With so much emphasis on our privacy, in America, because of fears of being scammed or our identities being stolen, etc. it really got me thinking how a lot of times our American rights and freedoms get in the way of our Christianity. Case in point...our privacy. I do know that we do have to protect ourselves from people who will take advantage of what we say on social medias. Finding out when we leave on vacations thus robbing our homes and so on. But are we too private? We tend to build a wall around ourselves so high that no one can see in. That way we can hide our faults, our flaws, our sins. We want people to like us, but we don't like ourselves at times. We feel guilty for the stupid, thoughtless, selfish, things that we do, say or think. If others KNEW what we are really like, they wouldn't like us. We give the appearance that it would be almost impossible for anyone to attain our perfection. Not one single person in the Bible, other than Jesus, was made out to be perfect! I believe God chose to show that on purpose. I believe He wanted to prove that it was impossible for anyone to be "good enough" to be holy. If we could, there would be no point in Jesus dying for our sins.
Then there is the idea of our rights. Yes we have rights in America that I cherish. But it stifles us spiritually. It makes us selfish and self-centered. We spend so much time and energy defending our rights that we neglect spreading God's good news that we can be forgiven and adopted by him. I will give up ALL my rights for that privilege!
I am not saying that we need to lay down and be trampled or allow others to be exploited without a fight. I am talking about more minor things. Being disrespected or defending our honor.
Someone said something today that offended me. My first reaction was to explain why I do what I do and why what they said was mean spirited and almost a slap in the face. I thought about blogging on that subject. As the day wore on, I realized that I would only be doing that out of justifying myself. I could possibly offend that person with my blog. I don't want to do that. I want Christ's love to flow through me not, what is my rights, or freedom of speech. When we concentrate on our rights we forget about others.
I feel like I am rambling on and on. I want so much to impress, we as Christians need to take our walls down. When others can't reach us...we can't reach them either. There isn't anywhere in the Bible that says its okay to be private.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
This world is not my home.
After getting word of a friend whose son was killed in a car accident this weekend, a flood of emotions have overcome me. It takes me back to a horrendous time in the life of our family. Back to when our granddaughter and daughter-in-law were killed in a car accident. Some things are distinct and some things are a blur.
I can see the police officers standing at our door, but I don't believe I could recognize those men today. I remember my son falling to his knees, my husband and younger son sobbing, but I don't remember crying. I remember crying a week or two later when I saw my granddaughter's hand-prints on the window where she liked to look outside. It was months before I could finally wash those precious prints off. I ached for my son, I ached for my daughters who were best friends of my daughter-in-law long before my son and her fell in love. I ached to hear my granddaughter say "I see you Grandma." every time I was watching her from behind a camera lens. She would have been 18 this week. I feel sad that I never really got to know my daughter-in-law very well because she was so shy. I know God has a plan for every thing that happens to his children. It is hard to let go and trust Him. For years I had been very fearful for the rest of my family. It is one of the biggest reasons I pray daily for their spiritual life, so that when the end comes we will be together forever in the presence of God. I have gotten better at trusting God to take care of my family, but I still have moments. My heart goes out to my friend and her family. God has a plan for them I know. And sometimes God sends blessings to ease those pains. Like the blessings of my son's remarriage and his precious children that have been added. God is good all the time. This world is NOT my home. Like the song says...'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops, what if Your healing comes through tears, and what if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near. What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy. And what if trials of this life, the rain, the storms, the hardest nights, are Your mercies in disguise.
