My 4 year old Christmas

It was quite a few years ago, on a very cold Christmas Eve night. I was four years old, at best. As I walked into the sanctuary of our small-town church, trying to keep my wings on straight, I saw a scene that I had heard about in the weeks prior. There was a bright star hanging on the curtain - sheep and cattle placed around a tiny manger where a baby would soon lay. I remember being cold, and excited, and afraid. Perhaps that was how the Shepherds felt when they saw an angel appear before them.

I'm sure that my parents told me not to be afraid ... that I would do just fine in the Christmas pagent. I'm sure they hugged me, comforted me and wrapped me warmly on that cold night. I know they did - not because I remember - but because that is the very same thing I did for my daughter. And it is the very same thing that God did when his Son was born. He sent comfort and warmth and love. He sent a bright and shining star to interrupt the cold darkness. He sent angels to calm the fears and to praise the birth of His son.

Isn't it comforting to know that God never changes? He still hears our praises, calms our fears and provides the light in the midst of the darkness we encounter. It may not be in the form of angels from Heaven - it may be a hug from a mother; a kind word from a friend; or a smile from a stranger on the street ... but God's love for us is always present. When our hearts are turned towards God, He will always calm our fears.

Gracious Father, help us to remember the birth of your Son ... a light in the darkness to guide us to you. Hear our praises, oh Lord, as we rejoice in knowing that you hear us as clearly as the Shepherds who praised you so long ago. Guide us, Lord, through this Christmas season. Help us to slow down and remember that You have already given the greatest gift. No gift we purchase, no dinner we cook, no card we write can compare to the gift of Eternal Life that you have given us through your son, Jesus Christ. May each gift we give, each meal we serve and each card we send allow us to reflect your light into the hearts of those we meet. -Amen

One More Day

I wrote this two days ago ... the day before Morgan's birthday...

Morgan was so excited this morning … she came running down the stairs ‘tomorrow is my birthday!’ “I know”, I told her.

And then I thought … thirteen years ago at that moment, I didn’t know. I’d been in the hospital for almost a week waiting. One more day. One more day. One more day. The goal was to find that moment where keeping my blood pressure down and giving Morgan more time for her lungs to develop collided. That moment would come the next evening.

This year, I made that comment as well – but for a very different reason. This year, mom is very sick, her emphazema is worse, and although I don’t have the rule book, we keep looking for ‘one more day’.

What a difference one more day can make. Thirteen years ago, ‘one more day’ put the most wonderful gift God could give in my arms. One more day brought the welcome sound of screaming lungs from a tiny little baby … a baby we weren’t sure had lungs strong enough to survive. How ironic that today we wait one more day hoping that a very different set of lungs is strong enough to survive one more day.

We all assume that we have one more day. One day we’ll be wrong. Quite often we say ‘I’ll do it tomorrow, or I’ll tell them tomorrow.’ Make sure … especially through this Christmas season … that you say what you need to - and do what you need to … today. As you go about the Christmas season, make sure that you are living your life in such a way that when there isn’t ‘one more day’, there will be no regrets.

We know that Jesus is coming back ‘one day’. We assume that it isn’t today. One day, we’ll be wrong about that, too!

Countdown to Christmas

Well, here we are – December is here – and you know what that means?!!? The countdown to Christmas begins!

I wonder what Mary was thinking on this day, two thousand years ago. There was no ‘countdown’ yet. I wonder if she sat with her hand on her belly thinking ‘just one more month.’ I wonder if she realized just how special this baby would be.

There was a quote in the movie The Nativity Story – Mary said “I wonder when it will happen, I wonder when he will be more than just a child”. I know that before Morgan was born, I dreamed of what she would be like – what color her hair would be, would she be tall, what her passions would be, what would she want to do with her life – her dreams and her thoughts; and what kind of impact she will have on the world. I would talk to her and tell her how much I loved her – even before I laid my eyes on her.

I wonder what Mary whispered to her baby; what she dreamed about for him. I wonder what kind of impact she thought he would have on this world!

As you rush through the malls, the grocery store, e-bay and prepare for Christmas this year, stop and think about what Mary was doing to prepare for this day. I’m pretty sure that it wasn’t thawing a turkey and fighting the crowds at Toys-R-Us!

Take time to think about that last month before your child was born. Think about what you and your family were like – what you did and thought, what you dreamed about and prayed about as you counted down those last days before your child entered the world. Remember what those whispers were, what those prayers were; that feeling of hope that your baby would bring into your lives. Remember the anticipation, the excitement and the fear as you counted down the days before you would hold your baby in your arms. Relive those memories – and share that with your child.

God gave us three things – faith, hope and love. I don’t think I ever felt that so strongly as the day my daughter was born. I remember looking at her for the first time – so tiny; so perfect; so innocent – it took my breath away. If I was so overwhelmed by the hope and love that my baby brought into my life – I can only imagine what Mary felt like when she first saw her baby!

One Day at a time means Thanksgiving comes before Christmas!!

Have you gone absolutely crazy yet?!?! I think I have!

Scripture says to worry not about tomorrow, for it will have worries of its own. We should take each day as it comes and enjoy what that day has to offer. So, why is it that Christmas is everywhere and we haven’t even celebrated Thanksgiving?!?! If we are to take one day at a time … shouldn’t we celebrate one holiday at a time!

Thanksgiving is a time of giving thanks … of reflecting on what we have, where we are and those that are important in our lives. I believe it deserves our attention before we begin the mad rush to Christmas … which is a topic of another discussion in itself!

We have so much to be thankful for. But … you say, ‘Michele, you don’t know what I have on my plate.’ You are correct … I don’t know. But I do know that you have plenty to be thankful for. You have a Lord and Savior that loves you. He loves you so much that he suffered a painful death on the cross because He loves you and wanted to be sure that you have a home in Heaven.

