FREE Valentine's Printable Scripture Pack - Today and Tomorrow Only

A few years ago I read a wonderful idea on Karen Ehman's blog.  She said that every year her family worked to memorize 1 Corinthians 13 together, as a family.  I loved that idea, and we've been doing it every since.

But this year I didn't want to make a big poster.  I wanted something simpler, something that I could grab time after time.  Something small enough to print and hang by the bathroom mirror, to keep on the kitchen table, or to hang up in our school room.

So I've created a simple printable pack featuring 1 Corinthians 13:4-6. The package contains several pages - one to print and use as a study guide, as a discussion starter, or as a memorization too, and another with spaces.  What do you do with them?  Watch for when someone you know demonstrates those traits of love as detailed in 'The Love Chapter' and write in their name.  See if you can spot people loving all month long!

I've uploaded these printables to my Teachers Pay Teachers store.  They're FREE today and tomorrow only - so go check them out!  

**If you print and use these, I'd love to know what you think!

Could Prophecy Change Your Parenting Style?

 
Every year we watch The Nativity Story on December 23rd, and this year was no exception.  This time, the scene on the beach, where Joseph and Mary talk about how they'll parent baby Jesus after his birth struck me.  

In the movie, Joseph asks Mary, "Will I be able to teach Him anything?"  Mary looks back as if she doesn't really know, and it made me think about what a big task was ahead of them.  About how much they really didn't know about the coming baby - and about how much they did.  They knew he would survive birth - which was always a question in those days.  They knew that He would be special.  That God would take care of Him.  That while He would be different, He would garner attention at some point in His life, but that it would be okay.  He was destined to become the King of Kings, after all.

All of this pondering brought me back to Joseph's question.  Will we be able to teach them anything?  We're not raising the Savior of the world, but ... what if we are raising someone unusually special?  What if we are teaching the next Billy Graham or Michael W. Smith or Darlene Schech?  What if our child is to be the mother of the next Kirk Cameron?  

Would we parent differently?

Just as the movie Joseph didn't know in what way Jesus' special beginnings would manifest itself, we don't know how God plans to use our children - but He does.  Whether they become famous authors or teachers or diligently teach the next generation all about God's faithfulness, He will use them.  Every single one.

Does that type of prophecy - or lack thereof - change your parenting style?

It has made me determined to live this year more intentionally than ever.  To be sure to be reading and studying, both on my own and with my children.  To be praying for them and with them.  To dream big dreams and pray big prayers - not that they would become rich or famous or have easy, comfortable lives, but that they would be strong and courageous and honest and useful to their God.  

Those prayers are scary to me.  God doesn't think the way that we do, and He's willing to push past all of our boundaries to accomplish His purposes.

But really, would I want my kids living anywhere other than in the center of God's will, scary or not?

No.

So I'll continue to dream those dreams and pray those prayers and teach them the best way that I can.

How will you be parenting in 2014?

A Step Ahead of the Game

Recently I spent one evening fighting a horrid headache. 

My husband got the kids bathed and in their PJs, but unusually, we were a bit ahead of schedule and they had some extra time.  They eagerly disappeared into their rooms and were quiet for a bit.  That usually spells trouble, right?  I was aware of this but figured we'd cross that bridge when we came to it.  My head was really hurting.

Soon they came bounding back out, chattering excitedly about their new Bible study.  They told us that they were studying together.  They shared all about how they'd read a Bible story out of their Spark Story Bible, then looked it up in their 'real' Spark Bible and read that version.

I learned yesterday that they're reading a daily devotional, too.

We read scripture every morning at breakfast.  Since we're studying ancient Egypt right now, we're slowly working our way through the stories of Joseph and Moses, learning about how God provided for the Israelites.

My Big Helper has been reading her Bible on her own for just under a year.  She has a notebook and stickers and she occasionally brings up in conversation what she has learned that morning.

But this is the first time that they've shown collective interest in studying the Bible.  In doing more than just reading Bible stories or looking up what the Bible has to say about a certain issue.

Now they want their own ongoing study of God's word.  They're leading themselves, seeking out a relationship with Him, and taking steps to make it happen.  I haven't asked them to start a Bible study, or encouraged them to read devotionals on their own, or anything like that.

But they are.  And they're 6 and 8.

Don't get me wrong - I'm happy that I have creative, earnest kids.  I love that God has built those traits into them.

But He's keeping me on my toes, too.  As parents we must be diligent to pray, to ask for wisdom, to know how to guide and direct our children.  I think of Deuteronomy 6 often and try to keep that in front of me.

