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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.

Shape Worries into Prayers

This is from my Lose it for Life Devotional. It spoke to me about my worries and anxiety about my surgery.

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying , pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. ~ Philippians 4:6-7 (The Message)

Aware of our tendency toward anxious, emotional eating, we must instead transform our worries into prayers. By turning to God with our fears and emotions, we let Him know our heart. It is then that He brings everything together for us. Our faith in His
loving attention and protection is renewed. We are now able to settle down because we know Who is in control.

Our anxieties and worries are usually about things over which we want control but can't have it. Worries can be touched off by the fear that we will lose something we have--or that we won't get something we want. In the past, we have either eaten too much or avoided eating because it was something we felt we could control.

But fretting, worrying and over/undereating do not accomplish much more than sheer harm to our overall wellness. When prayer and praise replace these behaviors and Christ is at center stage, a wonderful sense of peace and serenity flows.

Today, Lord, I turn over my worries and concerns to You, praising You for Your love and grace for my recovery.

Lift Your Eyes

Today's Scripture
I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
What are you looking at today? Are there challenges in your life to overcome? Don’t just look at your problems day in and day out, lift up your eyes and look toward heaven. You will naturally move in the direction that your eyes are looking. If you are always looking at your problems—meditating on them, feeling sorry for yourself, telling everybody about them—you will become consumed by them. But when you look up, your life will start to move up. When you keep your eyes on Jesus, it is also a sign of your faith and expectancy. The Bible tells us that faith is what moves the hand of God. When you have an attitude of faith and expectancy, you open the door for His power in your life. Decide today to focus on the goodness of our God. Lift your eyes and heart to Him and begin to praise Him with your words. As you lift your eyes, your help will come, and you will live the victorious life He has in store for you!
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, today I choose to lift my eyes to You. I will look to You for my help. Thank You for showing me Your salvation and deliverance. I bless You today in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

I needed this today because I have become very self-absorbed in my upcoming surgery.

Planning Meeting

Today was the annual planning meeting at work. I was really dreading it because I hate them and I didn't feel as prepared as I should have been because I have been busy getting ready to be off for surgery. But...it went fine. I owe it all to prayer. Not just my prayer either. One of the owners asked to start the meeting off with a prayer. That has never happened before. It made a difference.

Nervous About Surgery

I am starting to get nervous about my surgery. Today was my pre-op appointment so it is starting to "get real." Sugar Pop went with me and he understands better why the doctor is recommending the surgery and why it will be an abdominal hysterectomy instead of vaginal/laproscopically (because of the way my cervix is tilted, it "hides" and she has to make sure she gets all of it).

Tomorrow is the annual planning meeting at work. I hate this things and they make me very nervous and anxious. I will feel better once I make it past that.

The Finish Line

From Lose it for Life Day by Day - March 1st:

I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. ~ 1 Corinthians 9:26-27A (The Message)

There is no finish line in our quest for better health. Embracing a lifelong process, performed daily with no arrival point, can be daunting. In our old life of dieting, we motivated ourselves into deprivation by focusing on the idea that it was only temporary; that when we reached our goal weight, we would be able to splurge again. We strove for that finish line -- but it backfired on us. The deprivation dam broke when we allowed ourselves that splurge. And there we were, back to old eating habits and putting on pounds again.

In this verse Paul speaks about a finish line, but it's more like a rainbow--we run hard toward it, but we never fully arrive in this life. The rainbow is still out there ahead of us, so we learn to live well one day at a time. We let go of sloppy living by surrendering daily. We run this race with everything we've got--faithfully working out spiritual keys, diligently planning our food, energetically exercising our bodies. We stay alert and in top shape so that we feel enlivened, not beaten down by deprivation.

Today, Lord I embrace this daily plan of living well, running the race with the willingness to stay in top condition.

Obedience of the Proof

From Walking with Christ in the Details of Life by Patrick Morley via the Life Lessons in my Devotional Bible:

According to Gallup surveys, confirmed by other polls taken over the past fifteen years, 33 percent of all Americans over age eighteen indicate they are evangelical or "born again" Christians. That translates into 59 million Christians, or one in every three adults, who experienced a turning point in their lives as they made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ.

This information should grip us with terror. It means that the greatest revival in history has so far been impotent to change society. Is revival without reformation. It's a revival which left the country floundering in spiritual ignorance. It's a change in belief without a corresponding change in behavior...

How did the building blocks of the gospel become glued together with the cement of self-centeredness? The American gospel has evolved into a gospel of addition without subtraction. It is the belief that we can add Christ to our lives, but not subtract sin. It is a change in belief without a change in behavior. It is a spiritual experience without any cultural impact. It is revival without reformation, without repentance...

