The title of our Sunday School lesson yesterday was Right Not to Remain Silent. Many people in our world do not have the right to share their views, both political and spiritual. So I’m taking my right to share my spiritual views on my blog. Come along as I share our lesson from yesterday.
I’ve always been intrigued with the miracles in the Old Testament. The book of 2nd Kings tell about the prophets Elijah and Elisha, to the evil kings in Judah and Israel. Miracles in these Old Testament books abound. If you want to read about miracles, read about Elijah and Elisha.
What I want you to learn from 2 Kings 7:3-16, is God takes care of His people and we should tell others about His grace to us.
Here is the story in a nutshell. The Syrian Army had surrounded the Israelite city of Samaria. The citizens of Samaria were starving. They were to the point of committing cannibalism. If they surrendered to the Syrians, they would be killed. The king blamed the prophet Elisha. Elisha prophesied that by the next day the city would be saved and there would be plenty of food.
Elisha’s prophecy came true. God caused the Syrian Army to hear a noise of chariots and horses and the sound of an army coming upon them. The Syrian Army ran away. Four lepers decided to go the Syrian camp. They thought they might as well die there as die at the gates of Samaria. They were surprised to find the Syrian camp empty. They took what they wanted and hid it. The lepers could have kept the good news to themselves but they didn’t. They told the people in Samaria. They didn’t owe the people of Samaria anything. Those people had shunned them because of their disease. But they shared the good news that the Syrian army had ran away. The city was saved. There was food for all.
Remember God is on your side. He is working for you even if you can’t see his work right now. If God is doing something good in your life, share it.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
FROM MY BOOKSHELF
I predict that Danielle Steele's new book Legacy will be on the TV Screen soon.
Brigitte is content to go with the flow until one day she loses her job and her boy friend. Shocked and bored, she agrees to help her mother with the family tree. Much to her surprise, her journey takes her to the Dakota's and to Paris where she discovers her ancestor the Marquise de Margerac was once a Dakota Sioux Princess named Wachiwi.
Wichiwi's American adventures takes her from the plains of the Dakota's to New Orleans, across the Atlantic to the Court of Louis the XVI and Marie Antoinette.
Brigitte finds purpose and love (and a job) in Paris. Ah, Danielle always leaves us with a happy ending, doesn't she?
Brigitte is content to go with the flow until one day she loses her job and her boy friend. Shocked and bored, she agrees to help her mother with the family tree. Much to her surprise, her journey takes her to the Dakota's and to Paris where she discovers her ancestor the Marquise de Margerac was once a Dakota Sioux Princess named Wachiwi.
Wichiwi's American adventures takes her from the plains of the Dakota's to New Orleans, across the Atlantic to the Court of Louis the XVI and Marie Antoinette.
Brigitte finds purpose and love (and a job) in Paris. Ah, Danielle always leaves us with a happy ending, doesn't she?
Friday, May 28, 2010
Memorial Day - Bitter Sweet
I saw a clump of daisies along the roadside today. They reminded me of home, my childhood home.
I'm sure my mother breathed an exasperated sigh when she saw me or my brother bringing her yet another armload of daisies, but she always found a clean jar, put them in water and placed them in a prominent place to be enjoyed. No doubt, Germtrol was used frequently after a foray into the daisy field. Germtrol eased the itch accompanying chigger bites.
Daisies bring a memory of another kind also. May 30 was a holiday not overlooked in our family. As long as I can remember, Decoration Day was family day. It was a time when families gathered at the gravesites of loved ones long gone to pay tribute by laying flowers on the graves. Originally designated as Memorial Day for fallen soldiers, we called it Decoration Day.
In Dad’s family, the accepted mode of decoration was to place seasonal garden flowers or wild flowers on the graves. Sometimes the bouquets would be placed in jars or cans. Peonies and roses gathered from the yard were popular. Many times huge peony plants or climbing rose bushes were planted at the gravesite to provide a natural decoration.
I remember gathering huge armloads of daisies. These were put in water to await the next day when they would be placed on graves. I liked the huge peony blossoms, but I hated the ants. Anywhere there is a peony depend on it being full of ants.
Mom's family followed another custom, that of making flowers for decoration. Mom was known in the community for her crepe paper flowers. She began early in the spring buying colorful red, pink, green and white crepe paper so she would have enough time to make the many sprays needed for family graves. She made her own patterns, carefully cutting each petal just right. The shape of the petal depended on the type of flower she intended to make. A gladiolus petal had a sharp point at the end. A rose was rounded with small petals close to the stamen and larger petals outside. Each petal was pulled or crimped into place around a crepe paper bound wire which formed the center or stamen of the flower. Dad salvaged the fine copper wire from discarded car battery cables.
