Setting the Pace

On our bike ride this morning, my son became the teacher. One of my muscles kept cramping up and I could not keep up. When we reached the point about halfway to our turnaround spot, I got the boy's attention; we stopped and had a meeting. I shared my problem with him and offered to wait at this spot while he rode to the turnaround spot and back where I'd rejoin him and we'd finish our ride.

He would not allow it. Instead, he told me I could lead out and set the pace. I could stop whenever I wanted and we could go as slowly as I needed to keep my thigh from twisting in a knot. He wanted us to do this together, no matter how long it took. Dang.

I took a minute to rest and refresh, then led the way. I moved gingerly and slowly along the path, trying to go as fast as I felt comfortable going so my son would have a reasonably OK time with his mom this morning. After a few minutes, this sweet boy rode up next to me and told me I was doing just fine and the pace I was setting was very comfortable. However, if I wanted to turn around at any time, he would be OK with that.

There was no way I was going to rob that boy of meeting his goal this morning, so I kept pressing on. Forty-five minutes or so later, we had completed the entire planned course and had returned to our car. We went a little slower than usual and stopped a couple of times for water breaks, but we were successful in our quest.

Isn't that exactly how we are told to treat our Christian family as we grow together in Him?

And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:14

If my son's goal had been to finish his ride well, he would have been better off leaving me at that first stop and picking me up on the way back. But that wasn’t his goal. He wanted us to experience this ride together. The enjoyment was in sharing the experience. As we grow in our spiritual walk, our Christian siblings are right alongside us. Sometimes, I can get so caught up in pursuing my spiritual goals I forget to encourage those who may be struggling.

The "lead, follow, or get out of the way" approach may work in some circumstances, but not when we are supposed to be finishing this race together. Sometimes we need to be willing to slow down and work side-by-side with our struggling siblings. It might not be the pace we prefer, but it is the pace God prefers.

Lesson learned, babe. Thanks.

To Tell The Truth

Can someone explain to me what is so dadburned difficult about simply being honest? I have reached my limit of people telling me they have done something only to find they have not. Especially when the information they give me results in me making commitments and answering questions in ways I know now are dishonest. Right now I am livid, but moving from that into severe disappointment. I'm sure I'll get to forgiveness eventually.

We all want to be seen in our best light. But "fudging" the truth or telling "little white lies" to make ourselves look better in the short term severely damages our testimony in the long term. Not only does it damage our personal testimony, it damages the credibility of the Christian community to non-Christians. Whether we like it or not, the lost world is watching. We all mess up occasionally (Romans 3:23), but our goal should be to avoid that at all costs. When we allow sinful behavior -such as lying- to become habitual is where we not only hurt ourselves but potentially others who are watching us.

If we don't look different than anyone else in the world, why does the world need Christ? Why should they voluntarily place themselves under the authority of some unseen being if it won't bring them some positive change in their life? If Christians are guilty of the same garbage as the rest of the world, trapped by the same sins as the rest of the world, damaging their reputations and their families just like the rest of the world, then what's the difference?

I see the world's point.

It is for FREEDOM that Christ has set us free!!! We have the potential to be free from the consequences of sinful behavior because we were given the supernatural ability to flee from that sinful behavior in the first place (James 4:7). We have the potential to bring healing to our families (Eph. 5:21-28, Psalm 68:6). We have the potential to encourage others to enjoy the same freedoms (Matthew 28:19). Why do we squander our freedom in Christ for short term comforts??

Rant over. For now.

But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your "yes" be yes and your "no" be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. - James 5:12

Our OFFICE Par-tay!!

This is how we are celebrating the long-anticipated premiere of season 4 of our favorite show, THE OFFICE!!

It is a Fiesta to celebrate Oscar's Mexicanity (a la a special Office event from last season)! They served frozen Swanson Chimichangas, but they were sold out at our local grocery store this afternoon....I wonder why....

Instead, we made mini-chimis, tacos with freshly fried taco shells with all the fixins and

lemoñadé

You east-coasters are already enjoying it, but it's 2-1/2 hours away for us. Oh, the anticipation!

And we have ice cream sandwiches for dessert (another tribute to a memorable episode)!

YAY!! I can't wait!!!

