Humble Pie - Again - or was it just plain Crow??? !!

I have issues…….. do any of you recognize that in me?? It’s true – I really do have issues.

David was out of town this past weekend, and Caleb had a friend spend the night Friday night. This little guy has never spent the night away from home before (that’s another story) and in order to keep them busy, I checked out PPV and there was absolutely NOTHING worth watching – at least not that I wanted to pay $4 to rent. Knowing that the friend loved dinosaurs as much as Caleb, I decided to rent Jurassic Park and Madagascar…… opposite ends of the spectrum in the movie world, but I digress. When I went to pay for the movies that I had selected I was informed that I had a $12 late fee. I haven’t even been to this store in years because David usually gets the movies in Paris on his way home from work– which is why I was there in the first place since David was out of town. I said, “What?” And she said, ‘You have a $12 late fee due.” I asked again, to be sure I had heard correctly and was assured that there was in fact a $12 late fee due. I told her that I hadn’t rented movies there in years, and so she checked the records and informed me that the $12 late fee was from 2004 for 3 movies that had been left 2 days late in the drop box. It was at this point (since I had already decided that I was NOT paying a late fee for something that Nathan had probably rented because I’m just NOT that nice), that I told her “Fine, if I can’t rent these movies I understand. But I can assure you that I am NOT paying a fine that is 3 years old.” She said, “Well, OK that’ll be $4, and they’re due on Saturday by 4:00 p.m.”. I paid and left – quite happy with my self. (My prayers for humility don’t seem to be working at this point – or maybe they are!)

NOTE TO SELF – Do NOT return these movies late. On Sunday morning when I was getting ready for church, I realized the stupid movies were late. I really thought about leaving them with $4 in the drop box, but decided I’d just take them inside, pay the late fee and vow to NEVER rent movies there again – because of course, it’s all their fault. Sara was with me and as I got out of the car, she said “You’d better hope it’s not the same person working!” And I secretly agreed! When I got inside, it was someone different working, and I was encouraged. I walked up to the counter and said, “These are late. How much do I owe you?” I was thoroughly expecting to pay ALL of my fees, when she very politely said, “Tell you what, I’ll only charge you for one movie since it was a very busy weekend for everyone!”

OMG - I ate Humble Pie AGAIN this weekend. It’s getting REALLY old. You'd think I'd begin to develop a taste for it....... Or wait - maybe I am - maybe that's why I keep eating it... Hmmm?

The Recipe...... for Humble Pie

I have to explain my blog from yesterday - and while I won't explain everything because I don't want you to think any worse of me than you may already, I will say that I have issues. Of course, many of you may already know that - and I will willingly and freely admit that to anyone! There are times when I get the 'Paula-filter' on my eyes, and fail to see others as Jesus would see them. I've been having some issues lately and had myself a little fit Sunday afternoon. David said something to me that I interpreted to mean - can't you just see this through Jesus' eyes?? (Thanks Dear Husband!! : ) I love that man!) And then Monday morning, I got up to read the study that I've been doing and one of the scripture references was John 15:16 but I also included verse 17!! And it says, 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

And so if God could choose me, in my most unloveable state of being (which is pretty often!), who am I to judge or consider someone else even the least bit critically. God chose each and everyone of us for a very specific purpose, and my purpose is no greater than anyone elses. In fact, without those other people, (all of us working together) God's purpose or design might not come to fruition and someone might miss a blessing. How dare I be so self-assured.

And then I read the next scripture - 17This is my command: Love each other. So, we love each other, just like God loves us. And I am very humbled, and give thanks to God for showing me the recipe.... to humble pie!

Humble Pie (Isn't very good!)

It's been an ongoing prayer of mine since early summer (maybe early Spring - HA - maybe even longer!) that God would give me a big dose of humble pie. And without going into detail, I will say that the servings of 'pie' haven't necessarily been large, but they've been relentless and I feel as if I'm stuffed. WOW - that didn't sound very humble, did it? I said that too mean that I've had WAY more than enough, and yet I'm still learning the lesson! Huge dose was served just yesterday!

And maybe, just maybe, I've learned now! But I'm sure I'll need a few refresher courses. I found the following scripture when I was searching Bible Gateway for 'humility'. Zephaniah 2:3 says that if I seek righteousness and humilty, perhaps I'll be sheltered from God's anger (that is my paraphrase completely but I think it's close - OOPs - it's that humility thing again). So if any of you see a fierce storm that appears to be quite central to one location, and rather intense, please note that it's probably me and God is angered that I haven't quite learned my lesson yet, and you might want to stay clear.

Please God - remove the 'Paula-filter' from my eyes and replace it with your 'Jesus-filter'. And I will praise you from the highest mountain-top as I learn my lesson. In the meantime, please walk with me and throw up the 'Jesus-filter' when I begin to be judgemental! I DO love you God, and thank you for loving me - even when I'm not very loveable!

Intercession......

