Thursday, December 2, 2010

Reality

Dear friends, carefully build ourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God’s love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life! Jude 1:20-21

Well, my reality lately has been way too busy and way too stressed. I apologize for not blogging sooner. November hit me like a ton of bricks. Thankfully, the Angel Touch Memorial Service was beautiful (thanks to our speakers and singers). And I made it through the toughest week of my life at Impact Rehab (I had 21 on the schedule last Wednesday…just for me!). December has just begun and my calendar is already filling up. I am having trouble enjoying each day since I am so worried about getting things done for the next day!

The good news is Jesus has come! Unlike the reality shown by the media, I know that Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of my King. I don’t need to have a home decorated like Better Homes and Gardens (I mean, who does?). I don’t need to buy the most expensive and cutting edge presents for my family though the commercials think I do. I certainly don’t need to make every moment a lasting memory like the advertisements pressure you to do. The reason that our favorite childhood memories stick is not because someone took a crazy amount of time to create them. We love them because they include people who cared about us and traditions that were fun. We see people in magazines having fancy parties or elaborate meals on Christmas day, but I remember listening to records just as a family while we decorated the tree. My favorite meals were potluck because I got to try so many kinds of desserts!

The author is right that you really have to be careful what you believe these days. Everything can be deceiving. People even pride themselves in this kind of advertisement. And no one’s life is like the movies…even if they star in them. I mean, how many actors are in rehab or kill themselves? As we already know, they are no happier than we are. And though they may not have the struggles that we do (screaming children all day, trying to find something to cook for dinner, attempting to fit exercise in) they have their own issues. And most of them don’t have Jesus to turn to. He tells us to cast our cares on Him because He cares for us. Now that is reality. The truth is that Jesus came to earth as a baby so many years ago. He lived a perfect life and yet was crucified for our stupid choices…some because we bought into lies that were told through media, co-workers, even family. Don’t buy into the false reality that Christmas is about gifts and cookies and parties. Decide now to only do things that bring you and your family true joy this year. Show your children the true meaning of Christmas and watch as everything else just falls into place!

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Quality Time

We pray that you’ll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you’ll learn how to do your work. We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it over the long haul – not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us. Colossians 1:10-12

At the end of each day, week or month, I find myself asking where does the time go?! My grandmother always said that the older you get the faster the time goes, and I find that so true. Perhaps it’s the addition of children… or just the demands that we, as mothers, put on ourselves… but the days just fly bye!

We all are given the same 24 hours in each day, and as the author notes, God gives us that time and asks us to use it well, by bringing Him glory. How do you bring God glory during each day? The challenge is to spend quality time with those we love – God, our spouses, children, and families. I know that I struggle with juggling daily activities and spending quality time with those I love. Recently, I’ve put off the extras brought on by technology – returning emails in a timely manner, blogging, posting photos, etc to spend more time with my children.

After reading this reflection, I talked to my husband about trying a family fun night on Wednesdays. We will have a simple dinner and then just spend time sitting on the floor playing with the kids. We tried this Wed. but time got away from us… so we agreed to have family fun night we have to bring in pizza!

Also, I truly cherish my time at night before putting the baby to bed. I now look forward to nursing her every night at 8pm and then just cuddling her after she falls asleep. Before I used to rush to put her in bed so I could get online but I now I enjoy my time with her, unwind, and then head to bed myself. That precious time with my baby girl is our quality time together.

I think all moms agree that quality time is vital to the development of our children and the bond of our family. How do you spend quality time with your kids? How can spend more time with them? I am always open to learning from other moms – especially with two or more kids. How do you juggle the day’s activities and make time for the ones you love – God, your spouse, children, and families? This week try to set aside 10 minutes each night to have one on one time with your children.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Pride

“Pride lands you flat on your face; humility prepares you for honors.” Proverbs 29:23

The author speaks about how pride was probably the culprit in Eve's decision to eat the apple. Must we bring up Eve again? Poor Eve—she is blamed for everything that is wrong with our world. If it hadn’t been for her we would all be hanging out in the garden with God at this very moment.

If you believe that then you definitely need to check on your pride. I truly believe that if Eve hadn’t done something stupid, someone else would have. I most certainly have done some pretty bad things that would have gotten me kicked out of the garden. I have been so disrespectful to God…I daily put myself before Him. And that is a form of pride. I disagree with the author who says that pride in your heritage or your football team is not destructive. Any form of pride in anything can be destructive. For example, I love my new house. I want it to be perfect. I want pretty curtains and more furniture and more storage and beautiful decorations. But when I bought this house I knew that God wanted me to use this extra space for Him. While sitting in church I had great thoughts of having Bible studies here and a playgroup for Parker’s friends where they would learn about the Bible. But my pride in making my house perfect kept me from doing these things for the first 6 months or so. I wanted people to see my house after completion and think I had it all together. But God doesn’t care. He can use an empty room or yard. I am now working on inviting people over to my house weekly, whether it is clean or not! Talk about swallowing your pride!

