I was just talking to a friend before I headed off to bed, talking to her about things to be thankful for and I told her that sometimes I lay in bed when things are tough going and I list off the things I DO have. I told her I try to start off small with things like Toilet paper because we dont often think of those things. I realized that I had not said I was thankful for Toilet paper on here. Yes, some of us dont want to talk about things like that, but hey, arent YOU thankful for Toilet Paper? HOw about kleenex? How about papertowels, Are you thankful for soap? I am very thankful for shampoo as well, by the way. So, tonight, when you go off to sleep.. I wonder what YOU will think of to be thankful for?
And now, Good night
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Day 14 My Double Oven
Friday, November 16, 2012
Gratitude day 13 Hot showers. .
Today, I decided to be thankful for hot showers. I have a neck injury that is compounded by actually 2 shoulder injuries. Driving or just sitting in certain positions causes it all to meld together to one constant ache. I dont like going to doctors enough to actually have pain pills and havent been able to make it to my chiropractor for way too long a time. I also find that the pain pills, to take a level of them that reacts to the pain makes me less functional than I am willing to be so I wouldnt take them if I had them. I have found over events in my life that there is a difference between discomfort, pain, and suffering. Most of what I live with, I catergorize in the level of discomfort. When it becomes a level beyond that to having to medicate for, that is pain. Suffering is what I have watched others go through where there were severe diseases involved or a level of pain that there really was no "cure for". I figure if I can get myself out of bed in the morning and do what I need to do with some over the counter type aids, I have not gone beyond discomfort. Does discomfort hurt? You bet it does. There are days I cant even turn my head more than about 30 degrees, there are other days I cant lift my left arm behond about 45 degrees. Dont get me started on my knees and ankles. But the thing is. After I have watched those around me go through what some of them have gone through, and I have seen what the constant pain meds have done to them, Im not willing to call it anything beyond discomfort.
So, what do I do about mine? Hot showers!!!!! My family cant figure out how I can stand the water as hot as I do. It helps. I also have a heating pad that I pretty much sleep on round the year. Guess what, not side effects to either one of those either. Then there is the new icy hot liniment tape I have found. It is the most remarkable stuff I have found in years. But what is best???? Hot showers.
So, what do I do about mine? Hot showers!!!!! My family cant figure out how I can stand the water as hot as I do. It helps. I also have a heating pad that I pretty much sleep on round the year. Guess what, not side effects to either one of those either. Then there is the new icy hot liniment tape I have found. It is the most remarkable stuff I have found in years. But what is best???? Hot showers.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Gratitude day 12 10 things God Can't Do
For day 12 of my gratitude quest. Consider this A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J of One Item.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Gratitude day 10
BOOKS
Those I hold in my hand, Not those that are digital. I am not up to enjoying that kind of reading yet. I m sure it will eventually come but at the moment, I am not ready to move on to the next form of information moving.
I have 3 books that I have downloaded on to my computer and frankly have had them there for over a year. I have finished none of them in that form. I went and bought a paperback copy of one of the books that I did finish, but it somehow just doesnt grab my attention. First of all I can ready my book while walking through the house. I dont have a tablet or an e-reader so I cant take my desktop with me. I dont want a tablet or e-reader as I break things like that way too easily. So, if it comes to that, I will at the very least read much less.
Now that that rant is over and dont worry, I know all the advantages to other forms. You dont have to tell me.
But what do I like? I like a lot of different kinds of literature. Thank goodness that the people who previously owned my house (my grandparents) also loved books. At least my grandfather did. He, honestly and truly, once bought a library. He took all the boxes of books and put them upstairs at our store and brought shelves full of them to his home. As he needed something else to read, he just went through his library till he found something that interested him. When they built on what is now my bedroom, almost one whole wall is floor to ceiling bookshelves. I have removed some of the books but as technology moves on and away from printed material, I have begun refilling those shelves. I am refilling them with many of the classics that I am just afraid will disappear as 'hard to read' or 'irrelevant to our world'. Little will they know HOW relevant those tomes are to our world. I also have many fiction books. Most of them are dated at least 15 years ago but there are a few in there closer to up to date. I like light mystery novels, especially those with extras like recipes or crochet patterns and such in them. There are non fiction books showing up on my shelves about things like how to build your own adobe house, cooking in cast iron dutch ovens. I LOVE to collect cookbooks as well. I have many books from various spiritual backgrounds.
The things you will NOT find on my shelf are most of the things in popular culture. I dont read books with "bad language" as I just cant stop shuddering every time I find a word. Little in the way of "smut novels" will be found for continued reading. I cant foresee a time when any of the Twilight series or subsequent type of "supernatural love stories" will join the ranks. Gore, not on my shelf, I only add books that I can read just before bed.
Oddly enough, the book I am currently reading, well one of them anyway, I have about 4 going, is The Canticle of Liebowitz for anyone who wants to discuss it. Not my normal book but enjoyable so far. So yes, I am thankful for paper, ink, printing machines, editors, book sellers, binding machines, and anything else that has to do with putting a loved book in my hands.
