Wednesday May 11, 2016 DO NOT LOSE YOURSELF
Wednesday May 11 2016 DO NOT LOSE YOURSELF
God gives us the gift of life. What we do with it is our gift back to Him.
A few moments ago Dave was perusing a newspaper add insert. It was for a store that sells items that a Home Depot store would sell. He made the comment, “Life is sort of like this ad paper. If you don’t need it, then it is unnecessary.” He went on to remind me of a sermon we both heard at our church about 40 years ago. The pastor said, “First we buy the motorcycle, the motor home, and then the boat. And then we spend all our time taking care of them and have no time to use them.” If we don’t use them, then they too are unnecessary.
Life gets like that. We accumulate, we store, we clean, and we forget why we ever bought it in the first place. We eventually become so embroiled with all the “things” that we have no more room for anything else. So it is the same with what we do. We do all it takes to keep a household running; shopping, cooking, children’s needs, parent’s needs, friend’s needs, church needs, and we eventually forget how to take care of ourselves. Just like the “stuff” that gets placed on the shelf and forgotten, we place ourselves on the shelf and forget who we are and who we were meant to be.
Yes, there are life tasks that must be done, but does that mean we must lose our self in the melee? I read a quote today from a book titled, “THE GIFT OF A YEAR” by Mira Kirshenbaum. Here is the quote:
“YOU KNOW YOU CAN WORK SO HARD YOU FORGET TO HAVE A LIFE, AND WHO YOU REALLY ARE, KIND OF GETS LOST IN THE SHUFFLE.”
Sort of like becoming overwhelmed by all that we buy from the ad papers. We then have so much accumulation we cannot dig ourselves out from underneath it. That is when we disappear. We no longer have time to do anything that we might enjoy doing, or accomplishing a goal which we wanted to do for a long time. We are too busy doing for others or taking care of what we don’t use.
Maybe it is time to take a look at our own dreams before our life passes us by. Yes, we do need to do for others, share with others, and at times even take care of others. But I believe that God also expects us to take care of ourselves. Spiritually we are to be tuned to God and love Him with all of our hearts, then we are to love ourselves so that we can love others. If we do not tend to our own spiritual and physical needs we will be in no condition to care for the needs of others.
In the “shuffle of life” we also need to stay tuned to ourselves. We must set time aside when our needs and goals can be tended and accomplished. Do not allow yourself to run on empty or you will eventually deplete the resource of self. Slow down. Purge the unnecessary and unneeded. Give yourself a break when you need it. Fill up on God’s love, then reach out and pass on to others, what God has given to you.
DO NOT GET LOST
By Kathleen Martens
May 11, 2016
We need to take time
To be who we are.
Running on empty
Will not get us far.
Remember to live
Life every day.
Days run into months,
And the years don’t stay.
Do not get lost
In what you acquire,
It soon becomes
A sticky quagmire.
To do unto others
Is a good thing,
The returns you receive
Is the joy it brings.
Remember God intends
You to do as you should.
He has a plan,
And His plan is good.
So set aside time
To remember to live,
To do something you enjoy,
Then, to others you can give.
Find something you love
And give it your best.
You will realize it gives
Renewed life and zest!
God, thank You for opening my eyes to that which I love to do.
Thank You Lord for all the poems You have placed in my heart so I can give them back to You.
Thank You Lord for helping me see how much I need to release in my life that is so unnecessary.
Thank You Father for every moment I have to live and breathe and worship You.
Thank You God for directing my goals.
Thank You for sharp knives.
Thank You for salmon. It tastes so good.
Thank You for seeds.
Thank You for clouds.
Philippians 4:4-9
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU!
Tuesday May 10 2016 WHAT CAN I DO?
Tuesday May 10 2016 WHAT CAN I DO?
Have you ever been in a real life situation where you really didn’t know where your next meal would come from? And I don’t mean traveling the highways wondering what fast food place will pop up along the way so you can buy something to eat. I’m talking about not having the money to even purchase another meal and having absolutely nothing in your cupboards to prepare. We’ve had our lean times during our marriage but we never went without something to eat.
As I open my refrigerator door and see all the stacks of fresh foods, ready to prepare and eat, I just marvel at the opulence of having so much food available to me. It never ceases to amaze me and bless me to see the provisions which God has enabled us to purchase. I thank God many times during the day for all He has provided.
