I'm back.......
Sooooooo much change has taken place in my life over the last 5 years and I must say that I know one thing, I am not fond of change. I know that I would be bored if things stayed the same, but I like being in a rut sometimes. There is a false sense of security that goes with having things in place and being able to "depend" on things. The obvious thing here is that nothing is trustworthy on this earth. Nothing stays the same even if it tries because if there is life it is growing and that means change.
It is so easy to get connected to the things of this earth and then when they let me down, to be totally wiped out by them. I know that I can go into a tailspin when something is in my life that I've grown to love, to count on, to enjoy or appreciate suddenly is gone.
I do also know something else though. What change appears to be about at first when it happens isn't always what it really is about. Things appear one way, but later the change changes. Imagine that. It may first seem to be a bad thing, but later it appears to be a good thing. It may be that the outcome of the change appears to be going one way, but really isn't going that way at all. There always seems to be a bigger picture. What is good and what I was so comfortable enjoying may be so much less than what the Lord would have for me.Thus, change. I just can't imagine life with things different than what they always have been. So often things turn out for the better if I just remember that all change has to be sifted through the hands of the Lord before they happen to me. I am His child and in His hands. That is the safest place to be through ALL change.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
It's just a season.
I thought spring was on the way to Northern Iowa a while ago...like more than a month ago. BUT, it is still cold and now we have the spring storms and tornados that cause so much anxiety. I'm so thankful that God is a God of order. We know for sure that spring follows winter, and summer will be just around the corner. As we live our lives we know that these seasons come each year and that there are signs and that there are certain characteristics of each. We can count on it.
Well, the seasons of life are similar, but different. We can know the order, but what will happen in each season is so different for each person, and actually it is different every day.
This empty nest season is one that I never prepared for, and no one ever told me much about it. Maybe that is why it has been so hard. All my life I knew that I wanted to be a mom, and God blessed me so I was. I knew my job was to raise my children to follow the Lord, and I did. Now, they are on their own following the Lord and I wonder what my new job should be. Oh, I am here for the kids, but they don't need me like they used to. I pray for them and their activities, but I feel like I've lost my way some days. I am not sure who to help, where to help, where to work, what to do and that I'm making a difference in this world. Fortunately, I have the Spirit of God that leads me as I read His word, but unfortunately it doesn't spell things out specifically.
I read the other day the "The righteous shall live by faith."
Day by day, step by step, decision by decision, I move forward believing that I am headed in the way that the Lord wants me to go.....for today, and tomorrow, for a season, and for a lifetime. That is what this life is all about. Live by faith in Jesus.
Well, the seasons of life are similar, but different. We can know the order, but what will happen in each season is so different for each person, and actually it is different every day.
This empty nest season is one that I never prepared for, and no one ever told me much about it. Maybe that is why it has been so hard. All my life I knew that I wanted to be a mom, and God blessed me so I was. I knew my job was to raise my children to follow the Lord, and I did. Now, they are on their own following the Lord and I wonder what my new job should be. Oh, I am here for the kids, but they don't need me like they used to. I pray for them and their activities, but I feel like I've lost my way some days. I am not sure who to help, where to help, where to work, what to do and that I'm making a difference in this world. Fortunately, I have the Spirit of God that leads me as I read His word, but unfortunately it doesn't spell things out specifically.
I read the other day the "The righteous shall live by faith."
Day by day, step by step, decision by decision, I move forward believing that I am headed in the way that the Lord wants me to go.....for today, and tomorrow, for a season, and for a lifetime. That is what this life is all about. Live by faith in Jesus.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Not as easy as I thought....
Life happens. Sometimes I have the best intentions to come here and write a few of the words going through my head, but it just doesn't get done.
I have decided I am a woman of the spoken word, not the written word so much.
I hate to disappoint, but I'm not sure how many posts are going to happen, especially now that spring is starting to show itself here in northern IA.
