i was watching a documentary recently on a young adult mission team that had just gotten back from antigua...the most important impression was the gratitude of the people of the island...even though they lived in the worst of poverty conditions...the people spent much time being thankful for what they had...most of the homes...bare huts with no electricity or plumbing...had been partially destroyed by a hurricane more than a year earlier...as the months passed there was no money or materials or labor to have the homes repaired...the gaping holes just turned into bigger gaping holes...yet the people were happy and grateful for what they did have...they continued to thank God for the rain...even though it soaked their homes through the destroyed roofs...they thanked God for their one meager meal of the day...and they thanked God for the americans who came to help rebuild their homes...
in contrast...i look at my own living conditions...my roof is solid with no leaks...no big holes for rain to pour through...my bathrooms are clean...with scrubbed tile and hot-and-cold running water at my fingertips...
the table is always full...abundant with delectable dishes...the refrigerator is fully stocked...with more food than i can eat in a week..
do these luxuries escape me? do i constantly realize how very blessed we are? when deep-felt gratitude is missing...we miss out on more than we realize...
remember the bible story describing how Jesus restored ten lepers to health? nine healed men went their way and never looked back....only one man did not take his newfound health for granted...he returned to Jesus to express his gratitude...and remember Jesus' question..."but...where are the nine?"
can you imagine being miraculously healed from a social and medical disaster and then walking off without a backward glance?
i wonder how many times i may have overlooked a gift...a miracle...or a joyful surprise and forgotten to be thankful...maybe i just added the blessing to all my others and went merrily on my way...and in the process i missed the near presence of God...
let your day be full of holy and sincere gratitude...constant in the awareness of the goodness of God...
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
core values...
should never be at the mercy of things which matter least...
johann von goethe
my girlfriend sent me this clip from simpletruths.com...only 3 minutes long...such a powerful message...and incredible reminder...of our core values...
Monday, June 27, 2011
listening to God...
i have to admit...i haven't had a lot of those moments where i know that i know that God is prompting me to do something...i've felt nudgings...to do the right thing...but i'm talking about those moments...where the feeling is SO profound...that nothing else is ringing in your head...
i had one of those moments on friday...
i was thrifting...something i love to do...and there is this local church that has a thrift shop that is open only 4 days a week...so while i am scouring the goods...a mother and daughter are in the shop at the same time...the daughter was looking for clothes for herself...it was 50% off all clothing...and they were finding a good assortment of items that fit her...then they started talking about how to wear certain items...and of course...since that is what i do...i decided to volunteer and help them...so we started putting outfits together...and i showed them how to tie scarves in different ways...
throughout this whole exchange...every once in a while...i would hear the mother say..."this is such a blessing" and that just warmed my heart...because i think sometimes...people are so wrapped up in all their stuff...that they miss out on all the blessings that are around them...here was a mom...a single mom (i found out later) who was struggling...but chose to dwell on the blessings...
we had a fun time getting together outfits...and i heard the daughter say "so much to choose from" with the mother replying "we can only grab a few items...even at 50% off..." the daughter seemed to understand only full well of her mother's struggles to keep the family together with little to no money...and didn't argue or beg...just understood...
to put this in perspective...items were priced at about $4 to $6 for each item...which at 1/2 off is quite the steal with items being $2 to $3...and here i was...shopping to find items for the consignment store...to re-sell...
as i said good bye to them...they hugged me so tight...and kept saying "God bless you for all your help" and i told them what fun it was...and that it was my pleasure...
and as i was checking out...this very very strong nudging began...and i felt God literally speaking to me...to give them all the cash i had...i shrugged it off...as i thought it was just me thinking that would be something nice to do...but the nudging got more strong...i can't explain the feeling...
and i had no idea what i had in my wallet...so i paid for my purchases (with a check) looked in my wallet...pulled out all my cash...walked over to the mother...folded it small...and grabbed her hand...put the bills in her hand...and said to her..."God bless you..." as her eyes filled with tears...she grabbed me and held me tight...and whispered back to me..."God bless you..."
i left...with such a sense of relief...that i had been obedient...so strange was this whole exchange to me...and the strong overwhelming feeling...
and that was that...
or so i thought...
i ended up going back the next day to pick up an item that i had told my friend about...and she asked me to pick it up for her...i quickly went in...grabbed the item...paying for it...and who walks in??
the daughter...from the day before...she saw me...her whole face lit up...she ran over...hugged me...and said "God bless you"
she said she had to show her boyfriend this wonderful place where she felt so at home...
God is good...it amazes me how he takes care of each and everyone of us...from the single mom's...to the single girls...His love is amazing...and i thank Him for letting me be a part of a blessing...
i had one of those moments on friday...
i was thrifting...something i love to do...and there is this local church that has a thrift shop that is open only 4 days a week...so while i am scouring the goods...a mother and daughter are in the shop at the same time...the daughter was looking for clothes for herself...it was 50% off all clothing...and they were finding a good assortment of items that fit her...then they started talking about how to wear certain items...and of course...since that is what i do...i decided to volunteer and help them...so we started putting outfits together...and i showed them how to tie scarves in different ways...
throughout this whole exchange...every once in a while...i would hear the mother say..."this is such a blessing" and that just warmed my heart...because i think sometimes...people are so wrapped up in all their stuff...that they miss out on all the blessings that are around them...here was a mom...a single mom (i found out later) who was struggling...but chose to dwell on the blessings...
we had a fun time getting together outfits...and i heard the daughter say "so much to choose from" with the mother replying "we can only grab a few items...even at 50% off..." the daughter seemed to understand only full well of her mother's struggles to keep the family together with little to no money...and didn't argue or beg...just understood...
