The very first Psalm I ever remember hearing was the 23rd Psalm. I first heard it while I was attending public school years ago, at a time when daily prayer and Bible reading was encouraged. Each day we would read a different Psalm, and I remember loving the 23rd Psalm. I was probably only about 7 years old, but that Psalm stayed with me even during the years when I was attending parochial school from 3rd-12th grade, where catechism was taught, not the Bible.
As I struggled delivering my first child years later, being 3 weeks over-due, and unable to deliver normally, I spent 24 hours in labor, 18 of them heavy labor. I was nearly hallucinating after so many hours of pain, yet all I could say that made any sense was the 23rd Psalm. It meant a great deal to me to speak the wonderful, calming, reassuring words of that old familiar Psalm. Reading and saying that psalm was one of the only things that gave me peace and comfort during that difficult delivery.
Since that time I have come to know Jesus in a personal way, the way of Salvation. He is my Savior. He is my Shepherd. I have come to depend upon Him fully, and trust Him more than I do myself. I now have a 4 year old granddaughter, the daughter of my first-born, and about a month ago she recited that wonderful Psalm for me, and she did it with a little musical hip-hop added to it and a few hand gestures. What a joy! The child I gave birth during the days when all I knew was the 23rd Psalm, has taught her daughter the same Psalm.
I plan on taking a couple days of blogging to share my thoughts on the 23rd Psalm, which is, in my humble opinion, a Psalm that requires a great deal of reflection to really experience its fullness and grace. There is so much to be said about the very first verse: "The Lord is my Shepherd." Do we even understand the concept of Shepherd? In our society there is little knowledge of what that really means, but when we dig deeper, the word Shepherd implies so much.
A Shepherd leads, He feeds, He guides, protects. He is the watchman. He knows the dangers that lie in wait for the slow, inconsistent straggler. He is always concerned for the sheep. He is always alert to the signs of danger. The Shepherd carries the lame, the hurting, the needy. He cradles the small little ones in His loving arms. He cares for the sheep as if His life depends on it, and in many cases, His life did depend on it. In our case, His life did depend on it, and He gave His life to save us. He is the epitome of the Shepherd.
Continuing with that verse... "I shall not want." What an amazing statement. Can we even fathom the concept of wanting for nothing? Now that is incredible. My Shepherd is so good to me... that I shall not want for anything. I will be so cared for, so well fed, go to every lush, green pasture and lavish myself, drink freely from the coolest waters, the cleanest, purest waters, that I will not want for anything. I will have my fill, be at peace, be content, be cared for, and I shall not want.
Here is the dilemma. I have health issues, pain issues, and I hurt. In fact, I hurt quite a bit right now. If my Shepherd is caring for my every need, (I ask rhetorically) and I shall not want... how does pain fit in with that scenario? Could it be that the sheep love the Shepherd so much that they really just want the Shepherd, not so much what He gives, but what and who He is? Could it be that the sheep love His voice, His scent, His presence, His love, His attention, His goodness, His dependability, His patience, His peace, and His awesome shepherding so much that they don't think of anything else but Him? Could it be that the sheep become so enraptured with the Shepherd Himself, that they are content, that all that is important is Him, and they cannot stop watching the Shepherd long enough to be dissatisfied? Could it be that they have "Fixed their eyes on (the Shepherd) Jesus?" Heb. 12:2
Well, I think that the sheep are enraptured with the Good Shepherd. I think that they are so caught up in Him that they don't know much else. The Shepherd is more than capable of calming their pains, soothing their irritations, and hurts. Sheep bump into things all the time, and they need the soothing, healing oil of the caring shepherd. He can tell from afar off which sheep need His attention the most, which are afflicted, which are struggling... just by watching their gate. Sheep get bruises and scratches, broken limbs and injured body parts frequently, and usually, it is only the shepherd that notices. In our case, the Good Shepherd knows our needs... even before we do, before we ever ask, or even realize the need ourselves.
Sheep do not have the best judgment, in fact, they may not have good sense at all, but they know instinctively that if they keep their eyes on the Shepherd, He will lead them where they should go. The Shepherd will guide them, and the truth is... they shall not want. I love the Shepherd, and I love the 23rd Psalm, and everything I have just shared is all from the first verse. There is so much more to come in this Psalm, so much more deeply planted in each verse. We, the sheep, have so much available to us in the Good Shepherd, and we have so much to learn, but always remember... It's Only By His Grace... until next time.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Consider the egg
Sometimes having health and pain issues makes me feel as sensitive and fragile as an egg; I'm kind of vulnerable to the touch. I often hurt without even being touched, and maybe even feel enough pain to burst into tears and cry at a moments notice, but I usually don't.. because then my nose gets red, big and swollen, and I can't breath. It's pretty bad to be in pain... but, it's even worse to be in pain with a great big red nose, unable to breath. Why even Rudolph had a better situation in life than that! But, all joking aside, to understand a person suffering with health issues or pain, we might have to look to the egg.
Have you ever considered the egg? The egg is an awesome creation of God? It provides man with so many things; it is so versatile. It can be used as a stand-alone food item, and it can be cooked/prepared in so many different ways. This amazing oval delight offers good protein, substantive food value, is economical, and is pretty low in calories as long as it is not cooked in gobs of butter. The egg may have some limitations for folks on special diets... such as those with cholesterol issues, yet egg substitutes are readily available in egg-white renditions, making it a safe replacement for regular whole eggs. An egg is a... well... a good egg!
And have you ever realized that an egg is also a really great little team player. It's known for the way it assists other ingredients as it is mixed together with them. It can help hold a meat loaf together, provide shine to the crust of a pie, hold bread crumbs or flour on to a piece of chicken you are cooking, or an egg can even be separated (white from the yolk) to add into various dishes, a yoke to a pudding, a white to a meringue topping, or it can join forces with some milk and egg and turn ordinary bread into French Toast. An egg is definitely amazing!
Yes, the life of an egg is pretty productive. There are so many dishes you can make with an egg... well, just too numerous to count. But despite the egg's willingness to be a team player, and aside from the myriad of ways you can cook an egg, the amazing egg is subject to its main weakness: the egg has a frail exterior shell. A frail exterior doesn't mean the egg is weak, or that it should be avoided. No, in fact, quite the opposite. The egg is so valuable, maybe even more valuable than a huge list of other products... it just needs to be handled with care. It needs to be handled the way Jesus told us to treat others... He even went so far as to tell us that, "Whatsoever you(we) do to the least of my(His) children, that you do unto me(Jesus)." So it is clear, how we treat any of His weaker, smaller, less prominent children, the down, the desperate, the elderly... anyone worse-off, or experiencing hardship of any kind, we must treat as if we are treating the Lord, Himself. That is a pretty powerful admonition! Remember the EGG.
Yes, Jesus did tell us to love one another. But, we can get pretty forgetful of the importance of treating each other with that kind of tender care. Human nature takes over, and we get careless, foolish, and neglectful, and we begin to take each other for granted. Now, with baking, you cannot take an egg for granted. There are just certain things that you have to remember to do when it comes to working with eggs.
So when we realize that eggs need special care... this might be a good reminder that people do too, especially "hurting, and less healthy people". For sure we can all learn a valuable lesson from the incredible, edible egg. Special note here: Have a picture in your mind how the check-out person always mentions to each customer at the check-out counter: "Your eggs are in that small bag I placed in the child carrier of your cart." Even the check out person is trained to let you know to "Be careful".
OK, so handling eggs... we have a pretty solid handle on that aspect of the egg. Now baking has a set of instructions all its own when it comes to eggs. For instance, there's a lot to know about adding an egg to a recipe, because how you add eggs to a recipe can make or break your results. Because eggs take on so many different personalities (kinda'), wear so many different hats (sort of), have a multitude of uses, they have special instructions per use. The directions might state: use at room temperature, add separately, add slowly, or add to dry ingredients. A recipe might instruct you to beat, whip, or gently fold-in an egg. So, when you are baking or cooking, follow the recipe specifically, and you will get to enjoy all the benefits of the amazing egg. And as I examine those specific directions... I can see some great applications for how we can apply those instructions to our own personal lives... and learn from the egg.
Here's a little tip before starting, one that most experienced cooks already know, but to the less experienced cook, I suggest you crack the required eggs into a small, separate bowl before dropping the eggs into the larger recipe bowl with the other ingredients, just in case a shell falls into the bow. That way the shell can be easily removed without ruining the batter, should a shell fall in. There is a good point we can take from this cooking tip... when it comes to your relationship with others, it is always better to share things privately before you share them publicly and take the chance of hurting or embarrassing your loved one. Having a private conversation always allows the (shells) issues to be dealt with more easily. This establishes your concern for the other person, and always helps avoid hurt feelings in your relationship. You will be glad that you did NOT just dump everything into the mixture, and take the chance of ruining the entire relationship. Remember... we are trying to learn from the egg.
