Have you ever had a dream that you knew would come true, but just kind of pushed to the back burner because it was too big to comprehend?
I have quite a few like that and God is bringing them to the fore front really quickly!
We are on the verge of some life changing things and I am terrified! I think it is more of afraid I am not hearing God and will choose the wrong door so to speak.
He is capable and I think those dreams that we thought too big to come true need to be dusted off, taken out of the box and see what mighty things God will do!
Monday, May 23, 2005
Saturday, May 21, 2005
Dirty Laundry
It is time to realize the good things in life. I never thought about laundry being a good thing until we moved into our new house.
When we lived in the trailer we had no room for a dryer, it was placed in our block building quite a ways away from the house. Laundry wasn't a simple task. I had to drag it out to the building rain or shine, day or night. Let me tell you I was scared to death a few times by a possum or raccoon rummaging for food. The joys of country life! There were also the times I had no dryer and had to clean clothes in shifts to get them dry or hang them on the line in the freezing cold.
Now that I have a dryer ( that works) I can so I REALLY APPRECIATE IT!!!!!!!!
It is really a blessing that makes my life easier. As I was thinking of my blessing today I thought "Oh, Lord don't let me take this blessing for granted. Help me to remember what it was like before, so that I don't get greedy." I don't ever want to forget the good things. I don't want to throw them to the side like an old, used toy and greedily ask for more. Help me to be thankful and content and continually use all of the good things God has provided for me.
When we lived in the trailer we had no room for a dryer, it was placed in our block building quite a ways away from the house. Laundry wasn't a simple task. I had to drag it out to the building rain or shine, day or night. Let me tell you I was scared to death a few times by a possum or raccoon rummaging for food. The joys of country life! There were also the times I had no dryer and had to clean clothes in shifts to get them dry or hang them on the line in the freezing cold.
Now that I have a dryer ( that works) I can so I REALLY APPRECIATE IT!!!!!!!!
It is really a blessing that makes my life easier. As I was thinking of my blessing today I thought "Oh, Lord don't let me take this blessing for granted. Help me to remember what it was like before, so that I don't get greedy." I don't ever want to forget the good things. I don't want to throw them to the side like an old, used toy and greedily ask for more. Help me to be thankful and content and continually use all of the good things God has provided for me.
Friday, May 06, 2005
The Church Lady
The shrill, schreeching of the phone startled the little Church Lady. She was so engrossed with planning her up-coming meeting she really hesitated to even answer the phone.
"Hello" she said in a curt voice.
"Mom, I am so glad I caught you. I have to work over today, could you please watch the girls for me?" It was her daughter, Darlene asking another favor.
"Now, you know I have my Ladies Tea at church today and I just can't do it." Was the Church Ladies quick reply.
"Mom it would really help me out. We are behind on some bills and the overtime is such a blessing." Darlene responded in a weak, tired voice.
" Well if you would have come to church with me like I asked, you wouldn't be in this mess. I really need to hurry, I hope you can find someone. Tell the girls 'Granny loves them', I have to go now, Bye!" And the Church lady quickly hung up the phone without giving her daughter a chance to respond.
Out the door she rushed, she was never late. It would just not look right for the co-chair of the ladies tea to be late. " I shouldn't have answered the phone," she thought with annoyance.
As she hurried down the street reviewing in her head what the topic of the social would be today, she almost ran right into Leroy.
"Hi'ya, Miss Church Lady." He cried out in his tiny, excited, little boy voice.
"Hello, Leroy," she called out as she tried to hurry past him.
"Miss Church Lady, can I rake your leaves today? You said I could and I really could use the money. Tomorrow is Momma's birthday and I want to get her something special." Leroy waited with anticipation for the Church Lady's reply. Already in his mind he was picking out his beloved Momma's birthday present.
"No Leroy, not today, you know I have a meeting at the church. Now run along, I am in hurry," was the Church Lady's curt reply.
Leroy turned to leave, hot tears burning in his eyes. " What good is a stupid ole' church meeting anyhow" he thought angrily.
