"God drives a tow truck" the book title read...

I was skimming through some free kindle books this morning and saw the title of one "God Drives a Tow Truck".    Many stories could possibly be told about that, and I have two true stories that have happened.  And we give all the credit to God for meeting our need.

Mama once told me a story that she and my stepfather were out somewhere in the car and it had a flat tire.  My stepfather was old and not able to change the tire.  As he got out of the car and was looking at the tire, a young man walked up out of nowhere and asked if he could help.  He quickly changed the tire and without accepting any payment, turned and walked away.  Mama said she knew he was an angel.

and another true story...

Tom and I for about 5 years drove up to Prescott Valley, AZ from Phoenix every weekend to attend and help the church there.  One Sunday evening during the winter months and being quite cold, we started back to Phoenix pretty late in the evening after visiting with friends.  As we got to a dark, deserted part of the road I noticed the heat coming from the air vent on my side had turned quite cold.  I commented on it, asking if Tom had accidentally hit the air instead of the heat.  He hadn't.  The the light came on, showing the thermostat had overheated.  We pulled off the road.  Pitch black outside, and we didn't know what to do.  Tom jumped out of the suburban we were driving and I bowed my head and asked God to bring someone who knew something about vehicles our way.

I had barely got the words out of my mouth when I heard someone talking.  I looked up to see a scrawny man standing next to Tom looking under the hood.  I tried hard to listen to what was said.  I called our friends we had just left and told them of our predicament and asked them to pray.  The scrawny man told us that he lets the Holy Spirit lead him to where he is needed.  He was on his way back to Phoenix when he says the Holy Spirit told him to pull in behind us and see what he could do.  Again, this road was pitch black and he could have easily driven by us without even seeing us.  We had a gallon of water in the car so we poured that into the radiator.  The scrawny man had a couple gallons of water with him as well and used them in our vehicle.

This scrawny little man wanted to unhook this hose and that hose and do this and do that - and we had no clue what he was talking about.  We all agreed there needed to be some light so that they could even see what to do, so we started the suburban and followed the man down the street to the next gas station, about a mile or so down the road.  We pulled up under the light of the building and Tom and the scrawny man once again got under the hood.

Our friends, bless their hearts, arrived to see what they could do to help.  By now it is about midnight.  We were advised not to listen to this scrawny man - but we didn't know what else to do.  Our friends had brought two vehicles in case we wanted to take one and leave ours there until we could get it fixed.  Uncertain, we allowed the scrawny man to do what he thought would work.  He acted like he knew what he was talking about.

He went over to a tree beside the building and cut a small limb from it.  He whittled that piece of wood until it was the correct length he wanted.  Then he proceeded to unhook two or three of the hoses and inserted this piece of wood into two of the hose ends, making a closed connection.  I'm not sure what all he did, but he said that we could drive home with the vehicle that way and then could get it fixed the next morning. 

We weren't so sure, however, but we sent our friends home with both their vehicles and our thanks for coming to our rescue.  The scrawny man said he was heading to Phoenix and would follow us all the way home to make sure that we got there safely.  That made us a little nervous, to say the least.  Follow us all the way home, find out where we live?  We had offered to pay with what we had on it, and it wasn't much, but it was refused.  Was this a scheme to get more from us?  We didn't know - so we prayed on the way home that we would be protected and the suburban will make it.   We discussed getting off a mile either before our exit or after our exit, and stop at a store, just to keep from going straight to the house.  

All of a sudden, about two miles north of our exit, the man comes up around us and in front of us he waves and turns his right signal on.  He got off at that exit.  And disappeared.  We breathed a sigh of relief and drove on home, safely.  We felt foolish at our fear.  The suburban had not overheated or had any problems all the way home, and the only thing holding the hoses together was the tree limb.

We believe this scrawny man, who never gave us his name, was sent by God in answer to prayer.  We were protected and brought home safely.  All praise belongs to God for answering our prayers.

Psalm 121 is one of my very favorite psalms.   "I look to the hills from which cometh my help, my help cometh from the LORD."  I often look at our hills, our mountains, here in Phoenix and ask for help in every circumstance.

Psalm 121 - New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

¹ I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord will keep you from all harm —
he will watch over your life;
⁸ the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

I believe with all my heart that He hears our prayers and answers them even before they are formed in our minds.  It isn't just 'coincidence' that we are rescued and helped. 

Can you think of a time that you were 'rescued'?  Perhaps not with a vehicle issue, but maybe a health issue, or a financial issue.  Did a new job come into play when you needed extra money for something?  Did the garage fix something that you thought would cost a lot of money and they did it for a lot less or for free?   Did someone go out of their way to bless you?  Did you make it home safely after a night of partying?  Did the issue spoken in anger resolve itself?

It's all God.  Before you ask, He will answer.  But don't forget to ask - and definitely don't forget to thank Him for all He has given you.   If you didn't pray it, didn't think it - well, don't diss God.  Someone did pray for you.  Perhaps not specifically, but they asked for God's protection and help be available to you.  And He answered.

Take some time to say 'thank you' to God.  Acknowledge His sovereignty.  You may wish you had taken that time to say thank you when you have another problem!

Blessings!

Interesting Day....

Yesterday was an interesting day.  We attended another church just to see what it was like.  Well, there was a little more than that.  We were hoping for some good 'down-home' preaching.  You know, like it was when we grew up.  When the Bible was preached and you were able to understand how to apply it to your life.

We were disappointed.  That is all I have to say about that.

The best part of the day was that I stopped by my son's house and saw my beautiful granddaughter for a few minutes.  She was visiting from Tucson and was planning on heading back later in the day.  Also got to see my grandsons. They always run out for a quick hug.  I love it.

From there I ended up at Walmart picking up yet another rope toy for Marley.  Sigh.  This one rope toy I purchased at Big Lots last week.... well, she loved it.  A lot.  She shared it.  A lot.  We found it in pieces of string throughout the entire house for about a week before I finally thew the last two inches (out of about 12) away.  The one I bought yesterday I thought would last... but she has already broke the strings in one knot of it.  Marley sure does have strong teeth!  I think we may have to stick with the hard rubber toys, and one of the rope toys on occasion.  They just don't seem to last as long.

That was about my day yesterday.  By 7PM or so we had a storm brewing and although it doesn't happen often, I started to get a sinus headache, which I assume was from the stuff going on outside.  By 8:30 I took an ibuprohen and went to bed.  Slept until around 4-ish this morning, tossed and turned and dozed until about 5:45.  By that time Marley was stirring and wanting to go out.

And here it is Monday already.  After I finish writing this I plan to get started on submitting resumes.  I am still believing that God is going to provide what we need, where we need it, and even when we need it.  I am not going to allow myself to get anxious about it for in everything, which includes looking for a job.  We are told not to be anxious, but in everything submit our requests to God.

Philippians 4:6-7  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hears and your minds in Chrits Jesus."  (NIV)

or, in the NLT -

"Don't worry about anything; inbstead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

So, I'm praying and letting God guide and direct my path.  I'm doing my part by applying for jobs - and trusting He will do His part by supplying just what we need.

Have you ever been in a position when you just have to trust God for the outcome? 

Blessings!

I'm losing it!

Well, not necessarily 'it' but my glasses!!  I can not, for the life of me, remember where I put them!  I don't know if I left them at Denny's when we ate there the other night or laid the down somewhere here in the house.  I laid awake until about 1PM this morning looking for them.  I 'discovered' they were missing when we sat down to watch the Olympics opening. 

I don't wear my glasses unless I have to.  I'm nearsighted, but I can still see 'out' - it just isn't completely focused.  For example, without my glasses coming down the road I can't read the street sign - but if on the freeway, I can read it cause it is bigger print.   Like now, I am on my computer and I don't used glasses.  Don't even like wearing my contacts to read - which is why I don't use anything.

But, to watch TV and see everything clearly, I do like to wear my glasses.  I did find an older pair, so I'm not completely at a loss, but they are bifocals instead of transitional.  I think that is what they call it.  So in other words, they can be annoying at times.

