This saying was on a church marquee in Columbia. Between this and Russ' sermon on Sunday, I have been revived. The sermon was on radical love--the love that God practices.
About two weeks ago I finally came to the conclusion that God's goal for me was to let go of my past and focus on His present. I decided that God had a purpose for me--to live a life of service to Him. I had been doing that some in many, many demanding, but meaningful ways; but He said to give my all to Him. After one full week of this, I told Ron that I was tired of my job. Every day is full of doing for others. Russ preached on our Scriptures that we were studying for the week, and I decided to go at it again.
About a couple of years ago, we gave up being small group leaders because peoples' problems were getting us down and causing burnout on our part. It is interesting how God keeps bringing those people back into our lives and new ones over and over again. Todd said in one sermon that you may be through with your past but your past may not be through with you. Those people are in our lives as blessings now, not burdens.
My goal and main focus right now is to get Sandra, the homeless girl that was placed in Columbia, a job. She is really an adorable person, well-educated, and well-spoken. Our hold up has been getting her Indian Nation photo pass for ID. She is from a Cree Indian Band in northern Manitoba, Canada. We got the form from the tribe yesterday, had passport photos taken, and sent back the card, photo, and application Express Mail to the tribe all in one day, plus we checked on another job. Tomorrow I am picking her up again and taking her for more job searches. We are being rather selective because we know that we will be her transportation back and forth to work. She needs a job and really wants to work.
Suzanne had Sandra sub for her in Bunco and she and I went together. She had so much fun and everyone was very gracious and friendly to her. Saturday I am taking Sandra to the mall for the women's exhibit. She is a regular in our Tuesday Bible study and is keeping up with Bible lessons past, present, and future, reading all the Scriptures that Russ assigns each week and doing her Tuesday night Bible readings for her study with Ron and Jim. She is absorbing and hungering for the Bible. I gave her a Women of Faith Study Bible which she really likes. Thank you to everyone who is treating her like the wonderful person that she is. She is a blessing, not a burden.
I have been asked to teach Divorce Care 4 Kids at Grace Nazarene Church beginning in February. I was just rejoicing that the class at Maury Hills was over when I ran into Mike accidentally. This class takes place while the parent(s) is in Divorce Care. I am amazed at the curriculum. This gives me an outlet to teach and a chance to make a difference in a child's life helping him and her realize that divorce is an adult problem and that divorce is not the child's fault. The Bible lessons are fantastic. Again, a blessing, not a burden.
Taking care of others also requires taking care of oneself. Today was Girlfriend Day. Four of us from the Tuesday morning Bible study went to Sugar Ridge, Silo Studios Art, and Merridee's for lunch. This is possibly becoming a monthly activity, only next time it will be in another direction. This was definitely a blessing, not a burden.
I love being on the Foster Care Review Board and a CASA volunteer. God is giving me that bit of social work which was one of my choices early in life but I taught school instead. I like to do LAMBS visits with the women from church. Again, blessings, not burdens.
I am also a Reach to Recovery volunteer with the American Cancer Society. That only takes place when a woman has breat cancer surgery at MRH and a volunteer is needed. Maury County is blessed with several volunteers. Again, a blessing, not a burden.
Blessings abound in my life--a wonderful husband who likes to cook breakfast, wonderful children with lovely spouses and children, a mother who is alive, great relatives, fantastic friends, a loving church family, a home, transportation, food, clothing, hobbies, a loving and merciful God and a home with Him.
Now if I could only turn cooking and cleaning house into the blessings that I once felt about them, not the burdens that I try to schedule in between my fun and service.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
I DID IT! HALLELUJAH!
I finally finished THE ONE YEAR BIBLE IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER, NIV, edited by F. Lagard Smith. I have read it before but not with the accompanying journal that required question answering on each daily Scripture reading. I read it in one year and nine days only because I got caught up December 8 with crossword puzzles and got behind.