Those I hold in my hand, Not those that are digital. I am not up to enjoying that kind of reading yet. I m sure it will eventually come but at the moment, I am not ready to move on to the next form of information moving.
I have 3 books that I have downloaded on to my computer and frankly have had them there for over a year. I have finished none of them in that form. I went and bought a paperback copy of one of the books that I did finish, but it somehow just doesnt grab my attention. First of all I can ready my book while walking through the house. I dont have a tablet or an e-reader so I cant take my desktop with me. I dont want a tablet or e-reader as I break things like that way too easily. So, if it comes to that, I will at the very least read much less.
Now that that rant is over and dont worry, I know all the advantages to other forms. You dont have to tell me.
But what do I like? I like a lot of different kinds of literature. Thank goodness that the people who previously owned my house (my grandparents) also loved books. At least my grandfather did. He, honestly and truly, once bought a library. He took all the boxes of books and put them upstairs at our store and brought shelves full of them to his home. As he needed something else to read, he just went through his library till he found something that interested him. When they built on what is now my bedroom, almost one whole wall is floor to ceiling bookshelves. I have removed some of the books but as technology moves on and away from printed material, I have begun refilling those shelves. I am refilling them with many of the classics that I am just afraid will disappear as 'hard to read' or 'irrelevant to our world'. Little will they know HOW relevant those tomes are to our world. I also have many fiction books. Most of them are dated at least 15 years ago but there are a few in there closer to up to date. I like light mystery novels, especially those with extras like recipes or crochet patterns and such in them. There are non fiction books showing up on my shelves about things like how to build your own adobe house, cooking in cast iron dutch ovens. I LOVE to collect cookbooks as well. I have many books from various spiritual backgrounds.
The things you will NOT find on my shelf are most of the things in popular culture. I dont read books with "bad language" as I just cant stop shuddering every time I find a word. Little in the way of "smut novels" will be found for continued reading. I cant foresee a time when any of the Twilight series or subsequent type of "supernatural love stories" will join the ranks. Gore, not on my shelf, I only add books that I can read just before bed.
Oddly enough, the book I am currently reading, well one of them anyway, I have about 4 going, is The Canticle of Liebowitz for anyone who wants to discuss it. Not my normal book but enjoyable so far. So yes, I am thankful for paper, ink, printing machines, editors, book sellers, binding machines, and anything else that has to do with putting a loved book in my hands.
Gratitude day 9 The Word
2nd Chronicles 7:14
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.
Many of us know this passage of the Bible by heart. But let's think about it a little in relation to ourselves. We discussed this passage in church Sunday and it brought many things to light for me. I have been thinking about this passage, myself, now for weeks. This sermon, Thanks to Pastor Rob, brought many more things in to focus for me.
We started with this story: According to a biography written by his great nephew in the mid-19th century,. on January 21, 1776 in the Lutheran church in Woodstock, Virginia, Reverend Muhlenberg took his sermon text from the third chapter Ecclesiastes, which starts with "To every thing there is a season..."; after reading the eighth verse, "a time of war, and a time of peace," he declared, "And this is the time of war," removing his clerical robe to reveal his Colonel's uniform. Outside the church door the drums began to roll as men turned to kiss their wives and then walked down the aisle to enlist, and within half an hour, 162 men were enrolled. The next day he led out 300 men from the county to form the nucleus of the 8th Virginia Regiment.
The idea was NOT that we all put on military uniforms and go to war... the idea was that we are fighting a very DIFFERENT kind of battle. One that prayer is the major weapon in.
This story was taken from a time that Israel was very prosperous. Things were going very well, the temple had been built. The economy was great under David and Solomon. They had become a world power for the time. If you go back in the passage, Solomon had just sacrificed twenty-two thousand head of cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats to concecrate the temple. They had money, jobs, housing, all the things necessary to prosper. They acknowledged that it come from God. But WAIT>>>>> Back up a couple verses here and check THIS out... After the party that lasted more than a week.... all was done, everyone had gone home, Solomon had gone to sleep and God himself came to Solomon to have a little chat. The LORD appeared to him at night and said: "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices. Sounds great right??????
But THEN the Lord says: "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.
Do you see it? When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people.. NOT IF>> BUT WHEN>>>>> Does God cause challenging things to happen to his people, you bet, He just said so. Why does he do it? To get our attention and bring us back to him..... do you see that???? MY PEOPLE.. so if MY PEOPLE.. not the whole world, not even the whole country, if HIS PEOPLE.. those of us who call ourselves Christians, followers of Christ, Sons and daughters of God... if WE who are called by HIS NAME.... will humble ourselvs and pray and seek his face and turn from our wicked ways..... What does THAT mean????
Ok change directions for a minute: Whats the difference between us here in the United States and those in Solomons kingdom? Not much. We, too, were founded on our belief in Gods Promises. We are different than many other less prosperous countries in our day even because we were in search of God, not Gold... and GOD blessed us for that, but the question is, what are we seeking today?