So, I'm still looking for my glasses this morning.  Yes, I prayed to find them.  Maybe it is time to just get new ones; these are about 5 years old, I think.  Prescription hasn't changed, but style definitely has.

Losing my glasses can be a good thing, I guess.  It makes me ponder on how we sometimes lose our focus on God.  When we read our Bibles (contacts), go to church (glasses) we think that we can see clearly on how we are to live.  And we do.  Well, if you really read, pray and understand the Bible, and if you really listen to the pastor and participate in worship you know how to live.

But what happens when you start missing that church service here and there; you stop praying; you stop worshiping?  

You begin to lose sight for the One who adores you.  You lose your focus on keeping your eyes upon Him.   You begin to look around and see - nearsightedly - those things close to you.

Like trouble.  Well, things that can get you deeply in sin, that is.  You notice more the irritations from your spouse, your children.  (For the record, Grandchildren are not in this category)  You start belly aching about how mistreated you are, how ungrateful your family is for all that you do.

Geez.  Get with it!  Grab your internal glasses and turn your eyes back to Jesus!  He is the author and perfecter of your life.  He is the One who will guide you and direct your path - but you have to give Him permission to interfere in your life.  That's the hard part.  The easy part is letting Him lead.

Try it - hopefully you will find your internal glasses much more satisfying than these things around you.

In the meantime, I'm looking for my external glasses!  I need to go to the store so guess I need to put in my contacts!

Blessings!

Wow - it's starting already!

Fun things for my birthday that is!  In today's mail I received a $10 card from Kohls - off anything in the store!  In a birthday card  no less.  I keep telling Tom "they want me".  I wonder if this is another bribe.  They won; I will use it.  For something, don't know what yet.

I also received an anniversary card (our anniversary is 5 days after my birthday - 30 years this year!!) from Helzberg Diamonds.  They want to give me a large white cultured freshwater pearl earring set free as a gift for our anniversary.  And, btw, they have a two row cultured freshwater pearl necklace for just $xx.xx!!  I may have to go get the earrings.  Not sure about the necklace.  I have a pearl bracelet I received free from them last year.  They love me too.

I hadn't thought much about  my birthday coming up - but I guess it will be here soon!  Still a couple weeks away, as far as I'm concerned, so still too early to think about.  My middle child commented today on what did I want.  I have no idea what to tell him.  I did mention the lap desk I saw at Sam's Club that I commented on recently - where the man turned around and raised his eyebrows.  Remember that one?   Silly man.

I know of something!  Commit to walking with me 1 x week x 3 weeks for at least three miles.  I'm wanting to get out walking again.  Marley isn't able to walk outside the yard yet.  Hopefully when we take her to the vet in a couple weeks she can get her rabies shot - two weeks after that we can get her trained and out the door.  I'm really looking forward to that.

I need to get started walking again.  Well, I've been doing some walking, but not a lot.  I did use the treadmill yesterday - and Marley tried to get on it with me.  I tried to video her but she wouldn't stay on long enough for me to do it.  It was quite funny.  I got on the treadmill today and again she tried to get on - but she finally was taken out of the room so that I could get some walking done today.

Why am I wanting to get walking again?  Well, yes, I did it again.  I signed Tom and I up for the 2013 One America 500 Festival Mini Marathon in Indiana.  It's May 4th next year.  I know I won't be able to spend as much time there as I did this year (as I plan to be working), but it gives me a goal to work towards.  Or to walk towards. 

I asked Tom if he wanted to sign up again - and he gave me 'the look' and said he wanted to think about it.  But, I told him no, if he was going to do it then I wanted to sign him up today (it was cheaper than waiting like we did last year).  He agreed, but will let me know the first of the year if he is going to do it.  The Festival gives us an opportunity to sell our place if we can't go after the spots are sold.  I think there were 35,000 participants last year.  Our numbers are like 4790 or something like that - compared to 32xxx last year (don't want to get up and go look at the bib number).   It's ok if Tom doesn't want to do it - he did awesome in it this year.  He has nothing to prove; it's been done.  I want to do it for fun, for me, and for doing it with family again. 

I did enjoy the walk although it was difficult.  Part of it was attitude and the not knowing what to expect.  I know now what to expect so can enjoy it more.  I also know that I need to put forth more walking than I did last year.  After all, I think it was December or January we signed up last year.  With Marley I won't have to wait if Tom can't go - I can take Marley and just go walking.

It would be fun if my children would take up walking with me.  The exercise is easy.  But, I like my alone time too - when I can be alone with my thoughts and process things.  Starting out I want to walk for endurance - then will pick up my speed.  I'd like to beat our record from this year.  Got about 9 months to work on my training.  I can do this. :-)

So - back to my birthday - 13 more days I guess it is.   Funny thing, I don't feel older.  I feel I could be more active than I am.  And that is all I will say about that.

You are only as old as you feel.  Some people let age define how they feel.  They use it as an excuse when they don't want to do some things, then try to use it proudly when they want to do something.  Silly people. 

I say live life to the fullest!  Enjoy and treasure each and every moment!  Don't let your age determine how you feel.  It only causes you and those around you sadness and distress when you think you are too old to do something.  You are never too old to try!   Don't let yourself - or society - determine when you need to be put in a rocking chair.  Life is too short to spend it sitting on the sidelines when you could be out involved in it.

And that is what I want to do.  Live my life to the fullest.  I don't want to die with regrets.  I have too many of those already; I want to LIVE my life.



I've started my training on my next vision - how about you?

Blessings!

At a loss today,....

I can't believe I am at a loss as to what to write about today.  Unless I write about my big brother being an instigator between my sister and I.  He turned "54" the other day (aka 66 - or is it 67) and he is trying to stir the pot this morning with comments about the nice birthday card I sent him.  It WAS a nice birthday card, full of compliments, and I thought he would like it.  He did.  My bro is in really good shape.  This is the one that challenged me to do the mini-marathon with him last May.  He says he feels like he is 55 - but now he won't be 55 until next year, he says.  So I say, "fine, I will be 44 this year, and 45 next year".  I figure if it works for him, it can work for me. :-)

Thinking about it, my birthday is coming up in a short time here.  As Tom and I have gone to a couple stores doing some shopping, I have seen different things and have told him "here is a birthday idea".  Last week at Sam's Club I did that and the man walking in front of me (and in my way) turned and gave me a funny look and raised his eyebrows at Tom.  Silly man.  He probably wished his wife would give him ideas for her birthday.

Tom and I were talking last night of some of my birthday ideas.  There was one I told him he needed to share - cause he thought it was a wonderful idea (which surprised me) - but I'm not going to mention it.  I know one son reads my blog almost daily - the other two children rarely, I think, read it.  It will be interesting to see if they check for any ideas.  This specific request was on one of my life goals.

I'm not really needing anything.   Well, other than a job.  My hubby or the children can not get that for me - but I can.  And that is what I am going to be doing right after I finish this blog.  Which will be very shortly, since I don't have anything to share today.

So, with that, I will close with this scripture.

Lamentations 3:21-24  "Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope; Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.""

One of my favorite scriptures; He is my portion, therefore, I will wait for Him to determine my path and set things in place.  His mercies are new every morning, He is faithful, and great is His compassion for me.  And for you.

Blessings!

Marley's in trouble....again!

Sigh.  Tom has gone to the gym and I was in another part of the house for a few minutes.  When I returned, I could smell something, but couldn't figure it out.  I walked around and noticed a couple dark grainy spots on the carpet.  I bent down and checked to see what it was, and it appeared to be dirt.  Next to her bed was more 'dirt' and some black plastic, which had been chewed into small pieces.

Puzzled, I checked my house plants to see if she had gotten into them.  She has gotten big enough that she could possibly get to the top of the little refrigerator.  No, those plants were fine.  I checked the ones behind the fireplace screen in the kitchen.  No, the screen had not been moved. 

I begin walking around, trying to find some other evidence to determine what Marley had been in to.   Little Miss Innocent is in her favorite spot under the kitchen table, watching me walk around.  She doesn't offer to help me determine what it is.

