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Friday, 20 November 2009

  • Which Report and My Report

     Well, a tentative verdict is in, and since so many of you have been praying for me, I thought I would let you know what has been happening. Yesterday I saw an orthopedic specialist in Hostebro. More x-rays were taken. We have learned that I need to be rewired.

    I had a hip replacement on this hip 33 years ago. At that time there was some bone grafting. I did not have a trochanter, so they made one for me and wired the sucker on!  It seems that the warranty on the wire expired, and it broke. Now the trochanter has started to slip. All this is pretty painful. But at least we know now WHAT is causing the pain.

    So, the guy in Hostebro is going to call a guy in Århus (I will have the repair done there) and hopefully, they will be able to have me in and out in no time. HOPEFULLY! I want to be ready to travel by December 20th!!!

    In light of all this, the post below seems very appropriate, yeah?

    Please pray that it will be a quick and easy fix. I do NOT want a steel rod in my leg. Thanks, you wonderful friends! Blessings on your weekends!

                                                               You are loved!

    ***********************************************************

    Trials. Nobody wa    nts them. Nobody likes them. But, they are common to all men. How we get through them depends a lot on our attitude and outlook.

    (Numbers 13:30-33 NLT)  But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. "Let's go at once to take the land," he said. "We can certainly conquer it!" But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. "We can't go up against them! They are stronger than we are!" So they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites: "The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers..."

    God had told the children of Israel that this land they were scouting out was THEIRS. He told them He would be with them to take this land for their own. Caleb and Joshua had faith for that. They had a positive attitude. They believed God. When these men tried to convince the people, they said the enemies are “like bread to us!” We will eat them up! Yeah! Let’s go for it!

    So, there were two reports. The “grasshopper report” and the “bread to us report.” The “It’s impossible report” and the “God is with us we can do it report.” The “scary giants report” and the “The bigger they are the harder they fall report.”

    We face situations like this, too. Impossible looking. Scary. Sometimes, we forget that God has promised He will see us through them. We forget He is with us in the valleys. Sometimes, we feel like tiny grasshoppers cowering under an ugly giant’s foot, expecting to be squashed.

    OR! OR — we can choose NOT to be victims! We can choose to lift our eyes higher. We can choose NOT to focus on the giants and problems, but on the One Who has promised He will never forsake us.

    (Heb 13:5b AMP) “... for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you, nor give you up, nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]

    I wonder what would happen if instead of freaking out every time we faced something difficult and seemingly impossible, we would rise up and say, “ALL RIIIIGHT! ANOTHER WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR GOD TO SHOW HIMSELF STRONG AND MIGHTY FOR ME!”

    Why not?  

Tuesday, 17 November 2009

  • Who's Making the Rules?

    When I was growing up, my daddy was a preacher. My sisters and I learned a lot about double standards during that time. It seems that although every other kid in our church was allowed to go to movies and dances, it would have been scandalous for the preacher’s kids to go. While the daughters of the deacons and elders could wear shorts, and two piece bathing suits, my sisters and I were not allowed to do so for fear of bringing offense. The preacher’s kids must be perfect! 

    It seems that although every other lady in the church could get her ears pierced, and wear bright lipstick, if my mother did, the gossip’s tongues were wagging all week. To me, it did not seem fair at all. I mean, if something is WRONG, isn’t it wrong for everybody?

    While members of the congregation said “hell” and “damn,” took the Lord’s name in vain regularly, and went to ball games on Sunday, it would have been considered terribly inappropriate for my daddy to do it. (Not that he ever would have!)

    Also, it seemed that preachers were more “holy” if kept very poor. The church did not like it much when my father invested in a small business and it began to prosper. They did not pay him a wage we could live on, but they did not like him finding another way to support his family.

    Unfortunately, in my youth and immaturity, I blamed a lot of this hypocrisy on God, when it actually had nothing at all to do with Him! Not directly, anyway. I finally realized that often, God’s people do not speak for God at all! Still, shouldn’t the people called Christians be showing the world the right way to live?