to put this in perspective...items were priced at about $4 to $6 for each item...which at 1/2 off is quite the steal with items being $2 to $3...and here i was...shopping to find items for the consignment store...to re-sell...
as i said good bye to them...they hugged me so tight...and kept saying "God bless you for all your help" and i told them what fun it was...and that it was my pleasure...
and as i was checking out...this very very strong nudging began...and i felt God literally speaking to me...to give them all the cash i had...i shrugged it off...as i thought it was just me thinking that would be something nice to do...but the nudging got more strong...i can't explain the feeling...
and i had no idea what i had in my wallet...so i paid for my purchases (with a check) looked in my wallet...pulled out all my cash...walked over to the mother...folded it small...and grabbed her hand...put the bills in her hand...and said to her..."God bless you..." as her eyes filled with tears...she grabbed me and held me tight...and whispered back to me..."God bless you..."
i left...with such a sense of relief...that i had been obedient...so strange was this whole exchange to me...and the strong overwhelming feeling...
and that was that...
or so i thought...
i ended up going back the next day to pick up an item that i had told my friend about...and she asked me to pick it up for her...i quickly went in...grabbed the item...paying for it...and who walks in??
the daughter...from the day before...she saw me...her whole face lit up...she ran over...hugged me...and said "God bless you"
she said she had to show her boyfriend this wonderful place where she felt so at home...
God is good...it amazes me how he takes care of each and everyone of us...from the single mom's...to the single girls...His love is amazing...and i thank Him for letting me be a part of a blessing...
Thursday, June 23, 2011
the airline captain...
...ok...this may have been around a time or two...but it is such a touching story...be forewarned...tissue alert!
--- GOD BLESS THIS AIRLINE CAPTAIN:
He writes: My lead flight attendant came to me and said, "We have an H.R. on this flight." (H.R. stands for human remains.) "Are they military?" I asked.
'Yes', she said.
'Is there an escort?' I asked.
'Yes, I already assigned him a seat'.
'Would you please tell him to come to the flight deck? You can board him early," I said.
A short while later, a young army sergeant entered the flight deck. He was the image of the perfectly dressed soldier. He introduced himself and I asked him about his soldier. The escorts of these fallen soldiers talk about them as if they are still alive and still with us.
'My soldier is on his way back to Virginia ,' he said. He proceeded to answer my questions, but offered no words.
I asked him if there was anything I could do for him and he said no. I told him that he had the toughest job in the military and that I appreciated the work that he does for the families of our fallen soldiers. The first officer and I got up out of our seats to shake his hand. He left the flight deck to find his seat.
We completed our preflight checks, pushed back and performed an uneventful departure. About 30 minutes into our flight I received a call from the lead flight attendant in the cabin. 'I just found out the family of the soldier we are carrying, is on board', she said. She then proceeded to tell me that the father, mother, wife and 2-year old daughter were escorting their son, husband, and father home. The family was upset because they were unable to see the container that the soldier was in before we left. We were on our way to a major hub at which the family was going to wait four hours for the connecting flight home to Virginia .
The father of the soldier told the flight attendant that knowing his son was below him in the cargo compartment and being unable to see him was too much for him and the family to bear. He had asked the flightattendant if there was anything that could be done to allow them to see him upon our arrival. The family wanted to be outside by the cargo door to watch the soldier being taken off the airplane.. I could hear the desperation in the flight attendants voice when she asked me if there was anything I could do. 'I'm on it, I said. I told her that I would get back to her.
Airborne communication with my company normally occurs in the form of e-mail like messages. I decided to bypass this system and contact my flight dispatcher directly on a secondary radio. There is a radio operator in the operations control center who connects you to the telephone of the dispatcher. I was in direct contact with the dispatcher. I explained the situation I had on board with the family and what it was the family wanted. He said he understood and that he would get back to me.
Two hours went by and I had not heard from the dispatcher. We were going to get busy soon and I needed to know what to tell the family. I sent a text message asking for an update. I saved the return message from the dispatcher and the following is the text:
'Captain, sorry it has taken so long to get back to you. There is policy on this now and I had to check on a few things. Upon your arrival a dedicated escort team will meet the aircraft. The team will escort the family to the ramp and plane side. A van will be used to load the remains with a secondary van for the family. The family will be taken to their departure area and escorted into the terminal where the remains can be seen on the ramp. It is a private area for the family only. When the connecting aircraft arrives, the family will be escorted onto the ramp and plane side to watch the remains being loaded for the final leg home. Captain, most of us here in flight control are veterans. Please pass our condolences on to the family. Thanks.'
I sent a message back telling flight control thanks for a good job. I printed out the message and gave it to the lead flight attendant to pass on to the father. The lead flight attendant was very thankful and told me, 'You have no idea how much this will mean to them.'
Things started getting busy for the descent, approach and landing. After landing, we cleared the runway and taxied to the ramp area. The ramp is huge with 15 gates on either side of the alleyway. It is always a busy area with aircraft maneuvering every which way to enter and exit. When we entered the ramp and checked in with the ramp controller, we were told that all traffic was being held for us.
'There is a team in place to meet the aircraft, we were told. It looked like it was all coming together, then I realized that once we turned the seat belt sign off, everyone would stand up at once and delay the family from getting off the airplane. As we approached our gate, I asked the copilot to tell the ramp controller we were going to stop short of the gate to make an announcement to the passengers. He did that and the ramp controller said, 'Take your time.'
I stopped the aircraft and set the parking brake. I pushed the public
address button and said, 'Ladies and gentleman, this is your Captain speaking I have stopped short of our gate to make a special announcement. We have a passenger on board who deserves our honor and respect. His Name is Private XXXXXX, a soldier who recently lost his life. Private XXXXXX is under your feet in the cargo hold.. Escorting him today is Army Sergeant XXXXXXX. Also, on board are his father, mother, wife, and daughter. Your entire flight crew is asking for all passengers to remain in their seats to allow the family to exit the aircraft first. Thank you.'
