LESSONS FROM A BUZZARD, A BAT & A BUMBLEBEE

I pray to you, LORD. So when the time is right, answer me and help me with your wonderful love. ~ Psalm 69:13 (CEV)

My sister sent me this today:

LESSONS FROM A BUZZARD, A BAT & A BUMBLEBEE
BUZZARD
If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6' x 8' and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10-12.' Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.
BAT
The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkably nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and painfully until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.
BUMBLEBEE
A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.
PEOPLE
In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is
look up. Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, but faith looks up.

Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly and trust in our Creator who loves us.

I need to look to God to answer my prayers and to help me with my fear of change and of the unknown.

Relocation

I have lived in three different towns during my life, all within 90 miles of each other. Each time I moved to a different town it was with my parents. I have lived in this town for 20 years. I have moved several times in the last 20 years, but I have never moved to a new city on my own. Sugar Pop and I are thinking of relocating to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. I have never moved so far in my life. I have no idea how to pack things up to safely make a move like that. And how will I do with the rat race of the area. I am used to a 10 minute commute to work. I can't imagine a half hour or an hour commute like some people make. I long for a simple life. There will be more opportunities there, but will there be any opportunity for simplicity?

One More Christmas Meal

Since this is an odd-numbered year, Honey will be coming over today and staying with us until January 1st. Tonight we will have our Christmas meal with her.

This is what I traditionally make for Christmas and Easter:

Ham
Broccoli Rice Casserole
Curried Fruit
Rolls

At Christmas time I make Peppermint Pie for dessert.

Recipes:

Ham
I always get a butt end ham and cook it all day in the crockpot along with a can (including the juice) of pineapple slices. Discard the juice and pineapple as they will have absorbed a lot of the salt from the ham.

Broccoli Rice Casserole
1 small onion
1 pkg frozen broccoli
1 cup Minute Rice
1 can cream of mushroom soup
½ cup water
½ cup Cheez Whiz (I use more)
½ cup milk
1 TBSP butter
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Saute onion in butter. Add broccoli and rice and mix. Add remaining ingredients and stir. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.


Curried Fruit
29 oz cans (or equivalent) of the following fruits (or may vary as desired):
Peaches, Pears, Apricots, Pineapple slices, Mandarin Oranges
1 stick butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 TBS corn starch
1 TBS curry (We like curry, so I use more)
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Drain fruit and discard juice. Place fruit in large casserole dish. Combine brown sugar, corn starch, & curry. Sprinkle over fruit. Slice butter and place on fruit. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Rolls
These are store bought. My favorite right now with this meal is Alexia Ciabatta Rolls

Peppermint Pie
1 oreo cookie pie crust
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
red food coloring (optional)
1 8 oz tub of cool whip
1 cup crushed peppermint candies (about 12 candy canes)
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Beat cream cheese until fluffy. Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk. Stir in extract, food coloring, and candy. Fold in whipped topping. Pour into pie crust. Freeze 6 hours or until firm. This makes more than will fit in the pie crust, but probably not quite enough for two. This year I had some little chocolate dessert cups so I filled those with the leftovers for little individual servings.

Ordering Your Private World

I went to Drug Emporium yesterday for vitamins and as I was walking past the books Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald caught my eye. I love order and organization, so I guess that is why it grabbed my attention, so I bought it.

This morning I read the preface and this section made me think of the previous pastor at our church:

Natural gifts such as personal charisma, mental brightness, emotional strength, and organizational ability can impress and motivate people for a long time. Sometimes they can be mistaken for spiritual vitality and depth. Sadly, we do not have a Christian culture today that easily discriminates between a person of spiritual depth and a person of raw talent. Like the wheat and the tares of Jesus' parable, they can be difficult to distinguish. The result is that more than a few people can be fooled into thinking they are being influenced by a spiritual giant when in fact they are being manipulated by a dwarf.

We must always be aware that there are leaders who can build great organizations (including churches) on natural gifts. Say the right words, be smart enough to do the right things, be insightful enough to connect with the right people, and one can go a long way before anyone ever discovers that the inner life is close to empty.

Our former pastor was a gifted preacher, but he struggled with a sexual addiction. Even though he had an accountability partner, he did not remain accountable to him and eventually he left our congregation because of an affair. I am sad that we lost such a talented preacher, but I suppose that he was not the "spiritual giant" that he appeared to be.

Friend to Self

The following is from Lose it for Life Day by Day, March 29th. I was supposed to read this yesterday but I never got around to it. I needed it today because yesterday was a splurge because we went out to eat at our favorite Italian restaurant. I would have been tempted to beat myself up about that today, had I not read this.

A friend loves at all times. ~ Proverbs 17:17

We need the acceptance and love of dear friends who will support our mission to recover health and who will walk beside us through thick and thin (no pun intended). We need those into whom we can pour ourselves as well, and offer the same love and presence that is so important to us.

By being a friend who loves at all times, we find that we have something of value to offer. We can make a difference in the life of someone who will be blessed by our love.

Today, we have the perfect candidate to start blessing. This person desperately needs us to come through with consistent kindness. It is the person named "Myself." Just as we are friends with others, so we can be a friend to ourselves. Rather than condemn ourselves with cruelty we wouldn't give to a mangy dog, we can instead be gentle, acting from love at all times. We can support our own mission for healthy living and offer the same spirit of compassion that we so desperately need from others. We can receive and give love in friendship; we can be a friend to self.

