The highlights of life often come as a result of our darkest moments.
Tammy Sheehy Muecke at 9:14am May 20
I hope thats true
Tina Marie Vance-Crnic at 9:25am May 20
Awesome.....I used it again! Needed that this week....month....hmmmm.....year!!!! Thanks Stacey!
Sheila Estelle at 9:52am May 20
Woa.... that is a deep thought. It may take me some time to think about it! :)
Sheila Estelle at 9:54am May 20
I have actually seen this played out in my life recently.Thanks for sharing this truth.~ Sheila Estelle
Stacey Friedlein at 10:34am May 20
Tina, You are welcome. Glad I could help.
Jen Hester at 11:04am May 20
Living that theory right now :)
Tina Marie Vance-Crnic at 11:10am May 20
So am I ....Jen....except the highlights have yet to come!
Sheila Estelle at 1:06pm May 20
Hang in there, Tina. The highlights will come with time. :)
The thorn in your butt may have your own hand attached to it.
Traci Robbins Autry at 7:07am May 19
Good one!!
Fear can either act as a pulverizor or a great motivator. Either we become dust or knock off the dust and move forward.
Leslie Shay Portrait at 8:09am May 18
Preach it to me Stacey! I need it today.
Mark Rose at 9:30am May 18
"the only thing we have to fear is fear itself"~FDR
Fred Hinegardner at 11:01am May 18
Keep climbing or get stepped on
World peace is a great concept but will never happen until we each reconcile peace within our souls.
Linda Susan Castle at 7:52am May 17
this makes sense
Fred Hinegardner at 11:02am May 17
...and then we'd have to find new ways to thin the herd and new rules for achieving survival of the fittest. Hope we don't find a new Stalin and a new Hitler for those tasks. Could be fun, though, given the right committee. As for me, I don't work well on committees.
Linda Susan Castle at 5:03pm May 17
me either
There is no greater joy than celebrating the success of a child.
Peggy Morsch at 9:01am May 16
Behind every successful child is someone who has been an example. Way to go Dad!
If you are living for the weekend you are missing a lot of living.
Shelly Ivy at 11:42am May 15
nice!
Shannon Wright at 5:47am May 16
so right, i used to have a job where i could not wait for the weekend to come. Now that i am doing something i love, i hardly even know what day it is most of the time. weekend or weekday it doesn't matter:)
Linda Susan Castle at 7:54am May 17
this is sooo true
In faith we find hope, in hope we find love, in love we find life.
Fred Hinegardner at 11:53am May 14
oh...okay
Show 4 more comments...
Stacey Friedlein at 2:21pm May 14
Ah, but when words are used to motivate action then they are no longer empty rhetoric but become fuel for the hungry and they feast.
Fred Hinegardner at 3:11pm May 14
...and they learn to feast on Twinkies and Diet Coke, which are equally popular, and will reward the giver with accolades, that they will give more that they still crave.
Thought for the day. In faith we find hope, in hope we find love, in love we find life.
Sandy Weeks Key at 9:05am May 14
Thanks Stacey. Great reminder.
Fred Hinegardner at 10:12am May 14
Thanks, Stacy - because of you, I just found my best pair of pliers in Rita's hope chest. Been looking for them for two years. Love ya, man.
Stacey Friedlein at 11:19am May 14
Fred, I am glad to hear it. I guess sometimes in hope we find our pliers.
As pointed out by my friend Fred. When expressing an idea, sometimes the power of the club is mightier than the power of the pen. So using this approach...Thought from yesterday. Nobody owes you a damn thing. Use what you have and make it work.
Trish Barthorpe at 7:29am May 13
couldnt' agree more.
Fred Hinegardner at 9:31am May 13
wow
Nellie Guerrero at 3:10pm May 13 via Facebook Mobile
wow I tell our students at middle school that ALL THE TIME! :-)
Jay Be at 6:34pm May 13
Thought for the day. The only entitlements we have are the gifts from God. Everything else we must earn.
Mark Rose at 7:06am May 12
What do we have that isn't a gift from God?
Kendra Johnson Stoltz at 7:17am May 12
♥
Stacey Friedlein at 7:45am May 12
Mark, It is my point. God gives us all we need. It is when we believe we are owed more that we fall short of his gifts.
Fred Hinegardner at 9:55am May 12
I know people who literally sit and wait for God to provide."God will provide," they say. "The preacher told me so this morning."I know you mean well. At least you added in your original update that some things need to be earned. Many don't even add that.
Stacey Friedlein at 10:14am May 12
Fred, What I was subtlety getting at is pointing out we are owed nothing by anyone. The whole sense of entitlement by people in the workplace, in the marketplace, in government and in the welfare lines makes me crazy.
Fred Hinegardner at 2:08pm May 12
I totally agree. And you said it SO WELL this time! The flowery speech stuff is wrapped up in pillows, so the message that SHOULD slap someone up side the head gets too muffled. They get to feel good from the nice-sounding words. They get to pass the responsibility buck off onto God. All this and it's free. They don't even have to buy drugs to feel good. Plus it has the added benefit of self-righteous sanctimony. Can't go wrong with lovely sounding sentiments - especially on FB
Mom.
Curtis Null at 6:26am May 10
Well said!
Fred Hinegardner at 12:25pm May 10
Your best one yet.
Thank your mom for her unconditional love and for not killing you when you were driving her crazy as a teenager.
Jessica Padgett Bell at 10:03am May 9
I need to show this to my currently 13-year-old... :p
Jay Be at 4:51pm May 9
hehehe...if only my 4 kids know how they drive me up the wall!^^came very very close a few times to committing mass murder...
The love of a mother is the closest we can experience the love of God. Accepting us with all our faults and failures, rejoicing in our triumphs and happiness, without need for reason or approval. God lives in the love a mother.
Mark Rose at 8:10pm May 8
God loves us like the Sun loves the Earth, Giving everything including life itself, and never asking for anything in return.
Laura McNeely at 8:43pm May 8
Oh, Thank God! If heaven is like getting along with my mother.....I'm in good shape!BTW, let me publically say 'thank you, mom. you're So-oooo awesome....thank you!'(I'm sure that doesn't cover it...but that's the point, right? A love deeper than our words have found meaning to express.... an awesome thought in itself...)
