Sunday evening we were driving along the countryside with our friends, (Randy and Margie, you know who you are!) when we came across a man, carrying a suitcase, and walking along the road. Up ahead we could see that his truck had missed the curve, went through a culvert and ended up,badly damaged, in a farmers bean field.
My husband,who was driving asked the man if he needed help. "Yes, he stated, If you could just pull my truck out of the man's bean field that would be great". So Curt and Randy hooked up a chain to the front of our suburban and towed the said truck out of the field. They offered further assistance...cell phone usage, a ride somewhere.....but the man declined and keep repeating "I just wanted to get my truck out of that there man's field".
As we were driving away, and gawking at the totaled front end of his truck....Randy commented "I think he has bigger things to worry about than that man's bean field".
I have been thinking about the scene from Sunday night.....
Have you ever heard the phrase "There is bigger fish to fry" or "Save your battles for the Majors not the Minors?" How often in my life and relationships with others do I spend countless energy on "getting my truck out of the bean field" and not on the bigger stuff that really matters....prioritizing what I should be spending my precious time,energy and resources on.....Lord, help me be wise as a wife,mother,friend,sister,neighbor,co-worker,teacher ect...help me to not get so distracted by the minor things in life that I miss what you really want me to focus on today and teach me to be sensitive to your spirit and leading...Amen.
For more on prioritizing your life visit www.sueheimer.com
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Yesterday was one of "those" days...I questioned my commitment to be a "stay at home" mom. I work once a week at the hospital and write and prepare for speaking engagements from home. Most of the week I am here at home, my haven, my families "safe" place.
There are times (like yesterday) when I look around at my surroundings, and Satan (the rat) starts playing the mind game with me.
If I worked at the hospital more I could....replace the counter tops(one has a hole burnt in it) get more fashionable flooring, update the 8 year old vehicle with a newer one...and the list goes on and on...all wants...no needs.
But God, reminded my that if I worked outside the house more I would....miss the chance to talk with my 3 college age boys when they call at random hours of the day just to "talk"....precious moments with my daughter-in-law talking about "girl" stuff.....savoring the last months of driving my 15 year old around before he gets his license...having the time to put on soft music and light a few candles to welcome my "man" home after a long day.....
So, I renewed my commitment and I am off to clip more coupons.....so that we can live on primary one income...it is worth it!
There are times (like yesterday) when I look around at my surroundings, and Satan (the rat) starts playing the mind game with me.
If I worked at the hospital more I could....replace the counter tops(one has a hole burnt in it) get more fashionable flooring, update the 8 year old vehicle with a newer one...and the list goes on and on...all wants...no needs.
But God, reminded my that if I worked outside the house more I would....miss the chance to talk with my 3 college age boys when they call at random hours of the day just to "talk"....precious moments with my daughter-in-law talking about "girl" stuff.....savoring the last months of driving my 15 year old around before he gets his license...having the time to put on soft music and light a few candles to welcome my "man" home after a long day.....
So, I renewed my commitment and I am off to clip more coupons.....so that we can live on primary one income...it is worth it!
Monday, July 20, 2009
We just finished dinner and I wanted to share a fun and interactive idea that our family has done for years. It is called "Hi Light" "Low Light". While we are around the table eating, one family member starts with their Hi light and low light of the day.
Often, when you ask your children or husband how there day was, the standard response is "fine". This leaves a person "wanting" in the area of details and connection.
Our family finds that when you play this game, "fine" is not a option. It will amaze you the things you find that your loved one experienced that day that you would have otherwise never have known! Give it a try and incorporate a new tradition in your home!
Often, when you ask your children or husband how there day was, the standard response is "fine". This leaves a person "wanting" in the area of details and connection.
Our family finds that when you play this game, "fine" is not a option. It will amaze you the things you find that your loved one experienced that day that you would have otherwise never have known! Give it a try and incorporate a new tradition in your home!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Spending time with Denise Austin!
Yup. Denise Austin and I are becoming fast friends. I bought her video "Shrink your Female Fat Zones" and we are bonding.
My athletic ability on a scale from 1-10 is a -4. Seriously, I cannot even jog to the mailbox without tripping....pathetic. However, a friend told me about this workout video and said even I could do it..thanks...I think...anyhoo I LOVE it. The first 20 minutes are with light weights and the last 20 are with a stability ball.
Denise is so encouraging...she says, "Looking Good!" even as I am falling off the ball onto the ground in a heap. And lets not forget the workout garb. I am decked out in "Football" playoff shorts size L and a Ridgeview Mustang tee shirt that states HEIMER 2 on the back. Top it off with flat greasy hair in a pony tail and I am a real honey to look at.
But Denise doesn't care...she is encouraging my efforts and no amount of failure in front of the video machine changes that.
On such a larger scale, God is for me also. And HE is for you. Not "may be," not "has been," not "was." not "would be," but "GOD IS!" He is for you today. At this hour. At this minute. His loyalty won't increase if you are better nor lessen if you are worse. He is for you!
NO one can defeat you.
God is for you and LOVES you simply because he has chosen to do so.
Even when you don't feel lovely.
Even when we fail miserably.
Even when I fall off the ball.
Others may abandon you, ignore you, mistreat you, but God will love you. Always. No matter what.
"I'll call nobodies and make them somebodies: I'll call the unloved and make them BELOVED."
Romans 9:25 MSG
My athletic ability on a scale from 1-10 is a -4. Seriously, I cannot even jog to the mailbox without tripping....pathetic. However, a friend told me about this workout video and said even I could do it..thanks...I think...anyhoo I LOVE it. The first 20 minutes are with light weights and the last 20 are with a stability ball.
