Sunday Sabbath January 31 2016  CONTEND FOR MORE OF GOD’S PRESENCE

Today was the fourth and final sermon in a series about what is written on our weekly bulletin that is handed out to the parishioners each week.  The four message titles are: COME AS YOU ARE, CONNECT WITH GOD, CONNECT WITH PEOPLE, and today’s title, CONTEND FOR MORE OF GOD’S PRESENCE.

Here is what is printed on our weekly handout:

CONTEND FOR MORE OF GOD’S PRESENCE

“We desire God to have a tangible Presence in our church and lives.  We have a conviction that He will pour out more of Himself on Madison, its surrounding areas, and its churches if we persistently ask for more of His Spirit and pursue pure and inspired unity with the people who share His passions, His purposes, and His heart.”

Today the sermon was delivered by our Pastor for our children’s ministry, David Bechtold.  He did an amazing presentation.  Pastor Bechtold is a young man and I have only known of him for the past five years or so.  It is amazing to watch and listen to the young ministers through the years and see how very much they grow and mature in the Lord as time adds years of experience.  Pastor David has amazed me over the years as I have listened to him.  Each pastor has their own personality they bring to their sermons, their own stories, their own vulnerabilities.  In today’s discourse, all four of those areas excelled in Pastor David as he stood up to deliver God’s truth to the congregation.  Thank you Pastor Dave for sharing with the congregation the tender and personal attributes of your heart.

Again, I recommend going to http://www.citychurchonline.org if you would like to listen to this sermon.

I pray that God will give me the right words to use from Pastor David’s sermon so that you may hear his message through the poem God places in my heart.  I pray that you will have a better understanding of what the true meaning of having a closer relationship with God really is.

 

CONTEND FOR MORE OF GOD’S PRESENCE

By Kathleen Martens

January 31 2016

 

Dear God teach me to not strive

For that which is given to me.

Instead show me how to contend,

For that which is offered free.

 

For it is You who invites me to contend

For more of Your holy essence.

That I not strive for striving’s sake,

But instead desire more of Your presence.

 

All I must do is wait upon the Lord

That he remove what is unimportant to me,

So it will be flushed out of my life,

So my eyes will be opened to see

 

That God is the one who is important,

And on Him alone I should rely.

That I not contend for myself,

But allow the Holy Spirit to comply.

 

I must cease striving so I hear God say,

“KNOW THAT I AM GOD”.

And with preparation of the gospel of peace

My feet will be firmly shod.

 

And my desire will turn to longing,

So I then discipline my time,

To make room for my God,

And to allow for presence Divine.

 

For when I am too busy,

My hours are eaten up.

So I must purposely set aside,

Time with my Father to sup.

 

So I can taste and see

That what he has for me is good.

And I will delight in who He is,

As He desires that I should.

 

And with delight comes satisfaction

For He accepts me with all of my sins.

And though my sins be as scarlet,

He makes them white when I let Him in.

 

And God so delights in His children,

And He has so much more to give.

Even more than for what I ask,

So on His righteous road I will live.

 

He gives me the power and glory

Of His Holy Spirit in my life to dwell.

For God wants me more than I can fathom,

And my doubt he desires to quell.

 

All I must do is ask, and I will receive.

And when I seek, I will find.

When I knock, the door is opened,

And my spiritual eyes are no longer blind.

 

God has created me for a purpose,

He gives me freedom in how to praise.

I am uniquely fashioned by God

To seek Him through all my days.

 

When I DESIRE, I then have longing,

To DISCIPLINE the hours I need,

To DELIGHT in His presence,

And the right DECISION then to heed.

 

That there would be less of me,

And more of Jesus would be shown.

That through my life, and what I say,

More of Jesus would be known.

 

For it seems the more I rely

On what this world has to offer,

The more the world will demand of me

Reaching deep into my coffers.

 

But when desire and delight

Surround the discipline I choose,

The time I need is no longer difficult,

Because with Jesus I can never lose.

 

For Jesus I am constantly hungering,

Yet at the same time, deeply satisfied.

And always desiring more of Him,

For He is my Friend in whom I confide.

 

Hebrews 11:6 King James Version

But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

 

John 3:16 King James Version

 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Well, I went a bit over my one hour time max, but it was well worth it.  The above poem is inspired by today’s sermon, “CONTENDING FOR MORE OF GOD’S PRESENCE” presented by David Bechtold.  Thank you Pastor David for listening to the Lord so He could use you to touch my heart, as I am certain there were many other lives touched as well.  What you said today rings true in my heart.  That which matters truly does take time and energy.  Thank you for your time and energy that went into preparing today’s message.  Again I say, we are blessed as a Church Body to have you as our minister to our younger generation.  And you do a great job ministering to us “old ones” too!

Good night and God bless you. 

 

P.S.

FUN FACT:

Peanut oil is used for cooking in submarines because it doesn’t smoke unless it’s heated above 450F.

My comment: It is also good for salad dressings!

 

 

Saturday January 30 2016  A LAZY SATURDAY

It is a lazy Saturday because I am being lazy.  When I indulge in a day such as this I still live with the anticipation that I might receive a call to report to the hospital for an emergency photo session for a baby that has not survived birth.  I pray that it will not happen, but if it does, I am ready with charged batteries.  So far, so good on this warm overcast day of 43 degrees! 

