Month: October 2017

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Have you ever heard of someone who hires a housekeeper, but goes through their house cleaning before they arrive? I do the equivalent with my pup before I take him to the dog groomer. Since he has an appointment tomorrow, I started getting him ready yesterday. I clipped and sanded down his nails, cut the extra hair between his paws, and even pulled out hair from his ears.

I know what you’re thinking, but I do have my reasons. First, it won’t take them as long. Second, he doesn’t like them being done, so I’d rather do all of that here at home to make it a more pleasant experience for both him and the groomer. He knows that he can’t get away with trying to hide his paws when I’m doing it. Third, I learned that I even save some money by doing those things myself!

Yesterday, when I pulled out the box with all my supplies that I needed, the pup gave me his doggie equivalent eye roll. He looked at me skeptically and approached me with caution when I told him to park it in front of me. He dramatically sighed to let the whole house know how hard his life was, but obediently lay down in front of me.

I may be the only person who rolls their dog on his back in order to clip nails, but it’s so much easier to see! I put my legs out so he’s nice and stable on both sides and we’re good to go. He has to pretend to be annoyed and pull his paw away a few times and even try to roll over, but he gives up pretty quickly when he realizes it’s just something he has to go through as part of the process.

By the time I got to the second paw, I heard a funny noise. I listened carefully only to realize that my pooch was snoring! He was fully relaxed and sound asleep with all four paws waiting to be dealt with. He may not have liked what had to be done, but he realized that it had to happen in order to move on in his life. There was no reason to fight against it, so I guess he figured he might as well relax and even get refreshed while it happened.

Wow! I think God was trying to teach me a lesson through my pup. I often act like him when it’s time to do something uncomfortable. I get a bit anxious and pull back because of fear. Call me Peter Jr. when he wanted to get to Jesus by walking on water.

I ask to step out, feel like I have the ok, and I’m even aware that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I get excited and start on my journey where everything is going along just fine. Then, my eyes start to drift to the wrong things. I see the problems around me and start to sink. I took my eyes off Jesus!

If I would’ve only kept my eyes on the right thing, I could’ve relaxed like the pup did. He didn’t like going through what wasn’t fun, but he also knew that he just needed to trust me and obey.

So many days I get up saying, “This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it!” I start out great, but then I change focus to what’s happening around me. I’m going to let you in on something that my closest friends know about me. I’m a “what if” and a “yabbit” person.

That’s pathetic, I know! When the storm starts rocking the boat, I don’t get all excited and think that things are getting shaken up in order to grow and move forward. I don’t automatically think of all the lessons I’ll be learning and how I’ll be further ahead. Nope, I start focusing on the storm.

Why can’t I just realize that I’ve got to go through it, so I might as well relax and not be sick at the end? I’m not talking about sea sickness from the boat rocking, I’m talking about stress sickness from worrying and getting caught up in the swirling craziness around me instead of seeing the face of the unmoving Jesus that’s right in front of me.

Do any of these sound familiar to you or is it just me? In case you don’t know, yabbit means yeah but.

• “What if I fail?”
• “What if I’m on the wrong path?”
• “What if I mess it up?”
• “What if I didn’t really hear that?”
• “Yabbit it’s uncomfortable.”
• “Yabbit they’ll get mad.”
• “Yabbit I’m scared!”
• “Yabbit I don’t see how that’s possible.”

I realize these are the words said when I’m not letting the One who’s capable of handling all my situations be in control. If I would just not be anxious and allow fear to take over, I’d start saying…

• “What if I succeed?”
• “What if I’m going in the right direction?”
• “What if I help others?”
• “What if I’m in God’s will? How far can I go?”
• “It may be uncomfortable now, but I want to move forward.”
• “I have confidence that God will give me the words to say.”
• “I have nothing to fear.”
• “God is bigger than my mountains and sees what I can’t.”

Are you going to join me and start focusing on what’s ahead instead of the distractions around you? Are you going to relax and just keep moving forward toward the finish line or get caught up in the worries that take place with your “what ifs” and “yabbits” today?

