I really love this song and it expresses how I feel about my husband, my best friend, my partner in life, my David.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af8mB9ABuJA
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
I'll Stand By You
It's late and yes, I'm up, and yes, it's a work night, and yes, I'm tired. It's just that it's really quiet and I feel a little lost without my other half here with me. My husband had knee replacement surgery this afternoon on his right knee and will be in the hospital a couple days. It's hard to watch someone you love lying in a hospital bed, seeing them being in pain, etc. I wanted to switch places so bad. In the day to day, you know you love someone but it seems when something like this is going on and the one you love is hurting, you can almost feel the love inside you expand and reach out. I sat beside him offering drinks of water whenever he would wake up, or ask if there was anything else he needed. Being extremely groggy, in some pain naturally (a big thank you for morphine drips), he wasn't saying too much but we had some conversation periodically. I'd fill him in on who had called or texted to see how he was doing. We talked about how grateful we were to the Lord for Him watching over the surgery and how although he had pain now, it would go away and he was going to be on the road to recovery back to a normal way of life. No more constant knee pain and weakness, being able to walk longer than 15 minutes or so, etc. But there is something about those moments when it's just the two of you in these situations and you just look at each other and you don't even need words. You know what the other person is saying without words just by the way they are looking at you. It's something I had thought I would never experience, a dream I had let go of. But almost 16 married years later, and almost 17 years together, here it is. That love, that bond, that keeps growing, that endures, that says "I'll stand by you", through it all. For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. It can bring a gal to tears. Joyful, thankful tears. It was hard leave his room tonight to come home. He kept telling me I needed to go so I could get home and rest. But all I kept thinking to myself was that although the nurses were great they didn't know how to take care of him like I do. They can't bring him calmness and ease like I can. No one knows him like I do. Isn't that silly? Nah, it's just natural I suppose.
So I'm not really sure of the purpose of this blog tonight/this morning, I guess I just needed to write down what was going on in my head. I do know that I'm extremely thankful to the Lord for His care as the surgery went so well, and the wonderful skills of Dr. Barr and his team. Thankful for the many family and friends praying for him and the surgery (and me). Thankful to our pastor and his wife, my parents, my stepdaughter, sister-in-law, a pair of good friends, and later my stepson, who all came to the hospital to be with David and I. Thankful for all those folks checking in by phone and Facebook. It's such a wonderful experience to feel the Lord's presence in those times and to see Him personified in the support of family and friends.
"Are any among you suffering? They should keep on praying about it. And those who have reason to be thankful should continually sing praises to the Lord." ~ James 5:13 [New Living Translation]
So I'm not really sure of the purpose of this blog tonight/this morning, I guess I just needed to write down what was going on in my head. I do know that I'm extremely thankful to the Lord for His care as the surgery went so well, and the wonderful skills of Dr. Barr and his team. Thankful for the many family and friends praying for him and the surgery (and me). Thankful to our pastor and his wife, my parents, my stepdaughter, sister-in-law, a pair of good friends, and later my stepson, who all came to the hospital to be with David and I. Thankful for all those folks checking in by phone and Facebook. It's such a wonderful experience to feel the Lord's presence in those times and to see Him personified in the support of family and friends.
"Are any among you suffering? They should keep on praying about it. And those who have reason to be thankful should continually sing praises to the Lord." ~ James 5:13 [New Living Translation]
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Words ~ Hurting or Healing
The page is blank... Or it was as I am now writing on it. Thinking about the power of words. The class I lead on Sunday mornings is doing a study of Proverbs and tomorrow's lesson deals with the tongue. The title is "Verbal Vices and Wise Words". Man, is it a hard hitter. I love reading the scriptures in Proverbs in the New Living Translation as it really makes them stand out in way that is so easy to understand. Like this one, Proverbs 3:3 ~ "Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything." Pretty plain in what it means. Words ... The Bible has many, many verses about the power of words, about the tongue and taming it, etc. It compares words to a sword that cuts and destroys. Contrary to what the childhood saying of "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me," says, words can hurt, deeply and destructively. We see it in the headlines or hear it on the news all time. A teenager commits suicide because of verbal bullying or bullying online through the power of words. Kids grow up believing they are useless or stupid, ugly, unlovable, because of words spoken by thoughtless parents. Many times, relationships and marriages are destroyed through the power of words. We are a society of educated, multi-cultural, tech savvy individuals yet we still resort to name calling and labeling, making people feel less with words, and spouting empty opinions just to hear ourselves talk. Politicians, salesmen, con artists, news reporters have all taken words and turned them into jigsaw puzzle pieces that fit into their own agendas. Will it ever stop? No. Is there hope? Yes. In Christ there is always hope.
