1/22/10
1/19/10
THE LOST HORSE
THE LOST HORSE is an old Chinese folk story that explains the meaning of a blessing in disguise. It is the tale of a wise old horse breeder who can see the silver lining in a dark cloud, and who recognizes the hazards that can lurk behind a stroke of seeming good fortune.
In a nutshell, one of the old man's horses runs away one day. When the neighbors commiserate with him over his misfortune, he asks them, "How do you know this is not really good luck?" A few days later the horse returns, bringing another horse with it. When his neighbors congratulate him on his good luck, he says, "How do you know this is really good luck?" Sure enough, some while later the old man's son falls while riding the horse and breaks his leg. This turns out to be a strke of good fortune when all the young men of the village are ordered to join the Emperor's army, but the old man's son doesn't have to go since he has a broken leg.
Moral of the story: Things are comparitive; the good comes with the bad. You should not lose your will to continue if an unlucky event happens, nor should you be too overjoyed or feel too self-satisfied because of a lucky event, or because something that you desire comes very easily to you.
This parable came to mind this week as I butted my head against what seemed like a brick wall. Circumstances that had at first seemed positive had turned negative, and I was powerless to do anything about it. All that butting just gave me a very big headache.
Now I do not believe in fate or luck, but in a God who is in total control, and from whose hands all blessings flow. I know in my heart that even when my senses scream at me that everything going on in my life appears to be contradicting His promises, and my prayers are going unheard, it's because I tend to focus on one small piece of the puzzle instead of being patient and trusting Him to work things out according to His perfect timing and plan. I tend to forget that, unlike me, He sees the whole picture, and is working things out for my ultimate good and for His glory (Romans 8:28).
So once again, I lay my burdens at the foot of the Cross and put my trust in Him who gave His life for me (and for you too) so that we could be reconciled with the Father and enjoy eternal life.
In a nutshell, one of the old man's horses runs away one day. When the neighbors commiserate with him over his misfortune, he asks them, "How do you know this is not really good luck?" A few days later the horse returns, bringing another horse with it. When his neighbors congratulate him on his good luck, he says, "How do you know this is really good luck?" Sure enough, some while later the old man's son falls while riding the horse and breaks his leg. This turns out to be a strke of good fortune when all the young men of the village are ordered to join the Emperor's army, but the old man's son doesn't have to go since he has a broken leg.
Moral of the story: Things are comparitive; the good comes with the bad. You should not lose your will to continue if an unlucky event happens, nor should you be too overjoyed or feel too self-satisfied because of a lucky event, or because something that you desire comes very easily to you.
This parable came to mind this week as I butted my head against what seemed like a brick wall. Circumstances that had at first seemed positive had turned negative, and I was powerless to do anything about it. All that butting just gave me a very big headache.
Now I do not believe in fate or luck, but in a God who is in total control, and from whose hands all blessings flow. I know in my heart that even when my senses scream at me that everything going on in my life appears to be contradicting His promises, and my prayers are going unheard, it's because I tend to focus on one small piece of the puzzle instead of being patient and trusting Him to work things out according to His perfect timing and plan. I tend to forget that, unlike me, He sees the whole picture, and is working things out for my ultimate good and for His glory (Romans 8:28).
So once again, I lay my burdens at the foot of the Cross and put my trust in Him who gave His life for me (and for you too) so that we could be reconciled with the Father and enjoy eternal life.
1/15/10
A TOUCH OF NOSTALGIA
I came across this photo while looking for something to post on Facebook for Way Back Week, and no, it's not the one that got picked, but it did create a nostalgic moment.
Could anyone have imagined--even in their wildest dreams--that the path would lead from there to here?
1/5/10
A CALL TO ANGUISH
Feeling convicted by this video clip I saw on the blog of a 15-year-old, and thinking what a great testimony that even in today's world there are young people out there who are not ashamed to be sold out for Jesus and who have the boldness and courage to follow the narrow path instead of trying to fit in with the crowd.
12/31/09
HAPPY NEW YEAR, 2010
Today is New Year's Eve Day, and as I get ready to ring out the old year and welcome in the new, I am busy filling in calendars with important dates, putting away decorations, figuring out the 2010 budget, and setting up new planners and journals. It has become a tradition that I thoroughly enjoy.
As I go about my preparations, hope, anticipation, and excitement. start to build. It's the same magical feeling I experience every time I get ready to write something in a brand new notebook full of fresh, blank pages just waiting to be filled.
2009's slate will soon be wiped clean. What does 2010 hold in store? My wish for you is that it will be a year of peace, health, joy, prosperity, blessings, and many awesome surprises.
Happy New Year, dear bloggy friends!
As I go about my preparations, hope, anticipation, and excitement. start to build. It's the same magical feeling I experience every time I get ready to write something in a brand new notebook full of fresh, blank pages just waiting to be filled.
2009's slate will soon be wiped clean. What does 2010 hold in store? My wish for you is that it will be a year of peace, health, joy, prosperity, blessings, and many awesome surprises.
Happy New Year, dear bloggy friends!
OFFSHORE OUTSOURCING -- A CHUCKLE FOR YOU
A few months ago, one of my virtual jobs got what promised to be a fantastic contract that would ensure plenty of work for all on an ongoing versus temporary basis They even hired a bunch of new agents to help with the expected overflow. We had to take a special training to qualify, and were excited to see there really was a flood of work coming in. Quite a contrast to the previous drought we had been experiencing.
