Saturday, March 14, 2009
What I am trying to learn:
Lord, teach me to take gladly the place You have assigned to me and to submit humbly to those over me, that I may do my part to keep the smooth and proper functioning of the body of Christ.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
an interesting quote...
"Within all of us there is an illusive melody, which when heard and followed will lead you to the fulfillment of your fondest dreams."
~Illusionists Siegfried and Roy
~Illusionists Siegfried and Roy
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Sometimes I need reminding...
Real Life Heroes
Teachers as Heroes
An essay written by an assistant principal in Ohio.
By J. Bradley:
"Where are the heroes of today?" a radio talk show host thundered.
He blames society's shortcomings on education. Too many people are looking for heroes in all the wrong places. Movie stars and rock musicians, athletes, and models aren't heroes; they're celebrities.
Heroes abound in public schools, a fact that doesn't make the news. There is no precedent for the level of violence, drugs, broken homes, child abuse, and crime in today's America. Education didn't create these problems but deals with them every day.
You want heroes?
Consider Dave Sanders, the schoolteacher shot to death while trying to shield his students from two youths on a shooting rampage at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. Sanders gave his life, along with 12 students, and other less heralded heroes survived the Colorado blood bath.
You want heroes?
Jane Smith, a Fayetteville, NC teacher, was moved by the plight of one of her students, a boy dying for want of a kidney transplant. So this woman told the family of a 14-year-old boy that she would give him one of her kidneys. And she did. When they appeared together hugging on the Today Show, Katie Couric was near tears.
You want heroes?
Doris Dillon dreamed all her life of being a teacher. She not only made it, she was one of those wondrous teachers who could bring the best out of every single child. One of her fellow teachers in San Jose, Calif., said, "She could teach a rock to read."
Suddenly she was stricken with Lou Gehrig's Disease which is always fatal, usually within five years. She asked to stay on job ... and did. When her voice was affected, she communicated by computer.
Did she go home? Absolutely not! She is running two elementary school libraries! When the disease was diagnosed, she wrote the staff and all the families that she had one last lesson to teach .... that dying is part of living. Her colleagues named her Teacher of the Year.
You want heroes?
Bob House, a teacher in Georgia, tried out for "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?". After he won the million dollars, a network film crew wanted to follow up to see how it had impacted his life. New cars? Big new house?
Instead, they found both Bob House and his wife still teaching. They explained that it was what they had always wanted to do with their lives and that would not change. The community was both stunned and grateful.
You want heroes?
Last year the average school teacher spent $468 of their own money for student necessities ... workbooks, pencils .. supplies kids had to have but could not afford. That's a lot of money from the pockets of the most poorly paid teachers in the industrial world.
Schools don't teach values? The critics are dead wrong.
Public education provides more Sunday School teachers than any other profession.
The average teacher works
more hours in nine months
than the average 40-hour
employee does in a year.
You want heroes?
For millions of kids, the hug they get from a teacher is the only hug they will get that day because the nation is living through the worst parenting in history.
An Argyle, Texas kindergarten teacher hugs her little 5 and 6 year-olds so much that both the boys and the girls run up and hug her when they see her in the hall, at the football games, or in the malls years later.
A Michigan principal moved me to tears with the story of her attempt to rescue a badly abused little boy who doted on a stuffed animal on her desk .. one that said "I love you!" He said he'd never been told that at home. This is a constant in today's society .. two million unwanted, unloved, abused children in the public schools, the only institution that takes them all in.
You want heroes?
Visit any special education class and watch the miracle of personal interaction, a job so difficult that fellow teachers are awed by the dedication they witness. There is a sentence from an unnamed source which says: "We have been so eager to give our children what we didn't have that we have neglected to give them what we did have."
What is it that our kids really need?
What do they really want?
Math, science, history, and social studies are important, but children need love, confidence, encouragement, someone to talk to, someone to listen, standards to live by. Teachers provide upright examples, the faith and assurance of responsible people.
You want heroes?
Then go down to your local school and see our real live heroes - the ones changing lives for the better each and every day!
I'd like to see this sent to all those who cut down the importance of teachers. They have no idea who a public school teacher is or what they do.
