Today is a very very important day. It is the day that I celebrate receiving a wondrous gift - our daughter, Elissa. She is 22 today. I don't know how that is possible considering I just gave birth to her a few short years ago!
My heart feels so full when I consider the blessing that she is. She is many things: a beautiful attractive college student who just got all A's, a wonderful helper, a fantastic big sister who helps keep her siblings in line, a comedian who makes us laugh, a translator to her parents on what her sisters actually said/meant, fashion coordinator, technological advisor, math genius, awesome gift buyer, loyal friend, but most of all a seeker and lover of the Lord Jesus Christ.
My prayer for each one of my babies was that they grow to become an enthusiastic, on-fire woman of God. I see my prayer for her being answered every day in her life. I am so excited to see what God is going to do through her!
I thank God for the beautiful gift He has given us in Elissa. He always gives the best!
A blessing hunter sharing encouragement for the journey Home
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
Learning To Be Quiet
"…the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." 1 Peter 3:4
Yesterday I was thinking about when I was very little I was a chatterbox who loved to fill every available minute with questions, giggling, and talking. One day, my parents were taking me to visit their aunt and uncle. I remember clearly making the decision that today, just for fun, I was going to be as quiet as a little mouse and see if anyone would notice. Well, I got the reaction I wanted. Everyone noticed my quietness. My aunt kept asking me if something was wrong. I had never had so much attention!
I kept up my quietness for the attention, but I began to notice something. The quieter I was in social situations, the more I learned! People don’t notice a quiet little kid and they would say things in front of me that they wouldn’t have said if I had been my normal noisy self. It was so much fun learning all the interesting "gossip" that I never returned to being a chatterbox.
Another thing, I learned if you didn’t tell what you heard, people would be willing to tell you more things. My grandma always said "You don’t have to tell everything you know." I took her words to heart. And that’s how I became known as a person that would keep a secret.
It’s interesting to see that all this has contributed to my life’s calling: a church secretary has to be able to listen and also not to tell all she knows since she is privy to people’s most private events.
Sometimes I feel I would like to be the vivacious chatterbox I was when I was little, but most of the time I like who I am now. I love when people seek me out to share what is on their heart – at least most of the time!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Motherhood
Since it’s May, I thought I’d share a few thoughts about motherhood. Now, much has already been said about the subject, so my gems of wisdom will probably be a miniscule contribution.
Today, while making a requested phone call, I remarked, jokingly, “I’m here to serve.” The fact of the matter is that I AM here to serve. Everyone who works in Christian ministry is first and foremost, a servant. And, so is a mother.
At first, although exhausting, servanthood comes naturally to a mother. Feeding, changing diapers, bathing and dressing the little miss or little master, even entertaining your child is, or becomes, automatic. It doesn’t take long to figure out what you are supposed to do. It’s true, motherhood doesn’t come with an instruction manual but usually your instinct coupled with well-meaning advice from relatives will get you through.
In fact, the years will fly by and your service to your child will begin to change. Now that the little dear can do things for herself, you’re not needed in the same way. But you are still needed! It’s just waaay more tricky. And oh my, by the time they get to double digits! You’re really walking a fine line then.
You must let go and watch your child make mistakes. And you can’t say “I told you, so.” Well, you can say it, but brownie points are erased when you do. You must be ready to comfort at a moment’s notice, yet not cling to the child. [Especially out in public, do not hang around the child acting like you know her. Be ready to pick her up when she is ready to go, be ready to pay money for anything she requires, otherwise make yourself scarce.]
Eventually young adult-hood will come. This may be the most difficult stage ever, for now you must only speak your pearls of wisdom when asked.
Through all this you must continue to keep the laundry done, meals made, and show up at all events considered important by the child. I was going to say keep the house clean, but kids don’t care about that. Husbands care, you care, but children don’t.
One of the most interesting things about motherhood, though, is the way that God uses it to mold you into what He wants you to be. There is no finer school to train you in Christian maturity than the “Mom” school. Think about it! You start with an infant and work with it for a minimum of 18 years. It doesn’t take that long to get a degree as a doctor! If you hang in there, though, you may end up like the Mom in Proverbs 31. Her children arise and call her blessed. And the funny part? You’d give anything to go back and re-live those days!
Today, while making a requested phone call, I remarked, jokingly, “I’m here to serve.” The fact of the matter is that I AM here to serve. Everyone who works in Christian ministry is first and foremost, a servant. And, so is a mother.
At first, although exhausting, servanthood comes naturally to a mother. Feeding, changing diapers, bathing and dressing the little miss or little master, even entertaining your child is, or becomes, automatic. It doesn’t take long to figure out what you are supposed to do. It’s true, motherhood doesn’t come with an instruction manual but usually your instinct coupled with well-meaning advice from relatives will get you through.
In fact, the years will fly by and your service to your child will begin to change. Now that the little dear can do things for herself, you’re not needed in the same way. But you are still needed! It’s just waaay more tricky. And oh my, by the time they get to double digits! You’re really walking a fine line then.
