Personal Retreat

This past week has been wonderfully full at my house. There is nothing better than good food, laughter and after-Christmas bargain hunting! My sister and her children spent the last couple of days after Christmas with us and we have had a blast! We cooked our brains out, parented, cleaned, and generally distracted every shopper within 10 feet of us everywhere we went. We always have a great time when we're together. But now she's gone. She has taken my eldest child with her to go camping with her family in the desert for a few days. Since I am down to one child and I don't have to go to work until after New Year's Day, I want to use this time wisely. As I considered my options during this "down time," I remembered a paper my pastor handed out a year or so ago.

The paper is entitled "Heart-Searching for Prayer Preparation and Personal Revival." It is a simple collection of scripture and questions designed to walk the reader through a journey of reflection, confession and forgiveness with Jesus. There are moments in the past year where I failed others; there also moments where others failed me. Sadly, there are moments where I failed Christ. Some of these moments were glossed over by me and never properly confessed and/or settled. There is no reason to allow past hurts to affect our future. We live under Grace, for heaven's sake! Forgiveness is available to us and we need to offer it to others as well.

To begin the new year afresh, I am going to take time over the next few days to make proper use of the document my pastor made available to me. This will be my first personal retreat and I am looking forward to the journey. If you are interested in doing a bit of spiritual inventory yourself, I am making the information available to you. I was going to type it all up here, but I was concerned about violating a copyright. Besides, if someone else has already done it and I can just point you in the right direction, why re-invent the wheel?

I am praying for those of you who choose to join me in this time of personal assessment. Blessings.

link: Heart Searching for Prayer Preparation and Personal Revival

Mess-Free Cookie Decorating

Do you like my cookie? I decorated it all by myself! If you or your kids want to have a little cookie decorating fun, visit the betty crocker website. At the bottom of the screen you will be able to choose a cookie shape and get busy decorating. Have fun!

link: Decorate a Cookie

Earthly vs. Heavenly Treasures

I know Sunday is supposed to be reserved for Church, but this past Sunday, I was on a mission. I had to get a Wii. My son had saved his own money all year for the privilege of owning one and the least I could do was help him get it. So, at 6:00am on a frosty Sunday morn, I headed out to stand in line with all the other gamers and their parents. After a short stint at my local Target – where I knew they only had 12 and there were at least 50 people in line ahead of me – I decided to make a dash to the line at Toys-R-Us. The line was just as long, but I decided to take my chances. After some time had passed and I could no longer feel my ears, the store manager came out and everyone held their breath. They had 41 Wiis and would hand out tickets, one per person, until they ran out. At first I figured I was doomed. The line was so long they would never reach me. But they continued to come closer, closer, and the stack of tickets stayed thick. Once they reached about four people ahead of me, I knew it would be close. One, two, three…..FOUR!

They handed the last ticket to the guy right in front of me. Why, WHY?? I was so disappointed! I spent the entire drive home going over my morning. If only I had gotten up 15 minutes earlier. If only I hadn’t stopped at Target first. If only….. But the reality stayed the same. I didn’t get what I was after.

Fast forward 4 hours. I am now sitting in the fourth row to-the-back at church and we are observing the Lord’s Supper. Part 1 went fine, we each got our corner of saltine, listened to the pastor remind us that this represented the body of Christ, broken for us (That part always brings me to tears). Then the trays of shot glasses of grape juice began to be passed out. As the trays reached the back of the sanctuary, I began to wonder if they underestimated the attendance today. When I picked up my cup from the tray there were only 2 left; not enough for the poor folks in the back. Then a miracle happened. The usher whipped out another tray – and it was full! There was plenty for everyone.

Right then I realized how blessed I was to know Jesus. The things the world offers are finite. There are only so many Wiis to go around. But the gift of Salvation offered to us is available to everyone! And there is no second-guessing our approach to him. We don’t have to show up early or make a beeline straight to Him to receive his gift. We can show up late and be last in line and He is just as thrilled to give us His gift as he was when he shared it with the very first person in line!

My son has not yet acquired a Wii and, even when he does, it will only satisfy him for awhile. The real gift of Jesus Christ as Lord of your life will satisfy for an eternity.

John 1:12-13 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

All I Want for Christmas is....

NO BRACES ON MY TEETH!!!!!

HIP, HIP, HURRAY!!!!!!

WOOHOO!!!

PAR-TAY!!!!!

DOIN' THE HAPPY DANCE!!!

This is a day of independence

for Suzanne's dental residents

Yes, let the joyous news be spread

My braces are finally out of my head!

OH, YEAH!!

3, 2, 1, LIFTOFF!!

This is a fantastic shot of the Space Shuttle Discovery launching into orbit last night.

Someday I'd love to see this in person.

link: Night Lights: Shuttle Discovery Rockets Toward Space Station

"I've always told people, 'If you see a day launch, you gotta come back and see a night launch,'" Stephanie Stilson, Discovery’s vehicle flow manager, told SPACE.com. "It's a completely different perspective. One minute it's pitch dark, next minute you can turn around and see the people in the crowd that you couldn't see before when you're standing outside watching it."

We visited the Kennedy Space Center last spring and toured the area NASA uses for launching the shuttles. I cannot tell you how incredible it makes you feel to watch that shuttle take off and know exactly where they are taking off from. Not because you are good at geography, but because you've been there. The fact that my kids can view momentus events like this one and have that kind of perspective is one of the great joys of my life! When we toured the KSC, my son had the opportunity to speak with one of the Engineers; now he fully expects to work for NASA as an engineer after college. And it is completely attainable for him! Not because he's smart, although he is; but because he has seen, firsthand, what it will take to get there and now he knows he can do it. How exciting for him!

