Pity Party's Over - Time to Flush

 winnond

Do you ever just mentally wake up one day and realize enough is enough?

I've slowly come to this point in my life.

Things have been downright sucky these past two years. I could go on and on about how sucky. I could give explicit detail, down to the nitty gritty suckiness of it all. But I won't.

I won't because it doesn't do you (or me) a bit of good to dwell on how sucky things are and how much we can't control them. Sometimes, it just is. I could easily wax philosophic about the meaning of it all. Why we struggle the way we struggle? Why some people seem to struggle more than others? And most importantly, why some people seem to come out of their struggles stronger, while others come out strangled (figuratively, speaking)?

I could address this now, but I'm not going to. I don't feel qualified right now to even begin to theorize these questions. Because when it comes right down to it, I'm currently in the middle of my struggle and I cannot make sense of it all - and to do so would be arrogant, if not, presumptuous.

I'd rather approach this subject at a later time, when I feel more equipped to give you the I-was-down-and-out-but-God-saw-me-through speech. I have no doubt that I'm going to come out the other side of this struggle stronger and wiser.  (I already did it once before.) I do trust God. I don't know His timing. I don't know His purpose. And I don't know what He wants me to learn in all of this.

But I've recently come to a conclusion. I need to be present in the journey.

In the past, when I've come through struggles, I only reflected after I was through the valley. While I was in it, I kicked and screamed wanting out of it as quick and as painless as possible. I feel my response to trouble is very, very human. After all, who enjoys struggle? Who enjoys pain? No one.

But maybe part of trusting God and His timing is to attempt to see the 'Why' in everything?

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you"

• Truth: God not only has a plan for you, he knows His plan. In other words, He's not flying by the seat of His pants thinking, "Let's see what happens." No. He knows. 

"Plans to prosper and not harm you"

• Truth: God is not out to 'get you'. I don't believe we are punished by God. I think the plans He has for us are good. He is not out to hurt you. He wants the best for you.

"plans to give you hope and a future"

• Truth: Our hope is in Him. Our future is in Him.

So, knowing these truths, can we ask ourselves why we go through trials and tribulations? We surely can.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perserverance. Perservance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

"No only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perservarance; perserverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."  Romans 5:3-5 

If we want to be completely honest with ourselves, when we reflect back on our hard times, those are the times when we grew - in our faith, withinin our relationships, and closer to God. And at the very least (as has been my experience), in my deepest and darkest moments when I wasn't walking closely with God, looking back, I can I see that He never left me. What an awesome truth!

I say all this to say that I've had a little pity party with myself for quite some time. I call it the Pity Pot. And I say it's time to flush. (Yes, it's a little crass - but is the visual not perfect?)

Nothing much has changed in my situation. I don't foresee anything changing tomorrow. Or next week. Or quite possibly, next month. My situation is going to take time to get through. I've been kicking and pouting, wanting it over for awhile now. I want my situation over. I want things better. Of course I do. I'm only human.

But much of my situation is out of my direct control. I can't "fix" it. And maybe that's a good thing. If there was a problem and I was able to fix it, would I learn anything from it? Would I grow?

Probably not.

Instead, I'm going to pause and think: "What am I to learn from this experience?" (Full disclosure: The idea was not my own. I've been talking to some very wise and God-fearing women. Or more likely, the Holy Spirit has been talking to me through them.) And if we subscribe to the idea that life has purpose (I believe it does) and that life is a journey (I'm starting to believe it is), then the purpose is in the journey. It's not the end game. It's the game itself.

I'm going to embrace my journey - embrace my race - and watch and see how God is going to use it for His glory.

freedigitalphotos

Until next time,

 

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How do I love thee, let me count the ways

freedigitalphotos

Confession (although I'm not Catholic). I've recently gone back to church. Before I went back to school, I had found a local church that I felt comfortable attending and dragging taking my kids to. But then I began to feel overwhelmed. I was overwhelmed with the school work of my classes. Between working all day, doing the mom stuff, the wife stuff, and the school stuff, I looked forward to Family Day. (For as long as I can remember, Sundays have been Family Day. I think it started because The Man Beast worked six days a week and the one day he was off, Sunday, we all wanted to spend together.)

