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Wednesday, May 13, 2009

The Ant

I was home for lunch, and I had just finished washing the dishes. As I was rinsing the last of the soap bubbles from the sink, I noticed one lone ant! "UGH!! who is this ant that would dare invade my kitchen?!?" was my first thought. >>>>>>I will be honest, my second thought was "poor little fella, he must not have a family or friends because he is all alone." I (sorta) wish I could say I introduced him to some friends, and set him up with a cute little wife to live happily-ever-after. You know, fairy-tale-style... but I must confess I knocked him into the sink & turned the water on full bore. >>>>>>Again, I must confess... as I saw him swirling around the sink drain (it looked like it was big over-powering whirlpool) my heart again went out to him as I thought "YEP! I've been there!!! Sorry buddy." >>>>>>The point could be made that if I were really feeling compassion for him, I could have 'jumped in and saved him'. But instead I really just had this amazing view of life, and it just made me completely grateful for Jesus!!! :) >>>>>>Have YOU ever felt like you were a tiny ant in a huge over-powering whirlpool?!?! I have. and although they have not killed me, they have caused me to call out (LOUDLY!) for help & compassion! for Grace! They have sent me to my knees with my arms open wide crying "Daddy, please come save me!" and EVERYTIME, not sometimes, EVERYTIME...JESUS was there!! ISN'T THAT EXCITING!!! Now, don't get me wrong, He didn't always do it the way I would have chosen - nor did He always do it as soon as I would have arranged, because let's be honest...if I had had the choice I would have preferred Jesus showed up BEFORE, and then PREVENTED the huge whirlpools in my life! :) I mean c'mon...Hello? pain hurts! :) LOL But I am SO GRATEFUL that JESUS was there WITH ME, and FOR ME!!!! I could not say that - IF He had prevented every trial and 'storm' in my life! If we never had rough times in life, we wouldn't need Jesus. We would not need faith. We would not need a Saviour! >>>>>>I have heard it said that sin will take you farther than you want to go; keep you longer than you wanted to stay; and cost you more than you wanted to pay. And it's true. >>>>>>I am so grateful for the Lord!! HE jumped into the huge whirlpool of life and death, and paid the price that we could not afford!! He died, so that we might live!!!! Do NOT take it for granted my friends; take it to heart!!!! :)

Friday, April 24, 2009

The Exact Same Place???

The alarm goes off, and I wake to see my kitty sleeping next to me. He is my adorable, snuggle bug so I am not surprised that he is near me...as close as he can get! I love on him a little while, and then get out of bed to prepare for my day. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I go off to work, and a few hours later I return for lunch, to find my sweet baby is still is the exact same spot he was when I awoke that morning! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I come home after my shift at work, and he has still seemingly not moved a hair. Most days I chuckle and pet him, while teasing him about being lazy. Some days I just think "Oh what joy to be a cat! where do I sign up?". One day it reminded me of some people I know. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Have you ever ran into an old friend after a few months? or several years...and they are in the exact same spot! They are fighting the same spiritual battle that they were dealing with the last time you saw them. It seems that they have not grown at all spiritually. Nor do they even seem to notice it sometimes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ They are still trying to convince God that THEY have ALL the answers... if He would just answer their prayers. If He would just see fit to work it out the way they have asked him to do it. As I am thinking, it occurrs to me -> do I do that? Do I have God in a box? Am I still at the same spiritual level I was at 20 years ago? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Oh I know...We all come to Christ as babes, needing the milk of the word. but some of us never stop feeding on the milk! Can you imagine a 50 year old man STILL, just eatting baby food and nothing else? It is insane! There is NO way an adult could get enough nutrition to function the way God has intended, by living on just milk and baby food. As we grow, we desire steak...the meat of the word! And yet, don't we do that to ourselves sometimes?? We want to stay safe, and have simple poblems. Oh Lord...please just tell me the nice stuff. Oh Lord, please don't let me get hurt. Oh Lord, please don't make me have to grow...new things are uncomfortable for me. I get nervous when I have to trust...please don't make me have to step out of my comfort zone...etc... Many times, I believe we may not even realize that is our inner most prayer, because we of course do not word it that way...but really? Isn't that what we WANT to say to the Lord? I have. I do...Life hurts sometimes!! :D But ultimately, I don't want to survive my life just having milk. I want to THRIVE in my life time...I want the meat of the Word!! I want the good stuff!! I want ALL that God has for me!!! I want the exciting dance, the adventure, the real stuff...I want all of JESUS!! :) and I am forever grateful, that as HIS child...I am able to walk in the full life of Christ! Yes, it isn't always easy. no, it doesn't always feel safe...but honey, it is SO worth it!!! :D

