and as I prayed and worshiped and focused on God, suddenly I got a "word", in one short sentence, that tied the two together. I was surprised and delighted! It gave me a lightness of heart I hadn't had before and courage to get out of bed and brave another day.

I made "Dutch Puff" for breakfast and soaked in a bit of sun, while eating, for at that time of the morning my house still had a chill to it. I didn't feel very inspired to tackle my "To Do" list so texted my brother to see if he was busy. We talked for over 2 hours. After that I did get down to working (a little). I did a bit of mending and just enough cleaning to soothe my conscience. I painted a bulletin board frame white. I took a nap (just because I could). I had fun cooking and preparing a picnic for my Mom and sister who were coming in the evening.

Afterwards we went to McDonald's and got ice cream cones. What a lovely ending to a lovely day!

Someday...

Spring is a time of new life, warm breezes and sunshine. It makes me want to kick off my shoes and run barefoot in the thick, green grass. Or sit on the swing with a friend and talk...about life... In the early morning dawn I can hear the birds cheerily singing their songs. I eagerly look for the first flowers to pop out and start dreaming of picnics.

And someday I will have a lawn such as this...

Living My Dream

It's here. Sometimes I sit and shake my head and wonder, Is this true? The thing I've dreamed and longed for, for years. It doesn't look like I thought it would. Some days I think, Why did I want this?

I never thought I'd take on another full-time job. That is what this feels like.

It's exciting and exhilarating, exhausting and taxing, all at the same time. It's hard and sometimes lonely but challenging and satisfying, too. I said yes, not because I thought it would be easy, but because I saw it as an opportunity for me to grow. Grow in my relationship with God and people.

I have never felt so inadequate for a job and the need of utter dependence on God. And, yet, there is a confidence I've never had before, that comes from knowing He has called me to this, given me authority and He will provide everything I need to do the job well. I might not get it right the first time. I might not always have the right words. But I have a team and people supporting me and together with God we will see it through.

I love talking with people and showing them how big the Father's heart is towards them. I love sharing the things He has shown me and bits and pieces of my own story. It's so amazing to see the light and joy in a person's eyes when they hear words of truth from the Father himself, that set them free from years of pain and bondage.

New life is springing forth! It can be yours today. Come walk in the fullness He has for you.

Outrageously, Ridiculously Loved!

Valentine's Day didn't seem like that big a deal this year, as sometimes it has in the past. I didn't feel like I had to have flowers to know I was loved. Sometimes you just have that deep "knowing" and it's okay. Other times it's nice to have an outward sign.

So, a couple days ago I was reading what someone else had written about Valentine's Day (and, for the life of me, I can't remember who it was or what they wrote) and it prompted me to pray for God to send me a sign of His love.

Later that day a Kit-Kat randomly appeared on my desk.

I did a double-take and looked again. Where did THAT come from? Now, Kit-Kat's are one of my favorites and never-mind that they typically come in red wrappers. This one came in purple, my favorite color. The tears started to fall, and I quickly wiped them away when I thought no one was looking.

That night as I was going to bed and reviewing what had happened, these words came to me: Outrageously, Ridiculously Loved! And all the tension, stress, worry, fears of the day faded away.

Loving being loved,
Polly

P.S. The next morning I was handed another Kit-Kat, quite out-of-the-blue, and it was 4 times as big as the first one!