Home Sweet Home

I love being home and not working!  I absolutely love being home and not working!  It is such a relief after 3 1/2 years of dragging myself out of bed, going to a place and sorting out everybody else's mess and then coming home and haphazardly cleaning up my own!  I feel fresher, more alive, more restful and at ease and I enjoy life more.  No more do I feel chained to a clock and a schedule.  No more do I see the many things needed doing around home and think, "oh well, someday!"  Now I can tackle it with gusto!  It feels good.  I don't know for how long I will have this luxury but you can bet I am going to enjoy it to the max!

No Fanfare Just Good-Bye

Wednesday was my last day at work.  After 3 1/2 years at the same company I gave my notice and quietly slipped away into the sunset.  No fanfare - just goodbye!  It's amazing how you spend many hours in the workplace and have hardly touched lives!  It was just "work" after all.  I did by best, gave my all, with nothing much to show for it except an excellent reference and a hearty, "thanks for all your work," and "you've got a job anytime you want!"   What was the overall impression that I have made or left there?  That I was a good worker?  That I cared for the people?  Certainly that, but not much more.  They weren't interested in me as a person and they hardly asked any questions about my life or love for the Lord, though they certainly knew about that.  This bears reflection.  I think that in the end, its not about what a great job you do, but what kind of an impact have you made on others lives.  The statement, "you reap what you sow," comes to mind.  How much did I pray for my colleagues?  How much did I really bring them before the Throne?  What was my goal in working?  Was it just to make money?  Did I have an effect on the people around me.  Yes, I think I did have an effect, but not nearly enough and not for eternity.  That is sad and bears reflecting upon.

We must remember that as Christians we give account for our lives.  What will the Lord ask me about my 3 1/2 years at Barnhart, Inc?  Everything we do must be for the Kingdom of God, not our own little kingdom.  What is our purpose on this earth?  God help me and all of us to be consistent in serving Him throughout all of our days here.  In the end we will want to hear that good word from the Lord, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." 

How are we found by Him?

I was reading the scripture this week in 2 Peter 3:14 - "Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless."  I know the context of what Peter is writing is speaking about the coming of the Lord in the last days.  However, I was thinking more along the lines of meeting with the Lord.  How is it that He finds us?  Are we in peace?  At rest deep down in our souls?  Is there agitation, irritation, or frustration?  John also says in his epistle, "He who says He abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked."  Jesus walked in peace, lived in rest, and all that ever came out of Jesus was life; abundant, over flowing, refreshing, life giving.  We ought to walk as Jesus walked.  We cannot do that unless we abide in Him.  Peter says we are to be without spot - meaning clean with no sin staining our inward souls.  Nothing of sin to smear our spirit.  Our spirit reflects our soul.  That which is inward passes outward through our spirit to others.  If we are abiding in God - the peace and life of God passes out of us to others.  If we are agitated, frustrated or irritated in anyway and not at perfect peace, that also passes out of our soul into our spirit and effects others.  

God expects us to be at rest deep down within.  He has made every provision for us to be without spot and blameless.   There really is no excuse for anything else.  We must be diligent to be found by Him in peace.  I used to think that God understood when I was not at peace - you know He understands us and accepts us, and that is true.  But He does not expect us to remain in that place of unrest.  "If we have sinned, we have an advocate with Jesus Christ the righteous".  There is forgiveness and cleansing but we must never abide in unrest.  We must be diligent to be at rest to live unto God in all things and not unto ourselves.  

My other thought is when we meet together as a body of Christ He is there in the midst.   Sometimes we do not feel His presence and think He has not come.  But He comes to every meeting where there are two or three gathered in His name.  How is it that He finds us when He comes?  Know for sure that He comes, how is it that He finds us?  Are we in tune to Him?  Are our thoughts elsewhere?  Our heart, is it near to Jesus?  Be diligent!  In other words, LABOR to enter into REST!  

Florida Trip

We spent an afternoon at Vicki's place and had a cookout!

This is Mama and Papa Bear's chair and Vicki is too small for it!

