The Choice
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Posted:Jan 16, 2007 4:27 pm
Last Updated:Jan 21, 2007 7:24 pm 4549 Views
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No man can choose
what coming hours may bring
to him of need, of joy, of suffering.
But what his soul
shall bring unto each hour
To meet its challenge--
that is in his power.
Priscilla Leonard
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What should the church tell women in abusive relationships?
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Posted:Jan 15, 2007 10:07 am
Last Updated:Mar 11, 2007 11:42 am 4686 Views
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What advice should the church be giving Christian women who are being abused by their spouses? This is a question that has bothered me for years. I have my own ideas, but would like to hear from others on this subject.
Here are some of my thoughts:
1. If you or your are in danger, leave immediately. We will help you find a safe place.
2. If you would like Christian counseling, we will find you a counselor and pay for counseling if you cannot afford it.
3. We will help you and your spouse (if he is willing) find accountability partners who can help you resolve your problems in a Christ-like manner. We will support you with our prayers, our counsel, and our friendship. Feel free to call us at any time if you have an emergency.
4. As a church, we will familiarize ourselves with the signs of abuse and the steps that need to be taken to heal (or sever) an abusive relationship. We want you to know that this is a safe place for those who are being abused to seek understanding, encouragement and Godly counsel.
What are your thoughts?
Merry
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God, let me be aware...
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Posted:Jan 14, 2007 9:26 pm
Last Updated:Jan 21, 2007 7:25 pm 4473 Views
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God, let me be aware.
Let me not stumble blindly down life's ways,
Just seeking somehow safely to get through the days,
Hand never groping for another hand,
Not even wondering why it all was planned,
Eyes to the ground, unseeking for the light,
Soul never longing for a wild wing flight.
Please keep me eager just to do my share.
God, let me be aware.
God, let me be aware.
Stab my soul fiercely with others' pain,
Let me walk seeing horror and stain.
Let my hand, groping, find other hands.
Give me the heart that divines, understands.
Give me the courage, wounded, to fight.
Fill me with knowledge and drench me with light.
Please--keep me eager just to do my share.
God, let me be aware.
(author unknown)
This is one of my favorite poems. For a long time, I was in so much emotional pain of my own that I had no room to feel others' pain, or care about them. I call it "survival mode". But now that I am out of that situation, I find that living through my own he-ll has given me much empathy for those who are going through similar situations. I want to "find other hands."
Merry
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My favorite smells
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Posted:Jan 13, 2007 6:14 pm
Last Updated:Jan 21, 2007 7:26 pm 4831 Views
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The smell of coffee brewing in the other room brought this to my mind. Although I don't like the taste of coffee, the aroma of it is wonderful. So I got to thinking of my favorite scents and made this list. Do you have any to add?
Bread baking in the oven
Laundry dried on the clothesline
A pine forest, especially with a campfire burning
A rose blossom
Pizza
My little boy’s clean hair (don’t laugh, he does wash it occasionally)
Newly-mown grass
Steak on the grill
An apple pie, rich with spices
Moist earth just after a rain
Sautéed onions
Bacon and pancakes in the morning
The zest of a freshly-squeezed orange or lemon
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Will I ever feel again?
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Posted:Jan 13, 2007 10:21 am
Last Updated:Feb 2, 2007 10:42 am 4540 Views
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One of the biggest questions I have for my future is whether I will ever allow myself to have feelings again. After living for 20 years in an abusive marriage (not physically, but mentally and emotionally) I became a zombie with a concrete heart. It was the only way I could continue to live with the constant pain of being hurt and manipulated and put down and made fun of. I learned not to verbalize anything (which was tough for me, 'cause I am naturally a talker), I learned never to share anything about myself, because he would use it to hurt me. I learned to hide my inner self from everybody and keep a smile on my face. I lived a lie.
As I have become a part of blogland here on BC, I notice that many of you have deep feelings, while I am very much a surface person. The "merry" in me hides the deep feelings I never allow to see the light of day. I am still afraid of being myself.
Will I ever feel again? Will I allow myself to feel happiness, sadness, love, trust? How did some of you who have gone through similar experiences cope? I even hesitate to get real with God because I am afraid he will crack open my heart and I will have to feel again. I am so afraid. Please pray for me.
Merry (on the surface, scaredy underneath)
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Recipe for Snow ice cream
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Posted:Jan 10, 2007 7:06 pm
Last Updated:Feb 4, 2007 6:13 pm 4562 Views
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Really! Sue (of SueBsingin) said it was snowing where she was, and somebody else said they remembered snow ice cream. I did too, and this evening I looked up the recipe. Here it is, just in time for a new snowstorm here in the midwest, for those brave souls who wish to try it. (Avoid yellow snow  .)
