A Prairie View

WW/Proverbs 1-4

  Proverbs 1 - 4
  Weekly Challenge
Find and quote a scripture from these four chapters that really mean something in your life. Share it with the group.

Proverbs 4:1-5:
1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. 2 I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. 3 When I was a boy in my father’s house, still tender, and an only child of my mother, 4 he taught me and said, “Lay hold of my words with all your heart, keep my commands and you will live. 5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them.

I see the importance of passing on, or starting a tradition of teaching my children openly about God and everything He has told us in the Bible. This is something that should be passed down from generation to generation; and yet, its not an excuse not to have faith. If my parents didn’t instruct me how to love our God, how to live a Godly life, then it is my responsiblity to find out how, and pass it down to my children, who, if it is done right, can pass it down to their children, and God will be known for generations to come. The best legacy I can leave my children and grandchildren is wisdom. The wisdom of understanding and following God. If I do only that, there is no greater gift I can give them. I would be passing on the gift of eternal life that was given to me through Christ on the cross. It is my duty and responsiblity to do that. My testimony should include the mistakes and doubts I have had along the way. They need to know that being a Christian doesn’t come in a nice neat little package, that being a follower of Christ guarantees you a problem-free life. Its how I incorporate my faith in those dark times that is the real tribute to God and what He does for me.

___________________
Wednesday Wonders
Due May 3

Saturday Stuff

Saturday’s Forecast: Flood Watch In Effect Through Saturday Morning. Periods Of Showers And Occasional Cool. Occasional Showers And Isolated Thunderstorms. Highs Around 61. North Winds 5 To 15 Mph.

Its drizzled off and on all day. Not really rain, and definately not thunderstors, which I am thankful for. David is up north, “playing” — his brother and his wife are celebrating their 25th anniversary with a “steak and casino” night. I’m sure it will be fun, but I have NOT felt good the past few days; and gambling just is NOT my thing. I got through it last time with visions of a new blog makeover dancing in my head, and didn’t blow the alloted money I had to spend that afternoon. But. It makes for a long afternoon/evening to be someplace where you don’t participate. I did a little; but even if I didn’t have a problem “blowing” money like that, the “anxiety” of “will this pull of the arm be THE one?” — and then …. and you have to know me. To me it senseless to feed the machines $100, knowing you won’t win. And then be scared to death IF you do win, and “all that attention” you get. I don’t like attention. So, its just not my thing.

Keep Reading!—> Read More…

Forecast

   Friday’s Weather: Periods Of Thunderstorms. Some Thunderstorms May Produce Heavy Rainfall. Highs Around 64. Southeast Winds 10 To 15 Mph Increasing To Around 20 Mph In The Afternoon.

I could have told you what the weather report was for the this weekend without having to look at a TV forecast, or a computer sight. Rain. Rain. And More Rain. Here’s the “official” forecast:

Tonight: Periods Of Thunderstorms. Some Thunderstorms May Produce Heavy Rainfall. Lows Around 53. Southeast Winds 10 To 15 Mph.

Saturday: Periods Of Thunderstorms. Highs Around 64. Southeast Winds 15 To 20 Mph With Gusts To Around 30 Mph.

Saturday Night:Showers Likely. Lows In The Upper 40s. Southeast Winds 10 To 15 Mph. Gusts Up To 25 Mph In The Evening. Chance Of Rain 60 Percent.

Keep Reading! —> Read More…

Tasty Tuesday - Daisies

He Loves Me. He Loves Me Not.

Lazy Daisy has declared this to be Tasty Tuesday . On Tasty Tuesday we are to give ourselves permission to focus on something non- food related to savor or relish. To concentrate on, mull over, treasure, sip, or linger longer over a tasty morsel, be it Brain food, or Soul food .

Did you ever play that “daisy game” when you were a child or a teenager? “He Loves Me” “He loves me not”. You held your future in your hands, as you plucked the petals off a daisy.
Hoping that the last petal told you the truth, that he really did love you.

As an adult, I play the “daisy game” with God. Everything is hunky dory. Everything is going A-OK. “He loves me”. Ooops. The car won’t start. I caught a cold. Or maybe I just got bad news from the doctor. Or my husband just lost his job. “He loves me not”.