Kelly Munce at 7:01am May 8
is that pre teenage hood?.. or after they have left home? hehe
Stacey Friedlein at 7:08am May 8
I guess mom's always have the ability to inflict the wrath of God on their kids. In a loving, accepting way of course. :)
Jessica Padgett Bell at 7:58am May 8
I needed this today Stacey... thanks. :)
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
An anxious day
Today is a day of great anxiety. In a couple of hours I will no longer be a home owner for the first time since I was twenty years old. We are closing on the sale of our home. Coupled with my impending divorce and and the current economy it is an anxious time.
With the relief of the sale comes some uncertainty about our individual futures. For me the uncertainty is an uneasy feeling of not being settled. There are still so many things to find resolve in my life. Completing the divorce is next and I hope it can go smoothly and we can both move on in positive directions.
Beyond that and a very clear understanding that all of this is in the hands of God my future is not as clear. As I prepare to leave on an eight week teaching tour I am not sure where I will be living when I return. My landlord has given me the opportunity to stay where I am but I am not sure it will be the best decision for me.
The next couple of weeks are filled with a tremendous amount of work as I prepare to leave. There are so many details to be finished; course preparation, packing (not only myself but my office and all of my teaching materials). Working with my program hosts to be sure they have all the information they need to promote the classes and the detail parade marches on.
I remind myself to rely on God but when you are in the moment it is sometimes hard to see. Anxious—yes, concerned—a little, faithful—always.
With the relief of the sale comes some uncertainty about our individual futures. For me the uncertainty is an uneasy feeling of not being settled. There are still so many things to find resolve in my life. Completing the divorce is next and I hope it can go smoothly and we can both move on in positive directions.
Beyond that and a very clear understanding that all of this is in the hands of God my future is not as clear. As I prepare to leave on an eight week teaching tour I am not sure where I will be living when I return. My landlord has given me the opportunity to stay where I am but I am not sure it will be the best decision for me.
The next couple of weeks are filled with a tremendous amount of work as I prepare to leave. There are so many details to be finished; course preparation, packing (not only myself but my office and all of my teaching materials). Working with my program hosts to be sure they have all the information they need to promote the classes and the detail parade marches on.
I remind myself to rely on God but when you are in the moment it is sometimes hard to see. Anxious—yes, concerned—a little, faithful—always.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Idahogirl81
It had been more than two months since I had told my wife I was leaving. For weeks I had been in a sad and painful funk. I knew there would be heartache in the weeks ahead. Little did I know it would be the worst pain I had ever felt in my life?
Searching for some solace I was feeling desperate. I had been in counseling for some time and it felt I had gone as far as I could. I was alone and lonely. In these lonely hours I began to scour the internet for some answers and some reassurance I had made the right decision.
Googling the term ‘Christian divorce support’ I came across a website for single Lutherans. Initially I was looking for some ideas of how to best cope with my new situation and the transition from married to single. The website was intriguing. Being a life-long Lutheran it seemed to be a good place to start.
After reading a few posts and articles I came across a section to post a profile. My initial thought was I wasn’t ready for this but something deep inside told me to give it a shot. So with some cautious trepidation I posted a brief profile about myself. From there I browsed through the profiles which matched the criteria I had entered.
After looking through a half dozen profiles there she was, Idahogirl81. According to the personality profile she was accepting, agreeable, diplomatic, adaptable, considerate, easy-going, even-tempered, good listener, and inventive, kind, patient, pleasant, satisfied and tolerant.
Divorced, a couple years younger than me, liked country music, independent, punctual, a non-smoker, a regular at church! Intriguing, then I took a look at the profile picture, reddish blonde hair, cute smile and a Santa Mickey Mouse hat. Hmmm, okay she has a sense of humor. More points in her favor.
She was looking for someone with an education, who was independent, a non-smoker who was self-motivated, and happy with himself! Okay so I was miserable at the moment but deep down I was content with where my future was taking me.
Again, with a little apprehension, I sent her a smile. Having not been involved in the dating scene for more than thirty years I wasn’t sure what to expect. What followed was a smile back. Wow, Idahogirl81 had replied, she had really replied.
So the ball was back in my court so I decided to chance it and send another e-mail. This time with a short note. The next day I received a reply from Idahogirl81. This began a couple of weeks of e-mail correspondence. We learned we had many things in common and shared interests. And now I finally knew her by something other than Idahogirl81. Her name was Susie and she lived in south central Idaho, some 1500 miles away. This explained the Idahogirl81 moniker.
It wasn’t long before we realized it would be more productive to talk on the phone and we exchanged phone numbers. The first few phone calls were the opportunity to get to know each other better. There were the lists of questions. I found it amusing that she had a list of questions each time we talked. It became our game of Twenty Questions. Everything from the very mundane to the very personal, no topic was off limits.
In Susie I began to find someone in whom I could confide my most inner thoughts and feelings. She was caring and supportive and listened with patience and genuine concern. There was no judgment, just someone who listened and cared.
Over the next several weeks we would talk for many hours on the telephone. On average four to six hours per night. We began to discover many things about each other and that there were many things we have in common.
We began to bond a strong friendship and mutual admiration. How do you begin to have such strong feelings for someone you have never met? From the beginning we felt it may be destiny as the website we originally met had been taken down just a few days later. Fate, chance or God working in our lives, I want to believe the latter.
God has seemed to place us in each other’s lives for something special. For me, Idahogirl81 had come to me at a time when my life was a train wreck; she had given me hope and was the bright spot in an otherwise bleak future.
After ten weeks of long telephone calls and daily e-mails it was time to meet. We decided she would fly to Chicago and we would spend three days together to see if there is any chemistry to further spark our relationship. Well the first spark was the moment I saw her come down the escalator at the airport. I will never forget the nervous smile on her face. Neither of us had ever been in a long distance relationship before and to finally meet after all of the time we had spent talking was breathtaking.
I had not been so nervous about anything since I had been in school. Sweaty palms, a dry throat and the jittery nerves were all in full force. Even speaking in front of hundreds of people was not as nerve wracking as meeting Susie for the first time.
The first awkward moments of nervous laughter quickly melted away into the first embrace and the first kiss. It was like we had known each other forever. The entire weekend was perfect. We spent time just walking around downtown Chicago and the sites and talking.
