Results of Getting Things Done week

Posted on November 23, 2009 by Barbara Harper

So, last Monday I declared Getting Things Done week. I debated with myself about whether to show what I got done (– would anyone really be interested? Would I just be booting my own horn?) But just the fact that I declared publicly that I was going to dig in and get things done last week provided a little bit of accountability, even though no one was going to come after me or check up on me to see the results. But I decided to go ahead and show the results:

1. Cleaned off this table.

Before:

After:

This is a little drop-leaf table that used to be our main dining table ages ago. Now it is in the “sunroom.” It’s meant to be a table where people can work on different projects that they might need to leave out to finish or dry or whatever, but it tends to end up a place to dump things.

2. Cleaned off computer desk.

Before:

3. Sorting through files.

No photo for this one, but I sorted through two filing cabinet drawers, tossing our several things and moving them all up into the craft room into my little pink two-drawer filing cabinet (which I discovered tends to pitch forward. Sigh. Maybe I can put a brick in the back of the bottom drawer or something.) I also cleaned our two drawers in an upstairs plastic rolly-bin thing.

4. Cleaned out part of this cabinet.

Before:

After:

Still have some work to do there, but I put major dent in it.

By the way…that poor little amaryllis that someone gave me years ago actually bloomed all by itself in the box without having been planted. Does anyone know if I can cut off the old bloom and plant it again, or is it done?

5. Straightened and organized these bookcases.

Before:

After:

I still have a little work to do there, as you can see by several little stacks.

That blue bin contained outdoor things — basketballs, bats, super-soakers, etc. I had the boys go through it and sort out what was usable and what they wanted to keep, then they put the bin out in the shed. Then they moved two shelves worth of craft books to the craft room, and then I sorted and arranged what was left. I have a box-ful to get rid of (including a 30 year old Roget’s Thesaurus that is way out of date. I usually just use the one online anyway). I have a few more from home-schooling days that I want to list for sale — they are music books that I regret we never got to but which the boys have outgrown now.

It felt good to get to these things that have been needing attention for so long, plus it helped to actually see and remind myself of what I have. I discovered I have duplicates of a couple of books (which I am thinking I’ll hold a give-away for here). An added bonus was unexpected discoveries, like the letter I mentioned from my mom, and this sign one of the boys made a few years ago when I was repairing a stuffed animal:

I don’t remember their having a stuffed bee, but I do remember sewing a leg on something. I got a kick out of the “B+” blood type.

So now I need to start on a new list for this week, but I am floundering this morning. I’ve been fighting off a headache that isn’t enough to incapacitate but is making me draggy and foggy. I’ve been taking acetaminophen, but the only thing that seems to help is putting pressure on my forehead or cheekbones. I don’t want to spend the day doing that, though, so I am going to see if I can keep this momentum going and maybe shake it off. I am only going to try working on these types of things today and tomorrow, though, with Thanksgiving coming. The rest of the week I’ll just play by ear.

Have a good day, whatever your plans are!

Microfiction Monday

Posted on November 23, 2009 by Barbara Harper

Welcome to Microfiction Monday,
where a picture only paints 140 characters.

microfictionmonday

Susan at Stony River has begun a Microfiction Monday wherein participants write a story in 140 characters based on a particular image that Susan has chosen for the day. Design 215’s Character Counter helps keep track of the number of characters. It’s a fun exercise in creative conciseness…or concise creativity…

As the bright glory surrounding God’s throne, as the colorful, faceted arc after rain, so is God’s grace and protection surrounding His own.

For those who might not understand the references there, in Genesis 9:8-16 God established a covenant with Noah and his sons and future generations after the flood that He would never again destroy the world by a flood, and He set the rainbow as the token of His promise. Ezekiel 1:28 and Revelation 4:3 speak of a rainbow surrounding God’s throne. It wasn’t until thinking about what to write in regard to this photo that I caught the encircling — the parallel between the circle of the rainbow round His throne, the arc of the rainbow, and the encircling of His promise and protection around His people.

I guess if I have to write another paragraph explaining my thinking, that might mean I didn’t do the greatest job expressing myself with 140 characters!

If you’d like to read of another encounter I had with a rainbow, The Storm and the Rainbow was originally a blog post that was submitted and accepted as an article for Frontline Magazine.

And you can find other people’s takes on this photo at Susan‘s.

Face the Cross

Posted on November 22, 2009 by Barbara Harper

I first heard this beautiful hymn on the Wilds CD Creator, Redeemer, and King, and it literally stopped me in my tracks.

Upon the cross of Jesus my eye at times can see
The very dying form of One who suffered there for me.

Face the cross, He hangs there in your place.
See the Lamb upon the killing tree.
Stand and look into the Savior’s face
As on the cross, He dies for you and me.

