But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, "You are my God." My times are in your hands." Psalm 31:14-15a NIV
The right time has almost arrived, I glance at the clock. Nope same time, I occupy myself my thinking about something or doing something. Then sneak a glance at the clock again. Same time.
Why is it sometimes the time never seems to change?
Awoken in the middle of the night, I try not to glance at the clock as I stumble to the bathroom. All cozy in bed again, the temptation to look over powers me-2:00 AM. I turn away from the clock only turn back over what I think it least a half hour has past. Nope 2:01 AM. It's going to be a long night.
Other times, it's like time flies.
I only have thirty minutes to get my cleaning done before I need to start teaching preschool. I begin, soon I'm distracted by the phone or a child's misbehavior. Before I know it forty minutes have gone by and I haven't even started cleaning.
Or I'm sitting at my computer working on editing one of my stories. I glance down at the time, this time it's a hour before I have to be off to do school pick up. I work away following the instructions on how to make my story into an e-book and all to soon it's time to go.
The perfect time.
One of the best times I have is when I don't have to worry about time. On one of the retreats I've attended we are told to put our watches away and to not even bring your cell phone. I'm told when it's time to get ready for bed, time to get up, and even when it's time to eat. Yet this doesn't seem to bother me. Because here is when I have a chance to draw closer to God.
When I was on the cruise my phone went crazy by jumping four hours ahead. It seemed time wasn't important then either. Somehow I managed to eat and sleep when I needed to, and to be where I needed to be when I wanted to be. It was nice to not worry so much about time.
The time I have to be here on this earth is in God's hands. Spending time with Him is my favorite time. Somehow everything gets done when it needs to. Usually, I'm in the right spot at the right time.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
A Blessing From the Lord
I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessings. Ezekiel 34:26 NIV
About seven weeks ago I was given a crazy thought. A gentleman at our church had been going on several cruises and he told me how much he paid for a 3 day cruise, it sounded pretty reasonable. So for some crazy reason I looked up how much a cruise would be and it was even cheaper than he told me. It also happened to be our anniversary weekend.
I told my husband about it and he checked out the website as well. We talked it over for a day or two and really felt this was something we could do. Of course there was extra costs to this deal. We upgraded the room, there are port charges to pay, and tips for the crew. Still we paid a lot less than we would have if the price to start with was higher.
The day of our cruise finally arrived and I was nervous. I don't do well on the water, the rocking of a boat and my stomach do not get along very well. Also I feared the unknown, how did boarding the ship work, what about my luggage, and will I get lost. I prayed and tried not to worry, but the butterflies stuck around.
Getting on board was fairly simple, just a quick security check of bags and waiting in line. Captain Stubing (The Love Boat) wasn't there to greet us, still a staff of smiling faces were. The fancy staircase and huge central area wasn't quite how I pictured it, but it was nice and purple.
Our room was perfect. Plenty of room for the two of us. We explored the ship as we tried to find our way to the place where a ship's tour awaited us. We never found it.
"I feel great," I teasingly said as we hadn't set sail yet.
Finally, we set out to sea. No streamers or family waving us good-bye, just a fun time watching sail into a channel that led us to the Atlantic Ocean.
My hair lost it's battle with the wind. Then I felt it, the motion of the boat. I was not going to make it. "What had I gotten myself into?" I wondered as we'd only just begun.
Another motion sickness pill and we were on our way to eat. Not a good combination, but to my surprise I felt much better after I got my fill of food.
My second problem came when my luggage failed to arrive. We were told to be patient, it should be in our room my eight. Still I continually prayed. After all I had my stuff in there. Luckily, it arrived after dinner. It wasn't until the next morning when I realized my luggage tag was missing.
God continually blessed us throughout our trip. Even when I felt quite nervous with all the natives in the Bahamas who kept wanting to "help" us. It was much better when we could just look and enjoy ourselves on our own.
God does indeed want to rain down His blessings on each of us, and sometimes we may do something completely out of character to experience them.
Never would have thought a cruise was in our budget, but he provided the income for it, kept us well, and even provided gorgeous weather the entire trip. God is a gracious God.
About seven weeks ago I was given a crazy thought. A gentleman at our church had been going on several cruises and he told me how much he paid for a 3 day cruise, it sounded pretty reasonable. So for some crazy reason I looked up how much a cruise would be and it was even cheaper than he told me. It also happened to be our anniversary weekend.
I told my husband about it and he checked out the website as well. We talked it over for a day or two and really felt this was something we could do. Of course there was extra costs to this deal. We upgraded the room, there are port charges to pay, and tips for the crew. Still we paid a lot less than we would have if the price to start with was higher.
