Jesus said there would be days like this.

Cheer or fear, choose wisely

    I think it’s safe to say, we have all had “one of those days!” Maybe it turns into one of those weeks or one of those years, but we all have to deal with trouble of some sort. I usually don’t have to look very far to find someone that is worse off than me.

    Troubles often vary in degrees, from minute to devastating but we all come face to face with difficult situations every day. We react to these problems in equally diverse ways. Smaller problems are usually easy for me to ignore but it’s the larger ones that make me want to stay in bed with the covers over my head.

John 16:33 says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have (perfect) peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer (take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted)! For I have overcome the world. (I deprived it of its power to harm you.)AMP

    I have to admit that “good cheer” is not my usual response to trouble. Trials, distress and frustrations tend to suck the cheer, right out of me and fear replaces peace in the blink of an eye.

   Focusing on the victory that Jesus has provided for me gives me the courage to face my day. Even if my first response is one out of fear or aggravation, I can eventually have peace by choosing to be undaunted by my circumstances. No matter how hopeless things may seem, no matter how hard it gets, I can still be confident that I will emerge unharmed and even have a good attitude and a joyful heart through the promise of God and the great work his Son did for each of us.

hurry hurry hurry, wait.

Patience

How much longer can this possibly take? I can see them, they appear to be working but how long does it take to fill a prescription? These are my thoughts as I peer impatiently into the little exterior pharmacy window. The minutes trickle by and I am slowly becoming convinced that they just don’t care how cold I am or how long I have been waiting. Perhaps they are placing bets to see how long I will stand in the freezing cold. After about ten minutes I have decided that I would give them a little piece of my mind, after all I’m the reason they have a job in the first place, right?

 Proverbs 15:18 says, “Hot heads stir up conflict, but patient people calm down strife.” (CEB)

   Patience is certainly an area I could grow in. There seems to be at least one or two instances in a day that just stretch me to my limits. It’s funny what my mind does in these situations. Being inconvenienced can lead to thoughts of ridiculous assumptions toward the other person. This is when I get annoyed. This is when I can react with unkindness.

Ephesians 4:2 says, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient bearing with one another in love.”

   Being patient requires practice. It requires changing the way I think and valuing others more than myself. I know I am most impatient when I am in a hurry or I am late. Since I am responsible for my actions it may be beneficial for me to keep better tabs on my schedule. I also need to understand not everyone thinks or reacts the same way I do and that’s ok. To be patient I need to bear with others in love, being humble and gentle. The word bearing here means “to endure” or “to put up with”; I think that hits the nail right on the head. It may feel like work but showing love towards others through patience is what is most important.

   I finally did get my prescription and I really should be thankful that they took their time to get it right. I also decided not to give that pharmacist a piece of my mind and we ended up chatting about how people are in just too big of a hurry these days. I have to say I was a little ashamed.

   I know this will be something that I will work on for the rest of my life, circumstances and personalities guarantee plenty of opportunities for practice, but I sure wish I would hurry up and get it right.

  

Follow the path and press on.

Woman in the men’s room

Have you ever ended up in places you have no right to be in? When my oldest daughter was very pregnant she was out shopping and had to go to the restroom like pregnant women usually have to do. As she stood washing her hands a man came out of the stall that was next to hers. Her first thought was “Oh this poor man is going to be so embarrassed when he realizes he is in the ladies room!” After staring at each other for one startled moment she finally spoke up and said, “I think you are in the wrong bathroom.” he just looked at her, and answered, “No, you are in the wrong bathroom.” Standing her ground, she told him again of his mistake and he answered by politely opening the bathroom door and pointing to the sign that simply read MEN’S. She was mortified that she shared a bathroom moment with some strange man who was in the stall right next to hers! Fearing that the security cameras caught the whole ordeal and she would be ejected from the store, she ran from the restroom without saying another word. She says that in her defense there were no urinals but I highly doubt that. Secretly I have always wanted to just peek in and prove her wrong but the risk of another embarrassing outcome is too high.

