Cat New Year's Resolutions

As the pleased and proud lover of an often impish six-year-old orange tabby, I share the following to ring in the New Year. Here's to 2006!

[Once again, I've had these so long, I don't remember who sent them... I wish I could properly credit them.]

• I will not perch on my human's chest in the middle of the night and stare into her eyes until she wakes up.
• I will not bite the cactus; it bites back.
• I will not use the bathtub to store live mice for late night snacks.
• I will not teach the parrot to meow in a loud and raucous manner.
• The dog can see me coming when I stalk her. When she moves out of the way as I pounce, letting me smash into floors and walls, I will not take it as a personal insult when my humans sit there and laugh.
• I will not play "dead cat on the stairs" while people are trying to bring in groceries or laundry, or else one of these days, it will really come true.
• I will not lean way over to drink out of the tub, fall in, and then pelt right for the box of clumping cat litter.

Dear God: Letters from Children

[A nun asked her students to write a letter to God. Here are a few.]

Dear God,
Maybe Cain and Abel would not kill each other so much if they had their own rooms. It worked with my brother.
Larry

Dear God,
Thank you for the baby brother, but what I prayed for was a puppy.
Joyce

Dear God,
You don’t have to worry about me, I always look both ways.
Dean

Dear God,
I bet it is very hard for You to love all of everybody in the whole world. There are only 4 people in our family and I can never do it.
Nan

Dear God,
I think about You sometimes even when I’m not praying.
Elliott

Dear God,
I didn’t think orange went with purple until I saw the sunset You made on Tuesday. That was cool.
Sara

Five Finger Prayer

Here's an easy guide for intercession. I hope you'll find it's simplicity beneficial. Things that get complicated sometimes get dropped because they are cumbersome. (I've had it in my files for some time and can't remember where it came from or whom to credit.) Enjoy.

1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty."
2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction.
3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.
4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger; as many a piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.
5. And lastly comes our little finger; the smallest finger of all. Which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, "the least shall be the greatest among you." Your pinky should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, you own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

George Washington Carver on the Peanut

[George Washington Carver, chemist, 1864-1943, joined Booker T. Washington at Tuskegee Institute in 1896. Both Henry Ford and Thomas Edison attempted to persuade him to go into business, but Carver was dedicated to helping his people and the South. He introduced hundreds of uses for the peanut (+300 uses), soybean (+100 uses), pecan and sweet potato -- all crops that replenished Southern soil depleted by years of cotton production -- revolutionizing the economy of the South. The following is excerpted from his 1920 address to the Young Men's Christian Association of Blue Ridge, North Carolina, summer school for the southern states.]

Years ago I went into my laboratory and said, "Dear Mr. Creator, please tell me what the universe was made for?"

The Great Creator answered, "You want to know too much for that little mind of yours. Ask for something more your size, little man."

Then I asked. "Please, Mr. Creator, tell me what man was made for."

Again the Great Creator replied, "You are still asking too much. Cut down on the extent and improve the intent."

So then I asked, "Please, Mr. Creator, will you tell me why the peanut was made?"

"That's better, but even then it's infinite. What do you want to know about the peanut?"

"Mr. Creator, can I make milk out of the peanut?"

"What kind of milk do you want? Good Jersey milk or just plain boarding house milk?"

"Good Jersey milk."

And then the Great Creator taught me to take the peanut apart and put it together again. And out of the process have come forth all these products!

On Hope

In yesterday's Bible reading, the following scripture passage seemed very special to me:

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem; the battle bow shall be cut off. He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth. As for you also, because of the blood of your covenant, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope..." (Zechariah 9:9-12a, NKJV)

"Prisoners of hope" -- oh, to be a prisoner of hope! I've spent much of my adult life unaware, until recently, of my great need to be captured by hope -- hope being inseparably linked to desire, and desire being likened to the atomic energy of the soul. A powerful force. A vital asset to cultivate. A priceless commodity to safeguard.

