In Other Words--Glimpses of Sunshine

LLike any mom, at times I’ve felt like a failure.
And other times I’ve felt as if God reached down and added an extra touch of sunshine to the day.”
By author Tricia Goyer, on her webpage

On the motherhood stress scale, moving your children away from all of their friends and familiarity to a brand new place must rank near the top. It has broken my heart and made me feel like a complete failure every time someone asked Jewel if she was excited about the move and she answered with a scowl, "no." I have fretted over what church will offer them the best opportunities to grow and to make friends. I have prayed that they will make friends with the kids in the cul de sac. I've watched tempers slip and emotions rise in the midst of trying to get the house in order. A large neon "Failure" sign seems to appear questioning if this was a good idea.

But then. Or, more specifically But God. (Don't you love the sound of those words "but God.")

But God has given us not just touches of sunshine; he has sent glorious basking sunshine. I have sat at the kitchen table watching the abandonment into joy as the girls play on the swing set left by the previous tenant. I've overheard the conversations between them where Jewel admits to Flower "I like this house better." I watched on our second Sunday visiting a church a little girl fly out of her seat and hug Flower and lead her to the "saved" seat in case she came back. I've reveled in the excited chatter of Jewel telling me about her new friends in Sunday School.

Moving could make me feel like a colossal failure. BUT GOD sends sunshine into the chaos of potential failure and ministers not only to me but to my girls. And that is enough to energize the next step.

Father God, thank you for leading us in this move. Thank you for the amazing physical sunshine you sent every single day of the packing, loading, unloading and unpacking. Thank you for the spiritual sunshine that lightens our spirits and reminds us that you truly are in this move and it is within your will. Continue to lead us to the friends and the place of worship that your ordain for us. Continue to send glimpses of sunshine when the rain of failure threatens to alter my perception. And we will do our best to honour you in this place. Amen.

Our hostess for In Other Words this week is Loni at Writing Canvas. Go, visit and be blessed.

Marriage Monday--Blessing my Parents

When I read the topic for the month--Blessing our Parents--I have to admit, I was a little stumped. Distance often makes it difficult for me to feel like I am giving a blessing to my wonderful dad and his incredible wife. (Blessing my mother before her death was even more difficult but for other reasons entirely!)

But I do think that it is a fair question. How can we bless our parents in our marriage?

I know how to bless them with my children, their grandchildren. I foster a relationship even across the distance. I give them updates. I tell my children stories of their grandparents. We draw cards and pictures and mail them across the sea. We celebrate the times we are together. Blessing the grandparent is easy.

But blessing the parent?

I am fortunate that I have a Dad who has always been honest with me and my brother about marriage. He never pretended that it was easy. And, we saw him strive to do what was best for the family. The time came when there was little more that he could do and my parents marriage eventually ended. But even in that time he was honest in his part of the blame and in allowing us kids to become our own persons separate from the marriage breakdown (I was 22 and my brother was 21). I get the feeling that my step-mom lived her first married life in front of her kids much the same way. She acknowledged that marriage was hard, and did the best she could. And now, they have a remarkable marriage together! In fact, this week they celebrate their fourth anniversary.

I think that one way I bless them is that I have an honest marriage. By honest I mean one that has ups and downs (thankfully more ups than downs), that perseveres and that acknowledges the effort marriage requires. That kind of marriage honours them because it is the kind of marriage that they have! As children, we try to take the best of what we saw in marriage and incorporate that into our own. I believe, in some small way that blesses our parents--when they see us move forward with the building blocks they have given us.

German and I were discussing last night some of the "best" we have taken from our parents marriages--for him the love to travel and spend time as a family and of taking care of one's own family, for me the importance of tithing, family vacations and extended family relationships.  We laughed about the fact that we don't do any of those things exactly like our parents--but we have taken the principles taught and made them our own in a way that works for us.  In some small way, that is honouring the ones who went before us and taught us. (at least we hope it is)

Today, however, I want to indulge a little further in an attempt to bless my step-mom. Step-mothers get a bad rap in our culture and I find it so opposite my experience. Dix is the absolute best! When Mom died in February, I never once felt that I had to keep at bay the emotions. She made it clear that her home was our home. When family sat around the table and told stories of the past she stayed and was part of it. When my Dad needed time to grieve his first wife, she gave it. When my kids needed a place to be that was away from the emotion, she happily took off work and kept them. Dix made it possible to get through that week (and the following trip of cleaning out memories) without guilt and struggle. Graciousness exudes from her, and it made those weeks easier.  So I just want to take a moment to very publically say THANK YOU! Thank you for accepting this motley crew as your own and thank you for the refuge your home provides and thank you for loving my Dad.

