Words of wisdom easily said, but not so easy to do at all times. My younger son and his family just visited, and he told me not to worry, and that he doesn't worry about anything. To be quite honest, he doesn't have to worry. From an earthly perspective he is blessed with parents who support him and love him, warts and all. He is blessed with a wife who loves him and children who are just adorable. He has never known insecurity even during the trials and tribulations of growing up. No matter what, he knew his parents loved him, and what a blessing.
His mother on the other hand grew up completely insecure about so many issues in life. My worry pattern was ingrained at a very young age, and for some reason, it keeps rearing its ugly head no matter how blessed I am. And I am blessed! I have a husband who loves me most of the time because sometimes I am truly unlovable. He's has never missed a paycheck and never even asks about the expenses. I report to him occasionally when the savings account is starting to get too low, and we both curb our spending until we are in the black again. Our retirement is in place, and in five short years we will retire, and more than likely hit the road and travel to places we haven't seen. We are both road warriors and enjoy seeing new sights.
When I asked my son how he doesn't worry, he quickly said that he lets God handle his life. Now, I pray and thank God and let Him handle my life, most of the time. That must be the difference in having a worry free life and a worrisome life. What do I worry about?
Well, my children's happiness, the country's decline, the wars and rumors of war, my son's deployment, the Taliban's revenge, our country's safety, and I could go on and on. I know what the bible says about worry, but it is hard to watch the news and not be horrified at the actions of one human against another. I actually prefer to think of my worry issues as caution in life.
Our world has gotten so complex that it is foolish to just go with the flow. I consider it prudent to guard my heart. God gives me peace when there is no peace. I find joy in the Lord on the days that present no joy. My son says to stop watching the news, but I would rather know what is happening than to be surprised by the bad stuff.
I know I drive my family crazy sometimes, but most of the time, I am the supporting parent who is always there for them. I am just thankful that God is always there for me. I don't know if I will ever be free of worry, but I continue to seek a life free from strife, whether imaginary or not.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
Time to learn about God
I continue to enjoy my pastor's study on prophesy. He clarified the difference between Allah and the Yahweh God, whom I worship, during this Sunday's sermon. I admit that at one time before I really began to seek the face of God, I speculated that maybe God did assign different prophets throughout the world and maybe Mohammad was one of them. Maybe Buddha was one of God's prophets, and maybe the fellow who started the Hindu religion was sent by God. As time went by and I continued my search for the truth of just who the real God was, I began to understand the false religious teachings that are just everywhere we look these days.
I began to understand that Satan doesn't care how he gets you, as long as the true God doesn't. So many and probably all of the false religions got their beginnings in cultures with polytheistic beliefs. The more I explored, the more I realized how tiring it must be to have to remember which god does what or handles what issue in life. I am thankful for my one God in three persons. The Father in Heaven, his Son who died for my sins, and the Holy Spirit who now inhabits my soul. I also realized that life today and life at the beginning of creation is the same. From the very beginning God had to search for men who wanted to know Him personally instead of seeking man made idols. Nothing much has changed.
Even the labels for man made idols are the same. In history and yesterday in the news, men are seeking power, wealth, and false idols. We are currently embroiled in wars because one group who follow Allah, want to kill all Jews and Christians. Now, this just make me think. Satan is still deceiving so much of the world just as from the beginning of history. I am thankful that each time I read the bible, something new is revealed to me about how God is in control and I am to cast my worries to Him.
I am constantly reminded of the influence that false idols have on society. I drive by a Buddhist temple, I hear about protests during a Christian worship service, I see the large and small statues in various shops all over America. I've witnessed foolish chants and calls to the goddess of nature. It just makes me sad.
It also lets me understand the passages in the bible that speak of a narrow path to the Lord. I never understood that growing up. Everyone I knew growing up went to some kind of Christian church. Not so anymore. In fact the most prominent cult in America today deals with disbelief. Atheists, agnostics, and other rationalists make up this group. This too makes me sad as I see really nice people miss out on the only real gift in life, and that is life after death made possible by simple belief. By simply believing in Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God and accepting Him as a personal Saviour, anyone can approach the very throne of God. The true God of all creation wants to fellowship with all man.
As a Christian it is my responsibility to pray for all man, that their eyes might be opened to the truth of who God really is. The truth of Salvation made possible by the sacrifice of Jesus is the light that will set any man free to live forever in the presence of God. What a blessing!
