Sunday Sabbath  January 3 2016  GOD’S DESIRE

The first week of January is a time our Pastor calls our church body together for a week of PRAYER AND FASTING.  Meetings are Monday through Friday evenings from 6:30 p.m. until 8:00 p .m..  Each night has a different focus on what is to be prayed.  Fasting is not necessarily giving up food but can also include fasting from television or computers and phones.  It may also include giving up other activities that a person believes the Lord is calling them to give up. 

Just think of the possibilities if each God fearing church in the United States all joined together for the same week of prayer and fasting, joining together to pray for our churches, country, and our leadership.  The scripture calls “THE CHURCH” to pray.  Prayer changes things.  Prayer is powerful.  If “THE CHURCH” no longer prays, then who will do it? 

In case you have not noticed, our country is ailing.  If it were diagnosed in medical terminology it might even fall into the “terminally ill” category.  Sin is rampant, the government is corrupt, our freedoms are being taken away, and most people just put on blinders or join in with the corruptness.  Perhaps we, as believers, should remember the verse in 2 Chronicles:

2 Chronicles 7:14 New King James Version (NKJV)

^“14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

“…and will forgive their sin and heal their land…” is the promise that God gives to us if we will humble ourselves and pray.

For those who read this blog I would ask that if you believe in the miracle of prayer, please unite with our congregation this week as we join together in prayer.  Distance is no deterrent, God has no barriers in hearing from everyone, everywhere, at all times.  I have many more readers from afar than I have in my own community.  One reason is because not too many in my own community know I even write a blog, and secondly, because most of the people who contact me through this blog are those I met on my trip across the country last year.  Whoever you are, wherever you are, if you are a believer, please add your prayers to ours.  Monday we are praying for Revival in the Church.  Tuesday our prayer is for Awakening the World.  Wednesday is prayer for Youth of All Ages.  Thursday is a time when we will pray for the Prophetic Word that God Has for the Vision of Our Church Body and Friday will be an evening of Celebration to the Lord.  Celebrate the Lord with us wherever you may live!

Three years ago I attended this same week’s event.  I was quite ill at the time.  I had been diagnosed with a serious long term illness, was extremely obese, could barely maintain my daily existence, was in so much pain, and had a terrible agonizing deep cough without a diagnosis.  That first week in January I attended each service.  One night I was so sick that I went into the church library so I could still hear the service but not disturb everyone with my hacking cough.  That was an amazing week for me.  I came to terms with many issues I was going through and turned to God and began to diligently seek the Lord as to what His will was for me as well as for the church body. 

The following week I was diagnosed with pneumonia, thus the cough.  The cough was so severe that I broke two ribs from coughing so hard.  I was put on antibiotic medication that seemed to help and then my heart began terrible irregular palpitations.  I had a history of this so I didn’t want to tell Dave because we were leaving shortly on a vacation to Florida.  So, I kept my mouth shut, did not go see my cardiologist for fear of having to cancel my trip, and boarded the plane. Well, you guessed it.  I only got worse.  I couldn’t do much on the trip but refused to see a doctor.  When I was previously in Florida, visiting our daughter, I had such a bad Atrial Fibrillation (A-Fib) episode that I was taken to the hospital by ambulance and spent most of my time in Florida hospitalized.  It was later discovered that the medicine subscribed for my pneumonia was actually causing deaths to those who were diagnosed with A-Fib.  That would be me!  But, as you can see, I didn’t die.

After the January services I knew that God was working deep in my life.  Finally, in March, two months after the Prayer and Fasting week at church, I finally surrendered myself completely to be obedient to what I believed God was asking of me.  I knew I needed to start following the orders of my General Practioner and the neurologist (whose care I was under) if I was going to have a chance to get my health back.  Those were difficult months for me.  It took me six months from my diagnosis in September to finally come to terms with the fact that it was probable that I had MS.  I think I just couldn’t accept the diagnosis.  I refused to look it in the face.  I refused to do what needed to be done for the recovery of my health.  In that first six months I only acknowledged the fact that I MIGHT have MS on two distinct nights that I remember well.  Those two night I stayed awake and cried.  Finally, in March I gave it to God.