There are those that use the power of words to change lives, to lift up others, to share love, and to heal. Jesus is our example in this as in all things. Even when the truth is spoken it is to be done in love, not in self-righteousness or anger. Here is a paragraph from tomorrow's study I'd like to share, "The alternative to stabbing someone with words is to heal. Healing with words involves first refusing to use them to hurt. Second, healing with words means looking for chances to encourage and uplift. Just as doctors become skillful with their hands, so Jesus-followers should become experts at encouraging. We need to learn to give positive feedback, express care and affection, and complement sincerely." [Proverbs: Uncommon Sense - 2005 Serendipity House] It's a convicting lesson. So I have to ask myself, what do I do with my words? How do I use them? Do I really stop to think about the words I say or write?
I've been hurt by words and I know that there have been instances where I hurt someone else with my words. Sometimes unintentionally and sometimes intentionally. Not proud moments. My desire is to be helpful and encouraging with my words. To let those people in my life know I love them and care when they are hurting or happy. I think it is another part of this daily walk of life, especially in the life of a Child of God, that is a one day at a time thing (sometimes moment by moment). We have to get up each morning and intentionally give our tongue and our words to the Lord and ask Him to control it that day. I know that is what I need to do, must do, in order make my words be words of encouragement, healing, love, and sweetness.
I leave you with this verse from Proverbs. "Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. ~ Proverbs 16:24 [ESV] and in the New Living Translations: "Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."
There are those that use the power of words to change lives, to lift up others, to share love, and to heal. Jesus is our example in this as in all things. Even when the truth is spoken it is to be done in love, not in self-righteousness or anger. Here is a paragraph from tomorrow's study I'd like to share, "The alternative to stabbing someone with words is to heal. Healing with words involves first refusing to use them to hurt. Second, healing with words means looking for chances to encourage and uplift. Just as doctors become skillful with their hands, so Jesus-followers should become experts at encouraging. We need to learn to give positive feedback, express care and affection, and complement sincerely." [Proverbs: Uncommon Sense - 2005 Serendipity House] It's a convicting lesson. So I have to ask myself, what do I do with my words? How do I use them? Do I really stop to think about the words I say or write?
I've been hurt by words and I know that there have been instances where I hurt someone else with my words. Sometimes unintentionally and sometimes intentionally. Not proud moments. My desire is to be helpful and encouraging with my words. To let those people in my life know I love them and care when they are hurting or happy. I think it is another part of this daily walk of life, especially in the life of a Child of God, that is a one day at a time thing (sometimes moment by moment). We have to get up each morning and intentionally give our tongue and our words to the Lord and ask Him to control it that day. I know that is what I need to do, must do, in order make my words be words of encouragement, healing, love, and sweetness.
I leave you with this verse from Proverbs. "Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. ~ Proverbs 16:24 [ESV] and in the New Living Translations: "Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Yummy goodness ~ Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars
I just had to pop on here to give the link for the recipe for Pillsbury's Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars. These are so wonderfully good. Light, creamy, sugar and cinnamon goodness. I've seen the recipe and others like it but have never gotten around to making them. I will now. Thanks to Stacey, our graduate student who brought them into the office this afternoon.
http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/sopapilla-cheesecake-bars/65ec128f-2acc-417b-8745-06c182d3134a/#
http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/sopapilla-cheesecake-bars/65ec128f-2acc-417b-8745-06c182d3134a/#
"Will you still need me, Will you still feed me, When I'm 64"
"Will you still need me, Will you still feed me, When I'm 64" as queried by The Beatles in their song "When I'm 64". The lyric goes on with "When I get older, losing my hair, many years from now. Will you still be sending me a Valentine, birthday greetings, bottle of wine?" This song popped into my head earlier and I began thinking how the spirit of the lyric relates to real life many times. What started all this pondering was a song I posted about on my Facebook page this morning. Rascal Flatt's "I Won't Let Go" was the song. It was my first time hearing it and I posted the following comments: Heard this song a minute ago for the first time and it immediately made me think of what being married is all about. When you hit the for better or worse, in sickness or in health, for richer or poorer parts of the marriage journey that's ...when love is proved. It's hard to travel through those parts, but those make you stronger, draw you closer, and seal you with everlasting bonds. Flowers, gifts and romantic gestures are nice things to get, but it's the standing by and hanging in when I'm unlovable, when sickness or tragedy strikes, when fortunes fail, and when the devil is trying to give us a beat down that love shines through. How do I know this? Because we've lived it and came out on the other side together as one. Each day is a commitment to be there and to love each other - warts & all. How did/do we do it? Only through the power & presence of the Lord in our lives and hearts and His everlasting love for us giving us an everlasting love for each other. Are we perfect? No way! But thankfully, our Lord and Savior is. [end of FB post] It's a beautiful song and you can check it out on YouTube if you'd like to hear it or on my FB page is you are one of my FB friends.
