yikes - wake me up next time!

Had one of those dreams last night where I think there's someone in the room, and try to wake up to talk to them, but can't ... and try hollering to wake myself up, but it doesn't work.

Once when traveling with a friend, she told me I yelled in my sleep, so I know it DOES happen. Today I'm wondering if I was screaming bloody murder, and ought to apologize to a neighbor or two!

I was thinking about the last half of Exodus 28:30 last night & this morning:

And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron’s heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.

That last phrase struck me ... what would it be like to "bear the judgment" on my heart continually? How would I be different if I was always remembering that the people around me are eternal creatures ... who will be judged if they don't accept the alternative?

We read this C.S. Lewis quote in prayer meeting Tuesday morning, and I thought it applied to this:

It is a serious thing to ... remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations. It is in light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere moral. Nations, cultures, arts, civilization -- these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snug and exploit -- immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. -- C.S. Lewis

what do I smell?

I was reading in Exodus 30 last night & this morning.

It's talking about the incense & perfumes that would be used in the tabernacle. Israel was told never to mimic the same formula to use on themselves or in their homes. God's things, and His places were supposed to smell different ...

People's homes often have a distinctive scent ... neither unpleasant nor pleasant ... just distinctive.

God wanted that for HIS house, the tabernacle. When that scent was perceived, people's thoughts would turn to Him.

In 2 Corinthians 2:15 it says that Christians "are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing."

God wants His people to have a distinctive "fragrance" also. When someone meets me, I want to remind them of Christ. When someone who doesn't know Jesus meets me, I hope they're reminded of "great Aunt Susan, who belived kind of like you do."

It's so easy to get caught up in temporary problems & irritations (ugh - like that awful experience when I went to check out Escape Fitness Tuesday), and forget that I'm an ambassador for Another. That is far more important than personal offenses!

Trinka

I like these forwards ...

Welcome to the new edition of getting to know your friends.

1. What is your occupation?
Office manager

2. What is the last thing you read?
My chronological Bible – I love having the approximate dates, and reading it in order!

3. What are you listening to right now?
Local talk radio

4. What was the last thing you ate?
A granola bar

5. Do you wish on stars?
No – but I love looking up at them.

6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
Grey – those who know me well will know why. :)

7. How is the weather right now?
Sunshine and blue skies, and 20 degrees cooler than it has been.

8. Last person you spoke to on the phone?
Sean at the Sprint PCS store

9. Do you like the person who sent this to you?
Yes – and look forward to seeing her in September!

10. How old are you today?
36

11. Favorite drink?
A smoothie that D. ordered at a fast food place in Texas. Wish I could find something similar here!

12. Favorite sport to watch?
No such thing.

13. Have you ever dyed your hair?
Red. But never found a natural-looking color, so I quit.

14. Do you wear contacts or glasses?
Both – or else I wouldn’t even be able to find the floor in the morning.

15. Pets?
5 African violets

16. Favorite month?
May

17. Favorite food?
Thai

18. What was the last movie you watched?
An IMAX on Egypt

19. Favorite day of the year?
New Years Day – very contemplative and quiet

20. What do you do to vent anger?
Don’t know if I’m consistent, but last night I called a friend, wrote a letter to the offending company, and this morning had the above-mentioned friend edit the letter lest I send it and regret it later!

22. Fall or Spring?
Both

23. Do you delete forwards without reading them, read them and delete, or send them out to others?
Read the ones with a subject line I haven’t seen before, delete those I know I’ve read previously, and rarely send them on to others.

24. Cherry or Blueberry?
Blueberry (and peach) my two favorite fresh fruits, both currently in season!

25. Do you want your friends to email you back?
Yes

26. Who is most likely to respond? ?????
Lori V. if she can remember how to cut & paste.

27. What's your favorite smell?
Lilacs

28. Who do you live with?
1,000 wonderful books, and a few spiders who hide behind them

30. What is on the floor of your closet?
A laundry basket, and a Rubbermaid container of the clothes I’m hoping to un-grow into. :)

31. Who is the friend you have had the longest?
D.

32. What did you do last night?
Had a bad experience at a fitness center (see #20 above!) and helped Chris V. with her computer.

33. Favorite non-Biblical author?
Samuel Rutherford

34. What’s your favorite use of an unexpected afternoon off?
A good used book store, running errands, and cleaning my house without pressure to hurry or be anywhere.