It saddens me to think of all the people in the world that really do not know where their next meal will come from. And some days no food is available. In general, when we think of food shortages, what may come to mind are third world countries. Rarely do we realize all the hunger that actually occurs right here in our own cities, yours and mine. Dave and I saw many homeless people as we traveled south recently and the faces of the homeless still haunt my memory from the trip I traveled last year.
When we were in Lexington, Kentucky a few weeks ago Dave and I decided to drive downtown to visit some of the gardens and view the sights. As soon as we parked we were approached by a homeless woman who asked us for money. She did not appear to be a drug addict or an alcoholic but we were still hesitant to give her money. Instead, I asked her why she needed the money. She said she was hungry and just needed a small amount of money to buy something to eat. I told her that we do not give money but we would take her wherever she wanted to go and buy her something to eat. She actually argued with us a bit but we stuck to our word. Finally she told us where she would like to eat so we walked to the restaurant, asked her to choose what she wanted, and we would stay with her as she ate. She was quite surprised. I asked her if she would tell me her story. I also asked if I could take her picture. She responded that I could take her picture if we would give her money. I told her no, I was not buying her picture and would not be giving her money. The only reason I wanted to take her photo was so I could remember her and pray for her. If she didn’t want me take her picture then I would respect that. We talked awhile and Dave and I heard her sad story. It seems every story of every homeless person always has such sadness and sorrow that began years and years ago.
After a while she said that yes, she would like us to have her picture. She wouldn’t come into the restaurant to eat but chose to sit outside on steps leading up to an unused door. She said on some days she doesn’t eat. She wasn’t able to eat all she purchased so we had it packaged up so she could eat it later. We prayed for her and as we left I looked back and watched as Dave quietly tucked money into her hand. She had told us earlier that she uses the money on cold days to ride the bus all day making free transfers all over town just to stay warm. Her warm coat was left behind recently when she had to escape a dangerous situation. And she said for a few dollars there was a lady that would let her sleep on her couch sometimes and she could take a shower there. She told us a lot of things that I would not think of repeating in this blog. All very sorrowful. My heart still weeps. Not just for her but for all the others who are in the same predicament.
As we walked back to our car we passed restaurants with outdoor sidewalk seating areas. The last thing I heard as we walked by, were the words spoken by a tall older man as he came to a table of diners. This is what he said: “I’m hungry, do you have anything I could eat?”
OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART
By Kathleen Martens
May 10, 2016
Oh God,
What can I purposely do
To help the lost and dying?
I hear their words in the streets,
I hear their hearts crying.
How can I feed all the hungry?
How can I help their soul?
What is it You want me to do?
What should be my goal?
My heart aches with their pain,
Wherever I go there are only more.
And I know You love each and every one.
How can I open their door?
What is my place in the world
When I pass the hungry on the street?
How can I possibly feed
All the famished that I meet?
Open my eyes to their pain,
Open my heart to what they need.
Give me directions for my part
And Your words that I should heed.
And never let me take for granted
That I have food to eat.
Show me Lord how to reach out
So the needs of others I meet.
I ask for wisdom and for grace
To be unselfish and willing to give,
So that the starving too will eat
And have another day in which to live.
Look around and realize what you have. Do you have a computer on which to read this blog? Do you have a comfortable chair to sit in to enjoy a television show? Do you have food in your refrigerator and in your pantry? Do you have a bed to sleep in and warm blankets for a cold winter night? Do you have a warm coat to wear when you step outside? Are you worried about where your next meal is coming from?
NEVER TAKE FOR GRANTED ANYTHING THAT YOU HAVE. AND ALWAYS GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR EVERY MEAL YOU EAT. AND ASK YOURSELF, WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP EVEN ONE PERSON?
God, thank You for Your love.
Thank You for the jobs that sustained us over the years.
Thank You that I have enough money to buy food and pay for heat.
Thank You Lord for the afternoon in Lexington when we met the homeless woman.
Thank You for allowing us to minister to her needs that afternoon.
Lord thank You for food pantries.
Lord thank You that I am able to donate to the food pantries.
