Stratford-on-Avon

Discussion Article: "How To Share Your Faith"

2007-01-12T12:21:00.000-05:00

Today’s Quote: “I count myself in nothing else so happy as in a soul remembering my good friends.” Richard III 2.3.46-47

Anyone who has read this blog in the past will now, from time to time, read a discussion on an article I have read for church. The people involved in our “front line team” will read the article and then use our blogs to comment and share our thoughts on the article. When possible, I will give the title, author, and publication the article appeared in.

“How To Share Your Faith” from Building Church Leaders, published by Leadership Resources.

This whole article reminds me of Keith Green’s messages from his records (yes, records, which I still play occasionally!) and written messages. I read Keith’s biography during the month of December. His message is echoed in this article. I have to go where the people are; they probably aren’t going to come to me. I need to get out of my comfort zone and reach out to people. I may be the only way some people ever get to know Jesus up close and personal.

This isn’t easy, nor is it a short term task. Building relationships takes time. I like the idea from the article that when people hear “the good news from our lips, they should also see the good news in our lives.” I also like the idea that if I have lived faithfully, there will be opportunities to tell my story to someone who needs to hear it.

The challenge for me in this seems to center around a struggle I’m having right now. I’m trying to decide if I need to leave the family business where I have been employed over the last 8+ years and start on another path, or stay here, come what may. My Dad and younger brother, while having accepted Christ as savior in their younger years, have walked away from that. It’s all about the money and the businesses. I often wonder what effect, if any, I have on the two of them. Given the ugly note 2006 ended on and 2007 began with, I feel as if work is a very dark place. Am I sharing my Christianity in a positive or negative way? There are many days when I think my example is negative rather than positive.

The discussion questions have me pondering whether I really should stay, regardless of what it costs me to do so. Can I be a blessing to these two men, who desperately need to allow Christ to be their Lord as well as Savoir? What kind of relationship would I have with each of them if I leave here? Is God calling me to stay? I need to spend more time in prayer on this one.

Blessings!

Happy 2007!

2007-01-10T16:39:00.000-05:00

"When to the sessions of sweet silent thought I summon up remembrance of things past..." Sonnet 30.1-2

What remembrances come up first for anyone reading this?

A Different Experience...

2006-11-03T09:30:00.000-05:00

Today’s Quote: “He hath eaten me out of house and home”. Henry IV 2.1.74

I had a very interesting experience on Monday. My brother in law, Steve, comes from a Jewish family. His grandmother died over the weekend, and her funeral was on Monday afternoon. My sister told me to be at the cemetery about ½ hour or so before the service started. People come early and give condolences to the family before the service.

I met my parents, and one of my brothers at the cemetery. Everyone was dressed in black (even the children). We stood around and talked before the service started. I think there were maybe twenty people there. When it was time for the service to start, Steve’s mom (Naomi) and Dad (Marv) were seated graveside. Most of the rest of us stood behind them. The Rabbi started the service with all of us reciting the 23rd Psalm. I found that very interesting. I wanted to ask why that Psalm in particular, but I didn’t. As we recited it, I wondered if it was chosen for the verse about “walking through the valley of death”, or for the end, which says, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”. I also wondered if those reciting it really knew what they were saying. And, if they did, what did those words mean to them. Did they see a promise of life in heaven from this Psalm? Did they find any comfort in these words which promise God is with us through everything, no matter what we are experiencing? I wish I knew. I’m afraid it was probably just something one recites at a funeral.

I’m guessing that it was just words they recite at a funeral for many of those in attendance. I say that because, after having experienced a Passover meal with many of these family members, I learned they do not know why they say or do most of what happens during times of ceremony or special services. I was surprised that no one could answer my questions about why this or that. I had to get my answers from my books at home afterwards (next time I’ll read before I go to the meal!). It seems their faith is just rituals they do during certain times of the year ( the Jewish New Year and The Day of Atonement are the first that come to mind), or during services like the funeral service I attended. I know there are also many people who say they are Christians, but don’t know much about what that means. And, only attend church during Christmas and Easter time.

After the funeral, we were invited back to my sister’s in laws’ home for a meal and a chance to visit together. Before we entered the door, we had to wash our hands outside so we would remove all evil spirits that had come with us from the cemetery. In that way, none of the evil spirits would be able to enter the home. I wish I knew more of what was behind this practice. Maybe my sister could find out for me.

The more time we spend together with Steve’s family and extended family, I realize how lost they are. They have all the tools to see the truth of who Jesus is, but they are still blind. Many of the parts of their faith point directly to Jesus, as Messiah and Lord (Passover and The Day of Atonement, for starters). I think maybe I need to go back and restudy my Old Testament, so I know what Scripture actually says. I need to start praying for all of them by name. I’m not sure what else to do besides pray, study, and be ready to give a reason for what I believe, when the opportunity presents itself. Thanksgiving is just around the corner, I’d better do some reading and studying and praying between now and then! (Both families will join together this year for Thanksgiving.)

Blessings!

Does Anyone Know Where I Find...

2006-10-30T08:47:00.000-05:00

I need some help, please! Amy's (my sister) husband's grandmother passed away over the weekend. She was almost 100 years old. My brother in law and his family are Jewish. Some family members were telling my sister (if I understood what she told me) that they can get to heaven by good works. The Scriptures say so. Supposedly there are certain things they are required to do, and if they do all these things, they will go to heaven. Her question to me was, where in the Old Testament does it talk about hell, heaven and who goes where.

I found several passages that mention "Sheol". When I looked up the definition of the word, it is an ancient Hebrew word for "the place of the dead". It is found under the earth. Are there any passages which directly speak about what happens when someone in the Old Testament died? I know Enoch and Elijah went directly to heaven. I found no other reference to anyone going to heaven. If you know of passages in the Old Testament that speak on this subject, please let me know.

The 6th chapter of Deuteronomy has decrees about loving God and what His commands are. The chapter ends with this verse: "And if we are careful to obey all this law before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us, that will be our righteousness." I'm wondering if this is what her inlaws are talking about? After reviewing Genesis-Deuteronomy last night, this was the best passage I found. If you know of others, please help me out, so I can answer my sister's questions she had about what her inlaws told her.

I will be attending the funeral today at 3:00. I'm not sure how it will be. Without the promise of seeing a loved one in heaven, I'm not sure what to expect of this ceremony. It won't be a celebration of a joyous homegoing, at least I don't expect it to be so.

Please pray for my sister and her family, especially my brother in law, Steve. He has been exposed to the gospel message many times. He has said he sees that Jesus is the promised Messiah of the Old Testament, but he doesn't see that Jesus is fully God and fully man; nor does he understand why he needs Jesus in his life. As time has passed, it has been fun to see my sister become more and more on fire for Jesus. Her three girls are all involved in church. The oldest two accepted Christ as little girls, and are getting great training in the church they now attend. Her youngest (who is also Steve's daughter) is getting great teaching too. It is fun to hear her singing Bible school songs, and I was very happy to have her ask me, "Did I know Jesus is God?". I am praying God will use Steve's daughter to reach him for Christ. Only God knows what the catalyst will be for Steve to cross the line of faith. Please pray it happens soon!

I appreciate any help anyone can give me regarding the teaching of the Old Testament on death, going to heaven, and if it teaches about hell. Thanks!

Blessings!

The story behind "Now Thank We All Our God"

2006-10-26T07:52:00.000-05:00

In view of the workload that is coming my way shortly, and will last at least through February, I will blog when I can. If I have time to look up some fun trivia about Shakespeare and his plays, I will add that, if not, I will at least try to write a bit each day.

With that said, today I want to share the background of a hymn we have been rehearsing in choir for Thanksgiving. The title is “Now Thank We All Our God”. I have sung it many times, without ever knowing the back ground behind the writing of it. (I have a wonderful book entitled “Then Sings My Soul” by Robert J. Morgan. It gives the stories behind 150 hymns.) It was written by Martin Rinkart (1589-1649). He was a Lutheran pastor in Eilenberg, Saxony. He grew up poor and after studying, began his pastoral work just as the Thirty Years’ War was beginning in Germany.

There were hundreds of refugees inside the walls of the village of Eilenberg. The Swedish army surrounded the city, and inside there was famine, plague, and fear. Eight hundred homes were destroyed. Many people died. As you would imagine, there was a hugh strain on the pastors. They preached, cared for the sick and dying, and conducted funerals. As time went on, all the other pastors took sick and died, leaving Martin Rinkart the only pastor in the city. He conducted as many as 50 funerals each day.

Finally, the Swedes demanded a ransom, and Martin Rinkart left the city to negotiate with them. Due to his part in the negotiations, hostilities soon ceased and the time of suffering ended. Rinkart composed the hymn for the survivors of Eilenberg. After reading this story, see if you too don’t look at this familiar hymn of thanksgiving in a different light. (“Then Sings My Soul page 16-17).

Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wonderous things hath done, in whom this world rejoices.
Who from our mother’s arms, hath blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God through all life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts, and blessed peace to cheer us.
And keep us in His Grace, and guide us when perplexed,
And free us from all ills, in this world and the next.

All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given,
The Son, and Him who reigns with them in highest heaven,
The one eternal God, whom earth and heaven adore,
For thus it was, is now, and shall be ever more.

I hope sharing the story of this hymn of thanksgiving will stay with you and give new meaning to the hymn whenever you sing it (we usually sing it during the month of November). Blessings!

Time For A Change

2006-10-17T13:01:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: In 1606, an “Acte to restraine Abuses of Players’ was passed by Parliament, for ‘the preventing and avoiding of the great Abuse of the Holy Name of God in Stageplayes Interludes Maygames Shewes and such like’:
Be it enacted . . . That if at any tyme or tymes, after the end of the present
Session of Parliament, any person or persons doe or shall in any Stage
Play Interlude Shewe Maygame or Pageant jestingly or prophanely speake
Or use the holy Name of God or of Christ Jesus, or of the Holy Ghost or of the
Trinitie, which are not to be spoken but with feare and reverence, shall
Forfetie for everie such offence by hym or them committed Tenne Pounde.
(Shakespeare Miscellany, page 152) Ten pounds was a lot of money in 1606!

(I wonder what the writers of this law would think of the language of today’s entertainment??!)

We, as in Gerish Companies, are about to make a very big change. For the first time in fifty (yes, fifty) years, we will have a new accounting firm. Dad started Gerish Building Company on January 1, 1957, with the firm Perrin Scott acting as his C.P.A.

Due to many factors, Dad has decided he is going to make a change. So, beginning shortly, we will have a new accounting firm I will be working with. I’m sure it will be stressful as I learn what they need from me and how often they need it. Usually it takes about 45-50 hours of work to get everything ready for the accountants when they come in December, and another 20 or so hours for the January meeting. I’m sure the new firm will require information much sooner than as of November 30. It will be interesting to see how everything comes together. I think the new firm will be very helpful and it appears they have many good ideas.

If anyone knows of any GOOD stress relievers, please let me know! I don’t want to have chest pain everyday for the next few months until we get everything done for all of the tax returns!

By the way… GO TIGERS! (Is it “Gum time” yet?) (It’s a Nate Robertson thing…!)

Blessings!

New Beginnings

2006-10-10T15:41:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: “There was no scenery in Elizabethan theatre, and the word ‘scene’ did not automatically mean ‘different place’. Many scenes take place without any clear indication of where the characters are. When it is important to know, it is the words which tell us.” The Shakespeare Miscellany page 151.

I am excited about this fall (no, not just because the Tigers are FINALLY in the playoffs again!) about joining two very different Bible studies. One is a small group of 10 people, mostly couples who are older than I am, and the other is a study group of 12 women from church.

The women’s group is doing a Beth Moore study on the Fruit of the Spirit. I am really enjoying the study and especially getting to know women I have been in choir with and attended church with for over 27 years. There are a few new faces, but most of the women I have known for many years. There is much wisdom to be shared in this group! The study is from the book of Galatians. I like the homework that takes me through some in depth questions, while digging into the Word of God for the answers. It isn’t like some other studies where I could do a week’s homework in about 40 minutes total!

The other group is currently studying the book of Philippians. We aren’t using a study guide, just the Bible and our discussions. The man leading the discussions is a pastor who works in our denomination offices in Livonia. It is a great group. I am looking forward to many meaningful discussions and wonderful prayer times. It will be also be fun to get to know some new people, and to get to know others I have been acquainted with a long time in a new way.