I know families that have lost loved ones this year … have lost jobs … have lost their homes. My prayers go out to you every day. On this day … this Thanksgiving week … take a moment to think about those things that keep you going … those people in your life that make you smile. Even though there are a ton of things to do and a million things on your mind - s l o w d o w n !! Enjoy this time - enjoy this day – enjoy the folks in your life. Enjoy some turkey and a nap. Enjoy the game. But most importantly, enjoy time thanking God for all of the people, things and memories that you have to be thankful for!

Have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving!!

Are you doing what God created you to do?

My dad always told me that I could be anything I wanted to be … do anything that I set my mind to. I tell Morgan the same thing. Recently I read something that made me rethink that. It suggested that it isn’t my mind that I need to set straight.

In school, I studied English. I took classes in journalism, communications and public speaking. I was thinking management … public speaking … leadership … money. Those of you that know me know – that’s not me. A five minute ‘speech’ in front of my friends at church … about something I am already passionate about … sends me into a panic for days! Can I do it? Yes. Can I do it fairly well? Yes … but is that what I’m made to do? I don’t think so!

Many of us are in roles – in our job, relationships, church, majors in college – because that’s where we ‘should’ be. That’s where the security or money is. Some join the military because the past three generations had. Some go into the ‘family business’ or become a doctor because they are expected to follow in their dad’s footsteps. Some of these folks are great at what they do – and some are very successful … but are they doing what they are made to do. Is this the plan that God has for them? Maybe … but maybe not.

So, what am I supposed to be doing? I haven’t the first clue!! I’ve realized that I’m more comfortable with a pen (or keyboard) than a microphone. I know that I’m more comfortable leading children than grown-ups. I also learned that as much as I want to be extroverted and outgoing … I’m really not. I would just love to be one of those motivational speakers that talk to everyone and make everything make sense. I’d love to be a Max Lucado and write lots of books and speak all over the country. (It was his book ‘Cure for the Common Life’ that put me on this thought). But I know me … and although it took me a long time to figure it out … and even longer to accept it – that’s not where I’m supposed to be. That isn’t the gift that God has given me.

Keep in mind that God has a plan for us. He knows where we are supposed to be. The longer we try to impose our own ideas on his plan – the more miserable we’ll be! Ask God where you’re supposed to be. Ask Him where you should be in your career … pastimes … activities … relationships. (He hasn’t answered me yet on that last one yet!) Ask God … don’t assume that you know what is best for you!

Ask yourself … Are you doing what God created you to do?

The Extra Hour

Don’t forget to set your clocks back Saturday night!

The long-awaited extra hour that we always dream of is here!! What are you going to do with it?? The first thing that comes to my mind is sleep!! But, what are all of those things that we talk about doing if we had an extra hour… if I had an hour, I’d get the laundry finished … or clean out the closet … or …

A few years ago, I forgot to set my clock back. This was before the Edge … so maybe it was quite a few years ago. Where I normally arrived at 9:30 for Sunday School – I was there at 8:30!! As I walked into the empty church, I realized what I had done and wondered what I should do. I could go get breakfast, or go home and do something … but I decided that since I was already at church, I’d spend a little time with God.

I found a seat in the sanctuary near the front and just started talking… “Hi, God, here I am … what can we talk about?” As we chatted about how silly I was to forget to set my clock back – and wondering if that was intentional on God’s part … I began to ramble about things that had been on my mind. Now, I couldn’t tell you now what was on my mind – but I remember feeling a sense of peace as I sat there. Things seemed a little clearer, and as that hour came to a close I remember feeling almost disappointed that the time was over. I wanted to hang on to that feeling, but as the church filled with my fellow worshipers, my quiet moments were gone. But the peace that I found remained. I was amazed at how the overwhelming stress and situations that had been with me as I walked in – seemed well under control and no longer a problem.

I’ve spent some alone-time with God in the Sanctuary with God since then – and it’s been very good for me. But it’s never been the same as it was that day. That unmistakable sense of peace that only comes from God himself. When I walked into church that morning, I was scolding myself for forgetting to set the clock back. At the end of the hour, I was quite certain that whether I set it back or not … God wasn’t going to let me miss our talk!

So, on second thought … forget that reminder to set your clocks back!!

Feast on the Word

Last week, Filly Puppy gained a new insight into the word of God. When it said ‘feast on the Word of God’ I think he took it quite literally. We came home to find my Bible covering the living room floor. I don’t think two pages were still connected or in one piece!

It’s not like he had torn up a magazine, or a book … it’s the Bible for goodness sake - it's Holy! You can’t tear up a Bible – poor Filly’s goin’ straight to Hell!!!

The next morning, I got up, fixed my coffee and sat in my ‘quiet spot’. I reached for my Bible and … it wasn’t there!! I remembered the scene from the day before - and then looked over at sweet Filly sitting happily at my feet with a bone in his mouth!

What was I going to do?? This is what I do every morning. I sit down with a cup of coffee and read my Bible. And there is no Bible … and for a moment, I was lost without my Bible … or was I lost without my routine??

So, I took a sip of my coffee, and said “Ok, God … now what?” He reminded me that while reading His word is a very good thing, I still have to talk with Him. Thinking about my morning routine, I realized that I couldn’t tell you what I’d read the day before … or the day before that. I was reading, but I was in such a routine, I was just going through the motions. That’s not what I intended to be doing.

I thought about other aspects in my day … my time with Morgan, tasks at work, nighttime routines – and realized that there were many areas in my life that I needed to look at with a different set of eyes.

There is a big difference between ‘looking’ and ‘seeing’ … between ‘listening’ and ‘hearing’. Sometimes we get so comfortable … so familiar with the routine of our day, we forget to actually pay attention to what we’re doing… or not doing. I ‘heard’ Morgan say ‘Mom, can we watch a movie tonight’. Gotta fix dinner, do homework, clean up the kitchen, take care of the critters, bath... What?? Watch a movie??? I heard her … what I didn’t do was listen to the fact that it wasn’t a movie she was wanting … it was 2 hours of my undivided attention.

We did end up watching a movie that night … other things could wait.

Take some time this weekend to think about your routines … your comfort zones. It’s gonna be cold and rainy – a perfect time to reflect on life! Make sure that you are getting the most out of what you are doing – whether it be quiet time with God or noisy time with your children – give it your undivided attention!

