Thankful Thursday -What's My Significance?

Have you been feeling the January blues?  My blogger friend, Lynn, at Spiritually Unequal Marriage, addressed this topic this morning.  She is thankful to know that Christ is her significance, and she quoted Carolyn Curtis James who said, "A woman's high calling as God's image bearer renders her incapable of insignificance, no matter what has gone wrong in her life or how much she has lost."

Isn't it amazing how a topic can attract your attention and suddenly you see references to it everywhere?

The subject of  a person's "calling" always makes me take notice, perhaps, since I work in the church.  Everyone wants to know if they are called to ministry, the implication being if they are not "called" they are off the hook to minister. [But that is a topic for another post ...]

I read this thought-provoking quote from Christine Caine over at Holly Furtick's blog, The Preacher's Wife,

"God puts you in a place and expects you to stay there until He comes to move you on. "

As Holly says, "embrace your place."  Give yourself fully to the place where you are!  Don't spend your life wishing away what you have for something else.

It makes me think of the feelings I had as a young mother:  "I can't wait til my baby can crawl!" or "It will be so much fun when my baby talks to me!"  It's so easy to anticipate the next stage of development so much that you miss the joy and wonder of where you are right this very minute.

Whatever season of life you find yourself, you need to give it everything you have.  Why should God move you on to a higher position if you can't do justice to the situation you are in now?

  

"Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.  And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,  knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:22-24 NKJV

I'm thankful today that I have significance because nobody else can be me. I am not irreplaceable, but I'm right where God has placed me and I want to serve Him by being the best me I can be. I am serving the Lord whether I'm cooking a meal, putting up laundry, typing a bulletin or even filing all those dreaded papers!


Hmmm... finding significance in filing ... who would have believed it?


If you would like to read other thankful hearts, join Lynn at her blog, Spiritually Unequal Marriage.

Friday's Fave Five #121

Hello!  I hope you all had a wonderful week.  Now that it is Friday, let's look back and find 5 highlights of our week, shall we?

1. I'm still practicing with my new camera, but I tried to capture this funny little squirrel on top of the church bus sign.  I was excited that I was observant enough to see him, and that he stayed on top of the sign long enough for me to dig out my camera and turn it on.

2. The Perfect Toasted Cheese (or Grilled Cheese, as some folks call them): Toasted Cheese will always be one of my favorite sandwiches. When I can't think of anything else to have for a quick lunch, I'll whip out the skillet and make one. We like to have them with a bowl of Cream of Tomato soup.  Toasted Cheeses are what I lived on during my pregnancies.  When I couldn't stomach eating anything, I could always scarf down one of these beauties:

3.  A scripture that I am currently dwelling on:

“So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom." Luke 12:31 HCSB (emphasis mine)

Really, what do we have to be afraid of if we truly believe it makes Him happy to bless us?

4. A quote that challenges me:

"Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you are not willing to move your feet." [Anonymous, seen in an email]

5.  Irish Breakfast Tea - my new favorite morning beverage.

I hope you had a wonderful week.  Why don't you link up at Susanne's and tell us all about it?  You can find Mr. Linky at Living to Tell the Story.

Tea Talk - Thursday, January 13, 2011

1. I'm having...Irish Breakfast Tea in my Southeast Missouri State Mom coffee mug. I got this mug when my daughter started SEMO.  Now she has graduated and is in her second year of teaching high school math. I drink out of this mug nearly every morning as I sit at the computer and blog.

2. I'm feeling....a little tired ... not quite ready to start my day.

3. On my mind....the upcoming annual business meeting at my church.  I've been procrastinating and I need to get the report done.  Ok, I need to at least start the report!

4. A quotation to encourage:

"It’s important to have a twinkle in your wrinkle"  (Anon)

This little quote makes me realize that as we mature we should be focusing on the things that bring us joy.  Our eyes should always be sparkling with interest in what we are doing - it makes the crow's feet less noticeable!

Besides, is there anything more pathetic than a dried up prune-y old person who's mad at the world?

Tea Talk is a concept created by Ruth at Celebrate Friendship.  Go check her out!

The Simple Woman's Daybook - January 11, 2011

FOR TODAY, JANUARY 11, 2011

Outside my window...snow!
I am thinking... what can I do with this "bonus" day?
I am thankful for... snow days off from work.
From the kitchen... baked pork chops.
I am wearing... jammies ... a perk of having a snow day.  I heard that every state has snow except Florida!
I am creating... nothing
I am going... no where.
I am reading...I just finished Irene Hannon's "Fatal Judgment." It was awesome.
I am hoping... for motivation!
I am hearing... the sound of the heater running.
Around the house... people laying around the house - did I mention today was a snow day?
One of my favorite things... scrabble games with my daughter.
A few plans for the rest of the week: writing blog posts and getting board meeting stuff together.
Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...

