I listened as a wife related the assignment a counselor had given a couple during their first session of marriage counseling. They were struggling to keep their marriage together, to mend a broken relationship, to deal with deep hurts. Their first “take home assignment” was to spend the time before the next visit practicing being kind to one another.
How often has that been a nice short phrase for memory work in our children’s Bible classes? A simple thing-- right?
Well, it sounded easy. She related what a surprise it was to her to find it so difficult. I would love to say that after hearing her story, I have been kind and compassionate with Kerbe ever since. I think I soon realized how in the wisdom of my creator the “Be kind and compassionate to one another” is followed by “forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” I need the forgiveness part, because I don’t always make it with the kind and compassionate part!
Sometimes I have to become re-aware of the wisdom of God. He created humanity. He knows the best way for us to live to have peace, harmony, happiness, and fulfillment. It’s not something grand and showy. It may be as “simple” as being kind to one another.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Be With Me, Lord
For years I have prayed “be with me, Lord” or for others “be with (name), Lord.” I have not been claiming God’s promise. I’ve been asking Him to do something He has already promised. He promises to be with us. The command “do not be afraid for I am with you” is given over 200 times in the Bible.
I have been learning to re-word my prayers. I still catch myself starting “God, please be with (name).” I simply stop and start over. I don’t think He minds. I now pray “Let (name) feel your presence in his/her life.” God will not stop being there. It’s the person who sometimes shuts Him out.
Recently Faye and Kenneth Jackson responded on a Sunday morning with a story that just awed me. Faye is in our Monday night Bible study group. I have included those ladies in my prayers, praying that each of them will feel the presence of God in their lives. They told the story of Faye’s hydroplaning on the interstate coming home from Chattanooga around the Monteagle Pass. It was an amazing story of her awareness of God watching after her safety, of the people He put in her life that day, and of the calm and peace He gave to her during that situation, and how they praised God for His care. I felt like Rhoda who opened the door and was amazed to find Peter standing there after they had been praying for his release from prison.
Since that time Mary Nell Criswell’s mother-in-law died, Peggy McEwen’s father died, and Linda Kirk’s father died. These wonderful Christian ladies are all part of our Bible study group. I am so thankful that I had prayed for them even before they experienced these losses. I know God was with them through this and will continue to be there. I pray with confidence that they will feel His presence and that His presence will shine through them for others to see.
My prayer for anyone reading this is that you will open your heart, soul, and mind to the presence of God in your life. Let Him guide you every minute of your day. You have the creator of the universe with you! How awesome and powerful is that!
I have been learning to re-word my prayers. I still catch myself starting “God, please be with (name).” I simply stop and start over. I don’t think He minds. I now pray “Let (name) feel your presence in his/her life.” God will not stop being there. It’s the person who sometimes shuts Him out.
Recently Faye and Kenneth Jackson responded on a Sunday morning with a story that just awed me. Faye is in our Monday night Bible study group. I have included those ladies in my prayers, praying that each of them will feel the presence of God in their lives. They told the story of Faye’s hydroplaning on the interstate coming home from Chattanooga around the Monteagle Pass. It was an amazing story of her awareness of God watching after her safety, of the people He put in her life that day, and of the calm and peace He gave to her during that situation, and how they praised God for His care. I felt like Rhoda who opened the door and was amazed to find Peter standing there after they had been praying for his release from prison.
Since that time Mary Nell Criswell’s mother-in-law died, Peggy McEwen’s father died, and Linda Kirk’s father died. These wonderful Christian ladies are all part of our Bible study group. I am so thankful that I had prayed for them even before they experienced these losses. I know God was with them through this and will continue to be there. I pray with confidence that they will feel His presence and that His presence will shine through them for others to see.
My prayer for anyone reading this is that you will open your heart, soul, and mind to the presence of God in your life. Let Him guide you every minute of your day. You have the creator of the universe with you! How awesome and powerful is that!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Learning As I Go!
I love to travel. During our Christmas Break ’09 travels, I faced these challenges. We were in four states, at six homes (counting Bonnie and Drake’s and the Walton’s), in three times zones in two weeks time and then back to my home. It could be confusing and amusing!
