Valentine Gifts and Friends (friends are year round gifts!)

Well, I just finished off my Valentine box of candy...a box of chocolate covered cherries.  It was a dollar at the dollar store, so I splurged on myself as a celebration of Valentine's Day.  I bought my hubby his favorite candy bar - a large size Hershey's bar with almonds.  I also gave him the scrapbook I made for him a couple of weeks ago at the weekend scrap-booking event here at the camp.  He really liked it, as I knew he would.  It's filled with pictures of his passions:  family/trips, grandchildren, dogs, and ILNC camp.


I was able to purchase a table and four chairs on Craig's List this week.  I've been shopping for a table for quite a while, and decided for the price ($100) it was a good deal.  It will make a great craft table eventually when I am able to find the table I really want, and able to afford it!  I want a counter height table with a butterfly leaf.  I'm really picky about the style and the color and wood.  I found what I like at a local furniture store, but not ready to spend $600 on it.  Our previous table seated two of us...a little round one.  Now I have a table that seats six of us, which means now I can get back into entertaining once again.  


I consider the table and chairs another Valentine gift to me.  Therefore I needed to get something for my husband, and yesterday found the perfect gift.  He was with me, and he agreed it was what he wanted.  After all, it's Valentine's.  He wanted to be warm and cozy in bed, so he now has a dual controlled electric mattress pad.  He's happy.  Also bought him a couple of Henley style shirts that are warm and cozy.  It had been so long since we were out shopping at a mall together, it was almost nostalgia to do so.  Of course, we only went to Penney's, but still....  We don't eat out often either, so it was a treat to share some chicken fajita nachos at a local Mexican restaurant.  


On top of all that Valentine celebration/shopping...we also attended the ILNC annual Candle Lake Dinner on Friday night.  We had about 60 in attendance for the dinner and a concert afterwards by an Olivet Nazarene University brass trio.  So I think we did more than enough to share our hearts this Valentine time!!!


We were invited to a white chicken chili supper with our camp director friends from Georgia at their son's house the other night.  The chili was delicious, but it was nice to be with our friends again.  We don't see them very often since they live in Georgia, but when they do show up to visit their son and his family (and see their grandson!!), it's nice to be included in one of their family meals.  We usually hang out with this couple when we attend the annual Nazarene Camp Assn. conferences.  


We had a friend in for dinner today after church.  Afterwards she and I went to visit her brother at Alpha and Omega, a church organized housing complex for homeless men.  It is an interesting set-up, and I commend the church for having such a ministry.  They have a waiting list of men wanting to get in, but they are limited in how many they can house.  The men must meet certain qualifications, and keep certain rules.  Each day they must attend Bible study in the morning and in the evening (unless they are working), and they are given chores each day they must do.  So it's not a free ride, but it does provide ministry to each person, and assistance in so many ways.  I had never heard about it before my friend's brother was able to get in.  


I'm very sheltered from the world, it seems.  I worry about cats keeping fed and staying warm, when there are humans out there night after night freezing and starving to death.  That's why I get excited when I hear about ministries that are helping the less fortunate in life, giving them food and a bed and a new life by helping them find their way in this world again.


And that leads me to this week's devotional notes...a reminder of what God is teaching me through my daily readings from "The Word for You Today" and The Living Bible translation.


Continuing last week's theme:  "Become God's Friend":
I have called you friends  (John 15:15)


1.  Prayer

• pray simple conversational prayers throughout the day rather than long complex prayers
• when you discipline yourself to speak with God throughout the day, it will change your attitude and actions
• it is not a feeling of God's presence that prompts you to pray, but rather an awareness that He is always with you
• friendship with God brings answered prayers and abundant living

2.  Meditation

• meditation strengthens your relationship with God, as it is focused thinking 
• worry is being focused on a problem, mediation is being focused on the solution/God

3.  Honesty

• be honest with God - share your true feelings with Him
• God uses everything for good in our lives, so releasing resentment to Him is a step to wholeness
• just as we want our friends to be open and honest with us and not mask their feelings, God wants a deeper intimacy with us

4.  Obedience

• choose to obey God
• What pleases the Lord more...sacrifices or obedience...it is better to obey.  (I Sam. 15:22)

5.  Passion

• you are as close to God as you desire and discipline yourself to be
• friendship with God must become your passion
• If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me.  (Jer. 29:13-14)

From Proverbs:

• For the value of wisdom is far above rubies, nothing can be compared with it.
• Wisdom and good judgment live together, for wisdom knows where to discover knowledge and understanding.  If anyone respects and fears God, he will hate evil, for wisdom hates pride, arrogance, corruption, and deceit of every kind.  (Prov. 8:12-13)
• I, Wisdom, give good advice and common sense...  I love all who love me.   Those who search for me shall surely find me...  My paths are those of justice and right.  those who love and follow me are indeed wealthy.  I fill their treasures.  (Prov. 8:14-22)
• For whoever finds me (wisdom) finds life and wins approval from the Lord. (Prov. 8:33-36)

From Matthew:

• For I was hungry, and you fed me; I was thirsty, and you gave me water; I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home; naked, and you clothed me; sick and in prison, and you visited me...when you did it to these my brothers, you were doing it to me!  (Matt. 25:35-36, 40)
• Keep alert and pray.  Otherwise temptation will overpower you.  For the spirit indeed is willing, but how weak the body is! (Matt. 26:41)

