True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. (MSG)
Which way to go? That is a question that's often hard to answer and it shouldn't be. But for some people, it is.
Do you ever wonder which road to take during the course of a day, whether it be your personal road or a physical road? You are running around doing things, having to get things done yesterday or having to make decisions that only you can make and then, bam, you come to a place and you don't know what to do or which way to go and you panic. There is a fork, a Y in the road, a dead end, a major intersection and you have to get off to the side to make a decision. That can be a scary place to be. Some people use a GPS to find their way and for others they use GOD.
I am on that personal road frequently and my thoughts either run at top speed or not at all. I have a friend who keeps me and my thoughts slowed down enough so to think and catch my breath. She keeps me on the road with words that give me the direction I need and that gives me much security.
Psalm 23:3 says the same thing. The footnote in the NIV says, 'as a shepherd leads his sheep in paths that offer safety and well-being, so David's Shepherd-King guides him in ways that cause him to be secure and prosperous.'
For me, I have both GOD and a friend to guide me. Neither will lead me in the wrong direction and for that I'm thankful.
Nancy
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
View from the Porch
This past Spring, a bear came down off the mountain behind our house to feed from two of our bird feeders. One feeder was broken open. The other, was no where to be found. Apparently, the bear took that feeder. I actually went looking for it. I walked along the stone wall that borders one side of our two acre property. I found no bird feeder. I then walked along the old logging trail that leads up to the top of the mountain. I didn’t get far as it was getting dark, but still no, there was no sign of the bear or bird feeder. Realizing I had no idea in which direction the bear would have gone, I decided not to search again and just bought new bird feeders (and no, the bear hasn’t been back).
Last week, while I was mowing along the stone wall, I stopped to pick some blueberries. As I climbed over the stone wall to reach the back of the blueberry bush, I saw the missing bird feeder. It was slightly hidden by some brush. It was empty, but in one piece. I still can’t figure out how I didn’t notice the feeder back in the Spring. Anyway, after my initial surprise at finding the feeder, I found myself thinking that God sometimes works in a way similar to what I described in my story.
Sometimes, we might be looking for God to do something in our lives, but when we don’t hear from Him as quickly as we would like, we go buy new bird feeders. Then, when we least expect it, God surprises us with something and we wonder why we didn’t wait on Him.
Blessings,
Wayne
Last week, while I was mowing along the stone wall, I stopped to pick some blueberries. As I climbed over the stone wall to reach the back of the blueberry bush, I saw the missing bird feeder. It was slightly hidden by some brush. It was empty, but in one piece. I still can’t figure out how I didn’t notice the feeder back in the Spring. Anyway, after my initial surprise at finding the feeder, I found myself thinking that God sometimes works in a way similar to what I described in my story.
Sometimes, we might be looking for God to do something in our lives, but when we don’t hear from Him as quickly as we would like, we go buy new bird feeders. Then, when we least expect it, God surprises us with something and we wonder why we didn’t wait on Him.
Blessings,
Wayne
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Hebrews 13:2
Be ready with a meal or a bed when it's needed. Why, some have extended hospitality to angels without ever knowing it!..(MSG)
I read in the newspaper this morning about Mr. Crete, a dairy farmer from Boscawen, NH, who was diagnosed with liver cancer two years ago and was given 6-18 months to live. Last year, praise God, he was able to come back and work his farm. This man, for more than 20 years, earned the reputation as a methodical and hardworking farmer who set examples for others in the local dairy industry.
He died suddenly Tuesday night at Concord Hospital, at age 53, of an apparent heart attack.
Mr. Crete was known in his town as man who would stop by neighbors and friends homes with his loader to shovel them out of their driveways in winter, a man who would drop off extra food at the local food pantry and man who worked on church suppers. Even working 18-20 hour days, seven days a week, he found time to give to his family, his community and never refused a request from his church. His friends say he was a positive influence to others.
How many angels did Mr. Crete extend hospitality to without knowing it? How many in the community? In his church? In the Merrimack County 4-H?
I read in the newspaper this morning about Mr. Crete, a dairy farmer from Boscawen, NH, who was diagnosed with liver cancer two years ago and was given 6-18 months to live. Last year, praise God, he was able to come back and work his farm. This man, for more than 20 years, earned the reputation as a methodical and hardworking farmer who set examples for others in the local dairy industry.
He died suddenly Tuesday night at Concord Hospital, at age 53, of an apparent heart attack.