I just did a good deed. Went out of my way to help someone, just because. No reward. No recongination. Done - just because. “He loves me”. Even though I know it would be displeasing to God, I find myself doing it anyway. Slipping into the muddy murky waters of sin. Of selfishness. Actions done because “its all about me”.
“He loves me not.”

My emotions are running high. I am feeling good –physically, emotionally, spiritually. Life is good. “He loves me” My emotions seem to bottom out for no apparent reason. I am on a continual jag of tears. I snap at my husband. Yell at the kids. Kick the dog. “He loves me not”.

I, as a Christian, have a hard time comprehending that God’s love is not based on “what I do”. He loves me. No matter what. Every single second of every minutes of every hour of every day of every week of every month of every year of every decade — every breath I take. He loves me. Its not what I do. Its what He did. He sent his son — for those bad days. For those days I want to kick the dog. Why? Because every petal on his flower for me says “I Love Her”.

He loves me.

He loves me.

He loves me.

Yesterday was a LONG day

   Tuesday’s Weather: Very Cool. Breezy. Cloudy With A 20 Percent Chance Of Showers. Near Steady Temperature In The Upper 40s. North Winds 15 To 25 Mph With Gusts To Around 35 Mph.

We’ve gone from hot to cold. It stormed off and on most of the day, but it was nice in its own way. I was able to work in front of an open window … the smell of rain fragrancing the air. Cool air blowing ever so slightly. Not too many close claps of thunder.

Which was good because it was L-O-N-G day. In more ways than one. For one, it was a 10 hour work day. I went out to the office at 8:30, and didn’t leave until 6:30. Needless to say, it was a “we’re calling a pizza in” kind of evening. David wasn’t having a good day — they had a 2 1/2 hour “meeting” with on of the drivers. When they got out of the meeting, he had upteen phone calls to return, all the while, I couldn’t work on the billing because David hadn’t done his part yet (adding fuel charges to some, pay #s to others, etc).

In some ways, it was a good thing. I just seem to go out there and get done what HAS to be done. So, there was a good stack of filing to do. Trip sheet info to be entered. 2005 log sheets and such that needed to be pulled and put in the “2005″ tote box she has. Just little things that need to be done, but “just whenever”.

Keep going! there’s more —–> Read More…

The Early Years

Monday Memories

Since he just turned 15, you would think I wouldn’t have to go very far back in the memory bank to pull this one out, right?

Wrong.

He was 3.

It was a hot summer day. I was picking him up from daycare after work. I had left our van running, with the air conditioner going full blast. I put him in his seat, and seat belted him in. I went over to the driver’s side … and he had reached up, hit the automatic locks — and undid his seat belt. He had never done that before!

Michevous grin on his face, he goes over to the driver’s side, and he is “play” driving, as cute as could be. I’m knocking on the window…”Ethan, unlock the door. Let me in”.

But. No. He’s a “Big Boy”. He can “drive”. And to prove his point, he reaches down and pulls the gear shift into park. (Which is why I really like our van now. You have to be stepping on the brake to put it into gear…so little boys can’t “play drive”).

The van starts inching forward. Its going to hit the car in front of it (actually, when it was all said and done, it was just a tap). I’m yelling “Ethan, open the door”. I’m holding on to the mirror, thinking I can keep it from going forward. The van runs over my foot…all the while, inching towards the parked car in front of us.

Bump. It tappes it and comes to a stand still.

At the point, Ethan is totally mortified and realizes there IS consequences to his action. He didn’t really think he could actually make the van go! Let alone run into someone. I’m crying. He’s crying.

And, in his 3 year old mind, he’s thinking “I’ve got to fix this” — so he puts it back in Park.

Only.

He’s misses Park, and now its in Reverse, and slowly inching backwards…towards a ditch and a tree.

When it finally comes to rest, he has decided he has had “enough” fun, and he unlocks the door, and into my arms.

We assess the sitution. There really and truly is “no damage done”. Both “stops” were just taps, and didn’t even show a scratch.

There is more damage to our emotions than there is to the vehicles.

