Wednesday, March 19, 2014

ECO DRIVING!!!!

A friend noted today she wanted a chauffeur, a cook and a maid. I'm living the life! I was driven around today by a 16 yo with a driver's permit, we ate leftovers, and I had the younger ones do their chores! I love my life. ::snort:: 


Arielle has invented a new style of driving - a style I've not seen before - and, yes, she is our sixth to learn to drive. 

ECO-Driving!!!!

Arielle jumped out of bed and offered to drive us to PWOC today. This would be 30 min each way. She had a motive.

I was not prepared for the fact that all little gnats and spiders must be helped out of the van or killed before she will touch the wheel!

We started down the road and she was doing GREAT. Until....well..... You wouldn't want to hit a BIRD.

A BIRD? No amount of cajoling on my part would convince her  the bird will fly out of the way!

One would also not want to hit squirrels, rabbits or deer.... It was HILARIOUS.

She  made the gate guards day cheery! It SAYS to go 10 mph; I'm sure most don't. As we pulled up, I thanked them for being gracious and informed them it was her first time to drive through the obstacles....evidently they'd guessed! ::snort::

Arielle drove us around for errands and then asked me to drive into the gas station. She took us out and home.....

Why didn't *I* ever figure out this is the way to reach the top of the windshield if you are under 6'4"?

There was ONE moment (which she has told me I can share) on a really bad road...without a shoulder...where she got distracted by cows, birds and a curve and went off road....I was terrified and yet....pleasantly surprised to see she did NOT over-correct and got us going right back down the road. We were both laughing....

BTW - in case you are wondering - an ECO DRIVER brakes for TURKEYS! ::snort::


 Arielle drove us BACK to base tonight for Bible Study.  She's a great sport and the other kids were fairly cooperative. Stacia HAS taken to calling out speed limits and shoulder warnings for Arielle. ::grin::

Below is ONE of my most humorous memories of the day....wouldn't every girl want her first days of driving to be celebrated by a staff of chaplains?
 Evidently, Ch. S, saw I was about worn out being the driver in charge......He explained to Arielle the difference between turning and cutting a wheel when backing up. LOL


She actually did a great job parking - it took a bit of time -  and a village!

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

How Do I Listen?

So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.....(Jesus) answered and said unto them, 'My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.' Luke 8:18,21

This chapter illustrates HOW we listen to the gospel - the good news - the words of Jesus.  There are many points which stand out in the passage, but for me, I am reminded to be careful how I listen. I must always listen with an ear to obedience. 

Several types of listening are illustrated in this chapter.  We see those who: 

  • hear without belief (8:12)
  • hear with joy - but no root system is developed (8:13)
  • hear with worries (8:14)
  • hear with an honest, good heart, hold fast to the words, bear fruit with endurance (8:15)
  • invisible light is pointless - so is hearing without fruit (8:16)
  •  laugh when Jesus speaks (8:52)
This listening matters. We are to "take care" how we listen. I want to be on who listens and holds fast; who bears fruit and endures. Don't you? Then we must listen with honesty. We must authentically hear AND then act.  Jesus says those who are His family are those who "hear the word of God and do it." Interestingly, it's this listening with an honest, good heart - listening to act - which begins to build the root system we so badly need to mature and endure in our walk with Jesus. 

It's not enough to intellectually believe. 

It's not enough to hear in a moment of time....and do nothing more. 

I must continue to hear. I must continue to obey and act on that which Jesus reveals to my soul and spirit. 

So the question really is: Are you listening? HOW are you listening? 


Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...