We continued the turn to the gate, came to a stop and started our shutdown procedures.. A couple of minutes later I opened the cockpit door. I found the two forward flight attendants crying, something you just do not see. I was told that after we came to a stop, every passenger on the aircraft stayed in their seats, waiting for the family to exit the aircraft.
When the family got up and gathered their things, a passenger slowly started to clap his hands. Moments later more passengers joined in and soon the entire aircraft was clapping. Words of 'God Bless You', ?I'm sorry?, ?thank you?, ?be proud?, and other kind words were uttered to the family as they made their way down the aisle and out of the airplane. They were escorted down to the ramp to finally be with their loved one.
Many of the passengers disembarking thanked me for the announcement I had made. They were just words, I told them, I could say them over and over again, but nothing I say will bring back that brave soldier.
I respectfully ask that all of you reflect on this event and the sacrifices that millions of our men and women have made to ensure our freedom and safety in these United States of AMERICA .
Foot note:
I know everyone who has served their country who reads this will have tears in their eyes, including me.
They die for me and mine and you and yours and deserve our honor and respect.
Prayer:
'Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen.'
Prayer Request:
When you read this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our troops around the world. Of all the gifts you could give a Marine, Soldier, Sailor, Airman, & others deployed in harm's way, prayer is the very best one.
--- GOD BLESS THIS AIRLINE CAPTAIN:
He writes: My lead flight attendant came to me and said, "We have an H.R. on this flight." (H.R. stands for human remains.) "Are they military?" I asked.
'Yes', she said.
'Is there an escort?' I asked.
'Yes, I already assigned him a seat'.
'Would you please tell him to come to the flight deck? You can board him early," I said.
A short while later, a young army sergeant entered the flight deck. He was the image of the perfectly dressed soldier. He introduced himself and I asked him about his soldier. The escorts of these fallen soldiers talk about them as if they are still alive and still with us.
'My soldier is on his way back to Virginia ,' he said. He proceeded to answer my questions, but offered no words.
I asked him if there was anything I could do for him and he said no. I told him that he had the toughest job in the military and that I appreciated the work that he does for the families of our fallen soldiers. The first officer and I got up out of our seats to shake his hand. He left the flight deck to find his seat.
We completed our preflight checks, pushed back and performed an uneventful departure. About 30 minutes into our flight I received a call from the lead flight attendant in the cabin. 'I just found out the family of the soldier we are carrying, is on board', she said. She then proceeded to tell me that the father, mother, wife and 2-year old daughter were escorting their son, husband, and father home. The family was upset because they were unable to see the container that the soldier was in before we left. We were on our way to a major hub at which the family was going to wait four hours for the connecting flight home to Virginia .
The father of the soldier told the flight attendant that knowing his son was below him in the cargo compartment and being unable to see him was too much for him and the family to bear. He had asked the flightattendant if there was anything that could be done to allow them to see him upon our arrival. The family wanted to be outside by the cargo door to watch the soldier being taken off the airplane.. I could hear the desperation in the flight attendants voice when she asked me if there was anything I could do. 'I'm on it, I said. I told her that I would get back to her.
Airborne communication with my company normally occurs in the form of e-mail like messages. I decided to bypass this system and contact my flight dispatcher directly on a secondary radio. There is a radio operator in the operations control center who connects you to the telephone of the dispatcher. I was in direct contact with the dispatcher. I explained the situation I had on board with the family and what it was the family wanted. He said he understood and that he would get back to me.
Two hours went by and I had not heard from the dispatcher. We were going to get busy soon and I needed to know what to tell the family. I sent a text message asking for an update. I saved the return message from the dispatcher and the following is the text:
'Captain, sorry it has taken so long to get back to you. There is policy on this now and I had to check on a few things. Upon your arrival a dedicated escort team will meet the aircraft. The team will escort the family to the ramp and plane side. A van will be used to load the remains with a secondary van for the family. The family will be taken to their departure area and escorted into the terminal where the remains can be seen on the ramp. It is a private area for the family only. When the connecting aircraft arrives, the family will be escorted onto the ramp and plane side to watch the remains being loaded for the final leg home. Captain, most of us here in flight control are veterans. Please pass our condolences on to the family. Thanks.'
I sent a message back telling flight control thanks for a good job. I printed out the message and gave it to the lead flight attendant to pass on to the father. The lead flight attendant was very thankful and told me, 'You have no idea how much this will mean to them.'
Things started getting busy for the descent, approach and landing. After landing, we cleared the runway and taxied to the ramp area. The ramp is huge with 15 gates on either side of the alleyway. It is always a busy area with aircraft maneuvering every which way to enter and exit. When we entered the ramp and checked in with the ramp controller, we were told that all traffic was being held for us.
'There is a team in place to meet the aircraft, we were told. It looked like it was all coming together, then I realized that once we turned the seat belt sign off, everyone would stand up at once and delay the family from getting off the airplane. As we approached our gate, I asked the copilot to tell the ramp controller we were going to stop short of the gate to make an announcement to the passengers. He did that and the ramp controller said, 'Take your time.'
I stopped the aircraft and set the parking brake. I pushed the public
address button and said, 'Ladies and gentleman, this is your Captain speaking I have stopped short of our gate to make a special announcement. We have a passenger on board who deserves our honor and respect. His Name is Private XXXXXX, a soldier who recently lost his life. Private XXXXXX is under your feet in the cargo hold.. Escorting him today is Army Sergeant XXXXXXX. Also, on board are his father, mother, wife, and daughter. Your entire flight crew is asking for all passengers to remain in their seats to allow the family to exit the aircraft first. Thank you.'