 How many times have I failed to read the warning signs placed directly in front of me? Honestly, most of my troubles are results of my own mistakes. Whether I walk in on purpose or by accident, God’s forgiveness is always there for me. His grace is always available to help me in my time of need. I am so thankful for this grace and mercy that is given so freely, it helps me get past those stupid decisions I make some times.

 Our father is never standing there to beat us over the head but He is standing there, arms wide open saying, “This is the way, walk ye in it.” (Is.30:21)  So as you walk the road of life, keep your eyes focused on the prize God has set before you, choosing right will save you a lot of embarrassment and sorrow. If you happen to find yourself off track, run don’t walk, and get back on track.

Philippians 3:14-16

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Be still and move on.

Be still and Move on.

   What am I going to do? Why did I trust that person? How did I get this far down? How will I ever get out of this situation? Where am I going in life?

   These are questions I'm sure we have all asked at one time or another. Sometimes knowing what to do in a situation feels like trying to unlock the greatest mysteries in life; Who is really on the Shroud of Turin?, What's up with the Bermuda triangle? Is there really a Loch Ness monster? Why is Bigfoot so hard to find? Why does my bread always fall on the peanut butter side when I drop it on the floor?

    Exodus 14:14-15 says " Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." Then the Lord said to Moses, " Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on."

   There's nothing like being in a vast desert and in front of you is a flooded raging river behind you is the Egyptian army ready to kill you and all those you love. Those Israelites sure regretted their decision of following Moses. Little did they realize that they were exactly on the path God wanted them on. They needed to see the hand of God work on their behalf and all they needed to do was stand firm and not be afraid (be still, become silent or deaf to the things around you) It was as easy as that, they didn't have to hide their children or bare up arms. They didn't need to send an advocate to negotiate with Pharaoh and get their old jobs back, they just had to stand firm and watch.  

Verse 19 says, " then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel's army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel."

   The angel of God had been with them the whole time and moved into the perfect position for the rescue. When they saw the river split to give them dry land to walk on I'm sure they were a bit shaken, but the important thing is they obeyed and followed the way of escape God provided for them. 

   What is your Egypt? What are struggling with today? Do you have regrets? Do you have unanswered questions or unsolved problems? Find out what God says about those, stand firm on his word and be still (become deaf to those agonizing accusations of the enemy). 

    I love the part in verse 15 where God says to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on."  Don't look back with regrets saying," If only I had done things differently."  When you cast something on the Lord (1 Peter 5:7), trust that he is able to take care of it. Don't think you can do a better job. What if the Israelites turned to fight or worse, gave up and went back to slavery? Their own plans would have surely destroyed a whole race, thankfully God had a better plan all along just like he has for us. Lord teach me to stand firm and rest in you.

Free speech or speech that is freeing?

Out of the mouth of Babes

   What did you just say?! This question is usually met with big doe eyes and trembling lips as the child scrambles to remember what offensive word just came out of his mouth. Every mother in the history of time has probably asked their child this question at least once. Whether it's a result of that infamous rhyming game, or repeating something they heard from T.V. or a family member, the result is the same, shock and embarrassment. This is usually followed up with a screeching admonishment in a voice thats a whole octave higher than normal, a bar of soap and a lonely stay in your bedroom. (That is if you grew up in my house.) Yes, I can testify that one soap does not taste any better than another and that soapy taste lasts for hours.

   When  I think about my panic over certain "bad" words I wonder why I am not as cautious about the words I speak everyday. Why does it feel uncomfortable to speak positive  or encouraging words? Criticizing and complaining seems to become the accepted norm and negative outlooks cloud my expectations.

   Proverbs 21:23 says, " Watching what you say can save you a lot of trouble." (CEV)

    When I read this verse I think "well that's a no brainer" but putting it into practice is a little harder. We live in a pretty negative world and we are constantly being fed scary and depressing news. Negative speaking is an easy pit to fall into, climbing out of that pit can be a hard and tiresome task. Phrases like "This is killing me," "everything bad always happens to me." and "I'm broke." can send me into a negative spiral. Why is Monday any worse than the other days of the week and don't even get me started on Murphy's Law, he must have been a barrel of laughs to be around.

Psalm 141:3 says, "Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips."

   This is my prayer, some days I pray it more than others, I recognize that I can't do it on my own and a guard or reminder sounds good to me.