But God rewards us for humbling ourselves and swallowing that pride. Again I disagree with the author here. He may not give trophies, but we will receive crowns if He is pleased with us. “Well done my good and faithful servant.” Oh, how I long to hear those words. As the author suggests, take a look at a handful of things that make you proud (like accomplishments, possessions, abilities, etc). Are you honoring God with them and giving Him the glory? Or like me, do you starve for the attention that those things can give you. I pray that we can all use our gifts from God to gain attention only for Him and at the same time receive His adoring attention for a job well done.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Personality

“Know this: GOD is God and God, GOD. He made us; we didn’t make Him. We’re His people, His well-tended sheep.” Psalm 100:3

Real quick, NIV says, “Know that the Lord is God.” That makes more sense to me! I just couldn’t get past this translation, so you may also want to look it up if you have a version you are more comfortable with.

But we are talking about personality. I have been told that I have a strong personality…whatever that means. I do tend to put myself out there which can lead to quick friends or not so much when people make snap judgments instead of getting to know me. I think I am also guilty of that. I often have patients who come in with multiple aches and pains, lots of diagnoses, and a pain scale of 10 out of 10 at all times. I often dismiss them as someone who doesn’t really want to work hard in therapy and get better. Unfortunately, I have been right and that is what fuels my stereotyping. But I have also been wrong. I wish I could just refrain from making those judgments anyway. It is true that different personalities will respond to circumstances differently. But you can help to shape that response.

I think the author is simply encouraging us to spend some time working with the personalities of our family members instead of against them. For example, Parker has a lot of energy. He is loud and already likes to make people laugh. My urge is always to quiet him down as he entertains the couple next to us, but I don’t need to necessarily squelch his act. He finds joy in entertaining others. My challenge is to find ways to focus that energy into fun that is less annoying for those around us. I am definitely going to start working on that.

As for getting the personalities of your family to work together, I also have some work to do there. I am having a lot of difficulty following the author’s advice to pick a food, spice, or cooking ingredient that describes each person. But I do want us all to cook up well in one pot. Over the next few days I will try to see how we tend to react toward each other’s personalities and find ways for us to get along better. The author also made the comment that by the time you have switched gears for the personalities of your kids, you refuse to do so for your husband. This is a mistake I make too often. I really need to take some time to think about Daryl’s personality and how I can respond to him better…when he is frustrated over a dirty house, when he makes fun of me for something I messed up…I often overreact with anger toward him because of his tone or words. Maybe it is just part of his personality, not meant to hurt my feelings.

Okay, so not the most helpful info from me. I really haven’t spent much time on this subject, but maybe I should. Good luck on your quest to figure all of this out!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Peace

“Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God. Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God’s servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil’s trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands.” 2 Timothy 2:22-26

I typically feel like the scripture version that the author uses is pretty clear…not so much today. I went to the NIV, my trusted choice to understand a little better. First, it tells you to “Flee the evil desires of youth…” When I think of the terrible choices which led to such chaos in my life during high school and college, this verse makes total sense. It is scientifically proven that the portion of your brain that makes choices has not matured during your youth. Teens and young adults make quick decisions without realizing the consequences; I know I did. If you are still refusing to make informed decisions, you may still feel like life is out of control. Sure, you need to have some spontaneity, but don’t neglect common sense! I definitely have days that seem to spin toward insanity, but I am now aware that it was my lack of judgment that got me there. I thank God often that He has given me a peace about my choices as I have matured. I am not great at it, but I am pursuing “righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

“Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.” Do you remember when you were in high school and you were always fighting with someone…a boyfriend, that mean girl, always your parents, and sometimes even your best friend. Thankfully most of us have outgrown that but again the verse makes sense. Think about the last fight you had with your husband. It may have been serious but more than likely it started out as something stupid. It escalated quickly and then you weren’t even talking to each other. That is what Paul is saying here. If you don’t start on the little stuff, you won’t get into the big stuff. I need a dose of my own advice here. Sometimes I feel like I am looking at myself from the inside. Why can’t I just stop nagging? Is it really that important? I need to just shut up sometimes and give my husband some peace! Something for us all to think about…

“And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct…” So basically, if you are always complaining and arguing, no one is going to listen to you. God has called us to spread His message, but we can’t do that if we are being hateful to others. Do you know anyone who is pessimistic? Nothing ever goes right for them and everyone is out to get them. That was me for a while. And I had no peace during that time. I think I’ve mentioned before when I hated my job and felt like I would never be who I wanted to be. I was actually trying to participate in Bible Studies at that time. I mean, who wanted to hear me tell them how to be a great Christian when I seemed to hate my Christian life? If we are not being kind and we stay resentful, we are not able to teach others about the amazing things God has done. Don’t you want to hear the Good News from someone who seems to always be sharing good news? I do. And when people disagree, we need to “gently instruct” them. Let the Holy Spirit do the work. As the scripture says, God is the one who will “grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth.” We can only show them the peace that God has given us. You also want to keep all of this in mind when you are dealing with your kids. Peace at home is a wonderful thing. I grew up with 2 brothers and we fought all the time. I think I will begin praying now for Parker to get along with his new sibling!

