God Does It Again

As God often does with me He reinforces a thought He has given me by telling it to me again. So after the past two days of God On Mute this morning I was reading an article in Charisma magazine and then later a devotional thought by Greg Laurie on Crosswalk.com. So today I will share what Greg Laurie has to say about ingratitude and tomorrow (unless God preempts with something else) I will post the Charisma article. I think I am getting it God, I really am.

"Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened." (Romans 1:21)

A man who was nailing down a loose shingle on a roof lost his footing and began to slip. Working three stories above the ground, he was terrified at the thought of falling to his death. He started shouting, "God, help me! I am falling! God, do something!" Just as he came to the edge of the roof, his belt loop caught on a nail and stopped him long enough to grab hold again. He shouted, "It's OK, God! I got caught on a nail."That is how we can be. We cry out to God. He answers our prayers. Then we say, "It's OK, God . . . everything seemed to work out."

But do we ever stop and think that God might have worked through certain circumstances to come to our rescue? My point is, we need to put as much zeal in thanking God for what He has done as we put into pleading with God when we are in need.I heard about a hospital chaplain who kept a record of some 2,000 patients whom he had visited, all who seemed to be in a dying condition and showed signs of repentance. Among those restored to health, he felt that only two showed a marked change in their spiritual lives after their recovery.

In other words, when these people thought they would die, they repented. But when they recovered, they forgot about God.What would you think of a person who always wanted things from you, but never offered a word of thanks in return? We can be that way with God, can't we? Let's remember to thank Him."

I wish I could say that this is not me, but unfortunately, it definitely is!!

Wondering Why

So this is a followup to yesterday's post. Peter Greig in God On Mute gives several reasons why our prayers may go unanswered.

1. It was a stupid request-He gave the example of asking God to help him not run out of gas before he got to a gas station. How is God suppose to do that? Drop a filling station down from the sky?
2.Some prayer contradict other prayers-for example two teams both praying to win, or a bride asking for no rain as a farmer is asking for rain.
3.Some answered prayers would be detrimental to the world and the lives of others-Praying that God stops every storm would put the eco-system in danger and more people would ultimately be in danger than hurt in a storm.
4. Some prayers aren't answered because creation is "subjected to frustration" and has not been fully "liberated from it's bondage and decay" Romans 8:10-21
He gives a great example of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who knew God could save them, but said "But even if he does not"....they would still worship Him only.
In John 16:33 Jesus says "in this world you will have trouble", so we should actually consider blessings to be the exception to the rule instead of expecting life to be trouble free.
5. Some prayers aren't answered the way we think they should because our understanding of God is wrong-We need to believe in God more than we believe in miracles. To our faith we need to add faithfulness that regardless of what happens, we trust God. He tells a great story about a lady named Margaret that had cancer of the throat. People would say things to her indicating that it was so unfair that she should suffer "like this" She wrote a reply to give to the well meaning assessors of her situation:
'This is not the worst thing to ever happen! Cancer is so limited. It cannot cripple love, shatter hope, corrode faith, eat away peace, destroy confidence, kill friendship, shut out memories, silence courage, quench the Spirit, or lessen the power of Jesus" He goes on to say that our prayers for ourselves are almost entirely aimed at getting rid of the negative at any cost rather than praying that the negatives be faced in the proper attitude.
6. Some prayers aren't answered because God has something even better for us.
7. Some prayers are not answered because they are selfishly motivated.
8. Some prayers aren't answered because God himself is a greater answer than the thing we are asking for. He wants to use our sense of need to draw us into a deeper relationship with Himself.
9. Some prayers are not answered because God will not force one to do what they do not want to do.
10. Some prayers are not answered because God's will is being directly contested by "the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms"
11. Some prayers are not answered because there are areas of disobedience in our lives.
12. Some prayers are not answered because we just don't believe they will be.

I just found this chapter to be thought provoking because I have always heard that God always answers prayer with a "yes, no, or wait awhile". Perhaps as this author suggests there are times when because of the reasons above and other reasons as well, God does not answer the prayer that we are praying.

On a totally unrelated note. Anyone else bummed to see Brooke leave American Idol. I didn't just like her voice I liked her honesty and just the way she was not full of herself. I will be sad that she is no longer in the running.

More On God On Mute

Today is the first day I picked up God On Mute since the Silent Retreat. There were just several things that really rocked my thinking that I wanted to share with you today. The chapter was entitled "Wondering Why"?.

The author Peter Greig has a wife who has suffered from epileptic seizures. After having surgery to remove a brain tumor and thinking it had been a success her seizures returned at which time he wrote the following:

"One night as I sat slumped on the sofa trying to come to terms with the effects of yet another seizure, God seemed to whisper five words in my ear 'I know how you feel.' Whether or not I had imagined the voice, it had an immediate impact on me. I replied angrily out loud, 'No, You don't!'
I was in no mood to be patronized. Especially not be a God who'd just let me down once again. 'How can you pretend to know how I feel? If you knew how this felt You'd stop these seizures!' Tears were scalding my cheeks. 'When did You ever see the face You love more than any other contorted demonically, blue and gasping for air? When did You ever have to sit there whispering the stupidest prayers that were every prayed, feeling totally and utterly helpless? God, I don't think You have any idea how it feels to be one flesh with someone and to watch that person spasm and writhe as if her bones where breaking. When did You ever experience all that?'

Silence......Brushing away the tears, my gaze settled on a a familiar postcard on the shelf above the fireplace, just a little to the left, beneath the mirror. It was Salvador Dali's depiction of the crucifixion--Christ of Saint John of the Cross. God knew where I was looking because He waited a moment before whispering just five more words: 'That's how I felt then.'

He then posts this scripture from the Phillips translation "Happy are those who know what sorrow means, for they will be given courage and comfort." Matthew 5:4

Wow! Those God moments when you hear Him whisper something to you can be amazing times! This one for sure sent chills down my spine. Perhaps you have had a time that you could bless us all by telling us about it. There is so much more in this chapter but I will post the rest tomorrow so that you don't have to read this entry all night.

Handling Pain

Today when I logged on my visitor count was at 7777. Hope that means this is going to be an extraordinary day!! Ha-I know with God everyday is extraordinary.

When I saw the title of this article this morning, it took me back as I don't generally think when I am in pain that it is necessarily the direct hand of God. This article gave me a lot to think about.
Tell me if it hit any cords in you.

How To Speak about God When He Hurts Us
John Piper www.desiringGod.org

The book of Lamentations is the heart-cry of Jeremiah when he and his people were being hurt by God, and by their enemies, and by their own sin. How he speaks of this divine hurting shows us some of the various ways we may speak about God in our own pain. If we affirm them all, then not one of them will be taken amiss.

The Lord directly does the hurting (2:1-4)."The Lord in his anger has set the daughter of Zion under a cloud! . . . The Lord has swallowed up without mercy all the habitations of Jacob; . . . He has cut down in fierce anger all the might of Israel; . . . he has burned like a flaming fire in Jacob, consuming all around. . . . 4 He has killed all who were delightful in our eyes in the tent of the daughter of Zion.

"The enemies have done the hurting and God has exalted their might (2:16-17)."All your enemies rail against you; they hiss, they gnash their teeth, they cry. . . . The Lord has done what he purposed; . . . he has made the enemy rejoice over you and exalted the might of your foes.

"The enemy has done the hurting, as if the Lord were not watching! (1:9-11; 3:49-50).Her fall is terrible; she has no comforter. 'O Lord , behold my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed! . . . Look, O Lord, and see, for I am despised.' . . . My eyes will flow without ceasing, without respite, until the Lord from heaven looks down and sees.

"The hurting happens as if by God's "forgetting" and "forsaking" them (5:20). "Why do you forget us forever, why do you forsake us for so many days?