We go back into the daycare house, to let everyone know what just happened — to let the lady who owned the car come out and look at her car to make sure SHE didn’t see any damage.

We both learned a valuable lesson that day. Remember that 3 year olds are constantly learning and experimenting. Never assume that just because he’s “never” done something before, that this could be the day that “he learns”.

And now, 12 years later, he is driving for real, with a healthier respect for putting the gears into Park and Reverse.

Links to other Monday Memories

(If you participate, leave your link in the comments and I’ll post it below)

Prayer Requests

   Sunday Evening’s Weather: Severe Thunderstorm Watch 240 In Effect Until 1 AM CDT Monday

David’s brother’s wife called earlier this evening — they were trying to get ahold of David to let them know they were taking their mom (David and his brother) to the hospital. From what she described, it sounded like what had happened before — low blood sugar. They had tried to get ahold of David, but he was at a board meeting at the church, and he usually puts his phone on vibrate, so he knows when he gets a call, but doesn’t answer it. His brother is one of his drivers, so he just figured it had to do with trucking, and it could wait. Thats when my SIL called me. I called the church directly, and got right through (imagine that:). So, he’s at the hospital now with the family. He did call just a little bit ago — her sugar was 44. So, its no wonder she wasn’t “responsive”. I’ve been through this alot with my aunt; but this is all new to David’s mom and dad. (course, it was new to me as well, but my aunt is alot more experienced at this, and so I knew what to do. David’s dad doesn’t, so his mom is probably better off at the hospital when it happens.

So. Prayers for her.

Wait! There’s More —>
Read More…

Sunday

Sunday’s Weather: Hot. Partly Cloudy With A 20 Percent Chance Of Thunderstorms. Highs Around 88. Southeast Winds 5 To 10 Mph.

It turned out to not be a busy day, but only because it was a matter of choice. David didn’t go out to the office — we will try to work on the end of the quarter stuff tomorrow. If Ethan will ride the bus home, then I can stay out there as long as I need to, and we’ll just make it a point to get it done. We have until the 30th, but hey, not need to wait until the actual LAST minute, do we?

My aunt is needing my help to go over some papers that she needs filled out. I will probably try to go by tomorrow and help her do that. I know I am being a “less than dutiful neice” here, … But. I just need to sort things out, and perhaps time and distance will give me that. I know it will be perceived as “pulling away” or “dumping her in there and abandoning her”. But, its doesn’t matter. No matter what I do, or how hard I try, it won’t be right. So, I have to back up and do whats right for me. There have been a couple of things that have been the “sealing factor”. Her wanting Ethan to call her credit card companies. She had talked to them at an earlier date, and they had “reassured her” they would write the balance off. But she is still getting nasty letters. Which, I understand.

Wait! There’s More —–>
Read More…

Saturday

Saturday’s Weather
Very Warm. Partly Cloudy In The Evening Then Becoming Mostly Cloudy. A 40 Percent Chance Of Thunderstorms. Lows Around 59.

These are the days you just want to capture in a bottle and savor — hoping to recapture over and over. Its one of those perfect spring days. Not too hot. Not too chilly. Very little wind. We did have a spattering of thunder, but didn’t see any raindrops. I like days like today.

I just puttered around the house, doing productive things, here and there. It was Ethan, however, that was quite the little busy bee. He had asked last weekend if he could go over to this certain friends house today, and I had agreed. David “suggested” that Ethan mow the yard today — and the hormones kicked in … “But you said….” he whined. So, I settled on what I hoped would be a good compromise. He got to go to his friend’s house until 3:00. And then he was to come home and mow the yard. That should make HIM happy, as well as his dad.

To my suprise, when he got home this afternoon, he went right after it. And got most of it done. When David got home, he did say there was a spot or two that he missed, but he could get it tomorrow.

Wait! There’s More —>
Read More…

Back to it

OK. Its time to pull myself up by my emotional bootstraps, and get back to it. I can’t give an legitimate excuse to why I having been blogging, or visiting, or emailing. Other than … a “its my party and I’ll cry if I want to” attitude. I was faced with a couple things this past weekend — nothing devastating or anything … just things that required an internal emotional response. And it sent me running for the hills. I have felt very blue and down this week. I’ve haven’t blogged. That should tell you something! No Thursday Thirteens. No Tasty Tuesdays. No “I’m just checking in, nothing going on” notes. I can’t even say that I’ve been caught up in my new hobby of digital scrapbooking. I’ve done a couple of layouts; but thats about it.