I was once encouraging a young person to "go for it" when an acquaintance cautioned me, due to the challenges this young person faced, not to "get his hopes up". Well, hope is precisely for "getting up"! It imparts a galvanizing positive energy in our lives. Too often, we simply let go of hope because we don't realize what hope can and will impart. (Actually, in the absence of hope, we resort to either fatalism or arrogance, but that's for another post...)

Hope is not actually something we simply receive for the asking. In my study of all the biblical references on hope I've discovered something surprising. Among the dozens and dozens of scripture passages, only one, according to my understanding, implies that hope is something that can be received. The remainder indicate that we must exercise this powerful dynamic ourselves. We must call upon our will to generate hope, and then hang on to it. In recent years my prayer has been that I might experience a greater capacity to exercise hope. And that, my friends, has changed everything.

"...[We] who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil..." (Hebrews 6:18b-19, NKJV)

Check the scriptures for yourself. And then go ahead... get you hopes up!

"Portrait of a Leader"

I was just reading about a recent book that features images of President Bush's first four years in office: George W. Bush: Portrait of a Leader (article at CitizenLink.org, a website of Focus on the Family). It would do my heart good to look at this book. The media's choice of photographs used over the past five years to illustrate their stories about our president have been personally distressing -- they are so frequently unflattering and often make him look awkward.

This bias, while not surprising, doesn't demonstrate honor toward the man who holds the highest office in our nation and is out of step with principles mandated in scripture. The Apostle Paul quotes a passage from the Torah saying, "You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people." (Acts 23:5) The Apostle Peter also instructs, "Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king." (I Peter 2:17) Regardless of one's politics.

Former White House photographer David Kennerly, who helped with the book, says, "I'm not really a political person. I didn't do this because I'm a Republican or a Democrat. I've been in and out of the Oval Office ever since Richard Nixon was president... I think it's a very honest portrayal of the man. One thing President Bush doesn't like to do is set up pictures, I can tell you that. But these pictures were real moments and that's one of the things that really works. I think people will be able to tell that."

I'll let you know if it meets my expectations after I get my hands on a copy.

In Celebration of the Incarnation

"He seemed so tiny, wrapped in a long linen band and sleeping soundly like any other baby. He slept as though the world had not waited thousands of years for that moment… As though all the sin and sorrow of the world was not His concern."

– Ruth Bell Graham, in One Wintry Night

Time Magazine's Persons of the Year

Read the TIME Magazine cover story featuring rock star Bono and Bill and Melinda Gates as Persons of the Year. These unlikely billionaires have join forces to tackle some of the world's biggest issues: poverty and world health.

"For being shrewd about doing good, for rewiring politics and re-engineering justice, for making mercy smarter and hope strategic and then daring the rest of us to follow, Bill and Melinda Gates and Bono are TIME's Persons of the Year... If these guys can decide to make it their mission to save the world, partner with people they would never otherwise meet, care about causes that are not sexy or dignified in the ways that celebrities normally require, then no one really has a good excuse anymore for just staying on the sidelines and watching...

On Bono: "He invites everyone into the game, in a way that makes them think they are missing something if they hold back."

On Gates: "...when Bill Gates says you can fix malaria in 10 years, they know he's done a few spreadsheets."

This story warmed my heart by generating hope. I definitely intend to stay tuned... [Thanks to Jeremy Del Rio, of Generation Xcel, for the heads up.]

"What Can I Do About It?"

A couple days ago, I was telling a friend about the "Environmental Footprint" quiz I put in a recent post. (Find it by clicking "Archives" on the sidebar, scroll down to December 6th.) I told her I was startled by my personal score -- it would require 3.6 planets to support my lifestyle! My lifestyle is 50% lower, at 16 acres, than the U.S. average of 24, but it's still scandalous! There exists 4.5 biologically productive global acres per person (nowhere near 16!) and I'm hogging way more than my share.

