Thinking About Spring

“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes have a taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”
—Anne Bradstreet, writer and poet

I've been looking at seed catalogs to order my garden seeds, and I know I need to get it done soon, but I'm having a hard time getting motivated when my garden beds are just vague memories under the three and a half feet of snow in our back yard! I know Spring will arrive and I hope to have my seeds ready to go when it does get here. Even though gardening is a lot of work, I love fresh, organic veggies out of my garden. I always look forward to the first Robin's arrival and to the first buds that appear on the trees, sending us hope that rebirth is just around the corner.

Jesus offers us a chance to start over as well, and give us rebirth. We can ask him to forgive us and to help us out in life, and it's like we start over-it's like what happens in nature when the dead (and non-ending snow) goes away and we start to see signs of life around us everywhere we look.

As January comes to an end, I am thinking more and more about my favorite season and all the beautiful bulbs that break through the earth to give us amazing bursts of color. I think of how the grass will actually appear again and how the trees will come to life as well. Winter is good, though, because without the freezing temps in the winter, we wouldn't have those beautiful flowers in the spring! Just like in our lives, when we come through the dark times into a new season of life, and if Christ is part of that time, it gives us more to be thankful for when we make it through to the new season. We can display His beauty in our lives and be thankful that although the dark times where long and hard, and seemed like they would not end, He was there to bring us through. Many times when we look back on those times, we see how it made us stronger and how God was walking with us through the tough times never leaving us to trudge the winter of our lives alone.

As winter goes on outside, think of spring and renewal in your heart, and think of what type of seeds you are planting daily for those around you to see.

Don't be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he'll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life. So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit. Galations 6:7-9 The Message

If we have faith in God's Son, we have believed what God has said. But if we don't believe what God has said about his Son, it is the same as calling God a liar. God has also said that he gave us eternal life and that this life comes to us from his Son. And so, if we have God's Son, we have this life. But if we don't have the Son, we don't have this life. 1 John 5:10-12

Warm Heart

Another storm blew in today. I was half way home, when I came across a total white out. It was a weird sensation, having driven this road hundreds of times, and suddenly being disoriented. I could not tell where the road was, if there was a car coming, where the ditch was, just pure white was all I could see! It was snowing and blowing very hard and the fog was quite heavy in this area. I finally got to a road to cut up to the highway, hoping it would be better for visibility. The highway was somewhat better, and I was quite happy to pull into my driveway and be safe at home.

Even though the storms, and endless snow, are getting old and there's absolutely no where to put the new snow when shoveling, I must say the storms could go on for awhile because I am seeing a side of people that we just don't see much anymore. We all get so busy going here and there, and doing our own thing, and not knowing those around us, even those who live right next door. However, this series of storms seems to be bringing out the good in people, the side of society that we seem to have lost in our high stress, high tech world. People are helping each other and talking to each other. Neighbors are all pitching in together to help each other out. Just tonight in our little corner of the neighborhood, we had people plowing out others, others helping to shovel out sidewalks or buried mail boxes, and others using their snow blowers to help lighten the load for those who were shoveling. We had adults out playing on the eight to ten foot mounds of snow that we all have piled in our driveways, and several kids where sledding as well. Laughter filled our neighborhood tonight, and it was a sweet sound. I heard quite a few stories today of how people are helping others around the area. The snow is deep, the wind is cold, and the roads are getting increasingly narrow, but the storms this week have helped people to remember to care for each other, to lend a helping hand, and to have fun together on 'snow days.' I know observing, and taking part in both giving and receiving help the past few days has added some warmth to my heart, and it gives me a glimpse of hope.

""The point is not to pay back kindness but to pass it on."" ~Julia Alvarez

Do to others as you would like them to do to you.

