Tag: The Mangold’s

Celebrating 18 Years of Marriage – Weekend Getaway Day 2

Friday February 8, 2008 

Day 2 – Ludington to Traverse City
Shannon’s really into knitting. In fact, I’ve tried to talk her into blogging about her knitting thoughts and ideas and to even blog about the many knitting stores I’ve taken her to. We visited Nautical Yarn at 108 S. Rath Ave. in downtown Ludington. It was a quaint store that Shannon was able to purchase some leather purse handles for a project she was working on. 

The Yarn Market – Beaulah, MI
On our way to Traverse City we visited another quaint yarn store in Beulah, MI called The Yarn Market at 254 Benzie Blvd. in downtown Beulah, just minutes away from beautiful Crystal Lake. The store was at one time the bank for Beulah. In fact, the office of the store is located in the large vault of the former bank. Shannon purchased a magnetic pattern holder and some patterns.

Holiday Inn – Traverse City, MI 
From there we headed into Traverse City. We spent several hours turned around despite having a GPS. My GPS (Delphi Nav200), nicknamed Betty (it has a female voice), did an excellent job of getting us where we input the addresses, but when we wanted to get a general feel for some of the area, we got turned around. Eventually we settled for the night at Holiday Inn in downtown Traverse City.

If you are on a budget I recommend this hotel although the rate was cheap enough ($80/night). It is an older hotel, and clean enough, but the linens and decor were a bit dated. We even had a corner of our room with a view of Grand Traverse Bay. As another note, I did not sleep well in this hotel due to a convention of loud kids, with dogs, running the hall ways until almost 2 a.m. I called and complained. The staff immediately sent security up to squelch the noise, but right after the guard left, the noise picked back up with a vengeance. I think once the group found out they were getting to us, they relished in that fact and were that much more malicious. I yelled out the door once in a feeble attempt to quiet them to which the adults (yes they were bad as well) said, “now we know who complained!” I was greeted by their 2 poorly groomed Schnauzers. I quickly shut the door and stuffed earplugs deep in my ears.

Blue Tractor Cook-shop – Traverse City, MI
We had dinner before settling in for the night at the Blue Tractor Cook-shop in downtown Traverse City. I had fish and chips (cod, whitefish, and one other fish) and Shannon had a stuffed chicken breast. The meals came to about $35 with beverages. Overall we had a great meal in a rustic, but clean setting.

Celebrating 18 Years of Marriage – Weekend Getaway Day 1

Thursday February 7, 2008 

Shannon and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary this weekend. February 10, 1990 was the start of a joyful journey that I have never looked upon with any regret. Shannon has brought so much joy to my life that I cannot imagine life without her. When asked if I love her as much as I did when I married her, I must say no, I do not love her as much as I did when I married her…I love her MORE!

How does one celebrate an 18th wedding anniversary. Well you start by packing your bags for a weekend retreat. We don’t like to go far, but far enough to feel as though you’re getting away from it all.

Day 1 – Ludington
We left on Thursday (2/7/08) for Ludington and stayed in a beautifully appointed Holiday Inn Express. I would highly recommend this hotel as the attention to detail and ammenties was astounding. In fact, they raised the bar for the weekend that was difficult to match, let alone beat. We arrived in Ludington in the evening so there wasn’t much we could see or do at night. You may ask why we chose Ludington and I have 2 reasons. One, Shannon wanted to be by the water and two, there were a couple of yarn stores Shannon wanted to visit. Good enough reasons for me!

21-Day Fast (Day 17) When God Gets Quiet

Scripture: Psalms 139:7-10

7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

If you’ve lived for God very long, you’ve likely had a point in your walk where you just couldn’t feel God’s presence. Try as might, whatever it was that you equated with God’s presence just wasn’t there. Doubt is quick to creep in and discourage you from praying, or waiting any longer on God presence. The Reality is…the Lord never leaves us.

David

By the time David penned this Psalm, he more than likely had gone through a great deal of turmoil in his career as king of Israel. His personal failures and challenges to his authority brought with them some dark and dreary days for David. If ever there was a man prone to highs and lows in his life, David was the man. So, who better to remind us that regardless of whether we feel it or not, God’s divinely inspired word through David, tells us…God IS THERE!

Paul

More than qualified to weigh in on this issue, the Apostle Paul defines for us the boundaries of God’s love in Romans. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39). Essentially, there are no boundaries. So if you’re “feeling” like God no longer loves or cares about you, get your nose in the Book and remind yourself of this glorious promise!

In Closing

We don’t base our walk with God on emotions or feelings. This is a walk of faith. We are all prone to emotional peaks and valleys. But, you can be certain, God’s presence in our lives, nor His love for His people, will ever change.

How Do I Feel?

Hungry! Yes, hunger has returned with a vengeance, but I’m still committed to this fast. I have to say, even though I have been on this fast, I have had days where it was still hard to feel God’s presence in my life. But, if I based it on feelings though, I would have given up a long time ago. I know God’s there, and I know He hears my every prayer!

21-Day Fast (Day 10) Begging Bread

Begging Bread
In Psalm 37:25 David makes a brilliant observation he says, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” Living for God certainly has its benefits as it says later in Psalms, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.” I’m loving living for God!

