Walking the path

Everyday I wake up and roll out of bed, make coffee, watch the morning news, shower, get ready for work, wake up my husband and then I'm out the door for another day. Each day from Monday through Friday I do the same things. Does it ever seem that the path we walk is not with God? I've written about this before and I knew I would have to write about it again; if nothing for the fact that I am weak. I am, just like you, of the flesh and I must be reminded of my miss-steps, no matter how small. Now..I'm not saying that we must always concentrate on the negative, but we must seek help everyday through the good and the bad, no matter how small those things may be. I am trying to be more consistent with God....to make Him a part of my life in the smallest ways and the biggest ways. To me that means seeking His guidance from everything to balancing the checkbook to driving to the store; to praying for family, world leaders or the neighbors across the street. What I have been convicted of time and time again this week is that my heart has been hardened to those that may be seeking help. And...if my heart has been hardened, what good am I to God. I must be able to let down my walls and soften my heart to God so that I may be a servant to Him, for Him, by Him. It may seem silly to ask this, but if you are reading this would you mind praying for me about this, because it is laying very heavy on my heart today. I am reminded of the fact that I can be so giving and loving towards the people I am familiar with in my life, but when it comes to strangers or acquaintances I seem to freeze up and not allow them to see the "real" me. I know that I am not alone in this..it is sometimes hard to confront the unfamiliar, but if we try...really try...we can overcome with His help and your prayers. I walk the path that is unknown to me because I know that God is there. The more familiar, comfortable path is not the one I want to take any longer. God Bless HB

Busy Busy...

Well... it has been one busy week this week! Josh and I have had a lot to do. Last night was the biggest football game on this campus. The two rival schools (OBU and HSU) played each other in football. We lost 18-0 but that's OK...maybe next year. Today we get ready for a nice weekend, but do you ever get the feeling that you see more of your office or classroom than you do of the people you love the most. It is frustrating at times to know that I stare at my computer screen all day, but I only see my husband for what seems like a brief few moments and then we are off to another class or rehearsal. I know that God honors hard work and he has blessed Josh and I with the ability to work within the same campus and even the same building. However, there are those times when I just wish we didn't have so much on our plate. I guess we must press on and know that no matter where we are or how far away we are from the ones we love, they are really right there in our hearts and it makes the time we do spend with them that much more special. God Bless! HB

Just God

With so much happening in the world today I actually paused this morning to read from Oswald Chambers. Have you ever thought of how "we" tend to be very needy in our lives? It struck me so strong this morning that a lot of what I think about is myself, my family and friends, money, career and not much else lately. I don't always think about God.

What Chambers stated in My Utmost For His Highest was this: I am paraphrasing, but the basic thought was when will you become without lust, be selfless, etc. The only time is when you stop wanting God's blessings and just want God!

I thought about this very thing. I am always praying that God bless our days; that He bless our family and friends, our health, our safety, but I never actually came to the realization that if I just stop and hold tight and just want God, all that I pray for is already there.

I know I am not done with this and there is much that must be thought about, but if you are in need of a blessing or prayer or just need a break, maybe it would help to be still and know that He is God.

God Bless,

HB

Autumn

Well it's that time of year when the air gets nice and crisp and the leaves begin to change colors. I love the Fall and everything that comes with it. The peacefulness of the holiday season begins and of course it is all kicked off by that wonderfully creepy holiday - Halloween.

I remember dressing up for school on the weekend of Halloween and my sister and I would go trick-or-treating. It was great! Then, when we got to be "too old" to beg for candy, we would hand it out to all of the kids that would come by. It was a big deal in our house to put on the scary music and my dad would dress up in an ape mask and run around and scare the poor children, but they loved it!

Somehow as I've gotten older I have become more of a scaredy cat when it comes to the creepy movies and the trick-or treaters, but I still love the weather. Josh tries to get me into the spirit by watching Halloween or some other scary film and I have to admit, my curiosity always gets the best of me and I usually give in. I look forward to this Halloween and especially Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The holidays always represent the chance to see family and maybe that is why they are so special to me - well that and all the food!! HA! Anyway, enjoy the weather and celebrate this season.

God Bless,

HB

Goodbye my sweet girl

As you already know, Josh and I had the privilege of taking care of a sweet little kitten who we named Puff. We only had her for two weeks, but it really felt longer because we came to love her so much.

People ask us why didn't we just keep her, and the truth is I wish we had. Unfortunately our landlords would probably not be happy about us having a pet and Puff would have been pretty expensive, at least initially she would have.

I miss her everyday and Josh and I still have a toy of hers that we decided to keep to remember her. I have always been afraid of cats because of their claws and a lot of them bite, but since getting to know my friend, Adrienne's two cats I have become a pushover for them. When I first saw Puff she could barely open her eyes.

It was a very rainy Monday and her mother and siblings were no where in sight. I remember saying to myself "If I come home from work and she is still here I will try to help her".

I couldn't just let this tiny life stay outside in the rain with what looked like a very bad eye infection. When I got home from work, she was there in the same spot she had been all day. I picked her up in a towel and drove her over the Humane Society, but they were closed. I decided that when Josh came home we would get some food and I put her on a towel on our front porch. She slept on the mat outside of our door and when I walked out in the morning she was there waiting on me like I was her new mom.