UPDATE: "I'm not superstitious...I'm just a little-stitious." Favorite Office quote EVER. I may turn it into a t-shirt.

Some of the gags stepped on the line, possibly crossing a bit. I really don't like it when that happens. I did laugh a lot. Either you love it or you hate it.

Thoughtful Worship

I was transfixed by a passage in 1 Corinthians yesterday, specifically Ch 14:10-20. The passage discusses the usefulness of speaking in tongues in worship, but that is not what captured me. What I fell asleep considering was verse 15:

"...I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind."

So often, we find ourselves in two camps: Those who interact with God full of emotion and those who interact with God on a very logical plane. I have noticed, sadly, a very judgemental attitude pointed at both points of view, usually from someone who holds the differing opinion. Our churches are often placed in one "camp" or another, based on these two ways of communicating with our Savior.

But this scripture and the surrounding passages tell us neither approach is fully correct. We are called to worship God with our spirits (emotionally) while being conscious of what we are doing and why we are doing it (using our minds). Approaching God completely caught up in the emotional aspects of worship is no more complete than approaching God solely through intellectual pursuits. Neither approach is wrong, but limiting our method of interaction with God limits our experience and understanding of this Great Redeemer whom we serve.

It also limits our ability to draw others into a closer relationship with Him. If what we do to worship God doesn't make sense, some will never understand. If what we do is without emotion, some will never recognize the healing and freedom they can experience in Christ.

We are called to pray emotionally and logically. We need to be thoughtful of how we approach our Sovereign God while fully enjoying our ability to come boldly to the Throne of Grace! We are to sing as though we are children at a choir recital, excited to show our Dad what we can do for Him. We need to consider the words we sing, too. Like my earthly Daddy always said, don't sing it if you don't mean it.

I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how He could love me, A sinner, condemned unclean.
How marvelous! How wonderful! And my song shall ever be:
How marvelous! How wonderful is my Savior's love for me!

Are you overwhelmed by the thoughts shared in this verse? If we sing it -and mean it- we can't help but get emotional over the whole thing!

It is great to know that, when it comes to worship, emotion and thought go hand-in-hand.

Different Troubles, Same Need

My fall allergies came at me all at once this past weekend. I am only now getting to the point where I can function well again. For me, my first clue that it is allergy season for me is overwhelming fatigue. The constant searching for moments to sneak away for a nap or 'just to rest my eyes' gets ridiculous within the first 24 hours. I am on my allergy medication now and expect to be my old bike-riding, gym-going self in short order.

When I shared my troubles with a friend she was surprised. As most people do, she assumed allergies are at their worst for everyone in the spring and summer seasons. For me, they come on soon after the first good rain. I suspect mold is the culprit. Whatever the source of my allergies, finding a proper treatment and using that treatment makes all the difference in the quality of my life and the lives of my family (I can be a little grumpy when I feel tired all the time. Anyone else?)

Isn't it interesting that, although God made all of us in His image, we are still very unique? We have endless combinations of eye, skin, and hair color, size, shape, etc. We also are unique in the way we interact with the world. Some are very sensitive to light, others aren't. Some love broccoli, some don't. Some struggle with allergies in the spring, some are more sensitive in the fall and some don't have allergies at all. We are also unique in what tempts us to sin.

Although we all sin, we are all tempted in different ways. Some are more likely to sin when alcohol is present. Some can fall into the sin of gossip pretty easily when surrounded by talkative people. Some are quick to start cursing when placed in frustrating situations. Some are more tempted by inappropriate movies or music. Some people are not tempted by any of these situations while others are tempted in ways we would never suspect.

We all engage in activities we enjoy and love to include friends and loved ones in our endeavors. When we encourage others to participate in our stuff, we need to be sensitive to their weaknesses as well as their ability to enjoy the activity with us. As Christian siblings, part of our role is to keep each other accountable to the standards placed before us in the Word. We might be fine watching a PG-13 romantic comedy, but it might cause our friend to begin to fantasize about someone other than their spouse. Enjoying a glass of wine might be relaxing for us, but it could open a door to drunkenness for those we care about who are tempted by alcohol. Including a friend in a game of bowling might tempt them to use an expletive or two when that ball doesn't go where they want it to go.