From Psalms:

• You alone are my God; my times are in your hands.  (Ps. 31:15)
• Blessed is the Lord, for he has shown me that his never failing love protects me like the walls of a fort!  (Ps. 31:21)
• Oh, love the Lord, all of you who are his people, for the Lord protects those who are loyal to him, but harshly punishes all who haughtily reject him.  So, cheer up!  Take courage if you are depending on the Lord.  (Ps. 31:23-24)
• You are my hiding place from every storm of life; you even keep me from getting into trouble!  You surround me with songs of victory.  I will instruct you (says the Lord) and guide you along the best pathway for your life; I will advise you and watch your progress.  (Ps. 32:7-8)
• ...abiding love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.  So rejoice in him, all those who are his, and shout for joy, all those who try to obey Him.  (Ps. 32:10-11)
• But the eyes of the Lord are watching over those who fear him, who rely upon his steady love.  (Ps. 33:18)
• We depend upon the Lord alone to save us.  Only he can help us; he protects us like a shield.  No wonder we are happy in the Lord!  For we are trusting him.  We trust his holy name.  Yes, Lord, let your constant love surround us.  For our hopes are in your alone.  (Ps. 33:20-22)
• If you belong to the Lord, reverence him; for everyone who does this has everything he needs.  Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those of us who reverence the Lord will never lack any good thing.  (Ps. 34:9-10)

From Exodus:

• Rest on the Sabbath, for it is holy.  (Ex 31:14)
• For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and rested on the seventh day, and was refreshed.  (Ex 31:17)
• ...you say you are my friend, and that I have found favor before you; please, if this is really so, guide me clearly along the way you want me to travel so that I will understand you and walk acceptably before you.  (Ex. 33:12-13)

I would take time to make comments on my readings, but most verses speak for themselves, and they ministered to me as I read them.  My husband, my Valentine, is waiting to play Sequence.  He wants to get beat again!!  

Make time for your spouse this week in many special ways.  And if you don't have a spouse, make time for yourself.  Indulge yourself...get some flowers, some candy, have lunch with a friend, take a walk in the fresh air, do something special for someone else, and most of all, know that Jesus loves you and wants to spend time with you!

Week of the Groundhog Day Blizzard

I don't care where you are from (even though I am curious as to who my St. Louis visitor is), you probably got hit with the Groundhog Day blizzard.  You may have gotten hit before or after February 2nd, but I know the blizzard we had plowing through Michigan was not unique to us alone.  In fact, I think we got off a lot easier than the states that have I-70 running through them.  We had about 18" of snow or so, and it was blustery as it was coming down, but we didn't have all the ice and sleet that the states below us had.  


We had a very nice time in Indianapolis last weekend.  We stayed at the downtown historical Canterbury Hotel, which had it's own private entrance into Circle Center Mall...a three story mall in the center of town.   While hubby was in his meeting on Monday, I was able to browse the mall.  I'm not a shopper, per say, but it was nice to leisurely stroll through the mall, and take advantage of some of those final clearance markdowns...up to 80% off.  


We went down a little early on Sunday so we had time to drive through one of our sister camps just southwest of Indy...Camp Camby.  We enjoy visiting other campgrounds for inspiration and ideas.  Sunday night we were treated by friends to a wonderful meal at the Turner House Restaurant, connected to the Canterbury.  Very classy, very delicious!  We sat and chatted for about three hours...a relaxing conversation that flowed from one subject to another, with much for me to learn as I listened.  


We left in the early afternoon Monday and were back in time before the storm came in.  Our friends who had met us in Indy had to travel back home to St. Louis, and I'm sure they drove straight into the ice and sleet.  We got back home in time on Monday to pick up our two dogs from "doggie camp".  They love going there, and we appreciate their good care.  But, of course, they are always happy to come back home and be with us in their familiar environment.  


Tuesday I took a couple of hours to run to Portage to get supplies before the storm hit.  I was glad I did, for we didn't go anywhere on Wednesday.  It was a good day to just sit back and look out the windows.  I did go for a nice walk with a friend that afternoon.  The storm had receded, and the sun was shining.  I even shoveled out a neighbor's driveway...me and Jesus.  He kept me from having a heart attack by making the snow load light.  I had also shoveled out a path in the back yard for our doggies, since the snow was deeper than they were high (lots of drifted snow, sometimes up over my knees).  And I shoveled off the front porch and a path down our sidewalk to the road.  The cats didn't show up for a couple of days, and I worried about them, but they are all back again.  I guess they must have a place to hunker down in that they can get in and out of, despite the snow piling up.