Slept in until 5:00 a.m.  Enjoyed a long conversation with my “sick” husband (bad cold), got up and went to the gym after I ate breakfast.  I never leave the house without breakfast.  I am always so famished when I awaken in the morning.  It is a good feeling. 

Home again, prepared lunch and then Dave and I watched an hour television show, during which time we both dozed off for two or three moments, and then backed up to hear what we missed.  Up and at it after that.  When I say “lazy” I use it loosely.  It is not that we aren’t task oriented, it is just that there is nothing extremely pressing (like company coming) and we can go about our tasks in a leisurely, unhurried mode.  I like unhurried.  When I’m 80 and have only accomplished the decluttering of one room, I might have a different opinion.  But right now…oh well…we are still getting used to this retirement lifestyle.  I have been run ragged this past week, but I made it through, though a little rough around the edges. .  Next week has some highlights of BUSY but I have purposely kept a few days opened to explicitly work on finishing up some problem areas in my business office.  It will be so awesome to cull all the files I haven’t had time to keep cleaned out over the past several years.  (It pains me to admit that).  However, all legal files were kept up orderly and timely!  When you are a photographer, you would be amazed of all the files that accumulate.  

I have only one hour from start to finish for writing this afternoon.  I still have hopeful expectations for this day to be extremely fruitful even though I slept for a full five minutes on the couch.

 

ONCE AGAIN YOU HAVE BEEN FOUND

By Kathleen Martens

January 30, 2015

 

A lazy day, a day worth living

Wrapped up warm…

Content.

 

So much of life is hustle and bustle,

A day like today…

Heaven-sent.

 

Just to be, alone with self.

A cocoon of quiet

Peace.

 

And it is my dream

That these hours will not

Cease.

 

But alas, reality comes.

Sweetly and gently sits

Down.

 

Softly speaking to my heart.

“Once again, you have been

Found.”

 

FUN FACTS

“Kites were used in the American Civil War to deliver letters and newspapers.”

I was unaware of this fun fact so I did a little research on the internet.  Below is an excerpt of what I found.

 http://kitehistory.com/Miscellaneous/Warkites.htm

“United States 1863 ~ It is with great enthusiasm that I am able to report that in January of 2002, definitive proof of regular kite use in the American Civil War was located. It had been rumored, there were stories, but there was never any concrete evidence before. This research has just begun; but there is much to do and there are more questions than answers. What we do know for sure is that there were kites made near Vicksburg in 1863, and in 1865 they were used for sending orders over enemy lines trying to entice deserters by offering money for horses and arms. Official communiques’ from the Civil War has been located in the War Records Office, some requesting kite making materials and one that requested,  “…10,000 feet of strong kite string be sent at once…”!

Good night (it is getting dark) and God Bless You!

 Friday January 29 2016  THE UNPLANS OF THE PLANS

A comment I once heard or read comes to mind.  It read, “If you want to make God laugh, just tell him your plans”.  Well, I really believe that.  And now I am adopting the attitude that when I make plans and they dissolve into thin air, I should just laugh too. 

When I fell into bed last night after being on the go for 19 hours, I had my plans laid out nicely and precisely for my tomorrow.  My plans were to work all morning in my office going through more files, not getting dressed, eating lunch, showering, leaving midafternoon with Dave, and then heading to the town where Court and Amy live.  We planned to have dinner and a movie night at their house. They live about 40 miles away from us.  There is a Costco and an Aldi’s in their town.  We planned to leave early so we could do our weekly Costco shopping and pick up our bi-weekly supplies from Aldi’s on the way.  However, everything changed when Dave woke up with an extremely bad cold.  Stuffy head, runny nose and eyes, and overall malaise.  He does not want to infect the boys or Court and Amy.  Even I am staying away from him!  He has one phone to use and is not allowed to touch any food stuff or clean dishes.  Oh, by the way, he contacted the cold through the receptionist at the doctor’s office when we were there on Wednesday.  She had such a bad cold that she told me not to use her pen.  Well, she forgot to tell Dave she had a cold and handed him all kinds of things she had touched and folded.

So plans have changed.  And now they have changed even again.  After I wrote them out here in this paragraph (which has now been deleted), I realized I could still salvage my work day by NOT doing Costco shopping today.  There is nothing that we absolutely need and my time will be more useful here at home to accomplish some of my plans for decluttering.  That’s what I call readjusting my priorities.  But, since I already started writing my blog I will finish it.

For once, I actually had a preconceived idea for my blog.  I wanted to tell everyone about the absolutely, most wonderful gift that Dave has ever given me.  If you are a long time reader you may remember how ill Dave became right after I arrived home from my long trip in July.  He was hospitalized with a serious sepsis that developed due to his diabetes.  He had a crack in his foot and a terrible cellulitis infection in his legs.  He has type two diabetes.  He was on medication, but not on insulin.  Type two diabetes can be caused from life style choices.  Through reading books I discovered that a healthy life style could reverse diabetes.  Our doctor wanted to “manage” Dave’s diabetes with medicine because that is the route most patients choose to follow.  I told our Doctor about the book I read “The End of Diabetes” by Joel Fuhrman M.D.  Dr. Furhman lays out a plan to eliminate diabetes with diet and exercise.  Our doctor agreed that diabetes could be eliminated as Dr. Furhman’s book described.  He turned to Dave and asked him if he was on board with this?  Dave said yes, he wanted to reverse it.  Our doctor (who knows me long and well) pointed his finger at me and said, well if anyone can do it, I know it is you.  So we took the challenge. 