"The Lord will repay the enemies who did the hurting on earth (3:64). "You will repay them, O Lord, according to the work of their hands."

The Lord will follow his hurting with compassion (3:32). "Though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love."

God's hurting us is not "from his heart"--not his deepest delight (3:33).
"He does not willingly [literally "from his heart" millibboi] afflict or grieve the children of men."

In his hurting the Lord shows mercy every morning (3:22-23). "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

God's decisive mercy is his causing the erring people to repent; he removes the cause of his own wrath (5:21). "Cause us to return (hasibenu) to yourself, O Lord, and we will return (wunasub)! Renew our days as of old."

When God is hurting us, wait patiently for the salvation of the Lord (3:26). "The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him."

In and after God's hurting us, he is our only hope and portion (3:24). "'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.'"Pastor

Best Laid Plans

First of all, I am not my mother. Any time we ever had company when I was growing up, if my mom invited you to dinner at 6:00 you walked in the door sat down and began to eat. She was always so organized. I try really hard to be that organized, but still never have everything read when everyone walks in the door. Last night was no exception. I was still cutting avocado's, onions and bell pepper when everyone arrived and then I sliced my finger really good and had blood gushing like I had actually cut it off, when all I really did was just slice it. So in the end dinner was ready at 5:50 instead of 5:30 (which was okay since some guest didn't arrive until 5:45) AND we didn't get to play Buzzword :(
The good news is there was healthy conversation for 3 hours so there wasn't a need to play a game. So, that is okay we will have to invite others over another time just to play games. In fact our Life Group is doing that tonight since it isn't a regular meeting night but we can't go because we are going to the Senior Banquet.

I couldn't help but laugh this morning as they were presenting the seniors when I thought about Devin Lee who is moving the furthest by going to a school in Rhode Island to study culinary arts.
This is the same kid that the first year he went to camp with me had to sleep on a pallet next to my bed because he would not stay in the dorm with the other boys because he was homesick.
How times change! Then Matthew Nelson is going to study filmaking and has a desire to make documentaries in the mission field. I remember as 8th grader he filmed a LTC drama for me. It is indeed one of the blessings of being able to watch kids grow up, watching them come into their own faith and seeing where God leads them. Who knows one day they may be outstanding in their field and I will say "I knew them when....."

Buzzword Is The Game

So...because Steve is a punster and enjoys words, I chose a word game for tomorrow night. It is called Buzz Word. Has anyone played it? I have once. You have a word like "ball" and then there are phrases that are clues and all the answers have to have ball in them. Like:
Found on top of spaghetti (meatball), The entire thing, maybe with bees (the whole ball of wax),
backhanded at Wimbledon (tennis ball), a pearl on green felt (cue ball), etc. Hope it will be fun.

Just wanted to also let readers know that I purchased one of those discount books yesterday from a salesman I could not say "no" to at Staples and here are some coupons I will never use and I will be glad to give them to whoever asks for them first. If you don't want to put it here on the blog then you can email me at lynnleaming@gmail.com. The coupons all expire Dec. 2008.

Adventure Landing (Coit in Plano)- Buy One Laser tag get one free, buy one game of golf, get one free, One go cart ride, one free, 100 free gameroom tokens
Explode Rock Climbing (Midway in Carrollton)-purchase of one day pass gets you one free
These golf courses buy one green fee/get one free:
The Lakes Course or the Old Course-600 W. Campbell, Garland
Westridge, Cotton Ridge Road-McKinney
Plantation Golf Club in Frisco
Lake Park in Lewisville
Indian Creek in Carrollton
Woodbridge in Wylie
The Bridges in Garland (Blackburn Rd.)
Town East Executive Golf Course-Sunnyvale

Celebration Station in Mesquite-one day pass/one free; one laser tag/one free; 40 tokens/40 free

Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame-Fort Worth-one admission/one free

Dick's Sporting Goods-$10.00 off a $50.00 purchase (there are 6 of these)
Champs-same as above (6 of these)
Foot Locker- Same as above (4 of these)
Foot Action-same as above (2 of these)

Enterprise Rent a car-10% off or free upgrade or double upgrade

Planet Pizza (Coit in Plano)-free unlimited ride and softplay stamp with purchase of the same; buy 20 tokens get 20 free

Strikz Bowling in Frisco- 2 for 1 bowling

Cowtown Cattlepen Maze-buy one get one free

The Ice at Stonebriar-Frisco-buy one get one free

Dallas Stars-buy one get one free (six of these) Expire Dec 2008

Hawaiin Falls-One regular day pass/get one child free (2 of these); one lunch combo/one free (3 of these); season pass/one free (only one);
At Hawaiin Falls in Lewisville-one island golf/one free; one pipeline race course ride/one free;
50 tokens/50 free

There are lots of restuarants I will not go to either, but way too many to list, so if you have a favorite, let me know and I will see if it is there.

I only paid $20.00 for this book and it was fund raiser for Miles of Smiles. Definitely a better bargain than the $60.00 makeup kit he tried to get me to buy first.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Family Watchdog

I did not know that there was site where you could see if any offenders lived in your neighborhood. www.FamilyWatchDog.us It was developed by John Walsh from Americas Most Wanted .

When you visit this site you can enter your address and a map will pop up with your house as a small icon. There will be red, blue and green dots surrounding your entire neighborhood. When you click on these dots a picture of a criminal will appear with his or her home address and the description of the crime he or she has committed.

One street over from me is a man who committed burglary. Two sex offenders live close to the church building (one male, one female). Interesting that there are not many offenders in Sachse, Wylie, Rockwall, but oh my...look at South Garland.

While I think this is an important tool to help keep children safer, I could not help but think what it would look like if there was a box over my house for everyone to see my sins. I am glad there isn't!

Expelled

First of all thanks to all who responded about possible games to play. Looks like Apples to Apples is a favorite.

Today Steve and I went to see Ben Stein's movie Expelled. It was very interesting although I found some of it hard to follow. If you don't know, the movie is about Evolution vs. Intelligent Design. The premise being that we are losing the freedom in America to teach Intelligent Design and those that have done so have been fired from the colleges and universities they were at. He traveled from coast to coast and oversees and interviewed people on both sides of the debate.
I don't claim to be any kind of expert in the scientific realm. I do know that when I worked as a librarian at the Superconducting Super Collider in the early 90's that I came in contact with some of the smartest scientist in the world. I was responsible for talking with them and then finding the articles and books they needed for their research. It was the first time that I had actually had conversations with evolutionist. I did come to realize that whether you are a creationist, theist, proponent of intelligent design or evolutionist they all take faith in something.
I just choose to put my faith in God who I believe created all things. But I cannot explain where God came from and therefore cannot be intolerant of thinking that says we all came from a Big Bang or as one man says in Expelled we all came from a group of protons on a crystal. They have no proof either, just theories and that is where their faith lies.
After seeing this movie I am not sure what my response should be. I do know if I was a parent I would be reading my children's science books to see what they are being taught. We should make sure that intelligent design dialogue is not being stifled and we are welcome to share our beliefs without fear of repercussions. If you want to examine both sides a little closer you can look at http://www.expelledthemovie.com or http://www.expelledexposed.com.

Game Suggestions

Saturday night we are having a few friends over to dinner to celebrate Steve's retirement. They don't all know each other. Anyone have a fun group game to reccomend that we play? Steve isn't much of a game player, but I don't know what else to do besides dinner. So...tell me
your ideas of what you would do with an evening of friends coming over. I would appreciate
the help.

Is It Just Me?

Is it just me or does it seem sacreligious to mention the Father and Son and Holy Ghost in this song? And....why are Father and Son not capitalized but Holy Ghost is AND would not it have meant more to say "like I need the Father, Son and Holy Ghost"

I didn't think I heard it right and had to look it up and sure enough.

