Monday, June 6, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
Walking on Water
So I have had some things weighing on my mind lately. Nothing earth shattering but still weighing on my mind. I love to listen to S. Michael Wilcox as he teaching about gospel stuff. I learn how he teaches and I feel like a sponge soaking up the knowledge as fast as he can spit it out. The only problem is ... remembering it!
Anyhow, I love the Bible story of Peter walking on the water. It talks to me when I think about it or read it. I know Jesus and Heavenly Father want us to come to them when they beckon us? Brother Wilcox has a tape called Walking on Water. When we are asked by our Heavenly Father to do things it sometimes seems like he is asking us to do things that are too hard to do, He might as well ask me to walk on water. But as Brother Wilcox points out that if we are asked to do any of those difficult tasks He must know we can do them. Heavenly Father wouldn't ask me to do this if He didn't think I could. So many times we hear we will not be given more then we are able to bear and yet we forget just like Peter that Christ is standing next to us supporting us upon our journey. We can do anything when he is with us. Just like catching Peter he catches us. We just need to keep trying. We didn't come here to fail.
I am convinced that Heavenly Father sees a different me. He sees me as to who I really am and who I have the capability of becoming. I know I don't see myself in that same light and yet it would help for me to see myself as Heavenly Father sees me.
Brother Wilcox also touches on how we sometimes wish we could change circumstances in our lives or in the lives of those we love. He enlightens that to walking on the wrong sea. "We are treading where we have not been asked to go. We want to do the impossible as it relates to other people. To create testimony, to give life, to restore health, to take away somebody's pain. To fix a marriage or create one for someone, give children to a childless home. This usually result in what we want for our children. Because we so badly want to bring blessings to other people's lives and we can't always do that. He says.. when those moments come he has to remind himself of the 'silver and gold have I none"... Acts 3. "When we desire to give to others what they so desperately need and I can't, doesn't mean I don't have something to give... such as I have... give I unto thee. I can only give what I have. I don't have power to change lives. Occasional we demand of life what it really can not give."
Oh how I understand that. It is probably the hardest thing about being a parent. To watch as our children journey through life and navigate their way through things. I have often wished I was the one who was in that circumstance. But it is not for me to do and I have to remind myself as Brother Wilcox talked about that I give and do what I can and then I have to stand back and let my children walk. That is what they are here to do as well. Everyone on this earth is learning to walk on water as well. Heeding the Saviors call to come unto Him. But I have a sure knowledge that he will catch them just like he catches me when I fall short. And that is comfort to my soul.
Anyhow, I love the Bible story of Peter walking on the water. It talks to me when I think about it or read it. I know Jesus and Heavenly Father want us to come to them when they beckon us? Brother Wilcox has a tape called Walking on Water. When we are asked by our Heavenly Father to do things it sometimes seems like he is asking us to do things that are too hard to do, He might as well ask me to walk on water. But as Brother Wilcox points out that if we are asked to do any of those difficult tasks He must know we can do them. Heavenly Father wouldn't ask me to do this if He didn't think I could. So many times we hear we will not be given more then we are able to bear and yet we forget just like Peter that Christ is standing next to us supporting us upon our journey. We can do anything when he is with us. Just like catching Peter he catches us. We just need to keep trying. We didn't come here to fail.
I am convinced that Heavenly Father sees a different me. He sees me as to who I really am and who I have the capability of becoming. I know I don't see myself in that same light and yet it would help for me to see myself as Heavenly Father sees me.
Brother Wilcox also touches on how we sometimes wish we could change circumstances in our lives or in the lives of those we love. He enlightens that to walking on the wrong sea. "We are treading where we have not been asked to go. We want to do the impossible as it relates to other people. To create testimony, to give life, to restore health, to take away somebody's pain. To fix a marriage or create one for someone, give children to a childless home. This usually result in what we want for our children. Because we so badly want to bring blessings to other people's lives and we can't always do that. He says.. when those moments come he has to remind himself of the 'silver and gold have I none"... Acts 3. "When we desire to give to others what they so desperately need and I can't, doesn't mean I don't have something to give... such as I have... give I unto thee. I can only give what I have. I don't have power to change lives. Occasional we demand of life what it really can not give."
