Category Archives: From Blogs I read

Another Birthday….

Posted on February 6, 2014 | 1 comment

Tomorrow I will be 53 years old. I have lived 19358 days, or 464,592 hours or 27,875,520 minutes or 1,672,531,200 seconds. Where did all this time go? It reminds me of the song lyrics “Time keeps on slipping, slipping into the future.”

Anyway, since I’m half a century old maybe I should come up with a bucket list. One of the things I’m thinking about putting on this list is a mud run. The one I’m considering is one just for women. I hoping the obstacles might be a little easier – yea right! I suppose I’m most afraid that I would find it too difficult for me. I did a google search on mud run training. I came across a really cool website that had a five week training plan with videos. However, the website said that you needed to be able to “run” (not jog) for 3 miles that then the training schedule was not for you and you needed to get out and practice running. Potential problem – I have a running pace – that is if you could call it running – of about a 11-12 minute mile. I pretty sure that would be considered jogging. If I did do this it would be a really good feeling to conquer my fears.

On another note, I ordered two bracelets. Each bracelet has one of my 2014 words on them. I really like them.
Every time I look at these words it brings to me my goal of learning gratitude and pursuing love.

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The Year of the Horse

Posted on January 30, 2014 | Leave a comment

Today is the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year – the year of the Horse. People born in the year of the Horse are helpful, chatty, humble, energetic and obstinate. My daughter was born in the year of the Horse. Now I was born in the year of the Ox. People born in the year of the Ox are dependable, polite, detail-oriented, patient and stubborn.

I think I am a dependable person. As an accountant I must be detailed-oriented. How else would I be able to keep all those accounting transactions straight. I hope I’m polite and I think my friends would describe me as stubborn. Patient….I don’t know.

I like to read blogs and one blog I read suggested that Ground Hog’s Day be another time when you check in on those New Years resolutions that were made last month. I’m thinking that is a good idea since it is the start if the Chinese New Year. Who doesn’t like a do-over. I certainly do.

I was looking over my January 1 post and I noticed I mentioned resolutions but never put any into words. I noticed the new “in” thing is to have a word of the year. I was torn between two words – love and gratitude. So instead of one word I am going to have two words. Both of these words are to help me grow closer to G-d.

I read a blog about the most courageous resolution for 2014 is taken from 1 Corinthians 14:1 ….Pursue love. Pursue means to “seek after eagerly.” So here the Scriptures that I plan on concentrate on in 2014 .

1 Corinthians 13
John 13-15
I John
Matthew 22
Mark 12
Luke 10
Hebrews 13:1-7

I started reading the book “One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are” by Ann Voskamp. I began to realize that I am not a very thankful person. That I take much of life for granted. I have started my on list of gifts to be more mindful of my blessings.

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Packing Light Challenge – Day 3

Posted on September 26, 2013 | Leave a comment

Day 3 – What is holding me back? Why have I not done these things? What is stopping me?

These are very good questions. I’m to answer the questions with regard to the physical things, emotional things and the reason for the disconnect….between words and action.

I think it is hard for me to have work/leisure balance because the nature of my profession has these very heavy deadlines. The first deadline starts around February 15 through April 15 with the next heavy deadline between August 15 – October 15. During these time periods the only thing I focus on is getting tax returns out…..

The fact of the matter is I need to work. Most people do need to work to pay bills and save for retirement. I could change jobs. However, if I did change jobs in the same profession I do not think I would get away from these deadlines. The answer could be to do something entirely different. Now to me that is scary….I have been doing tax returns for about 30 years.and in reality I like some of the clients I work on and during the slow time I enjoy this type of work. During these busy times, chores at home pile up causing stress. Because I am trying to get more done in a day, I shortchange sleep. I stay up later and still get up early. After time I am so tired that all I want to do is watch TV and lay around. Also, because of lack of time, my eating habits are poor….

Money worries….I do have some debt that I could pay off. I do tax returns for other people and get their books in order. You would think that I could do it for myself….Well, that answer is no. The last thing I want to do at the end of the day is look at more paperwork..I think most of my worry is because of the future and not having enough saved up. Sometimes, I think I put it off because I do not want to discover I will have to work until I am over 100 years old to be able to retire.

Organization…I have this big problem. I see books or articles that I want to read and I set them out so I can remember I want to read them. I thought that if I tore out articles or recipes from magazines that I would make those recipes. I have a hard time putting them away because I do not want to forget about them….the truth of the matter…I have so many that I would not ever have time to make the recipes or read all the books that I want to read. I must secretly think it is some sort of character flaw to say I am going to read such and such book or make such and such recipe and then never do it. Again this can also impact my worry about money. I spend money on projects that are never finished….

Time….I know that there are only 24 hours in a day. How come the day rushes by and the things I want to do are not accomplished. I will admit that I am not a big fan of lists. The reason being is that my lists become so long that it is impossible to ever complete the list. I have argued with myself that if I had a list that then I could put things away and not have to leave them out to remember them. But I also know that if I can not cross something off my list I become angry….and I will potentially take it out on others. Such a catch twenty two…

I have considered that if I have less possessions (and desired less things) that then I would have less to organize and less things to take care of that then I would have more time….could this be the answer…Less things – more money – more time!!!

