There is something to be said for just sitting and enjoying a quiet day alone.
I got to watch whatever I wanted, or not.
I could eat when I wanted, or not.
I could read if I wanted, or not.
I could play on the computer, or not.
So I spent the day in various pursuits. Read the Bible some, did some word search puzzles, finished reading a book. Watched HGTV.
Haven't decided if that is an evil channel or not. Love the suggestions for redoing one's space. I need some ideas for mine. But there are so many people spending so much money! I know they earned it and should be allowed to spend it however they want, but wow ... a second home in the Florida Keys that will cost $1.5 million! Holy cow!
I realized I lust after some of that stuff. I would love to have a home on the islands that for the most part is open air. They are beautiful properties. But I think at some point I would see that such extravagance is not really a good idea. At least I hope I would think that.
I have had a plan in mind for a long time now that involves me owning a lot of property on the mountains by a lake. I would love to have five cabins - one for me and one for each of my kids. We five could decorate our abode to our individual tastes. They would come to visit and have ready-made accommodations. But when they were not there, the place would be open for pastors and their families and missionaries and their families to come apart and rest. Get ready for the next journey God is sending them on. I would love to have a building for meetings and meals so retreats could be held there. A small chapel is a recent addition in my mind. Not to replace going to church, but sometimes we just need to find ourselves in a sanctuary at an alter prone before our Lord.
I don't think that is extravagant. I could write there and attend to the needs of others. Be a servant to the servants of God. Sounds pretty sweet to me.
So what is your dream? Does it honor God? Are you satisfied if it never comes to fruition? Can you leave it with the Maker of all dreams? Does it match His dream for your life?
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Breaking the rules
How fun is that! Someone actually tells you you should break the rules! Sweet!
I attended a great writing seminar last night. Tine Anne Forkner, local author, shared insights about writing.
Her main thing is not to follow rules. Just write. Write now. Don't worry about grammar, spelling, punctuation, the properly constructed sentence. Just write now.
I was very impressed with the writing lessons she gave, the smart approach to writing - publication is a dream. So you need to put the dream in a box and set it aside ... and write now.
I went to a well-known bookstore after her talk. Looking at the cards I find one with a photo of a little girl gleefully jumping on the bed. The card says: If you done BREAK some rules, you'll miss all the FUN.
Yeah, I don't want to miss the fun. So I plan to break some rules and just write. That is hard for me to do. I am used to editing as I go, so I don't have to get bogged down with revisions later. Already in this blog I wager I have backspaced 10 times to fix words and stuff. Silly me.
At any rate, I have put even this little bit of time in on writing something. That makes me happy.
I am writing on my new computer. That makes me happy.
A nice gentle rain is falling and a cool breeze is working its way into my windows. That makes me happy.
I had a good dinner. I did not overeat and I have not had pop or sugar today. That makes me very happy.
I had a thought I had to put down on paper today while I was driving home from Grover. I thought the thought over and over and over so I wouldn't forget it before I found a place to do as Tina advises - pull over and write now! Handy dandy notebook in purse was what made me happy then. That I didn't lose the thought makes me happy now.
Happiness is a fleeting thing. I am sure something will make me not so happy (actually breaking one of my plates while doing dishes didn't make me overly pleased, but I did not react poorly and THAT makes me happy).
For now I am happy. I am going to go sit. Turn on the tube, grab a book, an apple, some peanut butter, a notebook and a pencil. Ready for anything, including breaking the rules. ;)
I attended a great writing seminar last night. Tine Anne Forkner, local author, shared insights about writing.
Her main thing is not to follow rules. Just write. Write now. Don't worry about grammar, spelling, punctuation, the properly constructed sentence. Just write now.
I was very impressed with the writing lessons she gave, the smart approach to writing - publication is a dream. So you need to put the dream in a box and set it aside ... and write now.
I went to a well-known bookstore after her talk. Looking at the cards I find one with a photo of a little girl gleefully jumping on the bed. The card says: If you done BREAK some rules, you'll miss all the FUN.
Yeah, I don't want to miss the fun. So I plan to break some rules and just write. That is hard for me to do. I am used to editing as I go, so I don't have to get bogged down with revisions later. Already in this blog I wager I have backspaced 10 times to fix words and stuff. Silly me.
At any rate, I have put even this little bit of time in on writing something. That makes me happy.
