Spirited Sons

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Schooling two active boys has never been more... interesting. That's the word I'm looking for! I love my boys! God has given them the blessing of strong, active bodies and minds. We continually pray the first will remain intact, and the second will remain engaged with Him first, and then the school work. You'll meet my sweet sons, both entirely different, but both loving God to the best of their ability in the way He made them. I lovingly refer to them as my Bell Pepper Boy and my Habanero or Hambone. That should say it all! This blog is an eclectic mix. The events, conversations, and the thoughts behind it all will be in here. Every once in a while I'll try to capture something I don't want to forget. I hope you find things you enjoy. Please let me know if you do! Blessings!

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Completing Grades
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Choosing a Language Program

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The Bible
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Wednesday, July 2, 2008

This Day. . .Only This Day (Part Deux)

Posted in God Things

Many of you have been praying for my family and all that is going on right now. You, dear ones, deserve an update, and an update you shall have. First, I wanted to be sure you all knew how precious your heart-felt prayers were (and are) to me. I can't thank you enough for standing with us as we wait.

Now, for the update. We know . . . as much as we knew before. The interview took place yesterday afternoon, so the first one is over. We don't know if there will be a second interview. I would love to say that my Hero felt fabulous about the whole thing, but that's not the case. The feedback from our close friend was something like "I don't think we got a chance to see the real [Hero] during the interview." *sigh* I know Hero was nervous, more than any other interview.

We are praying right now that God would give us peace that surpasses all understanding. We are fighting for our hearts to remain steadfast, focused, and faithful to the One who holds all things together. I am purposing not to let my heart or mind wander to those things which are not in keeping with the verse in yesterday's entry! Feel free to check that one out.

So, we wait. And there are verses that flood my mind:

"Those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength. . . "
"As the servant looks to the hand of the Master. . ."
"[W]e know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him. . ."

And, I have the lyrics "given to me" some time ago as a reminder:

I'm Not Alone
by Me

I'm caught between what was and is and what may be
If I do life alone, the "was" is my home and "what may be" waits to take tomorrow's stage
I'm alone. . .
I'm freed from all that was and is to what may be
If I do life with You, the "is" is infused and "what may be" waits to take tomorrow's stage
I'm not alone!

Who loves that David's songs often begin troubled and end in freedom!

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Tuesday, July 1, 2008

This Day. . .Only This Day

Posted in God Things

If you are anything like me, you tend to look at a day with big eyes. Think of a smorgasboard and the "hope" it offers: the promise of sustenance, satisfaction, variety, and so much more. I get to the middle of the buffet, and I find I have a full plate; yet, I have eyes for more. Not wanting to miss anything scrumptious, I take smaller portions of everything I want. My eyes are set on the next wonderful surprise down the line.

Ladies, can I tell you how my days can begin to look like this. While a carpe diem approach to each day is sweet and adventurous, but I have to be careful I don't see a day as a springboard to the next . . . and the next . . . and the next. (You get the picture.) I have to caution myself against placing hope in the day itself, and not my God who created and ordains it.

My sweet God has special things ordered for this day. He has even given a little peek into the works He has prepared in advance for me (and my husband, my kids, and some friends) to do. Those things that are obviously prepared deserve precious attention. They are not to be seen as frivolous, non-event stepping stones to something else. If they are stepping stones, then He has ordained that, and I am blessed. Whatever they might be, they are definitely precious gifts from God. They are moments when He has specifically chosen to work in and through me (or my husband, my kids, or friends).

This day is special. What does He have prepared in advance? Will I know it? Will I step up to the challenge of being His "Plan A" in that moment for accomplishing His will? Will I choose to live in the moment enough and so closely in step with His Spirit that I can be His "Plan A" in that moment?

Today is a special day for my Hero. He has an interview that we've been waiting for with tons of excitement. In all the excitement of this day, though, will we lose sight of what God has set aside for us specifically as His hands and feet and mouth? No, Lord. May it never be!