Luke 6:31

"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can." -- John Wesley

After The Storm

Thirty four hours straight! Thirty four hours! For thirty four hours straight, it snowed, and it snowed and it snowed some more! We received around two feet of new snow from Saturday at noon through Sunday night. It snowed large, wet and heavy flakes. It took my hubby three hours just to clean out the driveway. Thankfully, our little corner started to help each other, and snow blowers, four wheelers, and neighbors with shovels started helping each other dig out and get their cars unstuck from the giant snowballs that the city put in all of our driveways. A small car does not go through a three foot high snowball very well, as our neighbor found out. The snow is piled as high as most of the stop signs in our neighborhood. Today, we got a little break, and the sun came out, but it's supposed to snow more tonight, and the rest of the week. God brought us through the storm, and today we are enjoying the beauty of His handiwork!

During the storm:

Helpful neighbor!

After the storm:

Birthday Psalm

Today I was listening to a speaker and she was talking about a birthday Psalm that they read on their birthday. As she was saying it, I thought that was really neat, so I thought I would check out what my birthday Psalm was when I got home. I was thinking month and day of my birthday, but as she went on she talked about the birthday Psalm for their family is Psalm 139:13-16:

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

It's a great Psalm and one that we all should keep in mind when we feel down or like we don't matter because we do matter and God knows each and every detail of who we are and made us that away for a reason!

I still was curious to what my birthday Psalm was, so I checked it out at http://www.biblegateway.com/ when I arrived home, in a couple of different translations. Mine would be Psalm 9:10:

10 Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you. New Living Translation

9-10 God's a safe-house for the battered, a sanctuary during bad times. The moment you arrive, you relax; you're never sorry you knocked. The Message

I looked up my husband's and that Psalm only goes to 10 verses, and I need 18, so I just read 1-8 for his. If you feel like sharing your 'birthday Psalm' please do so. I realize that although there are 150 Psalms, this won't work for everyone's birthday, so just share your favorite verse out of Psalms. I think it will bless all who read it.

Prairie Views

Good Night's Sleep

I've been tired all week. I haven't had time to catch up on the sleep I lost on Sunday night while my poor husband was dealing with a kidney stone. I've been wondering what it will take to feel refreshed and rejuvenated again. The answer came in my email inbox this morning! "A Good Night's Sleep $599.99 Delivered" was the subject line. Hmm, seems a little steep to me for a good night's sleep, but if I could get completely refreshed and rested, maybe it would be worth it. I do wonder, though, how Costco delivers a good night's sleep? Do they have a direct connection with the Sandman and they call him up and send him to your door to blow sand in your eyes, and boom, you are asleep? Maybe they send a pharmacist to give you a sleeping pill? It could be they send over those music CD's that play relaxing music along with some new pillows and blankets. I would say that Costco may have something with 'A good night's sleep delivered' because we are a busy society and many people are sleep deprived, but $599.99 seems out of most people's price range. Oh, maybe since it's Costco, you get a package deal for an entire month of good sleep for that price! Whatever they do, it's out of my price range, so I guess I will just have to remain sleep deprived for now and hope to catch up over the weekend.

True Friend

When someone allows you to bear his burdens, you have found deep friendship.

"Friendship isn't a big thing - it's a million little things."

"Friendship happens in that special moment when someone reaches out to another, trusts, comforts, believes in another, and makes a special difference that no one else can make."

Today, I just want to give thanks for my dearest friend. God brought us together as friends around four years ago. It took both of us awhile to completely trust each other after being hurt by people in the past, but once we allowed our hearts to trust, it was amazing the blessings that God started to pour into my life. We were first both leading girls small groups at our church, then we both felt like God was telling us to ask the other to be each others spiritual accountability partner, and after much hesitation and arguing with God because I didn't know if I could trust her, I asked her and she said she had felt God laying it on her heart as well. Our friendship became a very special part of my life. Two years ago, I had to move an hour away. An hour isn't far, but the main time we saw each other was at church and youth stuff, because both our lives are so busy. We would meet for lunch, as well, and with me moving that would be more difficult. We emailed daily, and I knew when I moved that would continue, but I wouldn't get to see her as much in person. We were doing a study together, and we moved it to a weekly online time on messenger. It doesn't always revolve around a study, but it is precious time to me! I cherish and treasure this friendship. It is amazing to see how God has brought us together, and it is strange to see how he makes us go through similiar things in our lives at the same time. We have gotten used to it by now, and just laugh over what God does in our lives, and sometimes we just share a good cry together. The main thing today is I just want to say thanks to my friend for always being there with a listening ear, a caring heart, for praying for me, and for offering me advice when I need it, and even when I think I don't need it. I am blessed. The great thing about having a deep friendship with someone who shares my faith is that friendship will never end, and I thank God for this special friend and all she has done for me and been to me.