I realized this past week how much I have missed a small group that studies and prays together. The group I had been a part of for 7 years or so had dwindled down to 5 of us. We would meet for dinner, but for whatever reason, we evolved into mostly a supper club. The fellowship was nice. But I knew I needed more. We agreed that it was time to end our group and join others. My new group has one couple from my original small group. I’m glad Greg and Kathy asked if this new group would take 3 new members! I know it will be a great adventure in getting to know new friends!

Blessings!

He's In the Army Now...

2006-10-03T11:40:00.000-05:00

Today's Tidbit: According the "The Shakespeare Book of Lists", since 1775 there have been 13 women who have played the role of Hamlet. Most have played it as aman, but there have been a few times when Hamlet was a Princess of Denmark, instead of a Prince!

Since new home building is slow right now, our superintendent decided to look for another opportunity. He found one...in the army! At the age of 45, he rejoined the army and volunteered to serve in Iraq. He signed up for a five year stint.

He said he enjoyed serving when he was younger. He figured now he could "make a difference with the young people in the military with his maturity and leadership skills gained over the last 21 years". He told me he felt this was something he should be doing. He plans on staying in the army for the rest of his career (about 15 years before he could retire).

He reported to Fort Still, OK for four days of processing on September 27. He will then spend four weeks at the White Sands missile Range in New Mexico. After that, he will report to Fort Leonard Wood, MO for military police training. He should be shipping out to Iraq sometime after the first of the year. Please add Matt to your prayer list for those who are serving overseas. Also add his long time girlfriend Marie, whose son also leaves for Iraq or Afghanistan after the first of the year.

Friday's Quote

2006-09-29T12:28:00.000-05:00

Hans Christian Andersen said: "Every person' s life is a fairy tale written by God's fingers."

Hans was a Danish poet who lived from 1805-1875. While we know him for several fairy tales he wrote, "Thumbelina", "The Ugly Duckling", "The Little Mermaid", "The Emperor's New Clothes", "The Princess and the Pea", "The Steadfast Tin Soldier", and "The Red Shoes", to name a few; he also wrote many poems and novels.

It is said that as a child he was known to memorize entire Shakespearean plays and recite them using wooden dolls as actors.

I thought this was some fun trivia to share with you this Friday.

Blessings!

A Photo from Friday's Festivities

2006-09-26T07:25:00.000-05:00

Here is a picture of Katie and her brother Evan. It's hard to believe they are both 17! You will have to excuse the very proud aunt who wants to show off her nephew and niece!
I can't believe how quickly the time goes by. It doesn't seem like it was too long ago that we first got to know Katie, and her older sister Kristin, when their Mom, Bridget married my brother Bruce. (It was in May 1997. On my birthday, as a matter of fact. I've always said they are the best birthday present I have ever gotten!) They have all been a wonderful addition to our family. Bridget's family has been wonderful for my brother and his two boys. It has been a blessing to see how Bruce and Bridget have worked hard to blend their two families into one. I love to watch the four kids interact with their "parents". It's easy to see they all love and respect each other. Okay...I'll quit being the proud aunt for now! :)
Blessings!

Friday Night Fun

2006-09-25T12:34:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: The term cousin has a much broader use in Shakespeare than today. We use the term to define the relationship between the children of brothers and sisters (first cousins) and also for the children of first cousins (second cousin, or first cousin once removed) and their children. Shakespeare used the term for any relative beyond the immediate family, both for blood relatives and relatives through marriage. It was also often used as a term of affection between equal people who are not relatives at all, such as monarchs of different countries. (The Shakespeare Miscellany page 150)

Friday night may have seemed rainy and dreary, but in Northville it was a night of great excitement. My niece, Katie, was on homecoming court. We went to the parade in downtown Northville, and to the game, of course. It wasn’t raining during the parade. (My youngest niece, 4 year old Hannah, thought the parade was the best part of the night. The kids on the floats threw candy to her as they passed by. She had quite a haul!)

It started to rain a bit as we arrived at the game. We had seats on the fifty yard line (by we, I mean my brother, my sister in law, her parents, her niece, my sister, my parents, me, my sister’s 3 daughters, and Katie’s brother Colin). It was a great cheering section for Katie. Her brother Evan is on the football team, so he wasn’t sitting with us. The rain sort of stopped about half time, about the same time as the P.A. system went out. (The pompon squad did a great job of doing a routine without any music!) But, everything went on as planned. Each member of the court was escorted by their parents. They were lined up in from of the fifty yard line. Each girl was given a box with a rose in it. The girl with the white rose was the queen. (So it really didn’t matter if there was no P.A. system!) Of course, our Katie had the white rose! It was so fun to watch all of the excitement on the field, and be proud of the fact that the girl everyone was congratulating belonged to us. We all enjoyed the evening, even if the home team did lose the game!

I hope you enjoyed your weekend as much as we did!

Blessings!

Just a Pompon Routine?

2006-09-20T11:12:00.000-05:00

Today’s Quote: This verse is from “As You Like It”. When I sang this song in my college choir, I had no idea I was singing something from Shakespeare! (I think, Gene Wilder sang part of this in Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.) “It was a lover and his lass, with a hey and a ho and a hey nonino, that o’er the green corn field did pass, in a spring-time, the only pretty ring-time, when birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding, sweet lovers love the spring.” As You Like It 5.3.15-20.

Last night I went to watch my niece Kayla and her pompon squad perform at the halftime of the Novi High School soccer game. It was fun to watch Kayla and her friends (even if it was very cold!) smile and execute each move that made up their dance. They work very hard at it. It must take a long time to learn how to move in sync with all of the others on the squad. Each move is part of a whole, and doesn’t mean much on its own. However, if anyone is off in her own move, it will affect the whole. (As I saw when one of the girls didn’t get into the right place for the kick line, at first. If she hadn’t corrected her position, the kick line symmetry would have been thrown off.)

I was wondering if that isn’t how the body of Christ sometimes tries to be. We, as individuals sometimes try to work on our own, forgetting we are part of a larger body. (Like watching only one pompon girl do her routine; nice, but it is much better when done as part of the whole group. A greater appreciation is formed for each girls’ work to make up the whole.) We all need to be in sync with each other to better coordinate the dance God has created for us all to be part of. Each move is needed to perfect the master picture. Each person is important in the whole picture. But, if we get too bogged down in doing our own thing, and don’t pay attention to the bigger dance we are part of, the chorography of the whole bigger picture is messed up.

“The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all of its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ” “Now you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it.” I Corinthians 12:12, 27

Have you thought about how your part fits into the whole routine God has created?

Blessings!

Tuesday's Thoughts

2006-09-19T11:08:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: Shakespeare’s plays began to appear in print in 1598. Over half of his plays were published while he was alive. In the 1623 (Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616) the first attempt was made to collect all of the plays in one volume. (The Shakespeare Miscellany page 30)

I don’t have much time to write and publish this today. I’ll just share a quote from Matt Anderson: “Where God’s people are, there also is God—not far off, not pre-occupied, not disinterested. Instead, He is among us—walking, leading, holding, comforting. We are His body, the physical expression of His intense love and care.”

This quote reminds me, wherever I go, whatever I do, God is always there. He has been there ahead of me working His plan in His time. I need to be more aware of God at work around me, and join Him in the work He is doing, wherever I am.

Blessings!

Memories for September 18th

2006-09-15T10:52:00.000-05:00

Today’s Quote: “So part we sadly in this troublous world, to meet with joy in sweet Jerusalem.” HenryVI 5.5.7-8

Monday will be the second anniversary of the home going of my cousin Don (Donald Lewis Clark, Jr). He was 48 years old when he died. Mom called me while I was watching a football game, to tell me Don had gone into the hospital with chest pains, and to please pray. She called back very shortly thereafter to say he was gone. I had to call my younger brother to tell him what had happened, while my Mom had to call her sister and tell her, her only son had died. My cousin Nancy had asked Mom to please call her Mom to tell her what had happened. She was going to be calling her two sisters to deliver the news to them. We all were in shock, but for those of us who are believers, we had the knowledge we would see Don again in heaven one day. He died very unexpectedly that Saturday in September two years ago. But he lived a wonderful life, and left behind an awesome legacy for his sons and family and friends.

Don had an awesome sense of humor. He loved to tease. He was a terrific father to his two sons, and a loving & caring son and brother. He had many friends, whom he would often help out with any job, big or small. When I asked my Mom about whether or not he had ever had an opportunity to accept Christ, she told me he had done so as a teenager.
When I think about Don, I see many of the “fruits of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23) lived out for all to see.

When I think of my memories of Don, they are all of fun and laughter. While he teased us (I have 3 cousins around my age, one was Don’s younger sister, Sandy) when we were little, and it used to make us sooo mad (like the time he and my brother Bruce talked Sandy and I into playing cowboys & Indians, and we ended up tied to the swing set while the boys did a victory dance around us!), as we got older we looked forward to the family gatherings when Don would be there. You knew if Don was there, something fun would be sure to happen. For some reason, many of the family gatherings in the summer had one or more water fights. The last one I remember was when we were all camping at Mullet Lake, in 2000 (I think). Don and my younger brother Dave started a water fight with the large super soakers, and we all had small squirt guns and buckets or pots, or whatever we could find. It ended up some other campers had watched it all transpire, drove up later and soaked Dave and Don with large water guns, and then drove off in their truck! We all laughed and laughed!

I could go on and on with more memories, but if I had to sum up what I remember of Don, it would be a man who knew what was important, and acted upon that knowledge as often as possible. Family and friends were very important to him. At the funeral many told stories of Don helping them with this or that job. His sisters had many stories of Don helping with something or other. His youngest sister Nancy told how they called each other every Friday night. He was often at his parents’ home helping with the house or the yard. He had a great deal of love for his family and friends. He never seemed to be too busy to help out whenever he was needed. Everyone needs a Don in their life. I am very thankful for the blessing of having him in my life for 43 years.

Tell everyone who is important to you how much they mean to you every time you can. We never know when someone is going to be called home!

Blessings!

Memories

2006-09-13T11:26:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: Here are some more of the words used in Shakespeare’s plays that have a different meaning today than they did in the 1600’s.
Addition=title Attend=to await Baggage=prostitute
Blank= a target Bolted= refined Halter=noose
Minister=servant Office=service or favor
Tax= to criticize; to accuse

I’m looking at a quote that is on my calendar today, “Recall it as often as you wish, a happy memory never wears out.” (Libbie Fudim). I find this to be very true. People, places, songs, food, or even words bring to mind the times, events, and people who make up my memories. Memories are very precious things to have.

I hope with all of the family dinners, tea parties, family vacations in Traverse City, family parties, sleepovers, and all of the other things we do as a family have created warm and happy memories for the youngest members of our family. When they look back, I hope they have many happy memories of times spent together. I know I do. I have also discovered it is as much fun to plan and create these times as it is to just participate in them! I have been blessed with a wonderful family and friends to create and share memories with. I hope you have too!

Blessings!

Tuesday's Thoughts

2006-09-12T11:38:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: Troupes of English players traveled around Europe in the 1580’s and 1590’s performing plays in English. Members of Shakespeare’s company are known to have taken part in these tours. However, there is no evidence of Shakespeare himself being involved in the tours. In 1602, the first public theatre was built in Germany for one such company. It was used until 1613, and its outer walls still exist. (The Shakespeare Miscellany, page 25)

Things are a little busy here this week. My assistant Susan is off all week. (Her daughter is getting married on Saturday in Columbus Ohio.) I hope to have time to blog, but yesterday I had time to eat during my "lunch hour", but that was about all. (While I’ve been trying to write this, the phone has rung 3 times in the last 10 minutes!) :) :)

Well, now it has been another 25 minutes without being able to finish this… many things are happening…very strange, the events of the last two days. Please pray for my nieces Kayla and Brianna. They have many issues to deal with now. Thanks!

Jeremiah 29:12
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Blessings!

High School Football

2006-09-08T11:30:00.000-05:00

Today’s Quote: “Good night, ladies, good night. Sweet ladies, good night, good night.” Hamlet 4.5.72-73

Fall is definitely in the air. The nights are cooler, the air feels different, and the kids are back in school. But most important of all…football has started again, soon to be followed by my favorite sport, hockey! I’m having lots of fun going to my nephew’s high school football games. The third game of the season will be tonight. I know that when I’m actually at a game, I miss some of the game because I’m busy people watching or talking to whomever I’m attending the game with. But, it’s still lots of fun. I’m so blessed to be able to live close to family so I can attend the sporting events and concerts and whatever else comes up.

