Purpose

Isn't it ironic, here I am way OLD, and am feeling sad--the reason, I just can't seem to find purpose and direction.  I have failed at so many things, but I have also accomplished many things.  I have let people down, but also have encouraged others. As I have completed tasks, I have satisfaction, but also a sense of emptiness.  At times like these, it is easy to forget that God made me special, and made me for a purpose.


I reread Rick Warren's "What on Earth am I Here for" and was reminded  life is about letting God use you for his purposes, not your using him for your own purposes. The Bible says, “Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life.” Romans 8:6 The Message 

God says, “I know what I am planning for you.... I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.’” Jeremiah 29:11 (NCV).



The Bible offers three metaphors that teach us God’s view of life: Life is a test, life is a trust,and life is a temporary assignment. These ideas are the foundation of purpose-driven living.

Character is both developed and revealed by tests, and all of life is a test. You are always
being tested. “God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your
power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it,and so provide you with a way out.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 (TEV).



Life on earth is a Trust. This is the second metaphor of life we find in the Bible. Our time,
energy, intelligence, opportunities, relationships, and resources are all gifts that God has entrusted to our care and management. We are stewards, or managers, of whatever God gives us. “What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if all you have is from God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?” 1 Corinthians 4:7 (NLT)


Life on earth is a temporary assignment.: First, compared with eternity, life is extremely brief. Second, earth is only a temporary residence. You won’t be here long, so don’t get too attached. Ask God to help you see life on earth as he sees it. David prayed, “Lord, help me to realize how brief my time on earth will be. Help me to know that I am here for but a moment more.” Psalm 39:4 (LB).

So considering all this, I can be a little bit discontented with my here and now--I am just passing through this life on the way to my final destination.  But as I travel this journey of life, I want to remember that God knows the route, and will guide me each step on the way, all I have to do is keep my eye on the goal.

Candy Jar of Life

Candy Jar of Life

As I sit here at the table

I see the candy jar

Filled with yummy treats–

Red cinnamon in

fiery cellophane,

Caramels sparkling in

shiny gold,

Peppermints in stripy

red and white,

Root beer wrapped

in orange and brown

Butterscotch–hard and sweet

in blue and yellow plaid

And lemon drops–very tart but

so soft inside.

As I sit here at the table 

Looking through my life

Filled with many friends–

The feisty redhead facing

life full on,

A wise old lady with

words of gold

The perky girl refreshing 

as a breeze,

A trusted friend answering

my every call

An old man some say hard, 

but really sweet and giving

A tart-talking rogue with

heart so soft.

As I sit here at the table

    Looking through my life.          

                          ©Marti Murphy

Friday Favorite Things

These are a few of my favorite things this week

Gives new meaning to dog pile, or its a dog's life, or tired as a dog.

Sunrise with clouds, an unusual sight in the Phoenix skies.

A field of corn just a couple miles from my house, but it is in the city.

Too bad it is field corn.  But my MIL used to use the cobs to make jelly.  

Corncob Jelly                                               Contributed by Alice Murphy                                     

Ingredients:

12 Field Corn Cobs	1 Pkg Sure-Jell
3 Pints water	3 Cups Sugar
	Red food coloring

Instructions:  Boil broken cops in water for 30 minutes.  Remove from heat, strain the liquid.  If not 3 cups add enough water to make 3 cups.  Add food coloring if needed.  Add Sure-Jell and bring to a rolling boil.  Add sugar and boil 2-3 minutes until jelly stage.   Pour in sterilized jars, seal.  The finished product tastes like apple jelly.