If you go on to study what happened AFTER this passage in the Bible, you find that they did not heed the warning and return to God. Why did they do this? They thought they were immune despite Gods very personal warnings. They trusted in their OWN GOODNESS.. In their own ability to control things.
Go back now and look at that passage again.. does it say If my people, will sign petitions, march, Rant on facebook, write letters to our Congressmen, persuade others to vote for this or that canidate??????
What is the point in all of this? My belief is that we are at a crossroad in this country as well as world wide. I think that the thing we are being commanded to do in this passage is NOT to wait until our spouse gets it together and stops sinning, or not to wait until that welfare mom gets the message and stops having kids, or not to wait until that gay couple down the street understands what they are doing... over all, not much of that matters. What DOES matter is that I have to humble MYSELF and turn from MY wicked ways.. and if each one of us took this passage personally and took a good look at our inner life and changed that BEFORE we looked at anyone ELSE to repent, and each of us got on our knees and asked forgiveness for that tv show we were watching last night that was wrong for our kids to be seeing, or what ever it might be for each one of us.
OR maybe, just MAYBE.. that thing we need to repent of is even thinking that WE could control anything, especially the election to get OUR canidate elected whom EVER that is at what ever level of government that might be. Maybe we need to repent of NOT using the power that God DID give us. The power of integrity and obedience to God.
2 Corinthians 10:1 says: By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you--I, Paul, who am "timid" when face to face with you, but "bold" when away! 2 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
But first, we have to know what the knowledge of God is. So, again I ask, what would happen if, during this trial, We, who SAY we are called by his NAME... Acted like it, and turned from our wicked ways, no matter how small or unnoticed by many..... and humbled ourselves... to pray.
Alone, spouses together, familes together, two co workers over coffee at lunch, a bible study group might even form from such a pair. Who knows how far it could go. And God's eyes will be open and his ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.
Many of us know this passage of the Bible by heart. But let's think about it a little in relation to ourselves. We discussed this passage in church Sunday and it brought many things to light for me. I have been thinking about this passage, myself, now for weeks. This sermon, Thanks to Pastor Rob, brought many more things in to focus for me.
We started with this story: According to a biography written by his great nephew in the mid-19th century,. on January 21, 1776 in the Lutheran church in Woodstock, Virginia, Reverend Muhlenberg took his sermon text from the third chapter Ecclesiastes, which starts with "To every thing there is a season..."; after reading the eighth verse, "a time of war, and a time of peace," he declared, "And this is the time of war," removing his clerical robe to reveal his Colonel's uniform. Outside the church door the drums began to roll as men turned to kiss their wives and then walked down the aisle to enlist, and within half an hour, 162 men were enrolled. The next day he led out 300 men from the county to form the nucleus of the 8th Virginia Regiment.
The idea was NOT that we all put on military uniforms and go to war... the idea was that we are fighting a very DIFFERENT kind of battle. One that prayer is the major weapon in.
This story was taken from a time that Israel was very prosperous. Things were going very well, the temple had been built. The economy was great under David and Solomon. They had become a world power for the time. If you go back in the passage, Solomon had just sacrificed twenty-two thousand head of cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats to concecrate the temple. They had money, jobs, housing, all the things necessary to prosper. They acknowledged that it come from God. But WAIT>>>>> Back up a couple verses here and check THIS out... After the party that lasted more than a week.... all was done, everyone had gone home, Solomon had gone to sleep and God himself came to Solomon to have a little chat. The LORD appeared to him at night and said: "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices. Sounds great right??????
But THEN the Lord says: "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.
Do you see it? When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people.. NOT IF>> BUT WHEN>>>>> Does God cause challenging things to happen to his people, you bet, He just said so. Why does he do it? To get our attention and bring us back to him..... do you see that???? MY PEOPLE.. so if MY PEOPLE.. not the whole world, not even the whole country, if HIS PEOPLE.. those of us who call ourselves Christians, followers of Christ, Sons and daughters of God... if WE who are called by HIS NAME.... will humble ourselvs and pray and seek his face and turn from our wicked ways..... What does THAT mean????
Ok change directions for a minute: Whats the difference between us here in the United States and those in Solomons kingdom? Not much. We, too, were founded on our belief in Gods Promises. We are different than many other less prosperous countries in our day even because we were in search of God, not Gold... and GOD blessed us for that, but the question is, what are we seeking today?
If you go on to study what happened AFTER this passage in the Bible, you find that they did not heed the warning and return to God. Why did they do this? They thought they were immune despite Gods very personal warnings. They trusted in their OWN GOODNESS.. In their own ability to control things.
Go back now and look at that passage again.. does it say If my people, will sign petitions, march, Rant on facebook, write letters to our Congressmen, persuade others to vote for this or that canidate??????
