Ready for a New Year

When 2013 began, I wasn't sure what to expect.  Looking back I see the ups and downs that go with any year.  It's a good time to celebrate the things that were accomplished and reconsider things that maybe didn't go so well.  Reviewing a year is often like reading Ecclesiastes 3, as there is a time to every purpose under heaven.

A new year comes with new dreams and new plans.  I was talking about New Year's resolutions with my 7 year old.  I told her we should make some together, like eating some fruit each day and brushing our teeth every night.  She looked at me like I had lost my mind.  :)   But you know, resolutions are just plans we make in an effort to create a good habit.

Proverbs 16:9 A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.

So I'll begin making  plans and watch where The Lord directs my steps. I will even still hope that He thinks it is also a good idea for us to brush our teeth each night.

The Star

It's the Sunday before Christmas and it's been raining all day.  I've been staring at my Christmas tree for a while, noticing the star on top.  Many people place an angel on top of their tree, but I've always been partial to a star. Yes, an angel told the shepherds about the birth of Jesus, but a star was used to lead the wise men.

Matthew 2:1-2  Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

As a child I believed the typical kid's Christmas program that the wise men visited Jesus on the night he was born.  When I began reading the Bible on my own I realized that those events occurred years apart.  (It's not like they could hop on a plane and arrive that night.)  

I've also wondered if His very own star followed Jesus during His entire life on earth.  Did it always mark His location?  What did it look like?  Did the star die the very moment He died on the cross?  

Those are some of my 'when I get to heaven questions'.  Until then, I'll just look at that star on top of my tree and enjoy knowing a unique star lead people to Jesus.

Merry Christmas!

My Poor Tree

As I was leaving the house for church last Sunday, I noticed that my Japanese Maple had a broken limb and was missing some of its bark.  The tree is only about 3 feet tall and I've been so careful with it this year trying to keep it healthy and growing.  We had a lot of rain that weekend, along with a few thunderstorms so I thought the damage was from the weather.  A few days later my sister visited and informed me that there was a buck in my yard and that it is breeding season. So now I have a buck marking my yard as part of its territory and doing its best to kill my only Japanese Maple.

I'm a little upset, but I can't blame the deer.  We live where they live and we share the land.  As I searched the Bible I wasn't sure what God might have to say about this.  The verse I found made me chuckle.

Psalm 29:9  The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth, And strips the forests bare; And in His temple everyone says, “Glory!”

Do you think the phrase 'and strips the forest bare' could be a reference to that buck striping the bark off my tree?  Why not?  I like knowing that in the most unusual events God already knew exactly what would happen.  

Surgeries and Shots

This week revolved around doctors and hospitals for my family and friends.  Last Monday my best friend was bitten by a stray cat that she had been trying to catch for weeks.  Still unable to catch the little monster meant that she had to begin the series of rabies shots to be safe.  On Tuesday my Dad had cataract surgery.  Also on Tuesday, a good friend from work had back surgery to remove a tumor that was pressing against her spinal cord.  It was a week when I found myself praying for both the wisdom of the doctors and the healing of the patients.

James 5:15a And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. 

I am happy to report that my best friend is halfway through her shots, my Dad is recovering (and I find it odd to see him without glasses), and the one who had back surgery is finally home and regaining her strength.  I don't like for my family and friends to hurt, but I'm awfully glad that a prayer of faith is available to help them as well as me.

The Christmas Village

Why is it that a week away from work, with no travel plans, never turns out quite the way you envisioned it?  In my desire to get as much done as humanly possible around the house, I tended to get side-tracked on things that I did not plan.  In fact I spent an entire day putting up a Christmas village with lighted houses, tiny people and fake snow.

I wasn't working. I wasn't cleaning. I wasn't checking items off my never ending to-do list. I was just trying to figure out how to make 17 houses sit around my dining room without looking scrunched or tacky.  It was a challenge but I think I did it.  Some may even wonder why I would put such an effort into a secular Christmas display, but even a village reminds me of Jesus' life on earth.

Matthew 9:35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Thinking back, I don't regret putting up the village when I could have spent that time cleaning the basement or garage.  I intend to turn on my Christmas village every evening for the entire month of December to enjoy the peaceful scene, knowing believers have walked through scenes just like it to tell the Good News.

Changes

If you've been reading my posts this fall, you know I've been working on changing my diet due to food allergies.  I'm still adjusting to the restrictions and testing different foods.  I've discovered that I can eat the old-fashioned chocolate oatmeal drop cookies as long as I use almond milk instead of cow's milk. This is wonderful considering the sweet tooth I've always had!  Beyond a few allergic reactions, the results have been almost unbelievable.  In less than 3 months, I've lost 25 pounds!  I'm back to what I weighed in my 20s and I celebrated by buying new jeans.

I've changed what I eat.  I had a problem, found a solution, reached a goal and I'll need to keep working on the solution so that I don't end up with the same problem again.  However, one day I will no longer need to be concerned with food allergies. 

I Corinthians 15:52 ...in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

The Pleasure of a Good Book

I actually had two days this week with no meetings scheduled, so I should have hunkered down in my office to catch up on the day-to-day work.  There was plenty of work at home too, but I wanted a break from everything so I took two days off.