Adjusting from gas (mine) to electric (Kara’s) back to gas (Kathryne and Krista) stoves was interesting—and finding right dial for the right burner important. The microwaves start, stop, time setting things all seemed to vary. I worked at learning or remembering the how-to’s on washers and dryers, kitchen faucets (I did finally find the spray attachment on Krista’s new one without asking), and whether to jiggle the handle in which bathroom in whose house. Then there’s the dishwasher—there’s the learning the dials thing and the how-to on loading. Maybe I should just insist that my kids all get the same brand and model of appliances! I could just stay out of the kitchen and laundry room, but then I’d miss out on the fun. By the time I got back to my house, I had to retrain my fingers.
The kids find it amusing that Kerbe and I like their pets so much but did never had pets when they were at home. I plan to have a dog someday when I can no longer travel. I’ve gained experienced in pet care on my travels. I worked at learning feeding schedules, not to throw away the cup used to get Henery’s water, how the in-and-out the door works for each dog, and what to do with the special treats. The command for sit varies from house to house. We had some confused dogs when Grandma tried to give them commands! Lily retrieves shoes and loves to retrieve items from our bedroom. Thus the bedroom door must remain closed—or at least suitcases up and in the middle of the bed. Henery doesn’t care about those things, but we are on squirrel alert because he loves to go out to chase the squirrels. (I even think of him when I see them in my yard!) Krista’s cats always come to explore our room, and we try to keep the door shut to keep them out because of Kerbe’s allergies. ( Katelyn and Daniel knew that and warned me about it when I was in Searcy in October. But I let their cats in anyway and had some company during the nights I was there.) Tessa loves to share a snuggle blanket.
The grown children, kids, and pets seem to handle the visitors so I count myself blessed.
Adjusting from gas (mine) to electric (Kara’s) back to gas (Kathryne and Krista) stoves was interesting—and finding right dial for the right burner important. The microwaves start, stop, time setting things all seemed to vary. I worked at learning or remembering the how-to’s on washers and dryers, kitchen faucets (I did finally find the spray attachment on Krista’s new one without asking), and whether to jiggle the handle in which bathroom in whose house. Then there’s the dishwasher—there’s the learning the dials thing and the how-to on loading. Maybe I should just insist that my kids all get the same brand and model of appliances! I could just stay out of the kitchen and laundry room, but then I’d miss out on the fun. By the time I got back to my house, I had to retrain my fingers.
The kids find it amusing that Kerbe and I like their pets so much but did never had pets when they were at home. I plan to have a dog someday when I can no longer travel. I’ve gained experienced in pet care on my travels. I worked at learning feeding schedules, not to throw away the cup used to get Henery’s water, how the in-and-out the door works for each dog, and what to do with the special treats. The command for sit varies from house to house. We had some confused dogs when Grandma tried to give them commands! Lily retrieves shoes and loves to retrieve items from our bedroom. Thus the bedroom door must remain closed—or at least suitcases up and in the middle of the bed. Henery doesn’t care about those things, but we are on squirrel alert because he loves to go out to chase the squirrels. (I even think of him when I see them in my yard!) Krista’s cats always come to explore our room, and we try to keep the door shut to keep them out because of Kerbe’s allergies. ( Katelyn and Daniel knew that and warned me about it when I was in Searcy in October. But I let their cats in anyway and had some company during the nights I was there.) Tessa loves to share a snuggle blanket.
The grown children, kids, and pets seem to handle the visitors so I count myself blessed.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Global Warming?
I'm thinking of global warming. With having had 6 inches of snow and a layer of ice on top of that, I have been very content to stay tucked away in my house since Friday. Today I'm still content with that, but the sun did make an appearance and melted some--now it's hiding. I'm wondering what the chances of having school tomorrow will be. No problem really--only supposed to give the state writing test--tomorrow or on the makeup day Wednesday.
Seriously I'm thinking of global warming. When I reread the chapters in Genesis of the creation, I thought of God placing man in the garden to take care of the garden and animals. What I consider to be a good outcome of the global warming (mis)information is the push to recycle and "go green." It at least renewed man's interest in taking better care of the beautiful world God gave us. Why did we have to wait for the global warming debate to make us aware of that!
