I have noticed something since I began a relationship with the computer world. My body has broken down!!!!
I guess it was about the time that Michael was born and I was at home more in the three years following. Believe it or not I had a 386 and surfed (or should I say dog paddled) the net. Since that time until now I have had to change my lens prescription to include bifocals!!! Some may say it is age....I think NOT!!!!
There has been a steady weight gain noticed too!!! There must be rays emitting from the computer that add on weight in areas that seem to be in range. Some say it's over eating and lack of exercise.....I think NOT!!!
I have had to have surgery on both of my wrists for carpal tunnel syndrome and this is the only repetitive task that I engage in. Thanks to my friend Gary Soenen my carpal tunnels are unsyndromed and I can type as fast as I talk again.......I think NOT!!! A new stumbling block has hit my relationship with my computer!!!!
The latest ailment to attack me from my computer is targeted to my right arm. The computer always attacks the most valued area of the body involved in its life.....the dominant extremity!!! From what I can gather, it is either tennis elbow or golfer's elbow but again is due to a repetitive task. There has been no tennis or golf played here!!! Why don't they call it Computer Elbow or Cyber Arm Syndrome??????
Perhaps a law suit to Bill Gates is in order to compensate for this continual breakdown.....after all he does have the monopoly on the business. Someone should have to pay for this!!!??? I think NOT!
I think I will just stay away from the knife this time try ice and motrin
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Friday, August 24, 2007
The Dog Rescuer!
Anyone who really knows me knows how much I love dogs. Animals, in general have always held a soft spot for me. Ever since I was a kid, I have had a special love for pets. I actually aspired to be a vet for many years, but found that I didn't have the grades to even get me close to the door. I do love being a nurse and it is where God has called me, but I still have the connection to animals. If any of those "traits" are passed down or learned, it has been from my Mom. She has a "connection" to animals that is even deeper than my own. I believe that the Lord has given us pets to demonstrate the unconditional love that He has for us. There isn't a human alive that has "unconditional" love. All human love has conditions attached to it. Dog's especially are so capable of that kind of love. I can have the worst day in the world and come home to a family that may not even acknowledge that I have come through the door. My trusty companions, my dogs, run to me like they haven't seen me in a year. They jump up and cover me with love and kisses. Some of you would say "yuck" but trust me, it's a good feeling.
Yesterday I found someone else's beloved pet. This beautiful black lab was wandering in a busy back streek intersection in town. While someone else stood with her, I drove home and got a leash. Down the street I went with this pet to find where her owners might be. No one seemed to recognize this dog so I brought her home to spend the night. She fit in to our home quite nicely like she had been there for years. I made some calls and posted an internet notice, but had to call the humane society. They were to come this morning but thankfully the owners found us. "Woody" (or as I named her Molly) has just moved to Simcoe from the Mississauga area this month and had wandered away. She is 11 years old and her "boy" had cried himself to sleep last night in fear that she may never return. He is a happy little guy now!! Praise God!
People ask why I do this. I have picked up a few wandering dogs or ones that appear to be in imminent danger to return them home. This is the reason why, for the little boys that cry at night over their lost dog. It is for the reason I hope that if my dogs went missing, another animal lover would find and take care of them and not just keep driving figuring someone else will look after it. Some think I'm crazy.......but I am .......The Dog Rescuer!!!!!!!
Yesterday I found someone else's beloved pet. This beautiful black lab was wandering in a busy back streek intersection in town. While someone else stood with her, I drove home and got a leash. Down the street I went with this pet to find where her owners might be. No one seemed to recognize this dog so I brought her home to spend the night. She fit in to our home quite nicely like she had been there for years. I made some calls and posted an internet notice, but had to call the humane society. They were to come this morning but thankfully the owners found us. "Woody" (or as I named her Molly) has just moved to Simcoe from the Mississauga area this month and had wandered away. She is 11 years old and her "boy" had cried himself to sleep last night in fear that she may never return. He is a happy little guy now!! Praise God!