When my body and my mind are tired I've found the best thing to do is just sit, read and escape for a while.  I had saved up a few books by my favorite author, Dee Henderson.  It had been so long since I had carved out time to read that I had forgotten what a great writer she really is.  She pens what I would call a Christian crime drama.  By the end of each book you know the characters because they've become your friends.  You feel their stress and joys.  You understand their questions for God and their conversations with God.  You've probably even had some of those same conversations.

Dee Henderson was blessed with an extraordinary talent for writing.  She has chosen to use it for God's glory.  I wonder if I'm using my talent for God's glory.

Romans 12:4-6a For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them.

I encourage you to read Dee's work.  She's written 18 novels and it's hard for me to pick a favorite.  I would suggest starting with the O'Malley Series.  Dee's current goal is to get teenage girls to read this series for examples of good Christian relationships as they begin to date.  What a splendid idea!

Meetings, Meetings, and Something Else

Over a third of my just completed workweek was spent in meetings.  I can handle a couple of meetings and still get my work done, but seven meetings in five days was a bit overwhelming.  I don't like it when I can't just sit, think, plan and do what needs to be done.

In the midst of it all, my son had an earache, so I scheduled a doctor's appointment during a lunch break between two meetings.  Fortunately he only had a cold - so we went to grab some lunch instead of having to grab a prescription.  I could have taken him back to school but he asked nicely and I took him back to the office with me.  I knew he could handle some down time.  I'm so proud of him as he was recently given a Golden Helmet Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement and Athletic Performance in football.

II Timothy 2:5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

It's not often I get the pleasure of an afternoon listening to a 13 year old tell me about his world (along with how out of touch I am).  As the day wore on, I happily finished with my last meeting, knowing I would get to spend more time with my son.  I even convinced him that he wanted a haircut - quite an accomplishment with a teenager.  :)

Talent to Share

This week I crashed our church's Wednesday night Halloween event for our kindergarten, first and second graders.  I had heard that one of our church members had quite a talent for pumpkin carving and was going to tell the Salvation story to the youngsters.  I wanted to see what he had in store and I am so glad I did! He lit the pumpkins and walked them around the room so all could see them as he told of...

the birth of Christ,

Christ as a man,

the Last Supper,

the Cross,

He is Risen,

and becoming a Child of God.

Yes, those were all carved in pumpkins and these pictures don't do them justice! (If you cannot see these pictures in the email, please open this entry on your computer.)

This has been on my mind all week. I was thrilled to have witnessed it and amazed by how a man can take an unusual talent and use it to teach others about Christ.

Philemon 1:6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

God made each one of us for a purpose.  Now I'm wondering.  What good thing did Christ place in me that will allow me to effectively share my faith?

A Precious Stone

My mom had a major birthday this week.  (I'll give you a hint...she can't say sixty-something anymore.).  I told mom that instead of a gift I would 'do something' for her and she got to pick what that would be.  Now my mom is not one to say, "Oh you don't have to do anything for me."  ;-)  She will choose and I will do.  (We've done this before and I never know what she will decide.)

Last Saturday she decided.  She brought me four pairs of pants to cut off and hem.  That might not seem like much for a birthday present, but it's what she wanted and I was happy to oblige.  I was able to do for her exactly what she wanted and needed.  Sometimes the simplicity of that just cannot be topped.

Proverbs 17:8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

So though it seemed small, I gave a gift to my mom that was hopefully precious in her eyes.  Happy Birthday Mama!  Love you!

Nature

I took a week off from work to clear my mind and get some chores done around my house.  Three of the days consisted of pruning trees.  I had about a dozen trees that needed major trimming - you know, the kind where the branches are so low that you can't mow the grass underneath.  My 7 year old helped out a great deal by gathering up the cut branches.  But once the new became old, she was no longer a happy camper.  Her comment at the end of day one was, "I don't like nature when we work."

Me, I like nature best when I work.  When I'm outside I like to be doing something.  I want a goal and a way to pursue it.  I want to see a result that will make me feel good about what I have done.  And the same applies to my desire to see a result in what I can do for Christ.

Philippians 3:12-14 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do,forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

May we all find it in our 'nature' to press toward the goal that Christ has given each of us.

Think Positive, Act Positive

This week I ate lunch with a friend I don't get to see very often.  We sat outside on a bench and chatted about life.  She wants us to start getting together once a week so we can share some 'positive' time.  I'm happy she thinks spending time with me can be good for her.  I know it will be good for me.  So instead of a Power Lunch, we will plan to have a Positive Lunch each week.

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.

It seems we are all surrounded by negatives - the daily news, our same old routines, difficulties at work, struggles at home, etc.  Let's instead fill our minds with the positives that we sometimes overlook - the roof over our heads, jobs that we have, family who loves us, friends who care, the Good News of Christ, and a life God gave us to enjoy.

Attack!

As soon as I published my blog last week, I thought to myself, "It's time for Satan to attack."  Once I had accepted that my new diet was going to be a good path to follow, I had a feeling that a roadblock was just around the corner.  As it turns out, I didn't have to wait long.  In less than 24 hours my trial came.

I was trying to be very careful in my choices of foods and I found what I thought would be a good substitute for crackers.  None of the ingredients were on my 'do not eat' list, so I gave them a try.  Wrong!  I had a severe allergic reaction to the crackers.  Within minutes I felt like my face was on fire!  My face and neck turned a deep red and stayed that way until I had some allergy medicine in my system.  The heat from my face defrosted a pack of frozen fruit and my sweet office mates kept vigil with me until they knew I was not in danger, that is, eight ladies stared at me until the worst of the redness went away.  :o)

James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

So even though my afternoon took an unexpected turn, I count it as joy because I was surrounded by the love of the people I work with and I became more determined to stay on my diet.  God is good, especially when things go wrong!