I Need You by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill

I wanna drink that shot of whiskey
I wanna smoke that cigarette
I wanna smell that sweet addiction on my breath
I wanna ride across West Virginia in the back seat of a Cadillac
You know some cowboys like me go out like that
So I need you
Like a needle needs a vein
Like my uncle Joe in Oklahoma needs the rain
And I need you
Like a lighthouse on the coast
Like the father and the son need the Holy Ghost
I need you
I wanna get lost in some corner booth, Cantina Mexico
I wanna dance to the static of an AM radioI
wanna wrap the moon around us, lay beside you skin on skin
Make love til the sun comes up, til the sun goes down again
Cause I need you
Like a needle needs a vein
Like my uncle Joe in Oklahoma needs the rain
I need you
Like a lighthouse on a coast
Like the father and the son need the Holy Ghost
I need you, OOH I need you

Steve's Retirement Day

Steve retired today after working 24 years for the City of Dallas. I was blessed to go and be a part of his party. I know that I am his wife, but I was taken back from all the good wishes that were poured out on Steve today. One thing that was very obvious in the comments that were made about Steve is that people knew of his faith and it was not that he just talked about it he lived out a servant's heart among his peers.
These two men do not work for the City anymore, but they had hired Steve 24 years ago, so they came back to see him. The one in the blue shirt said that hiring Steve was the best thing he ever did.
There were so many people there they were all out in the hallway during the speeches. Several people said that Steve's new bosses (who he had less than a year) had no idea the scope of Steve's influence, so they did not book a large enough room.
They presented Steve with a nice plaque and a picture of City Hall signed by all of his commrades.

Don't know if you can see it very clear, but his cake had an airplane on it because of Steve's love

of flying and said "Taking Flight into a Happy Retirement" which also honored his love of puns.

This is Steve's co-worker Trafton. They have worked together since 1986. Trafton is the only one I know who actually puts in more hours than Steve. It was so sweet because he said he was so sad to see Steve leaving that he could not eat any of the snacks they were serving because his stomach hurt.


Steve what a blessing it was hearing so many people talk about what an influence you had been in their lives. I am the one that is going to be blessed now more than ever having you home so much more. I can't wait to see what God is going to do with us next!

Tax Funny

Hope you all got your taxes filed so you can get your Economic Stimulus check. How are you going to spend your money. If you are like me it is already spent.

Praising God Anyway

One of the things that God continues to do with me is show me other people who have managed to live life well in spite of their disabilities. Alot of you may have already seen this video, but I just recieved it in an email this week. Nick Vujicic is amazing and inspiring.
http://www.wretch.cc/video/ritahsia&func=single&vid=2282608&o=time_d&p=0

You can discover much more about him at http://www.lifewithoutlimbs.org/
I can only pray that God will continue to prompt me to live life praising Him for what I do have and not focusing on my limitations. May I just empty myself of me and allow Him to use me for His glory

Hymn Story

I love reading the stories behind hymns that have been written. I read this one in God On Mute and had never heard it before, so thought I would share it.

"In 1842, and Irishman named Joseph Scriven graduated from Trinity College, Dublin, and promptly fell head over heels in love with a girl from his hometown. They got engaged and, with great excitement, planned their wedding and began dreaming about their future together as husband and wife.

The eve of their wedding arrived at last, and Joseph's fiancee saddled a horse to go and see him. Tragically, it was one of the last things she would ever do. A little later, Joseph saw his bride-to-be riding toward him, and he grinned. But suddenly, just as she was crossing the bridge over the river, her horse bucked and threw her like a rag-doll down into the river below. In blind panic, Joseph ran to the river, calling out her name. He plunged into the key waters, but it was too late. His bride was already dead.

Heartbroken, Joseph emigrated to Canada, where eventually he fell in love again. In 1854, Joseph was due to marry Eliza Roche, but she fell ill and grew progressively worse. The wedding was repeatedly postponed until, three years later, Eliza died. Joseph Scriven would never again give his heart to another.

Back home in Ireland, Joseph's mother was deeply concerned for heartbroken son, and he in turn was concerned for her. One night, Joseph penned a poem to comfort here, little knowing that it would become one of the best-loved songs of all time. Several years later, a friend found it in a drawer at Joseph's house and was deeply moved. "The Lord and I wrote it together," Joseph explained. That poem, forged out of so much disappointment and pain, continues to call millions of people in their own Gethsemane's to admit their grief, their trials and temptations, their sorrows and their every weakness to Jesus in the privilege of prayer.

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bare!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
Oh what peace we often forfeit,
Oh what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer."

My God of Humor

First of all, Stacy T. if you read this please email me as I lost all my email addresses when my computer crashed and I want to email you.

Now to my weekend at the Ladies Retreat. It is always interesting the different reactions you get from people when you mention a Silent Retreat. So many women we talked to said "I could just never do that." Why is it that so many of us (me included) find it difficult to just stop and be quiet before the Lord? We had 32 Ladies at this retreat and for about 18 of the ladies it was their first experience. Over and over we heard how surprised they were at how quickly the time went by. Some really great stories about their God encounters. Not free to share their encounters but I will share mine.

Since I could not really get out and walk around the grounds, or take a hike to the river. I stayed on the wrap around porch of the lodge. It was very wooded. A few years ago another woman had told us about an awesome encounter with a bird, so I prayed to God that I would know that He was with me if I could see a rabbit. In the meantime I was reading a book entitled "God On Mute". About 3 hours went by and I then read this prayer:
"Abba Father. I know all this stuff about your love in my head, but my heart gets hard to it and I'm tired. Please do whatever You've got to do (and I mean whatever) to unclinch my fists. Pry open my eyes to that I can see Your tears and soften my heart so that it moves me deeply. I don't understand why You don't just answer my prayers, but I do choose to trust that You have heard me, that you actually do care and that you're somewhere out there on my case. Abba, Father, thank you for all the ways You have blessed me. I honestly don't know what I'd do, where I'd be or even who I'd have become without you. Abba Father, I am going to try to trust you today. Amen."

As soon as I said that prayer I saw two ladies leaving the lodge and walking across the field and I cried out to God "do you really care that I can't walk across the field or that to hear the river I am having to listen to a water CD on my headphones?" Immediately, I heard God sing over me "Oh, yes I care, you know I care, my heart is touched with your grief. When you're way grows weary your long nights dreary just know I dearly care". After recovering from a cry, I then said "well maybe there are no rabbits in this area. I had heard some birds but could not see them, I said "just send some thing from your nature for me to see" Within a couple of minutes a wasp was flying around me. I just started laughing and said "Funny God, why am I not surprised that you would choose to show me again that your ways are not my ways". No sooner had the wasp flown away than a bee came. Now remember for 3 1/2 hours prior I had seen neither or anything else. About 30 minutes later I was still reading and looked down on my notebook and there was the tiniest worm I have ever seen crawling on my notebook. Only about 1/2 inch and it would crawl by pulling up his back and go a step, pull up his bach and go another step and on and on it went and I thought it was as if God was saying to me, "if I can care for this tiny, tiny creature, I definitely care for you." When I told some others this story one of the ladies said "He was also telling you to just keep walking forward one inch at a time." I pray I can be faithful to do just that. Thank you God for our time together, I look forward to many more.

Anniversary Thoughts

Today is the 3rd anniversary of my accident. Before I go there, I have a couple of other observations.

First, there are a lot of you who read this blog that don't make comments even when I ask for them. Is it a time issue? But thanks to those that did.

Secondly, did anyone watch Oprah yesterday? She was talking about the New Earth book I posted about a few days ago. She said she was a Christian and said that she had made the conclusion that Jesus dying on the cross wasn't just so that we could go to heaven, but it was to leave a Jesus consciousness, so that the rest of us would know how to live life. I found that interesting.

Third, did anyone watch American Idol gives back last night? I teared up listening to them sing "Shout To The Lord". I was so surprised that they were allowed to sing that song with millions of people watching! Yeah God!

