Monthly Archives: May 2013

I have a pair of jeans in my closet that I avoid. They're probably collecting dust jeansby now from neglect.

It's not that I don't like them. They're my favorite. We're meant to be together.

But as time passes they ask more of me.  The moment I walk into my closet they speak.

Reasons I Ignore my Blue Jeans

My jeans measure me. They always do. I picked out those jeans initially because they made me look good.  And they were comfortable.  But as I grow, they point out what they need to.

They encourage me to work out. I have a way of convincing myself that I have better things to do than work out.  I'm a busy girl.  But when I so much as look at those jeans on the hanger,  they remind me that I'd be better off with exercise.  "How you look is not important," they say.  "You'll be healthier."

They remind me that I should be watching my intake. Occasionally I give in to their invitation to spend time together.  Instead of just allowing our time together to be pleasant, they whisper stirring words.  They make me uncomfortable, calling to my mind my reliance on unhealthy things.    

Much like the word of God, time spent intimately with my jeans reveals just where I need to be.

Though I'm not, my jeans are faithful; unchanging. They don't change sizes to please or fit me.

They're carefully crafted.

They sit in my closet ready to speak a word.

Always wanting to be with me.

I may ignore them often, but I know they speak the truth.

And I know the words they speak aren't formed for judgement, but for my bettering.

They are FOR ME.

I know that if I give them my time, their life-filled words will inspire me.  They will urge me to change, and call me to commitment. It will take work, and time, and parts of the old me will melt away.  Before I know it I'll be spending more and more time with my jeans, and less time with that I once loved.

These are the real reasons I ignore my jeans.  But oh how I want to fit into them.

 2 Timothy 3:16

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness

The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible. -Dwight L Moody

 

 

It doesn't feel like a blessed day.  Surely your heart is heavy for the devastation in Moore, Oklahoma.  That's why I felt strange singing "Hosanna" as it played on Pandora this morning while I put on my makeup.  It's a "lifting up" kind of song and doesn't match my emotions this cloudy morning.hosanna

Hosanna reminds me of celebration.  Matthew 21, verse 9 tells us that upon Jesus' arrival to Jerusalem, the people spread their cloaks on the road while others laid palm branches on the road.  They shouted,

Hosanna to the son of David!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

Hosanna in the highest!

They were glad he was there.  While celebratory in nature, I think these words carry deeper meaning.  My study Bible tells me that their words were both praise and prayer.  The origin of the word Hosanna, means rescue, save. Like us, they were in dire need of a Savior.

Even though they didn't grip the magnitude of this man's presence, the long waited for Savior was in their midst.  I love it, that the same words "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord," were also spoken in the Old Testament in the time they were waiting for a Savior.  Those words are found in Psalm 118:26.  They come right after v.25 which is a prayer

O LORD save us

Today is a Hosanna kind of day.  God be praised like every other day.  But as we shout Hosanna or whisper the prayer through hurt and confusion, may we remember that He is our rescue, our hope.  And though life brings us circumstances far from what any of us dare to imagine, He has saved us.  He is saving us.

Today we live in the Old and New Testament sense of the word Hosanna.  He is our hope, our prayer.... and our hope to come.

Pray for the hurting.  Pray for the lost.

Pray that they would be wrapped in the light that has overcome the darkness.

My favorite lines from Hosanna by Hillsong:

 Break my heart from what breaks Yours

Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause

As I walk from nothing to eternity

May we be so faithful.

Listen to Hosanna by Hillsong http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXCoHxX1OC8

 

 

Picture ImPerfect

the picture

 

A picture where everybody is smiling is either coerced, the 12th try,

... or an exceptional accident (in which you keep taking pictures because you don't believe our eyes).

A picture is worth a thousand words.....and some of them aren't nice.

Ignorance is bliss.

Always be yourself, except in pictures.

Making people smile is a sure-fire way to make somebody angry.

The camera doesn't lie, but it sure causes trouble.

What are your picture thoughts?

 

 

 

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Right in the midst of making  healthy breakfast smoothies and unloading dishes this morning I grabbed a Marvel glass from the top rack of the dishwasher.  Spiderman came across my line of vision and I recalled buying the set of superhero glasses.  They were cute and eclectic and a last attempt to preserve some boyishness in Hayden.

I looked at Spiderman, between my fingers, and believe it or not, I thought about myself.  I thought about you too.

You see, Spiderman is both a nerd and at the same time a champion.  He's a bit goofy, but he's the stuff good stories are made of............  Kind of like moms.