People ask why I do this. I have picked up a few wandering dogs or ones that appear to be in imminent danger to return them home. This is the reason why, for the little boys that cry at night over their lost dog. It is for the reason I hope that if my dogs went missing, another animal lover would find and take care of them and not just keep driving figuring someone else will look after it. Some think I'm crazy.......but I am .......The Dog Rescuer!!!!!!!
Saturday, August 18, 2007
The Fantastic Four and the Rise of the Silver Surfer
When we were in Toronto recently we decided one evening to watch an in house movie. Paying $12.99 for a movie is more than I would like to spend but this was vacation time and that was part of the fun. The Fantastic Four was agreed upon because my 10 year old wanted to see it. Since it is a movie based on a comic book series I thought it was safe.
For the most part the movie was fine. I was not impressed with the adult inuendos that were fired from time to time by the characters. Fortunately the were over my son's head but nonetheless, this is a movie that I'm sure most parents would feel is safe for a child. The basic "good vs evil" was well covered and had a good message in that regard. I was even able to point out some Biblical parallels to my son which was easy for him to apply.
The story surrounds how the Silver Surfer seeking out new planets with energy for Galactus feed off of in order to survive. It brought tears to my eyes when the force of Galactus comes to earth. It is much like how Satan himself feeds off of the energy of our earth and those who live and breathe here. He can suck the life force out of people for his own survival. Galactus roams like a lion to seek and destroy, much like the Adversary.
Like Satan, Galactus is destroyed in the movie (sorry for the spoiler). Silver Surfer gave his life in a sacrificical way, so the earth and it's people could survive.
Christ gave His life so that we could have life forever. Satan is defeated and he knows it. We have the advantage as believers to stand against his schemes that can steal the energy from us. We need to proclaim that more often. We need to live that so others can see the life saving Force that lives in each of us.
For the most part the movie was fine. I was not impressed with the adult inuendos that were fired from time to time by the characters. Fortunately the were over my son's head but nonetheless, this is a movie that I'm sure most parents would feel is safe for a child. The basic "good vs evil" was well covered and had a good message in that regard. I was even able to point out some Biblical parallels to my son which was easy for him to apply.
The story surrounds how the Silver Surfer seeking out new planets with energy for Galactus feed off of in order to survive. It brought tears to my eyes when the force of Galactus comes to earth. It is much like how Satan himself feeds off of the energy of our earth and those who live and breathe here. He can suck the life force out of people for his own survival. Galactus roams like a lion to seek and destroy, much like the Adversary.
Like Satan, Galactus is destroyed in the movie (sorry for the spoiler). Silver Surfer gave his life in a sacrificical way, so the earth and it's people could survive.
Christ gave His life so that we could have life forever. Satan is defeated and he knows it. We have the advantage as believers to stand against his schemes that can steal the energy from us. We need to proclaim that more often. We need to live that so others can see the life saving Force that lives in each of us.
Does Grace Abounding give license to backsliding?
I'm a fan of grace. If it wasn't for that amazing grace I would still be caught in a life of downward spiraling that had me out of control. I'm thankful for that amazing grace that made me realize that my life wasn't as "fun" as I thought it was. That my life wasn't not in my control as I thought it was. That I couldn't rely on "me" as I was broken and fallen and very far from perfect or ideal. I am still broken, fallen and far from perfect or ideal but I am forgiven. I realize that I am created by One that knows me far better than anyone has ever known me. This One that created me knows every secret sin I have ever commited and every temptation that I have encounterd. Some temptations I have given in to and others have been overcome only by the strength that He gives me.
I don't want to have that life I lived before. The uncertainty and darkness that I can now see I was in, is a far deeper pit than I ever want to be in again. It is not about depression so much as it was a lack of hope for the future. I could not see past my circumstances that were created out of my own selfish nature. I wanted to be number one. I had never felt that I was number one to anyone. I wanted to have my needs met first and formost. I was independent and the world celebrates a woman's indeprendence. So if I was celebrated and fufilling my own needs and desires, why was I so miserable inside? Serving self will never end. Serving self will continue, prevail and will never be enough. The hole will never be filled. It is like an empty abyss in a search for better, bigger and faster!