One thing led to another and I stopped going to church. At first, I'd miss a Sunday here and there. Oh, people always understood. I had a lot on my plate, after all. Eventually, those Sundays that I went to church came further and further apart until one day, I stopped going altogether. I promised myself that I'd go back to church after all this "stuff" was taken care of.

That "stuff" was "taken care of" six months ago.


I kept the promise to myself, but I feel like I had a lot of pushes from God in the form of friends and other well-meaning people. All I have to say is thank God for very stubborn friends in my life who never stop their pursuits. (I have one friend who has been praying for my family since we moved to this community seven years ago.)

I finally took my friend/neighbor/Spiritual Mother up on her offer and attended church for the first time in a very long time. And I'm glad to be back "in the house".

But a funny thing happens when you stop going to church. You get out of The Word, too (at least I did). I have not broken out my Bible in a good two years (probably closer to three). It's true! My Bible had dust on it that first Sunday I pulled it off the shelf to take to church with me.

I've been cracking my Bible more frequently (and not just on Sundays). I've recently started reading Bad News Religion: The Virus That Attacks God's Grace by Greg Albrecht. In it, Albrecht discusses that pretty much any religion that makes you jump through hoops to "earn" God's love (good graces, if you will) is bad news.

I've had many "aha" moments while reading the book, but something poignant struck me, recently, that I'd like to share if you'll humor me a bit.

We all know this verse (or have a least heard of it):

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so must you love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:34-35)

We get it, right? Love one another. Okay, sure. I love you. I LOVE you. I love YOU! Okay, done.

Did you know that there are two Greek words for the word "love" that are used frequently in the New Testament? Philia is brotherly love (Philadelphia - City of Brotherly Love - get it?) This type of love is earned. I love you because you are my friend and I like you and you like me. But the other Greek word, agape, means a fatherly-type of love. You don't deserve it. You haven't earned it. A mother loves her child because it is her child. Nothing more. Nothing less. I love you because you are.

This agape love is how God loves us. So, in turn, when He commands us to love one another as He has loved us - woah! - we are to love one another unconditionally.

Um. Ooops. I kind of missed that for the past ten to fifteen years of my Walk. Did you?

Instead of giving love freely, I have been condemning under the guise of love. Or, I've been loving those who are like me. Think like me. Act like me. Look like me.

I am very polite. I'm not rude. I'm not vulgar. I'm not hateful (most of the time). I'm not spiteful (most of the time). But I am not what you would call lovable toward my fellow man. Not everybody. How can I do that?!?

I think 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 is an excellent start:

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,But keeps going to the end. (The Message)

Until next time,


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All of life's lessons can be explained (and solved) with Yoda

For an early Christmas present, the Man Beast received Star Wars: The Complete Saga box set. It is his favorite epic movie of all time and he's having a good time showing the Kiddos a timeless classic. It has taken us awhile to get through it, but tonight, we watched Return of the Jedi. While I was watching it, particularly the scene when Luke Skywalker meets Yoda for the first time, it dawned on me that much of life can be explained with Yoda:

 “Do or do not... there is no try.”

If you're going to do something, do it. If you approach something saying you'll try, it means that you will accept failure. Whatever we do in life, we should not accept failure. Instead, we should persevere.

“Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes. Even between the land and the ship.”

Regardless of your size (your age, your education, or how much money you make), you can accomplish great things.

“[Luke:] I can’t believe it. [Yoda:] That is why you fail.”

Success begins in the mind.

“Named must your fear be before banish it you can.”

Ultimately, we fear the unknown. Once it is known, we can begin to deal with it.

“The dark side clouds everything. Impossible to see the future is.”

While the dark side is primarily anger and fear in the movies, the dark side in our lives can be anything negative that clouds our judgement.

“Happens to every guy sometimes this does”

Stuff happens. To everyone. You are not alone. But it's also not the end of the world.

Until next time...

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Everyday People

This past Saturday, I made a one-hour trek out of town in order to take one (of many!) teacher examinations. For those not familiar, thanks to No Child Left Behind (and good, ol' common sense), teachers actually have to prove they can teach your children. (I will let you know in a month if I qualify.)