The proof of religious conversion is to demonstrate that we have both added a relationship with Christ and that we have subtracted sin (repentance). And we multiply proof to a weary world by what we do - our deeds, our obedience. What we do must confirm what we say. Our deeds are the proof of our repentance...

A changed life is one that has added Christ and subtracted sin, that attracts a world weary of worn-out words. Obedience is the proof.

Happy Thanksgiving!

There are so many things I have to be thankful for, I could not list them all. What I am most thankful for is Our Awesome God who blesses me with all these things I am thankful for. He places so many wonderful and beautiful things in my life to show His love. He is the Greatest!

Blessings On Our Efforts To Change

This came from the Magnificat several years ago and I have always liked it. If you are looking for a good daily devotional that follows the liturgy of the Church, I highly recommend the Magnificat. It would also make a great Christmas present. You can request a sample here.

Place before the Lord all those areas of your life in which change is necessary, and ask for the Holy Spirit’s gift of courage.

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body. ~ Philippians 3:20-21

He called a little child and had him stand among them. And He said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ~ Matthew 18:2-3

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ~ 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. ~ 2 Corinthians 3:18

He also says, "In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But You remain the same, and Your years will never end." ~ Hebrews 1:10-12

For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. ~ Matthew 21:32

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing and perfect will. ~ Romans 12:2

LITANY OF ABANDONMENT
From the temptation to give up,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to disappointment,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to fear and dread,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to cynicism,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to skepticism,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to distrust,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to apathy,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to obstinacy,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to rationalizing,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to despondency and despair,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to nay-saying,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to gloominess,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to doubt,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to being overly-critical,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to indifference,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to nihilism,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to impatience,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to be contrary,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to stubbornness,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to discouragement,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to pessimism,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to resignation,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to remain stuck in my ways,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to dejection,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to make excuses,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to hopelessness,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to defeatism,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to cowardice,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to antagonism,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to rigidity,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to willfulness,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to diffidence,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to anxiety,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to lose heart,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to have an unyielding spirit,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to presumption,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to rash judging,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to obduracy,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to negativity,
Lord, deliver me.
From the temptation to fatalism,
Lord, deliver me.

The Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as the pathway to peace. Taking as Jesus did this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that he will make all things right if I surrender to his will; that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with him forever in the next.

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Closing Prayer ~ For Ordering a Life Wisely
O merciful God, grant that I may desire ardently, search prudently, recognize truly, and bring to perfect completion whatever is pleasing to You for the praise and glory of Your name. Put my life in good order, O my God. Grant that I may know what You require me to do. Bestow upon me the power to accomplish Your will, as is necessary and fitting for the salvation of my soul. Grant to me, O Lord my God, that I may not falter in times of prosperity or adversity, so that I may not be exalted in the former nor dejected in the latter. May I not rejoice in anything unless it leads me to You; may I not be saddened by anything unless it turns me from You. May I desire to please no one, nor fear to displease anyone, but You. May all transitory things, O Lord, be worthless to me and may all things eternal be ever cherished by me. May any joy without You be burdensome for me and may I not desire anything else besides You. May all work, O Lord, delight me when done for Your sake and may all repose not centered in You be ever wearisome for me. Grant unto me, my God, that I may direct my heart to You and that in my failures I may ever feel remorse for my sins and never lose the resolve to change. O Lord my God, make me submissive without protest, poor without discouragement, chaste without regret, patient without complaint, humble without posturing, cheerful without frivolity, mature without gloom, and quick-witted without flippancy, O Lord my God, let me fear You without losing hope, be truthful without guile, do good works without presumption, rebuke my neighbor without haughtiness, and – without hypocrisy – strengthen him by word and example. Give to me, O Lord God, a watchful heart, which no capricious thought can lure away from You. Give to me a noble heart, which no unworthy desire can debase. Give to me a resolute heart, which no evil intention can divert. Give to me a stalwart heart, which no tribulation can overcome. Give to me a temperate heart, which no violent passion can enslave. Give to me, O Lord my God, understanding of You, diligence in seeking You, wisdom in finding You, discourse ever pleasing to You, perseverance in waiting for You, and confidence in finally embracing You. Grant that with Your hardships I may be burdened in reparation here, that Your benefits I may use in gratitude upon the way, that in Your joys I may delight by glorifying You in the kingdom of heaven. You who live and reign, God, world without end. Amen.

Food at Work

We are having food at work tomorrow. I am so SICK of food everywhere. Bleh! Like we aren't all going to be eating too much on Thursday. But I will participate. I may not eat much, but I'll be there. Just a few more days and I get a break from work and I will not have to be there for all the food that will be pouring in during December. Another reason that this is good timing for my surgery. :)