Multi-Purpose House Slippers????

While at the store with a friend last week, we happened across these cute pink slippers that caught our eye.  I saw that on the bottom sole part of the slipper, there were these thick short rope like things on them and it sort of looked like a dust mop.  So, it was a dust mop and a slipper, all in one!  I immediately thought to my self, I must get these!  In my brain, which is a scary place to be, I invisioned me sliding and slipping all over my tile floors in my pretty big house and just like the "Scrubbing Bubbles" guy sliding all over the big black bathtub, everything behind him was white!!  So, my floors will be dusted and clean just by me waltzing around!!  Oh joy!!  I could hardly wait to try these on and get to it!  The next day, which is Saturday, I try them on and they fit quite comfortably.  I get to it.  I'm sliding around the livingroom, kitchen, office and since I'm not as flexible as I use to be, I can't twist behind me and look at the miracle, but I am still invisioning it.  When Bob sees me, (as usual, by now he's not surprised by any of my chinanigans) he's trying to think if he should ask "what's up?" or not.  I see him looking at me sliding everywhere and I'm like  "isn't it great!".  I go on to tell him what it is suppose to  be doing behind me.  To end the story, he  spends the next five minutes pointing out spots or hairs that were missed and after completing a 3  foot by 3 foot square, I was quite exhausted and done.  However, if the inventers get a vacuum you can lay on and watchTV while vacuuming, call me. 

This episode prompted me to think of other multi-purpose cleaners and even while things not meant for the actual project are being used, we're finding out that there are multiple purposes to almost everything. 

While praying for some very close friends to me and the situations going on in their lives, I had to wonder "does God have multi-purposes for these incidents?".  Then as I reflect on past horrors to me at the time, I wondered if the Lord had multi-purposes for those as well.  It sort of hit me that when  something out of the ordinary happens, it sets off a chain reaction.  Most incidences set off a domino effect. When I or anyone I love, care about, know or hear of is facing a difficult challenge in their life, I have to think that perhaps that God is using this tragedy, to effect His will in several people's lives.

When my 35 year old cousin who was healthier than anyone I knew - Shawn - got sick, and two years later after fighting harder than anyone on this earth could, passed away, I can't tell you how that affected me.  To see my Aunt and Uncle standing up  there by his casket and sharing with us parts of their lives with him to all of us, it broke me.  To see my cousins and their children suffer over this loss was excruciatingly painful.  To see Shawn's twin sister, Stacy, face her first birthday all by herself without her twin brother, I mean words can't explain the heartache because it goes on and on with the first Mother's Day, etc...  And it still hurts.  But the Lord showed me one of His purposes in that tragedy that He used as a multi-purpose.  That was used on me.  At that time, God was on a back burner.  I wasn't praying, reading, going to church.  I was smoking, drinking and only the Lord knows what else. 

And I have to tell you, God got my attention through that death of my cousin.  I woke up and I straightened up because I realized, yet again, how precious and short life is.  We are only here for a short while, the bible states we're as a vapor.  I've seen vapor's and they don't last at all.  We have a limited time to encourage people and live like Jesus wants us to and love harder than anyone on this earth to touch lives of lost souls who need Him.  I am going to try and remember the Lord's multi-purposes when anything, be it good or sad happens.  For God causes ALL things to work out for the GOOD.  Amen.

Teaching - Learning to Play to the Audience of One

Next week, Lord willing, I may start a brand new job as a Teacher's Aide for High School students.  As I laid in bed this morning thinking about all the jobs I've had, I couldn't help but realize this one is one I thought I could never do even though I use to dream and play Teacher as a child.  You see, I was a high school drop out.  Never thinking at the time how that would follow me the rest of my life.  It's almost like saying I'm a quitter.  Even though there were special circumstances that had prevented me from obtaining a High School Diploma, I did eventually receive my GED.  That's sort of like comparing a quitter to someone who got laid off, sort of. 

This new adventure is both exciting and to be honest scary!!  I have had some great teachers in the past who made lifelong influences on my life in a positive way.  I've also had teachers that abused me and scarred me.  I choose to remember the positive ones. 

As with any new job, I am going to be like a fish out of water, yet it appeals to me because as I prayed about this entire opportunity, I have this desire to see what God is going to have me do.  I want to be a witness for Him.  I'm not saying I can't be a witness for Him without an outside of the house job, because anyone can; however, I'm saying this feels different.  These are teenagers I am going to be hopefully influencing positively.  I love teenagers! 

The fear comes from the usual doubts of my ability, fear of how the teacher's I try to assist take to me, and the fear of doing or saying something that could hurt someone.  I've done that enough in my life.  So, as I begin on this journey, hopefully next Thursday, I know how to silence these fears.  Only by working as unto the Lord.  Each morning asking for wisdom, protection for the students and faculty, a loving and helpful attitude, forgetting myself and seeking someone else's good, and humility along with thankfulness.  Then that peace....oh that sweet peace which I've tasted, will guard my heart and my mind. 

With over 20 years of working in Corporate America and climbing up the aluminum ladder of people pleasing, I remember the fear.  It all stemmed from trying to please everyone, except God.  All those things I fretted over, cried over, drank over....were stupid.  They passed and those great ones now ... where are they?  Now that I know that, and lived through it, I can hopefully remember how this does all pass.  Everything will pass away except for the Word of the Lord.  So, if anyone hears me fretting over something stupid...please make me read the Word, Pray to the Lord and repent.  I want to please Him and play to an audience of one.