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Friday, August 1, 2008
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Hope
"Lord, there are people who have curled up and died in a corner for no reason other than they lost hope. When there is no hope, there is no life. Without hope, we give up--we lose our will to fight, to trust, to live.
There are too many people in this world today who have begun to lose hope--those who hunger for life's basic needs but see no relief; those who see too many problems and cannot find a solution.
When I begin to lose hope, too often I have forgotten that hope is inseparably connected to love and faith...your love which powerfully confirms that you are not only the bringer of life; but you are Life...faith that receives love humbly and enables me to respond with hope to even the most complicated problems.
Lord, the hunger problem seems hopeless to many, the victims and the bystanders. But hope needs opportunity, and just as Paul adapted to his situation in life, you have given me now an unparalleled chance to be a part of conquering this condition, conscious of your presences which supplies me with strength and with hope.
Together we as believers can never repay you for supplying our needs, but we can trust in the hope that you will continue to supply them through us and through all the means available today. Empowered by hope in you, we can do even greater works than you did on earth--if only we keep hope.
Lord, we do not hope in ourselves, our technology, our governments, our laws, our tenacity, our courage, or our will, though these things are all necessary to conquer hunger and provide justice. We hope in you. Amen."
~From Visions of a World Hungry by Thomas G. Pettepiece
There are too many people in this world today who have begun to lose hope--those who hunger for life's basic needs but see no relief; those who see too many problems and cannot find a solution.
When I begin to lose hope, too often I have forgotten that hope is inseparably connected to love and faith...your love which powerfully confirms that you are not only the bringer of life; but you are Life...faith that receives love humbly and enables me to respond with hope to even the most complicated problems.
Lord, the hunger problem seems hopeless to many, the victims and the bystanders. But hope needs opportunity, and just as Paul adapted to his situation in life, you have given me now an unparalleled chance to be a part of conquering this condition, conscious of your presences which supplies me with strength and with hope.
Together we as believers can never repay you for supplying our needs, but we can trust in the hope that you will continue to supply them through us and through all the means available today. Empowered by hope in you, we can do even greater works than you did on earth--if only we keep hope.
Lord, we do not hope in ourselves, our technology, our governments, our laws, our tenacity, our courage, or our will, though these things are all necessary to conquer hunger and provide justice. We hope in you. Amen."
~From Visions of a World Hungry by Thomas G. Pettepiece
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Gratitude-07/29/08
- Creamed Corn at Ramsey's! Yeah for summer garden veggies!
- A job that lets me be creative, yet all the while plan and help students.
- An impromptu dinner with great friends (Thus the corn...). How long has it been?
- Wearing a "normal" band-aid on my toe all day long!
- A great boyfriend who lets me know the idling in my car is low--I NEVER would have known that...
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Personal Responsibility
According to Gallagher and Ventura, the most important words of personal responsibility are as follows:
The 10 most important words:
I won't wait for others to take the first step.
The 9 most important words:
If it is to be, it's up to me.
The 8 most important words:
If not me, who? If not now, when?
The 7 most important words:
Let me take a shot at it.
The 6 most important words:
I will not pass the buck.
The 5 most important words:
You can count on me.
The 4 most important words:
It IS my job!
The 3 most important words:
Just do it!
The 2 most important words:
I will.
The most important word:
Me
The 10 most important words:
I won't wait for others to take the first step.
The 9 most important words:
If it is to be, it's up to me.
The 8 most important words:
If not me, who? If not now, when?
The 7 most important words:
Let me take a shot at it.
The 6 most important words:
I will not pass the buck.
The 5 most important words:
You can count on me.
The 4 most important words:
It IS my job!
The 3 most important words:
Just do it!
The 2 most important words:
I will.
The most important word:
Me
Frank Tyger said it best...
"YOUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON MANY THINGS, BUT MOSTLY YOURSELF."
"YOUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON MANY THINGS, BUT MOSTLY YOURSELF."
Monday, July 28, 2008
Attitude of Gratitude
The past few months have brought a lot of change in my life and although I recognize that I'm not one to handle change all that well, it still ALWAYS seems to surprise me at the way it knocks me so off kilter.
In order to combat this, I've decided to re-start a gratitude journal--a daily record of things that I am so thankful for. I don't want to repeat these, therefore they will be pretty specific. Not sure how often I will share via the blog, but to get things rolling: Things I'm thankful for today at 1:30pm. :)
-A rainy day--even though it isn't fun to get caught in it, we desperately need the rain!
-A free lunch--although I'm used to my packed lunch as of late, surprise "leftovers" from a luncheon is a great deviation from my norm of lean-pockets and rice cakes.
-A wonderful weekend celebrating many weddings and being reminded of lasting love.
-Grateful that my toe (and the nail that broke 1/2 way off this weekend) is still in tact and not in much pain at all.
-Grateful to go home to a clean bathroom--even though the Sunday night cleaning ritual isn't always fun, clean bathrooms ROCK!!!
In order to combat this, I've decided to re-start a gratitude journal--a daily record of things that I am so thankful for. I don't want to repeat these, therefore they will be pretty specific. Not sure how often I will share via the blog, but to get things rolling: Things I'm thankful for today at 1:30pm. :)
-A rainy day--even though it isn't fun to get caught in it, we desperately need the rain!