"Are we going to be friends forever? Asked Piglet. Even longer, Pooh answered."

"Everyone hears what you say. Friends listen to what you say. Best friends listen to what you don't say."

Special Delivery! It's a......

Labor began early afternoon yesterday, but then it subsided some. It was mainly back pain, that kept coming and going. About 7:30 last night, it kicked in to full gear and we were up most of the night, pacing the floors, dealing with intense pain. This one didn't want to be delivered, however. It was happy and content to stay where it was. It was a long night! This morning at 6:32 delivery finally happened!! The delivery was fairly quick, once it decided it was time to come into the world. Other than very tired, we are doing alright.

I would post a picture, but my hubby didn't take one after delivery. He is, however, proud to have delivered into this world yet another kidney stone! We have to find someway to control the population with him because he is bringing too many of these into the world, and we need to do something about it!

It was a wild and crazy night! My hubby and I had tickets to the PBR bull riding challenge that came to Spokane. We love the PBR, but haven't been able to watch it since moving because we only have local channels here, deciding to not spend our money on satellite tv. We were very excited to go to this event! Unfortunately, this was not PBR quality! Out of thirty riders, each with two rides, only four rode the bulls. Most of the guys verily made it out of the shoots before meeting the ground. A couple of the bulls got frustrated and decided to put their own show on and run around the ring for awhile, chasing everyone and everything in their path. The crowd loved it because it was the best entertainment of the night. To say we were disappointed, was an understatement. I'm not trying to sound rude here, but it was a sad representation of the PBR. I think they use the PBR name just to draw people to the event and be able to charge higher ticket prices to those attending. This is why the only place we should put our hope is in God, because everything else tends to let us down, in one way or another.
Psalm 39:7 And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.

The drive home was interesting. We had received two to four new inches of snow, depending on the area. There were many wrecks along the interstate. We took the back road the last part of the way home, and we encountered a good, old fashioned blizzard. The wind was whipping across the prairie, as the snow came down in heavy blankets, making visibility almost zero. The roads were starting to drift shut, and I'm sure this morning many are drifted shut. As I look down our street, I see some areas where there is just a covering of snow, and other areas that have three to four foot drifts. The sun is now trying to peak out, but the wind is still blowing and it's quite cold! It looks like a good day to stay inside, curl up in a warm blanket, and watch some football and see if my team moves onto the Super Bowl.

Freaky Friday

I had to be at an appointment early this morning. The temperatures where very chilly when I left the house, and the area was blanketed in frozen fog. Once the fog lifted some, the view was amazing. The fog had frozen to the trees and everything was white crystals. As I drove by my church on the way to Coeur d'Alene, my heart kind of skipped a beat as I noticed police cars and news crews in the driveway. I tried to tune in an AM radio station, but I could not get a reception. I knew that it was about the time people would be going to work and a small fear came over me, that something bad happened, like a shooting. By the time I arrived in town at my appointment, I finally found some news on the radio. They were talking about the suicidal man in Spokane, who had threatened to kill himself and his girlfriend in one of the schools, so those schools were shut down. Then they said that there also was a chase that started in Spokane at Hooters, and it ended at Real Life Ministries, and that gun fire had been exchanged. I tried not to worry about everyone I knew who worked today and I prayed for their safety. After my appointment, I was still trying not to worry.