Northville is now 1-1. Tonight they play Walled Lake Western, and it is the first home game of the season. I’ll get to hear the band tonight. It was fun being in marching band, even if it did mean every Friday night from September–early November was booked. I love watching the kids at a home game. My younger nephew likes to go and hang out with his buddies. I don’t know how much of the game they actually watch, but they have fun being there.

One of Northville’s rival, maybe the biggest, is Novi. My niece Kayla (who is now in 10th grade and part of the pom pon squad) attends Novi. She informed me that when Novi plays Northville on October 20, I need to wear something with both school colors! I thought that was funny. She takes the rivalry very serious. (I used to too, now that I think about it!) All of them do. It’s fun to hear my nieces (2 attend Novi, 1 attends Northville, and one graduated from Northville) and nephews (both attend Northville) talk about which school is better. I think the Northville-Novi game this year will be lots of fun. I wonder what Kayla will say if I’m only wearing Northville colors…!

Enjoy your weekend. Take time out to attend a high school football game, if you can. Its lots of fun!

Blessings!

A few words from Matt Anderson

2006-09-05T10:44:00.000-05:00

"Take time to laugh. It is the music of the soul."

No time for anything else today. Busy, busy, busy!
Blessings!

Prayer

2006-09-01T07:35:00.000-05:00

Today’s Quote: “My words fly up, my thoughts remain below. Words without thoughts never to heaven go.” Hamlet 3.3.97-98

Last summer I was introduced to a wonderful book, which has been a wonderful asset to my prayer life; “Face To Face”, by Kenneth Boa. It has different prayers everyday for three months (i.e. month 1 day, 1, etc.). It uses scriptures to guide you through a time of prayer and praise to God.

Each daily prayer has the following sections: adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, thanksgiving, and a closing prayer. Each section has a scripture passage followed by ideas of how to pray through this section on any given day. Today, under adoration, I read Psalm 34:1-3, and Psalm 94:22. Then I express thoughts of praise and worship. The petition and intercession sections always have different people and nations to pray for and about. It has been a blessing to use this when I pray. I love using scriptures when I pray.

Since the book wasn’t available at my local Christina bookstore, I went online and got a copy through Amazon.com. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. It helps give direction and focus to my prayers.

“They that trust the Lord find many things to praise Him for. Praise follows trust.” Lily May Gould

Enjoy the holiday weekend. Spend some of this long weekend in prayer and praise to our awesome, majestic Father God.

Blessings!

Approaching God with Awe

2006-08-31T07:56:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: “This all lies within the will of God.” Henry V 1.2.290

I read an article in “Discipleship Journal” by “Tim Muchlhoff, entitled “Return to Awe”. In it, Tim describes his change in his prayer life from one of being at ease and of praying for the needs of family and friends, as well as his own; to one of focusing on God’s majesty and who He really is. He makes the point that he needed to “invigorate his prayers with a focus on God’s majesty”. And “Moses trembled when he though of God; I thought of God and was comforted. Moses was awestruck; I was at ease.” He explained we need to approach God with a sense of awe and wonder. Prayer is not “an enterprise to be entered into lightly”.

He got me thinking about my own prayer life. I, too often, pray when I am getting ready for the day, or when I am driving in my car. While there isn’t anything wrong with that, I agree with the article when it points out I do need to focus on who God is. I need to pay attention when praying, not allow myself to be distracted. Some days I will need to focus just on the majesty and holiness of God. The author tells of times he has been prompted to just “rest in the awesomeness of God today”. He says he spends time being still and knowing God, as in Psalm 46. He says his prayer time has now become an experience in learning how to approach God with “awe and intimacy”.

His article lists several passages to help get a balanced view of God. Psalm 113:4-6, Isaiah 55:8-9, Acts 17:24-25, Isaiah 49:15-16, Luke 12:6-7, Romans 8:15, and Psalm 95:3,6-7. The magazine asks the question:” Do your prayers tend more toward informality or toward awe?” This article really made me stop and think about how I pray and when I pray.

My goal for the fall is to develop a prayer life that incorporates what this article talks about. I want to develop the awe Moses had when approaching God, while at the same time knowing I can approach God as my father. Have you taken time lately to reflect on the awesomeness of God?

Blessings!

What is your trust level?

2006-08-29T11:34:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: Shakespeare had some great insults in his plays. Here are a few samples: “More of your conversation would infect my brain” (Coriolanus); “Away! Thou art poison to my blood” (Cymbeline); “You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things.” (Julius Caesar); and “Go rot!” (The Winter’s Tale).

Today’s reading in “My Utmost For His Highest” asks some very good questions. He says “Every time you venture out in the life of faith, you will find something in your common sense circumstances that flatly contradicts your faith. Common sense is not faith and faith is not common sense; they stand in the relation of the natural and the spiritual. “

Here are the good questions: “Can you trust Jesus Christ where your common sense cannot trust Him? Can you venture heroically on Jesus Christ’s statements when the facts of your common sense life shout—“It’s a lie?” These statements and questions got me to think about where I am and what I am dealing with these days. Do I really trust Jesus to keep His promises? Do I trust Him when common sense says not to? Whose voice do I listen to? I want to say I always trust and never doubt. However, I know that is not always true. Sometimes I do listen to “common sense” and don’t put my faith in Jesus. I have learned whenever I do trust Him; He is able to do amazing things.

I will share a few quotes on what faith means. Susan, the little girl from “A Miracle on 34th Street” says, “Faith is believing when common sense tells you not to”. And, somewhere I read the definition of faith to be “Fantastic adventures in trusting Him.” (I’m not sure where I read this. If anyone knows, please tell me who said it. I’m thinking Corrie Ten Boom, but I’m not sure.) All I know is when I do trust, I am at peace, no matter what the outcome of the situation. I need to trust more, and listen to “common sense” a less often! What about you?

Blessings!

It's A Mystery!

2006-08-28T11:12:00.000-05:00

Today's Tidbit: Another false friend (a word that had a different meaning in Shakespeare's day than it does now) is the word bootless. Today it means without boots. In a Shakespearian play it means fruitlessly, uselessly, unsuccessfully, or in vain.

I have a mystery I would like to solve. When I got home from work last Thursday night, something was missing from my yard. It wasn't flowers, my flag, or other yard decor, but two trees! Two very large pine trees had been cut down, and the stumps ground down to nothing! These two trees were probably thirty five years old and easily 15-20 feet tall. One tree was on the east side of the house, and was causing the sidewalk to buckle. The other was on the north west corner of the house. It's roots were probably under the house (my house is built on a cement slab) and would be in the way of any new patio or deck I wanted to build (I really need one or the other!).

I suspect my brother in law, or my brother & brother in law had it done. But, they both deny knowing anything about it! I suspect my brother in law, because he is the one I was discussing it with most recently. Whoever did it did a wonderful thing for me. I have told everyone in my family about it, and told them to tell the woodcutter, "thank you"! (Of course, no one knows anything about it at all!!) :) My yard seems huge now. It's much easier to mow my lawn. My gutters will no longer have pine needles and pine cones piling up inside them. Now the fun begins!

I will plant grass where the trees used to be. And, if my sister doesn't do it this week when her girls start school, I'll start getting a flower garden ready to plant. (Amy told me she would have nothing to do this week once her two oldest girls go back to school today! She wanted to bring over some rocks to outline the flower bed with.) I also just received a magazine that describes exactly how to plant a garden now that will create many flowers in the spring. Now if the nursery has the bulbs I need, in the colors I want...

If anyone reading this can solve this mystery for me, I would be delighted to know the answer. On the other hand, I don't want to spoil anyone's fun either. Maybe it's better to leave this mystery unsolved!!!

Blessings!

Oswald Chambers' Thoughts on Prayer

2006-08-24T08:19:00.000-05:00

Today’s Quote: “We are in God’s hand, brother, not in theirs.” Henry V 3.6.170

I want to share what I read yesterday in “My Utmost For His Highest”.

“Jesus did not say—Dream about thy Father in secret, but pray to the Father in secret. Prayer is an effort of will. After we have entered our secret place and have shut the door, the most difficult thing to do is to pray: we cannot get our minds into working order, and the first thing that conflicts is wandering thoughts. The great battle in private prayer is the overcoming of mental woolgathering. We have to discipline our minds and concentrate on willful prayer.”

“We must have a selected place for prayer and when we get there the plague of flies begins—This must be done, and that. “Shut thy door”. A secret silence means to shut the door deliberately on emotions and remember God. God is in secret, and He sees us from the secret place; He does not see us as other people see us, or as we see ourselves. When we live in the secret place it becomes impossible for us to doubt God, we become more sure of Him than of anything else. Your Father, Jesus says, is in secret and nowhere else. Enter the secret place, and right in the centre of the common round you find God there all the time. Get into the habit of dealing with God about everything. Unless in the first waking moment of the day you learn to fling the door wide back and let God in, you will work on a wrong level all day; but swing the door wide open and pray to your Father in secret, and every public thing will be stamped with the presence of God.”

This hit me as being exactly correct. The days I start out with prayer go much better than the days that don’t start that way. I like the idea of “dealing with God about everything”. I used to do that very consistently. I need to go back to that “secret place” where God is and live there daily. What about you?

Blessings!

Just a Quick Note...

2006-08-23T15:01:00.000-05:00

No time for blogging today…Just something quick to share.

“Waiting on God’s best can be very hard at times. Remember that His best is the best. It really is worth it!” Matt Anderson

Just a Little Trip to the Dentist...

2006-08-22T11:51:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923) was the first person to portray Hamlet on film. She did so in the year 1900. She was also possibly the only Hamlet with a wooden leg!

This morning I had to do the one thing I really dislike…go to the dentist for my six month cleaning. I would rather do ANYTHING else than go to the dentist. I’m really not sure why that is. I’ve never been hurt, or had a bad experience. The new dentist I’m going to just took over the practice from the man who I had been seeing since I was six years old. She is just as nice as he was. (However, she doesn’t know the story about the summer I played softball when I was 15 and my dentist was the coach…thank goodness! For some reason, he liked to tease me about that…must have been because I was a terrible ball player!) :)

Now, I find out I need to go back on Tuesday, August 29th for a root canal! Not a great way to start my morning! The last time I had a root canal, I’m surprised they didn’t need something to pry my fingers off of the arms of the chair! You would think a tooth that had been damaged in a basketball game when I was 16 wouldn’t have taken this long to cause a problem! While I’m not looking forward to sitting in the dentist chair for an hour next Tuesday morning, I know who will also be with me in that office. I wonder how many more psalms I can cram into my brain between now and then. (Last time all I could do was recite all of the psalms I could think of; when I ran out of psalms, I started on hymns.)

I know having a root canal is a very small thing compared to what others I know are going through right now (back surgery, losing a job, broken bones, losing a loved one…). It’s nice to know God is always there, no matter what I’m going through. He provides strength and comfort no matter what I’m dealing with. I am glad I know the One who has all of the answers! I would appreciate your prayers next Tuesday. Specifically pray for peace and calm, and no knots in my stomach!

Blessings!

Just One on One

2006-08-21T11:42:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: A quote from Jack Lemmon, while trying to learn his lines for the 1996 film version of Hamlet: ”No one can convince me Shakespeare didn’t make up words just to upset the actors.”

My niece, Hannah, just celebrated a milestone event…she had her first sleep over! She started telling me last spring (at age 3 and a half) she wanted to have a sleepover at my house. I told her she had to be 4 years old in order for this to happen. Wouldn’t you know, the day after she turned 4 she was on the telephone to me, wanting to know when we would do our sleepover!

Hannah would remind me she was now old enough for a sleepover every time she saw me, or talked to me on the phone. I realized if I was going to have her over, I needed to do it before football season begins (my oldest nephew Evan is playing on the Northville varsity team. His first game is August 25.). Since my time was running out, my sister and I decided this last Friday night would be perfect.

I went to dinner with their family (their kitchen is all torn up from a small flood) and took Hannah home with me after that. She was telling everyone she was going to a sleep over at Dee Dee’s house tonight. I realized how important this event was to her. As we drove home from the restaurant, we listened to Michael W. Smith sing “Holy” a few times, and listened to Lonestar sing “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” several times (yes, I AM already playing Christmas music!!!) before we got to my house.