Russ commented that only 15% of Christians have read the Bible in its entirety. That is so amazing to me, but not surprising, I guess. I was fortunate to grow up in an environment that encouraged Bible reading and attended a Christian college where we studied the entire Bible in our college career.
I have heard people say, "How do you read the Bible?" as if it is a great mystery that is extremely complicated. All I can say is to read it asking God to show you the beauty of His Word. Do not make it hard, just read. After you have read it through, read it again and again. Join Bible studies; study by yourself. The more you read, the closer to God you will become. His Word is so beautiful and is written in many forms such as stories, hymns, poems, allegories, parables, etc. Just read for enjoyment; and if you have never read it, read it for the first time in a Bible like I just finished that told me what I was going to read and what to expect or just a plain unadorned Bible.
One year I listened to the Bible on CD and read it also and finished the entire Bible in 65 days. Year before last I read the entire Bible (The Message) in 45 days. You just have to make up your mind to do it. Every time you read the Bible, God reveals something new to you that you didn't think of before. This year as I read, I almost became weepy when reading because the Word was soooo beautiful. New things jumped out at me. I am amazed at God's Word.
Please schedule a time to spend reading God's Word each and every day. Carry a Bible with you to read when you are in a doctor's office or some place else where you have to wait. God wants us to open His love letter to us and to pour out His blessings on us daily. He is love and wants us to know His great love for us.
Join us at Maury Hills as Russ begins a new series on reading the New Testament. I am excited because I had made up my mind to really study the New Testament only this year besides Bible Study Scriptures.
God loves you and so do I!!!! Start reading today. Don't use the excuse--I don't have time! Make time for God.
Russ commented that only 15% of Christians have read the Bible in its entirety. That is so amazing to me, but not surprising, I guess. I was fortunate to grow up in an environment that encouraged Bible reading and attended a Christian college where we studied the entire Bible in our college career.
I have heard people say, "How do you read the Bible?" as if it is a great mystery that is extremely complicated. All I can say is to read it asking God to show you the beauty of His Word. Do not make it hard, just read. After you have read it through, read it again and again. Join Bible studies; study by yourself. The more you read, the closer to God you will become. His Word is so beautiful and is written in many forms such as stories, hymns, poems, allegories, parables, etc. Just read for enjoyment; and if you have never read it, read it for the first time in a Bible like I just finished that told me what I was going to read and what to expect or just a plain unadorned Bible.
One year I listened to the Bible on CD and read it also and finished the entire Bible in 65 days. Year before last I read the entire Bible (The Message) in 45 days. You just have to make up your mind to do it. Every time you read the Bible, God reveals something new to you that you didn't think of before. This year as I read, I almost became weepy when reading because the Word was soooo beautiful. New things jumped out at me. I am amazed at God's Word.
Please schedule a time to spend reading God's Word each and every day. Carry a Bible with you to read when you are in a doctor's office or some place else where you have to wait. God wants us to open His love letter to us and to pour out His blessings on us daily. He is love and wants us to know His great love for us.
Join us at Maury Hills as Russ begins a new series on reading the New Testament. I am excited because I had made up my mind to really study the New Testament only this year besides Bible Study Scriptures.
God loves you and so do I!!!! Start reading today. Don't use the excuse--I don't have time! Make time for God.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Respect for Authority
Duty Toward Civil Authority. "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold not terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority: Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor." Romans 13:1-7
I will be good from now on and watch what I say and do about those in authority. In Daniel God says that He raises up those in leadership whom He chooses.
Dearest Father, Help me to honor and respect those in authority and to be an example of You to others in my actions and in my words. I love you and ask for forgiveness for every thoughtless word that I have spoken in disrespect to you and about those in authority, Your servants. In Your Son's Holy Name, AMEN.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Brrrr, it's cold outside. At 7:30 a.m. the phone rang and it was Pamela, one of the homeless girls calling to tell me how the windows in the 'homeless house' needed to be wrapped in plastic to keep out the cold air and to keep the utility bill from being monstrous. Pamela is a Maury County lady who was living out of her car and was moved in with Sandra, one of the girls from Nashville. I told her she needed to talk to her landlord, but to her Ron is the problem solver. I appreciate her initiative in helping to make the apartment more habitable for herself and Sandra. It really looks nice.