Church services were cancelled Wednesday night due to the snow storm, so I didn't get to my second Dave Ramsey "Financial Peace" class.  I had my homework done and I was ready for it.  I had read my four chapters, planned my budget, and I started an emergency fund. I feel like I am on my way.  I am determined to make the necessary changes to give us financial freedom.  We are too near retirement to not get our affairs in order!!  I highly recommend these classes to anyone struggling to make ends meet.  Classes are occurring all over the US.  Check out his web site for more information...for lots more information!  www.daveramsey.com


Thursday and Friday were busy days at the office.  We had a group of 40+ men in for a spiritual retreat this weekend.  We joined them for meals all day Saturday and dinner today.  Tonight, of course, is the Super Bowl.  Hubby is planted in his chair, and I am providing the snacks.  We started out with a bowl of fruit.  Then we had chicken wing dings from GFS...very good.  More like nuggets...white chicken meat with very little breading.  Juicy.  Mouth popping.  Precooked, so I just had to warm them up in the oven.  We are on our third course now...not that healthy, but still good:  tortilla chips and velveeta cheese dip made with salsa and browned ground beef.  Final course for me will be a root beer float.  


What can I say....it's Super Bowl.  Special night of treats.  Of course I am blogging, not watching the game.  Suits me just fine!!  I know it's party night for a lot of people, but we aren't really party people.  We live a more quiet life.  My evening entertainment, besides blogging and reading, is to watch the cats and kittens come to eat and play on our front porch.  I rearranged their cat camp yesterday, washing all the blankets and towels and rugs.  It was getting a little smelly.  


I had made a pledge with Subaru that I would walk my dogs on Super Bowl Sunday.  We did take an afternoon walk.  It wasn't too cold (20's), but when I took a second walk later to go visit a shut-in it was slightly sleeting.  It was still nice to be out.  


I think that completes my "diary" update of what I've been up to this week.  Can't believe anyone really cares, but when I blog, it's like I'm talking to a friend.  I also like to share what God is saying to me through my daily devotions.  So here goes:


Lessons from Noah:

• honor God, no matter what others do or say
• obey God...understanding can wait, obedience must be instant
• partial obedience is disobedience
• if we love God, we are going to obey His commandments
• use your energies and talents for God's pleasure

Your attitude must be like my own, for I, the Messiah, did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give my life as a ransom for many.  (Mt 20:28)   I can tell you that my attitude is often NOT like Jesus, and it's the one area I must conquer if I want to represent Him well.  I'm an idealist, and when things are not ideal (like most of the time??), I can easily adopt an air of "you are wrong, I am right".  Well, that boils down to pride...and guess what.  God HATES pride!!!  So...still working in this department!

Friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence him.  With them alone he shares the secrets of his promises.  (Ps 25:14)  Assign me Godliness and Integrity as my bodyguards...  (Ps 25:21)  Whoa, now there's a pair of body guards!!  Godliness (purity, wisdom) and Integrity (a person of honor who keeps his word)...would that I would be possessed by those two character traits!!

I have called you friends.  (Jn 15:15)

• you become a friend of God's through constant conversation
• make Him part of every activity by talking with Him about what you are doing
• cultivate the presence of God in all things, in all places
• delight in God as He delights in you
• Brother Lawrence says, "The key to friendship with God is not changing what you do, but changing your attitude toward what you do.  What you normally do for yourself, you now are doing for God, whether it is eating, bathing, relaxing, or taking out trash."

Sometimes what seems to be the worst thing ever, turns out to be a blessing in disguise...check out Joseph's story in Genesis.    I love his attitude in everything he went through...and God honored him.  What an amazing story he has!  Check out my Reflections on Genesis Blog to read more about Joseph.  (I am amazed at all the visitors to that blog, since it's been a few years since I wrote it.  It gets the most hits, and they are from all over the world!  I don't know how they find the blog, but my guess is they put in a passage from Genesis, and my blog comes up as a reference to read.)  


The Importance of Loving Others:

• Everyone who loves is born of God.  (I John 4:7)
• it's easier to label people than love them
• if you don't love people, you don't love God
• the greatest gift I have to give others is love and acceptance...just as Jesus would

Live...as temporary residents on earth.  (I Peter 1:17)

• God allows us to feel a certain amount of discontent in this life because this is not our final destination
• at death you don't leave home, you go home
  

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  The second most important is similar:  Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.  All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets stem from these two laws and are fulfilled if you obey them.  Keep only these and you will find you are obeying all the others.  (Mt 22:37-40)  My basic problem stems from not loving myself as I should.  I'm insecure at times, and tend to keep in the background to avoid rejection.  I do like to reach out to others who seem to be left out or struggle with the same insignificance that I battle.  But I tend to avoid popular people, people who crave all the attention (because they themselves are insecure!), and those who are just too busy.  This is one of those issues that comes and goes for me.  Sometimes I'm on top of my world, and all is well.  At other times I would like to escape the world and go on home to be with Mom and Dad (heaven).  But for now, I am here.  I make it a matter of morning prayer daily that I would treat others as Christ would and learn to accept myself as He does.  I am so far from perfect, yet I am complete in Christ. 

Are you feeling like a victim?

• forgive the past so it no longer controls you
• cry out to God to heal your heart and clear your perceptions
• face the pain/crisis
• find God in it
• follow Him
• He will give you a better tomorrow

...as lightening flashes across the sky from east to west, so shall my coming be, when I, the Messiah, return.  (Mt 24:28) 

But no one knows the date and hour when the end will be---not even the angels.  No, nor even God's Son.  Only the Father knows.  (Mt 24:36)  So be prepared, for you don't know what day your Lord is coming.  (Mt 24:42)

Every time someone says they know when Jesus is coming back, they predict the date, the day, even the hour, I think of this verse.  How can a person miss these words of Jesus when they are studying to determine such a time frame?  So...when the prediction is made, I can pretty well be sure when Jesus is NOT coming back!  I just need to live as though Jesus is coming back momentarily...and be ready for whenever He surprises me!!