When we got there, Hannah had everything all planned out. We would make popcorn, watch Sleeping Beauty and then go to bed. In the morning, we would make French toast from the challah bread her Dad brought home from the bakery and play. She was sure she wanted to sleep on the futon in my guest room all by herself. So, I made up the bed while she started watching the movie. After a bath, two handfuls of popcorn, and half of the movie, she said she wanted to go to bed. I tucked her in, left various night lights on as requested, said prayers, and kissed her goodnight.

She slept soundly through the night until about 7:30 Saturday morning. We got up, made breakfast (cinnamon toast and fruit) and watched the rest of the video. We played games and had lots of great one on one time together. Just as her Dad came to pick her up, she wanted to know when we would do this again! (I told her when it was cold and snowy we would do it again.)

After she left, I got to thinking about how much I enjoyed the one on one time I spent with her. She had fun too. It’s always great to spend time, one on one, with the important people in my life. It strengthens the relationship, brings us closer together, and leaves me wanting more time with that special person. It also made me realize I had been neglecting one on one time with my Heavenly Father. So, my goal is to make sure I get my one on one time daily with God. I really miss spending part of each day in a quiet time of reading, prayer, and reflection. So, when you next see me, (or you could email me if the next time we meet will be in a year or so!) please hold me accountable and ask how my quiet times are coming along.

Blessings!

My favorite Knock Knock poem

2006-08-18T07:40:00.000-05:00

I wanted to include this poem from Shel Silverstein yesterday, but decided to wait until today. It's called "The Meehoo With an Exactlywatt", from "A Light in the Attic".

Knock, knock!

Who's there?

Me!

Me who?

That's right!

What's right?

Meehoo!

That's what I want to know!

What's what you want to know?

Me who?

Yes, exactly!

Exactly what?

Yes, I have an Exactlywatt on a chain!

Exactly what on a chain?

Yes!

Yes, what?

No, Exactlywatt!

That's what I want to know!

I told you-Exactlywatt!

Exactly what?

Yes!

Yes what?

Yes, it's with me!

What's with you?

Exactlywatt---that is what is with me.

Me who?

Yes!

Go away!

Knock, knock!

Enjoy your weekend and take some time to laugh and have fun!

Blessings!

2006-08-17T10:31:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: “Knock, knock! Who’s there…” Macbeth, 111.6

Knock, knock.
Who’s there?
Dwayne.
Dwayne who?
Dwayne the bathtub, I’m drowning.

Knock, knock.
Who’s there?
Adolf.
Adolf who?
Adolf ball hit me in der mouth and I can’t dalk properly.

Knock, knock.
Who’s there?
Amos
Amos who?
A mosquito bit me.
Knock, knock.
Who’s there?
Andy
Andy who?
Andy bit me again.

Neighbors

2006-08-16T10:48:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: In Elizabethan England it was illegal for women to perform on stage. Boys, with their high voices, would usually take the younger female roles. It wasn’t until after the 1660’s that women were allowed on stage.
(“The Shakespeare Miscellaney” page 120)

It is hard sometimes trying to run an office and take care of a house at the same time. I always seem to run behind when it comes to taking care of things around my house. I always use up my mental energies keeping the office running smoothly; so much so, sometimes there isn’t anything left over to use for my housekeeping. Some days I know I’m in over my head, other days I think I can almost keep up with everything in both places (it is really as if I have two households to run and keep up).

My greatest struggle comes in keeping up with the yard work. It is very noticeable when I don’t cut the grass for a week and a half, or I have neglected my weeding. The only ones who notice how thick the dust may be on the top of the china cabinet would be me and my cats.(Although they never complain, I know it is time to dust when I see cat paw prints on the coffee table!) So, I usually spend my time at home trying to keep up with the outside work.

I had noticed that when it rains my gutters overflow and the rain gushes over the sides (this would explain all of the icicles I had last winter!). I wasn’t sure if I should borrow a tall ladder (Mom has a 16 foot step ladder) and try to clean out the gutters myself, or hire someone to do it for me. My Dad and brother repeatedly told me “You are not getting on a ladder and going on your roof!”, but they didn’t offer any help either. I had gotten some quotes and was figuring out what to do; when my neighbor’s wife told me her husband would lend me a ladder and help me clean out the gutters, if I needed help. (Tom had noticed the way the rain was gushing off the gutters when he let his dog out the last time it rained.) I had already hired someone to clean out the gutters, but I thanked her for the offer.

Then, yesterday, when I was mowing my lawn, Tom stopped me to tell me he had cleaned out the one down spout on the right front corner, and would help with the others if I wanted. I thanked him and told him someone had already come to do that for me. He reminded me he would help with anything I needed; all I had to do was ask. He is a great neighbor for me to have. He clears the snow off of the front walk which runs between his house and mine (unless I get there first with my shovel), I’m sure he edged my grass along the sidewalk this week, and I know he has pulled weeds many times from the side of my house. He has been quietly doing these things for me ever since I moved in six years ago. I have pondered what to do to repay him for his kindness. I’m not sure what to do beyond a simple thank you.

I am very appreciative of having a neighbor who quietly does these little things for me (there may be more, I just haven’t discovered them yet!). While I wish my yard was beautifully kept and the inside of my house was as clean and shinning as I would like, the reality is, I just don’t have time enough to always get everything done. If anyone has me for a neighbor, I’m sorry for the not always tidy yard! I know God gave me this house, in this neighborhood for a specific reason. Maybe I need to concentrate more on why I’m there, than worrying about not having my yard look as neat and tidy as the neighbor’s.

If anyone has a neighbor like me, we appreciate your patience. We will get everything done, eventually, it may just take us a little longer than we would like!

Blessings!

A Question For Anyone Who Reads This...

2006-08-15T11:27:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: “Since October 1, 1990, an image of William Shakespeare, as a hologram or printed logo, has been used as a theme for the UK’s Domestic Cheque Guarantee Card Scheme. The hologram, when moved from side to side, shows Shakespeare frowning, than warmly smiling.” “The Shakespeare Miscellany” page 85

I was reading in I John 3: 4-10 this morning. Part of the passage says: “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are. Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; neither is anyone who does not love his brother” (verses 9-10).

I am confused by this. Does this tell me because I am a child of God I will never sin again? Or does this tell me because I have God in me; I have the power to resist the temptation to sin? Does it follow then, that if I sin, I am not a child of God? I know I sin, and when I do, I ask forgiveness and receive it. Would some one please help me understand what is being said here? I would appreciate any enlightenment!

Thanks !

Friday Night Fun

2006-08-14T11:13:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: Here are a few more weird words, and their meanings, as used by Shakespeare. Disannul=cancel; dotard=old fool; foppery=foolish; gibbet=gallows; jolthead=blockhead; noodle=slang term for head; tittle-tattle=gossip; and whirligig= a top.

My sister, Amy, and I took 5 girls, ages 12-almost 16 to the Third Day/Michael W. Smith concert on Friday night. It was a wonderful evening of worship and praise. However, for a little while, we were not sure we would even get there!

We had just entered back onto I-75 after stopping for dinner, around 6:15 or so, when we heard a loud BANG! We had blown a tire (my sister’s van told her there was a problem with the right rear tire). My sister pulled off the freeway (only about 5 miles from the exit we needed) and called my brother in law to tell him what happened. Steve told her he would call Ron (one of his best friends) who happened to be at work near Sixteen mile road and I-75. Ron said he would come and change the tire for us. Amy and I had the girls get out of the van and wait in the median by the exit we were stopped at. She and I then took out the owner’s manual to locate the spare tire.

As we were trying to figure that out (it was underneath the van, between the two front seats. We needed a tool included with the jack to get the tire out of its hiding place) a man stopped to help us. His name was Tim, and it turns out he was on his way to the concert too! He started working on figuring out how to get the tire out. As we were trying to figure it out, Ron arrived. He and Tim figured out how to get the spare tire out, and proceeded to change the tire for us.

The whole episode took about 40 minutes from the time the tire blew to the time we were on the road again. It was a wonderful lesson in God’s provision and timing. We had already finished dinner, we were only about 20 minutes late to the show (Jars of Clay were still on stage) and God sent us two men to change the tire. Amy and I agreed we could never have gotten out the spare, much less change it. (That is why we both have AAA Roadside Assistance.) (We also want to know who designed such a strange and awkward place for a spare tire to be stored.)

We got to thank Tim again at the concert, as we were in line to exchange our voucher for tickets at the same time. It anyone knows a man named Tim, who drives a Chevy Blazer, likes U of M, and was at the show on Friday night; thank him again for us, won’t you?

I hope your weekend was as blessed as mine was!

Blessings!

More Cats' Rules to Live By

2006-08-11T11:21:00.000-05:00

Today’s Quote: “A harmless, necessary cat”. Merchant of Venice 4.1.55

We, Macy & Gidget the resident cats, decided to help Mom out and write her blog for her again. She is really busy today trying to leave early. We wanted to give you a few more clues of what things are really like at a house where the cats are in charge.

1. Giving Mom gentle head butts at 3:00 am will get better results than biting toes will. (You will get a few ear rubs with the head butts. When you try to bite toes, you must leave the room immediately)

2. If you want her to think you are very cute, pick up your favorite toy and talk in a funny voice while carrying the toy around. (Mom thinks this is great stuff! She gives lots of good attention for this one. You get more attention if you go find the toy when she asks you to.)

3. When you want to go exploring in the garage, wait at the back door when you hear the garage door open, and run out quickly. If you time everything just right, you may even actually get outside!!! But, don’t forget to let her know you are out in the garage. Spending the night in the garage is so NOT fun!

4. Whenever you hear the hiss of a can being opened in the kitchen, run as fast as you can to the kitchen. You just may get some tuna, shrimp, salmon, or other yummy treat! (On the other hand, green beans, tomatoes and pumpkin smell nasty and taste worse. You may just want to amble in whenever you heat the tattle tale sound of a can being opened. You shouldn’t look too eager.

5. When trying to eat what is on Mom’s plate, it is best to wait until she puts the plate on the floor, and not try to eat off the plate while she is eating!

6. It is fun to lick the ice cream bowl, or the cheesecake bowl (made with yummy whipped cream) after Mom is done.

7. If you are quick enough when Mom opens the screen door, you may get to run outside and snack on the grass (she never lets Gidget do this. Being old does have a few perks!).

8. A basket of just folded clothes makes a great place to take a nap.

9. A pile of sheets waiting on the table to be folded is another great place to nap, especially if they are warm from the dryer.

10. If you come running as soon as you hear Mom call your name, you get lots of great hugs and attention. (Of course this only works if you hear your name called. Since Gidget is partially deaf, she misses out on this sometimes!)

11. The dryer is a very curious place to explore. Be sure Mom sees you jump in, other wise it is a little scary with the door closed!

We hope you enjoyed this blog today. Mom should be back on Monday!
Macy & Gidget

Friday Night Plans

2006-08-10T11:32:00.000-05:00

Today's Tidbit: Here are more words first used by Shakespeare (according to the Oxford English Dictionary): accessible, bedazzle, cat-like, dawning, employer, foregone, green-eyed, heart-sore, insulting, lagging, neighboring, prophetic, schooldays, time-honored, uproar, watch-dog and writing. (The Shakespeare Miscellany, pages 114-118)

My sister, her daughters, and I are going (hopefully) to the Michael W. Smith concert tomorrow night. We are all looking forward to it. My sister found some vouchers for lawn seats which only cost $5.00. We checked with the box office, and all we do is turn in the voucher for our ticket at the box office when we arrive at the DTE Energy Music Theatre (formerly known as Pine Knob). It will be lots of fun. We all like his music very much, and with the addition of Third Day and Jars of Clay, we will be in for a wonderful evening.

I first heard of Michael W. Smith when he toured with Amy Grant as her keyboard player. (I still have the program from that concert!) His first album had come out about that time of her tour; I think it was in the fall of 1982. I really liked his music then, and I enjoy it just as much, if not more now.

I remember my niece Kayla and I would roll down all of the windows in my car, turn up the cassette tape as loudly as we could, and sing, "Great Is The Lord" over and over (she was only 3 or 4 at the time). When the album "Songs From the Loft" came out, we (my sister, my niece Kayla, and her younger sister Brianna) would go up to my room, put the tape in the tape player, take out the tops of my bedposts (used to be a canopy before my sister hung on the rails and broke them, but that is another story!) and use them as microphones and sing to the tape. You would hear us from anywhere in the house. My Mom used to laugh at us. We had a lot of fun doing that!

