Thought So!

Pick Me!

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So… you were never chosen to

      

      -stand first in line

      -be a team captain for kickball

-have the part of Mary or Joseph in the Christmas play

-organize the Ladies’ Tea

-be honored in the church bulletin

-have your name inscribed on a money donor plaque somewhere (even though you      know you did)

-host the visiting (speaker, missionary family, some other guest)

-do any one of a number of things on which we may place such great importance

But….you have been chosen (yes ,you), by Christ, for the distinct honor of carrying His Word, the precious seed, and bearing fruit for Him.

“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain.”

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Forever Young

The article title (above) didn’t seem to match the picture: a woman (late 20’s, early 30’s) in blue hair net, face marked with pen lines for plastic surgeon’s knife.  I looked closely at the newspaper—not a wrinkle in sight. 

As if women didn’t already have enough spending options, now it’s imperative to appear to family, friends and strangers alike that you’ve just graduated from high school--even if you’re 29.

Well, to avoid surgery for myself and therefore becoming a headline (“Woman splits face laughing at anti-aging article during post-cosmetic surgery recovery”), I came up with a few inexpensive and non-invasive ideas for younger-looking skin:

-no smiling or frowning

-beware of hot air blast when opening an oven to check food for doneness; always have someone else remove food item

-do not cry; this crinkles eyes and adds more salt to skin

-avoid birthdays; by admitting that you are not aging, you can actually add years to your skin

-avoid eating birthday cakes from a mix; they contain aging additives (Betty and Duncan are actually in cahoots with birthday card manufacturers.  Also, here is a little-known fact: Betty Crocker has never actually eaten any of her cake mixes—hence her youthful picture)

-do not go outside during extremely hot or cold temperatures

-do not have kids’ sleep-overs at your house

-do not have kids

-avoid any look of hopefulness (this quickly wrinkles forehead)

-do not stay up late: sewing a child’s outfit for a special event, baking (no one to help you with the oven), cooking, reading (may require laughing or crying), or any other last-minute activities; sleep at least 16 hrs. a day

Actually, why not hang on to those wrinkles for awhile—they can remind us of this hope: that we will someday trade this imperfect face and body for a glorious one like that of our Savior, when we live with Him forever.  Isn’t that surety worth more than a boatload of botox?

“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.”

Phil.3:20, 21

© Thought So! //To automatically receive these blogs when written, visit Ribtickler and look for the “Free By E-mail” icon.

An Apple a Day?

What do apples have to do with Valentine’s Day?  (Not much, unless you’re looking for a healthy gift). Hang around a bit, though, and find out.

Let’s suppose your dining room table is cleared off enough to warrant a centerpiece, and you are looking for such a thing this very minute (remember, this is not real life—we’re just supposing here).  You don’t want anything too small, too garish, too expensive, but it must be something to eye-catching and practical (of course).

You choose a basket of delicate, loosely-woven silver, and fill it with bright, yellow fruit—apples, lemons, quince, etc.  The basket partially conceals, yet-- at the same time-- highlights the fruit.

 

Now, to Proverbs 25:11- “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”  What if all of our words were like that:  not a passing remark to amuse nearby listeners but jab cruelly at our target, but a pleasing, well-timed comment—maybe advice, maybe an observation-- designed to adapt and fit smoothly into the conversation: discreet words given graciously. 

Hard to do-- absolutely!  Impossible—no!  What a Valentine’s Day gift that would make (and no shopping required)!

© Thought So! //To automatically receive these blogs when written, visit Ribtickler and look for the “Free By E-mail” icon.

Fingerprints #2

A friend, trying to balance home and schooling responsibilities, responded to the last article, “Fingerprints”, in this way:

“I had begun with a large list of to-do's. I had prayed over the list and asked God to guide me, but all in a sort of ‘this will be quick, God-- you saw my list’ attitude. Well, the day went along with struggles and hindrances that kept me from making any major progress. With housework and homework I was torn between being a good wife and being a good student. Well when I sat down to work on what seemed like an encounter with a brick wall, that is when God's hand was with mine and I began to make great progress and achieve what I knew only God could do and was completely impossible for me. I have a great peace about this assignment and know that God's ‘hand’ was on everything today.”

The Lord often uses the toil that others are experiencing as a comfort and a prod in our lives. What part of the writer’s story would stand out to you? How would you respond to her?

- I went through that last year, and I see now how I could have responded differently .

-I’m going through that now and your words give me hope -I’m not in that situation, but I can pass on your words to someone else who needs them right now

-I don’t share your struggle right now, but I can use the principle in my own problem

When asked if I could use part of her e-mail, she agreed, and added,

“It is exciting to share and hear how the Lord is using and has used His Word in our lives. It is especially exciting when someone is or has just recently gone through what you are going through.”

Will some calamity that you experience today bring relief or encouragement in another’s life? Will you share your story with us? Oh, by the way, I did eventually wipe off the fingerprints!

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Gal. 6:2

“Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” Romans 12:15

© Thought So! //To automatically receive these blogs when written, visit Ribtickler and look for the “Free By E-mail” icon.