Face the cross and see the dying Son.
See the Lamb upon the killing tree.
See His anguish and His tears of love.
Face the cross, He dies to set us free.

Turn not away, turn not away.
His nail-pierced hands are reaching out to you, to you.

Look upon the One without a sin,.
Spotless Lamb upon the killing tree.
Feel His pain and love from deep within,
So great a price, yet paid so willingly.

Turn not away, turn not away,
Face the cross, face the cross.

Face the One who suffers in your place,
See the Lamb, upon the killing tree.
Light of the world, now clothed in darkness grim
As on the cross, He hangs in agony.

Face the cross and turn not away, turn not away.
His nail-pierced hands are reaching out to you.

Turn not away, behold His wounded side.
Turn not away, behold the crucified.
Face the cross, He hangs there in your place.
Face the cross, and see the King of Grace.
Face the cross, face the cross.

— Words by Herb Fromach, music by David Lantz

Thoughts about…hell

Posted on November 21, 2009 by Barbara Harper

I don’t remember what train of thought led me to this destination, but I was thinking this morning about the fact that modern day Christians don’t like to talk about hell very much. It’s offensive. Yet the fear of and desire to avoid hell played a major part in my own salvation and that of many others I know. But without the love of God, I would have remained in that misery of fear: the fact that He did love me and did make a way that I could be cleansed and forgiven drew me. It is as Jude said in verses 22-23 of his letter: “And of some have compassion, making a difference:And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” Some will respond more to a compassionate appeal; others will only be shaken from their complacency by fear of the fire.

I’ve heard it said that Jesus spoke more about hell than heaven. I haven’t counted up the verses to see if that is true, but it would only make sense that He would want to warn people about such an awful place. I think we do a disservice to our friends and loved ones when we avoid speaking of it. There is a little tract titled “Hell: Suppose It’s True After All?” (full text here) which poses just that question. It is too big an issue to take a chance on. Another, titled “What To Do To Go To Hell,” opens up to a blank interior, meaning we don’t have to do anything to go there: we are already on our way and need to do something to avoid it.

Salvation isn’t just a “fire escape” from hell: it is so much more. It is by faith entering into a relationship with God as a Father, a relinquishing of our rule over our own lives to acknowledge and yield to His rule, a turning from and cleansing of sin, a beginning of learning to know Him in all the facets of His being, in all the ways He illustrates His love and relationship with us (Shepherd, Light, etc.).

Too often I want to present only the positive: His love, His care, His provision. But there is something blocking access to Him in that way: Isaiah 59:1-2: says, “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Sin is a barrier, a roadblock. The ultimate end of sin and self-will is hell. It’s not going to be a good ol’ party time with the buddies. It is awful.

But the good news is that God doesn’t want us to go there any more than we want go there ourselves. I urge you, as lovingly and kindly, and yet as urgently as I can, to consider these truths:

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God. John 3:16-21, NKJV.

You can read more here.

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt: Bird(s)

Posted on November 21, 2009 by Barbara Harper

PhotoHunt

Theme: Bird(s) | Become a Photo Hunter

Some of you will remember this photo from Melli‘s photo challenge for the apple category. But the sculpture has birds, too! This sculpture sits in front of a little shopping center downtown.

And this one isn’t mine: it’s from the I Can Has Cheezeburger site — it’s often the last thing I look at before I log off for the day. Most of the pictures are cats, and I am not particularly a cat lover, but often the captions are hilarious. They do use other animals as well. This one cracked me up:

Friday’s Fave Five

Posted on November 20, 2009 by Barbara Harper

Susanne at Living to Tell the Story hosts a “Friday Fave Five” in which we share our five favorite things from the past week. Click on the button to read more of the details, and you can visit Susanne to see the list of others’ favorites or to join in.

1. In going through some old files this week, I came across an old letter from my mom written about 25 years ago. My mom rarely wrote letters: she preferred calling. There was no major news in it, just everyday stuff. But it was like a little visit with her.

2. I also mentioned earlier that I hadn’t been able to find my favorite Chocolate Chip Eggo waffles — I like them because I prefer them without syrup, so that saves a few calories, and with a couple of microwave sausages, it makes for a quick but filling breakfast. A few ladies mentioned that there is a shortage of Eggo waffles due to flooding in one area and equipment problems in another. But…I actually found a couple of boxes in a store that didn’t have them last week! If I had been thinking I would have taken both of them, but I was so excited I just grabbed one. But that will leave the other for another fan of them.

3. Lunch with my friend, Carol, yesterday. It had been a long time since we had been able to get together, with weddings in each of our families over the last few months, among other things. It was fun and a good time to catch up.