Tired No More

It's been five weeks since I told you about my detox diet of all-natural foods, so I thought I would update you with my progress.  In thirty days I lost 14 pounds!  I'm wearing clothes that I haven't worn in years.  My energy level is improving and I've stopped fading in mid-afternoon.  Other than walking, I haven't even exercised.  It's all about the food and some natural supplements where my body is deficient.

Last week I returned to the medical clinic to get the results from the various tests that were run.  I was pretty upset to learn that in the food allergy test my blood had a severe reaction with milk and moderate to strong reactions with wheat, gluten, rye, cucumbers, lemons and peaches!  However I am not allergic to peanuts! (Thank you, Jesus!)  Still, have you ever read a label to any of the packaged food we buy?  They all seem to have wheat, gluten or milk.  Plus, I'm to stay on a diet that is free of these items for at least a year.  Is it a simple diet?  Yes.  Is it an easy diet?  No - mainly because I'll need to plan ahead and not just run to a fast food place when I get hungry.

Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening [discipline] seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

After mulling over the results for a few days, I have decided that this is not a death sentence, but rather a LIFE sentence.  By eating all-natural foods, I'm allowing my body to operate the way God designed it.  I'm feeling better and hope to stay that way.

A Time to Laugh

Ecclesiastes 3:4 "...and a time to laugh;..."

Q: What kind of lights did Noah have on the Ark?

Adults just don't take the time to really laugh, but sometimes Jesus presents laughter like a buffet.  My 'time to laugh' started at 2:30 a.m. last Thursday while away at a conference.  I was asleep when I awoke to the sound of my roommate heading to the bathroom.  Well at that time of the night, I knew I would have to go too.  Soon I took my turn and went back to bed.  My roommate started asking me it I had been up during the night, if the toilet was leaking, or if I had been sleepwalking and put a towel in the toilet. What??? After a crazy few minutes of inane discussion, we finally determined that a towel had rolled off the rack above the toilet and found its way into the water.  Now finding a towel in the toilet is not funny.  But thinking your roommate was sleepwalking and shoving towels into toilets, then taking wash cloths to pick up the soaked towel and toss it in the tub was hysterical at 2:30 in the morning. It took us a while to go back to sleep. :o)

Later that morning the keynote speaker was Barbara Dooley, the wife of former UGA football coach Vince Dooley.  She's the female version of Lewis Grizzard.  For an hour, she told us hilarious and uplifting stories that made the day even better.  I especially loved the story about their 5 year-old son, clinging to his Dad's leg on the sidelines of a UGA/GATech game when UGA was way ahead, but Tech began scoring.  Vince kept trying to get him to let go, but his son wouldn't.  Tech scored again, then Vince got down in his child's face and asked what was so important? His son said, "Don't worry Daddy, Jesus is just having a little fun!"

Psalm 126:2-3 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing.  Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”  The Lord has done great things for us, And we are glad.

Q: What kind of lights did Noah have on the Ark?
A: Flood Lights.

Back in Time

It happened.  I traveled back in time yesterday.  I took my child to a birthday party at a local skating rink.  It had been 35 years since I had gone to a rink.  I wasn't sure what it would be like after so long,  but it was unbelievably the same. The rink was a mix of kids and teens, ranging from the expert skaters to the ones who met the floor often.  The concession stand and video games were there. The songs were either the same (Hokey Pokey & The Limbo) or very similar since today's country crossover is a lot like the sounds from the late 70s & early 80s.  In my mind I could hear Mrs. Means saying, "All skate, everyone skate."  

Why wasn't it different? Wouldn't it have become something else after more than 3 decades?  Why, after years of technological advances, was the only change playing CDs instead of records?  Why was I looking for something different?  

What worked 35 years ago works now.  And what worked 2000+ years ago also works now.

Romans10:9  that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

We need only look back in time to find the single most important event in the world and in our own life.  We cannot improve upon perfection.

Owner's Manual

I spent a long Labor Day weekend in Pigeon Forge.  I was 'glamping' with my parents (glamorous camping in an RV).  However there was no Internet service, so I missed an entry on this blog.  I was told by one reader that it was no excuse for not posting.  All I can say is that it's nice that someone noticed.  ;o)

Each time I travel to and from Pigeon Forge, it never ceases to amaze me that the vast majority of drivers use their brakes constantly while driving down the steep mountain roads.  It makes me think that people aren't really familiar with what their vehicle can do.  Don't they realize that even in an automatic they can shift to a lower gear?  Have they not read the Owner's Manual for their vehicle?  It is absolutely amazing what a car can do now.  But if people aren't familiar with those amazing things, the car might as well not be able to do them.

As followers of Christ, we too are made to do amazing things.  But if we are not familiar with those amazing things, we can't begin to do them.  I've read His Owners Manual and I am stunned by what He claims we can do.

John 14:12-13  Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

I have never been able to understand how I could even come close to doing even one work that Jesus did.  And yet, the Bible shows that I not only can, but will.  I wonder what holds me back?