Halloween ... yes, for Christians, too!

As all of the Halloween activities begin to surface, I thought that the rambling I wrote last year would be worth sharing again!!

Morgan asked me the other day if she could have a Halloween party. Aside from the thought of punch and pizza all over my new floor, I thought it was a great idea. Then there was a comment made from someone about allowing her to celebrate ‘Satan’s Day’. I know there are all sorts of opinions and I can see both sides of the coin – so I did a little research. There are opinions out there that range from locking your house up and you’ll go straight to Hell if you hand out a single piece of candy or show your face – to the other side of the spectrum where you should be on the street corners preaching the gospel and handing out Bible tracts in an attempt to ‘save’ all of the little trick-or-treaters.

So what do we, as responsible Christians, do? I don’t have the answer, but for what it’s worth, my take has always been that although All Hallows Eve has a dark history, so do some of the traditions of other holidays we celebrate. But the point is, they are children – and their purpose is to dress up, be creative, have some fun, laugh and get candy. If Morgan were to dress up as a witch – she’s not promoting witchcraft. I’m not fearful of her converting to the wicken belief. But I understand the other side of the coin, too. Is it pleasing to God to dress up like His enemy?

In my trip through the internet, I stumbled upon an article, and it had this quote in it from Martin Luther. "The best way to drive out the devil, if he will not yield to texts of Scripture, is to jeer and flout him, for he cannot bear scorn." Satan demands to be taken seriously – teasing and making fun of him would just drive him insane!

Hmmm – isn’t that kinda what we do at Halloween? Make fun of all of the costumes – laugh and jeer and flout? How do you ‘flout’?? “Ha ha ha – look at your devil costume – one of your horns is crooked – ha ha ha laugh laugh laugh.’ I wonder what Satan thinks about that? I wonder if he’s sitting down there – angry - thinking ‘you silly people – I don’t have a tail like that – and my horns aren’t PLASTIC!!!’ Do you think he gets mad at us for making ‘his’ day so fun and jovial and we make so much fun of him?? Do you think it makes him sad that for all the children, it’s about silliness and candy? And now, we’ve even brought ‘his’ day into the church for more fun and laughter. Do you think it makes him angry that all of these precious children are filling the halls of WGBC and other churches that offer such a positive way to spend the evening?

I’m pretty sure that Satan doesn’t like all the fun and frolic, but I’m not sure what God would say. Then I think of Matthew 18:19, “Where there are two or more gathered in my name, I will be there”. Our children, whether they are trick-or-treating in the neighborhood, attending Hallowed House (where we could use a few more volunteers, hint, hint) or having a party – they are still gathering in the Lord’s name. God is still in their heart, and their faith is still as strong as it is on Sunday mornings. And I’m sure that God is there with them, even if they dress up as ghosts and goblins.

Now, I’m quite sure that there are some radical people in this world who spend the day in celebration of Satan – and I’m sure that makes him quite happy to see. But if you look at all the children who are making fun and laughing at him – compared to the few radicals who give credit to him – I would think that based on Martin Luther’s logic, Halloween does more to take away from Satan than it does gives it credit.

Have a wonderful day!

TGIF
Thank God I’m Forgiven

So I think I know what to write ... nope... God does!

I was quite sure of what I was going to write last Friday after my grandfather had passed away earlier last week. I was going to write about families, loss, and how sad it is that quite often a death in the family tears the family farther apart rather than bring everyone closer together. Then I went to the funeral on Friday…

So, then I was sure I was going to write about something that the preacher had said … that God doesn’t often tap us on the shoulder and give us the opportunity to get our heart straight with Jesus before time runs out – but he did with my granddad – he had given his heart to Jesus just 2 weeks before he went in the hospital. I was going to talk about the man in the Bible who had paid his workers that had worked from sun-up to sun-down the same wage that he paid the workers that had worked only 2 hours – and how that just didn’t seem fair. And how that although many of us try very hard to do what Jesus wants us to do every day of our life – we get the same ‘wage’ that my granddad gets – even though he probably did everything except what Jesus wanted up until a few months ago.

So … then mom and I did our normal routine of yard saling on Saturday morning – and around lunchtime, I ended up taking mom to MCV because of difficulty breathing and pain in her back. So, as we were sitting there … waiting … and waiting … from 12:30 until 11:00 Saturday night when she was transferred to a room – I thought I’d write about some of the things that I had seen that day. That although the ER didn’t seem terribly busy or that the staff was in much of a hurry to do anything – when they needed to … when a man stopped breathing – they were on it in a flash – no holds barred, no hesitation – and then shortly after – everything fell back into the lull of a routine. I thought about this boy – who couldn’t have been more much older than Morgan – lying on a stretcher all alone with a neck brace and what looked to be 2 broken legs – and the social worker telling him that they were still working on finding his grandparents – whom he lived with.

So, after 12 hours in the ER at MCV – I thought sure I had enough things to say to write a book. I woke up Sunday morning – and wouldn’t miss Christie preaching for the world – so I thought I’d sneak in to the early service and then go to the hospital to see mom. If you didn’t hear Christie’s story … you have to. The pain, the heartache, and the enormous faith that came through her stories was incredible. One of her stories being about a young boy she had treated at MCV – and as she talked – I thought about that ‘little’ boy that I had seen on the stretcher the day before – how he was all alone and scared … and the little boy that Christie talked about – his mother by his side – with enough faith to change the lives of the people she came in contact with.

So … then I went to the hospital to see mom – doing the same – bit still no idea why 3 days ago she could walk, say from the Sanctuary to my car in the circle lot out front – but now, she couldn’t make it 10 steps. As we were talking, Morgan’s dad came in with his wife and Morgan. We found out that Morgan’s step-sister had a baby earlier in the week – precious little girl named Brooklyn. She was 4 pounds, 9 ounces. Now, before you ask how early she was … she wasn’t. At a mere 24 hours of age, little Brooklyn was admitted to the neo-natal intensive care unit for heroin withdrawals.

