Saturday, July 30, 2011

Love at First Bite!


Over the past several months, one of my closest friends has adopted, one after another three small dogs.  It was like she was the dog magnet for lost or unwanted canines - but not just any canines, the cutest, friendliest little furballs ever.  And they got along as each one was added to her little pack.  Wherever she goes now, she has at least one, if not all three with her.

So I got to thinking how nice it would be to have a little someone to cuddle and to hold.  I miss our family pet, JD, who passed away at the end of last summer.  Then two things happened.

First, on the way down to She Speaks, I met a gentleman who had two teacup size dogs running around his feet as he waited outside a Wal-mart.  He was selling them for $100.  But I was on the way to the conference, so I passed up the opportunity.  Then, on the airplane, the woman beside me got to talking and it turns out that she had to give up her Maltese due to an upcoming move.  She asked me if I would take him.  I said, sure, but we ended up unable to connect on my way back through Chicago.

By now, I was really feeling like I wanted a puppy all my own.  It is the middle of the summer, the best time of year to train a new puppy for a teacher.  And, I will be home by 1:30 pm on school days come Fall.  So I took a look on line just to see if there were any puppies I might consider... And I came across the photo you see above.

So I drove out to where the pups were, just to ask some questions, you understand?  Just to look, and to maybe think about it a bit more.  Well, the puppy (above) came right to me and climbed right up onto me... and began to nibble my ear.  That's when it happened: I fell in love at first bite.

Readers: please pray that I will train my new little "baby" well.  It isn't easy to say "No!" sometimes to a face that cute, but it is important.

"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."
Hebrews 12:11

Thanks for reading!  God Bless you!!

Love Darilyn

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Jesus Take the Wheel!

I just loved that story I posted yesterday so much I wish I had written it.  I got a good laugh out of it, and I also thought there was some truth to the story.  The "big secret" thing that women supposedly want is to be in control of their own life, but I am not sure this is 100% accurate.

As for myself, I for sure want to have a voice in whatever is going on when it happens to affect me.  And as long as I know I am being heard, I can pretty much 'roll with the punches,' even if I am in disagreement with what is going on.

For me the essential issue is trust rather than control.

You see if I am in a vehicle with someone I trust completely, then I am at ease and enjoying the ride even if the person is taking me somewhere they are choosing, or taking a different route than I usually take.  Life is like that.  If I am going to take the passenger seat, I absolutely have to trust the one who is in control of the vehicle.  I don't have to BE in control, but I have to have full confidence in the person who is driving.  Are they qualified, skilled, and sober?  In other words, is the driver willing and capable of operating that vehicle so that I am safe?

Furthermore, it is important to me that I am in a vehicle that is headed in the direction that I want to go.  If you want to be in Houston, you don't get in a bus that is heading off for Phoenix, right?  When we get into the vehicle of life with our spouse, we have to be in agreement about what direction we are heading and what our destination is.  When you travel life together, it helps to have the same goals, vision and purpose.  Then you could take turns driving because there is agreement on the general direction you're going.  Route doesn't matter as much as the destination you're aiming for.

There is no human driver we can trust completely.  I remember going on a road trip with my daughter a couple of summers ago.  I was playing DJ with her ipod and chose a song that was the incorrect remix -- she nearly drove us into the ditch!  Another time I was on a different trip with a girlfriend, I was driving.  She had her hand out the window as we were headed onto the freeway when I decided to do up the windows.  Her fingers were caught between the window and the frame and the automatic window just kept that pressure on!  Once when I was a little girl, my father drove our vehicle into a ditch to avoid a head-on collision with a truck that was passing another vehicle coming towards us.  All of these things were a bit scary, but in each case, the trust either remained in tact or was quickly restored.

There is only one Driver we can trust in all situations, as Carrie Underwood sings, "Jesus take the wheel!"  He is the One and Only who alway has our best interest in mind.  No matter what detour we happen to be on, we can trust that it is the best possible route to where He is taking us.  No matter how many times we seem to be circling the block, or spinning our wheels, it is all for His purpose.  Even if the destination seems to be getting further away, we can trust that He is in full control, and that everything that happens will be for our ultimate good, and His ultimate glory.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, 
who have been called according to his purpose.  
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son..."
Romans 8:28-29

Readers, I am so glad that I know I can trust Jesus.  He has shown me time and time again that He knows what He is asking me to do, and it is always for my good and His glory.  I didn't know I could trust Jesus, until I chose to trust Him.  He is trustworthy, and I had to choose to believe that by faith.  

Do you trust Him today?  Can you let Him have the control, and be at ease knowing He will get you exactly where you need to be, precisely on time?  He not only knows the way, He IS The Way!  I pray you will choose to trust him with your journey today!

Love Darilyn

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

What Do Women Really Want?

Young King Arthur was ambushed and imprisoned by the monarch of a neighboring kingdom. The monarch could have killed him but was moved by Arthur's youth and ideals. So, the monarch offered him his freedom, as long as he could answer a very difficult question. Arthur would have a year to figure out the answer and, if after a year, he still had no answer, he would be put to death.

The question?...What do women really want? Such a question would perplex even the most knowledgeable man, and to young Arthur, it seemed an impossible query. But, since it was better than death, he accepted the monarch's proposition to have an answer by year's end.

He returned to his kingdom and began to poll everyone: the princess, the priests, the wise men and even the court jester. He spoke with everyone, but no one could give him a satisfactory answer.

Many people advised him to consult the old witch, for only she would have the answer.  But the price would be high; as the witch was famous throughout the kingdom for the exorbitant prices she charged.  The last day of the year arrived and Arthur had no choice but to talk to the witch. She agreed to answer the question, but he would have to agree to her price first.  The old witch wanted to marry Sir Lancelot, the most noble of the Knights of the Round Table and Arthur's closest friend!


Young Arthur was horrified. She was hunchbacked and hideous, had only one tooth, smelled like sewage, made obscene noises, etc. He had never encountered such a repugnant creature in all his life.  He refused to force his friend to marry her and endure such a terrible burden; but Lancelot, learning of the proposal, spoke with Arthur.

He said nothing was too big of a sacrifice compared to Arthur's life and the preservation of the Round Table.  Hence, a wedding was proclaimed and the witch answered Arthur's question thus:

What a woman really wants, she answered....is to be in charge of her own life. 

Everyone in the kingdom instantly knew that the witch had uttered a great truth and that Arthur's life would be spared.  And so it was, the neighboring monarch granted Arthur his freedom and Lancelot and the witch had a wonderful wedding.

The honeymoon hour approached and Lancelot, steeling himself for a horrific experience, entered the bedroom. But, what a sight awaited him.

The most beautiful woman he had ever seen lay before him on the bed. The astounded Lancelot asked what had happened.

The beauty replied that since he had been so kind to her when she appeared as a witch, she would henceforth, be her horrible deformed self only half the time and the beautiful maiden the other half.

Which would he prefer? Beautiful during the day....or night?

Lancelot pondered the predicament. During the day, a beautiful woman to show off to his friends, but at night, in the privacy of his castle, an old witch? Or, would he prefer having a hideous witch during the day, but by night, a beautiful woman for him to enjoy wondrous intimate moments?

Noble Lancelot said that he would allow HER to make the choice herself. 

Upon hearing this, she announced that she would be beautiful all the time because he had respected her enough to let her be in charge of her own life.

*****

That was a funny story that I received by email.  I would give all due credit to the original writer, but I don't know who it is.  It is a great truth and a great laugh!  I hope you enjoyed it!  In my next post, I will give you my insights to this story!


Love Darilyn