We can't assume that because we know all a lot about temptation that we know what issues tempt others. Such an assumption can cause us to place someone in a situation that is tempting to them even if we can't see why such a situation would be a temptation. I guess this is another example of why we need to be in constant communication with those we care about.

Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall. So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. - Romans 14:20-22

Horrible Hyphen Halt!

link: Thousands of Hyphens Perish

"Bumble-bee is now bumblebee, ice-cream is ice cream and pot-belly is pot belly.
And if you've got a problem, don't be such a crybaby (formerly cry-baby)."

They say it is because most people don't know how to use hyphens properly. I'd be horrified, hurt or even huffish, but I didn't even realize 'ice-cream' should be hyphenated in the first place. If you aren't part of the solution...

Seeking Comfort

Fall has come early to the desert hot spot I call home. Last night the wind blew, lightning flashed and a bit of rain kissed our parched landscape. It was the perfect night for Tamale Pie!

To me, it is the quintessential comfort food! Seasoned beef and beans, covered in a cornbread blanket: what could be better? I decided to fancy it up by purchasing a she-she cornbread mix instead of my tried and true Jiffy cornbread mix. That's where things went south. The dadgum fancy cornbread would not cook all the way through! I ended up scraping chips and salsa out of the cabinet for everyone to snack on while we waited for the gooey yellow concoction to firm up. We did manage to eat before 8pm, so I will count the meal as a success!

I will not stray from my basic, proven cornbread mix ever again. It does what it was designed to do and doesn't cost me an arm an a leg (the fancy stuff cost about 2x more - don't tell the hubby!). I may add some corn to the basic mix, though. The expensive mix had corn in it and that added a nice touch.

Seeking the new, shiny, fancy thing is a temptation all of us fall into, I suspect. The packaging makes it looks so good it is certain to be better than what we already use, right? Last night was a prime example of 'new' not necessarily being synonymous with 'improved.'

We can have the same misleading thoughts about where we choose to worship, don't you agree? Once we've spent a few years serving in a local church body, it can become a bit hum-drum to us. We might want to seek new experiences elsewhere; not because there is anything particularly wrong with our local church, but because we desire something 'different.' We see fresh paint, cool signs, or a lot of cars in the parking lot of another church and think, "Hey, that looks like there is some exciting stuff going on. Maybe I should check it out!"

That is a sure-fire way to spend the rest of your life as a church-hopper, my friend.

Every church has times where it is changing and dynamic. Every church also has times where, for whatever reason, things slow down and stabilize for a time. In order to grow as Christians and grow closer to our Christian siblings, we need to use those times to deepen our walk together, not jump ship, searching for more emotional experiences to keep us on that spiritual high we are constantly seeking. Our faith is not a feeling, it is a lifestyle.

The next time your church home enters a stabilizing time -and it will- make that body of believers your mission field. Pray for the church and its individual members. Pray for your Pastor! Look for ways to encourage your siblings in Christ. If there is another church in your community that is growing, learn from them. Seek ways to freshen and add spice to what is going on in your church. Growth always necessitates change, but it will never change if those who can change it stop caring for it. Hang in there! God will bless your tenacity!

... And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1b, NLT

For those who are interested, here's my recipe for Tamale Pie:

Ingredients:
3/4 pound lean ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
Vegetable cooking spray
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 (15-ounce) can no-salt-added tomato sauce
1 (16-ounce) can pinto beans, drained
1 (4.5-ounce) can chopped green chiles, drained

3/4 cup skim milk
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 pkg Jiffy Cornbread Mix

Preparation
Cook beef, onion, and garlic in a large saucepan coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat until browned, stirring frequently to crumble the beef. Drain the beef mixture in a colander.
Return beef mixture to pan. Add chili powder, cumin, sugar, oregano, tomato sauce, pinto beans, and chiles; cover and cook over medium-low heat for 10 minutes. Pour mixture into a 2-quart casserole coated with cooking spray; set aside.

Combine the milk and egg in a bowl, and stir well. Add the cornbread mix, and stir well. Pour the cornbread mixture over the beef mixture. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes or until the corn-bread topping is lightly browned.

YUM!!

But it hurts, it hurts!