    (Isaiah 29:13 NLT)  And so the Lord says, "These people say they are Mine. They honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. And their worship of Me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.”

    The thing is, people ARE going to judge God by how we represent Him. Just like the ambassador from France represents the people of France, Christians are supposed to represent Christ. It hurts me SO MUCH when I hear an unbeliever say, “Well, if THAT’S a Christian, I want nothing to do with God.”

    Let’s try to be real, OK? Let’s try to live like we think other people should. 


Sunday, 15 November 2009

  • One of THOSE Posts!

    Have a great day in God's house today. Here in Denmark, it is Guds hus! You can go here to hear (and see) a Danish worship song. We know the sweet young lady who wrote this one. It's one of my favorites. The words are even there so you can sing along!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xteRMBB1Wwc

    Hubby was teaching most of the day at Bible School yesterday. I would have loved to have been there, but it is just too much sitting for too long for where I am right now. I am planning to make it out to church today hauling my pillows along to try for a more comfortable position. Just the walk out to the car, the ride, and the two hour time period in church is enough to keep me hurting for days. I am really not liking this!

    I have not been out much lately. Really. Since I am resting my hip, I have been nearly “housebound.” This is getting old! I hate thinking of all the photo opportunities I have missed.  I do have a few pictures from before my hip did its funny little crunch, and I will share some today.

    Over a month ago, we went to the park called Bogvold. It was such a windy day, it was easier to catch birds in flight. I have been trying to do this for ages! The wind helped because they would just kind of hover in the air! There was a little girl feeding the birds, and I had fun snapping some photos.



    I know these are nothing special, but I was just so thrilled to catch a bird in flight! Usually, I am too slow!



    (Psalm 119:29-30 NLT)  "Keep me from lying to myself; give me the privilege of knowing Your instructions. I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by Your regulations."

    It was such a windy, cold day, and I felt sorry for the ducks bobbing around on the water. Their little, orange feet were peddling like crazy!  The wind had churned the water up until it was foamy, and the ducks were being tossed around like leaves blowing in the wind!  They don't seem to mind, though. I'm just glad I am not a duck!



    The flowers left in the park were starting to look a little ragged, and the bees were busy getting the last of the goodness out of them.



    (Psalm 119:18 MSG) "Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in Your instructions."

    Of course I have to show you a few recent pictures of my little grandson, Lucas. He was a fireman for Halloween!



    Love this one that shows those two precious teeth! I do not like it that there is an ocean between us. It may seem harsh, but I try not to think about him too often as it makes my heart ache. I do pray for him daily, and I have a picture of him as my screen saver.  I would love so much to be there for all the special moments in his life, but this is not to be, and I am thankful that God gives grace and comfort.



    Such a cool guy! He will be eight months old at the end of November. Eight months! The time is going by so fast!



    (Psalm 119:103 NLT) "How sweet Your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey."

    Oh, how I love God's word! I am so blessed that I have been hearing it all my life. I know it is deep down in my spirit, and am so thankful for that. When I was a little kid, I was taken to church every Sunday and many other days of the week as well. I heard the Word of God preached, sung, recited and taught. I heard Bible stories and learned verses in Sunday School. I made posters with Bible verses. I went to Vacation Bible School and kid's choir. I took part in Bible drills and quizzes. All those experiences planted God's word in my heart. I know there were times growing up when I resisted, but I am so glad my parents made sure I was in church!

    (Psalm 119:105 NLT) "Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path."

    I can't tell you how many times when I need direction, wisdom, comfort, understanding and help God is able to pull scriptures from my heart to guide me. Sometimes His word convicts me, too. It is the thing I measure my actions by.

    (Psalm 26:2-3 MSG)  Examine me, GOD, from head to foot, order your battery of tests. Make sure I'm fit inside and out so I never lose sight of your love, but keep in step with you, never missing a beat.

