You missed the point & the dreaded time change

November 4, 2015November 4, 2015 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

How many times have you seen people in life that miss the point? While they may be well meaning, their words just don’t help the cause? I have, first hand, seen people who would rather lash out & “let somebody have it” rather than extend a hand to help. I have seen those who get in a tiz & their knee jerk reaction is to tell somebody off. I have actually had someone tell me before, when I have tried to help them see their anger was not beneficial, say to me, “Well, at least they are going to know what I think.” Really? In situations when people are maybe not making the best choices & they need our help- they really don’t care what you think. Being angry with someone for their mistakes & expressing such to them is missing the point. I know we are all human & want what’s best for our loved ones. And yes, sometimes you may want to just shake them & say, “What were you thinking??” All the lecturing & yelling & bawling & squalling will not change the fact that this person needs our love, not our tempers flaring. I truly believe if we reach out a hand in love, we will get a much more positive response than if we are throwing a hissy fit. We need to be showing Jesus through us. How can we do that if we are angry & ranting & raving? We can’t. We all make mistakes. We all miss the point, from time to time, to show Christ’s love. If we have done that, we should pray & ask the other person to forgive us. The apostle Paul talks about true love in I Corinthians 13.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. ²And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,^[a] but have not love, it profits me nothing.

⁴Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; ⁵does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; ⁶does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

⁸Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. ⁹For we know in part and we prophesy in part. ¹⁰But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

¹¹When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. ¹²For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

¹³And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (NKJV)

I love this girl dressed up for Halloween as “Queen of the Nerds.”

This chapter is full of useful & necessary information on how to treat others. From what I can tell, these are commandments. Not suggestions. Let’s be sure we treat them as such. Instead of beating someone over the brow with our version of what they should be doing, we all need to try speaking kindly & understanding where they are coming from with their decisions. A lot of times, I can be more tenderhearted if I know why someone is doing what they are doing. Believe me, there are just some people who need guidance. Even & especially grown men & women. And sadly, some still will not change, even though you go to them in love. That’s not your fault. You have done your part & done it correctly. Continue to show them love & keep them in prayer. Hopefully, they will turn to the Lord before it’s too late. But listen, don’t worry about this. If the Lord could not turn everyone’s heart to the right thing, what makes you think you can? It is what it is. Do your part, with love & move on.

One more thing, you may be asking, “What is “the point” you speak of?” When I refer to missing the point, I am meaning this is your prime opportunity to show Jesus & His love through us. Please, please, please, do your best to not miss the point!

I am so glad you came by to visit with me today. We have had a nasty stomach bug going around our house. I have been able to avoid it, so far. Well, you know there are somethings a stomach bug won’t even chance. Ha. Hope your week has been full of fall weather & pumpkin spice. Oh yeah. And the time changed. What about that daylight savings time that just jumped up & ran off? Still. Not. Over. It. And just to add to your anxiety, Christmas is only 7 weeks away. Love you like candy canes & chocolate covered cherries! Until next time, I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.

I possibly relate to this a little too much.

Memory loss, the time change, & many other things that make you fretful at 40-ish

March 11, 2015March 11, 2015 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

It goes without saying, everybody has their ups & downs in life. I was just talking to a good friend of mine the other day about us being in our 40s. If you have not gotten to your 40s yet, let me just say IT’S NO WALK IN THE PARK PEOPLE. Things that you never really dream of or understand starts happening to you. You start to be more conscious of your over all well-being, because to be honest, it clearly becomes more of an issue.

For example, I used to could live with my contacts or live without them. I didn’t have to wear them if I didn’t want to. Now, it is a real problem if I don’t have them in. When I’m driving, luggage racks on top of vehicles start looking like a set of lights like the state troopers have. If I meet a car on the road with one of those, let me tell you how much I obey all the traffic laws. All in the name of poor vision. Could this be from being in your 40s?

Then, there is my memory. I don’t know where it goes. The other day my daughter & I were shopping. I kept saying I was going to wait to buy shampoo at Kmart because it was probably cheaper there. Miss Neenee exasperatedly reminded me several times,

“Mama, we ARE in Kmart.”

“You know I mean Kroger.” I said. Repeatedly .(May I insert here Mamaw referred to these stores as Kmarts & the Kroger. I will never forget that.)

Later on that day, we were talking & I said,

“Riddle me that, Batman.”

She said, “What does that even mean?”

I commenced to relive the torturous Riddler in Batman & how he always spoke in riddles to Batman. Then, it hit me. I could quote dialogue from movies upwards of 25 years ago, but just a short time ago that day, I didn’t know if I was in Kmart or Kroger. It’s being in your 40s.

And don’t even get me started on the time change. I don’t know why it’s so hard, but the struggle is real, ya’ll. I have a morning disorder, anyway. It’s all I can do to get up & get around. This ain’t helpin’ me none. Make the time & leave it. Seriously, enough with the time change. This must be from being in your 40s.

Digestive woes. Do you remember the Andy Griffith episode where Andy & Helen were broke up & Barney had fixed him up with another girl? They were going with Barney & Thelma Lou to Mt. Pilot to eat. They kept naming off places & Andy’s date couldn’t eat at any of them. She couldn’t eat Chinese because “Cabbage laid on her chest.” That was like the funniest thing to me. Until I got my own list of foods that have less than desirable effects. We just have a mutual understanding (me & these kinds of food that is) If I eat this, then that happens. Why? Just why? I have always had a stomach of cast iron steel up until a couple of years ago. Yup, it’s being in your 40s.

