Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. James 3:5 (NIV)
I realized the other day how I have let my tongue become a disobedient member speaking things that makes others look bad, telling things about them without thought of how it might hurt them and just that I have let this member get too loose lately. I am one of those pendulums that have a tendency to swing from one extreme to another. My prayer is for God to bring me more toward the balanced area of life. How many times have things coming out of my mouth that has set something on fire not purify it but to burn it up?
Father God it is not my words that can purify or change people or anything else I pray you will keep my tongue from sparking fires.
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 18:21 (NIV)
It what ways have I spoke life into my family especially instead of speaking words of death? "Will they ever learn? Grow up? Change their ways? So many times this just brings death instead of saying an encouraging word. Why do I say, "You should know better?" instead of something more positive or head off a behavior or problem instead coming down on the person afterward.
Father God I pray that you will help me to speak life to the people around me.
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Matthew 12:34 (KJV)
I speak out of what I have carried in my heart. I can speak words that make someone else look bad, I can speak words to tarnish an others reputation hoping they will look bad like me or worse. I can speak words that betray relationships and curse another person especially if I am feeling that I am scum or dejected or I feel everybody is better than I am or have low self-esteem telling me I will never measure up. Those are lies of the enemy and I don't have to believe them or put them on someone else.
Father help to realize you are the only one who can raise me up talking about someone else's mistakes or life habits will not raise me up.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Ladies and Gentlemen we interrupt...
....this life for the next few months to conduct a test.
"The Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul. — He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness." — Daily Light on the Daily Path.
This so describes how I have felt the last few months between loosing my income, having to quit a job due to asthma attacks, and other circumstances surrounding me. One test after another and if it isn't testing it is warfare in struggling with illness, depression, or keeping a faith stance.
I really don't know why things are happening the way they are other than for the obvious that the enemy of my Father and my soul wants to discourage me to give up, make a wrong move or do nothing. Here I am waiting for the next set of instructions or an instruction. Meditating on God's promises, like "he will be with me always", "nothing can separate me from his love," and "his grace is sufficient for me." I listen to encouraging music and worship and praise my Father for he is Good, all the time. But the end is not yet and now I have been asked to find another place to live. Tears come and peace fills my soul I know God is with me and carrying me today and tomorrow I will be following Him. He has come near me and I am not alone.
June 25,2012
In reflecting about be tried in the fire or being purified, I have learned this is done before a metal can be used and it is the same with clay being fashioned into a piece of pottery. God has been using me and I know He will continue to use me but I have seen things like attitudes that needed to be changed and the end goal is to be like Jesus and I am certainly not all the way there yet. I don't love like Jesus did or forgive and learning to not respond to vile accusations is a real big one for me. So this has come to form me, shape me and to reflect more of Jesus through me and I should not find it strange. I am easing into a new job that has promise and possibility and God has shown me some people to reach and some things to do. Today I do feel like He is in control.
"The Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul. — He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness." — Daily Light on the Daily Path.
This so describes how I have felt the last few months between loosing my income, having to quit a job due to asthma attacks, and other circumstances surrounding me. One test after another and if it isn't testing it is warfare in struggling with illness, depression, or keeping a faith stance.
I really don't know why things are happening the way they are other than for the obvious that the enemy of my Father and my soul wants to discourage me to give up, make a wrong move or do nothing. Here I am waiting for the next set of instructions or an instruction. Meditating on God's promises, like "he will be with me always", "nothing can separate me from his love," and "his grace is sufficient for me." I listen to encouraging music and worship and praise my Father for he is Good, all the time. But the end is not yet and now I have been asked to find another place to live. Tears come and peace fills my soul I know God is with me and carrying me today and tomorrow I will be following Him. He has come near me and I am not alone.
June 25,2012
In reflecting about be tried in the fire or being purified, I have learned this is done before a metal can be used and it is the same with clay being fashioned into a piece of pottery. God has been using me and I know He will continue to use me but I have seen things like attitudes that needed to be changed and the end goal is to be like Jesus and I am certainly not all the way there yet. I don't love like Jesus did or forgive and learning to not respond to vile accusations is a real big one for me. So this has come to form me, shape me and to reflect more of Jesus through me and I should not find it strange. I am easing into a new job that has promise and possibility and God has shown me some people to reach and some things to do. Today I do feel like He is in control.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Wednesday
I walked around the park
tonight and it was so nice. The breeze waving the branches of the
weeping willow trees, brushing softly against my face. I stopped at the
observation deck and the the water was still you could see the clouds
and the sky in it except for the area that two parent ducks were
swimming with their four ducklings causing gentle ripples in the water.
