What is it That God Wants Me To Know and Do This Lent?

What is it that God wants me to know and do this Lent? 

All of this has come to me, through the Holy Spirit, as I am studying the gospels, the Psalms, reading, praying and meditating. God speaks to me.

I have poured out my sins. That's easy for me. I pour them out over and over and over. Sins from 39 years ago. Sins from a decade ago. Sins from yesterday. Again and again and again. Well, that's my problem. 

Now some may say, "You don't seem the type. You seem so confident." Well, the fact of the matter is, sometimes the ones who appear so confident are in reality the ones who have little self-esteem. No. My parents didn't make me this way. I was geared this way from the get-go. If you lived in my head, you would understand why I write this post. But, hopefully, if you continue to read this, you may have a glimpse of understanding about why I write what I write. And I hope it may help You in some way.

I do know my immortality. I have seen many of all ages go before me throughout my lifetime. I realize that each moment is precious. That's why I've decided to scrape my pennies together and hire people to paint my home, add trim, fix the dents in the walls, you get the picture. I'd rather sew and cook and bake and give it all away than to mow and trim and weed-eat. I'm on the downhill stretch of my life, and that's freaky and a big reality check here. I want to do what I love and do it with passion, all for my Lord.

I could give something up. Sure I could. I have some bad habits, but they're really not that bad. Seriously. I don't overeat. I don't overdrink. I don't intentionally hurt myself or others. I apologize when I'm wrong. One soda every couple of days is not that bad. A glass of wine about the same amount of times is not that bad. After all, I have been beating myself up about the pop I drink, only to do my own research on the FDA website to find that to really do me damage, I would need to drink 17 pops per day. Enough of beating myself up.

I could take something on. Sure I could. But, I do have good habits. I have a giving career. I've been told I work hard, all with a smile on my face. I pride myself in saying that I give 110% in my work. I make an effort to be a good friend and family member, by calling and visiting and writing. I make presents for my family throughout the year. I give to my church family by being in the praise team. I read good stuff and the Bible. I journal. I pray. I meditate. I feel that I am well-rounded when it comes to giving of myself. I have a balance when it comes to taking on something new. I feel I am full when it comes to that.

The darkness tries to talk me down...
tell me I am not perfect enough...
not beautiful enough...
not healthy enough...
not sexy enough...
not young enough...
not smart enough...
So I keep trying harder and harder and harder to be...
loved...
admired...
desired...
cherished...
beautiful...
perfect...

So, maybe, for a person who is told, "You are way too hard on yourself. You are one of the best people I've ever known"...and
So, maybe, for a person knowing that my character flaws are:
severe self-condemnation
severe self-judgment and
severe self-perfection...
Maybe, just maybe I should take on this for Lent:

Maybe, just maybe I should take on not trying so hard for Lent.
Maybe, just maybe I should take on being kind and loving to myself for Lent.
What if I should take on for Lent...
giving myself manicures
giving myself pedicures
taking bubble baths
getting a massage once in a while
getting in my hot tub a couple times a week
not checking off list items
buying that car stereo receiver I have been wanting
fixing my hair how I like it and not feeling like it's wrong to be prissy
actually buying myself a pretty Valentine top or outfit to wear to church

It sounds "just wrong". It sounds so selfish. It sounds so "off", for what we do for Lent, for what I do for Lent. But, actually, I do believe that my Jesus wants me to love myself first and foremost. He is so loving, and he loves the unlovable. He is so kind, and he loves the unkind. He is so peaceful, and he loves the disturbed. He is so beautiful, and he loves the ones who don't feel so beautiful. Because, you see, He Loves Me. I AM a temple of God. I AM formed and fearfully and beautifully made in his image. I do believe that my God and my Jesus love me that much...so much that they Want me to take on trying less and loving myself more.

Sincerely and humbly from the heart and spirit,
Suzie

 

Do Not Worry

I can't say it better myself. Better than Jesus' words. Jesus guided us in Matthew 6:25-27. He said, "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, about your body, what you will wear.

Isn't life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" 

Jesus goes on to say, (Matthew 6: 28-30) "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow.

