September 27, 2017

Money, Money, Money


For the first time in my life, I feel wealthy. I know the few thousand we garnered after selling our home is not real wealth, but it sure feels like it. For the first time in my adult life I need not count every penny, or wonder if I can buy toothpaste before payday.

However, it’s a fleeting security. I am only one disaster away from losing it all.

But, I am not worried, nor am I fretting. God has rescued me from financial catastrophes, health crises, and other troubles when there didn’t seem to be a way. Why should He stop now? It is Him I need to trust, not a savings account. Yet, it could be easy to fixate on that number, coveting it above all other things.

People often misquote St. Paul. He did not say money is the root of all evil. In 1 Timothy 6:10 he states, “For the desire of money is the root of all evils; which some coveting have erred from the faith and have entangled themselves in many sorrows.”

Psalm 48:7,8,11-12 continues with this: “They that trust in their own strength and glory in the multitude of their riches, no -brother can redeem... And they shall leave their riches to strangers...”

I want to be a good steward of the abundance God has blessed me with, but I will not become attached to it, at least I am praying I don’t. I need to trust The Provider and not that which He provided. It is an object no one should worship, hoard, or covet. Those are the sins of wealth St. Paul warns against. 

Diamonds are not a girl’s best friend. God is.

September 20, 2017

When a Planner Marries a Panster...


These two personalities pose a few challenges in a marriage, or any close relationship. A planner likes things, well, planned. They like to know what to expect, stay organized, and be prepared. They can be rigid and stuffy if they don’t allow some flexibility.

A panster likes to swing it, be spontaneous, go with the flow, fly by the seat of their pants. They are usually easy going and fun to be around, until their lack of planning leads to a crisis or disaster.

One case in point, a wedding. Spontaneity is great until other people’s schedules (like magistrates) don’t match up with the panster’s scheme. My panster husband almost blew the wedding by not mentioning it to our travel agent until almost too late. Bless the woman, after her initial heart attack, she managed to get it arranged.

On the other hand, a planner tends to over plan, over schedule, and end up frustrating herself and her partner.

Compromise is the key. The planner agrees to ditch the schedule, except for important things, and the panster agrees to a plan for the important events. Now both can enjoy the impromptu day trips, dinners, movies, and other fun things, and not feel panicked or feel overwhelmed.

Thus, this planner did not pester her panster with thousands of questions over morning coffee. He responded by announcing plans to take care of a few tasks, at some point during the day.

Fair enough.

Which are you? A  planner or a panster?




September 11, 2017

Closed Hearts

Although  I have encountered some who seem to flit through life without a scratch, their worst experiences being small inconveniences and annoyances (compared to financial crises, health issues, and the deaths of loved ones), most of us have been in that dark place Saint John of the Cross called, the black night of the soul, at least once, if not more.

A dear friend wrote about this condition in her new novella, Ice Melts in Spring (soon to be released). I won’t give away any spoilers, but will say only this, Linda Yezak hit the essence of these dark moments right in the heart, literally.  Her heroine doesn’t see God’s hand in her suffering because anger and bitterness have closed her heart to His presence.  She is spiritually blind. The key to opening her heart? Forgiveness.

The author describes the moment God lifted those burdens from her character, nailing the weightlessness and the joy.

My heart goes out to all those with closed hearts. May they see God's hand in every aspect of their lives, especially the painful and confusing times when life seems unbearable, and their first inclination is to end the pain in whatever way they can.

Lord, please comfort them, give them joy, and most importantly, hope.  Hope for a better tomorrow and a jubilant eternity to come.  Amen.




September 03, 2017

Home

Right on schedule, three years after purchasing what we thought was going to be our last home, I caught my husband looking at houses for sale.

To be honest, I understood why he was house hunting again. The traffic on our street quadrupled after Wal-Mart built a Neighborhood Market a half mile down the street, and the area has grown to the point a two-mile drive takes ten to twenty minutes, depending on the time of day. Still, I dreaded the nightmare of another move — until my husband showed me pictures of the house he was interested in.
We scheduled a viewing.

The moment I stepped out of the car, I knew we had found, home, the place where we could set down roots.

The half-acre property sat alone on a small hill overlooking the Snake River Canyon, rolling hills, and farmland. Fully landscaped in lawn, trees, and shrubs, it was like standing in the midst of a private park.

He didn’t have to convince me to put in an offer.

Yes, it was a nightmare selling our other home, applying for the loan on the new one, and the physical and mental stress of moving, but…

Several coveys of quail pass through the property every day. Ducks, geese, and swallows fly overhead in the evenings. Mourning doves blend their soft coos with a myriad of other songbirds. Butterflies and hummingbirds hover among the flowering shrubs. We saw a doe out front the other evening, and an owl flew across the back lawn. A fox crossed the road in front of us on the way back from town, and the term starry night has taken on a new meaning.

The inside of the house is what I would call Spanish country. The walls have tons of plant shelves and built in niches, a double fireplace, with huge picture windows in every room, wood and tile floors throughout.

The closet town, seven miles away is small, but with enough amenities to supply necessities. A larger town with tons of shopping and medical services is less than a thirty-minute drive, on country roads with little traffic. People are friendly (even at the local DMV).

This morning, amid the usual serenade of doves and killdeer, I heard a Meadowlark, one of the first since leaving my home in Oregon. Its lilting song has always reminded me of what a wonderful world we live in.

The fragrances of sage and pine, along with the sound of rushing creeks transport me back to my happy childhood, a time of family gatherings and celebrations, a time before tragic deaths, misunderstandings, and separations drew us apart.

This isn't just a place to live. It's a home where I can heal from long buried wounds and let go of new ones.

I am not alone with these feelings. I’ve never seen my husband smile this much, or be this happy.

How like God to leave the best for last.  

Thank you, my Heavenly Father, for caring so much. 


This is the my view while writing this post. My warm weather office, a little piece of heaven.