I wanted to write something for Thanksgiving. I thought of the usual list - food, clothes, family, etc. Yes, I was thankful for those things, but I wanted something more original.
Last night one word stuck in my mind - LOVE! "Is that enough? I wondered. Is that all I'm thankful for?" In thinking about it some more, I realized that love pretty well covers everything. It is the core of my existence. I couldn't live very long without love.
So...I will write about love. I don't claim to know much about it but the longer I live the more I understand what love really is about.
It shows up in surprising ways and unexpected places. It is seen in a smile, a friend taking me out to lunch, God providing money for a trip, someone buying hot chocolate because they know I like it, a friend stopping in - just to give me a hug, Dad wishing me a safe drive home and waving goodbye from the porch or teardrops in the eyes of a child who is sad to see me leave.
True love is unconditional. It forgives - even when I mess up and let people down. I'm afraid. I want to run and hide. I think there's no way they could love me any more.
That's how it often is with God. I think He must be furious with me and I shrink back in terror. I'm scared to even show my face. I feel so ashamed and disappointed in myself. I forget that His heart towards me is good. I forget that love forgives. At last I dare to lift my eyes and gaze into His face. I'm amazed at what I see - LOVE! Only love! I fall on my face and worship as tears stream down my cheeks. How He could love someone like me I'll never understand...
Thank you, Father, for your love!
May you be blessed with love today!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
EVERY MINUTE DETAIL!
Do things just "happen" or is God planning EVERY MINUTE DETAIL of my life???
The other day I took a walk in the park. It was a gorgeous fall day with the sun shining and warm breezes blowing. And yet...my heart felt lonely and sad. Even as I talked with my Best Friend, the tears wouldn't stop rolling down my face. Life seemed hard. I didn't think I could climb even one more small hill. As I trudged along with my nose to the ground, suddenly on the sidewalk before me I saw this sign:
I took a second look. I couldn't believe it! Did God put that there just for me?? I had to smile through my tears. Whether or not He did, I decided to take it.
A couple days later I was reading the story of the "Footprints" poem. I've always loved that poem. Here are a few lines:
"My precious child, I love you and will never leave you,
never, ever during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints
it was then that I carried you."
-Margaret Fishback Powers
You might call me old-fashioned, disillusioned, gullible or superstitious but I believe God is planning EVERY MINUTE DETAIL of my life! And He will use anything and anybody He chooses!
The other day I took a walk in the park. It was a gorgeous fall day with the sun shining and warm breezes blowing. And yet...my heart felt lonely and sad. Even as I talked with my Best Friend, the tears wouldn't stop rolling down my face. Life seemed hard. I didn't think I could climb even one more small hill. As I trudged along with my nose to the ground, suddenly on the sidewalk before me I saw this sign:
I took a second look. I couldn't believe it! Did God put that there just for me?? I had to smile through my tears. Whether or not He did, I decided to take it.A couple days later I was reading the story of the "Footprints" poem. I've always loved that poem. Here are a few lines:
"My precious child, I love you and will never leave you,
never, ever during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints
it was then that I carried you."
-Margaret Fishback Powers
You might call me old-fashioned, disillusioned, gullible or superstitious but I believe God is planning EVERY MINUTE DETAIL of my life! And He will use anything and anybody He chooses!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
There is a time...
Eccl. 3:1a & 2a "There is a time for everything...a time to be born and a time to die..."
I took my dad for a physical today and I'm thinking maybe the doctor should've checked me out as well, but then maybe it's nothing that a good night of sleep won't cure.
My brain is going haywire and it is time for bed, but I WILL get back to blogging one of these days. My good intentions for tonight have just fled and so you will have to wait to hear this story.
I took my dad for a physical today and I'm thinking maybe the doctor should've checked me out as well, but then maybe it's nothing that a good night of sleep won't cure.
My brain is going haywire and it is time for bed, but I WILL get back to blogging one of these days. My good intentions for tonight have just fled and so you will have to wait to hear this story.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
A Hairy Day!
I was disgruntled as I crawled into bed. My shower didn't work and I had no idea why. I do not like "Hunny Do" lists without the hunny. Fixing things is not my thing. I don't have the brains for it and furthermore I simply don't want to do it cause it's not the woman's place and I wouldn't want to get out of line.