Now the dry ingredients would probably be the flour, salt, baking powder or baking soda, and those ingredients are usually sifted together separately. Sifting dry ingredients together might be a good suggestion when it comes to sifting our words carefully in order to avoid lumps, inconsistencies, and encourage unity. This reminds me that sifting my words carefully can avoid bitterness, jealousy, and offensiveness to others. Eggs-actly!
As you add the eggs to the dry ingredients, you must add them in one at a time, or a little at a time once beaten. Now the eggs provide the moisture to the dry ingredients, and the balance of eggs to dry ingredients if really important. So, first, before adding a lot of new situations to your home life, even though it may need something new, try introducing them a little at a time, and give the relationship a chance to absorb the changes. Give your spouse or friend a chance to acclimate to your thoughts and viewpoints before getting too demanding. And watch your measurements on those "dry ingredients" for accuracy, realizing too much of any ingredient can spoil the entire batch. This practice can be used in lots of ways, and hurts can be avoided simply by caring enough to take the time to make changes slowly, and measure every ingredient carefully. Too many eggs make a dense, tough cake, and too few eggs, can make a very dry cake. Balance the mixture to avoid relationships that are too hard to handle, or so dry, they fall apart.
Now here is one of our favorites: omelets. To make an omelet light and fluffy you may wish to use a wire whisk to add a bit of air into the mixture. Adding air in your beating technique might be similar to adding levity to a relationship. When things are too heavy, too serious, the weight can be too demanding for the relationship. Consider adding a fun activity. It is always a good thing to break up the serious, tense situations with a little breather. This is not the same thing as joking around when someone has been hurt or needs you to listen. This concept has to do with knowing when your loved one's are over-stressed, and being sensitive to the timing for adding some enjoyment to the mix.
If you just want plain scrambled eggs, and you do not want them fluffy, that is kind of like wanting the basics. Perhaps you just want your eggs pan friend, over easy, or soft boiled. These are the basics. You don't want to add fluff to the basics of scrambled eggs, else you might get a souffle. And trust me, there are times when we need to go back to the basics. Again, I apply this strategy to a relationship. There are times when we need to recognize that someone needs to be treated respectfully, wants to know they are loved and cared about, and needs to feel the basics of that love and trust. Again... learn from the egg.
Here's a couple of pointers: don't over beat the eggs if you want a tender result, don't over cook the soft boiled egg unless you like them hard boiled, and don't use old ingredients if you want a special result. Keep your ingredients as fresh as possible, pay attention to the details, and follow the recipe. So, for me, I would like us all to treat each other with the same courtesy and care that we treat eggs: follow the instructions, follow the recipe. Learn from the egg how to handle each other the right way for the desired result. Do not treat a friend like an enemy, do not give compliments to a fool, do not respect and show agreement with the ungodly. Do not give good gifts to those that are abusive, but rather show concern and support and give to the lowly, the hurting, the needy.
Give the way God says to give, the way God gives. Follow His recipe book, the Bible. It is the best book on relationships EVER! Every good book ever written has its base in God's Word. It is the only set of instructions still standing after thousands of years, since its beginning. Go to His Word and hear the importance of giving respect to a husband or a wife, hear the need to be tender and kind toward one another, hear the need to love one another. If you are wondering what has gone wrong in your relationships, perhaps you have been ignoring the recipe book (Bible). Every serious cook knows to check the instructions when it comes to cooking, especially when it comes to handling, and working with eggs. If it makes sense to follow a recipe to see how to handle an egg, then surely we can understand the need to consider instruction when it comes to how we treat each other.
After all, if an egg is important to a recipe, shouldn't caring for someone we love be really important? Shouldn't a "date night" be important to the relationship of a couple? Shouldn't budgeting conversations, communications, and problem solving be a part of a couple's discussions, not their fights? Shouldn't children know what it is like to have a dad's, or a mom's time, or both, as often as possible for homework, discussions, and family devotions? How much healthier might we all be if we would take a little time to think about the way we treat each other?
How we treat each other in a relationship, how we add ingredients to those relationships: toss it, turn it, beat it, or whip it, definitely matter. If we care enough about how a recipe turns out, wouldn't it make good sense to care about how a marriage, a friendship, a parental or sibling relationship turns out? God shared many a good instruction with us in His-story, the Bible. He spoke throughout time in various ways to men and women, gave inspiration to mighty men of God, prophets, and apostles, giving them powerful words of instruction, yes, recipes for healthy, holy living. We would be wise "relationship" cooks if we would turn to Him more frequently, and seek His wisdom and help in our relationships while we can.
Imagine the good result we might have if we would sift our words like flour, measure our criticism like salt, blend in the challenges and changes in the same way we carefully add the eggs in baking? Wouldn't it be great if people gave the same kind of attention to caring how sweet our relationship is, and actually consider how it tastes to others, at least as much as we care about how our food tastes?
Proverbs 15:1, informs us, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up strife" Wow! And we also added another recipe word... STIR. So again, right there in Proverbs, we have that great wisdom, "A harsh word stirs up strife." If we treat an egg harshly it will end up cracked, spoiled, or wasted on the floor. So we learn a lot about the fragility of people, particularly hurting people, when we consider the egg. In God's Word we read how to treat relationships wisely. Can you see how we can learn about the care of relationships the same as we learn to cook by following the recipe book, or in our case, the Bible? See the connection between a cookbook and the Bible? Both are meant to help us to learn, to be successful, both instruct us.
Consider your health, consider your family member's health, physically, mentally, emotionally, and Spiritually. Consider how much time you are investing in your priorities in life, and check to see if they are the right ones. Spend time talking, listening, or just playing a game together with your loved ones,(not the hand-held type you can play alone)and do something wholesome together.
I am humbly reminded of my human nature. I know it is easy to hurt the ones we love the most, and I know that relationships are fragile. So, the next time you need an egg... don't even beat that egg without thinking how specific the recipe's instruction always is about adding eggs, and then remember this illustration, and how it can be applied to how we treat others. Handle others like you would an egg... carefully, and according to the instructions... God's Word. And even if the one you are with is not as sensitive as an egg, keep on the right road by considering the egg.
Treat people God's way, even though that's not easy to do sometimes. I mean this sincerely... I am always, always reminded that I cannot do what is right on my own. I am ashamed to admit how many times I have failed at things in my life. But in failing, and in being wrong, I have come to a place of understanding about myself. I realize that I can not trust myself, my own instincts, my own heart on right and wrong. I must be willing to rely on the only one who truly knows what is right and wrong... the Lord, God Almighty. There is no doubt in my mind that I do not have a chance apart from God and His grace. I can not boast of any thing of myself, only of Christ, and what He has done for me, what He has done in me. And what He has shown me, I share with you, anyone who is reading this. So, remember... for good results in the kitchen... follow the recipe. To have good results in relationships... look to the Lord... and to His Word. And as I do my best daily to follow His instruction, I must also trust my success into His loving hands and remember "It's Only By His Grace"... until next time...
Have you ever considered the egg? The egg is an awesome creation of God? It provides man with so many things; it is so versatile. It can be used as a stand-alone food item, and it can be cooked/prepared in so many different ways. This amazing oval delight offers good protein, substantive food value, is economical, and is pretty low in calories as long as it is not cooked in gobs of butter. The egg may have some limitations for folks on special diets... such as those with cholesterol issues, yet egg substitutes are readily available in egg-white renditions, making it a safe replacement for regular whole eggs. An egg is a... well... a good egg!
And have you ever realized that an egg is also a really great little team player. It's known for the way it assists other ingredients as it is mixed together with them. It can help hold a meat loaf together, provide shine to the crust of a pie, hold bread crumbs or flour on to a piece of chicken you are cooking, or an egg can even be separated (white from the yolk) to add into various dishes, a yoke to a pudding, a white to a meringue topping, or it can join forces with some milk and egg and turn ordinary bread into French Toast. An egg is definitely amazing!
Yes, the life of an egg is pretty productive. There are so many dishes you can make with an egg... well, just too numerous to count. But despite the egg's willingness to be a team player, and aside from the myriad of ways you can cook an egg, the amazing egg is subject to its main weakness: the egg has a frail exterior shell. A frail exterior doesn't mean the egg is weak, or that it should be avoided. No, in fact, quite the opposite. The egg is so valuable, maybe even more valuable than a huge list of other products... it just needs to be handled with care. It needs to be handled the way Jesus told us to treat others... He even went so far as to tell us that, "Whatsoever you(we) do to the least of my(His) children, that you do unto me(Jesus)." So it is clear, how we treat any of His weaker, smaller, less prominent children, the down, the desperate, the elderly... anyone worse-off, or experiencing hardship of any kind, we must treat as if we are treating the Lord, Himself. That is a pretty powerful admonition! Remember the EGG.
