Here a change, there a change, everywhere a change

This has nothing to do with politics. I just wanted to assure those who regularly come here to read my blog, that the rapidly changing page layout is nothing to worry about. I have not acquired blog schizophrenia. I am designing pages for others and always try the layout on my blog before turning it over to a customer.

It has become a way for me to earn something without having to stand. I still work four days a week at The Container Store. That is now my main job and I absolutely love it! I get to help people and work with some of the most generous and creative people around! I will confess however, that it is becoming harder and harder physically. Part of it is related to this being the worst time of the year for me. Constantly changing weather plays havoc with my disease. Winter in Houston is nothing but a series of changes. Things should get better later on in the year.

In the future whenever you happen to find your way back here and see things changed, smile, it probably means I got paid.

Changing all the time,

jené

Inauguration prayer

Presidential Prayer Team Member Donna Pirone wrote a great prayer for tomorrow as we welcome our newest President into his office. I love all of it but this part from the center really struck home for me.

Today, he stands before you and before our nation with his hand on your Word to pledge his allegiance to you and to us. We need his help, he needs our help, and together we all need your help, for without you we can do nothing.

I think it is important to realize that while it is easy to recognize we need his help, it is less obvious how much he needs our help. Our country is in a real mess right now. You would think that no sane person would want to lead a country facing all the problems we are. No one would unless they had a desire to do something outweighed the fear of the task.

So tomorrow my new President will lay his hand on the Lincoln Bible and say these words:

"I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."

And when he does I vow to do all I can to help and support him.

Praying for my President

-jené

Imagine the change you could make

I doubt even Ms. Parks envisioned how far the change she was responsible for would evolve.

Just another example that one person can have a huge impact.

-jené

You must be the change you want to see in the world

This is my favorite quote from Gandhi. It puts the responsibility for the state of the world on each of us. If you see trouble around you, what are you doing about it? Everyone I had lunch with today is a regular blood donor. They see an opportunity to do something that is needed and take it. It is just that simple. More than once this week I have been talking with friends and they have shared how much some act of service they are involved in has changed their life. Taking action to help solve a problem brings a two-fold response. It helps the situation and it blesses the one giving of himself. I cannot tell you how much my soul is renewed when I place myself in service to others. I am always so blessed and my spirit is refreshed.

Next week begins a new administration. Our President will be facing many problems both here and abroad. America is in for a change. Now is the time to ask yourself what part you are going to play in it. No matter who you voted for, now is the time for us to come together and work with each other. I believe God places each of us here to share His love for the world. I am excited about the chance to do so in this new year and can't wait to see how it will change me.

Thankful for the blessing in sharing love,

jené

Deserve

I have heard the word deserve often today and it has caught my attention. I was up early this morning to head to church for the blood drive. I had an appointment for 8:30 am. It was the best time to fit into my day. In the middle of my donation I developed a clot in the line and in trying to fix the problem I bled out onto the floor. I was in no danger as my phlebotomist was very attentive and did a great job. I joked with her that although I give every quarter, I usually had the donation bagged, not spilled all over the place. She was very apologetic and remarked I would probably be sore and have a colorful bruise this week. She told me "Here you are doing something good for a stranger and you have to suffer, you don't deserve this." I laughed and said " I don't deserve God's grace either, but I am grateful for it all the same." After a bottle of water and a banana I headed over to the Chapel for the 9:30 service.

We began a sermon series today on love. At the beginning of his sermon our seminarian said we were going to have a quiz in which we would respond by a show of hands. It started off with who loves ....reading, sports, coffee and the like. He then asked "Who believes they deserve God's love?" To this question I did not see any raised hands. He then chided us for not believing we deserved God's love. As I listened to the rest of his sermon I kept returning to the word deserve. If he had asked me if I was accepting of God's love, I would have raised my hand. But I truly believe that what makes God's love a gift to me, is His gifting it to me regardless of my worthiness to receive it. So I have to confess, I just could not get around this point in his sermon. I think he was trying to make us see we should accept God's love with open arms.

When I got home a little while ago I pulled my dictionary from the bookshelf and looked for the definition of deserve. This is what I found:

To earn by service; to be worthy of (something due, either good or evil); to merit; to be entitled to; as, the laborer deserves his wages; a work of value deserves praise.

Using any of these definitions I can truthfully say I do not deserve God's love. I am however thankful that He does indeed love me. I believe every human being should be loved, but I believe that because God has loved them. If I am accepting of His love for me, how can I deny the same to anyone else? I know the reason God loves me is because He desires to do so.

God is sheer mercy and grace;
not easily angered, he's rich in love.
He doesn't endlessly nag and scold,
nor hold grudges forever.
He doesn't treat us as our sins deserve,
nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.
As high as heaven is over the earth,
so strong is his love to those who fear him.
Psalm 103:8-11
The Message

Accepting, delighting and giving thanks for His love,

jené

Yelling at God

how can i hurt like this?

i know You love me and sometimes i wonder,

why don't You heal me?

i know You still work miracles today.

so why haven't You rescued me from this agony?

am i doing something wrong?

am i out of Your favor?

i lay here crying when i hear You whisper,

"I love you my child and will never let you go,

yell at me all you want,

I will never cease to hold you in My embrace."

and it comes to me in a blinding flash:

i don't have to wonder if You are real,

i don't have to question Your presence in my life,

i survived today because i knew You were with me.

so this disease which is taking my body from me,

is gifting me with the surety of Your love in my life.

it brings me to a place few get to see,

absolute certainty of Your Hand on my life.

for that i will be grateful.

jené

If you can't say something nice....

......don't say anything at all. It worked for Bambi's friend Thumper and pretty well for me too.

-jené

Review

2008; it was the year that.....

• I went back to living on my own.
• A hurricane wreaked havoc all around me and was a big hit to my budget.
  
• A cane became part of my daily life.
• Physical therapy didn't kill me.
• You can make it on $20 a month for groceries if you are very careful.
• Having furniture is over-rated.
• I utilized my skills for efficient use of space to live smaller.
• I learned that what I thought was painful last year, was just a preview.

It was also the year that....

• I learned which of my friends would pray for me and more importantly with me.
• I was blessed with friends who put their love for me into action. ( Nothing says love like helping someone move.)
• Natural disaster led to new friendships.
• Most of the time I chose to laugh rather than cry.
  
• I had proof positive that my family is the greatest ever!
  
• I enjoyed new freedoms.
• In my times of deepest agony, God was there with me.
• I was truly grateful for everything on both of these lists!

Expectantly waiting for the joy this year will bring,

jené