Tuesday December 29 2015  SOLITUDE

For some reason the word SOLITUDE just popped into my mind as I sat down before my computer.  Perhaps one reason is because Dave just left for the rest of the day and I feel as if I have a day off.  That sounds pretty bad when I say it like that.  Dave is much more help to me than he is work, so that is not the reason.  He is great company, an interesting conversationalist, treats me wonderfully, and retreats to his “man cave” off and on throughout each day to do paperwork, walk on the treadmill, and watch football games. (Plus, he always cleans the kitchen up after each meal.)  So it is not like I don’t have time alone.  But it is not the same.  When he is gone the house is noticeably quiet.  There is a stillness that settles over it as if the absence of sound becomes a sound unto its own.  To be the only one in a house is a peaceful experience for me.  I love it when it happens but at this point in my life I am always expecting that Dave will be back so I don’t really feel isolated or lonely. 

One of the definitions of “solitude” is LONELINESS.  At this point in my life I do not experience solitude as loneliness.  Solitude to me is having privacy and isolation from distracting disturbances.  It is a seclusion to be savored and enjoyed for every moment of time that it is available.  There is a distinct separateness that surfaces.  Separated from outside forces and people and sounds that are distracting.  Oh how I long for these occasional occurrences of solitude.  So, I am fashioning my life around these special interludes so that I will be able to relish and appreciate the treasure they are. 

It doesn’t even matter what task or pleasure I decide to do.  Whatever I am doing when I am alone in the house, I enjoy immensely!

Now back to the definitions and synonyms of SOLITUDE:  “loneliness, privacy, isolation, seclusion, separateness, and aloneness.”  I can identify with each definition except loneliness.  When I am in solitude I am never lonely.  Other than God, I am my own best friend.  Dave is my next best friend.  Until we can be a friend to ourselves, I don’t know if we can truly be a best friend to someone else.  The Bible teaches that we are first to love God and then ourselves so that we can then love our neighbors as ourselves.  That is a very strong teaching statement coming from the Holy Word of God.  It brought to my mind a certain young lady I met on my travels this year.  I was at Butchart Gardens in Canada and was asking a group of twelve and thirteen year old girls what was the greatest wisdom they had learned in their short lives.  A pretty young girl of thirteen turned to me with a serious look on her face, and said in a quiet sure voice, “I’ve discovered that we need to learn to love ourselves first, before we can expect others to love us”.  I thought those were profound words coming from someone so young.  It made me pause and wonder what had happened in her short life to open her heart to this kind of deep insight.  God’s perspective was that we need to love ourselves so that we know how to love others.  Perhaps loving ourselves also makes it easier for others to love us too.  Somehow this young girl had figured it out.   

Perhaps learning to love self is something that we must individually stop to investigate in our own lives.  I have met a lot of people who, if I had to venture a guess, I would surmise that they don’t know how to love themselves, though to me it seems it would come naturally.  But, there are so many variables to consider, such as how were they raised, who raised them, what past emotional traumas have they dealt with, and the questions could go on and on.  And then I wonder, if people don’t love themselves, do they know that they don’t?  Have you ever thought about this?  If not, perhaps you might want to pause (in solitude) and search your heart and discover if you do love yourself.  I’m not insinuating loving yourself as in selfish narcissism.  That kind of love connotes vanity, self-absorption, egotism, conceit, and self-importance.  The kind of love that I am speaking about toward self has more to do with how God’s scripture tells us to clothe ourselves daily with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, forgiving ourselves as well as others, and binding everything together with love.  When we love ourselves in this way it is only then that we truly know how to love others.  Just think about how wonderful it would be if each person loved themselves in this manner.  Do you treat yourself with compassion and kindness?  Do you show humility and gentleness with both self and others?  Do you forgive yourself when you make mistakes?  Can you forgive others easily?  Do you show caring love to yourself so you can then extend it to another? 

I know that it is a fast paced, rat race world out there, and many may think that they don’t have time to show love to themselves, much less to the masses around them.  I think that is where you are wrong.  If you have the love of God in you, let God know how much you love Him.  Then learn to love yourself, and perhaps then you will have unending love to give to others.  The more we love God, the more love we can feel Him pouring into us.  The more smiles we offer, the more we will have to give.   Take time to be good to yourself.  Eat nourishing food, exercise, get good rest, and take time for solitude.  Somehow, every day, even if it is five minutes in the bathroom by yourself, let God know you love Him.  Praise Him for who He is.  Allow him to flood you with His love, first for yourself so that it will flow out of you to others.  You might be surprised how it will change your life.  If you watch television consider giving up one of your shows and spend that time with God so that your spirit will be daily renewed.  Perhaps somehow in your busy day you can carve out a few moments of being in Solitude with the one who is your creator.  Give it a try.  You might like it!  Your blessings will be bountiful.

 

 SOLITUDE WITH GOD

By Kathleen Martens

December 29, 2015

 

Alone with God in a quiet place

Solitude of the heart is born.

Sacred beyond time and space,

His love over you He adorns.

 

Private isolation in glorious peace

In separateness from the world.

God spreads over you a banner,

And His love over you unfurled.

 

Savor the interval of seclusion,

Cherish beyond measure.

Delight in the desired moments

For this hour is such a treasure.

 

Matthew 22: 36-39

³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment.³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

 

COLOSSIANS 3:12-17

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

 

Good night and God bless you!

 

P.S.  Below is a poem I wrote several years ago that ties in with the above scripture.  This poem is one that I refer to as my “SCRIPTURE POETRY”.  When I am reading scriptures I sometimes feel a poem blossoming in my heart and sometimes I write it down such as I did with this one.  It is totally inspired by the WORD OF GOD.  I only incased it in my own imaginative flowery style.  I hope you enjoy it.

 

CLOTHE YOURSELF

Colossians 3:12-15

Kathleen Martens

June 15, 2011

 

Oh Lord You are my God and King,

My heart praises and to Your glory I sing.

I know in my heart I am Your chosen one

For I have received Your Precious Son.

 

Because of atonement dearly loved.

You send your instruction from above.

You tell me how to clothe best,

To live in your peace and how to rest.

 

First of all I shall dress with compassion,

For it never goes out of fashion.

Next is kindness by Your command

So I should never my way demand.

 

The garment of humility is layered next.

My heart in peace less likely vexed.

Gentleness comes with adornment sweet,

So many challenges it helps to meet.

 

And then comes patience – sturdy wear,

For it makes life easier to bear.

To be with each other and forgive,

By ridding grievances life easier to live.

 

Forgive, as the Lord forgives you,

Then add one last layer and I am through.

Over all these virtues one layer binds.

The finishing touch, one of a kind.

 

The garment of love – in unity ties.

The perfect fit – the perfect size.

 

 

Monday December 28 2015  WHAT DO MY DRAWERS HOLD?

Well, we definitely have lots to do and at a bit quicker pace that we had originally planned.  There must be a reason.  Hopefully this will be a quick blog since I have already done a fair amount of writing today.  I do want to bring you up to date as to the unfolding of our wet mess.

First, it is still wet and secondly, the mess will only become bigger.  We had workers here today, then a plumber, and the workers are expected back later today or tomorrow morning.  We are in the middle of a blizzard, the kind with howling winds and driving snow and very low temperatures.  We just cancelled our outing tonight as the roads may possibly be icy later this evening.  Our road is the most difficult to maneuver since we live on a hill.  The snow plows must be very busy on main thoroughfares because they have not yet plowed our circle.  Our plow men have not yet arrived and our driveway is now covered completely with a few inches of snow.  So, staying at home seems like the smart thing to do.

Things are still up in the air regarding our insurance coverage.  Dave spoke with the insurance adjuster today and made an appointment for her to come tomorrow.  She said she is 99% certain that we have coverage but she has to review the policy first.  I’ll feel better with that other 1% in its rightful place!  The wet is a bit more extensive than we thought yesterday, due to the fact that our floors have insulation in them.  We had the insulation put in when we remodeled 4 years ago.  Our basement is all finished (except the laundry room) and insulation helps both in heat retention and as a sound barrier between floors. 

I emptied the vanity last night and now  have six boxes of drawer contents to go through.  Oh my, I could not believe how much was packed into those “little” drawers.  Let’s put it this way, the boxes are at least twice as big as the drawers and they look full with just the content of one drawer.  The contents seemed to explode when released from the confines of the drawers.  Lots of stuff.  Lots of years of stuff. Lots to get rid of.  SOON.  LIKE NOW!

That is my first job that I will begin when I finish writing the blog.   Again, I feel the prodding that may be an answer to prayer.  Now my prayer is that God will give me strength to do it all!

 

WHAT DO MY DRAWERS HOLD?

By Kathleen Martens

December 28, 2015

 

Drawers and drawers of little things,

Forgotten, discarded, unused.

Notes and pencils and pens galore,

Even an electrical fuse.

 

Files and clippers, lipstick and rouge,

Powder puffs no longer needed.

It’s as if everything multiplied,

As if wonderfully, organically seeded.

 

Shoe-inserts and underwear folded,

Batteries and camera cards too.

Bags and boxes and trinkets galore,

All which I must sort through.

 

Q-tips and OFF and little coin purses,

Picture of daughter and friends.

Pins from  “KIDS FROM WISCONSIN”,

And out-of-date eyeglasses lens.

 

Soap and shampoo, salve and cream,

And “THE SHOEBOX” business card,

Toothbrushes used and Vaseline tubes

And pieces of sundry shards.

 

Makeup brushes and battery chargers

And batteries that are long dead.

What am I going to do with this stuff

If it can’t be spent or read?

 

I’ve always room for one more book,

Or a pocketful of money,

But I did find a tube of lotion,

But alas, it was quite runny.

 

Oh, I also found the missing piece

Of a toy from our daughter’s treasure.

And lo and behold I still own it

The missing cow is worth beyond measure!

 

Razors and clips and new eyeliner,

Which I no longer even use.

All are things that have long been lost,

And what I write is not a ruse.

 

All this stuff now I must touch,

And use my precious time

To go through what was once important

All because it was mine.

 

I am so done with this lot.

Perhaps I’ll dump it and never look back.

But what if? It may be important

I must determine if that is a fact!

 

And what I describe is just one layer

I took with my camera iPhone.

I don’t even want to guess what’s below

For fear I may start to moan.

 

Well, I suppose that that is the end of this poem.  I’ll let you know later what was on the next layer.  Or, maybe I won’t.

It is beautiful outside.  It is growing dim and the light fades.  The wind seems to have calmed down a bit and the snow plow has now come down our street.  At least we are no longer housebound.  But it is still very cold and possibly icy.

I will close with Psalm 150.  When I live in a day such as today my heart rejoices and I long to Praise God for His awesome gift of creation.  Psalms 150 does a great justice to how I feel.  Good night and God Bless you.  I am saying a special prayer for a new friend tonight.  If she is reading this she will know that I am calling out her name to our wonderful God for complete healing.

 

Psalm 150New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 150

¹ Praise the Lord.