The Church lady was ecstatic after her Ladies Tea. It always lifted her spirits, being around all of the of the other saints of the church. She had been nominated to head up the bake sale to raise money for the orphanage in China. She was going to bring her famous chocolate chip cookies. She just knew they would be the top seller. She rushed home to get her grocery list together, she wanted to get to baking her cookies right away. Doing work for the church just made her feel buoyant with joy.
At the grocery, the Church Lady made the mistake of getting in line behind a young mother with two small children. The babies were crying and to make matters worse, she didn't have enough money for all of her groceries. As the distraught, young mother made the painstaking decision of which items she would have to do without, the Church lady thought smugly, " Well, I am so glad I have my finances in order. You would never catch me in such a predicament. The good Lord takes care of me because I am always quick to give to those in need. I always send money to the orphans and contribute to the building fund."
That night as the Church lady curled up in her favorite chair, she reflected on her day. Her heart was warm with knowing how much she had accomplished for her Lord today. She would sleep well knowing all was right in her heart. Sweet Dreams, Church Lady.
"Hello" she said in a curt voice.
"Mom, I am so glad I caught you. I have to work over today, could you please watch the girls for me?" It was her daughter, Darlene asking another favor.
"Now, you know I have my Ladies Tea at church today and I just can't do it." Was the Church Ladies quick reply.
"Mom it would really help me out. We are behind on some bills and the overtime is such a blessing." Darlene responded in a weak, tired voice.
" Well if you would have come to church with me like I asked, you wouldn't be in this mess. I really need to hurry, I hope you can find someone. Tell the girls 'Granny loves them', I have to go now, Bye!" And the Church lady quickly hung up the phone without giving her daughter a chance to respond.
Out the door she rushed, she was never late. It would just not look right for the co-chair of the ladies tea to be late. " I shouldn't have answered the phone," she thought with annoyance.
As she hurried down the street reviewing in her head what the topic of the social would be today, she almost ran right into Leroy.
"Hi'ya, Miss Church Lady." He cried out in his tiny, excited, little boy voice.
"Hello, Leroy," she called out as she tried to hurry past him.
"Miss Church Lady, can I rake your leaves today? You said I could and I really could use the money. Tomorrow is Momma's birthday and I want to get her something special." Leroy waited with anticipation for the Church Lady's reply. Already in his mind he was picking out his beloved Momma's birthday present.
"No Leroy, not today, you know I have a meeting at the church. Now run along, I am in hurry," was the Church Lady's curt reply.
Leroy turned to leave, hot tears burning in his eyes. " What good is a stupid ole' church meeting anyhow" he thought angrily.
The Church lady was ecstatic after her Ladies Tea. It always lifted her spirits, being around all of the of the other saints of the church. She had been nominated to head up the bake sale to raise money for the orphanage in China. She was going to bring her famous chocolate chip cookies. She just knew they would be the top seller. She rushed home to get her grocery list together, she wanted to get to baking her cookies right away. Doing work for the church just made her feel buoyant with joy.
At the grocery, the Church Lady made the mistake of getting in line behind a young mother with two small children. The babies were crying and to make matters worse, she didn't have enough money for all of her groceries. As the distraught, young mother made the painstaking decision of which items she would have to do without, the Church lady thought smugly, " Well, I am so glad I have my finances in order. You would never catch me in such a predicament. The good Lord takes care of me because I am always quick to give to those in need. I always send money to the orphans and contribute to the building fund."
That night as the Church lady curled up in her favorite chair, she reflected on her day. Her heart was warm with knowing how much she had accomplished for her Lord today. She would sleep well knowing all was right in her heart. Sweet Dreams, Church Lady.