But I think there's more to it than that.  My Big Helper wants to know what the Ark of the Covenant looked like and what the Bible prophecies are that speak about Jesus' return.  Those aren't things that can be answered casually.  Those things take research and study and preparation.  She's 8 years old and she's asking - and I want to be prepared to help her find the answers she's looking for.

So I need to stay a step ahead.  I need to be diligent in my own study time and quiet time, to deepen my own relationship with God - both to know how to parent such deep-thinking short people and to become the woman that He wants me to be.

Or maybe this is where I don't stay a step ahead.  Maybe we're already at the place where, while continuing to guide and direct them, I teach them how to do these things on their own. Maybe this is where we begin to step to our own pace.  Maybe this is where we talk, over time and as they're ready, about ways to study the Bible, about safe places to do research, about how to recognize them when they see them.

I didn't think we'd really hit this place until they were much older.  I thought that we'd continue to read through the Bible together, talking about what it means, and they love that - but they seem to want more.

So while I'm happily surprised, I'm digging in, too - because this Mommy needs to keep on steppin'.

For more GratiTuesday, visit Heavenly Homemakers.

Working in Secret

For years we've been sharing the treats and goodies that we make with others, partly so that we don't indulge in all of that sugary goodness by ourselves, and partly in the hopes of blessing those around us.


Our children soon learned, however, that taking a beautiful platter of yumminess to someone meant that they would be fawned over; they would be asked if they helped to make it, and if they nodded, given hugs and praise.


While rewarding hard work is important and accepting thanks graciously is polite, we didn't want to teach them that the reason for sharing was to receive something in return.That's when this Bible verse popped into my head:

 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.  Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.  ~ Matthew 6:3-4

I must admit, the second part of verse 4 doesn't concern me too much - I'm not looking for a reward, just to teach the kids properly, but the thought of doing good in secret intrigued me, and I thought it might them, too.


So the next time we baked something, we wrapped up portions in plastic wrap, tied it with pretty ribbon, and talked about the above passage.  Then, with children giggling, holding a flashlight, we tiptoed out into the night.  


They held hands and laughed and shushed each other as we snuck up to a neighbor's house.  Knowing they go to bed early and their lights were already out, we placed their treats in the mailbox and raised the flag, sure they would find it on the way to the gym early the next morning.


Another neighbor works late, so we left her package on a table in the carport.  With bright pink ribbons, her headlights were sure to illuminate it upon her return.


Sometimes someone asks me if we were the ones who left the treats the night before, but for the most part, it isn't talked about, and the kids no longer care.  They are too excited about doing something good for Jesus in secret.


As they get older, we're beginning to expand our reach.  We've left holiday treats on porches far outside of our neighborhood now, and as the kids notice other needs, we try to address them.  


Today, in preparation for a trip to a city with lots of homeless people on street corners, we're making "Blessing Bags."  We're putting granola bars, sample sizes of tissues, shampoo, lotion, and chapstick in Ziploc bags, as well as small gift cards to places like McDonald's.  The kids have been very concerned about these people in the past and we've shared whatever food we had on hand, so we're excited about having these bags in the car and ready to share when the need arises.


How do you seek to bless others away from home?

Traits of a Good Mentor

Today I'm guest posting over at Titus 2 Moments, where each Wednesday Lauren features a woman who lives out Titus 2 and shows others the impact that we women have on each other.  If you'd like to learn more about my mentor and what our relationship looks like, visit Wednesday's Woman at Titus 2 Moments!

I've had different mentors at different stages of my life for different things - a mentor when I went through my confirmation class, a mentor/overseer as a new teacher - but the role of a Christian woman mentor is different from all of those.  It doesn't have to be as narrow or specific, although it can be, but a really great mentor is someone who shines in lots of different areas.  


If you're just beginning to pray for a mentor (and don't forget that important step!), then here are some things to consider:

• Your mentor must be of the same gender.  This may seem silly, but the Bible is clear on that - and while you may need some cooking help and know a great male chef, men just have a different perspective than we do.  
• A good mentor knows how to keep a confidence.  You can't trust somebody who slams on other people, and you don't want your private struggles shared with everyone on Facebook.  Be sure that the woman you choose to trust knows the difference between 'public' and 'private' information.
• Old vs. wise?  A good mentor doesn't have to come with blue hair and Depression-era experience - though she might; but a good mentor must be someone who is further along in her journey than you.  If you're struggling with your teenager and need a sounding board, a mother of toddlers will not have the wisdom gained through experience that you need.  Same goes with marital advice or household organization.  Find someone who has practiced the skill or information you want to learn more about - that woman might have information you can use.
• Having a mentor does not have to feel like school.  You don't have to meet twice weekly for lessons; in fact, my mentor didn't even realize that I considered her in this position until I was asked to write this post.  Your mentoring relationship can look like a really great friendship as you do life together naturally.  Of course, if you find yourself struggling with something out of the ordinary, you might prefer something more formal.  Like any other relationship, a mentoring one can change as your life changes, so you may have different needs at different times.
• This may be one of the most important criteria of all:  Your mentor should not be a member of your family.  Yes, if you want to learn how to make a fabulous pie crust, ask Grandma; but if your need for mentorship goes deeper than that, find someone outside of your family circle for those discussions.  If, for example, you are experiencing a time of "intense fellowship" with your spouse and want to discuss this issue with someone else, you will (probably) get the topic off your chest, work it out with your spouse, and forget all about it - but your mother might not forgive the man who hurt her baby quite so quickly.  

