To write or not to write. That was the question this morning. Not that I didn't want to, I always want to. It's in my blood. I just didn't know what I would write about. To be honest I still don't know. Usually ideas will come to me and I'll have a chat with God about them and tuck them away in my head and by the time I sit down at the keyboard in the morning, I have some sense of where God is leading me and what I'm going to say. Not true today.
Several things came to mind yesterday and last night but nothing ever seemed to come together right. I thought about places I had been and things that had been going on around me the last few days and tried to make a spiritual connection to something but for the life of me I couldn't do it. It was like I hit a brick wall. You've heard of writer's block? I think I just experienced it. I was awake at 4:30 this morning trying to figure out what I was going to write, but I couldn't put two sensible thoughts together for anything in the world. So for a brief moment I thought about skipping out and not writing at all this morning. But that wasn't what I wanted to do. And it obviously wasn't what God wanted me to do either, because finally He told me, "You don't have to know what you're writing, just write." So here I am.
You know its really a shame we're not like that in more areas of our lives. We think we have to know all the answers ahead of time. We want the who, what, where, when and why before we agree to anything. We want all the answers about everything going on in our lives. Yes, I'll admit, it would help a great deal if I knew what I was going to write before I sat down at the keyboard, but this morning I didn't. And as it turns out - that's okay. God knew. He knew the words and thoughts that needed to come out even if I didn't know.
What a great reminder that He's in charge. Even when we don't have the details we think we need, He has them. Truth is, my thoughts have become clearer and clearer with each sentence. Even when I had no clue what I was going to say, its suddenly one of the easiest blog posts I've submitted. I didn't know where this was going or even what the subject was going to be, but God knew. You may not have all the answers either, but you can know the One who does.
"'For I know the plans I have for you,'" declares the LORD..."
~ Jeremiah 29:11
"When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way..." ~ Psalm 142:3
"When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee..." ~ Jonah 2:7
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Sing...Sing A Song
My daughter loves to sing. She always has. Singing and dancing. It's how she's spent a great portion of her 17 years. Singing and dancing through life. Both physically and mentally. She has an incredibly happy, carefree spirit 99% of the time, just singing and dancing along. Nothing gets her down very often. She always has a smile on her face. At a recent high school football pep rally, a few fellow classmen pointed out that a typically shy and quiet friend of my daughter's was showing an unusual amount of spirit during the rally. This timid, quiet, soft spoken girl was hooping and hollering it up. And people noticed. "Well, what about me?" my daughter asked. Their response was no surprise. "Emilee, you always have spirit!" These friends know her well!
She sings and hums around the house all the time. And forget about being in the car with her. I'll admit, I'm guilty of singing along with the radio too - just not at the same decibel level as her! And because she's in three different choral groups at school this year, there's always a new piece of music to be learned. I often hear her in her room at the keyboard, playing and singing the music she's so eager to absorb. She absolutely loves it. Enough even to get up at 5:30 two mornings a week for choral practice. Singing makes her happy.
You may not love music and singing as much as my daughter. You may not like it at all. Maybe you can't carry a tune in a 5-gallon bucket. It doesn't matter. You can still have a song in your heart. Over and over the Bible talks about God putting a song in our heart. He can, you know. It may not be an actual sing-out-loud, stomp-your-feet kind of song. But it can make you happy. A song in your heart can change your entire outlook. Your whole attitude can turn completely around.
And don't even try to say you don't have anything to sing about. Look around you. Your blessings far outweigh your problems. Don't believe me? Make a list. I dare you. Make two columns - like a Pros & Cons list. Go ahead. Do it. If you're honest with your list, you'll be amazed at how much longer the column of blessings is! So find something to sing about and go for it. At least in your head and in your heart - the people beside you at work might wonder what's up if you start belting out show tunes in the middle of the day! But when you're alone in the car or in the shower, sing to the top of your lungs. Who cares if the people next to you at the red light think you're nuts. Go for it. Get happy. Shout for joy. Your whole outlook will change. It's impossible to have a song in your heart and a scowl on your face at the same time.
"I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God." ~ Psalm 40:1-3
"Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs." ~ Psalm 100:1,2
"Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy." ~ Psalm 33:3
She sings and hums around the house all the time. And forget about being in the car with her. I'll admit, I'm guilty of singing along with the radio too - just not at the same decibel level as her! And because she's in three different choral groups at school this year, there's always a new piece of music to be learned. I often hear her in her room at the keyboard, playing and singing the music she's so eager to absorb. She absolutely loves it. Enough even to get up at 5:30 two mornings a week for choral practice. Singing makes her happy.
You may not love music and singing as much as my daughter. You may not like it at all. Maybe you can't carry a tune in a 5-gallon bucket. It doesn't matter. You can still have a song in your heart. Over and over the Bible talks about God putting a song in our heart. He can, you know. It may not be an actual sing-out-loud, stomp-your-feet kind of song. But it can make you happy. A song in your heart can change your entire outlook. Your whole attitude can turn completely around.
And don't even try to say you don't have anything to sing about. Look around you. Your blessings far outweigh your problems. Don't believe me? Make a list. I dare you. Make two columns - like a Pros & Cons list. Go ahead. Do it. If you're honest with your list, you'll be amazed at how much longer the column of blessings is! So find something to sing about and go for it. At least in your head and in your heart - the people beside you at work might wonder what's up if you start belting out show tunes in the middle of the day! But when you're alone in the car or in the shower, sing to the top of your lungs. Who cares if the people next to you at the red light think you're nuts. Go for it. Get happy. Shout for joy. Your whole outlook will change. It's impossible to have a song in your heart and a scowl on your face at the same time.
"I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God." ~ Psalm 40:1-3
"Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs." ~ Psalm 100:1,2
"Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy." ~ Psalm 33:3
Monday, August 29, 2011
In Our Own Backyard
Let me be the first to say that I'm proud to live in a country where we are anxious and eager to send aide to nations around the world in need. I believe it's one of the very few Christian principles that's still on display in our nation's capital today. And it's thrilling to see churches and denominations organize and implement missions trips to foreign lands in order to provide aide and share God's love. Even celebrities seem to be eager these days to lend a hand to raise awareness of the various crises facing nations across the globe.
Assisting to implement a desperately needed water supply system. Aid in delivering meals on a daily basis to starving children. School systems being built. Homes and churches being erected and maintained. Desperately needed medical care being delivered. Blessings that the majority of us take for granted are the very things that, without outside help coming in, are impossibilities in these poverty stricken nations. And I agree that we all need to do what we can to help.
But while we're so anxious to jump on board with the next mission trip overseas or send a donation to the latest celebrity-endorsed aid relief plea that comes across our television screens, do we exhibit the same eagerness when it comes to helping our own neighbor? While it's true that needs are great around the world, it's also true that they're great right next door. Sure, your neighbor may not be starving for food but they may be starving for love. The sweet little widow lady down the street may not be in need of medical care, but she may be in need of some company. She may need an ear to listen or a shoulder to cry on. The neighbors on the corner may not need water, but they may need God.
And what about the ones that are in physical need in our communities? We don't have to travel to the Horn of Africa to find someone in need of a meal. It's not just those in Honduras that need medical care or assistance with building and maintaining their homes and churches. Last year a group of students from the University of Tennessee came to my hometown on a mission trip. They spent their Spring Break working in homes, yards and churches in our community. For a week they sawed, hammered, painted, cleared overgrown landscapes, built wheelchair ramps, and shared God's love. Our community was thrilled to have them here, local churches hosted them and threw a block party in their honor. But I couldn't help but feel somewhat embarrassed. I couldn't help but wonder why it took a missions group to travel here from 8 hours away to fulfill the needs in our own backyard. Why weren't we as a community taking care of our own?
Oh sure, we have Make A Difference Day once a year where it's fun to team up with others in the community in an effort to help others in need. But what about the other 364 days of the year? What are we doing for others on those days?