Oh how I understand that. It is probably the hardest thing about being a parent. To watch as our children journey through life and navigate their way through things. I have often wished I was the one who was in that circumstance. But it is not for me to do and I have to remind myself as Brother Wilcox talked about that I give and do what I can and then I have to stand back and let my children walk. That is what they are here to do as well. Everyone on this earth is learning to walk on water as well. Heeding the Saviors call to come unto Him. But I have a sure knowledge that he will catch them just like he catches me when I fall short. And that is comfort to my soul.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
When God Made Moms
By Erma Bombeck
When the Good Lord was creating mothers He was into His sixth day of "overtime" when the angel appeared and said, "You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one." And the Lord said, " Have you read the spec on this order?"
She has to be completely washable, but not plastic. Have 180 movable parts... all replaceable. Run on black coffee and leftovers. Have a lap that disappears when she stands up. A kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair. And six pairs of hands.
The angel shook her head slowly and said, "Six pairs of hand.... No way!"
"It's not the hands that are causing me problems" said the Lord. "It's the three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have."
"That's on the standard model ?" asked the angel.
The Lord nodded. "One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, '‘What are you kids doing in there?' when she already knows. Another here in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn't but what she has to know, and of course the ones here in front that can without so much as uttering a word."
"Lord", said the angel touching His sleeve gently, "Come to bed. Tomorrow...."
"I can't," said the Lord, "I'm so close to creating something so close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick...Can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger...And can get a nine-year-old to stand under a shower."
The angel circled the model of a mother very slowly. "It's too soft," she sighed.
"But touch!" said the Lord excitedly. " You cannot imagine what this mother can do endure."
"Can it think?"
"Not only think, but it can reason and compromise," said the Creator.
Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek. "There's a leak," she pronounced.
"I told You You were trying to put too much into this model."
"It's not a leak," said the Lord, " It's a tear."
"What's it for?"
" It's for you, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness and pride."
"You are a genius,"said the angel.
The Lord looked somber. " I didn't put it there."
Happy Mother’s Day!
When the Good Lord was creating mothers He was into His sixth day of "overtime" when the angel appeared and said, "You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one." And the Lord said, " Have you read the spec on this order?"
She has to be completely washable, but not plastic. Have 180 movable parts... all replaceable. Run on black coffee and leftovers. Have a lap that disappears when she stands up. A kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair. And six pairs of hands.
The angel shook her head slowly and said, "Six pairs of hand.... No way!"
"It's not the hands that are causing me problems" said the Lord. "It's the three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have."
"That's on the standard model ?" asked the angel.
The Lord nodded. "One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, '‘What are you kids doing in there?' when she already knows. Another here in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn't but what she has to know, and of course the ones here in front that can without so much as uttering a word."
"Lord", said the angel touching His sleeve gently, "Come to bed. Tomorrow...."
"I can't," said the Lord, "I'm so close to creating something so close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick...Can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger...And can get a nine-year-old to stand under a shower."
The angel circled the model of a mother very slowly. "It's too soft," she sighed.
"But touch!" said the Lord excitedly. " You cannot imagine what this mother can do endure."
"Can it think?"
"Not only think, but it can reason and compromise," said the Creator.
Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek. "There's a leak," she pronounced.
"I told You You were trying to put too much into this model."
"It's not a leak," said the Lord, " It's a tear."
"What's it for?"
" It's for you, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness and pride."
"You are a genius,"said the angel.
The Lord looked somber. " I didn't put it there."
Happy Mother’s Day!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
The PERFECT day!
Saturday April 30th, 2011- It was a perfect day for me. Mike and I slept in and laid in bed until we decided that our mattress needed to be turned over to the softer side. Turning our mattress is like lifting a 1000 lbs wet noodle. It is latex and we love it. We took every thing off the bed and turned it over, remade the bed and laid back down on it. We bounced our bodies and talked about if there seemed to be a difference. We finally got up at about 10:30. It was an unusual Saturday right off the bat.
We had a few places we needed to be that day. But it looked like I was going to get my husband all to myself on this day. Mike suggested we drive down to the coast and get some oysters. I thought hummm not a bad idea but first I need a big bowl of fresh Strawberries. With those eaten and getting ready we were off by 12:30 driving down to the coast. We love fresh oysters and great company. We already were together so the Oysters were the topper or so I thought. We each ate 2 dozen (well I gave Mike 2 of my remaining 4) and devoured our basket of buffalo shrimp. Nothing better then great seafood and great company. Of which I had both!
