Do to others as you would like them to do to you. If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! ... Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them wihtout expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. Luke 6
Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. I John 4:11-12
This entry has taken me a while to process. I have been meditating over and over God's two greatest commands; Love God and Love your Neighbor. About six months ago I asked God to teach me what it means to Love your Neighbor. While I am still on this journey and might be for a long time to come, I am slowly beginning to understand what it entails. At first glance, you think He might choose strangers, neighbors, people we don't know to teach us this principle. While he has brought some people into my life that fit this description, they are not the ones that are difficult to love without any preconceptions or expectations of receiving anything in return when I invest my time, finances or energy. This is one of the cornerstones that our church we attend talks about. Often it is talked about in context of reaching out to our community, people outside of our every day lives. I find these people easy to serve! When I see a need, I receive great pleasure in extending an open hand to meet those.
However, God has a way of teaching us lessons through things that don't come easy. Trials are meant for the purpose in bringing out the worse characteristics in us so they can be addressed. This journey called life is all about preparing us for eternity. God and sin don't mix. While God is a God of love and mercy, He also has no tolerance for bad attitudes, unGodly lifestyles and choices. It is like the process of refining gold. It takes intense heat to bring impurities to the surface. After they are skimmed off, you have pure gold. Our lives are the same way. He wants to remove the impurities in our attitudes and actions so we have a close relationship with him and are prepared for the life He has for us in Heaven.
Because of life experiences; disappointments, offenses committed against us, rejection, being misunderstood, mistakes, people failing us, we pull away. Relationships become clouded, walls come up and the close bonding that could have or should have been becomes a distant memory or a desire that might not come to pass.
These kinds of broken relationships happen between friends, neighbors, family members, church family, co-workers and bosses. Any environment that you can dream up, whenever people are involved, there will always be some kind of hurt that takes place. For me, God has used close friends and family members to teach this principle to me. He kind of caught me off guard. Funny how God does that, "Our thoughts are not His thoughts"...Some relationships are broken for years, different personalities breed much miscommunication and lack of trust. You would think that in a family setting it is the one place that you feel unconditional love. I see it over and over every day in so many families. Family is a breeding ground for dysfunction, rejection, performance setting, judgment, criticism, and lack of concern or compassion, bad manners and lack of boundaries. Everyone is speaking and no one is listening. And yet, everyone wants to be heard, respected, loved for who they are not who someone else thinks they should be.
How can we rise above all the dysfunction??? I'm still working on that, sad to say...He has been showing me each broken relationship in my life, one by one and the process is the same. Just as I allow Him to heal one, He won't let up. He spot lights the next one...
The journey is the same...
Grant forgiveness: I choose to forgive you of ....., I am letting you off the hook, your debt is paid in full!
Grant grace: You have not asked for forgiveness, I am choosing to show you compassion, to let go of all of the offenses you have committed against me. In the future I will show you kindness and treat you with respect. I do not want my bitterness to impact others or create a wall in my relationship with God!
Grant me the ability to Love: Even though I can't forget all the things you have done to me consciously or unconsciously, I choose to love you because you are a friend or a family member. God help me to see this person as you see them and to love them regardless of what they say or do. Help me hold my tongue and not slander against them when they repeat the same actions because of their own weaknesses...
Who is God using in your life to teach you how to love with no strings attached? Is it your son or daughter, mom or dad, sister or cousin, aunt or uncle, best friend, boss or someone in authority over you? Who in your life has hurt you and you have a hard time having a close relationship? What steps do you need to love unconditionally???
Monday, August 29, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Why am I getting the Short End of the Stick?
My first recollection of being treated unfairly was when I was five. I was a tiny little quiet thing, following every rule perfectly afraid of everyone and everything! During kindergarten one day at recess, I was close to having an accident. I ran inside the school just in the nick of time. As I was headed back to play I was headed off by the principal. Life was different back then. There were no questions asked if something happened. He marched me into his office, only to receive a swat with a wooden paddle. I have to say the experience was traumatic. To make matters worse, when I arrived home, the principal had called my dad and I received a second paddling.
You can only imagine my feelings toward the principal and my dad. I was sad, even angry for I had done nothing wrong. I felt betrayed by those in authority and furthermore I lacked trust in either one of them for not allowing me to voice my side of the incident. I was too small to speak up for myself. It took me a while to respect either one for having ignored my needs. We have all had siblings that have done something to us and we receive the blame and punishment for a crime that we did not commit. These experiences shape who we are and how we perceive others who are treated unjustly.
When I became a parent I vowed that I would deal with conflict differently; whether it was between my child and their friends or between siblings. Whenever there is an altercation, I always bring both parties in and get their side of the story before deeming one or the other guilty. If I have to become the judge and jury and I have not been witness to the offense, sometimes they are both deemed guilty. There are always two sides to every story. Damage can be done when one party is always declared innocent when many things take place behind the scenes. Just because one screams louder than the other and one remains silent, does not validate innocence on either behalf.
As we grow older, how do we handle our emotions when someone has treated us unjustly??? It is a process to work through our emotions. From a Christ-Centered perspective, the first thing to do is pray for the person who has given you the short end of the stick. Scripture says Pray for those who persecute you (or accuse you for something you did not do). The one thing that I don't want to do is forgive, however it is required for our own well being, and it is a command. Without forgiveness, we can come bitter and it can cause us to make wrong choices. Sometimes confrontation is in order, however we have to ask ourselves, what is our heart's motivation by confronting, is it to rid ourself of anger, or to approach that person in humility to restore relationship? If confrontation is necessary, sometimes it is better to wait a period of time before approaching those who have hurt us.
