Pickle Juice

Press on - part 2

My only post for today - sorry. More later :)

I decided that I needed to do something for my own challenge. If it sounds preachy, I apologize. It isn't toward anyone but MYSELF. Sometimes I need such a hard kick ya know.

Papers: New Autumn line by Daisy Ds. :)
Journaling:
When I am yet again 10 minutes late to church and I’m rushing my kids into the doors, do I see her pause outside as she wonders if she is worthy to come in? The server who has tears in her eyes – will I stop eating my salad long enough to ask her if she is ok?  The cancer patient that has lost her hair – do I take the time to smile so that she knows that she is beautiful? God puts hurting people right in my path all the time, but do I see them?
Sadly I admit, there have been times when I did see her but pridefully chose to ignore her. I have scoffed and thought there is no hope for her. After all, it is her life & her choices – ones that she made all by herself. It is a mess all because of her own doing. Right?
I have been quick to judge her and have missed the whole point to the reason that God has placed her in my life.  Sometimes it is hard to disconnect the person from their personal choices, but how am I any different? I’m not. I too should wear a scarlet letter. Not an ‘A’ for adulterer, but there are many others I could wear. What if I had to wear a ‘G’ for gossip or ‘L’ for liar? A person would certainly be able to judge me instantly without the need to look any further.
I handed her judgment and criticism along with her letter. There isn’t a sliding scale for sin and mine is no worse than hers.  If Jesus was willing to dine with the tax collectors, religious zealots and thieves then couldn’t I spend some time with her and love her for who she is? Now I look at her with

grace

and I see myself as no different. At one point, I too was also searching and looking for meaning in my life and the more I see how God has shown

grace

to me through the years, the more I see that I have not showed it to others.

Press on!

Have you ever found yourself so overwhelmed that there was no other place to look but up? When it feels as if the rain will never stop and you found comfort in the Lord.

Or maybe you are in a place where you are so overwhelmed by God’s blessings? That you feel as if the joy you have can not possibly be contained.

No matter where you are – God is there.

I have friends hurting right now from everything to a broken heart because of their wayward teen to sickness but as life has it, I also have friends that are also rejoicing with life.

I want to post this challenge. No matter where you are – hurt or happy, do a layout that shows how God was there for you. It can be posted anywhere, just send the link to my email by August 24

- it would help me even more if you put “for the Press On challenge” in the title.

Your reward will not only be seeing how God was there – through the good and bad but also some great gifts from me. Winners will be picked for one prize each:

1 CD from my church’s worship leader Aaron Keyes

1 signed copy of  Scrapbooking Your Faith by Courtney Walsh

1 Audio Adrenaline CD donated from Jeanette Herdman of SISTV

1 paper pack from Daisy Ds

1 paper pack from Cosmo Cricket

Can’t wait to see the blessings!

Press on –

Kitty

Death and Pot Roast

I know that I’m young, but one thing I have liked to do is read the obituaries.  This is something that I remember seeing my grandmother do when I was young, but it didn’t make any sense to me then.  I thought it was morbid, but now, it is something that I do from time to time.  It gives me a brief glimpse into someone’s life.

One day while visiting my grandfather in his small town, I picked up the paper.  I laughed at all the small town news; things from seeing someone on their way to the dentist or announcing that someone’s family came to visit. I also turned to the obituaries.  These can sometimes be as equally entertaining.  I started reading about this particular woman who had passed.  It seems that maybe she wasn’t such a blessing while on this earth.  All that was said about her was “she made a good pot roast” – no lie!  I couldn’t believe this.  That is all that could be said about her?  What no volunteer, good neighbor, trusted friend comments could be gathered?  While this was hilarious to me for a brief moment, it also made me think about what would be written about me from my friends and family.  Since I’m a bad cook, I was pretty sure I wouldn’t get the “she made a good pot roast” comment.  I was safe there.

So what would be said about me?  I wasn’t being morbid but just thinking about my impact on the world.  I consider myself to be a loyal friend, have a strong faith in God, and I love my family more than anything.  While I have no idea of what will be said about me when I’m gone, I do know that I’ve had an impact on those around me.  I remember an assignment that I had in 8^th grade.  I had to write a paper about what I wanted on my tombstone.  Of course, at the time, I only wanted shallow quirky comments on it.  Things like “famous, rich and loved by all” (hey, I was only 13!).  Well, with age comes wisdom.  Now it’s different. I want something simple.  Something that reflects what is really important in life.

“She loved her God, her family and her friends”

My life is really simple when you come down to it. I’m not perfect – but I’m no pot roast either!

 

Death & Pot Roast

I know that I’m young, but one thing I have liked to do is read the obituaries.  This is something that I remember seeing my grandmother do when I was young, but it didn’t make any sense to me then.  I thought it was morbid, but now, it is something that I do from time to time.  It gives me a brief glimpse into someone’s life.

One day while visiting my grandfather in his small town, I picked up the paper.  I laughed at all the small town news; things from seeing someone on their way to the dentist or announcing that someone’s family came to visit. I also turned to the obituaries.  These can sometimes be as equally entertaining.  I started reading about this particular woman who had passed.  It seems that maybe she wasn’t such a blessing while on this earth.  All that was said about her was “she made a good pot roast” – no lie!  I couldn’t believe this.  That is all that could be said about her?  What no volunteer, good neighbor, trusted friend comments could be gathered?  While this was hilarious to me for a brief moment, it also made me think about what would be written about me from my friends and family.  Since I’m a bad cook, I was pretty sure I wouldn’t get the “she made a good pot roast” comment.  I was safe there.

So what would be said about me?  I wasn’t being morbid but just thinking about my impact on the world.  I consider myself to be a loyal friend, have a strong faith in God, and I love my family more than anything.  While I have no idea of what will be said about me when I’m gone, I do know that I’ve had an impact on those around me.  I remember an assignment that I had in 8^th grade.  I had to write a paper about what I wanted on my tombstone.  Of course, at the time, I only wanted shallow quirky comments on it.  Things like “famous, rich and loved by all” (hey, I was only 13!).  Well, with age comes wisdom.  Now it’s different. I want something simple.  Something that reflects what is really important in life.

“She loved her God, her family and her friends”

My life is really simple when you come down to it. I’m not perfect – but I’m no pot roast either!

 

"Death is the occasion, but obituaries are about life,"

                 J.Y. Smith