Yes, Jesus did tell us to love one another. But, we can get pretty forgetful of the importance of treating each other with that kind of tender care. Human nature takes over, and we get careless, foolish, and neglectful, and we begin to take each other for granted. Now, with baking, you cannot take an egg for granted. There are just certain things that you have to remember to do when it comes to working with eggs.
So when we realize that eggs need special care... this might be a good reminder that people do too, especially "hurting, and less healthy people". For sure we can all learn a valuable lesson from the incredible, edible egg. Special note here: Have a picture in your mind how the check-out person always mentions to each customer at the check-out counter: "Your eggs are in that small bag I placed in the child carrier of your cart." Even the check out person is trained to let you know to "Be careful".
OK, so handling eggs... we have a pretty solid handle on that aspect of the egg. Now baking has a set of instructions all its own when it comes to eggs. For instance, there's a lot to know about adding an egg to a recipe, because how you add eggs to a recipe can make or break your results. Because eggs take on so many different personalities (kinda'), wear so many different hats (sort of), have a multitude of uses, they have special instructions per use. The directions might state: use at room temperature, add separately, add slowly, or add to dry ingredients. A recipe might instruct you to beat, whip, or gently fold-in an egg. So, when you are baking or cooking, follow the recipe specifically, and you will get to enjoy all the benefits of the amazing egg. And as I examine those specific directions... I can see some great applications for how we can apply those instructions to our own personal lives... and learn from the egg.
Here's a little tip before starting, one that most experienced cooks already know, but to the less experienced cook, I suggest you crack the required eggs into a small, separate bowl before dropping the eggs into the larger recipe bowl with the other ingredients, just in case a shell falls into the bow. That way the shell can be easily removed without ruining the batter, should a shell fall in. There is a good point we can take from this cooking tip... when it comes to your relationship with others, it is always better to share things privately before you share them publicly and take the chance of hurting or embarrassing your loved one. Having a private conversation always allows the (shells) issues to be dealt with more easily. This establishes your concern for the other person, and always helps avoid hurt feelings in your relationship. You will be glad that you did NOT just dump everything into the mixture, and take the chance of ruining the entire relationship. Remember... we are trying to learn from the egg.
Now the dry ingredients would probably be the flour, salt, baking powder or baking soda, and those ingredients are usually sifted together separately. Sifting dry ingredients together might be a good suggestion when it comes to sifting our words carefully in order to avoid lumps, inconsistencies, and encourage unity. This reminds me that sifting my words carefully can avoid bitterness, jealousy, and offensiveness to others. Eggs-actly!
As you add the eggs to the dry ingredients, you must add them in one at a time, or a little at a time once beaten. Now the eggs provide the moisture to the dry ingredients, and the balance of eggs to dry ingredients if really important. So, first, before adding a lot of new situations to your home life, even though it may need something new, try introducing them a little at a time, and give the relationship a chance to absorb the changes. Give your spouse or friend a chance to acclimate to your thoughts and viewpoints before getting too demanding. And watch your measurements on those "dry ingredients" for accuracy, realizing too much of any ingredient can spoil the entire batch. This practice can be used in lots of ways, and hurts can be avoided simply by caring enough to take the time to make changes slowly, and measure every ingredient carefully. Too many eggs make a dense, tough cake, and too few eggs, can make a very dry cake. Balance the mixture to avoid relationships that are too hard to handle, or so dry, they fall apart.
Now here is one of our favorites: omelets. To make an omelet light and fluffy you may wish to use a wire whisk to add a bit of air into the mixture. Adding air in your beating technique might be similar to adding levity to a relationship. When things are too heavy, too serious, the weight can be too demanding for the relationship. Consider adding a fun activity. It is always a good thing to break up the serious, tense situations with a little breather. This is not the same thing as joking around when someone has been hurt or needs you to listen. This concept has to do with knowing when your loved one's are over-stressed, and being sensitive to the timing for adding some enjoyment to the mix.
If you just want plain scrambled eggs, and you do not want them fluffy, that is kind of like wanting the basics. Perhaps you just want your eggs pan friend, over easy, or soft boiled. These are the basics. You don't want to add fluff to the basics of scrambled eggs, else you might get a souffle. And trust me, there are times when we need to go back to the basics. Again, I apply this strategy to a relationship. There are times when we need to recognize that someone needs to be treated respectfully, wants to know they are loved and cared about, and needs to feel the basics of that love and trust. Again... learn from the egg.
Here's a couple of pointers: don't over beat the eggs if you want a tender result, don't over cook the soft boiled egg unless you like them hard boiled, and don't use old ingredients if you want a special result. Keep your ingredients as fresh as possible, pay attention to the details, and follow the recipe. So, for me, I would like us all to treat each other with the same courtesy and care that we treat eggs: follow the instructions, follow the recipe. Learn from the egg how to handle each other the right way for the desired result. Do not treat a friend like an enemy, do not give compliments to a fool, do not respect and show agreement with the ungodly. Do not give good gifts to those that are abusive, but rather show concern and support and give to the lowly, the hurting, the needy.
Give the way God says to give, the way God gives. Follow His recipe book, the Bible. It is the best book on relationships EVER! Every good book ever written has its base in God's Word. It is the only set of instructions still standing after thousands of years, since its beginning. Go to His Word and hear the importance of giving respect to a husband or a wife, hear the need to be tender and kind toward one another, hear the need to love one another. If you are wondering what has gone wrong in your relationships, perhaps you have been ignoring the recipe book (Bible). Every serious cook knows to check the instructions when it comes to cooking, especially when it comes to handling, and working with eggs. If it makes sense to follow a recipe to see how to handle an egg, then surely we can understand the need to consider instruction when it comes to how we treat each other.
After all, if an egg is important to a recipe, shouldn't caring for someone we love be really important? Shouldn't a "date night" be important to the relationship of a couple? Shouldn't budgeting conversations, communications, and problem solving be a part of a couple's discussions, not their fights? Shouldn't children know what it is like to have a dad's, or a mom's time, or both, as often as possible for homework, discussions, and family devotions? How much healthier might we all be if we would take a little time to think about the way we treat each other?
How we treat each other in a relationship, how we add ingredients to those relationships: toss it, turn it, beat it, or whip it, definitely matter. If we care enough about how a recipe turns out, wouldn't it make good sense to care about how a marriage, a friendship, a parental or sibling relationship turns out? God shared many a good instruction with us in His-story, the Bible. He spoke throughout time in various ways to men and women, gave inspiration to mighty men of God, prophets, and apostles, giving them powerful words of instruction, yes, recipes for healthy, holy living. We would be wise "relationship" cooks if we would turn to Him more frequently, and seek His wisdom and help in our relationships while we can.
Imagine the good result we might have if we would sift our words like flour, measure our criticism like salt, blend in the challenges and changes in the same way we carefully add the eggs in baking? Wouldn't it be great if people gave the same kind of attention to caring how sweet our relationship is, and actually consider how it tastes to others, at least as much as we care about how our food tastes?
Proverbs 15:1, informs us, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up strife" Wow! And we also added another recipe word... STIR. So again, right there in Proverbs, we have that great wisdom, "A harsh word stirs up strife." If we treat an egg harshly it will end up cracked, spoiled, or wasted on the floor. So we learn a lot about the fragility of people, particularly hurting people, when we consider the egg. In God's Word we read how to treat relationships wisely. Can you see how we can learn about the care of relationships the same as we learn to cook by following the recipe book, or in our case, the Bible? See the connection between a cookbook and the Bible? Both are meant to help us to learn, to be successful, both instruct us.
Consider your health, consider your family member's health, physically, mentally, emotionally, and Spiritually. Consider how much time you are investing in your priorities in life, and check to see if they are the right ones. Spend time talking, listening, or just playing a game together with your loved ones,(not the hand-held type you can play alone)and do something wholesome together.
I am humbly reminded of my human nature. I know it is easy to hurt the ones we love the most, and I know that relationships are fragile. So, the next time you need an egg... don't even beat that egg without thinking how specific the recipe's instruction always is about adding eggs, and then remember this illustration, and how it can be applied to how we treat others. Handle others like you would an egg... carefully, and according to the instructions... God's Word. And even if the one you are with is not as sensitive as an egg, keep on the right road by considering the egg.
Treat people God's way, even though that's not easy to do sometimes. I mean this sincerely... I am always, always reminded that I cannot do what is right on my own. I am ashamed to admit how many times I have failed at things in my life. But in failing, and in being wrong, I have come to a place of understanding about myself. I realize that I can not trust myself, my own instincts, my own heart on right and wrong. I must be willing to rely on the only one who truly knows what is right and wrong... the Lord, God Almighty. There is no doubt in my mind that I do not have a chance apart from God and His grace. I can not boast of any thing of myself, only of Christ, and what He has done for me, what He has done in me. And what He has shown me, I share with you, anyone who is reading this. So, remember... for good results in the kitchen... follow the recipe. To have good results in relationships... look to the Lord... and to His Word. And as I do my best daily to follow His instruction, I must also trust my success into His loving hands and remember "It's Only By His Grace"... until next time...