Thank You Lord for my shoes.
Thank You for my warm coat.
Thank You Lord for something as simple as nose tissue.
Thank You for toilets in the next room.
Thank You for a bed to sleep in.
Thank You for clothes to wear.
Thank You for my toothbrush.
Thank You for the medicines I need.
Thank You for medical insurance.
Thank You for sweet potatoes.
Thank You for fingernail clippers.
Thank You God for this day that You have made.
GOD BLESS YOU. REMEMBER TO GIVE THANKS.
Matthew 25: 34-40
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Monday May 9 2016 YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN
Monday May 9 2016 YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN
8:45: a.m.
How awesome it would be if every day went just as you planned. Very rarely does that ever happen around this place. Perhaps the best plans to make would be to make no plans. Then, whatever happens, you just roll with the flow.
Today I had it all planned out so I could make my day work the best for me. However, sometimes my plans go by the wayside due to unexpected situations. Fortunately, today’s unexpected situation was just a blip in the road and nothing major. It is very interesting (and satisfying) how unimportant some things are when you are retired.
I was all dressed to go to the gym for an early morning workout, then to get my car washed, then to the major grocery store in Madison, then to Costco and back home with plenty of time to work on decluttering and have time to go to a friend’s house in the evening. Dave was at his early morning breakfast with the old geezers. I was ready to begin my day of quick accomplishment but soon discovered that was not to be. My car battery was dead. When I called the car dealership they told me (by the sounds I described) what had happened. So I waited for Dave to return so he could use the jumper cables and help me start the car. He has just arrived home and now the car is running, charging up a bit. And, I will be off to the car dealership for a replacement battery, then off to the grocery store, Costco, and home. Then I will go back to town to exercise. Just a simple rearrangement, and for whatever reason my battery died, it happened, and in the scheme of life it is but a small blip. I am so thankful that I have a husband. And, I am thankful I didn’t have a job to go to. I am so thankful that it was not something catastrophic that caused my day to change, and I am so thankful that I have the where-with-all (meaning the finances) to have it repaired immediately. There were days when something like this would mushroom into a big problem. I just have so much to be thankful for that I cannot even think of anything to gripe about. Well, I will be off and running. I will finish this blog later today. Signing off at 9:00 a.m.
6:38 p.m.
I am back. A longer day than I suspected. Arrived home about 3:00 p.m.. Dave took off for an important appointment and I needed to be here because our son was dropping off Dave’s “new” used, John Deer Tractor, Model 111. It was one of last models made with the entire housing being metal. Our son arrived later that I expected and Dave was even later than that. Courtland just left after giving Dave a refresher course in driving the riding lawn mower. It’a been a few years since he owned one.
I find that even when days don’t go as planned, there always seems to be a moment in the day that redeems the blip. Today it was redeemed at Woodman’s Grocery store when I met up with a past acquaintance. After our conversation I believed that I was meant to be there, at just that time, and so was she. So, as far as I am concerned, the day was planned perfectly. It seems God always knows best!
GOD DIRECTS THE FEET OF MAN
By Kathleen Martens
May 9, 2016
So it is with any day
Very few go my way.
What I do is think and plan,
And God directs the feet of man.
My life is in God’s care,
And Him I follow anywhere.
So when my plans go askew,
I figure God has something new.
And as my day does unfold
His desires I’m always told.
God’s ideas are always great,
Though at times I need to wait.
Sometimes I don’t even know
What it is that God will show.
I just choose to walk His plan,
Because God directs the feet of man.
God, thank You for a peaceful heart.
Thank You God that I need not fret.
Thank You God for supplying all my needs, all the time.
Thank You Lord for the opportunity You gave me at Woodman’s today.
Thank You Lord for the abundance of all that is stocked on the shelves at Woodman’s.
Thank You Father that I now have a new battery in my car.
Thank You too that my car battery actually died in my own garage so I was safe at home.
Thank You for peanuts because without them we would not have peanut butter.
Thank You for order.
Thank You for each and every scripture in Your Holy Word.
Thank You that I have lived long enough to be able to enjoy a bit of retirement.
Lord, thank You for all the times Your Angels have diverted disasters from happening to me even when I was unaware.
Thank You for songs.