It has been a winter to remember....or forget. I've learned alot about myself. I am more emotional than I originally thought, and more prone to sadness when it is cloudy out (for months on end).
Expectations get in my way and disappointment wipes me out. Somehow I feel betrayed when things don't go as I expect them to go. Sadness sets in when people don't act as I think they should.
I guess I'm not in charge of things here in my world. That is probably good because I know that the One who is, always is interested in my best and the best for others too. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He can be depended on and has the BIG picture in His control. It is best to just take one day at a time, live one moment at a time, enjoy it, trust God (not people)and remember what God says: So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt. 6:34). Getting ahead of God, playing God, and ignoring God just bring disappointments. It is best not to go there.
His light is sunshine even when it is a cloudy day in IA. Remember to look to HIM and His word.
I have decided I am a woman of the spoken word, not the written word so much.
I hate to disappoint, but I'm not sure how many posts are going to happen, especially now that spring is starting to show itself here in northern IA.
It has been a winter to remember....or forget. I've learned alot about myself. I am more emotional than I originally thought, and more prone to sadness when it is cloudy out (for months on end).
Expectations get in my way and disappointment wipes me out. Somehow I feel betrayed when things don't go as I expect them to go. Sadness sets in when people don't act as I think they should.
I guess I'm not in charge of things here in my world. That is probably good because I know that the One who is, always is interested in my best and the best for others too. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He can be depended on and has the BIG picture in His control. It is best to just take one day at a time, live one moment at a time, enjoy it, trust God (not people)and remember what God says: So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt. 6:34). Getting ahead of God, playing God, and ignoring God just bring disappointments. It is best not to go there.
His light is sunshine even when it is a cloudy day in IA. Remember to look to HIM and His word.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
One sentence spoken....
I can't get words off my mind..imagine that.
I've been pondering the WORD of God. That could mean His Son as it is written in John 1:1 or it could mean his Word in general. Proverbs are just as awesome to me as the proverbs my mother shared. (I've thought of more of them lately)
ANYWAY, some of the Proverbs that have jumped out at me are:
Prov. 19:21-Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
Prov. 13:3-The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
Prov. 13:14-The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn aside from the snares of death.
Maybe this is why I appreciate the words my mother collected and filed, and shared with us, and even more, the Proverbs in the Bible. There is much wisdom to be passed on.
I was thinking of some words spoken to me when I was young and how they have affected me for life. I was told once that my mouth and brain would be what I would need to rely on in life, because I sure was not coordinated.
I never felt comfortable in gym class or in the sports arena. Oh, I was good in the stands as I cheered the team on, BUT don't make me get out on a court of any kind and actually participate.
A relative, when I was in third grade, patted my tummy, and said, "My, aren't you getting to be a BIG girl!! From that point on, I was aware of my big tummy and my "larger than my sisters'" frame.
BUT, I've also had people tell me that I was so good at....., and boy, if you set your mind to doing this, it Will get done, and BOY, you made such a difference in that...
What a salve that was to my heart.
Seeing how others' words hurt or help me has caused me to pray that God would put a guard on my lips and that He would help me speak LIFE into the lives of others.
WORDS are so powerful. Be careful how you use them, and the tone that goes with them.
They can make a difference in someone's life.
I've been pondering the WORD of God. That could mean His Son as it is written in John 1:1 or it could mean his Word in general. Proverbs are just as awesome to me as the proverbs my mother shared. (I've thought of more of them lately)
ANYWAY, some of the Proverbs that have jumped out at me are:
Prov. 19:21-Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
Prov. 13:3-The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
Prov. 13:14-The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn aside from the snares of death.
Maybe this is why I appreciate the words my mother collected and filed, and shared with us, and even more, the Proverbs in the Bible. There is much wisdom to be passed on.
I was thinking of some words spoken to me when I was young and how they have affected me for life. I was told once that my mouth and brain would be what I would need to rely on in life, because I sure was not coordinated.
