Stephanie B. Blake's Blog, page 6

If You Write It, They Will Know

Since the passing of my father, my husband's grandmother and his parents, I have discovered a lot of things about them through their writing: their notes, their cards written to each other, notations made on pictures and newspaper clippings as well as longer writings, such as wills and books.

My father wrote a book in his late 80's on eschatology and was working on a book pertaining to salvation. He kept many notebooks of his Bible lessons and had scores of notes in the Bibles he left behind. I teared up as I read his note on the bottom of one of my letters: "my blessing from the Lord." At my request, he prepared a notebook of his World War II experiences. Dad and I had a great relationship. It is richer still because of his writings.

My husband's grandmother wrote a manuscript which I had yet to read, but am looking forward to it. It was found among pictures and cards in her footlocker after her son (my father-in-law) passed away. She was the most dedicated Christian witness I have ever known. Her last will and testament revealed that focus in her life. She had few material possessions. She specified that everything she had was to be divided equally between her sons after five hundred dollars (a significant sum for her) was given to the World Literature Crusade - "for giving the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to one million people each day." Then, after her signature on her handwritten will, she stated, "May they and all my relatives meet me in Heaven."

These discoveries have sealed my conviction that what you write down will reveal a lot to your loved ones. I attended a writer's conference a few years back and still have stamped in my memory a comment by one of the leaders. He was asked by a participant if he kept a diary. He said, "I have not always kept a diary, but I do now. After my wife died, I discovered a diary I didn't know she had. I discovered things about her I didn't know before and would not give anything for that diary."

God operates by that principle. What He said in His word many years ago reveals who He is. It is truly a treasure of knowledge about the One who loves us so much that He gave His Son for our salvation. I am thrilled to have His words in print as well as the writings of the loved ones He put in my life.

But these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31). But the word of the Lord lasts forever. Now this word is the good news that was announced by you (1 Peter 1:25 HCSB).

Family Trees

Although I have had friends and relatives who have done extensive research on their family trees, I have not been as interested as I should have been - until now.

My interest started a few years ago when I realized the stories my father was telling me about World War II would be lost unless I had him write them down. Thankfully, before he died, he prepared a notebook for me of his war experiences which included his honorable discharge papers, pictures and a few memorabilia. (Picture is of my father in England during WWII).

Then my father-in-law passed away. He was our last living parent. He, too, served in WWII. I am extremely proud of both of these men and the contribution they made to my life, their Christian influence and their service to our country.

I have been helping my husband with settling Pop's affairs by going through his house, sorting through pictures, cards and newspaper clippings and putting them in four separate piles - one for each of the four sons that he had.

Unfortunately, I did not do with Pop what I did with my dad. I don't have a notebook or a written record of his war experiences. There is some hope, though, of piecing it all together.

Although it took me a very long time, I was glad that he and Mom - or his mother (photo is of his mother and his father in his WWI uniform) - never threw any picture or card away. Some of the things we discovered in his collection of pictures, etc. were surprises. We are having to dig to find out who some people in pictures are and are discovering connections we didn't know we had.

There is still much research to be done to answer some of the questions that have developed, but if we don't do it now, that information will be lost for the next generation and the next.

This experience has put a new light on some biblical passages that I used to read through hurriedly or sometimes pass over altogether. God evidently thinks family connections are important. I will never again read through the genealogies in His word the same way. What is important to Him should be important to me - and it is.

Now there were twelve sons of Jacob - the sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, then Simeon and Levi and Judah and Issachar and Zebulun; the sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin (Genesis 35:22b-24). Now these are the records of the generations of Esau (Genesis 36:1). The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham (Matthew 1:1).

Resolutions You Have Kept

The beginning of a new year usually sparks an evaluation of where you are and where you want to be in the future.

I have watched several interviews lately of people queried about resolutions they were making. Most of them admitted that their resolutions wouldn't last long and many appeared to think the whole idea was funny. Their good intentions for improvement would not last through the first week.

This has proven to be true. January is a great month for gyms, diets and purchasing exercise equipment. The gyms start to empty out in February, diets go by the wayside in a few weeks and barely used exercise equipment can be snapped up at bargain prices by the second quarter of the year.

Resolutions can be life changing or they can be discouraging. Research suggests that less than 10% of those of us who make New Year's resolutions keep them. Experts are now recommending that you keep your resolution list short, simple and specific.

How you approach resolutions make all the difference. Your evaluation process should not only include where you are (your present) and where you want to be (your future), but what has brought you to where you are (your past). Actually, many of us have been following through on resolutions for years without realizing it. The dictionary tells us so.

A resolution is defined as a firm decision to do or not to do something. All of us have made decisions in the past - some good, some bad.