We all want justice, to set the record straight, our reputation to be restored and in the end, feel vindication. However, that is not always possible. There are thousands of stories of people who have been wronged and do not receive an apology or seen a solution to a restored relationship. God clearly states, Vengenance is mine, says the Lord, I will repay. It is best to pray for the truth to be revealed, for the eyes of the accuser to be opened and for the innocent's name to be restored. God is capable of the impossible. He is in the business of healing hearts and relationships. We don't need to defend ourselves and our reputation for He does all of that for us if we seek HIM!
You can only imagine my feelings toward the principal and my dad. I was sad, even angry for I had done nothing wrong. I felt betrayed by those in authority and furthermore I lacked trust in either one of them for not allowing me to voice my side of the incident. I was too small to speak up for myself. It took me a while to respect either one for having ignored my needs. We have all had siblings that have done something to us and we receive the blame and punishment for a crime that we did not commit. These experiences shape who we are and how we perceive others who are treated unjustly.
When I became a parent I vowed that I would deal with conflict differently; whether it was between my child and their friends or between siblings. Whenever there is an altercation, I always bring both parties in and get their side of the story before deeming one or the other guilty. If I have to become the judge and jury and I have not been witness to the offense, sometimes they are both deemed guilty. There are always two sides to every story. Damage can be done when one party is always declared innocent when many things take place behind the scenes. Just because one screams louder than the other and one remains silent, does not validate innocence on either behalf.
As we grow older, how do we handle our emotions when someone has treated us unjustly??? It is a process to work through our emotions. From a Christ-Centered perspective, the first thing to do is pray for the person who has given you the short end of the stick. Scripture says Pray for those who persecute you (or accuse you for something you did not do). The one thing that I don't want to do is forgive, however it is required for our own well being, and it is a command. Without forgiveness, we can come bitter and it can cause us to make wrong choices. Sometimes confrontation is in order, however we have to ask ourselves, what is our heart's motivation by confronting, is it to rid ourself of anger, or to approach that person in humility to restore relationship? If confrontation is necessary, sometimes it is better to wait a period of time before approaching those who have hurt us.
We all want justice, to set the record straight, our reputation to be restored and in the end, feel vindication. However, that is not always possible. There are thousands of stories of people who have been wronged and do not receive an apology or seen a solution to a restored relationship. God clearly states, Vengenance is mine, says the Lord, I will repay. It is best to pray for the truth to be revealed, for the eyes of the accuser to be opened and for the innocent's name to be restored. God is capable of the impossible. He is in the business of healing hearts and relationships. We don't need to defend ourselves and our reputation for He does all of that for us if we seek HIM!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Life Lessons from Mother Teresa
My favorite book of the summer was Mother Teresa Missionary of Charity by Sam Wellman! When I started reading it, I couldn't put it down and I could stop talking about her weeks after I had finished reading it.We all need heroes, people to look up to, to aspire to be...Very few of us will ever touch as many lives as Mother Teresa did. She not only believed in Jesus' two greatest commands, but she lived and breathed His commands, Love the Lord God with all of your heart, with all of your mind and with all of your soul! The second greatest command was Love your neighbor as yourself.
From a very early age, Gonxha (Teresa) worked alongside of her mother taking meals to people in need, allowing people to stay at their house, visiting the sick, distributing clothing and money to the poor. She had parents with a vision to look beyond their own needs and the needs of their immediate family and challenged their kids to do the same.
Teresa went to school, did chores, helped with the poor, was an interpreter for her priest, played musical instruments, and she composed poetry. She had a very good work ethic and never sat idle. One week missionaries came through from India to her church. Teresa was so intrigued by their stories and began to dream big dreams. How many of us dream big dreams or are we just content to sit in our own comfort zone? She clearly heard God's voice that she was to go into ministry and she joined a convent at the young age of 16! Ireland was her first step to India. When she left, it was on a ship alone from Albania to Ireland. Within a year she transferred to India. Her comment when walking through the slums was "I cannot be of material assistance to them, for I have nothing; but I go to make them happy." Her prayer was "Give me the strength to be ever the light of their lives, so that I may lead them at last to you. "
In 1942 after the bombing of Pearl Harbor many Indians were starving to death. More than 2 MILLION died. After the war in 1948, war broke out at home between the Hindus and the Muslims. Teresa found herself in the middle of a political war. Eventually they split apart creating a new country called Pakistan. When she was 36 she left the convent to start her own order to live among the poor, the Missionaries of Charity. They ate a simple diet, wearing a sari like dress with sandals. Their living quarters were simple, no electricity, stoves, washing machines. Only a chair and a bed were allowed. Her motto before starting any new mission was "But God will provide!" In order to to maintain their strength and power she said, "The religious need silence to hear God speak to them. There is no life of prayer without silence." They started schools, hospitals, a mobile hospital, a shelter for the dying "Place of the Pure Heart". They would go into the slums, carry out the ones who were just about to die and bring them to this place. They started an orphanage because they would take the babies out of the arms of the moms who had died in the streets.
