Sparkly Stones

The LORD their God will save his people on that day as a shepherd saves his flock. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown. Zechariah 9:16

I was sitting outside this morning listening to Joel Osteen when my attention was drawn to the stones that surround my house. They’re all under our chairs, and I really started to look at them. Out of all those dull stones, there were a few that the sun was shining on making them sparkle a whole lot. I found one rock that was totally unlike the others. It was pretty much a see-through stone. That was rare in my stones!

As the sermon was playing, my eye went to another rock that was rough, dull, and plain looking on all areas except one. There was that sparkle I had been seeing on some of the other ones! I noticed a few things. First, not all the stones had sparkle, and even the ones that did, became duller when the sun wasn’t shining directly on them. Second, there are lots of sparkles on the inside of some of the dull looking ones. Third, there are very few see-through ones.

Joel Osteen said that what we focus on is what we magnify. When the sun was focused on those rocks, that’s when they started glimmering. I believe those rocks can really represent people. We all start out pretty dull before the Holy Spirit comes to live inside us. Once He’s there, we sparkle on the inside, but it isn’t always seen on the outside. Some bring that shine to the surface, some don’t.

Some people wait until they have another person encouraging them before they sparkle on the outside, but that goes away as soon as their outside circumstances change. As soon as the focus is off them, the sparkle isn’t as magnified. However, those who allow God to magnify them from the inside out don’t lose their sparkle due to circumstances.

Today, focus on what’s already inside you to magnify and keep the sparkle on the outside. Be an extremely rare case and be see-through, allowing others to glimpse the Holy Spirit by just looking at you!  Go further and magnify what you know is inside others by focusing on the good even if the sparkle isn’t there yet.

 

I’m Waiting!

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

It’s pouring down rain, and I’m sitting in my dining room keeping a lookout for a delivery to be made within the next few hours. We bought a sofa last year and thought it was great. Unfortunately, before Christmas I noticed a tear that went right along the seam in the back. If it was pushed against a wall, it might’ve taken me quite some time to notice it.

The customer service was wonderful from the store we dealt with when I contacted them after the holidays. They offered to give our money back to us or replace the sofa. We really liked the sofa so it didn’t take us long to decide we wanted it replaced. That was about four months ago. Some people might’ve refused to wait that long; I get it!

The sofa was supposed to be here the end of January, but ended up being back ordered. We were again given the option of getting our money back or waiting. We chose to wait since the problem was in the back and nobody could see it except if they were at our computer. To make a long story short, today is the day of arrival!

There is one main reason we were able to remain hopeful the situation would be resolved and stay patient throughout. It was thanks to the wonderful gentleman in customer service. He kept in contact with us the whole time. I didn’t have to call or email to check on things. He was emailing me regularly which reassured me that he was staying on top of things and I didn’t need to get frustrated or worried.

Now there was a guy who knew how to communicate with people! He was polite, kind, and fantastic to deal with. He is a major asset to that company. Without him, I don’t know if we would’ve been able to be positive that our sofa would ever make it here.

How many times could a problem be dealt with in a satisfying way if there would simply be communication and compassion shown? All people want is to be heard and feel respected. The customer service representative understood that concept. He not only saved a sale, he made me want to buy from them again. It may not seem logical, but do you see how logic can go out the window when people are the priority instead of money?

It can go the opposite way too. Something that isn’t a big deal could be blown way out of proportion when dealing with bad service and rude people. Unfortunately, I don’t think there’s enough teaching on how to respond and work with people. It’s amazing how we can get riled up by a small issue because of the way it was handled or we can feel great after a letdown. It’s all in how we talk to one another. It allows for hope!

Be careful in how you communicate with others today. You want them walking away from you in a calm state and feeling lots of hope for life. Even more important, don’t give people that much power over your emotions. Be joyful in hope that God can take care of any situation and make good come out of it. Be patient through all circumstances knowing that you just need to keep on praying and hoping!

 

Fruit Dinner

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. James 2:10

The guys were busy tonight so I actually left my little sanctuary to work the pup around people. It was starting to get a bit late when I realized how hungry I was. I knew what I wanted. Well, I had actually been concocting this plan in my mind for a week now, so I can’t really just blame it on my tummy rumbling. I guess that just intensified the picture for me.