I care for my pup and he knows that I’ll take care of him. It’s simple; God cares for us. If my pup can rest during something that’s uncomfortable for him when he’s dealing with a human, how much safer are we when we rely on God who’s much more capable than that?

No more negative “what ifs” and “yabbits” today.  Be prepared to walk on water!

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. –1 Corinthians 13:7

I was at my hubby’s parents’ house last weekend when I was sitting at the table with his mom and her friend having some tea. I felt so grown-up! Anyway, she had a view of a catalpa tree that she planted six years ago and remarked about the size. She couldn’t believe how quickly it grew into the strong monster (my words, not hers) it was today. It was an incredibly large and beautifully formed tree that stood like a sentinel over the yard.

At one point she’d given me a catalpa tree to plant. This was during one of my projects where I decided to clear some land in order to make a picnic area. I knew it would fit in with my vision for this little oasis that I had in my mind. I plopped it in there to let it start growing and give me some motivation to get it done.

My hubby thought I was a bit nuts, and I believe he even said, “You can’t do that, it isn’t going to work.” He didn’t have any confidence I’d make my plan into a reality! When someone tells me I can’t do something, I’ll occasionally get a little stubborn and dig my heals in to prove them wrong. This was one of those times. I might be little, but I had some muscle that I wasn’t afraid to put to work. I am my father’s daughter after all.

I got that garden rake out and started attacking all the weeds and underbrush…tell me I couldn’t have myself a picnic area…ha. I’d swing that rake down like a sledge hammer until it stuck in the ground. I learned that if I’d just push it forward hard enough, it would pull up the weeds with it. Those weeds and underbrush were coming out left and right!

My area was coming along quite nicely if I do say so myself when my cousin was overcome with awe and so impressed of what all I’d accomplished that he wanted in on the action. I really believe it was that rather than taking pity on me…or the rake. He decided to tackle my section with a weed eater. I was looking around in pride at how quickly it was taking shape when I noticed something, or the lack of something.

I asked him what happened to my catalpa tree. “What catalpa tree?” All he saw were the weeds and underbrush I was trying to get rid of. Umm…no problem, it must not have been meant for that picnic area anyhow. It really wasn’t his fault because I didn’t have it marked and I never even thought to mention it. It looked similar to everything else around it.

It’s me and it’s a tree. If God didn’t plant it, it probably won’t survive on my property. Beautiful evergreen that was planted…bear got it… “planted” a flag to replace it. Two apple trees that never looked like anything but big sticks…swing got “planted” the next year. My poor magnolia tree that is still hanging on…what will replace it? We’ll probably be “planting” a bench or birdbath or some such thing that won’t suffer.

My mother-in-law just made me think about what my tree would’ve looked like if it had that eleven years to grow. Would it have stayed the same size as the rest of the underbrush or looked as nice as her tree? The difference was that hers was marked as something with great potential, and mine (even though it was the same type of tree) was overlooked and thought of as just another part of the mess to be tossed aside.

About a year ago I was at a meeting where the topic being discussed was a national issue which all the media was covering. There had been another breakdown in communication and both sides believed strongly in their side. I believe it had a whole lot to do with cultural ignorance.

Someone asked, “What can we do?” I really tuned in because when I hear of a problem, I want to know what action needs to be taken to make it better, no matter what side you stand on.

The answer surprised me. We were told that there wasn’t anything that could be done on an individual basis. All these educated, academic people were willing to get fired up over a cause, but not do anything to help bring about change? I was a little shocked. Why were we being educated on the topic if we’re to just feel bad about it?

It was brought up that if we really wanted to, we could probably write to our government leaders. Immediately, it might get attention, but what about after that? That was a step, but in my mind the lady speaking so passionately was bringing awareness to an area that people are simply ignorant to. Bingo! Education leads to understanding, understanding leads to compassion, and compassion leads to respect. Don’t we all just want to be heard and be shown a little respect while keeping our dignity?

I couldn’t keep quiet (it was my first meeting too). What was I going to say? I feel strongly that ignorance is the root of so many of our problems. Everyone wants to feel heard and be respected. The first thing that I wanted to do was shout, “Pray! My God is bigger than any problem. You say there’s nothing for people to do? It’s the most important thing that each and every person here can do.”

