You will need to read the previous post before reading this one......I've thought a lot about last night and the moment I let slip by. I've thought of how may times in a day I can do simple things to shine my light. I've thought of those in the world who are hard to love on. You know who I'm talking about....those that you see as strange, odd, stinky, different, greasy...need I say more?? I'll say it, I like my box! I like my little world where I'm not faced with people who make me uncomfortable! If there are two children standing in front of you and one is clean without a blemish, smells like apple blossoms and has on clean clothes that appear to have been starched, and the other child has on clothes that may have been worn a few days without washing, and their hands and face look to have gone a few days without a good scrub and they smell of stale cigarettes.....which one will you be more apt to love on?? Be honest! I'll be honest...the clean smelling one! And I am totally honest and sad to say that is the one I would naturally be drawn to. But the boy that needs some soap would make me uncomfortable just like blond dreadilocks. The blond with dreadlocks, dreadilocks as I've come to caller her, was certainly outside of my box. She, like the dirty boy, made me uncomfortable. But not in a way that you may think. It wasn't that I was scared of her...I felt for her. I felt compassion for her. Was she alone in the world, did she have a family, did she have an addiction ruling her life, did she feel loved?? The fact that I couldn't bring myself to take the time to stop and see if she was okay, or in need, THAT makes me uncomfortable. Now, I don't always feel this about every person on the side of the road, or every person I see that I don't know who looks like they are in need. That makes me feel even more uncomfortable that I didn't stop! Something was working on me. I have always felt and strived to act on those "feelings"...the ones that are laid on your heart and you just can't shake. Even my car was trying to force me to stop and I STILL didn't stop.
This leads me to another feeling I can't shake...that I need to share this and challenge anyone who reads this to a Don't Forget December challenge. Here's the challenge....do something everyday that is outside of your daily "duties"....something that is outside of your box....something that shines your light and shows His love. When you do something, post a simple #dontforgetdecember on Facebook or Twitter. Now, this IS NOT a "Hey, look at me and what I did" post...this is a "Hey, look what God is doing through me! He can do the same through you!" As Christians, we want to be humble and not share our works, and that is great as the Bible tells us that we shouldn't let our left hand know what the right is doing....but sometimes we need to be an encouragement and a guide to others with ideas of WHAT to do and ways to shine their light. If you want to post an act with your hashtag, great. If not, that's fine too. It's not all about what we do in our box, our church, our homes, our everyday lives. It's about seeing those moments in the grocery store parking lot and not letting them slip by. So, are you up for this month long challenge to focus on your purpose of being more than who you are right now? If so, stock up on chocolate bars and be on the lookout for moments....you may just change a heart or a life. Perhaps even your own. #dontforgetdecember
Monday, December 2, 2013
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Don't Forget December
Here it is again...that month of the year that is consumed so easily with gift buying, parties, and festivities focused on the baby in the manger who came to save us all. But don't forget....that baby grew up to teach and leave us with more than a way to Heaven...He left us with a purpose. A purpose so great, and so challenging, yet we often lose sight of it in the chaos of life. We get so caught up being who and what we chose, teachers, moms, dads, bankers, doctors, etc., that we forget what He chose us for....to be His hands and His feet....to love the unlovable.....to act on our faith in Him with actions of love towards others. Be very clear, you can absolutely work for Him through your career and daily life but He is asking for more....more than me....more than you....more than the daily duties that you are already fulfilling. As I was leaving the grocery store today, I saw a young woman with dreadlocks standing out at the end of the parking lot with no cars near her. It was safe to assume she was either nomadic, homeless or waiting for a ride but either way, I sensed she was lost....perhaps literally and figuratively. As I drove past her, I thought of my grandma Dot who was known to pick up hitchhikers...she always said you never know when a hitchhiker is an angel in need. I think of her saying that every time I see someone on the side of the road....but I've never stopped to offer a ride. There are CRAZY people in this world! They could do harm to me....all these thoughts are going through my head in a matter of seconds as I'm driving past this girl with the blond dreadlocks. Then all of a sudden, my car did this crazy thing, the traction control came on. It causes my car to kind of slow and make a weird sound...but all I was focused on was this girl in my rearview mirror. I slowed for a few seconds until my traction control went off and then continued on my way. All the while thinking of this woman....wondering....is she lost, is she homeless, is she on drugs, does she have a family....but I didn't...I didn't stop even though my car wanted to. As I sit here tonight, by a warm fire, with a loving, health family, I can't help but think my car having this strange issue at that moment when there was no reason for the traction control to come on and when remembering my grandmother, was God's way to reminding me to not forget my purpose! Why didn't I stop the car, offer something and show His love?! Maybe all I had was the Hershey's chocolate bar with almonds that I was getting ready to inhale, but I bet He can do a lot and open a lot of doors with a Hershey's bar. I failed tonight, as I do a lot, but thanks to His grace, there's tomorrow. So this will be Don't Forget December for me....don't forget His purpose for you. Oh, and you might stock up on Hershey bars and carry them with you. I'm confident He can do great things with just a Hershey's bar. #dontforgetdecember
Matthew 25:37-40
Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?