I still make some poor choices and I still give in to my selfish desires from time to time. These moments are fleeting and the Lord always reminds me in some way either subtle or direct that I need to keep Him first in my life. I hope never to choose to go back to that old life. I know others have. My heart breaks for them. My heart breaks for Him as He watches us turn our back on Him. The tears that flow from Him from our disobedience must flood the heavens above.
Do we turn our backs on the backsliden Christian? Do we steer clear or we might "catch" what they have? I think we all see an element of what we could be in that person. We sit back and judge them but we know not what has gone on in their life. We need to walk a mile in another man's shoes to truly see. We are not the judge and jury. Only the One who created us and died to save us is alble to make that judgement. I am a nurse and I can tell the smoker that his smoking is not good for him but he already knows that. However it is my job to be sure that he understands that. I guess that is the same as a Christian. The Christian choosing a lifestyle of disobedience knows they are making a poor choice. They often steer clear of other Christians in order not to be confronted or be accountable. Is it our "job" to point out, in love, that their current choice is unhealthy for them. I think it probably is. Alienation will not bring them back to a life of obedience but the concern of others might enable the Holy Spirit to begin to do a work in their heart.
I think I'm rambling........
I don't want to have that life I lived before. The uncertainty and darkness that I can now see I was in, is a far deeper pit than I ever want to be in again. It is not about depression so much as it was a lack of hope for the future. I could not see past my circumstances that were created out of my own selfish nature. I wanted to be number one. I had never felt that I was number one to anyone. I wanted to have my needs met first and formost. I was independent and the world celebrates a woman's indeprendence. So if I was celebrated and fufilling my own needs and desires, why was I so miserable inside? Serving self will never end. Serving self will continue, prevail and will never be enough. The hole will never be filled. It is like an empty abyss in a search for better, bigger and faster!
I still make some poor choices and I still give in to my selfish desires from time to time. These moments are fleeting and the Lord always reminds me in some way either subtle or direct that I need to keep Him first in my life. I hope never to choose to go back to that old life. I know others have. My heart breaks for them. My heart breaks for Him as He watches us turn our back on Him. The tears that flow from Him from our disobedience must flood the heavens above.
Do we turn our backs on the backsliden Christian? Do we steer clear or we might "catch" what they have? I think we all see an element of what we could be in that person. We sit back and judge them but we know not what has gone on in their life. We need to walk a mile in another man's shoes to truly see. We are not the judge and jury. Only the One who created us and died to save us is alble to make that judgement. I am a nurse and I can tell the smoker that his smoking is not good for him but he already knows that. However it is my job to be sure that he understands that. I guess that is the same as a Christian. The Christian choosing a lifestyle of disobedience knows they are making a poor choice. They often steer clear of other Christians in order not to be confronted or be accountable. Is it our "job" to point out, in love, that their current choice is unhealthy for them. I think it probably is. Alienation will not bring them back to a life of obedience but the concern of others might enable the Holy Spirit to begin to do a work in their heart.
I think I'm rambling........
Sunday, August 12, 2007
So Long Self
I have this song on my Ipod but the words just came alive to me yesterday. It is called So Long Self by the band Mercy Me. The words say it all for me.