I tried enjoy the fact that the fog had pretty much lifted, and the sky was blue with the sun shining! I also enjoyed snapping few pictures on my way home of the beautiful crystallized trees and scenery.

Once I arrived home, I immediately got on the internet to check out details of the shooting. It seems that no one was killed, but several shots were fired. I believe the stand off started before anyone arrived at work, so everyone was safe, to which I breathed a prayer of thanks. It still sends chills up my spine, though, to think that a shoot off went on in my church parking lot.

Living For Something

http://www.carolynpankalla.com/ to hear a portion of the song listed below.

I heard this song last night, and loved it because it's how I feel about life. I am here for a reason, not just to wander aimlessly. I have a purpose that God put me on this earth for and I need to fulfill it. Do you know the purpose God has for you? The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren is a great book and can help you see what you are here for, so if you don't have it, I highly recommend it. Are you living for something worthwhile, or are you just going through the motions? Don't waste your life. Grab on to it and live it to the fullest!

here on the surface

i'm just another face

trying to make it

trying to find my place

if you look deeper

here on the inside

there's something bigger

than meets the eye

i'm living for something

not here for nothing

i'm here to make a change

there is a reason

as long as i'm breathing

i will live for another day to shine

spinning in circles

standing up and falling down

i'm finally learning

that's what life's about

still i'm not perfect

you know i'll never be

my only purpose

is giving God the best of me

Observing Life Around Me

As I walked through the double doors, a long line met me within two feet of my entrance. 'Great, another wasted half an hour of my life, waiting.' I was trying to not grumble to myself as I joined sixteen other people, standing in a silent line, in a fairly silent room. I stood there wondering why they don't play some music or something, as all these stoic people stood before me, and I thought wow, it was going to be a long wait as I scanned the faces and wondered why everyone looked so grouchy! Suddenly, the silence was broken by an older man yelling curse words off to the left side of the line. About the same time as the cursing started, a lady joined the line, two people behind me. She was having a very loud cell phone conversation, apparently oblivious to the sign that she passed that said NO CELL PHONES, and to the fact that the room was filled with other people. Not that I'm an eavesdropper, but it was difficult to avoid hearing her conversation because she was very loud. My attention shifted, however, as the door to the backroom opened, and a very serious, properly dressed woman came through the door to the upset man. However, things shifted back as the lady behind me says quite loud, 'well, I mean it's up to you what you do honey, but if you really want to keep him in your life, then I would say you better move in with him and give him what he wants, even if it's not what you want to do, you need a man in your life and you need to give in to his needs. I mean, you think he's okay, so just move in with him and fulfill his manly needs and at least you will be taken care of.' I see many of the heads in the line ahead of me twitch to the side, but no one turned completely around. One lady pretended to cough in her shoulder, just to get a glance back. I can see others are trying to 'itch' their backs, or nonchalantly scan the ceiling, down to the windows, and very slowly, to the back of the line. In the meantime, the lady who appeared through the locked door from the back room is trying to calm the man who is cursing down, however, it's not working. He is yelling that the machine took his money, and he wants it back. Many of the eyes are now slowly turning to the left side, but this scene is interrupted when, once again, the door to the back room is opened, and a very large box filled with holes comes through the door with another gal telling a man, 'well, I believe it's alive. I heard something in their scratching, so I would guess it's still alive.' The politeness of everyone in line seemed to disappear with that comment, and every eye in the place was on this box. The lady behind me is still rattling away, but I don't think any of us heard what she said as we were all fixated on the box that read "LIVE" in large letters. The box was taken to a man waiting patiently by a counter, and he was told to open it to make sure it was alive. Now, every eye had shifted to the right side of the room. The smell that came out of that box when he opened it would have led me to believe it was NOT alive, as a horrible stench filled the room, but the man said it was alive. Apparently, it was a large bird of some kind, but as the older man started to drop some not so nice words, again, I lost track of the bird in the box. The lady dealing with this man, told him she did not have a key and could not give him his money back but she would give him a voucher and he could get in line and they would give him back his FIFTY CENTS! This did not make the man happy and he got even louder, telling her that the point of using the machine was so he did not have to stand in the stupid line, which by now was at the door. She says 'yes sir, I know this line is very long, however this is the only thing we can do.' The words that came out of his mouth were quite rude, but the lady on the phone seemed to think it was a competition to out speak this man, and she just got louder. By this time, I'm finding myself trying not to laugh out loud because it's all hitting me as quite amusing. Inside, I am cracking up, but thought I better keep it inside so that I don't become the next spectacle in the room. I mean, I'm sure if all the sudden I started cracking up laughing in the middle of the room, people would probably turn around and stare at me, even though they hadn't been staring at the other people. I did laugh all the way to my car, and for a good five minutes after leaving. Wow, and here I thought that going to the post office with a bulk mailer would be boring! I guess I'm just easily amused.