I did speak my second thought aloud. I said, “Why can’t we educate our students now in order to help in the future?” That night we were being educated, why not take that education to our students? The students will some day be our leaders, so making them aware that there are cultures outside of what they know or grew up with can only help. We’d be preparing them to be able to listen to differing sides while being able to keep a calm, open mind.

In a somewhat condescending tone, I was told, “I think that’s a very idealistic way of looking at things.” I had to come home and make sure I understood what that meant! I wasn’t saying that having one talk with students would solve all problems, but while people were working on the national issue, I just felt that there was something we could do to bring awareness and take a step in getting rid of ignorance. Compassion starts in children! What we learn as youth, we tend to carry into adulthood.

If we’re all planted together and all get lumped together, what differentiates one from another? We can’t discount what might be because we don’t see it yet with our eyes. Like that catalpa tree, if we make sure it has what it needs, and don’t cut it down, how much would it grow in six years, eleven years, or even twenty years? Our children are the same way. It’s not being idealistic (unrealistic); it’s following God’s plan.

I challenge you to walk in love for all people of all ages. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love nurtures growth.

 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. –Psalm 23 (Modern English Version)

I love my talks with my grandma, and we can easily end up chatting for over an hour when I call her. I was on the phone the other day when she told me something happened that I had to hear. Uh oh, what did she do?

Let me start by explaining how the little church in her neighborhood was a bit like a second home. It was where I was baptized and where I was married. It was even the first stop on the way home with our lab puppy. It was a place where I could always find a family member or two or twenty! If Grandma wasn’t home, we’d head to the church to see if she was there.

I remember all the Bible Schools and Kids’ Night Out evenings…attending and helping. I remember washing dishes in the kitchen and scraping food from the floor after potlucks. I can’t forget polishing those pews and kneeling with my grandma at the front of the church when we finished cleaning to say a heartfelt prayer.

So when Grandma’s story started out with her being at church, it didn’t surprise me one bit. What did surprise me was that she found something that had been there for years that she’d never come across before.

She told me that she was walking down the aisle in the sanctuary when beside their old pew (you know what I’m talking about…if your rear has resided in the same pew for a while, it becomes yours) was a bookmark. She stopped and picked it up. It had a picture of the shepherd boy David. She turned it over and there was her little boy’s handwriting along with his name.

Her son, my uncle, had passed away when he was just ten years old from cystic fibrosis. This would have been well over forty years ago when she lost her baseball loving Webelo Scout. How could there possibly have been anything left in that church that she wouldn’t have already found?

There was no doubt in my mind that God had planned that present from before that sweet boy was taking from this home here on earth. Grandma was amazed and grateful. God surely orchestrated that whole thing. She said that she knew I’d appreciate her story and she was right.

As I was thinking about this wonderful testimony of God’s love shining on Grandma, it made me think of something my mom told me many years ago. Her brother was often in the hospital because of the cystic fibrosis, and he had a young doctor that came to care a great deal about him. When my uncle lost his fight and went to be with the Lord, my grandpa got word of that doctor wanting to give up his calling because of losing his patient.

In the midst of his grief, my grandpa, the strong man that he was, went to speak to that doctor to keep him from giving up on his calling. I sit here imagining what that conversation was like. My guess is he let him know how important the work that God put inside him was. What a shame it would be to waste the gift he was given. He probably expressed his gratitude to him and maybe even shared a few tears letting him know how even though he wasn’t able to save his son, he made the journey a little easier. It wouldn’t surprise me if he made sure the doctor knew that even though Grandpa’s son couldn’t be with them right then, The Son could be.

Although we have all kinds of medicine and technology, God’s time is God’s time. We simply aren’t God…that doesn’t make us failures, it makes us human. There’ll be times when things happen that hurt and don’t make sense.  This is when we’re carried by the Lord.  Only faith allows us to get through to the other side without being detained or set on the wrong course.

When something doesn’t turn out the way we think it should, we can face devastation and doubt. We’d do anything in order to keep that pain away, including giving up what God has called us to do. We think it would be easier to avoid the hard times.

