Tag Archives: choices

Inconvenience

22 Thursday Mar 2018

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inconvenientThe Lord called me from my warm and cozy bed to see the dawn. I must admit that I really wanted to sleep, but I could feel the pull of the Almighty saying, “I want to show you something.” I stood by my 3rd floor motel window and saw nothing but the city streetlights in the darkness. Then, all of a sudden, there was a tiny glow that grew bigger and bigger until I stood in awe once again of “the dawn’s early light.” I thought to myself, “Why don’t I get up for this at home?” In this same motel for years I have watched the sunrise and the sunset, and although it is not as unobstructed as I would like, it had in the past caused me to promise myself that I would at least check out sundowns at home. But I must admit that I only did it a couple of times, which were wonderful, but it never became a priority. Why? The word inconvenient came to mind. The sun gets up before I do, and the sun lowers in the sky when I am busy with other things. It happens when I am not noticing and then it is too late to catch.

Interestingly enough in this time period I had been pondering the time that Jesus called Continue reading →

Called To Be A Princess…Chapter 6

25 Sunday Jan 2015

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          Counting the Cost

engagedThe Princess was thrilled with the elegant atmosphere of the gazebo. She had always loved this meeting place on top of the hill.  At the end of a warm day, the gazebo was a wonderful place to come and rest, look out over the Kingdom, and enjoy the cool breezes.  The Prince and the Princes had often sat in the gazebo and talked after the day’s dancing session.  Then, as the sun would get ready to set, they would hold hands as they watched the sun’s red rays spread across the sky.  Sunsets were absolutely incredible at the gazebo.

          This night was different as they dined on steak and lobster with all the fancy trimmings and ate cherry cheese cake for dessert.  Not only had they not danced tonight, but the Princess was aware that the Prince was acting strangely, almost as if he were nervous. Continue reading →

The Goodness of God…Part 3

27 Saturday Sep 2014

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goodWhen circumstances in our lives disappoint us, let’s work to not be tempted to be disappointed in God.  Let’s say like Job:  “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb and naked shall I return there; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. (Job 1:21 NKJV)  In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrong doing.”  (Job 1:22 NIV)

          Whose report are we going to believe?  Is God good all the time or not?  James 5:11 says, “As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered.  You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.  The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”  When trouble comes remember the attributes of God, that He is:  merciful, compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, full of goodness, love, and truth, faithful and forgiving.  Although our circumstances may be disappointing refuse to be disappointed in God.  Faith believes that when trouble comes God’s goodness will show up. Continue reading →

Princess Lessons Chapter 6

30 Monday Jun 2014

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Sister Trouble

somersaultFlora and Fauna knocked on the Princess’ door.  As they looked through the window they saw the Princess and her sister running down the stairs to answer the door.  The Princess shoved her younger sister out of the way so that she almost fell down the stairs.  The Princess pushed past her to get to the door first.  Flora and Fauna were so alarmed at seeing this behavior that they almost forgot to say “Hello” to the Princess.  The Princess was happy that she had reached the door first.  She was unaware that Flora and Fauna were shocked to see the Princess behave so badly. Continue reading →

Princess Lessons Chapter 5

27 Sunday Apr 2014

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Taking Responsibility Requires Humility

nose to noseGrandma and Papa picked up the Princess and her little sister for a weekend at their house.  Both girls were ready to go.  They handed Papa their bags and climbed into their car seats.

 Everyone seemed happy for a while, but then the fighting began.  Grandma was very upset with all the noise and complaining in the back seat.   She tried to get the girls to take responsibility for all the commotion.  Each girl blamed the other for the trouble.  This made both Papa and Grandma very unhappy.

      Finally, they all made it to the house.  But Grandma and Papa Continue reading →

Enticing Things

05 Saturday Apr 2014

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beautifulWhile talking to our granddaughter about her favorite characters from the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe we were a little shocked to hear her say that, after Aslan, the witch was her favorite.  The witch in this story was very wicked, immensely evil, and cruel and was written to represent Satan.   As our granddaughter is only 7 we didn’t get too intellectual when we talked about the witch, but I did say that evil is often very beautiful.  (The witch in this story is described as looking very beautiful.)  I have spent days mulling over how to talk to our granddaughter about the temptations she might face that also look beautiful at first.  C.S. Lewis shows Edmond, one of the characters in the book, as a young man who can be easily tempted by a warm chocolate drink and a dessert called Turkish delight.  To get more of these delicious treats he is willing to betray his family which would result in their captivity.

I think that the reason I was so disturbed about my granddaughter’s interest in the witch is that I realize it is often difficult for any of us to discern the influence of enticing (attracting artfully, arousing hope or desire, tempting) things.

Continue reading →

Chapter 4 Princess Lessons

31 Monday Mar 2014

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A Very Terrible, Awful, Horrible Day

princess tantrum This morning the Princess got up in a bad mood.  Some people might say that “she got up on the wrong side of the bed.”  She was very tired. So, she was very slow taking her bath and getting ready for school.  Her mother kept reminding her that if she didn’t hurry she would miss the bus.  But for some reason she just couldn’t get going that morning.

      She ran to the school bus and got to the bus stop before the bus was ready to leave.  As she climbed on the bus she thought, “Whew, at least I made it.”  But the bus seemed especially noisy that day which made the Princess’ ears hurt.

Continue reading →

Legacy

04 Friday Oct 2013

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legacyA few days ago my brother put the huge Ford sign above the doors of his garage.  You might not think anything of this, but it brought tears to my eyes and when I saw it being lifted, I yelled across the street “The Legacy has passed!”  That sign, bought by my brother over 40 years ago, has until last year been prominently displayed over the garage doors of my parents’ garage.  It was taken down after my mother died and we were selling the house.  My brother finally got the front of his garage refurbished and put the sign up.

          A legacy is defined as something handed down from the past.  My father was a wonderful mechanic; in fact, he could do anything he put his mind to with his hands. But what he is most remembered for is his bringing home baskets of car junk and hauling a trailer full of car parts into the yard and then putting it all together to form a Model A Ford from the 30’s.  When he got done it not only looked new, it also ran like it had just come off the line.  One of my fondest memories is our family loading up to participate in antique car tours and parades with others who had restored or purchased antique cars. Continue reading →

Part 6: Micah’s Challenge

15 Saturday Jun 2013

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mercyMicah 6:8  “And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

 Jesus shows mercy

          Jesus, fully God and fully man, came to show us how a man totally surrendered to God’s will would extend mercy to the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of people.  He is the example that we should imitate. Continue reading →

Part 4: Micah Challenge

01 Saturday Jun 2013

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Covet, Steal, Adultery

 Micah 6:8  “And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

covetThe 10th commandment states: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.  You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”  God commands us to refrain from “wishing for enviously” or “to feel desire for what belongs to another” as covet is defined by Webster’s dictionary.  So what is wrong with wishing and desiring?  The Lord knows that if we allow our minds to entertain covetous thoughts it will almost invariably lead us to breaking the 8th commandment (do not steal) and, or, the 7th commandment (do not commit adultery).  God’s antidote for covetous thoughts is to learn to be content. Continue reading →