Take every chance you are offered to expose your kids to the cool stuff this world has to offer. Something they experience may motivate them to pursue an excellent, energizing future!

Tooter Toot

Toots to all! I'm cleaning out my bookshelf and found one of my old journals. Inside I had written down a funny tongue-twister/poem. Here it is for your weekend edification (author unknown):

A tooter who tooted a flute
Tried to tutor two tutors to toot.
Said the two to the tutor,
"Is it harder to tooter
or to tutor two tutors to toot?"

Man, that cracks me up! Part of the funnyness stems from having boys in my house who think "tooting" is synonymous with....well...flatulence. I know I should be more refined than this, but the mental picture I have of a master "tooter" teaching others to "toot" amuses me. So there!

Speaking of tooting, did you see the article about the lady who is banned from flying American Airlines because of her tootelage? I know I shouldn't laugh. She's probably mortified over the whole thing, but she's got to see the humor in it!

During my archeological dig through my bookshelf I also found three Focus on the Family "Family Night Tool Chest" books. The link I have provided shows you the "Money Matters" book. I also have "Basic Christian Beliefs, book 2" and "Holidays." The first person living in Bakersfield who comments here that they want them, they're yours!

Happy Saturday everyone!

Wal-Mart Rant

Here's where my ugly side comes out. Sorry, but this needs to be said:

When Shopping at Wal-Mart:

If you and your significant other need to use two carts, I beg of you, please do not insist on pushing them side-by-side.

If your baby cries, PICK THEM UP!! Big stores are overwhelming places for little people, even if they’ve been there three times in the last week. Plus, they are probably tired from all the extra shopping going on this time of year. Comforting them may add a few minutes to your shopping time, but the trust you add to your relationship with your little one by responding to them when they need you is priceless.

If you insist on holding your class reunion in the store, please do it someplace other than the center of the aisles. The same rule holds true for family reunions.

Watch your language. This isn’t your living room.

Respect other’s personal space. I don’t like to feel your belly bumping against the back of my jacket while waiting in line. No one will cut in front of you if you give me a little room to breathe.

Keep your little ones with you. Watching unattended children destroy store property fries my cookies. I know, I know, YOUR children would NEVER do anything like that. Well, someone’s is. Why not keep yours with you to be on the safe side.

I don’t care what anyone else says, those shoes with the wheels in the heels should not be used indoors! I tripped over one skater when he whipped in front of me and another one almost knocked me over in his haste to check out the latest video games. And here’s a surprise: Neither of them apologized. Obnoxious.

If you and your children can’t treat others with respect, stay home.

And, PULL UP YOUR PANTS! You look like a toddler with a full diaper. No one should have to look at that. And, while I'm on the subject, when you grab your privates and walk with that weird sway, you look like a three-year-old who needs to go potty. If you want to be treated like a man, ACT like a MAN! Respect yourself enough to present yourself in a positive way to the world.

Rant over. Harumph.

Snoflakes for a Cause

I have shared this fun site with you before, I think, but now they've added a charitable twist to the idea. Visit the make-a-snowflake website and make a snowflake. The more snowflakes made, the more money the site owners will contribute to the Salvation Army. We can have fun and benefit others at the same time. THAT's a great idea!

link: Make-a-Snowflake

Christmas in Heaven

December 3, 2000, my Dad spent his first day in Heaven. Although I miss him terribly and probably always will, I have finally reached the point where I don't cry every time I share with someone about him. He was a good man. Not perfect, but good.

There are people who are so broken this holiday season over the recent loss of a loved one they don't know what to do. If you are one of those, I pray you find the strength to hold tight to Jesus until you find your way to the other side of your pain. He was the only way out for me and I know He can get you through it, too. At my father's funeral, a pastor shared Psalm 116:15, "The Lord cares deeply when his loved ones die." God's word is true and He does care deeply about your loss. He doesn't take death lightly and He knows you are hurting. Remember God's promise in Matthew 5:4, "God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted." He promises to bring you comfort through this dark time. Hold tight to Him and He will hold tight to you. Call out to Him and He will hear you. Read Psalm 145:17-19. Sometime in the first few weeks after my Dad passed away, someone shared a poem with my family. For some of us it brought comfort; for others, it simply put things in a more bearable perspective. I share it with you now in the hopes it will do one of those two things for you if you are facing Christmas missing someone you love.

I'm Spending Christmas with Jesus Christ This Year

I see the countless Christmas trees

Around the world below,

With tiny lights like heaven's stars

Reflecting in the snow.

The sight is so spectacular

Please wipe away that tear

For I'm spending Christmas

With Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs

That people hold so dear

But earthly music can't compare

With the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you

The joy their voices bring

For it's beyond description

To hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me,

Trust God and have no fear

For I'm spending Christmas

With Jesus Christ this year.

I can't tell you of the splendor

Or the peace here in this place.

Can you imagine Christmas

With our Savior, face to face?

May God uplift your spirit

As I tell Him of your love

Then pray for one another

As you lift your eyes above.

So let your hearts be joyful

And let your spirits sing

For I'm spending Christmas in Heaven

And I'm walking with the king!

Thanks to Wanda Bencke for taking the time to compose such comforting words. You can read the story behind the poem here.

