In the Year 2020~

   

Photo by Julia Kicova on Unsplash

    Here we are in this unbelievable year of 2020 with everyone wondering what is going on!? Not only is the Corona virus stalking us, but so many loved ones are dealing with cancer or other difficult diseases, which seem more deadly and more persistent than ever. 

    And what is going on in a world where devices abound, communication is possible everywhere, but real communication is almost non-existent? A real conversation leaves you feeling closer and probably more affectionate toward the other person. Real communication takes place most often when conversation is face to face, even if it's on FaceTime. But your phone works well, because you hear their voice. 

    Do you feel like I do about texting? I love texting. It's a form of communicating that I've come to appreciate, not only for its brevity, but for its immediacy. Its connection to Messenger makes it twice as useful. It keeps me in touch with family and friends in a way nothing else could. And, of course, there's Facebook with messages and pictures. All of these are valuable tools of communication but may turn out to be somewhat impersonal. 

    Unfortunately, for the present, we're asked to stay away from other people and, adding insult to injury, we're asked to wear a mask when we're with others. No matter how we try to make that less "in your face," it's ALL in your face! Ouch! That really hurts. It hurts not only your feelings, but your life in general. You're restricted in ways you've never experienced before, and never expected to endure. Our families and our society are paying a huge price. 

     But here we are...caught up in a dream-like state, where only protesters can get away with not wearing a mask. And evidently anything else they want to do...or say...or take...or break...or...you get the picture. When did that happen? How did that mindset from our officials and even "regular" people happen? How was a mindset created whereby people who have built nothing are allowed to destroy what others have built? Why are we watching in disbelief as people's lives are destroyed and cities are burned and looted, and no one pays a price except the victims? Is that liberty and justice for all? I don't think so. 

    Satan has been working hard for decades in our schools, especially our colleges, sewing the seeds of discontent. Our politicians are getting on board the wrong train with the message that everything should be free in a country based on citizens taking responsibility. And have our church leaders retreated into palliative care? Our weak  response to the assault suggests this could be true. Corruption has sewn seeds of hate, distrust and turmoil, which is why we're watching a horrendous display of illogical and criminal behavior. Our politicians and even our citizens have been drinking the KoolAid for awhile with disastrous results. Where is our knight in shining armor? Or is it really up to you and me?

    What can you and I do? As a Christian, you know what to do. Pray to God that we're doing the right things as we hibernate and isolate. Should we ignore the warnings that congregating will bring more illness? Living in a free society means that's up to you. There is so much hot and heavy emotional turmoil with this question. This virus is exposing our true selves, the Self we've been able to hide, even from ourselves. Are you surprised by your own anger and justification for your attitude about what's going on in this country?

     If you learn anything from this global pandemic, let it be that you come to "know" your true Self. How else can you and I be examples to the world we live in? We should examine ourselves to be sure that we are following Jesus. The idea is not to pretend you're following Jesus, or giving a performance of following Jesus, but to consciously and sincerely follow Him. In our anxious push to have our own way, we forget that in all our ways we are to emulate Christ. And if you aren't sure what that looks like, there is a guide that is the same for everyone. The Bible doesn't leave anything to the imagination when it comes to behavior. You only have to read it to know His will for your life, and by extension His will for this country. You and I are the movers and shakers of this resurgence in Christian faith!

    Well, I didn't know what my first blog since 2012 would be about, but these words come from my heart. I hope and pray that we will step back and take another look at what is going on. Why not go from the ridiculous to the sublime? In the year 2020, you might have time to do it! 

Blessings...Mimi     

I'm Just Sayin'...

"Every increased possession loads us with new weariness."  ~John Ruskin: author, art critic, social reformer.

"I'm just saying" is a way of expressing our own feelings about something when we feel that no one is listening to us. Whoever came up with that way of appealing to others has given us an appeal that seems to work, and it seems to fit the way we're all moving through our days. In my mind, it goes with another witty saying: "Are you talking to me?" Everyone is talking, or at least communicating, but who's listening? Anybody? And because I think we all feel that way, it's perfectly reasonable to express that sense of speaking when no one is paying attention, unless it's immediately pertinent to something they're doing. And yet, expressing those words--I'm just sayin'--makes us feel better somehow. It's an acknowledgement that we all understand that perhaps someone is listening, or perhaps no one is listening. It doesn't matter because I'm saying it anyway. So here's what I'm just sayin'....

It's already Wednesday and what have I got to show for my week? Well, I have more to show this week than I did last week at this time. I've slowly, but surely, been climbing out of the doldrums of two lengthy health problems. Between being ill and having my family move in, it's been a busy few months. In thinking about what I could put on my blog that would be uplifting, I almost went to my favorite subject: food. A good recipe is hard to beat for uplifting the spirit and feeding the hope that this time I'll make that delicious dish. But all my favorite cookbooks are packed, so I'm left with little more than what's in my head. So I thought I'd make an analogy between moving and life. You didn't realize there was one, did you?

I announced that I was moving back to Tennessee in January--New Year's Day actually. And you can be sure that I've been engaged in either packing, thinking about packing, or watching someone else packing for a good deal of that time. And, in fact, not only did almost everything I own get loaded up and taken away, but I'm now living in someone else's bedroom and bath--what House Hunters would call an ensuite--with a few clothes, a television set, two or three books, and my laptop. It's a large bedroom and bath, and it's private, so that makes it easier. 

