Twinkle, Twinkle

I never will forget that moment...It was early December, 2009, and all three of my children as well as my husband were in the church Christmas play. The boys were playing the roles of Townspeople in Bethlehem, and Abby had been asked by an adult volunteer, and good friend, weeks before to be "The Star." "But, mommy, I don't want to be 'The Star.' I want to be an angel."
I heard my daughter's plea, but I insisted to her that since she was the tiniest and had been asked, that it would be the polite thing to do. She wimpered a little, tried to cry...but, I talked it up enough to get her through those last few rehearsals. The night of the play...she got teary-eyed again with more of the same, "But, mommy, I don't want to be 'The Star.' I want to be an angel." She was truly disapppointed...and my heart was touched. She was heartbroken..and, you have to see, God was working to teach ME ... the one who needed to learn ... through my precious one. And, it has taken me a year to put it all together!

You see, this year, Abby IS AN ANGEL in the play!!!

She is the happiest little angel, singing with the multitude. She is by far more blessed and pleased to be one of several singing together, making it happen, being part of a team...sharing fellowship, friendship, worshipping together...it is precious.

And, you wonder where the lesson is for mom...I won't go into great detail here...but, for those who know my recent struggles best...I am far better suited to be "singing with the multitudes, pleased to be making happen, being part of a team, sharing fellowship, friendship...being together" and after difficult decisions realize now how precious it is.

Now, please don't misunderstand me...Abby and I both understand the role of "The Star..." it shined, it led, it probably sparkled and twinkled...it drew attention...it was a 'VIS' (VERY IMPORTANT STAR). We appreciate it, understand it's value and are so thankful for it!

However, Abby..."I don't want to be 'The Star' either!"
Thank you for teaching me...and being patient with me as it took me a year to get it right!

Can't wait to see you singing with the Angels! I'll be the one smiling from the front - totally getting your joy in being an angel! And, we will be praising Jesus together!
(...and pics will follow, I promise!)

New Leaf

Since today is Thanksgiving, it is, in my mind, the perfect day to explain that I have recently "turned over a new leaf"! Life has changed alot for me...and boy, is my cup overflowing with thankfulness. My secular working role has changed significantly after
much
prayer and searching for God's will...and when He aligns His Word with your present circumstances...it all works for GOOD! It is amazing to me that my life could change so significantly so quickly, the quality of my days be so phenomenal, my strength being renewed like the eagles...and the joy...

oh, the joy...

the peace and JOY...
that floods my soul...knowing that I am in the center of God's will, had a great learning experience where I have been, can look back without regret, and move forward with delight is overwhelming. Not many people are blessed to be able to return to their previous working environment with renewed vigor...to see it with brand new eyes...to appreciate it more fully...

...but, by His grand design, I have returned. And, my co-workers, who have known me for years, frequently say...
"You have been all 'giggles' since you've been back..."

or

"You smile ALL the time..."

One of them even came in and said, "I feel like I am getting to know you for the first time!" We talked for awhile, and I finally realized what this person meant. My previous role took more from me than I had realized, and I lost a large part of myself and what I had hoped to represent because I had lost sight of my priorities with good intentions, trying to do the enormous job laid before me - which was impossible while trying to be a wife and mother too!

So, now my true self is able to shine through. And, I know that the Lord is pleased that I listened and obeyed... and
turned over the leaf!
Happy Thanksgiving, 2010!
(and yes, I am smiling and giggling!)

To check out my new favorite blog...
click here...
check it out today...
mark it as a favorite and check it frequently for great blessings!

I especially love today's sentiments regarding Christian bookstores-couldn't have said it better myself - so I won't! Great stuff!
Enjoy!

*ALERT* Breaking News: God Uses His Word To Comfort A 4 1/2 year Old Little Girl...And Her Mother...

Definition of 'principle'
a a comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine or assumption;
b (1): a rule or code of conduct;
(2) habitual devotion to right principles;
{emphasis mine}

I was listening by divine appointment this week, I am sure, to Family Life Today on the Moody Radio Network as they were interviewing Michael Emlet, author of the the book, "CrossTalk." I was immediately intrigued with his insight into the topic of "What the Bible Is and Isn't" on September 30th.
[I actually encourage you to go to their website and listen to this and other programs
- their programming has been a great help to me as seek to be
the wife and mother God would have me be.]