When she visited America to speak in Las Vegas years later, she was meditating in the desert outside of Las Vegas before her speech. She gathered thorns from a cactus and twisted them into a crown. She would take this as a souvenir and put it on the crucifix at home. She didn't like to take credit for all of her ministries but she would take all of the money from her appearances and use it to fund her next vision. She believed that prayer leads to faith, faith to love and love to service. One of her most profound quotes for me was this "Many people want to do the big things, no one wants to do the small things-writing a letter for a blind man, washing someone's dirty clothes, cleaning someone else's house."
She had charity houses in Bangladesh, Australia, Gaza , Yemen, Ethiopia, New York. By the end of her ministry they had 158 houses (68 in India), 1,718 sisters, 495 clinics treating 4,100,000 people medically, they treated 258,000 lepers in 103 houses for lepers. They ran 107 slum schools with 15,800 students. They cared for 2,770 orphans and regularly fed 165,000 people who were poor. How staggering to think of all of these people, each who had a name, and a story who were in need. All these millions of people were touched by the hand of Jesus, through one small woman named Gonxha with only a high school education, who dreamed big dreams, with a child-like faith and a big heart for Jesus!
What does He want to do with your life?
From a very early age, Gonxha (Teresa) worked alongside of her mother taking meals to people in need, allowing people to stay at their house, visiting the sick, distributing clothing and money to the poor. She had parents with a vision to look beyond their own needs and the needs of their immediate family and challenged their kids to do the same.
Teresa went to school, did chores, helped with the poor, was an interpreter for her priest, played musical instruments, and she composed poetry. She had a very good work ethic and never sat idle. One week missionaries came through from India to her church. Teresa was so intrigued by their stories and began to dream big dreams. How many of us dream big dreams or are we just content to sit in our own comfort zone? She clearly heard God's voice that she was to go into ministry and she joined a convent at the young age of 16! Ireland was her first step to India. When she left, it was on a ship alone from Albania to Ireland. Within a year she transferred to India. Her comment when walking through the slums was "I cannot be of material assistance to them, for I have nothing; but I go to make them happy." Her prayer was "Give me the strength to be ever the light of their lives, so that I may lead them at last to you. "
In 1942 after the bombing of Pearl Harbor many Indians were starving to death. More than 2 MILLION died. After the war in 1948, war broke out at home between the Hindus and the Muslims. Teresa found herself in the middle of a political war. Eventually they split apart creating a new country called Pakistan. When she was 36 she left the convent to start her own order to live among the poor, the Missionaries of Charity. They ate a simple diet, wearing a sari like dress with sandals. Their living quarters were simple, no electricity, stoves, washing machines. Only a chair and a bed were allowed. Her motto before starting any new mission was "But God will provide!" In order to to maintain their strength and power she said, "The religious need silence to hear God speak to them. There is no life of prayer without silence." They started schools, hospitals, a mobile hospital, a shelter for the dying "Place of the Pure Heart". They would go into the slums, carry out the ones who were just about to die and bring them to this place. They started an orphanage because they would take the babies out of the arms of the moms who had died in the streets.
When she visited America to speak in Las Vegas years later, she was meditating in the desert outside of Las Vegas before her speech. She gathered thorns from a cactus and twisted them into a crown. She would take this as a souvenir and put it on the crucifix at home. She didn't like to take credit for all of her ministries but she would take all of the money from her appearances and use it to fund her next vision. She believed that prayer leads to faith, faith to love and love to service. One of her most profound quotes for me was this "Many people want to do the big things, no one wants to do the small things-writing a letter for a blind man, washing someone's dirty clothes, cleaning someone else's house."
She had charity houses in Bangladesh, Australia, Gaza , Yemen, Ethiopia, New York. By the end of her ministry they had 158 houses (68 in India), 1,718 sisters, 495 clinics treating 4,100,000 people medically, they treated 258,000 lepers in 103 houses for lepers. They ran 107 slum schools with 15,800 students. They cared for 2,770 orphans and regularly fed 165,000 people who were poor. How staggering to think of all of these people, each who had a name, and a story who were in need. All these millions of people were touched by the hand of Jesus, through one small woman named Gonxha with only a high school education, who dreamed big dreams, with a child-like faith and a big heart for Jesus!
What does He want to do with your life?
Compassion
By definition compassion means sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.
I have had so many people say, "I don't understand why I had a hard time conceiving a child, losing someone I loved in an untimely manner, losing my job or their spouse walking away. People face tragedies of every kind every day. Kids are bullied and treated unfairly, tornadoes, hurricanes and tsunamis come and go. The list of pain and suffering goes on and on and on. If you watch the news each day you will observe a murder, a car accident or a drowning, each have a victim who has endured pain or death. What is the purpose in all of is, many ask???? The truth is many of us will never know. However, II Corinthians, Chapter 2 talks specifically about pain and suffering!
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. If we have never gone through trials and tribulations and our life has been smooth sailing it is harder to identify with those that have. That is not saying that you have to experience suffering to feel compassion. Some people are gifted with the ability to comfort others without thinking about it. However, if we have walked in similar shoes to one who is experiencing what we have experienced, comfort comes easily. I guess this is one benefit you could say to having endured suffering. We are able to comfort others with the comfort that we have received from God!!!!
Who do you see through your perspective that needs compassion? Is it the homeless person on the corner asking for food? Is it the elderly person drinking their coffee alone? Is it the family that you see in the magazine who is standing in front of the shambles of their home? Is it the man next door who is fighting cancer? Is it the single mom who receives no break from the stress of raising children, working full-time just making ends meet? Is it the friend who is torn between two parents, spending one week at one and the other at the other parent's house? Is it your friends who have just sent their child away to college? Is it a family who has a chronically sick child?
