Back when I first joined the Eastbrook Worship Choir I wrote my first devotion. I am going to start with the "prelude poem" and then do another blog where I recall what I actually read that day.
Lord, I let you down this summer. No one came to you through me.
I saw all the things you gave me, but did I help others see?
Did I have the chance to praise you to someone I just met,
and leave the words unspoken? Lord, have I said them yet?
Did my actions show your kindness? Did my words reflect your own?
Or did I hold your precious gifts as mine and mine alone?
Did I turn my back to someone's face, or carry a load for a friend?
Did I touch a heart with my actions or leave all these things as loose ends?
Was I patient when I felt annoyed? Was it like or dislike I promoted?
Did my words express my holiness or was sadness and hatred emoted?
Lord, it isn't just this summer, but every day I live.
Am I selfish, rude and full of spite while others pray and give?
But every day I wake up, you give me one more chance
to change my way to Yours and others' lives enhance.
I don't deserve Your presence, but you give it just the same.
I know Forgiving Father isn't just a clever name.
You healed my body and my soul while I was filled with worry.
You gave me calm and eased my heart and stopped my frantic hurry.
You sent me other people to show me how you bless,
and they assure me I am safe even when I feel a mess.
I'm not so bad; there's time to spare. You've sent me all the tools
I need to be Your child and get back to "Christ-like" school.
Lord, I let You down this summer, but unlike those before,
I know I can rebuild myself to praise you evermore.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Happy Wedding!
In two days, on 2/25/2011, Christopher and Samantha will be married. We are all going to the courthouse and they will exchange their words of promise and then...done.
They oscillated between wanting a large wedding, a small formal wedding, eloping locally or eloping to Vegas or somewhere equally remote. Suddenly the light went on - it's not the where that makes a wedding - or the money spent - or the dress and suit and flowers and music...it's the love.
There is no reason to spend thousands of dollars unless you are a public figure. And then, it becomes about the wedding itself and not the marriage.
No amount of money will insure a successful marriage. Prince Charles and Princess Diana, who spent mega bucks on theirs, couldn't remain happy and Duke and I, who spent as little as possible, have been together just short of 37 years.
Did we get our good example from a single set of parents who took the "till death do us part" thing very literally? Did we get our success from our stubbornness and refusal to give up when things were rough? Did we achieve all these years because we just couldn't find anyone we loved more?
No one knows. All I do know is that if you are willing to laugh together and cry together - fight out the bad things and celebrate the good - hold on for dear life when you want to just let go and drift away...you have a really good chance to make it.
I love Chris and Sam and wish them happy days in the sun, umbrellas in the rain, and really good shovels in the snow. I love you both.
They oscillated between wanting a large wedding, a small formal wedding, eloping locally or eloping to Vegas or somewhere equally remote. Suddenly the light went on - it's not the where that makes a wedding - or the money spent - or the dress and suit and flowers and music...it's the love.
There is no reason to spend thousands of dollars unless you are a public figure. And then, it becomes about the wedding itself and not the marriage.
No amount of money will insure a successful marriage. Prince Charles and Princess Diana, who spent mega bucks on theirs, couldn't remain happy and Duke and I, who spent as little as possible, have been together just short of 37 years.
Did we get our good example from a single set of parents who took the "till death do us part" thing very literally? Did we get our success from our stubbornness and refusal to give up when things were rough? Did we achieve all these years because we just couldn't find anyone we loved more?
No one knows. All I do know is that if you are willing to laugh together and cry together - fight out the bad things and celebrate the good - hold on for dear life when you want to just let go and drift away...you have a really good chance to make it.
I love Chris and Sam and wish them happy days in the sun, umbrellas in the rain, and really good shovels in the snow. I love you both.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
the year so far
So here I sit, knowing that I promised to blog about my new outlook, and wasting weeks blogging about everything else.
SO...
I have lost 11 pounds since Christmas. This is not due to anything except saying NO to eating out with the guys at work, extra helpings of dinner, second desserts and too much junk food.
I think that the best thing is to not torment myself with guilt and just concentrate on my accomplishments.
