You all obviously know (because I've droned on and on about it) how much I love words and word play and all things associated. Here's some randomness in the form of "tongue twisters".
I remember vividly doing tongue twisters in English in grade school. What I read on the site referenced below, is that these are commonly used by speech pathologists. Maybe I missed my 'calling'...ya think?
Here are 25 of "MY PICKS" I tried to select the shorter ones just for brevity sake but there are oodles of them (including the piper, the bitter batter and of course the sea shells).
Don't hurt yourself trying these and if you do...for goodness sake, wipe the spit off your screen before you electrocute someone and let me know so I can laugh...WITH you not AT you! FASTER!!!!! FASTER!!!!!
Tongue Twisters
1. Six sick slick slim sycamore saplings.
2. A box of biscuits, a batch of mixed biscuits
3. A skunk sat on a stump and thunk the stump stunk,but the stump thunk the skunk stunk.
4. Red lorry, yellow lorry, red lorry, yellow lorry.
5. Unique New York.
6. Six thick thistle sticks. Six thick thistles stick.
7. Is this your sister's sixth zither, sir?
8. A big black bug bit a big black bear,made the big black bear bleed blood.
9. The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick.
10. Toy boat. Toy boat. Toy boat.
11. One smart fellow, he felt smart.Two smart fellows, they felt smart.Three smart fellows, they all felt smart.
12. Pope Sixtus VI's six texts.
13. I slit the sheet, the sheet I slit, and on the slitted sheet I sit.
14. Mrs. Smith's Fish Sauce Shop.
15. "Surely Sylvia swims!" shrieked Sammy, surprised."Someone should show Sylvia some strokes so she shall not sink."
16. Three free throws.
17. Knapsack straps.
18. Which wristwatches are Swiss wristwatches?
19. Lesser leather never weathered wetter weather better.
20. Inchworms itching.
21. A noisy noise annoys an oyster.
22. The myth of Miss Muffet.
23. Friendly Frank flips fine flapjacks.
24. Vincent vowed vengeance very vehemently.
25. The epitome of femininity.
Happy VERBAL Friday Eve!
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
WHAT!!! NO DRYER!!!
Subject: Rocks in Dryer
To: Kpjara
From: deb@maytag
Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2006 14:47:43 -0500
Dear KPJARA,
We have received your request in providing dryers to needy moms or moms to be.
We regret to advise that we will not be able to honor this request.
Thank you,
Deb Michel
Corporate Services
_____________________
Can you believe it! After my thoughtful and full explanation and request for consideration to the: CEO; North American President; AND Executive Vice-President of Marketing Operations, all I received was this lousy email reply! (Maybe I’ll make a t-shirt…sort of like those vacation t-shirts you see…wait I guess I’ve never actually seen anyone wearing them…oh never mind!)
I realize some of you may be clueless to what I’m even rambling about…well after viewing a popular blog recently and hearing her testimony about her blog name, I thought I would try to ‘go to bat for her’ and plead her case with Maytag for a new dryer that could handle her extreme-needs!
Well, it’s clear…I’m going to have to stick to Kenmore or my “No-Name” brands for all future appliance purchases. Here is what I submitted:
____________________
Dear Whirlpool “Bigwigs”,
I have a friend (and by friend I mean; one of the people whose musings I read regularly on her ‘blog’). She has four children, the oldest three of which are boys. She has “rocks in her dryer’ in the literal sense. Please refer to this ‘posting’ for reference.
She is in search of a dryer that can handle this type of abuse. I thought for only one millisecond before stating: Maytag! Obviously as a stay at home mother on a strict budget, she has limited resources to invest heavily in a dryer suitable for her extensive needs.
I figure it couldn’t hurt to ask that you consider including her as a spokesperson for Maytag via her ‘blog’ following, or other potential advertising. By donating a dryer to this mother of four, you immediately get word-of-mouth advertising, and if the dryer performs as reputation states, you could even receive a spokesperson to include in print advertising for a set period of time.
How does this benefit Maytag? Let me explain. You see “Rock In My Dryer” is one of THE most popular links and ‘blogs’ in cyberspace. She has a following of MANY other mommies with dryer needs and other non-mommies or mommy-wanna-be’s, such as myself, who will not make major purchases without word of mouth via someone I know and trust who has similar or greater needs. I’m sure I am not telling you anything you don’t already know from years of successful advertising.
Check her out! She is at http://www.rocksinmydryer.typepad.com/. See if what I say is true. Please consider this proposal and if you discover, as I’m sure you will, she is the ultimate ‘test launderer’ (with personality and camera-ready) let us know! Who couldn’t use a little POSITIVE advertising in America, the land of competition?
Sincerely and amidst the rock-filled wet pockets of children’s laundry,
kpjara for Rocks In My Dryer
________________________
I didn’t really expect a dryer, but at least an actual LETTER from the corporate office would have been nice. No offense to this poor woman (Deb), who had to send me the “regrets” notification, but clearly, based on her response, she didn’t even get to read a copy of my request.
Apparently, either the dryer isn’t ready to be ‘rock-tested’ or Whirlpool and it’s subsidiary Maytag are too hard-hit by the class-action settlement for problems associated with the Neptune washer to consider this proposal.
It’s a shame really. It also makes me wonder if the blogdom will ever have Executive offices and if only certain people will have access to these high-level blogs? If we ever reach that level, I’m so ‘outta here!’
Alas, poor Shannon will have to increase her pocket security checks prior to dryer usage and who knows; maybe Kenmore will go for it?
To: Kpjara
From: deb@maytag
Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2006 14:47:43 -0500
Dear KPJARA,
We have received your request in providing dryers to needy moms or moms to be.
We regret to advise that we will not be able to honor this request.
Thank you,
Deb Michel
Corporate Services
_____________________
Can you believe it! After my thoughtful and full explanation and request for consideration to the: CEO; North American President; AND Executive Vice-President of Marketing Operations, all I received was this lousy email reply! (Maybe I’ll make a t-shirt…sort of like those vacation t-shirts you see…wait I guess I’ve never actually seen anyone wearing them…oh never mind!)
I realize some of you may be clueless to what I’m even rambling about…well after viewing a popular blog recently and hearing her testimony about her blog name, I thought I would try to ‘go to bat for her’ and plead her case with Maytag for a new dryer that could handle her extreme-needs!
Well, it’s clear…I’m going to have to stick to Kenmore or my “No-Name” brands for all future appliance purchases. Here is what I submitted:
____________________
Dear Whirlpool “Bigwigs”,
I have a friend (and by friend I mean; one of the people whose musings I read regularly on her ‘blog’). She has four children, the oldest three of which are boys. She has “rocks in her dryer’ in the literal sense. Please refer to this ‘posting’ for reference.
