Category: babies

As you may or may not know, I’ve been working through my audio recordings of some of my memoirs. This week, I’ve gotten nearly three quarters of the way through the book. One of the hardest things about writing things down in such great quantities, is keeping the reader from becoming lost or confused, along the way. If someone were to pick up the book and simply start reading somewhere in the middle, I’m fairly certain they’d get lost pretty rapidly! One must read from the beginning, in order to understand the middle, which in turn carries them through to the conclusion.

Just like books, human beings have a beginning, a middle, and an end at some point! Every day we meet others who are in differing stages of their life book, leaving us to attempt an understanding of the person before us, with only bits and pieces of their actual story. It requires us to do some sleuthing, if you will, in order to make sense of the person we are encountering. Some folks say one thing, but behave in ways that are contrary to their words. Many times, we don’t exactly have the time to study the person in order to make an accurate assessment… so we guess!

Books are like people, in this respect! Some readers may skim over text, while some may get stuck overthinking a word or thought, based on their own perspective or past history.

As I was reading through my own chapters, I happened upon the time in my history that I was attending Bible Seminary. One of the key speakers, during my year there, lectured for an entire week over the importance of Context, perspectives, and motives. whether a person is the reader or listener, if you will, it is vital to understand context, have the right perspective, and check your motives at the door! These valuable words of wisdom, from that instructor, have stayed with me all these years. As a writer, I take it very seriously when I share my thoughts, insights, and/or imaginative tales. My desire is for the reader to fully see me, understanding the meaning of my words, and feeling the emotions that I wish to convey.

Yesterday’s prompt question asked about quotes that one lives by, and I hurriedly answered it, with a verse from the book of Matthew. Jesus had been speaking, in regards to following Him or following after worldly things. Though I’m not a quote follower, I did offer a portion of the verse from Matthew 24-26, where Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Later in the day, when I read through comments from friends, someone asked how I connected that quote with the one about Jesus yoke being easy and his burden light? My immediate answer was to the effect of, it’s all connected! At the moment, it seemed a short and concise answer, but my overthinking brain didn’t wish to leave it there. I pondered things throughout the evening, waking this morning with a desire to expound upon my earlier answer.

The verse that was mentioned came from several chapters earlier in the book of Matthew, in chapter 11: 28-30 where Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you an learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

While I still agree with my own original answer, that it’s all connected, I want to make sure that you understand why I stated that, even though these two verses are about differing things. One speaks of letting go of worldly possessions, while the other refers to living a Christlike existence. Both are equally valuable words of truth and wisdom from the Son of God. The reason I can say that it’s all connected, is because it is! Everything that Jesus did and said from the moment of his birth, all the way to his ascension into heaven, was prophetic, intentional, and predestined. Jesus was never a one and done sort, but rather, everything He said added to and built up everything that followed afterward.

I hope no one took offense that I chose to give such a long winded answer, for a simple question from a friend. I guess I felt a bit bad, for leaving such a simple and benign answer to a very intriguing question. Hopefully, they will think this a more heartfelt answer than yesterday.

Well, what office doesn’t offer Pizza and Birthday cake, nearly every week?

We all say we’re sick of it, but we still plan on showing up!

Bon Appetit!

Episode 1

On a warm sunny day, well into the summer season, sat the tiniest of turtles; she rested beneath an old plastic cup that had recently washed up onto the shore. She was so very tired, but had a great distance, yet to go, before she would reach the safety of the ocean.

She’d been crawling toward the water’s edge all night long! Ever since the pull of the moon had awakened her, hours earlier, the tiny turtle was driven out of her warm and protective shell. From the moment of her hatching, she’d discovered that a sandy path could be clearly seen, marking her way to the water’s edge. But she felt very alone, as there were no other baby turtles nearby to accompany her across the beach. This tiny turtle was the last of the seasons babies to be hatched, and she’d been born a full day later than all the other babies… she was alone!

When this turtle’s mother had arrived to lay her eggs, the beach had been overcrowded with other turtles, already on their way back to the water; their nests were already safely buried throughout the area. As she considered where to safely deposit her eggs, hoping to do her duty and then catch up with the rest of her kind, the young turtle mother was approached by several local Gulls. When they suggested she lay her eggs further inland, she thought this a lucky break, as there seemed to be nowhere left, here on the beach.