What is the point in all of this? My belief is that we are at a crossroad in this country as well as world wide. I think that the thing we are being commanded to do in this passage is NOT to wait until our spouse gets it together and stops sinning, or not to wait until that welfare mom gets the message and stops having kids, or not to wait until that gay couple down the street understands what they are doing... over all, not much of that matters. What DOES matter is that I have to humble MYSELF and turn from MY wicked ways.. and if each one of us took this passage personally and took a good look at our inner life and changed that BEFORE we looked at anyone ELSE to repent, and each of us got on our knees and asked forgiveness for that tv show we were watching last night that was wrong for our kids to be seeing, or what ever it might be for each one of us.
OR maybe, just MAYBE.. that thing we need to repent of is even thinking that WE could control anything, especially the election to get OUR canidate elected whom EVER that is at what ever level of government that might be. Maybe we need to repent of NOT using the power that God DID give us. The power of integrity and obedience to God.
2 Corinthians 10:1 says: By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you--I, Paul, who am "timid" when face to face with you, but "bold" when away! 2 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
But first, we have to know what the knowledge of God is. So, again I ask, what would happen if, during this trial, We, who SAY we are called by his NAME... Acted like it, and turned from our wicked ways, no matter how small or unnoticed by many..... and humbled ourselves... to pray.
Alone, spouses together, familes together, two co workers over coffee at lunch, a bible study group might even form from such a pair. Who knows how far it could go. And God's eyes will be open and his ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Gratitude day 8 Taste
I read somewhere a list of possible things that we forget to be thankful for. One of them was for your sense of taste. I thought about that for a while and I realized that yes. I am very thankful for my sense of taste and for the sense of taste of those around me. I love to cook, and bake and make candy. I love to taste my food. I love the taste even of brussel sprouts, chicken liver and chocolate fudge. (Not all together silly)
I love to cook for my family and anyone else. There was a story once when we had just moved to the mountain. One day, my kids were in 5th and 3rd grade and they were playing in the yard. There were two girls who lived in the apartments behind us. They had 2 friends over, who went on to become my oldests best friends. When the boys were getting ready to leave, to go home, I told them that they were welcome to come over any time to hang out with the kids. One of the girls, from behind us, spoke up and told them, Yeah, you can come over here and play any time, AND she has so many kids that sometimes she will even FEED YOU, and I dont think she EVEN KNOWS IT!!!
What she didnt know was, I just love to feed people.
The best part of feeding.. is taste.
I love to cook for my family and anyone else. There was a story once when we had just moved to the mountain. One day, my kids were in 5th and 3rd grade and they were playing in the yard. There were two girls who lived in the apartments behind us. They had 2 friends over, who went on to become my oldests best friends. When the boys were getting ready to leave, to go home, I told them that they were welcome to come over any time to hang out with the kids. One of the girls, from behind us, spoke up and told them, Yeah, you can come over here and play any time, AND she has so many kids that sometimes she will even FEED YOU, and I dont think she EVEN KNOWS IT!!!
What she didnt know was, I just love to feed people.
The best part of feeding.. is taste.
Grateful day 7 Gods Provision
Do Not Worry
"I tell you, do not worry. Don't worry about your life and what you will eat or drink. And don't worry about your body and what you will wear. Isn't there more to life than eating? Aren't there more important things for the body than clothes? "Look at the birds of the air. They don't plant or gather crops. They don't put away crops in storerooms. But your Father who is in heaven feeds them. Aren't you worth much more than they are? "Can you add even one hour to your life by worrying? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the wild flowers grow. They don't work or make clothing. But here is what I tell you. Not even Solomon in all of his glory was dressed like one of those flowers. "If that is how God dresses the wild grass, won't he dress you even better? After all, the grass is here only today. Tomorrow it is thrown into the fire. Your faith is so small! "So don't worry. Don't say, 'What will we eat?' Or, 'What will we drink?' Or, 'What will we wear?' People who are ungodly run after all of those things. Your Father who is in heaven knows that you need them. "But put God's kingdom first. Do what he wants you to do. Then all of those things will also be given to you. "So don't worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.I am thankful for all the things I have that God has provided to me. I have a roof over my head, I have a bed and pillow to lay my head on, I have clothing, I have food, I have a shower every now and then... Water isnt plentiful here in the desert but I have plenty to shower with and to drink.I couldnt ask for more.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Day 6. Yes, the priviledge of voting
Day 6 for me, like for the rest of the United States of America was voting day. I had already 'early' voted on Saturday. We made a family trek of it over to the weekend polling place. I was excited and impressed because even here in our relatively small town, we had to wait in line. During the process, there was a woman who came with her young daughter and got in line behind us. I heard her tell one of the poll workers that she was not in line, just her daughter, as she had already voted. She politely waited just outside the area while her daughter completed the process and walked up to the machine to turn in her ballot. At that point, the mother brought out her camera and took pictures. This was the daughters first opportunity to vote!!! And they were both considering it a very proud moment. My son who is 19, almost 20 had voted before is "smaller elections" but this was his first presidential and I wished that I had taken the time to make it a memorial event for him in the same way. I also wished that I had thought of it for each of my older children as well.
Now here is the thing in contrast that makes me sad and frustrates me a great deal.