But I finally figure it out - I'm sure to her dismay. 

We have a Keurig coffee maker.  Every morning Tom always makes my coffee (and his) and brings to me while I do my 'quiet time'.  Apparently when he threw the little canister of used coffee away, it missed the waste basket (which is behind a closed cabinet) and landed on the floor, right in the open area between the cabinet and the floor.  And the place where Marley often goes, hoping to find something that didn't make the waste basket.  She found it this morning.

Yes, she found a used canister of coffee.  I'm sure the smell was a draw to her (just like it is to me every morning.  "Mmmmmmm"  is the sound of good coffee).  While I wasn't looking - or it could have been while we both were here and doing other things - she snatched the canister and proceeded to devour it.  And she did, most of it.    I guess I could say she had a 'coffee break'.  Except for the tale-tale evidence, she could have gotten by with it.  

Marley is like us in a lot of ways, isn't she? 

We start out with good intentions. We want to do the right thing, behave the right way.  We want to be "good" and obey, do what we know is right.  But then.... 

The ice cream we said we wouldn't eat while on our diet, we couldn't resist and what was only one bite to start ended with us eating the entire canister.

The beer we were going to have 'just one' while we visit with a friend turns into 4 or 5.  And we still have to go home.

The letter we were wanting to write and even sat down to do before we got distracted still lays on the table with the pen, waiting for us to finish.

The call we were going to make but we wanted to do something else first becomes a 'not so important' call to make, until it is too late.

The invitation to meet with family and/or friends and just get together is waiting to be given but it never happens.

So what do we do?  We snatch at life in pieces, trying to make sense of what we are missing and why are we missing it.  Often we blame others why life is the way it is.  Why we are fat.  Why we feel unloved.  Why we feel sad.  Why we feel alone. 

Snatching at life sometimes can cause us problems.  Although I couldn't punish Marley because I found the evidence of what she had done, I didn't see her do it.  I know she did it, but I can't punish her for something I didn't see her do so that I could correct her at the time.

We think that if we do some things that we won't get caught.  We think that no one will see us do anything - whether right or wrong.  The difference is that if it is right, you will share it with others.
But another big difference is that what you do is always seen by our Heavenly Father.

Hebrews 12:1-3  "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Don't be a 'life-snatcher', but find joy in serving the One who gave His life for you.

Blessings!

Is the Lane Blocked or Open?

One Sunday morning a few months back we were heading up to Prescott Valley to attend church.  Driving up I-17 from Phoenix we found a lane had been blocked off for a few miles.  Tom commented, (as we slowed down and made our way on the open lanes) that he wondered why on Sundays, when it appeared no one was working, did they leave the lane blocked.  It wasn't but a mile or so further up the road that we did see a truck in that lane and work being done on the road.

It's kind of like when God allows something to come our way that blocks our lane and causes us to detour into the other lane, or to even take another road to get where we think we need to be.   There are many things that can block our lane.  It could be a sickness, the death of someone close, job loss, location transfer, foreclosure, divorce, marriage, a move.  Any of these things can get in our lane, our life, and cause us to slow down and sometimes detour.  Each block in our lane can cause pain of some sort.

Sometimes God wants us to slow down and wait upon Him before proceeding.  Sometimes He wants to give us a 'way out' before succumbing to a temptation.  Sometimes we need to sit back and let God comfort us in our times of need.  Sometimes we need to just sit and wait.

As many of you know, I'm looking for a job.  I haven't looked real hard thus far because of different things - vacation, busyness, etc.  But, soon my monies will stop and it will be very difficult if I don't find a job soon.  So, I am looking again.  I saw a couple possibilities yesterday, but I know the stress involved in those jobs and hesitate to even apply.  I don't want my life to be stress-filled.

I have added my own blocks in my lane.  I said I wanted to stay within a ten mile radius of the house.  I don't think that is unreasonable.  I need a certain amount in order for us to survive, even though the need is substantially less than what I made before.   Lane blocks.  I mentioned this morning at breakfast that I had found a couple positions that I could apply for, but.....   I got the impression I should apply for them anyway.  Lane blocks.  I think both are about 20 miles away.  I dread the drive, but then, I also enjoy the drive at times as that gives me time to think and pray and just be alone.

As I sit here and think about the lane blocks I have added on myself, I find that I need to think through the challenges I have placed upon my job seeking.  I need to make sure that the lane I am on is the one that allows me to continue to grow and keep moving.  Perhaps I need to remove some of those restrictions.  I suspect I will never be able to "retire" again - at least not for many years - so I want my job to be rewarding.  I don't want it to just be 'a job'.  I give 100% at work and I want to be able to bring some of me home at the end of the day.

Psalm 27:14 - "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

Psalm 28:7 - "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song."

Take a few minutes to review the blocks that have been thrown in your life.  Are there some that you could change - that you could react differently to?  Are you keeping the lane blocked because you just don't want to take the time to move to another lane?  Are you allowing these things to slow you down, or perhaps stop you completely? 

Life is too precious and to short to allow things to block or slow down your path.  Yes, some things happen that are extremely painful.  The key is in Whom you place your trust.  In Whom you rest in.  When you have Jesus in your heart, you know that He is walking you through the journey of lane blocks.  It doesn't mean it will not happen, it just means you know you are never walking alone.

What are you doing about removing the blocks in your lane?  I think I am going to review what blocks I have added and see what I can do about eliminating them.  I pray you find the ones that are the most difficult, and work through them.

Blessings!

Marley is tearing her toys up!

I need to go shopping again today.  No, not for groceries, gifts, or anything like that.  Not even anything for me.  I need to go shopping for Marley.  Why?  Because she has chewed up nearly all her toys!  We had a couple stuffed toys for her to chew on when we got her.  Both were gone in three days, I think.  I mean to say, she literally pulled the stuffing out of them!!  I won't buy stuffed toys anymore!

We had a couple rope pull toys for her to chew on.  One had a ball on it, the another a blue rubber chew toy.  The ball is long gone, and the rope - which was at least an inch in width - has been totally shredded.   The other rope toy has been shredded as well; she finished it this morning.  The rubber toy is still there, but only because she hasn't attacked it as much as she had the other toys.  I had taken an old hand towel, tied a knot in it and let her play with it. It is shredded.

She has a bone that is still a bit larger in width than her mouth that she loves to drag around and chew on the ends.  When it hits the wood floor, or the tile floor, it sounds like glass shattering.   We have learned to put it up and only let her have it when we think she will stay on her bed.  Which means, she picks it up and moves it to where it can make noise.  Right now it is in a 'safe place' on top of her crate.  Until she realizes it is there, that is.  She is big enough now to stand up and get it herself.

We have also gotten her some rubber rings, which she is chewing on - but has not destroyed as of yet.  She has done fairly well at not chewing on the furniture.  Thus far, that is.  She will start licking Tom's recliner and does she ever get going when we use the 'pet protector' on her!  (For those of you who don't know what a 'pet protector' is, it is a can of air that hisses when used.  It startles the dog to leave alone what they were doing.)  A can of rocks can do the same thing, or anything that makes a loud noise.  We used up the last of the can the other day, but she doesn't know that.  Yet.  We grab the can and 'hiss'.  I know, I can see you laughing now!  But, until we get another can, it will do.  Until she knows the difference, this is cheaper.

That is why I am planning on going shopping.  I will probably start at Big Lots to see what they have in big dog toys.  From there it will probably be Walmart.   Spoiled dog.

We have discovered a real inexpensive treat for her.  We laugh when she comes running every time she hears the noise.  Ice cubes.  Yep.  If she hears us getting ice for our glasses she comes running.  We find one that she can manage, she grabs it and off she goes to her bed.  There she proceeds to chomp and crunch it.   She loves her ice cubes.  Could be because it is so hot and muggy here too, but at least it is a treat we don't mind giving her.  She really gets funny when she decides to eat it on the tile floor - and the ice will escape her  mouth and she chases and pounces on it before it is either melted or chewed up.

