Laughter

Last week, I had an "encounter" with someone new at church. It was someone I'd never met before. Basically, the encounter included an expressed opinion about my profession and how we don't work as hard. Yes, I'm a teacher and unless you spend a few days with me and do everything I do, I don't expect you to understand. The opposite is true too. I don't know what others do unless I try it myself. I know other professions are difficult. I've tried them when I was searching for a teaching job, in between subbing, etc. Anyway, I didn't snap back at this person and took the "high road" the rest of the evening.

I stewed over it for a few days letting it get to me. Well...God showed me the humor I needed Sunday morning. I attend the early service and as I was getting in my car, guess who was parked RIGHT BESIDE ME! You guessed it! I purposely greeted this person and made light conversation before leaving. As I was leaving, I "LOL" (laughed out loud) the whole way down the road. It was a total relief and I no longer have that issue bothering me.

Some people don't believe God has a sense of humor. But, if we were made in His image, wouldn't sense of humor be part of that? Personally, I believe God isn't laughing at us. That's not His style, but I'm sure he laughs with me when I do something really klutzy or with my students who have their creative imaginations that sometimes become very comical. Laughter is a blessing that releases our heart and physical body from the seriousness we impose on ourselves. With that in mind, God definitely must want us to enjoy laughter. As for the naysayers who don't believe there should be humor in church/religion ... lighten up and go have a good belly laugh!

Worry, Worry, Worry...

How much do you worry? I've worried enough to get that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I've even worried enough to make me worry about getting an ulcer from worry. At least, that USED to be what happened. 

As a single woman, there are so many things to worry about:

• Do I have enough to pay the bills?
• How am I going to find time to keep the house clean?
• How am I going to get all of that snow shoveled with my carpal tunnel?
• How am I going to get the yard mowed since the dr. said no?
• Who am I going to get do a major repair on the house?
• What will I do if my job is cut?
• Blind Dating. Will he be nice? Is he a closet maniac?
• Will I ever get married?
• Will I ever have kids"
• Will I be alone the rest of my life?
• What if the alarm doesn't go off?

There are SOOOO many things to worry about! Fortunately, refocusing my life on God has been a big help with worry. 

"So do not be afraid. I am with you. 

      Do not be terrified. I am your God.
   I will make you strong and help you.
      My powerful right hand will take good care of you.
      I always do what is right." (Isaiah 41:10)


In my times of worry, I take a mental step back and try to imagine myself laying in God's hand like a small creature being protected. To me, it's a way to imagine the comfort that He gives and the protection He provides. Those worries go straight to Him because I don't want to deal with them anymore. God is in control of my worry.

I'm 6%!!!

A Facebook acquaintance posted this the other day... "Have decided that I'm not 40-something! I'm 39.99 plus Shipping and Handling!." As a woman, I know that we get caught up in ages. I've heard the quotes about men aging more gracefully. Frankly, I don't believe it. I see many women my age who look a lot younger than their male peers. Perhaps it's all of the age-defying products we use now. 


Honestly, I know it's hard to accept one of those decade changers when birthdays roll around. It's different for everyone. Mine was 30. It was like I suddenly had to grow up. Now I'm 45 and not ashamed of it. I don't care anymore because I know who I am inside. Don't you know 50 is the new 30? At least, that's why "they" tell us. The problem is that "they" are usually in their 50s and wanting an excuse to look better to others. Why do they really care still at 50?


I look at 45 and feel young. It's because I'm a Christian. There were people a lot older than me in the Bible.  Noah was 500 when he had three sons. He was 600 when he was in the ark. Even if you convert it from their 10-month calendar to our 12-month version, he was still 500 in the ark. That means I'm only 9% of Noah's age during the flood. Actually, he lived 950 years according to Genesis 9 (750 years in our time). That's even better because that puts me at 6%. It will take me 7 1/2 years to get to 7%. 


So...the next time someone asks me my age, I'll tell them I'm 6%! 

Reading Glasses

Yes...I'm there. I'm at the place where I have to add reading glasses to my contacts just to see the page. I whip them out in church and at work to read, then immediately take them off because even the lowest strength is still a little too strong. So, I go through life feeling a little unbalanced and uncoordinated. Thankfully, my books are digital so I can enlarge the font. 

Praise God for technology! 

Praise God for those amazing minds He created to give us all of those things to help those of us with less-than-perfect bodies! 

Praise God for reading glasses as much as I hate them!

Warning Signs

As I was sitting watching a long train go by, I snapped a quick pic of the warning lights. It also got me thinking about the warning signs we see and hear daily...
traffic signals
road signs
property signs
beeps (dryer, microwave, vehicles, etc.)
dark clouds
TV warnings
...and more.

Then I thought about what signs God gives us in our daily lives. Some are big, some are subtle. Those dark clouds aren't so subtle nor are the lightening flashes and sounds of thunder. However, that's not all He does. That little inkling inside that you feel when you're making a choice about something. He uses the Holy Spirit to tell you that you're not taking the right path. It's the warning that lets you know something's not right. So many amazing things have happened in the past where someone got a special feeling and responded to it.

And when we don't listen? Of course, then we usually suffer some type of consequences. Take for instance eating. You know you can't handle eating so much sugar or spice or whatever, yet you still do. You indulge. Then...you usually pay for it in one way or another. Some people take pills to combat these choices, but really, you're still paying by paying for temporary relief. It's that way with other decisions too. Sometimes, you put off things or run away them only to pay for them later.

God gives us the strength to face things. He is there. He will be there after the unpleasantness enters your life. He is there to warn us ahead of time. A difficult thing for us is to pay attention. The best way is to have a personal one-on-one relationship with God. Talk to Him. Tell him your feelings. Listen to your instincts. That's God helping you.

Blessings from a Purse

My friends know that I started yet another direct sales business this summer...my 4th. The difference this time is that I prayed about it first for a few weeks. In my prayers, I told God that I planned to use this business to help me reach the world, support my financial future better, and help His kingdom as well. I prayed that it was an answer I needed. Then...I waited. Sometimes, waiting takes a LONG time (which is really short for God, but seems long to us). This one, not so much. I had a feeling about this decision that it felt completely right. The right fit.

This month, I've been carrying a new sample (not one of my favorites, really) and lots of people have been paying attention to it. I've learned business lessons from it like carry catalogs with you, make sure your info is updated, etc. Today, as I checked out at the local grocery, again, it was noticed. In the past, I wouldn't thank Him for this. But as I drove away, I was praising Him fully the whole way to work. Whoever thought I'd be praising God for something that a purse started. I've always heard that God is in the details. Little did I know He'd be in a turquoise purse too! Thank you, Lord!!!

Five Love Languages for Singles

I just finished reading The Five Love Languages for Singles by Dr. Gary Chapman. I haven't read the first book, The Five Love Languages yet, but plan to now. It was so insightful! He talks about the five ways that people love in all types of relationships, but specifically in the singles world in this book. I think it would be helpful to so many people to explore this. When I read the chapters describing the five types, I was fortunate to know what I need most. Actually, as he explains later, it's possible to be bilingual. I have two that are right at the top and feel the need for those a lot as I'm not getting them to fill my "love bank".

So that I don't give more away, I just wanted to recommend this book or any of The Five Love Languages books to everyone. I'm so glad I'm able to read these and if I ever find the person meant for me, I will make sure he reads it too and we have a deep discussion. What's better than going into a relationship with the other person knowing what it takes to love you the best and you love him the best?