Well, the next morning my phone rang before I was even out of bed. It was my sister with some sisterly advice that her husband so kindly handed out. He thought it might be a calcium build-up that could be taken care of by simply removing the shower head and soaking it in some concoction I didn't have. Still, I thought, it might be worth taking that shower head off and looking it over.
I was still feeling rather disgruntled as I climbed in the tub and tried to figure out how to unscrew the silly shower head. I don't have time for this, I grumbled to myself. At last it came off and with a pliers and screwdriver (yep, I even have a few tools of my own) I took it apart even further. It didn't LOOK like anything was wrong, but then, what do I know? I decided to try the shower without the shower head and still no water was forthcoming. Then my imagination ran wild and all I could think of was a rat stuck in the pipe! Horrors! I wasn't about to deal with that! A man was needed, of this I was convinced! I washed my hands of the affair and called the maintenance guy.
I arrived at work and there I learned the real source of my problem was a water leak at the neighbors. The water is piped down for 6 households, so one leak can cause a lot of problems. My problem was simply a lack of pressure. It took me a very long time to put 2 and 2 together and realize what was going on. I was vastly relieved that once the neighbors problem was taken care of, mine was, too!
Little Ole Lady Crocheting
That same day there was a flurry of excitement at Miller Seed Farms. I was surprised to arrive at work to find a little ole lady calmly sitting in the office crocheting. Dolores was madly rushing around answering the phone, waiting on customers, doing paperwork and generally keeping things running, as she always does. Still this little ole lady sat there calmly crocheting. "Just let me know if I'm in the way," she kindly said, as once again we excused ourselves for reaching over her head, trying to get in a drawer and other such things as we madly raced around. And still this little ole lady sat there calmly crocheting.
Occasionally she made a comment or asked a question and I would pause in my mad rush to sit back, take a deep breath and drum up an answer. And then the phone would ring again or I would be sent on an errand and still the little ole lady sat there calmly crocheting. I vainly wished I could be as calm as her in the midst of the "storm".
When his wheat was loaded, her husband at last appeared and after paying the bill he departed with his calmly crocheting wife! Dolores' comment was, "That woman could sit and crochet in a hurricane!" And I thought to myself, I think she just did!
Well, the next morning my phone rang before I was even out of bed. It was my sister with some sisterly advice that her husband so kindly handed out. He thought it might be a calcium build-up that could be taken care of by simply removing the shower head and soaking it in some concoction I didn't have. Still, I thought, it might be worth taking that shower head off and looking it over.
I was still feeling rather disgruntled as I climbed in the tub and tried to figure out how to unscrew the silly shower head. I don't have time for this, I grumbled to myself. At last it came off and with a pliers and screwdriver (yep, I even have a few tools of my own) I took it apart even further. It didn't LOOK like anything was wrong, but then, what do I know? I decided to try the shower without the shower head and still no water was forthcoming. Then my imagination ran wild and all I could think of was a rat stuck in the pipe! Horrors! I wasn't about to deal with that! A man was needed, of this I was convinced! I washed my hands of the affair and called the maintenance guy.
I arrived at work and there I learned the real source of my problem was a water leak at the neighbors. The water is piped down for 6 households, so one leak can cause a lot of problems. My problem was simply a lack of pressure. It took me a very long time to put 2 and 2 together and realize what was going on. I was vastly relieved that once the neighbors problem was taken care of, mine was, too!
Little Ole Lady Crocheting
That same day there was a flurry of excitement at Miller Seed Farms. I was surprised to arrive at work to find a little ole lady calmly sitting in the office crocheting. Dolores was madly rushing around answering the phone, waiting on customers, doing paperwork and generally keeping things running, as she always does. Still this little ole lady sat there calmly crocheting. "Just let me know if I'm in the way," she kindly said, as once again we excused ourselves for reaching over her head, trying to get in a drawer and other such things as we madly raced around. And still this little ole lady sat there calmly crocheting.
Occasionally she made a comment or asked a question and I would pause in my mad rush to sit back, take a deep breath and drum up an answer. And then the phone would ring again or I would be sent on an errand and still the little ole lady sat there calmly crocheting. I vainly wished I could be as calm as her in the midst of the "storm".
When his wheat was loaded, her husband at last appeared and after paying the bill he departed with his calmly crocheting wife! Dolores' comment was, "That woman could sit and crochet in a hurricane!" And I thought to myself, I think she just did!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Counting or Dancing
"Don't count the hours, but make the hours count."