  Each week,Hilary at Feeling Beachie lists four statements with a blank for you to fill in on your own blogs. If you want to join the fun and come up with four fill in’s of your own, please email them to her at feelingbeachie@gmail.com. If she uses them, she will add you as co-host to the hop! This week’s co-host is Annie from the Lemon Drop (She came up with the last two statements)

1. My day always starts by _waking up around 5:30, making my bed, brushing teeth, getting dressed, having coffee, and then off to the gym (6 days a week)_
2. I prefer _reading__ to _watching TV --but I do have a couple of favorite programs.___
3. I never thought I’d _like living in Phoenix_ until I _had lived in Sault St Marie, MI ( bitter cold winters that I'm still thawing out from and it's been over 30 years._
4.  I wish I could _get all my family together_ for _a weekend--they would be fighting if it was longer than that.

Pondering with a Purpose--Respect

This Week's prompt is:  RespectI can't hear the word without thinking of Aretha Franklin's song.  Franklin's version is a declaration from a strong, confident woman who knows that she has everything her man wants. She never does him wrong, and demands his "respect".Respect should not be confused with tolerance, since tolerance doesn't necessarily imply subordination to one's qualities but means treating as equal.
It is living this strong confident worthy life that induces respect.  As children we are taught (one hopes) to respect our parents, teachers, and elders, school rules and traffic laws, family and cultural traditions, other people's feelings and rights, our country's flag and leaders, the truth and people's differing opinions. And we come to value respect for such things; when we're older, we may shake our heads (or fists) at people who seem not to have learned to respect them. We develop great respect for people we consider exemplary and lose respect for those we discover to be clay-footed, and so we may try to respect only those who are truly worthy of our respect. 
We  also learn that how our lives go depends every bit as much on whether we respect ourselves. The value of self-respect may be something we can take for granted, or we may discover how very important it is when our self-respect is threatened, or we lose it and have to work to regain it, or we have to struggle to develop or maintain it in a hostile environment. Some people find that finally being able to respect themselves is what matters most about getting off welfare, kicking a disgusting habit, or defending something they value; others, sadly, discover that life is no longer worth living if self-respect is irretrievably lost. It is part of everyday wisdom that respect and self-respect are deeply connected, that it is difficult if not impossible both to respect others if we don't respect ourselves and to respect ourselves if others don't respect us. It is increasingly part of political wisdom both that unjust social institutions can devastatingly damage self-respect and that robust and resilient self-respect can be a potent force in struggles against injustice.Stanford ed.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. How often do you check the weather? How do you check the weather?

I usually listen to the weather forecast on the 10 o'clock news.  Now I just know that it is hot.

2. Since this is volume 84 of the Wednesday Hodgepodge, and since I got married in 1984, and since I'm attending a wedding this weekend it only seems right to post something related here.

"Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If the dispositions of the parties are ever so well known to each other or ever so similar beforehand, it does not advance their felicity in the least. They always continue to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their share of vexation; and it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life." Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

Agree or Disagree. Why?

Disagree.  In my own case if I had paid attention a little more before marriage, I might have saved myself a lot of heartache.  Looking back, his personality didn't change, I just had on rose colored glasses.

3. Do you like to dance? Have you ever taken dance lessons?

I enjoy dancing.  I have never taken lessons, but might enjoy lessons on western line dances.

                                             

4. Fresh from the oven peach pie or home made peach ice cream? Pick one.

Definitely peach pie.  I love pies.

5. Should people accept unfairness and learn to make the best of it?

Yes.  The world isn't fair and the sooner you learn to deal with it, the happier you are.  The only one that I need to make sure behaves fairly is me.

                                                         

6. The top five all time summer movie blockbusters (released between May and August and grossing at least 100 million dollars) are-Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars (the original), Ghostbusters, and ET. Which one's your favorite?

I love the Raiders of the Lost Ark and the following movies in the series.  The appeal seems to be timeless.  I was babysitting my grandkids today, and there were playing Lego's Raiders of the Lost Ark video game.

                                              

7. If given the chance, would you like to visit the moon?

No, but I would like to visit Australia.  Visiting the moon would spoil the romance of it.

                                                

8. Insert your own random thought here.

One week from today I am leaving for vacation, and am so looking forward to the cooler weather.  Who knows, I might even get to experience rain!