My friend, who agreed with me about our level of consumption, asked: "But what can I do about it?" Good question. I'm going to suggest that we commit ourselves to becoming educated and urging others to do the same. That we commit to being politically active (translate: v-o-t-e) and urging others to do likewise.

From an article entitled "The Soul of Environmentalism" (Redefining Progress.org): "We must have the courage to name what is right and plot a course that connects to everyday lives and transforms them...

"Ideas and action must combine to build movements and then victories for environmentalism and beyond... The ideas that drive them must emerge from a deep encounter between our values, our experiences and the giant social challenges we face. We also argue for a focus on action: investing in ideas that foster deep change, and transforming our leadership and our politics to overcome threats...

"Our culture seems to have lost the ability to speak of shared wealth, community and the commons... The privatization movement is really an attack on the idea of the commons and community... American media and mainstream activists have a hard time with [the term sustainability] for two reasons: first, it implies inter-connectedness; and second, because it implicates us in the profligate use of resources."

Let's commit ourselves to becoming educated on the issues and urging others to do the same. The more we talk about the problems, the greater our collective awareness.

And let's be politically active -- translate: v-o-t-e. There really isn't a lot we individuals can do on these huge and challenging issues. They will require legislation, not mere recycling our bottles and cans. We, the beneficiaries of privilege in American society have a responsiblity to proactively enact sustainable living to secure the future well-being of the earth and the world's children and their children.

From the close of the same article: "...the question before us in this political night is not so different than the one posed by the Good Samaritan on the road to Jericho or by Martin Luther King, Jr. in Memphis in 1968, 'If I do not stop to help this cause, what will happen to it?' "

"You Are Sooooo in my Bed..."

[Recently got this in an email.]

On Friendship

Last night, my teenage son and I were having a conversation about friends and he, uncharacteristically, asked me to post a blurb on the subject. Not one to toss aside such a request, here we go:

Over the course of my 53 years I've had friends and then, I've had friends. You know the ones I'm talking about -- you can call them at 2 a.m. if you need to. They'll let you borrow their car, or $50, no questions asked. They've consoled you in sad times and celebrated your joys and successes with you. They know your faults and weaknesses and love you anyway.

If a particular person is coming to mind right now as you read this, I want you to stop what you're doing and call/email/send a card to let this person know what a difference he/she has made in your life. (A borrowed idea: I recently got a reminder from FlyLady to do this and did. My old college roommate in California was glad to know I considered her to be in the second category of friends.)

I promise it'll only take a couple of minutes and you'll make someone's day. Really -- stop and do it. Don't say to yourself, "Hmmm, that's a good idea..." and go on about your business. Be wind in their sails, helium in their balloon, sunshine on their toes...

How's That Again?

• A day without sunshine is like, night.
• On the other hand, you have different fingers.
• 42.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot.
• Honk if you love peace and quiet.
• The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
• If you think nobody cares, try missing a couple of payments.
• OK, so what's the speed of dark?

[Thanks to my friend Al Booher for sharing.]

Top 50 Reasons...

Just in case any of you were losing sleep at night wondering, "Why blog?" I thought I'd share Neil Cox's answer to that burning question (remember, he's my Indy Bloggin' Buddy). I'm actually hoping that some of you will get the bug and, of course, let me know about it so I can put your link in my sidebar...

A Scot Down Under

Here's an item my mother sent to me several years ago. Bear in mind that my maiden name was Burns...

There was a young Scottish lad named Angus who decided to try life in Australia. He found an apartment in a small block and settled in. After a week or two, his mother called from Scotland to see how her son was doing in his new life.

"I'm fine," Angus said, "But there are some really strange people living here in Australia. One woman cries all day long, another lies on her floor moaning, and there is a guy next door to me who bangs his head on the wall all the time."

"Well, ma wee laddie," said his mother, "I suggest you don't associate with people like that."

"Oh," says Angus, "I don't, Ma'am, I don't. No, I just stay inside ma apartment all day and night, playing ma bagpipes."

