"I feel ten kinds of weird today," I told Melanie on our way downstairs to the basement of the Underground this morning for Bible study.
We got downstairs and set down our stuff, and I proceeded to go make coffee. I walked into the kitchen area, when Melanie exclaimed, "Hey, look at the floor."
There was a huge puddle of water on the floor. I hadn't even noticed it as I walked right through it to go to the kitchen.
Make that eleven.
I feel just "off" today. I really did try to be "on." I think it's the Monday thing. I tried to be SuperMom as I cooked rolls and cinnamon rolls for us all this morning before school, packed hot lunches for the kids, and brushed out the most tangled of kid hair from my daughter's oft-neglected locks. Dread locks, that is. She's not much into brushing anything, but most of all, her very long hair. As she complained and protested, I gave her words of wisdom: "with great hair, comes great responsibility."
I try to get us out of the house at 8:30 to get there for the 8:40 bell. Well, I went upstairs at 8:27 to go get dressed! I needed a phonebooth to walk in and out of really fast, but sadly, I don't have one in the bedroom. Brushed my teeth as fast as I could. I probably only got the front eight, but I didn't care; I skipped washing my face. I locked the front door at 8:39, looked down at three imploding pumpkin heads leftover from Halloween still on the front porch. I hoped my face didn't look like any of those. No time to pour coffee in my travel mug, or even swig the last drops in the cup on the counter on the way out. I was "off."
Our study today was about "faithfulness." Our God is faithful, and our faith is a response to His faithfulness. Today I have to say that that is so true in my life. He's always "on." He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, and O' man, I love that! That I can be weird and imploding on my front porch and He hasn't taken the day off. Praise Him! Praise Him that whatever is off in my life can be steadied by leaning on the One who never changes. I love that when I am ten kinds of weird I don't think He's forgotten me, and that I can know He's still ten kinds of wonderful. Praise Him who is good and who keeps His promises and who strengthens me when I need every ounce I can get! Lord I praise You for the day You've made, even if I am wondering where I am in it, or if even if I am late for it.
I think I need a nap.
Your lovingkindness, O LORD, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Psalm 36:5
Monday, November 16, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Under the lights...
I coach Keelin's soccer team. A few weeks back, I was approached with a fantastic invitation to bring our team to play at halftime of the Nanaimo United (Division 1 Women) soccer game last Saturday night. We'd been to this particular field before just recently, but not at night. Way more impressive at night! We drove up to park. All lit up, it might as well have been Dodger stadium. I felt that same sense of wonder. We'd made it to the bigs.
Keelin was adorable. Before we left the house, she had made sure to wear a headband to pull her bangs back. We went to see her thirteen-year old "cousin" play a couple weeks ago at this field on Sunday afternoon (why we'd been there). Before her game, Taylor put her bangs back into a headband. Keelin wanted to be just like her. Playing on the same field as her big "cousin". So in went the headband. I knew what she was after, but I kind of spoiled it by making her wear her toque over it. It was freezing, though! Night games come without sunshine.
Keelin watched as she waited for her turn on the pitch. I watched her watching them, as she admired their size and ability. I remember being the same way, thinking how I wanted to be just like the big girls. It's good to have good role models, and have something to aspire to be when you grow up!
The little girls' soccer game, needless to say, looked nothing like the game the big girls were playing! It was hilarious. Usually, my girls play 4 v. 4, but with the short time allowed, the organizers wanted everyone to play, so we played 6 v. 8 (our team had 6!) They proceeded to play in their usual style--all swarming like bees, like they do when there's only eight on the field on Saturday mornings. Only now, there were fourteen of them hovering around the ball at the same time. Back and forth they all ran as one big blob, chasing the ball up and down the field for ten whole minutes. So cute! I mentally ran every lap with them from the sidelines. It was exhausting. We scored the only goal (we weren't really keeping score, but since my team was short-handed, I was pretty impressed with ourselves!)
The big girls got back on and resumed the game. We didn't stay for the end. We went home to warm our toes. And a much-deserved hot chocolate for the whole family.
We were very grateful to have been invited by the Nanaimo United coaches, whose purpose in having us was to inspire our young girls to keep with soccer for the long term. It was a great experience to expose the girls to the beautiful game, to introduce them to some great examples of successful players, and a great way to give the girls a "goal" to "shoot" for. (I know... but I couldn't resist.) It's one thing to tell someone something, and another to let them experience it for themselves. What a wonderful experience it was!
You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything. 1 Thessalonians 1:6-8
Keelin was adorable. Before we left the house, she had made sure to wear a headband to pull her bangs back. We went to see her thirteen-year old "cousin" play a couple weeks ago at this field on Sunday afternoon (why we'd been there). Before her game, Taylor put her bangs back into a headband. Keelin wanted to be just like her. Playing on the same field as her big "cousin". So in went the headband. I knew what she was after, but I kind of spoiled it by making her wear her toque over it. It was freezing, though! Night games come without sunshine.