Teachers as Heroes
An essay written by an assistant principal in Ohio.
By J. Bradley:
"Where are the heroes of today?" a radio talk show host thundered.
He blames society's shortcomings on education. Too many people are looking for heroes in all the wrong places. Movie stars and rock musicians, athletes, and models aren't heroes; they're celebrities.
Heroes abound in public schools, a fact that doesn't make the news. There is no precedent for the level of violence, drugs, broken homes, child abuse, and crime in today's America. Education didn't create these problems but deals with them every day.
You want heroes?
Consider Dave Sanders, the schoolteacher shot to death while trying to shield his students from two youths on a shooting rampage at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. Sanders gave his life, along with 12 students, and other less heralded heroes survived the Colorado blood bath.
You want heroes?
Jane Smith, a Fayetteville, NC teacher, was moved by the plight of one of her students, a boy dying for want of a kidney transplant. So this woman told the family of a 14-year-old boy that she would give him one of her kidneys. And she did. When they appeared together hugging on the Today Show, Katie Couric was near tears.
You want heroes?
Doris Dillon dreamed all her life of being a teacher. She not only made it, she was one of those wondrous teachers who could bring the best out of every single child. One of her fellow teachers in San Jose, Calif., said, "She could teach a rock to read."
Suddenly she was stricken with Lou Gehrig's Disease which is always fatal, usually within five years. She asked to stay on job ... and did. When her voice was affected, she communicated by computer.
Did she go home? Absolutely not! She is running two elementary school libraries! When the disease was diagnosed, she wrote the staff and all the families that she had one last lesson to teach .... that dying is part of living. Her colleagues named her Teacher of the Year.
You want heroes?
Bob House, a teacher in Georgia, tried out for "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?". After he won the million dollars, a network film crew wanted to follow up to see how it had impacted his life. New cars? Big new house?
Instead, they found both Bob House and his wife still teaching. They explained that it was what they had always wanted to do with their lives and that would not change. The community was both stunned and grateful.
You want heroes?
Last year the average school teacher spent $468 of their own money for student necessities ... workbooks, pencils .. supplies kids had to have but could not afford. That's a lot of money from the pockets of the most poorly paid teachers in the industrial world.
Schools don't teach values? The critics are dead wrong.
Public education provides more Sunday School teachers than any other profession.
The average teacher works
more hours in nine months
than the average 40-hour
employee does in a year.
You want heroes?
For millions of kids, the hug they get from a teacher is the only hug they will get that day because the nation is living through the worst parenting in history.
An Argyle, Texas kindergarten teacher hugs her little 5 and 6 year-olds so much that both the boys and the girls run up and hug her when they see her in the hall, at the football games, or in the malls years later.
A Michigan principal moved me to tears with the story of her attempt to rescue a badly abused little boy who doted on a stuffed animal on her desk .. one that said "I love you!" He said he'd never been told that at home. This is a constant in today's society .. two million unwanted, unloved, abused children in the public schools, the only institution that takes them all in.
You want heroes?
Visit any special education class and watch the miracle of personal interaction, a job so difficult that fellow teachers are awed by the dedication they witness. There is a sentence from an unnamed source which says: "We have been so eager to give our children what we didn't have that we have neglected to give them what we did have."
What is it that our kids really need?
What do they really want?
Math, science, history, and social studies are important, but children need love, confidence, encouragement, someone to talk to, someone to listen, standards to live by. Teachers provide upright examples, the faith and assurance of responsible people.
You want heroes?
Then go down to your local school and see our real live heroes - the ones changing lives for the better each and every day!
I'd like to see this sent to all those who cut down the importance of teachers. They have no idea who a public school teacher is or what they do.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
For today
(an excerpt from my devotions this morning...)
I am thanking God that unto us a Child was born. I am thanking Him also that there was a pure-hearted woman prepared to receive that Child with all that motherhood would mean of daily trust, daily dependence, daily obedience. I thank Him for her silence. That spirit is not in me at all, not naturally. I want to learn what she had learned so early: the deep guarding in her heart of each event, mulling over its meaning from God, waiting in silence for His word to her.