I can see the police officers standing at our door, but I don't believe I could recognize those men today. I remember my son falling to his knees, my husband and younger son sobbing, but I don't remember crying. I remember crying a week or two later when I saw my granddaughter's hand-prints on the window where she liked to look outside. It was months before I could finally wash those precious prints off. I ached for my son, I ached for my daughters who were best friends of my daughter-in-law long before my son and her fell in love. I ached to hear my granddaughter say "I see you Grandma." every time I was watching her from behind a camera lens. She would have been 18 this week. I feel sad that I never really got to know my daughter-in-law very well because she was so shy. I know God has a plan for every thing that happens to his children. It is hard to let go and trust Him. For years I had been very fearful for the rest of my family. It is one of the biggest reasons I pray daily for their spiritual life, so that when the end comes we will be together forever in the presence of God. I have gotten better at trusting God to take care of my family, but I still have moments. My heart goes out to my friend and her family. God has a plan for them I know. And sometimes God sends blessings to ease those pains. Like the blessings of my son's remarriage and his precious children that have been added. God is good all the time. This world is NOT my home. Like the song says...'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops, what if Your healing comes through tears, and what if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near. What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy. And what if trials of this life, the rain, the storms, the hardest nights, are Your mercies in disguise.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Relationships and Resolutions
This morning as I was praying for my children and grandchildren I had an epiphany. Tears were welling up as my heart was missing each and every one of them. I love every one of them with my whole heart. I would give my life for any of them. I love them equally! There may be some that would deny that but I know my heart. I do have a closer relationship with some of them more than others. Why is that, because my love is the same? It is because some work on our relationship more than the others. When I am the one that has to do most of the work on a relationship, (which may be just my opinion), it keeps from having the closeness I long for. It doesn't change my love for them, it just keeps us from that intimate relationship.
So here comes the epiphany...is this how God sees it. Is that why King David was "the apple of His eye"? Is that why Abraham was considered a "friend" of God. The Bible never says that God loved them more than the rest of us. But he had a closer relationship with them because they worked on it. It wasn't a once or twice a week communion with God. They longed for a relationship with God almost as much as God longed for a relationship with them. These were VERY flawed humans. A liar, an adulterer, a murderer. But they still desired to be intimate with God. Just them having that desire had to make God's heart sing.
I desire also to have an intimate relationship with God. I know that I am also a VERY flawed human. I know that God loves me as much as He loves anyone else. I know that it won't make Him love me more than He already does. It will make ME love HIM more. I want to be His "friend" and "the apple of His eye". I know it will take work on my part. More digging into His Word. More praying and communing with Him.
My New Years resolution is...to keep striving for that close intimate relationship that I know God longs for, just like I long for with my family...
The love is there, now for the relationship...
So here comes the epiphany...is this how God sees it. Is that why King David was "the apple of His eye"? Is that why Abraham was considered a "friend" of God. The Bible never says that God loved them more than the rest of us. But he had a closer relationship with them because they worked on it. It wasn't a once or twice a week communion with God. They longed for a relationship with God almost as much as God longed for a relationship with them. These were VERY flawed humans. A liar, an adulterer, a murderer. But they still desired to be intimate with God. Just them having that desire had to make God's heart sing.
I desire also to have an intimate relationship with God. I know that I am also a VERY flawed human. I know that God loves me as much as He loves anyone else. I know that it won't make Him love me more than He already does. It will make ME love HIM more. I want to be His "friend" and "the apple of His eye". I know it will take work on my part. More digging into His Word. More praying and communing with Him.
My New Years resolution is...to keep striving for that close intimate relationship that I know God longs for, just like I long for with my family...
The love is there, now for the relationship...
Friday, December 2, 2011
Chex Mixes
I love trying new recipes. Not all of them turn out very good. I get so excited when they do. Here are a couple of them that did.
INDIAN SPICED CHEX MIX
3 cups each of Rice, Corn, and Wheat Chex
1 cup cashews
1/2 cup almonds
Mix together in a large microwavable bowl set aside
In a small microwavable bowl melt;
1 1/2 Tbs butter
add:
3 Tbs. light corn syrup
3 Tbs. honey
3/4 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. ground cardamom (This is expensive but you can substitute 1/2 tsp. cinnamon and 1/2 tsp. nutmeg)
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
dash cayenne pepper
Microwave 10 more seconds, stir well, pour over cereal mixture stir well to coat.
Microwave 3 min. stirring after each min.
Spread out on wax paper to cool. Store in airtight container.
______________________________________________________________
CHILI-LIME CHEX MIX
8 cups Corn chex
1 cup corn nuts
1 cup mini pretzel twists
1 cup corn chips
Mix in large microwavable bowl set aside.
In small microwavable bowl melt;
6 Tbs. butter
Stir in;
1 Tbs. lime juice
1 tsp. lime zest
2 tsps. chili powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
Pour over cereal mixture, stirring to coat. Microwave 5-6 mins. stirring every 2 mins. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight container.
