tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7793828827739742632024-03-12T22:45:12.776-07:00The Daily GrindA sporadic entering of my random thoughts, experiences & parts of my journey with Jesus in hopes of encouraging others.Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513456829580814271noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779382882773974263.post-23601362452071085122013-01-24T06:30:00.000-08:002013-01-24T06:30:21.265-08:00This Morning<br />
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I think my blog title came from days like today. I know it's only 0619 but I've already been up for nearly 2 hrs. Do I want to be up? Not particularly. Unfortunately I couldn't get back to sleep when John got up for work. I feel blahhy, blechy, think I am fighting a cough or something. Right now silence reigns supreme in this house but I know at any minute that could change...then starts the daily grind. Daily demands for diaper changes, food, juice & queeries of "is my math marked yet?" and "what's for supper?" Vacuuming, running errands, doing some school, picking up from extra-curriculars. John will likely work until 5 & go to flight school @ 6, so I'm flying solo today!<br />
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Sometimes I just want to say uggghhh! I want a day off.<br />
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What would I do if I had a day off? Sometimes I wonder......<br />
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One possibility is packing up Grizwold & heading to K-Country. Go snowshoeing or something. Take some photos! Have lunch at this neat little healthy type cafe in Canmore (I forget the name of it). Drive home. Either in silence or with the radio cranked. I know it doesn't sound too exciting, but compared with the relative drudgery I find myself facing today it seems an oasis.<br />
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Hm....I hear steps. Now I hear a "mama, I want to watch a mooey" and "I want a ju-box" And the pantry door opening. So much for silence reigning supreme.<br />
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Or, I could send the kids to school for a day...pack up their little lunches and make sure they looked all cute & crisp & serenely wave goodbye as they head out the door. I would be free to spend uninterrupted time with Jana, I could do laundry, nap while she napped, clean, meal plan, whatever...and have freshly baked cookies & apple slices waiting their return to our humble abode....<br />
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But what I really need is to shake my head, re-evaluate my gratitude level for the things I have been blessed with & stop wishing for someone else's life.<br />
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSFEKbViZwn4D0X8j7RS0988LVG_5lr4_vYaFcTl1_dPDWGBpQR" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="272" data-width="185" height="272" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSFEKbViZwn4D0X8j7RS0988LVG_5lr4_vYaFcTl1_dPDWGBpQR" style="height: 272px; width: 185px;" width="185" /></a>I could say, "ughh, I have dishes to wash." Or I could say, "hey, I have dishes to wash! And food that went on them!" I know this sounds kind of laughable, but really. Isn't it laughable that I should think to complain? I am not a refugee from famine, drought or war, I can find gainful employment within walking distance if I need to, I have access to healthcare & don't have to worry if I have a sick child. I have the absolute privilege of educating my kids. I am trying to look at things in a larger perspective. I know my attitude needs some adjustment. I can say that I have been given so much, but like most things, it needs to re-submerge from the surface where head-knowledge lies to resonate with me on a deeper, more meaningful level. It's not that it doesn't, it just needs to stay there. I want to live in a true spirit of gratitude.<br />
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I think I wrote a post similar to this last winter. The essence of it
was that it's doing the things He has seen fit for me to do at this time
with a grace & to the best of my ability. Or, more accurately
realize that I can't do things very well to the best of my ability, to
quit trying to "be" a Christian & lay down my life, allowing the
Holy Spirit to do His work through me.<br />
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Although sitting down & writing this morning was not on my list of
things to do, I am glad I did. In writing this I have experienced a
change in heart. Now if you will excuse me, there's a toddler on the
couch who could use some cuddling. <br />
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<br />Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02470996879174359934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779382882773974263.post-32407663590361592602013-01-17T12:47:00.001-08:002013-01-17T12:47:56.293-08:00Decisions, Divine timing & Discouragement <br />
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<a href="http://www.catholicmatch.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/1315-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" id="il_fi" src="http://www.catholicmatch.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/1315-300x300.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></a>I really struggled for an apt title for this post. I didn't want to
paint an all-roses atmosphere in following the Lords leading, but at the
same time, don't want to empty the joy of obedience from decision
making.....that being said let me speak to the last couple of weeks.....John has a hard job (reinforcing ironworker) which arguably is the most physically demanding work in construction. It takes a toll on his body. Enough said. We suspected at some point his work may have to change, but that raised a new set of questions; doing what? how? schooling? re-location? And, being a family of 6 on a single income how do we survive the transition? So we have talked and prayed off & on over the past few years looking mildly at various options, yet nothing presented itself clearly but more importantly we felt no leading from the Lord. Which in my mind says "stay put!" </div>
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Early December 2012 John had an MRI done on his knee. The results? Arthritis, a ruptured ACL, a miniscus that was mush, another headed towards mush & his tibia has shifted to compensate. We weren't altogether surprised, John has been this way since I've known him. We got a referral and the clogs are slowly turning to receive whatever treatment is necessary for his knee.<br />
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The last week of December John & I were talking about a portion of a book I was reading on obedience to God. It was one of those really good, simple, sincere discussions that resulted in our genuine prayer for God's will in our lives & for direction. A good morning.<br />
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The next day (Dec 30th) was my side of the family's Christmas get-together. Anyhow, I was mentioning the MRI John had undergone & the forthcoming results to my uncle at Christmas and unbeknownst to me my mom overheard...<br />
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On Jan 2nd, the Lord awakened John up at early in the morning & impressed upon him to go for a walk with our dog, Grizwold. During that walk John received clear direction that he should try to obtain his pilots license. It was also impressed upon him that he need not fear from perceived difficulties.<br />
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January 3rd, my mom calls. She said that she had overheard the conversation I had with my uncle & that her & my dad felt strongly that John needed a career change. And they would foot (some of) the bill. Wow! How's that for unexpected. We hadn't breathed a word to anyone about this. I told her about John looking at getting his<i> </i>private pilots license & the money was in our account the next day. Good timing as the next session of ground school offered at the Okotoks Air Ranch started Jan 8th -5 days later. His bosses had no problem with him no longer being available working Saturdays and were actually supportive of him. Amazing!<br />