So follow this line of thought from global warming to house chores! When my children were young and we were cleaning house or doing yard work,they always wanted to know why we had to do all that stuff. After runnning through all the because I said so, you're grounded if you don't, and other reasons mothers seem to use, I managed to come up with a reason that they accepted amazingly well and stopped the questions at least. (Can't say they always did all that work without a little prodding.) I explained to them that God had blessed us with the home and the things we had. It was our way of thanking him to take good care of them.
I do praise God for the beautiful world He made for us. Every Sunday in the nursery I get to do a routine about God creating the world. (On days when the sermon runs long we may just make it to day four or five and not get man created!) But the little ones always enjoy it. My prayer is that they will continue to all their lives.
May anyone who reads this rejoice in the day the Lord made.
Seriously I'm thinking of global warming. When I reread the chapters in Genesis of the creation, I thought of God placing man in the garden to take care of the garden and animals. What I consider to be a good outcome of the global warming (mis)information is the push to recycle and "go green." It at least renewed man's interest in taking better care of the beautiful world God gave us. Why did we have to wait for the global warming debate to make us aware of that!
So follow this line of thought from global warming to house chores! When my children were young and we were cleaning house or doing yard work,they always wanted to know why we had to do all that stuff. After runnning through all the because I said so, you're grounded if you don't, and other reasons mothers seem to use, I managed to come up with a reason that they accepted amazingly well and stopped the questions at least. (Can't say they always did all that work without a little prodding.) I explained to them that God had blessed us with the home and the things we had. It was our way of thanking him to take good care of them.
I do praise God for the beautiful world He made for us. Every Sunday in the nursery I get to do a routine about God creating the world. (On days when the sermon runs long we may just make it to day four or five and not get man created!) But the little ones always enjoy it. My prayer is that they will continue to all their lives.
May anyone who reads this rejoice in the day the Lord made.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
When lilacs last in the dooryard bloomed-- what do you mean October!
"There were many lilacs in full bloom. I find myself always reminded of the great tragedy of that day by the sight and odor of these blossoms. It never fails." (Walt Whitman)
After Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, Whitman wrote his famous lament "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloomed."
Fortunately the memories the sight and wonderful odor of those blossoms bring back to me are happy memories. Our lilac bush was outside my bedroom. On those lovely spring days and nights, the smell would drift into my room throught the open window. That is a favorite fragrance of mine.
In honor of those memories, I planted a lilac bush in my yard here in Columbia. Last spring it was loaded with blossoms--the most I have ever seen on it. I often wish I had planted it nearer a window to my house.
Ok--so when lilacs last in the dooryard bloomed should be in April. Most lilac bushes know that is the time to bloom. Well, my bush got a little confused this year. Imagine my surprise when I went out the middle of OCTOBER to find it in full bloom. (Guess that tells you I had not been in the back yard for a while.) It has as many or more blossoms than in April. I wonder now what it will do when April comes. I hope it isn't all bloomed out!
After Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, Whitman wrote his famous lament "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloomed."
Fortunately the memories the sight and wonderful odor of those blossoms bring back to me are happy memories. Our lilac bush was outside my bedroom. On those lovely spring days and nights, the smell would drift into my room throught the open window. That is a favorite fragrance of mine.
In honor of those memories, I planted a lilac bush in my yard here in Columbia. Last spring it was loaded with blossoms--the most I have ever seen on it. I often wish I had planted it nearer a window to my house.
Ok--so when lilacs last in the dooryard bloomed should be in April. Most lilac bushes know that is the time to bloom. Well, my bush got a little confused this year. Imagine my surprise when I went out the middle of OCTOBER to find it in full bloom. (Guess that tells you I had not been in the back yard for a while.) It has as many or more blossoms than in April. I wonder now what it will do when April comes. I hope it isn't all bloomed out!
Monday, November 9, 2009
A reason to rejoice!
Just recently "discovered" a few verses in Hebrews 12:22. Check it out.
"But you have come to Mount Zion to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better world than the blood of Abel."
The thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly with the church of the "firstborn" and with God and Jesus is just the place I want to "come to."
"But you have come to Mount Zion to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better world than the blood of Abel."
The thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly with the church of the "firstborn" and with God and Jesus is just the place I want to "come to."
Saturday, March 21, 2009
On the road again!
Kara's preparations for the trip with the babies brought back memories of trips I made with children.
I was very much influenced by my Aunt Naomi. She used to come home to Grandma's house for long visits when Uncle Ed was out on a ship. She drove all the way from California once with little ones. She said two truck drivers approached her at a gas station early in the trip. They noticed she had been following the same route they were taking and was alone with the children. They asked her where she was going. When she told them, they said drive between us and we will take you there! They drove with her all the way to Missouri! I just thought if Aunt Naomi could do it, I could too!
From Shreveport there were the trips to Missouri. I went once with only Nancy Christ (she was about 8) and Matt (3). That was when Grandma had breast cancer surgery. On the trip home I stopped at a McDonalds in Jacksonville, AR. I ate a burger with onions and was oh so sick by the time I got back home. It was a very long trip. That was just the beginning. I was sick for about 8 more months--every day. No wonder Kara is not a fan of 7 UP or graham crackers!
I made trips home to Missouri from Tulsa, Dallas, and San Angelo also. I developed some rules for travel with small children. We drank water not cokes! Stops for gas were made when the children were awake! I did not drive until I was low on gas and then look for a station. I got gas around nap times! Snacks and lunches were scheduled. We sang songs. We could get a lot of mileage out of Kara Lee has a mother ( father, brother, friend, cousin etc.) and Delores is her name-o set to the famous "Bingo is His Nameo" song. We memorized scripture, names of presidents, and did all sorts of things to entertain. Wow! No DVD players in the car so we had to make our own entertainment.
It was a long, long way from San Angelo! I learned to drive 3 hours 4 times or more! I would think of it as from San Angelo to Dallas--Dallas to Texarkana--Texarakana to Little Rock--Little Rock to home!
I really have more good memories of trips than unpleasant ones. Guess that speaks well for my children. Besides all those trips with just mom, there were family vacation trips and trips to visit relatives. All that together time in the car made for some memories!
Kara's preparations for the trip with the babies brought back memories of trips I made with children.
I was very much influenced by my Aunt Naomi. She used to come home to Grandma's house for long visits when Uncle Ed was out on a ship. She drove all the way from California once with little ones. She said two truck drivers approached her at a gas station early in the trip. They noticed she had been following the same route they were taking and was alone with the children. They asked her where she was going. When she told them, they said drive between us and we will take you there! They drove with her all the way to Missouri! I just thought if Aunt Naomi could do it, I could too!
From Shreveport there were the trips to Missouri. I went once with only Nancy Christ (she was about 8) and Matt (3). That was when Grandma had breast cancer surgery. On the trip home I stopped at a McDonalds in Jacksonville, AR. I ate a burger with onions and was oh so sick by the time I got back home. It was a very long trip. That was just the beginning. I was sick for about 8 more months--every day. No wonder Kara is not a fan of 7 UP or graham crackers!
I made trips home to Missouri from Tulsa, Dallas, and San Angelo also. I developed some rules for travel with small children. We drank water not cokes! Stops for gas were made when the children were awake! I did not drive until I was low on gas and then look for a station. I got gas around nap times! Snacks and lunches were scheduled. We sang songs. We could get a lot of mileage out of Kara Lee has a mother ( father, brother, friend, cousin etc.) and Delores is her name-o set to the famous "Bingo is His Nameo" song. We memorized scripture, names of presidents, and did all sorts of things to entertain. Wow! No DVD players in the car so we had to make our own entertainment.
It was a long, long way from San Angelo! I learned to drive 3 hours 4 times or more! I would think of it as from San Angelo to Dallas--Dallas to Texarkana--Texarakana to Little Rock--Little Rock to home!
I really have more good memories of trips than unpleasant ones. Guess that speaks well for my children. Besides all those trips with just mom, there were family vacation trips and trips to visit relatives. All that together time in the car made for some memories!
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