It's your sixth anniversary in Heaven, Dad. Has it even felt like a day? I wonder.....

Mondagreens

This is one of those times where I reveal one of the darker parts of myself. My sense of humor is a bit twisted. One of my favorite examples of this is my overly enthusiastic love of mondagreens. If you don't think you have ever heard of mondagreens, you have. They are those lyrics we sing that are completely wrong and make other people nearly wet their pants as they laugh their heads off at us. I especially enjoy Christmas mondagreens. The first time I realized I had a weakness in this area was when I was in the car with a friend and her four-year-old daughter. This angelic little girl decided to serenade us with one of her favorite Christmas ditties, Silent Night. As she stared to heaven with her innocent blue eyes and an obvious love for Jesus in her heart, she sang these words:

Silent Night, Holy Night,
All is right.....
....all is wrong.

I was so glad I wasn't driving because I might have driven the car over a curb. She was so sincere and what she sang was so goofy I couldn't believe it! Sweet thing. This same girl is now a young woman attending a Christian University as we speak and hopes to be a foreign missionary after she graduates. Gotta love that!

Anyway, once Gore gave us the internet, I was able to do a little sleuthing about my wierd enjoyment of misheard lyrics. The website where I often check out those urban myth emails (you know, send this to 10 people and Bill Gates will personally give you a laptop) is called snopes.com. They have amassed a collection of holiday mondagreens that get me downright giddy about Christmas.

Here's my favorite mondagreen from that site, feel free to sing along:

Joy to the world,
the Lord has gum.

GUM!!

I had to stop after I typed that to laugh my head off. I've got an image in my head of that portrait of Jesus we all have seen- the one where he has the long hair and is holding a lamb- and he's chomping away at some Bubble Yum! I know, I'm wierd!

OH! I really love this one, to the tune of Deck the Halls:

Deck the halls with Buddy Holly,
fa la la la la, la la la la...

If you love these, too, check out the snopes website. Be warned, there are a couple of words that were misheard as curse words.

link: Mondagreens at Snopes.com

Get Outta My Way or I'll Pout and You'll Pay!

On my way to work today, I had an interesting experience. It was a normal, over-busy, morning on the main street I spend the majority of my commute navigating. The road has four lanes, two in each direction, and the two lanes going my way are filled with cars at that hour, packed like sardines in a can hurling forward at the rate of 50 miles per hour. As this road closes in on the onramp to the freeway, both lanes of traffic begin to merge into the right-hand lane. It is a crowded, often messy, affair, but usually one which can be successfully negotiated with a minimum of hostility. Today I maneuvered into the right lane fairly early; there was a spot open and I took it! As the onramp came ever closer, the drivers in the left lane became more insistent in their attempts to move into the right lane. Most of the time, people make room. This morning, however, the SUV in front of me denied a small compact car’s desire to cut in front of it. I slowed down to make room for the compact car in front of me which gave me a front row seat to the drama which was to unfold. The driver of the compact car would not admit defeat. It kept trying to inch into the path of the SUV until I was sure they were going to collide. Finally, the driver of the small car hit the brakes, let the SUV move ahead, and took the empty place behind the SUV that I had opened up for him what seemed like ages ago.

I gave the driver a smile and a wave, hoping to calm his nerves, but he was not interested in calming down. He proceeded to follow the SUV so closely I thought they might bump together. The SUV would change lanes, the compact car would change lanes right behind it, hitting the gas pedal and the brake in an attempt to stay right on the rear of this SUV. When I exited the freeway, this little car was still at it, looking like a puppy biting the ankles of a St. Bernard. Frankly, the whole incident was at first unsettling, then became silly. I was embarrassed for the driver of that little car. He looked ridiculous!

As I continued on my journey, thinking some uncharitable thoughts about the driver of that car, the Lord opened my eyes to the truth I had just witnessed. I am just like the driver of that compact car!

Excuse me, Lord?? That seems a little harsh for you so share with me at 7:00am, if I may be so bold to say.

Then I looked at the situation from another angle; with me in the driver’s seat of the little car that represented my life. Here I am, cruising along like I own the whole world and someone comes into my path, becoming a barrier to my efforts to move ahead. For example, I make plans to become involved in ministry and I think I’m doing great, then –BAM- the path I am determined to follow to my goal is blocked! I try to fight and elbow my way through the barrier and I am thwarted at every attempt. I finally give up, fall back and proceed to make life miserable for those who got in my way. I gripe, I whine, I pout. Nip, nip!

I end up looking ridiculous.

All the while, my Savior has provided an opening for me so I can continue to move forward. But, because it isn’t exactly the path I had designed for myself to follow, I won’t even acknowledge His provision. So, there I am, sitting smack dab in the middle of the opening God provided for me, and I’m throwing a fit about something I have no control over.

Yup. Ridiculous.

Here’s a novel idea: How about focusing on the blessings God has bestowed upon me instead of the slights well-meaning, but fallible, people have committed against me. Like the SUV driver who didn’t make room, these people may not have even noticed they were impeding my progress. Or maybe their needs were so great they did not have the ability to consider my desires at that particular moment. Either way, I don’t have control over the decisions others make, anyway.

