Petals from the Basket

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From Crud, Crying, and Cringing to Christmas Shopping!

It’s been a “But God” week for me. And that’s not a shameless plug for the book; it’s a fact!

The Crud

I don’t know if I had “the crud” or a massive migraine, but last Saturday (dawn to dusk and every minute in between) I was as sick as a dog. (It just hit me: dogs must get pretty sick because we use that expression to mean really, really sick—but I digress.) I’m not a good sick person. It’s such a waste of time that I get really depressed thinking of all the time I’m wasting or missing out on or the work that’s not getting done, and I end up feeling sicker. Enter biblical principle #1: “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength” (Proverbs 17:22, NLT). It’s true. And I’m thankful that whatever I had was gone by midmorning on Sunday.

Crying

Did I happen to mention that it’s truly been a “But God” week for me? My dad (you can read about his journey with end-stage Parkinsons here) had a rough week, and I found myself tired and using that lame excuse to make impatient decisions, to foster selfish thoughts, and to make wrong choices.

No, my tears were not because I wasn’t getting my way or because life was seemingly difficult. I humbly confess that my tears flowed freely one evening when I stopped to read God’s Word (the solid rock I have to run to when storms hit) and read two of my favorite verses (Lamentations 3:22-23), and then I continued reading the next three verses, with eyes and heart wide open: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord” (Lamentations 3:22-26, NIV). Wow. Just wow. Tears flowing again just typing those truths. Enter biblical principle #2: His mercies are undoubtedly new every morning because He knows we need them daily.

Cringing

I cringed when I hit the “Publish” button on yesterday’s blog post. Getting feedback is so vital, so necessary, so helpful—and so scary. Enter biblical principle #3: “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22, NIV). You are the advisory board for this blog. That’s why your input matters to me. And because your input matters, I really, really want you to take the Reader Survey (which you can do by clicking here). I even threw in almost $200.00 in prizes just because I value what you have to say.

Christmas Shopping

I like things, sure, but I’m not into “stuff” anymore. Buying gifts just to buy them or fulfilling a quota for how much money I spend on someone is just not the way I want to do it at this point. Bless your hearts, don’t let this scare you, but a lot of you are just like I am! But that means you may also feel like I do: wondering where to find quality gifts (many of them with a life-impacting focus) for a good value.

So for the rest of November (and a little bit beyond), I’m going to share some of my favorite things and favorite sites. Some of these will be “affiliate links” (i.e., I get a small commission for any purchases made through the links—at NO extra cost to you), but don’t let that make you think I’m only sharing it for that reason. In fact, I’m donating 100% of ALL affiliate commission in November and December to Soles for Jesus, a Milwaukee-based organization that provides shoes for those who so desperately need them. (You can click here to read a previous article about this organization.)

These are simply recommendations, but I’m only sharing the ones I believe in, trust, think are worth the cost, and think you (and your gift recipients) would like! These will start on Monday and will be at the bottom of that day’s biblical challenge or thoughts.

And of course, one final C: the Conclusion

In spite of the crud, crying, and worrisome cringing, praise God we can end with biblical principle #4: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:26, NIV)!

 

 

By Petals from the Basket | November 8, 2014 | Bible Reading, Events, Family, Ideas, Life Changes |

November Reader Survey and Giveaways!

There are a gazillion blogs available at the touch of your fingertips. That’s why I appreciate that you take the time to read Petals from the Basket.

Because you keep reading, I keep writing. Because what you want to read helps, in part, to determine what I write, Petals from the Basket is in many ways your blog too! That’s why I’m officially asking for your input again.

Please click the link below to take a very short 10-question survey. But before you do, keep reading!

To say thank you for taking the time to complete the survey (during this month set aside to show gratitude), you will be entered into a drawing for some great giveaway items. I will even include the cost of shipping and handling at no expense to you! Submit your survey no later than midnight (EST), Monday, November 10, 2014!

Click HERE to take the Petals from the Basket Reader Survey!

_______________

November Reader Survey Prizes

Grand Prize:

1 But God necklace (purchased from The Vintage Pearl) and

5 copies of the But God Bible study

(Later in the month, I’ll tell you how you can purchase a But God necklace directly from The Vintage Pearl at a special price!)

Value: $84.95

First Prize

1 But God necklace (purchased from The Vintage Pearl) – value: $45.00

Second Prize

5 copies of the But God Bible study – value: $39.95

Third Prize

1 The Best Yes, by Lysa Teurkeurst – value: $15.95

Fourth Prize

1 copy of the But God Bible study – value: $7.99

*Total value of all prizes (not included shipping and handling, which we will pay): $193.84

All shipping, handling, and prize costs will be paid in full by Brenda Strohbehn and PetalsfromtheBasket.com.

