I drove myself to Chick-fil-A this morning. A free breakfast sandwich, Diet Coke and a quiet booth were calling my name. I took my Bible and the book I'm going through and carved out some time to spend with the Lord. Chick-fil-A might seem like a strange place to do so, but hey, there's free refills so what's a girl to do?
Why I was surprised by the busyness of the restaurant I'm not sure but I ended up at an available spot next to a table full of moms and their young children. Of course this didn't bother me as just a few years ago that was me, looking for reprieve at any place with an indoor playground and a place to sit. In fact, I felt a pang in my heart that my kids have outgrown the delight of pulling off their socks (even when I would tell them not to) and running into the playroom.
What bothered me about this table was not the volume or continuous conversation going on around me but the subject matters of those conversations. I learned quickly that these ladies knew each other from church. Ahh, the common bond we can share as mother's with a heart to raise our children for Christ. But that's not what they were talking about.
I learned they went to church together by their ranting about all the women at church they did not like, why they did not like them, how their facebook posts were annoying or too frequent, how one should just delete them as a friend and then pretend they knew nothing about it. Along with the size and beauty of their homes, the amount of exercise each one participated in daily and the schools they would or would not send their kids to.
My initial reaction was anger and disgust. How dare they claim to be church going Christians then proceed to tear apart the very people that Christ would no doubt have been drawn to minister to. What if I were someone who had left the church long ago due to unfair judgement or hypocrisy? Their words would only add fuel to my fire. What if I were a lonely single mother who could use Godly women in my life but after hearing their insistance on private school, large homes and expensive cars knew I would never fit in? What if?
Then as with a small pin prick the Holy Spirit convicted me of my own hypocrisy. Have I not done the same? Have I not covered what is truly idle gossip in the form of "venting" or worse yet "prayer requests"? I have indeed sat at that very restaurant and ranted to my close friends about people or things I was upset about without thinking for a moment the impact those words could have on those around me.
However, the absolute beauty of a relationship with Christ is that in that same small way he reminded me that I can't change them but I can change myself. The words I use, the opinions I share, the way I treat or speak about His children is totally up to me. Thank you Jesus for your grace!
So sometimes it takes a free chicken biscuit and a Diet Coke for the Lord to get our attention.
Conviction, to me, is the Holy Sprit's way of telling us he loves us and knows we can do better!
Let's do better ladies!
Showing posts with label devotional thoughts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label devotional thoughts. Show all posts
Living on in my memory
Fourteen years ago today my grandfather died. Gramps as I called him. After he died, I wrote pages and pages of all the memories I had of him, so intent on not forgetting one thing that I loved about him. The way he hugged me so tightly I thought my ribs would break. Or how he would always brag about how he could get more tan than me in the summer. How he would dance around the kitchen and sing 'Hello Dolly' or let us fix his hair like Vanilla Ice. I can still remember how his booming voice sounded when cheering for me at ball games.
I read these pages every year on the anniversary of his death and suddenly it's like he's right there. The little things I might not have thought about in a while come back and I grieve all over again for losing one of the most amazing men I've ever known. But I hold his memory in my heart and I always will.
He was such an important part of my life, I only wish my kids could have known him. I know they would have loved him as much as I do.
I found out I was pregnant with my daughter a couple weeks after his funeral. It was strange in some ways to say goodbye to one life and hello to another. I will never understand why he had to leave this life before I felt like it was his time but I know I will see him again.
That will be the most heavenly part of heaven for me. Seeing those I love again and wrapping my arms around them and never having to say goodbye again. At times like this I feel so homesick for eternity.
So today I will read my memories, I will laugh and cry and remember. And I will be thankful that I was able to know a man as amazing and Daniel J. Afeld. I love you gramps!!
I read these pages every year on the anniversary of his death and suddenly it's like he's right there. The little things I might not have thought about in a while come back and I grieve all over again for losing one of the most amazing men I've ever known. But I hold his memory in my heart and I always will.
