Christmas Challenge

My name is Glynis and I often go by just "g". So I'm challenging myself this Christmas to think of words that start with g and work on making them part of me.

I want to be more:

gracious

generous

gentle

gregarious

giving

good

Make your own list this year, my gift to you.

peace.

Another Year

It amazes me how quickly time passes these days. I watched the children sing at church yesterday and remember vividly when my angels were up there, too. Seems like yesterday, not yesteryear. 

I'm getting better about treasuring the moments, noting in my heart and mind what is really important. I'm looking forward to being with my children this weekend. Does my heart good. 


I hope for you and yours a very, Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year. Treasure the moments, they're the only treasures that count.

peace.

Manage Me

“Life is not a straight line leading from one blessing to the next and then finally to heaven. Life is a winding and troubled road. Switchback after switchback. And the point of biblical stories like Joseph and Job and Esther and Ruth is to help us feel in our bones (not just know in our heads) that God is for us in all these strange turns. God is not just showing up after the trouble and cleaning it up. He is plotting the course and managing the troubles with far-reaching purposes for our good and for the glory of Jesus Christ.”
― John Piper, A Sweet and Bitter Providence: Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God

Manage me, God.

peace.

At your age...

I think I may hate this phrase, At your age....

Oh well, moving on. At any age, skin can be dry when the weather starts turning cold. I have the solution.

I know I've talked about this lotion before, but the good people at Carmex sent me another goodie box so I'm going to talk about it again. (They aren't paying me, they just sent me the goodies. Keep reading, good news.)

I LOVE these products! The Healing Lotion and Healing Cream. Non-greasy, not too Carmexy smelling, they ROCK!!

If you'd like some, leave a comment. They told me I could give a goodie box to you, too. But just one of you, so randomizer it is. One comment per person please, winner announced November 15th, 2011.

Lotion up folks, the cold weather is a-comin!

peace.

The call of the ocean

Ok, that may be a wee bit dramatic, but I do love the ocean. I can literally sit for hours listening to the surf and the birds. It is the most relaxing thing I can think of. Lakes come close, but there is nothing like the ocean.

We spent last weekend in Monterey Bay, CA. Beachside condo, it was wonderful! We got to see whales, sea lions, porpoise, otters, pelicans, and gulls.

Some day, I will live near the ocean. I hope. :-)

peace.

He is or He isn't

I had a long conversation with a dear friend this week and I challenged her to decide whether God is who he says he is or he isn't. That nothing else could really be dealt with until that was settled.

Is God who he says he is?

My answer, a resounding yes. Of course he is! And yet, do I live my every day life like I believe this?

For the most part, this truth is buried deep in my heart. I do believe God is exactly who he says he is. He has proven it to me over and over. But in those moments of pain, anger, reaction, etc. I don't always behave like I believe it. I want to...

I want to live my life in the shadow of Psalm 139.


O LORD, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.
For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.
Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
O men of blood, depart from me!
They speak against you with malicious intent;
your enemies take your name in vain.
Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
I hate them with complete hatred;
I count them my enemies.
Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
(Psalm 139 ESV)

peace.

Pat Robertson is Wrong.

I've been hearing about this story and all I have to say is Pat Robertson is wrong.

This is not Biblical. No debate.

I also pray he never has to deal with a loved one with Alzheimer's.

I was given the gift of 5 years with my dad during his journey with Alzheimer's. It was not always easy, happy, and joyful. It was hard to watch him disappear a little at a time. It was hard to make decisions for him that he couldn't make for himself. It was hard to watch him struggle and eventually succumb to this horrible disease.

But I would not trade that time for anything.

It was a gift from God at the end of a rocky road. There were moments of laughter, moments of tears, moments of unfiltered love and I'm the better for having walked that road.

Dad is in heaven, enjoying his rewards. And I'm here, enjoying my memories of him.

This blog just spurred me on today.

peace.

My New Tattoo

I don't have it yet and don't know when I will, but I know what it will be.

This last year has been difficult in many ways. Lots of waiting (my favorite!) and lots of blessing. Looking back, I see God's hand in everything and I know He was watching me the whole time. I was never alone.

His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me. So that's what my next tattoo will be. A sparrow.

Inspired by this.

But more like this.

peace.

Oktoberfest in Choctaw

This about sums it up.

The best

The worst

peace.

Decisions of a Lifetime

Decisions, decisions.

Cut my hair off or let it grow? Concrete counters or granite? Comfortable shoes or cute ones?

I've discovered that most of the decisions I make in my life are so temporary. In the light of eternity, who really cares? Who will it really impact?

But there is one decision I made when I was 7 I will always remember, has shaped the person I am, and has forever changed me. I decided to follow Jesus. No turning back.

And I'm forever glad I did.

Have you?

peace.

Let's Play Catch Up

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind. Between interviews, unexpected offers, car issues, family events, etc. I'm finally catching my breath.

MOM: Is doing great! She is recovering very well, at a nice, steady pace. For those of you who may not know what happened, it's all here.

 

FAMILY: My nephew graduated from High School, enrolled in college and has enlisted in the Air Force Reserves. He is following in a long line of kinfolk who have served. In just 3 generations of our immediate family, there have been 15 men serve in the Armed Services. He is joining a proud tradition and I'm so grateful for his bravery, sacrifice and commitment. As I am for all US Military. Thank You!

JOB: I have a new job! I'm still with Reaching Souls International but now I am the US Director of Children in Need. It is the orphan ministry for RSI and where my heart beats.

Orphans are identified, matched with families, and supported through givers. Not in orphanages or centers, but in a home with a family. $25 a month provides food for the family and school fees for the orphan. They are an asset to the family, they are monitored through the local church and it's a win-win for all involved.

