Category: On Any Given Day

It is Finished 2

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© jb katke

…but Easter 2024 is not over, the message is more than daily. It is hourly—year in and year out.

I love the words I heard on Sunday, never having put the concept together before. They came from two sources, Tim Tebow, former football quarterback, and my pastor, Mike Bickley.

“Jesus’s death on the cross is biggest rescue mission known to man.”

How true! Some had need to call a fire department, others maybe the police. Or maybe both. Depending on the need being an urgent cry of help, and the right people came running.

How many of us have felt that cry of help in a spiritual sense? A mental scenario plays in my mind of someone on the verge of drowning, pleading with Jesus to save him. If saved, this individual makes all kinds of promises—only to forget about them when he miraculously is saved. It is human nature to look after number one. An unfortunate human response.

There is so much in life that is beyond our control. It only makes sense to turn to Jesus. Or is that the last resort? Consider making it your first priority. Jesus already owns a claim to fame. Cracking open the Good Book, you can read about his message of his healing, salvation, his new way of worshipping.

Wait, back up. Does that cry for help in a spiritual sense denote a need of saving? What is really desired is being removed from danger, right? Consider this: We all are in danger. If Jesus is somewhere in the way background of your life, you are putting yourself in danger of falling for…whatever.

A bigger home, the newest model vehicle, or the latest cell phone available won’t give you peace of mind. They will forever require updating.

Compare that to what Jesus has to offer, free for the asking. He is capable of instilling new wholesome desires that fall in line with his plan for you. Were you even aware he made you for a purpose and has great plans for your life? I can vouch for the fact that he will take you places never dreamed of. It’s a good thing.

Jesus can and does fill a heart with gratitude, comforts in time of need, and gives you the opportunity to spend eternity with him. The hard things in life are not removed, but you can have him with you wherever you go. Whatever you do. That, my friend, is better than a State Farm agent who is always there. An agent has hours, Jesus is 24/7 on call, waiting to hear from you.

Getting back to Easter—we have it because of Christmas. Commonly they are the seasons of acknowledgement. He came as an infant growing in this world as you did. Living a blameless life, he deliberately took all the wrong things of this world (aka sin) and let the blame fall on him. Take it personally that he died for you. It truly is the biggest rescue mission ever. It is up to you, do not let your faith be seasonal.

Any hour is right to call on him, he will come running.

Waste Not

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© jb katke

The saying goes, ‘Waste not, want not.’ Frightening as it may sound hang with my random thoughts here.

In a former life I was a quilter but remain a fabriholic. My fabric stash has been greatly downsized, but has potential. It’s all good for something. Just about every quilt I’ve made has shared the same sentiment, “I’ll not make that again.”

The last being a cathedral window quilt. It is a prime candidate for using up excess scraps. I used up enough to have to go out and purchase more fabric, an exercise in futility for you. These blasted two-inch squares are the leftovers and I’m making an effort to use them as well. Saved for some day.

Today’s point has nothing to do with fabric or quilting. The focus is on opportunities. I have missed National Son’s Day. Again. For starters, I don’t keep track of them until the day arrives. Then feel bad about it, until I remember my son doesn’t keep track either. He seldom gets on social media, so he doesn’t feel snubbed—leaving me feeling guilty for nothing.

Not to mention National Daughters Day. I have more than one of them and I’d miss that too, just to be fair. Here is what I am saying:

I am incredibly proud of every one of my children. Despite their tendencies in childhood, they have grown to be hard-working, responsible, law-abiding adults. They made excellent choices in their spouse as well, as the blessings carry on.

This is my sentiment every day of the year. Not just once a year for those national days I keep missing. I give a shout out to them because they deserve it. They may not realize this post immediately because, for them, it’s a work day. They all lead busy lives. Eventually, one of them may get to it and contact their siblings, “Hey did you catch mom wrote about us?”

Let those you love know how much they are loved. Life is so short and accidents happen. It is easy to think there is time, but tragedies occur on a daily basis. Our family has experienced a few and know we are not alone.

It is a sad dirty shame I didn’t realize how precious time is when we had little ones. Young families are up to their eyeballs with, well, young families. Life stops for no one. Its when more years are behind you than in front that prompts reflection.

Another word. If your fortunate enough to have grandparents, spend time talking with them. I didn’t and regret it. Older folks have stories to share to whoever will listen. They have lived through some stuff and pass on some words of wisdom.

Who else could picture fabric scraps and speak of time well-spent?