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Love is a powerful thing!
This past weekend was a really special opportunity for me. My youngest daughter, Joanna, works as an esthetician, and once a year she attends a career convention in Arlington. This year she did something really wonderful for me, and for her two sisters. Joanna just got married about 5 weeks ago to her long-time boyfriend, Tony. As a special thank you for all the work we did to put their ceremony and reception together for them, Joanna invited the three of us to join her at the convention. Both Joanna and Tony were greatly blessed by the love and support we showed them during the last several months of working together to make their wedding something beautiful. Their lives have now been changed forever by that gift of love, a gift we very much wanted to give... without expecting anything in return.
Love is a powerful thing! Love can be the conduit for a wonderful experience in life. For me, this 3 day venture with Joanna proved to be one of those wonderful, unexpected experiences... and it was one of the nicest relaxing things I have shared with my daughters in a long time. We got to participate in some wonderful seminars, see new skin care regimens, sample new products, and even have a wonderful catered meal at the Sheraton around their huge pool and grounds, complete with live music and buffet. Joanna paid our expense to attend the convention. It was a gift from her to us, also freely given, with the hope that we would feel blessed. Well, we were. All of us had a great time, had a lot of fun, and had a chance to share. All this was ours because Joanna loved us, and she wanted to say... "thank you."
Loving someone doesn't always meet with success, but when it does, the results are timeless, and limitless. In our case, Joanna wanted to say thank you for the love and devotion, hard work and sacrifice that went into planning a ceremony and reception for them. Because Joanna lives in San Antonio, and the three of us live in the Dallas area, we planned the event to take place here. This meant that Joanna, Tony's family, and all their family and friends all had to travel here. Many people traveled, and only a handful of people actually live here. A Friend of mine traveled from N.C. to help, and her friend traveled from 500 miles away to join her here. Why would people do that? Does it seem strange to do this?
Well, we were the family that loved her so much that we wanted to give, to put the wedding together for them. We wanted to bless her, to encourage her, to help her. Her two older sisters did many different things to prepare for the wedding, giving sacrificially. I worked for hours gathering items to decorate, prepared the invitations and addressed them, and worked day after day with only one thought in mind... bless Joanna and Tony... do what God wants us to do in their lives. Did I think it would get me anything??? Did her sisters think it would bless them??? Well.. no! I don't think there was any thought of self in the whole experience of preparing for their wedding. God wanted to bless them, and we wanted to be a part of what He was doing in their lives.
Of course, there were contributions of many other people in various ways. To start with, there was the big financial responsibility of a wedding, which was shared by parents and couple alike. But there was a lot of work. Even my friend Claire, who traveled here from NC, and her friend, Gil, who traveled here to be with Claire, were a very big blessing to us. Then our friends from church, Dave and Becky, gave from their hearts as well; Dave touched us with his music and voice, while Becky helped us to decorate the church. Some friends lent us items to decorate with, and a dear, neighborhood friend, Karen, even made Jaonna's favorite cookies for the reception. What was the motivation of all those who helped??? Well... I think it was pretty much the same thing as ours... LOVE! Love is an amazing thing.
In John 3:16 we read, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life." This Scripture so strongly shows us that the nature of God's love was, and still is, to give. God gave His Son... that is HUGE! What kind of love can do that??? Only God's Love can do that. And when we receive that kind of love, when we trust in that love... trust Christ, and the gift He gave us, we are changed through that gift of God's love, Jesus. We tap into the source of Love and are made new. As in II Cor. 5:17, we are told that, "If any one is in Christ, old things have passed away, all things are new." We are changed through God's love.
What made us all want to bless Joanna and Tony?... love. What made Joanna and Tony want to do something so special to bless us back??? Well, I also think it was love. No matter how great a person, it is love that starts it all, and ends it all. When we tap into God's love, we have tapped into the greatest power on earth, and found the answer to life. Consider this phenomenon... God's Love... the amazing, powerful, never-ending love of God. It will change your life, it will change your thinking, because it will clearly change you. It has no beginning... it has no end.
Oh, my life is still less than perfect; I am still human. You cut me, I will bleed; hurt me, I will cry. I will always need to apply myself in order to have positive results in life. But this one thing I know... You cannot experience God's love without being changed. Thanks to the awesome, transforming power of God... we can all know His Love, we can all trust in Him for eternal life, we can all know for sure we have eternal life. (I John 5:13) And when you think on this amazing truth, keep in mind... It's Only By His Grace... until next time.
Love is a powerful thing! Love can be the conduit for a wonderful experience in life. For me, this 3 day venture with Joanna proved to be one of those wonderful, unexpected experiences... and it was one of the nicest relaxing things I have shared with my daughters in a long time. We got to participate in some wonderful seminars, see new skin care regimens, sample new products, and even have a wonderful catered meal at the Sheraton around their huge pool and grounds, complete with live music and buffet. Joanna paid our expense to attend the convention. It was a gift from her to us, also freely given, with the hope that we would feel blessed. Well, we were. All of us had a great time, had a lot of fun, and had a chance to share. All this was ours because Joanna loved us, and she wanted to say... "thank you."
Loving someone doesn't always meet with success, but when it does, the results are timeless, and limitless. In our case, Joanna wanted to say thank you for the love and devotion, hard work and sacrifice that went into planning a ceremony and reception for them. Because Joanna lives in San Antonio, and the three of us live in the Dallas area, we planned the event to take place here. This meant that Joanna, Tony's family, and all their family and friends all had to travel here. Many people traveled, and only a handful of people actually live here. A Friend of mine traveled from N.C. to help, and her friend traveled from 500 miles away to join her here. Why would people do that? Does it seem strange to do this?
Well, we were the family that loved her so much that we wanted to give, to put the wedding together for them. We wanted to bless her, to encourage her, to help her. Her two older sisters did many different things to prepare for the wedding, giving sacrificially. I worked for hours gathering items to decorate, prepared the invitations and addressed them, and worked day after day with only one thought in mind... bless Joanna and Tony... do what God wants us to do in their lives. Did I think it would get me anything??? Did her sisters think it would bless them??? Well.. no! I don't think there was any thought of self in the whole experience of preparing for their wedding. God wanted to bless them, and we wanted to be a part of what He was doing in their lives.
Of course, there were contributions of many other people in various ways. To start with, there was the big financial responsibility of a wedding, which was shared by parents and couple alike. But there was a lot of work. Even my friend Claire, who traveled here from NC, and her friend, Gil, who traveled here to be with Claire, were a very big blessing to us. Then our friends from church, Dave and Becky, gave from their hearts as well; Dave touched us with his music and voice, while Becky helped us to decorate the church. Some friends lent us items to decorate with, and a dear, neighborhood friend, Karen, even made Jaonna's favorite cookies for the reception. What was the motivation of all those who helped??? Well... I think it was pretty much the same thing as ours... LOVE! Love is an amazing thing.
In John 3:16 we read, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life." This Scripture so strongly shows us that the nature of God's love was, and still is, to give. God gave His Son... that is HUGE! What kind of love can do that??? Only God's Love can do that. And when we receive that kind of love, when we trust in that love... trust Christ, and the gift He gave us, we are changed through that gift of God's love, Jesus. We tap into the source of Love and are made new. As in II Cor. 5:17, we are told that, "If any one is in Christ, old things have passed away, all things are new." We are changed through God's love.
What made us all want to bless Joanna and Tony?... love. What made Joanna and Tony want to do something so special to bless us back??? Well, I also think it was love. No matter how great a person, it is love that starts it all, and ends it all. When we tap into God's love, we have tapped into the greatest power on earth, and found the answer to life. Consider this phenomenon... God's Love... the amazing, powerful, never-ending love of God. It will change your life, it will change your thinking, because it will clearly change you. It has no beginning... it has no end.
Oh, my life is still less than perfect; I am still human. You cut me, I will bleed; hurt me, I will cry. I will always need to apply myself in order to have positive results in life. But this one thing I know... You cannot experience God's love without being changed. Thanks to the awesome, transforming power of God... we can all know His Love, we can all trust in Him for eternal life, we can all know for sure we have eternal life. (I John 5:13) And when you think on this amazing truth, keep in mind... It's Only By His Grace... until next time.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Remember When
One of the signs of getting old is when you repeat the phrase, "Remember when" more than 5 times in the course of any one day, and I may be just around the corner from that pivotal point in life. There are days that I don't say that phrase out loud 5 times, but sometimes I think it to myself that often. Oh, there's a lot of great gadgetry available to us nowadays, many things that would totally amaze my parents if they were alive to see them. It's just that along with the amazing technological progress we've made, we've also lost a significant portion of the really meaningful, important family values of life, those values that bring our families closer, and encourage us to know one another, and yes, even care about one another.