They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you---you of little faith?"

Jesus teaches me in verse 31, "So do not worry, saying, 'What should I eat?' or 'What should I drink?' or 'What should I wear?'   

Jesus teaches on, (Matthew 6: 33-34) "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. And all these things will be given unto you. So, don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough worries of its own."

God is so good! Look at the beauty He gave us! Look at how he clothes His creation! Look at the wondrous teachings He sent to us in His Son Jesus Christ! God truly wants us to be still, do not worry, give thanks and praises always! 

How I Study, Pray and Meditate

John Wesley didn't plan to start a new church (that spread across the globe). John Wesley didn't say, "Hey, brother Charles, let's break off and start our own church." John Wesley and his brother just loved Jesus and their fellow man. That's what I so admire about the Wesleys. Their "methodical" ways, of worshiping and singing every morning started a movement. My journey on studying the man who also loved my Savior Jesus Christ will only make me closer to Jesus.

But what I do know so far, of John Wesley, I have learned in a few library books, and mainly the book I just studied over the Lenten season, called "A Disciple's Path ~ Deepening your Relationship with Christ and the Church" by James A. Harnish with Justin LaRosa. This is a daily workbook that I used throughout Lent and now beyond.  Whether you're Methodist or not, the lessons learned are so important for me and hopefully you, if you are searching for a great way to study and serve.

Bill W. didn't plan to start a movement (that spread across the globe) with his 12 steps to alcohol recovery. He just found that the 12 simple steps as suggested recovery Worked! If we ask for God's help with complete abandon. Yes, the 12 steps are a very deeply meaningful and spiritual program for walking closer to God, and living the best life possible, and a very Biblically related program, as I have discovered.

So, after using these two resources,  for which I am very grateful, I have come up with a way to live God's way and study scripture that works for me, and maybe will work for you! After all these years, I not only have the scripture in my mind, memorized, but I have found a way to decipher the Word, chew it up and get all of the nutrition, that God has for me, out of it.  God definitely speaks to me through this process. My Higher Power lets me know what it is that He would have me know, as long as I open my mind, wait a bit on Him and let Him in.

I am thankful to my church, First United Methodist Church and its leadership (Reverend Blaine Scott and Reverend Laura Cartwright) for offering this book for a Lenten Study. I am thankful to Bill W. and Dr. Bob who founded AA in 1935.

These LIFE steps and STUDY steps have changed my life for good and for the good of my soul.

IN THE MORNING, either while still in bed or as I am rising, I begin with a prayer, any prayer. I like to say, "Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for this day and the blessings you have given me.  Take care of me and guide me. Help me to be of maximum service to you and others. Help me to be patient, loving, tolerant and kind. Please reveal to me what you would have me know and do. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen."

So, this is what I have discovered and how I study the Bible, or really any other inspirational quote, AND stay focused on God, and end my day with God too.

First, I need a Bible, a journal, a pencil, a highlighter and some quiet time.  I decide on the scripture somehow. I have many verses (that I plan on studying) written down on the top left side in my journal, separated by a couple of pages, marked with a penciled rectangle around the passage.

(example) JAMES 1:2-8

At the top right of my paper, I write:

PRAY

READ

WRITE

VOCALIZE

ILLUMINATE

CONTEMPLATE

PRAY

ACT

When I begin my Bible study, this is what I do.

1. PRAY. "Lord, open my mind and my heart to your Word and your Message for me today. Please reveal what you would have me know and do. In Jesus' name we pray."

2. READ. Whatever the scripture, however long. Read it.

(NIV) 2 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do."

3. WRITE. Write down the entire passage, or the verse or phrase that speaks to you. Okay, now, this is a LOADED passage. There are so many things that jump out at me.  So, today, I have decided to write phrases in various verses and add the dot dot dot... :) in-between. This is what I have chosen to write:

"Consider it pure joy...whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God...But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt..."

4. VOCALIZE. Read aloud the passage you have chosen. Read it slowly and deliberately. Read it again. Listen to God as He speaks through your vocalized words.