The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Matthew 28:19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. "Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 25:37-40
Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?
The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Matthew 28:19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. "Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Friday, June 14, 2013
Did That Just Really Happen?!
I have a lot of thoughts flowing right now but I'm going to try to put them into some coherent words...bare with me!....Tonight was a big night for one of my boys. This is his second year of playing "player pitched" baseball. The team that we played tonight is one that has beat our team twice by a pretty large margin both games. This wasn't making it easy for my son to have the desire to go play tonight. He asked if he really had to go tonight because he already knew what the outcome would be....but he was so wrong! While his team lost, they played really well and scored quite a few runs on this team that had previous held them to low scores twice. But what was even more important for my little guy was that not only did my he have a great catch, he did something that he had not done in nearly two years....he hit a homerun!! Upon touching home plate and walking back to the dugout, he was smiling from ear to ear with a look of shock on his face and he said, "Did that just really happen!?!?" Yes, my sweet boy, it just did really happen. For this mom, this was a moment I have been praying for and I could not have been more excited. See, I think he's been doubting his abilities and measuring himself up to others in a way that is keeping him from wanting to try new things or even from continuing to do things that he's been doing for awhile...like baseball. He's really hard on himself and so if he's not doing what he thinks is the best, then he thinks maybe he shouldn't be doing it. Now, he hasn't said all of this too me...just what I've gathered from his actions and from what little he has said. My "momcolgist" degree allows me to make this diagnosis. But I haven't been able to find a cure for this hardness and doubt that he seems to be experiencing. So we've just been encouraging and trying to talk about it a bit, and praying that he would see that God has given him the perfect abilities to do anything he wants to do...and that he may have to work at it a bit.
Ok, back to tonight...On the way home, we were talking about his hit and he told me that while running the bases, he just kept thinking, I'm going to get out, I'm going to get out....way to be a positive thinker, son! haha! But next thing he knew, he was rounding third and a throw was coming home but he beat it and accomplished something that he never expected.
This got me to thinking...how often do we doubt ourselves and the gifts and talents that God gave us? Or how often are we waiting for "the other shoe to drop" rather than recognizing God's goodness and provisions? Or how often do we find ourselves measuring ourselves by fake standards that we make up for ourselves based off of what we think others are rather than what God made us to be? Or how often do we find ourselves standing by with a shocked look on our face saying, Did that just really happen?? When we grow in our relationship with God, we start to see His fingerprints in every aspect. Living life without His guidance and faith in His plan for us will leave us striking out a lot. But when we fix our eyes on Him and are looking for, and able to see His fingerprints in every aspect of our lives, we will find ourselves standing in awe, saying, Did that just really happen?!?!
This day, and this post is a culmination of exciting things that have happened in our house lately...which has left us saying, "Wow, I can't believe that worked out that way!" We've had lots of reminders that good and amazing things come our way when we strive to stay on the path that God wants us on. Notice I said strive...we're far from perfect! We fail daily but keep striving and trying to improve...we just keep swingin'! Keep swingin' and be ready to stand in awe the things God will do in your life. You will catch yourself saying, "Did that just really happen?!"
