I am sure that I am not the only one who has ever made plans, only to have them blown out of the water and have nothing go the way you expected it to go. It can be disconcerting to say the least and some what frustrating. My week at camp proved to be a week of changed expectations and it changed my expectations of how God works; in ways I never could have imagined.
After 7, maybe 8 years of being on staff or working in the kitchen at Camp Northwest, this year I was a counselor. My desire to counsel at camp actually started last year during camp. I was working in the kitchen, which I totally enjoy, but I had the opportunity to spend a few hours with a cabin of girls while their counselor and her new husband were being treated to a special evening at the lake. I so enjoyed the conversation and interaction with the girls that by the time camp ended I already knew that God was calling me to counsel the following year. When the time came, I submitted my application for counselor. I knew I would get to work with the older teen girls because I am (ahem) an "older" counselor. The theme for camp this year was 'Beneath the Surface' and the teams were Pirates, Sailors, Mariners, and Vikings. The months before camp, anytime I came across anything with an ocean theme, I bought it. About a week and a half before camp, I learned a few things: I was going to be on the pirate team (yay), I was going to be a team leader (yikes), and Jessica Lowder was going to be my assistant counselor (yahoo)! Jess and I spent the whole week planning, buying, and texting each other about decorations, plans, and responsibilities. Some of you may have seen my Facebook page and how I only talked in pirate lingo for that week. By the time we got to camp, Jess and I were pumped and excited for the week to come.
Expectation readjustment #1: God's plans aren't always our plans.
Another cabin on the pirate team had no counselors. The assistant was sick and couldn't come and the head counselor was delayed in returning from a missions trip. Jessica was asked to take the cabin for the rest of the day and night until the head counselor could get there on Tuesday. Okay, not a problem. It wasn't ideal but it was workable. The cabin was next to mine and Jess and I could keep in touch and help each other out. Our first night at camp was great as we got to know the girls in our respective cabins and by the end of the night, Jess and I were already planning for her move back to our cabin.
Expectation readjustment #2: God is really all I needed. Jessica was icing on the cake.
I learned the next morning at the staff meeting that the delayed counselor was now officially stranded in Florida and it looked like it might not be until late Wednesday, at the earliest, before she could get to camp (she never made it, by the way). Bummer. Big bummer. With my added responsibilities as a team leader (a rookie one at that), I needed an assistant. I even made the statement to Pastor Nathan, "I need Jessica." But what were we to do. The girls in Cabin H needed Jessica more than I did. It meant making adjustments, in actions and attitudes for all involved. It really was a great way to start camp; relying on God as expectations changed, for all involved. See, I was planning to rely a lot on Jessica throughout the week and instead, God challenged me to rely on Him. His faithfulness to sustain me, physically and spiritually, throughout the week shone through. I can only praise Him for being all that I will ever need.
Expectation readjustment #3: Teenage girls rock!
Now, I've always known this but I really got to see it play out at camp. My girls had to really step up to the plate and pick up the slack. In the mornings, I had staff meetings at 7:45, which meant that the girls had to get ready, have the cabin cleaned for inspection, be at the morning flag-raising, and then lined up for breakfast on their own by 8:10. They never missed a beat. Every morning, they did it. Every morning, I could find them together. Every morning they exceeded my expectations. Every morning I was beaming with pride (and relief!).
At 5:30 every afternoon, I had to go to a counselor's meeting. This meant that again, the girls had to get ready on their own. They had to be dressed for chapel (dress-code appropriate), at the flag-lowering ceremony, and lined up for dinner on their own at 6. They never missed a beat. Every evening, they did it. Every evening I could find them together. Every evening they exceeded my expectations. Every evening I was beaming with pride (and relief!).
ps.....Jess's cabin did it too although I cannot speak to level of completion and thoroughness. Most of the other counselors had assistants to help with and oversee these tasks.
Expectation readjustment #4: Unplanned moments yield great results.
My plan was for Jessica and I to share the responsibilities in devotions and getting to know the girls spiritual needs. Well, with Jess now in her own cabin, my planned moments became overwhelming and I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to "direct" the girls in "spiritual" moments. But again, God showed me that His plan is always better than mine. I specifically remember one night when I was counseling with a girl after chapel. She had some pretty big things going on in her life and God was really working on her heart about some serious changes. However, while I talked with this girl, my cabin was left without any direction for about 1/2 hour. When I got back to the cabin, the girls were ready for bed and having a very real, deep conversation about that night's message. I did not stop or interrupt the conversation. I listened. I heard their hearts and what was important to them. I learned that God was working through the messages and making a difference in these young lives. I only interjected my thoughts when they directed questions to me and then I let them pick up the conversation on their own. I honestly believe that if I (or Jessica) had been there, that wouldn't have happened.
Some of the best times talking with the girls came when we were getting ready for dinner. Dinner wasn't until 6 but for teenage girls, preparations started around 4. Wednesday, as we were sitting around the table in our cabin, putting on makeup and doing our hair, I shared my salvation testimony with the girls. We also talked about future plans and how to know God's plan. They asked me lots of questions about my life and I learned a lot about each of their lives. It was one of my favorite times at camp as the girls and I bonded. For the rest of the week, many of the girls approached me individually with the phrase, "can I talk to you about something?" Not once during the week did I use any of the planned devotions I brought with me. Again, had Jessica been my assistant, I don't think I would have had the opportunities to have these awesome conversations with these awesome young ladies. But here is the really cool part; God was giving Jessica her own amazing and awesome conversations to bond with a group of girls she had never met before. I know she had some wonderful opportunities to influence and counsel these girls in ways that they needed and that only she, with God's leading, could provide. I got to watch Jessica take what could have ruined her week, and turn it into a real blessing. She was like a mother hen to her girls and I mean that in the best way possible. She led them, watched over them, cheered for them, encouraged them, and showed them (and me) a beautiful example of how to react when expectations need to be readjusted.
As we were sitting at our last counselor meeting on Friday afternoon before dinner, I looked over at Jessica and was just so proud of her. Yes, later that night when she and I had a quiet moment together (well as quiet as it can be with dozens of girls running back and forth from cabins to bathrooms getting ready for bed), I told her how proud I was and how much she impressed me during the week. On the way home from camp, we talked about all sorts of things. But these conversations were different. Our conversations were focused on God and how He worked at camp. We talked about our devotions and what we were learning from them. We talked about music and how God uses it to teach and touch our lives. We talked about future plans and eagerly seeking what God has next for both of us. Yeah, we talked about some trivial girl stuff too, but that's none of you alls business.
And then it hit me. Jessica was no longer the little kid from church who I've known since she was 5 years old. She was no longer the young lady I've watched grow up, who I taught in Sunday school and prayed for when she was in college. She was my peer, my friend, my sister in Christ. Well there's something I never expected from a week at camp.
God is good!
