Articles

Sep 02 2017

Two elderly gentlemen ~ Sew and Sew

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 3 Comments
Two elderly gentlemen were sitting under a tree, watching the sun go down.

One says, “You know, I’m 84 years old and my body is full of aches and pains.

You’re about my age. How do you feel?”

The other guy says, “Oh, I feel like a newborn baby.”

“Really,” says the first guy.

“Yep,” says the second one. “No teeth, no hair and I think I just wet my pants.”

 

 

 

This is definitely me, Is anyone else with me?

 

 

 

Reflections: Sew and Sew

I sewed my first quilt it was many years ago;  it was so simple I never made another one. Lol.

But as time passed, I decided to try again. Cutting, splicing, and sewing blocks all the while trying to keep everything in a perfect square. It was difficult because I didn’t know what I was doing and trying to learn how to quilt from the internet was confusing.

Taking on this endeavor, I talked to quilters in our area which were both encouraging and helpful.  However, after seeing some of their beautiful quilts and pictures, I started to feel a little insecure in my abilities.  I wondered if my quilt would look alright and be acceptable. In my heart I knew it would not win any prizes, all I could see were the flaws.  I worried about everything on that quilt.  Could I do the binding right, would my hand stitches be even, would anyone even notice?

Do you ever doubt your abilities when you look at others and admire their talents and perfection?  Only to find yourself grumbling how your talent doesn’t measure up to their perfection. Instead of thanking God for the privilege that he gave you to serve him in your special way, and enjoying the process. 

When my son-in-law came for a visit, he showed me how to square the quilt preparing it for the binding. He helped me to see a new quilting angle. Pointing out all the flaws and mistakes I had made, he said,” it adds character, everyone will know it is an original homemade quilt made with love.” 

Thank you, Lord, for those words of wisdom to remind me that love can transcend time and eternity because of you.  My son-in-law was right; every stitch began with the love for a particular individual.  And it was fun to see the process unfolded.   I wonder if God loves to see the process of our lives unfold too. ©

Lovingly, Karan

How do you deal with doubting your abilities and comparisons to others? Let me know if you do that too.

Thank you, dear friends, for sharing your time with me today,

wishing you a wonderful weekend with your friends and family. Hugs to all!

 

Aug 27 2017

Happy Flying ~ The Plan

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 1 Comment

“Happy Flying”

A plane was taking off from Kennedy Airport. After it reached a comfortable cruising altitude, the captain made an announcement over the intercom, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. Welcome to Flight Number 293, nonstop from New York to Los Angeles. The weather ahead is good and, therefore, we should have a smooth and uneventful flight. Now sit back and relax… OH, MY GOSH!’

Silence followed, and after a few minutes, the captain came back on the intercom and said, ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, I am so sorry if I scared you earlier. While I was talking to you, the flight attendant accidentally spilled a cup of hot coffee in my lap. You should see the front of my pants!’

A passenger in Coach yelled, ‘That’s nothing. You should see the back of mine!’ Author unknown

 

 

 

 

Reflections: The Plan

Restlessness is characteristic of our generation today. In these days of confusion and turmoil from life’s activities, we hardly have time to enjoy our blessings. That has certainly been true of my life.

Some days in the throes of discouragement, I have doubted God’s concern and care for me. Especially when He has so many others to take care of besides me. Do you ever doubt God’s plan?

When life is hectic, we become preoccupied with ourselves, our circumstances and can soon forget about our friends, family, and God.

What a shame, God is the only one who can bring rest and peace in the midst of all the craziness.

Over the years, there have been hard lessons to learn, But God in his great love has shown me that the things I valued most, are not as important as the people in my life or my relationship with Him.

Especially, when faced with the fact there may not be any tomorrows left. It is funny how fast our priorities can change. Suddenly spending time with God and talking to him seems more important than all my busy-ness for him.

Jesus knows about all of the activity in our lives because he made us. He also knows that we need times of rest both—Physically and spiritually.

 “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give peace to you as the world gives.

Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. ~ John 14:27

He is the only source for perfect peace and complete rest for our souls, especially at these busy times of the year. You are loved and special to Him. ©

“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”
Smile God Loves You!
 *******************

Thank you, dear friends, for spending your time with me.
Have a wonderful weekend. 

HUGS,
Lovingly, Karan
Aug 18 2017

Let Freedom Ring

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 4 Comments
   A Bible Story?

 

  A father was reading Bible stories to his young son.  

  He read, “the man named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city,

  but his wife looked back and was turned into salt.”

  His son asked, “What happened to the flea?

Reflections: Let Freedom Ring

Some years ago while we were touring in Germany, we had the opportunity to see Dachau, a prisoner of war camp outside Munich. I was instantly aware of the strange stillness, and how eerily quiet the camp seemed. I was walking in the same steps of so many who had gone before me but only with a much different outcome.

As the prisoners, walked over the small bridge toward the showers, seeing the beautiful flower and sweet music playing, how would these people know that the showers had a deadly consequence for them?

 After spending an afternoon in Dachau, and seeing the displays, films, and pictures I walked away shocked at the evil and cruelty of man towards one another.

As I left Dachau, I read a sign above the door I have never forgotten. The quote said, “If we forget the past, we are condemned to do it again.” or written a little differently, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

I believe those words, and I can look at the past and remember how far we have come. I love history and often watch war movies. Remembering those brave men and women who have fallen because they loved this country more than themselves, and the precious families left behind. Do I love my country the same way? Or do I just want my own way, and care little for others.

As an American, my heart breaks of all the racial and political disarray that are happening now especially after last weekend in Virginia. I lived and witnessed the 60’s and 70’s which was a chaotic time for our country, but we made it.

