Daily Archives: August 1, 2015
Saturday August 1, 2015 “ALWAYS BE WILLING TO HELP”
Saturday August 1 2015 “ALWAYS BE WILLING TO HELP”
What wonderful words to hear coming from the lips of a young man today when I asked him for his wisdom. This young man is named Nolan. His wisdom, “Always be willing to help”. He is a biker who stopped in a little cooking house to refill three water bottles. His mom and dad were also with him on their bicycles. It was a hot day, bright sunshine, little breeze, and a glorious day to be outside.
I will finish Nolan’s story and how it affected me in a bit. First I want to tell about what led up to me even meeting Nolan. I was planning to go to the Intimacy Conference to hear Dr. Daniel Hammer speak again this morning. Last’s nights presentation was very inspiring and well worth the time. I noticed yesterday I was breaking out on my neck, chest and shoulders in a red bumpy, ugly rash. Very itchy and burned. I called my Doctor’s office and was told to come in so I did. Of course it was right in the middle of Hammer’s speech time. There was no other time and I was miserable enough that I decided to go to the Doctor. I was given a cream for this undiagnosed rash and went on my way. I was already out in Oregon, about 6-8 miles away from home. So I decided to go out to St. Vincent’s and pick up a throw rug to use in our back entrance while our “normal” rug was being dry cleaned. So I drove down the country road that would take me to St. Vincent’s and then decided to just keep on going a block farther and stop at a favorite place I like to eat in a little town called Paoli, a little town in the middle of nowhere, like so many other Wisconsin towns. It is a charming place with quaint little buildings that are original to the towns beginning. Most of them being used for different purposes than originally intended. I included a couple of pictures on the road into Paoli from Oregon (our “home” town). I included a barn pic too. Also included is a picture of the little place I like to eat called the Bread and Brat Place The second building is only in part of the picture, a large two story structure that was intentionally part of the Mill house from years ago. It is now an antique store. When in town I enjoy going and look around.
It was a little bit more than just looking around today. First I had lunch at the Brat place (a vegetarian grilled sandwich) and then went over to THE COTTAGE GODDESS to look around. Low and behold, amidst all the clutter of beautifully displayed artifacts was a glass topped table with a base like I’ve never seen before. It was amazing. Since we passed down our heirloom dining room set to our son and his wife, we have been tableless in our formal eating area. I’ve had my heart set on a round glass table but didn’t like any of the styles I have seen in resale shops. I pretty much only buy resale items. I like to recycle too! Well, there it was sitting a pretty as you please, covered with dust and dirt and dishes and a stacking tray full to the top with do-dads of every unimaginable kind. Through the glass I saw a circular tray-like base that was just a bit smaller than the glass. It was old and worn and had a beautiful patina of crusty metal with chipped paint fragments. It was amazing. It stands on one pedestal with a wide base that meets the floor. I actually took a picture while in the store to send to Dave and I will post it below this blog. A picture is worth a thousand words.
Dave came over to the shop, had lunch first at the Brat house and then we bought the table. It is about 46 inches in diameter. I measured my car space and it would fit snug in the back of my little Kia. With both cars there we decided to go ahead and take it home rather than get a truck and come back. Well, one thing I didn’t take into consideration was the widest width in which to get the top into the back of my car. It would not fit. This is where Nolan comes in.
Nolan and his mom and dad were finishing up their lunch when it was time for us to carry the glass table top and metal base (fortunately they come apart) to the car. I asked Nolan if he would be up to helping my husband get the table from the shop and help put it in the trunk. No, he didn’t mind at all. His dad Steve volunteered too. God was good to us. Well, it wasn’t an easy walk to the car, with narrow sidewalks, lots of people, steps, and gravel alongside the road. Just one problem. The table would not fit through the opening of the trunk. It just would not fit! They tried to get in through the back door and it still would not fit. It just wouldn’t fit. Nolan suggested we go through the front door of the car, lean the seats back in the front, get the HEAVY table top beyond the seats, raise the seats back up and set the table top down. Sounds easy??? Maybe to an engineer. We are talking about little space and no wiggle room to lift it back there. Well, we agreed to give it a go perchance they just might do it. And they did it! It was amazing! It was easy to get the base loaded in Dave’s car because it was constructed to come apart.
The table base is actually a very old table designed to be the starter bed for tobacco plants and was made in Wisconsin many, many years ago. So end of story! WRONG! We still had to get it out once we arrived home. I can’t lift due to my recent surgery and the top is unwieldy, cumbersome, and slippery, not to mention, made of glass.
That’s when I asked Nolan what his wisdom is. I think Nolan has a heart of gold. “ALWAYS BE WILLING TO HELP” was his quick reply. His smile was full of gold too, sincere and spontaneous. That’s when I turned to his father, Steve, and asked for his wisdom. This is what his father said, “My wisdom I learned from my son. This is what my son has taught me, when you do something, do not give up, but rather look at all possibilities and continue trying until you have accomplished what you set out to do.” WOW! What a compliment for a father to give to his son. They were a lovely family and I left their presence feeling blessed for having met them. It is people like them that makes one realize that there is still good in this world and there truly are some wonderful people out there. It makes me want to be an even better person, and as Nolan said, “Always be willing to help”. Thank you Nolan for your help, both in brain and muscle. His father told us “Nolan is an engineer”. Hmmm…he is probably a very good one!