Today, Lord, may I receive the love of my friends and offer that love to myself and to others.

Vacuuming

A friend of mine came over this morning with her teenage son and she had him vacuum the house for me while we visited. If you ever know someone who has had surgery, this is a really nice thing to do for them. My floors were getting really gross looking, so even though he was not as compulsive about vacuuming in straight lines as I would be, it is so nice to that they are clean again.

Goals for 2007

Since 2007 is starting to wind down, I thought I should look at the goals I set for the year and see how I am doing.

Goals for the Spiritual Journey
Read through the bible using the Max Lucado Devotional Bible ~ I'm on track to complete this.
Read A Year with C.S. Lewis ~ I am a few days behind on this, but will complete it.
Read My Utmost for His Highest ~ I'm on track to complete this.
Review "Memorize the Message" scriptures. I will at least review the current week but I won't stress out about memorizing each week. ~ I did not memorize any scriptures, but I have kept up with them. Currently, the verse of the week is in my closet so I can review it every day when I put on my jewelry.
Journalling ~ This blog has been my journal and I have done good with posting almost daily. I think I could go "deeper" with my posts and maybe as I continue blogging I will eventually do that.

Goals for the Fitness Journey
Maintain weekly average weight between 127 and 131 ~ Somewhere during the year, I decided this weight range was too low for me and I changed it to 130-134. I haven't been in my weight range every week of the year, but I am there now.
Average 30 minutes of exercise per day ~ I have done this up until my surgery and I am looking forward to getting back to my exercise routine when I am recovered.
Keep track of exercise using www.fitnessjournal.com ~ Done.
Attend Weight Watcher's Meeting at least once a month ~ Done and free lifetime every month.
Set up at least one appointment with a trainer at the gym ~ Not done and too late to do since I can't exercise right now.
Keep tracking of my "Healthy Habits," adjust them once a month, and spend the dimes I "earn." ~ The only time I did not track my habits was the last few days before my surgery and the two weeks following my surgery.
Buy a heart rate monitor ~ Done.

So, I would say that I have successfully acheived my goals for 2007. Now it is time to start planning my goals for 2008.

Chronicles of Narnia

This morning I started reading the Chronicles of Narnia series along with A Family Guide to Narnia. I had already read The Magician's Nephew and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe two years ago (after having read TLTW&TW when I was in elementary school). I have been struggling whether I should start at the beginning again, or should I start with the 3rd book (The Horse and His Boy). I finally decided to start with The Magician's Nephew because I am off work for 4 more weeks and I have plenty of time to read the first two books again.

Since my surgery I have already read NINE books. I love to read and I wish I had more time to read. Having extra time on my hands during my recovery has been wonderful. I will miss all this reading when I have to go back to work.

Supporters, Not Judges

From the Lose it For Life Devotional, March 23rd:

There is a fine line between helping others to follow the Lord's pat and trying to control or push them into the way we believe is right. We may be tempted to tell everyone about our food plan because it works for us, and it seems like we should share it. But it may not work for everyone. They need to consult with their own doctor or nutritionist, who can guide them for the health of their bodies.

As godly supporters and encouragers for those on a like journey, we are not to evaluate whether they are "doing it right," or look down on them for making too many mistakes, or give them unsolicited advice. We can share our experience with what works for us and the success we have found when we take certain actions. This communicates hope to others, not judgment, and allows them to find their own path and accountability with the Lord. We are each His servant, and He is the One who is able to help each of us stand.

Pursue Your Strengths

Today's Scripture
“Do not neglect your gift…” (I Timothy 4:14).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
God has equipped each one of us with specific gifts and talents. It’s up to you to not only to identify those gifts, but to be disciplined to develop those gifts. You have to learn to stay in your strength zone. What are you naturally good at? What do you enjoy doing? Take the time to identify your strengths and weaknesses and as the scripture says, give yourself to your gifts. In other words, don’t spend all your time trying to improve your weaknesses. Don’t waste valuable days pursuing things that are outside your main gifting. Focus on your strengths. There is something that you’re good at naturally—something you can do that comes easy to you. Step out into your area of gifting. Are you good with people? Are you good with your hands? Do you have a great voice? Find ways to develop those gifts. Know that your gifts and talents are a part of your divine destiny. If you’ll be comfortable with who God made you to be, and thank Him for your unique gifting, you’ll not only enjoy your life more, but you’ll be ready to receive the abundant blessing God has in store for you!
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for equipping me with everything I need to be successful in this life. I ask that You show me how to develop the gifts within me for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

I received this a few weeks ago and I saved it because it was a reminder to order the book Now, Discover Your Strengths that I heard about at a seminar I attended a couple of months ago. I finally got around to ordering the book today, so I thought I would post this to my blog. I know that I have strengths and abilities that God has given me and I look forward to identifying them and developing them.

Recovering

It has been 10 days since my surgery and my recovery is going well. I am so glad to have the surgery behind me. My surgery was Tuesday, December 4th. I got to go home on Thursday afternoon. On Monday I went to the doctor to have my staples removed. Every day it gets easier and easier to get around. Hopefully I will feel up to start posting daily again very soon.