35. What are you afraid of?
parties

36. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers?
Cheese hamburgers

37. Favorite car?
I find the new hybrids draw me. I saw a Honda Inspire in someone’s driveway this last weekend, and it had an interesting shape.

38. Favorite dog breed?
Any large, non-hyper dog.

39. Number of keys on your key ring?
11 – I’m house-sitting right now.

40. How many years at your current job?
10 1/2

41. Favorite day of the week?
Sunday

42. How many states have you lived in?
2

43. How many cities (towns) have you lived in/name them?
Michigan - Allendale, Athens, Fulton, Grand Rapids, Jenison, Union City
Pennsylvania – Reading, Spring Creek

start with the inside

I've been reading in Exodus 25 (or near there!), and God described to Moses how He wanted the tabernacle set up.

I half-remember a sermon on this ... and it was interesting -- in one section, when God talked about the actual tent, He described it in several layers, and He started with the inside layer, and worked His way out. It seemed backwards to me ... if I were going to describe the same thing, I think I'd start with the outside, and work my way in.

But to God, the interior was most significant ... it was where He would meet with His people. And with people, too, He's most concerned with our hearts and minds. Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.

Got to the gym last night, and then had a wondeful swim ... it was VERY hot here yesterday, and the swimming pool was just begging for company. :)

Off to check out that new gym tonight.

Trinka

kinda like driving in England

I'm awash with relief at having Sunday's class done and over with. I was asked to co-teach a class on marriage & singleness yesterday. (I did the singleness part, obviously!)

I felt prepared, and was able to stick to my notes without burying my face in them (which is a hard balance for me to strike.) It was a blessing for me to renew my thinking on God's goodness to me as well!

I was thinking of an illustration for how it felt to speak ... I've never been paralyzed in fear at the idea as so many people are. Neither do I find it totally comfortable. It's more a matter that if I'm well prepared, I can do it, but it's never really been "natural" for me.

It reminds me of driving in England. I did it (though D. did far more!). I knew I COULD do it, and that if I kept doing it, it would become more natural over there on the left side of the street. But it certainly required a lot of concentration, and I was worn out when it was done!

Slept all afternoon yesterday when I got home!

Tomorrow afternoon there's an open house at a new gym that's starting right near where I work. Feel slightly guilty spending money on it ... yet the convenience of being able to work out before work in the mornings has a real draw to it. Maybe I'll walk in and hate the place, and my mind will be made up for me!

Trinka

rest

I've been reading in Exodus 23, where the Lord talks about the need for the sabbath, and the sabbath-year (every 7th year, the fields were left fallow, and the land rested).

It was a blessing to think about this ... particularly in line with the Lord Jesus being the fulfillment of the sabbath.

In Ex. 23, it talks about how leaving the land rest will allow the poor, and the animals, to eat off the volunteer growth in the fields. The sabbath feeds those who can't farm for themselves.

What a blessing that our Lord offers us the freedom from sin that we couldn't give ourselves ... He is the bread of life, and the living water that we can't earn or buy, but is offered to us without cost.

Isaiah 55:
1 "Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost.
2 "Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight yourself in abundance.

I've been walking, but not getting to the gym since Tuesday. I'm teaching the Sunday school class (or rather, half of it) Sunday, and the preparation is needing a lot of time. In truth, I probably AM prepared already, but it builds my confidence to keep working on it. :)

Trinka

how the other half lives

I took today off to work on my talk for Sunday school this coming Sunday.

Woke up at 6:30, was able to go over to the gym while it was nearly empty and work out ... and drive over to the local free-wi-fi-and-coffee shop for breakfast and a quick e-mail check.

I have to say, that a leisurely life does have an appeal!

And for the person who sent yesterday's anonymous comment ... I'm sure God will be interested to know He doesn't exist. (you may want to consider whether your logic has any holes) :)

Trinka

just to confirm that you got the message ...

To preface, I hate confirmations ... I find it irritating that people will call me to see if I got something in the mail (particularly sales-people!). I spent some time with the king of all double-checkers ... and so I've gone in the other direction ... radically so!

However, in reading Exodus 20, I noticed that God does this! He had Moses tell the people to stay away from the mountain while Moses went up to get the 10 commandments. Then when Moses got up there, God sent him back to repeat the message!

So ... I suppose there's room for balance here ... there most be SOME occasions where double-checking is needed.

Got to the gym on Sunday, and walked Friday & Saturday. It's VERY warm here right now, so I think there should be extra credit offered. :)

A new gym is opening up just down the street from work, and I'm hoping to go and have a look tomorrow. I'd love to be able to go before work in the mornings, and re-visit having a life in the evenings once again.