We continued the turn to the gate, came to a stop and started our shutdown procedures.. A couple of minutes later I opened the cockpit door. I found the two forward flight attendants crying, something you just do not see. I was told that after we came to a stop, every passenger on the aircraft stayed in their seats, waiting for the family to exit the aircraft.
When the family got up and gathered their things, a passenger slowly started to clap his hands. Moments later more passengers joined in and soon the entire aircraft was clapping. Words of 'God Bless You', ?I'm sorry?, ?thank you?, ?be proud?, and other kind words were uttered to the family as they made their way down the aisle and out of the airplane. They were escorted down to the ramp to finally be with their loved one.
Many of the passengers disembarking thanked me for the announcement I had made. They were just words, I told them, I could say them over and over again, but nothing I say will bring back that brave soldier.
I respectfully ask that all of you reflect on this event and the sacrifices that millions of our men and women have made to ensure our freedom and safety in these United States of AMERICA .
Foot note:
I know everyone who has served their country who reads this will have tears in their eyes, including me.
They die for me and mine and you and yours and deserve our honor and respect.
Prayer:
'Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen.'
Prayer Request:
When you read this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our troops around the world. Of all the gifts you could give a Marine, Soldier, Sailor, Airman, & others deployed in harm's way, prayer is the very best one.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
lesson in waiting from an orchid...
...yes...an orchid...
many years ago...my uncle had given me the most beautiful orchid...it truly was stunning...and of course...my first thought was..."i hope i don't kill it..." but my uncle told me that the owner of the orchid store had said not to over water...and everything should be ok...yeah...easy for the owner of an orchid store...i had heard that you need to find the right spot for the orchid...and it would florish...
so how do you know where the right spot is? if you came to this blog to find the answer...you came to the wrong place... =)
i decided to keep it right by my kitchen sink...right by a window sill...don't ask me why...it was more a selfish reasoning...i knew that i would be able to see it there throughout the day...so that is where it stayed...
the amazing thing about this particular orchid...the blooms lasted for 18 months...18 months!! is that normal? i don't think so...but i really don't know as i am not that versed in orchids...it was amazing...seriously...to see a plant that had flowers on it for that long...i mean...even the plants in the yard lose their blooms...
so after 18 months...the blooms finally fell off the orchid plant...and i figured they would bloom again in the next year...
nothing happened...so i continued to water the bloomless orchid - being careful not to over-water...and many many times i wanted to move the orchid...as now...when i looked at it...by the side of my sink...by the window sill...it just had these ugly brown branches...who wants to look at that every day? but the leaves continued to remain very green...my sign that the orchid was not dead...and i was a bit afraid to move it...so i waited...
...and another year went by...no blooms...
2 years of nothing...no sign of blooms...just brown twigs coming out of 2 big green leaves...
i was ready to give this orchid up...because truly...the beauty in the orchid is the blooms...nothing else...
so if you've been reading my blog...you will know that i just came back home from being away dog-sitting my brother and sister-in-law's dog...
as i was preparing my first dinner...i don't really know what it was that made me look at the orchid...because i had kind of trained myself not to look...to be reminded of this bloomless orchid...but i looked...
and...i blinked...because i couldn't believe it...there were blooms...not open yet...but the two twig branches were both full of tiny bulbs...waiting to burst open...when i least expected it...
at that moment...i got the lesson...sure as if God was standing in my kitchen chatting it up with me...the waiting...no matter how long...and no matter how dry it looks...or how bleak...the bloom is coming...are we willing to wait it out...for that perfect timing?
many years ago...my uncle had given me the most beautiful orchid...it truly was stunning...and of course...my first thought was..."i hope i don't kill it..." but my uncle told me that the owner of the orchid store had said not to over water...and everything should be ok...yeah...easy for the owner of an orchid store...i had heard that you need to find the right spot for the orchid...and it would florish...
so how do you know where the right spot is? if you came to this blog to find the answer...you came to the wrong place... =)
i decided to keep it right by my kitchen sink...right by a window sill...don't ask me why...it was more a selfish reasoning...i knew that i would be able to see it there throughout the day...so that is where it stayed...
the amazing thing about this particular orchid...the blooms lasted for 18 months...18 months!! is that normal? i don't think so...but i really don't know as i am not that versed in orchids...it was amazing...seriously...to see a plant that had flowers on it for that long...i mean...even the plants in the yard lose their blooms...
so after 18 months...the blooms finally fell off the orchid plant...and i figured they would bloom again in the next year...
nothing happened...so i continued to water the bloomless orchid - being careful not to over-water...and many many times i wanted to move the orchid...as now...when i looked at it...by the side of my sink...by the window sill...it just had these ugly brown branches...who wants to look at that every day? but the leaves continued to remain very green...my sign that the orchid was not dead...and i was a bit afraid to move it...so i waited...
...and another year went by...no blooms...
2 years of nothing...no sign of blooms...just brown twigs coming out of 2 big green leaves...
i was ready to give this orchid up...because truly...the beauty in the orchid is the blooms...nothing else...
so if you've been reading my blog...you will know that i just came back home from being away dog-sitting my brother and sister-in-law's dog...
as i was preparing my first dinner...i don't really know what it was that made me look at the orchid...because i had kind of trained myself not to look...to be reminded of this bloomless orchid...but i looked...
and...i blinked...because i couldn't believe it...there were blooms...not open yet...but the two twig branches were both full of tiny bulbs...waiting to burst open...when i least expected it...
at that moment...i got the lesson...sure as if God was standing in my kitchen chatting it up with me...the waiting...no matter how long...and no matter how dry it looks...or how bleak...the bloom is coming...are we willing to wait it out...for that perfect timing?