She has been an amusing dog, to say the least.  Oh yes, she still gets in trouble on occasion, but overall, she is doing pretty good.  She is 99.9% housebroken now.  I say that because one day last week she 'went' on the carpet.  I was not happy and she knew it.  I want to think it was an accident, but she got the message from me loud and clear that was not acceptable.  Just in case it wasn't. 

We are sometimes like Marley.    We love our families (like Marley loves her toys), but sometimes we attack and shred them.   We say hurtful things, we do hurtful things.  We destroy them.  Perhaps not intentionally, but by the words we say, the things we do, what we don't say, what we don't do.  Perhaps we ignore the needs of our family.  Your spouse may need a tender touch; are you there to hug her?  Your child may need a 'I'm really proud of you' - are you willing to say it?  Perhaps it is a friend who just needs you to listen to them.  Hear their story.  Are you available?  

I don't want to be like Marley.  I don't want to hurt people.  I am sure you don't either.  What can you do today that will bring joy to someone?

Psalm 19:14 - "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."

Blessings!

Is it REALLY "Parents Day"?

I saw something on facebook earlier today when I was skimming through it that caused me to pause.  Almost as much as seeing something that says 'Grandparents Day'.    The posting simply stated that today is a "holiday" called 'Parents Day'.  Really?  And do they really expect our children to even care?  I mean, who came up with this 'holiday' anyway?  What is their reasoning behind it?

Was it a child who felt guilty for not showing their parents the respect they should and wanted to make it up to them?  Or was it a parent who wanted to make their child feel guilty?  Could go either way, you know!

To set the record straight, I think I have pretty good children - and of course adorable grandchildren.  Yes, in the 'growing up' years, things got testy at times, but overall, my children are good children.  Yes, they are adults now and now, as then, I question at times their mindsets.  I prayed my boys through high school.  God did a good job in answering those prayers.  My daughter is an excellent mother - I'm hoping she learned a little from me.  I have laughed the few times she called to say "I have become my mother!"

Do my children and grandchildren even know about these "holidays"?  Probably not, unless they shop a lot for cards, which is doubtful.  I had never heard about a 'parents day' until I saw it on facebook this morning.  I have known about grandparents day - which I believe is September 9th.  I could be wrong, but that date comes to mind.  It has been around for many years, for I used to send my mama cards from my children when they were younger.

I guess even more important is my question as to WHY do we need these two 'holidays'.   I know I don't see my children - or my grandchildren - as much as I want to.  Life is just too busy anymore for anyone.  But the thought has occurred to me today that when I die, would there be regrets of not stopping by to see me, or asking me to hang out with them for awhile.  Would there be regrets that we don't have more memories to share.  Just melancholy questions I am asking myself.

I packed up two of my children and myself with my new husband back in 1982 and moved across the nation - away from my mama and siblings.  Although I love Arizona and have no desire to move back to Indiana and its many seasons of cold, snow and rain, I have missed my mama so much.  My middle child moved to Arizona a few years later, after their father's passing.  I finally had all my children here with me - and yet, I missed so much.

My children often talk of moving back to Indiana.  I am ok with letting them go - not that I could stop them - but I hope that if they ever do, it will be for the right reasons.  I hope they remember they can never go back to the way it was.  Things are never the same.  My siblings have grown up, as have their cousins.  All have their own families and own traditions and own ways of doing things.  And they have done it for years without us - just as we have celebrated things our way without them. 

I wonder as people notice the comment about 'Parents Day' on facebook - although there was only one - what they would pause to reflect on.  Would it be their own parents, or perhaps those they have loved as parents.  Will it be their own style of parenting.

As parents, we often copy how we were raised as far as punishment and how much attention the children get.  I'm not any different.  Let me rephrase that.  I wasn't any different.   Wooden spoons, hairbrushes, belt buckles, switches, hands, etc. - I knew those quite a bit from my growing up years.  When my children were growing up, it was normal (I thought) to automatically threaten with the wooden spoon.

My daughter cured me of that.  When she was 5 or 6 years old I was trying to get her into bed.  She was really testing me, constantly getting up.  I threatened the wooden spoon.  I don't remember exactly why I was going to swat her bottom with the wooden spoon, but as my arm was coming down with the spoon, she fell onto the floor and bit my ankle.  With the sudden pain in my ankle, my hand continued to the source - and inadvertently smacked my daughter in the mouth.  I was devastated and cried.  I loved on my daughter and hugged her and was so sorry.  I sent her to the shower, and as she took her shower I could hear her singing "I love my mommy, I know she didn't mean to hurt me."   I don't think I ever used the spoon on her again - only she can answer that one, for I don't remember it.  I never wanted to hurt my child again.  Not to say that any of them didn't get spankings after that!

My father died at age 39 back in 1957.  I was seven years old, barely old enough to remember him. I do remember getting to snuggle with him late one night because I was sick - and so was he.  His bed was set up in the living room in our small apartment behind the store.   We didn't have much, but there was love in our family.  When my daddy died, our lives changed, not only for us six children, but for our mother.  Mama struggled for two years with six children alone, then she remarried.  Life changed for all of us after that - and not always for the better.  Life was tough many times.  Mama told me many stories about my real dad before she died.  The best part?  They were in love.

So the years have gone by and the times have changed.  My children are quick to remind me of how I punished them in their younger years - but I wonder if they will remember the tears I cried for them in prayer, seeking God on their behalf.  I wonder if they will recognize the tears that fell in their proud moments when I couldn't hold back them back.  Graduations.  Special birthdays.  Special gifts.  Weddings. Births of their children. Baptisms.  Special notes; painful letters; handwritten songs, that phone call that was for no other reason but to say I love you and wanted to know how you are.  

I know all three of my children read this, and occasionally my grandchildren - at least a couple of them.  I'm not writing any of these things to put anyone on a guilt trip or to make you think you need to call me, or invite me, or remember special days with me.  These thoughts will come to you after I'm gone.  I know, for I have them of my own mother. 

I want you to remember - my parents day gift to you - how much I love you.  I am so proud of each of you and the men and the woman you have become.  You excel in your own way, your own style of living life.  Things haven't always been easy, and you haven't always made the best decision, but then, neither have I.  I am not perfect by any means.

I am your mom.  I have never regretted living life with any of you.   Thank you for letting me be a part of your lives.   My prayer for each of you is that you will be a Follower of Jesus Christ, and allow Him to guide you and direct your path, all the days of your life.  You will truly live life to the fullest if you do that.  It won't be easy at times, but it is the best road to take.  I've never regretted it.  I could not pray a better prayer than that, and for His blessings to be upon you and your families.

I love you, my children, with all my heart.  Love your children with all your heart.  That is the best legacy you can leave them with.  I leave you with mine.

Mom

Hearts are saddened this day...

as we awakened to the news of the massacre in Colorado.  How can this be?  For what reason was this done?  We have no answers.  We hear of 12 deaths and 38 injured.  And no explanations.  So how does one pray?  How does one deal with these things?

I don't know about others, but I turn to God's Word.   I hurt for the families involved.  I grieve with those who lost loved ones.  I read God's Word, and I pray.

Psalm 23 - "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.  He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

As you process all that has transpired, I pray that you will realize how grieved our Heavenly Father is over this situation as well.  He doesn't want calamity and disaster to fall upon us.  He wants to bless us and bring us joy.  What are you going to take away from this tragedy? 

Horatio G. Spafford lost his four daughters at sea.  After receiving the telegram from his wife of their deaths, he took a trip back across the sea.  When he arrived at the place where the boat went down, he penned the words to this song.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea-billows roll,
Whatever my lot, that has taught me to say,
It is well, It is well with my soul.

It is well (It is well) with my soul (with my soul),
It is well,
It is well with my soul.

My sin - of, the bliss of this glorious thought -
My sin - not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

It is well (It is well) with my soul (with my soul),
It is well,
It is well with my soul.

And, Lord, hasten the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trump shall re-sound and the Lord shall de-scend,
"Even so" - it is well with my soul.