Praise God in his sanctuary;
    praise him in his mighty heavens.
² Praise him for his acts of power;
    praise him for his surpassing greatness.
³ Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
    praise him with the harp and lyre,
⁴ praise him with timbrel and dancing,
    praise him with the strings and pipe,
⁵ praise him with the clash of cymbals,
    praise him with resounding cymbals.

⁶ Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.

 

 

Sunday Sabbath December 27 2015  IT COULD BE WORSE

If you haven’t read yesterday’s blog of December 26^th this blog probably will not make much sense.  I will write as if everyone has read yesterday’s blog.

Well, it could be worse!  I had an accident in the house that appears to be one that will cost several thousand dollars.  We are just hoping that it will be covered by our homeowner’s insurance policy.  So I continue as to where I left off.

The men from the remediation department came by today, the Sunday following Christmas.  This event happened on Christmas.  The damage is much more extensive than we first thought.  I had my suspicions but there was no way to confirm it until we had them come in and do some moisture testing.  When Dave found the pool of water in the light fixture downstairs, we knew all was not as it should be.  We called them last night, they were here today and spent several hours opening up an area to aid in the drying.  They will be back at 8:00 a.m. in the morning with the big tools.  The walls and floor must be opened up to allow for venting and drying. Four rooms are affected as well as the hallway downstairs.

Hey, I know what you might be thinking, this doesn’t sound like “blog material”, but just so you know, this blog is about life, the everyday life of an aging couple.  And, this is what is happening right now.  And I stand by the old saying that it is not what happens to you that counts, but how you take it.  Well, it happened.  Now we must do the best to protect the investment of our home and make certain that no moisture remains anywhere that can cause future problems.  It makes no sense to get upset, grieve, or complain.  It happened.  It must be taken care of.  Do I like it? No!  Is it going to rob me of joy and peace? ABSOLUTELY NOT!  In the scheme of life this is barely a blip.  This is an accident that happened where no one was hurt.  For that I am thankful!  No one got whiplash or a smashed in face or died.  So you see, it could have been worse.  It just hurt my pride a bit but I’m already over that.  I just may need to put off getting the new Mac Computer for a while, but I can live with that.  I am just thankful for God’s provision for what we do have.  We have plenty to eat and a warm place to live that we rent from the government.  So who am I to complain?  Until I call the insurance company tomorrow I won’t know for certain if it will be covered.  That will hurt a little deeper in the pocket book but we’ll get over that too! 

Now Dave and I have some decisions to make of how to go about the clean up.  Which rooms do we debilitate to allow the air flow?  Four locations from which to choose.  One is our main bathroom area which would probably be the greatest interruption to our life.  The second is the downstairs bathroom and that would mean taking down wall and ceiling.  The third is the hallway and we were told we could open up an airway to the interior from the room backing the hallway.  That would be less of an eyesore and easier to repair.  The fourth choice of entrance is from our dressing room which would mean removing a built in vanity and sink and accessing the wet interior through the floor.  The area around the vanity is carpeted, but the vanity sits on sub-flooring.  If we do that, which we are leaning toward, it will be less destructive to the other rooms.  Then we have the option to have the vanity replaced or the choice to have it permanently removed which would result in carpeting the room at our expense.  We just haven’t decided if we will have it reinstalled with the sink, as it is now, or just have it reinstalled with a new marble top and use it as a dressing room counter.  It can then be removed later when we need to have new carpeting.  Our carpet in that room is lovely and plush and does not need to be replaced at this time.  

I do hope I haven’t lost all my readers by this point.  It is always interesting to receive email comments and know that some of what I write seems to give others insights and helps them in various ways.  I promise not to dwell on this subject but I did want everyone to know what the follow-up investigation showed regarding yesterday’s blog.

 

A POEM IN JEST WITH LOTS OF TRUTH

By Kathleen Martens

December 27, 2015

 

So I’ve been told I must focus

Don’t put chance to hocus pocus.

Don’t get distracted is the demand,

So my brain I must command.

 

Oh so easy to become sidetracked

And then it happens, oh so fast.

Disaster looms when you least expect it,

And it won’t help by throwing a fit.

 

The first and best thing to do

Is intentionally think to get you through.

Plan ahead, so calamity won’t strike,

Just stay focused with all your might.

 

Don’t answer the phone to talk to a friend,

Finish what you are doing to the end.

Don’t leave the kitchen when you cook

And for goodness sakes don’t read a book.

 

Keep your mind sharp thinking as you go,

Read the instructions so you will know.

And when the pot bubbles do not fail

By going out to retrieve the mail.

 

Because a friend you might see

Forgetting that now you are not free.

In a conversation do not become mired

Or your kitchen may catch on fire.

 

Keep the stairs cleared to go up and down

Or an ambulance might take you to town.

Take up those rugs in the hall

So that you will not fall.

 

Chew your food into mush

Eat slowly and do not rush

You don’t want to choke, or just die

By climbing a ladder that’s too high.

 

Oh so many disasters await each day,

Now that you’re retired and want to play.

But listen carefully to what you hear,

So into long life you will veer.

 

And then you can sit in a rocking chair

And gently comb your thinning hair.

And use your walker to go to bed,

But at least, you won’t be dead.

 

I chuckled as I wrote the above poem but there is a lot of truth said in jest.  I will definitely take to heart some of the comments that have been sent my way.  Thank you for sending them.

I was going to end here but I want to say one more thing.  I’m reading a book called “YOU STAYING YOUNG” by Michael F. Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet C. OZ. M.D.  I’m at the part about keeping the brain as healthy as possible to ward off Alzheimer’s.  Here is a quote from the book (which is probably illegal to do so please don’t turn me in):

“ONE OF THE KEYS TO HAVING A HEALTHY MIND IS TO LIVE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN IN THE MOMENT; THAT IS, THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING RIGHT NOW, NOT WORRYING ABOUT THE MISTAKES YOU MADE YESTERDAY OR THE HEADACHES THAT AWAIT YOU TOMORROW.”

I think that is very sound advice and I definitely want to put it into practice during this latest escapade!

MY PRAYER:

“Oh God, I will exalt You for You are my God and King.  I praise Your name forever and ever.  Every day I will praise you and extol Your name forever and ever.  Lord I praise You for You are great and most worthy of praise.  I cannot even fathom Lord how great You are.

Lord I will tell of Your glorious splendor and Your majesty and I will meditate and think on Your wondrous works of creation and tell others of all the great things You do.  I will join with others to celebrate how abundantly good You are and I will sing songs to You of how righteous You are.

I worship You because You are so gracious and so compassionate.  Thank You for being slow to anger.  I give You thanks for being so rich in love and for loving me.  You are so good to me.  You are so compassionate to me, for I am one that You have created.  And all You have created will praise you.  I will sing songs to you about your glory and how mighty you are.”

 

The above prayer is an example of me praying the scriptures.  This prayer is my rephrasing of Psalm 145 and selected verses from 1-11.  I use words as if I am speaking to God.  I often pray the scriptures.  God has so many promises in His word and I pray those promises back to Him.  The scripture has a prayer for every occasion and every need.  In no way do I want anyone to think that I am re-writing the scripture.  I am only using the scripture to pray back to God in the way I would speak.  God loves to hear His scriptures being read back to Him by those who love Him.  Try it.  You might like it.  The above is just my example of how I pray the scriptures.

 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU!

 

 

 

 

Saturday December 26 2015  BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU PRAY FOR

 

Have you ever had a thought and it came true?  Well, I have.  If I have negative thoughts I try to put them out of my mind so that they will not come true.  Sometimes it doesn’t work.

Have you ever prayed for something to happen, and then realize when it does happen, that maybe you shouldn’t have prayed for it after all?  And, from this point on I will stop and listen carefully as to how I word my prayers.

A few days ago I thought how awful it would be if I happened to turn the water on in our bathroom sink with the stopper in and then forgot to turn it off.  Our bathroom sinks do not have an overflow outlet.  Well, last night I found out.

I was getting ready to get into the shower and decided to turn the sink water on and get it hot so I could soak my hair brush while I took a shower.  Since the water wasn’t hot yet I decided to turn the shower water on and then commenced to get into the shower WITHOUT TURNING OFF THE WATER IN THE SINK.  I did remember to turn the fan on however, which makes quite a nice loud hum.

When I wash my hair it always takes longer than just getting in and out of the shower.  When I turned the water off after my shower was over I heard an odd sound.  I couldn’t figure out what it was so I peeked out from behind the shower curtain and to my horror the sink was full of water, the counter top was covered, and the water was overflowing the ledge like a cascading waterfall.  The floor was saturated, the rug was soaked, and when I later opened my drawers everything was floating in a sea of foamy water (I had put a squirt of Dawn dish soap into the sink).  I then opened the cabinets below the sink where we store piles of wash cloths, hand towels, and other bathroom supplies.  Yep!  You got it.  Everything was waterlogged or floating.

My first thought went to the carpeting in the next room.  I jumped out of the shower, grabbed my towel and quickly went over to the door that leads into our carpeted dressing room.  The water was just about to the edge of the threshold into the next room.  I spread my towel in front of the creeping water and stopped it before it crossed over.  I grabbed Dave’s towels and started sopping up water.  Everything went into the tub, the thick mat, the totally drenched towels, all the towels and washcloths under the sink, except the few on top of the piles which weren’t quite waterlogged yet. Those I used to soak up the flood on the tile floor.  I took all the dripping debris from my drawers and put them into the sink and then bailed out the water with a tray that was in the drawer.  Once  my body had dripped dried enough I ran out through the hall into the other entrance of our dressing room and grabbed all the large bath towels stored in my closet area.  I used those to absorb water from the bathroom floor.  The hand towels were used to sop up inside the cupboards below the sinks.  I decided I could either cry or laugh.  I chose to laugh.  It actually was rather funny.  I hate to make you imagine the scene, here I am running around stark naked, dripping hair, mopping up buckets of water.  My house robe had been hung on a lower hand rail and was also saturated so I couldn’t put that on.  Fortunately the front windows had been closed before I took the shower.

All this time Dave was in his “man cave” directly below the dressing room.  I could hear his treadmill fast at work.  When it first happened I actually called him on his iPhone but it wouldn’t make a connection for some reason.  I did not want to waste an iota of time running all the way through the house, down the stairs, and down the long hallway to take the time to tell him.  My intent was to protect the carpet at both entrances into the dressing room and getting as much of the water sopped up as I could.  Finally I had no choice but to go down because I ran out of absorbable material available to me.  I went downstairs, told Dave what was happening, and grabbed some more towels from the laundry room on the way back up.  Before I steaked past the uncovered kitchen picture window I did take the time to grab a fresh robe from the closet.  I no longer needed a towel as I was already air dried. 

It is cold here in Wisconsin at the present.  If you remember, I told you before we don’t heat the bedroom.  So needless to say it was a bit chilly.  I was so busy I didn’t even notice.  It took four trips to take the wet towels to the laundry room downstairs and that was without the saturated rug.  Just in case you don’t know it, wet towels are very heavy.