Ultimately, isn't that the way we bless anyone? Just to love them, and let them love us in return.

Happy Anniversary Dad and Dix!!!

(and I can't wait to see you..just a few more weeks)

Goal Post July

I know that I'm late, but I was without internet on the 1st so I have a good excuse!

Goals from June revisited:
1. MOVE HOUSE (with any luck the end of the month will be our big move date, so I have to get rid of some junk and get ready) DONE!! Still unpacking boxes, but 80% done!
2. Start over on a Project 365 photo project Nope...will try again this month
3. Lose 5 pounds (maybe if I put these goals here I'll stick to them) I lost 9! Yippee!
4. Complete 2 Bride's Tree ornaments no
5. Complete page 4 of "The Names of God" 90% complete

Goals for July:
1. Finish unpacking office and sewing room
2. Start over on a Project 365 photo project
3. Lose 5 more pounds(maybe if I put these goals here I'll stick to them)
4. Complete 2 Bride's Tree ornaments
5. Complete page 4 and page 7 of "The Names of God"

In Other Words--Healing Fault Lines

“Sin crouches at our doors, looking for fault lines, searching for a point of entry into our hearts and souls. Which is why it’s so important to allow God to expose and confront the cracks in our characters.”

by Joanna Weaver
Having a Mary Spirit

My fault lines are on display this week. We are in crunch time--ten days until we move into our new house across the country. Trying to get things ready for the movers to come and pack. Trying to keep the girls busy and to help them cope with their very first move. Trying to say the good-byes I need to say. And doing it all as a single parent since German is across country working.

Yes, the fault lines are showing.

     Irritablilty

         Pride

              Easily Frustrated

                   Perfectionism

They are all there. Yet, they are not in control. I have been gratefully amazed how many times in the last five days I have felt that check in my spirit and actually responded to it before the fault line quaked. Not always, but more often than not I've followed the cue to step back and wait on God.

This has not come easy. In fact, it has been down right difficult. But it is so rewarding to see the resluts of the time spent with God, trusting him to show me the cracks in my character and seeking his healing of those cracks. Yes, there are still tremors in my character. Sometimes there are even full-fledged eartquakes. But the time between them gets longer and the effects get weaker as I allow God to heal the faults. I've seen the results this week and it makes me never want to return to constantly living in a quake zone.

Do you know where your fault lines lie? Have you given them to God to allow him to heal them?

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
.
.
.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
~Eph 6:22-24, 31-32~

Father God thank you for your grace during this move. Thank you for helping me keep the chaos around me from shaking my spirit--and for helping me respond to you and not to the circumstances. Continue to ease the fault lines in my life. Amen.

Deborah at Chocolate and Coffee is our lovely hostess for In Other Words this week. Please visit and be blessed.

In Other Words...Living in Laodicea

Thank you for joining us today for "In Other Words." Each week we gather together over the blogsphere, writing what God impresses on us about a quote presented by that week's hostess. This week I am honoured to present my quote. It is from one of my favourite songs by Steve Camp and it challenges us to not live in Laodicea. I pray you are blessed today by writing and by reading the reflections.

“Oh Lord, take Your plow to my fallowed ground
Let Your blade dig down to the soil of my soul
For I’ve become dry and dusty, Lord I know there must be
Richer earth lying below

For I’ve been living in Laodicea
And the fire that once burned bright, I’ve let it grow dim
And the very Word I swore that I would die for all has been forgotten
As the world’s become my friend”

Lyrics by Steve Camp
“Living in Laodicea”

I live in the land of Laodicea. No, the sign as you enter my hometown does not say that name, but it is fitting just the same. It is a land of lukewarm. Not passionate enough to be hot, not totally cold-hearted either. It is Laodicea. But is not where I want to live.



Laodicea, in ancient times, had no natural water source. The water that came from the naturally hot springs came a long distance and was "lukewarm" by the time it made it to the city. So the people living there would have understood the imagery in the letter to the church.

