On the prowl

An adorably cute kitty has been on the prowl around our apartment building the last few weeks. We had ignored it up until last night. I noticed how desperate it was to get into our apartment. Then I noticed how thin it looked. Once you got past the fur coat, the cat was mere skin and bone. I HAD to feed it.

At this point, any of you who have fed a cat or dog that was wandering outside your place knows the struggle I had last night. If you feed a kitty, it becomes yours. The cat proceeds to stick around your place, waiting for food and water. Eventually, I had to admit to this and feed the cat. I don't really need the new cat but I couldn't leave it out there with no food. My heart strings were being pulled big time!

So, I don't know if the cat will stick around. It may wander off eventually. If not, I'll keep it as an outside cat since it still has its claws. I will ask around my apartment complex about someone missing a cat. The cat appears to have been an inside cat, it is friendly, lets you pick it up and pet it. Hopefully, I find the owner. If not...I might try to find a new owner. I'll keep it in the mean time.





The picture below is of my cat, Boots, and the new one meeting through a locked, closed door. :)

This is for all my married friends

Stop asking when I am going to get married. Stop asking me why I'm not dating. Don't mention how I need to have children soon before age catches up with me. Stop saying I should date a certain someone. I'm amazed at how married people say things like this as though I want to hear it, or need to hear it, or that it is appropriate.

I'm sorry if this sounds blunt, rude or anger-filled. It's not. But I hate being reminded of my single state and how little control I have over it. I desire all the above mentioned things and am FULLY aware that I don't have them. The struggle to be content as a single adult is an ever-present battle.

Ok, I'm done.

At face value

This post reveals me; and that can be nerve racking and uncomfortable. It addresses a subject I rarely talk about with people other than close friends and family. My birthmark. While reading the following article excerpt, I thought of how the opening paragraph deals with something I struggle with everyday...looking people in the eye.

Have you ever notice that I don't look people in the eye while walking down the street? Over the last few years I have worked on maintaining eye contact while speaking with someone; yet, I still usually avoid eye contact in public places. Once you read the article below you will more fully understand the struggle.

I just wanted to share a small sliver of my life.


Published Date: May 14, 2007
By Alison Benjamin, The Kuwait Times

James Partridge greets me with a hello, a handshake and makes deliberate eye contact. Nothing unusual there - except that for someone with a severe facial disfigurement this every day exchange can be an intimidating experience. Staring, curiosity, anguish, recoil, embarrassment and dread - what he describes as "SCARED syndrome" - sums up the feeling of people meeting you and your face, wrote Partridge, author of Changing Faces: The Challenge of Facial Disfigurement, and founder and chief executive of the charity of the same name that supports and represents people who have disfigurements to the face or body. Since its launch in 1992, the coping strategies and confidence-building techniques detailed in the book have formed the basis for the social skills training provided by the charity.

Partridge, who, aged 18, was badly disfigured in a car accident, refused to look in the mirror for three months. "I knew it was bad from people's reactions," he recalls. "They would look into the hospital room and then turn away. When I finally saw myself, I was shocked to the core." What stared back at him was unrecognizable from the angelic-looking teenager he had been. "The thought of taking this face into the street and meeting old friends ... the self-consciousness level was of absolutely colossal proportions," Partridge says. "The face is so much how we communicate. It's our self image. It's what other people remember."

One of those moments

During the lesson on Sunday, a thought occurred to me. Ever have one of those moments when something from a passage in scripture dawns on you? Like you've never seen that particular point? Well, that happened to me yesterday as I sat in my home church on Mother's Day.

The Sunday School teacher taught on Exodus 2 where Jochebed puts Moses into the Nile and trusts God to care of him. The events that transpire bring Moses back to his mom and back to his Hebrew roots. What occurred to me at that moment was Moses' mom had him at the important formative years of life. The time when our personality, morals and values are instilled. Remember how Moses chose to return to his Hebrew heritage once he got older. I think that came from him being with his mom early on.

What if Moses had stayed in the palace instead of returning to his mom to be nursed and weaned? The Pharaoh's daughter would have indoctrinated Moses with Egyptian values. What would God had to have done in Moses' life for Moses to end up the leader of the Hebrews as they exited Egypt?

My mom instilled Christian morals and values into me from an early age. The Sunday School lesson reminded me of how important the role is of a mother and father in the life of a child. As I get older, I see the principles my parents taught me played out in my everyday decisions.

Plug for public libraries

One of the perks Nashville affords its residents is an amazing public library system. I know many, if not all, towns have libraries. But Nashville stands out with state-of-the-art computer based searches, multiple satellite branches blanketing Davidson County, online control of your check outs and a loaner program which allows you to check out a book from another location without driving there.

My home county in Kentucky has only the one library located downtown. They have a good selection but you first have to get there. There is a library branch right down the road from me here in Nashville! I can literally walk to it in less than ten minutes.

