Well, vacation time is over, and it is time to get back to the real world.
I have lots of decisions that I need to make in this next month. Our family structure is changing drastically and so I now get to set new boundaries and actually figure out what my role is going to be.
I have been the primary person, available to help my folks, but with the family structure changing, I now have the opportunity to decide to what extent I want to be available.
Is it time for me to think about getting a "real" job? In getting a "real" job, do I have the ability to think about relocating? I know that in the next few weeks, I need to do alot of praying and hopefully God will tell me what I need to do. I will also spend time talking with my folks, to help assess what they think their needs will be and to what extent they will need my help. I also have a Dr's appt scheduled for a complete physical at the end of the month, with minor things prior to that, so that we can see to what extent I can "dream".
I guess I am just at a point that I am thinking about me - please don't call me selfish - I've had that enough - but as more people come available to help, maybe I have the opportunity to do something for me. Maybe I can find a dream and go after it - maybe I can "get a life" as so many people tell me I need to do.
It will definately be an interesting month, filled with lots of decisions, lots of prayers for guidance, and hopefully being able to figure out what I am going to do with the "rest of my life." If you want to - I would appreciate the prayers of others.
Until the next post.....
walking with the King, s
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
A reflection of who????????
Yesterday I had the wonderful experience of babysitting an awesome little boy. He is 1 yr, 3 months and a bundle of pure energy and joy. As he was running around the apartment, he became fascinated by the mirrors in the bedroom. I had to smile as he would go by them, and at first give it just a minor glance, but as the time went on, he was standing there carrying out a full blown conversation with the little boy across from him. It was so funny - he would wave his hands, and just carry on, with no concept that it was his reflection.
Today has been an interesting afternoon for me, lots going on in my brain. As I sat out on the waterfront watching the sun setting - I thought about the reflection of the sun on the ocean, and the mirror image it produced. It was really great. But then my thoughts turned to more spiritual things.
In Genesis 1:27 - it states that "God created man in his own image" - so if we were created in HIS image, we should be a reflection of Him. Unfortunately in our humanity we screw things up constantly and do not give off a really good reflection of the image that we were created in.
But I think that many years ago, Paul realized this, when he wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:12 "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face....". It seems like when I look in the mirror, I just see me, in all my failing humanity.
I can't wait until I look in the mirror, get excited the way that Joshua did, because there is a "different" person looking back at me - that being the image of Christ, until the day when I can actually see Him face to face.
I'm probably "preaching to the choir" so to speak, but I know for myself - I have a long long way to go. I'm just glad that He is patient with me. So until that day that I see Him face to face, I will strive to be a better reflection of Him. Anyone care to join me in the journey walking with the King?
Today has been an interesting afternoon for me, lots going on in my brain. As I sat out on the waterfront watching the sun setting - I thought about the reflection of the sun on the ocean, and the mirror image it produced. It was really great. But then my thoughts turned to more spiritual things.
In Genesis 1:27 - it states that "God created man in his own image" - so if we were created in HIS image, we should be a reflection of Him. Unfortunately in our humanity we screw things up constantly and do not give off a really good reflection of the image that we were created in.
But I think that many years ago, Paul realized this, when he wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:12 "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face....". It seems like when I look in the mirror, I just see me, in all my failing humanity.
I can't wait until I look in the mirror, get excited the way that Joshua did, because there is a "different" person looking back at me - that being the image of Christ, until the day when I can actually see Him face to face.
I'm probably "preaching to the choir" so to speak, but I know for myself - I have a long long way to go. I'm just glad that He is patient with me. So until that day that I see Him face to face, I will strive to be a better reflection of Him. Anyone care to join me in the journey walking with the King?
Saturday, April 18, 2009
What's in a name?
The first gift you were ever given - was your name. What does your name say about you?
