Life In Las Vegas

I spent last week in chilly Minnesota. Spring time is just beginning and the trees were just starting to green up.

Last night I flew home to Las Vegas. As we were flying across the Nevada desert I looked at my husband and said, “Tell me again why we live in Vegas?” (My husband is a native Las Vegan and his entire family live here.)

But it’s all in person’s perspective. As we left the plane, everyone began talking on the cell phones. I heard a man say, “This city is unbelievable. It’s great.” His perspective of flying over the city was one of wonder. The glittery neon lights were not even on yet. It only late afternoon, but the Las Vegas wowed him.

Actually, I don’t mind living in Las Vegas. (I do wish it was greener. But hey, I can fly to Minnesota.) When you live in Vegas it is just like any other community. OK, we do have slot machines in the grocery stores. I live 25 miles from the Strip. The only time my husband and I go down there is when we have visitors who insist on seeing “Vegas”.

More than thirty years ago, I moved to Las Vegas. I remember thinking to myself, “This is the most God forsaken place I have ever seen. But, I was in for a surprise. God has not forsaken the people of Las Vegas. His Light shines bright here.

There is that saying, “Bloom where you are planted.” Underneath the Light of Jesus, I have bloomed in the Nevada desert. I raised my children here and they bloomed, too. Would I choose to live in Las Vegas? Hmmmm . . . No. But I want to be where God wills for me to be. And for right now, it’s to live in Vegas. That’s why we live here.

Another Day in Computer life

OK, so I get my emailed problems resolved, then I receive a notice that the "higher powers" have locked my blog because it looks like suspicious spam. Now my question is why would they pick me out of a bizillion people who blog? Or why can't they block the real spammers who send me unwanted stuff everyday?

Wait, I feel my indignant self climbing on a soap box. I'll stop and just say, "I am back." As of this moment, I think I can email, blog, etc. We can only hope . . . as I said, "Computers you can't live with them and you can't live without them."


Susanne

Computer Complications and Email Errors

I can’t live with them and I can’t live without them—computers. Right now I have a 911 emergency call into a computer fix-it company. I can’t send email. And I am only occasionally receiving email.

Recently, my husband and I ate at the Outback Restaurant. On each table coasters sat with witty little sayings to entertain the waiting hungry customer. I read, “I built my son a tree house, he built me a website.” I wish I had a child or even a distant disliked relative that could fix my email. Computer complications and email errors bring the term, “weeping and gnashing of teeth” to a reality in my life.

So, if you sent me an email and I haven’t responded, now you know the story.

Talk to you soon--hopefully,

Susanne

500 Miles of Friendship

A couple of weekends ago my trip odometer registered 520 miles. The drive from Las Vegas to Southern California is about a five hour drive. I drove with two girlfriends to our home church women’s retreat. I had dreaded the drive and the California traffic.

However, with girlfriends in the car to split the gas costs, to keep me laughing, to help with the driving the trip flew by. We giggled. We shared our hearts. We prayed. Before we knew it, the road trip was over.

Late on Sunday night, I snuggled underneath the sheets and thought about girlfriends. What would life be like devoid of friends? I know my life would be lackluster without all of my dear friends. I believe life would be a slow sad process without their companionship.

So Connie, Shelley and Teresa, I want you to know I had a blast on our retreat weekend. God wowed with us Friendship and you blessed me with your friendship.

It's better to have a partner than go it alone.
Share the work, share the wealth.
And if one falls down, the other helps,
But if there's no one to help, tough!

Two in a bed warm each other.
Alone, you shiver all night.

By yourself you're unprotected.
With a friend you can face the worst.
Can you round up a third?
A three-stranded rope isn't easily snapped.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (MsgB)

Goody-Two Shoes

Sticks and stones my break my bones, but words will never hurt me. Ha!
Recently, I was asked to speak at a retreat. I was the primary speaker with another secondary speaker. I spoke the first night and felt very connected with the all the women. The next morning, the second speaker began with the words, “Who is this good-two shoes woman?” She meant me.

It was a very uncomfortable moment for everyone. Then the thought struck me funny and I started to laugh. Me a goody-two shoes? I wish! My past is black as coal dust with sin. And my everyday life is spotted with a kaleidoscope of mundane sins. It is only by the blood of Christ that I have any goodness in me at all.

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us,
so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
(2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV)

I say, “Hallelujah!” If by the power of my Jesus, I have been created into a “goody-two shoes” I take that as the highest of compliments.

Double Portion

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?"
"Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit," Elisha replied. (2 Kings 2:9 NIV)


Several times in the Old Testament a “double portion” is mentioned. I recently experienced the blessings of a double portion in my own life. The first night my son was in the emergency room, I stayed the entire night. My daughter-in-law couldn’t stay because of their darling seven-month-old baby, Michael. I sat in a metal chair throughout the night. I read a book. I listened to my i-pod. I never felt sleepy. I never dozed off.

The next day, I took care of Michael. My daughter-in-law took the day shift at the hospital. Again, I was full of energy. Sleep never overtook me. I bounced the baby, strolled the baby, and felt like a million dollars. (Whatever that feels like.)

Here’s the thing, by nature I am wired-tired. I need lots of sleep, but that day God gave me a double portion of His Spirit which is full of power and energy.

Praise Him for His goodness and faithfulness!

Late Night Phone Call

I just hate it when the phone rings late at night or too early in the morning. It happened to me at 5:00 a.m. on Monday morning. I knew it was either a wrong number or bad news. I hoped for the first option, but it was the latter—bad news.

My son’s throat had swollen shut and my daughter-in-law was taking him to the doctor.

Yesterday, four days later, my son was released from the hospital. It was a long and exhausting four days. But thankfully, he is on the road to recovery.

Life is topsy-turvy. One moment you are sleeping sweetly and soundly and then suddenly you are turned upside down on the hardwood floor of life’s difficult circumstances.

Thankfully, Jesus is there to wrap us His healing arms of comfort. What would we do without His peace that surpasses understanding?