Contemplating Life

  During the time leading up to the Thanksgiving, I read and heard a lot of things that had to do with “thankfulness”. There was, however, something that a pastor said that really stuck with me. He said, “Gratitude must be intentional.” He went on to explain that, because of our sin nature, complaining comes easy and is often our mindset. I’ve thought about this so much. I think it is true that complaining does come easy. There is a negativity in our world that is like a virus that easily infects everyone. Sometimes it revolves around the fact that we spend too much time comparing ourselves and our circumstances with another; sometimes it arises because we confuse wants with needs and feel like we aren’t getting what we need; sometimes it arises because life is unfair, and we are too much like little children who stomp their feet and pout when things don’t go their way; sometimes it arises simply because we are focused on the wrong things. Whatever the reason, it IS easy to complain.

  I have been having such a wonderful time this past week, working on a board game I am creating for my grandsons. The theme of the game is “Noah’s Ark” and I am working to make it both entertaining and informational. It will incorporate everything from little known facts about animals (@ Gorillas burp when they are happy) to revealing the character of God. Of course there will be the “Uh-oh!” landing spots where things like “You stepped in a pile of elephant poop so go back two spaces” will be possible; there will also be chances to win “Ark Food” (little bags of Skittles). (Food offerings and boys go together like fish in water.) The picture with this blog is of the little playing pieces I painted to use in the game – they are supposed to be Noah’s family. :) I love playing with my grandsons. They are amazing little men. They are loving, intelligent, curious, ornery, exhausting little boys – and they have captured my heart. And I will be honest – I love how they love me. Even at th

  My husband and I were having our typical morning coffee time together one morning. During the coffee sipping we cover a lot of topics, including current events in our life and in the world. In a moment of quiet introspection, Richard suddenly looked really sad and said, “I am amazed that Jesus doesn’t just give up on man.” Wow…...heartfelt and sincere. And I completely understood and agreed. We simultaneously turned to a time of worship, knowing and praising God that He does not give up on us. I have felt Richard’s sadness often, especially over the past three years. The decisions being made, the fears being exploited, man’s inhumanity to man, the greed, the lies, the rampant foolishness…...some days it is a little much. Some days I cannot watch the news or finish the reports I am reading – I feel my soul shrinking within me and a mantle of despair that wants to settle on my shoulders. I have to set it all aside and return my thoughts to the Savior Who never changes. I have to tur

  One thing social media has done for us is to reveal more clearly the heart of man. People can be so critical, so judgmental of others around them. It is so easy to look at another person and “decide” – to draw your conclusions from where you stand, maybe to assign intentions to their actions, or even cast aspersions if you are prone to do so. People are definitely very censorious today, often without even knowing the facts of the situation. On the flip side of the coin, I also think that sometimes we are a little, well….flip. We convince ourselves that we “get” another person’s situation – we “understand” what they are dealing with or going through. The old adage “until you walk a mile in their shoes” has a lot of clout – you might “try” to understand, you might “think” you understand, but most of the time we don’t truly understand what the person next to us is dealing with or going through. I do think when you love someone, however, it is important to at least try to see their per