He was such an important part of my life, I only wish my kids could have known him. I know they would have loved him as much as I do.
I found out I was pregnant with my daughter a couple weeks after his funeral. It was strange in some ways to say goodbye to one life and hello to another. I will never understand why he had to leave this life before I felt like it was his time but I know I will see him again.
That will be the most heavenly part of heaven for me. Seeing those I love again and wrapping my arms around them and never having to say goodbye again. At times like this I feel so homesick for eternity.
So today I will read my memories, I will laugh and cry and remember. And I will be thankful that I was able to know a man as amazing and Daniel J. Afeld. I love you gramps!!
My brain is going to explode.....
Alot of my problem boils down to my personality, or that's what I tell myself. I don't like to start things unless I can finish them and do them perfectly. Of course, I have to start things because that's life but I rarely feel good about them. Add in the complete inundation of information these days....facebook, twitter, TV, magazines, "helpful" books and blogs - my gosh the blogs!!
I love blogs, obviously, I have one. But I will sit down to browse through my list of favorites and jot down ideas I see or things I want to do. What was suppose to be 10 minutes turns into 2 hours and I finally tear myself away feeling inadequate and lame. Why can't my house look like that? Why didn't I think of that? I should be better about that. I should always be prepared and have a plan like they do. How does she do all that and still have kids? I wish I had a super big fun craft room. I wish I had this and this and this and time for that and that and that!
But I don't. I do what I can, when I can. Somehow it never seems good enough. Well I say.....enough! I will quit trying to be supermom/superwife/superfriend/superchurchlady/superemployee/supervolunteer (yes those are all words) I will be me! Flaws and all.
Blogs sometimes read like an annual Christmas letter. Perfect pictures with perfect stories and perfect lives. I hate to burst anyone's bubble here but I am far from perfect. I don't always have it together. It is the night before Thanksgiving and I still have 5 pies, cookies and a casserole to bake and I am sitting on my computer blogging. But ya know what? That's okay. The food will get made and we will have a wonderful day with my family.
That's what is important after all right? Not how much you get done or how pretty you look doing it but that you make an impact on those around you. That when you leave this earth they don't just say, "Man she made a mean pumpkin pie!" They say, "Man she was a generous, loving, compassionate person and I will miss her!" So relax this holiday season ladies! Do what you can do and forget the rest. I guarantee your kids will not remember if your wrapping paper matched but the time you spent together celebrating the birth of our Savior.
Now, I'm off to do some baking!!
Held
I would like to meet the person who first spoke the phrase, "Don't sweat the small stuff, it's all small stuff". Not to congratulate or agree with them but to tell them just how wrong I think they are. The fact of the matter is, this world is full of problems, BIG problems. And it's okay for us to "sweat" it. In fact, the Bible says we WILL experience pain and suffering, not IF. The beauty of being in a relationship with Christ is not that we will never have problems but when we do He will be there with us, not to always make the problem disappear, but to help us to grow and become wiser through it if we allow Him to. We can trust that He always has a plan and that plan is always for our good. Even if it makes no sense to us now. I think God is way more interested in where our souls end up for eternity than our earthly comfort now. And to be real honest, it's not always about us!! Sometimes when we question God and why things are happening to us it could be that someone else will see His glory through the situation - that is the ultimate goal after all.
I love the song 'Held' by Natalie Grant. Some of the lyrics are "we're asking why this happens to us who have died to live, it's unfair. This is what it means to be held, how it feels when the sacred is torn from your life and you survive. This is what it is to be loved and to know that the promise was when everything fell, we'd be held." Thank you Jesus that you promise to always hold us up in our weakness.
The last few weeks I felt like my world was falling. We sold our house and purchased another but in the long process, through no fault of our own, we ended up moved out of our home with nowhere to go for over two weeks. It was extremely stressful and emotionally draining figuring everything out. We are in our new home now and I am really grateful to the Lord for his provision. However, what I am more thankful for is the way the Lord showed his presence all over this situation. Miracle after miracle, prayer after prayer. I felt for the first time in my life I truly held onto Him for dear life because I could do absolutely NOTHING to change my circumstance, but I knew He could.