I am writing on my new computer. That makes me happy.
A nice gentle rain is falling and a cool breeze is working its way into my windows. That makes me happy.
I had a good dinner. I did not overeat and I have not had pop or sugar today. That makes me very happy.
I had a thought I had to put down on paper today while I was driving home from Grover. I thought the thought over and over and over so I wouldn't forget it before I found a place to do as Tina advises - pull over and write now! Handy dandy notebook in purse was what made me happy then. That I didn't lose the thought makes me happy now.
Happiness is a fleeting thing. I am sure something will make me not so happy (actually breaking one of my plates while doing dishes didn't make me overly pleased, but I did not react poorly and THAT makes me happy).
For now I am happy. I am going to go sit. Turn on the tube, grab a book, an apple, some peanut butter, a notebook and a pencil. Ready for anything, including breaking the rules. ;)
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Got faith? Dimensional, concrete faith?
Faith is an interesting thing. It is evasive for a lot of us. Sporadic at best.
At least that is what it might look like if no thought is put into it.
Think about it — the guy that launches out into thin air attached to a bridge by a cord of rubber has to have faith. The gal sailing from an airplane dependent on a silk canopy to hold her and send her gently to land on terra firma has to have faith.
Everyone who banks electronically; who rely on a cell phone to connect us to distant relatives; who, like me, count on a computer to work to get a job done all have faith — in man-made machines.
We have faith that the car will start in the morning. That we will get to and from work safely.
We have faith that the roof will remain above our heads, the floor beneath our feet and walls solidly holding both at appropriate distances from each other.
And all those things are just things. Things that get used up, stressed out, in need of repair.
We have faith that the boss will let us work one more day. That the waitress at our favorite restaurant will serve us kindly. That the cook will do a good job preparing our meal.
We have faith that teachers will do their job and educate our children. That no one will hurt our children while they are out of our direct care.
We have faith that our marriage will last until we die. That even when we don't like our loved ones, we will still love them.
We have faith that our pastors will preach truth unashamedly. That they will minister to us, love and care for us.
That is a lot of faith. In people. Human, fallible, frail, broken, hurting, and seemingly, faithless.
Webster defines faith as this: complete trust or confidence in someone or something.
The Bible defines faith in Heb. 11:1 — “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Sure and certain. Sounds solid to me.
I watched a movie this weekend called “Faith Like Potatoes.” The gist is that potatoes are solid and real and our faith must be so as well.
I have thought about this for a couple days now. I was amazed at the lack of faith I have in the one thing, person, Who never fails. Never falters. Never walks away. Does not break. Cannot stop loving me. Or you.
In mulling this over these things came to mind.
A potato is real. It has weight, scent, flavor, color, texture.
Smell it — the wet earth it came from, the starchy white of its flesh.
Hold it — feel the weight, its firmness; examine its minuscule hills and valleys, the eyes from which new shoots will grow if it is planted; the smoothness of the skin once it is scrubbed clean or the sandpapery feel of skin freshly dried from its slumber in the ground.
Taste it — cool, watery, grainy, starchy, crisp.
Now I can tell you all this. I can go get a potato and I know all these things are true.
But what does my faith in God look like? Taste like? Smell like?
Understanding came over me as I watched that movie that my faith in God is sorely lacking. In fact, I felt deep in me the need to plant my face on the ground and cry out to the God who is all I need and more.
But I didn't. Something in me held me fast to the couch. I still don't understand it. No one was watching except the One Who matters most. The One Who would have been pleased. In my minds' eye, I could see my heavenly Father with tears in His eyes, but they were not tears of joy at my total abandonment to Him. They were tears of sadness caused by the moment we both missed.
Sometimes we think we are having a crisis in our faith, but there can be no crisis if there is no faith to begin with.
I know I have faith in God. I have placed my life in His hands. He has proven worthy of my faith too many times to count. In tangible things like rent money, school clothes for my children, a car to drive when mine broke down. And in the perceptible — in knowing and feeling the prayers of others on my behalf, in feeling protection from harm when there should have been none, in knowing I am not by myself on the day I feel most alone.
And, palpably feeling God's faithfulness to me, I turn to Lamentations 3:22 and 23.
“Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”
New. Every morning. When the sun creeps in my window God's faithfulness is renewed. Each time I open my eyes. Each time I take a breath.