A decision is defined as a conclusion or resolution reached after careful consideration. Those decisions you have already made were choices - defined as an act of selecting or making a decision when faced with two or more possibilities.

You live by the choices you make. Some choices have great reward - like an intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ, a good marriage, parenting children, working at a job you love, living in a town or city that fits your personality, developing a desired skill, etc. The opposite is also true. When we make bad choices, we have to live with the consequences.

So, you and I are where we are today by the resolutions - choices - decisions - we made yesterday. When we evaluate how we have made our choices and realize that it has put us where we are today, we can either stick with the process or revise it in order to get where we need to be in the future.

Making any decision on our own - without God's help - can lead to those bad choices. Asking God to help you make the right decisions in the future is a resolution you can keep if you have a relationship with Him. There is no decision too small or too big to take to God. If it concerns you, it concerns Him. We all need His help. I know I do. Ask Him.

Trust the Lord completely, and don't depend on your own knowledge. With every step you take, think about what he wants, and he will help you go the right way (Proverbs 3:5-6 Easy-to-Read version).

The Best Free Gift Ever

There is sometimes a little letdown when Christmas is over. Family members go home and the house feels somewhat empty. The decorations need to be put away (not nearly as fun as putting them up). There is a possibility that some of the gifts need to be returned - either because they don't work, you can't use them, you already have one just like it or it doesn't fit.The opposite might also be true. If you have received a gift card or money for a Christmas present, now is the time to be able to choose something you really want or need for free. Redeeming the gift card or spending the money after Christmas often stretches your money because there are many after Christmas sales which are deeply discounted.Everyone likes something free. The gifts you received didn't cost you anything. You may have gotten something you have been wishing for and because it is something you would not have purchased for yourself, it is a true luxury. Some of my favorite belongings remind me of Christmases past and the thoughtfulness of a loved one.Regardless of what you received this Christmas or past Christmases there will be a point where you will no longer use it. It will either wear out or you will leave it behind when you die.The best free gift ever offered and received will never wear out or be left behind when you die. It was the most costly gift ever because it required the Son of God to die on the cross for your sin. Our free gift cost Him everything. His sacrifice enables you to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. Just like the gifts you got for Christmas, the only thing you have to do is receive this gift. As He offers it to you and you receive it by faith, you are able to have fellowship now with Him on earth and forever with Him in Heaven. If you have not received this most precious gift, why don't you do so today? "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).*
This post is duplicated on my other blog, http://stretchmoney.wordpress.com as well. After the publication of my book, Money: How to Be Rich Without It and How to Stretch It Using Ten Hints from the Past and the Technology of Today, I started that blog to share hints on how to stretch your money. As I try hard to give advice on how to obtain what you need for free, this post was also appropriate for that blog. Jesus Christ offers the best free gift ever!

Butterflies and Roses in December

James M. Barrie began his rectorial address at St. Andrews University on May 3, 1922 with the following statement: "You have had many rectors here in St. Andrews who will continue in bloom long after the lowly ones such as I am are dead and rotten and forgotten. They are the roses in December; you remember someone said that God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December. But I do not envy the great ones. In my experience - and you may find in the end it is yours also - the people I have cared for most and who have seemed most worth caring for - my December roses have been very simple folk." Barrie considered himself simple folk, but left his mark on the world with his stories, most notably Peter Pan.

Barrie's reference to roses in December carries the implication that roses would not be available to view in December - thus the need for the memory of them. I will remember this year as the December where I did not have to use my memory to enjoy roses - they have been blooming in some areas of the south during December. Not only have I seen roses this month, but I have enjoyed watching the monarch butterflies in my backyard in recent days. Even in Texas where you can alternately use the air conditioner and heater in off seasons, roses have usually lost their bloom and butterflies are long gone by December.

Barrie related his December roses to people - those people who are worth caring for. In my life, I also have fond memories of these December roses. I have friends and family that I seldom see, but hear from periodically through cards, Facebook, phone calls or email. Every time I do, it brings a smile, similar to the smile that comes across my face when I see roses and butterflies in December. Their contributions to my life continues to bloom.

Family, friends, roses and butterflies are among many things I am grateful for. The greatest blessing I have ever received is a relationship with God through Jesus Christ His Son. Fellowship with Him makes me aware of the delightful gifts that He gives as well. So, whether I actually see them or I need to exercise my memory to enjoy them, through His grace I can experience roses in December.

I am the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valleys (Song of Solomon 2:1).

The True Spirit of Christmas

Many people the world over look forward to Christmas. Time off from work, time spent with family, looking forward to special gifts and an occasion for parties may be the sole reason for the celebration.

