Painful Christianity

Being a Christian can sure sometimes be painful. It's hard to even dream of being close to the perfection of Christ. Making mistakes, letting our flesh control us, seeing the pain in peoples lives, experiencing pain in our own lives, making the same mistakes over and over again. What a learning process this life is.

How do we become better? With Christ, of course :) He died for us, for our sins, for our ever-lasting life. Our mistakes have been pre-paid by his life and death on the cross. I can't even fathom that sometimes. Our pain is nothing in comparison to Him taking on all our sin.

Thank you for that Jesus. Thank you for taking my sin. Thank you for dying for me. Thank you for loving me that much. Help me to live a cleaner life, in ways only you know. Help me be a better example of Christian beliefs and practices. Help others around me see that I am trying. Help others who I've hurt see that I do care and even if misguided in my actions, that I do not ever intend to hurt anyone.

"We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are." Romans 3:22, NLT

What? Is this a bakery?

Yup... you guessed it... rolls and rolls and rolls... HELP! I have too many rolls... I know... I sit all day, then go home and sit all night... and I love love love to eat!!!

I really MUST do something about this... I did make a good step in the right direction today... I brought lunch, so DH doesn't have to bring me fast food... but... I know I need to move my body... but I just can't seem to get motivated.

BUT... a horrific picture my DD took of me on Saturday, that reminds me of the above, is helping motivate me a bit!!! Why is the flesh so weak??? Lord, give me strength, motivation and energy to move my body!!!

"Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak." ~ Mark 14:38, NLT

Connections!

Connections... we all need them, some more than others. I need many and always. I can tend to feel alone on my own private island. I have so many connections, I don't even know if I can make a list of them :) and yet, sometimes I still feel alone.

So it isn't only about the number of connections we have maybe, but the depth, frequency or importance maybe?!?! We ARE complicated creatures - just as our Amazing God made us ALL in His image!


"God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us." 1 Corinthians 12:6, NLT

Swish swish...

Yup... my hair is long enough for a pony tail. It hasn't been this long in about 17 years! Why? Cuz I don't like it long and DH doesn't either... but I'm humoring DD and so far so good. And I'm getting compliments from others too... but ISH... what a bother, especially in the summer!!!

So any bets how much longer it will get before I go ballistic and cut it all off??? or at least get a major trim??? I have no specific dates of anything coming up that I want long or short hair for... so... hmm...


"For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head." 1 Corin 11:6 ESV

'til they all come home

So what can one person achieve? A whole lot! Case in point: me! For a while, I had been wanting, in my free time, to find a way to support the troops, but feeling alone in this world, it just hadn't happened.

Recently, when a parent support group I was part of, just sorta fell apart in front of me, I realized that I just might not quite need that group, and might need something for me, to help me connect with others and do good works, maybe not even in my own home. And that once all that happened, I would be a more fulfilled, happy, and energetic person, in the rest of my life.

So by God-incidence, I was drawn to two organizations, Operation Quiet Comfort (www.OperationQuietComfort.org) and Antioch Military Families & Friends (www.AntiochMilitary.com) and jumped right in. I am so involved its almost scary! Things are going really well... this answer to my prayers, has become others answer to their prayers - a real win-win situation! We, together, are getting things done, where things just weren't before, we're breaking new ground together and bringing about change and giving many others the opportunity to help. I am SO excited about all of this, its even hard to sleep. (so much for my idea of being more energized)

I encourage each of you to find something you can be passionate about and dare to dream! I did, and I'm thrilled about it all! Wishing you all peace 'til the troops come home!


"For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right." ~ Psalm 84:11, NLT

Seven years!

Yup, no 7-year itch for me... well sorta :) I've been at my same job now, 7 years! TODAY! It isn't my record, but coming close... Four years, we were in one location, very close to home and I took that for granted.

Then the plant moved, only about 10 miles away... but that 10 miles is in the wrong direction commute-wise, so my short 10 minute commute turned into 45 minutes on a good day. Then I up and moved a mile or two in the opposite direction, making my commute even longer! :) After work moved, it took this old body *months* to adjust... :( but now it is more like a bad habit, I'm just stuck with it.

Lately however, hubby and I have been commuting together, as he has a company car and the gas is paid for, since gas is over $4/gallon here and probably won't be going down anytime soon... joyful! So I sleep, talk, surf the net on his laptop or just space out, while he drives, negotiates the route, deals with all the idiots on the road, etc. Ahh, how nice it is! And then, since I'm stuck at work, he brings me lunch - sweeeeetttttt!

So happy work anniversary to me... that will be the highlight of the celebrations, this company, these people, etc. do almost nothing for anything - but its a good thing while it lasts! Thank you Lord for everyday in every way!




"Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the LORD his God." 2 Chronicles 27:6

The Man Cave

Egads hubby was in his "man cave" today ... you know, one of "those days" where he is in a mood to end all moods. I couldn't get far enough way from him. Wish I could just grab his club and bop him over the head with it.

This too shall pass! Heaven help me.

"David stayed in the desert strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands. " 1 Sam 23:14