I think that's something like living for the moment instead of always wishing to be somewhere else, not longing for things to change so life will be "better".
Some days it works. Some days it doesn't.
Yesterday was a chilly, gloomy, very rainy day! I was not in the mood to work. All I wanted to do was go home, cuddle up in a blanket, munch on popcorn and watch a good movie. I mentioned this to my co-worker and then that was all we could think/talk about for the rest of the day. Work just didn't seem to have any appeal. I was counting the hours alright - the hours till I could finally go home!
I'm sure I've mentioned this song before but I REALLY DO LIKE IT so I'll mention it again. It's the song, "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack. I'm not very good at dancing. I feel like I have 2 left feet. I step on toes. I stumble and fall. Sometimes I just sit on the floor and weep. I don't even FEEL like trying again. What's the use?????? But then someone comes along. He tenderly looks at me, stretches out his hand and asks me to dance again. I say, "I can't!" He says, "You can! I will help you. You'll be glad you did."
I think that's something like living for the moment instead of always wishing to be somewhere else, not longing for things to change so life will be "better".
Some days it works. Some days it doesn't.
Yesterday was a chilly, gloomy, very rainy day! I was not in the mood to work. All I wanted to do was go home, cuddle up in a blanket, munch on popcorn and watch a good movie. I mentioned this to my co-worker and then that was all we could think/talk about for the rest of the day. Work just didn't seem to have any appeal. I was counting the hours alright - the hours till I could finally go home!
I'm sure I've mentioned this song before but I REALLY DO LIKE IT so I'll mention it again. It's the song, "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack. I'm not very good at dancing. I feel like I have 2 left feet. I step on toes. I stumble and fall. Sometimes I just sit on the floor and weep. I don't even FEEL like trying again. What's the use?????? But then someone comes along. He tenderly looks at me, stretches out his hand and asks me to dance again. I say, "I can't!" He says, "You can! I will help you. You'll be glad you did."
Friday, September 18, 2009
NOT blond
I am NOT blond! I may be a "bear of very little brain" but I am NOT blond! I know, I'm trying to convince myself. After today, even I, am having doubts...
My one and only dearly beloved cell phone died on me last night! I was distressed! How could I live without a phone??? I couldn't even call anyone to find out what to do! It said it was fully charged but then the screen went black as night and my heart sank within me. It must need a new battery, I thought. I didn't know. I may work at a computer repair shop but I know NOTHING about the technical issues of modern devices.
So this afternoon I took my cell phone and sinking heart and headed to the computer shop to have the guys take a look. And all it took was one look, punching the power button and wonder of wonders, my phone worked again! We all had a good laugh and those guys are probably laughing still! As for myself, I was vastly relieved that I didn't have to buy a new phone or even a new battery.
After that I went home and played a few rounds of Dominoes with Dad and Mom. At least that my poor brain could handle!
My one and only dearly beloved cell phone died on me last night! I was distressed! How could I live without a phone??? I couldn't even call anyone to find out what to do! It said it was fully charged but then the screen went black as night and my heart sank within me. It must need a new battery, I thought. I didn't know. I may work at a computer repair shop but I know NOTHING about the technical issues of modern devices.
So this afternoon I took my cell phone and sinking heart and headed to the computer shop to have the guys take a look. And all it took was one look, punching the power button and wonder of wonders, my phone worked again! We all had a good laugh and those guys are probably laughing still! As for myself, I was vastly relieved that I didn't have to buy a new phone or even a new battery.
After that I went home and played a few rounds of Dominoes with Dad and Mom. At least that my poor brain could handle!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
LOVED!
I feel loved-by the Father. He gives and gives and gives some more, even when I feel so undeserving. I don't understand why/how He could love me so much, but all I can do is accept it and pass it on to others.
I heard an awesome concert by the Gaither Vocal Band at the Kansas State Fair this week. One song they sang talked about how because we know we are loved by God we can risk loving others. They ended with the song, "Because He Lives". It says, "Because he lives I can face tomorrow, because he lives all fear is gone..."
What hope! What peace in knowing God is in control! The future is as bright as my God is big!
I heard an awesome concert by the Gaither Vocal Band at the Kansas State Fair this week. One song they sang talked about how because we know we are loved by God we can risk loving others. They ended with the song, "Because He Lives". It says, "Because he lives I can face tomorrow, because he lives all fear is gone..."
What hope! What peace in knowing God is in control! The future is as bright as my God is big!
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