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
~Revelation 3:14-24

The truth was the church had become complacent. They were rich enough to believe they could take care of their own needs. They no longer saw that they even had needs.



Sound familiar? It does to me. I live in a town of affluence. Yes, there are those who are struggling financially especially in the recent recession, but even they would be considered rich by the majority of the world. My day-to-day decisions are not about whether to eat or drink but what to choose. I don't have to get passionate about depending upon God for my next meal--so I don't.

The affluence is one thing, but the other major characteristic of where I live is freedom. No one tells me who to worship, how to worship or when to worship. I can openly own a Bible, sing praise songs with the windows open and go into the church with no fear of who might be watching and recording my movements. I live in a world that has lost touch with its passion for following Christ because it becomes easy.



In my ease and freedom, I have moved to Laodicea. I can make all kinds of excuses, but the reality is I choose to allow ease, freedom and affluence lead me to apathy and complacency. But it is a choice, and I'm tired of making this choice. I don't want to live in a land of complacency any longer. Ancient Laodicea was rich, but this letter does not indicate that they had no choice but to live in complacency. Quite the opposite, they were told to wake up and repent. They could choose to live with passion. I, too, can choose to live with passion.



The passion is there. I've seen it in me and in those around me in days past. But we allow it to get buried under the mundane things of life. That is one thing I love about these lyrics by Steve Camp, he doesn't say we have to go find something we never had but instead we have to let God dig out what we have covered up. The rich soil of passion is lying underneath the complacency. We just need to allow God to cultivate it.



How do we cultivate it? In prayer, Bible Study, fellowship with other believers and accountability within the community of Christ. Why do we cultivate it? Because someday what is growing in the rich soil is all that is going to be left--and we want something left!

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
Luke 3:16b-17

A few years ago I was blessed to visit the ruins of Laodicea. As we walked through that huge old city with its amphitheaters, columned-lined boulevards and the church I was struck at how it was all shaken. Nothing was totally intact. Ancient Laodicea had been shaken by an earthquake and totally destroyed. Only ruins remained.



When my life is shaken by the little quakes of disaster, I want something that stands. I want to have allowed fruit to grow in the "soil of my soul" that will last in difficult times. I want structures that stand because they are built on firm foundations and not on complacent sands. Ultimately, on the day when my life is sifted, I want to have lived a life that has something left. That is why I must allow the passion to be rekindled and I must get out of Laodicea!



Father, dig down deep and find the cultivatable soil. Plant seeds of passion and concern in me. Weed out the complacency and the apathy. I want to grow a life crop that glorifies you. Amen.


If you are joining us today with your own post about Laodicea, pleas sign the Link Tool below. We want to be able to visit you! Bless you for joining us today.

Marriage Monday--Honeymoon Memories

Early in our dating days, German told me that he wanted to live and work overseas and if that wasn't a life I wanted, we might not want to pursue the relationship. I was all for traveling and living overseas, so no problem! The little catch was...except for a visit to Juarez Mexico and across the border of Canada (just to say we had been), I had never been out of the US. A couple of months before he proposed, German *suggested* I might want to get a passport. *big smile*

He took me to Germany for our honeymoon! It was to a place that he loved, and a place that we now love together. We stayed in a lovely gastehaus and awoke every morning to gaze at the Zugspitz, the highest Alp in Germany.




We explored fairy tale castles and gold-gilded churches and enjoyed amazing food. That was the first week.



Then...we drove to PARIS! *squeal*
We only had two days so we concentrated on seeing Notre Dame (my choice), Arche d' Triumph (his choice) and the Eiffel Tower (our choice). I loved Paris. My two endearing memories: the Metro was on strike so we had to drive in Paris *shudder* but we survived and an absolute amazing meal at a restaurant recommended by the hotel concierge where I turned out to be the only female in the very packed place. We still laugh today about the location of our most romantic meal! I had forgotten until getting out the pictures that they were cleaning Notre Dame and it was covered in scaffolding--so no good pictures.





We drove back to Germany and stayed one night with German's Air Force friends who were stationed there. They took us to Trier where I discovered Weihnachtsmarkt(Christmas Markets!)

Then a night in Frankfurt with another AF friend who was working there (and another Weihnactsmarkt)

and then back home to reality, Christmas shopping and celebrating.

