Sep 172009
Submitted by: Judi Crocker
Last night the Twins were bickering off and on throughout the evening. I became a sort of ticking time bomb like a jack-in-the-box toy. With each quarter turn of the handle, you hear a ‘plink’ and the tension builds. Girltwin to Boytwin: “Will you please stop doing that. *plink* Will you please stop doing that. *plink* Will you please stop doing that *plink*.” “Will you PLEASE stop doing that. *plink*Will you PLEASE stop doing that. *plink*Will you PLEASE stop doing that.” and on and on. Later on Boytwin to Girltwin: “Will you please stop singing. *plink* Will you please stop singing. *plink* Will you please stop singing.*PLink*” “Will you PLEASE stop singing. *PLInk* Will you PLEASE stop singing. *PLINk*. Will you PLEASE stop singing. *PLINK*” And POP goes the weasel.
I LOST it. The irritated, frightening, frustrated figure exploded out of its box and let loose. “WILL. YOU. STOP!!!?? What on EARTH is the matter with you people?? Why can’t you JUST. STOP. SINGING?? And why can’t YOU just PUT. SOME. HEADPHONES. ON??” “DO YOU REALIZE THAT YOU ARE NOT ONLY BEING NASTY TO EACH OTHER BUT THAT YOU ARE CAUSING ME TO SUFFER BECAUSE I HAVE TO LISTEN TO IT TOO!? “You need to work on being LESS SELFISH!!”
When I finally settled into my room for the night, I found this ‘sticky’d to my dresser.
“‘Philippians 2:3-4′, Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
*sigh* My son….. Did the very thing (without being told) that I should have done when I felt the spring tightening. He went to God’s Word for guidance and correction. And then he quietly, without even attempting to make his case, brought what he had learned to me. *sigh*
Two things:
1.) A Pastor in California has brought this quote by C.S. Lewis to my attention, “Surely what a man does when he’s taken off guard is the best evidence of what sort of a man he really is. If there are rats in the cellar, you are most likely to see them if you go in very suddenly. But the suddenness doesn’t create the rats it only prevents them from hiding. In the same way the suddenness of a provocation does not make me ill-tempered. It only shows me what an ill-tempered man I already am.”
1.) A Pastor in California has brought this quote by C.S. Lewis to my attention, “Surely what a man does when he’s taken off guard is the best evidence of what sort of a man he really is. If there are rats in the cellar, you are most likely to see them if you go in very suddenly. But the suddenness doesn’t create the rats it only prevents them from hiding. In the same way the suddenness of a provocation does not make me ill-tempered. It only shows me what an ill-tempered man I already am.”
2.) I plug along and plug along wondering if my little people are hearing ANYthing I am trying to teach them. And then God gives me a little piece of fruit to chew on and be thankful for and while doing so, shines the light on the work that I need to do too.
I think God had Henry Blackaby and Claude King write Experiencing God just for me. Well, maybe not only for me. This classic study has helped many Christians see where God is at work and join Him in it.
Don’t you love asking God to show you where He is at work? If you do, you’ve discovered what I’ve learned. Joining God in what He is doing is necessary if we want to see God-sized results.
God is always on the move. He’s not into maintenance. He doesn’t tolerate status quo. He’s always about doing a new thing. God has a progressive work to do, not only in you, but through you. He wants to use you to make a difference in “your neck of the woods.” He wants to flow through you to change your family, community, country and ultimately, the world.
But moving forward with God’s agenda can be challenging. We will likely meet obstacles designed to discourage us and deter us from obeying. And we might come face to face with what Blackaby refers to as a “crisis of belief.” Because, in the end, what we decide to do reveals what we really believe about Him. Do we trust His direction or not? Personally, I’ve found that the cost of not following Him is much greater than choosing His way from the very start.
God delights when we step out in faith. He is faithful to provide the strength and grace necessary. It’s our step of faith that allows God to do the next great thing He has for our lives and ministry.
So I ask you, do you want to grow in sweet fellowship with Him? Do you desire for Him to do His greatest work in your current season? Do you want more than anything to join Him in what He is doing?
I believe you do. So, I’m praying some God-sized prayers for you. I’ve listed a few Scripture texts below that you might also want to pray.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 (NIV)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” Prov. 3:5-6 (NIV)
“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” Prov. 29:25
“…No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him – but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” 1 Cor. 2:9-10 (NIV)
Always in Prayer,
Brenda Marlin
President, PWOC International
Sep 152009
When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, confessing our sins and acknowledging Jesus’ victory over death for our salvation, we are granted life eternal with our King. That’s seriously cool stuff.
