Lord, thank you for trials. Help me to consider them pure joy. Thank you that trials are a testing of my faith. Thank you that trials develop perseverance in me. Thank you that perseverance will make me mature and complete. Lord, this trial is developing in me something that I am lacking. Thank you that this trial is showing me where I need wisdom. Thank you that this trial is pushing me to ask for wisdom. Please Lord, give me wisdom each day. Lord, thank you that this trial is causing my faith and belief in You to grow. Thank you that this trial is forcing me out of double-mindedness and into single-mindedness. And this trial can ultimately produce stability in me. Lord, thankn you that persevering through this trial will bring about blessing in my life. But if I get out of this trial too soon, it will only be a try. Help me to endure it until the end. Thank you that persevering through this trial will bring about the crown of life. Lord, this trial is bringing out temptation in my life. This temptation is not from You. This temptation is from within me. This trial is bringing out a reaction in my flesh (the temptation). This temptation is producing a desire in me that will entice me. If I give in to desire,, it will lead me into sin. The trial - which comes from You - is revealing the weakness in my flesh (the temptation). Lord, help me to remember that if I give in to temptation it will robe me of the fullness of life. Help me not to be deceived. This trial is a good and perfect gift! (Look at all the good that it will produce!) Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of heavenly lights. Thank you Lord that you chose me. Thank you that you chose to give me birth...Thank you that I am the first fruits of your creation. Thank you that this trial has a purpose in line with your great calling for my life.
Based on James 1:1-18 and written by Steve Pauls
Monday, July 8, 2013
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
...a walk across the room to do figure eight's....
Keep your soul at peace.
Some time ago I found myself so worked up and distressed about something I was literally walking through my house in figure eights. (It is possible to do that in my house!) Much to my chagrin, I had allowed myself to get offended, troubled and distraught over a situation that left me in a weak and helpless state. I was half way through another figure eight when God got my attention in a very real and miraculous way. Without going into every detail of how this happened let me just say that before I sat down to allow God to intervene (and I absolutely KNEW He was going to intervene) I knew that I needed to get a book my husband reads every morning as a short devotional....a book I have never read myself and not one that he has talked to me about much, other than the occasional interesting thought. I placed the book on my kitchen table face down because I also seemed to know that it was the last page I needed to read. God REALLY DOES speak to us and lead us by His Spirit communicating with our spirit. And that is how He led me to the following writing and the Scripture that is is based on.
Imagine my relief as I began to read the words of a seventeenth century writer....that our soul is the centre, habitation and kingdom of God. Our job is to keep that place clean, quiet, void, and peaceable. Clean from guilt and defects, quiet from fears, void of sinful affections, desires, and thoughts, and peaceable in temptations and tribulations. I have work to do in order to enter into that place of peace that is really only most comfortable when all is well between my Lord and I. It is the most blessed state of being. It is where I am fully satisfied. He writes "Do not be upset or discouraged if you feel fainthearted, for He will return to quiet you that he may still stir your heart. Because this divine Lord will fill you and rest in your soul, forming a rich throne of peace. He does this by means of internal recollection and through his heavenly grace, so that within your own heart, you may look for silence in the tumult, solitude in the crowd, light in darkness, forgetfulness in trials, strength in weakness, courage in fear, resistance in the midst of temptation, peace in war, and quiet in tribulation."
This is the Scripture this writing is based on......
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Eph. 3:16-19
As I read I felt His strength coursing through my entire being. I am at a loss for words to describe the feeling of the most incredible outpouring of God's love on me. All I could do was sit in wonderment and gaze at this writing and thank God that this Spanish priest, Miguel de Molinos was inspired by God on a certain day in the seventeenth century to write words for me to read February 21st, 2013; a message so clearly understood, bringing peace to my soul, they may as well have been spoken audibly that day by God Himself.
Oh the wonder of it all!
Some time ago I found myself so worked up and distressed about something I was literally walking through my house in figure eights. (It is possible to do that in my house!) Much to my chagrin, I had allowed myself to get offended, troubled and distraught over a situation that left me in a weak and helpless state. I was half way through another figure eight when God got my attention in a very real and miraculous way. Without going into every detail of how this happened let me just say that before I sat down to allow God to intervene (and I absolutely KNEW He was going to intervene) I knew that I needed to get a book my husband reads every morning as a short devotional....a book I have never read myself and not one that he has talked to me about much, other than the occasional interesting thought. I placed the book on my kitchen table face down because I also seemed to know that it was the last page I needed to read. God REALLY DOES speak to us and lead us by His Spirit communicating with our spirit. And that is how He led me to the following writing and the Scripture that is is based on.
