Sunday, April 18, 2010

The story of my afternoon...


I felt like this little story this afternoon... here's how my version went...

If Laura Susan gets thirsty, she'll ask Springer if he wants something to drink too.
If he says no, she'll walk into the kitchen.
If she walks into the kitchen, she'll see all the nasty pollen tracked in by Jasper the Wonder Dog.
If she sees the utter filth of the floor, she'll grab the broom and sweep it up.
If she begins to sweep, she'll go ahead and move the chairs, trash can, etc, out of the kitchen
so she can do a good job.
If she really wants to do a good job, she'll go ahead and get the mop and bleach out of the laundry room.
If she gets the mop out, she'll begin to mop the whole kitchen.
If she mops the kitchen, she'll remember that the bathroom hasn't been mopped in quite some time either.
If she decides to mop the bathroom too, she'll ask Springer to vacuum the bathroom floor first.
If Springer vacuums the bathroom floor, Laura Susan will come in and mop it.
If the kitchen and bathroom floors are finally clean, she'll sit down on the couch to finish her work.
If she begins her work again, she'll remember that she is thirsty.
But this time she'll ask Springer to pour her some water because
if she goes into the kitchen, there's no telling when she'll be back!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Glad Game

I was thinking about this little girl today.  I can remember watching Pollyanna with my mom over and over again as a child. 
From time to time, I have to go back to the Glad Game.  If life seems unfair, or work seems unending, etc...
I can focus on the relationships I've been blessed with, my God who loves me,
a precious home to call my own, an awesome husband, sweet pup! 
And not just focusing on the positive, but knowing that in the midst of difficult God is sovereignly working.
And I just need to trust Him.

I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.  Phil 4:11
(Way to go, Paul... I am getting there, but not there yet!)

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Calling My Name

Happy Easter to all!  Christ is RISEN!

This morning we heard a sermon from John 20: 1-18, and a couple of things stood out from the passage.  (Don't you just love it when words you've read a thousand times just jump off the page at you?)

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. (verses 1-4)

Do you think Peter was mad that John wrote in the Bible that the other disciple was faster than him?  Ha!  When the pastor read the verses above, I chuckled inside.  Oh Peter, maybe you should have gone to the gym a little more often.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).  (verses 11-16)

I can identify with Mary.  Life seemed upside down.  Circumstances were not as she had hoped or even imagined.  Jesus met her in that difficult spot and spoke to her.  At first she couldn't understand that it was Him... until He called her name... Mary.  Then everything made sense again.  Reminds me of another verse...

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.
Isaiah 43:1

Praying that in the midst of life, I will listen for His voice calling my name.