I think tearing down our past and trying to erase history only deepens our wounds. Those founding fathers who were flawed, just like us, loved this country too, without them, we would never have the opportunity to live in a country as vast and free as America.

We don’t have slavery in this country anymore, and I thank God for a man like Dr. Martin Luther King who stood up for righteousness to make life better for us all. When will we carry our banner for freedom and stand up for what we believe?©

Psalm 119:45 NLT– I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments.

“If we forget the past, we are condemned to do it again.”
~ George Santayana ~

Please let me know how you are feeling about all that is happening.  I love you all and am praying. Hugs

Lovingly, Karan

Aug 12 2017

Getting Some Music Lessons

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: No Comments

 

Getting Some Music Lessons

A drummer tired of being ridiculed by his peers decided to learn how to play some “real” musical instruments.  

He went to the music store, walked in, approached the store clerk and said, I’ll take that red trumpet over there and that accordion.”

The store clerk looked at him a bit funny, and replied, “Okay, you can have the  fire extinguisher, but the radiator’s got to stay.” Author unknown

 

 

Reflections: 

I must confess I have been on a controlled eating and dieting plan for the last few month with disappointing results.  The exercise program I picked has me swinging and jumping to the beat of, “Country Heat.” Didn’t help much either. I’m sure if I did the routine every day like I was supposed to, I would be in better shape.

I received a wonderful Fitbit and am wearing it faithfully, only to find out I don’t walk enough (Really?) and my sleep patterns are off. Every night I give myself a scolding and feel guilty I haven’t done better. Who new 10,000 steps was the magic Number.  I thought I walked a lot every day????

I have been reflecting on my diet and exercise hysteria and how I am driving myself nuts, as well as everyone else. Is it insecurity, or the feeling of not measuring up? Who says what is beautiful, acceptable and lovely anyway?

With the constant barrage of the media, celebrities, and fashion magazines our self-esteem can erode fast.  I just read that a poll By Dr. Raj Persuad a Psychiatrist, said looking at magazines for 60 minutes lowers the self-esteem of young women by 80%.  Astonishing.  

I started to wonder why I even buy magazines knowing the reality we see is the perfecting imagery of a Photoshop expert and illusions of technical imagery.  After all if they can make a one-hundred year old woman look 24 again, they can do anything!

All this stress and wanting perfection, I know it is only vanity. In my heart I wanted to feel acceptable and secure in how I looked.  Instead of being grateful, I get all caught up in the physical instead of relying on the one who knows me best. I forgot how much He loves, I am already special and perfect in His eyes.©

Genesis 1:27 
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

We Are Love by God!

Thank you, dear friends, for spending your time with me.
Have a wonderful weekend. Hugs to all.

Lovingly, Karan

Do you find your getting discouraged too? What self talk do you do?

Aug 05 2017

Out Of Gas!

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 4 Comments

Out Of Gas!

Sister Theresa who works for a  health care agency was out making her rounds when she ran out of gas. As luck would have it there was a station just down the street. She walked to the station to borrow a can with enough gas to start the car and drive to the station for a fill up. 
       
The attendant regretfully told her that the only can he owned had just been loaned out, but if she would care to wait he was sure it would be back shortly.      

Since Sister Theresa was on the way to see a patient she decided not to wait and walked back to her car. After looking through her car for something to fill with gas, she spotted a bedpan she in the back. Always resourceful, she carried it to the station, filled it with gasoline, and carried it back to her car. 

As luck would have it Sister Theresa started tipping the gas into the fuel tank, the traffic light turned red and she had quite a large audience witnessing the spectacle.

Just when she finished pouring in the last drops of gas a fellow opened up his window and hollered, “I swear! If that car starts I’m becoming a religious man!” Author unknown

 

 

 

Reflections: 

A praying child one evening said; Dear God, I hope you’ll also take care of yourself if anything happens to you; we’d be in an awful fix…

I’m sure we all feel like that these days, when the world is in so much turmoil, and distress.

I have struggled for years trying to have a consistent prayer life that seems so often to be more hit and miss, than anything else.

  • I have felt guilty, that I did not pray enough, or long enough.
  • I have felt not good enough, why would God listen to me, I have failed him so many times.
  • I don’t have enough time; I have been told that you have to spend hours in a quiet place. I have family, work, I hardly have time sit down, and when I do I fall asleep.
  •  
  • We all know that the only time to pray is early in the morning,

I’ve been told.  However, I’m not an early bird, I just stare at my open bible then fall asleep.  Only to feel guiltier.

Then discouraged I give up, God why did you make me like this? I can’t even stay awake in the morning for prayer, I must be your worst child, One who doesn’t deserve your constant, eternal, forgiving love and graciousness.

I spent money on seminars and books that would help me to try and get it right, so many formulas and how it should be done. But it never was personal to me until I heard a story about the mother of John & Charles Wesley, Susanna who raised 19 children and still had time to pray.

With a busy family, Susanna found it difficult to find quiet time to pray. Her life was hard, but she realized the importance of praying for her family.  The children soon learned that any time of the day when their mother had her apron flipped up over her head that she was praying. So they quietly left the room leaving her disturbed.

I love this story about Susanna Wesley, it has taught me that it doesn’t matter where you pray or when.  I just need to talk to God like a dear friend, anytime or anyplace, he is only a prayer away.  Have you struggled with finding the right time or place to pray? ©

” We are put on this earth, not to see through one another,
But to see one another through.”

Smile, God Love You

Thank you, dear friends for spending your time with me, Have a wonderful weekend.

Hugs to all.

Lovingly, Karan