I want to learn, too, that it is not an extraordinary spirituality that makes one refuse to do ordinary work, but a wish to prove that one is not ordinary--which is a dead giveaway of spiritual conceit. I want to respond in unhesitating obedience as she did: Anything You say, Lord.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
I am thanking God that unto us a Child was born. I am thanking Him also that there was a pure-hearted woman prepared to receive that Child with all that motherhood would mean of daily trust, daily dependence, daily obedience. I thank Him for her silence. That spirit is not in me at all, not naturally. I want to learn what she had learned so early: the deep guarding in her heart of each event, mulling over its meaning from God, waiting in silence for His word to her.
I want to learn, too, that it is not an extraordinary spirituality that makes one refuse to do ordinary work, but a wish to prove that one is not ordinary--which is a dead giveaway of spiritual conceit. I want to respond in unhesitating obedience as she did: Anything You say, Lord.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Perspective from a different translation
No temptation has come your way that is too hard for flesh and blood to bear. But God can be trusted not to allow you to suffer any temptation beyond your powers of endurance. He will see to it that every temptation has a way out, so that it will never be impossible for you to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13, PHILLIPS).
Friday, November 28, 2008
A commentary on my job...
The school keeps getting more and more difficult. Budgets keep getting sliced thinner and thinner. I know I am blessed to have a job right now. The school environment just gets worse and worse, though. I wonder how much lower it can get but I don't think I want to experience it if it does.
I saw these two cartoons in the paper. They seem to sum things up quite well.
I saw these two cartoons in the paper. They seem to sum things up quite well.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Mac 'n Cheese Pancakes
Video here for this unusual creation. I have to admit, I'm intrigued. They would be worth trying.
Would these be served for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack?
Would these be served for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack?
Monday, September 15, 2008
The Blessing...
On the way to work this morning I prayed like I do every morning. This morning though, I added something different, I prayed for a blessing. The day was long, as they all seem to be these days. The "Tater Tots" were their usual selves but it was just a hot, humid Monday. I got home around 5:15 pm and was faced by a night of paperwork.
Then, the phone rang. I almost didn't answer it. It was my 'I don't know you' ring tone. Assuming it was a 'call out' about some meaningless bit of information from the school, I answered it just to get it over with. The phone call brought the blessing...
My brother called me from Scotland. I'M AN AUNT!!!!!!
Amelia Joy was born on Saturday. She was 6 lbs 1 oz (like her aunt), 19 inches long, with blonde 'peach fuzz' (like my mom had when she was very young), blue eyes (like John, me and our mom) and long fingers (like her Daddy). She ended up having to be born C-section; however, all went very well. (Thank you Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh)
Mother and daughter are doing wonderful and should be discharged by Wednesday. Father is thrilled and can't wait to send photos.
It certainly is a BIG year for him! In a short amount of time he has become a father, is finishing his dissertation, and is turning 30 on the 29th. Plus, at the end of November they are moving back to the states and he hopes to be installed in his first church in January.
I have decided to celebrate by not doing paperwork tonight. I'll just try to get it done tomorrow. Tonight I shall plan all the ways this wee bairn will be spoiled, the adventures we will have, the clothes she will 'have' to have, the blessing she will be.
Then, the phone rang. I almost didn't answer it. It was my 'I don't know you' ring tone. Assuming it was a 'call out' about some meaningless bit of information from the school, I answered it just to get it over with. The phone call brought the blessing...
My brother called me from Scotland. I'M AN AUNT!!!!!!
Amelia Joy was born on Saturday. She was 6 lbs 1 oz (like her aunt), 19 inches long, with blonde 'peach fuzz' (like my mom had when she was very young), blue eyes (like John, me and our mom) and long fingers (like her Daddy). She ended up having to be born C-section; however, all went very well. (Thank you Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh)
Mother and daughter are doing wonderful and should be discharged by Wednesday. Father is thrilled and can't wait to send photos.
It certainly is a BIG year for him! In a short amount of time he has become a father, is finishing his dissertation, and is turning 30 on the 29th. Plus, at the end of November they are moving back to the states and he hopes to be installed in his first church in January.
