adventrevival

Why Pack?

2011-01-24T09:11:00.002-06:00

So my husband has been moved to a new district. It's not that far away, but it still requires us to move our family to a new home. We are still looking for the perfect spot for us.
We've made phone calls that haven't been returned. We've visited places that left my stomach reeling and places that were too good to be true, but we've haven't found the right place yet.
The problem is that even though we don't know exactly where we are moving to, we still have to pack. We still have to go through things and decide if we really want to take them with us to the new home or if they would be better off sold at a yard sale, donated to a thrift store or even thrown in the trash.
As we have visited various places for sale and for rent, I've imagined our family and all of our current belongings in each home. Which one had room for it. Which one did not? How would we store our camping gear, carefully accumulated over the years? How would we store the clothes from our oldest son that we are saving for our youngest son?
As we go through this process, I am clearly reminded that I must sort out things in my life as I prepare to move to heaven. It's not so difficult to pack for that move! It's all going to be new so I don't have to take a thing or worry about whether or not it will arrive at the destination without breaks or other damage.
But in reality, it is more difficult. I have to be resolved to let everything go. I'll type it again. I have to be resolved to let everything go. Am I holding on to anything so much, that it would keep me from enjoying a most incredible journey to heaven?
With that in mind, my packing right now is made easier. I don't need so much stuff. I can't take it to heaven with me. Might as well not go so attached to it now. So it's time to get busy. Happy Packing!
musings and cogitations

Under Law or Under Grace

2010-08-11T08:10:00.002-05:00

Under Law or Under Grace? Visualize the Hebrew Tabernacle as described in Exodus and Leviticus. Put yourself in the Most Holy Place, with embroidered curtains, golden furniture and light from God's presence. Sense the holiness and mystery and grab hold of the Mercy Seat on the Ark of the Covenant. Now you are under grace.

What are you thinking about?

Are you thinking about how awesome it is that the King of the Universe is full of grace and mercy toward you? Or are you thinking about your next planned sin. Under grace doesn't mean you can do whatever you want. It means grabbing hold of the mercy seat and being covered by God's grace instead of being crushed under the weight of the law - under law.

Jesus said it best when He said, If you fall on the Rock you will be broken (as in breaking you free from sin and giving you a new life). But if the Rock falls on you, you will be crushed (as in that's it folks). So, would you rather be under grace, on top of the mercy seat, falling on the Rock Jesus Christ, or would you rather be under the law - bearing the full penalty of your deeds because you refused mercy from God?

Leave it Alone!

2010-04-17T18:19:00.002-05:00

Once again I'd like to share from my good friend, Gene Cowden. He often sends me little gems of thought and I'd like to share this one.

When "The oxen stumbled, and Uzzah . . . steadied the Ark ," his intentions were good. He didn't want it to fall. But he overstepped his bounds and touched what belonged exclusively to God. Sometimes your "strength is to sit still" (Psalm 46:10), and take your hands off what you've entrusted to God's keeping. Even when your "oxen stumble" and things don't go the way you think they should, God doesn't need your help. He understands the situation better than you ever could, and when the time is right He'll "do wonders never before done" (Exodus 34:10 NIV). Sure, it's frustrating to have something within your grasp and not be able to reach it, especially when others who seem less deserving are enjoying what you so desperately want. But the Bible says: "Be patient . . . trust the Lord. Don't let it bother you when all goes well for those who do sinful things" (Psalm 37:7 CEV). The Canadian preacher A.B. Simpson said, "Often there is nothing as Godly as inactivity on our part, or nothing as harmful as restless working, for God has promised to work His sovereign will."
Paul writes, "Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient . . . and . . . prayerful" (Romans 12:12 TLB). Long-range purpose will stop you from becoming frustrated by short-term delays. That's why God said, "Whoever believes will not act hastily" (Isaiah 28:16). In Acts we read: "Paul and his companions . . . [were] kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching . . . in . . . Asia " (Acts 16:6 NIV). Why? Because:
(a) the timing wasn't right. Apollos had to go there first and lay the groundwork;
(b) God needed Paul and Barnabas elsewhere;
(c) He wanted them to be more seasoned before embarking on such a major mission.

Thanks Gene! I always appreciate your great contributions. On another note...I hate trying to log in to update my blog. Since I originally started this blog under my yahoo mail account, it has created all sorts of interesting hoops I have to go through now that it is associated with google mail. It is insane that I have no google blogs, but I have to be signed in under google mail to log in to the dashboard of this blog. Ahh, but it's worth the effort to share on this blog. Please forgive the last few weeks of frustration of not being able to get in to my dashboard because of this snafu.

Annual New Year's Letter

2010-01-01T22:38:00.001-06:00

A scientific approach to the passing of 2009:

The Leukert five wish you the best as we begin this amazing year numbered 2010. We’d like to help you start your year with some of the best life has to offer: God’s love for each one of us, family, and the joy of fulfillment and of course the essential gift of humor. We would like to share this 7th annual Leukert New Year's Letter, reviewing the year 2009 in the scientific context of Cause and Effect.

Cause: Karl, as pastor, is started in the focused Leader’s program. He sees more clearly the importance of putting things on the calendar and planning for them.

Effect: Three incredible weekends away for just Karl and Sharon. The effects are still lingering.

Cause: A dark and slightly fuzzy substance has appeared.

Effect: Teasing Michael (14 years old) about his facial hair which reduces him to a lump of shyness.

Cause: Lost front tooth

Effect: More charm added to Matthew’s (8 years old) scar dimpled grin. When combined with his natural gift of comedy, he’s irresistible.

Cause: Sharon and some other church members join the Focused Leaders Program

Effect: Sharon now has a clearer vision and focus of what God wants her to accomplish in life. The church members that went on the retreat have a special bond and know God has great plans for us individually, as families and as a church body.

Cause: A second church was added to Karl’s responsibilities

Effect: We have begun to know and love a small group of people in Atlanta, Texas and we enjoy worshipping with them.

Cause: Staying up all night walking, running and staying energized

Effect: Thoroughly exhausted but the Jefferson Central Women’s Ministries “Pray for a Cure” team showed spirit all through the long night of Relay for Life in May. To our delight, our team was presented with a trophy for most spirited team. Sharon is glad Relay for Life is only once a year.

Cause: Saying “I do” 18 years ago

Effect: Karl and Sharon celebrated their wedding anniversary at a Bed and Breakfast in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The pampering was deluxe, the atmosphere was welcoming, but still private and the gardens and birdfeeders right outside our balcony window were the icing on the cake (see above regarding focused leaders).

Cause: Sharon’s carpool had to change hours at her job.

Effect: We purchased a 2002 Toyota Camry. We are now officially a multi-vehicle family.

Cause: Greta (6 ½ years old) in full costume at the school Christmas program

Effect: She grooved through every song. Our friends have considered taping her and submitting the video to AFV to win the $100,000 grand prize.

Cause: Decreased attention to toy sales

Effect: Sharon lost her status as a Discovery Toys Educational Consultant. Although they are still some of the best educational toys, books and games around, the event meant it was time to move on. The still in great shape toys we had around the house that the children have outgrown (some are never outgrown) were sent to our niece in California. Enjoy Liana!

Cause: Forgoing individual presents and purchasing one family gift.

Effect: Investing in family togetherness and enjoying the benefits of Wii and Wii Fit (thanks to the relatives and friends who added to our original investment).

Cause: Jesus loves us intensely

Effect: We see miracles and blessings and God’s leading all around us. We know the joy of the family of believers and the privilege of worshipping and praising God. We have the comfort of those who keep the faith when difficult times come. The reality of God’s involvement in our lives is unmistakable.

Thank you for joining us in this scientific review of 2009. Please feel free to write or call us. It has been scientifically proven, however, that we do respond quicker to emails and comments on Facebook.

Karl, Sharon, Michael, Matthew and Greta Leukert

205 E Bonham Street, Jefferson, TX 75657

903-665-7749

Karl’s email: keleukert@gmail.com Sharon’s email: sdlhome@yahoo.com

Greta's Pluck

2009-04-13T20:22:00.003-05:00

Methinks I was struck by the blahs of winter. More aptly put, I was busy and life was full to overflowing.

Sickness due to allergies and the latest bugs going around hit our family hard this winter and it's still not letting go. My oldest missed a campout. It might have been a good thing however since the campers who went mostly got rained on.

I think the thing that has struck me the most recently was the sunburns on the faces of my children. I know why those had those dry cheeks. They worked hard for a bike-a-thon to raise money for their school. Michael, my oldest, rode more than 30 miles. My 7 year old son rode about 12 miles and my just turned six daughter rode 11 miles. Since Matthew and Greta are less than 2 years apart, I'm not too surprised that they rode similar distances. Greta's pluck is what surprises me.

Greta represented her kindergarten class well. In fact, the school principal said she wished the kids in the older grades had even half of Greta's determination. Evidently her bike toppled over a few times. Greta didn't give up. She got back on and went for it. She may be petite, but she has pluck!

So my little powerhouse kept on going. She has a leaning toward athletics that her brothers do not, so I'm proud of her for going on and cycling for eleven miles. It took her all day and other kids, obviously older, did more than three times that many miles.

I've heard the phrase "equal sacrifice, not equal giving." It seems to be the latest catch phrase amongst organizations trying to encourage their ranks to give at an equal sacrifice, not necessarily an equal amount. In Greta's case, she outgave them all! She is an inspiration to me. Sometimes I feel like my 11 miles just doesn't add up to others that can go 35 or even 40 miles. But if I gave it everything I had and didn't give up no matter what then my 11 miles is priceless in God's book. Thanks for the lesson Greta.

By the way, did I mention that she did those eleven miles...on a bike with training wheels?

musings and cogitations

End of the Book

2009-01-18T10:02:00.002-06:00

So I was teaching the Sabbath School class yesterday and we were talking about Spiritual Gifts. I asked the class if that was something from the days of the disciples. "That's all in the book of Acts. We don't have Spiritual Gifts anymore, right?"

Of course many in the class responded with an emphatic No! Spiritual gifts are still being used by God's people today for their intended purpose - to strengthen and build "the church" meaning wherever God's people are gathered.

But one man took it one step beyond. His comment still stops me in my thoughts and sometimes even makes me shiver. "The Book of Acts isn't a closed book. It's not finished."

The point: We are all disciples of Jesus called to spread the good news of His love to a hurting world. The Acts of the Apostles isn't finished, because God's people are still acting/doing/moving/working. More importantly, God is still acting/doing/moving/working.

What an awesome thought. The Book of Acts has final chapters still to be written. There is still work to do.

musings and cogitations

Teenager

2009-01-10T17:57:00.002-06:00

It is hard to believe I have a teenager in the house. I certainly don't feel old enough to have given birth to a child that is now a teenager. Yet at the same time, Michael appears to be making the adjustments into adolescence is his own way; advanced on one hand and behind on the other. So the full throes of teenage woes have yet to make themselves known. I am grateful.

There is one little issue that continues to bother me though, room assignments. Our small house has only three bedrooms. For some, that is a luxury, so I'll try not to complain too much. However, for us, it can be a real challenge. With six years between Michael and his younger brother Matthew, it makes things a little tense at times.

Matthew has as much drive and passion for life as a professional race car driver, all wrapped up in a seven-year old body. To his young mind, if he wants to do something, he should just do it. He doesn't understand the difference between Michael's agility and therefore ability to do things that he cannot. He just wants to copy his older brother, in everything. In some ways, this keeps Michael from growing too fast, so perhaps it is a good thing, but at the same time I'm fairly certain some of Michael's likes and dislikes would change if room assignments were different.

Greta, being the only female child in the family, gets a room to herself, but at 5 1/2, she is closer in age to Matthew than Michael is. What keeps us from putting them in the same room is the gender difference. So, we are stuck with a teenager and a seven-year old in the same room. Conflicts arise on a regular basis because Matthew is still in the stage of immediacy. When he wants Michael's attention, it is right then. Michael however would like to retreat into one of his favorite hobbies, reading. Tonight was another episode of an all too familiar scenario: Matthew coming to me crying because his feelings were hurt since Michael ignored him when he wanted to play.

I still think there is another solution to our problem and I will continue to pray about it, but in the meantime the issue has taught me a few lessons and given me a few reminders. One of the biggest reminders is about togetherness. Jesus asked if two could walk together unless they were agreed. Because of their age differences, Michael and Matthew don't always agree. I'm trying to help them understand that each of them wants something and that doesn't mean the other is wrong. It is just that their age difference makes things so difficult. Yet at the same time, they are both boys and they both love building with legos and dreaming up the perfect space ship. As Michael embraces adolescence more and more, the difference in age will manifest itself proportionately. I hope I can continue to remind them of all the things they still have in common and can choose to build their relationship on these instead of their differences.

Perhaps the same thing happens with Christians. For whatever reason, there are differences among us. You can be greatly different from the person sitting in the pew in front of you. Since God calls each of us into a personal relationship with Him, we have to admit the fact that we are all at different stages in our journey with God. There may be vast differences in our "spiritual ages," but there are still many things we have in common that we can build our relationships on.

So I'll thank God for the lessons learned and pray for strength when the tension between two boys gets to be too much. A four bedroom house might be on my prayer list as well.

musings and cogitations

Mystique

2008-11-08T06:57:00.002-06:00

I had an adrenalin rush this morning. My hair was still wet from my shower and as I turned on the hair dryer I heard a loud "pop!" I can't tell you what fraction of a second it took me to turn off the hair dryer but it was off! "What was that?" Karl could only answer that it had to be the hair dryer. I waited for my heart to beat normally again. I know what is going on, a dysfunctional electrical appliance and wet hair, not a good combination although I'm still holding it in my hand. Finally I turn it back on and everything is normal. But it's not on for long.
It's the smell that stops me. You're probably thinking my nostrils were being assaulted by that horrible burning electrical smell, but you're wrong. It was an intense smell, but pleasant. It stopped me almost as quickly as the loud pop had, but without the adrenalin and near panic that I was about to electrocute myself. "It wasn't the hair dryer." I know I had Karl curious now.
He noticed the smell too and felt badly that the cord of my hair dryer had knocked over one of those frosted glass bottles of perfume that had been given to me as a gift from a family member. As I carefully cleaned up the glass of my Melaleuca "Mystique" bottle, Karl brought me a towel to soak up the perfume that had pooled on the sink counter.
As I finished cleaning up the mess, I realized what had captured my attention first, the loud sound. It was a little scary as I wasn't sure what it was from. The smell was the next thing I noticed and it filled the room and eased my fears about what had caused the noise. Now I knew I wouldn't electrocute myself. Instantly my mind was taken to a home in Israel when a woman who had been given another chance at life broke a perfume bottle. As the sweet scent filled the air it was an aroma pleasing to the Lord.
I also remembered the song "Broken and Spilled Out" recorded by Steve Green. As the last of the perfume liquid was mopped up with the towel, I found myself praying that I would be willing to be broken and spilled out for Jesus and that my life would bring a pleasant aroma to others.

musings and cogitations

New

2008-11-07T20:08:00.002-06:00

I'm liking my new job. There are certainly some things that are different from where I used to work, but most things are very similar, just a little rearranged at times. I did get a surprise today. One of the office personnel I had filled in for previously when I was a floater came by my new office with a gift. Everyone at their office had signed a card for me and they gave me two pair of "Socks to Stay Home In."
I'm wondering why I don't have a pair on right now, but then I would probably fall asleep and not finish writing this little post. It is nice to be appreciated. It is nice to read all of the nice comments from the people in that office, even the doctor.
Now that the work week is over and I'm enjoying the blessings of a relaxing Friday evening; I'm so grateful for all God has done. I've listened to my daughter trying to learn a new song (a hymn from my hymnal), the children laughing and even saying "ick" when they saw Karl and I kissing (doesn't stop us though). God is good and I'm glad He built in special time each week for us to soak in His goodness and just be thankful.
musings and cogitations

Endless Summer

2008-10-17T20:59:00.000-05:00

I can't believe I let two months go by without posting even once! Shame on me. I won't bore you with the details, but this was the summer my body fell apart. I heard from a coworker that it happens to most people, that they have one bad year. Well, this was my year. In addition to the arm injury, I ended up having a surgery and another ordeal as well. I'm thankful summer is finally over.

The last straw: I got transferred to a different department at work, that was being laid off. I told God I didn't know how much more I could take. His promise is that we will not have any more than we can handle, and that promise was kept. Today, I accepted an offer for a new job. I'm grateful for the Lord's providence. My two weeks notice would be about the time that the layoff would be final and my new employer needs me sooner than that. So, my current boss was kind enough to accept a one week notice. God blesses!

Through all of my ordeals this summer, I've had opportunities to share how God was with me despite everything. Some of those opportunities I just plain screwed up. There were others where I was able to keep my focus on Jesus and share how He was getting me through. It's been a long hard journey and it's still not over yet.

Music is still a comfort for me. I listened to a favorite song today, shockingly it is in Latin. Usually I despise music with words I can't understand. However, it's in English also so I guess that makes the difference. As I listened to this song and the building of the orchestration as the vocalist prepares for the "big finish" I find myself wanting to praise the Lord more than ever before. Even though I've had a horrible summer, I see others with so much hurt, despair and loneliness. These health struggles are temporary (please God), but the things I see in others are for life and they are so painful. I praise the Lord that He wants us to have an abundant life. God has been good to me. Non Nobis Domine.

Inventory and Standards

2008-07-22T16:42:00.000-05:00

While I'm off work for a couple of weeks, I'm getting some stuff done. Don't worry, I'm also taking care of myself. I rest often, especially after doing my physical therapy exercises. Hopefully I can do them soon and they won't hurt or agitate my injury anymore. It's a long process, that's for sure.

One of the objectives I have tackled is cleaning out the kids' closets in preparation for school. This is how it went last year - with two boys going to school. We made sure they had plenty of pants of whatever colors that fit well and had no holes. We removed all shirts that had writing/inappropriate pictures or logos (did you know an old Bible School logo is inappropriate?) and hung them in the boys' closet. They could wear these on the weekends or when school was out. The clean and approved shirts were put in their drawers to make it easy for them to get to each day.

Things are a little different this year. Now we have all three children to prepare for school and the rules have changed. Blue jeans, jean shorts and khaki pants are allowed on the bottoms and on the tops - polo style shirts, without pattern or color limits as long as they don't have writing or inappropriate logos (I suppose they have to allow the little insignias because there are very few polo style shirts without them). We removed a majority of the shirts from the boys' closet and drawers, because even the shirts passable last year with no writing were no longer good because they weren't polo style. Of course they kept some of their favorites, but Goodwill is getting a nice little donation this week.