Walk with God this week, trusting Him in all situations!  I'll be back again next week!

Scrapbooking

I'm going out of town for a couple of days, so thought I would blog a little early this week.  I spent last night and all day today at our ILNC Scrap-booking retreat with 40 other women.  I have gone in the past to sit and yak with friends.  This time I went as a brand new scrap-booker.  A couple of friends gave me a scrap-booking starter kit for Christmas, preparing me for this annual ILNC event.  


I spent last Sunday night printing pictures for my scrapbook.  I decided to make one for my husband for Valentine's Day.  He doesn't know about it yet, so I hope I can keep it a secret.  I'm calling it "The Passions of Paul".  I did pages on family vacations, granddaughters, ILNC, and the dogs.  Most of the pages have him in the pictures.  I think he'll like it, and will someday enjoy sitting in his rocker and looking back at the memories.  


One of the games we played at the retreat was to tell three things about ourselves...two of them true, and one false.  I chose the following three:

1. I once worked for a cemetery.
2. I went to school to be a secretary.
3. I graduated from seminary.

You decide which is false.  If I had been given a chance to do three more facts, two true, one false, I would have said:

1. I have lived in 19 houses/apartments in five states during my 35 year marriage to Paul.
2. I went on a work and witness (mission) trip with my husband and father to the Dominican Republic.
3. While in college I took a class at the Jerusalem Center for Biblical Studies in Israel.

I have lived an interesting life, haven't I?  Even my two false statements should have been true, for they represent who I am and my background.  The deal is, when I was a little girl I wanted to grow up to be a secretary (and my brother wanted to be a trash truck driver).  Well, not being able to pronounce secretary, I said cemetery.  How ironic it was that one of my first jobs out of high school was to work in an office of a cemetery.  I had to type labels for mailing advertisements, and make phone calls to people to set up appointments for a representative to visit them to sell them cemetery plots.  Didn't last two weeks on that job!  Hated disrupting people's lives to find out if they had a cemetery plot or not.

Ends up I never actually went to school to be a secretary, but I have been in the office environment most of my adult life (mostly as bookkeeper).  At mid life I went back to college and got a degree in psychology, and then I went on to seminary and graduated with an M.Div. degree, desiring to teach Greek or somehow be employed in the college environment.  That never happened, except for three weeks in the mail room at Greenville College, Greenville, IL...which God used to open doors for my son to become employed in the IT department at the same college...and I became full time caregiver for my granddaughter.  Nice arrangement.

While attending Lee University, I did take a two week Biblical studies course in Jerusalem.  That was a tremendous, unbelievable opportunity for me...given to me by God himself.  But that's another story.  I came back home determined to study Greek to know my Bible better.  By the way, I did teach Greek for three years...to senior citizens on our campground.  

My father was the pioneer of the Nazarene work and witness program and made more trips than I can count to various countries in South America and the islands between North and South America.  My husband went on some of those trips with him, but I always stayed behind to take care of our sons.  Never really wanted to take a mission trip, too afraid of bugs and raw food and bad water.  Sorry, God. 

Well...that's a little bit about myself...more than you wanted to know, I'm sure.  I've been busy at the office this week with some special projects.  I've done some shopping, played some games, visited some shut-ins, ran errands, colored my hair, baked cookies, and booked our family time share for next Christmas.  It has snowed most of the week, been very cold, and just not nice weather to be out and about.  This week is almost over, and sounds like next week could bring more severe winter storms.  But, oh well, it's winter, and this is Michigan.


Looking back at my devotional journal for this week:


More insights to aging well:

• God has brought you this far, He'll guide you the rest of the way
• activate, don't vegetate
• decide to rejoice every day
• we need to honor and respect the elderly as we do God
• we must encourage them by involving them in significant work, recognizing their skills and wisdom
• we must support them by including them in our church and family activities
• we must pray for them and their needs

Reprogram your mind:

• to change your life, you must change how your think
• the way you think determines how you feel
• the way you feel determines the way you act
• you change how you think by programming your minds daily with God's wisdom/His Word

Your "life sentence":

• be who you were created to be
• bring happiness into the room with you
• fulfill your God-given purpose
• love unconditionally

Scripture that spoke to me this week:

• Then Jesus said to the disciples, 'If anyone wants to be a follower of min, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For anyone who keeps his life for himself shall lose it and anyone who loses his life for me shall find it again.  What profit is there if you gain the whole world...and lose eternal life?'  (Matt 16:24-26)
• 
  
• For if you had faith even as a tiny mustard seed you could say to this mountain 'Move!' and it would go far away.  Nothing would be impossible.  But this kind of demon won't leave unless you have prayed and gone without food.   (Matt 17:20-21)
• 
  
• Because the Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need.  He gives me new strength.  He helps me do what honors him the most.  (Ps 23:1-3)
• 
  
• Who may stand before the Lord?  Only those with pure hands and hearts, who do not practice dishonesty and lying.  (Ps 24:4)

It's Cold Outside!!!!

