Pebbles

Yesterday I had the pleasure of spending time with close friends while our children played together.  Seated at the dining room table, two of us browsed the latest Family Christian Bookstore flyer.  A couple popular books caught our eyes - Beth Moore's "So Long, Insecurity" and Max Lucado's "Fearless".
In passing, we commented on how neither of us felt the need to read either book.

Then, almost on top of each other we chuckled and admitted that probably meant we did need to read them!

Ladies, have you ever experienced that revelation?  You don't think you need help in an area of your life.... to only later discover how patheticaly you are in need of help in that area?
(And has anyone noticed how Beth Moore is particularly proficient at wrenching Truth out of our lying selves?)
Anyhoo -
I think that is a pretty good summary of what the refining process is all about.  We, as Christians, no sooner work through an issue, when another issue raises its ugly head!  I clear one boulder out of my field, only to see five stones.  And once thosee five stones are removed, I notice hundreds of ugly pebbles!  God reveals "issues" I didn't know even existed deep inside of me!
I just can't help but wonder when all this refining will produce purest gold?!


Interactive:
Am I alone in surprise revealings of "pebbles"? 

Spring Break

It is spring break season.  I'm curious.  What are your plans for Spring Break?

I don't really get a spring break. 
Due to family visiting recently, kids being sick, birthdays coming up, and Dan gearing up for an out-of-town work trip -
Well, we've been doing -and will do - lots of "easy days" in homeschool.  So with all those easy days, we aren't going to take an acutal week long spring break.

I was hoping to live vicariously through you :)

So, again, What are your plans for spring break?

Being There

I must confess:  I lifted this title from Marla Taviano's blog.  Am I stopping there?  Nope.  I am in fact lifting this entire post off her blog.  :)
I've never met Marla,  but it is SO evident from her blog that she's a woman striving to follow the Lord in every area of her life.  And she is so real (bonus!)
Anyhoo, I just loved her post Wednesday on "Being There".  
The post comments were also very insightful - like the ones about "being there" for our kids.

Click here to read Marla's "Being There" post.
(Then bookmark her page - she is great)

Interactive -
Is it easy or hard for you to "be there"? 
It's harder for me.  I tend to get caught up in my to-do lists and miss the forrest for the trees :)  :(

Duplicity

Du-plic-i-ty \ n \  1. contradictory doubleness of thought, speech, or action

I might be using this word wrong (it's been known to happen), but I think it fits my life as a Christian.  The Spirit of God screams from within my soul, hoping my ears will hear..... and then prompt lips and limbs into obedience.   The problem?  Somewhere between soulcries and action lies a pesty little thing called human will.
I am two persons living in one body.  My human/sinful self and the Spirit of the Living God.  I claim Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, but it's the "Lord" part I struggle with.  Do I let Him call the shots?  Or do I sever the soul >> action line with human willpower?
At least I am in good company.  Apostle Paul struggled with the same thing. 
(For the life of me, I can not find that verse on "do that which I know I should not do ....."  Can someone post that scripture in comments, please?)

Want an example?
Monday.  Read my Bible  (Why do we call it "my Bible"?  Isn't it "God's Word"?....)  Anyhoo, I was reading God's Word Monday morning and found myself in Romans chapter 12. Great chapter.  In particular, certain phrases stuck out at me.  Phrases like:  "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought" or "Honor one another above yourselves" and "Do not be conceited".
I was reminded that this blog isn't just about me.  Write2Breal is also about YOU, the readers.  Yes, it is a cyber diary for my thoughts.  Yes, I want it to be real - to let you see the real me.  BUT, who wants to come here and always read Britt's latest thought or Britt's issues (again....).  So, after reading in Romans chapter 12 Monday morning, I endeavored to post about you - my loyal (5?) readers.  I wanted to know what topics you would find interesting to talk about here.  To see where you were at personally, physically, spiritually.
Ironic, isn't it?  I endeavored (Spirit led) to post about you and get off my high horse of selfish thoughts for a bit.  Unfortunately, I checked MSN news before signing on to blogger and what I ended up writing was a personal rant to help myself feel better. (selfishness).  Monday's post did nothing to brighten your day, or lift your spirits, or encourage you in the Lord.  My apologies :)
Duplicity.