The bugs touching the surface of the water, fish coming to the surface.
The and azure sky held white and fluffy clouds.
About twenty junior high age kids were fill drink bottles with water and tossing the water at each other and there were 4 teams of young men playing basket ball. It was a peaceful summer night and a feeling of it is going to be ok swept over me. It has been very ruff since I had to leave the job at the long term care facility and I am still waiting for a decision from unemployment regarding my leaving but tonight it just felt ok.
About twenty junior high age kids were fill drink bottles with water and tossing the water at each other and there were 4 teams of young men playing basket ball. It was a peaceful summer night and a feeling of it is going to be ok swept over me. It has been very ruff since I had to leave the job at the long term care facility and I am still waiting for a decision from unemployment regarding my leaving but tonight it just felt ok.
June 1. 2012
On Friday my friends
mother, Pat Langlois life was celebrated. It was certainly bittersweet
knowing that she will be missed by so many but she had also lived life
regardless what was thrown in her path. Rarely was she not smiling when
you seen her and loved it when her kids, grandkids, great-grandkids,
stopped by and she would welcome whatever friends they had with them.
I just admire what she accomplished in her life and how she loved her family and how committed she was to her God. I think of the song, "Find Us Faithful", it was recorded by Steve Green and even if he is not your favorite singer the words of this song describe Pat. And it did not matter how long it had been since I had last been around there was always a smile and welcome when I came. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETotJxBC9XY
"...and her children rise up and call her blessed." I would only pray that someday my faith could be seen like that.
Goodbye for now, Pat. I know we will see that smile again. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8q_7iVQF0w
I just admire what she accomplished in her life and how she loved her family and how committed she was to her God. I think of the song, "Find Us Faithful", it was recorded by Steve Green and even if he is not your favorite singer the words of this song describe Pat. And it did not matter how long it had been since I had last been around there was always a smile and welcome when I came. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETotJxBC9XY
"...and her children rise up and call her blessed." I would only pray that someday my faith could be seen like that.
Goodbye for now, Pat. I know we will see that smile again. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8q_7iVQF0w
This Afternoon by Katrina Sischo-Hansen on Friday, May 18, 2012 at 11:29pm
Well it is over, today we celebrated the life of Timothy Preston a
sweet young man that left us too soon. There was a place to speak about
what we remembered about Tim and I was not sure I could do it but I did
make it through without breaking up too much. I was reminded how we make
a imprint in the lives of other people and for some people they just
can't live as "an island unto themselves." Tim showed that today and I
know there are more lives out there he touched that we don't even know
about.
Below is what I shared to honor Tim and since I did not have the written page with me I condensed it a little bit. But as you read this I pray that if there is a strained relationship in your life, or someone you have not seen in a while that you have wanted to touch base with, someone you need to forgive, or just say, "Hey", to pickup the phone, buy a card, message them, get in your car or say a prayer for them tonight and then connect with them. Life changes so fast mine changed dramatically in a span of two hours. Tim's changed in minuets and the ripples have washed over many of us.
Timothy means, "Honors God", and I know Tim did honor God because I knew Tim's heart. I seen and heard how he honored God in the love he gave his family and friends.
Tragedies like this just have no good explanation and answering why would not change a thing or help relieve our grief. I suppose I could launch into some theological discourse of what it could me but that would not change anything either. (Breath a sigh of relief)
I have known Tim since he was 3 and there are many things to reflect on. Fishing trips that provided more entertainment than fish, curiosity, meals shared, and birthday parties and one time he showed my son how to get into the apartment upstairs the problem was someone else lived there.
So in situations like this I have to rely on what I already know and what we know is even though Tim’s walk with the Lord has been like Billy’s in The Family Circus when he is chasing a butterfly or going to the bus and has consisted of ups, downs, over, under, around, and that narrow road or go to this wide road and at the end of that twisted and curvy road there was a prodigal, extravagant, lavishing Father in love, mercy and grace waiting for Tim with his arms open wide maybe even running toward Tim to embrace him.
I know nothing has kept him from God’s love; he was sealed with the Holy Spirit after he believed, he has entered into God’s rest, and one day we will meet again. In the meantime Tim has become part of that great cloud of witnesses and is cheering us on to have perseverance as we run our race.
It will take some time but I also believe the God of all comfort will walk with us and as time goes by the why will become less important and the knowing of all God is and has given us will take its place in our hearts.