Greta's wardrobe was the worst. I had to dig through her size six clothes to find a single pair of blue jeans she could wear. Most of her jean shorts are too short for school. She had not one single polo style shirt in her drawers or closet. Alas, we shall be doing the inevitable back to school shopping, especially where Greta is concerned. Greta still has a closet full of dresses for church and fun shirts to wear (thank you to our friends who share their still good clothing), and now we'll get to add to it a little bit of khaki and polo.

What I found interesting is that last year, when it was just shirts with writing, we kept many shirts out for the boys that had some of their favorite slogans/designs on them. The boys both love flight stuff and air force things so all of those aerospace things stayed. There were also many others that stayed and stayed and stayed in the closet, never to be worn, but we kept them.

This year, with an even higher standard to attain for school clothing, it was a lot easier to get rid of those shirts that were never worn last year. Some of the aerospace stuff still remained, but the boys also realized there were things they just didn't need; because there just weren't enough "non school" days to wear them.

This afternoon, after piling up three bags of donation clothes (one of which was nearly full of Michael's blue jeans that he outgrew this summer - still in great shape with no holes in the knees or even wear marks - doesn't it make you sick), I found myself contemplating the difference. As the school uniform standards were raised, I realized there was less and less that met that standard. I began to think about God's standards. They're always there and never change, but in His mercy we aren't always hit with everything at once. As we grow in Christ, we realize how high God's standards are and each year we realize there are more things to weed out as we seek to meet those standards.

As we cling to some things we know don't meet those standards at all, saving them for "off days," I believe we come to the realization as we get closer to God that there are less and less of those "off days." Just some random thoughts from a mom getting her kids ready for school.

Six Months to a Year - a Different Kind of Sentence

2008-07-13T09:57:00.000-05:00

I'll admit that when I hear things like six months to a year, it makes me think of prison sentences. In a way, this is.

My six months to a year is the recovery time for my arm. It still boggles my mind that I bump my arm on a door jam and my life changes so much. My left arm is starting to be painful at times now, because I'm using it much more than normal. It's kind of like when your shoulders hurt because you've been on crutches. Because I'm using my left arm so much, the muscles actually ache at times. But we'll make it through.

The good news is that the nerve I traumatized, the radial nerve, doesn't require surgery for healing. I'll need physical therapy, possibly a TENS unit (oh joy, more electrical shocks going through my body) and medications specific to nerve pain and two weeks off of work to get it all going. Whew!!

Six months to a year seems like a long time, but I'm praying that if I follow instructions and take care of myself in all ways I know how to, that the healing will be even faster. I know there are many others praying and I'm grateful.

In all of this, there are many reasons to praise God. First of all, I didn't break any bones. Secondly, God has sustained me through having one bad arm and being the back up for all the other office employees who are going on their summer vacations. A friend was able to get me a quicker appointment with an orthopedic surgeon and I was able to get the EMG (Electromyogram) done before Dr. B. went on vacation for the summer. Some people were afraid that I wouldn't be able to keep working the rest of the day after the EMG and all of the electrical shocks and needle readings, but again, God sustained me.

One problem with a long recovery is that people forget I have a bad arm. Someone patted me a church, FIRMLY on my right arm and I about hit the ceiling. Then my daughter doesn't quite get it either. Even my sister forgot and meant to give me a sisterly tweak and did it on my right arm. She felt so bad and I asked her if this made up for all the times when she had a broken toe when we were little and I kept running through the house and squishing her sore toe.

We had a good laugh over the toe story, but in the end, I'm glad Susan didn't keep score and try to pay me back. I'm also glad that God doesn't keep score in order to "pay us back." I suppose I'll learn a lot about God's ways over the next six months. I pray I'll be open to His leadings and let this experience mold me more into the person He would have me to be.

Freak

2008-06-13T20:51:00.000-05:00

It's kind of hard to post when you can't type. Well, actually I could use my left hand. In fact, I've been using my left hand a lot. Here's how it happened.

Two weeks ago, I was putting something away in my linen closet, certainly not one of the most dangerous jobs ever. As I was putting towels away, I bumped my arm on the door jam. So what? People stub their toes all the time. People "bonk" their elbows on a regular basis. Not me, no I had to do it to the max. I hit the elbow area (not exactly on the elbow itself) on the door jam and the pain shot all the way down my arm and through my wrist and to my fingers and thumb. I thought my thumb was going to explode the pain was so bad. Thinking that this would go away like all the other bumped elbows and stubbed toes, I just tried to deal with the pain I knew would be temporary.

When the pain lasted through the night and all the next day, leaving me unable to use my right hand and arm for anything (and yes, I'm right handed), I ended up going to the emergency room. X-rays revealed I had broken no bones, but the fact that my right hand was swollen almost twice the size of my left hand, as well as swelling all up and down my arm and the fact that my fingers were so stiff I could barely move them, obviously meant that I had bruised a nerve. My ER discharge papers said to follow up with my doctor in about four days if it wasn't better. They gave me a sling to wear and some pain medication. This was over the weekend. By Thursday, I'm still in a sling and have learned to adjust to using only my left hand. I can use the mouse on the computer and even check patients in and out without using my right hand. I typed notes on the computer with my left hand only and skipped anything with writing. That was a challenge to say the least.

I saw my doctor and he referred me to an orthopedic surgeon. I'm still experiencing shooting pains in my hand and my thumb is in excruciating pain, so much so that I'm crying during lunch. My appointment that afternoon left me crying all the more. The doctor said I was fine, I just need time to heal and I have to work through the pain and live on pain pills for two more weeks - no sling. I have to force myself to endure the pain of using my right hand. It has been a miserable few days. Typing hurts, but I do it. Writing is nearly unbearable, but I do it. putting charts away in the office leaves me shaking my hand to get rid of the sudden pains. I still have no real power in my right hand. It hurts to use the stapler, too much to bear. So I staple still with my left hand, as well as use it for all heavy lifting/pressure activities. My right hand has become the supplemental hand, letting the left hand bear the load.

My friend and I who carpool to work and back were discussing the whole mess. She exclaimed what many others have done - what a freak accident. None of my coworkers had ever heard of someone bruising a nerve to the extent that I had. It was entirely a freak accident. I told my friend that could mean only one thing - I'm a freak!

Despite the pain and frustrations, there have been many blessings. Karl has done so much to pick up the slack with me unable to do all I had done before. Many of my coworkers were more than willing to write a few things for me when I needed it done. One of the guys at the cafeteria was worried about me because they had run out of trays and I was trying to carry my plate full of food on a flimsy styrofoam plate. He made sure I had been taken care of and didn't have any problems.

Tomorrow, June 14th, is a special day. Karl and I celebrate 17 years of marriage tomorrow. I'd rather have no pain and normal use of my right hand, but I suppose this is what the vows mean when it comes to sickness and health; for better or for worse. I'm blessed with a wonderful husband who has done everything he can to ease my pain and assist me in any way possible. That is certainly something to celebrate!

Black Beauty

2008-05-28T20:27:00.000-05:00

We watched a movie recently, Black Beauty. Through the story of this horse, you can learn many lessons. I like (is like really the correct word in this situation?) the line about how much pain the horses go through by learning to pull a cab with their heads high - all for the sake of fashion. It seems we humans aren't content to make ourselves miserable for the sake of fashion, we extend it to animals as well. I could go on about dog breeding and various other things about animals - for the sake of fashion - but I won't.

Near the end of the movie, when the emaciated horse is desperately trying to neigh and whinnie to get the attention of his former stable boy, Joe, I felt a lump in my throat. The final moments of the movie are with the horse in recuperation, with a promise that he'll never be sold again. I can be emotional at times, but what I didn't expect was 6 year old Matthew to come climbing into my lap after the movie was over, sniffling. Eventually, as he tried to get comfortable, he broke into full sobbing. His question to me was why would people be so mean to a horse?

I talked to Matthew about selfishness and greed. I explained that it wasn't uncommon at the time represented in that movie for owners to try to get the most they could out of their animal for the least effort and expense. I think Matthew was most struck by the skin and bones Ginger, barely able to function, shortly followed by her body being taken out. Seeing Black Beauty in the same condition was probably too much for little Matthew.

A beautiful part of the whole incident was explaining to Matthew that there are people who want to make a difference and care for mistreated and abused animals. I reminded him of the time that we cared for a Great Pyrenees that friends of ours had rescued. They had been working with her for some time and we worked with her as well, to show her love and acceptance and kindness. Matthew and Tilly bonded instantly. He still remembers her fondly. The children knew from the beginning that we were only watching the dog for a few months while our friends were out of the country, but it was still hard to see her go. What made the whole experience so sweet, was knowing that we had made a difference for that dog, helping her to trust people again.

I am just so thankful that my son has a heart tender toward God's creatures. I had no idea the movie would have the impact on him that it did, but I'm glad that he knows now that animals need to be cared for lovingly.

Since people can often treat each other in a rather inhumane way. I wonder if Matthew would cry and ask - why would people be so mean to other people? Would the answers be the same - selfishness and greed?

The Graduate

2008-05-25T15:02:00.000-05:00

Matthew has his diploma now. It's official, he's no longer in kindergarten. He's already been reading 1st grade level books, so he'll be thrilled to be in 1st grade in the fall. He'll also be totally happy with the fact that he won't be required to take a nap anymore.

Yep, of all the wonderful things about kindergarten, Matthew hated nap time. He tried playing possum a few times and teaching his best friend to do the same. He had teachers at school, but during nap time, he referred to them as guards. Evidently nap time was more of a prison than a rest for him.

Perhaps some day he'll be wishing he could still have nap time. We'll remind him of kindergarten and the guards.

Too Many Rocks

2008-05-17T11:19:00.000-05:00

You haven't heard from me for a little while because we've been very busy with a two week series we did here at our church recently. The series was called What Did Jesus Do? So many people say what would Jesus do that we decided it was time to look at what He actually did to give us some guidelines.

I was doing a children's program on the same topics. The kids were great! On the night that we talked about what Jesus did - bearing our sins, I gave the children a rock. Actually, it started with a question - "How many of you have every disobeyed your parents?" Bless those children, they were so honest and all raised their hands. Funny, they weren't ashamed to admit their mistakes like adults often are. So, each child who raised their hand got a rock. Next I asked about hitting a brother or sister or telling a lie.

At first, the kids thought it was fun, until the rocks kept coming. Finally one of the children began to complain that they couldn't hold any more rock. They asked if the rocks could go somewhere else. I explained to the children that our sins have to go somewhere, but they can't just be thrown out. On the floor nearby, we had an area taped off with masking tape in the shape of a cross. I told the children the only other place they could put their rocks was on the cross. Some of the big kids got all their rocks in one trip, some of the littler ones had to take more than one trip, just like many of us find ourselves going back again to the cross asking for forgiveness.

The end of the program was the best, because I asked how many of the kids wanted to tell Jesus they were sorry for their sins and let Him take them away. Nearly every child raised their hand. Wow!

Though it was an incredible blessing to be with the children, it was also very exhausting as I was still going to work everyday as well and trying to come home and feed the family and get to the program. God answered many prayers though, including making sure that I got home on time each night. There have been times when I didn't get home until 7pm, even though I get off at 5pm. Such is the situation with medical work though. So, it was a tremendous blessing that each evening, I had no problems getting home on time and to the programs. God is good!

Floating

2008-04-16T20:51:00.001-05:00

I'm in a floating situation right now. Wherever there is a need, that is where Sharon is sent. So far, I've worked in pediatrics, internal medicine, wound care, urology and soon an ENT office. It's definitely been an interesting experience and quite fun.

I suppose I'll get tired of the wandering around after a while and it will be about then that they'll find a permanent home for me. I've noticed several things the past two and half weeks. For instance, not every office is the same and not every doctor is the same. The doctor/nurse/officer coordinator relationship is different in each office. In some offices, I do it all and in others the nurse does it all and in still others, it's a well oiled machine, where the doctors, nurses and office staff all work together almost as if they can read each others' minds.

One doctor asked me today if I liked working in urology; if it was okay or not. I told him it was actually very interesting and it's not so much the field of medicine as it is the atmosphere of the office. I've been greatly blessed to be in some very healing and healthy offices. At the pediatrics office (maybe there is a clue here) several of the staff members went to the playground for lunch. We got our meals from the cafeteria and took it to the park. We ate, let it settle for a bit while we went one lap on the walking/jogging track (yes we only walked) and then we played our little hearts out. I really needed that, more than I could ever explain. Pediatrics is a busy and fast paced office, but it's doable because of the fun and friendliness of the staff.

It's also been interesting to see the needs for prayer. People are hurting everywhere, from the patients to the staff members. I pray that God can use me to bring some sunshine and to cheer up someone who is going through a rough time, because I've been there.

I guess that's why the book of Hebrews makes the point over and over again that Jesus became human in order that we might be understood and saved. He's been here and He knows how to help us.

I'm Back!

2008-04-12T18:08:00.001-05:00

Frustration doesn't even begin to describe what I've been through trying to put a new post on my blog. There were problems with passwords, requirements that you now have to use a google account for blogger and all sorts of things. Finally, it's back!

In the process, I've changed my passwords so many times in attempts to reset it and gain access to my own blog, that I couldn't keep up with what my newest password was. It didn't matter anyway because nothing worked for a long time.

It must be bugs. The requirement was that you have a google account in order to be on blogger. Now mind you, my blog is still associated with my yahoo mail account and that is still part of my sign on. Makes no sense, but oh well, that's blogger and google and their mess. Whenever there is a new directive, it seems that there are also things that weren't thought of beforehand and it takes a while to work out all the "bugs" in a new system.

I'm glad that Jesus' directive is a lot more simple. Go. Go into all the world, starting in your own neighborhood and I'll be with you ever step of the way. That's better than any help desk from google, blooger or any other cyberspace entity!

Retreat!

2008-03-02T14:23:00.000-06:00

Retreat. Wow! Not the fall back in the face of the enemy kind, but the come apart and rest a while kind.

I'm grateful for the retreat for the pastors' wives in Texas. Not just because it was at the Crowne Plaza and we were treated like royalty, but because we were blessed in so many ways and there were many opportunities to mentor and be mentored.

I enjoyed the weekend so much and almost felt guilty for such a wonderful retreat. Then, one of our church members put it into perspective. "Karl gets paid for what he does."

There are many things a pastor's wife does, and often without pay or anybody even knowing. So, I suppose a weekend retreat to be refreshed and encouraged is a good thing. It certainly is Jesus' words in action "Come apart and rest a while."

Big piece of pie

2008-02-20T19:03:00.000-06:00

Today was a day to eat a big piece of humble pie!

I went off to work without my keys. Not my car keys, because I carpool with someone and I usually don't have to worry about that. No, I left behind my keys to get into the office itself and other things in the office. Joy!

Thankfully, someone from maintenance was able to let me in and my sweet husband found my keys at home and brought them to me after he dropped the kids off at school. I'm so glad that I can make a simple mistake like this and not be preparing for the backlash of being zapped by a lightning bolt or something of the sort.

True, God doesn't want us to have any problems, even making mistakes, but He doesn't sit up in heaven just waiting for us to screw up so He can point our our faults either. I am thankful that God gave me a peaceful spirit about it all. After all, I could have tried to blame it on someone else or just made up my mind that today was going to be a terrible day. Instead, God asked me to be willing to eat Humble Pie and then be thankful that the world is still rotating on its axis, even if I did run off without my keys.

Then there is that issue of promising a sermon was available and it wasn't. Hmmm. Maybe God's trying to tell me something there too!

The Great I Am

2008-02-09T09:52:00.000-06:00

I asked Karl about his sermon, and he said we can email it, since it was recorded. So, if you would like to hear the sermon on the Great I Am, just email me and let me know. I'll send it your way.

Roseuvsharon@gmail.com

Behold

2008-02-02T21:22:00.000-06:00

Our memory verse for our study on Gender and Discipleship was Luke 1:38 where Mary says yes to God's plan.

I heard one commentator say that they thought Mary wasn't really a disciple. After all, it was obvious that a woman was needed to give birth, so what's the big deal. There are other women to study who were truly disciples.

Well, my thoughts are that those people have really missed the point! The answer is an Mary's own words. "Behold the handmaiden of the Lord. Let it be unto me according to your word." Let's see if we can put it in a way that is a little more understandable for 2008. "God, when you look at me, see a willing servant. Whatever your will is, that's what I'll do."

Is that not the true essence of discipleship? Sorry to disagree with the good folks at Pine Knoll, but it doesn't get any simpler than this. When was the last time you asked Jesus to look at you as a willing servant?

Pear Tree

2008-01-26T21:36:00.000-06:00

For worship this evening, Karl asked everyone what was something they were looking forward to about heaven. Since we were at the home of friends who invited other friends as well, we had lots of children to participate. We got amazing answers such as riding on an orca and climbing through the city.

Matthew said he wanted a pear tree of his very own. He loves pears. He devours them! It reminds me of a time I met a neighbor at the grocery store months ago, when we still lived in Arkansas. She was preparing to have her grandchildren visit and she said she was struggling to find foods that she could put on the table without guilt and still be something her grandchildren will eat. I mentioned that as soon as I cut into a pear, my kids come running. Her comment was that my children were raised to enjoy good food.

I nearly laughed, because my kids love pizza and mac and cheese and snack cakes like other kids do, but they have also learned to appreciate the lovely foods that nature has provided. I've heard before that you don't eat what you like, but you learn to like what you have to eat.

Jesus said those who hunger and thirst after righteousness are going to be really blessed because they will get filled up. How hungry are you? Have you tasted lately of the Lord to see that He is good?

Was Am or Will Be?

2008-01-12T15:17:00.000-06:00

Karl's sermon today was about where God is today in our lives. Do we see Him as the great "I was" as Gideon did when the angel first appeared to him? Gideon even asks why aren't we seeing the miracles that our fathers have always told us about? This is of course after Gideon is hiding in the winepress to thresh his wheat so the Midianites won't take it and the angel greets him and says Yo, valiant warrior! God does have a sense of humor.
Then there is the story of Mary and Martha. Their brother is dead, but Jesus could have changed that if only He had been there. Now they're talking to Him and they say yeah yeah yeah, we believe in the future. They believed in the "Great Will Be" God, not fully comprehending that Jesus, in their midst could fulfill all things at that moment.
So today, I take my husband's challenge to consider my thoughts and actions (because thoughts lead to actions) about Who God is. Do I seem God as the Great I was? The Great I will be? Well, He was awesome in the past and He will do awesome things in the future, so there's nothing wrong with that, but am I allowing Him to be the Great I AM in my life right now? God is still working miracles, we see them all around us if we'd just take the time to look. So, I'm choosing to believe in the Great I Am. God is present tense with me and I want to be a willing servant and watch the miracles happen!