Thursday, May 05, 2005
The Hospital Bed
His tears were hot and salty as they streamed freely down his face. They landed in a huge puddle on the starched white pillow case. His arm ached from the i.v., it was torture to not be able to lay on his side. The white walls of his hospital room closed around him as he cried out to a God he wasn't even sure he wanted to believe existed. He was battling in his mind, his emotions and thoughts and memories were colliding with one another and becoming a mixed up tangled mess. He cried out to a god he knew had forsaken him. He yelled and screamed 'Why, Why, Why' over and over again in his head. 'why did you even create me to live such a mess. I had no Dad to teach me to be a man, I had no Mother to comfort me and teach me about love. I have been abandoned my whole life and now I lay wracked with pain, deserted by the world. Why not just put me out of my misery.' The pain and anguish of this man's cry went straight to the heart of the Father that was with him through it all, though the man was never aware.
The Father's heart ached and said' Oh, my son if you only knew of the people I asked and prompted to come to your aid. The people I put in your path that looked the other way at your plight. They turned their nose up at your predicament. I have loved you from the beginning and I will never give up. I want you to feel My Love.'
As the Father spoke, He sent yet another angel to prompt and prod another child of His to come to this young man's aid. Not far from this young man's hospital door, sat a gentleman doing is duty to visit a sick member of his church. He was going through his day as he wanted, not giving a thought to much of anything at all. He was startled by the gutteral, almost animal-like cry he heard from the young man's room. He thought to himself 'wow, he must be in some unreal pain'. Oh if only he knew that this man's emotional and spiritual pain far surpassed any physical pain he could ever be in. The Father was prompting, directing the gentleman visitor to speak, to love, to just care for this young man filled with anguish and despair writhing in personal agony, fighting every battle alone.
The young man continuing in his personal battle with the Father once again yelled out in the depths of his darkened mind ' Is there not one person who will hold my hand, touch my brow, put a drop of water to my dry parched lips? Am I so meaningless to this world?'
And again the Father cried ' If you only knew what I am doing for you, on your behalf. If only the ones who call on my name will listen and obey, just listen and obey'
As the young man lying on the stark, white bed continued to writhe in his own personal agony, the man in the hallway slowly began to rise and make his way to his door, as if an unseen hand was lifting each leg and gingerly placing it on the floor. Step after careful step he moved closer to the door, not even really aware of what he was doing. Moving unaware, in perfect sync with the Father to be a messenger of love and safety, not realizing he was about to deliver the message of life.
The Father's heart ached and said' Oh, my son if you only knew of the people I asked and prompted to come to your aid. The people I put in your path that looked the other way at your plight. They turned their nose up at your predicament. I have loved you from the beginning and I will never give up. I want you to feel My Love.'
As the Father spoke, He sent yet another angel to prompt and prod another child of His to come to this young man's aid. Not far from this young man's hospital door, sat a gentleman doing is duty to visit a sick member of his church. He was going through his day as he wanted, not giving a thought to much of anything at all. He was startled by the gutteral, almost animal-like cry he heard from the young man's room. He thought to himself 'wow, he must be in some unreal pain'. Oh if only he knew that this man's emotional and spiritual pain far surpassed any physical pain he could ever be in. The Father was prompting, directing the gentleman visitor to speak, to love, to just care for this young man filled with anguish and despair writhing in personal agony, fighting every battle alone.
The young man continuing in his personal battle with the Father once again yelled out in the depths of his darkened mind ' Is there not one person who will hold my hand, touch my brow, put a drop of water to my dry parched lips? Am I so meaningless to this world?'
And again the Father cried ' If you only knew what I am doing for you, on your behalf. If only the ones who call on my name will listen and obey, just listen and obey'
As the young man lying on the stark, white bed continued to writhe in his own personal agony, the man in the hallway slowly began to rise and make his way to his door, as if an unseen hand was lifting each leg and gingerly placing it on the floor. Step after careful step he moved closer to the door, not even really aware of what he was doing. Moving unaware, in perfect sync with the Father to be a messenger of love and safety, not realizing he was about to deliver the message of life.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
The Mirror
The bright afternoon sun glinted off of the tiny mirror into her pale blues eyes. Her eyes began to water and she gingerly wiped away her tears. She closely examined her face, the wrinkles, the chipped tooth that made her refuse to smile, the gray, thinning hair, the nose that was too big for her face, all of what she percieved to be flaws, mistakes in God's creation. She stumbled as she walked and gripped a little tighter her little companion, her beloved mirror. She never went anywhere without it. While she cleaned house or talked with friends or shopped or walked in her neighborhood, her trusty little mirror was in front of her face reflecting her image and often her moods for her to see and examine. She could look into her eyes in relive the pain of her past, she could focus on all of her flawed features or on good days remember how nice and kind she is and the beauty that she really does possess. She could make sure that everyone perceived her they way she wanted as she talked to them. Her little mirror kept her enraptured in it while she went about her daily business.