Below is what I shared to honor Tim and since I did not have the written page with me I condensed it a little bit. But as you read this I pray that if there is a strained relationship in your life, or someone you have not seen in a while that you have wanted to touch base with, someone you need to forgive, or just say, "Hey", to pickup the phone, buy a card, message them, get in your car or say a prayer for them tonight and then connect with them. Life changes so fast mine changed dramatically in a span of two hours. Tim's changed in minuets and the ripples have washed over many of us.
Timothy means, "Honors God", and I know Tim did honor God because I knew Tim's heart. I seen and heard how he honored God in the love he gave his family and friends.
Tragedies like this just have no good explanation and answering why would not change a thing or help relieve our grief. I suppose I could launch into some theological discourse of what it could me but that would not change anything either. (Breath a sigh of relief)
I have known Tim since he was 3 and there are many things to reflect on. Fishing trips that provided more entertainment than fish, curiosity, meals shared, and birthday parties and one time he showed my son how to get into the apartment upstairs the problem was someone else lived there.
So in situations like this I have to rely on what I already know and what we know is even though Tim’s walk with the Lord has been like Billy’s in The Family Circus when he is chasing a butterfly or going to the bus and has consisted of ups, downs, over, under, around, and that narrow road or go to this wide road and at the end of that twisted and curvy road there was a prodigal, extravagant, lavishing Father in love, mercy and grace waiting for Tim with his arms open wide maybe even running toward Tim to embrace him.
I know nothing has kept him from God’s love; he was sealed with the Holy Spirit after he believed, he has entered into God’s rest, and one day we will meet again. In the meantime Tim has become part of that great cloud of witnesses and is cheering us on to have perseverance as we run our race.
It will take some time but I also believe the God of all comfort will walk with us and as time goes by the why will become less important and the knowing of all God is and has given us will take its place in our hearts.
Jersey Boys
Tonight I was able to attend the Jersey Boys Tour at Miller Auditorium with my friend, Elaine.
Now if it had not been for my husband I would not know who the Jersey Boys were. He was the fan. I could take on stroll down the country lane but not rock n roll - - back then anyway. So the house rang with music from the early days of rock n roll to even some Pink Floyd. We seen the Beach Boys when they came to Muskegon and Chicago and other artists if it was to rocky the kids went with him.
I was watching the Emmy's 2007 and there was the Jersey Boys singing to outtakes of the Sopranos. This is what started the quest. I did what any computer savvy person would do and Googled the Jersey Boys found out about the Broadway play and knew it would have been something we would have enjoyed together. Seeing that it would be in Chicago in 08 I thought it would be a great 50th Birthday present. Well that did not happen because of knee surgery and short on funds and other hoops. The production left Chicago in 2010.
2011 I see an ad when I am in Lansing with Tim that the Jersey Boy production will be Lansing. I tried to get Tim to go with me but he was not all that interested. So I began to plan other options and started asking around to see who might be interested and the play would be there in October and November but once again I didn't get there. Then I seen the dates for the rest of the tour and when the play would be in Kalamazoo and it was after tax time so...
So I asked Elaine and she said yes and the planning began for tonight's the quest. Tickets are ordered and the date is set. The show was fantastic! Mike would have liked it and it was a great time. Memories flooded my mind. The good ones.
Sometime and somewhere between heaven and earth that veil parted.
Oh, what a night!
Now if it had not been for my husband I would not know who the Jersey Boys were. He was the fan. I could take on stroll down the country lane but not rock n roll - - back then anyway. So the house rang with music from the early days of rock n roll to even some Pink Floyd. We seen the Beach Boys when they came to Muskegon and Chicago and other artists if it was to rocky the kids went with him.
I was watching the Emmy's 2007 and there was the Jersey Boys singing to outtakes of the Sopranos. This is what started the quest. I did what any computer savvy person would do and Googled the Jersey Boys found out about the Broadway play and knew it would have been something we would have enjoyed together. Seeing that it would be in Chicago in 08 I thought it would be a great 50th Birthday present. Well that did not happen because of knee surgery and short on funds and other hoops. The production left Chicago in 2010.
2011 I see an ad when I am in Lansing with Tim that the Jersey Boy production will be Lansing. I tried to get Tim to go with me but he was not all that interested. So I began to plan other options and started asking around to see who might be interested and the play would be there in October and November but once again I didn't get there. Then I seen the dates for the rest of the tour and when the play would be in Kalamazoo and it was after tax time so...
So I asked Elaine and she said yes and the planning began for tonight's the quest. Tickets are ordered and the date is set. The show was fantastic! Mike would have liked it and it was a great time. Memories flooded my mind. The good ones.
Sometime and somewhere between heaven and earth that veil parted.
Oh, what a night!
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