Stranger things have happened.

This I Know…

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© jb katke

…head colds now reveal themselves differently in me than before. Because misery loves company, my husband Dave joined me. Technically, he started it. The difference between us is he went to work and I returned to bed.

…having to back out of five commitments told me I am busy. I may long for a time out, but acknowledge my life has purpose.

…drinking more water is advisable, but does not taste as good as Coke. Frozen Coke, better yet.

… it is not a good idea to procrastinate. Laundry multiplies.

… the sun rising to a new day, regardless of how I feel boggles my mind.

…doing things that are good for me is not fun. Going for walks is time-consuming.

…reading makes me tired and I have so many books to read.

… I truly don’t like change, unless it’s for the better.

…when my sewing machine misbehaves, it is time to walk out of the quilt room.

…while certain foods may be healthy and necessary, if it makes you gain weight, it’s evil.

…life is what you make it, dang it.

…dogs try to make friends with people that don’t like dogs, Just ask Dave, he can tell you.

…I can be a whiner if I set my mind to it. 

… Jesus loves me anyway. He said so in the Good Book. Starting a day reading what he says, makes the day go better. It is a supernatural experience. Trust me, I know.

…asking Jesus to take control of my life does not guarantee a problem-free life. He just makes it bearable one day at a time.

…Jesus gives me something the world cannot. Worry-free. Another mind-boggler is what he allows to take place on earth—just know his patience will come to an end.

…peace and contentment can be had.

…that you need Jesus as much as I do.

Don’t forget—Jesus loves you more than you realize.

Selling Point

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©jb katke

Have you ever encountered something that impacted you in a big way? You were not looking for it—it just presented itself to you. Add seeing it in the most unexpected place. Wow, right?

Pictured here is what was written on a business van, just making its daily service calls. I was running an errand—not on the lookout for a meaningful moment. But here it was.  

Currently I am in progress of writing a devotional and the wording on the van “It’s about the relationship” resonated with me. Some way, some how this will work itself into my book. My plan is not so much to teach, but it could. True to my way of doing things, it is intended to plant encouragement and hope. Could ya use some?

The words on this truck nailed it. I don’t have a plumbing, heating, or air conditioning issue—but if I did, I would be inclined to call them up. What is it that sells you on any given product or service?

It seems the way of the world is to tell people what they want to hear. Give the shoddiest job done and move on. Years ago, Dave and I were on the receiving end of a similar situation. I got a verbal estimate and requested a written statement for my husband to read over. Going to his truck, the man tore off a corner of paper and wrote the price down. Real professional, huh?

That’s not the way to promote your business.  I know. My husband was a remodeler in a previous life. Early on, most of his work was from recommendations. Friends of friends. Small repairs often grew into future home remodels on a larger scale. It was important to listen the homeowners because—bottom line, these people had to live with the end result.

It just makes sense to establish a relationship first. Offensive as it may sound, first impressions are your first impression. If that does not go well, forget it.

That holds true in business, co-workers, and neighbors. How we present ourselves is the defining moment. Considering the fact that nothing happens by accident, it could even be a Jesus moment.

There is Hope

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© jb katke

Me and my kitchen have never been good friends.

Memories of bloopers flood my mind. My future husband, Dave, gave me a cookbook a year in advance of our marriage. I took the cellophane off it after our wedding. Shortly after opening it I cooked a roast misunderstanding the oven temperature for the inner temperature of the meat. Dinner was late that night.

The year I roasted my first turkey, Dave invited a single friend to join us. For starters I neglected to realize there were little ‘treats’ left inside the cavity that needed to come out. Before roasting. Our friend loved stuffing, or dressing, as some say. Call it what you will, I didn’t make any. It’s bad enough to not enjoy cooking, but to be a disappointment to your guest. That is unacceptable.

There was the cake that refused to raise, ditto for the meringue on my lemon pie. Need I go on?

It isn’t just food issues, it’s appliances too. When the kitchen was remodeled a dishwasher and garbage disposal was added. I didn’t see the need them I wasn’t missing what I didn’t have. It’s for resale value I was told.  No time at all and I had adjusted to them.

Years ago, when microwaves were the thing, Dave insisted our kitchen should have one. I resisted—I fought the new-fangled thing that would take up space on the counter. The kids would grow used to one so that when they left home it would be a necessity in their mind. All to no avail. The pressure was on when we purchased one for Mom, with a price too good to be true. Now I cannot imagine a kitchen without one. Told ya so.