Mr. Crete was known in his town as man who would stop by neighbors and friends homes with his loader to shovel them out of their driveways in winter, a man who would drop off extra food at the local food pantry and man who worked on church suppers. Even working 18-20 hour days, seven days a week, he found time to give to his family, his community and never refused a request from his church. His friends say he was a positive influence to others.
How many angels did Mr. Crete extend hospitality to without knowing it? How many in the community? In his church? In the Merrimack County 4-H?
Friday, July 18, 2008
Matthew 14:25-29
At abut four o'clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water. They (the disciples) were scared out of their wits. "A ghost!" they said, crying out in terror. But Jesus was quick to comfort them. "Courage, it's me. Don't be afraid." Peter, suddenly bold, said, "Master, if it's really you, call me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come ahead." Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. (MSG)
Fear, trust and failure are words I've been working on for a long time. And this Scripture really got me thinking about those words in a way I never expected.
Peter had fear, but when he heard 'the ghost' was Jesus and heard his comforting words, Peter trusted. Peter walked on water. Then I thought about failure. In verse 30, Peter got scared of the high waves under his feet and started to sink at the point he took his eyes off Jesus and I asked myself if Peter failed because he was afraid or because he took his eyes off Jesus for a moment?
But then what about the other disciples? They had to have been afraid, but they didn't even try to trust Jesus. They just sat in the boat and watched. So who failed? Peter or the disciples?
Peter tried to overcome his fear, he walked to Jesus on the water and even though he didn't keep his eyes on Jesus for the entire time, I don't think he failed in Jesus' eyes. But I do believe the disciples were the failures because they never tried.
Being afraid is a strong emotion I have to overcome. With all my fears and thinking I don't trust God enough, I feel like a failure. My close friends keep telling me I'm not as I'm trying to stay focused on God and am trying to overcome my fears and even though I sink to the bottom more than I walk on the water, they tell me that God is pleased with me. I need to hear those words because they are encouraging words which help keep me focused on God and not myself.
It would be so much easier to be like the disciples in the story and stay in the boat during my rough times. But I know it's not what God wants from me and I have to remember that as long as I keep trying, I won't be a failure in his eyes.
Nancy
Fear, trust and failure are words I've been working on for a long time. And this Scripture really got me thinking about those words in a way I never expected.
Peter had fear, but when he heard 'the ghost' was Jesus and heard his comforting words, Peter trusted. Peter walked on water. Then I thought about failure. In verse 30, Peter got scared of the high waves under his feet and started to sink at the point he took his eyes off Jesus and I asked myself if Peter failed because he was afraid or because he took his eyes off Jesus for a moment?
But then what about the other disciples? They had to have been afraid, but they didn't even try to trust Jesus. They just sat in the boat and watched. So who failed? Peter or the disciples?
Peter tried to overcome his fear, he walked to Jesus on the water and even though he didn't keep his eyes on Jesus for the entire time, I don't think he failed in Jesus' eyes. But I do believe the disciples were the failures because they never tried.
Being afraid is a strong emotion I have to overcome. With all my fears and thinking I don't trust God enough, I feel like a failure. My close friends keep telling me I'm not as I'm trying to stay focused on God and am trying to overcome my fears and even though I sink to the bottom more than I walk on the water, they tell me that God is pleased with me. I need to hear those words because they are encouraging words which help keep me focused on God and not myself.
It would be so much easier to be like the disciples in the story and stay in the boat during my rough times. But I know it's not what God wants from me and I have to remember that as long as I keep trying, I won't be a failure in his eyes.
Nancy
Thursday, July 17, 2008
PDQ DMV RN FYI
Hello friends and family! It's been awhile since I've written, I know. Life has a funny way of speeding up when one begins a full-time job.
I finished the last six weeks of school (as a para-professional) alongside the full-time job ( as an RN) so that period is still pretty foggy. I came through relatively unscathed. The scathing part I have no time or energy allotted for right now. What I really want to tell you about is my trip to the DMV the other day.
My birthday was 6/16. I received that handy reminder notice in the mail regarding my license renewal. I guarded it fiercely. I even transferred it out of my old car to my new car. I would certainly pay attention to that piece of paper before the end of the month. Right? You get your whole birth month to renew your license, don't you? It's always been that way.