Now, to my anniversary date. I guess this will always be a marker in my life. It does continue to amaze me that it has already been three years. Just doesn't seem possible. I was telling Steve this morning that the piece of the puzzle I will never have is what it was like for him and my family and friends to go three weeks without knowing if I would be okay and not having any response from me. My mom did tell me today that one day she was out in the hall praying and just asked God to give her a sign that I was okay and then when she came in my room and took my hand I squeezed her hand really hard. She asked me a couple of questions to which I shook my head "no" and then she called Steve in, but I would no longer respond. I just can't imagine how difficult it must have been but can only imagine by putting myself in their shoes and thinking how I would have felt if it were one of them.

I continue to have my struggles in understanding why I didn't receive total healing, but constantly try to keep it all in perspective. Today I walked Albertson's again and while I came home exhausted I did walk Albertson's, so those are the things I have to remind myself of and try to keep a positive thought process instead of the negative. Focusing on what I have not what I don't. What I do know is I cannot even imagine how I would have made it through the past three years if it were not for God and my faith in Him. I am so thankful that I have Hebrews 13:5 to cling to.

Tomorrow is the Ladies Silent Retreat. I cannot tell you how many people have ribbed us saying how can women be silent. The 32 ladies going on this retreat will be blessed by just the quiet time they get to spend in communion with God. I wish more could experience that blessing.
So won't be blogging again until Sunday. Everyone have a blessed weekend.

Are you Hungry

A Hunger To Know Jesus Christ

Am I? I read this article earlier this week in my daily devotional book "The Journey" and found it thought provoking. Hope you do too.

"The first evidence of the Holy Spirit's presence in your life is a new hunger to know Jesus Christ. When the Holy Spirit is working in some one's life is that Jesus Christ begins to be seen as attractive. He ceases to be detached and mystical but becomes real. It is the Holy Spirit, who makes that happen.

Recently, I was in the south of England for a series of meetings in a church. A family brought an eighteen-year old girls who was living with them for a time and who had never been exposed to the Gospel in this way before. God began to work in her life and she borrowed a Bible and spent the whole of one day reading from it. At the meetings we held, she drank in everything that was said but found it difficult to understand why no one seemed to want to talk about Christ after the service was over. People stayed for coffee and talked about the weather or their holidays, but no one seemed to want to talk about Christ! There are some super people in that church, many of them very godly, and this young woman's observation was a generalization perhaps, yet what she observed is so often true. When there is not a hunger for Christ and a longing to know Him better and deeper, the Spirit of God is either absent or He is being quenched and grieved. The Christian life is not just an experience or feelings, it is not just knowing what we believe, but in the words of Paul, it is knowing whom we believe (2 Timothy 1:12) Knowing Him better is the expression of the Spirit's life within us."

By Charles Price (www.livingtruth.ca)

One Answer

15 of you have read my post yesterday and only one person commented with my question "What would you say?". I really am interested in other's thoughts here. But in the meantime, today in one of my devotional readings this is what Max Lucado says and I thought it was perfect.

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

"Innocence slaughtered. Goodness murdered. Heaven's tower of strength pierced. Mother's wept, evil danced and the apostles had to wonder, When all that good falls apart, what can good people do?
God answered their question with a declaration. with the rumble of the earth and the rolling of the rock, He reminded them, 'The Lord sits on His throne in heaven'.
And today, we must remember: he still is. He is still in His temple, still on His throne, still in control. And He still makes princes out of prisoners, counselors out of captives, and Sundays out of Fridays. What He did then, He will do still. It falls to us to ask Him to do so."

What Would You Say?

Today I was having a conversation with someone who said "I really wish I could say that God intervenes, but I don't think he does." When I disagreed they began to cite various instances such as: a boy that went blind, a man with Alzheimers, a baby that died, a woman with cancer, my accident, children who are abused, etc. and they asked how did God intervene? I looked up the definition of "intervene"
1. to come between disputing people, groups, etc.; intercede; mediate.
2.to occur or be between two things.
3.to occur or happen between other events or periods
4.(of things) to occur incidentally so as to modify or hinder

So maybe I was wrong and perhaps God doesn't intervene but instead He intercedes. The definition of "intercede" is:
1.to act or interpose in behalf of someone in difficulty or trouble, as by pleading or petition
2.to attempt to reconcile differences between two people or groups; mediate.

I think I have come to the point in my life where I know that there are just some mysteries about God that I will never understand. He has told me "His ways are not my ways", and while I wish it was all more black and white, somehow it excites me to know that one day the mysteries will all be known. But to not think that God is involved in every detail of our lives leaves us with no hope and no reason to pray. So what would you say to someone who thinks that God does not intervene in life circumstances?

Vengeance

I admit I am a vengeful person. I am always hoping that a policeman will come by and catch the perpetrator. Today it was a guy that blatently ran a red light. He was at least 3 car lengths behind me and I stopped at yellow and he just kept barreling through. I so hoped that a policeman would have seen him and given him a ticket. But lass, he got away. That vengeful spirit also raises it's head when people are speeding. I just want them to get caught!! Where are the police when you want them?

How Should We Respond?

I am sure a lot of you have seen this Youtube footage of Oprah and some of the things she is promoting through the book New Earth by Eckart Tole. If you have not seen it you can view it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW4LLwkgmqA.

This is my question. How should we as Christians respond to things like this? I am afraid if most are like me, we just tend not to get involved. When I first saw this I was very disturbed and then I started thinking perhaps it would be better to get involved in the discussion. I am still processing my thoughts. There is a danger that lies in getting involved as it gives an opening to Satan to suck me into false teaching, but on the other hand do I trust the strength of the Holy Spirit to lead me into all truth? By not getting involved in the discussion we do not have the opportunity to speak truth into the discussion. When those around us are discussing the New Earth we have nothing to contribute. Instead, if we actually read the book too then we could better counteract the lies with truth. Here is the dilemma for me Proverbs 16:17 says "The highway of the upright avoids evil; he who guards his way guards his life" and I Thessalonians 5:21-22 says "Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. " So to me that verse could be contradictory because I don't know how you test everything but avoid evil. Then if you read the same verse in the King James it actually says to "abtain from the very appearance of evil". Then add to the equation Romans 16:17 "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them." The dictionary defines avoid as: to keep away from; keep clear of; shun.

I guess the bottom line for me is that I don't have to roll around in the mud to know that it is actually dirty. I am not sure why we use the logic that we must participate in order to be relevant? So...I would love to hear your thoughts on this issue. It is so broad because it is the same standard I set for myself for books that I read, movies I watch, music I listen to, etc. But at the same time, I don't want to appear to be "holier than thou", even though I know I Peter 1:16 says "be holy as I am holy". So how do we relate to the world around us but not be of the world around us? Tell me how you walk the tight rope.

Marriage Bliss

Marcie sent this in an email today. We are going out tonight to celebrate my parent's anniversary, so I thought it was an appropriate post for today. May we all love our spouses just a little bit more today and cherish the love that the Lord has blessed us with.

This is article is from the Fort Worth Star Telegram on Wednesday, April 2nd.

They kept their wedding vows for 75 years, through the deaths of their own children, the lives of three new generations and the inevitable changes in each other.
"He was 120 pounds at most, ever," Ms. Grimm said. "She was a fat granny."
While Josie was described as a talker, JC said little.
"He couldn't hear real well and he didn't talk much anyway," said Marla Williamson, another granddaughter. "That was his way of socializing with you was to share Dr Pepper."
The fridge is still loaded with Dr Pepper. The little Fort Worth house unchanged.
"They stayed together the whole time," Ms. Williamson said. "They slept in this bed."
Mrs. Cox insisted on being JC’s sole caregiver, even up until the moment they entered a nursing home last month.
"She was still ironing his clothes three weeks ago," Ms. Williamson said. “She was going to make sure, even though he never went anywhere, his clothes were going to be starched.”
The granddaughters said their intimacy was apparent until the moment they died. A few days ago, Mr. Cox took Mrs. Cox's hand and he slipped away.
"Holding hands, and that's how they died," Ms. Williamson said. "Pa died holding onto Granny."
Just five hours later, she let go too as her family whispered to her.
"Your children are waiting for you, and Pa is waiting for you," Ms. Grimm said. "It's OK. You can let go and we'll all be OK together. And a minute later, she passed."