But now to my analogy. I'm so much older than I used to be, and this morning I was thinking about all I've accumulated during my lifetime. It has been the source of many discussions with my family because much of it had to be moved. Hundreds of books, many bookshelves, pictures--both to hang on the wall and of the family. Dishes--sets and sets of lovely, but no longer needed china. Art supplies--paper, brushes, pencils, paints. Sewing supplies with yards and yards of unused fabric, thread, patterns, etc.  Paper supplies, pens and inks. Jewelry in boxes. And clothes...many clothes, shoes, etc. Now I don't have everything I've collected over my lifetime to this day...I've gotten rid of many, many things before now. And I've gotten rid of many, many things recently. But in our affluent society, where we can go to a store every day of our lives--I've done my share of purchasing. Convinced that I've found the very thing I need, whether in a store, on QVC, or online, it adds up. I'm just sayin'...it's difficult to give up things that I bought because I liked them, books that I've looked at on my shelves for years and years, clothes that I loved and was once able to get into, and writings that I once labored over with thoughtful expression. Boxes of writings, collected papers, etc.                      

But there won't be room for all of my things in Tennessee. I've had to pick and choose only the favorite books that will fit into one large and one small bookcase. I can keep only my  favorite or necessary clothes, though I've fudged a little here. And I only have room for necessary furniture. We're still looking for a spot to put a desk and my computer. The townhouse is absolutely large enough for me if I didn't have so many things. But what I've learned through all of this getting rid of things, and picking and choosing what to keep is: how much easier life would be if we chose to live our whole lives with a few of our favorite things. In fact, what if we lived our lives by that advice from some well-versed organizer: When something comes in, something has to go out. Ha! Not likely.                                                

But, perhaps if, instead of spending our days accumulating, we spent our days in other ways. And, just so you'll know, I ran across a verse this morning that is appropriate here: "You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself?" Romans 2:21 I'm definitely talking to myself as well! It's just human to accumulate things that we love, or things we enjoy, or things we can afford--it's simply being human. But, I'm just sayin'...what if we chose of our own free will not to be so human? Could I have been less traumatized by this move? Yes! Could I have more peace at leaving a few things behind rather than a lot? Yes! Would I feel less deprived of my belongings, if there weren't so many to deal with--to get rid of? Yes! This move could have been simpler and less agonizing. I've literally agonized over my books, over my clothes, and over many other things that should--perhaps--have been given away a long time ago. I'm holding on to a past that doesn't exist anymore. And come to think about it: Do we hold on to things because seeing our things go reminds us that our life is used up too?

I'm just sayin' that since I'm older--and hopefully wiser--I can see that moving is a lot like life. We are born and we grow...we keep growing until we're completely grown. We keep wanting, we buy, we store, we rearrange, we buy some more. In the end, we've accumulated a lot of stuff. But in the end, what happens? We have to let it all go. We have to let it ALL go!

 I've let a lot of my things go, but not all. I'm still clinging to as much as I can possibly stuff into that townhouse and its garage. And I'm looking forward to the day when my family, who will be living upstairs until they find a place of their own, will move out, allowing me to spread out and fill up the upstairs as well. What!? Yes, it's true. I want to spread out the supplies for my writing, and my sewing, and my painting. But I'll promise you one thing: I'll be aware enough not to fill up every space. I'll be aware that I need to get rid of things as I buy more. And I'll always be aware that it's all expendable. Just as I am. 

Uh, oh. I've just hit on the real value of what I'm just sayin'.... The real value of seeing what we do with our lives--what we care about in our lives--is to find what matters on a spiritual level. In the end, what matters to our eternal life? How much do we love our earthly things? How much do we give away to those who are truly in need? How much time do we spend with the sick? How much time do we spend reading the word of God? In the end, it will be our spiritual lives that matter. Are you filled with the spirit and the understanding? Does the Holy Spirit dwell within you? All valid questions to contemplate and answer for ourselves. Me included. Especially me! 

I'm just sayin'....

Blessings...Mimi 

Guest Post from author Eisley Jacobs!

Guest post from Christian author Eisley Jacobs

Hello dear readers of Memos from Mimi! I’m so privileged to have been given this opportunity to guest post for you today to talk about my new book RUNAWAY CHOICES.

RUNAWAY CHOICES is considered Christian Speculative Fiction and… what? What was that? You aren’t sure what that term means? Well, welcome to the club. Speculative fiction is an umbrella term encompassing the more fantastical fiction genres, specifically science fiction, fantasy, supernatural, superhero, utopian/dystopian, apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic, and alternate history in literature as well as related static, motion, and virtual arts. How is THAT for an all encompassing genre? Fortunately, the face of Christian publishing is changing, and hopefully, all these genres will be split into their own sections because I’m not sure fantasy and post-apocalyptic belong in the same genre. But I digress. RUNAWAY CHOICES is undoubtedly in the fantastical fiction genre. We have suspense, a bit of romance, some supernatural, as well as some strange apocalyptic sprinkles, all of which is why it is labeled Speculative Fiction.

