Preventative Medicine

A couple weeks ago, I went in for a routine (way over due) cleaning. While there I had some x-rays done. Normally there is not a problem but this time my dentist himself comes in and sits down and began talking in his serious voice. Apparently the x-rays revealed the forming of 2 cavities (too much coffee?). Anyways he believes in preventative medicine and so scheduled 2 more visits to get them taken care off early before they become a problem.

I had my first follow up visit earlier this week and aside from the fact that I nearly starved to death since I couldn't eat until the numbness wore off, (try 3 o'clock in the afternoon!!!), it turned out to be okay. Although I vow to never go to get a cavity filled on an empty stomach again. However in the last couple days I've had aches creeping back in so I am anxious to go back and get the other one taken care off so that hopefully I will be pain free.

In thinking it over I realized that my dentist was onto something much bigger. He saw a problem developing and immediately wanted to get it taken care off. He didn't suggest we wait for a few months to see if it gets better first.

I thought about that and how much it said about our spiritual lives. I mean let's face it, as long as we live on this earth we will have trials, tribulations and temptations. The enemy constantly throws things at us to test our resilience. But do we practice 'preventative medicine'? When we see an area of concern in our walk with Christ, do we address the problem now or do we wait till it festers? See there are things in our lives that can creep in. Perhaps it's being so busy that you aren't spending enough time in His Word or His presence, then before you know it you begin to compromise and make excuses. The truth is if we can recognize when we are slipping up and address the problem before it is out of control we will probably spend more of our lives pleasing God and changing lives than wasting it on regrets and what ifs.

So practicing preventative medicine in our Christian walks, definitely a good idea...just saying :)

Jars of Clay

I'm sure that you have heard of Susan Boyle. The country bumpkin turned superstar after being on Britain's Got Talent. Well every single time I see her story I cry. (I am sorry to say that I have seen it many times and I still cry)' There is something that causes us all to be excited when the underdog rises up. It says that life is about second chances. It says that everyone has something to offer no matter what they look like or sound like or where they are from. It is truly inspiring.

On Wednesday I get the opportunity to speak to the teenagers and I plan on showing them the Susan Boyle video and talking about how the inside matters. The Word talks about us being mere jars of clay but the treasure on the inside of us is so incredible it makes us stop in our tracks. I mean I get overwhelmed with the fact that the Creator of the Universe sees it fit to reside in my heart. Me. Dust. Nothing much. Yet here I am with the answer that the world is searching for, right inside of me.

I'd say that was something pretty special. But how am I handling this awesome treasure? This gift of salvation that God has given to me to be shared with others. Some days seem better than others. Some days I leap out of bed ready to tell everyone I meet about Jesus but then I let the troubles of the day seep in and sometimes I get so caught up in my own life situation that I miss the amazing opportunities that come my way.

I have come to the conclusion all over again that I can't be so concerned about the outward things when God looks at the heart. Sometimes I just get so busy with life that I forget to live. I was made to worship. As long as I am here I am compelled to share the treasure inside me with others. Susan Boyle spent her whole life in a shell, until she decided to lay it all down and it was her moment. I want to experience that more. To wake up each day and lay it all down before God and let Him have His moment in and through me. Don't you? How awesome that would be. Here's the link to see Susan's first performance. My friend has already threatened to hurt me if I cry again on Wednesday night when I show it to the teens. Hey, I can't help it. I see myself and every person who has ever dreamed of doing something greater in her.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4AnWyk

The Basket of Death

Let's be honest for a minute, we all have some place where we put things that we are quite certain that we cannot live without and vow to ourselves that surely we will put it where it needs to go because it has done nothing to deserve just simply being thrown away, gotten rid off, abandoned in a land fill somewhere...Well, I have such a place. My place has steadily been growing over the last couple years (that's how long I have made promises to myself to sort through and put everything in its' place). It is a black, plastic basket that most average people would use for laundry (I certainly never claimed to be average). I began referring to it as the basket of death, because it seemed like that's where things in my room went to die, never to be seen or heard off again. Sad!:(

Well I made a vow to conquer this basket (around the beginning of March) and I finally had enough of the procrastination. Tonight was the night. So just for fun I decided to write down the things in my basket. Now I want you to brace yourself as you quickly skim this list and bear in mind that this basket was 16"x20"x12". Not crazy big at all but here is what I found buried in there. (Bear in mind that some of these items are in lump sums, you may want to not read this to small children or fearful adults).

plastic storage unit with compartments
clear zipper pouch from a suitcase
giant binder to organize recipes (brilliant idea)
CBD catalogue
maurice's catalogue
blue make up bag
letters
some kind of PC drive
flat iron storage bag
recipes for binder
envelopes from friends and family to write down addresses
cracker barrel road map
plastic container #2
plastic container #3 with sewing supplies
gel eye mask (I could definitely use this)
copy of 2009 Christmas letter
used empty zip lock bag
basket bag
greeting cards to and from people
map of Olean (because it is so big)
I have a dream speech by Martin Luther King Jr
Various CDs, DVDs and cases
Betty and Veronica comic book
file of things to file
more recipes
things to shred
plastic bag
box
computer connections Catalogue for Sight and Sound
copy of Christmas letter 2007
Quote from Henry David Thoreau
2010 pocket calendar
pictures (who are these people?)
white marker
gospel tracks
victory Bible reading plan
teaching on cassette on purity
white house brochure
page with daily devotionals from Word for today
deposit slips for Mickey Parks Benefit Fund
Recipe cards (blank)
floppy discs
never filled prescription
bag from drugstore
plastic air pump for exercise ball
magnetic note pad
FSB wall calendar featuring one of my photographs
receipts, receipts, receipts
'The Shack' on CD
car freshener
sticky paper to protect phone
Heritage Aflame address list
glue sticks for hot glue gun (so that's where they were)
4 years worth of rent receipts
Heritage Aflame annual statement
FSB folder
Victoria Secret gift bag (pretty)
FSB annual report for 2008
more recipes
binder with file paper
lots of things to shred
picture CDs
bills
long white feathers
hanging file (too short for new filing cabinet-which I have had for about 5 years)
liberty university curriculum
stationary holder
ripped out pics of wedding dresses and rings (wishful thinking and what magazine did I destroy?)
journal
paycheck stub
dean's list certificate (congratulations to me)
copies of various dramas
verizon starter disc
copy of Bill Cosby flyer from Chautauqua Inst (boy was he funny!)
counter checks
string cheese wrapper (I don't think I've bought that brand in a while)
foot rolly massage thingy
pieces of quilt I started oh 50 years ago
scrap paper

Not kidding! Lol!

But here is the really sad part. Now that I have gone through the basket of death, you would think that I'd be feeling pretty good right? wrong! you are so wrong! Because you see friends everything that was in the basket is now presently living on my bedroom floor in various frightening partially sorted piles. To make matters worse I already re-filled basket with travel bags and such. Now what??? Does anyone have a maid I could borrow or a fire pit? :)