This is Mom's new car!  You can see Vicki's legs won't fit in it.  Imagine driving around Florida in this!  Mom is getting very bold in her old age!

Last week I spent with my Mom in Florida.   We had a great time.  Florida weather was stupendous - NO HUMIDITY!!  Yes, it truly was beautiful - sunny, warm and balmy.  I arrived the day after a hurricane had blown through and it was just gorgeous.

So, you can see some pictures above of my trip.  I especially like the picture of Mom's new car!  What do you think?  Can you imagine driving around Florida in that?  What do you do when it rains?

Here is a picture of Vicki's husband, Shawn.  He is an engineer and jack of all trades.  He also knows how to cook a good bratwurst!  Vicki even had sauerkraut...yummm!  I went to Vicki & Shawn's church one night and enjoyed a good message on the Family.  Vicki is very involved in her church with their Living Free program where she is a social worker for the ladies getting off drugs or alcohol.  She loves it there.

Mom and I drove to a town called, "Ava Maria".  This town was about 1 1/2 hours from Ft. Myers in the middle of nowhere.  The man who made his fortune on Dominoes Pizza built the entire town for the Catholic's with a University and a Cathedral.  The reason was that when he was a kid and orphaned the Catholic Church looked after him and one nun in particular helped him to realise he could be anything he wanted to be.  He donated the entire place to her for her inspiration!  It was a beautiful town though very scare on people!!!

We spent an afternoon at Sanibel Island and had lunch and walked around the island called Captiva.  You can see below the beautiful water and sand.  The water temp was in the 80's.

Here we are enjoying the weather!  I got a very good sunburn that day!

Innovative Job

Three Gorgeous Babes

The picture with the boat was quite interesting!  This man was making his money going up and down the beach selling cold drinks, hot dogs, ice cream to the people on the beach.  He would just pull up to the shore and people would gather round with their money!  I thought this was very innovative considering the unemployment rate in Florida!

If you are going to get sick - the best place to get sick is in Ft. Myers.  Take a look at their hospital below!  

This is the way it looks as you walk in the glass doors!

Hospital Lobby - selling popcorn on the left

 They even had someone playing the piano!

 Check out these glass elevators

Look at that Classy Lady!

So that was my trip to Florida.  It was lovely and wonderful to spend time with Mom and Vicki. 

The Rat Attack

"All creatures great and small the Lord God made them all."   But why, rats?  Still, I am not a happy camper as these furry little creatures have set up their home in my attic!  Yes, we've heard them on and off scurrying about with their little toenails clipping and scratching on the ceilings as they scamper on by.  One day I heard definite biting!  I am told that rats teeth continually grow and so if they don't gnaw at things they will die of suffocation!   Yesterday morning as I was hurriedly trying to get ready for work I heard this noise - bump, scrape, bump bump bump, scrape, thump!  It was right above my head as I was walking in the entryway.  We have a friend and her two sons staying with us and I thought - "there is no way these kids are up at 6:30 am playing in Richard's study!"  So the thought came to me....RATS!  I went and grabbed my flashlight and taking the stairs two at a time arrived in a flash at the attic door in the study.  Slowly opening it and flashing my light - which I couldn't get to go on - click click click - finally, the light coming on there was a baby rat stuck in the rat trap and Mama was standing nearby.  When I flashed the light she went scurrying away! What to do?  Call the husband!  So I did.  He said I should take the thing and drown it!  Fine thing to say when he is at work and I am at home!  Well, I did as I was instructed.  I took a glove and grabbed the trap and all and went outside and dumped him in a bucket of water watching him flailing around for air.  The thing is I didn't feel the least bit sorry!  What a hard heart I have!  I didn't even think - "all creatures great and small the Lord God made them all!"  I just thought - GOOD!  You pesky rat!  And then I left him in the bucket and went to work! 

So....next step is to call the exterminators!  I got my list and began calling.  You know how many companies are out of business now?  Well, after 3 calls I had to look again.  Finally made some calls and made appointments to find the best deals!  Its all about money after all!  haha!  Western Exterminators came out - they had the best price so we shall see what shall become of these little rat pests in my attic.  Tomorrow is doomsday! 