In life, we spend a lot of time dwelling on our failings and those of others. I think we are too harsh. Every time we think of dieting we start watching what everyone eats and not what everyone is not eating. If I eat a piece of cake for dinner, but skip my usual sweet roll in the morning and snickers bar in the afternoon, why should anyone (including me) see my diet as failing? In fact, I am trying to dwell on the snacks I missed. This allows me to see my daily successes. If you are maintaining an overweight body by eating a candy bar and sweet roll and a piece of cake every day, skipping just one or two of these treats will result in a weight loss.
So everyone who is trying to do something - quit drinking? quit smoking? get more exercise? Lighten up on yourselves. Remember the three drinks you had after work that is only 2...the 2 cigarettes you smoked on the way home that is now one...the tv time you wanted to replace with a five mile walk that turned out to be only three...
You may not be at your best...but if you can be better than you were before, that's should be enough for anyone.
Congratulations for efforts and sacrifice and baby steps toward total success!
SO...
I have lost 11 pounds since Christmas. This is not due to anything except saying NO to eating out with the guys at work, extra helpings of dinner, second desserts and too much junk food.
I think that the best thing is to not torment myself with guilt and just concentrate on my accomplishments.
In life, we spend a lot of time dwelling on our failings and those of others. I think we are too harsh. Every time we think of dieting we start watching what everyone eats and not what everyone is not eating. If I eat a piece of cake for dinner, but skip my usual sweet roll in the morning and snickers bar in the afternoon, why should anyone (including me) see my diet as failing? In fact, I am trying to dwell on the snacks I missed. This allows me to see my daily successes. If you are maintaining an overweight body by eating a candy bar and sweet roll and a piece of cake every day, skipping just one or two of these treats will result in a weight loss.
So everyone who is trying to do something - quit drinking? quit smoking? get more exercise? Lighten up on yourselves. Remember the three drinks you had after work that is only 2...the 2 cigarettes you smoked on the way home that is now one...the tv time you wanted to replace with a five mile walk that turned out to be only three...
You may not be at your best...but if you can be better than you were before, that's should be enough for anyone.
Congratulations for efforts and sacrifice and baby steps toward total success!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Super Bowl 2011
The Green Bay Packers overcame all odds and defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in SuperBowl 45. (I know, it should be XLV but ... do I look Roman?)
Anyway, everyone in this area is not only happy but relieved. I think we carry the burden of the team as heavily as they do, only we are helpless to do anything about it. We just bear the weight and then when the end comes we rejoice or mourn, depending on the outcome. Luckily, this year, it was a time to rejoice.
When the SuperBowl ended, there were many interviews from both teams that expressed respect for the opposition and, in the case of the Steelers, regret for opportunities missed. There was no whining or diminishing the actions of the Packers, but acknowledgement that there were mistakes made that the Packers took advantage of and cost Pittsburgh the victory. Instead of lording it over the losers, the Packers were gracious winners, honest and attributing the win to circumstances, not more talent, They used each other as support and inspiration and in the end, gave up the victory to the glory to God.
There was no complaining about the officiating, cursing the turf, shouting about foul play and dirty tricks. There was no criticizing actions or bragging of "cheater's proof."
Is this normal? Not in today's professional sports arenas. Should it be? I think so.
Anyway, everyone in this area is not only happy but relieved. I think we carry the burden of the team as heavily as they do, only we are helpless to do anything about it. We just bear the weight and then when the end comes we rejoice or mourn, depending on the outcome. Luckily, this year, it was a time to rejoice.
When the SuperBowl ended, there were many interviews from both teams that expressed respect for the opposition and, in the case of the Steelers, regret for opportunities missed. There was no whining or diminishing the actions of the Packers, but acknowledgement that there were mistakes made that the Packers took advantage of and cost Pittsburgh the victory. Instead of lording it over the losers, the Packers were gracious winners, honest and attributing the win to circumstances, not more talent, They used each other as support and inspiration and in the end, gave up the victory to the glory to God.
There was no complaining about the officiating, cursing the turf, shouting about foul play and dirty tricks. There was no criticizing actions or bragging of "cheater's proof."
Is this normal? Not in today's professional sports arenas. Should it be? I think so.
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