During these last three weeks I also attended two funerals, both men who went before what we would consider their time. One of them was named Eric and he was 36 years old when he died after an 12 month battle with cancer. He and his wife had been married 18 months. Needless to say, it was a devastating death for all involved. But the funeral was the most amazing I have ever been to. During his illness Eric came back into a relationship with the Lord. He went from listening to death metal and Beastie Boys to insisting on praise music being on in his room 24/7. Toward the end, he would throw up every 30 minutes all day and night. His wife said sometimes during trips to the bathroom he would sing songs to the Lord.
She stood up at the funeral and spoke of his peace during his illness and the fact that he had reached his ultimate healing. She explained how Eric would want everyone there to come into a relationship with the Lord and if they did it was all worth it. That is BIG stuff!! That is not something we can blow off and not "sweat". That is the ultimate nightmare - but Leah and Eric used it ultimately for God's glory. She is a 36 year old widow but she knows God is taking care of her. WOW I will leave you with some lyrics from a song he requested to be played at his funeral. Thank you for listening to my ramblings.
I love the song 'Held' by Natalie Grant. Some of the lyrics are "we're asking why this happens to us who have died to live, it's unfair. This is what it means to be held, how it feels when the sacred is torn from your life and you survive. This is what it is to be loved and to know that the promise was when everything fell, we'd be held." Thank you Jesus that you promise to always hold us up in our weakness.
The last few weeks I felt like my world was falling. We sold our house and purchased another but in the long process, through no fault of our own, we ended up moved out of our home with nowhere to go for over two weeks. It was extremely stressful and emotionally draining figuring everything out. We are in our new home now and I am really grateful to the Lord for his provision. However, what I am more thankful for is the way the Lord showed his presence all over this situation. Miracle after miracle, prayer after prayer. I felt for the first time in my life I truly held onto Him for dear life because I could do absolutely NOTHING to change my circumstance, but I knew He could.
During these last three weeks I also attended two funerals, both men who went before what we would consider their time. One of them was named Eric and he was 36 years old when he died after an 12 month battle with cancer. He and his wife had been married 18 months. Needless to say, it was a devastating death for all involved. But the funeral was the most amazing I have ever been to. During his illness Eric came back into a relationship with the Lord. He went from listening to death metal and Beastie Boys to insisting on praise music being on in his room 24/7. Toward the end, he would throw up every 30 minutes all day and night. His wife said sometimes during trips to the bathroom he would sing songs to the Lord.
She stood up at the funeral and spoke of his peace during his illness and the fact that he had reached his ultimate healing. She explained how Eric would want everyone there to come into a relationship with the Lord and if they did it was all worth it. That is BIG stuff!! That is not something we can blow off and not "sweat". That is the ultimate nightmare - but Leah and Eric used it ultimately for God's glory. She is a 36 year old widow but she knows God is taking care of her. WOW I will leave you with some lyrics from a song he requested to be played at his funeral. Thank you for listening to my ramblings.
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this Solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
No guilt in life, no fear in death This is the power of Christ in me From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I stand
LOL
It says in Scripture that we were created in the image of God. I know a lot of funny people, so I'm thinkin' Jesus must have been pretty funny too. He did create laughter after all. Sometimes I like to think about conversations he might have had with the children that used to follow him around while he was on earth. Can't you just see them lining up for their turn to have Jesus spin them around? And when they got so dizzy they both fell over, he would throw his head back and have a good belly laugh.
I have no doubt he still laughs with us as we fellowship with each other and enjoy the relationships he has blessed us with. And when my son tells me at the dinner table that he and his best friend named their nipples at school that day, I think Jesus may have spit soda out of his nose along with us!
What do you want to do?