Retail stores put out Christmas decorations earlier each year. They suppose - and they may be right - that makes it easier for customers to get in the Christmas spirit and desire to purchase their products.

Of course, merchandisers profit from the Christmas season. Many of us believe that it has, in fact, become way too commercial. On the other hand, generosity is expressed more freely by more people at this time of year than any other.

The signs of Christmas spirit may include

making Christmas lists and checking off each present as it is purchased, wrapped, mailed or placed under the treepreparing eggnog, special candies, cookies and a variety of other traditional family dishesmaking elaborate preparations for parties, trips to see family, gifts for teachers, neighbors and othersdecorating homes in and outattending Christmas musicals and playslooking for ways to help others through churches and charitiesPart of the traditional Christmas celebration includes classic Christmas stories, which are read and reread to children at this time of year.

In Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge, a grumpy old miser who preferred his own company, is visited by three Christmas spirits on Christmas Eve. What the spirits of Christmas past, present and future showed him so affected Scrooge that his life was radically changed. The result of their visits was that he became the exact opposite of what he had been before. "He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man as the good old City knew, or any other good old city or town in the good old world.... it was said of him ever afterwards that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed that knowledge."

A Christmas Carol is one of the movies that is on my Christmas season watch list, always saved for Christmas Eve. Of course, it is not the original Christmas story, but it does illustrate what happens when the true Spirit of Christmas visits someone. There is a radical change. To truly know how to keep Christmas well, one must be born of the Spirit of the Christ of Christmas.
Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God (John 3:5). Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Families Adapting to a Changing World

Few families live in close proximity in America any more. In many other countries, the culture is still like America used to be - families and extended families are close enough in location to be available to help out with many different aspects of family life. In the United States, that advantage has pretty much ceased to exist.

Think of the difference it has made in our society because families, on the average, do not live close to one another. Childcare was not an issue because grandparents or aunts and uncles lived down the street or in some cases in the same house. The sting of unemployment was relieved somewhat because family members shared what they had with each other. Planning for retirement meant moving from the downstairs portion of the house to the upstairs portion of the house so that the family members with small children had the larger living area. Traveling long distances for holidays was unknown because it was not necessary.

Rural living has somewhat been replaced by dwelling in large concrete cities. The agrarian lifestyle of our past has been largely overridden by the industrial and then the technological advances of our modern society. Instead of face to face conversation with family, friends and neighbors, people communicate by email and texting - often with their eyes glued to a small screen in their hand instead of a face of flesh before them.

Since this is a present reality, I tend to be thankful for the gifts of modern technology that remind me of the personal touch of yesterday. My family is spread out all over the world. That is the way it is. I continue to long for the closeness of a loved one, catching a smile unnoticed or observing a loved one in a moment of time that cannot be captured by camera or video.

I was able to experience this somewhat, gratefully, on our latest American holiday - even though my husband and I were home alone. My immediate family all have a similar internet service - one where we can call each other using microphones on our computer and see each other utilizing webcams. Not only is the service possible; it is free to other users of the same service.

On that special day, my husband and I were able to talk for several hours to family members - one son who was out of the country and visited with our other son and his family while we were all preparing our meals. It was not exactly the same as having family come home for the holidays, but on that day, it was as close as we could get.

I am grateful that as a child of God, I don't have to wait for a phone call or a visit to be able to talk to Him. I don't have to check a world clock for the time difference between where He is and where I am. I don't have to worry about whether He is busy or He can't answer my call. I can speak to Him at any time and He will hear me. His Spirit, who abides in me, can communicate with me as well. He is always available, ready and delighted to hear from one of His children. No matter what cultural changes will come about in the future, I know that His presence is guaranteed because He never changes.

Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make Our abode with him (John 14:23). By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit (1 John 4:13 NASB).