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRm9ygD9-riMxIdGHfaQPMfZDmc0RQcBYaAgWLzeVJViT2jk-bH" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="194" data-width="259" height="299" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRm9ygD9-riMxIdGHfaQPMfZDmc0RQcBYaAgWLzeVJViT2jk-bH" style="height: 194px; width: 259px;" width="400" /></a><a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTw1IHXcvvzh-bP2D0fhnWhiVbiWk0LoeiGk5k8Lb79p9d_KV-mfA" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>So now, here we are, January 13, 2013. What a crazy new year! I am starting to feel the extra work-load of him being gone & studying so much. We have discovered that pilots really don't make a lot (and by that I mean I we likely couldn't survive) for the first few years until you get on with a commercial airline. Or move up wayyy north. Both of which you need a <i>commercial</i> license for. ( = ++ $)<br />
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So, not sure what the future holds or why we are being led this way. But we know He hold the future. And that is all that matters.<br />
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<br />Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02470996879174359934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779382882773974263.post-11308801006770357462012-07-20T05:38:00.003-07:002012-07-20T05:38:52.382-07:00I want to be the woman....I want to be the woman who came to Jesus' feet.<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQdxcQxKhz51soKfXhIPBgpAe9c1HpU-_Lu1zvMl3FVWZRymJEl" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="224" data-width="225" height="199" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQdxcQxKhz51soKfXhIPBgpAe9c1HpU-_Lu1zvMl3FVWZRymJEl" width="200" /></a>Who didn't look at her surroundings, the distractions & the critical peeps<br />
Who didn't count the cost of the purfume or the criticism.<br />
Whose open weeping & repentance showed acute awareness of her spiritual state she was in.<br />
Who was forgiven in full, saved through faith, sent in peace.<br />
A woman who left with riches no one could seize. <br />
A beautiful woman.<br />
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Luke 7:36-50 relays the 'story' of this woman, an obviously well-known "sinner" to the religious hierarchy of the day. I read it this morning with fresh eyes & found myself envious of her simple act that is so profound. Today, I am thoroughly weary. I long to just stop. The next act of service & kind word & even genuine prayer doesn't come easily. My heart has been slowly bound by the thinnest threads of resentment, hurt, exhaustion, distraction & complacency. On a day like today, I long to be like that woman who simply falls to the feet of Jesus, giving him everything & arises a new creation. Refreshed, renewed.<br />Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02470996879174359934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779382882773974263.post-56360364925590535372012-06-09T15:58:00.001-07:002012-06-09T15:58:46.017-07:00<h2>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdK6JvUYadWC4EPdFwImhgH8VNx1z9A5A3xt4al2EQ29T3l2i-RO6L2VToyAiP2DddaAPyEwO5-OJLQ6C5mFLoNarzPVgF0kP48c4lpYGJIQEWweqGmbVp7_qnRo1xUbUTlQWkINNRxj0/s1600/Fotolia_16375911_XS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Me, Myself & I</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's been a long time since I have posted on here. When I told myself, "hey, even if you don't write more than quarterly it's better than nothing!" Hm. more like bi-annually at this rate. In any case, the last few months has been a roller coaster in many departments. Stress. Stress, stress & more stress. Seems to be a semi-permanent state lately. I know I need to deal with it in a healthy way, but finding that way & diligently adhering to it is another thing all together. I think this is a problem that many people face.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Originally, I thought that stress was simply not trusting in God, taking burdens upon me which simply were His to carry. I think that to a point this is true, but stress is much more than that. We weren't designed to live in a world of continual stimulation -sound, electronic devices, increasingly heavy workloads, alarm clocks that yank us from bed while still dark -and I am really starting to notice the effects that it's having on me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Balance is another word that typically comes up in conversations about stress. What does that mean for me? I am commencing on a journey right now to see how I can identify stress & limit it in my life. Also, to combat the effects of it I hope to make a list of things that "counter" the effects of it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />I recently watched a documentary by National Geographic called, "Stress -Portrait of a killer." It talks about how animals only use the stress or fight/flight reaction when in dire situations -for example a zebra being chased by a lion activates this fight/flight reaction, but it turns off when the ordeal is over & the zebra safe. We create psychological stresses in our minds that keep stimulating us, there is simply no break from them. The long term effects of stress were also looked at in this film, including digestive, cardiac & immune system problems, weight gain, etc etc. There was a study done of caretakers (primarily moms) of special-needs kids & I was surprised to learn that for every year they care for their special needs child, the amount of stress incurred erases approx. 6 years from their life. That's crazy!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I need to take care of myself so that I can take care of the family God has blessed me with. Not a super-spiritual message, but a much needed one -if only to myself!</span></div>Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02470996879174359934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779382882773974263.post-150649882036034112012-01-06T10:38:00.000-08:002012-01-06T10:57:47.902-08:00I am having one of those days today<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> 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0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]-->I am having one of those days today. Well actually my day started to go south last night. My oldest was caught with her light on & reading not once, but twice. Hmm…not a big deal you initially think –and rightly so. However it’s occurring with increasing frequency & really affects her school the next day. So, I decide fine. She wants to stay up, she’ll be exhausted & sleep late and not get her school done in time to visit with her best friend who just returned home after 2wks away. She will see direct consequences of her actions. <p class="MsoNormal">My plan for <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgQJmR-Pw9JYFcK2XZGM5Y4mOLtLtOgjULSSGur94aD3nHe83nlRFKV_K7tp7iGKCuBzoW3r2Y9cTHpzYD9CTwl4uPLhTQJ8JXyzx4sgP0CbJm5FlpQX83Q2wtE2MKUnR2d-WiI-BCzE/s1600/Jana+on+my+leg.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgQJmR-Pw9JYFcK2XZGM5Y4mOLtLtOgjULSSGur94aD3nHe83nlRFKV_K7tp7iGKCuBzoW3r2Y9cTHpzYD9CTwl4uPLhTQJ8JXyzx4sgP0CbJm5FlpQX83Q2wtE2MKUnR2d-WiI-BCzE/s200/Jana+on+my+leg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694590732582315906" border="0" /></a>effective, non-confrontational discipline started to go awry about 3am, when the dog woke me up because she needed to go out….which led into me hearing Jana (the littlest) crying then deciding to stay up for an hour with me. Being the ever productive sort of person that I am, I try & make lemonade out of it & make John’s sandwich while I am up with her so I don’t have to getup @ 5, when he does. I returned to my blissful state of unconsciousness & awoke @ 8:00! What, 8am? Me? Whose favorite hours are 5:30-7:30 in the morning. Yes, and I am absolutely bagged tired, with a bad headache. I go upstairs & discover Eva (9) bright eyed & bushy tailed endeavoring to bless me with the making of scrambled eggs, toast & cut up fruit. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">You know, it’s so hard to be cheery when you see this. I love her heart so much and she is so confident in her abilities –you just can’t buy that sort of stuff. But I groaned inwardly at the excessive bowls & frying pans, etc. used. Cast iron frying pans that I will doubtlessly have to scrub. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">So we get through breakfast, my head feels like it has a balloon being inflated inside it, but I try to smile or at least not growl at my wonderful offspring, one of whom insists on rubbing her planter warts on the other kids. I try & pray silently, thankfully, but it’s all static. I didn’t get my God Time this a.m. and that is not a good thing. You see, for me it’s not a matter of me making Him a priority or making time for Him in my life & reading, etc. It’s a matter of if I don’t I am usually doomed (& consequently my kids) to a day of impatience, inverted priorities & ineffectiveness.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixsX6fcM4IX4K08uHkX2gcbNcNNE2pQ1IQJyJO8Ca5D9FchNsEwV9IIkuuQdEMhxCMoNRaGZ-lUwmLnfNCdLval_6icifZ-SAIY3m8yi_EFmBZhkxPjJFEvO7tA3D-YewWC-N8g3hDnUs/s1600/Ally+in+a+dress.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixsX6fcM4IX4K08uHkX2gcbNcNNE2pQ1IQJyJO8Ca5D9FchNsEwV9IIkuuQdEMhxCMoNRaGZ-lUwmLnfNCdLval_6icifZ-SAIY3m8yi_EFmBZhkxPjJFEvO7tA3D-YewWC-N8g3hDnUs/s200/Ally+in+a+dress.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694594243046033330" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I decide to cancel the visit I had planned with another homeschooling families house at 10:00. It is not going to happen. Nobody wants to be around me the way I am and there is too much for me to do to be anywhere close to on time –which I need to be to get back here for Jana’s nap. But I cannot find this ladies phone # to cancel. Anywhere, even 411 doesn’t have it. I spend half an hour looking for it when miraculously, the doorbell rings while I am downstairs & the girls invite in Zoe; the long lost best friend whom Grace was not supposed to see as a “natural” consequence of having slept in because she was up so late last night. Pop! There goes that perfectly articulated bubble. Grace for some odd reason had no intention of sleeping in & all the girls are chatting excitedly as only girls can. The upside to this is that Zoe can run home & get me the phone number I need to cancel. Yay. Everyone is occupied with Zoe’s stories of a faraway land called Florida so I figure I can sneak to me bedroom for some of that much needed God Time. Wrong. As I try reading, focusing my mind, my intentions on connecting with my Maker, attempting to feel the peace that surpasses all understanding Jana comes downstairs just as pleased as punch she has stolen her sisters binoculars unnoticed. She is so proud as she wordlessly climbs on my bed, beaming with her drool & little pigtails half out. Then she chatters, telling me all about how she got them, what it means to her, blah, blah, blah…and the God Time disappears.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Poof! Gone! But just maybe He doesn’t care so much right now about me being able to perfectly fix my mind on him, wholly surrendered. Maybe He cares more about treating the child He has entrusted me to raise with love &<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>respect, building her up. It’s hard for me to take this path; I am a very linear person, my mine works in lists, usually it goes: 1. Get God Time. 2. Get me time. 3. Can go out & be a good parent & change the world or whatever.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Maybe He is trying to work that out of me.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Even as I write this I have been peppered with interruptions. My computer has spontaneously printed off this blog @ least 3 times & I have no idea why, kids come to me with “Are you bringing me a monkey back from Costa Rica?” “Can I wear a dress today?” “Mom, she isn’t helping me clean the kitchen!” And just clingy-ness & whining from a Jana who is fast approached tired. Currently I am hearing a song from “Phantom of the Opera” that Grace & her friend are set on perfecting. They are also building some sort of stage upstairs for a near-future performance for an audience of 1 –me.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdjMDwalsyGUing_qAGpDUZvZwlrQiaLZXhXtQa-I479oszX9iDr0JmtpGM4ggf3ewefdfmSJXXQP2kVi5ZXSLXarEnzoMBDPDDVGM9_oFuS6yCT-NjBPkSkudzAlmSbMu-0G3TxosA0/s1600/Rec+Room.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdjMDwalsyGUing_qAGpDUZvZwlrQiaLZXhXtQa-I479oszX9iDr0JmtpGM4ggf3ewefdfmSJXXQP2kVi5ZXSLXarEnzoMBDPDDVGM9_oFuS6yCT-NjBPkSkudzAlmSbMu-0G3TxosA0/s200/Rec+Room.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694591747887616338" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Laundry is not put away. Office Day yesterday shrank to 15 min of me desperately trying to make phone called & modify my calendar. Kitchen Day…well nothing on the list that day got done. I have the urge to purge but not the time or energy to carry it out right now. Half of the office/rec room where I am composing this is under construction & I have to drywall & paint this wknd. You get the picture… </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I am not intending this to be a whiny blog, I am trying to share what I think He is trying to do to me, to my character in this stage of my life. Perseverance & priorities. I was reading Jeremiah last night. I flipped open & started to read & I read about us being clay in the potters hands. I need to remember that I become more like Jesus not through going to church & joining a Bible study (although those things are of value). It’s just plain old me. How I act, what I think and am I still intent on furthering His Kingdom her today when nobody is watching & listening to me but Him.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">A couple of evenings ago, my eldest daughter, Grace, had a conversation with her biological dad (who is extremely unstable & has a distorted view of life). It was painful to hear (yes, I did eavesdrop because she was talking so loudly). She was finally honest with him and told him exactly how his actions were impacting her. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I have never been so proud of one of my kids I think. She spoke about forgiveness, about everyone she has had to forgive in her messy life, she encouraged him to read, she asked if she could pray with Him. She calmed him down & kept the conversation level-headed when her dad would go off & get angry. She directed him to Jesus. If you didn’t know who was behind that door you would have thought it was an adult. She shouldn’t have to <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDco44wki6sPfmE5urz_E78GRqaVFiDQVGqlBoJhcdgMXsxOzFmXGiwC-HC9gqmoTxDwBbM1XC020H9mUwmC73-SfW95t8DG6X_w1O3V3ujpGRapqfiPgaBjdjkVra6ih5-BCcKTiDcM/s1600/If+you+resist+change+you+will+be+here+forever.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDco44wki6sPfmE5urz_E78GRqaVFiDQVGqlBoJhcdgMXsxOzFmXGiwC-HC9gqmoTxDwBbM1XC020H9mUwmC73-SfW95t8DG6X_w1O3V3ujpGRapqfiPgaBjdjkVra6ih5-BCcKTiDcM/s200/If+you+resist+change+you+will+be+here+forever.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694595028575683314" border="0" /></a>be in that position, but that is the way things have worked out. I couldn’t have articulated with the grace & ease which she did. It was truly a sermon unto me that make me weep & convicted me. My prayers, the years of investing in her as a person –I am finally seeing the fruit of it! 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line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]-->Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02470996879174359934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779382882773974263.post-58892757523330746422011-12-11T10:08:00.000-08:002011-12-11T10:46:20.221-08:00God; user of the Unlikely<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09Ajgf4QiBivUJap1F2O9GFB1l314QrFyRtMnXgUnc9GePM-QFPx9u5TiYq7d0WrP-_6tUj1d6Y5ksGrzKOI4MlixceTqVOyvuolDAvjNanbwMHUSoVyCLYeHmPggBphuoXxyvm_Whlg/s1600/Israelites+crossing+Jordan.