Dueling Computers

I sat at my desk today blog hopping, when my computer froze. I logged out, logged on, signed in, signed on and went to the blog I was reading when this all started. So far, so good. Then the evil computer decided to freeze right after I wrote my wonderful, "wisdomful" comment. Again! So I closed it down for the second time, and waited. Quite calmly.

But my hubbie heard me complaining all the way in the next room. And I'm the quiet, shy type. Bwuaaa haaa!

While I waited for my computer to come back on, he graciously set up his laptop so I could continue my daily fix of blog-hop.

Now you know computers are very jealous of each other. As soon as I started typing on the laptop, my desk top came on. Then the battle began. I was merrily reading and commenting, when the laptop went off line. I kid you not. I could hear a techie laugh coming from my desk top computer. ARRGH. They will take over the world if we let them. Or at least all our time.

"And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32

Oh, great, I think I act like my computers when I don't get my way, Do I laugh when bad things happen to those I don't like? Do I compete for the admiration of others?

Well, I must reboot my bootie and and reprogram kindness and a tender heart.

Just don't let the computers near each other.

Photos: istock

APB for Wet Diapers

Thank you, thank you all my dear friends who prayed and for your concerns for my grandson. He is up to 4 wet ones a day!! Yeah!

Can I hear it for a "P, double E!"

Whoo Hoo. Your loving comments touched my heart. Again, thank you.

Also don't forget about the contest at my group blog. (See post below.) It ends tonight at midnight. I promise it won't be a cheesy Florida souvenir.

From a lighter heart and mind.

karen

We Interrupt the Regular Posting...

Hi, all you blogger friends, just a quick note.

Hurry, hurry, I'm having a contest over at my group blog, Kindred Heart Writer's for a little something from sunny Florida!

Winner will be announced this Thursday--so don't delay!

photo: dreamstime

Pursue-verance

"Never let the sense of failure corrupt your new action." Oswald Chambers


Every morning, afternoon and night, Major can't wait to go out in the back yard and hunt for rabbits. There is only one, right now, that repeatedly comes in our back yard to rest and sometimes nest in the ferns.


It doesn't matter to Major whether the rabbit is there or not, he prances about the house until we let him out. Dashing from rabbit spot to rabbit spot, he tracks, anticipating a new run. I guess it's the pursuit that he loves. When the rabbit is there he chases it out of the yard until the rabbit scoots under the fence.


Not catching the rabbit does not bother him. He perseveres with renewed eagerness each day.


"And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance, and perseverance, proven character, and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint." Romans 5:3-5


I need to take a lesson from Major and keep pursuing my dreams and visions even if they don't come true right away. For I know that it's in the "keeping on" that builds the person, with or without the "rabbit." And God's hope does not disappoint.




What dream do you need "pursue-verance" for?






Photo: karenevans


For my dear friends who commented concerning my grandson. He is still struggling. Thank you for your prayers.

Gimme Those Wet Diapers!

Let me hear it for wet diapers!!

A one, an a two and three:

Gimme a W!

Gimme a(n) E!

Gimme a T!

What do you get? Wet Diapers! Yea! Go Diapers!

That's exactly what I want for my grandson seen above. He's been terribly sick with only 3 wet diapers a day. We're going for five, the number the Doctor wants.

You know I've never prayed for wet diapers before. But I will cry when God answers this prayer. He's 16 months and has lost six pounds. We believe he's turned the corner, God bless his little heart. But I'm still praying for big, soggy, fat diapers.

"Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer." Psalm 4:1

What is the strangest thing you've prayed for?

Photo: mevans

Gotta Be A Guy Thing

Fries. Hot and "fresh" from sitting in the warming tray. Steaming, greasy goodness.

We stopped to order fries and burgers on the way home from church, as we needed to grab something fast that day.

"Give me just one," my hubbie says. I gently, ha,...explain after all the hand shaking and stuff at church, he should wait and wash his hands first. (Lots of sickness still going around.)

"No, my fingers won't touch what I eat," he said.

What? What in the world does that mean?

"Come on, just one, please?"

I shake my head, but give in. He grabs one off the top, while I watch to see how he's gonna manage that trick.

He bites the fry all the way down to his fingers. I look at him and he smiles, rolls down his window and throws the rest out.

"See, no contamination, and the sea gulls will get something to eat."

Me, I just laugh. I will wait. (I usually need to warm them up by the time we get home anyway.)

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10

Before I point fingers, is my heart clean today, as God would like? Are there germs hidden in the corners, ready to sprout? Only He cleans hearts. Has dirt smudged my spirit, so I pick what I like of His word and throw the rest out the window? O renew my spirit, steady and strong.