June 26 was going to be my day for it. Sonny patiently explained to me that it's the car registration you get the whole month for. The expiration date for your license is your birthDAY. I thought that was a silly system they had, making you remember two different rules like that. He then took the day off and was taking allergy shot duty with the kids so I could grab a few minutes at the DMV - . I drove the speed limit to the DMV and and filled out the paper so I could go to the lady at the front desk and she could say, " Good job - head right over to that line, there", which she did. Well, being the Uber sign reader that I am - I noticed that one looooooong line was for U.S. Citizens. - Not this girl. I spied the Non-US citizen and likewise non-EXISTENT line and headed for it. BONUS!! - the stars were aligned for me today. It was all coming back to me - last time I was here I spoke with this nice, Japanese lady and here she was again. "I'd like to renew my license" I said .
"O.k. - I need your green card ", she said.
It was all coming back to me - last time I was here I spoke with this nice, Japanese lady and she wanted my green card then, too.
" Oh man, - I don't have it on me".
" Well, we need it to prove you're legal to be here," she still politely said.
" Of course you do. That just means I have to drive one more time with an expired license. I thought I had the whole month to get this done" I admitted.
" No, that's vehicle registration", she smiled. "I've made that mistake before too."
With instructions to come directly to her window and not stand in line again, I returned home and thanked God for Sonny who keeps the important stuff like my green card in one place where I can always find it. With 5 hours of sleep under my belt I made the trip back a little less energetically.
I took my place in front of her window, without feeling the least pang of guilt. Turns out she was on lunch break -for the next fifteen minutes. I found the whole experience waiting to be a time of reflection. I was blissfully happy to be safe at the DMV, finally, with the right identification. The other line was moving as fast as a line can move at the DMV but it was o.k. Kind woman showed up again and we began the process. About a minute later I heard a very big 'something' fall.
Looking over my shoulder and 15 feet to my right I noticed a body on the floor. Without thinking, I bolted over to where a teenage boy lay supine. Putting one hand under his neck for support and finding his carotid pulse with two fingers , I leaned down to feel his breath and observe his chest. A split second later, looking to the man who had knelt near me, asked " Diabetic? Epileptic?" " No, no" we're the man's replies.
My next question should have been, " getting his license for the first time?"
Turns out, this boy fainted. The resident cop was there within about 20 seconds and asked if I was his mother.
" No, I'm a nurse", I said.
" I thought you were" said the man kneeling. " Thank you".
I returned to the line where Kind Woman was waiting for me as resident cop took over and asked this young kid if he knew his name or the day of the week, and told someone to call 911 - you know, essentially making memories for this kid that he'll have forever. It took me about 5 tries before I could stop shaking enough to sign my name on my renewed license but Kind Woman didn't care and I didn't care either. It was a good day. I proved to myself I could keep my head in a crisis - and move faster than at least 20 other people. Just wanted to share this revelation and good feeling with family and friends.
I'm absolutely loving my new career as a nurse. Thank you all for your support.
Love, Carol
I finished the last six weeks of school (as a para-professional) alongside the full-time job ( as an RN) so that period is still pretty foggy. I came through relatively unscathed. The scathing part I have no time or energy allotted for right now. What I really want to tell you about is my trip to the DMV the other day.
My birthday was 6/16. I received that handy reminder notice in the mail regarding my license renewal. I guarded it fiercely. I even transferred it out of my old car to my new car. I would certainly pay attention to that piece of paper before the end of the month. Right? You get your whole birth month to renew your license, don't you? It's always been that way.
June 26 was going to be my day for it. Sonny patiently explained to me that it's the car registration you get the whole month for. The expiration date for your license is your birthDAY. I thought that was a silly system they had, making you remember two different rules like that. He then took the day off and was taking allergy shot duty with the kids so I could grab a few minutes at the DMV - . I drove the speed limit to the DMV and and filled out the paper so I could go to the lady at the front desk and she could say, " Good job - head right over to that line, there", which she did. Well, being the Uber sign reader that I am - I noticed that one looooooong line was for U.S. Citizens. - Not this girl. I spied the Non-US citizen and likewise non-EXISTENT line and headed for it. BONUS!! - the stars were aligned for me today. It was all coming back to me - last time I was here I spoke with this nice, Japanese lady and here she was again. "I'd like to renew my license" I said .
"O.k. - I need your green card ", she said.
It was all coming back to me - last time I was here I spoke with this nice, Japanese lady and she wanted my green card then, too.
" Oh man, - I don't have it on me".
" Well, we need it to prove you're legal to be here," she still politely said.