Isaiah 30:18
Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
Philipians 2:13
.....for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Ok, back to tonight...On the way home, we were talking about his hit and he told me that while running the bases, he just kept thinking, I'm going to get out, I'm going to get out....way to be a positive thinker, son! haha! But next thing he knew, he was rounding third and a throw was coming home but he beat it and accomplished something that he never expected.
This got me to thinking...how often do we doubt ourselves and the gifts and talents that God gave us? Or how often are we waiting for "the other shoe to drop" rather than recognizing God's goodness and provisions? Or how often do we find ourselves measuring ourselves by fake standards that we make up for ourselves based off of what we think others are rather than what God made us to be? Or how often do we find ourselves standing by with a shocked look on our face saying, Did that just really happen?? When we grow in our relationship with God, we start to see His fingerprints in every aspect. Living life without His guidance and faith in His plan for us will leave us striking out a lot. But when we fix our eyes on Him and are looking for, and able to see His fingerprints in every aspect of our lives, we will find ourselves standing in awe, saying, Did that just really happen?!?!
This day, and this post is a culmination of exciting things that have happened in our house lately...which has left us saying, "Wow, I can't believe that worked out that way!" We've had lots of reminders that good and amazing things come our way when we strive to stay on the path that God wants us on. Notice I said strive...we're far from perfect! We fail daily but keep striving and trying to improve...we just keep swingin'! Keep swingin' and be ready to stand in awe the things God will do in your life. You will catch yourself saying, "Did that just really happen?!"
Isaiah 30:18
Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
Philipians 2:13
.....for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Making It Real
When a book is adapted to a movie or television show you never really know how closely it will align to the book. I have friends who like to read the book first and then watch the movie. Then they will go on and on about how bad the movie was compared to the book. One of the only books I have ever read before the movie was 'The Help.' I remember reading the book and thinking, how in the world are they going to make a movie that really follows this book? I was kind of apprehensive about seeing the movie because I didn't want it to leave out any key points or change any of the vital points. I had created the story in my mind, created how I thought the characters looked, and acted. I had brought the book to life in my imagination. I wanted the movie to make the book real to me.
Last night we watched The Bible series on the History channel. It's full of stories from a book that I have read, studied, and learned about my entire life. Stories that have I have built my beliefs and faith on. Stories that are the very thread of my personal relationship with God. While I was a little hesitant to let our boys watch it until we had the opportunity to watch it first, something happened that I didn't expect. They began to look up the stories in the Bible with my husband during the commercial breaks. They were more interested in reading the stories to see how accurate the show was than really watching it. The Bible is the truth and they wanted to be sure the truth was being presented. Today after school, one of them asked, is the Bible on tv tonight, mom? His brother piped up that he too was anxious to watch more of it. As a mother, it is an awesome feeling to hear your children eager to learn more about a book they have been reading and learning about their whole lives, and to see them building their own relationship with God. A personal relationship.....not a relationship we, their parents, have "forced" on them, or that they have blindly followed....but a relationship that they are chosing to build on their own.
Proverbs 22:6 says,"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." I may not know what the future holds for my children, and their believes, and faith, but I do know that it is my responsibility to train them and teach them the way they should go. I don't want them to just blindly follow and believe because they have been told to. I want them to have a real faith, I want God to be as real them them as He is to me. I believe that seeing the Bible series is making the books of the Bible....it's making God.... real to them. It is bringing the stories to life for them.
Just another reminder how this life is about so much more than me....it's about making God real for generations to come.