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 169px; height: 201px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09Ajgf4QiBivUJap1F2O9GFB1l314QrFyRtMnXgUnc9GePM-QFPx9u5TiYq7d0WrP-_6tUj1d6Y5ksGrzKOI4MlixceTqVOyvuolDAvjNanbwMHUSoVyCLYeHmPggBphuoXxyvm_Whlg/s320/Israelites+crossing+Jordan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684939565982677618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">The last fe</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">w months it has been striking me</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">, in a rather encouraging way, tha</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">t the Lord likes -maybe I should even say prefers to u</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">se the least likely people & circumstances to accomplish His will. I can </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">think of 2 reasons as to why He works like this…first & foremost for </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">His glory & secondly to</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> incr</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">ease our faith, to separate His people from those who are simply satisfied to accept the common, believe in the mundane & </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">follow the crowd. </span> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="">The Old Testament is teeming with examples that display this aspect of God; it was Able, then Seth, t</span><span style="">h</span><span style="">e you</span><span style="">nger brothers who found favor with t</span><span style="">he Lord; Sarai didn’t </span><span style="">have children until she was a senior; Jacob (the younger brother) was the one whose sons founded Israel, and of those brothers it was Joseph (the youngest, from a slave to a ruler) through whom God chose to save His people during times of famine. When Jehovah led His people out of Egypt it was through a sea! When they entered the Promised Land it was during the flood season that they crossed the Jordan River. Need I mention the collapse of Jericho & Rahab’s invol</span><span style="">vement? The downsizing of Gideon’s army? The choosing of David as king? (the youngest bother in a family of shepherds); That it was King David’s underhanded dealings with</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxOsE9KZ8ljNu-gIF9r1Okp-vky-NWcGbRbDln7vJLgj52I0U6paodzgqlRjreL1e9Qvax2-HWSJbNc1XRRnTyrepZ2Wsf_QAgqFc2u-G-Ft6wL1V9Xg5xI42HeSyiSJPh98KzAp9Bh0/s1600/Around+the+walls+of+Jericho.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 263px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxOsE9KZ8ljNu-gIF9r1Okp-vky-NWcGbRbDln7vJLgj52I0U6paodzgqlRjreL1e9Qvax2-HWSJbNc1XRRnTyrepZ2Wsf_QAgqFc2u-G-Ft6wL1V9Xg5xI42HeSyiSJPh98KzAp9Bh0/s320/Around+the+walls+of+Jericho.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684943922945092994" border="0" /></a><span style="Times New Roman","serif""> Bathsheba & her husband through whom came King Solomon & later the Messiah? In the New Testament, Jesus continues with the theme from the start; conceived of an unmarried virgin, hanging out with tax collectors & prostitutes, the unwanted –the unlikely & shunning the Jewish religious authority of the time. </span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="">In fact, the only time I can recall w</span><span style="">hen God chose the most likely “path” to unfold was when Saul was anointed as king over Israel. When the time of judges came to an end, the people of Israel cried out for a king –to be like the other nations. 1Samuel 9:1-2 says of Saul, “There was a Benjamite, a man of standing, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the </span><span style="">son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin. He had a son names Saul, an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites –a head taller than any of the others.</span><span style="">” Saul was handsome, the eldest & impressive. Yet, what disaster that ended in!</span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="">I think that sometimes we, as Christians, forget that God truly does choose & use the unlikely. We get caught up in the lies that we hear…& the lies we tell & perpetuate about ourselves….that we don’t have enough time, money, energy, we’ll be thought of as crazy, we’ll lose friends, etc. if we should choose to follow the promptings from the Holy Spirit. We must keep focused that those are lies, not what the word of God tells us. If He prompts us to do something, it must be because He has a plan. We forget that obedience is key to </span><span style="">spiritual growth. We get so wrapped up in being discouraged, isolated & busy, our focus is so inward that we end up missing the point for much of our spiritual journey.</span></p> <p style="text-align: left; font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="">I know for myself this is true, I am learning to have confidence in Him, not in me. I am not outgoing, well-spoken or particularly attractive. I don’t have extra</span><span style=""> money, re</span><span style="">sources or time. I have no high-up connections or otherwise areas of acclaim or expertise. YET, Christ is showing me that I need to st</span><span style="">ep out & follow. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">It’s not about me; it’s about what He wants to do through me! </i>Whether tha</span><span style="">t </span><span style="">be to<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> </i>pray with the person with whom He prompts me to pray or do whatever it is he is asking me to do. The latest in this adventure has been an appli</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTzIQGyJBmxeImZB2esvKjzEIKOiu31Qp_u8DHuK92aegw2xwq2wwj2TPaLoLYmw6iLeMDTp4hUVomCxYaEWHQdrFA0uTrzAEPXq-arWhy8rUWN4yehX9D_6skq-EgASvwAg0WYNXuLk/s1600/Meant+for+more.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 303px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTzIQGyJBmxeImZB2esvKjzEIKOiu31Qp_u8DHuK92aegw2xwq2wwj2TPaLoLYmw6iLeMDTp4hUVomCxYaEWHQdrFA0uTrzAEPXq-arWhy8rUWN4yehX9D_6skq-EgASvwAg0WYNXuLk/s320/Meant+for+more.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684940850206052994" border="0" /></a><span style="">cation I sent out a couple of weeks ago to an organization that aids persecuted Christians. I have applied to be a spokesperson for this organization in my area. Do I feel adequate? Absolutely no! Am I quaking inside? Positively. Do I believe that He has a pl</span><span style="">an and that this is</span><span style=""> a cause that truly awareness needs to be raised for? Ye</span><span style="">s! 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<div class="MsoNormal">Life keeps going by at a dizzying speed. Clean, school, cook, activities, making time for husband & each child, reading -it’s a hurricane, but one I am slowly learning to manage. I am The Queen of Unfulfilled Schedules. I don’t know how many chore, allowance, homeschool or other types of charts, schedules & Excel spreadsheets I have made in the past few years. I want something that works, so I am constantly improving, seeing what doesn’t work, what does & trying to make those changes. Unfortunately that makes for a lot of failed attempts. Although I have tried quite a few good ideas, I have found that their doom lies in the inconsistency I get sleep-wise. Now that Jana is 19 mos. & sleeping through the night, I feel like I am finally making headway & able to try again –for real this time :)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkYynOc5Q2Fg2UwyDKUGt-XpzGlHXfDj2Pev7doR6hIqtuUF2OJ5-xPiuguLh_H_he9zTfs8XbmoZWDuIcrNPWpLUK8Gw73N81r5wlj8GaZ_ZggWOQ_p0XK6Pj49bZt5ew8tNzAEdp7BD/s1600/Large+Fam.+Logistics+blog+pic.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkYynOc5Q2Fg2UwyDKUGt-XpzGlHXfDj2Pev7doR6hIqtuUF2OJ5-xPiuguLh_H_he9zTfs8XbmoZWDuIcrNPWpLUK8Gw73N81r5wlj8GaZ_ZggWOQ_p0XK6Pj49bZt5ew8tNzAEdp7BD/s1600/Large+Fam.+Logistics+blog+pic.png" /></a> </div><div class="MsoNormal">My biggest challenge has always been keeping things clean. This is compounded by living in 40yr. old house (that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>has been under constant renovation since we moved in 5 years ago), having 1 decrepit bathroom that never looks like you clean it<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>even if you do & the fact that I really wasn’t taught how to keep house in my younger years. Keep house?? What, are you from the 40’s? Well no -maybe the title of Home Manager sounds a little more modern -& applicable too. I recently read the book “Large Family Logistics” by Kim Brenneman. Although I disagree with some of what she has said, I have found a lot of wisdom in this book. One of the things said that struck me was that during the launch of the feminine movement women were so busy exploring their new freedoms that they never learned how to do the basics –keep a household running smoothly, particularly with a large family. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tend to think that there is an element of truth to this. Mind you a lot more women work outside the home now, therefore creating a whole new dynamic in the division of labour & expectations. That being said, I also know a number of women who really do seem to be on the ball and have a handle on the whole home management thing. I know for myself, I feel like I am forever playing a loosing game of whack-a-mole. My goal isn’t to have a clean house all the time or laundry that’s ironed to a tee or bookshelves that are dust free. My goals lie in what having a house that is somewhat managed allow me to do –it frees me of some stress, wasting time, bugging my kids & husband to do things, allows me to have people over more frequently & hopefully get out of the house more often! I also hope it serves in an unspoken way to let my husband know I love him & appreciate how he gets up early every morning and busts his tail at work for us as well as to give him a place he can relax..</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Back to the book. I have been roughly what Kim Brenneman suggests, but in her book she just defined things for me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She assigns each day a major task, breaking it down into manageable little tasks. Sounds simple. It really worked for me thus far –all of 3 days!<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"></span></span> The key is not to get distracted, something I think we all struggle with. It’s been good, because being wired to be task oriented as I am I am so busy trying to check off this list that I don’t have time to spend checking my emails excessively, or FB-ing or even snacking….</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The way I tend to implement things in our home is that I have an expectation that everyone will be involved, I have a plan of attack so to speak & I delegate & talk with both the kids and John about things (You can see on the chore list below there are things even Ally -5- can do). It’s unreasonable to expect that I alone will be responsible for everything. I have also found meal planning (particularly crockpots!) SO helpful & cost effective. Menu planning as well. I know a lot of these things are common, but they really do work!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Something else that this book hit home with was the way I interact and teach my kids. Is my short words, my temper honoring to God & my family? If I am lazy, slovenly or disrespectful to my kids or their dad they will see that & emulate that behaviour. Well, the book doesn’t actually say that but it got me thinking Most of the time, no. I really got off track with teaching them, my goals need to be character development primarily, knowledge second. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_c_QavAq3hRP5d8uCO0Tszu7mUhR-Hs77lt_SfJIjo8cc-KPNx_Jxins7Ho402W3HKZlfdxUJ8xZnTivrqSs9b6RwcNYAFge3FcT_oYBOUw2Ciwx7wRibwkZC-c-vYWn7q6yTjkjHqVE/s1600/Schedule+pic+for+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_c_QavAq3hRP5d8uCO0Tszu7mUhR-Hs77lt_SfJIjo8cc-KPNx_Jxins7Ho402W3HKZlfdxUJ8xZnTivrqSs9b6RwcNYAFge3FcT_oYBOUw2Ciwx7wRibwkZC-c-vYWn7q6yTjkjHqVE/s400/Schedule+pic+for+blog.JPG" width="281" /></a> It was really motivating to hear that she can get all her kids up & going & helping! Surely I can do it with mine! As a Christian women, I recognize that my husband is the leader in our household (although we are equals) but just as important is that I am a leader in the area of home management; of my kids during the day, of finances, of things getting done. I set the tone for the day & when he gets home. In the past week and a half I've started getting up early with John so I can be properly prepared for the day and am finding it's making a huge difference. Anyways, it is Wednesday, & I started on Monday, so we’ll see how things go for the next couple of weeks!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Here are some of websites that I have found to be resourceful in a number of areas:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://largefamilylogistics.blogspot.com/">Large Family Logistics website</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.duggarfamily.com/content/home">Duggar Family Homepage</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://allrecipes.com/">Allrecipes.com</a> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"></span></span></div>Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513456829580814271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779382882773974263.post-13240431350147978482011-08-25T07:39:00.000-07:002011-08-25T07:39:55.133-07:00Beauty...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezLzRRsBeUA&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezLzRRsBeUA&feature=related</a> </div><div class="MsoNormal"> This video really hit home for me. It reminded me of the bubble we in the west especially live in. I don’t even think I know the cultural depths, that the importance of appearance & what one has to attribute to that appearance runs. It has always bothered me. It is true that God does look at the heart and judges it within. Why is so difficult for us? </div><div class="MsoNormal"> Satan has done a very good job in keeping Christians in the west pre-occupied with appearance. I believe that we need to take care of ourselves and present ourselves well, but to what extent? If our life mission is to see His Kingdom come we should be pouring our resources into that -not us. Sacrifice is required. It’s so easy to become us-focused. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">More to the women out there.......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fIgTZORElrlPGoEnkeU1kkATripXqzcMYPAIJdm6gGIGMBZ2OEI6jsyZKOD6dd8IM4cwnFCbtdaOOF3hfLpo5JTgwzwOrVxr2LaW393J0U0hckaholmjmhrxO7OZoeX6waZKExRIXVGw/s1600/Woman+reading.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fIgTZORElrlPGoEnkeU1kkATripXqzcMYPAIJdm6gGIGMBZ2OEI6jsyZKOD6dd8IM4cwnFCbtdaOOF3hfLpo5JTgwzwOrVxr2LaW393J0U0hckaholmjmhrxO7OZoeX6waZKExRIXVGw/s200/Woman+reading.jpeg" width="142" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> The amount we, as women spend on hair, nails, tanning, spa treatments, new clothes, shoes and accessories is more than likely a great deal more than what the average Christian woman tithes. Or gives to the poor, or gives to supporting indigenous missionaries in other countries. We have forgotten that the true thing that sets us apart is supposed to be our willingness to give up ourselves, our pride in our appearance and replace that with true reliance on our King.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>In 1 Peter 3:1-6 it says, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behaviour of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewellery and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For in this way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. “</i></div><div class="MsoNormal">Wow, what an anti-cultural message. I can just see people cringing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhziSXSE3_7moVMQMlKDfy19DFEbtMOZOmpyA_GW8aJ8lfBODAF_CMVvK46_Sz0kjcRDZg71krybudRkF0l2bA0a5ZbecpYB3t6XBGpZbK0eM6neYSRuRgWWVeqg1MxtDxQZzhj6Pk9Tu8C/s1600/Woman+praying2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhziSXSE3_7moVMQMlKDfy19DFEbtMOZOmpyA_GW8aJ8lfBODAF_CMVvK46_Sz0kjcRDZg71krybudRkF0l2bA0a5ZbecpYB3t6XBGpZbK0eM6neYSRuRgWWVeqg1MxtDxQZzhj6Pk9Tu8C/s200/Woman+praying2.