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.

Add caption

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.