And by the way, have a great weekend as college football kicks off! Go Troy and Roll Tide!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Past

Where is the god who can compare with you - wiping the slate clean of guilt, turning a blind eye, a deaf ear, to the past sins of your purged and precious people? You don't nurse your anger and don't stay angry for long, for mercy is your specialty. That's what you love most. And compassion is on its way to us. You'll stamp our your wrongdoing. You'll sink our sins to the bottom of the ocean. You'll stay true to your word to Father Jacob and continue the compassion you showed to Grandfather Abraham - everything you promised our ancestors from a long time ago. - Micah 7:18-20
How do you view your past? The author notes that sometimes we look at our past as more of a "book to be locked away than a chapter to be included in our life story." When I think of my past I immediately think of my college days and then a few childhood memories. I know that there is so much more to my life but those times must have molded me the most. There are events at both those times in my life (childhood and college) that I am proud of and others that I'm not so proud of... I think the most important thing about my past is that I learned from it and have come to be a stronger, more faith-filled woman. As the reflection mentioned, the bible tells us to press on and forget what lies behind us - rather keep our eyes fixated on having a home in heaven.
In also thinking about my past, I must say that I love learning about the past of my family. I have had many cherished conversations with my grandmother about her past and her family memories. She has much to tell as she has 11 siblings and 7 children (whenever I feel overwhelmed with two kiddos I ask myself how she did it). She has told me stories of her childhood, good times with her cousins, and fond memories of raising her children and now cherishes spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. What's admirable about my grandmother and godmother, who we call Memere, is that through it all she has remainded steadfast in her faith and has attended weekly mass for as long as I can remember.
She is a beautiful example of how to remember your past, share those memories (both good and bad), and keep moving forward toward the good Lord and the home of heaven... although being a young 72 I am hopeful that she has a good 30 years let with us here. I thank her for contributing amazing memories to my past... although long gone are the days of our shopping trips (and getting lost) and ice cream sundaes (right before dinner) the memories of our past are always alive in my heart. Now we spend time together with my children so they too will have a past filled with memories of their great grandmother.
If you have a minute, please share with us a great story from your past...

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Overwhelmed

“God can do anything you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.” Ephesians 3:20-21

Okay, so actually, I was a bit overwhelmed last week and that is why you are just getting my entry! I had a great time hanging out with my friends, Jennifer, Jen’s mom, Hayden, and Eve as Jennifer came from way up North for a wedding. I need to apologize to them, though. I barely made it there because I was coming straight from seeing a strong heartbeat on an ultrasound. Daryl and I are having another baby! I had not told my family yet, so I am just now spilling the beans!

I totally don’t feel prepared for another child. I am really overwhelmed at the thought of it! But we trusted God to bless us with another child only if we were ready. Six months later we conceived! I just finished my psalm which included informing God of my failures as a mom…my house is a wreck, haven’t finished the laundry I started on Tuesday, don’t have a clue what to make Parker for dinner, and I am behind on this blog…just to name a few. How will I do this with another child needing my attention? I need to ask God for help. What an amazing revelation from the author. I ask Him for help when someone is sick or a major catastrophe has happened, but I tend to forget Him in everyday tasks. He has promised to always be with me, even when I am dusting or picking up toys, again.

He wants us to call His name when we are weary and overwhelmed. He has promised to give us rest. He even says He will carry our yokes when we just can’t do it anymore. So why doesn’t this come to mind when I am stressing? I have a Women’s Ministry Kick-off tonight so I know this stuff won’t get done. I am nauseous, tired, hungry, and nothing sounds good to eat. So, I sat down to blog. I am realizing that it won’t all get done. My husband will probably not be happy that the house is still a mess, but I needed this week’s message. I am only one person. Truthfully, I am only one person with only one purpose—to glorify God. If I am doing that then everything else will be okay. I will find time for it. It can wait until next week. I am not alone in this struggle. We are all there. Maybe today is a bad day and tomorrow will be better. Maybe it will be a bad week. But I will praise God for giving me a beautiful home to clean, a sweet child to feed, and plenty of clothes to fold. And I will ask Him for help to get it all done!