But God does. He knows all, sees all, and is all-powerful. All leaders who are in place are there because God has proclaimed it. I am exactly where I am because God wants me there. It is put so perfectly in Philippians 1:6, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

Just because I am not exactly where I expected to be in terms of ministry does not mean God has given up on me. He has begun the good work within all of us and will continue it until it is finally finished when Jesus comes back. He doesn’t give up on us ever. It would do us a great deal of good to remember that. When we focus on what God has provided us rather than what the world has denied us, we can have a much richer, more blessed life. And we are less likely to embarrass ourselves. Amen to that!

Exploring Worship

I have been on a journey of sorts lately. The path began through crisis and has continued as a result of the comfort offered to me by our Savior and my increasing desire to know more of Him. Exactly who is Jesus and how does He want us to worship Him? Being raised in the church - by a pastor, no less - I am very clear on the procedures expected in church regarding worship. I am becoming more aware of how little "expected church worship" resembles what worship looks like in the Bible. Worship is a constant activity. It needs to be as much a part of our lives as breathing.

But, it isn't.

When was the last time we fell to our knees, overcome by the presence of God? When was the last time we danced for Him? Do we even shed tears for Him anymore? We don't worship Him like that because we don't really believe He is who He says He is. Read some of the Psalms David wrote; read first and second Samuel. Place yourself in David's situation; make his words personal. His resolute confidence in God is mind-blowing and I find myself ashamed and moved to tears at the same time.

We limit God's influence in our lives by keeping him boxed up at church, with a small, snack-sized helping of him stashed in our Bibles if the need arises. What would our churches look like if they were filled with people who truly worshiped?

John Randall Dennis has some important thoughts on this subject. Here's an excerpt:

"Similarly, our box labeled 'worship' hardly resembles the worship of the Old Testament and early church. The modern-day church has reduced the word to mean 'praise and worship music'. If you don’t believe me, ask the average Christian about how the 'worship' was at his church last Sunday and he will rattle on about the music. While music is a wondrous tool for worship, it is not itself worship per se. Our churches miss so much if music is the only thing in our 'worship box'. This must be not only admitted by us as church musicians, but must be taught by us until we really believe it."

You can read his whole article here:

link: Worship "Un-boxed"

Catching Up in The Word

I need to confess something. I did not read my Bible every day over this Thanksgiving week. The distractions offered by our vacation were more than I could resist, so I'm getting caught up now. I read four days worth of Bible readings today and I'm glad I did. I read a passage that I was not ready to hear until this weekend. Psalm 119:65-80.

This passage reminds me that God does not waste any of our experiences, even the bad ones. I've had a few bad experiences recently and I know God is using them for my good. He has done for me just what this passage says, humbled me and drawn me close to His side through seeking Him in scripture and through prayer. And he has shown His love tangibly to me through His children. Thanks, guys. You know who you are.

As I approach the end of this small valley I have been walking through, I find myself identifying with David as he wrote, "My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees."

I only want to follow Him and the best way to do that is by staying very, VERY, close to Him. Because we live in a fallen world, walking close to Christ is very likely to mean walking alone much of the time. It also means that others will be critical (see Psalm 119:69-70) and will attempt to discredit me. That is something I will simply have to accept. I like it when everyone likes me, but not at the cost of my friendship with Christ.

That means there will likely be people in the church who don't think very highly of me, as well. Pleasing God is different than pleasing the local church. And saying no to church stuff is a quick way to ruffle a few hen feathers. I am a church gal and want to be a team player in my local congregation in whatever way is helpful. But I am weary of doing church for the sake of doing church. That is a whole other issue, though, and one I'm not quite ready to tackle. But get ready. That conversation is coming up soon!

Again, I digress. Sorry. My point is that God disciplines those He loves. He uses all experiences to mature us and draw us to Him. It is a comfort that no pain we experience is ever wasted. He wants to use it all, scrape the bottom of the bowl of our heartache, and use every last drop of it to bless us in some way. What a mysterious God we serve. What other religions would consider punishment, God uses as a blessing. What an amazing thought!

Make 'em Glad You Came!

I'm away from my computer for the day, but I found some helpful advice to get us all through the Thanksgiving weekend with with our dignity and friendships intact. If you will be visiting someone over this weekend, do them and yourself a favor and check out this link:

link: Be a Good House Guest

Giving Credit Where Credit is Due

Hats off to the Varsity Football Coach at my daughter's school. Doug Barnett was put in a situation where his character was truly revealed.

He found out one of his football players was, due to a technicality, not eligible to play on the team. No one would have ever known if he had kept the information to himself. Instead, he called the CIF commissioner and shared what he had discovered. One of his players had repeated the 10th grade before he transferred to BCHS, making him a 5th year senior. The young man did not know he needed a waiver to play, so he never sought one out. It was simply a paperwork issue.

Being forthcoming with the truth cost the team all the wins of the season. Why didn't he just keep the information to himself? In Coach Barnett's own words,

"... that's not what you do when you live, play and work for an audience of one who ultimately knows all that we do, says Barnett. And it's not what you do when you've preached from day one that admitting when you're wrong is a measure of one's true character."

There is nothing more wonderful than knowing my children are not simply being taught reading, writing and arithmetic. They are being led by people of character, living for an audience of One.

If you'd like to read the article in its entirety, here's the link. But be quick about it, the newspaper in our town tends to archive stuff pretty quickly. They also may ask you to register to read the article. Sorry about that. It's free, though.

link: Why being a good sport still matters

The Holiness of Prayer

In our Bible study this week at church, we are studying Colossians 4:2-18. The first verse in this passage is one worth considering, especially in light of the holiday we are about to celebrate:

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. ~ Col 4:2
I decided to look up the word translated as thankful in this verse. It is transliterated from the original Greek as eucaristia. This is the same root used in the word Eucharist, which is a term used for the sacrament of Holy communion.