When you're driving by yourself, attempting to keep yourself awake after waking up and getting out of the door before the sun even rises (and most people are enjoying their Saturday sleep-ins), you tend to find things to do to keep yourself entertained. Considering my Droid Incredible 2 was busy making sure I didn't get lost (Google maps. Greatest. Invention. Ever.) and texting and driving is a tad on the illegal (not to mention, stupid) side, I listened to music.

Traveling through towns, radio stations are a tad sketchy. If I find one I like, chances are, in a couple of minutes it's going to be nothing but static. And static is stressful! As luck would have it, I had cleaned out my car a couple of days prior, so I found a CD I complete forgot I had!

It was Reba's Duets album. It's a great album. It really is. But I had forgotten how great until I heard "Everyday People". The song outlines the lives of three groups of everyday people. College seniors build Habitat for Humanity houses during their Spring Break. A young mother  is diagnosed with cancer and her friends and community pitch in to ensure her bills get paid. Another family moves into the Habitat house. (I'm getting chills just thinking about it.) The essence of the song is everyday people performing huge miracles by doing nothing more than just being there. Showing up. Doing the small odds-and-ends to help someone else in need.

In these past few weeks, I've encountered everyday people in my own life - family, friends, co-workers, and even complete strangers. I am in absolute awe (and gratitude) of people who reach out a hand to you during your time of need. The cynic in me thinks that reality TV shows like Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is complete produced and artificial. But the woman who has been completely slapped up on the head by the beauty of humanity knows that while much of TV is produced, humanity is not. People are real. And I thank God they're there.

Until next time...


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Perfect

Today was the first day back at work for me. Considering I'm still recovering from surgery, I'm absolutely exhausted.

However, one of my New Year's Resolutions (and the only one I plan on NEVER breaking) was to blog 366 days this year. So, since I don't have a lot of energy or brain juice left (and haven't quite gotten the time to schedule blog posts), I will make it short and sweet.

Priorities change. What was important to me 20 years ago is no longer important. What mattered then, doesn't matter now. My priorities now are different than my priorities then. Does it mean that my priorities then are less important than my priorities now? Absolutely not. Priorities change just as people change. I think a lot of this has to do with the fact that we get older and we get wiser. Wisdom comes with age; it cannot be taught. I've said it before: I am much more comfortable with who I am as a 35 year old woman than I was as a 20 year old woman. I'm not any healthier (in fact, I'm less healthy). I'm not any richer (at least where material possessions are concerned).

I'm just in a better place.

Do you want to see my better place?

It's the simple things

The one person who knows me better than myself (scary!)

Until next time...



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Catch a Wave

With the right curve, you can avoid wipe outs.

Here in GA, school has been out since the 15th. The Boy had been doing K12 and was "in" school up to the 21st (we have decided to put him back into a brick and mortar middle school). I had surgery early in December and have been on medical leave since then. Basically, life has been one, long veg-fest. We've been staying up late, sleeping in late, eating late...basically, everything we've been doing has been bumped up a couple of hours. But this time is over.

Tonight is the first, official Girl Scout meeting of the year. Tonight, we also kick off Girl Scout Cookie Season. That's right; in just a few weeks, you'll be seeing rosy-cheeked cherubs help you break your New Year's Resolutions. (Tip: We take donations and we use those donations to send cookies overseas - our soldiers need the little comforts of home. You can help. Your waistline will thank you.)

Tonight also means that baths get taken on time and bedtimes are adhered to because tomorrow, bright and early, the Turtle Clan will be wide awake and ready to start a "new" year. Parents know that after Christmas break, the school year seems to fly by. As a parapro, I can say that the rest of the school year will be one deadline after another. It will be May 21st before I know it and Baby Girl will be "graduating" to sixth grade and The Boy will be heading to the high school. This will also be my last year working as a para before I quit to student teach next fall. Yikes! Stop this crazy roller coaster; I want to get off!

