Hodgepodge 100

See what others are saying for the 100th Hodgepodge over at Joyce's Place!

1. What creeps you out?
Nose pickers, maggots, vomit, and moldy refrigerator finds.

2. What's your least favorite candy?

Those peanut butter chews that come wrapped in orange or black at Halloween. I try one each year wondering if they've gotten any better. Nope.

3. Are you a fan of scary movies?  What's the scariest movie you've ever seen?

Not a fan, really. I once babysat for a family who had HBO and I stayed up until 1am watching Halloween 3 in 3D in a warm house full of open windows. I was freaked out for the entire summer. 

I still don't like to be out at night alone.

4. What part of life confuses you the most?

I don't get how people can deny the existence of God. You may not like the idea, but can you really deny His existence? 

5. Pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, poppy...what's your favorite seed?

Sunflower seeds are my favorite, although I like the other choices, as well.

6. Imagine your life ten years from today...what's changed?

Since we're imagining: I've lost 80 lbs., written a book, found time to make money with my favorite hobby, and best of all, have grand babies!

7.  What do you a) love the most and b) like the least about the Hodgepodge? 

I love the friends I've made through the Hodgepodge (and friends to come)!

I don't understand why anyone uses Word Verification anymore. Folks, if you use word verification on your blog, you are turning readers away.  

The spam folder in Blogger works well! It collects all the spam in one place and you can go in and delete in one keystroke. They won't be visible on your site. Please, check it out and turn off Word Verification.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I had two opportunities (a staff meeting and a party) to dress up this Halloween season.) I haven't dressed up for Halloween since college, a very long time ago.  

My girls helped me find a long robe and I bought some pointy ears (that had to be glued on.) I made a pretty funny alien.

Being alien-ated by the girls at the in-home alien spa

I've got my eyes on you

Some co-workers have too much fun

Communion

 

My girls and I are reading through the American Girl Rebecca series. Rebecca is a Russian Jewish immigrant who lives in New York City in 1914. Although I have had exposure to the beliefs and traditions of the Jewish people, because these practices are set in a story I see how impactful they are on Jewish daily life.  Busy preparations leading up to Sabbath, followed by a solemn reverence as they worship were integral parts of their week.

Last night my family attended a Christian fellowship where the weekly act of taking the Lord's Supper occurs. On the way home from the get-together Mark and I admitted that our initial reactions was, "Weekly?"  However, after I adjusted to the idea I decided that I would do well to have a re-focus on Christ and His sacrifice for me more often than a couple times a year.

Commemorating the Lord's Supper was a regular and cherished practice in the early church, by which believers remembered their Savior's death and celebrated their salvation and eternal life.  I always think of the Lord's Supper as a realignment - getting back in synch with the Lord as I recall His great love for me.

I Corinthians 11:27-34 tells us not to take the Lord's Supper lightly.  We bring dishonor to Christ - His life, suffering and death - if we treat Communion with indifference.  If we take time each week (whether by observing Communion or not) to realign ourselves, asking for forgiveness of sin and asking for the Holy Spirit to renew His work in us then we bring honor and glory to all He has done.

Hebrews 13:15 "Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name."

I encourage you to take the time to realign yourself with the Lord this week, confessing sin and praising Him for His great work.

Wednesday Hodgepodge October 24

Join us at Joyce's for the Wednesday Hodgepodge.

1.  So, do you like beer? 

Never tasted it, never will. Smells horrible.

2.  What's your least favorite repetitive task? 

Laundry. It never ends.

3.  When was the last time you rode a bus?  Where was it headed? 

I can't remember when I last rode a bus; it's been many many years. The last time I got ON a bus was probably 9+ years ago. I was getting my daughter settled on a tour-type bus that would be taking her to Beach Week with our youth group. 

4.  What song from your childhood or from your own children's childhood could make a parent's nerves stand on end? 

Jeremiah was a Bullfrog. I used to sing it over and over while swinging on the swing set. Or it could have been the song about Running Bear and Little White Dove that we used to sing on drives to/from vacation. That one got us moved to the bed of the truck so they couldn't hear us anymore. : ) Joyce, there's an innate pleasure in remembering how those songs made my parents crazy!! 

5.  The US Presidential election cycle is drawing to a close (can I get an AMEN??), and the third and final debate was held last night...what was the last thing you 'debated about'?

