You guys have such great answers to my questions.
Prayer is absolutely numero uno. And Josh, I also believe that God just lets you know. He opens your eyes to the things you can do (work) in the place where He wants you. He also points out the places where you could work, but someone is already in that place, doing a great job. It's that shoulder-slumping moment that comes after the Great Idea--Naw, someone is already doing the thing...sigh.
Does God open a person's eyes to something that needs doing or is it just a Gift thing? Do we do our work because God shows us it needs doing or do we do it because God gives us the motivation to do it? Is that the same thing?
Parent's beware
There is a children’s book just published called “The Higher Power of Lucky” by Susan Patron which, to me, has a disturbing first chapter. The little girl, listening to a recovery group, hears all about problems recovering (insert smokers, alcoholics, or over-eaters here)have to face. While listening, she hears about a snake biting a dog’s scrotum.
An outraged librarian has a huge problem with this book. She has received a huge amount of flack about her outrage, too.
This is like the R rating back in the 70s. R-rating back then is like PG-13 today. That book would never have been written for children in the 70s or 80s. It could only make it today.
The subject matter in that first chapter should be above a 10 year old’s head, but unfortunately it isn’t. This is the age of that cartoon character smarty Bart Simpson and King of the Hill and other such stuff that shows on Saturday mornings, which I had no idea had gotten so suggestive until I watched them with my step-granddaughter.
I’m on the outraged librarian’s side. If my 10 year old brought that book home in 1987, I would have called the school up and rocked the principal on her heels (using lady-like language, of course). If my step-granddaughter were to have brought that book home in 2000, I would have rocked the school’s librarian and the principal after first carefully explaining to my step-daughter why it was so upsetting–because, gasp, she wouldn’t know why.
It isn’t a children’s book subject matter. The first chapter incites interest in seeing a part of male anatomy simply because the protag is interested in seeing one–or not. Come on. Why is that even necessary in a children’s book?
These days, some children have to be worried about divorce, alcoholism, abuse among other things, because some parents seem to be indulging in a lack of self-control. Why do author’s of children’s fiction capitalize on the seamier side of life? I pray this isn’t the beginning of a trend.
I have never been an advocate of parent’s being responsible for the actions of their children. Now, I’m beginning to rethink that stance. It is a parent’s responsibility to be the kind of exemplary examples that will help their children’t to grow up to be pillars of society.
I am deeply disappointed that children grow up so fast these days. There’s no protection for them anymore.
They are exposed to things that make me shudder as an adult. TV shows, violent games, and stories where the end justifies the means are giving children the wrong ideas about what is right and what is wrong, if their parents are not diligent about what goes into little eyes and young minds.
It is so sad that a children’s book author has to write a story about 12-step programs inspiring a child to look for the Higher Power. There’s a word for that, but it may be too strong a word for “worldly sensitive” ears. I’ll say it anyway. Rubbish.
What is wrong with a children’s librarian wanting good books with good subject matter?
In this world of ours, have we become so jaded that we think children can’t be interested in stories like Beatrice Potter wrote? Or Joan Aiken? Or even Phyllis Whitney? Or must we all succumb to the spell of J.K. Howling?
An outraged librarian has a huge problem with this book. She has received a huge amount of flack about her outrage, too.
This is like the R rating back in the 70s. R-rating back then is like PG-13 today. That book would never have been written for children in the 70s or 80s. It could only make it today.
The subject matter in that first chapter should be above a 10 year old’s head, but unfortunately it isn’t. This is the age of that cartoon character smarty Bart Simpson and King of the Hill and other such stuff that shows on Saturday mornings, which I had no idea had gotten so suggestive until I watched them with my step-granddaughter.
I’m on the outraged librarian’s side. If my 10 year old brought that book home in 1987, I would have called the school up and rocked the principal on her heels (using lady-like language, of course). If my step-granddaughter were to have brought that book home in 2000, I would have rocked the school’s librarian and the principal after first carefully explaining to my step-daughter why it was so upsetting–because, gasp, she wouldn’t know why.
It isn’t a children’s book subject matter. The first chapter incites interest in seeing a part of male anatomy simply because the protag is interested in seeing one–or not. Come on. Why is that even necessary in a children’s book?
These days, some children have to be worried about divorce, alcoholism, abuse among other things, because some parents seem to be indulging in a lack of self-control. Why do author’s of children’s fiction capitalize on the seamier side of life? I pray this isn’t the beginning of a trend.
I have never been an advocate of parent’s being responsible for the actions of their children. Now, I’m beginning to rethink that stance. It is a parent’s responsibility to be the kind of exemplary examples that will help their children’t to grow up to be pillars of society.
I am deeply disappointed that children grow up so fast these days. There’s no protection for them anymore.
They are exposed to things that make me shudder as an adult. TV shows, violent games, and stories where the end justifies the means are giving children the wrong ideas about what is right and what is wrong, if their parents are not diligent about what goes into little eyes and young minds.
It is so sad that a children’s book author has to write a story about 12-step programs inspiring a child to look for the Higher Power. There’s a word for that, but it may be too strong a word for “worldly sensitive” ears. I’ll say it anyway. Rubbish.
What is wrong with a children’s librarian wanting good books with good subject matter?