Love you, ladies! Please pray along these lines as you feel led today. I would be honored and blessed if you would!

A friend send me this perfect passage to meditate on today! Isn't it just right?

Phil. 4:4-9

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your
gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious
about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God,
which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your
minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever
is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me
—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

(My bold and italics.)

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Tuesday, June 10, 2008

When Lists Make Terrible Masters

Posted in God Things

My "To Do List" probably rivals Santa's handy list in length right about now. Have you ever felt that way, too? I look at the potential for a day, and I hold up my list. There's a few seconds of promising productivity, and then the awful overwhelming feeling floods my heart, mind, and soul.

A list makes a great guideline. It's even not bad as a target. But, there's this fine line that gets crossed in my heart and mind when my tightly clenched fist grasps my list and won't let go. My heart wants to finish everything that's on the list, my mind is determined, and I get very preoccupied with the list. The next thing that happens makes me sad: I start to ignore all else. I'm a woman on a mission.

The kids know what's happening in those moments. They shy away from asking questions for fear of receiving one of those too-busy-to-answer-so-it's-gotta-be-no responses. (Do I want my kids to feel that way?) My Hero even has a brilliant response--if he's really quiet, he seems to be assured he won't get rooked into my devious plans to overtake the ~~world~~...uhhh...list! (Hmmm. Is that some kind of "turtle move" going on there?)

The thing that I have just come to this morning is something very important to me. Didn't I just say I wanted God's will in my life in a clear and tangible way in my last entry? (Why, yes, I did.) So, as I take a serious look at this scenario with the list, how does it fit in with my heart to know and follow God's will? Does the Scripture say "As the servant looks to the hand of the master" in Psalms, or does it say as the servant looks to the list?

Today I want to look to the hand of the Master! This day has the potential to be full of "works that He has prepared in advance for us to do." I want to be sensitive to this in ways I might not normally be. Today, I want to be in the center of His will, even if it means in the everyday mundane stuff.

So, what do you have for me today, Lord? As we go forward from these morning moments, can we do together those things which You have prepared in advance for me to do? Show me Your plan for this day, the balance between productive and lovingly-present with my family, and those things which really need to be accomplished in this single day.

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Thursday, May 15, 2008

Revelation

Posted in God Things

Our church has a ministry that targets the deeper teaching of the Bible, the kind you might not teach on a "friendly" Sunday morning. I am in complete agreement, actually, with their choice to offer these things once a month at a separate time from the normal services. There's good reason for it.

Anyway, last night the teaching was on the book of Revelation. Friends, this poor man who wrote a very heavy book (in more ways than one) on Revelation was put to the task of encapsulating the teaching in under two hours, allowing for questions at the end. Wow! (Boy, am I glad I don't have to teach these things.) :')

There was so much packed into this survey of the book I couldn't begin to share even the highlights. It was just an immense amount to try to unpack, and I'll be unpacking it for quite some time. I was blessed to go, but I have to share something. Revelation is quite the book, you know! If someone read it, attentively and with good instruction, that individual's life would have to be markedly different!

The one thing my mind kept turning over and over last night and this morning was a point that was mentioned more than once: never underestimate the power of sin.

Never underestimate the power of sin. (I could park on that for some time.)

It's not that sin is more powerful than our God. Our God is absolutely and infinitely more powerful! Clearly, the battle is done and has been won. We are free from sin. Yet, we are free to the degree we will choose flee from it. Those who succumb to it, or those who choose to live in it, will have a very different experience. Sin starts so harmlessly. Where it goes is so ugly, and I think most of us would wonder just how things got so warped, twisted, and evil (in our lives and in the lives of those we know or observe).

I honestly had a terrible time imagining the events of Revelation in the end. There will be millions, I imagine, who will reject the loving God who desires that none should perish. They will love and worship the very one who seeks to kill and destroy them. How very sad.

With this in mind, how must my life be different as I interact with the people around me?

"Things that make you go, 'Hmmmmmm.'" ~ Arsenio Hall

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