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9
Monday, August 31, 2015
Thursday, July 30, 2015
When God and Horses Talk
Last Friday I went with the Mommy & Me group from church to RideAble. RideAble is a horse facility that works with primarily disabled persons. The horses are a great tool for teaching, physical therapy, and confidence building. It's a beautiful facility with wonderfully patient and qualified instructors. I am so glad I went. I almost didn't because I am no longer an official "mommy" and I had no little "me" to take along. What I do have is a fear of horses and a Nifty 50 list that included riding a horse (see #11). When I was a kid, my aunt raised horses. I have fallen off horses, I have been bucked off horses, and I have even been run over by a horse. I have seen my cousins and uncle get kicked and bitten by horses. Needless to say, horses have never been a favorite of mine. The last time I rode a horse I was in junior high. My friend Jill had a birthday party/sleepover that included horse back riding. Jill had grown up around horses, as did many of the other girls she invited. They were country girls; I was a city slicker. So we saddled up and off we went. I don't remember much after that. I think I have blocked most of it out. I do remember the horse running, (I'm sure it was going 100 mph at one point) and I was petrified. I became very aware of the power of that horse and my inability to stop it. How did I stop the horse? I don't remember. What else happened on the horse ride that day? I don't remember. Did I have fun at the rest of my friend's birthday party and sleepover? I honestly don't remember. But I will never forget the fear I felt on that horse at that time.
So going on this field trip was kind of a big deal for me. I wouldn't call my fear of horses a full-blown phobia but it did give me a serious case of butterflies and a racing heart. I watched the kids ride first. They were fearless and excited when their name was called to take their turn at riding. I watched the instructors and helpers give important, careful, and thorough instruction. I watched the horses. Patient. Gentle. Calm. Beautiful horses. When my turn finally came, yes, I was nervous, really nervous but I wasn't fearful. The instructor assured me that the horse, Miss Blue, was not high-energy at all. This was true. Unless the instructor was actually pulling on Miss Blue, we didn't move. The instructor repeatedly gave me instructions on what to do and then she walked away. There I was, in the middle of the horse arena, on a horse that wouldn't move. So different than my last horse riding experience. Every now and then Miss Blue would take one step and then stop. I would try to get her going but nothing worked. Finally, after what seemed like forever, we made it about half way around the arena and Miss Blue stopped again. There we stood. Little kids on their horses walked by, sometimes more than once. As I sat there, I was frustrated, embarrassed, and disappointed that, despite my best efforts, this horse would not move. Just then the instructor came up and said to me, "You are doing fine, relax." She showed me a different way to hold the reins and reminded me to kick hard. And then she walked away. Again. I took a deep breath, patted Miss Blue on the neck and said, Okay Miss Blue, we can do this." I moved the reins, kicked hard, and we walked. And we walked. And we walked. And we walked. Miss Blue and I had a grand time walking around the arena. By ourselves. No instructor. It was awesome!
What made the difference this final time. I thought a lot about that on the way home. I came to the conclusion that it was my patience with the horse and determination to overcome my fear that made it possible. I was feeling quite happy in my horse-riding success and as soon as I got home I started to write this blog about the whole experience. I wrote about fear: what it is, why we have it, and how to overcome it. I wrote about patience, determination, and confidence. If I say so myself, it was a pretty good blog. I did one final proof read, feeling quite accomplished, when I heard the "Whisper"--you know, that still small voice in your heart that only comes from God, saying, "you aren't patient and determined, I am." Well wouldn't you know, God had a completely different lesson to teach me and a completely different blog for me to write.
As I contemplated my whisper from God, I reevaluated my time at the horse facility and what I thought I had learned and accomplished. My original blog post was scrapped and I have spent this last week searching out what real, patient, determined success looks like. You see, I thought I had success with the horse because of what I had done. I was patient. I was determined. I overcame my fear. I succeeded. By the world's standard today, this is true and something to be celebrated. The world's standard is a me-focused standard and that is not how I want to live my life. I don't want to celebrate me, but last Friday, that's exactly what I did. The pride I felt in "my" accomplishment quickly turned to shame as I realized that I had completely left God out. I didn't seek Him in prayer before I left for the facility. I didn't seek Him in prayer when I arrived. I never once thought about asking another Mom to pray with me or for me. I never once considered praying for the other moms, kids, or workers. My mind never once thought about Scripture and how I could rely on God's word for strength. I am embarrassed to admit that I crossed the line into full-blown pride as I allowed the focus to be on me and my fear. I am saddened by my actions, especially because I lost the opportunity to let God work and be seen in my life. I let Friday, and my success become all about me. I hope with this blog that I will rectify that and let God be seen as I share what He has taught me.
Success is not a bad thing. In Joshua 1:8 God says that we can have good success but we must be focused on Him. His word must be a priority and obedience to it must be a regular, consistent part of life. As a matter of fact, the phrase "good success" is only found in Joshua 1:8. and it is distinctly linked to God. Not self, not accomplishments, not anyone else. One of the definitions for good success is to wisely understand. I like that. When I wisely understand God and His word, when I wisely understand and follow His commands, that is good success. How cool is that?!! That is the kind of success I want. Success only becomes a bad thing when we take God out of the picture and that is why my so-called "success" with Miss Blue wasn't a success at all. Good success came when I took the time to listen and learn to what God, and Miss Blue were teaching me.
Yes, Miss Blue was teaching me patience and determination, but not mine; God's. She was reflecting God's patience with me. She was reflecting God's determination to get me going in the right direction. She was also reflecting my stubborn attitude. Yes, it's true, I can be stubborn; Jerry will back me up on this. (Oh boy, stubborn and pride, not a good combination.) Like Miss Blue, I can refuse to move. Often it takes some pretty hard kicking to get me going. Even then, I don't always go in the right direction or I only go a short way instead going the distance. Why do I do that? I know that God only has the best for me. His way is always the right way, always the right timing. I cannot even begin to put into words how grateful I am for a patient, loving, gentle God Who never gives up on me. Sometimes He just sits and waits and other times He kicks. Hard. I need those hard kicks to get me going sometimes. Those kicks also teach me that surrender and submission bring good success. Miss Blue eventually gave into my hard kick and did what she knew to do. And like I said earlier, "It was awesome!" Like Miss Blue, I need to surrender and submit. The sooner the better. Learning to walk God's way will bring good success and it's always an awesome ride.
I didn't know it on Friday but my real fear isn't horses. My real fear is not living the way God wants me to live. My fear is that I will get in the way and miss out on what God has for me and my life. I hope and pray this fear will keep me moving closer to God as I seek His will and way. It is my desire to "walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossian 1:10). It's no coincidence that this passage of Scripture was part of my devotions and Bible study all week. I hope I will always be willing to listen, learn, and change my perspective when needed. Some may say that I'm making this a bigger deal than it really is. Perhaps. However, I am a firm believer that if I don't learn to listen to God in these small, seemingly inconsequential moments, I certainly won't know how to listen to Him when the really big things come around. And they will come around. And they will probably be bigger than a horse.