Yesterday was da ja vu. Air fryers were the topic.

Mine will arrive today. But no promises from me. Again, I resisted, but knuckled under ahead of schedule. I know defeat when I see it. I will get used to it as I did to all our other conveniences. Adjusting to change is hard when your husband does all he can to make my life easier.

Permissible Remains

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© jb katke

Mom used to refer to leftovers from dinner as remains. Hardly exudes an appetite, no matter how  disguised it is for another meal.

I have fabric scraps lingering from a quilt project that I hope to never repeat again. These little squares take up valuable real estate in the quilt room, and their presence gets in the way of  my moving forward. To address the situation, I am making quilt blocks for a future quilt I may never make. Translated: the real estate now has become a larger storage issue.

Do you have past experiences that you wished had never been? Regrets that weigh you down today, even though the occurrence was long ago?

Some things cannot be disguised. Not in food. Not in a quilt. It is the most uncomfortable of ruts to live in. So—don’t. Give yourself permission to do something about it.

Moving forward is easier said than done. Harsh words or regrettable actions harden with age. Let it be said here that I do not have all the answers to life’s issues. But today could be the start of a larger-than-life change.

Using the quilt block for instance, I gave myself permission. I told me it was okay to put those tiny little pieces together to make something bigger. They had potential for use and future warmth.

Ill-spoken words cannot be unsaid, but there is room for an updated version that can bring a balm to the soul  and relief from guilt.

Ditto for regrettable actions. Here is a thought. Try mending relationships with new and improved actions. If done long enough, kindness wins. Even if it falls apart, you have made a commendable effort.

Give yourself permission to right wrongs. Life is too short and the burden of guilt gets heavier over time. You are worth the effort. Jesus knows your potential and with a little help from him, it becomes mission-possible.

The Unexpected

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© jb katke

An unwelcome and unexpected visitor came by this week. If the possum could talk, he/she may have been in agreement.

We have a couple window wells that come flush with mother earth. Animals can easily be nosing along the ground when suddenly they are pedaling air until reaching a stone-filled landing. Three concrete walls surround them with a row of windows on the other side.

Our home is in a well populated, heavily trafficked neighborhood, meaning the critters do not have much woods to call home. But this wasn’t the first time. One would think word would pass in the animal kingdom.

There is no alternative but to get the homeowners attention. Get me outta here!

This, in the dead of night. My dearly beloved is about to crawl into bed when the scratching began. If left unattended our window would be destroyed. On go the clothes, out comes the truck, down comes a long board to put into the window well so the poor thing can crawl out. Which he/she takes their lazy good-for-nothing time to do.

C’mon, it’s cold out here and I wanna go to bed.

I slept through the whole escapade. When morning came, I found him/her eating breakfast.

Have you ever found yourself in a hopeless situation? You need help but unsure of where to turn. What can a person do in the dead of night with no one around to help? Pray? It can’t hurt.

The Good Book tells us that not a sparrow falls that Jesus does not know about it. Surely, he looks after possums—and people too. Pray. What do you have to lose?

OMG-She’s Alive!

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© jb katke

Her lights flashed to get our attention.

Dave: “Alexa, do you have a notification?”

Alexa: “One new notification from Alexa News from Fox News. ___________. Do you want to hear more?”

Dave: “No.”

Me: “I wonder why she does that? She says it is from both Alexa News and Fox News too.”

Alexa: “I’m sorry, I don’t have an answer to that.”

Yikes—she heard me and responded!

Artificial Intelligence, or AI, has been a regular topic in the news of late. It started out as convenience, but has quickly become a concern.

We have been using it—perhaps without realizing it. Have you texted someone recently and found the word you were starting to write pop up? That is AI. Or maybe while scrolling through the internet gathering info on a potential purchase—suddenly all these ads come at you without your prompting? AI is at work. I heard of a couple talking face to face, in front of their phones apparently, and ads starting streaming in to relate to their conversation.

Can it go too far? Technology knows so much these days that it can be frightening.

This has been a talking point in the writers meetings I have attended. It seems there are websites available that will help an author produce an online book using their own voice.

As tempting as that may sound, I suspect there may be drawbacks.

TV commercials speak of multiple mortgages being made on your home without your knowledge. Snail mail enters your mailbox of a security breach at your bank. While it may or may not be AI, it definitely is technology. It is only a matter of time and your voice may be ‘kidnaped’ and used against you in some way.