We all contentedly settled in to a work schedule soon taken for granted. Our fortunes had taken a turn for the better, and 2010 was looking good as far as our pocketbooks were concerned. Little did anyone suspect that this was all about to change.
When I turned on my computer yesterday morning, all ready for a full day's work, I was greeted by a most apologetic e-mail from our manager, telling us we had lost the contract.
Surprisingly, I felt a perfect peace in the face of this potentially devastating news. I even got a second chuckle out of this video clip one of the other agents had posted on our Bulletin Board a while back, and that immediately came to mind. It seemed so appropriate, I dug it out of my saved favorites and have posted it here for you to enjoy too (just click on the link, and then on the play button arrow at the bottom of the screen).
Offshore Outsourcing
We all contentedly settled in to a work schedule soon taken for granted. Our fortunes had taken a turn for the better, and 2010 was looking good as far as our pocketbooks were concerned. Little did anyone suspect that this was all about to change.
When I turned on my computer yesterday morning, all ready for a full day's work, I was greeted by a most apologetic e-mail from our manager, telling us we had lost the contract.
Surprisingly, I felt a perfect peace in the face of this potentially devastating news. I even got a second chuckle out of this video clip one of the other agents had posted on our Bulletin Board a while back, and that immediately came to mind. It seemed so appropriate, I dug it out of my saved favorites and have posted it here for you to enjoy too (just click on the link, and then on the play button arrow at the bottom of the screen).
Offshore Outsourcing
12/29/09
THE WAY IT WAS
IN GOD WE STILL TRUST
The words to this song used to ring true, but these days they seem less and less so. How tragic!
Post edited on 12/30/09
The words to this song used to ring true, but these days they seem less and less so. How tragic!
Post edited on 12/30/09
12/23/09
BEYOND THE PARTY
This excerpt from one of Ron Hutchcraft's Christmas Moments says it so much better than I ever could.
They called it a Christmas miracle. A California dad drove into a Sierra forest, parked his truck and went looking for a Christmas tree with his three teenage children. Then the snowstorms came. They were lost and they were unprepared. After searchers looked for three days, two pilots finally saw the word “HELP” stamped in the snow and a man waving. For that lost family, Christmas meant rescue.
And that is really what Christmas is about for every one of us. Behind the big party called Christmas is a mission as serious as life-or-death—yours and mine. That first Christmas, God announced Jesus was coming to “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). He didn’t come to start a religion or be a good example. He came here to rescue people who would die otherwise forever, because our sin carries a forever death penalty that He paid with His life on the cross.
This Christmas season, He wants to make you a Christmas miracle, if you’ll grab His outstretched hand as your Rescuer from your sin. Don’t miss what He came for. If you’re ready for His rescue, call us at 888-NEED HIM.
They called it a Christmas miracle. A California dad drove into a Sierra forest, parked his truck and went looking for a Christmas tree with his three teenage children. Then the snowstorms came. They were lost and they were unprepared. After searchers looked for three days, two pilots finally saw the word “HELP” stamped in the snow and a man waving. For that lost family, Christmas meant rescue.
And that is really what Christmas is about for every one of us. Behind the big party called Christmas is a mission as serious as life-or-death—yours and mine. That first Christmas, God announced Jesus was coming to “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). He didn’t come to start a religion or be a good example. He came here to rescue people who would die otherwise forever, because our sin carries a forever death penalty that He paid with His life on the cross.
This Christmas season, He wants to make you a Christmas miracle, if you’ll grab His outstretched hand as your Rescuer from your sin. Don’t miss what He came for. If you’re ready for His rescue, call us at 888-NEED HIM.
12/22/09
WHERE'S THE LINE TO SEE JESUS?
"Where's the Line to See Jesus?"
An original song performed by father and daughter, Steve Haupt and Becky Kelley
Recorded at Shock City Studios, Saint Louis, MO
Produced by Chris Loesch
Video by Robbie Haupt and Greg Haupt
The story behind the song, as told by Steve Haupt, is as follows:
"While at the mall last year, my 4 year old grandson saw kids lined up excitedly to see Santa Claus. Having been taught as a toddler that Christmas is the holiday that Christians celebrate the birth of God's son, with the innocence of a child, he asked his mom, 'Where's the line to see Jesus? If Christmas is Jesus' birthday, why don't we see Him more?'
As his grandpa, I was so happy that little Spencer understood the meaning of Christmas at such a tender age, and then the words for a song were jotted down in just a few minutes. The song was inspired by my grandson, and the message was inspired by my Savior.
Out of the mouths of babes come profound truths that many adults can not understand. Hopefully Spencer's observation and our song will cause people to reflect on the love of Jesus, and the certainty that one day we will all stand in line to see Jesus."
Wishing you all a beautiful Christmas and a very blessed New Year!
Great-Granny Grandma
12/20/09
AFTERMATH OF THE STORM
It never ceases to amaze me how one day we can be in the midst of a blustery storm, and then the next day the wind has quieted down and the sun is shining. Same thing with the ocean, whose angry waves can wreak havoc of tsunami proportions, only to be followed by stillness and calm.
Yesterday we experienced the worst blizzard in this neck of the woods since the 1990's. Accumulation was close to 24 inches. Today the sun is shining. Nevertheless, I did have to wear my boots just to go out on my balcony to take these photos. 
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)