I love our dog Rudy! He makes our lives so much better. He follows me around the house like I am his everything, hence making me feel very special. His should have been Shadow for obvious reasons. I had no idea that he would be my sidekick when I first met him. We brought him home when he was 6 months old and thank God had already been housebroken and pretty much out of the puppy stage. His name was Rupert. Yeah... I know! Pfft... sounds like a snobby dog to me. As I am a people person ( anti-snob ), that name didn't suit my fancy. Of course since he was a Christmas gift to the kids from Mark's mom, I recruited the boys in changing his name. Being that it was Christmas... they wanted to name him Rudolph. They were feeling festive what can we say? My anti-snob radar went off though, so I suggested Rudy for short. I love the Football movie Rudy. Also, I have always had a thing for two syllable dog names. Good for calling them to ya. RUUUU DYYYY!
Rudy is always happy to see me, his little bobbed off tail wags furiously when I walk in the door. He is not disappointed with me when I don't perform to my potential. He can't sass me. He doesn't require a bath everyday.... WOOHOO! He doesn't make me cook for him. He snuggles with me when I am sitting which seems like for 5 minutes a day. He is not annoying, but is there when you wanna hang out with him and throw his sheep for him to fetch. HE IS THE MOST LOW MAINTENANCE LIVING THING IN THE HOUSE. He barks when people come to the door which is helpful because with all the Tv's on in the house we would never know until they broke through the door with a battering ram. HAHAHAHAH! He is also beautifully trimmed and stays very clean, ( he can be a uppity about getting dirty). He is soft and very hairy, which as a person who loves to have my hands in hair, meets my tactile , freakish need. He is never demanding, but attentive. I don't think... but I know........
MY DOG IS BETTER THAN YOUR DOG!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
Giving Thanks for ALL things? Really?
Thank you God for that speeding ticket. Thank you for losing my keys again. Thank you for spaghetti on the floor. Thank you for being rejected. Thank you for the pain. Thank you for not answering that prayer the way I desired. Thank you for saying no to the biggest prayer of my life.
If you are thinking.... I have finally went over the edge and lost my mind. Too late! That has been the case for a very long time now. hahahahhah! I saw that! Some of you that know me well, just shook your head in agreement. Shame on you. hahahahah! Why does Paul say.... we should give thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,...?
Seems crazy to thank God for the bad stuff. I remember reading a book about Corrie Ten Boom's life in the Nazi concentration camps where they were experiencing an infestation with lice. She told how they would torment them day and night, making them itch and scratch mercilessly. Her sister told Corrie they should thank God for all things, even the lice. Corrie was not welcoming to the idea of thanking God for the lice but heard her sister say those very words in a prayer of her own. Later Corrie discovered that the male guards were sexually assaulting the other women in the other buildings, but because of the infestation of lice, none of the guards would even go into their building. God used the lice to protect the women. The very thing that drove them crazy was the very thing that protected them from further heartache. Fascinating isn't it?
Could God be using the not so pleasant, or even heart breaking circumstances in our life to protect us from something worse? Could my speeding ticket get my attention to keep me from being habitually reckless? Could losing my keys be an opportunity for my boys to feel useful when they find them for me? Could spaghetti on the floor be a lesson in encouraging the one who dropped it? Could rejection be teaching us how to love like God loves? Could the pain be teaching us endurance and dependence on an all sufficient God? Could the prayer God answered His way have prevented us from living with the consequences getting our own way? Finally, could God's "no" response to a prayer I was certain was His hearts desire to grant, have been His Best for me and those I love?
Since there are " some " answers that our Sovereign Lord will not reveal to us until we get home, at the very LEAST, thanking God in all things changes our attitude from unappreciative and self centered into one of gratitude and a positive perspective which is indicative of anticipating good things from a good God. At the Most ..... and for me the most humorous.... you get those weird looks from people who are sure that you have lost your mind! Seriously.... God can show them what trusting Him and authentic faith looks like.... when you don't have all the answers. So.... thank God for something that sucks today and see how you feel!
Love, Angela
If you are thinking.... I have finally went over the edge and lost my mind. Too late! That has been the case for a very long time now. hahahahhah! I saw that! Some of you that know me well, just shook your head in agreement. Shame on you. hahahahah! Why does Paul say.... we should give thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,...?
Seems crazy to thank God for the bad stuff. I remember reading a book about Corrie Ten Boom's life in the Nazi concentration camps where they were experiencing an infestation with lice. She told how they would torment them day and night, making them itch and scratch mercilessly. Her sister told Corrie they should thank God for all things, even the lice. Corrie was not welcoming to the idea of thanking God for the lice but heard her sister say those very words in a prayer of her own. Later Corrie discovered that the male guards were sexually assaulting the other women in the other buildings, but because of the infestation of lice, none of the guards would even go into their building. God used the lice to protect the women. The very thing that drove them crazy was the very thing that protected them from further heartache. Fascinating isn't it?
Could God be using the not so pleasant, or even heart breaking circumstances in our life to protect us from something worse? Could my speeding ticket get my attention to keep me from being habitually reckless? Could losing my keys be an opportunity for my boys to feel useful when they find them for me? Could spaghetti on the floor be a lesson in encouraging the one who dropped it? Could rejection be teaching us how to love like God loves? Could the pain be teaching us endurance and dependence on an all sufficient God? Could the prayer God answered His way have prevented us from living with the consequences getting our own way? Finally, could God's "no" response to a prayer I was certain was His hearts desire to grant, have been His Best for me and those I love?