Obedience and Spiritual Understanding

In his book 40 Days to a Purpose Driven Life, author Rick Warren calls attention to the relationship between our willingness to submit to God's will and our insight into His teachings, as stated in John 7:17:

"If anyone chooses to do God's will (do those things God commands), he will find out (learn) whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own." (NIV)

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible says, "He that is inclined to submit to the rules of the divine law is disposed to admit the rays of divine light". One of those counter-intuitive spiritual realities. Our human nature wants evidence, proof of validity before embracing something, yet if we wait to respond to God until we fully understand the veracity of His teachings with our natural minds, we'll never "get" them. This verse makes it clear that if we want understanding, we must first assume the posture of sincerely desiring and endeavoring to do God's will.

But I'm going to back it up yet another step: not only is it God who will grant the understanding as we follow His will, it's He who first grants us the desire to follow. Jesus said that no one can come to Him unless God the Father has first granted it (John 6:65). So it is God who initiates the entire process by divinely granting faith to believe and receive His Son along with faith for desiring and endeavoring to yield to God's will. Meaning that I can't obey God OR grasp the spiritual authority inherent in His teachings without His enablement: I am the recipient of a precious grace.

Applied to my life, this means that I try to live by "every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4) whether I "get" the rationale for His instructions or not. I am often tempted to omit/resist/reject those things I can't wrap my mind around. But to do that would disregard the causal relationship between obedience and spiritual understanding.

Ever say to your child, or student, perhaps, "Just do it because I say so"? God does, knowing that we'll understand His reasons later. Likewise, if I act on His instructions, even the illogical ones, by faith, then I'll receive divine insight. Psalm 11:10 confirms this: "[they] have a good understanding that do His commandments."

Jameson, Fawcett, and Brown Commentary calls this desire to please Him, which He initiates and imparts, the "grand inlet to light on all questions vitally affecting [our] eternal interest".

Thank You, Father.

Value of Humor

My philosophy on humor is pretty well summed up by Michel Monnot (From Rage to Courage) whose comments I read years and years ago in Reader's Digest.

"It makes no difference what kind of humor you indulge in... As long as you engage in this type of activity you keep your mind working, sharp, nimble. The exercise irrigates your cortical cells with happy thoughts. It is a prevention against depression, a truly therapeutic agent of positive self-healing."

Objectivity Escapes Me When

Last month, I attended a 3-day intense training and as well as a 4-day conference within two weeks of each other, both necessitating out-of-town travel. Following these two trips, I found myself exhausted and blue (adrenal depletion, no doubt). The problem isn't that I get like this from time to time -- most of us probably do -- it's that when I'm exhausted I lose all objectivity. And I start letting my physical condition affect my thinking. And that's when I end up way out on that proverbial limb.

It's all there in a prayer journal entry dated November 21st. I was opening my heart before God, exploring all the possible "reasons" for feeling soooo sad. I listed things like the condition of our old fixer-upper house, which is not nearly as "fixed up" two years after moving in as I'd hoped. And the state of our finances (which is largely responsible for the former). And some of the people I love not living up to their potential (oh, like I am or something...). And not achieving goals I'd set for myself. And such. The list got long.

So there I was, glub-glubbing in self- p-i-t-y (shhhh -- don't say it out loud, I'm so embarrassed). I concluded the day's entry on a rather low note, imploring God for help with everything that seemed "wrong" in my sorry life.

Reminds me of a thing that used to happen occasionally with one of our sons when he was a little guy. Hunger and fatigue would sneak up and overtake him. When he got in that condition, any and everything would overwhelm him. I wouldn't pick up on his high level of metabolic distress and would make the mistake of trying to reason with him. My encouragement, cajoling, persuasion would fall on deaf ears and his mood would only worsen.