I began to understand that Satan doesn't care how he gets you, as long as the true God doesn't. So many and probably all of the false religions got their beginnings in cultures with polytheistic beliefs. The more I explored, the more I realized how tiring it must be to have to remember which god does what or handles what issue in life. I am thankful for my one God in three persons. The Father in Heaven, his Son who died for my sins, and the Holy Spirit who now inhabits my soul. I also realized that life today and life at the beginning of creation is the same. From the very beginning God had to search for men who wanted to know Him personally instead of seeking man made idols. Nothing much has changed.
Even the labels for man made idols are the same. In history and yesterday in the news, men are seeking power, wealth, and false idols. We are currently embroiled in wars because one group who follow Allah, want to kill all Jews and Christians. Now, this just make me think. Satan is still deceiving so much of the world just as from the beginning of history. I am thankful that each time I read the bible, something new is revealed to me about how God is in control and I am to cast my worries to Him.
I am constantly reminded of the influence that false idols have on society. I drive by a Buddhist temple, I hear about protests during a Christian worship service, I see the large and small statues in various shops all over America. I've witnessed foolish chants and calls to the goddess of nature. It just makes me sad.
It also lets me understand the passages in the bible that speak of a narrow path to the Lord. I never understood that growing up. Everyone I knew growing up went to some kind of Christian church. Not so anymore. In fact the most prominent cult in America today deals with disbelief. Atheists, agnostics, and other rationalists make up this group. This too makes me sad as I see really nice people miss out on the only real gift in life, and that is life after death made possible by simple belief. By simply believing in Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God and accepting Him as a personal Saviour, anyone can approach the very throne of God. The true God of all creation wants to fellowship with all man.
As a Christian it is my responsibility to pray for all man, that their eyes might be opened to the truth of who God really is. The truth of Salvation made possible by the sacrifice of Jesus is the light that will set any man free to live forever in the presence of God. What a blessing!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
It's Time
Pastor began a study called Prophesy Revealed. It was a good beginning, and because I am interested in the topic, the sermon was over before I knew it. Our pastor is great at including the audience during his sermons, and today was no exception. He asked everyone who was 63 and over to stand. Most of the congregation stood. I'm not quite there, but was amazed at how many people did stand, many not much older than my true age....
His points included what the bible said about Israel and her rebirth in 1948. The passage said that this generation will not pass away before the return of our Lord and Saviour comes for His bride, the church is raptured, and the tribulation of those times will begin. Heavy stuff, prophesy. The most important point was that God is in charge, it is His world, and He will do what He said He would do for Israel. He will make her a great nation. He promised land to Abraham a long time ago, and He will make sure Israel regains the land He promised.
As I listen to news of the attacks against Israel by the Syrians today, I can't help but wonder just how close the rapture of the church is. I feel that it is so near.
I feel it in my bones, deep within my spirit. Sometimes soon, the church will meet Jesus in the clouds, the physical presence of the Holy Spirit will be removed from the earth, and literally all hell will break out on the earth. In seven short years, the world as we know it will go from separate governments of varying types to a one world government led by Satan himself. The bible tells us that he walks the earth to and fro seeking whomever he can destroy. He will feast on the world during the tribulation. I thank God that because He is in charge, Satan will be bound, and Jesus will return to reign for a thousand years at the end of the seven years.
As a Christian, I am promised to be saved from the tribulation. I seems, however, that Christians the world over will be witnesses to the birth pains before the tribulation. We see wars and rumors of wars, deaths due to nature's fury, earthquakes, and famines. I fear the famines will increase exponentially in the next few years. So many crops all over the world are being destroyed one way or another.
America has remained prosperous because we haven't as a nation turned our back on God or Israel. Slowly but surely, we see God being taken out of our land. I fear for this great country founded on the premise of freedom of religion. I fear that America is on the verge of becoming just another nation that refuses to acknowledge God and his blessings to us. I know that America will play a part in helping Israel in the next big war, and the bible assures us that a war is imminent. I also know that God will rescue Israel in the final battle at Armageddon.
I am promised that Jesus will win and as a Christian, I find peace in knowing that I will actually be a witness to this victory. Prophesy represents God's plan for the world, and the bible is the instrument that tells us again and again that the world belongs to God. I am truly thankful for that fact.