God always knows what we need before we do, but He listens to our prayers whether they are specific or general; so why not ask specifically for the type of mentor you'd like? Let Him amaze you with the perfect match for you!


PS - Today is the last day to enter to win a copy of My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Software and a $10 gift certificate for their online store - a $50 value!  

Bible Brainstorms: Joseph of Arimathea

Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body.  ~John 19:38

I've always thought that Joseph of Arimathea did something good.  After all, he overcame his fear of the Jewish leaders and generously took care of Jesus' body after death.  He even laid him in his own personal tomb!

But this morning I read this a bit differently.  What if he wasn't trying to take off his mask and finally reveal himself for who he was - what if he hadn't overcome his fear of the consequences - but had given up on Jesus?

What if Joseph decided that it didn't matter anymore what the leaders thought because Jesus was dead and so He really wasn't the Messiah anyway?  What if he just decided to be nice to a man so gruesomely murdered?

Either way, I guess he did do something good.  He still generously cared for an earthly body that needed a place to rest.

I don't think we can ever really be sure, this side of heaven, which it is.  (Though if there's a Bible scholar out there who knows, please share.)

But Joseph's actions make me question mine.  Joseph had a heart condition - he allowed fear of earthly consequences and the opinions of people to rule over his love for Jesus.

Jesus was right there - in his town, in his church, walking his streets - and he didn't acknowledge Him, didn't help Him, didn't sit at His feet and learn.

As a member of the high council, Joseph could have answered questions.  He must have been respected.  He had much to lose, but many to help - to show the way.

Joseph was too afraid to let his true heart be known.

Will I live that way?


Will I let fear of consequences, fear of rejection, fear of public opinion, change my actions, my responses, my ability to share God's love with those around me?

Can people look at me and know that I believe, that my heart is not my own?

Will I be known for my fear or my faith?  


How can I live that out today?

A Good Samaritan

 "Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins,^[e] telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’"  ~ Luke 10:34-35

Most of us know the story of the Good Samaritan, don't we?  About how a Jewish man was robbed and beaten and left for dead along the side of the road, and even priests couldn't be bothered to help him.  Finally a Samaritan man, a man of another race, a race that historically couldn't get along with the Jews, stopped and helped - at great personal time and expense.  Great neighbor - great example, right?

I recently heard a story of another man.  A man who sliced into his fingers while working at one of those national home improvement stores.  This man knew immediately that something was wrong, and looking down, he saw his own bones.  He bent his fingers and gripped them tight, but nothing was stopping the blood from flowing, for he had severed an artery.

Before long blood was all over the aisle where the accident happened.

I'm thinking that even tiny cuts, when to the bone, when one's arteries are sliced open, make big messes.

Someone had to realize that something was seriously wrong - that this was not a paper-cut type of injury.

Yet, although the store manager was aware of the injury, the man bent over, trying to wipe his own blood off the floor.

Nobody stopped him.


Finally a friend shooed him away, and the store manager asked what he was going to do.

The man replied that he was going to hospital.


Shouldn't this have been obvious?  Shouldn't the blood sprayed around the store been a clue that emergency treatment was necessary?


The manager agreed that a hospital visit was a good choice - and waved goodbye as the man left the store to drive himself to the emergency room - severed artery, two sliced fingers, exposed bones and all.

Couldn't anyone have been spared for ten minutes to drive him there?  Aren't people more important than nail guns and drywall?


We humans have gotten increasingly busy over the centuries - and with our busyness comes an inflated sense of self-importance.  Really, is that e-mail that important?  Will the next sale make or break the world as we know it?  Is our stuff more important than the people around us?

Jesus asks us to disrupt our day.  He wants us to love our neighbors, and they won't always fit conveniently on our schedule.  Sometimes they're messy and needy and irritating - but Jesus doesn't ask us to love only the pretty neighbors, the neighbors with altogether lives, the ones who smell great and make a mean cookie.  He holds up the Good Samaritan and the beaten Jew as an example - two men whose races were worse than the Hatfields and McCoys.