It's not that I go around only speaking words of wisdom and quoting scripture but by choosing my topics wisely and using scripture as my guide, I can have a positive conversation that I'm not going to worry about later. Who knows, maybe I made someone else's day better too. 

Get used to it, this is where I belong.

What’s my purpose?

  What's my purpose in this world? Have you ever asked yourself this question? I have asked it many times. I have mulled this over in my mind trying to come up with some amazing answer only to feel a bit disappointed with my lack luster, ordinary life.

   I think we all may feel this way from time to time, not measuring up, constantly in competition to be recognized or appreciated. There always seems to be someone that out performs, out thinks, out wits or out shines us. I used to think if I were born in a different time things might be different, at least I wouldn't feel so inadequate in this micro wave, technological, beauty conscious world. Of course the thought of no makeup, no hair products and having babies at home slaps me right back to the happy present.

Acts 17:26-28 says, “And He made from one, (common origin, one source and one blood) all nations of men to settle on the face of the earth, having definitely determined their allotted periods of time and the fixed boundaries of their habitation. So that they should seek God in the hope that they might feel Him and find Him, although He is not far from each of us. For in Him we live, and move and have our being; as even some of your own poets have said, for we are also His offspring.”

   When I finally accepted the truth that I was made for this time and for the sole purpose of seeking and enjoying him, it made life seem a little easier. It’s not that I don’t look to improve myself or reach higher goals; I just can’t let the world’s standards decide how important I am.

   As I seek him I change for the better. As I change I make a difference in my world by simply touching those around me with his love. Isn't that what we all want anyway, to feel like we are making a difference and are loved?

 

I am sure I could manage this, possibly.

The steel wool affect

I want to be Steel Wool

    Have you ever felt like a weakling or a failure when it comes to communication or confrontation?

I have to admit that I am somewhat of a softy and I have to fight the urge to tuck my tail and run in the opposite direction when I must face opposition.  I have a friend who told me once that I was like a cotton ball; she has even called me cotton a few times. I know that what she was saying about me was not meant to be negative but there is the feeling of inadequacy that comes with being a cotton ball.        When you are soft as cotton, people tend  to not take you serious, you end up doing things you really don't want to and people walk all over you. When you are soft as cotton people also feel like they have to "tippy toe" around you so they don't  hurt your feelings, I hate that!
    On the other hand being known as harsh and unapproachable has its drawbacks too. I would hate to be the one that makes people duck into empty rooms when they see me coming, I have no desire to cause people to feel like they must always be on their guard with me.
    Somewhere in the middle is the answer, Somewhere between cotton and metal scraper is the perfect mix of strength and gentleness, grit and compassion. Somewhere between cotton and metal scraper is the steel wool pad, soft yet strong.

When we read Colossians 3 the instructions are clear; clothe yourself in compassion, kindness, humility and patience. We have to choose to put these on, most times it does not come natural. It takes a little compassion and patience to “bear with” someone, and kindness and humility is definitely involved when it comes to forgiveness.
   I decided I would rather be compared to steel wool; it’s soft yet durable, it’s gentle yet scrubs away the toughest baked on gunk and leaves the pan shining, it’s great at gently sanding away little wood burs and you are left with a beautiful smooth surface.

   Endeavoring to see people as Jesus does really helps. Jesus is always kind and gentle, he always shows us compassion and patience and I am so thankful for that. Using these verses in Colossians as a guide to communication and interaction with others is more than just a good idea, its a template for successful relationships and change.

Colossians 3:12, 13, 17

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And whatever you do whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Pepperspray Expectations

    Expectations and disappointments

   Caution: "May have no affect on those under the influence of drugs or alcohol."

These were the words written in bold print on the instructions of my new pepper spray gun. Wait a minute, weren't these the kind of people that I was protecting myself against? I almost expected the next lines to read, " This device is sold  for the sole purpose of making you feel better and may be affective on affectionate dogs or the occasional fellow walker." 

   Boy was I disappointed! I had hoped when I bought this device that it would empower me to leave  vicious perpetrators, human or animal, incapacitated long enough for this slow runner to make a hasty retreat. 

