QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Now That's Something I Could Do Without!

Ya know, if there was one thing I could do without in my life, it would be sleep. As much as I love to sleep, and enjoy making zzzzz's, I wish it wasn't a requirement. It takes up 6-8 precious hours of my life, involves a time-consuming bedtime routine, and interrupts the flow of my nocturnal creative juices.

I have so many better things to do other than sleep, like write music, sew, scrapbook, write, read, research, organize, play, cruise, fix and build, cook, clean, shop on-line, etc., etc. The list goes on and on. I fight against going to bed because it's in the wee hours of the night that I can finally hear myself think. It's also when all my little chicks and the rooster are tucked in tight that I have the complete run of my quiet house. No one is calling my name!

When forced to slumber, I must face extra dental duties, forebear swallowing evening supplements, and follow through with various other personal responsibilities, all of which annoy me. Unlike other family members of mine who don't mind following every rule, I shrink back with a bit of rebellion at the thought of having to fulfill all of my bedtime routine.

The only routine I enjoy is saying "goodbye" to a chaotic day and "hello" to some me-time. With the rest of the house asleep, I can look forward to uninterrupted bliss. Something flips my creativity switch on and away I go, as if it's the top of the morning!

As I write this blog, it's almost 3:30 AM (I guess that IS the top of the morning) and I realize I need to PUT my body to bed. As much as I wish I could get along without sleep, I do enjoy fluffing my pillow, getting into the fetal position, and watching a dream sequence on the backside of my eyelids. Sleep is a good way to end the day and certainly helps me greet a brand new one, complete with all it's challenges. So for my own good, I'll say goodnight. But before I go, I must ask you one question...

If there was one thing you could do without in your life, what would it be???

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what is the one item (besides your Bible) you would most want to have with you? Explain your answer.

OK, I know what some of you are thinking... there is no right or wrong answer and really, anything goes on this one. This might sound bizarre but I would want my pillow.

I have a great pillow right now and I would certainly want this particular one with me on my island, but any pillow would do, under those circumstances.

When I was a very young girl, I had a latex foam pillow that I really loved. I loved it so much, I carried it into my marriage with me 30 years ago. I used it for a good while, even though it did not match my husbands pillow on the other side of the bed. That would bother anal retentives, but it never bothered me.

One evening, I knew it would be my last night sleeping with it. I unzipped the protective cotton cover and saw that the majority of the contents had turned into a pile of yellow crumbs which resembled crushed Captain Crunch cereal near the bottom.

The next day, my search began for the perfect replacement. After years of trying, I had finally found one that felt right. It's one of those memory foam pillows that is contoured for your head. It will never be the same as my old pillow, but I have had many a good nights rest with it.

That is why I chose my pillow. I figured a good nights rest would be pretty high on the priority list while stranded. With all those strange sounds in the night, my pillow would be a comfort - something I could hug if I was scared.

I could even draw a face on it and talk to it when I got lonely.

Not to mention, much softer that a rock to sit on.

As I pondered further, I thought of a dozen other things I could use my pillow for.

That's my choice for now. Who knows, it might change after this gets posted. I might want my iPad instead.

Cyberpsalmist

TIME TRAVELER FOR A DAY

by Demetri Maroosis

The world has had amazing history ever since the time of Creation. There have been many famous Bible stories, battles, and ancient cities. There has also been the Pentecost, The Battle of Hastings, and World War II. It is amazing to see the history that God has orchestrated. You can see God's hand throughout all of history. You can see how God planned that Jesus would be born, die, resurrect, and come again.

If I could go to anytime in history it would have to be the Tower of Babel. I have always wondered what the Tower of Babel really looks like. No one has ever known for sure.

My question is simple, if you could go back to any time or place in history; where would you go?

TRADING PLACES

by Alyssa Thrift

God's creations are amazing. Although humans are the most intelligent, animals have many great characteristics that humans don't have.

Birds can fly, sea creatures can breath under water, and some animals can sleep for a whole winter! God's creativity, when it comes to animals, is extremely amazing.