She is in search of a dryer that can handle this type of abuse. I thought for only one millisecond before stating: Maytag! Obviously as a stay at home mother on a strict budget, she has limited resources to invest heavily in a dryer suitable for her extensive needs.
I figure it couldn’t hurt to ask that you consider including her as a spokesperson for Maytag via her ‘blog’ following, or other potential advertising. By donating a dryer to this mother of four, you immediately get word-of-mouth advertising, and if the dryer performs as reputation states, you could even receive a spokesperson to include in print advertising for a set period of time.
How does this benefit Maytag? Let me explain. You see “Rock In My Dryer” is one of THE most popular links and ‘blogs’ in cyberspace. She has a following of MANY other mommies with dryer needs and other non-mommies or mommy-wanna-be’s, such as myself, who will not make major purchases without word of mouth via someone I know and trust who has similar or greater needs. I’m sure I am not telling you anything you don’t already know from years of successful advertising.
Check her out! She is at http://www.rocksinmydryer.typepad.com/. See if what I say is true. Please consider this proposal and if you discover, as I’m sure you will, she is the ultimate ‘test launderer’ (with personality and camera-ready) let us know! Who couldn’t use a little POSITIVE advertising in America, the land of competition?
Sincerely and amidst the rock-filled wet pockets of children’s laundry,
kpjara for Rocks In My Dryer
________________________
I didn’t really expect a dryer, but at least an actual LETTER from the corporate office would have been nice. No offense to this poor woman (Deb), who had to send me the “regrets” notification, but clearly, based on her response, she didn’t even get to read a copy of my request.
Apparently, either the dryer isn’t ready to be ‘rock-tested’ or Whirlpool and it’s subsidiary Maytag are too hard-hit by the class-action settlement for problems associated with the Neptune washer to consider this proposal.
It’s a shame really. It also makes me wonder if the blogdom will ever have Executive offices and if only certain people will have access to these high-level blogs? If we ever reach that level, I’m so ‘outta here!’
Alas, poor Shannon will have to increase her pocket security checks prior to dryer usage and who knows; maybe Kenmore will go for it?
Wednesday WordPlay #3
It’s time to write: mark, inscribe, put pen to paper, engrave, carve, note, enter, record, jot down, compose, create, generate, produce, fashion, form, build, construct, design, originate, initiate, coin, conceive, commence…what are you waiting for?
Here are today's offerings: click on the title to find the online source.
YOU ARE INVISIBLE *edited to note I could not make this connection via this link but it is from an MIT Creative Writing Exercise website.
Okay, you're invisible. Where would you go? What would you be able to see that you can't see when you yourself are seen? Play out such a scene for yourself and thoroughly describe it in writing.
Starting phrases
Try starting with any of these phrases:
I remember
I don't remember
I have always
I see
I don't see
I have never
I know
I don't know
I want to
I wonder
I don't wonder
I don't want to
I hate
I love
I try to
I try not to...
Write for 10 minutes in response to any of these.
Let me know if you're participating. I'll post mine later today!
Happy Wednesday...
edited to include my own 10-minute exercise:
I DON’T REMEMBER…
the day John F. Kennedy was shot and sometimes I don’t understand how it has become such a pivotal day in history. I was five days old. My mother told me, only months ago, that she had actually voted for Nixon in that Presidential election because Kennedy was from a Catholic family and her own family made it clear that these Kennedy’s were reckless and carefree, at an expense to our Nation.
Sometimes it seems the death of a Kennedy holds more power and importance than the death of Jesus. The ‘game’ that has been played and played: “Where were you when Kennedy was shot?” rings in my ear. I wonder sometimes if an answer would come with the same ease to the question: “Where were you when Jesus died for you?”
Of course, my husband the literal-ist would defend his lack of answer with: “I wasn’t on earth when Jesus died.”
My candid reply would be: “Honey, not literally WHERE WERE YOU, but where were you in LIFE when the realization hit that Jesus died for you?”
My own response would be: “obviously I was nailing His hands and feet down and being bathed in the blood from His wounds.”
It sounds a bit dramatic but this I do remember: I am the reason Jesus died on that cross, I was there and I thank God that I DO REMEMBER this daily.
Sometimes it seems the death of a Kennedy holds more power and importance than the death of Jesus. The ‘game’ that has been played and played: “Where were you when Kennedy was shot?” rings in my ear. I wonder sometimes if an answer would come with the same ease to the question: “Where were you when Jesus died for you?”
Of course, my husband the literal-ist would defend his lack of answer with: “I wasn’t on earth when Jesus died.”
My candid reply would be: “Honey, not literally WHERE WERE YOU, but where were you in LIFE when the realization hit that Jesus died for you?”
My own response would be: “obviously I was nailing His hands and feet down and being bathed in the blood from His wounds.”
It sounds a bit dramatic but this I do remember: I am the reason Jesus died on that cross, I was there and I thank God that I DO REMEMBER this daily.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Incredibly Blessed
I just wanted to add a quick post to say I have the most wonderful husband...
I came home for lunch (as I do everyday) to let the 'girls' outside and grab a quick bite for lunch and on the bar I found this:
I came home for lunch (as I do everyday) to let the 'girls' outside and grab a quick bite for lunch and on the bar I found this:
An M & M smiley face! He loves me, he REALLY loves me. So after I sang his praises to the "girls" I ate every last one of those babies and felt immediately better!
Chocolate is the BEST medicine for the PMS Soul, that is for sure!
Thank you Honey! You're the best...SWAK!
Reminder: Wednesday is WordPlay...see ya tomorrow.
Attitude Adjustment
I’m either maturing or becoming a bit more cynical (sometimes these two words are interchangeable). I’ve found myself becoming less and less tolerable of inconsiderate drivers and shoppers at the Big W. I find myself trying to avoid all crowds. I find myself actually contemplating the lesser of the two evils: late night shopping at the Big W with the maniacal forklift drivers, or regular day shopping with maniacal oversized cart drivers!
I would actually bet that the way people maneuver their carts is exactly the way they drive their cars. Some people stop and talk in the middle of the aisle (cart askew to block the ENTIRE aisle)…these are the same people who don’t get completely into the lane, rather ride the middle…or park next to someone they haven’t seen in 47 years to revisit each and every memory since that day (in the middle of the ROAD!) Then there are the cart drivers that side swipe, heel knock, and cause complete head-on crashes…yep I bet they drive their cars that same way. There are the people on phones, only half paying attention. There are people with children running free through the store (I’m CERTAIN they don’t buckle their kids in the car seats).