Last night, a group gathered together in our home to intercede on behalf of friends who are going through a VERY difficult time. My mind can't even begin to fathom the horror of losing a child and it has been difficult to concentrate on much of anything. God was with us last night - He says that where two or more are gathered, He will be there. He also tells us that He hears our prayers. We spent time last night just crying out to our God, and He was THERE and He HEARD us. The burden seemed so unbearably heavy last night, and while it continues to be heavy it seems easier to bear in light of God's mercy, grace, peace, and healing. I know that they felt our prayers last night, because God is faithful and will not leave us. We are the ones who leave him - how very sad and frightening.

We serve a mighty, and powerful God who will, when we call on His name, 'tell us marvelous and wonderful things that we could NEVER figure out on our own' .... Jer 33:3 (Msg) Isn't it amazing that He would even be willing to share those things with us - and all we have to do is call His name!

God - I am calling on Your name - Sweet Jesus - crying out to you, begging you for understanding. And I thank you for answering with love, grace, healing, and mercy. I love you God, and I thank you for providing. Humble me God, and use me, as a very willing vessel for your glory.

I love summer, grilling and gardening......

For those of you who know me very well, you know that I don't cook. I CAN, I just DON'T because David has completely spoiled me by doing all of the cooking. You may also know that I like to eat........ (comes as no big surprise to most of you!!) And in the summertime, there is no better meal than the one cooked on the grill and accompanied by the 'fruit of the garden'.

Now, you may or may not know that each spring my intentions are good and I plant a garden. For the past few years though, that garden has gotten smaller and smaller because David won't till the space for me. That's because I've demonstrated over the past few years that I'm not very good at tending the crop. I have good intentions, but my follow-through isn't so great and the garden suffers greatly by the time the spring rain stops and the summer heat turns up. (There's probably some sort of spiritual lesson here, but my mind is on physical food right now!)

We've found a solution. We now belong to something wonderful called a 'Produce Co-op' in which David pays a sum of money at the beginning of the summer season and each week thereafter brings home a VERY large rubbermaid tote full of produce. So far this summer we've enjoyed rhubarb (actually I threw that away when it became obvious that I was the only one who would eat it and didn't want to spend the time cooking it), beets (yummy), turnips (yummy), kolrahbi (???? - it went the way of the rhubarb), green beans (yummy), tomatoes (yummy), lettuce, lettuce, and more lettuce (yummy), broccoli and cauliflower (yummy)....... Not to mention the fresh eggs (remind me sometime to tell you how we get scrambled eggs - Caleb's version) and the future vegetables that will come throughout the remainder of the summer.

I mentioned that I DON'T cook, but I CAN! And yesterday, I cooked or maybe should say prepared food. Fresh greenbeans with onion and new potatoes (also included in the produce share), broccoli and caulifower (they were small heads that I promptly ate because it was SO good and no one else was around), fresh tomatoes, coleslaw made with homegrown cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes (not the grocery store variety mind you), sweet corn, beets..... David threw some pork burgers on the grill and we had ourselves a swell supper.

Have I mentioned that I love summer???

More Summer Fun

I love summer!

What IS it that smell????

We used to have a cat - it died. His name was Bullwinkle and he was long-haired and white - positively beautiful and absolutely rotten. His alter-ego was Garfield. He would sit on the deck rail and pretend that he was a great hunter, but we knew he was too lazy to make a move let alone actually stalk something. He did manage to catch the occasional mouse, and leave it's dead body in the garage floor for me to find. In fact, he was usually sitting near by with a smirk on his fat little face. I loved Bullwinkle. He ventured out to the road.... ;( (Sadness - Tears)

Bullwinkle grew up with the dog - Rocky our black lab. The two of them grew up together, and they had an identity crisis. Neither one ever really knew if they were cat or dog - Honestly! The cat would chase after us like the dog, and the dog would actually stalk rabbits, birds, etc. like a cat. They were NOT right, but they loved one another and it was hilarious to see them together. Rocky too, is gone but we're not sure what happened to him ;( (Sadness - Tears)

We were sitting on the deck a couple of weeks ago (Boyer's were there too!) and I mentioned that I'd like to have another cat. In fact, I'd take two if necessary just to get one. In about two minutes (no joke), we heard a noise in the woods and David went to investigate. Lo and behold, there were two stray kittens coming up from the woods. I think they'd been dumped by someone in the cemetary behind the Baptist church. At any rate, they were hungry and VERY scared, shy, and timid. It took several days for us to get one of them to let us touch him (oops, I should say 'her') and now she's our best friend. (Note to self - take that cat to the vet.) The other kitten was (notice I said WAS) a calico and she never let us get close - let alone physical contact.

I was on the front porch Sunday afternoon and thought to myself - something just doesn't seem right. We'd been missing Calico kitty for a day or so, and I detected a faint odor.

(NEWS BULLETIN: Missing Kitty - FOUND - under front porch - no collar - smelly). EEeeeewwww!

Thank God for lots of rain - because we can't get to 'it' without tearing up the porch.