For you, Kristine. You asked for it!

My muscles are sore. Every day for the last week I have either gone on a bike ride with my son, to the gym with my daughter or both. The increase in my activity level has left me feeling the results of my efforts. I'm not complaining...much. I can already feel an improvement in my posture and in my energy level. I am even looking forward to the times I am exercising; not because I like sweating, but because I love spending that time with people I love. The long-term benefits clearly outweigh any short-term drawbacks.

The same can be said of our spiritual lives. When we make a decision to follow Christ and really follow Him, there will be times we become spiritually sore. For example, it sounds like a lot of work to pray without ceasing or to forgive someone who hurts me not only seven times, but seventy times seven. Even more challenging than hearing such truth, though, is putting that truth into practice. Forgiving someone who isn't sorry: groan; making a conscious effort to turn my thoughts into prayers: argh. Putting God's truth into practice in practical ways can be difficult, but it will bring a dramatic improvement in your character and in your endurance as you pursue your relationship with Christ. You may even find that you look forward to such challenges; not because you like the struggle, but because you grow to love the One who deserves all the glory even more because of them. You will discover for yourself what a trustworthy, amazing, loving God we serve! The long-term benefits of working out your spiritual muscles last for eternity! To God be the glory!

All of our praise rises to the One who is strong enough to make you strong, exactly as preached in Jesus Christ, precisely as revealed in the mystery kept secret for so long but now an open book through the prophetic Scriptures. All the nations of the world can now know the truth and be brought into obedient belief, carrying out the orders of God, who got all this started, down to the very last letter. All our praise is focused through Jesus on this incomparably wise God! Yes! -Romans 16:25-27, The Message

Family Dinner Day

Monday, September 24, 2007, is National Family Day: A Day to Eat Dinner With Your Children

When I was a kid my family ate together almost every night. It might be Spaghetti, Soup and Sandwiches or a Gourmet Feast; whatever food the meal consisted of was secondary, though. The important part of dinner was being able to share with each other about our day. Sometimes we brought up controversial topics of the day, sometimes we shared a funny experience, sometimes we debated the pros and cons of a decision that needed to be made.

My husband and I announced our engagement during a large family meal one Thanksgiving. We shared the exciting news of pregnancy over a Chinese lunch complete with fortune cookies containing the message, "You will soon be blessed with another grandchild" (I made 'em myself!). When my father passed away, we laughed and cried, sharing our favorite memories while lingering over a meal prepared for us with love from our church family.

In our modern, hustle and bustle lives, I find my family spending less and less time sharing mealtimes together. More often than not, each person grabs what's available to eat, hurrying to one meeting or another. As a result, conversations that once happened naturally while lingering over mashed potatoes don't often take place.

It is our job as parents to keep those lines of communication open between our spouses, our children and our extended family and friends. September 24 is a great way to take a stand for family togetherness. My family will be eating together next Monday, even if it is simply a few minutes before bedtime, lingering over a muffin and some herbal tea. Maintaining the quality of the relationships in my family is worth the effort. I hope others join in, too!

Follow this link to sign a pledge your commitment to be a part of this effort!

Wanna Be an Astronaut? Now's Your Chance!

Good news! You no longer have to be a pilot to be an astronaut! They are looking for people to man the International Space Station. Are you game?

Complete Recruitment Information Here

"Help Wanted: Astronauts

America needs YOU at the frontiers of space and technology!

NASA is now accepting applications for its 2009 astronaut class. The agency is looking for a few men and women who want to fulfill their dreams and be a part of the next generation of explorersThe open positions are for astronaut candidates to train for tours of duty on the International Space Station, the largest human spacecraft ever built. It is also the site for research that will prepare NASA for future long-duration human missions to the moon and other destinations. The Constellation Program is responsible for building and operating the next-generation vehicles that will carry astronauts to the space station and the moon.

Applicants must meet physical standards and educational requirements, which include a bachelor’s degree in engineering, math or science and at least three years of experience in one of these fields. Teaching experience, including experience at the K-12 level, is considered to be qualifying experience; therefore, educators are encouraged to apply."

How cool is that?!