Mom held the petals with her left hand using the right hand to add more petals, holding them in place as she turned the flower. When the shape suited her, she anchored the petals with fine wire. The wire was then disguised with a strip of green crepe paper wound around and around until it finally ended at the end of the flower stem. The leaves were fashioned from green crepe paper and attached in the same manner.
Mom made gladiolus, roses, sweet peas and larkspur. Most often several flowers would be bound together in a spray and placed on the grave. No matter that the first rain would wash them away; they were a labor of love which she never failed to perform. It was not unusual for people to make a special note of the type of flower Mom made and the next year someone would copy the design and use it themselves.
This year I will follow tradition and lay flowers at the gravesite of my loved ones. It will be a bittersweet day. Memories are sweet and remembering the loss is sad. I will lay flowers to show respect and honor their memory and to show my love that never dies.
I'm sure my mother breathed an exasperated sigh when she saw me or my brother bringing her yet another armload of daisies, but she always found a clean jar, put them in water and placed them in a prominent place to be enjoyed. No doubt, Germtrol was used frequently after a foray into the daisy field. Germtrol eased the itch accompanying chigger bites.
Daisies bring a memory of another kind also. May 30 was a holiday not overlooked in our family. As long as I can remember, Decoration Day was family day. It was a time when families gathered at the gravesites of loved ones long gone to pay tribute by laying flowers on the graves. Originally designated as Memorial Day for fallen soldiers, we called it Decoration Day.
In Dad’s family, the accepted mode of decoration was to place seasonal garden flowers or wild flowers on the graves. Sometimes the bouquets would be placed in jars or cans. Peonies and roses gathered from the yard were popular. Many times huge peony plants or climbing rose bushes were planted at the gravesite to provide a natural decoration.
I remember gathering huge armloads of daisies. These were put in water to await the next day when they would be placed on graves. I liked the huge peony blossoms, but I hated the ants. Anywhere there is a peony depend on it being full of ants.
Mom's family followed another custom, that of making flowers for decoration. Mom was known in the community for her crepe paper flowers. She began early in the spring buying colorful red, pink, green and white crepe paper so she would have enough time to make the many sprays needed for family graves. She made her own patterns, carefully cutting each petal just right. The shape of the petal depended on the type of flower she intended to make. A gladiolus petal had a sharp point at the end. A rose was rounded with small petals close to the stamen and larger petals outside. Each petal was pulled or crimped into place around a crepe paper bound wire which formed the center or stamen of the flower. Dad salvaged the fine copper wire from discarded car battery cables.
Mom held the petals with her left hand using the right hand to add more petals, holding them in place as she turned the flower. When the shape suited her, she anchored the petals with fine wire. The wire was then disguised with a strip of green crepe paper wound around and around until it finally ended at the end of the flower stem. The leaves were fashioned from green crepe paper and attached in the same manner.
Mom made gladiolus, roses, sweet peas and larkspur. Most often several flowers would be bound together in a spray and placed on the grave. No matter that the first rain would wash them away; they were a labor of love which she never failed to perform. It was not unusual for people to make a special note of the type of flower Mom made and the next year someone would copy the design and use it themselves.
This year I will follow tradition and lay flowers at the gravesite of my loved ones. It will be a bittersweet day. Memories are sweet and remembering the loss is sad. I will lay flowers to show respect and honor their memory and to show my love that never dies.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
I'm Out of the Technology Loop
Last Saturday’s ORA program, featuring Diana Botsford, was very interesting. I found out just how far out of the technology loop I really am. Hey, I just mastered Facebook and Twitter is presenting a challenge. Now I find out there are Vooks, Kindles, IPhones, IPads, and watching movies on your computer.
I have one excuse. I still have dial up internet. Can you believe it? ATT has forgotten my section of town and they keep trying to sell me a bundle with DSL, Telephone and Television included. Really! Here’s a message to AT&T: Get DSL out here and I’ll consider the rest.
I don’t live in the boonies. I live within the city limits of Springfield and there is no reason not to have DSL out here.
That is my rant for today. Excuse me as I blindly, slowly grope my way into the future world of technology.
I have one excuse. I still have dial up internet. Can you believe it? ATT has forgotten my section of town and they keep trying to sell me a bundle with DSL, Telephone and Television included. Really! Here’s a message to AT&T: Get DSL out here and I’ll consider the rest.
I don’t live in the boonies. I live within the city limits of Springfield and there is no reason not to have DSL out here.
That is my rant for today. Excuse me as I blindly, slowly grope my way into the future world of technology.
Monday, May 3, 2010
There is Life After Migraines - I think!
Hello. Must I introduce myself? It’s been a while since I’ve blogged. Been having some health problems and feeling rotten doesn’t lend itself to bright, creative blogging.