Now … here I am at work on Monday morning – thankful for the routine papers sitting on my desk. When I put my fingers on the keyboard, I had no idea what I was going to write. So – I’ll just leave you with this. If there is someone in your life that is important to you … tell them. If there is something in your life that you value … take care of it. If there is something you need to forgive … do it. If there is something you need to be forgiven for … ask it. Then put your knees on the floor and thank God that although ‘no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind conceived what God has prepared for those who love him’ … we do have eyes to see, ears to hear and minds to know that God is here with us every day – and we should be on our knees thanking Him for that.

Remember 9/11

Eight years – wow! Do you remember where you were 8 years ago, today? I sure do! I remember it like it was yesterday!

What I remember most, I think, was the sheer silence that followed. Although we aren’t that close to the airport, without the planes overhead, it was eerily silent. It was like everything stopped. Even to this day, I look up in the sky, and without a doubt I can find at least one airplane somewhere overhead – and I think that there was one day where there weren’t any.

People were quiet, too. No one knew what to say – what to do. Eyes were glued to the television – still not believing what was happening – still not wanting to believe it was intentional. There were no words to describe what happened on September 11, 2001.

I also remember that everyone pulled together – regardless of who they were, how much they made, what color, religion or shoe size – we were truly United that day. And not just the United States – the entire WORLD (well, most of it) was grieving with us, reaching out to help – and to pray. I remember watching the newscasters – the ones that are always so professional and composed, break down in tears. No one walked away from September 11 untouched; unchanged.

What happened to that?? On that day, and the days that followed, churches were filled to capacity; people hit their knees and prayed – right where they stood; prayers filled the air. No one said ‘oh, no, you can’t talk about God!” Everyone was talking, listening or at the very least, thinking about God. Even the reporters were saying the ‘P’ word – calling for prayers! No one said, ‘oh, wait, let me go get my suit and tie on to go to church’. It just didn’t matter. There were people in suits and dresses digging in the rubble, and there were people in dirty jeans and torn shirts sitting in the pews of the nicest cathedrals. What happened to that?? Why is it that we can all pull together and act like Jesus only when we’ve got the world falling down around us! Why is it that it takes such a tragedy to bring us all together – and to bring us back to God. And the big question -why is it that in less than eight years – eight short years – we sit here fighting and fussing and ‘that’s not my job’ and ‘I can’t do that’. Did we learn nothing?

I’m not very political, and even if I were, I’d know enough to keep my mouth shut. I don’t know whether the war was a good idea or a bad idea; I don’t know whether the troops should stay or come home; I don’t know if Giuliani did the right thing or if Bush did the right thing. What I do know is that there are so many lives that were changed that day. So many families that lost loved ones. Babies that will grow up without a parent. The fear and anguish of those who just didn’t know whether their loved ones were alive or not. The emptiness of those who still don’t ‘know’ – still don’t have a body to bury. I also know that there are tons of men and women making tremendous sacrifices to protect our country and to fight for our freedom. Many paying the ultimate sacrifice. Again, I’m not saying whether they should be fighting this battle or not – all I know is that they are. They are sacrificing, they are fighting, and they are doing it for what they believe in – our country and our freedom – right, wrong or indifferent – they are there, and they are living it. And as long as they are, it is my responsibility ... our responsibility ... to support them, love them and pray for them in their efforts regardless of politics.

Take time today to remember … to honor … and to pray for all of the victims of 9/11. Honor those that lost their lives that day. Honor those who ran into a falling building for the sake of someone else – whether they themselves made it out or not. Praise God for those who made it out alive and were able to go home to their families. Pray for the families who still grieve over the senseless loss of their loved ones. Pray for the babies that were born who will never know their fathers – they’re 8 years old now! And pray for their mothers as they raise them alone, and pray for wisdom so that they can answer the hard questions that they are getting old enough to ask.

Pray for the soldiers who are fighting to protect us from another attack – and for their families that miss them. Pray for the families of those who have died in service to our country. Pray for our government, that wise decisions will be made; that the path will be one that is lit by God’s light.

Labor Day

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Besides being the unofficial end to the summer, do you know where Labor Day came from? The first Labor Day was celebrated in 1882 and initiated by the Central Labor Union in New York. Here’s what the Department of Labor website says:

“Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.”

I suppose this strikes me as more thought provoking than in years past because so many of those “working class” folks aren’t working. We are celebrating the contributions that we have made, yet many of us aren’t able to make the contributions we need to make to support our families. It doesn’t seem like much of a time for celebration.

But we do have cause for celebration! Take a minute to think about the things that you do have to be thankful for … your family … your children … maybe your health … most definitely Jesus!

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Matthew 6:26

As Christians, we know this. We don’t always remember it … but we know it. God knows what He is doing, and He will take care of His children. Maybe not the way we want to be taken care of – but the way we need to be taken care of.

Through this holiday weekend, enjoy the last remnants of summer. Praise God for the blessings in your life. Pray for those who are struggling. Help those that you can. But most importantly, thank God for the people in your life that you love. (And remember, just because God knows you love them, doesn’t mean they know … tell them that you love them!)

Lay the foundation before you build the walls

Last week, I came one step closer to the end of my construction woes. I had to revisit all of the difficulties and errors that I encountered with the original construction company. So, when I came across this passage this morning, it really hit home. ..

“These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on.” Matthew 7: 24 (The Message)

Several times, the comment was made that it would have been easier and less expensive to tear down my entire house and start from scratch than to complete the addition. Partly because there were so many errors made in the new construction, and partly because we were simply adding a new addition to an old house.

Many times we add on to our Christian life. We add a Bible study or add quiet time in the morning. We add these great things without altering an already damaged and old lifestyle. That’s not what God wants from us. He’s not an ‘addition’ – He’s a foundation. As your ride through your neighborhood looking at houses, you can tell which has an ‘addition’ and what was part of the original structure. Similarly, others can tell when we have a Christian ‘addition’ rather than the entire ‘structure’ because our actions might not be equally representative of Christ in every aspect of our life.