About then his father would sense what was really the matter, have mercy on both of us and intervene. (I'm also embarrassed that I was a slow learner on this one, this scenario having occurred numerous times.) His father would quietly mention to me that our son just needed to eat something. And then maybe go lie down. Dad's suggestion would always be the ticket, leaving me feeling sorta clueless for not having picked up on our son's real needs. Often, after eating, the boy would perk right up and even play a while quite happily before going to bed.

I wonder if my Father's suggestion to me on the 21st of November would have been similar, perhaps: "Linda, you're exhausted and you've lost objectivity. Go eat some healthy food. Take a walk and pump some oxygen to your brain. And then go to bed earrrrrly. Meet Me back here with your journal in the morning when you're restored and refreshed." I don't know. I was too far out on that limb to "hear".

I'll try to remind myself next time I'm in the dumps. You too?

My Indy Blog Buddy

I really didn't just wake up one morning and say to myself, "I think I'll start blogging today."

In November 2004, I was telling a friend about the kind of website I'd like to have some day. "What you're describing is a blog," she said. Shortly thereafter, I got an email containing three sites that host weblogs. (Thanks, Tena.)

But...despite her fine leads, I didn't actually do anything with them. I guess I just didn't "get" the whole blog thing. Then four weeks ago, a full year after that initial conversation, I attended a workshop at a conference in Indianapolis entitled "City Blogging" and got activated.

One of the two presenters at this workshop was a Mr. Neil Cox. While de-mystifying the blog thing, he looked like he was having more fun with a PC than anyone I'd seen in a while. His sheer glee in the creation of a brand new blog right before our very eyes won me over. [And the participants saw every thing that Neil had made, and, behold, it was very good. And from 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Friday was the third workshop...]

Having observed the process step by step, I was convinced it was something that even this non-techie-50-something-stay-at-home-Mom could master. Two days after I got back home, I was out of the gate. However -- and you surely saw this coming -- I soon hit a snag. So I emailed Mr. Cox, my new Indy blog buddy, pleading for help. Galloping to my rescue at the speed of DSL, mouse in one hand and a bit of verrrry simple programming code in the other, he led me out of the thicket. After successfully completing the steps he outlined and viewing my own handiwork, I confess giddiness. In fact, it felt like I was breaking out in a case of geekbumps. (Sorry, couldn't help myself...)

Thank you, Mr. Neil Cox (scroll down to "U. B. Connectin' "), not only for solving my dilemma last week, but also for turning me on to this new medium. Your genuine enthusiasm and generous heart are causing a spike in blogal warming.

A 1864 Letter from the White House

I first read this letter more than twenty years ago. Its poignant beauty captivated me. Today, when I found it on the internet, I discovered that it was likely written by a White House secretary by the name of John Hay. Oh well, I'm a little disappointed but that doesn't lessen its beauty one bit.

Executive Mansion
Washington, November 21, 1864

Dear Madam, --

I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle.

I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save.

I pray that our heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.

Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,
A. Lincoln

Trap Door to Hell

[The following was emailed to me long ago. I regret that I've lost track of whom to credit.]

A college drama group presented a play in which one character would stand on a trap door and announce, "I descend into hell!" A stagehand below would then pull a rope, the trap door would open, and the character would plunge through.

The play was well received. When the actor playing the part became ill, another actor who was quite overweight took his place. When the new actor announced, "I descend into hell!" The stagehand pulled the rope, and the actor began his plunge, but became hopelessly stuck. No amount of tugging on the rope could make him descend.

One student in the balcony jumped up and yelled: "Hallelujah! Hell is full!"

Refreshing View on Religious Liberty

Michael Medved, USA Today columnist, writes his opinion on the current climate that has spawned the "Christmas Wars". It's one of the best pieces on the subject I've read in quite a while. Hope you agree.

Another Puppy Life Lesson

The puppy has been with us for nearly two weeks now, and all of us are gradually adjusting to one another. He's still very tuned in to his Master's every word, every move (as I described earlier), but is calmer and better able to follow directions. But...