Well, half the battle was done. Now how would we get it out once we arrived home? I parked my car in the driveway pondering this dilemma. I went into the house to start dinner and remembered I needed to check my phone messages because I was expecting a call from someone I did not know who forgot to pick up her chickens (dead ones) on Thursday when the food was delivered. I had put them in the freezer because I didn’t want them to thaw out. I contacted the farm and they told me the chickens were mine if they weren’t picked up. That’s a lot of money for somebody to lose. I asked the farm if they could give my number to the person and have them call me and I would hold them here until they could come. So I checked my messages and this person had left a message.
A few minutes earlier when I arrived home Dave and I discussed how we would get these heavy objects (the base takes at least two strong men to carry) out of our cars. I told Dave we needed another strong man and so I prayed right then and there and asked God to provide a strong man who would come over our house and help us unload. Then I started dinner, remembered the phone call from the chicken lady, and gave her a call. It just popped into my mind to say to Dave, hey maybe she has a strong man that will come over and help us in our obstacle course. So I asked her. I asked her if she had a man in her life who would help us unload a heavey table from our car when she came over to pick up her chickens. She said she sure did and she would bring him. And she did. His name was Dave too. I have a lot of Dave’s in my life it seems. He was a very strong built man, very likable, and very willing to help and follow our convoluted instructions as how that table top had to be taken out of our car. If you heard me describing the possibility of doing what we had to do you would have probably thought I was crazy. Oh well, you probably already do think I’m crazy. At lease you may only THINK it, I KNOW I am. It is actually a pretty fun way to live. I just try to be crazy with wisdom.
We (I say that loosely) extracted this 46 inch glass tabletop out through a front door opening. It was amazing. We left the base out in the garage because I need to take a steel wool brush and do a little cleaning and debriding on the metal. I have some fun plans for that table. We don’t have any chairs yet but I have an idea I’m concocting. I won’t reveal it just yet.
Is it not amazing how God hears the desires of our hearts, our prayers, and answers them so swiftly. I thank God for my little chicken lady who came over and brought her strong man with her. God is so good. I invited them over to dinner when I get the table set up for use. They said yes and they live just a couple of miles away. I really do hope they will come. I look forward to meeting them again. Maybe then I’ll be able to reciprocate and do something nice for them.
So that was pretty much my day. Oh, except for one thing. I drove on into Verona (another one of those little towns), went to St. Vincent’s and bought a throw rug for my back door. I also bought 4 more books I couldn’t live without. One is a book by Zig Ziglar called “INSPIRATION 365 Days A Year”. Since it is August 1st I will give the inspiration for today’s date: “MOUNTAINTOPS INSPIRE LEADERS BUT VALLEYS MATURE THEM.” Quote by J. Philip Everson. There is a lot more wise sayings where that one comes from. You’ll probably hear a few more before I am finished with the book.
Tomorrow is Sunday. I love Sunday Sabbath. Tomorrow is extra special because my friend Betts will be here in the evening.
MOUNTAIN TOPS AND VALLEYS
By Kathleen Maratens
August 1, 2015
When we are up and looking down
The world seems to wear no frown.
But when down and can’t dig out,
And our strength is no longer stout,
Those are time times when God reaches
Beyond the chasm to do His teachings.
He picks us up, dusts off the pain
And sets us on our course again.
He calls and beckons us to step ahead.
He provides daily that we are fed.
His Holy Scriptures our strength infuse
So our way we will not lose.
It is the time we will mature,
That His strength to us insures
That once again we will be,
On the Mountaintops that we see.
And once again we will inspire
Others to climb even higher.
For it is in the valley that we learn
It is the place our wisdom earned.
Good night! It is only 10:11 p.m. A bit better than last night.
Remember to tell God you love Him. When you speak to God, he draws closer to you.
Friday July 31, 2015 BLUE MOON
Friday July 31, 2015 BLUE MOON
11:18 P.M.
That’s right. Tonight July 31st is the blue moon. The second full moon in the same calendar month. I am told that the next blue moon will not be until January 2018. I hope I am around to see it.
It is a bit late for me to start writing a blog so I will make it short and sweet. I notice, since I have been home and not yet on a routine, it seems my blog substitutes for my journal. But…today I was able to uncover my “journaling chair” in my library. So many books had been dumped in there that I could hardly get into the room. They are now dispersed here and there around the house where I will use them, some put in the closet, others tucked in nooks and crannies here and there, and now I can actually sit down to write in my library. I also uncovered the chair across from me so my friend Betts will have a place to sit. It’s my favorite room. I have everything important at my finger tips.