In the end, following Jesus is always more important than whatever thing we have on our earthly agendas.   Only by setting aside our plans and picking up His can we truly follow Him.

“Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.
  The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”
   Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”  ~ Luke 10:36-37

Jesus, please disrupt my plans today and show me Yours.  Open my eyes to the people in need around me.  Amen.


Who could you reach out to today?

Are You Ready?

Yesterday our house shook twice with a 5.8 magnitude earthquake centered just a few hours away in central Virginia.  As the walls buzzed and everything shook, I first thought it was nothing more than Life Flight hovering overhead as they sometimes do.  When it began again, I was afraid that something was exploding in the basement.

Soon my husband called and told me the truth - that there really was a major earthquake causing our entire town to shake.   Having grown up in the Mid-Atlantic region and now living in the Piedmont area of North Carolina, that never occurred to me.  We have storms ....

thunderstorms.

hail storms.

hurricanes.

the occasional snowstorm.

doozy ice storms.

even tornadoes sometimes.

But earthquakes?  Never.  Never felt one.   Never even heard of one happening here.  It didn't take long for the earthquake to be the talk of FB in our area.  Everybody was talking about it, and nobody had recognized it for what it was.  Everybody else also thought that their washing machine was unbalanced, an airplane was too low, or that a large truck was nearby - but nobody recognized the quake for what it was.

Why?

We weren't expecting it.  We don't experience them.  We don't have them.  Go head, West Coast, make fun of us:  it's okay.  I'm sure we deserve it.  We're that innocent because we are uninformed and unexperienced.  We weren't watching for an earthquake, we didn't expect one, so we didn't know it when it came.

Then I saw a comment on FB that made me think.  A friend said, "I went outside and looked at the sky because I thought that maybe Jesus was coming back."

He didn't come the other day during the quake, but one of these days He will.  Will we recognize Him? Do we know Him?  Are we expecting Him?  Are we prepared and ready to take action when He returns?

The entire eastern seaboard, it seems, is currently gearing up for Irene.  Everyone's getting ready.  They know how to prepare and they're doing it.  They are hurricane experts and they're taking action.

Some of us are Jesus experts.  We may not have all the answers, but we know how to get ready.  Are we doing it?  Are we sharing our knowledge and helping others get ready, too?

If we know Jesus now; if we read our Bibles and become acquainted with God and His character; if we spend time in prayer and time listening in return; if we strengthen ourselves with service and friendships with other believers; and most importantly, if we do the soul-searching required to recognize that we are all sinners in need of Jesus' saving grace, ....

then we will recognize Him when He comes back.  We will know what's happening.  We will be the informed ones, the ones in the know, the ones who are no longer confused.  We'll have a direct line to the Source.

It's all in what - and Who - you know.

Sticky Situations

Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.   ~Ephesians 4:29

When my husband and I got married, we determined to say only positive things about each other to other people.  My husband is naturally good at this - I had to work on it a bit.

While I love him very much, at first I found it too easy to be caught up in someone else's complaint.  Anything said in sympathy, even if not meant to be negative, sounded negative.  I've had to work at these types of conversation - and still do.

What keeps coming to my attention, though, is interrupted stories.  I like stories.  My friends like stories.  Even with family, we tell stories - but we get interrupted.  Then a story that began with how I wanted things one way but he had a different idea - and his idea turned out to be so much better - ends up sounding as if I'm irritated and we fought.  Completely not the case.

I never seem to notice how awful these things sound until later.  I don't intend for it to be this way; my goal is to show what a good planner and smart man he is, but I'm afraid that it doesn't come out that way.

So, for now, I have a new goal:  no more my-husband-is-so-smart stories.  I just don't seem to tell them very well.

Instead, I'm concentrating on straight-up compliments.  Not a strong suit of mine, especially to or about adults, but my husband thrives on them.  They are totally his love language.


So, to start us out on the right foot, here are a few:

My husband is very strong!  (I couldn't resist!  :-)  )

He happily indulged my desire for pictures of Creation on our Creeper Trail ride and explored this area of the river with me.  He even pointed it out.

I love his adventurous, daring spirit!

He protected me from the snake - and then watched out for more the rest of the day.

He's very generous.  He took me out to a restaurant I've been wanting to try, sat outside in the heat with me to watch the Bulls' play, and even bought an appetizer - my favorite part of a meal!

Need I say more??  ;-)

Is anybody with me?  Anybody else determined, not only to avoid negative words about your husbands, but to avoid potentially sticky situations;  ready to commit flat-out to all positive, encouraging statements ONLY, whether to your husband, your friends, in his earshot or out of it?

If we want our men to lead us as a family, we must let them know that they have our full support, love, and respect.  I want to commit to that fully. 