Progress

2007-12-30T10:53:00.000-06:00

My severely shy youngest son spoke up in church yesterday! It is a reason to celebrate. It was during a special program where all the children's divisions come up and share with the adults things they've been doing all year long. Matthew's teacher would ask questions about what they had been studying and he answered! I was thrilled. Normally he gets so shy he won't do a thing.

Greta also participated and both she and Matthew sang when the teacher led them in "This Little Light of Mine." Greta actually kept looking at the microphone and edging a little closer. She' s not usually shy when you pit a mic in front of her!

Matthew has a lot of musical ability, it seems to be one of the gifts God bestowed on him. My prayer is that he will be able to use his gift to honor God. Matthew's first composition (at four years of age) was pretty simple, but he played it at his recital and it was in a minor key and appropriately named "Jesus Dying on the Cross."

I've also seen a lot of progress in my oldest son, Michael as well. He's starting to come out of his shell a little and even ran for a class office at school. That totally blew me away.

Please don't get me wrong, I'm not saying my kids always have to be active in everything and always up front. Please! But when it matters most, when God has a job for them to do using the talents He gave them, it's not the time to be shy. It's the time to do for God as He has done for us. And I personally believe they don't have to be married and 21 years of age or older before God can use them. God uses willing hearts, no matter what their age.

Race!

2007-12-18T20:33:00.001-06:00

Okay, I admit it. Sometimes I do bribe my children. Our church has prayer meetings on Tuesday nights and tonight after the meeting was over, I wanted the children to get to bed right away, so I bribed them.

Last night, I didn't get home until 6:30, which made it difficult for my husband to get to a meeting he was supposed to be at precisely at 7:00. Tonight was a similar story. Although I work from 8 to 5, I rarely leave on time. I rarely get my full one hour lunch break. Often I'm sitting in the break room with the door open so I can hear when the patient is done so I can go and set up their next appointment and then get back to my lunch. Of course after two days of late nights I'm tired and just want to have the kids get to bed. After all, I barely made it home in time to even go to prayer meeting in the first place.

So, how did I bribe my children? As soon as we walked in the door, I announced there would be a prize for the child who was first to get into their pajamas. Michael, the oldest, ran off immediately to his room to get busy. He must have forgotten that one other time I had given a prize and it was a hug and kiss from mommy. Greta also went straight to her room, as fast as her little four year old legs would carry her.

Matthew was the interesting one. Immediately he sat down on the floor and complained that races aren't fair and he doesn't want to race and he never wins so he doesn't like them. I didn't budge. I didn't change my mind. He had to get going. Michael and Greta actually tied for being the first in their pajamas, and they were each allowed a special treat out of their "goody bags." These are candies and sweets that have been collected the past few weeks that we allow them to dip into once in a while. It would be too much mayhem to let them have it all at once and it's a funny thing that neither Karl nor I want to deal with that.

By the time the two winners are picking out their prizes, Matthew's heaving sobs are unmistakably growing louder by the second. He worked himself into a good cry and we had a talk about how his whining and complaining didn't help him get in pajamas.

This is not the first time Matthew has struggled with similar issues. If he doesn't think he can "win" a particular situation or event, he immediately begins to whine and complain and slow down and not participate. Well, he's right, he never wins. Not at this rate! His younger sister nearly beat their older brother, solely because she got busy, she didn't murmur and complain.

Now before a lot of people start saying I'm not fair to my children, Matthew does manage to get special treats and things. There are other things he is very good at, other than prompt obedience at times.

I've dealt with some patients, supposedly adults, who remind me a lot of what Matthew just did tonight. When they can tell they aren't going to "win" they immediately put on the brakes and start the grumbling process. Fortunately, the doctor I work for doesn't put up with that mess. Rules of protocol are clearly posted in the waiting room and there is no excuse for patients not behaving in a courteous and respectful manner. I've noticed that I don't enjoy checking in the patients who are eager to complain and murmur if things aren't going their way. I suppose to some degree we all would prefer to be around those who take responsibility for their actions and admit when they didn't do their best and so they didn't "win" the prize.

I'm hoping and praying that Matthew eventually grows out of the murmuring phase. I'm hoping and praying that I grow out of it too. Yep, it's made me think tonight about how many times I haven't been willing to accept God's will, because it just wasn't what I was expecting. I murmured and complained and even put on the brakes and threw a fit a few times. Watching Matthew, I realize that I have two choices. I can act, or I can whine and complain. In the end, action requires a lot less effort and I have greater fulfillment for getting the task accomplished. Whining and complaining wears me out, puts me in a state of depression and then I'm overwhelmed by all the other things that piled up while I was busy with my pity party. It sure seems like it's a far better choice to go for the action instead of the whining. Maybe Matthew and I will grow out of this murmuring phase together.

That's Obvious

2007-12-12T19:46:00.001-06:00

Michael is in that stage where it is just gross to see his parents affectionate toward one another. I'm sure he'll get used to it one of these days, but in the meantime he runs when Karl gives me a kiss.
One day, Karl said, Michael do you know that I love your mother? Michael's response was "That's obvious." I was so happy to know that it was obvious to our children that we loved each other. Karl asks me on a regular basis if I like surprises and it's been wonderful to come home and be surprised by his thoughtfulness. The children are practically jumping up and down waiting for me to find the surprise.

As I deal with situations at work and elsewhere, I find myself wondering if it's obvious that I love people and want to help them. Is it obvious that I'm a Christian? Is it obvious that I'm someone who keeps my promises?

Yep, I've decided, I want it to be obvious.

Round Two

2007-11-28T19:01:00.000-06:00

I had a reason to celebrate today. I made it through a day of work without having to use a single cough drop. This is a major accomplishment.

Just before I started working at the doctor's office, I went through a bad upper respiratory infection. I did antibiotics, cough medicines the works. I eventually had to have a heavy duty prescription cough syrup to get some relief from my cough. It's hard to have any energy when you stay up all night coughing. What a joy to realize I was on the road to recovery.

The road to recovery was long and tedious. I lived on cough drops it seems. Alas, over the Thanksgiving weekend, I gave in to round two of the bug. What caused this? It seems that many people have experienced round two, but in my case, it most likely happened because I wasn't getting enough rest. It's hard to rest when you are recovering at the end of round one as your spouse is just getting into the thick of his own round one. Yes, this nasty bug has gone through the entire family.

Now that I've finished my second round of antibiotics and trying my second prescription of allergy medication, relief is in sight. I made it through the entire day at work without using a cough drop. It most likely seems minor to most people, but to me it is a major event. I don't have a jar of candy at my desk, I have a jar of cough drops!

There is a saying that faith walks out when fatigue walks in. When the whole family is suffering from colds/flu, bacterial infections and whatever, it's easy to get tired and weary to the point that your faith suffers. But illness isn't the only thing that can weary you and your faith.

Maybe you're tired of your job, your marriage or your church. You've grown weary of things that are happening in this area of your life. Warning: This is the time to hold on to your faith more than any other. You see there is this beautiful promise in the Psalms that God inhabits the praises of His people.

Paul and Silas were weary from being beaten. There was a temptation to let faith walk right out the door, but they needed God then more than ever, and so they praised Him. God's presence caused an earthquake and freed the shackles of the prisoners. What an event that must have been!

It's been hard to sing lately, as singing often starts a round of coughing for me, but I've been praising God in my heart. I know that this nasty bug will pass and I'll live to tell about it. I'm making progress and I know the Lord is answering prayers for healing. I need Him now more than ever it seems, so I'm not going to let the weariness let my faith walk out the door. I'm going to cling to my Savior and praise Him, because He promises to be near me.

Grace to behave as His child

2007-11-09T19:17:00.000-06:00

There is a story that Andrew Murry, a dedicated Christian, experienced a setback. He spent time with His Lord and had these words to say.

“First, He brought me here, it is by His will I am in this strait place: in that fact I will rest.

Next, He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace to behave as His child.

Then, He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow.

Last, in his good time He can bring me out again – how and when He knows.

Let me say I am here,

(1) By god’s appointment,

(2) In His keeping,

(3) Under His training,

(4) For His time.”

Andrew Murray

For me, the part about grace to behave as His child is what rings the most with me. You see, there are days and situations where I don't "feel" like being courteous and thoughtful. I love knowing that God gives me grace to behave as His child. It's not what I can do, but how much He wants to help me and God's resources are unlimited. I'm thankful to be His child, with a measure of grace to handle whatever comes my way. Praise God for grace!

Changes

2007-10-27T15:38:00.000-05:00

Well, there have been some changes in our lives recently. With the move came the understanding that I would be trying to find a good job. Well, it looks like that prayer has been answered.

I started working as a receptionist for a doctor last week. She's an OB GYN and really cares about her patients.

I teased my kids yesterday and told them I had gone to the hospital. Since I had struggled with a virus and allergies since we moved to East Texas, my oldest was concerned. He wanted to know if I was okay. I laughed and told Michael I was fine and that I had actually gone to the hospital cafeteria to have lunch with a friend from church and her husband. Elaine works at a doc's office in the hospital and put in a good word for me to get the job I have.

My first two days at the office, Karl was out of town. That meant dropping off the boys at a friend's house before school and picking them up there after work and my 30 minute commute. It made for a very long two days. However, when my sweetie got home, he had many wonderful surprises that he brought with him and I was overjoyed.

It will be interesting to see how things change around the house. Since Karl works mostly from home, he'll be taking the boys to school, picking them up and handling all of the parent teacher conferences and stuff like that. He'll also have to rearrange the chores some. It will definitely be interesting as the family makes this adjustment.

The one thing I cherish right now is God's grace and peace. While I would like to have found only a part time job instead of full time and one that was closer to home, I know that God will sustain me and meet the family's needs. I praise God for His grace and peace.

Hope

2007-10-23T20:13:00.000-05:00

We went to a police officer's funeral today. It was quite a moving experience to see the dedication and loyalty of fellow officers as they remember and honor one of their own. The playing of Taps and the 21 gun salute as well as the fly over by a rescue helicopter were all to honor Dale's selfless service. The church was so full for the funeral today that the overflow room was full and people were standing along the walls.

Dale's son is in Michael's class at school. He was a typical boy in 6th grade, but he also wore his daddy's cowboy hat with pride, including a little pin shaped like handcuffs that one of the officers gave him.

There was a reality check when we listened to the eulogy and Dale was born the same year as Karl. Dale and his wife were married the same year Karl and I were married. It was a sobering realization.

The beauty of today is that there were many people there to support Dale's family and they all had hope. They had hope of seeing Dale again when the trumpet sounds, but this time it won't be playing Taps.

I wonder what kind of exciting music is going to be played on Resurrection Day. I don't think it will matter to Dale. He's just going to wake up ready to go home.

Elephant Tongue

2007-10-18T08:33:00.000-05:00

Greta loves to watch movies. One of her favorites, until the VCR broke and ate it, was Lady and the Tramp. I'm kind of glad that one is gone. I was starting to be able to recite it in my sleep.

Another of Greta's favorite "movies" is Incredible Creatures that Defy Evolution II. It's actually a DVD and it is fascinating. One of the things it talks about that blows my mind is the blue whale. This creature is enormous of course, but to put it in terms that we can understand, the speaker on the DVD tells us that just the tongue of a blue whale can weigh as much as an Elephant!

Since I've learned this fact, it has caused me to ponder much about my own tongue. There have been times where my words were soft and gentle. Unfortunately, there have also been times where my words were as heavy and hard hitting as if my tongue weighed as much as an elephant.

The book of James talks about the littlest member of the body that can cause so much damage, the tongue. Since learning about the blue whale and getting a new perspective on the weight of the tongue, I'm going to ask Jesus for help that my words be soft and gentle. I don't want an elephant tongue anymore.

Kev

2007-10-14T14:16:00.000-05:00

I like to visit the "What's Up with Kev" blog. I'm always blessed when I visit and this last time was no exception.

I'd like to encourage you to visit Kev and check out this great skit he's posted there.

www.itskev.blogspot.com

The MOM Song

2007-10-02T21:23:00.000-05:00

This has got to be one of the best videos I've seen. I'm so grateful to God that Sharon is such a wonderful mother.

--Karl

Please Leave the Room

2007-10-01T07:57:00.000-05:00

"What's going on daddy?" This from my nearly 12 year old son.
"Your mother has just laid me bare." Karl is swallowing his pride as he speaks.
"Twice." I say with laughter in my voice.
Karl can't handle any more. "Please leave the room."

This is what happened as my wonderful husband put together a new set of bunk beds for our boys in their room. Karl had me searching for a very specific tool needed to put the beds together, an Allen Wrench. I suggested Karl look in the materials that came with the beds, because ususally when you buy something that has to be assembled, they include the necessary Allen Wrench. No, Karl had already checked.

I search for Karl's really cool set of Allen Wrenches, but can't find it. I finally find one lone Allen Wrench and take it to him, hoping it is the right size. We try it and it works. Hooray! Then Karl discovers that indeed there is an Allen Wrench in the supplies that came with the bed.

Later, the framing for the headboard isn't going well. It's curved and the slats in the headboard aren't working. Karl is really struggling and I suggest that there ought to be different sizes of the slats. Finally, I pull the pieces apart and let all the slats fall out and measure them. Sure enough, there are two different sizes he was using and there were actually three sizes that came with the kit. I tell Karl the red line on them is a mark. He says it's nothing. Eventually, he comes to realize I was right. All the slats with red lines are the same size. The ones with black lines are the largest and the ones with no markings at all are the smallest slats. I don't say "I told you so" in exact words, but I mention something like, "Aren't you glad I'm in here helping you?"

Next we put in some bolts. The frame is big enough that Karl can put in one bolt on one end while I put in a bolt on the other end. He uses his own Allen Wrench, I'm left with the one that came with the bed. While I'm turning the wrench, slowly, Karl scoffs and says that's why he's using his own, because it works better. So, I change and use the Allen Wrench the way it is supposed to be used, like a crank since it has a crank handle on the end. I throw my husband a smirking look as I utilize the crank feature and zip my bolt in while he's still staring in disbelief. It is at this point that I'm laughing and Karl is saying he's going to get his cordless drill to do the rest anyway.

Next comes the interchange where Karl asks me to leave the room. His pride has been wounded, severely. I'm still laughing (though not too hard because I know how difficult this is for him) and I try to assure him that I love him. He says he believes me, but right now he just can't handle it. He asks for time to let his wounded pride heal and I respect his space.

Later I ask if I can come in and help with the beds some more and he says of course. There are other pitfalls and moments of near insanity, but we finally get the beds in place. The boys love them and everyone, even little four year old Greta got to help in some way.

As I sit back and think of yesterday's adventures, it makes me wonder if we do to God what Karl did to me. When our pride is wounded, when our souls are laid bare and we see ourselves for who we really are, dirty rotten scoundrels, do we ask God to leave the room?

Unlike me, God doesn't laugh at us when we come to the end of ourselves. Yet, if we ask Him to leave the room, He honors our request, because God is a gentleman. Pride is a dangerous thing and when it is wounded, we tend to push away the people that can help us the most. When we've been laid bare, that's when we need God the most, because only He can change us into the kind of people who reflect His love and mercy.

I pray I will never again laugh at my husband (let's hope we never get another set of bunk beds) when he's having shortcomings. I also pray that I never ask God to leave the room, just because my pride has been wounded.

Why Marriage?

2007-09-29T13:56:00.000-05:00

A question was asked in our Sabbath School class today. Why did God create marriage? What was the purpose. Of course there are many of the common answers, but I like what the teacher was trying to draw out of all of us.

Before Adam and Eve sinned and found their world turned upside-down, there was personal and visible communication between them and God. Adam and Eve had the privilege of walking and talking with God. They could have said things like, oh I'm so glad you created that adorable little creature and they could see the reaction on Jesus' face when the spoke of His creation. God longs to walk and talk with us today, but sin has separated us. We can't see the reaction on Jesus' face at this moment when we say, I really am glad for all You did for me.

What our teacher today presented was the fact that God created marriage for the additional purpose of being God's hands and feet to one another. Think of it for a moment. The Bible says that we only love because we love God and that's because God is love. So in a truly loving marriage relationship, God is to thank for that love.

When you've had a bad day, and your spouse can see it immediately and massages your shoulders that have become tense because of the pressures of the day, that's God's love coming through.

We have the privilege of being God's hands and feet and so forth, the body of Christ. We can share the love of God with others, especially with our spouse. I'm glad God created marriage and glad that He can be seen in the way we care for one another.

Groveling Cats

2007-09-18T08:00:00.000-05:00

It is becoming official. I have a strong dislike for cats.
I won't go so far as to say I hate cats and I certainly wouldn't hurt one, but I strongly dislike them. It is a good thing 70 times 7 doesn't apply to cats because they have nearly reached their limit with me.

Now, I'm sure there are many people who adore cats and think of them as perfect pets. That's fine for them, but cats are going to have to do some amazing things and intense groveling before I even consider taking them off my strongly dislike list.

Where shall I start, there was the cat that started sucking on my mother's neck while she was sleeping trying to get to the milk she had drunk before she went to bed.

There was the cat that purposefully scratched me (by this time I was trying to avoid them) while I was pregnant with Greta.

There were the cats in Arizona that ruined all of our patio furniture and left cat urine running down the windshield of our car.

Then there were the cats that decided to get in a fight right outside our door and begin their screaming and howling that was most unnerving.

Most recently, a cat climbed onto my neighbor's hummingbird feeders and sent them both tumbling to the ground where they promptly broke.

Add to this that cats seem to think they are your prisoner instead of your pet. They don't come running when you call and you never know what kind of mood they are going to be in.

Now, I'm sure someone is going to stand up and say, wait a minute, they are just being cats! Well, that's interesting because it is a dog just being a dog when it bites someone that has intruded upon it's property, but we make laws about dogs. Someone please make a law about cats! No more double standards!

I'm sure there are wonderful cats out there, but somehow, I've mostly been exposed to the rotten ones (the only cat I did like when I was little ran away). Unfortunately, this is the same way many people look at God.

Perhaps they have run into people that claimed to be Christians, but were really full of self, not Christ. Perhaps they were only exposed to painful experiences and have no idea that there is a Savior with a heart full of grace.