In this world of ours, have we become so jaded that we think children can’t be interested in stories like Beatrice Potter wrote? Or Joan Aiken? Or even Phyllis Whitney? Or must we all succumb to the spell of J.K. Howling?
Catch the hint, Hollywood?
Did anyone catch the bit on the news about the types of movies that make the most money?
PG-13.
No joke. Not one R-rated movie has made the #1 gross dollars since 1995 and last year not one R-rated movie made it into the top 10. Hmmmm
Guess who makes the most money out of our movie ticket sales? The movie theaters. They get approx. half.
I think I may be in the wrong business. Tomorrow, I'll post my research.
PG-13.
No joke. Not one R-rated movie has made the #1 gross dollars since 1995 and last year not one R-rated movie made it into the top 10. Hmmmm
Guess who makes the most money out of our movie ticket sales? The movie theaters. They get approx. half.
I think I may be in the wrong business. Tomorrow, I'll post my research.
About to lose my lady-like demeanor
I was driving back to work after lunch the other day and just as I got to my turn off something came flying at me from the truck in front of me. This white thing tumbled onto the highway spewing ice and straw and whatever liquid was at the bottom of the cup. It was a government truck, too. You'd think...
It got me to thinking about character and how our actions expose our character when we least expect it.
In first grade, I learned that a tattle-tale has no sense of honor, and just wants to get as many people in trouble as possible. (She'll grow up to steal your boyfriend if given half a chance, mark my words!) I learned that red check marks on your report card aren't a good thing, but generally mean that "You talk too much"... Moi?
Later, I learned that many people will say one thing but when your back is turned will do/say something entirely different. Those people could not be trusted. I learned that the people who followed through with what they promised could be trusted in the big things as well as the little things.
Even later, I learned that entrusting money to a spendthrift only made that person's bad money management even worse. I also learned that when someone kept your secret, they could be trusted in a personal crises as well.
People that throw things out the window are the kind of humans that expect others to fix their messes; who will spew their emotional trash around for everybody to hear, never caring about other's feelings. Those people will carry around anger and bitterness and like an avalanche drop it all over some unsuspecting victim, with never a thought about it... leaving the mess in their wake, never looking back.
Beware of people who throw trash out their windows. They will never pick up after themselves.
It got me to thinking about character and how our actions expose our character when we least expect it.
In first grade, I learned that a tattle-tale has no sense of honor, and just wants to get as many people in trouble as possible. (She'll grow up to steal your boyfriend if given half a chance, mark my words!) I learned that red check marks on your report card aren't a good thing, but generally mean that "You talk too much"... Moi?
Later, I learned that many people will say one thing but when your back is turned will do/say something entirely different. Those people could not be trusted. I learned that the people who followed through with what they promised could be trusted in the big things as well as the little things.
Even later, I learned that entrusting money to a spendthrift only made that person's bad money management even worse. I also learned that when someone kept your secret, they could be trusted in a personal crises as well.
People that throw things out the window are the kind of humans that expect others to fix their messes; who will spew their emotional trash around for everybody to hear, never caring about other's feelings. Those people will carry around anger and bitterness and like an avalanche drop it all over some unsuspecting victim, with never a thought about it... leaving the mess in their wake, never looking back.
Beware of people who throw trash out their windows. They will never pick up after themselves.
up and running
It has taken forever it seems to get settled. We found a home and moved two weeks ago, here in this cute little town called Picayune -- means small and insignificant.
It has taken such a long time to get stuff out of boxes and to a point I can even sit down for a few minutes and blog. I am so glad to be back!
My job is wonderful. I am having so much fun, it doesn't seem like work at all. I didn't think that was possible since working in economic development, but I guess since writing is in my blood...
Anyhoot. I hope to pay y'all a visit soon.
It has taken such a long time to get stuff out of boxes and to a point I can even sit down for a few minutes and blog. I am so glad to be back!
My job is wonderful. I am having so much fun, it doesn't seem like work at all. I didn't think that was possible since working in economic development, but I guess since writing is in my blood...
Anyhoot. I hope to pay y'all a visit soon.
brief update
Okay... Mom and I are closing on our house on Wednesday. I've got to find a DSL company for my internet. Dial up just takes way too long these days.
Then... hopefully... I'll be back up and running. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Then... hopefully... I'll be back up and running. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
I love small town living
Only in a small town.
I pick up the phone to call a fellow about a house he has for sale (no we haven't found a place yet!) and find out it's the guy I was supposed to call to interview about some renovations down town. We set a time for the interview.
I can talk for 15 minutes to someone I've never talked to before and feel like I've known her my whole life.
I can walk in a store and ask for help and they give it to me with a smile and no grumping.
I can walk two blocks and be just about anywhere in town I need to be... almost.
I haven't met anyone who does not love the Lord God Almighty. That is a miracle, I'm sure.
~*~
I just want to apologize to everyone who has stopped by my place in the past month. I am still scattered across two states and do not have my pillow, my job and all my stuff in the same town. Sigh... God will make a way when there seems to be no way--I know. I'm just a bit tired of feeling all at sixes and sevens rather than even stevens.
Please bear with me... I shall return in full force soon and very soon, God willing and the creek don't rise. :)
I pick up the phone to call a fellow about a house he has for sale (no we haven't found a place yet!) and find out it's the guy I was supposed to call to interview about some renovations down town. We set a time for the interview.