He's still a puppy. And that means that he sometimes can't stay focused on what he's supposed to be doing when given verbal commands. Oh, there might be another dog on the path ahead, and he's very distracted. Or someone comes in the front door, and he's compelled to investigate. Or he's overstimulated, and just can't override his instinctual (mis)behavior.

A lot like me, in fact:

• I too am prone to lose focus and get way off beam.
• I too am strongly compelled to follow my impulses, satisfying my felt "needs" (think Snickers, snooze button, gossip, etc.).
• I too get so wound up doing my own thing, I can't gear down and follow sound directives from my Master.

In spite of my lapses, however, my Master is patient and kind. He redirects my focus. He implores me to satisfy my genuine needs in Him and stop settling for cheap substitutions. And He calls to me from His word and says,

"Come, Linda. You've gotten yourself overwhelmed and uncentered; I'll give you a break. Sit. Here, take My [collar and leash] upon you. It pleases me to [train] you -- I don't consider it "beneath Me". Once you get these commands, things'll be easier and much lighter. Abide with Me. Stay. Good Girl."

(Matthew 11:28-30, paraphrased for the puppy-hearted).

More Fave Quotes

Here are several more that I really like:

• "Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold." -- Helen Keller (1880-1968), American writer
• "You must do the thing you think you cannot do." -- Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962), American First Lady
• "Press on: nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world of full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are overwhelmingly powerful." -- Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933), 30th President of the United States

(Hmmm. I just noticed that all three of these people were born within 12 years of one another. I promise that I like quotes made by people who are still alive, too.)

Holiday Fire Prevention

Here are some instructions from the US Fire Administration regarding safety during the holiday season when many people have extra candles burning, extension cords in use, and a cut tree in the house. Let's all commit right now to do what's necessary to keep ourselves and our families safe. Please don't cut corners thinking "this couldn't happen to me." A house burned 1/2 block away from us several nights ago, causing $100,000 worth of damage. Fortunately there were no fatalities, but the loss is devastating.

Please follow each precaution carefully. And don't forget to forward the information to friends and family -- for safety's sake. Thanks to FlyLady.net for the heads up.

God's Word

Isaiah 49:14-16
"But Zion said, 'The LORD has forsaken me, And my Lord has forgotten me.' Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands... "

It is highly improbable that a mother -- a nursing mother, at that -- could forget her baby, but I suppose it's within the realm of possibility (for instance, she might be gravely ill). But God, unlike a human mother, has sovereignly chosen to remember. In fact, He says He inscribes His own on the palms of His hands. Wow.

My daughter does this. When she wants to remember to take something to school, or to call a friend, she writes a little note right on her hand as a reminder. When I was young, my mom told me to tie a string around a finger to achieve the same effect. Several months ago, I wanted to break a bad habit. So I made myself a little "friendship" bracelet to wear for a while to remind me. (It worked and my behavior has improved.)

And our heavenly Father does it too. He writes our names on the palms of His hands. Not because He could ever forget. He's God and He sovereignly choses to remember His loved ones. That's me and that's you. Wow.

First Graders Finish Adages

The first half of some familiar sayings were given to some first graders to complete:

• It’s always darkest before... daylight savings time.
• Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and... you have to blow you nose.
• You can’t teach an old dog... new math.

Websites to Check Out

From time to time on this site, I will let you know about sites that I find very helpful. Here are several I found helpful:

• Online help for men and women addicted to pornography -- Pure Online. (Sobering facts: 60% of website visits are sexual in nature; in 2001 there were 280,000 X-rated sites; No. 1 search term used at search engine sites is the word “sex”; 1 in 3 users is female. Check the stats for yourself at Blazing Grace.) Chances are there is someone you know who needs this information.
• Shaunti Feldhahn discusses her book For Women Only (I read and recommend the book, by the way) and lets us glimpse into the heart of a man. My favorite feature: "Ask Eric" -- 'average guy answers' to readers' questions.
• A fun "About Your Mate" quiz to increase intimacy in your relationship at Family Dynamics, Inc.

