Saturday August 22, 2015  A DAY OF MY OWN

 

Sunday is Sabbath Sunday but Saturday is Sacred Saturday!  Sacred to me because I choose to do whatever I want to on this day.  That is a new and trilling experience!  I awoke with a plan to start sorting my office and cleaning it up but rapidly changed my mind as the course of my day changed.  The first change was realizing just how exhausted I was from working so hard yesterday.  When it was all said and done we did not go to bed until Midnight!  I worked a couple of hours on the blog last evening while Dave cleaned the kitchen.  We were also waiting for the food to cool as I do not put hot jars in the refrigerator, nor warm jars in the freezer.  We ladled everything into the containers I came up with and the liquid was still slow to cool.  Finally the non-glass containers cooled enough to be put into into the freezer and the warm glass jars were put in the fridge.  They were transferred to the freezer this morning.  The inside of my fridge looks so nice and sparse.  My fridge has a very temperamental personality.  In the center back, on each shelf there are vents for circulation and cooling of air.  Absolutely nothing can be placed in the middle third of my fridge without freezing the back half of the fridge’s contents and warming the front half of the fridge.  It is a Maytag, three doors, with the bottom drawer being a pull-out freezer compartment.  I found out about another person who has a refrigerator exactly like mine and has the exact same problem as I do.  That is a bad design as far as I am concerned.  I used to be a Maytag user but I will never buy another Maytag product since they are no longer truly Maytag, but built by a different company.

The other plan that changed my mind was that I wanted to do a more extensive Bible Study today than I usually have time for.  So I did.  I am studying First, Second, and Third John.  I was on First John Chapter 5.  The books of John are so amazing.  If you have a chance to read them you may find that you will enjoy them as much as I do.  I am listening to a study by the Pastor from (where else) Calvary Chapel Modesto.  It was recorded in 2005.  Still very excellent as the books of John have not changed since then.

Tonight we are attending an annual event.  Our daughter Rebecca was once a member in a singing/dancing group, called THE KIDS FROM WISCONSIN which travels throughout Wisconsin.  Rebecca performed for three years during the summers of 1993, 1994, and 1995.  It is a group of young people who audition from all over the state.  Only the best of the best make it to the stage.  You must be under 21 to participate so Rebecca “grew” out of it.  When she travelled with THE KIDS FROM WISCONSIN we attended as many performances as we possibly could.  Remember at that time we both held down busy jobs and were still parenting her younger brother.  However, we did see A WHOLE LOT OF PERFORMANCES that were close to home.  Since the time she toured we have not missed seeing the KIDS FROM WISCON at least once during each summer.  Well, tonight is the night.  It will be two hours of high performance with 20 singer dancers and 13 in the live band.  And boy, are these kids talented.  The choreography is simply amazing and the changes of outfits are beautiful.  It is a very high performance to be entirely made up of  non-professionals.  Rebecca went on to perform for several more years touring with other groups and on cruise lines.

It is only 4:15 and I hope to be finished creating this blog before we leave at 6:15.  We must eat before we go so I mast factor that time in as well.

As well as doing a leisurely Bible Study I was able to read more of the book “YOU CAN’T AFFORD THE LUXURY OF A NEGATIVE THOUGHT” by Peter McWilliams.  I promise not to overly mention this book but since it is new to me there is so much for me to share.  It belongs in a series of “The Life 101 Series”.  There are several books that follow one another if people are interested in different ways for self- improvement and learning about life.  Perhaps at my age I should be past that but I guess I am just a slow learner.  I like being slow.  It is so much better than speeding through life and not really enjoying much of it.  So of course, I have a couple of little tidbits from the first few pages that I would like to share.  Remember, there are a lot of quotes in the book so I am just quoting the quotes by other people from long ago.

First quote:  Norman Cousins (page 2)

“THE WAY A BOOK IS READ—

WHICH IS TO SAY,

THE QUALITIES A READER BRINGS TO A BOOK—

CAN HAVE AS MUCH TO DO

WITH ITS WORTH AS ANYTHING

THE AUTHOR PUTS INTO IT.”

 

Oh my, but did I love that quote.  It is so true.  I read so many books.  I share a title with others, and some read, or start to read it, and say to me, it just didn’t “do” anything for me.  That comment alone gives me great insight into the person saying it.  And of course it probably is about face as well.  There are many books I have tried to read that others refer to me and I just can’t get “into them”.  I prefer non-fiction, most of my friends prefer fiction.  It doesn’t make one kind better than the other kind, but stands primarily on personal preference.  The same would probably relate to movies or T.V. shows as well.

Second quote:  Winston Churchill (page 4)

“THE QUOTATIONS

WHEN ENGRAVED

UPON THE MEMORY

GIVE YOU GOOD THOUGHTS.

THEY ALSO MAKE YOU

ANXIOUS TO READ

THE AUTHORS

AND LOOK FOR MORE.”

 

Another good quote.  It’s because of that quote that I find it interesting that people do not allow me to write quotes from the books they write.  Oh well, their loss.  And yours too.  Because I get to read it and you may never have the opportunity to hear it or discover the book it is in.

Well, my poem is already written today.  Actually I wrote two of them this morning while spending time in my library talking with God.  Here is the first one:

 

GIVE ME PURPOSE

By Kathleen Martens

August 22, 2015

 

I love You Father,

Let not my eyes be on me.

Teach me Lord to do

Everything for You.

 

When I awaken

Give me grace.

Call my name and beckon

That I meet You at our place.

 

Draw me close.

Don’t let me go.

Let Your thoughts

Be what I sow.

 

Give me purpose

To live my best

With enthusiasm and joy,

Full of zest.

 

That I will desire

The desires of Your heart

And do what’s right

And never let it depart.

 

Here is the second poem:

 

ONE OF YOUR OWN

By Kathleen Martens

August 22, 2015

 

Lord, I desire Your song

So my heart will hear

What You sing over me

And that it’s always clear. 

 

I long for Your voice

That I will hear what You speak,

That my heart is receptive

As Your words I seek.

 

That what You say

I will recognize

And that all I hear

You authorize.

 

Let our souls entwine

As we dwell with each other.

Let not a day happen

That You do not usher.

 

Be my confidant

In all that I speak

And give me strength

When I am weak.

 

I put my trust

In You alone.

Thank You Father

That I am one of Your own.

 

I suppose when I do what I want to do, life is not very exciting to write about.  But it sure is exciting living it.  Be sure and take time out for yourself that you can be rested and rejuvenated.  I believe that God is trying to teach me that seemingly easy task.  It is not so easy for one so desiring to always being busy.  If nothing else, I think “old age” will be my greatest teacher in that area!

Have a great Sunday Sabbath tomorrow.  Remember to take time out to honor God.  Remember, Sunday rest day was His idea!  What a good God is our God!  Just a reminder- check out the books of 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd John.

P.S.  Just think what my blog “THE OPINION YOU DID NOT ASK FOR” will be like when I already offer so many suggestions and opinions in a Blog about Visions of Poetry and the Gift of God’s Art.  The difference is, I plan to have an open forum.

Time to get ready!

One more P.S.  REBECCA:  The vegetable strata was delicious!  Just thought you might like to know!