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Packing Light Challenge – Day 2

Posted on September 25, 2013 | Leave a comment

The challenge for day 2 it to make a list of things that would need to happen in order to accomplish my dreams.

Okay…here goes my list.

1. Balance between work and leisure is hard….being an accountant and having tax deadlines where I need to work long hours and weekends make it hard to have a balance. This is the nature of my profession. During this time, all housework and any project is quickly abandoned. Then during the slow period I spend all my time catching up that then it seems I’m just cleaning house all the time.

– I could get a maid to clean house for me.
– I could talk to my boss about my hours again.
– I could change jobs…..get one not in the public accounting area. I do struggle with this. I wonder will the grass really be greener on the other side of the fence….or should I just figure out how to make my present job work for me.

2. No worries about money…having enough to pay bills, to save some and then to have a little left over to travel. I really should spend some on this since I am of the age that we are thinking about when to retire…..

– paying down debt.
– control spending by looking at a budget.
– plan a trip….we have talked about pulling our travel trailer through Canada to Alaska.

3. Organization….I feel that if I am organized that then I would have to spend less time looking for things and then I would have time for family, friends and projects….

– going through each room in my house and clearing out those items I no longer need. I have tried this in the past and seemed to run out of steam.
– finding a place for everything and putting it away.
– come up with daily routines to stay on top of daily cleaning chores.
– carve out time on the calendar to work on special projects…keep the appointment.
– figure out what to do with all those projects I have started and never finished…that may be a very long list by itself.

I probably have not been as specific in my list as I should be….I will say that just writing these things down does motivate me to think seriously about starting a plan to make something become a reality. It is sort of like a goal that is not reached because it is never verbalized so never any steps are put into place to reach the goal….

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Packing Light Challenge Day 1

Posted on September 24, 2013 | Leave a comment

Today I’m starting Allison Vesterfelt’s challenge. Of course I’m a day late…..

The challenge for day 1 is it dream about what I want. It does not need to be realistic.

Okay, this is what I want.

1. I want balance between work and leisure. Some how through the years my part time job has become full time with more stress. It does not help that I am in the middle of another tax deadline.

2. I want no worries about money. I want just enough to meet my bills, save some, and have a little bit to use to travel.

3. I want organization. I’m tired of never being able to find something because it is not in its proper place. This drives my crazy at work and home. You would think I could get a handle on this because it is so frustrating to me…

4. I want more time…time for family, friends, craft projects, yard work, time for writing on my blog, time to learn about photography, reading time, housework. The list could go on and on.

As I am writing this all I can hear in my head is the Steve Miller Band singing…”Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’ into the future.”

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Pride or Humility

Posted on July 8, 2012 | 1 comment

I have been thinking about the reasons that I blog. I am not consistent in writing.  I have not set any goals or any particular topic to write about.   I even wonder if the things I write about are really worth reading.  I have been told the things I write might be thought of as depressing.  (Yikes!!! I did not see myself as depressed.)  Anyway, I wonder if I have a story to tell or worthwhile thoughts to share…..

I used to think my self-doubt and insecurity about writing were signs of my profound humility. It felt noble and heroic to be this full of agonizing self-doubt…….

But that’s the thing about pride. It hides itself.

The more I go on, the more I realize, it’s entirely the other way round. Our self-doubt and insecurity don’t reveal our humility; they mask our pride.

When you’re doubting whether you can do it, whether you’re a good writer, you’re looking to yourself, what you can do, what resources you have. You’re focused entirely inwardly, on yourself.

It’s pride because it means you think it’s all about you.

But if you realize it’s not about you — that whatever you have is a gift from God — if, in other words, you get out of the way — then you can be fearless. There is no vision too great, nothing too outrageous to dream, nothing too impossible to dare.

If you believe, as Madeleine L’Engle believed, that your writing is not so much about control as it is about trust, you will be bolder, braver, more able to take risks — and your writing will become more like faith.

It’s no longer about you and what you can do. You do the hard work of writing, you practice your craft, you show up. But you become servant to the story. And the story is cleverer and bigger than you are. Your job is to get out of the way and let the story through.   Sally Lloyd-Jones

My job is to “get out of the way”…..Keep on trying and keep on blogging.

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How Do Others Experience Me?

Posted on June 16, 2012 | Leave a comment

The other day my dear sweet husband asked me to move my daughter’s car.  I will admit that I was a little irritated….I was in the middle of drinking my morning coffee and reading the newspaper.  As I was getting into my daughter’s car, he asked me if I was mad at him.  (I was not really mad….just irritated that I had to leave my morning coffee and paper.)  So, I said, “No, why do you ask?”  Well, his response is that I looked mad.

I hate to think that I wear my emotions and thoughts so easily on my face.  I do not want to be thought of as a grouchy, irritated, mad person.

This morning I came across this prayer.