The same, however, cannot be said of electronics. There is no ‘life eternal’ for electronics although many, if not most, people act like there is. Let me explain, I expect there isn’t a single homeowner out there that doesn’t dread the inevitable death of the water heater, refrigerator, air conditioner, etc. We all know it will happen so if we’re smart, we’re already planning for replacements in terms of budgets or insurance.
When it comes to computers, however, everyone I talk to seems totally surprised when their hard drive fails and they haven’t backed up their data. Confess, it’s happened to all of us, including me. Why are we so stubborn about backing up our data when we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that hard drives live a very finite life? I don’t know about you but in my experience, it only takes one drive failure accompanied with complete data loss to learn the lesson…back up your data!
I recently dropped my cute, pink portable external hard drive on my beautiful hard wood floor. While I love both, they didn’t love each other! Something inside my hard drive was knocked loose and my computer could no longer read from it. In the end, I was able to recover all of my data but it re-taught me a valuable lesson that I won’t soon forget: Back up everything and do so daily!
I have a lot of redundancy built in to my backup routine that may be considered overkill by most but since I’ve been taking digital pictures for five years, upwards of 10,000 images annually, losing those images would be far too devastating to articulate. My kids are 5 and 7 so those years of images represent the greatest changes in their development. To say I would cry would barely scratch the surface.
So how do you go about making regular backups to your data? There are several options from which to choose so surely there’s one that suits your workflow. Here are the main backup methods available:
1. CD/DVD:
Most computers these days have a DVD writer included and for those that don’t, external DVD writers are very affordable. I use high capacity DVD’s to store data that I won’t be accessing very often but can’t risk losing. For instance, all of my family images get saved to DVD’s and stored in the fireproof safe. As technology improves, I’ll need to be certain to upgrade this media, though, to keep up. Remember those 5¼“ floppy disks from way back when? Long term storage on one of those would be useless now as there’s no way to read the data. CD’s and DVD’s, however, have been proven to be a safe and effective way to store data long term. The disc’s ability to hold the data’s integrity will outlast the disc’s position in the marketplace. Just be sure to transfer the data to the disc’s replacement as technology improves.
2. External Hard Drive, Part One:
I’m breaking this category into two sections because it seems a good place to explain how I put this tool to use in my own workflow. Computers die. When a computer dies, you loose access to your internal hard drive. While there are ways to work around this, they usually require skills or hardware not available in your own home, which means it’ll cost you a fair amount of cash. No one wants that. For this reason, I generally make the following recommendation: Place only your Application files on your internal hard drive. Application files are going to be the files necessary to operate your computer and its programs. Then, keep all of your personal data files on a portable external hard drive that’s backed up daily. Not only does this multiply your storage space, but also protects your data files from computer failure. This is also handy when you upgrade your computer. No more messy and time consuming file transfers!
3. External Hard Drive, Part Two:
I have been using desktop external hard drives for years now and couldn’t imagine my workflow without them. I recently purchased a 2Tb RAID 1 which I absolutely adore! That’s Geek for ‘really big, double redundancy backups.’ Is my geek showing?
The cost of external hard drives has dropped so dramatically that you can get a great drive with plenty of storage space in the neighborhood of $100. If you’re on a PC, most of these drives also come with the software to schedule automatic backups on a regular basis, just make sure that you plug it in or it won’t work! If you’re on a Mac, Time Machine will perform automatic backups to whichever drive you specify.
If you’re on a laptop then, yes, I do recommend both a portable hard drive and a desktop hard drive. Why? Portables get dropped (refer to #1), spilled on, lost, stolen, etc. Remember that in this case, the portable is not a backup disc; it’s a primary disc that needs its own backup routine.
4. Online Storage
There are a variety of companies that offer storage space on their servers for backup purposes. I have never used any of these services simply due to cost. When researching these great options, just make sure that the space you purchase will accommodate your needs. For the amount of data that I need to store, purchasing external hard drives is a more cost effective approach but most users wouldn’t have the same need for storage. Also, make sure that you check and understand the fee structure in terms of access to your data. You don’t want to pay for the space only to discover that there’s another fee to access your data when you need it!