5. ILLUMINATE. From the passage, pick the phrase.

Okay, what I heard when I read this passage twice, is this:  Consider it pure joy, your trials. The testing of your faith produces perseverance, which will help you be mature and complete. If you are lacking wisdom, ask God for wisdom. But when you ask, BELIEVE and not doubt.

6. CONTEMPLATE. What is God trying to tell me? What is my lesson in this? What is God wanting me to do? What does this mean?

Joy. Well, I am not always the most joyous person. I am the type to "Fake it until you make it." I put on a happy face, sometimes, even when I don't feel like it.  But, God WANTS me to have JOY! Even in tribulations! Joy in tribulations? Wow! That's big for me. Well, even if I don't want to be joyful, there are so many scriptures that basically command me to "make a joyful noise, be joyful, the joy of the Lord is my strength, have joy, consider it pure joy, joy to the world", and the list goes on and on. So, even if I, as a human and sinner, can't be full of joy for myself, God wants me to do this. And, I don't mind following God, so I guess I will try to be joyful for and to the Lord. Yes, I can do that. Yes, I can.

Persevere. Well, of all days to be savoring this scripture! That was one of my daddy's favorite words. Yes, the U. S. Marine, the coach, the middle school science teacher, taught his two girls to "Persevere! Endure!" He would run us down to the school concrete slab in the summer, a mini-boot camp of sorts...Myers Boot Camp. He would have us do push-ups, pull-ups, and more. So, Daddy was helping us to be "mature, complete and not lacking anything", yes he was! Perseverance brings maturity, completeness and wisdom.

Staff Sergeant Charles Myers in the South Pacific, WWII

Is my dad in waders? Is he tying a fly?
He did love to fish, so I think that is what he is doing.

Ask. Yes, God wants us to ask for wisdom. So...ask!!!

Believe. And, God wants us to Believe! God wants me to and tells me to ASK and BELIEVE! 

Four words for today: JOY, PERSEVERE, ASK, BELIEVE

Like I said, this is a loaded passage; so much covered in really only 5 verses.

8. PRAY. I write this down and pray this prayer for today's reading: "Dear God, I thank you for your word. God, thank you for your lesson about joy. Lord, help me to carry your joy in my heart and soul in all I do. Help me to have joy even when I am persevering through a tough time, oh God. God, I am asking for joy, perseverance and wisdom for your will, believing that you will fulfill these in me. I am thankful for your promises God. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen."

When I am finished following these steps, I REALLY feel as if I know the scripture passage, and I know what God is trying to tell me.  It seems so simple, even though it takes a bit of time. The scripture and the lessons it has for me seem to be real and alive and meaningful.  I think and believe, after processing the Word in this way, that I will always know that God wants me to be joyful. God wants me to persevere through hard times. My Lord wants me to ask for what I need and believe that it will be!

9. ACT. AT NIGHT, I ask myself, "Have I been dishonest, afraid, resentful or selfish?" If I have been any of those things, I ask God to forgive me. I ask what I can do differently tomorrow to be of maximum service to God and others. I pray, "Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for this day and the blessings you have given me. Please help me to sleep well so that tomorrow I can continue in your service. Lord, forgive me for being dishonest, afraid, resentful and selfish (if I have done any of these things). Help me to apologize to those that I have harmed. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen." During the next day, I will act on the scripture, and on the poor behaviors, by apologizing if needed. I will try to live out the scriptures, by being joyful, persevering, asking and believing!

I hope this may help you and bless you, if you are searching for a way to study and live. <3 p="">
This blog post is dedicated to my father, Charles Robert Myers (January 21, 1921 ~ March 4, 1975), who taught me to persevere, endure, and always strive to be the best I can be.

Aunt Speedy had my dad take these pictures when he was about 21 years old.
She loved her little brother so very much.

2012 Colorado Ambassadors of Music

My teens were honored by being chosen by their respective band directors, to travel to Europe with other high school musicians. So begins my writings of the adventures in Europe, from my point of view that is! :) We added on the Greece extended tour, making our total travel time 20 wonderful days throughout Europe, with the young people playing and singing for the locals in 5 countries. Yes, THIS, the music, was the difference between Any of the other travel offers that the kids were invited on.