There are the lovebirds walking next to each other as they each use one hand to shop and they can’t take their eyes off one-another. These are the couples on the road where you can’t honestly tell who is driving and who is sitting in whose lap. There are the extreme-seniors who have lost or forgotten their glasses and are trying to push the cart while maintaining control of their walker. These are the same people who when driving you aren’t sure there’s anyone in the car at all, because their head is below the headrest.
I wonder sometimes if this isn’t the ultimate “test” from God and once I SUCCESSFULLY negotiate a trip to and from the Big W, encountering both traffic and PEOPLE, I will immediately pass “Go” and proceed immediately to gold-brick laden eternity. Either that or I’m facing complete mental collapse. Some non-believers might even think the ‘eternity’ thoughts are in direct correlation to the mental collapse. Thankfully I’m not among those poor, misled, antagonists.
It dawned on me Saturday as I attempted to have a shopping day that my bad behavior on the road was not completely due to all the OTHER people. It was also one of the worst cases of PMS I’ve had to date. So bad, in fact that I cussed out God. I’m talking; full-fledge complete and total tantrum level screaming and cussing at God (while I’m driving, mind you). When I was telling my husband about it on Sunday, he was a bit perplexed, though I think it keeps him on his toes to live on top of the God-box lid as I sometimes do, dancing around towards the edge to see if it’s truly a box, or more likely a sphere.
He did finally agree that God is the only one who can handle these tantrums + cussing without either running away or ‘fighting back’. God does what He always does…He listened and He loved. God didn’t shut down or cease to exist because I screamed to Him. He didn’t proclaim: “My love for you has ended!” I couldn’t serve a God who did these things.
While I believe completely, with all my heart that God has a great plan for my life; I also believe completely, that part of that destiny is this journey; the good Kim, the bad Kim, AND the ugly Kim!
I’m so thankful that when the ugly Kim rears her head and in the midst of a PMS-induced, head-spinning, green-pea spewing, sailor-mouthed level tantrum, God not only doesn’t run away, He does one of those intervention type body hold hugs that remind me I am not alone…I am never alone. Nothing I do can separate me from the love He has for me!
Well PRAISE GOD! That is MY God!
Here is my Tuesday Mantra:
“…I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Hebrews 8:38-39
Rest in that truth! Happy Tuesday…
P.S. If you see me on the road or in Wal-Mart this week, please feel free to ignore me out of safety for yourself!
I would actually bet that the way people maneuver their carts is exactly the way they drive their cars. Some people stop and talk in the middle of the aisle (cart askew to block the ENTIRE aisle)…these are the same people who don’t get completely into the lane, rather ride the middle…or park next to someone they haven’t seen in 47 years to revisit each and every memory since that day (in the middle of the ROAD!) Then there are the cart drivers that side swipe, heel knock, and cause complete head-on crashes…yep I bet they drive their cars that same way. There are the people on phones, only half paying attention. There are people with children running free through the store (I’m CERTAIN they don’t buckle their kids in the car seats).
There are the lovebirds walking next to each other as they each use one hand to shop and they can’t take their eyes off one-another. These are the couples on the road where you can’t honestly tell who is driving and who is sitting in whose lap. There are the extreme-seniors who have lost or forgotten their glasses and are trying to push the cart while maintaining control of their walker. These are the same people who when driving you aren’t sure there’s anyone in the car at all, because their head is below the headrest.
I wonder sometimes if this isn’t the ultimate “test” from God and once I SUCCESSFULLY negotiate a trip to and from the Big W, encountering both traffic and PEOPLE, I will immediately pass “Go” and proceed immediately to gold-brick laden eternity. Either that or I’m facing complete mental collapse. Some non-believers might even think the ‘eternity’ thoughts are in direct correlation to the mental collapse. Thankfully I’m not among those poor, misled, antagonists.
It dawned on me Saturday as I attempted to have a shopping day that my bad behavior on the road was not completely due to all the OTHER people. It was also one of the worst cases of PMS I’ve had to date. So bad, in fact that I cussed out God. I’m talking; full-fledge complete and total tantrum level screaming and cussing at God (while I’m driving, mind you). When I was telling my husband about it on Sunday, he was a bit perplexed, though I think it keeps him on his toes to live on top of the God-box lid as I sometimes do, dancing around towards the edge to see if it’s truly a box, or more likely a sphere.
He did finally agree that God is the only one who can handle these tantrums + cussing without either running away or ‘fighting back’. God does what He always does…He listened and He loved. God didn’t shut down or cease to exist because I screamed to Him. He didn’t proclaim: “My love for you has ended!” I couldn’t serve a God who did these things.
While I believe completely, with all my heart that God has a great plan for my life; I also believe completely, that part of that destiny is this journey; the good Kim, the bad Kim, AND the ugly Kim!
I’m so thankful that when the ugly Kim rears her head and in the midst of a PMS-induced, head-spinning, green-pea spewing, sailor-mouthed level tantrum, God not only doesn’t run away, He does one of those intervention type body hold hugs that remind me I am not alone…I am never alone. Nothing I do can separate me from the love He has for me!
Well PRAISE GOD! That is MY God!
Here is my Tuesday Mantra:
“…I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Hebrews 8:38-39
Rest in that truth! Happy Tuesday…
P.S. If you see me on the road or in Wal-Mart this week, please feel free to ignore me out of safety for yourself!
Monday, July 10, 2006
Which Blog Am I?
So I’m sitting here thinking and rethinking what to say, how to say it…the same thing I do every time I sit down to write. The question remains: What kind of blogger am I? Am I funny? Am I heartfelt? Am I a gut-spiller? Am I a slammer? Am I mysterious (NOT!)? Am I encouraging? Am I discouraging? Am I honest? Am I authentic? Am I fake? Am I ‘Heloise’? Am I Lucy in her .05 cent psychiatric booth? Am I even heard?
I didn’t set out with a specific idea in mind. I honestly thought of this ONLY as an online journal and since my typing is oodles faster than my writing I could almost keep up with my mind on overload with thoughts, ideas, randomness…whatever!
Things were going along nicely. I wrote for over a month with no unknown commenter. Then the worst thing happened. I got ONE comment. That’s all it takes is one measly comment from some unknown, but seemingly kind reader to ‘hook ya’! My very first, non-family or non-coerced comment came from Karen and that just about did me in…I was hooked…I wanted MORE!