INDIAN SPICED CHEX MIX
3 cups each of Rice, Corn, and Wheat Chex
1 cup cashews
1/2 cup almonds
Mix together in a large microwavable bowl set aside
In a small microwavable bowl melt;
1 1/2 Tbs butter
add:
3 Tbs. light corn syrup
3 Tbs. honey
3/4 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. ground cardamom (This is expensive but you can substitute 1/2 tsp. cinnamon and 1/2 tsp. nutmeg)
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
dash cayenne pepper
Microwave 10 more seconds, stir well, pour over cereal mixture stir well to coat.
Microwave 3 min. stirring after each min.
Spread out on wax paper to cool. Store in airtight container.
______________________________________________________________
CHILI-LIME CHEX MIX
8 cups Corn chex
1 cup corn nuts
1 cup mini pretzel twists
1 cup corn chips
Mix in large microwavable bowl set aside.
In small microwavable bowl melt;
6 Tbs. butter
Stir in;
1 Tbs. lime juice
1 tsp. lime zest
2 tsps. chili powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
Pour over cereal mixture, stirring to coat. Microwave 5-6 mins. stirring every 2 mins. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight container.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Ramblings on death/life/love
A friend of mine lost her son this weekend in a terrible car accident. I hurt for her and know that the next year will be some of the hardest trials she will go through. There will be all of those firsts...first Thanksgiving without him...first Christmas...first birthdays...first Mother's day. I need to send up special prayers on those days for her.
From what I have heard, he was a good Christian man, father, husband, son, brother, friend. It just goes to prove that no matter how "good" you are, you can't escape the inevitable, death. Ecclesiastes 7:2 says "for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart."
We mourn because we want to be able to see our loved ones. We don't want them to die and leave us alone. We don't want to feel that emptiness, loneliness, pain. Yes we Christians feel this as much as non-Christians. The difference is, that if our loved ones are also believers, then it is only for a time. We will see them again. Then we will never be apart from them.
Revelations 21:4 says "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order or things has passed away."
What a wonderful day to look forward to. To have that hope. To have that promise. All of these petty things that irritate us, or hurt our feelings, will be nothing. If they are nothing then, why should they be anything now?
We need to love more, forgive immediately, cherish those around us. Even those that seem unlovable. God loves them, we should too. Let's not ruin the time we have left on this earth being self-centered or embittered by what we think are hurtful things. Just let it go...it means nothing. The gift that God gave us is Jesus. He is what we need to keep our minds on.
From what I have heard, he was a good Christian man, father, husband, son, brother, friend. It just goes to prove that no matter how "good" you are, you can't escape the inevitable, death. Ecclesiastes 7:2 says "for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart."
We mourn because we want to be able to see our loved ones. We don't want them to die and leave us alone. We don't want to feel that emptiness, loneliness, pain. Yes we Christians feel this as much as non-Christians. The difference is, that if our loved ones are also believers, then it is only for a time. We will see them again. Then we will never be apart from them.
Revelations 21:4 says "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order or things has passed away."
What a wonderful day to look forward to. To have that hope. To have that promise. All of these petty things that irritate us, or hurt our feelings, will be nothing. If they are nothing then, why should they be anything now?
We need to love more, forgive immediately, cherish those around us. Even those that seem unlovable. God loves them, we should too. Let's not ruin the time we have left on this earth being self-centered or embittered by what we think are hurtful things. Just let it go...it means nothing. The gift that God gave us is Jesus. He is what we need to keep our minds on.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Random?
Do we really know what is random? What may appear as random could actually be divine intervention. Now don't get me wrong, I don't believe that every single thing in the universe is pre-planned or what would the point of "free choice" be? I do believe that their are more things than we realize that are results of what we say or what we do. And that many of those decisions we make are rewarded or punished. Not all, the finally reward or punishment will be much later.
Today is my birthday. It had been a good day. Nothing out of the ordinary. The kids called, some of the grand kids texted me or fb me happy b-day. Lots and lots of friends fb me happy b-day. I have been feeling very loved. My hubby was able to spend most of the morning with me. Just a good day.