So, how do we get to the foundation?

Picture in your mind your life as if it were a ‘blueprint’. You have the ‘job room’ and the ‘church room’. You might have a ‘kids room’ or a ‘family room’. You have all of these parts of your life that make up who you are. You aren’t just a ‘mother’ or ‘father’ or ‘employee’ or ‘boss’. All of these ‘rooms’ come together to make up your whole life. If one of them is on a weaker foundation than the others, the entire structure becomes unstable.

So, let’s start with a ‘room’ – let’s say the ‘job room’. Ask yourself … Do I have God in this room of my life? Do I treat my coworkers and customers in a Godly way? Do I complete tasks to the best of my ability the way Jesus would? How can I make God a priority in this part of my life? Build this room on the foundation of God.

Let’s look at the ‘church room’. Ask yourself … Am I attending church to become closer to God or has it become something to check off on my to-do list? Am I involved in ministries that I am passionate about and pleasing to God? How can I let others know that God is a priority in my life rather than having a ‘church addition’? Build this room on the foundation of God.

Once you’ve rebuilt your life with God as the foundation, He can flow through all aspects of your life. You are no longer meeting God in the addition of your life – but truly making Him the foundation of your life. That is a very good thing!

One brick at a time

My how time flies!! Only a few more weeks until summer is over, school starts and best of all – Breakout starts!!!

We have the opportunity to change the world. That sounds like a huge effort, but really, it’s not. How do you build a mansion? The same way you build a shed – one brick at a time. How do you make a billion dollars? The same way that you make a hundred – one dollar at a time! So, how do we change the world? One child at a time!

One day these children will be leading this church . . . this town . . . maybe even this country. We need to make sure that they have the background, knowledge, and faith to make a positive difference for the future – and for God. I look around at kids these days and hear the stories on the news. The violence, the total lack of respect, the drugs, the children having children – it is very scary to look at what is going on in society and know that is the battlefield our children are walking into. But these kids aren’t like that – they have a chance to make a difference – we just need to give them the strength and confidence to do it.

For those of you who have pre-K – 5th grade children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews or kids that spend enough time with you that you should be able to claim them on your taxes … Breakout and Kids Quest are AWESOME programs that can introduce our children to their Savior. This is an excellent way for children to learn about God, Christianity, and how all that fits into their life. It’s designed to build relationships with peers, with leaders they can trust, and with Jesus.

Now, for the rest of you that don’t have children in this age range – please pray for us. Pray for these kids – they are our future.

There is a song that says ‘we’re not so different – we’re all looking for a savior’. We’re all looking for something bigger than us – stronger than us – to wipe away our tears and our pain. It says that some look for their savior in a bottle, some in the arms of a stranger, some in a pill – I found my savior at the foot of the cross. Look at most of the kids in the news – or kids that you might know that stay in trouble – they don’t know where to find their savior – and they are searching for Him in all the wrong places.

Our kids know where to find their savior. They know where they are safe and they know that they are loved. Now, I’m not saying that they won’t stray, or make mistakes – but they won’t be looking for it to save them. The Bible says that if we train up a child in the way that he should go, when he is older, he won’t depart from it. They may go off on a wrong path – but they know that it isn’t going to save them – and they’ll come back to the One that will. But I don’t think it’s good enough for our kids – WGBC kids – to know this. We average 60-odd kids at the 9 and 11 service – not counting Sunday School. Is it enough for these 60-odd kids to know where the Savior is? What would happen if, before these kids left the children’s department – before they went to youth – they each told just ONE person that they could find their savior in Jesus. That would not only bring 120-odd kids closer to God – but it will get 120 kids off the street and out of trouble. And if those kids told their parents – and they told friends, and their friends told their kids and….

That's how we change the world ... one child at a time!

Comm-u-nication

Communication

It’s one of the most influential and important things in our lives, yet many of us frequently struggle and often fail at. We have opportunities to practice communication in our work life, our home life and our spiritual life – yet many of us don’t seem to be getting any better at it.

I know my communication skills with Morgan are quite poor. I communicate that I would like her to clean her room, however, my efforts fail. My communication skills at work often fail as well. An email that says ‘please provide your street address’ often produces a post office box address. And I won’t even mention that my communication with God is much less than I’d like it to be.

When we want to get a message across … here’s something to remember. Comm-YOU-nicate. Put a little of yourself in the message. Morgan doesn’t want to hear a laundry list of chores – and neither does God. He wants to hear from YOU. He wants to hear about YOU. God wants a relationship with YOU.

Note the difference…

“God, please send lots of kids to Breakout and send enough leaders to teach them”

Or….
“God, you have trusted me with the ministry of your children. You know which children need to know more about you – please send them. You also know the leaders that have a passion for loving these children. Please put this program on their heart”.

The first prayer communicates what I want – lots of kids and enough teachers. But it doesn’t communicate ‘me’. It doesn’t tell what is in my heart and what I truly want. The second prayer is true comm-YOU-nication. It tells God a little bit about me. It tells Him that I know he’s in charge of this program – no matter how many emails, phone calls or letters I send out – He’s in charge of who comes– and those are the children and leaders that I am looking for!

The same thing holds true at home. If I start off telling Morgan – “Hey, I really want to have Saturday afternoon to do fun stuff – and would appreciate it if you cleaned your room in the morning” I‘ll get slightly better results than if I say “Morgan, clean your room”!

It doesn’t matter who you are talking to – or what or where. When you communicate with someone, you are sharing a bit of yourself. Make sure that you deliver what is in your heart … not just what’s on your mind.

How NOT to spill God's coffee

I was sitting on my couch this morning, cup of coffee in hand, reading a book about how to have a better relationship with God. All of a sudden … out of nowhere … Filly Puppy jumped on the couch and spilled my coffee! Despite my feeble attempts to teach him not to jump on the furniture and despite the hot coffee on his nose, he was a happy puppy wanting some love and attention.

