Tag: life

Christmas Funk

One week to Christmas! Are you excited? Thrilled with anticipation? Looking forward to time with family and friends? Singing Christmas songs while wrapping presents? Planning menus?

Or are you in a funk? Remembering that the season doesn’t live up to the ‘Hallmark’ hype? Not happy with the amount of presents under the tree? Wishing for more? Wishing for less?

I have been in a funk, for sure. But when I really focus on how I got here, it is pretty obvious.

I have been concentrating on what I DON’T have (or think I should have) instead of fixing my eyes on what I DO have.

What do I think I don’t have or I should have?

It’s not more presents (although I always like the unwrapping part.)

It’s not more get-togethers (although I enjoy seeing people but I don’t always spend my time with the people. Such a Martha!)

I know I would enjoy it if my kids/grands would come to church with us. I know I would enjoy it if they even acknowledged the invite.

I know I would love to give a thoughtful, personal gift to people that would be treasured and used.

What do I have?

Family and friends that love me and challenge me with truth.

A church that loves God and people and encourages me to do the same.

Health. Home. Work. Food. Clothes. Both for us and our kids and grands.

A daughter in law who did acknowledge my invitation to church and has visited in the past. A scheduled time for all of us to be together after Christmas.

I have a personal relationship with the God of the universe. He provided a way for my sins’ penalty to be paid. Now, I can live with Him in heaven for eternity.

And this relationship can be yours too. You can never ‘out sin’ God’s love.

God sent His Son, Jesus, to be born in a manger. He is Christ the Lord!

And if I focus on that, worship will come and the funk will disappear.

Thank you, Jesus!

Thank You

I came home from grocery store complaining about people in the grocery store.

I complained about unexpected things happening and ‘ruining’ my plans for the day.

I griped when the maraschino cherry juice spilled on the counter, the cabinet, the floor and stained my fingers.

Xena, the wonder dog, awakened me 5 times during the night to go outside. I guess her tummy was upset. I was not happy.

Shall we shift focus, please?

Lord, thank you for food and the money to buy it. Thank you for the variety of choices and the vehicles to get us to and from the stores. Thank you for safe travel.

Father, I pray for these seemingly angry people in the store. Perhaps they are missing a loved one, lost their job, or are going to be alone. Maybe I can only give them a smile. Please help it be sincere.

You, God, direct my steps. I make my plans but You have the final say. Perhaps the delay kept me from running into traffic. Lord, You know the number of my days. Help me to live for You.

Thank you for this house, Lord. I am grateful that I have a space to prepare and store food. I have a switch that changes from heat to cool quickly. Thank you that I can still move my body to clean things off the floor and to open jars. Thank you for your provision. I am also grateful for the people in the house.

And Father, I am thankful that Xena, the wonder dog, awakens me when she needs to go outside. I’m grateful that she has been the best dog and in my life for the past 10 years. I am thankful that she is feeling better.

Please, Lord, bless our time this afternoon with family and friends. Change my heart of stone to one of flesh. I think protecting my heart keeps me safe but that is a lie.

Living with and blessing others with the joy and light of the Lord is what this world needs.

And I want others to know You too. How can I show that with a callous heart? How can I show Your light if I want to be dim and dark?

Change me, O Lord. Thank You in advance. Give me Your words to share with others.

Amen.

It is Well

I did something totally outside my comfort zone last night.

I attended a community prayer vigil for a family I did not know. I was to serve at this event but, I was the one who was blessed.

A local wife and mother tragically lost her husband and two daughters at the same time. I can’t even imagine the grief and pain. It hasn’t even been a week.

Our city wanted to do something and people made it happen. Hundreds gathered at a local stadium to remember those lost and to support one another.

I learned about the family and how they loved each other and their friends. I also learned how they loved God.

Young people stood and read Bible verses and prayed. They all testified to the FACT that these three were now safe in the arms of Jesus. They were sure they were going to see them again in heaven. They spoke with confidence through tears.

People acknowledged their pain, their anger, their questions. But they also acknowledged God and His authority and the surety of salvation.

My heart was full. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound.

The pain, anger and questions are still there. But Jesus is too. Thank you, young people of Huntsville, for preaching the truth and spreading the gospel.

Think on Purpose

Anyone an over thinker? Both of my hands are raised.

Anyone run down various rabbit trails in your mind? Again, both hands are raised.

I started my card business on September 1 (http://goGoddesigns.myshopify.com) and was very focused for about 10 days.

But then life happened – nationally, locally, within family – and I became distracted and quite sullen.

I found myself escaping to the lure of the scroll. I told myself I was learning. But I was actually escaping and avoiding.

I was asking the big questions – why, how, what, who…. But I wasn’t talking to the One who knows the answers. I was avoiding Him too.

I was invited to a worship night. I didn’t want to go. I had enough of people. But I knew I needed to.

I reminded myself that worship wasn’t about how I was feeling. Worship was about who my God is.

And He is worthy.