It is well (It is well) with my soul (with my soul),
It is well,
It is well with my soul.

Can you say, even with this tragedy, even with perhaps a tragedy that you, yourself, are working through, that it is well with your soul?   Think on these things.

Blessings!

It's been a good day!

I have had a good day thus far.  Why?  Because I not only got a good report from the doctor's office on my physical, but I stopped at a tea shop and picked up tea and then headed down to my 'old' office and got to visit a lot of friends.  It was so good to see those I did get to see - and I know I missed seeing many others.  But, after all, it is a work day so I shouldn't take up too much of their time.  It was fun seeing people as excited to see me as it was for me to see them!

I haven't been home long, but long enough to have a cup of my new tea from the Dragonfly Tea Company at 16th Street and Bethany Home Rd.   Yummy.  I loved the atmosphere there and all the selections of tea.  It's not a sit down and have a cup of tea type of shop, just in case you are wondering.  I will go back - it was that good!

Don't really have much to say today - haven't been home long and I know I need to not be on the computer very long.  Didn't have time to get on this morning due to my doctors' appointment.   Did I say I got a good report?  Well, haven't got the results of the blood tests yet, but I am confident that all is well. 

The doctor was really pleased I was doing so much walking still.  Glad I did the marathon in Indiana in May.  He checked my blood flow (or whatever it is he does) in my ankles and said that due to my walking, it is excellent.  So if you aren't doing much walking - think about it.  He said one should do a minimum of 120 minutes of walking a week.  Now that doesn't seem so hard, does it? To get healthy?

Hope you are having a healthy, happy day!

Blessings!

Training....

I received an email from the One America 500 Festival Mini Marathon people today.  An email that issued an invitation for me to walk in the above mini marathon for 2013.  I haven't registered.  Yet.  I know some that have already registered - even on the day they finished the walk for 2012!   But I have held back.  Various reasons.  True, valid reasons.  So perhaps I need to set something straight (for my siblings that may read this).

I would love to do the walk in 2013.  However, for the registration, even though discounted, and the airfare to and from Indiana, it will cost for two people close to $1000.  With currently being unemployed, that is not what I should be spending money on.   And, when I get a job (soon I hope), I probably won't earn a vacation by that time.  With working, when would I have time to do the training?  I was lucky this year and did not have a job that took up most of my day so that I could walk and train.

Therefore, I am looking at some runs/races that my son has sent out and hopefully will be motivated to participate in some of them.  Just not the mud ones.  I don't 'do' mud.  He's a boy.  He does. He is motivated by mud, I think. :-)  Love you Stuart!!

Training.  I know I didn't do as much training as I would have liked for the mini marathon, but we did do enough to be able to complete it.  Unfortunately my walking has dwindled down a lot - although I am still walking some - but nothing like it was before.  I am, however, going to start back up in getting this body moving starting today.  Got yoga all set to work on when I get off here.  If I could get my children to do some walking with me, that would be awesome. :-)

We give our bodies training for things like marathons and walks, but what about our mind?  We start eating better to make our bodies stronger and  more healthy, but what about what we put in our brains?  Scary thought, isn't it?  If you eat unhealthy and work out, all you do is build muscles under layers of fat.  I thought the purpose of exercise was to lose the fat.  So you change your eating habits so that you eat healthy and lose the fat so that your training won't be in vain.  Right?

Rick Warren had an article in Newsmax magazine recently - he called it The Daniel Plan.  I quote:  "Diabetes didn't scare me," (Rick) Warren confessed. "Heart disease didn't scare me.  But having a healthy brain got my attention."   The Daniel Plan is inspired by the biblical story of Daniel, who rejected King Nebuchadnezzar's royal food and wine for a diet of vegetables and water. 
Those on The Daniel Plan are exercising, eating plenty of vegetables and other healthy foods, and have sworn off sugar, white bread, rice, pasta, wheat, hydrogenated fats or oils, caffeine, and processed foods.   Now I don't understand entirely giving up the wheat products - perhaps because it is still carbs, but caffeine too?  This is endorsed by Dr. Oz too.  Makes one want to go 'hmmmm'.

I am going to throw out this question to you - what would you lose by following the above guidelines of The Daniel Plan - and what would you gain by NOT doing The Daniel Plan?  Even if you don't want or need to lose weight, or think you don't, you could think much clearer if you are eating the proper foods.  Are you willing to 'save your brain' for your future?

If interested - go to DanielPlan.com to read the six core principles and the action steps.  I think I'm going to.  Giving up my caffeine may create a problem - let alone chocolate!!  But to get a mind that allows me to think clearly just might be worth it.  What about you? 

I challenge you to one month of the above guidelines.  One month - 30 days.  Let's say, July 20 though August 20.  I'm not saying you (or I) won't slip up once in awhile, but try to be consistently following the Plan.

Caution - if you do The Daniel Plan, you may LOSE WEIGHT and be able to THINK CLEARLY. 

Training.  It's what we are called to do - whether for our pleasure, our bodies, our minds.

Hebrews 12:11 - "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

Are you "IN" for 30 days?   Let me know!

Blessings!

I know times have changed, but.....

When I was growing up (yes, many years ago), we went to church every time the doors were open.  I remember at Christmas and Easter the church would make up a small bag of 2 oranges, 2 apples, some nuts and some chocolate, and everyone at church got a bag as they left.  I remember singing the (what we call old) hymns, having altar calls (do you even know what they are now?) and fellowship.  But at home it was an entirely different life.

Between graduating from high school, marriage, children, divorce, remarriage, etc. - church wasn't quite as important.  Why?  Because although I was raised in the church, I wasn't raised to know Jesus.  Oh, I had accepted Him at age 14 and was baptized, but I can't say that I knew exactly what that meant.  I went to church some during those 15 years between high school and 1982 when I remarried, but it wasn't important enough for me to attend because of Jesus. 

I was musing this morning with Tom over breakfast how pastors influence people. I'm talking me in particular. When we first starting attending church here in Arizona 30 years ago, it was when I 'came back' to church.   That first Sunday I was back in church God grabbed hold of me and He has never let go.  I wanted to learn more about Jesus; I wanted to know who this Jesus was.  I knew that if I was going to survive, I had to have Jesus.  I literally ran down to the altar that Sunday.  And my life has never been the same.

We have had several pastors at this church who have influenced my life.  Pastor Dave helped me feel at home and brought me back to church.  Pastor Don taught me I don't have to be dressed up all the time to come before God; He only cares that I come to Him, even in my casual jeans.  Pastor Lori taught me the basics of Discipleship and how I should live and have a relationship with Jesus.  Pastor Gerald taught me how to worship (until the music became a concert, that is!!).  Pastor Steve taught me about God's grace.   Every one of these pastors have influenced me in some way.  There have been pastors who have encouraged me in my walk, and pastors who have nearly destroyed me spiritually.  Every pastor is given a responsibility to the Church of God - some take it seriously, some don't have a clue.   All my opinion, of course.

But in spite of all that, several years ago I began the process to become a minister.  I did that because I felt called to teach, to preach, to share the good news of Jesus Christ.  I wanted to share with others how to have a relationship with Jesus.  So I was mentored, I studied, I read books, I took classes, and I was ordained in 2007.   We were on staff for a church up north for about five years, but with the driving and my working full time it became too much.  We also had started a recovery service up there for several months.  We then attended another church nearby here in Phoenix, at which we were put 'on staff'.   We left there after one year and went back to where it all started. 

Things have changed, people have changed.  There is a saying somewhere that you can 'never go back' - something about things are never as you left.  And they aren't.   What grieves my heart and bothers me so much about church nowadays?

Worship pastors are more concerned about presenting a concert feeling, not a worship feeling.  The louder they are and the more the lights flash and the photos on the screens - it's what it is all about for them.  They have forgotten how to worship, truly worship, in my opinion.   The music is so loud at times you can't hear the vocalists, and even if you know the song, you can not hear yourself sing.  And when they offer communion or an actual altar call (which is confusing for some for there is nothing there but floor for them to kneel on - if given the opportunity at all!) - the music is blaring some upbeat sound.  I'm not saying we need to hear ten verses of "Just as I am" or "I Surrender All" - but a reflective song would be appropriate for someone to look at their life and see if they need to right their relationship with Jesus.  How many people are taking communion without knowing Jesus as Lord?