Thank You for my new glasses even though I cannot see out of them.
Thank You for Dave’s riding lawn mower.
Thank You for hairspray.
Thank You for lotion.
And thank You for support stockings.
GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU!
Signing off at 7:20 p.m.
Sunday Sabbath May 8 2016 IN GOD’S SANCTUARY
Sunday Sabbath May 8 2016 IN GOD’S SANCTUARY
I feel like I am a queen. It’s as if my wish is granted before I even speak it. I just came outside to write my blog. Dave intends to put our patio furniture out today and the only table and chair I had available just didn’t quite fit me. I felt sort of like Goldilocks. When I sat down, the table almost came to my neck so it was a bit difficult for me to raise my arms high enough to type on my keyboard. Dave is working in the yard and he heard my comment. He entered his shop without saying anything and came back a moment later with a big piece of foam rubber that was from an old Lazy Boy chair he dismantled. That helped a bit but it was still too low. A minute later, just like magic, my fairy godfather reappears with another piece of chair foam. And now my chair is perfect! First it was too low, then it wasn’t high enough, and then…IT WAS JUST RIGHT!
So I sit with a front row view in the sanctuary of God. The ceiling is blue and white. The carpet is a deep rich green. The pillars are made of wood with fresh new growth growing from branches that reach upwards toward heaven. The décor is in shades of blues and purples, pinks, red, white, and different hues of green. The air-conditioner is quiet and gently caresses my face with the softness of a gentle breeze. And the sun that shines through the window of heaven warms my old hands as I type on my keyboard.
Music swirls around me in harmony. The fragrance is heady with a hint of lilac. The sanctuary is decorated with textures and shapes that are all unique and one of a kind. Fresh greenery and fresh flowers grace the décor in beautifully displayed accents. And I just sit here and marvel at all the splendor that greets me when I walk out my back door. God’s sanctuary. Our backyard. Dave and I are but stewards of this lovely real estate. And I thank God from the depths off my heart, that even while I was a little girl, living in a treeless project in government housing, God was growing all these trees for me. I will never forget that first morning when I awakened after our first night in our new home. When I looked out the window I realized that God had taken care of all that was before me, knowing I would someday be here. Perhaps a selfish thought, but at the time all I had in my heart was amazement and gratitude. And thirty years and hundreds of plants later, we are still here, enjoying the magnificence of our Creator’s artwork. And I am still amazed. And I am still grateful.
GOD’S BEAUTIFUL SANCTUARY
By Kathleen Martens
May 8, 2016
Oh, beauty surrounds me,
Gentle, fresh and pure.
How is it that such splendor
Year after year endures?
The gentleness of spring
And summer’s short glory,
Are but a small segment
Of our backyard story.
Autumn in her plumage
Dressed to the nines.
With color so dazzling
It blows my mind.
To complete the cycle
Freezing winds blow,
And the earth snuggles
Beneath mounds of snow.
A new gift to open
As months bring new seasons.
God never tires of giving,
Is just one of the reasons.
And the earth rejoices
As new life is born.
And each day presents
A fresh new morn.
No matter the day,
The month, or the year,
God’s beautiful Sanctuary,
To my heart is dear.
MY WISH FOR ALL MOMS IS THAT THIS YEAR IS YOUR BEST MOTHER’S DAY YET!
God, thank You that You trust Dave and I as stewards of Your earth.
Thank You for my vision that enables me to see what is before me.
Thank You for my hearing so I can hear all the birds.
Thank You that I am alive and can feel the breeze blow gently across my face.
Thank You for all the living things that grow around me.
Thank You for colors.
Thank You for the sunshine.
Thank You for lilacs.
Thank You that I can smell the fragrance of the blooming flowers.
Thank You for fresh water to drink.
Thank You Lord for seasons.
Thank You for the smile upon my face for it reflect what is in my heart.
Thank You for my short-handled shovel.
Thank You for trillium (wild flower that grows in the woods).
GOD BLESS YOU ON THIS BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY SABBATH.
P.S. Dave took a picture of me sitting here typing my blog. It was a bit cool when I came outside so I grabbed my warmest vest, a pink, puffy, down-filled one, with polka dots. It is bulky and warm. I put it over the blouse I wore to church this morning so I really look like a blown-up fashion plate. Oh well, at least you can see part of God’s sanctuary in my the background.