You must let go and watch your child make mistakes. And you can’t say “I told you, so.” Well, you can say it, but brownie points are erased when you do. You must be ready to comfort at a moment’s notice, yet not cling to the child. [Especially out in public, do not hang around the child acting like you know her. Be ready to pick her up when she is ready to go, be ready to pay money for anything she requires, otherwise make yourself scarce.]
Eventually young adult-hood will come. This may be the most difficult stage ever, for now you must only speak your pearls of wisdom when asked.
Through all this you must continue to keep the laundry done, meals made, and show up at all events considered important by the child. I was going to say keep the house clean, but kids don’t care about that. Husbands care, you care, but children don’t.
One of the most interesting things about motherhood, though, is the way that God uses it to mold you into what He wants you to be. There is no finer school to train you in Christian maturity than the “Mom” school. Think about it! You start with an infant and work with it for a minimum of 18 years. It doesn’t take that long to get a degree as a doctor! If you hang in there, though, you may end up like the Mom in Proverbs 31. Her children arise and call her blessed. And the funny part? You’d give anything to go back and re-live those days!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Lessons From A Stick Bug
One day I hopped into my car, backed out of my drive way and headed up the hill for work when I noticed on the hood of my car, what we in the Midwest call, a stick bug. “Eww … I hope he flies off in a minute,” I grumbled. He was a bright fresh looking green, not unlike a green bean from the garden with legs.
My perfectionist nature was offended by the bug cluttering up the view of my hood, so I sped up the car a little trying to encourage the bug to fly off. Nope, my little hitchhiking friend was determined to stay.
Hmm … how to get this bug to take a hike? Seeing no one else on the road, I sped the car up even more and then braked suddenly. Surely that would make the bug jump off. Now the bug raised one end (the one with antennae) as if praying for help. God must have granted his petition because for the next 15 miles Mr. Stick-to-it rode with me to work. No matter how fast I took the curves or going up hill or down dale, he was there for the duration. It was as if his feet were super-glued to my car!
Finally, I pulled into the parking lot at work. My intention had been that once I got to work I was going to roll up a paper and swat that free-loading rider right off the face of the planet! But I couldn’t do it. Obviously, he had business near my workplace and had tried so hard to get there that he deserved a break. Besides, he looked pitiful! Once a fresh dewy green, now he resembled a yellow wax bean with brown spots. I unrolled the paper and gently scooped him off the hood and placed him on the ground where he slowly ambled off on those funny looking legs. I hope the trip was worth it!
What lessons did I learn? Not to give up! Talk about determination! Talk about persistence! If a stick bug can hold on even through 55 mph winds of adversity blowing against him, surely I can remain stedfast during my trials. (Okay, it was more like 62 mph winds.) And like the stick bug, while I’m going through adversity, prayer better be one of the first things I do.
Something else – just like the stick bug would not leave my car, God won’t leave me, either. “…for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] Hebrews 13:5, Amplified Version.
The next time life takes me for a ride up mountains and down valleys and curves come at me from nowhere, I'm going to remember that God is sticking with me.
My perfectionist nature was offended by the bug cluttering up the view of my hood, so I sped up the car a little trying to encourage the bug to fly off. Nope, my little hitchhiking friend was determined to stay.
Hmm … how to get this bug to take a hike? Seeing no one else on the road, I sped the car up even more and then braked suddenly. Surely that would make the bug jump off. Now the bug raised one end (the one with antennae) as if praying for help. God must have granted his petition because for the next 15 miles Mr. Stick-to-it rode with me to work. No matter how fast I took the curves or going up hill or down dale, he was there for the duration. It was as if his feet were super-glued to my car!
Finally, I pulled into the parking lot at work. My intention had been that once I got to work I was going to roll up a paper and swat that free-loading rider right off the face of the planet! But I couldn’t do it. Obviously, he had business near my workplace and had tried so hard to get there that he deserved a break. Besides, he looked pitiful! Once a fresh dewy green, now he resembled a yellow wax bean with brown spots. I unrolled the paper and gently scooped him off the hood and placed him on the ground where he slowly ambled off on those funny looking legs. I hope the trip was worth it!
What lessons did I learn? Not to give up! Talk about determination! Talk about persistence! If a stick bug can hold on even through 55 mph winds of adversity blowing against him, surely I can remain stedfast during my trials. (Okay, it was more like 62 mph winds.) And like the stick bug, while I’m going through adversity, prayer better be one of the first things I do.
Something else – just like the stick bug would not leave my car, God won’t leave me, either. “…for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] Hebrews 13:5, Amplified Version.
The next time life takes me for a ride up mountains and down valleys and curves come at me from nowhere, I'm going to remember that God is sticking with me.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
God Bless Mrs. Bates
Every church needs a Mrs. Bates. She was a willing worker who was under-appreciated and over-worked. She led the song services, put on the Christmas plays, taught the girls’ auxiliary, used her home for sleep-overs, parties, and all other events (she had an in-ground pool) and did a myriad of other small jobs that my teenage self could not comprehend.