I’m back home and still have to make dinner. I’m seeing a pasta bowl…not a regular bowl…a pasta bowl. Don’t judge before you even know what I’m going to have! Ooh, was that the guilt talking? Sorry. Back to the vision. I’m going to cut up strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and maybe even add some blueberries. I might even throw a banana in there too. Yum! So healthy, right? This sounds perfectly wonderful and nutritious!

Wellll, sooo, maaaybe I stopped on the way home to grab a quart of ice cream to go in that bowl too. There’ll be so much fruit, it will be as if the ice cream wasn’t even there! Or not. Since I do eat a pretty healthy diet, I’m really not worried about having a little ice cream occasionally. If I shouldn’t be eating ice cream, all the fruit in the world couldn’t hide what was under it.

Just like the fruit couldn’t mask what I was trying to hide, good works can’t mask a sin either. A sin is a sin no matter how we try to sugarcoat it. We’re better off just calling the fruit filled dinner the dessert it really is! Wouldn’t all of us do better just to admit when we’ve sinned because whether big or small in our minds, we’re still guilty?

Be honest with yourself, others, and God today. Remember that no sin is just a little sin. Except it and call it what it is…a sin.

 

Holes

You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” Haggai 1:6

As I was sitting out back eating my lunch and looking at the beautiful scenery of the woods, I admired all the wonderful sights and sounds. The crows are cawing, the songbirds are singing, the bees are buzzing, and the butterflies are fluttering. The noises are incredible today!

I was listening to the loud rustling of the leaves. It ended up being a big, adventurous gray squirrel. It decided to climb the tree and see how high it could go. Looks to me like it might be reaching its bravery goal. How great is this?

I didn’t think it could get any better, yet I caught a glimpse of something new. The old tree just inside the woods that died and never got cut down was put into use today. I watched a beautiful Pileated Woodpecker fly right to it and get to work. Its red crest was going back and forth as it chopped holes into that tree. How does that little thing have so much power? The bark was flying in order for that woodpecker to get its lunch.

The Pileated Woodpecker showed how much destruction can be done in such a short time. Here’s the thing…those holes it drilled will actually benefit some other creature by the shelter it created. What I saw though, was how quickly a well placed jab can create destruction. When one keeps jabbing at the intensity that woodpecker was (I saw the speed in which the bark was coming off), the damage can be tremendous.

I really think children and nature are quite often better than textbooks in learning. God shows us little nuggets of wisdom He wants us to have through them.

When we’re hammering away at someone (nagging), it doesn’t remove the problem we’re yammering about, it just creates holes in the relationship. Is what we’re bothered by even that important?

My dead tree that could’ve irritated me because it hadn’t been dealt with, had a much more important job in the long run. It allowed the Pileated Woodpecker to live around my home, which gave shelter to other creatures I enjoy too.

Today, make gentle requests if necessary, but don’t drill holes into your relationships. They really are too important for that kind of destruction. If you get your way today, but lose in the long run, is it really worth it? Work on saying less and keeping more.

 

Stretch!

for as he thinks within himself, so he is… Proverbs 23:7 (International Standard Version)

For a long time now, I’ve listened to my oldest talk about how he has no flexibility. After learning so much about our words and thoughts, I couldn’t allow it anymore. This is the same boy who couldn’t even pass a simple swim test one year, but within two years was in the very small percentage at camp that could swim one mile.

When he started talking about his lack of flexibility again this year, I had to put a stop to it. There would be no more of that defeated talk in this house! It took me back to when I was younger dealing with the exact same issue. I wasn’t flexible and everyone agreed with me, confirming it. I refused to confirm it for him.

You see, it wasn’t that I had no flexibility when I was young, it was that I didn’t nurture it. When I was much older, I learned that flexibility isn’t something you are necessarily born with. I had the physical ability inside me all along, I just had to obtain it through stretching exercises.

My problem was that I had a mental thought blocking my progress. That mental thought was adamant and spoke louder than my physical body. My body just agreed with what I was telling it until I got some gumption to stand up to my defeated thinking.

