Merriam-Webster defines a writer as: (noun) One that writes.
Category Archives: learning
A hodge podge of thoughts
Proud man says, “Where is God? What God? There is no God!“
Humble man says, “What is man that You, O God, are mindful of him? And the children of men that you visit them?“
We are so proud. We think we’re so big and smart and the center of the universe. We think we know it all and if there is anything we don’t know we’ll explain it when we figure it out.
I like Bill Nye the Science Guy. But he’s a guy. He’s not God. He’s not all knowing. He’s not got the universe figured out. Yet he says this with such faith. And that’s just it, it’s faith. He builds on what he believes is the unseen foundation of all we see. He believes the foundation is random, purposeless, meaningless, chance, and change.
At least this lady and this guy are willing to say, “Hey, we don’t know everything, but we have faith in the One who does and we choose to believe in the elevating perspective of a Creator creating His creation.” They also build on a foundation they can’t see. Their foundation, and mine, is a loving Creator Who created me for a purpose and the trees for a purpose… and the sun… and the dog… and the humming bird, etc.
Other tid bits:
I’ve been working on reading Robinson Crusoe. It’s a very interesting read so far. I am literary-classics illiterate. I was supposed to read those in high school. I didn’t. I skimmed by. I finished my senior year taking classes at a community college and finally started learning something. So I’m a little late, but sophomore reading for Mrs. Spicer’s class here I come!
I’m 38 and I’m already starting to lament the “good ole days.” Well, not really, there were no good ole days in the 80’s for me. I guess its a matter of standards.
It seems to me personal responsibility is becoming as rare as a man opening the car door for his wife or sitting together at the dinner table as a family. To suggest personal responsibility is to suggest one take on Mount Everest. “I can’t do that! You do it for me!” That’s basically what I was told today when I “suggested” (told) a parent that their child was being excluded from school for not supplying the school with state-law-required immunization records. A two week notice had been given, before that another two-week notice. A grace period of the entire first quarter was given. One would think that would be plenty of opportunity to work with to get the required document. But I was told, “You do it.” “You find a way to get the record… I don’t have time.” Wow! Very sad.
I screwed up this past two weeks. I was supposed to return a purchase order card I had checked out from the district office before fall break within 48 hours of borrowing it. It wasn’t until I pulled my driver’s licence out before boarding a plan to Oregon this past week that I realized I had forgotten to return the card. When I got back to work yesterday I returned it to the district with my apologies and admission that I had no excuse. I forgot. I fully expected some kind of reprimand. I got none. I still expect it. It’s my responsibility, I didn’t do what I was supposed to do. That’s so freeing. It’s so freeing to confess, accept responsibility and move on. Letting a bunch of responsibilities go unfulfilled while making a bunch of excuses as to why one can’t fulfill their responsibilities and pushing off the responsibility onto someone else is bondage!
Quieted,
You never know
In the district I work, nurses have to work late on the Thursday of parent/teacher conference night. So last night I was there until eight, hence no blog post.
You never know what can happen in a day. Your house could catch fire. Your grandchild could drown in your pool while you’re watching T.V. You could have a stroke. You could get hit by a car while riding your bike on the way to school. I’m not just being a doomsayer here. Between yesterday afternoon and this morning I found out all of these things happened to people I know. My heart aches for the people involved in all of these situations. People to pray for.
It’s the beginning of fall break for me and the boys. They get one week, I get two. Tomorrow is baseball. Sunday I’m really looking forward to. And then a week of… He knows. And I trust Him with it. I know not what can happen in a day. I do know the One who will use all that happens in my days to mold me more and more into the image of His Son. So be it!
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”–yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.- James 4:13-14
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.- Romans 8:28-29
Connor’s teacher wrote a few things about him that made me glad despite his struggling grades. She wrote that he asks good questions and that he accepts responsibility and learns from his mistakes. Those two statements hold a lot more credit than A’s in my book!
My two boys are the odd couple for sure. One is always moving, one I am always trying to get moving. One is very academic, a good puzzle solver…a thinker. The other will chase any fast moving object, be quick to hurry through eating or any assignment so he can go chase a fast moving object. One could easily excel in school. The other will probably always struggle in school.
I obviously want my kids to get good grades, but I don’t place the emphasis of my approval on the grade. I do place it on their willingness to work hard, listen and learn and take responsibility for their choices. To hear Connor’s teacher point out these characteristics in him thrilled me, despite my concern for his grades. I know as long as he keeps asking good questions and is willing to learn from his mistakes, take responsibility and work hard, he’ll do just fine.
Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored.- Proverbs 13:18
We all want progress, but if you’re on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.- C.S. Lewis
I hate playing catch up here.
As I’ve said, I process life better in the second-living of it- i.e. writing. Or talking it out with God, which is what I do for the life I can’t second-live in public writings.
I took up early-morning walking with my black lab Bailey a week or so ago, when it started getting cool in the mornings. I take her down to the local park on-leash and then release her to chase rabbits to her hearts content in the empty park. While she lives the Labrador Retriever dream of chasing a fast-moving small animal, I walk and talk to my unseen Lord.
I watch His sun rise on the just and the unjust, and breathe in deep the air He keeps filling my lungs with, and pour out my complaints to Him. I usually stop my self after a few thoughts and take notice of blazing fireball bursting over the eastern horizon and realize I have more reason to give thanks than to complain. I begin thanking Him for His promises and the everyday blessings and ask for the wisdom to live in relation to situations my heart is heavy with. The park becomes better than coffee. Walking and praying is very invigorating. People come to mind and there’s no radio or email or list to make to distract me. I picture myself bringing these people, some by the hand, some in my arms, to my Father in heaven. I am so privileged to get to be apart of what He’s doing in their lives.