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">First of all, be submissive? What? Calling your husband a master? That sounds so derogatory, how will I get respect if I submit? What if my husband walks all over me? Phil 2:5, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus who.......made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death –even death on a cross!” Yes, not being a doormat, but healthy submission is Christlike. After all, our goal is to be more like Christ, right? Not more respected or being a right-fighter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As women, we often forget our <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>true identity lies in Christ.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Secondly, I have heard that as long as women don’t rely on the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“braided hair and the wearing of gold jewellery and fine clothes” </i>but still wear them anyways with that awareness it’s ok. Don’t get me wrong here, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with getting a fashionable haircut or earrings or clothes that don’t have holes in them is wrong. My point is that when the money we spend and the time we spend obtaining these things superceeds the time we spend devoting ourselves to the work of Christ, to time in prayer, to volunteering, to pouring ourselves out for His causes than there’s a problem. When we justify spending obscene amount of money on clothing yet hundreds of thousands are starving from famine as is the case right now in the African Horn countries right now I have a problem with that. And I think if you look at how Jesus asks us to live our lives He does to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think we believe the lie that the $100 or the $50 won’t make a difference but it does. We also believe the lie that we can’t feel free to share our faith if we don’t look a certain way. We have forgotten about reliance on the Holy Spirit. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As ambassadors of Christ our job is to point people to Christ through the power of His Holy Spirit and we don’t need to be looking our best to do that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXFhYE6cReP7ax09Xdh75N8wjEygV9IL8ewee4uBL-xcDnxt6Y5t4zAPrO8z730LIcac5n46ePx9_YuV9XZ1dhEHKTCapzJigz1FMC3VmuBygO7AYLvivI84Indup9DFV4vCO5nCOYIPJ/s1600/Woman+praising1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXFhYE6cReP7ax09Xdh75N8wjEygV9IL8ewee4uBL-xcDnxt6Y5t4zAPrO8z730LIcac5n46ePx9_YuV9XZ1dhEHKTCapzJigz1FMC3VmuBygO7AYLvivI84Indup9DFV4vCO5nCOYIPJ/s200/Woman+praising1.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">The next bit of this passage is one I have a problem with. Those of you who know me will know that I am neither quiet or gentle. I have struggled with this for a long time and I have come to accept that Christ has not made me that way for a reason. I think that this gentle and quiet spirit that this passage talks about is again being able to emulate the attitude of Christ. To be in consistant prayer and in the habit of spending good, regular time with Jesus. From this I discover I am not so harsh, judging and my words are more constructive, not destructive. I am more loving and relational to people; I don’t take offense so easily, my walls don’t go up as fast, I am more quick to forgive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am more open to the promptings of the Spirit. Please bear in mind that reading this that I have not done any studies or the like on this passage, it’s simply the conclusion I have come to based on my time with my maker. I could, and probably am, missing out on things. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So, an offensive blog? Probably to some. I find that if I offend no one I am usually off the mark in what I have written. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7FAK4FHvf2rhjr-GsnZgzhC4ZEg4emjclXbWZUuNDOzygBTdvsZo56SUuXxCpF5p7hayoWLAGs1Mj0DdZMhiaTRSEpKitPGyYqIQJr7_1Yjb0uwLqPMSppvnQnXLe8Iwt5JlgG8ovwHr/s1600/Sarah%2526Abraham.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7FAK4FHvf2rhjr-GsnZgzhC4ZEg4emjclXbWZUuNDOzygBTdvsZo56SUuXxCpF5p7hayoWLAGs1Mj0DdZMhiaTRSEpKitPGyYqIQJr7_1Yjb0uwLqPMSppvnQnXLe8Iwt5JlgG8ovwHr/s1600/Sarah%2526Abraham.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah & Abraham</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513456829580814271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779382882773974263.post-55357805096943824172011-08-21T11:33:00.000-07:002011-08-21T13:22:06.599-07:00The tapestry from underneath<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9MH6Va0sjFVR85ZZZe3wxMqXYrOfV8NnGz-x2W6-3-_SLjEMhA7Dt1K0ci1ZgDA4ljDQI0YKGd43QvAuMwIzZ9kzIWJ_yL10HmkJJhUf0MU0Zqf6Aq2QuPs5NtuC_ZIrur4ZakrBeeLt/s1600/Underside+of+tapestry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9MH6Va0sjFVR85ZZZe3wxMqXYrOfV8NnGz-x2W6-3-_SLjEMhA7Dt1K0ci1ZgDA4ljDQI0YKGd43QvAuMwIzZ9kzIWJ_yL10HmkJJhUf0MU0Zqf6Aq2QuPs5NtuC_ZIrur4ZakrBeeLt/s320/Underside+of+tapestry.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">It has been said that our lives, as messy, unpredictable and downright ugly as they can get at times are to be viewed like the underside of a tapestry. Although seemingly senseless when viewed from the underside, when one has the proper perspective & looks down on it from above a beautiful picture is slowly being weaved. All it takes is the right perspective.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Such I tell myself when I think on my life. When I turned 19, my life looked as such; I wasn’t wanting to ever have kids or marry but to work as a missionary in Russia. A marriage, 6 moves & 2 kids in 3 years, an abusive husband and then a divorce, going to school full-time while being an unsupported single mother and remarrying within 2 years only to deal with many other issues in my current marriage I won’t mention here and having to deal with my x-husband being in and out of my daughters lives while having 2 more girls weren’t exactly what I signed up for. Whew. What a horrible, run-on sentence.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So what did I sign up for? Simply, I signed up to be a servant of Christ. I’ve heard that the term “slave” is actually more of an accurate translation –however we veer away from that don’t we? Slave has a poor connotation –one associated with with lowliness and not a trace of pride. So, I signed up to be a slave to Jesus, to be willing, all the days of my life to be transformed one tiny bit at a time into His likeness for His glory, to further His Kingdom –not my own. And I have learned to trust that He knows what circumstances in my life are needed to effect that change.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I understand that some of where I am at is due to simple actions & consequences however I have had a lot more thrown at me than that. All to make me in the image of Christ. And, looking back, I am beginning to see things from the upside. Not that all is behind me, but that I am starting to see things really from a Heavenly perspective and have Romans 8:28 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in</i></b> me, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2YAPIP0HFMVhqznBDdonAGFk8vBWZCGLKm-ADNd9FuwmG-yBLTvXok9XCoEOTguzNQVmFTx2dOm-LkxrTXzMsPEFlaOMImC6l92CV0xaXMiY-wnFxJPYHjA2NS282nvzJzlxh6RHPiS4/s1600/Vine+Tapestry.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2YAPIP0HFMVhqznBDdonAGFk8vBWZCGLKm-ADNd9FuwmG-yBLTvXok9XCoEOTguzNQVmFTx2dOm-LkxrTXzMsPEFlaOMImC6l92CV0xaXMiY-wnFxJPYHjA2NS282nvzJzlxh6RHPiS4/s200/Vine+Tapestry.jpeg" width="200" /></a>I am starting to see that I can relate to those who are alone and broken and going through “stuff” in their lives. And I am beginning to love it. In Matthew 5:14-15 the Bible says, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house.” I as a sinner saved by grace, want to be that light to our world. It’s a dark, hopeless place. The people I find I am drawn to are not wealthy or have everything in order, but Jesus came for the sick, not the healthy. It’s truly amazing how much I have changed.