RUNAWAY CHOICES began with the idea of a bitter young woman conning her way onto a plane to London to escape the life that so desperately wants her to take part. What I thought was going to be one particular story quickly morphed into another. As writers, we’re trained (I use that term very loosely) to go with the flow and see where the story takes us outside the outline we might have completed. Little did I realize this story would almost be autobiographical at times.

Beck is a character running from the hurts of her past. Hurts dealt to her from family, friends, life in general… She is running away from them and has chosen to ignore them because it makes her feel better. If she doesn’t have to look these problems in the face, they don’t exist… right?

Like many of us, Beck struggles with accepting the choices she’s made for her life. The good, the bad, the indifferent. Likewise, when I was younger, I struggled with many of the choices I’d made, and I lived as a captive of the guilt that sent me running from everything. While I didn’t run away to London, I might as well have. Instead, I ran away emotionally and only found my healing once I arrived at the foot of the cross. Much like the main character, Beck, does in RUNAWAY CHOICES.

It’s all about Jesus. He is always there. He is always waiting for us, running beside us even when we try to run away. He is never more than a step away, waiting for the moment when we cry out to him and turn into his waiting embrace.

I wrote this novel because I know there are others who need to feeling the healing balm of the Lord as their walls crumble and they release all the shame and guilt of their past choices to Him. And it’s amazing to me and hopefully an encouragement to you to know when I wrote this novel I received further healing from the past hurts that want so desperately to hold me captive. I’m still a work in progress, and God is certainly not through with me yet.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Thank you so much, Mimi, for giving me this opportunity to share with your readers the heart of this book.

Back of the Book: Everyone runs from their past; Beck has it mastered. She’s been running for so long, stopping is a foreign concept. With her conning skills and wits at the ready, she's on a plane to London, free of charge.

Beck believes everything is going as planned, but when reality twists on its axis, she soon wonders whose plan? Teaming up with the gorgeous bellhop, Colin, is a no-brainer, especially when they discover their connections are anything but accidental. In their quest for answers, both are confronted with the demons of their pasts. Beck panics and does what comes naturally -- runs. However, she's not only running from herself, but from the superhuman who has made it his life's goal to track her down and either remove her from the equation or convince her to join him.

Would you like to win a kindle copy of RUNAWAY CHOICES? Please comment on this post and you will be put into the drawing to win! Connect with Eisley on Facebook, Twitter, or her blog, eisleyjacobs.com.

NaNoWriMo Winner in 2012!

     You may remember that last year I wrote a novel which I have worked all year to complete, but I still haven't managed it. The word count is around 85,000 words, but it hasn't been resolved to my satisfaction. I probably know the reason why, as another author put it: "I put everything I know into my first novel." I'm sure I did too. There are many characters and ideas to work out before I'm through, so it will take a while!

     But I'll continue working on it, though a few characters and situations may disappear  before it's finished. I apologize to anyone who has asked me where to get a copy as there just isn't one!

     This year I began writing a new novel. To be a winner on NaNoWriMo, you must write 50,000 words in the month of November. I wrote about 52,000 words, which wasn't as easy as it sounds because I was sick with the worst cold in my life (or the flu) and was in bed much of the time. Another situation was that Lisa and her family had a disaster at their house and moved in with me the end of September. They've decided to sell their house and are moving in here until they can decide what their next move will be. They have a townhouse in Murfreesboro which may come in handy the next few months. We have no idea how things will work out, and  it's hard on everyone to be in limbo.

     I talk about NaNoWriMo.org because I want to encourage anyone who has ever thought about writing to think about joining the millions of people who take the plunge every November. You have a whole year to think about it, it's absolutely free, and you get a copy (sometimes 5 copies) of your novel from Create Space (amazon.com) when you finish it in June. But you must complete it by the end of June to get the copies.  

     AND even if you don't write 50,000 words, the exercise will surprise you the way it pushes you along while you're writing words you never dreamed were in your head. Or, in the case of some people, they've had a novel in their head all their lives practically, but just haven't put it on paper. I was so resistant that it took Lisa, Quinlyn, and Donna to talk me into even trying. I kept saying that I had nothing to write about. And that may still be true, but I came up with ideas and I've enjoyed the process. Quinlyn chose to write 20,000 words and was successful (at 14 years old, she can choose how many words she wants to write above 1,500 or so). She's turning into a wonderfully expressive novelist herself. 

     And I will  say that writing this novel is an exercise which allows all of us  to  experiment and surprise ourselves with what we can do when we put our thoughts and ideas into words on a page. One of the best suggestions I've heard is to write about what you know. We can all do that, can't we? My novel isn't necessarily about what I know, except that I know how people  respond to life, which is what our lives are mostly about--responding to things that happen to us. The fun part is that you get to choose how each character responds to what happens. And one more thing is that if you allow your novel to do so, it will mostly write itself. My novel has turned into something I never intended it to be--one character a murderer and another a spy ? How could that be??? I find it hard to believe myself!  

     I know most of you are busy with holiday decorating and gift buying, but keep Writing A Novel on your list as a possibility for next year. And to anyone out there who gives it a try, I congratulate you because (as NaNoWriMo.org would say) you're already a winner!