Let me eat the whole fry.

Thin Places

Mary DeMuth does it again! In this memoir Mary shares the haunting story of her childhood and it's effects in her life. I must admit it was hard for me to read some parts as my heart cried out for the injustice she experienced. But as the book moves forward, she shares how the Lord helped her cope.

I know this book will help others connect by her openness and vulnerability of story. Thin Places occur in her life when heaven draws near and meets her on earth, as if only a thin veil separates the two.

She writes of truth, lies, brutality, forgiveness, rejection, and coming to understand God's supreme sacrifice given for her. Her poems ring with passion, her words give voice to raw emotions, so much so that I even experienced dreams with my heart so torn.

Then she lifts up her soul to praise the Lord for what He's done so far.

Two quotes:

"Much of what God does in my life is healing the past in order to embrace the future. He heals my fear of enemies so I will embrace my family. He heals my fear of men so I can embrace my husband. He heals my running so I can stop and notice the beauty of today."

"Why do I go through all this recollection? So God can renew me so I can help others find healing."

There you go. That's why this book is so important.

I received this book from Blog Spot Tour for the review. Check out other reviews here. You can find her book on Amazon.

Mary can be found on her web and blog site.

Author and speaker Mary DeMuth helps people turn their trials to triumph. Her books include Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God; Building the Christian Family You Never Had; Watching the Tree Limbs; Wishing on Dandelions; Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture and the first two books in the Defiance, Texas Trilogy: Daisy Chain and A Slow Burn. National media regularly seek Mary’s candid ability to connect with their listeners. Her radio appearances include FamilyLife Today, Moody Midday Connection, Point of View and U.S.A. Radio Network and is frequently featured on Chuck Colson’s BreakPoint. She has published articles in In Touch, HomeLife, Writer’s Digest and The Writer. Mary lives with her husband Patrick and their three children in Texas.

Drawer Full of Heels

At work this filing cabinet holds a drawer full of heels. They come in different colors and sizes. Heel support is the proper name.

They are put in shoes if there is a problem with the feet to give them a lift and for hips to support the spine with evenness. (Although I must say we seldom use them anymore.) But that's not the point of this post, so just ignore that.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could put all the "heels" that intrude in our lives in a drawer and shut them away? Yep. But heels have a purpose--hear me out.

"Stand firm therefore....and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace." Ephesians 6:13-15

Some things just rub me the wrong way. Usually it has to do with people. ('Cause you know I am never the problem. ha) Then what I need is a "heel adjustment." Heel supports are placed at the root of the problem, the bottom of the foot. When the bottom (where the yucky bottom-dwellers live) of my emotions become out of whack, I need the strength and padding of the Word to lift and straighten me out.

So when "heels" rub, it's usually my unevenness that aggravates the situation. But God uses that to grow, lift and stand me tall. Then peace invades, no matter the heel.

God supplies the heels, but we have to put them in.

Pure Pleasure

I thought this book would be all fluff, but boy was I wrong. Gary Thomas finds the cracks in our "holier than thou" attitude and peels it back so we can experience the joy and pleasure that God gives.



This book acknowledges all that God has done through His Son Jesus. Thomas writes about the pleasures in the physical life that God bestows for us to enjoy. Pleasure can be a cup of coffee to the birth of a child. He knocks down the guilt many Christians feel when they spend time or money on themselves. He also discussed dangerous pleasures. Threaded throughout the book are Bible verses and quotes from Christian theologians.



Before you leave off reading here, let me give you some quotes.

"Embracing pleasure must always begin with a heart being renewed by God's Spirit."

"What pleasure do we think God--our loving Father--derives from us hating and/or abusing ourselves? How do we honor him when we deny ourselves everything he created to bring us pleasure?"

"Becoming alive to Christ allows us to receive and even revel in pleasure in such a way that ordinary things become instruments of worship." Thomas then quotes Psalm 23.

"If you always sacrifice your pleasure and never take time to get refreshed, others around you will suffer as well."



This was a book I needed to read. I think anyone will enjoy this book and gain new surprising insight to God's wonderful pleasures.




Gary Thomas enjoys spending time with his family, is an avid runner and has completed seven marathons including the Boston Marathon. He is a writer and adjunct faculty member at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. He is the author of several books including Sacred Marriage, Holy Available, Sacred Pathways, Sacred Parenting and the Gold Medallion Award-winning Authentic Faith.
Learn more about Gary at http://www.garythomas.com/.


I was provided a review copy of this book from Blog Tour Spot. To read other reviews check here. Pure Pleasure is listed with Amazon books.