Being a totally high-class guy, I took her to the very chic Chicago hotspots. There was dinner at the Billy Goat and lunch at Gino’s East. We went to the top of Sears Tower and peeked between the outfield walls at Wrigley Field.
The moment she first told me she loved me will be forever etched into my heart. It was there in Chicago on a quiet afternoon. The most amazing time we had during the weekend were the hours we spent at Navy Pier. We simply sat at the end of the pier and watched the people and the boats, talked and realized that we wanted to spend more time together.
Leaving her at the airport was one of the hardest things I have ever done. Many tears were shed at the idea of leaving each other. I stood and watched her go through security and didn’t move until she was completely out of sight. More tears were shed as I walked away and back to my car. It was a long time before I could pull away from the parking garage.
The quiet ride home from Chicago gave me time to really assess how far I had come since I had first sent the e-mail smile to Idahogirl81. This new love which I felt had replaced so much of the hurt and loneliness and brought light to a very dark place in my life.
Since our meeting in Chicago we have only had the opportunity to spend a few more days together. And it has been nearly four months since we last saw each other. The time has been filled with e-mails and phone calls. We are looking forward to spending several weeks together this summer when I travel west to work.
We are hopeful for a bright future and are willing to allow God to lead us on our path together. Susie continues to be one of the best parts of my life and each day is made better by having her in it. I thank God for allowing her into my life and look forward to where this path may lead us.
If we are lucky we are allowed to love. For me Susie has allowed me to love again at a level which I did not think I could ever feel again. It’s amazing what can be started by a simple smile in an e-mail. Don’t underestimate the love of God or his ability to bring people in your life when you need them the most. For me it is Idahogirl81.
Searching for some solace I was feeling desperate. I had been in counseling for some time and it felt I had gone as far as I could. I was alone and lonely. In these lonely hours I began to scour the internet for some answers and some reassurance I had made the right decision.
Googling the term ‘Christian divorce support’ I came across a website for single Lutherans. Initially I was looking for some ideas of how to best cope with my new situation and the transition from married to single. The website was intriguing. Being a life-long Lutheran it seemed to be a good place to start.
After reading a few posts and articles I came across a section to post a profile. My initial thought was I wasn’t ready for this but something deep inside told me to give it a shot. So with some cautious trepidation I posted a brief profile about myself. From there I browsed through the profiles which matched the criteria I had entered.
After looking through a half dozen profiles there she was, Idahogirl81. According to the personality profile she was accepting, agreeable, diplomatic, adaptable, considerate, easy-going, even-tempered, good listener, and inventive, kind, patient, pleasant, satisfied and tolerant.
Divorced, a couple years younger than me, liked country music, independent, punctual, a non-smoker, a regular at church! Intriguing, then I took a look at the profile picture, reddish blonde hair, cute smile and a Santa Mickey Mouse hat. Hmmm, okay she has a sense of humor. More points in her favor.
She was looking for someone with an education, who was independent, a non-smoker who was self-motivated, and happy with himself! Okay so I was miserable at the moment but deep down I was content with where my future was taking me.
Again, with a little apprehension, I sent her a smile. Having not been involved in the dating scene for more than thirty years I wasn’t sure what to expect. What followed was a smile back. Wow, Idahogirl81 had replied, she had really replied.
So the ball was back in my court so I decided to chance it and send another e-mail. This time with a short note. The next day I received a reply from Idahogirl81. This began a couple of weeks of e-mail correspondence. We learned we had many things in common and shared interests. And now I finally knew her by something other than Idahogirl81. Her name was Susie and she lived in south central Idaho, some 1500 miles away. This explained the Idahogirl81 moniker.
It wasn’t long before we realized it would be more productive to talk on the phone and we exchanged phone numbers. The first few phone calls were the opportunity to get to know each other better. There were the lists of questions. I found it amusing that she had a list of questions each time we talked. It became our game of Twenty Questions. Everything from the very mundane to the very personal, no topic was off limits.
In Susie I began to find someone in whom I could confide my most inner thoughts and feelings. She was caring and supportive and listened with patience and genuine concern. There was no judgment, just someone who listened and cared.
Over the next several weeks we would talk for many hours on the telephone. On average four to six hours per night. We began to discover many things about each other and that there were many things we have in common.
We began to bond a strong friendship and mutual admiration. How do you begin to have such strong feelings for someone you have never met? From the beginning we felt it may be destiny as the website we originally met had been taken down just a few days later. Fate, chance or God working in our lives, I want to believe the latter.
God has seemed to place us in each other’s lives for something special. For me, Idahogirl81 had come to me at a time when my life was a train wreck; she had given me hope and was the bright spot in an otherwise bleak future.
After ten weeks of long telephone calls and daily e-mails it was time to meet. We decided she would fly to Chicago and we would spend three days together to see if there is any chemistry to further spark our relationship. Well the first spark was the moment I saw her come down the escalator at the airport. I will never forget the nervous smile on her face. Neither of us had ever been in a long distance relationship before and to finally meet after all of the time we had spent talking was breathtaking.
I had not been so nervous about anything since I had been in school. Sweaty palms, a dry throat and the jittery nerves were all in full force. Even speaking in front of hundreds of people was not as nerve wracking as meeting Susie for the first time.
The first awkward moments of nervous laughter quickly melted away into the first embrace and the first kiss. It was like we had known each other forever. The entire weekend was perfect. We spent time just walking around downtown Chicago and the sites and talking.
Being a totally high-class guy, I took her to the very chic Chicago hotspots. There was dinner at the Billy Goat and lunch at Gino’s East. We went to the top of Sears Tower and peeked between the outfield walls at Wrigley Field.
The moment she first told me she loved me will be forever etched into my heart. It was there in Chicago on a quiet afternoon. The most amazing time we had during the weekend were the hours we spent at Navy Pier. We simply sat at the end of the pier and watched the people and the boats, talked and realized that we wanted to spend more time together.
Leaving her at the airport was one of the hardest things I have ever done. Many tears were shed at the idea of leaving each other. I stood and watched her go through security and didn’t move until she was completely out of sight. More tears were shed as I walked away and back to my car. It was a long time before I could pull away from the parking garage.
The quiet ride home from Chicago gave me time to really assess how far I had come since I had first sent the e-mail smile to Idahogirl81. This new love which I felt had replaced so much of the hurt and loneliness and brought light to a very dark place in my life.