Have a great week~

Mimi

    

Listening to Books from Audible.com ~

To bring you up to date on my recent excuses for not writing a blog, I'll begin by saying that I've spent the month of August dealing with a lot of pain and  I'm finding it difficult to make my mind cooperate in any kind of concentrated work. I was forced to go to bed and take pain medicine while waiting for the antibiotics to work on the infection. I tell you this to say that I lay quietly, moving as little as possible for days. And the result was that I spent some pleasant hours listening to books from Audible.com on my iPod (a red one generously given to me by three of my grandsons, thank you very much).

I'm a big fan of John Buchan's hero Richard Hannay, and having read all the novels involving  this character, I wanted to hear them read. I loved them all over again. You may remember Buchan's first novel with Hannay titled "The Thirty-Nine Steps." There was a recent re-make by BBC which I loved, though many didn't. Richard Hannay also appeared in "Greenmantle," "Mr. Standfast," "The Three Hostages," and "The Island of Sheep." All of these books are adventures that have a steady energetic movement which carries you from one scene to the next smoothly and quickly. I love them! But let me warn you that if you don't enjoy books from an earlier time period, look them over before reading--or listening--as the case may be. I've just read a blog about John Buchan where the writer likes his books, but finds him too pro-war and at times inauthentic in regard to the characters.

Today I finished listening to over 26 hours of  "Wives and Daughters" by Elizabeth Gaskell. To my mind, it must be the most beautifully written novel in our language. I was attached to all the characters,  and all of them--especially the main characters--will remain in my heart. I will probably listen to "Cousin Phyllis" by the same author next, but it was written before "Wives & Daughters" and is much shorter and--from what I've read about it--isn't nearly so lovely. So I may simply wait awhile to get over  my disappointment at having the latest book end.

~

 I'm also looking at some Charles Dickens and books by the Bronte sisters. For now, it's hard to think of "supplanting" my latest novel even with such fascinating books. But since I must move on, one of these may be a good choice.   

I like murder mysteries by Agatha Christie, but have only listened to "The Pale Horse" because they have mostly been portrayed so well on Masterpiece Theatre. And I listened to one of P. D. James's mysteries: "The Skull Beneath the Skin," which I liked except for the ending--a very unsatisfactory one. I believe it was one of her earlier books, and I'll probably try one of her later ones. I decided to listen to it because the heroine is a young woman who inherits a detective agency which is her means of earning her living. Come to think of it,  these books were made into movies for BBC as well, and I remember that some of them are much better than the others. Not that there were a bunch, but there were several.

                                                                                                  

Another one of my favorite writers is Carol Drinkwater, who wrote several books about her olive farm. I only got one of her books from Audible.com as I hadn't finished reading it and wanted to hear what she had to say in "Return to the Olive Farm." It's mostly an indictment of our stewardship of the earth...how we don't do a good job in preserving our sources of food even. The disappearance of bees, for instance, is one of her main worries. Our long-term use of pesticides has given humanity a kind of  "drinking the kool aid" scenario--slower, but just as sure. But does anyone listen? Not enough to stop what's happening to our food supply and water. Carol herself reads her books, and she's a lively narrator, so I enjoy listening to her. Her life has been--and still is--an interesting one, and she tells her stories with enthusiasm and humor.

~

I've listened to several other books from Audible.com, but will stop talking about my list and hope you'll make one of your own. There is a world of books to be read and listened to which can make you think in a way you've never thought before. And books that will make you a better person! I hope we're all interested in becoming more, better, brighter, etc.  I'm so glad to have an iPod! It's even better than I thought it would be, and that's saying a lot. I don't think everyone is as audibly inclined as I am, but everyone might enjoy trying out this way of getting through a book. I love it!

~

Have a good weekend!

Blessings...Mimi

     

Carrot & Seed Salad ~

Good Monday morning! I'm still working on my novel, so that is taking most of my mental discipline for writing. I've written a little over 80,000 words, but I'm not so much adding to it as making it better. But I want to keep in touch with all of you, so when I found this recipe for what sounds like a delicious carrot salad, I decided to share it with you. It's out of the cookbook "Breakfast, Lunch, Tea" by Rose Carrarini of Rose Bakery, which is a restaurant in Paris, France. At the beginning of the book is Rose's passionate philosophy: "Life is improved by great food and great food can be achieved by everyone." The publisher, Phaidon, adds: "Simplicity, freshness and the ability to choose the right things to cook are the keys to success and, with Rose's guidance and recipes, perfection and pleasure are easily attainable." So I say that since it's so hot almost everywhere,  and in many areas very humid, it seems the perfect dish to add to an entre this summer. It's a very simple and easy recipe that I hope you'll enjoy making for your family.

                                                                                   

About this particular salad, Rose says: "Any carrot salad has to be my favourite, but ever since the day when my assistant, Alice, suggested we use sunflower seeds as well as herbs, we have never looked back. I can't decide whether I prefer sunflower or pumpkin seeds, so the recipe gives both. Try either, and make up your own mind."

                                                                

CARROT & SEED SALAD

Serves 6

1 cup sunflower or pumpkin seeds

1 tablespoon sunflower or canola oil (optional)

pinch of salt

8 medium carrots, grated

1 handful chopped chives

For the dressing:

1/2 cup lemon juice

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 tablespoon superfine sugar

About 3 tablespoons sunflower oil or olive oil

Preheat the over to 350 degrees F, and, if you wish, mix the seeds with the oil.