I have been so excited at the insight the Lord gave me through this program, confirmed through my own personal Bible study this week and then again through interactions with other believers. Mr. Emlet encouraged listeners "...to dig deeper into the Scriptures for wisdom and guidance and to not just see the Bible merely as a book of do's and dont's." (http://www.fltoday.com/, Sept. 30, 2010). He went on to explain that the Bible is best interpreted not in light of Biblical principles alone, but that these Bible principles should inevitably lead us toward the centrality of the cross, Jesus Christ and our personal relationships with Him.

WHAAAA!!!

I love, LOVE, LOVE this.

And, it is so relevant in my life right now. I love how God's Word is so relevant and timely in our lives. You see, at this time in my life...raising young children who face a tough/rough world, being a working wife and mother, being involved in a church of imperfect (of which I am PRIMARY), yet wonderful people, facing difficulty it seems on every hand in my own life and with family and friends, I often turn to Biblical principles to determine my actions - or more often sadly - my REACTIONS - to life.

But, let me say, that Now - NOW... I am looking at the Word of God, that I love so much, as SO MUCH MORE. Don't misunderstand me...I have never just looked at it as a book of principles - do's and dont's. But, this was a great "pull-it-all-together-in-my-mind" teaching for me that I needed.

Hence...an EXAMPLE from our household:
I have been noticing lately that in the life of my 4 1/2 year old daughter, ...the worries of the world are beginning to crowd in already. How sad...how very sad. She is only 4 1/2, for mercy's sake! But, in her sweet innocence, over the last few weeks, she has begun anticipating her "tomorrow's" in fear and anxiety. And, here go our conversations...
"Mommy, what is tomorrow? Then, what is the next day?"
"Daddy, where are we going today? Are we staying home today?"
"Mommy, what will we do in three days? What will we eat when we get there?"
"Daddy, is tomorrow Sunday? Will I go to Sunday School? Will you pick me up? Then what?"

She has already begun to "worry about tomorrow...". And, in typical 'Christian mother' fashion - previously I may have told her ..."So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own." (NIV, Matt 6:34) I have tried to teach my children - not "just because I said so," but "because this is what the Word of God says." And, I still do...she and I have been memorizing this verse together this week and studying it.

BUT, and don't miss this...But, now I directly help her correlate this "principle" to her relationship with Jesus Christ...that He loves her SOOO much, that he went to the cross to die for her...that He can and will take care of tomorrow...so that she can enjoy today!

And...isn't it amazing that when I can not comfort my child...

God uses His Word to comfort a 4 1/2 year old little girl...
and her mother?

5 things

5 Things on my mind...

1.) I chose to work today ... a Sunday ... so I could be with my sister and her family tomorrow. My nephew is having major surgery tomorrow... and I know I made the right decision to work - on a typically non-working day - when the Lord blesses everything I lay my hand to, I see Him working all around me, I am able to remain extremely focused and see things come together that otherwise and previously have not, time flies and I have peace. Now, I can totally focus on my family...the most important thing right now...Lord, heal him quickly if it be your will ... and bless my sister's socks off.

2) I love fall...I love falling leaves, pumpkins, anything orange, scarecrows, corn stalkes, hay bales, sweatshirt weather, homemade vegetable soup, fall decorations, apple cider, did I mention ... I love fall.

3) I had the MOST DELIGHTFUL Saturday...yesterday. At mid-afternoon, my family and I decided to drive to a new area of Kentucky we had never visited before. And, yes...it has a story. Two weeks ago, during the Beth Moore Simulcast I attended, I had the privilige of sitting behind some delightful women. As I worshipped, I happened to notice with my "typically-feminine" keen observation skills that each of the 6 women in front of me had a similar quilted Bible covers, just in different colors/patterns. I suppose you could say that all of a sudden I had "Bible Cover Envy". I just adored their little Bible Covers...they were primitive looking - old-timey...just my style. I inquired about them...and they got so tickled. One lady spoke up and said she owned a store in another community about an hour away that sold primitive home decor and gifts and she had gotten them all one to bring to the simulcast together...WELL - NOW - THAT WAS A GOD ORDAINED APPOINTMENT! We shared some sweet conversation and I took her address/phone #. Needless to say, the first lazy Saturday we had and we were bound for shopping. And, yes...I came home with a Bible Cover...

...and some primitive curtains, home decor, and more...probably not your thing...but, TOTALLY mine! And, we had the MOST fun driving there and back on the little two lane road- counting little country churches - over 20, looking at old farm houses, teaching the children about old country ways...it was a fun, great day!

4) Our internet was off for two nights...and I had a hard time. Wow...we use it alot.

