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Day 3

Fire and Lions

Why did Daniel have to go into the Lion’s Den? Why the Shadrach, Meshech and Abednego have to go into the furnace? Why didn’t God save them? He could have…He can do anything! Right?

My husband Jeff has claimed for years that I live life looking for my field of clovers. I keep waiting and hoping for the day that there are no more struggles. The day when bad things stop happening. When children no longer suffer because of the stupidity and selfishness of adults. He was right! I do, or did.

Why did Daniel have to go into the Den? Why did the 3 brave young man have to experience the fire? Because it wasn’t about them, it was so much larger than that. It was about the need to change laws, to make new proclamation, to rid governments of evil men. These men understood that. They stood firm in their God saying,

If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. BUT even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship any other god. Daniel 3:17-18

Even if He does not…even if I never find that field of clovers, it doesn’t matter. God uses all things for my good. He has redeemed everything; it’s not future tense, its present. I don’t have to wait for it to turn to good, because I believe and trust in God, it is good!

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Day 2

My List

Two days before I started my fast, I made my list. It was a list of undefined, incomplete, unfinished issues in my world. At first I was thinking that it would be important to track these things to be able to record any changes at the end of my 31 days. BUT that isn’t the purpose of this fast. It’s purpose is to be able to verbalize what I have learned, not list everything I want to change.

This has been one a difficult lessons for me to learn:  Accepting life and changing what is within my power to change.  I’m an  “I can fix anything”  kind of person.

“Thou hast made us for thyself, and our souls are restless until they find their rest in thee.” ~ Augustine

Life is not about us; what we have or what we want or even what we hope for. We were created for God and until we come to that realization, nothing will ever be enough.  It is this truth that allows me to be completely satisfied.

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Day 1

Back in School – for the first time

Last August after I returned home from an extended trip – I was sick. Not physically, but mentally. I was sick of me. I was sick and tired of feeling as if I could not explain what or how I believe. I was 50 years old! When was I going to be able to verbalize what was in my head and heart?

I sat on the side of my bed and simply said, “God! I want You to teach me what is truth – show me all the stuff I do that isn’t right – and give me the words to be able to explain what is.” The next morning at 7:00 am I went back to school for the first time. God has challenged everything I ever thought I believed! Some we tossed out and some we built on. He has begun to give me the words to explain these beliefs, and the wisdom to shut up when I should.

It’s no secret that the last 4 years have been full of less than perfect events. We have a property stuck in Bank of America hell. Feel free to share our journey through the Banked in America Blog. Two years ago I left my career because of a bizarre allergy which continues to affect me every day. Our granddaughter, Miss Emery is doing great, but she still has a way to go. And our Warrior Son continues to fight his battle against a system that holds his kids hostage.

Today Monday, April 16th I begin a 31 day fast. It’s the easiest fast I’ve ever seen. Actually it’s just a healthy eating fast. It won’t kill me, I plan to lose those final 10 pounds. The true purpose of this fast is to once and for all  become so confident in what I’ve learned that I stop being, as I’ve heard it explained, “Pitiful, pathetic and broke!”

I’ve committed to myself to record 31 days of lessons. Many are lessons learned since the end of last summer. I’m expecting there to be a few new ones toward the end of the month. After all that is the purpose of this fast. I am very excited! I wish there was a fast forward button I could push, but I’ll just have to wait.

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Landed

It was just about a year ago, that our son opened up and let us know he was being physically abused by his wife. He felt he had to stay in order to protect the children. I recall one text message, “How do I get my kids out of there?” On January 9, God answered our prayers when she was arrested. It’s been a tough 11 months, to say the least. Four children, court hearings and lacking in funds, but through it all – healing has happened.

Last evening Raun posted this song on his FB page as his new theme song. I googled the lyrics. I’ve now watched the video multiple times while reading the words – for anyone who knows the journey of those who are fighting to free themselves from such a relationship, this is more than a theme song. This is a declaration of freedom, of health and of determination.  We’ve all LANDED!