So life goes on if its not one thing its another!  Isn't that life though!  Wonder what will be next!

The latest in my work saga....

Well....a new development.  In the last month I have been working in a new construction trailer in Santa Ana at Kennedy School which is off of 4th and McFadden.  The office has been without a secretary for 2 years!  The first day I walked in was without doubt a bit of a shock.  Instead of a neat orderly office, I found piles of papers scattered about on the floor with boxes and boxes stacked around full of papers without folders.  The one guys office was ...well how does one describe it?  Needless to say, going to work was overwhelming!  I didn't know where to start.  I was later told that we were going to move to another trailer at a different site and start a new project and I would have to pack up the office!  Dreadful!  I did my best but happened to go on vacation when Christy and Audrey came to visit so I missed the move and the rest of the packing.  Whew!  What joy!  When I got back to the new office my supervisor had organized everything....it was beau-ti-ful!  I was totally amazed!  And so pleased....  We also got a new superintendent who just happens to have a great personality and suddenly going to work has been really fun!  So, happy me, going to work setting up the new office and getting things done in a timely manner couldn't be more pleased, when my supervisor called and dropped the bomb! 

My old boss, from Foothill High School, has been bugging and bugging the Senior Project Manager to get me back!  So finally they contacted my Supervisor and she told me that he wanted me to go back but she felt I was just getting situated and wanted me to stay on where I was.  Apparently, my old boss doesn't get on well with anybody and I am the only secretary who he has gotten on with ever!!!!  It is only because I set my heart to love him (he is not the most happy soul and to get him to smile was a major victory)!  Well, my supervisor told me that one of the secretaries filed a suit against him because of his manner!  Several have quit!  I was a bit shocked, yes, he is a challenge and no he doesn't praise anyone often.  In fact, when he did praise me once I nearly fell off my chair!  I then knew I must be doing something right!

Anyway, now I am in a quandary because I really like my new office and to go back now to the old office isn't so appealing, but I told my supervisor that I would do whatever is best for everybody all around.  So she called me back and told me I will go back to Foothill High School beginning Sept 6th!  Ahhh - well I did tell them that my plans are sort of up in the air because of our thoughts on moving to Mongolia. I told her I would only work till the end of November.  She was okay with that.  I was amazed.  The company has supported whatever I want to do - the many vacations I take, etc.  Its amazing.  I know that is the Lord and His grace to me. 

So... that is the latest. 

The Day After.....

The day after family leaves is always the worst! Christy and Audrey came for a 2 1/2 week visit and the time flew by! I miss them sooooo much! Audrey is such a delight! I will miss her little antics like how she runs up to our living room knowing that I will run after her to catch her, playing in the pool, and dancing to the music. It was so cute how I'd ask her to go and call Grandpa for dinner. She would climb the stairs calling out in her cute little voice, "Grandpa time to eat!" He loved it! She's the only one who can get him down to the table in record time! haha!

We had a lot of fun just playing in the pool, going to the beach, going to the OC Fair and to the Getty museum. But just being together is so special! It is hard to be so far away and miss being a part of their lives on a regular basis!

Christy taped some songs on the piano playing and singing. I realize how much I miss her playing - she has such a gift! We wanted to tape Audrey talking and singing but didn't get to it!

So once again time is the culprit cutting short memorable times and pressing forward to other things. I guess we wouldn't like it if time stood still though we think we might! But the best thing is "our times are in His Hands!" In this we can be truly thankful and restful knowing that He keeps us and orders our days!

The Splendor of Youth

She's growing up! Just look at that picture, isn't she gorgeous? Life is so uncomplicated when we are young! No worries, no pressures, just learning and growing. Isn't it wonderful! Of course, that is the way it should be, however, it isn't that way for everybody.