It is twenty four hours later and I just restocked the bathroom with freshly laundered towels.  We wanted to make certain everything was thoroughly dried out under the cupboards before we put anything back.  We washed almost everything last night but decided to put the clean lenins on the kitchen counter until we gave everything a good airing out with HEAT!  We turned the heat zone all the way up to 72 degrees.  I just now turned it off again so we can sleep comfortably.  I needed to be certain that everything was dry.  My drawers are clean and almost empty.  All the cotton balls, cleansing pads, creams, rubber gloves, bandaging supplies, some medicines, Q-tips, and a sundry of other items are in the trash.  So, I guess you might say the bathroom has had a great purging and cleansing (which I will agree it needed).

After it was all finished I suppose I felt quite satisfied.  I would never have chosen to use this method for cleaning, but it worked.  As I went to bed later I couldn’t help but laugh again.  I told Dave, “Well, I guess I should be careful what I pray for”.  You see, I had prayed over the past few days that God would help me get started on the purging and cleansing of this house of unneeded stuff.  I asked that He would help me be motivated and give me creative ways of getting things done without getting discouraged.  Well, let me tell you, this is not how I thought He might answer.  If it was an answer to prayer, it worked, at least for one room.  I think I will reword my prayers from here on out.  Without any disrespect, I would venture to say we have a God with a great sense of humor!

 

BE CAREFUL FOR WHAT YOU PRAY FOR

By Kathleen Martens

December 26, 2015

 

Prayer is a powerful thing

For it is when we talk

To our mighty King.

 

Great thanks we should give

To the One who shows

His way to live.

 

Remember and give praise

For who God is

Each and every day.

 

But when we come

In petition to ask

His loving Son

 

We should be careful

And to our task

Humbly prayerful.

 

For it is then

We must be specific

Before Our Friend.

 

Do not waver in your words

For to our Lord

Each word is heard.

 

Speak so clear

The desires of your heart

For God does hear.

 

Be careful for what you believe

God sees the desires of your heart,

And what you believe you may receive.

 

Let’s just say, more than once, I’ve learned my lessons the hard way!

 

My Prayer for today:

Lord, I praise You for who you are.  You are the mighty King of Glory and the Prince of Peace.  Thank you for Your love and for loving me.  Thank You for hearing my prayers.  Lord I come in humbleness, asking protection over my family, my friends, and Dave and me.  I pray that You will take each of my days and orchestrate them for Your glory that I may touch a life with Your love, giving hope to another.  Help me to be able to discern Your voice when You speak to me throughout each day.  Show me Your ways that I will walk in righteousness.  Give me strength to accomplish all that must be accomplished in emptying out our home of unneeded items.  Show me who to bless in this venture.  Release me from wanting to hold on to “things” of the past that are now just excess baggage.  Teach me to see with Your eyes and Your thoughts as to what is important or unimportant.  I ask for strength and guidance for both Dave and I as we embark on this yearlong adventure of sorting through our past.  Show us the truths You want us to learn and give us wisdom daily as we seek Your will.

Thank You Father that I can come and speak openly of what is on my heart.  You are my everything.  As our world falls apart around us Lord, I know that You are in control and Your plan is in action.  I give each day to You and trust in Your plan that is laid before us.

I ask these things in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ.

Good night and God bless you!

P.S.  Just realized that the above saga is not yet over.  We did not escape unscathed, at least financially that is.  Dave found out that some water escaped to parts unknown.  Our downstairs bathroom, below our upstairs bathroom, had water on the floor tonight and when he looked up he realized that the globe on the light fixture was half full of water.  Uh, oh!  We called for help.  The troops will be out tomorrow (Sunday) which means it will be even more of an expenditure.  But as far as I am concerned, the sooner the better.

To be continued… 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday December 25 2015  A LETTER TO MY READERS

Dear Friends and Family:

Isn’t it amazing that in the United States, Christmas is considered the one revered day that almost everyone has off from their place of employment?  Of course the well-oiled machine of our society could not really exist with EVERY SINGLE PERSON OFF FROM WORK.  There is always a need for the police officers, firemen, first responders, hospital personnel, gas stations, internet management, utility workers, and of course restaurant workers for those who MUST eat out, plus accommodations for all those traveling and their accommodations.  There are probably many other jobs that I haven’t named that could be included on this list.  But, everyone hopes to have it off.  The sad part of it is that though December 25^th is revered by many, the very reason we have it off is no longer considered part of the festivities for many. 

For those who actually BELIEVE the story of our Savior’s birth, we are the ones who are often mocked, ridiculed, and even unable to discuss God or the Bible in public or in government run institutions (such as schools and work places).  We no longer have CHRISTMAS TREES but holiday trees.  In some places we must not say MERRY CHRISTMAS but happy holidays.   Many schools no longer allow Christmas songs that mention God or the birth of baby Jesus.  But…it is certainly a day that everyone wants to have off.

So today, if you are one of those who must work, I send you my many thanks for keeping our country and homes safe.  I send you a Merry Christmas and pray God’s blessings on each one of you. 

Our son has Christmas off once every four or five years due to him being on a rotation schedule with the police department where he is employed.  This was his special year!  He even had Christmas Eve off due to his, work six days, off three days, work schedule.  It was such a pleasure to actually celebrate this year on the day we chose to celebrate (which was Christmas Eve), rather than get together on a weekend or at night. 

And to all of you who did not work today I also send you special Greetings and a very Merry Christmas!

 

AS YOU HONOR THIS DAY IN HISTORY

By Kathleen Martens

December 25, 2015

 

Merry Christmas one and all

On this day of glad tidings and joy.

Whether at hearth and home

Or at your place of employ.

 

May God richly bless you

As you honor this day in history

That celebrates the birth of God’s son,

The greatest of all time mysteries.

 

Merry Christmas and to all a good night.

 

With much love,

Kathleen

 

P.S.  My Christmas Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for sending your Son Jesus to provide the way of salvation for my sin.  I worship and adore You Lord for sending love to this earth through Your Son who was willing to die for the sins of all men, so that all can have the opportunity to approach a God who is holy and righteous.  Jesus, thank You for providing this gift of life to me and others that when we ask with faith, You will come into our hearts.  I worship and adore You Lord and I praise Your holy name.  Thank You for this special day of celebration to give honor and praise to You, The Holy King, who was born in a stable.  Thank You that You have sent Your Holy Spirit to abide within me.  You are my hope and You are my strength.  In You, I put my trust. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday December 24 2015  JESUS WAS GOD ON EARTH

I thank God for such a sweet and charming day.  No day should ever be taken for granted but today was just a little extra special.  It truly is Christmas Eve.  Just as children anticipate with excitement the coming of Santa Clause and receiving a gift (of which we know the truth), so is Christmas Eve a day of such anticipation for me.  It is a day that Dave and I set aside to be with family, talk to our grandchildren about the special gift that was delivered on this night for every single man and woman.  The greatest gift given to the world.  Not only is it the greatest gift, but given by the greatest Father, the creator of the universe and all that is in it.  The difference between God and Santa Clause, is that God is not a myth.  And of God’s story, I know the truth because I have experienced the miraculous.  I have experienced firsthand His salvation, His love, His joy, and His peace, for it abides within me. 

 

JESUS WAS GOD ON EARTH

By Kathleen Martens

December 24, 2015

 

Thank you Father for the gift of life

That came packaged in joy and peace.

A gift given on a starlit night

A gift that will never cease.

 

A gift that was promised to all men

That a Savior would be given to earth.

He came in the form of a newborn baby

A gift of magnificent worth.

 

A gift that was wrapped with loving hands

In the shadows of a stable.

A royal king who was laid in a manger,

No place of renowned label.

 

He was the gift given to all,

Who would pay the ransom for man’s sin.

Our eternity would be so different

If His birth had never been.

 

That precious gift on that starlit night

Changed the course of all mankind.

FOR JESUS WAS GOD ON EARTH,

THE MOST PRICELESS GIFT TO FIND.

 

And this has been a priceless day to me.  The Christmas Eve service at church, celebrating the birth of Christ, was a beautiful finish for the amazing miracle that took place so many years ago.  It was an hour of honoring our Lord and Savior and giving thanks to God for the birth of His son, sent to redeem the world from their sinful ways. 

I wish you a Blessed Christmas as you celebrate Jesus, who was God on earth.  And though Jesus is now in heaven, sitting at the right hand of His Father, His spirit dwells in those who believe and accept the salvation He came to give.  There is no church name that you must first be affiliated with, nor deeds of penance that must be suffered, nor even trying to become a better person to make yourself worthy, in order to qualify for this wonderful gift.  All you must do is reach out and accept the gift.  The gift given with love by a Heavenly Father.  The gift of eternal life that Jesus came to give, is received by faith.  It is freely given to you when you ask God to come into your heart.  From that moment forward God lives in you in the form of His Holy Spirit, drawing you ever more closely to Him.  It is then that you will become more and more like the one you give your heart and life to.  And the best part?  HOW TO WALK WITH GOD comes with a manual.  It is called the Holy Bible.

If you have not yet accepted this priceless gift, may you accept the best gift of a lifetime during this year’s Christmas celebration.  It is a gift that is always being offered, not just on Christmas.  And it is truly the gift that just keeps on giving.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND GOOD NIGHT. 

 

 

 

Monday December 21 2015  AND TIME GOES BY

Photos from yesterday were picked up today.  That is good. Shopping for Christmas Dinner is done.  That is good.  My sum total on my list was to pick up a rutabaga for the root vegetable bake I must bring to the dinner.  Of Course that rutabaga only cost $40.00 plus.  And then we needed to stop by Costo for 4 flats of bottled water and two roasted chickens.  Those only cost $80.44 cents.  If you are like me, you can’t walk through a grocery store without remember everything else you need (or think you need) to buy.

The chicken is deboned, the bones are boiling and the bottles of water are still in the car.  This was Dave’s first lifting day since his surgery over eight weeks ago.  I told him to wait until tomorrow to do any more lifting.  Those flats weigh over 40 pounds each and must be carried quite a ways to their indoor parking place. 

A few presents to wrap and our Christmas is ready.  That is tomorrow’s duty.

So…has this blog been short enough?  There’s lots more I could write but must leave in one hour for our Monday night movie.  Oh yes, I will say that I found out my deceased brother’s middle name, the one my mom couldn’t remember.  My older sister remembered it and emailed it to me.  It was Marion.  Wilfred Marion.  I wish we had thought to ask my sister while my mom was still concerned about it.  Thanks sis!

 

AND TIME GOES BY

By Kathleen Martens

December 21, 2015

 

Time goes by and some thoughts leave.

Where they go I’ll never know.

Loss of memory such a grief

Until hunting you no longer go.

 

It’s as if the brain begins crumbling

We become forgetful over our loss,

As if our thoughts begin mumbling,

Pulling to surface our ancient dross.

 

Thoughts of yesteryear seem to swim

Bringing memories of bygone days.

What happened five minutes ago become dim

As we become forgetful in our ways.

 

It’s sort of like losing yourself,

Wondering who you are.

Your present identity sits on a shelf,

And you are fearful of wandering far.

 

And the parent becomes the child

Self-absorbed with years of recollection.