I never felt comfortable in gym class or in the sports arena. Oh, I was good in the stands as I cheered the team on, BUT don't make me get out on a court of any kind and actually participate.
A relative, when I was in third grade, patted my tummy, and said, "My, aren't you getting to be a BIG girl!! From that point on, I was aware of my big tummy and my "larger than my sisters'" frame.
BUT, I've also had people tell me that I was so good at....., and boy, if you set your mind to doing this, it Will get done, and BOY, you made such a difference in that...
What a salve that was to my heart.
Seeing how others' words hurt or help me has caused me to pray that God would put a guard on my lips and that He would help me speak LIFE into the lives of others.
WORDS are so powerful. Be careful how you use them, and the tone that goes with them.
They can make a difference in someone's life.
WORDS, Lots and lots of words
I am a WORDS person. Just come and visit and look around. I have words everywhere on my walls.
I love words of affirmation, words of truth, and I love to share my words, or stories with whomever will listen.
WELL, I have an I Spy today. (See my I Spy blog to be clued in on this concept)
It has to do with my words....
Don't ever think that what you say is not making a difference in the lives of those who are listening.
We may never know how we are affecting others. Sometimes we are allowed a glimpse. This is what happened on Monday.
I received a call from my daughter, Bethany. She said, "MOM, do you remember talking to a lady in the chiropractor's office a while ago? " Now, that is a vague question. Which lady in whose office how long ago?
She continued, "Well, you shared with her what I was doing and where I am working. You told her that the winery I work at is very beautiful. You told her about me and my passions. AND, today, because of your conversation, she called me and booked a wedding date for her daughter here at Park Farm winery. AMAZING, and she told Bethany the story.
Funny thing is that the Winery and my daughter live 2 hours to the southeast of us, the lady lives about an hour south, and I was in a Dr.'s office a half hour to the southwest of our home.
You never know how words will affect the things that are, will be, and could be...
Someone once told me that words shared (gossip, in particular) are like a bag of feathers thrown into the wind. To gather them again is impossible. You never know how far they will fly and where they will land, and what affect they will have on others; for the bad or the good.
I love words of affirmation, words of truth, and I love to share my words, or stories with whomever will listen.
WELL, I have an I Spy today. (See my I Spy blog to be clued in on this concept)
It has to do with my words....
Don't ever think that what you say is not making a difference in the lives of those who are listening.
We may never know how we are affecting others. Sometimes we are allowed a glimpse. This is what happened on Monday.
I received a call from my daughter, Bethany. She said, "MOM, do you remember talking to a lady in the chiropractor's office a while ago? " Now, that is a vague question. Which lady in whose office how long ago?
She continued, "Well, you shared with her what I was doing and where I am working. You told her that the winery I work at is very beautiful. You told her about me and my passions. AND, today, because of your conversation, she called me and booked a wedding date for her daughter here at Park Farm winery. AMAZING, and she told Bethany the story.
Funny thing is that the Winery and my daughter live 2 hours to the southeast of us, the lady lives about an hour south, and I was in a Dr.'s office a half hour to the southwest of our home.
You never know how words will affect the things that are, will be, and could be...
Someone once told me that words shared (gossip, in particular) are like a bag of feathers thrown into the wind. To gather them again is impossible. You never know how far they will fly and where they will land, and what affect they will have on others; for the bad or the good.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Ponderings
Some of mom and dad's quotes have been rattling around in my head this week. Tonight, we went to a basketball game that had little energy. The kids were playing the game, but not really playing it with their hearts in it. We talked about the push to excel, and succeed, and compete, and how things have changed over the years. It brought to mind what my dad used to say to us when we were young....You've got to "have alot of wanna" in order to get a lot done.
I mentioned that to the friends that were with us. One said that Michael Jordan said that "there are 3 types of people... those who wish they could get things done, those who want to get things done, and those who get things done."