We thank God for giving us parents who love us and treat us with love and respect. We thank God for providing us a home, food on the table, clothes to wear, and friends to enjoy things with. We thank God for good things like happiness, stability, peace in our homes, loving family and friends, and most especially for His loving care and watchful eye over us.

Youth is so carefree, so full of curiosity, discovering, moving into new realms, growth. Youth is for the most part a happy time, until we reach those puberty years! Then everything is up for grabs!

I think that youth is a picture of those first years as a Christian. Everything is so new and wonderful and we are discovering God's love and life - and its all lovely. We are sheltered from troubles and burdens but then God opens our eyes little by little and we begin to see the sorrow, suffering and pain around us. We begin to learn to bear one another's burdens, to sacrifice and give to those in need, to spend and be spent in the ministry of God's love. And then perhaps we feel the weight of things and feel as though life is a great burden hard to bear. But we must remember our youth - our love for the Lord, our delight at learning and growing in God's love. Here is the key to remaining carefree as a child, sweet in spirit, joyful, full of light and love in the midst of pain and suffering. The scripture says, "Abide in Me and I will abide in You." I think this is the key - our first love! Let's remember that as we face the our daily lives of pressures, troubles, sorrows, and joys. God wants us to remain in love with him, trusting Him fully, and happy in His care.

Change is on the Wind

Change is on the Wind here at the Porowski household. Kim is moving out in 2 weeks - going on to Grad school in Atlanta Georgia. She will be there for 3 1/2 years and then who knows what she will be doing. We are also thinking of spending a few years teaching English as a Foreign Language in Mongolia. Dick and I just passed our TEFL course which consisted of 3 grueling weekends - 60 hours in total of intensive learning. It was a good course and very helpful.

However, change always is unsettling, though can be exciting if one has the adventuresome spirit. Challenge is always a good motivator and a spur up the backside to get moving. The best thing is that God is in control. His leading is my safety. His loving care is my strength and support. His assurance is my confidence. Change may be like a storm in that everything is in motion, unsettled, and a bit frightening, but God is in change, often bringing it about. There is no safe place but in the center of God's will. Here is peace. Here is where I choose to stay and stay put.

Fellowship

The fellowship of union. Fellowship is a lovely word. So is union. Put them both together and it speaks of something very lovely indeed.

I was thinking about the parables. In Luke, Jesus expounded on many subjects, "in parables", and the people gathered and listened very intently to what He had to say. Think of it, Jesus came from the Father, to teach the people of Himself - the Godhead, the kingdom of God, the laws of love, liberty, and salvation. Jesus' heart was to show them the Father. The people for the most part didn't understand and that is the reason for the parables. Stories are descriptive and often illuminate pictures in our minds which enable us to see things clearer; to bring understanding. The thing is Jesus was there, bodily. They could see Him, they could hear His voice, they could watch how He acted, how He responded. They were amazed at His wisdom, His authority, His power, and they followed Him wherever He went because they'd never seen anyone like Him! That is true...there wasn't anyone on the earth like Jesus! He is the true representation of the Father, "the express image of His person," as it says in Hebrews.

He called them, "friends" but longed for something much more....Sons. Sons with the Father and... Oneness. This is the closest of fellowship that one could have - "oneness." Remember in the garden when Adam talked with God? God spoke things to Adam and taught him things of Himself and the world that He made...of wisdom, of Life, of His creatures, etc. there was a fellowship there that was beautiful, unspoiled. I speak of this fellowship before Adam sinned. And after Adam sinned that fellowship was severed for all men, that is until Jesus came.

He came to show us the Father and to bring us to the Father. He could only do that by becoming sin for us, dying in our place, and rising again. "Death shall no longer have dominion over them". Now, in Christ, we are free from the man of death and sin and have been made a new man in Christ Jesus. He has brought us to the Father, truly.

Fellowship with man has always been in God's heart from the beginning. Oneness. This is the thing I am getting at. When we walk with the Father He speaks to us and teaches us, not now in parables, but in truth and wisdom, of Himself, of the Godhead, of the mysteries of the kingdom of God. The preciousness of this oneness is truly remarkable. The generosity of the Lord to share with us His life, His person, to impart to us wisdom, understanding, and life. This is fellowship - this is union. This is lovely indeed!