Okay, not really. Change is good. (Have you seen the new Lion King in 3D? You should). Change is also inevitable. We can't grow without change and we can't take all the good things that life has to offer without change. Sometimes change is painful. Sometimes change is emotional. But change is coming, like it or not. It is better to accept it for what it is and ride with it. But, are you a roller coaster enthusiast or a surfer? When you ride life like a roller coaster, you have no choice but to go where the ride takes you. This is life living you instead of you living life. But a wave is different. While  you still can't control the wave (and if you're not careful, it can drowned you), you can control your moves. So, that instead of the wave wiping out, you ride the wave through. And what a wave it can be!


Cowabunga, dude!





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Old Souls

Mkay, so it's been awhile since I've posted. But I was recently assured by Little Brother that there are actually people in cyberland who read me! In fact, when I logged on today, I noticed I had gained 15 more readers! How exciting!

Today, I added a cryptic status update on Facebook:

Somebody called {The Man Beast} and I old souls. I've recently grown to accept the fact. It's terribly alienating, though.

 As a Christian, I certainly don't believe in a reincarnated soul - a classic definition of the term commonly found in any search engine. However, there is an undeniable characteristic that is shared by the Man Beast and myself. In fact, as she gets older, I even recognize the same characteristics in Baby Girl.

The Man Beast and I have been called The Old Married Couple. In fact we feel like an old married couple. A lot of this has to do with the fact that despite getting married at a very early age, there were certain attitudes we brought into our marriage - one of them being that divorce wasn't an option. It's funny when you take out this simple part of a very complex equation what it does to a person. Evidently, it makes you an old soul.
I think Old Souls are created, not born. I believe that circumstances, behaviors, and attitudes shape our overall being. For example, as a child, I communicated with adults far more than children my own age. I believe Baby Girl's old soul is the result of her anxiety. The Man Beast and I are both the oldest siblings of our families, each being considerably older than our brothers and sisters. Certainly this all attributes to something!

Regardless of how we came to be what we are, however, the result is the same. It is terribly lonely not being able to make any "real" connections with those around you. It causes others to perceive you as quiet, standoffish, shy (or worse), rude - none of which could be further from the truth.

To all the gamers out there, I can compare it to playing a role playing game (RPG) and having gone through all the levels before, despite it just being released to the public. Maybe it's because you've played a million games like it or maybe you're so familiar with the outline of how the game is played, you just know what to do. To your other gamer friends, you ruin all the surprises of the game - or you look like a show off. But in actuality, you're just tired of the game that everyone else seems to be so obsessed with.

And as I mentioned on Facebook, it can be terribly alienating.






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I'm a Christian: Conclusion

Y'all might have been wondering why I chose to post a week-long parody of the Mac vs PC commercials.

It wasn't to make fun ... honest.

Instead, I wanted to challenge all of my readers - those who have a relationship with Christ and those who do not.

The term 'Christianity' is a wonderful, comforting label, isn't it? I think we've all been guilty of hiding behind it (yes, hiding). I, myself, have found comfort in the label (sometimes, it's just so comfortable in the box, isn't it? And I believe that we also like putting other things in boxes, too - not just ourselves. God, for example).

What separates the Christian faith (I will not call it religion) from other beliefs is that it circles (not boxes) around a relationship with Christ.

A relationship with Christ? What's the catch?

No catch. Really. There are no rigorous rules that one must follow. No hoop-jumping is necessary (although I believe dead churches would have you believe that you must do a lot of hoop jumping in order to be the 'right' Christian).

The way I figure, there are two groups: those who flock to the rule-driven religion called Christianity and those who never have a relationship with Christ because of those rules.

RULE DRIVEN RELIGION

Why is it that for some of us, having a list of impossible rules is more comfortable than just being? Could it be because if we just are we have to get truthful with ourselves in who we really are? Perhaps having all these rules allows us to put on an outside mask that makes us appear presentable (perfect?), when deep inside we believe we aren't worthy.

WE'RE NOT WORTHY

On the other token, there are those who never have a relationship with Christ because they are led to believe (either by their own doing or others) that they aren't worthy; that they couldn't possibly live up to the expectations set by the church (either real or perceived).

I don't live in the right community.
I don't drive the right car.
I don't wear the right clothes.
I don't listen to the right music.
I don't read the right books.
I'm black.
I'm white.
I'm fat.
I'm skinny.

