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About This Author
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Each Day Already is a Challenge
A Texas Sunrise
 
A friend, William Taylor, took this picture. He visits Surfside Beach with his dogs almost every morning, watching the sun rise while the dogs prance about at the water's edge.
This is only about ten miles from where I lived in Lake Jackson, Texas. Sadly, I only visited this beach about four times in the six years I lived nearby.
Each day is a challenge. A challenge to get by without thinking about the fibromyalgia pains. A challenge to stay awake when chronic fatigure wants to take over. And a challenge to navigate through fibro fog.
I haven't been writing as much as in the past. For years, I wrote at least 500 words a day. Now, I'm lucky if I write 500 words in month. Sigh.
For more information about what my day (or life) is all about with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, chronic pains, IBS, depression and everything else thrown in, check this out:
October 30, 2006 at 9:19am October 30, 2006 at 9:19am
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Yesterday, our pastor spoke about how to have successful relationships. As I listened, I realized what had so frustrated me about the "conversations" I tried to have in | |  | Invalid Item 
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With Christians, everything is about building relationships. We're geared up for relationships because being a Christian is having a relationship with Christ.
Having Internet relationships isn't always easy. One cannot see facial expressions or hear voice tones. All we can rely on are the words on a page.
At the above mentioned forum, there really isn't conversation or dialogue going on. Developing friendships is not the goal. Rather, Christians ask questions of Muslims, who answer with their own questions. There really is not a give and take going on at all.
Our pastor reminded us of an old Chinese Proverb: "Seek to understand before seeking to be understood." I believe that's what should be happening in a forum designed to have conversations between people of different faiths.
Or as Philippians 2:4 NIV says, "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."
I smiled as our pastor used the term "relationship rubble." And I wrote it down. He said, "relationship rubble is what heppens when you tear down with words."
Proverbs 17:17 NIV says, "A friend loves at all times." I had never really thought about it this way, but our pastor also said that genuine friends take sides. They do! And perhaps that's why the forum entries sometimes bother me.
The Bible tells us in Revelation 3:14-16 that our deeds should not be lukewarm. The lukewarm person does not become greatly disturbed at hearing heretical teaching, and is not vigorous in the defense of the truth. This spirit of indifference is the most tragic thing that can happen to a church. I thought about this as our pastor spoke the words, "Genuine friends take sides." More and more, our freedoms to be and practice Christianity are being eroded. Shouldn't we - as friends of Jesus - be taking his side?
Isn't it time that we put on the whole armor of God? That we are girded in truth, have the breastplate of righteousness, are shod with the preparation of the Gospel? With these and the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, we can and must be willing to defend the faith, here and in the world. (See Ephesians 6:13-18.) |
October 27, 2006 at 11:38am October 27, 2006 at 11:38am October 27, 2006 at 10:08am October 27, 2006 at 10:08am
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Aren't blogs fun???
Sure they are. They allow us to say things - on the run - that we might not say anywhere else. 
Last night, as Incurable Romantic   and I were talking about my piece that made the Spiritual Newsletter this week "Abuse Lives On...and On" . I made the comment that if we create something or invent something, then we're the ones who know best how our invention or creation should work. It surely seems to me that if one believes in God, one should see the wisdom of using the Creator's handbook and instruction manual. After all, He knows how we're supposed to work; He knows us best. Jim insisted that I write that down, although the thought isn't a new one. So there it is.
Two nights ago, I sat on the porch and realized that the cold we're experiencing - ALEADY - has chased away the crickets. Hooray! There were so many this year and they were soooooooo loud.
But my joy was interrupted by another sound, and I listened and listened. Our yard is blanketed with leaves, most of them getting quite crisp from being off the tree a while.  Something was crawling beneath those leaves. Actually, it sounded like there were a few somethings crawling beneath those leaves, because the sounds were coming from various parts of the yard at the same time.
I did see a mole in my neighbor's yard, so perhaps moles were what I heard crawling beneath those leaves.
But...since I've lived in warmer climates before....my mind pictured an army of cockroaches under those leaves. And I had to retreat into the house.