There are 207,643,594 eligible voters in the U.S. I cant find the confirmed statistic at the moment that gives an acutal number of voters who showed up at the polls or sent in ballots to vote, but I believe the figure was some where around 54% of the eligible population voted in this election. I have heard complaints back and forth of voter fraud, of people voting twice or three times by filing absentee ballots, and early voting and showing up at a polling center on election day. I have heard arguments that "not as much of that happened as the other side says" All the arguments being bandied about to stand for or against voter ID, and for or against absentee ballots. MY personal argument is that if we had 207,643,594 eligible voters showing up at the polls to do their civic duty, or at the very LEAST a number greater than 54% of the eligible voters showing up it would certainly be EASIER to recognize voter fraud in sheer number showing up!!! I do not believe that we understand the importance of standing up and making a decision for our elected.
Our country is a Representative Democracy. For those who dont know what that means, again on wikipedia: Representative democracy is a variety of democracy founded on the principle of elected people representing a group of people, as opposed to direct democracy.[1] For example, three countries which use representative democracy are the United States Of America (a representative democracy), the United Kingdom (a constitutional monarchy) and Poland (a parliamentary republic).
I just think that if you dont exercise your vote, your elected officials cant be accused of not following your wishes. You didnt tell them what your wishes were, so they voted with those whom they knew. You also cant elect people who share your views if you dont vote.
So, the end of my election thoughts go back to, Thank you God for birthing me in a country that gives me the right to vote for my governing officials and constitutional amendments etc. I will do my best to live up to the responsibility You have placed on me.
Now here is the thing in contrast that makes me sad and frustrates me a great deal.
There are 207,643,594 eligible voters in the U.S. I cant find the confirmed statistic at the moment that gives an acutal number of voters who showed up at the polls or sent in ballots to vote, but I believe the figure was some where around 54% of the eligible population voted in this election. I have heard complaints back and forth of voter fraud, of people voting twice or three times by filing absentee ballots, and early voting and showing up at a polling center on election day. I have heard arguments that "not as much of that happened as the other side says" All the arguments being bandied about to stand for or against voter ID, and for or against absentee ballots. MY personal argument is that if we had 207,643,594 eligible voters showing up at the polls to do their civic duty, or at the very LEAST a number greater than 54% of the eligible voters showing up it would certainly be EASIER to recognize voter fraud in sheer number showing up!!! I do not believe that we understand the importance of standing up and making a decision for our elected.
Our country is a Representative Democracy. For those who dont know what that means, again on wikipedia: Representative democracy is a variety of democracy founded on the principle of elected people representing a group of people, as opposed to direct democracy.[1] For example, three countries which use representative democracy are the United States Of America (a representative democracy), the United Kingdom (a constitutional monarchy) and Poland (a parliamentary republic).
I just think that if you dont exercise your vote, your elected officials cant be accused of not following your wishes. You didnt tell them what your wishes were, so they voted with those whom they knew. You also cant elect people who share your views if you dont vote.
So, the end of my election thoughts go back to, Thank you God for birthing me in a country that gives me the right to vote for my governing officials and constitutional amendments etc. I will do my best to live up to the responsibility You have placed on me.
Gratitude Day 4 and 5
Today, I have to say I am thankful for the Federal Government. Dont EVEN START!!!!! It's MY blog, so I get to be thankful for what I want and in ways you don't understand.
I am thankful for the federal government because it brought me my husband. If you want to hear a funny story sometime, ask. Our relationship began on a strange note and I can honestly say hasnt gotten much less strange over the years. I say I am thankful to the federal government, because that was who he had gone to work for to fall into my lap. He came from deepest, darkest, south Texas to my little home town here in New Mexico for a job. When he was hired on, and was given his first assignment, he had to find a map to even know where he was being sent. So, while the papers he had in his hand with his assignment on it said the agency he was working for, Truly I say, it was becuase of a talk that I had with God that brought him to me.
He came in to my life to get involved with my messed up extended family, my two beautiful little girls, and all sorts of other challenges in life that he never saw coming. For going on 22 years, he has hung in there with me through a whole lot of strangeness that many other men would have run from. Heck, there are days *I* want to run from it all. But, he has not wavered in his love for me and mine, his committment to me and mine, and his protection of all of us.
He has spent many many over time hours making sure that not only his family was cared for, but our community as well, and those he works for and with. I can go on and on and on about my love and respect for him and all he does but I will get back to my original thanks......... So, Im also going to call this my day 5 entry. I will get back to more of my husband at a later time.
So of all the places in the country he could have been sent, his assignment was this podunk little town. And I am thankful that not long after he got here and went to work, The agency he works for stopped randomly moving people around to fit the needs of the agency so they have never forced me to move away from my home.
