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Showing posts from April, 2006

Another one has caught my attention!

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Another snapping, eyeing catching, attention getting, title from MSN! Last week it was earth day... This week the one that caught my curiousity, "What kind of listener are you?" A few samples from the article: If you...don't pay attention because you thought what the speaker said earlier was dumb, you're judgmental. If you...become agitated when someone disagrees with or criticizes you, or try to prove your opinion, you're in I'm-always-right mode. If you...tend to drift off midway through the conversation, or if a statement by the speaker suddenly takes you away from the conversation and back to an old memory, you're dreaming . If you...take everything you hear and refer it back to a personal experience before the speaker can finish, you're identifying. Check out the complete article from Canadian living. I am going to print these off to go over again! Good listening skills are hard to learn.

PRAYER

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"O Lord, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before you. May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry." Psalm 88:1-2 40 Days of Prayer for Canada -- National prayer focus for evangelism: May 3 – June 11, 2006 National Day of Prayer for America - May 4, 2006 GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER – Pentecost Sunday June 4, 2006 Intercessors for Israel -- Weekly Prayer Report from Israel On the PrayerRamp for Canada site, there are many more links to Christian Websites in Canada check them out.

Habits that will Change Your Life

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Nine Godly Habits That Will Change Your Life Spend time regularly with God in prayer and Bible study. Live with a clear conscience. Finish what you start. Strive for excellence in all you do. Handle criticism in a godly manner. Be peaceful—avoid strife. Live by faith, one day at a time. Live by discernment. Be a giver. Insert from Joyce Meyer , check out the whole article it is worth reading. Reading through this list each of the habits seem simple enough to achieve but realistically without the Holy Spirit convicting, guiding, and leading, it is easy not to do some of the above. Two of the above habits that have me pondering and praying about are: "Finish what you start." - It would have been easy to call it quits on my course I am taking over the last three weeks, but God has been working on me to finish well. The commitment is three years and I have 11 more classes to go...no quiting! Then there is this one: "Handle criticism in a godly manner," I am not doing

Earth Day

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My Msn Sympatico home page opens each morning with an eye catching snappy thought - most days I sigh with a, "yeah right!" However, today's title had me curious... Taking the job at the care home I have the responsibly of writing the monthly newsletter. In searching the web for fillers I found there are appointed days each month of the year to celebrate a variety of different topics, well, April has an interesting one. April 22 is "Happy Earth Day." Check out the different web links you might get curious too! I like the picture of the newly sprouted green plant - Spring, "YES!" I am expecting/hoping to have the seniors planting their flower gardens very soon. It is good to be able to take them out for some healthy fresh air, sunshine, and exercise.

Turning Green

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The world outside is turning new shades of green bringing sounds of birds chirpping, geese honking over head, and a bright sunshine morning - oh, how my soul has longed for these spring days! Earlier today I was reading through a list of names and attributes of God -- what a powerful way to wake up having your mind focused on who God is and not on worries of the day. First on the list: God is Good! (1Chronciles 16:34) Reading through David's Psalm of Thanksgiving had my heart singing along with him... Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgements he pronounced. God is Good! I need to meditate upon this attribute of my God today, as I enjoy the gift of this new spring day. "Gi

Serving Another

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Working at Prairie Spring Care Home over the last four month's has been an incredible journey of love, and the bonus is that I am learning a new craft - doing nails! I have been offering the seniors (male and female) their own time out to have their nails filed and polished. They love it! It is amazing how many have never had their nails done by someone else, (certainly a different generation then my generation who enjoy having their nails manicured.) They always ask, "are you sure you do not want money?" or "why are you doing this for free?" or "why are you spending time with me?" I tell them the cost is a hug...it works every time... A hug and listening to their life stories make the lonely hours at the home not so long and the time doing their nails brings forth meaningful conversation. My newest adventure in this process of treating them, will be offering them a foot spa, I know it will go over well. Serving others brings joy to the heart. "B

Nothing There!