Since our meeting in Chicago we have only had the opportunity to spend a few more days together. And it has been nearly four months since we last saw each other. The time has been filled with e-mails and phone calls. We are looking forward to spending several weeks together this summer when I travel west to work.
We are hopeful for a bright future and are willing to allow God to lead us on our path together. Susie continues to be one of the best parts of my life and each day is made better by having her in it. I thank God for allowing her into my life and look forward to where this path may lead us.
If we are lucky we are allowed to love. For me Susie has allowed me to love again at a level which I did not think I could ever feel again. It’s amazing what can be started by a simple smile in an e-mail. Don’t underestimate the love of God or his ability to bring people in your life when you need them the most. For me it is Idahogirl81.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Random thoughts
Thought for the day. If a child trips and falls we run to their rescue. If an adult trips and falls we stand by and laugh. Often the adult needs as much compassion as the child.
Peter Alcivar at 7:47am May 7
SNL got a lot of mileage out of one stumble by Gerald Ford, one of our most athletic presidents.
Jeanie Beury Purcell at 7:52am May 7
Wow, excellent thoguht. Thanks for sharing.
Stacey Friedlein at 7:54am May 7
Right, it was a great skit. But I was speaking more metaphorically.
Staci Severin Landis at 7:58am May 7 via Facebook Mobile
Amen! I think it says a lot about the person's character how they respond when others struggle, fail or fall down a bit. We've experienced some of the uncompassionate...worse when it's family! But, then, if I'm the one who falls and I get treated poorly...it goes back to me on how I will respond back. It's a cycle of learning...over and over and over again. But, we've also experienced wonderful people, too...and we are grateful for their support.
Peter Alcivar at 8:00am May 7
My first wife once told me a story about how she and her cousin went on a luxury cruise with their grandmother as teenagers. They were walking somewhere and their grandmother lost her footing and fell. As a senior citizen, she had recently received training on how to land so as to avoid breaking a hip or other injury (I got the same thing in martial arts training, obviously for different reasons). Well, their grandmother landed correctly, and the two girls cheered. Onlookers were horrified at these two disrespectful teenagers who were making fun of an old woman falling, which could not have been farther from the truth.
Thought for the day. The value in who you are is defined by your ability to bring value to others.
Symona Wood at 11:48am May 6
My 8 yr. old daughter experienced this very lesson this week...she tried out for a school play, did not get a part. She was quite sad....I explained to her that even though she was disapointed, she should go to the 1 child in her class and congratulate him on his recieving a 'part'....I told her it would not be easy, but worth it....the next day ... she did. When she came home she told me how much better she felt and that after doing as I had instructed, she nearly forgot how sad she felt and in place became happy for her friend.....btw...the boy just looked at her, confused I'm sure, and walked away...oh well...lol
Rose Black at 6:44pm May 6
so right!
Khara Plicanic at 11:25pm May 6
Great message! :)
Thought for the day. Give a smile and a wave to a stranger. You might just make just make their day.
Peter Alcivar at 12:44pm May 5
I tried that and all I got for my trouble was a restraining order. :-)
Laurie Lozano at 1:13pm May 5
I got 'the finger'. :0
Will Price at 1:21pm May 5
Mine waved back and smiled too... never mind, it was a mirror.
Fred Hinegardner at 1:48pm May 5
Yesterday, someone in a car beside me did that to me. I hit the bumper of the car in front of me. If that was you waving and smiling like a dang fool, stop it - yer causin trouble.
Thought for the day. In life as in football when all else fails, punt.
Fred Hinegardner at 10:24am May 4
...or sell the football on ebay and turn a profit.
Vernon Chambers at 10:36am May 4
I never understood pro football.....inspite of all the big bucks those guys make, they still insist on fighting over that one football! Why don't they wise up and go buy there OWN ball? Like I said, I never understood football.
Fred Hinegardner at 11:05am May 4
They fight over every little thing. They fight over one little quarter before the game even starts. Hockey is better - they get to fight with sticks.
Richard Cooper at 10:10pm May 4
Yes Fred, and they add a degree of difficulty by fighting on skates.
Thought for the day. If there is no hope, there is no future.
Thought for the day. Success come to those who are willing to fail.
Fred Hinegardner at 8:54am May 2
I was never willing to fall. I fell multiple times, but never liked it much, and never did it willingly. Some modicum of success game my way in spite of my lack of cooperation.
Stacey Friedlein at 10:10am May 2
I believe understanding the lessons which come from our failures are what allows us to succeed. The key here is in the learning and unwillingness to repeat the mistakes which allowed us to fail.
Fred Hinegardner at 10:38am May 2
Ah.
Thought for the day. Listen to your brain but follow your heart.
Loreen Thurman Liberty at 9:27am April 30
Trying so hard to follow this.... the brain is just used to being in control!
Jenifer Mowery Samaha at 10:01am April 30
So true. thanks.
Fred Hinegardner at 10:26am April 30
...so I'm to ignore reason and rational thought? And what's the good of listening if you don't do anything about it? Listen but ignore? - that sounds like a stubborn teenager.We are given both reason and emotion for a reason. The trick is moderation of both.
Stacey Friedlein at 10:34am April 30
Iam just in a very different place with this. When we follow our heart we are following our purpose in life and we trust a power beyond our own to guide our thought.
Barbara Jones Adelman at 10:39am April 30
what if it has gotten us into bad places previously?
Stacey Friedlein at 10:44am April 30
In that case we may have been misinterpreting what it is in our heart. You notice I did not say ignore your brain. But it is your heart which helps you choose the best path.
Stacey Friedlein at 10:50am April 30
To Fred again. I don;t think I said that you should not use your brain. The brain are not mutally exclusive of each other or we would not have both. A mature heart has learned from life experiences and allows those experiences to direct emotion.
Fred Hinegardner at 11:09am April 30
Stacy, the heart does indeed help us choose the proper path. The operative word, though, is "help."The other really nasty problem with discussions of this sort is that so many of the words are at best poorly defined, and so they end up meaning anything people want them to mean. Worse yet, they often become misleading and will take people into bad places.
Thought for the day. Engage the brain before you engage the mouth. Otherwise what comes out might be crap.
Kylie Recla Banks at 10:50am April 29
Very True
Melissa Denham Pfannenstiel at 11:09am April 29
LOVE this!