A Rare Fragrance

A few days ago I was sitting outside our back patio enjoying the warm sunshine while inhaling the pure sweet fragrance of our orange tree in full blossom. The sweetness was almost heady! Suddenly this hummingbird began to dart in and out among the blossoms dipping its beak into the succulent sweetness and then did the oddest thing. He flew out of the tree and began moving back and forth at an incredible speed, his little wings beating so fast creating a sound much like that of an electric drill. This went on for 5 minutes! It was almost like he was delightfully drunk with the sweet nectar and was buzzing around for joy. This fragrance, so pungent, so delightfully sweet, awakens all the senses and causes ones eye to look about and take notice!

So, naturally, my mind turns to the scriptures and to the words, "the fragrance of Christ." Fragrance - a good word picture comes to mind here. You've seen the cartoon character standing alone when unexpectedly some luscious savory fragrance wafts by and his nose is suddenly lifted in the air following the scent; next his feet are lifted up also and he begins to float on towards that delightful smell. Stand up and take notice! That's what fragrance does. Or have you ever been sitting somewhere, perhaps an airport minding your own business, when someone passes by, and in that persons wake some delicious sweet perfume overtakes your senses. Immediately your face lifts and your eyes are scanning the perimeter looking for the reason of that scent. Fragrance ..... it makes you stand up and take notice.

Surely, the disciples show us a good example of this. Peter and Andrew, two fishermen, brothers who have learned the family trade, who are responsible sort of men making a decent living for their families, are doing what they do best; mending their nets. Along comes Jesus, and says to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately, Peter and Andrew leave their nets and follow Him. What kind of fragrance would cause these men to walk away from their family business, just like that? It must be incredibly strong, compelling, and so deliciously wonderful that it obviously made them stand up and take notice! When one comes into the presence of Greatness, one stands up and takes notice! I like to think that the fragrance of Christ is holiness, purity, righteousness - a rare fragrance indeed!

The scriptures also say that "we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other we are the aroma of life leading to life." (2 Corinthians 2:11-12) We are to be the fragrance of Christ to others - so compelling, so drawing that others want to know Him too. I had an experience with this. When I was 18 I was desperately looking for God and went from church to church never finding what I was looking for. After a time I settled into a small college/high school Bible study group where I found love and good friends but was no closer to God than before. Nevertheless, I stayed and after 2 years a young man came into our gathering. When he prayed there was no mistake about it - He knew God! My ears went up, my eye riveted on him, and I followed him around too shy to ask but so desperate to know what He knew. The fragrance of Christ - He was the fragrance of Christ to me. And through him, in time, I also came to know the Lord for myself.

The fragrance of Christ - holiness, purity, righteousness......life changing to those who will stand up and take notice!

The Glory of Quiet

When everything comes to a screaming halt and activity ceases, there is a quiet which can be very loud at first, but then settles into a calming stillness. This is a place where one can hear God! The scriptures define it as "waters of rest" (Psalm 23:2); a place of restoration and renewal (vs 3). Other descriptive words come to mind, i.e. His Pavilion, or the Secret Place (Psalm 27:5). Those who inhabit this place are "radiant" (Psalm 34:5). No worry lines or droopy hearts here - GOD is in the midst. And thus there is the "glory of quiet" as one sits in the Presence of the Lord of Hosts and finds rest, restoration, renewal, strength, instruction, comfort and love. One should pass into these places often as we walk through this world for there is nothing in the world which resembles REST! God alone is rest. Here we are abundantly satisfied and drink from the fountain of life itself. What can compare to this?

So You Went to Thailand?

I never dreamed I would go to Thailand, ever! But as my husband has said to me many times, "Stick with me babe, and we'll go places!" Truer words have never been spoken. My husband is a traveller and I am a homebody, so you can imagine what it takes for me to get on a plane! Yet, we have had the priviledge of meeting so many of God's wonderful people. This indeed is the key to travelling - He has said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20 And so this is our purpose to go as the Lord leads us and love, encourage, strengthen and support the Lord's people as well as drawing all men to Himself. What a joy and priviledge!