I knew I would need to lose weight.  My balance was off and my entire body hurt.  Then, add into the mix the broken ribs, and I was really ready for a pity party.  Instead, I chose to lean on God, keep my spirits up and finally surrender to Him what I believed His Holy Spirit was prompting me to do.  I believed that God was giving me instructions to be obedient to three things.  The first, I was to exercise as prescribed by both doctors.  The second, I was to eat healthy and take half of my food off my plate before eating.  The third, to be obedient to God.  Sometimes I have a little trouble with obedience. 

So that evening I sat down at the table after surrendering to God and agreeing to follow His plan.  I served up dinner and I looked down at my plate, piled high with lots of good food, stood up, and took my plate back to the kitchen.  Dave asked me if I had forgotten something.  I told him yes I had.  I had forgotten to take half of my food off my plate before I ate.  Then I explained to him my “conversation” with God earlier in the day. He just sort of looked at me and nodded his head.  Then I told Dave I would be joining a gym the next day to get started on the physical therapy that the doctors prescribed.  He said okay!  So I did.  I think God let me forget to take half of my portions off my plate that first night so I would actually see how much food I consumed.  The first two weeks were a bit rough.  After those first two weeks my stomach shrunk and the half portions began to be too much.  I found myself cutting back more and more and then eating smaller meals more frequently. 

At first when I joined the gym I could only use a recumbent bicycle and do a few exercises on a bench.  I had to do my floor exercises on the bench because I could not get myself up off the floor.  I had periodical meetings with a trainer who worked with me and helped me with strength building and balance so I could eventually use more and more equipment.  It was very difficult and humbling to go to the gym every day and see so many slim, healthy, and vibrant people working out on all the equipment and I couldn’t even get up from the floor.  I chose to weigh on the 1^st and 15^th of each month.  I lost about 1 to 1½ pounds every two weeks.  Not a quick weight loss but it was steady.  Some weigh-ins I would drop perhaps two or three pounds. By June I had lost about 30 pounds.  My neurologist was astounded at my progress.  By September I had reduced another 20 or so pounds.  At that time I had another complete M.S. workup, including another MRI, and extensive neurological testing.  When I returned for the evaluation later, the neurologist was amazed at my progress.  My MRI was better than normal for my age, the neurological part of my exam was excellent, and my pain levels were almost non-existent.  I was discharged from her care but would need to return if any of my symptoms returned.  She did say that the symptoms could return, but as of that moment she would say I did not have any symptoms of MS.  She told me a lot more, and it was all good!  I am believing my symptoms will never return!

I really do believe that the beginning of my healing began that week in January when I attended the meetings at church for the week.  I was struggling, and when I look back now I can see how God was with me all the way.  It was only through Him that I was able to stand up, face my situation, do what He put in my heart for me to do, and to go forward with my life instead of giving up on myself.  And to this day, I don’t really know if even those closest to me knew how much I struggled with what I was going though.  There were only about three or four people that had been told about the MS diagnosis.  I always felt like I had to be strong.  And now I realize I was standing on my own confidence and not on God’s confidence.  Not only that, as a friend pointed out to me, I was not allowing the body of believers to pray with and for me.

I said all that I’ve said above because of a sermon I heard this morning.  The sermon hit a bull’s eye today.  It was presented by our Minister of Youth, Derrick Wright and is titled: “THIS ONE THING”.  You can listen to it by googling “City Church Madison Wisconsin”.  Go to Media and then the Sunday Sermon for today, January 3, 2016.  It is well worth listening to!  Believe me, I will be listening to it again.  It opened my eyes to some self-realization which I needed.  I understand a bit better all that I was going through three years ago.  Yes, three years is a long time ago and you may wonder why it is relevant for today.  The sermon made it relevant for today.  I have a better understanding of the difference between “self-confidence” and “God-confidence.  The second reason is realizing the difference between doing things for your own glory, rather than for God’s glory.  And the third reason is understanding the difference that GOD DOESN’T NEED ME, but, HE DESIRES ME.  The sermon was filled with so much more.  Since this blog is way longer than I intended it to be I will stop here and let you listen to the sermon for yourself.  Just try to take the time to do so if you have a chance. I use my gym time to listen to sermons!