I can talk for 15 minutes to someone I've never talked to before and feel like I've known her my whole life.
I can walk in a store and ask for help and they give it to me with a smile and no grumping.
I can walk two blocks and be just about anywhere in town I need to be... almost.
I haven't met anyone who does not love the Lord God Almighty. That is a miracle, I'm sure.
~*~
I just want to apologize to everyone who has stopped by my place in the past month. I am still scattered across two states and do not have my pillow, my job and all my stuff in the same town. Sigh... God will make a way when there seems to be no way--I know. I'm just a bit tired of feeling all at sixes and sevens rather than even stevens.
Please bear with me... I shall return in full force soon and very soon, God willing and the creek don't rise. :)
What joy fills my soul
I'm looking at the calendar and was thinking that I had another 2 weeks until Christmas. So I'm not so worried about being behind on Christmas gifts. ARGH! Christmas is one week from today. Stress level hit the red zone.
All you can do is all you can do and that is a fact of physics. Only God can step in and make things happen so that time seems to stand still while you're running at top speed... you know, like the episode of StarTrek with the buzzing bee sounds. Life sped up to past light speed.
That is what happened on Sunday. We made an offer on a house and while we were waiting for our most darling real estate agent to call back to meet us at her office, we were wandering through some shops. My eyes just fell on some things and a name would pop in my head. I'll have you know that I got all my Christmas shopping done in less than two hours. That, my brothers and sisters is a miracle!
So... back to the offer on the house. We bounced some figures back and forth and being twice shy, I was all for offering lower than the asking price but more than the rock bottom our agent mentioned. Mom stuck to her guns and we offered the rock bottom giving them until 5 today. They accepted the offer without any negotiations. Is that cool or what???
We spent most of the afternoon signing pre-mortgage papers. There are some issues that my crook of an ex husband caused years ago that I thought were cleared up. It is so incredibly depressing that the black cloud keeps following me even 11 years later. I doubt I'll ever get out from under that cloud.
Anyhoot... the new job is just Jolly Good. I am in love with Picayune, MS. I highly recommend this place. It's close enough to big city without the big city crime and big city traffic. I love the people. I love the job. I adore the folks I work with. I've already been invited to two churches--that is truly a cool place to work when you have co-workers inviting you to church. I am thrilled and delighted. Mom loves the place, too.
We both cried the other day thinking about leaving our church home in Louisiana, but when the Lord sets you on a path, you just can't say no. I am just aching to get back into a church home. I feel the loss more than any other stress factor. I cannot imagine not having a church family. How do people do it? How do people live without a church family or a close fellowship with the Lord? I am so thankful that God is preparing a new home for us and He has already prepared His work for us to do. Praise God from whom all blessings flow... AMEN
All you can do is all you can do and that is a fact of physics. Only God can step in and make things happen so that time seems to stand still while you're running at top speed... you know, like the episode of StarTrek with the buzzing bee sounds. Life sped up to past light speed.
That is what happened on Sunday. We made an offer on a house and while we were waiting for our most darling real estate agent to call back to meet us at her office, we were wandering through some shops. My eyes just fell on some things and a name would pop in my head. I'll have you know that I got all my Christmas shopping done in less than two hours. That, my brothers and sisters is a miracle!
So... back to the offer on the house. We bounced some figures back and forth and being twice shy, I was all for offering lower than the asking price but more than the rock bottom our agent mentioned. Mom stuck to her guns and we offered the rock bottom giving them until 5 today. They accepted the offer without any negotiations. Is that cool or what???
We spent most of the afternoon signing pre-mortgage papers. There are some issues that my crook of an ex husband caused years ago that I thought were cleared up. It is so incredibly depressing that the black cloud keeps following me even 11 years later. I doubt I'll ever get out from under that cloud.
Anyhoot... the new job is just Jolly Good. I am in love with Picayune, MS. I highly recommend this place. It's close enough to big city without the big city crime and big city traffic. I love the people. I love the job. I adore the folks I work with. I've already been invited to two churches--that is truly a cool place to work when you have co-workers inviting you to church. I am thrilled and delighted. Mom loves the place, too.
We both cried the other day thinking about leaving our church home in Louisiana, but when the Lord sets you on a path, you just can't say no. I am just aching to get back into a church home. I feel the loss more than any other stress factor. I cannot imagine not having a church family. How do people do it? How do people live without a church family or a close fellowship with the Lord? I am so thankful that God is preparing a new home for us and He has already prepared His work for us to do. Praise God from whom all blessings flow... AMEN
Stress stress stress
New job... stress
Finding new place to live... stress
Deadlines... stress
Please don't forget me. As soon as I can drag myself back into organized mess, I will continue to write on my blog.
Finding new place to live... stress
Deadlines... stress
Please don't forget me. As soon as I can drag myself back into organized mess, I will continue to write on my blog.
Never Ceese
I goofed up. I was supposed to review this book by Sue Dent on Friday. I did not. I was packing and I just flat forgot! I'm so sorry, Sue!