     We are met with multiple disappointments every day. Whether it was a plan that fell through or someone didn't do what they said they would, when our expectations aren't met we can feel frustrated and lose faith in our values and people.

   

   2 Timothy 3:10,11 " You however know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith,patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings- what kind of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. yet the Lord rescued me from all of them." 

   I wonder if Paul's plan for his life included  lengthy stays at the local prison? I'm sure that during all his schooling and training; preaching to Gentiles, being beaten and thrown in prison was not on his list of things to do. I imagine there were times Paul was disappointed in the outcome of circumstances or the actions of people around him.
Through it all he was able to minister to thousands and bring the love of God and the good news of Jesus to the Gentiles.
 What was Paul's secret? Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do everything through him who gives me the strength."
    In the margin of my Bible I wrote, " Attitude determines altitude." Disappointment is part of life, how we deal with it can be a  sign of maturity and character. I believe Paul's decision to allow God to work in him and others made him approachable and successful in all he did.
 
   Are you wondering what I did with my pepper spray gun? I decided to keep it. It does make me feel  little more confident when I walk alone and it just happens to be one of my favorite colors, cobalt blue.

   

Some people leave a bigger whole when gone.

A True "Man of Steel (wool)"

   Have you ever known someone that will forever bring a smile to your face when you think of them? That person for me was my dear friend Dick. He was not a man of few words, in fact he was like a walking Thesaurus  and I would often walk away, scratching my head, knowing I would have to look a few of those words up. 

   Like steel wool, he was an ideal mixture of strength and gentle compassion. Family, common sense and hard work defined  his life but he was as soft as cotton when it came to helping others.  When I remember my friend, it will be for his no nonsense approach to life, his love of  fun and his booming laugh, his deep compassion and generosity for others, and his unwavering commitment to his family and God. We all love you Dick and your absence will be greatly felt "perpetually, interminably, infinitely, enduringly, unchangingly, for good, for keeps, for always and till hell freezes over (hey it was in the thesaurus)."

This is one of my favorites

Trouble can be like spider webs...

Mouth Full of Spiders

There is nothing like a spider to get me moving and make me look like a crazy woman spinning out of control. I know they have a purpose in this world but I want nothing to do with them. I've had a few undesirable run-ins with those horrible hairy creatures over the years and would prefer they keep their distance.

 I once had one flicked at me by someone who thought they were being funny only to discover minutes later that it went right into my mouth! Spiders taste horrible by the way. I also had one run from the front of my bathrobe straight into my mouth! I felt the hair of his creepy little legs on my tongue and I quickly spit him across the room. I breathed one up my nose when I was at work and he bit me that was embarrassing to say the least. My nose and eyes watered so much that my mascara made me look like someone from an eighties Goth band. I have done the “spider web dance” a number of times. You know, screaming, twirling, arms flailing till you think it’s all gone only to find the spider in your hair minutes later. It’s just embarrassing.

Spiders are like those annoying trials that come into our lives. We are just living life, minding our own business and –Bam- suddenly we've walked into a web of troubles.

We all endure temptations and trials. There are no lucky ones that get to live life carefree or without struggles. Even Jesus had troubles but knew his Father was with him.

John 16:33 says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

 Thankfully, we can have peace even in the midst of great trials. We can rest and be assured that God will not let you be tempted too much and promises a way to escape. Sometimes things don’t happen the way we want them to. The situation may feel all consuming but God is faithful and loving and he always provides a way of escape.

1 Corinthians 10:13 says,  “You are tempted in the same way that everyone else is tempted. But God can be trusted not to let you be tempted too much, and He will show you how to escape from your temptations.”

You are never too lost to get back on track.

Walking in the right direction

      Distractions are just a part of life, keeping focused on the right path is not always as easy as it seems.

The first time my son borrowed my car he had his whole trip planned out except the directions. When he went to his dad for those directions I knew it was not going to end well. My husband is a very detailed person, Doug is not. I watched as half way through the conversation, Doug’s eyes glazed over and the distant look of a coma fell on his face.