Season the seeds with the salt, spread them evenly on a baking pan and bake for approximately

15 minutes till they are lightly roasted and crisp, turning frequently. Set aside to cool.

Place the carrots in a serving bowl.                                        

To make the dressing, whisk together the lemon juice, salt, pepper and sugar in a bowl, then

whisk in the oil. Check the seasoning--you may need more salt, sugar or lemon juice.

Pour the dressing over the carrots and mix well.

Sprinkle with the chives and the cooled seeds.

Have a wonderful week everybody! And stay cool!

Blessings...Mimi

Gravestones & Significance ~

Play the harp well, sing many a song, so that you will be remembered. Isaiah 23:16

Can you believe we're moving into the last week of July? I can't! I had a birthday on the 20th and it was a very good one. I love that my birthday comes somewhere in the middle of Le Tour de France. Another year has passed and what do I have to show for it? The most imposing part of the year is influenced by the fact that I decided to write a novel in November of 2010. And I'm still working on the details. I even added a character last week--not a main character, but a character to be woven in and brought to life. This has been my concentration when I write, so I've neglected my blogs for many months. I wish I were more prolific, but with all the other things going on in my life, I'm just not. And now that I'm more comfortable with the fact that I'm a writer, I read someone else's work and realize how I fall short of their beautifully written prose. But there is one thing for sure--my writing is my own and no one can take that away. It keeps me going on days when I lose heart about the whole project! I really do appreciate all the encouragement I get from you all.

Today I'm going to summarize the last chapter in Meeting God in Quiet Places: The Cotswold Parables by F. LaGard Smith. Like coming to the end of July,  we've come to the end of the book with Chapter 31. And this last chapter gives us something to think about in regard to our lives. The question is: What will you leave behind when you die? Have you had a significant impact on your world? Have you influenced lives? Have you changed lives? Hmmm...LaGard gives us some thoughts to contemplate today which remind us why we're here. Actually, the graveyard says it all.

The Cotswolds receive many organized groups of ramblers every year, and part of the route they take is through a graveyard filled with ancient gravestones dating back to the 1700's. Some of the gravestones  have little epitaphs which tell the story of the one buried there. Others now appear blank because the words once engraved there have been washed away by time. But the lesson for all of us is clear: whether great or small, they are all on equal footing now.

We're familiar with the urgency of the great--their insistence on having precedence because their work is important to the lives of everyone else. The rest of us must give way and be thankful that someone cares enough to do the work we cannot do. And in England, the class system has always meant that the divide between master and servant was much greater than we'll ever know. But when we look at their graves all these years later, we may ask: Did it matter that one was a master and the other a servant? All the important tasks which the master carried out are trampled under the feet of rambling visitors just as often as the chores of the servant. You'll remember that the wisest man who ever lived was Solomon, who said: "Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.... There is no remembrance of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow."

And it was Solomon who concluded that life is meaningless! No matter how special we think we are, generations to come will not remember us. No one will care that we ever lived. As Solomon said: "For the wise man, like the fool, will not be long remembered; in days to come both will be forgotten. Like the fool, the wise man too must die!"

                                                 

OUCH! I don't like to think about myself  like that. I want to be remembered. And I'm looking for some way to lengthen that memory. To accomplish that, I must leave behind something of significance...a legacy that says I helped to create a better world. I suppose I take wife, mother, and teacher for granted. But they aren't to be dismissed. "The hand that rocks the cradle..." and all that. The fact that we raise and teach our children the best we can  is of significance.

Significance is most often added to our lives in small ways. And in so many small ways, our own legacy is associated with those who went before us and gave us guidance and support. What lasts of our lives--our legacy--is the influence we have in changing the lives of others.

Think of the apostles who spent their lives preaching the gospel--the good news brought to the world by Christ. Peter was a powerful preacher, giving his life in service to the early church. But who told Peter about Christ? It was his brother Andrew. It was Andrew who made a significant difference in Peter's life and in the lives of countless thousands, including you and me!
                                

But we can go back even further for the young evangelist Timothy, who also spread the gospel. The scripture says that his faith "first lived in his grandmother Lois and in his mother Eunice." The influence of mothers and grandmothers is so important in the lives of all of us. And not forgetting that fathers play a big part in bringing up children. There is no greater significance in this world than bringing up your children "in the training and instruction of the Lord." We are all interested in our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren having good lives, aren't we?

                                                                                                                              

LaGard says: "Changed lives are our greatest legacy. Changed lives are the gifts that truly keep on giving, generation after generation. No matter how seemingly insignificant our own lives, we achieve significance through the lives that we touch for good. And never are our lives more significant than when the lives we touch are brought to know Christ. For at that point lives are not simply changed, but transformed!"

Take a few minutes to remember those in your past who made a difference by touching your life. If possible, let them know that you recognize their significance in your life and how much you appreciate it. And look around you to see if there is someone in your life right now whose life you are changing or could change. Because of you, someone could take a different path. And not just a different path, but a higher one! 

Give some thought to your legacy and have a great Sunday!

Blessings...Mimi

   

Grasping the Nettles of Commitment ~ Part 2

Tender-handed stroke a nettle,

And it stings you for your pains;

Grasp it like a man of mettle,

And it soft as silk remains.