We woke up to a temperature of 8 below zero this morning.  It's now up to 15 degrees, with a wind chill of 8 degrees.  The sun is shining...we are having a heat wave!!  The past few days, and the next few days tell me we are in a cold snap.  We have snow, we have ice under the snow, and we have very, very cold weather.  Nice time to stay inside.  I hate to even send the dogs out in this weather, but I don't have to worry about them staying out very long!!  I do wonder about the cats...are there any frozen somewhere?  I keep putting food and hot water out, which freezes very quickly.  I'm just trying to help them through this cold.


Have you been to Applebee's lately?  I have found that they have delicious soups....broccoli/cheddar and potato.  Quite tasty and fulfilling on these chilly winter days.  This past week a couple of friends and I went down to Three Rivers to do some clearance sale shopping, and we had lunch at Applebee's.  


Hubby and I have been competing in Sequence lately.  We usually sit down after supper and play about three games (best two out of three wins) before settling into our evening routines.  Had a friend over one night to play Rummy (not hubby's kind of game).  We also had our Facilities and Operations Manager in for supper one night as his wife was gone all week, taking a class at Olivet Nazarene University.  


We are moving on up into today's way of doing business.  We updated our Quickbooks at the office, and this past week for the first time we sent out quarterly billing via email, for those who do email.  What a way to save on paper, postage, and labor.  Now I just have to wonder how we will know if the customers actually open their email to get their invoices?  Probably about 2/3rds of our customers have email, but do they use it?


Yesterday was the District Center Board all day meeting at the Learning Center here on the grounds.  A lasagna dinner was prepared for us.  Then today after the morning worship at church, the Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International (SDMI) put on a luncheon for the Sunday School teachers and Care Ring leaders.  Since I'm a board member of SDMI I was there to help set up and serve the luncheon.  Good fried chicken!!!  Anyway, two meals I didn't have to cook this weekend, and they both tasted great!!


Last night hubby and I kicked back in our recliners in our warm and cozy clothes, defying the temperature outside, and watched a couple  of the Great American Rail Journeys.  Both were very interesting.  The first was The Rockies By Rail on the American Orient Express, going over the Continental Divide, through Salt Lake City, and to Yellowstone and the Grand Teton parks.  What awesome views.  It's truly amazing when you think of how the tunnels were made through the mountains.  Around 1,000 men labored to dynamite the tunnels and clear the way for the tracks.  28 men lost their lives in that effort.  It's just mind boggling to me how they built the rails along the edge of the mountains, and how trains make the trip.  The train itself was one quarter mile in length!!


The second journey was The Adirondack, a train that travels 400 miles from New York City to Montreal, along the Hudson River Valley and Lake Champlain shoreline.  What a historic trip!  That's a trip I would like to make some time, stopping along the route to see Washington Irving's homestead, Saratoga Springs, and the many historic homes of the rich and famous.  There are so many places to visit, and so little time and money.  I truly could enjoy seeing our country by rail and foot.  I am captivated by the scenery and the history.  


From my daily devotional journal (notes from "The Word for You Today" and daily Bible readings):


"Interact with God's Word:

• find a truth and reflect on it
• find a verse and memorize it
• find a question and personalize it
• find a principle and act on it

Have two goals:  wisdom - that is knowing and doing right, and common sense.  Don't let them slip away for they fill you with living energy, and bring you honor and respect.  They keep you safe from defeat and disaster and from stumbling off the trail.  With them on guard you can sleep without fear, you need not be afraid of disaster or the plots of wicked men, for the Lord is with you; he protects you.  (Prov 3:21-26)


And I tell you this, that you must give account on Judgment Day for every idle word you speak.  (Matt 12:36)



I will bless the Lord who counsels me; he gives me wisdom in the night.  He tells me what to do.  I am always thinking of the Lord, and because he is so near, I never need to stumble or to fall.  (Ps 16:7-8)


Learn to be wise...and develop good judgment and common sense!  I cannot over emphasize this point.  Cling to wisdom - she will protect you.  Love her - she will guard you.  (Prov 4:1-6)  I rather find enjoyment in wisdom being referred to as "she/her".


Your weakness:

• your weakness can emerge at any time - master it
• God's Spirit will repeatedly warn you - listen
• God will continue to use you even while your weakness is growing within you - turn to God and He will empower you
• God can turn your greatest weakness into your greatest weapon

If God closes one door, He opens another - follow Him.


Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do!  And with your wisdom, develop common sense and good judgment.  (Prov 4:7-10)


Insights into aging:

• staying young at heart, close to God, and fully engaged with life is the secret to aging well
• learn to be realistic by being comfortable with your age and phase of life
• continue to invest your energy and resources into the Kingdom of God - keep on giving
• you become old at any age when you shut others out and isolate yourself
• you'll stay young throughout life if you stay in the mainstream and give yourself in service
• stay flexible
• take risks
• be practical
• pace yourself
• embrace opportunities

I would have you learn this great fact:  that a life of doing right is the wisest life there is.  If you live that kind of life, you'll not limp or stumble as you run.  Carry out my instructions; don't forget them, for they will lead you to real living.  (Prov 4:11-13)

It is what you say and think that makes you unclean.  (Matt 15:11)

May my spoken words and unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer.  (Ps 19:14)

Do you see how God is speaking along the same lines, no matter if I am reading "The Word for You Today" or His Word...various sections of the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs?  For this past week He had me focusing on my words, my thoughts, and how to age well...with wisdom and common sense.  I cannot have negativity in my mind and in my speech, and hope to be wise and age well.  