I realized it just this morning. I'm sort of a hero.  You are too.

mom  IMG_3163

Don't think that it's easy for me to say that.  My costume isn't nearly as cool as Spiderman's.  I hardly wear it anymore.  When I do, it consists of apparel that hides my muffin top waist.  (They sell Spanx undershirts now.  I got mine at TJ Maxx.)

Spiderman is plastered on posters and t-shirts and graces the cover of comic books.  That's not me.

Most days I'm Peter Parker.

Behind the scene I'm "busting it" trying to keep those closest, out of harm's way; I'm talking about big harm, like car accidents and being abducted.

 "Text me when you get there."  "Walk with a friend."  "Go the back way so you can avoid the busy highway."

When it comes to keeping my kids safe, my Spidey Sense is always in action.

In addition to my attempts to keep my kids safe, I work tirelessly to keep them from lesser harms.  Eyes in the back of my head, I see one of them throw their gum wrapper on the floor or flick their sister, and I stop them.   I rescue them from becoming too terribly messy or antagonizing.

My never-quitting mom powers, though rooted in love and justice, are seldom appreciated. I'll bet you can relate.

Our kids often see us as Mary Jane sees Peter and just as Lois Lane sees Clark Kent initially, well almost until the end of the story -trying too hard,  and -not that exciting.

Still, we try our darndest to protect and rescue.

We make sure they have clean socks and we check their grades.

We remind them to brush their teeth and to avoid gossip.

We take them to the doctor when they run a fever.

When they're being selfish and small, we call them on it.

We're heroes in disguise, guided by a loving Father; One who has given us our charge.

Proverbs 31-

She.....works with eager hands.

She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her task.

She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

(Though she's had the same hairstyle for the past eight years and she's become a little puffy)

She is clothed in strength and dignity

(Some days she's weary from exhaustion and most days she wonders why her children don't see how deeply she cares for them. But....)

She can laugh at the days to come

Her children rise and call her blessed; her husband also.

Your Super Hero costume may lack dazzle and pizzaz.  It may even be invisible, for a time, to those you most wish to admire it.  But with it you've been given mom power and responsibility.  It's a privilege. Wear it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.  Thank you for the all of the clothes and uniforms that you sewed.  The Snow White outfit you made for me my seventh grade year was crazy good. It should have won the costume contest.me and mom

9.  I'm glad you said no to my wearing boyish shirts in High School when they were in style.  I already lacked a figure.  And I'm sure I would only have come back later to say "Why did you let me dress that way?"....... So thanks.

At the same time, thanks for letting me sport the ridiculous "high hair" of the nineties and for all of the money you spent on aerosol hair spray.  I was good at that hair.  And I'm at a place in life now where I can look back at pictures and have a much-needed giggle.

 8. Thanks for that magnification light-up mirror you surprised me with one afternoon after school.  Maybe if I would have used it more I would have seen how unappreciative I was.

7.  Remember the time you made me close every cabinet door and drawer in the entire kitchen because I was constantly leaving them open? I have two things to say about that:  #1. I'm glad no one turned you in for child abuse. #2. You should be glad to know that your harsh punishment was effective.  Emotional scarring has lead to consistent door closing.

6.  I have your scary face when one of the kids has pushed me too far. I suspect Vicki and Jennifer have it too.  The scary face gene is strong.

5.  Making chocolate chip cookies for just about every occasion, or no occasion at all is one of the traditions I'm proud to be carrying on. I hope my kids think they're as special as I thought they were.  They melted many bad days away.

4.  I'm sorry for crying and hiding on the floor board (at an embarrassingly old age) when I got that kinky perm.  Sorry too, for right thereafter, refusing to get out of the car to go into Koffee Kup and eat.

3.  Thanks for being my GA leader and for always having me at church.  Thanks for attending countless basketball games and track meets. Thanks for continuing the shopping trips when there was disagreement on apparel choices and forgotten thank you's.  Thank you that you taught me to say I'm sorry, but that forgiveness wasn't dependent upon it.

2. You know that time you let me go to the lake with Paula?  I got in the water even though you told me not to.

1 1/2.  Thanks for ceasing the communication between me and the boy with the orange stripe in his hair and the boy from Walnut Springs who wrote me the provocative love letter.  They probably weren't good choices.

1. You were right.

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I practice hypocrisy on a regular basis.  There I've said it.

The definition of hypocrisy according to Merriam-Webster is -

2. a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs

(I'm sending Merriam-Webster a picture of myself in case they want to illustrate the word.)

My posts have enlightened me to this "Hypocrite Syndrome" that I have.  It's usually right before I hit the publish button that I look no further than the title and see that I'm spouting off words, that in actuality, I'm not good at believing myself. I'm stating beliefs that aren't followed.