I picked up Sandra at 9:00 a.m. to come to our house to make phone calls to Canada and to make applications online in search of a job. She stayed two and a half hours and I drove her to the library later. She will be a good worker if someone will hire her.
Don, the first homeless person and the youngest one brought down, has a job and is a loyal, responsible employee and walks to and from work every day. His employers like him and are giving him valuable training for a better future.
Angie is working part time at the Hardee's on the north side of town which means four of us are sharing the chaffuering for her to and from work at her very crazy and odd hours. She is a good worker.
One still hasn't found a job. Ron says that he has been on the street too long. Ron says if they have been on the street more than a year, the homeless get a homeless mindset. It is better to get them if they have been on the street less than a year.
Success stories are always good news, but what about those still on the street during these very cold nights? I hope that they are finding shelter somewhere. Extreme cold and rain are devastating to the homeless. It would be great if abandoned buildings were turned into homeless shelters with strict supervision.
I am warm and I am comfortable and I am dry when it rains. Thank you Father for the necessities of life, but what are Your necessities for life? Is shelter one of them? You are the Bread of Life, my Shelter in the time of storm, and the Giver of Life. Thank you for being who You are and for what You have done. Please help us Your children find ways to help each other.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
I picked up Sandra at 9:00 a.m. to come to our house to make phone calls to Canada and to make applications online in search of a job. She stayed two and a half hours and I drove her to the library later. She will be a good worker if someone will hire her.
Don, the first homeless person and the youngest one brought down, has a job and is a loyal, responsible employee and walks to and from work every day. His employers like him and are giving him valuable training for a better future.
Angie is working part time at the Hardee's on the north side of town which means four of us are sharing the chaffuering for her to and from work at her very crazy and odd hours. She is a good worker.
One still hasn't found a job. Ron says that he has been on the street too long. Ron says if they have been on the street more than a year, the homeless get a homeless mindset. It is better to get them if they have been on the street less than a year.
Success stories are always good news, but what about those still on the street during these very cold nights? I hope that they are finding shelter somewhere. Extreme cold and rain are devastating to the homeless. It would be great if abandoned buildings were turned into homeless shelters with strict supervision.
I am warm and I am comfortable and I am dry when it rains. Thank you Father for the necessities of life, but what are Your necessities for life? Is shelter one of them? You are the Bread of Life, my Shelter in the time of storm, and the Giver of Life. Thank you for being who You are and for what You have done. Please help us Your children find ways to help each other.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
If you have a box or bag of brown sugar that has hardened, microwave it for about a minute and it will soften.
PECAN PIE
1) 3 eggs, beaten
2) 1 cup sugar
3) 3/4 cup white corn syrup
4) 1 cup chopped pecans
Mix all ingredients and place in an unbaked pie shell. Bake at 1 hour at 325* or until inserted knife comes out clean. I substituted walnuts for the pecans and it is still delicious.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
The day started with sunshine and falling snowflakes. How exciting can that be! We left the house in sunshine and snowflakes to go to Farmers Family Restaurant for the buffet breakfast which may become a Saturday habit. Ron needed coffee and I needed food! While we were there, I observed people. At one booth two young men were sitting eating. I called one Thick and one Thin because one looked like a huge linebacker and his friend was a little skinny person. At another table was an older gentlemen with two older women who came in wearing full length fur coats, one fox and the other mink. Have they heard of PETA? Those coats were probably purchased before anyone ever thought of animal rights; and just think when I was younger, I wanted a full length mink coat. I once had a full length rabbit coat; was I guilty of animal abuse?