    I couldn't really tell you how it works, but God uses His word, which has been planted in my heart to order my steps and show me the way to live.

    (Psalm 119:114 NLT) "You are my refuge and my shield; Your word is my source of hope."

    I firmly believe that everything you need to know to live with joy, peace, love and victory can be found in the pages of the Bible. Of course, just reading it isn't enough. You have to put your roots into the word of God. You have to meditate on it daily. Study it. Memorize it. You have to choose to let it be what influences you.  You have to accept it as truth and make it your manual for living. If you do that, I promise you, your life will be blessed!

Friday, 13 November 2009

  • Leaving Xanga?

    Dear friends, Your response to my post has been heartwarming and even a bit overwhelming!  I love and appreciate all of you! Thank you so much for your kind comments! 
    ****************************************************************************
    I have b    een reading on different posts that many are leaving Xanga. Some are asking their readers to check in, stand up and be counted, give a shout out, etc. to help them decide it they should continue on Xanga. I thought about doing that. It would be nice to know who still reads, but the more I thought about it, the more I knew I was not going to ask people to do that.

    Xanga has been good to me. I have met so many great people, and I count you as friends. We share recipes and family photos, prayer requests and dreams. Some of you have sent me Christmas cards, encouraging notes and goodie packages. Some of you I have had the privilege of meeting in person. Xanga is the way we communicate, and not being here would be ending something special and valuable.

    Xanga has also provided a way for me to share what I do. I write.     God gives me thoughts and ideas, and I love to share them. Knowing it is time to post something new every couple of days keeps me sharp and listening to what God is saying. He always has things to tell His children. He loves using us to encourage each other. If what I share has helped you or blessed you in any way, I am thankful. I know I have been strengthened and encouraged so often by things others have shared.

    Xanga has given me a bigger understanding of the Body of Christ. It has helped me to visualize how we are all linked. We may be different in many ways, but we are still all connected. There is a sense of family – a sense of knowing we fit together because of the One who loves us all.

    There is a lot going on in my life right now. Physically, things could be better. I am still waiting for my appointment with an orthopedic specialist. With the economy being what it is, we are also facing financial challenges. We look to God for solutions, and we know He holds us. We thank you for your prayers.

    Anyway, I just want you all to know, that I have no intentions of leaving Xanga any time soon. I want to keep in touch with all of you. I wish I had more time to check in with each of you daily.  I want to serve you as best I can by just sharing with you what God shares with me.

Tuesday, 10 November 2009

  • Being Right

    Oh, how we like to be right! Of course we do! But, I have met some people who HAVE to be right, and honestly, they can be a bit hard to take at times! Some folks are not comfortable unless they are in control, and this often includes the need to be right. To them, being right is more important than anyone’s feelings or needs. When I am around someone like that, I can usually tell that the person is extremely insecure. People who have been hurt a lot in life often become “control freaks.” They figure if they can control every situation, then they can be sure nothing will hurt them again.

    Sadly, life doesn’t work like that, and doing life this way is often a heavy burden. It takes a lot of stress and energy to force your own way and your own will on other people, and it is often resented. You find you are pushing away the people you love , and that hurts – the very thing you are trying to avoid happens anyway.

    (1Peter 5:7 AMP) “Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.” [Ps. 55:22.]

    The only way you are ever going to get free of this need to control is to lay it down and trust God. Even though other people have disappointed you countless times and not been trustworthy, you have to understand that God is not like that! It will be hard. You are used to calling the shots, I know. But, try it! It will be so much better for you and those you love if you can surrender this burden and let God take over.

    Really, who can do it better than GOD? Won’t you give Him a chance?

DanishDoll

  • Visit DanishDoll's Xanga Site
    • Name: Mae
    • Country: Denmark
    • Birthday: 12/3/1951
    • Gender: Female
    • Member Since: 4/14/2006
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