5) The more I cannot control, the more I am ok with that.

Over- or Under- Stretched?

I have often wondered if I was the ONLY girl in the whole world who owned a STRETCH ARMSTRONG. I wanted one from the time I saw it on the commercial on t.v. as a child. I thought it was a fascinating concept...a man who looked farely normal...somewhat muscular, but could be stretched in all directions. He could be pulled, contorted...

...until he looked like this...

...and I would pull, twist, turn, writhe...to stretch him as far as he would go! I even thought that at some point, he would never be able to bounce back. But...he always did. He always eventually returned to his original, natural state of "normal." He would look like he originally did...the stretching did not "appear" to have damaged to him in any way.

ONE DAY...[don't you love it when a story changes??]...yes, one day, I was in our basement playing with STRETCH. I had pulled, stretched...laughed and played. When I was finished, I layed him down on the concrete floor and ran off to something else that had grabbed my attention. When I returned at a later time to STRETCH, he hadn't completely returned back to his normal state. I was devestated. I showed my mom and she said that over time, because he had been stretched SO much, it had worn him out and he couldn't take the stretching anymore. His outer protective layer had cracked...he began leaking...and the inward parts came pouring out like a flood. STRETCH could no longer be used for his intended purpose.

Analogy anyone?
Feeling a little stretched?
A fair warning from my dear friend, STRETCH ARMSTRONG...

You may think you are invincible. You may think you have it all under control.

You may be under the false impression that you can do it all alone...be stretched in too many directions and continue to do it all well.

Well, my sister, my brother...my friend.
Don't wait until you crack like this old walkway...leading to unknown destinations, with unsure footing...unbalanced, uneven...broken.

...and the most meaningful parts of who you are lost to who you could have been.

Now, doesn't this walkway look much more balanced, peaceful, calm [looks like a great place to read, for those avid readers like me]...leading to rest, peace, joy, and a water source?

I am full-out focused at this particular time in my life on un-stretching myself...not living as the world would have me live - stretched in a zillion directions - but as Christ would have me live...resting in His arms, feeding on His Word, enjoying His peace, experiencing and sharing His joy...drinking from the Living Water every day.

And mostly, taking everyone I can with me to this place...

Storm-Chaser

It is just incredible to me that I can see time passing so quickly and I am heart searching so much more...nothing has crossed my path the last few months without an impact. Is it my age causing this? Am I more contemplative than before? Am I more aware of God's presence and movement in my life than before - it seems so much more vivid right now. And I am glad.

I love rain...actually, I enjoy a good rolling thunderstorm now and then. Anybody feelin' it? In my region of the world, the rain has been falling alot lately. And, as the thunder rolls, I listen for God to say "I'm with you." He has been so apparent in quite a few storms...

A few weeks ago, my precious 4 year old daughter had a bad fall from a piece of playground equipment onto her head...as she lay unconscious on the ground...I screamed for my mother to ''call 911" as I cried for Jesus...Can you guess who showed up first? He was with me in the storm. He stilled the raging storm in me, helped me calm my child when she regained consciousness and walked me through whatever was to come. Our Abby was healed and God is faithful in my storms.

The past few months have brought challenge after huge challenge in my striving to be a working wife and mother. I laid awake at night - often on rainy nights, listening to the thunder roll - praying and listening, seeking Godly counsel. I waited on the Lord...waited...waited...waited. I continue to wait on Him...and I will continue to wait as He delivers me daily from the storms that I fight to be all that He desires me to be.

I love my family so much and I have watched my sister walk through her own storms bravely this summer - being away from her amazing family for 4 weeks, one week at a time to work her way through school courageously - all for HER family. I prayed her through her storm ... she made it through...He is ever faithful in the storms.

I saw my own personal storm come this summer - even though the weather man may try to predict a storm...it seems we don't want to believe one is coming until we see the dark clouds come ourselves, huh? Well, my personal storm came in the area of a health difficulty that was beyond my control...nothing related to poor health habits or choice...just chance. The only option was surgery...then waiting to see if...if...the storm was going to keep blowing or settle down. Thankfully, this storm has calmed for now. My God is faithful and good. And, he uses my storms to teach me...I want to be teachable.

Now, I watch others I love go through storms, hurricanes...yes, even tsunami's. I watch the weather reports - 'the predictions.' But, I have learned with time that science and history does not always know everything! And, I know beyond the shadow of any doubt that my God can calm a storm with a word,
"Peace, be still!"