Tired of Being Tired

My health for the past few years has been marginal.  Not that I'm sick a lot, I'm just tired and weary much of the time.  So, I've decided to try to improve my health.  I found a medical center that practices integrated medicine (healing-oriented medicine using conventional and alternative ways of healing).  I have no real clue what my problem(s) might be, but I like the idea of a healing-oriented approach.  I don't want to take medicine to treat symptoms that otherwise might never go away.  But the thought of actually healing a problem is very attractive. 

After my visit this week, I was asked to try a detox eating plan in an effort to rid my body of impurities and help determine if I might have food allergies.  With a trunk-load of supplements and my detox plan in hand, I started my journey on Wednesday.   Since then I have given up all that I would normally eat, and I've added food that hasn't been processed.  In essence, I've returned to what God had planned from the beginning.

Genesis 1:29 And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.  

In less than a week I've begun to lose weight, sleep better, and I have a little more energy. This could be a very interesting journey. 

CrossSums Turns One

This week marks one year since I began writing this blog.  As I look back over my posts, it is like reading a diary.  I see the ups and downs, the victories and struggles, the mundane and unexpected, the serious and silly.  These are the events that anyone may experience during any given year.  The one constant in each post is Christ.

Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Jesus is with us in everything we do.  He sees all, hears all, knows all and feels all.  He is the One who always says, "I am here."  Keep that in mind as you go through this week and see how often you find yourself 'Adding Christ to Every Day'.

Neti Pots and Baby Bottles

After years of sinus infections, one of my friends advised me to use a Neti Pot.  No way, I'm not pouring water in my nose!  I had memories of chlorine and ocean water burning my sinuses every time I attempted to swim.  And if you've never seen anyone use a Neti Pot, it's not pretty.  You must dilute 1/4 tsp of salt in a cup of warm water then pour it in one nostril and let it drain out the other.  Very reluctantly I tried it.  It worked: bye, bye sinus infections!

Several years have passed now and I use the Neti Pot almost daily.  I always used tap water and sea salt, but I started reading stories about people dying from bacteria attacking their brain after doing exactly what I had been doing!  'Experts' said to use distilled water.  Did they really think that I would spend the time to heat distilled water, somehow get it to the correct temperature, and use it instead of the tap water (which I could adjust to the desired temp in seconds)?

I considered the stove or the microwave, but nothing appealed to me because I didn't want to go to another room while I was trying to get ready for the day.  It wasn't until I thought about the temperature of the water that I found my solution.  What else ever needed to be at body temperature? That's right, milk in baby bottles!  And what better way to warm liquid to body temperature than to use a bottle warmer?  So I purchased a bottle warmer and a baby bottle.  It worked!  A new use for a bottle warmer.

John2:6-7 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.  Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.

At the wedding in Cana, Jesus used what he had for another purpose.  The manner of purifying of the Jews was to allow them to present themselves clean before God during ceremonies. The six waterpots were there for the Jewish wedding guests to wash their hands before entering the wedding area.  Jesus re-purposed the waterpots to be the containers for the best wine at the wedding.  

Now I have my Neti Pot hanging from a banana holder, a bottle warmer for the distilled water and a crystal container for the sea salt.  I feel rather foolish telling you all of this, but I think it can be good to use what you have for other purposes.

Sent from my iPad

Ouch!

After a very stressful week at work, I spent Saturday trying to unwind.  Mindless manual labor was the plan of the day.  Late in the evening the weather was cool and I decided to mow the lawn.  Then over an hour into the job, my mower surprised a yellow jacket nest and they surprised me!  First my right leg, the my left index finger were hit with stings.  Much pain, but I thought I could shake it off and finish the job.  Uh, no.  When I got close to the area, one got me on the nose!  Quadruple ouch!

That was it, I was done.  The pain was awful.  I was crying.  I called my parents and within a minute my dad was barreling across the field in his SUV. (Who needs roads, right?)  Thankfully I didn't have an allergy to the stings.  I was even more thankful for Benedryl, Cortisone10 and the TLC from mom and dad!

This is an event I won't forget, at least not while here on earth.  It's pain like that which makes a person long for heaven.

Revelation 21:4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

For now I'll just nurse my injuries and wait upon The Lord.

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. 

Unfamiliar Surroundings

My 7 year old wanted her best friend to spend the night.  Saturday at 5 p.m., our guest arrived.  They played, they ate, played and ate some more.  They begged to stay up later than normal, then watched a video.  At 10 p.m. I declared it was time for bed.  I read a story, but they didn't listen.  We said our prayers and I kissed them goodnight, leaving them in a fit of giggles.

I was hoping they would settle down and drift off to sleep, but alas it was not so.  Perhaps it was just wishful thinking.  Each of them had stayed overnight with family members, but this was the first time for a friend sleepover.  On 20 minute intervals they came in my room to ask what they should do to go to sleep, to ask for another snack, to ask for water, to tell me they were scared, to get a hug, and to ask again how to go to sleep.  My advice was go to bed, close your eyes and stop talking, but they kept getting up and kept talking.

At midnight, I went in their room and told them I was going to sit in the floor until they fell asleep.  My only rule was that they couldn't talk.  Within 5 minutes they were both asleep.

Proverbs 1:33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.