All those memories no longer filed

Leaving one without direction.

 

Will it be me? I can’t help ask.

Will I be the one who is lost?

Leaving my care to another’s task,

Unaware of the toil and cost?

 

In this plight which position is worse?

The one who is now the parent?

Or is it the child who was born first?

To whom nothing is now apparent?

 

I was thinking of my mother as I wrote this poem.  Her last few years were lost to her.  When we cleaned out her living quarters after she died we found a page torn from her journal, hidden in the drawer of little table in the entrance way.  One of the sentences she had written was, “This is Sybil…or at least I think it is Sybil.  I don’t really know who I am.  I think I have lost myself, but I have a daughter and she will help find me…”  She went on to write much more but I do not have the torn page with me right now and cannot remember the precise words.   It was written at the beginning of her years of dementia.  It was such a sad place for her to be.  Living so far away there was not a lot I could help out with, but I have two sisters who lived with her and faithfully cared for her until her death in 2010.  It was very difficult and exhausting for my sisters.   How grateful I am to them for giving her round the clock care like they did.  I believe she was happy in her own way, in her own little world. 

Why did I think of my mom now?  I do not know.  But I write what is going on inside and that was what surfaced.  I guess that was the poem I was supposed to write tonight.  A lot more to the story but this is all I will comment on this evening.  I am not sad for my mother now.  She is spending Christmas with Jesus this year.  How awesome is that!  Besides, she has lots of family with her now, brothers and sisters and mom and dad, cousins, her grandparents and great grandparents, and a baby son.  And I bet they don’t even have to do the cooking.  Merry Christmas up there in heaven mama.  I still miss you but I wouldn’t want you to come back to this world for anything!

And I wish all of my friends down here on earth a wonderful and Merry Christmas, even if I don’t know you! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Sunday Sabbath December 20 2015  A MOTHER’S LOVE

 

Well, my day happened.  Like I said yesterday, I cannot speak out loud of having something finished because then there is always something that comes along to take up that time.  Well, I was right.  It happened today.  Dave drives to church on Sunday mornings so I go through my iPhone emails and dump about a hundred or more on the way to service.  Then before we arrive at church I shut my phone down so it will not ring during the service.  So I did that this morning.  Later while the pastor was preaching something told me my phone was going to ring but I thought naw…it is turned off.  And just as the service was ending and the pastor getting into the quite stage talking about salvation and prayer time, my phone does ring, very loudly.  I immediately grabbed it out of my bag and turned it off but not before I saw on the screen that is was from one of the hospitals of which I am on call.  When a baby dies I am called to take photos for the family if they would like me to come. 

First of all, I couldn’t believe my phone rang and when I saw who it was I thought, well, I guess I was supposed to get that call.  I left service, went to the hallway and returned the call.  Yes, I was needed as soon as possible.  I knew that I was supposed to go because otherwise why would my phone ring when I had purposely turned it off?  Dave and I left at the first amen out a side door and bypassed a lot of people traffic and parking lot back up.  I was at the hospital a little over an hour later.  The call came at 10:00 a.m., I was at the hospital by 11:15 a.m. and finished at approximately 12:50 p.m..  Came home, ate lunch and burrowed myself in the post production work from the mornings session and came back upstairs at about 7:45 p.m..  So there went my day. 

Sometimes it is unbearable to my heart to see the sorrow and sadness and shock that the grieving parents display.  This death was so unexpected and blindsided the family.  At times it is all I can do to keep my composure.  I will admit, sometimes I cry.  Here it is Christmas time and the sorrow of their loss may very well haunt them each Christmas season for the rest of their lives.  God gives me strength to do what I do, otherwise I could not bear it.  I was told that they would be having a funeral and the DVD I make is usually shown at the service.  It is done.  That is a good feeling.

Often I wake up in the morning somehow knowing I will be called in to the hospital to do a photo session.  When that happens I even change certain things around in my day perchance the call comes I will be ready.  Sometimes I mention it to Dave and almost every time it has come to pass.  I had an inkling knowing I would receive a call during church.  My thought was that, that “knowledge” that came to me was so I would remember to turn my phone back on and check my messages.  I guess that was not good enough.  I needed to go immediately.  Now I am spent.  Literally, SPENT.  I looked up the word “spent” and there was a list of definitions so long that it is no wonder I feel like I do.  Here are a few of the synonyms:  “consumed, expended, used up, finished, overdone, completed, at an end, exhausted, tired, useless, depleted, worn out, washed up, bushed, whacked, and run through!  Whew!  It makes me tired just reading the list of how SPENT I AM!

 

A MOTHER’S LOVE

By Kathleen Martens

December 20, 2015

 

A mother’s love

Born in child

Sweet and simple

Strong yet mild.

 

A dear little life

Meant to live

But died too soon

No breath to give.

 

Grief overwhelming

Within a soul

A babe in arms

Her hopeful goal.

 

But not to be

For death has come

For her sweet

Little one.

 

I hope my poem is not too melancholy.  I usually write some sort of poem after I deal with a family who has had a loss.  It is the way my heart expresses itself and it helps me cope.  No matter what the poems say, they are all quite sad.

Uh Oh!  More poem is coming:

 

(continued from above poem)

The angels came and beckoned,

“Little one come home.

It is not your lot in life,

This old earth to roam.

 

There is a place made for you

And a Father who calls your name.

Your days upon the earth

Wil not harbor fame.

 

There is a reason you were born

And though you may never know,

The lessons learned because of you

To others it will show.

 

The road is not always easy

To those left behind

But the purpose of your life

Others will certainly find.

 

One thing you should know

A mother’s love is forever,

Part of you tucked inside.

In her heart forever tethered.

 

I consider the above just one poem with a few of my thoughts inserted in between.  I actually thought I was finished when I started sharing my thoughts.

 

A short little story comes to mind.  Years before I was born my mother gave birth to her second son.  From what I understood her baby boy was born about two months early, in the outback of Arkansas.  Home grown midwives prevailed and there were really no hospitals accessible.  There was also no way to get there even if one was accessible.  Also, there was no money to pay for a doctor.  Well, little Wilfred was born at home.  I think he lived a short while and then died.  Many years later I was on a trip to southern Arkansas with my mother and she wanted me to go a certain way so she could show me where my brother was buried.  Where we drove was just desolate.  There were no structures around for miles, no houses or towns.  I can’t imagine what it must have been like in the 1930’s.  We finally come to a corner of sorts with a barbed wire fence separating the road from the pasture.  I could see where there might have been an old cemetery but it was very rundown and I could not make out any headstones.  As we drove very slowly past a stretch of fence, she had me pull over and stop.  She studied the landscape a bit and pointed to a couple of old posts that looked like they were going to fall down.  She then told me that he was buried by one of the posts right in that area.  The ground was overgrown, weeds grew higher than my knees (or maybe it was grazing fodder) and I couldn’t differentiate one post from another.  She turned to me and said, “Your heart never stops grieving when you bury a child and I can’t even remember his middle name.”  Not remembering his middle name really disturbed her. 

My mother only gave birth to two sons.  She went on later to have five daughters.  At the time we visited the grave area of Wilfred she had already buried her oldest son.  He lived to be 46 years old.  The words she said in the car on the way to his funeral haunted me even more than the words she told me at Wilfred’s graveside.  My brother’s death was very tragic.  My mother was distraught.  She turned to her daughters in the car and said “How sad it is to know that the world is a better place without your son living in it.”  Is it possible for a mother’s heart to know more pain than knowing that?

I hope I don’t open a can of worms with my family when I share these little stories, but they are true as to how I remember them.  Sometimes certain things just cause me to think about other certain things and the one way I deal with them is to write them out.  I am sad that my mother had to suffer the heartache that she suffered but I do not carry the pain with me.  God has taken that pain from me, but I was not the mother.  Who can know a mothers love?  Who can know a mother’s pain?

If your mother is still living and you haven’t told her you love her in a while, do so now.  Do not wait for that one day in May when you MIGHT REMEMBER to send her card.  Let her know you love her now.  And moms, if you have kids out there, especially grown ones, remember to tell them often just how much you love them.  My mother did not know how to say “I love you”.  But you know what?  I taught her how to say it.  And it took a long time.  Now that is another story entirely!  For later.

Now, if you can get past this blog, here at Christmas time to boot, go out and spread some good cheer.  I really am a very tired, but happy person.  I can work and work and work and very rarely ever get tired.  But give me the kind of emotional drain of today and it will sap me more than a day’s worth of hard labor.

Oops!  I promised short blogs.  Tomorrow I will do so.

 

Good night and God bless you!  TELL SOMEONE EVERY DAY THAT YOU LOVE THEM!  AND MEAN IT!

 

 

Saturday December 19 2015  I CANNOT STOP TIME

No matter how hard I try I cannot slow down time, much less stop it.  December is the fastest month of the year no matter how prepared I am.  At least I finished my Christmas Project!  It is DONE!  Now I can go on to the rest of what must be completed before next week.  The greatest thing about this season is that I am hosting nothing.  Shhh…I mustn’t say that too loud because then always something happens to take up my time anyway.

I met a young man in the gym today named Jake.  He had a tattoo beautifully written in script on the back of his left shoulder area.  His shirt wouldn’t allow me to see it all, but my curiosity was aroused and I asked him what the rest of it said.  Here is the quote, “PLACE NO TRUST IN TOMORROW FOR NOTHING IS WORTH MORE THAN TODAY.”  That is his direct quote.  I agree with his quote.   We truly must live in the moment of each day we have because we have no promise of tomorrow, nor even to the end of this day.  Personally, I place my trust in God because only he knows what number of days I have before me.  I fear not about how many days are left to me, because ultimately since my trust is in God, I know where I’ll be when my days are over.  Then, I will be with my Lord and Savior, who sits at the right hand of God.  I may not be sitting quite as close, but at least I will be up there somewhere!

I hope that this season you are celebrating the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  It is amazing how many celebrate CHRISTmas without celebrating the CHRIST for who it is intended.

 

BORN OF MAN

By Kathleen Martens

December 19 2015

 

Christ the King born of man

Hope and love His to command.

Rejection and scorn given His name,

In perfection was how He came.

Son of man begotten of God,

The Son of God in earthy bod.

Manger to cross He suffered and died

And His purpose was satisfied.

Sin and death conquered, when He was crucified.

 

And the meaning of Christmas?  To give homage and praise to the Christ child who was born to give His life so that we may live.  As the quote from yesterday’s (December 18^th) Calendar Wisdom stated:  THE SON OF GOD BECAME MAN TO ENABLE MEN TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD.

 

Good night.  Remember to take the time to rejoice in the birth of Christ!

Friday December 18 2015  THE BACKWARD DAY

 

When I awoke this morning I wanted soup for breakfast.  Soup filled with many kinds of vegetables and wild grains and quinoa.  For some reason that was what I was craving.  So Dave said he’d have the same rather than our usual fruit, yogurt, bran, and for me walnuts.  So soup it was.  It was delicious and filling.  Neither one of us wanted anything else to eat for 6 hours.  So I guess you could say we had our dinner for breakfast and decided that we will eat our breakfast for dinner, thus “The Backward Day”.  Furthermore, perchance I get to watch a movie or part of one I usually must stay awake later than I’d like to have the time to view it.  So…today on our backward day I decided to watch the Christmas movie first thing after I finished my soup.  And so I did.