What spurs your heart to a concern for others? Do you see those in need around you? Do you see the friend who is always depressed and no one asks why? Do you see the tear in the eye of the person who feels alone? When you feel that tug on your heart, are you compelled to do something? Don't miss the opportunity to meet the need of someone who needs you!
I have had so many people say, "I don't understand why I had a hard time conceiving a child, losing someone I loved in an untimely manner, losing my job or their spouse walking away. People face tragedies of every kind every day. Kids are bullied and treated unfairly, tornadoes, hurricanes and tsunamis come and go. The list of pain and suffering goes on and on and on. If you watch the news each day you will observe a murder, a car accident or a drowning, each have a victim who has endured pain or death. What is the purpose in all of is, many ask???? The truth is many of us will never know. However, II Corinthians, Chapter 2 talks specifically about pain and suffering!
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. If we have never gone through trials and tribulations and our life has been smooth sailing it is harder to identify with those that have. That is not saying that you have to experience suffering to feel compassion. Some people are gifted with the ability to comfort others without thinking about it. However, if we have walked in similar shoes to one who is experiencing what we have experienced, comfort comes easily. I guess this is one benefit you could say to having endured suffering. We are able to comfort others with the comfort that we have received from God!!!!
Who do you see through your perspective that needs compassion? Is it the homeless person on the corner asking for food? Is it the elderly person drinking their coffee alone? Is it the family that you see in the magazine who is standing in front of the shambles of their home? Is it the man next door who is fighting cancer? Is it the single mom who receives no break from the stress of raising children, working full-time just making ends meet? Is it the friend who is torn between two parents, spending one week at one and the other at the other parent's house? Is it your friends who have just sent their child away to college? Is it a family who has a chronically sick child?
What spurs your heart to a concern for others? Do you see those in need around you? Do you see the friend who is always depressed and no one asks why? Do you see the tear in the eye of the person who feels alone? When you feel that tug on your heart, are you compelled to do something? Don't miss the opportunity to meet the need of someone who needs you!
Monday, August 15, 2011
Reaping What You Sow
Yesterday was a hard day for me. Three college kids came as interns to our church. They spent the summer with our youth group. They played pranks, went to camps, came to pool parties and just hung out with our kids. They gave all that they had; their time and energy and their hearts to draw the kids to God, to each other and to the church community. While they came to learn, they taught us so much more. You forget as life goes on what it is to have goals and dreams and passion or zeal. They drew me in as an adult. Yesterday we had to say goodbye to them! This was the first picture of love with no strings attached.
The second picture of love with no strings attached is a contrasting picture of getting ready for college. The first picture is a mother and father, having a potluck to invite their son's friends and peers to their house to send their son away to college. My heart went out to the son's mom who had invested her life into her only child. She had spent her whole life preparing him to be the best he could be. She spent the day weeping, grieving that this will be the first that her son is out on His own. At the end of the day, he will be a successful engineer.
The contrasting picture is another son who will be off to college in a few days, unsure of what he will become. He has a parent who is unsupportive, telling the son that they are not sure if the son will ever be successful, that he has made mistakes in the past and is unable to overcome them. He has voices in his head telling him that he will not make it in life, voices that are completely false. This parent is sowing seeds of doubt, of conditional love, criticism and judgment. The son can rise above these voices and finish his education with our without the support but it will be by sure will and desire on his own part to be successful. How much easier it is though to accomplish his goals with his parent in his corner. This is a picture of love with many strings attached.
We all want people to take interest in who we are as individuals. We want people to believe in us inspiring us to be the best we can be. People will rise to the level of our expectations. If we invest nothing and expect nothing, we will gain nothing! If you look around, there are so many children and youth who just "come up". They have had little training or instruction in so many areas of their life whether it comes to relationships, manner or moral values. While we can't be everyone's parents, we are all surrounded by the life of another child that we can invest in. It takes very little effort to love someone else. It takes very little effort to give another a hug or a word of encouragement. It takes time and energy to listen and watch and learn but the rewards are endless. The rewards are many for investing in the life of others, they are eternal. Get involved, look around for those who have had no one to invest in their life. There are children and youth everywhere, they need someone to sow seeds of God's love into their souls. In the end, what are we reaping??? Souls are eternal!!! We can make a difference in where they go!
The second picture of love with no strings attached is a contrasting picture of getting ready for college. The first picture is a mother and father, having a potluck to invite their son's friends and peers to their house to send their son away to college. My heart went out to the son's mom who had invested her life into her only child. She had spent her whole life preparing him to be the best he could be. She spent the day weeping, grieving that this will be the first that her son is out on His own. At the end of the day, he will be a successful engineer.
The contrasting picture is another son who will be off to college in a few days, unsure of what he will become. He has a parent who is unsupportive, telling the son that they are not sure if the son will ever be successful, that he has made mistakes in the past and is unable to overcome them. He has voices in his head telling him that he will not make it in life, voices that are completely false. This parent is sowing seeds of doubt, of conditional love, criticism and judgment. The son can rise above these voices and finish his education with our without the support but it will be by sure will and desire on his own part to be successful. How much easier it is though to accomplish his goals with his parent in his corner. This is a picture of love with many strings attached.