Doug and I share the same outlook on life; it’s called KISS or Keep It Simple Silly. I once asked my husband for directions to a nearby city and his reply started with, “Have you ever noticed the plume of smoke in the north westerly direction?” I had to stop him in mid-sentence, “Wait, who do you think I am, Geronimo?” I asked. I’m not even sure which way North West is and he wants me to notice a plume of smoke? Who talks like that anyway?

 Doug left the house scratching his head and about an hour and a half later we got the phone call, he was lost. Not only was he lost but he was in an entirely different state. I took over the phone and told him to turn on the GPS. You can’t get any simpler than that. Later I asked him why he didn’t use the GPS in the first place and he said he turned it off because he didn’t think he needed it. 

 It is so easy in life to get off track and get out of God’s will. God has given us His own GPS, it is His word, and it’s simple and straight forward.

Psalm 119:105 and 133 says, “Direct my footsteps according to your word, let no sin rule over me.” And “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

I thank God for his love, mercy and grace. He is always there to get me back on track. I later asked my son where he thought he went wrong, he said it was when he stopped listening to the instructions and turned off the GPS. Hmmm, that is a great lesson to remember.

 Proverbs 16:3, 9

  Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.

 

A little bit of spit.

Just don’t touch

Have you ever felt like you just can’t stay out of trouble? Do you ever feel like no matter how hard you try to do right, somehow you always end up in failure?

   1 Thessalonians 5:22 says:

Avoid every kind of evil.

That’s not always easy to do in this crazy mixed up, whirlwind of a world that we live in.

 My best friend and I took a trip to the beach one summer. We decided to go through the local museum of weird facts. We had just started walking through when we came to the display of “The Queen’s Jewels.” It was a table made of mirrors with some overhead lighting that made it look like shimmering diamonds.  We both could clearly see that something was not right, but instead of just walking on, my friend ran her fingers across the top of the mirror, asking at the same time, “what’s that?” We soon discovered someone had spit in the middle of that mirror. We were mortified! Immediately we were running for the bathroom gagging and screaming the whole way.  Sadly this is not the first time my friend has gotten into trouble because curiosity got the best of her. She also got the surprise of her life when she touched the strange little puddle of yuck in a frying pan at the store, same run, same gag reflex. I tease her by asking why she has to touch everything; you would think she would have it figured out after the first time.

Even Paul confesses in Romans 7:15 “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”

Paul knew that no matter how hard we try; sometimes we end up doing what we hate. Thank God there is hope and we are made righteous through faith and the blood of Jesus and not by our actions.

Romans 3:22-24 says, “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

Sometimes we mess up, sometimes we make mistakes and we stick our fingers where they don’t belong only to find spit in the middle of the mirrors! We all do it, God is not surprised and his love never changes toward us.

As we grow we don’t make the same mistakes too often, but when we do just remember there is nothing that separates us from his love and we are more than conquerors through him. (Romans 8:35-39)

My BFF and partner in crime. Ethel and Lucy, Lavern and Shirley all rolled up together.

As far as the east is from the west

If I Had a Hammer

Have you ever done something you were ashamed of? Something you wish you could forget or never did in the first place? Well, congratulations, you are a part of the world wide club of “Everyone That Ever Existed.” Of course knowing this doesn't make me feel any better, I would prefer to be the one who handles every situation with grace and perfection.

    One of the strongest weapons the enemy uses against us is guilt and condemnation. This relentless duo keeps us feeling ashamed and defeated, resulting in a failure to recognize God’s grace, love and forgiveness.

   The devil knows exactly what buttons to push; he is the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10). All he has to do is drop one single thought in my head or bring up a memory I have worked very hard to get rid of and -Bam! - I have become my own worst enemy. I guess you could say I am my own personal bully.

    I have a friend who explains it like this, “The Devil has a hammer and he beats us over the head with it, but we come along and take that hammer from him and beat our self over the head doing a much better job than he did in the first place.”

   I have to remember that God loves me and is not shocked by what I do; He knew exactly what He was getting when he sent His Son to die for my salvation.

   Memorizing scripture and putting it into practice has become one of my most successful defenses. Revelation 12:10 and 11 tells us the accuser of the brethren has been cast down and we over come him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.

