To Everything There Is A Season

Fall is in full swing here in my part of the country!

Leaves are turning beautiful colors, pumpkins and scarecrows abound and hot chocolate is in order when you come in from out side. Winter is quickly nipping at Falls heels this year!

As I was driving into our weekly Bible study at church, I was thinking about the seasons.

But, I wasn't thinking about the weather patterns here in middle America, I was thinking about the seasons of life.

Let me start by saying, Thursday mornings are a bit, shall we say HECTIC around here.

Things are on a tight clock Bible study mornings. In fact, my boys know on Thursdays you DO NOT mess around when it's time to get ready for school!

Typically, the two boys go off to school for the day and baby girl and I head to class.

I like to be there an hour before it's time to begin so I can get any last minute things set up make any copies and pray a prayer of dedication and blessing over our room.

Today was not a typical day.

The boys are out of school and a certain someone who is supposed to be potty trained chose this morning to not be.

And then there was the decision . .. is my 11 year old, old enough to stay at home by himself for the 4 hours I would be gone?!?

So, as we were making the 20 minute drive in I asked my 6 year old to 'please, sit quietly this is when Mommy prays and gathers her thoughts to Jesus on the way to Bible study.' He looked at me like I was crazy, but complied for as much as a little wild 6 year old boy can.

But, I must say the thought went through my head. . .I bet Beth Moore doesn't have to deal with all this in her way to teach Bible study!

And then as I looked around at the red and orange trees, the thought struck me.

It's only for a season.

Just like that there will be no chattering in the back seat, no calls to look at the picture being drawn, no chocolate milk to pour, no boo boos to kiss, so perhaps I should just sit back and enjoy the splendor before me. For that is what these little creatures are God has so daringly entrusted me with for this season.

So, we turned our praise on, sang a little louder and laughed at the sights we saw along the way.

And, I'm not sure, but I think perhaps I was a little better Bible study teacher today.

Thank you, Lord for the seasons. Help to embrace each one of them and to know that they are only here for a short time.

You just don't understand. . .. .

I was recently reading Psalm 139.

It is such a beautiful passage and each part has meant different things to me over the years.

But, one of the neatest (that is the theological term- from the Greek, meaning Awesome) and greatest things about the Bible is that it is alive and active! So, even reading a passage you've had memorized or have heard many times over can speak a fresh word to you. How cool is that?!

So, as I was reading, this verse struck me:

² You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
³ You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
(New King James Version)

I was just stuck by the second part of verse two.. .You understand my thoughts afar off.

It seems to me that women ( maybe men feel this way too, but I can only speak to the girls here) are forever trying to be understood or to make their Man understand them. Or their girlfriends, boss, children, Mom. You name it and we are forever trying to explain ourselves.

Why we do the things we do, why we feel the way we feel.

I found this verse so freeing.

Girls, we've got to let them off the hook. Hard I know, because we so desperately want someone (especial our man) to 'get us'.

BUT, you will be understood. Your creator understands you, He knows why you're doing what you're doing. And, might I be so bold to suggest that He loves and adores you for all your quirky ways?

Maybe, I am the only one that needs the reminder that he didn't just make this body

¹³ For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;^{b]" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">[b]}
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.

But, He also made this mind, these emotions.

So freeing to know the Creator of the Universe understands my silly, scatterbrained, sensitive mind!

For me and those around me.

Let's stop trying to explain ourselves every 5 minutes and glory in the fact that the ONE who made us- knows and LOVES us--Yes, just the way we are!

That's What I Like About You

In honor of my firstborns birthday, eleven things that make him a great kid.

C, thanks for letting me be your mom and for putting up with being our 'practice kid'!

1) You love Jesus and aren't afraid to show it!

2) You love music and want to use to bring worship and honor to the Lord!

3) You have the best smile, it lights up your whole face!

4) You devourer books. I love the way you look at a new book like a treasure and can't hardly put it down!

5) You don't ever notice the color of people's skin! I've never once heard you refer to someone by the color of their skin!

