This past Spring, I met Linda and was taken by her remarkable talent–she writes in several genres–and her passion to serve God wherever He plants her, no matter her circumstances.  Thanks, Linda, for sharing with us these wonderful words of wisdom!

Finding Balance in a Seesaw World

By Linda Wood Rondeau  

Do you ever feel that life is out of tune—a discordant schedule of work engagements, spousal obligations, parental demands, friends’ needs, children’s activities, and church responsibilities? When your head finally hits the pillow, does that nagging fear you’ve forgotten something keep you awake until the early morning hours?

Do you sometimes feel you are running a marathon with little or no training? Do you feel like calling it quits after the first four miles or, at the least, continue on panting and painfully looking for the finish line?

Do you find most of your days have been commandeered by yet to do items on your “urgently needed to complete” list?

If the answers to the above are yes, you are in good company.

I’ve never been adept at multitasking. My husband, on the other hand, is able to watch a television show, listen to the radio, read the paper, and carry on a conversation concurrently without missing a single note, action, or word. I refuse to admit my limitations and race against the clock.

 “Do you know the washing machine is running with no clothes in it?” My husband asked. While waiting for the machine to fill, I had gone upstairs to get the laundry and noticed that the bathroom mirror needing cleaning. By the time that task was done, I had forgotten why I was upstairs and quickly found another chore to occupy my mind.

Trying to find that delicate balance in life is a little like sitting on the top end of a seesaw. Just when you think you’ve got it conquered, someone gets off at the bottom, painfully reminding us of how out of control our lives can become in a matter of seconds. We are jarred into the sudden realization that our teetering life’s schedules are also dependent upon others.

Our time often is not our own. Every day people grab parts of it away from us through job demands, family activities, church responsibilities, and even our adoring pets. Who gets how much of our time is often determined by who is more important to us. What is attended to first will depend upon our hierarchy of need. Sheila pulled out her to do list: get the groceries, get gas, and cash paycheck. In order to accomplish the first two, she needed to do the last item on her list first. Needs changed her priorities.

Many of us have too much month at the end of our money. What financial obligation takes precedent will depend upon how we view the purpose of money in our lives. Dawn had to buy groceries, pay the mortgage, and pay the tithe. She didn’t have enough to accomplish all three. Trusting in God’s benevolence, she felt prompted to pay the tithe and the mortgage, wondering about what she might have to eat for the next week. When she checked the mail the next day, she had received a refund check for the amount needed to buy the groceries. Her financial choices were determined by what she deemed was most important.

 Balanced living is achieved only when our actions align with our values. God gives us His Holy Spirit to desire what God deems best for us, helping us to make choices that are in tune with His perfect will.

Christ is our example of balanced living. Every choice He made came from a central desire—to do the will of the Father. His ministry, prayer, social life, and personal choices revolved around this driving force: to finish the work for which He had been sent:

 “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do”

(John 17: 4).

Just as Christ lived his life in perfect harmony with God’s purpose, God desires that our steps be in accordance to His plan for us. When we walk in disharmony with God’s plan, our proverbial seesaw comes crashing down, painfully reminding us that our lives have become unbalanced. How then do we keep in step with an all-powerful and all-knowing God? Paul tells us in I Corinthians 2:16 that we “have the mind of Christ.” The Holy Spirit who dwells within every believer directs our choices. If we listen, He will “teach us all things” (John 14:25), putting us into complete agreement with the Father.

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:16 – 17).

Winner of the 2012 Selah Award for best first novel (The Other Side of Darkness/Harbourlight),  LINDA RONDEAU, writes stories of redemption and God’s mercies. Walk with her unforgettable characters as they journey paths not unlike our own. After a long career in human services, mother of three and wife of one very patient man, Linda now resides in Florida where she is active in her church and community.  Readers may visit her web site at www.lindarondeau.com.  Her second book, written under L.W. Rondeau, America II: The Reformation, Trestle Press, the first in a dystopian trilogy, is a futuristic political now available in ebook on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.  Also with Trestle Press is her serial story, Rains of Terror which can be found on Amazon.Com.

Today we celebrate Linda’s newest release,

A Christmas Adirondack romance , It Really IS a Wonderful Life, now available through Amazon.com, published by Lighthouse of the Carolinas.

Stay tuned tomorrow for more It’s a Wonderful Life fun.

Want to impress your family and friends at this year’s feast?  How about dinner at The Plaza?–in 1899

From turtle soups to duck of every variety, these meals were certainly enjoyed only by New Yorkers who could afford such extravagance–just the soup alone set you back 65 cents.

Source: NewYork Public Library Digital Gallery

Think I’ll stick to my Southern-style turkey and cornbread dressing.  How about you?  Trying something new this year for Thanksgiving?  Or do you look forward to a more traditional menu?

Now what?

Over the past few months everyone has been engulfed in debates, poll predictions, and public opinions.

I must admit, I did jump from bed Tuesday morning at 5:30 am with a spring in my step and a sense of anticipation.  But today it’s all over. . .so now what?

Now, we continue on the campaign trail

Wouldn’t it be great if we all continued with that same passion and drive everyday as those on the campaign trail? What about shaking hands and kissing babies to support His cause–the cause of Christ?  How much different would our world be today if we put that same energy into speaking the hope of our Savior and spreading His good news?

Now, we keep up the good fight

The reality of our fight far exceeds any earthly elections.  And our fight is far from over, so we press on.

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.  1 Timothy 6:12 NKJV

Now, we live

God’s given us today to enjoy and to use for His glory.  Let’s live it out with His purpose in mind.