Avid reader is not a description of me but I do enjoy reading. My friend Mandy commented once that I have a wide range of reading material. My method for choosing a book? Walk up to the new releases and grab one. Now, I do enjoy biographies and a couple of authors but I don't stay with one genre or person. Eclectic might be a good word for my reading choices.

The point to my post today: Take advantage of free services your community supplies. You pay for them in taxes actually, so use what you pay for :)

Neti pot

The title of this blog makes you think I'm not writing in English. Neti pot is an invention that I'm sure tons of money is being made off of by someone. You may have seen this video on other sites but I had to post it here. This video makes me laugh every time I see it! If you don't at least grin at this video, you may be suffering from a serious, life-threatening condition; please seek medical attention immediately! ;)



The lady speaking sounds as though she might break into laughter at each phrase! I know I would struggle to speak those lines without a laugh.

A party and a flash back

Last Saturday night, we had Krista's bridal shower at the apartment. Everyone had tons of fun and the food was amazing! We all had a tiara to wear for the evening and Krista had a couple of boas.





While out on the town, we witnessed something very random. We stood around, chatting about this and that when out of no where, Abraham Lincoln walks by us. We all did a double take and yep, it was him. How often do you see Abraham Lincoln walk by you in Nashville?! So, of course the cameras came out and here you go....



Just to humiliate myself...



Can you find me in the above picture? I'm such a dork! This is from the church league, coaches pitch, maybe 2nd grade? I don't know how old I am in this picture but I look so 80's.

God amazes me

My heart is full tonight. God amazes me with how He works in and through us. Yet I shouldn't be surprised when God answers a prayer. Doesn't the Bible tell us to ask in His name and it will be done? Why do I assume a prayer will not be answered? Oh, my weak faith. Anyway...

I recently got off the phone with a friend whom I've prayed for the last two weeks. The prayers were specific. Unbeknownst to me, what God had me praying over for a couple of weeks was the very thing God was dealing with in my friends life. My friend called tonight to talk with me about the EXACT thing I had prayed for him! Wow!

What an awesome God I serve! My faith has been challenged tonight. May I continue to pray in faith.

In Christ alone

I want to share the lyrics to a song, lyrics by Stuart Townend. My heart is full of praise when I read these words.

"In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save

'Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost it's grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand."

Pondering

As much as I enjoy Christmas time, it's this time of year that defines who I am. My church had a Good Friday service and I've been thinking on the things we discussed. In my opinion, the American church does not think enough on what Jesus had to give to satisfy what God demanded for reconciliation between Himself and us.

It is so easy for us to dwell on Resurrection Sunday. And, why wouldn't we? It's a joyful time, it's where our hope lies. Yet, the suffering of the crucifixion and death of Jesus is key to our salvation. The resurrection holds an empty hope if the payment for sin has not been dealt with. The week leading up to Resurrection Sunday is filled with loneliness, deceit, mourning, physical and emotion anguish, despair, betrayal. Doesn't sound like a fun week. Most of us would shy away from those things. But everything Jesus went through had to take place. The salvation plan was required by Jehovah God. His holiness could be satisfied only by a blood sacrifice.

Today is a solemn day for me, as a Christian. Today marks when Jesus laid in a tomb. The earth was silent, the heavens were silent. Imagine with me the deafening silence while Jesus appeared to have lost the battle. My crazy mind wonders how the animals and nature responded to this event. Did they sense something was not right?

As my pastor said, we must understand the significance of the crucifixion and death of Jesus to understand the significance of His resurrection. We have to understand what Christ saved us from before we can walk in the power He saved us to. Jesus conquering death and the grave would have no meaning if He had not first walk through the cross.

Some pics

Well, it's been a while since I posted a picture of myself. So, here you go. Nothing like a close-up from holding the camera yourself.



Hold on to your chair as you read the next line. I have a collection of something. Yep, Mindy is collecting an item instead of throwing it away. Below is a picture showing the start of the cross collection on my wall.



I have more to write, but I'll do it in a new blog.

Enjoying the day

A bird is singing its song outside my apartment and another bird is returning with a different one. It's a nice background noise. Today is a gorgeous day outside! The patio door and bedroom window are open, allowing for a light breeze throughout the apartment. Ah! Relaxing.

Laundry is the order of the day. I have wore "laundry clothes" for two days. If you don't know what I mean by laundry clothes, lucky you! Boots is perched on the arm of the couch waiting for a vacant lap :) As soon as I move the laptop, she will be on my lap. It's nice having a lap cat that wants your attention.

Early today we practiced the music for tomorrow night's program. Dennis and Nan Allen wrote the musical and I absolutely love the music! The premise of the program is the kingdom of God, not just Jesus being Savior. I'm excited to sing it.

