Articles

May 28 2016

Remembering the past, looking to the future”

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 2 Comments

Remembering the past, looking to the future”patric

 

 

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Reflections:

Although I am an American, who lives in Canada now, I have never gotten over the thrill and pride at seeing the American Stars and Stripes flying over a country I love and cherish. It still brings tears to my eyes as I sing God Bless America and the National Anthem. What a joy and a privilege to live in a country with an incredible heritage.

And when I see the Canadian Maple Leaf flag I am reminded how blessed we are to have the opportunity to live in both countries where we enjoy the freedom that others have bravely fought for.

girlyMy heart filled with respect and admiration as I consider what would cause a person to volunteer so freely to serve his country and willingly go into harm’s way for others. To stand and fight for people he does not know so they can enjoy safety and freedom too. Is it the brave determination of character to serve God and to do what is right because he loves his country and family?

I am forever grateful to those who have and still do served our country with honor and integrity and their families who sacrifice so much.

They say “Freedom is never free,” but there is always a price… physically, mentally and emotionally. I am humbled and honored to say, thank you to the brave soldiers who fight for my freedom. Thank You, You are Remembered!

At this moment, I also am overwhelmed as I remember that Christ did the same for me. He freely gave himself for me so that I could have an everlasting inheritance with him.

“Christ paid a price I could never pay to give me life I did not deserve.” I am loved and blessed.

Thank You to all who serve, I am praying for you!

Do you have those who are serving or have served, I would love to hear from you?

HUGS

Lovingly, Karan

May 20 2016

Can You Hear the Music?

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: No Comments

Can You Hear the Music?

ols-man-singing1I guess you could say he’s a fixture ’round town they all knew his name. And every time the church bells rang Uncle Jesse, he up and came.

He always sat in the very same pew humming in a voice loud and rough, when it came to the Antioch Church House Choir Uncle Jesse never heard enough.

You see, he always wanted to sing in the choir, but he couldn’t sing a lick don’t you know, he tried out for the Antioch Church House choir 34 years in a row

He always got to the try-outs early he wanted to try out first, but instead of his singing getting any better every year it just got a little worse.

And he’d say, Please let me sing in the choir in the choir, Please let me sing in the choir. I can lift my voice just as high as yours… maybe just a little higher…  Please let me sing in the choir, in the choir, please let me sing in the choir. One old man can’t be all that bad, won’t you please let me sing in the choir.

One cloudy Sunday morning, I remember it was raining some… The church bells rang, and everybody came except Jesse, He didn’t come. Everybody started getting worried, but the figured they’d start anyhow.

Just as they did Jesse’s voice came booming down from Heaven, and I don’t know how… He said I’ve found me a choir that’ll let me sing; now I’m singing in the choir. I can lift my voice just as high as yours, maybe just a little higher.

I’ve found me a choir that’ll let me sing now I’m singing in the choir… You folks down there can’t hold me a light because I’m singing in the heavenly choir…      Words and music by Darrel Holt


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Reflections:

Every time I hear the song sung above, I get tears in my eyes. I think about my voice that is a little off-key.  I remember at one time Lyle, and I were asked to sing for an evening event, I was scared to death. 

scared-woman-revMy husband comes from a musical family and has a wonderful voice.  We practiced for weeks.  But when we stood on stage in front of all those people I froze, and couldn’t remember the words or even find my note. 

My dear husband tried to encouragement after our song, but I knew it didn’t go well.  As we were leaving a lady rushed up to encourage me and said, “ Well after you went up and down the scale a few times to find your note, I think it was OK.” So much for my singing career! LOL

Although I am not as a singer, I do love to sing. I like to sing out loud, and I’m sure others wish I would stop. But hey, the Bible says let us make a joyful noise, and I want to do my part.

I was born to sing the song God placed in my heart.  I think each of us has a special song given to us to share. Sometimes I struggle to sing my song joyfully, feeling like it might not be good enough.  Or I look at others and wish I could be like them and sing their song.

There have even been times I could not sing my hearts song at all. Those are times I need God, and another’s to wrap their wings of love around me and hold me tight. We all are born to sing our special songs

Like a small bird needing to fly and feel the wind lift me higher, I know God has placed a special song in my heart that I must sing to a hurting world… Jesus Loves You!  That is my song©

 

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Psalm 100
A psalm of thanksgiving.

1 Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.


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Thank you for dropping by and sharing your time with me.

Do you have a song to sing? I would love to hear the song God has given you.

Have a great week! Hugs

Lovingly, Karan

Apr 18 2016

Would You Like Twenty Dollars?

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 2 Comments

 

Would You Like Twenty Dollars?

crumpled-20-dollar-noteA well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked. “Who would like this $20 bill?”

Hands started going up. He said, “I am going to give this $20 to one of you – but first, let me do this.”

He continued to crumble the 20 dollar note up. He then asked. “Who still wants it?” Still the hands went up.

“Well,” he replied, “what if I do this?” He dropped the $20 on the ground and started grinding it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. “Now, who still wants it?”

Still the hands went into the air.

“My friends, we have learned a valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20.

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless; but no matter what happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value.

Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who love you. The worth of our lives comes, not in what we do or who we know, but by …who we are! Author Unknown

You are special – don’t ever forget it.”

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Reflections

It was wonderful to be away in beautiful California and spend time with family and friends. I was able to sightsee a bit, shop and enjoy the San Diego Bsan 2ay.

Seeing familiar places and remembering the moments and places where my mother taught me to dream and laugh. She always saw beauty in everything.

I loved the times we spent at San Diego Bay, having shrimp sandwiches or fish tacos with a blanket on the grass at Shelter Island. We would watch the naval ships come home with grand display after being deployed from home for months at a time.