I strongly believed that it shouldn’t take my son as many years as it took me to realize the importance of our thinking. I gave him the necessary information and encouraged him to change instead of complaining. This started about a month ago, and I’m pleased to say that he is able to stretch farther than he ever thought possible with a few daily changes. He’s been doing a weekly sit-and-reach test, which he records. He’s seeing a dramatic difference!

Just like my son, we must stretch ourselves in order to improve and grow. We can’t let our own doubts make us permanently stand still. Also, don’t ever allow any other person to get inside your head and create doubts in your own ability. In order to reach what we’re aiming for, it might take work…hard work.  That’s true, but the feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment at the end is awesome.  Plus, it gives us the confidence to try something else we didn’t think we could achieve.

Don’t quit when it looks like you “can’t” do something. It’s usually information and gumption that is needed at this point. Go searching and just start moving forward. You’ll see the positive results before long! Think it within yourself with sincerity. I know you’ll be able to do whatever is good and right that you put your mind to. You’ve got God backing you, so I challenge you to stretch!

 

The Rickety Ladder

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58

My hubby has an old, rickety ladder that belonged to my grandpa. It’s wooden and not very steady. Frankly, it looks like it could fall apart at any moment. I don’t blame him for being none too thrilled when he has to climb to the roof!

There’ve been times when I’ve suggested we get a good ladder, but he shuts that idea down pretty quickly. I don’t know if it’s because it was Grandpa’s or he just doesn’t want to spend money on something we use only a few times a year.

It’s bizarre! I picture him being on the top while holding onto the sides as the steps fall out. Listen, they aren’t even steps, I think they’re dowel rods. He’d be trying to walk on stilts! The little foot rests just happen to be there in my imagination. I’ve learned just to stay away when he’s using it. Nobody else seems bothered by this.

Yes, we all have to climb a type of ladder too in order to reach the next level, but we better make sure it’s standing firm so we don’t move back down in a very rapid way! There are too many times when we start climbing before our ladder is on steady ground. The higher up we go, the more we feel the sway. We won’t last too long at the top that way. All the hard work will be for nothing.

Make sure that your ladder is upright and strong where nothing can move it before you begin your climb. That way, you’ll be able to stay firm and steady while recognizing that your steps are blessed. You’ll be reaching the top before you know it!  Not only that, you’ll have a much better chance of staying there.

 

Fast Little Thing

But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:3

I’ll never forget the surprise we got one summer day. There was a table umbrella outside that needed brought in. I hauled it into the house, but just sat it inside the door. I needed to get busy on supper and didn’t bother taking it downstairs. As I was mixing something on the stove, the house erupted into chaos. What in the world was going on?

One of the guys was being helpful and decided to move the umbrella downstairs for me when something went flying past my head and started circling the inside of the house. It was a fast little thing! It wasn’t stopping either.

I don’t think the guys were impressed that it didn’t faze me too much. Needless to say they were a bit perturbed at having a bat in the house. It wasn’t its fault! All it was doing was taking a little nap in a cozy umbrella and minding its own business. Maybe it was in a deep sleep and didn’t even notice the little ride it went on earlier.

I just kept stirring and told them to open the door. I’m sure it wanted out of the crazy home we live in just as much as the guys wanted it out of there! The great outdoors was exactly where it headed the first chance it got.

Have you ever felt like that bat probably did? You weren’t paying close enough attention and got carried into a situation you really didn’t want to be in. Maybe you were baffled on how it even happened.

When we aren’t alert and aware of what’s going on, we can be led astray. We can be deceived quickly and easily.

Today, weigh what you’re being told and make sure that you don’t get off course. Pay attention so you don’t get moved into an area you shouldn’t be…whether physically, mentally, or spiritually.

 

It’s Not That Bad!

In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3

There are certain times that it can be beneficial to not run to the grocery store as soon as the food starts to get a little low. One of those times is when the refrigerator needs scrubbed out. It’s much easier to accomplish when it isn’t completely filled with food.

Please let me make it clear that by no means did my children go without food. They were blessed with three meals a day! There was still quite a bit in the freezer and plenty of canned goods. Yes, the snacks were quite low, which I didn’t realize was a crime until recently. I do agree that even I missed the fresh fruit; however, we didn’t have to go without fruit altogether. We had frozen fruit in the freezer!