Is Jesus a threat?

Pastor Gene Mims posed a question during his sermon yesterday that has stuck with me: How much of a threat is Jesus to your religious life?

Jesus was considered a threat to the Pharisees' way of doing things. Actually, Jesus appeared to buck against God's law for His people, emphasis on the word appeared. The religious leaders saw Him as a rebel who would not come under the authority of the accepted way of doing things.

Would we see Jesus in the same light today? But more so, do we shun the power of a redeemed life because it doesn't go with how things are done in our church? Do I allow traditions and my selfish nature to hinder what God wants to do in my life? As my pastor asked but in my own words, Is Jesus a stumbling block when he should be my stepping stone and foundation for my walk with Him?

March Madness

Muffin and I are ready to watch some Kentucky basketball at Mandy's house. Mandy may not like to think of Muffin as a Kentucky fan, but deep down in Muffin's brain is a desire to love UK! Just kidding Mandy :)

March Madness is a strange time of year. There are so many people who don't follow basketball closely or even from afar, yet they fill out a bracket and watch all the games in the tourney. But the tourney is so addictive and fun to participate in! I love filling in a bracket and then stress over my picks. The following picture shows how crazy I get during this time.




The gangsta look isn't me, is it? :) So far, my brackets have gone well. There were a couple of games I lost in the first round. But as for the second round, I'm right on the mark. We shall see how the rest of today's games go. Go Big Blue!!!!

Thoughts

I'm finally shelling the money out for a haircut today. The lady who cuts my hair does a wonderful job, I just hate paying the big bucks. A few months ago I chopped all my hair off...I do this regularly. I tend to be impulsive when it comes to hairstyles. :) But today, my hair will get a simply trim. And, I'm growing it out again. Surprise, huh?!

The coffee at my workplace is not the best in the world; yet, when it comes free, I don't complain. Actually, there are many things here in the office provided for free. My boss knows how to take care of his employees. The coffee is free of charge along with the coke machine, filtered water, tea bags, hot chocolate and the such. Well, we still have to put money in for a coke but the size of the bottles are huge and only cost 50 cents. My boss actually pays for the coke products because we use the sales from the coke machine to fund birthdays around here. Each employee gets a little monetary gift on their birthday.

Anyone else suffering from the pollen build-up each morning on the cars?! My ears feel clogged and my eyelids are puffy and my eyes are dry. Nashville sits in a valley so the area is prone to high allergen levels in the air. I for one, would like it to rain today, like the weather channel says it is suppose to, so the pollen can be washed away. I know there is more where the present pollen came from, but still, some temporary relief would be much appreciated!

I recently read a Stephen King novel, Cell. It was the first one I have read by him. I don't plan on reading any others by him but I wanted to see what his writing style was like. I was not impressed. Sorry to all the King lovers out there, but I just don't like his story-telling ways. And no, I did not read some off-the-wall novel, filled with gore and horror. The plot was an interesting one. I liked the premise just don't care for Stephen King's story telling.

I baked a cake last week and have slowly been munching on it. That's not spectacular news, I know. The reason I mention it is this: Do you ever bake something like a cake or cookies and then justify eating it all by only taking a bite here and there? Ha! That's what I'm doing. By not sitting down at the table with a big plate of cake but instead using a fork to grab just a bite, I feel like I'm doing something good. :) I know it's not true, but the females reading this will completely understand!

Sin eater

What a title, right? Got you to look for sure! My latest read was The Last Sin Eater by Francine Rivers. I must admit that the book was a weird one and difficult to read. The vernacular was Appalachian, eastern Tennessee in the 1800's. But once I got use the way they spoke, I was able to read it fairly well.

The plot is a small community that is held in fear from believing they must have a man, the sin eater, to take away their sins when they die. This costume is from Wales, Scotland and Ireland (Both sides of my family are from those areas). People believed you needed someone to 'eat up' your sins so you could stand before God on the judgement day. I know many of us would find it hard to understand why they thought this practice necessary. But just imagine a society where a copy of scripture was not readily available. Imagine the control someone could have over that community if they appeared to know what God required of you.

I won't tell the story to you here, I don't want to ruin the book if you choose to read it. But I do want to talk about the impression the book left with me.

God reminded me of the work Jesus did for the sins of the world. Jesus is the sacrificial lamb and the scapegoat all rolled into one person. God ordained that a lamb be slaughtered to cover sins for the coming year, as well a goat be released, bearing the sin of the people. The picture showed us that the lamb sacrificed did not take away the sin but merely postponed the judgement. The scapegoat showed the sin being placed on one being. Every year the Israelites performed this ceremony. And every year, the payment for sin was postponed through the lamb and scapegoat.