Before Dave was admitted to the hospital he brought the topic up that he had decided he wanted to change the way he ate and work on becoming healthier.  He had just retired two or three days prior to that and with the removal of time restraints and stress he could now focus on what was important to him.  There were several things that we discussed.  Within a couple of days Dave was admitted to the hospital very sick.  While he was still in the hospital, we had one more serious conversation.  We both knew that his illness was serious and would take some serious measures of lifestyle change.  We discussed diet and he agreed that he would eat what I prepared for him, in the quantities I prepared.  He did hold out for one concession however.  He said he would eat everything , except Brussel sprouts.  I thought that was only fair.  After all, then I can eat them all.  Since then Dave has eaten the foods prepared for him, in the amounts prepared, without complaint.  He has actually confessed to me that he has even learned to like some of the things he never thought he could like.  Other things he just eats because of the nutritional value.  He does it all without complaint.  On Wednesday we went in for the results of his average blood sugars over the past four months hoping to have one dose of his medication deleted.  Well, his Hemoglobin A1C on Wednesday came back ABSOLUTELY PERFECT!  NO SIGNS OF DIABETES IN HIS TEST RESULTS!  The doctor was ecstatic, somewhat amazed at how quickly we were able to turn his blood sugars around.  He just kept saying over and over, “IT IS PERFECT!  IT IS PERFECT”.  And furthermore, the doctor felt that he should take Dave OFF BOTH DOSES OF HIS DIABETIC MEDICATION!!!  So we are on trial.  In order to continue Dave’s weight loss it was decided to reduce his carb count per meal from a high of 60 to a high of 45.  That has required a bit of readjusting in our meal planning.  He has had two days without meds and his blood sugars are maintaining in the appropriate range.  He will need to have perfect averages every six months on his A1C test for two years straight in order to have the diagnosis of being diabetic taken off his medical records.  My heart was jumping for joy.  Dave’s smile was from ear to ear.

I walked out of that office feeling as if Dave had given me the most absolutely, wonderful gift he had ever given me.  My heart was so heavy for him over the past few years because I knew there was nothing I could do to change the way he wanted to eat, or the fact that he did not exercise.  I kept my worry and fear to myself.  I prayed.  I knew Dave was under heavy stress at work, planning for his retirement, getting finances in order, taking care of long term plans and goals, always with me at the forefront of his planning, especially the financial part.  I often wondered if he would be with me to enjoy “our retirement”.  All I wanted was for him to be healthy.  He just had to survive the last two or so years to get where he wanted to be.  I am grateful for his planning, but I still suffered inside because of how hard his life was due to the diabetes being out of control, and the weight he carried around taking a toll on his body, and the excessive stress from his job, which left no time for even thinking about exercising. 

There is one thing that you can never do for someone else.  No matter how much you love them, are concerned for them, and want the best for them, you cannot cause them to change.  It is only their decision that can allow the changes to happen in their own life.  Each person must choose for themselves.  I know that from personal experience.  I believe there is something that must happen in the heart.  I was obese for so many years.  It was not fun.  Believe me, I never look down on someone because of extra pounds.  Rather, my heart goes out to them, for I walked in their shoes.  For me it was a feeling of helplessness, frustration, and inner disgust and pain, not to mention the physical discomfort.   I could write a book on the toll obesity takes on the body.  I know from experience.  I remember standing by his bed in the hospital telling him that I would do everything possible to help him live, but I couldn’t do it, he had  to make the choice to “to do it”!   He had to make the choice to live.   He looked me in the eye and said, “I choose life”.  He then promised, “I will do it”.  Tears spill out of me this moment as I recall his words.  That was his promise to me.  That was his gift to me.

My gift from him was received with such joy, though I held it in at the doctor’s office.  Dave doesn’t like a lot of hoopla from me when I am sitting with him in the examining room.  You see, I can become a bit exuberant.  I restrained myself.  And boy that was hard.  But my heart rejoices now. 

His gift was wrapped with so many other things than just a perfect blood sugar reading or the loss of 67 pounds.  Yes, I am so proud of his perseverance and stamina to make wise choices, day by day, of what to eat, and to faithfully go to the gym to work out.  Those are decisions I cannot make for him.  Those are his choices.  THOSE CHOICES ARE HIS GIFT TO ME.  Also packaged with his gift, was hope.  Hope for a brighter and longer future TOGETHER.  Hope for better health, and the hope for trips we can take together.  And I realized there was even more tucked into the gift he gave to me.  It is the gift of joy.  It gave joy to my heart knowing he feels better.  I am full of joy knowing that so much stress has been taken off his body from losing all those pounds.  Pure joy for knowing Dave cares enough about me, to care enough about himself, that he treats himself with the love and respect due him.  I have seen him grow into a strong tree, no longer being buffeted and blown by the wind of circumstances.  I see his roots taking a deeper hold on what he desires for his retirement, what he wants to accomplish.  He is a younger version of himself. 