All my life, I have learned to love and appreciate all the creatures that live on the earth. If I could be any animal, I would definitely have to choose between a dolphin or a panda. (Those are pretty sweet animals in my opinion.)

There is NO WAY the earth could have been "an accident"; all the unique creatures that walk the earth prove it. I say that because a sudden explosion, or whatever scientist try to tell us these days, can NOT produce such outstanding creations; and especially SO many!

Think about it. . . What kind of animal would you be?

Based on skills, looks, or the uniqueness of each animal, tell me what kind of animal do you wish you could be?

I'M AN OPEN BOOK by Alaina Wenrich

One of my most favorite things to do would be to read. I could just curl up in my room for hours with my ipod and a stack of books and I'd be ecstatic, heck, leave me alone in the library for a few hours and I couldn't be happier. One of the best things about books is their ability to draw you into them, so that you feel as if you're there with the main character, helping them through the trials they face. It's the authors of those kind of books that simply amaze me.

I practically grew up on fantasy books. It was always the ones with the pretty covers, the ones that just stood out and caught my eye, that I wanted to read. Some of my favorites as a child were The Hobbit, A Wrinkle in Time, and of course The Chronicles of Narnia. These books have remained with me as cherished favorites of my childhood, and will always hold a special place is my heart, but if I were to choose a favorite among my favorites, I would have to choose Narnia, the world that C.S. Lewis created is just too splendid to give up.

What would you say was your favorite book? If you don't have a favorite book, or if you just can't choose, then tell me your favorite genre of books.

Can you believe it? Christmas is only a few weeks away!!!

I started my Christmas shopping a few months ago so I feel like I am ahead of the game. This year, I tried a different gift strategy with my kids. When it came to picking out their gifts, I took them shopping with me. They should be 100% pleased with what is under the tree this year and just in case they change their minds on any of the items before I wrap them, they have the opportunity to exchange BEFORE Christmas. The anticipation seems greater, even though both of them know what they are getting. The torment of having the stuff somewhere in the house and not being able to touch any of it is killing them.

My kids are asking me for my list and it's hard to think of ideas on demand. All year long, I come across great gift ideas for myself but for some reason, I'm at a loss. Most of the things I want are either too expensive or they are items I would like to pick out myself. Maybe I should use my new gift strategy on myself!

Eventually, I'll come up with a list of well-deserved items. When my kids ask their Dad to take them Christmas shopping for me, they'll be well-informed little shoppers, brainwashed by me, to spend lots of Daddy's hard-earned money.

But what makes me think I should get everything my little heart desires? Well, for the most part, I have been a good girl. I haven't been naughty very much this year and truly thought of others before myself. Basically, I've been perfect in every way. Don't you think I should get everything on my list?

How about you? Please explain why you think YOU should be spoiled this year . . . everything on your list, wrapped and under the tree.

SWEET DREAMS by Nathan James

I'd like to think of myself as one who has many vivid and colorful dreams, not to mention, very random and nonsensical ones as well. What our minds tend to muster up in the late hours of the night can be some of the most ridiculous and crazy scenarios imaginable.

Of course, people have different mindsets, ideas, points of view, and other related mental articles, which give each person different types of dreams; whether it be the people involved in the dream, the setting, atmosphere or appearance. I’ve found some of mine to be very colorful and lustrous (even though I hear that we dream in black and white, I will continuously argue that this statement is fiction.)

Dreaming doesn’t usually occur in the deeper stages of sleep, but rather in the first few stages. We do our dreaming generally in the state of lighter sleeping. Also, if you didn’t already know, it only takes about 10% of your brain to create a dream for nighty-night time.

But aside from all of those monotonous facts, I’d like to hear some of your sweet dreams. Whether they are embarrassing, silly, nightmarish, realistic, or story-like, please share them. I might share a few of mine too, in response to yours. So, what kind of dreams do YOU have?

Question of the Week

If you were given a million dollars,
what would you do with it?
- Kyle O.