This post has been inspired by a couple of things. The fact that I am turning 33 in a couple days and a new show that is on (of all places) MTV. The show is called 'The Buried Life' and is similar to 'The Bucket List' in that it is a list of things this group of guys want to do before they die. I realize that in itself this is not such a novel idea. What caught my attention, however, was that when they travel from city to city, they stop and ask people what one thing they want to do before they die. They then pick one person to help make their dream come true.
The fact of the matter is this - I don't know what I would say?!? I mean Jesus changed the WORLD by the time he was 33 and I still can't seem to get my priorities in check! Of course I realize I am by no means Jesus -but it has made me sit back and think about what it is HE wants me to do with my life while I'm here. My mind immediately goes to big 'Mother Teresa' type things or famous 'sing on Broadway' type things but what keeps coming back to my mind is the fact that not everyone can be a Mother Teresa or Julie Andrews.
But ya know what? We can all be that volunteer at the food bank who makes the single mom feel a little less embarrassed about asking for food. Or the sender of an anonymous check to a family we know is in need. Or the counselor on the other end of the phone at a crisis pregnancy center. Or the mom who is there to pick up her child when they fall and scrape their knee. God has different plans for each and every one of our lives and although we might not all have our names on the side of a building, we can make a life-changing difference for every person put in our path if we keep our eyes and ears open to His leading.
I never thought I would say this, but thank you MTV. Thank you for making me think about my everyday life and how it does or does not make a difference on that list of 'before I die'. So my question to you is this....what are the things you are doing before you die? In what ways have you allowed God to use you in the lives of others. We all have a great story to tell and I want to hear them, so bring 'em on!
"Every little action of the common day makes or unmakes character and that therefore what one has done in the secret chamber, one has some day to cry aloud from the house-top."
Oscar Wilde
As for me and my house....
At the forementioned leadership retreat, we were challenged to make a prayer journal. Our leader not only supplied us with the idea but also the notebooks and scrap stuff to make one! We had so much fun putting them together but more importantly it has given me a way to keep track of answered prayer and God's faithfulness even when we may not get the answer we want. I thought it was such a great idea I would share it with you and maybe you can start your own!
You will have to tilt your head because I can't figure out how to turn the pic! ha ha Anyway, this is the cover of my notebook - of course you can be creative as you want. I'm sure some of you scrapbookers could come up with adorable things!
I made different sections using sheet covers and labeling them for each person I wanted to pray for. I want to eventually put a picture of them on their tab but haven't gotten to that yet. Also, I will pray for certain people certain days so I don't get totally overwhelmed and quit!
Here are the tabs I have made: Chris (husband), Sydni and Colby (kids), family (mom, dad, sister, brother, etc) and friends. Then I put an 'immediate' tab for things like the earthquake in Haiti yesterday. And a 'thanks' tab so I don't forget to thank God for all his blessings. And finally a 'notes' tab to write down insights he gives me while I'm reading scripture and praying. Eventually I'm sure I will add more tabs but for now I'm excited about using this small tool to become a prayer warrior (princess ;) )!
Here are the tabs I have made: Chris (husband), Sydni and Colby (kids), family (mom, dad, sister, brother, etc) and friends. Then I put an 'immediate' tab for things like the earthquake in Haiti yesterday. And a 'thanks' tab so I don't forget to thank God for all his blessings. And finally a 'notes' tab to write down insights he gives me while I'm reading scripture and praying. Eventually I'm sure I will add more tabs but for now I'm excited about using this small tool to become a prayer warrior (princess ;) )!
What does your blinker sound like?