Regardless of what Dave went through, never once did my love wain for him.  I believe that every day of these past 43 years my love has grown for him on a daily basis.  The more stress he was under, the more I loved him through it.  You may think it is easy for me to write these things.  No, it is not.  Especially because I know Dave will read it.  I have journaled for years without reading my journals to him.  Now that I am writing publically, I guess I am ready to open up publically, both to my readers and to my husband.  Age has a way of making life different.  In the time I have remaining in this world I plan to declare my love for others.  We, as a population of people, don’t tell others enough just how much we love them, and some I observe don’t even act like it enough.  If I love someone they are going to know it!  TELL SOMEONE TODAY HOW MUCH YOU LOVE THEM!  Tell them just because you want to tell them.  No accomplishment should be required to elicit words of love.  It just so happens that I am telling the world about my husband’s accomplishment over the past six months AND I’M SHOUTING IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS HOW MUCH HE IS LOVED!  MUSHY, MUSHY!  Too bad, it is just how I feel today and this is my avenue of expression!  Mostly, I just wanted to tell you about the beautiful gift he gave me and how very much I appreciate and cherish it.

(EDITOR’S NOTE aka Dave)  “If I wrote the above it would have required only two paragraphs”. 

(WRITER’S RESPONSE aka Kathleen) “Oh well, you are the editor, I am the author”.

 

SOME GIFTS…

By Kathleen Martens

January 29, 2016

 

Some gifts come with ribbons and bows,

Picked out with such great pleasure

To give to the one they love,

As a token for them to treasure.

 

Some gifts are acts of kindness

Bestowed on others unknown.

Just opening a heavy door,

Can be a way your gift is shown.

 

Some gifts go unnoticed

When others fail not to receive,

Perhaps it was a beautiful smile

That someone did not perceive.

 

Some gifts are given with intent

And may have great purpose.

And some may be a simple gesture,

Such as taking a child to the circus.

 

Some gifts come from the wallet,

And are meant to impress.

And some may be for apology,

To say sorry for giving you stress.

 

Some gifts may be given

Without even knowing it’s done

When it’s given from the heart

To a special one.

 

Some gifts may be received

When the giver is unaware.

For there is nothing tangible,

When to the heart it’s shared.

 

Some gifts may just be words,

Or behavior that shows love pure.

And what better gift can there be,

Than a gift that forever endures?

 

THANK YOU DAVE FOR THE HEART GIFT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME! 

IT WILL ENDURE FOREVER.

JUST AS MY LOVE FOR YOU WILL ENDURE FOREVER.

 

 

FUN FACT

If you stop getting thirsty, you need to drink more water. When a human body is dehydrated, its thirst mechanism shuts off.

My comment:  Just thought you might need to be aware of this fact.  This is something that happens more frequently as we age.  Dehydration has serious effects on your physical body.  A word of wisdom:  Find out what your body size requires regarding daily fluid intake and set your water out in a premeasured container that must be drank in one day; AND THEN DRINK IT!  I actually do that so as to stay hydrated and healthy.  You just may have to get up more in the night to eliminate.  But it is worth feeling good.

 

Oops!  This blog took longer to write than I thought it would.  The day is getting away from me!  Signing off at 12:03 p.m. but it will not be published until Dave reads it to make certain he will be okay with all I have written.  Remember, I have to live with him after it is published!

P.S.  It is now 1:57 p.m.  Lunch is over.  The edit has taken place and this is now good to go!  (Says Dave)!

P.S.S.  He did edit some of the really mushy stuff out!   I am really just surprised that he agreed to let me publish ANYTHING about him.  He would rather not be in the limelight!  I better click the PUBLISH BUTTON quickly!

Thursday January 28 2016  PERPETUALLY NEW

 

4:00 a.m. wake-up call this morning.  For no reason we are aware of, both Dave and I awakened a little after 4:00 a.m.  When I wake up like that I sometimes feel as if it is a time for prayer.  So that’s what we did.  We then crawled out from under our warm blankets into the cold bedroom and made a dash to see how quickly we could get dressed, eat and get to the gym.  It was a good plan.  It felt like we had an entire day left when we arrived home and it was still early in the day.  I think that would be a good plan for every day, but I might have a bit of convincing to do to get Dave to agree.  Nonetheless, it was awesome to have an entire morning to work. 

Collected all the tax information, called for some that was still missing, handed everything over to Dave, and it felt like a load was lifted off me.  AND THEN…I started culling my business files.  Oh man!  Was it ever good to see some of those things that I no longer needed fly into the recycle trash, others filed away due to time constraints imposed on keeping them, and lots and lots more still to go through.  I actually want to get downstairs and continue so I can see more progress.  It makes me excited to realize that I am FINALLY RETIRED and can actually shut down my business files and my studio and reclaim the lower level.  No more dressing room needed, or prop room, or framing room, or extra equipment, or backdrops hanging all over the place, etc.  It is truly the first day that I have felt motivated and excited about getting started on purging.  I think what I wrote yesterday sort of spurred me forward to see just how much I can still accomplish before the year ends.

