New Beginnings

You know, life sometimes seems like it is full of one heartache or troublesome time after another. You know the phrase "When it rains it pours!" But knowing that just like a child when we fall, the father never intends it, but He is there with us anyway, ready to help us to get back up again. God is great!

Well, Joe and I have decided to begin again, so to speak. We started having a morning devotion (trying to read through the bible completely, we are on Genesis Chapter 35 today). We also have begun tp pray more earnestly together. Joe has a call on his life to be in Ministry. He feels that call is working with the homeless or people who have great financial and physical needs. One of the ways he is getting ready is by continuing his education. Joe is now a 3.9 student at Metro, studying Nursing. That coupled with his construction background will help us work with people who have those type of needs.

I am preparing in a few ways too. Fisrt by praying for and backing up my husband in his needs and desires. I have simplified my house. Basically getting rid of a lot of "stuff" that I used to spend countless hours cleaning and stressing over. I have purged my house. For one example I have only 4 sets of dinnerware. There are only 4 in my family. This means less dishes build-up and faster cleaning. Now I did keep the extra dishes, we do have friends and company on occasion. Just the company dishes are in storage in the basement so that when needed it comes out, then is returned when we don't need it. I jsut have a conviction that i need to learn to be "ready" for whatever comes my way. . .company to the house, Joe has a need. Well right now I can easily "tidy-up" my house in under an hour. (not including deep cleaning) What a relief. Also I am intending to leard Spanish over the next few years. If we work with homeless or low income families I want to be able to communicate with more people who have needs, rather than limit communication to only english speaking people, or be in need of a translator.

But mostly we are working on our debt and more so our relationships with Christ so that when He does call us more specifically we will be ready to go. There is a quote I heard once that always has stuck with me. . .

"We must be ready to go, but willing to stay, NOT ready to stay but willing to go."

Compassion

Ok, so todays sermon had a section on compassion. What would it really be like if we could walk around in someone elses shoes, I wonder. Have you ever really tried. I was talking with DH and was thinking about how people, in general treat one another as opposed to how we want to be treated. You know the old addage, do unto others as you would have them blah blah blah. I seriously think that the majority of people, including myself skim over that verse and think, oh, of course I do that, but really when its all said and done. . .do we? For instance, lets say you miss a week or two of work, church, class etc. Something of a significant absense. When you return, perhaps a person or two notices "hey, where have you been?" but while you were gone, no one calls to see if you are ok, if you are hurt and need prayer, if you want or need anything, or a general "I've missed you. . .whats up?" now granted there are times when everyone knows why you are gone, like vacation for instance, but lets say you miss a sunday of two of church for no explained reason, how many times when we have missed something do we wonder, if we were actually missed, if our not being there made a difference, or was noticed. Not that we need people calling every 30 seconds. "hey, where are you?" but how many people actually wonder if anyone noticed? Well, on the other hand, how many times, when we notice someone isn't there, do we call them to see if everything if ok, to tell someone they were missed etc. why don't we do it? We don't want to bother someone, or maybe they are busy, or maybe they don't really care if I call or not, am I being a bother to them, maybe someone else called them, I don't want to crowd them. . .and yet, we are wondering why no one has called or written a note.

Everyone wants to be noticed, recognized cared about. You hear all of those stories of teens or adults that go on a rampage, and why? Lonliness, feeling alone, like no one cares. . .Do we really, are the intensions good, but the actions lacking? I don't know where I am going with this, but sometimes I think we are missing the compassion, the true understanding of do unto others, people are self absorbed, consumed by their own business. . .I don't know I am rambling, anyway, its something to think about.

Long Time No Hear

So I kept the Olan Mills job but took some time off to get things figured out. I now work two mornings a week with a sitter at home. Makes it easier. I am near the kids, but I can get things done and not worry about their needs. I also work at PRC in the eveinings and that has been good so far. Monotonous but good.
This past weekend for the 4th we went to Fargo, ND. It was a lot of fun. On friday we arrived at about 3. Took some time to relax in the hotel and then went to the zoo . We got in for free since they are a Henry Doorly reciprocal zoo. Then out to Ruby Tuesdays for supper. On Saturday in the morning we went to The Childrens Museum at Yunker Farm and then in the afternoon to a dinosaur museum. That evening we also rode on a pontoon boat. Jenea loved it, but jacob couldn't wait to get off and go for ice cream (a special treat). The next morning we headed back and ever since have been trying to catch up on sleep.
I have started listening to a podcast of Michael Pearl's teaching on Romans. I am hoping to get a lot out of it. I really want to grow more in the Lord.

WHAT TO DO?