Keelin watched as she waited for her turn on the pitch. I watched her watching them, as she admired their size and ability. I remember being the same way, thinking how I wanted to be just like the big girls. It's good to have good role models, and have something to aspire to be when you grow up!
The little girls' soccer game, needless to say, looked nothing like the game the big girls were playing! It was hilarious. Usually, my girls play 4 v. 4, but with the short time allowed, the organizers wanted everyone to play, so we played 6 v. 8 (our team had 6!) They proceeded to play in their usual style--all swarming like bees, like they do when there's only eight on the field on Saturday mornings. Only now, there were fourteen of them hovering around the ball at the same time. Back and forth they all ran as one big blob, chasing the ball up and down the field for ten whole minutes. So cute! I mentally ran every lap with them from the sidelines. It was exhausting. We scored the only goal (we weren't really keeping score, but since my team was short-handed, I was pretty impressed with ourselves!)
The big girls got back on and resumed the game. We didn't stay for the end. We went home to warm our toes. And a much-deserved hot chocolate for the whole family.
We were very grateful to have been invited by the Nanaimo United coaches, whose purpose in having us was to inspire our young girls to keep with soccer for the long term. It was a great experience to expose the girls to the beautiful game, to introduce them to some great examples of successful players, and a great way to give the girls a "goal" to "shoot" for. (I know... but I couldn't resist.) It's one thing to tell someone something, and another to let them experience it for themselves. What a wonderful experience it was!
You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything. 1 Thessalonians 1:6-8
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Costumes and compromises....
November 3, 2009
Wow, last week was a whirlwind!
Halloween ended up being a whole lot of fun this year. For one, it didn't rain. Secondly, I've finally arrived at the big Halloween promotion. I don't have to walk up and ring the doorbell at every house. I am an end-of-the-driveway Trick-Or-Treater Supervisor now! Yipee! However, the whole Halloween season started out, I could tell, very hard for Candan. He's not ever super big on the day in the beginning of October. He tells me that first day or so of the month that he'd just prefer me buying him a box of chocolate and being done with it (I'd be more than okay with that!). As the month progresses, he usually figures something out that he'd like to dress up as, and then he gets excited about the big day. This year was harder than usual for him to get into the (forgive the pun) spirit.
It was two days before the parade, and still he couldn't decide what to dress up as or if he wanted to at all. He'd been Spiderman, Buzz Lightyear, a soccer player, a hockey player, and a knight in recent years past. There wasn't much left that hadn't been done yet. And he knew what all his friends were going to be-- scary.
He knows I don't do scary, and he doesn't like it either one bit. All his friends would be dressed as vampires or other assorted gory, bloody things for the school Halloween parade [which we don't have a dress code for, but I think we should. It was (again, forgive the pun) hauntingly telling of the dark world we live in. Nine year-olds dressed as Death is heart-wrenching.]
There was huge pressure to be something he didn't want to be.
The world is never going to help us out to be pleasing in His sight. The world celebrates darkness and fear and death, and it's easier sometimes to go along with what others are doing so we don't stand out as different. The truth is, he wouldn't have been happy had he gone as Dracula, because he'd know the compromise he'd made. Compromising what you believe in will never make you happier.
He went as a scarecrow. A darling scarecrow. He said it's okay to scare birds if it's to save the cornfield. He's so cute, and I am so proud of him. (He wasn't smiling in this picture because his dorky mom was embarrassing him by making him stand up after his class sat back down after their turn marching in the parade. My camera wasn't ready as they passed by.)
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
Wow, last week was a whirlwind!
Halloween ended up being a whole lot of fun this year. For one, it didn't rain. Secondly, I've finally arrived at the big Halloween promotion. I don't have to walk up and ring the doorbell at every house. I am an end-of-the-driveway Trick-Or-Treater Supervisor now! Yipee! However, the whole Halloween season started out, I could tell, very hard for Candan. He's not ever super big on the day in the beginning of October. He tells me that first day or so of the month that he'd just prefer me buying him a box of chocolate and being done with it (I'd be more than okay with that!). As the month progresses, he usually figures something out that he'd like to dress up as, and then he gets excited about the big day. This year was harder than usual for him to get into the (forgive the pun) spirit.
It was two days before the parade, and still he couldn't decide what to dress up as or if he wanted to at all. He'd been Spiderman, Buzz Lightyear, a soccer player, a hockey player, and a knight in recent years past. There wasn't much left that hadn't been done yet. And he knew what all his friends were going to be-- scary.
He knows I don't do scary, and he doesn't like it either one bit. All his friends would be dressed as vampires or other assorted gory, bloody things for the school Halloween parade [which we don't have a dress code for, but I think we should. It was (again, forgive the pun) hauntingly telling of the dark world we live in. Nine year-olds dressed as Death is heart-wrenching.]