With all of Mike's travel it has been hard to spend time together. So we try to do it but haven't been very successful lately. I have missed our 3/4 day weekend trips together where we picked a place and went to explore it.
As we were driving home we were chatting and I was playing a game on my itouch. I looked up and said, where are we? I didn't recognize any of these trees! Now if you haven't ever been here we have trees. LOADS of trees. Mike said, I am taking a different road home. Ok! I'm good.... take me away!
We drove over to St. Marks. St. Marks is on the coast and they have a lighthouse and a national wildlife refuge. We drove into St. Marks the town and realized we took the first turn and we needed the second one for the park. Mike said check my wallet for change. He had 2 dollars and we didn't know how much the entrance fee would be. I had 15.00 at home in my purse but it was like I said at home. We drove up to the gate only to see that the pay gate was closed and we would have to do a self service envelope. We came up with $3.00. We were 2.00 short. I needed to use a bathroom and so we drove into the Visitors Center. We were able to buy a years pass for 15.00.
Can I tell you we experienced some spectacular scenery as we drove towards the lighthouse.
We had a few places we needed to be that day. But it looked like I was going to get my husband all to myself on this day. Mike suggested we drive down to the coast and get some oysters. I thought hummm not a bad idea but first I need a big bowl of fresh Strawberries. With those eaten and getting ready we were off by 12:30 driving down to the coast. We love fresh oysters and great company. We already were together so the Oysters were the topper or so I thought. We each ate 2 dozen (well I gave Mike 2 of my remaining 4) and devoured our basket of buffalo shrimp. Nothing better then great seafood and great company. Of which I had both!
With all of Mike's travel it has been hard to spend time together. So we try to do it but haven't been very successful lately. I have missed our 3/4 day weekend trips together where we picked a place and went to explore it.
As we were driving home we were chatting and I was playing a game on my itouch. I looked up and said, where are we? I didn't recognize any of these trees! Now if you haven't ever been here we have trees. LOADS of trees. Mike said, I am taking a different road home. Ok! I'm good.... take me away!
Can I tell you we experienced some spectacular scenery as we drove towards the lighthouse.
 |
| The weather perfect, the company even more so! |
 |
| How can anyone not recognize God's hand in all this beauty? |
 |
| St. Marks Light House. |
 |
| The Gulf of Mexico |
 |
| Beware of Alligators |
The day was amazing, the weather wonderful and the company out of this world. I am so glad that when I reach out and touch or hold Mike's hand there is still that spark. As I say in the last video. He is the person I love to spend the most time with . He is my everything and I am glad we slipped away from town and hung out just the two of us!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Getting Organized!
So my cute little niece Katrina started this idea in my head! She makes medical binders for her kids and now Danika (Katrina's sister) did one for each of her kids. I think this is GENIUS!!! I don't have any kids at home anymore so I thought it was something I couldn't use BUT I can. I can make a house binder. We recently just had our sewer drained and the guy said to me, "you know you should have this done every five years." I said well I would be more than happy to do this IF I could remember that 5 years down the road. I mean who remembers that in 5, 10 years it's time for you to do that again and who did it last time? But if I had a house binder I could put that information in my house binder and when time goes by I could check to see -hummm just how long ago was that last pumping! So here you go... take it and run with it. I did tell Katrina she could make a fortune off this idea of hers.
So taking the whole binder into a different direction I am going to do a cute ideas that someday I will want to make or remember binder. You know I have a ton of bookmarks but not only are they not in order but to find exactly what it is that I thought was so great takes time. I know it will take paper and ink but it will work for me and it will be contained!
So this is how I plan on doing it! I am going to get dividers and when I see something I like (frogs) I would like to make at some point I am going to copy that idea off and put it in this binder. I will have tabs so I can easily put that idea under that tab. I can then just say....hummmm I need to make or do ______ (fill in the blank) and look under that tab.
I do have to say that this screams my mother! She had a ton of stuff she tore out of magazine and stuff she thought was wonderful. As children we were use to seeing her walk towards us with paper in her hands and we knew she had something to share and we might as well sit for the education. We sat down where we were and listened. She was a wealth of information.
So here's having a day off from work and I am going to head to Target to get me a binder and tabs. I can now have a home binder and an idea binder!
So taking the whole binder into a different direction I am going to do a cute ideas that someday I will want to make or remember binder. You know I have a ton of bookmarks but not only are they not in order but to find exactly what it is that I thought was so great takes time. I know it will take paper and ink but it will work for me and it will be contained!