New Bible Feature on Sidebar

Check out the new Bible feature I've added to the sidebar. You can enter a specific text (such as "Psalm 23"), search a word or a phrase. Have fun!

17th Century Nun's Prayer

I recently had my 53rd birthday, and I am taking to heart the following prayer:

Lord, you know better than I know myself that I am growing older and will someday be old. Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion. Release me from the craving to straighten out everybody's affairs. Make me thoughtful, but not moody. Helpful, but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all, but you know, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end.

Keep my mind free from the endless recital of details; give me wings to get to the point. Seal my lips on my aches and pains. They are increasing, and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by. I dare not ask for grace enough to enjoy the tales of others' pains, but help me to endure them with patience.

I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally -- I may be mistaken.

Keep me reasonably sweet. I do not want to be a saint -- some of them are so hard to live with. But a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil. Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places, and talents in unexpected people. And give me, Lord, the grace to tell them so. Amen.

[p. 98, Becoming a Vessel God Can Use, by Donna Partow]

Discover Your Environmental Footprint

Lately I'm rather perplexed by the hugley disproportionate amount of the earth's resources consumed by us Westerners, particularly here in the USA. We are shameless consumers with seemingly insatiable appetites. I wrestle with my conscience over wanting to get a "good deal" on products, yet these very products are often grown/manufactured by laborers who can't earn a liveable wage. I end up enjoying life's pleasures at their expense.

But what to do about it? The problem is big -- much bigger than me. It seems that one person's actions won't amount to a spit in a river. Would a decision to pass up discount store bargains really make that much of a difference? We'll revisit this theme of economic justice from time to time...

Meanwhile, if you're interested in discovering your personal global impact, here's a survey for you. You may fancy yourself a fairly "green" person, making some thoughtful environmental choices. Be prepared to be surprised. I was.

If Only I Could Be as Good a Christian as My New Puppy

Last week a 4 month old black Lab/border collie puppy joined our family. He's waaaay enthusiastic and more affectionate than I could have ever imagined. He watches my every move, takes every opportunity to express his devotion, is more than eager for the "food of life" that I offer, follows me wherever I go. I wish I were that tuned in to the movements of my Master, that hungry for what He feeds me, that I would seek every single opportunity to express my devotion and bring glory to His name. It doesn't really seem that complicated for my pup. Perhaps I can learn some important things as I observe him in the upcoming days and weeks.

Do You Have a Great Quote?

Really good quotes have always been one of my faves. (Why didn't I list that in my "Interests" on my Blogger Profile?!) I'll share one of my all-time top ten and then you add yours in the Comments, OK?

Here's mine:

"One of the oldest human needs is having someone to wonder where you are when you don't come home at night." -- Margaret Mead, 1901-1978

God's Word

This weekend I attended a prayer retreat and drew these two scriptures from a hat and was asked to pray about them. I hope they bless you today.

Psalm 34:18 and 147:3
"The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit... He heals the broken hearted, and binds up their wounds."
I Thessalonians 5:17-18
"Pray continually! Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

I Found "Captivating" Fascinating

Have you ever read a book that you just had to put down every few pages because the writer kept tripping breakers in your brain? Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul, by John and Stasi Eldridge was like that for me. (John is the author of Wild At Heart, a similar book exploring the heart of a man.) A brief snippet: "Your heart itself, as a woman, is an invitation. An invitation delivered in the most intimate and personalized way... A call to cultivate the beauty you hold inside, and to unveil your beauty on behalf of others. And it is a call to adventure..."

I was drawn into the wonder, overcome by it, and transformed by it. So much so that I've invited several friends to read the book and discuss it together as a group over the next few months. See for yourself. [Published by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, TN. ]

Welcome

Thank you for visiting a musing moment. Visit often and discover moments of inspiration, encouragement, challenge, information, enrichment or even amusement. I was once told that I had "too many conversations in me." If that's true, then this is my way of sharing them with you.