Recently, a friend of mine's daughter gave birth - and for about a week, they could not decide on the name that they wanted to give their beautiful little girl. Now I thought that was just weird, but then I started thinking about it - What is the first thing you do when you introduce yourself? You tell them your name. When you die - your name is synonymous with all your accomplishments. When I say the name Adolph Hitler - what picture is in your head, Or Albert Einstein, how about Ghandi, or Winston Churchill, Billy Graham. Their entire lives are wrapped up in their name. And what are some parents thinking when they name their children names like Benton Dover (Ben Dover) or Timothy Burr (Tim Burr). These are 2 people that I personally know, and wonder how can a parent do that to their child.
Now, I understand that society for some reason dictates what the popular names are - usually based on soap opera characters, or other TV 'reality' actors. Isn't it interesting that when our country turns up their noses to faith in God, yet many of the most popular names are those of people found in the Bible, or some form of it. Different cultures focus on certain names. In the Spanish culture you will find a lot of Jesus', but in the American culture you find that name used very little when nameing children.
So my question is this - do we really think about what we name our children. Many parents study the meaning of the names before they actually name their children. I found it interesting when I looked up the meaning of my name and my siblings names, and found that our personalities are very similar to what our names mean. I would hope that most parents would be willing to think about what they are "subjecting" their children to in the names that they are given.
You know, there is one more true importance in a name. And that has nothing to do with the reception of society here on earth. The Bible talks about in the end when we arrive in heaven, and where we spend eternity is dependent on our name, and whether it is written in the Lambs Book of Life.
Revelation 21:27 (The Message)
Nothing dirty or defiled will get into the City, and no one who defiles or deceives. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life will get in.
I can only hope that those of you who are having children, or involved in the naming of children - ie grandparents, god parents, aunts, uncles, close friend, etc. - are going to be active in making sure that those children know the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus. You give your children a gift in their name, but make sure that they know about the free gift that Father God gave in His Son, Jesus Christ, so we could have eternal life, because they might leave a name behind here on the earth, but eternity is a long time if your name isn't written down up there.
Just a few thoughts.
Walking with the King, s
Recently, a friend of mine's daughter gave birth - and for about a week, they could not decide on the name that they wanted to give their beautiful little girl. Now I thought that was just weird, but then I started thinking about it - What is the first thing you do when you introduce yourself? You tell them your name. When you die - your name is synonymous with all your accomplishments. When I say the name Adolph Hitler - what picture is in your head, Or Albert Einstein, how about Ghandi, or Winston Churchill, Billy Graham. Their entire lives are wrapped up in their name. And what are some parents thinking when they name their children names like Benton Dover (Ben Dover) or Timothy Burr (Tim Burr). These are 2 people that I personally know, and wonder how can a parent do that to their child.
Now, I understand that society for some reason dictates what the popular names are - usually based on soap opera characters, or other TV 'reality' actors. Isn't it interesting that when our country turns up their noses to faith in God, yet many of the most popular names are those of people found in the Bible, or some form of it. Different cultures focus on certain names. In the Spanish culture you will find a lot of Jesus', but in the American culture you find that name used very little when nameing children.
So my question is this - do we really think about what we name our children. Many parents study the meaning of the names before they actually name their children. I found it interesting when I looked up the meaning of my name and my siblings names, and found that our personalities are very similar to what our names mean. I would hope that most parents would be willing to think about what they are "subjecting" their children to in the names that they are given.
You know, there is one more true importance in a name. And that has nothing to do with the reception of society here on earth. The Bible talks about in the end when we arrive in heaven, and where we spend eternity is dependent on our name, and whether it is written in the Lambs Book of Life.
Revelation 21:27 (The Message)
Nothing dirty or defiled will get into the City, and no one who defiles or deceives. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life will get in.
I can only hope that those of you who are having children, or involved in the naming of children - ie grandparents, god parents, aunts, uncles, close friend, etc. - are going to be active in making sure that those children know the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus. You give your children a gift in their name, but make sure that they know about the free gift that Father God gave in His Son, Jesus Christ, so we could have eternal life, because they might leave a name behind here on the earth, but eternity is a long time if your name isn't written down up there.
Just a few thoughts.