Doesn’t it bless your soul to know that if you are righteous and living for God, you will never be forsaken and have to beg for bread? You say, “Wait a minute, a loaf of bread is only a dollar or two, what’s the big deal?” It’s a HUGE deal. For not only does me being righteous (my righteous is of God) provide me with bread, but there is a generational blessing here that cannot go unnoticed; “nor his seed.” What blessed assurance in knowing that I’m sowing not only into this present generation, but in my generations to come. Hmmm, that’s a lot of bread.

Bread of Heaven
“This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever,” Jesus told his followers. In terms of bread, we’re definitely talking Wonder-ful Bread, not Wonder Bread. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual (I Corinthians 15:46). So, if the natural axiom David stated in Psalms applies, we will never have to beg for the spiritual bread Jesus was talking about. Praise the Lord!

When we need more of the Lord in our lives, He’s there! And, not only will he be there for you, but as David pointed out, your seed will never be begging for this Bread! Jesus said, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

So see, there’s no begging involved. You simply ask, AND you teach future generations to follow suit.
 

How Do I Feel?
With this being day 10, I’m extremely weak. I still have to work. This requires a great deal of walking around our plant, and in and out of our plant, but I’m blessed with a desk job, so this helps on the occasion I get to sit at it. I’ve cut out any extra-curricular activities. Each motion brings with it fatigue. I have to rest half way up the stairs. I have even had to rest my arms while typing this. This morning I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to continue the fast.

On a more positive note, not only has my appetite slowed down for food, but for other non-value added aspects of my life as well. T.V. and movies don’t hold the allure. I don’t feel like reading anything but the Bible. Sadly, even keeping up with my fellow bloggers has been a chore. With the exception of the latter, I don’t mind the reprieve from all that is Hollywood and entertainment. During our carnal times we feel can’t miss one episode of our favorite show, or one more chapter in our favorite book. Fasting gives you a chance to be released from that nonsense for a while to clear your head…and your heart.

Fasting Help 

For some excellent Fasting resources stop by www.gracenewsinfo.com blog and see my latest posting there entitled Fasting Resources.

21-Day Fast (Day 9) Living Sacrifice

A Living Sacrifice
A painful prospect for one to consider, don’t you think? A living sacrifice. It is a biblical principal however, and to be observed by those professing to be a Christian.

Paul Knew It 

Paul states in Romans 12:1 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

It’s almost a contradiction in terms, “living” and “sacrifice.” But it is possible. In another place Paul states that he, “is crucified with Christ, nevertheless, I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me.” (Galatians 2:20)

Paul lived the lifestyle of which he spoke. When admonishing the Corinthians in a second letter, he implores them…

3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; 6 By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, 7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; 9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

It is quite possible then to live a sacrificial life, but not literally die. Dying in spiritual sense, means you are no longer actively pursuing the ungodly appetites and desires of the prideful flesh. Your focal point is about bringing the flesh under submission to the will of the Spirit. Have you ever felt that inner turmoil before? As a Christian, I’m certain you have. The Galatians did as well…

For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (Galatians 5:17)

Note that the “S” in Spirit is capitalized. This infers a reference to the “Spirit of God.” It is that same Spirit that you are filled with, combating your will. Yet, the flesh will not willingly submit. It is at the intersection of our flesh and our spirit (small “s”) that the will of either is broken down. Depending on what has been gaining the greater degree of emphasis in your life, that particular facet of your being will arise victorious.

David Knew It 

Long before Paul, David had it nailed – Psalms 51:6 – Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Further in that same Psalm 51:16 – For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Where do we get the spiritual edification? Our inward parts. How does that take place? Through the broken and contrite heart.

Now Let’s Do It 

In sum, the living sacrifice that God is looking for and pleased with: a broken and contrite heart. This is exemplified by our prideful fleshly nature dying, and our spiritual nature gaining prominence. When we are motivated by the Spirit we will not consider living for God drudgery. We will not consider it an imposition to attend church a couple of nights a week. We will not consider financially supporting the ministries of the church just another bill. We will do it cheerfully, lovingly, and with a pure heart.

It is instinctual to want to do what it takes to survive. We cater too often to the needs of flesh because after all, it is the most visible part of who we are, and will often exhibit the loudest protest when we miss the mark. But, our fleshly tabernacles are temporary, and represent only one facet of who we are. There is an internal spirit we all possess, that is screaming for attention. Why not actively pursue God’s will for your life. Sure the flesh will whine, but your spirit will be singing the Hallelujah Chorus!

How Do I Feel?
After that my previous remarks, I’m sure you know where I’m going. I feel the battle is leaning heavily in favor of the Spirit. Under the current conditions, my flesh doesn’t stand a change. I’m feeling an intimacy with my Savior, and I’m enjoying every moment. I’m not where I want to be yet, but the feeling of God planting wisdom in my inward parts is fascinating to me. My mind only has a limited memory capacity, but once something gets into your spirit, not even the flesh is a challenge.

The hunger pangs have subsided and only occasionally rumble. My cravings for certain foods, has all but disappeared. My muscles are weak and can only take a few moments of continuous activity before I have to rest. There are some minor aches in my back, arms, and legs. But, I was told my color looks better, and that I actually appear healthier – physically I don’t feel it, spiritually I’m getting there.