We would have gotten a few more hours of sleep if only they had listened to my advice.  But then again, I don't always listen carefully to God's advice.  When I have unfamiliar situations, I ask God what to do.  But I'm not sure that I listen.  Instead I continue with questions like: how should I act, how should I react, what should I say, what should I not say, when will it be over, why am I in this situation, am I doing the right thing, am I doing the wrong thing, will I be writing a blog about it, etc.

I think I'll tuck this lesson away and pull it out the next time things are not familiar.

A New Rhythm

Once upon a time, I was a teacher.  I taught for over 13 years and was accustomed to the rhythm of working for 10-15 weeks then having down time of one or two weeks.  During those breaks I would tackle big projects such as painting a room, staining a porch, spring cleaning the house, or working in the yard.

For the past 10 years I've been working in a position with standard annual leave and sick leave.  I take sick leave if the kids are ill or if I'm too sick to walk.  I take annual leave when trips are planned.  Most days I return home with little drive to do anything except what is absolutely necessary.

I felt good on Friday.  I spent Friday evening and all day Saturday cleaning and organizing.  While working I kept wondering if I would ever finish, and if I did finish how would I ever maintain it.

Titus 2:7-8  In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

I  now realize that without those regular extended breaks, I can't complete the big projects - so I don't start them.  Bad idea!   My rhythm is off and somehow I need to establish a workable pattern.  This verse speaks of doctrine, but it also says "In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works".  I'm ready for God to send me a new pattern.  Ten years is long enough to be out of sync.  

Graduation Day

The mom of a dear friend graduated this week.  Instead of a cap and gown, she wore a robe and crown.  Instead of a marching band, she was serenaded by a choir of angels.  Instead of the conferring of a degree, she was told, "We'll done, thou good and faithful servant." (Matthew 25:21)

John 10:27-28. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

As a Christian, you may view someone 'going home' as bittersweet.  You will miss them in the worst way, but you are proud that they graduated to their eternal life with Jesus.  Sometimes you may even feel a twinge of envy, but just know that it is not your time.  God still has things for you to do to advance His kingdom.

Philippians 3:13-14. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

May we all be as faithful as Mrs. Kelley in hearing God's voice and pressing toward the mark.

Being a Hoarder vs. Being Thrifty

You already know that I enjoy estate sales.  I especially get carried away when I find anything to do with sewing or crafts.  In the past few months I have had the great fortune to visit a couple of sales and for unbelievably low prices, I was able to buy all of the craft stuff or all of the sewing stuff that remained at each sale.

Your thinking a couple of boxes of stuff, right?  Nay, nay.  It filled up 1/2 of my garage and a room inside the house.  My son and my aunt both mentioned the TV show 'Hoarders' when they saw the piles of fabric, yarn, thread, zippers, etc.  However I believe I am being thrifty.  I know that the time invested in sorting will provide for me many years of projects and very few trips to the craft/fabric stores.  In the past week, I've spent several days sitting, sorting, moving, organizing and trashing items as I wade through in search of my "fabulous finds".

Matthew 13:47-49 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.  So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just.

As a believer in Jesus Christ, isn't it great that God will gather you up as one of His "fabulous finds"?  Think about that whenever you take the time to gather the good and cast away the bad.

The Comforts of Home

When the kids go somewhere overnight, they are looking forward to fun and excitement.  When I go somewhere overnight, I'm looking forward to lots of silence and going to the bathroom without a little one coming in to make sure I don't disappear.  This was it!  The week I got to stay overnight in Atlanta after an all day meeting.  I stayed at the Hotel Indigo, an older hotel in Midtown.  My room was lovely, overlooking the Fox Theatre.  I began to settle in around 8:30 p.m.  I had the iPad all to myself.  I could read, I could surf the Internet, I could relax.  Aaaahhhh!

Then it happened.  The noise was incredible!  My door was directly across from the ice machine - literally 3 feet away.  It was facing my door.  I'm sure you're thinking that it couldn't be that bad, right?  Well, the ice buckets were galvanized pails! Every 15 to 20 minutes someone just had to get ice during the next 4 hours.  I'm not sure when I went to sleep, but I was certainly wishing I were at home in my own bed.

The next night as I was saying prayers with the little one, I truly thanked God for bringing me safely home and for the privilege of sleeping peacefully in my own bed.

Isaiah 32:18. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;

VBS

My 7 year old went to Vacation Bible School last week.  She had a wonderful time, made a new friend and learned more about Jesus and the Bible.  She loved the songs, so I bought the CD they had for the kids to sing along.  We've are playing it each day and she is teaching the songs to me.  It is so nice to see her excited about VBS!

Do you remember going to Vacation Bible School when you were a kid?  During summer vacation, kids with working parents were typically left with a relative.  My sister and I stayed with my grandparents.  There were TV reruns on the old Channel 17 (WTBS), trips to the library for books and playing outside.  No video games, no Disney Channel, no summer camps.  But, there was VBS!

One week each summer, the church bus picked us up for morning VBS.  There are two things that really stand out when I think of VBS.  I confessed Jesus as my Savior and I memorized Psalm 100.  I have taken both with me through many years.  A few years ago I was helping AWANA kids learn Bible verses.  One was working on Psalm 100.  She was having a little trouble and I mentioned that I had learned it as a kid also.  "Do it," she said.  To both our amazement, I recited it.  After more than 30 years, I could still say it.  

Colossians 3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Thank you to all of the VBS volunteers who dedicate their time to helping kids learn about Jesus.  It really makes a long-lasting and eternal difference.