We returned to the same Gastehaus after we moved to Europe, again just after Jewel was born and then again when Flower was two. It's been three years since we were there (almost fifteen since our first visit), I'm thinking that it may be time to go again.

Living in Laodicea

I live in the land of Laodicea.  No, the sign as you enter my hometown does not say that name, but it is fitting just the same.  It is a land of lukewarm.  Not passionate enough to be hot, not totally cold-hearted either.  It is Laodicea.  But is not where I want to live....

Maybe you can relate?  If so, join in the fun Tuesday and write your own post.  But most definitely come back and follow the links of how we can let God rescue us from Laodicea.  I'm hosting "In Other Words" on Tuesday.  Here is the quote:

“Oh Lord, take Your plow to my fallowed ground
Let Your blade dig down to the soil of my soul
For I’ve become dry and dusty, Lord I know there must be
Richer earth lying below

For I’ve been living in Laodicea
And the fire that once burned bright, I’ve let it grow dim
And the very Word I swore that I would die for all has been forgotten
As the world’s become my friend”

Lyrics by Steve Camp
“Living in Laodicea”

Cumbria

Praying for the communities of Cumbria, and especially the families and the victims of yesterday's tragedy. Please join me in praying for healing and peace of heart today.

Some have asked. We are south of there and are physically unaffected. If you saw my pictures a few weeks ago of the weekend trip with the busted tyre--that is the area these events ended.

The June Goal Post

As I get my life back to some sort of routine, I'm finding that the lack of goals the last three months have left me struggling at prioritizing time. So, it is time to get back to goal setting.

Goals for June:
1. MOVE HOUSE (with any luck the end of the month will be our big move date, so I have to get rid of some junk and get ready)
2. Start over on a Project 365 photo project
3. Lose 5 pounds (maybe if I put these goals here I'll stick to them)
4. Complete 2 Bride's Tree ornaments
5. Complete page 4 of "The Names of God"

What are your goals for June?

In Other Words--Radical Obedience

Their little house had become a place for teens to come and stay. Two friends of their teenage son were temporarily camped at their home whilst dealing with some family/personal stuff. This was fine as long as their older children were away for university--but pretty cramped if they were all home together. What should they do? They sold the house, bought a bigger house and now have room for even more teenagers to have a safe haven. One of the first friends has gone back home, but two more teens (and often one of their Moms) have moved in--all with parental blessing.

Selling and moving made no sense in the housing market. They had been in that home for 20 years. But God gave them a dream and they did it. In the midst of it all a bunch of teens and their families have been shown the practical love of Jesus.

And those of us watching from the outside are amazed, intrigued and blessed to see God work in availability. (I'll admit, sometimes I'm even jealous of their courage.) The funny thing is, they don't see it as courageous. They see it as obedience. They see it as the only right thing to do. And they are right.

“God delights in using ordinary Christians who come to the end of themselves and choose to trust in His extraordinary provision. He stands ready to allocate His power to all who are radically dependent on Him and radically devoted to making much of Him.”

by David Platt in
Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream

God, help me today to trust in your extraordinary provision. Help me to look at the possibilities and not the pitfalls. Continue to teach me to depend on you. Amen.

This week's hostess is Jennifer at Scraps and Snippets. Please join the group and be blessed.

A Long-Overdue Stitchin' Post!!

I am finally back to stitching regularly after the sudden changes of this year. Here is a little recap of what I've been doing.

For a Stitch-a-long with a friend, we are doing "Bride's Tree" ornaments which are 12 Xmas ornaments which according to German folklore every new couple need on their tree. I'm doing three sets to put away for some special people in my life.

Here are the heart ornaments (for love):


Here is one of the rabbits (for hope/faith/peace with nature):


One of the flowers (for beauty in the home):


My current big project is The Names of God by My Big Toe Designs. I've completed page one:

In Other Words--Let the Holy Spirit Lead (Don't be Afraid)

“Our view of the Holy Spirit is too small. The Holy Spirit is the One who changes the church, but we have to remember that the Holy Spirit lives in us. It is individual people living Spirit-filled lives that will change the church.”

Francis Chan
Crazy Love

Two and a half years ago our church endeavored to have a "Vision Day" where the congregation came together to dream. Anything and everything was possible. If you had an idea, no matter how crazy, you were encouraged to write it down.

