Balm for the Soul

I often find myself thankful that I taught our kids to say important words like:

"I'm sorry."

"Will you forgive me?"

And in response to someone who says those words to them, to say:

"I forgive you!"

These are important words to say and hear, and I believe it's imperative to teach your kids to be able to say them sincerely, and in a timely way, and to receive them with openness and grace.  This exchange is balm for the soul!

Highs, Lows, and Everything In Between

What a weekend we had around here.  If you visit here often, you know our television was not tuned into the super bowl.  We consulted no groundhogs.  It was our birthday blow-out weekend.  First, we celebrated our niece's birthday.  She is 10, and was born on our daughter's 6th birthday.  In addition to her birthday party on Saturday, the cousins enjoyed an artsy "splatter painting party" at a nearby craft studio. Thus, the colorful pictures I'm sharing here today.

Sunday was our daughter's birthday celebration, and we enjoyed having both sides of our family over in the afternoon for appetizers, cake, & ice cream.  We were blessed to have so many of our family members with us. My sweet sister-in-laws family of six was here from Pennsylvania to share in the celebrating, and my parents made it safely home from their January retreat.  We are so thankful for that, considering the weather that parts of the south were experiencing last week.

Earlier last week, we were alerted to another thing that would fill our weekend.  Our high school pastor stepped down, and his last Sunday was... yesterday.

Needless to say, in the midst of all of our celebrating, there was an entire Sunday morning at church in tears. Oh how we will miss him and his wife.  They have sacrificially given their time, greatly impacting the lives of our children and countless others.  In the midst of the sadness, they selflessly led a time of extraordinary worship and sharing that truly made an impact on everyone who attended.  It was the first step on a path of healing from the loss.

Do you love the way my pictures laugh in the face of sadness?  Yeah.  I kinda planned it that way.

Moving right along.  If you were wondering what our cousin-crew of TEN did at the art studio, here are some pictures documenting the process.  And lest you think this was a random splatter project, it was not.  It was done in the style of Jackson Pollock, and the kids were led by an amazing studio employee who had their undivided attention.  Take a look!

We don't have the finished project at home yet.  Of course it needed time to fully dry, and also -- the studio people will seal it for us.  Needless to say, the kids were all pretty excited with the results -- and it was great "cousin-time!"

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New Rules for Treasure Hunting... and a revelation, too.

Sometimes important lessons (or gentle reminders) come from the most interesting places.

Case in point:  this lovely jar.

Can you see the texture or pattern in the glass?  Look at the area between the words "porcelain" and "lined."

Or take a peak through the inside.  See that wavy pattern that I've indicated with the arrow?  Well, this jar had me at "hello" because of that texture or pattern.  As I mentioned yesterday, I like to find jars that are unique in some way, and this one was different than any that I had seen.

Sometimes when I shop (and this can be for anything), I get so excited about one feature that I forget to check to see about other features.  Here's a perfect example, and a lesson learned.

See this lid?  It hides an ugly secret.

I actually found this jar in Carlisle, Pennsylvania while visiting my sister-in-law and her family.  She took me to a great antique mall in a very "antique" building with wonderfully creaky floors.  I passed up other blue jars for this one, and I was proud to show if off to my hubby when we returned home.  As I showed it to him, I removed the lid and...

 There was this:

I don't even know what to say.  I was stunned.  For a split second I was mad that I had "fallen" for something. And then I thought, "Well it's my own fault!  I never removed the lid to check the condition!"  Truthfully, I never even thought of doing that before.  (I know: DUH!)  Ultimately, I decided that I loved the jar anyways, and I would fill it with something just for decoration... or that I didn't need to access often -- so that I wouldn't damage that rim any further.  Lesson learned.  In the future, remove the lid to check that the jar is really in good condition.

But then this morning, when I was taking pictures of this jar for you, I kind of had a revelation -- and I felt like God wanted me to share something more than just rules for treasure hunting.

I was thinking about how layers of our heart carefully removed often reveal ugly secrets or... sin.  And how God loves us anyways.  Just as this jar was "my find" and I decided to love it anyway, so we are God's creation, and he loves us no matter how "damaged" we are.  No matter what the peeled back layers may reveal.  No matter what baggage we carry.  No matter how ugly our past.  No matter how poorly we behaved "in return" for someone else's bad behavior, or how damaged some of our relationships may be. 