A Gift for Dad

Just like on Mother's Day, Friday came and I had planned nothing for Dad this weekend.  I spent some time Friday night thinking about it.  By Saturday Daddy was headed to an estate sale and asked me to go, but I declined since I had come up with an idea for a Father's Day gift.

A few months ago, Dad and Mom were working on finishing some basement rooms.  Halfway through the project, Daddy got sick and had to stop working on it.  He and Mom had put up sheetrock and he had spackled the walls.  Aha!  A gift for Dad.

At 9 a.m. on Saturday morning I showed up at my parent's house and told my mom that was going to work in the basement.  After she realized I was serious, we selected a room.  I gathered up my supplies and began sanding the walls.  (My little one was even with me, lending a hand.)

By 9 p.m. I finished painting the room.  (Earlier that evening, Dad and I had gone to the store and chosen a color named "relaxing green".)  Both my parents seemed thrilled that I had done this for them.  And all they had to do was feed me and buy the paint.  :o)

In case you are wondering about my ability to complete this project ...  my Dad taught me.

Proverbs 4:1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

Happy Father's Day to the best Dad ever!

I love you Daddy!

Graduation

Today we had a surprise party for my nephew.  Just a few weeks ago, he graduated from high school.  He is already working his summer job and is set to begin college this fall.  What happened?  Wasn't it just a few years ago when he was born; or when he burped in my face and gave me a whiff of what a full belly of baby formula smelled like?  Did he really just walk across the stage and pick up his diploma?

Time flies!  He was the first little one in our immediate family - so of course we spoiled him! Regardless, he has found his way: excelling in school, hunting, fishing, playing football, and best of all - following Jesus.  :)

So for my nephew and for all the new graduates, I wish you the true happiness that only God can give.

Psalm 144:11-12, 15 Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaks lying words, and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood—that our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as pillars, sculptured in palace style; ... Happy are the people who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!

Projects

About eight years ago I began a cross stitch project that was a bit ambitious.  It was a wall hanging of a palm tree.  After working on it several months and getting only a few leaves done, I put it away.  I had all intentions of picking it up again, but I was busy with a new baby, a five year old, a house to keep, and a full-time job.

Within the last year I pulled it out of the corner and began working on it again.  As the features began to take shape, I became more excited and eager to complete the project.  I'm happy to say that I put in the final stitch last week!

Just like my craft project, don't you think that when God begins a project (or good work) in you that He is excited from the first moment you acknowledge Him?  I believe He has joy watching the projects take shape as we work to do His will.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

How is your project going?  If you need to pick your project back up, go for it!  If you are unsure of your project, search for it! Whatever God has given you to do, He is with you every step of the way - encouraging you, assisting you, consoling you and covering you with His love.

A Day to Remember

Today was Memorial Day.  My daughter and I attended the local Memorial Day Parade with my mom, my aunt and a couple of friends.  It was great fun with high school bands, horses, motorcycles, old cars, fire trucks, crazy Shriner cars and lots of veterans.  People passed out small American Flags, candy, and flyers advertising local events.  

As I watched the parade, I thought about my Dad's father.  Papa served during WWII.  He so rarely spoke about it that I didn't even realize he was a veteran until I was almost 20 years old.  Like many servicemen, he viewed what he did as a duty and not as a path to receive glory.  

Luke 17:5-10 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”  So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’”

This passage is a little confusing to me because Jesus appears to be talking about two different things: faith as a mustard seed and a servant doing their duty.  We each have an assignment from The Lord.  In completing our assignment, we are as a servant doing our duty.  We have done nothing spectacular, but rather we completed a task that God himself gave us the ability to do.  Our reward is not in praise we might receive from others, but in the promise of eternal life - which comes through faith.

I think my Papa had it right when he looked on his military service as a duty, seeking no praise but having faith that all was as it should be.

Thank you to those who served in the U.S.Armed Forces!

The Flood - Revisited

As I look out my window at my rain-soaked yard, I thought it would be a good time to revisit my Noah's Ark question.  A biologist once told me that 'the story' was impossible because the ark could not have contained the waste produced by the animals for such a long period of time.  I just listened.  I didn't agree or disagree - mainly because I didn't know how to defend the account. After a little research using "A Pocket Guide to Noah's Ark" from Answers in Genesis, here is what I have discovered.

Genesis 6:15-16 And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall bethree hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits.  You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks.

Noah's Ark did not look like the cute little nursery ark that comes to mind.  It was BIG.  The Ark described in Genesis 6 had the same proportions of a modern cargo ship built to withstand waves.  The Ark was almost 500 feet long.  In comparison with another famous wooden vessel, the Santa Maria was roughly 100 feet long.  ( This was the largest ship used by Christopher Columbus on his 1492 voyage to the Americas.)

Noah's Ark had three levels.  Nests and stalls for the animals were constructed (Gen. 6:14).  Each level could have been divided like shelves in a closet.  The Bible isn't specific about the placement of food, water, animals or Noah's family.  Perhaps water and food were stored on the top level where gravity could be used to help pipe it where it was needed.  

So after the animals eat, we eventually have to deal with animal waste.  Well, how do pet stores deal with waste?  In general, the cages (or nests) have slatted floors for waste to fall through to a holding area.  Hmmm.  That could be done for each stall.  Wouldn't it smell?  Of course.  But people and animals once lived in the same houses, so they would have been accustomed to the smell.