I’ve had some people ask me what kind of books I enjoy reading. I read mostly non-fiction with some novels interspersed. I used to read more novels but have moved away from that in the past few years because there is always so much I want to learn. Most of my books are spiritual topics. I don’t retain as much as I would like but I can always go back and reread it again. I just went downstairs and took some photos of the “after” look of my library from the other day when I blogged a before picture. I was careful to get some of the titles so you can enlarge and see the titles. Some of the books in the pics I have read, others I am currently reading, some, I hope to read. I have a stack of books on my footstool that I chose from daily to read after I do my prayer and time with the Lord. Some days I am known to stay half a day down there just reading and studying. I guess that is my favorite pastime. I will also put a picture of my journals sitting on two or three shelves. I number my journals and keep them in order so I can reference them if I need to. I have indexes and events of each journal written in the front of each book. The indexes are of the date and the poem I wrote that day and also my heart sounds that I hear from the Lord. I am trying to get them typed into the computer so I can compile some books of poetry by theme. I plan to write a daily devotional by using some of my journal writing.
Anyway, it’s a good feeling to know that I can now sit in my favorite chair and just get lost in the presence of the Lord and read my books. When I awaken in the morning I will have been home for one month and I still don’t have a routine. That will come…soon…I hope. Let’s see, a sick husband, his recovery, my surgery and recovery, friend coming, and maybe then we can settle in and become “boring retired people”. To be truthful, I don’t know what being bored means. As long as I have my mind to think I do not get bored. Besides, I never have enough time to even think about getting bored. It sort of sounds nice sometime.
Today I did a bit more pulling weeds (about two more hours worth) than I should have. Weeds were here before I moved here 29 years ago. I guess they’ll be here after I’m gone. But I always think, maybe this will be the year I will defeat them. It’s never happens. Another thing that has never happened, is that I have never defeated the laundry. When I think I am finished there is always more, even if it’s just the clothes I am wearing. But I did accomplish washing, drying, folding, and putting away all the laundry for this past week. Prepared lunch, ate, answered emails and phone calls, rested in bed for one hour reading a book, up to prepare dinner and leave by 6:30 for the Intimacy conference at church. I wanted to go and hear the speaker tonight. It was excellent. He speaks again in the morning and we plan to go. Got home about 11:00 p.m. and here I am. A bit sleepy but still desire to write a poem.
NO OTHER DAY IS LIKE TODAY
By Kathleen Martens
July 31 2015
No other day is like today
For it is temporary and ends too soon.
A phenomenon that seldom comes
A big beautiful blue moon.
No other day is like today
Because today a new baby was born.
And tomorrow will have its own
When comes another morn.
No other day is like today
For today was someone’s last breath.
And others will weep sorrow
Because of their loved one’s death.
No other day is like today
Because God makes each one new.
And tomorrow is never promised
As is the sparkling dew.
So use this day wisely
So soon it will be spent.
Give to God all glory and praise
And His love let Him imprint.
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Calendar wisdom July 31: “All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for what I have not seen!”
Book: “Life Living Intentionally for Excellence” Edited by Chris Brady and Orrin Woodward
“The limiting factor on Your success is not the size of the obstacles, but the size of your dream.”
“People forget what you kept, but they will never forget what you gave.”
One note about the Intimacy Conference session I attended this evening. IT WAS MORE THAN EXCELLENT! In a few days you can google City Church Madison and listen to the sermons this week online. I intend to listen to all the sessions I missed. I love working out to good sermons! It gives me incentive to go because I like multi-tasking. The best workout to make my day run smoothly is my workout with the Lord. Spending my time in my secret hiding place with Him. The most important and vital activity we can do each day is to come into the presence of the Lord and acknowledge Him as our God and loving Savior. Below is a poem I wrote a few years ago that I would like to share with you. It is one of my favorites. I hope you enjoy it and it will cause you to draw unto the Lord because when you do, He will draw close to you.
In the Garden of My Heart
By Kathleen Martens
September 4, 2010
I say Your name Jesus
And You are there
For You are always waiting
For me to be aware.
In my secret chamber
My quiet hidden part,
You wait patiently
In the garden of my heart.
And in the quiet place
I walk daily with You,
Always a time of refreshment
Though sometimes moments few.
You are always patient
Waiting to hear Your name,
How awesome the presence
Of One of such fame.
Yet you come humbly
Showering love and grace
On all the flowers growing
As we meet face to face.
The darkest day turns to light
The flowers of life bloom
For You cause my garden to grow
In my secret private room.
You are my hiding place,
My protection in time of need.
All I do is call Your name
And on Your word I feed.
And as we walk daily
With Your spirit I am free
For Your songs of deliverance
You sing over me.
And each day I awaken
Knowing with You I start.
I find you in my quiet place
In the garden of my heart.
Know that God is always waiting to hear you call out His name. If it is not something you do every day, try it. God wants to be your friend as well as your Savior.
Good night!
Visions of Poetry 