"So Long Self"
Well if I come across a little bit distant
It's just because I am
Things just seem to feel a little bit different
You understand
Believe it or not but life is not apparently
About me anyways
But I have met the One who really is worthy
So let me say
So long, self
Well, it's been fun, but I have found somebody else
So long, self
There's just no room for two
So you are gonna have to move
So long, self
Don't take this wrong but you are wrong for me, farewell
Oh well, goodbye, don't cry
So long, self
Stop right there because I know what you're thinking
But no we can't be friends
And even though I know your heart is breaking
This has to end
And come to think of it the blame for all of this
Simply falls on me
For wanting something more in life than all of this
Can't you see
Don't feel so bad (don't feel so bad)
There'll be better days (there'll be better days)
Don't go away mad (but by all means)
Just go away, go away
"So Long Self"
Well if I come across a little bit distant
It's just because I am
Things just seem to feel a little bit different
You understand
Believe it or not but life is not apparently
About me anyways
But I have met the One who really is worthy
So let me say
So long, self
Well, it's been fun, but I have found somebody else
So long, self
There's just no room for two
So you are gonna have to move
So long, self
Don't take this wrong but you are wrong for me, farewell
Oh well, goodbye, don't cry
So long, self
Stop right there because I know what you're thinking
But no we can't be friends
And even though I know your heart is breaking
This has to end
And come to think of it the blame for all of this
Simply falls on me
For wanting something more in life than all of this
Can't you see
Don't feel so bad (don't feel so bad)
There'll be better days (there'll be better days)
Don't go away mad (but by all means)
Just go away, go away
Monday, August 06, 2007
Reacting!
Reacting!
By Mike Rule
Most of us in our flesh carry a habit of performing for others – always rising to what we think or feel is expected of us in any given situation. Internally, we know how we feel about ourselves: substandard, a failure, we don’t measure up, or there is something wrong with us. Externally, people unknowingly expect so much of us. The disparity between what we feel on the inside and what we expect on the outside causes our inner pressure to escalate.
For example, someone may say that he or she is disappointed with the way we handled a situation and we immediately react to them. There are several ways we can react, depending upon life experience and our unique personality. We may implode and become depressed, self-condemning, and maybe even suicidal. We might explode and get angry, yell at others, be rude or viscous toward others. Or, we may rise to the challenge and perform to what others expect just to prove that they are wrong. In any case, other people are knowingly or unknowingly controlling us. In reality, it is not other people that control us; it is our own emotions that take control. The moment emotions begin to control us, we have begun to walk in the flesh and not according to the Spirit. I did not say we are walking in the flesh when we begin to experience emotion. We are walking in the flesh when emotions begin to control us and make our choices for us.
When someone criticizes or questions us, we are not hearing the words; we are reacting to how the words make us feel. But Jesus calls us to take up our cross, deny ourselves, and not walk according to the flesh. Flesh is nothing more than the human soul (made up of mind, will, and emotion) under the influence or control of something other than Jesus Christ. When we cannot handle feeling particular things and therefore work to avoid those feelings, we are reacting to our feelings instead of responding to the Spirit.
Jesus calls us to let our emotions push us to Him (see 1 Peter 5:7). He calls us to respond to Him in all and through all. The reality is, when we react to what another person says or does all we are saying is that we already know how we feel about ourselves and we don’t want someone else reminding us about it. If we seek to avoid any situation where someone will be disappointed with us or criticize us, we are allowing ourselves to be controlled by someone other than Christ. Both reveling in and rejecting our feelings are reactions outside of Christ. We are free to feel what we feel…and respond to Him alone.
Verses for Reflection
“God lives fully in Christ. And you are fully grown because you belong to Christ, who is over every power and authority. Christ has also taken away your selfish desires, just as circumcision removes flesh from the body. And when you were baptized, it was the same as being buried with Christ. Then you were raised to life because you had faith in the power of God, who raised Christ from death. You were dead, because you were sinful and were not God’s people. But God let Christ make you alive, when He forgave all our sins. God wiped out the charges that were against us for disobeying the Law of Moses. He took them away and nailed them to the cross. There Christ defeated all powers and forces. He let the whole world see them being led away as prisoners when He celebrated His victory. Don’t let anyone tell you what you must eat or drink. Don’t let them say that you must celebrate the New Moon festival, the Sabbath, or any other festival. These things are only a shadow of what was to come. But Christ is real…” Colossians 2:9-17
Ó Copyright 2005 Living Covenant Ministries International. All Rights Reserved
Permission is granted to use for non-commercial (free) distribution only. Please include our copyright information to prevent mis-use. Thank you.