Well that’s not entirely true. I did receive a comment very early on…like my 2nd post when I started writing some feelings about women in ministry and I even blog-rolled her for a few weeks. I did find, however; that her intentions were not entirely pure. She had very strong, vocal and sometimes forceful views about women in ministry. Mine was not a political campaign. I was only lamenting my inability to use God given gifts (at least that was what I thought!).
Then I had some pressure (thank you VERY much, you know who you are!) from a dear OLD friend, whose voice I can hear saying: “Just be funny! You’re always so funny, just write funny stories.” I tried that and still do occasionally (insert laugh track), but that’s not who I am…everyday, well every MINUTE of every day.
I wrote what came to mind and the thing is…because of the comments (I had 2 or 3 by then), I felt some pressure to seek more comments because it seemed as I surfed the blogdom, that some people had like 40 or 50 comments everyday! Was I a TOTAL LOSER or what?
The internal voice wasn’t going to go down that road. She whispered (in my good ear): “Kim, you’re doing it again!”
“Doing what?” I asked innocently.
“Seeking approval from others. You know God is the only approval you need, right?” I heard clearly.
“Of course I KNOW that…I’m just thinking about what to say today, that’s all! Sheesh!” I reprimanded.
“Uh, yeah, okay, whatever you say…” I heard as she silenced herself again.
So it began…the wanting and needing approval via comments for the things I write/wrote! It’s an incredibly emptying experience. It empties my heart and mind. It empties my fun-factor. It empties my think-tank. It empties itself in the form of some forced, stilted writing that doesn’t always fully express who I am or what I feel.
Then I found as I did open up and received honest feedback, that I still wasn’t happy. I began to think people would think I was needy. God forbid I come across as NEEDY! I am SUPERKIM, able to leap tall tales, able to tear down and lift up with words, able to silence the worst of critics with the written ‘look’.
“Give it a rest Kim, just be yourself.” I heard from a distance.
“Back OFF!” I bellowed back, until the person behind me at Wal-Mart was certain I was under far too much pressure and steered for another lane. Hey, it’s an advantage to talking to ones self!
I am better now. I absolutely LOVE the comments, but on days when there are none…I don’t feel any less a person or that my voice doesn’t matter. I know God hears every word I speak or write…because He put most of them in me (the good ones anyway)! He also helps redirect me when the bad words come (and they DO come). He reminds me I am His child and He desires great things for me. He reminds me He is the one that gave me this gift that is the blogdom and my desire to write.
What I found is when I write what He desires, it comes with ease. When I try to write the best, most comment-seeking entry…it bombs (not the good ‘da-bomb’, the bad BOMB), or worse yet, it offends!
So I have decided and am affirming that I am here for Him! I may need reminders every so often (like daily), but what I write is a reflection of who I am in God through Christ. I pray it encourages you and hope it makes you laugh (the funny stuff, not heart-wrenching stuff…are you laughing at my pain?…how CRUEL!)…but in the end I hope it always glorifies God to the highest!
God Bless!
**Edited to add a BIRTHDAY Greeting to one of my Dearest Friends "G" and know that even when we don't get to see each other often you are in my prayers and heart daily and I thank God for allowing us earthly time to hang' and encourage one another! You rock...see you Friday!
1 Corinthians 10:24-32
“Don't think only of your own good. Think of other Christians and what is best for them.
Here's what you should do. You may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace. Don't ask whether or not it was offered to idols, and then your conscience won't be bothered. For "the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it."
If someone who isn't a Christian asks you home for dinner, go ahead; accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you and don't ask any questions about it. Your conscience should not be bothered by this. But suppose someone warns you that this meat has been offered to an idol. Don't eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.
Now, why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks? If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it? Whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, you must do all for the glory of God. Don't give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. That is the plan I follow, too. I try to please everyone in everything I do. I don't just do what I like or what is best for me, but what is best for them so they may be saved."
I didn’t set out with a specific idea in mind. I honestly thought of this ONLY as an online journal and since my typing is oodles faster than my writing I could almost keep up with my mind on overload with thoughts, ideas, randomness…whatever!
Things were going along nicely. I wrote for over a month with no unknown commenter. Then the worst thing happened. I got ONE comment. That’s all it takes is one measly comment from some unknown, but seemingly kind reader to ‘hook ya’! My very first, non-family or non-coerced comment came from Karen and that just about did me in…I was hooked…I wanted MORE!
Well that’s not entirely true. I did receive a comment very early on…like my 2nd post when I started writing some feelings about women in ministry and I even blog-rolled her for a few weeks. I did find, however; that her intentions were not entirely pure. She had very strong, vocal and sometimes forceful views about women in ministry. Mine was not a political campaign. I was only lamenting my inability to use God given gifts (at least that was what I thought!).
Then I had some pressure (thank you VERY much, you know who you are!) from a dear OLD friend, whose voice I can hear saying: “Just be funny! You’re always so funny, just write funny stories.” I tried that and still do occasionally (insert laugh track), but that’s not who I am…everyday, well every MINUTE of every day.
I wrote what came to mind and the thing is…because of the comments (I had 2 or 3 by then), I felt some pressure to seek more comments because it seemed as I surfed the blogdom, that some people had like 40 or 50 comments everyday! Was I a TOTAL LOSER or what?
The internal voice wasn’t going to go down that road. She whispered (in my good ear): “Kim, you’re doing it again!”
“Doing what?” I asked innocently.
“Seeking approval from others. You know God is the only approval you need, right?” I heard clearly.
“Of course I KNOW that…I’m just thinking about what to say today, that’s all! Sheesh!” I reprimanded.
“Uh, yeah, okay, whatever you say…” I heard as she silenced herself again.
So it began…the wanting and needing approval via comments for the things I write/wrote! It’s an incredibly emptying experience. It empties my heart and mind. It empties my fun-factor. It empties my think-tank. It empties itself in the form of some forced, stilted writing that doesn’t always fully express who I am or what I feel.
Then I found as I did open up and received honest feedback, that I still wasn’t happy. I began to think people would think I was needy. God forbid I come across as NEEDY! I am SUPERKIM, able to leap tall tales, able to tear down and lift up with words, able to silence the worst of critics with the written ‘look’.
“Give it a rest Kim, just be yourself.” I heard from a distance.
“Back OFF!” I bellowed back, until the person behind me at Wal-Mart was certain I was under far too much pressure and steered for another lane. Hey, it’s an advantage to talking to ones self!
I am better now. I absolutely LOVE the comments, but on days when there are none…I don’t feel any less a person or that my voice doesn’t matter. I know God hears every word I speak or write…because He put most of them in me (the good ones anyway)! He also helps redirect me when the bad words come (and they DO come). He reminds me I am His child and He desires great things for me. He reminds me He is the one that gave me this gift that is the blogdom and my desire to write.