A pretty long list of ridiculous, isn't it? I sited the last four to show how really ridiculous these self-imposed rules are. But what about the deeper set of standards:

I've lied.
I've cheated.
I've stolen.
I've murdered.

These definitely seem like deal-breakers, huh?

Wrong.

What we fail to realize is that Jesus didn't come for the healthy; He came for the sick. He didn't come for the rich (in spirit); He came for the poor. He came for us - just as we are.

If I have offended anyone by my series of posts this week, I'm glad. Sometimes, when we're offended, it's a conviction. Did you see yourself in the video? Hopefully you did - as the Christ follower. If you saw yourself as the 'suit', perhaps now is a good time to step back and ask yourself: do I have a relationship or a set of rules with Christ?

He wants a relationship with His children. Just as you are. It's okay. He created you. He knows your best and your worst sides. He doesn't care.

Have a great Spring Break, y'all!

I'm a Christian Part VI

I'm a Christian Part V

I'm a Christian Part IV

I'm a Christian Part III

I'm a Christian Part II

I'm a Christian Part I

Thursday Thinker

One Sunday morning an Old Cowboy entered a Church just before services were to begin. Although the Old Man and his clothes were spotlessly clean, he wore jeans, a denim shirt and boots that were very worn and ragged. In his hand he
carried a worn out old hat and an equally worn out Bible.

The Church he entered was in a very upscale and exclusive part of the city. It was the largest and most beautiful Church the Old Cowboy had ever seen. The people of the congregation were all dressed with expensive clothes and
accessories.

As the Cowboy took a seat, the others moved away from him. No one greeted, spoke to, or welcomed him. They were all appalled at his appearance and did not attempt to hide it.

As the Old Cowboy was leaving the church, the Preacher approached him and asked the Cowboy to do him a favor.

'Before you come back in here again, have a talk with
God and ask him what he thinks would be appropriate attire for worship.'

The Old Cowboy assured the Preacher he would.

The next Sunday, he showed back up for the services wearing the same ragged jeans, shirt, boots, and hat.

Once again he was completely shunned and ignored.

The Preacher approached the man and said, 'I thought I
asked you to speak to God before you came back to our
Church.

'I did,' replied the Old Cowboy.

'If you spoke to God, what did he tell you the proper attire should be for worshiping in here?' asked the Preacher.

'Well, Sir, God told me that He didn't have a clue what I should wear. He said He'd never been in this particular Church before.'


aka The Jean-Wearin' Church Gurl

Turn Up The Music Part II

In yesterday's post, I explained how music really speaks to me. I wrote about Point of Grace and their song, "Heal the Wound" and second chances. I also mentioned that the reason I bought my CD in the first place was because of two songs - one being Heal the Wound and the second one being 'How You Live'.

Wake up to the sunlight with your windows open
Don't hold in your anger or leave things unspoken
Wear your red dress use your good dishes
Make a big mess and make lots of wishes
Have what you want, but want what you have
And don't spend you life looking back

Turn up the music Turn it up Loud
Take a few chances Let it all out
Because you won't regret it
Looking back from where you have been
Because it's not who you knew and it's not what you did
It's how you Live

So go to the ballgames and go to the ballet
And go see your folks more than just on the holidays
Kiss all your children Dance with your wife
Tell your husband you love him every night
Don't run from the truth cause you can't get away
Oh no
Just face it and you'll be ok

Turn up the music Turn it up Loud
Take a few chances Let it all out
Because you won't regret it
Looking back from where you have been
Because it's not who you knew and it's not what you did
It's how you Live

Where ever you are and wherever you've been
Now is a time to begin

So give to the needy and Pray for the grieving
Even when you don't think that you can
Cause all that you do is bound to come back to you
So think of your fellow man
And make peace with God and Make peace with yourself
Oh yeah
Cause in the end there's nobody else

Turn up the music Turn it up Loud
Take a few chances Let it all out
Because you won't regret it
Looking back from where you have been
Because it's not who you knew and it's not what you did
It's how you Live

Because it's not who you knew and it's not what you did
It's how you Live

How You Live, Point of Grace 2007

Before I bought the CD when this song would come on the radio, Baby Gurl would beg me to 'turn up the music'. (We here in the turtle household play our music - all of our music - very loud). I'm not sure why Baby Gurl likes the song so much - like her mama, she's really drawn to female voices. But here lately, when she hears a song, I can tell she's really listening to the lyrics because she'll ask about them. (Which in turn, makes me ever more diligent about listening to music I don't mind my Baby Gurl analyzing!)