" Of course you do. That just means I have to drive one more time with an expired license. I thought I had the whole month to get this done" I admitted.
" No, that's vehicle registration", she smiled. "I've made that mistake before too."
With instructions to come directly to her window and not stand in line again, I returned home and thanked God for Sonny who keeps the important stuff like my green card in one place where I can always find it. With 5 hours of sleep under my belt I made the trip back a little less energetically.
I took my place in front of her window, without feeling the least pang of guilt. Turns out she was on lunch break -for the next fifteen minutes. I found the whole experience waiting to be a time of reflection. I was blissfully happy to be safe at the DMV, finally, with the right identification. The other line was moving as fast as a line can move at the DMV but it was o.k. Kind woman showed up again and we began the process. About a minute later I heard a very big 'something' fall.
Looking over my shoulder and 15 feet to my right I noticed a body on the floor. Without thinking, I bolted over to where a teenage boy lay supine. Putting one hand under his neck for support and finding his carotid pulse with two fingers , I leaned down to feel his breath and observe his chest. A split second later, looking to the man who had knelt near me, asked " Diabetic? Epileptic?" " No, no" we're the man's replies.
My next question should have been, " getting his license for the first time?"
Turns out, this boy fainted. The resident cop was there within about 20 seconds and asked if I was his mother.
" No, I'm a nurse", I said.
" I thought you were" said the man kneeling. " Thank you".
I returned to the line where Kind Woman was waiting for me as resident cop took over and asked this young kid if he knew his name or the day of the week, and told someone to call 911 - you know, essentially making memories for this kid that he'll have forever. It took me about 5 tries before I could stop shaking enough to sign my name on my renewed license but Kind Woman didn't care and I didn't care either. It was a good day. I proved to myself I could keep my head in a crisis - and move faster than at least 20 other people. Just wanted to share this revelation and good feeling with family and friends.
I'm absolutely loving my new career as a nurse. Thank you all for your support.
Love, Carol
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
John 17:20
I'm praying not only for them (disciples), but also for those who will believe in me. (MSG)
Jesus never gave up praying for his disciples and he never gave up praying for those who believed in him. Giving up was not in his vocabulary and no matter how difficult things were or frustrated Jesus got, he stuck to the task God wanted him to do.
I really like frogs for the most part, but I have this annoying male tree frog who makes a buzzing trill sound most of the night, every night, all night and he does this to attract a female. Even though breeding season is April - July, I think this one is mixed up because each year his calling is all summer long, but I need to give him credit for the perseverance and diligence he shows.
There is this story about two frogs and I want to share it with you.
Two young frogs fell into a bucket of milk and both tried to jump to freedom, but the sides of the bucket were steep and no foundation was to be had on the surface of the liquid.
Seeing little chance of escape, the first frog soon despaired and stopped jumping. After a short while he sunk to the bottom of the bucket and drowned.
The second frog also saw no likelihood of success, but he never stopped trying. Even though each jump seemed to reach the same inadequate height, he kept on struggling. Eventually, his persistent efforts churned some milk into butter. From the now hardened surface of the milk, he managed to leap out of the bucket.
---
So what about us? What should our plans be for dealing with the difficult times that can totally overwhelm us? Have diligence and perseverance? Or give up and drown?
Nancy
Jesus never gave up praying for his disciples and he never gave up praying for those who believed in him. Giving up was not in his vocabulary and no matter how difficult things were or frustrated Jesus got, he stuck to the task God wanted him to do.
I really like frogs for the most part, but I have this annoying male tree frog who makes a buzzing trill sound most of the night, every night, all night and he does this to attract a female. Even though breeding season is April - July, I think this one is mixed up because each year his calling is all summer long, but I need to give him credit for the perseverance and diligence he shows.
There is this story about two frogs and I want to share it with you.
Two young frogs fell into a bucket of milk and both tried to jump to freedom, but the sides of the bucket were steep and no foundation was to be had on the surface of the liquid.
Seeing little chance of escape, the first frog soon despaired and stopped jumping. After a short while he sunk to the bottom of the bucket and drowned.
The second frog also saw no likelihood of success, but he never stopped trying. Even though each jump seemed to reach the same inadequate height, he kept on struggling. Eventually, his persistent efforts churned some milk into butter. From the now hardened surface of the milk, he managed to leap out of the bucket.
---
So what about us? What should our plans be for dealing with the difficult times that can totally overwhelm us? Have diligence and perseverance? Or give up and drown?
Nancy
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