We are commanded to share God's love in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Our Jerusalem is our immediate locale. Where we live. Where we work. People we pass on the street every day. I don't think it's by chance that Jesus mentions Jerusalem first. He wants and expects us to begin at home. Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth are also included, clearly showing that He expects us to share His love everywhere. Around the globe. To the ends of the earth. But not without first beginning at home.
We should keep going on the missions trips, or supporting the ones who do go. We need to keep sending donations to assist in relief efforts around the world. But we should not be overlooking needs in our own neighborhoods in the process. We should start at home.
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” ~ Acts 1:8
Assisting to implement a desperately needed water supply system. Aid in delivering meals on a daily basis to starving children. School systems being built. Homes and churches being erected and maintained. Desperately needed medical care being delivered. Blessings that the majority of us take for granted are the very things that, without outside help coming in, are impossibilities in these poverty stricken nations. And I agree that we all need to do what we can to help.
But while we're so anxious to jump on board with the next mission trip overseas or send a donation to the latest celebrity-endorsed aid relief plea that comes across our television screens, do we exhibit the same eagerness when it comes to helping our own neighbor? While it's true that needs are great around the world, it's also true that they're great right next door. Sure, your neighbor may not be starving for food but they may be starving for love. The sweet little widow lady down the street may not be in need of medical care, but she may be in need of some company. She may need an ear to listen or a shoulder to cry on. The neighbors on the corner may not need water, but they may need God.
And what about the ones that are in physical need in our communities? We don't have to travel to the Horn of Africa to find someone in need of a meal. It's not just those in Honduras that need medical care or assistance with building and maintaining their homes and churches. Last year a group of students from the University of Tennessee came to my hometown on a mission trip. They spent their Spring Break working in homes, yards and churches in our community. For a week they sawed, hammered, painted, cleared overgrown landscapes, built wheelchair ramps, and shared God's love. Our community was thrilled to have them here, local churches hosted them and threw a block party in their honor. But I couldn't help but feel somewhat embarrassed. I couldn't help but wonder why it took a missions group to travel here from 8 hours away to fulfill the needs in our own backyard. Why weren't we as a community taking care of our own?
Oh sure, we have Make A Difference Day once a year where it's fun to team up with others in the community in an effort to help others in need. But what about the other 364 days of the year? What are we doing for others on those days?
We are commanded to share God's love in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Our Jerusalem is our immediate locale. Where we live. Where we work. People we pass on the street every day. I don't think it's by chance that Jesus mentions Jerusalem first. He wants and expects us to begin at home. Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth are also included, clearly showing that He expects us to share His love everywhere. Around the globe. To the ends of the earth. But not without first beginning at home.
We should keep going on the missions trips, or supporting the ones who do go. We need to keep sending donations to assist in relief efforts around the world. But we should not be overlooking needs in our own neighborhoods in the process. We should start at home.
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” ~ Acts 1:8
Friday, August 26, 2011
One Stop Shop
I'm amazed at the vast amount of options in cold remedies these days. Even going through my own medicine cabinet recently looking for something to abate a summer cold my son was developing, the number of options were insane. Never mind going to a big box drugstore chain to look for something. I'd need medication myself for the headache I'd have after trying to make sense of all the options on the shelves! Not to mention the ones held behind the counter that you have to show ID for because some knuckleheads are abusing them. It's almost impossible to sort them all out and decide which is best suitable to tackle your symptoms.
Daytime, Nighttime, 6-hour, 12-hour, 24-hour. Pills, tablets, capsules, liquids, reditabs. Rapid release, slow release, extended release. Cough suppressant, decongestant, antihistamine. May cause drowsiness. May cause excitability. May cause me to go insane trying to figure it all out! SHEESH! When and how did we come to need so many options? I say take me back to the days when my Grandma Tucker would offer a dose of good old castor oil - for whatever ailed you! And you know what? Most of the time it worked. Or else we were too scared to complain again for fear of a second dose!
I'm so grateful that God is a one stop shop. No matter what ails us, no matter what our symptoms are, He is the answer to it all. Daytime, Nighttime, Anytime. Anxiety, Worry, Fear. Addiction, Cheating, Jealousy. Depression, Sadness, Heartbreak. Anger, Frustration, Bitterness. Disappointment, Hopelessness, Loss. He is the remedy for it all.
"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." ~ 1 Peter 5:7
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ~ Phillipians 4:6,7
Daytime, Nighttime, 6-hour, 12-hour, 24-hour. Pills, tablets, capsules, liquids, reditabs. Rapid release, slow release, extended release. Cough suppressant, decongestant, antihistamine. May cause drowsiness. May cause excitability. May cause me to go insane trying to figure it all out! SHEESH! When and how did we come to need so many options? I say take me back to the days when my Grandma Tucker would offer a dose of good old castor oil - for whatever ailed you! And you know what? Most of the time it worked. Or else we were too scared to complain again for fear of a second dose!
I'm so grateful that God is a one stop shop. No matter what ails us, no matter what our symptoms are, He is the answer to it all. Daytime, Nighttime, Anytime. Anxiety, Worry, Fear. Addiction, Cheating, Jealousy. Depression, Sadness, Heartbreak. Anger, Frustration, Bitterness. Disappointment, Hopelessness, Loss. He is the remedy for it all.
"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." ~ 1 Peter 5:7
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ~ Phillipians 4:6,7
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Raindrops, Showers or Storms?
It recently occurred to me how many songs in the Christian genre reference rain. I'm sure we'd be surprised by the number if we were ever able to gather them all up, but there are three in particular that jumped out in my mind. And as I was thinking about them, I couldn't help but see the progression between them.
Laura Story is a fairly new Christian artist and although you may not recognize her name, chances are if you tune in to Christian radio, you've heard her beautiful song, "Blessings." The first line of the chorus asks the question, "What if your blessings come through raindrops?" Wow. Do we see raindrops as blessings? Perhaps. For a moment. If we've been in a drought. But if raindrops are all we're getting after a horrible drought, are we really satisfied? Or do we just argue that its not enough? Or what if we're looking for sunshine and we get raindrops? We're probably not too happy then either are we? In either situation, we're probably not viewing raindrops as a blessing. Unfortunately, we tend to forget that God knows exactly what we need, how much we need, and when we need it. So if raindrops are what we're getting, you can rest assured that it's what we need at that moment. Even if it's not what we were hoping for, are we thankful for the raindrops?
Then I thought about the lyrics to the old favorite hymn based on Ezekiel 34:26. The lyrics of the song read, "There shall be showers of blessing, oh that today they might fall..." and later in the chorus, "Showers of blessing, showers of blessing we need. Mercy drops round us are falling, but for the showers we plead." Isn't it true that sometimes we're getting the raindrops but feel we're really in need of the showers? Again, we forget that God knows just how much we need and when we need it. Or maybe you're experiencing showers of blessing right now in your life and have forgotten who sent them. Have you praised God for the showers? Or do you only go to Him when you're in need of them?
And finally, a favorite in our house is Casting Crown's song, "Praise You in This Storm." What about when the thunder is rolling and the lightning is striking all around us? What if our raindrops and showers have turned into downpours and the floodwater is rising higher and higher? The song says that even as the thunder rolls, God is whispering through the rain, "I'm with you." Do we rely on this blessed assurance when we're caught up in the storms of life? Or do we instead ask, "Why me?" and grumble and complain about the situation we're in.
Sure, it's easy to praise God and be thankful when the showers of blessing are pouring down around us. But what about when our blessings are disguised as raindrops or when we're in the midst of a terrible storm? Are we still so quick to give Him praise? Hebrews 13:5 reminds us that He will never leave us nor forsake us. No matter what kind of weather we're experiencing. In the raindrops, in the showers and in the storm, He is always there. The only question is do we always acknowledge Him?
