Archives for January 2009

Increased Demand

January 11, 2009 by 7 Comments

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**I wrote this post yesterday afternoon, and by early evening Don’s mom had to be hospitalized again. Please pray for us all as her one remaining kidney is failing. I decided to go ahead and publish the post as written yesterday. I pray that it will be a special help and an encouragement to someone.

Seasons ebb and flow, don’t they? With that in mind, I guess you could say we’ve been in the flow of winter for several weeks now here in the Midwest. Personally, I’ve been in the flow of another season the past couple of months as well. A season that’s kept me on the go. A season of increased demand. Not a huge increase, but an increase nonetheless.

Over 10 years ago, Don’s mom entered a new season of life. An ongoing season of needing care. Of course, this change brought a new season to our lives also. A season of increased demand, with its own unpredictable ebb and flow. We’ve seen periods that have been long and intense as well as fairly uneventful stretches of time. But even in its ebb, the season is there.

Thanks to assisted living, we’ve had major help meeting Mom’s daily care needs, but we are in charge of the extras — medical care, finances, errands, etc. Recently, due to extensive dental work, a health crisis, a 10-day hospital stay before Christmas, and three doctor appointments this past week, the demand has seen an increase.

In all areas of life, it’s no secret that when demand is increased, there is need for supply. In our case during those times, I find I need good health, more time, more flexibility, more unselfishness, more love, more peace. Yes, I need more…

In times of increased demand (more commonly called stress), people turn to many things looking for their supply, their relief. Where do I turn to find the “more” I need? I turn to the Lord. He is the one who can grant me good health. He is the one who multiplies my time by allowing me to accomplish what I need to with what I have. He is the one who can help me care more about others’ interests than my own. He alone can supply the love needed for another day or the peace my spirit cries out for. He is my more…

Are you in a season of increased demand, a season of stress? This season can take many forms, you know. In fact, it’s not uncommon to move from one to the other without much reprieve in between. Sometimes they even overlap. Let me encourage you to look to the One who can be your supply, to look to the One who can be your more. He is all we’ll ever need.

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 KJV

*Flickr photo by greg westfall. Creative Commons License

Filed Under: Above and Beyond, family, help, stress

Still Growing — Through Reading!

January 7, 2009 by 12 Comments

Have any of you gotten any taller lately? I’m willing to bet most of us quit growing physically long ago. And yes, I’m talking height, not width :) We may be well past our growth spurt years when it comes to inches, but continuing with the growth theme from my last post, isn’t it exciting to know that personal growth is always within our grasp through something as simple as reading?

Reading allows us to expand our vocabularies, continually gain new information, change our thoughts and beliefs, and envision places we’ve never been before and may never get to see in person. Just a few minutes ago, in fact, I was surveying the landscape around Mount St. Helens. No, I wasn’t watching tv or looking at photos — I was reading.

In the past couple of years, I’ve learned how important it is for writers to read widely. Through reading, we can learn much about the craft of writing. Much of my reading had been magazine or Bible and devotional reading, but now I’m trying to read as many books as I can in addition to my other reading. I find I can’t read much of anything anymore without thinking about how it was written. I’m sure other writers know exactly what I mean.

Even more amazing than how reading can affect our minds is how it can bring change to our hearts. Yes, the written word helps bring us to faith and helps us grow spiritually. Whether it’s through books, magazines, web content, or even blogs, reading can help us grow closer to the Lord and be encouraged in living out our faith.

Of course, the most powerful and life-changing book for spiritual growth is the Bible. At one point, after Moses spoke many words (which eventually went on to become part of the Bible), he told the people of Israel, “They are not just idle words for you — they are your life…” (Deuteronomy 32:47a). In the New Testament we are told that “the word of God is living and active…it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) It follows that reading the Word will change our hearts, will change our very lives.