Spiritual Truth From My New Bicycle

My son and I went out for a ride last night to break in my fabulous new bicycle. I picked it up from our local sporting goods dealer earlier in the afternoon. They had given me some basic instructions, including some adjustments I might need to make when I started riding it, tuned up the bike and added a kickstand - no extra charge. We picked it up on the way home from school as electric anticipation filled the air. From the moment I purchased the bike, I fantasized about leaving my son behind in a cloud of dust, the wind whipping through my hair and the sweet sound of victory ringing in my ears!

But, alas, it was not to be.

As we entered the bike path, I started pumping while anticipating those beautiful coasting moments I experienced when riding my son's bike two days earlier. Those moments did not come. I pumped, and pumped...and pumped as he inched further and further ahead of me. I was flabbergasted! Could it be that I, not the bike, was the problem? Maybe I was so far out of shape I'd never be able to catch up.

That's when my recent encounter with the bicycle salesmen flashed into my mind. I remembered him adjusting the seat on my bike and me telling him it felt too high. I couldn't comfortably touch the ground with my feet in the position he set it. He adjusted it lower for my comfort, but told me I would pedal the bike more efficiently if my legs were fully extended, which would require the seat to be higher. He suggested I raise the seat as I became more comfortable with the bike. I thanked him and leaped into fantasizing about the victory dance I would perform at the end of our ride. His suggestions were acknowledged as useful and I filed them away as I planned my own agenda for the evening.

As my awareness returned to my current struggles, I realized I was attempting to propel a mountain bike forward while sitting in a position similar to someone eating dinner at the dining room table. Could it be that the salesman was right? Should I be sitting a bit higher? I knew what I was doing wasn't working well (I could no longer see my son at all - so much for reminding him to look back and check on me occasionally), so I decided to follow the instructions of my advisor. I raised the seat at least 4 inches.

It was a miracle! The bike moved faster. I pumped harder. I gained ground and could again see my son. I caught up to him! I was able to pump sometimes and coast other times and still keep up with him!!

By the end of our 10 miles, he and I were keeping a comfortable pace with each other. And I could still feel my thighs. Lesson learned: When an expert gives you advice, take it!

Isn't that behavior typical in other parts of our lives? We are given instructions from not only an expert, but the One who created us. He left all we need to live an abundant life right there in His Word, the Bible. Some of us take the time to read it and that's good. How many times do we read it, though, and simply file away the information we gain for use later, if we decide we need it? How much more smoothly would our lives be if we, instead, applied those principles right away, not because we decide to do it, but because He says it is the right thing to do?

But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. James 1:22-25

My New Bicycle

Isn't She Pretty?

Don't you just love her flowers?

I wanted to name her.

She looks like a Suzy, but that seems vain.

Any Suggestions?

For My Friend

My Good Friend

Seeking the Right Path

I Will Pray

The Things We Do for Love

My son and I took our bikes up to the bicycle path this morning. The weather was perfect! There were a lot of people riding, rollerblading, walking and jogging who seemed to be in stellar moods. At our halfway/turnaround spot, there was even a dog show! The only hitch? My son has a cool, efficient bike while mine is a less professional model that was won in a Grocery store contest. For every three times I pumped my pedals, my son pumped once. I'm not kidding, I counted! By the time we reached that dog show, I was less than chipper and I could no longer feel my thighs.

In the interest of developing my son's sense of compassion (yeah, that sounds good), I asked him to ride my bike for the first of the last five miles we needed to ride to get back to our car. Let me say that was the best mile of the entire ride for me. I coasted most of the way while watching my boy pump his brains out just to continue moving forward. By the time we reached the one mile marker, he had compassion and empathy for me up the wazoo! When we got home, the first thing he did was tell Dad that Mom needs a new bike. Bless his heart!

During the first leg of our ride, my son didn't even look back to check on me. He was having a wonderful time with the wind in his face, feeling free, and assumed I was enjoying the experience just as fully. I am guilty of the same behavior at times. I get involved in one activity or another, convince others to join me, then forget to check on their progress as I plow full steam ahead through the experience. Sometimes we assume if we are enjoying something, everyone else is, too. Our adventure this morning reminded both my son and I that engaging in an activity together should include regular communication. We can't forget to check in with each other along the way.

"Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out."
1 Thessalonians 5:13-15, The Message

I think I have already picked out a bike that will serve me better and have included a picture here. My boy and I would like to go for a ride together about three times a week, so I'd love to have this issue settled ASAP. Hubby says we'll stop by the bike shop this afternoon. Yay! I hope I'll be able to walk again by then...

Gas Prices: The Good News

Article: Higher gasoline price seen trimming down Americans

"Entitled 'A Silver Lining? The Connection between Gas Prices and Obesity,' the study found that an additional $1 per gallon in real gasoline prices would reduce U.S. obesity by 15 percent after five years."

This just goes to show us that we can find the good in anything if we look hard enough!

Too Much Worship?

Said to me after morning worship yesterday:

"Well...you certainly were getting into it up there this morning."

It is difficult to communicate tone in the written word, but trust me when I say this comment was not a compliment.

In the interest of full disclosure, I was definitely worshipping God to my utmost as I was helping to lead vocal worship. I am reading a bit of Tozer and couldn't help myself! Then, during Sunday school, we discussed the temptation of Christ in the desert and I was overwhelmed by God's provision for us. To put His son through 40 days of such difficulty at least in part so he'd know what we feel like when we're tempted...well, I just don't know how to respond to that except to worship. We started singing "Days of Elijah," "All Hail the Power," "We Fall Down," and "Here I am to Worship," and I couldn't sing to anyone but my LORD. Since I tend to talk with my hands, my hands were up, down and all around as I told Him I was there solely to worship and bow down to Him, to acknowledge His power and appreciate His provision for us.

Looking back, it may have been a little much for a conservative Baptist congregation to take. I may have to take the advice of a fellow Baptist worshipper who said to me once, "We have to choose our moments." Worshipping my Savior should not become a spectacle and a distraction to worship for others. After all, leading in worship is a different thing from private worship, isn't it? Striking a balance between authentic corporate worship and personal praise is definitely an art form. Plus, worship isn't only raising hands in praise, it is also bending our knees in humility and prayer. I am a work in progress. Thanks for your patience!

"Well Done" is Good, but...

"When I get to heaven, I want to hear 'Well done my good and faithful servant!'"

From what I can tell, this thought comes from a parable Jesus taught in Matthew 25. It is the passionate desire for many to hear this phrase from their Savior when they get to heaven. Last night this thought was shared with me again and I realized something that initially shocked me.

That is not the phrase I most desire to hear from God one day.

I have a longing that touches the depths of my soul. When I see Jesus face-to-face, my heart's desire is that I would take His breath away. I want Him to be overwhelmed by His love for me and thrilled that I am finally there, right by His side.

Because I don't desire the "well done" speech some might think I'm a lazy, self-centered Christian - or maybe not even a Christian at all! I don't think so, however. I think it makes me a woman who was made with a desire that goes beyond wanting a high-five from my savior. I know that phrase resonates deeply with some and I respect that. But God wired some of us differently.

Romans 10:15 quotes Isaiah 52:7 when it says, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things."

When we step outside our comfy, insulated lives and share the message of salvation (good news) with those who need to hear it, God says it is beautiful! Actually, this verse says our feet are beautiful! To me, this means he sees our effort as beautiful, which makes us beautiful to Him.

To live our lives in an evangelistic way, to focus our lives on sharing the available gift of Salvation with everyone we encounter, can be scary and exhausting work. It is a lifestyle that invites conflict and persecution at any time. It requires complete obedience to God's word, even when it means things may get tough. It definitely feels like a battle at least some of the time. But I don't want to be recognized by God in that "good soldier" sense. I want to be recognized as the apple of His eye who thrilled him by the way I loved others.

Although the warriors in the crowd look forward to a slap on the back and a hearty "well done," some made in His image with quiet and gentle spirits (if not personalities) long for our efforts to be a stunning sight to behold by our heavenly Father.

When I get to heaven, I want Jesus' eyes to widen, then soften, then gaze at me with such obvious affection I might blush. I want Him to gasp, then say,

"Suzanne, You are beautiful!"

I want Him to say this not because I have great highlights and my cheekbones are awesome, but because my feet went where He wanted them to. And that made me beautiful!

