Who's is it?

       "I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have
        placed in God's hands, that I still posess"  Marin Luther

"Mine, Mine" are some of the first words children seem to teach themselves to say. We've all seen them fiercely grip their things and vehemently oppose anyone that would attempt to even borrow what they consider to be theirs. What children don't understand is they really do not own anything. Everything they have has been purchased by their parents and essentially loaned to them. If they misuse them, they can be taken at any time. And even it it upsets them, they couldn't stop us from taking them away.

Probably because we want them to learn to take care of their stuff, we allow them to call things "mine" even though they really haven't purchased anything until possibly later in their teen years. Even then, often they are driving our cars and using our gas to get to their jobs where they earn "their" money to buy "their" stuff. It is during this phase that people really get good at making the proclamation, "It's my money, I will buy what I want" and "it's mine, I will do with it what I want."

God never really authorized this type of selfishness. In God's economy, HE owns it all. Anything that we possess, even if we have earned it, still belongs to him. So, even though I physically possess it, and may feel like I have earned it - unless I mentally give up ownership of it, I will lose it. It's another one of those things God does exactly opposite of our natural inclination.

How would our decisions be different if we kept a consistent focus on this idea? He owns it all and we are just managers for him of the money, possessions and talents He has loaned us. We not only must change our attitude, but we have a great responsibility to manage His stuff wisely. 

This put a lump in my throat.

Inviting God

I will never forget where I was when I heard the Twin Towers were under attack in New York City on September 11, 2001.  I was mindlessly driving to work in Auburn, Nebraska when the radio DJ announced the attack.  My heart sank and I became physically sick to my stomach.  How could this be?Fear welled up inside me.  I cried out to God for my husband and children.  Could this happen here in the Midwest?  Our Country become united, brother and sister helping each other; praying for each other.  We let God be a part of our Country.  It was moving and beautiful and I won't soon forget it.  Then, after years of searching, those responsible were brought to justice! And we sang "I'm proud to be an American" and "God Bless the U.S.A."  We cheered when the evil powers that be were killed.

I will never forget the afternoon of Monday, April 15, 2013 as I walked my sweet first graders to the bus and a fellow teacher said "Did you hear about the bombing at the Boston Marathon?"  I was shocked.  It felt like I was in a dream.  Again? This is happening again?  I immediate looked to God for answers.  I began to intercede to Him requesting for healing for the victims and their families.  I saw our Nation gather around the city of Boston as only we Americans can do for one another.  We once again invited God to be a part of our healing process.  I will always remember sitting on my couch last night as I listened to the news reporters tell the world "He has been captured".  Immediately there was rejoicing in the streets around our country.  Songs of praise to the U.S.A. could once again be heard.

But, how long will it be until we grow silent to the God of our Universe?  How long before we stop praying for our police officers as they leave their families every night to protect us? How long before we stop lifting up our military personal for ensuring the freedoms we all take for granted? How long before we stop being kind to one another?  Or stop helping one another?  How long before we just go about our daily lives?

How long before we just all... forget?

I feel like in the midst of tragedy, we are prostrate at the throne of God.  But, where are we in the good times?  Is God still invited to be part of our country everyday, in every way, when there are no bombs going off?

I know in my own life I am completely guilty of this.  As long as things are calm and going "my way", it is easy to forget to invite God into my day.  To forget to allow Him to order my steps.  Then tragedy strikes and comes crashing into my world.  Then, I am on my knees, crying out to the Father for answers; for a way out; for ME to be spared.  As a follower of Jesus Christ, I am called to be different, but I am not much different from the world, am I?

This last week has been sobering for me for sure.  This isn't a bash on me or our Country, but rather a moment to open my eyes and see myself for what and where I am.  I AM proud to be an American and do pray God blesses the U.S.A.  I just feel we need to change and God absolutely HAS to be invited into our lives every single day!  I can't change the world; that is a daunting task, to be sure.  I can, however, let the Holy Spirit change me.  I do believe that is what this is all about... God working on ME.  I am not to be of this world (and neither are you).  That means I need to do something different.

Praying God continues to journey with me and whether there be good times or tragic times, I will call upon the name of the Lord.

Mound City Scholar Bowl Team

Do you want to be liked?

I'm looking for the source of this thought.  I believe it was from a sports coach where many of life's greatest metaphors and lessons come from.   But, here it is in a nutshell. 

Any time we are in a position of responsiblity or authority, the temptation is to do things that will make people like us.  Everyone wants to be liked.  Avoid pain, find pleasure and all that.. But when we do that, we are often doing exactly the wrong thing just to make people happy.  In the long run, they don't like us or respect us because we didn't do the best thing.

We need to do the things that are the best things, even when people don't like us for doing it.  This will eventually lead to admiration and respect and the quote said, "eventually they will like you for all the right reasons."











    

District Champs

 



In Competition





All District



"Unclean, Unclean!"

    I went to the hospital the other night because I was in severe pain.  My right ankle has suddenly got to the point that I couldn't walk on it.  Once at the hospital, they confirmed that I probably had "gout."  After discovering this, I disovered something very interesting.  When people thought I had twisted my ankle, they had a lot of compassion for me - when they heard I had gout, they looked at me like "I didn't know you were that old!"  Instead of "Awww..." I heard "Ohhhh...." 
 
    The worst were my teenage daughters who don't have a problem telling me how they feel.  They said "That's it, you are going to have to sleep on the deck."  I said, "Really, it's not leprosy - it's gout!"  I expected them at any minute to start chanting "unclean, unclean" and pointing demandingly at the door as they reached down to pick up a stone.  To make it worse, I tried to go to work at day later after taking the codeine and ended up almost convincing my co-workers I am a drug addict as well as a leper.  I be lucky if I'm not exiled somewhere. 

    In all of this, I did find a great cure for the pain.  Cherry Concentrate seem to be a miracle for the pain.  Very thankful to Pam S. for the tip!

Abbey's Graduation Party

Remedy for Gout?

All I know is I was in extensive pain (supposedly gout in my ankle).  I took 1 oz of this stuff and felt much, much better the next morning.  Most of the pain was gone. 

It is Cherry Concentrate (not juice).  It's about a dollar per ounce, but does appear to help.  Sorry for the bad picture.