Word Of God Speak

First of all Happy 39th Anniversary to my mother and dad! God has been so gracious and kind to grant them another year together. We give Him thanks and praise. They have been blessed with such a great marriage and we have been blessed to have them model for us what a marriage centered in God's love looks like.

This morning as I was going out to buy them a card I heard an old familiar song on the radio, but in leiu of yesterday's post it had new meaning.

Word of God Speak by Mercy Me
I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say

[CHORUS]Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to seeYour majesty
To be still and knowThat You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness Word of God speak

I'm finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music, beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice

I pray that more and more each day I will fall deeper and deeper in love with the Word of my Father and find great joy in meeting Him there.

If you want to hear the song you can click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JK_6osCH74

Wednesday Blessing

Today was Ladies Bible class day. We are currently in a study by John Ortberg called "God Is Closer Than You Think". This is only the 2nd week, but boy does this study have some rich tidbits to think about. I wish that I had read the book 2 years ago because I think it would have made my journey just a little bit easier. What I am learning more and more everyday is that even though there are days I cannot sense God's presence like I would like He is always there. It is like a storm covered sky that we all watch in anticipation of the sun breaking through. We cannot see the sun, but it is there. Dark cannot penetrate light, but light will always penetrate the dark. We learned today that the promise "I will never leave you" is the promise God makes the most in the Bible. I wonder why I tend to forget that?? Ortberg talks about the different kind of days that we encounter: A rainbow day (where God is easy to see), An ordinary day (where we have to look a little harder, but God is there), don't look at me God day (where I think I can hide my sin from him) a.nd Mystery days (where it is difficult to know what God is up to). If we always had Rainbow Days we would find that we become complacent and there would be no more amazement at what God can do. Instead we now appreciate the recognition of His presence as a gift and something we have to cultivate. It was just so refreshing to me to realize that there is nothing wrong with me if everyday is not a Rainbow Day!

On the way home, as God often does with me, I heard this song on the radio which went right along with what He was trying to speak into my heart today (don't know that I had ever heard of Big Daddy Weave before?):

You can listen to it on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w70xy8sPEE4

I am sure all of heaven’s heard me cry
As I tell You all the reasons why
This life is just too hard

But day by day
Without fail
I’m finding everything I need
And everything that You areTo me

Chorus:
Every time I breathe You seem a little bit closer
I never want to leave
I want to stay in Your warm embrace
Oh basking in the glory shining from Your face
And every time I get another glimpse of Your heart
I realize it’s true
That You are so marvelous God
And I am so in love with You

Now how could I after knowing One so great
Respond to You in any way
That’s less than all I have to give
But by Your grace I want to love You not with whatI say
But everydayIn a way that my life is lived

Wrapped in Your mercy I want to live and never leave
I am held by how humble
Yet overwhelmed by Your majesty
Captured by grace and now I’m finding I am free
You are marvelous God
And knowing You is everything

Ongoing Technical Difficulties

I know that when we deal with an electronic world that nothing lasts forever. Computers are wonderful when they work but when they don't? Major frustration. So you may remember 3 weeks ago(tomorrow) my computer just quit working. Dell replaced it with another computer since it was still under warranty. Unfortunately they did not replace it with the same model. My previous computer was an Inspirion, this one is a Vostro which means that the hard drives are not compatible. So I hired Brian Vaughn to retrieve the records on my old hard drive and put them on the new computer. So that is done. Now? They did not give me the software that I had on my old computer so I can't access any of my old emails or any of my documents that were created in Office. So back on the phone with Dell today for over 45 minutes.

I am sorry if I come across as intolerant here, but you would think when you are in need of techinical support that you could speak to people that you can understand. Perhaps I just need to spend more time with people of Indian decent so that I can be more familiar with the accent. (Side bar: I had the same problem with several of my nurses in the hospital) Anyway...
the final result? There is nothing they can do. Guess the software was included with the original order and since I still don't have the disks we could not reload it. I don't have the disks because the computer was a gift from friends, church and family when I was first in my accident so I would have computer access at the hospital. The box was at the house but when friends packed up my house for the remodeling project we don't know where the box and disks ended up. Told the representative from Dell my story, he said he talked to his supervisor and because they no longer have the 2003 edition they could not give me the new edition free. So I am back to square one. I did download a trial version and can access some documents so that works for the next 60 days anyway.

The irony in all this? The representative's name was Angel....somehow the experience today did not seem very angelic!

Then this afternoon the Maytag repairman came and told me we have a broken seal on the washing machine and it will cost $350.00 to repair it. So guess we will just buy a new one. The humbling thing about his visit is he had one of the neuromuscular diseases and his body was so twisted and he walked on the edges of his feet. I was so humbled and once again found strength in realizing whatever I think my handicap is, it is nothing compared to what some people live life with. This man could very easily be living on disability and here he was repairing Maytag appliances. May I continue to be grateful for what I do have and think less of what I don't.

Dreaded Mondays

I always dread Mondays. I am not sure why. I guess because it is a sign the weekend is over. I find it hard to get motivated on Mondays. Then the crazy thing is that once Monday is over the rest of the week speeds by and the next thing I know it is Friday.

But a couple of postive things happened on this Monday. I rode 6 miles on the stationary bike instead of my usual 5. And then I walked the entire store at Albertson's and did my grocery shopping. $260.00 later, I was on my way home. I know this may not seem like a big deal to anyone else, but for me it is a continual sign of progress. I don't know what the difference in a day is, yesterday I went to a craft show in Plano. It was all carpeted, yet I was in so much pain the entire time I found it very hard to walk. Then today at the store (no carpet) and I did pretty well and was not even wearing my ankle brace.

In my Bible reading today it was on Saul and David and I had to wrestle with how God sends an evil spirit to someone? I don't have a problem understanding that we can all be tempted by Satan, but it just does not line up with God's character that he would send an evil spirit to inhabit someone and then why was it the evil spirit would leave when David played the harp? I realize that Saul disappointed God and He wished He had never made Saul king. I assume Saul could have repented, instead he just became more and more evil. Anyway...no earth shattering thoughts today. But thanks for reading anyway, hope you had a good Monday.

High School Musical

Well God was good again and American Airlines center could not have gone better. First of all we got the first row of handicap parking. Walked in the door and our section of seating was right in front of us!! Then there are rails going up and down the stairs there so that made it easy and there was good leg room so my leg did not cramp up. So all in all, a success!

Then there was the production. I thought it was okay. Most of the skaters were just amateurs so they did not wow you with their skating, but it was choreographed fun. I think Kayla and Logan were a little disappointed that the real cast was not on skates. They just mimed the words so that seemed a little hokey as well, but hey... What amazed me the most was all the paraphernalia for sale. And better yet all the people buying it for their kids!!!! I cannot imagine after paying $30.00 a ticket to get in that parents would spend $20.00 on a program, $12.00 on Cotton Candy (that came with a hat), $20.00 for a bear,$15.00 for light up glasses, $8.00 for a snowcone in a cup, etc.) Then at intermission Pizza, popcorn, hotdogs, nachos, etc. Just amazing to me!!

What has made this musical so popular with the kids?? I am not sure I get that either. I guess it is the "G" rated version of "Grease" for this generation. Wonder how many more they will make?