Ok so I am working a part-time job from home. Sweet deal right? Maybe, maybe not. What I do is make phone calls. It takes about 3 hours a day to make the job worth it. Well, the problem is that the time is taking away from my home and my children. The days that I work, the house is a wreck and jacob watched tv all day long. Jenea fusses and drives me bananas and only becuase I cannot meet her needs. Also I am always tired and stressed out. I take this out on my dear hubby. However, without the job, hubby may have to go get a part-time job and we wouldn't see him much. I don't know what to do. Any ideas?

pictures

Here are some new pictures.

That grin is so cute.

What is Permissible?

It wasn't until recently (well within the past few years) that I began to wonder what was permissible as a christian. I don't mean things like white lies, loans and that sort of things, but more on how I act on a day to day basis. Even that seems vague when I type it out. Let me see if I can give a few examples.

For instance, the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 11:34 that one should not eat in church if one is hungry, they should go home. Now one interpretation could mean that if one thought of the communion as a meal, and not look at it as a Holy Ordinance. I am not sure what to think about that. I mean I know that the Church is to be holy and pleasing to God, and that we should treat it with respect, that we are there to learn and grow. Hmmm.

Another puzzle is in the area of television and music. What is ok to watch what isn't. Is there a rating we should make sure we follow? What would God be ok with us watching. Rated "R" might be ok if there is only violence?? No swearing?? What about rated "G" Isn't Sleeping Beauty rated "G" isn't there a witch in that one? And what about Music? Christian music is it ALL ok? What if it wasn't written by a christian? How about Country. . .Rock? Christian Rock? What goes in our minds? What about Sports? Football, maybe that's ok, but what about the commercials in between. Some say that even if you aren't actively listening or watching, you absorb all you see and hear. Images of things that are evil from shows like "Reaper" and "Gossip Girl."

Then there is clothing. The Bible does have verses on women dressing as women and men as men. Does that mean dresses only? Hmm is it about times and cultures? Because when the Bible was first penned men wore skirts as well as women. What determined the difference? Why is there a difference now? If men and women both wore dresses, can men and women both wear jeans? As long as one is feminine and one masculine? What makes it unfeminine to wear pants? Or is it a certain type of pants, jeans. What does God really think. What should I really do. Is it up to me to decide? Or should I follow a certain person's example, what if I am wrong, what if they are?

Anyway a lot to think about, I would appreciate comments please on this.

After Christmas and Bill Collectors

OK so Christmas is over. It's time to get on without the crazy busy schedule I have been keeping for the past 3 weeks. Its probably no wonder I had a headache this morning. It's all good, I feel better now.



I usually have this feeling of let down when a big Holiday is over. You know you spend countless hours preparing and getting ready. You bake (or burn and then buy at the store) you wrap, you shop, you wrap, you bake you clean and clean. Boy there are a lot of dishes this time of year. And then within just a few hours, the gifts are opened, the food eaten (and now you clean and wash more dishes) and its over. And then comes the let-down. No more presents (although in my case I just received another package) no more yummy goodies, no more parties (I am not big on New Year's anymore, mostly I just want to sleep -unless a loved one throws a party-then I am there-but it's boring to just be home-waiting for a ball to drop-seriously no big deal). Anyway I digress-its done. Now what? This year however I found myself looking forward to today. My schedule back in order, I can think on the things that really need to be done. I can watch an episode of "Little House on the Prairie" or read-ahhhh. I can take my time doing things, enjoy the kids. I can relax. It is a nice feeling for once to not feel rushed. I even have the week off from work. So at this time when I should be working I can actually blog.



So all that hype is over and life goes on. I actually even had time to do devotions with my son. Very nice. By the way I put him down for a nap and I can hear him by the bedroom door calling to me under the crack "hellooo? He-looooooooooo?" Nope Mr. It's nap time, mommy get's a break today!



So of course the holiday is over and the call comes. "Excuse me? Is this Julie?"

"Yes." I say with a sigh

"Ma'am, this is so and such we are calling about your bill with so and such."

"yes" I sigh once more

"This is a call to attempt to collect a debt, any info. blah blah blah-" I tune it out, then interrupt. "I have already made arrangements and sent in my first payment." "Well ma'am I know that but you sent $x.00 and we only take $xx.oo for a minimum" I say "well I can only send $x.00 and that's what you will get. If you want it I will send it if not then I will send nothing." a slight pause "Ok well I will notate it on your account" she hangs up.



I have learned from the best. My Hubby says that bill collectors will be mean and try to guilt you into making a payment of more than you can afford. So I have learned tell them what you can do leave no alternative and they most of the time will comply. They have to, see, she was trying to get me to make a larger payment then the company had agreed upon before, and I wasn't giving in. Once she realized that if the company wanted their money at all they would take what I would give, she left me alone. I don't think I could do that job. It would be hard for me to be mean to people or to convince them to give me money I can tell they don't have.

Well anyway, time to get going.