Rebuilding

Last night's movie had a lesson about teamwork and individual responsibility as it pertained to a football team. The team's coach used Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the wall as his example.

I had to go to Nehemiah today to re-read. I knew it had something for me to hear.

The walls of Jerusalem were in ruins. Those walls needed to be rebuilt and rebuilt quickly. The impossible task overwhelmed Jerusalem but Nehemiah planned with God's help. First Nehemiah surveyed the ruins carefully. Then, God gave wisdom to Nehemiah to assign everyone the wall nearest their own homes, connecting the work with 10 gates. In a record 52 days, the walls were rebuilt, surrounding Jerusalem, protecting the city from the enemy. And in dedication, the word of God was read and the people worshipped the living God.

The enemy intended destruction. Our Lord lifts his people out of the ruins, renewed with His Word, the Truth, proclaimed for all to hear.

I'm re-building the wall nearest my home. How about you?

Facing the Giants

We enjoyed an awesome movie tonight called Facing the Giants.

While the story is about a private christian school's football coach and his team, the real story is about fear. Facing it. Learning that when we have our eyes on our giants, we will stumble.

But when we have our eyes on God, the giants stumble.

No matter the circumstances. Do what's right. Do our best. Honor God.

Then no matter the outcome, God gets the glory.

"But the Voice of Truth tells me a different story
The Voice of Truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
And the Voice of Truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of Truth" - Casting Crowns

Go to this movie.

This weekend.

Go.

You will be encouraged.

Feed the Right Dog

Fact: If two dogs are in a fight, the bigger one will win. The one that has been fed more abundantly has the advantage. The one that is starved won't have a chance.

I've spent the past five days on an emotional rollercoaster. Emotions of anger. Sadness. Pain. Going up and down, from moment to moment, grieving.

I know there is still grief work to do. I know there will be more days of sadness and anger and pain but a wise man once taught me that our emotions are responders.

I intend to feed the right dog. I intend to engage my brain cells to think rightly.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally brethren...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Phil 4:6-8

Be Alert! Be Prepared!

Some things for our "to do list" with a great reward!

"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen." I Peter 5: 8-11

Clay Jars and Cracked Pots

This new friend nudged my brain into a memory about clay.

Clay?

Yes. I love the stuff. Brown, moist dirt from the ground.

If you haven't had the opportunity to work with clay, put it on your "to do list".

Clay is an amazing substance. You can work with it. Make something of it. Let it dry out. If you don't like what you made, you can resoak it in water to rehydrate it and start again. It is completely alterable in the clay stage. In fact, if you make a vessel of clay and let it dry and then attempt to keep water in it, you will be disappointed. The water will turn your dried out vessel into mushy clay.

But, once the clay has been allowed to dry, heating the clay to temperatures over 1800 degrees, changes its properties from clay to stoneware.

Simply put: The fire changes the dirt to a useful object which can withstand the elements of water, wind and even more fire.

2 Corinthians 4: 7-10 says: But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

I still can not fathom why God would choose to use humans, made of dirt/clay, to carry His treasure. I think of the value of the message of Jesus. The importance. The grandeur. The prize of glory. Shouldn't this message be in the best media campaign?

Instead, he gave this super-duper, amazing, extraordinary task to the most ordinary vessels. We leak. We turn mushy and lose our form. We are cracked pots.

In spite of my cracks, my inabilities, the treasured message will be revealed. The All-surpassing power of God. Not from us.

In the fire? God has his plan for His clay jars.

Under His Wings

Sometimes disappointment and pain overtake my heart.

Sometimes there is no comfort.

When that happens, the best place I know....is under His wings.

Psalm 91

1 "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.

8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-

10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."

Rut or Tradition?

Its confession time. Every friday night my husband and I get in the car to go out to dinner. We do not get in the car and ask "Where do you want to go?" No need for that.

We head to Chipotle.

I discovered quite a while ago that I love the Burrito bowl with rice and chicken. We buy our meals with chips and medium salsa along with two drinks. With the temperatures heading downward, we usually head to the patio for our meal outside.

I especially love eating outside!

Recently my husband wondered out loud if I was in a rut.

Is it a rut? Am I in a rut?

It's something I look forward to each week. It's something that is comforting and satisfying. It's something that underlines the fact that I'm a creature of habit.

Burrito bowl anyone?

I'd rather call it a friday tradition.

What's all the stir?

In the past 24 hours my blog has been under assault. I've set my comments section to "moderate" to help combat the filthy profanity I have received on my blog comments about a certain talk-show host. I deleted those posts, allowed those that contained no profanity and once I woke up this morning, changed the settings to "moderate" and have retained a pile of them (both appropriate and non-appropriate) in moderation.