So this is how I plan on doing it! I am going to get dividers and when I see something I like (frogs) I would like to make at some point I am going to copy that idea off and put it in this binder. I will have tabs so I can easily put that idea under that tab. I can then just say....hummmm I need to make or do ______ (fill in the blank) and look under that tab.
I do have to say that this screams my mother! She had a ton of stuff she tore out of magazine and stuff she thought was wonderful. As children we were use to seeing her walk towards us with paper in her hands and we knew she had something to share and we might as well sit for the education. We sat down where we were and listened. She was a wealth of information.
So here's having a day off from work and I am going to head to Target to get me a binder and tabs. I can now have a home binder and an idea binder!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Easter
What experience did I gain during this week? I grew to love my Savior even more. I still don't fully understand the Atonement and how it actually works BUT I know it does. There aren't words enough that seem to be able to express my gratitude and love for what He has done. So 2000 years ago life changed. And how thankful I am it did. I know He lives again and He gave me the best gift I could ever ask for. A way back home to my Father in Heaven. Oh how I love my Savior Jesus Christ! A peek at my reading for this week.
Saturday
Saturday
Arrival in Bethany
Sunday
Triumphal entry into Jerusalem
Jesus wept over Jerusalem
Jesus “looks around”
Return to Bethany
Monday
Jesus curses the barren fig tree
Cleansing of the temple
Some Greeks desire to see Jesus
Jesus responds to unbelief of the crowd
Tuesday – the longest day
The three parables are all directed at the attitude of the religious leaders.
1] Which son did his father's will?
3] Parable of the wedding banquet
Coalition of three unlikely foes who had disregard for each other – Sadducees, Pharisees, and Herodeans – aimed to catch Jesus in blasphemy or sedition against the State
Paying taxes to Caesar
Sadducees question about resurrection
Which is the great commandment - Which is the first commandment?
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Whose son is Christ?
If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?
And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions. Matthew 22:41-46
The poor widow's gift
Destruction of the temple – Christ literally hands his fate over to his enemies - blasphamy
Mount of Olives on the way home to Bethany – Matthew 24 “The Olivet Prophecy”
Wednesday
Sanhedrin plot to kill Jesus
Mary anoints Jesus for his burial - $18 - $20K
Dinner to celebrate the raising of Lazarus
Judas’ agreement to betray Jesus
Thursday
Apostles ask “Who is the greatest?”
Washing of the feet
Passover meal – introduction of the Eucharist – emblems explained “Fruit of the vine” & the Afikomen”
A new commandment I give you
Prediction of Peter’s denial
Discourses in the Upper Room
Departure to Gethsemane
33And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;
Mediation and Atonement by John Taylor – no turning back – all eggs in one basket
18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—
We were there looking on from the Spirit World – watching the great drama playing out as to whether Jesus would triumph as he had promised. What a celebration among the heavenly hosts there must have been.
Friday
Pontius Pilate – Sanhedrin connection (plot to overthrow Caesar)
Herod – saw and spoke to Jesus, but never heard his voice
Crucifixion – at the same time in Israel the Passover Lamb is killed
Joseph of Arimithea – very rich Jew – controlled the Tin trade from British Isles to Rome Jesus’ Uncle - takes the body of Christ to avoid it being buried in a nameless tomb
Saturday
Keys over death and hell
Keys of the Resurrection
Sunday
Again – we were there – to watch his remarkable resurrection from the dead
Early morn – at sunrise
Personality of Jesus – anxious to regain his body –finishes before women arrive at the tomb only to find it empty
Appearances:
1. Mary Magdalene
2. Two disciples
3. 11 apostles
4. Apostles – fishing – cast your nets on the other side\
5. Lovest thou me? 3 times
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Inmate Football
In the fall of 2008, there was an unusual high school football game played in Grapevine, Texas. The game was between Grapevine Faith Academy and the Gainesville State School. Faith is a Christian school and Gainesville State School is located within a maximum security correction facility.
Gainesville State School has 14 players. They play every game on the road. Their record was 0-8. They've only scored twice. Their 14 players are teenagers who have been convicted of crimes ranging from drugs to assault to robbery. Most had families who had disowned them. They wore outdated, used shoulder pads and helmets. Faith Academy was 7-2. They had 70 players, 11 coaches, and the latest equipment.