No matter.  No matter.  No matter.

Jesus' blood covers it all.

I pray that you would trust him today with your brokenness.

Romans 5:8

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:

While we were still sinners,

Christ died for us."

The Flip-Side...

...of the "Growing Pains" Post

Today, I was having a more typical glass-half-full day when my son texted to say that he had gotten a promotion at work.  WooHoo!  The texts were flying back and forth.  I couldn't text enough how proud I was of him.

This text flew back at me: "With that 50cent raise, I'll be buying a Lamborghini in no time! LOL"

Without even thinking, I texted back, "You'll soon find that it doesn't cost anything to DREAM."

These words came naturally -- to encourage my son.

And from God -- to encourage me.

I think I'll start a new Pinterest board called "Dreaming? Still Free." Follow it HERE.

{And feel free to pinch me if I'm not dreaming enough!}

Growing Pains

I was doing some surfing on Pinterest, and came to the realization that I pin practically -- you know as opposed to pinning dreamy stuff that I find unrealistic, or unattainable.  The realization made me feel a little glass-half-empty-ISH, and it made me do some thinking.  Is it just because I am a practical personal at heart -- or is it something else?

I've also been thinking a lot about this:

Recently, a lady got up to speak in church.  Actually, the pastor knew her story.  Knew that she was a believer. Knew that her dreams had been... dashed.  Knew that life had become difficult for her.  So, he thoughtfully led her in telling her story.  Her dream looked like this:  a perfect family scene on a beach.  All of her children healthy and happy.  Her marriage secure.  Grandparents were there too, showing great support for their children and grandchildren.

And then the end of the idyllic scene.

Her father passed away suddenly.  Her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.  Their new home plans changed to include a "mother-in-law suite" -- so that her mother would always be close to them.  And then, she decided that her mother's car keys needed to be taken away.  Lots of hard life decisions in such a short period of time.

The death of a dream.

I'm sitting here on a glass-half-empty day, wondering if my dreams have died a little over the years.  In spite of the fact that we say for better or for worse and MEAN it... I don't think we ever really factor in the "worse." The job loss.  A lengthy period of no work.  Health issues.  They all take their toll, and steal the thunder (so to speak) of our dreams.  Somehow, things get re-prioritized, and dreams don't seem quite so attainable anymore.

Some final questions asked by the Pastor:

1.  Will you love God more or less when you have gotten through this trial?  I thought (as did the woman being interviewed) : Oh, of course more.  Even though I might have some doubts or anger along the way, ultimately, I know that it was HE who saw me through the trials.

2.  Do you think (when this trial is over) that you will have become a better person?  Again, agreement.  How could I not be a better person after God allows trials, and holds my hand through them?  Obviously, there have been lessons learned that make me a better person.

Then a hard question, and the one that brought the most emotion:

3.  Would you have kept your kids from these experiences if you could do it over -- or do you think they ultimately benefited as well?  The woman paused, and I choked up with her.  No, of course our children are better off with these experiences under their belt... knowing that God walked beside them (and our family) all the way, and we made it through the trials.  Again, I agreed with her.

And then she quoted a verse that took my breath away... because it is a verse that I have clung to in the really hard times.  It has been such a comfort to me, and yet -- I don't often hear it quoted.

"So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10

Of course the picture in my head as I read this verse is of God walking right beside me holding my hand. Sometimes I picture him leading.  Other times I picture him directly beside me, as a supportive friend would be.

So, what does the Bible say about dreams for the future?

Jeremiah 29:11 ~ "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."

So, to me that means it's neither unrealistic nor unbiblical to dream, because God has great plans for us, and he wants us to have hope and a future!  That seems to indicate good things to come, right?

In fact, I DO dream -- and dream BIG. But -- as a defense mechanism (I guess), I don't publicize, I don't pin, I don't speak my dreams out loud too much -- as if by making them known they could be snatched away from me, as this woman's dreams were snatched from her.