The young turtle set right to work, finding a soft mound of sand beneath a bush, far beyond where most turtles would venture to lay eggs. Being too far from the beach, meant a longer and more dangerous journey for hatching young. She’d no idea that the two Gulls were up to no good!

By the light of the moon, the young turtle lay her hopes of the future, into a small depression in the sand. She hastily covered the eggs with the sand she’d kicked out of the hole, earlier. Off went the turtle, to catch up with all the others, oblivious to the danger she had placed her children in, by naively taking the Gull’s nesting advice.

The truth of things became brutally evident on the day of the hatching! The birds had been waiting, along with other predators that had been patrolling the beach.

Not one of the little turtles made it to the water, save a single tiny baby, buried at the bottom of the nest pile! Being late to her own hatching, was the very thing that had saved her life! As she now sat under that plastic cup, though grateful to be alive, the little turtle was faced with running to the water, without the safety of numbers.

Who is this tiny turtle?

Will she make it to the water?

Tune in next time, to find out who this little one is, and what is to become of her…

Hurry hurry, shut the door

The rain’s leaving water upon all my floors

Puddles of water, puddles of mud

Puddles to slip in that bring quite a thud!

Remember your coat,

remember your hat

Or your make up will run

and your hair will go flat!

I know that this Monday feels soggy

The rain might be getting us down

Our lack of some Vitamin D

Is leaving us all with a frown!

We need all this rain

though it makes us feel blue

It nourishes all the earth

which is exactly what it should do!

So, let’s whistle a tune

of all those sunny days to come

Don’t let all those looks from others

make us feel off key or dumb!

Be grateful that Mondays

only come once a week

and try to ignore

all that rain in the street!

Before you know it,

the rain will be gone

And when Saturday arrives,

we can all mow our lawns!

I’m guessing that you’re wondering what a picture of a cell phone, may or may not have to do with my normal Sunday morning studies? I considered it somewhat humorous, as well, until I really thought about it. I’ll try to explain.

I was wrapping up my reading of the book of Joshua, this morning, when a funny thought popped into my head. Instead of pondering the Israelites behavior, even after all God had been doing for them, I found myself trying to remember how many times I’ve read through the same scriptures, only to find new and valuable insights that I’d overlooked during other readings. If you haven’t discovered it yet, I’ll remind you that I tend to fly all over the place, when it comes to my thoughts and writings. I’m also a very visual learner, so maybe that’s where I come up with the many examples of what I write about; hence, all the tv or movie references I often throw out there for everyone.

This is where the cell phone comes into play! I’d finished up with Joshua, but wasn’t ready to dive into the book of Judges yet, so I did some reading in the new testament. I found myself considering 2 Timothy 3: 16, 17. It read, “All scripture is God breathed, and is useful in teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” I sort of sat there, drinking my coffee, thinking about these words. As I was ruminating on this, I happened to glance right next to where my bible was sitting, and my eyes came to rest upon my cell phone.

If you think about it, our bible is pretty much like a cell phone that God uses to connect with us, his children. Every time I pick up this book, it’s like I turned my cell phones Bluetooth on, becoming immediately connected to the One that breathes life into the words on the pages. As I’m reading through the pages before my eyes, I hear God’s voice, feel His presence, and receive both encouragement and instructions from within the books cover. God never puts me on hold, and never forwards my calls!

Often, I find notes of love and acceptance, while at other times, I receive either direction or marching orders, if you will. The battery on this thing never dies, nor does it require recharging; God takes care of those details. This book/phone faithfully calls to me every day and every night, though, I’ll admit that there are times I have been the one to put God on hold, or even let Him go to voicemail.

The beauty of the word of God is, even if I break, lose or give my phone/bible to another… I can hear it ring loud and clear, from any bible I find, regardless of the translation style. God is not shackled with only one single book style. I’ve read King James, NIV, NAV, many differing types of study bibles, and on and on. The line between God and I cannot be broken… ever! This is due to my Bluetooth, basically being the Holy Spirit that resides within my vessel. This spirit is an actual part of God, placed within my heart at the moment I first believed… and it has a lifetime guarantee!

I know that this doesn’t really have anything to do with our normal Live Wire chats, but for some reason, this was where my heart led me this morning. It was such a wonderful insight, I guess I just really wanted to share it with you, as you might also feel encouraged.

If not, I’m just glad you took the time to listen to me thinking out loud. I’m also leaving some goodies, so it’s a potluck for the win!

I pray that God Blesses each and every one of you today, as you spend time with your loved ones… hugs