We all want people to take interest in who we are as individuals. We want people to believe in us inspiring us to be the best we can be. People will rise to the level of our expectations. If we invest nothing and expect nothing, we will gain nothing! If you look around, there are so many children and youth who just "come up". They have had little training or instruction in so many areas of their life whether it comes to relationships, manner or moral values. While we can't be everyone's parents, we are all surrounded by the life of another child that we can invest in. It takes very little effort to love someone else. It takes very little effort to give another a hug or a word of encouragement. It takes time and energy to listen and watch and learn but the rewards are endless. The rewards are many for investing in the life of others, they are eternal. Get involved, look around for those who have had no one to invest in their life. There are children and youth everywhere, they need someone to sow seeds of God's love into their souls. In the end, what are we reaping??? Souls are eternal!!! We can make a difference in where they go!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Thankful Heart
Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus! I Thessalonians 5:16-18
Today it is easy for me to be thankful! The kids like their teachers minus one, hopefully that will change tomorrow, but overall the transitions have been easy. Both the kids have friends and friends in their classes. We are all happy with our church and we have friends wherever we go. Things are going well for all of us and at the moment we have our health. I know, some of my superstitious friends are saying that I am jinxing us!
My point is that when things are running fairly smoothly and we are living on the mountaintop, it is easy to praise God and have a thankful heart. God is the giver of all good gifts! Trust me when I say that I LOVE living on the mountaintop and life is smooth. Each day I say Thank you God for all you have given me! The appliances are running well, not broken and the car doesn't need to be fixed and we are employed and the kids are enjoying school and their friends are all blessings, not to be taken for granted! At any moment, all of it can change. It is important that we enjoy the mountaintop while it lasts. But what about when it is over and life no longer is smooth sailing???
Nothing changes! God still wants me to praise and thank Him in all things. We all have lived on the mountaintop and in the valleys at many times in our life. In just of the blink of an eye, the stress' of life may come and bumps in the road come and we will be crying out to God for His help and wisdom because we can't handle life on our own. He still out of a sense of obedience wants me to praise Him and thank Him in all circumstances.
Are you on the mountaintop or down in the valley? Do you thank God for the good days and the blessings that He bestows upon you when things are going well? In the bad times, do you praise God for who He is and for His faithful promises when you are going through pain? Regardless of my circumstances; God wants my heart to be full of thanks for He is in control of all!
Today it is easy for me to be thankful! The kids like their teachers minus one, hopefully that will change tomorrow, but overall the transitions have been easy. Both the kids have friends and friends in their classes. We are all happy with our church and we have friends wherever we go. Things are going well for all of us and at the moment we have our health. I know, some of my superstitious friends are saying that I am jinxing us!
My point is that when things are running fairly smoothly and we are living on the mountaintop, it is easy to praise God and have a thankful heart. God is the giver of all good gifts! Trust me when I say that I LOVE living on the mountaintop and life is smooth. Each day I say Thank you God for all you have given me! The appliances are running well, not broken and the car doesn't need to be fixed and we are employed and the kids are enjoying school and their friends are all blessings, not to be taken for granted! At any moment, all of it can change. It is important that we enjoy the mountaintop while it lasts. But what about when it is over and life no longer is smooth sailing???
Nothing changes! God still wants me to praise and thank Him in all things. We all have lived on the mountaintop and in the valleys at many times in our life. In just of the blink of an eye, the stress' of life may come and bumps in the road come and we will be crying out to God for His help and wisdom because we can't handle life on our own. He still out of a sense of obedience wants me to praise Him and thank Him in all circumstances.
Are you on the mountaintop or down in the valley? Do you thank God for the good days and the blessings that He bestows upon you when things are going well? In the bad times, do you praise God for who He is and for His faithful promises when you are going through pain? Regardless of my circumstances; God wants my heart to be full of thanks for He is in control of all!
Monday, August 8, 2011
1st Day of School
Summer's Over!!! I thought I would be so sad today. I always am sad for a week when the kids go back to school. Lazy days are over, routines begin and work starts for us again. This year life seems different than most!
It's the beginning of a new chapter, a happy chapter. With so much pain and disappointments in middle school I'm glad we are starting over. I've said so many times that high school is a second chance for Abby. I have prayed for the past three years that she would make new friends. I wanted her to make friends at church so she would want to be there. This summer was the start of the new beginning.
How blessed I feel to have made the switch to our church almost three years ago. In a smaller setting you can get to know people and be known by people. I think that is one of our deepest longings. I could have never asked for a more passionate or zany pastor for Abby who deeply loves the kids and loves Jesus! I couldn't have asked for a better group of kids. We saw a remarkable turning point in all of them this summer and I am deeply thankful! It is such a great place to be, to be in the midst of a car full of kids going from place to place, to hear the chatter and the laughter, knowing that they enjoy being together.
While high school brings uncertainty, especially attending freshman orientation and hearing an hour lecture by the Scottsdale Police Department about DUI, kids taking drugs and not being able to trust any kid for one moment, I was not filled with fear. In the car I was asked if I felt the same level of "untrust" as was mentioned in the lecture. While I don't believe that any child is above making the "wrong choices", I feel that relationships with parents or lack of are building blocks or stepping stones for future decisions. I thank God that Abby is now part of an awesome church youth group. I feel thankful that she is surrounded by a lot of good girls and some strong women role models at the ranch where she rides horses. I also feel very thankful that she will be attending a school where the teachers care about each student and know them by name. I also feel thankful that she is surrounded by adults at church who care about her as a person!