It Really Is Friday

So thank you for all of you who read my blog and did not point out to me that my post yesterday entitled "Friday Woes" was mis titled because yesterday was actually Thursday!

Today was not a whole lot better. The plumber came and looked at the washing machine. Fully loaded and emptied it three times and nothing happened. Doesn't charge us for the visit, but really doesn't have any advice for me either. I then proceed to wash the wet rugs from yesterday and then there it is water all over the floor again??? Not to mention the rug that I put in the washing machine had a rubber backing that decided to crumble everywhere. Took me about an hour to clean out the washing machine. So now I have a Magtag service person coming to see if there is something wrong with the machine itself.

Still without my computer today. Perhaps this was God's way of showing me that I spend way too much time on the computer. I wish I could say I have been doing something productive with all the spare time, but mostly I have just been working word puzzles. I have such a pile of books I need to be reading and just have not.

Tomorrow morning I am taking a couple of kids to see High School Musical on ice. I was suppose to take my new "special friends" but they had already seen it, so I am taking Kayla and Logan Strother. It should be fun! I am just anxious about how I will navigate the American Airline Center. Hopefully, I will do okay.

Thursday Woes

Today started out okay. A sweet friend from church Terri Fullerton was so kind to come over and clean out all the leaves from my flowerbeds. She had heard me talking a few weeks ago about how I used to keep my yard pretty nice but the past few years I have not been able to work in the flowerbeds. My mom came over and helped as well and it looks so much nicer out front. Tomorrow we will go and buy some wood chips and finish up the job.

Then I was so excited because my new computer finally arrived! Well, I guess they don't make the model I had anymore (it was 3 years old) and replaced it with a different model and wouldn't you know the hard drives are not compatible!! So while I am back on it and have loaded a few programs I have no access to any of my old files. Brian Vaughn is going to come over tomorrow and get it and see if he can recover the files from my old hard drive. That would make me so happy and the lesson learned? Back Up!!!!!!

In the meantime I was doing wash and went in to put the 2nd load in the dryer and found water everywhere!! We had a plumber out a few weeks ago to work on the plumbing as water was leaking into the garage when we did laundry. But this time it was in the garage and in the laundry room and in the pantry. Yes, it was fun moving the washing machine out and cleaning up all the water. When is the last time you looked behind your washing machine?? It was so yucky, and all that lint being wet did not make for an easy clean up. So the plumber is on call coming out tomorrow.

Don't you just hate technical difficulties? Nothing ruins a day more than these unexpected events. But...once again in the midst of all of it, all I could do was thank God that I was able to take care of it myself. A year ago I would not have been able to do that. So while it wiped me out, I did survive. Have to admit though I was thankful Steve was willing to stop and pick up some chicken for dinner because I didn't know how I was going to have the energy to cook something. So come on Friday...let's see what you will hold.

Talon is One

In the past I have posted some pictures of my great nephew Talon, and wanted to share with you all his One Year Old picture. I know I am prejudiced, but I think he is just adorable.

I know all of you who are parents know that they grow up so quickly!

Hope you are having a very blessed Wednesday.

Thoughts On Bible Readings

The past few days my Bible readings have been in Joshua and Judges. While in Joshua it was renewed to me how quickly the Israelites would forget all about what God had done for them and return to worshiping idols. Even though he had told them to teach their children daily and remind them as they got up, walked through the day, lied down, and even when at the Jordan River they had built an altar so that when their children asked they could remind them of what God had done, in Judges 2:10 it says "That whole generation also died, and the next generation forgot the Lord and what he had done for Israel." That was amazing to me. Could that also happen to our children? What will they remember about the Lord after we pass?

Then how many times does God extend compassion before he gives up? Over and over the Israelites would forget Him and marry pagans and worship their idols. How do you give up the real thing for an idol? What can an idol do for you? Yet they did, and he would allow them to be captured and oppressed and then they would cry out and He would hear their cry and rescue them only for them to turn around and forget Him again. It seems so difficult to understand, and yet I do because it is so typical of me to do the same thing. I forget the marvelous things the Lord has done for me and fall back into my patterns of not spending time with Him and returning to my idol which in my life is television. As to my original question how long before he gives up? I don't know the time limit but according to Romans 1:28 He does give up " And so, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God or approve of Him or consider Him worth the knowing, God gave them over to a base and condemned mind to do things not proper or decent but loathsome."

My last thought is why in the world was Samson so dumb? Three times he found out that he could not trust Delilah, so why then would he tell her the truth on the fourth time? It is an example of how powerful love with an unbeliever can be and testifies to the importance of making sure we have a partner who shares our faith in God. As I have gotten older I have seen the importance of especially stressing this to our children more than we have in the past. Since it all begins with dating, perhaps it is important to set those standards even then. I know there is a possibility that while dating a non-Christian that there is a possibility you could convert them, but have we not also seen examples of where people walk away because of the pull of their non-believing spouse? Is it really the tight rope that any of us want to watch our children walk?
Over and over again God warned His children not to enter into mixed marriages with the pagans and over and over again they did anyway and lost His blessing. 2 Corinthians 6:14 "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers [do not make mismated alliances with them or come under a different yoke with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership have right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with darkness?" (Amplified Version)

Anyway...these readings have once again convicted my heart of the importance we all have of teaching our children the importance of loving God with All their heart, mind, soul and strength and the ONLY way we can do that is through example. May the Lord bless us all as we attempt to do just that.

Resurrection Celebration

Even though it was a little chilly today, at least we did not get the rain! Hope everyone had a great resurrection celebration. Steve and I were blessed by the service at Highland Oaks. I personally was blessed by watching an elderly lady (75-85 ish) worshiping as she had the most beautiful expressions on her face. I had to go visit with her afterwards and just tell her how her spirit of worship had blessed me. The other thing I enjoy when I visit Highland Oaks is their deaf interpreters. I have often wished that I could take classes. Guess there is no reason why I can't, just have to want to dedicate the time bad enough. I especially enjoy watching them sign songs. Always interesting to contemplate who invents such things.

This morning as I was getting dressed I heard "In Christ Alone" and it just really helped me to focus my thoughts for the day. Hope it will bless you as well.

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost it's grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Brought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

Grieving

Ever since I retired from ministry I have had days of grieving. There are so many things about being in full time ministry that I miss. I still feel like God was calling me to step down, but I still struggle with what I am suppose to be doing now. This weekend I went out to the Anatole for LTC. For 15 years I have participated in LTC and I volunteered to be a judge this year. Each church has to submit so many judges per events you enter. In years past it was somewhat challenging to fill those judging spaces and so I thought I would volunteer. I judged two different hours of chorus. It still was hard though just attending and knowing that I had not helped any of the kids prepare this year. The room where everyone was staying was a difficult walk for me, so I chose to stay downstairs, missing out on the fellowship. It was the end of an era for me. And I just found myself grieving. That is okay, it is important to grieve in order to move on and now I can do that with one more area.

An observation in judging chorus. Why is it that boys do not like to sing? Every chorus the girls outnumbered the boys almost 3 to 1? Isn't it just important for our boys to know that God loves to hear them sing? Why is it that singing for them is tied to their masculinity. However, I have to admit there were a few 11-12th grade groups where the boys were just awesome. I was so proud of the R.E. kids because for the first time in several years there were a bunch of boys singing. About 3/4 of them were Jr. High boys, so maybe that means they will keep on and by the time they are 11 and 12th graders they will have shown other boys that it is really a great thing to just sing praises before the Lord.

Hope everyone has a great resurrection celebration tomorrow. Steve and I are going to be guests at Highland Oaks in the morning. We considered going to another fellowship tomorrow, but we just did not want to go somewhere where we wouldn't have communion on Easter of all Sundays. I am just so very thankful that we serve a risen Savior!!!