</div><div class="MsoNormal">I still believe the Lord has put a calling on my life & on John’s life. The past year has been a testament to the power of listening to the Lord’s timing and being patient for Him. Last Sept, I started homeschooling Eva & Grace. At this point they were with their dad & step-mom half the time and she did half the schooling. A couple of times throughout the year circumstances arose at which I had good, legit grounds to take my x-husband to court and attain primary care of the girls again. It would have been much better for them as things were rough at their other house but I didn’t have His Peace with doing that. So I trusted & waited and missed them more and more. Then this past July circumstances with my x-husband changed and the girls have been living with me since July 11. Their father has also willingly signed over full custody to me. I am so thankful I waited on Him to be my deliverer. I literally have had the girls given to me. How beautiful. It has also taught be powerful lessons in praying for those who oppose me and forgiveness. It’s also taught me a lot about having a Jesus attitude.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pLj_YWPOM8JnQ1PvMtkr19LgmxE5K3u1E2UCiP2HRKGopGnp3i4MURPPJPcobjzzEfZsp3mUootDQZL-zG0KWCW7KZR7-Bm-0RFE6lnrya6b1ddD_6E-W6ztdaoDV-t3vat-haVsnOJ-/s1600/Daisy+Tapestry.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pLj_YWPOM8JnQ1PvMtkr19LgmxE5K3u1E2UCiP2HRKGopGnp3i4MURPPJPcobjzzEfZsp3mUootDQZL-zG0KWCW7KZR7-Bm-0RFE6lnrya6b1ddD_6E-W6ztdaoDV-t3vat-haVsnOJ-/s200/Daisy+Tapestry.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5IMq96EoAEodk1Bsn7QqN7nu_3TPQT2e9P0emhaib2krgubF6TUOQyxZB4c6tz86DJm5BEOuR02DdTPC9Q7XCgtxuiPa_yx6S5q92J2xETUFZVisuMhQwZlWMj7Smfhz6g0QdbkS0AFJs/s1600/Windstorm1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5IMq96EoAEodk1Bsn7QqN7nu_3TPQT2e9P0emhaib2krgubF6TUOQyxZB4c6tz86DJm5BEOuR02DdTPC9Q7XCgtxuiPa_yx6S5q92J2xETUFZVisuMhQwZlWMj7Smfhz6g0QdbkS0AFJs/s1600/Windstorm1.jpeg" /></a>Since the end of winter I have felt that the “winds of change” as I call them are with us. I don’t know what that means or how it will affect us, but I can’t help if this change with Grace & Eva coming to live with us full-time is part of that. All know is that John and I are willing to go where He will lead. </div>Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513456829580814271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779382882773974263.post-65684490741459746772011-07-07T21:26:00.000-07:002011-07-07T21:26:20.160-07:00Rediscovering the Art of Doing Nothing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYyJZN-m1eozrtIa0tDaqn8MBRTyo7nhSF0MqB-oY2qdjsNu90AgUXG8j0McrgsFFT8VabYyl_RwogCjRfopXTC9moi_MrwwR21uzqiTPb50joQnaPR1KeoQ7-PTnNTq0SIC1fu75qBiw/s1600/Buzy+bee+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYyJZN-m1eozrtIa0tDaqn8MBRTyo7nhSF0MqB-oY2qdjsNu90AgUXG8j0McrgsFFT8VabYyl_RwogCjRfopXTC9moi_MrwwR21uzqiTPb50joQnaPR1KeoQ7-PTnNTq0SIC1fu75qBiw/s200/Buzy+bee+1.jpg" width="193px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m the type of person who always likes to be busy. I need to keep moving, keep doing, keep planning or plotting and scheming of the next project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While that can be a good trait and keep me motivated it has one major drawback; it prevents me from living in the moment. The here & now. After all, that’s all Jesus<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>said we can count on . And that’s also why it’s so important to obey the promptings of His Spirit<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-because there might not be that tomorrow. Not necessarily that He will return tomorrow but that the opportunities to do what He is asking may not be there. On Monday morning, after awaking from a fairly decent sleep I said, “God, I have my to do list but what would you have me do?” Almost immediately it was on my heart to go over to a neighbour’s for coffee. Now, Thursday evening, it remains undone. It has been on my heart & in my mind all week. Now why haven’t I done it? Not sure, the busyness I guess. Have to clean house, have to spend good time with kids. Sounds lame to me though. I mean, if the LORD Almighty puts something on my heart & keeps it there surely that must mean He has a plan for things that I simply need to trust in & be obedient. How can I say I devote my life to Christ if I am so busy planning things, projects, extra-curriculars for the kids, etc., etc., that I don’t have the time or energy to be open to His plans? I mean, what if He has all this stuff I could be doing except I am too busy being busy & I drown it out? I miss out on life; true, spirit-led abundant life. In light of eternity does it matter so much if my kids are in piano, skating, gymnastics or whatever the choice is? I matters more that a) I invest in people’s lives & what His plan is & b) that I show & instil in my kids the value of people, of stillness, of showing them that His plans are so exciting if we only let Him work through us!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyways, I digress. I say the art of doing nothing because I think to a point it’s something that needs to be developed....a discipline of sorts. I know that even when I rest I have something going on in the back burner of my mind....I think it’s a problem a lot of women have. It’s like the saying men have waffle boxes of thought & women’s are like spaghetti.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Men have a waffle box my husband & I call the “nothing box.” I am very pleased to say that this weekend when camping I found my “nothing strand!” It started nowhere and ended there as well. I laid on a sleeping bag by a creek when camping & stared at the sky & trees & who cares? The point was that I truly was thinking about nothing. It was like getting 8 hours of solid, deep sleep. I was able to come back to reality and was much happier for it. Our campsite was still dirty, the tent disorganized & dishes still in need of washing, but that was ok. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I realize that I can’t do that every day, but still, I need to be more intentional about just relaxing & enjoying the presence of the One who made me without feeling like I have something to do when I am done.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDkRoQCst7UrW5ekzqQJv_4zkBomdnrpE5AW6XgziOjRduxxtm8bhOFcwbQ2LECYbpFpzjvTPkzqFxdzZdAZLjFHga1-A_EWzTvYJTP639Tf68iy7G2Big7Qvh81lx7iJqvFJToPp-kkg/s1600/Nothing+Box+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133px" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDkRoQCst7UrW5ekzqQJv_4zkBomdnrpE5AW6XgziOjRduxxtm8bhOFcwbQ2LECYbpFpzjvTPkzqFxdzZdAZLjFHga1-A_EWzTvYJTP639Tf68iy7G2Big7Qvh81lx7iJqvFJToPp-kkg/s200/Nothing+Box+1.jpg" width="200px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If it were only that easy...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div>Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513456829580814271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779382882773974263.post-20650909447042963262011-06-23T20:55:00.000-07:002011-06-23T20:55:07.262-07:00Sabbath Rest<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve always wondered about the Sabbath. I think sometimes because Jesus said it was ok to do good on the Sabbath we have taken that as free licence to do whatever <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-just try to not work at your actual job. This past winter I have tried to do crockpot meals on Sundays, to have everything done so it would feel like I “have it off.” It gave me the freedom to seek Him, to listen to the Spirit or spend time with my family because I was intentional about the things I wasn't going to do. If I truly believe that God gave us a day for Him, just for Him, a day our bodies, spirits and minds need to rest why isn’t my behaviour a reflection of that? What am I passing on to my kids? What do I want them to believe and see a Sabbath being?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want to sit and stare at a wall all day –that isn’t what I am talking about. More of being mindful of what I am doing and why -& ceasing if necessary. After all, at the end of the day the Lords wants my full submission to Him.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In a book I started reading today called, “The Rest of God.” Mark Buchanan says about working too much, “I was loosing perspective. Fissures in my character worked themselves here and there into cracks. Some widened into ruptures. I grew easily irritable, paranoid, bitter, self-righteous, gloomy. I was often argumentative. I preferred rightness to intimacy. I avoided and I withdrew. “ How true, how much of that is me at times......