Today was the only day this week that was not booked with appointments.  That is, until last night.  Yesterday when I went to the Doctor he wanted me to have an MRI on my shoulder.  My shoulder was also injured the day I tore my triceps almost three months ago.  Before going to physical therapy he scheduled me for an MRI.  The MRI is this evening.  Fortunately I can drive myself there and back so Dave will not need to take me.  We had plans to watch the Republican debate this evening.  Things are heating up out there in the game of politics.  Perhaps I’ll be back in time to watch most of it.  There is also another Democratic debate coming up soon that we want to watch.

Both of my shoulders have had surgical repair so I know the ins and outs of the post-surgical therapy and healing process. NOT FUN.  I am just hoping the MRI results will show there is nothing permanently damaged and time will help heal whatever is causing the pain.  I am also praying for healing.  We have a trip planned for the future and I want to be in good working order!

I just thought I would check in on everybody and let you know I am alive and well.  Every once in a while I think perhaps I won’t write a blog today, but then I have people concerned that something might be wrong.  It’s more fun to write the blog than it is knowing I may have caused people to worry.  But thanks for worrying. 

 

PERPETUALLY NEW

By Kathleen Martens

January 28, 2016

 

Time to write a line or two

To announce to the world.

I am here, alive and well

And best wishes I unfurl.

 

It is so good to say hello

To those who faithfully read.

Thank you for caring enough

And to you I say God-speed!

 

It makes me realize how fortunate I am

That I have a busy life,

And so much that fills my days

With happiness, not strife.

 

I know I may be an old geezer

To those who are so young,

But I really love my age

No longer need to climb the rungs.

 

Been there, done that,

All the “busy” and long hours.

No longer is my time limited.

I now have time to smell the flowers.

 

It is my joy to stay at home

And enjoy my cozy bed.

Regardless how late it is

I can just cover up my head.

 

The day is mine, and belongs to me,

To measure how to spend.

And I don’t need to drive in traffic

When my day does end.

 

It makes me feel so opulent

To have time at my discretion.

I thought this day would never come,

Is my greatest confession.

 

But now it’s here and oh so awesome,

As if life has a new beginning.

And it seems for the very first time,

I believe that I am winningI

 

Yes, my days are numbered

But closer to God I’m becoming.

Life has its seasons and it cycles

And death I’m no longer shunning.

 

Life has never lost its sparkle

Because my spirit has never aged.

It is only my body’s shell

With time a war has waged.

 

But inside I’m perpetually new

And my spirit never grows old.

It was created to live forever

For I am created like God, I’m told.

 

He created me in His own image

To live with Him forevermore,

Though my body will be left behind

My spirit beckoned through heaven’s door.

 

FUN FACT

“Your tongue is the only muscle in your body that is attached at only one end.”

Hmm…maybe that is why mine flaps so much! 

 

Have a great afternoon.  It is only 3:10 p.m.  Now I can get back to work!

God bless all of you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday January 27 2016  AND TIME KEEPS TRAIPSING ON

It’s almost the end of January and soon our first month of twelve will be over.  One twelfth of our year is coming to a close, too quickly, too soon.  When I sit at this computer day after day and write each date, it just seems as if the days fly by.  The one thing I realize about this month is, if it is an indicator of what I will be able to accomplish through the remaining eleven months of 2016, I certainly will be far behind the goals I have set for this year!  So…as I look forward I must decide if I want to allow that knowledge to  defeat me, or roll up my sleeves and start persevering all the more!  Or, I could just revise my plans.  I just know my sister will say “I TOLD YOU SO” when I admit that I actually realize my year’s goals are a bigger bite than I can chew.  SMILE SISTER, I know you are right!

So, one hour blogs, less talking everywhere I go, more concentration of transcribing and editing the book I want finished by December, deleting all the Christmas movies I didn’t get a chance to watch, and last, but not least, working quicker and more efficiently on downsizing the contents of this house.  Oh, yes, one thing I forgot.  I also want to finish an album(s) of family photos for my younger sister.  So whoever said retirement meant taking it easy???

Speaking of my “wise, older” sister, I am using an email I received from her as a “guest blog” for today.  She had some interesting comments about glass that I thought might be interesting as a follow-up for yesterday’s blog about glass.  The quote was:

“Glass takes one million years to decompose, which means it never wears out and can be recycled an infinite amount of times.”

Below is her response (personal knowledge) about glass.

“What I understand about glass:  Glass can last forever if unbroken.  It all depends on how glass it tempered, (degree of firing).  If glass is to be used as a cooking vessel and how that glass will be used; such as casserole for cooking at 400 degrees, or as a canning jar under lots of pressure.  Example, you can use an old glass mayonnaise jar to freeze something but not for pressure canning.  Since I know not to can with mayonnaise glass jars (they are plastic now) I never used them in water bath processing.  My, long time understanding is that glass originally was made from beach sand.  Beach sand has a high percentage of highly polished, smooth glass in it as well as rocks, each little grain of glass and rock is so smooth it is not dangerous.  I think it could cause problems if consumed by mouth.  I have been to glass blowing places in Benicia – but strictly artistic glass object and expensive wine glasses.  Everything (chemical wise) does better processed and stored in glass, i.e. vinegar, pickles (of any kind), sauerkraut and the list goes on and on  Good wine is always stored in dark color glass bottles to protect the wine from light.  The world would be much better off if plastic was OUTLAWED WORLD WIDE.