Part of the reason I blog my journal entries on Sunday is to reread the thoughts and verses captured from my daily readings and get to the basics of what God is saying to me personally.  If any of this helps another person, that is good, but I have to be reminded personally what God's message is to me.  I'm still growing.  As I age, I do find that my mindset has much to do with my healthy development and enjoyment of life.  Dwelling on the negatives leads to depression and discouragement.  Looking at the "better way" helps me to refocus and move ahead, hopefully a better, wiser person than I was a week ago.  

Have a good week...stay warm!!  Enjoy God's Goodness to the Fullest!!

Admonition for Christian Living

Wow...here it is, Sunday night already.  Can't believe this week went by so fast!  I guess that means I've been busy...and I have.  I have put quite a few hours in at the office, covering two jobs and working on special projects.  Love to be busy there!  I'll be alone this coming week (except for hubby) since the reservations secretary is still in Florida until March, and the Events Coordinator/Hospitality Director will be gone all week to ONU for a class.  We already have special projects lined up for this week, so should be another fast one.  I don't mind the winter weeks going by quickly, for that means spring will follow.  Spring is my favorite season of the year...love all the blooming (I don't have allergies!) and watching everything come to life again, including the campgrounds!!


I'm going to be attending a Dave Ramsey Financial Class for 14 weeks, starting the 26th.  I look forward to that.  I am a budgeter, and I use the envelope system, but there must be something still I need to learn since there is always more month than money.  We do live by faith, believe me!!


I attended a travelogue meal and presentation on Texas last week.  It was a social outing for me, since hubby likes to spend his time in other ways.  I went with the church bus gang (all senior citizens).  They go once a month.  Food and fellowship is okay...presentations put me to sleep.  But it is nice to get out of the house now and then.  


We also had a Town Meeting after our residents' potluck this past week.  Hubby needed to talk about some proposed changes in the Township ruling on building codes.  This could benefit the camp lots, so we hope it is an amendment that passes.  Township meeting comes up this week.  


On Wednesday this past week my only sibling, my brother, turned 63...two years older than me.  We chatted for a while.  We don't talk often, we haven't been close through the years, but when we do talk all is well between us.  We just lead different lives in different locales of the country.  


We had falling snow for most of the week, though it didn't accumulate to more than 6-8".  It was a cold week, down in the single digits wind chill.  When we woke up Saturday morning we were having one of the heaviest snows of the week.  However, we had to take a deposit on some chairs to Grand Rapids (an hour north), so we took off on our adventure.  There wasn't a lot of traffic out, and the trip went well.  In fact, we even took time to drive around the historic district of Heritage Hill where the rich and famous lived in the early days of the development of Grand Rapids.  Very large and unique homes.   


The chairs are for our Learning Center.  I have been watching Craig's List for padded, stackable chairs for quite a long time.  This week a church in Grand Rapids was unloading 106 of them...very nice, some still wrapped in their packaging.  Hubby is going tomorrow to pick them up.  The church still needed them for service today.  We feel blessed to get this deal since the chairs are so nice, and match our blue decor at the Learning Center so well.


We did our weekly shopping while we were out on Saturday, and once again I was able to stay within my budgeted envelope amount for food, household, and personal care items.  If I don't stick to the envelope amount, I will run out of money before the end of the month, and that's when we get into trouble.  I am determined this is the year we stick to the plan.


Today we attended morning worship at our local church, and then headed to Lansing to meet up with family for lunch.  It was my father-in-law's birthday, and he chose to eat at Logan's Steakhouse.  There were six of us total...nice lunch.  


After lunch we delivered some tables that the camp is donating to He Cares, We Care ministry at the Meridian Mall in Lansing.  This was our third trip there, and each time it is taking on a new look.  There have been some amazing testimonies coming out of the ministry, and we are glad to be able to donate to the cause.  The Jesus Film is the key focus of the ministry, reaching lives that the typical church will not reach.  People that won't go into a church building feel freer to enter a store front in the mall to see what He Cares, We Care is all about.  With couches, tables, chairs, lamps, big screen TV playing the Jesus Film, magazines, coffee, water, and a relaxing atmosphere...it's a great place to just rest from shopping...or to hang out while other family members shop.  


I've been spending most of my evenings working on my I Peter Bible study blog, studying Greek, and reading my current selection of books (see sidebar).  On cold winter nights, it's a great way to relax and yet keep the mind active.  I also like to play Backgammon on the computer, and browse the web for travel ideas.  I'm currently working on a spring break plan for our granddaughters, if they are able to visit us that week.  I'm also keeping entertained by the half dozen cats that show up on our porch each evening.  Some of them are quite playful, but most of them are just very hungry and very cold.  Having warm water to sip and cheap cat food to nibble renews their energy...maybe keeps them alive.





Well....here's what stood out to me this week in my daily reading of The One Year Bible (Living Bible) and "The Word for You Today":


Three rules for living:

1. Control the climate around you, staying away from negativity, looking for the best in others, being stable and consistent.
2. Laugh at yourself.
3. Factor God in...seek His face, consult His Word, for He can move mountains.

