She mentioned, "My employee just resigned. Makes me wonder if it were an inside job." Disturbing, at best. I took her hand, and walked her to the door. She needs peace, strength and wisdom - all in spades - about now. I may have to bring by some of Sue Allan's Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies this week - not part of Pottery Barn's services, but definitely part of mine.

Who do you know who may have experienced an "inside job" recently? People hurt, and the inside hurt is the worst kind.

Today you may get a chance to engage in the stress and sorrow of another. Are you up to it? Only by God's grace. Stay dialed into His strength so you can be strength to another.

Jesus was called a "man of sorrows" and we share in His suffering when a friend or stranger comes our way needing a compassionate ear. Keep your antennae up, your eyes open, and cookie dough at the ready. Ribbon is always nice, too.

~ Stop wasting time and learn a new language in just 10 days with the Pimsleur Approach. ~

Did you get this ad? I need Pimsleur. I'm terrible at learning new languages. We're a melting pot and people love to hear their heart language. Ten days? That is breaking news.

Here's more breaking news: "Forgiveness is the language of heaven." (Rebecca Nichols)

True. Without God's forgiveness, we wouldn't be in heaven--speaking or anything else.

To get ready for heaven, I need to practice language learning everyday. Some days I get more practice than others...

Paul wrote: "Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. (Colossians 3:13- Phillips)

The Pimsleur Approach is right about one thing: "Stop wasting time..."  It's a waste of time to hold a grudge. Forgiving as Christ forgives me may take me more than 10 days, but practice makes perfect - which suits heaven, and makes earth more heavenly.

Anyone need to start the Heavenly Approach today? I'll join you. When I remember Christ's forgiveness, I may cut it down to 10 minutes or 10 seconds.

"Lord in Heaven, thanking You for moment-by-moment forgiveness. Amen."

Think about the last time you hurt someone. Like it or not, it likely came from some hurt of your own. You know--you're feeling puny, and the next person walking by gets sideswiped--by you. I know I do this. Makes me feel small.

What if you're on the receiving end of a left hook? If that puncher is deeply hurt, you may never get out of his sites til he's on the way to healing. You have a choice. Leave or engage. Most of all, pray they meet the Healer.

Jesus invites us daily:

"Come all you who are weary and heavy-laden (hurt) and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) Rest from hurt, rest from hurting. He covers it all.

Tozer said, "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us."

Today I heard of a young girl who "basically decided not to believe in God anymore." Her faith has flown. Pray it returns. It's a gift, you know. Sometimes we don't accept a good gift - especially at 15.

We need to grow our faith - not to become super-women leaping tall buildings, helping diminish world hunger, all while making 3 balanced meals a day, swimming 40 laps, and smiling sweetly when blamed for the track outfit not being washed in time for the track meet even tho it’s been under the bed for two weeks. . .

Nope. Our faith needs to deepen so we please God and follow His plan -- always the best one.

We're chosen to live by faith. We may feel like the fellow in Fiddler on the Roof – “Lord, I know we’re a chosen people – but could you choose someone else for a change?”

Hebrews 11:6 states:  “For without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”

The Phillips translation says it this way:  “The man who approaches God must have faith in two things--first that God exists, and secondly that it is worth a man’s while to try to find God.”

A good two-step prayer for those you love who aren’t believers:  Pray they believe God exists; then pray they figure out it’s worth their while to find Him. I'll start now for that young one who doesn't know what she's missing. I've been 15. You, too, I imagine.

--Jean Inglelow, b. 1820 d. 1897

He replied: "Oh, so we have you to thank for it!"

"Well, no. We can thank the Lord for it."

Not missing a beat, he said, "Well, somebody has to lobby for it!"   Funny.

What have you been lobbying the gates of heaven for lately?  Here's some on my list:

*Lord, may Mom come home soon from the rehab center. She needs Dad and vice-versa.

*Lord, guide our country - who knows who should lead nowadays? Only You.

*Lord, eradicate Jan's cancer, and give joy and strength in the meantime. She's needed here.

*Lord, help me get on some exercise regima (that's in the miracle category, along with rain for CA.)

*Lord, draw our girls ever closer to Yourself.

*Lord, bring our India team home safely and may their lives be changed forever.

*And, Lord, we could use some rain.

 Lobbying for God and His kingdom today - how about you?

"Pray (lobby) without ceasing." I Thessalonians 5:17

"...pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live." The Message I Thess. 5:17

Guacamole

3-4 ripe avocados - using a paring knife or Pampered Chef avocado knife - yes, they do have one and it's wonderful! - peel and pit and place in small bowl. The PC knife glides right inside the skin to get out all that yummy "flesh."

Mash with a Pampered Chef pastry blender (no, I don't sell PC, but I do enjoy it!)

Add in some garlic powder and garlic salt to taste (keep tasting...) and 1 t. lemon juice.

Serve with chips. Turn on TV or read a book.

Last night I made Lisa's mom's Frijoles to be all ready for Sunday. Sooo delicious! See Search button on your right and get out those pinto beans. Easy as pie - easier, actually. I'll bake them and add cheese right before the game and maybe fry up some tortillas for tacos, beans and guacamole. Super Bowl Sunday California style. Enjoy!

"How in the world are you, Sammye Ann?"

"I'm blessed beyond measure!" she replied with her sweet Texas drawl.

Wow. There's an answer for you. Sammye Ann is an RN working with the mentally ill. She just got a new job with the local junior college mentoring student nurses. She said, "Can you imagine someone still wanting me at age 74?" Well, yes, I can imagine just that. They will be blessed beyond measure, and maybe won't know what hit them. The Holy Spirit is alive and well, and a bit of sunshine hits our store whenever Sammye Ann walks in.

By the way, how in the world are you?

Now, I'm a mother. Have been for years. More difficult to dish the advice when the kids are older. (Poor mom...poor me...)

Today Molly dished out some advice - I think I asked for it. I loved it. I'll pass it on (I know. You didn't ask. You can stop now.)

She said her father told her, "When giving unasked-for-advice, it's always good to start with: 'I know you can do what you want, but you may want to think about...'"

True. They will do what they want. May as well skip the hackles by giving permission in advance. I practiced today: "I know you will do what you think is best, but one thing you might think about is..."

Haven't heard back. Hopefully hackles are receding.

Solomon, the wise, wrote: "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." or "Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances." or "Timely advice is like golden apples in a silver basket." (Proverbs 28:11)

How do you like those apples? Gold is always nice. A silver basket's not bad, either.