I truly believe in the statement that it takes a community to raise a child that as a parent you can't do it alone. It is an awesome privilege watching your child become a responsible young adult. I love our school's three corner stones for character: reverence (for our Creator), respect (for others) and responsibility. While these four years ahead are going to pass us by too quickly, I am so excited that I will have a front row seat in this journey and that I am chosen to be the one who will be the chauffeur and cheerleader and coach. I am expecting that God is going to do great things not only in the life of my daughter but in all of the other kids that will be surrounding her!!! Here's to new beginnings...
It's the beginning of a new chapter, a happy chapter. With so much pain and disappointments in middle school I'm glad we are starting over. I've said so many times that high school is a second chance for Abby. I have prayed for the past three years that she would make new friends. I wanted her to make friends at church so she would want to be there. This summer was the start of the new beginning.
How blessed I feel to have made the switch to our church almost three years ago. In a smaller setting you can get to know people and be known by people. I think that is one of our deepest longings. I could have never asked for a more passionate or zany pastor for Abby who deeply loves the kids and loves Jesus! I couldn't have asked for a better group of kids. We saw a remarkable turning point in all of them this summer and I am deeply thankful! It is such a great place to be, to be in the midst of a car full of kids going from place to place, to hear the chatter and the laughter, knowing that they enjoy being together.
While high school brings uncertainty, especially attending freshman orientation and hearing an hour lecture by the Scottsdale Police Department about DUI, kids taking drugs and not being able to trust any kid for one moment, I was not filled with fear. In the car I was asked if I felt the same level of "untrust" as was mentioned in the lecture. While I don't believe that any child is above making the "wrong choices", I feel that relationships with parents or lack of are building blocks or stepping stones for future decisions. I thank God that Abby is now part of an awesome church youth group. I feel thankful that she is surrounded by a lot of good girls and some strong women role models at the ranch where she rides horses. I also feel very thankful that she will be attending a school where the teachers care about each student and know them by name. I also feel thankful that she is surrounded by adults at church who care about her as a person!
I truly believe in the statement that it takes a community to raise a child that as a parent you can't do it alone. It is an awesome privilege watching your child become a responsible young adult. I love our school's three corner stones for character: reverence (for our Creator), respect (for others) and responsibility. While these four years ahead are going to pass us by too quickly, I am so excited that I will have a front row seat in this journey and that I am chosen to be the one who will be the chauffeur and cheerleader and coach. I am expecting that God is going to do great things not only in the life of my daughter but in all of the other kids that will be surrounding her!!! Here's to new beginnings...
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Why Am I Here?
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all of its parts are many, they form one body. I Cor 12: 12 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. I Cor 12:27
What is Your Purpose Here on Earth?
God has created all of us as one of a kind. We all look different, we sound different. We have different likes and dislikes and are a part of different earthly families. He created us with different gifts and talents. vs. 7-11. My husband Paul is very analytical and awesome with facts and figures and has fantastic organizational skills. I am creative, a people person and love to encourage others. Although we are part of different earthly families when we accept Christ and allow Him to be Lord of our life, we become adopted into His heavenly family. We wouldn't accomplish much if we were all the same. We all have different talents for a purpose and there is not one that is more important than the next. We all are here on earth to glorify God by using what He has given us to live out His two greatest commands, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and Love Your Neighbor as yourself.
Through a lifetime of searching and asking God how He wants to use me, I've realized he has created within me several passions. The first started at a very young age when my parents realized that I could carry a tune. My dad had me singing solos at church at 3. After college I started teaching piano and started children and adult choirs. It was clear that I had a love for music. However, I became a performer! It wasn't always that way but in my early adult years I clearly loved being at the center of the stage. God isn't mocked! You truly can't hide from Him or our intentions. For a long time, it wasn't about worshipping Him or bringing glory to Him from all the things in my life that He had done. It was purely for the praise that I received. We attended a large church for 14 years. I found my first mentor who was my music pastor's wife. I loved her and her husband, my music pastor baptized Abby. Eventually the performance opportunities ended and I was no longer being used. My pride was hurt and so I started serving in many other places at our church.
Having young children, I started serving in the young Mom's ministry. I LOVED being a small group leader and it was there that I developed a love for mom's who were struggling; without family, having troubled marriages, without Godly mother figures. That ministry lasted for 10 years and then it faded away. I went through a mentoring training program for a couple of years without anywhere to serve. Now I had all of these passions but no where to serve!!! I'm confused God!!!!!!! You train me up to sit??? Yes, just wait and wait and wait!!! This year He is allowing me to use my skills and training in two different ministries; music and mentoring.
What gifts have you been given??? How are you using what you have been given to glorify Him and be a part of HIS family???
What is Your Purpose Here on Earth?
God has created all of us as one of a kind. We all look different, we sound different. We have different likes and dislikes and are a part of different earthly families. He created us with different gifts and talents. vs. 7-11. My husband Paul is very analytical and awesome with facts and figures and has fantastic organizational skills. I am creative, a people person and love to encourage others. Although we are part of different earthly families when we accept Christ and allow Him to be Lord of our life, we become adopted into His heavenly family. We wouldn't accomplish much if we were all the same. We all have different talents for a purpose and there is not one that is more important than the next. We all are here on earth to glorify God by using what He has given us to live out His two greatest commands, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and Love Your Neighbor as yourself.