I finally have a sparkling clean fridge! Now, I also have a long list of items to buy. I was reading through that list, when one item in particular caught my attention – “Everything.” Ha, ha, my oldest is sooo funny. You just never know what I’m going to find!  I still say that it wasn’t that bad!

After receiving my first clue from the list that they wanted me to go shopping, the second one appeared.  My youngest got up and put on jeans. He moans and complains each and every time I tell him to throw on a pair of jeans because he tells me that they’re uncomfortable. Why would he put them on today for no reason? At lunchtime I figured it out. He was subconsciously trying to tell me we needed to go out to get groceries. He confirmed my hunch was correct and told me he was even willing to go with me!  How thoughtful.

My oldest gave his request of “everything” and my youngest waited expectantly. I guess when they tag-team like that, it’s pretty powerful. How many times do we lay our requests before God, but we forget the second part? Are we waiting and watching expectantly? As a parent, I don’t want to disappoint my children in an area that would be beneficial for them. It lines up with my will for them (to have food), so we are heading to the grocery store.

I challenge you to look forward in expectation for a response to your requests today! Don’t just ask, then forget about. Believe…that’s faith!

 

Encouragement

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

When I ask the pup to come to me, he’ll do it. When he starts coming, if I encourage him with some praise, he picks up his pace. He doesn’t like being corrected nearly as much as he soaks up the encouragement I give him when he’s doing the right thing.

I try to be pretty free with my words of love to my boys, but occasionally they need reassured at a specific time that I don’t recognize. When that happens, they simply ask for it! It could be that they need reminded how much their loved, that they’re doing a good job, or even that they’re strong with manly muscles. They grin ear-to-ear and tell me thanks. I’m so glad they recognize what they need, but I’m even happier that they communicate it!

Tonight I was feeling a little blue, and after wallowing in a pathetic state for a bit, it dawned on me to ask for a little encouragement from God. It should’ve occurred to me right away, but nope, I was too busy indulging in some discouraging thoughts. On the bright side, I did eventually recognize what I needed! Within a short period of time, I had someone contacting me with a “knock it off” and a wonderful gift of hope to pull me out of the dumps.

What I’ve noticed is that everyone is in need of encouragement once or twice (or a million times) in their life! Our unruly emotions will try to stir us up occasionally. As you get ready for your party, your pity party, I’d suggest asking for that little bit of reassurance that you need instead of just moping around. You aren’t likely to make yourself feel better that way anyhow.

Remember that God really isn’t hiding from you, but sometimes I think He just wants us to ask for what we need, seek Him out, and knock so He can answer the door. This way we realize where our encouragement really comes from. Just make sure that you keep alert for His answer. He might place you on someone’s heart, He might make you remember something that He’s already done for you, or give you that peace that passes all understanding.

“No matter how smooth or how rough this day, God is with you every step of the way.”  -Unknown

 

The Counsel of Advisers

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. Proverbs 15:22

It’s that time of year again! We’re finishing up this school year and looking into curriculum for the next one. Some will stay the same, but every year we find ourselves in uncharted territory. As the boys get older, things tend to change. With so many choices it can take some sorting through to figure out what will be the best option for our family.

We have some curriculum that we’ve been using for years that’s the perfect fit for us…the keepers! Other subjects we evaluate on a year by year basis. When my head starts spinning and my eyes begin to glaze over, my homeschool hero comes charging in to save the day! He’s able to take his years of experience and set me on the right path. He helps me wade through all the options until we’ve got the perfect plan!

It’s amazing how God has brought the best advisers from all over the world to help us. Yes, the world! I have my handful of people who I trust to give me the best advice in all different circumstances. I truly don’t know what I’d do without each and every one of them. Actually, I was able to see God’s provision when that exact thing happened. When I lost two of those closest advisers, God already had more put into place to keep us on His path. After being able to see past the pain, there they were!

We see success or failure through the advice we take. We can’t ever take advantage of having good, Godly people guiding us. God introduces us to them for a reason! He sure takes care of us.

I challenge you to start praying for God to bring people in your life that will lift you up and hold you accountable if they aren’t already there. People you can truly trust. Those wonderful people who become family and make you strive to be your best. Pray that when you find them, you are able to offer those same things to them! If you already have those people, remember to express your appreciation to God for connecting you to them and let them know how much you value their counsel.