Another consideration with online storage options is that you will need Internet access for it to work, both in the backup procedure and the recovery procedure. In this military lifestyle, that may not always be reliable.
Whichever method you choose, just choose one and stick with it. Remember to do your backups daily and don’t forget to plug in your drive or it won’t work!
To suggest more Tech Tuesday topics or to comment on this one, you may reach Tracy here.
Sep 142009
A close family member had died. During the three days it took to travel home, God prepared me to enter the world of deep loss, pain and suffering. For different reasons, I knew I would need what Stephen had in Acts 7:55-60.
As Stephen is about to be executed, we are told that he, “full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see heaven opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ At this they covered their ears, and yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him…While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed…Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
What happened here? First, Stephen prayed by looking at up at Jesus. Second, the Holy Spirit made what Stephen knew in his mind a reality to his heart. At the very moment the earthly court was condemning him, he realized that the heavenly court was commending him. He experienced fullness from what Jesus made possible for him through His work on earth, the cross, death etc. This is an experience of the gospel. At that exact moment, Stephen got an extremely vivid, powerful sight of what he already knew intellectually—that in Christ we are beautiful in God’s sight and free from condemnation (Col 1:23).
The Spirit took that intellectual concept and electrified his entire soul, mind, heart and imagination. Finally, Stephen was able to exhibit the new humanity that God is creating. He had courage. He forgave his oppressors. He faced his accusers not just with boldness, but with a calmness and joy. That is spiritual renewal. It is not simply an emotional experience—it is a heart changing and therefore life-and-practice shaping work of the Holy Spirit.
What circumstances are surrounding you? Do you face them with the fullness Stephen had – no matter how little or big they seem? What Jesus did for you is for right now. Pray for courage to let the Holy Spirit show you where you specifically need renewal and for that prayerful dependence to increasingly characterize your life.
Sep 112009
Hope in Darkness
This week we remember the anniversary of September 11, 2001. This was a day of great grief for our nation, but the stories of self-sacrifice, love and redemption also abounded. In this hour, many things look dark but we need to be a house prepared to shine with the light of glory. Do not give way to despair.
“Arise, shine; for the light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, deep darkness covers the earth and deep darkness the peoples; But the Lord will rise on you, and His glory will appear upon you. And nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your rising.” Isaiah 60: 1-3
Father, we see the increase of darkness in our land. Please rise upon us today. Let your glory appear on us as we submit myself to you. Lord, draw the nations to the light of your presence in us. Prepare us to shine!! Father, we put our hope in you!! In Jesus Name, Amen.
Sep 102009
Happy Fall Ladies!!
I do realize that this is not offically fall, but for me once school has started and PWOC is back in session…it is Fall. So Happy FALL!!
Fall is one of my favorite times of year. I love it for the change of season, all the beautiful colors, the start of a new year for the kids and getting back in the swing of things. I also love it for the beautful imagery God gives me for growing in my walk with Him. Do you have any similar thoughts? Has the Lord already been showing you new things, growing your heart and family as this school year has gotten started? We want to hear from you!!
The Blog needs you, so please send in your submissions to the Blog Manager. Hope to hear from you soon!
Sep 092009
Submitted by Erin Nonaka, Ft. Bragg, NC
Do you ever just sit in awe of God choosing to show you the little things in life that are a part of the bigger plan that He has? I sure do, and in fact, yesterday (our PWOC meeting day) was a day when He let me in on a little glimpse of it.
I was running a little late and was beginning to get frustrated that I was going to miss the pockets of traffic that would get me to PWOC in time to get my responsibilities taken care of before we started. I was also thinking out loud as my 3 year old sat in the back listening to his music, saying “Okay, today is the twin’s birthday. I need to make reservations for dinner, when I get out of bible study I need to go and get cupcakes and go to the kids class, and then we are going to go have fun time together getting new bikes..” and on and on I went. Just so I could get a clear mental picture of what my day would look like. ( c’mon girls, I know you do it too!) Then just as I get on post, I receive a phone call in the car. This call was from a good friend that does not regularly attend PWOC but knows that I do. She had a neighbor across the street that just started attending and was getting ready to go this morning, when my friend “happened” to meet her outside before she left. This precious neighbor shared some very distressing family news with her, which prompted my friend to call me just moments later. The call went something like this: “ I am so glad I caught you. I just spoke with my neighbor who is really struggling with this family situation. I told her to find you when she gets to PWOC this morning. Can you be sure you also look for her, this is what she looks like….etc..” I assured her that I would and was on my way. I got to PWOC, dropped my little man off and started about my duties thinking and praying I would not forget to find this precious new PWOC sister. It was at that moment that I realized, if I hadn’t been running late this morning, I wouldn’t have gotten that phone call. Thank you Lord for me being late, I thought (which, hello, I never thank God for being late – I am usually just mad at myself). Later that morning, during our fellowship time, we found each other. With very few words we introduced ourselves, were in tears, and then in prayer together joined by our prayer chairwoman.