Sheila Rutledge at 3:57pm April 29
Stacey please repeat this to me many times. I have this disease where my filter is missing!
For the second time...Thought for the day. Attention Wal-Mart shoppers, there is a sale in our portrait studio today, 187 prints for $4.99. Make you cringe? Then why are you shopping there for items you could purchase from the small business owner down the street? What goes around comes around. Great diialogue this morning, looking for more comments.
Stacey, I agreed with you on this that is why I have not been there since Christmas.
Allen Austin at 8:27pm April 28
The pictures are still over priced!
Lindsi Jones at 8:53pm April 28
barf..
Travis Cossel at 8:56pm April 28
Nothing wrong with shopping at Wal-Mart. If I need staples or a light bulb or a bunch of bananas there's really no reason to pay more somewhere else. I think the distinction comes with a business that provides more than just a product like everyone else. To be honest, there are people out there that are perfectly happy with Wal-Mart pictures ... and you're never going to convince them to spend more for a better product. Not everyone is your customer, you know?
Tony Cooper at 9:00pm April 28
'Zackly Travis. There's no mom and pops nearby that sell what I need for less... and none of them are personalized custom products, either. I'm not competing with WM... if you're a WM portrait client, you probably aren't mine, and were never meant to be. On the other hand, if you are my client, you'll likely never want to be a WM client again. :)
Jack Corzine at 9:02pm April 28
nope, sorry, I take my own pictures and do the cropping and touch up on the computer. Sorry Stacey, in general I do agree with you but if it is something that I can do I will. There is one thing I do wish to say though on this subject. That is simply that each and EVERY small business owner has a responsibility to provide the very best personal service available. Otherwise it makes the easy way of taking it to someplace like Walmart more appealing to people. I've been burnt by a small business photographer and it does make you much more wary of placing what can amount to much more money into someone elses hands (granted this is a rare occurance).
Stacey Friedlein at 9:17pm April 28
I appreciate everyone's comments. Here is a challenge for the small business owners. Next time you are heading out to do your shopping think about whether the items you are going to get can be purchased locally. You might be surprised.I totally agree the Wal Mart customer is probably not your client but this is not the point of this post. The original reason for asking this question was to get small business owners consider the double standard of wanting clients to use their services but who may be looking for the cheapest solutions to their needs. If you don't feel you can afford what you are selling it makes the selling proposition much more difficult. I plan to write more on this topic in the future.Again thanks to everyone for their input. You can read the entire thread and post replies on my blog at http://inthespiritconsulting.blogspot.com/
Defining Image Photographs at 9:18pm April 28
Walmart is not union. They help big industries cut the jobs and saleries of workers at other stores such as Fred Meyer, Alberston's, Target and Safeway. If you have ever worked for a grocery chain, you would understand how hard the work is and that the wage is not enough for what you do. If workers get their wages cut do to WALMART....do you think they can afford to spend money on photographers????? SERIOUSLY. Shop Union and protect our our towns.Good for you Stacey.
Stacey Friedlein at 9:24pm April 28
One final point. I really did not intend for this to be a dialogue about Wal Mart as much as a discussion on the mindset of the small business owner. However, everyone's comments are appreciated.
Barbara Jones Adelman at 9:26pm April 28
Hey Stacey - this is kind of timely - I attended an event for ISU tonight and looked around at all the other small business women in attendance, met or got re -aquatinted with many and realized that this network of support and personal relationships is not only the beauty of our city, but also the connections that will grow my business - I should not expect their support if I do not attempt to support them. My goal for the rest of the year is a campaign of one on one support of local business and fund raising efforts in order to be a vital part of the community= even though the time and effort may be a little more, the benefits both to my business and my spirit I believe will be great (and cost effective)
Travis Cossel at 9:29pm April 28
Grocery workers aren't underpaid .. I've worked in the industry and the work isn't all that hard. There are certainly much more difficult jobs out there that pay the same or less (including my current job). The bottom line is that I would bet that for most of us, Wal-Mart employees are NOT our target demographic .. just like Burger King employees aren't our target demographic. This idea that I should pay more for something somewhere else to somehow better support our towns is bunk.
Stacey Friedlein at 9:41pm April 28
Travis, I am concerned with your comments. If you are in business you should understand the value of doing business with other small business. It is good and healthy for you and for them. Discounting people based on their employment is also short-sighted
Travis Cossel at 10:23pm April 28
I do understand the value when the small business is providing something that a larger business cannot. But if the big business sells a light bulb for $5 and the small business sells them for $15, and the transaction just involves me receiving a light bulb, then it makes no sense for me to pay 3 times as much just because someone wants to run a small business and sell light bulbs for $15.I'm an advocate for working with other small businesses when it makes sense. Just this week I paid a small business $35 to fix a sprinkler, even though I could have bought the parts and done it myself for $5. But if a small business isn't doing anything extra for me other than just charging me more, why would it be sensible to pay more for the same exact product? It doesn't.
Jodi Mattock Walsh at 10:26pm April 28
i think you're making a valid point Stacey. Sometimes it's not possible to avoid the large chain stores but sometimes it is. i try to patronize the small nursery that's behind my house even though i could get cheaper gardening stuff at Lowes but i think it's important to keep these little businesses around. as for walmart- i've never had pictures taken there but from what i've seen from any studio like that, i'm not impressed. but i do consider myself in business to help the walmart shopper. why should only people who have hundreds of dollars to spend get nice pictures of their family? i couldn't afford that so it never occurred to me that i had options outside of walmart and in many cases people don't. i'm not saying everyone has to go this route but i feel like since i have the means to do it, i'll keep my prices affordable for the walmart shopper and hopefully give some hardworking families the opportunity for a nice set of pictures.
Karen Sumner White at 10:30pm April 28 via Facebook Mobile
I couldn't resist posting something on this topic. The items I purchase at Wal-Mart may be items that I can purchase at a local business. However, how intelligent a business person would I be if I didn't look for the best deal on an identical item? The point should be that WalMart cannot sell the identical product that I create because I make a point to separate myself from other photographers, and certainly could never even be remotely compared to any click and grin studio anywhere! Create something that no one else can, create the desire and "need" with your marketing, build your reputation for unsurpassed service and they have no choice of where they go to get that product. This is the solution!
