So...I got up and headed to Menards at 10:30 A.M. and was able to purchase what I'd seen in the add...in fact, they had plenty left. Tried out the purchase only to realize it would not work, returned it to the store that afternoon and what to my wondering eyes should appear????? The prices for all of the "Special" items was the same or just a dollar more. Then I went to my second home and SHOCKER... same thing. So, I have learned that I am not "buying" into the hype of all the "Black Friday" Talk...
It's so good to feel as if I've learned a lesson :D Now, on to the next one I need to learn~
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thankful...but no Thank you!
I know that in just a few moments...BLACK FRIDAY begins! I must confess I am torn if I should go out or not. There is something my husband would love for Christmas but I feel like paying the extra money instead and sleeping :D
I just got home from my "home away from home" Wal-Mart-they are open 24 hours today and so they have their employees standing guard over the "deals" Wow...talk about high security...every isle you walk, every corner you turn there are sets of eyes watching you! Cars are in the parking lot WITH PEOPLE IN THEM camping out til the deals start.
This all seems CRAZY to me...I love you honey, more than you may know...but my pillow and I will not be parting this Black Friday!
If you are braving the day...Whoa Nelly!!!
I just got home from my "home away from home" Wal-Mart-they are open 24 hours today and so they have their employees standing guard over the "deals" Wow...talk about high security...every isle you walk, every corner you turn there are sets of eyes watching you! Cars are in the parking lot WITH PEOPLE IN THEM camping out til the deals start.
This all seems CRAZY to me...I love you honey, more than you may know...but my pillow and I will not be parting this Black Friday!
If you are braving the day...Whoa Nelly!!!
Monday, November 23, 2009
The Art of Losing
It's been fun watching our 11 year old play "Traveling Basketball" this year. He IS a Forest Lake Ranger. I remember when he got his jersey and game bag...there was a sense of pride on his face as he walked with a new swagger in his step. Now, we've been told that this is a learning year...and truth be told---it is!
The team has played 6 games and their record is 1 and 5. They have had a few games where the span of points was greater than 20, and yet-there is an art that they are learning about how to be humble, gracious and carry themselves with integrity in the midst of the loss.
I wonder how well I do when things just don't go my way...maybe I feel, at times, like the "ref" has made a bad call. I want my life to reflect the Character of my Savior...even in the midst of the losses...in fact, even more so in the losses. It's easy to be a great winner but challenging to be a great loser.
The team has played 6 games and their record is 1 and 5. They have had a few games where the span of points was greater than 20, and yet-there is an art that they are learning about how to be humble, gracious and carry themselves with integrity in the midst of the loss.
I wonder how well I do when things just don't go my way...maybe I feel, at times, like the "ref" has made a bad call. I want my life to reflect the Character of my Savior...even in the midst of the losses...in fact, even more so in the losses. It's easy to be a great winner but challenging to be a great loser.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Hamster on 2 Legs...or Martha in a Mary World
The wheel is spinning and I can't get off-or so it seems. I must confess that my life is more frantically paced than I ever imagined it would be. Do you find yourself in the same boat?
Well there is hope for you and hope for me...I love that God tells us to "Be still" and know that HE is God..."Be Still" means to let go! That is so AWESOME that God tells us to let go...I confess, it is hard to do, especially if you are a control freak like me (shocking I know).
But I want to encourage those of us who just can't stop the hamster wheel of life with these words from God's Life Giving Scripture...
Psalm 46~
God is our refuge and strength, and ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though it's waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging...The LORD Almighty is with us...Be still and know that I AM God.
Such good stuff-Maybe today is the day where a decision is made to slow the pace, set the priorites and value what God has given us charge over...I'm willing to be human again how about you :D
Well there is hope for you and hope for me...I love that God tells us to "Be still" and know that HE is God..."Be Still" means to let go! That is so AWESOME that God tells us to let go...I confess, it is hard to do, especially if you are a control freak like me (shocking I know).
But I want to encourage those of us who just can't stop the hamster wheel of life with these words from God's Life Giving Scripture...
Psalm 46~
God is our refuge and strength, and ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though it's waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging...The LORD Almighty is with us...Be still and know that I AM God.
Such good stuff-Maybe today is the day where a decision is made to slow the pace, set the priorites and value what God has given us charge over...I'm willing to be human again how about you :D
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
The Wonder
Right now I am listening to 2 guys from my worship team jam...just jam! Now these guys are both under the age of 21 and are crazy good musicians, who not only have been gifted but use their gifts for their Creator! How awesome is that!!!
I love music!!!!!!!
I love the creativity, the melodies with complex harmonies, the dissonance, the majors and the minors...it's alot like life isn't it? We go on-day by day-some days the melody is beautiful and those who walk along side us join in as if they are the complementary harmony. Some days have dissonance that we wish would resolve into a clear major chord. Music moves us...compels us...I'll bet there are songs in your life that bring you right back to a moment in time. What a tremendous, Artistic God who sings over us and breathes His very life into us...enjoy the song of your day-whatever song it may be
I love music!!!!!!!