Jesus became the sacrificed lamb so that blood would be shed (God required blood for payment) and the one all the sin was placed on, the scapegoat. Through Jesus, our sin can be forgiven and taken away. No need for another sacrifice or scapegoat! And no need for a priest to perform the ceremony for us. Jesus is our high priest! And His sacrifice has met every demand God has for the payment of sin.

God reminded me also that we can easily become weighed down with traditions that don't mean anything to our walk with Christ. We simply do them because "that's how it's done around here." Can't you hear your parents or grandparents saying that?! I agree that some traditions are good to keep around. Just make sure they are helping you grow in the Lord and not keeping you from developing a deeper walk with Him.

Quiz for Austen lovers

You scored as Marianne Dashwood. Most girls can relate with Marianne on a more personal level than some of Austen's other characters. She represents the emotional longings and struggles that seem to attack and bless us at the same time. Loyal to a fault, passionate for experience and life, and a bit over-emotional, Marianne matures and grows (making her so beloved). Marianne Dashwood 69% Charlotte Lucas 59% Elinor Dashwood 59% Elizabeth Bennet 53% Jane Bennet 53% Emma Woodhouse 53% Lady Catherine 22% Which Jane Austen Character are You? (For Females) Long Quiz!!! created with QuizFarm.com

Lasting impression

A dear friend from my Life Action days called last night. We caught up some on what's going on in our lives right now and, as with all conversations with former Life Action team members, we ended up talking about the days we traveled together. Tammy mentioned an instance from a crusade that got my mind thinking. (NO comments from the peanut gallery about that statement!)

During the first year in Life Action, my team traveled to Christiansburg, VA. The church there had a wonderful meeting where God changed many lives. I've always remembered that church as a place where God met with us as a team and the church.

Life Action has a prayer room set up at each church. Team members man the room during services. It's amazing how so many people thought I had all the answers in the world just because I was on this team and in the prayer room. Sometimes the church members would start sharing things that were way out of my league. Anyway, I am straying from the reason for this post.

One night, during a time of testimonies from the church members, a little boy and his dad came into the prayer room. I knew God was moving in the service, there had already been many people come for prayer. Jason, the boy, was in the Dynamite club, second through fifth grade. He was a sweet kid, as I remember. But he was distant during the services.

That night I watched as Jason received Christ as his Savior! From that moment on, Jason was a completely different kid in the services.

Years have passed, that was 1997 or 1998. His sister has since traveled with Life Action, on the team I was on. When I joined Facebook online, one of my first friend request was from Jason. At first I didn't remember the name. But God brought all the memories from that crusade back to me in a flood of emotion. Jason remembered who I was. Do you remember who was around when you gave your life to Christ?

Jason remembers Tammy, the girl who was teaching the Dynamite club. He remembers me in the prayer room. And Jason has held us up as special people ever since we met. Have you ever stopped to think of how the people around you remember you in their life? Do people remember a Godly impact you made? Or have you made an impact you don't want anyone to remember?

The impression I had on Jason was not of my doing, it was God working through me. I pray that many people remember me as a Godly woman, leaving a good impression in their life.

Sushi

Last night I had a craving for sushi. To those who don't like sushi, don't think me weird...it's some good stuff! Anyway, many of my close friends do not like sushi. So, I got to eat alone last night :( (boo-hoo for Mindy)

I end up at a place at the back side of Maryland Farms. Great atmosphere and very clean. One other person is seated at the sushi bar and I decide to step out of my comfort zone and sit down next to him. We strike up a convo and come to find out we are both from Kentucky and that he lives decently close to Somerset. How random is that?!

Now, before my match-making friends think this is headed towards something romantic...stop. hehe He is married. But it was fun to sit there and chat about local news of Kentucky. We talked about the possible flooding and dam break that is even in the news here (Nashville is right in line to flood if the dam breaks). My home town of Somerset is on the other end of the dam, they are worrying about low water levels and marinas having to extend their docks.

Just thought I would share a random moment in my usual boring life. Bye-bye!

Reminder from God

In Matthew 20, Jesus gives us the parable of the laborers. We are told about a man who hires men at the beginning of the day, then more at noontime, then again almost at closing of the work day. When the men line up for payment at the end of the day, we find some disgruntled workers.

Matthew 20:8-15a says; "When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last group to the first.' When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a denarius. When those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, saying, 'These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.' But he answered and said to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own?'"

Yesterday at work, I received a reminder about what this parable teaches us. I was standing at my boss' door. She was on the phone with the owner speaking about someone they were about to interview. I heard her mention the wage they would start the person at. My blood pressure immediately rose. That figure was more than what I make.

For a few minutes, I acted like the men in the parable who worked all day and received the same wage as the men who worked only a few hours. Then, God reminded me of this parable. God took me to the wood shed on this one. I have a great job and agreed to work for the wage they give me. I'm so prone to compare my life to others instead of just God's standard for me.