(the bed is for me and the valet guy should he decide to call me...LOL)Saturday, May 31, 2008
Dreaming
It's been a long day and a very long week (why am I complaining? It was only a four day week for me!!!!) and I'm tired. Luckily I don't have to touch another body (unless you're the ever so hottt valet guy...my book is open....call me...LOL) until Wednesday. So right now I'm just thinking of all the places I'd really like to be right about now. 
(the bed is for me and the valet guy should he decide to call me...LOL)
(the bed is for me and the valet guy should he decide to call me...LOL)
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Matthew 6:34
Why do we get so wrapped up in the future? Maybe I should say why do I get so wrapped up in the future? What will come? Who will be there? Will I live here or there? Will I do this or that? This morning I was reminded that Jesus said, Don't worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will take care of itself. The Message Bible says it this way "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." I guess that's the key.....getting your head around what God is doing....in this moment. He is at work all around us, setting us up to follow the path He has planned for us. He's at work all around us, tugging on the hearts of our family and friends so that something we say or do will draw them closer to God. He is at work all around us.
Lord, help me to give all my atttention to what you are doing, right now, in this moment.
Lord, help me to give all my atttention to what you are doing, right now, in this moment.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Some Cruise Pics
Okay so the cruise wasn't the greatest thing in the world. If you're an alcoholic or you enjoy doing absolutely NOTHING, then its the greatest thing since sliced bread. However, if you're anything like MYSELF, you'd be completely bored and ready to jump off the side of the ship within a matter of hours. 
But, here are some pictures to show our adventures. I got to go para sailing....we'll just overlook the fact that I got a wee bit motion sick and remember the beauty I beheld while 3oo feet in the air. Amoung the hundreds of people Julie and I spotted a blue eye troller that - well, lets just say I wouldn't kick him out of MY bed! Anyway, hope you enjoy the pics.
But, here are some pictures to show our adventures. I got to go para sailing....we'll just overlook the fact that I got a wee bit motion sick and remember the beauty I beheld while 3oo feet in the air. Amoung the hundreds of people Julie and I spotted a blue eye troller that - well, lets just say I wouldn't kick him out of MY bed! Anyway, hope you enjoy the pics.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
And We're Off....
Tomorrow my best friend, mom and dad are leaving for a cruise. I'm not exactly sure what to expect, but I'm hoping for a lot of rest, a lot of fun, and maybe some direction from God. After taking a full load of classes this semester I thought I'd be a step closer to knowing what direction I'd like to take. But I don't. Even though I'm on the brink of thirty, sometimes I feel like I'm still that fifth grader in Mrs. Lewis' class. Not really sure of what comes next, but knowing all I have to worry about is now. But I'm not and I'm just wondering, "what next?" If I really thought being a massage therapist completed me I wouldn't be pondering my next step in life, but it doesn't. I know it seems as if I'm constantly wondering what else is out there....and yes I am, but its only because I know I'm capable of so much more than this. So with that said, I'm going to try to take each day as it comes. Hopefully I'll get a renewed sense of self on this trip and a little direction from God.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Inspiring Story
Isaiah 65:24
This story was written by a doctor who worked in South Africa .One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died leaving us with a tiny premature baby and acrying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive, as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator).We also had no special feeding facilities. Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in.Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst(rubber perishes easily in tropical climates). 'And it is our last hot water bottle!' she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.'All right,' I said, 'put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job isto keep the baby warm.'The following noon , as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any ofthe orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngstersvarious suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because hermother had died. During prayer time, one ten -year old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. 'Please, God' she prayed, 'sendus a water bottle. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.' While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, 'And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?'As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say, 'Amen'? I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything, the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren'tthere? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever received a parcel from home. Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle?I lived on the equator! Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car atmy front door..By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the veranda, wasa large twenty-two pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper,taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty orforty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend. Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be? I grasped it and pulled it out - yes, a brand-new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.. Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, 'If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly too!' Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted! Looking up at me, she asked: 'Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her? 'That parcel had been on the way for five whole months. Packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five month s before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it 'that afternoon'. 'Before they call, I will answer' (Isaiah 65:24) This awesome prayer takesless than a minute. When you receive this, say the prayer, that's all you have to do. No strings attached. Just send it on to whomever you want - but do send it on. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let's continue praying for one another !' Father, I ask you to bless my friends reading this right now. I am asking You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy.Where there is self doubting, release a renewed confidence to work through them.Where there is spiritual stagnation, I ask You to renew them by revealing Your nearness, and by drawing them into greater intimacy with You. Where there is fear, reveal Your love, and release to them Your courage. Bless their finances, give them greater vision, and raise up leaders and friends to support and encourage them. Give each of them discernment to recognize the evil forces around them, and reveal to them the power they have in You to defeat it. I ask you to do these things in Jesus' name. '
This story was written by a doctor who worked in South Africa .One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died leaving us with a tiny premature baby and acrying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive, as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator).We also had no special feeding facilities. Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in.Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst(rubber perishes easily in tropical climates). 'And it is our last hot water bottle!' she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.'All right,' I said, 'put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job isto keep the baby warm.'The following noon , as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any ofthe orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngstersvarious suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because hermother had died. During prayer time, one ten -year old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. 'Please, God' she prayed, 'sendus a water bottle. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.' While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, 'And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?'As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say, 'Amen'? I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything, the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren'tthere? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever received a parcel from home. Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle?I lived on the equator! Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car atmy front door..By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the veranda, wasa large twenty-two pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper,taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty orforty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend. Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be? I grasped it and pulled it out - yes, a brand-new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.. Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, 'If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly too!' Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted! Looking up at me, she asked: 'Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her? 'That parcel had been on the way for five whole months. Packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five month s before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it 'that afternoon'. 'Before they call, I will answer' (Isaiah 65:24) This awesome prayer takesless than a minute. When you receive this, say the prayer, that's all you have to do. No strings attached. Just send it on to whomever you want - but do send it on. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let's continue praying for one another !' Father, I ask you to bless my friends reading this right now. I am asking You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy.Where there is self doubting, release a renewed confidence to work through them.Where there is spiritual stagnation, I ask You to renew them by revealing Your nearness, and by drawing them into greater intimacy with You. Where there is fear, reveal Your love, and release to them Your courage. Bless their finances, give them greater vision, and raise up leaders and friends to support and encourage them. Give each of them discernment to recognize the evil forces around them, and reveal to them the power they have in You to defeat it. I ask you to do these things in Jesus' name. '
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