Still, as I sat inside, pondering those sounds, I thought more about cockroaches. I started writing - in my head - about them. My first encounter with one at the age of 16. My move to Texas, where everything - EVERYTHING! - is bigger. Fearing going back to get my things from storage in TX, where they've been in boxes for 3 years. Hmmm. I just might have to write about those nasty creatures.
Bye for now.
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October 22, 2006 at 5:11pm October 22, 2006 at 5:11pm
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As I sat in church today, a thought came to my mind about something I learned in a lay speaker's class many years ago. I'm not sure why it popped into my head during our worship service, since it really didn't fit my worship experience today. Oh well, perhaps someone else needed to hear it. Or I'll need to remember it again sometime soon.
The thought? It really doesn't matter if you are in a church where formal hymns are sung and you prefer more contemporary music. If you're in a Christian church, it really doesn't matter which one it is or what format of worship they use. It's not about you, but about pleasing God and about worshiping God.
Each time we enter God's house, we should ask that we be able to experience God through OR IN SPITE OF the pastor, the choir or praise team, the ushers or the people sitting around us.
Like I said, I have no idea why I remembered that lesson from long ago, but I did.
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Today, our pastor spoke of forgiveness. He was not saying anything new, but perhaps with all that has happened in my life (and the lives of others close to me) over the past several years, it was probably time to have this topic revisited.
Before he started his sermon, he asked us to answer four questions with either true or false. I got them all right, but I venture to say that not everyone did.
Here they are:
1) A person should not be forgiven until he asks for it.
2) Forgiving includes minimizing the offense or the pain caused.
3) Forgiveness includes restoring trust and reuniting a relationship.
4) You have not forgiven until you've forgotten the offense.
The answers for each one were "false."
Pastor John reminded us that forgiveness should be instant, but that trust has to be rebuilt, and that forgiveness - like love - is supposed to be unconditional.
He said, "Hurt people are the ones who hurt people." He's right about that. And I made sure to write that in the margin of my sermon notes with a star on it.
I marked two verses in Matthew to further study:
Matthew 10:8 NIV Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Matthew 6:15 NIV For if you forgiven men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
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My mind doesn't always wander in church, but sometimes it does. Today, I thought about putting a bumper sticker (actually something not permanent - magnetic or clingy) with just the reference of a Bible verse number, without the actual verse. Then if/when someone asked, "So what does Philippians 4:13 say?" (or whatever the Bible verse referenced) I could hand them a card with the verse printed on it. Strange...
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That's all for now. I'll try to be back again tomorrow. I didn't know that their were reminders sent when one doesn't write in a blog for over 15 hours. |
October 20, 2006 at 9:05am October 20, 2006 at 9:05am
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It never fails. When I'm having a rather rough day, I'll suddenly get a fantastic devotional in my inbox from Jason Mitchner.
Jason is such an inspiration. He is a man in his middle 30's. The biography on his web site begins: "Jason Mitchener was born with a rare neuromuscular disease that now confines him to an electric wheelchair and requires him to use a ventilator to breathe. His body may be confined, but his spirit soars free."
Jason's devotionals are supposed to be daily, but sometimes his life or technology keeps it from being so.
Here is his website where you can explore or request his devotional: http://www.JasonMitchener.com
When I think I'm having a tough time, God directs me to others whose health issues are far worse then mine. Not long ago, I discovered a writer named RevDrJack at PearlSoup.com.
Here are a few words from one of his stories:
""New Vistas ... by and for the Disabled" was born in an unused studio at MacLean Hunter Channel 8 in St. Catharines in 1980.
The high-level quadraplegic became the lady in the control room, and with her head stick and limited movement, looked like a demented woodpecker as she mastered the control board cutting in and fading camera to camera like a pro. One cameraman was a recovering alcoholic epileptic, another was cerebral palsied. A man with less than 10% eyesight became our sound engineer, and we had a color balancer who was deaf. We maximized the talents and minimized the limitations."
To read the rest of the story: http://www.pearlsoup.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=pearls.view&pearlID=18184
When I get perturbed about how the voice of Christians in the U.S. is being stifled or ignored, I remember that in other parts of the world my Christian brothers and sisters are being killed for standing up for their faith.