Are you with me?

Courageous: What We Can Do

As you may know, I finished reading Courageous last week.

I can't get it out of my head.

We all have moments ... days ... weeks when we get busy and we don't put our best effort into things.  Sometimes that even includes our families.   It takes time and effort to be intentional with them, because too often we rationalize that we can spend time with them tomorrow - only we are never guaranteed tomorrow.

We only have now.  Today.  This minute.  God doesn't promise us any more than that on this planet.  That was brought home to Adam in Courageous in a very big way.

As parents, we are given a big task for our time here, and it doesn't involve the time spent at the office or how long we can stay on the treadmill, although both of those are important.  God wants us purposely investing our time somewhere else.  Deuteronomy 6 says:

⁴ “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.^[a] 5 And you must love the Lordyour God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. ⁶ And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. ⁷ Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. ⁸ Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. ⁹ Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

So what does all of that mean?

• ⁴ “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. ^[a] 5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.  Put God first. Make time for Him daily.  Recognize Him as Lord of your life and willingly give Him that spot.
• ⁶ And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Be committed.  Know what is important and stick with it.  Choose wisely how you spend your time - don't do anything half-heartedly.
• ⁷ Repeat them again and again to your children. You will never be finished speaking of God to your children.   Your relationship with God should be one that you can never contain - that you must talk about - that is such a part of you that it shows to those around you.  This is too important for them to miss, so you must tell them over and over to be sure that they know and understand what God's presence in your life means to you.
• Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when are getting up.   Teaching your children should be a regular part of your life - not something that you 'add on' to your day but something that is as much a part of your daily life as breathing.  Point out His blessings while moving regularly throughout your day.  When you are at home and away, first thing in the morning and the last thing before closing your eyes at night, make prayer and thanksgiving a priority in your home.
• ⁸ Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. ⁹ Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.  These commands were literal back in the Old Testament, but while we no longer do this, we can identify with them in spirit.  Would someone walking through your home know that Jesus is important to you?  What kind of entertainment options and decorations do you have displayed - things that honor God or those that defy Him?  Are there tenets of your faith visible to your children and guests - a cross, a Bible, a memory verse?  We don't need to be modern-day Pharisees, but we can humbly show in Whom we place our trust.

I want to be intentional with the time I have with my family.  It goes by much too quickly to waste it.  

With that in mind, I'd like to make a kind of family mission statement - a written statement hung decoratively where we can see it from the door to remind us of our priorities and what we believe, much like Adam displayed his resolution in Courageous.  

As they grow older, I'd like for our children to be actively involved in learning about our mission statement and why we believe it.  I'd like to create it from scripture as a family and work to carry it out from there.  I think it will help to give us a more focused purpose in our everyday life.


Just as our family banner can be a rallying point, I can see this being an accountability tool for our family - a way for us to use God's standards when making decisions about our time and activities in daily life - not to replace scripture, but to help us learn it and put it to practical use.


What about you?  Does your family have a mission statement, a motto, something that distinctly bonds you together for God's purpose?  


The book was great, and now I'm even more excited about the movie.  It comes out September 30.  Until then, get a sneak peek here:

 

GratiTuesday - Rejoicing in Creation

Last week our kids went on their annual trip to my parents' house for the week.  This is the fourth year they've gone, and they look forward to it all year.  This year my husband took a week's vacation at the same time and we went on our own mini-vacation.  We traveled a few hours' north and took a ride on the Virginia Creeper Trail.  


The Virginia Creeper Trail is a former railroad track turned biking/hiking trail.  It's almost 34 miles long and winds through national forests and mountains.


During my morning quiet time just before heading out on my bike, I read something that really stood out to me:


Be glad; rejoice forever in My creation.  ~ Isaiah 65:18


My husband and I decided to make our 19 mile bike ride a scavenger hunt, looking for and photographing beauty in God's creation the whole way.  Here's just a bit of what we found:

What in His creation are you rejoicing about today?

For more GratiTuesday, visit Heavenly Homemakers!

A Bucket List - or Not?

A few years ago my husband took me to see The Bucket List in the theater.  The basic premise was that one man, diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, took off with a rich man and they finally did all of the things they had always wanted to do but never could.

It ended up being somewhat controversial, partly because of the way that the married man supposedly abandoned his family to have these experiences, but suddenly everyone started making a bucket list.

Something about this idea both pulls at and bothers me.

Making a bucket list makes me feel as if I need to control the experiences I have in my life.  As if what God gives me and has planned for me are not enough.  As if I'm not content with what I have.

For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.  ~ Romans 11:36

And that's not true. It's less true now than it has ever been.