To me, this song is an extension of Heal the Wound. God's grace heals us of our past transgressions - but life is for the living. Interestingly enough, one of POG's members sites this as her favorite Scripture verse:

II Tim. 1:7 "For God did not give us the spirit of fear, but of power, love and sound mind."
~ Leigh Cappillino

Ah! Don't you just love it? Permission to live in a Godly and joyful way! NIV puts it this way: For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

It's easy to just 'go through the motions'. But that's not how we're supposed to live. We're supposed to grab life and and live it.

If God is for us, who can be against us?

Nobody.

Until next time...

Turn Up The Music Part I

A couple of weeks ago, I went old school: I bought a music CD. I know, I know. Do they even sell those anymore? Yes, they most assuredly do sell CDs.

I bought Point of Grace's, How You Live. WalMart had several POG albums. I bought the most expensive one ($15). The Man Beast asked why I didn't buy the $8 CD. The $8 CD didn't have the two songs I wanted. (Yes, I paid $15 for two songs. I could have gone onto WalMart.com and bought both songs for $1.98. But, just like I'm a sucker for books - the old school variety, not ebooks, I am also a sucker for CDs. There just haven't been any CDs I really wanted until POG.)

Songs have always spoken to me. One of my favorite POG songs is 'How You Live' (I'll explain why tomorrow). But it wasn't until I attended a Women's Conference at my church last summer that I heard the song that really spoke to me: 'Heal the Wound'.

I used to wish that I could rewrite history
I used to dream that each mistake could be erased
Then I could just pretend
I never knew me back then

I used to pray that You would take this shame away
Hide all the evidence of who I've been
But it's the memory of
The place You brought me from
That keeps me on my knees
And even though I'm free

Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart
And heal the wound but leave the scar

I have not lived a life that boasts of anything
I don't take pride in what I bring
But I'll build an altar with
The rubble that You've found me in
And every stone will sing
Of what You can redeem

Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart
And heal the wound but leave the scar

Don't let me forget
Everything You've done for me
Don't let me forget
The beauty in the suffering

Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart
And heal the wound but leave the scar

Heal the Wound, Point of Grace 2007

God willing, I will never go back to live in FL. As horrible as the experience was - and Lord knows I don't ever want to repeat it - Heal the Wound reminds me of God's grace. I will always have the scars of Florida - but I can learn from the mistakes I made and remember His grace and His mercy.

We all have past regrets. And I'm pretty sure that we all wish we could go back and tell our former selves a thing or two (or three or four!) about what we've learned or why what we're about to do is a very, very bad idea. But the truth is, despite all the mistakes we've made in the past, it shapes who we are now.

This past Sunday, I talked to my students in church about second chances. Everybody gets a second chance (God is pretty awesome that way). But not everyone takes their second chance. I'm glad The Man Beast and I took our second chance. And I pray that while my kids will make their mistakes, they won't make my mistakes.



Thanking God for his Grace, every day...

God's Rules for 2009

Rules from God for 2009
1. Wake Up !! Decide to have a good day.
"Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" Psalms 118:24
2. Dress Up !! The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart."
I Samuel 16:7
3. Shut Up!! Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking. "He who guards his lips guards his soul." Proverbs 13:3

4. Stand Up!!... For what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything.. "Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..." Galatians 6:9-10
5. Look Up !!... To the Lord.
"I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me."
Philippians 4:13

6. Reach Up !!... For something higher. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, And He will direct your path."
Proverbs 3:5-6
7. Lift Up !!... Your Prayers.
"Do not worry about anything;
Instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING."
Philippians 4:6

Until next time...

Integrity

This weekend, we all went Pawn Shopping. For those of you who don't know what Pawn Shopping is, it's kind of like hitting the yard sales, except they're pawn shops (which really comes in handy when it's cold and rainy like it was this past Saturday).