There was huge pressure to be something he didn't want to be.
The world is never going to help us out to be pleasing in His sight. The world celebrates darkness and fear and death, and it's easier sometimes to go along with what others are doing so we don't stand out as different. The truth is, he wouldn't have been happy had he gone as Dracula, because he'd know the compromise he'd made. Compromising what you believe in will never make you happier.
He went as a scarecrow. A darling scarecrow. He said it's okay to scare birds if it's to save the cornfield. He's so cute, and I am so proud of him. (He wasn't smiling in this picture because his dorky mom was embarrassing him by making him stand up after his class sat back down after their turn marching in the parade. My camera wasn't ready as they passed by.)
Oh, and speaking of darling... here's a sweet pink m&m.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
duh.
I feel like I've been home all of fifteen minutes in the last five days. We studied peace as a fruit of the Spirit last week, and honestly, it's been the weirdest week for that. I know I have peace, but do I feel peace this week? Deep down when I stop to think from an eternal perspective, yes, but as I am busy, not so much. I sometimes have a disconnect between what I know and what I do. And not just peace, I've acted so unbelievably pitifully this week. And I didn't even go behind my own back to do it. Paul talked about that too. I'm glad I am not the only one who feels like a total idiot sometimes.
14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh;for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. Romans 7:14-25
Thursday, October 22, 2009
To be beautiful...
October 22, 2009
I had fully intended to write on something else today, but I changed my mind when I read the quote of the day that I receive in my Google Reader. Here's what it said:
"All God's children are not beautiful. In fact, some are barely presentable."--Fran Leibowitz.
For a moment, I felt offended.... and then, I thought about it some more, and you know what? She's absolutely right. On several counts.
When we lose our witness, that is, when we don't look like we belong to Him. That's ugly.
You know what else is ugly? (not an exhaustive list...)
When we serve other masters.
When we return evil with evil.
When we choose the paths of unrighteousness or self-righteousness.
When we dishonor others.
When we dishonor ourselves.
When we don't love our brothers and sisters.
When we don't love our enemies.
When we disagree with those we elected to govern, we attack the men, not the issues.
When we choose bondage over freedom, or law over grace.
Any time we do any of the above (have you ever?) it's called sin. Sin's ugly. We come to God not at all presentable. We're told in Romans 3:23, "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." I do ugly things daily, but Oh, glory, glory, glory to God, he makes me beautiful.
We have an amazing and glorious privilege to be able to come to Him in confession and repentance. Take hold of this gift that God gives us-- become beautiful again. Accept His forgiveness, knowing that ugly is gone! Walk in joy and celebration and beauty, like you belong to Him!
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
24-25And now to him who can keep you on your feet, standing tall in his bright presence, fresh and celebrating—to our one God, our only Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Master, be glory, majesty, strength, and rule before all time, and now, and to the end of all time. Yes. (Jude 1:24-25, The Message)
I had fully intended to write on something else today, but I changed my mind when I read the quote of the day that I receive in my Google Reader. Here's what it said:
"All God's children are not beautiful. In fact, some are barely presentable."--Fran Leibowitz.
For a moment, I felt offended.... and then, I thought about it some more, and you know what? She's absolutely right. On several counts.
When we lose our witness, that is, when we don't look like we belong to Him. That's ugly.
You know what else is ugly? (not an exhaustive list...)
When we serve other masters.
When we return evil with evil.
When we choose the paths of unrighteousness or self-righteousness.
When we dishonor others.
When we dishonor ourselves.
When we don't love our brothers and sisters.
When we don't love our enemies.
When we disagree with those we elected to govern, we attack the men, not the issues.
When we choose bondage over freedom, or law over grace.
Any time we do any of the above (have you ever?) it's called sin. Sin's ugly. We come to God not at all presentable. We're told in Romans 3:23, "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." I do ugly things daily, but Oh, glory, glory, glory to God, he makes me beautiful.
We have an amazing and glorious privilege to be able to come to Him in confession and repentance. Take hold of this gift that God gives us-- become beautiful again. Accept His forgiveness, knowing that ugly is gone! Walk in joy and celebration and beauty, like you belong to Him!
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
24-25And now to him who can keep you on your feet, standing tall in his bright presence, fresh and celebrating—to our one God, our only Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Master, be glory, majesty, strength, and rule before all time, and now, and to the end of all time. Yes. (Jude 1:24-25, The Message)
Friday, October 16, 2009
Our true value...
Yesterday, Brad and I were talking about commodities. His business depends on commodity prices for materials like cardboard. And it got me to thinking....
Commodities are valued at the price someone is willing to pay for them.
You were bought with a price... 1 Corinthians 6:20
Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. Acts 20:28
knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers 19but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 1 Peter 1:18-19
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Block Drop
Posts