I wonder how many times we jump on God’s couch and make Him spill His coffee? We tend to go about our day, settled in a routine. We are fairly (or in some cases, very) independent and are fully capable of making it through the day. Then all of a sudden something happens. A death … an accident … a break-up … and we jump on God’s couch. “Hey, God … I need you. Please help me through this crisis.”

That’s not what God wants from us. He would much rather we sit down with Him on a daily basis and have a cup of coffee with Him. He wants us to chat about our day, ask His advice, praise the many blessings He has given us. He wants to have a relationship with us – not just come to him when we need something.

Now, just as I couldn’t be but so mad at Filly Puppy for wanting some love, God is there for us and answers our prayers. He will not abandon us. But imagine if we had been meeting with God every day and building that relationship. Imagine if we’d been talking with God … and listening to God on a regular basis. Perhaps He may have already given us the strength, the faith, the answer to our crisis. Perhaps we wouldn’t need to jump on His couch and spill His coffee.

What is church?

‘What is Church’. The first thing that popped into my mind is something Drexel has said many times – ‘we are not a country club for the righteous, we are a hospital for the wounded’. That’s the way it should be – but is that the way it is? Not specifically at WGBC, but ‘church’ in general. I personally think that WGBC ‘gets it’. I think that our focus on the children’s ministries, NorthStar, Costa Rica, CARITAS and the countless other ways we reach out to people speaks volumes to what our definition of a church is. Not that other churches aren’t wonderful, and not that we have all the answers.

I think the true test of what a church is doesn’t happen within the walls of the building. It is what happens when you walk off of the church property. Do you take it with you to work on Monday morning? Do you have it with you on Saturday night? This lesson teaches us that church is about teaching/learning; breaking bread; fellowship and prayer. Nowhere does it mention pews, steeples, Sunday or preachers! (sorry, Drexel)! So, if that is the definition of church – teaching/learning, breaking bread, fellowship and prayer – what does it mean on the sign out front that says Walnut Grove Baptist Church. It’s not describing the building. It’s describing the people who use the building for the purpose of teaching, breaking bread, fellowship and prayer.

WE are the church – not the bricks and mortar. And unlike the bricks and mortar – we don’t ‘live’ in the building. (although…) J We leave the building – but we are still the church. When we go to work on Monday morning we are still the church. When our kids go to school – they are still the church. But are our actions, our words and our deeds always representative of the church? It is much easier inside the walls – where all of the people that are there are ‘like us’. We hold similar beliefs, attend similar programs, and are very comfortable expressing our faith. When we go outside of the walls – we aren’t so sure. People are different – may have different beliefs, may not believe at all. But still, we are the church.

There’s a joke about a woman driving down the road … honking the horn, darting in and out of traffic. A policeman pulls her over and asks for her ID. He says to the lady, “I’m sorry, I saw the bumper sticker on the car “I love Jesus” and the fish emblem and saw the way you were driving … I thought sure the car was stolen.” Even in the car driving down the road – we are the church. Is what we do and say reflecting what we believe?

This week, try to incorporate some of the components of what church is - teaching, breaking bread, fellowship and prayer – into places with other bricks and mortar. Make a conscious effort to ‘be church’. As a hospital for the wounded, sometimes we need to send the rescue squad to pick someone up!

Unplugged

It’s hard to believe it's the middle of July – summer is half over and we haven’t done half the things we wanted to do. Time just seems to fly by – and we complain that we don’t have time for anything.

As a society, we’ve become accustomed to ‘instant gratification’. Technology has allowed us to send documents across the country in under 30 seconds, fix a ‘home cooked’ dinner in under 15 minutes, and view pictures instantly. But it really wasn’t all that long ago that the only way to get documents across the country was by mail – and wait about a week. A home cooked meal involved actually peeling real potatoes. Do you remember life before digital cameras? You had to take your film to the store (or send it away in those little envelopes), wait for it to be developed and go get them – usually to find that the picture you wanted didn’t turn out quite like you had hoped! It wasn’t that long ago that a busy phone line was common, and if you wanted to tell someone something – you had to wait until you got home to call them – and then wait for them to be home!

We create all of these bits of technology to make our life easier – to give us more time. If I can fix dinner in 15 minutes as opposed to 60, then I’ll have time for xyz. The problem is, we don’t have more time – we just get more busy! If people are working 60 and 70 hour weeks now – what in the world did they do before internet, cell phones and UPS Overnight???

I remember when I was a little girl, and we lived back in the country. This was before cable tv, microwaves and cell phones. We popped Jiffy Pop on the stove, played outside, and called people mostly when we needed to ask them something. One thing that I remember is that sometimes the lights went out. I used to love it! Why?? Because there was nothing that we could do! It was usually too dark to go outside – and nothing worked – not even the water. We were ‘forced’ to find something else to do. I remember playing games by candlelight and camping in the den by the fire because the rest of the house was cold. To my parents, I’m sure it was torture – to me as a kid, it was the best life had to offer!

Why is it that we buy our kids a $400 playhouse and they play in the box! Why is it that a toddlers favorite toy is a pot and a spoon! Because they aren’t yet consumed by the ‘benefits’ of technology – and have the ability to enjoy the simple things.

Now, I’m not saying technology is bad – if it weren’t for e-mail, I wouldn’t be able to send these messages! I spend a small fortune each month on ‘technology’. Like I said, Summer is almost over. I know lots of you had awesome summer vacation plans – once-in-a-lifetime trips. But here’s my challenge to you. Take a vacation from technology – take a week off from cell phones, Wii, computers, Blackberries and yes, even TV.

Now, before you hyperventilate – hear me out. What would happen if – when you got home from work, you turned the phone off, left the computer alone and didn’t turn on the TV? What would happen if for one week – your family gave up the devices that were created to save us time? Maybe we’d be surprised to find out just how much time we have for the things that matter most.

Have a wonderful week!

The paperwork behind the question: What happens when I die?

I apologize for the delay in my ramblings last week. My grandfather (my dad’s dad) is in the hospital receiving ‘comfort care’. His lungs are not strong enough to support the much needed heart surgery, and his heart is not able to support his lungs. He is not expected to make it long.