I loved the smell of the ocean and watching the small fishing, and sail boats glide peacefully by, as we visited and just enjoyed each other’s company. We often shared our thoughts, dreams and hopes, and occasionally funny stories, along with our secret hurts. But most of all we would speak of our blessings.

How I miss her laughter, her warm smile, and beautiful green eyes. I admired her strength and accomplishments against insurmountable3fe0ab12-a49a-42f4-ac32-cfeacc95092c odds. Mother often said, “With God nothing is impossible.”

How true it is, even on those days when we feel worthless, crumpled, and broken by life’s circumstance God cares.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God

and are called according to his purpose for them.

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these?

If God is for us, who can ever be against us.

Romans 8:28 & 31

You are special – don’t ever forget it.

 

 

Thank you, dear friends for spending your time with me, The newsletter will be back in your mailboxes every Saturday morning again.

If you know anyone who might enjoy it please pass it on.

I loved being away, but my pillow feels wonderful. lol.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Hugs to all.
Lovingly, Karan

Mar 19 2016

Please Don’t Make Me Adult Today!

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: No Comments

 

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Have you had a bad nights’ sleep, woke up in the morning looked in the mirror and thought, “I’m not sure I’ll make it today”. Is your hair standing on end? Are there bags under your eyes…? Thank goodness for bag cream, not to mention the dreaded puffed eyelids? Some mornings, looking in the mirror can almost stop your heart. This happens to me quite often.

Have you fallen off your diet in a major way? Enjoyed an incredible weekend full of carbohydrates, sugar and fat overload, and now feeling guilty, bloated and 10 pounds heavier than when you started. You know, the weekend where you ate everything you could get your hands on just because you couldn’t stand another carrot stick? I have and gave myself a good scolding too. I usually feel so guilty and miserable I promise myself never to do it again. Well, maybe that’s a little hasty, I hear a little Chocolate is good for you!

Perhaps you’ve had a dispute with your husband, friends or even the kids, and you are on your last nerve. Possibly you’re saying, “I need to run away for a while or take a cruise “, or if you’re like me, you just stay in bed and cover your head. I’ve even considered a week at a rest home, wouldn’t that be heavenly. There I could sit on the porch in a rocking chair and sing “Blessed Quietness “and mean it.

Some day’s life does not go the way I expect. I can write lists, make my plans and try to get some sense of order, yet life does not stop because I have had a bad day. Have you ever felt like that?

I am thankful that as each new day comes, I can choose to find something to be thankful for. I am learning how to find joy in the moments. This is a lifelong journey, and a fast learner I am not. Not because life is perfect, but because I have a friend who loves me through the circumstances of life. He is my shelter who blocks the sting and protects me in his perfect will. Nothing touches me that does not go through the cross first.

Although I will always have my share of bad hair days, bags under my eyes, blow my diet and lose my temper. I am safe and secure in the knowledge that God’s love and forgiveness is constant, unconditional and forever. He is my Friend, He is enough.

How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 36:7

Lovingly, Karan

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Thank you for dropping by and sharing your time with me.

What gives you hope when you have a bad day? I would love to hear What You do.

Have a great week! HUGS

Mar 12 2016

“Have I got A Tip For You”

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: No Comments

“Have I got A Tip For You”

geec-generationI have been watching our utility bill go up and down for this last year. In August, a young gentleman came to town advertising for a new utility company. They wanted to consolidate our gas and electric bills into one instead of two separate bills.

We could save money and lock in a new rate much lower than before if we signed up for them. Lyle and I looked over the contract and felt it looked better than the variable rates we had been experiencing.

However in the fall and over the winter, we kept seeing the bill increasing, instead of going down as promised. I phoned the utility company to inquire about my bill, and the consultant was polite and understanding. Saying she was sorry, and next month’s bill would be better, she promised. She even gave me a 10.00 credit. LOL

Well, the next month arrived, and it was much worse than the previous month, so I found the contract and realized the company headquarters was in Texas. I started thinking maybe they were charging us in American dollars instead of Canadian. You see, right now in Canada, our dollar is worth seventy-one cents to one American dollar.

I called the company again to see if the exchange rate was the problem, they assured it was not. As I visited with the representative, she inquired if I received their company’s brochure on how to get budget saving tips for our home. I hadn’t received the brochure, so she gave me a few tips on how I might conserve energy.

First she said I need to unplug my refrigerator, stove, and oven every night. She did every night, and it helped her conserve energy.

At that point, I had visions of my husband and myself dragging all our appliances out and unplugging then each night. Then plugging them in every morning and pushing them back in place. I don’t know about you but, I had never heard this tip before, sounds like a high-energy project for sure. She then suggested I put everything on an extension cord so it would be easier.

I told her I had never heard of that money saving tip before. She said she does it every night; it is what we do in the Philippines. What??LOL

At this point I was so relieved that it wasn’t Canada she was talking about, I thanked her tips and said good-bye.©

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Have you ever had a day like this?

 

Reflections:

Have you ever felt like you might want to scream or burst out laughing when you are on the phone trying to get information or fix a problem? I must admit sometimes I get impatient when I can’t get things straighten out quickly. I often wonder if God gets impatient with me, and ever feels like screaming at all my mistakes. I’m sure He has been frustrated many times when I go the wrong directions too.

I am so thankful that I have those flash points in my life to remember God always continues to be faithful to his promises of love, forgiveness, and grace. I may get upset, angry, emotional and worry momentarily, but when I stand still and look up, I know that God is always with me, and continues to love me.

God may delay our answering our requests, but he will never disappoint our trust. I know I am never alone He cares and walks beside me.

What a joy and privilege to have such dear friends to walk with us on our journey.

Thank you for sharing your time with me today.

I love you, Hugs

Karan