This is what I have learned from experience and reading:  Glass is best to cook in, better heat distribution; Corning Ware is as good as glass for cooking.  Never, use metal when cooking with vinegar or lemons, i.e. lemon pie or brines with vinegar – don’t even use a metal spoon for those – the acid content is too high and causes the metal to leech into the food and discolor the pot and you can taste the metal in the food.

There, you have my quick knowledge of glass without me going to the internet.”

Thank you sister.  I thought your replay quite insightful and interesting.

 

MANY MANY THANKS

By Kathleen Martens

January 27, 2016

 

So many things I do not know

And so informative when others show,

What is deep, in their mind’s bank,

And for those who share, I give my thanks.

 

Just think how fortunate we are

That there are those who have traveled far.

And what they know, are willing to share,

Tidbits of knowledge that is rare.

 

I am so thankful for other’s words

That because of my blog I have heard.

It warms my heart when others tell

Of their experiences they know so well.

 

I especially enjoy the wisdom of age

From those who no longer work for wage.

So much life comes from the wizened

If the younger are willing to listen.

 

My hope for self as I grow old

Is that my story will be told.

Though I’ve nothing to brag about

I have lots to say without a doubt!

 

Thank you for reading what I write,

I enjoy doing it night after night.

Thank you for listening to my banter,

As some evenings I quickly canter.

 

If just one word a difference makes,

That was written for your sake,

My heart will be glad for all the time

It took for me to write, each and every line.

 

I will end with another FUN FACT that Dave’s sister sent to me:

“Gold is the only metal that doesn’t rust, even if it’s buried in the ground for thousands of years.”

Hmmm.  I must admit, I never had reason to give that much thought.  I’m just glad I don’t have to go around with a rusty finger.

 

Good night and God bless all of you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday January 26 2016  ONE HOUR AND COUNTING

My disciplines must become a bit stricter.  My hours are so limited that anything out of the ordinary puts me behind schedule.  You may say, what schedule, after all, aren’t you retired?  Well yes, we are retired, but believe me, we do have schedules.  The only thing different, is that our schedule is different each day, so must be attended rigorously to accomplish all that needs accomplishing on each given day. 

Today, for example I received a phone call.  And we talked and talked and talked.  The friend that called me from Virginia is actually more like family than “just” a friend.  She is our daughter’s, birth mother.  Our family connected with her family 10 years ago this coming October.  It was an amazing reunion and God was in it all the way.  There is such a story to be told about those first few weeks and all the years since then, but I must leave that for another time.  Besides, I would want to have our daughter’s birth mother’s permission, before I shared her story publicly.  But I will say, it has been awesome!  We don’t talk frequently, but when we do it is sometimes for hours.  Hopefully we will be seeing her and her husband sometime later this year.

When I sat down to write my blog, before she called, I had set my timer for one hour.  That was the window of time I was allowing to write my blog.  Sometimes I spend way too much time writing and must curb it somewhat.  I’m not yet so good at curbing time.  Time just has a way of getting away from me.  Attention Deficit?  I doubt it.  Probably more like Attention Concentration Overload!  I guess that could be called ACO.  Once I start concentrating on one task I am quickly and totally absorbed and time no longer matters.  That is the part I must learn to reign in.

 

ATTENTION CONCENTRATION OVERLOAD

By Kathleen Martens

January 26, 2016

 

There may be a lot on my mind

But it is all in concise little places.

And when I become ensconced completely

My mind just continually races.

 

Then I go from one moment to the next,

Totally oblivious to all else around.

Perfect satisfaction and fulfillment

In my heart is always found.

 

I need not much to be happy,

Just a good thought to think about,

And I can take a few little words

And weave a story stout.

 

Or I just pick my brain a bit

And think of things I know,

And come up with a story or poem

About my life from long, long ago.

 

Whatever suits the occasion

Seems to race from my fingertips.

And if I can’t write it,

I speak it through my lips.

 

And all the while time is passing,

And totally unaware am I

So that is why I am reigning in

So I can say a quicker goodbye.

 

So that tells my story today!  I am concentrating on ALL that must be done for the entire day.  So you will be happy to know that I intend to write shorter blogs, more concise, and more to the point, if I actually have a point.  I love writing my blogs and sometimes just forget that it may seem like a daunting task for another to read. 

Perhaps tomorrow I’ll come up with something great.  I actually have 15 minutes left over but I will sign off for tonight.  Just wanted to check in with my faithful readers. 

Good night and God bless you!

P.S.  I have some good ideas brewing for some future blogs.  I also take suggestions about what my readers like to hear more of.  Please contact me if you have any ideas.

P.S.S.  My sister-in-law sent me an email that promises that I will learn something that I did not already know and also make me say to myself, how do “they” know that?  So, if I remember to do so, I will include one of those tidbits of fact (assuming it is fact) at the end of the next few blogs.  I have not verified any of these statements to be true or false.  If you know and have verification, please let me know.

“Glass takes one million years to decompose, which means it never wears out and can be recycled an infinite amount of times.”

Now actually, I would like to know how they “THINK” they know that!