I love the way the early morning light makes these leaves gleam!



The Simple Woman's Daybook is a concept that was created by Peggy Hostetler. You can join in here.

Friday's Fave Five #121

The first Friday of the new year! It's totally appropriate to reflect on the last few days (even the last year, but that's for another post ...)

1.  On New Year's Eve, Jim's family gathered together to celebrate.  It was a bittersweet time because just one year ago, we had celebrated New Year's Eve with Jim's mom.  Now she is in heaven, and we decided to make a new tradition of eating together each December 31 in her memory. We tried a new restaurant that featured a buffet - our family loves buffets - and we all gave it a thumbs up.

Here is Jim and his brothers and sister posing with Santa Claus (and one random stranger passing by!) Jim is on the far left.

2. One of our traditions is to take photos of the girls around the Christmas tree.  The tree was scheduled to come down on Monday, so Sunday we made sure to get these photos:

Liss

Malia

I quickly texted our daughter in Oklahoma to remind her of the tradition and ask her to take a photo in front of the tree.  Too late!  The tree had already been taken down ...

3.  Monday was our day off from the office to celebrate New Year's.  We took down our Christmas decorations and spruced up things around the house.  Here is my January dining table centerpiece:

 

The runner was made by my sister-in-law, Cora.  The birdhouse was a gift from a Secret Sister.  The candlesticks are my favorite yard sale treasure.

4.Quote of the week:

"Stay home more. You’ll save money, your vehicles will last longer…and joy of joys…you may not be so worn out all the time! I find that when I’m running from here to there and back again…I am completely exhausted AND behind on all the work I need to do at home. We don’t need THAT much outside “stuff”. When you’re home more…you’ll find you’ll be more rested and more relaxed…naturally."



… Laura from Heavenly Homemakers

5. Challenge: Although I am in love with new beginnings, this year I did not make a single new year's resolution or goal.  I'm tired of making them and then falling short of my goals.  Instead, I just want to challenge myself to spend more time with Him this year.  I'm not going to set any certain number of minutes that I resolve to spend in bible study and prayer.  I'm not going to get out a chart and try to mark off "x" number of chapters in the bible that I am supposed to read every day.  I'm just going to tell myself everyday that I want to "show Him how much He matters to me." (I got that from Lisa Notes, by the way.) If He is my top priority, everything else will fall into line.

So, this was my thoughts and actions this past week.  What did you do?  Link up over at Susanne's Living to Tell the Story and share with us!

Tea Talk - Thursday, January 6, 2011

1. I'm having...english toffee cappuccino.

This teacup is from a set of Corelle, Spice of Life, that my parents bought me for a wedding gift, 34 years ago.  This pattern is no longer being sold.  It was my first set of Corelle, and I love it!  All these years later, they look great.  There is not a chip or a scratch on them, and I've never broken one piece.

2. I'm feeling.... nostalgic.

3. On my mind... today would have been my dad's birthday if he was still living.

4. A quotation to challenge

"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." Leo Tolstoy

Tea Talk is a concept conceived by Ruth at her blog, Celebrate Friendship.

The Simple Woman's Daybook - January 4, 2011

FOR TODAY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2011

Outside my window...darkness, but it is supposed to be sunny and cold today.
I am thinking...about getting back to routine, and goals for 2011. I love routine.
I am thankful for...all the blessings God has given me lately ... and how He has worked out our recent vehicle situation for our good.
From the kitchen...pork chops and broccoli and cheese for dinner tonight.
I am wearing...my heather-y black dress pants, assymmetrically ruffled blouse with a black jacket, since I'm going back to work today.
I am creating... cookbooks for my girls, still - it's going to take me awhile ...
I am going... back to work.  I'm ready for a new year at the office!
I am reading...nothing currently, but I'm going to the library on my lunch hour.
I am hoping...and praying that my daughter in Oklahoma finds the right job for her.
I am hearing...Elissa blow-drying her hair.
Around the house... the Christmas decor has been put away and the house is back to normal.  I'm so glad!
One of my favorite things...a clean house.
A few plans for the rest of the week: getting my nails done, working on the cookbooks, getting into the Word more.
Here is a picture for thought I am sharing

Malia wearing her Hello Kitty fingerless gloves.

What is it about Hello Kitty that kids and teens alike love her?

The Simple Woman's Daybook is a concept conceived by Peggy Hostetler.  You can link up at her blog, The Simple Woman's Daybook.