I must confess, I've been one of those so-called Christians in the past who was full of self instead of Christ and I had many interactions with people through those years. I can only imagine the number of people I hurt. I pray now that somehow they will meet someone who truly lives the grace of Christ.

Somewhere out there is a nice cat. Somewhere out there is a Christian with a heart for others.

Shaking in Their Boots!

2007-09-12T19:39:00.000-05:00

I have discovered something. I am death to can openers. I have yet to find a manual can opener that lasts for longer than the pretty finish on the handles.

As I was mourning my latest mechanical victim (actually it's only a slight injury, if I hold my tongue just right, the thing still works) I expressed my woe to my husband. Karl quickly pretended to be a can opener sitting on the shelf and begging me not to pick it up and put it in my cart, because it didn't want to die. "Please take the other guy. He's cheaper."

I laughed out loud when Karl started shaking as if in terror. If can openers could think/feel/speak, I'm sure they would have thoughts similar to what Karl was portraying.

So, why can't I find a can opener that will last? I promise that I don't throw the things around. While it's true that I've dropped them a few times, it was never intentional. Some may say I should get an electric can opener. For one thing, I really don't have the counter space in my new home. For another thing, I'd be scared that it would electrocute me some day to avoid being destroyed in my kitchen!

I suppose that if going through can openers left and right is my worst problem, I don't have much to worry about, but I still wonder why. Why am I death to can openers?

Right now, it's a bit of a perplexity that may keep me awake at night for the rest of the week. Soon I'll have something else to ponder, I'm sure. But when I think of the grand scheme of things, when I have the chance to ask God any question on my heart, I believe that can openers will suddenly pale in comparison to things such as, why did you love me enough to die in my place?

Skunk!!!!!

2007-09-08T20:22:00.001-05:00

Friday morning we wake up to the smell of skunk in the house. Yuck! Evidently one of these black and white creatures lingered long and left a mark somewhere outside our home. Just great!

Of course my mind is racing to our plans for that evening. Of course the house would smell like skunk when we have company coming over that night for dinner. Perfect timing, right? I was thankful that I knew where my incense burner was and that I could soon fill the house with something that smelled much better. Karl prefers spray air fresheners in general, but sometimes the smells are so long and lingering, you have to use the incense. The skunk smell definitely called for the incense.

I had the incense on the table next to my recliner. This is my favorite spot in the morning as I read my Bible and have that special time with God at the start of my day. As I saw the fragrant smoke going up from the incense stick and how it was covering up the smell of skunk, it made me think of the incense in the sanctuary in Israel.

The skunk smell was so horrible, that I had to mask it just to survive the day, starting with my time of Bible study and prayer. It was much the same with God's people in Israel. Their sins were so offensive, that God wanted them to have a picture of just how offensive it truly was. As the priests ministered before the Lord, interceding for the people, the incense would go up as a sweet aroma, compared to the nasty offensiveness of sin.

As I pondered this, I was grateful for the sweet aroma of Christ's wiling sacrifice for me.

Blessings

2007-09-04T20:30:00.000-05:00

Do you ever wonder how God works? Do you ever wonder if God smiles just before He orchestrates some incredible blessing or maybe a series of little blessings in your life?

For me, relocating to East Texas has had its challenges, that's for sure, but it has also had blessings both great and small. It's taken me a while to recover from being sick during the moving process (mostly due to an all night packing frenzy and not taking care of myself to where I couldn't hold down food for a while) as well as the ordinary adjustments that have to be made when you uproot your family.

There have been moments of frustration, but Karl and I each remember our Source of strength and press on. One little blessing was school supplies. If you've never had to purchase school supplies before, you just don't understand, but it can be a chore. If you're on the more thrifty side, you may be trying to get everything your child needs on the list for the cheapest price you can and maybe just maybe he can have one thing that is really in style. If you are on the more lavish side, it may be a real struggle to make sure everything is fashionable enough. The lists are often demanding in some areas and vague in others, leading to great amounts of confusion and frustration for the parents and students. Then the teachers on the other end have to deal with seven different types of glues and how it affects the art project they had planned. No such troubles at the boys' school. Each child paid a $20 school supplies fee and the teacher bought the supplies! Oh what a blessing! Let the teacher decide which type of glue she wants and what kind of notebooks to get. Hey, she can even get a good deal by getting them in bulk! Sure, it's a little thing, but since we just moved and I was sick to my stomach and even worse, it was a relief to not have to go and get school supplies!

Then there were bigger blessings, such as getting a refund from my former electric company just before the tiny final bill I had to pay (still don't know how I ended up with a credit on my account, but God does) and deposits for current utilities getting lowered or waived. Yes, sometimes I really do wonder if God smiles when He pours out blessings. Wouldn't you just love to see that smile once?

Owens Corning

2007-08-30T08:24:00.000-05:00

What do you think of when you think of insulation? I think of those old commercials with the Pink Panther lending his celebrity to the famous pink insulation manufactured by Owens Corning. Why am I talking about pink insulation?

As we have tried to settle into our new location in East Texas, we have put well organized boxes marked for storage into the attic. I should say Karl, not we. He's been doing all of that hot and dirty work. You'd have to have a Doug Rye home in order to have an attic that wasn't hot. Anyway, in the process of doing some repairs that needed to be done in the attic and putting boxes up there, Karl managed to get insulation on his clothing, although it wasn't really visible.

Karl took a break before going back up to the attic. He needed some time to cool off and get the next load of boxes all lined up. During this time, Greta was preparing for a nap and wanted to cuddle with daddy. It took us a few hours to catch on to what happened, but those present but practically invisible insulation fibers on Karl's clothes found their way to Greta's clothes.

In the process of being a four year old child, Greta managed to get those fibers all over herself and declared later that she was itchy. We thought it was just dry skin, her body adjusting to the move and new house and so forth. When Karl took Greta with him to the gas station and Greta lifted up her shirt to scratch, the gas station attendant gasped and thought Greta had posion ivy.

It was at this point that the light came on and Karl rushed Greta home for a bath. I searched in vain on the internet to find what is the best treatment for a child who has been exposed to insulation fibers. Finally, I resorted to calling a manufacturer of insulation, but I couldn't recall any names, but I did remember the Pink Panther.

My search on the internet soon brought me to the trademark pink insulation of Owens Corning. I located their toll free number (after searching their website for recommendations as to how to treat someone exposed to insulation fibers) and after going through a short maze of prompts found myself speaking to an operator. When I explained the situation, she responded immediately by saying she would connect me to a man named Jim who could help me. She got Jim on the line who said he was on another call and would call me back immediately if I gave him my number, which I did.

Less than five minutes later, Jim called me back and said that most people who get insulation on them don't have an allergic reaction. It's actually a mechanical reaction to the small glass fibers of the insulation that irritate the skin. The problem comes when people scratch at it and make their skin bleed. He said the best thing to do was get Greta in a warm bath with mild soap to wash off any of the fibers that were still on her and make sure she didn't scratch anymore.

In the process of our conversation, Jim and I discovered that our insulation was yellow and not even manufactured by Owens Corning, but as he put it, it doesn't matter when you have a child that is covered in insulation fibers.

I really appreciate Jim's willingness to help in my situation, even though it wasn't even his company's product. I learned a little more about insulation and I also learned that just because you don't see it on your clothes, doesn't mean it's not there.

Sometimes our sinful attitudes and selfishness seem microscopic to us. We can't see it, so we think it's not there. We discover the truth when we get close to someone and they begin to react to our selfishness. Hopefully, it breaks our hearts to see their pain and suffering that is a result of our selfishness. Hopefully, we learn to apologize for our behavior and learn how to not repeat it.

Best of all, there is Someone who didn't have anything to do with our misfortune, but He still is available to help us when we call Him.

Trains

2007-08-24T20:50:00.000-05:00

Life is interesting. I have no fear of being bored at the present moment. Unpacking a family of five into a house that is about 300 square feet smaller than our last home is certainly not boring.

We are enjoying the small East Texas town we have moved to and the friendliness of the community and our church family. Everyone has been wonderful and we have been greatly blessed. That is an understatement. I wouldn't know where to start in recounting the blessings, but there were many.

Our greatest challenge right now is living within sight of a railroad track. We've been told that after a week or so you get used to it. Well, I hope that does indeed happen because currently it is hard to sleep sometimes when a train blares numerous times in the middle of the night. In addition to this, a certain four year old girl is absolutely terrified by the trains and is very difficult to comfort. We have been awakened numerous times the past week by Greta sobbing saying she heard a train and it scared her.

My father-in-law did some research and said there are railroad tracks on three sides of us. It's no wonder we hear so many trains! Hopefully we will get used to it soon, especially Greta.

Despite the trains and having to adjust to a smaller home, we are thrilled to be here. I'll share more when I'm not staring at tons of boxes and still trying to keep my eyes open, but I know God has blessed.

Moving Miracles and More

2007-08-12T12:52:00.000-05:00

One of the things our moving process has taught us is that God is definitely involved in daily life, even stressful daily life.

The moving truck couldn't make it to our house as it was, because of too many overhanging tree branches. So, we called the city and asked them to trim. Now, this is a town of less than 1,300 people and the mayor said he was sorry, but he just didn't have the crew to do the trimming, even though it's a city maintained road. At least, he didn't have the crew to get it done before our truck came.

Karl called around and found a tree trimmer who was licensed and so forth who came and looked at the jungle and gave an estimate. He said he'd trim the trees for $200 and we'd have to follow behind him and clean up the mess. He only trims.

Where are we going to get that much extra money and time from? But, it has to be done, we don't have a choice. The trimmer and Karl settle on a date for the work to be done, but the man doesn't show up. Finally, later that afternoon he asks Karl if he can come the next day, to which the answer is no! We had plans to be out of town all day and it couldn't be done then. Since we have to be present to pick up all the tree limbs, we had to put it off until a later date.

In the meantime, Karl is speaking with someone else who says he could do the job. It turns out that he will also clean up after himself, haul off all the branches and limbs with his own trailer equipment and he'll do it for less than half the price of the other man (who we since learned has a reputation for having high prices for his work).

This is just one of many instances where things were looking rather stressful and not going the way they should and God turned them into blessings. I remember telling Karl that we should be grateful the professional trimmer didn't come, because maybe God had another plan (and He did!). Soon after Karl had to tell me something similar when I faced a dilemma.

Life is a lot more enjoyable when we surrender our problems to God and let Him take the stressful situations and work them out for us. He has a much better track record anyway.

On a similar note is a message from my friend Gene. He sends me good stuff like this and I just have to pass it on. Enjoy!

When you’re totally drained in every way and you feel out of control, confused by other people’s expectations, it’s easy to become numb to what you really feel inside. Your decisions are all over the place because you’re being tricked by all sorts of emotions. For example, if you’re really tired you become more likely to snap at someone or react in a way that is unlike the real you. When we get exhausted we stop communicating and sometimes we end up doing an ostrich impression, burying our heads in the sand, hoping it will all go away!

So what’s the answer? God said,

In repentance and rest is your salvation.’ Isaiah 30:15

In other words, for fast effective relief – stop! Instead of pushing, struggling to keep going, stop and talk to God about what’s happening. Rather than feeling overwhelmed and weighed down by how hard your situation is, get God involved by praying: ‘Lord, help me keep my mind fixed on You. During this time of busyness and stress help me to get my priorities in step with Your will, to think Your thoughts and focus my heart on Your love for me. Your Word says You’ve planned peace for me. Because you rescue and protect me I will not let myself be worried or afraid. Thank You Jesus for helping me stay peaceful today.’ God didn’t design you to be numb; he designed you to be sensitive. If you feel you’re getting out of balance, keep going back to Jesus.

Unlikely Time Capsules

2007-07-31T09:44:00.000-05:00

As we go through this process of moving, we come to that point in our lives (some of us come to it often) where we realize it is time to sell, give or trash many things we have been holding on to for months or even years.

We have two weeks left until the movers come. This would be our first move using professional movers. We do the packing, but they supervise the loading/unloading and do all the driving. This frees us to drive our minivan with the family at our own pace. I kind of like it. But there's still a lot to do in the next two weeks.

We had a moving sale, and got rid of many things we realized we didn't need to take with us to Texas. Greta's baby toys were phased out. Since she is four now, we decided it was time to remove the baby rattles and so forth. She rarely played with them, obviously, but she hated to see them go. This time, we held firm - the baby toys have to go!

An interesting thing happened along the way. We had to go through drawers. All drawers in furniture have to be emptied in preparation for the loading. When we have moved ourselves in the past, we simply took the drawers out, loaded the dresser on the truck, then put the drawers back in. We followed this same procedure for unloading, in reverse. This time, all drawers have to be emptied - period. Karl found himself going through his nightstand drawers. Although we have moved three times in the last 10 years, we didn't have to empty the drawers before. Now that he was going through them, he found what amounts to a personal time capsule.

Karl and I had several good laughs over the outdated, useless and 'did we really keep that' things in his nightstand drawers. There were many wonderful memories in there as well, pictures of the family and so forth.

I found myself wondering, how long would it have been before we went through these drawers, weeding out junk and waste if we weren't forced to do so because of the moving truck company's policy? There are many things we should do for ourselves, but we don't often do them until we are forced to by some sort of outside circumstances.

I also wonder how many things are in my life, in my heart, that really need to be weeded out? Perhaps I need to let the professional heart surgeon give me guidelines that will force me to go through, open up and get rid of that which only ties me down.

The Journey of Faith

2007-07-13T08:46:00.001-05:00

This is often a very hard concept for people to understand, but faith is a journey. What do I mean by that? Well, we can look to a pillar of faith, Abraham for the best example.

Most everyone has heard of Abraham, the man of faith. But a closer look at the story also reveals many times when Abraham didn't have enough faith to carry him through some difficult moments. Hence the lying about Sarah being his sister and the attempt to produce his own heir through a slave girl, Hagar.

So why does everyone call Abraham a man of faith if he failed so many times? The answer is simple, although it is two fold. First, Abraham didn't fail every time. Second, Abraham was on the right road of faith.

I live in North Central Arkansas. When I want to visit my family in Oklahoma City, I'm eventually going to find my way on to Interstate 40. It goes straight to OKC and is not far from my mother's home.

Being on I-40 doesn't put me automatically at my mother's front door. But being on I-40 will get me there. So it is with the journey of faith. We get on the right road, and we may make mistakes, but we will eventually get there. The mile markers on the road become faith markers, showing our progress along the way.

Jesus helps us when we have a flat tire along the way. He loves to help His people. He's just so excited that you are on the right road, the road of faith.

On the Move

2007-07-12T09:46:00.000-05:00

Change is stressful. Whether good change or bad change, it's still stressful. It's just the nature of the beast I suppose.

Our family is going through a change. We will be moving from North Central Arkansas to East Texas. We are all excited about our move and my husband's new position. However, change is still stressful.

If I don't put up a new post every week, please forgive me. I may be pulling my hair out as I try to pack up a family of five. Needless to say, any and all prayers would be appreciated, especially from those of you who know what it's like to move with small children in the home.

In the meantime, I can share with you this news: God still answers prayers. God is still in the business of making His will known to His people and leading them to where they need to go.

Braden's Heart

2007-07-03T21:13:00.000-05:00

There is a man at church who is a proud grandpa. He and his wife both have talked excitedly many times about their first grandchild. Now they often bring up little Braden's name in prayer, because he has a hole in his heart.

Grandpa got up to tell the children's story at church this weekend. He said he's been looking for faith, to believe his little grandson will be healed. Grandpa realized he only had a little bit of faith and wanted God to show him where he could get more.

That's when God told this man where there is great faith, in the little children. So Grandpa, in front of the whole church, asked the children to pray with him for his little infant grandson and the hole in his heart.

Jesus said, unless you have the faith of a little child. When was the last time you learned from a small child about the need for complete and total trust in God who knows the end from the beginning? Great faith brings great freedom. Children often don't worry about things the way we adults tend to. Freedom to believe whole heartedly in God's promises. In the yes and amen promises in His Word.

My heart was touched this weekend. I valued my own children more and praised the Lord that He uses little people to teach big lessons. And I find myself praying earnestly for little Braden and his entire family as they experience the healing miracle God is sending their way.

My excuse left the building

2007-06-24T08:02:00.000-05:00

Karl and I had a great day yesterday. There were obstacles of course, like lying in bed with a heating pad for company and praying I could eventually make it to church.

Through it all, God blessed. We visited a church we used to attend a year ago and enjoyed seeing old friends. They were having a special speaker who sang through his sermon. It was incredible. We were so blessed.

Karl made sure I had plenty of time to rest yesterday afternoon and he also got in some good wrestle time with the kids. I love the sounds of laughter on a Sabbath afternoon and so does my mom. I had a great phone call with both my sister and my mom yesterday and they could hear the laughter and fun and I could almost sense their smiles over the phone.

But last night, we caught the end of a program on tv. It was a sermon presented by David Ring of His Word Alive. Brother David's message was inspiring and stripped us of any excuses we have about getting out and serving the Lord.

I have said enough, I'm not going to try anymore when I was put down because of my age or that I was a woman.

Brother David explained how difficult it is for him to eat, since he has Cerebral Palsy. He explained that his hand shakes that often times there is no food on the fork by the time it gets to his mouth. He asked the audience where he would be if he threw down his fork and said that's it. I give up! Brother David then reminded us that it's not how many times you fall down, but how many times you get up.

Karl and I both sat there in disbelief at first. If this man can endure constant pain from his disease and constant frustration over his limitations and still reach people with the love of God, no matter how many times he falls in the process of trying, then what is our excuse? As Brother David put it in his message, your excuse just left the building.

People may continue to judge me because I'm female and I'm only 35. So be it. When God puts something on my heart, I'll keep serving Him, no matter how many times I have to try again. May God help me.

Sweet 16 and Tiramisu

2007-06-15T09:03:00.001-05:00

My husband and I celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary this week. It was nice to have all three children with a babysitter while Karl took me out to a carefully chosen Italian restaurant.
After our delicious dinner, the waitress asked if we were interested in dessert. Of course the answer was yes! Our options were Cannoli, Tiramisu and several flavors of Cheesecake. Obviously, the cheesecake was out for me as I'm allergic to cheese. I couldn't remember if Tiramisu had cheese of any kind in it or not, but the waitress told me for sure the Cannoli did.
Our waitress was kind enough to look up the ingredients for the Tiramisu, but she didn't know what mascarpone was. She thought it was some sort of pudding or filling. Since I have avoided cheese for 18 years now (it is much better than enduring days of intense pain and recovery), I'm not that familiar with Italian cheeses either, but that is what Mascarpone is.
I finally decided on the Tiramisu since the waitress believed it had no cheese in it. However, when she brought out Karl's strawberry cheesecake, my Tiramisu was in a bag. The waitress apologized that it was frozen and thinking it was my only cheese free option for a dessert, she gave it to me on the house, saying I could take it home and eat it after it had thawed.
Right then and there, I believed I had been spared intense pain. This morning I did take the time to look up Tiramisu on the internet and discover that indeed, Mascarpone is a cheese not just some custard type filling. I know God used a frozen dessert to spare me unnecessary hours of pain and misery.
I'm glad that over the years, God has been trying to teach me to accept the things that happen in life and look for His blessings. Had I gotten angry about the Tiramisu and demanded the restaurant take immediate actions to somehow thaw my dessert, I would have been miserable.
All things work together for good, even a frozen dessert.