My dad was also known for another quote. One day I was bemoaning the fact that I didn't have a boyfriend. He told me not to worry because "there is never a pot so crooked that you can't find a lid to fit"
Mom told us: "Haste makes waste"
"A stitch in time saves nine"
"If, at first, you don't succeed, try, try again"
"Never put off until tomorrow, what you can do today"
There are more. I will share them another day. It is getting late, and you know,
"Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
I better hit the sack. Sweet dreams, and "don't let the beddy bugs bite."
Oh, I miss my mom and dad.
I mentioned that to the friends that were with us. One said that Michael Jordan said that "there are 3 types of people... those who wish they could get things done, those who want to get things done, and those who get things done."
My dad was also known for another quote. One day I was bemoaning the fact that I didn't have a boyfriend. He told me not to worry because "there is never a pot so crooked that you can't find a lid to fit"
Mom told us: "Haste makes waste"
"A stitch in time saves nine"
"If, at first, you don't succeed, try, try again"
"Never put off until tomorrow, what you can do today"
There are more. I will share them another day. It is getting late, and you know,
"Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
I better hit the sack. Sweet dreams, and "don't let the beddy bugs bite."
Oh, I miss my mom and dad.
Iowa weather
I've lived here, in Iowa, all of my life and now have found something good about its weather. Weather is a common thread to all people. In Iowa, it changes daily, sometimes hourly, like it did yesterday. All day the temperature went down, hour by hour, and no matter where I was, there was a buzz about how cold it was getting.
For that reason, I love Iowa weather. It doesn't matter if you are in line in any store, if you are passing someone on the sidewalk, in a vehicle of public transportation, etc. you have something to talk about with the person next to you. I have heard stories of snow storms, blizzards, white-outs, tornadoes, winters that produced numerous inches of snow, the fun others have had in the snow, memories of travel in the snowy conditions, memories of travel away from the snowy weather....and now they are calling for warmer temps at the end of the week which will bring on conversations about a thaw, how spring is just around the corner. Some, in my area among the Amish and Mennonites, may bring up the fact that we haven't seen the snow on the tail of a robin yet, and that the last snow hasn't come because it hasn't stuck to the north side of the trees.
Does this common experience of having to keep ahead of the weather help to give the Midwest its reputation about being friendlier than the coasts? We help each other stay informed of what is to come. I wonder how the people in California start their conversations with strangers in line. Hey, another warm day today, right?????? Then, what do you say?
Yes, and we are supposed to have warm weather tomorrow and all of next week or was that month or ???
You know, I'm glad I live in Iowa with all of its seasons and all of its diverse weather. Thanks to that I have met a lot of nice people.
I just wish tomorrow was going to be warmer...and the next day, and the next day...
For that reason, I love Iowa weather. It doesn't matter if you are in line in any store, if you are passing someone on the sidewalk, in a vehicle of public transportation, etc. you have something to talk about with the person next to you. I have heard stories of snow storms, blizzards, white-outs, tornadoes, winters that produced numerous inches of snow, the fun others have had in the snow, memories of travel in the snowy conditions, memories of travel away from the snowy weather....and now they are calling for warmer temps at the end of the week which will bring on conversations about a thaw, how spring is just around the corner. Some, in my area among the Amish and Mennonites, may bring up the fact that we haven't seen the snow on the tail of a robin yet, and that the last snow hasn't come because it hasn't stuck to the north side of the trees.
Does this common experience of having to keep ahead of the weather help to give the Midwest its reputation about being friendlier than the coasts? We help each other stay informed of what is to come. I wonder how the people in California start their conversations with strangers in line. Hey, another warm day today, right?????? Then, what do you say?
Yes, and we are supposed to have warm weather tomorrow and all of next week or was that month or ???
You know, I'm glad I live in Iowa with all of its seasons and all of its diverse weather. Thanks to that I have met a lot of nice people.
I just wish tomorrow was going to be warmer...and the next day, and the next day...
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