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I am having one of those mornings (weeks) when a deadline is upon me and as I try to locate words in my mind to fill the blank page there is nothing! I have been writing in my journal and what I can manage to target is a feeling of failure concerning this project. It is strange, failure comes knocking, gets an invitation without me being aware, then in comes procrastination to totally take control...both of the unwanted guests need to leave, so I can meet my deadline of being finished this week. I am scheduled to speak next Sunday...meaning I have no choice my assignment needs to be finished. My plan: I will pray, and pray some more, then just start to write. I am rambling.... Hey, but at least I am writing!

What Type of Writer Should you be? - Quiz

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You Should Be A Poet You craft words well, in creative and unexpected ways. And you have a great talent for evoking beautiful imagery... Or describing the most intense heartbreak ever. You're already naturally a poet, even if you've never written a poem. What Type of Writer Should You Be? I think this is very interesting...I sould be "A Poet"...I knew that! ???

The Reflective Life

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For my next class we are asked to read one more book along with the text books. There are several good books on the list to choose from, just because I like to read, I am going to enjoy, "The Reflective Life" by Ken Gire , before the class even begins. The reflective life reminds me of the simple life. I went and reread the thoughts on a simplified life from Robin Lee Hatcher's site here is the one that stood out: 3. A life of simplicity requires the practice of the spiritual disciplines. (We will focus especially on the disciplines of solitude, prayer and community.) Reflection will be part of the next class and so will the spiritual disciplines. In the introduction of part three of Ken Gire's book, there is a quote from Andrew Murray's book on "Humility" that opened my mind to reflect. The Soil of the Reflective Life (Chapter Three - Ken Gire) This, my friend, is a secret of secrets. It will help you to reap where you have not sown, and it will be co

Simple Living

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Simplify... That is what I am trying to do even in my writing life! I would like to invite all who read this post to visit Robin Lee Hatcher's blog site. She has posted some great thoughts on simple living. If anyone has thoughts to post, I would love to read your ideas/comments on simple living. I will be posting more on this topic....

Spring

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Spring... my favorite time of year! Not only has the weather changed so has the season in my spiritual life changed...it is good to be out of winter, but I know it was needed to shape me physically, emotionally, and mentally for what God has for me in the near future. Thank you Jesus that you were with me through some of my darkest days. I do look forward to the warm Spring days ahead, both physically and emotionally. I feel like these butterflies able to fly free again...thank you Lord for the smile that is back on my face. I found out today I needed another book for my next class that starts in May, it has been written by the Professor who will be teaching the class on Spiritual Formation, Paul M. Beckingham . The title is: "Walking Towards Hope - Experiencing Grace in a Time of Brokenness." It has me wondering what exactly God might have instore for me...the title fits well concerning what I am going through personally. Experiencing grace in a time of brokenness...I am re

Psalm 39 (New Living Translation)

The last few weeks have been rather hard and I could not find words to express how I was feeling until I read these words today written by David...it was as if...he knew my thoughts and emotions. Thank you Jesus for your word that brings hope to hard places in life. This Psalm really does express my feelings today, every verse, every word. My prayer as the Psalmist penned is : "Lord, please spare me so I can smile again before I am gone and exist no more." Psalm 39 For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of David. 1. I said to myself, "I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say. I will curb my tongue when the ungodly are around me." 2. But as I stood there in silence--not even speaking of good things--the turmoil within me grew to the bursting point. 3. My thoughts grew hot within me and began to burn, igniting a fire of words: 4 . "LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away.

New Season

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He has Risen! Life has been full, and time to spare has not been easy to find, but I am going to try to write more now that spring is here. Entering this new season of writing I have eliminated clutter bringing simplicity into my life, the other three blogs I started last year have been suspended for a season. It has been way to long since my last post. Walking with Yeshua has been my journey in life and will continue to be my blogging home. Life has not been easy...many challenges...many changes...many joys....and many sorrows...but one thing that has never changed is the knowledge that Jesus is with me every step of the way.