I went to get a few grocery items that were on sale. I went to the dollar store section of the grocery store. One of my clients has very limited funds and I had been keeping an eye out for a silverware organizer for her. Her silverware was just scattered in a drawer. I knew she wouldn't or couldn't get one. I have also been sneaking over some wooden spoons (she had one with the handle broken to within 2 in. of the bowl.) and measuring spoons and cups. I never tell her that I brought them I just stick them in her drawers.
The prize!!! I found an organizer for only a dollar. I slipped it into my cart, finished shopping, and went to the checkout. While I was waiting for the total, a lady and her little girl of about 7 or 8 went up to the clerk and said, "This little girl wants to do a random act of kindness and pay $10.00 of this lady's grocery bill." I was almost speachless. I said thank you and stood there crying while other people were looking at me. Some of them started crying too.
Was that really random or was God blessing me tenfold for the little minor thing I was doing for someone else? Sometimes its just the little things that make a difference to someone.
A VERY Happy Birthday to me!!!
Today is my birthday. It had been a good day. Nothing out of the ordinary. The kids called, some of the grand kids texted me or fb me happy b-day. Lots and lots of friends fb me happy b-day. I have been feeling very loved. My hubby was able to spend most of the morning with me. Just a good day.
I went to get a few grocery items that were on sale. I went to the dollar store section of the grocery store. One of my clients has very limited funds and I had been keeping an eye out for a silverware organizer for her. Her silverware was just scattered in a drawer. I knew she wouldn't or couldn't get one. I have also been sneaking over some wooden spoons (she had one with the handle broken to within 2 in. of the bowl.) and measuring spoons and cups. I never tell her that I brought them I just stick them in her drawers.
The prize!!! I found an organizer for only a dollar. I slipped it into my cart, finished shopping, and went to the checkout. While I was waiting for the total, a lady and her little girl of about 7 or 8 went up to the clerk and said, "This little girl wants to do a random act of kindness and pay $10.00 of this lady's grocery bill." I was almost speachless. I said thank you and stood there crying while other people were looking at me. Some of them started crying too.
Was that really random or was God blessing me tenfold for the little minor thing I was doing for someone else? Sometimes its just the little things that make a difference to someone.
A VERY Happy Birthday to me!!!
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Memories, regrets, and 8-track tapes
How many of you remember 8-track tapes? I use to have some, but I sold them after I got married as I was down-sizing things to move...and I no longer had an 8-track tape player. This week as I was working, one of my clients pulled out 3 case full of 8-tracks, pulled out a tape and inserted into his huge tape player/radio. Songs that speak to me and take me back to a simpler time. Barry Manilow, Glen Cambell, Johnnie Mathis, Crystal Gayle, Lynn Anderson, The Oak Ridge Boys, Crash Craddock, Bobby Vinton, and many more. My client told me that he had maybe a hundred tapes or more.
Listen to those classics, he started reminiscing. He talked of his teenage years. He was known as the crooner. He sang at dances. Sang at his high school prom. He was voted to be most likely to make it to the hit parade. He had a football scholarship to Michigan state. Lost it in the final game of his senior year with the winning touch down. Got his knee messed up. So instead he joined the marines. He was a POW in Viet Nam, he escaped on his own.
His biggest regret, though, was letting the love of his life slip through his fingers. The music brought it all back to him. I could feel his heartache. It makes one realize that he still has all the same feelings and emotions that we all do.
He told me that he would like to jump in his van, roll his windows down, put an 8-track in the tape player, turn it to blasting, and head to Pennsylvania. Not really something you would expect a man of 75 yrs. to say.
As I watched him talk I could see the years melt away. A light shone in his eyes that allowed me to glimps at the real person inside. It was amazing to see.
My friend, Jan, emailed a poem to me that says it so well. I hope she doesn't mind me using it. Thanks Jan.
"When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in Moosomin, Saskatchewan, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value."
Later, when the nurses were going through his meager possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distrbuted to every nurse in the hospital. One nurse took her copy to Alberta.
The man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas editition ot the St. Louis Association for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple but eloquent, poem.
And this little old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet."