I have decided to celebrate by not doing paperwork tonight. I'll just try to get it done tomorrow. Tonight I shall plan all the ways this wee bairn will be spoiled, the adventures we will have, the clothes she will 'have' to have, the blessing she will be.
Friday, August 08, 2008
Saw this today and thought it was very funny.
HAMLET
(FACEBOOK NEWS FEED EDITION).
Polonius says Hamlet's crazy ... crazy in love!
Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and Hamlet are now friends.
Hamlet wonders if he should continue to exist. Or not.
Hamlet thinks Ophelia might be happier in a convent.
Ophelia removed "moody princes" from her interests.
Hamlet posted an event: A Play That's Totally Fictional and In No Way About My Family
The king commented on Hamlet's play: "What is wrong with you?"
Polonius thinks this curtain looks like a good thing to hide behind.
Polonius is no longer online.
(FACEBOOK NEWS FEED EDITION).
Polonius says Hamlet's crazy ... crazy in love!
Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and Hamlet are now friends.
Hamlet wonders if he should continue to exist. Or not.
Hamlet thinks Ophelia might be happier in a convent.
Ophelia removed "moody princes" from her interests.
Hamlet posted an event: A Play That's Totally Fictional and In No Way About My Family
The king commented on Hamlet's play: "What is wrong with you?"
Polonius thinks this curtain looks like a good thing to hide behind.
Polonius is no longer online.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
An interview with Jilli
I still look forward to getting to meet her someday. Sigh, I would dress like this so easily.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
OK! I'm waiting...
I have been praying about work and what to do with that whole situation. With things as stressful as they are there, I REALLY want to go elsewhere. I hear of jobs; however, it quickly becomes clear that those positions aren't where God wants me to be. A year and a half from now the job I have dreamed of having opens. In some ways that seems where God is pointing me to go. The thought of doing that job scares me silly, though. It would be a BIG change. I get frustrated at the thought of having to wait another 1.5 years. It feels like the 9 years should have been enough. David had to have felt the same way.
I got these devotions this morning. God's timing is so awesome. I'm sitting in a friends summer rental apt here in Tallahassee. I came for the weekend to see my friends. I've been here almost 24 hours and it has been amazing. I'm exhausted; however, refreshed. For the moment, this is my "Hebron". I have fellowshiped with a fellow believer. We have discussed some of our dreams and frustrations and both know God is in control. The worst part is I got sick last night with a migraine and am feeling it's after effects today...ugh
The years that David waited were very difficult. I can relate. Tom has toiled for 21+ years as a shift worker and now the end of that is in sight. Yes, big news for us is God answered a prayer and Tom has been offered a job as a "Work Week Manager" at Unit 3. A job that, for the most part, does not involve weekends, nights or being on shift!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU, LORD! We are just waiting for him to be released from his current position. He is so ready to start this new phase. Doors are opening, changes are starting, the light at the end of the tunnel has gotten a little bigger and a little brighter.
So now I'm going to gab a quick bite, get dressed, go to the campus bookstores to take care of a few things, go help friends with their projects and enjoy being here. I'll also keep reminding myself that God is in control.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Waiting for God's Time
11 Samuel 2:1-11
Second Samuel 2 opens with these words: "And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron" (v. 1).
David found, as we will too, that we never lose anything by believing God and then patiently waiting on Him. But we will surely suffer if we take things into our own hands and rush blindly ahead.
The word "Hebron" means "alliance" or "communion" in contrast to Ziklag, which refers to self-will. Being allied with God and being in communion with Him, David was in a place to be led in the will of God.
David's reign began by reigning first over Judah. It was not necessary for David to take the throne; God saw that he received it. God moved him back to Hebron, and his own tribe anointed him king.
Seven and a half years went by, however, before the whole kingdom was put under his hand. David still had to wait, but it was God's time he was waiting for, not people's.
"There is a time there for every purpose and for every work" (Eccles. 3:17).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is my devotion from Elizabeth Elliot, too. Do you get the feeling God is trying to tell me something???
Do You Want an Answer?