Now Kayla is almost fifteen, and a sophomore in high school. She still loves to sing to Michael W. Smith, just as we always have. Her youngest sister, Hannah (now 4 years old) loves to sing with us when we listen to "Holy". She belts out the words just like we do! I'm hoping everything comes together so we can go the concert tomorrow night. (By the way, if you are sitting anywhere near us, I apologize in advance for our loud, not always on pitch, singing you could hear tomorrow night.)

Blessings!

Sounds

2006-08-09T11:19:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: Another False friend (a word we use today which had a different meaning in Shakespeare’s time) is silly. The current meaning of the word is foolish or stupid. In Shakespeare’s day the word meant helpless or defenseless; lowly or humble; and simple.

As I was making my lunch this morning, I heard a “thump, thump, thump, thump, thump”. I looked up and saw my 16 pound tabby cat running across the entryway floor to get to the kitchen, as fast as she could. I then realized she heard me opening the tuna can (with a hand operated can opener, I don’t know how she heard it over the radio playing!). She wanted to be sure she got some for her morning snack. Since she never runs (unless being chased by Gidget, my younger cat), it was funny to see her coming across the floor as fast as she could. She always comes running whenever she hears a can being opened in the kitchen. I have to show her it is only green beans or pumpkin, but if it is any kind of fish, she knows she will get some.

This episode got me thinking, what sounds in my life do I react to knowing from prior experience that a particular sound can trigger an event I want repeated (or not repeated, depending on the circumstances). I thought of some obvious sounds, a siren, a telephone ringing, the sounds my car makes before it needs repairs, someone calling out my name, music from an ice cream truck, thunder, waves crashing into shore, squealing of brakes, the printer printing out documents, the Nextel radio beeping, the sound the boat makes when there is water in the gas line, and…I could list many more. With all of the sounds and noise in my world, it is no wonder I have a hard time being quite and listening for God to talk to me. I need more practice in being still and listening.

Blessings!

A Cerebration for Tuesday

2006-08-08T11:28:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: In “The Shakespeare Book of Lists” there is a list of 101 actors who have played Hamlet at sometime in their career. I will list a few of the names you may know: John Barrymore, Sarah Bernhardt, Edwin Booth (brother of John Wilkes Booth), Richard Chamberlain, Daniel Day-Lewis, Mel Gibson, Harry Hamlin, Val Kilmer, Martin Sheen, Sam Waterston, and Orson Welles.

Today is another extension of yesterday. Things are so busy this time of the month, I have finally figured out how to keep everything on track around here…never take a vacation! I would burn out after awhile, but sometimes I think it is the only way to keep everything going and all deadlines met. (If anyone has any other suggestions, I would be glad to hear them!)

I think the last time I was caught up totally was the summer of 1999, for only two days or so. I miss the days of working at another place when I was always caught up. So much so, in fact, the last week of the month I had to scramble to find enough to keep myself busy! Oh the good old days at Ford Credit…( I really wouldn’t want to go back!)

Oh well, it is time to get more done and off my desk (at least until everything is approved and comes back to me to pay the bills). If anyone has any good ideas on how to relieve stress, I would appreciate it! August is way too early for the chest pains to start again (that symptom is reserved for the month of January, and yes my doctor is well aware of it!).

(By the way, the word "cerebration" in my title is a synonym for the word thought.)

Blessings!

Opposite Day

2006-08-04T11:35:00.000-05:00

Today's Tidbit: There are several phrases we use today which originated from the play Hamlet. Here are a few: "Ay, there's the rub";" Brevity is the soul of wit"; "Frailty, thy name is woman"; "Good night, ladies"; "In my heart of hearts"; and "In my mind's eye".

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you came to work one day and the boss declared it to be "Opposite Day?" (I started thinking about this when we had "Opposite Day" a few days ago in Traverse City. At least according to 6 year old Sammy, it was opposite day!) Can you imagine what the work day would be like? All yeses would be nos and all requests for immediate attention become, do this when you feel like it (What is the opposite of immediately anyway?). Would chaos be the result, or would it be business a usual because everyone would know how the game worked.

When six year old Sammy declared it to be "Opposite Day" we all laughed. It only lasted a few hours. (I had forgotten how fast a six year old wants to go on to a new game!) When you answered questions, you said the opposite of what you meant. We had to think about what we said before we said it, and listen more carefully to what someone else said. We had to pay attention to what we wanted to communicate to others and what they were trying to communicate to us. It was amazing how careful we were to be sure we understood each other. Hmmm...maybe there is more of an application here than I thought. Perhaps I should use the communication skills needed in Opposite Day more often. If I did, maybe I could eliminate many of the errors which result from miscommunication!

What would Opposite Day look like where ever you are today?

Blessings!

Thoughts on a Thursday in Traverse City

2006-08-03T10:24:00.000-05:00

Today’s Quote: “Sell when you can.” As You Like It 3.5.60

I’ll have to leave for home in a few hours. While I wish I could stay for the rest of the week, I’m grateful for the six days I have had. Whenever I come to Traverse City, it is as if I am coming to another world. As soon as I get off 127 and get on to 115, vacation begins. I start to relax and enjoy the rest of my time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. I sleep better, walk more and relax and enjoy whatever is happening here. I am very blessed that my parents have this place on East Bay.

Yesterday we watched the rain come across the bay. I love watching storms here. When the lightening streaks across the sky, the thunder booms, and I can watch the rain come, I love seeing what God does when it storms. I could sit and watch the bay for hours on end. It is always changing. It is never the same. I need to go out and enjoy the last few hours here. Some day, I will be able to spend a month here!

Blessings!

A Rainy Wednesday in Traverse City

2006-08-02T09:53:00.000-05:00

Today’s Quote: “Sir, I am a true laborer; I earn that I eat, get that I wear; owe no man hate, envy no man’s happiness; glad of other men’s good; content with my harm.” As You Like It 3.2.70-73

Today, at least according to the weather forecast, is going to be a rainy one. We’ll spend the day outside, at least when it isn’t raining; although, we have been known to go swimming even when it’s raining (as long as it isn’t thundering & lightening, of course). Some of us will probably go to the mall, others will play games, and do scrapbooking, knit, read, or start a canasta tournament. Its being together that makes it fun, no matter what the weather.

My Mom and my aunt are the matriarchs of the family. They can still run circles around all of us! Even with a broken ankle, my aunt still keeps up with all of us. She had a plate and seven screws put in her ankle over the place she broke it. She had the surgery on Thursday, and was here on Saturday when I arrived! When I grow up I want to be
Just like Mom and Auntie Jo!

More memories have been made during this mini family reunion. DJ, Mom and Auntie Jo playing canasta until 11:30 at night, Dave taking us tubing and teaching Steffi how to drive the boat and pull it into the hoist, floating out in the lake all day long, making hotdogs on the grill and corn on the cob, how much like his Dad DJ is getting to be (his Dad passed away almost two years ago), and many more little things. I am so blessed to be in a family of godly women and men, who love unconditionally.

Well, since Austin just delivered pancakes hot off the griddle, I’d better eat breakfast!

(Susan: Dave wants to know if just because his Nextel fell into the lake, that means he isn’t supposed to call you on his cingular phone? He was here yesterday when I read your response, and wondered why I was laughing! He also wanted to know about the man I met on the beach yesterday!)

Blessings!

Keepin Cool when it's 95 degress in the shade

2006-08-01T09:21:00.000-05:00

Today’s Quote: If it be man’s work, I’ll do it. King Lear 5.3.40

Today I decided to discuss ways to keep cool when it is over 95 degrees in the shade. The obvious way is to stay in an air conditioned place.

However, after yesterday, I do know going in and out of the house all day doesn’t keep you cool. We discovered yesterday afternoon, the best way to stay cool was to be in the lake up to our necks, and with occasional times popping up to help the next tuber get started. Otherwise, we would take turns being the one to sit in front of the boat, watching those on the tube to be sure they were getting “a good ride”. (Yes, Susan, when it was my turn to tube, Dave gave me a “good ride”. It was all I could do to hang on to the handles of the tube!)

I think today will just like yesterday. We decided we will spend it in the water, just as we did yesterday. So, while some of you are working hard, I will be floating around in Grand Traverse Bay! I hope I remember my water bottle!

The rest of this blog is directed to my assistant Susan…Hey, you would love to see who I was walking with on the beach this morning, a very nice Italian gentleman from Grosse Pointe. He didn’t speak English very well, but we managed very nicely, just the same. Now, how busy are we supposed to keep David (for those of you who don’t know, he is my brother and our boss) this week? By the way, do you think a Nextel that goes in the lake can be salvaged?

Enjoy your day and stay cool!

Are You Ready to Get Out of the Boat?

2006-07-31T08:47:00.000-05:00

Today’s Quote: “To business that we love we rise betime and go to’t with delight.”
Anthony and Cleopatra 4.4.21-2

Yesterday was a beautiful day in Traverse City. We started out the day by attending Bay Pointe Community Church. It’s a Willow Creek type of church. The music was great.
The speaker used Matthew 14:22-33 as his text. He brought a perspective to the passage I had never thought about before.

His basic premise was Peter was the only one who was willing to step out of the boat and go to the next level Jesus asked him to go to. The boat represents our comfort zone, our security, and our safety net. I need to step out of the boat and go beyond Faith 101, which I learned about in the boat, and go up to Faith 202, or 303 or even 404 (404 is the level where we ask for the mountain to move, and it does). Although Peter did start to sink once he took his eye off of Jesus, Jesus was right there to help him, Pete was willing to go to the next level.
As we were discussing the sermon at lunch, we each discovered areas in our lives where we could apply this idea (even my 10 year old cousin had applications!). So, I ask you, is there any area where God is asking you to step out of the boat and go to the next level, no matter what anyone else may say?

Time to walk the beach!

Blessings!

The Things I Have Learned On "Cousin Vacations"

2006-07-28T07:43:00.000-05:00

Today's Quote: "The better part of valor is discretion, in the which better part I have saved my life." (Henry IV 5.4.118-120)

As I am getting ready for another "cousin vacation", I wanted to share some of the things I have learned from spending time with my cousins over the years. We have been blessed to live close enough as we were growing up so that good friendships were formed early on. And now, even thought we live in California, North Carolina, Michigan, Illinois, and New York, we still get together on a regular basis for fun and laughter.
Here are some of the things I have learned while spending time with my cousins.

1. When Bruce and Don ask you and Sandy to play cowboys and Indians, and want the girls to be the cowboys, do NOT accept their offer. It's no fun being tied to the swing set while the boys do a victory dance! (Don's sons think this is a very funny story!)

2. When singing the family song, be sure to sing loudly and do all of the motions! Since Steffi took the time to come up with this song, the least we can do is show some enthusiasm for her efforts! (Don't forget to put on your Nauga ears when singing!)

3. If Mom, and Uncle Ed and /or Auntie Jo say they want to take you for a ride on a dark night, and it involves a dark county road, say NO, unless you want the "tar scared out of you", as we used to say. Another possibility is if you can sit as far away from the front seat as possible, and the back window does not roll down, you may be safe enough. But, if they stop at scary Alex's house...
4. When engaging others in a water fight (have squirt gun, will travel) be sure you have an excellent, constant water source. Having a lawn chair full of water balloons when you are on the roof is not a good idea. Once the chair tips over and all the balloons roll off, you are a dead duck!

5. When you want to go tubing, do not tease or otherwise antagonize the boat driver. If you do, you had better have arms of steel. He will do his best to make you fall off of the tube (he is very good at it too!). Of course, you could just find yourself floating on your tube in the lake, once his accomplice unhooks your rope from the back of the boat!

6. When the clue takesyou to the cemetary while on a road rally, never leave the car unattended, and always be sure your car cannot be blocked in by anyone else(it is leagel to do the blocking in of someone else, however!). By the way, if Bruce is with you, he will volunteer to stay with the car while you go find the clue. (Since he is six foot five inches tall, he does make a good guard!)

7. Never volunteer to watch all eleven younger siblings/cousins (ages 2-12) while "The Moms" go to the laundry to dry out all of the sleeping bags and clothes after it rains. When the mother of all pillow fights break out between the boys and the girls, things get a little bit out of control! (I still don't know why Sherry never went on another camping trip with us after that event!)

