-
A book? Or a FRIEND?
I heard from a (very busy!) woman this weekend who asked me for a BOOK RECOMMENDATION because she was feeling a bit overwhelmed with parenting, work, church, and marriage responsibilities. At one point in her email, she said: ‘I’d like some help with believing that I need personal downtime. I know it to be true some where deep inside, but it’s SO hard to find the time – I’d like to be convinced that it’s true and given some help with what to do with the time I take. I have no real girlfriend – so it would just be special time alone.’ Well … COPIED BELOW (with the name…
-
Taking the time …
I have a certain friend in my life who, in recent years, has really made an EFFORT to build relationship with me. I know that she is busy. And we don’t live very close geographically. Our political views are different; our children are not the same ages; her gifting is, well, pretty much EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE of mine. But I love her so much! I enjoy her. I learn from her. She makes me laugh. She challenges me. She comforts me. She points me to Christ and she helps me to know and love Him better. I am so grateful that this beautiful, godly, intelligent, gifted, fun woman has made…
-
More details to follow …
I woke up this morning SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited! I’ve been planning a BIG SURPRISE for the Fredster for MONTHS now and today was a “big day” with my scheming and planning and totally seeking to bless his socks off. It reminds me of our wedding rehearsal night … Yes, I was THRILLED to be marrying Fred the next day. (How GOOD it was to finally get to be together and not have to say goodbye at the end of the day.) But I also remember being EXTRAORDINARILY excited to give Fred his wedding gift (a solid-top, beautiful, hand crafted guitar that was WAY beyond our means in grad school … but…
-
Everything else is frosting …
Received a note from a woman in my church today which she ended with this: “Then I remember four certainties: We are destined to die. We will face judgment. Christ’s sacrifice is sure. Christ is coming again. Everything else is frosting. Maranatha.” Well, said, friend! Well said.
-
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
For the last two weeks I’ve been having the strangest sensation in my left hand, wrist, and arm. Googling around the web has confirmed my fear that I’m fairly certain I’m developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Eek! The symptoms are all exactly what I read on every site. Fred wants me to get in to a doctor right away … but I think, “Really?! Wrist guards? No typing? No elliptical machine? No piano? SURGERY?” I can’t imagine it!! I have to much to do!! But … yet … hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm … I can’t imagine that ignoring this could possibly be the wise decision. From what I’ve read, this totally DEAD NUMB TINGLY…
-
CAR ACCIDENT …
OK, so I thought that yesterday’s post on “no sleep” would be my reminder of my powerlessness and inadequacies and of God’s great goodness and sovereignty. (And I hope it was.) But now I think I can top that … Guess what? The city I am in had a relatively big snowstorm hit yesterday and so I knew that the roads would be icy and treacherous. THUS … I left myself an HOUR AND A HALF to drive literally four miles to the mediation site. I figured that even if I had to sit in the parking lot for an hour, I would do my part to not inconvenience the…
-
No sleep …
Well … the “hotel built for business travelers” seems to have booked an entire COLLEGE BASKETBALL TEAM to be my floormates. Yes, running and shouting in the halls. Yes, DRIBBLING BASKETBALLS even. But the coup d’etat? It’s late. I’m exhausted and wanting, trying, hoping desperately to actually get a tiny bit of sleep and one of them POUNDS ON MY DOOR. Repeatedly. I ignore it because I know that I don’t know anyone in this town who would knock on my door at 10:00 at night. But apparently the twenty year-old doesn’t take the clue. I finally get up (in my PJ’s!) and answer the door. “Oh. Man. Sorry. Wrong…
-
Our hearts …
I don’t accept many mediation, arbitration, or conflicted organization interventions any more … but when I do, I am always humbled and amazed to play even a tiny part in the work that God is doing. I always learn from the parties and advisors. I am challenged. Convicted. Encouraged. The great news is that every conciliation case is FAR beyond my abilities! Every single one. So only God can bring glory to Himself and give everyone involved grace to love our neighbors well. But I do try my best to serve well. This morning, I will leave in a few minutes for another day of pre-mediation appointments. As I go,…
-
Please pray for me …
If I come to your remembrance this week, would you please pray for me? I am mediating a complicated business dispute with a number of parties and advisors involved … and we are all in desperate need of God’s grace, truth, and wisdom if there is any chance of a God-honoring resolution. The mediation is in Montana, but hours away from my home … so I have to drive in the mountains, alone, and then spend the week in a hotel, alone, in order to serve them. Thankfully, a sweet family from my church offered to trade our (130,000+ miles) old compact car for their “can make it over the…