Monday, June 20, 2011
catching up...
finally got home yesterday after being gone for 10 days...and even though i got home...there was no time for relaxing...as it was father's day...AND my parent's 51st wedding anniversary...
so off we went to celebrate these two wonderful occasions...i seriously love my parents so much...for all the sacrifices they have made for me...which has allowed me to live the wonderful life i have lived...i am thankful that i grew up in a christian home...with two committed parents to their children...it is funny how much fun an evening could be just chatting it up with the two of them...
and the best part...i think they really enjoyed themselves...which was the goal...
after being with the most adorable puppy for 10 days straight...i have to say...i am missing her like crazy...my brother & sister in law keep telling me that she misses me too...haha...isn't that sweet...
but as hard as it was leaving her...it was good to get home to my own two boys...although they don't require too much attention when i'm gone...i could tell they missed me...and were glad to have me home...
at least that is my story...and i'm sticking to it!
blogging should get back to normal here pretty quick...as soon as i go through the pile of mail my lovely postman left me =/
so off we went to celebrate these two wonderful occasions...i seriously love my parents so much...for all the sacrifices they have made for me...which has allowed me to live the wonderful life i have lived...i am thankful that i grew up in a christian home...with two committed parents to their children...it is funny how much fun an evening could be just chatting it up with the two of them...
and the best part...i think they really enjoyed themselves...which was the goal...
after being with the most adorable puppy for 10 days straight...i have to say...i am missing her like crazy...my brother & sister in law keep telling me that she misses me too...haha...isn't that sweet...
but as hard as it was leaving her...it was good to get home to my own two boys...although they don't require too much attention when i'm gone...i could tell they missed me...and were glad to have me home...
at least that is my story...and i'm sticking to it!
blogging should get back to normal here pretty quick...as soon as i go through the pile of mail my lovely postman left me =/
Thursday, June 16, 2011
a regular day in the life of...a puppy...
hmmm...i absolutely forgot to post something yesterday...loss of memory? busy day? laziness? hmmm...which excuse??
actually...i have been having so much fun dog sitting this adorable puppy...she is quite a handful...i can't even imagine a dog that isn't as obedient as she is...because even with the training she has had...she is still a handful...
she loves to play...and although i am away from home...i am still working...so normally...where she would be home alone...while the parents are at work...i'm in the house...and so...i am sure she is thinking..."time to play" =)
the funny thing...i realize as i write that...she is probably not thinking anything at all...that has anything at all to do with me...haha...but i like my version better...
there have been many sweet moments with her...the walks every morning...i absolutely love...one reason...i am out and about getting my own exercise...but also enjoying the beautiful weather...the neighborhood...
pool time...where she conveniently sits underneath the lounge chair...in perfect reach to get her ears rubbed...
but...what i love most...is when she comes to me...while i am sitting on the couch...and plops half of her 49lb body on me...and then...she becomes the lick monster...such a sweetie...
and yes...i realize...that it is going to be really really hard to leave her here...when i go home...
les sigh...
so for that reason...and that reason alone...blogging this week may be sporadic...but hey...it's my blog...and i can make the rules... =)
actually...i have been having so much fun dog sitting this adorable puppy...she is quite a handful...i can't even imagine a dog that isn't as obedient as she is...because even with the training she has had...she is still a handful...
she loves to play...and although i am away from home...i am still working...so normally...where she would be home alone...while the parents are at work...i'm in the house...and so...i am sure she is thinking..."time to play" =)
the funny thing...i realize as i write that...she is probably not thinking anything at all...that has anything at all to do with me...haha...but i like my version better...
there have been many sweet moments with her...the walks every morning...i absolutely love...one reason...i am out and about getting my own exercise...but also enjoying the beautiful weather...the neighborhood...
pool time...where she conveniently sits underneath the lounge chair...in perfect reach to get her ears rubbed...
but...what i love most...is when she comes to me...while i am sitting on the couch...and plops half of her 49lb body on me...and then...she becomes the lick monster...such a sweetie...
and yes...i realize...that it is going to be really really hard to leave her here...when i go home...
les sigh...
so for that reason...and that reason alone...blogging this week may be sporadic...but hey...it's my blog...and i can make the rules... =)
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
purpose...
so powerful...
hope that helps someone today...
Monday, June 13, 2011
my unstructured life...
i have so been enjoying my time...away from home...dog-sitting for my brother & sis-in-law...helps that they have a pool in this heat...where they live...it is hot..which i love...but once you are living in it...and running around town...doing errands and such...90 to 100 degree weather can be stifling...so the pool at the end of the day...is well...quite nice...
but of course...the main reason i am here...is to take care of their precious puppy...who is just pure joy...and...the most obedient dog that i have ever met...all 49 lbs of her...and yes...did i mention she is a puppy? =) those training classes really did wonders...seriously...
so...as i have been playing mom to this adorable puppy...for 4 days now...not even to the half way mark...i have come to realize how unstructured my life is...all because of this adorable puppy...
now the thing is...i always knew that my life wasn't completely dependant on a set schedule...there were always things that i did the same...for example...church on sunday...etc...but because i live alone...and on top of that...have my own business...where i pretty much work my own hours...i have really gotten used to a life of...well...being able to do things that may spontaneously pop up...
well...not for the last four days...my waking up...my errands...my everything is catered around this puppy that is dependant on me...if i don't eat dinner till 8:30pm...then i don't eat dinner till 8:30...no biggie...but with the puppy...i know that i need to feed her twice a day...and therefore need to be home during those two feeding times to get it done...
she needs her walk...she needs to be let out...so as i have thoroughly enjoyed this time with her...it has really shown a bright beaming light on my very unstructured life...
