Can you really be a blogger if you only post randomly? It isn't that I don't have thoughts...it's more like I have too many of them to sift through and try to make any sense out of them! I have an ADD mind - it goes here for a moment, then heads over there, makes a u-turn, and starts down yet another path.
Today I'm enjoying some quiet time with a little Mozart in the background, pondering the future. I still see so many possibilities for when I grow up, but seriously...when do we get to the point where we say "I'm all grown up now"? For me, I don't see that day coming any time soon. There are just too many possibilities!
In the last few months, my sisters and I embarked on a crazy path based on a pure whim! We saw an interesting lamp in a shop and thought....we could do that. And low and behold...we did! Well....not so much we as in one of us did most of the work, but we are all contributing in different ways. The end result- some of these lamps are now in a shop in Vista on consignment. What if we hit it big? What if Oprah sees one and asks us to come on her show? What if Donald Trump wants to be an investor? See what I mean? The possibilities are endless!
The other trail leads in a totally different direction. I attended a Christian-based conference for school board members on governance that was truly awesome. That sent me down this trail that I've started down before but never made it very far. I want to do some consulting for groups who have issues with communication, conflict (not how to cause it - we have plenty of that!), time-management, and any other thing that keeps a group from going somewhere great! My future son-in-law has given me the name of my business -Second Street Consulting. Doesn't that sound classy? What if Oprah wants me on her show? What if Donald Trump wants to meet me? See where this is going yet???
Sometimes that strength of Ideation is a killer. So many ideas, so little time....
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Let Freedom Ring
“He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat”…we sang these words in church this morning in honor of the 4th. They are from The Battle Hymn of the Republic. I have been “sifting” thoughts lately and finally pulled out some thoughts to share.
As Americans, we can celebrate the many hard-won freedoms we have as a result of those who valiantly fought, and often died, in service. We can celebrate our freedoms, wave the flag, light some fireworks, and think of our soldiers in far-off places today. We can lay wreaths at the graves of those who paid the ultimate price, and cry a tear as we grieve their loss.
As Christians, we can also celebrate freedom today. We can choose to honor a God who has made this country strong. We can worship freely (for now) and live a life that reflects the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made – one man on one cross for all who live, died, and for those to come.
Sometimes the freedoms of country and Christ conflict. When they do, we have to decide which is more important. We scream about our freedom of speech – the right to say whatever we want, whether in public, in private, or in print. We will not be told to watch our language, to consider what our words might say to others, or to give thought before we speak. No – we speak to be heard. The freedom in Christ is the freedom to use words that honor and encourage; they are words that do not blaspheme; they are words that are carefully chosen to reflect who we are as part of the body of Christ. They are words that encourage others to ask about this God we serve.
The apostle Paul said he was free to do all things; but not all things were useful in his ministry. In Christ, there is nothing in creation that is inherently evil. However, there are certainly things that can be abused, misused, and twisted to cause others to stumble. We live in a country today that screams about the freedom to use chemicals and substances to enhance our performance, to make us feel better, to help us relax, or just to have fun. We say we aren’t hurting anyone, but is that true? Our children are watching and learning. Our friends and co-workers who have heard our Christian testimony also hear us talking about how hard we partied and see our images online that reflect our behavior as we take advantage of these freedoms. We profess our faith on Sundays and profane it with our freedoms the rest of the week.
Some contemporary writers who profess Christ omit important parts of the gospel in their works. They speak of a God who loves but rarely of one who judges. They cleverly weave their words to lull us into thinking we have permission to live to a lower calling rather than to strive to the highest. Our American freedoms should never be taken for granted. But one day, we will no longer subject to them. My freedom in Christ is eternal and I need to live today as if I really believe that.
I’ll close with the opening line – “He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat….Our God is marching on!”
Here’s a red, white and blue food tip today: Take some raspberries, blackberries (these are really dark blue in my book!) and sprinkle with sugar – place in freezer for 1 hour and then enjoy!!!