"Living Reflections" is a weekly e-mail discipleship ministry of Living Covenant Ministries International. To be added to our weekly mailing list send an e-mail to addme@livingcovenant.com To be removed send an email to removeme@livingcovenant.com
You can visit our website @ http://www.livingcovenant.com
Freedom for the Frustrated!
...Jehovah has anointed (us) to preach the Gospel to the poor; He has sent (us) to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to preach the acceptable year of Jehovah and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to appoint to those who mourn in Zion, to give to them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the mantle of praise for the spirit of heaviness; so that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah, that He might be glorified. (Isa 61:1-3
By Mike Rule
Most of us in our flesh carry a habit of performing for others – always rising to what we think or feel is expected of us in any given situation. Internally, we know how we feel about ourselves: substandard, a failure, we don’t measure up, or there is something wrong with us. Externally, people unknowingly expect so much of us. The disparity between what we feel on the inside and what we expect on the outside causes our inner pressure to escalate.
For example, someone may say that he or she is disappointed with the way we handled a situation and we immediately react to them. There are several ways we can react, depending upon life experience and our unique personality. We may implode and become depressed, self-condemning, and maybe even suicidal. We might explode and get angry, yell at others, be rude or viscous toward others. Or, we may rise to the challenge and perform to what others expect just to prove that they are wrong. In any case, other people are knowingly or unknowingly controlling us. In reality, it is not other people that control us; it is our own emotions that take control. The moment emotions begin to control us, we have begun to walk in the flesh and not according to the Spirit. I did not say we are walking in the flesh when we begin to experience emotion. We are walking in the flesh when emotions begin to control us and make our choices for us.
When someone criticizes or questions us, we are not hearing the words; we are reacting to how the words make us feel. But Jesus calls us to take up our cross, deny ourselves, and not walk according to the flesh. Flesh is nothing more than the human soul (made up of mind, will, and emotion) under the influence or control of something other than Jesus Christ. When we cannot handle feeling particular things and therefore work to avoid those feelings, we are reacting to our feelings instead of responding to the Spirit.
Jesus calls us to let our emotions push us to Him (see 1 Peter 5:7). He calls us to respond to Him in all and through all. The reality is, when we react to what another person says or does all we are saying is that we already know how we feel about ourselves and we don’t want someone else reminding us about it. If we seek to avoid any situation where someone will be disappointed with us or criticize us, we are allowing ourselves to be controlled by someone other than Christ. Both reveling in and rejecting our feelings are reactions outside of Christ. We are free to feel what we feel…and respond to Him alone.
Verses for Reflection
“God lives fully in Christ. And you are fully grown because you belong to Christ, who is over every power and authority. Christ has also taken away your selfish desires, just as circumcision removes flesh from the body. And when you were baptized, it was the same as being buried with Christ. Then you were raised to life because you had faith in the power of God, who raised Christ from death. You were dead, because you were sinful and were not God’s people. But God let Christ make you alive, when He forgave all our sins. God wiped out the charges that were against us for disobeying the Law of Moses. He took them away and nailed them to the cross. There Christ defeated all powers and forces. He let the whole world see them being led away as prisoners when He celebrated His victory. Don’t let anyone tell you what you must eat or drink. Don’t let them say that you must celebrate the New Moon festival, the Sabbath, or any other festival. These things are only a shadow of what was to come. But Christ is real…” Colossians 2:9-17
Ó Copyright 2005 Living Covenant Ministries International. All Rights Reserved
Permission is granted to use for non-commercial (free) distribution only. Please include our copyright information to prevent mis-use. Thank you.
"Living Reflections" is a weekly e-mail discipleship ministry of Living Covenant Ministries International. To be added to our weekly mailing list send an e-mail to addme@livingcovenant.com To be removed send an email to removeme@livingcovenant.com
You can visit our website @ http://www.livingcovenant.com
Freedom for the Frustrated!
...Jehovah has anointed (us) to preach the Gospel to the poor; He has sent (us) to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to preach the acceptable year of Jehovah and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to appoint to those who mourn in Zion, to give to them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the mantle of praise for the spirit of heaviness; so that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah, that He might be glorified. (Isa 61:1-3
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