The Joy of Food, Fellowship and Family

There's something about sitting together around a table full of food that invites conversation - especially with family. When our sons got married, I made a family recipe book for my new daughters.  It occurred to me that many of our best memories were around meals celebrating Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthdays or traditions we had created for meals on Friday nights, Saturday mornings or Sunday after church. Those memories were of great joy when we were all gathered around the table.
Now the joy is magnified because the family has grown.  On rare occasions when we have mealtimes together again, it is with grandchildren and all the delightful contributions they make to the conversations.
This last week was another reminder of this truth.  I attended two fellowship meals with our church family here in France.  There was a covered dish luncheon on Sunday after church.  So much good food and time to visit with friends around the table is a great treat.  On normal Sundays, people have to be out and about and visiting time is limited.  On covered dish Sundays, people make an effort to stick around, visit and enjoy a meal together.
On Tuesday, our ladies Bible study group got together at a member's lovely home for lunch.  Again, there was time to discover more information about my sisters in Christ.  People I had grown to love I love even more because I know them better now -  they shared their testimonies and experiences with the Lord. It was truly a joyful time.
Jesus had similar experiences.  He never was in a hurry, but it was at mealtimes we see him having the luxury of sharing life with those He loved.  He spent time in fellowship and meals with His friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus.  Those were times of rest and restoration for Him, just as times of food and fellowship with family are for us.
There was one very special meal where Jesus was able to have a time of very needed fellowship.  It was just before His betrayal and crucifixion.  In the upper room, after Judas left, Jesus had an opportunity to share some special revelations of Himself to eleven of His closest friends. He had come so they might be adopted into His family. As He left His brothers with incredible words of encouragement and promise, He told them that His intended purpose for doing so was that they might share in His joy.
Food, fellowship and family are perfect settings for experiences of joy.
These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full (John 15:11). But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves (John 17:13).
This is a repost from June 2011. As we approach Thanksgiving 2012, I am reminded again of how special fellowship time is. One day we will fellowship together with Jesus at His table. That will be the greatest occasion for thanksgiving for me.

Really Seeing the World Around You

I subscribe to a writer's magazine and follow several blogposts submitted by their staff. The motivational tips on writing, information on the latest developments in the publishing industry, what kind of writing is currently attractive to readers, etc. give me much needed facts in an ever changing world. There is practically no way to keep up on all the pertinent information without help. 

Theirs is not the only source I consult. I purchase books on writing, read what others write - both fiction and nonfiction - and notice blogs where successful published authors share their secrets and hints at sticking with their writing, no matter what. Some authors share how they conquer writer's block. Others give helpful knowledge about grammar, word usage, punctuation and formatting.

Recently I read a guest post by Kevin Kaiser on Writer's Digest entitled "What Bestselling Writers Do Differently Than Everyone Else." Of the four points that he made, it was the first one that caught my attention. Kevin said, "They are intent on seeing the world. Most of humanity hurries through the day in a fog, looking only where they need to in order to survive...But prolific and successful artists are students of the world around them. They pay attention because stories worth capturing are happening all the time right next to them. They just see it where others don't. Eyes that look are common, eyes that see are rare."

Kevin's definition of an artist is "anyone who creates something that enriches the lives of others, whether that’s leading a vibrant organization, writing a book or singing a song."

I think Kevin has captured the essence of a rich life - no matter what your occupation is. I also recently heard an extraordinary speech given to military cadets. The speaker showed pictures of men and women he had worked with - some who had given their lives for our country. Along with the pictures, he told their stories. His speech was so moving and inspiring because he actually saw the men and women who served under him. He paid attention to them. Kevin said, "eyes that see are rare." This man's eyes were definitely in that category. Anyone serving in his unit would know that he was not just a number or part of a unit, but that he had value. 

At one point, Jesus' disciples asked Him why He talked to the people in parables. In His reply to them, He said that He spoke in parables because "while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand." Kevin Kaiser may not have realized his observation "most of humanity hurries through the day in a fog" had spiritual implications, but it does. He was right. "Eyes that look are common, eyes that see are rare."

But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear (Matthew 13:16).

Logistics and Progress in Poland

Logistics in Poland is very well thought out. On a recent road trip from Lwówek Śląski (a small town close to Germany on Poland's western border) to Warsaw, Poland, I passed through the center of Poland and saw a landscape filled with warehouses - distribution centers for many retail stores. 

Central Poland is home to millions of meters of warehouse space. Major cities in Poland will soon add even more warehouses as their economy continues to improve. 

According to an August 2012 issue of The Warsaw Voice, by 2020 Poland will become the main logistics center in Europe. Colliers International, a real estate services company who conducted the research, expects distribution centers to grow the fastest in Gdańsk/Gdynia, Łódź, Katowice and Wrocław. Twice as much warehouse space was constructed in the first half of 2012 as the year before with the largest amount of new space built in the vicinity of Warsaw. The midwestern city of Poznań, central Poland and Upper Silesia also gained a significant amount of warehouse space. 

I have been to most of the cities mentioned in the article I read. I love Poland and the Polish people. Some of my best friends live there. 

It wasn't too long ago that shelves were empty and goods were difficult to obtain in this country. I am thrilled to see progress come to Poland. To me, these warehouses do not mar the beautiful countryside as they are strategically placed simply to make it easier to deliver goods throughout the country. 

As a Christian, I know where everything I need is located. Every material, physical or spiritual need that I have comes from one source. 

Every good and perfect gift is from above...(James 1:17). Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?'... for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you (Matthew 6:31-33).