</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjolixKrkMOfDsgyKSGF5Ynmyd8fkj7AJCJFUrgkj-rng94G_5UpKWx8eBY07jHATpkMEmfMZj08SisyWpl-cJraHNRs9NRWibTjyf4KOvbFiivfbgj1Ep7G_8lqGmauEpatgUzzHGYWvny/s1600/The-Rest-of-God.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjolixKrkMOfDsgyKSGF5Ynmyd8fkj7AJCJFUrgkj-rng94G_5UpKWx8eBY07jHATpkMEmfMZj08SisyWpl-cJraHNRs9NRWibTjyf4KOvbFiivfbgj1Ep7G_8lqGmauEpatgUzzHGYWvny/s200/The-Rest-of-God.jpg" width="128px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The main point that I got from the book today was that I am working more and more I am actually accomplishing less. How true is this! That feels like my week exactly. So, since I read this in the morning, I actually laid down while my kids were out with a friend, took the dogs for a walk & read a bit. I didn’t do the list of jobs that I try to get done when the kids aren't around. I didn’t beat myself up. I tried to rest & feed my spirit. “Man cannot live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Mt. 4:4). I need to re-learn that I cannot live on a clean house, a done chore list, etc., etc. It sounds to simple, so elementary, but in a day I need to be so deliberate or I just go from one thing to the next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I was growing up, my sister & I and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>my parents did not have fun. We went huckleberry picking in isolation with the mosquitos or to a nearby leech infested “lake” to float around in an inner tube. All I can remember is work, work, work except for Sundays when we did nothing. That was boring, I would rather work. I need to change that natural tendancy to look for the next thing that needs to be done & start really putting effort into the relationships around me –as Jesus would do I think.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today, my little hiatus this am paid off. The kids came home & I was able to accomplish quite a bit; bake, finish switching the girls rms around, cleaned the water cooler, painted Eva’s bed. So I did better, but sitting here, typing this, did I miss the point? Shouldn’t I have gone to my neighbour who is going through a tough time & has repeatedly asked me to come for coffee? Isn't it relationally I am trying to improve as well? Agghh....sometimes I drive myself crazy with high expectation. </span></div>Anyways, I will keep reading, I am looking forwards to going to family camp for the wknd! I hope to find rest, finish reading my book and go from there....Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513456829580814271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779382882773974263.post-13741814955008117362011-06-17T10:26:00.000-07:002011-06-17T10:42:23.380-07:00ZZzzzzzzz.......<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><formulas><f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></f><f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></f><f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></f><f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></f><f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></f></formulas><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></shapetype><shape id="Picture_x0020_4" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" style="height: 66.75pt; margin-left: 389.25pt; margin-top: 54.75pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 66.75pt; z-index: -2;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="-485 0 -485 21357 21843 21357 21843 0 -485 0"><imagedata o:title="MP900430722[1]" src="file:///C:\Users\Marianne\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"></imagedata><wrap type="tight"></wrap></shape><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lately I think God has been trying to grow me in a different area. That of serving Him even when I am completely exhausted. Yes, I know, I have young kids, I am doing a lot it’s ok to not be the sister super-Christian. I have come to terms –rather begrudgingly that I cannot do everything. So, I am ok if the house doesn’t remain<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>immaculate, the Suburban still has chocolate milk that spilled in January somewhere in it & my kids wardrobes are about 3 months behind. But am I ok if because I am so tired that I don’t pray? Of all the things the Lord asks me, I think praying is pretty much the easiest. You don’t have to exert physical<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>energy or do anything really. If I can make a meal or help my kids I should be able to pray. </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Y2Z3V8Xi4zb2My2zR45ysngbjqLBQZwguW1q3jVTvDgnzKlo_g9LIsH7EsG4zfhdEZva40Uxj0JqyL26ZDSHQMZsSa0NjfimwJ5bMgq-xjC3XsmRJjucHnvPeXetoFlRqARii9wxACPV/s1600/Tired-Mom+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Y2Z3V8Xi4zb2My2zR45ysngbjqLBQZwguW1q3jVTvDgnzKlo_g9LIsH7EsG4zfhdEZva40Uxj0JqyL26ZDSHQMZsSa0NjfimwJ5bMgq-xjC3XsmRJjucHnvPeXetoFlRqARii9wxACPV/s200/Tired-Mom+1.jpg" width="151" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 or so weeks ago our basement flooded. Our bedroom is downstairs and so we are now upstairs awaiting new flooring for downstairs, my daughter’s room is also in a similar situation. Things are in a state of upheaval. I didn’t pray or read for almost week! It was uncanny that week, every night we would get odd phone calls late at night (everyone knows we are usually in bed by 9), kids waking up with weird issues. In other words, every night was reduced to about 6 hours of broken sleep. On day 6, I was reading an email when I came across the quote from Samuel Chadwick (above). Now I don’t think prayer is the only thing the devil fears, but it’s definitely a huge one. In one week of sleeplessness I became relatively immobilized for the Kingdom. It says, “If you falter in times of trouble how small is your strength!” (Pr. 24:10) My strength should be from my Lord, not the number of hours of sleep I get. Do I sound insane? Perhaps too expectant of His supernatural power? Even to my own ears I do, but I think it’s just my black & white personality emerging –and I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad thing. To try and put my expectations in perspective I think about believers around the world I’ve heard about. I read about a mother in Indonesia who is up at 4:30 to spend time with Him before dealing with her children, working a full day & then coming home to stay up until midnight working on evangelical radio programs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said s<shape id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 78pt; margin-left: 159.75pt; margin-top: 248.2pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 117pt; z-index: -1;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="-277 0 -277 21185 21600 21185 21600 0 -277 0"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><imagedata o:title="MP900400411[1]" src="file:///C:\Users\Marianne\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.jpg"></imagedata><wrap type="tight"></wrap></span></shape>he the Lord gives her strength because He calls her to it. There are other stories, refugees, people in bonded labour who experiences are similar to this woman’s. Exhausted, yet persevering. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div></div>Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513456829580814271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779382882773974263.post-700004459020873082011-06-16T16:43:00.000-07:002011-06-16T16:43:25.501-07:00First PostWell.............I have to say I am new to this as you will soon discover. I actually only read my first blog yesterday and it was that persons first time as well. So, here goes nothing & to hoping it becomes a positive thing, not another extension of my to do list. Already I've wasted a good 3 hours pecking around on the computer trying to set this thing up. I hope to post 2-3x/wk but who knows. I think there's a certain vulnerability to being on here which is among the reasons I've thus far dismissed the urge to start. Forget that, I only live once and blogging isn't exactly living on the edge....I should be able to handle it :)Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513456829580814271noreply@blogger.com0