Reading for Guys

While researching for my last blog entry, I happened upon a very cool website. If you are looking for a place to find books the guys in your life might enjoy check out this site!

link: Guys Read

Library Card Month

September is officially Library Card Sign-Up Month.

If you or your kids don't have library cards, this would be a perfect time to get them.

I started reading to my children within days of bringing them home from the hospital. That sounds a little weird, I know, but I wanted to talk to them. With my first child, especially, I had no idea what to say to her, so I read to her. By the time she was 2, she would pick out 10 to 15 of her "most favoritest" books every night and we'd read for an hour or so before she went to sleep.

When the boy came along, we just tucked him in alongside us and kept on reading! We visited the library at least every other week, if not more often, on story time days. The kids would listen to the stories, then pick out a couple of books to take home. We found some of the most memorable books that way. Some of their favorites:

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (and that family of books)
What Do You Do With a Kangaroo
The Dress I'll Wear to the Party
Emma Bean (My daughter's most favoritest!)
Where the Wild Things Are

Now their favorites are:

The Bible. Son likes the New Living Translation, Daughter prefers a parallel Bible with NIV/The Message.
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
To Kill a Mockingbird
Artemis Fowl Books

I know there are more, but now that they're teenagers, book discussions happen less frequently. Bummer. Their literary tastes have grown in the last decade. They have an appreciation for the written word and that blesses me!

Getting a library card at our house was an earned priveledge. Each child had to be able to sign their name on the back of their library card. Both children were able to do that by the time they were three or four...I can't remember exactly. The pride they exuded on the day we went to the library, they acquired their very own library cards and were able to check books out on their own was something I'll never forget. It was a right of passage. They graduated from being toddlers into preschoolers with responsibility. We'd mark the calendar with the date the books had to be returned and their job was to keep track of the due dates and let me know when we HAD to turn those books in. If they didn't remind me, they had to pay the late fees from their allowance (50 cents per year, so they didn't have much to mess with after tithing and putting some in savings). Of course, Mom forgot sometimes, too. Then the bill was on me. They loved those days!

Celebrate September by visiting the library and getting a library card. You may be surprised at what you'll find lurking on those shelves!

Jesus in My Rear View Mirror

I hit the ground running this past Sunday afternoon and only now am able to take a moment to catch my breath. I will spare you the details, but trust me when I say my life has been more full in the last 72 hours than the entire span of most of my weeks! Some if it has been good, some not so good, but I have reached the end of that little rough patch. Upon review, I must say I am very satisfied with my productivity. The tasks I have completed are very obvious, even to the most casual observer. Both my workplace and home are better off as a result of my intense effort. Whew!

In all of my intensity, I didn't realize until this morning that I had zoomed headlong into my week and didn't keep Jesus at the forefront of my efforts, despite knowing what scripture says about such things:

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

I freely admit the glory I sought was all for me! I wanted praise for MY efforts! And I received the praise I wanted...after I pointed out all my work to anyone who would listen! How silly!

What I do know is this: Even if I thought I sped ahead and left Jesus in the dust, it never happened that way. I may not have acknowledged His presence, but He never left my side. I love Psalm 73:23, "I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand." He makes the effort to hold me even when I am acting like a self-absorbed dufus. He is a generous Savior who never runs ahead or lags behind. He is always holding our hand.

That doesn't give us permission to put him on the back burner. If we know what God expects of us (to glorify him in ALL things) and don't do it, it is sin. (James 4:17) What His truth reveals to us, though, is God's infinite patience with us; His tenacity. He doesn't give up on us. Ever! In Him I rejoice!

Sing-Along Sunday

UPDATE: Daughter informed me the video wasn't working anymore. I dug deeper and found the original music video for this song. Oh. My. Gosh. What a slice of the 80's!! Here ya go!

Let's hear it for my boy! In honor of my 23rd Anniversary, I just HAVE to share the one song that epitomizes my sweet maverick of a husband. Whenever I hear it, I KNOW it was written with him in mind. Plus, the movie came out in 1984, the year we were married. Happy Anniversary, Babe!



...he's gonna KILL me if he sees this!!!!!!! Hehehe....