Imagine my relief as I began to read the words of a seventeenth century writer....that our soul is the centre, habitation and kingdom of God. Our job is to keep that place clean, quiet, void, and peaceable. Clean from guilt and defects, quiet from fears, void of sinful affections, desires, and thoughts, and peaceable in temptations and tribulations. I have work to do in order to enter into that place of peace that is really only most comfortable when all is well between my Lord and I. It is the most blessed state of being. It is where I am fully satisfied. He writes "Do not be upset or discouraged if you feel fainthearted, for He will return to quiet you that he may still stir your heart. Because this divine Lord will fill you and rest in your soul, forming a rich throne of peace. He does this by means of internal recollection and through his heavenly grace, so that within your own heart, you may look for silence in the tumult, solitude in the crowd, light in darkness, forgetfulness in trials, strength in weakness, courage in fear, resistance in the midst of temptation, peace in war, and quiet in tribulation."
This is the Scripture this writing is based on......
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Eph. 3:16-19
As I read I felt His strength coursing through my entire being. I am at a loss for words to describe the feeling of the most incredible outpouring of God's love on me. All I could do was sit in wonderment and gaze at this writing and thank God that this Spanish priest, Miguel de Molinos was inspired by God on a certain day in the seventeenth century to write words for me to read February 21st, 2013; a message so clearly understood, bringing peace to my soul, they may as well have been spoken audibly that day by God Himself.
Oh the wonder of it all!
Monday, February 4, 2013
...across the room to share my poem.......
trouble will find us
in this big world
smooth sailing waters
change with the wind
what should I do
where can I go
shaken, incredulous
sad and afraid
then, words about mercies
new every morning
grace sufficient for me
comfort, assurance and trust
lighting up pages
all there for me to see
filling my soul
with comfort and rest
reminding me once again
I will walk and not faint
His burden is light
and JOY is mine once again.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
...across the room for a rant.....
Just for the record though....I have determined that I will no longer pay good money for lousy service or poor quality food. If I can't eat it, I won't pay for it. In my opinion we as a society have for far too long been brainwashed to believe that a tip is necessary no matter what kind of service we get and also that when we are served a plate full of slop we are to think that this is just simply how food is cooked at the restaurant we are visiting. Well NO MORE!
When I ordered my lunch I specifically asked to have the fish cooked well and not rare and was assured that was not a problem. In this case I sent it back to have the fish cooked. For the most part I will not send food back to the kitchen any more. I just won't eat it. At the fast food place I asked to have them make fresh food for me after I checked the bag they gave me and saw that the food was barely warm and dripping with grease and the cheese and pickles were missing from the burger I ordered. They complied but their attitudes were AWFUL! In the case of the supermarket clerk I believe she had either not been taught properly or there was a language issue...neither is an excuse for handling produce the way she did.
I do not expect the quality of food I make at home but I do expect my food will not be cooked in rancid oil, my coffee will be hot (there isn't a HOPE of ever getting a good cup of tea in a restaurant because they are afraid of bringing the water to a boil!), a fresh cold salad and not something that has been sitting under the heat lamp while the waitress is on coffee break...well, you get the picture.
It was hard to believe that all the food I encountered in one day was abused in some way. Well I for one will do my best from now on to help STOP THE ABUSE!
We work hard for our money and I do not like to spend my hard earned money getting second rate products and service and I'm going to start speaking up about it. I'm only one person but I think these businesses have to get the message that it is not OK to expect the public to frequent their businesses when they don't bother to give their best service and provide superior products.
My husband and I have both worked at professions where it is imperative that you do your very best....in other words, "It's never good enough!"....it has to be perfect, it has to be the very best! Maybe that is why I find it so difficult to pay for a meal that was obviously prepared by someone who just simply does not care or take pride in what they do.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
...across the room to do what we can....
I see the finger pointing has begun, the name calling is getting ugly, and the search is on for someone to take the blame for the loss of all the little lives and adults in the recent school shooting.
We all know who did the deed but since he also did it to himself there will be no life imprisonment, no posse needed, no lynching for all to watch, no electric switch to push. There will be no way to get even, revenge or satisfaction. Since this is all we have and all there is, what does the public do with all the anger?
It seems most are looking for someone else to blame and as usual it would seem God is the most likely target. God who is holy, all good and completely just; who sent His very own Son to earth from heaven during this very season we are in, knowing full well that soon enough the posse would be after Him, and the people gathered for the lynching would be the same people His Son would sacrifice His body and life for gets blamed for the most awful grotesque and evil acts on earth. God, who in His great love and mercy provides freely the gift of redemption, salvation and eternity with Him to EVERYONE gets blamed once more for yet another senseless act.
