I just started reading Utmost for His Highest again by Oswald Chambers.  The devotion for today said that we were not made for brilliant moments but for the ordinary moments.

I often forget that what I consider "the drudgery of work and mundane daily living" is what I was created for.  It is truly my attitude that makes it drudgery and mundane.  Yesterday, actually went better at work because I focused on "ordinary moments and shining a light in them".

I like what Mr. Chambers ended with... 

Remember, "HIS Honor"  is at stake in your bodily life. 

The day was ordinary but it was not drudgery or mundane.   I meet ordinary people, doing ordinary work, in ordinary situations and shared the love of Christ by just being me.

Comment (0)

I have had the best of intentions in my effort to keep up this site and blog.  I have to say, I like a spiral notebook and pen much better.  But because I hate to fail... I will try, try again. 

My daughter is getting married in 4 weeks.  I can't believe that it is already here.  I feel so unprepared.  My work is very busy right now with a new software program that we are rolling out to 10 of our hospitals in Houston.  Since we are the first in the company, the bugs have not been worked out.  That is the beauty of being the pilot, right?  I am trying to keep everything in perspective.

I have to admit that right now, I feel like I am in a very good place with God.  I can't always say that but the pastor put it right this morning...  I am praying, "Lord, let it be none of me and ALL of THEE! "  I am praying for right thinking and I am quickly taking my wrong thoughts captive and making them  bow to CHRIST.

Since I feel so unprepared for the wedding, I started wondering if anyone worries that we are not prepared for the wedding of the lamb?  How sad that must be for God that we are so unconcerned about planning for that day.  All I can say is that here in America... The bride is Unprepared!  I hope we wake up soon and start the preparation before it is too late.

I am looking forward to a week of preparation, not only for my daughters wedding but for the wedding of the lamb.  This week I plan to cloth myself with "with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. "  Colossians 12:13-14

We all know that it is really ALL about the wedding Dress... : )

Comment (0)

I have been glued to the news lately (internet of course since we don't have a TV).  I am constantly checking the latest stories and trying to understand how they fit into what the bible is saying.  I guess I want to know the future!

The only thing I have succeeded in doing is depressing myself and losing all interest in life.

The bible does have something to say about my situation and desire to know the future.  There is only one who knows and can foretell what will happen in the future...Our God.  Sometimes he shares and sometimes he doesn't.  Isaiah has a lot to say  about God's ability to share the future.

I think I will "fast" from news this week and instead just spend time with God who knows the future and my needs.   It should be a good week.

Comment (0)

Today was a fun day.  Kaia and I went shopping.  We made a lot of progress on the wedding.  Ordered the food, cake, and met with the wedding coordinator of their church. 

Tommy and Kaia's church is perfect for a wedding.  It glows.  I really don't want to do a whole lot of decorations, instead favoring the beauty of a building where Christ's church gathers weekly to worship.  Is there really anything more beautiful? 

I am hoping that Kaia's dad will sing, "the Wedding Song".  Preparing for this event brings back alot of memories of the day I married her dad.  I am becoming very sentimental about her leaving.  She and I both teared up when we thought about her grandma who passed away.  She would have loved sharing in this event and helping prepare the decorations.  I really miss her.  I also miss David's mom, Selma...that is who Kaia was named after "Kaia Aline". 

Life is really passing fast.  I hope that you are enjoying all God meant for you to!  See you tomorrow.

Comment (0)

We watched a movie called "Fireproof" last night with Kaia.  That movie is a true story of my marriage.  David and I are both very different people now that we have both found  you can't really love one another, with an intensity like we do, without loving God first.  God did a miracle in our marriage and we are walking examples of his grace.

I truly could not be any happier than I am in my marriage.  After 27 years, who would have figured that we would be like teenagers in love for the first time.  My daughter liked the movie alot and said she's seen it 3 times.  

I am praying she is able to translate it to her upcoming marriage. 

Comment (0)

Getting ready for church this morning.  I met with Debbie Barrett yesterday to finish work on the retreat.  She has really put a lot of work in it and I think that everyone is really going to enjoy themselves. 