What about you?  Have you learned anything from this past presidential campaign?  How can you use what you’ve learned to glorify God and increase His kingdom?

3 Reasons I’m not Normal Norman

I love Norman Rockwell’s rendering of the American Thanksgiving Feast.  And though, every year, I aim for the same picture perfect moment, I’ve yet to hit the target.

Here’s why:

1. White Linens

They’d never make it.  We’re more of an orange plastic disposable type.

2. Blissful Control

Who are these happy people?  All smiles, seated around the table–while Granny, of course, hauls out the heavy platter on her own–after all day slaving away on all the sides.  I say, give the lady a hand!

No kiddie table in the corner or angry uncle yelling at the TV–no flustered mom juggling 3 plates of food or siblings arguing over who gets the last slice of pie–just smiling faces, all poised and patient.  And Granny just as pleased as punch to serve it all.

3. Big Bird

Good grief, that’s a big bird!  I can’t afford that huge turkey–just saying.

This year I’m still planning the perfect Thanksgiving.  Maybe not for Norman, but for normal me.  And though my house may be filled with noisy kids, plastic utensils, and a “bargain-sized” bird, it will still be the perfect cause for celebration and the perfect moment to be thankful for.

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.–1Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV

1. I live here.

I don’t have the right to complain if I’m not doing anything to change my circumstances or to make a difference.

2. It’s a privilege.

Many others have died so that I could have the right to vote.

3. I’m the only one.

I’m the only me who can represent me.  Voting allows me to express MY opinions, MY concerns, MY choices.

Today, I’ll hope you, too, will join me and VOTE.

Tomorrow is an important day for our nation.  As we look around at the many issues and problems our leaders face, we may question how we could even begin to make a difference.  However, every change begins with one step toward it.  And tomorrow, it begins when we each make a choice.

Pastor Stephen Phillips of Christian Heritage Church shared a great message yesterday emphasizing just how important it is for each of us to vote.  Here’s a few of his examples:

Back in 1984, the California Secty of State compiled this list:

• In 1645, one vote gave Oliver Cromwell control of England
• In 1649, one vote caused Charles I of England to be executed.
• In 1776, one vote gave America the English language instead of German.
• In 1845, one vote brought Texas into the Union.
• In 1868, one vote saved President Andrew Johnson from impeachment.
• In 1876, one vote changed France from a monarchy to a republic.
• In 1876, one vote gave Rutherford B. Hayes the Presidency of U.S.
• In 1933, one vote gave Adolph Hitler leadership of the Nazi Party.
• In 1960, one vote change in each precinct in Illinois would have denied John F. Kennedy the Presidency.

Your vote DOES make a difference.

Romans 13:1-7

So you’ve put away your costumes and tossed the sagging jack-o-lanterns–now what?  According to commercial venues, it’s time to pull out the Christmas tree!

But what about Thanksgiving?  Stuffed (pun intended) between Halloween and Christmas, this poor holiday seems to get tossed aside as just a quick stepping stone for great shopping.

Soon, we’ll rename it Black Friday EVE. 

Seems now the only reason we look forward to Thanksgiving is food and football.

Maybe it’s a sign of our times.  The First Thanksgiving was not at all like today’s.  In fact, the very first Thanksgiving celebration of 1621 had little to do with feasting and much more to do with prayer.  After all, they’d barely survived their first winter in a new land.  And so they invited their new native friends who’d helped to keep them alive to give thanks for the first autumn harvest of corn, squash, etc.–without mention of one turkey or bowl of cranberry sauce!

Instead of a day, the festivities lasted a week, where their neighbors built for themselves temporary shelter, played games, sang and danced.

The first Thanksgiving was just that–thanking God for provisions, protection, and new friends.

This November, what are you thanking Him for?

What takes you to your happy place?  I know, I know.  Sounds like some sort of psychotherapy.

However, I do have a few go-to tricks that seem to relax me when I’m feeling a little stressed or overwhelmed.

For me?  Charlie Brown.  Though I love the movies and the comic strip, it’s the music that does it.  I play a couple of mellow Charlie Brown tunes and somehow I feel better.

Charlie makes me smile.  And today–I’m thankful for Charlie.

How about you?  What’s your go-to for a happy spot?

Feel like your days are whisked away with too many To-Dos?  Here’s a great challenge of more IMPORTANT To-Dos from imom.com I think all us moms–and dads–should take:

Click on the image for a full-size download from the imom website.

Christianity Today magazine featured “50 Women You Should Know” in this month’s issue.

To create the list, evangelical leaders were asked to name one Christian woman who they felt most shaped today’s life in both the church and culture in significant ways.  The women listed covered a wide range of professions and areas within modern society.  From environmental advocacy to racial reconciliation, all were using their talents as Christian women to make a profound impact on the world in which they served.

This afternoon, I, too, will celebrate the life of another remarkable woman.  And though she may not be known worldwide, I’ll gather with family and friends to remember her  as an amazing Christian woman who left a tremendous imprint on my life and the many others in her small section of this world.

We all have influence.   And whether good or bad, our influences long outlive our lives on earth.  Though they may start small, our choices and words will carry.  Though we may see only their beginning, the seeds we plant will burst open and grow.

Yes, I’ll miss my dear friend’s encouragement, her unconditional love, and even her perfect pecan pie.  However, she taught me that godly living has eternal value.  So today, I grab hold of her legacy and continue my own journey with her example in mind.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.–Proverbs 11:30 NKJV

in memory of my dear friend, Mrs. Georgia Gunter