The connection of the words we use, thankful and Eucharist surprised me. But, as I consider that information as I read Colossians, 4:2, it clarifies the significance of the act of prayer for me. The sacraments I observe in my protestant church are Baptism and Communion. But, when I look up the word sacrament in the dictionary, it is defined as, first, Holy communion. But the fourth definition is, "something regarded as possessing a sacred character or mysterious significance."

When I consider what God's word tells us about prayer, how He hears us no matter where we are, it blows my mind. I can't fully comprehend it. It is mysterious and significant. How often do I pray my laundry list of isues and requests, with the acceptable solutions of course, like I'm going over a list of chores over the phone with my kids. Prayer is not humdrum, everyday stuff. He hears us when we call, no matter where we are or what our attitude is. Why does He bother to listen to my whiny stuff?

The only answer I have is,

Jesus Loves Me,
This I know,
For the Bible tells me so.

And that is the mystery of Grace.

Upstream Fashion

link: Up Stream Girl

Any Mom who has taken her daughter shopping for clothes in the past few years is well aware of the challenges we face finding appropriate clothing for our daughters to wear.

I found a company doing something about it. It is called Up Stream Girl. This is a small, family-run business, that is providing a realistic alternative to what is passing for "fashion" at your local mall.

They donate a portion of all sales to pro-life causes, too! AND they are having a sale right now! This business is new, so their selection is a bit limited. But, if they are supported, they can expand their business into something super-great! The clothes they sell are fashionable, not dowdy. Give their site a look!

Fall is Here

November is my favorite month of the year!

Here in California, especially in the San Joaquin Valley, our seasons might not seem to change as dramatically as some other parts of our beloved country. But there are subtle changes. For one, I am not drenched in sweat, wondering why on Earth I live here. I have actually worn my jacket all day! I love it when there is a fresh nip in the air, and the chill has either killed off all the bugs or forced them into hiding. I would have to know more about science than I do to know which. Anyway. I want to enjoy this beautiful weather. Here are a few things I found online to help us celebrate.

A fall-themed online game, suitable for preschoolers or more mature folk with some time on their hands, here.

A plethora of fall-themed online jigsaw puzzles. I love these! link

A fall quiz, to take on your own or test yourself against a friend, here.

How do you celebrate Fall where you live? I'd love to know!

Not Just Covered

On day 9 of my quest to read the Bible through in one year, I wanted to share something I have discovered anew. Partially, this was pointed out to me in a book I am reading. The book is wonderful, controversial, and I'll tell you all about it when I'm done. The point was confirmed in my Bible reading for today.

Hebrews 9:28. "Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him."

Why do we live our lives as though Christ's death and resurrection paid the price for our sins/covered our sins and that was it? His sacrifice TOOK AWAY our sins! That means there is no reason to go back and revisit them because they no longer exist! If you have confessed your sins to God and asked for forgiveness through the gift of Jesus' sacrifice for you on the Cross, then to God those events never happened. Never. If you feel like you don't have a right to say anything to anyone because your past is so ugly even though you have asked God to forgive you, then you are calling God a liar. You are saying His Word isn't true. Jesus died to take those sins away, not to hide them. They are not lurking around in a back closet or under a carpet somewhere, waiting for God to thrust them in your face when you annoy him. They will not be displayed for everyone to see when we get to Heaven, either. They are G.O.N.E.

What a liberating truth, don't you think?!

Supermodel Deception

link: Campaign for Real Beauty video

These photos are of the same woman. Seriously! Hats off to Dove's Campaign For Real Beauty for putting this film together. It shows how they transform this lovely, regular-looking woman into a supermodel. I wish every young woman could see this. Even supermodels don't look like supermodels! I won't rant and rave about the twisted, sexualized standards some women believe they need to live up to, but it really bugs me.

When God made us, He thought us up! We were His idea! He made us exactly the way He wants us to be. Why isn't that enough? Truthfully, because we were not made for this planet, that's why. When we allow ourselves to become caught up in what this world values, we will always be led astray and we will never measure up because the prince of this world makes it his goal to keep you focused on superficial things. Those things are a distraction. If you are already a Christian, satan wants to keep you from sharing the message of Salvation with others. Plus, if you focus on your inadequacies, you will never experience the joy of your salvation until you get to heaven. If you are not yet a Christian, he wants to keep you focused on finding satisfaction in the approval of others. If he's successful, you'll never know the freedom you could have when you are adopted in to the family of God.

Newsflash: You will never measure up to any standard on this planet. Satan will keep "upping the ante" for as long as it takes to keep you from making a difference in eternity. If you believe your value lies in how you look or who likes you, you have set your sights too low. Do you want to know who thinks you do measure up? Read about how God sees you. Here's a hint: He thinks you're marvelous just the way you are! Watch the video and tell me what you think.

Hmmm...so much for not ranting and raving. Oh, well. I yam what I yam.

My Spice Drawer

In preparation for the Holiday Baking Marathon of 2006, I spent some time this weekend taking inventory of my spices and cleaning out the two drawers where my spices live, so to speak. I know spices don’t literally live, as in they don’t breathe or grow or anything like that. However, they do reside in my drawers and “reside” is a synonym of “live.” So if not literally, they figuratively live in those drawers.