We were looking for a few select items - the best finds were the AC/DC Collection for Rock Band and an XBox 360 - both at a sweet price.

But what we didn't expect to walk away with was a lesson on integrity for our boy.

We enter one pawn shop and begin to look around. On the counter, we see this:



If you look closely, you will see a folded $20 bill on the newspaper.

I walk right by it. It's not mine, so I figure maybe someone left it there and they'll come by to pick it up. The Boy notices it and immediately comes to me:

The Boy: Mom! Mom! There's money on the counter!
Me: Is it yours?
The Boy (deflated a bit): No
Me: Then let it alone.

But the man beast...oh yes...the man beast. He does one better when we go up to the counter to pay for our purchases. He picks it up and gives it to the owner and says, "Here, someone dropped this."

As he hands out his arm to give it to the proprietor of the pawn shop, the bill unfolds.

(I regret to inform you that the Man Beast did not get a picture of the open bill. You'll have to use your imagine on this one).

Once the bill is unfolded, the paper on the inside is white and it contains one word:

GOTCHA

This started a nice conversation with the owner. He said that he has found that 'bill' on the floor more times than not because someone has tried to walk off with it.

As he told our boy, "It lets me know who I can and cannot trust."

Pretty ingenious, I say.

Until next time...

Fireproof - a Review

If you all remember, I had a date with the Man Beast Friday night at church. The Sweetheart Banquet included a steak dinner as well as a movie - Fireproof - a movie neither the MB or I had seen.

I wanted to see it so badly. MB didn't want to see it at all. But being the awesome husband that he is, he went and sat through it, knowing I wanted to see it so badly.

I will give you both of our reviews - based on how I felt about the movie and what the MB said after it.

But first, let me give you the briefest of synopsis:

Caleb and Katherine's marriage is in trouble. After seven years of marriage, they've grown apathetic towards each other and their relationship. Pretty soon, the D Word is mentioned. Both want out - Katherine is feeling unloved and unheard and Caleb feels like he gets respect from everywhere except in his own house. Caleb receives a little help from his best friend, Micheal who has gone through some rough spots in his own marriage. Caleb's dad, John, gives Caleb a book - The Love Dare - and challenges him to work through the 40 day exercise.

The first 20 days are rocky. Caleb's heart isn't it and he expects Katherine to see his efforts and thank him for them. (Admittedly, after being scorned for so long, what woman is going to recognize feeble attempts of wilted flowers and a poured cup of coffee?)

Slowly, Caleb comes around when he realizes that the way he's been treated by Katherine is the way he's been treating his Heavenly Father. As he opens his heart to his Father, his love for Katherine genuinely blossoms into a real love.

But is it to late to save his marriage? Has Caleb left his partner behind one too many times?

I really enjoyed the movie. If you liked Facing the Giants, you'll like Fireproof. The film was obviously made by amatures (remember, it was made by a local church). Kirk Cameron (Caleb's character), out-shown the rest of the cast. I wonder if it wouldn't have been less obvious if Kirk was out of the picture completely? I don't remember the acting being so ... not-Hollywood in FTG. I might have to pull it out and see.

There were a lot of places where you chuckle out loud. There were a few places where your heart catches in your throat. And yes, if you are a crier, then chances are, you will cry.

The Man Beast's take on the movie was overall positive. He liked the message - although he thought that the message got lost with a bit too much back-story. He was also disappointed, I think, at the Hollywood-izing of the story. There is a pretty big twist at the end of the movie, that I never saw coming. The MB said he saw it because it was a modern day story - and there is always a twist during a modern day story. (I did predict the really big thing that Caleb did to help Katherine - I wasn't completely surprised at the whole movie. I'm not that naive.)

Over all - good movie. If you get the chance to go see it with your man beast, take the opportunity. If you're single - get some girlfriends together and go see it. I believe it's a movie that will benefit everyone whose open to receive it's Message: married, divorced, widowed and singles. (Side note: The Boy watched snippets of it while he was in the back, cleaning up. He said there were parts that he almost cried at, too. After the movie, we had a pretty good talk about how marriage is forever. It's a life-long commitment. It takes work - but if both partners are in it, it can work)

Until next time...