The contents of this blog was not premeditated, nor even planned, when I sat down to write.  It just felt like it was the right time to share it.  When we have miracles happen in our lives I do believe we are to give the glory to God and share our testimony with others.  It has taken me a long time to share mine publicly.  Whether I was misdiagnosed with MS, and perhaps never had it at all, I will never know.  I choose to believe that God healed me of whatever I had.  He gave my life back to me.  My feet are no longer crippled like they were previously.  My knees no longer have the pain they once felt.  I can walk long distances.  I can climb rocks and hike on back trails and even on mountains that have no trails.  I can work out on many different kinds of exercise equipment, and do so several times each week.  I am able to play with my grandchildren on the floor and can pop up right from the floor ALL BY MYSELF!  I no longer have chronic excruciating headaches.  I can cook for long hours without taking a break, and I sleep like a champ (hopefully without snoring).  And at my age I had the courage to take off on a trip for four months, solo, with God as my companion.  And oh, let me tell you, even with all the naysayers, it was one of the most spectacular events of my lifetime!  Just me and God!  And it was amazing!

So…I think I am going to go to each of the meetings this week and seek God’s face.  I look forward to joining with our church body to seek God’s face and to know what He has for our church body.  I will also open my heart to new possibilities that He has planned for my walk with Him.  He doesn’t NEED ME, but I CERTAINLY DO NEED HIM!  

Philippians 1:6 New King James Version (NKJV)

⁶ being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

The following poem is inspired by Derrick Wright’s sermon today.  I incorporated the words of Derrick’s daily prayer in the poem’s message.  I hope it will bless you as much as his sermon blessed me.  Thank you Derrick for sharing your heart!

GOD’S DESIRE

By Kathleen Martens

January 3, 2016

Sometimes I walk a lonely road

And heavy burdens I bear.

Though I may not realize it,

Right beside me God is there.

Sometimes I choose not to listen

To the tender word God speaks.

I’d rather do things my way,

Than consider God’s way to seek.

I work and labor and toil

In the work that God needs done,

Before I finally realize

 I’m not really the needed one.

For God is the almighty King,

Source of all power and might.

There is nothing I can do,

That He can’t do outright.

Then I realize He does not NEED

From one so weak and tired.

And though He doesn’t NEED me,

I am the one that He DESIRES.

Finally my eyes are opened

And for Wisdom I do pray.

And favor with God I ask

In my prayers every day.

And I ask God for favor

From my fellow man.

And That God’s presence and power

Allows me to do all I can.

And I thank God for His power

As revelation is released

Of who God is in my life,

That His love is increased.

That I will help others,

In so many different ways,

With the strength that comes

From my Savior each day.

And I always ask my Lord

That He teach me something new.

For God is my instructor

And what He says is true!

Long Blog but I hope you made it to the end.

Good night and God bless you!

Saturday January 2 2016  A NEW YEAR PRAYER

Today is a packed day so I am hoping to write my blog (and finish it) much earlier than usual.  It is now only 12:15 p.m. Central Time.  So here goes.

This morning as I was in my library studying the WORD OF GOD, I read a passage of scriptures that spoke to my heart.  I felt this passage is to be my New Year Prayer for 2016 and I would like to pray it over all those who read my blog.

Ephesians 3 New King James Version (NKJV)

“…I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,^[c]15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, ¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, ¹⁷ that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— ¹⁹ to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, ²¹ to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

This will be my prayer for myself each day as I begin my morning with the Lord.  A couple of months ago I read Psalm 5:3 and felt that it was one of two passages that I have chosen as my scripture verses for the year.  The other passage is also from Psalm 5, verses 11-12:

“³ My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;

In the morning I will direct it to You,

And I will look up.”

“¹¹ But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;

Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;
Let those also who love Your name
Be joyful in You.
¹² For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous;
With favor You will surround him as with a shield.”

I will write these scriptures in the front of each new journal and read them often. 

I am leaving shortly to attend the funeral of my friend’s mother.  She was a woman of God so I know it will be more of a celebration of her life and rejoicing with the family for her entrance into heaven.  When we know that our loved ones are bound for heaven after they die, it makes it so much easier to say goodbye.  There is always sorrow but intermingled with joy, knowing that the goodbye is just for a while.  For me it is awesome knowing I will again someday see my mom!