all this to say...that i love that i have the flexibility to change plans because of last minute circumstances...or able to "not work" because a friend is in from out of town...or be able to dog-sit for 10 days...because my life can allow for that...but i also like that if need be...i can jump right into a structured life...and come out unscathed... =)
but of course...the main reason i am here...is to take care of their precious puppy...who is just pure joy...and...the most obedient dog that i have ever met...all 49 lbs of her...and yes...did i mention she is a puppy? =) those training classes really did wonders...seriously...
so...as i have been playing mom to this adorable puppy...for 4 days now...not even to the half way mark...i have come to realize how unstructured my life is...all because of this adorable puppy...
now the thing is...i always knew that my life wasn't completely dependant on a set schedule...there were always things that i did the same...for example...church on sunday...etc...but because i live alone...and on top of that...have my own business...where i pretty much work my own hours...i have really gotten used to a life of...well...being able to do things that may spontaneously pop up...
well...not for the last four days...my waking up...my errands...my everything is catered around this puppy that is dependant on me...if i don't eat dinner till 8:30pm...then i don't eat dinner till 8:30...no biggie...but with the puppy...i know that i need to feed her twice a day...and therefore need to be home during those two feeding times to get it done...
she needs her walk...she needs to be let out...so as i have thoroughly enjoyed this time with her...it has really shown a bright beaming light on my very unstructured life...
all this to say...that i love that i have the flexibility to change plans because of last minute circumstances...or able to "not work" because a friend is in from out of town...or be able to dog-sit for 10 days...because my life can allow for that...but i also like that if need be...i can jump right into a structured life...and come out unscathed... =)
Friday, June 10, 2011
letting go...
i've always had really good relationships with people...including my exes...it wasn't until much later in life...that i experieinced one of the first relationships with someone i dated...and loved...and when it didn't work out...what i struggled most with...was not that he didn't want to be with me...but that he just walked away...and for me...i couldn't understand how a person walks away completely from someone they had as a big part of their life...
the letting go...was difficult...and very new to me...wish i had read this back then...but thought i would share...for those that might be going through it now...the one lesson learned truly...was...if someone doesn't want to be a part of your life...the best thing you can do...is to just let go...and save yourself the grief...
By T. D. Jakes
There are people who can walk away from you. And hear me when I tell you this! When people can walk away from you: let them walk. I don't want you to try to talk another person into staying with you, loving you, calling you, caring about you, coming to see you, staying attached to you. I mean hang up the phone.
When people can walk away from you let them walk. Your destiny is never tied to anybody that left.
The bible said that, they came out from us that it might be made manifest that they were not for us. For had they been of us, no doubt they would have continued with us. [1 John 2:19]
People leave you because they are not joined to you. And if they are not joined to you, you can't make them stay.
Let them go.
And it doesn't mean that they are a bad person it just means that their part in the story is over. And you've got to know when people's part in your story is over so that you don't keep trying to raise the dead.. You've got to know when it's dead.
You've got to know when it's over. Let me tell you something.. I've got the gift of good-bye. It's the tenth spiritual gift, I believe in good-bye.. It's not that I'm hateful, it's that I'm faithful, and I know whatever God means for me to have He'll give it to me. And if it takes too much sweat I don't need it. Stop begging people to stay.
Let them go!!
If you are holding on to something that doesn't belong to you and was never intended for your life, then you need to...
LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to past hurts and pains...
LET IT GO!!!
If someone can't treat you right, love you back, and see your worth...
LET IT GO!!!
If someone has angered you...
LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge...
LET IT GO!!!
If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction...
LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or talents...
LET IT GO!!!
If you have a bad attitude...
LET IT GO!!!
If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better...
LET IT GO!!!
If you're stuck in the past and God is trying to take you to a new level in Him...
LET IT GO!!!
If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship...
LET IT GO!!!
If you keep trying to help someone who won't even try to help themselves...
LET IT GO!!!
If you're feeling depressed and stressed...
LET IT GO!!!
If there is a particular situation that you are so used to handling yourself and God is saying 'take your hands off of it,' then you need to...
LET IT GO!!!
'The Battle is the Lord's!'
the letting go...was difficult...and very new to me...wish i had read this back then...but thought i would share...for those that might be going through it now...the one lesson learned truly...was...if someone doesn't want to be a part of your life...the best thing you can do...is to just let go...and save yourself the grief...
There are people who can walk away from you. And hear me when I tell you this! When people can walk away from you: let them walk. I don't want you to try to talk another person into staying with you, loving you, calling you, caring about you, coming to see you, staying attached to you. I mean hang up the phone.
When people can walk away from you let them walk. Your destiny is never tied to anybody that left.
The bible said that, they came out from us that it might be made manifest that they were not for us. For had they been of us, no doubt they would have continued with us. [1 John 2:19]
People leave you because they are not joined to you. And if they are not joined to you, you can't make them stay.
Let them go.
And it doesn't mean that they are a bad person it just means that their part in the story is over. And you've got to know when people's part in your story is over so that you don't keep trying to raise the dead.. You've got to know when it's dead.
You've got to know when it's over. Let me tell you something.. I've got the gift of good-bye. It's the tenth spiritual gift, I believe in good-bye.. It's not that I'm hateful, it's that I'm faithful, and I know whatever God means for me to have He'll give it to me. And if it takes too much sweat I don't need it. Stop begging people to stay.
Let them go!!
If you are holding on to something that doesn't belong to you and was never intended for your life, then you need to...
LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to past hurts and pains...
LET IT GO!!!
If someone can't treat you right, love you back, and see your worth...
LET IT GO!!!
If someone has angered you...
LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge...
LET IT GO!!!