The leadership took those ideas and categorized them into "immediately possible" "someday possible" and "wow, what a dream" (those are my categorizations but they pretty much describe the groupings). They then did the unimaginable, they began to put a plan into place that would address the "wow, what a dream" category. And God blessed it. Opportunities arose that were only breathed in dreamy whispers. There was a sense of excitement that some major improvements were going to long-last be made to impact how ministry is done in this place.

Eighteen months ago the first plans of what was dreamed were outlined. They were eventually presented to the church body. There was an excitement. But there also was fear on the part of some. "What if we can't raise the money?" "What if the youth don't come?" "What if you are wrong?" The arguments were countered "God is already providing and will continue." "The kids are coming in droves, we need space for them." "If we are wrong, God will direct to a better plan." Fear. Trust. Worry. Faith. The tug of war went back and forth. Although a majority said, "Let's do it!" fear won out and all plans, even the immediately possible, were shelved.

The dialogue that has taken place the past year has been that of doubting faith. I have heard "of course God can do it, but I don't think he is (or will)" many many times. The sense of excitement has been demolished by a sense of fear. And the saddest part of the story is that it is the same people. The same people who got excited about the possibilities are now encased in fear. What happened?

My view of the situation is that it is easy to believe that God through the work of the Holy Spirit wants to change lives and wants to enable us to minister in new and exciting ways. But when we take that dream of what the Holy Spirit can do into the realm of what is the Holy Spirit doing the realization sets in---God is going to use us. He is going to use the individual to achieve the work. It sounds great to have a big dream, but it sounds scary to take up our individual part in that dream. Sacrifices of time, money, energy and talents are on the part of the individual. All the individual sacrifices are combined, and multiplied exponentially by the Spirit in some amazing way, in order for the corporate dream to happen. But if the individual does not allow the Spirit to move in their life, the corporate combination will never happen. As Mr. Chan so correctly puts it, "It is individual people living Spirit-filled lives that will change the church." Conversely, individual people allowing fear instead of the spirit to lead, can thwart the changes in the church.

We need leaders who are unafraid to say, "I believe that God is doing this." We need to be leaders and members of the body who will stand and declare "God is leading me to make this sacrifice and I believe He will use it for something even bigger." We need to be Spirit-filled individuals acting in accord with God's Word and leading to change the church. It is not up to "them." It is up to us!

Dreams die when non-Spirit filled people allow fear lead them. Hallelujah that does not have to be the case! Dreams soar when Spirit-filled people allow God to change them as individuals.

Do we want to soar? Or do we want to follow fear? I pray that I make the correct decision. Praying that you, too, find the courage to follow the Spirit and see what amazing things God will do in your life as well as in the lives of those around you.

Tami is one of those amazing bloggers through whom the Spirit speaks and leads me. She chose this convicting quote this week. I know that I am waiting expectantly to see what God will teach me through Tami's post and the other posts that participate this week. Please join us through Mr. Linky at The Next Step. Be blessed, and be a blessing, this week.

In Other Words--Whispers and Shouts

God speaks. I know that some people doubt that but in my experience he speaks. His speech is not audible (usually, but I suppose it could be if he desired) but it is clear and distinct. The better we know him, the more easily we will recognize his voice.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
~Jesus~
John 10:27

Often he uses the things that are happening around us to speak to us. I have stood on mountainsides taking in his majesty or in fields of clover absorbing his beauty, and felt him applauding as I recognized him.

You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.
Isaiah 55:12

I've sat by the seashore watching the sunset and heard the whispers of his love as the waves crashed in and out bringing more and more peace into my life.

He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
Psalm 127:29

I've sat in tears, believing my world was breaking, only to feel his arms around me and hear the lullabies of comfort come into my heart.

The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

In the midst of my troubles, he has shouted through his word to give me direction.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17

“God whispers to us in our pleasure,
but He shouts to us in our pain.”
~Rick Warren~
in Daily Hope Devotional,
titled “Tuning in to God”
quoting C.S. Lewis

I do not believe that there is a formula that says "in this circumstance God talks this way, and in other circumstances he talks this way." In fact, the rest of Warren's devotion is not about how he speaks but about how we must be prepared to hear him speak by reading his word and knowing his voice. The point we need to remember is "God Speaks!"

Sometimes it is a whisper. But God speaks!
Sometimes it is a shout. But God speaks!

Are you ready to hear?