     Realizing the devil is a liar and refusing to help him in our own destruction gives us hope and courage. We need to realize how precious and cherished we are to our Heavenly Father.

     We can choose to move on, leaving past sins where they belong, forgiven and in the past. When you find that hammer in your hand remind yourself that there is nothing that the blood of Jesus has not already washed away and you are forgiven.

Psalm 103:12

  As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

2 Corinthians 5:17

  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old has gone, the new has come!

I am wonder woman

I am Wonder Woman

Proverbs 31:10-31

  Have you ever wished you were more like the proverbs 31 woman?  She is, “the good woman that is so very hard to find.”, “the one whose husband trusts her without reserve and never has reason to regret.” She gets up early, sews the clothes, plants a garden, keeps her house neat and tidy, cooks the meals, shops for bargains, raises productive children, all while dressing beautifully and speaking wise, kind and worthwhile words.

  Sometimes the only part of this scripture I feel like I can relate with is “charm is misleading and beauty soon fades”. I’m not a morning person; I know my husband has had a few regrets and my children have not always been on their best behavior. The first time my oldest put her hands on her little four year old hips and used expletives with attitude was at a ladies Bible study, try graciously getting out of that one.

  I can also talk too much and to everyone. I cook like an amateur, sew like a five year old, I’m not very organized, I’ve never bought a field, and I've never  looked forward to hard work. I am actually quite brilliant at finding ways to avoid it.

There are things I can do though. I can pray for my family and kiss away a hurt; I can read a child’s mind by looking at the expression on their face.  I can distinguish a cry, I know quiet is not always as good as it sounds. I help mold attitudes, develop friendships and care for the broken hearted. I can squish a bug like the best of them and I have taught my husband to like burnt toast, pick up his dirty clothes and put the toilet seat down. I pretty much know where everything is and I have a super-sonic sense of smell. I am great at multitasking and yes, I have eyes in the back of my head!  

  Sometimes we get so busy trying to do our best at so many things that we don’t do anything well.  I believe the most important part of this scripture is “but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.”

We must trust Him to work things out, and just submit ourselves to his purpose. I believe that we can use these passages as a guideline for our lives, not to bring condemnation but to help us reach excellence in our daily walk as women.

  Philippians 4: 4-8, 13 says this, “Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all .The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praise worthy- think on these things.”

 Don't give up, be encouraged and always remember, vs. 13, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”

  Draw your strength from Jesus, he's got your back and your future.

I need a pair of pajamas with this on them.

help in the nic of time

Flying Cardboard

.

    As my friend and I drove down the freeway one afternoon we noticed a truck in front of us. The driver had his arm sticking out the back window of the cab and he was keeping a large piece of cardboard from flying out the bed of his pickup. We saw it at the same time and remarked at how difficult it would be to keep the flopping piece of cardboard in that truck bed. No sooner had we commented on this when the wind caught the cardboard and sent it flying in the air! We both screamed as we saw it coming directly at us, it was like a great brown butterfly gracefully floating  in slow motion then it came straight at us and suctioned itself squarely on the windshield of our car.

   We could see nothing in front of us as we were going sixty miles an hour in the center lane of a major freeway, it was horrifying! Immediately I thought we were going to die. As my friend slowed a little I stuck my head out the window and slowly guided her to the side of the road, of course we were screaming the whole time, it was real female pandemonium. Once we were safely stopped the cardboard simply slid off the windshield and lay flat on the ground.

   Sometimes life is like this, we can be traveling down the road just fine, minding our own business and then we are hit by the unexpected.

    Seeking God’s help when I am in trouble is sadly not always my first reaction. I am thankful that no matter how I feel, God is my salvation and my stronghold; He will see me through every situation and preserve my life. We can all be sure that even in the midst of trouble we can still come out on top because He is right there with us to see us through to the other side.

    Psalm 138:7

   Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me.

Since I don't have any photos of the actual event I thought I would down load a few photos just to give you an idea of how we reacted.

seeing the cardboard butterfly drifting toward us.

Carolyn's reaction, she was the driver.

what I looked like to the other drivers who noticed me with my head sticking out of the window.