2007-06-08T19:11:00.000-05:00

My husband is preaching a sermon this weekend on "More."

The basic premise is that we should be content with what we have, but never satisfied. We should be happy with God's blessings, but want more. Not for our own selfish purposes, but more for the glory and honor of God's kingdom.

It's a challenging sermon, because it helps us to see that we should, like Elisha, want a double portion of God's Holy Spirit so we can accomplish more for Him.

It's also a time for introspection as God may be giving us more to do right now and in a different way than we have ever done before.

God wants to give you more, so you can do more, abundantly more and have life more abundantly.

What God is asking for: According to a four year old

2007-06-05T09:20:00.000-05:00

We have these short kid-oriented devotional readings we read together as a family at the breakfast table. In one of the books we read, we're hearing some exciting adventures of how God protected missionaries in Burma and India during WWII.
The stories are full of amazing miracles and blessings even though they don't seem like it at the time. Who would have known that one car getting stuck in the sand in just the right place would allow the missionaries to get the hub of the wheel on another car repaired by the staff of a local business executive, when no one else in the area was able to do it? Truly amazing stories.
When we got done reading, Greta, my four year old and at times insightful daughter had this statement to make: "I think God is asking for love."

God doesn't force, He asks. He shows what He wants to do for us and bless us, yet He still asks and doesn't demand for love. On top of that, God gives so much more than He asks for.

Perhaps God has been knocking on your heart and asking for love. What is your answer?

The answer was a woodpecker

2007-05-29T07:33:00.001-05:00

We are by no means ornithologists, but our family loves watching the backyard birds. It started with Karl and I in Illinois, before our oldest was even born. We began wedging halves of citrus fruit in the crooks of trees just to watch the woodpeckers come and devour them.

Karl never tired of the swallows that followed him while he mowed, because he knew he was stirring up the insect world and the birds were having a feast.

Now that there are three children in the house, we often begin Sabbath with a special surprise. Sometimes the kids have to answer Bible questions to get their surprise and sometimes they are given clues and they must hunt for it.

The surprise isn't always something for "them." Sometimes it's special paper and stickers for them to make notes to give to people at church. Our pastor is often a recipient. One lady that Michael gave a special Sabbath note to still carries it with her each Sabbath, because it meant so much to her.

Our latest surprise for the children was a woodpecker brick and a suet cake. We already had a suet cage hanging up by the back porch, which we have huge windows from the dining room that give us an excellent view to.

Karl and the children refilled the suet cage and hung up the brick Friday night. Saturday evening, when we were having family worship together, Matthew insisted we pray about the woodpecker brick and that God would send a woodpecker to enjoy it.

There is something wonderful about our God. He loves to answer the prayers of children, because they have such great faith. Sunday morning our house was alive with joy and happiness as the children were jumping up and down in their seats admiring the Red-bellied Woodpecker that came to enjoy the brick. Matthew, who had made his request so earnestly, was the first to say that God had answered our prayers.

I'm wanting an answer to prayer right now. Perhaps I need to be more like my little Matthew and pray more earnestly and have much more faith.

My latest read

2007-05-22T07:43:00.000-05:00

The latest book I've read is "Romancing Your Husband," by Debra White Smith. There is a companion book of course called "Romancing Your Wife."

I was really impressed with the solid Biblical foundation for Debra's writing and how open she was about the topics.

Debra points out various things that can happen to Christian couples that take the romance out of their marriages, including past abuse and hurts. Her sensitivity comes through being there and knowing what it is like to overcome abuse and pain.

The most wonderful part about the book is what Karl said. When he read the title, he said I could have written the book. Of course, he was only teasing, but he made his point. I do enjoy romancing my husband.

Has it always been this way? Unfortunately the answer is no. Like Debra White Smith, I also had to overcome some past abuse and manipulation before I could say that consistently I enjoyed romancing my husband.

The good news is that God is faithful. He wants revival in more than just our churches. He wants revival in our hearts, in our homes and in our marriages. Give God an opportunity to start reviving your relationships and you just might be amazed.

Merry Heart

2007-05-20T14:04:00.001-05:00

So, the Bible says a merry heart works like a medicine. My eleven year old son is determined to give his parents as much medicine as he can!

Michael's wit is growing by leaps and bounds. He has actually left Karl and I with our jaws hanging out at how fast he has come up with some great bits of shredded wit.

Today, Michael was reading me some riddles out of his Ranger Rick magazine and I laughed the hardest at this one.
Q. Why did the deer have to get braces?
A. Because it had buck teeth.

My all time favorite, however, is one that Michael made up himself more than a year ago.
Q. What do you get when you cross a burger and a bee hive?
A. A Honey Bun.

Sure it's just simple childish jokes and laughter, but Jesus said we had to become like little children. Have you forgotten how to laugh? Have you forgotten that Jesus promised us a life of joy, despite the trials and struggles?

Take a moment to remember the last time you really laughed and then imagine the jokes and riddles Jesus must have heard when the little ones sat on His lap and He blessed them. I'm glad Jesus gave us the ability to laugh and smile.

True Meekness

2007-05-19T17:55:00.000-05:00

Our pastor had an awesome sermon today. He talked about true meekness. He gave some definitions as to what the Greeks used the word meekness to describe (makes sense as the New Testament is written in Greek).

Two of those definitions were: a softly blowing breeze and a bridled colt. Something interesting the pastor brought out in his sermon is that meekness doesn't mean having no power. I repeat, meekness doesn't mean having no power.

Instead, what our pastor focused on was the fact that true meekness is power, under control. How many of us know someone who is constantly flying in a rage at the slightest provocation? That's power, out of control.

I've met some truly meek people. They had power, God's power and they had control as they had submitted themselves fully to God.

True meekness is power, but that power is under control. It's a beautiful thing to ride a horse. There is power there. You can feel the animals muscles under you as it gallops across a field. But it can be a nightmare when that power is uncontrolled. I know what it is like to have hundreds of pounds of horse nearly crush your leg because it's power is out of control.

"God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and of a sound mind." (I'm going to be ornery and not give you the reference). God wants us to have true power, that is under control.

Are you interested in true meekness?

No More Somedays!

2007-05-12T21:12:00.000-05:00

This is actually Sharon's husband. She gave me permission to post here, since my two blogs have not seen any new posts from me a LONG time. And there weren't that many visitors while I was anyway. I thought ya'll might get some enjoyment from this.
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As a family, the past year has seen us making MANY more trips to Clinton – a town about 30 minutes south of here. We’ve begun attending a church there (usually 2 or more trips a week) and we are members of the community band in that county. Our rehearsals take us there at least twice a month. Then, we’ve had a number of other trips that have taken us that direction as well.

About a year ago, construction began on a house about half-way between here and there. It was beautiful on the outside – all wood. It appeared to be cedar. Lovely! Once it was built, in front of it sprang up a very beautiful FOR SALE sign. Now, our finances are nowhere near what they need to be to begin purchasing our own home, but it sure is nice to think about. So I thought, “Hey, just for fun – or perhaps just to fantasize – someday I’m going to stop and take a look at that house.”

Well, the first trip down, we left a bit late. The next time it was dark and we couldn’t see anything. The next time, we had another appointment so we had to be in Clinton early. The next time…well you see the pattern. Someday, someday, someday!

Then one time when I was headed to Hot Springs, AR to work on a low-power radio station there, I passed it one more time and again thought, “Well, I’m late right now, but someday, I’ll stop.” And then it hit me (at this point you’re probably thinking, WELL DUH!!).

SOMEDAY had not accomplished anything, and never will. It was then that I realized that far too much in my life has been living in the House of Someday. While the house may be beautiful on the outside, the inside is empty. When you live you life in SOMEDAY it too is empty. There may be areas that are somewhat pleasant, but look inside and they are as empty as that house. That beautiful house with reddish wood outside and lighter – I think pine – inside, sits just a short way from Highway 65, the main road from Little Rock, AR to Branson, MO. To me, that road is TODAY and, no matter which way you go, leads to TOMORROW.

I guess that I am just to the point where I’m tired of living in the empty House of SOMEDAY and am ready to get on with life. No more, “Someday I’ll get more involved in the community.” “Someday I’ll follow God fully and go back to school to do what He has truly called me to do.” “Someday I’ll arrange my schedule so I can spend more time with my wife and children.” “Someday I’ll really begin to get back in shape physically.” “Someday I’ll truly turn my back on the things of this world and commit my life 100% to Jesus.” “Someday…”

Now, I will admit that some of the “somedays” are beyond my control at this time and, by necessity will be left in that category. Such as, “Someday I’ll go bungee jumping.” “Someday I’ll go skydiving.” “Someday I’ll learn how to scuba dive.” What I’ve discovered, and you may have too, is that, without actively fighting against it, more and more things keep getting moved to that House of SOMEDAY. The problem is that, like that house that is so close to the highway; it’s just sitting there while life passes by.

So, as you can see from the pictures posted, I made a plan, I arranged my schedule, we left for band practice early and I stopped to look at the house! That’s one SOMEDAY off the list. The first of many, many, many. Life’s just too exciting to live in the emptiness of SOMEDAY. Are you ready to move????

Rite of Passage

2007-05-07T13:28:00.001-05:00

I recently received this from my friend Gene in Oklahoma. Being of Cherokee ancestry myself, I found it very interesting. A lot of my heritage is lost to me because my ancestors opted not to put themselves on the Dawes Rolls and chose to merge into society. When it comes to my heritage as a daughter of God, nothing is lost. God has given me many stories from the past to help me as I journey with Him.
Enjoy!

"A friend recently passed on to us this legend of the Cherokee Indian
youth's rite of passage.
His dad took him into the forest, blindfolded him, and left him alone. He
was required to sit on a stump the whole night.and not take off the
blindfold until a ray of sun shone through it. He was all by himself. He
could not cry out for help to anyone. Once he survived the night, he would
be a MAN. The boy was terrified and could hear all kinds of noise. Beasts
were all around him. Maybe even some human would hurt him. The wind blew
the grass and earth and it shook his stump. But he sat stoically. Never
removing the blindfold. It was the only way he could be a man. Finally,
after a horrific night. the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It
was then that he saw his father sitting on the stump next to him - at watch
the entire night.
We are never alone. Even when we do not know it, our Father is beside us,
protecting us. He has called us to face our dark nights - not running from
them looking only for sunshine and flowers. He knows that the dark nights
reveal our fears and give us the opportunity to face and overcome them.
However, our Father is not the One who has blindfolded us. An enemy has.
Satan blindfolds us with misconceptions and lying thoughts about our
Heavenly Father and he tells us that we cannot cry out for help.
Are you passing through a dark night? Do health issues, marital problems,
family discord, financial difficulties, or perhaps social challenges
threaten to overwhelm you? Do you feel alone? Our heavenly Father removes
blindfolds. (Psalm 146:8) He wants us to know He is right there with us. He
urges us to call upon Him and promises to answer us. (Jeremiah 33:3). He
offers to hold our hand and help us. (Isaiah 41:13) He has promised, "I
will never leave you, nor forsake you." Therefore we can confidently say,
"My Father is my helper, and I will not fear what any beast of the night can
do to me." (Hebrews 13:5, 6 paraphrased.)
What misconception from your history blindfolds you to the presence of your
Father? What lying thought keeps you from crying out to Him and listening
for His answer? What keeps you from taking His hand and walking through
your night one step at a time?
He is there for you! "

10 Commandments Crush or Break

2007-05-02T13:42:00.000-05:00

We were talking about the cornerstone at prayer meeting this week. Historically, the cornerstone for the Jewish temple was first rejected, then the builders realized their mistake and put the stone in place.

Jesus used this historical fact to explain that He was the cornerstone. Interestingly, the cornerstone if fallen on will break you, but if it falls on you, will crush you. Very interesting words of Jesus.

But then you look at other stones, such as the rock cut out without hands and the tables of stone containing God's law. Wait a minute. God's law. How about that. Isn't it a cornerstone to our faith?

Let's take a deeper look. Where are the tables of stone with the 10 Commandments? They were last seen in the Ark of the Covenant that the prophet Jeremiah is reported to have hidden for its protection before the Babylonian captivity. The Ark of the Covenant, the lid covering the 10 Commandments, is called the Mercy Seat.

What could this mean? Jesus said if we fall on the cornerstone we will be broken. If we fall on God's mercy, on the mercy seat, falling on the law, we are broken and have a humble or contrite spirit. God says He works with a humble and contrite spirit.

If the law falls on you, you are crushed. You are ground to powder. If the whole weight of the law falls on you, it is devastating. But fall on the mercy seat first, and you are merely broken and reformed to reflect God's image.

As many people around the country celebrate the Ten Commandments Weekend, ask yourself, are you trying to nail the Law to the cross and find yourself being crushed by it, or are you falling on God's mercy and asking Him to help you reflect His perfect character?

Utter Joy

2007-04-28T19:32:00.000-05:00

I told my husband today that he was exuding sweetness. He had been so thoughtful and wonderful. He responded, just dip me in sugar and call me a Krispy Kreme.

Did my husband present me with diamonds, flowers or romantic cards? No, it was something even better. Karl knows how much I love waterfalls. Living in the Ozarks, as you drive through mountain passes and high bluffs, it is not uncommon to see water gushing over the rocks. On our way to church today, we passed two of these waterfalls (in the winter, when it freezes, it's like you're driving through an ice pass, with huge walls of icicles on either side of you).

Knowing how much I love waterfalls, Karl rolled down my window just as we passed it, so I could hear the rushing water sound. I never asked him to do that, he just did it because he knows how much I love waterfalls.

It was little things like that all day today. It was my husband knowing me, taking the time to learn what makes my heart full of joy, and doing everything he can to help me enjoy those things.

As we continued our drive to church, other things happened as well. They seemed to be little gifts from God all along the way. Just as Karl and I enjoy doing special things for each other, based on our interests and favorite things, so God longs to do special things for us. We often find Him outdoing Himself on Sabbath.

Jesus desperately wants to send lots of little thoughtful sweet moments our way. Have you been looking for them? Jesus knows your heart. He knows the things that bring you joy, and He thrills to do special things to give you joy, especially on Sabbath.

Enjoy the special things that God wants to do for you. Spend time with your Lord and you just might begin to notice how many of these special things He's been doing all along.

Knit Armor

2007-04-22T09:54:00.000-05:00

I never know what to expect when Greta gets up in the morning. Last week, she came to where I was in the kitchen preparing breakfast. She had her broomstick horse and a square pillow from her bed. She was using the pillow as a shield and the horse as a sword. Her words were simply, "I'm ready to fight."

The 'I just got out of bed and I might still be grumpy' look on her face told me that she was indeed ready to fight. I was fighting too and I lost. I totally gave in to laughter.

Today, that precious four year old girl was again wearing armor and playing some kind of game with her brothers. Only this time, her sword was a long pink feather and she had a square pillow featuring the cartoon character, the Tasmanian Devil, as her shield. This time she kicked it up a notch, she was wearing a knit hat for her helmet. Of course, having seen pictures in the Encyclopedia, Greta knew that the helmet covers the whole head. So she had the knit hat pulled all the way down over her eyes and was trying to chase her brothers without bumping into any walls.

Again I lost the battle and gave in to peals of laughter. Then it made me think. Greta didn't have a real helmet, so she made one up. But because it wasn't a real helmet, designed to protect while still allowing you to see and function, her makeshift helmet was actually keeping her from fully enjoying her play.

It made me wonder if we don't do the same thing. God says plainly in His book that there is a helmet of salvation. The Bible makes it very clear that salvation comes only through faith in Christ. It is nothing we do of our own. Yet many times, we refuse the helmet of salvation generously given to us, at the cost of the life of the Son of God, and choose to put on our own makeshift helmet of righteousness by works.

Like Greta, we eventually discover that it's not the real thing and not designed to protect us the way it should. Like Greta, we bump into walls and get hurt because of our makeshift helmet.

The armor of God is available to all. Have you put on the true helmet of salvation lately?

Don't believe the lie

2007-04-15T07:56:00.000-05:00

I was reading this morning about Bible Prophecy Fulfilled. Jesus says He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. That means He was in the beginning and He also knows what happens in the end. God knows the future and in His mercy and loving kindness, He reveals that future to His servants, the prophets.

When we look back on the prophecies in the Bible that have been fulfilled, to the letter, it is absolutely amazing! What accuracy, what detail and what a miracle that it was foretold hundreds and even thousands of years in advance!

Hitler and Napoleon had to come to terms with the fact that Bible Prophecy said their plans would never come to pass for another great world empire. Napoleon eventually saw it and his folly. Hitler grew angry and vowed that God would not get in the way of his plans. But history tells the story, that God predicted thousands of years before.

There are those who mock and scoff when we say we are Christians. They even say things such as we are believing in some kind of fairy tale or myth. Really?

Never give in to the lie that we have nothing to hang our faith on. God's Word and prophecy fulfilled are a sure foundation. God doesn't leave us without any reason for our faith. He merely asks us to exercise it.

We have more than enough of God's power and providence to hang our faith on. Faith is not blind trust. Faith is believing in the promises that are in the future. Promises made by One who has already shown that He keeps His promises. It is not blind faith. It is faith that must hang on through the trials, because in the end that faith will be rewarded because God is faithful.

Lauren and Hosanna

2007-04-14T20:16:00.000-05:00

My daughter just celebrated her 4th birthday. She got a package in the mail from her Oma and Opa who live in Georgia. They sent her a beautiful doll. It's from a special series and the doll has a name, Lauren. Lauren also comes with her own baby doll. My little girl decided to name Lauren's baby doll, Hosanna.

It's kind of neat going through the house and seeing my daughter playing with Lauren and Hosanna.

My prayer is that praise to God will always be on her heart. Especially as Jesus is coming back to take us home.

Shields Up!