Now a quick update as to what is going on in regards to the flooding that seeped in the walls and between the floors.  A part of our dressing room floor (which is actually the master bedroom of the house that we turned into a dressing room) has been removed to allow huge drying dehumidifiers to stand like sentinels in our dressing room with huge tubes pumping hot air between our walls and floors and ceilings below.  There are hoses that drain the collected dehumidified moisture into the bathtub in the next room  A lot of water is being reclaimed.  We were told the machines would be in place until Monday of next week but I don’t see how it will be dry by then with so much water still being extracted.  The downstairs also has the same contraption plus two high pressured wind fans that help dry out the wallboard and rooms.  Not a pretty sight.  We are coping well.  We just walk around all the mess and the huge vanity that sits in the middle of our dressing room floor.  We are just thankful it isn’t worse.  Lots of hoses everywhere so we leave some lights on at night to help us navigate to and from the bathroom.  But all’s well that ends well and we are hoping for a good ending!

I wrote my poem this morning in my journal which I rarely do since I have been writing my blog.  I miss writing my poetry in my journal.  So today I penned a poem when the inspiration arrived while I was sitting in my library enjoying the presence of the Lord.

PEN IN HAND

By Kathleen Martens

January 2, 2016

Oh, how I miss pen in hand,

So easy my thoughts to land.

The feel of paper between my fingers

Defines memories that seem to linger.

Thoughts come softly tiptoeing in

Captured on paper as my friend.

I pause and think and write some more

As my muse opens never-ending doors.

There is nothing quite like paper and pen

That allows those thoughts to pour in.

Purple fingers, a sure reminder,

Of where my words I will find them.

My pen writes what my heart speaks,

As new expressions my soul seeks.

Release comes when my spirit has spoken

And what needs fixing, is no longer broken.

Such a salve when words are released

And freedom seems to be increased.

Just to express what I desire to say

Puts a bright slant on my entire day.

There you have it friends.  A short blog and I’m ready to leave (except for my lipstick).  Have a wonderful day.  God bless all of you.  And remember, you can always read the prayer from the scriptures and know those words are being prayed over you.

Friday January 1 2016  CONSIDER ALL THAT’S IN YOUR HEAD

On my title line above this sentence is the first time I have written 2016 as an actual date.  A New Year gave me pause to wonder about all that might happen this coming year.  Would you like to have a glimpse of just what might happen this year?  I’ve given that some solemn thought and have decided from a serious point of view that, no I would not.  I think it would be quite overwhelming.  The most crushing would be to know what is going to happen, both to and in, our country this year.  If I gave that topic some thought I think it would be disconcerting.  If something drastic takes place would it be better to know ahead so you would worry about it, or to not know and just go about your normal everyday life.  How would it affect our lives if we really did know the future.  I think that would be a stressful way to live. I know that both life and death happen.  I certainly hope a catastrophic event will not take place where I am, but I would rather not be burdened with the knowledge of knowing if a horrible situation was going to take place.  God can handle it.  I can’t.

Had I thought in that manner I certainly would not have set out on my odyssey in March which took me to deserted back roads, mountains too high for me to climb, back woods bear country, and miles and miles of driving in isolation and unknown areas.  Was I cautious?  Well, I would like to think I used common sense and was therefore alert and watchful so as to avoid dangerous risks.  I drove in the daylight and planned my daily driving distance to not be farther than a six hour drive so I could take about eight or nine hours to get where I was going.  I have a penchant to stop and get out, speak to strangers, and discover out of the way places.  I tried to make wise decisions before doing any of those things and I did arrive home safely.

Instead of worrying or fretting about the state of affairs our country is in, I choose to be informed and well read about what is happening, know what precautions to take, avoid dangerous environments, understand our governing processes, be informed about the candidates that are running for the top position in the country, and to give everything over to God.  If and when disaster strikes, then I will do what I can do, and must do, and rely on God for my strength, courage, and refuge.  But, as you can tell by last night’s blog and tonight’s blog I do stop to think about a lot of things.  And I guess that is a good thing.  I just wish I could get into the head of others and really know what they think.  Now to me, that would be interesting, and maybe a little frightening. 