But there are some good things that come from being in your 40s. Here’s a little list (I love a list):

You don’t put up with a lot. You make a decision on what you want to take & what you don’t. Then, you plan accordingly.
You come to the reality that life is short. You begin to appreciate the loved ones you have, even more. James 4:14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. (NKJV)
After a stressful day, one begins to realize the power a Samoa (or Caramel Delight, just depends on where you are) can have over you. It just purely changes your whole demeanor. Those Girl Scouts just have my heart.
Pajama time becomes a real thing. Pajama time can start when I get home from work & given it is a weekend, can last until I go to church on Sunday. After church, back to pajama time.
You begin to have more understanding & empathy for others. Biggest reason is because you need more understanding & empathy from others. Times come when you clearly are confident enough to step back & say, “I am being ridiculous.” This is where other people’s grace comes in, for us. BOY, DO I NEED THAT! Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.(NKJV)
You know who you are, who your friends are, & know you do not have to deal with toxic relationships. Ain’t nobody got time for that.
It occurs to you, what you have is just plenty. Worldly possessions are not all they are cracked up to be.

(Matthew 6:19-20) “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (NKJV)

And there ain’t no way I am sending my soul to torment over greed & jealousy of what someone else has. I’m not sacrificing my family time nor my ethics to gain more either. You become just plain thankful for what you have. Which takes me to my last one

8. You know what’s important. You take care of that & everything else just falls into place.

On other note, my Miss Neenee had Flu B (just in time for Spring Break). She had RSV about 3 weeks ago. She’s not really gotten past all of that, until this happened. She has been around several people who have had the flu. She was just patiently waiting her turn. She’s a sweetie like that. My grandson, Mr. Sweetie Pants, had it, too.

Speaking of which, we made our very own laundry detergent, this weekend. Here he is being a big ol’ helper.

While I was snapping a couple of pictures of him, He said, “Grand, take my picture doing this.”

Such a good boy to help his Grand.

And by the way, if you want the recipe for the detergent it is below.

2 bars of soap (We used Olay Sensitive Skin, since we have some folks at home that require special attention. Like not having dry skin & recurring skin related rashes)

2 cups of Borax

2 cups washing soda

1 canister Purex Crystals or Downy Unstoppables (which I just now saw on the internet you are supposed to put the Purex Crystals directly in the drum of the washer. I don’t think it will hurt anything. I guess the smell will last longer putting it right into the washer instead of the soap dispenser. But we just mixed it in with everything else)

Grate the soap in a bowl. Measure & add all the other ingredients. Mix together. You only need ¼ cup of this for each load. It smelled so good!

Thank you for stopping by to visit with me today & read through my randomness. You make my day brighter!! Hope you are having a good week. Always remember wherever you are God it there to take care of you. Until next time, I should be going because I should be washing clothes.

Time change is for the birds & my secret sister

November 6, 2014November 5, 2014 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

Ooohhh, the time change……..Really, is this change necessary? I mean, at work Monday around 2:30pm, I thought it was time for me to go home. Imagine my surprise. Since, I work until 5pm, that was definitely upsetting for me. Next time they take a vote for cancelling daylight savings time, will someone let me know? I perhaps have a strong opinion about it. Thanks ya’ll. Because time change is hard.

Isn’t it wonderful the love of the Lord never changes? It is a very constant thing for those who are His. Do you wonder sometimes if Jesus still cares? He does. He never changes. We all get discouraged. We all have struggles. It’s every day, for some of us. Not just occasionally. It is nearing the time of year that is, harder than normal, for us folks who have lost loved ones. Times come when you feel you just can’t go on. It may be the loss of a job, loss of a loved one, a divorce, or sickness, whether it be you or someone you care about. Things happen. Things that we don’t plan for. Change happens. But, I am here with some good news, the Lord is here for us. The whole time. Not just for the parts that are easy. He will be with you as long as you will let Him. He wants us all to have a home in heaven. Now, that’s a change I am happy about. I will gladly change my earthly address in exchange for a heavenly home.

David talks about his own troubling times in Psalms 30. David had a man killed, so that he could take his wife. David & his new wife had a baby & the baby died. (II Samuel 12) David was so full of grief. He called on God. He knew His love was there. Never changing.

Psalms 30: 2

Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me. ^{v. 3}You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead; you spared me from going down to the pit. (NKJV)

The Lord obviously loved David. He was right there for him. Even though David did wrong, God came back to him, when he repented.

Psalms 30:5

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.(NKJV)

Have you ever stayed up at night & wanted relief? Didn’t things look much better in the morning? David found favor with God. God made sure he was there for David. Why? Because God’s just awesome like that. He’s a dependable. He never changes. And after the baby died, David went to worship the Lord. David was changed. He knew the same Lord that allowed bad things to happen to him, was the same Lord that blessed him. He knew God was going to take care of everything. And He did.

Thank you for stopping by to visit with me today. Did you know it’s only 3 weeks until Thanksgiving? I am so excited! I can’t wait for all of our family to be together. There is ne’er a dull moment with my bunch. There will be lots of cooking, eating, & fun times. And too, my secret sister, from the Only a Breath encouragement project, sent me a card this week. She wrote a beautiful scripture in it. Do you know where it was from? Psalms 30. I had been reading & studying that very scripture the same day I got the card. Now tell me the Lord didn’t just send me a friend! I hope you have a wonderful rest of the week. Until next time, I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.

photo credits: deposit photos, pinterest