I like where I am.  My life is very, very good.  God has blessed us strongly.  I have a wonderful husband and two healthy, happy children who are best friends with each other.  We have a roof over our heads that keeps us warm in the winter and (fairly) cool in the summertime.  We even have extras like a fireplace and a big, shady backyard.  Our cars both work and we have lots to eat and good friends nearby.  Best of all, with all of those things, is that I get to be home to care for my family.  I love this stage in my life.

Then a few weeks ago I joined this new website called Pinterest.  (If you're not a member, you can click on the red link to the right and get an invitation.)  It's basically an online file cabinet that lets you share your files with other people.  I joined (it's free) so that I could keep track of the projects and recipes and such that I see online that I want to tackle - but suddenly started seeing all of these wonderful things that other people are pinning, and a little part of me thought, "Oh, that looks beautiful! I want to go there/have that/do that/make that."

I suddenly felt less content with my simple, happy life.  The bucket list concept popped back into my head and wouldn't go away.

... give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18

So I've been thinking a lot about that over the past few weeks, and I think I've gotten rid of that greedy weed that was trying to take over my heart.

But I've decided that it's okay to dream a  little.  I've realized that it's not the specific thing that I was seeing in these pictures that I wanted, but the peace or the time or the quality experience with my family that they represent, and I don't think those things are wrong.

After all, isn't it part of my job to look for opportunities to draw my family closer together, both to each other and to God?

So I've decided to make up a simple bucket list.  I might get to do some of these things.  I might not. If I get hit by a bus tomorrow - as my dad used to say - I wouldn't regret not doing any of these things.  I'll just consider it icing if God does put them in my path.

And if He doesn't?  He must have something better.  That's okay, too.

I'll post some of my ideas soon ...

It's All About the Attitude

"... you have shown utter contempt for the Lord ..."  ~2 Samuel 11:13


I've always thought of David as a faithful man, full of praise for God.  After all, he wrote lots of the Psalms that we continue to read and study today!  I always thought he just 'fell into' sin and 'made a mistake.'


But did he?


Today I'm thinking about something new.  WHY wasn't David out on the battlefield?  Was he tired?  Did he think he deserved a rest?  Did he think he was above God's rules?  Did he no longer trust God to protect him?  Did he think he was better than the other soldiers and too good to risk?  Was he prideful?


Did that carry over to his encounter with Bathsheba?  Did he consider himself above the laws that the 'regular' people were to live by?


Did David have an attitude problem?


Throughout this story, we see him acting as if he were somehow above God's laws.  He stayed behind when his armies went to war (2 Samuel 11:1).  He committed adultery (2 Sam. 11:4).  Upon finding out that Bathsheba was pregnant, he manipulated others to cover up his sins (2 Sam. 11:6-13).  Something else struck me about that today - was he willing to give up his child just like that? ... but that's a whole 'nother tanget.  He manipulated others to the point of murder - several times over (2 Sam. 11:17).  

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.  ~ Col. 3:16-18

David's attitude shifted from one of thanksgiving and praise to one of pride.  He took his focus off God and put it on himself, and he slid off the path God prepared for him in the process.


Fortunately for us, the story doesn't end there.  David eventually confesses and is reassured of God's forgiveness.  My favorite part, though, is how David goes on to praise God in the midst of this storm:


 Create in me a clean heart, O God.
      Renew a loyal spirit within me.  ~Psalm 51:10


David recognized his attitude problem and asked for God's help putting it back on track.  God obviously loved David and He gave him the help David requested.


But the good news?  When we let our heart's guard down and things get messy, God will help us.  He loves us, too.

Truly Humble - INS Chapter 3

When I began to read Rachel Olsen's third chapter in her book It's No Secret, about the secret power of humility, I first thought that perhaps this one would not be as personal to me as the first two.  Really showing my humility there, aren't I?  ;-)

I've never wanted to be famous.  Never wanted to be rich.  Never wanted a big, expensive house or a fancy car or a dress that costs more than a car.  Never wished for fancy jewelry or designer jeans (okay, in middle school I wanted the same designer sneakers as everybody else, but I'm over that).  Don't want a Smartphone or even a fancy paycheck.

I'm not caught up in the whirlwind of thinking that I deserve those things.  I don't have them, I don't deserve them, I don't need them, and I'm okay with that.

Soooo ....

Why, then, was this chapter challenging?

I realized within this chapter that while I don't want to be the biggest or best at something, I'm not totally content where I am, either; and if God has put me here, and this is where He wants me, then who am I to want to be anywhere else??

I always dreamed of being a teacher, and eventually, I graduated with my degree and certificate.  I taught for four years and then our daughter was born.  Suddenly, my dream paled in comparison to that precious baby whom I drove away from early each morning.  I didn't want to teach anymore - I wanted to be home with my baby - and after one last year, I quit.