A friend broke his shoulder in a bicycle accident a while back due to a fellow rider who heard "left" and went "right". I did this for him to send the guy in an funny e-mail, and am quite happy with how it turned out.

Don't see any future as a graphic artist, but at least it's understandable!

So ... did you buy the rental insurance

My brother tells me this is a rental car he was driving.

Here's his account of the situation:

I was driving in the passing lane on the highway, which means there were other cars I was passing. One of them decided to pass cars too. He tried to merge into my lane where I was currently... driving, being, minding my own business. Anyway, I slammed on my brakes and veered off the left side of the road since, as I said, I was passing cars which were on my right. The car seemed to know something I didn't. It swerved across the right lane -- sideways -- and into the ditch, where it skidded on it's side. If you look close, there are some red marks behind the back door. Those are raspberry stains. It slid over some helpless raspberry bushes. I hope I'm not charged with any sort of crime.
We discovered that about an hour before my 3 p.m. date with the ditch at the 48 mile marker, I 181, Kristen had been doing her daily devotions. She'd prayed for our safety on the roads. Now we both wish she'd been more specific -- no accidents of any kind! I don't know if I'm covered or if I'll be paying Enterprise for the next 20 years. But I'm still thankful that I missed the line of cars in the right-hand lane.
Oh... No scratches, bumps or bruises. In fact, I had a sore back before the accident. Now it's great!

So ... really ... I haven't had a day THIS bad:

Was feeling very weary about the going-t0-the-gym-after-work routine, and had some good encouragement from a friend last night. It IS worth it ... even if I don't see the results I'd like. (at least I can consistently open my own jelly jars!)

I was reading in Exodus 17, about the battle with the Amalekites, where Israel was helped by God to win, as long as Moses held his hands in the air. When he got tired, Aaron and Hur brought him a rock to sit on, and held his hands up. There is so much to be thankful for about those in leadership ... who bear the burden of "holding up their hands" ... of continual responsibility ... while we fight the battle in the trenches. It's a reminder to me of the importance of praying for those in leadership ... I can help hold up their hands when they're weary.

Trinka

Why only some?

To get the exercise accountability out of the way before the interesting stuff ... rode my bike to and from prayer meeting last night, and had a lovely long paddle in the pool around 9:00 pm after all the noisy folks went home. :)

Carol and I have been discussing the idea of God's healing people (physically), and it's given me some interesting food for thought.

Mark 1:
2 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.
33 And all the city was gathered together at the door.
34 And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.


In other places, it says the Lord healed "all". But here, and again in Mark 3, it says He healed "many". Why not all?

We know that God heals spiritually -- all who ask Him - without qualification

Romans 10
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

And I see that sometimes He heals physically -- in James, God even gives us a picture of how we are to ask for healing:

James 5
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

*the sick person requests it to happen
*the elders go them ... it's private
*they prayed and anointed with oil in the Lord's name

Some will be healed physically here on earth. Others will be healed when they are freed from their suffering by death, and step into God's presence. But either way, they will be healed.

I know of cancer that was suddenly "not there" ... and terminal diagnoses (is that the plural spelling? don't remember!) that were changed to treatable ones.

But I also know of some godly ones who slowly descended into the mist of Alzheimers, and others who lost their bodies to ALS. I've read books by great men and women of faith that were written from sickbeds, and despite great suffering.

What's the difference? Why do some of God's people regain health, and others suffer for decades?

It can't be the amount or quality of their faith ... faith is a fruit of the Spirit ... a gift of God ... and to say that someone remains ill because of lack of faith is a terrible condemnation, not only of them, but of God Himself.

We see people in the Scriptures whom God allowed (or even caused!) to suffer physical affliction.

When God's angel wrestled with Jacob -
Ge 32:25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
Ge 32:31 Now the sun rose upon him just as he crossed over Penuel, and he was limping on his thigh.

For the rest of his life, Jacob bore that limp as a reminder of that night.

He says that some afflictions, He made:
Ex 4:11 The LORD said to him, "Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?

Our natural way of thinking rebels against this! Why would He allow this?
Why did Job suffer in such a fashion, and never know the cause?

He doesn't always tell us! But He does say that
Isa 63:9 In all their affliction He was afflicted, And the angel of His presence saved them; In His love and in His mercy He redeemed them, And He lifted them and carried them all the days of old.

He suffers alongside the sufferer.