After making my joyful noises and listening to others speak of Jesus, I was refreshed. I spent time in His presence. He held my hand.

A couple of nights later, it was small group time. Again, I didn’t want to go. But I knew I needed to.

Being around people who are like minded and who are discussing Jesus is exactly what I needed. Time and time again, we said we need to focus our thoughts (think on purpose), determine what lies we are believing, and replace those with God’s truth.

How many times have I believed the lie that I can do things alone. I’m better off without people. I don’t need anyone. Or, I’m not good enough for God to love me so why talk with Him?

Stupid defeated enemy. He knows he can’t keep me out of heaven. His goal, however, is to make me ineffective here on earth.

When you find yourself escaping or avoiding, stop! Think on purpose! What lies are you believing? What truth do you need to remind yourself of?

Run TO Him – not away from Him. He is the Comforter. He is the Truth.

Choices lead and feelings follow. Choose to read, hear and accept His Word and His Truth.

Think on purpose!

Thankful

I don’t believe Thanksgiving is just a season. We should constantly be in a mind of giving thanks.

We all have an abundance of opportunities each day to be grateful. It could be the kind clerk behind the counter. It could be the honest mechanic who will fix the actual problem with your vehicle. It could also be the teacher who enjoys his pupils. Or it could be the nurse who enjoys taking care of her patients.

There are many reasons to be thankful for people. There are many reasons to be thankful for situations also.

Our youngest son was involved in a head on vehicle accident yesterday morning. We have much to be thankful for.

‘Somehow’ the paramedics and state troopers were notified. There was special equipment to extricate everyone from the vehicle. There were plenty of emergency vehicles to transport people to multiple facilities.

They were able to contact his fiancé and she contacted his dad. Tim was already in town and only had a 15 minute drive to the hospital instead of 30 minutes. After multiple nights of little sleep, the night before the accident, Tim and I both slept soundly.

Tim was able to witness the love his fiancé has for our son. She wouldn’t leave his side. The hospital was conducting a mass casualty drill during this time so there were many employees available to help assess the injuries. Ben’s head, chest and abdomen were clear. He has a cast on his arm and a splint on his finger.

Many lives changed yesterday morning because of the accident – most I will never know of. We have much to be thankful for. God, you are good. All the time. I don’t understand but I trust You. Help us to be grateful even in the hard times.

Prideful Humility

When I was in second grade, we were given coloring sheets. I diligently colored and did my best to stay inside the lines. I am sure my colors were rather safe and predictable. My grass was always green and the sky was always blue.

I used to comment on my work, “Oh, I don’t think it looks as good as yours. I didn’t do my best work.”

It was a surefire way to get a compliment! I did that week after week. Oh, the praise always lifted my mood.

It wasn’t long before that all changed. One day, I said, “Oh, I really don’t think this is very good.” And my friend responded with a resounding, “You’re right. It’s not.”

Well, the jig was up. No longer did I try to manipulate compliments from my classmates.

We are taught to be confident in our abilities but shouldn’t be proud.

We enjoy it when people need our specific talent or savor a wonderfully prepared meal from our own kitchen. We appreciate the ‘Atta-boy’ or ‘Atta-girl’ from a boss or coach. And then there are some who command thunderous applause in huge stadiums.

But how do you actually receive a compliment and not become prideful? How do you walk in the confidence of your abilities but still get your head through the doorway? How do you not become prideful of how humble you are?

I think all of those questions have the same answer.

Everything we have comes from God, our Creator. He gave us the strengths and skills. He gave us the ability to create, learn and build.

So we accept the compliment and give praise to the one who made that possible.

We walk in the confidence of who God says we are – not in our own strength. We use our work, strengths, abilities, good deeds to point others to Christ, not ourselves.

Everything – all of it – comes from Him. We keep our eyes fixed on Him. We find our worth in Him. We have His strength and our confidence is in Him.

Thank you, Jesus.

Treasure Restored

I have always wanted diamond stud earrings.

I don’t remember if someone I knew had them or I had seen them in a magazine or a store. But I knew that was on my wish list.

At one time, I worked for a very generous law firm. When a big case was won, everyone shared in the bonus – whether they worked on the case or not. From partners, other attorneys, support staff to the runners, we all shared. It was amazing!

After one of these bonuses, I was determined to get those earrings. But, when I actually started looking at them, the cost to me was so high! I couldn’t justify the expense. Cubic zirconia became my substitute.

After Tim and I married, he discovered this desire of mine. After he received a bonus, he bought my first pair. They were lovely and tiny. I adored them.

After a few years, Tim blessed me again with another pair. These had a little drop down that sparkled when I turned my head. I felt very glamorous.

I was purging one weekend. I was consolidating, throwing away and giving away. Sometimes I think socks and t-shirts spawn like rabbits. A thorough cleansing always feels good.

I had two separate boxes for the earrings and they were easily consolidated into one. One less box to keep.