Through a lifetime of searching and asking God how He wants to use me, I've realized he has created within me several passions. The first started at a very young age when my parents realized that I could carry a tune. My dad had me singing solos at church at 3. After college I started teaching piano and started children and adult choirs. It was clear that I had a love for music. However, I became a performer! It wasn't always that way but in my early adult years I clearly loved being at the center of the stage. God isn't mocked! You truly can't hide from Him or our intentions. For a long time, it wasn't about worshipping Him or bringing glory to Him from all the things in my life that He had done. It was purely for the praise that I received. We attended a large church for 14 years. I found my first mentor who was my music pastor's wife. I loved her and her husband, my music pastor baptized Abby. Eventually the performance opportunities ended and I was no longer being used. My pride was hurt and so I started serving in many other places at our church.
Having young children, I started serving in the young Mom's ministry. I LOVED being a small group leader and it was there that I developed a love for mom's who were struggling; without family, having troubled marriages, without Godly mother figures. That ministry lasted for 10 years and then it faded away. I went through a mentoring training program for a couple of years without anywhere to serve. Now I had all of these passions but no where to serve!!! I'm confused God!!!!!!! You train me up to sit??? Yes, just wait and wait and wait!!! This year He is allowing me to use my skills and training in two different ministries; music and mentoring.
What gifts have you been given??? How are you using what you have been given to glorify Him and be a part of HIS family???
Monday, August 1, 2011
Leap of Faith
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see! Hebrews 11:1
This past weekend the kids and I went to visit some friends at their cabin two hours north of Phoenix. We love the smell of the pines and the fresh cool air. It is still quite hot and muggy here in Arizona. We took a long walk down the mountain and walked through the cool creek, in the rain. To some that doesn't seem like much fun, to us, we don't see rain very much in Phoenix, like almost never. It was fun watching Dylan try to catch crayfish with a cup in the stream. He would have been happy to just wallow along in the creek all day, even in the rain. However, at the end of the creek was a big swimming hole. It wasn't just the adventure of the swimming hole though that was exciting.
It was the new adventure of cliff diving, one we had never experienced. Our friend was the first to experience it, even though he had been many times before. Dylan watched in anticipation and reluctantly left his hunt for the pinching slimy creatures. Without a hesitation though he was off the cliff in one swift jump, ready to take the leap again and again. Abby was coaxed into heading up the cliff herself. Hers was not the same quick leap off of the edge. I could see the fear and reluctance in her eyes. Fear is often what keeps us from taking that first step. I can't say that I blamed her for one second, for I share her fear of heights. I truly would have been Ok with her turning around and deciding not to take the plunge. But with the coaxing of her friend and the willingness of her brother to go with her at the same time, she stepped off alone. She watched more than once, the boys stepping off and plunging into safety. However there was fear that she would not share the same experience as they had. Once was more than enough for her. I was proud of both the kids for their display of courage and trust they had in our friends that it would be Ok and for their willingness to try.
There are many examples in the bible of people stepping out in faith: Abraham leaving his country when God asked Him to, Noah building the ark on dry land even though people thought he was insane, Moses refused to be called the son of pharoah's daughter and he was mistreated with all the Israelites in order to free them from slavery one day. The list of heroes of faith in the Bible are endless.
I have many people in my family right now that are taking a leap of faith, leaving their own comfort zone for a new beginning. Our nephew and niece Craig and Sarah are leaving their hometown and their home for Craig to be a director at a new camp site for Spring Hill in Indiana. Our nephew and niece Jesse and Kelly are starting a new bicycle ministry to help kids in their walk with Christ. They are fundraising now with hopes to one day do this full time. My two nephews Jacob and Jason or going to a new college in Boston and Seattle far away from home. Abby is starting a new chapter of her life with new friends in high school in just a few days. My mom went on a mission trip to Spain alone for a month. She will return in two weeks.
All of them have things in common. They all know Christ. Some have to trust God for finances. Others have to trust God to open doors and wait on God and His timing. Some have to overcome their fears and walk this journey alone. The one thing that faith requires is TRUST! There are many experiences in life that we can't handle alone. It requires us to ask God for help where we fall short. And then, the hardest part is waiting.
Are you Ok with just living in your comfort zone? What leap of faith do you need to take? What hinders you from taking that first step? Just trust!!!
This past weekend the kids and I went to visit some friends at their cabin two hours north of Phoenix. We love the smell of the pines and the fresh cool air. It is still quite hot and muggy here in Arizona. We took a long walk down the mountain and walked through the cool creek, in the rain. To some that doesn't seem like much fun, to us, we don't see rain very much in Phoenix, like almost never. It was fun watching Dylan try to catch crayfish with a cup in the stream. He would have been happy to just wallow along in the creek all day, even in the rain. However, at the end of the creek was a big swimming hole. It wasn't just the adventure of the swimming hole though that was exciting.
It was the new adventure of cliff diving, one we had never experienced. Our friend was the first to experience it, even though he had been many times before. Dylan watched in anticipation and reluctantly left his hunt for the pinching slimy creatures. Without a hesitation though he was off the cliff in one swift jump, ready to take the leap again and again. Abby was coaxed into heading up the cliff herself. Hers was not the same quick leap off of the edge. I could see the fear and reluctance in her eyes. Fear is often what keeps us from taking that first step. I can't say that I blamed her for one second, for I share her fear of heights. I truly would have been Ok with her turning around and deciding not to take the plunge. But with the coaxing of her friend and the willingness of her brother to go with her at the same time, she stepped off alone. She watched more than once, the boys stepping off and plunging into safety. However there was fear that she would not share the same experience as they had. Once was more than enough for her. I was proud of both the kids for their display of courage and trust they had in our friends that it would be Ok and for their willingness to try.