Romans 8
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

We know that our suffering has purpose. It "works together for good" ... and what is that "good"? It's in verse 29 - it conforms us into the image of His Son. There's a reason that so much great ministry was born in times of pain ... it's in those times that we meet with God.

Our suffering allows us to comfort others who suffer:
2Co 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

Our sufferings become a stream of refreshment to those who follow behind us:
Psalm 84
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca (weeping), they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.

I suppose that's enough for today ... I've already written more than most people would want to read ... but I'm thankful for the chance to think about these things. It's when I'm healthy that I need to prepare my heart for dark times ...There are treasures hidden in those dark times, and I need to be ready to mine them:

Isa 45:3 "I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden wealth of secret places, So that you may know that it is I, The LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.

In closing, a list of those who come to mind whose physical illnesses have been used to give God glory, and encourage others:

Fanny Crosby (blindness),
Joni Erickson Tada (paralysis),
William Cowper (crippling depression),
Charles Spurgeon (gout, exhaustion, depression),
Amy Carmichael (bedridden for decades following a fall),
Frances Havergal (never have figured out what made her so sick, bedridden for much of her life),

as well as some nameless dear ones, currently in my life, whose names are unknown to the world, but whose sufferings are right this very second precious to God, and a testimony for Him.
Trinka

remembering for at least a month!

No exercise happened yesterday, but I did have a lovely evening at the Petra exhibit at Calvin College with a lady from church. It was a nice break!

The teens were here at church this morning meeting to go to an amusement park. They saw the letters on my car and knew immediately what they were for. I've got all manner of names, initials and little notes scattered around it now. Fun stuff!

I was reading in Exodus, and the Jews were in the wilderness, complaining that they were hungry, and that they would have been better off in Egypt.

This was, mind you, only a month after their experience at the red sea! We forget so soon what God is capable of! (me too, I confess it).

Yet, a generation later, when Joshua was camped outside Jericho, and Rahab the harlot helped the spies, remember what her reason was? The people remembered what God had done at the Red Sea, and were afraid to oppose Him.

He was so gentle in feeding the people with manna, even when they were complaining, longing after their slavery, and forgetting Him. I'm thankful He's patient with me, because I do these things too.

alphabeti-car

While in Utah last year on a white water rafting trip (oh, that was SO fun)I saw a fellow with magnetic letters all over his car. So you could re-arrange them and leave him notes. I bought a set of letters and stuck them to my car this afternoon.

I hope people get the idea and leave messages ... it's such a very-tidy Dutch community, that I have visions of people lining them up in alphabetical order in neat little rows. :)

I got to the gym last night. I'm noticing that the more muscled and sweatier the person, the less likely he/she will clean off the weight machines when finished. Maybe he/she thinks that their sweat is more hard-won, and therefore should be appreciated by others?

Not sure.

Yet another mystery for the non-athletic to puzzle over.

I was reading about the beginnings of Israel's journey away from Egypt. They had just crossed the red sea 3 days ago, and came to a spring with bitter water. God had Moses throw a tree into the water to make it fresh again. There's a Tree that will take our bitter hearts and make them sweet, too. It's only at the Cross that we can be changed.

Trinka

I'm still out here ...

I'm still exercising (in fact, riding my bike instead of taking my car quite often). Tonight I go to pick up my new card at the gym -- I've been here a year, and just renewed my membership. Who would have thought? :)

I'm working on the study for the July 24 Sunday school class on singleness - it's been a blessing to remember what God's done in my life in that area. Anyone who has any thoughts to add, I'd love to hear them.

weary of saying goodbye

Picked up a bicycle from the classified ads last night ... I kinda like it now that I've peeled off all the stickers, and cleaned it up a bit. I rode it to work this afternoon, and I can tell some new muscles will need to be built ... but it's definately do-able. I plan to ride it back again for prayer meeting tonight.

Got in a walk last night, but not to the gym (due to an appointment to look at the above-mentioned bicycle).

I've been thinking about goodbyes. I hate them. There have been far too many funerals lately, and dear ones moving away, missionaries going back to the field, nieces far away whom distance prevents me from knowing ...

This is one where He can identify with us. "For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross." That joy is us ... being with us one day ... and He's waiting for all His own to be together.

The idea of heaven having "no more sea" is a precious one - a preacher I liked (he's gone too!) talked about the sea as a picture of separation. In heaven, there will be no more saying goodbye to dear ones, no more separation due to distance, or misunderstanding, or busy-ness.

