Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Sick

I had a chance to take the flu shot this year while I was at the health dept. getting another shot for my trip overseas. "No," I said, "We just don't get sick at my house." Next year I will be first in line for the flu shot.

Sunday morning (Easter Sunday) I jumped out of bed feeling fine but a little achy. I thought I was just sore because I went to work out the day before and Johnny and Jacob had me doing chin-ups on a weight machine. I could barely move my arms and my shoulders and back were real sore. As I was sitting listening to an excellent Easter sermon about the Risen Savior, wanting to identify my voice with that of the devoted to Christ, I noticed it was freezing in the sanctuary. I really think it just hit me - just like that...

So, I've been in bed since sometime on Sunday feeling really rotten. Johnny came home yesterday during lunch (wonderful husband that he is) and asked me if he could get me anything. "Just put me out of my misery," I answered. This is the first day I have even felt like reading or doing anything except watch tv. Maybe you are like me and usually do not watch tv during the day during the week. There's a reason we don't besides the fact that we aren't home or that we're busy -- there's NOTHING ON TO WATCH. And, BTW, the queen of daytime tv is not Oprah, it's Tyra. She's on all the time either on America's Top Model marathon or her talk show...I know I was a little delirious but I think that comes on more than once a day. Just a little tv info for ya!

I think I am on the road to recovery. I have a project and presentation due Monday and my NT research paper due on Tuesday. I planned to be at the library yesterday...I'm a little behind. It's all good, though. I'm graduating in 6 weeks and 2 days!!

Serving the King,

Jeanette

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Resurrection Weekend

I find an interesting parallel in Scripture from the time of Samuel in the OT to the time of the crucifixion of the Savior of the world. When Samuel served as the last judge (as well as prophet and priest) over Israel the people wanted a king. "We want a king so we can be like all the other nations." (my very loose translation of 1 Samuel 8:5) Samuel felt rejected but God assured him that it was not Samuel the people were rejecting but God Himself. "Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them." (God to Samuel, 1 Samuel 8:7, NASB)

The gospel writer, John, records the part of Pilate in the crucifixion story from a slightly different angle than the other gospel writers. Pilate found no guilt in Jesus yet succumbed to the will of the people. Pilate brought Jesus out and said to the people, "Behold, your King!" They replied, "We have no king but Caesar." (from John 19:14-15) They rejected the One that came to save.

This Resurrection Weekend is about celebrating the most blessed event in the history of the world. The voice of the people cried out, "Crucify Him!" The Roman soldiers nailed Him to the cross. He died an excruciating death and His body was laid inside the tomb. He did not stay dead -- He is alive! His followers didn't get it at first, yet when He revealed Himself to them following the resurrection their lives were radically changed. His purpose became their purpose.

John summed up the purpose of his gospel in 20:31 - "these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name." Resurrection weekend is about life, not death. It's about believing, not rejecting. It's about following the Savior, not the world.

Happy Easter!

Jeanette

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Cycling


I just may have a new hobby. Today I went to a cycling class at the fitness center for the first time. I may not be able to walk tomorrow but it was a blast!! I was hoping to reach a certain weight goal before the big 20th anniversary in a couple of weeks but I've been in a vicious cycle of loss and gain. I'm thinking a few more of those cycling classes might just put me on my way to my goal. BTW, in 11 days I will have been married 20 years. 20 years!! That sounds like such long time but it has been fabulous! (almost all!)


Well, I think I spent all my words today on a project I had to do for school. I honestly cannot think of one more word to type so I'll just leave you with this photo from Josh's 18th birthday!


Jeanette

Friday, March 7, 2008

Snow day....

....no. Nope, it snowed to the west and to the north but barely any in Mansfield. Jacob was quite disappointed until he realized that missing today would mean going to school another day. He went out in the backyard while we were in the kitchen and came in with a hand full on snow, got out a lunch bag (the plastic one, not the paper) and asked me to open it. We now have a bag of snow in the freezer although I'm not sure why. He then went back out and got another hand full and chased his dad around, threatening to throw it. Goofy kid! I think it melted in his hand before he was even able to get it close to his dad...

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Yesterday was a crummy day. Nothing particularly bad happened (except I did horrible on my OT mid-term) there were just a few irritations that just rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe it's because I have insomnia. I always tell people that I need my beauty sleep and it's not my outward beauty that I'm talking about!! There was definitely some ugliness radiating from me yesterday...

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children." Eph. 5:1

Let's see...were all of my actions yesterday an imitation of God? NOT!

I have always thought of my daughter as having more of her dad's personality than mine. He's outgoing and outspoken and rarely meets a stranger. So is she. He's opinionated and confident, for the most part. So is she. However, a friend recently told me she was a lot like me. Maybe in some respects, but I'm shy and a homebody. She's not. (Oh no, not a homebody by any stretch of the imagination...she is the social butterfly) She's loyal and patriotic and tenderhearted. She's conservative both spiritually/religiously and politically. That matches me. We have three children in our house... each different in a lot of ways, yet I can see reflections of their dad and me in each of their life.

Can others see a reflection of my Heavenly Father in my life? Not yesterday!! The apostle Paul wrote the letter of Philippians while he was in prison, most likely in Rome. The letter was one of encouragement. His personal situation stunk, but his reminder to those he wrote the letter was to live a life worthy of the gospel of Christ -- be an imitator of Him.

Whew, thank goodness for new days...a chance to start over and try again to live a life that is not centered on me and my weakness and grumpiness, but centered on Him.

That I might live worthy of my calling today...Jeanette