The travel group (Vouyagers International) was very organized, even if it didn't always feel that way. Their organization would be revealed daily, as we traveled by plane, bus, boat and taxi. We were the Brown bus. We nicknamed our bus the "Mocha Coach". There were a few students from the Front Range (Denver area), but the majority of kids were from the Western Slope (Grand Junction, Ridgway, Delta, Montrose).

**Travel Tips: You can never take too many pictures. Take pictures of the hotel rooms, the food, the hotel lobby, etc. Bring plenty of SD cards and photo storage capabilities. Charge your cameras every night. Take notes, right into your phone if you want to, but take notes nonetheless.

We had some "hurry up and wait" events. I guess when you have 350 people all going the same direction, yet staggered as we went, it's not surprising. And HEAVEN FORBID I would be the one to make the group wait, or miss something wonderful. So sometimes I would sit (for instance, on the Venice Plaza) and wait and watch, rather than get lost in the little alley ways!

But, actually, the phrase for the tour would more likely be, "Hit the ground running" !! And, the minute we got off the plane, waited a bit for our coach, and embarked, it wasn't long before we were touring Windsor!

The flag was up, which means the Queen was in residence! She was there for horse races. This place was royal, majestic, historical and seemed to be far back in time. I had a "pie", which is like a chicken pot pie folded over, like a calzone with American chicken pot pie inside. It was pretty good. Too bad no pix of it.

From there it was on to our hotel for roommate assignments (we did that en route to the destination), a quick shower, dinner and a nighttime walking tour of London! It was awesome! The info we learned on the trip was mind-boggling and brain overloading. Amazing!

The Greece Extended Group ~ We traveled by plane everywhere together

The kids entertained themselves on our waits, by playing cards, drumming, singing and playing guitar.

Silly kids on the trans-continental plane!

At Windsor Castle

Alex and Philip

The Queen was in residence, Dah-ling! The flag is flying!

Add caption

The Mocha Coach!

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

The "Wibbly Wobbly Bridge", the Millenium Bridge

Delicious Zucchini Muffins

So much for my "Muffin Mondays"...I'm glad I'm back here blogging and pinning and "You-tubing", because then I am reminded of my wonderful plans for posting recipes, letting you all listen to the kids' Europe tour, showing you about our life in pictures and posts, etc.

Well, anyway, here is one of my favorite muffin recipes; and again, THE KIDS LIKE THEM!!! :) Enjoy!

1 c. sugar                                          1 c. brown sugar                        
3 eggs                                               2 c. grated zucchini (seeds removed)
1 c. canola oil                                   1 ts. vanilla
3 c. flour                                           1 ts. soda
1 Tbs. cinnamon                               1 ts. salt
1/4 ts. baking powder                       1/2 c. chopped nuts (optional)

Cream together sugars, oil, eggs, and vanilla.  Next add zucchini. In a separate bowl, mix flour, soda, cinnamon, salt, baking powder with a fork. Add dry ingredients to zucchini mixture, mixing slowly or by hand. Mix until flour is blended. Pour into greased and floured bread pans or muffin tins. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 1 hour for loaves, or 25-30 minutes for muffins.

I hope you like these!

Easy Peach Cobbler

I have enjoyed tweaking this Peach Cobbler to make it  my own, with some experimenting over the years.  The best part of this recipe for this mom, is that her son Philip actually liked it!  I hope you enjoy too!

As usual, I am a day late and a dollar short; peach season is over. But, hopefully you will get to try it next season!  Enjoy!

Easy Peach Cobbler by Suzie's Corner

1/4 cup butter
4 cups peeled, sliced peaches
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tbs. + 2/3 cup biscuit mix (my recipe forthcoming!)
1/2 ts. ground cinnamon
2 Tbs. brown sugar
2 Tbs. milk

In 1-quart shallow baking dish, combine peaches, sugar, 1 Tbs. biscuit mix and cinnamon.  In medium bowl, mix remaining 2/3 cup baking mix with brown sugar. Cut in butter until mixture is the size of small peas. Stir in milk until moistened; drop by spoonfuls onto peaches.  Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted into crust comes out clean. Let stand 5 minutes. If you want to double it, use a 9 X 13 pan.