  Lord Jesus, as someone chosen in you before the world began, holy in you, and dearly loved by you, help me stay aware of how others experience me. Convict me when I come across as a minefield of irritability, a self-righteous porcupine, or a rigid control-meister. I don’t want to be the kind of person who makes others feel the need to tiptoe around or avoid me. Through the resources of the gospel, help me to see, own, and deal with the ways I love poorly. Scotty Smith

Much to think upon today…….

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Doubt

Posted on January 19, 2012 | Leave a comment

Doubting is a huge problem for me.

As I was reading blogs today I came across this tongue in check look at how different theological systems look at doubt.

At the risk of presenting a bit of a caricature, let me give some tongue-in-cheek ways that some different theological systems deal with Christians going through such a crisis of faith:

Baptists: They are still saved, no matter where their doubts take them. They just need renewed assurance.

Calvinists: They were never saved to begin with. They need to hear the gospel.

Charismatics: They are demon possessed. They need an exorcism.

Arminians: They are in the process of losing their salvation. They need to stop sinning or be argued back into the faith.  – Michael Patton

As I read this I had a good chuckle and then I realized that as I go through my day that I wake up an Arminian and by lunch I have convinced myself I am a Baptist but wondering if I am a Calvinist that was never saved to begin with.  And by bedtime I know that I am the worst sinner around and really a Charismatic because I am probably demon possessed since I can not get a handle on my sin problem.

BUT wait – I do not need to be worried about my sin problem because Jesus takes care of that for me.   So, as I say my prayers for the night I am thankful I am a Christian that is until the next morning when I wake up as an Arminian again.

 

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Analogy about Sin

Posted on September 19, 2010 | Leave a comment

I came across this analogy about sin and I wanted to share the link with others.  Hope those that read it will like it.

http://hispeaceuponus.com/2010/09/16/would-you-drink-it/

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Posted in From Blogs I read, Spiritual

My Thoughts on the Question “Is It a Sin to Date a Non-Christian?”

Posted on August 8, 2010 | Leave a comment

I think that Marc Driscoll makes very good and true points in his answer to this question.   The laughter in the audience and between the pastors by inference communicated to me that if a “Christian” does date and maybe even marry a non-Christian that they are not really a Christian. That they are foolish and somehow inferior in their Christian life and have truly made a mess of things.

I would answer the question with out reference to a “lawnmower” but with tears in my eyes so that others can see the importance of choosing who to date.  This is a sensitive topic for me because I am a Christian married to a non-Christian.  I was a Christian before I met my husband and I have wrestled with whether I have committed and maybe even still committing sin by being in this relationship.

My husband and I have been married for 27 years.  Could it be said that I loved him more than Christ when I committed myself to him in marriage? Many will say yes.

So here is a little background. I grew up in a Christian family. My grandfather was a elder in the church. My mother was a bible school teacher and my dad was a deacon. We attended church every time the door was open. I was baptized when I was 12 years old. I used to pray that I would marry a preacher or someone with the same beliefs.  Deep down I think in my childish mind I thought that then they would help  me be a good Christian – make it easier to do the things that God wanted me to do.  As a teenager I was very active in the youth program. I was even active in a bible group during my college years, too. I am still active in a local church.

I don’t know what happens to you when you fall “in love”. It is like all reason goes out of your head.   It is good advice not to let the relationship get to involved.  Many people warned me of all the “dangers” of dating a non-Christian – of being unequally yoked with a nonbeliever.  It was too late.  I was “in love.” My ears were closed and besides I thought at this time that I could conquer the world and young love can conquer all the problems of the world. We were married.  My parents and his parents were not happy but accepted us. It is true the statements the pastors made about not having the same source to look for answers.  My husband does not always understand my reasoning behind my answers.  But I have found that over the years he has come to respect most of them. Marriage is hard for Christians. It is hard period.  Just look at the divorce rate in Christian and non-Christian families.

I used to think I did commit sin by marrying my husband. I had a lot of guilt and shame thinking that when I married my husband that I somehow denied Christ as my first love. But I no longer think that. Several years ago it dawned on me that I was not giving God any credit. I do not know how my choices and God’s sovereignty work.   I think that God is sovereign and that I  also have responsibility.  I was thinking about my childish prayer. I used to think that God answered my prayer for a godly man as “no” or even that my choice over ruled any of God’s part.  I thought that I just had stick with my choice. I began to really think about this and it dawned on me that maybe my husband is the one God wanted me to marry.   What if God wanted me to trust him and lean on him alone and not a godly husband?  That was like an eye opener.  That changed my whole way of looking at this relationship. My guilt and shame about my marriage was no longer on my mind.  The truth of the matter is I am a sinner and will be a sinner till the day I experience physical death.  I am to live my life the best I can in the situation that God has placed me.  I believe that God has placed me in this relationship so I can learn to trust God in all things and to be a servant to someone who does not understand Christ.  I pray every day that God will work in my husbands life and change his heart.  And I believe that God is faithful and by my leaning on Christ that God will sustain me and this relationship. Anything can happen because God is a forgiving, loving, and merciful to His children.

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Posted in From Blogs I read, Spiritual