I do hope I can go horse back riding again sometime soon. When I do, I will be listening a whole lot better to what the horse, and God, have to say. Giddy Up!!
Monday, July 13, 2015
Kitty Wisdom
Cats. Not a big fan. Growing up, we had dogs: Penny, Precious, and Bogie. I don't remember much about Penny or even how long we had her. Our next dog was one of her puppies, Precious. She lived up to that name. She was hit by a car and had to have one of her back legs amputated. I remember thinking it was cool having a 3-legged dog. Many years passed between Precious' death and our next dog, Bogie, a mailman-terrorizing German Shepherd. Looking back, I'm surprised we ever got mail. I was indifferent to Bogie; didn't love him, didn't hate him. He was just a dog. My mom's feelings towards Bogie was different though. She certainly loved him and, for her, he was part of the family. I think she was way more patient with that dog than she was with me or my sisters. The countless times he escaped from the yard, neighbor's complaints, and even a citation or two, never phased my mom. Had me or my sisters behaved like that we would have been shipped off to juvenile hall. But I digress. Jerry and I attempted dog ownership a couple different times. I have some very funny stories about Bert and Ernie, two black lab/dalmatian mix dogs. Let's just say they were a handful and kept Jerry running around the neighbor hood on a regular basis, hopping fences and sweatpants around his ankles. We found a good home for them shortly after Bryson was born. We had a cat too. Her name was Sophie. She and I had a love/hate relationship but as far as cats can be, she was one loyal cat. She was with us for about 15 years which included 4 moves, 3 kids, 2 more dogs and 1 wild drive to Spokane.
Fifteen years with one cat, one would think I would be a cat person; but I am not, which is funny because we currently have 9 cats. Yes, I said 9. At one point about a two years ago, we had 14 cats. Oh my. It won't be long and we will be known as the crazy cat people on Lorane Hwy. At my house, cats are a necessity. We live in the country, and in 16 years we have only had one mouse in the house. Our cats are working cats; they are not pets. Only 5 of the cats have real names: Bruce, Mama, Lemur, Sunshine, and Mister (aka Stupid). These five cats are pretty good cats. They not only keep mice away from the house, they've also been known to take out a mole or two. Bruce is more like a dog sometimes and he follows us when we walk around the property. Jerry is the cat whisperer and has always been able to approach and hold any of our cats. But the last 4 cats are different. Two of them are grown and two are kittens. We call them mom cat, other cat, kitty one, and kitty two. I think we are tired of coming up with names. The kittens were born about 12 weeks ago and we have had little contact or interaction with them. The mom cat moved them off the porch after about two weeks. Jerry would find them and mom cat would move them. Jerry found them again and yep, you guessed it, mom cat moved them again. We had an idea of where they were but we never approached. Partly because mom cat and other cat were fiercely protective. When those kittens were on the porch, I couldn't walk by without mom cat and other cat jumping up and hissing. They even spit at Jerry. The kittens are now old enough that they can't be hidden. They are out and about on their own mostly and I do see them from time to time.
A few days ago they were back on the porch, eating some food Jerry had set out. I walked out to get in my car to go to work and those kittens literally ran for their lives. The calico kitten ran down the stairs, around the corner, and disappeared. The black and white kitten dove under the stair rail, flew over the rock garden, turned left and also disappeared. I giggled. I even said out loud, "Oh kitties, no need to run, I won't hurt you. Silly kittens." As I drove to work, I couldn't help but think that maybe I should be more like those "silly" kittens. Maybe those "silly" kittens had a lesson (or three) to teach me.
Lesson 1: Recognize danger.
Those "silly" kittens saw me as a threat. To them, I represented danger and someone who could do them harm. Sometimes I think that people (me included) don't always recognize the dangers in this world. Yes, we teach our kids about stranger danger. We wear seat belts in the car and helmets on our bikes. We lock our doors and windows at home and keep poisonous items out of reach. But that's not the kind of danger I am talking about. I'm speaking of the danger that can bring devastation to heart, mind, and spirit. One story, one person in Scripture in particular comes to mind. Eve.
One day in God's beautiful garden, danger came and unfortunately, Eve didn't recognize it. I will give Eve the benefit of the doubt here because this danger was not obvious at first. Remember, the serpent that approached her did not frighten her by its appearance or by the fact that it spoke. I find that fascinating. If it were me, I would run from a serpent, let alone a talking one. So I imagine that it was a beautiful creature and maybe, just maybe, it's possible that animals some how communicated with Adam & Eve in God's perfect garden. Either way, the serpent did not come with a neon sign that flashed DANGER! However, the moment that serpent opened it's mouth and spoke, Eve should have recognized the danger. Why? Because the first 4 words spoken by the serpent were, "Did God actually say...?" (Genesis 3: 1 ESV). The serpent was questioning the truth of God's word. Instead of saying, "Um yeah, that's exactly what God said!" and walking away, Eve chose to reason with and listen to the lies of the serpent. We know the rest of the story. In a conversation of approximately 80 words, sin entered the world and danger was everywhere.
We have got to recognize the danger that comes when people want us to doubt the truth of God, His word and Who He is. All of God's word is true, from beginning to end. I remember seeing a bumper sticker many years ago that said, "God said it, I believe it, that settles it." It really should read like this, "God said it, that settles it!" Period. My believing doesn't affect the truth of what God says. You don't have to believe God's word but it is still true and truth. Believing and obeying God's true word is the greatest tool we have when it comes to recognizing danger in all it's forms. I can't stress enough the importance of spending good, quality time in the Bible everyday. Read it. Study it. Examine it. Apply it. There are so many Eve's today, who take the time to get more acquainted with the danger of doubting God's word rather than knowing the truth of God's word.
(Commercial Break: If you want to learn the Bible better, I encourage you to enroll in Faith Bible Institute (FBI). It is a 3-year course that goes through the entire Bible. It is, by far, one of the best things I have done in growing my knowledge of and intimacy with God. In Eugene, classes are at Westside Baptist but this course is taught worldwide and you should be able to find it in an area near you. Visit www.faithbibleinstitute.com for more information.) Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.
Lesson 2: Flee danger
Those "silly" kittens did what was exactly necessary to protect themselves-they ran and they ran fast. Again, another story from Genesis comes to mind. This time it is in chapter 39. Joseph is working in Potipher's house. Joseph had reached the high position of overseer and was basically second in command. But Mrs. Potipher had eyes for Joseph and was constantly trying to seduce him. One day, when all alone, Mrs. P cornered Joseph and used all her womanly wiles on him. What did Joseph do? Instead of giving in to the momentary pleasure, he saw the danger and he fled. Fast. There was no hanging around and weighing the pros and cons of the situation or listening to the convincing and attractive arguments put forth by Mrs P. He understood the danger that this would be "great wickedness and sin against God" (Gen 39:9). Yes, there were consequences to Joseph's choice. Mrs. Potipher lied and Joseph ended up in prison. I think that if Joseph had given in to her, he still would have ended up in prison. I also believe it would have changed his relationship with God and the way that God would use him. Why do I think that? Just look around at Christians who didn't flee when they had the chance. Sadly, the church is rife with examples of people who have lost their families, ministries, and even their lives because they knew the danger but chose to flirt with it instead of flee from it. I'm not just talking about sexual immorality either. Danger comes in many forms. I could write several blogs on what they are, how they manifest, and how they destroy. I speak from experience but let me say that any entanglement that draws you away from God is a danger that you need to recognize and then flee. Fast.