I could not be more blessed, excited, overwhelmed, grateful, humbled, excited...oh, I said that already. !!!  :-)

Just $25 a month changes a life. If you want to support and orphan(s), let me know!

CARS: Here's the challenge of the last 4 weeks. We've had car ISSUES! Jim's car is currently having it's engine replaced. Now, I can't complain too much about that because it did have over 180,000 miles on it and it's been a great car. And I would complain about the $4000 car bill to do so, but God is so gracious! Someone, we don't know who, dropped $2500 by the mechanic and told them to apply it to our bill. Thank you, God!! In our effort to be debt free, this was such an amazing blessing. My car has had several headaches, of course not all at the same time, which ended in one day all three of our cars being in the shop. Oh boy!

BOTTOM LINE: I am so blessed. His eye in on the sparrow and I know He watches me.

peace.

Congratulations!

Using random.org, my #2 commenter is the winner! So Sherrie, be looking for an email and looking forward to some Carmex goodies!

peace.

Only Until Friday

Carmex has once again sent me some sneak peek items. One I love, one I'm kind of meh about.

So here they are. The Carmex Vanilla Stick and the Carmex Lime Twist Stick. I've been trying them out for a couple of weeks and I must say the Vanilla is ok, more carmexy than vanillay. But the LIME, oh honey, it is really fresh and I love it!! 

Both are still great lip goodies, after all, it is Carmex. But the lime is my winner for this race.

Speaking of winners, I didn't forget you. :-)

Carmex will send one of my readers a cute little picnic blanket (See it here) and some lip goodies, too! All you have to do is leave a comment here by Friday, August 26th. I'll use a random picker method and announce the winner on Monday, August 29th.

In your comment, please leave your email address so I can get in touch. No email, no win. 

Bonus entries? Why, yes! If you want to Twitter about it or Facebook about it, just leave me an additional comment saying you did.  Share this link with your friends and thank you! That makes 3 entries per person possible. 

peace.

Legal Stuff: Other than the free goodies I was sent, I have not been compensated by Carmex.  

This could be yours...

Cutest picnic blanket and some lip goodies...stay tuned.

peace

Curveball

You know that moment you think you know, that moment you have a plan, that very moment you lift your foot to take the next step and WHAM!!?? I had one of those this week.

I've been waiting on the Lord to show me His plan. He gave me Exodus 14:14 as an encouragement to know he was at work on my behalf. It says "The Lord will fight for you and you have only to be silent." So I have been, until now.

Before you worry, it's all good. It's all God.

I have a new job. Not the one I thought I'd have on Tuesday, the one I interviewed for. But a new one with Reaching Souls that before yesterday, didn't exist.

They made is just for me. God made it just for me.

I am now the Director of Children in Need, the orphan ministry of Reaching Souls. This ministry has been in existence since 1996, but until yesterday, it wasn't a primary focus.

Now, that's all changing. Reaching Souls will still be focused on National Missionaries, but I will be focused on Children in Need.

Children in Need places orphans in homes with families. Not orphanages, not centers, but homes with a parent or parents, to grow up with siblings. Monitored through the local church, these kids are cared for, fed, educated and a member of a family.

God is so good and I am excited!

peace.

It's Hot, have a cup of Joe.

Seems like that is all anyone is talking about recently. We are seeing records broken for hottest days, longest stretch of hottest days, longest time without rain....and then I think of those who are not sitting in air conditioned cars, not living is air conditioned houses and I stop complaining.

From the soldiers on foreign soil carrying 60 lb. packs over sand in the heat to the homeless in our very own city, I stop to realize how very blessed I am. But for the grace of God go I.

So how can I ease their suffering? For the soldiers, I say thank you every time I see one.

For the homeless, I donate to organizations who are on the ground providing relief to these folks.



Like my friends, John & Jamie. If you can help Joe's Addiction, please do. Get your stuff together in your air conditioned home, put it in your air conditioned car and head down to a place that will bless your socks off!

Or leave a comment and I'll come get it. I don't mind and I'm not wearing socks. :-)

peace.

Do your job

Seems pretty simple. Do your job. Whatever it is, do it.

I guess this is what frustrates me about our government. Too many agendas, special interests, lobbyists, blah blah blah...just do your job.

You've been entrusted by the American people to govern OUR country. Voted into office, we've given you the authority to act our behalf....not just yours. Stop listening only to those who line your pockets, stroke your egos, make you promises...listen to US. We, the people, are growing tired of your ambitions, posturing, selfishness getting in the way of what you are in Washington to do, your job. Thank you to the few who are trying, we do notice. You will hear our support on election day.

So let's make this simple. If I don't do my job, I don't get paid or I lose my job. Same for you.

If you'd like to stay in Washington, then do your job. See, it really is simple.

peace.

You Know It's HOT When....

R.I.P. Ice Cream Truck.

peace.

No Complaints

My favorite soldier, nephew & niece....many moons ago. 

I was going to complain about how hot it is... then I realized that at least:

1.) It isn't 115 degrees

2.) I'm not 5,700 miles from home

3.) I'm not dressed in a full BDU uniform and helmet and carrying 70+ lbs.

4.) There is very little chance that anyone will shoot at me or that I might drive over a bomb in the road today.

Thanks to all who serve or have served in our fine military! God bless!!!

peace.

A shift in the atmosphere

Ok, it's not quite that dramatic but I'm feeling the need for a change.

A change of place, pace, purpose...like the alliteration?

place...I don't see this being permanent, we're not moving. But maybe some days away...

pace...taking the time to really take the time to relax, renew, reinvigorate, restore...ok, I'll quit... :-)

purpose...this one is a little harder, but with the help of place and pace, I'm hoping it becomes clearer. Must put the big rocks in first.

peace. :-)