8. Remember when fishing, Grandma would have cooked anything you caught, but "The Moms" said the fish had to be as long as the distance from fingertip to elbow. Since we were fishing in very shallow water, the chances of catching anything were slim to none!

These are just a few of the things I have learned from my "cousin vacations" over the years. I am looking forward to what I'll learn over the next seven days! By the way, if you are in the Traverse City area next week, please stop by. The more the merrier! (I think I do have an extra squirt gun!)

Blessings!

Macy & Gidget's rules for living with Sue

2006-07-27T12:05:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: Another anachronism is one found in Julius Caesar. In scene II, act I, line 92 Cassius says “the clock hath stricken thee”. He couldn’t have heard a clock strike in ancient Rome. Mechanical clocks weren’t invented until the 14th century. (“The Shakespeare Miscellaney”)

Today we (Macy and Gidget, the cats who are ruling Sue’s house) decided to share some of our ways of passing time with you…

1. The best place to sleep on a cold winter evening is on Mom’s lap (unless she’s watching a hockey game! In that case sit next to her, then you won’t fall on the floor when she jumps up when the puck goes into the net!)

2. Sitting in front of the screen door is a great way to spend a summer day. All of the birds and rabbits are fun to watch. Just don’t try to jump through the screen to catch one!

3. It is lots of fun to antagonize Macy (the 10 year old cat) by standing over her and staring at her while she is sleeping on the spot I want. If I keep it up long enough, she’ll leave the room and I can take her spot! (I think this is supposed to be the cat’s version of “She’s looking at me!”)

4. The best place to sleep each night is on either the left side or the right side of Mom. Then she has to pay attention to you if she wants to move!

5. Mom will wake up at 5:00am to feed you if you keep putting your whiskers in her face!

6. Looking sad and pitiful after trying to jump on the bathroom counter and falling off gets you lots of attention! Best of all, you get to drink the water out of the faucet!

7. Playing hide and seek under the covers is lots of fun when Mom is trying to change the sheets on the bed!

8. Don’t bite Mom’s toes while she is trying to sleep. It gets you into lots of trouble!

9. Be sure you are being a good guard cat. When you hear a car pull into the driveway, growl loudly, and then run and hide under the bed!

10. Jumping from the kitchen table onto the kitchen counter to see what Mom is doing will get you into lots of trouble!

11. Playing with Q-tips is lots of fun!

12. It’s fun to hide furry mice in Mom’s shoes.

13. Don’t try to walk through the fireplace from the family room into the dining room when there is a fire burning!

That’s all for now…time for another nap!

Just a thought...

2006-07-26T15:39:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: Did you know William Shakespeare’s name was spelled more than 20 different ways? In Elizabethan times spelling was very erratic. Although “Shakespeare” is most often used, here are a few of the other spellings, as listed in “The Shakespeare Book of Lists”:
Shackespeare
Shackper
Shagspere
Shakespheare
Shake-speare
Shaxpears

I fully intended to blog today, but the day got away from me. I wrote several checks for several companies, did payroll, went through an insurance audit for seven of the companies here, and did some filing. I accomplished several things on my list of stuff to do before going on vacation.

As I was working this afternoon, a chorus from a hymn kept playing through my mind.
“Count your blessings, name them one by one.
Count your blessings see what God has done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one.
Count your many blessings see what God has done.”
--Johnson Oatman, 1897
I started thinking about all of the ways God has blessed me lately. I have a job, I have a house of my own (gifted to me by God, but that’s another story) a caring family, a loving church, wonderful friends…I think I could fill up many pages with blessings from God. So, I’m wondering, how has God blessed you?

Blessings!

Oh, Those Customer Requests!

2006-07-25T11:21:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: Here are more of the words first introduced by Shakespeare: rant, shooting star, torture, undress, varied, wild-goose chase, yelping & zany.

My Dad has been building houses for almost 50 years. Over the years people have requested repairs on many things. Sometimes we have to laugh a little at some of the funnier requests. I thought I’d share a few with you.

The toilet was too far from the wall. The homeowner wanted us to build out the wall and paint it. (The bathroom was built exactly like our model, which he had seen many times during the building process!)

Light bulbs had burned out. Would we please send someone over to remove the burned out bulbs and install new bulbs.

Several light bulbs are of the wrong wattage. Please remove them and install others. (The light bulbs in question were of the proper wattage for each light fixture.)

A street tree (required by the city/township to be planted between the sidewalk and the street) was crooked. Please replant it so the tree will be straight.

A street tree had died. It needed to be replaced (the homeowner never watered the tree from April-September 2005). We did replace the tree, but reminded the homeowner he did need to water his tree.

Remove a fingerprint from the bathroom fan. Our warranty guy climbed up on a ladder, removed the part in question, cleaned it, and put it back together.

A call came from a customer, who had lived in his house over 20 years. He wanted to know the color of his brick, the manufacturer of the brick, and the phone number of the brick mason. (The brick mason had long since retired!)

A homeowner called, he explained he was the second owner of a home we built about 10 years ago. His brick was discoloring on one side of his house. After sending the brick company out to clean the brick and study the situation, it was discovered the homeowner’s sprinkler was hitting that side of the house every day when the lawn was watered. Once the direction of the spray was adjusted, his problem was solved!

The homeowner association called from a condo project which had been complete for almost 18 years. They needed to know who the roofer was, and the manufacturer of the shingles, as well as the color. They were surprised to learn we didn’t have the color selection information still available to us! (I did know who the roofer had been, but he had been retired for quite some time!)

We do have fun some days! By and large most of the customer requests aren’t too bad to deal with. But, every so often…

Blessings!

Keeping the Sabbath

2006-07-24T11:38:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: Another false friend (a word that looks like a word in common usage today, but in Shakespeare’s time had a different meaning) is the word “table”. We would define it as a piece of furniture or an arrangement of data. To Shakespeare is would have meant a writing tablet, memo pad, or notebook. (“The Shakespeare Miscellany” By David Crystal and Ben Crystal)

We are doing a series on the Ten Commandments at church this summer. Yesterday the lesson was on keeping the Sabbath. The texts used were Exodus 16:11-30; 20:18-11; and Matthew 11:28-12:13.

The pastor told us the Sabbath is God’s gift of rest to His people. It frees us from the burden of producing 24/7 and puts our work in proper perspective. He said The Lord of the Sabbath enables us to experience true rest for our souls. When we celebrate the Sabbath we experience our design intent (we use the Sabbath in the way the Creator of it intended). We can then worship God, have a personal renewal in Christ and love and serve others all as a part of keeping the Sabbath.

This was Mark Fuller’s definition of keeping the Sabbath. I like the three parts of it: worship, renewal and love & service. It seems so easy to remember. The hard part is, of course, the actual practicing of the Sabbath the way it was intended to be practiced. Mark’s point was while we don’t have to practice it solely on Sunday (a very busy day for many people who work in Christian service) we do need a day to devote to “Keeping the Sabbath”.

As I went about my normal Sunday routine, I realized other than going to church for a few hours on Sunday morning; I treated Sunday like any other day. I need to develop a practice of keeping the Sabbath in the way God intended it to be kept. Mark challenged us to think about how each of us actually practices the Sabbath. So, what is your practice of the Sabbath?

Blessings!

"Rubber Duck Land" a/k/a The Office

2006-07-21T10:59:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: On Friday I am going to start giving quotes which contain phrases you may recognize. “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”
“As You Like It” 2.7.139-40 (which means act 2, scene 7, lines 139-40).

I often wonder about the reaction of people when they come into our offices for the first time. You see, we have rubber ducks of different shapes and sizes everywhere! We have the normal rubber ducky, we also have reindeer ducks, aviator ducks (for the pilot in the next office down), pirate ducks, bunny ducks, red hat lady ducks, devil ducks (why these appeared in MY office I don’t have any idea!), and just about any other kind of duck you can think of.

It all started just after my assistant Susan started here. I commented one day about how great it was we both liked to “have all of our ducks in a row”. Well, the next day she brought in a print out from www.getodd.com/duck/ , which showed various pictures of different “duck alignments” (My favorite is The Circular Shuffle). We laughed about it. But then, very mysteriously, rubber ducks started appearing first in my office, then on her desk. We must now have over a hundred! (No wonder my niece likes to come here to play with me at work!!!)

We go online and order some for different occasions. For example, when my brother Dave got his pilot’s license, we found some aviator ducks for his desk (and they are still there now!). We also got him his own collection of boating ducks (they are wearing inner tubes, or sun glasses, or pirate hats, or a captain’s hat.) For some reason, he just leaves them where we put them! For my other brother, we put a string of six, representing him, his wife, and their four children ( a bride, a groom and 2 pirate ducks and 2 red hat lady ducks). We haven’t put up any in Dad’s office yet…I think we will still wait on that awhile!

We do have lots of fun looking for additional ducks to add to our collection. It’s amazing, once we got started, how many different places had rubber ducks! Now if I only knew how the hippos got here…

Enjoy your weekend!
Blessings!

Authority

2006-07-20T11:15:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: According to court documents from 1581-1595, John was the most popular name for men. It accounted for one out of every five men. Elizabeth was the most popular for women, accounting for one out of every seven. “The Shakespeare Book of Lists” gives the rest of the top ten names for men and women during that time.
1. John 1. Elizabeth
2. Thomas 2. Anne
3. William 3. Joan
4. Richard 4. Margaret
5. Robert 5. Alice
6. Henry 6. Mary
7. George 7. Agnes
8. Edward 8. Katherine
9. Nicholas 9. Jane
10. James 10. Dorothy
Names haven’t changed so much over the last several hundred years!

As I was thumbing through my Bible looking for something to write about today, a verse jumped out at me. It’s underlined, so I know it’s something I’ve struggled with before! It’s found in Hebrews 13:17. “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as one who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, and not a burden; for that would be of no advantage to you.”

While this applies to many people who have authority over me for one reason or another, the people I have the hardest time with most often are my bosses. For anyone who doesn’t know, I work for my Dad and brothers. When it gets difficult is if their agendas don’t match up with each other, or their agenda doesn’t match up with whatever I think is most important to get done. It happens more often than I would like.

For example, this week my assistant happens to be off. That mean I answer the phone, open all the mail, help resolve customer issues when possible, put accounting codes on all incoming invoices, as well as keep up with my own desk. (If you could see my desk, you would know why this verse jumped out at me…never mind it’s underlined in bright turquoise ink!) I’m struggling with keeping up with all of the above, get the quarterly payroll reporting done for the government, finish balancing May bank statements, and do June statements before July statements arrive, enter all invoices so I know how much money we need in each account to pay them by August 10, and… So it seems with all of this going on, my brother needs prices from a quote compared to actuals from our current vendor today. And, Dad needs to know how much each company paid for accounting services in 2005 (there are about 20 companies here who had such services in 2005).

While either request in and of itself won’t take a lot of time, its deciding what on my desk gets left undone to do what the guys need. (The unwritten rule is to get Dad’s request taken care of ASAP, when possible!) I know when Dave comes in today (in about 15 minutes actually) I’ll be jumping and running to get what he needs and answer his questions. I know he won’t be happy I haven’t done the quote comparison yet! I think I need to put a copy of this verse where I can see it. I know God put me into this job for specific reasons I know nothing about. I only know I am called to be here and to serve my Dad and brothers to the best of my ability, no matter how I have to do it. (I think my desk is calling for a Saturday morning date!) I need to be sure my attitude toward requests of my time are always met with a smile and an agreed upon completion date. Sometimes that is very difficult for me! (For some reason I seem to think my agenda is usually more important!!) :)

Is there anyone in authority over you with whom you struggle?

Blessings!

Memories of a Friend

2006-07-19T13:00:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: Here are more of Shakespeare’s weird words, as found in “The Shakespear Book of Lists”.
Banditto=outlaw Bedlam=old hag Bodkin=dagger
Fancy-monger=a lovesick man Flibbertigibbet=demon
Slug-a-bed=sleepyhead minx=saucy wench

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my friend Lori, who died almost two years ago. We had lots of fun together. We made many trips back and forth to Traverse City, as well as often getting lost on the way home from Bible study in South Lyon. If I could write her a letter, it would go something like this…

Dear Lori:

I’m not sure of your address yet, so I though I’d post your letter here. I’ve missed you a lot. I hear your voice in my mind often. I laughed the first time I heard Hannah (she’s almost 4 now, can you believe it??) saying “OH MAN!!!” just the way you used to do all the time. It seems a character in one of her videos says that all the time, with the same inflection you used !