Here are some verses that I encourage you to look up: 1 Timothy 6:3-12 & 17-21; 2 Timothy 22-26; James 4:1-7. There is great insight as to what we are to flee, why we are to flee, and the results. I could go through each passage but then I would be robbing you of the joy and privilege of reading God's word (See lesson 1).
Lesson 3: Find safety
When those "silly" kittens ran for their lives from the danger in front of them (me), they didn't just run from my reach; they ran for a safe place of protection. Into the garage/shed they went through a small hole in the corner siding. There the kittens could wait until the danger (me again) had gone. For people, there is no better place of protection than in the arms of God. Run to Him for safety, help, comfort, and strength. Over and over in Scripture God is said to be our shield, refuge, strong tower, and a very present help in time of trouble. He is always ready, willing and able to protect us from the dangers of the world. That's what a good father does for his children and there is no better Father than God Himself. He doesn't leave His children alone to face the danger. There is also safety with God's people. It is so important to find other believers who know God's word and who can give wise, biblical advice and counsel. I have a several close friends who love the Lord and I know that when I need advice, they will give it to me straight from God's word. I so appreciate that act of love and protection, even though it isn't always easy to hear truth when I'd rather hear something that justifies my own selfishness or pride, two very real dangers.
Recognize danger, flee danger, and find safety. Who knew those "silly" kittens were so wise? So will I turn into a cat person now? Nah, that's not gonna happen any time soon, but I am grateful for the valuable lesson and reminder those kittens have taught me. Maybe they are not so silly after all.
Fifteen years with one cat, one would think I would be a cat person; but I am not, which is funny because we currently have 9 cats. Yes, I said 9. At one point about a two years ago, we had 14 cats. Oh my. It won't be long and we will be known as the crazy cat people on Lorane Hwy. At my house, cats are a necessity. We live in the country, and in 16 years we have only had one mouse in the house. Our cats are working cats; they are not pets. Only 5 of the cats have real names: Bruce, Mama, Lemur, Sunshine, and Mister (aka Stupid). These five cats are pretty good cats. They not only keep mice away from the house, they've also been known to take out a mole or two. Bruce is more like a dog sometimes and he follows us when we walk around the property. Jerry is the cat whisperer and has always been able to approach and hold any of our cats. But the last 4 cats are different. Two of them are grown and two are kittens. We call them mom cat, other cat, kitty one, and kitty two. I think we are tired of coming up with names. The kittens were born about 12 weeks ago and we have had little contact or interaction with them. The mom cat moved them off the porch after about two weeks. Jerry would find them and mom cat would move them. Jerry found them again and yep, you guessed it, mom cat moved them again. We had an idea of where they were but we never approached. Partly because mom cat and other cat were fiercely protective. When those kittens were on the porch, I couldn't walk by without mom cat and other cat jumping up and hissing. They even spit at Jerry. The kittens are now old enough that they can't be hidden. They are out and about on their own mostly and I do see them from time to time.
A few days ago they were back on the porch, eating some food Jerry had set out. I walked out to get in my car to go to work and those kittens literally ran for their lives. The calico kitten ran down the stairs, around the corner, and disappeared. The black and white kitten dove under the stair rail, flew over the rock garden, turned left and also disappeared. I giggled. I even said out loud, "Oh kitties, no need to run, I won't hurt you. Silly kittens." As I drove to work, I couldn't help but think that maybe I should be more like those "silly" kittens. Maybe those "silly" kittens had a lesson (or three) to teach me.
Lesson 1: Recognize danger.
Those "silly" kittens saw me as a threat. To them, I represented danger and someone who could do them harm. Sometimes I think that people (me included) don't always recognize the dangers in this world. Yes, we teach our kids about stranger danger. We wear seat belts in the car and helmets on our bikes. We lock our doors and windows at home and keep poisonous items out of reach. But that's not the kind of danger I am talking about. I'm speaking of the danger that can bring devastation to heart, mind, and spirit. One story, one person in Scripture in particular comes to mind. Eve.
One day in God's beautiful garden, danger came and unfortunately, Eve didn't recognize it. I will give Eve the benefit of the doubt here because this danger was not obvious at first. Remember, the serpent that approached her did not frighten her by its appearance or by the fact that it spoke. I find that fascinating. If it were me, I would run from a serpent, let alone a talking one. So I imagine that it was a beautiful creature and maybe, just maybe, it's possible that animals some how communicated with Adam & Eve in God's perfect garden. Either way, the serpent did not come with a neon sign that flashed DANGER! However, the moment that serpent opened it's mouth and spoke, Eve should have recognized the danger. Why? Because the first 4 words spoken by the serpent were, "Did God actually say...?" (Genesis 3: 1 ESV). The serpent was questioning the truth of God's word. Instead of saying, "Um yeah, that's exactly what God said!" and walking away, Eve chose to reason with and listen to the lies of the serpent. We know the rest of the story. In a conversation of approximately 80 words, sin entered the world and danger was everywhere.
We have got to recognize the danger that comes when people want us to doubt the truth of God, His word and Who He is. All of God's word is true, from beginning to end. I remember seeing a bumper sticker many years ago that said, "God said it, I believe it, that settles it." It really should read like this, "God said it, that settles it!" Period. My believing doesn't affect the truth of what God says. You don't have to believe God's word but it is still true and truth. Believing and obeying God's true word is the greatest tool we have when it comes to recognizing danger in all it's forms. I can't stress enough the importance of spending good, quality time in the Bible everyday. Read it. Study it. Examine it. Apply it. There are so many Eve's today, who take the time to get more acquainted with the danger of doubting God's word rather than knowing the truth of God's word.
(Commercial Break: If you want to learn the Bible better, I encourage you to enroll in Faith Bible Institute (FBI). It is a 3-year course that goes through the entire Bible. It is, by far, one of the best things I have done in growing my knowledge of and intimacy with God. In Eugene, classes are at Westside Baptist but this course is taught worldwide and you should be able to find it in an area near you. Visit www.faithbibleinstitute.com for more information.) Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.