And yet, she stood in front of the congregation and said she would go through it again.  She knew God knew what he was doing.  But, "the death of a dream?"  I get that.  Medical diagnosis, unemployment... these things changed how we live today, and have made some dreams seem unattainable.  I wrestle with that, and with leaving it all in God's omnipotent hands and believing Jeremiah 29:11.  Perhaps the most important part is to remember that "a hope and a future" doesn't mean that there won't be trials along the way to refine us.  My trials are different than yours, but we all go through them.

Would I erase my trials, given the chance?
No.  They have made me the person that I am today.
Still a sinner.  Still imperfect.  But growing.
And growth is good.

Filtering the World

"The grass withers and the flowers fall,

but the word of our God stands forever."

Isaiah 40:8

The picture above is a reminder of sorts to me.  I love the "grid" of that window -- not to mention the beautiful stone work around it.  At our Bible-study the other night, our fearless leader said something that struck me. She held up her two hands, and intertwined her fingers to form a "grid" of sorts.  She said, "The Bible needs to be a grid through which everything in our life is filtered."

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ (as I am), this probably isn't a mind-blowing thought for you.  And yet, for me, there was something about the way she held up her hands, and used the word "filtered."

The Word of God is many things.  It's God's way of communicating with us, firstly.  Also, it is a reminder of Christ's sacrifice on the cross.  It protects us from the corruption of the world by giving us clear insights into right and wrong.  Those are just a few things.  But always, it should be our filter on the world.

I knew this principle.  But, I'm a visual person.  Seeing my friend hold up her hands in a grid, cemented the "filter" idea for me.

Have you had any great "ahaaa" moments recently?

Have You Ever Asked God...

... to clear a room?

Have you ever asked God for anything and then... been surprised when there was a response?  I know I've talked about this before... trusting God.  I believe I do.  Day in and day out.  Why then, am I surprised when I ask for something specific, and he responds?  WHY?  That doesn't speak of trust to me!

Yesterday, I needed to find out how to mail something in the most cost effective way, without it being sent on a slow boat to China.  So, I decided to drive over to the post office to ask a postal worker to share their wealth of knowledge with me.  On the drive over, I prayed that God would give me a window of time to speak with someone uninterrupted -- so I wouldn't hold up the line for other customers.

I pulled into the parking lot.  There were a few cars.  As I got out of my van, two ladies emerged from the building.  When I walked into the post office, it was... EMPTY.  No joke, people.  God is good!  Whether we are paying attention or not.  [This time, let it be noted: I was paying attention.]  By the way, I got the answers I needed from Trish.  She knows everything, and was super-helpful!  THE END.

Have you seen God at work in your life recently?  My daughter and I are attending a mother-daughter Bible study together, and that question was asked by our leader.  She said that, if asked, we should always be able to tell how God is working in our life!  It's not always earth-shattering.  Or... it just may not seem earth-shattering to others.  But that doesn't mean he's not really at work.  Sometimes he just wants us to pay attention, and notice the little things.

Hosanna!

Our Palm Sunday service was special, and led by four of our young pastors.  It dealt with five scenes of Jesus' humility on his way to the cross.

They included:

• a humble entrance on a donkey (Matthew 21:1-11)
• the anointing (Mark 14:3-9 & John 12:1-8)
• the washing of feet (John 13)
• submission in the garden (Luke 22:39-44)
• carrying the cross (Mark 8:34)

I added the noted scripture passages in case you're interested in reading more about those points.

I think the point that spoke to me the most was the idea that one pastor shared of Jesus' humility versus our humility.  Oh, you and I have surely faced humility -- but how so?  He shared about the 2011 downsizing of our church staff.  When the remaining staff was called into the "survivors" meeting, he realized that he had been "demoted," and that his name was much further down the list than it used to be.  He was humbled.  BIG TIME.

But.. that humility was THRUST upon him.  He didn't choose it.

The same is probably true of you and I in many of the situations in which we experience humility.

Besides that, our human nature tends to lead us to use humility to "get ahead."  For sure THAT's not humility in it's purest form!

Jesus' humility was different in that HE CHOSE to be humble.

Philippians 2:5b-8

"...have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death -- even death on a cross!"

I am sobered by his humble obedience

-- even to death on a cross...

for me.