Saturday, February 21, 2009

"Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread."

"Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread." by Max Lucado *What a statement of trust! Whatever you want me to have is all I want. Some days the plate runs over. God keeps bringing out more food and we keep loosening our belt. A promotion. A privilege. A friendship. A gift. A lifetime of grace. An eternity of joy. There are times when we literally push ourselves back from the table, amazed at God's kindness. "You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup fills with blessing" (Ps. 23:5 MSG). *And then there are those days when, well, when we have to eat our broccoli. Our daily bread could be tears or sorrow or discipline. Our portion may include adversity as well as opportunity. ***This verse was on my mind last night during family devotions. I called my daughters to the table and set a plate in front of each. In the center of the table I placed a collection of food: some fruit, some raw vegetables and some Oreo cookies. "Every day," I explained, "God prepares for us a plate of experiences. What kind of plate do you most enjoy?" ***The answer was easy. Sara put three cookies on her plate. Some days are like that, aren't they? Some days are "three cookie days." Many are not. Sometimes our plate has nothing but vegetables--twenty-four hours of celery, carrots, and squash. Apparently God knows we need some strength, and though the portion may be hard to swallow, isn't it for our own good? Most days, however, have a bit of it all. Vegetables, which are healthy but dull. Fruit, which tastes better and we enjoy. And even an Oreo, which does little for our nutrition, but a lot for our attitude. ***All are important and all are from God. ***---> The next time your plate has more broccoli than apple pie, remember who prepared the meal. And the next time your plate has a portion you find hard to swallow, talk to God about it. Jesus did. In the garden of Gethsemane his Father handed him a cup of suffering so sour, so vile, that Jesus handed it back to heaven. "My Father," he prayed, "if it is possible may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will" (Matt. 26:39). ***Even Jesus was given a portion he found hard to swallow. But with God's help, he did. And with God's help, you can too!!

clean house?