It seemed I suddenly had acquired my new dream, when we found I was pregnant again, and soon our son arrived on the scene.  Still happy to be home, I was offered a part-time teaching position and then a volunteer position in our church, and life seemed great.  I had lots of time to be with my family and to be teaching a class - and on top of all that, my volunteer position pushed me into organizing events for our church, and I realized I loved that, too.  Then suddenly my teaching job and our church home, including the volunteer position, were taken away, and ever since I've felt rather lost.

I'm very, very happy to be home with my family; don't misunderstand me, but I never dreamed I would stay home with a family.  I'm happy that God has made it possible for me to be home, but still I thought that I could do some good somewhere else, too.

I haven't considered my home position to be enough.

This chapter made me see this whole issue in a new light.  Sure, I'm hurt that none of these things have worked out the way that I thought they would.  But really, who am I to question God? There must be some reason He wants me here, and it isn't my place to change that.  It's okay for me to have dreams, but I need to be sure that my dreams are in line with God's plans for me - and that they fit in His timing.  I get awfully impatient when I get an idea that seems to have arrived via lightening bolt from God Himself, but honestly?  Abraham waited for 20 years for a son.  The Israelites were in Egypt for nearly 400 years before God liberated them.  The Jews waited nearly 2000 years for their Israeli state to be recreated.  It's not my job to question His timetable.  I'm not Methuselah yet.  There's still time - or maybe not.  His plans are best.

In reading my Daily Chronological Bible this week, I was stopped by the story of Ruth and Boaz.  After they married and their son was born, the neighborhood women blessed him, saying, "May this child be famous in Israel!"

Who was the baby?

His name was Obed - and he was famous throughout Israel.  He's still famous throughout Israel, and the entire Judeo-Christian world, I suppose.

What did he do?

He was King David's grandfather.

As far as I know, that's about all we know of the guy.  He fathered a man named Jesse, who went on to have lots of sons, the youngest of whom was the shepherd boy David.

If God's chosen blessings upon a man are to make him a father, a family man, which is a very noble cause - then I should embrace that task totally.

That's where my heart has landed this week.

Maybe after this our house will even be a little less dusty.  :-)

With Reckless Abandon

What would you do for Jesus?


That's the question that Rachel Olsen asks during the first two chapters of It's No Secret, the newest online Bible study book being led by Melissa Taylor. 


She reminds us of the story of the woman with the expensive perfume who poured it out on Jesus' feet and then dried them with her hair.  Though criticized for using a product worth several years' salary, she was happy to give it as an act of love and service to her Lord - and He understood her purpose for what it was: an act of worship.


What am I willing to sacrifice?  To give up?


That's a tough question.  


He's not over at the corner bakery, waiting for me to show up with my own bottle of Angels, discussing His need for a fragrant foot massage with the pastry chef.


The answers aren't always that easy in our society today.


Yet He says that "When you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me! (Matt. 25:30, NLT)"


There are lots of 'leasts' out there that we can serve, right?  Oh, maybe they don't really need Vicky's perfume poured on their toes, but there are still orphans, widows, and starving children out there.  Maybe more of us should answer  His radical call to obedience with children from Africa and taking in lonely in-laws.


Maybe sometimes He wants us to.


But maybe sometimes He doesn't ask us to go there - at least all at once.  Maybe sometimes He just wants us to take a cold glass of water to the neighbor who's outside doing yardwork in the hot sun.  Maybe He wants us to take a meal to that new mom down the street or donate our children's outgrown clothing to the local shelter.


Maybe sometimes it's shutting down our natural tendency to yell at the child who painted the formerly-white wall green and help them learn responsibility be washing it with him, instead.


Maybe sometimes it's reaching out with extra words to the child who needs praise or apologizing to that sandpaper person who scraped your last nerve today, even though you'd rather eat sandpaper than go back and talk to her again.  


Spring is always a busy time for us, between birthdays for both kids, retreats, outdoor allergies, consignment sales, church events, flu season, school field trips, and the like, but this year I seem to be noticing fewer of the needs around me than ever.  And honestly, that pretty much works for me.  It's hard for me to reach out when there have been so many crazy responses to what I've tried in the past.  I'm pretty happy being a hermit with my kids in my house.  So maybe right now, my form of radical obedience is to listen harder with my heart - to listen closely for those whispers of ways that I can honor Him by helping those around me - so that when the day comes and I'm called to choose between the easy thing and the hard, doesn't make logical sense thing, I'm ready.   


With reckless abandon?  I think I should throw myself into whatever task He gives me with reckless abandon, whether it seems big or small.  I want to receive a "Well done!" on the current assignment.  Who knows what the next one will be? 