I believe there is someone who needs to hear this. I’m asking you…what if my grandpa let grief take over and not have given a thought to the doctor? It seems like he’d have that right. What if that doctor stopped practicing medicine and missed out on all the children God had lined up for him to help? What if my grandma let bitterness take over and quit going to church, missing out on the comfort God is still dishing out today?

I don’t know about you, but I’d rather look back and say, “What if I wouldn’t have kept going?” That’s so much better than looking back and saying, “What if I would’ve kept going?”

We may not have complete control in what will happen in this life, but as long as there is breath in our bodies, I believe God will still work through us. It’s not too late to get through to the other side. Don’t let the pain that happened yesterday or even eighty years ago stop you.

What is a bookmark? It’s an item that allows us to keep our place. Our place is following God, using our gifts no matter how hard it gets, and never being so lost in grief that we can’t hear another’s call.

Who was on that bookmark left as a gift for my grandma? David. The one who wrote Psalm 23. I heard someone say that this Psalm pretty much sums up the whole Bible. I think it’s so important for us to have this comfort, hope, support, strength, refreshment and protection that Psalm 23 provides.

I challenge you to memorize and immerse yourself in the promises that are held in this Psalm of David.  Don’t give up to avoid pain; you’ll be giving up way more than you realize.

 

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. Matthew 5:13

I don’t know about yours, but our living room is hardly ever used when somebody drops by our house. Our dining room and kitchen are one big room, and that’s where you’ll find everybody. They’re either hanging out at the island or sitting at our table. It’s comfy too because now we have nice, soft seats! We actually use desk chairs because it’s perfect for the boys doing school. They aren’t big and bulky, they’re adjustable, and they’re in a bright, fun color.

If it’s just my dad over before an evening in the woods, he’ll usually lounge at the island while I’m doing my wifely duty of pretending to look busy in the kitchen. My hubby and boys tend to enjoy the great entertainment of watching me get out my little broom to clean up the crumbs or dirt that was tracked in during the day. The comments fly as I roll my eyes and ignore them.

My dad finally asked, “What are you sweeping?” When I told him, he looked at me doubtfully and I watched him search for the supposed pile I told him I had going. I don’t think he really believed me until I presented it to him after I was finished. I explained how it drives me nuts feeling stuff on the bottom of my bare feet. Of course, my son’s solution was not to walk around in bare feet.

Seeing Dad’s grin, I knew I was in trouble. He informed the boys that if they wanted to really drive me crazy, all they’d have to do is take a little salt every once in a while and sprinkle a bit out onto the floor. Really? This is what he’s teaching his grandchildren! He’s my dad, shouldn’t he have my back? Instead, he’s giving ideas on how to make me nuts when I’m in bare feet! That wonderful hubby of mine thought sea salt would be even better. Thanks guys.

Did you know that not only the disciples were considered the salt of the earth, but so are we? It would drive me nuts trampling on salt in my kitchen, but how much worse would it be to think we were no longer good for anything but to be thrown down and trampled on? Are we like salt who’s doing God’s work to preserve the earth or are we just riding the tide of hate that I’ve been seeing?

With everything on the news, listening to people in the stores, and all the terrible ways we talk to one another, I don’t see us preserving like salt always did. I see a time when immaturity is taking over in our adults and being passed on to our children. Instead of preserving dignity, we want to be the first to cut down to get our point across. That doesn’t preserve dignity and doesn’t show the value of feelings and opinions in other people. It doesn’t nurture respect. It grows hate.

It made me angry when I had just read about all the hate and bad things that were happening in the United States and around the world, then heard my boys battling about petty things. I started thinking about if I ever see people trying to be the salt of the earth anymore. The answer surprised me because I often see it in those same boys who were battling. When my youngest looks at me and says, “Mom, you’re awesome!” I see him seasoning and preserving our relationship. When my oldest puts a supportive hand on my shoulder or asks if I need a hug, there it is again! I catch them doing it with each other too.

The problem is that we tend to get caught at our worst and stop being effective in showing the love of God. What can you do today to season life with love instead of adding a few more shakes of hate into a world that has too much of it as it is? Preserve today so you don’t get thrown out and trampled on tomorrow!