Drudgery

Grunt work - Menial tasks - Drudgery - Grubby work

What is the most menial task in your list of responsibilities?

• The thing you hate to do but must
• The thing you put off doing until the last possible minute

Click the link below to read how Jesus taught important concepts to his disciples by performing a task usually done by the lowliest servant in a first century Jewish home.

John 13: 1 - 17

Service is love in working clothes

 

Few of us are called to greatness but all of us can perform lowly tasks with humility and a sense of purpose.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ  you are serving." (Colossians 3: 23-24) NIV

(Try applying this verse to the task(s) you consider the most menial.)

The commonplace becomes spiritual if done in the love of God

Grunt work & drudgery become humble and self-less service

The ultimate gift of selfless love came soon after Jesus' foot-washing example: God gave his only child to die on the cross to redeem the sins of mankind.

The ultimate Gift!

God's Serendipities

Often God drops neat little surprises into our lives just to delight us. That's how it was with this story:

Marge's School Store

For forty years or so I've been hearing my husband, Bob, tell of his elementary school escapades. He was raised on the south side of Chicago and attended Kohn Elementary School. Near the school was Marge's School Store--a small business selling milk and bread plus candy and pop. And, oh yes, school supplies. Sort of like a 7-11 without the booze.

As you can imagine, the boys from Kohn Elementary hung out a lot at Marge's. My husband gets a far-away look in his eyes when he relates how they used to go to the little store after school or on weekends, buy candy, and sit on the curb planning their fun. Marge and her husband, Frank, owned the store and lived upstairs in the large two-story house that was both home and business. It's a fond memory from my husband's childhood.

Fast forward forty years. Bob and I owned a Hickory Farms Store in a shopping mall in Phoenix (Metro-Center for you local readers). Don't ask me why. It was a crazy investment idea that lasted less than two years.

One day, I tended the store while Bob worked on the books in the back office. I was helping an older couple from nearby Sun City with their purchase, doing the cheese and sausage thing: "Would you like a sample of .... It's our newest cheese, blah, blah, blah." As we chatted I asked them what Arizona residents ask everyone: "Where are you from?"

"Chicago," they answered.
"Oh, my husband is from Chicago. What part?"
"South side."
"What a coincidence. Bob grew up in Roseland, on the south side."
"Oh my," said the woman. "I lived in Roseland, too."
"Wow. Bob went to Kohn Elementary School."
"I know Kohn. I ran a business near there."
"You know, for years he's gone on and on about some place called Marge's School Store where he went to buy candy and pop."
The woman put her hand to her mouth and gasped loudly. "Oh, my," she said, her voice shaking. "I'm Marge!"

Now I gasped, then ran to the back of the store. "Bob, Bob. Come quick. You won't believe this."

Well, you can imagine the scene. I filled Bob in, introducing him to the one and only Marge, from Marge's School Store. Her husband Frank died years before and she was with her second husband, who moved her from frigid Illinois to Arizona.

We all were stunned. My husband animatedly recalled a part of his childhood, telling Marge's husband about his frequent visits to her store. I was amazed and Marge had tears running down her cheeks. After all those years and thousands of miles, two people re-connected.

As they left, Marge shook her head and said softly, "I always thought no one cared--that I really didn't make a difference."

Oh yes, Marge. There are many grown men, and maybe even some women, who remember Marge's School Store. You helped create childhood memories for all of them. That's delightful.

Welcome to AZ

Snowbirds: we’re glad you selected our state for your winter residencies. While you’re thawing out, consider this:

Diverse cultures make Arizona a great place

Latino

Native-American,

African-American

old-west cowboy influence

Add modern visitors or transplants from Canada and other parts of the U.S., and you have a culturally rich population. Each contributes in food, music, dance, art, and entertainment.

Diverse housing is available in Arizona

unique historical bungalows in the Arcadia District

tiny homes built for tuberculosis patients in the 1920s in Sunyslope

large estates in north central Phoenix

new developments in outlying areas

high rise condos in the growing downtown

sprawling ranches in the desert all across the state

The friendliness of Arizonans draws visitors 

 Ask a question of a stranger, and you most-likely will get a courteous, helpful response. Not so in some large cities in other parts of the country.

• Phoenix is a small large city
• Tucson is even more welcoming
• small towns throughout the state welcome visitors

When my husband and I moved here in 1969, we planned to return to the Midwest in five years. That was 46 years ago.

Arizona is a great place to be!

 

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...

A mirror can be our friend or foe. We all need to check our reflection from time to time to:

• Make sure we're socially presentable
• Make sure we're not harboring some sneaky disease
• Keep track of our weight
• Etc., etc., etc.........

Think back to your junior high and high school days. Remember how much time was spent tracking your development, or lack of, in the mirror? Was it painful? Let's not go there.

As we get older and wiser, we come to the freeing realization our outward appearance means (or should mean) NOTHING. It is what's inside that counts and the sooner we realize that, the happier we become.

The Bible has some words to guide us on this:

"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV)

When we reflect God's glory, we are transformed into his likeness.

"Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." 1 Corinthians 13:12 NIV)

 The image is one of polished metal, perhaps bronze, that reflects a foggy reflection. In time, we will know and understand God completely, as if looking at a sharp, clear image.

These are two magnificent concepts

Reflect God's glory
Come to know and understand God fully

Remember this the next time you're looking critically at yourself in the mirror.
 