Please Excuse the Delay

A friend posted this on Facebook the other day, and I just had to share it.  I know there are some of you out there who are waiting on God for the next thing in your life.  Aren't we all at some point?  Think about this:

"Sometimes you are delayed

where you are because God

knows there's a storm where

you're headed.

Be grateful."

Wow.  Think about that for a minute.  You know that feeling of being "stuck" -- and trying to trust God for what's coming next?  And not understanding why he doesn't hurry up and speed you along to the next great thing?  Speaking for myself, I can be pretty impatient about the whole process.

Have you ever had this happen to you?  :: You have someplace to be, and an order of events all played out in your mind.  But something ends up happening and you don't leave the house on time as you'd planned.  When you're finally on your way, you get held up, and as you inch forward in traffic, you realize there's a bad accident.  If you'd left five minutes earlier, who knows if YOU would've been involved?  I typically breathe a prayer of "thank you Lord for slowing me down today."

It's happened to me -- and I don't mind telling you... more than once.  Probably not a good indicator of how often God has to slow me down and get my attention, I admit.

How often do we race ahead assuming we know what is to be, rather than waiting on God?  How often do we orchestrate what comes next out of our impatience?  In our limited view, we can't fathom that God is thinking of us... always... and always has our best interests at heart.  Even when we feel like he's not looking... he is in control.

Knowing there might be a storm where we're headed next puts a different spin on the waiting, brings a new perspective to contentment with the here and now, and gives the word "delay" whole new meaning.

God Calls Us...

to kindness in these days.

Recently, our pastor told a story of a woman, driving down the road...  She was in a hurry.  Tailgating.  At the stop light, she pulled up too close to the car ahead of her.  When the light turned green, she inched even closer, beeping her horn, and berating the driver.  As she waited for the car to move, she heard a tap on her window, and looked up to see a police officer standing there.

"Ma'am.  I'm going to have to ask you to pull over."

She was confused, but did as the officer requested.  As she sat in the backseat of his cruiser, she wondered why the officer had stopped her. 

After some time, he opened the door for her and said, "Well, I'm gonna have to let you go."  She asked what had made him pull her over.

"I spotted the "fish," "WWJD," "Follow me to Sunday School!" and "ProLife" bumper stickers on the car, and after seeing your behavior towards the driver ahead of you, I was convinced the car had been stolen.

and the crowd sat stunned.

Okay, I'll speak for myself.  I sat stunned.  I was wondering what conflicting portraits I had painted of myself for others to see.  Had I shown anything less than mercy and kindness to others while dealing with my own life pressures? --all while I was hoping and/or expecting that mercy and kindness be shown to me?

Everyone has a story.  The world has a story.  And... sometimes your story colors your world in a way that causes you to react differently to events than other people would.  But let's not use our stories as an excuse for bad behavior.  God calls us to mercy -- literally kindness!

Here's a great read: "Divine Intervention in an Old Navy Parking Lot."  If you have a moment to read it, think about what character YOU would've played.  The lady buying the teddy bear?  The elderly woman?  Or the round-faced man?  Yep.  We all have a story.  I'm doing my best to make my story about KINDNESS.  It's where God has called me.

"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy (literally kindness) and to walk humbly with your God."

Micah 6:8

Trust God! (He is STILL in control!)

I'm so sad today.  My heart is heavy.  This week has been a week of so much loss.  A dear friend's father, an uncle, and now we hear of the tragic loss at Newtown, Connecticut.

What a comfort it is to know that none of this has surprised God.  HE is still in control.  I believe that with all my heart -- no matter what.  And...he will continue to work all things together for good.  That thought is so completely and utterly beyond my understanding, but that doesn't mean he can't do it.

Evil and sadness surround us every day.  I remain committed to looking for the good... and TRUSTING GOD.

There have been so many things shared on the internet as a tribute to Newtown, Connecticut.  One of my favorites was spotted on a friend's Facebook page -- a quote from Mr. Rogers -- of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood:

"When I was a boy and would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers.  You will always find people who are helping."  To this day, especially in times of "disaster," I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers -- so many caring people in this world."

I challenge you... rather than dwelling on the evil, commit yourself to looking for the good... Be the good.  And also... TRUST GOD.