Walking with the King, s
A suitable helper
This morning, I sit here very frustrated. I guess I am wondering why it seems that life is passing me by - and with each passing day - it is one more day that I sit single. I think I am second guessing my decisions to be patient and wait for God to bring that “special someone” into my life. Now please don’t worry about me going out and doing something stupid, but I guess I wonder if I am not going about this the right way. Now please, I don’t want anyone reminding me about how blessed my life is, and if I was married I wouldn’t be able to do half the stuff that I do. I know all of that, and I am not lamenting my life as a whole - I just wished that I had someone to share life with.
You ask what has brought about these feelings this morning - well - I got an e-mail from my brother stating he was on his way in May to meet someone that he had met over the internet, and he is “in love”. Please don’t get me wrong - I am not against anyone finding love, but I guess I just wonder when it is going to happen for me. Now before any of you respond about E-harmony, and other dating sites - been there, done that, bought the t-shirt and bumper sticker. And it isn’t just a one time thing. I have been part of E-harmony a total of 2 years and the only thing I found, was that my wallet was a lot lighter. I have tried other sites also and they to, just seem to be a drain on the pocketbook. I have tried free sites, and to no avail there also - it seems like I intimidate a lot of men by being 42 and never married. I don’t even want to bring in the issue of spiritual maturity here.
Genesis 2:18 states “The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be
Alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
You know, I wouldn’t struggle with this so much if it wasn’t for something that God, himself, said. If it isn’t good for man, or woman, to be alone, then why isn’t God bringing my “helper”. I have lost count at the number of people that ask me why I am not married. My answer has always been, it isn’t that I haven’t met the person that I can spend the rest of my life with, I just haven’t met the person that I can’t live without. So is it time to change my “standards” so that I don’t spend the rest of my life alone.
I have a wonderful friend, who is now well in her 60’s and she always said, she would rather be a happy single than an unhappy bride. And I agree with her, but she also admits that she has never had the desire to be married. I love her to death, but I don’t want to be 65 my life consists only of church activities and taking care of everyone else. And frankly - I do have that desire to be married and have a family.
I don’t know, maybe this feeling today is just indigestion, and it will pass, but all I know is that it comes more and more often - and frankly I just wish that God would say “No Sandy - that isn’t the thing that I have for you” and then I could deal with the emotions and move on.
But until then I guess I will continue to keep on keeping on and trusting Him to know what He is doing. And if anyone has any “sensible” ideas - feel free to forward them on to me.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The Power of Peer Pressure
The last couple of mornings I have had the opportunity to get up before the sun, here in Grand Cayman. It is currently Holy week here, and we have been having church at 6:00 each morning.
This morning I realized something. Usually when I head outside - it is still dark and the "resident" rooster is still asleep. I have been enjoying the quiet first thing in the mornings, as I am outside waiting for a friend to pick me up, so we can attend church together.
This morning, the neighbor guy was outside, ready to take a friend to the airport early - and as we were talking, I guess our resident rooster heard us talking - and started crowing - remind you that the sun is still yet not up. Within about 5 minutes, all over the area, you could hear the roosters crowing, but yet the sun is not up - so much for them being a great alarm clock. hahaha
It seemed like in a matter of minutes all you could hear were these crowing roosters, all over the immediate area.
One of the radio programs for children, here on the island, talks about the animals and how God made them. Coincidentally one of the programs last week was about roosters and how they, the roosters, are actually very very insecure. Now please don't ask me which psychologist interviewed the roosters to find out this amazing fact - but as they kept on talking about the roosters, it began to make sense. If you think about it a rooster doesn't do anything - and any predator animal, dog, cat, iguana, etc would very easily be able to kill them, they don't fly much and they don't run fast, and so God has given them this obnoxiously shrill crow - that scares everything off. They shared other traits about the rooster, but that crowing really stuck in my mind. At times it is ear piercing, and this morning I just wanted to tell them to shut up - they were ruining my peace and quiet. But the more I listened, the more fascinated I became - 1 rooster crowing - and within minutes I'm sure, as small as this island is, the roosters all over the island were crowing - how's that for giving in to peer pressure.