 

 

Monday January 25 2016  A LONG DAY

I love long days.  It makes it seem like I had the opportunity to live a long time.  Sometimes by nightfall, the morning actually seems like yesterday.  If a day can be packed, we know how to do it extremely well.  Usually without intent.   It just seems everything takes longer than it used to.  Perhaps it does, due to the fact that it may take us longer to get it done.  I notice it is a lot more fun when we don’t rush, like I said yesterday, and I just enjoy stopping to “smell the roses” so to speak (in January in WISCONSIN).  In other words, I enjoy talking and shooting the breeze with anyone who wants company.  I just find people so fascinating and interesting.  The older I become, more and more things become more and more interesting.  I guess I am either curious or nosy.  But, it makes for an interesting life.

Today started out sunny and clear and cold.  It ended with snow, icy roads and A MUCH COLDER TEMPERATURE!  It was so icy that Dave slid right past the road we were supposed to turn on to take us into the area where we live.  Our area is quite hilly in some places and we were coming down a steep hill.  He put the right turn blinker on quite early to signal his intent.  The car following behind us kept a considerable distance, which was a good thing.  As we slipped by the turn Dave said, “Well I guess I won’t be turning here”.  We went down to the next stop sign and had better luck since it was on flat ground.  We were very close to home and very thankful for that.  Icy, slick roads are not fun to drive on.  We cancelled our evening out.

Now it is almost bedtime and I again have an early departure scheduled for morning.  However, it will depend upon the roads if I go out.  After a snow storm the plows are usually out most of the night and the roads are passable in the morning after being plowed and salted.  Unless it is an emergency I will cancel appointments if the roads are dangerous.  My first appointment tomorrow is at the gym at 7:45 a.m. and then I plan to leave from there for a 10:30 a.m. haircut.  I have an appointment every four weeks to keep my hair short enough for my liking.  I have no desire, and no time to spend on primping in front of a mirror to “make” a hairstyle.  Wash and wear is my motto. 

When appointments are necessary it seems they come in waves.  This is appointment week! 

 

ANOTHER APPOINTMENT

By Kathleen Martens

January 25, 2016

 

Appointments come, appointments go,

And it seems they are so slow.

Things to do that must be done,

And most of them are not fun.

 

I would much rather stay at home,

And I never mind being alone.

But my hair becomes quite shaggy

Without the gym my arms are saggy.

 

My physical comes but once a year

But my hubby who is so dear

Must go twice as many times as me

So of course I must oversee!

 

And then there is the worst of all

When I must on the dentist call.

So twice a year I trudge on down

And must go all the way to town.

 

And then the mammogram’s a must,

So my chest I can thrust

And be squeezed almost to death,

That I can barely catch my breath.

 

And oh I mustn’t forget my feet!

My trusty friends who pavement meet.

And then I am referred to another

For custom orthopedics like no other. 

 

And then my eyes I must tend

Because they are my very best friends.

And I have my cataracts checked,

And complain about all my specks.

 

But those floaters keep floating by

Though the doctor cannot spy.

Another appointment to buy new glasses

Which will hide my “beautiful” lashes.

 

Then the pharmacy sends emails.

Pick up my prescriptions I must not fail!

And into town again I drive

Where 6,000 persons now there thrive.

 

So the traffic isn’t too bad!

But going so many places makes me sad.

I would rather not leave my house,

Where it’s just me and my spouse!

 

But to the grocer’s I must attend,

And with crowds I must fend.

I stock my larder twice a week,

Because some things just won’t keep.

 

Another day a Costco trip,

Just another calendar blip.

Where I stock up on sundry things,

And into the house I must bring

 

And then there’s taxes to comply,

And that date is coming nigh.

Once a year is enough of that!

To make the government nice and fat!!!

 

And then I must remember my range,

Every 5,000 miles an oil change.

My little Soul needs loving care,

So to the dealer, I take her there.

 

And these appointments are but of few

Of all the rest left to do.

The unexpected that rear their head,

And probably will until I am dead.

 

And the appointments written about in my poem don’t even include those caused by our water-loss.  And what makes it worse is that they are here at the house and we must live our lives around those appointments!

Before I think of another appointment I think I’ll go to bed.

Good night and God bless you!

 

Part 8:

8 Keys to Finding God’s Will for Your Life

8) Take a look at your circumstances.

God often clearly demonstrates His plan for our lives by lining up circumstances in obvious ways. And He also shows us what His will is NOT for us to do in that same way. It is not His will for you to take the job that is not offered to you. If you are 5’ 6” tall and weigh 125 lbs., it is not likely that God has created you to play professional football.

Over the years, I have discovered that God is pretty good at opening and closing doors. He even did that for the Apostle Paul and his entourage in Acts. Take a look at this passage:

Acts 16:6-10

6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.

7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.

8 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.

9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

So, even Paul had to face closed doors in his ministry. God often uses closed doors to show us clearly what He does NOT want us to do. And He also uses open doors at times to show us what He DOES want us to do. Of course, this does not mean that every open door is definitely God’s plan, but it does help to give you some basic direction.

A Closing Thought:

The next time you begin to ponder God’s plan for your life, I would encourage you to mull over the above eight keys. Use these principles to help you to hone in on His plan. And when you seek His will earnestly, you will find it!

http://www.biblestudytools.com/blogs/chris-russell/8-keys-to-knowing-god-s-will-for-your-life.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Sabbath January 24 2016  CONNECT WITH PEOPLE

“We desire to be a church where it is easy to make friends and establish relationships that enrich our lives and nurture our faith.  It is in sharing the life we have in Christ with other people by serving them with our unique talents and abilities, and by receiving from them in return, that we find true joy.”

