Did I miss something?

If you went to the store any time over the weekend you probably saw what I did this morning; an isle full of “Halloween” candy being clearanced while new cards and candy were being stocked.  CHRISTMAS cards and candy I might add.  CHRISTMAS.  I stopped breathing for a moment as I faced the reality that the Christmas countdown has begun. 

All you crafty types probably already knew this and right. at. this. moment. have homemade gifts ready for teachers and family members. In a Christ like way I just have to tell you that we can’t be friends.  Not until after I purchase my practical and somehow less “special” gift cards- and decide if a new Christmas family photo is in order or do we all look close enough to last years that we can just use that.  Until then, back off and keep your fancy gift bows and Hobby Lobby bags to yourself.  We can return to the functioning body of Christ on Dec 26. I will look forward to it. 

But I digress. 

Did I miss something? Did we skip Thanksgiving altogether? Last time I check the calendar that comes between Oct 31^st and December 25^th. 

Oh, but then it hit me. You can’t buy Thankgiving. Right? I mean, isn’t a foundational principle of Thanksgiving to be grateful for what WE ALREADY HAVE?! To be content. To focus on the blessings we’ve already been given. To be consumed with the blessing we do have, not don’t have. The ones that can be placed in a bag or a box and have a receipt in case we already have one. Or don’t need it. Or just don’t like the way it fits.

So today, I’m just owning the fact that it’s just the beginning of November. And as excited as I get as the next girl with all things Christmas, and gift giving, and lights and Christmas music, the Lord used my little episode in the grocery store to stop me in my tracks. That’s not to say that I won’t be looking for some good buys and anticipating the ways I can bless the people in my life for Christmas. Or if you feel so lead, you can bless me this Christmas. But I’m gonna start with Thanksgiving. Today.

In my heart.

In my life.

From my mouth.

Not that it’s that hard to do. I am blessed beyond measure. 

But it’s just easy to skip ahead. To join the masses. To clearance and discount the items from yesterday. The answers to prayer. The ways God showed up. His provisions both seen and unseen. And to stock my shelves with the wishes and hopes for tomorrow. 

Will you join me in this season of THANKFULNESS?

 

Will you send a card of thanks to someone you know needs to hear it? Offer a meal to someone in need out of the abundance that God has given you. Pray a prayer for a friend who can’t come up with the words to pray herself. Focus on the blessings of parenting and not just the pains? Tell your spouse how much you love them instead of the ways they don’t measure up.

Thanksgiving. 

That starts today.

1 Thes 5:18 “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”

And trust me, you’ll want to get good at this. Because pretty soon you’ll be fighting for a parking spot at the mall or the last strand of Christmas lights at Big Lots and you will need this reminder.  And so will I. 

Give thanks!

Perspective Shift

It’s Monday! Again. Sheesh, does every week have to have a Monday?

Can I be honest? I’m feeling a bit worn down today. How about you? Some weeks I can attack a Monday with stealth speed, accomplishing more in one day it seems then I do the entire rest of the week.  That is not today. I am artificially pumping alertness into my bloodstream and readjusting my expectations for the day.

So today, in fact right at this moment, is a great time to remind us both of the name of God, Jehovah- Sabaoth, the Lord of Hosts. The God who shows up when we are between a rock and a hard place. The God who is there when a problem, concern, situation or relationship is a Goliath in our path.

How’s your perspective today? Are you being limited by what you can see? Perspective is never just what we see, it’s how we view what we see. Can I challenge you and me at the same time? To shift our perspective so that we don’t simply see the battles before us, but the Lord of Hosts who fights our battles?

Ephesians 6:12 says “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

I know it’s easy for me to forget the real battle.  The battles in my marriage, with my kids, in relationships, in the workplace aren’t really the battles at all.  Oh sure, there are issues and things that need attention and resolve.  But the battle, the real battle? The truth is there is spiritual battle FOR my marriage, FOR my children, FOR my relationships.  Those are the spiritual battles being fought in unseen places.

Let us not grow weary in doing good (Gal 6:9). May God shift our perspective to the Lord of Hosts who fights our battles for us. Stay in His Word today. Talk to Him in prayer today. Know that He is near to the brokenhearted (Ps 34:18) and that if He is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31).