I was going through my album from our trip to Canada in 1998. Wow, did we ever cover a lot of ground in those 10 days! I don’t think I’ve ever eaten so much lobster as we did then. It was fun tasting mussels for the first time, wasn’t it? I remember how you, and Mom, and Mary Jo laughed at me when we stopped at the first Lucy Maud Montgomery place and I was so excited to be there (you all were very nice to humor me when I made Mom drive all over just to see everything!). Seeing all of the tombstones from those who lost their lives on the Titanic was very moving. Do you remember “Great Papa’s Farm House”? I’m very glad we found another place to stay that night! So much fun packed into just 10 days!

I always think of you on my drives to Traverse City. We had fun planning an imaginary New Years Eve wedding for each of us! How many times do you think we listened and sang to that Ray Boltz tape? It was funny how we would turn on to 31 North, roll down the windows, and play that music as loud as possible! Going to the Bowery for ribs and perch (although it isn’t as good as it used to be) walking on the beach, being there with the “Diners Out” group and so many more things are all part of my Traverse City memories with you. You loved it as much as I did!

Well, I need to stop writing for now. Give my love to everyone (I’ll bet you were surprised to see Jessie and Don!) and tell them I miss them!
Love, Deed

Thanks for letting me share some memories. Enjoy the new memories you've made today!
Blessings!

Where Do I Go From Here?

2006-07-18T11:07:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: Shakespeare wrote his plays to make money (he made lots of it). He wrote his sonnets to be remembered as a writer. (Taken from Michael LoMonico’s”The Shakespeare Book of Lists”)

I have been struggling with whether or not to join another online dating service. I have also done a little investigating of several churches close by who have an active singles group. I’m just not sure what to do. I’ve spent some time in prayer about this. I’m not sure what the answer is, and where to go from here.

You see, I’ve always thought (and many authors I’ve read agree with this point of view) my job is to seek out the work God has for me, and go do it. He will provide me with a husband in His timing. I am old fashioned enough to believe the man’s job is to do the seeking and searching, and my job is to listen to God and be where He tells me to be so that in God’s perfect timing, I will be in the right place at the right time and meet the man God has chosen for me. (If anyone reading this thinks I’m off track, please let me know!) Based on other answers to prayer I have gotten over the years, I know I will have a husband one day, it’s just the when and where do we find each other, which is a struggle for me now. (And if I’m honest, I also struggle with “when is it my turn?”)

As I look at the wall next to my computer desk, I have several reminders taped there. These reminders of God’s faithfulness are from a desk calendar I received many years ago from a Sunday school student. One says “Be anxious for nothing—God is still in control. (It would be awfully silly for us to think we could be in control, wouldn’t it?)”. Another says, “God will not speed things up in our lives just because we get impatient. His perfect love knows us and works for our best in His perfect time. Relax. Release. Rejoice in His timing.” Today’s quote is: “God always gives the best to those who leave the choice with Him.”

For right now, I don’t believe I’m supposed to look for another church. I’m very excited about where God is taking my church. I firmly believe, at least for now, I’m where I should be. As to where to go from here, I’m not sure. I need to wait for God’s leading and act on the guidance I receive. As far as those other online dating services…I’m not sure about those either! All I know is the journey will be interesting and rewarding, wherever God takes me and however He gets me there!

Blessings!

"NOT A god"

2006-07-17T11:34:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: (The answer to last Thursday’s question is Richard III.) There are many examples of anachronisms in Shakespeare’s plays. Several of his plays are set in other countries and centuries, but picture a life which would be familiar to sixteenth century Europe. Some examples are as follows:
“Let’s to billiards” (Anthony and Cleopatra). Since billiards didn’t evolve until the Middle Ages in France, Cleopatra couldn’t have played them.
“If it be nothing I shall not need spectacles” (King Lear). Spectacles weren’t available in ancient Britain because they were a 13th century Italian invention.
(The Shakespeare Miscellany, David Crystal & Ben Crystal)

One of my favorite songs by Billy and Cindy Foote is “NOT A god”. They came to our church last fall for a weekend of ministry and renewal. If you ever have a chance to hear them in concert, I would highly recommend them. Their music not only makes me think, but it also is wonderful praise music. I wanted to share the lyrics of “Not A god” with you. Meditate on them today, if you have time.

“You are not a god created by human hands,
You are not a god dependent on any mortal man.
You are not a god in need of anything we can give.
By Your plan, that’s just the way it is.

You are God alone.
From before time began, You were on Your throne,
You are God alone.
And right now, in the good times and bad,
You are on Your throne.
You are God alone.

Unchangeable, Unshakeable, Unstoppable,
That’s what you are.

You’re the only God whose power none can contend.
You’re the only God whose name and praise will never end.
You’re the only God who is worthy of everything we can give.
You are God.
That’s just the way it is.”

Whenever we sing this in church, or I sing it at home (nope, I can’t just listen to this, I have to join in!) I am always stuck by God’s majesty and power and holiness. He didn’t need me, yet He created me anyway. He didn’t just create me; He planned out a whole life for me. When I meditate on what this song says to me, I run out of words to describe what I’m thinking!

Blessings!

Fairy Tales

2006-07-13T11:41:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: Who said: “A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse?”

I have a quote from Hans Christian Anderson taped to the wall above my computer. It says, “Every person’s life is a fairy tale written by God’s fingers.” I taped it there because I thought it was a wonderful thing that the man remembered as a writer of fairy tales knew the writer of every one's story is God himself. I used this theme as part of my “story” when asked to share my testimony at a women’s retreat at our church about eight years ago.

I collected several books that spoke of different times and trials in the story of my life, and shared how I knew God had written each line, of each page, in my story. It was lots of fun to share not only how God has done many things in my life(His fingerprints are all over my life!), but also how some of my favorite books reminded me of His care.

Some of the books were “The Chosen Baby”, a child’s Bible, a book of memories compiled by my cousin as a gift to my Mom, a small New Testament I always carry with me, "Tales of the Kingdom”, and “The Velveteen Rabbit”. I used the part in the Velveteen Rabbit where the skin horse and the velveteen rabbit are talking about “becoming real”. (For those of you who haven’t read this story, the horse tells the rabbit being real happens when you are loved a lot, and it does hurt.) I then tied this passage into becoming who/what God wanted me to become. I finished the story with “Tales of the Kingdom” (a really neat book telling different aspects of walking with Christ and the challenges we face using different short tales of children). I said I was looking forward to experiencing more of the tales written by God for and about me.

Think about and share with someone today some of the tales God has written about you!

Blessings!

PART II

2006-07-12T12:11:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: Here are a few quotes from famous people regarding Shakespeare.
“There are some parts of the plays you’ll never understand. But excuse me; I thought that’s what great art was supposed to be about. Don’t freak out over it. Keep reading.”
Peter Sellers
“What’s this thing that gets between us and Shakespeare?” Al Pacino
“I believe he was a genius.” Mel Gibson

The spring of 1989 was to bring about changes to my life. It started with a letter arriving in April from Wayne County juvenile court. It contained a form to fill out with my personal information. I also had to sign a paper giving permission for the county to give this information to my birth mother. It seems she had been making inquiries. I filled out the paper work and returned it. A few weeks later, just after my birthday in May, I received another letter. It contained my birth mother’s name, address, and telephone number. I was very excited and nervous. I remember talking with my sister about what to do. She encouraged me to call the phone number in Utah and see what happens. So, I called and a man answered. I didn’t know what to say at first, but I jumped in and asked for Charlotte. She wasn’t home, but after I explained who I was (he was her husband) he told me she was babysitting her sister’s children. He took my name and number and said he would call Char right away.

That was the beginning of a whirlwind weekend. This was a Thursday evening. She did call back and told me she and her husband Loren would be getting in the car that night and driving straight to Michigan. She said they would call as they got closer to Plymouth so we could arrange a meeting. As I hung up the phone, I was so excited! I couldn’t believe it would be that easy! I wish I had known in 1989 what I now know! If so, I would never have made the first phone call!

As time went on and months turned into years, I would feel guilty because I never felt “the bond” I thought I was supposed to feel. The conclusion I kept coming back to was Char was a nice person, but there was no common ground. She was someone who would stay at acquaintance level, were I to meet her under any other circumstances. She also wanted way more from me than I could give to her. While she said she didn’t want to be my mom, her actions told another story. She seemed to need to know every intimate detail of my life.

After many years of struggle on my part, and dealing with other issues in the relationship, I came to the conclusion that it wasn’t a good idea for me to continue allowing her to have free access to my life. I would turn into a completely different person when she came to town to visit ( not a positive change!!). I had also learned that anything I told her she told to my birth father (someone she knew I did not want to meet due to his previous actions and telephone calls with me). I felt I was left with no other choice other than to write and tell her the relationship had to change. It was the hardest letter I ever had to write. Thank goodness for my Mom and small group! They were very good sounding boards at this time!

Am I sorry the relationship ended in disharmony? Yes, because it didn’t have to. I tried to tell her many times, and tried to firmly set boundaries many times, but to no avail. If anyone wishing a relationship with a birth parent were to talk to me, I would tell them to write down what they expected out of the relationship, what they were willing to give, what they weren’t willing to give, and what their boundaries would be. Maybe that would be a good starting point for any relationship?
Blessings!

PART I

2006-07-11T11:40:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: Shakespeare used some words in his plays which, although archaic and obsolete, sound great and are very descriptive. (The author of “The Shakespeare Book of Lists”, Michael LoMonico suggests trying to work them into every day conversations to impress your friends.) Some of these weird words are as follows: bugbear--goblin; A-ducking--swimming; ambuscade—ambush; carbuncle—ruby; chop-fallen—dejected; clodpole—dunce; and cot-quean—man who meddles in women’s business.

Recently I have seen a couple of different television shows dealing with adoption. They started me thinking and remembering my own experience. Since I am part of a family of three other adopted siblings and two adopted cousins, it was never a big deal in my family. It was as much a part of us as breathing. Our favorite story was about a couple who adopted a son, and then a daughter (the book is “The Chosen Baby”). We had it read to us so much it was falling apart! We also like to hear about the day Dad & Mom adopted us and brought us home.

I remember very clearly going downtown Detroit to Florence Crittendon hospital to bring my younger brother home. I was just four years old. That day is very vivid in my memory, as is the day we brought my younger sister home two years later. I was in kindergarten then. I remember telling all my friends in school we were going to “pick out” my baby sister. I knew exactly how it would work. We (my brothers and I) would play in a room while Dad & Mom and Mrs. Ricks (our social worker) went get my sister. My friends were certainly surprised at my version of where babies came from! I thought everyone knew that all you had to do was call Mrs. Ricks and she got a baby for you!

Being adopted was always part of my knowledge. I asked my Mom once how they did that. She told me the social worker told her to use the word “adopted” all the time. The word and its meaning became part of our family culture. It was always fun to discover other’s reactions once they found out. I can’t tell you how many times I heard “I know you are a Gerish, you look like your parents”. Mind you, the only thing to base this on was I was always tall, as are my parents.

Once people found out I was adopted, the question which came up most often was, “Have you ever thought about looking for your birth mother?” I had, of course, thought about it. My parents had promised when we were old enough (through college was their preference) they would help all they could. When ever I thought about it, I came back to the same decision. My birth mother gave me up so I could be raised with two parents in a loving home. I don’t know how I came to be, but she may never have shared that piece of her life with someone else. I knew I didn’t want to go barging into her life and possibly cause many problems for her. I knew I would never look for her. Besides, I really wasn’t that curious. I was very happy and content with the life God had given to me.

Tomorrow I’ll write about what happened in May of 1989 that changed my life!

Blessings!

Sunday School Lesson

2006-07-10T11:29:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: False friends are words in one language which look the same as words in another; although their meanings are very different. The same is true of Early Modern English. Some sixteenth century words may look the same as their modern counterparts, but the meanings have changed. One such example is mean. Our sense of the word is spiteful, nasty, not generous, or stingy; (American English) excellent. In Shakespeare’s time it would have meant of low rank, or lowly and humble, or unworthy. In The Taming of the Shrew when Lucentio enters (while in disguise as a poetry tutor) “in the habit of a mean man” he is entering as someone lowly or humble. Our modern sense of the word mean brings a different picture to mind than what Shakespeare was communicating.