Crabby Old Man
What do you see nurses?...
...What do you see?
What are you thinking...
...when you're looking at me?
A crabby old man...not very wise,
Uncertain of habit...
with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food....
and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice...
'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice...
the things that you do.
And forever is losing...
A sock or a shoe?
Who, resisting or not...
lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding...
...The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking?
...Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse
...you're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am...
As I sit here so still,
As I do your bidding,
...As I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of ten...
with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters...
Who love one another.
A young boy of sixteen...
with wings on his feet.
Dreaming that soon now...
...a lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at twenty...
...my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows...
that I promise to keep.
At twenty-five, now...
...I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide...
and a secure happy home.
A man of thirty...
My young now grown fast,
bound to each other...
with ties that should last.
At forty, my young sons...
have grown and are gone,
But my woman's beside me,
to see I don't mourn.
At fifty, once more, babies
play 'round my knee,
Again we know children...
My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me...
my wife is now dead.
I look at the future...
shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing...
young of their own.
And I think of the years...
and the love that I've known.
I'm now an old man...
and nature is cruel.
'Tis jest to make old age...
look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles...
grace and vigor,depart.
There is now a stone...
where I once had a heart
But inside this old carcass...
...a young guy still dwells,
And now and again...
my battered heart swells.
I remember the joys...
I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living...
life over again
I think of the years, all too few...
gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact...
that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people...
...open and see.
Not a crabby old man...
Look closer...see ME!!!
Listen to those classics, he started reminiscing. He talked of his teenage years. He was known as the crooner. He sang at dances. Sang at his high school prom. He was voted to be most likely to make it to the hit parade. He had a football scholarship to Michigan state. Lost it in the final game of his senior year with the winning touch down. Got his knee messed up. So instead he joined the marines. He was a POW in Viet Nam, he escaped on his own.
His biggest regret, though, was letting the love of his life slip through his fingers. The music brought it all back to him. I could feel his heartache. It makes one realize that he still has all the same feelings and emotions that we all do.
He told me that he would like to jump in his van, roll his windows down, put an 8-track in the tape player, turn it to blasting, and head to Pennsylvania. Not really something you would expect a man of 75 yrs. to say.
As I watched him talk I could see the years melt away. A light shone in his eyes that allowed me to glimps at the real person inside. It was amazing to see.
My friend, Jan, emailed a poem to me that says it so well. I hope she doesn't mind me using it. Thanks Jan.
"When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in Moosomin, Saskatchewan, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value."
Later, when the nurses were going through his meager possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distrbuted to every nurse in the hospital. One nurse took her copy to Alberta.
The man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas editition ot the St. Louis Association for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple but eloquent, poem.
And this little old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet."
Crabby Old Man
What do you see nurses?...
...What do you see?
What are you thinking...
...when you're looking at me?
A crabby old man...not very wise,
Uncertain of habit...
with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food....
and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice...
'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice...
the things that you do.
And forever is losing...
A sock or a shoe?
Who, resisting or not...
lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding...
...The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking?
...Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse
...you're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am...
As I sit here so still,
As I do your bidding,
...As I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of ten...
with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters...
Who love one another.
A young boy of sixteen...
with wings on his feet.
Dreaming that soon now...
...a lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at twenty...
...my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows...
that I promise to keep.
At twenty-five, now...
...I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide...
and a secure happy home.
A man of thirty...
My young now grown fast,
bound to each other...
with ties that should last.
At forty, my young sons...
have grown and are gone,
But my woman's beside me,
to see I don't mourn.
At fifty, once more, babies
play 'round my knee,
Again we know children...
My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me...
my wife is now dead.
I look at the future...
shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing...
young of their own.
And I think of the years...
and the love that I've known.
I'm now an old man...
and nature is cruel.
'Tis jest to make old age...
look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles...
grace and vigor,depart.
There is now a stone...
where I once had a heart
But inside this old carcass...
...a young guy still dwells,
And now and again...
my battered heart swells.
I remember the joys...
I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living...
life over again
I think of the years, all too few...
gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact...
that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people...
...open and see.
Not a crabby old man...
Look closer...see ME!!!
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