Odd, I think, that a group of people from a liberal-leaning website would publish a link to my blog and then discuss me and my beliefs. I'm not Rush nor Jerry nor O'Reilly. I'm a 50 year old woman who has been married for 30 years with 2 grown children. What's all the stir? Am I a threat to their way of thinking?

Some basic thoughts in reply to some of those comments:

No, Christians do not believe they are above sinning. I know I'm a sinner. I know that no amount of being "good" will provide forgiveness or provide eternal life. How can you measure good? But because God loves us, wants us to be with him forever, He himself made the way so that our sins are paid.

Like a judge who pronounces us guilty, he takes off his robe, comes around from behind the judge's bench to pay my fine. He paid for it with the death and resurrection of Jesus.

We are all in need of forgiveness. God provided it. Will you accept it?

You can't buy it, work for it, trade for it, bid on it.

Its freely given.

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

Signs

The signs are everywhere.

Yes, I know its only September 20th. Yes, I know we haven't had Halloween or Thanksgiving. I know the football season just got started.

And yet filling the store aisles comes the tinsel and ornaments.

I love Christmas. I love the trees and lights. I love the stockings and candles. I love the season celebrating the birth of our Savior.

I look forward to this time of our year.

And yet I dread parts of it.

I love to find gifts for my family and friends, sharing the reminder of their importance in my life. But when did the gift-buying become a sport? When did Christmas become a three month commercial on TV with the newest in electronic gadgets? When did it become a season of acquiring (one for you, two for me!)?

I'm praying for a better focus this year!

Tears are falling, hearts are breaking
How we need to hear from God
You've been promised, we've been waiting

Welcome Holy Child
Welcome Holy Child

Hope that you don't mind our manger
How I wish we would have known
But long-awaited Holy Stranger
Make Yourself at home
Please make Yourself at home
Bring Your peace into our violence
Bid our hungry souls be filled
Word now breaking Heaven's silence

Welcome to our world
Welcome to our world

Fragile finger sent to heal us
Tender brow prepared for thorn
Tiny heart whose blood will save us
Unto us is born
Unto us is born
So wrap our injured flesh around You
Breathe our air and walk our sod
Rob our sin and make us holy

Perfect Son of God
Perfect Son of God
Welcome to our world
-Chris Rice

All Clear!

I had prepared myself for the news from the derm doc office, expecting to have MOHS surgery scheduled along with a plastic surgeon. Instead of the news I was expecting, I received a great surprise!

All clear!

This was enough for the thoughts of a happy dance. Inside I was very very excited and pleased. But my body didn't respond the same way.

I simply haven't been feeling well.

Despite my malaise and slight nausea, I did manage to get my walk into my late afternoon. With my new Sony headphones delivering Chris Rice at a perfect decibel, I trudged on...in praise.

"The moon is high and the sunset fades
The lullabies have all been sung
We’re tuckin’ in another day
And stars appear now one by one
But the stillness moves and the silence yields
And not a single beat is lost
You can hear the chorus in the fields
Taking up where we left off

And Your praise goes on, rising to Your throne
Where You guard us while we dream
Past the stars they fly, Your praises fill the sky
‘Til You wake us with the dawn
And Your praise goes on

Now bring your warmth, O morning sun
Chase the stars and the moon away
And wake us with your brightest song
And add our voice to your refrain
Now rise up everything that lives!
Flap your wings and leap for joy!
Oh forest lift your arms and sway!
Clap your hands you ocean waves!

And Your praise goes on, rising to Your throne
Where You bless our toil and play
Through the clouds they rise, Your praises fill the skies
‘Til the setting of the sun
And Your praise goes on

And when my final breath You lend
I’ll thank You for the life You gave
But that won’t mean the praises end
‘Cause I won’t be silenced by the grave!

And Your praise goes on
I’ll be runnin’ to Your throne
With every nation, tribe and tongue
To Your arms I’ll fly
I’ll gaze into Your eyes
Then I’ll know as I am known
And Your praise goes on
And Your praise goes on
And Your praise goes on" - Chris Rice

Dangerous

Rosie thinks I'm dangerous. Yes, she proclaimed, while sitting in her new moderator chair on ABC's "The View": "Radical Christians are as dangerous as radical islamists."

I'm not completely shocked by her comments. In the past few years I've heard Rosie's anti-christian sentiments weaving their way through her so-called-comedy schticks.

I do have a few questions for ABC's head honchos:

If Rosie had said: "Radical homosexuals are as dangerous as radical islamists" or "Radical African-Americans are as dangerous as radical islamists", would an apology have been offered by ABC and the co-host of The View fired? Probably.

There is quite a double standard in our news media. Its not okay to be a bigot unless your bigotry extends to christians. Then its quite okay.