I still don’t have that driving desire to write here. And that, in part, is why I haven’t wrote (well, duh — doesn’t THAT make sense). I thought maybe if I took the pressure off myself, like “homework due at school” where some of the writing projects I do on a weekly basis, that it was OK to miss a week, I would be back in the saddle again, in a short time.

But its not working that way. So. I just decided to do the next best thing, and see if that jump starts me to my daily blogging routine again. Blog about why I’m not blogging.

Not sure if makes sense, but perhaps it will explain it to those “inquiring minds that want to know”. I want to blog. I want to scrapbook. I want to get things organized and de-cluttered. I want to move forward and remove myself from this “stuck” place I seem to be in. But “want” doesn’t get you anywhere. You have to apply action to it.

This entry is “action” if nothing else….

First Digital Layout

My first attempt at Digital Scrapbooking. I think I’ve got it — at least the basics. I have PSP, but except for resizing and adding text and borders, it pretty much has scared me off of trying to scrapbook.

But. I had a thought this afternoon — I use another program, called “Picture it” - and you can insert layer after layer. I tried it — and it worked. Whooo hooo!

Now. To not go overboard. To try and find a few free kits, till I get the hang of it; and also, to go through my CD, and put in a file specific pictures I want to scrapbook like this.

I’m loving it! I did it, I Did it!

David’s mom & dad @ Christmas this past year.
Click layout for larger view

Resurrection Day

Our emphasis today is typically onthe empty tomb, not the cross - and rightly so. The unoccupied tomb is a permanent reminder that Jesus’ work on the cross has effectively canceled the penalty for our sins. As Paul declared, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins” (1 Cor. 15:17).

But in our rush to reach the tomb, we need to resist the tempatation to hurtle headlong past the cross. We find in its shadows an example — not of mindless self-abasement but the heart of Jesus. Some call it “cruciformity” - the experience of dying and rising with Christ. This experience embarks us on a lifelong journey of conformity to his image, a kingdom life expresed in faith, love, power and hope.

_____________________________
*from Faith In Action Study Bible. Publisher Zondervan

Party Time

Malachi got lots of neat toys … Legos, puzzles, a Thomas the Tank Engine train track, money, a Hot Wheels car hauler and several packs of Hot Wheels. Love my camera! Was able to get some video pictures as well as the still ones.

Party on, Little Man!

Video Clips:
Saturday, April 15, 2006

Happy Birthday, Malachi

Tasty Tuesday - Window Shopping

Lazy Daisy has declared this to be Tasty Tuesday . On Tasty Tuesday we are to give ourselves permission to focus on something non- food related to savor or relish. To concentrate on, mull over, treasure, sip, or linger longer over a tasty morsel, be it Brain food, or Soul food .

So, here is mine, taken from “Seeds of the Heart” by Amy Lynn

Our lives have much in common with “window shopping”: we often long for things we don’t have.

Window shopping can be difficult if we are not deeply rooted in gratitude. We want all of the beautiful things on display — the porcelain dishes and china dolls, an imported crystal chandelier, silk embroidered velvet purses, polished stone sculptures — you name it. Some of us feel more beautiful when we are surrounded by beautiful things. The need for external beauty fuels a dangerous fire that can burn inside: the desire for self-satisfaction through meeting our material wants. Once the fire begins, it is hard to extinguish.

When we are right with ourselves, we add beauty to all things. We become deeply grateful for what we have and begin to find beauty in the simplicity of life. We can appreciate the fine garnments we see through the window, knowing that we wear the garment of life. All things shine their brightest when we are truly satisfied with who we are and what we have. Many times, that which is freely given is all we really needed all along. Intanglibles such as peace, happiness, freedom, faith, and love are what life is all about.

Lord, please help me shop for satisfaction within my spirit.