My new motto is "Better late than never." But I hope everyone had a happy 4th of July! I was happy because I got out of the house and visited with family. It's been a long haul with the smoke-laden skies of New Mexico, but it's better now. There is often a haze and poor air quality, but it isn't oppressive like it was at first.

This is the second half of a valuable lesson for us from Chapter 30 of Meeting God in Quiet Places: The Cotswold Parables by F. LaGard Smith. In the second part of the lesson, LaGard wants us to understand what the parable is saying about our own reluctance to surrender to God. Why are we so hesitant? Because we're afraid it's going to hurt!

LaGard says: "Most of us flounder about, wanting to be fully committed followers of Jesus--thinking about it, coming close--yet never quite getting to the point where we are willing to "grasp the nettle"--to give ourselves wholly to God. To empty ourselves totally of self-will and self-direction. To surrender completely to Christ."


We're afraid of the unknown, asking serious questions about what it would mean:
1) What would my life be like if I really gave my life over to God?
2) What would my family think of me?
3)  How would it affect my job or career?
4) What would it cost me financially?
5) With all this at risk, do I really want to "grasp the nettle" of full surrender?

Remember the story of the rich young man who asked Jesus what he needed to do to inherit eternal life? He had obeyed all the commandments, though probably without much sacrifice. But when Jesus asked him about giving up all his possessions, his heart couldn't make the complete surrender that was required. Ask yourself about your own willingness to surrender. What treasures in your life are you unwilling to give up for God? Are you holding on to something at all cost?                                        

The prophet Joel tells us that we aren't alone in deciding whether to surrender to God. He says: "Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision." And what he's really saying is that most of us go through an entire lifetime in the valley of indecision. We just can't decide whether to surrender to God--or NOT!

The prophet Elijah was on a mountaintop when he asked the people of God to choose between the one true God and Baal. The verse says: "Elijah went before the people and said, 'How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.' But the people said nothing." NOTHING! Saying nothing is saying everything. It says that we haven't given up self to trust in God's leading.

Another man who chose God was Joshua when he said: "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Joshua's surrender to God was a matter of life and death. And then there was Moses, who said to the children of Israel: "This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life...." Moses was pleading with the Israelites to cling to the God of their salvation--to surrender all for Him.

But no one "grasped the nettle" like Jesus did. Jesus had no possessions to give up like the rich young man who wanted to inherit eternal life. But Jesus knew that surrender to God doesn't lead to death, it leads to life. Sweating drops of blood, His agony was apparent when He prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me." And then He said, "Yet not my will, but yours be done." Not even death was too great a sacrifice. Jesus' surrender was complete because He knew there is freedom in submission. And there is liberation in wholehearted, unwavering commitment!

Can we begin to say like Jesus, "Not my will, but yours"? Are our eyes fixed on Jesus who endured the cross for us? LaGard says: "Through his complete surrender on the cross, Jesus has already grasped the nettle for us. He has taken away the sting of death. All we need to do is to put our hand in his--to feel the softness of his love and never let go!"

It's wonderful to me that we have a choice...we can make the decision or not...it's up to us whether we surrender to God and live our lives through the love of Christ. Stresses and strains make it hard for us to give up our stubborn control, but you can be sure that it will make life more worthwhile in every way.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Blessings...Mimi

         

Grasping the Nettles of Commitment ~

Serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.  Deuteronomy 10:12

Nettles are the subject today from Meeting God in Quiet Places: The Cotswold Parables by F. LaGard Smith--the way nettles can represent more than a wild weed which stings. LaGard says that nettles can remind you that not everything in the English countryside is cozy and inviting. Nettles may look like a harmless green plant, but they can be very painful when you brush them on your walk. You may remember the old adage to "grasp the nettle" and get on with it. Do you have the courage--the boldness--to do the right thing even when it's going to be costly? When you know the pain is going to linger with you for hours? It is said that if you grasp the nettles quickly and firmly, it won't hurt. How many of you want to try out that expression, to see whether grasping the nettle will end up in a lot of pain?

Surrendering to God can have the same sense of grasping the nettle--a painful experience. And that pain creates hesitancy on our part. You may be hesitant to surrender your personal pleasures and lifestyle to accept a faith that seems onerous and burdensome. You wonder whether knowing God is worth the sacrifice. On the other hand, you may have that comfortable feeling of one who has walked with God for many years--church on Sundays, Bible study during the week, and keeping your nose clean, which means that you can live pretty much like everyone else. But what does Jesus say about that attitude?

This quotation from Jesus says a lot about half-hearted discipleship; you must either surrender to him all the way or just quit pretending: "He who is not with me is against me." And remember the scathing rebuke given to the Laodiceans: "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither cold nor hot--I am about to spit you out of my mouth." Holding onto God with one hand and the world with the other doesn't work. Jesus said: "No one can serve two masters." And Joshua said, "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve!" It's all about commitment, isn't it? And our job is to think about just how committed we are--not just getting by, not just biding our time, not just seeming to be a Christian, but truly committed to faithful lives of service and dedication to God. .