Fight the good fight today! Stop right where you are and ask God to open your heart and eyes to see things the way He does. Run to His Word for power and truth.

Sea Glass Pieces

The jar sits on my bookshelf in the bedroom.  A collection of fragmented sea glass, each piece unique and beautiful in its own way.  Never mind that I bought the glass in a bag at the craft store.  If I lived closer to the beach I would have certainly collected it on my own.  But I do not, so the craft store kind was the best I could do. You understand, don’t you?

You see, I had just finished reading a section out of Dr. Leslie Parrott’s book, You Matter More Than You Think, and I knew I needed a reminder. In fact, I may just go out and get another jar and some more sea glass to place reminders all around my house. It seems like in this season of my life I need more reminding than in others.

Why the sea glass you ask? I’ll tell you. It wasn’t my idea but one worth sharing so I’ll give you my take on what Dr. Leslie said.

I’m not sure how you feel or what you think when you look around, but sometimes I feel like a collection of glass pieces.  Broken, mismatched, odd shaped and individually nothing to speak of.  

But when I see you, you are a beautiful glass jar being shaped and molded by your Creator.  You are one single unique product, whole, significant, with a purpose designed by God.

I know that’s not true. But that’s how I feel. Or felt. And sometimes feel again until I see my jar.

Sea glass is formed when actual glass jars and bottles are captured by the sea, tossed and broken.  The pieces are then battered by the storms and waves, and grinded down by the sand.  The result? Unique, smooth, and sometimes jagged pieces of glass. On their own each piece is a find, a treasure.

Oh but as a collection, it’s priceless. Beautiful. Dazzling. From every angle it’s different and amazing and curious and significant.

You and I are God’s collection of sea glass pieces.  Each piece representing fragments of our lives, the different areas of influence, responsibilities, relationships, strengths and weaknesses our lives hold.  While on their own they appear to not measure up to much, as a whole, a magnificent sea glass collection, they are priceless. You are priceless. I am priceless.  To God.

So for me, I’m resisting the temptation to look at you as a beautiful, put together, useful, glass piece. But most days that's hard. I’m resisting the temptation to see myself as fragmented, broken and random.

And so I bought a jar and sea glass from the craft store. As a reminder. That God loves me dearly and He uses all the parts and pieces of my life to form a beautiful collection that reflects His handiwork. And He does the same for you. He uses the storms of life and the grind of the mundane to smooth and polish each peace to His liking.

Now you understand, don’t you?  Why the jar full of sea glass sits on my bookshelf. Now it’s your turn. Go get a jar.  And head to the beach- or craft store- and go make yourself a collection! You are loved. You have purpose. You are priceless. And maybe ask God who you need to share this with, and give them a jar as well.

The Proverbs 31 Woman and I haven’t always gotten along.

Of course, I would never have said that out loud, but somewhere inside me that feeling was true. For most of us “normal” women, she seems a bit unrealistic. (Or very unrealistic!) I did dig into a Bible study about her and I learned that some feel she is actually a compilation of a woman throughout the different stages of her life. Nonetheless, she seems intimidating and way out-performs me on many levels.
The last time I had a chance to read about her, this verse jumped off the page: “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future” (Proverbs 31:25, NASB).

Keep reading here....

A little Jr. High in all of us

Think the glasses are big enough?

My conversation last night took me back a few years. 

Okay, more than a few, but in some ways it doesn’t seem that long ago that I was in Jr. High. And now it’s my daughter’s turn.  Thankfully my mother didn’t let me get my glasses until my braces came off (bless you Mother) but neither of those went well with my blonde frizzy hair. Occasionally I would layer three different colored socks to match the school colors, and even wore blue eye shadow with enough layers so others could see it through my glasses.  I know what you’re thinking. Cool.  Rad. Righteous. Hip-o-rama.

But that was then. And this is now. 

But talking with my daughter reminded me off all the insecurities I felt. The desire for belonging. Identity. Purpose. Significance. I remember wanting to figure out “who I was” and “what I was good at.” I wanted to fit in. I wanted to be noticed. Encouraged. Admired. 

And I had big dreams to change the world. To make a difference. To do life with a purpose- although the purpose was unclear. Of course that all came after the ever important notes I would pass back and forth between classes to various friends.  Jr. High was about relationships. About the social order of life.