"...and daily shall He be praised." ~ Psalm 72:15
Blessings
Showers of Blessing
Praise You in This Storm
Laura Story is a fairly new Christian artist and although you may not recognize her name, chances are if you tune in to Christian radio, you've heard her beautiful song, "Blessings." The first line of the chorus asks the question, "What if your blessings come through raindrops?" Wow. Do we see raindrops as blessings? Perhaps. For a moment. If we've been in a drought. But if raindrops are all we're getting after a horrible drought, are we really satisfied? Or do we just argue that its not enough? Or what if we're looking for sunshine and we get raindrops? We're probably not too happy then either are we? In either situation, we're probably not viewing raindrops as a blessing. Unfortunately, we tend to forget that God knows exactly what we need, how much we need, and when we need it. So if raindrops are what we're getting, you can rest assured that it's what we need at that moment. Even if it's not what we were hoping for, are we thankful for the raindrops?
Then I thought about the lyrics to the old favorite hymn based on Ezekiel 34:26. The lyrics of the song read, "There shall be showers of blessing, oh that today they might fall..." and later in the chorus, "Showers of blessing, showers of blessing we need. Mercy drops round us are falling, but for the showers we plead." Isn't it true that sometimes we're getting the raindrops but feel we're really in need of the showers? Again, we forget that God knows just how much we need and when we need it. Or maybe you're experiencing showers of blessing right now in your life and have forgotten who sent them. Have you praised God for the showers? Or do you only go to Him when you're in need of them?
And finally, a favorite in our house is Casting Crown's song, "Praise You in This Storm." What about when the thunder is rolling and the lightning is striking all around us? What if our raindrops and showers have turned into downpours and the floodwater is rising higher and higher? The song says that even as the thunder rolls, God is whispering through the rain, "I'm with you." Do we rely on this blessed assurance when we're caught up in the storms of life? Or do we instead ask, "Why me?" and grumble and complain about the situation we're in.
Sure, it's easy to praise God and be thankful when the showers of blessing are pouring down around us. But what about when our blessings are disguised as raindrops or when we're in the midst of a terrible storm? Are we still so quick to give Him praise? Hebrews 13:5 reminds us that He will never leave us nor forsake us. No matter what kind of weather we're experiencing. In the raindrops, in the showers and in the storm, He is always there. The only question is do we always acknowledge Him?
"...and daily shall He be praised." ~ Psalm 72:15
Blessings
Showers of Blessing
Praise You in This Storm
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Do You Need A Shovel?
I've lived in my home for almost 10 years. It's hard to believe that it's been that long, but it's true. And the only thing that's really irked me ever since I moved in is the azalea bushes in my yard. They had been here for what looked like decades prior to my arrival, and some had grown even taller than the house. I've never been fond of their daunting presence. Oh, I love the beautiful white, pink and purple blooms they offer in the Spring, and it's hard for me to even imagine Easter pictures without an azalea blooming somewhere in the background. But those couple of weeks of color in the Spring doesn't last long. And it certainly doesn't make up for the months that they're not blooming and are just overgrown and unsightly.
I've tried trimming them in years past, but they always come back with a vengeance - fuller and taller than ever before. With each new season they seemed to take over more and more. There was just no stopping them it seemed. Until yesterday. Yesterday they were dug up. Removed from the ground by the roots. They may have been ridiculously tall and overgrown, but they were no match for the backhoe! Within just a few minutes every one of them was out of my yard and on the pile of trash to be burned - right where they belonged!
I'm not sure why it took me nearly 10 years to finally become sick enough of them to order them gone. I guess the main reason is because I never could decide what to put back in their place. But you know what? I still haven't decided. Right now nothing is going back in their place. This morning I'm enjoying the open space that's been left by their removal. Sure the dirt is disturbed and the ground is a bit of a mess where they had been so deeply imbedded for years, but even the dirt is a prettier site to me than the azaleas were. Even without knowing what will eventually replace them - I'm glad they're gone! And the best part is they won't be coming back. They can't sprout new leaves and put on new growth and come back stronger than before. They have permanently been removed from my landscape.
The Bible tells us that the only way to get rid of sin and the things that cause us to sin is to remove them from our landscape. Permanently. If we just trim them back but keep them around, they are certain to come back stronger and more powerful than before. Just like the azaleas, they will keep coming back over and over again, determined to take over more and more of our lives each and every time. The only way to remove sin and the things that lead us to it - no matter WHAT those things may be - is to dig it up by the roots and dispose of it permanently, no matter what the cost.
"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial[a]? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?"
~ 2 Corinthians 6:14,15
"If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell."
~ Matthew 5:29,30
I've tried trimming them in years past, but they always come back with a vengeance - fuller and taller than ever before. With each new season they seemed to take over more and more. There was just no stopping them it seemed. Until yesterday. Yesterday they were dug up. Removed from the ground by the roots. They may have been ridiculously tall and overgrown, but they were no match for the backhoe! Within just a few minutes every one of them was out of my yard and on the pile of trash to be burned - right where they belonged!
I'm not sure why it took me nearly 10 years to finally become sick enough of them to order them gone. I guess the main reason is because I never could decide what to put back in their place. But you know what? I still haven't decided. Right now nothing is going back in their place. This morning I'm enjoying the open space that's been left by their removal. Sure the dirt is disturbed and the ground is a bit of a mess where they had been so deeply imbedded for years, but even the dirt is a prettier site to me than the azaleas were. Even without knowing what will eventually replace them - I'm glad they're gone! And the best part is they won't be coming back. They can't sprout new leaves and put on new growth and come back stronger than before. They have permanently been removed from my landscape.
The Bible tells us that the only way to get rid of sin and the things that cause us to sin is to remove them from our landscape. Permanently. If we just trim them back but keep them around, they are certain to come back stronger and more powerful than before. Just like the azaleas, they will keep coming back over and over again, determined to take over more and more of our lives each and every time. The only way to remove sin and the things that lead us to it - no matter WHAT those things may be - is to dig it up by the roots and dispose of it permanently, no matter what the cost.
"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial[a]? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?"
~ 2 Corinthians 6:14,15
"If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell."
~ Matthew 5:29,30
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
What are you Fighting?
Just in the past few years my father has planted grapevines in his yard. He's always had an affinity for all things green and growing but just over the past decade has he introduced fruit trees and grapevines into his landscape. He's got peaches, plums, blueberries, and just recently added a blackberry bush. He meticulously prunes and waters each one, hoping to produce a great fruit at harvest time. The same is true for his grapevines. This year in particular he took special care in nurturing them. He was attentive to them year-round and when they started putting on fruit, they were loaded. We were so excited - there were going to be more than enough grapes for all of us!
A few weeks ago my mother was walking through the fruit trees and noticed the grapes. They were full and plump and were looking just as they should. She picked a handful and realized they weren't quite ripe enough - but in another week they'd be perfect. The only problem was, in another week, there weren't any. In just a couple of days, actually. My father went back to check their ripeness - and they were gone. That's right, gone. Every single one of them. The vines had been picked clean and not a single grape was left for my dad's enjoyment. All of his hard work and dedication had been for naught. He was sick and we were all sick for him.
He immediately blamed the squirrels and birds that show up in abundance around his fruit trees and we all started talking about what preventive measures we could take next year to assure they stayed away. Ideas of placing scarecrows around the vines and maybe even using netting to cover them came to mind as we schemed about how to thwart the pesky rascals next year. Then we started hearing of sightings of another kind of prowler in the neighborhood. My daughter had seen one just the week before in my parents' front yard. My cousin reported seeing two in her yard, which is adjacent to my parents' property, and right next to the grapevines. Maybe it wasn't the birds and squirrels afterall.
Maybe it was deer. Yep, deer. We never would have thought deer, but they were apparently all around his property. Plus, it made more sense. The vines had been picked clean, every single grape completely gone, not just pecked like a bird would do. And there wasn't any remains left on the ground, and squirrels always leave a mess behind. It seemed the culprit wasn't the birds or the squirrels afterall - it was most likely the deer.
With a new enemy to blame, the plan of action changed as well. Scarecrows might work for the birds and squirrels, but they might not keep out the deer. But an electric fence would! Armed with more knowledge about his enemy, my father could better prepare for battle, beginning with the proper choice of ammunition. It seemed an electric fence was going to be his weapon of choice. (If you live in our neighborhood and happen to see a deer, you might want to warn him to steer clear of the grapevines next year.)