When we both realized how close to "death by cardboard butterfly" we actually were.

help me notice people

Jesus saw the people

    While wandering around the local chain store with my four year old grandson, we both spotted a certain lady at the same time. I cringed because I knew what was about to happen, you see she was completely bald. When you are an adult you learn to look quickly and then discreetly go on your way, but when it comes to a curious four year old, everyone gets to hear what they are thinking.

   “Look at that bald lady grandma, why would she do that to her hair?” he asked loudly.

I was sure everyone in the store heard him and the heat of embarrassment rose from my neck to my face in an instant. She looked directly at me and started walking my way, I wanted to shrink like a mouse and run for cover. She turned to Connor and explained that her sister was sick and lost all her hair so she shaved her head to make her sister feel better. I was touched by this lady I and asked if we could pray for her and her sister, she looked at me with caution at first then said yes. When we parted ways I felt so blessed inside and was glad that I could be an example of love for my curious grandson. 

 Mark 2:13-15

   Then Jesus went again to walk along the lake. Again a crowd came to him, and he taught them. Strolling along, he saw Levi, son of Alpheus, at his work collecting taxes. Jesus said, “Come along with me.” He came.

 Later Jesus and his disciples were at home having dinner with a collection of disreputable guests. Unlikely as it seems, more than a few of them had become followers.

   When I first read these verses my thoughts immediately went to Matthew. What was he thinking at the time? Was he hoping Jesus would notice him or did he want to blend in? He was probably used to being shunned, given his choice of occupation, so I wonder if he was shocked when Jesus invited him to come along with him.   Matthew didn't hesitate, Mark simply says, “he came.” I believe that Jesus’ reputation of love and care preceded him. Matthew didn’t need a healing or a miracle, he needed a friend. Matthew needed someone that would accept him and love him right where he was. His job earned him the reputation of riffraff by the religious leaders of the time but he was much more to Jesus.   

   Jesus saw Matthew; he invited him to be a part of his life, to be a friend and part of his family.

    Jesus is all about people, He loves them. He doesn't care if we're fat or skinny. He doesn't slink with embarrassment if we are too loud or have bad manners. It doesn't matter what our financial status is or our choice of occupation, Jesus died for us all and loves every one unconditionally.

Sometimes a simple hello, or how are you, works wonders. It’s so easy to let the business of the day or maybe even the fears of rejection keep us from ministering to others. Don’t worry about what people may say, just reach out to those around you and prepare to be blessed yourself.

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My little paleontologist with his fossilized bone

love is patient, even when traveling with small children.

                                                               

                                                            Wrong way  

Years ago I went on a trip out of state with my brother. We were going to visit family and this was our first official trip together. We packed his van loaded up his two kids, hooked up the travel trailer and we were off. Little did I know the trip was doomed from the beginning.  It was a fourteen hour drive full of “are we there yet?” children arguing and lots of stops for tiny bladders and hungry tummies. When we finally arrived there were fourteen of us staying in a two bedroom mobile home. It’s all a bit blurry now but I still shudder at the memory.

After an unrestful and drama filled week of visiting we packed up and left for home. We stopped at a diner on the way and it was another hour of spilled drinks, whiney kids and tired conversation. Before we left we all decided to go to the restroom. My nephew, who was about six years old at the time, came out of the bathroom at the same time I did. I reached up, patted him on the head and to my surprise his head was wet! I asked him why his head was wet and he said he accidentally peed on his head. I was flabbergasted! I just stood there looking at my hand and then his head and wondered how that was even possible! 

 After a quick head wash we started off down the road again. It was my turn to drive so I entered the freeway ramp and a funny thing happened, I saw headlights coming at me. To my horror I realized I had entered the off ramp and I was going down the freeway the wrong way! Paralyzed with fear I just stopped in the middle of the off ramp and slunk down in my seat, I was sure we were going to die.

 In the middle of it all my brother calmly told me to switch seats and he would get us turned around.  This is one of my most embarrassing life moments. I know if my attitude had been better I would have probably seen all the blaring WRONG WAY signs. We finally made it home and to my brother’s credit he has never brought that topic up again, maybe I scared him. 

Ecclesiastes 7:8, 9

The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

I love the way the message Bible puts it in verse 8, “Don’t be quick to fly off the handle, anger boomerangs. You can spot a fool by the lumps on his head.