So as I talked with my daughter and, more importantly, as I listened, I kept my past experience in mind and reminded her of some of my favorite verses.

Psalm 139: 13-14 “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

And Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

You see God created her perfectly. Unique. With His purposes in mind. And she can choose to let the people around her influence for good, or for harm, who she will become. She can be consumed by the opinions of others, their priorities, strengths, opportunities, advantages or she can focus in on her Creator. And praise Him for the work He did in creating her, and the work He has laid out before her.

And then I donned on me. I’m still like a Jr. Higher, sometimes consumed with the opinions of others. Subject to their influence in my life.  Although a wife and mother, there are days I am struggling to find my purpose. What am I good at? What difference can I make? Am I doing enough? What am I doing wrong? Will all of my children need therapy because of my mistakes?

Sometimes it’s the big things. Often it’s in the little. Like the lame lunches of pb and j I pack in sandwich bags while others pack cucumber salad for their children in earth friendly containers. Or the fact that there are cracker crumbs on my couch because, frankly I don’t always make my children sit down to eat or snack. Or the school orientation meeting I missed last night for one child because it was the only night we’d all be home together this week.

And I second guess my decisions. I look around and see what you are doing better than me. How you are more creative. Gifted. Funny. Sensitive. In shape. You are serving in ways I’m not. Giving your time to people I can’t. Shaping the next generation in ways I desire.

So last night’s conversation was as much for me as my daughter. A reminder that there is always a little Jr. High in most of us. 

And so this morning as I read God’s Word I clung to the verses I had shared last night and to       2 Corinthians 12:9 “’My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

I’m refocusing in on Christ. I’m acknowledging my weaknesses and just letting them be about God getting glory. I’m choosing to trust that when God made me, yes ME, He said it was wonderful. And He said the same about YOU. And I'm praising God He is not finished with us yet.

And so I’ll keep rocking my curls, hoping to bring the 80’s back. I’ll remember that, just like my daughter, I can be controlled by the thoughts and opinions of others or make my life about pleasing God alone. I’m so grateful for this reminder. 

So I’m making today totally tubular.  To the max.

I'll be the mom to say it- I'm glad school started.

We joined the “back to school” club today.

 

I thought about posting the cute pictures of all my children holding chalkboards with their grades listed on them BUT since taking a cute picture like that didn’t even cross my mind this morning, I guess I’ll pass.  It’s not that I love my children less than you, it’s just that I don’t ever have these cute ideas. I did snap a picture, with my phone, and as a bonus I think 4 of my 5 children were looking at the camera. I’ll take what I can get. And yes, I let my preschooler wear her shoes on the wrong feet.  We are teaching independence.  And she honestly can’t feel the difference.

When we arrived at school my 7^th grader was off to her locker as soon as I shut off the car.  I know her “I love you” and kiss to her mother were implied and I’m looking forwarding to seeing how my Jr. Higher did today.  Oh boy.  

The rest of us were loaded up with all the school gear and walked to the classrooms of my 3^rd and 5^th graders.  As we reminisced with old faces, I can’t even begin to tell you how many people told me how quickly summer went by.  And while I can’t believe school is starting already- I can’t agree completely with how quickly the summer went by.

It. Was. Long.

Don’t get me wrong, most days it was wonderful. But with 5 children ranging the ages of 1-12, “quickly” isn’t typically the word that I was use to describe summer. Creative. Interesting. Busy. Chaotic. Fun. Stressful. Fulfilling.

I think the beauty of having a 12 yr old and a 1 yr old is seeing the duality of “time flies” in motion. You see because the 7 hrs my children are at school and I am at home with my little guy playing Legos or cars, well some days that doesn’t go very fast. But to look at my 12 yr old, or 10 yr old, or even my 8 and 4 yr olds- it truly does seem like it was just yesterday THEY were the 1 yr old filling their day with mom.

And so today I am reminded to be present, in the present.  Time can seem to stand still or to move so quickly it takes our breath away.  And some days I feel like both are happening almost simultaneously.

So before I get ahead of myself, scheduling the week, figuring out homework routines and sports practice schedules, I am just going to pause. And be thankful. To be present. And fully aware.

I am blessed beyond measure. I am wild about being a mom. 

And I have no problem saying this- I’m glad school started.