"Carry laughter with you wherever you go." ~Hugh Sidey

"A cheerful heart is good medicine." ~Proverbs 17:22

Troubles

I guess I have blogger block this morning. I think that last week is just weighing heavy on my mind. We found out a friend of ours has an aggressive cancer. I have been helping a couple leaders who are dealing with the kids, in the death of a 7th grade boy here in town. His death affected a number of kids in our youth program at church, so it's been a tough week. I've also been dealing with a couple other people who have some major issues going on in life right now. I specifically remember asking for a better 2008, but it doesn't seem as if it's going to be trouble free. I can ask, right?? God is still God and is bigger than all the crud that goes on in this world. Unfortunately, he doesn't promise us a problem-free life, but he does promise to be with us through it all. If we did have a problem-free life, we would not trust in him and turn to him as much as we do now, because we would think life is easy and we can do it all on our own. However, we need a Savior and we need to open up the direction manual, the Bible, to this life and know he carries us through the tough times if we allow him to do that for us.

Jesus said in John 14:27 "I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. It isn't like the peace that this world can give. So don't be worried or afraid."

Thinking About My Grandma

Grandmas hold our tiny hands for just a little while... but our hearts forever."

Today my Gram is on my mind. She passed away two and a half years ago. Today is her birthday. I miss her very much. We had a very special bond between us. My Grandma's pride and joy was her family. She also took great pride in helping others anyway she could. My Gram was a giver, and I do my best to follow in her example, although I fall very short compared to what she gave. She has left a rich legacy to her family. I am so thankful that she lived out here the last thirteen years of her life, so that we were able to spend time with her. I talked to her every day when she was alive, many times two to three times a day. I miss being able to pick the phone up and just chat with her. If your grandparents, parents, are still alive, give them a call today and let them know you are thinking of them. Too soon the time comes when we can't pick that phone up to talk to them. Cherish every moment with your loved ones and always let them know how important they are to you.

The best lesson we could learn from our grandparents is to cherish every moment we have with them. -- Carin Weier

As I look out my snow-covered windows down the street this morning, it is completely white. Everyone is trying to dig out after seven to nine inches of new snow overnight. The wind is now starting up, so we will have some good drifts out here on the prairie. We already have some drifts in our backyard that are three to four feet deep. It's pretty to see how the wind sculpts the snow drifts. All area schools are closed, which is a good thing. A seventh grade boy from our youth group died suddenly yesterday as he was leaving school, so I think it will be good for some of his classmates and friends to have the day off. It's going to be a tough time for his family and friends, so I ask that you keep them in your prayers.

Running the Race

I just read Hebrews 12, in a few different versions. I enjoy going to www.biblegateway.com to read scripture because there are a number of versions there and it's fun to read the different translations. They all mean the same, it's sometimes just easier to grab the point when reading it in different versions.

Hebrews 12:1 says "So we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won't let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us."

It goes on to say "2We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. He endured the shame of being nailed to a cross, because he knew that later on he would be glad he did. Now he is seated at the right side of God's throne! 3So keep your mind on Jesus, who put up with many insults from sinners. Then you won't get discouraged and give up."