WOW, God you are incredible. What a divine plan. Only God could have orchestrated that. Life does not just “happen”, when we allow God to be in everything, HE IS!! The Lord made a way for this woman to have an urgent and immediate need met. She was able to find prayer, support, and love the way only God could give through her new friends at our PWOC bible study. Praise the Lord.
On a personal note, I see that I was a small piece in this. I know that this is not the end of God’s plan for this delicate situation, but the beginning of it. I do not know how it is going to end, but I do know that our God is a miraculous God. I am excited to see what He does and how we can open our hearts to be pieces of this bigger picture. What another beautiful glimpse of what PWOC is and can be for all women. I am truly humbled.
Have you ever wondered what the extra email field is under ‘To’ and ‘CC’ that’s labeled ‘BCC?’
Let’s start with the ‘CC’ field and it will make more sense. For us old timers, ‘CC’ meant Carbon Copy but that’s a reference to the ancient way of creating a copy using carbon paper. I’m sure most of our Blog readers have no idea what carbon paper looks like so the up.to.date translation of ‘CC’ is Courtesy Copy. In short, you’re informing the addressed recipient of your message that you’re sharing the contents of the message with someone else, ie. the person identified in the ‘CC’ field.
‘BCC’ is the abbreviation for Blind Courtesy Copy and it functions the same as ‘CC’ in that it includes another recipient to your message but if differs in that the additional recipient’s address does not appear in the message header like ‘TO’ and ‘CC’ do.
When would you use ‘BCC?’
In most cases, this field would be used for group messages wherein none of your recipients needs to track or know about the other recipients. For instance, your local Participation Chair sends out weekly messages to the entire list of participants announcing the program for the coming week. There is no need for half of the message length to be a list of arbitrary email addresses representing all 53 recipients of the message. In this case, the Participation Chair should insert all of the email addresses into the ‘BCC’ field resulting in a ‘message only’ email on the other end. (Depending on your email handler, you may or may not need to include yourself in the ‘TO’ field to allow this feature to work. Just give it a try and you’ll know pretty quickly if you’re one of these folks.)
Another benefit to using ‘BCC’ is privacy and that’s a pretty big deal these days. How many times have you received an email from someone that’s been forwarded around a hundred times and each time it includes a variety of email addresses of people you’ve never heard of? It’s poor etiquette to do this, in the first place, but easily avoidable if you simply employ the use of the ‘BCC’ field when composing your group messages.
Finally, if you don’t see the ‘BCC’ field when you regularly compose a message, it’s probably just hidden. Look around for a button or link to ‘add BCC’ or ‘view details,’ etc. It won’t be far away so just look around.
For questions or suggestions about more Tech Tuesday topics, feel free to email Tracy.
Sep 072009
Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Christina! Happy birthday to you!
The words to that oh-so-familiar song rang out across the pizzeria as I rounded the corner into my surprise party. Now, usually I don’t enjoy being the center of attention in the middle of a restaurant but I loved every minute of this every-eye-on-me moment. My friends and family were loudly rejoicing over me with singing! It was great!
My man that night gave me more than just a surprise party with fabulous friends, family, and food. He gave me a gift that will last through all eternity – a moment in which God opened the eyes of my understanding to a scripture I had forgotten. Zephaniah 3:17 says “The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing.”
Until that surprise party, I never quite understood how God could exult or rejoice over me with loud singing. However, if my friends and family could sing that loudly and rejoice over me that much, how much more than does my God who loves me even more than they do rejoice over me with loud singing? How much more does He rejoice over all His children with loud singing?
What difference would it make in your life today if you heard God rejoicing loudly over you just like birthday song rejoicing? Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Hear, my sister, the word of God today over you that the LORD your God does indeed rejoice over you with loud singing. Hear and be changed.