I wrote "Hold on to Your Reason to Smile" while grimacing.

hyp

"How (Not) to be a Friend" was written by me and addressed to me at the same time.

It's an absolute joke that I wrote "Say Yes to the Mess" because I'm not sure I've ever willingly done that.

Still, I believe what I write though I act in direct opposition.

I'm reminded of a miracle in Mark where a man had brought his son who was possessed by an evil spirit.  The man said to Jesus,

  But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:22b-24

I get this guy.

He went to Jesus.  He asked for his help, his belief wavering.  He both believes and he doesn't.  Yet his contradiction is true.

Most of my posts are pleas for help.  I know I should say "yes to the mess" sometimes.  I know that spending time with the kids is more important than my house being spotless.  I believe that.  Sometimes I'll believe it while I'm scrambling to clean the very mess I know to be ok.

Other times I pretend that the Poptart crumbs and socks on the floor are perfectly fine while I'm violently shaking my head "no" on the inside. I'm acting in contradiction to my beliefs.  I'm feeling it's not ok to my core. God knows my  "shaking -no" on the inside doesn't match my pretending to play it cool.

I know I should love my neighbor as myself.  I believe it.  Just because I don't act it, doesn't mean I don't believe it.

I know God can heal all hurts.  I don't believe.  And I believe without power. I'm weak and fallen and I can't do it on my own.

So I'll continue to write and not follow through with what I say.

I'll say I believe and then I'll act like I don't.

I'll even say I believe, then act like I do, but my heart's meditation will be like that father's as it wrestles within me.

And all the while, I'll be pleading with my Savior to"help me overcome my disbelief".

I'll be thankful for his power, and for his mercy in accepting a hypocrite like me.

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spoon hay

And as a slotted spoon liver, be mindful that you're placed in the hand of a mighty God who helps you know that which is worth holding on to and what needs to be let go.

He says:

fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous hand.  Isaiah 41:10

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Ephesians 4:31

And my favorite- The Whatever verse

Finally brothers and sisters, 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. Philippians 4:8

Praying your day's focus is not on trash, but treasure.

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I steer clear of the self check-out aisles.  I think I tried them twice. I had to try and scan each item like fifty times because the bar code wasn't being recognized. Both times that I attempted to self check out, the "dummy light" came on alerting a sales clerk to come to my assistance.

The lyrics of a rap song, which I found on google, says "You better check yo self before you wreck yo self".  That's a good word Ice Cube.

check

This picture really has nothing to do with my post, but I've been dying to use it.

I... Cannot always check myself out.
I typically need assistance.

This doesn't only apply to my shopping at WalMart. As I pushed my cart toward the exit this morning thinking about the impossibility of self-checking, my mind reeled. I began to think about how we all need assistance when it comes to assessing situations and even life in general.

How am I doing?
How are things going?

My answer is so skewed by my emotions.

Most often, things are less difficult/tragic (life as we know it is over)/maddening....than I feel.

When you need to check yourself, proceed with assistance

Surround yourself with friends; especially the ones who will be honest with you. I appreciate friends who will tell me when they think I'm wrong, or that I'm overreacting.
(It's a bonus when we're eating cake while discussing my frustration, say, .....over swimsuit shopping with my preteen) My sisters, well really, my whole family falls into the friend category.

Husbands are good "keep yourself in-check" partners too. I talk to me husband Jason about everything.  He tells me how he sees things, thankfully gently.  That's why I tell him everything. I trust him.

Something to remember:
Once we were buying a hermit crab. Our oldest daughter Hallie chose one that was isolated in the corner of the aquarium. When Hallie picked it up, it pinched her most horribly. My point?  The crab probably needed to be alone (maybe for a bit). You may need to let your emotions fizzle a bit before your can talk constructively with anyone. Or else find a forgiving friend to pinch.

Your kids will tell you how it really is. My kids tell me when I'm "freaking out".  Hallie told me not long ago that I care too much about what I look like.  They call it to my attention when I'm not really listening to them. I can tell when they're right, which they usually are.

The Bible is the best check yo self checklist; Proverbs in particular. It constantly reminds me to "shut my mouth". It tells me not to despair, "for God is with you".  I'm reminded of the promise that comes in "raising my child up in the way he should go" even if he isn't listening now.

To quote Jason, again, using the same quote I've used before,

"There are no Lone Ranger Christians".

You can visit the self check out aisle, but don't forget those who are there for you BEFORE the dummy light comes on.

Aren't we thankful that God graces us with loved ones and loving words?