When I was a teenager I wanted to be a female Indiana Jones. I wanted to be an archeologist. I wanted to go dig up ancient treasures out of the dirt. In a way, I feel a little like a female Indiana Jones of the Bible.
For the last month I’ve been digging thru ancient writings of the Bible, searching for treasured and timeless truth, preparing to deliver a Bible study. I feel like I hit a vein of gold, or uncovered the corner of an enormous buried treasure!
The nature of the God of the Bible is the same from beginning to end. He loves humility and hates haughtiness. He is sovereign and dangerously all-powerful and good! He cares for barren and widowed women and fatherless children and those who are oppressed. He is faithful to His promises even when those He has entered into a promise with act wickedly. He deals with wickedness and has mercy and compassion on whom He wills. He wills to show that mercy and compassion on ANY who will humble themselves before Him. He is faithful. He alone has the right to condemn and He alone is the one who can save. He is passionate. He sees me. He cares for me. He is patient with me… with everyone. He is the same God to Tamar and to the woman caught in adultery at the feet of the Savior in the New Testament and to me. He is my hope all day long!
The laws of the LORD are true; each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.- Psalm 19:9-10
I made a really yummy gluten-free margherita pizza tonight. I used Pamela’s Gluten-Free Bread Dough Mix and sprinkled the bottom of the pan with flax-seed meal for some extra goodness and texture. I topped it with Barilla’s tomato and basil sauce, fresh basil leaves picked from my school’s sensory garden, and whole-milk mozzerrella. Buon appetito!
Tomorrow I’ll be talking with the kinder and first grade class at Pathway about how God fed the people of Israel with “What is it?” (manna) in the desert. I pray these kids will know the Greater-Than-Moses who has delivered them from the slavery of sin. I pray they will taste the goodness of God and feed on His Word in their sojourning… even when they don’t understand and ask, “What is it? What is this all about?”
…as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.- 1 Peter 2:2-3
Learning in silence- A lesson from my haste
I’ve been looking back, not in a longing way, not in a holding on to the past way, but as though I were an athlete looking at a previous game to learn from my mistakes that I might train myself to not perform them again.
I believe this is a godly sorrow that God is working in me. It’s not fun! It’s not condemning either though. It’s learning to despise my ways and love the Lords. And it’s clinging even more to His mercy and grace.
- I sorrow that I did not learn in silence.
“Women should listen and learn quietly and submissively.” 1
Timothy 2:11 NLT
When I first reunited with my husband I was so excited! For many reasons. One being I was convinced I was going to start some version of a Billy Graham crusade where women would see how much Christ loved and valued them and suddenly WANT to love their husbands in Christ-like, humble love. I had the basketball and I started running with it! Problem is, I was running the wrong way! I ended up sharing online, and with a neighbor friend, and even with a small group at church, what I was convinced was a sure “two-pointer” for our team, but it turned out to be a score for the opposing team.
The call to the sidelines in the months which followed that first year or two of running to the wrong hoop (not learning in silence) was even harder than it was for me in 7th grade. God humbled me and I didn’t want to “play” anymore! But this past year He’s been teaching me the importance of having
a godly sorrow that leads to turning around, not a worldly sorrow that leads to giving up (death). God doesn’t want me to stay sorrowful and stop running the race set before me (Hebrews 12:1). He wants me to receive with meekness what He teaches me in His word and let be implanted in me for true growth.Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. – James 1:21
Oh, how I wish I had of been more like Mary in the days, weeks and years following the miraculous intervention of God in my life. I wish I had just treasured up all the things God was doing and speaking to me, pondering them in my heart… learning in silence.
There’s a time to learn in silence and there’s a time to teach good things. But I would be wise to be sure I’ve learned before I teach.
So how do I know if I’ve learned something so that I might go teach it to another woman as God would have me?
Here are some questions I’m asking myself now:
- Am I still learning?
- Do I still have questions?
- Has this topic gone from “taking it in” to “fleshing it out” in my life or am I still just taking it in?
- Is what I think I’ve learned clearly in the Word?
- Do other godly women and accurate teachers of God’s Word I know confirm the things I’ve learned in their teaching of the Word?
It’s SOOOOO important to stick close to the Word!
In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his
lips is wise. – Proverbs 10:19
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of
the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward. – Psalm 19:7-11
Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of
counselors there is safety. -Proverbs 11:14
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press
on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.” -Phil.3:12
Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. -Matthew 10:27
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. -Matthew 28:20
…the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not
slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things– that they
admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. – Titus 2:3-5
Yet there is clearly a time for quietly learning and waiting, receiving the implanted Word meekly, and letting it mature into seen fruitfulness in our own lives before we set out to teach it to others.

To help me submit to those reigns gladly, yet move forward in the direction my Master would guide me, I’ve decided to embed these scriptures to the top of each of the posts I go to create. I want to be sure what I share here is clearly and accurately spoken by the Spirit in the scriptures and submitted to in my own life:
Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become
teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged by God with greater strictness. James 3:1 (NLT)
Women should listen and learn quietly and submissively. 1 Timothy 2:11 (NLT)
But as for you, promote the kind of living that reflects right teaching… live in a way that is appropriate for someone serving the Lord. They must not go around speaking evil of others and must not be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to take care of their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God. Titus 2:1, 3-5 (NLT)
Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. -Psalm 19:12-14
* Related: A Great Devotion from Elizabeth Elliot on Observation in Silence