Sometimes it doesn't feel as if we are really moving forward by making this type of progress. For instance, one thing I feel we are losing out on is family dinners together. There are a lot of families that have the same feeling it seems. It makes me wonder...How many families still get to enjoy a sit-down dinner-time together? The family dinner time is kind of an endangered species of sorts, much like the American Eagle. From the news I hear, and what friends and family share with me, families are experiencing the disappearance of meaningful family times together, and the loss of other core family functions as well.
One of the big interrupters of family time seems to be the high value placed on sports and other school activities, gymnastics, dance, etc. Another reason is probably the constant disruptions from phone calls, text messaging, and other electronic components. Oh, everything I just mentioned might be a good thing in itself, but collectively, are we being sabotaged? It seems that good parents are doing their best to provide their children with as many healthy activities and involvements as possible. Sometimes parents even take on extra jobs or work longer hours to afford dance lessons, sports equipment, music lessons, etc. I know the current gifts we now buy our children and grandchildren have frequently been computerized type toys: ipods, computers, cell phones, cameras, hand held electronic games, WII (and the expensive games that go with them) and on and on. Are we really doing them a favor?
Yeah, on and on it goes... "and where it lands, nobody knows..." Well, my concern has little to do with any one of these items on its own. I have even worked the extra jobs myself to provide something my child/children have wanted for a gift, or even just sacrificed some other way to provide it for them. What I am more concerned about as I write this blog is how the abundance of these items impacts the quality of our actual day to day "family" living. After all, no child really feels love from even one of these gadgets, and no one can ever feel loved by any of these activities, or get a hug from an electronic toy. My question is back to the idea of whether any or all of these could ever equal the marvelous value of just spending valuable time together?
Will we ever again place the same value on sitting around our kitchen, or dining room table together, talking, listening, sharing, without the interference of house phones, cell phones, esp. texting, lap tops on the table, or TV? And if we don't have those items interfering as you eat a meal, will you make it through a meal without having to scream, "Hurry Up, We are going to be late?" It seems there is always something ready and waiting to keep you from relaxing with the family.
Well, I miss sitting around the kitchen table with family, sharing stories of the day, and making family time the priority. Dinner time was always the time we got to know our parents, hear the history of their relationship, and wonder if we would ever have our own stories to tell someday. Without a dinner time together, we might be missing out on the very best ingredient for making great family times, and missing the boat when it comes to making a great family.
Our family ties are important, and though I am not at all against children having healthy involvements, why do all their involvements feel more like a career than an involvement? The poor kids don't even seem to be able to enjoy any of these activities, or be involved in them just for the fun of it. I sure miss the days when we would all go out to the ball field after dinner, which I greatly preferred to do, as opposed to running out to a practice... INSTEAD of dinner. Without family meals, devotions, discussions, etc., where will we do our talking, problem solving, encouraging one another, or just sharing our time together?
Another indication of our busy lives is revealed in the way we approach weekends. Weekends are no longer used the way they were 20 years ago. I used to look forward to Saturdays with a great expectation of working together on a big project, or just having the help of other family members. I looked forward to the change in pace, the sense of freedom that came with choosing anything you felt like doing that day. It seems that Saturdays now tell us what we are going to do, and dictate how and where we are going to be in the course of the day... just more and more stress.
More than I would like, I see that for some of my family and friends, weekends are now used to spend time at the office, catching up on office email, completing work that was left undone during the work-week (whatever that is anymore), or the weekend is used as vegging time, survival time, or recovery time, usually due to the "burn-out" from the week's pace and demand. I remember a time when catching up at work meant working in the yard, puttering in the garage, or cooking up meals for the week. And my big enjoyment... Sundays... the day when families would go to church together, and then get-together with friends and family for a big dinner afterwards. Yeah, it was a lot more work than just eating on the run, but it was so "relational." Every precious memory from my childhood seemed to be centered around our kitchen table, or someone else's table, and oddly enough, it had nothing to do with the food. What I remember most is the laughter, the sense of unity we had, and the sense of knowing we were a family.
Oh, I can remember fun times with my friends doing other things, but that is not the way I remember my family. My family gathered around a table. In fact, to this day, when I want to have an enjoyable visit with a friend, or share from the Bible with another, the thought of grabbing a cup of coffee, maybe something good to eat, opening up my Bible, and pulling up a chair to the table works wonders for me. Why I can feel my health improving just thinking about it. I can feel my blood pressure dropping, my stomach relaxing, and peace entering my thoughts for the first time in the last 1/2 hour. I also get together with the Lord as a two-some the same way. If I am not going to have coffee or plan on writing much, I'll just sit in my bedroom easy chair, or stretch across my bed to have quiet times with the Lord. I try really hard to incorporate some stretching exercises into my Bible reading sometimes (by stretching across my bed width-ways) and do leg curls while I read. When I sit, I try to do the same thing. For health reasons I have to use every opportunity that I am off my feet to do something to off-set pain.
Pain is relative. If pain is the strongest sensation you are experiencing in life, you are going to have a rough time. Pain needs to be equally flanked with healthy, happy times, moments of joy, meaningful times. If pain co-exists with meaningful things, it will bring balance, and that alone will help reduce the sensation of pain drastically. It may not cause pain to disappear completely, but it will allow it to be dissembled quite a bit. When pain is experienced by the brain in a major way, it can cause the brain to be almost unable to function in any other capacity than to feel pain. At those points, when pain has already become that intense, my suggestions would be too little, too late, and seem a bit too trivial. But precaustions taken before the pain elevates, will diffuse it with good results.
Let the son-shine in. Step outside into the sunshine. Sit in the beauty of God's creation and take it in. Breathing deep at this point in the day is so very helpful. The toxins of life need to be exhaled, and all that is good needs to be taken in. Let God's presence fill your heart and soul, let it mingle deeply into your mind and body. Feel it, taste it, and hold-on it, do this before you even begin the day's routine.
My final thought today is to encourage you, the family or family member that has some health issue, the family that is starved for a more meaningful life experience... choose the way of life that brings the most satisfying, enjoyable, rich and meaningful relationships you can. Build a treasure of happy family memories for you and your loved ones. Get back to sitting around the table, sitting around the floor, sitting around the pic nic area, and treasuring each other. Dig deep within yourself to find the way to keep this American, or Christian hallmark from slipping away.
In Acts, Ch. 2:42 there is such a precious picture of how the "Early Christian Church" lived. It is more than a snapshot, and it is quite moving to all who encounter it. It reads, "They were (A)continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to (B)the breaking of bread and to prayer." I do not know if that is where the family tradition of eating around the table, being there all at the same time, and sharing all that we have in common comes from, but I think it is rich in implication as far as I can see. I pray that those who read this will hear my heart more than my words, and then hear God's Words more than anything. If life is beginning to run you, and that's all you do... is run, run, run, think about returning to the meaningful things God has called you to, get back to the basics of God and Family. Then, maybe like me, you might think.... REMEMBER WHEN... and as you do... relax, experience joy and peace in this truth... we can't do it alone... It's Only By His Grace... until next time....
Sometimes it doesn't feel as if we are really moving forward by making this type of progress. For instance, one thing I feel we are losing out on is family dinners together. There are a lot of families that have the same feeling it seems. It makes me wonder...How many families still get to enjoy a sit-down dinner-time together? The family dinner time is kind of an endangered species of sorts, much like the American Eagle. From the news I hear, and what friends and family share with me, families are experiencing the disappearance of meaningful family times together, and the loss of other core family functions as well.
One of the big interrupters of family time seems to be the high value placed on sports and other school activities, gymnastics, dance, etc. Another reason is probably the constant disruptions from phone calls, text messaging, and other electronic components. Oh, everything I just mentioned might be a good thing in itself, but collectively, are we being sabotaged? It seems that good parents are doing their best to provide their children with as many healthy activities and involvements as possible. Sometimes parents even take on extra jobs or work longer hours to afford dance lessons, sports equipment, music lessons, etc. I know the current gifts we now buy our children and grandchildren have frequently been computerized type toys: ipods, computers, cell phones, cameras, hand held electronic games, WII (and the expensive games that go with them) and on and on. Are we really doing them a favor?
Yeah, on and on it goes... "and where it lands, nobody knows..." Well, my concern has little to do with any one of these items on its own. I have even worked the extra jobs myself to provide something my child/children have wanted for a gift, or even just sacrificed some other way to provide it for them. What I am more concerned about as I write this blog is how the abundance of these items impacts the quality of our actual day to day "family" living. After all, no child really feels love from even one of these gadgets, and no one can ever feel loved by any of these activities, or get a hug from an electronic toy. My question is back to the idea of whether any or all of these could ever equal the marvelous value of just spending valuable time together?
Will we ever again place the same value on sitting around our kitchen, or dining room table together, talking, listening, sharing, without the interference of house phones, cell phones, esp. texting, lap tops on the table, or TV? And if we don't have those items interfering as you eat a meal, will you make it through a meal without having to scream, "Hurry Up, We are going to be late?" It seems there is always something ready and waiting to keep you from relaxing with the family.