There are many examples in the bible of people stepping out in faith: Abraham leaving his country when God asked Him to, Noah building the ark on dry land even though people thought he was insane, Moses refused to be called the son of pharoah's daughter and he was mistreated with all the Israelites in order to free them from slavery one day. The list of heroes of faith in the Bible are endless.
I have many people in my family right now that are taking a leap of faith, leaving their own comfort zone for a new beginning. Our nephew and niece Craig and Sarah are leaving their hometown and their home for Craig to be a director at a new camp site for Spring Hill in Indiana. Our nephew and niece Jesse and Kelly are starting a new bicycle ministry to help kids in their walk with Christ. They are fundraising now with hopes to one day do this full time. My two nephews Jacob and Jason or going to a new college in Boston and Seattle far away from home. Abby is starting a new chapter of her life with new friends in high school in just a few days. My mom went on a mission trip to Spain alone for a month. She will return in two weeks.
All of them have things in common. They all know Christ. Some have to trust God for finances. Others have to trust God to open doors and wait on God and His timing. Some have to overcome their fears and walk this journey alone. The one thing that faith requires is TRUST! There are many experiences in life that we can't handle alone. It requires us to ask God for help where we fall short. And then, the hardest part is waiting.
Are you Ok with just living in your comfort zone? What leap of faith do you need to take? What hinders you from taking that first step? Just trust!!!
Rest
Even youth grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:30-31
This verse describes my summer! I haven't written my blog for most of the summer. I didn't do a lot of cooking or cleaning and as little laundry as was necessary. We lived away from strict time constraints and did activities out of the ordinary. Routine is important and a part of life. At times though it feels as if I am a gerbil running on a ferris wheel going round and round and every day feels the same. Every parent out there and probably most kids feel the same way.
I always look forward to summer. I love spending the time with my kids. I love not having to carpool and race from place to place. I love being able to sleep in once in awhile and not "filling my day" with 101 things. We all get stressed out from life in general. I am always sad for two weeks once the kids go back with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat nervous for new beginnings for everyone. It was bad enough having to experience the first day of school myself, but even worse as a parent. I get nervous meeting their teachers, worrying if they'll start out on the right foot.
Summer is a time for renewal. All these stresses ease away with the relaxation of life without a schedule. We get tired from having such a busy life; school, sports, church, jobs, volunteer activities.
Someone once gave me such a fantastic word picture. Close your eyes and imagine a watering can. Mine is beautiful with flowers painted on the outside. I start with the can full of fresh, sparkling cold water. I pour it out little by little for my kids and my husband. The water keeps flowing with each person that I help, the work that I do, the places I serve. Until, at the very end there is no more cold sparkling water. The can becomes all dry and hot and then there is nothing left to give for anyone. As a matter of fact, there is none left for me. Some call that burnout.
We all need time to be quiet, to unplug to rest, to spend time in worship and peace with our Creator. John 7:37 says: If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. I thank God for the time I spent with Him this summer on my hikes through the mountain, on my bike along the river. For there, He renewed my strength for the places He will have me serve during this next school year.
How about you? Are you refreshed ready to serve where God wants you to or are you like the dry watering can? If so, ask God to wash His living water in and through you. His promise to help you soar like and eagle is true!!
This verse describes my summer! I haven't written my blog for most of the summer. I didn't do a lot of cooking or cleaning and as little laundry as was necessary. We lived away from strict time constraints and did activities out of the ordinary. Routine is important and a part of life. At times though it feels as if I am a gerbil running on a ferris wheel going round and round and every day feels the same. Every parent out there and probably most kids feel the same way.
I always look forward to summer. I love spending the time with my kids. I love not having to carpool and race from place to place. I love being able to sleep in once in awhile and not "filling my day" with 101 things. We all get stressed out from life in general. I am always sad for two weeks once the kids go back with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat nervous for new beginnings for everyone. It was bad enough having to experience the first day of school myself, but even worse as a parent. I get nervous meeting their teachers, worrying if they'll start out on the right foot.
Summer is a time for renewal. All these stresses ease away with the relaxation of life without a schedule. We get tired from having such a busy life; school, sports, church, jobs, volunteer activities.
Someone once gave me such a fantastic word picture. Close your eyes and imagine a watering can. Mine is beautiful with flowers painted on the outside. I start with the can full of fresh, sparkling cold water. I pour it out little by little for my kids and my husband. The water keeps flowing with each person that I help, the work that I do, the places I serve. Until, at the very end there is no more cold sparkling water. The can becomes all dry and hot and then there is nothing left to give for anyone. As a matter of fact, there is none left for me. Some call that burnout.
We all need time to be quiet, to unplug to rest, to spend time in worship and peace with our Creator. John 7:37 says: If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. I thank God for the time I spent with Him this summer on my hikes through the mountain, on my bike along the river. For there, He renewed my strength for the places He will have me serve during this next school year.
How about you? Are you refreshed ready to serve where God wants you to or are you like the dry watering can? If so, ask God to wash His living water in and through you. His promise to help you soar like and eagle is true!!
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