1/2 cup milk or cream
1 t. vanilla
1 cup sugar
Stir together, and then pour over 2 1/2 quarts of clean snow and stir lightly. Eat right away.
Let me know how it turns out.
Merry
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Feeling Better, Praise God
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Posted:Jan 10, 2007 6:50 pm
Last Updated:Feb 24, 2007 7:38 am 4557 Views
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I have had my first pain-free day in a long time. I know God still works miracles. I just pray that the pain stays away. And I have been praying for several of you who are struggling with health, pain, depression, and living situations. We have a great God.
You know, one thing I have realized about our God is that He is GOOD. A lot of religions worship and serve gods who are not good. Their gods require them to sacrifice their or their blood to satisfy the whim of the god. These false gods are capricious and must be continually pacified. Isn't it wonderful to serve a GOD who is just, merciful, loving, perfect in every way?
Merry
Come, now is the time to worship
Come, now is the time to give your heart
Come, just as you are to worship
Come, just as you are before your God
Come
One day every tongue will confess You are God
One day every knee will bow
Still the greatest treasure remains for those
Who gladly choose You now
Song by Brian Doerksen
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Creaming the cat
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Posted:Jan 9, 2007 4:51 pm
Last Updated:Feb 24, 2007 7:39 am 4390 Views
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My back door is situated between two medium-tall shelves. They reach about 3/4 of the way to the top of the door. As I opened the door this morning to walk into the house, the door whacked something in mid-air. To my surpise, a cat spun through the air and landed (yes, feet first) on the floor in front of me. She was a bit stunned. Apparently she had been in the middle of a jump from one shelf to the other when I opened the door, which CATapulted her out of her jump and spun her around. We laughed at her, but she appeared insulted and walked away with her tail in a twist.
She is my favorite kitty; she loves to sit in my recliner with me. When I tip back, she curls up on my chest and starts purring. Then with one velvet paw, she softly reaches out and pats my face.
Having cats in the house can sure be a problem at times, but in my opinion, the love they give me (not to mention the entertainment) more than makes up for their shortcomings. I may feel differently at 3:00 in the morning when they are chasing each other around the house and fighting underneath my bed!
Merry
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Don't wait till they're dead
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Posted:Jan 7, 2007 2:20 pm
Last Updated:Feb 4, 2007 6:15 pm 4461 Views
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"Do not keep the alabaster boxes of your love and tenderness sealed up until your friends are dead. Fill their lives with sweetness. Speak approving, cheering words while their ears can hear them and while their hearts can be thrilled by them." --Henry Ward Beecher
Just a little thought brought to my mind by something Lee said in his "group therapy of one" post [talkswithgod]. Too often we wait until the funeral to bemoan the fact that we didn't take time to show love to friends and family before they died. This quote, I believe, echoes the story in the Bible of the Mary who poured perfume on Jesus' feet and wiped them with her hair. She gave the mostly costly thing she had, gave it in the presence of public criticism, but did not wait till His death to show her Lord the overwhelming love she had for him.
Those of us who have elderly parents know the time is short to have them on earth with us. My mother has beginning stage Alzheimer's. My gift to her is to speak with her every night on the telephone as long as she wants to talk, no matter whether she repeats herself over and over.
I encourage each of you to express your love to those you love each and every day.
Merry
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Crossing my fingers...
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Posted:Jan 6, 2007 9:29 am
Last Updated:Jan 21, 2007 3:07 pm 4476 Views
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Well, I have still been having a rough time with the old kidney stone. Yesterday, I began to have pains in my side that felt like someone poking me with a hot needle. I did get in to work and worked for 5 hours, but driving home I was doubled over--watch out for the short little old lady who can barely see over the steering wheel!
So I took a call on my cell phone from my dear daddy. He said that a lady at work told him that drinking be_er would take care of kidney stones. Now I have tried a lot of home remedies, but not that one because I don't drink and I dislike even the smell of be_er. I told Dad that, and he said, "Just hold your nose and drink it; it can't hurt and it might help." Well, how often do your elderly, teetotaling parents urge you to get dru_nk???
When I got home, I sent my (adult) to the store (I sure wasn't going to be seen buying that stuff myself!) and she came home with some Mike's hard berry--I guess some sort of flavored be_er. So I had a couple and went off to snoozeland pretty fast.
And, whaddauknow? I feel better this morning! Not even a hang-over. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the kidney stone is really gone. A couple new experiences for me, huh?
I hope it works, cause I was so close to turning myself in to the nearest emergency room and putting myself in debt for 15 grand. Keep praying, my friends in BC land and I'll let you know how it goes.
Thanks,
Merry
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