Chris Hogan, the head coach at Faith Academy, knew the Gainesville team would have no fans and it would be no contest, so he thought, "What if half of our fans and half of our cheerleaders, for one night only, cheered for the other team?" He sent out an email to the faithful asking them to do just that. "Here’s the message I want you to send," Hogan wrote. "You’re just as valuable as any other person on the planet."
Some folks were confused and thought he was nuts. One player said, "Coach, why are we doing this?" Hogan said, "Imagine you don’t have a home life, no one to love you, no one pulling for you. Imagine that everyone pretty much had given up on you. Now, imagine what it would feel like and mean to you for hundreds of people to suddenly believe in you."
The idea took root. On the night of the game, imagine the surprise of those 14 players when they took the field and there was a banner the cheerleaders had made for them to crash through. The visitors’ stands were full. The cheerleaders were leading cheers for them. The fans were calling them by their names. Isaiah, the quarterback-middle linebacker said, "I never in my life thought I would hear parents cheering to tackle and hit their kid. Most of the time, when we come out, people are afraid of us. You can see it in their eyes, but these people are yelling for us. They knew our names."
Faith won the game, and after the game the teams gathered at the 50-yard line to pray. That’s when Isaiah, the teenage convict-quarterback surprised everybody and asked if he could pray and he prayed, "Lord, I don’t know what just happened so I don’t know how or who to say thank you to, but I never knew there were so many people in the world who cared about us." On the way back to the bus, under guard, each one of the players was handed a burger, fries, a coke, candy, a Bible, and an encouraging letter from the players from Faith Academy.
What an incredible act of Christian witness and kindness and goodness that was. Proverbs 11:17 says, "Your own soul is nourished when you are kind." Proverbs 3:27 says, "Do not withhold good when it is in your power to act." Be kind to someone this week. Be kind to every person you meet. If you feel inclined, forward this link and share this message with a friend. Perhaps it will inspire them to do an act of kindness too. And, you might be amazed at what God will do with a simple act of kindness.
Gainesville State School has 14 players. They play every game on the road. Their record was 0-8. They've only scored twice. Their 14 players are teenagers who have been convicted of crimes ranging from drugs to assault to robbery. Most had families who had disowned them. They wore outdated, used shoulder pads and helmets. Faith Academy was 7-2. They had 70 players, 11 coaches, and the latest equipment.
Chris Hogan, the head coach at Faith Academy, knew the Gainesville team would have no fans and it would be no contest, so he thought, "What if half of our fans and half of our cheerleaders, for one night only, cheered for the other team?" He sent out an email to the faithful asking them to do just that. "Here’s the message I want you to send," Hogan wrote. "You’re just as valuable as any other person on the planet."
Some folks were confused and thought he was nuts. One player said, "Coach, why are we doing this?" Hogan said, "Imagine you don’t have a home life, no one to love you, no one pulling for you. Imagine that everyone pretty much had given up on you. Now, imagine what it would feel like and mean to you for hundreds of people to suddenly believe in you."
The idea took root. On the night of the game, imagine the surprise of those 14 players when they took the field and there was a banner the cheerleaders had made for them to crash through. The visitors’ stands were full. The cheerleaders were leading cheers for them. The fans were calling them by their names. Isaiah, the quarterback-middle linebacker said, "I never in my life thought I would hear parents cheering to tackle and hit their kid. Most of the time, when we come out, people are afraid of us. You can see it in their eyes, but these people are yelling for us. They knew our names."
Faith won the game, and after the game the teams gathered at the 50-yard line to pray. That’s when Isaiah, the teenage convict-quarterback surprised everybody and asked if he could pray and he prayed, "Lord, I don’t know what just happened so I don’t know how or who to say thank you to, but I never knew there were so many people in the world who cared about us." On the way back to the bus, under guard, each one of the players was handed a burger, fries, a coke, candy, a Bible, and an encouraging letter from the players from Faith Academy.
What an incredible act of Christian witness and kindness and goodness that was. Proverbs 11:17 says, "Your own soul is nourished when you are kind." Proverbs 3:27 says, "Do not withhold good when it is in your power to act." Be kind to someone this week. Be kind to every person you meet. If you feel inclined, forward this link and share this message with a friend. Perhaps it will inspire them to do an act of kindness too. And, you might be amazed at what God will do with a simple act of kindness.
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