Well, I miss sitting around the kitchen table with family, sharing stories of the day, and making family time the priority. Dinner time was always the time we got to know our parents, hear the history of their relationship, and wonder if we would ever have our own stories to tell someday. Without a dinner time together, we might be missing out on the very best ingredient for making great family times, and missing the boat when it comes to making a great family.
Our family ties are important, and though I am not at all against children having healthy involvements, why do all their involvements feel more like a career than an involvement? The poor kids don't even seem to be able to enjoy any of these activities, or be involved in them just for the fun of it. I sure miss the days when we would all go out to the ball field after dinner, which I greatly preferred to do, as opposed to running out to a practice... INSTEAD of dinner. Without family meals, devotions, discussions, etc., where will we do our talking, problem solving, encouraging one another, or just sharing our time together?
Another indication of our busy lives is revealed in the way we approach weekends. Weekends are no longer used the way they were 20 years ago. I used to look forward to Saturdays with a great expectation of working together on a big project, or just having the help of other family members. I looked forward to the change in pace, the sense of freedom that came with choosing anything you felt like doing that day. It seems that Saturdays now tell us what we are going to do, and dictate how and where we are going to be in the course of the day... just more and more stress.
More than I would like, I see that for some of my family and friends, weekends are now used to spend time at the office, catching up on office email, completing work that was left undone during the work-week (whatever that is anymore), or the weekend is used as vegging time, survival time, or recovery time, usually due to the "burn-out" from the week's pace and demand. I remember a time when catching up at work meant working in the yard, puttering in the garage, or cooking up meals for the week. And my big enjoyment... Sundays... the day when families would go to church together, and then get-together with friends and family for a big dinner afterwards. Yeah, it was a lot more work than just eating on the run, but it was so "relational." Every precious memory from my childhood seemed to be centered around our kitchen table, or someone else's table, and oddly enough, it had nothing to do with the food. What I remember most is the laughter, the sense of unity we had, and the sense of knowing we were a family.
Oh, I can remember fun times with my friends doing other things, but that is not the way I remember my family. My family gathered around a table. In fact, to this day, when I want to have an enjoyable visit with a friend, or share from the Bible with another, the thought of grabbing a cup of coffee, maybe something good to eat, opening up my Bible, and pulling up a chair to the table works wonders for me. Why I can feel my health improving just thinking about it. I can feel my blood pressure dropping, my stomach relaxing, and peace entering my thoughts for the first time in the last 1/2 hour. I also get together with the Lord as a two-some the same way. If I am not going to have coffee or plan on writing much, I'll just sit in my bedroom easy chair, or stretch across my bed to have quiet times with the Lord. I try really hard to incorporate some stretching exercises into my Bible reading sometimes (by stretching across my bed width-ways) and do leg curls while I read. When I sit, I try to do the same thing. For health reasons I have to use every opportunity that I am off my feet to do something to off-set pain.
Pain is relative. If pain is the strongest sensation you are experiencing in life, you are going to have a rough time. Pain needs to be equally flanked with healthy, happy times, moments of joy, meaningful times. If pain co-exists with meaningful things, it will bring balance, and that alone will help reduce the sensation of pain drastically. It may not cause pain to disappear completely, but it will allow it to be dissembled quite a bit. When pain is experienced by the brain in a major way, it can cause the brain to be almost unable to function in any other capacity than to feel pain. At those points, when pain has already become that intense, my suggestions would be too little, too late, and seem a bit too trivial. But precaustions taken before the pain elevates, will diffuse it with good results.
Let the son-shine in. Step outside into the sunshine. Sit in the beauty of God's creation and take it in. Breathing deep at this point in the day is so very helpful. The toxins of life need to be exhaled, and all that is good needs to be taken in. Let God's presence fill your heart and soul, let it mingle deeply into your mind and body. Feel it, taste it, and hold-on it, do this before you even begin the day's routine.
My final thought today is to encourage you, the family or family member that has some health issue, the family that is starved for a more meaningful life experience... choose the way of life that brings the most satisfying, enjoyable, rich and meaningful relationships you can. Build a treasure of happy family memories for you and your loved ones. Get back to sitting around the table, sitting around the floor, sitting around the pic nic area, and treasuring each other. Dig deep within yourself to find the way to keep this American, or Christian hallmark from slipping away.
In Acts, Ch. 2:42 there is such a precious picture of how the "Early Christian Church" lived. It is more than a snapshot, and it is quite moving to all who encounter it. It reads, "They were (A)continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to (B)the breaking of bread and to prayer." I do not know if that is where the family tradition of eating around the table, being there all at the same time, and sharing all that we have in common comes from, but I think it is rich in implication as far as I can see. I pray that those who read this will hear my heart more than my words, and then hear God's Words more than anything. If life is beginning to run you, and that's all you do... is run, run, run, think about returning to the meaningful things God has called you to, get back to the basics of God and Family. Then, maybe like me, you might think.... REMEMBER WHEN... and as you do... relax, experience joy and peace in this truth... we can't do it alone... It's Only By His Grace... until next time....
Monday, April 26, 2010
Just Another Monday
Where in the world did the weekend go? Do you ever ask that question? A few minutes ago it was Friday, and now, it is almost 11:00 a.m. Monday. So little time, and so much to do. One thing I must always do, slow down and smell the roses, count my blessings, and have a good talk with the Lord. I must confess once again, my pain level has been extremely high. It's time to review my priorities and practices to see if I, myself, am the problem.
Yesterday, it was a struggle getting to church in the morning, though I love to go to church, especially on days when we have a wonderful service. I feel I can soar above the pain after worship, and if you add to that some really good family time, I am a pretty happy camper, though there is still a lot of pain.
Pain is a pretty constant companion for me; not a good companion, I might add, but a companion nevertheless. It's a little like living with a nagging house guest that refuses to go home. You try and try to kick the guest out, but he/she just keeps coming back. Now that I think about it, I kind of had a friend like that a number of years ago. I guess I was finally successful because she is no longer in my life, nor has she been for probably 15 years. She was a true problem.
This ex-friend just loved me to death... and death was looking imminent. I would do all that I could to limit her life-sucking grasp on my life, but yet she would come. I tried everything I knew how to stop her or control her, but she just lovvvvved me. She told me of her friendship in all kinds of ways, and did all kinds of things to display her love. She invited me for coffee, lunch, dinner. She wrote me cards, brought me gifts, gave me huge compliments. The one thing she did not do was... REALLY BE MY FRIEND! A friend listens, a true friend cares about you.
Here is a sad part of life: Things are not always what they seem! Sometimes things are really wolves in sheep's clothing. They are traps... things that just zap us, drain us dry, leave us for dead, and have no intention of giving. That is the way of pain and suffering. My pain tries to rob me of every ounce of energy and strength, take my attention, steal my joy, and leave me for dead.
I had to learn to say no sometimes. You know, Nancy Reagan said, "Just say, NO!" I already hear you asking... "OK, how do I do that when I didn't ask for the pain in the first place?" Well, you are right. I didn't ask for my friend to swallow me whole either, but somehow, though I tried to avoid this person using every possible way I knew how... it just didn't work. I tried saying, "No," I would say," "Maybe another time," "I am working on my devotions right now, and I really can't." You see, I was using a band-aid in place of a cure. I allowed, and fueled her to take, and take she did. She took God time, and family time, without thought or concern.
I realized a few important lessons after a long time of battling the friend issue, and I didn't like it... I mean I cried over this thing, and I grieved that my words were not strong enough to make this "friend" respect me enough to live by my boundaries. She would not, and I had to learn the "big girl" lesson that God did not want me to be involved in a "poisonous" relationship.
"When the going gets tough... the tough get going..." they say, (whoever they are) and you have to bring out the BIG GUNS... God's Word and Prayer. And you have to handle negative influences, and harmful involvements, kind of like a poisonous chemical spill, or a discovery of an unwanted, nasty rodent visiting your attic. Put on your mask, and get rid of that pest. Oh, I sound so mean, don't I? I know that I am being pretty dramatic. But in all honesty, there are toxic relationships. Some relationships are NOT healthy. A healthy relationship should not rob you of all the good you have in your heart. In fact, I have found that right relationships should actually bless your heart. They should fill you with joy, spur you to be a better person, and encourage growth in your relationship with your maker. There should be evidence of some good fruit.
So going back to the chemical spill, we have to diffuse that "toxic" chemical. Throw God's Word on that stinky stuff. Fix your mind on God's love, and remember how much He gave to save you, to comfort you. He suffered beyond comprehension, so He knows a lot about suffering. He will take you through your problem, even if He does not take you out of the problem, whatever it is.