2007-04-02T09:37:00.000-05:00

So I gave my oldest son this assignment in school last year. It was looking at our doctrinal beliefs and putting them into his own words. Any big words he didn't understand, we looked up in the dictionary, so he wouldn't just be taking my word for it, but really making sure he learned new things.

When it got to the belief on Spiritual Gifts, Michael put it in his own words that Spiritual Gifts are a shield. A shield? How is that you may ask. Well, according to our church's fundamental belief on spiritual gifts, when we have a gift and use it, we guard ourselves against false doctrine and false manifestations of the Holy Spirit. Michael, being a 10 year old boy and seeing the word guard, automatically thought of a shield.

But think about it. God gives gifts to each of His children. Everyone has at least one gift. You can read about Spiritual Gifts in Ephesians 4, Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12. If you were to have the gift of exhortation, meaning to strongly advise or urge earnestly for the good of your fellow Christian, and you didn't use that gift, then someone else may take it upon themselves to do the job God gave you to do. What happens when a car mechanic tries to do brain surgery or a dentist tries to build a bridge? People trying to do things God didn't gift them to do can cause hurt and pain and problems in the church. So by using your God given gift to minister to your fellow man, you are protecting your church from harm.

Don't be afraid to use the gifts God has given you, but always use them for His glory and to further His cause. Shields up everyone!

Matthew and Ruby

2007-03-21T10:02:00.000-05:00

This is my little man, Matthew. He is five years old and doesn't hesitate to say when he sees an awesome car, like he did the day this picture was taken. The lady who owned the car thought this little kid in camoflauge clothes who was talking about how cool this car was and how he wished he had one was just too adorable, so she had to take a picture of Matthew with the car. She told us the car's name is Ruby, which happens to be one of Matthew's favorite gemstones (sapphires are his absolute favorite because they are often blue), as most kids his age go bug eyed for hidden treasures.
Matthew's reaction to the car was natural, and we ended up with a cute photo and story. What are your natural reactions? Do they include compliments, encouragement, acts of kindness and compassion?
One of the natural reactions I'm struggling with right now is frustration when my husband can't remember something I recently told him. Well, at least I know what I need to pray about!

What is your girlfriend's name?

2007-03-18T12:53:00.000-05:00

Our pastor has three churches in his district, and he recently organized a weekend retreat at a camp for any of the members of all three of his churches. It was fun to meet people from the other churches that we have prayed for and rejoiced with.
Matthew, my 5 year old, hit it off with a little girl at the camp. They soon became inseparable. They went everywhere together and participated in everything together and I often heard one of them or the other saying, "come on, let's go play." Matthew's little friend is just a couple of months older than him. They are the same height and they are about the same size and they just found each other to be perfect playmates.
I asked Matthew what his little friend's name was, and he said he didn't know. She knew his name, but he didn't know hers. I found out later his little friend's name and shared it with him, but it didn't make any difference to him. All he needed to know was this was his friend, it didn't matter what her name was.
I was amazed at the beautiful innocence of my son's relationship with this little girl and the lesson it taught me. Two children who love to play, run, chase each other, swing and slide on the playground and jump in leaves could enjoy being together even if they didn't know each other's names. What was important was they knew they had a friend.
Jesus isn't concerned with whether or not I know all of the names He is called in the Bible. What matters most to Him is that I know He is my friend.

Ernest Shackleton

2007-03-09T20:16:00.000-06:00

Years ago, I took my children to see an I-max presentation on the arctic adventure of Ernest Shackleton and his crew of explorers. It was inspiring to say the least. Shackleton's dedication to seeing that all of his men were rescued is something we don't always see today.

The story itself, as presented by I-max was so incredible, that it made you want to be a better person. But it wasn't until recently that I heard more of the story.

In Shackleton's ordeal, it was down to himself and two others to cross mountains previously unexplored to get to a whaling station on the other side of the island and get help for the rest of the expedition. They were without the arctic mountain gear they needed so desperately, but they clung to the fact that men would live or die by their efforts. The way was treacherous, from all accounts, yet Shackleton records in his personal journal that at times there were four of them on that mountain, not three.

Shackleton knew that God was with them and it gave them courage to press on, but you won't find that in the I-max presentation.

So I began to wonder, if we were to dig a little deeper into all kinds of inspiring stories, would we find that many of these examples of courage and bravery gave credit to God? Somehow, we tend to screen that out when the stories are shared. Maybe it would be good for us all to dig a little deeper and see how many people give credit to God.

Which do you like better?

2007-02-26T09:27:00.000-06:00

My eleven year old son devours books. This is an understatement. In his 4H club, there is a group that gets together to work on hiking, one of Michael's favorite interests, other than reading. On this hike, they tried to learn about each other and pick nicknames based on observation. Since Michael spoke most of the time about books he had recently read, he was given the name reader. It was very appropriate.

You know a child is crazy about reading when he keeps a book in the car with him and then when you get home from piano lessons and the sun in shining so bright that you just know the children can't resist playing outside; but he does because he's only got one chapter left to finish the book. He wouldn't play outside until he finished the book.

Michael's two latest reads are "The Lucifer Diary" and "The Edge of Eternity." After he finished the 2nd book, Karl asked him which he liked better. Michael said that both books were basically about the story of the world from the earliest beginnings through to when Jesus comes again. The first book was from Satan's assumed perspective. The second book is from God's assumed perspective. Michael said he enjoyed both books greatly, but he liked the 2nd better, because it was from God's perspective.

I'm soon going to have to get Warrior Culture for him, Donny Prater's book, because it's never too soon to learn how to be a man of God.

Not ashamed

2007-02-14T10:36:00.000-06:00

On this Valentine's Day, I challenge you to look up a couple of verses in the Bible. They happen to be my husband's favorite verses. Proverbs 5:18, 19.

When God touches your heart, and you know you are a recipient of His grace, are you not thrilled?

When God sends an angel to rescue or shield you in a moment of peril, do you not know His loving care over you?

When God sends the Holy Spirit to chasten you and bring you back from the path of destruction, are you not grateful for His guidance?

Of these things we are not ashamed.

However, if God has blessed you with a partner in life, a godly spouse, are you ashamed to enjoy to the fullest God's gift?

Spend some time today in God's Word, realizing that marriage is to be full of joy and wonder, then go experience it.

Retreat

2007-02-12T10:16:00.000-06:00

I got away to a Women's Retreat this past weekend. Wonderful. Incredible. It was just what I needed and an answer to prayer.

I came home even more encouraged and ready to do whatever task lies at my door, especially encouraging and supporting my husband in all that he does.

God is good. I've been strengthened to come back and be all that my family needs me to be and all that I long to be.

I think there is a reason why God says come apart for a while and be refreshed. I was refreshed. My husband could tell when I got home that I have been refreshed.

Some negative people had tried to get me down because of my age. It's true I'm only in my thirties, but that doesn't mean that I don't have anything to say or share. This retreat showed me that I was valued. I had a chance to say and a chance to share for God's glory.

There's nothing like the feeling of knowing that God can use you, defects and all, to bring Glory to Him. It's an incredible and wonderful feeling that people had been trying to steal from me.

I won't let anyone try to steal it again. Your own special relationship with God is worth hanging on to, no matter what other Christians say.

A different kind of perfume

2007-02-04T09:41:00.000-06:00

"A little blind boy was asked one day what forgiveness is, and he said, 'It is the perfume that flowers breathe out when they are trampled upon.'"

From "Make God First" by Eric B. Hare

This little tidbit touched me so I hope you don't mind my sharing it with you.

Bookends

2007-01-29T10:03:00.000-06:00

My life is a pair of bookends.

Currently, between those bookends are more than 200,000 words that I've typed on two different books. My brain is giving me no relief. I already have the material for two more books in my head.

There are days when a mother of three who home schools begins to wonder if she'll ever get it all done.

So, thanks for your patience, for those of you wondering why I haven't been very active lately on the blogs.

For those of you who have already published a book, feel free to give me any and all advice you have. My current search for a publisher is taxing my poor overloaded brain.

If you happen to run into my sanity any time soon, would you please let it know that I miss it greatly.

Well Done

2007-01-12T20:11:00.000-06:00

My kids got a Veggie Tales DVD for Christmas fron their aunt & uncle. This one is about Gideon Tuba Warrior. Of course my Tuba Torquing Husband loves it!

In one scene Gideon tells the angel he was hoping the message from God would be something like 'well done good servant' not 'I want you to fight the enemy that greatly outnumbers you' so the angel simply says 'if you want to hear God say well done, then you need to do what He asks.'

God sure knows how to nail me, and with a kids video! Anybody else wanting to hear 'well done?' Then I guess we better get busy and do what He asks. I think Micah 6:8 is a good place to start.

New Year's Letter

2007-01-12T18:20:00.000-06:00

So, I gave up on Christmas cards years ago. I like New Year's Letters much better. This way, you get the whole scoop of what we did at Christmas! This is my fourth annual New Year's Letter. It's a little late because I accidentally ate something I'm allergic to and have had to spend the first week of the new year trying to survive. Forgive the copy and paste, but this is it!

Greetings from the Leukert Family!

You know you are experiencing life when it gets in the way. Such is the case with my attempts to get this Fourth Annual New Year’s Letter in your hands before the first week of January was over. Hopefully, you will still get a blessing from this update on our family.

When we take a moment to look back on 2006, we see it as a year of changes, firsts and amazing discoveries for our family. For the most part, it seems to have all started with our Searcy County Spelling Bee in February. It was Michael’s first spelling bee, and he was representing the home schoolers of Searcy County. Our 10 year old 4^th grader did well against the reigning champion 8^th grader for several rounds then finally lost. We, the parents, had merely been hoping Michael would make it past the first round, as this was his first spelling bee. By the time it got down to just Michael and the 8^th grader, we were a nervous wreck. Michael agreed with us in the end that he was glad he got second place. He wasn’t ready to have to go to the state spelling bee. Yes, sometimes it’s nice to come in second. We were all surprised when he was handed a certificate and an envelope with $15 in it. Needless to say, he’s getting ready for this year’s spelling bee.

March brought green into our family and not just because of St. Patrick’s Day. Several home schoolers in our group decided to start a new 4H club in the Searcy County area. The parents met a few times and finally we had our first meeting with the kids. There are many things we have learned in the past year about 4H, but I appreciate their basic premise: equal training of the head, heart, hands and health.

April is the month when our world to some extent turned upside down. It wasn’t the fact that Greta turned three. It was our transportation. Sharon and our 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan ended up in a flooded creek after Sharon missed the left edge while trying to cross a low water bridge. The van was stopped dead in the water, but good people of Searcy County towed her out and got Sharon to a phone to call for assistance. The hardest part for Sharon was watching other vehicles crossing the low water bridge without incident, even though they were 4x4 trucks and so forth.

Thus began months of being without a vehicle of our own. Generous friends loaned us extra vehicles at different times for which we were grateful. Our insurance agency totaled the van and gave us a reasonable settlement. After searching for a good vehicle that would meet the needs of our family, we finally settled on a 2004 Chevy Venture that needed a little bit of work done on it. When the work was finally completed, we were quite pleased with our new vehicle and thankful for our own transportation again. It’s wonderful having a back seat that can fold down flat and a powered passenger door.

In May, Michael participated in a forestry competition through 4H at the local county level. Michael learned to scale (measuring for lumber, not climbing) trees and identify them. Since Michael has always loved trees, this was a natural for him, but it still took us by surprise when he won first place in the competition. This qualified Michael to attend the regional competition in Ozark, Arkansas. Since the competition landed on Karl’s day off, we made it a family event. Neither of us has ever been to a 4H rally before. Neither of us has ever seen so much green in our lives. It was an unforgettable experience. Michael placed 4^th in the regional competition and learned some valuable lessons about preparation and paying attention to details.

Matthew is finally old enough to be a Clover Bud in 4H this year, so he is excited to be joining the ranks of our Caring Clovers Club. It will be several years before he’s old enough to participate in the competitions and so forth, but he’s already learning teamwork, cooperation and paying attention. He keeps asking when his favorite sidekick sister, Greta can join.

This summer gave us a special treat. A friend of ours, formerly from New Mexico, and his new bride were in the Branson, Missouri area for some meetings for his job as a pastor. It is only a 2 hour drive from our house so we met with them on their free afternoon before they left for home. Steve and Heather had lots of stories to tell, including how God has blessed them since their house burned down in a major fire that took many homes in their community. We greatly enjoyed our visit and hope that we will get to see them again in the future.

August brought two of the big events. Michael had approached the pastor and asked to speak with him at length in the church library. The pastor said talking with Michael is like speaking with a miniature adult. Michael said he felt he was ready to give his life to Jesus and be baptized. So, on August 19^th, Michael was baptized and became a member of God’s family. It was wonderful to have many friends and family members witness this wonderful event. Michael had been very nervous, but he told the pastor later that all that nervousness left the moment he came up out of the water. Perfect love casts out fear.

The very next day was the first piano recital for Michael and Matthew. They have been taking lessons for more than a year now and were very excited to play in their first recital. Michael had one piece to play by himself as well as a duet with his piano teacher. He also participated in a Celtic band that played several pieces. Matthew played a piece from his piano book as well as his own original composition about Jesus dying on the cross. At the end of the recital, all of the participants were asked to come up on stage all together. Matthew went in his mother’s arms, because he had fallen asleep. A first piano recital is hard work for a 4 ½ year old boy.

In November, both boys had their birthdays. Michael turned eleven and Matthew turned five. We took them to the Mid America Science Museum in Hot Springs, Arkansas. We had a great time at the science museum and even got to play at the circus themed activities that were on special display at the museum. There was even an area with a platform and costumes of all types and sizes where families could dress up and take pictures. Greta was a ballerina and a clown. Matthew was a strong man and a bear and a cannon ball rocket man. Michael enjoyed dressing up as the leader of a marching band and a strong man and a leopard. Karl was a bear and Sharon was a clown. It was a fun experience for the family and we are glad that sometimes birthdays can be celebrated in other ways besides a party.

December brought Christmas in Georgia. We were grateful to be able to spend the Christmas holiday with Karl’s parents in Georgia. The whole family was there, including Karl’s sister, her husband and two sons as well as Karl’s brother and his wife. It was also a treat to spend time with Aunt Luella, Karl’s great aunt who is an amazing story teller. Believe it or not, we managed to get 13 people to pose for a family picture that had everyone smiling and with their eyes looking at the camera. Greta much enjoyed being the only granddaughter and getting attention from her brothers as well as her cousins.

It looks like 2007 will be full of many wonderful things. From our family to yours, may you have the peace that passes understanding and the joy of the Lord as your strength!

Christmas 1 Corinthians 13

2006-12-30T21:08:00.000-06:00

I received this from a friend of mine, Mr. Cowden, from Oklahoma. I'm sure he won't mind my passing it on. Enjoy!

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny balls; but, do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.
If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of holiday cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime; but, do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.
If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity; but, do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.
If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir's cantata; but, do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and tablelinens.
Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust...
But giving the gift of love will endure. (The preceding is a paraphrase of the "Love" chapter - 1 Corinthians 13 - received from our friend June)

You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.

Psalm 127:3 How are we cherishing this gift/reward?

Morning Worship

2006-12-19T08:44:00.000-06:00

I have a special spot where I like to meet with God in the morning.

The kids have come to know where my special spot is, as they often see me there. I used to try to always make sure that I was done with my morning worship before they woke up, but schedules changed and things got rearranged and now they are often stirring while I'm reading my Bible and praying.

I used to have an almost vigilante approach toward "protecting my worship time" so that I wasn't disturbed. Now, like this morning, it is the greatest joy to have my little girl climb up next to me and snuggle as I read and pray. Sometimes I pray out loud with her. Sometimes I read some of the things I'm studying to the boys when they come out.

There are times when I have to ask them to be quiet, and they are eager to do so, because they know how special this time is to me. I praise the Lord that over the years He has helped me to see that it's not whether the worship time is 'perfect' or not, but whether or not my heart is turned to Him with the faith of a little child.

Squeeze My Feet

2006-12-04T10:52:00.000-06:00

Both of the boys celebrated birthdays recently. Their birthdays are 15 days apart. It certainly makes for an interesting November, when you add in Thanksgiving and my mom's birthday as well. November ends up being a feasting and party month! No wonder I can never fit into that great Christmas outfit!

We went shopping with Matthew's birthday money. He got to pick out some cool toys and some great shoes and a new pack of socks. Normally, I would just buy whatever hits me at the moment, but I wanted him to learn how to make decisions on what he would like.

Karl likes ankle socks. Michael likes long socks. Both of them hate tube socks. So, what was Matthew's emerging preferences? I asked him what kind of socks he would like to get. His answer was simple. I want socks that squeeze my feet, so they don't fall off.

Matthew does have some socks that really need to disappear, but they are favorites. They are old and worn out and loose fitting from being stretched out so much, yet he still wears them. I'm slowly removing these unworthy items from his drawers, favorites or not. But he knew enough to know he wanted tight fitting socks. Socks that squeezed his feet, so they wouldn't fall off.

The words were precious. The lesson even better. Matthew was speaking from his heart. He didn't know how to say I want tight fitting socks, but he knew how to say he wanted socks that squeezed his feet. In his 5 year old honesty and sincerity, he got his message across.

Sometimes, I think we don't talk to God enough, because we are afraid of saying things like, I want socks that squeeze my feet. Somehow we've been brainwashed to think that if we don't use "thee's and thou's" in our prayers that we aren't praying properly. I'm all for reverance, don't get me wrong, but God doesn't want us to rend our garments, He wants us to rend our hearts. Look it up!

So, I'm going to take a lesson from my 5 year old. The next time I want to tell God something really important to me, I'm just going to say it how I feel it, even if it's not King James English or whatever. God understands me. He created me. He'd much rather me talk to Him, than try to learn how to speak in a way that is not natural for me.

Letterboxing

2006-11-27T10:14:00.000-06:00

I took my oldest son and my niece letterboxing this weekend. Michael's 4H group has some hiking/letterboxing projects that the 4H'ers can work on. Michael loves trails, hiking, trees and the great outdoors, so this is perfect for him.

My sister and mother stayed at the house with my two little ones while I took Michael and Cherokee to the Indian Rockhouse Trailhead. It was a 3 1/2 mile trail, with the most difficult part at the end. That is when everybody really began to complain about their legs hurting and so forth. Why they saved the steepest most difficult part for the end of the trail, I'm not sure, but they did.

