Separate from the World

For all of us living in the US, we know what 2012 is without needing to even read a newspaper, listen to the radio or watch the tv.  It's election year.  Most of us could hear about this just from being in the store with others, so many people are already set in their minds of who is the "best one for the job" and nothing really hasn't been decided yet.  Although many of us will read something in a newspaper or even possibly hear something on the radio. 

I, personally, have found people are so hot in debate about this election already, and cannot wait to share their thoughts with others.  So my question to you, how do you view the election?  Do you get involved in politics in any way or do you completely remove yourself from it?

I try to remove myself from it and pray that God will put the person in office whom He wants there.  Unfortunately, not everyone understands that nor will they let the conversation go at that.  I've been told that nobody should be allowed to "get away" with not voting and even been told by a gentleman that he will personally pick me up to get me to the polls in order to vote. 

I want to tell people to just let me be to live with my own convictions but since most of the these situations come up at work, I don't think I ought to.  I simply smile and say ok, have a good day! 

I know as Christians we are supposed to live a "separate life" but I wonder how some of you do it?  How do you define separate?  Do you try to explain to people your convictions or do you just let it go?  (To be clear, I am in no way trying to start a political debate with this post.)

Blessings in Christ,

And Still Searching...

Do you ever feel like you should just give up?  I certainly do.  And I'm at that point right now with trying to find a church. 

I don't really feel like I belong in most Mennonite churches because I am not that close-minded.  But then the ones that are more open-minded, I am more conservative than them.  I have found several churches on-line that looked like they would be a good match for me; however, after more praying and searching, it appears that they may be a bit left-field for me and perhaps not even Christian.  It is so hard to tell, all these churches claim to be Christian, but what I understand to be Christian is obviously different than how some define "Christian". 

I've considered home church, but in the area I live, there are not many who do that. 

To me, searching for a new church, while I am also searching for a denomination that I agree with is difficult.  I don't know how other people do it.  I think if I knew which denomination to search within it might be a little easier, but I don't even know that. 

How do you do it?  Look for a new church that is. 

Blessings in Christ,

 

The Homemaker's Salary

I read an article on yahoo last night, "How Much Is A Homemaker Worth?".  Quite interesting!  The whole article is here, but here is a quick breakdown.

Private Chef (including grocery shopping): 52,260 per year
House Cleaner: 6,136 per year
Child Care: 31,200 per year
Private Driver: 4,168 per year
Laundry Service: 936 per year
Lawn Maintenance: 1,560 per year
Grand Total: $96,261 per year!!!

When I saw that total, I was blown away!  Granted being a stay at home mom/wife is not something we get paid for, but you could think about it as saving your family that much money.  Or at least a portion of that sum!  Looks like God did know how important a woman can be and how much money she can save her family by following His teachings that a woman should be a "keeper at home".  (Yes, I know God knows everything well before we realize it!)

The contribution that a woman makes to her family is invaluable.  I don't think there is a real price tag to be put on it.  But I still found this interesting and thought maybe some of you would too. 
Blessings in Christ,

Altering Our God Given Glory...

I know I have raised the question before of trimming one's hair.  To many women, the word "shorn" (1 Cor 11:6) means "to cut".  However, I believe shorn means "to shave".  The greek word used for "shorn" translates to "shearing or cutting short the hair of the head".  To me, when I hear the word shorn, I automatically think of how you "shear" a sheep in the spring, cutting the wool so close to the skin that it is practically shaven.  That being said, I will trim my hair and I personally believe that is okay.  As of now, I have not felt convicted otherwise. 

However, if you do not agree with cutting your hair, would you consider altering it in any other way?  Such as, coloring it, taking vitamins to make it thicker, having it thinned, etc? 

I have a friend who has told me that cutting our hair is sinful because that's what shorn means, but then she recently told me she was considering starting to take a thyroid medication because it supposedly thickens your hair.  I see two problems with this, the first being if you do not have a thyroid problem and start taking something for it, nothing good will come of it for your body.  However, there are other products out there (ie. prenatal vitamins) that are known to give women thicker hair.  The second problem I see with it is if you are not cutting your hair because it is God's glory to a woman, then should you alter it in any other way?

