If You Pray for Me: The Weekly Hodgepodge



Join the fun! 

Come on over to 

From This Side of the Pond 

for the Hodgepodge link-up!

What makes you feel accomplished? Explain.

Several things: Getting a room fully cleaned and organized, finishing a book, getting all my laundry washed, dried, and put away in the same day, completing an art project, meeting a goal. 

If you had your own talk show, who would your first three guests be? Tell us why.

Someone local:  Brooke Nelson, former president of the Anniston Runners Club and organizer of the Cheaha Challenge--the state's biggest cycling road race.  I've know her for years, but would like to pick her brain on health, nutrition, and training.  I'd also like to know her story.  Did she start unhealthy and work to get healthy, or has she always been an athlete?

Someone famous: Jeff B. Davis, improvisational comedian from Whose Line is it Anyway?  There's a lot of information about many of the other stars in his genre, but not much about him.

Someone Spiritual:  Mylon Lefevre.  In the 80's, he and his band, Broken Heart, was among the first contemporary Christian music artists I'd ever heard.  Before that, all I'd ever heard referred to as "gospel" music was a bunch of sad singing and glorified funeral dirges.  Then Broken Heart, Petra, and Carman came along and saved my ears.  In his later years, Mylon has released some great worship CD's and has been preaching around the country for a number of years.  He has indirectly been a spiritual and musical mentor to me since the late 80's.

Do you have a great burger recipe? What's in it? What do you like on a hamburger and where is your favorite spot to order one out?

I enjoy a good hamburger.  I used to be proficient at grilling them, but I haven't touched a charcoal grill in probably fifteen years. So this is my best hamburger recipe:

Step one:  Go to Jacks
Step two:  Order a Big Jack with cheese and condiments of your choice
Step three:  Unwrap and enjoy

What's the biggest anxiety producing thing you do on a regular basis?

Driving.  Going to work is not much of a problem since I'm out there with like, three people.  Leaving work and running errands during the daylight hours is different; more traffic, more goobers who can't drive and/or think the left lane is the Autobahn.  I absolutely panic if I have to drive after dusk since I rarely have to and have gotten out of practice. 

This is the last Hodgepodge of May. Tell us about your summer plans.

I'm going to take things a day at time.  However, I'm endeavoring to include more fun and restful activities into my summer.  As far as I know, I won't be taking any kind of vacation, so I want to use my weekends as mini "staycations."

Insert your own random thought here.

A big thank you and God bless you to all who prayed for my request last week.  The past week has been rough.  My sweet housemate, Mrs. Sue, passed away last week.  We had her funeral Sunday.  On top of all that, I've been sick since Friday and have not slept well.  Today has been the first day I've felt like writing.  This summer is going to be one of change, but I still believe that in the grand scope of things, they will be good changes.  I'm standing on two Scriptures:

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.

Psalm 3:3 - But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

Keep praying y'all.

The Door Into Summer: The Weekly Hodgepodge



Join the fun! 

Come on over to 

From This Side of the Pond 

for the Hodgepodge link-up!

What color is prominent in your home? Are you glad about that or wishing you could cover it up or remove it?

Blue.  Fortunately I like the color since I can't change it.

What's something you'll NEVER do again?

If I can help it, I'll never go another event that I'm only invited to in order to bring someone the inviting party really wanted there.  Over the last several years, I've been involved in several events--most of them weddings--where it was obvious I wasn't wanted.  I was there merely to chauffer someone else who they did want.  I don't think people understand how crappy that is or how worthless that makes a person feel.

Tell us a couple of ways you fit the stereotypes associated with your gender, and a couple of ways you don't.

Are you talking negative stereotype or positive?  Let's start with how I don't fit the stereotype.  As much as I love kids, I'm not obsessed with the "mom" thing.  That's more of a societal dictate that all females over the age of 12 should be aiming for nothing but motherhood.  I might know more about cars and computers than the average female.  I play musical instruments that are definitely not feminine (and I don't play them daintily either). 

