iona's blog 8/21 - 8/27/2005

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Sunday, August 21, 2005

Yesterday I was a bit under the weather (odd expression, isn't it?) and did not really have that much to say, but today I was well again albeit a tad tired.

I spoke in the Retired's Class this morning... a long, rambling testimony. I was really scattered! Hope some folks were blessed anyway... I was blessed by being there. Much Christian wisdom and maturity in that room!

Pastor Rob's sermon today was on Witnessing - a favorite subject of mine. I used to be so timid when it came to sharing the Gospel. I'm not sure why really. I was not really all that concerned about "what people might think." I was more afraid I would not do a decent job and could end up driving the person AWAY from Christ.

Now I realize that the outcome is not in my hands nor is it my responsibility. Jesus calls me to share my love for Him, and His love for people. I may not be eloquent and I may not have the "timing" just right or whatever... all I need do is be willing. The Holy Spirit will speak to the person's heart and it is up to them what they do with the invitation.

It is very freeing to know that I can share Jesus with anyone, any time and trust that even if they do not come to Christ right then, the seeds have been planted. I follow my witness with prayer for that person... if I know who they are.

But many times we don't know who we are witnessing to with our actions and words. Others see us and you can bet, if they know we are believers, they are watching to see how well we live what we profess. Sometimes, your witness can just be reflecting God's love to others in an act of kindness, a smile, a kind word. The way we act when we don't think anyone sees is so very important... It says so much about who we are and where we are with Christ.

So, I was blessed by the sermon and after church, Richard and I went out to eat with many of the folks in the Retired People's Class... I sure do love them! Each time I go, I try to sit with someone I haven't gotten to know yet. What a wonderful group of folks they are!

Tomorrow I am taking my niece to Stanford Medical Center in Palo Alto. She goes every other week for two days. I have taken her several times before and will be taking her from now on. It blesses me to be able to do this for her. She is a delightful child of God, a loving wife and caring mother... and a cancer survivor who must fight transplant rejection the rest of her life. Her bravery and faith inspire me... I respect and admire her so much.

So, no entries for the next two days... See you on Wednesday!

Monday, August 22, 2005

Monday already and I am almost ready to leave, but I wanted to share with you the website for our new Women's Bible Study. I finished the framework last night.. There's really no "meat" in there yet. Go take a look and tell me what you think. http://ionanet.com/grace

Be blessed while I'm gone!

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

My trip to Stanford Medical Center with my niece was a blessing, but it was also hard for me to see all she must go through to live. The time we share is always uplifting to me, even when we are just comfortably silent together. I love being able to take her for her treatments and hopefully make things a little easier for her.

But I am always happy to be back home. Today has been a busy one. One of my therapists was here and we went to the Bible House in Elk Grove looking for study guides for the new Women's Bible Study which will begin Sept. 1 at 9:00 a.m. in the fellowship hall of the First Baptist Church here in Galt, CA.

I was hoping for a wider variety of possibilities, for example some Beth Moore studies (they are excellent) but picked up several books that may be good as well. LifeWay has some very good ones but there is no store in this area.

I am so excited about finally getting some web work done... I got the Spirit Gardens back online. They are a collection of poetry and art work you may find uplifting. I also got Max Cooper's Pen up. Oh, how that man could write! I think you would enjoy him. Anyway, I am thrilled to have made a small beginning once again to serve the Lord on the internet. Bit by bit I will keep hacking away at the pages and sections of my domains until one day all is repaired, revised and renewed.... or replaced!

I am proud of Eva for sticking to her resolution to eat salads. I was thinking of her as I baked a very rich and indulgent rum cake (non-alcoholic) and I was momentarily ashamed... but I ate some anyway!

We missed Bible Study tonight... absolutely spaced it. Richard got home late and we didn't eat till almost 8:00, then about (:30, he looked at me , eyes wide, and said, "It's Wednesday!" It took a minute for it to sink into my head, then I realized what he meant... but it was too late to go by then. I kind of feel cheated.

Thursday, August 25, 2005

Fussin' & Feudin'
I'm doing my blog early today. I have worked on these two computers all day and don't think I have enough energy to last much past supper time. Nothing makes my more tired than trying to convince computers or people to get along when they have a mind not to!

