I made the mistake of watching an entire 30-minute episode of the national evening the other night. Geesh, what misery and woe when speaking about our economic condition in the country. Every news story tied back to the economy. Many, many people feeling fearful and anxious.
My Daily Bread reading on Thursday introduced me to Jeremy Taylor, a 17th-century English cleriec who was terribly persecuted for his faith.
After his house being ramsacked, his family poverty stricken, he continued to count the God-given blessings he could not lose. He wrote: "They have not taken away my merry countenancy, my cheerful spirit, and a good conscience; they have still left me with the providence of God, and all His promoises ... my hopes of Heaven, and my charity to them, too and still I sleep and digest, I eat and drink, I read and meditate. And he that hath so many causes of joy, and so great should never choose to sit down upon his little handful of thorns."
Wow, "his little handful of thorns". What wonderful perspective. How very easy it is to forget the abundance God has given you and me. I have a warm house and plenty of food, a family that I love, great friends and community. He provides for me daily. Should I worry and fret about how my 401K is faring on a daily basis? No, I'm going to breath deep of the clean country air, enjoy the amazing fall foilage and hug my boys. I'm not going to sit on my very small handful of thorns, but rather praise my Lord for the many, many blessings He has bestowed on me.
"Thank God! Pray to him by name. Tell everyone you meet what he has done! Sing him songs, belt out hymns, translate his wonders into music! Honor his holy name with Hallelujahs, you who seek God. Live a happy life! Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works, be alert for signs of his presence."
Psalms 105 1-4 The Message
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Seven Months
Has it really been seven months since I put anything done on my blog?
Just left Lindsay's site and was reviewing some of her comments and click on some of their blogs. Gave me additonal inspiration to get back in the bloggin' mode.
Sort of like a new school year (I know most begin in September) as usual I'm running a bit tardy. The smell of autumn, freshly sharpened pencils and the new box of crayons-that says fresh start in my book.
So what has changed over the last seven months ... not a lot ... but then things never remain the same. Four dear friends have had their babies now. Todd is coping well with his Diabetes which was discovered in May. He has lost nearly 30 pounds. He walks five to six mornings a week. Usually up about 4 or 4:15 a.m. Me? I've been rolling back over trying to argue with myself that there isn't anything I could possible do that early in the morning (even though I know darn well that there is).
I so admire his self-discipline -- I wish you could slather self-discipline on like lotion. I'd pay a lot for a bottle of self-discipline, but then I'd probably would I just look at the bottle and talk about putting it on one day? How sad but true that is.
"And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God." Colossians 3:5 (The Message)
Been convicted by this verse that leaped off the page at me recently. Hmm "doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it" resembles my attitude with house work, my to do list, pretty much anything that requires any effort in the evening. I just want to sit, sometimes play with E, sometimes read, but not do what I know needs to be done to have a smoother running home.
I really feel like a big fat toad sometimes. Watching, just sitting on my log, waiting for something to happen.
Just left Lindsay's site and was reviewing some of her comments and click on some of their blogs. Gave me additonal inspiration to get back in the bloggin' mode.
Sort of like a new school year (I know most begin in September) as usual I'm running a bit tardy. The smell of autumn, freshly sharpened pencils and the new box of crayons-that says fresh start in my book.
So what has changed over the last seven months ... not a lot ... but then things never remain the same. Four dear friends have had their babies now. Todd is coping well with his Diabetes which was discovered in May. He has lost nearly 30 pounds. He walks five to six mornings a week. Usually up about 4 or 4:15 a.m. Me? I've been rolling back over trying to argue with myself that there isn't anything I could possible do that early in the morning (even though I know darn well that there is).
I so admire his self-discipline -- I wish you could slather self-discipline on like lotion. I'd pay a lot for a bottle of self-discipline, but then I'd probably would I just look at the bottle and talk about putting it on one day? How sad but true that is.
"And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God." Colossians 3:5 (The Message)
Been convicted by this verse that leaped off the page at me recently. Hmm "doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it" resembles my attitude with house work, my to do list, pretty much anything that requires any effort in the evening. I just want to sit, sometimes play with E, sometimes read, but not do what I know needs to be done to have a smoother running home.
I really feel like a big fat toad sometimes. Watching, just sitting on my log, waiting for something to happen.
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