How I fit the stereotype?  I like pretty things and want to look pretty even thought I can't most of the time.  I worry too much about other people's feelings and needs to the point that I neglect my own.  Although I spent way too many years stifling and packing down my emotions, my concern is that I'll flip over to the complete opposite and become an emotional basket case.

May is Motorcycle Awareness Month. Have you ever owned a motorcycle? Ever ridden a motorcycle? If the opportunity presented itself would you hop on a motorcycle and go for a ride?

I've never driven or owned a motorcycle, but would like to learn to ride, and possibly purchase one someday.  The couple of  times I was on a motorcycle was when my older brother, Marvel, let me ride on the back of his.  When I was a kid, I thought my brother was the coolest dude on the planet because of his bike.  Both of my Pastors, who I consider pretty cool dudes, ride also.

If someone wanted to understand you, what should they read, watch, and listen to?

They would have to read books by Joyce Meyer and Beth Moore, watch Star Trek:  The Next Generation, and listen to Weird Al Yankovic.

What?

Insert your own random thought here.

I believe God is instigating another major shift in my life for the better.  Please pray for me to know what to do and when to do it.  Good things are on the horizon and I don't want to miss any opportunity for positive change.

2017 Reading Quest 17

Book:  Beauty for Ashes.
 

Author: Joyce Meyer

Info:  Copyright 1994: Tulsa: Harrison House Publishing.

Rating (on a scale of 1-4 stars):  ✮✭✭✭ 

Where Acquired:  Library book sale purchase.

What it's about:  Meyer uses scripture and elements of her own testimony of abuse and recovery to encourage the reader to seek emotional healing.

Favorite Quotes: 

"We human beings pretend for the benefit of others, not wanting them to know about our misery, but we also pretend for ourselves so that we do not have to face and deal with difficult issues." - p. 28.

"God's love is the main factor in our emotional healing....If you can believe that God, Who is so perfect, loves you, then you can believe that you are worth loving."  p. 38.

"In John 16:7 Jesus told His disciples that it was better for them that He go away to be with the Father, because if He did not go, the Comforter could not come.  The Comforter is the Holy Spirit.  In The Amplified Bible version of this verse He is called the Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener and Standby.  During your recovery process, you will need to experience every facet of the Holy Spirit's ministry." - p 43.

"You cannot go beyond your opinion of yourself--no matter how many good things God may say about you in His Word.  Regardless of all the wonderful plans God may have for your life, none of them will come to pass without your cooperation." - p. 75

"Unless you accept your value and worth by faith through Christ, you will always be insecure and unable to trust those who want to love you." - p. 86

"The pathway to freedom is not necessarily easy.  However, pressing forward toward freedom is definitely easier than staying in bondage." - p. 151.

What I liked:

• The author didn't hide behind Christian clichés.  In other words, her answer to everything was not "read the Bible and pray more."  Yes, those are elements to healing, however, she also advises the reader to seek counseling, mentoring, and accountability to go through this painful process.  In that, this is not a self-help book that advocates trying to conquer these deep issues alone.
• Meyer was very open about her own struggles and the work it took to become free.  She didn't simply say, "Oh, I just prayed and it went away."  Sorry, but it doesn't happen that way for most people.  Not only was her advice biblical, it was also practical.
• Continuous navel gazing and digging up past hurts ad nauseam was not advised.  I found in my own recovery that this is an area where many get stuck; we keep digging and digging up the past that we spend no joyous time in the present, thus never really recovering...just uncovering.
• Meyer includes a bibliography for further reading.

What I didn’t like: 

This book wasn't perfect, however, there was nothing that stood out as unlikeable about the text.

Takeaway:

This book is a good starting point for anyone who wishes to be delivered from emotional damage and baggage.

For me, Meyer seems to have the ability to put into words the very attitudes and pains I face, and through the leading of the Holy Spirit, can get to the very heart of how to get well.