Irish Setter

Such fun at Bible Study last night.  We are going through Kevin Lehman's Have A New You By Friday.

We all had a chapter to read - Monday - and determine what personality we are.  He used the characteristics of dogs - Great Dane, Standard Poodle, Yorkie, and Irish Setter.  I had a similar class years ago where the characteristics were Lion, Beaver, Otter and Golden Retriever. 

I already knew I was an Irish Setter (aka Golden Retriever).  Loyal, dependable, get along with people.  I didn't like to see the bad things that are part of my basic personality.  Ex. - avoid conflict.

Wait a minute, I always thought that was a  good trait to avoid conflict.  Now I realize that I perhaps could have avoided years of fear and anger if I'd stood up to the Great Dane (aka Lion) in my life.  Another bad trait was tendency to be lazy - ouch!  In all truth how many times do I not do something because it just sounds like too much work.  Ex.  I saw on Pinterest today a way to make your own stepping stones at a fraction of the cost.  First the list of supplies - to this Irish Setter (Golden Retriever) - it was absolutely daunting.  Concrete?  Breaking a plate into small pieces?  I'm sure there were other things to the list - I just didn't bother to go any farther.

So these are two bad traits that I need to work on. 

Tune in next week for Tuesday's lesson.

Renewing friendships

At a shower yesterday for a young lady who's finally met her 'prince' I I saw two 'old' (as in not age by years gone by) friends.  What a joy!  First, because I didn't expect to see either one of them, and second, because they are both special to me in ways I can hardly express.

One had been the wife of a former pastor who has suffered much heartache, yet is such an inspiration to all who know her and her story - she is steadfast in her love for God, she is steadfast in her trust in God and she is steadfast in her faith.

The other friend was once my son's youth sponsor.  Through the  turbulent teens she and her husband along with many others gently guided our sons and daughters.

Both ladies have moved to different cities, but they still minister in their churches and communities.

Seeing them and talking with them was like a little piece of heaven.  It made me think what it will be like when we do get to heaven - renewing friendships with those who have gone before us as we together worship our Lord.

Our pastor had a fantastic sermon this morning.  All about Adam and Eve - we all know the story. 

This was the app.  When you are tempted, don't look at the temptation, don't stand and contemplate it, don't reach for it - run the other way as fast as you can.

I think about the times I've been tempted.  Sometimes circumstances kept me from reaching for that forbidden fruit - I am ever so grateful to a loving God who knocked that fruit out of the way before I reached for it.  Other times as I matured in my faith I was strong enough to resist the fruit because I had found a helper - prayer and the Holy Spirit.

Our church has been sorely hurt by a young woman who  walked the walk (supposedly) and talked the talk on Sunday mornings, but during the week she didn't turn away from temptation, and her conversation was not pleasing to the Lord.  My heart breaks for her and for her family who is suffering because of her sin. 

When we sin it is like a pebble falling into the water and the ripples go out in ever widening circles to affect a myriad of people.  Selfishly, we think only of ourselves.  When Eve took that fruit, and when Adam joined her (both of them knew better), it has affected all the rest of mankind. 

I read a fiction book this week that had something I'm going to try.  In a "life skills" class this young man was instructed to write a goal using present tense language.  Then he was to add two thing to help him reach this goal.

My goal - lose 10 pounds by vacation time in Wisconsin in 4 weeks.
Actions:  - no more peanuts for snacking
                  walk one mile every day plus 20 minutes on the NuStep
                  stop eating when satisfied

So far I've given up the peanuts, and have tried very hard to stop eating when satisfied.  The last part is really hard with corn on the cob fresh from the farmer's market in plentiful supply.  We have had vegetarian suppers twice this week, but somehow I don't think eating 2-l/2 ears of corn with butter has helped the diet.

We went to a favorite restaurant Thursday Night and I ate only l/2 the salad and 1/2 the 6 oz. steak, but then they brought baked Alaska (part of the deal for that particular night) and it was very hard to stop at l/2 of it.

I'll keep you posted.