This is the question we need to ask ourselves when we are seeking "solutions" to our problems. Often we want only an audience. We want the chance to air grievances, to present our excuses, to make an explanation for our behavior, rather than a cure. More often than not the clearest and most direct answer can be found in the Word, but it must be sought honestly.
"The way of the Lord gives refuge to the honest man, but dismays those who do evil" (Prv. 10:29 NEB).
We can approach God's word with a will to obey whatever it says to us about our present situation, or we can avoid it and say to anyone who would try to point us to it, "Don't throw the Book at me." The latter is an evasion, which supports our suspicion that our problems are, in fact, insoluble. The honest (i.e., humble) heart will indeed find the Lord's way to be a refuge.
I got these devotions this morning. God's timing is so awesome. I'm sitting in a friends summer rental apt here in Tallahassee. I came for the weekend to see my friends. I've been here almost 24 hours and it has been amazing. I'm exhausted; however, refreshed. For the moment, this is my "Hebron". I have fellowshiped with a fellow believer. We have discussed some of our dreams and frustrations and both know God is in control. The worst part is I got sick last night with a migraine and am feeling it's after effects today...ugh
The years that David waited were very difficult. I can relate. Tom has toiled for 21+ years as a shift worker and now the end of that is in sight. Yes, big news for us is God answered a prayer and Tom has been offered a job as a "Work Week Manager" at Unit 3. A job that, for the most part, does not involve weekends, nights or being on shift!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU, LORD! We are just waiting for him to be released from his current position. He is so ready to start this new phase. Doors are opening, changes are starting, the light at the end of the tunnel has gotten a little bigger and a little brighter.
So now I'm going to gab a quick bite, get dressed, go to the campus bookstores to take care of a few things, go help friends with their projects and enjoy being here. I'll also keep reminding myself that God is in control.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Waiting for God's Time
11 Samuel 2:1-11
Second Samuel 2 opens with these words: "And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron" (v. 1).
David found, as we will too, that we never lose anything by believing God and then patiently waiting on Him. But we will surely suffer if we take things into our own hands and rush blindly ahead.
The word "Hebron" means "alliance" or "communion" in contrast to Ziklag, which refers to self-will. Being allied with God and being in communion with Him, David was in a place to be led in the will of God.
David's reign began by reigning first over Judah. It was not necessary for David to take the throne; God saw that he received it. God moved him back to Hebron, and his own tribe anointed him king.
Seven and a half years went by, however, before the whole kingdom was put under his hand. David still had to wait, but it was God's time he was waiting for, not people's.
"There is a time there for every purpose and for every work" (Eccles. 3:17).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is my devotion from Elizabeth Elliot, too. Do you get the feeling God is trying to tell me something???
Do You Want an Answer?
This is the question we need to ask ourselves when we are seeking "solutions" to our problems. Often we want only an audience. We want the chance to air grievances, to present our excuses, to make an explanation for our behavior, rather than a cure. More often than not the clearest and most direct answer can be found in the Word, but it must be sought honestly.
"The way of the Lord gives refuge to the honest man, but dismays those who do evil" (Prv. 10:29 NEB).
We can approach God's word with a will to obey whatever it says to us about our present situation, or we can avoid it and say to anyone who would try to point us to it, "Don't throw the Book at me." The latter is an evasion, which supports our suspicion that our problems are, in fact, insoluble. The honest (i.e., humble) heart will indeed find the Lord's way to be a refuge.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
For today...
"Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all" (1 Chron. 29:11).
"Charity rejoiceth not in iniquity" (1 Cor 13:6 AV). Let us be willing to call iniquity what is really iniquity, rather than to call it weakness, temperament, failure, hangups, or to fall back on the tired excuse, "It's just the way I am."
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a right spirit within me." (Ps 51:10 AV)
"Charity rejoiceth not in iniquity" (1 Cor 13:6 AV). Let us be willing to call iniquity what is really iniquity, rather than to call it weakness, temperament, failure, hangups, or to fall back on the tired excuse, "It's just the way I am."
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a right spirit within me." (Ps 51:10 AV)
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Sometimes I need reminding...