Father God, give me ears and eyes and sensitivities to hear you as you speak in the circumstances of my life. Give me the courage to act on what I hear, to believe what you are saying and doing, and to guide others to do the same. Thank you for being a God who speaks to his people. Amen.


Debbie at Heart Choices is the hostess this week. You will be blessed by visiting the other posts related to this quote this week.

What a Difference a Week Makes...

...or Reclaiming the Weekend.

Pictures from the "Adventure" Weekend:

gorgeous scenery


ouch!


getting it home


Last weekend we decided to go back, reclaim the weekend and ride the steam train as originally planned.

The train


The scenery


A perfect little lamb (I'm partial to black sheep)


Thank you Daddy


Mission accomplished--a lovely day out in the Lakes and not a four hour truck ride to get home!

In Other Words--Does it Have to Be Feast or Famine?

The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign LORD,
“when I will send a famine through the land—
not a famine of food or a thirst for water,
but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.
Men will stagger from sea to sea
and wander from north to east,
searching for the word of the LORD,
but they will not find it. ”
Amos 8:11-12

I've experienced times of drought in my life. Times when I've not regularly sought to spend time with God in Bible Study or prayer. I've known periods where I did not have good sound Biblical teaching available. I've become weary of lackluster preaching on cultural topics rather than delving into the difficult passages of God's word. The drought has been there intermittently in my life. Once or twice, that drought has taken hold and famine has set in.

fam·ine (fām'ĭn)
n. A drastic, wide-reaching food shortage.
A drastic shortage; a dearth.
Severe hunger; starvation.

One thing that I have learned over the years is that if there is a drought in my spiritual life, I probably started it.

In this passage, Amos is warning the people that they are going to become desperate for something that they are currently rejecting. The people were self-focused. They had no need for God, and they did not earnestly seek him. Any religious activity was more out of habit and ritual than significant relationship. The previous verses in the chapter paint a picture of not only pursuit of gain and money, but of oppressing those who were in need. God is essentially saying through Amos, "you are going to want me and you won't be able to hear me and you started it."

For the people in Amos' day, the famine was a clear and deliberate punishment for their ingratitude and behaviour. In my life, the famine is the natural consequence of not deliberately, consistently seeking God. Have you experienced this? How do you get back to a land of rain when you've allowed drought to set in? For me, I find at least five things that help me return. Maybe these will also speak into your experience.

First, I must confess that I started it. I must take responsibility that I have, whether consciously or unwittingly, allowed other things to take the space of my daily seeking a relationship with God.
In that confession, I must be specific about the things that are encroaching on that time and enabling the famine. Often the things that crowd out my study time are actually good things that our taken the wrong precedence.
When I've identified the famine causers, I must ask God to help me prioritize to keep those things in their proper place.
Then, I need to just act on it. I need to sit down and study or pray or wait before God. I need to put action behind the desire, recognizing that it may take some time before it becomes easier or natural. Just as the first drops of rain do not end a physical famine but are the hope of the end to come, so it is with my study. Those first "drops" of study are building for the hope of more to come.
Finally, I need to seek a friend who can hold me accountable. In college I had a friend who started letters not with "how are you" but with "how's your quiet time." I often did not want to answer the question, but I always did because he cared enough to seek the hard question. Sometimes that is the question I need to answer. Other times I need to answer "how many blogs about a relationship with God did you read today instead of developing your relationship" or "how many books about God did you read instead of the Bible". These are areas of good things that I can get out of priority.

Those steps can start me on the road back to health instead of starvation. They can keep me thriving in a relationship rather than fading in a famine. They also remind me that in those times of feasting, I need to store away God's word for the more difficult or busy times so I am less likely to become complacent and move away.

I don't know where you are today. Maybe you are feasting. Celebrate it! Enjoy it! But don't forget you are storing God's word in memorization and meditation for days that may not be this easy. You may be in the place I am right now--carving out the time for a relationship although it is not the feast it has been at other times. Let me encourage you (and remind myself) to stick with it, keep developing the relationship and not to become complacent. But maybe these were tough verses for you because you are in the midst of famine. I pray that something in this post encourages you. I would also consider it an honour if I could pray for you in this time. Just leave a comment or drop me an email (see side bar for address) and I will gladly do that for you.