Would there just be too much waste?  Well, there was a window on the Ark that could have been used for dumping.  Alternatively, since people in Noah's time took care of animals regularly, it is reasonable that they had experience with composting.

There are lots more fascinating things to learn about Noah's Ark.  If you have any specific questions, send them my way and I'll try to find some answers.

A Gift for Mom

About 1:30 p.m. on Friday I called my Mom and said, "Hey, there's an estate sale with sewing stuff.  Do you want to go?"  "Yeah, I'll go with you," she said.  By 3 o'clock Mom, Dad and I arrived at the sale.  The guy in charge was the one who sold me the sewing machines last fall.  I smiled and asked him where to find the sewing stuff.  He told me which room and off I went.  The room was full of fabric and I was thrilled to say the least.

We packed my car to overflowing.  There was not enough room for it all, so a return trip was planned first thing Saturday morning.  When we finally left around 6 p.m., my poor dad had to ride back with a dress form in his lap.  (That's like the torso of a mannequin.)  Mom was in the front with an aching back and a sore foot after helping sort through the sewing room.

We left at 7 a.m. the next morning.  Dad drove the truck and I rode with Mom in the SUV.  We ate biscuits and talked all the way there.  When they opened the doors, we loaded the rest of the stuff into the truck.  Even my 7 year old was a big help.  It was 9:30 a.m. by then, so we were ready to make a pass through the house.  At 11:15, we were finally done and both vehicles were full.   After a great lunch at a fifties-type diner, we headed home, utterly exhausted.

After church on Sunday, I visited with my parents for a few hours.  Daddy brought in Zaxby's and Mama made us a cherry cream cheese pie.  I gave Mama a big hug and said, "Happy Mother's Day!"

Proverbs 31:28a  Her children rise up and call her blessed; 

My Mom is so cool and all I gave her was an exhausting weekend and no Mother's Day gift!

So let me rise up and say: "I have the World's Greatest Mom!"

I love you, Mama!  Thank you for spending your weekend with me!
²⁸

The Flood

It's raining.  It's been raining for days.  My grass is going to be a foot tall when it finally dries out.  I'm not sure if my lawnmower is capable of cutting grass that tall.  I planted a couple of Magnolias a few weeks ago and watered them each day to be sure they survived the hot GA summer.  They will probably rot now because of so much water.  I'm sounding a little pessimistic, so let's turn this around.  

Lake Lanier is full.  There is no drought, after how many years?  The grass and trees are green, not brown.  I don't have to water any new trees or flowers.  The pollen is washed away!  It's not really a flood.

'The Flood' is told in Genesis.  Everyone recalls Noah and Noah's Ark.  

Genesis 7:23-24  So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive. And the waters prevailed on the earth one hundred and fifty days.

Have you ever had anyone question that account?  I have.  A biologist once told me that 'the story' was impossible because the ark could not have contained the waste produced by the animals for such a long period of time.  I just listened.  I didn't agree or disagree - mainly because I didn't know how to defend the account.  At this very moment, I'm still unsure about how to respond.  But I'm going to change that.

Today, Dr. Ken Ham from "Answers in Genesis" was our guest speaker.  Originally from Australia, he came to the U.S. 1987.  He is an outstanding presenter who really makes you think about your own views of the Bible.  Here is part of his bio.

A biblical apologist, Ken gives numerous faith-building talks to tens of thousands of children and adults each year (he receives hundreds of invitations to speak annually) on such topics as the reliability of the Bible, how compromise over biblical authority has undermined society and even the church (which is seeing a massive exodus of young people), witnessing more effectively, dinosaurs, “races,” etc. Ken co-founded AiG in 1994 with the purpose of upholding the authority of the Bible from the very first verse.

If you have never heard him speak, I encourage you to visit Blackshear Place Baptist Church May 5th and May 6th at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. both nights for four different presentations.  Dr. Ham and another guest, a former atheist, will be speaking.  If you can't make it, check out the website at answersingenesis.org.

I'll give you a Flood response soon.

Hi-Ya!

Over the past two weeks I have spent twelve hours taking a RAD Systems self defense course.  The course was designed to assist the average female from age 13 and up to recognize warning signs of a possible assailant and practice defensive counters to various attacks.  Let me just say that it was intense.  The last night of the class consisted of simulated attacks by policemen in full protective gear.  Even wearing my own protective gear, I still have a number of bruises and sore muscles three days later.  But I was able to get away from my attackers, thanks to knowing what to do and practicing the techniques.

Would I take the course again?  Absolutely!  Would I encourage other women to take the course? Without a doubt!  Why am I talking about this?  Because, this is one way to protect God's temple.

I Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

If you are a guard of the Temple of God, be prepared to defend His Temple.  Take good care of your body and know how to defend it from sickness, from hurts and from attacks.

I Corinthians 6:20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

I Can't Change the World

About two weeks ago, I got a new CD.  This week one of the songs became a little too true.  Here are some of the lyrics from "I Can't Change the World".
A bomb goes off in a far off city / A siren wails right here at home
Sometimes life ain't all that pretty / When you're watching it all alone

Our hearts were broken this week with the bombings in Boston and the explosions in Texas.  When the bombs went of, we could not fathom how someone could do such a thing, but Jesus can.