Sometimes I make mistakes and have to accept the results. Being stubborn, independent and, yes, Scottish, I often feel that I must shoulder problems on my own. I need the reminder that when I screw up and have to deal with the consequences, or when hard times simply come my way, that God is always there and all I have to do is come to Him. When needed, I can be forgiven. When needed, He will give me the strength and resources to get through. When needed, He will open the door, window, outlet, or even blow out a wall to get me though.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Own Fault
Someone who is suffering as a result of his own foolishness or failure may read these words. These griefs are hard indeed to bear, for we feel we might easily have avoided them. We have no one to blame but ourselves, and there isn't much consolation there. Sometimes we imagine that we must bear this kind of trouble alone, but that is a mistake. The Lamb of God, slain for us, has borne all of our griefs and carried all of our sorrows, no matter what their origin. All grief and sorrow is the result of sin somewhere along the line, but Christ received them willingly. It is nothing but pride that keeps me from asking Him to help me to bear the troubles which are my own fault.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, take away mine.
I take Him at His word indeed,
Christ died for sinners--this I read--
And in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my Savior.
(Dora Greenwell)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And my "quote for the day"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On a separate note, but connected to my post from last night. Dr. Robert Dalzell, the father of a very dear friend of mine, lost his battle with cancer last night at 11 pm PST. He was at home with his family, like he wanted; however, that doesn't make it any easier. He and Nora were married for 49 years and he had a daughter, Jennifer who has a daughter, and a son, Drew. He was a head pathologist at 2 hospitals and an avid HAM radio user. He had a wicked sense of humor and loved watching Benny Hill.
Drew, my prayers are with you and your family. I'm so sorry for your loss.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Own Fault
Someone who is suffering as a result of his own foolishness or failure may read these words. These griefs are hard indeed to bear, for we feel we might easily have avoided them. We have no one to blame but ourselves, and there isn't much consolation there. Sometimes we imagine that we must bear this kind of trouble alone, but that is a mistake. The Lamb of God, slain for us, has borne all of our griefs and carried all of our sorrows, no matter what their origin. All grief and sorrow is the result of sin somewhere along the line, but Christ received them willingly. It is nothing but pride that keeps me from asking Him to help me to bear the troubles which are my own fault.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, take away mine.
I take Him at His word indeed,
Christ died for sinners--this I read--
And in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my Savior.
(Dora Greenwell)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And my "quote for the day"
There is in the worst of fortune the best of chances for a happy change.
~ Euripides
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On a separate note, but connected to my post from last night. Dr. Robert Dalzell, the father of a very dear friend of mine, lost his battle with cancer last night at 11 pm PST. He was at home with his family, like he wanted; however, that doesn't make it any easier. He and Nora were married for 49 years and he had a daughter, Jennifer who has a daughter, and a son, Drew. He was a head pathologist at 2 hospitals and an avid HAM radio user. He had a wicked sense of humor and loved watching Benny Hill.
Drew, my prayers are with you and your family. I'm so sorry for your loss.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Cancer...
is a scourge on those it afflicts as well as the families and friends involved.
I know this is something that most people realize; however, I felt the need to state that. Cancer has affected my family. Thankfully Dad and Mom were able to sidestep its grasp quickly and without lasting consequences. Sadly, Tom lost his mom to the evil scourge in 2005 (note to any woman reading this...PLEASE GET YOUR EXAMS EVERY YEAR...IT CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE...I know that is shouting; however, I am passionate about this fact). Now, my dear friend, Drew, is dealing with his father suffering from Stage 4 cancer (liver, lung and brain). His dad is one of those who never smoked who is being struck down by this painful disease. The doctors have given him limited time, days to weeks. His mom is suffering from Parkinson's and probably won't last long after him.
My prayers are with my friend and any others walking down this path at this time.
I know this is something that most people realize; however, I felt the need to state that. Cancer has affected my family. Thankfully Dad and Mom were able to sidestep its grasp quickly and without lasting consequences. Sadly, Tom lost his mom to the evil scourge in 2005 (note to any woman reading this...PLEASE GET YOUR EXAMS EVERY YEAR...IT CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE...I know that is shouting; however, I am passionate about this fact). Now, my dear friend, Drew, is dealing with his father suffering from Stage 4 cancer (liver, lung and brain). His dad is one of those who never smoked who is being struck down by this painful disease. The doctors have given him limited time, days to weeks. His mom is suffering from Parkinson's and probably won't last long after him.