We have been invited to go to our neighbor’s sanctuary for awhile. John and Carolyn are very dear to us and live through the path in the woods. So I must close and do my duty as a good neighbor and go sit in their gazebo and enjoy the beauty of their beautiful yard. I think I will take off my vest before I go. My phone reminder just this minute rang! Whew, finished just in time. Good bye.
Saturday May 7 2016 FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES
Saturday May 7 2016 FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES
Gary Chapman, PhD wrote a book titled, “The 5 Love Languages”. He explains how each person perceives and receives love in a way that is personal to them. The five ways of receiving, and thus giving love, are words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time, and physical touch. Pause for just a moment and reflect on how you most perceive love from others. Not just how the other gives it, but what aspect of the five gifts of language speak most to your heart.
I believe the most important love language for me is through acts of service. Dave’s love language is perceived through the gift of touch. So the gift I give him is to touch him, snuggle with him and allow him to hold me in his arms. And because Dave knows that acts of service mean more to me, he reciprocates and does acts of service for me, both little and big. It is not that we don’t enjoy being the recipient of words of affirmation, receiving gifts, or spending time with each other, but it is just that our each individual preference would be what I referred to above.
As I mentioned yesterday I am in the process of decluttering and downsizing personal belongs. I take them out of one place and then they sit cluttering another space. Dusty dishes and glassware on the kitchen counter, expired cleaning supplies in the hallway downstairs, a broken broom leaning against a wall, and I could go on and on. I left early this morning for my Aldi’s run and then to work out. I came home and walked into the kitchen and was delightfully surprised to see the dishes were hand washed, the delicate stemware upside down drying on a towel, and all the drinking glasses clean and pristine. Dave had washed everything (all very delicate glassware) because he knew I planned to put them in the garage sale. He had vacuumed the house, taken out the throw rugs to shake, screwed my broken broom back together, moved the heavy leftover cleaning supplies (I don’t know where he stored them). He plans to take them to be recycled on Tuesday morning. It is only after I notice everything thing else that I turned and viewed a beautiful bouquet of mixed flowers sitting on the kitchen table. I had walked right by them because I was blinded by all the acts of love that were so obviously staring me in the face.
Tomorrow is Mother’s Day. He said that the flowers were for me to enjoy early and his cleaning the house was his gift to me. You know, when you have a husband like mine gifts aren’t even necessary. Every day that I have with him is my gift. He has never treated me with anything but love and respect and tenderness. I have so much to be thankful for. And I am ever so grateful that God brought him into my life.
AS TOGETHER WE GROW OLD
By Kathleen Martens
May 7, 2016
A beautiful flower bouquet
Received from my one true love
To celebrate my motherhood.
Our children, gifts of God from above.
I am the mother of His children
And he is the Father of mine.
And every day is full of love
Which makes my life quite fine.
He is the gift God gave to me,
And oh what a great treasure!
Just to have him by my side
Is my daily pleasure.
He does of so many things
That make me laugh and smile.
And when I need some help,
He goes the second mile.
In the course of a normal day
His presence is such a gift.
He always listens when I talk,
Which gives my heart a lift.
He is the one I go to
When I need a bit of advice.
He carefully chooses how to respond,
And his wisdom does suffice.
I am so grateful
For the husband that God gave me.
He is my kindred soulmate
That makes me happy as can be.
His faithfulness is my joy,
And it takes not riches or gold
For me to know how much he loves me,
As together we grow old.
If you have a husband, be sure and tell him today how much you love him. Never let a day go by without telling him so.
God, again I thank you for picking Dave out for me out of all the men in the entire world! You did good!
Thank You for Mother’s Day so that we as mothers can be reminded what an honor it is to be the mom.
Thank You Lord for dryer buzzers so I can remember to get my laundry out of the dryer.
Especially thank You Lord for clean water to wash my clothes in.
Thank You Lord that I live in the best country in the world even on its darkest day.
Thank You Lord for putting love into my heart for others.
Thank You Lord for Your amazing grace of salvation. I can never tell You enough thanks for giving me eternal life.
Thank You for batteries.