His points included what the bible said about Israel and her rebirth in 1948. The passage said that this generation will not pass away before the return of our Lord and Saviour comes for His bride, the church is raptured, and the tribulation of those times will begin. Heavy stuff, prophesy. The most important point was that God is in charge, it is His world, and He will do what He said He would do for Israel. He will make her a great nation. He promised land to Abraham a long time ago, and He will make sure Israel regains the land He promised.
As I listen to news of the attacks against Israel by the Syrians today, I can't help but wonder just how close the rapture of the church is. I feel that it is so near.
I feel it in my bones, deep within my spirit. Sometimes soon, the church will meet Jesus in the clouds, the physical presence of the Holy Spirit will be removed from the earth, and literally all hell will break out on the earth. In seven short years, the world as we know it will go from separate governments of varying types to a one world government led by Satan himself. The bible tells us that he walks the earth to and fro seeking whomever he can destroy. He will feast on the world during the tribulation. I thank God that because He is in charge, Satan will be bound, and Jesus will return to reign for a thousand years at the end of the seven years.
As a Christian, I am promised to be saved from the tribulation. I seems, however, that Christians the world over will be witnesses to the birth pains before the tribulation. We see wars and rumors of wars, deaths due to nature's fury, earthquakes, and famines. I fear the famines will increase exponentially in the next few years. So many crops all over the world are being destroyed one way or another.
America has remained prosperous because we haven't as a nation turned our back on God or Israel. Slowly but surely, we see God being taken out of our land. I fear for this great country founded on the premise of freedom of religion. I fear that America is on the verge of becoming just another nation that refuses to acknowledge God and his blessings to us. I know that America will play a part in helping Israel in the next big war, and the bible assures us that a war is imminent. I also know that God will rescue Israel in the final battle at Armageddon.
I am promised that Jesus will win and as a Christian, I find peace in knowing that I will actually be a witness to this victory. Prophesy represents God's plan for the world, and the bible is the instrument that tells us again and again that the world belongs to God. I am truly thankful for that fact.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Resting, resting, resting....
This last month has been busy but oh, so fun. The next two weekends will be just as busy and May will arrive. It is already so hot that I am having a hard time imagining a south Texas summer. My caladiums are coming up, and that is the biggest clue that there won't be any freak cold fronts coming our way.
My eyes are finally to normal size and with a little effort, I can actually see most things with OTC glasses. My prescription glasses should be ready soon. The first round left me fuzzy blind in all aspects, and the company is on its second round. Hopefully, the new pair will adjust for the macular in the right eye. If not, one more round of laser is due to try and correct as much as possible.
Our AC got invaded by a critter of some sort, and we used fans only last night. We survived, and the repairman very efficiently fixed our capacitor that was shorted out due to the demise of a woodland creature.
I am getting my leg strength back slowly but surely. The bursitis in my hips has its moments of pure pain, and then it goes away. The support stocking helps and so does celebrex. Tylenal in between makes the pain tolerable. I really felt the irritation at the casino this past weekend. Even my mom was able to stand longer than I was, so the craps table wasn't an option. Guess the malady ended up saving me money in the long run.
Richard and I are avid readers and we soon found a Walmart offering book selections we both enjoy. I really prefer to hit the antique malls for books, but made do in the meantime. Reading a book and lounging around the indoor pool, again, saved me a few bucks, I am sure.
I have been basically catching up this week and it feels good. Looking forward to my May flowers, but wondering where the April showers are in our part of the country........
My eyes are finally to normal size and with a little effort, I can actually see most things with OTC glasses. My prescription glasses should be ready soon. The first round left me fuzzy blind in all aspects, and the company is on its second round. Hopefully, the new pair will adjust for the macular in the right eye. If not, one more round of laser is due to try and correct as much as possible.
Our AC got invaded by a critter of some sort, and we used fans only last night. We survived, and the repairman very efficiently fixed our capacitor that was shorted out due to the demise of a woodland creature.
I am getting my leg strength back slowly but surely. The bursitis in my hips has its moments of pure pain, and then it goes away. The support stocking helps and so does celebrex. Tylenal in between makes the pain tolerable. I really felt the irritation at the casino this past weekend. Even my mom was able to stand longer than I was, so the craps table wasn't an option. Guess the malady ended up saving me money in the long run.