When we're fighting the enemies in our lives, its a much easier task if we know who it is we're fighting against. If our battle is with our weight, it's not going to do us any good to cut up our credit cards. And on the flip side, if we struggle with our finances, diet and exercise are not going to help us sort out our spending. If you're a compulsive hoarder, chances are that a Weight Watchers meeting isn't going to help you.
It's kind of like having symptoms but not a diagnosis. Doctors can only provide proper treatment for an illness if they know what they're treating. It won't do you any good to have an appendectomy if your gallbladder is the source of your problems. Knowing your enemy and facing it head on is the only thing that can help lead you to victory.
A few weeks ago my mother was walking through the fruit trees and noticed the grapes. They were full and plump and were looking just as they should. She picked a handful and realized they weren't quite ripe enough - but in another week they'd be perfect. The only problem was, in another week, there weren't any. In just a couple of days, actually. My father went back to check their ripeness - and they were gone. That's right, gone. Every single one of them. The vines had been picked clean and not a single grape was left for my dad's enjoyment. All of his hard work and dedication had been for naught. He was sick and we were all sick for him.
He immediately blamed the squirrels and birds that show up in abundance around his fruit trees and we all started talking about what preventive measures we could take next year to assure they stayed away. Ideas of placing scarecrows around the vines and maybe even using netting to cover them came to mind as we schemed about how to thwart the pesky rascals next year. Then we started hearing of sightings of another kind of prowler in the neighborhood. My daughter had seen one just the week before in my parents' front yard. My cousin reported seeing two in her yard, which is adjacent to my parents' property, and right next to the grapevines. Maybe it wasn't the birds and squirrels afterall.
Maybe it was deer. Yep, deer. We never would have thought deer, but they were apparently all around his property. Plus, it made more sense. The vines had been picked clean, every single grape completely gone, not just pecked like a bird would do. And there wasn't any remains left on the ground, and squirrels always leave a mess behind. It seemed the culprit wasn't the birds or the squirrels afterall - it was most likely the deer.
With a new enemy to blame, the plan of action changed as well. Scarecrows might work for the birds and squirrels, but they might not keep out the deer. But an electric fence would! Armed with more knowledge about his enemy, my father could better prepare for battle, beginning with the proper choice of ammunition. It seemed an electric fence was going to be his weapon of choice. (If you live in our neighborhood and happen to see a deer, you might want to warn him to steer clear of the grapevines next year.)
When we're fighting the enemies in our lives, its a much easier task if we know who it is we're fighting against. If our battle is with our weight, it's not going to do us any good to cut up our credit cards. And on the flip side, if we struggle with our finances, diet and exercise are not going to help us sort out our spending. If you're a compulsive hoarder, chances are that a Weight Watchers meeting isn't going to help you.
It's kind of like having symptoms but not a diagnosis. Doctors can only provide proper treatment for an illness if they know what they're treating. It won't do you any good to have an appendectomy if your gallbladder is the source of your problems. Knowing your enemy and facing it head on is the only thing that can help lead you to victory.
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." ~ Ephesians 6:12
Monday, August 22, 2011
Hold the Seeds Please!
I love lemonade. Good lemonade. And in my opinion, one certain fast food chain has the best. Their diet lemonade is my secret addiction. I could drink the stuff daily - and alot of times I do. I recently found out why their lemonade is so good. They use real lemons. No artificial flavorings or powders from which alot of lemonades are made. Just real lemons. Real lemons that are squeezed fresh daily. I'm sure it's not a fun job, but the use of real lemons is what makes their lemonade oh so good.
It's an understatement to say I'm a happy camper when I'm able to have one of these diet lemonades. I love the stuff like a fat kid loves cake and eagerly look forward to it when I know I'm going to get one. Such was the case one day a few weeks ago. I had been anticipating that cool tartness all afternoon and couldn't wait for the first sip. But as I sucked the first swig up through my straw, the first thing to hit my mouth wasn't that cool liquidy goodness I was expecting. Instead it was hard, sharp and bitter. It was a seed. That's right - a seed. And pulp. A whole lot of thick gooey pulp. My happy camper attitude quickly became more sour than the lemonade and my whole mindset towards the rest of the drink changed.
I took off the lid and peeked inside to find a thick, pulp-filled lemonade with seeds floating throughout. This was not the norm by any means and I was sadly disappointed. The standard had not been met on the lemonade scale of perfection. That's the only time I've ever not finished one of those lemonades. But after that first sip of stringy pulp and hard bitter seeds, I just couldn't stomach any more. I felt like a kid at Christmas unwrapping a present and hoping for the latest and greatest toy, but instead all he finds is underwear. I was more than disappointed.
I found out the reason for the faulty lemonade that day. Apparently there had been some trouble with the strainer and it wasn't working properly. It was getting clogged and alot of pulp and seeds were slipping through into the juice when normally they would have been filtered out. A couple of days later I was assured that the machine had been repaired and sure enough, my next lemonade was back to perfection.
I don't know about you but my strainer gets clogged and goes on the blink sometimes too. Things I wish were filtered out sometimes slide through. Words slip by that I later wish I hadn't said. Actions may get through that cause hurt feelings. I may be the hard bitter seeds in someone's lemonade because my strainer isn't kept working properly. Daily surrender to God is the only thing that can help keep it running smoothly.
"May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." ~ Psalm 19:14
"Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved." ~ I Corinthians 10:32,33
It's an understatement to say I'm a happy camper when I'm able to have one of these diet lemonades. I love the stuff like a fat kid loves cake and eagerly look forward to it when I know I'm going to get one. Such was the case one day a few weeks ago. I had been anticipating that cool tartness all afternoon and couldn't wait for the first sip. But as I sucked the first swig up through my straw, the first thing to hit my mouth wasn't that cool liquidy goodness I was expecting. Instead it was hard, sharp and bitter. It was a seed. That's right - a seed. And pulp. A whole lot of thick gooey pulp. My happy camper attitude quickly became more sour than the lemonade and my whole mindset towards the rest of the drink changed.
I took off the lid and peeked inside to find a thick, pulp-filled lemonade with seeds floating throughout. This was not the norm by any means and I was sadly disappointed. The standard had not been met on the lemonade scale of perfection. That's the only time I've ever not finished one of those lemonades. But after that first sip of stringy pulp and hard bitter seeds, I just couldn't stomach any more. I felt like a kid at Christmas unwrapping a present and hoping for the latest and greatest toy, but instead all he finds is underwear. I was more than disappointed.
I found out the reason for the faulty lemonade that day. Apparently there had been some trouble with the strainer and it wasn't working properly. It was getting clogged and alot of pulp and seeds were slipping through into the juice when normally they would have been filtered out. A couple of days later I was assured that the machine had been repaired and sure enough, my next lemonade was back to perfection.
I don't know about you but my strainer gets clogged and goes on the blink sometimes too. Things I wish were filtered out sometimes slide through. Words slip by that I later wish I hadn't said. Actions may get through that cause hurt feelings. I may be the hard bitter seeds in someone's lemonade because my strainer isn't kept working properly. Daily surrender to God is the only thing that can help keep it running smoothly.
"May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." ~ Psalm 19:14
"Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved." ~ I Corinthians 10:32,33
Friday, August 19, 2011
GO PACK GO!!
High school football is a BIG DEAL in the South. For some reason, more than in any other area of the country, we southerners love our high school football. Especially in a small town such as ours, where there is only one high school in the entire county. Literally everyone in town is cheering for the same team, our Colquitt County Packers. It makes for a very unique and cohesive atmosphere. An unparalleled feeling of excitement permeates the air in town when football season arrives.
My daughter is a high school senior this year and today is the first pep rally and home game of the season. Coming off of a year in which our team made it all the way to the State Championship, there's alot riding on this season. The town is full of high hopes and expectation. Everyone's praying that we'll make it all the way again, only this will be the year we bring home the prize.