What I found is when I write what He desires, it comes with ease. When I try to write the best, most comment-seeking entry…it bombs (not the good ‘da-bomb’, the bad BOMB), or worse yet, it offends!
So I have decided and am affirming that I am here for Him! I may need reminders every so often (like daily), but what I write is a reflection of who I am in God through Christ. I pray it encourages you and hope it makes you laugh (the funny stuff, not heart-wrenching stuff…are you laughing at my pain?…how CRUEL!)…but in the end I hope it always glorifies God to the highest!
God Bless!
**Edited to add a BIRTHDAY Greeting to one of my Dearest Friends "G" and know that even when we don't get to see each other often you are in my prayers and heart daily and I thank God for allowing us earthly time to hang' and encourage one another! You rock...see you Friday!
1 Corinthians 10:24-32
“Don't think only of your own good. Think of other Christians and what is best for them.
Here's what you should do. You may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace. Don't ask whether or not it was offered to idols, and then your conscience won't be bothered. For "the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it."
If someone who isn't a Christian asks you home for dinner, go ahead; accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you and don't ask any questions about it. Your conscience should not be bothered by this. But suppose someone warns you that this meat has been offered to an idol. Don't eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.
Now, why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks? If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it? Whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, you must do all for the glory of God. Don't give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. That is the plan I follow, too. I try to please everyone in everything I do. I don't just do what I like or what is best for me, but what is best for them so they may be saved."
Friday, July 07, 2006
The "Evolved" 3-Random Question Meme
One of my “new” friends from the KC trip, Sarah, tagged me for this 3-random question meme and it looks like a ‘thinker’ (which you know I crave), plus I haven’t had one in ages! SO here they are, feel free to take em’ and pass them around. And because one of my favorite numbers is 7, I added 4 questions to the pick!
1. Do you think anyone with a desire to create is an artist of sorts?
I think anyone with a desire to create that actually DOES something with that desire, is an ‘artist’. I also love what Sarah said about our being creative because we come from the “Creat-or” and it’s a part of our make-up!
2. What frightens you the most about getting older?
Loss of ability to remember. Loss of physical ability and strength. Not having children. Not fulfilling God’s destiny for myself on earth. Leaving the world without leaving a lasting legacy of Christ’s love.
3. When was the first time you traveled by air? Where did you go?
My father worked for the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) his entire career, so we traveled by air quite frequently. The first time I did I was 2 y.o. (maybe 3) and we went to or from California/Kansas. My first memory of flying was when I was a pre-teen and I flew to my grandmother’s in Kansas, from Colorado.
4. What is your earliest childhood memory?
I remember living in Alaska and ice-skating during recess (during the winter the entire playground was an ice-skating rink) and skating in our backyard (which was also transformed into a skating rink). I was 5 or 6 at the time.
5. When the book of your life is written, what will the title be?
Mine will be: “Not Just Another Pretty Face”. Unless that one’s taken…in which case I’ll come up with another one.
6. In the movie of your life, who will play you?
Well if I'm not available, Rosie O’Donnell of course!
7. What is the greatest sacrifice you’ve had to make so far in your life (not included your life to Christ)?
I think for me the greatest sacrifice would be the part of my soul that was eaten away when I was date-raped. I was only able to forgive this man about 4 years ago and had no idea how much anger I was holding towards him.
Side note: I had no idea that’s what I was going to put…it just spilled out, a bit forthcoming but honesty to the core!
Have a wonderfully blessed Friday and Weekend! Be Creative! I love this reminder in Genesis of God’s dominion and creativity from the very beginning of time! I can just see Him ‘hovering over earth’s empty and formless mass cloaked in darkness’, only to begin to smile as He imagines it filled with His glory!
Genesis 1:1-2 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was empty, a formless mass cloaked in darkness. And the Spirit of God was hovering over its surface.”
1. Do you think anyone with a desire to create is an artist of sorts?
I think anyone with a desire to create that actually DOES something with that desire, is an ‘artist’. I also love what Sarah said about our being creative because we come from the “Creat-or” and it’s a part of our make-up!
2. What frightens you the most about getting older?
Loss of ability to remember. Loss of physical ability and strength. Not having children. Not fulfilling God’s destiny for myself on earth. Leaving the world without leaving a lasting legacy of Christ’s love.
3. When was the first time you traveled by air? Where did you go?
My father worked for the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) his entire career, so we traveled by air quite frequently. The first time I did I was 2 y.o. (maybe 3) and we went to or from California/Kansas. My first memory of flying was when I was a pre-teen and I flew to my grandmother’s in Kansas, from Colorado.
4. What is your earliest childhood memory?
I remember living in Alaska and ice-skating during recess (during the winter the entire playground was an ice-skating rink) and skating in our backyard (which was also transformed into a skating rink). I was 5 or 6 at the time.
5. When the book of your life is written, what will the title be?
Mine will be: “Not Just Another Pretty Face”. Unless that one’s taken…in which case I’ll come up with another one.
6. In the movie of your life, who will play you?
Well if I'm not available, Rosie O’Donnell of course!
7. What is the greatest sacrifice you’ve had to make so far in your life (not included your life to Christ)?
I think for me the greatest sacrifice would be the part of my soul that was eaten away when I was date-raped. I was only able to forgive this man about 4 years ago and had no idea how much anger I was holding towards him.
Side note: I had no idea that’s what I was going to put…it just spilled out, a bit forthcoming but honesty to the core!
Have a wonderfully blessed Friday and Weekend! Be Creative! I love this reminder in Genesis of God’s dominion and creativity from the very beginning of time! I can just see Him ‘hovering over earth’s empty and formless mass cloaked in darkness’, only to begin to smile as He imagines it filled with His glory!
Genesis 1:1-2 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was empty, a formless mass cloaked in darkness. And the Spirit of God was hovering over its surface.”
Thursday, July 06, 2006
The New Phone Books Are Here!!! The New Phone Books Are Here!!!
Okay, so not the new phone books and frankly how many of those do we need anyway?
I am SO excited because a few weeks ago I ordered BOOKS. I know, I'm a NERD! AND I’m a bit of a ‘bargain hunter’ (okay…I’m cheap), so I had them shipped ground. Well! What’s the point of celebrating a cheap new book via Amazon.com if you are going to pay 5x’s the price for shipping…so I waited, and waited, and this morning they appeared on the kitchen table.