That I am still here proves His faith in me. That He loves me in spite of my failure to fall on my face before Him proves His faith in me. That He uses me regardless of how worthless and ineffective I may think I am proves His faith in me.
My faith in Him may not even be the size of a mustard seed. But it is there. And through His faith in me, it can grow — strong, fragrant, solid, and flavorful. It will be a faith of substance.
At least that is what it might look like if no thought is put into it.
Think about it — the guy that launches out into thin air attached to a bridge by a cord of rubber has to have faith. The gal sailing from an airplane dependent on a silk canopy to hold her and send her gently to land on terra firma has to have faith.
Everyone who banks electronically; who rely on a cell phone to connect us to distant relatives; who, like me, count on a computer to work to get a job done all have faith — in man-made machines.
We have faith that the car will start in the morning. That we will get to and from work safely.
We have faith that the roof will remain above our heads, the floor beneath our feet and walls solidly holding both at appropriate distances from each other.
And all those things are just things. Things that get used up, stressed out, in need of repair.
We have faith that the boss will let us work one more day. That the waitress at our favorite restaurant will serve us kindly. That the cook will do a good job preparing our meal.
We have faith that teachers will do their job and educate our children. That no one will hurt our children while they are out of our direct care.
We have faith that our marriage will last until we die. That even when we don't like our loved ones, we will still love them.
We have faith that our pastors will preach truth unashamedly. That they will minister to us, love and care for us.
That is a lot of faith. In people. Human, fallible, frail, broken, hurting, and seemingly, faithless.
Webster defines faith as this: complete trust or confidence in someone or something.
The Bible defines faith in Heb. 11:1 — “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Sure and certain. Sounds solid to me.
I watched a movie this weekend called “Faith Like Potatoes.” The gist is that potatoes are solid and real and our faith must be so as well.
I have thought about this for a couple days now. I was amazed at the lack of faith I have in the one thing, person, Who never fails. Never falters. Never walks away. Does not break. Cannot stop loving me. Or you.
In mulling this over these things came to mind.
A potato is real. It has weight, scent, flavor, color, texture.
Smell it — the wet earth it came from, the starchy white of its flesh.
Hold it — feel the weight, its firmness; examine its minuscule hills and valleys, the eyes from which new shoots will grow if it is planted; the smoothness of the skin once it is scrubbed clean or the sandpapery feel of skin freshly dried from its slumber in the ground.
Taste it — cool, watery, grainy, starchy, crisp.
Now I can tell you all this. I can go get a potato and I know all these things are true.
But what does my faith in God look like? Taste like? Smell like?
Understanding came over me as I watched that movie that my faith in God is sorely lacking. In fact, I felt deep in me the need to plant my face on the ground and cry out to the God who is all I need and more.
But I didn't. Something in me held me fast to the couch. I still don't understand it. No one was watching except the One Who matters most. The One Who would have been pleased. In my minds' eye, I could see my heavenly Father with tears in His eyes, but they were not tears of joy at my total abandonment to Him. They were tears of sadness caused by the moment we both missed.
Sometimes we think we are having a crisis in our faith, but there can be no crisis if there is no faith to begin with.
I know I have faith in God. I have placed my life in His hands. He has proven worthy of my faith too many times to count. In tangible things like rent money, school clothes for my children, a car to drive when mine broke down. And in the perceptible — in knowing and feeling the prayers of others on my behalf, in feeling protection from harm when there should have been none, in knowing I am not by myself on the day I feel most alone.
And, palpably feeling God's faithfulness to me, I turn to Lamentations 3:22 and 23.
“Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”
New. Every morning. When the sun creeps in my window God's faithfulness is renewed. Each time I open my eyes. Each time I take a breath.
That I am still here proves His faith in me. That He loves me in spite of my failure to fall on my face before Him proves His faith in me. That He uses me regardless of how worthless and ineffective I may think I am proves His faith in me.
My faith in Him may not even be the size of a mustard seed. But it is there. And through His faith in me, it can grow — strong, fragrant, solid, and flavorful. It will be a faith of substance.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Tangible Faith
I just got done watching the movie "Faith Like Potatoes" and have to say I was surprisingly deeply impacted by the story.
I don't want to play spoiler here, so just the basics. Farmer in South Africa becomes a Christ-follower. He becomes a preacher. The impact is felt throughout the country.
Key to the movie is this - faith is like potatoes. It is something you should be able to feel, to smell, to use.