How do you think?  Do you really take time out of your busy schedule to actually just sit down and deliberately THINK?  Do you let your mind stretch itself by what you think about, by what you read, or by what you watch on television?  I do what I call “intentional thinking”, which I have mentioned in previous blogs.  Dave and I are reading the book YOU STAYING YOUNG which I mentioned in a blog recently.  We read a few pages together at the morning breakfast table and then discuss it.  I did find out one thing about myself when I turned a page and viewed a drawing that illustrated how some minds map out thoughts.  It’s point was to show the reader how a brain can think, organize, branch out, and compartmentalize all sorts of data.  It used the illustration as a positive way to exercise the brain power you have to keep it strong and healthy.  To Dave it was somewhat askew.  To those of you are list makers it would probably seem more than askew, perhaps a bit disjointed and cluttered.  The caption above the drawing gave this description: “MIND MAPS, DEVELOPED BY TONY BUZAN, EXERCISE THE BRAIN BETTER THAN LISTS CREATED AND NOVEL DECISIONS MAKE NEW PATHWAYS IN THE BRAIN.”  Well, when I first turned the page and looked at the drawing closely, reading all the words written in the pictures, I realized I had just viewed the pattern of the way in which my brain processes.  It is cluttered.  It goes in different directions, but with a reason and pattern for what I am thinking and planning.  I couldn’t help but laugh after I read the caption, to know that I wasn’t so weird after all (My husband just verbally inserted this comment “ONE PERSON’S OPINION” as we were proof reading. Hmm…). The author was encouraging people to allow their brain to be used in this manner to exercise it and make it grow.  So, I guess I am blazing new paths and it will help keep my brain healthy.  I’ll just have to blaze a new path about turning off water faucets!

In all seriousness, STOP, AND TAKE TIME TO JUST THINK!  Search out answers.  Be inquisitive and stretch your brain muscles (or whatever it is that needs stretching).  People think that three and four year old children have lots of questions.  I had lots of questions when I was younger, but I have even more now.  That is one reason I love talking to Dave every morning.  After all the quiet hours of the evening and night I awaken with lots of questions.  He doesn’t always have all the answers or even the answers I think I WANT to hear, but he is always patient and gives a lot of thought to his answers.  If he doesn’t know the answer, he often researches my questions, and then educates me at the breakfast table or dinner table.  I sometimes try to imagine other couples and the kinds of conversations they might have when waking up or at the table and just can’t imagine anyone else talking about the things we talk about. (Another Dave insert:  “THAT’S TRUE”). It’s as if we (or at least me) never have enough time to talk.  I just wish all that brain exercise would help me retain more than I do.  I just hope my brain keeps working for a bit longer (a LONGER bit longer)!

CONSIDER ALL THAT’S IN YOUR HEAD

By Kathleen Martens

January 1, 2016

When you really take the time

Thinking can be quite sublime.

But you must first find a thought,

One that is deeply sought.

Important ideas may be found

In your brain just laying around.

Everyday there is something new,

That which must be sifted through.

Unless you ponder you do not find

That special muse that’s one of a kind,

Allow moments to just ruminate,

So that you can then meditate.

Think on that which is good

For it is easily understood.

Contemplate not on the bad

Perchance it may, make you sad.

Let reason rise within your brain

So that you will stay quite sane.

Well balanced stability helps reflect,

On what you may expect.

Consider all that’s in your head

And upon what your brain is fed.

Allow your thoughts to deliberate,

So that you can contemplate.

Plan, consider, and envision each day

What it is your brain wants to say.

And study hard to make it grow,

The bigger it gets the more you know.

Organize and design, the perfect plan

And reflect on all you can.

Cogitate from deep within

Discerning where you have been.

Rekindle childhood fires

By imagining your heart’s desires.

Be the best you, you can be.

Allow your thoughts to go free!

So, I guess what I’m saying in this poem is, give pause, and allow your brain to go on holiday to think about whatever it wants to think about!  You might just go along for the ride and see where it leads you!  It’s what I call CREATIVE THINKING!

Today is the day I gave myself permission to start my new Tozer daily devotional.  I will only tell you the title since I really don’t like to break copyright laws.

So here is the title:

January 1

“GOD IS ALWAYS FIRST AND WILL SURELY BE LAST”

“I am  Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, saith the Lord.”  Revelation 1:8

Good night and God bless you!

I pray that you have a healthy and safe year.  

P.S.  I get to read another Tozer devotional tomorrow!

Friday December 31 2015  WHAT IN THE WORLD IS TO COME?