First let me say... this book is truly not for me because of the subject matter. It is about a werewolf (Ceese) and a vampire. Now I want to say that this book is very well written. It has also been nominated for an award, Bram Stoker Award. I think that is truly grand that in a genre which is full of the occult that a book which points to Jesus is nominated for an award.
This book is beautifully bound and is very well written. Sue did the cover art herself! I pray that if you really like this genre, that you'll pick up this book for your library.
I became friends with Sue because of a remark I made on another blog. She couldn't understand why I'd say something without having read the whole thing. Well... I read enough to get a good feel for it and it is a lesson for me to be careful of what I say and how I say it... there are people behind these computers and they have feelings... big duh, right?
With Sue's permission, here's part of our exchange...
Dear Sue,
I truly appreciate your email. I especially appreciate you wanting to understand what I wrote and meant. I said that the book was very well written. The comment to that was that it was the editor's fault for the "yawn spots". I have a lot of admiration for Lynn Scallon and I'm quite sure she is correct. I have read a little less than half the book. I read enough to know beyond doubt that it is well written. I also read enough to know that I just can't finish it. I literally get ill reading about someone drinking blood. I can't help that. I read enough to very much enjoy turning those beautiful pages and the great, easily read typeface. Since that is not why people buy books, I didn't say anything about it, but I promise you on Dec 6th or perhaps the 8th I will say something about the presentation because it is beautiful. I seriously have a problem with stories of this nature dealing with vampires and werewolves since I consider that as the next of kin to sorcery and witchcraft. It is my firm foundation of faith that gives me this. When I agreed to review books, I wasn't asked, "What kind of books will you not read?" Therefore, since I was committed to reviewing books, I read as much as I could, and then I was convicted by my bodily reaction and, I firmly believe, by the Holy Spirit, to put it down and not finish it. I truly do not know how it comes out… I expect that the two finally have a meeting of the minds and meeting of faith, but that is pure speculation. Sue, you must expect a lot of people to not like this book. You will probably find a lot of nonChristians who will scoff at it and a lot of Christians who will shun it because of the subject matter. It does satisfy a niche of fantasy lovers, though, and may even touch some stony hearts. I am quite sure that God will use it to His good purposes. I pray that is so. Please forgive me, for the cavalier way I lumped your book in with several others… but, look at it this way, it is publicizing and a lot of Book Store owners go to Lynn's blog. Please do not take it personally! I love Southern girls, for I am your next-state neighbor in Louisiana. Please forgive me for not liking the subject matter of your book. I do recognize the incredible hard work you put into it and all the research. However, I hope you appreciate honesty and that is what I have given you.
Sue Dent: I will now put you up there with the other two who couldn't finish Never Ceese mainly because of the subject matter. And they too were kind enough to confess that this was basically all there was to it. I sincerely don't expect everyone to love this book and I'm sure I'll find my toughest critics in the Christian market.
Oddly enough I've been blessed so far and found some of my most gracious reviews from those in the Christian market, allbeit readers who didn't shun the genre to begin with. I so want to touch the secular market with this, using the subject matter to show that God is everywhere and can be taught about in every aspect of literature. I find many Christian youths curious enough to want to explore this genre. I want to give them something that won't lead them astray. So many of these books point to things of a very dark nature. It is definitely a book for a certain genre.
First let me say... this book is truly not for me because of the subject matter. It is about a werewolf (Ceese) and a vampire. Now I want to say that this book is very well written. It has also been nominated for an award, Bram Stoker Award. I think that is truly grand that in a genre which is full of the occult that a book which points to Jesus is nominated for an award.
This book is beautifully bound and is very well written. Sue did the cover art herself! I pray that if you really like this genre, that you'll pick up this book for your library.
I became friends with Sue because of a remark I made on another blog. She couldn't understand why I'd say something without having read the whole thing. Well... I read enough to get a good feel for it and it is a lesson for me to be careful of what I say and how I say it... there are people behind these computers and they have feelings... big duh, right?
With Sue's permission, here's part of our exchange...
Dear Sue,
I truly appreciate your email. I especially appreciate you wanting to understand what I wrote and meant. I said that the book was very well written. The comment to that was that it was the editor's fault for the "yawn spots". I have a lot of admiration for Lynn Scallon and I'm quite sure she is correct. I have read a little less than half the book. I read enough to know beyond doubt that it is well written. I also read enough to know that I just can't finish it. I literally get ill reading about someone drinking blood. I can't help that. I read enough to very much enjoy turning those beautiful pages and the great, easily read typeface. Since that is not why people buy books, I didn't say anything about it, but I promise you on Dec 6th or perhaps the 8th I will say something about the presentation because it is beautiful. I seriously have a problem with stories of this nature dealing with vampires and werewolves since I consider that as the next of kin to sorcery and witchcraft. It is my firm foundation of faith that gives me this. When I agreed to review books, I wasn't asked, "What kind of books will you not read?" Therefore, since I was committed to reviewing books, I read as much as I could, and then I was convicted by my bodily reaction and, I firmly believe, by the Holy Spirit, to put it down and not finish it. I truly do not know how it comes out… I expect that the two finally have a meeting of the minds and meeting of faith, but that is pure speculation. Sue, you must expect a lot of people to not like this book. You will probably find a lot of nonChristians who will scoff at it and a lot of Christians who will shun it because of the subject matter. It does satisfy a niche of fantasy lovers, though, and may even touch some stony hearts. I am quite sure that God will use it to His good purposes. I pray that is so. Please forgive me, for the cavalier way I lumped your book in with several others… but, look at it this way, it is publicizing and a lot of Book Store owners go to Lynn's blog. Please do not take it personally! I love Southern girls, for I am your next-state neighbor in Louisiana. Please forgive me for not liking the subject matter of your book. I do recognize the incredible hard work you put into it and all the research. However, I hope you appreciate honesty and that is what I have given you.
