Teenagers and Other Unpleasant Parasites

Tomorrow (Sunday) marks one week since I have spoken to Sarah. I would almost bet money that she won't call.

Lindsey is working two jobs and learning the art of money management. It's funny how much less stuff she needs now that she has her own money to spend.

One of our dogs has heartworms. Sarah has asked me a couple of times if we're going to get her treated, but I really don't know what to tell her. It seems that I have to choose between going to visit my daughter and going to visit the vet. Tough call.

I've been without a washer and dryer for a few weeks now, which means multiple trips to the laundromat. Thankfully, the one near my job is air-conditioned. I'm actually not minding hanging out there, as it keeps me mindful of things I've taken for granted.

I realized on one such trip that I often forget to praise God when times are tough. An old Imperials song started playing in my head, and I began to sing the chorus.

"Praise the Lord
He can work through those who praise Him
Praise the Lord
For our God inhabits praise
Praise the Lord
For the chains that seem to bind you
Serve only to remind you
That they drop powerless behind you
When you praise Him"

I then made a mental list of things I'm thankful for, like having a roof over our head. . . and one in the yard. (I had to laugh at that thought and planned to take a picture of each one so I could post it here, but that didn't happen.) At one time, we were waiting for a sunny weekend, but now I think we're waiting for cooler weather since my husband and his brothers will be putting on the new roof.

Speaking of songs, here's one we used to sing when we were kids:

Oh you can't get to heaven (Oh you can't get to heaven)
In a rockin' chair (In a rockin' chair)
'Cause the Lord don't want ('Cause the Lord don't want)
No lazy folks there (No lazy folks there)

Oh you can't get to heaven in a rockin' chair
'cause the Lord don't want no lazy folks there.
Don't grieve my Lord no more.

I shared that with you as a segue into my next thought, which is "I'm thinking of changing my blog name." Not because I'm afraid I can't get to heaven if I don't, but because it's such a long name, and the URL is a pain to type.

The new name I'm contemplating is from a song we sang once shortly after I joined the choir at my previous church. (Click to listen to "Then Will the Very Rocks Cry Out.") They had sung it before and couldn't get through the song without laughing. It seems that several folks in the congregation had misunderstood the lyrics. They thought the choir was singing "then will the very crops dry out!"

Anyway, I want to turn the focus of this blog around. I want to spend more time praising my Savior and less time pouting because of my circumstances.

I love this passage in Luke 19, which reads:

37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
38 "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"
40 "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

You may have noticed the name change in your bloglines. I'm trying it on for size, and unless I get a better suggestion from one of you, I'll be making the change official (changing the URL as well) in a few weeks. I'll give you a heads up before that happens.

Have a glorious day!