John 3:18-20 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 

The song continues ...

I can't change the world...but if you let me...I can change yours.

This is a love song about a guy who wants to make a girl's world a better place.  This could just as easily be Jesus' love song for us.  He has offered himself to the whole world but will only change the world of the individual who believes in Him.  He will change your world - if you let Him.

John 12:46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.
John14:27  Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

It is Finished (sort of)

I have spent many of my 'spare' moments in the last 5 months working on my sewing room.  Back in November when I wrote "Making Ready", I made a list of seven things that I needed to do.

Making Ready a Sewing Room        

1. Planning for the room                    

2. Filling in nail holes                        

3. Sanding the walls                           

4. Painting the walls                            

5. Step aside for the ceiling/lights    

6. Finish with the floor                     

7. Smile and start the sewing         
  

Well, I am happy to tell you that I finally completed steps 1-6.  I worked on the room all day Saturday and even moved in my sewing machine and bookcase.  However, I'm not sewing yet.  I want to organize my fabric and my projects.  I want to decorate.  I want to add seats to make the place comfortable.  I also want to edit the last step.  Step 7: Smile and continue in the things you have learned to make the room a place of joy for you and others.

II Timothy 3:14-15. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

When I was a child my mom and my grandmothers taught me to sew and crochet, but more importantly they taught me about Jesus.  I hope to continue practicing all I have learned from them in both my sewing room and in my life.

In The Zone

Have you ever been so focused that you gave every last drop of energy without realizing it?  That was me last Tuesday.  I was involved with a major project at work and I got into 'The Zone'.  It's when you are so focused that you lose track of time, plow through work non-stop and feel as if you are thinking more clearly than normal.  You make more progress than you have in days and you don't want to stop.  You push yourself to see how much you can accomplish.  Then you look at the clock and realize that you've been in 'The Zone' for 9 hours.  Finally you force yourself to leave, and realize you are on the edge of exhaustion.

Over-working is something that society has created to measure our worth.  It creates fatigue, anxiety and sometimes depression.  In fact, it made me unable to function by the end of the week.  I had to take the day off on Friday to recuperate because I never could shake the exhaustion from earlier in the week.  I don't believe God made us to work this way.  

III John 3:2. Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 

I need to balance all things so that I may prosper in all things and be in good health.  I can't give more attention to my mind than to my spirit or my body.  I pray that we all find that balance.

Do You Believe?

It's a simple question with an everlasting answer.  Do you believe Jesus Christ was the son of God, came to live on earth, died on a cross, and rose to life again - all for one simple reason?  Do you believe that the one reason was to provide a pathway for you to live with Him in heaven?

On Easter, my pastor presented a fabulous message.  He appointed us the jury for a trial of The People vs. Jesus of Nazareth on the claim that Jesus actually died and rose again.  He presented the case of the prosecution with various theories that Jesus did not really die, that He died but His body was kidnapped by His enemies or perhaps by His disciples.  He presented the defense with eyewitness accounts from  Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Mary Magdelene, Roman centurions and other guards, Nicodemus,  and Joseph of Arimathea.

Matthew 27:54 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God."

As the prosecution and defence rested, we the Jury were asked for our individual verdict in evidence presented in the case.  Do You Believe?  

If you question that Jesus actually lived and died for you, I encourage you to listen to the facts and theories presented in the March 31, 2013 sermon at www.bpbc.com.

Happy Easter!

Why do that?

I am a Dawg, that is a Georgia Bulldog.  UGA is my alma mater and the Dawgs have always been my team to follow.  We have strong state rivalries in the South and for UGA that would be Georgia Tech.  I have worn clothes and decorated rooms in red and black.  And until this weekend I have never made anything sporting the black and gold of GA Tech.  However, I made a black rug and marred it with a gold and black GT.

Why on earth would I do that?  Love.

I have a wonderful friend with a 12 year old son.  I had already made a baseball rug for his younger brother, so I asked his mom what her older son liked.  She said GA Tech.  I cringed.  No, not that!  I put it off for months, but I knew I was going to do it.  It was the best way to make that young man happy.

So as I was finishing off the gold GT, I began thinking about the fact that today was Palm Sunday.  On this day Jesus was riding a colt and being welcomed into Jerusalem, with worshipers placing palm leaves over the road for the colt to walk upon.  But in less than a week, Jesus would face horrific injury, humiliation and death.  Jesus knew these things would happen, but he accepted the task and became a living sacrifice for us.

John 12:27 Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 

Why on earth would He do that?  Love. 

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

The Big Bang

This week I have been surrounded by the Big Bang.  Depending on your age, this phrase might make you think of a TV show or a scientific theory explaining how the universe wasn't, then it was.   For me and a few dozen other people at work, the Big Bang was the nickname of the event last week when two very large databases were merged together.

Even when I tried to escape the impending work week, I saw a quilt at a sewing show entitled "The Big Bang" by Karla Dee from Houston, TX.  The quilt was a sign of the week that was to come.  It was in your face, bold, psychedelic, a little off and a slightly agitating.  

I was really on the periphery of the project, but I still felt the stress and pressure of making it work.  I can't imagine being the leader of something so massive, nor can I comprehend the intricacies of such a project. It's taking dozens of people an extraordinary amount of time in the attempt to make this work, but it only took one mighty God a few days to create all that we know, have and are. 

John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. ⁴ In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.