I tossed the wrong box. I didn’t double check it before throwing it into the trash. I was so heartbroken. Tim and I both try to hold our things with open hands. I didn’t lament for long. But still, I missed the earrings.

Fast forward a few more years and Tim gifted me again with diamond stud earrings. Still tiny. Still so very lovely.

I was wearing them the other day and told him how much I appreciated him replacing my treasure.

We both thought of how God does the same thing.

When we are in Christ, we are a new creation. The old is gone and the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

When something has been lost, run over or mutilated, the Lord restores what the locust have eaten. (Joel 2:25)

God’s Word also says that we are His special treasure! Can you imagine?

You have been set apart as holy to the Lord your God, and he has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be his own special treasure. (Deuteronomy 14:2 NLT)

The Creator of the universe has declared me His own special treasure. My Savior gave His life because He found me to be precious. Not because of anything I have done but, because of His love for me.

So very thankful.

Summer Blast

You might be thinking a summer party that was a hit. Or a blast of heat. (I am continually thankful that I was born in the 20th century with indoor plumbing and air conditioning.)

I am actually referring to three fun filled days at our church. The days are structured and chaotic. They are loud and worshipful.

Our church campus had 586 children registered for this event. Some attend regularly and others had never set foot on the property.

I spoke with the kids. Some had attended before and were looking forward to the snacks and confetti. Others had never been there and were just looking for friends.

I spoke with parents. They reminded me that it was a big deal to leave their kids with people they do not know. Thank you for trusting us with your children!

During these three days, the children were taught the gospel. Three points to remember. Three important beliefs.

I believe God the Father created me.

I believe Jesus the Son saves me.

I believe the Holy Spirit empowers me.

Oh, to believe these three truths at a young age! To walk in the confidence and the freedom that they bring! To engage in conversations with others your own age about these truths! It’s so amazing to watch.

Tim and I saw our grandson engaged in worship- raising his hands in praise. He knows these truths. He wants to lead at Summer Blast next year.

So very grateful for a church that believes in the youth. Grateful that they don’t just want to entertain them. They want them to know the truth about who God is and who they are. And they are teaching them that they can talk about it with their friends and family.

It was exhausting and hot and loud and frenzied. But definitely worth every second.

Hevel

This morning I read the first half of Ecclesiastes. It can be quite depressing if you don’t know the rest of the story.

In the original Hebrew, the word ‘hevel’ was used throughout this book. It’s translated as meaningless in my version. But using a word picture, it is more aptly described as a fog or a thick vapor or smoke. It appears solid, firm and sustainable but, ultimately it is not. You can’t hold it and it eventually disappears.

The author of Ecclesiastes claims that everything in life is hevel. The rich and the poor, the wise and the foolish, the family and the single all reach the same end – death. So why bother?

Because we do know the end of the story. This world is not all there is. There is more.

We work not to just earn money. We work to please the Lord.

We raise a family not to just pass on our heritage. We have a family to please the Lord.

We serve others not to puff ourselves up. We serve to please the Lord.

If the Lord is our focus for everything we do, nothing we do is in vain.

Ecclesiastes 5:19-20 reads, “And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life – this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.” (New Living Translation)

Imagine being so busy enjoying living that you don’t waste time regurgitating the past regrets or failures. It takes focused attention – not on ourselves but on Him.

I want to be that person who enjoys life. I can be that person. You can too. Do you know the One who loves you more than you can imagine? The One who created a purpose and then created you to fulfill that purpose? The One who paid for your sins – past, present and future? If not, let me tell you about Him and let’s walk in this freedom together.

Adulting

Yes, I started this post with slang.

Adulting is an informal term to describe behavior that is seen as responsible and grown-up, if mundane and unpleasant—like bills and chores, according to Dictionary.com.

I’ve been above the age of 21 for sometime now. I should be used to it. I should be thriving in adulthood.

And sometimes, I am.

But then there are days like today. I just don’t want to (insert anything here.)

There are bills to pay, dishes to wash, dog hair to vacuum and a lot of clutter to clear. But I don’t want to.

But, I know it’s better for me if I do. It’s better for this household also.

The Apostle Paul states in Romans 7:11, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” (ESV)

I don’t like being lazy. I don’t like wasting time. But I still do.

Shift my focus!

Everything I have comes from God. Everything I need comes from Him too.

Should I ask the Lord to help me clear the clutter? Absolutely!

Should I ask the Lord to help focus me on the mundane tasks? Yes!

All with a thankful heart! Thankful that we were able to seek and receive medical attention when we needed it. Thankful that we have the dishes to serve the food that is in our refrigerator. Thankful for the clothes we have and a machine that washes them. Thankful for the dog that brings me so much joy. Thankful that I can serve Him where I am with what I have.

Have you ever thought about that? Everything we have to worship God with – our minds, bodies, voices, hands, etc. – everything we have, came from Him.

And He has more for us. So be faithful in taking care of what He has given you today. He has more for us.

Let’s get started! Are you moving yet? Here I go!