One of Those Days

I LOVE the body of Christ, especially the local body of believers with whom I worship. We are a family, full of close siblings, jokesters, black sheep, rebels, loners -the works. Just like a biological family, we have learned and are continuing to learn how to love each other, warts and all. It is so great to be a part of a Christian family like that! I know what happened to me today has absolutely nothing to do with my church family and everything to do with the spiritual battles we all must face.

I had the most difficult morning today. For a reason unrecognized by me at first, it seemed as though every conflict I have ever had and every person with whom I have even mildly disagreed over the years was highlighted and thrust in my face. It was a stinky drag. This sense of self-condemnation hit me afresh with each reminder. At first, I refused to acknowledge the thoughts that were filling my head, but I think that made it worse. If I had considered what past difficulties and failures were passing before me, I could have dealt with them head on. Instead they combined and grew into mythic proportions in my mind in the span of one hour. I made it through Sunday School and moved on to morning worship with this cold dread filling my spirit. I prayed, but I felt very unworthy to even be heard by God. In the sanctuary, I faced more of the same.

"Remember when you and so-and-so had to work out a disagreement? They still hold that against you, you know!"

"Remember that whole misunderstanding that you thought was resolved? It's not and that group of people over there still talk about it all the time!"

"Remember that time you didn't come to that event? Those people over there are still offended and will never get over it!"

"No one here likes having you around. See how no one is looking at you? See how no one stopped to say hi? See??"

Everyone else was praising God, hands and voices lifted to heaven, and I was full of garbage like that. The pastor preached about Agape love...unconditional love...but by then I KNEW no one in that building loved me like that!

I had bought into the lie. I had begun to believe I was in a battle with my Christian siblings!

Thank God, He quickly reminded me of Ephesians 6:12, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

I am not one to see every negative thing that happens in my life as satan's handiwork. I am my own worst enemy in that department. Conflicts are usually very much my doing. Difficult circumstances are likely the result of my procrastination or inattention. But what was going on in my mind this morning was different. These thoughts were not my own. Every last issue that was filling my mind had been dealt with and forgiven long ago. There was only one explanation: spiritual attack.

John 10:10 tells us "The thief comes only to kill, steal and destroy..." and he was doing his best to make that happen in my life this morning. However, that verse continues this way: "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

Life, in this verse, is transliterated "zoe," and means vitality, absolute fullness of life. It also means a "real" and "genuine" life. The enemy wants the opposite kind of life for me. He wants me to believe a lie and live a limited, fake, paranoid life. I won't have it! Instead, I want the life of abundance God offers to me. "Abundant" in this verse means "exceeding some measure of need" and "over and above. More than is necessary." I found a synonym of this word in a lexicon: "Uncommon."

Self-condemnation is not from God. It is common behavior. I choose to abide in the life God wants for me: a life that is uncommon, a life that is abundant with grace, forgiveness, and mercy. Not only for those around me, but for me, too! I know I have forgiven and God has forgiven me. I may never know if others have bestowed the gift of forgiveness to me, but I have no control over that. I can only love them like Christ calls us to love: Unconditionally. That can be difficult when we are not sure our love will be returned, but that is why it is supposed to be unconditional, right?

The condemning voices have quieted in my mind. Bless the Lord for leaving us the Bible with which to do battle against the enemy. The Lord will be my stronghold against further attacks, which are sure to come. I will love. I will forgive. I will press toward the goal, unified with my brothers and sisters in Christ.

It has been one of those days: one of those days when God reminded me how much He loves me...and my siblings in Christ. Agape.

23 Years Ago...

The Apple Macintosh computer was introduced.

The Challenger launched for the tenth Space Shuttle mission.

Richard Petty wins his 200th and final NASCAR victory

Vanessa Williams became the first Miss America ever to resign. Let's leave it at that.

The Soviets boycotted the summer Olympics in LA. Mary Lou Retton cleaned up on the medals.

Ronald Reagan is elected for a second 4 year term as president.

"Where's the beef?" is the hot catch-phrase.

The movie Beverly Hills Cop is released.

Bestsellers: "The Butter Battle Book" by Dr. Seuss and "Love and War" by John Jakes

I married a shy and serious man who took a chance on a squirrely 18-year-old with a wicked sense of humor.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!!