I Corinthians 11:27-29 - "Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.  A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.  For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself."

Altar calls are nearly non-existent anymore.  I don't understand that.  But I guess that goes along with the message.  If you want to call it that.  You either get someone who just quotes Bible verses with no interpretation or things that don't actually come together, or  a message that is so full of distractions from the props that none of it makes sense to anyone, let alone me.

The message.  What happened to presenting the message in such a way that it honors God and gives His people something to think about?  What happened to messages that speak to the heart and helps you identify ways to change your life?  Many times I have gone to church and walked away without even being able to tell you what the message was about.  Yes, I listened, and I took notes.  But it didn't reach my heart.  And many times I have heard pastors who spoke the Word to me in such a way that touched my heart and helped me in my walk with the Lord.

I believe worship should be for the people coming to worship - not for the worship leader and their team.  They should not only bring us to worship, but draw us to the Throne of God.

I believe the message should be one that is encouraging and uplifting, helping people to see that if Jesus would stop and share a story with the people, that if that same story is presented today - how would it look and what should we do with it.  Does anyone read the Bible anymore?  Do they even know the stories that Jesus told?  Do they know what the story of the Good Samaritan even means?  Do they know what is the greatest commandment?

The first and greatest commandment is "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."   What does this mean?  It means we are to WORSHIP God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.  WORSHIP.

So there you have it.  My opinion on what is wrong in churches nowadays.  I'm not saying we should go back to 'the way it was' - far from it!  But we can truly teach people the love of Jesus by being Jesus to them.  We can be the Bible to these people.  I've heard many wives comment they wish their husbands would become the men God created them to be.  How can they if they aren't taught how?

You can be raised in church, you can be raised in a good home.  But if you are not raised to KNOW Jesus and accept Him as Lord of all, you haven't begun to live.  You can 'be' a Christian, but are you living as a Follower of Jesus?

I John 2:6 - "Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did."

I John 2:15-17 - "Do not love the world or anything in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the Father but from the world.  The world and its desires pass away, but the  man who does the will of God lives forever."

All the above is only my opinion.  I'd be interested in hearing your comments.  Do you agree - or disagree with me? 

Blessings!

My Life Goals.... part 2

I started writing about my life goals yesterday, and after reading more in The Circle Maker this morning, I want to add to what I wrote.  Maybe it will help you as you compile your list of life goals.

Actually, because many of you are NOT pray-ers, I will list this both ways.  You SHOULD begin your life goal list with prayer.... but if you don't pray.... at least sit back and think about the value of writing out your life goals.   If you don't write them down, more than likely they won't happen.

Decide why you want that specific goal.  Ok, I want to lose weight.  I would like to lose 30 pounds.  I would like to be down the 30 pounds by Christmas, 2012.  I want to lose the weight so that I will have more confidence in myself and in how I look.  Plus my clothes will fit.  See, I was able to identify what I would like to do, how much I would like to lose, when I want to have that life goal completed, and why I want to do it.  I know it probably doesn't sound like a 'life' goal, but it is a goal and it is one I probably have had in some form for most of my life!  The only part I didn't add was how I was going to do that - but that would be other life goals which would encompass healthier eating and exercise.  Losing weight isn't a goal if I don't have a target weight within a target time frame.  Break it down to make it encouraging to get there to goal.

Select categories to put your life goals in.  You could identify specific categories such as family, physical, financial, personal, travel, etc.  Actually, you could set any categories that mean something to you.  I'm actually going to try and attempt sorting my life goals out today (to which I even added to this morning) into specific categories.  Again, these are MY life goals, and how I choose to accomplish them is on me.

Again, be specific in what you want your life goal to be.   You can attach time frames to your goals - for example, I am 62.   I want to run a half marathon by age 70.  That gives me a little over 7 years (since I will be 63 next month!!) to prepare.  Will I accomplish this goal?  First of all, I need to start training.  I need to start pushing.  I need to set small goals of running a 3K, a 5K, etc to build endurance.  Make little goals along the way to achieve the big goal.  But I won't do it sitting in front of the computer or television waiting for my body to get in shape.  Aim high.

Write it down.  If you don't write down your life goal, you will not keep it in your mind for you really haven't set them.  You have just thought about it.  It is powerful when you write down your goals.  You also need to verbalize it.    Find goals that will include others and encourage each other towards the goal.  If you and your spouse want a getaway weekend twice a year, set a date when you want to do it, identify the location, and start saving towards it!

Celebrate each achievement along the way of reaching your biggest life goal.  Throw a party if you want.  Celebrate completion.  Perhaps it will be getting all your children through high school.  Or through college.  Perhaps it will be you going back to college and completing it.  Celebrate the little things.

But don't settle for little goals.  Dream the big dreams.  Want a bigger home?  Dream it, plan for it, save for it.  A newer car?  Same thing.  Dream for what you want.  Plan hard.  Keep thinking of ways to achieve your life goals, and more to make.   It's never too late to start.

As many of you know, Tom and I recently walked the 13.1 miles One America 500 Festival Mini-Marathon this last May.  It wasn't a goal until we were challenged by my brother.  Once we accepted the challenge, it became a goal, although not written down.  We had to get our bodies out and walk.  Some days were harder than others, and yes, I wish we had walked more often and further in our training.  Various reasons why we didn't, that I allowed to interfere with my own personal training.  I was wrong - and should have continued in pushing hard.  With that said, when making a goal with another person, if they are unable to complete their part at times, don't let that stop you.  It is not your excuse, it is theirs.  Keep focused on YOUR goal.  

We did complete the 13.1 miles in 3 hours and 45 minutes.  I believe we could have been faster, but, I have to confess, my competition was that I had to go to the bathroom and for the last two-three miles there were no portapotties and I was afraid to put forth much effort!  Many of you can understand that situation!  I know - TMI!!   Someone reminded me of seeing marathon runners along paths will, all of a sudden, jump off the path and into a wooded area and before they are far from the path their trunks are already on the way down!  No, that didn't make me feel better.    But I would love to go back and beat my time.  I know what to expect now, having completed it once.  Don't know if I can do it next year - for one thing, I hope to have a job which will prevent a lot of the training, and of course, financially.  Of course if I attempt and meet some of my life goals, I will manage that too. :-) 

What about you?  When you read yesterday's blog did you begin to think about what you could put down as a life goal?  My youngest son is already scouting out the races here in Arizona and has many identified he could compete in.  I know he has done the Warrior Run twice and as we watched  him once, I know how difficult it is - I won't attempt it.  No desire to.  But I am proud of him for doing it.  These could be his 'life goals', if he would write them down.

What are some of your life goals?  Want to be a better mom?  What will you do to achieve that?  Want to be a better dad?  What will you do to achieve that?  It may mean giving up some of your 'stuff' to give your children undivided attention.  It may mean putting your fun stuff on the back burner a time or two so that you can make a special memory with your children.  How many dads bake with their children?  How many moms take their children hiking?   You don't have to stick to men or women stuff - interact!  Make it a family affair.  Make special memories your children will teach to their children.

I wish I had done more.  In many cases, I wish I had done some thing.  Don't let that be your wish.  Start today. 

1.  Today I will spend an hour with __________ and will ____________ together.

Sounds like a start to me.  Good luck.

Blessings!

My Life Goals...

In my quiet time this morning I was reminded that I want to write out a list of 'Life Goals'.  Now this could be compared to a 'Bucket List', I would guess, but I like the sound of Life Goals much better.  I did manage to list about 26 or so life goals this morning before I needed to get breakfast and get ready for church.  (Yes, I actually cooked breakfast this morning!!)

As I shared with my husband at breakfast that I was working on my life goals, he questioned what I was listing.  I tried to explain these are my goals, not anyone else's.  To give you an idea of what some life goals can be - even for you - here are a few.  

