Seeds of Wisdom

I've been thinking quite a bit lately about the Biblical Fruits of the Spirit. (This is a spiritual concept, not a brand of underwear.). Each and every word, on this short list of virtues, seems to be valuable characteristic that I should spend some time in reflection.
The list is: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and finally Self-Control. The amazing fact, about all of these virtues, is that if you have genuine grasp on any one of them, you will have increased your grasp of all of the others.
This is sort of difficult to comprehend, but in the process of trying to Love more, we gain more Joy, Peace, Patience, etc. If we work at finding more Joy in our lives, we will increase our levels of Peace, Patience, Kindness, and so on.
What a great list! Won't you think about joining me on my Fruitful journey?


Lord and Savior. There is a wealth of wisdom. out there, that we can gain by following Your words. When we start to worry or become discouraged, You are always there with the answers and the correct words. Open our eyes and ears to your message.

Ac-cen-tu-ate the Positive!

My mother-in-law was known for saying, no matter what the situation, "It's the best thing that could have happened." And, she seemed to make that statement, at what seemed to be, the most inappropriate times. I was always stunned as she repeated those words, when told of a car accident, or a broken marriage, or a lost job. Really? Was she crazy? How could those things be the "best thing that could have happened"?
As it turns out, she was right. Over the passing years, I have discovered that those folks, who have the ability to turn their misfortunes around and who are able to look at those same misfortunes as blessings, are really and truly winners at the game of life! And, those who refuse to let go of their problems and continue to dwell on the negative rarely get over their "oh, woe is me" persona. And, for them, things tend to never get any better.
How good are you at looking on the bright side of things? I know that I need to work, quite a bit, on my accent.

God is Good, all of the time. All of the time, God is Good.

Peace Like a River

The greatest flaw in human character just has to be our constant attempt to solve all of life's problems. We try to make sense of everything that happens. Our obsession is to find our the "why" and the reason for everything. We want to find the "be-cause", and we want to fix whatever it is.
Here's the real answer folks. We just can't do it! We are not supposed to understand everything. We will never be able to understand everything, to the point that there will be no more problems. We can never "explain" them away. Life is meant to be a mystery.
Have you ever heard of the following words? Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscient? Believe me when I tell you that none of them can be applied to me or you! If I remember my Baltimore Catechism appropriately, Omnipotent means all powerful. Omnipresent means being everywhere, and Omniscient means knowing everything. Those characteristics belong only to the Supreme Being. To God, alone.
You and I are human.
Are you familiar with the camp song lyric..."I've got that peace that passes understanding, down in my heart." Peace comes NOT from our understanding why, it comes from understanding that God is in charge. Try reading Philippians 4:7, and don't forget to sing along, "down in your heart".

Lord. How do we learn to put it all in Your hands? How do we keep from worrying? Show us how to find Peace in You.

Grandma Bell

Everyone knows that I am not a fan of cell phones. It has been suggested, that I am too old understand how they work. That may be true, but in my aged opinion, it just doesn't seem worth my time and effort to learn the intricacies of apps, tweets and tunes. The purpose of a phone is to make phone calls, and I can do that just fine.

In fact, my husband and I are so old fashioned that we continue to pay an old fashioned telephone company (you know their initials) for a land phone. In fact, we have four phones on our archaic phone line. And, since this past weekend, none of them are working. No dial tone. Dead as a door nail!

So, today, which is three days into this saga, I contacted the phone company. It's no problem to contact the above mentioned phone company by computer. They have a lovely web site. Lots of options and easy to navigate. Upon clicking the appropriate button, I was put in touch with Ellen, whose attractive picture advertised that she had 25 years of telephone experience. A message flashed on my screen for me to type my problem. I wrote that we had no land line service at our home and I typed our phone number and our address. She replied by asking me what my problem was, with my smartphone. Again, I wrote that it was our land line. Her reply was to ask the model of my smartphone.

I then asked her, "Can you read, Ellen?" She replied with another question about my smartphone and an offer to let me "talk to a real person for just one dollar, charged to my phone bill. This is a service that I could cancel at any time."

I did not reply or wait for another question, because I sure as heck didn't want to talk to another idiot ...real or electronic.

Bottom line. Still no phone service at the house. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

Dear God. I know that patience is a virtue, but does that apply when you are dealing with fools?
Lord, open my heart and calm my mind.