My prayers are with my friend and any others walking down this path at this time.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Multitude of devotions...
A dear friend of mine is going through some rough times right now. Since they shared what they were dealing with I have been "bombarded" by devotions that not only speak to my heart but also point to things they are facing. I had thought about just sending these to them; however, it seemed that others may be blessed by these as well.
I know they know I'm praying for them as they walk through this difficult time. I pray God uses these words as a comfort and continues to make Himself known to them in every circumstance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Freedom from Fear
There is a sense in which every form of fear is essentially the fear of death. Jesus came to deliver us from that in all its forms. "He became a human being so that by going through death as a man he might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might also set free those who lived their whole lives a prey to the fear of death" (Heb 2:14,15 JBP).
I know people whose lives are totally controlled by fear. There is no bondage more powerful and crippling. Fear takes over the mind, coercing and circumscribing all its activity. We know where that spirit of fear originates, and we know the name of the enemy who would hold us enslaved. In the name of our God we must tread down our enemies, including all the nagging "what ifs" of our lives. To those frightening possibilities Christ answers, "I will never leave you or forsake you." Let the very worst thing come to pass--even there, especially there, his hand will hold us. If we go into darkness, He is there, has been there before us, has conquered all its powers. That's why He became a man. That's why He died. That's why He rose again.
My Lord and my God--forgive my fears. Deliver me from bondage by the power of your resurrection.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
God's Secret Purpose
Whatever the enemy of our souls can do to instill doubt about the real purpose of the Father of our souls, he will certainly try to do. "Hath God said?" was his question to Eve, and she trusted him, the enemy, and doubted God. Each time the suspicion arises that God is really "out to get us," that He is bent on making us miserable or thwarting any good we might seek, we are calling Him a liar. His secret purpose has been revealed to us, and it is to bring us finally, not to ruin, but to glory. That is precisely what the Bible tells us: "His secret purpose framed from the very beginning [is] to bring us to our full glory" (1 Cor 2:7 NEB).
I know of no more steadying hope on which to focus my mind when circumstances tempt me to wonder why God doesn't "do something." He is always doing something--the very best thing, the thing we ourselves would certainly choose if we knew the end from the beginning. He is at work to bring us to our full glory.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Way Appointed
One aspect of the mystery of God's sovereign will is how the calculated evil of men is not only permitted, but actually becomes a necessary part of the divine plan. We are tempted to think of the wrongs done to us as hindrances, frustrations, interruptions. "What has this got to do with the will of God?" we ask, irritated and, we suppose, justifiably impatient with human interference. But the truth is that both our time and our way are in God's hands--they are "appointed." Surely it is so for all his sons as it was for the Son of Man. When He was on the verge of being "handed over for crucifixion," and betrayed by one of his own disciples, He said, "My appointed time is near....One who has dipped his hand into this bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man is going the way appointed for him" (Mt 26:18, 24 NEB).
Out of the deepest depths of human evil the good God brought salvation--the very salvation of man whose sinfulness killed the Son He sent.
Nothing can reach us, from any source in earth or hell, no matter how evil, which God cannot turn to his own redemptive purpose. Let us be glad that the way is not a game of chance, a mere roll of dice which determines our fortune or calamity--it is a way appointed, and it is appointed for God's eternal glory and our final good.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gentle as a Nurse
A good nurse does not pamper her charge, but seeks his best interest with fortitude, consistency, and love. Paul's love for the new Christians at Thessalonica was like that. It was no sentimental feeling. He writes of having brought them the Word:
*In the power of the Holy Spirit, and with strong conviction. (1 Thes 1:5)
*Frankly and fearlessly, by the help of our God. A hard struggle it was. (1 Thes 2:2)
*We do not curry favor with men. Our words have never been flattering words...or a cloak for greed. (1 Thes 2:4,5)
*We have never sought honor from men, from you or anyone else....We were as gentle with you as a nurse caring fondly for her children. (1 Thes 2:6,7)
Here is the pattern for all who would do God's work with souls: faithful giving of the Word, a heart true and pure in seeking God's glory, gentleness, self-giving, and plain hard work.