On the other hand, I think Rosie is onto something.

Christians are dangerous to Rosie. Christians don't agree with her on many levels. And on the most basic of issues, we differ. Christians represent the very things that Rosie hates. And while she spews her hatred and bitterness against christians (and ABC allows it), I'm quite okay with my choice not to watch Rosie or The View.

But I'll continue to pray for her as she rages.

"Turn to me and be saved,
all you ends of the earth;
for I am God, and there is no other.

By myself I have sworn,
my mouth has uttered in all integrity
a word that will not be revoked:
Before me every knee will bow;
by me every tongue will swear.

They will say of me, 'In the LORD alone
are righteousness and strength.' "
All who have raged against him
will come to him and be put to shame." Isaiah 45:22-24

Tumbleweed?

This morning I was privileged to sit with a few hundred women listening to Jill Briscoe. I came away with many nuggets and gems for my personal jewelry box. Here is one tidbit. I'm sure I'll have more over the coming days to share here.

Have you taken a good look at a tumbleweed? They are dried up, shriveled up bushes. Yet at one point the tumbleweed was a green shrub, a plant with roots and branches with leaves, just as a plant should.

But at some point, this shrub was no longer rooted in the ground as it was intended.... to its source of life.

The leaves fall off. The branches die back. The roots shrivel up and the bush is no longer anchored to the ground.

And as a wind comes up, the dried up bush can't stand its ground against the weather. Where ever the wind blows, the tumbleweed follows the path of least resistance. And after days of tumbling from hither and yon, it may land again, caught up in something with more weight and strength, until the wind blows again from a new direction. And off it goes in another direction.

If you find you have become a tumbleweed, tossed here and there without roots, without purpose, perhaps its time to make some changes.

""But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.
He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8

Just as a bush needs to be rooted in the source to grow and be nourished, how much more is it for us who are human "beans" who wear a flesh suit? Go grow some roots by digging deep and being nourished by the only source who keeps us anchored when the world blows hot wind at us.

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." Colossians 2:6-8

Chocolate

It doesn't matter if chocolate is in the form of a candy bar, a pie, a cake or a pretzel dipped in it. I just love it.

I plan special meals out in restaurants which serve chocolate cake. I manage to drive through Braums at just the right time for a frozen chocolate yogurt. I save calories each day for a Tootsie Roll or two (no fat, ya know?) Okay, truth time: I dream about it.

Just suffice it to say: I love my chocolate.

And I think the marketing geniuses of hormone replacement therapy have missed the boat.

Why doesn't estrogen come chocolate covered or chocolate flavored?

You read it here first. I should patent this notion. I'm sure hot flashes would be a thing of the past for all women if our HRT was chocolate covered. Who could resist their daily dose of the milky brown yummy stuff?

365 Sun Block

I was not a sun worshipper growing up. Although I can think of one summer where I spent more than a few days at the neighborhood pool, I didn't spend a lot of money on sunscreen simply because I didn't need it. I rarely laid out in the sun for one simple reason.

I burnt every time.

And after the skin peeled, I was still an ivory white shade. I just do not tan.

I'm blue-eyed, freckled-face, blonde (naturally as a child, courtesy of the hair salon as an adult) and my skin is simply called "fair and sensitive".

And now, as a fifty year old woman, I could be a successful marketing representative for sun block, hats, sunglasses and sun protection of any kind. I cringe when I hear of anyone going to a tanning salon. (Get a fake bake instead!)

I wear sun block daily, all year long. I use the kind of sun block that is not only a chemical block but a physical block as well. Zinc Oxide is my friend and Skinceuticals makes a great sun block that meets this requirement.

I've had spots frozen, cut, sliced and peeled off of my face. I've had MOHS surgery and a successful reconstruction on my nose from a rather sizeable basal cell carcinoma. I can't imagine how much worse this could be if I had been a sun worshipper in my youth. I would guess I'd have to multiply my skin cancer woes by 5 times if I had damaged my skin repeatedly back then.

Today, I had my regular checkup with the derm doc. A few places were treated with nitrate. A blonde mole was removed that has been bothersome to me. And a spot that has concerned me in the last month or two was biopsied. Ouch. I have a few bandaids on my face and I do not look fabulous!

I'll hear next week the results of that biopsy. Hopefully, it will be pre-cancer in need of nitrate treatement. If not, another MOHS surgery awaits me with plastic surgery repair. This is my way of life for my skin.

Do you wear sun block? If not, why not?

Responsibilities

We have a responsibility to remember our nation as it was five years ago.

We can not forget our nation was attacked on our own soil, with our own planes, targeting civilians.

We can not forget our purposes, our virtue, our goal.