As she walked on this sunny afternoon, peering deep into her watery, blue eyes, she thought how awful her life has been, how everyone mistreats her. She paid no attention when she walked around the little girl crying on the walk, but she couldn't miss the little, pink bike with flowers and streamers on the handlebars. She stumbled over the bike tire laying across the sidewalk. She tried putting her hand out to grab ahold of anything to catch her fall. She landed in a crumpled heap on the sidewalk. She checked herself to make sure nothing was hurt or even broken. Then she saw it. Her beloved mirror, it lay shattered on the ground. It was in a million different pieces, there was no way to salvage it. She was heartbroken. What would she do? How would she make it through her days without it to focus on. As she sat crying and wondering what she would do, she felt a tiny arm go around her shoulder. The little girl sat, with her tears dried, next to the little lady comforting her, giving her reassurance that it would be o.k. The little girl helped her up and brushed off the dried leaves and dirt that clung to her skirt. The little girl steadied the little lady and helped her on her way home. The little lady was lost without her mirror. She didn't know what to do with herself. She thought she must look an awful mess, but the child didn't seem to mind. She chatted cheerfully that her bike would be o.k. and hopefully her mother would find the time to put a bandage on her knee. The little old lady looked at the child and then she noticed the blood flow freely down her leg, staining her frilly white socks and white tennis shoes. The little lady was horrified. This child has been comforting her without any thought to the pain her own tiny body was in. The little lady was appalled at her own self-absorption. How could she miss this little girl's injury? She reached down and gathered the tiny child in her arms and hugged her with all of her might. She then led her home to make sure that her bloody knee would get the loving, gentle attention it so desperately needed.
As she walked on this sunny afternoon, peering deep into her watery, blue eyes, she thought how awful her life has been, how everyone mistreats her. She paid no attention when she walked around the little girl crying on the walk, but she couldn't miss the little, pink bike with flowers and streamers on the handlebars. She stumbled over the bike tire laying across the sidewalk. She tried putting her hand out to grab ahold of anything to catch her fall. She landed in a crumpled heap on the sidewalk. She checked herself to make sure nothing was hurt or even broken. Then she saw it. Her beloved mirror, it lay shattered on the ground. It was in a million different pieces, there was no way to salvage it. She was heartbroken. What would she do? How would she make it through her days without it to focus on. As she sat crying and wondering what she would do, she felt a tiny arm go around her shoulder. The little girl sat, with her tears dried, next to the little lady comforting her, giving her reassurance that it would be o.k. The little girl helped her up and brushed off the dried leaves and dirt that clung to her skirt. The little girl steadied the little lady and helped her on her way home. The little lady was lost without her mirror. She didn't know what to do with herself. She thought she must look an awful mess, but the child didn't seem to mind. She chatted cheerfully that her bike would be o.k. and hopefully her mother would find the time to put a bandage on her knee. The little old lady looked at the child and then she noticed the blood flow freely down her leg, staining her frilly white socks and white tennis shoes. The little lady was horrified. This child has been comforting her without any thought to the pain her own tiny body was in. The little lady was appalled at her own self-absorption. How could she miss this little girl's injury? She reached down and gathered the tiny child in her arms and hugged her with all of her might. She then led her home to make sure that her bloody knee would get the loving, gentle attention it so desperately needed.