Lesson 2: Flee danger
Those "silly" kittens did what was exactly necessary to protect themselves-they ran and they ran fast. Again, another story from Genesis comes to mind. This time it is in chapter 39. Joseph is working in Potipher's house. Joseph had reached the high position of overseer and was basically second in command. But Mrs. Potipher had eyes for Joseph and was constantly trying to seduce him. One day, when all alone, Mrs. P cornered Joseph and used all her womanly wiles on him. What did Joseph do? Instead of giving in to the momentary pleasure, he saw the danger and he fled. Fast. There was no hanging around and weighing the pros and cons of the situation or listening to the convincing and attractive arguments put forth by Mrs P. He understood the danger that this would be "great wickedness and sin against God" (Gen 39:9). Yes, there were consequences to Joseph's choice. Mrs. Potipher lied and Joseph ended up in prison. I think that if Joseph had given in to her, he still would have ended up in prison. I also believe it would have changed his relationship with God and the way that God would use him. Why do I think that? Just look around at Christians who didn't flee when they had the chance. Sadly, the church is rife with examples of people who have lost their families, ministries, and even their lives because they knew the danger but chose to flirt with it instead of flee from it. I'm not just talking about sexual immorality either. Danger comes in many forms. I could write several blogs on what they are, how they manifest, and how they destroy. I speak from experience but let me say that any entanglement that draws you away from God is a danger that you need to recognize and then flee. Fast.
Here are some verses that I encourage you to look up: 1 Timothy 6:3-12 & 17-21; 2 Timothy 22-26; James 4:1-7. There is great insight as to what we are to flee, why we are to flee, and the results. I could go through each passage but then I would be robbing you of the joy and privilege of reading God's word (See lesson 1).
Lesson 3: Find safety
When those "silly" kittens ran for their lives from the danger in front of them (me), they didn't just run from my reach; they ran for a safe place of protection. Into the garage/shed they went through a small hole in the corner siding. There the kittens could wait until the danger (me again) had gone. For people, there is no better place of protection than in the arms of God. Run to Him for safety, help, comfort, and strength. Over and over in Scripture God is said to be our shield, refuge, strong tower, and a very present help in time of trouble. He is always ready, willing and able to protect us from the dangers of the world. That's what a good father does for his children and there is no better Father than God Himself. He doesn't leave His children alone to face the danger. There is also safety with God's people. It is so important to find other believers who know God's word and who can give wise, biblical advice and counsel. I have a several close friends who love the Lord and I know that when I need advice, they will give it to me straight from God's word. I so appreciate that act of love and protection, even though it isn't always easy to hear truth when I'd rather hear something that justifies my own selfishness or pride, two very real dangers.
Recognize danger, flee danger, and find safety. Who knew those "silly" kittens were so wise? So will I turn into a cat person now? Nah, that's not gonna happen any time soon, but I am grateful for the valuable lesson and reminder those kittens have taught me. Maybe they are not so silly after all.
Monday, June 29, 2015
An Ordinary Life
Being that tomorrow is the last day of June and one of my goals was to post a blog twice a month, I figured I should get writing. I keep a journal of basic daily happenings and things that God has taught me. My journal includes Bible verses, things for which I'm grateful, funny things my grand kids say, certain appointments and the outcomes, home decor ideas, personal goals, ideas for Bible study, and even a grocery list or two. I try to write in my journal 3-4 times a week, even if it is just a sentence or two or to jot down a quick note or thought I don't want to forget.
Seems like the "don't forget" category has been growing since April. Hmmmm........I wonder why? What big event could have happened? What has triggered my brain's ability to so easily forget plans or misplace items or cause me to walk around my house forgetting what I was doing? I once got up out of the recliner, took about four steps and totally forgot where in the house I wanted to go and for what purpose. I sat back down hoping it would trigger my memory. It didn't. So I finished sorting socks and watching Wheel of Fortune. Oh well. Could this phenomenon have anything to do with the fact that I turned 50 in April?
Sorry for that rabbit trail (another possible side effect of turning 50?). Now back to the reason why I'm writing today.
As I looked over my journal entries for the last few weeks a theme has emerged: ordinary. In the grand scheme of life and events on this planet (and others), my life would be considered by some as boring, unexciting, and bland. I've done nothing extraordinary that has anyone rushing to tell my life story. I've not created the hottest new business or invented the latest must-have gadget. I don't have famous friends or relatives. I don't live in the lap of luxury.
I live a relatively simple life and I wouldn't change it for all the oolong tea in China. Why? Because this life is exactly where God has put me. This life is what He is using to teach me, draw me close to Himself, and mold me into the image of Christ. God is using the seemingly boring and uninteresting events of everyday life to show me some exciting and awesome truths about Who He is. Even my devotions this morning were, well, not so exciting to read. When you get a chance, go to your Bible and read 1 Chronicles 1-9. It's nine chapters of geneaologies. Exciting stuff, eh? Today I was in chapters 6-9. Yesterday, I sort of rushed through chapters 1-5 so I decided to slow down for these next few chapters and be purposeful in my reading. I'm so glad I did. Each genealogy list had something specific about it: they were mighty men of valor, or musicians, or priests, or gatekeepers. Some lists stood out because there were several women listed or because there was a fact about their land or who else lived in their land. But then there is the family of Naphtali. "The sons of Naphtali were Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah" (1 Chron 7:13). That's it. Seriously. Nothing mentioned about where they lived, what they did, or who they really were. I was curious as to why nothing else was said about them. I knew that the tribe of Naphtali was mentioned in other places of Scripture so there had to be more about them. So for those who know me well, you know what I did. I studied it out. This wasn't easy as there is not much commentary written on 1 Chronicles 7:13. Some scholars believe that these names are the only preserved, recorded names of leaders of Naphtali and that the other written documents were lost or destroyed. Bummer. So I did a word search on Bilhah and Naphtali and here is what I learned.
1 Chronicles 7:13 is identical to Genesis 46:24, with the exception of "the sons of Bilhah" added in 1 Chronicles 7:13. Bilhah is first mentioned in Genesis 29:29 when she was given to Rachel as a maid servant when Rachel married Jacob. When Rachel could not have children, Rachel gave Bilhah to Jacob to bear children for her. One of the sons born to Bilhah, but named by Rachel, was Naphtali (Genesis 30:1-8). Naphtali's sons were Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum. Scripture does not name the mother(s) of Naphtali's sons. I found Bilhah's name one more time in Genesis 35:22 when Reuban, Jacob's oldest son is guilty of incest with her. Although not mentioned by name, Bilhah is referenced again in Genesis 32:22-23 & 33:1-2 when Jacob puts his maid servants and their kids in the front of the troop in the event of a conflict with his brother Esau. Nice guy.
Naphtali has some interesting history and descendants and I encourage you to look it up. For the sake of time, I will hit just a few hightlights. Barak, the military leader in Judges was from the tribe of Naphtali. When the time came for David to assume the throne, the tribe of Naphtali provided 1,000 officers, 37,000 soldiers along with a caravan of food, to help. When King Solomon was building the temple, he hired Huram, from the tribe of Naphtali, to do the bronze work. All of Jesus' disciples, except Judas, were from Galilee, the land of Naphtali. Jesus' hometown was Nazareth of Galilee and that is where He started His ministry.