Tuesdays Unwrapped 12.11

Once again, I am participating in "tuesdays unwrapped" - where Emily (of Chatting at the Sky) charges us to write about "anything that causes (us) to pause and celebrate the moment.  Not what will be or what is to come, but what is real and true this day: the messy, the lovely, and the unexpected... discovering the gifts in the midst of the ordinary."  I'm hoping that this challenge will keep me focused on the Reason for the season - Jesus Christ, and keep everything else in proper perspective.

Today, I woke up reminded of the tearful phone call of yesterday.  My dear friend's father passed away.  I replayed the tearful twenty-second phone call from my friend in my head.  We sobbed together.  Because, sometimes that's all you can do.  It's real, and it's raw, and it does what words cannot do.  Our comfort?  Knowing her father is with the Lord.  What a gift!

Even so, it hurts to think that the world will keep on turning, and my friend will have to wake up today, and go on as if... well, you know.  If only I could stop the turning for one day, and just let her "catch up" a little in her mind. But, the world goes on.  It goes on for her...

...and for me.

Two kids were delivered without incident to school.  With all of the illnesses that we have had lately, this is a big deal, and I am thankful.  I am reminded of the post I shared LAST WEEK at this time, and am thankful.  Each day without incident is a gift.

As I walk back in the door at home, a text from my son.  (Unexpected.  Didn't I just drop him off?)  He has an issue that (in his mind) is urgent -- but really?  I tell him "wait."  This is not even ON the scale of importance this week.  I text back about how we will handle it later today.

My hubby was at home a little longer this morning as he waited to leave for a routine doctor visit. He was eventually on his way, and shortly thereafter, I received a phone call.  "Guess who DOESN'T have a doctor's appointment today?"  he asked.  Not only was it not today, but, it's all the way in FEBRUARY.  Well that was unexpected.  We laughed  -- because, we don't even begin to know how this happened.

Life is messy sometimes.  We make hopeful plans for the future.  We put importance on the wrong things. We do things way-wrong.  But, the gift is that... we do get to go on today.  The world will continue to spin.

Yesterday is history.

Tomorrow is a mystery.

Today is a GIFT.

That's why it's called it the present.

Jeremiah 29:11(NIV)  "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."

Click HERE to read more "tuesdays unwrapped" posts.

Tuesdays Unwrapped 12.4 (Tough Love)

Today, I am participating in "tuesdays unwrapped" - where Emily (of Chatting at the Sky) charges us to write about "anything that causes (us) to pause and celebrate the moment.  Not what will be or what is to come, but what is real and true this day: the messy, the lovely, and the unexpected... discovering the gifts in the midst of the ordinary."  I'm hoping that this challenge will keep me focused on the Reason for the season - Jesus Christ, and keep everything else in proper perspective.

As I write this, it's 7:27AM, and it's already been quite a day.  We've been battling illness in our house... and missed school... and catching up... and more than a little panic over the situation, resulting in... more sickness. This morning, "tough love" was called into play.

Tough love sucks.  There.  I said it.

The "messy" was one of the first conversations of the morning, in which I yelled.  Also, the reaction that I received.  Really messy.

The "lovely" was the apologies that were exchanged before we left the house for school.  And I will tell you -- my heels were dug in.  I didn't go first.

The "unexpected?"  I'm not going to lie.  My faith wasn't strong.  The unexpected was that we made it to school, and there were no tears.  No more angry words were exchanged.  It felt a little bit like confirmation of the tough love being used by God.

Truth is, our situation is ordinary, but feels like one big mess to us -- the ones in the midst of it.

The gift?  Truly...baby steps.  The GIFT is that this morning is behind us, and we did it.

Celebration.

Sometimes all God asks of us is to put one foot in front of the other.

You can read more "Tuesdays Unwrapped" posts HERE.

Praying Them Through It

Our son was dismissed early from school yesterday due to illness.  He's staying home today, too.  Body aches, headache, cough.  General yucky-ness.  Yes, the back-to-school "crud" has hit.  It's early this year.  For goodness sake, we haven't even locked up all the windows for winter yet!  After he got home, I hit the grocery store for all of the meds. that I usually stock up on...    I don't know, sometime MUCH later in the school year, usually.