We can not allow nay-sayers who use words like "quagmire" to shape the people we are or to erase our memory or our resolve.

We can not forget our nation's heros called Firemen, Policemen, Air Force, Marines, Army, Navy, commercial pilots.

We must choose to stand for freedom or we will sit down in shame.

Its our responsibility.

Follow the crowd?

If you've ever been in a group that mindlessly followed the herd only to discover later that the leader had no idea where they were going or (worse) there was no leader, you would obviously understand how disillusionment sets in.

Most folks follow blindly along the path of least resistance without consideration of the goal.

Other folks follow multiple leaders, choosing them based on today's fad of fame, switching paths and herds as the years go roll by. In fact, often these followers choose the herd they like today regardless if there is a leader or not.

These are blind followers. Can you imagine where they end up at the end of the road?

But, I think there is a better way to be a follower.

Purposeful following.

1. A purposeful follower knows the leader and trusts him.

2. A purposeful follower joins with other purposeful followers who are following the same leader.

3. A purposeful follower makes an intelligent decision to follow based on facts.

4. A purposeful follower understands there is purpose and value in the following in the long run.

"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." Matt 4:19

Backend and No Control

I normally love driving the backroad home. The drive is winding and curvy, past fields and farms, sprawling ranches with horses and yellow wildflowers dotting the landscape. Arching trees that create a canopy across much of the road, bathing the path in shadows. I look forward to my drive as a relaxing journey.

But not yesterday.

I turned from the fast paced, hectic street, onto my backroad and discovered within 100 yards an obstruction. A minivan was right in front of me traveling less than 20 miles per hour and braking at every little curve and every little bump in the road.

Now normally this would be acceptable for a few miles. But this country road is usually a 15 minute drive going the speed limit (35 miles an hour for much of it, then 55 for the rest).

It took me over 40 minutes to get home instead of 15.

My relaxing drive turned into a nightmare as I spent all of the drive upset and frustrated, trying to find a way to maneuver around her. To top off the steam pouring from my ears, this backroad has "No Passing" signs throughout the entire journey.

Who was in the car? A group of women, talking. I guess they had no clue that all of Denton County was lined up behind them, trying to get home.

It dawned on me when I got home that this is my new assignment from God. When I get into my car, I think I'm on a mission to get to my destination. I think the drive is in *my* hands. I think I am supposed to be in control.

Control? Seems that God is telling me, once again, I am not in control.

And I need to trust HIM alone.

"Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night.

"Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
You are amazing God" - Chris Tomlin

September Adjustments

Even though I have stayed home again this fall and haven't gone back to the classroom, I find the excitement of September and the changes in my daily schedule a great change.

1. Adjust the sprinklers

Over the heat of the summer we adjusted the sprinklers to save the lawn and bushes.

In May we were watering every few days. Then we were watering every day. Then we were watering twice a day as we saw the lawn scorching in spite of the daily schedule. I altered the watering for a complete cycle every morning and then a partial schedule again as the sun went down.

I think it would have been cheaper to purchase new sod every month instead.

The water bill was enormous.

Now that the heat has backed off for the time being, I can adjust the sprinklers yet again. I can go back to every other day. Or at least until the temps reach sky high again.

2. Adjust my walking schedule

Now that the days are definitely getting shorter, I will be able to get my 2 miles into my schedule earlier in the day. I'm even hoping for afternoons as the temperatures keep dropping. During July and August, I had to wait for the very last 30 minutes of the day as the sun was setting. It was still hotter than a furnace at that time. But I can't seem to walk in the morning. My brain has too many things on its agenda to get through the entire 2 miles without taking my laptop with me.

Its hard to walk briskly with a laptop open, searching for wifi in the neighborhood.

So I wait and walk at the end of my day when I can spend time thinking, praying and reflecting on my day. And I leave the laptop at home.

3. Adjust my weekly schedule

Women's Bible Study starts up this week (woohoo!) which means that extra study time is added to my days and one day of the week is mapped out for my favorite activity of all. Studying the Word of God with other women.

I love September.

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps" Proverbs 16:9

Rainy Lazy Day

Starting last night the rain began in north Texas and for the entire day today the skies stayed gray and leaked. It was wonderful!

I am a sunshine gal. Normally the sun excites me and when I spend my winter days without sun, I long for it.

But this summer I've been on sun overload only because I've needed some rain to break up the heat.

The break came today:

1. Rainy and gray skies
2. Cooler temperatures
3. Closed office (Post office closing means we can't ship!)

It was a lazy day with the hound dogs and a quick trip over the lake to meet my favorite daughter for a quick lunch. (She is icing on the cake. I adore her. She makes me laugh.)

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." Psalm 91:1