When my friend arrived, so that we could go to church together, during the drive she thanked me for going to church with her, because if I hadn't been here, she wasn't sure that she would have gotten up each morning to cross the island for just a 30 minute service. We talked about how Christians are to build one another us and the importance of it. After coming home and thinking about it a little more - you can think about some of these things when you are on vacation ;) - I realized that the scripture had lots to say about this.
Proverbs 27:17 (AMP) Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend [to show rage or worthy purpose].
1 Thessalonians 5:11Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing.
Hebrews 3:13But instead warn (admonish, urge, and encourage) one another every day, as long as it is called Today, that none of you may be hardened [into settled rebellion] by the deceitfulness of sin [by the fraudulence, the stratagem, the trickery which the delusive glamor of his sin may play on him.
As we claim to be Christians, my question becomes this - do we just give off a shrill sound to the world - in such a way that all they want to do is tell us to shut up, or are we truly encouraging one another onto bigger and more important things for the gospel of Christ - strengthening one another - so that the enemy can't sneak up and attack us.
I have a feeling that I am going to think about this sort of thing everytime I hear a rooster crow. I certainly hope that I don't sound like a rooster to those around me, but what comes from me, both verbal and non-verbal is beneficial to those around me. Just a thought for today - as I continue to walk with the King.
This morning I realized something. Usually when I head outside - it is still dark and the "resident" rooster is still asleep. I have been enjoying the quiet first thing in the mornings, as I am outside waiting for a friend to pick me up, so we can attend church together.
This morning, the neighbor guy was outside, ready to take a friend to the airport early - and as we were talking, I guess our resident rooster heard us talking - and started crowing - remind you that the sun is still yet not up. Within about 5 minutes, all over the area, you could hear the roosters crowing, but yet the sun is not up - so much for them being a great alarm clock. hahaha
It seemed like in a matter of minutes all you could hear were these crowing roosters, all over the immediate area.
One of the radio programs for children, here on the island, talks about the animals and how God made them. Coincidentally one of the programs last week was about roosters and how they, the roosters, are actually very very insecure. Now please don't ask me which psychologist interviewed the roosters to find out this amazing fact - but as they kept on talking about the roosters, it began to make sense. If you think about it a rooster doesn't do anything - and any predator animal, dog, cat, iguana, etc would very easily be able to kill them, they don't fly much and they don't run fast, and so God has given them this obnoxiously shrill crow - that scares everything off. They shared other traits about the rooster, but that crowing really stuck in my mind. At times it is ear piercing, and this morning I just wanted to tell them to shut up - they were ruining my peace and quiet. But the more I listened, the more fascinated I became - 1 rooster crowing - and within minutes I'm sure, as small as this island is, the roosters all over the island were crowing - how's that for giving in to peer pressure.
When my friend arrived, so that we could go to church together, during the drive she thanked me for going to church with her, because if I hadn't been here, she wasn't sure that she would have gotten up each morning to cross the island for just a 30 minute service. We talked about how Christians are to build one another us and the importance of it. After coming home and thinking about it a little more - you can think about some of these things when you are on vacation ;) - I realized that the scripture had lots to say about this.
Proverbs 27:17 (AMP) Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend [to show rage or worthy purpose].
1 Thessalonians 5:11Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing.
Hebrews 3:13But instead warn (admonish, urge, and encourage) one another every day, as long as it is called Today, that none of you may be hardened [into settled rebellion] by the deceitfulness of sin [by the fraudulence, the stratagem, the trickery which the delusive glamor of his sin may play on him.
As we claim to be Christians, my question becomes this - do we just give off a shrill sound to the world - in such a way that all they want to do is tell us to shut up, or are we truly encouraging one another onto bigger and more important things for the gospel of Christ - strengthening one another - so that the enemy can't sneak up and attack us.
I have a feeling that I am going to think about this sort of thing everytime I hear a rooster crow. I certainly hope that I don't sound like a rooster to those around me, but what comes from me, both verbal and non-verbal is beneficial to those around me. Just a thought for today - as I continue to walk with the King.
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