If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction...
LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or talents...
LET IT GO!!!
If you have a bad attitude...
LET IT GO!!!
If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better...
LET IT GO!!!
If you're stuck in the past and God is trying to take you to a new level in Him...
LET IT GO!!!
If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship...
LET IT GO!!!
If you keep trying to help someone who won't even try to help themselves...
LET IT GO!!!
If you're feeling depressed and stressed...
LET IT GO!!!
If there is a particular situation that you are so used to handling yourself and God is saying 'take your hands off of it,' then you need to...
LET IT GO!!!
'The Battle is the Lord's!'
Thursday, June 9, 2011
mom's empty chair...
A woman's daughter had asked the local minister to come and pray with her mother.
When the minister arrived, he found the woman lying in bed with her head propped upon two pillows. An empty chair sat beside her bed. The minister assumed that the woman had been informed of his visit...
'I guess you were expecting me' he said.
'No, who are you?' said the mother.
The minister told her his name and then remarked, 'I saw the empty chair and I figured you knew I was going to show up..'
'Oh yeah, the chair,' said the bedridden woman 'Would you mind closing the door?'
Puzzled, the minister shut the door.
'I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter,' said the woman. 'But all of my life I have never known how to pray. At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it went right over my head...' I abandoned any attempt at prayer,' the old woman continued, 'until one day four years ago, my best friend said to me, 'Prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus. Here is what I suggest.. 'Sit down in a chair; place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair. It's not spooky because he promised, 'I will be with you always'.. 'Then just speak to him in the same way you're doing with me right now...' 'So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day. I'm careful though.If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm.'
The minister was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old woman to continue on the journey. Then he prayed with her, anointed her with oil, and returned to the church. Two nights later the daughter called to tell the minister that her mama
had died that afternoon.
Did she die in peace?' he asked.
Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock, she called me over to her bedside,
told me she loved me and kissed me on the cheek. When I got back from the store an hour later, I found her. But there was something strange about her death. Apparently, just before Mom died, she leaned over and rested her head on the chair
beside the bed. What do you make of that?'
The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said, 'I wish we could all go like that.'
Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive.
I asked God for water, He gave me an ocean.*
I asked God for a flower, He gave me a garden.*
I asked God for a friend, He gave me all of YOU...
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
relationship prayer...
of all the spiritual disciplines...by far the easiest and the most complicated...is prayer...
how many times i have cried to God in my distress only to feel that my requests fell short of being communicated to Him...at times i have felt foolish and powerless and wondered where i went wrong...where was God? and how could i get to Him?
what i have learned...prayer is a process...and learning to pray is something that grows and deepens with practice...we can look at various aspects of prayer...but in no way can we explore the fullness of the subject...in a few short sentences...communicating with the Father is an awesome and holy event...something to be studied very seriously and without ceasing...
when i am reflecting on prayer...i like to read the psalm prayers and see how God's close friends communicated with Him...one of these examples is psalm 86...take a moment to read it...all the verses in this psalm are equally enriching...but to me...the key verse is verse 11...
teach me Your way...o Lord...
and i will walk in Your truth...
give me an undivided heart...
that i may fear Your name...
the concept of this verse changed the entire way i looked at prayer...david asked for God's help in a time of great need...but he asked for God's help on God's terms...in God's truth...based on God's wisdom...
how different that is from many prayers i had offered...i frequently presented God with a long list of things i wanted done and how i wanted those things accomplished...i used a laundry-list approach to prayer...i had figured out what i needed and wanted...and i even included lists for the people around me...and many times i included a time schedule for God to use...
and then i wondered why my "prayers" weren't answered... =)
those weren't prayers...those were wish lists to make my life better...or my party bigger...so to speak...there is a vast difference between wishful thinking and prayer...even though we sometimes use then interchangeably...
when we go to God to talk...we go as friend to friend...to praise...to determine His will and His way for our life circumstances...david asked God to walk with him in truth and to give him an undivided heart so that they could be in close communion...
what a difference in motive...i don't tell God what to do...instead i talk to God in an effort to understand His way and His plan...keeping in mind that God's timetable differs from mine...He doesn't use a watch to determine the hour...He uses eternity to tell time...prayer is about establishing and maintaining a relationship...not about getting what i want...
i also note that God is all-knowing...about me...my needs...my wants...and my requests...He sees the whole picture and has the long-range plan...my perspective...on the other hand...is limited...my thinking is self-focused and short-sighted in scope...
in this period of my life...i can look back now and see clearly that if God had taken my many wish lists and answered even most of them according to my instructions...my life would be a tangled mess of desires...
how many times i have cried to God in my distress only to feel that my requests fell short of being communicated to Him...at times i have felt foolish and powerless and wondered where i went wrong...where was God? and how could i get to Him?
what i have learned...prayer is a process...and learning to pray is something that grows and deepens with practice...we can look at various aspects of prayer...but in no way can we explore the fullness of the subject...in a few short sentences...communicating with the Father is an awesome and holy event...something to be studied very seriously and without ceasing...
when i am reflecting on prayer...i like to read the psalm prayers and see how God's close friends communicated with Him...one of these examples is psalm 86...take a moment to read it...all the verses in this psalm are equally enriching...but to me...the key verse is verse 11...
and i will walk in Your truth...
give me an undivided heart...
that i may fear Your name...
the concept of this verse changed the entire way i looked at prayer...david asked for God's help in a time of great need...but he asked for God's help on God's terms...in God's truth...based on God's wisdom...
how different that is from many prayers i had offered...i frequently presented God with a long list of things i wanted done and how i wanted those things accomplished...i used a laundry-list approach to prayer...i had figured out what i needed and wanted...and i even included lists for the people around me...and many times i included a time schedule for God to use...