No, our mail delivery isn’t THAT good, my husband stopped last night and picked up the mail at our PO Box. They won’t deliver directly to the Wigwam. Guess what else came? Give up yet? My stamps came! I know you’re thinking; “so what”.
Well, as much as I LOVE America and I do, truly, love America…I hate the flag stamps; they’re so ‘done’. AND, my post-office made it clear to me they do not get to decide which stamps they will carry, so they do not know when they will carry a particular new stamp. I order my stamps online.
It’s easy enough and I don’t have to deal with the marginal customer service skills of the over-worked and apparently, quite angry-on-the-verge-of-going-postal clerks at MY USPS. Yours may be different. I certainly hope so. But as many times as I’ve done the postal survey I’ve yet to be able to give my P.O. a grade above 2 on a 1-5 scale. In the words of my, now half grown nephew, “they are WUDE, WUDE, WUDE!”
Without further ado, I got these stamps and these stamps and I can’t wait to start using them. Oh, we do still use the ‘flags’ for bills usually, but my husband clearly understands that for fun mail (which I’m infamous for), I need FUN STAMPS!
Now on to the books I’m hankering to read! The first one I’ve referenced here before and trust me if you ever see it at a garage sale or thrift store or some discount house…pick it up. You won’t regret it and it may just make you laugh AND change a misconception or two, you have! It is: Nancy Kennedy’s book: “Help! I’m Being Intimidated By The Proverbs 31 Woman!” My sister had given me this book years ago. It’s not even in print currently, but they have several “new” copies available via Amazon.com used books. I L*O*V*E this book. It’s one of my all-time favorite reads. She writes much like Liz Curtis Higgs and I laugh to the point of adult-diapers often!
Here’s an excerpt. This passage comes from Chapter one: ‘Next on Oprah: The Virtuous Woman and Those of us Who’d Like to Wring Her Perfect Neck”.
It was Mother’s Day. No, maybe it was the time our church held a week-long women’s seminar. Maybe it was just another Sunday. Whenever it was, my daughters were sitting next to me in the pew, writing on each other’s shoes, while I sat, trying to untwist my panty-hose with one hand and cover a coffee stain on my white blouse with the other. I’d forgotten to brush my teeth that day, too.
The Pastor stood to speak.
“Open your Bibles to the book of Proverbs,” he said. “Let’s take a look at this beautiful passage of scripture on womanhood.”
His voice dripped with syrup. His eyes glazed over. He looked right at me.
My skirt button popped off and rolled out into the aisle. “I’m in trouble,” I whispered.
If that doesn’t “hook” you…you’ve clearly left your funny bone for the Am-Vets to pick up or you’ve misplaced it in the laundry basket. Trust me, it’s worthwhile and aside from the hilarious writing, it holds true meaning for this OVERWHELMING passage of Scripture.
The next book is by Geneen Roth. I’ve never read any of her books, however; the title strummed my heart strings a bit. The book is titled: “When You Eat at the Refrigerator, Pull Up a Chair”. It deals with emotional eating (uh, yeah, I can SO relate) and one of the chapters is: “Carry a Chunk of Chocolate Everywhere”, so how could I have gone wrong?
The last two books are less for laugh-factor and more for my eternal quest to ‘un-box’ God! The first of these is by Eric Sandras, and it’s titled: “Buck Naked Faith: A Brutally Honest Look at Stunted Christianity”.
The back cover says this: “Eric Sandras encourages a generation of believers to drop the layers of make-believe nonsense that stunts our spiritual growth. What emerges is a positive alternative to life-crushing counterfeit faiths many of us are trying out best to work through.
To do this, there’s no secret handshake or magic formula, but there is vision and encouragement to take the risk and get dangerously real with God. With a pull-no-punches approach, Sandras exposes the naked truth: We need to dress our lives with a real friendship with God and nothing else."
This type of book always pulls me in because I’ve seen (and continue to see regularly) what appears to be faith that lacks faith, for lack of better terminology. I’ve seen it in myself and friends and strangers. I don’t want to become just another pretty-sounding, phony designer Christian. I’ll let you know what I think of the book and this Sandras author.
The final book is by Donald Miller (author of Blue Like Jazz). It is “Searching For God Knows What”.
This is what the cover says: "What if the deepest longings of your heart were there for a reason? Small-minded, boxed-in formulas of modern religion weren’t the Truth? The gospel of Jesus was not ‘safe’ after all, but full of intrigue, passion -- and romance? How would your life be changed?"
How can I go wrong? I love Donald Miller’s writing style and I’m almost certain I’ll learn something from these books, so I’m off to work and await my chance to break into these little pleasures as soon as I can!
Have a wonderful and blessed Thursday and remember to read (yeah, children's books count too, but only if you actually HAVE children!).
I am SO excited because a few weeks ago I ordered BOOKS. I know, I'm a NERD! AND I’m a bit of a ‘bargain hunter’ (okay…I’m cheap), so I had them shipped ground. Well! What’s the point of celebrating a cheap new book via Amazon.com if you are going to pay 5x’s the price for shipping…so I waited, and waited, and this morning they appeared on the kitchen table.
No, our mail delivery isn’t THAT good, my husband stopped last night and picked up the mail at our PO Box. They won’t deliver directly to the Wigwam. Guess what else came? Give up yet? My stamps came! I know you’re thinking; “so what”.
Well, as much as I LOVE America and I do, truly, love America…I hate the flag stamps; they’re so ‘done’. AND, my post-office made it clear to me they do not get to decide which stamps they will carry, so they do not know when they will carry a particular new stamp. I order my stamps online.
It’s easy enough and I don’t have to deal with the marginal customer service skills of the over-worked and apparently, quite angry-on-the-verge-of-going-postal clerks at MY USPS. Yours may be different. I certainly hope so. But as many times as I’ve done the postal survey I’ve yet to be able to give my P.O. a grade above 2 on a 1-5 scale. In the words of my, now half grown nephew, “they are WUDE, WUDE, WUDE!”
Without further ado, I got these stamps and these stamps and I can’t wait to start using them. Oh, we do still use the ‘flags’ for bills usually, but my husband clearly understands that for fun mail (which I’m infamous for), I need FUN STAMPS!
Now on to the books I’m hankering to read! The first one I’ve referenced here before and trust me if you ever see it at a garage sale or thrift store or some discount house…pick it up. You won’t regret it and it may just make you laugh AND change a misconception or two, you have! It is: Nancy Kennedy’s book: “Help! I’m Being Intimidated By The Proverbs 31 Woman!” My sister had given me this book years ago. It’s not even in print currently, but they have several “new” copies available via Amazon.com used books. I L*O*V*E this book. It’s one of my all-time favorite reads. She writes much like Liz Curtis Higgs and I laugh to the point of adult-diapers often!