Do you know people who have those picture perfect homes? You know -> not a dust bunny to be found; not 1 finger print on any window; not a single dog hair any place in the building; no magazine out of place; no dish in the sink; no toaster crumbs have ever touched the counter; no mail left on the table everyday; no shoes off of the shoe rack; etc...! I do NOT live THERE! I want to! but sadly, no. I day dream about coming home to those picture perfect magazine-looking-homes! Such rich-colored, perfectly polished furniture; the un-shedding dog; the pristine view from the front door as you enter....Ahhhhhh, sounds heavenly!!! *MY guys have fingerprints on EVERYTHING; the dogs have hair on every chair; the cats curl up on every item of clothing they can knock down; the dirty dishes seem to multiple in rabbit-time; the laundry basket usually has plenty to hold; dust bunnies galore; the phone ringing off the hook; my mom making me scratch my head in wonder; being pulled in ever direction at once because seemingly no one can function without me for 20 minutes; nope, not a moment of silence to be found! *Heck, I'd settle for my home to STILL be clean even 15 minutes after I have put away the cleaning supplies!! :) I dream of quiet time!! where I can read a book, or enjoy a whole magazine; or sip my morning coffee in peace & quiet; where dogs are seen and not heard; where I can hear myself think; where my husband doesn't diasgree with me 98% of the time; where my son will not desire ALL of my attention; where I can take a bath without conversations that can not wait until I am done; etc...! ***But then!! All of those years of working in nursing homes come in a great flash before my eyes...and I am smacked with the realization that my house will not ALWAYS be full & crazy!!! That there will most likely come a time when my husband (who is 10 years my senior, with heart issues) will not always be here. That my son will one day have a wife, kids, home repairs, a mortgage to pay, and a full & crazy life of his own to juggle -> and good ole mom will be pushed to the back burner of his focus! When my neices and nephews wont need me so much; when my pets are no longer alive; when my parents are no longer here to make me crazy & make me laugh; when my brothers have forgotten my name from old age; when my aunts & uncles have long since left this planet and wait for me in heaven; when my cherished friends will need a walker to get to our girl's dinners; And there will most likely come a day when I will be alone and bored and praying for this loud, crazy life that I am worn out from at the moment...and so, I choose to be grateful in this loud, 'lived-in', dust bunny & pet hair covered, loving home!!!! *but don't feel badly: I will have plenty of quiet time to think and read in my nursing home...but for now -> there is fun to be had!!!!! :D So...I am off to make memories with my loud, crazy family...and oh yeah -> don't forget the camera!!!! ;o)

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

My prayer, my hope, is that when people meet me...

I fail miserably, mostly when I try to do everything in my own strength. It is when I give it all to God, that His Love shines through, not mine. Only when I humble myself and remember what I am not, can I share with other people what an awesome God He is. "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Galations 2: 20 My prayer, my hope, is that when people meet me, they won't wonder what I do, or who I am. They won't even want to know anything about me, but somehow through my faith and failures in this imperfect life I live, they will want to know The God who helps me through it all. They will only see Him for Who He is. They will see His goodness. His mercy. His love. And they will turn to Him and say, "Nice to meet you." ***Please Note: I did not write the preceeding thought/wish...but when I read it, my spirit felt like I had!! Thank you Melanie, for beating me to it! :) (copied in part from 'This Ain't NY'...to see in full, check out her blog)

Sunday, January 18, 2009

They are in EVERY church...

Last night I went to a Christian concert, in a church I've not been to before, with a buddy of mine and as I sat in the last pew (I'm a wiggler & didn't want to distract folks) with my friend, and her co-worker...I confess: I was briefly scanning the crowd!! ;) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It was a beautiful Baptist church: simple, old fashion, homey! As I scanned the crowd, it hit me! The crowd looked like every other church crowd I had ever seen: The bald guy in the front looks a lot like my Uncle Harold. The sweet boy in the middle pew on the otherside of the isle looks like my son when he was younger. the chunky guy in front of me looks like a friend of our family...a Godly man, but more comfy in the barn, than the pew. The 'pocket size' little old lady in the back pew, on the otherside is so darn cute ya just wanna walk up an' hug on her! The lady in the front row reminds me of Sister-so-in-so from our old church... boy I sure miss her! The guy introducing the singers reminds me of cousin Dick - kind hearted & funny! and...so on... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ YES! ahahaha, I WAS paying attention, and it was a wonderful concert!! but the part that most spoke to my heart & blessed my socks off was: "they are in EVERY church!" ~~~~~~~~~> by that I mean: Those of us who have Jesus in our hearts, will ALWAYS have a home -> where ever we may go! no, NOT because the church folk look like someone we know...but because we all know the same person...JESUS!! yes, I know... churchs are different; and some can not agree on some stuff mentioned in the Bible...but speaking as a spunky Pentacostal gal sitting respectfully in a calm Baptist church -> I was blessed!!! :) Thank you Lord JESUS, you are SO wonderful and I am grateful!!!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

OK, help me...