I noticed a couple things. First, we have to realize what is slowing us down, hindering us from growing in our walk with God. What sin is it that we don't want to let go of, that puts a wall between our faith and Jesus Christ? We have to identify that and throw it aside, not to pick it up again, so we can run the race that is ahead of us.

Second, we have to keep our eyes focused on Him to make our faith stronger, and we have to keep our minds on Him as well. In other words, in what we do and think, and are, we need to have Christ at the center of it all. It goes on to talk about discipline and how God only disciplines those he loves as a parent disciplines their children.

We are also challenged to not get stuck in the 'why's' of life, to not have a pity party for ourselves, to move out of our bitterness, and to trust in God to the end. It's a great passage and I encourage you to read the entire chapter for yourself and let me know what challenge or encouragement you found as you read through it.

The passage ends with this encouragement for the believer: 28 Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. 29 For our God is a devouring fire.

Time to Catch Up

I went back to work this afternoon, and it was kind of nice to get back in the groove of things, even though I still have tons of things to do around my house that did not get done over the almost two weeks off. There was a lot of company, a lot of visiting family, and a lot of activities to keep us busy in our 'down' time. Now that I am going back to work, maybe I will be able to keep track of what day it is because I have been off ever since Christmas eve!

New year's day was spent in Sandpoint. We took a drive up Schweitzer ski mountain, and were stunned at all the new development! I never get tired of the amazing views of Lake Pend Oreille, the valley, and the mountains from Schweitzer, whether it is summer or winter! God's amazing majesty is showcased in this area! We also played on the snowmobile a bit at my sister's house. It was a lot of fun! I took a corner too fast and dumped my husband and myself in a large snowbank. Later, I took both nieces for a much slower ride just as dusk was approaching. We had a good day.

The past two days my mother-in-law has been here, and last night my brother-in-law and his son spent the night, as well as a deaf dog named Frog, to save a little time on the way to the airport at 5 am this morning. This is a picture of Frog, along with my nieces and their brother.

I believe it is now time for that LONG winter's nap after all the activities of the past three weeks. However, I am sure that we are only going to get busier as we go along in the new year.

Genesis Week

Today I am just going to post a devotion I received this morning. It's a good thing to think about as the new year begins.

Your Own Genesis Week
by Jon Walker

“God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.” (Psalm 51:10 MSG)

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalms 51:10 NIV)
God spoke the world into existence, and he spoke you into your mother’s womb. Even now, he can speak into the chaos of your life to bring it shape and form.

This is a Genesis event (Psalm 51:10 MSG) – where God speaks into the void and the darkness of your life, creating a fresh start for you.

God can create something from nothing. He can take a heart that is broken, impure, or failed and with it create a heart that is whole, pure, and purposeful. God loves you and wants to pour his grace into your life. He wants to see you pure, and he wants to see you succeed – so much so that he takes an active role in creating your new heart and bringing order to the chaos of your life.

Your job is to submit to his sovereignty, humble yourself before him, and ask for his help.
Lord, speak a Genesis moment into our hearts, speak a Genesis moment into our lives, speak a Genesis moment into the circumstances we now face. We acknowledge that “everything we have – right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start – comes from God by way of Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 1:30 MSG).

Renew in us a steadfast spirit (Psalms 51:10 NIV), no longer chaotic or moved by events, circumstances, or feelings. “That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God” (Colossians 3:5 MSG).

Give us a life shaped by you and your spirit flowing through us like living water.

What does this mean?

Where you see chaos – let God speak into your life, creating a new God-generated life. Pray, “God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life” (Psalm 51:10 MSG).

Steadfast spirit – How would your life be different if you were led and powered by a steadfast spirit? Pray, O God, “renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalms 51:10 NIV).

Shaped by Christ – Fit “every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5 MSG).

·Where? – Where do you need a Genesis-event spoken into your life?

New Year

Wishing you a 2008,

full of blessings, hope, laughter,

love, and joy.