So, since everything else is going backwards I decided to write my blog in the afternoon instead of evening.  I guess I should have written it this morning but, oh well…

I just this moment received a phone call.  While I traveled this spring my main purpose was to reconnect with those who have made a significant influence upon my life.  I drove all the way down to San Antonio Texas from Dallas to see a couple who I believe contributed one of the greatest things to our lives that could ever be given.  It was because of them that we were able to adopt our daughter Rebecca.  David Moore went to be with the Lord on December 3, 2015.  Peggi just called to let us know.  I sent them a letter with a card for Christmas and she just received it today.  She wanted to inform me that David would never see it because he was now with the Lord.  I am so thankful that I was able to see them both in April.  Every mile I drove was worth it.  I know there are those who read this blog that know Dave and Peggi and would want to be informed of his death.  We send our condolences to the family.

And the phone rings again.  When I was in California my friend Jeanette and I took BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) into San Francisco so we could visit with one of our friends from our youth.  Kay lives in the heart of the city.  She was another one of those special people in my life that was a great influence on me as were her mother and father.  Both her mother and father are with the Lord.  Kay has never married.  She has a fabulous voice and during a period of her life she was part of a singing group that traveled to different places and put on concerts.  The group was called the Brailletts.  All three in the trio were blind since birth.  They had the most pure sound to their harmony.  They attracted large crowds.  It was so good to see her when I was in California.  She just called to wish me a Merry Christmas.  My smile went from ear to ear.  We sometimes forget just how much a personal greeting means.  Kay does not use the computer or the smart phone.  Her contact is through voice.  As we talked I shared about our family having a portrait taken in October when we were in Branson.  I told Kay I don’t send her pictures because she can’t see them.  Then I asked her, the portrait you have of people is their voice, right?  She said she had never thought about that but, yes, that was true.  She hears a voice and she knows who it is.  We look at a picture and we know who it is.  Do you ever wonder what your “voice picture” sounds like?  Perhaps you should give that some thought.

 

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

By Kathleen Martens

December 18, 2015

 

Christmas greetings flood the season

In so many ways are shared.

A little note sent with love ,

Letting others know you care.

 

A Twitter a Tweet.

Or on a Face Book page.

Less personal contact

Seems more the rage.

 

A family photo with a letter,

Bragging rights for a year.

Perhaps a picture of the dog

Freshly groomed and sheered.

 

Just how many ways

Are there to send

Christmas greetings

To a friend?

 

If you can’t hear

You speak with hands.

If you can’t see

It’s a voice you demand.

 

So think personal

For those who receive

Which way is best

For them to perceive?

 

Well, today I sent a voice portrait.  Though Kay has never seen me she loves me for who I am.  I believe at times that Kay, who does not see, may have a deeper insight as to who I really am than those who do see me.  I think we often times judge one another by what we look like, or how big or little we are, or what color we are, or what we are wearing.  Think how wonderful it is to know someone loves you just as you are without any of those pre-judgmental aspects in place.  I think it is pretty awesome to be loved that way.

Good night and God bless you!

P.S.  OH YES!  SOMETIMES CHRISTMAS GREETINGS ARE SENT VIA BLOG.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday December 17 2015  BUSY TIME OF YEAR

Since this is such a busy time of the year for me, as well as my readers, I plan to write very short blogs just to say hello to the faithful family followers and to those brave enough to take a few moments out of their busy day to check the computer.

My Christmas project is finished.  I have one small task left to do.  It will be completed tomorrow.  Yeah!!!

I wish all of my readers a wonderful holiday season as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.  My husband saved a song he heard on the TV for me to listen to called “Where Else Would a Lamb be Born?” sung by Steve Amerson.  Mentioning the birth of Jesus reminded me of the song.  If you have a chance to look it up on line and listen to Steve sing it, you will be pleasantly surprised.  The song has beautiful words and the singing is amazing.  I hope you take time out to enjoy hearing it.  I just heard it for the first time and it came out in 2012.  Shows you how far behind I am with the times.  His song inspired my poem below.

 

BORN IN A LOWLY STABLE

By Kathleen Martens

December 17, 2015

 

I pray God to grant the wish

Of peace, joy, and love.

God provided the way

When He sent Jesus from above.

 

Jesus born in a lowly stable.

A king of such royal birth.

And the angels proclaimed aloud

The glory of his worth.

 

But the world did not see

Or understand the amazing gift,

That this little boy child

Someday sin would lift.

 

And so He did what was planned

Amongst tears pain and sorrow,

That peace, joy, and love

Would be in all your tomorrows.

 

He is he Savior of the world

Born in a lowly stable.

And His birth really happened.

His story is no fable.

 

Good night and God bless you.  I WISH YOU PEACE, JOY, AND LOVE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday December 16 2015  CRITICAL ARTICLE AND REVIEW

Just so you know, tonight’s blog is written as a “Critical Article and Review.  I am using Webster’s Dictionary, third definition, of CRITICAL which is: “crucial, decisive, significant and important”.  REVIEW is defined as:  “evaluation, assessment, and examination”.

As I have mentioned in the last few days I am reading “THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY” published in 1961 by A.W. Tozer.  On the first page it states that I am not to use or reproduce portions of this book “…except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.”  So thus, I am writing a critical article and review.

So…the next step… making it brief!

Tozer has written about how we as individuals live by faith all our lives whether we believe in God or not.  Most things we do not know why or how they work but we accept on faith that they do and will.  Such things as electricity or a lightning bolt, we accept without understanding.  We grow used to the things that we believe in, anything from supplied energy to nature.  We don’t ponder the wonder of things because we just take them on faith that they are.  Tozer writes, “How different are we who have grown used to it, who have become jaded with a satiety of wonder.  He quotes the following from one who lived over a hundred years before him, “It is not by our superior insight that we escape the difficulty,” says Carlyle, “it is by our superior levity, our inattention, our want of insight.  It is by not thinking that we cease to wonder at it…” 

Tozer explains how we fail to ask question and search for answers.  We just accept things of the world on faith by what is told to us and by what we have learned.  “The world after all our science and sciences, is still a miracle; wonderful, inscrutable, magical and more, to whosoever will think of it.”, Tozer writes.

His following quote is the one I like the best:  “Secularism, materialism, and the intrusive presence of things have put out the light in our souls and turned us into a generation of zombies.  We cover our deep ignorance with words, but we are ashamed to wonder, we are afraid to whisper ‘mystery’.”

I know that without reading all the pages before and after these quotes above, total understanding of what he is writing about will not shine through.  But take my word, Tozer is likening the above to a very deep spiritual aspect.  The words that are written are powerful insights as to what has happened, and still is happening, to man as they go through this world without realizing the greatness of the Triune God, and His creation.  Man can accept without understanding all that is around him, and yet, not “BELIEVE” in the one who created both them and the entire world and universe.

Perhaps one reason that it is so easy for me to believe is the fact that I have not lost my sense of wonder and awe of creation.  I have not lost my awe of life and love.  Nor have I lost my awe of the Creator Himself.  Reading these few pages in Tozer’s book gave me a deeper insight into the spiritual aspect of what it means to wonder and imagine and believe.  It is as if I have an insatiable appetite for nature and for wonder and for mystery.  Where does it come from?  Why can I never have enough?  Why do I always desire more?  Is this just how God designed me, personally, or is it God’s design for all to own this thirst for beauty and knowledge of the Creator?  I cannot answer that question.  All I know is, that I wonder, and I am not afraid to “whisper mystery”. 

God is my Mystery.  God is my Wonder. God is my Father. God is the one who lifts my head.  God is my Shield.  He is incomprehensible.  He is unfathomable.  He is UNCREATED and my mind cannot even grasp that concept, because eternity, ALWAYS WAS AND ALWAYS WILL BE.  There is no beginning and there is no no end.  AND GOD IS.  No beginning and no end.  I believe in Him simply because, how can I not?

One last “brief” paragraph from “THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY” to sum up the above:

“What God declares, the believing heart confesses without the need of further proof.  Indeed, to seek proof is to admit doubt, and to obtain proof is to render faith superfluous.  Everyone who possesses the gift of faith will recognize the wisdom of those daring words of one of the early Church fathers:  “I believe that Christ died for me because it is incredible; I believe that He rose from the dead because it is impossible.”

I BELIEVE

The following is the poem I wrote this morning during my prayer and study time with the Lord.  It is inspired by Tozer’s writings.

 

THE UNCREATED

By Kathleen Martens

December 16, 2015

 

Oh how I love You Father.

You, the only UNCREATED.

The only source that feeds my soul,

And in Your adoring presence I’m sated.

 

You satisfy all my needs

As You quench my soul’s thirsting.

You alone are my Creator

You alone, my heart’s nourishing.

 

How can I correctly ascribe

An attribute of who You are?

You are glory unfathomable,

Creator of all earth and stars.

 

So minuscule what I know.

What is true?  How can I conceive?

For You are the Father who dwells in heaven

And it is only by faith I believe.

 

What question can I ask to know

As in reverence and humility I come?

Lord teach me how to adore

THE UNCREATED, THREE IN ONE!

 

WOW!  I like that poem!  Thank You Father for your gift to me.

 

JUST BELIEVE

By Kathleen Martens

December 16, 2015

 

Stop and view the world around you.

Stop and adore our Lord’s story.

Do not even try to comprehend who God is,

Just believe, and revel in His glory.

 

Good night and God bless each of you. 

 

 

 

Tuesday December 15 2015   HISTORY IS HAPPENING

Comment regarding yesterday’s blog when I said I just seem to be getting more and more behind.  Well today I didn’t even get to begin working on my Christmas project at home due to a change in plans.  It was necessary for me to go to the car dealership for a car repair.  I was there for about two hours.   Afterwards I decided to do a few errands so I would not need to do them later in the week.  So, by using up today I will not need to drive across town later this week since I accomplished everything today. Tomorrow is another day and I will accomplish (Lord wiling) what I must accomplish in regards to my Christmas project.

Tonight there is a Presidential debate on television.  I do not like TV to disrupt what I do but I will make an exception for this program.  I am trying to watch all the debates, both Republican and Democrat.  I want to understand the position of each candidate.  So this evening I am only making an appearance of writing, so as not to concern those who are faithful readers and wonder what is happening if I do not post my blog.  I hope you too have a chance to listen to the debate so that you will at least know what each candidate stands for and be able to make a sound and rational decision.  I vote for the candidate that proves to me to be the best choice and will represent the values that our country was founded on.

 

HISTORY IS HAPPENING

By Kathleen Martens

December 15, 2015

 

The day is short, the work is long

But this time to my poem belongs.

So I will say without ado

Though the words I write, will be few.

 

History is happening before my eyes,

And the television does not belie.