Sue Dent: I will now put you up there with the other two who couldn't finish Never Ceese mainly because of the subject matter. And they too were kind enough to confess that this was basically all there was to it. I sincerely don't expect everyone to love this book and I'm sure I'll find my toughest critics in the Christian market.
Oddly enough I've been blessed so far and found some of my most gracious reviews from those in the Christian market, allbeit readers who didn't shun the genre to begin with. I so want to touch the secular market with this, using the subject matter to show that God is everywhere and can be taught about in every aspect of literature. I find many Christian youths curious enough to want to explore this genre. I want to give them something that won't lead them astray. So many of these books point to things of a very dark nature. It is definitely a book for a certain genre.
Note to self
Remember how much work it was all the painting and the additions...
Remember the area and that all the additions won't pay off in the resale...
Remember that when you say you never want to move again, it doesn't necessarily mean that God has no more plans for you to move...
Remember to put your hand in hand of the Man who stilled the water and wind...
Remember to trust God...
Remember to know beyond doubt that His way and will is best so open your eyes to the possibilities...
Remember to keep your eyes on Him, not on the world around you...
Remember to delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you your heart's desires...
Remember that the Lord lifts the fallen and those bent beneath their loads...
It will be all right. It is best to look forward and to put the things of the past behind you, look forward to the things that God has in store for you. As the time grows closer to this huge change in your life, it is great to treasure the precious people of here, but look forward to the precious people of there and most essentially, treasure the things of the Lord for there is where your heart is. His will, His way, His tomorrows for there art thou happy.
Remember the area and that all the additions won't pay off in the resale...
Remember that when you say you never want to move again, it doesn't necessarily mean that God has no more plans for you to move...
Remember to put your hand in hand of the Man who stilled the water and wind...
Remember to trust God...
Remember to know beyond doubt that His way and will is best so open your eyes to the possibilities...
Remember to keep your eyes on Him, not on the world around you...
Remember to delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you your heart's desires...
Remember that the Lord lifts the fallen and those bent beneath their loads...
It will be all right. It is best to look forward and to put the things of the past behind you, look forward to the things that God has in store for you. As the time grows closer to this huge change in your life, it is great to treasure the precious people of here, but look forward to the precious people of there and most essentially, treasure the things of the Lord for there is where your heart is. His will, His way, His tomorrows for there art thou happy.
Yes, Stan...
It is truly amazing how God works in our lives. Our offer was flatly refused. I guess that lady isn't so eager to sell her house.
So, back to the searching game. I know God has the perfect place for us. We must be patient and wait on Him. That is a hard thing to do, though.
Therefore... back to packing. I hate packing and unpacking. But, we must take the bitter with the sweet. Is that an axiom or is it a proverb?
So, back to the searching game. I know God has the perfect place for us. We must be patient and wait on Him. That is a hard thing to do, though.
Therefore... back to packing. I hate packing and unpacking. But, we must take the bitter with the sweet. Is that an axiom or is it a proverb?
Moving to Picayune
Mom and I went to Picayune on Friday afternoon. My last day at the Tensas Gazette was Friday morning. It is four hours from here to there and that is a long drive.
We prayed all last week that God would help us sell this house and find one to live in there. The house we're in now sat on the market for two years before Mom and Dad bought it. But, it is a great house and they put a lot of money into it so now Mom is asking only for what she put into it.
I put the sign "For Sale" up one evening after work. The next day a couple stopped by and asked to see it. They are pre-approved for more than what Mom is asking for the house. Fabulous! The only problem left was finding a place to live in Picayune in a good, stable neighborhood. We set appointments for Saturday and went to one on Friday night. We decided right off that we didn't want the Mardis Gras house. It was too isolated for Mom to be there by herself all day. That settled we face forward and with great excitement on Saturday.
We drove through devastated neighborhoods and ones that had been flooded by Katrina. Those were crossed off the list. Then we drove too far out again and then came back for our 2 o'clock. It was the last house on the list. Wouldn't you know? You guessed it. That's the house. We made an offer and we came home. We're in a waiting game now. She was asking way too much for the house considering what others in that neighborhood were selling for... so we offered a little more than the average and what we felt led to offer. Now, it's up to God.
It's it amazing and wonderful how God works to make things fit together perfectly? I pray all is well with the house and that she'll accept the offer and we don't have to negotiate. It would be so terrific to be in the house before Christmas!
We prayed all last week that God would help us sell this house and find one to live in there. The house we're in now sat on the market for two years before Mom and Dad bought it. But, it is a great house and they put a lot of money into it so now Mom is asking only for what she put into it.