Thank you for cauliflower and broccoli.
Thank You that I have pots to cook in and a stove to cook on.
Thank You for my restored hearing.
GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS ALL! AND THAT MEANS YOU!
Friday May 6 2016 A NIGHT OF CONFESSION
Friday May 6 2016 A NIGHT OF CONFESSION
This is one night I am certainly glad that I did not take any photos. I have worked to declutter my laundry room from sun up to sun down (and later). And I’m not quite finished. This room which also serves as our central utility area, as well as for the laundry, is 16X15 feet. It is quite a large room to tackle. It has the washer, dryer, water softener, hot water heater, a boiler and three pumps and lots of shelving on two walls facing each other. Not to mention all that we have free standing. Every shelf was maxed to capacity, every drawer filled with things that I had totally forgotten about and every table piled high.
Over the years things were stacked and stored, forgotten and never moved. I will confess and admit that I had cleaning supplies on my shelves that expired in 1987. Yes, you read that right. Things that were moved from California, placed on the shelves, and then as new things were put in front of them they were forgotten. Just so you know, it took a bit of bravery to admit what I just admitted, because a lot of people I know read my blog.
All in all it seems like it didn’t take any time at all for the room to become neglected, over crowded, and very dusty. But I will attest to the fact that it did indeed take a lot of time to clean it up! And like I said, I am not done yet.
LET THE ROOMS OF YOUR LIFE SHINE LIKE A STAR
By Kathleen Martens
May 6, 2016
Just as a room, overused and neglected,
So our lives can become as rejected.
We pack so much into the rooms of our lives,
And the dust and age then causes such strife.
We wonder why our hours seem cluttered.
We do even more, as under our breaths we mutter.
We don’t take the time to clean up our mess,
And overwhelmed, we become depressed.
Deep inside we seem to sag with time,
Our energy defeated, we can no longer climb.
We open our eyes to realize time has passed
And too much clutter in our lives amassed.
So we take a good look and know things must change.
It takes a bit of work to mark our range.
We shed all the extras, all that’s expired,
And once again we’re not quite as tired.
The clutter is gone, you’ve dusted your shelf,
And once again you see your true self.
Emotional clutter departed, life easier to bear,
All because you took the time to care.
So look deep inside and know who you are.
Let the rooms of your life shine like a star.
Take time to stay healthy, rested and pure.
And a cluttered heart you’ll need not endure.
It seems that a room can become cluttered so quickly but it takes so much time to clean it up and get rid of all the unnecessary pieces that have accumulated. So it seems as a parallel to our lives. We can make mistakes so quickly and then it takes a lot of time to heal from the damage.
God, thank You for this day of cleansing.
Thank You Lord for the good memories I discovered on my journey today.
Thank You too for the fact that that it now seems easier to part with “things”.
Jesus, thank You for dying for my sins.
Thank You for the wonderful teachings that I receive everyday while listening to sermons online.
Thank You Lord for my IPhone so I can listen to such wonderful messages.
Thank You for my leftover pizza today.
Thank You Lord for all my food. Never let me take it for granted.
Thank You Lord that I am not homeless.
Thank You Father for helping me get ready for whatever you have planned for me.
Thank You for the sharp knife I found today.
Thank You for a newspaper dated May 31, 1974.
Thank You God for the beautiful world around me.
Thank You for green grass.
GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS ALL!
Thursday May 5 2016 HONEST TEA (HONESTY)
Thursday May 5, 2016 HONEST TEA (HONESTY)
Today I listened to a sermon regarding integrity. Integrity is an interesting word. We have many words in our English language that take on many different meanings when used in different contexts. Some words in the dictionary are actually entered more than once, each entry having their own definition. The word INTEGRITY has many synonyms, but the interesting thing is that each synonym all point to one, and only one meaning. Here are the synonyms of integrity: honesty, truth, truthfulness, veracity, reliability, and uprightness. These synonyms are the character qualifications that men of character possess. There is one word given as meaning the opposite of integrity. That word is “DISHONESTY”.