But I digress….

The aforementioned spice drawers were a mess. I actually found three jars of Sage in there. Sage! I use that spice once, maybe twice a year to make stuffing. And Cinnamon! I found one big warehouse store jar and a dollar store bottle of the stuff. Plus, there was a bottle of cinnamon-sugar I sometimes use to make cinnamon toast. I could bake every day for a year and not use up all that Cinnamon! Does anyone but me own a jar of Mace? I don’t have the foggiest idea when or why I bought Mace, of all things. And exactly what is White Pepper, anyway? Why does anyone need White Pepper?

I ended up tossing the trendy stuff and the old stuff. I dusted off the jars of the rest, rinsed out the drawers, and put everything back in a more organized, pleasing arrangement. All of my standards – Pepper, Salt, Garlic Powder, Basil and Cinnamon – are easily found. Now I won’t be making duplicate purchases of essential items I already have. I have some lesser-used spices. These are not essential, but are fun to add interest to meals from time to time.

I have recently discovered a few spice blends that perk up our meals, but even these new favorites have significant amounts of the basic spices I love in them. None of them contain anything too trendy that will simply sit on the shelf, wasting space until they are old enough to justify tossing them.

As I was admiring my freshened spice area, a thought came to me. My spice drawer is a lot like the church. The basics, God’s Word, Love and Prayer, are essential, but can sometimes get lost when trendy worship ideas are carelessly tossed in. This is especially true when trendy styles don’t have the basics of Worship as their core ingredients. I’ve seen my share of trendy, “seeker-friendly,” watered-down services. At first blush this approach can seem like a great idea. Don’t turn people off by reminding them of sin and hell. Focus on the feel-good parts of our faith and they will be more likely to come back. But what will they come back to? Another service filled with spiritual half-truths? Because, if all we share with the lost world is God is Good, that really is only part of the story. God is also Just, and the wages of sin is death. If we refrain from telling the whole truth we are lying to people who are destined for hell without Jesus, just like I was. Just like my pastor was. Just like we all are!

However, just like I have found some new blends to keep in my spice drawer for my family to enjoy, there are wonderful new blends of worship that can bless the family of God, His Church. When the central ingredients of worship are unchanged, kept pure, we can add all sorts of elements that enrich worship experiences for all who hunger for more of Him. Music, from contemporary to classical, when lifted up to magnify God, fills me with a sense of closeness to Him that I rarely find anywhere else other than during my private prayer time. New Bible translations have made the Word of God more accessible to those of us who can be intimidated by all of those thee’s and thou’s found in older translations. I’m obviously partial to the New Living Translation.

I guess what I am saying is we can all take a lesson on worship from my spice drawer. Honor the basics of our faith; the Bible, love, prayer. Give them primary importance in your worship. Trendy stuff that has nothing to do with the basics might be fun to try, but will never sustain you. New blends of worship, when grounded in the basics, can be a great benefit by adding freshness to our time of community worship, but should never take the place of the essentials.

I don’t mean to sound frivolous. If this entry offends, please accept my apologies as such an affect was never my intention. I am beginning to grow more comfortable with the idea that God uses everything for His good, even spice drawers. If He has something He wants to tell me, I want to hear it and share it; even if it is done in a context that is a bit unconventional. That is the way I learn best anyway! Any thoughts?

A Secret Revealed

I have spent the last few days keeping a secret. Initially, I planned to disclose it right away. Once I considered what I had learned in its entirety, however, I selfishly decided to enjoy the delicious information privately for a time. I have revisited my favorite tidbits over and over again, as one might enjoy a hidden box of chocolates piece-by-piece, until it is discovered by someone else. Then it becomes only right to share. Besides, eating a whole box of chocolates alone is never as much fun as sharing it with someone you love. Being a lover of anything fun, I am ready to reveal what I have kept under wraps until this moment.

I have found a treasure. It is something which filled me with a sense of community, concern, joy, anger, laughter, hunger and a comforting feeling of fullness, both physically and spiritually. The best part, though, is the way it gently kissed me with hope. The secret blessing came in the form of a book written by one of my favorite authors, Lisa Samson. Her newest work, Straight Up, is the source of my delight.

Georgia Bishop and Fairly Godfrey are cousins who both face loss at an age when no one should. Straight Up chronicles their individual journeys to healing their broken places and moving forward, fully aware of God’s grace and active presence in their lives. Along the way we are introduced to an interesting cast of characters. Clarissa is a girl sorely in need of God’s provision. Her story mingles with theirs in a way that only becomes clear as Georgia and Fairly’s stories unfold. Uncle Geoffrey plays a pivotal role in both of their lives. Through him we meet an eclectic clan, each with their own painful pasts, who have found a way to steep themselves in the healing waters of God’s grace enough to forgive themselves, forge ahead, and offer that same grace to others. Enjoying meals together plays a central role in their relationship with each other. It is not possible to read through some of the passages in this book without wishing you could try Della-Faye’s Fried Chicken and Cobbler, Uncle Geoffrey’s Lamb Curry or even Jonah’s Groundnut Stew. When they meet for these meals, they also take the time to observe communion together.

I will never look at communion in the same way after reading this book. The sacrament often moves me to tears; the mere thought of Jesus suffering and dying like He did -to save me, nonetheless- can overwhelm me. Fairly becomes aware of another aspect of Christ’s crucifixion to consider, though. She realizes, “He didn’t just die to save me from something. He died to give me something, too.” Oh, how true that is! He gave us life and the liberty to live it under His grace, His forgiveness. We don’t have to merely trudge through life, limited by the poor choices we have made. We can live blameless, exciting lives because we are forgiven!