I know they know I'm praying for them as they walk through this difficult time. I pray God uses these words as a comfort and continues to make Himself known to them in every circumstance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Freedom from Fear
There is a sense in which every form of fear is essentially the fear of death. Jesus came to deliver us from that in all its forms. "He became a human being so that by going through death as a man he might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might also set free those who lived their whole lives a prey to the fear of death" (Heb 2:14,15 JBP).
I know people whose lives are totally controlled by fear. There is no bondage more powerful and crippling. Fear takes over the mind, coercing and circumscribing all its activity. We know where that spirit of fear originates, and we know the name of the enemy who would hold us enslaved. In the name of our God we must tread down our enemies, including all the nagging "what ifs" of our lives. To those frightening possibilities Christ answers, "I will never leave you or forsake you." Let the very worst thing come to pass--even there, especially there, his hand will hold us. If we go into darkness, He is there, has been there before us, has conquered all its powers. That's why He became a man. That's why He died. That's why He rose again.
My Lord and my God--forgive my fears. Deliver me from bondage by the power of your resurrection.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
God's Secret Purpose
Whatever the enemy of our souls can do to instill doubt about the real purpose of the Father of our souls, he will certainly try to do. "Hath God said?" was his question to Eve, and she trusted him, the enemy, and doubted God. Each time the suspicion arises that God is really "out to get us," that He is bent on making us miserable or thwarting any good we might seek, we are calling Him a liar. His secret purpose has been revealed to us, and it is to bring us finally, not to ruin, but to glory. That is precisely what the Bible tells us: "His secret purpose framed from the very beginning [is] to bring us to our full glory" (1 Cor 2:7 NEB).
I know of no more steadying hope on which to focus my mind when circumstances tempt me to wonder why God doesn't "do something." He is always doing something--the very best thing, the thing we ourselves would certainly choose if we knew the end from the beginning. He is at work to bring us to our full glory.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Way Appointed
One aspect of the mystery of God's sovereign will is how the calculated evil of men is not only permitted, but actually becomes a necessary part of the divine plan. We are tempted to think of the wrongs done to us as hindrances, frustrations, interruptions. "What has this got to do with the will of God?" we ask, irritated and, we suppose, justifiably impatient with human interference. But the truth is that both our time and our way are in God's hands--they are "appointed." Surely it is so for all his sons as it was for the Son of Man. When He was on the verge of being "handed over for crucifixion," and betrayed by one of his own disciples, He said, "My appointed time is near....One who has dipped his hand into this bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man is going the way appointed for him" (Mt 26:18, 24 NEB).
Out of the deepest depths of human evil the good God brought salvation--the very salvation of man whose sinfulness killed the Son He sent.
Nothing can reach us, from any source in earth or hell, no matter how evil, which God cannot turn to his own redemptive purpose. Let us be glad that the way is not a game of chance, a mere roll of dice which determines our fortune or calamity--it is a way appointed, and it is appointed for God's eternal glory and our final good.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gentle as a Nurse
A good nurse does not pamper her charge, but seeks his best interest with fortitude, consistency, and love. Paul's love for the new Christians at Thessalonica was like that. It was no sentimental feeling. He writes of having brought them the Word:
*In the power of the Holy Spirit, and with strong conviction. (1 Thes 1:5)
*Frankly and fearlessly, by the help of our God. A hard struggle it was. (1 Thes 2:2)
*We do not curry favor with men. Our words have never been flattering words...or a cloak for greed. (1 Thes 2:4,5)
*We have never sought honor from men, from you or anyone else....We were as gentle with you as a nurse caring fondly for her children. (1 Thes 2:6,7)
Here is the pattern for all who would do God's work with souls: faithful giving of the Word, a heart true and pure in seeking God's glory, gentleness, self-giving, and plain hard work.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Recently read...
Sometimes, divine revelation simply means adjusting your brain to hear what your heart already knows.
Sometime God reveals interesting lessons from the most unusual places.
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