Late last night when I was trying to upload web stuff to the server, I lost the internet connection. It happens. No big deal. I waited. And waited... Then I started tinkering and found that I had a connection to the cable modem just fine, but the Mac and the PC were not sharing! Disgusted, I connected the PC alone and uploaded my stuff... then I was off to bed.

I began today in prayer as always and included the feuding computers. Since the therapist who was to come was ill, I began a vain attempt at peace-making in the office. Finally, I called tech support... got a really nice young man who actually seemed to know what he was doing. He led me through all the steps I assured him I had already taken. Nothing. But I did get to witness to him!!!

All day I fiddled with these things. I prayed over them, I talked to them, I cajoled and I coddled... still each one alone works fine with the router and the cable modem, but neither will work when both are linked to the router... YET if I disconnect the cable modem, they get along great, pass info back and forth without a squabble or whimper. My Uncle Max who coined the word WHANGDOODLER would make up a new word for these digital shenanigans, but I was at a loss for words as well as ideas.

Then, suddenly and with no real thought on my part, the browsers on both machines popped to life while I was doing yet again the series of steps I had tried all day! All the components of both systems are working beautifully and have completely forgotten their animosity of the past 22 hours! Go figure!

I figure PRAYER. What I don't understand is God's timing... but I always trust His purposes. Perhaps this day of attempted techno-mediation was meant to bring my mind around to feudin' folks.

Do you know anyone who has an ongoing feud in the family? I do. There are several in our family, and no amount of intervention has led to forgiveness. Each one involved is nursing their hurt feelings and pride.... But you know, the hurt will never heal unless they forgive. Think about that for a moment. We are indeed called to forgive.

Sometimes hurt feelings lead to estrangement and no one knows quite how to end it. If that's your situation, why not send a "Thinking of You" card or make some other gesture of reconciliation? Or you might be the one trying to bring others back together. Yes, you could be rebuffed, rebuked or simply thought a fool, but if Christ be for us, who can prevail against us? Don't give up praying, and let them know you're praying.

Well now that things are copasetic here in my little office, I think I'll go fix supper! Ain't God good?!

Friday, August 26, 2005

Spicin' Things Up
I've never been a cook. I fed my large family on basic, common fare, filling but unexciting. We ate lots of beans, goulash, pasta dishes... while these can be delightfully prepared, I had neither the time nor energy , not to mention know-how, to do so.

Since my brain injury has kept me pretty much at home, and since one of the goals of my therapy is that I learn to be safe and semi-efficient at home, my two therapists have led me into the realm of real cooking... with spices, even!

They were somewhat aghast to learn that most of my spices were given to me by my new mother-in-law when I married at age 17. These were to be tossed out... OK, but one look at the price of spice in the supermarket and I had second thoughts. My 49 year-old spices were better than none. NO! They were soundly rebuked by my sweet therapists, but a workable solution was at hand...

Today Holly Ann and I went spice shopping at Sacramento Natural Foods Coop in Elk Grove, CA. The spices are all in bulk. You scoop out what you want into a plastic bag and pay pennies. I got every spice I would need and some I never heard of for less than $20.

What a difference fresh spices make! It brings to mind Jesus telling us we are the salt of the earth and asking us what good is salt that has lost its saltiness. Without getting into all the depth that includes, tasting the difference between the fresh spices and the old ones really impacted me. When I was a "fresh" believer, I was full of zeal and excitement and without giving it a thought told everyone around me what Jesus had done for me. Now, I sometimes look back over my day and see so many missed opportunities to share Christ!

Freshen me up, Lord... Please make me spicy again!

Saturday, August 27, 2005

Making it Real
Richard is working today. Too bad. Oh sure, I am thankful for his job and his willingness to work diligently for his employer, but we had wanted to check out the Vine & Branches bookstore in Lodi, CA. We both love to browse around in bookstores, especially Christian ones. Maybe we can go Monday... and I can (and should) clean house today... not a very exciting subject, but it has its rewards and its lessons.

Part of the intrigue of this new BLOG craze and all the REALITY shows is our affinity with folks just like us... We are more apt to learn something or even be more entertained by becoming "peeping Toms" into someone's life. All because it's REAL.

I'd rather go to the Vine & Branches than clean house... that's real. You can relate. I could go by myself, but Richard wants to go, too, and my house does need some attention. Real stuff from a real life. But here is one even more real and so inspiring... read WhatEva. Her entry for 8/26 is as real as it gets. She teaches us as she learns.

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