Travis Cossel at 10:31pm April 28
As for discounting people based on their employment, my comment was directed towards Defining Image. She said that if grocery workers don't get paid more how can we expect them to buy our product. My point was that I don't. In general, they simply aren't my target market. Does that mean I turn someone away just because of where they work? Never! But it also doesn't change the fact that very few of them will ever pay for my services.
Julia Gerace at 9:14am April 28
around here? nope - can't think of one.... for gifts and trinkets, yes, I do go to privately owned places, bookstores too, dance shoes - absolutely, even for some photography gear, I'll travel to the nearest non-chain photo store... there are a few meat and fish places that I like to support as well... but, I just can't agree to a blanket condemnation of Walmart stores...they have their place, they serve a purpose....
Barbara Litchfield Hill at 9:36am April 28
I agree Julia. As a photographer, I don't view Walmart as my competition. The clientele who purchase "portraits" there are not the clients I'm seeking out. Plus, I've heard that Walmart makes no money off their portrait studios...they're only hoping you'll buy other stuff while you're there! I LOVE to support small business, especially women-owned, and do so frequently. But when it comes to buying toiletries, envelopes, etc., a girl has gotta do what she can in this new economy! As in all things, balance & moderation.
Stacey Friedlein at 10:59am April 28
Barbara,I certainly agree with your concept Wal-Mart is not your competition. What I am trying to get accross is if you are willing to make buying decisions based strictly on price then don't be uspet when your poteintial client does not utilize your services because of your price.The second point is supporting small business is good for your small business. The few extra pennies you spend at the local store can pay huge dividends for you in the future.
Stacey Friedlein at 11:06am April 28
I have continued this discussion on my blog at: http://inthespiritconsulting.blogspot.com/
Barbara Litchfield Hill at 11:40am April 28
I'm not disputing those points at all; in fact I stated similar thoughts in my post, so we're basically on the same page:)
Fred Hinegardner at 1:22pm April 28
When I had a studio, I was glad Wal-Mart and 15 other similar operations did what they did. They took people off my hands that I no longer wished to serve. I instructed all my help to assist callers who could no longer afford me.I cut my photographic teeth shooting 97 cent 8x10 specials. I shot 200 sittings a week while the studios maybe shot 20. Experience helps a rapid learning curve.One day I saw a local PPA Master hiding behind some shrubbery, watching my operation. I waved. He ran. He later tried to prevent my joining "his" PPA. My subsequent history is public.I don't think whining or boycotting solves anything more than creating an energy drain.I have even recommended people who want to gain a lot of portrait experience in a short amount of time to go to work for one of these outfits. I retired at 50.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Got Hope
This message delivered to my church on Sunday, May 3, 2009
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:1-2
Got Hope?
I chose to talk to you today from the second lesson from I John. Yes today is Good Shepherd Sunday but this passage really impacted me and I felt obliged to speak on it.
In that passage John touches upon one of the great themes of the Bible—the subject of hope. The word occurs over 50 times in the New Testament. Our strength to live healthy, godly, productive lives depends greatly on this element of hope in our hearts.
Without hope there is really no reason to expend effort. A state of hopelessness is closely akin to a state of death. Hope is as essential to the human soul as water or food is to our physical bodies.
A life without hope is a living hell. In fact, one thing that will make hell so unbearable is the absolute absence of hope.
The Devil was having a yard sale, and all of his tools were marked with different prices.
They were tools like hatred, lust, jealously, deceit, lying, and pride—all carrying a high price tag. But over to one side of the yard on display was a tool more worn than any other tool. It was also the most costly. The tool was labeled Discouragement.
When asked why this tool was priced so high, the Devil answered, “It’s more useful to me than any other tool. When I can’t bring my victims down with any of these other tools, I use discouragement, because most of them don’t even realize it belongs to me.” Have you ever had that tool used on you?
Have you ever lost your joy because you lost your hope?
Have you ever lost your will to go on because you lost your hope?
Facing divorce, possible foreclosure and bankruptcy, and a struggling new business I had lost my hope. The apple cart had been completely upset. In fact I am not sure the apple cart was still intact. But the Devil also knows that godly hope is a powerful thing. That’s why he will do everything he can to rob us of our confident expectation in God.
For months I was mired in the feeling of loss. My whole life as I had known it had been obliterated. In a few short years I had gone from being on top of the world to having lost all hope.
My life was good. I was in a good marriage, my family was strong and happy, my work was providing a better than average income and lifestyle. I thought I had it all. Then boom in a matter of a few months of time it all went away.
What happened? If you remember, I spoke of God’s call in a message I gave here about two years ago. I knew then that following what I believed was his calling for me might cost me everything. And for the most part it has. Worst of all I had lost hope.
Many have told me the process I am going through is much like mourning a death. The grief process initially robs us of so much. We are hurt, angry, scared and feel very much alone. For me I had withdrawn from many of the things in which I found fulfillment and purpose.
I felt alone and angry. Why had God called me here and then abandoned me. Why was I willing to give up so much to follow what I believed was his plan? In so many ways I had lost hope.
My life is very different today than it was even ten months ago. I am living alone and working from my home. I see my kids much less often and feel I have less impact in their lives. Financially I struggle more than maybe anytime in my life. There are days when I simply sit and cry having my own personal “pity parties”. I believed there was no hope.
In recent weeks I have begun to see the light. Opportunities have begun to present themselves where I would have never thought before.
What I have gained far exceeds what I lost. I have a much better perspective of who I am. Daily I write about what is going on in my life. This process of journaling has brought me new understanding of my purpose. Bravely I have posted much of my writing on a blog I have created.
My desire is others will read and be inspired by the struggles and how I have overcome them. By the successes and rewards I experience, by the activity of God in my everyday life. He has not left me. There is hope.
In the New Testament the word hope translated means confident expectation.
In our society hope often carries the weak idea of wishful thinking. We say, “I hope so” and often mean “I doubt so.” But when you read that word in the New Testament understand that we are talking about a firm expectation. That kind of hope has a profound influence on the way we live. It is this hope that has moved me forward.
In May I will be leaving for an eight week speaking tour throughout much of the northwestern part of the country. This is an opportunity which I could have never been able to follow before. In fact this is just the first of more than sixty cities I will be presenting programs in through the middle of 2010.