Never tire of loyalty and kindness...trust the Lord completely.  In everything  you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.  (Proverbs 3:1-6)

"Reduce the Stress of Serving":

• Stop serving to please others.  "Well done!" must come from God, not others.
• Stop serving in your own strength...remain in God and receive your power from Him.

"If the challenge you're facing doesn't place a demand on your faith, it neither pleases God nor involves Him."

"How God Reveals His Will to Us":

• Through others - attend church regularly and build strong relationships with other Christians
• Through scripture
• Through our heart's desire...what fuels and focuses you?

"Standing when Everything Around You Is Falling":

• live on your knees
• strengthen yourself with God's Word
• refuse to let pride or inadequacy defeat you

Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.  (I Cor 10:12)

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.  (Prov. 16:18)

The man who knows right from wrong and has good judgement and common sense is happier than the man who is immensely rich!  For such wisdom is far more valuable than precious jewels.  Nothing else compares with it.  (Prov 3:12-13)

If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.  If you cling to your life, you will lose it, but if you give it up for me, you will save it.  (Mt 10:38-39)

God Still Speaks - and I Still Need to Hear Him!

When we woke up this morning, it was ONE degree out.  It was so cold last night I put out extra food and blankets on the porch for the camp cats.  I feel so sorry for them.  I continually put warm water in their water dishes to help them warm up on the inside.  The dogs like to just sit in their chair at the window and watch the cats come and go.    A few of them seem to be staying in the "Cat Camp" I set up for them.  They have been a source of winter entertainment for me.  Oh, by the way, by 3 p.m. it was 30 degrees out and I took the dogs for a longer walk.  They enjoyed that!  They experience cabin fever too if we don't get out now and then.


It's been a busy week at the office, but I like it that way.  The days go more quickly when I am busy.  I was ecstatic to complete most of the tax related items.  Another week and I will have the end of the year, once a year, duties completed.  That will feel good!!


I've enjoyed reading The Living Bible version of God's Word.  It reads more like a story...very understandable.  When I first wanted to read the Bible through, back when I was a teenager, I couldn't grasp much of what was written in the King James Version.  It just wasn't that interesting to me...the language seemed so archaic.  When I was given a New Testament in The Living Bible version, I read through it with no problem.  I've since read through the Bible in other versions, but it's relaxing to come back to The Living Bible.  Even a child could comprehend it.


Notes from my personal devotions this past week:


Travel light, practice personal discipline, avoid distractions, keep focused on Jesus.


Lord, you are my shield, my glory, and my only hope.  (Ps 3:3)


I will lie down in peace and sleep, for though I am alone, O Lord, you will keep me safe.  (Ps 4:8)


The death stage:  no funds, no friends, no fight left within you.  When this occurs to you, recall the words of Jesus:  Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies (to self) it produces much grain.  (Jn 12:24)


Under the laws of Moses the rule was, "If you murder, you must die."  But I have added to that rule, and tell you that if you are only angry, even in your own home, you are in danger of judgement!  (Matt 5:22)


Come, O Lord, and make me well (my mind is filled with apprehension and gloom - vs 3).  In your kindness save me.  (Ps 6:4)


Your hopes may be nonexistent and your soul parched, but if you will pay attention to what God is saying to you, your dreams will come to life again.


When you pray, go away by yourself, all alone, and shut the door behind you and pray to your Father secretly, and your Father, who knows your secrets, will reward you.  (Matt 6:6)


The power of prayer is not dependent on how good the person is who is praying, rather the power of prayer comes from God who hears the prayers and loves the person praying.  


So don't be anxious about tomorrow.  God will take care of your tomorrows too.  Live one day at a time.  (Matt 6:34)


Faithful means to be trustworthy and reliable, and it means showing up daily with a good attitude.


Well, that's pretty much what God hi-lighted to me this week in my Bible and devotional reading, in response to my prayers to Him about where I am at in life.  I've got lots to work on...lots of ground to regain.  I think I am border lined depressed, but trying to avoid a complete fallout.  My time with God is what brings me peace and balance.  I start my day with Him, and take Him down through the day with me, and then end my day in communication with Him.  He knows my present, my past, my future, and He holds my hand through it all.  I still trust Him, always.

Welcome to 2011

Here it is...the First Sunday of the New Year.  Welcome to 2011 and all of its promises.  For just this one year, lets you and me focus on the promises, and turn the problems over to God.  He's better equipped to handle them than we are, and He already knows the outcome anyway.   

I guess you could say one of my strong traits is organization.  I like to keep an orderly house and office.  I like to know where things are and what's coming up on the calendar.  I am a planner, but I can also be spontaneous.  I like surprises (good ones!).  So this past week I have been archiving files at the office and setting up for the new year.  Today I went through the household files, doing the same things.  I am ready to prepare the tax papers (have to wait on the W-2's...which is my responsibility at work.  I'll have them out this next week hopefully.)  It's just a good feeling to start afresh at the beginning of each year.