An example was given in the message I listened to about a tea company named “HONEST TEA”. This tea company set out to do a challenge called “THE HONESTY CHALLENGE” when they set out tables of tea on street corners of major metropolitan areas in The United States. Next to the tea they put out a box and the basic idea of the challenge was that when a person takes a bottle of tea, they were instructed to leave a dollar in the box. It was an honor challenge. It was found that the most honest city in the United States is Atlanta, Georgia. It was documented that 100% of those who took the tea left a dollar (as a hidden camera showed). The least honest city in the United States is Washington D.C. Not only did people not put money in the box, but if there was money in the box, they took the tea and then took the money out of the box. That too was documented on film. I just wonder if this tells us more than we want to know about those who live in Washington D.C.?
In this same sermon, the late General Norman Schwarzkopf was quoted;
“THE ROLE OF CHARACTER ALWAYS HAS BEEN THE KEY FACTOR IN THE RISE AND FALL OF NATIONS. AND ONE CAN BE SURE THAT AMERICA IS NO EXCEPTION TO THIS RULE IN HISTORY. WE WON’T SURVIVE AS A COUNTRY BECAUSE WE ARE SMARTER OR MORE SOPHISTICATED, BUT BECAUSE WE ARE STRONGER INWARDLY. IN SHORT, CHARACTER IS THE ONLY EFFECTIVE BULWARK AGAINST INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL FORCES THAT LEAD TO A COUNTRY’S DISINTEGRATION AND COLLAPSE.”
(The above information was taken from the message I heard on the website: www.southlandchurch.org Sermon title: First Timothy: “Dialed In To Character”, presented on August 30, 2015.
Now as we all know, this is a crucial time in our country as we are currently in a presidential election year. I personally do not vote based upon party labels. I try to watch as many of the debates as possible with an open mind as to whom I think would be the best president for our country. I have only the information that is available to all of us. It is interesting to hear what is said in the debates, to read each candidate’s history, and to listen to both conservative and progressive news stations in order to form an educated opinion about each candidate’s integrity and character. So much hinges upon who leads this country. We are heading into a difficult era for our society. In case you haven’t noticed, our country is in dire straits. As a country we cannot balance the annual budget which has resulted in an extremely high national debt. And we are more divided than we have been since the Civil War. So the big question is…who should I support? And who should you support? We all have our own biases, and our likes and dislikes. We come from different backgrounds, different nucleus “societies” within our larger society, and have different issues that we want to see succeed or not to succeed. So…what to do?
What is the most important factors upon which we base our vote? What about character traits? What about past history? What about integrity? What about the principles our country was founded on? What about our Constitution? What are the most important messages that we need to focus on when the candidates are vying for the office of the President of the United States of America?
Personally, I think General Norman Schwarzkopf had deep insight in regards to what he said. I fear our country is headed for the cliff. I don’t really think it matters at this point for whom we vote. All I know is that ultimately God is in control and He has a plan. I believe His plan is already in action. I only have a few years left before I am an old woman, dead and buried. I hesitate to think how different our country will be when our grandsons come of age.
QUANDRY
By Kathleen Martens
May 5, 2016
What kind of words can be said
That one has not already read?
Each have their own choice
And the vote is our voice.
What is truth and what is veracity?
Who speaks fact with capacity?
Has integrity gone to sleep?
As for promises, who can keep?
The future looms with a shadow,
Like being up a creek without a paddle.
Who will steer the right direction?
What will we see in our reflection?
God, thank You so much for being in control.
Thank You Lord for the peace that reigns in my heart amidst all the chaos of this world.
Thank You Lord for Your protection over the hearts and souls of my children and grandchildren.
Thank You Lord that You gave me such a man of integrity to be my husband.
Thank You God that I had the opportunity to live in a time before the world was so angry.
Lord, thank You for Your sweet Spirit that abides in me.
Thank You for the beautiful sunshine today.
Thank You for the rain on Tuesday.
Thank You that I have eyes to see all the beauty that is blooming around me.
Thank You for my dog friends next door, Dexter and Duke.
Thank You for such a helpful husband.
Thank You for all the pictures I have taken in my lifetime that bring joy to the lives of others.
Thank You for pencils.
Thank You for indoor toilets!
GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS ALL MY FRIENDS WHO READ THIS BLOG. AND LORD, ALSO BLESS ALL MY FRIENDS WHO DON’T READ THIS BLOG.
Visions of Poetry 