OK, help me... what is the trick to keeping the things that I post organized, instead of it all being one big blur of a paragraph?!? and many thanks for helping me! :o)

Here are the rules:

Here are the rules:* Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following questions.* They have to be real places, names, things. nothing made up!* You can’t use your name for the boy/girl name! question1. What is your name? Bee 2. A 4 Letter Word: book 3. A Boys Name: Brad 4. A Girls Name: Bonnie 5. An Occupation: baker 6. A Color: Blue 7. Something you wear: bracelet 8. A Beverage: beer is all I can think of, and yuck! 9. A Food: brownies 10. Something found in the bathroom: bathtub 11. A place: Buffalo 12. A Reason for being late: bed too cozy :) is that cheating? 13. Something you shout: be nice! ( to my pets when they fuss with each other)

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Where Could I Go...?!?

WHERE COULD I GO -> words & music by JB Coates copyright 1940 Stamps-Baxter Music (a division of Brentwood-Baxter Music Publishing,Inc) ~~Verse 1 Living below in this old sinful word, Hardly a comfort can afford; Striving alone to face temptations sore, Where could I go but to the Lord? ~~ Chorus Where could I go, O where could I go, Seeking a refuge for my soul? Needing a friend to save me in the end, Where could I go but to the Lord? ~~Verse 2 Neighbors are kind, I love them eve'ry one, We get along in sweet accord; But when my soul needs manna from above, Where could I go but to the Lord? ~~ repeat Chorus ~~ Verse 3 Life here is grand with friends I love so dear; Comfort I get from God's own word; Yet when I face the chilling hand of death, Where could I go but to the Lord? ~~repeat Chorus ========================================================= This chorus of this song washes over me, at random times in my life, when I need it most... Thank You Daddy, for singing it to me each time I need to hear it!! ISN'T GOD GOOD!!! FOLKS, WE SERVE AN AWESOME GOD!!!! WHO LOVES EACH OF US, AS IF THERE WERE ONLY ONE OF US!!! YEP, NO SIBLING RIVERY REQUIRED!! ;0) IN FACT: DID YOU KNOW THAT EVEN IF YOU WERE THE ONLY ONE ON THE WHOLE PLANET WHO NEEDED TO BE SAVED, JESUS WOULD HAVE STILL DIED ON THE CROSS...JUST FOR YOU!!! OH MY GOSH...BREATHE THAT IN HONEY-CHILD, AND LET THE TRUTH BLESS YA!!! ~hugs, love & prayers to ya, Bee :)

Do over?!?

