When Words Turn To Warmth

Cicero has well said, "Friendship is the only thing in the world concerning the usefulness of which all mankind are agreed." Friendship seems as necessary an element of a comfortable existence in this world as fire or water, or even air itself. A man may drag along a miserable existence in proud solitary dignity, but his life is scarce life, it is nothing but an existence, the tree of life being stripped of the leaves of hope and the fruits of joy. He who would be happy here must have friends. ~ C. H. Spurgeon

I remember life before computers and internet, where friends had to travel to meet together. I remember sending cards, letters, gifts, pictures and recorded tapes to friends and relatives. Friendship maintenance involved much planning and patience, and each long-awaited response brought such delight!

Now, we just push a few buttons and we're instantly connected to a world of friends. What a privilege we've been given - what gift! And I will be the first to sadly admit that much of the patience I once had, to wait with joyful anticipation, is nearly all gone!

BUT, there still is, even now, such a joy in planning, anticipating, travelling and finally getting to meet a cyber pen pal. Yes, patience was required, first in battling the flue and then the weather. But the rewards, what a blessing!

Yes, there were gifts exchanged, but the greatest of these was the time and fun we shared. It would have been no different had she come empty handed! There was no awkwardness, but rather instant laughter and much warmth in each word, gesture, and hug!

This gal inspires me in more ways than one!

Thank you, Larri, for sharing yourself and little girl, and for your gracious gifts! I plan to use them well!

These two hit it off right away, though they've never met before.
Little girl brought out the boy in Rick, shark balloon hat and all! 

Oh, there are so many online friends and cyber pen pals I'd love to meet. Many of you live so far way, but I thank God for the technology to bring you close, almost instantly, without much waiting. But if you should ever travel this way, please look me up! :-)

But let me not end here without pointing to one friend who sticks closer even than a brother... (Proverbs 18:24)

"Christ's love was unpurchased love. Thou broughtest him no present... You did not even promise that you would love him; for you had such a faithless heart... You asked him to make you love him; that was the most you could do. He loved you for nothing at all—simply because He would love you." ~ C. H. Spurgeon

Grace and love!

Just Because...

Source

I consider myself tagged by Ma over at Ma's Blog. 

First, I am to share 11 facts about me: 

1. I don't watch television. 
2. I made a geographical escape when I was 18, but soon found that I couldn't escape what really bugged me. Me!
3. I don't like shopping, beauty salons, mani or pedicure, and have absolutely no sense of fashion. (Where'd everybody go?) 
4. I almost failed tenth grade and always dreaded spelling, math, and English as a second language. 
5. I've always wanted to adopt a child from every nationality. 
6. I did a lot of things backward, like going to college after having my first child. 
7. I've always felt like an odd ball - that my spaceship would return and beam me back up and outta here.
8. I'm a homebody and introvert with an endless imagination.
9. I like order over chaos.
10. I had a head-on collision with a moving car at age seven. The car was fine. I suffered a mayor concussion and acute amnesia. (That explains everything, I know!)
11. I used to wish that I could do things over, but am slowly realizing that Christ's perfect obedience is what matters most (and saves sinners like me to the uttermost).

Next, I am to answer Ma's 11 questions:

1. What do you find strangely beautiful? Fog. 
2. Are you a morning or night person? Night person.
3. Do you go to a church, if so, what is it like? Yes. It has plain white walls, no overhead projectors, a piano, organ, and choir, and a pastor who teaches God's Word exponentially and sequentially with great care. I thank God for it!
4. If you could've been born in any time period what would it have been? The ice age. I hate hot flashes. :-)
5. What one thing could a person put on a sandwich that would ruin it for you? Processed cheese food. Or their finger.  
6. Are you afraid of getting older? No.
7. What do you miss about being younger? My energy!
8. What do you NOT miss about being younger? Being stupid!
9. What is your favorite song right now? I can't remember.
10. What is the messiest part of your house? The dining room. It's still deciding which room it wants to be when it grows up.
11. Do you think it is okay for kids that you don't know from the surrounding neighborhoods to show up uninvited to your house to play? It would be most strange if it happened now. But, when my boys were young: I don't remember kids asking to come over and actually liked such simple spontaneity. All visiting kids were strangers at one time, but I preferred them coming over rather than my boys going out.

And lastly, I'm to tag 11 bloggers with 11 questions of my own.

 
Source

Haha, that's about how many followers I have, and about half have already played this game. So please, consider yourself tagged and play along. Don't worry, I won't feel at all disgruntled if you don't.

1. What is your guilty pleasure?
2. If you could speak another language besides the one(s) you already know, what would you chose?
3. What one area of your life do you wish you could hire someone to do for you?
4. When’s the last time you wrote a snail-mail card to someone when it wasn't their birthday?
5. Do you prefer active (traveling) vacations or lazy (stay at home) vacations?
6. Would you rather watch television or read a good book?
7. Which do you prefer, large shopping centers or small mom 'n pop stores?
8. Which did/do you like better, math and science or arts and crafts?
9. Which do you prefer, online or real flesh and blood friends?
10. When was the last time you did a special deed without sharing it either off or online?
11. Do you like or hate brushing your teeth?

Thanks, friends!

If Rene Descartes Never Blogged...

Yes, I haven't posted since January although I vouched to fill you in on all the time-saving changes I have made. I am making progress, but have found that not blogging about everything frees me to do so much more. :-)

Besides, I haven't ironed it all out yet. Sometimes knowing what I don't want precedes knowing what I do want. So, before this post continues to confuse you (I do know that I don't want to waste your time), I will share a few verses and a great link, and then close this post by sharing a few of the changes.

Attention! I'm not trying to to make a mountain out of a mole hill or a sermon out of a few scattered verses that have convicted me to reassess my motives. These snippets may not have the same effect on you, and I will live through it without blogging you over the head with it. (Wait, I just did.)

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 6:1

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. Matthew 6:5 

Of course, all of Matt 6 is a good reminder that seemingly good behaviors/words are not always good at all. It's the ‘being seen’ part that rubs me the hardest, and blogging is not the only platform that sparks this desire. (However, that's a topic for another day.)

Yes, of course, the time and space spanning wonders of cyberspace give us an enormous opportunity to spread the Good News...

"At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ... that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." Colossians 4:3-6

But there are snares (1 Peter 5:8). I won’t list them all, but here’s a big’n:

"Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness." James 3:1

One of the things I have learned from looking back at some of my older posts is that I do not know it all. Far from it. I've been wrong before and I will be wrong again, and I thank God for that. He shows me again and again my dire need of Him, His wisdom, and His one and only flawless Teacher. But the blogging arena often drowns out humility and correction with its people/follower-pleasing lures. I must remember that the compliments and flatteries of my peers, even the most sincere, do not always guarantee that my judgments are correct, no matter how much I want or need them to be.

Yes, the blog and/or social networking arena can be a most edifying tool, but it is also chock full of traps (1 Peter 5:8). This great post contains some super excellent advice, whether it's for the novice or seasoned blogger.

And now...

Some changes I have made:

I've got RefTagger, meaning that anytime you hover your mouse over my scripture references, a little verse window pops up. Should you click on it, it will take you to Biblia.com, a neat online Bible study site. Isn't that cool?

I've also spent much time revamping all of my Pages (see tabs). But be forewarned, they might make you laugh, cry, and/or stomp your feet. :-)

Lastly, I plan to combine my two blogs but am still working out the kinks.

Wow, will you look at the length of this post already? I still don’t know when to stop.

More later…

The cartoons were found here. I almost used them all. :-)