Over the past week or so, many questions, thoughts and opinions have come up. Should we allow CPR if necessary or let him go? Are any organs going to be viable for donation – and if so, should we do so? Who gets what, who makes decisions, which funeral home, and on and on the list goes. These questions aren’t unique to my family – they are questions that almost always must be asked. Working in a nursing home for several years, I talked with families who were admitting their loved ones – knowing they would likely never come home. I had to ask some of these questions and the looks of despair, fear and uncertainty brought me to tears more than once. In many cases, they are asked at the same point we are asking them – when emotions are running high and the decision must be made now.

It’s tough to talk about – difficult to think about the fact that our bodies are going to die. We don’t like facing our own mortality. But believe me – as hard as these questions are to ask, it is much easier to ask them when you don’t need to. It’s easier to think logically rather than emotionally, and it’s easier to answer the questions with the knowledge that it’s not going to happen any time soon – rather than knowing that it is. Even one funeral director I spoke with told me that if you pre-plan for a funeral – even if it’s only weeks in advance, you will spend 10%-20% less – simply because decisions are not based on emotion or impulse.

Make sure your family knows your wishes – and make sure it’s in writing. Have a will. Even if you don’t have much to leave, even if you have only one child – it makes the red tape easier to navigate if it’s written in a will. If you have children – make sure you specify who gets custody should something happen to both parents. If you don’t, you may be rolling over in your grave at who may be raising your children!

Here are a few things that are important to have. You can get them all off of the internet very inexpensively. Although a notary public is required to witness signatures, it is not necessary for a lawyer to prepare them. And I’m a notary if you need one. I am by no means an expert, but please look into preparing these documents – regardless of your age or circumstances.

Durable Power of Attorney – Make sure it’s durable – if not, it expires at death. This does NOT give consent to make medical decisions. When you identify your power of attorney, make sure that you have a conversation about your wishes. Don’t assign someone and then not tell them what your wishes are.
Living Will – this indicates whether you wish to be kept on life support. You can also indicate organ donation in a living will.
Medical Power of Attorney – this allows your designee to make medical decision. A ‘regular’ power or attorney, or durable power of attorney do not account for medical decisions. Again, make sure the person that you designate knows your wishes. This will be the person that makes decisions about your medical care when you aren’t able to. Make sure they know what you want. Usually the Medical POA and the Durable POA are the same person – but it’s not necessary.
Last Will and Testament– There are templates online to prepare a simple will. If there are many children, split families, or a large amount of assets involved, you may want to involve an attorney for this one.

The Ten Dollar Difference

I was reading a passage in a book called “Experiencing God” this morning. It cautioned us against just ‘doing something’ for God. ‘I think God would like this ministry to be here’ – and then trying to put it in place without asking Him first. The passage said to look around you … see where God is working, and then join Him.

I was tossing this idea around in my head as I was driving to work – trying to see where God was working around me. I thought of the Newcomb’s – giving up everything they have to go to Thailand – because God is working there. I thought about Pavas and the folks that are helping them find hope in a hopeless community – because God is working there. I thought about things like St. Jude’s Research Hospital, Christian Children’s Fund and Feed the Children. Surely God is working there.

As my mind wandered, I thought that if I won the lottery, I would renovate an old hotel so that people who have lost their jobs and homes could have a place to stay until they got back on their feet. I’d build a youth center so kids would have a positive place to go rather than get in trouble on the street.

Then God brought me back to reality. By this time, I was standing in line at Food Lion. There was an elderly man counting out dollar bills for his purchase. He didn’t have enough and was pulling things out of his bag so he could pay for what he had. I didn’t catch all of that – because I was daydreaming about what wonderful things I could do with a few million dollars. What caught my attention was the lady in front of me. She told the cashier not to take the items out of the bag and handed her $10 so that the man could keep the items he needed. That is where God was working this morning. He was working in a woman – who didn’t look like she had much to spare – but was willing to reach out to someone who was in need.

It doesn’t take millions of dollars to change the world. It just takes a minute – and $10. (It only takes $3 to have a roof in Pavas). Now, there were at least 5 people who saw God working in this woman. If we all make a $10 difference in someone’s life, imagine the difference down the road.

God calls us all to serve Him. He calls every single one of us to make a difference for His Kingdom. Some of us are called to other countries. Some are called into ministry. Some of us are called to make differences in the lives of the people we come across - $10 at a time.

Look around you ... see where God is working ... join Him!

Do you know Jesus?

Prayers go out to the families and friends of Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. At some point over the past few decades, these were household names. Whether we appreciated them (or not) for their talents or for the people that they were, the face of the entertainment industry has been drastically changed.

“Did they know Jesus?” I’ve heard this question several times over the past week. At a recent wake for a friend’s family member, I overheard the statement “I hope she knew the Lord.” Several years ago when my grandma passed away, Morgan asked me “Do you think she’s in heaven with Jesus?”

We nod, maybe say a little prayer that the person we knew did know Jesus and is in Heaven, and then we move on. But, really, isn’t it a little late for that question? Shouldn’t we know the answer – particularly of those that we love? Shouldn’t we ask that question before they die?

Now, there’s not a doubt in my mind that my grandma is in Heaven smiling down on us – or maybe shaking her head at us! I know that she knew Jesus and was looking forward to seeing her Maker. I remember when I was a little girl, she taught me the Lord ’s Prayer. I remember having a hard time with ‘hallowed be thy name’. I thought it should be ‘Our Lord be thy name’. Grandma told me ‘you can say that if you want to, but that’s not what the Bible says.’ I think about that every time I say it.

But that’s not always the case. Many times we hear of deaths, attend funerals or stand at the bedside of someone near the end and ask ourselves that question. What if we asked that question the week before … the month before … years ago? What would happen if we’d asked the question when there was time to do something about it? What if we asked that person the question, rather than someone standing beside us at their funeral?