Denise is so encouraging...she says, "Looking Good!" even as I am falling off the ball onto the ground in a heap. And lets not forget the workout garb. I am decked out in "Football" playoff shorts size L and a Ridgeview Mustang tee shirt that states HEIMER 2 on the back. Top it off with flat greasy hair in a pony tail and I am a real honey to look at.
But Denise doesn't care...she is encouraging my efforts and no amount of failure in front of the video machine changes that.
On such a larger scale, God is for me also. And HE is for you. Not "may be," not "has been," not "was." not "would be," but "GOD IS!" He is for you today. At this hour. At this minute. His loyalty won't increase if you are better nor lessen if you are worse. He is for you!
NO one can defeat you.
God is for you and LOVES you simply because he has chosen to do so.
Even when you don't feel lovely.
Even when we fail miserably.
Even when I fall off the ball.
Others may abandon you, ignore you, mistreat you, but God will love you. Always. No matter what.
"I'll call nobodies and make them somebodies: I'll call the unloved and make them BELOVED."
Romans 9:25 MSG
Saturday, July 11, 2009
I took my suburban back to the local repair shop. They had fixed the brakes last week and the nagging squeal was still present and irritating. The friendly owner/repair man came out to the waiting room where I was uhm...patiently waiting? Our conversation went something like this..
Repair man: I found and fixed the problem.
Me: Great! What was the problem?
He: The parking brake keeps sticking. I took them off so it won't be a problem anymore.
Me: Well don't I NEED parking brakes? I mean...I never have used them but what if I visit someplace with hills?
He: Park at the bottom of the hill. (He was not smiling)
Me: Okay????
If you see a tan suburban, and you live in a area of the country that has hills...do not park behind said vehicle...you have been warned.
Repair man: I found and fixed the problem.
Me: Great! What was the problem?
He: The parking brake keeps sticking. I took them off so it won't be a problem anymore.
Me: Well don't I NEED parking brakes? I mean...I never have used them but what if I visit someplace with hills?
He: Park at the bottom of the hill. (He was not smiling)
Me: Okay????
If you see a tan suburban, and you live in a area of the country that has hills...do not park behind said vehicle...you have been warned.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
My Man is in Canada with our son fishing. So...that leaves me in charge of the yard and the animals. Yes, one dog and 4 pigs (4-H project). Hence, I have been spending time in our 3 acre yard mowing, weeding and killing beetles (see previous post) and keeping the animals alive. Today is "roundup" day. The sprayer will be filled and I will walk around the yard and our gravel lane and squirt weed killer on anything green that needs to perish. Once the poison hits the leaves, the plant doesn't stand a chance. It will die.
This makes me think of my life and the sin that creeps in and grows. Sin erodes my life and takes root and beauty turns ugly. Where do I need some "round-up". Oh, Lord, make me so sensitive to sin in my life that I want stop it dead with the "spray" of your word and prayer! Selfishness,self-centered,arrogant,discontentment and pride need to be demolished and wither and DIE. So.....today....I will be prancing around my yard with my sprayer singing "Oh, VICTORY in JESUS", at the top of my lungs! And the neighbors will be calling Curt in Canada, for sure that the insecticide I sprayed on the beetles has gone to the brain and made me crazy! I am so excited I am going to get my chore clothes on right now and kill me some weeds!!!!
This makes me think of my life and the sin that creeps in and grows. Sin erodes my life and takes root and beauty turns ugly. Where do I need some "round-up". Oh, Lord, make me so sensitive to sin in my life that I want stop it dead with the "spray" of your word and prayer! Selfishness,self-centered,arrogant,discontentment and pride need to be demolished and wither and DIE. So.....today....I will be prancing around my yard with my sprayer singing "Oh, VICTORY in JESUS", at the top of my lungs! And the neighbors will be calling Curt in Canada, for sure that the insecticide I sprayed on the beetles has gone to the brain and made me crazy! I am so excited I am going to get my chore clothes on right now and kill me some weeds!!!!
Monday, July 6, 2009
What does Japanese Beetles and my thought life have in common?
If the neighbors thought I was a little on the "strange" side, today I left NO DOUBT! If they happened to venture by my house, they witnesses Mrs. Heimer in chore clothes, standing on her 4-wheeler, wildly spraying the Japanese Beetles that have descended upon her yard. What a sight to behold. I feel it is my mission to wipe them from the face of the earth....or at least my yard and let them chew on the neighbors foliage.
Every year I battle the "beetles". Like a wild woman I attack them with fury and determination and every year they come back again. It is like my thought life....I don't achieve victory and never have to bother with that thought again. Our thought life is something we will be working on until eternity in our desire to be godly. Renew your mind with God's word and attack negative thought aggressively. You WILL be victorious and Satan WILL be defeated!
Here is the endurance and the faith of the saints. Revelation 13:10
Every year I battle the "beetles". Like a wild woman I attack them with fury and determination and every year they come back again. It is like my thought life....I don't achieve victory and never have to bother with that thought again. Our thought life is something we will be working on until eternity in our desire to be godly. Renew your mind with God's word and attack negative thought aggressively. You WILL be victorious and Satan WILL be defeated!
Here is the endurance and the faith of the saints. Revelation 13:10
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me....Yes, on June 30th I turned 45! I am o.k. with it. When my mom turned 45 I thought she was old...sorry mom! I have rethought the word "old" and I am not and she wasn't! My 45th birthday is now ranked in the top 5 category. It was just a GREAT day. My 4 sons and daughter-in-law gave me a gift I will cherish FOREVER. They compiled a list of 45 memories or expressions of appreciation for me. It is priceless!!! There words melted my heart and renewed my vision and zeal to continue to walk worthy of the high calling of "Motherhood". Being a mom is hard work! So often frustration,exhaustion and disillusionment crowd out the joy of being a parent. Hang in there......it WILL be worth it!
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