I was amazed at the difference in my daughter's attitude towards going to school this morning. She was super stoked and hyper, as though she was going to a party and not to school. She suited up in her new black t-shirt which shows off her class's superiority by proudly proclaiming that seniors run the school. She fixed her hair in a pony tail and ribbons to reflect her playful spirit, and even decorated her face with eye black as though she were going to be out on the field herself. She was ready. And she was more than anxious to get to school and show some love and support for her beloved Packers.
I couldn't help but think as she left that it's a shame she's not that excited about going to school every day. Any other day she'd be dragging her feet as she headed out, dreading the day ahead. And then I thought that it's a shame that we as Christians don't always have that level of excitement about going to church. Don't we often feel like getting up and going to church is just like any other school day? That it's something we have to do or something that we're supposed to do? Don't we often drag our feet as we head out the door?
We as Christians need to be fired up about going to church to worship and praise God, just like my daughter is fired up about going to the pep rally and football game. Maybe we should hold our own personal pep rally for God. We should be amazed by the great things He's done in past seasons and we should be hopeful and prayerful about the things we anticipate Him doing in the next season. Just as we get ready to cheer on our local football team, we need to cheer God on and celebrate Him all the more. But we need to do it year-round...not just during football season.
Psalm 96:3,4 "Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. 4 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;..."
My daughter is a high school senior this year and today is the first pep rally and home game of the season. Coming off of a year in which our team made it all the way to the State Championship, there's alot riding on this season. The town is full of high hopes and expectation. Everyone's praying that we'll make it all the way again, only this will be the year we bring home the prize.
I was amazed at the difference in my daughter's attitude towards going to school this morning. She was super stoked and hyper, as though she was going to a party and not to school. She suited up in her new black t-shirt which shows off her class's superiority by proudly proclaiming that seniors run the school. She fixed her hair in a pony tail and ribbons to reflect her playful spirit, and even decorated her face with eye black as though she were going to be out on the field herself. She was ready. And she was more than anxious to get to school and show some love and support for her beloved Packers.
I couldn't help but think as she left that it's a shame she's not that excited about going to school every day. Any other day she'd be dragging her feet as she headed out, dreading the day ahead. And then I thought that it's a shame that we as Christians don't always have that level of excitement about going to church. Don't we often feel like getting up and going to church is just like any other school day? That it's something we have to do or something that we're supposed to do? Don't we often drag our feet as we head out the door?
We as Christians need to be fired up about going to church to worship and praise God, just like my daughter is fired up about going to the pep rally and football game. Maybe we should hold our own personal pep rally for God. We should be amazed by the great things He's done in past seasons and we should be hopeful and prayerful about the things we anticipate Him doing in the next season. Just as we get ready to cheer on our local football team, we need to cheer God on and celebrate Him all the more. But we need to do it year-round...not just during football season.
Psalm 96:3,4 "Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. 4 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;..."
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Worth the Wait
We discovered recently that my son is anemic. He had a severe episode back in the Spring that lasted a couple of weeks when all he wanted to do was sleep. He would stay awake for two or three hours, then he'd fall back asleep. He had no energy whatsoever and really startled us when he began to lose weight. We were convinced that he had mononucleosis, but after all the tests and blood work came back we were told that he had a bad case of strep throat and that he was anemic. Not wanting to be reliant on those nasty iron supplements that can mess with your digestive system, we were told that the next best thing would be for him to eat red meat. And lots of it. So when he would start feeling tired or lethargic, we would reach for a burger.
We're learning now to keep red meat in his diet regularly in the hopes of preventing another bad episode. Since school has started back and he's getting less sleep, more often than not we'll hit a fast food joint on the way home in the afternoons so he can have a "snack" of red meat. Most days 2 hamburgers and an order of fries are his "snack!" Sometimes we even add a chocolate shake. And yes, he'll eat supper, too...and probably a bowl of cereal before bedtime. He's a growing boy - upward, not outward - so as long as he can eat like that and maintain his teeny waistline, I say have at it.
Yesterday we had stopped by one of our favorite burger joints and we went inside to place our order. We were getting 3 sandwiches (2 burgers for him, a chicken for me), a small fry, a drink and a shake. We were the only ones at the counter, there were two girls working behind the counter, and no one else was around. Our order was placed and we waited while the young girl made the milkshake. The same girl then disappeared into the kitchen. After waiting a few minutes, she came back to tell us that the chicken had to be cooked. Okay, that was fine. Being a burger joint, I didn't expect them to have chicken cooked all the time. Besides, I'd rather have it hot anyway.
We waited the five more minutes it took to cook the chicken, and then as they were bagging our sandwiches, they realized something. They hadn't cooked any fries. That's right, no fries. We had to wait. Again. Another four minutes for the fries to cook. And yes we were still the only ones at the counter. No other customers had come in and only one had come through the drive-thru while we were there. It wasn't like they were swamped. The kitchen wasn't in the weeds. They had just simply made a mistake.
They both apologized several times and when the order was finally complete and we were handed the bag across the counter, we were told that they had given us two free apple pies for our wait. (And let me just say because I know some of you are thinking it - no, we were not at McDonald's!) We told them that was very nice of them, thanked them and walked out to the car. Once inside the car, my son opened the bag and realized that not only had they given us the two free pies, they had also upgraded our small french fry to a large. And everything was hot, just the way we wanted.
We didn't like having to wait nearly 15 minutes for our "fast food," but the reward we received for doing so was sweet! It was beyond our expectations. God offers us the same deal, doesn't He? Doesn't He promise if we wait on Him that our reward will exceed our expectations? Over and over in the Bible we are told to wait on the Lord, to put our hope and trust in Him. There are several passages in Psalms alone instructing us to wait. Here are just a few:
Psalm 38:15: " LORD, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God."
Psalm 40:1 "...I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry."
Psalm 130:5 "I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope."
And over and over we are reminded that our faith will be rewarded:
I Samuel 26:23 "The LORD rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness..."
Matthew 5:12 " ...Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven."
John 14: 1-3 " 1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."
Talk about worth the wait! What a wondrous reward we are promised for waiting on God. What an awesome display of His love for us. While my son and I were just hoping for sandwiches and fries, we were rewarded with much more for our patience. Just as God promises that if we wait on Him, He will reward us with far more than what we hope for.
And to think, I was happy with 2 apple pies and a large fry!!
We're learning now to keep red meat in his diet regularly in the hopes of preventing another bad episode. Since school has started back and he's getting less sleep, more often than not we'll hit a fast food joint on the way home in the afternoons so he can have a "snack" of red meat. Most days 2 hamburgers and an order of fries are his "snack!" Sometimes we even add a chocolate shake. And yes, he'll eat supper, too...and probably a bowl of cereal before bedtime. He's a growing boy - upward, not outward - so as long as he can eat like that and maintain his teeny waistline, I say have at it.
Yesterday we had stopped by one of our favorite burger joints and we went inside to place our order. We were getting 3 sandwiches (2 burgers for him, a chicken for me), a small fry, a drink and a shake. We were the only ones at the counter, there were two girls working behind the counter, and no one else was around. Our order was placed and we waited while the young girl made the milkshake. The same girl then disappeared into the kitchen. After waiting a few minutes, she came back to tell us that the chicken had to be cooked. Okay, that was fine. Being a burger joint, I didn't expect them to have chicken cooked all the time. Besides, I'd rather have it hot anyway.
We waited the five more minutes it took to cook the chicken, and then as they were bagging our sandwiches, they realized something. They hadn't cooked any fries. That's right, no fries. We had to wait. Again. Another four minutes for the fries to cook. And yes we were still the only ones at the counter. No other customers had come in and only one had come through the drive-thru while we were there. It wasn't like they were swamped. The kitchen wasn't in the weeds. They had just simply made a mistake.