Ultimately, that is what Straight Up is all about. God gives us many opportunities to do joyous, amazing things that honor Him and bless us. Whether or not we capitalize on those opportunities is up to us. As Georgia and Fairly learn, God has a plan for each of us. Actually, He has multiple plans. If we make the wrong choice with one opportunity, He will always offer us another. We have a hope and a future no matter what our past might contain.

Georgia’s story is laced together by her love of Jazz. She is an incredible Jazz musician, as was her mother. The lives of many Jazz greats serve as encouragement and caution to Georgia as she struggles to find her way to being able to forgive past hurts and accept the peace God wants to offer her.

Fairly uses her beauty and artistic talent to keep people at arm’s length. She focuses her energy on decorating homes and looking beautiful. For her, superficial relationships are safer than investing emotionally in someone who might not always be around for her. This way, there is less chance of being hurt.

After reading the last sentence of this book, I needed to be still and celebrate God’s determination to never give up on me. He is so good to always provide a way when there seems to be no way. He doesn’t only give hope, He is Hope! Our past does not have to limit our ability to live abundant lives. If I learned anything from Georgia and Fairly it is that our determination to grab a hold of the opportunities God lays in our laps will reap rewards not solely in eternity, but for us here. Now! We have to take chances, get messy and risk our emotional selves to reap those rewards. I hope you can forgive me for keeping such an encouraging book to myself for a short time. Now that the secret is out, do yourself a favor and read Straight Up, by Lisa Samson. It goes great with chocolate!

One Year Begins

The one year challenge begins in the morning, November 1, 2006. If you want to join in, you are welcome! I won't comment much on this blog about this, except to mark my progress occasionally. I am using the Tyndale One Year Bible, New Living Translation for this journey. I have been reading it for the last couple of days and I must admit it is very easy to complete the reading when everything is already laid out for you. If you don't have access to this particular bible but would like to follow along, check out the one year bible blog. You will find the passages to be read there. I hope you join me!

Hallow--Boring!! And a Contest, of sorts.

Yes, it is that time of year again. There is a crisp nip in the air, it gets dark earlier, and small children walk from door-to-door asking strangers for candy.

Why do we do this? I am seriously not feeling this whole halloween thing. A friend of mine gave this holiday the biblical attention it deserves here, so if you want something sound regarding this holiday you'll be happier reading what she has to say.

I simply want to whine. Don't get me wrong. I like dressing up in silly costumes just as much as the next guy. Maybe even more than the next guy. Since I've never met the next guy, though, I can't say for sure. What I can say is I am not happy with the candy issue. Is it me or does this feel a bit like extortion to anyone else? I did not plan on having piles of candy in my home, just waiting to hand to a stranger at the door. As I was returning from work, however, I started thinking. Things always go wrong when I start to think.

If I don't have candy, I'll have to leave the porch light off. Then the entire neighborhood will know I am not participating in this annual event. I could have my front door silly-stringed. It happened one halloween a couple of years ago when we spent the evening at our church "fall festival" event, handing out candy there. But the people who came to our door just thought we were cheapskates and joykills and I still have blue string stuck to the wood in my front door! Besides, I don't want to be the house everyone points at and says, "See that house? Those are the mean people who didn't have candy at halloween!" That kind of reputation can take YEARS to live down! I don't want to be the bad guy of the neighborhood and I don't want to clean egg off my front door, so I turned into the grocery store on the way home.

I walked out of the store $30 poorer and a bit resentful, but knowing this act was necessary for the preservation of the neighborhood peace. Check out the definition of "extort" and see if you agree with me or not.

In reality, I guess it doesn't really matter what it is. I still have candy to give away. Kit Kats and Peanut Butter Cups, my favorites. Oh. I also bought a big bag of cheap candy for those way-too-old trick-or-treaters who seem to show up around 9pm after their little sisters get home and they are jealous of their divine sugar-filled booty (that's a pirate term, appropriate for such a night, don't you think?). Giving such last-minute candy seekers my special candy would be like casting pearls before swine. Besides, if anyone is getting the leftover kit kats, it's ME!

As a bit of reward for forcing yourself to read all of this, I will share a link to a site I found entertaining. Check out the Top 5 Haunted Places in America. I've been to three of them. My football-shaped "Facing the Giants" refrigerator magnet goes to the first person who can correctly name which three! Sorry, kids, immediate family is disqualified. Love You!

Whether you observe this holiday or not, I wish you peace and safety tonight. And, as we learned from Veggitales, God IS bigger than the boogeyman!

Untitled, Part 1

I couldn't sleep last night, so I tried writing to make myself sleepy. This is what I wrote. I hope you like it. If not, don't tell me!

Ouch! She spun around too fast, caught her hip on the corner of the counter and could already feel the bruise forming. That’s what I get for rushing, she scolded herself. And rushing for what? Her appointment was important, but she was already ahead of schedule. Risking injury was pure silliness. She stopped, took a deep breath and winked at her sweet little girl sitting in the high chair across the room. Baby Sarah’s giggles bubbled through the room as she tried in vain to wink back at her mommy. Soon, mommy Erin was giggling, too. She picked up her cup of tea, sashayed to the dinette and planted a kiss on the forehead of her little angel while she plopped into the seat next to her. Yes, she had a big morning ahead of her, but for now it was just mommy and Sarah sharing dry cereal from the high chair tray.