I don't know what provoked this young man to do what he did but I have to wonder what kind of life he lived, what his situation was, and what caused him to think this was the only thing left for him to do.
The God I know and love did not move this young man to brutally take these lives. There is one roaming this earth though that would do that. The Bible refers to Him as the father of all lies, prince of demons, and adversary among other names. He roams the earth seeking whom he may devour. He is a spirit and looks for those who make themselves available to him and he is all about evil (but is able to disguise himself so he ends up looking like he is doing good) He would have no problem convincing someone to kill little children and this would be just the time of year he would like to see something like this happen to stir people up to focus on hatred and evil so that they will not have time to think about the greatest Gift that has ever been given.
My greatest wish is that Christians everywhere would remember there are no words for the families left to mourn their loved ones; no pat answers to make them feel better. The greatest gift we can give them is our love as we pray for them without ceasing this Christmas season.
We all know who did the deed but since he also did it to himself there will be no life imprisonment, no posse needed, no lynching for all to watch, no electric switch to push. There will be no way to get even, revenge or satisfaction. Since this is all we have and all there is, what does the public do with all the anger?
It seems most are looking for someone else to blame and as usual it would seem God is the most likely target. God who is holy, all good and completely just; who sent His very own Son to earth from heaven during this very season we are in, knowing full well that soon enough the posse would be after Him, and the people gathered for the lynching would be the same people His Son would sacrifice His body and life for gets blamed for the most awful grotesque and evil acts on earth. God, who in His great love and mercy provides freely the gift of redemption, salvation and eternity with Him to EVERYONE gets blamed once more for yet another senseless act.
I don't know what provoked this young man to do what he did but I have to wonder what kind of life he lived, what his situation was, and what caused him to think this was the only thing left for him to do.
The God I know and love did not move this young man to brutally take these lives. There is one roaming this earth though that would do that. The Bible refers to Him as the father of all lies, prince of demons, and adversary among other names. He roams the earth seeking whom he may devour. He is a spirit and looks for those who make themselves available to him and he is all about evil (but is able to disguise himself so he ends up looking like he is doing good) He would have no problem convincing someone to kill little children and this would be just the time of year he would like to see something like this happen to stir people up to focus on hatred and evil so that they will not have time to think about the greatest Gift that has ever been given.
My greatest wish is that Christians everywhere would remember there are no words for the families left to mourn their loved ones; no pat answers to make them feel better. The greatest gift we can give them is our love as we pray for them without ceasing this Christmas season.
Monday, November 12, 2012
...across the room for a recipe of sorts....
Oh I do wish I would remember to take more pictures! I wish I had taken a picture of my beautiful noodle dish I cooked last night. Not only was it beautiful, it tasted so good!!
This was another dish that just simply evolved. I had no idea the chicken I had defrosted was going to morph into a noodle dish last night.
I looked at the pieces of chicken breast and decided they needed a sprinkling of the roasted garlic and peppers spice in my pantry, along with some freshly ground salt and pepper. For some reason it seemed this chicken would be happiest in my bright red dutch oven along with a good amount of chopped celery, leaves and all, an onion, two cloves of garlic, minced fresh ginger (never TOO much!) and a chopped up carrot all getting close in there with a certain amount of canola oil. I chased it around in the dutch oven until the chicken was browned and then I bathed it in a cup of chicken broth and 1/2 cup water and just left them to party at a slow simmer for about 1/2 hour. This seemed a good time to toss in a good hand full of cilantro, parsley and a squirt or two of lime juice. They were having such a great time I just covered them up again and cooked the thinest noodles I had in my pantry and then ladled the soupy chicken mixture into bowls and topped them with a decent amount of noodles and ate until I could eat no more.
And that is how my concoctions become recipes of sorts. Of sorts, because it will never taste the same again because I don't know how much of anything I use but that's OK as far as I'm concerned. I call this simply, Noodle Bowl!
This was another dish that just simply evolved. I had no idea the chicken I had defrosted was going to morph into a noodle dish last night.
I looked at the pieces of chicken breast and decided they needed a sprinkling of the roasted garlic and peppers spice in my pantry, along with some freshly ground salt and pepper. For some reason it seemed this chicken would be happiest in my bright red dutch oven along with a good amount of chopped celery, leaves and all, an onion, two cloves of garlic, minced fresh ginger (never TOO much!) and a chopped up carrot all getting close in there with a certain amount of canola oil. I chased it around in the dutch oven until the chicken was browned and then I bathed it in a cup of chicken broth and 1/2 cup water and just left them to party at a slow simmer for about 1/2 hour. This seemed a good time to toss in a good hand full of cilantro, parsley and a squirt or two of lime juice. They were having such a great time I just covered them up again and cooked the thinest noodles I had in my pantry and then ladled the soupy chicken mixture into bowls and topped them with a decent amount of noodles and ate until I could eat no more.