There's a quote from C.S. Lewis that I like very much. While it's talking about time, I think it applies here too --

Quoted from a private correspondance from C.S. Lewis:

A wish may lead to false beliefs, granted. But what does the exitence of the wish suggest? At one time I was much impressed by Arnold's line 'Nor does the being hungry prove that we have bread.' But surely, tho' it doesn't prove that one particular man will GET food, it DOES prove that there is such a thing as food! I.e., if we were a species that didn't normally eat, weren't designed to eat, would we feel hungry? You say the materialist universe is 'ugly.' I wonder how you discovered that! If you are really a product of a materialistic universe, how is it you don't feel at home there? Do fish comlain of the sea for being wet? Or if they did, would that fact itself not strongly suggest that they had not always been, or would not always be, purely aquatic creatures? Notice how we are perpetually surprised at time. ('How time flies! Fancy John being grown-up and married! I can hardly believe it!') In heaven's name, why? Unless, indeed, there is something in us which is NOT temporal.

who knew it would cost THAT much?

To swap handlebars on an old bicycle? $80. Yikes!

got to put some more thought into this one!

be ready to get out of Egypt

It was a pleasantly productive weekend ... it's nice to have extra time to get things crossed off my "to do" list.

I got to the gym Saturday and increased the weights I'm lifting (and can STILL feel the consequences in my arms). Had a long walk on all the other days.

I'm looking at bicycles, thinking maybe I could start riding to work & church ... save a little money in gas, make my car last a bit longer, AND get myself moving.

A family at church gave me a bike, but it has curled-under handlebars -- just going a couple miles, my wrists were aching from resting forward on them. I'm going to do some looking today to see if I can replace the handlebars with something that will let me sit up straight. The rear brake doesn't work, either, so I've got to learn how to replace it.

I've been reading in Exodus 12 - the original passover. It's been a blessing to look at all the parallels between that passover, and the Lord Jesus' sacrifice as our passover Lamb.

Last night, I was thinking about how the Lord told the Jews to eat that passover meal -- He had them come to the meal all dressed and ready to leave - even carrying their walking sticks.

When we become Christians, it's kind of like that for us too ... He's going to be bringing us out of our old life, and into a new one. And we'd better be ready to hit the road quick! We can't get OURSELVES out of Egypt. No matter how we try, the chains of that slavery can't be broken by our own efforts. But when we ask GOD to do it ... we'd better be prepared for things to start happening!

Trinka

nice to know it's do-able

As I thought yesterday about my rapidly-deteriorating car, and my need for more exercise, it occurred to me that I should be walking or biking to church more often. It's 2.5 miles each way ... so very do-able.

There is a busy four-lane road to cross to get here and I've been avoiding it for that reason ... but today I proved to myself I could do it. Exciting to develop some new options. :)

Hope you're having a good 4th ... I'm getting a LOT done, and I'm pleased.

Trinka

and so I did neither

A friend called, and we ended up going for a walk last night, and then I cleaned up some remote controls I got from ebay (found a garage sale television that worked great, but the remote was dead).

I do need to get to the gym some time this weekend (hopefully it's not closed for the holiday!) But I was feeling a little lonely, so a visit & walk was nice last night, and then a nice catch-up phone call from another friend. Still wish I had something interesting to do for the holiday ... but a little productivity around the house wouldn't do me any harm!

I was reading in Exodus 8, about the different plagues God brought against Egypt when Pharoah wouldn't let the Jews leave. A few things stood out to me that I hadn't noticed before --

Pharoah's magicians finally gave up attempting to imitate what God was doing, and in 8:19, they admitted that it was God who was acting. I find it interesting that at this point, the plagues were still impacting the Israelites as well as the Egyptians. Sometimes God's people suffer along with the world ... and that doesn't stop people from realizing it's God's doing. We definately aren't immune!

It's interesting, too, that it was at this same point that Pharoah quit asking Moses to pray for the plagues to be removed (though he does resume asking again later in the chapter). It's almost like, as the magicians' eyes were opened, Pharoah's heart became more hard.

I was also noticing that God always warned about what was going to happen. Pharoah had the chance to repent, and let the Jews go. The Egyptian people had an opportunity to prepare (as much as possible) for what was coming ... all that was required was to believe God and take action.

Kind of like now ... God tells us that our only hope & real happiness is to be found in Him ... we've got no reason NOT to run to Him, except for our own determination to do it our own way!

I might get internet-deprived, and hunt up a free wi-fi spot over the holiday, so maybe I'll check in over the weekend. :)

Have a good holiday everyone!

Trinka