So this is the story of 1 Chronicles 7:13. It's a good story. Oh it doesn't have all the intrigue, adventure, heroism, and honor (or dishonor) of the other tribes of Israel. For me, that is what makes the story of Bilhah and her descendants so fascinating. She was a simple servant girl, an ordinary woman and mother, nothing exciting or glamorous about her. In fact she probably had little control over the events in her life. Bilhah's story is often lost in the events and stories of Jacob's life. But not today. There she was, in 1 Chronicles 7:13, just waiting for me to find her.
Bilhah's ordinary life has made an extraordinary impact on my ordinary life. Scripture is full of heroes. But right along side the names of Noah, Abraham, Joseph, David, Solomon, Peter, and Paul are the names of people like Bilhah, Jabez, Baruch, Mary and Joseph. Oh Mary and Joseph...talk about two ordinary people that God used in a mighty way. Really, now that I think about it, even when I look back at the names of heroes, they all started out as ordinary folk too. God's not looking for great people, He's looking to make people great by His power for His glory. It's so amazing to me how God can take a passage of Scripture, that so many have just skimmed over (me included before today) and use it to teach important lessons. Lessons of trust, obedience, courage, and humility. All things that I need to work on and now I have a very identifiable woman in the Bible that I can use as an example.
I'm sure Bilhah never imagined that her name would be remembered centuries later, let alone recorded in God's Holy Word. You never know what can come from an ordinary life of serving God. I hope I am up to the challenge.
Friday, June 5, 2015
The Most Romantic Gift Ever
In just a few days, Jerry and I will celebrate our 31st wedding anniversary. Yay!! I'd like to say that I've been giving a lot of thought as to what to get Jerry as a gift. In all honesty, I've been thinking more about what I want him to get me. Like most women, I want the perfect anniversary gift. I want romance.
I don't need or want anything fancy. I don't need or want anything expensive or extravagant. I don't need or want some showy gesture or public display of affection. I don't need or want some well-orchestrated surprise. But I do want romance.
I can hear you all now, "Cheryl, you sure are making it hard for Jerry to be romantic by excluding all of the above things." No, I'm not. Really I'm not. What I am doing is changing my definition of romance and it all started with Mrs. Dorcas Smucker.
She is a wonderful Christian woman of Mennonite faith. She is a pastor's wife, mother of 6, author, and lives in Harrisburg, Oregon. A few weeks ago, Mrs. Smucker came to my church and spoke at our ladies tea. Her topic was about influence-those who influence us and those we influence. It was full of wisdom, scripture, and humor. I have no doubt that every woman at the tea walked away feeling blessed and influenced by her words. I know I did. But it had nothing to do with anything she said during her talk. Her influence on my life came about an hour later. Most everyone was gone, clean up was just about finished, and Mrs. Smucker packed up the books she had brought to sell. Janie and I were helping her take the book boxes out to her car when I noticed and made mention of the cool little cart she was using to tote the boxes around. Her husband gave it to her last year as a Christmas gift. And that's when it struck me. That cart-that little, plain, beige, utilitarian cart-was a romantic gift. Here's why: she loved it, used it, and appreciated having it. That cart met a specific need in her life. That cart was proof that her husband thought about her needs, which meant he was paying attention to what was going on in her life. He then took the thoughtful time and action to meet her need. With that cart-that little, plain, beige, utilitarian cart, Mr. Smucker was making a romantic gesture of love and thoughtfulness in a very real way.
Before you think that Mrs. Smucker and I had some deep, meaningful, hour long, heart-to-heart discussion about romance and marriage, let me give you the gist of our exchange:
Me: Wow, that's a cool little cart. What a great idea.
Mrs. Smucker: Thank you. My husband Paul gave it to me last year for Christmas. It's been such a blessing and huge help when I come to events like this tea.
Me: I want something like that. That is an awesome gift.
That's it, end of discussion. We hugged, expressed our mutual appreciation for a fun afternoon, and she left. Yet, here I am, a few weeks later pondering that small, seemingly insignificant but hugely influential conversation on my heart and life. It wasn't her words that spoke to my heart, it was her attitude. Mrs. Smucker's response to that cart-that little, plain, beige, utilitarian cart-was genuine. The joy in her eyes and the smile on her face spoke volumes about her appreciation regarding her husband's thoughtful gift-his gift of romance.
You know the old saying, "it's the thought that counts" and how it is used to justify the less than perfect gift by the less than grateful and often disappointed recipient. Been there, done that. But when it comes to romance, real biblical romance, it is the thought that counts. Real romance lies in the thought process, thinking about the one you love and living out that love in everyday ways.
In my conversation with Mrs. Smucker, the remark, "I want something like that" was initially about the cart. I have learned since, when it comes to romance, I do have something like that. In Scripture, 1 Peter 3:7 says, "Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel," (ESV). In the KJV it says, "dwell with them according to knowledge." True understanding and knowledge of another person takes thought. It is a process of watching, listening, and caring about what is going on in their life. Scripture also gives to husbands the command of love and the principle that it is to be selfless and sacrificial, beneficial and honoring to the wife (Ephesian 5:25-33).
Jerry lives these principles and commands out every day. He knows me very well, sometimes better than I know myself (which can be annoying but that is for another time and blog). He pays attention to what's going on in my life, in my work, in my ministry. He was supportive beyond belief when I went back to school. He made sure I had a quiet place to study and a computer with the right software. When I graduated, Jerry was by my side, making sure every part of that trip was perfect, and it was. Not because it was a fancy or expensive trip. It was neither. In fact, we stayed in the college dorm rooms and ate meals in their cafeteria. What made that trip perfect was Jerry's genuine joy and pride in my accomplishment. I remember seeing him at one point during the ceremony running ahead of the procession of graduates so he could find the perfect spot to get a picture. A few minutes later I saw him on the first level of the stadium jumping up and down to get my attention. Another picture. He understood how important this was to me so it was just as important to him. His knowledge of me caused him to set aside his own needs to meet mine. That is 1 Peter 3 and Ephesians 5 in action; real thoughtfulness, real love, real romance.
I've only given one small example of the real romance Jerry has shown. But there are others: like the many times he made sure my car was filled with gas, or times when I found an extra $5 in my purse for coffee, or finding my skirt ironed on a late-running Sunday morning, or the too many to count times when I come home from FBI class and find popcorn waiting. As I look back over our 31 years together, I realize that Jerry got the whole romance thing right more often than I did. I am so blessed and so grateful. So what do I want for an anniversary gift this year? I want another 3+ decades of the real romance that Jerry has always given me. As far as that cart-that little, plain, beige, utilitarian cart-I'll take that too...or a trunk organizer. Either way, I've already got the the most romantic gift ever....a thoughtful husband!