Made me realize I fall so drastically short in placing my faith in God.
Much to learn.
Much to entrust God with.
I don't want to play spoiler here, so just the basics. Farmer in South Africa becomes a Christ-follower. He becomes a preacher. The impact is felt throughout the country.
Key to the movie is this - faith is like potatoes. It is something you should be able to feel, to smell, to use.
Made me realize I fall so drastically short in placing my faith in God.
Much to learn.
Much to entrust God with.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
So today I went to the Trail Days Cowboy Church service and breakfast. My pastor was the speaker and gave a timely reminder of how much the United States has become like Israel - turning deliberately away from God. I will reiterate what Pastor Dan said - we do have a Deliverer, just as Israel did. That Deliverer gives us the choice, and the right to make the choice as to whether or not we are delivered.
Interesting thought to sit on.
While I was there, I noticed a guy no one was talking to. He kind of wandered around until cowboy church started. During the breakfast he sat at the end of a long set of tables by himself. Got to figure he is a newcomer or someone no one wants to be with.
Dan and I talked a bit, then got in the end of the line for breakfast. The seats available to sit at were by this guy who was alone. Dan introduced himself and kind of got the ball rolling with conversation, then turned to the others near us to talk with them.
I decided to be nice, try to be a little outgoing in a social situation. Not normal for me at all, but I know what it is like to be in a room full of people and be alone.
We chit chat a bit. He asks if I am the town photographer. I tell him what I do for a living and, being polite, ask about his work. Tells me he works at the base. We already know he has come from Cheyenne, so I make the obviously leap that he is a civilian contractor there.
After a bit more conversation, where I realize he is trying to determine the basis for my interest, he finally says he was deliberately evasive in telling me where he is actually from. Utah.Does work at a nuke base, but not Warren. Just at Cheyenne for a visit. Here in Pine Bluffs for mud volleyball, cowboy church and breakfast.
Now, that kind of offended me. I was not trying to find my soul mate. I was trying to be a nice person to someone I had not seen before.
After he knew I was a reporter, and my pastor reinforced the truth of that, THEN the man was free to talk uninhibited. Didn't realize I was that scary.
Just like we have a choice to accept deliverance, we also have a choice about how we live, how we treat others, how we respond to how they treat us. We can choose to be genuinely interested in someone else without it having to mean more than that.
I think the lesson for me to take from this is that it is important for me to follow God's leading in every situation. Step out of my comfort zone. Care enough about another of His creatures to be uncomfortable. Have to work on the being offended thing. Wrong attitude. Gotta fix that.
Interesting thought to sit on.
While I was there, I noticed a guy no one was talking to. He kind of wandered around until cowboy church started. During the breakfast he sat at the end of a long set of tables by himself. Got to figure he is a newcomer or someone no one wants to be with.
Dan and I talked a bit, then got in the end of the line for breakfast. The seats available to sit at were by this guy who was alone. Dan introduced himself and kind of got the ball rolling with conversation, then turned to the others near us to talk with them.
I decided to be nice, try to be a little outgoing in a social situation. Not normal for me at all, but I know what it is like to be in a room full of people and be alone.
We chit chat a bit. He asks if I am the town photographer. I tell him what I do for a living and, being polite, ask about his work. Tells me he works at the base. We already know he has come from Cheyenne, so I make the obviously leap that he is a civilian contractor there.
After a bit more conversation, where I realize he is trying to determine the basis for my interest, he finally says he was deliberately evasive in telling me where he is actually from. Utah.Does work at a nuke base, but not Warren. Just at Cheyenne for a visit. Here in Pine Bluffs for mud volleyball, cowboy church and breakfast.
Now, that kind of offended me. I was not trying to find my soul mate. I was trying to be a nice person to someone I had not seen before.
After he knew I was a reporter, and my pastor reinforced the truth of that, THEN the man was free to talk uninhibited. Didn't realize I was that scary.
Just like we have a choice to accept deliverance, we also have a choice about how we live, how we treat others, how we respond to how they treat us. We can choose to be genuinely interested in someone else without it having to mean more than that.
I think the lesson for me to take from this is that it is important for me to follow God's leading in every situation. Step out of my comfort zone. Care enough about another of His creatures to be uncomfortable. Have to work on the being offended thing. Wrong attitude. Gotta fix that.
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