Looking back I sure wish  that I had just been patient and enjoyed the ride. In life there will always be the unplanned and unpleasant but the way we look at it and respond makes all the difference in the world. Whether you are at the beginning or at the end of something ask God to help you see the good and enjoy the ride. Save your self from those embarrassing lumps that come from foolish anger, your life and others will be  much happier for it.

All grown up and I love them to pieces.

God can handle it...

                                                       CASTING CARES

      How many times have I heard these verses? How many times have I recited them to friends and family only to fall back into the same old trap of doubt and unbelief? My area of greatest challenge is trusting God with my family. I have lost a lot of sleep over my children, much more than money or any other crisis that comes my way.

     It’s not that my kids are any trouble. On the contrary, I truly enjoy them and we are all very close, but growing up in a family where worry was just a part of the daily routine, I struggle to trust God completely.

1 Peter 5:7

Cast all your anxiety on Him for He cares for you.

      To cast means to “Throw upon”, it indicates an extended projection, not to drop but to fling. We must fling our cares on the Lord, not just drop them at arm’s length making them easy to pick up again. This is what I usually do.

      Psalm 112 puts it perfectly, “Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in His commands. His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man. Good will comes to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast trusting in the Lord. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.”

     I am constantly reminding myself that God is perfectly able to care for me and my family no matter what comes our way. I have often told my husband that if God was able to get me this far he is certainly able to take care of all of us. Lord knows I kept Him busy in my younger years, I’m the girl who bought the white bikini because it would be see through when wet (shameful, I know) and used to tell my mom we spilled pepper on the stove burner when she smelled strange smoke emanating through the house. (In case you are wondering, I have confessed this to my children and they aren't shocked about anything I tell them anymore) 

   We know that trials do come, sometimes hardships seem inevitable, but we do not have to fear them. Nothing shocks or surprises God, he can handle it all. So fling (far from you) those cares and worries on the one who is totally capable of caring for you, that is your heavenly Father.

 

Feeling the love

A Father to the Fatherless

    Growing up in a broken home was anything but easy. Sometimes we went without the basics like food, clean clothes or a bed to call our own. Sometimes we lived in our car and even once stayed in a church. I used to envy other families that had both parents at home.

    I first met my real dad when I was twelve. Getting to know him was a bit of a challenge, we were so different. One thing I remember most about my dad was when he put me on the bus to send me home after the first summer I stayed with him, I couldn't wait to get out of there. I looked out the bus window and he was crying. Right then I knew he cared for me and I decided that I would work on this relationship.

   It was difficult from the beginning; he was born in the south and i was raised in California. Half the time I had no idea what he was saying and his choice of “country food and ways” were not what I was accustom to. My first visit to North Carolina (which is my birthplace) was like entering another world. We had a “pig picking” in my honor, it’s a big family barbeque and you roast a whole pig. The night before everyone arrived I woke in the middle of the night to use the restroom. Sitting there in my sleepy state I was suddenly startled wide awake staring at a whole pig, head and all, covered in ice, laying in the bathtub next to me.

   We have spent many happy years just getting to know each other. We don’t always agree on a lot of things but we are ok with that, we choose just to love and enjoy each other.

   It wasn't until I was older that I came to realize every family is dysfunctional to some degree. Some of us never meet our fathers and some of us wish we never knew them. Life isn't perfect, but we have a perfect heavenly father who loves us with the true “unconditional love” that we all desire. He wants his children to succeed more than anyone else and is the proudest dad that ever existed.

       

Psalm 68:4, 5

   Sing to God, sing praise to His name, extol Him who rides on the clouds – His name is the Lord – and rejoice before Him. 

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. (NIV)

The Message Bible says it like this, “Father of orphans, champion of widows, is God in his holy house. God makes homes for the homeless, leads prisoners to freedom, but leaves rebels to rot in hell.”

 

This is the most recent photo and one of my favorites

 

My dad was a prison guard for years, he was highly respected.

 

I just love this photo.

This is my dad naturally, loved by little old southern grandmas everywhere. (he doesn't smoke anymore)