Week three of quoting a part of our Sunday morning bulletin.  Next Sunday is the last sermon in the series.  The first sermon was “Come as You Are”, last week’s message was “Connect with God, today’s topic was Connect with People, and next week’s will be “Contend for more of God’s Presence”.  All messages are or will be available at:  http://www.citychurchonline.org

There was so much in the message that I could not begin to discuss the points without leaving too many pertinent details out.  I will, however, write a poem about some of the key topics.

 

CONNECT WITH PEOPLE

By Kathleen Martens

January 24, 2016

 

God has placed His children

In the church body with a plan.

He has purpose for each talent,

For each woman, for and each man.

 

To create a healthy body

He designed a job for each soul,

So the Church has what’s needed,

Each purposed to make it whole.

 

And because we work together

There is a reason WHY we need each other.

Before offering God your praise

Go and forgive your brother.

 

Confess your sins to the body

So your spirit can be healed.

That you will have the strength to stand

Knowing it is God who is your shield.

 

So that when before God you come

And words of love employ,

The God of all the universe

Will then receive the purest joy.

 

WHY we need each other

Is if our spiritual fire wanes,

Our brothers can step in,

Lest our burning is doused by rain.

 

And encourage you to thirst

For a deep, spiritual connection. 

So your heart will remember

The deep longing of your affection.

 

WHEN we need each other

Are the times when we sin

Confess your sins to your brothers

And your fire they’ll help tend.

 

And WHEN you are afraid

Your fire can go out.

The brethren will walk with you,

Encouraging you not to doubt.

 

So whatever it is God calls you to do

You will not stop and fall asleep,

The body of believers surround you

So on the righteous road you’ll keep.

 

Because when you are lulled to sleep

Your spiritual life will fall,

Being too busy is one reason

You fail to give God a call.

 

And the longer you ignore God

The farther from Him you become,

So the Church body rallies around

Lest you forget God’s Son.

 

So even if your fire dies down

And your connection seems so remote,

Sometimes the word of a caring brother

Is all it takes to rekindle your smoke.

 

And your fire once again will burn,

For it is God who fans the flames.

When Jesus breathes into your life

You are able to refocus your aims.

 

Though we sometimes are overwhelmed

And our life seems to fall down,

When you are part of a healthy body

Your spiritual life once again is found.

 

What we must remember to do

Is function in the part God has designed,

So the body will be healthy and whole

As it daily is refined.

 

And know that God has great things

For each of his beloveds to do.

His plan for each one is perfect

And each day He gives us is new.

 

And know God desires for us to connect

To the worshipers who around us pray.

So at times we may be the one

Who helps another get through their day.

 

I had a lot of remembering to do to write the above poem.  I hope it makes some sense without you having heard the message.

Had a wonderful afternoon, CONNECTING with a family in our church body.  It was such a joy to have them as guests in our home.  The food was delicious (even if I do say so myself),  the conversation delightful, and their children were absolutely wonderful.  The best part however, was sharing from what God has given us through His Word.  David S. (guest) read scriptures from his journal which he has penned from THE MESSAGE BIBLE (I had never heard of that translation), his wife read beautiful entries from David S’s journal and I shared several poems from my blog.  The scriptures David S. read were written with such eloquence.  I loved the translation.  I could still tell what the scripture was, but it was spoken in a very simple elegance.  Easy to listen to.  Easy to read.  I’ll have to see if I can find that translation online and read some from it.  I didn’t want the afternoon to end, but it did.  I loved the sound of life in the house while they were here.  And when the sound of silence comes over the house, I love that sound also.  And so it is now.

Dave is downstairs in his den watching football.  The sound does not travel to where I am.  I hear no noise from traffic and the snow seems to muffle all other sounds.  Earlier, when I began writing I could hear the owls hooting across the woods to one another, but they too are silent now.  Perhaps they captured their dinner and have gone home to eat.

Well, I will capture some extra sleep if I turn in now.  Tomorrow is a very early day again.  I think the alarm will ring at 5:00 a.m.  I like waking up naturally so I will go and get my beauty sleep.  I keep hoping it will help (to make me beautiful, that is).  Just in case you want to know, it hasn’t worked yet!

Good night and may God’s blessings be with each of you tonight and for the entire week!

 

Part 7:

8 Keys to Finding God’s Will for Your Life

 7) Listen to your heart.

In addition to listening to the Spirit, I also recommend listening to your heart. To understand my point here, consider the following passage:

Psalms 37:4-5

4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. (NKJV)

I love this passage, because it shows me that, when I am walking with the Lord, He will actually let me do many really cool things that I actually love to do! When you are close to Him, He actually begins to shape your desires so that you desire the things that He has already called you to do.

So then, His plan actually becomes a super-exciting adventure. I always have the most fun in life when I am doing God’s will. And that is because He shapes my “wanter” to want to do the things for which He has actually created me.

 

http://www.biblestudytools.com/blogs/chris-russell/8-keys-to-knowing-god-s-will-for-your-life.html