teacher, master, rabbi

I was planning to blog sometime about what I think about the Sovereignty of God. But I decided not to. It is too controversial of a topic and even can be divisive. I don't want that.

I definitely have some thoughts on the topic. The subject has been coming up alot lately in various places in real life and the blog world. I know of a lot of suffering goint on out there right now.

So many questions arise.

Here is what I want to share with you:

Take those questions to God. It's ok to say to Him, "I don't get this. I don't understand how this can happen. How can you be good and loving and let these things happen? Lord, show me how you fit into all of this. Teach me."

In Matthew 11 we are familiar with Jesus saying, "Come unto me all who are weary, and I will give you rest." But you know what else He says? Just a line further down..."Take my yoke upon you and LEARN FROM ME."

Part of the Holy Spirit's job description is to teach us. Jesus was called Master, or Teacher.

So you take those questions to Him. Pour them all out and then wait and keep your eyes open.

Maybe like me, you will be in a bookstore and a spotlight will seem to illuminate a certain book. Ask God about it and then read it if you get that impression. You will find answers there.

You may be listening to the radio when suddenly you hear something that clarifies it for you. Maybe a sermon at church, a song, a devotional in your inbox. You might be talking to someone and God nudges you..."Ask this person about it. She has some insight I want you to have."

And just like we don't cram a 16 oz Prime Rib down a two-year-old, God is only going to give us what we can handle, when we can handle it. He will feed you this knowedge. And you will be amazed.

I can think of at least four topics off the top of my head where God has very clearly done this for me.

And as the years go by, you will continue to have your eyes opened to understand what seemed at one time completely incomprehensible. And maybe it won't even be as much an understanding as it will be an acceptance.

I don't suggest you go out asking everyone what they think, or turning over rocks for the information. Let God bring it to you. Learn from Him.

friday variety

First, what does my name mean? Well, Kathrine means Pure. But my name isn't Kathrine, although it is a derivative. This little quiz is actually scary. It is all true except for the type A part! I am definitely not type A. And I wouldn't say I'm having too much fun to settle down. I'm fairly settled. Oh, and I'm not agressive. Not at all. But the rest...well, like I said. Scary.
Tell me about what your name means.

What Kay Means

You are a seeker of knowledge, and you have learned many things in your life. You are also a keeper of knowledge - meaning you don't spill secrets or spread gossip. People sometimes think you're snobby or aloof, but you're just too deep in thought to pay attention to them. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in. You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising. You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Also, go take a peak at Lauri's Blog and see if you can come up with blogging words to match the definitions she has. It's fun! I haven't come up with any ideas yet, but I bet my clever friends can.

it's all in how you look at things

Yesterday I pointed out the diamonds to my kids. They looked and one thought it was pretty neat, but the other one said, "It's just ice, mom."

Today, I see squirrels! I haven't seen them for months. They are out there hopping through the snow, chasing each other around the diamond bedecked trees and I think they have intentions of starting a little family.

Spring! Those squirrels mean spring is around the corner!

I love squirrels.

So, do you see diamonds or ice? Spring or rodents? How do you look at things? It makes all the difference.

a girl's best friend

My Love gave me diamonds for Valentine's Day!
I like jewelry well enough. I like sparkly things. What I LOVE are beautiful pieces of nature. Scenery, clouds, phenomana, whatever.
As I write the sun has come out of cover and is hitting my ice coated trees. They look exactly like they have been sprinkled with diamonds!
He knows what I love, He knows what touches me, and He's wooing me!
I can't take my eyes away.

I want to clarify that it was God who gave me the diamonds.
Hubby is a sweety, but he knows me well enough to know that some gorgeous flowers are all I want. And he got me some.

valentine's day

Most of my life I have intensly disliked Valentine's Day. When I was a kid my Valentine's Days were a lot like Charlie Brown's. I love that boy. I can so relate to poor old Charlie.

Anyway, and then as I got old enough to like boys and my friends were like BY boys, but I wasn't, that was no fun.

And then when I actually was dating, it was great when I had a boyfriend. But the years when I wasn't dating anyone I had to watch everyone else getting flowers and cards and there I sat, alone. Yuck.

After I got married, we tried so hard to make Valentine's Day special and we would be sick every year. We gave up. Got each other a card and that was about it.

A few years ago, I decided to decorate the table, get some balloons, sparking cider and candles and I made the family's favorite soup, (I call it Chicken Noodle Love, for this one day only) and we had a fun candlit dinner. All four of us. The kids loved it! They love it almost as much as Christmas! So for us, Valentine's Day is about love and family. Not just romance. And I like it just fine.

I am a romantic at heart, but sometimes you just have to go with what works!

I hope that however you spend the day, whether with a romantic love or a friend you love or your family that you have a wonderful Happy Valentine's Day. And if you happen to be alone today, let Jesus love you. Let Him woo you. He wants to.

the things people say

I have been thinking about this post for a while and then yesterday I unintentionally added to it.
You know how there are things you have heard that you will never forget? Usually something somebody said to you or about you. Or maybe something shocking.
Yesterday while at a friend's house, I said a bad word. It wasn't bad in context, it was a derrogatory term and I was simply referring to it, not using it to refer to someone, if you know what I'm trying to say. But, still, I said it. And I was just oblivious to her two daughters sitting there. My friend gasped a little and her seven year old gasped a little and also, she got that little smile that kids get when someone else is in trouble, LOL. Then I just felt so bad! Oh my.
This was the same child whom my dog bit, by the way...
Anyway, later as I was thinking about it, I thought, "just let it go." Because I tend to beat myself up for dumb stuff like that. But then I thought about how it may not be that big of a deal, but there is a possibility that T will remember that her whole life! When I was about six or so, my aunt was walking through the house and she said s---. It was so shocking to my little self that I still remember it.
Oh, well.
My point is that we all have things in our heads that were said by someone else. Whether good or bad.
Here are some of mine:
"Grandma used to think that maybe you were an actual angel because you were so good."
"Do you ever wonder if maybe you really are mental?" This person was brave enough to room with me for four years.
"Kay seems to be able to find beauty in almost anything."
"You could be really pretty if you let me give you a makeover." umm, there isn't a nice word to describe how this girl dressed.
"She's so self-confident." Ha. She's a good faker, that's what.
"Do you ever thank God for making you so beautiful?" How do you answer that?
"Your smile lights up the whole room."
"Move over, hefty."
"My husband thinks you are pretty." ummm, ok....
"You have a lot of insight and wisdom."
"You look like the kind of person who would smoke." What's that mean?
"You're lazy."
"My dad said you look like your face caught fire and someone put it out with a pitchfork."

Well, I think it's a big mistake for us to try to form our opinion of ourselves based on what other people say. No wonder people are so confused about who they are and their value!
What we need to cling to is what God says. And take the good that people say with grace and humility. Take the bad stuff the same way. Look for seeds of truth and change what we need to and move on. (Well, we can make that our goal, anyway)
Also, in light of LOVE, being nearly Valentine's Day, let's try to be conscious of our own words. We may say some little thing that doesn't mean much to us, but we never know which words are going to stick. Let's be intentional about leaving kind messages behind us. And if something hard must be said, make sure it's the truth and that it's well coated in love.

What about you? Will you share a little snippet or two that you store in your head?

drum roll please...

Out of eight people, the one who won the copy of Justice in the Burbs, the one whose name was drawn randomly by my son is...
Sonya!! at Mo Mhile Gra! Hooray and congratulations!
E-mail me at keep1hope at comcast dot net to give me your address, please.