Curses, Confusion, and Frustration

I was reading along in my Chronological Daily NLT Bible when one verse stopped me.  "The Lord himself will send on you curses, confusion, and frustration in everything you do, until at last you are completely destroyed  for doing evil and abandoning me. (Deut. 28:20)"


It made me think ... God really goes all out for drawing us back to Him, doesn't He?  He lets us suffer the really hard stuff so that ultimately, we go searching for Him.

Really bad stuff ... stuff that will completely destroy us ... like being shipwrecked in the middle of the ocean?

Happened to Paul, but not what He promises the Israelites.

Massive volcano, reminiscent of Dante's Peak?  Making entire states flee?

Nope, not lately.

Maybe an asteroid headed straight for North America?  Threatening to take us all out, just like in Armageddon?


So far, no.

I'm not making light of the tragedies that befall our planet.  There are a lot of them, and they seem to be increasing.  Earthquakes in Haiti and Japan.  Rampant disease in Africa.  Crime epidemics in America.  War in the Middle East.  Drugs everywhere.  It's awful.

But God doesn't promise those things in this particular verse, either.

He promises to give us confusion and frustration.

Isn't it funny how a negative attitude is all it takes to completely derail our day and ruin our lives?  Think about it.  If a middle schooler drops something in front of a football player at school, isn't their first reaction to dye their hair and move to another state, never to be seen or heard from again?  Drama, people.

God knows us, inside and out.  He knows that it doesn't take the doozies to get our attention - it only takes a lost key or missing shoe or burnt toast.  He uses those big natural disasters when they happen, but it's more likely that He'll test us with an alarm clock that doesn't go off and the ensuing mad dash to work to remind us that He's right there, waiting for us.

I'm glad that God is there in the big things, but I'm glad that He uses those little things, too.  I'm still working to be patient with missing keys and lost shoes - I don't think I'm up for regular landslides yet.

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." ~ Romans 8:28


And if you haven't listened to Francesca Battestelli's latest, give it a listen here.

What Makes You Wonder?

Do you ever just wonder?  Just ... wonder.  Think about what an experience must have been like for someone else.  What must have been going through their minds as they saw the things that we'll never see.


Lately, I've been thinking a lot about Joshua, son of Nun.  


I realize he probably seems like a very odd person to wonder about.  He lived a few thousand years ago, and we know very few things about him.


He was an Israelite scout into the Promised Land with Caleb and returned with glowing reports of it.


He was one of only two scouts who actually believed that the Israelites should proceed into the Promised Land - of twelve total.


He succeeded Moses as the Israelite leader.


It's that last one that makes me wonder.  Joshua hung in there with God when few others did.  He was probably pretty young during the Exodus, and many older than he folded and caved under the pressure of life in the desert.


What I'm really wondering about, though, is what it was like for faithful Joshua during the years of wandering in the desert.  The Israel nation was huge - hundreds of thousands of men alone - and all of them were slated to die.  How horrible must it have been to wake up each day, knowing there would be funerals to hold and preparations to make?  Waiting for more loved ones and friends and neighbors to die so that life could continue?  Knowing that a new generation was growing up who did not witness the miracles of the Exodus and who needed to be taught those stories to lean on during the thin times?  Wondering how soon even thinner times might come?


We modern people often scoff at those Israelites.  "They were stubborn!" we say.  "They got to follow along after His pillar of fire and cloud daily and still they disobeyed Him!" we say.  "God fed them pastry-flavored food every day for which they did no work and didn't get fat, and still they strayed!" we say.  "How crazy those people were!"  


And maybe we'd be right.


But really ... are we any better?  No.


Have we trudged along in the desert, fearing giants and without food, with no end in sight?  No.


Have we really had to watch thousands of people around us die, for no reason we understood, while we did nothing?  For most of us, probably not.  No.  We haven't done that.


The Bible doesn't really tell us what those 40 years must have been like.  I imagine it almost as one super long funeral service.  How depressing it must have been.  How difficult if you were one of the ones "scheduled" to die, knowing that your sin was preventing your children from God's best!  How awful knowing that you were trapped in the desert, feeling the pressure of learning all you could, wondering when your parents' turn would come, when you would be required to carry on your family's legacy?  How thankful I am that God has not called me to be an Israelite!


Where could that many people possibly be buried, anyway??


Wendy Pope is always telling her online Bible study girls that “The LORD our God has secrets known to no one.  We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever all that He has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions.( Deut. 29:29)”


Joshua must have been really good at that.  His faith must have been amazingly strong.


I hope that someday further down the line my family says that I'm like Joshua.  That I'm strong, that I knew God and depended on Him daily, that I was obedient to His call.  I wonder ....


What makes you wonder??