This is enough for you to chew on today. I'll give you more on how to surrender to God as many others have done. There are some good examples for all of us to follow. But no one has ever grasped the nettle as completely as Jesus did. More on what it means for us to grasp the nettle next time.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Blessings...Mimi 

Joy to the World ~

And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.
Matthew 1:21                      

It's a beautiful morning here, but it's going to be hot! I don't mind as long as the smoke stays away. We've been blessed that even though our air quality hasn't been good some days, the fires are not giving us the angst that I first anticipated. I'm actually going out to lunch today. It's my first day out of the house in about a month. Thankfully, I have Los Poblanos Organic Farm to deliver food to my door. I'm very thankful that the situation didn't get any worse here.

~

A quick update on the novel writing: I'm going through the manuscript slowly with the idea of taking out all the extra words I tend to put into my writing. And though I hate to admit it, I went through earlier and took out the contractions, only to realize that it was stiff and stilted, and so I'm putting them back. Please let me say that the books by Ken Follett, which I talked about in my last blog, are not fit for moral consumption. I just hadn't read enough reviews to share that at the time.

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And one more thing to share with you are excerpts from The Intimate Jesus by F. LaGard Smith. I began reading this book a few days ago, and have been struck by the power of the gospels once again. Because we are in constant earshot of bad news and the way of the world, it's easy to forget how blessed we are. So here's an excerpt from a chapter on JOY with the hope that it affects you the same way it did me--opening my eyes anew to the blessings and  JOY we have in Christ. Listen to LaGard:
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Jesus' birth is also the fulfillment of a promise and a reminder that, even in our lives, God is faithful who has promised. When he promises us eternal life, we can rest assured that he has indeed prepared a place for us in the world to come. When he promises us a life of joy and peace on this earth, we can rest assured that, even in the rough times, there is in Christ a peace that passes all understanding.                                

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The Christian who does not feel joy daily in his or her own life has missed the message of Jesus' birth. The carols we sing about his birth mean little if they do not bring into our lives the joy of reconciliation with God. And the celebration of the angels has a hollow ring if we fail to find joy in the living of life each day and in the simple sharing with our friends.

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For those who DO know the true meaning of joy, life takes on purpose spiced with pleasure. How about us? Has happiness run its course in our lives? What a wonderful opportunity to embrace a little child and bring him into our hearts! Great joy awaits those who do.

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I felt like putting these words in all caps, but I restrained myself. And, of course, what that means is that I needed this message. Perhaps it will lift you too.

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Have a great week!

Blessings...Mimi 

Gently Down the Stream ~

You may be wondering where I've been or what I've been doing. Mostly I've been working on the novel that I thought was finished. Almost the same day that I said I was finished, I realized that I had a good basis for a novel. I had written about 53,000 words moving toward the first deadline for NaNoWriMo. Then I was given time to get it right by editing and subtracting those odd sentences you can't believe you wrote in the first place. This added another 25,000 words and once again I thought it was complete. But as I moved my mind into other areas of life again, I began to see that I needed more depth to the story that I was writing. So I'm working to tell a deeper story, so that readers can have more understanding of the main character at least.

At one point, I looked at novels by other writers and some of my favorites are in first person. I decided that my novel should also be in first person. First person makes it so "in the now" and personal. So I proceeded to change all the pronouns and tenses in the novel. And first person sounded wonderful for the first three chapters, but not for most of it. As I read through again, I recognized my voice very much like the one on this blog! So I spent a few days changing it all back to third person. Now remember that at this point, I have almost 78,000 words! The best part of this process was seeing that I had too many words in many cases, and that changing the phrase into two words instead of three made a big difference in the awkwardness of reading it.  All in all, it created a better-flowing paragraph.

                                                                                                               

Having accomplished that chore, I was gratified once more in thinking it was finished--complete. But as I was looking around for a movie to watch on Netflix streaming, I saw one movie on my list from some time ago: The Pillars of the Earth. Netflix didn't think I'd like it all that much, but it had a medieval theme and I wanted to see if I liked it. After watching the first part--there are about 8 parts--I realized that I had heard of the author of the book from which the movie was made. His name is Ken Follett and he has a website, which I looked at. As it turns out, Follett's book had been published in 1989 and was still selling 100,000 copies a year. In talking about the book, he said he had taken 3 years to write it with lots and lots of research being done. His book contained 400,000 words. He thought he would never finish it. And he had a sequel which he wrote a couple of years after this one which is also very long. Can you see where I'm going with this?

~

My 78,000 words suddenly seemed insignificant. Couldn't I do better than that? Couldn't I put some depth into my novel? But my novel isn't supposed to be all that deep...it's for girls and young women. Well, don't I owe them more than fluff? So the blush of writing a novel that began last November continues to haunt my days and nights, while I decide what I want to do with my novel. You asked what I've been doing, and this is my reply. I'll try to give you some blogs along the way.

I hope you're having a good week!

Blessings...Mimi  

Cricket & the Bible ~ Understanding ~ Part 2

Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it. Proverbs 16:22

We're in the 28th chapter of Meeting God in Quiet Places: the Cotswold Parables by F. LaGard Smith, and the question we want to considerer is: What activates the transition between reading or hearing the gospel and actually becoming a person of faith?

What does that have to do with cricket? Cricket has rules that are so difficult for us to understand that we simply don't enjoy the game. For most Americans, the rules and even the actual playing of the game--where the same player may be at bat for hours and the game may go on for days--leave our emotions cold. But that isn't the way cricket fans see the game. As one lifelong cricket fan said, "Cricket is a contemplative game which has inspired poetry, art, and music." That was an eye-opening statement for LaGard, who realized that there must be more to the game than simply understanding the rules. Surely there is something about the spirit of the game that is very special. 