We saw lots of sinkholes, natural rock formations that were amazing and squirrels. The little creatures seemed to be everywhere on the trail. We had clues from the 4H club, and we followed them carefully. However, we never found the letterbox kit, and therefore weren't able to add our stamps to the journal inside it.

Some interesting things happened on that hike. My niece, who was so ready to go and ready for an adventure, was the one struggling the most at the end. She had failed to pace herself carefully at the beginning.

I had never been on this particular trail, but I have been hiking before. The trail map from the ranger station, as well as the 4H letterbox clues, gave me enough information to realize that we were very close to the Indian Rockhouse, the halfway point of the trail. We had one more steep climb, and then it would level out and we'd get to the rockhouse. But Michael and Cherokee begged for a rest. They were pleading, truth be told. I informed them there were no breaks until we got to the rockhouse. I reminded them that I was 35 years old and had three kids. If I can do it, they can, because they are young and full of energy. Come on guys, keep up with me! I told them that they would thank me later for pushing them on now. We finally made it up the hill and to the rockhouse and we were greatly rewarded for our efforts. The scenery was beautiful. I explained to Cherokee that it is much easier to get a car up a steep hill, if you have the momentum from going down the previous hill. It would be much harder to drive up that hill, if you had come to a complete stop at the bottom of it. I told her it was the same with our hiking. If we had stopped and took a rest, when we had good momentum, just before this one last steep hill, that hill would have been much harder to climb.

I learned a lot yesterday. I learned that previous hiking experience, even though I wasn't familiar with this particular trail, had helped me have a better hike. I also learned that not pacing yourself at the beginning can make it very hard for you at the end. Actually, my niece learned that one. I learned that even though we were looking for the stamp, and never found it, we still enjoyed the journey. I also learned that the strap on a $6 desert canteen from Walmart isn't worth 50 cents. My poor niece ended up carrying her canteen on more than half of the trail, because the strap broke. She had just purchased the canteen on Wednesday, and it broke this weekend. But she didn't complain, and she carried her canteen. I remembered how peaceful it was on the trail, and how blessed it is to let God see your heart so openly out in nature.

Believe

2006-11-19T07:51:00.000-06:00

Our memory text this past week was Genesis 15:6. "He believed in the Lord and He counted it to him for righteousness."

Yesterday, our pastor and his wife were in our "young adult" Sabbath School class with us. When the teacher went over the memory text for the week, our pastor stopped her and just said, we need to discuss this.

Pastor Westgate wanted to make sure that each one of us understood that Abram believed in the Lord and His promises. It wasn't Abram's altars, his sacrifices, his honesty, integrity or musical preference. Abram believed in the Lord.

Someone in the class asked how one can believe and yet be at such a different "stage" in their relationship with Christ than someone who perhaps has believed on the Lord for many years.

The first thing to come to my mind was my husband. So I related this to the class, and I think it helped me to even better understand my relationship with Christ.

When I first met Karl, I believed that there was something special about him. So, I took advantage of opportunities to get to know Karl better. Then I believed that Karl was someone I might be interested in dating. So we started spending time together. Next, I believed that Karl was an important part of my life, and I didn't want to date anyone else. We spent more and more time together, sharing our thoughts, dreams and goals in life. Soon, I believed that Karl was the man God had intended for me to share my life with.

At each stage, I believed. As I spent more time with Karl, my belief in our love grew. It is the same with Christ. The moment we believe, we are His. The more time we spend with Christ, the more we see what He is in our lives, and the more we believe in Him. Our belief in Him grows as we spend precious time with our Savior. Yet the truth remains that we were just as much Christ's when we first believed as we are Christ's when we have believed and grown in Him for 20 years or more. God is amazing!

I Used to Be Perfect

2006-11-17T09:03:00.000-06:00

I've been reading lately, and writing.

The book I've been working on is a book loaned to me by my pastor, "I Used To Be Perfect," by George Knight.

I saw a video sermon once where someone shared a concept from this book, but to put it bluntly, they did it in such a horrible way that it made the concept hideous to me. I told the pastor about it and he agreed that this guy wasn't getting the thought across, but that it wasn't a bad concept, just presented badly. That's why he loaned me the book, because it presents the concepts of grace in a much more understandable way.

I must admit, the book has shock titles for its chapters. It seems Mr. Knight wants to get your dander up before you read each chapter. I'm not so fond of this ploy, but the material is still good, despite Mr. Knight's attempts (or his editors) to shock you with titles such as chapter one's: Sin is love.

But once you read the chapter, you agree that sin is love. Sin is love of self. Sin is love of self, self seeking, selfishness, pride and ego. It's taking the love for God that we were created to experience and enjoy, and substituting instead a love of self. The point is well made and right on. Sometimes we tend to think of sin as individual actions, like whether or not someone steals, lies, murders and so forth.

It's definitely a book worth taking a look at. It's nice to have someone put in book form that it's all about the relationship. This is something Karl and I have tried to share with some former church friends, to no avail. Maybe, someday, we'll all understand that God wants our hearts and He wants to share His withus.

When I'm not reading "I Used to Be Perfect," I'm working on my first novel. My oldest son saw me typing away last night. He asked what I was working on, and I said a project. He had seen my typing at the computer several times this week and said, are you writing a book. I guess not much gets by an 11 year old boy that reads for the sheer joy of reading.

I honestly had no intention of writing a novel, of all things, but I've had no peace until I started writing it down. I did the first draft of one chapter yesterday afternoon and I nearly cried when I was done. It is amazing how much of yourself you share when you write a book. How much of your own relationship with God you are revealing to others, and how God fills your heart and mind. He is amazing!

When you ask God.......

2006-11-10T17:45:00.000-06:00

It's amazing what can happen when you ask God a question, without limits.

I have a home business that I'm ashamed to say I didn't manage well at the beginning. Mainly, I didn't start it out correctly, with God at the helm. I asked for guidance, and I didn't get the answer I wanted, so I did my own thing anyway. Since then, I've come to realize that things go much better when God is in charge.

So, the next step was to rededicate the business to God, and designate a portion of my income to Him. This is where it gets complicated. This is where my selfishness was made manifest. I was trying to decide how much of my income should be dedicated to the Lord, you know, beyond tithes. Did God want 25% of my income or more or less?

At first I felt the pious thing to do would be to start at 50%, but then I realized how much money I would be "losing." Suddenly, I thought that maybe 25% wouldn't be too bad, but even that seemed like a lot. Then, I realized how petty I was being and that I would never be able to decide for myself.

So, I gave it to God. I asked Him. Lord, how much do you want me to dedicate to you of this business income. His response was rather simple, "All of it."

I was floored, but joyful, because God had made the decision that I was too weak to make, after I had given the matter to Him. I guess that's the way it works. When you are to weak to do the right thing, surrender the situation to God, and He'll put you on the right path.

So, one of the things I had been doing wrong in my home business was something I couldn't do for myself. Now that it's God's business, I found myself being even more careful about how I handled work, and wouldn't you know it, things went better than before the business was rededicated to God. It's almost as if I'm more careful because this is God's business.

But the sad part of it is that we should be living our lives that way everyday. I should be more careful with my words, my thoughts, my actions, my attitude, my thoroughness in the things I have to do, because it's God's, not mine.

Marian Fisher

2006-11-05T09:09:00.000-06:00

The following is written by Bible Worker William Earnhardt, from Tampa, FL. I certainly hope he doesn't mind my sharing this on my blog, since it's already been passed around the internet on emails. Marian Fisher, an example of another young woman of true beauty.

"Satan reared his ugly head where no one expected him. He once again demonstrated before the entire universe his true colors in a tiny
Amish school. But where Satan was showing his true colors God's grace abounded even greater in the person of 13 year old Marian Fisher. Satan used a grown man to represent him before the world and the universe, but God chose a 13 year old Amish girl to represent Him before the universe. Jesus said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Marian Fisher woke up Monday morning like any other 13 year old girl with a full day ahead of her - totally clueless that she was moments
away from being placed in a situation where she would choose to make the ultimate sacrifice - pleading with a gunman to shoot her first, to buy time so others could survive.
My first thought was, "where did she get the presence of mind to think of that?" Second question "where did she get the courage to ask?" Obviously while we may think our religion superior, and may think the Amish a little backwards, today we stand in awe of the Amish parents and teachers who are obviously doing something right! Probably a hundred things right! They taught and prepared a young girl to do way more than just stand up for the letter of the law but to represent the very spirit of the law and the Cross of Christ when she was trying to die first so others could live!
Obviously this girl had more than just fantastic parents and teachers. She herself was "filled with all the fullness of God." What was demonstrated during those few minutes of terror in the Amish school was not just a 13 year old girl, but God Himself. Satan used the Cross to show his true colors thus providing opportunity for Jesus to show His true colors. At the Cross 2,000 years ago Marian Fisher was crucified with Christ. In the Amish school the everlasting gospel, which is the Cross of Christ, was again spread all
over the world via Internet and Satellite as, this time, Christ was in that school being crucified with Marian Fisher. Once again, where sin abounded God's grace has much more abounded. God has shown that He still exists and is very much alive, not by using the wonders of the heavens, not by using the cunning philosophy and theology of religious scholars, but by using an everyday 13 year old girl.
These are the things I am considering as I ponder this story:
1. While the wicked are becoming more wicked, the righteous are becoming more righteous.
2. God is sealing His people not just with a superficial knowledge of His law but with His very self sacrificing character.
3. While we are tempted to think evil is prevailing, God's grace is prevailing. There are many other stories in the news today of everyday people sacrificing their lives for others. On 9-11 we saw Satan rearing his ugly head again with a people who were willing to die in order to destroy others. God showed us on that same day even more people who were willing to die to save others. We see an entire Amish community demonstrating love and genuine forgiveness. It makes me believe the 144,000 will actually be a multitude in which no man can number.
4. Humility! If we older people think the youth of today are the problem and we are the solution think again! It was a young girl at Columbine who stood up for Jesus in the face of death, and again in Pennsylvania.
5. If we think our denomination is superior think again! The everlasting gospel is being taken to the world by people from all walks of life and religious backgrounds. Like the Good Samaritan, God is not glorified in people who know it all but by people who lay down their lives at any cost.
6. What would I have done if I had been in that young girl's shoes? When I left my house this morning and headed to work, was I prepared to lay down my life? As I admire her courage I have to doubt not only my credentials to be a lay pastor or Bible Worker, but can I even call myself a Christian? Today if you were listing those who are Christians, I would shrink from having my name mentioned in the same sentence as Marian Fisher or any other forgiving Amish in that community.
7. Don't think for a moment that all the Daniels, Shadrachs, Meshachs and Abednegos are just way back in Bible times. They are all around us today. They are everyday fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, and yes, sons and daughters!"

Warped Sense of Beauty

2006-10-27T10:20:00.000-05:00

My husband found a link to this cool movie made by Dove: http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/home_films_evolution_v2.swf

Please check out this movie. It's only a couple of minutes long, and explains very easily why our perception of beauty is so warped.

Basically, the movie shows a woman, plain, and then the whole process of "making her over" in fast frame. It also inlcudes the computer enhancements. Yes, computer enhancements after this woman has been all made over, it's still not enough to satisfy the beauty craving Hollywood has built in us.

So what constitutes true beauty to you? What have you done lately to let people know they are beautiful in your life, whether or not their face appears on a billboard?

I was just home from the hospital after Greta was born. It had been a stressful time. My father was dying of cancer and I desperately wanted to see him. Then a very beautiful thing happened. The ladies of my church at that time all got together and planned help for me. Each day was assigned to a different woman, for one week. They came and cleaned my house, made lunch for us and ate with us, helping with the older children, then they cleaned up again and left us with a dish for supper. One woman even did all my laundry. Another woman stayed for hours in the afternoon playing with the older children so I could get some undisturbed rest. Thanks to these ladies, I recovered quickly from childbirth and was able to travel to see my Dad before he died.

That is my picture of beautiful women.

Tribute to Alexander Borodin, by a three year old

2006-10-24T07:57:00.000-05:00

I have arrived!

In one brief moment before supper last night, I realized what had been accomplished. The minds of my young children were totally influenced to appreciate....classical Russian music!

Everyone loves Sabre Dance, so that doesn't count, however it is indeed one of Greta's favorites which she often requests. My thanks to Aram Khatchaturian.

However, last night I achieved the pinnacle of musical influence over my children. Greta and Matthew are my little songbirds. They sing, they hum, they da da da da da and whatever else they can do to vocalize music. It seems at times that the world, and my home, would be deathly silent were it not for their musical offerings.

As we were seating the children for supper, Greta launched into one of her hums that turns in to a da da da da recitation of a song that she has heard that tickles her fancy. And what was that great offering of musical genius? Twas not Bob the Builder, although they do like that song and will also hum it at times. Twas not any of the numerous Christmas pieces I'd been playing as of late, for which her father thanks her. It was none other than one of the Polovetsian Dances from "Prince Igor" by Alexander Borodin! Yes, the pinnacle of musical influence over a three year old (and consequently her nearly 5 year old brother as they take turns copying each other) has been achieved.

So, to the vast repertoire of musical renderings offered by Matthew and Greta such as Veggie Tales, Sabbath School songs, Bob the Builder, Revive Us Lord, and bluegrass, we now add Classical Russian music. Alas it is a beautiful day!

Pastor Appreciation... and more

2006-10-23T11:49:00.000-05:00

So, this Sabbath was Pastor Appreciation Sabbath. We had a special potluck after church and presented the pastor with a card that had been passed around (very cleverly) through the whole church so people could sign it. We had been told the week before of this, and so we encouraged our children to prepare something as well.

Little Greta drew a stick man, and said it was the pastor. If you've ever seen a 3 year old girl draw a stick man, well, you can appreciate what she lovingly gave to our pastor.

Matthew was not content with one drawing. He was determined that he would be making a book. In fact, he nearly cried when he realized he had one part of it upside down. So, he erased it and started over. My little perfectionist finally got it the way he wanted it. It was just a small book, but it was indeed a book, made with heart from a 4 year old perfectionist (boy am I in trouble).

One picture that Matthew chose to include in his book was that of the burning bush, that Moses saw. He said that it was Jesus that was talking to Moses from the burning bush, and since Jesus was the Lamb of God, he drew a lamb in the burning bush. This took Karl by surprise, but Matthew was totally right. Jesus is the Lamb of God (and the bread of life and the way and the door....)and He was in the burning bush. Kids are amazing.

A collection had been taken up for a gift to give to the pastor. But no one said anything about his wife or daughter. So, during the week, I had formulated some ideas, and then prepared a little gift bag for the pastor's wife and their daughter. His wife seemed to really appreciate it.

Let's face it, a pastor has a lot on his mind and many burdens that most of us don't even realize. Besides taking it to God in prayer, who else is he going to share those burdens with? A godly wife to support a pastor is blessing, a miracle and something to be grateful for. Without her help and support, would he be able to do all he does?

Most everyone at church just chipped in to the collection and signed the card. I didn't see many others (non actually) who personally presented the pastor or his family with anything.

When was the last time we did something personal. Not just the routine and standard practice, but really personalized our thanks? When was the last time that you personally, on your own, told Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, how much you love Him?

Preparation

2006-10-22T10:33:00.000-05:00

So there was communion at my church yesterday. No big deal, except for the fact that most of the church members weren't aware and had no clue. Usually, there are announcements and so forth, or a note in the previous church bulletin. My church holds communion about once every three months, not every single service. I've been to churches where they have communion every single Sunday, and it has very little meaning, because it's just a quick thing to get out of the way, something they do every single week. At least, that's the way it was at the churches I've been to.

What Jesus experienced with his disciples was so incredibly special and full of meaning, that when we have communion at our church, I like to think and prepare spiritually the week beforehand. I didn't get this opportunity yesterday. But that's the cool thing. God still had a lesson for me.

It was a reminder that Jesus wants me to come to Him, just as I am, whether I'm "prepared" or not. Whether or not I've had time to dwell on Jesus' promise that He would not drink anymore of the fruit of the vine until He can drink it with us in Heaven. The important thing, is to come to Him, and accept from Him what He can offer to us.

A Real Man

2006-10-18T09:44:00.000-05:00

Years ago, there was an opportunity to preach a sermon on Father's Day weekend at our church in New Mexico. I volunteered. Unbelievably, even though I'm a woman, the pastor said, sure.

So I got up and preached a sermon about God's love for people shown through godly men. I wore an illustration, a dress my father had gotten for me when I was 16 years old. A very expensive dress, but one he knew would last a long time and I would enjoy with great comfort, and I did. My dad knew the value of quality, and tried to instill that into his extra thrifty daughter.

But that day, I also preached about God's command to comfort the widow and the orphan. I mentioned that I had a sister, a single mother, and I prayed that one day there would be a godly man come into her life and the life of her daughter.

That's been many years ago, and she is still single, but God has brought godly men into her life as father figures, especially after our own father died 3 years ago. God does answer prayers!

Recently, another godly man has been there to help her with advice when she needed it. I'm just rejoicing and praising the Lord for His providence.

Men, you are needed. There are many areas where your strength and dependence on God are in high demand. The world needs godly men. Don't be shy. Stand up and show God's love to those around you.

Boyhood and Beyond

2006-10-13T19:54:00.000-05:00

I really love this book, "Boyhood and Beyond," by Bob Schultz. I saw it in the new arrivals section of our local library, and took it for a test drive. I loved it so much, just reading the first few chapters, that I decided it would be part of Michael's home school curriculum this year.

Even better than the fact that I love this book, is the fact that Michael also loves this book. It was such an awesome moment when we finished this great chapter about perseverance and not giving up, and then at the end is this awesome text, Micah 7:8. Michael nearly came out of his seat, like the way you do when you hear the most beautiful music or see the lovliest art work in a perfect display setting.

All I can say is wow. Wow. Wow. I told Michael, since he's going to turn eleven next month, that after we finish this book, we need to read it again in a few more years, when he's a teenager (but by no means is it too early to read the book now, I mean WOW), and he agreed so enthusiastically.

I'm grateful for men who challenge boys now, in their youth, to learn the ways of God and learn now to start making the decisions that will honor God. Then, when they are older, they will be used to making the right decisions. I'm grateful for those who are mentoring boys and girls, young men and young women wherever they are, to draw closer to Christ and love Him more.

Listening

2006-10-08T20:49:00.000-05:00

Well, finally did it. Thanks to encouragement and prodding from family, I finally went to a different doctor. I told myself I wasn't going to any "regular" gynecologists anymore. I was tired of being treated like case number 235678......

So, I found this doc that listens to you. Seriously. My first appointment with her was 2 hours long, not counting the blood tests she ordered for me. She really listened to me. She really took the time to see what all was happening in my life and what could be causing the physical problems I was experiencing.