Since there are " some " answers that our Sovereign Lord will not reveal to us until we get home, at the very LEAST, thanking God in all things changes our attitude from unappreciative and self centered into one of gratitude and a positive perspective which is indicative of anticipating good things from a good God. At the Most ..... and for me the most humorous.... you get those weird looks from people who are sure that you have lost your mind! Seriously.... God can show them what trusting Him and authentic faith looks like.... when you don't have all the answers. So.... thank God for something that sucks today and see how you feel!
Love, Angela
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Walking Carefully...... on our journey Eph. 5:15-21
What type of terrain do we find ourselves on today?
Rock Island State Park is a place I love to visit annually. We have made wonderful memories there.
The scenic beauty of this wooded park is dominated by the Great Falls of the Caney Fork River - an imposing limestone gorge (called a gulf in southern culture). It provides scenic overlooks, waterfalls and deep pools for fishing, rock-hopping and exploring. This is no casual stroll my friends. Getting to the various swimming holes, diving cliffs , and beautiful waterfalls requires slow, thoughtful, cautious steps. Beginning from the descent from the parking lot of steep steps hugging the rock wall going down into the gorge itself, your eyes are constantly focused at your feet and where you place them, in order to avoid losing your step and hurting yourself.
As I was in Sunday school discussing our text, I was reminded of maneuvering through the rocky terrain and the correlation between both. In Ephesians 5:15 it says.... See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,. Circumspectly means to walk cautiously or carefully. Paul was urging us as Christians to pay attention to our behavior. His plea was for us to think before we act. This place we call earth is definitely "rough terrain" for those of us who claim that heaven is our home. It is full of slippery rocks of temptation, unstable rocks that when we trust them enough to put our full weight on them shift and leave us unbalanced and grasping for something secure to keep us from crashing down completely. This world is also full of places that, like Rock Island, require the hand of a friend to help us up and over to get where we are supposed to be. Balance is a requirement to make it through without slipping, in both life and at Rock Island.
How ridiculous would it be too see someone wearing high heels going rock hopping in a place like Rock Island? What about running carelessly, tripping, bleeding and continuing to run without regard to their body's condition? That would be the type of foolish Paul is referring to here. Only a fool would attempt to behave so carelessly without regard to the effect their behavior would have on themselves.
So as we are walking across this " rough terrain " of life together, toward our destination of heaven.... a place of joy and peace, may we first prepare ourselves with surrounding ourselves with helpful friends who will help us to get to our destination successfully , then prepare ourselves with the proper attire for our journey. Most importantly, as we set out on our journey may we take each step one at a time, focusing on what is immediately before us and think strategically before we put our full weight and commit to that next step. Let us not be foolish and careless as we walk toward our destination but may we all walk carefully so we may arrive knowing we made the most of our time and enjoyed the journey with the friends that took those steps with us and became part of the story that God was writing all along in our hearts.
Rock Island State Park is a place I love to visit annually. We have made wonderful memories there.
The scenic beauty of this wooded park is dominated by the Great Falls of the Caney Fork River - an imposing limestone gorge (called a gulf in southern culture). It provides scenic overlooks, waterfalls and deep pools for fishing, rock-hopping and exploring. This is no casual stroll my friends. Getting to the various swimming holes, diving cliffs , and beautiful waterfalls requires slow, thoughtful, cautious steps. Beginning from the descent from the parking lot of steep steps hugging the rock wall going down into the gorge itself, your eyes are constantly focused at your feet and where you place them, in order to avoid losing your step and hurting yourself.
As I was in Sunday school discussing our text, I was reminded of maneuvering through the rocky terrain and the correlation between both. In Ephesians 5:15 it says.... See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,. Circumspectly means to walk cautiously or carefully. Paul was urging us as Christians to pay attention to our behavior. His plea was for us to think before we act. This place we call earth is definitely "rough terrain" for those of us who claim that heaven is our home. It is full of slippery rocks of temptation, unstable rocks that when we trust them enough to put our full weight on them shift and leave us unbalanced and grasping for something secure to keep us from crashing down completely. This world is also full of places that, like Rock Island, require the hand of a friend to help us up and over to get where we are supposed to be. Balance is a requirement to make it through without slipping, in both life and at Rock Island.
How ridiculous would it be too see someone wearing high heels going rock hopping in a place like Rock Island? What about running carelessly, tripping, bleeding and continuing to run without regard to their body's condition? That would be the type of foolish Paul is referring to here. Only a fool would attempt to behave so carelessly without regard to the effect their behavior would have on themselves.
So as we are walking across this " rough terrain " of life together, toward our destination of heaven.... a place of joy and peace, may we first prepare ourselves with surrounding ourselves with helpful friends who will help us to get to our destination successfully , then prepare ourselves with the proper attire for our journey. Most importantly, as we set out on our journey may we take each step one at a time, focusing on what is immediately before us and think strategically before we put our full weight and commit to that next step. Let us not be foolish and careless as we walk toward our destination but may we all walk carefully so we may arrive knowing we made the most of our time and enjoyed the journey with the friends that took those steps with us and became part of the story that God was writing all along in our hearts.
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