They both apologized several times and when the order was finally complete and we were handed the bag across the counter, we were told that they had given us two free apple pies for our wait. (And let me just say because I know some of you are thinking it - no, we were not at McDonald's!) We told them that was very nice of them, thanked them and walked out to the car. Once inside the car, my son opened the bag and realized that not only had they given us the two free pies, they had also upgraded our small french fry to a large. And everything was hot, just the way we wanted.
We didn't like having to wait nearly 15 minutes for our "fast food," but the reward we received for doing so was sweet! It was beyond our expectations. God offers us the same deal, doesn't He? Doesn't He promise if we wait on Him that our reward will exceed our expectations? Over and over in the Bible we are told to wait on the Lord, to put our hope and trust in Him. There are several passages in Psalms alone instructing us to wait. Here are just a few:
Psalm 38:15: " LORD, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God."
Psalm 40:1 "...I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry."
Psalm 130:5 "I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope."
And over and over we are reminded that our faith will be rewarded:
I Samuel 26:23 "The LORD rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness..."
Matthew 5:12 " ...Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven."
John 14: 1-3 " 1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."
Talk about worth the wait! What a wondrous reward we are promised for waiting on God. What an awesome display of His love for us. While my son and I were just hoping for sandwiches and fries, we were rewarded with much more for our patience. Just as God promises that if we wait on Him, He will reward us with far more than what we hope for.
And to think, I was happy with 2 apple pies and a large fry!!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
More Than Just a Trip to the Store
I'm always excited when I can save money. The coupon craze that's going on everywhere right now goes on at my house, too...to an extent. No, I'm not like those extreme couponers that are being featured on TLC's new show. I don't have a stockroom full of unnecessary items or so much food that I can never consume it all before the expiration date. But I do love to save a buck when I can and I absolutely love the Buy One-Get One Free deals that grocery stores now have. I always try to take advantage of these sales and its during this time that I try to stock up on the items that we use often. I like to get the most for my money and think of it as being a better steward with what God has blessed me.
So you can imagine my excitement when my son's favorite cereal was Buy One-Get One Free this week at a local store. Being the rapidly growing 14-year old that he is, the boy can consume some cereal!! So whenever I find it on sale - and especially when its BOGO - I try to stock up. I dropped him off at school this morning and headed straight for the store, excited about the cereal sale and planning to pick up a few other items while I was there.
I added up the price of things in my head as I put them in my buggy so I would have an idea of how much my total was going to be. I like to have an idea in my head of how much I'm spending before I get to the register so I'll know if my items are ringing up correctly. So when the cashier told me the total, I wasn't surprised. It was within a couple of dollars of what I had tallied in my head, so I paid and left the store. It was only when I was leaving the parking lot that I began looking over my receipt...and saw the error.
I immediately pulled off the road so that I could focus my attention on the receipt. And there it was. The main item I had gone to the store for - the cereal. I had purchased 4 bags, thinking I was paying for 2 and getting 2 free. However, on my receipt 3 of the bags were full price and only one was reading as free. "The NERVE," I thought, "I can't believe they messed up." Afterall, it was the cereal sale that got me to the store in the first place. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been shopping there at all. I immediately started accusing the store of not having their registers set properly and thinking how irresponsible that was of them. I began to turn my car around and head back to the store. Yes, it was only $3.19 that I was owed, but doggone it, that was MY $3.19!
Then I had a thought. (I realize now it wasn't my thought, but instead it was God telling me what to do.) I picked up the sales flyer and turned to the page advertising the cereal. Something (God) told me to double check the ad. And there it was, in the small print below the picture of the cereal. I had purchased the correct brand of cereal, but 2 of the bags I had selected weren't flavors that were included in the sale. Of the four bags I had gotten, 2 were flavors that were on sale and 2 were not. According to the flyer, with the flavors I had selected, I should have purchased 3 bags at full price and gotten one bag for free. Exactly as the receipt showed. The store was right. I had been so caught up in the excitement of the sale that I had failed to read the fine print in the ad.
I immediately felt shame and frustration. I was so ashamed that I had instantly jumped to the conclusion that the store was at fault, and ashamed at how quickly I was ready to march back in that store and tell them how they had screwed up. And I was frustrated at myself for not reading the fine print in the ad and being more prepared. Had I realized it wasn't all flavors that were on sale, I would have only chosen the ones that were. But I didn't. I hadn't paid attention. Realizing the fault was with myself and not with the store, I turned my car and headed toward home. As I processed what had just happened, I was amazed at how God had used something as trivial as a trip to the store to buy cereal to teach me such a valuable lesson.
How often are we so quick to blame others before checking out the entire situation, or having all the details? How often do we cast judgement based on what we think we see when in fact we may not have all the information? Do we point fingers at others quicker than we check our own selves? It's easy to place blame elsewhere, but its difficult to look introvertly and admit when we're in the wrong. Yet that's what we are supposed to do. We are to examine our own lives and confess our own wrong doings instead of trying to find fault and place blame in others.
"Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgement." ~John 7:24 (NIV)
So you can imagine my excitement when my son's favorite cereal was Buy One-Get One Free this week at a local store. Being the rapidly growing 14-year old that he is, the boy can consume some cereal!! So whenever I find it on sale - and especially when its BOGO - I try to stock up. I dropped him off at school this morning and headed straight for the store, excited about the cereal sale and planning to pick up a few other items while I was there.
I added up the price of things in my head as I put them in my buggy so I would have an idea of how much my total was going to be. I like to have an idea in my head of how much I'm spending before I get to the register so I'll know if my items are ringing up correctly. So when the cashier told me the total, I wasn't surprised. It was within a couple of dollars of what I had tallied in my head, so I paid and left the store. It was only when I was leaving the parking lot that I began looking over my receipt...and saw the error.
I immediately pulled off the road so that I could focus my attention on the receipt. And there it was. The main item I had gone to the store for - the cereal. I had purchased 4 bags, thinking I was paying for 2 and getting 2 free. However, on my receipt 3 of the bags were full price and only one was reading as free. "The NERVE," I thought, "I can't believe they messed up." Afterall, it was the cereal sale that got me to the store in the first place. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been shopping there at all. I immediately started accusing the store of not having their registers set properly and thinking how irresponsible that was of them. I began to turn my car around and head back to the store. Yes, it was only $3.19 that I was owed, but doggone it, that was MY $3.19!
Then I had a thought. (I realize now it wasn't my thought, but instead it was God telling me what to do.) I picked up the sales flyer and turned to the page advertising the cereal. Something (God) told me to double check the ad. And there it was, in the small print below the picture of the cereal. I had purchased the correct brand of cereal, but 2 of the bags I had selected weren't flavors that were included in the sale. Of the four bags I had gotten, 2 were flavors that were on sale and 2 were not. According to the flyer, with the flavors I had selected, I should have purchased 3 bags at full price and gotten one bag for free. Exactly as the receipt showed. The store was right. I had been so caught up in the excitement of the sale that I had failed to read the fine print in the ad.
I immediately felt shame and frustration. I was so ashamed that I had instantly jumped to the conclusion that the store was at fault, and ashamed at how quickly I was ready to march back in that store and tell them how they had screwed up. And I was frustrated at myself for not reading the fine print in the ad and being more prepared. Had I realized it wasn't all flavors that were on sale, I would have only chosen the ones that were. But I didn't. I hadn't paid attention. Realizing the fault was with myself and not with the store, I turned my car and headed toward home. As I processed what had just happened, I was amazed at how God had used something as trivial as a trip to the store to buy cereal to teach me such a valuable lesson.
How often are we so quick to blame others before checking out the entire situation, or having all the details? How often do we cast judgement based on what we think we see when in fact we may not have all the information? Do we point fingers at others quicker than we check our own selves? It's easy to place blame elsewhere, but its difficult to look introvertly and admit when we're in the wrong. Yet that's what we are supposed to do. We are to examine our own lives and confess our own wrong doings instead of trying to find fault and place blame in others.
"Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgement." ~John 7:24 (NIV)
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Daily Watering
It's no secret that I didn't inherit the incredibly green thumb of my grandmother. Her yard was always immaculate and there wasn't a plant, flower or tree in the world that she couldn't make grow. She had an incredible talent for caring for them. She would groom and prune and care for each and everyone as if they were precious commodities. And to her they were. She loved all things green and growing and loved to be surrounded by their beauty. Okay, maybe I did inherit that part. I do love to be surrounded by greenery and flowers, I just don't have the knack for caring for them that my grandmother had.
One of my favorite places in the world is my own back porch, and I love to decorate it with different flowers and plants. I love to change them out as the seasons change and try to keep something blooming most of the time. It's not always easy to maintain and I often fail though, because my back porch has a roof on it so everything is shaded. Well, some of my plants require time in the sun in order to grow and bloom, so I have to move them back and forth. And while some plants may only need watering once a week, others need a daily dousing in order to survive. During the past few weeks when its been so awfully hot and humid, even a daily drink wasn't enough for some and by the next day they would be starting to dry out and wilt. The leaves would be folding inward and the stems would start to drag the ground. It wouldn't be long after another watering, though, that the leaves would be opened back up and the stems would start to rise upward again.
Aren't we like those plants? Can you go a week or more without nourishment or do you need a daily dousing? I know I can't go several days without an encouraging word from scriptures or a personal visit with God. If I do, I begin to turn brown and wilt and dry up just like the plants. We need to be watered daily in order to survive and we need time in the Son in order to blossom. And the more we fulfill those needs on a daily basis, the more we thrive and grow spiritually.
So keep your watering can nearby. Douse yourself daily with inspiration and scripture. Make time to spend in the Son. It is only then that you will begin to put on new growth and flourish like you were created to do.
One of my favorite places in the world is my own back porch, and I love to decorate it with different flowers and plants. I love to change them out as the seasons change and try to keep something blooming most of the time. It's not always easy to maintain and I often fail though, because my back porch has a roof on it so everything is shaded. Well, some of my plants require time in the sun in order to grow and bloom, so I have to move them back and forth. And while some plants may only need watering once a week, others need a daily dousing in order to survive. During the past few weeks when its been so awfully hot and humid, even a daily drink wasn't enough for some and by the next day they would be starting to dry out and wilt. The leaves would be folding inward and the stems would start to drag the ground. It wouldn't be long after another watering, though, that the leaves would be opened back up and the stems would start to rise upward again.
Aren't we like those plants? Can you go a week or more without nourishment or do you need a daily dousing? I know I can't go several days without an encouraging word from scriptures or a personal visit with God. If I do, I begin to turn brown and wilt and dry up just like the plants. We need to be watered daily in order to survive and we need time in the Son in order to blossom. And the more we fulfill those needs on a daily basis, the more we thrive and grow spiritually.
So keep your watering can nearby. Douse yourself daily with inspiration and scripture. Make time to spend in the Son. It is only then that you will begin to put on new growth and flourish like you were created to do.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Monday Morning Blues
It's Monday morning...again!! School has been back in session for a week now and my kids weren't nearly as excited about getting up today as they were last Monday. They're wanting to sleep in and drag around while getting ready today. After just one week of school, it's become a routine Monday morning already.
Mondays are notorious for being rough days, but we should be grateful for them just as we should every other day of the week. Sure, it's easy to rejoice and praise God on a Sunday. It's also easy to do on days when everything is going our way. It's easy to be thankful for the days that are special days or holidays, or days that we're on vacation. But on a Monday morning? That's often more difficult. Yet that's exactly what we are supposed to do.
What's there to rejoice about on a Monday morning you ask? The first thing we should be grateful for is that we're alive to see Monday morning. We're not promised tomorrow, so if you're waking up to face a Monday morning, you have something to be grateful for already. And the list goes on from there. We should be grateful for our family and friends, our health, our job. Wait, did I just say job? YES, I said job. Even though its the arch nemesis on Monday mornings when we'd rather stay curled up in our beds, if you have a job...be grateful for it! Be grateful that you have air conditioning in these dog days of summer that we're experiencing. Be grateful for the roof over your head and the shoes on your feet. And my favorite thing early in the morning....I'm grateful for coffee!
But foremost in our minds and hearts should be our salvation. As a Christian, I'm grateful for that blessed assurance that Jesus is mine! If we wake up with an attitude of gratefulness and start our day off with a cheerful heart, even Monday mornings can become something to look forward to. Instead of a time filled with dread and woe, we can turn it into a time of praise and rejoicing. We can make our attitude one of gratitude and in turn change our entire perspective on the day. Psalm 118:24 tells us, "This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it." And yes, "This day" even includes Mondays!
Mondays are notorious for being rough days, but we should be grateful for them just as we should every other day of the week. Sure, it's easy to rejoice and praise God on a Sunday. It's also easy to do on days when everything is going our way. It's easy to be thankful for the days that are special days or holidays, or days that we're on vacation. But on a Monday morning? That's often more difficult. Yet that's exactly what we are supposed to do.
What's there to rejoice about on a Monday morning you ask? The first thing we should be grateful for is that we're alive to see Monday morning. We're not promised tomorrow, so if you're waking up to face a Monday morning, you have something to be grateful for already. And the list goes on from there. We should be grateful for our family and friends, our health, our job. Wait, did I just say job? YES, I said job. Even though its the arch nemesis on Monday mornings when we'd rather stay curled up in our beds, if you have a job...be grateful for it! Be grateful that you have air conditioning in these dog days of summer that we're experiencing. Be grateful for the roof over your head and the shoes on your feet. And my favorite thing early in the morning....I'm grateful for coffee!
But foremost in our minds and hearts should be our salvation. As a Christian, I'm grateful for that blessed assurance that Jesus is mine! If we wake up with an attitude of gratefulness and start our day off with a cheerful heart, even Monday mornings can become something to look forward to. Instead of a time filled with dread and woe, we can turn it into a time of praise and rejoicing. We can make our attitude one of gratitude and in turn change our entire perspective on the day. Psalm 118:24 tells us, "This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it." And yes, "This day" even includes Mondays!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
A Virtuous Woman
Proverbs 31 speaks of the characteristics of a virtuous woman. Beginning in verse 10 we read, "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies." The following verses speak of her relationship with her husband, her work ethic, her generosity, her wisdom and her strength. It tells how she runs her household smoothly and cares for her children. She is a woman to be praised, a woman to be honored, a woman to look up to and a woman to strive to be like. She is my mother.
I've watched for 40 years as my mother has served my father, our family, our church, her employer, her friends, her community, and anyone else around her who had a need. She's been wife, daughter, daughter-in-law, mother, grandmother, sister, teacher, leader, and friend. She's been Sunday School teacher, church pianist, church treasurer, junior choir director, ladies auxiliary president, GA state ladies auxiliary treasurer, and has served in countless other ways through various committees and groups. She's involved in civic organizations, serves as secretary in the women's guild, and is constantly involved in projects that give back to our community. She visits the sick and hurting and has cooked innumerable meals for families in need or who have lost loved ones.
She opens her home every Thanksgiving to her family, never knowing exactly how many to expect. There's been anywhere from 35 to 85 people show up every year for as long as I can remember. She never knows how many are coming, but they are all always invited. The youngest of a family of 9, she calls and visits her siblings and drives her older siblings to visit each other. She sat vigil at my grandparents' bedsides during their final days, and was a pillar of strength for the rest of us when they passed away.
She prays over her children and grandchildren and is the best mother and Mimi any child could ask for. Verse 28 in Proverbs 31 says that " Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her." How true this is, but how true it is also that we don't do it enough. I am blessed beyond measure with wonderful, loving, Christian parents. I'm blessed to have been brought up in a loving home by parents who were and still are incredible examples of what a Christian should be. I was told very recently that my parents have hearts of servants. I had never thought of it in those terms before, but what an accurate statement! And what a privilege to be their daughter!
Today is my mother's birthday and as we celebrate her today, I'm reminded of how blessed I truly am to have such an incredible woman as my mother and am also reminded that I don't often enough arise up and call her blessed. But she is, indeed. And her price is far above rubies! Verse 30 reads, "A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Today I praise my mother and thank God for the wonderful Christian example she is and for the privilege of being her daughter!