1.  Read two books a month.  (I originally thought one a week but that could be stressful, but one a month seems too little).
2.  Try a new recipe each month.  (This should be fun)
3.  Run a marathon.  (Now this one will be a challenge - but I want it to be fun, not work)
4.  Run away with my daughter one weekend - just the two of us for a mother/daughter weekend. (We rarely have time together anymore.  It would be fun to become acquainted with her again)
5.  Make an effort to have alone time often.
6.  Write a book.
7.  Publish a book.
8.  Work out 3 x week for three months.  (just to start and get going)
9.  Make everyone one Christmas gift by hand.
10. Write at least one letter a week to someone.

Now these are not in order and I've added some that I haven't written down - but just to give you an idea of some life goals.  As you can see, they aren't hard goals and are easily attainable.  But it does require some effort and consistency on my part.  I've started this list and will be adding probably for the rest of my life.  It vaguely seems like I have done this before, but I have no idea where that list could be.  I want to keep this list 'up close and personal' so that I can stay focused on completing these goals, and checking them off.

What about you?   What are some things that you would like to do - or see - before you die?   I challenge you - and encourage you - to start your own 'Life Goals' list.  You can even encourage your children or your spouse to do the same.  Make each life goal attainable so that you don't become discouraged.  But be sure to also make them challenging so that you don't immediately check everything off your list.  And add to it as you think of new things.

Want to go to an NFL game?  Put it on your list!  What about flying to Hawaii for a week?  Start saving!  Want to write a novel?  Start writing chapters!   Quit dreaming about it and start living it!  I know, I'm preaching to the choir here.  There is so much I want to accomplish myself, and yet, there is also so much I can not do, that the reasons are out of my control.  But what I can do for now, I need to step out and do it. 

Please understand that if someone has a life goal that you may want to do as well, you can not push them into completing that life goal just because you want to complete it now.  These are LIFE goals - which means we can complete them next week - or twenty years from now.  These are PERSONAL unless they include you in them.   Do not take ownership of someone else's life goal!

Routine things you always do don't need to be on your life goals list.  If you are always taking your spouse on trips - unless it is a special trip - don't list it.  What fun is it in listing if it is something you always do?   And let it be YOUR life goals list.  Don't set your goals based on someone else's desires and wants.  

In the movie 'Pretty Woman' a man is walking down the street saying "What's your dream?".  So I am asking you the same question.  What is your dream?

Start building and make your dream happen!   Let me know how your list is going.

Blessings!

It's RAINING!!

Isaiah 43:18-19 - "Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."

Here in Arizona we know what it is like to live in the desert and as the grass dies off and the dust blows, what we could consider the 'wastelands' as well.  It is often hot and dry here.  But, this morning, I sat here and watched the dark clouds roll in, and now it it is pouring down rain!  It is sinking into the earth as it falls (although I am sure in some areas the ground is so hard it is just laying on top for awhile) and happily splashing about in the pool.

As I watch the rain fall, and read the above scripture in Isaiah, I am reminded how we are not to dwell on our mistakes of the past; not to dwell on past memories and live in them, but are to turn our eyes toward Him and the future He has for us.  As God waters the earth and brings forth newness of grass, flowers, trees - gives water supply to the many insects that crawl on the ground, He wants to bring refreshing waters to our souls and hearts and minds.

Sit back, close your eyes.  Turn your thoughts to today.  What is on the schedule for today.  Is God in it?  Have you sought Him to make your path straight?  Did you surrender your plans for today to whatever He has for you?  If you do, you may find you can get everything you want done accomplished.

I had tentative plans made today to take a drive down to my 'old' office and surprise a former coworker for her birthday.  We weren't personal friends outside of work, but I enjoyed her friendship and wise leadership in the office.  I thought I would take a drive down and surprise her.  Then the storm rolled in.  I've sent her a text for I wonder if there are board meetings today, which would prevent my getting to talk with her much.  I haven't heard back yet.  If it is, I may put off until Monday to go down for a visit.  It would be good to see other friends there as well.  I'm thinking Monday may be a better day.

So my thoughts turn to some empty flower pots I have setting on the front porch. I bought some MiracleGro a couple weeks ago and the bag is still in the same place it was put. Yeah, I think I will go to Lowes and pick up some flowers to plant. Do something productive today besides look at want ads. It will be refreshing to see fresh life spring up. 

Sometimes it is so easy to dwell in the past - my past job, past relationships, past 'life', the way things were.  It isn't healthy to dwell in it.  To remember it, yes, it is good especially if we learn from past mistakes.  I know I have made plenty - and I have learned from them!  But I don't want to live in them so I must let them go and look to the future.  I need to look to today and what I am going to do.  I need to think ahead of the possibilities that God has for me.

Will He answer my prayers?  Will He give me my dream job?  Will the 'circled' prayers I have prayed numerous times come true in my lifetime?  I don't know.  Well, He will answer, but I'm not sure how He will answer.

I remember in an Experiencing God book I read the statement - "one shouldn't pray to know God's will for them, but what is God's will."  (paraphrased for sure!!)    What is God's will?   Sometimes we just have to step out in faith and see.

May the rain that falls upon the earth not only water the ground, but send fresh rain into your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Be renewed, refreshed, in His Name.

Blessings!

In memory....

We  received word last night that my husband's best friend for nearly 50 years, has died.  It was such a shock for we did not know he had been ill.  We didn't talk that often as he lived in Florida, but had probably talked two-three times this year.  Gary Stewart Licho was a special man.

I didn't know Gary well, having met him when I married Tom 30 years ago.  But I loved him.  Gary was like a big teddy bear.  6'3" with about 300 pounds or so packed on his tall frame, he was tough, but tender.  He was well known in the food industry (Sysco, Kraft, etc) and companies would often barter over him, wanting him to work for them because of his expertise.  He retired about a year ago from Sysco in Illinois and moved to Florida with his wife. 

Tom called Gary's wife after we received the call from her caretaker as she couldn't bring herself to call us.  She knew the love between Gary and Tom, the bond of friendship. We heard the news that Gary had been sick since February, but didn't want anyone to know - especially Tom.  He wanted Tom to remember him as he was, not as what multiple myleoma would do to his body.  He died Sunday at the hospital.

As the memories of Gary flooded our minds and hearts - memories of him playing Darth Vader and meeting us at the gate of his gated community when we visited him in California was one of them.  He was so funny.  He even had the right voice!   He would walk through the airport being goofy if it would make you laugh.  He rarely sat in a lounge chair; his preference was stretching out his large frame on the front room floor to watch television.

Gary would make a pot of coffee continuously and drink it all day long.  He was tough, but loving and kind.  He was a good friend, a cherished memory.

We often prayed for Gary for he, for many years, wanted nothing to do with God.  He didn't see the need or believe in Him.  But he had a wife that did.  As Elizabeth sat by his bedside near the end of his life, she would read to him from the Bible.  Sunday, she was reading to him from the book of John.  She paused, looked at Gary, and told him that soon he would be meeting Jesus in Heaven, and also his parents.  She asked him - 'do you see Jesus?'.  He got a big smile on his face, and breathed his last. 

With that smile, we believe our prayers for Gary were answered. 

What about you?  Are you going to wait until the very end in hopes that you, like Gary, will have time to surrender to Jesus?  Most people don't have that few valuable seconds before they are gone.  Are you willing to live as you are now, knowing that you can be taken in seconds? 

Is your life right with God?   We were brought up being told that if you are a Christian you can't dance, you can't drink, you can't cuss, you can't... you can't... you can't....    What we have learned over the years in our studies is that Jesus didn't say you 'can't'.  He said 'go and sin no more'.  He doesn't identify a specific sin, He doesn't say one sin is bad and another not so bad.  

The first step is to accept Jesus as Lord of your life, to surrender everything to Him.  He will tell you what He wants you to give up.  He will cause you to want to remove those things from your life - but it is in His timing and in your will.  No one can tell you that you need to do this or that.  As you grow in Jesus, you will choose to give up some things.  Maybe not all; but the key is accepting Jesus as Lord, and allow Jesus to tell you what He wants you to give up.