I put the sign "For Sale" up one evening after work. The next day a couple stopped by and asked to see it. They are pre-approved for more than what Mom is asking for the house. Fabulous! The only problem left was finding a place to live in Picayune in a good, stable neighborhood. We set appointments for Saturday and went to one on Friday night. We decided right off that we didn't want the Mardis Gras house. It was too isolated for Mom to be there by herself all day. That settled we face forward and with great excitement on Saturday.
We drove through devastated neighborhoods and ones that had been flooded by Katrina. Those were crossed off the list. Then we drove too far out again and then came back for our 2 o'clock. It was the last house on the list. Wouldn't you know? You guessed it. That's the house. We made an offer and we came home. We're in a waiting game now. She was asking way too much for the house considering what others in that neighborhood were selling for... so we offered a little more than the average and what we felt led to offer. Now, it's up to God.
It's it amazing and wonderful how God works to make things fit together perfectly? I pray all is well with the house and that she'll accept the offer and we don't have to negotiate. It would be so terrific to be in the house before Christmas!
Dear John
Dear John by Nicholas Sparks
What a wonderful read. I read it in one setting. This is a very poignant story about the different kinds of love. Sparks explores parent/child love and sibling love and love for the those who cannot love back and attraction and passion and long distance love and he packs it all into this book. It is astounding.
Dear John is very well done. It flashes back, yes, but the beginning is short so you don't mind flashing back. The beginning paragraph sets you up for the flashback so it doesn't matter. Then, I must confess, after the first few pages, I just had to turn to the back and read the last few pages because I was so sure that it was going to end badly. If that was the case, then I'd have to read it in a different frame of mind.
I won't tell you what I found out. However, I will tell you that this story is so incredibly touching. It is good reading... not too fluffy, but not too cerebral either. Worth the money. You can read more about it and purchase the book at the link above. Happy reading!
I hate holidays... well...
it isn't the holiday and what each stands for, but it rigamarole that goes with it. It is so aggravating (is that spelled correctly?) to have to change plans fourteen times to accomodate all the members of the family.It wasn't so complicated when my girls were little and still living under the same roof as me. It wasn't so complicated when I was little... well, at least I didn't notice any complications. Except the day that I bawled and squalled because it snowed and we couldn't go to my grandmother's house in Oklahoma. All the roads were covered in ice and snow. My dad put his foot down. He simply was not going to buy snow tires just so we could dash up to Oklahoma (it took 12 hours of driving straight through with two hurry-up restroom stops/gas tank fill-ups and one leg stretching to check weather in Paris, TX but was actually so we could eat bar-b-que at this hole in the wall that looked like it would keel over at the first breath of wind).
Generally, we'd have Thanksgiving just us and then gather with all the brothers and sisters at my other grandmother's house in Arkansas. That was how you spent the day after Thanksgiving. Then they moved it to the day after Christmas. It was okay by me. I got to see all my cousins and aunts and uncles and new babies, you know, great family fun. It truly was fun. None of the kind of so-called "funny" stuff where families bicker and fight and call each other names... the kind you see on TV shows. Just really good fun, jokes, catching up and lots and lots of great stuff to eat.
It was sitting on the porch and listening to the brothers talk about the funny things they did when they were kids. It was sitting on the floor behind the rocking chair and listening to the women talk about all sorts of interesting topics which I cannot talk about here. It was racing through the woods and falling in the pond and picking persimmons and swinging on the oak tree swing. Oh, and lest I forget, it was using the stacked bales of hay as forts and falling on my back getting the breath knocked out. It was screaming Olly Olly Oxen Free. It was building a dam on the stream and getting yelled at for moving the stepping stones. It was sleeping on the floor under ten homemade quilts because it was 20 degrees outside. It was using the outhouse. It was pumping water. It was wearing shorts because it was 80 degrees in the afternoon. Sigh...
Today... children are grown and my girls are off in two different cities, my sister is in another, her older son is in another. Our schedules don't seem to match and this doesn't even include all my cousins and aunts and uncles.
We are in such a whirlwind rat race that no one has time to breathe much less sit on the porch and watch the people go by. This year after moving mountains (we were supposed to have Thanksgiving here at our house) we will now travel to southeast Louisiana, spend the night and return home the next day so that I can go to work on Friday. I'm not complaining! Really! I'm am just so delighted to get a paycheck every two weeks I can hardly complain.
What I hate is the tug-o-war that seems to take place in my body while all the plans are being made. It looks like we'll have to have Christmas at my sister's as well since that will be easier and closer for everyone else. But... it is much better than the alternative which is not seeing anyone at all. That is certainly miserable. I remember one Thanksgiving just after I split from my husband. My daughter begged to bring her father so he wouldn't have to be by himself. I graciously agreed. I cooked for 4 hours, we ate in about 30 minutes, they cleaned up and then everyone left by 3pm. I had the house all to myself. To most that would seem like a really terrible Thanksgiving. For me, after I got over the fact that everyone left me alone, the peace and quiet was rather nice.
Sometimes God gives gifts that last forever and sometimes He gives gifts that make you realize that holidays are just days like any other day--it is the people, your family and your friends that make the day special. Families do last forever. I eagerly await the day the Father will say, "Son, go get your bride!" Then we'll be living in true holidays.
Must be the fog
It must be the fog that makes things so unclear, right? Why else couldn't we look out into the future and know what God has in store? Why God allows all these trials and things to beset us?
