Showing posts with label discuss. Show all posts
Showing posts with label discuss. Show all posts

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Dinner, Discuss, Dessert



Hello ladies. Welcome to the mansion this fine Sunday evening. It's time for dinner, discuss, dessert.

As the movers are due to arrive bright and early in the morning, The Teagues are doing their best to clean out the food in the pantry. We don't want to carry any more than is necessary.


To that end, we have been eating some crazy stuff. This evening we enjoyed Zataran's black eyed peas with rice and chicken. Not bad. We through in some steamed veggies (trying to clean out the fridge too) and everyone was happy.

DESSERT consisted of leftover ice cream from the boys' birthday party yesterday. Ice cream is always a big hit, whether it's day old or not.

Now for DISCUSS... Tomorrow, just about everything we own will be boxed up and loaded into crates and thrown onto a truck. Then, it will be driven over several states to a holding facility. Next, it will be down loaded and put into storage. Finally, it will be reloaded onto a truck and hauled to the new mansion. Our "stuff" will be in the hands of many different people over the next couple of weeks.



This got me to thinking... In the military, we hear horror stories about folks who watch their stuff loaded onto the truck, wave bye to it all, and get a call some days later informing them that their belongings have fallen into the ocean or burned to bits. I have never met these folks, but they are talked of often. What would I do if I received one of those horrible calls? Hmmm.... I can tell you that not so many years ago, I would have lost it....completely. I would have been terribly distraught over the loss of all my precious "stuff." That is "my" stuff. I have worked for it, decorated it, cleaned it, and treasured it.


Last year, we learned that our dear friends, the Banks' had lost their home in a cat. 3 tornado here in Prattville, AL. The Banks family lost just about everything. They lost their "stuff" and their cars. Thankfully, none of them were hurt. They managed to jump into the tub just in the nick of time. I need to tell you all that I never heard these folks complain about their trials, not once. Not about their cars or their clothes, or their furniture, or their pictures, or anything. What a testament to their faith. What a statement of their character. Their example was inspiring to see.

God tells us, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19

As I mentioned earlier, there was a time when I would have been a basket case over the loss of my "stuff." However, something has changed in me. I can't really tell you what or why. I just know that I don't have strong attachments to things now as I once did.

So, I say, "Come...take my stuff...drive away...try not to lose it on the side of the road...but if you do, that's OK too." How do you all feel about your "stuff?" Would you be devastated by its loss? Would you see the situation as a great opportunity to shop for new "stuff?" Would you feel like a weight had been lifted? How attached are you? Do tell...

Have a great week ladies.

Laura







Sunday, May 3, 2009

What State Are You In?

Dinner, Discuss, Dessert


Hello ladies. Welcome to the mansion. I must apologize...I forgot to do dinner, discuss, dessert last Sunday. Do forgive...


Dinner: The Teagues had steak, mashed potatoes, and peas. Yum. I usually add a recipe, but the dinner is pretty self explanatory this Sunday.


Discuss: What "state"are you in? At the current time, I am in the state of Alabama. In three weeks, I will be in the state of Louisiana. I am often in the state of Illinois (Shrine Hospital). I visit the state of Texas several times a year. I also visit the state of utter chaos several times a day. Many days, I am in a state of distress. There have been days when I have been in a state of ruin. What state are you in?


Today, our pastor discussed our "state." Very interesting. He proposed that we were in one of three states...Natural, Carnal, or Spiritual. So...let's look at this a little further and see where we are.


The "Natural" state. In the Greek this means "unrenewed." 1 Cor. 2-14 "The unspiritual self, just as it is by nature, can't receive the gifts of God's Spirit. There's no capacity for them. They seems like so much silliness." So...the natural state would be one in which a person has not received God. This person can't understand the ways of God or the ways of those who know God. This person has not been renewed by the Spirit.


The "Carnal" state. In the Greek this means "wordly." 1 Cor. 3:18-20 "
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Here, the carnal state would be one in which the person is renewed but still living of the world. This person may know God but keeps worldly options open. Straddling the fence, so to speak.



The "Spiritual" state. In the Greek this means "filled with and governed by the Spirit of God ." This person is inhabited by the Spirit. Ephesians 5:8-9 "You groped your way through the murk once, but no longer. You're out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. " The spiritual state would be one in which a person is filled with Christ and does everything within his/her power to live for God. This person seeks the narrow way. This person is continually being filled by God's word. This person is running over with God's love.


So....what state are you in? I would love to say that I am in a continual "spiritual" state. But, that would not be true. I vascilate between carnal and spiritual.


As I move from the state of Alabama to the state of Louisiana, I am also going to strive to move daily from a state of carnal to a state of spiritual.


Dessert: The older Teague kids made chocolate chip cookies. Yum....See????




And that is all ladies. Have a wonderful Sunday evening. I will see you all back here on Tuesday for Trash to Treasure.

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