Richard and I are avid readers and we soon found a Walmart offering book selections we both enjoy. I really prefer to hit the antique malls for books, but made do in the meantime. Reading a book and lounging around the indoor pool, again, saved me a few bucks, I am sure.
I have been basically catching up this week and it feels good. Looking forward to my May flowers, but wondering where the April showers are in our part of the country........
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Comedy of Errors
My mom's birthday was a success. She had an afternoon filled with family, friends, and happiness. Family pictures included four generations. Those are memories of a lifetime. I am not sure how all went well, but it did. My brothers and sisters worked on the party for two months now, and we had hoped to get it all decorated and done, so we could really visit with our Seattle relatives and family members we hadn't seen in years. We chose to have the party at my brother's because he has a huge place that allows the kids to explore and play.
Everything would have gone well if the wind would have just died down a little. The one day decorating took two days instead. Every planned and finished project had to be redone and reworked. Even the darn table decorations and balloon bouquets had to be anchored over and over because the wind literally walked them from the middle of the tables to the edges. The head table was beautiful, but it too had to be creatively anchored. We used clips, ribbons, and tape to just keep the table cloths from becoming a sail display. Thank goodness my husband and cousin are tall. They helped us throw stuff up at the last minute. What an effort. I am not sure it was pretty, but it was impressive. Not sure of the degree of impressive either, but it was what it was. My mom did get the feeling of being greatly fussed over, and that is what we all wanted. Mountains of food was consumed and lots of memories created.
I said good-byes and drove home early Monday just to decompress. I am so thankful that my mom has lived so long, but I want my kids to just take me to a spa when I turn 80.
Everything would have gone well if the wind would have just died down a little. The one day decorating took two days instead. Every planned and finished project had to be redone and reworked. Even the darn table decorations and balloon bouquets had to be anchored over and over because the wind literally walked them from the middle of the tables to the edges. The head table was beautiful, but it too had to be creatively anchored. We used clips, ribbons, and tape to just keep the table cloths from becoming a sail display. Thank goodness my husband and cousin are tall. They helped us throw stuff up at the last minute. What an effort. I am not sure it was pretty, but it was impressive. Not sure of the degree of impressive either, but it was what it was. My mom did get the feeling of being greatly fussed over, and that is what we all wanted. Mountains of food was consumed and lots of memories created.
I said good-byes and drove home early Monday just to decompress. I am so thankful that my mom has lived so long, but I want my kids to just take me to a spa when I turn 80.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Dear Mom
I would love to tell you that this is my original idea, but as usual I am a great copier. Justin called for your address and said that he was going to write you a letter for your birthday. If he were 12, I would have had him read it to me, but since he is grown, I was just thankful that he was thoughtful enough to do this. He did say he was using the computer to write because his penmanship is not too good, and that is OK. It is the thought that counts.
I got to thinking about it and decided to do the same thing for your card. I want to tell you how nice it has been having you as a mom all of these years, and how blessed I feel for you to have been given the gift of life so we can celebrate your 80TH birthday and beyond. It will be but a blink of an eye, and we will be looking at 90 for you.
I want to commend you for a job well done as a mother. I know we haven't always seen eye to eye on all issues of life, and I am sure you were tempted to not claim me as kin at a few points in our journey of love, laughter, and life, but that doesn't mean you didn't do a great job of raising me and my brothers and sisters.
You taught me many important lessons in life and I thank you. I thank you for setting the example of always considering your children first. I look back and know that you always settled for the left overs in life if it meant your children needed something. I think about how hard it is to raise children and you raised five. You persevered every day with diapers (no disposables back then), cooking, cleaning up, washing and hanging clothes day in and day our, ironing every weekend, and always sewing, sewing, sewing. You always took what life dealt you and made the best of it for us. That truly deserves applause. You also fed every stray kid who happened to be at the house at dinner time. I never remember leaving the table hungry.
You put up with our moods and tantrums, likes and dislikes, and the occasional really evil moments we all had. You made sure we went to church and put up with all of the biases that were thrown your way during our young lives. You carefully sewed our clothes so we would look good for Sunday school, and sometimes I still see all of those polished white shoes on the counter in the kitchen. I always knew you were proud of us, no matter what. You were a great style copier, and I remember having the prettiest dresses when I was young and then during high school and college. The patience it must have taken to sew on those beads and pearls just so we would be glamorous for an evening. I remember when you even sewed the boys suits and made sure they were just as handsome as their sisters were pretty.