No. It isn't the fog. God tells us plainly why these tribulations befall us... thorough James. How many times have I read this passage? Why did it hit home today and finally make sense? I don't know. I prayed yesterday morning for God to give me a delight to take a picture of for the front page of our paper. Something that would be picture postcard gift to our subscribers as a Thanksgiving gift.
I never go across the lake in the morning on my way to work. This morning I had to go pick up a story from a proud grandmother. It was about her grandson's marriage to a very lovely young lady. The fog was horrible. As I was coming back across the lake, I was stunned at the beauty of the sun trying to shine throug the fog. Gorgeous. So I stopped in the middle of the road (folks around here are used to that sort of thing), and took this picture.
Then, you won't believe this, I proceded to drive around another lake searching for some Thanksgiving display. Then I went across the levee to see if I could take a picture of fog on the Mississippi River. All to no avail. But, when I got to the office and downloaded the pics I had on my camera... I was stunned again at the beauty of this picture.
We keep looking beyond, trying to see through the fog, trying to figure out God's purpose because we think knowing God's purpose will make sense and will make us well... heal us from the troubles or what ever is ailing us.
God smacked it home to me that sometimes, it is the fog that is the important thing. God's fog obscures those things that are unimportant to pursue and causes a great beauty right in front of our eyes. Sometimes the fog is a protection for we may not have the tools or the strength to handle whatever is behind the fog. Thank you, Lord, for the fog. Thank you, Lord, for giving me this delight to share with all those precious children of Yours.
So... back to James...
James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, sends words of love to the twelve tribes of the Jews living in all parts of the earth. 2 Let it be all joy to you, my brothers, when you undergo tests of every sort; 3 Because you have the knowledge that the testing of your faith gives you the power of going on in hope; 4 But let this power have its full effect, so that you may be made complete, needing nothing.
Rejoice in the tests of every sort.
The tests gives the power of hope.
The power makes us complete so that we need nothing.
That is a universe-size lesson in this pea-size brain of mine. I am awed; I am humbled; I am undone. God is so good.
Scoop
Here's Rene Gutteridge... she's a successful author. She's interesting. She wrote an interesting book called Scoop. I liked it... except we have this thing that is fast becoming worse than a pet peeve for me. But put that aside for right now. You can find out all about her on her web page here.
There are some great Q&As there, too, like this one...
Q: Do novelists write out of their own experience?
A: Sometimes, but not always. Many readers assume that a writer is writing about a topic that they've lived through. I think most of the time, novelists write about things that interest them. They develop characters they can both relate to and can't relate at all to. Our ideas and inspirations come from many, many different sources. Sometimes we do extensive research. Other times it's a small, insignificant detail that can spur an entire book.
Scoop is the first book I've read of hers and it started out really well, but if I had a brother and he sold my parent's business they took years building, I think I'd kill him.
Back to that thing I hate. Call it an ague... feverish symptoms like malaria... my stomach tightens up and my brain whorls and I get a headache that pounds my head. It's that thing that editors and publishers and authors do that drives me insane. Why oh why can't a person just tell a story from point A to point B to C skip D if you have to for space and to delete yawns and then end with Z?
Evidently most people are not like me... they don't mind jumping from one place to another. They evidently like to find out all about each character before they meet each other. I like stories and characters to unfold together or wrap around each other. Those are the kinds of stories I grew up with. Today's author is not at all like that. I just hate that when it happens.
If that sort of thing doesn't bother, I know you'll like Scoop. Scoop it up today.
be still
I get to the screaming point. I want to shout out the truth, but to no avail.
I work and work at trying to be what God wants me to be and I always fail.
Help me, Lord.
Carry me over the fjord.
The chasm is deep and
I weep.
Dry my tears.
Release me from my fears.
Carry the truth to those ears
that refuse to hear
the truth.
Put back that hair that I have pulled out.
Rub the steel bands that are supposed to be my shoulders
for I am done with things as they are, no longer look back and pout.
Whisper my name, cause me to be still.
Tomorrow I shall go forward,
leaving behind the crumbs and the rust
of broken things.
Tonight I shall snuggle under Your wings
for it is only You that I trust.
I work and work at trying to be what God wants me to be and I always fail.
Help me, Lord.
Carry me over the fjord.
The chasm is deep and
I weep.
Dry my tears.
Release me from my fears.
Carry the truth to those ears
that refuse to hear
the truth.
Put back that hair that I have pulled out.
Rub the steel bands that are supposed to be my shoulders
for I am done with things as they are, no longer look back and pout.
Whisper my name, cause me to be still.
Tomorrow I shall go forward,
leaving behind the crumbs and the rust
of broken things.
Tonight I shall snuggle under Your wings
for it is only You that I trust.
You are near in their mouth, and far from their reins.
Ever wonder why the wicked seem to prosper so well while we struggle with all kinds of things?
I did.
Jeremiah 12 is where that verse is found and it is such a terrible verse. Can you imagine what it would be like to have God far from your reins? We don't have to look very far to see examples of what happens when authority and restraint are far from our reins. If you are old enough to remember the movie Animal House... good example. Weird Science is another example.