Today, our daughter walked to the bus stop alone.  Sad, sad, sad.  She's already sad enough to be awake at this hour! -- but to walk to the bus stop alone, and know that her brother will not be (somewhere) at school "with" her... super-sad.

Sometimes as a mom, I have to numb myself to my kids' sadness/nervousness so that I can lovingly nudge them out the door... pushing them out of the nest, as it were.  And then, I pray them all the way down the street to the bus stop.  I pray them through the bus ride, and into the school building.  I pray them through the speech that they have to give in marketing class.  I pray them through math tests -- and so much more.

I pray them through the things that they are nervous about,

and the things that they should be, but aren't.

Our daughter is still adjusting to public high school after homeschooling.  She is still adjusting to early mornings. After she walked out the door alone, the thought crossed my mind that I should've reminded her about this verse this morning:

"So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10

And as I thought about God holding my daughter's hand throughout the day, I also thought how glad I am that he can hold mine at the same time.  Sometimes a mom needs a little help along the way, too.

Life Lessons 101

Do you remember the day you realized that everyone in the world was not good and kind with only good intentions?

I clearly remember being in a meeting at work when I was a college student.  Somehow we were discussing how something SHOULD have been done, and what the intentions were behind what HAD been done.  Basically, some of my co-workers thought that there had been less-than-stellar motives involved.

And. I. Was. Stunned.

I guess that up until then, it had never occurred to me that someone might do something intentionally for the wrong reasons or with ill-intent -- I mean, THE BAD GUYS? Yes.  But... nice people that I interact with on a daily basis?  Surely not.

Everyone knew my surprise -- and laughed, saying I'd learn some day.  I was stunned by how jaded they were.  I felt naive, and pretty stupid.

But years later, I still tend to look at people and believe the best -- until or unless they prove otherwise.

And, truth be told... sometimes they DO prove otherwise.  And it's disappointing.  Sometimes devastating.

My sweet girl learned this yesterday...

... and my heart just about broke for her.

A little incident occurred which was a really, really small blip on the screen of life -- but a big deal in the moment... when my sweet, trusting girl who always believes the best had... a learning experience.  Today, she's probably a little more wary of people's intentions.


But you know what?  I will still encourage her to always look for and SEE the good in people -- until or unless they prove otherwise.

Ephesians 4:31-32

"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you."

Food for Thought: Forgiveness

I'm always amazed to watch people who have been dealt difficult circumstances, or have outrightly been wronged respond in a way that indicates only grace.  We all like to think that we would respond in an appropriate and grace-FULL manner when things get tough, but how can we really say for sure... until we are thrust into bad circumstances?

This quote caught my eye the other day, and I felt compelled to share it:

"Refusing to forgive is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die."
~ Dr. Jim Dincalci

I remember one time in high school... being in the throes of dramatic friendship issues.  I swore I would never forgive someone.  It consumed me.  I remember my mom trying to comfort me, and encouraging me to forgive the person who had wronged me.  Hate and lack of forgiveness use SO MUCH OF OUR ENERGY, and WE are the ones who ultimately suffer most.  With only so much energy to go around, isn't it better spent on something more productive?

Colossians 3:13 (NIV)

"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.

Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

And there's the key.  I am forgiven.  Not deserving, mind you.  But, forgiven nevertheless.

And so who am I (other than the already mentioned "undeserving") to withhold forgiveness from anyone else? Truly.

Food for thought.

Just a Note in the Margin

Just yesterday, I found an old church bulletin in the back of my Bible.  The pastoral quote below was noted in the margin.  Obviously, I thought it was significant at the time, and worth remembering -- so I wrote it down.  Today, I wanted to share it with you -- because I still think it's significant.  And worth remembering.

"The symbol of Christianity is a cross -- not a ladder.

We cannot "climb" the cross to get closer to God.

We cannot do anything in our own power to get closer.

God's grace alone allows us that."

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith

-- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God

-- not by works, so that no one can boast."

Humble Flying Lessons

Wednesday night will be the last night of a part-time job that I've held at our church for the past seven years.  Back in 2005, I took the job as a coordinator of our church's mid-week program for girls in grades 1-6.

