brenda’s thoughts, watch out I’m Christian

Man I love paddling at the lake

I should go more often

I should go every week

I should go every day

I should live there

Man!

So I’ve paddled across the lake, past the sliders and snappers on logs, past the island inhabited by obnoxious geese, past the pot bellied fishermen and I’m gliding into an inlet in search of the perfect place to get out, stretch my legs, mark my territory, eat lunch, lie on the grass and read the Bible.
I see this spot covered in little purple flowers and think, “how perfect”. But then I think, “what’s farther in, maybe there’s something better up ahead”. I feel like there’s a metaphor for my life here but I don’t care.
I go all the way back, find a little beach and get out. There’s an old gravel road that takes me through a forest of wisteria trees the fragrance of which was completely amazing. Watered and stretched out I get back into my boat and head back to the bank covered in little purple flowers to eat lunch and read.
I’m wondering if there’s a message in this experience for me. So I crack open the Bible. It falls open to Psalm 139.

“Lord you have tried me

And you know me

You know me when I sit

And when I rise…

(You know me when I’m at work

and when I paddle across the lake)…”

There’s a CS Lewis quote written in red over it in my Bible.

“The true Christian’s nostril should be continually set on the inner cesspool.”

What is the lesson? I’ll tell you. I can make my circumstances say anything I want them to. If I really want to know the meaning of life and or my actions or God’s desire for my life then I should read the Bible not my circumstances!

I have decided to give up the house

There are lots of houses out there

I will wait till summer to continue the house hunt

I am at peace it with it

And so is my son

Also

WARNING WARNING WARNING

Reading this blog may be hazardous to the emotional health

If you’re a man heed this warning,

Reading this blog has a serious side affect

It makes male readers, hopefully not females, become unnecessarily attached to its author

DANGER WILL ROBINSON DANGER

The author is a cold hearted… person who is emotionally unavailable

Stop before someone else gets hurt

Seriously

Now
I’m off to the lake to paddle and play
like I’m not 44
and have to go back to work in two days
hopefully I’ll get some sun

We’ve been without a home,

A place of our own,

For so long,

That I’m well acquainted with the idea that,

Maybe,

Just maybe,

I wasn’t meant to have a place of my own,

Some people are,

And some people aren’t,

Then,

As I adjust myself to this way of thinking,

I find a home,

Now I don’t know what to do.

There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance- that principle is contempt prior to investigation.
Herbert Spencer

I got permission for my students to watch the movie The Passion

Man!

I started crying

Duh

And I was gonna hide my tears but the Holy Spirit said, “don’t”

So they saw

And they watched, intently

It was awesome to be able to share the truth with them in this dramatic way

It was just so awesome

Then we had discussion about the benefits of salvation that are listed in Ephesians.

Can you find them?

Then we ate chocolate crosses and played Frisbee on the lawn

What a perfect day!!!!

Man, what a week!

Keep praying,

One of my kids had a break through today,

I went to the bathroom and just cried for a minute

Good night this is a long week

And yesterday!

Don’t even ask

It’s not over yet

Keep praying

My son takes the high school graduation test

I’m the one who needs the peace, cause he’ll pass it no problem, I just gotta get used to the idea that he’s getting ready to leave,

A friend of mine is having heart trouble and he didn’t look like he appreciated my joking about his dieing, he has an appointment Tuesday,

Also it’s the week before Easter and I’ve been given permission to show the movie The Passion in my classroom, pray for my students, some of them are lost

Hey and we found another house, I’m not thrilled over it so it probably won’t be sold before we can look it over,

I was really feeling burdened Saturday, the storm ripped the awning off the RV, then I remembered that burdens are not from God, God takes care of burdens, so I gave him all of mine and now I feel light as a feather, Thank you Jesus for being so readily available to hear me when I cry

And HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY, did you know that the clover was used by St Patrick in Ireland to demonstrate the Holy Trinity? The things you pick up when you teach in a Catholic School!

Also,

I’ve been told that to maintain my job I must attain two more teaching certificates by this June and two more shortly after that. I have a great deal of studying to do in a short period of time. Two exams at one time! Man!

And,

This past weekend I did a great deal of helping / taking care of others. I mentioned it to someone the other day like I was seeking attention for myself. I was surprised at myself for doing that. If I am of the mind to be Christ like, and I am, then I shouldn’t be self serving but serving others. It took me awhile to get my head around it because I still missed the real point. The real thing is that when Jesus helped people he always related their earthly needs to their spiritual position. When I visited someone in the hospital or took someone groceries I didn’t pray with them, I didn’t in anyway verbally witness about God’s saving grace, compassion or care. I mentioned my church, my Sunday school class even myself but not God. So I have to ask myself, “What’s the point?” If it’s not for their relationship with God, for their salvation then it’s just like throwing a sand bag on the bank when it floods. You’ll be throwing sandbags up forever if you can’t stop the rain. Only God can stop the rain.

God took over.
Sarah called. Jeremy was at MEPS for the night. She wanted to spend time with me. I needed to spend time with her.

She wantd to go mud bogging!

I said, “in your truck”.

She said, “No, in your van!”

I said, “No, in your truck!”

She said, “No, in your van!”

She is so spoiled.

And yes we got stuck in a mud hole in my mini van!

Praise God for rednecks. They know what their doing when it comes to mud holes.

I was also able to collect some fossil rocks and tadpoles for my students while we were there.

We had a good time and I was able to relax.

When I got home mom had made spaghetti and let me talk to her till way past our bedtimes.

My student’s have a ting they like to say after we finish the Morning Prayer.

I say, “God is good”

They say, “All the time”

I say, “All the time”

They say, “God is good.”

Then we begin our day.