The Meandering Mind of a Christian Woman

                       I just watched a video about labels which raised many valid points about our fellowman. ( http://www.globetoday.com/watch-the-video-thats-taking-the-world-by-storm-today-this-will-leave-you-questioning-everything/   ) It got me thinking which labels I wear without even thinking about it. Some labels I earned; friend, wife, mother, nurse, blogger. Others were bestowed; widow, daughter, sister, white, American. There are probably a few other labels others have placed upon me that I am not aware of or choose to ignore. What about the label of Christian? Did I earn it or was it bestowed? I believe it is a combination of the two. I was born into a Christian family and raised to believe in Jesus as my Savior. At the same time, it is through continued prayer and contact with God’s word that I remain a Christian. It is through experiencing life and the Holy Spirit working in me th...

             Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”            To piggyback on yesterdays post. Do you live your life as a series of sprints from one event to the next? Perhaps paycheck to paycheck, holiday to holiday or game day to game day? I think it is safe to say we have all thought, at least once, if I can just…. (insert occasion) I will be alright. As I have been going through physical therapy for my knee I have need of assistance, initially a walker, now a cane. I can get around the house quite well without the cane but if I want to go any distance I need the cane for support. That phrase, ‘go the distance’ has been whirling around in my head. What is ‘the distance’? We are not to worry about tomorrow but to be present in the here and now. So the distance we deal with is the time we are awake each day, giving it our best to serve the Lord. That...

            I am not one who typically watches the stock market rise and fall. However, I do have a 401K retirement account I keep an eye on since I want to be prepared for retirement (it is getting closer all the time.) The last few weeks have been brutal on my retirement fund; it is a bit frightening. What I hold onto is a bit of financial wisdom given to me when I first began my 401K; remember “You’re in it for the long haul.” There will be ups and downs, don’t panic just hold on.             That is how I am feeling right now about my Christian living; I’m in it for the long haul -eternity! There are plenty of ups and downs in the Christian life. It can be tough to hold my head up when I feel under attack. Attack may be a strong word but when there are so many accusations thrown around on social media I have an internal battle of do I defend or ignore?       ...

            I have spent the past three weeks in and out of a medicated fog following surgery. While I have gotten some great sleep, had some interesting conversations and incredible dreams; coming out of the fog is a much better place to be. It is quite difficult to collect one’s thoughts when taking medications that make one groggy. This blog has been on my mind but I could not get my act together long enough to write anything cohesive (praying this will be cohesive). Nor could I decide a topic upon which to write.             I was in the hospital for 2 days and the main thing I desired was to be treated as a patient and not a nurse (this is difficult when you are in the care of your peers). I have been on both sides of this scenario, it is difficult to not assume the nurse/patient already knows what she should do for her recovery. It is also difficult to stop ‘being’ a nurse when you’re in t...

            Have you ever experienced something so wonderful that you couldn’t decide whether to share it with the world or to hoard it for yourself? It is as if giving it away will somehow lessen the experience. I frequently feel that way about my relationship with God, it is intensely personal, especially my prayers. Praying allows me to spill it all before the Lord. I don’t want to spill it all with another human being. You see, God keeps my secrets, he cherishes my praise and he readily forgives my sins.             There are some moments too special, you can share them with another but they really don’t get it because it isn’t the same as being there. You know how it goes; trying to share a funny story and you’re laughing so hard, you finally get the story out and your friend just grins. Then you say, “I guess you had to be there.” But when I share with God it is so deep and intimate becaus...

            My favorite Christmas carol is “Oh Come Let Us Adore Him” just the word ‘adore’ has so much feeling in it. It means to love and respect someone deeply; worship, venerate . And the melody of the refrain is also in the right key for me (don’t ask me what that key is; I just know I can hit the notes.) When I give it my full voice, I truly feel the spirit of worship deep in my being.             If I could bottle that feeling and break it out whenever I’m just not feeling my faith, it would be so awesome. Yet, I wonder if it would lose its zest were I to have access to it all the time? Would it become routine? Would it be like a steady diet of rich foods? That would not be so good. In the book of Daniel, we read about Daniel and his friends becoming part of the king’s chosen. He was to be fed food from the king’s table, rich foods; but he asked for special favor to eat a diet of vegeta...

                It is the time of year when Christians reflect on the birth of Christ. For me, Luke chapter 2 is as good as it gets, Linus from the Charlie Brown Christmas special thought so too as he quoted from the chapter. Having been to Bethlehem and viewed the Shepherd’s Field as well as a manger representation it goes even deeper.                 The shepherds field is uneven and rocky, there really isn’t much to protect one from the wind. Certainly, the shepherds were grubby, being a shepherd in those days was not the most respected of positions either. Yet, God chose this sampling of humankind to be the first to see His son. The appearance of the heavenly host was the most majestic thing about Jesus’ birth, but they didn’t appear to Mary and Joseph, they appeared to shepherds! Everything else was humble to the extreme. Born of a virgin, translation- unmarrie...