Here’s an excerpt. This passage comes from Chapter one: ‘Next on Oprah: The Virtuous Woman and Those of us Who’d Like to Wring Her Perfect Neck”.
It was Mother’s Day. No, maybe it was the time our church held a week-long women’s seminar. Maybe it was just another Sunday. Whenever it was, my daughters were sitting next to me in the pew, writing on each other’s shoes, while I sat, trying to untwist my panty-hose with one hand and cover a coffee stain on my white blouse with the other. I’d forgotten to brush my teeth that day, too.
The Pastor stood to speak.
“Open your Bibles to the book of Proverbs,” he said. “Let’s take a look at this beautiful passage of scripture on womanhood.”
His voice dripped with syrup. His eyes glazed over. He looked right at me.
My skirt button popped off and rolled out into the aisle. “I’m in trouble,” I whispered.
If that doesn’t “hook” you…you’ve clearly left your funny bone for the Am-Vets to pick up or you’ve misplaced it in the laundry basket. Trust me, it’s worthwhile and aside from the hilarious writing, it holds true meaning for this OVERWHELMING passage of Scripture.
The next book is by Geneen Roth. I’ve never read any of her books, however; the title strummed my heart strings a bit. The book is titled: “When You Eat at the Refrigerator, Pull Up a Chair”. It deals with emotional eating (uh, yeah, I can SO relate) and one of the chapters is: “Carry a Chunk of Chocolate Everywhere”, so how could I have gone wrong?
The last two books are less for laugh-factor and more for my eternal quest to ‘un-box’ God! The first of these is by Eric Sandras, and it’s titled: “Buck Naked Faith: A Brutally Honest Look at Stunted Christianity”.
The back cover says this: “Eric Sandras encourages a generation of believers to drop the layers of make-believe nonsense that stunts our spiritual growth. What emerges is a positive alternative to life-crushing counterfeit faiths many of us are trying out best to work through.
To do this, there’s no secret handshake or magic formula, but there is vision and encouragement to take the risk and get dangerously real with God. With a pull-no-punches approach, Sandras exposes the naked truth: We need to dress our lives with a real friendship with God and nothing else."
This type of book always pulls me in because I’ve seen (and continue to see regularly) what appears to be faith that lacks faith, for lack of better terminology. I’ve seen it in myself and friends and strangers. I don’t want to become just another pretty-sounding, phony designer Christian. I’ll let you know what I think of the book and this Sandras author.
The final book is by Donald Miller (author of Blue Like Jazz). It is “Searching For God Knows What”.
This is what the cover says: "What if the deepest longings of your heart were there for a reason? Small-minded, boxed-in formulas of modern religion weren’t the Truth? The gospel of Jesus was not ‘safe’ after all, but full of intrigue, passion -- and romance? How would your life be changed?"
How can I go wrong? I love Donald Miller’s writing style and I’m almost certain I’ll learn something from these books, so I’m off to work and await my chance to break into these little pleasures as soon as I can!
Have a wonderful and blessed Thursday and remember to read (yeah, children's books count too, but only if you actually HAVE children!).
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
A New Perspective!
Here is my entry for this weeks wordplay. I opted for choice #3.
Write a story from the point-of-view of and ordinary object (for example, a rug).
Who Am I?
I love it here. I’m popular here and I feel loved. I have power and energy! I was created that way, so it comes as no surprise that people worship me. Sure there are others bigger and better and perhaps a bit MORE loved or worshipped, but right here…right now…I can sit here comfortably knowing without me, this home would be lacking.
I was created out of love and desire. I don’t regret the fact that I don’t know my forefathers. From what I’ve heard they were slow and fat. I have a cousin here, who lives in a closet all because of his excessive accessory requirements. It’s a bit frightening to think I could be ‘closeted’ without so much as a “thank you for your service here.” I’ve also heard of being ‘curbed’ which sounds so extreme to me, but I don’t get out much.
I heard the radio droning on and on the other day about something and it sounds like he’s got a bit of a cold, because he’s sputtering and coughing over there with static at every station. I think his days are numbered around here. The owners keep mumbling something about Bose being the way to go in sound. Why is it that the non-electrics are safer? I rarely see any of the pots and pans heading towards the plastic receptacle of death. Sure, some of those ‘disposable’ plastic ware containers have been reduced and recycled, but they’re too dumb to even know its happening.
My only other natural enemies here are those silent, hard-bound, word filled, tomes across the room. They sit over there all tall and proud; like little army men ready for war. They have protection to the right and left and anyone found leaning is readjusted or propped next to a wall or another ‘buddy’. They are constantly being pulled, handled, reviewed, re-shelved, corrected, and genuinely loved by these people. “What about me!” I want to shout.
“I’ve been sitting here providing white noise and entertainment so you can relax! The best you can do is to turn me on as a distraction while you do computer work or READ! Give me a break!”
One of those tomes has those thin wispy pages that make a noise each time you turn it. That one seems the most beloved of all! He gets handled and left out for everyone to see. He gets a place of honor, sometimes in the bedroom next to the place they lay their heads. He gets taken out of the house regularly. He has visitors and seems almost a god of sorts. He’s not as loud as me. Frankly, he’s not even half as pretty as me, but he’s got a name and he’s been around for a long, long time!
I’m not going to worry about it, as long as I keep my color corrected, sound in check, and programming that will entertain and dull, I’ve got a place here. Plus, if the owners go with the Bose, they won’t be trying to upgrade me any time too soon! I’m just going to sit back and enjoy the easy life while it’s here! Remember, watch me, or just leave me on! I’m here for YOU
I love it here. I’m popular here and I feel loved. I have power and energy! I was created that way, so it comes as no surprise that people worship me. Sure there are others bigger and better and perhaps a bit MORE loved or worshipped, but right here…right now…I can sit here comfortably knowing without me, this home would be lacking.
I was created out of love and desire. I don’t regret the fact that I don’t know my forefathers. From what I’ve heard they were slow and fat. I have a cousin here, who lives in a closet all because of his excessive accessory requirements. It’s a bit frightening to think I could be ‘closeted’ without so much as a “thank you for your service here.” I’ve also heard of being ‘curbed’ which sounds so extreme to me, but I don’t get out much.