My opinion is no, but I would like to hear what someone else thinks about this. 

I also think some of this has to do with the individual's motives behind wanting thicker hair.  Personally, I cannot think of a reason which would give necessity to having thicker hair, the only ones I can think of are for personal gain or out of envy. 

But I also suppose, it depends on each of our own convictions of what 1 Corinthians 11 is meaning.  Does it mean that we are only to not cut our hair, can we cut it but not short, can we do other alterations to it?  Literally speaking, the passage only speaks of a woman needing to cover her head unless she finds it okay for a woman to be shaven or shorn.  But is more implied?  What do you think?
Blessings in Christ,

 

Hating Christmas.

I work with two women who say they "hate Christmas" because one lost a son and the other lost a grandson.  For them, they say, that just makes Christmas too difficult.  I feel sad for these folks.  Why would you dwell on your loss so much that you hate one of the best celebrations ever?  The birth of our Lord and Savior. 

I can honestly say from experience, the first year is difficult.  Partially for my family because my grandma's death was only 6 days before Christmas, which was her favorite time of year.  However, this year was completely different than last year.  Sure, we missed her.  But we were able to focus on so many funny moments and her "sisu" (Finnish for determination/stubborn-ness) that this Christmas was a wonderful one.  We shared stories about her portioning out her treats that everyone gave her, if you were lucky enough to be offered one, you were expected to share one with 4 people (meaning you got a quarter) while she enjoyed a half of a treat :)  Some may say that it's not fair, or that she should have been sharing equally, but I think part of the reason why she did it was because she enjoyed us teasing her for how she so very conservatively shared these amazing treats!

But back to these ladies at work.  Both men have been gone for at least 3 years.  Now, I'm not saying that I think they should be completely over their losses, however, to still count each and every month that they've been gone and to say that Christmas is better spent by themselves than with their families because of their losses...

Almost everyone I work with has lost someone close to them, but they do not "hate Christmas" they embrace this time of celebration and enjoy spending it with their families.  That is what Christmas is about, is it not?  Fellowship with family and friends remembering the birth of Jesus and what that led to.  They also realize that those who have passed on are spending the one of the best celebrations in a Christian's life with Jesus. 

I keep praying for the words to say to either of these ladies, but so far I have not found any that seem fitting. 

I am not insensitive to either of these ladies' losses, but I do find myself annoyed by their very vocal hatred for the Christmas holiday.

I don't know the point of this post, except maybe to say that even through our losses, we still need to be grateful for the birth of our Redeemer... and maybe in part to vent too. 

So I leave you with... could you hate Christmas?  How would you deal with someone who openly hated the holiday due to a loss they suffered?

Blessings in Christ,

 

Reflecting Back on 2011...

I think back to 2011 and wonder where it went.  It seems like just a month ago was the start of a new year, but here we are again beginning a new year.  I wonder how last year flew by so fast.  There seems to be so many things that happened, but yet on the otherhand there weren't too many major events, at least not in my life. 

My sister graduated from college as a nurse in April and 5 months later, finally, found a job (as she would say :). 

My cousin had a second baby girl in May, who is truly a blessing to all of us and a miracle that she was a girl.  God truly has His hand in everything, even if the people who it happens to don't really believe in Him...

Two 4-year-old cousins just being 4!

My grandma turned 80 and we had a nice gathering for her.  Even some out-of-town family was able to make it :)

My family had 2 weddings, even though I don't agree with either circumstance, I am happy that each found happiness. 

The best part for me though was having a truly wonderful visit with my family when I went home for Christmas. 

I look forward to the challenges and new adventures that will present themselves in 2012. 

My goals for this year:
Spiritually: To pick-up my "church shopping" again this year...after slacking on that for so many months I really do need to find a church to attend. 

Physically: To start exercising more regularly.  (Not that I believe I'm overweight or anything of the like, but I believe that exercising will help me to just feel better over-all!)

I would also love to be able to slow down and just enjoy life more, enjoy what God has given to me, enjoy the beauty that He has created all around. 

Sunset from Fall 2011

Do you set goals for yourself? 

I hope for a blessed 2012 for each of you, one that you allow God to guide you through. 

Blessings in Christ,