The table behind us sat a woman with an extremely loud laugh. Across from us was a table of four-great-grandmother, grandmother, daughter, and granddaughter. They looked as if they had come from deep in the woods-long stringy hair, few teeth, but a family who loved each other. Do you ever observe people? Just because they look different doesn't mean God loves them any less or that they are less important than anyone else. God made us all and tells us to never hold ourselves better than others but to hold others in higher esteem than ourselves.
Ron came home and went to work in his office and I went to see Rodney and family where I was graciously entertained by the next Taylor Swift. Kinsey got a microphone for Christmas and a guitar for her birthday. She sang into the microphone with the background music from her Ipod. It made me feel so good to see the family of four in such a cozy, loving atmosphere enjoying one another's gifts.
Next I went to see Mother and waited 45 minutes for her, as she was downstairs playing Bingo. The Bridge is the best for those who need assistance in every day living. (For those of you who read my latest Facebook post, maybe Mother needs a new velour suit.)
Ron and I went to Kindred Hospital this afternoon to visit with a friend who nearly starved himself to death and with a family whose son nearly ate himself to death. Bryce has lost 200 pounds; when he was near death from complications, he weighed 600 pounds. He was up and walking today and may get to come home Tuesday. He will have a long way to go, but praise God who has worked miracles in this family's lives. Barry will have to learn to walk again because he is a six foot tall man who weighed 104 lbs. when he entered the hospital. He still looks like someone from a concentration camp. God has kept him alive for a purpose. I pray that he finds his purpose and a will to live from this near death experience.
We stopped at Steak and Shake for milkshakes on the way home to cook a birthday dinner for Jim. He was alone on his birthday, so we fed him two steaks and sent the rest of the birthday pie home with him.
The highlight of this day was a phone call from my Uncle Lawson Beard who lives in Texas. We haven't talked to him in a year and I was so glad to talk with him. I love family!!!!!!
Paradise is the name of our back yard, thus the name of the post. Ron and I are the Par(pair)A-disians. I will keep you posted from Paradise. Enjoy one another.
The table behind us sat a woman with an extremely loud laugh. Across from us was a table of four-great-grandmother, grandmother, daughter, and granddaughter. They looked as if they had come from deep in the woods-long stringy hair, few teeth, but a family who loved each other. Do you ever observe people? Just because they look different doesn't mean God loves them any less or that they are less important than anyone else. God made us all and tells us to never hold ourselves better than others but to hold others in higher esteem than ourselves.
Ron came home and went to work in his office and I went to see Rodney and family where I was graciously entertained by the next Taylor Swift. Kinsey got a microphone for Christmas and a guitar for her birthday. She sang into the microphone with the background music from her Ipod. It made me feel so good to see the family of four in such a cozy, loving atmosphere enjoying one another's gifts.
Next I went to see Mother and waited 45 minutes for her, as she was downstairs playing Bingo. The Bridge is the best for those who need assistance in every day living. (For those of you who read my latest Facebook post, maybe Mother needs a new velour suit.)
Ron and I went to Kindred Hospital this afternoon to visit with a friend who nearly starved himself to death and with a family whose son nearly ate himself to death. Bryce has lost 200 pounds; when he was near death from complications, he weighed 600 pounds. He was up and walking today and may get to come home Tuesday. He will have a long way to go, but praise God who has worked miracles in this family's lives. Barry will have to learn to walk again because he is a six foot tall man who weighed 104 lbs. when he entered the hospital. He still looks like someone from a concentration camp. God has kept him alive for a purpose. I pray that he finds his purpose and a will to live from this near death experience.
We stopped at Steak and Shake for milkshakes on the way home to cook a birthday dinner for Jim. He was alone on his birthday, so we fed him two steaks and sent the rest of the birthday pie home with him.
The highlight of this day was a phone call from my Uncle Lawson Beard who lives in Texas. We haven't talked to him in a year and I was so glad to talk with him. I love family!!!!!!
Paradise is the name of our back yard, thus the name of the post. Ron and I are the Par(pair)A-disians. I will keep you posted from Paradise. Enjoy one another.
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