I love the creativity, the melodies with complex harmonies, the dissonance, the majors and the minors...it's alot like life isn't it? We go on-day by day-some days the melody is beautiful and those who walk along side us join in as if they are the complementary harmony. Some days have dissonance that we wish would resolve into a clear major chord. Music moves us...compels us...I'll bet there are songs in your life that bring you right back to a moment in time. What a tremendous, Artistic God who sings over us and breathes His very life into us...enjoy the song of your day-whatever song it may be
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Be A Man
Last night I had the opportunity to join a "live chat" with Worship Leaders/Pastors from around the country. The topic of the night was Manly Worship...what is is and does it matter.
It was quite the conversation, out of 69 worship leaders only 3 of us were female, which as you know gives a whole other twist to the conversation. Some guys wanted more songs about "war" and "battles" others thought it was great that guys could learn to be more compassionate and tender. It's ironic that most of the worship songs written today are written by men, in fact over 90 % of the songs we sings at Willow are authored by guys. I found a verse in Luke where Jesus is saying to Jerusalem that he has longed to gather their children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings (Luke 13:34); now that image does not seem very "manly" and yet I think there is a quite a strength to them.
I have often wondered if our definition of "manly" is skewed by the culture in which we live? When reading the scriptures it's clear that men had physical strength along with kindness, power along with compassion~To me a man who can verbally say he loves His savior is not weak. Some of the Worship Leaders called out for men to stand up and sing out...live out loud by example...We all thought that was great!
I do think that there are way too many "sappy" worship songs out there, however, it's great to voice our love and gratefulness~remembering that God is Holy and Just and Jealous, full of Mercy and Grace and compassion for His creation. Regardless of being male of female we are called to become more like Jesus, pursue His heart and bringing Him glory in what we say and in what we do.
Would love to know what you think?
It was quite the conversation, out of 69 worship leaders only 3 of us were female, which as you know gives a whole other twist to the conversation. Some guys wanted more songs about "war" and "battles" others thought it was great that guys could learn to be more compassionate and tender. It's ironic that most of the worship songs written today are written by men, in fact over 90 % of the songs we sings at Willow are authored by guys. I found a verse in Luke where Jesus is saying to Jerusalem that he has longed to gather their children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings (Luke 13:34); now that image does not seem very "manly" and yet I think there is a quite a strength to them.
I have often wondered if our definition of "manly" is skewed by the culture in which we live? When reading the scriptures it's clear that men had physical strength along with kindness, power along with compassion~To me a man who can verbally say he loves His savior is not weak. Some of the Worship Leaders called out for men to stand up and sing out...live out loud by example...We all thought that was great!
I do think that there are way too many "sappy" worship songs out there, however, it's great to voice our love and gratefulness~remembering that God is Holy and Just and Jealous, full of Mercy and Grace and compassion for His creation. Regardless of being male of female we are called to become more like Jesus, pursue His heart and bringing Him glory in what we say and in what we do.
Would love to know what you think?
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Words to Live by
"Sing them over again to me, Wonderful Words of Life..."
I love that old Hymn or this one: "Standing, standing, standing on the Promises of God my Savior.."
One of my favorite verses comes from a very tiny book called Zephaniah. The verse in found in Chapter 3 starting at 17...it says this-
THE LORD YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU, HE IS MIGHTY TO SAVE. HE WILL TAKE GREAT DELIGHT IN YOU, HE WILL QUIET YOU WITH HIS LOVE, HE WILL REJOICE OVER YOU WITH SINGING.
I love that!!! This world just keeps getting crazier and crazier and there are days, I must confess, that I find myself caught in the "whirlwind" of the chaos...BUT...when I go to the very WORDS OF LIFE, I see that I have nothing to fear...God is on the throne, He is in CONTROL...I really want to be a person who does not just know about the Word but one who knows the Word and applies it to my every day life...every moment...
I love that old Hymn or this one: "Standing, standing, standing on the Promises of God my Savior.."
One of my favorite verses comes from a very tiny book called Zephaniah. The verse in found in Chapter 3 starting at 17...it says this-
THE LORD YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU, HE IS MIGHTY TO SAVE. HE WILL TAKE GREAT DELIGHT IN YOU, HE WILL QUIET YOU WITH HIS LOVE, HE WILL REJOICE OVER YOU WITH SINGING.
I love that!!! This world just keeps getting crazier and crazier and there are days, I must confess, that I find myself caught in the "whirlwind" of the chaos...BUT...when I go to the very WORDS OF LIFE, I see that I have nothing to fear...God is on the throne, He is in CONTROL...I really want to be a person who does not just know about the Word but one who knows the Word and applies it to my every day life...every moment...
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