Did You Notice?

 This is ONLY for my regular readers and followers. . .ok, the rest of you can read this, also.  I was only teasing.  Who am I to discourage anyone from reading my little ol' blog?

  I chose a different blog template recently; did you notice?  I'd love your thoughts and feedback in regard to it.  I feel like I need change often, so my blog reflects that at times.


And today's random:

  I was grocery shopping this morning, using my re-usable shopping bag horde. The cashier who was waiting on me does NOT like the re-usable shopping bags.  I have been in her "line" before, and each time she comments offhandedly about how she does not like those bags.  Honestly I try to avoid her line because I know it pains her to wait on someone like me.  As far as that goes, I'd rather we both be enjoying the shopping experience as much as possible.  As I could not avoid being in her line (read that as not enough lines open), there I was.  She grudgingly greeted me, and I cheerily replied.  She began listlessly loading my frozen and cold items in one of my freezer bags; "great!" I silently cheered.  After she filled one of my "least of these" bags, I re-positioned my bag o' bags (whilst she was busy and NOT looking) with the other freezer bag on top and my best bags next; in her defense, the "least of these" was the next one in the pile.  I said nothing except cheerful thank-you's as we both endured the process -- me with a smile and her with lips in a grim line.  Then I heard her sadly mutter, "I don't pack these kinds of bags very well." My heart stirred with compassion for her -- silently I released blessings and peace over her.  And I am thankful that I was privileged to be in her line this morning.  She needed me and what I carry of the #Kingdom.  I needed her to stir my compassion and to give away what Jesus gave me.

  Someone once told me that I pick up on lots that is going on in a given situation, which seems to be true.  What I have realized is that I often misinterpret after the observation.  This morning I was reminded that even Paul did not always hear and discern correctly, (it's right there in The Book).  I need Holy Spirit and His gifts soooooo much!  Still a work in progress here:).

So, what do ya think about the new template?

What's your random from today?


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 More than once of late (duh!) I have been told that this is a new creative season for me.

 It has been some time since I wrote an actual post.  Awhile ago, I gave myself the nod to plant Theme Songs on Thursdays for growing seed.  Time to tend the shoots.

 So what do my eyes see in the natural world?  Impossibility.  Where do the hours go?  And then when I have some discretionary minutes -- energy and motivation have evaporated.

 My faith eyes counsel me to believe and to walk.  Off we go. . .

 I have resisted mentioning our kiddos directly in blog posts for a number of reasons, which I will not enumerate here.  Just chalk it up to my desire for privacy for them and for me.  From now on I may or may not be more direct in my references to them.  But I won't default to never referencing them.

 That being said, they do inspire and teach me things often.  Many of them write constantly and consistently.  I want to be like them.

 Then there are my friends who inspire and teach me, also.  One such woman made a comment about all of us having "perceived obstacles."

 Recently a saw a meme that said something about when we see obstacles we have taken our focus off of Him.

 Kris Vallotton shared that God is looking for one person to stand for Him and to step out and do what He has called him/her to do.  With God on my side, what can man do to me?  He is the majority!

 My heart also sings to this tune:

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.

 The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again,

because there is no effort without error or shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause;

who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at worst, is he fails, at least fails while daring greatly. . ."  (Theodore Roosevelt, "Citizenship in a Republic") 

  After years of shying away from the arena all too often, I am daring to step in and strive valiantly.  Will you join me?

 What are you being challenged to do differently?

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Powerful People

Nationwide Insurance's commercial captured my attention the very first time that I remember seeing it; without the benefit of the audio, it pricked my heart.  [We often mute the commercials.]

"This is Kingdom," my Knower shouted!

It's a vivid picture of how I feel when I experience being powerless:  small, without options, extremely frustrated.

So, how is this commercial like the Kingdom?

This is one of those times when the natural world is crying out for Kingdom without understanding it's that for which they are crying out.

Feeling powerless for me usually means that I cannot remember who I am, which means that I believe that I have no options.

When I seek outside input from someone else, God especially, I begin to remember who I am and to see other options.  [Sometimes the option is to trust God to work it all out, kinda like the girl trusting the insurance agent.]

Life and hope begin to infuse me, and I feel power returning.

As powerful as the video portion is, the audio speaks more Kingdom truth:

"We know how it feels when you aren't a priority."

Messages from all around me reinforce the negative narrative that I am just a number, that I am nothing special and that I deserve to be treated like less than a human being.

These lies also contribute to feeling powerless and its subsequent feelings.  If left to marinate in this slough, I become paralyzed and fearful.  Without help to breakout I will remain in this destructive cycle that feeds upon itself.

God and followers of Jesus know the truth about you and me.  Made in His image and likeness means that we are the exact opposite of what is pictured in this commercial.  We are powerful and valuable.

We can fight the lies by speaking the truth to each other as often as we are together and especially in those times when powerless feelings are present.  [This requires vulnerability and courage to find someone to help us.]

Fighting can also take the form of action (first in the natural, then in the supernatural).  I can look for someone to encourage by seeing the gold in them and celebrating it with them.

Find people to help and serve with a heart filled with compassion.

Give what resources you have to others, and if you can possibly give from limited resources, do it! On whatever front that you are feeling less than, find a way to serve or give from that place of personal weakness or lack.  The mathematics of Heaven work distinctly differently than earthly math.

On other way to fight powerlessness is to practice thankfulness for what is happening/has happened, for what we do have and for the things God has promised to us.

We are powerful.  We are valuable.

How do you combat the feelings of powerlessness in your life?

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Theme Song Thursday

These are some of my favorite people in the WORLD!!!

Generally I do not post anything else in my Theme Song Thursday posts, however I must on this one.

That human video above is from a Becky Fisher conference which our King's Kids Go-Network Team helped to staff.  By far this was one of my favorite short term mission trips.  We have traveled other places and ministered in various capacities since then, and each one of those trips is my favorite as well. 

A couple of days ago we had the privilege to combine an afternoon of "special opps" type prayer and other prophetic acts in a town in northwest Indiana, with ministry at an AGLOW meeting in the evening in a more northern town.  It was a God-filled day and night! 

Send me a message or email me to find out more.

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Mary Poppins, Math and Musings

  A Mary Poppins-umbrella, not as a source of protection, but as the means of transport which will result in a safe, peaceful and successful journey to the intended destination -- pondering this picture today and looking forward to watching "Mary Poppins" again very soon.  Being the bibliophile, I will also read the book.

  Today I will begin the Pre-Calculus refresher course to which I have been looking ahead for some time.  It will be exciting to see how that works out for me.

I can't resist posting this theme song of mine again:

 Finally, something about this statement caught me:

"a single dandelion may produce 2000 seeds per year, indiscriminately firing them off into the sky at the slightest breeze."

What or who is capturing your attention these days?
  

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