Looking back, I realize that she was about the age that I am now when she was so busy at church. We girls thought of her as elderly, and we were highly amused at her singing. We felt her operatic style voice was out-of-date since rock music had come on the scene. I can still hear her warbling in my mind singing "I come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the roses."
No, we didn’t appreciate Mrs. Bates like we should have then, but now I realize what a treasure she was!
The greatest thing that Mrs. Bates ever did, in my opinion, is that she is the only one that asked me if I had made a personal decision for Christ. I was raised in the church and was a faithful attender. I knew all my Sunday School lessons and could answer any question a teacher would ask. Everyone assumed that I was a Christian – everyone, that is, but Mrs. Bates. She is the only one who made sure that I knew Christ and let me know that head knowledge wasn’t enough to get to heaven, I had to accept Jesus as my personal Savior.
Mrs. Bates went on to live a long life. In fact, she is still alive over 30 years later. She cannot sing now, nor even talk. But she has many good memories of a life of service for her Lord. I’m sure one day she’ll hear:
"Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' " (Matthew 25:21 NIV).
Do you know someone like Mrs. Bates? Please share, I'd love to read about other faithful workers for Christ.
(Since this post was published, Sister Bates has went home to be with the Lord.)
I'm entering this post in Sarah Bessey's Patron Saint and Spiritual Midwives series because I consider Mrs. Bates key in my spiritual birth.
You can read about more patron saints at Sarah's blog, sarah bessey.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
And I "Quote"
The other day, I jumped in the car to take my daughter to school. Before pulling out the driveway, I rummaged in my purse and found my lipstick. Grinning at my daughter I said "There's always time for lipstick." She burst out laughing and said, "Mom, when you're dead and gone, I'll always remember you saying 'There's always time for lipstick.' You're always saying it!"
Well. What about all those times I said, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all?" That seems more memorable to me!
After thinking it over, I realized that often we do associate certain quotes with certain people.
For instance: "I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date." - (this was from Alice in Wonderland) My dad said this all the time. I also inherited his talent for running late and so I repeat his quote for my family.
My grandma Sybil was known for saying, "You don't need to tell everything you know." Perhaps this is why I'm known for being able to keep a secret!
My other grandma said many times "You'll miss me when I'm gone. You'll call out my name and I won't answer." This was said not only to me but to all her relatives. Sure enough, we DO miss her now that she's gone!
She also had two other well known sayings, "Anyone want to Scrabble?" and "Poodadle!" (This was said with great feeling similar to someone saying "Fiddlesticks!")
I've lived long enough that I know several saints that have passed and I can remember their testimonies and quote them. Bro. Sidney Callis used to always say, "This world is not my home, I'm just a stranger passing through." He's home now...
And another great quote: "I praise God for keeping me another week." Bro. Leon Sams said this every time he testified.
Maybe we should all pay attention to the things that we repeat over and over. People do remember what you say, especially things repeated constantly.
There are those whose quotations are not worth remembering, such as "You'll never amount to anything." Also, please don't say, "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right!" Hearing that paralyzes a perfectionist (ask me how I know). The truth is, doing something is better than doing nothing.
I'd love to hear your ideas on quotes that are worth remembering. And I'll check back to read them as soon as I put on some lipstick. My lips are so dry ... and there's always time for lipstick!
Well. What about all those times I said, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all?" That seems more memorable to me!
After thinking it over, I realized that often we do associate certain quotes with certain people.
For instance: "I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date." - (this was from Alice in Wonderland) My dad said this all the time. I also inherited his talent for running late and so I repeat his quote for my family.
My grandma Sybil was known for saying, "You don't need to tell everything you know." Perhaps this is why I'm known for being able to keep a secret!
My other grandma said many times "You'll miss me when I'm gone. You'll call out my name and I won't answer." This was said not only to me but to all her relatives. Sure enough, we DO miss her now that she's gone!
She also had two other well known sayings, "Anyone want to Scrabble?" and "Poodadle!" (This was said with great feeling similar to someone saying "Fiddlesticks!")
I've lived long enough that I know several saints that have passed and I can remember their testimonies and quote them. Bro. Sidney Callis used to always say, "This world is not my home, I'm just a stranger passing through." He's home now...
And another great quote: "I praise God for keeping me another week." Bro. Leon Sams said this every time he testified.
Maybe we should all pay attention to the things that we repeat over and over. People do remember what you say, especially things repeated constantly.
There are those whose quotations are not worth remembering, such as "You'll never amount to anything." Also, please don't say, "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right!" Hearing that paralyzes a perfectionist (ask me how I know). The truth is, doing something is better than doing nothing.
I'd love to hear your ideas on quotes that are worth remembering. And I'll check back to read them as soon as I put on some lipstick. My lips are so dry ... and there's always time for lipstick!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Beginning
Hello!
Today is the beginning of my blog! I pray that I will be able to write something that will touch people. At the very least, I'll share insights that God gives me as I travel along my journey. Please join in and comment whenever possible. We need each other!
Today is the beginning of my blog! I pray that I will be able to write something that will touch people. At the very least, I'll share insights that God gives me as I travel along my journey. Please join in and comment whenever possible. We need each other!
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