I have fought migraine headaches all my life. School, marriage, children, work all while dealing with migraines.
Years ago, Doctors didn’t consider migraine a disease. “Take two aspirin and call me in the morning.” In my case, “You have three children, I’ll prescribe Valium.” Just what I need with three little ones running around my feet! Later, I got, “You’re depressed? I’ll give you something for depression.” Heck yes, I’m depressed. I have migraine so bad I can’t function. That is why I’m depressed.
Finally, found a doctor willing to deal with the problem and spent time at the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago. That is another story. It was an interesting experience. Every patient on the floor had migraine or cluster headaches. The nurses had also experienced migraine. At last, someone understood what you meant when you said “I have a headache.” When a migraine sufferer has a headache, it isn’t just a headache, it’s a HEADACHE.
I received the correct medication and got relief. I learned to watch my diet, learned not take on too much, learned to relax when a migraine is threatening.
So now, I’m having migraine again. Make that severe migraine. My doctor informed me, I’m too old to be having migraines. Well, Doctor, I’m old and I’m having migraines. He refused to prescribe the preventative medicine needed and referred me to other doctors.
This blog finds me in the process of going from doctor to doctor to find one who understands and treats migraine. Antibiotics for severe sinusitis has helped the worst migraines, but I’m still having headaches. Still taking too many pain pills. So if you see me staggering around and not making sense, you know I’ve got a migraine and am high on pain pills.
I have fought migraine headaches all my life. School, marriage, children, work all while dealing with migraines.
Years ago, Doctors didn’t consider migraine a disease. “Take two aspirin and call me in the morning.” In my case, “You have three children, I’ll prescribe Valium.” Just what I need with three little ones running around my feet! Later, I got, “You’re depressed? I’ll give you something for depression.” Heck yes, I’m depressed. I have migraine so bad I can’t function. That is why I’m depressed.
Finally, found a doctor willing to deal with the problem and spent time at the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago. That is another story. It was an interesting experience. Every patient on the floor had migraine or cluster headaches. The nurses had also experienced migraine. At last, someone understood what you meant when you said “I have a headache.” When a migraine sufferer has a headache, it isn’t just a headache, it’s a HEADACHE.
I received the correct medication and got relief. I learned to watch my diet, learned not take on too much, learned to relax when a migraine is threatening.
So now, I’m having migraine again. Make that severe migraine. My doctor informed me, I’m too old to be having migraines. Well, Doctor, I’m old and I’m having migraines. He refused to prescribe the preventative medicine needed and referred me to other doctors.
This blog finds me in the process of going from doctor to doctor to find one who understands and treats migraine. Antibiotics for severe sinusitis has helped the worst migraines, but I’m still having headaches. Still taking too many pain pills. So if you see me staggering around and not making sense, you know I’ve got a migraine and am high on pain pills.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Blurb for Murder On Tour
Murder wasn’t on the itinerary when Maxie Black and her friend Stella traveled to Ireland to help a friend. Expecting the sights and sounds of Ireland to soothe her spirit and provide background for her next mystery, Maxie did not expect to become the prime suspect in an extremist plot.
From the Book of Kells to St. Kevin’s Monastery, Maxie is hounded by a person demanding something that Maxie does not have. Among ancient castles and legends in the Emerald Isle, Maxie is kidnapped and nearly killed. Homeland security agent, Mitch Logan shadows her every move. He knows too much about her. Can she trust him? And who is Irene Bouchard, the redheaded bombshell that turns up every time Maxie is in trouble?
From the Book of Kells to St. Kevin’s Monastery, Maxie is hounded by a person demanding something that Maxie does not have. Among ancient castles and legends in the Emerald Isle, Maxie is kidnapped and nearly killed. Homeland security agent, Mitch Logan shadows her every move. He knows too much about her. Can she trust him? And who is Irene Bouchard, the redheaded bombshell that turns up every time Maxie is in trouble?
Thursday, February 11, 2010
My Super Bowl Celebration
My Super Bowl Celebration
I am not a sports fan but on Super Bowl Sunday, I decided to celebrate. Idea! Soup for Super Bowl. So I made a large pot of vegetable soup. Then me, myself and I sat down to eat lunch with a cup of tea.
Me suggested the soup needed salt. I told her to count her blessings that she had soup to eat. Myself said the tea was too strong. That didn’t bother me. Me made the tea.
I am not a sports fan but on Super Bowl Sunday, I decided to celebrate. Idea! Soup for Super Bowl. So I made a large pot of vegetable soup. Then me, myself and I sat down to eat lunch with a cup of tea.
Me suggested the soup needed salt. I told her to count her blessings that she had soup to eat. Myself said the tea was too strong. That didn’t bother me. Me made the tea.
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