Interactive:
What DO you want to talk about?  Anything humorous happen recently?  Any struggles or praises I can join you in prayer over?  (remember, I'm a "regular" blogger at 3x a week now.  I should get your prayer request within a day or two ;)

Big Gov Monday

I don't normally have too much to say politically.
However, today I am sick. 
Gut sick that the Health "reform" bill passed, that is. 

Link here for an article covering the general overview of the newly passed bill.
And if you want a good bed time story, here is the link for the full 2300+ pages :)  http://budget.house.gov/doc-library/FY2010/03.15.2010_reconciliation2010.PDF

There are good ideas and well-meaning motives behind it, I am sure.  But nobody can convince me a 2,300 page bill will work.  It is like putting a huge, pin and needle ridden band-aid over a gaping gash.
Trying to cover everything in one big bill is just going to hurt our country by causing more problems and ignoring others.  A lot of little hidden agendas get hidden in 2300 pages.
One of those sections found in the 2300 pages?  Forcing eveyone to buy insurance.  That's not constitutional!  "Buy product X or we take your money anyway"  Goodbye free market and hello forced market.
And this time it's not just the wealthy paying for the poor situation.  Everyone pays.  Tax increases for middle class on up.  Meanwhile the poor have to fork over money for insurance they already can't afford. 
I might be wrong, but our U.S. version of socialistic healthcare means more hard earned money spent by the working class citizens for the same old benefits.  Looks like most of the changes in this bill are geared towards making it easier (or mandatory) for more people to buy insurance so that the government looks good on paper. The changes should have been focused on helping people.  On increasing the benefits of healthcare for our citizens.  Of using the money we already spend more wisely.
To me, the bill's benefits look like chump change.   (Oh sure - they promise drug companies will start lowering meds costs by 2020 - 10 years away) I don't see any provisions for lower doctor/hospital bills.  Maybe there are.  I haven't gotten through all 2300 pages yet......
Other countries might have socialistic health care that works.  But it seems great because there really are benefits.  Cheap doctor visits.  Cheap meds.

Sorry.  I don't usually rant about politics.  I'm all riled up having just read the article.
And I realize I am not being part of the solution.  (I'm not in politics and have no great ideas of my own - other than trashing the whole medical system and starting completely over. Now that bill might be 2300 pages worthy!)
However, I wasn't trying to be part of the solution here.  Just releasing steam on my blog diary so that I can go back to my every day normal life.  I'd rather rant here than at my kids or in my poor husband's ear after a hard day at work :)
PS - this was not an "anti-Obama" speach.   Just frustrated that politicians can't figure out what the best thing is for the American people!

Friday Findings

Seeing or hearing about people worse off than me helps my perspective.  Keeps me focused on how good I have it.
Enjoy the following list of web links...... and Happy Friday :)

* I thought my goal to workout 3 times a week and lose 15 pounds was rough.  I was wrong.  Check out this woman's lofty goal.

*  Being a Transportation Logistics major, this next article caught my eye.  It also makes me feel better about my house.  At least I don't live in one of these. 
But to be fair, it is amazing what they can be turned into.  Check out these boxcar homes, children. 
(Did I mention I enjoyed The Boxcar Children books when younger?  If only Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny had known their home held such potential!) 
And on a serious note, I think containers are a great solution for affordable and safe housing in places like Haiti or U.S. low income communities. 

* I've felt a bit like a recluse lately.  Not a very good and social friend.  I've even dreamed how wonderful it would be to live like Rachel Denton and get away from it all.  Of course, I would miss my husband, children, and friends - so I won't really do it.  Just a happy place I let my mind wander to occasionaly :)

Have a great weekend!