Funny you should ask, Kyle, because I mentioned this to the Lord just the other day.

Recently, I went to an out-of-town wedding and was able to renew friendships with nieces and nephews that I had not seen in a few years. One of my nephews is struggling with circumstances in his life that categorize his present condition as "dysfunctional."

As I considered my position as his Aunt, I knew my family, along with the Lord's help, was capable of making a difference in his life. Next summer, we plan on arranging for him to spend a bit of his summer with us.

Then it hit me... wouldn't it be cool if I could personally take my nephew, along with my son (who is close in age) on a missions trip? As quick as the idea came up, I let it go, due to my constant lack of funding. With numerous missions trips behind me, I knew the routine... fundraisers, passport applications, medical exams, not to mention the physical and spiritual preparation. All of this was worth the effort, yielding a greater spiritual return than I could ever fathom. But my biggest hurtle would no doubt be finances.

So, the last thing I whispered in God's ear only a few days ago regarding this far-fetched idea was, "If someone gave me a million dollars, I know just what I would do with it."

I'll leave it right there and remind you as well as myself, "with God, all things are possible," even a million dollars. (Matt. 19:26)

Cyber Psalmist

If you could wake up one morning as someone else, who would it be and what would you do?

Bethany Dillon - Waking Up - 2007

Waking up one morning, only to find I was someone else would be scary, especially if I couldn't pick who I was going to change places with (assuming that was the scenario.) But since I get to pick, here goes:

I think I'd like to be Misty Edwards for one day, just to see what it was like to walk and sing under such an incredible anointing. I feel certain she spends tons of time in prayer, as well as time composing new material and just singing before the Lord; something I don't have much time alloted for these days. A band practice with the musicians she plays with would be very cool and I think I would talk her engineers into letting me have studio time. Then I'd hook up with some of her friends at the coffee shop and ask those "heavy" questions I have been contemplating; people like Allen Hood, Mike Bickle, and Corey Russell. I wouldn't wonder if they wanted to hang out with me... after all, I'm Misty.

I probably would not eat very much because Misty fasts all the time. I would look forward to a two-hour set of worship with my team in the Prayer Room and you... would be able to watch me on the web-stream. But I wouldn't care about that... because I'm Misty.

I would not be satisfied with just 24 hours. I would be anxious for another day to spend at the feet of Jesus. Sleep would be light and the dawn would remind me of what this is all leading to...

because I was Misty.

Cyber Psalmist

Question of the Week

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what is the one item (besides your Bible) you would most want to have with you? Explain your answer.




Ok, I know what some of you are thinking and there is no right or wrong answer. Anything goes on this one so don't get offended if I didn't choose you as my answer. (That was aimed at my mother, who I know reads this.)
I would most want my pillow. I know that sounds bizarre but I love my pillow.

I have a great pillow right now and I would certainly want this particular one with me on my island, but any pillow would do, under those circumstances.

When I was a very young girl, I had a latex foam pillow that I really loved. I loved it so much, I carried it into my marriage with me 30 years ago. I used it for a good while, even though it did not match my husbands pillow on the other side of the bed. That would bother anal retentives, but it never bothered me.

One evening, I knew it would be my last night sleeping with it. I unzipped the protective cotton cover and saw that the majority of the contents had turned into a pile of yellow crumbs which resembled crushed Captain Crunch cereal near the bottom.

The next day my search began for the perfect replacement. After years of trying, I had finally found one that felt right. It's one of those memory foam pillows that is contoured for your head. It will never be the same as my old pillow, but I have had many a good nights rest with it.

That is why I chose my pillow. I figured a good nights rest would be pretty high on the priority list while stranded. With all those strange sounds in the night, my pillow would be a comfort - something I could hug if I was scared.

I could even draw a face on it and talk to it when I got lonely.

Not to mention, much softer that a rock to sit on.

As I pondered further, I thought of a dozen other things I could use my pillow for.

That's my choice for now. Who knows, it might change after this gets posted. I might want my iPod instead.