I don't need or want anything fancy. I don't need or want anything expensive or extravagant. I don't need or want some showy gesture or public display of affection. I don't need or want some well-orchestrated surprise. But I do want romance.
I can hear you all now, "Cheryl, you sure are making it hard for Jerry to be romantic by excluding all of the above things." No, I'm not. Really I'm not. What I am doing is changing my definition of romance and it all started with Mrs. Dorcas Smucker.
She is a wonderful Christian woman of Mennonite faith. She is a pastor's wife, mother of 6, author, and lives in Harrisburg, Oregon. A few weeks ago, Mrs. Smucker came to my church and spoke at our ladies tea. Her topic was about influence-those who influence us and those we influence. It was full of wisdom, scripture, and humor. I have no doubt that every woman at the tea walked away feeling blessed and influenced by her words. I know I did. But it had nothing to do with anything she said during her talk. Her influence on my life came about an hour later. Most everyone was gone, clean up was just about finished, and Mrs. Smucker packed up the books she had brought to sell. Janie and I were helping her take the book boxes out to her car when I noticed and made mention of the cool little cart she was using to tote the boxes around. Her husband gave it to her last year as a Christmas gift. And that's when it struck me. That cart-that little, plain, beige, utilitarian cart-was a romantic gift. Here's why: she loved it, used it, and appreciated having it. That cart met a specific need in her life. That cart was proof that her husband thought about her needs, which meant he was paying attention to what was going on in her life. He then took the thoughtful time and action to meet her need. With that cart-that little, plain, beige, utilitarian cart, Mr. Smucker was making a romantic gesture of love and thoughtfulness in a very real way.
Before you think that Mrs. Smucker and I had some deep, meaningful, hour long, heart-to-heart discussion about romance and marriage, let me give you the gist of our exchange:
Me: Wow, that's a cool little cart. What a great idea.
Mrs. Smucker: Thank you. My husband Paul gave it to me last year for Christmas. It's been such a blessing and huge help when I come to events like this tea.
Me: I want something like that. That is an awesome gift.
That's it, end of discussion. We hugged, expressed our mutual appreciation for a fun afternoon, and she left. Yet, here I am, a few weeks later pondering that small, seemingly insignificant but hugely influential conversation on my heart and life. It wasn't her words that spoke to my heart, it was her attitude. Mrs. Smucker's response to that cart-that little, plain, beige, utilitarian cart-was genuine. The joy in her eyes and the smile on her face spoke volumes about her appreciation regarding her husband's thoughtful gift-his gift of romance.
You know the old saying, "it's the thought that counts" and how it is used to justify the less than perfect gift by the less than grateful and often disappointed recipient. Been there, done that. But when it comes to romance, real biblical romance, it is the thought that counts. Real romance lies in the thought process, thinking about the one you love and living out that love in everyday ways.
In my conversation with Mrs. Smucker, the remark, "I want something like that" was initially about the cart. I have learned since, when it comes to romance, I do have something like that. In Scripture, 1 Peter 3:7 says, "Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel," (ESV). In the KJV it says, "dwell with them according to knowledge." True understanding and knowledge of another person takes thought. It is a process of watching, listening, and caring about what is going on in their life. Scripture also gives to husbands the command of love and the principle that it is to be selfless and sacrificial, beneficial and honoring to the wife (Ephesian 5:25-33).
Jerry lives these principles and commands out every day. He knows me very well, sometimes better than I know myself (which can be annoying but that is for another time and blog). He pays attention to what's going on in my life, in my work, in my ministry. He was supportive beyond belief when I went back to school. He made sure I had a quiet place to study and a computer with the right software. When I graduated, Jerry was by my side, making sure every part of that trip was perfect, and it was. Not because it was a fancy or expensive trip. It was neither. In fact, we stayed in the college dorm rooms and ate meals in their cafeteria. What made that trip perfect was Jerry's genuine joy and pride in my accomplishment. I remember seeing him at one point during the ceremony running ahead of the procession of graduates so he could find the perfect spot to get a picture. A few minutes later I saw him on the first level of the stadium jumping up and down to get my attention. Another picture. He understood how important this was to me so it was just as important to him. His knowledge of me caused him to set aside his own needs to meet mine. That is 1 Peter 3 and Ephesians 5 in action; real thoughtfulness, real love, real romance.
I've only given one small example of the real romance Jerry has shown. But there are others: like the many times he made sure my car was filled with gas, or times when I found an extra $5 in my purse for coffee, or finding my skirt ironed on a late-running Sunday morning, or the too many to count times when I come home from FBI class and find popcorn waiting. As I look back over our 31 years together, I realize that Jerry got the whole romance thing right more often than I did. I am so blessed and so grateful. So what do I want for an anniversary gift this year? I want another 3+ decades of the real romance that Jerry has always given me. As far as that cart-that little, plain, beige, utilitarian cart-I'll take that too...or a trunk organizer. Either way, I've already got the the most romantic gift ever....a thoughtful husband!
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
The Process
So it has been quite a while (over 4 years in fact) since I have blogged. It's been so long that last week when I was trying to find one of my old blog posts, I forgot what it was called and it took quite some effort to find it. In January, when I got my new google/gmail account, I started this blog page and have only one entry on my Nifty Fifty list. "What is the point of sharing all this?", you ask. I will tell you.
Last Saturday I went to a writing conference sponsored by Oregon Christian Writers. I learned about it from a Facebook share (thank you Kim) and thought it sounded interesting. It took about a week, and some serious prayer, to make the decision to go. I was especially excited because my friend Stephanie was going as well and we planned to go together. But as the event drew near, the voice of self doubt started. "What makes you think you can do this?" and "You've got nothing of value to say" and "Why would anyone care about or read what you wrote?" and "You're too old, too busy, too big for your britches." I came very close to calling Stephanie and backing out but instead I chose to put those doubts behind me and take part in the conference. And I am so glad I did.
Bob Welch was the keynote speaker in the two morning sessions and after lunch, there were many other Christian writers giving hour-long workshops. There were a variety of topics such as spiritual encouragement, self publishing, social media writing, foreshadowing, writing for Chicken Soup, and developing discipline as a writer. The last topic is why I am writing today.
I learned goals I should be setting as a writer. For me that means two blog post a months, 2-3 journal entries a week, and taking the rest of the year developing an outline on a specific topic. Now I just need to find a topic.
I learned how to manage my time to include writing on a regular basis. This means making writing appointments on my calendar, inking it in if necessary. I also need to evaluate when the best writing time is for me. I learned how to eliminate the things that inhibit writing. It's only been three days since the conference so I am still figuring out how all this will work.
But one of the most important things I learned is that the writing process is often more important than the writing product. And the last three days have proven this to be true in my life. This blog is not the first thing I have written in three days. Those writings are between me and God. But He has used the process of writing to Him and for Him as preparation for today's post. I am sure that this blog is full of grammatical errors and the final product is far from perfect but the One Who is preparing me for this work is perfect. What work might that be? Well I don't know exactly but I'm pretty sure it will include writing of some sort. Here are some verses that have really helped and encouraged me this week as I seek God's direction.