I've watched for 40 years as my mother has served my father, our family, our church, her employer, her friends, her community, and anyone else around her who had a need. She's been wife, daughter, daughter-in-law, mother, grandmother, sister, teacher, leader, and friend. She's been Sunday School teacher, church pianist, church treasurer, junior choir director, ladies auxiliary president, GA state ladies auxiliary treasurer, and has served in countless other ways through various committees and groups. She's involved in civic organizations, serves as secretary in the women's guild, and is constantly involved in projects that give back to our community. She visits the sick and hurting and has cooked innumerable meals for families in need or who have lost loved ones.
She opens her home every Thanksgiving to her family, never knowing exactly how many to expect. There's been anywhere from 35 to 85 people show up every year for as long as I can remember. She never knows how many are coming, but they are all always invited. The youngest of a family of 9, she calls and visits her siblings and drives her older siblings to visit each other. She sat vigil at my grandparents' bedsides during their final days, and was a pillar of strength for the rest of us when they passed away.
She prays over her children and grandchildren and is the best mother and Mimi any child could ask for. Verse 28 in Proverbs 31 says that " Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her." How true this is, but how true it is also that we don't do it enough. I am blessed beyond measure with wonderful, loving, Christian parents. I'm blessed to have been brought up in a loving home by parents who were and still are incredible examples of what a Christian should be. I was told very recently that my parents have hearts of servants. I had never thought of it in those terms before, but what an accurate statement! And what a privilege to be their daughter!
Today is my mother's birthday and as we celebrate her today, I'm reminded of how blessed I truly am to have such an incredible woman as my mother and am also reminded that I don't often enough arise up and call her blessed. But she is, indeed. And her price is far above rubies! Verse 30 reads, "A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Today I praise my mother and thank God for the wonderful Christian example she is and for the privilege of being her daughter!
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Changes
I've noticed a lot of changes going on around me lately. There's been health scares, divorces, job changes, new schools, moves to a new town, "kids" heading off to college, and death. All taking place in the lives of some of my dearest friends. And while there never seems to be a good time for change, it comes. Sometimes we have a warning that things are about to change, but sometimes it sneaks up and surprises us. Catches us off guard. We are unprepared for it and left with our heads spinning wondering what just happened.
The only constant about change is that its inevitable. It's coming. Whether we receive a warning signal announcing its arrival or not, rest assured change will come. All of the scenarios I mentioned have affected people I love dearly within the past few months. Some are excited about the changes and some are still reeling from the affect that it has taken on their lives. It may take some longer than others to accept the change that has come to their lives, but however they've responded to it's appearance, the one constant and unchanging factor in all of their lives is God's presence.
We are promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us. No matter what life throws at us, He is always there to comfort and protect us. He even tells us that things will change; He gives us a warning. Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 tells us that there is a time and a season to everything. The rock group The Byrds recorded a popular song based on this scripture in 1965. It was even included as a part of the Forest Gump Soundtrack in the 90s, serving as a gentle reminder that, just like in the life of Forest Gump, change will occur in our lives as well.
Forest faced many adversities in his life. He was ridiculed as a child. He left home to enter a new environment with the military, had to make new friends, went to war, became injured (in the buttocks), changed careers, and eventually had to cope with heartbreak and death. And just as the seasons "turn turn turn" in the song and Forest's life changes throughout the movie, our lives sometimes incur change as well.
Change doesn't have to be overwhelming to us though. In Hebrews we are reminded that God will never leave us nor forsake us. No matter what is happening and what changes are occurring in our lives, He's the one constant that we can turn to for peace and comfort. He's always there. Never leaves. We get busy and forget about His promise to continually walk with us but when we're ready for Him, He's there. Just as He promised. Never leaving or forsaking us. Never changing.
The only constant about change is that its inevitable. It's coming. Whether we receive a warning signal announcing its arrival or not, rest assured change will come. All of the scenarios I mentioned have affected people I love dearly within the past few months. Some are excited about the changes and some are still reeling from the affect that it has taken on their lives. It may take some longer than others to accept the change that has come to their lives, but however they've responded to it's appearance, the one constant and unchanging factor in all of their lives is God's presence.
We are promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us. No matter what life throws at us, He is always there to comfort and protect us. He even tells us that things will change; He gives us a warning. Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 tells us that there is a time and a season to everything. The rock group The Byrds recorded a popular song based on this scripture in 1965. It was even included as a part of the Forest Gump Soundtrack in the 90s, serving as a gentle reminder that, just like in the life of Forest Gump, change will occur in our lives as well.
Forest faced many adversities in his life. He was ridiculed as a child. He left home to enter a new environment with the military, had to make new friends, went to war, became injured (in the buttocks), changed careers, and eventually had to cope with heartbreak and death. And just as the seasons "turn turn turn" in the song and Forest's life changes throughout the movie, our lives sometimes incur change as well.
Change doesn't have to be overwhelming to us though. In Hebrews we are reminded that God will never leave us nor forsake us. No matter what is happening and what changes are occurring in our lives, He's the one constant that we can turn to for peace and comfort. He's always there. Never leaves. We get busy and forget about His promise to continually walk with us but when we're ready for Him, He's there. Just as He promised. Never leaving or forsaking us. Never changing.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Disappointment
So life isn't always a bed of roses. We were never promised it would be. Truthfully, life can be disappointing. Very disappointing. People we love let us down. Friends we thought we could rely upon disappear. Or maybe our expectations are too high and thus we set ourselves up for disappointment. Whatever the situation, its truthful to say that sometimes life just sucks.
But, that's life. Disappointment is a part of living. It's how you respond and what you take from these situations, these disappointments, that becomes the lesson. If a person disappoints you and lets you down time and again, do you keep going back and giving them the opportunity to continue this pattern? We don't want to. But I know we do. The lesson isn't always easy to learn.
We weren't placed on this earth for a miserable existence, and being surrounded by people who continually disappoint us and let us down can lead to a miserable existence. By no means do I think we should stop loving these people, because more often than not they are family members or close friends! But there is a way to do it from afar. Keeping the distance can keep the peace - and help you keep your sanity!
Yes its easier said than done - especially when its a co-worker, ex-spouse, close friend or family member. We have to interact with them whether we want to or not. We might be assigned to work with them on a project if its a co-worker, or we may often see them at family gatherings if its a family member. We can be kind and still care about them, pray for them and even forgive them. But we don't have to let them in close enough to where they have the opportunity to hurt us again. We can learn to keep them at bay and in return live a much richer and happier life.
We've been told to love one another. No one ever said anything about liking each other. And believe me, there's a huge difference! You can easily love someone without liking the things that they do or the way that they act. And if the things they do affect you in a negative way...love them from afar!
But, that's life. Disappointment is a part of living. It's how you respond and what you take from these situations, these disappointments, that becomes the lesson. If a person disappoints you and lets you down time and again, do you keep going back and giving them the opportunity to continue this pattern? We don't want to. But I know we do. The lesson isn't always easy to learn.
We weren't placed on this earth for a miserable existence, and being surrounded by people who continually disappoint us and let us down can lead to a miserable existence. By no means do I think we should stop loving these people, because more often than not they are family members or close friends! But there is a way to do it from afar. Keeping the distance can keep the peace - and help you keep your sanity!
Yes its easier said than done - especially when its a co-worker, ex-spouse, close friend or family member. We have to interact with them whether we want to or not. We might be assigned to work with them on a project if its a co-worker, or we may often see them at family gatherings if its a family member. We can be kind and still care about them, pray for them and even forgive them. But we don't have to let them in close enough to where they have the opportunity to hurt us again. We can learn to keep them at bay and in return live a much richer and happier life.
We've been told to love one another. No one ever said anything about liking each other. And believe me, there's a huge difference! You can easily love someone without liking the things that they do or the way that they act. And if the things they do affect you in a negative way...love them from afar!
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