Sassy Sisters

I've been doing a lot of research lately about bold women. Bold women seem to be either admired or despised for their "out of the box" behavior. Alice Longworth Roosevelt is known for saying, "If you can't say something good about someone, sit right here by me." I really like that. I have always said that I have a good heart.....but, my mouth just gets in the way! Alice was definitely bold.
Several women have been noted for coining the phrase, "Well behaved women seldom make history."
Well, who doesn't believe that? Joan of Arc, Marie Curie and even Jane Austen are great examples.
"I'm not bossy. I just have leadership skills." Leadership is not for the reticent.
But, Bold Women are not mean, and they don't go out of the way to deride, chastise and demean other people.  "The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.", Coco Chanel said. Bold women are independent thinkers!
Eleanor Roosevelt was a Bold Women. I admire a couple of quotes attributed to her. She said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." And, this one is my favorite."You must do the thing you think you cannot do." Life is pretty sad, when you let fear rule your actions.
With that said, here's one for making your day a really great one! Just repeat after me....."It's an Add to Cart kind of day."

Thank you Lord, for being Steadfast and Ever Present. You are our one Constant. We praise Your Holy Name. All that we do is for Your glory.

Really?

English Grammar was not my favorite subject in school. Nor, was I very accomplished in anything that I was asked to do, in any of my many English Classes. However, I did learn a few very useful rules from Miss Besse, Miss Stephens, and Mrs. Ruth Lewis.
* It is never correct to end a sentence with a preposition. (Please refrain from asking me or any
 one, "Where did you go to school at? , or "Where did you work at?", etc.)
* When you are speaking of how you or anyone is feeling......please, use the word "well" and not
 good. (One should reply, to a health inquiry...."I am feeling well, thank you." Do not say, "I'm
 good.")  No one is asking about your behavior..only your health!
 * The trite phrase.."I couldn't care less" means, that you don't care at all. It is preferable to .."I
 could care less" which, doesn't make sense. You are saying that you care and actually you could
 care in a lesser amount. You care, but a little bit! If this is confusing, just don't use it.
I know that I am pushing the "three point sermon rule", but I have just one more suggestion. 
*There is no word "irregardless". Please, do not use it. The prefix "ir" means, without or not.
Regardless already means without regard.  The "ir" is redundant.
That is more than enough grammar for today. Just like your mom used to tell you....this is all for your own well being, or did she say good?

All knowing God. We are blessed. It is up to us to the best with what You have given us. Help us to make the best life choices. We ask these things in Your Holy Name.




 

Me too!

I read, today, of the plans to designate a "Legacy Seat", at Arrowhead Stadium, in honor of Lamar Hunt. Hunt was the original owner of the Kansas City Chiefs Football Team. He was also a founder of the  American Football League and promoter of many civic activities involving the team and its players. Mr. Hunt's "Legacy Seat" will be patterned after the one honoring former Kansas City Monarch great, Buck O'Neil, at Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals. Buck's seat is located along the the first base line. In his later years, O'Neil was a talent scout for the Royals.
"Legacy Seats" are placed very prominently, in sports stadiums, and guests of the ball club are chosen, to sit in the special seat during home games.
So, in that same vein, I am putting in my bid, in advance, for a "Legacy Seat", at McCrite Plaza Retirement Community. After I retire or pass on, which ever comes first, I would like a seat, dedicated to honor me.
Why, should I deserve this, you ask? Well, my seat would be in honor of all of the hours that I have spent trying to locate the residents when they have not pressed their buttons. (Residents know that they are  required to press their "all's well" button every morning, before 10 a.m.) Only about half of them follow the rule, on any given day, so it is my job to locate all of the scofflaws. No one, as yet, has escaped my sleuthing skills!
It will also honor the number of hours that I have spent looking for lost apartment keys, car keys, billfolds, money clips, you name it. The lost items are usually found in a pocket of the jacket or sweater that was worn by the resident, during the previous week. But, I deserve the Legacy Seat for searching!
The chair will have to be of abnormal height (just like the one I climb onto and off of, at least 3 dozen times a day). Above the very tall chair will be a sign that reads........"Ask me if the mail is here yet."
I imagine that my Legacy Seat will occupy a place of honor at McCrite Plaza, for a few months or so. Then, there will be other equally great employees to honor. One cannot expect permanent adoration!

All Powerful God. It is so hard for us to be humble. Everything we have, comes from you, We are thankful for our many blessings.