And that is how my concoctions become recipes of sorts. Of sorts, because it will never taste the same again because I don't know how much of anything I use but that's OK as far as I'm concerned. I call this simply, Noodle Bowl!
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
...across the room with nothing between....
...there’s nothing between us but love anymore
Nothing to be sorry for
No excuses
No regrets
I came across these lyrics recently (sorry I don't know who wrote the song) and have to say they resonated with me immediately and have been on my mind for awhile now. Lately I've heard a number of people talk about the marriage relationship and how different the actual marriage ends up being from what we may have thought it would be before we married. I'm sure that is true for most. How could we possibly know this. However I do think that there are some things we can decide ahead of time and know what the outcome will be.
Last month my husband and I ended up traveling together but in separate vehicles for approximately 10 hours. It reminded me a lot of when we travel on our motorbikes....he is in the lead position most times and I follow him. When we travel on a four lane road I follow so close that nobody can get between us. On a busy two lane I allow people to pass me first and then wait until it is safe to pass him as well. I do not like them staying in that space between our bikes for long periods of time when they could be passing him. I always feel like they ought to know we are traveling together and should allow us to do that. We do not want to lose sight of each other when we are traveling on our bikes.
So here we were in separate vehicles traveling a four lane highway and wouldn't you know some drivers seemed to think they had to pass one at a time and try and get between us. I'm sure you could guess what my response was! I did not think there was any reason for them to get between us and closed the gap so they had to pass both of our vehicles. Even though they signal to enter "our space" I chose to close the gap between us so they'ld have to in essence see us as one vehicle rather than two.
As I chuckled at these poor drivers who I imagine just do not have the confidence to pass two vehicles before getting back in the right lane (they really find it difficult to drive in the left lane!) I thought how much our marriage is and has always been just like the way we drive!
We have always been careful to not allow a space between us that can be taken over by anyone else. Or anything, for that matter. Nothing and no one gets to come between us. We guard our "couple space" all the time and always have. We talked about this early in our marriage and it is one of the best conversations we ever had about our relationship. Throughout our married life together we have had to occasionally close that gap just a little tighter and take note of our surroundings. We had to guard that space and stay alert.
Rather than being flattered at any outside interest it disgusts us when someone might think either of us could possibly be interested in that type of disturbance. And that is exactly how I see it .... someone trying to disturb our peace. It is a kind of disrespect that angers me instantly. In our relationship we have peace and harmony because.....there is nothing to be sorry for; no excuses; no regrets; just like the song says.
Nothing to be sorry for
No excuses
No regrets
Last month my husband and I ended up traveling together but in separate vehicles for approximately 10 hours. It reminded me a lot of when we travel on our motorbikes....he is in the lead position most times and I follow him. When we travel on a four lane road I follow so close that nobody can get between us. On a busy two lane I allow people to pass me first and then wait until it is safe to pass him as well. I do not like them staying in that space between our bikes for long periods of time when they could be passing him. I always feel like they ought to know we are traveling together and should allow us to do that. We do not want to lose sight of each other when we are traveling on our bikes.
So here we were in separate vehicles traveling a four lane highway and wouldn't you know some drivers seemed to think they had to pass one at a time and try and get between us. I'm sure you could guess what my response was! I did not think there was any reason for them to get between us and closed the gap so they had to pass both of our vehicles. Even though they signal to enter "our space" I chose to close the gap between us so they'ld have to in essence see us as one vehicle rather than two.
As I chuckled at these poor drivers who I imagine just do not have the confidence to pass two vehicles before getting back in the right lane (they really find it difficult to drive in the left lane!) I thought how much our marriage is and has always been just like the way we drive!
We have always been careful to not allow a space between us that can be taken over by anyone else. Or anything, for that matter. Nothing and no one gets to come between us. We guard our "couple space" all the time and always have. We talked about this early in our marriage and it is one of the best conversations we ever had about our relationship. Throughout our married life together we have had to occasionally close that gap just a little tighter and take note of our surroundings. We had to guard that space and stay alert.
Rather than being flattered at any outside interest it disgusts us when someone might think either of us could possibly be interested in that type of disturbance. And that is exactly how I see it .... someone trying to disturb our peace. It is a kind of disrespect that angers me instantly. In our relationship we have peace and harmony because.....there is nothing to be sorry for; no excuses; no regrets; just like the song says.
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