On this final day of two thousand fifteen I sit here at my computer and wonder, what in the world shall I write about?  What words, if any, do I have to say that would impact another?  A blank New Year looms ahead.  An entirely clean slate.  I can’t help but let my mind project ahead and ask, will I be on earth this time next year?  I remember asking myself that last year.  And here I am.  And I am glad I am here.

As I drive down the interstate I see the electronic signs overhead that tally the death tolls to date of those in Wisconsin who died in traffic accidents.  As of today’s date the toll, including cars, bicycles, motorcycles, and pedestrians is 546 for 2015.  The total becomes larger and larger as the year progresses.  Have you ever stopped to think about all those lives lost in just one state?  Who were they?  What were the circumstances that caused the traffic accident?  Who did they leave behind?  How many shattered lives were left behind here on earth to grieve, and possibly heal from injuries obtained in the same accident? All those who died become just a number on a sign, representing but one of hundreds included in the final year end death toll.  Next year will you be just a number?  Will I?

I really don’t mean to be melancholy, but rather just want to make an impression on each and every one of us who draws a breath, to stop and realize, how very fortunate we are that one of those numbers do not represent us, a family member, or a friend.

There is no way of knowing what next year holds.  But, when we put our life in God’s hands and place our trust in Him, it is God who will be with us every moment of every day.  He, and He alone, knows what next year looks like for each individual.  There is no place we can hide from God.  When we realize this, we then understand that we need not fear whatever awaits us in the coming year.  Psalm 139:1-10 speaks of this very thing.

Psalm 139 New King James Version (NKJV)

139 “O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
² You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
³ You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
⁴ For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
⁵ You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.

⁷ Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
⁸ If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
⁹ If  I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
¹⁰ Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.”

 And because God knows who we are, where we are, and what we are doing, we need never to fear.  Farther into the chapter in verse 16 the Word states:

 “Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.”

 God is the only one who knows how many days we have written in His book.  We are not meant to know, but should be aware that this body is a temporal vessel in which our spirit is housed, and someday our numbered days will be used up.  And even that is a day we need not fear, because when the time comes for us to meet him face to face, He is there beside us.  When we accept His gift of salvation we need never fear what the future holds.

 Remember these words as the midnight bell tolls.  No matter what in the world is to come, just rely on God.  The people in our world are becoming more wicked and hateful towards each other.  There are so many senseless killings and it seems each year the number of terrorist attacks seem to mount.  Regardless of what is coming our way, which candidate gets into office, how wicked the world becomes, we need not fear what man can do to us. 

Psalm 27 New King James Version (NKJV)

“1. The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?”

No matter what awaits you in 2016 remember these scriptures.  Draw on the strength that God offers. 

We never need fear of becoming a number on an electronic sign.  Our days are numbered and someday, some circumstance will allow us to meet God face to face.  We don’t know how or when, and that really does not matter at all.  All we must do is be ready.  If I ever become a statistic on a death toll sign across a roadway, I hope as my friends that drive underneath the flashing numbers will look toward heaven and just whisper in their heart, “Kathleen, you may have arrived in heaven before me, but I’ll see you again someday”, and then send a smile heavenward.  Our goodbye will only be for a while.  Yes, there may be tears and sadness, but I don’t think those who are in heaven would want to come back this this earth, regardless of how vast and beautiful it is.  Somehow, I don’t believe it can compare with heaven.

BECAUSE OUR NAME IS WRITTEN

By Kathleen Martens

December 31, 2015

Heaven is but a place

We think of in our dreams.

Our mind cannot fathom

The glory of its extremes.

Beauty beyond comprehension,

Imagination cannot conceive

What awaits those who arrive,

Because in Jesus they believe.

How can we know what awaits

When we say goodbye to earth?

But knowing Jesus as Savior

More than gold it’s worth.

Because our name is written

On the pages of God’s Book,

And that will be confirmed

As into our eyes God looks.

And face to face we will stand

Before GOD WHO IS LOVE.

And pain and sorrow from earth below

Does not enter with us above.

Nor will we look back with longing

For what we left behind.

We will be forever content

Because its Jesus’ smile we find.

Yes, we will grieve for those who go before us and that is a normal process of our healing.  But just remember, that your goodbye is just for a while.

In the morning when you wake up remember to say:

²⁴ This is the day the Lord has made;

We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118 New King James Version (NKJV)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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!