I am thankful for the federal government because it brought me my husband. If you want to hear a funny story sometime, ask. Our relationship began on a strange note and I can honestly say hasnt gotten much less strange over the years. I say I am thankful to the federal government, because that was who he had gone to work for to fall into my lap. He came from deepest, darkest, south Texas to my little home town here in New Mexico for a job. When he was hired on, and was given his first assignment, he had to find a map to even know where he was being sent. So, while the papers he had in his hand with his assignment on it said the agency he was working for, Truly I say, it was becuase of a talk that I had with God that brought him to me.
He came in to my life to get involved with my messed up extended family, my two beautiful little girls, and all sorts of other challenges in life that he never saw coming. For going on 22 years, he has hung in there with me through a whole lot of strangeness that many other men would have run from. Heck, there are days *I* want to run from it all. But, he has not wavered in his love for me and mine, his committment to me and mine, and his protection of all of us.
He has spent many many over time hours making sure that not only his family was cared for, but our community as well, and those he works for and with. I can go on and on and on about my love and respect for him and all he does but I will get back to my original thanks......... So, Im also going to call this my day 5 entry. I will get back to more of my husband at a later time.
So of all the places in the country he could have been sent, his assignment was this podunk little town. And I am thankful that not long after he got here and went to work, The agency he works for stopped randomly moving people around to fit the needs of the agency so they have never forced me to move away from my home.
Thirty days of Gratitude day3
Day 3 catchup:
For day three, I am looking at the small place on the planet that I was placed. I love my home.
Again, I am not speaking of the 4 walls and roof that house me, but the town, county, state, country I was placed in. I have told my husband, since before he married me, that I was a YUCCA, so today, I decided to look up exactally what the internet says a yucca is. Starting with Wikipedia: Yucca is a genus of perennial shrubs and trees in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae.[2] Its 40-50 species are notable for their rosettes of evergreen, tough, sword-shaped leaves and large terminal panicles of white or whitish flowers. They are native to the hot and dry (arid) parts of North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Early reports of the species were confused with the cassava (Manihot esculenta).[3] Consequently, Linnaeus mistakenly derived the generic name from the Carib word for the latter, yuca (spelt with a single "c").[4] It is also colloquially known in the Midwest United States as "ghosts in the graveyard", as it is commonly found growing in rural graveyards and when in bloom the flowers appear as floating apparitions.
I never knew the part about Ghosts in the graveyard until I read this but I kinda like the discription.
The best part I see is that we, yuccas, are evergreen. We are adaptable as a tree or a shrub. we have tough, sword shaped leaves and beautiful flowers. We are native to arid climates.
I have always told my husband that we, yucca's, are very hearty, but we do not transplant well, as our roots have to go very deep to find water.
I love the fact that my family came to this area as settlers before there were hardly any other people here.
I love that I can look up at the sky and see the sun, moon and stars. I love how huge our sky is here and that it is blue nearly every of the year.
I love the remoteness of the population. I love that a traffic jam is maybe 5-6 cars driving slowly.
Thank you for putting me in this place.
For day three, I am looking at the small place on the planet that I was placed. I love my home.
Again, I am not speaking of the 4 walls and roof that house me, but the town, county, state, country I was placed in. I have told my husband, since before he married me, that I was a YUCCA, so today, I decided to look up exactally what the internet says a yucca is. Starting with Wikipedia: Yucca is a genus of perennial shrubs and trees in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae.[2] Its 40-50 species are notable for their rosettes of evergreen, tough, sword-shaped leaves and large terminal panicles of white or whitish flowers. They are native to the hot and dry (arid) parts of North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Early reports of the species were confused with the cassava (Manihot esculenta).[3] Consequently, Linnaeus mistakenly derived the generic name from the Carib word for the latter, yuca (spelt with a single "c").[4] It is also colloquially known in the Midwest United States as "ghosts in the graveyard", as it is commonly found growing in rural graveyards and when in bloom the flowers appear as floating apparitions.
I never knew the part about Ghosts in the graveyard until I read this but I kinda like the discription.
The best part I see is that we, yuccas, are evergreen. We are adaptable as a tree or a shrub. we have tough, sword shaped leaves and beautiful flowers. We are native to arid climates.
I have always told my husband that we, yucca's, are very hearty, but we do not transplant well, as our roots have to go very deep to find water.
I love the fact that my family came to this area as settlers before there were hardly any other people here.
I love that I can look up at the sky and see the sun, moon and stars. I love how huge our sky is here and that it is blue nearly every of the year.
I love the remoteness of the population. I love that a traffic jam is maybe 5-6 cars driving slowly.
Thank you for putting me in this place.
Days of Gratitude catch up:
After the first of November, when I was so positive I was off and running on this gratitude band wagon, I got derailed. Yes, thats me, SHINY!!!!!! and I am off. Some how, fighting with my kids over the computer in our computer challenged home was not worth the effort by the time I got home from work, finished any left over "homeschooling" cooked and cleaned up from dinner.. did some laundry, and maybe just maybe took a shower. So, Today as the cosmos has lined up so that I am sitting at a computer with thoughts in my head and a moment to spare, I plan to catch up.