Today, I give myself permission to be satisfied with my life. To savor the hugs of my grandson, to bask in the warmth of my son’s God-given talent of singing, as he gives back what he has been given. I am going to linger just a bit longer this evening in my husband’s company. To snuggle up just a moment longer, and enjoy the moment. I’m not going to look in the window and wish to be happier, or healthier. No, I’m not happy with those things in my life, but today, I’m not going to dwell with on them. They are not going to be the central focus of my thoughts. Today, I am going to treasure my friendships. Take a moment to let them know that I truly do love them, and count them among my many blessings.

Today I am going to be satified. And find peace within my soul, within my walk with God. I read something the other day, that chip away another bit of that “self doubt” that I have about my relationship with God. I am always comparing myself to others — my level of faith, my actions within that faith. And that God puts me at a lower level that Betty Sue down the street because she is just so much more deeply rooted in her faith.

But. What if.

What if I am the only one God sees in “His” world. That he doesn’t encompass everyone when he looks at me. That when he looks at me, he sees ONLY me. And he knows my heart. And He knows I love Him. And thats enough. If I can find where I read this, I will expound on it more in another entry. But, it was an “Ah ha” moment. What if.

Are you window shopping today? or are you satisfied with what you have?

Monday Memories

When David and I were first married, we worked at his family’s owned business. We manufactured stuffed animals and puppets. Well, I guess at that time, it was just puppets –and we expanded with the stuffed animals later. Anyway, to sell the product, we did a lot of state fairs. We would leave mid-July, and not be back home for good until October.

Our first fair of the season was usually the Milwaukee State Fair. After you do these shows enough, you know where to stay, and have motels/hotels booked sometimes a year in advance. In Milwaukee, there was an old hotel downtown, that was reasonable, and other people from the fair stayed there.

This turned out to be our last year to stay there. We had stayed there several years, and didn’t have any problems. But, this particular year, several vehicles had been broken into. We walked out one morning — it was a Monday morning, and found that our pick-up had been broken into. Looking back, we were stupid to have done what we did — we should have taken EVERYTHING in. But when you travel as much as we did, there was some stuff we left in there. They ended up taking a bunch of my crafts. Stationary. David’s cowboy hat. Tools. — just odd and end stuff like that. We were fortunate they didn’t steal the whole truck.

At any rate — we walk out, to discover our pickup had been broken into. David handed me the briefcase, that contained the money we had gotten over the weekend, selling our puppets. The normal plan of action was, we would get to our booth, and then David would go to the bank and wire it home. It had been a decent weekend, our puppets sold for $15.00 a piece, I think back then. So, there was probably $1500 - $2000 in the briefcase.

He hands me the briefcase, we access the damage. He goes back into the hotel to report the break-in. We get in the pick-up. And we leave.

Half way to the show, he says “where did you put the briefcase?”

“Briefcase?…didn’t I give it back to you?”

Needless to say — it Was. Not. A. Good. Deal. We go flying back to the hotel parking lot, and of course, the briefcase was not there. $1500. Gone. He was not a happy camper.

But what can you do? So, we head for the show. By now, of course, we are late. So, he drops me off so I can go open up, and he goes to park the pickup.

When you do these shows, you get to know the same people — the booths around you, the building manager, etc. When I got to the booth, they had already taken the covers off our product, and was standing in the booth. Monday mornings were usually slow. I get to our booth, the building manager was there, and he looks at me. Of course, I am upset — and he says “lets go to my office”. I thought he was just taking me there to find out what was going on and allow me some time to compose myself without public observation.

We walk in to his office, and he says “Bad morning, uh?” I shake my head. He picks up our briefcase, and says “Would this make your morning go better?” I collapsed in a chair, in more tears.

As I mentioned earlier, other fair people stayed where we were staying, and since we had an inside booth, we had to be there earlier. But we were really good friends with a few people that had outside booths. When they had left that morning, they saw this briefcase, thought it was suspicious, being in the parking lot like that, and they were just going to leave it. But, they took a closer look, saw our tag on it that said “Country Critters” and knew it was ours. Didn’t quite know the circumstances, but thought it would be best to bring it to the show and give it back to us. THAT is why it “was gone” when we got back to the parking lot.