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Steamed Vegetables
The restuarant was alive with action as waitresses buzzed from table to table. We waited patiently for our food, talking, enjoying the activity of the place. Our stomachs grumbled and growled as we continued to experience the tantalizing aromas of other people's dinners. With eager eyes we watched for the moment our waitress would stop at our table with our food, ready for us to devour it. At last it came, piping hot, fresh from the kitchen. As we looked at the presenation of our food were we taken by the artistic nature of it. The pure beauty of the steaming plate of vegetables. The crisp green broccoli, the brilliant orange carrots, the sunny yellow squash, even the muted brown mushrooms were shimmering in their golden buttery sauce. The pureness of God's garden creation, unaffected by man. Tenderly picked and washed of the earth still clinging to the ripe vegetables, tossed in herbs and seasonings, steamed to perfection.
As I was ready to dive into my delectable dinner I heard my companion say" Excuse me, Miss, but could I get some cheese sauce for this." I was crestfallen, cover God's glorious bounty with man-made processed cheese product. As I watched they poured the gooey, greasy, gloppy cheese all over the vegetables, covering their pureness and beauty with false man-made products. Covering up all of the wonderful benefits of the rich vitamin A, C, B and many more with cholestorol and calories. The pureness of the vegetables were gone, covered, overshadowed by man's taste buds for his own desires.
As I was ready to dive into my delectable dinner I heard my companion say" Excuse me, Miss, but could I get some cheese sauce for this." I was crestfallen, cover God's glorious bounty with man-made processed cheese product. As I watched they poured the gooey, greasy, gloppy cheese all over the vegetables, covering their pureness and beauty with false man-made products. Covering up all of the wonderful benefits of the rich vitamin A, C, B and many more with cholestorol and calories. The pureness of the vegetables were gone, covered, overshadowed by man's taste buds for his own desires.
Monday, May 02, 2005
A Story About Love
Once upon a time there was a handsome man who loved a beautiful woman. He called her two or three times a day and said" Darling, I love you!". Whenever he would see her at the mall or grocery store, he would say,"Darling, I love you!" After awhile the beautiful woman grew tired of this and spoke to her mother about it.
"Mother, he says he loves me, but he never takes me for walks and holds my hand, he has never come to meet you and Dad, he never takes me out to eat. He will not talk and share his life with me. When I am in need I feel like I am a burden to him. Is this truely love? Is this all love is?
The mother tried to console her daughter and told her she must decide what she thought love was.
The next day the handsome man called to say," Darling, I love you!" This time the beautiful woman said this," Do not say you love me if you have no action behind it. Your words are detestable to me. You do not love me. You make yourself feel better by saying it. You take no time for me or to share our lives together. Show me you love me and I will know, say you love me and I know it is just to tickle my ears. I do not want to hear 'I love you' again!"
The handsome man was puzzled by this, but thought " She is upset, I will give her time alone and she will see the error of her ways. She will apologize for hurting me."
The beautiful woman began a journey to find out what love really meant to her and found most of all it was an action that didn't ever need to be spoken in words. She could see it not just hear it. She could experience it. She could give it. She never knew love more than when it was demonstrated to her and she never again wanted to just hear the words,"Darling, I love you!"
THE END
"Mother, he says he loves me, but he never takes me for walks and holds my hand, he has never come to meet you and Dad, he never takes me out to eat. He will not talk and share his life with me. When I am in need I feel like I am a burden to him. Is this truely love? Is this all love is?
The mother tried to console her daughter and told her she must decide what she thought love was.
The next day the handsome man called to say," Darling, I love you!" This time the beautiful woman said this," Do not say you love me if you have no action behind it. Your words are detestable to me. You do not love me. You make yourself feel better by saying it. You take no time for me or to share our lives together. Show me you love me and I will know, say you love me and I know it is just to tickle my ears. I do not want to hear 'I love you' again!"
The handsome man was puzzled by this, but thought " She is upset, I will give her time alone and she will see the error of her ways. She will apologize for hurting me."
The beautiful woman began a journey to find out what love really meant to her and found most of all it was an action that didn't ever need to be spoken in words. She could see it not just hear it. She could experience it. She could give it. She never knew love more than when it was demonstrated to her and she never again wanted to just hear the words,"Darling, I love you!"
THE END
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