Nominated!!!

Over the years, my children, as with many children, have gotten the invitations, etc. to go on some really cool trips with school organizations.  You know, Italy, France, Costa Rica, Washington, D.C. We have read the emails, gone to the informational meetings, all that good stuff. We gag and cough as we leave the places, as we are shocked to hear the prices of these adventures.

Well, about a year ago, in the spring of 2011, BOTH, I repeat, BOTH kiddos were nominated by their two respective band directors for a trip. Not just any trip. But, I daresay, the trip of a lifetime. Colorado Ambassadors of Music trip to 7 countries in Europe, with an add-on trip of a Greek Island Cruise.  WOW! NOMINATED! Because of their responsibility, ability and character. Oh, yeah, this is one proud mama. It seemed like destiny, to have both of our kids nominated by two different directors, for the same trip. Destiny...

So, yes, we did go to the informational meeting, readying ourselves to faint or cough from the price. Yes, we did both! :) But, to have the experience to go to Europe, visit 7 countries, play American music in every country for the locals, BE ambassadors for our country all over the land, get encore requests from the same locals, for their favorite, "Stars and Stripes Forever", as the director explained, well, can we pass this up? A DEFINITE NO! We cannot pass this up.

So, I began to find every bit of savings, annuity,  and 401K loans, and enlisted family and friends' help (by 'sponsoring' my teens' trip to Europe) and scraping it all together to get them there. And, well, I AM a teacher, who has summers off, so I decided to tag along. Not as a chaperone, as a paying adult.

So, I guess you could say that Scott and I are giving our kids the trip that my mother (and my father's savings - even though he was gone to Heaven at the time) gave my sister and me, when Mom and the two of us girls took off to Europe one summer during our high school and college years back in 1978.

This is the French straw hat that
I HAD to have while in
the French countryside!

The Notre Dame Cathedral

The Italian Coliseum in Rome

At the Moulin Rouge in Paris: Suzie, Franco Fontana
(our Italian tour guide who spoke 4 languages),
Mama Johnnie Myers, Roberta ~ Summer 1978

My shot of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
back in the summer of '78.

So, it seemed like a LONG time away, as we left the meeting, and began filling out all kinds of paperwork, receiving newsletters, calling and asking questions for clarification, etc. But, it's unbelievable that the Excellent European Experience is upon us in a few short weeks. Yes! That's right! A few short weeks! We leave from Denver International Airport on June 21, 2012!!!! I am so excited, scared, full of anticipation and trepidation, thrilled for my kids and myself, nervous to be a world traveler again after really so many years, proud, and I'm sure I will think of some more adjectives as we roll along with the adventure.

But, for now, we are wrapping up our preparations; passports - check; emergency paperwork - check; trip paid in full - check; super fun "spinny" luggage - check; extra fuel charges from several places :( - check; uniforms purchased - check; tickets for a London musical!!!! - check.

Still to go? Blow dryer and various other assorted electronics converters and adapters. I'm still confused on this. Gotta do some research at Radio Shack! Neck holders for our passports... British pounds...Swiss Francs...European Euros...wardrobe assessment...music practices for the teens...rehearsal weekend preparations and reservations. Well, as you can see, there are a thousand things finished and a thousand thing to go, to get ready for the Big Bash.

So, just so you know, my best laid plans for the trip is that I will update you through my Suzie's Corner WEBlog while we are in Europe. I plan to post videos to Youtube.com/suziescorner  (and link those to my blog and to my Facebook account) so that you can experience this adventure with us. It should be pretty painless for you. It may be that my super-ambitious plan such as this will go by the wayside, but I surely will try. And, if by chance it doesn't happen when we are in Europe, you can bet that I will send lots of pictures and videos your way upon return.

So, for now, I will be signing off on the first installment of our Excellent European Experience!

Ciao, baby!

Grace is the first one on the edge playing
her flute.

Philip is the second from the left playing snare.