Last night we watched The Bible series on the History channel. It's full of stories from a book that I have read, studied, and learned about my entire life. Stories that have I have built my beliefs and faith on. Stories that are the very thread of my personal relationship with God. While I was a little hesitant to let our boys watch it until we had the opportunity to watch it first, something happened that I didn't expect. They began to look up the stories in the Bible with my husband during the commercial breaks. They were more interested in reading the stories to see how accurate the show was than really watching it. The Bible is the truth and they wanted to be sure the truth was being presented. Today after school, one of them asked, is the Bible on tv tonight, mom? His brother piped up that he too was anxious to watch more of it. As a mother, it is an awesome feeling to hear your children eager to learn more about a book they have been reading and learning about their whole lives, and to see them building their own relationship with God. A personal relationship.....not a relationship we, their parents, have "forced" on them, or that they have blindly followed....but a relationship that they are chosing to build on their own.
Proverbs 22:6 says,"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." I may not know what the future holds for my children, and their believes, and faith, but I do know that it is my responsibility to train them and teach them the way they should go. I don't want them to just blindly follow and believe because they have been told to. I want them to have a real faith, I want God to be as real them them as He is to me. I believe that seeing the Bible series is making the books of the Bible....it's making God.... real to them. It is bringing the stories to life for them.
Just another reminder how this life is about so much more than me....it's about making God real for generations to come.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Luke 1:50
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Flowers for You
Today I did something I have never done before. I bought flowers for myself. Yep, a dozen red tulips. Now, I've bought flowers before just because I like fresh flowers when we are having friends over for dinner. But today's purchase was different. Today's purchase was about celebrating me. I don't mean "me" in a selfish, conceited way. You see, I have been reflecting lately on all the ways God has been good to me. How He has guided me, protected me, saved me, but most of all how He made me. He MADE me....like a potter shaping clay, He has molded me and continues to mold me. But I am at a place now where I can see so much of His hand in my life. Where there were hard times and difficult times, but He made them good. I may not have seen the good at the time but I can sure see it now.
When I was little, I sang a song at church and the lyrics were, "He's still workin' on me, To make me what I ought to be. It took Him just a week to make the moon and the stars, the sun and the Earth and Jupiter and Mars. How loving and caring He must be. Cause He's still workin' on me." Thirty years later, I can say, He's still workin' on me. But the work He has done is starting to shine through more and more. The more He shines through your life, the more life becomes less about you. I find myself less concerned about what I should be, who I should be, or wish I was.
As a wife, and mom, this is something that doesn't come easily. We tend to measure ourselves against other wives and moms that appear to be doing a better job of being wives and mom. I'm not June Cleaver! Never have been, at one time I wished I was. Now, I just focus on being me. I am the mom who forgets at least two things every morning and has to run back into the house to get them. I'm the wife who has burned water a few times and hangs a towel over the smoke alarm to keep it from going off when I'm cooking. He's still working on me! But I am being me and not worried about being more than me. I'm moving, slowly but surely, towards becoming everything He made me to be.
When I was hurrying through the grocery store today and came to the floral section, I saw how beautiful all the flowers were and how some were just starting to bloom. Just starting to become everything God made them to be.
We are all wonderfully made by God to do great things and to bloom where we are planted. Let Him continue to mold and make you. At times the molding process isn't easy but hang in there! When you need to be reminded that you are wonderfully made by God, abundantly blessed, loved beyond measure, granted amazing grace daily, and made to bloom where you are planted....buy yourself flowers. When you want to celebrate who you are because of Him, and that He is still workin' on you....buy yourself flowers. Celebrate YOU!
Philipians 2:13
for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.
When I was little, I sang a song at church and the lyrics were, "He's still workin' on me, To make me what I ought to be. It took Him just a week to make the moon and the stars, the sun and the Earth and Jupiter and Mars. How loving and caring He must be. Cause He's still workin' on me." Thirty years later, I can say, He's still workin' on me. But the work He has done is starting to shine through more and more. The more He shines through your life, the more life becomes less about you. I find myself less concerned about what I should be, who I should be, or wish I was.
As a wife, and mom, this is something that doesn't come easily. We tend to measure ourselves against other wives and moms that appear to be doing a better job of being wives and mom. I'm not June Cleaver! Never have been, at one time I wished I was. Now, I just focus on being me. I am the mom who forgets at least two things every morning and has to run back into the house to get them. I'm the wife who has burned water a few times and hangs a towel over the smoke alarm to keep it from going off when I'm cooking. He's still working on me! But I am being me and not worried about being more than me. I'm moving, slowly but surely, towards becoming everything He made me to be.