When I am driving anywhere, anytime, my car is noisy! Whether it is the kids yelling, singing, arguing, the radio blaring, or just a conversation I'm having on my cell phone. It's all noise, all the time. I don't make noise on purpose, it just kinda happens. If I get in my car, the radio goes on without a second thought. I went to a leadership retreat this weekend and our leader was talking about 'abiding in the Lord' and do we even know what that means? Through prayer, bible reading and study, worshiping, uplifting conversations with friends about the Lord - sure - I know that. One thing I forget about is the SILENCE part. We can abide in the Lord simply by sitting in his presence (or driving as the case may be) and doing nothing but being quiet! What an unbelievable idea! I don't have to DO anything, just enjoy Him! So I tried it yesterday while I was running errands. No radio, no cell phone. And guess what? I heard what my blinker sounded like for the very first time! It's a pretty typical sounding blinker but let me tell you - it was a beautiful sound to me because it meant I was sitting quietly in the presence of my God, even if it was only as long as it took to get to Target!
Peace that passes all understanding.....
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6-7
I have read this verse many times since I was a kid. It's always been one of my favorites. Maybe because I worry too much. Maybe because I long for that deep in your soul, nothing can shake you kind of peace. Maybe it just sounded too good to be true. But it isn't! And today I witnessed this verse come to life.
I work part time, decorating at a retirement village. I am blessed to get to know the residents and enjoy them so much. They have such a wisdom that only comes from life experiences. My favorite is Gene. From the minute you meet Gene you know he loves the Lord. Not because he walks around carrying a Bible or quoting "all things work for good" when you're having troubles. But because he is ALWAYS ready with a word of encouragement and praise on his lips, whether for you or his God. He asks people if he can pray with and for them and I know he really does it! When he sees you, you feel like he's been waiting just to see you all day. I think that may have been a little how Jesus was when he was here. My life is better because I know Gene.
Today he was telling me of a recent tragedy in his family. His great-granddaughter delivered a 1 lb. baby girl over the Christmas holiday. She lived for a short 25 minutes. Anyone can imagine the pain going on for the whole family right now.
Gene cried as he told me the story, understandably overcome with grief. He explained how the funeral home owners called the young, financially struggling couple and let them know that all expenses, minus the tombstone, were taken care of! This relieved just one small burden for these young parents. But Gene said the most amazing thing, "No one can tell me that God doesn't take care of his children, sweetheart. You always remember that." In the face of such tragedy and heartache he was praising the name of the Lord! I was so awestruck by his certainty in the love of God despite the circumstances and the peace that flowed from that.
That is what we long for in this life people! That is what God offers us when we let go of control and really trust him with our lives. THAT is the peace that passes all understanding!
Philippians 4:6-7
I have read this verse many times since I was a kid. It's always been one of my favorites. Maybe because I worry too much. Maybe because I long for that deep in your soul, nothing can shake you kind of peace. Maybe it just sounded too good to be true. But it isn't! And today I witnessed this verse come to life.
I work part time, decorating at a retirement village. I am blessed to get to know the residents and enjoy them so much. They have such a wisdom that only comes from life experiences. My favorite is Gene. From the minute you meet Gene you know he loves the Lord. Not because he walks around carrying a Bible or quoting "all things work for good" when you're having troubles. But because he is ALWAYS ready with a word of encouragement and praise on his lips, whether for you or his God. He asks people if he can pray with and for them and I know he really does it! When he sees you, you feel like he's been waiting just to see you all day. I think that may have been a little how Jesus was when he was here. My life is better because I know Gene.
Today he was telling me of a recent tragedy in his family. His great-granddaughter delivered a 1 lb. baby girl over the Christmas holiday. She lived for a short 25 minutes. Anyone can imagine the pain going on for the whole family right now.
Gene cried as he told me the story, understandably overcome with grief. He explained how the funeral home owners called the young, financially struggling couple and let them know that all expenses, minus the tombstone, were taken care of! This relieved just one small burden for these young parents. But Gene said the most amazing thing, "No one can tell me that God doesn't take care of his children, sweetheart. You always remember that." In the face of such tragedy and heartache he was praising the name of the Lord! I was so awestruck by his certainty in the love of God despite the circumstances and the peace that flowed from that.
That is what we long for in this life people! That is what God offers us when we let go of control and really trust him with our lives. THAT is the peace that passes all understanding!
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