It Doesn't Matter or Does It?

This is what the LORD Almighty says, "Give careful thought to your ways." Haggai 1:7 NIV

"Why am I here?" I thought as I stood in a dark alley witnessing a cloth placed over a body.

"Someone must be dead," my thoughts continued. "Why is Sue Thomas FBI here and her gang, and Monica that's strange. She must be about to tell them that God loves them." Then I woke up.

That was a strange dream. Funny, how it blended two shows I like to watch together. So what I watch does register in my brain then plays out sometime later in the shows in my head at night. Most of the time I don't remember what I dream, but occasionally I am awoken by some strange dream.

As a teenager I ended up watching one of those horror movies, and let me tell you the horror in that movie stayed with me for years. Sometimes now the thought reenters my brain and scares me half to death. I've heard it said, "It doesn't affect me, not at all. I can watch whatever I want." I have a feeling he/she are lying, because I am sure in some way it does affect them.

My mechanical son as a young boy would often wake in the middle of the night with a nightmare of falling down a hole. I had no idea why, and would reassure him he was OK and quickly he'd fall back asleep. Finally, I realized where his nightmare was coming from "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" a movie he liked to watch. In one scene Tom falls down a hole, once he stopped watching the movie the nightmares ended.

Another thing that change his and my atheletic son's behavior was when they'd watch "Power Rangers". As soon as the show was over there would be a lot of karate chopping, hitting, and shooting going on. Once I didn't allow them to watch the show anymore, it was back to their normal active boy behavior.

So does it matter or not what we watch? I have enough experience to believe it does. Why else would God tell us to give careful thought to our ways? Need proof. Try not watching anything violent or playing anything violent or scary for a few weeks and just wait for results.

Block 15 Lot 6

"So they can have a home of their own" 2 Samuel 7:10b

It seemed so impersonal, just an identification number. Not a place where love and nurturing take place. Not a place one can always come back to when feeling lost or overwhelmed by the world. Just a block and lot assignment.

Our estimated property tax came this week. Sure one of the things I take notice of is how much I am going to have to pay in taxes. This year though the number at the top made me take notice of how insignificant our home must seem to the county.

Little do they realize that we have a history at block 15 lot 6. How on moving day, I slammed the bathroom door because I was in a rush only to realize that there was no door knob to help me get back out. The door mechanism was there, but no door knob. With everybody else busy unloading a moving truck, how was I going to ever get out? Eventually I figured it out and soon there was a doorknob.

How we brought home three kids home from the hospital and have raised them here. How our door is a revolving one where different kids have come in and made our home their home away from home. Some have been with me from birth until the fifth grade, and how they will always be a part of me. Even if I hadn't given birth to them and no matter how long they stay with me.

How there have also been difficult times. Times where we almost lost block 15 lot 6 due to unwise choices. How I surrendered my sin to the Lord right here at block 15 lot 6, and asked Him to save our home. Which He did and now my life is all about serving Him.

So thank you property tax appraisers office for helping me realize that block 15 lot 6 is more than a place. It's my home!

Bitterness Will Make One Bitter

Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy. Proverbs 14:10 NIV

The evening started as usual we sat in our familiar places and awaited a fun night of bowling. Sure my side of the table was filled with a tissue box and hand sanitizer due to a cold that began earlier that day, but it could still be a fun night. We got our ten minutes to warm up and that went well.

As it turns out one on the other team hadn't arrived yet, he has a couple frames to arrive no big deal. So a little teasing began to occur. Unfortunately, one on their team didn't take it very well. She got rather loud and obnoxious. The teasing ended long before her tirade ended.

It's customary at the end of bowling three games to let the other team know by a handshake or words that it was good bowling with them. This bowler refused to shake hands and became even ruder than before.

This got me thinking why is she so bitter? Has she not experience true forgiveness? When have I been bitter and let something eat at me? The truth is plenty of times.

There have been times when I've been hurt or upset by someone. I admit there have been times when I've wanted to hold onto that hurt or pain. When I do this all it does is tare me up inside, my joy soon disappears. I act differently towards the person who has hurt me.

Luckily though it doesn't last too long. Soon I remember my Father's love for me and His forgiveness then I'm able to forgive the offense and move on.

My hope is that each of us can experience what true forgiveness is like. Then we'll be able to forgive as He has forgiven us.

Can We Just Have a Few Days to Dry Out, Please?

"and I will send rain on the land." 1 Kings 18:1c NIV

Mud, damp carpets, puddles...it's the same thing every time it rains. Truthfully, I don't mind the rain. It's important for the environment and provides us with water to drink. In fact, an afternoon storm helps bring the temptature back down.It's just there's been so much we need time to dry out.

Last week there was a little reprieve in the daily rain. My back porch finally didn't have water on it, the puddles dried up, and  and the mud resembled dirt again. Then the rain came back leaving 2 to 3 inches almost every time. The carpet on my porch though has been soaked since June.

The dog has no dry place to rest her head. She continually looks for one and lets us know that she hasn't been successful. She resists going out and has made my glass door resemble the muddy backyard. There's no point in cleaning it at least not until a dry out is complete. Trust me, I've cleaned it only to have it stay that way for maybe ten mins.

Summer time is here and that usually means the kids get to play out for awhile and get all that vent up energy out. Unfortunately, we've been in more than out this summer. Which makes for a lot of fun and a memorization of the order of the rainy indoor activities. Bouncy off the walls has become the norm. It is a wonder that there is any hair left on my head.

So Lord, if there's anyway can we just have a few days to dry out, please? Thanks so much.