When I was hurrying through the grocery store today and came to the floral section, I saw how beautiful all the flowers were and how some were just starting to bloom. Just starting to become everything God made them to be.
We are all wonderfully made by God to do great things and to bloom where we are planted. Let Him continue to mold and make you. At times the molding process isn't easy but hang in there! When you need to be reminded that you are wonderfully made by God, abundantly blessed, loved beyond measure, granted amazing grace daily, and made to bloom where you are planted....buy yourself flowers. When you want to celebrate who you are because of Him, and that He is still workin' on you....buy yourself flowers. Celebrate YOU!
Philipians 2:13
for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
MOVE! 2013
It is 2013...has been for 10 days. It doesn't feel any different than 2012 and if it goes like 2012 went I would have no complaints. But I suppose the idea is to improve on the year before and that is why so many make resolutions for the new year. The last several years I haven't made new year resolutions but rather made a theme for the year. "More than Me" was the theme when I started writing this blog. That year I realized that amazing things happen when you put feet to your faith and are aware of more than your own little world. Last year my theme was,"Make It Count." I was focused more on making every decision, every day, every word, every minute of every day count. Some days this was the furthest idea from my mind because I was just focused on making it through the day! I remember one day in July when I had three large assignments due and two boys wanting and needing my attention. I was stressing just a bit and I remember quietly repeating, Make It Count, to myself. I was refocusing my mind and it helped guide me through this moment where I was being pulled in so many directions. I had to make it count in order to give my best.
Now, I am ten days into a new year with no theme. But tonight it hit me. Have you thought about just how patient God is with you? Where I am at in my life at this very moment is due to taking some steps though doors that took me awhile to recognize as the door that was open. I'm sure we all have had times when it takes us awhile to recognize what God is providing, nudging us towards, and preparing for us. It's like we sit at the door waiting for God to open it without even realizing He has ripped the door off the hinges, and hung a huge, flashing neon arrow over the doorway with a sign saying, "MOVE! ENTER!" Wow! Was this a powerful thought for me! So this year I will be "Moving." Not in the literal sense necessarily. It's more about being aware of where the big neon sign is point to. It's acting on those thoughts of, "Oh, I wonder how so and so is?" Instead of just wondering and thinking about them, call them, text them, email, send a smoke signal...just DO something that shows them they were thought of. Maybe in your job you have been feeling like there is a change needed but the thought of walking through that door is just to much to wrap your head around. These are the times when you have to trust in the One who hung the neon sign for you. I can think of a way to MOVE in every aspect of my life and I haven't been moving like I should.
I have faith in a God that can MOVE mountains but yet I struggle to MOVE for Him....Move 2013.
Mark 11:23-24
Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Now, I am ten days into a new year with no theme. But tonight it hit me. Have you thought about just how patient God is with you? Where I am at in my life at this very moment is due to taking some steps though doors that took me awhile to recognize as the door that was open. I'm sure we all have had times when it takes us awhile to recognize what God is providing, nudging us towards, and preparing for us. It's like we sit at the door waiting for God to open it without even realizing He has ripped the door off the hinges, and hung a huge, flashing neon arrow over the doorway with a sign saying, "MOVE! ENTER!" Wow! Was this a powerful thought for me! So this year I will be "Moving." Not in the literal sense necessarily. It's more about being aware of where the big neon sign is point to. It's acting on those thoughts of, "Oh, I wonder how so and so is?" Instead of just wondering and thinking about them, call them, text them, email, send a smoke signal...just DO something that shows them they were thought of. Maybe in your job you have been feeling like there is a change needed but the thought of walking through that door is just to much to wrap your head around. These are the times when you have to trust in the One who hung the neon sign for you. I can think of a way to MOVE in every aspect of my life and I haven't been moving like I should.
I have faith in a God that can MOVE mountains but yet I struggle to MOVE for Him....Move 2013.
Mark 11:23-24
Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
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