In this opportunity there is hope. This is very much God looking after one of his children, allowing me to share my faith through my work and with those with whom I come in contact.
I have come to understand I am not a child of God because I am better than any sinner out there. I am only a child of God because I receive the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.
But if we are to succeed in our journey of faith, we must know who we are. “Now, we are-- the children of God...” This is not just something that will happen someday in the great beyond. This is a present reality. Now I am a child of God. This is something we can know in the here and now—in this life. It is this reality which has allowed me to emerge from the despair and fear I have felt. And it is true for you as well.
Someone might say, “How can I know.” You can know because the Holy Spirit will witness that reality to your spirit.
In Romans 8:16 we read, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” In the reading from today John gives us a number of ways to confirm our relationship with God. This is something we can know in the here and now—in this life.
We know we are children of God by our love toward other believers. That does not mean that we never have a disagreement or never have to deal with our attitude toward another believer. But deep inside of us there is a union with them and we are convicted when our attitude is not right and we are prompted by the Holy Spirit to walk in love.
“Now, we are the children of God...”
What does it mean to be a child of God? It means you are already acceptable with God. You don’t have to earn His favor. You don’t have to be good enough for God to like you or bless you. You are as Ephesians puts it “...blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ...” and you are already “...accepted in the Beloved...”
You are—approved by God because of the sacrifice of Christ in your behalf—and worthy because by the grace of God He has made you worthy.
The practical significance of that is you can come to God for help whatever the need may be—even when you have failed and come short of His glory, you don’t have to draw back from God but are invited to His throne of grace. Do you need forgiveness? Ask and you shall receive. “The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.” It is important to know who you are in Christ right now because Satan, will jump on every failure, every shortcoming and try to use it to steal your hope in God.
“Now we are the children of God...” Sometimes we don’t act like it. Sometimes we misbehave and our Father has to deal with that. But what we are is what we are or as the cartoon character, Popeye, would say, “I ams what I ams.”
“Now we are the children of God...” That statement is a call to act like it. It is also a basis of hope and confidence to strengthen our resolve to act like it.
In I John 3:1 John tells us to consider the love God has lavished upon us that we who were once enemies of God and children of the Devil, doomed for destruction would now be called the children of God. A revelation of that great love (that sent Jesus to the cross in our behalf) will also stir us to gratitude and obedience. “We love Him because He first loved us.”
The subject of our hope does not end in this life, for John also talks about “What we will be...” Here is a great encouragement of faith: “What we will be...” What we will be “has not yet been made known”.
We are limited in our revelation of God’s plans for us. The world certainly doesn’t see us as anything special at all. The manifestation of the sons of God has not yet happened.We have this treasure in earthen vessels. And what people mostly see is the earthen vessel not the treasure of God’s life in us. “Christ in you, the hope of glory”
There is much about heaven we don’t know. “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 Cor. 13:12
In the town of Port Hope, Canada there is a monument erected, not for some leading citizen, but for a poor, unselfish working man who gave most of his life and energy helping people who could not repay him.
Joseph Scriven was born in Dublin in 1820. As a young man he was full of high ideals and aspirations. He was engaged to a pretty young woman who promised to share his dreams with him. But on the eve of their wedding her body was pulled from a pond where she had accidentally fallen and drowned.
Joseph Scriven never overcame the shock of that tragedy. Although a college graduate with the potential of a brilliant career, he began to wander to try to forget his sorrow. His wanderings took him to Canada where he spent the last 41 years of his life. He became a very devout Christian. His beliefs led him to labor tirelessly for poor widows and sick people. He often served for no wages.
No one knew that Joseph had poetic gifts until shortly before his death at 60 years old. A friend, who was sitting with him while he was ill, discovered a poem he had written to his mother during a time of sorrow. Joseph never intended for anyone else to see it. His poem was later set to music and has become a much loved gospel song. It is said to be the first song that many missionaries teach their converts. In polls taken to determine the popularity of Gospel songs, his is always near the top. What was his poem?
“What a friend we have in Jesus. All our sins and griefs to bear.What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer.Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh what needless pain we bear; All because we do not carry, Everything to God in prayer.”I
n this lifetime Joseph Scriven had no idea how God would ultimately use his life.You may not understand what God is doing in your life. But if God has told you to do something He has His reasons. And one day, you may be pleasantly surprised to discover that God has done abundantly more than you ever imagined.Nurture hope. For if you do, hope will nurture you.
Amen.
Portions of this text come from: Richard Tow, Grace Chapel Foursquare Church, Springfield, MO
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:1-2
Got Hope?
I chose to talk to you today from the second lesson from I John. Yes today is Good Shepherd Sunday but this passage really impacted me and I felt obliged to speak on it.
In that passage John touches upon one of the great themes of the Bible—the subject of hope. The word occurs over 50 times in the New Testament. Our strength to live healthy, godly, productive lives depends greatly on this element of hope in our hearts.
Without hope there is really no reason to expend effort. A state of hopelessness is closely akin to a state of death. Hope is as essential to the human soul as water or food is to our physical bodies.
A life without hope is a living hell. In fact, one thing that will make hell so unbearable is the absolute absence of hope.
The Devil was having a yard sale, and all of his tools were marked with different prices.
They were tools like hatred, lust, jealously, deceit, lying, and pride—all carrying a high price tag. But over to one side of the yard on display was a tool more worn than any other tool. It was also the most costly. The tool was labeled Discouragement.
When asked why this tool was priced so high, the Devil answered, “It’s more useful to me than any other tool. When I can’t bring my victims down with any of these other tools, I use discouragement, because most of them don’t even realize it belongs to me.” Have you ever had that tool used on you?
Have you ever lost your joy because you lost your hope?
Have you ever lost your will to go on because you lost your hope?
Facing divorce, possible foreclosure and bankruptcy, and a struggling new business I had lost my hope. The apple cart had been completely upset. In fact I am not sure the apple cart was still intact. But the Devil also knows that godly hope is a powerful thing. That’s why he will do everything he can to rob us of our confident expectation in God.
For months I was mired in the feeling of loss. My whole life as I had known it had been obliterated. In a few short years I had gone from being on top of the world to having lost all hope.
My life was good. I was in a good marriage, my family was strong and happy, my work was providing a better than average income and lifestyle. I thought I had it all. Then boom in a matter of a few months of time it all went away.