The word that strikes a cord between Christianity and cricket is contemplative. In fact, LaGard says that this may be the key to the mysterious process of transforming someone who has biblical knowledge into a person with genuine, enthusiastic faith! In other words, we don't want to simply know about God technically, we want to know God personally. LaGard says: "There is so much more to appreciate about our faith, so much more to feel and to be! What is it that instills the passion? What is it about Christian faith that becomes obsessive? What is it that would cause a person to live for its teaching and die for its truths?" Can you believe that it's the working of the Holy Spirit?

                                                             

No, the Holy Spirit isn't a magic wand to be waved, so that we suddenly burst into a fiery faith. Nor does the Holy Spirit overwhelm us and turn us into miracle workers. And being filled with the Holy Spirit doesn't help us find an open parking space or "hit for six" in a game of cricket! So what does the Holy Spirit do to make God come alive in our hearts? LaGard explains: "He awakens us! He stirs us! He enlightens us! If faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God, it is the Holy Spirit who makes sure we actually hear the truths that transform." 

But reading or hearing the Word of God is only the first step in our learning process. It's the Holy Spirit's role to say: "Wake up and catch what God is saying to you through His Word!" He awakens us and stirs us to seek God with intensity. And because knowledge alone isn't enough, the Holy Spirit enlightens us like a good teacher. As a law professor, LaGard says he aspired to be the good teacher that Jesus spoke of when He said, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old." And that is exactly what the Holy Spirit does.

Most of us have re-read a familiar scripture which we've studied many times before, but this particular time a new understanding was gained--a light was switched on in our mind. Could it be that the Holy Spirit actively reached out to make sure we got the intended message--perhaps for a particular need? The Holy Spirit could well have blessed us with enlightened eyes. Not a new revelation, but an understanding of "the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints." The Holy Spirit gives us the gift of openness to receive and understand God's revelation for our own individual lives. 

This kind of enlightenment makes God real to us; His love is no longer an abstract concept, but gives us motivation to serve others, to sacrifice for others, and to live a morally pure life, just as Christ did. When we're enlightened through the Word, our passion is kindled and transforms us. And at this point, having God in our lives begins to make a difference.                 

                                                                           

Being enlightened means that we no longer just follow the rules as in a cricket match. Our victory is not simply in a game, but is victory over sin, over insurmountable circumstance, even over death! But our most important victory is over disbelief. When we ask God to help our unbelief, God transforms us from spectators into participants. How it happens exactly remains a mystery. But for people watching our lives, let us hope that the Holy Spirit can use our transformed lives as a means of illuminating them as well.  

                                                                                               

This lesson will not only give you something to think about for the moment, but will remind us all that contemplating spiritual truths is the most important thing we can do to make the world a better place for ourselves and others.

Blessings...Mimi 

   

  

Cricket & the Bible ~ Understanding

Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it. Proverbs 16:22

In my Bible blog yesterday, I talked about hope as a necessary element in living a faithful life. And clearly, the way to keep our hope alive is by having the Holy Spirit living within us. In Chapter 28 of Meeting God in Quiet Places: the Cotswold Parables  by F. LaGard Smith, the point is made that understanding is the key to our enlightenment through the Holy Spirit.

This parable is taken from the popular game of cricket, which is played, watched and loved by most of the British people. In fact, the game of cricket gets much more attention from the British people on Sunday than does any worship service, in spite of the fact that its rules of engagement are obscure to most Americans. The obsessive fever of the Brits for cricket comes closest to our obsession for baseball, but at least we understand the rules of baseball and know why we're excited. The fact that we don't understand the rules of cricket is probably the biggest reason we don't enjoy watching it. And through this analogy, we can see that when we don't understand the Bible, we find it impossible to know God.  

So you may well ask the question: What would it take to know God? And you may feel that understanding the rules of engagement with God are as muddied in your mind as the rules for cricket.  It isn't hard to see that many people find it difficult to appreciate the worship of a God they've never seen; a God who can create a universe, but who later takes human form and is killed on a rude cross by the very creatures He's created. Like cricket, the rules of engagement involving propitiation, reconciliation, and salvation may sound like a foreign language to the uninitiated. And so do all those scriptures telling us that to live we have to die, that to receive we must give, that to love God we may have to "hate" our own families! Nonsensical verbiage or profound truths? The game of cricket could NOT be this difficult to understand! 

                                                                                         

Of course, reading the Bible--which is considered the Christian's rule book--is very helpful in gaining understanding about God. But in spite of this view of the Bible, please remember that it is much more than a rule book! LaGard says: "Far surpassing any such comparison, the Bible is meant to reveal to us nothing less than the wonder of God and the mystery of faith!" And the apostle Paul says in Romans: "Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." That sounds simple enough until we hear Paul say that "the mystery of godliness is great!" In other words, two people can read the same Bible--one turns to God in faith and the other turns away in doubt and skepticism. We have to figure out the answer to this question: What activates the transition between reading or hearing the gospel and actually becoming a person of faith? 

The important point of the parable will be explained in tomorrow's post. For now, contemplate the questions proposed here to see where your own understanding lies. 

Have a great weekend!

Blessings...Mimi