So I must go and listen well,

So I can think on what to dwell

 

I just pray that God’s plan

Will decide who is the man,

Or the woman, who will be

The one to keep our country free.

 

Good night and God bless you.

 

 

 

Sunday Sabbath December 13 2015  ANOTHER BIRTHDAY TO REMEMBER

 

Today is the anniversary of my mother’s 97^th birthday.  My mother went to be with her Lord In January 2010.  There is a story in one of my journals that I wrote about her a few years ago, and though I searched for it, I could not locate it.  I was going to share it here in my blog.  Someday when I find it I will share her story.  She was the oldest of thirteen children, and even in her humble existence, her life had both a tragic side as well as a side of triumph and beauty.  I look forward to sharing part of her story.   I give tribute to my mother on this, the 97^th anniversary of her birth. 

We are experiencing the effects of the warm weather patterns.  It hit 61 degrees today IN DECEMBER!  Needless to say, we have no snow.  It has been raining off and on all day and right now the rain is beating down quite forcefully and noisily.  It is a soothing mixture of runaway drops and splatters hitting different surfaces outside.  There is just something about the sound of rain that is indescribable.  It is like a quiet song to me that relaxes my soul.

 I came home from church today and opened up windows in almost every room of the house to allow the house to air out.  Winters are long here in Wisconsin and when it is over 50 degrees I try to let nature do an air exchange for me.  It was awesome.  We turned off the heat zones and had most windows opened for cross breeze.  This was one my Sunday Sabbath days when I try not to do anything more than I must.  I want you to take note, I actually watched TWO MOVIES this afternoon and evening.  First however, I cooked a HUGE pot of soup.  I’m still trying to use us my winter share vegetables.  And oh, they are still so tasty and fresh.  As I listen to the sound of the rain, wrapped up in soft blankets, smelling the aroma of herbs and vegetables simmering, and watching a movie, it makes for a wonderful relaxing Sabbath.

My zoom mode begins again tomorrow.  Can’t write what I am doing because it is a surprise for some who read my blog.  So I will just keep mum until after Christmas.  But, it is time consuming.  That’s all I will say.

Right this moment it is my bedtime (9:00 p.m.).  Which, I have not accomplished in quite a while.  But daily, I still hope to make that goal.  I fear I am becoming a little lax in being so tough on myself.  I guess that is a good thing!  I just don’t get quite as much done.  When I go to bed later I simply wake up later!

 

 

POEM OF RETIREMENT

By Kathleen Martens

December 13, 2015

 

Life has had its ups and downs,

Lots of smiles and some frowns.

Many years belonged to toil

When employment, our plans would foil.

 

But those years are now past

And the few ahead won’t really last.

So it is best to follow my heart

And allow, new dreams to start.

 

A time of tranquil reflection

Without cause for rejection.

A time to think and to ponder

All the mysteries of life to wonder.

 

A time we can stay up later

And have parties that are catered.

Time to let the dust settle

And let others tend the nettle.

 

Time to read and study God’s word,

Time to listen so God’s voice is heard

Time to dance and time to play

As well as laugh every single day.

 

Each is precious unto its own.

Our numbered days left are unknown.

But of the future we need not fret,

Whatever will be, will be yet.

 

So to the fullest live your life,

Be more flexible to have less strife.

In the shadows do not lurk,

And for enjoyment do God’s work.

 

Love others, and be kind.

Spread God’s joy so others will find

The way they too can be free

And live with God for eternity.

 

I guess the above poem would be considered a POEM OF RETIREMENT.  I shall go up to the top and type that in as the title. 

Good night and God bless you!

P.S.  HAVE A HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA WITH ALL YOUR HEAVENLY FRIENDS AND FAMILY!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday December 11 2015  I’M STILL THE SAME ME

Well, I was all settled to watch the end of a movie last night (already past my bedtime) when my husband brought a message up to me that my son sent to us both.  I don’t carry my phone around with me so I miss most messages when they come.  Our son was reminding me that I was watching the boys the next day (which is now today).  When I watch the boys I leave the house about 6:00 a.m. so must be up by 5:00 a.m.  Oops!  I had it down for next Friday, not today.  Gulp!  I sure am glad he reminded me.  I don’t know how I could have put it on my calendar incorrectly, but since I know myself, I can believe I did it.  So, there went my movie watching since I had to get right to bed to get up so early.  The best laid plans…but, I did finish the tail end of one movie that I had started the day before, so I still had the opportunity to see part of a Christmas movie yesterday.

Today’s plans were put on the shelf, but it was not imperative that we do what we had planned to do so everything worked out just fine.  Here I am, enjoying a wonderful time with Xander.  So far we have dropped Zachariah off at school, eaten breakfast, played a game, worked out a beautiful deign on the Lite-Brite, and we are now watching a short little video (for kids).  Xander is thoroughly absorbed and doesn’t even realize that grandma, sitting with him, is typing on her computer.  Multi-tasking.  Hey, I can still do it!  That in itself is amazing.

Yesterday I had an interesting conversation with a lady at the gym.  I asked her, what did aging surprise you with?  She responded quickly and candidly.  Here is Joan’s response:

“My name is Joan and I’ll be turning 76 in a month.  It wasn’t until I read something, somewhere, in the last month that said, “the younger old age is up to 74 and then middle old age…I’ve never thought of myself as old age until I read that and it’s hard to deal with at this point.”

I then asked Joan what gift has old age given her?  She responded:  “Well, I’d have to think about that for a while”.  She continued a few second later with “What has age given me?  That’s an interesting question.  It has given me a perspective to look back at my kids and family and then see what I would do over again.”

I asked since she can’t do it over again what does she do?  “Pray”, she said and then continued, “The older I get the more accepting I can be of some of the mistakes of one of my children.” 

I found Joan’s comments to be very enlightening.  She is a beautiful woman married to a handsome man, both still traveling and working out at the gym and recognizably part of the “older” generation, just as I am.  Yet, in all these years she has never thought of herself as being “OLD”!  I am impressed!  Perhaps that is why she is still vital and alive and active.  She has not let society put her in a box nor taken on the label of old!  Nor has she put herself into the old age box!  I hope I can keep that same attitude for many years yet to come.  As I have said before, inside I am just simply “the me” I have always been.  It is only the packaging that others look at and fail to see who I, and many other older people, really are.  Thank you Joan for your candor and insight as to how you view life.  It is awesome!

 

WHO AM I FROM THE INSIDE OUT?

By Kathleen Martens

December 11, 2015

 

The little girl

On her first day of school?

Or the he volatile adolescent

Who thinks she so cool?

 

What do I see when I view the mirror?

A teenager, primping for prom?

Or the young bride

Who again respects her mom?

 

When I think back in memory

What age is sought?

Am I the young mother

With two little tots?

 

I am the same me deep inside

No thought of wrinkles or gray

Age did not seem to have any bearing

I just merrily went on my way.

 

And now I look back

And see how quickly time flew

And all those identities

I have lived through.

 

So who am I now

That my body shows age?

Shall I be put on the shelf?

Or become a great sage?

 

The question is

What do others see?

Do they see an old lady

When they look at me?

 

It matters not what other perceive

The same you still lives inside.

A word of wisdom, take care of your house

That long life will continually thrive.

 

See yourself from the inside out

Care not an iota what others think

For they too, will someday be old

And then, you can be tickled pink!

 

A little tongue in cheek, so to say.  I guess I have some control over what I write, but sometimes the words just come how they are meant to be.

This blog will be an early release as I have plenty to keep me busy when I arrive home this evening. 

Have a wonderful rest of the day.  It is only 12:37 p.m. Central time.  A lot of the day left to live.  And when we wake up tomorrow we’ll all be one day older.  I’m just glad when I wake up!

God bless all of you.

 

 

 

 

Thursday December 10 2015  GOD IS

A long day, a full tummy, and a dark evening, all make for wanting to snuggle up on the couch and read a good Christmas story.  Or better yet, perhaps watch a Christmas movie.  So far each day in December I have attempted to watch a movie.  Some day I have only made it part way through a movie, but at least I watched part of it.  Tonight I hope to finish the movie I started last night.  So at least one of my goals is partially coming true on some days.  A half of a movie is better than none!  I’ve had several people ask me about this goal so I thought I would mention it here.

I want to tell you a little bit about last night.  When I sat down to write my blog it seemed as if my mind was blank.  After writing part of the blog I realized my mind really was blank.  So I set out to do it again.  It seemed as if the door was just shut on my writing anything worthwhile.  I asked God to help me and last night’s blog was born.  I know it wasn’t Pulitzer Prize material, but I felt satisfied as I pushed the button to publish.  I’ve had favorable comments on last night’s writing and for that I thank those who sent emails. 

I had almost given up on writing anything last evening because I felt depleted and physically spent from being so busy and active during the day.  I looked at the blank screen and decided this was a commitment to myself to write and so with determination, I told myself that I could do anything I set my mind to, even if I was depleted, so to speak.  It taught me something I’d like to share with you.  As I look back over my life I realized there were many times along the way that it would have been so much easier to just give up what I was trying to accomplish and turn my time and interest toward something else.  But I pushed through.  And those are the times that have been the most gratifying, and proved to open up other opportunities to succeed in areas I never dreamed possible.  That is how I felt about yesterday.  I decided to not give up, and I realized that it is often the most difficult situations that are the stepping stones which make it possible to open new doorways for future success.  So, when things get rough and seem insurmountable, do not give up.  Keep trying until you overcome it.  You may be surprised where it will lead.

Sometimes I write simply due to the self-discipline of doing so.  Sometimes I write because I have something heavy on my heart that I want to share.  Sometimes to just tell about what I experienced.   Sometimes I do it just for fun to see where the first sentence will take me, sort of like exploring an unknown path.  Other times I do it hoping I will touch a chord in someone’s life and make a difference in their life for the better.   And, I do it because I want to stretch myself and become a better writer.   As I look back over the blogs from the past several months I believe I have made strides toward that goal.  That is a satisfying feeling.  But most of all, I said I would do it and I am doing it.  I do not plan to do a blog forever, but as long as I see results that I am touching people’s lives and giving them new ideas to think about, I will continue for the time being.  Thanks for your comments. 

My husband and I discussed this earlier and he looked at me and simply said, “You are a paradox.”  I asked him, “Why?”  He replied, “Well, in one way you are trying to STRETCH yourself and in another way you are trying to SHRINK yourself”.  I hope I’m doing the stretching part better than I am doing the shrinking part.  My pants are tight around the waist!  It was one of those comments of his that made me laugh.

This morning in my quiet time I wrote a very short poem but it came with a lot of thought.  I’m reading the book “KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY” by A.W. Tozer and this is what I wrote after chapter three.

 

GOD IS

By Kathleen Martens

December 10, 2015

 

GOD IS LOVE.

It is not what He has,

But the way He is.

 

GOD IS MAJESTY.

Not in description

But in reality.

 

GOD IS GLORY.

Timeless Being,

The perfect story.

 

GOD IS MYSTERY

Beyond Comprehension.

GOD IS.

 

Since today’s poem is so short I have also added the one below written earlier this year.

