Collecting Satisfactions

Emma has asked on her blog that we list people/things that bring joy and satisfaction to our lives.

1. My mom, who is such a good friend of mine and whom I look up to a great deal

2. My friends, whom the Lord has provided to me at just the right times

3. My church. I just came from the last night of our church's VBS, and as I drove home I was really rejoicing at the way our church pitches in and works together. It really is exciting to serve the Lord with these excellent people! What a joy to see God work.

4. A wonderful cup of tea! I enjoy this at least once every day. I like black tea (usually just drink plain Lipton's, but recently I have also been drinking Twinings Irish Breakfast and English breakfast) with 1 tsp. of sugar and some skim milk. Just last week, I discovered how much better my tea is with distilled water instead of tap!

5. Food. I just love food.

6. Hugging a child

7. I love where I live. There is a pond next to my house, and I could just stand next to my dining room window and watch the ducks all day! :) They are so cute.
(this is a picture of "our" ducks)

8. It is satisfying when I have thoroughly straightened my hair! :) And that straightness lasts . . . a couple of minutes, until I walk outside. :)

9. Is it necessary for me to say that I find a good book satisfying? (well, maybe satisfying isn't the right word, since it leaves me wanting more until I finish the book, and then I'm sad that it is over!)

10. It is really satisfying to see one of my students work hard and then succeed in my class. Sometimes I think I get more excited than the student does!

11. Sitting in a freshly-cleaned room

12. Seeing a child who is well behaved. Someday I hope to have the satisfaction of having one of my own!

13. Sleeping after a day of working hard

14. Having time off (albeit temporarily) to be a keeper at home

15. Learning from godly ladies who encourage me to grow in the Lord

16. It is satisfying to praise and thank the Lord for all of the joys He blesses me with!!! :-D

Be careful in the sun!

Even though I presently live in a part of the country where people find it very easy to get a good tan, I am very careful about avoiding sun exposure. I know that it is unusual to not want a tan, but it seems to me that it should be an obvious choice.

Does a tan look nice? Yes, it does. I do not like to look like a ghost, either. But honestly, how much better do we really look with our skin just a tad darker? We don't really look that different, anyway. A tan will not transform a homely girl into a beautiful model. But that beautiful model will not look the same with a face full of wrinkles when she is still young!

Skin cancer is certainly a big risk. However, people seem to have a hard time focusing on that. Perhaps it is because we do not see that consequence for many years. Perhaps it is because we do not see tons of people with skin cancer all of the time, and therefore we do not think that it will happen to us. But we must consider whether what we are doing right now might possibly prevent us from living a long life, putting ourselves and our families through misery that could have been easily avoided.

But wrinkles and tough, leathery skin are consequences that people all seem to really fear. Tanning is done for the sake of beauty, but that purpose is surely defeated!

This article New Wrinkle for Tanning Junkies discusses that. I found it interesting.

We really need to be careful not to become obsessed with tanning. What is better: to be a little darker right now, which only lasts for a couple of weeks, or to preserve our complexions for the rest of our lives?

Some things that we can work on:
1. Avoid spending more time in the sun than necessary when the rays are most harmful.
2. Wear good sunscreen. I would like to find a good foundation that contains sunblock, because that would ensure protection on my face every day, all year. I frequently forget or do not bother to put sunblock on my face on a daily basis, partially because I do not like the way it feels.
3. Wear clothing that protects the skin, such as a hat.
4. Remember to do the same for your children!

Someday, I want somebody to look at me and say to my grandchild, "What? She's your grandma?" ;-D

Article about singleness

Hello all,

I recently came across this article, Seven Myths Single Women Believe. As a single woman, I found it interesting. People surely do like to give us advice! Which advice are we supposed to listen to?

One interesting thing is that I have seen several articles in recent months (both by Christians and by non-Christians) which sort of blast women for not "wanting" to get married younger. These authors argue against this problem: that women are determined to climb the ladder of success, dating around until they are professionally established, having the dim notion that once they reach the top of their field, they will then decide that it is time to get married to the world's most perfect man, who has just been sitting around waiting for her, and have a family right then. OK, yes, that does sound rather silly.

But this is not the problem with me or with the girls that I know. From my point of view, the women in my social sphere would love to get married if only the right opportunity would come along.

I am genuinely curious: what do people think that single women are supposed to be doing? They are getting blamed for being single because they have jobs. Maybe they have those jobs because they are single. (?)

Does having a job prevent a woman from ever becoming a homemaker? True, there are some women who are too career-focused to shift that focus to having a family. But what can the others do to avoid appearing like that is their focus?

This article seems to come closer to being helpful than some things I have seen, but I'm not sure that it comes to any strong conclusions. Any thoughts?

Great quotations from Ronald Reagan

Here's my strategy on the Cold War: We win, they lose.

The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.

Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the U.S was too strong.

I have wondered at times about what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress.

I've laid down the law, though, to everyone from now on about anything that happens: no matter what time it is, wake me, even if it's in the middle of a Cabinet meeting.

Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed, there are many rewards; if you disgrace yourself, you can always write a book.

No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is as formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.

If we forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.

What is an American?

The following is an excerpt from Hector St. John de Crèvecoeur's Letters from an American Farmer. Hector St. John de Crèvecoeur came to America from France right around the time when our country was emerging. This selection is where we get the idea of America being a melting pot. Right before this selection, he is pointing out that Americans do not have an ethnic bond like other countries have. He explains what does constitute a true American, and he celebrates the American dream that immigrants were able to enjoy when they came here. I think that this will warm your heart about what America is all about:

What then is the American, this new man? . . . He is an American, who, leaving behind him all his ancient prejudices and manners, receives new ones from the new mode of life he has embraced, the new government he obeys, and the new rank he holds. He becomes an American by being received in the broad lap of our great Alma Mater.

Here individuals of all nations are melted into a new race of men, whose labours and posterity will one day cause great changes in the world. . . . The Americans were once scattered all over Europe; here they are incorporated into one of the finest systems of population which has ever appeared, and which will hereafter become distinct by the power of the different climates they inhabit.

The American ought therefore to love this country much better than that wherein either he or his forefathers were born. Here the rewards of his industry follow with equal steps the progress of his labour; his labour is founded on the basis of nature. Self-interest: can it want a stronger allurement? Wives and children, who before in vain demanded of him a morsel of bread, now, fat and frolicsome, gladly help their father to clear those fields whence exuberant crops are to arise to feed and to clothe them all; without any part being claimed, either by a despotic prince, a rich abbot, or a mighty lord. Here religion demands but little of him; a small voluntary salary to the minister, and gratitude to God; can he refuse these?

The American is a new man, who acts upon new principles; he must therefore entertain new ideas, and form new opinions. From involuntary idleness, servile dependence, penury, and useless labour, he has passed to toils of a very different nature, rewarded by ample subsistence.--This is an American.

Take Time to be Holy

As we go throughout our busy day, why don't we reflect on the truths of one of my favorite hymns. If you would like to hear the tune, click here.

Take time to be holy,
speak oft with thy Lord;
abide in him always,
and feed on his word.
Make friends of God's children,
help those who are weak,
forgetting in nothing
his blessing to seek.

Take time to be holy,
the world rushes on;
spend much time in secret
with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus,
like him thou shalt be;
thy friends in thy conduct
his likeness shall see.

Take time to be holy,
let him be thy guide,
and run not before him,
whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow,
still follow the Lord,
and, looking to Jesus,
still trust in his word.

Take time to be holy,
be calm in thy soul,
each thought and each motive
beneath his control.
Thus led by his spirit
to fountains of love,
thou soon shalt be fitted
for service above.

This year, I resolve

Happy new year! I am not one that makes a big deal of new year's resolutions, but a commitment that I would like to make just happened to occur to me on New Year's Eve. So now, I get to join the crowds of resolvers. :)

I have decided to make a specific point to let the Lord strengthen my faith by seeing Him work. I tend to try to be self-sufficient much of the time, but that robs God of the opportunity to show Himself strong on my behalf and robs me of the joy of seeing Him work. I think that my problem is that I simply am not conscious enough of His active presence in my daily activities. Many times, it does not even occur to me to ask God to meet a need Himself before I go out on my own and finagle some inferior way to work out what I think needs to happen. What might I be missing out on?

I know that I am missing out on the sweetness that we could have in our relationship if I were thinking about His power and love and learning what He can do.

Jeremiah 9:23,24 says, "Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD."

By leaving things in God's hands, I can fully give Him the glory for anything that happens: I am not the one who did it; instead, I will learn about what God can do.

The next time I am trying to figure out how to achieve something, whether it be solving a problem, acquiring something, or whatever, I commit to stop and pray about it for a while and see whether God would like to take care of it without my "brilliant" plans. Like the above verses say, I need to have a lower opinion of my own wisdom, might, and riches and instead glory in God's lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness.

By the end of the year, I would like to have a list of testimonies of how God has clearly worked; and along with that list, I would like to have a more mature faith. Since my father died when I was young, Mom and I have seen countless examples of how God can work miracles on a daily basis. I would love to see even more! I can't wait to see what my mighty God is going to do.

I would love to hear testimonies any time of what God has been doing for you, too. Let us praise Him together!

Let's reclaim Christmas!

Please read this article from abcnews.go.com:
Christmas Returns to Wal-Mart Marketing

According to this article, the voice of Christians who demanded that our God be given the recognition that He deserves at Christmas time has been heard! Hallelujah!