I heard the radio droning on and on the other day about something and it sounds like he’s got a bit of a cold, because he’s sputtering and coughing over there with static at every station. I think his days are numbered around here. The owners keep mumbling something about Bose being the way to go in sound. Why is it that the non-electrics are safer? I rarely see any of the pots and pans heading towards the plastic receptacle of death. Sure, some of those ‘disposable’ plastic ware containers have been reduced and recycled, but they’re too dumb to even know its happening.
My only other natural enemies here are those silent, hard-bound, word filled, tomes across the room. They sit over there all tall and proud; like little army men ready for war. They have protection to the right and left and anyone found leaning is readjusted or propped next to a wall or another ‘buddy’. They are constantly being pulled, handled, reviewed, re-shelved, corrected, and genuinely loved by these people. “What about me!” I want to shout.
“I’ve been sitting here providing white noise and entertainment so you can relax! The best you can do is to turn me on as a distraction while you do computer work or READ! Give me a break!”
One of those tomes has those thin wispy pages that make a noise each time you turn it. That one seems the most beloved of all! He gets handled and left out for everyone to see. He gets a place of honor, sometimes in the bedroom next to the place they lay their heads. He gets taken out of the house regularly. He has visitors and seems almost a god of sorts. He’s not as loud as me. Frankly, he’s not even half as pretty as me, but he’s got a name and he’s been around for a long, long time!
I’m not going to worry about it, as long as I keep my color corrected, sound in check, and programming that will entertain and dull, I’ve got a place here. Plus, if the owners go with the Bose, they won’t be trying to upgrade me any time too soon! I’m just going to sit back and enjoy the easy life while it’s here! Remember, watch me, or just leave me on! I’m here for YOU
See you later!
Wednesday WordPlay!
It’s time to write: mark, inscribe, put pen to paper, engrave, carve, note, enter, record, jot down, compose, create, generate, produce, fashion, form, build, construct, design, originate, initiate, coin, conceive, commence…what are you waiting for? Thanks to everyone who participated last week. I also got a couple of offers to ‘host’ the weekly challenge! I say YAHOO! Feel free to go for it. Please email me so I have an idea who is posting the challenge on a particular week. I figure the more submissions, the greater a variety of exercises and frankly I currently have only a handful of books and of course the internet for weekly challenge resources and from what I understand some of you have resources as well.
Today’s writing exercise choices come from an online source The 6’ Ferret Writers’ Group.
1. Look around your immediate surroundings. Find an object or person and describe them fully.
2. Divide a piece of paper down the middle. On the left side, write about nine nouns (not necessarily related to one another). On the right, write about nine words related to one certain occupation of your choice. Then draw lines from one column to the next, connecting one noun with one word from the right column. Choose one of these paired-off words and write a short story or poem using them.
3. Write a story from the point-of-view of and ordinary object (for example, a rug).
I’m going to have to think about this one and come back later today and edit in my entry!
“Mere words are cheap and plenty enough, but ideas that rouse and set multitudes thinking come as gold from the mines.” A. Owen Penny
Happy Wednesday!
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Happy Birthday Little Sister (and America)!
It always seems fitting to me that on a day of such incredible and HUGE celebration, that in Anchorage, Alaska, 30 some years ago, God brought forth, to this great nation, a baby so wonderful and He placed her in MY LIFE to be MY LITTLE SISTER!
Thank you Mom (and Dad) for being the person to bring my sister…my best frie
nd, to our home…n
ot so many years ago! The Eskimo Firecracker!
Without further ado and sung in the key of ‘love and joy’!
Happy Birthday to You!
Happy Birthday to You!
Happy Birthday Dear Sister (and Americaaaaaaaa)……
Happy
Birrrrrrrrrrttttttttthhhhhhdddddaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy
toooooooooooo
YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!
God Bless you all year long!
Love you!
Monday, July 03, 2006
Are those your toes?
In the past, in this space, I have tried to be extremely mindful of what I write here, so as not to offend, or even anger someone who finds their way here. I believe God, when he instructed us to be mindful of what we say and do (and even eat) and that if it is likely to ‘trip up’ a young believer, to abstain. I feel like I’ve done a fairly good job to date. However, I’ve reached a ‘breaking point’ of sorts. Suffice to say, I fear the days of self-edit may be short-lived.In contrast I’ve also shared, this space and my written thoughts were never intended to be a validation of what other people believe or say…this is my journal. Sometimes I’m less then pretty (can you even imagine it?). Sometimes I’m working through some things that MANY people don’t even see in their world. My prayer is that as I open up and ‘journal’ this struggle I can do so without offense rather in a ‘seeking’ mode.
It gives me great hope that even as I battle the demons that try, without fail, to trip me up and confuse me and stifle me and dis-empower me, God is still God. God will never leave me nor forsake me. He reminded me again yesterday in church to be strong! Be prepared for battle…be STRONG and courageous!
God also gave me a bit of a slap on the hand (Scripture included in conclusion) for acting like a child when I’ve been on solid food for some time now. I can relate to the toddler that doesn’t want to give up the bottle at naptime, because there are days (like today), when I just want to be cradled and held and drink from the bottle of ignorance and all its comfort and assurance. God is the one prompting me to quit pouting and starting searching!
It’s not so important to write today what the specific struggle is, it’s enough to say that as I search for answers and ‘journal’ this journey, I might not be so ‘user friendly’.
*it’s important to note I literally ‘fell upon’ this Scripture one day as I screamed out to God to: “GIVE ME A WORD!” then I threw open my Bible to this:
“So let us stop going over the basics of Christianity again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don't need to start all over again with the importance of turning away from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don't need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.
For it is impossible to restore to repentance those who were once enlightened--those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come-- and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people to repentance again because they are nailing the Son of God to the cross again by rejecting him, holding him up to public shame.
When the ground soaks up the rain that falls on it and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has the blessing of God. But if a field bears thistles and thorns, it is useless. The farmer will condemn that field and burn it.
Dear friends, even though we are talking like this, we really don't believe that it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation. For God is not unfair. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other Christians, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will keep right on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God's promises because of their faith and patience.” (NLT: Hebrews 6:1-12)
(I ‘flipped’ back a chapter to see why this whole lecture began…this is where I landed…)
“I have a lot more to say about this, but it is hard to get it across to you since you've picked up this bad habit of not listening. By this time you ought to be teachers yourselves, yet here I find you need someone to sit down with you and go over the basics on God again, starting from square one—baby's milk, when you should have been on solid food long ago! Milk is for beginners, inexperienced in God's ways; solid food is for the mature, who have some practice in telling right from wrong.” (Message: Hebrews 5:11-14)
Have a beautiful Monday and remember to pray tomorrow for those who have fought to attain and preserve our freedom!
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