As soon as the sitter arrived, Erin would be on her way. The nervous tension electrified the room as Erin went over the mental checklist of questions she expected to be asked during this interview. It had been so long since she worked outside the home Erin was a bit concerned about presenting herself in a professional manner. Sure, she had the qualifications for the job, but if she slipped up and tried to straighten the interviewer’s collar or pushed their hair away from their face out of habit, she was a goner. She took a deep breath and practiced her relaxed posture and body language.

The ring of the doorbell awakened her nerves once again. Esther had arrived to watch the baby. Erin opened the door and received an immediate mama-bear-sized hug from one of her favorite people in the world, filling her with peace once again. Sarah took one look at Esther and squealed with delight. She was so lucky to have Esther in her life. A woman with experience raising children who also had the time and desire to help someone else care for their child was a rare find, indeed. When they first met during choir practice at church, Esther and Erin had an immediate connection. After sharing choral music side-by-side for a few weeks, Esther confided in Erin how much she missed holding babies now that her little ones were grown and gone. Erin invited Esther to spoil her precious Sarah whenever she wanted. Soon Sarah began looking for Esther as soon as they entered the church parking lot. Before long Esther was coming for dinner regularly and keeping an eye on Sarah one night a week so Erin could have a night out. They had become a family of sorts.

Raising a child alone is no picnic. That was never part of Erin’s plans when she envisioned their lives together. They loved each other through good times and bad. They took their vows seriously and were committed to each other for life. If it hadn’t been for that one careless moment, Jack would still be here. She missed him so much and could become mired in guilt when she thought about that night if she let herself. She shook herself out of her trance and made the firm decision to move ahead. Besides, Jack had given her the gift of Sarah. She was his legacy. The ache in her heart was somehow easier to bear when she looked into those sweet hazel eyes, just like her father’s.

Now she was behind schedule. Erin grabbed her purse and portfolio, hugged Esther, kissed her baby and dashed out the door. She was on her way to interview for the job that just might bring the stable future she wanted for Sarah. At the last minute she remembered to put on her jacket. Her short sleeved blouse would not be enough. The warm spring weather might not warrant it, but she would rather get through the next couple of hours without having to explain her scars for what seemed like the hundredth time.

to be continued...........maybe.........

Square Peg, Round Hole

I have come, yet again, to the conclusion that I am a square peg in a world of round holes. Does anyone else feel this way? Can I get a witness??

My concise communication style serves me well in a writing environment, but is less than ideal when interacting with real people. Just when I think I’ve got this thing figured out, I loosen up a little bit, open my mouth, and upset someone. Most of the time, I don’t even realize I’ve done anything wrong. Someone asks me to do something, I’ll formulate a plan of action, get confirmation that I am moving in the right direction, and forge ahead. It is the pace of my forging that gets me in trouble. I’m ready to get the show on the road and others are just warming up to the idea that the show needs gettin’ at all!

I wish I could quote a couple of Bible verses here and close with a wise paragraph or two that would wrap this problem up in a neat, pretty package. But, I can’t. The only truths I am definitely sure of are those truths I find in the Word of God. So, when the world, including Christians, make it clear they don’t think I fit in, I go to the Truth.

He made me exactly the way He wanted me to be. Psalm 139:13-14
He watches over me. Psalm 33:18
He expects me to be strong and courageous. Psalm 31:24
I do not need to be discouraged. Psalm 43:5
He is my protector and my shield. 2 Samuel 22:31
He will fill me with joy. Psalm 5:11
If I work hard I will prosper. Proverbs 13:4
He will bless my efforts when they are aimed at honoring Him. Hebrews 6:10-12
He will never stop loving me. Romans 8:38

This seems like a nice place to stop and consider the Truth in God’s Word. Thank you, Father, for being my Rock. He made me square for a reason. I will trust Him.

And I’ll reread Psalm 139.

Time Change Reminder

Make yourself a note to set your clocks back 1 hour on Saturday night! The official time to make the change is 2:00am Sunday morning, October 29. I can never keep this straight - do we gain one hour of sleep or lose one hour of sleep? I know if you don't change your clock and show up for worship service this week, you will get there in time for Sunday School. I think that means we gain one hour. Doesn't it? I am time-challenged!

When I was confirming the date for the time change this year, I found this interesting tidbit at about.com. Here it is, FYI....

Daylight Time Ends Oct. 29, Expands in 2007
Love it or loathe it, daylight saving time ends at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday Oct 29, and next year you can love it or loathe it even longer, as the daylight saving time period will begin earlier and end later for most of the United States.
Daylight saving time is currently observed from the first Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October. As a result of legislation enacted by Congress in 2005, beginning next year daylight saving time will begin the second Sunday of March and end the first Sunday of November. As a result, in 2007, daylight saving time will run from March 11 to Nov. 4.
When daylight saving time ends, clocks should be set back one hour, providing an additional hour of daylight in the morning.
States are not required by law to observe daylight saving time. States that do observe daylight saving time must follow the starting and ending dates set by law. States and U.S. territories that DO NOT observe daylight saving time include: Arizona, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Marianas. Residents of those locations need not reset their clocks.

Fresh Start

I've changed the url of my blog for the sake of clarity. Welcome to "Singing Like Myself" at http://singinglikemyself.blogspot.com


Back to work!