 

“Landed”

We’d hit the bottom,
I thought it was my fault
And in a way I guess it was
I’m just now finding out
What it was all about

Moved to the west coast away from everyone
She never told me that you called
Back when I was still, I was still in love

Till I opened my eyes and walked out the door
And the clouds came tumbling down
And it’s bye-bye, goodbye, I tried
And I twisted it wrong just to make it right
Had to leave myself behind
I’ve been flying high all night
So come pick me up…I’ve landed

The daily dramas she made from nothing
So nothing ever made them right
She liked to push me and talk me back down
Until I believed I was the crazy one,
and in a way
I guess I was…

But I opened my eyes and walked out the door
And the clouds came tumbling down
And it’s bye-bye, goodbye I tried
Treading a sea of a troubled mind
Had to leave myself behind
Singing bye-bye, goodbye I tried

If you wrote me off I’d understand it
Because I’ve been on some other planet
So come pick me up…
I’ve landed

And you will be so
happy to know
I’ve come alone,
it’s over

But I opened my eyes and walked out the door
And the clouds came tumbling down
And it’s by my goodbye I tried
Down comes the reign of the telephone czar
It’s OK to call
Now I’ll answer for myself

Come pick me up,
…I’ve landed

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New Direction

On September 23, 2009 I began this blog as a way to record the ever changing-changes that were happening in the lives of my family and myself. 130 entries later, our lives barely resemble what they were a short 24 months ago.

This past September I felt it was time for some new challenges, new direction, new focus. After much thought, two concepts came to life. The first was to create a blog for kids. A daily collection of Proverbs, written on a level that nine and ten year-olds could read and six and seven year-olds could understand. Last weekend the first post was made to Proverbs for Kids. We were right, kids can read it, younger kids can understand it. Even better – adults are loving it!  www.proverbs4kids.wordpress.com

The second concept, which carries as much excitement for me as Proverbs4Kids does, is Sunday School Theology 101. I have  begun to realize how important – and priceless – the hours were that I spent as a kid in Sunday School. The Old Testament Bible stories that I heard, the lessons learned, and the heroes created, have been stories that have stuck with me through the years. As I  share these stories with new friends, I have also come to realize that those who missed such training in their childhood, have missed a huge part of understanding who God is.  Thus the challenge; to start at Genesis and tell the Old Testament stories that have made such an impact on my life. Bible Stories for Adults, based on Sunday School Theology (no big words!). SST101 will launch next week with the first story found in the book of Genesis – In the beginning…GOD.  www.sst101.wordpress.com

At first, thought this blog was coming to an end…BUT I know that when one begins a new challenge, new discoveries are always right around the corner…I expect I will want to report what I find around those corners!

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Oktoberfest Terminoligy

These are few terms that will enhance your Oktoberfest experience:

aufstöin (v.): to donate a beer.

Batzerl (n.):  small amount of something.

biddscheen (n.):  please, can also mean “here you are” when someone is giving or serving something.

Brezn (n.):  Bavarian pretzel. Aesthetically twined string of dough, baked to a pastry. At the Oktoberfest, the giant “Riesnbrezn” are especially beloved.

daessn (v.):  to eat up

Deandl, Dirndl (n.):  girl. The second term can also be used for a traditional Bavarian livery.

Dusl (n.): luck.

eihebn (n.):  if you’re dizzy because of too much beer, you have to cling to something.

Fingahackln (n.):  Bavarian sport. Two men hook their middle fingers and try to pull the opponent over the table. Popular activity at the Oktoberfest.

Goaßmaß (n.):  Mixture of Coke, beer and cherry liqueur; has in fact nothing to do with Oktoberfest, something the Bavarians also vociferously verbalise: “Wos is’n des füra Schmarrn? Des arme Bier!” (What is that for an idiocy? Poor beer!)

Hoggableiba (n.):  repeater, guest who doesn’t want to go home. Proverb: “Do hogga di do, di do oiwa do hogga.” (There they sit, who always sit there).

Noagerlzuzla (n.):  person who drinks the last remainders from abandoned glasses, also used as a cuss.

ogschdocha (adj.):  tipsy.

Schuaplattler (n.):  Bavarian group dance for men, where you clap your hands on the thighs and the shanks.

zwieda (adj.):  bad tempered, ill-humoured.

Feel free to use all your new terms in sentence!

For a complete listing of terms:  http://www.oktoberfest.de/en/lexikon/

Oktoberfest terminoligy