The day of our cruise finally arrived and I was nervous. I don't do well on the water, the rocking of a boat and my stomach do not get along very well. Also I feared the unknown, how did boarding the ship work, what about my luggage, and will I get lost. I prayed and tried not to worry, but the butterflies stuck around.
Getting on board was fairly simple, just a quick security check of bags and waiting in line. Captain Stubing (The Love Boat) wasn't there to greet us, still a staff of smiling faces were. The fancy staircase and huge central area wasn't quite how I pictured it, but it was nice and purple.
Our room was perfect. Plenty of room for the two of us. We explored the ship as we tried to find our way to the place where a ship's tour awaited us. We never found it.
"I feel great," I teasingly said as we hadn't set sail yet.
Finally, we set out to sea. No streamers or family waving us good-bye, just a fun time watching sail into a channel that led us to the Atlantic Ocean.
My hair lost it's battle with the wind. Then I felt it, the motion of the boat. I was not going to make it. "What had I gotten myself into?" I wondered as we'd only just begun.
Another motion sickness pill and we were on our way to eat. Not a good combination, but to my surprise I felt much better after I got my fill of food.
My second problem came when my luggage failed to arrive. We were told to be patient, it should be in our room my eight. Still I continually prayed. After all I had my stuff in there. Luckily, it arrived after dinner. It wasn't until the next morning when I realized my luggage tag was missing.
God continually blessed us throughout our trip. Even when I felt quite nervous with all the natives in the Bahamas who kept wanting to "help" us. It was much better when we could just look and enjoy ourselves on our own.
God does indeed want to rain down His blessings on each of us, and sometimes we may do something completely out of character to experience them.
Never would have thought a cruise was in our budget, but he provided the income for it, kept us well, and even provided gorgeous weather the entire trip. God is a gracious God.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Heaven Is a Happy Place
But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Acts 7:55 NIV
Setting up for a service by the lake in the dark, it was calm and peaceful. No mosquitoes trying to carry me off this time. As I finished setting up, I looked over the lake and peacefulness came in.
The sun began to emerge from its slumber. The sky glowed with pinks and reds. The other women helping with the set up looked too, and we just took in the glory of the new day.
"Heaven is a happy place, Heaven is a happy place..." echoed in my head. For if heaven is anything like a beautiful sunrise then indeed heaven is a happy place.
I find comfort in knowing this today.
Our little Eragon had improved a great deal. He was getting his belly full with his food and then trying the dog's food. He drank out of whatever water dish he found. He got a nice full belly.
He began to play. He appeared to be getting better.
This morning though when I got him up to eat, he once again couldn't stand on his own. He just looked up at me and meowed, "help me." I awoke my daughter who started to give him the milk supplement again, which he ate. Then she warmed him up again because his little body was cold.
A short time later she went back to give him his medicine, and he was no longer with us.
He was a good kitty, even if we only got to know him for a short time. He has gone to his happy place where now he can smile because he's seeing God's face. He won't have to worry about the fleas or the hookworms.
He was a little fighter, who kept beating the odds.
Now he can run and play. He can eat all he wants. Little Eragon rest in peace.
Setting up for a service by the lake in the dark, it was calm and peaceful. No mosquitoes trying to carry me off this time. As I finished setting up, I looked over the lake and peacefulness came in.
The sun began to emerge from its slumber. The sky glowed with pinks and reds. The other women helping with the set up looked too, and we just took in the glory of the new day.
"Heaven is a happy place, Heaven is a happy place..." echoed in my head. For if heaven is anything like a beautiful sunrise then indeed heaven is a happy place.
I find comfort in knowing this today.
Our little Eragon had improved a great deal. He was getting his belly full with his food and then trying the dog's food. He drank out of whatever water dish he found. He got a nice full belly.
He began to play. He appeared to be getting better.
This morning though when I got him up to eat, he once again couldn't stand on his own. He just looked up at me and meowed, "help me." I awoke my daughter who started to give him the milk supplement again, which he ate. Then she warmed him up again because his little body was cold.
A short time later she went back to give him his medicine, and he was no longer with us.
He was a good kitty, even if we only got to know him for a short time. He has gone to his happy place where now he can smile because he's seeing God's face. He won't have to worry about the fleas or the hookworms.
He was a little fighter, who kept beating the odds.
Now he can run and play. He can eat all he wants. Little Eragon rest in peace.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
No Way, There's Just No Way
But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? Job 12:7-9
What's that? Aww a little kitten, what to do? What to do? As the beagle barked at the door wondering why all of us were outside without her.
I know, I'll see if my friend can take it. She's got a love for kittens. We're just not cat people.
She of course had her hands full with a kitten already, so we brought it home. Mind you, it was just for the night until my son could drop it by the pound in the morning.
My daughter volunteered to keep it in her room, that way it wouldn't upset the dog. A couple of us posted a picture on Facebook, nobody could take it home.