-A free lunch--although I'm used to my packed lunch as of late, surprise "leftovers" from a luncheon is a great deviation from my norm of lean-pockets and rice cakes.
-A wonderful weekend celebrating many weddings and being reminded of lasting love.
-Grateful that my toe (and the nail that broke 1/2 way off this weekend) is still in tact and not in much pain at all.
-Grateful to go home to a clean bathroom--even though the Sunday night cleaning ritual isn't always fun, clean bathrooms ROCK!!!
Friday, July 18, 2008
Key Lime anyone???
So, I know it's been a while since my last post (okay...like 6 weeks--that's probably more than a while), but life's been crazy with tons of changes--new job & new house--so I've definitely taken my time adjusting. I'm slowing coming back into blog-land. :)Couldn't pass up sharing this amazing recipe I found off of the Hungry Girl Newsletter today though--for all your Key Lime fans...this one looks like a winner!!! I'll let you know once I try it!!!
Upside-Down Personal Key Lime Pies
PER SERVING (1 pie): 82 calories, 1g fat, 103mg sodium, 15g carbs, <0.5g fiber, 5g sugars, 1g protein -- POINTS® value 2*
They're fluffy and they're fantastic! Lime Jell-O never had it so good...
Ingredients:
One 4-serving package (or half an 8-serving package) Jell-O Sugar Free Lime Gelatin
dessert mix
2 cups Cool Whip Free, thawed
1 1/2 tbsp. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
1 no-calorie sweetener packet
8 low-fat honey graham crackers (2 sheets)
Directions:
In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup boiling water with gelatin mix and sweetener. Stir for at least 2 minutes (until completely dissolved). Then add 1 /2 cup cold water, the lemon juice, and the vanilla extract. Refrigerate for about 45 minutes, until slightly thickened but still mixable.
Next, stir in the Cool Whip. Mix until thoroughly blended (a wire whisk works best). Divide mixture among 5 dessert dishes. Refrigerate until firm (at least 3 hours).
Once ready to serve, crush graham crackers, and evenly distribute the crumbs over the top of the dishes.
MAKES 5 SERVINGS
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Are you proud?
Are you proud?
Think back to the last time you were working on a new project. It might have already happened this week at the office, it could have happened last weekend when you decided to repaint that room that had been screaming for a fresh coat, or maybe it was that new recipe you were dying to try. Chances are at some point along the way, there might have been a bit of a mix-up, a mistake if you will. The color wasn't quite the shade you had hoped for, you put too much garlic in the recipe, the project didn't quite turn out the way you had imagined.
Did you spend your money to get new paint? Maybe, but after it dries, it'll probably look better.
Did you throw out the entire recipe and order a pizza? Maybe, but we've all had bad breath at one time or another--and garlic's supposed to be good for you, right?
Did you put your resignation in to your boss due to this error? Hopefully not.
When you take these examples and parallel them to our spiritual walk, there's some great insight to be had. Sure, striving to be our best is our goal, but how many times does that striving turn into poor self-talk? We beat ourselves up becuase we miss out on that chance to invest in that friendship, volunteer for that new opportunity, chose to keep our head down or in the clouds rather than smile at the cashier or person walking on the sidewalk.
May we not only remember that Christ looks beyond the wrong color of paint and the garlic --He sees the heart. He created us and is delighted in his creation--He is SO PROUD of you! He knows us intimately and although that balance of being complacent with our short-comings and striving to be better is often a thin line, Christ often is calling us to sit with Him and allow Him to fill us. When that happens, the paint looks fine, the entree is just right and no amount of "mess-ups" at the office get you down. As the Psalmist writes:
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life. (Psalm 139)
Think back to the last time you were working on a new project. It might have already happened this week at the office, it could have happened last weekend when you decided to repaint that room that had been screaming for a fresh coat, or maybe it was that new recipe you were dying to try. Chances are at some point along the way, there might have been a bit of a mix-up, a mistake if you will. The color wasn't quite the shade you had hoped for, you put too much garlic in the recipe, the project didn't quite turn out the way you had imagined.
Did you spend your money to get new paint? Maybe, but after it dries, it'll probably look better.
Did you throw out the entire recipe and order a pizza? Maybe, but we've all had bad breath at one time or another--and garlic's supposed to be good for you, right?
Did you put your resignation in to your boss due to this error? Hopefully not.
When you take these examples and parallel them to our spiritual walk, there's some great insight to be had. Sure, striving to be our best is our goal, but how many times does that striving turn into poor self-talk? We beat ourselves up becuase we miss out on that chance to invest in that friendship, volunteer for that new opportunity, chose to keep our head down or in the clouds rather than smile at the cashier or person walking on the sidewalk.
May we not only remember that Christ looks beyond the wrong color of paint and the garlic --He sees the heart. He created us and is delighted in his creation--He is SO PROUD of you! He knows us intimately and although that balance of being complacent with our short-comings and striving to be better is often a thin line, Christ often is calling us to sit with Him and allow Him to fill us. When that happens, the paint looks fine, the entree is just right and no amount of "mess-ups" at the office get you down. As the Psalmist writes:
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life. (Psalm 139)
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