A huge burden has been relieved because somebody took the time to listen to all of the symptoms, and not try to force me into a preprogrammed medication.

I'm looking forward to feeling a huge difference in the next few months. In the meantime, I'm still just so thankful that somebody listened. Really listened.

Perhaps there is someone in your life that needs someone to just listen. Jesus has asked us to be His hands and feet, and minister to those around us in His name. Why not practice the art of listening today?

Life Chain

2006-10-01T15:50:00.000-05:00

I participated in my first "Life Chain" today. Life Chain is an organized effort to express pro-life choices, without political or aggressive measures. It is simply holding a sign (all the signs were the same for uniformity and clarity) that said "Abortion Kills Children." Life Chain is held the 1st of October each year, from 2pm to 3pm. For this one hour, people stand quietly and meditatively in a chain on a major road displaying these signs.

On the back of the signs, are words of songs, for the sign bearer to quietly hum to themselves, including "Jesus Loves the Little Children." There are also instructions, guidelines, and ideas for meditation and prayer. The first suggestion for prayer, is not for those who have had/are having or may have an abortion. The first suggestion for prayer is for yourself, a prayer for repentance. Personal repentance for possibly not taking a stand sooner against abortion and for missing an opportunity to aid an abortion victim.

Needless to say, I thought of the many times I've been judgmental, and not compassionate. I've thought of the many times I've banked on pharisaical pride, instead of the hands and feet that reach out with the love of Jesus. There was indeed much soul searching as I stood out there for one hour in 88 degrees and bright sunshine, not exactly the usual for the 1st of October.

My children were with me. I had brought chairs for them and saw to their comfort and needs during the one hour. Several people commented on how amazed they were that children could be so calm for an hour. I was praising the Lord for His blessings! It was nice to see that on the guidelines for participants, it said, assist mothers with young children. I was grateful for that assistance when it was time to load up and exit the area by the highway.

It was nice to see the 70 people from our tiny county come out and support the life chain. However, I did begin to wonder, what if the signs read: Gossip kills relationships. Adultery kills marriages. Not listening kills parent/child relationships. No Bible study and prayer kills spirituality. Let's just say that I had a lot to think about out there today, and much to pray for.

Dog Stories

2006-09-25T17:52:00.000-05:00

Ask me sometime what happened in Arizona, but let's just say I'm not a cat person anymore. Dogs - now that's another story.

I recently checked out Eight Below from our local library. Wow, what an inspiring movie! I wanted to know more, so I went to the official website. I wanted to know more about the true story that inspired this movie.

What I found on the Eight Below website was a collection of dog hero stories. Incredible. Dogs and kids. Dogs and adults. Dogs and families. Dogs and fires, burglars, thin ice. All kinds of stories of the heroics of dogs.

If you are an animal lover, especially dogs, or you just need to know that good things can happen when all seems lost, go to the Eight Below website and check out the dog hero stories. It will make your heart glad!

Blessings of Music

2006-09-25T09:33:00.000-05:00

I sometimes use music to encourage the children to get out of their beds and head for the chores list. One day last week, I put in a cd by Janice Smith. It's songs from her children's series, Janice's Attic. I knew the children would recognize some of the songs and enjoy it. What I didn't realize is how much it would bless me as well.

All of these kids songs have such simple messages, but are put beautifully to music in a way that children enjoy. Simple songs about persevering (boy did I need that one) and having a good attitude. Pretty soon, I realized that choosing that cd that day was the best thing that I could have done to remind me of the simple truths of God's love and His desire to give me a more abundant life. Praise the Lord for those who minister to children! God says they have their reward, and I believe that! I'm also grateful that the people who minister to children can also minister to us stubborn adults, if we'll just take the time to listen and humble our hearts.

Journey to Wellness Revisited

2006-09-22T14:46:00.000-05:00

You may recall the Journey to Wellness quiz that Karl and I took, and the results that I would outlive him by 15 years. If you want more info, see the previous post called Journey to Wellness.

There were already some changes that were happening in our lives at the time, but one change in particular, which I won't comment on in this post, seems to have opened doors and changed our lives for the better! It's amazing how making one decision for a change in your life can put you on the right track in many areas of your life.

Good things aren't pouring out like rainstorms or anything, but both Karl and I have noticed how more good things and positive things are happening. It is a wondrous blessing!

One of those new positives is Karl's pledge to drink more water, and the fact that he is actually doing it. He is really noticing a difference in his energy levels and other things. Despite the migraines, he is avoiding sodas (he often used the caffeine in a soda to constrict the blood vessels in the neck that feed the migraine area and so forth) and feeling a huge difference.

Lastly, he tried a new product called Extreme X2O, produced by Xooma Worldwide. It's a water purification packet you put right in your glass. More than that, it has the right properties to help restore the PH balance in your body.

I didn't know that a Nobel Prize was given to the person who discovered that cancer cells can't live in an alkaline environment. How come this isn't spread all over the world? Everyone needs to know this simple discovery. No, it's not a cure for cancer, but he did discover that the cancer can't survive in an alkaline body. So, how do you get alkaline? Most of the sugars, fatty fried foods, coffee, sodas and so forth are acid forming, whereas most fruits, vegetables and grains are alkaline forming. Xooma's Extreme X2O also helps to balance your PH toward the Alkaline.

So, I'm happy for Karl. I wish him the best as he tries to get his health back on track. You can visit Karl's website to find out more about Extreme X2O at www.xoomaworldwide.com/drinktogoodhealth.

In the meantime, I'm going to look at my spiritual balance as well. If the cancer of sin can't live in an alkaline environment, what are some of the things that Jesus can do in my life, that will balance my spiritual PH? I think it's time I let Him do whatever is needed.

My Casio

2006-09-19T10:25:00.000-05:00

Okay, strange question for all of you - do you know how to fix the roller function on a Casio FR 2650 adding machine?

Called tech support, they tried to tell me how to load the paper, very kind and professional in manner. I told them the feed isn't working. I've worked some paper in there because the feed wouldn't load it. I enter calculations and it just types on the same line over and over again because the feed isn't working. I don't need someone to tell me how to load the paper, I need someone to tell me how to get the roller/feed function going.

They referred me the repair center. Casio is nice to provide both of these facilities with toll free numbers. However, the repair center person wasn't as easy going as the tech support. She wouldn't even listen to me, just send it in for repairs. No questions asked. When people won't even listen to me, it makes me wonder why I should send my item to their repair center. So, before I send it to either New Jersey or California, the only places authorized to repair an FR 2650, I'd like to know if anyone else has dealt with this and knows what to do to get this thing working.

Thinking about the whole incident....I think I'm the same way with God. When God tells me to do something, and I don't feel like He's listening to me, I'm usually not willing to do it. However, from reading God's Word, He is always listening to us. So, the only conclusion I can come to is that God is listening, but maybe I'm just not getting the response I want. It doesn't mean He isn't listening. It means I still need to submit to His will and be patient.

Ya'll pray for me because I have a real problem with patience! Hence the frustration with my Casio FR 2650!

forced paper in there and the feed isn't

2006-09-17T09:57:00.001-05:00

Jesus is our High Priest!

For some, this means nothing more than the words they just read. But there is a big difference for those who have put their trust in God, if we stop and think about it for a little bit, while adding a little bit of culture.

The Israelites had a day of atonement. On that day, the sanctuary would be cleansed. On that day, everything that had been happening the whole year on the credit card system, if you will, was about to be paid up (as far as the earthly symbols go). Would the payment be accepted?

Each year, on the day of atonement, the Israelites would pray and search their hearts. Had all sins been confessed? If the high priest was not worthy, or didn't fulfill the sacrifices and offerings in the correct manner, it would not be accepted.

The high priest wore bells on the end of his garment, that would jingle as he walked and ministered in the Most Holy Place. If the bells stopped ringing, the other priests, in the Holy Place, who held the end of a rope that was tied to the high priest's ankle, would have to pull his dead body out. For he would be consumed by the power and majesty of God, if this high priest was unworthy or the people hadn't done their part. A very solemn ceremony, to say the least.

But we can rejoice! We know that our High Priest has offered the best and the only sacrifice that is worthy. We don't have to fear. Jesus' sacrifice was what the law demanded. We don't have to fear the judgment/final day of atonement, as long as our trust is in Jesus, because His sacrifice has been accepted in heaven.

Matthew's Hurricane

2006-09-09T18:03:00.000-05:00

Matthew has a cowlick. It is unmistakable. It's also adorable, right now. Who knows what it will be for him when he's a teenager.

I remember when we buzzed his hair last summer. The cowlick was even more pronounced. This was during Hurricane season, and before Katrina. Someone at church came up and said, "Matthew, you have a little hurricane on your head." Sure enough, with his hair buzzed, that cowlick did look like a little hurricane in his hair.

For some reason, Matthew has been fascinated with hurricanes ever since. Maybe because we buzz his hair during the summers and he is reminded of his own little hair hurricane.

The latest with Matthew and hurricanes was an experience Karl had. We've taught the children how to say "I love you" in sign language. Most people know this symbol. Using your right hand, you have your thumb, pointer finger and pinkie finger extended, and the others folded.

In our family, we sometimes make the sign and then make our fingers "blink." It's our way of making a neon I love you sign. Sometimes we wave with the hand as well, saying it's a wave of I love you. Well, Matthew took it a step further. He made the I love you sign and was making it in a circle. Karl asked him what it was, and Matthew said, it was a hurricane of love.

God's Word says that children are a treasure from the Lord. In moments like this, I have no doubt (it's the baby powder spills all over the bedroom that make me waiver). I do rejoice in my children, and thank God for the privilege of raising them.

I think God planted something special in all children. Their great capacity for loving is indeed a treasure!

Beware of the Yeast

2006-09-08T09:41:00.000-05:00

I couldn't believe it. I was laughing because it was just too funny. Of all the things to win a blue ribbon and a special prize on top of it. It's just too funny!

This week is our local county fair. I entered 6 different baked goods, including dinner rolls. When I was making the rolls, following the directions of course, I had to set the yeast in a separate container and then start on the rest of the bread. I got the bread all kneaded, covered and set to rise, when I realized, I had forgotten to put in the yeast!

This was too much. I was also baking three types of pudding cookies and banana bread and cornbread and there just wasn't time for silly mistakes like this! At this point, I didn't care about ribbons, I just wanted the dinner rolls to turn out because I didn't want to waste the ingredients. So I worked the yeast into the dough and worked it and worked it, and prayed.

There was judging all morning and afternoon yesterday. Then, later in the afternoon I went to get our concession stand open that is a fundraiser activity for my son's 4H group. The official entries for the fair only need three pieces on a plate. So the rest of my baked goods went to the concession stand to help the kids. After working in the booth and cleaning up and tallying the profits and so forth, I finally had a chance to go see some of my entries.

I had heard that I got 4 blue ribbons and 2 red ribbons, and I just knew it was the dinner rolls that got a red ribbon (surprised they didn't throw them out), but there were the dinner rolls, set out on top with a line of other special prize winners. I couldn't believe it. I still chuckle when I think about it.

There is this verse in the Bible where Jesus says beware of the leaven (yeast) of the pharisees. I needed to beware of forgetting my yeast when I was baking! Yet just a simple thing like that, and the Lord answered prayers about making the dinner rolls still be edible so that food wouldn't be wasted. God is good. I'm glad He has time for the little things of life.

Compounding

2006-09-01T22:00:00.000-05:00

The latest detour in our journey with our oldest son's health is chelation. Michael's doctor has thoroughly tested him and we have worked with diet/allergies for a while. The next step is removing the mercury he was poisoned with during childhood vaccinations. Now, not everyone gets 4 shots in one day, but Michael did, and at the time, we didn't know any better. We've learned a lot since then about speaking up and researching for ourselves when it comes to health.

Michael still has a problem with swallowing pills, so we have to use a medicated lotion for the chelation process. This is something that has to be "compounded." This is not something that is kept in stock as a lotion. Only the chemicals are kept in stock, to be compounded when a prescription comes up needing it.

Michael's doctor called in the prescription to some place in New Jersey. I called them to work out the money details. All they wanted was my credit card number, and they weren't too free with information from their end, so I said no thank you and called around. Turns out our local pharmacy in our town has started compounding. Lately, they've been marketing their compounded bio-identical hormones. So, I thought I would give it a try.

Sure enough, they were friendly, answered all my questions, and didn't ask for my credit card until I was satisfied with the answers. Plus, they gave me a better price than the place in New Jersey and I saved the shipping costs!

I was reading an article lately about how more pharmacies are starting to put compounding areas back in their facilities. It seems that more and more people are becoming aware of the need to go back to the old ways of doing things. Another article in another magazine was touting the latest in veterinary news: doctors making house calls. Seems they've figured out that most of the felines and canines do much better when they are in their own environment.

It seems that every where I look, the "old, outdated, non efficient and certainly not politcally correct" ways of doing things are coming back and holding their own. People are getting tired, perhaps, of the computerized voices and no personal touch in anything these days, and they want things the way they used to be, people helping people right in their own communities.

It reminds me, however, of something very interesting I learned a few years ago. We went to a meeting where leaders of our area church district were talking about evangelism. They showed on a chart what had the best effect for leading people to Jesus and what had the least effect. They also showed what church members are more willing to do, and what they are least willing to do for evangelism.

It was very interesting that television and radio were the least effective witnessing tools, yet they were the ones the church members were the most willing to do. The most effective forms of evangelism were one on one Bible studies and other personal efforts. These, of course, were the things that church members were the least willing to do. Our society seems to be crying out for the "personal touch."

I hope God can use me to touch a life, because I know He has used many of you to touch mine.

Journey to Wellness

2006-08-25T09:17:00.000-05:00

So my husband brings home this little paper called Journey to Wellness, take the test of your lifetime. He had been at a 4H pool party with Michael and these papers were passed out there.

It has you start with the number 76, and then you add or subtract from that number based on a page and a half of questions. One question is: If you live in an urban area with a population over 2 million, subtract 2. There are other questions regarding health habits of yourself and family members. Karl bombed on this one because 2 grandfathers died before he was even born. All of my grandparents lived until at least 60 years old. The test also includes driving habits, taking into account whether or not you are likely to die in a car crash.

So, we get to the bottom of the test, and Karl said this thing estimated he would live to be 80 years old and I would live to be 95. All I could say was a sarcastic "Thanks!"

That's 15 years! There is a difference of 15 years between our life expectancies (granted no one but God knows the true number of our days, but this at least gets you thinking). We've been married for 15 years. There have been times of joy and times of sorrow. Frustrations and Elations. Not many people pull their firstborn child out themselves while their husband is driving 70 miles per hour to the hospital. So there are definitely experiences in our marriage these 15 years that I would greatly miss if we had never gotten married. So, I'm thinking how many experiences we would miss in 15 years difference of life expectancies?

Our choices: I can make my health worse (not going to happen on purpose), Karl can improve his health chances (a lot of effort on his part, but doable) or we can just accept the fact that I will outlive him by 15 years.

Repeatedly, the scriptures pound the message of health. God desires us to prosper and be in good health. 80 years of age is nothing to sneeze at, by any means, but I believe God's plan for us is to be as healthy as possible. So, pray for Karl and I as we try to climb the Mt. Everests of his health (his job literally is very hard on his health) that seem impossible. We must remember that with God, all things are possible, even good health!

How do you say I'm sorry?

2006-08-22T20:36:00.000-05:00

Interesting phone call. My 12 year old niece (whose gorgeous development has all of us {especially her mother} on our guard lately), called recently to ask advice on boys. Whoa. Well, at least it was for a friend of hers. It seems that her friend likes a certain boy and my niece thinks the boy likes her friend. The problem is they are both terribly shy. So my niece is left with the difficult task of helping these two "tweens" break the ice and talk to each other.
After speaking with my husband, as she wanted a guy's point of view, she then talked to me on the phone and said she was so confused. I told her that she was now right on target and welcome to womanhood! She went on to say that she would never understand men, and again, I welcomed her into the club.
However, it reminded me of another recent incident. I screwed up and made a big mess of a situation and it was totally senseless because I overreacted. So, I sucked it up and apologized and asked for forgiveness. That's when it hit me. The person I apologized to and asked forgiveness of....I couldn't remember the last time they ever apologized to me for anything or even hinted at asking for forgiveness, even though this person manages to cause me hurt and pain. I suddenly realized that I'm the one always apologizing (don't worry, it's not my husband), and even though this other person can be hateful and hurtful at times, they never apologize.
It got me to thinking that teaching our children to say "I'm sorry, I messed up, please forgive me," may be the best thing we ever do for their future relationships. I certainly wouldn't want my child going through life causing pain and suffering and not being able to own up to it and receive the healing of forgiveness and a change of behavior.
I also began to wonder, if we can never say "please forgive me" or "I'm sorry" to people we have relationships with, whether as close as immediate family or the other end of the spectrum, then how can we approach God? Does our inability to communicate on the "horizontal level" with our fellow mankind mean that we also don't have what it takes to communicate on the "vertical level" with our Lord and Maker?
And it's not just the words, I'm sorry. What about "good job, way to go, thanks for all your hard work, I appreciate all you've done." If you find yourself having a hard time communicating with someone, you may be having difficulty communicating with God as well, and it might just be time to stop and learn how to say "I'm sorry."

Music and Water

2006-08-16T08:51:00.000-05:00

I'm ashamed that it's been so long since my last posting. Alas, the "busy" of life has overwhelmed me as of late.

The boys have their first music recital this weekend. Michael is playing his solo piece on the piano, as well as the duet with his teacher of "Coming Round the Mountain" with another student playing the banjo. It's a great piece. Matthew is playing his solo on the piano as well as his "original composition" of a piece in a minor key about Jesus dying on the cross. Of course, it is only about 3 measures long, but he's only 4 years old, so his teacher wants to give him credit for those 3 measures!

Family is coming from out of state for the recital, and the baptism. Michael, some weeks back, went to the pastor and said, "may I please speak with you at length in the library." The pastor told us later that it was like talking to a small adult. Oh well, that's Michael and we love it! He requested baptism, and then the pastor found out what we had been doing in homeschool, and realized that Michael was pretty much ready for baptism. Since that time, we have reminded Michael over and over that it's not about how many correct answers you get or how good you are, but it's about committing your life to Jesus because you love Him.

So, we are very busy this weekend, and leading up to this weekend. I've made invitations for the recital and am completing the programs for that night. We are a little overwhelmed with all that needs to be done, but praising the Lord for His blessings!