I had the privilege of teaching a class of two and three year olds yesterday. They were so much fun. I had six girls in my classroom. We started the morning out by making things out of play dough, playing house, and playing in the sandbox. When it was time for the story, each one put away what she had taken out to play with and came over to the story rug. Each girl picked a spot and stretched out to listen.

The story was from Acts 1:1-9, when Jesus was taken up to heaven. I wasn’t sure how this age group would grasp this idea, but I knew it would be fun to find out! We started out by talking about places we like to go. We talked about the beach, playing outside, going to Sunday School, going to bed, and playing in the snow. This led into the story of Jesus having to leave his friends and go to heaven to live with his Father. As we were talking, one girl said Jesus lives in our hearts too. As another one piped up in agreement, several of the others also nodded agreement with that statement. They seemed to easily accept Jesus living in their hearts as well as living in heaven. They had never seen Jesus, touched Jesus, or talked face to face with Jesus, yet they believed what the Bible said. The simple faith of these girls was wonderful to see. They spoke very matter of factly about Jesus living in their heart and watching over them every day.

After the lesson was over we went on to make a craft, share snacks, and help each other get drinks from the water fountain. Before I knew it, the class was over. As I cleaned up for the next class, I reflected on what I had just experienced. I realized I had some areas in my life I needed to release to God and trust His promises with the same simple faith of these young children. While my life isn’t as simple as theirs, I can certainly trust God to keep His promises with the same faith they have. If God says so, it is true and can be depended upon to never change. I know I slept a lot better last night without the worry of “how will …”, “how do I handle …”, and “how will I accomplish everything without running out of time this week”.

Little did I know when I accepted the opportunity to teach yesterday morning it was to be one of the times when “he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.” (Psalm 23:2b-3a) I’m looking forward to the other lessons these little ones will teach me over the course of the rest of the summer (I volunteered to teach for the rest of the summer!).

Blessings!

A Thought for Thursday

2006-07-06T11:20:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: Here are more of the words first introduced by Shakespeare: luggage, manager, numb, obscene, puke, and quarrelsome.

Today I just wanted to quote something which always makes me examine my life and look for the areas in my life which are causing me to sin. Wesley’s mother is reported to have said:”Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off the relish of spiritual things, whatever increases the authority of your body over your mind—that thing to you is sin”.

It seems so many things slip through the filter of my mind if I’m not always diligent about what I read, the music I listen to, and what I watch on television or movies I see. I sometimes think I know without a doubt what things cause me to sin. Other times I am surprised by how a seemingly inconsequential thought, song, or phrase from a book I read can also cause me to sin. I know I need to be more aware on a daily basis of exactly what I am exposing myself to, and how it can harm me if I am not aware.

I John 1:8-9 says: “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” I must always be on guard against allowing anything into my mind and life which fits the description given by Wesley’s mother. I know I need to be more careful in what I allow to take root in my mind and in my life! I am thankful for a God who always forgives every time I ask.

Blessings!

Traverse City

2006-06-30T11:38:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: In the theatrical world it is customary to say “break a leg” instead of “good luck”. While the origin of this is unknown, it has been attributed to actor David Garrick’s role in Richard III. During one performance, he was so involved in playing Richard III, he didn’t even notice he had fractured his leg. (“The Shakespeare Miscellany”, by David Crystal & Ben Crystal)

I am very much looking forward to my annual trek to Traverse City for the 4th of July. I am fortunate that my parents have a condo located on East Bay. There is a sugar sand beach to walk on, and lots of sparkling water to enjoy. We each have a key so we can enjoy East Bay whenever we wish to do so. My Mom is leaving this morning to spend July and August there. My sister and her 3 girls are already there for their annual 2 week stay.

One of my favorite things is to have my morning cup of tea or coffee while sitting on the patio or in the swing watching the water. I never tire of watching the constantly changing face of East Bay. It can be calm one minute, and a few minutes later a storm will blow up. I love to watch a storm blow across the bay, with the wind and the waves rushing into shore. It doesn’t matter to me what the weather is in Traverse City, just to be there is a wonderful thing!

I think I was born with the love of water. My birth mother used to tell me she would walk the beaches in California when she was pregnant while trying to decide whether or not to travel to Michigan to have her baby, or stay in California. I always am soothed and calmed by watching water. No matter if it is an ocean, a lake, a river, or a small stream tumbling over rocks. I love them all!

This weekend will have all of our traditional 4th of July things: going to parades, watching fireworks from the beach, watching the air show from our front yard or while floating on a paddle board in the lake, seeing old friends and making new ones, bonfires on the beach, roasting marshmallows, cookouts on the patio, and of course, setting off our own fireworks. I will enjoy reliving old memories while making new ones.

Lake Michigan, in all its beauty brings to mind a verse from Isaiah. The verse is 55:12. “You will go out in joy and be lead forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” Whenever I am enjoying the Traverse City area, I think that nature has burst into song in praise of our Creator. I wish you could all be there to enjoy this beautiful place with me!
Blessings!

Praise

2006-06-29T10:58:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: There are many expressions we use everyday which come directly from a Shakespeare play. Here are a few: “a tower of strength”, Richard III; “an eye-sore”, The Taming of the Shrew”; “budge an inch”, The Taming of the Shrew”; and “give the devil his due”, Henry IV, Part I.

I was thumbing through Psalms, trying to come up with a topic for today. I was halfway through, when I thought of Psalm 150. It is a favorite of mine. For anyone who doesn’t have a Bible handy, here it is.
“1Praise the Lord.
Praise God in his sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens.
2Praise Him for His acts of power; praise Him for His surpassing greatness.
3Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise Him with the harp and lyre.
4Praise Him with tambourine and dancing, praise Him with the strings & flute.
5Praise Him with the clash of cymbals, praise Him with resounding cymbals.
6Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!”

This Psalm helps me to remember there is always something to praise God for or about. There are also many ways to give praise. Some are loud (cymbals and trumpets and other instruments), and some don’t have to be loud. I can praise God for His acts, and His greatness anywhere I happen to be, no matter what I am doing. It can be done in a whisper or in a loud voice. It can be done alone or with others. Even on the days I don’t feel like dancing (and I usually love to dance!), or don’t have time to dance, I can still give praise to God just for who He is.

This Psalm also reminds me of my favorite hymn (also my Grandma’s favorite!) “How Great Thou Art”. The chorus just praises God for His greatness. “Then sings my soul, my savior God to Thee. How great Thou art, how great Thou art. Then sings my soul, my savior God to Thee. How great Thou art, how great Thou art.” I found a web site with some of the words, http://www.mamarocks.com/how_great_thou_art.htm. (I’m not sure how to link something, so I hope this worked!)

Where ever you are, whatever you are doing today, please take a few minutes to praise God for who He is!

Blessings!

Contentment

2006-06-28T11:21:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: It has been speculated Shakespeare introduced some 1500 words into our language. Here are a few examples: advertising, bandit, critic, dickens, epileptic, film, gossip, hush, investment, jig, and kissing.

Having just returned from a wonderful time with extended family celebrating the graduations of Erin and Katie, I am again wondering if I will ever be hosting such a party. Will I ever have a family of my own? When will I be married? I’ve struggled a lot with being content where God has me right now, especially with being single. I came across some sermon notes from a Thanksgiving Eve service in 1992. The text is Philippians 4:10-13.

The first question asked, “What is contentment?” It was answered in this way. It is a mind set; an attitude which says life can be enjoyed no matter what my circumstances. It is a sense of sufficiency not threatened by the changing times of my life.

The second question is “How is contentment achieved?” My pastor said it is learned, as verse 12 states: “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.” It is something hammered out over time. I will never be through learning it. I must be patient. I will learn contentment through my experiences in life.

The last question is, “What is the source of my contentment?” God is the source. As verse 13 says:” I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” I Timothy 6:6-8 remind us: “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”

On the days I am struggling with being single I need to remember these verses. I don’t want to fall into the trap of wanting more than I have, and not appreciating the blessings God has already given. I have been blessed with family, friends, a church to grow in, a home, and a good job, to name a few. I need to spend more time “counting my blessings” instead of wishing I had something more! I also need to get busy doing the work God has given me to do each day instead of focusing on what I think my life is missing.

Blessings!

What Is Your Legacy?

2006-06-23T07:38:00.000-05:00

Today’s Tidbit: There is a story, which has no evidence to corroborate it; William Shakespeare helped write the King James Bible. If you check out Psalm 46, count 46 words from the beginning, you will arrive at the word “shake”. Then if you count 46 words from the end (excluding the word Selah) you arrive at the word “spear”. (Taken from Michael LoMonico’s “The Shakespeare Book of Lists”.)

There will be a gathering of many of my extended family this weekend. We are traveling to Webster, New York for a high school graduation party. Whenever we get together, I often wonder what it would be like if my grandparents, specifically my Grandma, would be able to be there too. What would she say; would any of us be different people if we had her influence in our lives longer than we did? Would she be pleased with us?

She was a woman who truly lived her faith. My earliest memories are of her reading her Bible and a daily devotional, while sitting in her rocking chair by the front window. If you read I Corinthians 13, which describes how we are to love, you will have an exact picture of the way Grandma loved each and every one of us. She loved us no matter what we did or who we are. Although she died before I was eleven years old, she had a profound effect on me. I want to leave behind the same legacy she did. I want my nieces and nephews, siblings, parents, cousins, aunts and uncles, and everyone else in my life to say about me what I tell others about my Grandma. “She had a few things which were important to her. Her faith, her love for family and friends, a desire for all of us to know how much Jesus loves us, and to see all of us in heaven one day.”

One of the things she gave to me when I was 8 years old is a Bible. Whenever we would arrive at my grandparents home on Mullett Lake, one of the first things I would do is go to the bookcase and start looking at the very cool colored pictures in this particular Bible. One trip, she handed it to me, and said it was mine to keep. She filled out the presentation page. It’s one of the few things I have with her writing in it. I have a few other things from her treasures of the years. They are precious to me. I try to always place one or more of these treasures on the dinner tables for any family dinner I host. (In case anyone was wondering why I do that, know you know!)

My Grandma passed her legacy to Mom and to me. We are hope fully sharing that legacy with the next generation. If I am remembered the way I remember my Grandma, I will have succeeded in everything I want to do. (I already know Mom will be/is remembered in this way!) What kind of legacy are you leaving behind? It’s never too late to start building one!

Blessings!

2006-06-22T11:45:00.000-05:00

In Order to Begin, All You Need to Do …

I’ve been toying with the idea of starting my own blog for the last several weeks. I wasn’t sure I would know what to say, or if I would have enough words to say it with. I have it on good authority starting a blog is pretty easy (thanks for the encouragement!). Since I have had lots of fun both reading and commenting on others' blogs, I decided to go ahead and try creating one on my own (I did know if I got stuck I would have someone to ask).

My authority on blogging told me all I needed to begin is a password, a user name, a posting name, and a name for my blog… a name for my blog … hmmm. Since I like Shakespeare’s writings very much (one of my treasures is a book of Shakespeare’s sonnets given to my Grandma by my Grandpa in 1922 during their courtship) I chose the name “Stratford-On-Avon" because, for those of you who have forgotten this tidbit of information (or for those who haven’t learned it yet) this is the name of the town where William Shakespeare was born in 1564. I am hoping to share what God is teaching me as I walk with Him each day, as well as some fun facts about Shakespeare.

For example, Shakespeare’s eldest daughter is named Susanna. Both my given name, Susan, and the name Susanna come from the Hebrew. They mean lily. (This is an example of some of the trivia swimming around in my brain. It’s remembering little things like this that enable me to do well in Trivial Pursuit!)

My full name is Susan Louise. In case you are wondering why I’m sharing this, it’s so I can demonstrate how much God has always been involved in the smallest details of my life. When I was adopted at two weeks of age, my parents named me Susan Louise. I found out 27 years later my birth mother’s sister is named Susan Louise! So, God had me named after an aunt none of us knew about for 27 years. (At that time, when a child was adopted, not much information was shared with either the birth mother or the adoptive parents. But, that’s another story!!) There have been many more examples of God’s constant presence and guiding hand in my life. One of my favorite scripture passages has become a sort of “life verse” for me. It reminds me God is very concerned with all of the little details of my life. It’s found in Psalm 139: 15-16. It says, “My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All of the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Does anyone have a life verse they would like to share?
Blessings!