Would it have made a difference? Perhaps not … but what if it could have. What if no one had told them about Jesus. What if they’d been told 20 times – but just needed to hear it once more. Perhaps they knew Jesus – and in knowing that, we could celebrate their new life with our Father without fear and doubt.

Think about the people in your life. Think about those that you want to see in Heaven one day. Do you know, without a doubt, that they will be there? If not – you could change that today with four little words … Do you know Jesus!

Towels and socks included

I was reading the Bible the other day, and there was a word that caught my attention – ‘all’. All blessings come from God. My mind found other words like it that I’d read. ‘Never’ … I will never forsake you. These words … and words like them … ‘forever’, ‘always’ and ‘every’ appear all through the Bible. We find comfort in those words … knowing that no matter what, God will keep his promises and will always be with us – no exceptions.

The word stuck out in my mind because just the day before, I had asked Morgan ‘did you put all of your clothes away’. And, yes, she said she did. However, there were still socks and a couple towels on her bed … but they’re not ‘clothes’, you see!

Aren’t we glad that when God says He loves all of His children … that means every single one of us! No loopholes, no exceptions and no oversights! That includes you and me! It also includes those in prison, those in other countries and those who are homeless and hungry. It doesn’t matter if you’ve just accepted Jesus, or have been studying His word for decades. When He said ALL – he meant just that – socks and towels included!

Quite often we get so caught up in the worlds’ definition of ‘all’ that we forget the true meaning of the word. We are used to having ‘exceptions’ for everything. But God makes no exceptions. He is true to His word. We can be confident and comforted knowing that no matter how many times people in our lives fall short of the task, God will never let us down. Never.

Enjoy what you have, where you are ... right now!

Well, this is it – the last day of school!

How can that be – it seems like it just began!! Soon it will be (and stay) warm, the sun beating down on your face. I enjoy Summer- except for the fact that the kids get to stay home and I still have to work! . I don’t much like Winter – unless we get lots of snow. But it has to be enough snow to close schools AND work!! It just seems a waste to me to be so cold, and have no snow!

Then Spring will come along, and everything in nature will start to come alive again – and then we’re back at Summer again! We’re fortunate in this part of the world, to be able to have 4 distinct seasons. Although Spring and Autumn are getting shorter and shorter!

Our lives are sort of like the seasons – always changing. And just like we’re never happy with the climate, we are usually not happy with where we are in life. When it’s summer it’s too hot – and we can’t wait to play in the snow. When winter gets here, we can’t wait to go swimming.

It’s the same thing in our lives. When we’re little, we can’t wait to ride the big yellow school bus. As we get a little older, we can’t wait to be old enough to stay at home alone. Then we can’t wait to drive! Then we can’t wait to be out of school.

Hindsight is very different, though. We start wishing we were back in school ... suddenly, with the biggest responsibility in our life of keeping our room clean ... doesn't sound so bad! Now I can drive ... or rather sit in traffic - and the cost of gas, insurance, car payments ... make us long for those simpler days of childhood!

So by the time you get to ‘our age’ – whatever age that might be for you – you would think that we’d learn not to wish away the time and enjoy what we’ve got. Nope! I wish it was towards the end of summer– so all of my construction woes would be behind me! I wish it was Christmas so that I’d have a couple weeks off. I wish Jesus would come back so we could all go Home! But we’ve got to stop wishing our lives away – and enjoy each precious moment that we have. We’ll have good times, sad times, content times, stressful times, joyful times, and did I mention stressful times?? But there is something special about each of those times. If we are too busy wishing them away, we miss the purpose that God has for us in that moment. If I am always wanting the beautiful Spring flowers, and the sun beating down on my face, I miss the uniqueness of each individual snowflake. I miss the comfort that a warm fire and hot cocoa can bring.

Take a minute and think about where you are right now – where you are in your life. Enjoy that. Enjoy where you are; where your family is; where your passions are. Enjoy what you have right now – not what you had before, and not what you might have later – take time to appreciate what you have, and where God has you – right this very minute.

In a minute

Sorry I’m so late today! Normally I take time out during the day to talk to God – and it’s usually during those conversations that these messages are sent - but today has been one of those crazy days where things pile up on top of each other and I find myself saying “I’ll do it in just a minute.” Ever have a day like that?? If you've got kids – I know the answer to that!! And I’m sure you’ve heard it just as many times as you’ve said it (or thought it).

God is very patient, though. He waits for us to find those ‘minutes’ to sit down and talk with Him. Unlike our kids ... when we tell them to do something and they say ‘in a minute’ ... 10 minutes later we remind them ...‘in a minute’ ...and ten minutes later…. Finally, it comes to ‘NO – get up and do it RIGHT NOW!” And they look at us like ‘fine, you don’t have to yell!!”

Sometimes I feel that gentle nudge – God reminding me that I need to spend time with Him. And sometimes I say ‘in a minute’. God waits patiently (much more patiently than I wait for Morgan!) and gives another nudge. Sometimes, though, God has to yell at us, too. Sometimes He yells at us individually – like when mom was in the hospital – and I sat in the waiting room talking up a storm to God. At that moment, there wasn’t anything more important. And it’s in those times that I look back over days like today and wonder – really – is today any different than that day? Are these things that I do in the course of a day ... laundry, work, dinner – are they any more important than God? Of course not!!

Sometimes, though, He yells at us collectively – like April, 2 years ago at Va. Tech, and on 9/11. Those are the times in our lives when God has said “No – you’re gonna do it RIGHT NOW!” I don’t think there were too many ‘wait a minutes’ on those days.

It is in the moments like these – individually and collectively, that we get a stark reality check. There may not be a ‘next minute’. There will come a point where that minute – that very minute – will be the last one. Although we ‘know’ that it will be a long ways off. We ‘know’ that Jesus is not gonna come back tomorrow – one day – we’ll be wrong. One day there won't be a tomorrow. One minute there won't be a next minute.

Take some time this weekend ... and next week ... to spend some time with God. Sit down in quiet contemplation, prayer and ask Him to show you the path He wats you to go on. We'd get a lot farther down the path God wants us on if we took the time to listen to Him a little more!