Friday came and the votes were cast; keep it until we find it a home (which really meant it's home would be here). The day wore on as kitty found away to curl on our laps and in our hair. We were hooked.
Monday we took it to the vet; need to have shots done because of day care and it's the right thing to do. Then we here the news-this is a very sick kitty. It's full of fleas and hook worms which are sucking the red blood cells right out of it. It didn't have long to live.
The big question-how much is it going to cost? I had an amount in my head that I could spend. Were the kids willing to help with the cost above that? Sure my daughter volunteered her money, then each of my sons. We could pay.
We left Eragon(now given the right name) and hoped for the best. Odds were against him. We prayed. We hoped God didn't put him in our life for only a short time.
Good news, Eragon perked up. Not out of the woods yet, but he could come home over night. We just needed to feed him every two hours and bring him back in the morning. My daughter decided she could handle getting up every two hours to
feed him.
Today he's back at the vets to get the rest of the nutrients he needs. Hopefully, he'll be good to go since a day at the vets is not cheap.
The lesson I learned from this little cat is that I have enough love for him. My children can be gracious and help save an animal. God provides us with love even if we weren't cat people.
What's that? Aww a little kitten, what to do? What to do? As the beagle barked at the door wondering why all of us were outside without her.
I know, I'll see if my friend can take it. She's got a love for kittens. We're just not cat people.
She of course had her hands full with a kitten already, so we brought it home. Mind you, it was just for the night until my son could drop it by the pound in the morning.
My daughter volunteered to keep it in her room, that way it wouldn't upset the dog. A couple of us posted a picture on Facebook, nobody could take it home.
Friday came and the votes were cast; keep it until we find it a home (which really meant it's home would be here). The day wore on as kitty found away to curl on our laps and in our hair. We were hooked.
Monday we took it to the vet; need to have shots done because of day care and it's the right thing to do. Then we here the news-this is a very sick kitty. It's full of fleas and hook worms which are sucking the red blood cells right out of it. It didn't have long to live.
The big question-how much is it going to cost? I had an amount in my head that I could spend. Were the kids willing to help with the cost above that? Sure my daughter volunteered her money, then each of my sons. We could pay.
We left Eragon(now given the right name) and hoped for the best. Odds were against him. We prayed. We hoped God didn't put him in our life for only a short time.
Good news, Eragon perked up. Not out of the woods yet, but he could come home over night. We just needed to feed him every two hours and bring him back in the morning. My daughter decided she could handle getting up every two hours to
Today he's back at the vets to get the rest of the nutrients he needs. Hopefully, he'll be good to go since a day at the vets is not cheap.
The lesson I learned from this little cat is that I have enough love for him. My children can be gracious and help save an animal. God provides us with love even if we weren't cat people.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Excitement Over Trash
...and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:20 NIV
"Did you get yours yet?"
"Ms. Diana hasn't got hers yet? What's she going to do?"
"The truck with them on it, is in our neighborhood."
"Mine came today, what about yours?"
"Our sons were pushing each other in them."
"There so big, won't they get heavy."
Over the past month this has been some of the conversations I've had or heard someone having. Yesterday was the first day of pick up using our new trash cans. The shiny new garbage truck brought neighbors out to watch.
"I want to see how it works."
Never has this excitement happened before over trash. Funny, how we can all talk about our new trash cans from the county without any hesitation. It's an easy topic. No one is left out, everyone in the county received new trash cans and they're basically all the same.
I just wish I could easily talk about my Savior. Why can't I just ask:
"Did you receive Him yet?"
"What's Josh going to do, he hasn't received the Jesus yet?"
"Jesus is in the neighborhood."
"Our sons were acting out how Jesus healed the blind man."
"He's so big, will I learn too much."
It's time for a little less "trash" talk and more Jesus talk.
"Did you get yours yet?"
"Ms. Diana hasn't got hers yet? What's she going to do?"
"The truck with them on it, is in our neighborhood."
"Mine came today, what about yours?"
"Our sons were pushing each other in them."
"There so big, won't they get heavy."
Over the past month this has been some of the conversations I've had or heard someone having. Yesterday was the first day of pick up using our new trash cans. The shiny new garbage truck brought neighbors out to watch.
"I want to see how it works."
Never has this excitement happened before over trash. Funny, how we can all talk about our new trash cans from the county without any hesitation. It's an easy topic. No one is left out, everyone in the county received new trash cans and they're basically all the same.
I just wish I could easily talk about my Savior. Why can't I just ask:
"Did you receive Him yet?"
"What's Josh going to do, he hasn't received the Jesus yet?"
"Jesus is in the neighborhood."
"Our sons were acting out how Jesus healed the blind man."
"He's so big, will I learn too much."
It's time for a little less "trash" talk and more Jesus talk.
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