I died a thousand deaths that morning. But, in the end, it all worked out. And David never put me in charge of the briefcase again:)

Links to other Monday Memories

(If you participate, leave your link in the comments and I’ll post it below)

Capital City Chorus

Someone from the group emailed the picture to us. An arrow is pointing to Ethan.

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Good News

The Good News is that Ethan and his fellow Barbershop-ers made it through their performance with flying colors, despite several problems.

I was sooo proud of Ethan. He fit right in. He sang like he had been with them for years. Open mouth, animated face, and I think I even heard him a time or two. He looked so dapper in his tuxedo. It was a fine evening, and one we truly enjoyed.

Read More…

No Business Like Show Business

Tonight is THE big night. Dusting off the tuxes. And singing their hearts out. Ethan belongs to a group of men who sing Barbershop music. This is their big evening. The theme of the show tonight is “No Business Like Show Business”. There are some copyright issues to whether or not we can video tape is, so I know for we won’t be able to do that. They are bringing in a professional to tape it, and then we may be able to get a copy that way. However, whether or not I can post a snip of it here, is yet to be seen.

Read More…

Thursday 13

13 Health Benefits of Drinking Water

1. Helps regulate appetite
2. Increases metabolism
3. Boosts energy levels (Lack of water id #1 trigger of daytime fatigue)
4. Lessens water retention
5. Helps reduce blood pressure
6. Helps reduce high cholesterol
7. Eases joint pain
8. Decreases risk of some cancers
9. Alleviates some headaches
10. Lessens chance of developing kidney stones
11. Removes toxins and waster products
12. Improves skin, keeping it moist, subtle, resilient, softer & younger looking
13. Body has a great capacity to naturally clense and heal itself.

OK. This isn’t a cop-out. Really. I know this isn’t actually 13 things about “me” — Carolyn — but, there is a method behind my madness here. In a newsletter I recieved at church, they are doing a Bible study that encompasses the physical as well as spiritually. The next chapter in the Growing by Heart book I’m reading (and responding to here on my blog) is “Living Water”.

The author says “Somtimes i get so busy with life that I forget to water my garden. How often in our lives do we do the same thing to our souls” ….

hmmmm…. see my last entry ….and the one before that … and … Me? busy with life? Not Meeeee. And then I wonder why I can’t function sometimes.

She goes on to say…”Many of us grew up believing that every time Jesus is close to us, He wants us to do something: read your Bible more, pray more, share your faith more, go to churhc more. How would it change your view of Jesus if you believed He doesn’t want you to do anything — He just wants to be close to you!”

That’s it? I feel like a dog chasing her tail sometimes, trying to “do more” for Jesus. When in reality, all he wants is for me to sit down, in stillness, and just be close to him. To draw him into my heart, and take the comfort he is offering my weary soul. To drink in from the stream of living water.

If I would drink 8 glasses of physical, real world water, my body would feel so much better. If I would drink 8 glasses (just stopping and saying “Thank you Jesus” … for each blessing I see or come across each day) from Him, from the living water, my soul would blossom with spiritual health as well. So simple, and yet, I can’t ever seem to get it right. Hard knocks along the way makes something inside me say “yeah but…. whats the catch”. There’s no catch. God loves me. Pure and simple. I need to learn how to trust Him (more). He loves me, and I cannot do anything that will make Him love me any more or any less. “Be still and know that I am God.” Thats what he says.

This doesn’t mean I am going to give up trying — not do Bible studies, or associate with other Christians, because I have God and I don’t need anyone else. I will continue to be with fellow Christians, sharing my faith. I will continue doing studies, and learning more about Him. Its much like a new pen pal. You want to know as much about that person as you can, to establish a friendship — a life long bond. Reading the Bible, spending time in study is God’s letter back to me. The answers are all right there. Bible study should come from a longing to know Him better, not a “check off list” of things I need to do to please God.

It actually makes sense right now. I’m sure I will continue to “chase my tail” — but the pieces are falling into place, and my thirst is being quenched. A drink from the wonderful Living Water. What more could any of us want or need?