When I accepted the job, I assumed that I'd be leading girls.

What I learned along the way was that I was also leading women.

Either way, I never thought that I'd be helping anyone to "soar."  So, imagine my surprise when I received this beautiful scarf (below) with a sweet sentiment that took my breath away!

What an honor and privilege it has been for me to learn to soar right along side these lovely women and girls!  During the journey, I have learned that I can tackle things that are bigger than myself -- because none of it is bigger than my God.

I'm grateful for whatever work God did in my heart that made me say yes to this job -- so that I could experience the joy of being a part of so many amazing families and lives, and ...learn to soar.

This week, I'll be cleaning out my desk, turning in my nametag and church keys  -- and praying about what God has for me next.

Never underestimate what God can do when you are willing

to take a step of faith outside of your comfort zone.

To What or Whom Do You Cling?

The other day, I had a conversation with a lady about the economic times in which we live. Hard times for many.  For her.  She runs a small business.  Her closing comment to me was, "There's a full moon tonight, so I think I'll do some praying."

I got to thinking about what she might have meant by that.  I wondered to what, or TO WHOM does she cling when times are hard?

And then I wondered the same thing about myself.

I know what the answer should be.  My hope is found in Christ alone (as the song goes).

[love my necklace?  click photo.]

But how often do I carry the weight of the world on my shoulders as if it's all up to me?  I'm not sure where I ever got the misconceived notion that I could handle it all on my own. But... some days, when I forget... when I lose sight of what I know in my heart to be real and true... I do act as if I'm on my own, and fending for myself.

When things come back into perspective, I think about the things that I've given over to God -- and how he has never failed me.  Ever.

That doesn't mean that things always go my way, or every minute of every day is happy.  It just means that I know who holds my future (God), and I know he holds my hand.  He will bring me THROUGH everything that he brings me TO.

Yes, I believe that to be true.

And, yes - I have lived through circumstances that have tested that very belief.

I have never found my trust to be misplaced.

To what or whom do YOU cling?

Linking up at:

A Conversation With God*

I received the following scripted "conversation"

in an e-mail from my sister a week or two ago.

I've thought of it so many times since I first read it.

For me, it bears re-reading.

Maybe it will be just the thing you need to hear today.

Do you trust God's plan?

Me (in a tizzy) : God, can I ask you something?

GOD: Sure.

Me: Promise you won't get mad?

GOD: I promise.

Me (frustrated): Why did you let so much stuff happen to me today?

GOD: What do you mean?

Me: Well I woke up late,

GOD: Yes.

Me: My car took forever to start,

GOD: Okay....

Me (growling): At lunch, they made my sandwich wrong and I had to wait,

GOD: Hmmmm..

Me: On the way home, my phone went dead, just as I picked up a call...

GOD: All right

Me (loudly): And to top it all off, when I got home, I just wanted to soak my feet in my foot massager and relax, but it wouldn't work. Nothing went right today! Why did you do that?

GOD: Well let me see..... the death angel was at your bed this morning and I had to send one of the other angels to battle him for your life.  I let you sleep through that.

Me (humbled): Oh...

GOD: I didn't let your car start because there was a drunk driver on your route that might have hit you if you were on the road.

Me (ashamed): ............

GOD: The first person who made your sandwich today was sick and I didn't want you to catch what they have.  I knew you couldn't afford to miss work.

Me (embarrassed): Oh.....

GOD: Your phone went dead because the person that was calling was going to give a false witness about what you said on that call, I didn't even let you talk to them so you would be covered.

Me (softly): I see God

GOD: Oh and that foot massager, it had a short that was going to throw out all of the power in your house tonight. I didn't think you wanted to be in the dark.

Me: I'm sorry God.

GOD: Don't be sorry, just learn to trust me.........in all things, the good and the bad.

Me: I WILL trust you God.

GOD: And don't doubt that my plan for your day is always better than your plan.

Me: I won't God. And let me just tell you God, thank you for everything today.

GOD: You're welcome child.  It was just another day being your God and I love looking after my children.

*author unknown

"In all things give thanks."

1 Thessalonians 5:18