Let’s make 2009 a year of growth, a year of change, through reading. Last week I finished reading True Light, the third in a fiction series by Terri Blackstock. This week I’m reading Donald Miller’s non-fiction book of essays, Searching For God Knows What. In my Bible, I’m just about to finish the book of Jeremiah and am anxious to get started on the gospels. For some reason, recently God has pointed me time and again to read about the life of Jesus. I’ve read the gospels many times before but am confident that God will remind me of things I’ve forgotten or show me things I’ve never noticed before. After all, we know the word of God is living and active!

What about you? I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading –in the Word or just books in general. Give me your wish list, too. What would you like to read this year? Ready, set, go! Or should I say “grow”?!

*Flickr photo by >>Zitona< <

Filed Under: books, change, new thing, writing

New Year, New Challenges

January 4, 2009 by 6 Comments

Don’t you love the way a new year looms large? It’s filled with the prospect of opportunities, changes, challenges, blessings, and sometimes fears. If offers us a new canvas. A portrait of 2009 just waiting to take shape.

Let’s think today about the new challenges each of us will face. Some of them we’ll have no control over, but others can be ones of our own choosing. That’s right. A new year gives us a chance to try something new, to grow in some way, to expand our horizon.

To be honest, I haven’t given a lot of thought to what new things I might attempt this year, but a couple of things come to mind. I was challenged with one, quite by surprise, about a week ago.

On the LPM blog, Beth Moore invited readers to join her in memorizing (or seriously meditating on) two verses of scripture per month this year, posting our verses as comments on the 1st and 15th of each month. I’ve memorized quite a bit of scripture in the past, but haven’t done so on a regular basis for many years now. I decided to go for it. It seems like such a doable plan. Just two verses a month, and if our memories don’t cooperate, we can fulfill the requirement by meditating deeply on the verses. I know God will bless this new venture so many of us have embarked upon (3000 and counting!). By the way, I’ve used my first verse as the Words To Live By this week on the sidebar to the right.

The other new thing that’s on my mind? Going somewhere I’ve never been before. Somewhere big. Somewhere like the Big Apple, in fact. Or at least somewhere east of the Mississippi :) Believe it or not, in my 50+ years, I’ve never been east of St. Louis.

New York City is just one of the places I’d like to see. I’d also love to visit Washington, D.C. one day. Truth is, Don and I feel too chicken to attempt NYC on our own. I threw out the idea to Kristin and Shawn over the holidays, and they actually nibbled :) I’m not sure what we may decide as the year progresses, but I sure would like to go somewhere :)

I want to be alert to other new things I should take on in the coming months as well. Stepping out into new territory is usually a little scary, but it almost always produces a positive benefit or blessing. The good news? We don’t have to step out alone or unguided. I love the promise found in Proverbs 3:5-6(KJV): “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” The Lord is indeed our perfect compass and map.

What new ventures are you going to be involved in this year? If you’re not sure, start thinking about it. Maybe you can try a new hobby or take a class. Or is it time for you to teach a class? Maybe it could be something as simple as listening to a new style of music or reading in a new genre. You could even get in on Beth’s scripture memory challenge — bet it’s not too late. Or if you’re really adventuresome, you could hit the road with me, and we could take NYC by storm :) (Just kidding — wouldn’t want to leave my hubby out of that adventure!)

Okay, so who’s ready for new challenges? Happy traveling to all!

*Flickr photo by Zach Dischner

Filed Under: goal, new thing, travel, unplowed ground

Happy New Year!

January 1, 2009 by 8 Comments

Where were you when the first seconds of 2009 rolled in? We were with our good friends Dennis and Teri. Almost every year for over 20 years, we’ve seen the New Year in with their family. With all our kids living away from home now, the party is down to just the four of us, but we don’t let that slow us down. The Barkers and the Irwins party on :) And this year was no exception.

Like we did in 2008, I hope you experience many good times with great friends during this new year. May God richly bless each one of you in 2009!

Filed Under: Friend, fun, holidays, tradition
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