So.....Thailand, a very different place than I imagined. I had some kind of exotic picture in my mind which didn't materialize as we travelled around. Yes, there were exotic places like the Grand Palace in Bangkok and their very fine beaches which we didn't see, but to travel through a bit of the country and see how the people lived wasn't very exotic. Life is hard! Most people are scratching out an existence just trying to survive day to day. They call Thailand "the Land of Smiles." A smile can change everything! A smile can endear you to them! Of course, we were all smiles! The Thai people are very gracious and kind and helpful for the most part. Their greeting, "Saw-wa-di-ka," with folded hands to their forehead and a slight bow speaks so graciously of their welcome. And we were welcomed, cared for and looked after like Kings!

We visited Bangkok the first week and then travelled by bus to Mahasarakam which is north of Bangkok about a 8 hour drive. Then we travelled south beyond Bangkok to a place called Chon Buri which was another 10 hour drive and then back to Bangkok for a few days before leaving for Korea and then home.

Bangkok was a large city, 90% Buddhist, Buddhist government, while 30% of the people claim to be homosexual. It was very strange to see men with men walking down the street, "very public". Stranger still to see men wearing makeup in shops. They call them the "she-males." You would be surpised to see how westernized the world really is even in the out of the way places! I was amazed to find places like Good Year Tires and Mitchelin Tires in Thailand! Yes, McDonalds is standard world-wide, same with Kentucky Fried Chicken but Good Year Tires? Swensens Ice Cream was big in Thailand. They love ice cream and smoothies. The food was great with a few exceptions. A delicacy found in the countryside included ant eggs wrapped in a bananna leaf; or grub worms, maybe roasted grasshoppers. It's all about what you grow up with right? Perfectly normal to the Thai people, just a bit outlandish to our western palates! We visited most of the sites in Bangkok - the Grand Palace which was grand indeed (just like out of the movie - Anna and the King. We visited the many Wats (temples) and took a river cruise on a longboat. We visited the different King's royal palaces and royal barge boats, musuems where we learned the history of Thailand. All very interesting and intriguing. We visited a folk musuem where they demonstrated the different Thai dances and customs which included an elephant ride. And we met some wonderful people who carved out a place in our hearts forever.

Mahasarakam was a University town but definitely more country than city. We visited some friends in YWAM (Youth with a Mission) and learned more about the Christian work in this part of the country. They drove us out into the country to see the rice paddies and visit a "monkey park." We loved it. Learning more of a farmers life and seeing the countryside with its water buffalos and natural terrain was fascinating. Seeing monkeys in the "wild" was also fascinating, although they are flea bitten dirty creatures! AND aggressive! Don't get in their way or they'll bite you! There are many churches springing up all over and it is a joy to hear people worshiping our Lord Jesus in a place where Jesus in not Lord! It must be sweet music to the Lord's ears.

Chong Buri was south near the Gulf of Thailand - there we visited a group of Youth for Christ folks who also were very endearing. We stayed in a family's home and once again they were so very kind to us. Again, another small town very much like Guatemala. Being on the same parallel as Guatemala one can understand why the vegetation, weather, and terrain are so similar. The group put on a special show for us and then the next day we drove to the mountains to a waterfall to baptize some of them. There wasn't water enough at the waterfall so we travelled on to the Gulf of Thailand. Six of the young people committed their lives to the Lord and we rejoiced with them. Taking our leave of them we went on back to Bangkok. And then to Seoul Korea where we spent 13 hours before flying home to Los Angeles.

Seoul, Korea - we had a 13 hour layover so we arranged to meet with a friend and Richard was to speak at her Mongolian church. A lovely group of Mongolians living in Korea welcomed us royally and we enjoyed the presence of the Lord together in their gathering. Many hearts hungry to know the Lord there - we felt very priviledged to join with them.