Ideas and thoughts are challenged around here daily, but they're  so minor I can't remember the last one. 

I'm so thankful the Presidential debates are over!  

6.  Can a person make too much money?  How much is too much?

I don't think the question should be "Can they make too much," but "What do they do with it?" I believe money doesn't belong to you; it belongs to the Lord so what He gives/takes away is His doing. Our greatest concern should be what we do with what we've been given.

7.  Pop-soda-coke-something else...what's it called where you live?

"Soda" here in northern Virginia.  However, I grew up calling it "sodie." Really.  Central IL in the 70's. We had us some culture back then.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Recently my husband gave me the gift of a MacBook Pro, my first laptop.  He and my older kids have migrated over from PC's to Mac's, but I was very resistant. I don't like change. (See previous post here.) Anyway, Mark was tired of being tech support for me and my often buggy PC and he talked me into getting a Mac. I literally cried everyday for the first week. I went around the house grousing and complaining. I threw little fits when I really wanted to throw the MacBook. I hated how everything was "backwards." I chided them with "don't tell me everything is intuitive. It would only be intuitive if you had never seen a computer before!" It certainly wasn't intuitive for a PC user.

Fast-forward...I LOVE my MacBook Pro. Love love love it! No bugs, and it can do that all my PC did and then some.  It really does make sense once you figure out how those Mac Designers think. I have ventured into more programs and applications and given them a try without the help of any instructional books (which I always needed when learning something new on a PC.)  All I've had to do is explain my "problem" and someone suggests a Mac solution that has already figured out how to solve it.  Like many Mac Users, I will never look back.

I get a chuckle when I go to work and get on a PC and try to navigate it like a Mac. There's a joy in knowing I've been converted. :) 

Brought to you by my MacBook Pro!

Embracing Change!

A prevailing theme in my spiritual growth this year has been living moment-by-moment surrendered to the Lord.  No matter what material I'm studying or what message I'm listening to, the Father keeps bringing to light the truth of walking in step with Him.  He can get pretty creative in making His point on the many aspects of that central truth.

This week the variation of theme was change.  I am a girl who generally abhors changes. How boring, right?!  Early in the week I was given news about a possible change and I cried my way through it wishing that everything could stay the same. 

It can't. It doesn't. If change doesn't come in the expected, it shows up where we least expect it.

The next day my family and I worked in the yard for several hours in the drizzle of rain. It was mildly annoying, but refreshing, as well. Our conversation drifted to the weather and my boys remarked that I don't go outdoors because of the unpredictability of weather.  It's true!  I venture out a couple times a year on those slightly breezy days where the temperature hovers near 70 degrees and the sun indirectly peeks out behind fluffy white clouds.  The boys zoned in on the point: I don't like change. 

That go me thinking, "Could I truly dislike change to the degree of trying to avoid the weather?"  These  thoughts had me asking myself how far I extended my trust in God. Matt 6:33-34 tells us not to worry about our basic needs, but to seek the kingdom of God and not worry about tomorrow.  Inherent in those verses is the underlying message, "It's going to change! Life will throw you curve balls, but all you have to do is Seek Me (God.) I've got it covered."

Psalm 55:19 tells us what happens when we don't live this way. "...Because they do not change, Therefore they do not fear God." My study Bible says, "David's enemies were too set in their ways and too secure to pay attention to God."

I don't want that to be my testimony! Instead I want the testimony of 2 Cor 3:18 where by focusing on the Lord and His glory I am being transformed (changed!) into His image.

Here's to embracing change! (& maybe even going outside.)

Girl Talk - Being the New Girl

I receive daily posts written at (in) courage: home for the hearts of women.

Today's post was powerful!

I think we try to kid ourselves as adult women that we can handle being the "new girl," but just last week I went to a quilt guild meeting for the first time and I can tell you I felt like the little girl in the (in)courage post.  I will try again, but sometimes it takes time to feel accepted and welcomed.

Please, take the time to read the sweet post of a mom's heart for her daughter as she navigates a new season and then look for someone this week who is standing on the sidelines just waiting to be noticed. Reach out and give them some attention and encouragement. We all need to feel welcomed and accepted.

Best of all, when you have Christ in your life, you're never alone.