Yes, in my world, that is going too far—and we all should proceed with caution.

But consider this:

There is one who does more that hear what we say—he reads hearts. He knows our thoughts and desires. Not Santa Claus, but Jesus. The Good Book documents such happenings in Mark 2:6-8 and Luke 9:46, to name a couple instances.

Words should be used wisely—and beware of what enters our heart. He knows. Jesus understands what we want—and like a good father provides for our needs. There is a difference, and can explain why some of our desires go unfulfilled. It takes faith and trust to comprehend what the fifties television show indicates, Father Knows Best.

https://blogreedsy.com/guide/audiobooks/ai-narration

 

Dear Whomever

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© jb katke

Our society has come to this. Beware—a can or worms is about to be opened.

A recent shopping trip to find a birthday card led me to see this. Why doesn’t the card just say it like it is? ‘Whoever you are, Happy Birthday.’ Does that fill you with all the warm fuzzies coming from a loved one?

Me either. Greeting card shopping has become a challenge in recent years. It is hard to come by a card that expresses my wishes. The son-in-law that feels more like a son—the daughter-in-law that is more like a daughter. Just because we didn’t raise them—as most cards indicate, doesn’t mean they are any the less dear.

It goes without mentioning the estranged parents that want to celebrate their child, but the card says “us.” If a divorce took place “us” does not fit. What about the child that determines he is not a he anymore, but becoming a she? Or vice versa.

My mother had a clever saying, “The gravy thickens.”

Relationships have become convoluted. Families are not what they used to be and can easily leave one riding the waves, unsure of what shore they will wash up on.

Except for you and I. There are many that read my words that I have never met. Even so, I want to let you know how much you mean to me. It humbles me that you give time to read my thoughts of the day.

It’s you that helps me phrase those thoughts. While we all live on planet earth, our lives seem worlds apart. The norms of everyday living are vastly different. Yet here we are sharing a moment together. Thank you seems so trite—but I do thank you.

It is not just me that thinks of you regularly. So does Jesus. He played a huge part in creating you and continues to have great plans for your life. That is if you allow him to be a part of it.

What does that look like when you cannot see the guy?

Allow me to share what I have found to be a great help.

Early in my day, I talk with Jesus. Tell him what he already knows. He is great and powerful. (It’s a simple matter of giving credit where it is due) I bring up my family and put them into his hands because I can’t control their day or their thoughts like he can. I thank him for things in my own life that has brought me to a closer relationship to him and ask him to guide me through the day. Putting my concerns on his to-do list makes more sense because he is a get ’er done kind of guy.

It’s that simple. You are not a whomever person. You are a big somebody to Jesus. Consider each sunrise to be his greeting card to you. Nothing pleases him more than the two of you sharing life together.

Private Eyes

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© jb katke

“Momma, is it true, private eyes really are watching us?”

Daughter Naomi had a legitimate concern.

Dealing honestly with my children was a must, “No honey, no one is watching us.”

Her question was based upon a song that Hall & Oates produced the year of her birth. ‘Private Eyes Are Watching You’ played for substantial years, long enough for her to comprehend what the lyrics meant.

But was I being honest with her? To my knowledge security cameras were few and far between. Unlike today. We cannot even make a run to the corner store for milk without being under surveillance.

I once had a neighbor with one of those Ring doorbells that gave video of who was at their door. His range of vision was vast—knowing our every move.

The lights that line our streets serve more than just giving us light in the dark. Them things have cameras. People need to know that fact.

Don’t throw caution to the wind. There are apps available for cell phones that inform what location firemen are called to and the nature of the emergency. Privacy has gone out the window.

The worst of it is what comes into our homes. Reality TV shows air the stupidity of thieves making errors in their effort to steal. Police shows share videos of drivers gone bad.

Not to mention the news. Wars are telecast for us all to see the atrocities of evil. Everyone can see everything. I repeat:

Was I being honest with my daughter?

Particularly when I know Jesus. He sees all and knows all. That fact is too important to forget. It has impacted me in an unexpected way. He led me to start writing.

Those that know me, know I have never fathomed writing. But here I am making contact with you to know what I know. At some point I will be face-to-face with Jesus, I don’t want to explain why I didn’t do what he asked of me.

He willingly died before there were cameras and television to record the horrific event. But you can read all about it in the Good Book. It wasn’t pretty.

Reading further, you will also run across parts that tell how much you are loved. That too, is a fact. Let Jesus be a guiding light instead of the street lights with cameras.