The Voice of the Martyrs has a new program called Bibles Unbound. They are seeking Christians to mail Bibles to China, Columbia, Cuba and the Middle East. Here is the information for those who might be interested in getting involved:
http://etools.780net.com/a/jgroup/bg_biblesunbound_ct-connection_263.html
And how am I doing? I have the usual aches and pains this morning, and even though I slept soundly (I never heard Jim getting ready for work), I'm still tired.
BUT ...
I was just blessed with the most wonderful sight. My computer sits in the kitchen, next to a large bay window, where I can watch the world go by. This morning two rather frisky squirrels have been entertaining me as they jump from limb to limb in the tree, then to the rooftop, to wires, then back to the tree. They have been chattering as they romp, and taking turns doing the chasing.
Although the sky is gray and gloomy - not unusual for this time of year - the wind is still and the temperature is supposed to be "pleasant" for this time of year.
I almost wish I could romp outside myself, scooping up leaves and jumping in them like I did as a child. But the dampness would certainly cause these bones to ache. So I'm content to watch the world and God's creatures from this side of the window.
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October 19, 2006 at 10:02am October 19, 2006 at 10:02am
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So? Maybe since I changed this to a blog, I'll be forced to write something more often. We'll see.
Actually, I have been writing. Here's a link to my articles at Ezinearticles.com. Some of those were things tucked away in my files; some are newer writings.
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Marilyn_Mackenzie
And here at WDC, I finally cleaned out my "What's New?" . Instead of holding writings from two or three years ago, it now really does hold my most recent writings. Seeing fewer items there should make me want to fill that folder up again.
How about those new font sizes and types?
I have always loved this font style (Comic), but it doesn't really go well with serious writing.. Oh well.
In recent days, I've been visiting and commenting at: | | | Invalid Item
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. With each question posed, I've been forced to ask for God's assistance and to search the Bible, Bible commentaries, and the Internet for anwswers. That exercise has strengthened my own faith in the process.
I was also given an awesome sig by kiyasama. Thank you Kiya!
And just yesterday, I came across this quote:
"Write while the heat is in you. The writer who postpones the recording of his thoughts uses an iron which has cooled to burn a hole with. He cannot inflame the minds of his audience." ~ Henry David Thoreau
What a great reminder for us all. |
October 6, 2006 at 2:51pm October 6, 2006 at 2:51pm
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I've started something, so I intend to continue writing as much as I can. But, I have asked to be deleted from the Daily Writing Challenge group.
On Tuesday night, Incurable Romantic and I were scheduled for a class at church from 6:45 to 9:45 p.m. Since he was on call for work and I had to take my son to work at about 9:30, we drove separate cars.
I had to buy gas, so I left before Jim to do that. I got out of my car and slammed my right thumb in the car door - AND LOCKED IT! Talk about pain. My purse was on my right arm, and I couldn't get to it or my keys.
There was an older man at the gas station, and I yelled, "Help!" and he came running. He tried just opening the door, but, of course it was locked. When he found out my keys were in my purse, he said, "I can't get in your purse."
"I'm giving you permission to get in my purse! Please!"
He dug around in my purse for the keys and unlocked the door. My thumb was smashed. But the pain hadn't really started yet. I pumped my gas, then got a cup of ice for my thumb and went on to church. Once I was there, I realized that I wouldn't be able to concentrate with the amount of pain I was experiencing.
So, I went home and cried. (It's a wonder I didn't waken my son.) I drove Derek to work and Jim was at home when I got back. He drove me to the emergency room and we were there, of course, until close to 2 a.m. The doc numbed my thumb and punctured the nail to get the blood out (that was accummulated under the nail and causing the throbbing pain). The nurse put a a splint on my thumb and they gave me a prescription for pain meds.
Poor Jim took a half day of vacation on Wednesday since he was up so late.
Typing is an interesting experience with one thumb bandaged and big enough that it wants to hit all the keys at once.
At least the pain isn't as bad as it was a few days ago.
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