Too Much Stuff

I started reading this weekend one of the books I purchased last week — Too Much Stuff - Decluttering the Heart and Home. She had my attention from the get-go. What she described, described me to a T. A sense of relief washed over me. I sometimes feel like I live in a world of one. This chaos and clutter. But I’m not. Apparently there are lots of people like me out there. And she has written about book about us — because she has been there and done that.

Something exciting happened to me this weekend. I have her book linked in my sidebar. She wrote me! An author of a book actually wrote me!! how cool is that? So already I feel “connected”.

Read More…

Wednesday Wonders - Leah & Rachel

Due April 5th

Read Genesis 29:14b-30:24
Genesis 35:16-18

It was customary for the oldest daughter to marry first. Laban knew that Jacob would not be willing to marry Leah because of his great love for Rachel.
So, after much partying all night, where Jacob probably got a little tipsy, Laban sent Leah into Jacob’s tent, and he did not realize the dirty trick played on him until morning. A very fitting trick for someone who had stolen his older brothers birthright (Read Gen. 27:1-28:9).

Now let us look at the dynamic of the sisters relationship. Women at that time lived to have children. Their children were their pride and joy. Much of their self-worth came from the amount of children they bore to their husband. God had compassion on Leah who was not loved by her husband.

Under three things the earth trembles,
under four it cannot bear up:
a servant who becomes king,
a fool who is full of food,
an unloved woman who is married,
and a maidservant who displaces her mistress.
Proverbs 30:21-23

What was the attitude of the sisters as they had their children? What was the difference between the two?

Who relied on God more? Who gave praise to God for her blessings?

When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. So she said to Jacob, “Give me children or I’ll die!” Gen. 30:1
Yet, even after God gave Rachel what she wanted she was unsatisfied ~ Genesis 30:22-24.

Rachel lived a very bitter life and in the end she died in childbirth having the children that she so desperately wanted.

Excercise in gratitude and praise
Be joyful always;
pray continually;
give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God’s will for you in Jesus Christ. I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Name three (3) things in your life that you are thankful for. Now, through prayer, give praise to God.

Tasty Tuesday - Sunflowers

Lazy Daisy has declared this to be Tasty Tuesday . She would like to focus on something non- food related to savor or relish. Something to mull over, treasure, sip, or linger longer.She is always open for suggestions so feel free to share your tasty tidbits too!

Being from Kansas, sunflowers are all over. There is the field variety, where they don’t grow very tall, and there are acreas and acreas of them. And yes, there are fields of the other kind –with the large heads, that produce sunflower seeds. Sunflowers are a very interesting plant to watch. The heads follow the sun. In the morning, they will be facing one direction, in the evening, another. They need the sunlight to mature and thrive.

As Christians, we should do the same. Keep our eyes on the “Son”, and follow Him, whereever He is. He is in our hearts, our mind, our soul. He will tell us what direction to follow, if we will just listen. Soak up the “Son-light”. Reflect that light to others. God wants me for a Sunbeam. Remember singing that song as a child? I do. Now its time that I reflect the adult in me, and shine for Him. In my thoughts, my words, my actions.

At Day’s End

I am glad to come to the end of today. Its hasn’t been a bad day, just a long one. It was Late Start at school for Ethan, so he didn’t need to be there until 9:30. Which meant I couldn’t go out to David’s office to work until after that.

I did get a few things accomplished this morning that I wanted to. I jumped back into the Bible Reading Challenge that I was doing with Wenona and Rachel. I kinda got off track there, and have been wanting to find some kind of schedule again to make that a part of my day. Everything starts with “Day 1″, and today was that day.

I dropped Ethan off at school, stopped at the convience store for my ice and David had called me earlier to stop and get him some hot chocolate. He had stopped earlier and gotten some …and somehow managed to spill his. So, did that. Stopped at the post office and the bank — and then headed out of town to the office.

When I got up to around 50 mph, my van started shaking, like I had a flat tire. I pulled over, got out, accessed the situation …. no flat tire. I called David to see what I should do. The tire shop was just 1/2 mile back down the road, so he told me to turn around and go back and have them check it out. They did — and they agreed with me, that something was definately wrong, but a bad tire wasn’t it. They rotated the tires, and that fixed whatever was causing it. But now, it was going on 11:00. For a day that had started out so well and so productive, it was quickly going down the tubes.

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