Max Lucado's Book reading Chapter 1

 From Max Lucado's book, Applause of Heaven - Chapter 1 - Sacred Delight

"It is sacred because it is not of the earth.  What is sacred is God's.  And this joy is God's.  It is sacred because only God can grant it.  Since it is sacred, it can't be predicted.

It is delight because delight can both satisfy and surprise.  It is a delight because it thrills.  And since it is delightful, it can't be predicted.

Sacred delight is good news coming through the back door of your heart.  It's what you'd always dreamed but never expected.

Quote by Beverly Sills..."Years ago I knew I had little or no choice about success, circumstances, or even happiness; but I knew I could choose to be cheerful."

And from Glyn Johnson..."He has given us strength we did not know.  He gave it when we needed it and not before.  God has given us peace in our pain.  He covers us all the time.  Even when we are out of control, He is still there.  We can use any tragedy as a stumbling block or a stepping stone."

Love this from the study today...

Starting a new study on Esther with LovingGodGreatly.com.  Here are some comments in the blog...

"We live in a day of uncertainty. But every day as we open our eyes to welcome the blessing of another sunrise….we have a choice. We can choose to live our lives in fear or we can choose to live our lives in faith. Esther models this choice for us. Be encouraged as we read this powerful true story together that God is in the details of Esther’s life as well as your own. God’s will is accomplished through the good, bad, happy and painful days of our lives."

"As we begin this study together, I pray you will be encouraged by Esther’s example and choose to intentionally live a life of courage, self-sacrifice and full of faith. We may not have all the answers. Situations in our lives may be out of our control…but we can choose to focus our lives on Him, the One who has all the answers and has the whole world “in His hands.”
Our confidence and faith are anchored in Him."

Week One memory verse:




Week One challenge:

We picked up our keys on Labor Day.  So fun to see a dream come true.  Neil has wanted this for 20 years.  Have spent the last two months getting the house set up and making it our own.  Still a ways to go.  Haven't figured out art for the walls, but everything else is set up.

November brought twins for Justin and Shelby.  Addison and Amelia are beautiful young ladies.  It will be such a JOY to be a part of their lives.

Wisdom - Ugh.  I stink at memorizing.  Need to get these two classes down so I can get going on the billing and coding.  Then Neil will have options for working at Lincoln City.
Stature - Getting the Metabolic program down.  Need to button down...but have kept the first ten pounds off.
Favor with God - Good Bible study - Walking the talk you talk.
Favor with man - start putting together gifts for the nursery ministry.

July, what a crazy month.  4th of July, my birthday, and I am not feeling well.  Ugh!.  Relaxed around the house for a few days.  13th of July.  We had a joint birthday BBQ for Neil and his brother Mark for their 50th and 60th birthdays.  Fun to see lots of people swing by.  Mid July we took a trip to Lincoln City to see what we thought about moving there.  Went back with our realtor (Jedediah Kehrli ~ excellent realtor, by the way!), saw tons of houses and made an offer on one.  Then a week of VBS.  Whew!  Busy times, fun times.

Trying to work on those personal goals.
Wisdom - starting taking a Medical Transcription class.  Struggling a bit with those suffixes.  Bleh!  But I'll get it.
Strength - started a program with Metabolic Research Center.  Trying to get this weight off.  Great program.  Safe.  Natural supplements.
Favor with God - has also started a new Bible study of Galations through the Precept Ministries. 

Let's see if I can stay on task a bit better these next few weeks!

I read a book, Emma's Journal.  Very encouraging.  A fiction book on living with purpose.  Based on the Bible verse Luke 2:52 - "Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man."

Wisdom - my intellectual life
Stature - my physical life
Favor with God - my spiritual life
Favor with man - relational friends

What are my goals in these four areas of my life?  I am very bad at goals, but I will think on these goals and determine where I want to go with them.  Small chunks at a time....consistency in my Bible study time, my exercise time, my personal responsibilities in our home.  All need a consistent time of activity.

Ugh!  I did say I was bad at this right? So the last year and a half have had a few changes.  Started with one doc for typing, my aunt and cousin came to visit for the summer, went to two docs for typing, worked on training someone on a doc that didn't work out, back to two docs, then Michelle trained one and I trained one and they both did well.  Went on two hockey bus trips for the Portland Winterhawks hockey...great fun by the way!...then Michelle lost an account and now I am not working at all. 

It's been good and bad....but it has left some time for me to unwind a bit.

I have been taking some classes at Bob's Red Mill Natural Foods and been researching some books as well.  I'm looking to broaden our food palates and continue on the eating healthier journey.  I am aiming to succeed.

Also working on emergency prep at our house.  Have slacked on that and need to be prepared for any emergencies that may fall....you know, no electricity, gas shutoffs, water storage...been fun actually!

Also, now that our foundation repair has been completed, we are looking at cleanup around the house now....so I'll be working on a room a week or so.  That should be fun.  Fixing cracks in the wall or painting or washing curtains.  Sort of like spring cleaning!

Let's see if I can update this a little more.  Sheesh!