None of us was ever neglected by you. You wanted everyone to know that we were yours. It's called Agape love, and it is the kind of love that God has for all of his children. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting us see a glimpse of that kind of love. That glimpse got us through the really bad times in life, made us keep on keeping on, and helped us to become strong.
I love you, mom.
I got to thinking about it and decided to do the same thing for your card. I want to tell you how nice it has been having you as a mom all of these years, and how blessed I feel for you to have been given the gift of life so we can celebrate your 80TH birthday and beyond. It will be but a blink of an eye, and we will be looking at 90 for you.
I want to commend you for a job well done as a mother. I know we haven't always seen eye to eye on all issues of life, and I am sure you were tempted to not claim me as kin at a few points in our journey of love, laughter, and life, but that doesn't mean you didn't do a great job of raising me and my brothers and sisters.
You taught me many important lessons in life and I thank you. I thank you for setting the example of always considering your children first. I look back and know that you always settled for the left overs in life if it meant your children needed something. I think about how hard it is to raise children and you raised five. You persevered every day with diapers (no disposables back then), cooking, cleaning up, washing and hanging clothes day in and day our, ironing every weekend, and always sewing, sewing, sewing. You always took what life dealt you and made the best of it for us. That truly deserves applause. You also fed every stray kid who happened to be at the house at dinner time. I never remember leaving the table hungry.
You put up with our moods and tantrums, likes and dislikes, and the occasional really evil moments we all had. You made sure we went to church and put up with all of the biases that were thrown your way during our young lives. You carefully sewed our clothes so we would look good for Sunday school, and sometimes I still see all of those polished white shoes on the counter in the kitchen. I always knew you were proud of us, no matter what. You were a great style copier, and I remember having the prettiest dresses when I was young and then during high school and college. The patience it must have taken to sew on those beads and pearls just so we would be glamorous for an evening. I remember when you even sewed the boys suits and made sure they were just as handsome as their sisters were pretty.
None of us was ever neglected by you. You wanted everyone to know that we were yours. It's called Agape love, and it is the kind of love that God has for all of his children. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting us see a glimpse of that kind of love. That glimpse got us through the really bad times in life, made us keep on keeping on, and helped us to become strong.
I love you, mom.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Happy Days
My husband and son went turkey hunting this weekend, and I busied myself having a garage sale. My daughter-in-law and grand came to visit Saturday and ended up spending the night. We had such fun.
We shopped and lunched and rode the carousel and pretended to ride the vehicles that use coins, and shopped and went out for breakfast, ate pizza, and played and played and played. By noon on Sunday, Mimi was desperate to get off of her feet. We decided that naps were a necessity for girls of all ages. I put my feet up and rested while reading my latest novel. The other two blonds are still napping and we are waiting for the guys to return from the hunt.
I feel so happy right now. It always amazes me how being around an energetic two year old can just revitalize me. We are going on a field trip tomorrow and will feed the rays at the Aquarium in Kemah. Looking forward to catching those wonder moments on my camera.
The rest of the week will be spent on the finishing touches for my mom's 80Th birthday. I will get to visit with my Seattle relatives, and we will all be wishing we were on the west coast if the weather turns hot. I am praying for cooler April weather this next weekend. The age ranges of happy feelings will probably take its toll on this gal, and the next two weeks will entail some serious down time for recovery, but it will be worth every second. Ah, life and laughter and love.....
We shopped and lunched and rode the carousel and pretended to ride the vehicles that use coins, and shopped and went out for breakfast, ate pizza, and played and played and played. By noon on Sunday, Mimi was desperate to get off of her feet. We decided that naps were a necessity for girls of all ages. I put my feet up and rested while reading my latest novel. The other two blonds are still napping and we are waiting for the guys to return from the hunt.
I feel so happy right now. It always amazes me how being around an energetic two year old can just revitalize me. We are going on a field trip tomorrow and will feed the rays at the Aquarium in Kemah. Looking forward to catching those wonder moments on my camera.
The rest of the week will be spent on the finishing touches for my mom's 80Th birthday. I will get to visit with my Seattle relatives, and we will all be wishing we were on the west coast if the weather turns hot. I am praying for cooler April weather this next weekend. The age ranges of happy feelings will probably take its toll on this gal, and the next two weeks will entail some serious down time for recovery, but it will be worth every second. Ah, life and laughter and love.....
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