If you read my previous post, you will know that the whole "happy holidays," "holiday tree" stuff really infuriates me. God should get the credit for this holiday! This holiday is Christmas!!

It is wonderful to see that our efforts have begun to pay off. This is a good reminder to us that we can make a difference.

Let's continue to make a difference by giving these stores some feedback. According to the article, Wal-Mart, Kohl's, and Macy's have begun using "Merry Christmas" in their stores; and Best Buy has not. And I know that last year, Target was also very anti-Christmas. Here are the links to the contact pages to these businesses. If we send them e-mails thanking those who have made the right choice and also send e-mails to the other stores politely informing that we are offended by their actions and will not shop there until they choose to show some respect to God, then they will listen! And remember, if you are able to send a snail mail letter, those tend to carry a little more weight.

These businesses need to hear our thanks:
Wal-Mart

Kohl's

Macy's (fill in the part that says "Other Order Questions")

We need to ask that these stores begin using the word "Christmas":
Best Buy

Target

K-Mart (In their weekly ad, I counted that 75% of the time that the word "Christmas" was clearly appropriate, they used the word "holiday." The 25% that they did use "Christmas" was usually something like the name of a CD that they can't control. They did have a little slogan with the word "Christmas" on the bottom of some of the pages, but I think that their other efforts overpowered that one gesture.)

If you know of any other stores that are doing the right thing, put in a comment and let us know so that we can shop there and thank them! If you know of any other stores that need some more "prompting" from us, let me know and I will try to get their contact info also.

Please get this information to your friends so that we can let these businesses know that we care about our God and do not want to see Him left out!

John R. Rice on Christians studying language and literature

"There are three great needs in writing and speaking for God. They are clearness, force, and beauty. No one has a right to speak so he cannot be clearly understood. No one has a right to speak for God without trying to make himself forceful to get results. And no one has the right to speak or write for God without trying to make what is being said attractive and charming. So to get a good speaking style, to make oneself easily understood, to make oneself forceful and effective, every Christian worker ought to study language and great literature. It is not wasting time to sharpen the axe if you are going to chop wood. It is not wasting time when you get ready to serve God, to serve Him acceptably and to reach the greatest number of people possible with the Gospel. I am all for special training in language and in literature for all who go into full-time Christian work."

He also says,

“I did not know when I majored in English and took Shakespeare and Browning and Tennyson . . . that I was preparing my mind and coloring it and getting ready to understand truth better, to speak more fluently and charmingly.”

Thoughts on contentment

"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want."
Sheep don't know what's best for them; they don't see the big picture of life. Any needs that they have -- protection, food, shelter -- must be met by their shepherd. A good shepherd will take good care of his sheep.

Our Shepherd is the Lord. He knows exactly what we need and loves us completely. When the Bible says "I shall not want," it means that there is nothing that we should have that we won't have. If it is good for us, then our perfect Shepherd will take care of it.

Therefore, if there is something that He has chosen not to provide for us, perhaps a door that has been closed, then we can know that it would not have been good for us. If it were, He would have provided it.

Like the sheep, we don't see the big picture. Sometimes God has to make decisions for us that we would not make ourselves. But He has promised that we shall not want for anything. Rather than being disappointed, we ought to be excited to see what "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think" plans He has, as we trust with full confidence that His way is best.

Thoughts on the Resurrection

Last night, the guest speaker at church really got me thinking. He pointed out how good it is that we cannot take pilgrimages to Jesus’ grave, because our God does not lie in a grave somewhere.

Now, of course, I have always believed in and appreciated the resurrection. But for some reason, it really struck me harder last night. Can you imagine what our world would be like if He still lay in the garden tomb, if He had not risen again? The preacher is right: we would all be taking pilgrimages to Israel to visit His grave, focusing on the grave rather than on the Person. Think of all the scientific research that would probably be done, desecrating His body. Think of the wars that would be fought in Israel because of the presence of this sacred site: as Islam moved in, they would fight over the control of the grave; and throughout history, the grave would have been a hotspot of aggression toward Christians and Jews.

Or would it? No, I suppose none of these problems would exist if He were still in the tomb. Why? Because if Jesus had not risen again, then nobody would believe, nobody would care. The Romans and the unbelieving Jews would have been victorious, believing that the body in the tomb really did belong to an imposter. For if He were still in the tomb, if He had not triumphed over death, then we would not know that He truly was our Savior; for only God can conquer the grave. If the resurrection had never happened, then we would have nothing to believe in.

I Corinthians 15:14-19 explains it like this:

14: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15: Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
16: For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18: Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19: If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

But verse 20 makes all the difference in our lives and in the history of the world:

20: But now is Christ risen from the dead.

Praise the Lord! He has conquered death, making it possible for all of us to join Him in Heaven if we accept Him. Thank You, Lord, that His body does not remain on the earth. He is not here: He is risen!