A more explicit example is found in Romans 1:18-32. I shudder at those verses. What would it be like for God to just let go and let you have your own way? Just like children need and want boundaries, so do we Christians. It is how we stay sane, how we stay close to God, how we stay clean.
The wicked may prosper but nothing is done in the dark that will not be found out. God has blessed me by letting me see the wicked be found out. Oh, not all of them, just a few, but enough for me to know that they do not prosper forever.
So what if the wicked prosper until they die? They will not prosper after death. Some of us will just have to wait until the Day of Judgement to see some of the wicked receive their dessert. The problem will be so horrendous at that time, though, it will mean that they will be thrown into the Lake of Fire. I don't care what anyone has done to me... fired me... manufactured evidence against me... betrayed me with other women... thrown me out of house and home... rejected me... spit upon me... called me all manner of things and even prayed to God for evil to befall me... None of that is worth eternal torment. I would not wish that on any person.
Have mercy, Lord. Have mercy on me and on those who revile me and reject me. Draw them close Father and pour Your Spirit over them, Father for they know not what they do. Open their eyes, Father to what they do. Make them see. Give them compassion, for they shall surely die without You.
Take a moment and pray for my daughter, please. She is at this moment having to commit her dad so he can get help from his alcoholism. Frankly, I've lost all hope that he'll get better, but she hasn't. And if you would, please pray the Lord God Almighty will provide her with a job so she can stand on her own. Sigh...
I did.
Jeremiah 12 is where that verse is found and it is such a terrible verse. Can you imagine what it would be like to have God far from your reins? We don't have to look very far to see examples of what happens when authority and restraint are far from our reins. If you are old enough to remember the movie Animal House... good example. Weird Science is another example.
A more explicit example is found in Romans 1:18-32. I shudder at those verses. What would it be like for God to just let go and let you have your own way? Just like children need and want boundaries, so do we Christians. It is how we stay sane, how we stay close to God, how we stay clean.
The wicked may prosper but nothing is done in the dark that will not be found out. God has blessed me by letting me see the wicked be found out. Oh, not all of them, just a few, but enough for me to know that they do not prosper forever.
So what if the wicked prosper until they die? They will not prosper after death. Some of us will just have to wait until the Day of Judgement to see some of the wicked receive their dessert. The problem will be so horrendous at that time, though, it will mean that they will be thrown into the Lake of Fire. I don't care what anyone has done to me... fired me... manufactured evidence against me... betrayed me with other women... thrown me out of house and home... rejected me... spit upon me... called me all manner of things and even prayed to God for evil to befall me... None of that is worth eternal torment. I would not wish that on any person.
Have mercy, Lord. Have mercy on me and on those who revile me and reject me. Draw them close Father and pour Your Spirit over them, Father for they know not what they do. Open their eyes, Father to what they do. Make them see. Give them compassion, for they shall surely die without You.
Take a moment and pray for my daughter, please. She is at this moment having to commit her dad so he can get help from his alcoholism. Frankly, I've lost all hope that he'll get better, but she hasn't. And if you would, please pray the Lord God Almighty will provide her with a job so she can stand on her own. Sigh...
Ten Bridemaids
An interesting parable is found in Matthew.
Matthew 25:1 Then the kingdom of Heaven shall be compared to ten virgins who taking their lamps, went out to a meeting of the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five foolish.
3 Those being foolish, taking their lamps, did not take oil with them.
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 But the bridegroom delaying, all nodded and slept.
6 And at midnight, a cry occurred: Behold, the bridegroom comes! Go out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins were aroused and prepared their lamps.
8 And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, No, lest there not be enough for us and you. But rather, go to those who sell and buy for yourselves.
10 But they going away to buy, the bridegroom came. And those ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut.
11 And afterwards, the rest of the virgins also came, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But answering, he said, Truly I say to you, I do not know you.
13 Therefore, watch, for you do not know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man comes.
Jesus is describing what it will be like when He suddenly comes to take His bride! He says, watch and be ready!
In Jewish weddings of that day, it was customary for the wedding party to be made up of girls to make the Bride more comfortable. These girls were waiting for the Groom to bring His Bride to his home. It was also necessary for the Groom to provide these "ladies in waiting" for the Bride if she had no friends to go with her or if she lived too far away. These girls were specifically there to light the way for the Groom and His Bride...therefore the lamps.
Lamps provide light for the feet and light the path--the Way to go. Jesus' emphasis was not on who these girls were. It was on the 5 girls that were ready to light the way. The lamps that were used for this purpose could only hold enough oil for about 15 minutes. Since the girls had no idea when the Bridegroom would arrive, the whole point here was on being ready with the light which meant extra oil would be needed if the groom didn't come within 15 minutes.
The oil could be the Holy Spirit; I have heard it preached that being ready with the oil meant those girls had the Holy Spirit and only those in possession of the Holy Spirit can go into the wedding feast. I'm not sure about that interpretation frankly. I need to pray about it some more. The parable is not about who the 10 girls are, but that the 5 who were ready and the other 5 were not ready, therefore since they were not ready the groom said "I do not know you!"
The unpardonable sin is not accepting Jesus as Savior. It is the only unforgivable sin. The 5 that were not prepared did not have Jesus as their Savior...they did not have the Oil and they did not have the Light.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)