Tuesday, July 5, 2011

The Waiting Place...

The Waiting Place:  Learning to Appreciate Life's Little Delays by Eileen Button is a nice book recounting Ms. Button's life experiences from her past up to her present.  She very eloquently writes of her experiences and feelings as she was standing over her grandfather's grave site - before he was in it, as she was getting her hair done, as she gave birth to a child with health issues and so much more... Her accounts made me go from laughter to tears as I reminisced about my own 'waiting places'. 

I must say, that while it is a nicely written memoir, it did not appeal to me personally, as I typically prefer books of a more devotional style, or those that challenge me in my walk with Jesus.  With that said, I was left thirsting for God throughout the entire book.  He was present, to be sure, she did not leave Him totally out, but I had expected that through Ms. Button's 'waiting places' she would share how God blessed her, what He taught her through each experience, as well as personal encouragement and Scripture to apply in my own 'waiting places'. 

So, if you're looking for an easy, heart-tugging book to read, The Waiting Place may be for you...if, however, you're looking for a devotional-style book, I would suggest looking elsewhere.

{Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."}

Friday, July 1, 2011

Random Non-Sensical Ramblings...

It's been a while since I've posted anything, so I thought I'd stop by for a visit before heading on to the  rest of my day...  My heart is so very heavy at a recent turn of events in the life of someone we know, and quite honestly, I'm not really sure just what to do other than pray... of course, that's the primary thing for this particular situation.  A young man- well kid, he's nowhere near being a man, though he's trying in all the wrong ways... anyway, this person has declared he is 'not a Christian, and never was', he has declared that he's been lying to everyone and 'the joke's on you'...   My heart aches for him, he's choosing to take the way of the fool and has no idea of the implications of his decisions, and he obviously doesn't understand who he is in relation to who God is...

The fool says in his heart, "There is no God".  They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.  ~Psalm 14:1

Anyway, Independence Day is almost here- already!  I remember the days when it seemed to take forever for July 4th celebrations to come, and now here it is.  Then it's JD's b-day party, Family Camp and BANG!  Summer's over and the school year begins again...  AAUUUGGGHHHHH!!!!!!  Yet I will not worry about tomorrow for today has enough trouble of its own... Thank You Lord for your comforting Word!  I just love how God's living Word washes over me and quenches this dry and parched land within- Jehova is SO Amazing!

Do you ever wish you could just go out and buy something you want just because you want it?  I mean without having to put in all the effort of searching out the best deal, looking in second hand shops/yard sales, planning & saving forever to buy it, praying for the Lord to bless you with it and then waiting for that blessing?  To just take the easy road and go buy something brand new (in the words of my children, "and nobody's even worn it before!" something they were very excited about).  Like, for instance I really want two dressers for the boys' room (it would make a little better use of space in there for them and be more user-friendly than what they currently have), and a slightly larger dresser for ours (it's the dresser my mother used when I was a 5-6 year-old kid that she bought for $25 at a yard sale- space is currently an issue and has been for 11 years)... Do we need these?  No, of course not, but it sure would be nice!  Okay, what else would make my life perfect?  Oh, yes, if I would have no more headaches, and this stupid chronic muscle/back thing would just magically go away so I wouldn't have to spend any $$ on doctor's visits...  :)

Now, that I've effectively complained about everything...  I've recently (within the last couple of months) been praying that the Lord would take me to a deeper level of submission to my husband and show me the deeper meaning.  So, being ever Faithful, God has provided opportunity.  :) 

"Ask, and it will be given to you, seek, and you will find;  knock and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, it will be opened."  ~Matthew 7:7-8

So, I don't remember the exact conversations/situations at this point, but twice- yes, count them TWICE - Jon and I have been talking over situations and I do off and do my 'Wendy' thing where I come up with all kinds of ideas and plans for implementing them (this would be a great place for you to feel very sorry for my husband), when my dear husband pipes up ever-so-gently (he's always sensitive to the way he says things to me so as to not hurt my feelings)  "... you're trying to be the boss... and you just need to stop..." Well, that shut me up right then and there for sure... most of the time (in my flesh) I would feel rather offended at such a rebuke, but to my added surprise, I actually had a deep sense of joy and excitement at his stepped-up leadership!  :)    I should probably tell him this- I'm sure he'll think I'm totally a weird-o...  :)

Wives submit to your own husbands as to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is Himself it's Saviour.  Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.  ~Ephesians 5:22-24