Today, my mom is at the Great Banquet. Take away the daily distractions, the background noise of TV, computers, cell phones and try to really listen to God. It’s easier sometimes when we take away that background noise.
I will not be attending the Great Banquet, but still am going to enjoy my own quiet time. There is a cabin like place at a state park, complete with buffalo and other animals, will be my place for quiet time.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend – and I’ll be back in touch next week.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Is It Really Okay?
I am getting ready for work and just heard a commercial for a TV show. One line in particular caught my attention, “He’s a jerk, but he’s also a genius – so it’s okay.” Is it really okay?
Why do we stratify behavior that way? You are really smart and have a prestigious job so you can behave however you want. You are not a genius, didn’t score 800 on your SATs, don’t have a prestigious position so you have to behave differently. How in the world does that make sense?
The birth of Jesus, announced by angels to the shepherds – by angels! These were not the societal cream of the crop. Hanging out with smelly sheep, not considered to be politically or socially acceptable, the birth of Jesus was announced to them! Talk about blowing away the preconceptions of our little minds.
Lord, please don’t let my preconceptions and small mindedness get in your way!
Why do we stratify behavior that way? You are really smart and have a prestigious job so you can behave however you want. You are not a genius, didn’t score 800 on your SATs, don’t have a prestigious position so you have to behave differently. How in the world does that make sense?
The birth of Jesus, announced by angels to the shepherds – by angels! These were not the societal cream of the crop. Hanging out with smelly sheep, not considered to be politically or socially acceptable, the birth of Jesus was announced to them! Talk about blowing away the preconceptions of our little minds.
Lord, please don’t let my preconceptions and small mindedness get in your way!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Recognizing
We often wait until there is a ceremony, an event, or even a funeral to express how we feel about someone. Have you ever wondered why? How much would it mean to someone if we simply recognized them for showing up on a regular day, with regular weather, regular happenstances, regular, regular, regular…. But, in the midst of all that regularity, what if we stop to say thank you or I appreciate you? What a way to change a regular day into an irregular day.
How the world changes, the world of one individual simply explodes into fireworks when we recognize them for their efforts. Let’s give it a try! Inspire someone, share joy with them.
How the world changes, the world of one individual simply explodes into fireworks when we recognize them for their efforts. Let’s give it a try! Inspire someone, share joy with them.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Home, Home on the ???
“Home, home on the….” I always seem to get stuck there. Where is home? I mentioned before that I’ve moved around a bit, so when I get that inevitable question of “where are you from?” My answer is always a question back, “at what grade?” In other words, it changed based on different times in my life. So, home has been mobile, and then family home is someplace else.
I am looking forward to a trip home (family home) in the fairly near future, thinking about seeing my family, times together. I get more excited with each passing day. Living in Iowa for 12 years, it is home and yet, at the same time is not. Where is home?
I look around me at the pains, the hurts, the terrible things we do to each other. Is this really my home? What a wonderful thing to be able to say, and know, that this is not my home. Not my real home. But, not being at home can be a lonely proposition. It can feel as if I am alone in the wide weird world. Turning to my Bible, I am reminded that I am not alone in this, I am not alone in this sojourn to my home.
“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us,” (1 Peter 2:11-12). Friends who are also aliens and strangers in the world, we are not alone! Then, there are instructions following. This is the decision in life choices, decisions which promotes God’s glory to those who do not know him or have spurned him.
Returning back to the idea of alone, of being away from our real home, I look just a few verses above in 1 Peter 2, to verses nine and ten. “But you are a chose people a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” Not alone, but a nation – we are promised a home. One day, I will finish that song. “Home, home on the…. Streets of the heavenly kingdom.”
I am looking forward to a trip home (family home) in the fairly near future, thinking about seeing my family, times together. I get more excited with each passing day. Living in Iowa for 12 years, it is home and yet, at the same time is not. Where is home?
I look around me at the pains, the hurts, the terrible things we do to each other. Is this really my home? What a wonderful thing to be able to say, and know, that this is not my home. Not my real home. But, not being at home can be a lonely proposition. It can feel as if I am alone in the wide weird world. Turning to my Bible, I am reminded that I am not alone in this, I am not alone in this sojourn to my home.
“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us,” (1 Peter 2:11-12). Friends who are also aliens and strangers in the world, we are not alone! Then, there are instructions following. This is the decision in life choices, decisions which promotes God’s glory to those who do not know him or have spurned him.
Returning back to the idea of alone, of being away from our real home, I look just a few verses above in 1 Peter 2, to verses nine and ten. “But you are a chose people a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” Not alone, but a nation – we are promised a home. One day, I will finish that song. “Home, home on the…. Streets of the heavenly kingdom.”
Monday, April 26, 2010
The Woman with the Scarf
I went to get lunch the other day at a local coffee and sandwich shop. In front of me, in the line, was a rather elegant looking woman with a black suit and a lovely grey scarf. After ordering a tasty chicken salad sandwich and a chilled coffee that was full of lovely tastes and caffeine, I moved along to the check out register. Noticing this woman in front of me, I complimented her on her scarf.
My perception of this woman, well dressed, manicured, confident posture, it appeared she was quite self-assured. Just a simple compliment led her to share a thank you, and how she was just never certain wearing scarves, but that she had a ton of scarves and never wore them. Here this lovely and assured person who was effected by a simple compliment from a stranger.
You never know how a simple compliment can make a difference in someone’s life.
My perception of this woman, well dressed, manicured, confident posture, it appeared she was quite self-assured. Just a simple compliment led her to share a thank you, and how she was just never certain wearing scarves, but that she had a ton of scarves and never wore them. Here this lovely and assured person who was effected by a simple compliment from a stranger.
You never know how a simple compliment can make a difference in someone’s life.
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