Remember when you were a kid and you could call a 'do over'? Ahhh, they were pure bliss! You know...when the game wasn't going well ~ or you got tired & bored of being 'the seeker' and wanted your friends to stop hiding so everyone can do something else...etc. (for you overly competitive people -> a 'do over' is like an annulment! no one wins, it's just a mutual agreement to 'begin again'!) It wasn't just for games though...a do over worked for everything; that was the beauty of it! when you had a disagreement with your buddy; or you told your mom a fib; or annoyed your brother until he wanted to muss you up...and the list goes on and on. ;0) Anyway...wouldn't it be great to have that as an adult? You know, for times like: 10 days into a 6 year car loan & you realize you may not have made the best decision! ~ or When your credit card is maxed out, and it seems like you will be in the nursing home gumming your food, before that final payment is made! ~ or you wake up grumpy but don't realize you have been in a snit all day until bed time & then you ask the Lord not to take you in your sleep that night because that is not how you want to be remembered! ~ or...well, I think you see where I am going with this! ;0) For all those times when things get a lil messy, and ya want a quick clean up...no harm / no foul; no fuss / no muss! it was easy. Like snapping your fingers, and time was turned back until JUST before you did something mean, or naughty, or not so thought out! :o) Have you ever wanted a 'do over' in your christian walk? I have! You see I am not a patient person, and I often find myself wondering if 'it' will ever happen! It doesn't matter what 'it' is really...it's everything at one time or another: financial freedom; weight loss; dream job; pregnancy; pain relief; healing; 5pm on a friday; degree completed; big raise; ...add your answer here! You see by nature I am a Helper....it's a gift! it's what I do...it's all I have really! I can't carry a tune with a bucket, or bake the best cake you have ever had, or draw a picture that touches your heart...but I can help! :) What I don't always understand is why the Lord doesn't always seem to remember that He made me to be the helper that I am! LOL You know...all those times when I try to explain to HIM how clever MY plan is! :0) "Lord, this is what I was thinking..." "Hey Daddy, wouldn't it be great if..." 'This is how I see it working out for the best for everyone involved..." "I have thught about it, and this is what I need to happen, and hurry...!" ...etc...LOL now c'mon, don't leave me out here all alone, raise your hand if you can relate!! ;0) and it is not meant to be prideful, or pigheaded, nor arrogant...I'm just being my helpful self. ;) BUT THEN -> the Lord speaks to my heart and I realize that I just need to wait on HIM, and HIS PLAN! So I ask for a 'do over', and say I am sorry, and ask for another chance cuz He will never need to teach me this lesson again! I have received it, and I am gonna live it, and we can clean off the dust and move on from here -> and get things done! Oooops, there I go again...telling God what the plan should be. ;) But it's ok! HE is NOT surprised! HE has NEVER been shocked by ANY of my behaviors (or should I say mis-behaviors?) or any of my comments! HE knew WAY before I was created, that I would be a spitfire; a helper; a hands on kinda girl; have many opinions to share; naturally loud & fun-lovin'; basicly just a handful in general -> and HE choose to create me anyway and for that, I am forever grateful!!!! ;o) NO 'DO OVER' REQUIRED!?!?! :] ~~hugs, love & prayers to ya, Bee

Thursday, January 8, 2009

LESS THAN 50 HOURS REMAINING...

LESS THAN 50 HOURS REMAINING...of my thirties! :) Ohhhh, I know! I am supposed to be sad, and lie about my age...and maybe even cry - isn't that what any normal red-blooded American gal would do? Should do? Is expected to do?!? BUT NOT ME! I am excited, happy....almost blissful!!! I don't know why? I just am! Maybe I feel like I have "come into my own", or am just excited to see what adventure lies ahead for me in life? I guess instead of it feeling like a curse -> I just think of it as God giving me a 'promotion'!! :) Do you ever wonder why you feel the way you do? why you are who you are? I do! When I was a kid, I would sometimes imagine (wish/hope) that one day I'd get an envelope from God that says: "Your mission is..." and my life would ALL make sense! That everything that has ever puzzled me or troubled me; all of the hurts and the pains, and the emotions...they would all be worth it because NOW I would KNOW what it was all for! What all those things were teaching me...training me for, who I was meant to be!! Well, I haven't gotten the 'envelope' yet! ;) but I have seen the fruit of the 'labor'...and it is good! If you have never spent time 'in the valley', you will never fully appreciate just how high the mountain is!! IT'S TRUE! Weeping may endure for a night, but JOY really DOES come in the morning! Ya see, when I was younger I didn't always think I could live through my experiences - and to be honest, I didn't always want to -> but I guess now that I know I CAN survive, even when it doesn't always FEEL like I can... it kinda makes me excited to see what "my mission is...should I choose to accept it!' ;)

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Incase you were wondering...

Incase you were wondering about my unusual name: Aerodynamically BumbleBees should NOT be able to fly. It's true; their fat body is too big to be able to be lifted in flight by their tiny wings...but THEY don't know that! So they fly anyway! You see, They do not listen to the nay-sayers, nor the scientific reports -> they just do what God created them to do: FLY!!!! WOW, How powerful would that be in OUR lives if we stopped listening to all the nay-sayers and just did what God created US to do!! and PLEASE don't forget: sometimes the biggest nay-sayer in one's life, is oneself!!

this is all new to me...

Wow, this bloggin' thing is an adventure! Please bear with me people...I am still getting my toes wet, but I hope to catch on fast! ;0)