4. We’re supposed to get a new furnace installed today! Ours has been out for a few weeks, but thankfully it hasn’t been terribly cold. A little chilly in the mornings and evenings, but not as bad as it could have been.

5. A fairly brief but very full Bible study on Bible verses that say God is something — my Shepherd, my light, my strength, etc. Much food for thought there.

Bonuses:

I had declared Monday that this was Getting Things Done week. I have been enjoying getting some things done that have been on the list for a while! More on that maybe Monday — I still have the weekend to go!

And though I mentioned it earlier in the week, I really enjoyed watching Up with the family last weekend.

I mentioned at the end of last week’s FFF a little 16 month old baby named Gaberiel who was in critical condition. He did go on to heaven from his mother’s arms this week. His funeral is this morning at 11 a.m. Ontario time. I’m sure the family would appreciate your prayers. He leaves behind a mom, dad, and four brothers and sisters who are rejoicing that his suffering is over but understandably missing him.

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. Psalm 116:15.

A living, bright reality

Posted on November 19, 2009 by Barbara Harper

O Jesus, make Thyself to me,
A living bright reality:
More present to faith’s vision keen,
Than any outward object seen:
More dear, more intimately rich,
Than e’en the sweetest earthly tie.

This little poem was written on the back of an envelope from a note someone sent me in college, and it has stayed with me all these years. I wasn’t sure of the author, but a quick search indicates this was from a hymn by Charlotte Elliott, the author of the more well-known hymn “Just As I Am.”

These words have been on my heart lately, for myself, my family, my church, and Christianity in general — that our Christianity would truly be not just doctrine, though that is vitally important; not just “what we believe” or “what we do” (or don’t do), but rather, as we so often say, a vital and living relationship with a real, living Christ. Not just praying before meals and during crises, but keeping in touch with Him through the whole day. Not just dragging ourselves to church and through some semblance of devotions, but gaining in His Word what we vitally need more than food. Not just a vague appreciation for an escape from hell, but an active, consuming love that energizes a life spent doing His will out of love rather than duty. A heart that longs after Him.

May it be so.

Booking Through Thursday: Posterity

Posted on November 19, 2009 by Barbara Harper

The Booking Through Thursday for today is one that I submitted:

Do you think any current author is of the same caliber as Dickens, Austen, Bronte, or any of the classic authors? If so, who, and why do you think so? If not, why not? What books from this era might be read 100 years from now?

I don’t have an answer for this one — which is one reason I asked the question. I guess one consideration is what defines a classic: what still speaks to people years later even though language, dress, mannerisms, culture, etc. has changed?

What do you think?

Random Dozen

Posted on November 18, 2009 by Barbara Harper

Hosted by Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee. Visit Linda’s to join in and link up or to find other participants.

1. If you could master one sport, what would it be?

Ice skating. I would love to gracefully glide like that.

2. When you make a major purchase, do you go with your gut instinct, or do you do research to make an informed decision?

We usually do a pretty fair amount of research. I say we — my husband does most of it.

3. There is an old kids’ game that says you can find out what your movie star name would be by using your middle name as your first name and the name of the street you grew up on as your last. What is your movie star name?

Lee Cane.

4. Would you rather give up your favorite music or your favorite food?

It would have to be pretty serious for me to do either. I suppose I could give up my favorite food if I absolutely had to, and I know I’d get used to it eventually, though I’d be pretty miserable at first. On the other hand, if someone took away all my music, they can’t take away the memories of it, so it would never be completely gone. Still, that’s not the same as being able to actually hear it.

5. There are two types of banana preferences. One is pristine yellow, almost to the point of being green; the other is spotty and more ripe. Which is your preference?

I like them best when they’re yellow and just getting spotted. But there is a small window of time before they get too spotted and lose some flavor.

6. Your favorite tree is?

I’m afraid I don’t know my trees very well, but I’d probably say an oak. Although a weeping willow is fascinating to me.

7. On a scale of 1-10, how tech savvy are you?

Maybe a 4.

8. Has H1N1 touched your family?

No, thankfully.

9. Are you an analytical person, or do you just accept things the way they are without questioning or scrutinizing?

I’m very analytical in some areas, but there are others that I accept as is.

10. Is your personality more like that of a dog, cat, or Koala?

What kind of personality does a koala have? I’ve never seen them do anything but sit in a tree and eat. I’m probably more like a cat.

11. Do you keep in touch with friends you made years ago?

Some. Not as much as I would like to or should.

12. You are checking out at a grocery store. In the express lane, there are more people than the regular lanes, but of course, their load is less than those in the regular lanes. Which lane do you choose (assuming you qualify for the express lane) and why?

The wrong one.