Faithful Friend

I don't know when I first found food to be my faithful friend? It was at a young age though because I lost 50 pounds my senior year in high school because I was overweight. Over the years food and I have had our ups and downs. Most days I know it is really not my friend, but on days like today for some reason it is the first thing I reach for. The difference? Today I really didn't find comfort in food as I wanted, I just found guilt for trying to find comfort there. It really isn't important that I share all the reasons I needed a friend today...I am just not sure why I couldn't reach out to a flesh and blood friend instead of a pizza? Or better yet why I couldn't just find comfort with the Lord? Of course now I am letting my self be attacked by my faithful accuser who convinces me that I am a loser (not of weight though). I know, I know I am telling him that "he that is within me is greater" and I am trying to believe it. Steve will be home tomorrow and I know that will help because my very bestest friend will be back in place and he is such a good listener and just keeps loving me through all the junk. I am thankful that he reflects God to me, because He is a great listener too and yes,He keeps loving me through all the junk as well. Thank you God.

Hope you all have had a "Good Friday" and will have a great day preparing for your day of Resurrection celebration. Thanks for being my listeners tonight.

Wednesday Ramblings

FYI I paid $3.08 today for gas at Racetrak on Independence Pkwy. and Plano Parkway today. Just thought I would pass that on for anyone else looking for a better deal on gas.

Wow! did we get the rain or what?? Looks like we got about 6 inches at my house. I thought my swimming pool was going to flood my house, but fortunately it never did come up over the edge.

I heard something this morning that was an "aha" for me. The speaker was talking about the last days of Jesus and was talking about Barrabas. He said "no one understood better than Barrabas what it meant for someone to take his place and get what he deserved." I had never thought about that before. Barrabas was chosen because he was the Suddan Hussein, Charles Mason, Adolf Hitler of his time and Herod was so sure the people would not choose him over Jesus and he could set Jesus free because he knew he was not guilty. However, the crowd did not go with the plan. Imagine how shocked Barrabas must have been. He knew he was guilty and someone else was going to pay and he was going free. It was just slightly a different slant than I had ever thought about before. I do think we can gain great insights when we try to put ourselves in the shoes of the different characters in the Bible. I had just never put myself in his shoes before. However, I have contemplated over and over again why Jesus would take my place and am still dumbfounded every time I think of it. I definitely don't deserve it, but for ever will be so thankful for that gift.

Hope you are having a contemplative week filled with thanksgiving as you prepare for the celebration of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior.

Answered Prayers

Thank you so much for those who posted and let me know they were praying for Steve and his mom, I cannot tell you how much it means to know that others are covering you in prayer and the strength that comes from that. Mary Jane was able to be released from the hospital early last night. Got a message from Steve this morning and she had a good evening at home. They were up by 4:15 a.m. this morning (her regular arise time) to take the dog out for the morning.

My specific prayer now is that God just protect Steve from sickness as he just sounds so very tired. He spent both nights at the hospital all night with his mom. Hopefully they can take some catnaps together throughout the day. She is a strong willed person and does not accept assistance from anyone very easily, so I am sure Steve will be exhausted just in his efforts to get her to slow down. The blessing is that at least she is still here for him to tend to.

I think the plan is for him to stay until Saturday and if she is doing okay to return home that afternoon. I miss him, but especially on a day like today when the weather is so nasty I miss him even more.

Thanks again for your prayers and concern.

Another Prayer Request

We would really appreciate your prayers for Steve's mom. We thought she was doing okay after the wreck but early this morning she passed out. Steve's brother could not get a pulse and she was not breathing, but finally got her to breathe and the paramedics got her to the hospital. Her oxygen levels are extremely low but they have not determined the cause as of yet. Steve was able to get a flight out and was in Omaha by 3:00 p.m.

Please pray for Mary Jane's healing and that Steve is able to be a blessing and comfort to her and to his brother who is her primary caretaker. Steve had been in bed sick for 2 days himself, so pray that the Lord will just give him the strength he needs to minister to his mom and brother.

Thanks so much!!!

Praise God With Us

Tonight I had my aunt and uncle from El Paso and my mom and dad over for dinner. Steve came home sick from work today so he was not able to join us. The phone rang while we were eating and I did not recognize the number so did not answer, but it rang again with the same number so I picked up and it was my brother in law calling to tell us that Steve's mother had been in a car accident and was at the hospital. She is 84 and evidently there was some road construction she could not see around and she pulled out and was broadsided. Fortunately it was on the passenger side. By the Steve got hold of his other brother (who lives in Omaha with his mom), they were releasing his mom from the hospital and Steve was able to speak with her for a moment. Fortunately, she had no serious injuries. So please say a prayer of praise to God for that. Needless to say it was a very tense moment for us as I had to wake Steve out of a deep sleep to give him the phone and tell him the news and that brought back significant memories for him of almost 3 years ago when my mom had to awaken him out of sleep to tell him about me.

I was brave tonight and tried a new recipe (which I don't usually do with company for fear that it will not be good). I made stuffed pork chops with cranberry chutney. When I went to the store of course I could not find even frozen cranberries so I used a mixed berry mixture with some dried cranberries and it still turned out very good. A few months ago Brooke Cole fixed this awesome asparagus for a CAREcorp dinner and I have been trying to emulate it ever since. Tonight was my third try and it was close. Each time I am broiling it too long. But tonight was close and it still tasted really yummy. This was a big deal for me because it was my first time to cook a meal, use a recipe, set the table, etc. all by myself since my accident. Yes my feet were absolutely killing me afterwards, but it felt like another milestone just to be able to do it.
So another praise to God!

Update on the computer. Called Dell who put me on hold for 12 minutes before I talked to a technician that I could not understand as he was Indian, the second guy was also Indian but I could understand him some better who had me totally disassemble the computer (taking out the hard drive, the memory chip, and something else I can't remember) Actually I had to wake Steve up because I had no idea how to get the screws undone. Come to find out Steve had a special set of screwdrivers in his office for computers. What did the guy think I was suppose to use? Then after 30 minutes of taking everything apart, nothing worked anyway and so they are sending me a box to send my computer in. Another praise is it is under warranty until June 16th. So while I will be inconvenienced by not having it for 5-7 days, at least it should not cost us anything for the repairs.

Electronic Blahs

Well, don't know what happened but my laptop died tonight. I took it to church to show the ladies retreat committee some pictures we had taken of the retreat center and shortly after coming off it just turned off and would not turn back on. Couldn't be the battery is dead as I had just unplugged it at home and it should have had 3 hours of time. Came home and plugged it back in and nothing, just a totally dark screen. Aaargh. I just hate computer problems. It is so convenient for me to just put my feet up in my chair and spend time on the computer. So thankfully we have the main computer in Steve's office, so came in here and had to try to remember passwords. I hate it when not all the sites take the same amount of letters so I have like 4 possible passwords. Then it asked me for my security answer which for some strange reason was not my mother's maiden name (like all others) but what is my favorite movie???? Do you think I could remember what I said my favorite movie was?? After typing in several, I guess I finally got the right one when I didn't capitalize any of the letters. Sure hope it is an easy fix?

Today was my father's birthday. He is 84 years old. We are so thankful that God has allowed him to see another birthday as when he took himself off dialysis in January 2007 we were prepared to say goodbye fairly soon. He had been doing pretty well for a couple of months but in the past three days had taken a turn for the worse and did not feel like getting out of the house to celebrate his birthday. My aunt and uncle (my mom's brother and sister) are here visiting from El Paso, so my mom cooked him a meal and we just ate at their house. At least he felt well enough to sit at the table with us for a little while. It is really hard to watch my father be so discouraged at his quality of life. He really wants to just go be with the Lord and is growing more discouraged that it is not his time. We try to get him to focus on the positive that he is of sound mind and not in any pain. He is not suffering, just very weak from inactivity. But the past few days he has been having some significant abdominal pain. So of course none of us knows what the future holds, but I pray for his remaining days, months or years that he will not have to suffer. I am so thankful for the Buckingham Road church of Christ who has not forgotten him in the year he has not been able to attend. Someone usually comes to visit him at least once a week. Once or twice a month someone brings them a meal. It is such a blessing for my mom and dad. I was going to post a picture of him with his cake but my camera went funky today too! Guess it was just an electronically challenging day. Which results in major frustration in my world.