Philippians 2:13 "for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure"
2 Corintians 3:5 "Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but or sufficiency is from God,"
Hebrews 13:20-21 "Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."
So as God prepares me, I pray you will be patient with this process. And I pray you will join me on this journey. I need a few sidekicks to shout down those negative voices and help me remember where I put things.
Last Saturday I went to a writing conference sponsored by Oregon Christian Writers. I learned about it from a Facebook share (thank you Kim) and thought it sounded interesting. It took about a week, and some serious prayer, to make the decision to go. I was especially excited because my friend Stephanie was going as well and we planned to go together. But as the event drew near, the voice of self doubt started. "What makes you think you can do this?" and "You've got nothing of value to say" and "Why would anyone care about or read what you wrote?" and "You're too old, too busy, too big for your britches." I came very close to calling Stephanie and backing out but instead I chose to put those doubts behind me and take part in the conference. And I am so glad I did.
Bob Welch was the keynote speaker in the two morning sessions and after lunch, there were many other Christian writers giving hour-long workshops. There were a variety of topics such as spiritual encouragement, self publishing, social media writing, foreshadowing, writing for Chicken Soup, and developing discipline as a writer. The last topic is why I am writing today.
I learned goals I should be setting as a writer. For me that means two blog post a months, 2-3 journal entries a week, and taking the rest of the year developing an outline on a specific topic. Now I just need to find a topic.
I learned how to manage my time to include writing on a regular basis. This means making writing appointments on my calendar, inking it in if necessary. I also need to evaluate when the best writing time is for me. I learned how to eliminate the things that inhibit writing. It's only been three days since the conference so I am still figuring out how all this will work.
But one of the most important things I learned is that the writing process is often more important than the writing product. And the last three days have proven this to be true in my life. This blog is not the first thing I have written in three days. Those writings are between me and God. But He has used the process of writing to Him and for Him as preparation for today's post. I am sure that this blog is full of grammatical errors and the final product is far from perfect but the One Who is preparing me for this work is perfect. What work might that be? Well I don't know exactly but I'm pretty sure it will include writing of some sort. Here are some verses that have really helped and encouraged me this week as I seek God's direction.
Philippians 2:13 "for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure"
2 Corintians 3:5 "Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but or sufficiency is from God,"
Hebrews 13:20-21 "Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."
So as God prepares me, I pray you will be patient with this process. And I pray you will join me on this journey. I need a few sidekicks to shout down those negative voices and help me remember where I put things.
Friday, January 16, 2015
Nifty 50
I will be 50 years old in just a few short months. I don't want (or need) any big celebration. But I think I would like to do some fun, some simple, some off the wall, some gotta do it once kind of things to mark the occasion. My goal is to spend 2015 completing the following list of 50 things that meet the criteria.
1. Camp at Crater Lake
2. Spend a day hiking
3. Get a "wild" manicure/pedicure
4. Take a train
5. Go someplace in Washington I have never been.
6. Go someplace in Oregon I have never been.
7. Go somewhere in the US I have never been.
8. Sing Karioke....but not in a bar.
9. Learn to ride a motorcycle (yes, a scooter would qualify)
10. Go on a mission's trip
11. Go horseback riding - this is big because I am very afraid of horses.
12. Learn Italian
13. Take a cooking class
14. Spend a day doing random acts of kindness
15. Get a wild hair color....temporary, for like a day
16. Get a massage. I've had a few for physical therapy/health purposes, but I'm talking about a relaxed, pampered, feel good massage.
17. Try a new restaurant
18. Family portrait
19. Learn to shoot a gun
20. Learn a ballroom dance with Jerry
21. Zipline
22. Host some kind of a theme party
23. Ride the scariest ride at the fair (will probably have to go to Puyallup for this one)
24. Give crocheting another shot and actually complete something
25. Saturday Market....yes I've done this before too, but I like going.
26. Run Butte2Butte or a Color Me Rad event
27. Blow glass
28-31. Attend a UofO game for football, basketball, baseball, hockey
32. Volunteer somewhere new
33. Go for a bike ride
34. Get a henna tattoo
35. Bake a pie, from scratch, by myself
36. Plant an herb garden
37. Attend a local community theatre production
38. Go to the Puyallup Daffodil Parade
39. Spend a day antiquing/garage sales
40. Hobby Lobby
41. Midnight bowling
42. Ice skating
43. Pick berries
44. Backyard bonfire
45. Zumba class
46. Try halibut
47. Get my picture taken with Sluggo
48. Go to Shore Acres at Christmas
49. Learn calligraphy
50. Record all my "adventures" in some kind of book &/or blog
After reviewing my list, I realize a couple of things:
*I am gonna need some help from family and friends to get this all done.
*Some things may need to be altered or modified to accomplish.
*Fifty is gonna be awesome!
1. Camp at Crater Lake
2. Spend a day hiking
3. Get a "wild" manicure/pedicure
4. Take a train
5. Go someplace in Washington I have never been.
6. Go someplace in Oregon I have never been.
7. Go somewhere in the US I have never been.
8. Sing Karioke....but not in a bar.
9. Learn to ride a motorcycle (yes, a scooter would qualify)
10. Go on a mission's trip
11. Go horseback riding - this is big because I am very afraid of horses.
12. Learn Italian
13. Take a cooking class
14. Spend a day doing random acts of kindness
15. Get a wild hair color....temporary, for like a day
16. Get a massage. I've had a few for physical therapy/health purposes, but I'm talking about a relaxed, pampered, feel good massage.
17. Try a new restaurant
18. Family portrait
19. Learn to shoot a gun
20. Learn a ballroom dance with Jerry
21. Zipline
22. Host some kind of a theme party
23. Ride the scariest ride at the fair (will probably have to go to Puyallup for this one)
24. Give crocheting another shot and actually complete something
25. Saturday Market....yes I've done this before too, but I like going.
26. Run Butte2Butte or a Color Me Rad event
27. Blow glass
28-31. Attend a UofO game for football, basketball, baseball, hockey
32. Volunteer somewhere new
33. Go for a bike ride
34. Get a henna tattoo
35. Bake a pie, from scratch, by myself
36. Plant an herb garden
37. Attend a local community theatre production
38. Go to the Puyallup Daffodil Parade
39. Spend a day antiquing/garage sales
40. Hobby Lobby
41. Midnight bowling
42. Ice skating
43. Pick berries
44. Backyard bonfire
45. Zumba class
46. Try halibut
47. Get my picture taken with Sluggo
48. Go to Shore Acres at Christmas
49. Learn calligraphy
50. Record all my "adventures" in some kind of book &/or blog
After reviewing my list, I realize a couple of things:
*I am gonna need some help from family and friends to get this all done.
*Some things may need to be altered or modified to accomplish.
*Fifty is gonna be awesome!
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