I fell in love with her and the next day Josh took her to the Humane Society, but they were at capacity so they gave us a box some litter, and her toy. We kept her outside because she had too many fleas and the Humane Society said she was too young to de-flea. The following day I took her the vet to get her checked out because I was worried she would never be able to see. She did indeed have an eye infection and once the vet got her all cleaned up, he gave me the OK to bring inside.

It was a whole new world for her. At first she was frightened to walk around, but by the time we were getting ready to say goodbye to her, she had learned to climb and she wasn't afraid of anything, except falling off the arm of the chair.

And so I must finally say goodbye to my sweet baby girl. She was my little baby that would come poke her head out of the door and give me a look that said "come play with me", or "I'm hungry".

I will never forget my little baby girl Puff, whose name is now Powder Puff. I know that Josh and I gave her to a nice home and I know that she is happy and healthy. I also know that I couldn't get another kitten for a very long time because it would remind too much of Puff.

It's always hard to say goodbye, even when you know you are doing right by this tiny being.

We love you Puff and we will miss you!

God Bless,

HB

Hello.Goodbye.

Meet Puff. She came into our lives a little over 2 weeks ago. There is a stray cat that makes frequent stops by our house. On her last visit, she decided to leave us with a litter of kittens. I'm on my way out the door one beautiful Monday morning, and I look down to see three little white balls of fur sitting on my steps.

Heather and I decided that if we left them alone, the mom would take care of them and eventually relocate them. That was the case...except for little Puff here. She had a really bad eye infection that crusted over and prevented her from seeing. Well, Heather and I couldn't bear to think of letting a kitten starve (let alone, hear the pathetic mewing outside our front door). Unfortunately, the Humane Society is currently overrun with cats and kittens that are left uncared for by owners. They couldn't take Puff, and recommended that we care for her while waiting for the mom to come back for her. We took her to the Vet and had her treated for fleas and worms and had a nice box for her to keep on our front porch (in case the mom wanted to come back). After a day, we decided to bring her into the house....and effectively into our hearts.

Anyone who knows me can tell you that I'm a dog person. I've grown up with dogs in my house, and have every intention of owning several dogs in the future. In fact, my only real dealings with cats are when I was very young. My parents have pictures of me in the front yard with a stick in my hands trying to teach a cat to roll-over and fetch. Needless to say, I wasn't fond of the idea of owning a cat....at first.

Puff is a very curious and funny kitten. It's been so much fun watching her get healthy and develop into a rambunctious little engine. She loves to attack hands, stuffed animals, shoestrings....you name it - she'll go after it. She'll run full tilt into a wall and then shake it off only to do it again 5 minutes later. I really will miss watching her grow up.

You see - we can't really afford to take care of a pet right now. Also, there are a lot more decisions to be made when owning a cat. Will you have the cat declawed? Are you prepared to cat-proof every wire in your house? I read up on a lot of "issues" with owning cats. To me, declawing a cat is a no-brainer. However, there are a ton of adverse reactions that can occur to such a procedure. I had no idea.

After several days of going back and forth, Heather and I decided to post an advertisemnt on the OBU faculty/student Classifieds. A friend of one of my students had been looking to get a kitten, but didn't want to buy one (seeing as how so many are in need of a home). She seems like a great person who will take care of Puff and make sure she has plenty of things to attack.

If I am this sad at seeing Puff go (after only 2 weeks), I couldn't imagine what it's like to let a child go after 20 years. Well, I take pride in knowing that Puff is alive today b/c of what a generous woman I married. She has a heart bigger than the moon (with a distinct soft spot for all animals.....except cockroaches and camel-crickets).

Still - I will miss coming home to play with little Puff. Heather and I prayed over her before she left our house - that God would watch over her and allow her to live a full life. I really believe God watches over all His creatures.

You can expect to see another post about Puff from Heather. I know she is extremely sad to see her go, but happy that it's to a good home.

And so - hello Puff. Goodbye Puff. Take care, and know that we love you.

JB

Psalm 143

O Lord, hear my prayer,

listen to my cry for mercy;

in your faithfulness and righteousness

come to my relief.

Do not bring your servant into judgement,

for no one living is righteous before you.

The enemy pursues me,

he crushes me to the ground

he makes me dwell in darkness

like those long dead.

So my spirit grows faint within me;

my heart within me is dismayed.

I remember the days of long ago;

I meditate on all your works

and consider what your hands have done.

I spread out my hands to you;

my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.

Answer me quickly, O Lord;

my spirit fails.

Do not hide your face from me

or I will be like those who go down to the pit.

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,

for I have put my trust in you.

Show me the way I should go,

for to you I lift up my soul.

Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord,

for I hide myself in you.

Teach me to do your will,

for you are my God;

may your good Spirit

lead me on level ground.

For you name's sake, O Lord, preserve my life;

in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble,

In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;

destroy all my foes,

for I am your servant.

This is my favorite Psalm. I first read this in college at a time when I needed to hear these words. Is there ever really a time when we don't need to hear these words or any other scripture. At times of despair, worry, even happiness and joy we still need to remember that God has us, always, in His hands. We are His servants, not the world's. We are at His mercy, not at the mercy of our jobs, or money, or any other "thing" that we can easily give ourselves over to. Psalm 143 is my prayer for you and all of those people out there who need comfort.

God Bless all of you and may your day be lifted by Him!

HB