We've become a society, for the most part, that holds to the idea of if it's broke why fix it, I can just go out and get another one. Oh, the luster and shine is gone, should I try to make it sparkle like new again? Nope, just get a new shiny one or one that still looks good not so much wear and tear. Etc... We throw away things, including relationships, that become unattractive, no fun, a little worse for wear or broken, unpleasant to deal with, and on and on. Why? Because we judge our relationships by the world's standards and not by God's. We focus on the external, the pleasurable, the self-gratification side of relationships. When you are riding in the bumper cars of life and they begin to knock your relationship around, whether through sickness, money troubles, dealing with the kids, you just don't look that good to me anymore, you just don't excite me anymore, emotional upheavals, the who are you and why did I marry you days, etc., you begin to focus on the bumps and bruises, the scratches and dings and become dissatisfied. Many times that's when we begin looking over at the greener grass on the other side of the fence or checking out new models that appear to be perfect. Trust me, sometimes there are some big ol' flaws and problems hiding inside those snazzy chassises. And there are some dandelions growing in the greener grass when you take a closer look. I love the TV show "American Pickers" because Mike and Frank find the beauty and specialness of beat up, rusty, old things, and the item's history and they just get so excited about it when they get to purchase items. Why can't we be that way with the people in our lives? Look beyond the imperfections life brings and be excited you have that person in your life and the history you have together.
True, for generations girls have been taught to look for that knight in shining armor up on the big white horse to rescue us and make us pampered princesses who live happily ever after. So we women have put some unrealistic expectations upon the men we come across in our lives. They are imperfect creatures just as we are, ladies. And the fellas have been brainwashed and stimulated to think that all women should look like supermodels ... for eternity. Fortunately, there are women and men out there that believe and live otherwise to these unrealistic, unattainable distortions of real people. But the topic of the differences between women and men could go on forever (like this post seems to be doing!).
So what is the point of this rambling post? It's this... Relationships, epecially marriages, are wonderful things that need to be tended like you do a garden or a vineyard with loving care, fighting and pulling the weeds, protecting the plants and vines, nurturing them, watering them, not giving up when all seems lost. I've seen stories about vineyards and forests that have seemingly been destroyed by fire only to find life in the roots of the vines and forest plants and trees. Yes, marriage can be challenging. Yes, we get older, lose our hair, get pudgy, get sick or hurt, get cranky sometimes. Yes, we hit hard times financially, emotionally, spiritually. But we perservere, we fight the fires, we look for the life in the roots and we nourish it and strengthen it back to full bloom. Can we do it alone? I don't think so. In my experience, it has taken much prayer, reliance on the power and grace of the Lord, remember that He forgave us and we in turn forgive others, and that He loves us - warts and all - like no other can and enables us to love others back in the same way.
I highly recommend the movies "Fireproof" and "Courageous" for a look at the struggles and triumphs that come in relationships. And for you single ladies and gents, I think it is especially important to watch movies like this, read reliable relationship materials by godly, Christian authors, and be in prayer about the relationships the Lord would bring into your lives. I know how hard it is to wait for that someone special in your life. I've been there. I was single until I was 34 and had given the idea of a relationship with someone up to the Lord. I knew He would fill that longing for a husband I had inside me if I was to remain single. I've now been on both sides of the relationship fence. The Lord's best for you is always better than you can imagine even when the bumps come. Don't settle for second or third best. If you are already in a relationship, especially a marriage, don't give up when the weeds begin to sprout or the vineyard begins to look unkept, fight - perservere - forgive - love as the Lord loves you.
Perservere > to persist in anything undertaken; maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement; continue steadfastly; to bolster, sustain, or uphold.
Remember.... It maybe old, but it's a classic!!
