A couple of blocks south of Calvert Street on 52nd Street, a little white house, facing south, sits on the corner lot. A detached garage stands on the edge of the alley to the north. Ken and I have walked by this house many times over the past years . . . it’s on our 3-mile walk route.
An older gentleman, who wore bib overalls, lived in the house.
We would say hello as we passed by.
But the only thing we knew about this man was his passion for gardening. A large vegetable garden filled his entire backyard between the garage and the house. Each spring neat rows appeared, seeds were planted, a mulch of grass clippings was applied to control weeds, and his garden grew.
One morning in August as we passed by on our walk, we saw his “life” at the curb . . . a worn, blue recliner . . . a TV . . . a refrigerator . . . pots and pans. The next day and the next day, bits and pieces of his “life” straggled to the curb, scattered onto the grass.
Even though we did not personally know this gentleman, it was sad seeing what we call “life” tossed so carelessly at the curb.
A young man in his 20’s stood in the open garage at a workbench one evening . . . looking . . . tossing. We exchanged hellos, but I really wanted to say, Who are you? Grandson? Nephew? Don’t be so quick to toss out the “life” of the man who lived there and grew the veggies!
God speaks to my heart each time we pass this house . . . “Lifetimes are spent accumulating and striving after things. Don’t be concerned about the temporal, whose destination is the curb. Be concerned about people who are eternal.”
God desires all people to be saved and to spend eternity with Him. But how will they if we don’t tell them about Jesus and the cross?
The circle of our temporal lives ends at the curb . . . eventually!
The circle of our eternal lives . . . heaven or hell.
I’m challenged to no longer just pass by!
“Lord, let me see people through your eyes and to truly hear them with your heart. Give me opportunities to speak your word into their lives.”
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
FALL EQUINOX or the GLORY OF GOD?
I LOVE FALL . . .
the softness of cooler temps . . . crisp nights and crisp mornings
putting my flowerbeds and yard “to bed”
beautiful harvest moons
watching farm fields of soybeans turning from deep green to shimmering gold, then brown
watching farmers harvesting their crops
the gorgeous reds and yellows of trees
the knockout colors of mums
to go on picnics of hotdogs and smores (and potato chips!)
the smell of wood fireplaces
the smell of leaves burning (in the “old” days)
Fall . . . my MOST FAVORITE season . . . can you tell?
But there is a day of Fall that I do not look forward to . . . the Fall Equinox . . . when the sun rises exactly east and sets exactly west . . . blinding me via my car mirrors and through the windshield while driving at those times of the day . . . causing me to squint and pray, God thank you for going before me to prepare the way!
But the Fall Equinox can NEVER dampen my love of Fall!!!
How appropriate to be reading 2 Corinthians 3 during this Fall season, with the Fall Equinox approaching (Friday, September 23rd)!
“But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away. And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.” 2 Cor. 3:16,18 NLT
Makes me ask myself, “Self, just how brightly is the Lord reflecting in your mirror/life?”
No matter how much I “Windex” my mirror . . . and I do have my part to play in keeping it clean . . . it is “as the Spirit of the Lord works within me . . . making me more and more like him . . . that HIS glory reflects brighter and brighter” in my mirror, my life.
Praise God! It’s not me but the Holy Spirit in me!
Reflecting God’s glory in me . . . a “Fall Equinox” for Him!
the softness of cooler temps . . . crisp nights and crisp mornings
putting my flowerbeds and yard “to bed”
beautiful harvest moons
watching farm fields of soybeans turning from deep green to shimmering gold, then brown
watching farmers harvesting their crops
the gorgeous reds and yellows of trees
the knockout colors of mums
to go on picnics of hotdogs and smores (and potato chips!)
the smell of wood fireplaces
the smell of leaves burning (in the “old” days)
Fall . . . my MOST FAVORITE season . . . can you tell?
But there is a day of Fall that I do not look forward to . . . the Fall Equinox . . . when the sun rises exactly east and sets exactly west . . . blinding me via my car mirrors and through the windshield while driving at those times of the day . . . causing me to squint and pray, God thank you for going before me to prepare the way!
But the Fall Equinox can NEVER dampen my love of Fall!!!
How appropriate to be reading 2 Corinthians 3 during this Fall season, with the Fall Equinox approaching (Friday, September 23rd)!
“But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away. And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.” 2 Cor. 3:16,18 NLT
Makes me ask myself, “Self, just how brightly is the Lord reflecting in your mirror/life?”
No matter how much I “Windex” my mirror . . . and I do have my part to play in keeping it clean . . . it is “as the Spirit of the Lord works within me . . . making me more and more like him . . . that HIS glory reflects brighter and brighter” in my mirror, my life.
Praise God! It’s not me but the Holy Spirit in me!