6) You always try and include everyone and you hate to see someone feel left out or excluded!

7) You are so encouraging to Me about my Bible study & writing and the blog!

8) You love to dress up and go to new places!

9) You look at a vacation as an adventure and you enjoy the journey as much as the destination!

10) You like to smell good!

11) You love your Grandparents and spending time with them!

I could name lots more but those are 11 great reasons, I'm glad you are YOU!!

God blessed me beyond measure with my children. Being C's mom has been one roller coaster adventure after another. . . and I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Thank you, Lord for making me have to hold on to You on this wild and crazy ride!

Waiting

My lesson this week didn't come from the aisle of the grocery store, it come from the waiting room of a hospital.

My family has spent quite a bit of time in waiting rooms.

I've got three kiddos with asthma and some other significant things that makes waiting a part of our lives.

This past week our 6 year old had his tonsils removed, so back to the waiting room again.

We've been in various waiting rooms for small things and very large things.

(Please, don't miss understand, God has blessed us with our kids and we KNOW their problems are minor compared with some!)

But, while we were waiting YET again for the doctors to come out and tell everything is fine (there is no minor surgery when it's your child-can I get an Amen??) I began looking around and observing.

There are different kinds of 'waiters'. There are those who stare numbly at whatever happens to be on the waiting room TV, there are the readers, the nappers, the chatters, the pacers and the snackers. And yes, at one time or another, for one child or another, I've fallen into all of those categories.

Waiting rooms are really all about the same. Dull magazines, tv in the corner, uncomfortable chairs, coffee maker and people who are anxious, trying to appear calm and in control.

I've felt the range of emotions from, nervous and anxious to calm and at peace. Which got me to thinking what changes about waiting in the waiting room?

The room doesn't change, my emotions about the person I love who's being seen doesn't change. What changes. . God tells us and I believe He never changes, so what is it?

I soon realized, it's me. I change. I forget, or worse yet, don't bother to give my emotions and controlling ways over to Him.

I've felt the presence of the Lord so tangible in the midst of a waiting room, like I've never felt him before and I felt He was so far away at other times.

But, He is there waiting.

Waiting on me to realize He loves my precious children more than I ever could.

He is waiting on me to realize He and He ALONE is in control, my worry will change nothing.

He is waiting on me, to come to Him and tell my troubles to Him and then stand back and watch Him do His thing. And, OH! How I have seen Him do HIS thing! The mighty saving power that only He can produce!

It is so comforting to know that how I feel may change, but He never does.

And while I'm am waiting, He is there right beside me, whether I acknowledge Him or not. But, Oh the peace that comes when I do choose to Believe!

Thank You, Lord for waiting on me!

How Far Can I Go?

We are blessed to have our kiddos school in our backyard, complete with soccer field. Endless hours of entertainment!

Our boys often go over and play together, but last night Big Brother had homework and Little Brother was desperately wanting to go over to the soccer field. The Hubs and I were moving furniture around, cleaning up the kitchen and helping with homework so we very reluctantly said he go over by himself. (Little Brother can often find trouble in the most unlikely of places!)

We told him he had to stay only at the goal closest to our yard and could go no where else.

So, off he went soccer ball in tow, when he ran back and said 'Mom, how far can I go?'

I restated the previous answer, 'You MUST stay by the goal closest to the yard.' To which he replied, 'I know I can't all the way to the other end of the field but how far CAN I go?'

Realizing what he meant, I showed him a water cooler that was just shy of mid field and told him that was his boundary. All that cleared up and off he went.

I turned to the Hubs and said,' That is my next blog!!'

Really isn't that EXACTLY what we do with God? He has given us the privilege of playing and showed exactly where we could go, but we want to know just how far we can push the limits and still not be in the wrong. Oh we don't want to go all the way down to the other goal, but we want to get just far enough away from the house that we feel like we're doing things all by ourselves.