Day 2: I am thankful for the family of my origin. Isnt that a great way to say "the people who brung me up?" The thing is, that family of origin doesnt simply mean the man and woman who brought me in to this world and raised me. We use this term because too many of our children, in this age, are not in the original family. They are in split homes, in blended and then reblended and maybe even REblended homes, they are with grandparents, or aunts and uncles or even foster or adoptive homes. So, we use the term to indicate children who do not live with the single mother and father who are their genetic origin.
To me, MY family of origin does not just mean my biological mom and dad, who incidentally are the only mom and dad I have. Wierd, I know. But, I consider my family of origin to be those people who brought each of my parents in to this world and made them the people whom THEY became. Those people, my grandparents, each had parents as well. Not only that but each of the afore mentioned people had aunts, uncles, cousins who were around to help shape them as I have had as well. And we go back generation after generation. THIS is MY family of origin. All those people who brought the world to where I am now.
I am thankful for each of those people who "brought something to my table". They all came from hearty, founding fathers kind of stock. I recieved quite an education from those ancestors of mine. I hope that I can pass half of what I was taught on to my children.
One of these days, I will go in to the things I believe I recieved from my heritage, but today, I am just thankful for all I was given.
Day 2: I am thankful for the family of my origin. Isnt that a great way to say "the people who brung me up?" The thing is, that family of origin doesnt simply mean the man and woman who brought me in to this world and raised me. We use this term because too many of our children, in this age, are not in the original family. They are in split homes, in blended and then reblended and maybe even REblended homes, they are with grandparents, or aunts and uncles or even foster or adoptive homes. So, we use the term to indicate children who do not live with the single mother and father who are their genetic origin.
To me, MY family of origin does not just mean my biological mom and dad, who incidentally are the only mom and dad I have. Wierd, I know. But, I consider my family of origin to be those people who brought each of my parents in to this world and made them the people whom THEY became. Those people, my grandparents, each had parents as well. Not only that but each of the afore mentioned people had aunts, uncles, cousins who were around to help shape them as I have had as well. And we go back generation after generation. THIS is MY family of origin. All those people who brought the world to where I am now.
I am thankful for each of those people who "brought something to my table". They all came from hearty, founding fathers kind of stock. I recieved quite an education from those ancestors of mine. I hope that I can pass half of what I was taught on to my children.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Post Election Thoughts
I have been reading in the social media today the after affects of the election. I have been telling people that I have "Post-Election Hangover". There are many differing opinions out there as to good/bad, right/wrong, fair/unfair and continued name calling on all sides. I have to say that I am honestly tired of it all. I know those who will tell me that I can't "give up" or I need to just give in and believe.
I have seen several comments that are directed toward prayer for this point in our history. I have to wonder, at those suggesting prayer. Those requests have come in different directions, as usual. I have been very disturbed by some of those commenting who are self professed Christians. It is not my place to judge other peoples salvation for sure, but I also know that MY Bible tells me this "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
The fruit I am seeing out of many is not the fruit I want to be associated with for sure. Can we not at any point disagree and talk? Can we only disagree and slander?
I think that it is time to get beyond all of this and start looking at our own fruit. For each and everyone of us is responsible for what goes on in our quest through this world. I believe its time to stop looking for others to blame, for others to accuse and for others to distract us from our own responsibility.
I believe that the Bible truly IS a guide book for us to live by even though many of my fellow Christians see it as only a book of history and fable. I believe that it is time to take a really good hard look at 2nd Chronicals 7: 14 and see what it is TRULY saying.
"When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place."
This passage is quoted often in many churches across this country. It is quoted in social media almost daily. Radio preachers use it to try to persuade congregations to band together. But I have another question about this passage. What if the words that were said here were put a little more simply. If YOU, My child, who is called by MY NAME. will humble YOURSELF, and pray, and seek my face and turn from YOUR INDIVIDUAL wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and fogive YOUR sin and will heal YOUR piece of land. NOW my eyes will be opened and my ears attentive to YOUR INDIVIDUAL prayers offered in this place.
The question for me today is: What would happen to our country, if I stopped and humbled myself to pray and ask for forgiveness for MY wicked ways. And, then, each person in my family were to look closely at themselves and see the areas that each one of THEM TOO has fallen away from what God wants each of us to be, and they were to pray for healing in their OWN lives... and they maybe, just maybe, talked to friends and helped THEM find ways that there are corrections needed in their lives and THEY were to go forward. What would happen if we took a good hard look at what we watch on TV, what we listen to on the radio, what we say to each other on Facebook, how we treat our families and co-workers. Would we find flaws that need correction? Or is it still the fault of "those people"? Or is this what we would find:
II Timothy 3:1-5,7 "But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of god; holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."
Do you know those people? Are any of them YOU? I know there are changes I need to make.
What would happen to the United States of America, if two people in a city somewhere in the midwest decided to get together on a weekly basis and just pray for correction in their own lives, and holy cow.. what would happen if all of those individually praying people were to start praying FOR our local and national leadership instead of praying AGAINST them? And then what would happen if each of them invited another person to join the group?