Oops!

My day wasn't going well. Everything seemed out of sorts and then it hit me: I had forgotten my usual quiet time in the early morning hours. It is a habit I've developed over the years that has blessed my days immeasurably. But, on this day, I forgot.

It took many years for my time of Bible reading and prayer to become a habit. Now it is as natural as brushing my teeth or combing my hair. As a busy mom, wife, and teacher, I often relegated my communication time with God to, "Whenever I could fit it in."

Finally, about twenty years ago, it clicked that to have a good day, I must give God my attention, first, before anything else. In the last decade of my working years, that time was 5:30 a.m.--not easy since I struggled with mornings.

Once it became an ingrained habit, a holy habit, it was easy to do and greatly missed when I forgot. As was the case on this particular day.

It occurred to me, what if God forgot to do something? Can you imagine him saying:

• "Sorry. I forgot to put the sun up in the sky today."
• "Too bad I won't be doing Spring blossoms this year. You'll have to put up with bare trees and no flowers. And, that green summer grass? Forget it."

God and his creation are so very dependable, even when unusual occurrences happen--like earthquakes and the recent El Nino storms. Not only is creation dependable, but his love is ever-present.

In today's rocky world, it's reassuring to know God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. All he asks of me is to take time to communicate with him. When I forget, I sadden him.

What about you? Do you struggle to establish alone time with God? (We all do, by the way.) What do you do to help make it a priority in your faith walk? Share in the Comments below and perhaps we can learn from one another.

Meanwhile, go talk with God. He's waiting for you.

Mistakes or Inventions?

Years ago, I wanted to win the Pillsbury Bake-off contest. It was a stretch, but I thought it would be neat. For entering, I received 100 recipe cards using crescent rolls. My attempted recipe never got past the entry judges. Sigh.

One of those 100 recipes is called Pecan Breakfast Bread (recipe below). I’m a rule follower so I made it strictly according to directions, or so I thought. It is a tasty quick bread of dough filled with sugar, cinnamon, and pecans. My family loves it.

Many years later, I discovered (how, I don’t know) I was placing the filled and rolled crescent rolls into the loaf pan in the wrong direction. Good news is my way produced a lovely bread with the pinwheel look. It tasted the same but the presentation was much better.

Why all this? Mistakes often turn out to be opportunities or inventions. Think of the famous story of the scientist from 3M who attempted to create an adhesive. It failed and the results are Post-its. I don’t know about you readers, but I would not remember a thing without Post-its. I am glad his glue formula failed.

In the craft of knitting, sometimes it’s acceptable to make a stitch wrong if you do it consistently. I believe that’s how new stitches and patterns sometimes are created.

Isn’t it uplifting to know God takes our mistakes and turns them into opportunities? 

• If we learn from a mistake, it becomes valuable.
• If we create something beautiful, useful, or tasty from our mistakes, that is good.

I once bought a package of erasers and under the logo was this phrase:

“A second chance at perfection.”

That phrase struck me as good theology. God forgives our sins and mistakes and ushers us into heaven (perfection) through belief in Jesus Christ. Wow. All that on an eraser package!

God gave us all the gift of creativity and invention. Sometimes the pathway to great discoveries is filled with many mistakes. Take heart the next time you mess up. Perhaps God is leading you toward a heavenly invention.

What about you? What are some "mistakes turned into good things" from your life? Share in the Comments section.

PECAN BREAKFAST BREAD

2 cans Pillsbury Ref. Crescent Rolls

2 T. butter, softened

½ C. sugar

¼ C. chopped pecans

2 t. cinnamon

            Separate crescent dough into 16 triangles.  Spread ea. w/ butter.  Combine sugar, pecans, & cinnamon; sprinkle over triangles.  Roll up ea. triangle, starting at wide end & rolling to opposite point.  Place rolls, point side down, in greased 9x5” loaf pan, forming 2 layers of 8 rolls each.  (Place rolls lengthwise in pan.)

            Bake at 375° for 35 – 40 min. or ‘til golden brown & center is done.  Remove from pan at once; place right side up & drizzle w/ Topping or powdered sugar glaze.

Topping:

¼ C. powdered sugar                2 T. honey

2 T. butter                                 1 t. vanilla

¼ C. pecan halves

In sauce pan, combine all ingred. except pecans.  Bring to boil, stirring constantly.  Stir in pecans.  Cool slightly.

Free Reading!

As a special treat today, I am linking you to a FREE sampler of writing from fourteen different writers in the Phoenix area. These are authors I worked with recently at the Phoenix Festival of the Arts at Margaret T. Hance Park.

Click on the link below and you will be treated to ten sample pages from 14 different books. There is something for adults, children, and young adults. There is fiction and nonfiction.

This is a great chance for readers to sample books without having to purchase them. I bet you didn't know you had so many writers in the Phoenix community.

So, grab a cup of coffee, tea, or whatever suits you. Take a break and enjoy some free reading about many different topics.

Disclaimer: the opinions of the authors are their own and not necessarily endorsed by this blog writer.

Good news is you don't have to download anything. Just click and read!

FREE SAMPLER

Phoenix Festival of the Arts

December 11-13, 2016

A beautiful weekend with only a few hours of rain.

Patrick Hodges and Michael Ajax                 

Laura Orsini and Rita Goldner

Sue trying to mop up in the rain