About 20 minutes later Little Brother came running into the house all out of breath saying that one of his friends had come up to the school and could I come and play too.
( An invite, no Momma can usually resist.) As we were walking back, he also said how tired he was from needing to run so far to get back to the house. I pointed out, he'd also lost some good playing time by needing to run farther to get to me.

Help Lord, not to get to far from Your house. I know you'll still be able to hear me and help when I'm far away, but the blessings will be so much greater when You don't need to reach so far to answer me. Help me stay in Your shadow so I am refreshed and ready to enjoy our time together instead of tired and worn out from running back to you.

What I Wish President Obama Would Have Said

I have tried very hard to keep politics off the blog.

Not because I don't have opinions, those who know me KNOW I have me some opinions-STRONG ONES, but because that's not really what this blog is about.

But, with all the speech hoopla I'm having a hard time biting my tongue and finally just gave up.

So, here is my two cents-for what they are worth. . perhaps not even two cents.

**For the record, it didn't bother me that the President wanted to speak to America's children, but here is what I wish he would've said.

You are important. You are special. No matter your size, color, gender or abilities. I'm sorry my position on any abortion at anytime, doesn't convey that.

Don't do drugs. I shouldn't have done them and I'm sorry that I've glamorized the use of them.

America is a blessed nation. Freedom is what all men and women long for. Although not perfect, by far the greatest system the world has known.

I'm sorry that I haven't conveyed that message, but instead I've gone to foreign countries and bemoaned this great countries flaws, even though in most others countries I wouldn't have stood a chance at becoming their leader. And I have ignored the thousands of lives that have been liberated because men and women have chosen to fight for liberty and our country. America, although not perfect, doesn't need to be wholly changed.

Surround yourselves with people of integrity. Listen to what they say. If they are saying reproachable, vile things, be a person of conviction and stand apart from them.

Work hard, study hard, know that others can't always bail you out.

I know it doesn't seem like that's true, but the world would be a much better place if all people, from CEO's to the average Joe lived that way, not expecting others to pay their way or clean up their messes.

Government can't save you and I'm not the Messiah and I shouldn't have joked about that or let others say that on my behalf.

Help your fellow man, be kind and compassionate. Develop new technologies and medicines, and business. Don't be afraid of success-We NEED people like that to help those who can't-not won't- help themselves.

Thank you and God Bless America.

When God's People Pray

This past week our family was hit with a tragedy.

Huge, out of no where, tragedy. The kind that makes the clock stop and changes everything.

Car wreck- death, brain injuries. Stunning, shocking, knee buckling tragedy.

I got the phone call from my Daddy and right after he told me the news, he said 'Can you call church, so they can get this on the prayer chain?' Of course, the answer was YES! Our poor church secretary had to listen to me try and talk through my tears. Then I put the word out on facebook that our family needed prayer, and my Mother and husband asked fellow believers at their offices.

Prayer, we need, Prayer. Lives hung in the balance. We needed to cry out before Our Father.

As the hours passed and calls came that folks were praying, I was struck by this grand vision of God's people all uniting in prayer.

So, many times we are fractured into our groups: The Frozen Chosen, The Holy Rollers, Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical. But, for these few hours and days, those petty (for the most part) differences were put aside and we united in a cause under the banner of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

I wonder if that makes God rejoice or saddens Him. Rejoice, that His children are uniting together and sadden because it takes a tragedy for that to happen. As believers, we segregate ourselves over things that mean so little.

Oh, I know there are profound differences that need to be talked about and I hold my beliefs in high regard. But, I'm not talking about those. I'm talking about things like who wears what to church, who sings what type of song, who lets a woman pray from the pulpit, which translation of the Bible we use.

But, this week, through our tragedy, we were able to see the Family of God come together in ways that must be a glimpse of what heaven will be like.

I was reminded of this old gospel song we used to sing:

I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God

You will notice we say "brother and sister" 'round here,
It's because we're a family and these are so near;
When one has a heartache, we all share the tears,
And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.

Glimpses into heaven are a beautiful thing even through of tears of tragedy.

And I can give an account that indeed God does hear the prayers of His children and He so graciously answers them!