 

WITH NEW EYES

By Kathleen Martens

July 23, 2015

 

The road we travel most

Is sometimes seen the least.

Take time to see with new eyes

Upon what there is to feast.

 

You may find it interesting

To see things you’ve never seen,

You may be surprised

How your vision is so keen.

 

See again as a child

Full of wonder and awe

When everything was always new

Not quite certain what you saw.

 

When you look with new eyes

Be ready to receive

All that God desires for you

Just because you believe.

 

Believe there is always beauty

To be seen in this darkening place,

And do not be in such a hurry

But slow down your rapid pace.

 

Open the eyes of your heart

For there is so much God wants to share.

And be thankful that you can see

By His creation how much He cares.

 

I just want you to know that when I invoke the name of God, I do so in Holy Reverence.

So, good night and GOD BLESS YOU!

 

Wednesday December 9 2015  NEVER LET YESTERDAY USE UP TODAY

 

I just wrote part of my blog, read it, and hit the delete button.  It just wasn’t going where I wanted it to go and I think the problem was, I didn’t really know where I wanted it to go.  So I am back at square one because I thought of a quote I read this morning and it made me think of the Calendar Wisdom for today which is what I titled today’s missive.

We are Costco members.  Each month we receive a Costco Connection magazine in the mail.  I never read them until just the last two or three months.  I know their primary purpose is to use them as ads for their products, but they have quite an interesting way of going about their sales pitch.  I find a reoccurring theme each month of the magazine highlighting people’s lives who have product in the store which is for sale.  For example, in September’s issue there was an article about a woman who is an author, and you guessed it, her book is on the Costco shelves.  And of course she just happens to be a Costco member.  The article tells about the author’s life, what caused her to write the book, and then talks about the book and its attributes.  The story is interesting, the author has an exciting life, and of course I want to buy the book.  I say all of that to say, if you haven’t read the little magazine you may want to do so because it is very informative and very interesting.  It talks about the farms where the cheeses come from, healthy food resources, education about other products and interesting facts of where and how our food is produced that we purchase from Costco.

I especially found the article about the book and its author quite informative.  I have not read the book, I do not own the book, and I probably won’t read the book until it hits the library shelves.  So I am not an extended ad for Costco.  But, I did like one of the quotes the author put in the magazine.  The author is Brene Brown and she wrote RISING STRONG.  I don’t really know anything about the book except what is spoken of in the magazine.  But the one thing I will share is the quote I liked, “LET GO OF WHO YOU THINK YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO BE; EMBRACE WHO YOU ARE.” 

So after writing the quote above my curiosity was peeked and I had to have a “look-see” into her website.  I listened to a twenty minutes talk about her research discoveries regarding guilt, shame and vulnerability.  Much too long to go into here, but if you are interested, you can go to brenebrown.com and listen to one of her “TED” speeches.  It was quite interesting.  She pretty much hit it on the head as to how those three situations in life influence the behaviors of our society. 

So, not only did I read an interesting advertising magazine, I also became a bit more educated in some of the research that is going on behind the scenes in this big country of ours.  I hope her book hits the library soon.  I would like to read it.

I don’t know how many of you experience guilt, shame or vulnerability, but I know I have been plagued with all three in the past.  It took a spiritual healing for me to regain my ability to “EMBRACE WHO I AM”.  When it happened it was an amazing experience!  Since that time I am truly a different person with a different mentality.  Am I still vulnerable at times?  Yes.  But, just as Brene Brown sees vulnerability as being a strength, rather than a weakness, so do I.  My strength comes from my God and I believe He gives me the courage to put myself in vulnerable situations so that I can grow.  For example, just writing this blog on a daily basis is a great vulnerability for me.  I am putting myself on the line, opening myself up for criticism, the possibility of making mistakes, using incorrect grammar, misspelling words, or just not making any sense at all.  But I do it anyway.  Each time I write a poem, creating something from nothing, I am vulnerable.  Yet, I am willing to risk it because, like her quote, I have let go of what I thought I was supposed to be, and embrace daily who I am.  Do I make mistakes?  You bet I do.  The difference is, I am willing to pick myself up, go forward, and then try again.  I do not need to perform for anyone.  I do what I do because I enjoy it, or I want to stretch myself, or to be creative.  All the while, knowing that I seek God’s direction first, live by the commands He has set before me, and loving myself, so I in turn can love others.  It is God who has taken away the guilt and shame and given me the courage to be vulnerable so that I can accomplish that which He has set before me.  It was because God forgave me of my sins that I no longer have the guilt.  God replaced my shame with the knowledge that I am His beloved child, reborn into His kingdom of righteousness.  And, I am vulnerable as a person when I step out to tell others of His love, and that His forgiveness is also available to them.  But, never is it considered a weakness to do that which God has instructed in His word for His children to do.  I am called to do His will.  My strength comes from him so I need not fear.

Brene Brown’s video was informative, however the most important fact is to realize that God has already taken care of our guilt and shame.  Even when we step into a vulnerable situation, God is by our side, and will give us the strength and courage to do what He has called us to do.  It is when we “embrace who we are” as a child of God, that we can become who we were created to be.

 

BORN TO LIVE WITH GOD

By Kathleen Martens

December 9, 2015

 

I am a child in this world

On the pathway of life.

Sometimes I hit the wall,

Live in turmoil and strife.

 

At times I’ve even wondered

What does the future hold?

As I struggle through the dessert

Without being bold.

 

My heart would seem so heavy

Burdened with shame and guilt.

My soul sometimes felt withered

And just seemed to wilt.

 

Until the day I found

The answer to life’s quest

Written in the Book of life,

Written without jest.

 

No matter how mired

In life’s sin and trials,

God is always with me

To help me through the miles.

 

He gave His Son as a sacrifice

To cover all my sins.

And what I must ask of him,

In my heart, please come in.

 

And when I ask, He enters

When I have faith to believe. 

Then he will abide in me

And I His spirit receives.

 

He cleansed me of all guilt,

And took away my shame.

He told me I am His,

And called me by name.

 

I am His beloved child,

Born to live with God.

And He lives within me,

While others may think it odd.

 

No more shame or guilt

Lies active in my soul.

Rather, I have peace and joy

Which is redemption’s goal.

 

The following is the best wisdom I could ever impart:

When I look back over my life I realize during the time I was filled with guilt and shame it robbed me of a lot of joy and peace.  In essence, my guilt and shame from the past used up a lot of my “todays”.  When I no longer carried that guilt and shame, my todays were opened to joy and peace and so much more.  Now, when somethings happens, I take it to the Lord, give it to Him, and leave it there.  No longer do I let yesterday’s mistakes or sin rob me of today.  I ask for forgiveness and my guilt and shame no longer tag along, robbing me of who I am.  All I must do is to remember just who I am, A CHILD OF GOD!  And daily I thank God for sending His son to die on the cross for my salvation.

Have a great day tomorrow!

Good night and God bless you.  If you have never asked Jesus to come into your heart, you can do so right now.   It will make your tomorrow even better!

 

 

Tuesday December 8 2015  “THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY”

Somehow God brings the exact books into my life at the perfect time that I need them.  “THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY” by A.W. Tozer is the one I refer to at present.  Tozer was an avid writer, pastor, and student of the Bible.  Many of his books were actually published long after he died.  Many of the books are compilations of his sermons and other teachings.  He was born in 1897 and died in 1963.  Here is a quote from a website about his life:

“Among the more than 60 books that bear his name, most of which were compiled after his death from sermons he preached and articles he wrote, at least two are regarded as Christian classics: The Pursuit of God and The Knowledge of the Holy. Many of his books impress on the reader the possibility and necessity for a deeper relationship with God.”

“THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY” is the book I am reading at present.  It is the first book I have read by him.  I plan to search for more.  I have only read the first two chapters but from just what I have read I challenge you to see if you can get a copy and study it closely.  I wouldn’t be surprised if the first two chapters do not make a life changing difference in your life.  Those two chapters stirred my spirit to the point that I just crave to go deeper in the book to discover a new understanding of who God is.  His writing is amazingly simple to follow, yet profound in what it says.  I just wanted to share this bit of news with you in case any of you are interested in a closer, more intimate relationship with God.

Here is the poem I wrote after my chapter study this morning.  Tomorrow I plan to study the same chapter again because there was just too much for me to digest all at once.

 

IN THE SACRED PLACE

By Kathleen Martens

December 8, 2015

 

I am here Lord,

Come and be with me

That this day I may learn

More and more of thee.

 

That in this private hour

With you in adoring silence

My heart is filled with peace.

Safe from worldly violence.

 

And I experience wonder

Of the magnificence of my King

And worship and adore You

As my spirit sings.

 

Just to know You,

And who You are,

The King of heaven and glory,

Life’s Bright and Shining Star.

 

Lord give me awareness

Of the holiness you wear.

That I am still and know my God

As my time with You I share.

 

Let not me entertain

Lowly thoughts of You,

But conceive deep in my heart

All that You imbue.

 

Show me just what to believe

When my thoughts dwell on Your story,

That I never underestimate

The power of Your glory.

 

That I will learn to worship You

Perfectly as You deserve.

That in mind, body, and spirit,

My worship I will not conserve.

 

Let me not imagine

Thoughts of You that are not true.

Open my eyes to Who You Are

So Your truth I may ensue.

 

In my heart I can’t comprehend,

Or am I able to frame,

Just exactly Who You Are,

No face to match Your name.

 

For You are more mighty

Than what I can conceive.

And Your name, though secret

It is through faith that I believe.

 

For when my heart burns

And for God is full of desire,

It is then the gift of the Holy Spirit

Fills me with Holy Ghost fire!

 

And though I cannot see or touch

The God in whom I believe,

In the sacred places of my heart

His loving voice I do receive.

 

This is a low key week and I hope it stays that way.  We are trying to allow our bodies to heal, to get much needed rest from a combined work period of 96 years.  We have both worked all these years and they total the grand sum of 96 years.  It will take a bit of rest to catch up.

Slowly little things are being accomplished around the house and after the first of the year we hope to make a lot of headway.  Today Dave packed up five trash can sized bags with his over-sized clothes, and that is after already giving away several other bags that size.  I plan to drop these off at St. Vincent’s tomorrow.  The others we gave to the homeless shelter. 

Dave made up for the lost time of yesterday.  He felt better so he sat in a chair and replaced three doorknobs.  Slowly but surely we are replacing all the knobs in our house to lever style because my hands no longer easily manipulate the round doorknobs.  We have a lot of doors in our house and so we have been doing them a few at a time so it is not so overwhelming for both time and expense.

My closets are the next challenge.  That will be a big job.  My elbow is not quite ready for that task just yet.  Dave will help me when he is well.  As we sort through THINGS, we are finding items we long ago forgot about.  And I have a feeling we’ll be finding a lot more of those kinds of THINGS before this house is emptied out.  I know the job will be tedious and long, but to me, it is also an adventure.  It will be interesting, fun, and sometimes amazing to see what crops up.