and then i wondered why my "prayers" weren't answered... =)
those weren't prayers...those were wish lists to make my life better...or my party bigger...so to speak...there is a vast difference between wishful thinking and prayer...even though we sometimes use then interchangeably...
when we go to God to talk...we go as friend to friend...to praise...to determine His will and His way for our life circumstances...david asked God to walk with him in truth and to give him an undivided heart so that they could be in close communion...
what a difference in motive...i don't tell God what to do...instead i talk to God in an effort to understand His way and His plan...keeping in mind that God's timetable differs from mine...He doesn't use a watch to determine the hour...He uses eternity to tell time...prayer is about establishing and maintaining a relationship...not about getting what i want...
i also note that God is all-knowing...about me...my needs...my wants...and my requests...He sees the whole picture and has the long-range plan...my perspective...on the other hand...is limited...my thinking is self-focused and short-sighted in scope...
in this period of my life...i can look back now and see clearly that if God had taken my many wish lists and answered even most of them according to my instructions...my life would be a tangled mess of desires...
Monday, June 6, 2011
how to praise...
so since friday i wrote about praise...i thought i would take it one step further...and write about...how to praise...or more exact...ways that i praise...the thing is...there is no right or wrong way...the point is...to praise the Father...for all He's done...right?
so here are some of the ways i praise...or that you can praise...
keep a journal of praise...every day write down what God has done for you that day...sometimes...if we are out of the habit of praising God...it takes awhile to recognize God's goodness...
read a praise psalm every day...sometimes...the best medicine is reading the psalms out loud...
think about God...think of His care...His love...His mercy and grace...you can think about God as you drive in traffic...or at your desk...or as you do household chores...
be on the lookout for wonders...a flower...a child...a friend...a wave on the beach...a butterfly...the natural world is so full of praise...see the wonder in things you encounter every day...
practice good health habits...taking care of your body is a way of praising God for the miracle of your wonderful working parts...the fact that your body allows you to go through each day is a miracle that invites praise...
enjoy life...God intended an abundant life for us all...enjoy every minute...it is a way of praising...
use music to praise God...sing great praise hymns or chorus...listen to music...read words from hymnbooks...
spend time remembering the many ways God has been loving to you down through the years...you will praise God with a loud voice when you think of a lifetime of love and care...
so here are some of the ways i praise...or that you can praise...
keep a journal of praise...every day write down what God has done for you that day...sometimes...if we are out of the habit of praising God...it takes awhile to recognize God's goodness...
read a praise psalm every day...sometimes...the best medicine is reading the psalms out loud...
think about God...think of His care...His love...His mercy and grace...you can think about God as you drive in traffic...or at your desk...or as you do household chores...
be on the lookout for wonders...a flower...a child...a friend...a wave on the beach...a butterfly...the natural world is so full of praise...see the wonder in things you encounter every day...
practice good health habits...taking care of your body is a way of praising God for the miracle of your wonderful working parts...the fact that your body allows you to go through each day is a miracle that invites praise...
enjoy life...God intended an abundant life for us all...enjoy every minute...it is a way of praising...
use music to praise God...sing great praise hymns or chorus...listen to music...read words from hymnbooks...
spend time remembering the many ways God has been loving to you down through the years...you will praise God with a loud voice when you think of a lifetime of love and care...
Friday, June 3, 2011
praise His holy name...
my life drastically changed...when...many many years ago...i heard a sermon on praise...one of the questions asked was..."what separates believers into mediocre christians...and christians truly enthusiastic about their faith?"
the answer? simple...it is the habit of praising God...daily...
what i changed in my life...
somewhere in my daily life...clearly apart from corporate worship...i started structuring a time for praising God...not asking for anything...not looking for anything...not with any other motive except to praise Him...
God desires and deserves our praise...but...more important...you & i need the experience...
so how do you do this?
when you wake each morning...praise God for another day...when things are difficult...take time to offer praise for the world...for love...and for shelter from the storms...when times are rushed and stressful...stop and praise God for a life that utilizes all your skills...then praise God for the wonder of creation...of which you are a tiny part...when good things happen...stop and praise God for His goodness...when you look at your family...or see photos of loving friends and family...praise God in a big way...
praising God reduces your cares...levels your anxieties...and multiplies your blessings...
why would you not want to start today?
the answer? simple...it is the habit of praising God...daily...
what i changed in my life...
somewhere in my daily life...clearly apart from corporate worship...i started structuring a time for praising God...not asking for anything...not looking for anything...not with any other motive except to praise Him...
God desires and deserves our praise...but...more important...you & i need the experience...
so how do you do this?
when you wake each morning...praise God for another day...when things are difficult...take time to offer praise for the world...for love...and for shelter from the storms...when times are rushed and stressful...stop and praise God for a life that utilizes all your skills...then praise God for the wonder of creation...of which you are a tiny part...when good things happen...stop and praise God for His goodness...when you look at your family...or see photos of loving friends and family...praise God in a big way...
praising God reduces your cares...levels your anxieties...and multiplies your blessings...
why would you not want to start today?
Thursday, June 2, 2011
r.i.p. kenny...
kenny was one year ahead of me in school...who could forget that head of red hair? but more then that...the way he made people laugh...
i spoke to rino (owner of sams sandwiches) last week...rino had spoken to kenny while he was on dialysis...rino said kenny sounded great...kenny past away at the end of that dialysis treatment...
you will be missed kenny...
kenneth hoffman obit
i spoke to rino (owner of sams sandwiches) last week...rino had spoken to kenny while he was on dialysis...rino said kenny sounded great...kenny past away at the end of that dialysis treatment...
you will be missed kenny...
kenneth hoffman obit
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