Opinions Please

Tonight I realized the song that I had playing when you opened my blog page was "O Come, O Come Emanuel" which is usually associated more with Christmas. So as I went to change the song I was trying to decide which song to choose. So this is my question. When you are reading a blog would you rather listen to a song with words or without words? I started thinking that perhaps songs with words might distract from reading? I realize that you can turn off your sound and not listen to the song at all, but just for future reference I thought I would just take a poll and see who likes which best. So which is it with or without words?

Silent Retreat

On April 11th some ladies at R.E. are going to be enjoying a Silent Retreat at Riverbend Camp in Glen Rose. It is interesting the different reactions I received this morning in trying to get ladies to sign up for the retreat. Why is it the concept of having quiet meditation time so intimidating to so many? The last Silent Retreat we had was wonderful and for me it was so refreshing to just have this slow pace and be able to sit out in nature and have some really special time with God. It is interesting to think about that some cannot even entertain the thought of a three hour periods of silence when there are actually people in this world who take a vow of silence.

Friday, two other ladies and I drove down to where we are going to have the retreat because we had not seen it. It is really nice. I am posting some pictures just in case I can entice some of my blog readers to join us. Two years ago when we did this retreat all 26 evaluations came back that women were pleasantly surprised what a blessing the quiet time had been. Sometimes I think we are just afraid to experience the unknown. So I guarantee anyone that joins us will not be disappointed.

Walkway up to Lodge

Back Porch of Lodge

Kitchen area

Main room


Two of the 4 bedrooms downstairs (all are decorated differently.)

Should I or Shouldn't I?

Today I got an email from do_not_reply@kidzmatter.com which started out with this article from their president Ryan Frank.

"Today my wife called one of her friends to tell her that she had missed her at church the past two weeks. The family had been fighting the flu. That is, everyone but 7-year-old Chesney. She missed church because everyone else was sick. She told her mom, "My teachers are going to miss me! Maybe not though, they haven't called me!"

As soon as I heard this, I picked up the phone and called Chesney! Although she was too shy to talk to me, she knew that I have missed her. This was a subtle reminder to me about the importance of letting my kids know when I miss them. How are you doing in this area? Hey, even kids need a shot in the arm now and then."

The reason this was interesting to me is I just had a parent tell me last week to stop sending cards telling their child I was missing them on Sunday because they had made a family decision not to come to Bible class. Of course I wasn't sending the cards to offend anyone, I really thought the child would be like the one above and want to know they were being missed. And I actually did miss them! Guess you never know? So all you can do is say you're sorry and hope the next family that gets the card will not feel the same way. On any given Sunday we have 10 kids missing in class and you don't always know the reason. Last week one of the girls was out with pneumonia. So this email encouraged me not to be discouraged about this parent's reaction, I will assume they are the exception and not the rule.

A Thankful Wife

I apologize for another post in one week extolling the praises of my husband but I just can't resist. Tonight Steve told me that while he was at CVS today that he got out of the car and saw a pile of trash on the ground and could not help but notice that it was a pornographic magazine. He said he did his best not to look at it, but did not want to leave it there for a young person to see, so he bent down and and crumpled it up and threw it in the trash can. I thanked him for the blessing of being married to a man of integrity. He could have put that magazine in his truck and kept it there for weeks and I would have never known.

Sunday morning I listened to Ed Young Jr. give a really good sermon on Lust. Don't know that in my lifetime I have ever heard an entire sermon dedicated to lust. Of course he preached it in his normal creative way by his points all ending in "ize" for "eyes". You can actually view that sermon at http://www.edyoung.com/watch.php

He quoted Job 31:1 "I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl." He talked about his own covenant and how he does not subscribe to movie channels for that very reason and he does not channel surf. I had thought at the time how many times I have seen Steve's eyes go to the floor when an advertisement came on T.V. where women were scantily clad. Or when I have on Dancing With The Stars and he will not look at the skimpily clothed dancers.

When he reads this blog he will be quick to remind me that he is not perfect, and I know that he cannot live in the world we live in and not be tempted from time to time, but I am thankful that he does not succumb to the temptations around him and honors me with his commitment to purity. I am indeed blessed!!

Pray It Anyway

I ,may have mentioned it in the past but Steve and I subscribe to a magazine entitled "Pray". Over the years it has had many articles that have enhanced my prayer life. The March/April issue is entitled "Cries from the Wilderness: Praying When Life Hurts". There were so many good articles. I just thought I would give you some of the quotes that caught my attention.

"I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me. I will call on him as long as I live." Psalm 116:1-2

"I went through times when it was difficult to pray because I didn't dare to be honest with God. I was hurt, angry scared, and confused. Anything I might have said to him wouldn't have sounded at all like the pretty and polite prayers I was used to hearing in church. It was then that another friend pointed me to the psalms. She observed that the psalmists were gut-honest about how they felt and that God seemed capable of handling their negative feelings. So in that season, I learned to lament." --Cynthia Bezek

"Suffering either makes you better or it makes you bitter."
"Anyone who is called to intercession is called to participate in both the joy and the pain of God."
"The fact that we are struggling is actually the mark of a vibrant faith, not unbelief."
"When we suffer the enemy tempts us to embrace isolation--to draw up the drawbridge. But these are the very times when we need people more than ever."
"We need to be careful not to confuse the silence of God with the absence of God."--Peter Greig

"Those who wrote many of the psalms didn't pray in a protected environment. In fact, their circumstances were often much more exhausting than mine. But somehow they managed to turn their eyes from the visible situation to the invisible God."
"Praise is a determined resolution."
"Prayer honors God most when it's worshipful in the absence of visible reasons to worship. That type of prayer declares who He is when the declartion isn't self evident. It's a defiant statement that no matter how much the world, the flesh, or the devil obscure His goodness, He's still good."
--Chris Tiegreen

"Because hurting people need the freedom and courage to be honest in expressing their difficulties, we, too, need to be authentic with every word we offer in prayer. For me this often begins by admitting my own inadequacy. For example, I may pray, "Lord, I don't have a clue how to begin..." or, "Father, You're the only one who knows what the real need is here..." or, "Jesus, to be perfectly honest, this whole thing stinks..."
"When we prya real prayers from our heart those who suffer breathe a sigh of relief, thankful that they don't have to hide their hurt from us or God."--Tricia McCary Rhodes

Only In America

Today I was shopping at Albertson's when some girls asked if I wanted to buy some girl scout cookies. I quickly told them I had already bought some from the girls at my church. Then I was ashamed that I felt so uncomfortable with these girls and their moms. You see they were dressed in black and wearing hijabs.

I am not sure why it made me feel uncomfortable it just did. It just seemed strange to me that they were girl scouts. I felt guilty so I pulled my car up and asked them if they were participating in the send cookies to soldiers program. They said "no" but they were giving boxes to a nursing home, so I gave them some money and drove away. Then I thought "oh my goodness, was it the wrong thing to ask them if they were sending cookies to soldiers?" Oh well, hopefully God will honor my attempt to look past my uncomfortableness and try to do something positive.

On another note. If you haven't already seen this video on Youtube, you have to check it out. 5 girls from the ages of 8-13 from Lubbock singing the National Anthem. They are amazing! I have taught 3rd to 6th grade chorus for about 15 years and have never heard kids that age be able to harmonize so well! Cactus Cuties indeed!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKCVS57j284