What if even a half a million of us nationally started truly practicing 1 Timothy 2:1-2?
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
What would it bring to our OWN lives if we were to consistently and ernestly pray FOR all those in authority? Instead of being angry all the time, and hostile towards those around us? Might it change our piece of the world enough that we could live peaceful and quiet lives in godliness and holiness?
If we can't find a way to talk to each OTHER yet.. could we talk to GOD? and ask for help finding a way? Or would change not be worth it?
I have seen several comments that are directed toward prayer for this point in our history. I have to wonder, at those suggesting prayer. Those requests have come in different directions, as usual. I have been very disturbed by some of those commenting who are self professed Christians. It is not my place to judge other peoples salvation for sure, but I also know that MY Bible tells me this "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
The fruit I am seeing out of many is not the fruit I want to be associated with for sure. Can we not at any point disagree and talk? Can we only disagree and slander?
I think that it is time to get beyond all of this and start looking at our own fruit. For each and everyone of us is responsible for what goes on in our quest through this world. I believe its time to stop looking for others to blame, for others to accuse and for others to distract us from our own responsibility.
I believe that the Bible truly IS a guide book for us to live by even though many of my fellow Christians see it as only a book of history and fable. I believe that it is time to take a really good hard look at 2nd Chronicals 7: 14 and see what it is TRULY saying.
"When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place."
This passage is quoted often in many churches across this country. It is quoted in social media almost daily. Radio preachers use it to try to persuade congregations to band together. But I have another question about this passage. What if the words that were said here were put a little more simply. If YOU, My child, who is called by MY NAME. will humble YOURSELF, and pray, and seek my face and turn from YOUR INDIVIDUAL wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and fogive YOUR sin and will heal YOUR piece of land. NOW my eyes will be opened and my ears attentive to YOUR INDIVIDUAL prayers offered in this place.
The question for me today is: What would happen to our country, if I stopped and humbled myself to pray and ask for forgiveness for MY wicked ways. And, then, each person in my family were to look closely at themselves and see the areas that each one of THEM TOO has fallen away from what God wants each of us to be, and they were to pray for healing in their OWN lives... and they maybe, just maybe, talked to friends and helped THEM find ways that there are corrections needed in their lives and THEY were to go forward. What would happen if we took a good hard look at what we watch on TV, what we listen to on the radio, what we say to each other on Facebook, how we treat our families and co-workers. Would we find flaws that need correction? Or is it still the fault of "those people"? Or is this what we would find:
II Timothy 3:1-5,7 "But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of god; holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."
Do you know those people? Are any of them YOU? I know there are changes I need to make.
What would happen to the United States of America, if two people in a city somewhere in the midwest decided to get together on a weekly basis and just pray for correction in their own lives, and holy cow.. what would happen if all of those individually praying people were to start praying FOR our local and national leadership instead of praying AGAINST them? And then what would happen if each of them invited another person to join the group?
What if even a half a million of us nationally started truly practicing 1 Timothy 2:1-2?
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
What would it bring to our OWN lives if we were to consistently and ernestly pray FOR all those in authority? Instead of being angry all the time, and hostile towards those around us? Might it change our piece of the world enough that we could live peaceful and quiet lives in godliness and holiness?
If we can't find a way to talk to each OTHER yet.. could we talk to GOD? and ask for help finding a way? Or would change not be worth it?
Thursday, November 1, 2012
30 days of gratitude day 1
I read something a few years ago that I try to do occasionally even though it was much better done every night. The suggestion in this Bible Study that I was doing (have no idea now what it was, so dont ask) was to mentally at least, if not in writing, go through a list of things each night before you go to sleep for what you are grateful to God. I find that when I do this, the list is so long that before I know it, I am asleep. Soooooo, I watched a number of my friends over the last year challenge themselves to do the 30 days of Gratitude. This year I decided to join in the fun.
I am finding, however, that I want to talk all at once I guess. It isnt that I only have 30 things to BE thankful for, its that how do I choose?
I started out tonight on facebook saying: Today I am thankful that I have a wonderful, Godly husband in a very fallen world. I am thankful for the family that matters so much to me.
That is the biggest most important thing to be thankful for in my life at this moment. Well other than Jesus Loves Me..... This I KNOW... For the Bible Tells Me So. But sometimes, I think that goes without saying. I forget that others out there DONT know it so I need to say it. And to let them know that Jesus loves them too and THEY can know it just like I do.
Good night, to all.
I am finding, however, that I want to talk all at once I guess. It isnt that I only have 30 things to BE thankful for, its that how do I choose?
I started out tonight on facebook saying: Today I am thankful that I have a wonderful, Godly husband in a very fallen world. I am thankful for the family that matters so much to me.
That is the biggest most important thing to be thankful for in my life at this moment. Well other than Jesus Loves Me..... This I KNOW... For the Bible Tells Me So. But sometimes, I think that goes without saying. I forget that others out there DONT know it so I need to say it. And to let them know that Jesus loves them too and THEY can know it just like I do.
Good night, to all.
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