Reflecting God’s glory in me . . . a “Fall Equinox” for Him!
Friday, September 9, 2011
Resistance is Futile!
Saturday . . . July 16, 2011 . . . our day in history! Ken and I made a commitment to make some changes re our weight and physical fitness.
And so it began, on July 16 by . . .
First . . . the AdvoCare 24 day challenge and added vitamins and nutritional supplements. (Ken & I are AdvoCare distributors)
Second . . . journaling on MyFitnessPal.com. An eye opener!
Third . . . walking.
We hadn’t walked consistently for the past 2 or 3 years. But on July 21st, we started again with our 2-mile route, walking it in 39 to 40 minutes. Slow. But a start.
On August 5th, we increased to our 3-mile route, walking it in 57 minutes / 19 minute miles. I’m happy to say, we are now consistently walking 3 miles in 52 / 53 minutes / 17 minute miles.
Our walk each morning takes us through the arboretum on the Union College campus . . . a brief but cool and peaceful respite. And from there, past Lamar’s Donuts!!! Now, I’m not a big donut fan. I prefer a bag of chips any time, any day! But when it comes to Lamar’s Donuts . . . I drool just at the thought!
Purposefully, we walk with NO money . . . BUT . . . each day we walk past Lamar’s, we hear the donuts saying, “Resistance is Futile!” (Say futile with a long “i” like the Borg on Star Trek!!!)
So, yesterday and today we CHOSE to take money with us on our walk. And YES, we stopped at Lamar’s Donuts for coffee and a donut. We were out of coffee at home . . . justification for the stop? Lamar's have the BEST coffee and the most AWESOME glazed buttermilk bar!
I cannot even put into words the deliciousness of each bite of that glazed buttermilk bar! Now, having had one 2 days in a row, I’ve had my “fix” and am content for a while.
OK . . . seriously . . . donuts are not a sin . . . just not the best choice for me right now! And I’ve had some fun with this donut thing.
As to resistance . . . resisting the devil and my flesh! . . . God promises me a way out of any temptation that comes my way. I just need to ask Him to show me the way out and then choose His way out!
You are tempted in the same way all other human beings are. God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted any more than you can take. But when you are tempted, God will give you a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Cor. 10:13 NIRV
Resistance is NOT futile! But resistance IS a choice!
P.S. Weight loss as of today . . . and still losing . . .
Ken . . . 32 pounds (in the past 12 months)
Arlene . . . 16 pounds (in the past 7 months, 9 of those pounds in the past 2 months!)
And so it began, on July 16 by . . .
First . . . the AdvoCare 24 day challenge and added vitamins and nutritional supplements. (Ken & I are AdvoCare distributors)
Second . . . journaling on MyFitnessPal.com. An eye opener!
Third . . . walking.
We hadn’t walked consistently for the past 2 or 3 years. But on July 21st, we started again with our 2-mile route, walking it in 39 to 40 minutes. Slow. But a start.
On August 5th, we increased to our 3-mile route, walking it in 57 minutes / 19 minute miles. I’m happy to say, we are now consistently walking 3 miles in 52 / 53 minutes / 17 minute miles.
Our walk each morning takes us through the arboretum on the Union College campus . . . a brief but cool and peaceful respite. And from there, past Lamar’s Donuts!!! Now, I’m not a big donut fan. I prefer a bag of chips any time, any day! But when it comes to Lamar’s Donuts . . . I drool just at the thought!
Purposefully, we walk with NO money . . . BUT . . . each day we walk past Lamar’s, we hear the donuts saying, “Resistance is Futile!” (Say futile with a long “i” like the Borg on Star Trek!!!)
So, yesterday and today we CHOSE to take money with us on our walk. And YES, we stopped at Lamar’s Donuts for coffee and a donut. We were out of coffee at home . . . justification for the stop? Lamar's have the BEST coffee and the most AWESOME glazed buttermilk bar!
I cannot even put into words the deliciousness of each bite of that glazed buttermilk bar! Now, having had one 2 days in a row, I’ve had my “fix” and am content for a while.
OK . . . seriously . . . donuts are not a sin . . . just not the best choice for me right now! And I’ve had some fun with this donut thing.
As to resistance . . . resisting the devil and my flesh! . . . God promises me a way out of any temptation that comes my way. I just need to ask Him to show me the way out and then choose His way out!
You are tempted in the same way all other human beings are. God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted any more than you can take. But when you are tempted, God will give you a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Cor. 10:13 NIRV
Resistance is NOT futile! But resistance IS a choice!
P.S. Weight loss as of today . . . and still losing . . .
Ken . . . 32 pounds (in the past 12 months)
Arlene . . . 16 pounds (in the past 7 months, 9 of those pounds in the past 2 months!)
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