Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World

I am in the process of trying to get off one of my medications that I was taking for pain, Lyrica, and one of the big benefits of taking it is that it really helps me sleep. I have been on a lower dose to wean off of it, but am now trying to go without it, and sleep eludes me, even though I take Tylenol PM. So last night, I was up about 3 AM and I read some of Dr. David Jeremiah's new book, Living in Confidence in a Chaotic World. I finished his other book, What in the World is Going On? a few days ago, and I must say, it is a must read. This new book is such an encouragement, and as I read each chapter I gain more and more insight. Chapter 4, Staying Challenged, was particularly encouraging, as it is about diligence, and I found the section on The Priorities of Diligence to be a very good list of seven traits to build on the foundation of faith God has given us. As I was reading last night, I wanted to jump up and tell you all about it, but I figured blogging at that hour wasn't going to be conducive to sleep.

Let me know if you have read the book and what you think, and, since I am having some sleeplessness, leave me a comment or send me an email on how I can be praying for you during the "wee hours of night" or anytime of day.

Feelin' Groovy and Playing with Barbies

Before I had surgery, I had forgotten what it is like to have enough energy to do more than 1 chore a day; baking cookies was just wishful thinking, washing laundry AND folding it didn't go together on the same day, cleaning house meant picking up and dusting, but not vacuuming, or at least, not vacuuming and mopping on the same day. Lack of energy and pain caused me to have limited activities. But that has been gradually changing, and I have noticed this week that I feel better than I have for a very long time. So today, I have been able to bake pumpkin bread, wash 3 loads of clothes AND fold or hang them up, hose off our outdoor wicker to bring in for the winter, make dry bread crumbs from an old loaf of bread, and sort my old Barbies!

Yes, I still have my old Barbie dolls, and they have been in the basement for over 20 years. Whenever I would think of getting rid of them, along with the Barbie car and Barbie doll cases and clothes and whatever else was in the boxes, I would think about selling them on Ebay or some antique shop in the area. Yes, it is hard to believe, but I have actually seen toys I played with as a child in ANTIQUE shops!! And so, yes, that means my Barbies are between 40-50 years old, probably. Yikes!

So, after I finally brought them up from the basement a couple of days ago, the boxes beckoned me to go through them today. The boxes themselves looked ancient, and the Barbies looked, well, of the Velveteen Rabbit genre. They were VERY played with; Ken was going bald (his fuzzy-not-plastic hair was almost worn off),and the Barbies looked dated with their 50s-60s makeup and hairdos (although 2 of them had assorted wigs!). Barbie's little sister, Skipper still looked youthful, and Midge and Allan, friends of B&K, looked pretty good, but then, those youthful freckles on Midge and plastic hair on Allan helped, no doubt. Every darn 1 of them had kept their shape; no potbellies, crows' feet or saggy chins in this bunch! (Maybe some of them had plastic surgery, ha!) The Barbie car had a flat (actually, broken plastic) tire. Sigh, the spoils of a well-spent youth!

There were lots of clothes and little plastic shoes, so I sorted through them all and got each doll dressed in something that wasn't soiled or torn, and put them in boxes and even in 1 original Barbie case. By the time I went through it all, there really wasn't much worth selling, so it will be off to Goodwill soon to donate, and if they can get something for them, a good deal for them.

It's been a full day, and it's only 3:30, so I think I will have a piece of pumpkin bread with a glass of apple cider and put my feet up. Tomorrow, Lauren and I are going to do the outside chores we didn't get to earlier this month since the high temps were in the 20s and it is going to be 70!!

Thank you, God, for the beautiful autumn days and for giving me the energy to enjoy it all!

Some Wise Words From a Wise Guy

A Call to Common Courtesy
by Max Lucado

Perhaps you’ve never placed the word courteous next to Christ. I hadn’t until I wrote this chapter.

But you know how you never notice double-cab red trucks until your friend says he wants one—then you see a dozen of them? I had never thought much about the courtesy of Christ before, but as I began looking, I realized that Jesus makes Emily Post look like Archie Bunker.

He always knocks before entering. He doesn’t have to. He owns your heart. If anyone has the right to barge in, Christ does. But he doesn’t. That gentle tap you hear? It’s Christ. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock” (Rev. 3:20 NASB). And when you answer, he awaits your invitation to cross the threshold.

And when he enters, he always brings a gift. Some bring Chianti and daisies. Christ brings “the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). And, as he stays, he serves. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45 NIV). If you’re missing your apron, you’ll find it on him. He’s serving the guests as they sit (John 13:4–5). He won’t eat until he’s offered thanks, and he won’t leave until the leftovers are put away (Matt. 14:19–20).

He is courteous enough to tell you his name (Exod. 3:15) and to call you by yours (John 10:3). And when you talk, he never interrupts. He listens.

He is even on time. Never late. Never early. If you’re checking your watch, it’s because you’re on a different itinerary. “There is a time for everything” (Eccles. 3:1). And Christ stays on schedule.

He even opens doors for you. Paul could preach at Troas because “the Lord had opened a door” (2 Cor. 2:12 NIV). When I asked my dad why men should open doors for women, his answer was one word: “respect.” Christ must have abundant respect for you.

He knocks before he enters. He always brings a gift. Food is served. The table is cleared. Thanks are offered. He knows your name and tells you his, and here is one more.

He pulls out the chair for you. “He raised us up with Christ and gave us a seat with him in the heavens” (Eph. 2:6).

My wife has a heart for single moms. She loves to include a widow or divorcée at the table when we go to a restaurant. Through the years I’ve noticed a common appreciation from them. They love it when I pull out their chair. More than once they have specifically thanked me. One mom in particular comes to mind. “My,” she blushed, brushing the sudden moisture from her eye, “it’s been a while since anyone did that.”

Has it been a while for you as well? People can be so rude. We snatch parking places. We forget names. We interrupt. We fail to show up. Could you use some courtesy? Has it been a while since someone pulled out your chair?

Then let Jesus. Don’t hurry through this thought. Receive the courtesy of Christ. He’s your groom. Does not the groom cherish the bride? Respect the bride? Honor the bride? Let Christ do what he longs to do.

For as you receive his love, you’ll find it easier to give yours. As you reflect on his courtesy to you, you’ll be likely to offer the same.

Grandjems

It has been a productive fall for the JEMS; cooking, picking out pumpkins and loosing teeth!

A Time for Goodbyes and Blessed Assurance

Lauren and I returned home from Iowa for his mom's funeral on Tuesday, and even though it was tiring to travel, especially for Lauren since he was there, came home and left again in 2 days, the days were filled with blessings from God. The time spent with family, the visits by family friends, and the funeral service for Gert were all a healing balm to our souls. The weather on the day of the funeral was beautiful; sunny with fluffy white clouds and mild, as if she ordered it herself. One of the pastors shared a message for the great grandchildren and adult grandchildren, bringing tears to all of our eyes as we sang "Jesus Loves Me" with them. The touching stories of Gert the adult grandchildren wrote were so very sweet, and Lauren read them each with the love they were written. The message of Christ's salvation shared byanother pastor was exactly as Gert would've wanted, sharing the hope and grace He has to offer us all.

Among the hymns we sang was "Blessed Assurance", and this was especially touching for Lauren, as he had listened to it with his mom in the hospital and in the car on the way home. He believes he was listening to it at the time when she passed away; God is so good. I can imagine Gert singing it as she met Jesus:
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born if His Spirit, washed in his blood!
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, all is at rest;
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love.
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.