We've become a society, for the most part, that holds to the idea of if it's broke why fix it, I can just go out and get another one. Oh, the luster and shine is gone, should I try to make it sparkle like new again? Nope, just get a new shiny one or one that still looks good not so much wear and tear. Etc... We throw away things, including relationships, that become unattractive, no fun, a little worse for wear or broken, unpleasant to deal with, and on and on. Why? Because we judge our relationships by the world's standards and not by God's. We focus on the external, the pleasurable, the self-gratification side of relationships. When you are riding in the bumper cars of life and they begin to knock your relationship around, whether through sickness, money troubles, dealing with the kids, you just don't look that good to me anymore, you just don't excite me anymore, emotional upheavals, the who are you and why did I marry you days, etc., you begin to focus on the bumps and bruises, the scratches and dings and become dissatisfied. Many times that's when we begin looking over at the greener grass on the other side of the fence or checking out new models that appear to be perfect. Trust me, sometimes there are some big ol' flaws and problems hiding inside those snazzy chassises. And there are some dandelions growing in the greener grass when you take a closer look. I love the TV show "American Pickers" because Mike and Frank find the beauty and specialness of beat up, rusty, old things, and the item's history and they just get so excited about it when they get to purchase items. Why can't we be that way with the people in our lives? Look beyond the imperfections life brings and be excited you have that person in your life and the history you have together.
True, for generations girls have been taught to look for that knight in shining armor up on the big white horse to rescue us and make us pampered princesses who live happily ever after. So we women have put some unrealistic expectations upon the men we come across in our lives. They are imperfect creatures just as we are, ladies. And the fellas have been brainwashed and stimulated to think that all women should look like supermodels ... for eternity. Fortunately, there are women and men out there that believe and live otherwise to these unrealistic, unattainable distortions of real people. But the topic of the differences between women and men could go on forever (like this post seems to be doing!).
So what is the point of this rambling post? It's this... Relationships, epecially marriages, are wonderful things that need to be tended like you do a garden or a vineyard with loving care, fighting and pulling the weeds, protecting the plants and vines, nurturing them, watering them, not giving up when all seems lost. I've seen stories about vineyards and forests that have seemingly been destroyed by fire only to find life in the roots of the vines and forest plants and trees. Yes, marriage can be challenging. Yes, we get older, lose our hair, get pudgy, get sick or hurt, get cranky sometimes. Yes, we hit hard times financially, emotionally, spiritually. But we perservere, we fight the fires, we look for the life in the roots and we nourish it and strengthen it back to full bloom. Can we do it alone? I don't think so. In my experience, it has taken much prayer, reliance on the power and grace of the Lord, remember that He forgave us and we in turn forgive others, and that He loves us - warts and all - like no other can and enables us to love others back in the same way.
I highly recommend the movies "Fireproof" and "Courageous" for a look at the struggles and triumphs that come in relationships. And for you single ladies and gents, I think it is especially important to watch movies like this, read reliable relationship materials by godly, Christian authors, and be in prayer about the relationships the Lord would bring into your lives. I know how hard it is to wait for that someone special in your life. I've been there. I was single until I was 34 and had given the idea of a relationship with someone up to the Lord. I knew He would fill that longing for a husband I had inside me if I was to remain single. I've now been on both sides of the relationship fence. The Lord's best for you is always better than you can imagine even when the bumps come. Don't settle for second or third best. If you are already in a relationship, especially a marriage, don't give up when the weeds begin to sprout or the vineyard begins to look unkept, fight - perservere - forgive - love as the Lord loves you.
Perservere > to persist in anything undertaken; maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement; continue steadfastly; to bolster, sustain, or uphold.
Remember.... It maybe old, but it's a classic!!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
And so it begins...
And so it begins.... that's right I've entered the blogosphere. Egads, what have I done?! I'm a little excited, a little nervous, and a little hesitant all at the same time. I have never been good at keeping a diary on a consistent basis, well, on any basis. Tried it as a kid, teenager, and off and on as a grownup but always felt what I put down was either boring or never came out like I wanted it to. "Dear Diary, Today I... blah, blah, blah, etc. Hopefully, this time around I will be able to be creative, insightful, helpful, and generally interesting (at least to myself). This blog will be all things, hence the name "Life's Eclectic Cafe". There will be postings about my interests, things that are on my mind and heart, probably some ponderings, perhaps some deep thoughts (ha!), some recipes, and definitely matters of life's journey as a child of God. My relationship to the Lord as #1, my husband, my family and close friends are the priority areas in my life. Without the Lord and His love for me and the grace He showed to me, I would be nothing. So come on in and take a look around Life's Eclectic Cafe!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)