I can't believe that we have already lead about 9 retreats together (including the ones at Midway Baptist).  There are lots of great memories about our favorites.  Of course I will never forget the prayer rooms we did our first year in our new building.  We wanted it dark but without light switches (Deer Park building code), we spent 4 hours covering the lights in the ceiling so when movement happended in the room and the lights came on, it would still be dark.

Roger happened by after we completed the project and said, "why didn't you just cover the motion detector?"  ...

Dah....  Because we are girls!  See you at Church.

Comment (0)

It was a stoke of luck (or God) that I had asked Martha to take over teaching for me while I prepared the retreat.  I did not realize I would have to be up at the hospital so much with my mom and I am still trying to finish the retreat material.  So THANKS MARTHA!

I hope to be back in church next week.  Then I will miss the next two.  That is unusal for me but David and I will be on vacation right after the retreat and then watching our youngest run a marathon.

Truthfully, I feel like these last few months have been a marathon for me.  Trying to pace myself and take one day at a time.  Whenever I do that, I realize that God always helps me accomplish the important.  The rest falls away.  See you next Sunday. 

Comment (0)

Seems like everything is moving at the speed of light right now.  Although my back continues to get better everyday, allowing me the freedom to return to some normal activities like sitting longer, mom is very sick and remains in ICU.  Every since Thanksgiving, it seems like it is one thing after another.

I am preparing for our Woman's Retreat which is only a few weeks away.  It is called  "First Love".  I always get so much more out of preparing things like this than  I could ever explain.  I am really getting excited about it.  I hope it means as much to those participating as it does to me.

My husband decided to do something different for date night... He cooked...  not only that but he cooked my favorite "Fried Shrimp"!  In love, it really is the little things that make you "feel loved".  How often do we let those moments go unnoticed or not appreciate the magnitude of what it says?  I can honestly say, "I am someone who is truly LOVED!"

Well, I felt pretty bad for not blogging sooner.  I will try to do better.  So much is happening right now that I really should write about it.  My relationship with my Jesus is being restored to "First Love".  It feels good.  I guess I did not realize how far I had fallen from the time I fell in love with my Savior and the result was  unrestrained joy.  I guess I let some things get in the way of that and stopped noticing the little things He did to make His love for me known.  I was mad that He did not do the major things I wanted.  Well, He knows best.  Struggling with this retreat material has brought me to a much better place.  I can't wait to share it.

Comment (0)

It does not look like I am keeping up with my blog very well.  It was a long week back to work.  This is my first full week back.  I made it every day up to the office from 9-4.  It is great to be back into the swing of things.  I feel like I am figuring things out at work again.  My concentration is a little better as well as my ability to sit at the computer.

I have really hung onto a verse from Ephesians that says God wants to point to me as his example of the incredible wealth of his favor and all he does (paraphrased from Ephesians 2:7).  So what is that example suppose to represent or demonstrate in this world...

God demonstrated his love for me, so I am an example of one who is loved...  so I love freely

God gave Jesus as an example for us to follow, so I am an example of one who learns about and follows that example...thus changing as I go.

God gave the Holy Spirit, so I am an example of one who lives in God's presence... so others experience peace in my presence.

Finally, God gave eternal life, so I am an example of one who has true hope, no matter what the circumstances of life...  recognizing this life is short but there is better days ahead!  All in All, not a bad week.

Comment (0)

I love New Year's!  Of course I am not talking about New Year's Eve...hate that.  I have never really been a partier and to me that is all I see on New Year's Eve, but the New Year is a concept to me where anything is possible.  It is the idea that the old year is gone and the hope of brighter things are ahead.

So what is my hope for 2009?  That is a hard question!  I will think on it for the next few days as I review my journals and my times with my God (all documented in a .10 cent spriral notebook; I get them on sale when school starts).  The great thing about journaling is the ability to review and remember.  You can see more things clearly about the work of God in your life when reviewing a time period rather than any one day.

We are so quick to dismiss God's activity in our life.  We are so quick to pass over his moments of intervention that we can pay very little attention to Him.  We can lose our AWE of HIM. 

I will let you know what I discover from going back over my journals.  Then I will place my hope solidly in all that God has said or promised to me.  2009... here we come.  Can you believe that 2010 is just around the corner?  Strange.  That always seemed so far away when I was in high school.  It sounded futuristic...29 years ago.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to you ALL! 

Comment (0)