The other day I mentioned Philippians 4, "...by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God," You just have to read that whole chapter, it is fantastic. Absolutely, without doubt or hesitation, this chapter will diffuse the chemical. Now the clean-up, well that is the praise and prayer (P&P). I say P&P because I always have to tell God first thing... "Thank you for all your blessings, for all that you have given me in Christ Jesus, for the times I have coped with pain, for the times I feel better, thank you." Then, when I have offered Him my gratitude, I share my heart and my needs.
Now, if you don't take measures to deal properly with pain, like the chemical spill, it could really become messy (and dangerous). Pain can start to control your life. It will begin to tell you where you can go, when you can go, and how you will go. It will grow and increase like my unhealthy friend if you do not deal with it appropriately. Pain is not always a bad thing; it has a purpose. Pain can drive us to God's Word, to the doctor's office, or to prayer. I think pain should drive us to all three, but at least two. Guess which two I always choose first?
I always choose the Word and prayer; they are my two best friends, and two best friends and me, make three. A strand of three is not easily broken, according to Solomon. Pain will try to rob you of these friends. You might get so irritated, or mad that you are too mad to read, too mad to pray. That's when you have to go back to the basics I mentioned the other day. I have to go through a lot of things to remove that initial attitude, relieve the stress, and detoxify a bit. I do the deep breathing, the stretching, the warm-up exercises, and then maybe I am ready for the BIG GUNS, the Word, and P&P. Share your need with a prayer partner, get a good devotional out and start reading. Take a nap, or eat something healthy, and then maybe you will be ready for the life-giving Word and prayer.
No matter how you approach it, you are not going to get away from that life-sucking pain-pit until you take strong action. Try my recommendation of the day... and get serious about dealing with pain. Apply God's Word like healing salve or oil on a nasty wound. Keep in mind my illustration of the chemical spill; check your priorities, check your routine, and see if you need to do some toxic-clean-up. Evaluate the quality of your relationships, activities, and schedule to see if they are as healthy as they should be.
Keep pain in check by doing healthy, life-giving activities, maintaining a strong, on-going relationship with the Lord and others, and always keep the BIG GUNS right on your hip, the Word and Prayer. Keep pain from doing harm to your health or life. Here is what Jesus said about dealing with the wolves in sheep's clothing, the things that come into your life looking like a friend, but really are there to drain the life right out of you. Jesus said, "The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10) Applying God's truth will begin a wonderful journey of healing, but it's not on our own... trust me on this... it's "Only By His Grace"... until next time...
Yesterday, it was a struggle getting to church in the morning, though I love to go to church, especially on days when we have a wonderful service. I feel I can soar above the pain after worship, and if you add to that some really good family time, I am a pretty happy camper, though there is still a lot of pain.
Pain is a pretty constant companion for me; not a good companion, I might add, but a companion nevertheless. It's a little like living with a nagging house guest that refuses to go home. You try and try to kick the guest out, but he/she just keeps coming back. Now that I think about it, I kind of had a friend like that a number of years ago. I guess I was finally successful because she is no longer in my life, nor has she been for probably 15 years. She was a true problem.
This ex-friend just loved me to death... and death was looking imminent. I would do all that I could to limit her life-sucking grasp on my life, but yet she would come. I tried everything I knew how to stop her or control her, but she just lovvvvved me. She told me of her friendship in all kinds of ways, and did all kinds of things to display her love. She invited me for coffee, lunch, dinner. She wrote me cards, brought me gifts, gave me huge compliments. The one thing she did not do was... REALLY BE MY FRIEND! A friend listens, a true friend cares about you.
Here is a sad part of life: Things are not always what they seem! Sometimes things are really wolves in sheep's clothing. They are traps... things that just zap us, drain us dry, leave us for dead, and have no intention of giving. That is the way of pain and suffering. My pain tries to rob me of every ounce of energy and strength, take my attention, steal my joy, and leave me for dead.
I had to learn to say no sometimes. You know, Nancy Reagan said, "Just say, NO!" I already hear you asking... "OK, how do I do that when I didn't ask for the pain in the first place?" Well, you are right. I didn't ask for my friend to swallow me whole either, but somehow, though I tried to avoid this person using every possible way I knew how... it just didn't work. I tried saying, "No," I would say," "Maybe another time," "I am working on my devotions right now, and I really can't." You see, I was using a band-aid in place of a cure. I allowed, and fueled her to take, and take she did. She took God time, and family time, without thought or concern.
I realized a few important lessons after a long time of battling the friend issue, and I didn't like it... I mean I cried over this thing, and I grieved that my words were not strong enough to make this "friend" respect me enough to live by my boundaries. She would not, and I had to learn the "big girl" lesson that God did not want me to be involved in a "poisonous" relationship.
"When the going gets tough... the tough get going..." they say, (whoever they are) and you have to bring out the BIG GUNS... God's Word and Prayer. And you have to handle negative influences, and harmful involvements, kind of like a poisonous chemical spill, or a discovery of an unwanted, nasty rodent visiting your attic. Put on your mask, and get rid of that pest. Oh, I sound so mean, don't I? I know that I am being pretty dramatic. But in all honesty, there are toxic relationships. Some relationships are NOT healthy. A healthy relationship should not rob you of all the good you have in your heart. In fact, I have found that right relationships should actually bless your heart. They should fill you with joy, spur you to be a better person, and encourage growth in your relationship with your maker. There should be evidence of some good fruit.
So going back to the chemical spill, we have to diffuse that "toxic" chemical. Throw God's Word on that stinky stuff. Fix your mind on God's love, and remember how much He gave to save you, to comfort you. He suffered beyond comprehension, so He knows a lot about suffering. He will take you through your problem, even if He does not take you out of the problem, whatever it is.
The other day I mentioned Philippians 4, "...by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God," You just have to read that whole chapter, it is fantastic. Absolutely, without doubt or hesitation, this chapter will diffuse the chemical. Now the clean-up, well that is the praise and prayer (P&P). I say P&P because I always have to tell God first thing... "Thank you for all your blessings, for all that you have given me in Christ Jesus, for the times I have coped with pain, for the times I feel better, thank you." Then, when I have offered Him my gratitude, I share my heart and my needs.
Now, if you don't take measures to deal properly with pain, like the chemical spill, it could really become messy (and dangerous). Pain can start to control your life. It will begin to tell you where you can go, when you can go, and how you will go. It will grow and increase like my unhealthy friend if you do not deal with it appropriately. Pain is not always a bad thing; it has a purpose. Pain can drive us to God's Word, to the doctor's office, or to prayer. I think pain should drive us to all three, but at least two. Guess which two I always choose first?
I always choose the Word and prayer; they are my two best friends, and two best friends and me, make three. A strand of three is not easily broken, according to Solomon. Pain will try to rob you of these friends. You might get so irritated, or mad that you are too mad to read, too mad to pray. That's when you have to go back to the basics I mentioned the other day. I have to go through a lot of things to remove that initial attitude, relieve the stress, and detoxify a bit. I do the deep breathing, the stretching, the warm-up exercises, and then maybe I am ready for the BIG GUNS, the Word, and P&P. Share your need with a prayer partner, get a good devotional out and start reading. Take a nap, or eat something healthy, and then maybe you will be ready for the life-giving Word and prayer.
No matter how you approach it, you are not going to get away from that life-sucking pain-pit until you take strong action. Try my recommendation of the day... and get serious about dealing with pain. Apply God's Word like healing salve or oil on a nasty wound. Keep in mind my illustration of the chemical spill; check your priorities, check your routine, and see if you need to do some toxic-clean-up. Evaluate the quality of your relationships, activities, and schedule to see if they are as healthy as they should be.
Keep pain in check by doing healthy, life-giving activities, maintaining a strong, on-going relationship with the Lord and others, and always keep the BIG GUNS right on your hip, the Word and Prayer. Keep pain from doing harm to your health or life. Here is what Jesus said about dealing with the wolves in sheep's clothing, the things that come into your life looking like a friend, but really are there to drain the life right out of you. Jesus said, "The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10) Applying God's truth will begin a wonderful journey of healing, but it's not on our own... trust me on this... it's "Only By His Grace"... until next time...
Friday, April 23, 2010
The Weekender
TGIF. Isn't that what we all think when Friday rolls around? Well, now that it is late Friday evening, almost Saturday, it's time to think how we are going to spend the weekend, that's if you haven't planned it already. The weekend is just about the only time I get to see my husband, and it's the only time we get to do a few things together. I know he is really feeling tired, so I do not expect to be doing anything really exciting, but the pace is always better over the weekend. The sense of relaxation is such a delight. And as long as it is Saturday, we always have Sunday to still look forward to.