Click HERE to take the Petals from the Basket Reader Survey!

 

By Petals from the Basket | November 7, 2014 | Events |

A Short Memo to Church Leaders on Behalf of Singles*

Pastors, spiritual leaders, church small group organizers, etc. Just a loving tip from one of many whose house doesn’t have a spouse—because I’ve seen it more often than not over the last five years [and I truthfully, therefore, refer to no specific church in particular]:

When listing what your church has to offer, remember that in listing “Couples/College/Teens/Children” as the headings for what you offer in the way of small groups on Sundays, you are unintentionally but specifically omitting many who fit into none of those categories. You do the same by using the title “ADULTS” and then offering only courses on parenting, marital relationships, etc.

Yes, having classes and courses for couples is imperative. But I implore you to please understand that the majority of your singles* are not single because they chose it but because God chose that for them for this time, and they are choosing to rejoice in His choosing and in Him.

Please don’t make that so hard for them.

_____

*I use the term “singles” here as a generic term for those without a spouse in the house, whether never married, divorced, or widowed.

By Petals from the Basket | October 30, 2014 | Auntie Brenda (Dating/Singles), Ideas, Life Changes |

The Need for Clean Hearts and Clean Carpet

My precious friend Amy calls it carpet-smelling prayer. In Luke 5:12 (NASB), the Bible uses the idea of “falling on your face” before the Lord in prayer: “While He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man covered with leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, ‘Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.'”

I think the motivation behind a prayer with this much emotion, this much passion, this much desire comes from the action described in the four words that precede his falling on his face before the Lord: “when he saw Jesus.”

Oh sure, we read about Jesus. We talk about Jesus. Shoot, we even sing about Jesus. But when was the last time we saw Jesus?

No I’m not being mystical or speaking of physically viewing the living, breathing Son of God sitting across the room. I’m speaking of a much deeper view: a view that transcends mere vision.

For example, when I truly see Him for who He is and think of the Lord as my shepherd, I don’t merely envision a male human being tending bleating sheep. I don’t even simply picture the Lord Himself walking with me, staff in one hand, my hand in the other, as I find rest beside still waters—as awesome as that thought is. When I know Him and have a firsthand understanding of the depth of His character, I see in that title “shepherd” the overwhelming truth that because of who He is, “I shall not want.” It encompasses the entirety of His being, His power, and His love.

Therein lies the problem. We fail to see—truly see—Jesus.

No, wait. I need to speak in the first person, teaching these truths to myself first. So let me rewrite that previous statement: I fail to see—truly see—Jesus.

So then here’s the centuries-old question: Why do I continue in those things that distract me from seeing Jesus?

While there are many reasons for taking my eyes off of Jesus, perhaps the second chapter of the book of First John sums up the top three the best: “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world” (verses 15–16, NASB).

It’s that pesky “boastful pride of life” that seems to be effective at taking my eyes off of Jesus. But it might not be in the way that seems most obvious. The problem comes because I know my own sinfulness. When I use the eyes of truth to view who I am, I focus on those past sins and evil desires and—come on now, I know I can’t be the only one—I think “He’s not going to hear me anyhow because I just can’t seem to ‘get all the sin out!'” So I remain quiet.

Oh the pride in the delusion that my unworthiness is greater than His grace.

But there’s that word: grace. The grace that He gives me over and over and over and over is given unconditionally, unceasingly, and undeservedly. It’s the grace that makes Him God and leaves me in need of a God of grace.

And it is in remembering that grace that I let go of that which I held so tightly, and in the letting go, my gaze turns to Jesus.

And in gazing upon Jesus, I am compelled to fall upon my face in the adoration that flows from “carpet-smelling prayer.”

 

By Petals from the Basket | October 27, 2014 | Family, God-and-I-Time, Life Changes |

Free Printable Calendar

Just for fun, here’s a free printable 2015 calendar for your refrigerator, notebook, or desk! You have been such an  encouragement and blessing to me that I thought it would be fun to give you a little surprise “thank-you” gift today to help you think ahead to the following: 1) things you want to ask God to help you accomplish before the end of 2014 and 2) things you want to ask God to help you accomplish in 2015! Have a great Sunday and a wonderful week!

Click on the photo of the calendar to download your free printable 2015 calendar!

By Petals from the Basket | October 26, 2014 | Organization |