Two Little Words

I am reading a mystery about an Episcopal priest. It is a series. The one I am reading is A Fountain Filled with Blood. The gal used to be a helicopter pilot and is now a priest. The titles are all old hymns. It's just a little fun mind candy.

In this particular book, she crashes a helicopter with the chief of police and an injured man with her. She is hanging up side down and prays..."I can't do this by myself." They lived through the crash, got the injured man down the mountain and of course solved the murder. But listen to what she said..."I can't do this by myself".

What if she had said like I so often do..."I can't do this."

This little statement says so much. I'm not going to try. No matter who I tell this to (and for me this is often a prayer) they are not big enough to help me. Anything you say to yourself or out loud has an effect on you. Period. The Bible states in Matt 12: 34...For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks...

What would happen in my life (and yours?) if I admitted I couldn't do this...by myself? What if even a cry for help had the element of hope in it? I wouldn't be asking to be rescued but asking for help. I would be taking responsibility not throwing in on someone else. What if God was big enough to help me grow? Help me mature? What if He hasn't stepped in because my...what does that scripture say...? Oh, I found it in James 4:3...When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives...What if my wrong motive is escape instead of growth?

This is heavy stuff. I hope I remember this image and not go away from the mirror and forget...
Huh...by myself...not by myself...but through Christ...I can do all things through Christ who strengths me...Huh...not alone...never leave me or forsake me...laundry, three-year-old, dishes, dinner...all things through Christ who never leaves me...marriage, job, bus rides...Huh...this is good stuff...

Have You Flossed Today?

I've always thought that having quiet times with God are a bit like flossing.

It's easy to skip doing it, thinking that it's not an immediate need. But then when you do floss, all sorts of junk comes out that was missed with regular brushing. You end up with a much cleaner, fresher mouth, and the knowledge that you've done something good for yourself.

It's easy to skip having a quiet time with God, thinking that it's not an immediate need. But when we do, all sorts of junk comes out that we missed. We end up with a cleaner, fresher heart and attitude, that lasts throughout the day and affects others beneficially. And yes, you've done something good for yourself!

Happy flossing,

JHB

A Change in the Weather

What a difference a day or two can make.

It's amazing how different I feel today compared to earlier this week. Monday night I was outside sweating to death and today I came home, put on my sweats, and cuddled up under a blanket on the couch.

I must say I felt a little out of sorts both yesterday and today, I think the change in the weather affects my allergies, or creates sinus pressure or something. I had been out of allergy meds for a few days and it's taking a couple days to get back to normal.

In general, I welcome the change. I like a little variety. So many other things stay the same every day...dishes...cooking dinner...laundry...not that these things are the bane of my existence, but they can be a little dull.

So some sun or rain or fog or snow? Well, it keeps changing.

Weighty Matters

Once again I am confused by the latest DVD I made of Ashley. (We have a video camera and when we finish a tape I make a DVD for easy viewing.) I saw myself or at least someone who sounded like me and who answered to my name. But she didn't look anything like what I picture myself looking like. And what's bad is that this happens every time I see one of Ashley's DVD's.

Actually the Bible speaks to this...

James 1:23-25 (New International Version)

23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

(Is Bible.com cool or what?!?!)

Anyway, back to the video. While I'm not sure who was in the video, I am sure it was not the real me. So I am going to go searching for the real me. I know where not to look. She's not under the covers after Eric leaves for work. She's not under the last bite of whatever yummy thing is stacked high on my plate. She's not in line at Starbucks. She may be behind the dusty stroller. She may be in one of my Yoga DVD cases. I'm hoping to find her in the mirror very soon.

Wish me luck!!

Gadgets

We've all seen them. If you've ever been to a mall you seen them. The store with all the shiny kitchen gadgets. Something for every possible need for every possible occasion. And most of us have been tempted. I just gave away two 'egg-rounders'. You know, for making your eggs fit English muffins PERFECTLY. They were a bugger to clean and the English muffin thing was just a phase. So they are out of here!

But the one gadget that I use at least every other day is our apple corer. Gosh, what a good investment. (In fact the one we have now is all metal 'cause Washington apples and Texas hands broke a plastic one.)

I think it started with Kevin Trudeau's 30 steps to lose 30 pounds in 30 days. Breath deep, walk 20 minutes, eat three apples everyday. That's a lot of apples. You really want an easy way to make those 30 steps happen. That's why I kept the grapefruit spoons that Eric's Nana gave us. (Grapefruit is on the list, too.) And while grapefruit hasn't been on the grocery list in a while. Apples are on there every week. Ashley has them for a bus snack, Eric takes them to work.

Apple corer...a gagdet worth having.

PREACH.....what I practice

DOMINOES PIzzA......there you go, that was dinner. Hubby wanted to celebrate (you don't have to cook dinner dear), daughter was all for it, and I knew I'd pay for it. That's why I feel like I have bricks in my stomach this morning.

So there you have it, those of you that know me will agree that I know better, but do I put it into practice? Here's the truth :(

Concious...er...Brushing

We all strive to live a deliberate life. On and off. Now and then. We don't want life to just happen to us. We want to make life happen. We don't want to go from one HAVE TO to the next. We want there to be some WANT TO mixed in. We want to LIVE our life not just float through it. At least that sounds real good. But, really, with a husband, a house, kids, a church and friends, who has the time to think much less live?

Well, I found a very conscious two minutes, once or twice a day!! Sonicare!! No, really, hear me out. Before, brushing my teeth was something to do while I read one last page before bed. Or something to do in the shower while my hair got wet. But now. No way! I concentrate. I feel the bristles. That beep goes off and I move that brush to the next quadrant. For two whole minutes, I am in the moment. Everyday!! Sometimes twice. Now if I could just get this much fulfillment out of doing dishes.

Stephanie, a.k.a. Mulan (see a pattern yet?)

Hey, Y'all!

I've taken one more step into the digital age and have become a blogger. And I've dragged two of my friends with me.

I am very excited about this because I so enjoyed making a newsletter...before. Now if I have a great idea or read a great book or see a great movie I can tell everyone RIGHT NOW instead of waiting like I used to or, more lately, not telling anyone.

So, if you've missed the newsy bits, here they are again with the added bonus of two more sets of insights, health alerts and Faith builders. Yeah for us all!

Stephanie a.k.a. Ariel (more on that later)