I think I look forward to Sunday the most. When I was a kid Sundays were really special. I loved to read the Newspaper on Sunday after church, of course, that meant the Comics. I also liked the Weekender, and the Parade. But especially when I was a child I would lay on the floor and read the "Funnies," as my dad would call them. And sometimes, when life was really sweet, my dad would read them to me. He would always read them in character, and I loved it. He loved Dagwood and Blondie the best I think. It's really something how a memory such as that can make you want to read the Sunday paper all your life... and it could just be because your dad read the "funnies" to you. Maybe that is what I still like about Sundays, hearing my Father's voice, and hearing Him read to me. In a sense, that actually is what does happen when I am in church, but it is my heavenly Father speaking in place of my earthly father.
Some people feel that church is uncomfortable for them, a place they don't feel they can be themselves. It's odd, but I feel just the opposite. I love being at church, being in touch with other believers, knowing we are going to worship and praise together, knowing we will hear God's Word shared, read, and taught. I love being connected to the things of God. I am so much better when I am connected to Him, so much better when I am in contact with others who feel the same way. I love being in my Father's house. Just like when I was a girl, sprawled on the living room floor, when life was sweet, when my dad would take the time to read to me.
This weekend, I pray that you will find time to be with your Father. What else can be better than to hear His voice, and sense His presence? Invest your time wisely while you have it, knowing that the final days are coming near. Quite honestly, we do not know how much more time we have to share the important things with our family and friends. Share your heart, share your life, and share your faith. Have a blessed weekend, and be a blessing... "Only By His Grace"... until next time.
I think I look forward to Sunday the most. When I was a kid Sundays were really special. I loved to read the Newspaper on Sunday after church, of course, that meant the Comics. I also liked the Weekender, and the Parade. But especially when I was a child I would lay on the floor and read the "Funnies," as my dad would call them. And sometimes, when life was really sweet, my dad would read them to me. He would always read them in character, and I loved it. He loved Dagwood and Blondie the best I think. It's really something how a memory such as that can make you want to read the Sunday paper all your life... and it could just be because your dad read the "funnies" to you. Maybe that is what I still like about Sundays, hearing my Father's voice, and hearing Him read to me. In a sense, that actually is what does happen when I am in church, but it is my heavenly Father speaking in place of my earthly father.
Some people feel that church is uncomfortable for them, a place they don't feel they can be themselves. It's odd, but I feel just the opposite. I love being at church, being in touch with other believers, knowing we are going to worship and praise together, knowing we will hear God's Word shared, read, and taught. I love being connected to the things of God. I am so much better when I am connected to Him, so much better when I am in contact with others who feel the same way. I love being in my Father's house. Just like when I was a girl, sprawled on the living room floor, when life was sweet, when my dad would take the time to read to me.
This weekend, I pray that you will find time to be with your Father. What else can be better than to hear His voice, and sense His presence? Invest your time wisely while you have it, knowing that the final days are coming near. Quite honestly, we do not know how much more time we have to share the important things with our family and friends. Share your heart, share your life, and share your faith. Have a blessed weekend, and be a blessing... "Only By His Grace"... until next time.
Today I had to pull out all the stops!
Today was a difficult day, lots of pain and stiffness. Today was a day I had to go back to the grass roots of it all, do as much stretching as possible, a little exercise, do some work and then rest. I had to spend a lot of time thinking about the Lord, His Word, and what He has done for me. I also had to take some time to breath, deep, steady breathing. In fact, I like to breath in and out Scripture verses. I don't know if you have ever tried it, but it is wonderful. Think on an uplifting verse, and then take a deep, relaxing breath. Remember to breath diaphragmatically so that the air expands your chest. Try keeping your shoulders down (not lifting them up), breath very deeply from the center of your being, if you feel your center growing... that's the diaphragm. There are these great supportive muscles on the side and back that need exercising to keep your core strong. It is a really good sensation, and as you breath, think on the verse. I have a verse I enjoy saying a lot from Isaiah, Ch 26:3, and I say it a poetic form, "Perfect peace has he whose mind is stayed on Thee." I say it over many times. Or try. "Be anxious for nothing, but by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." from Philippians 4.
Well, what verse you say is entirely your choice. I am just sharing some of my favorites. I also say a verse found in Galatians 2, "I have been crucified with Christ; I no longer live, but Christ lives in me, and the life I live in the body, I live by faith in the One who loved me and gave His life for me." Well, you get the idea I am sure. And as you breath try to sense the Holy Spirit's presence filling you and cleansing out the bad stuff, giving life, renewing the spirit. That is a wonderful thing, isn't it, to be renewed?
Yeah, this week has been a bit more painful for me health-wise, a true challenge. I have been experiencing hormone issues, my levels have been irrational a bit, and I am often reminded that my physical being is precarious and sometimes volitile. Health can often be a delicate thing, not to be fooled around with, not to be taken for granted. I admit I am not always the best steward of myself. I joke about the fact that I need a caretaker to my other family members, but I know that God requires me to be the caretaker. Do you ever question how well you are taking care of yourself? Do you ever wonder if you need a better health regime? Do you have good sleep habits? Do you eat well? Do you treat yourself kindly? Do you groom yourself well? Do you have special time with your maker everyday?
The bottom line is... no one else is going to do the right things for us, if we don't do it for ourselves. So we need to do healthy things for ourselves or it just won't happen. If you are like me, you might take care of yourself after you do your other tasks. I would like to do better at this, and I would like to challenge anyone reading this blog to join me. I want someone to hold me accountable, and I will commit to do the same for you. I know a few of you have read the blog without writing a comment, so when you read this blog, comment and let me know that you will join me in being a better steward of yourself along with me. Let's make a greater effort to sleep well, eat well, live well, and groom ourselves well. Let's begin with ourselves, take a walk, treat ourselves to something we enjoy... like visiting a friend, or calling someone we miss terribly. Take a trip to the library, or someplace else wholesome, and also low cost that makes us feel good. Don't do something just to feel good, but do it because it is good. Doing what is good is good medicine. Doing what is good and right is often its own best reward.
Stop and visit a shut-in, talk to a neighbor, consider inviting someone to church on Sunday, better yet, invite them over for some coffee or tea, share a little of your life with that person, and then invite them to go to church. A little bit of friendship evangelism is good for your soul and theirs. Make each day special. If possible, go through your day so that at the end of the day, when you look back on what took place, you can feel good about it. At the end of the day ask: What did I do today that made a difference in any one's life? God gives us new mercies every day, He grants us grace sufficient for our every situation, let's take advantage of these wonderful blessings He gives us. Join me in making each day count., even on bummer days like today. And remember as we move out in faith that it's "Only By His Grace"... until next time...
Well, what verse you say is entirely your choice. I am just sharing some of my favorites. I also say a verse found in Galatians 2, "I have been crucified with Christ; I no longer live, but Christ lives in me, and the life I live in the body, I live by faith in the One who loved me and gave His life for me." Well, you get the idea I am sure. And as you breath try to sense the Holy Spirit's presence filling you and cleansing out the bad stuff, giving life, renewing the spirit. That is a wonderful thing, isn't it, to be renewed?
Yeah, this week has been a bit more painful for me health-wise, a true challenge. I have been experiencing hormone issues, my levels have been irrational a bit, and I am often reminded that my physical being is precarious and sometimes volitile. Health can often be a delicate thing, not to be fooled around with, not to be taken for granted. I admit I am not always the best steward of myself. I joke about the fact that I need a caretaker to my other family members, but I know that God requires me to be the caretaker. Do you ever question how well you are taking care of yourself? Do you ever wonder if you need a better health regime? Do you have good sleep habits? Do you eat well? Do you treat yourself kindly? Do you groom yourself well? Do you have special time with your maker everyday?
The bottom line is... no one else is going to do the right things for us, if we don't do it for ourselves. So we need to do healthy things for ourselves or it just won't happen. If you are like me, you might take care of yourself after you do your other tasks. I would like to do better at this, and I would like to challenge anyone reading this blog to join me. I want someone to hold me accountable, and I will commit to do the same for you. I know a few of you have read the blog without writing a comment, so when you read this blog, comment and let me know that you will join me in being a better steward of yourself along with me. Let's make a greater effort to sleep well, eat well, live well, and groom ourselves well. Let's begin with ourselves, take a walk, treat ourselves to something we enjoy... like visiting a friend, or calling someone we miss terribly. Take a trip to the library, or someplace else wholesome, and also low cost that makes us feel good. Don't do something just to feel good, but do it because it is good. Doing what is good is good medicine. Doing what is good and right is often its own best reward.
Stop and visit a shut-in, talk to a neighbor, consider inviting someone to church on Sunday, better yet, invite them over for some coffee or tea, share a little of your life with that person, and then invite them to go to church. A little bit of friendship evangelism is good for your soul and theirs. Make each day special. If possible, go through your day so that at the end of the day, when you look back on what took place, you can feel good about it. At the end of the day ask: What did I do today that made a difference in any one's life? God gives us new mercies every day, He grants us grace sufficient for our every situation, let's take advantage of these wonderful blessings He gives us. Join me in making each day count., even on bummer days like today. And remember as we move out in faith that it's "Only By His Grace"... until next time...
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