As Americans, we can celebrate the many hard-won freedoms we have as a result of those who valiantly fought, and often died, in service. We can celebrate our freedoms, wave the flag, light some fireworks, and think of our soldiers in far-off places today. We can lay wreaths at the graves of those who paid the ultimate price, and cry a tear as we grieve their loss.
As Christians, we can also celebrate freedom today. We can choose to honor a God who has made this country strong. We can worship freely (for now) and live a life that reflects the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made – one man on one cross for all who live, died, and for those to come.
Sometimes the freedoms of country and Christ conflict. When they do, we have to decide which is more important. We scream about our freedom of speech – the right to say whatever we want, whether in public, in private, or in print. We will not be told to watch our language, to consider what our words might say to others, or to give thought before we speak. No – we speak to be heard. The freedom in Christ is the freedom to use words that honor and encourage; they are words that do not blaspheme; they are words that are carefully chosen to reflect who we are as part of the body of Christ. They are words that encourage others to ask about this God we serve.
The apostle Paul said he was free to do all things; but not all things were useful in his ministry. In Christ, there is nothing in creation that is inherently evil. However, there are certainly things that can be abused, misused, and twisted to cause others to stumble. We live in a country today that screams about the freedom to use chemicals and substances to enhance our performance, to make us feel better, to help us relax, or just to have fun. We say we aren’t hurting anyone, but is that true? Our children are watching and learning. Our friends and co-workers who have heard our Christian testimony also hear us talking about how hard we partied and see our images online that reflect our behavior as we take advantage of these freedoms. We profess our faith on Sundays and profane it with our freedoms the rest of the week.
Some contemporary writers who profess Christ omit important parts of the gospel in their works. They speak of a God who loves but rarely of one who judges. They cleverly weave their words to lull us into thinking we have permission to live to a lower calling rather than to strive to the highest. Our American freedoms should never be taken for granted. But one day, we will no longer subject to them. My freedom in Christ is eternal and I need to live today as if I really believe that.
I’ll close with the opening line – “He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat….Our God is marching on!”
Here’s a red, white and blue food tip today: Take some raspberries, blackberries (these are really dark blue in my book!) and sprinkle with sugar – place in freezer for 1 hour and then enjoy!!!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Change Is In the Air
In a little more than a year, life will change in a big way. Sara is engaged and with a lot of love and prayer, will be married in 2011. While it sounds far enough away, the time will fly by. There will be hours of planning, shopping, decisions to be made, decisions to change, people to see, and much to collect in the way of memories.
After the big day, however, a new chapter of life begins. Most of the time, you hear about how the lives of 2 single people change when they marry. No one talks about the life of a parent who gives away that most precious of all gifts, a daughter, to a young man who will command her love and attention.
I don't want to start whining, but the movie What About Bob comes to mind here. Bill Murray plays a funny nut case who drives his psychiatrist, played by Richard Dreyfuss, to extreme measures. Throughout the movie, Murray's character asks "what about me?". And that's sometimes how I feel. What about me? I've spent the past 24 years raising a pretty challenging little girl into an amazing young woman, and now that most of my work is done, what's next?
They say life is scary when you get married and start a new life. I can tell you - life is just as scary when you're on the other end of that deal - so I'm planning to hang on tight and see where this roller coaster takes me next!
After the big day, however, a new chapter of life begins. Most of the time, you hear about how the lives of 2 single people change when they marry. No one talks about the life of a parent who gives away that most precious of all gifts, a daughter, to a young man who will command her love and attention.
I don't want to start whining, but the movie What About Bob comes to mind here. Bill Murray plays a funny nut case who drives his psychiatrist, played by Richard Dreyfuss, to extreme measures. Throughout the movie, Murray's character asks "what about me?". And that's sometimes how I feel. What about me? I've spent the past 24 years raising a pretty challenging little girl into an amazing young woman, and now that most of my work is done, what's next?
They say life is scary when you get married and start a new life. I can tell you - life is just as scary when you're on the other end of that deal - so I'm planning to hang on tight and see where this roller coaster takes me next!
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