I also like to start afresh each morning.  I'm a routine person...it helps me keep balance in my life.  My day starts out with my quiet time with God.  I am fortunate to have a small (and I mean very small) office, which I call my study...my Son-Room.  I have a chair at which I can kneel and start my day out talking with my Father.  My desk takes up the rest of the room, but this is where I read my daily devotional material and write in my journal and check in on my daily computer sites (weather, bank, music, Greek, email, and blog). Seems like whenever I come in this room, one or both of my dogs join me.  Tuxedo usually comes in to pray with me, and Kefli comes in and sits on the pillow near my feet.  They are such good companions.  

After my daily quiet time, I walk the dogs (if weather permits).  Then I get ready for the rest of my day.  I like to walk to work if it's not too cold or icy out.  I walk home at lunch.  Often I take the dogs with me to work.  They get bored at the house, and I like having walking companions.  Walking is my form of physical exercise...I don't belong to a gym or Curves because I know I wouldn't be faithful to go.  I like doing what comes naturally, and walking is a very natural way to exercise.

Our office is open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, but I often go in on Mondays and/or Wednesdays.  Since this is tax month, and I'm the one who does the taxes and sends out the annual forms, this will be a busy month for me.  I need to work on the off days so I am not disturbed by customers.  I will also do my shopping on either Mondays or Wednesdays...my once a week outing.  I look forward to that time...a break from the camp grounds.  During the evenings after supper I tend to use the computer for a while and then kick back and read until bedtime.  

Saturdays are my days to do housework or join hubby in whatever he is doing.  Laundry for me is whenever the basket is full...so it could happen any day of the week, except Sunday.  Saturday is  usually a very flexible day, but we like it to end with pizza and ice cream.  Our once a week treat!!

Sundays we attend corporate worship, have a large lunch, and then just relax the rest of the day...take a nap, read the paper, use the computer for various activities.  This is the day I also like to write my weekly general journal blog and work on my I Peter blog.  I tend to plan for the week ahead:  choose clothes for each day, plan the weekly menu, check my calendar, prepare for what's ahead the next several days.  

So that's a little insight to how I organize my life.  I truly live a laid-back life, even if it sounds structured.  It just helps me keep my balance when I follow routines, allowing for some flexibility.  I live a quiet life, home most of the time, not much activity.  I could probably use a few more outlets.  I keep looking for what interests me.

Had a good weekend.  We spent New Year's Eve with about 20 other people at a neighbor's house.  Lots of finger foods, games, sharing the highlight of 2010.  For me my 2010 highlight was my granddaughter accepting Jesus into her heart.  Somehow it makes my time living and working on this campground worth it all.  New Year's Day we opened our Learning Center building on the campgrounds and invited people to bring in a finger food pot luck lunch.  We had the big screen set up for the Rose Bowl Parade and the football games after lunch.  Some of us played games instead of watching football.  Several attended...lots of food.  It was a nice time.

Okay...time to check back in my journal for the highlights of my devotional reading this week.  What is God saying to me?

See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.  (Rev 3:7)  I love open doors...I am always looking for them, for I love changes (especially moving).  We've been here 7 years now, and that's a long time for me to stay in one place.  But I am asking for contentment to live here as long as God wants us here.  Hubby is totally content here...he has a vision for the future of this campground, and he sees so many things coming about.  2010 was a good year for Indian Lake Nazarene Campground.

I am coming soon.  Hold on to what you have... Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline.  So be earnest, and repent.  Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.  (Rev 3:12...21)  Oh, I would love for Jesus to come soon.  I've been waiting for Him.  I want to see Mom and Dad again.  But meanwhile I want to be the person God wants me to be...I want to be disciplined, and I want to dine with Him in His daily Word to me.

Some notes from "The Word for You Today" (see side bar) on becoming more and more like Christ:

• It is your character, not your personality, that is transformed as you become more like Christ.
• Having life abundantly doesn't mean a lack of adversity, but rather it means growing more like Christ in the midst of adversity.
• God's power is unleashed in obedience.  When we make the right choices, He gives wisdom and faith and power and love to follow through with those choices.
• When we surrender our weaknesses and fears to God, the Holy Spirit works in us to develop us more in the image of Christ.
• Our responsibility in becoming more like Christ:  1) Letting go of our old ways  2) Having our thoughts renewed through prayer and reading/applying God's Word  3) Developing new habits that please God  4) Taking our focus off ourselves and focusing on Christ so that our outlooks change  5) Trusting God in every situation.

Oh, the joys of those who...delight in doing everything God wants them to... For the Lord watches over all the plans and paths of godly men... (Psalm 1:1...6)  I so want God to watch over me, therefore I want to live finding delight in pleasing Him.  

How does a man become wise?  The first step is to trust and reverence the Lord.  (Prov 1:7)  That verse matches up with the final point in becoming more Christ-like.  It's always interesting to me how what I read in a devotional magazine tends to line up with what I am reading that day in God's Word.  It's like God reinforcing to me what He wants me to hear...to learn.  

I finished reading The Daily Bible, which took me through the Bible in one year in chronological order in the New International Version. This year I am reading The One Year Bible, reading through the complete Bible again, but this time I am reading from The Living Bible version...a very easy to read translation.  Each day I will read a portion from the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Psalms, and Proverbs.  That will be a nice variation from last year.  

I do believe that's enough for this Sunday's blog.  Check back next week!