How do you do that?  Say something like this....

"Jesus, I invite you to come into my heart.  I'm sorry for all my sins, past and present, and I ask for Your forgiveness.  There are some things in my life I'm not ready to give up, so I give You permission to reveal to me as I grow in You, what You desire for me to let go of.  Show me that these things do not have me in bondage and that I can walk away from them.  I trust You to help me along this new journey I have chosen to take.  Thank you for not giving up on me, Jesus.  Amen."

John 3:16 - 21  -  "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.   For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.  This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.  Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.  But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

Gary Stewart Licho - we love you.  We will miss you terribly here on earth, and are looking forward to seeing you in heaven!

Blessings!

Where does the time go?

I know one thing for sure - since we have gotten Marley, any 'extra' time there might have been has gone out the window!  We constantly have one eye on her to see what she is into or up to, and believe it or not - when you do that even while watching television or trying to read - it is hopeless to focus on anything.

Yesterday we took  Marley to the vet for a well check-up and more shots.  She has to get a benadryl shot before she gets her parvo or whatever it is they get, for the first one made her sick.  Well, we think it did.  Rather than say it was 'car sickness', we'd rather not have any 'sickness' at all.  We thought, like the last time she got the shots, she would lay down and sleep most of the afternoon.  NOT.  It slowed her down, but not enough to give us a break. 

She goes to 'bed' about 8PM and since we removed the divider in her crate, she has been sleeping straight through to 6AM when we get up - thank you, Jesus!  4:30 - 5:00AM was really early to get up when she would wake us - but we didn't want to have to clean out the crate.  Now she 'holds it' until morning.  I know, probably TMI.  Even about a dog.  I can't wait until we can truly trust her all and just leave the crate open for her to come and go as she pleases.  But, she would still have to wake us up to let her out - but at least she could move about.  Then again, if we get up and out of the darkness something licks our legs, we'd probably jump ten feet!

But, she is a good dog and we both enjoy her.  It will be at least another 4-6 weeks before I take her out walking.  The vet says she has to have her rabies shot and then wait two weeks before we can take her out.  You can tell she really wants to get out and run good, but we both are held back.  For me it is the heat.  I do get on the treadmill though.  I'd much rather go walking with Marley - and will, in time.

As I looked at the calendar this morning I realized how fast this year has gone.  At the beginning of the year I was focused on May 5t6h - the  Mini-Marathon we walked in.  Now here it is July.  I'm not working yet, but am sending out resumes.  I know they have to have time to review and all, but it sure is hard to wait and see if they will even call.  Patience is not one of my virtues.  So I keep looking and keep applying.  I know something will turn up for me soon.  Once I get a job, then my priorities will change and I will get my scheduled ironed out again.  For now, it is hit and miss - if someone calls and wants to get together - great.  If not, I'll stay home and read or something.  I have projects to do - I just need to get focused. 

I look out the window at our blue water pool and think how inviting it looks - and then I look at the hot sun and the fact there is no shade in our back yard and decide that perhaps I do not want to get in the pool.  I can burn pretty good if I'm not careful.  I mentioned to Tom the other day we ought to buy a tree and plant in the back yard to get some shade.  We do have an orange tree in the corner, but it doesn't give off much shade.  Our yard is north/south, so it gets the full brunt of the sun all day.  In the mornings there is a little shade, but it quickly disappears.  Need to figure out how to get more.  It's boring staying in the house all day because of the heat.

And now I'm starting to ramble so let's see if I can figure out a way to close this off.

Ecclesiastes 3 - NIV - A Time for Everything

1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
 ² a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

⁹ What do workers gain from their toil? ¹⁰ I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. ¹¹ He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. ¹² I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. ¹³ That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. ¹⁴ I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.

¹⁵ Whatever is has already been,
and what will be has been before;
and God will call the past to account.

¹⁶ And I saw something else under the sun:

In the place of judgment—wickedness was there,
in the place of justice—wickedness was there.

¹⁷ I said to myself,

“God will bring into judgment
both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
a time to judge every deed.”

¹⁸ I also said to myself, “As for human beings, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. ¹⁹ Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. ²⁰ All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. ²¹ Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”

²² So I saw that there is nothing better for people than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?

There is a time for everything - what are you doing with your time? 

Blessings!

Praying is Planting

Honi the Circle Maker was walking down a dirt road when he saw a man planting a carob tree.  Honi asked this man, "How long will it take this tree to bear fruit?"  The man replied, "Seventy years."  Honi then questioned the man on why he would plant a tree if he didn't know if he would live the additional seventy years to eat of its fruit.  This is what the man replied, "Perhaps not.  However, when I was born into this world, I found many carob trees planted by my father and grandfather.  Just as they planted trees for me, I am planting trees for my children and grandchildren so they will be able to eat the fruit of these trees."  

Honi realized that, like the man planting the tree for his children and grandchildren to receive of its fruit, praying is just like that.  Each prayer that we pray, is a seed that gets planted in the ground.  It will disappear for awhile, but eventually our prayers will bear fruit that blesses our future generations.

Even when we die, our prayers do not.  Each prayer that I pray has a life of its own.  I may not see the fruit of that prayer while I am alive, but I trust in God to bring it to fruition.

Prayer is the inheritance we receive and the legacy we leave behind.  Every prayer that you have prayed, your spouse and children have prayed, your parents have prayed for you, every word that has been spoken, will bear fruit in God's timing.  We may find ourselves fighting outcomes, fighting changes that we don't want to make.  We may as well stop fighting, God is working at answering prayers that were made for you - and for me - before we were even born. 

This morning I had such a longing for someone to know my heart.  I'm really struggling with 'things' that I have no control over.  I know what God has called me to, and yet, I feel I keep hitting closed doors and it hurts.  I believe that through all these struggles within me that God is working in me, changing me (answering my parents' prayers for me, perhaps).  I feel so many obstacles are in my way of doing what I feel I was called to do.   So I try to grow and bloom where I am planted.  I seek His will in teaching and becoming a part of the community.  I want to excel - not for my glory, but that I will be used by Him and Him glorified.  Sometimes my vision is wrong.  His vision is always right.  I won't know which way to go unless I am living with Him in me.

As I took Marley out for her morning roll in the little patch of grass she loves to lay in, I sat in the lawn chair and poured out my heart to God.  I don't feel I have anyone I can completely confide in on what I really feel about things.  I know that God already knows, and He knows my heart.  Sometimes I just need to get it 'out there'.  So I poured out my heart to God this morning.  I'm sure I didn't cover everything that is on my mind and heart, and He will wait to hear the rest.  But I was able to put 'out there' my prayers and my requests. 

Now it is up to Him to answer.  The answers may not come in my lifetime.  I may never see the fruit of my prayers.  God knows my heart and that I want no glory on my own, but only Him glorified in and through me.   If I am to serve, He will bring it about.  If I am to be an empty vessel, He will empty me. If I need to be broken, He will break me.  I've given Him permission to do whatever He wants to do with me, so that I can be put back together and used for Him alone.  Even if it is to uproot and move away, I have surrendered to His will.

What about you?  Have you prayers prayed for you - or that you have prayed - that have not been answered?  Are you still waiting for that season of growth to be completed and the fruit to be forthcoming? 

Perhaps you feel that God won't hear your prayers.   Try seeking His face and talking with Him.  That's what prayer is - just talking with your Best Friend.  Tell Him your struggles, your pain, your hopes, your dreams.  All things are possible.  Believe in the One who died for you.  He believed in you.  His death on the cross is bringing fruit in us.  Grab hold of what He has for you.

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.  It's that simple.  He didn't make it  hard.  Believe in Him.  He's reaching out to you - will you grab His hand and allow Him to pull you up?  Start praying and see the fruit of your prayers - remember the answers may not always be 'yes' and may not always be 'no'.  Put your requests in His hands and trust Him to answer in His perfect time.

Blessings!