What happened? If you remember, I spoke of God’s call in a message I gave here about two years ago. I knew then that following what I believed was his calling for me might cost me everything. And for the most part it has. Worst of all I had lost hope.
Many have told me the process I am going through is much like mourning a death. The grief process initially robs us of so much. We are hurt, angry, scared and feel very much alone. For me I had withdrawn from many of the things in which I found fulfillment and purpose.
I felt alone and angry. Why had God called me here and then abandoned me. Why was I willing to give up so much to follow what I believed was his plan? In so many ways I had lost hope.
My life is very different today than it was even ten months ago. I am living alone and working from my home. I see my kids much less often and feel I have less impact in their lives. Financially I struggle more than maybe anytime in my life. There are days when I simply sit and cry having my own personal “pity parties”. I believed there was no hope.
In recent weeks I have begun to see the light. Opportunities have begun to present themselves where I would have never thought before.
What I have gained far exceeds what I lost. I have a much better perspective of who I am. Daily I write about what is going on in my life. This process of journaling has brought me new understanding of my purpose. Bravely I have posted much of my writing on a blog I have created.
My desire is others will read and be inspired by the struggles and how I have overcome them. By the successes and rewards I experience, by the activity of God in my everyday life. He has not left me. There is hope.
In the New Testament the word hope translated means confident expectation.
In our society hope often carries the weak idea of wishful thinking. We say, “I hope so” and often mean “I doubt so.” But when you read that word in the New Testament understand that we are talking about a firm expectation. That kind of hope has a profound influence on the way we live. It is this hope that has moved me forward.
In May I will be leaving for an eight week speaking tour throughout much of the northwestern part of the country. This is an opportunity which I could have never been able to follow before. In fact this is just the first of more than sixty cities I will be presenting programs in through the middle of 2010.
In this opportunity there is hope. This is very much God looking after one of his children, allowing me to share my faith through my work and with those with whom I come in contact.
I have come to understand I am not a child of God because I am better than any sinner out there. I am only a child of God because I receive the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.
But if we are to succeed in our journey of faith, we must know who we are. “Now, we are-- the children of God...” This is not just something that will happen someday in the great beyond. This is a present reality. Now I am a child of God. This is something we can know in the here and now—in this life. It is this reality which has allowed me to emerge from the despair and fear I have felt. And it is true for you as well.
Someone might say, “How can I know.” You can know because the Holy Spirit will witness that reality to your spirit.
In Romans 8:16 we read, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” In the reading from today John gives us a number of ways to confirm our relationship with God. This is something we can know in the here and now—in this life.
We know we are children of God by our love toward other believers. That does not mean that we never have a disagreement or never have to deal with our attitude toward another believer. But deep inside of us there is a union with them and we are convicted when our attitude is not right and we are prompted by the Holy Spirit to walk in love.
“Now, we are the children of God...”
What does it mean to be a child of God? It means you are already acceptable with God. You don’t have to earn His favor. You don’t have to be good enough for God to like you or bless you. You are as Ephesians puts it “...blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ...” and you are already “...accepted in the Beloved...”
You are—approved by God because of the sacrifice of Christ in your behalf—and worthy because by the grace of God He has made you worthy.
The practical significance of that is you can come to God for help whatever the need may be—even when you have failed and come short of His glory, you don’t have to draw back from God but are invited to His throne of grace. Do you need forgiveness? Ask and you shall receive. “The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.” It is important to know who you are in Christ right now because Satan, will jump on every failure, every shortcoming and try to use it to steal your hope in God.
“Now we are the children of God...” Sometimes we don’t act like it. Sometimes we misbehave and our Father has to deal with that. But what we are is what we are or as the cartoon character, Popeye, would say, “I ams what I ams.”
“Now we are the children of God...” That statement is a call to act like it. It is also a basis of hope and confidence to strengthen our resolve to act like it.
In I John 3:1 John tells us to consider the love God has lavished upon us that we who were once enemies of God and children of the Devil, doomed for destruction would now be called the children of God. A revelation of that great love (that sent Jesus to the cross in our behalf) will also stir us to gratitude and obedience. “We love Him because He first loved us.”
The subject of our hope does not end in this life, for John also talks about “What we will be...” Here is a great encouragement of faith: “What we will be...” What we will be “has not yet been made known”.
We are limited in our revelation of God’s plans for us. The world certainly doesn’t see us as anything special at all. The manifestation of the sons of God has not yet happened.We have this treasure in earthen vessels. And what people mostly see is the earthen vessel not the treasure of God’s life in us. “Christ in you, the hope of glory”
There is much about heaven we don’t know. “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 Cor. 13:12
In the town of Port Hope, Canada there is a monument erected, not for some leading citizen, but for a poor, unselfish working man who gave most of his life and energy helping people who could not repay him.
Joseph Scriven was born in Dublin in 1820. As a young man he was full of high ideals and aspirations. He was engaged to a pretty young woman who promised to share his dreams with him. But on the eve of their wedding her body was pulled from a pond where she had accidentally fallen and drowned.
Joseph Scriven never overcame the shock of that tragedy. Although a college graduate with the potential of a brilliant career, he began to wander to try to forget his sorrow. His wanderings took him to Canada where he spent the last 41 years of his life. He became a very devout Christian. His beliefs led him to labor tirelessly for poor widows and sick people. He often served for no wages.
No one knew that Joseph had poetic gifts until shortly before his death at 60 years old. A friend, who was sitting with him while he was ill, discovered a poem he had written to his mother during a time of sorrow. Joseph never intended for anyone else to see it. His poem was later set to music and has become a much loved gospel song. It is said to be the first song that many missionaries teach their converts. In polls taken to determine the popularity of Gospel songs, his is always near the top. What was his poem?
“What a friend we have in Jesus. All our sins and griefs to bear.What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer.Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh what needless pain we bear; All because we do not carry, Everything to God in prayer.”I
n this lifetime Joseph Scriven had no idea how God would ultimately use his life.You may not understand what God is doing in your life. But if God has told you to do something He has His reasons. And one day, you may be pleasantly surprised to discover that God has done abundantly more than you ever imagined.Nurture hope. For if you do, hope will nurture you.
Amen.
Portions of this text come from: Richard Tow, Grace Chapel Foursquare Church, Springfield, MO
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