What we do with our time

Dear blogging friends,

I was blessed with an opportunity to hear a super dynamic woman of God yesterday. One of my good friends at work was hosting this woman in her home. Patty Scheneier was in town to speak at a conference for student leaders at one of our local Catholic parishes. Now, if you are not Catholic, that does not mean you can skip this post. I am not Catholic but I did tag along with my friend during the lunch hour and was absolutely amazed with how devoted Patty is to giving her time to the service of God. I think she has a lot to say to women of ALL faiths.

Here are some of the highlights that I was able to bring away with me:

"I don't have time for this!"
How many of us have said and still say that. We are all super busy. (Side note to the moms of this world...I do NOT know how you do it. I am scrambling to get myself out the door in the mornings much less dragging kids out of bed, making lunches, signing homework, finding missing shoes, strapping them in the car, ...etc... My hat is off to you!!!) That being said, here is how Patty squeezes it in. She sings hymns while she irons, she uses her carpool time to discuss scripture with her children, she TRIES to start her day with 15 minutes alone with God and yes...that means getting up 15 minutes earlier. My favorite suggestion was using our "waiting" time. While standing in line at the pharmacy, she prays for all the mothers who are waiting for a sick child to heal, for all of the unwed mothers who are waiting for their babies to arrive and the uncertainty they will face, she prays for all of those who sit by the bedside of a dying parent who are waiting for the end and are torn between the joy of that loved one being with Christ and the sorrow of not having them anymore.

"I want to hear God's voice and see God's face!"
Patty provided several examples of how merely immersing herself in His word that she finds the answers she is seeking. She instructed us to find a daily instructional book that provides suggested scriptural readings and poses questions we can then expand upon in a daily journal. By reading His word and journaling her thoughts, intentions, requests, agonies, she discovered that God does speak to her...and she HEARS Him!!! There are a lot of times that God is talking to us and we are so busy running about trying to solve this and that we cannot even see Him waving his arms at us wildly trying to get us to stop and be still. It is our business that drowns out his voice. We cannot possibly hear Him if we are too busy to read His word.

We need to turn off the music, turn off the TV, close the door, shut out the world, sit still and be with the Lord. Once you have invited Him into your heart, He came in and sat down. He is your guest and He is waiting for you to stop being busy and just sit with Him, talk with Him, pray with Him, sing with Him...just be with Him.

On my way to work this morning, I did not listen to my favorite c-w tunes. As I walked out the door, I popped my head in my living room and asked Christ to "come along with me." He got in my car with me and we sang hymns on the way to work. I prayed (and I mean truly prayed) for a good friend who is losing her father to cancer. I prayed deeply for someone who is longing for a baby. I prayed for a friend who needs a healing touch in her marriage. I prayed for a friend's daughter in college about to get her Ph.D. but the bills are tight and she is facing struggles as she pursues this degree. I prayed for my own marriage which could use a healing touch. (Note to readers, all prayers were said with eyes open!!! I was watching the road - remember I did have a copilot also.) Further, I said my prayers ALOUD. I did not worry about the folks in cars next to me...I am going to assume they thought I was singing with the radio. I can tell you that I arrived in a much more peaceful state of mind and no, I did not leave Christ in the car. I asked Him to come inside with me. I have felt a true difference today because of that. (I hope I remember to take Him back home with me!)

Today's scripture: “Be still and know that I am God!” Psalm 46:10

Friends, please ask Christ to be your friend...He is just waiting to help you.

If you want to know more about Patty Schneier...visit her at:  http://www.pattyschneier.com/

Love, Kerry

It's time to live like we are dying

My work girlfriends and I attended a funeral today for a young lady who passed away too soon.  I say that because she was only 40, but we all know that God chooses for us how long we stay here among our loved-ones and exactly when we get to fly away to be with him!!

All the same, I sat there thinking "what if" about myself, have I done what God placed me here to do, could I be a better wife, sister, friend (fill in the blank)?  Would my husband miss me??  Would my friends remember the way I laugh??  If I cross someone's mind, would it be a joyful memory or would it be a regret???

There is a country-western song (cue the group eye roll from my friends because I ALWAYS quote c-w songs) called "Live Like You Were Dying" sung by Tim McGraw.  It is about a man who finds out that he is dying so he goes sky-diving, bull-riding, mountain climbing....you get the picture.  But the part that strikes home is he also..."loved deeper and I spoke sweeter, And I gave forgiveness I'd been denying. An' he said, 'Some day, I hope you get the chance, to live like you were dyin'."

Blogging friends...I am going to strive to do that.  I issue you the challenge as well.  Do one thing each day as if you were dying...instead of a harsh word toward your child, give them a kiss, instead of a sigh of frustration when your husband interrupts your...fill in the blank because they ALWAYS interrupt whatever we are doing...stop what you are doing and give him your full attention while he talks, instead of seeing mom's number on the phone and letting it go to voicemail, pick it up and really LISTEN to her.

Instead of scripture today, I will end with a verse from one of the songs we sung today at Rose's funeral:  Shepherd me oh God beyond my wants, beyond my fears, from death into Life.

May God grant you peace.

Love, Kerry

Antiquing in Houston

I got to play in Houston today with my life-long friend, Martha.  She is in the midst of purchasing a rug for her trés élégante living room.  We went to a non-descript strip center on the corner of Westheimer and Dunlavy.  It wasn't very impressive from the outside but Martha's taste is impeccable so I followed blindly along.  Imagine my surprise when, upon entering, I fell in love....so many of the booths are right up my alley!!  After helping Martha with size, color, texture, etc...we got to wander around.  It is a good thing that I had promised myself to behave or I would have purchased at least half of the place!!!

My favorite item was some burlap curtain panels that had been smocked.  Holy smokes they were gorgeous!!  Now before you pass judgment on burlap....Dawn Edmonson of The Feathered Nest is teaching me to take a second look at burlap.  Beth Leintz of Gathering Dust is making me take a third look at burlap.  After I saw the lovely smocked panels today...I need no further convincing.  I wish I had my camera with me so I could show them to you. (note to self: never leave home again without it)  Fear not, I have quickly done some online looking and found photos that very closely resemble the drapes I saw today.

In honor of not spending money today when I soooo badly wanted to, today's scripture is about self-control (which I so severely lack):  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.  Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

I am off to research how to "smock" some curtains of my own.  If too much math is involved, I will hasten back to Houston and just purchase the ones mentioned above.

Til I see you again...Kerry

Welcome Friends

Never in a million years would I have thought that I would create a blog.  I used to think I had nothing to say.  After following so many other blogs (The Feathered Nest was my first) I realize that I do have something to contribute.

Who am I???  I am a child of God, a wife (though probably not the best one I can be), a friend to anyone who needs one, the best master to any stray dog, and a work in progress.

I wish this was me but it is Sonja Henie :)

My goal is to share with you the wonderful ideas I glean throughout the day.  Some of those ideas will be crafty, some will be health-related (this is a laugh if you know me well), some will be about hearth and home.  All of them will be positive and will hopefully lift you up in some small way.  I will end each post with a scripture that is particularly significant to me.

I work with three amazing women who have fostered in me the need to share the better parts of myself and to work to improve those parts that could stand a bit of spit and polish.  These three ladies love the Lord, love their families, love the work we do, and give one thousand percent each and every day.  In their honor, today's scripture is:  As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17).

Thanks girls for sharpening me...daily!

Love,

Kerry