I read a book about a man (true story) who decided to sell every single item in his apartment, take the money from the items, and then go visit each place on the map where the items were purchased so he could meet the person who bought it.  He sold through E-Bay and finally was left with a totally empty dwelling.  He took off on his odyssey around the world to meet everyone, and for the most part stayed in their homes with them.  I think that was one of the criteria attached to buying the item.  He sold everything except for the clothes on his back.  That included partially opened boxes of cereal and food stuff from his refrigerator as well as his trash cans and the trash in them. The book was filled with the pictures of what he sold, and next to the item he included a picture of him and the person who purchased it, holding the item (another criteria at purchase). He included a short bio of who, why they purchased it and where they lived.  This man went to many different countries and it took quite a while to do the trip but I don’t remember just how long it took him.  I just looked it up on life to see if I could find him.  I found others who had sold off all their belongings but for other reasons.  I could not find his story online but I did read the hard copy book. I do not remember the title but I gave it to my son and he may still have it.

I tried to get Dave to sell our things but he would rather just donate them.  He doesn’t like to advertise on Craig’s list because he doesn’t want to draw attention to where our neighborhood is.  We are sort of out of the way from the mainstream and a bit isolated.  He said you just don’t know who you may be attracting to your door.  I think he is wise.  So we will donate what we can’t find a home for. 

Well, I am not getting anything accomplished sitting here writing so I will close and try to see part of a movie tonight.  No time today.  I am at least seeing part of a Christmas movie each day.  Maybe I will get through them all before Christmas 2016.

Good night and God bless you.  Remember, think about looking into reading some of A.W. Tozer’s works if you are not yet acquainted with his writings.  As far as I am concerned I can never read too many books!

P.S.  I just called my son and the name of the book about the man selling the contents of his apartment is “ALL MY LIFE FOR SALE” by John D. Freyer.

 

 

Monday December 7 2015  THE POWER OF WORDS

Just a short time to write this evening as it is Movie Night!  Movie night is quite new to me.  We have a friend from church that has been asking us for well over a year to come to his home and enjoy a movie night once a week.  It is not always on the same night of the week.  I have been unable to do so due to my schedule, work, time needed for other tasks, travel, as well as a host of other causes that hampered me.  The movie that we watch must be at least 50 years or older.  We have only attended two such nights so far.  Dave only one of the two.  Well, it looks like I’ll be going alone again this week because Dave has had a pretty rough day in the healing department.  He is feeling the fight going on in his abdomen.  So I plan to attend alone this week.  I actually look forward to it.  We are currently watching movies starring Jean Arthur.  At least I think that is the actress’s last name.  I must leave in 15 minutes.

So I’ll just talk about a couple of words today.  The first word is DIFFERENT.  It is a word someone used to describe me.  I emailed back and told her I didn’t feel any different from other people.  I’m just me and feel very normal.  So she writes back and uses the word UNIQUE to describe me.  After looking both definitions up in the Thesaurus I decided I rather liked the UNIQUE definition.  What I have figured out is that each individual person have their own meanings of certain words.  “Different” I thought of as maybe nerdy or weird or unacceptable among the crowd.  Actually Different means: “dissimilar, diverse, unalike, changed, altered, and not the same”.  Okay, after reading the synonyms I deduced it was okay to be any of those.  Not a big deal.  Then when I looked up the synonyms of “Unique” I even liked it better.  Unique synonyms are: “sole, single, exclusive, exceptional, inimitable, distinctive, matchless, and irreplaceable”.  Well that definition sort of fluffed my feathers a bit, sort of in the good way like a peacock fanning his tail.  If only, any, or all of those were true about me I might just grow a tail like a peacock.  But, I took the description as a compliment.  Who wouldn’t want to be exclusive, exceptional, inimitable, distinctive matchless and irreplaceable?  It wouldn’t even be too bad to be the sole or single one of a kind either.  Then I really would be DIFFERENT!  Thank you VFM for your kind words.  I think I now understand what you mean. 

I believe that UNIQUE would be a word in which we could describe most people.  Everyone has that special something that makes them, them.  Even identical twins are unique from each other regardless how identical they may appear on the outside.  I give credit to God for giving each of us our own special uniqueness, one of a kind stature.  Just remember how powerful your words are to those who hear them.  And it doesn’t have to be words describing them.  The things we say often leave deep impressions on others that can help change their lives for the better.  And sometimes do more damage than we ever thought imaginable.  Especially when spoken to children.  I just remembered a poem I wrote in the past about words.  I must leave very soon so my poem from the past will replace the poem I usually take time to write each evening.

 

Be Careful Little Mouth What You Say

By Kathleen Martens

April 12, 2013

 

Never under estimate

The ears of little ones,

Never assume they do not listen

While playing and having fun.

 

Children are like sponges

Absorbing all that is around,

Your words may someday haunt you

Returning with swift rebound.

 

Never speak in a room

About little one who’s there,

Though seemingly disinterested

Their hearts do really care.

 

Use your words carefully

And give praise where praise is due.

Make your comments positive,

Expectations are carried through.

 

Do not plant negative thoughts

About what they’ve already done.

Rather speak of all the good

Of your little ones.

 

Positive expectations

Go far in creating goals.

Set the minds on what is good

In those happy impressionable souls.

 

Say with love what you expect.

Speak of their hopes and plans

With encouragement and guidance,

Rather than behavior ban.

 

Children do what you do,

The words you say they believe.

Give them positive words of wisdom

And help them truth to see.

 

They are an example

Of the walk you walk.

And their mouths will speak

Of the talk you talk.

 

This is just a short blog but I wanted to leave you with some of my words.  I hope you enjoy the poem and take it to heart.

Good night and God bless you!

P.S.  IF ANYONE EVER TELLS YOU THAT YOU ARE DIFFERENT OR UNIQUE, TAKE IT AS A COMPLIMENT!

 

 

 

Sunday Sabbath  December 6 2015  EVERYDAY IS CHRISTMAS IN MY HEART

When I walked into the house after seeing the Christmas Pageant at the State Capitol I told Dave, “The Pageant always gets me into the spirit of Christmas”.  And then I retracted that sentence to say, “Actually, I feel like I have Christmas in my heart every day because I know Jesus is alive in me”.  And when I go to hear and view the story of Christmas all over again, and hear the singing, as I sing the words in my heart as the choirs sing, it somehow prepares me for the festivities in the days ahead.  We do so little in regards to decorating and gift swapping that we don’t really get caught up in the merchandising aspect of the “Holiday”.  Rather, it is more about worshiping and rejoicing over the fact that we are celebrating Christ’s Birth.  I wonder how many who celebrate Christmas really understand exactly what purpose Jesus had for being born?

I am including a poem here that I wrote four years ago about the reason Jesus came to earth as a baby.  As you read continue each line until you come to either a comma or period.  Often the entire thought takes up more than one line in a stanza.  I hope it will be easy to read and understand in the way it was written.

 

Born to Die So We Could Live

Kathleen Martens

November 29, 2011

 

God knows the beginning and the end,

And from the beginning he had a plan.

His ultimate desire to be man’s friend,

But walking with God in the garden was changed by man.

 

Sin entered the world—God planned ahead

That His Son would be the image of the Invisible God.

Without redemption man was dead,

So God gave His Son to change the odds.

 

He came as a Baby—vulnerable and alone,

In a temporary shelter—He brought hope to the world.

A king born without a throne,

No diadem or riches unfurled.

 

Just a Babe in Mary’s arms,

With a destiny—God’s divine plan

To provide escape from sin’s harm,

To provide redemption for all man.

 

To walk in humbleness—Jesus came as a baby

And God was please to have His fullness dwell in His Son.

Who Christ was, there was no doubt or maybe

That it was He, God’s appointed one.

 

Born to die—to redeem all who hear His voice,

He who is before all things and in whom all things hold together,

Not all who hear accept redemption’s choice

As some do not choose with God to tether.

 

So as you worship the birth we celebrate each year

Realize the reason that He came.

He came so that forever with us He is near,

And all we must do is call out His name.

 

He came as a babe so we could be set free.

Became our Savior in whom we confide,

We were reconciled to God by Christ’s death on the tree

And forever with Him we can choose to abide.

 

He was born so we might live

What a gift—He did give.

 

 

I have included some photos below this blog that I took this evening.  I hope you enjoy them.  Dave and I (especially me) enjoy the performance when we attend.  It was especially amazing this year as the choirs did an exceptionally beautiful presentation.  There is a huge choir that stands at the front (in the dark), and there is another choir with voices echoing the main choir.  The hidden choir is on the third floor.  It was quite crowded.  There are a few chairs for the elderly and infirmed and the rest of the crowd stands.  It is only 45 minutes long so it is not too difficult to stand for that length of time.  

It has been six weeks since Dave’s surgery.  The next two weeks are the crucial weeks for hernia healing.  He had two different foreign objects placed in his incision area.   His surgery was done through a large incision entrance above where the hernia was located.  He has the normal mesh that is used and his mesh was sewn in.  Often it is just placed over the herniated area and it will heal just fine.  Before he had the mesh inserted there was another object put in place that opened up once it was inserted and then supports the hernia.  I guess it depends on location and severity of the damaged area.  His surgery required this second step.  The doctor said that at six weeks the area would become quite inflamed and the body would start rejecting it.  This is the time that he must not do anything that would stress the area.  He was given strict orders to not bend at the waist very often, no vacuuming, no emptying the bottom level of the dishwasher or taking clothes out of the clothes dryer.  I think he liked those instructions! (I’m smiling).  He still tires a bit more quickly than he used to and takes little rests throughout the day.  Even with all that, he still does more than he should.  He is very helpful around the house and it is difficult for him to remember to not over do.  Oh yes, he went with me to the gym the other day so he could weigh.  He has lost a total of 67 pounds.  It is coming off a bit slower at present due to his lack of exercise.  He actually looks forward to getting back to the gym and working back up to a full workout.  That won’t happen until January.

Oh, by the way, while at the Capitol I checked to see if Anne Gaylor’s sign was still up about keeping church and state separate and it was there.  I had to search for it.  It was in an obscure location this year.  It wasn’t the first thing you saw as you walked up to the Christmas tree like it has been in years past.  That was kind of nice.

 

SO THAT WE MIGHT HAVE LIFE

By Kathleen Martens

December 6, 2015

 

Oh Lord, what joy in my heart

When I hear the choirs sing

About your birth so long ago

And the love that You bring.

 

Just a Babe in swaddling clothes

Born to save mankind.

Yet so many have not heard,

Your truth they’ve yet to find.

 

Thank you Holy Father above

For giving your only Son,

To redeem the sins of man,

Your Child, the perfect One.

 

He Himself was willing to die

That I someday would be with Him.

For He is the light of the world

That never will grow dim.

 

So when I think of Baby Jesus,

I too remember He suffered and died.

Just so my sins would be forgiven,

He was willing to be crucified.

 

And through that suffering there is hope

For every single woman and man.

That someday in eternity

With Jesus, by Your throne we’ll stand.

 

Wishing you a joyous time of celebrating the King of Kings who was born so you might have life, eternal life.

Good night.