Father I pray today that each reader of this will know a time of intimacy and relationship building with you. I pray that those who are struggling to find the time will take small steps to build that time into their lives. I pray that I will keep my priorities ordered with your priorities and I will not forsake the time of study and prayer. Thank you that even in famines of our own making, you are always willing to draw us back and bring back the rain. May we always seek your rain. Amen.

I am so honoured that you are joining us today for 'In Other Words.' I am looking forward to visiting your sites and reading how you interpreted these verses and how you keep the word of God forefront in your lives. Bless you for joining us. Please leave your link below.

Hosting In Other Words

Next Tuesday, I have the honour of hosting In Other Words. I have chosen a passage from Amos that intrigues me and brings me pause. I realize that the passage is a judgment passage of the past, but I wonder how it speaks to us today. Have you felt a famine for God's word? What has that looked like in your life? How did you come back? I would love Tuesday to be a dialogue of how we can keep the word of God alive and well in our lives and in the lives of others. Please come back on Tuesday and join the conversation.

The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign LORD,
“when I will send a famine through the land—
not a famine of food or a thirst for water,
but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.
Men will stagger from sea to sea
and wander from north to east,
searching for the word of the LORD,
but they will not find it. ”
~Amos 8:11-12~

In Other Words--Trifling Circumstances or Grand Adventure?

Let me tell you about our weekend adventure. Our company car lease had come to an end and we received a new car on Friday. It has a great "sports" mode that makes it feel more "race-car" and German wanted to try it out. So Sunday after church we loaded up and went a couple hours up the road to the "Lake District" which is where the tallest mountains in England are located. Some great winding roads. Totally amazing scenery. Our destination was a little steam train that we planned to travel on through the sheep pastures whilst watching the baby lambs frolic in the fields. It was a perfect day.

Until.

Until we stopped at the train depot and in a casual walk around the car, German discovered that the front tire had a tear from end to end and was losing air fast. Did I mention that the train depot was on top of the mountain? Did I mention that there was no phone service up there (and the lady in the depot was not willing to let us use their phone either?) It might also be worth mentioning that these are "run flat" tyres so no spare is included in the car. uh-oh

We did not ride the train. Instead we edged about half way down the mountain to a little village where we found a pay phone. Help was dispersed to collect the car and us on the recovery truck and take us to our home where we could get the tyre fixed on Monday (hopefully). Two and a half hours later the recovery truck arrived. YAY!!! It took almost four hours to drive the eighty miles home in the truck with the car on it. Home hadn't looked so good in a long time!

Whilst we were waiting for the recovery truck, German was apologising for the day being ruined. I wouldn't hear it. I told him we had a choice, we could be frustrated or we could celebrate God in it:
*the day was gorgeous
*there was no rain (a rarity in the Lake District)
*we had seen the tear before the tyre totally came apart, possibly causing an accident or being on a one-track mountain road with nowhere to stop
*there was a pay phone
*there was an actual car park beside the pay phone and not just a lay-by
*there were public toilets beside the car park (which both girls needed during the wait)
*there was a trail leading to the Japanese Gardens leaving from the carpark that allowed the girls to burn energy and use part of the time. We would have never seen it without the tyre trouble
*the lease company has a recovery program so we were not stuck in the middle of nowhere
*the girls were going to get to ride in a truck (which they thought was tremendously exciting--at least for the first hour)

The truth is, I would not have always seen the adventure in the experience. I could have easily been frustrated, irritated and condemning. The day had been about German "playing" in the new car, but it had also been about letting our minds go and not dwelling on things that are frustrating. For the last year, we have found ourselves in the midst of "trifling" circumstances with difficult people. We have seen God lead us on a path that most of our friends, and our church family in particular, criticized, ridiculed and attempted to thwart. We have had many relationships totally severed and others damaged beyond human repair. Yet in all of that, God has repeatedly taught us to lean on his love and wisdom.

"If monotony tries me
and I cannot stand drudgery;
if stupid people fret me and
little ruffles set me on edge;
if I make much of the trifles of life,
then I know nothing of Calvary love."

~If: What Do I Know of Calvary Love?~
~Amy Carmichael~

Through the drudgery of life we have learned to choose God's blessing in it rather than strive against it. That is what we did on Sunday. And because German and I chose that, the girls did not see Sunday as trifling or trying. Instead they stood on the rocky "stage" and sang praise songs for almost an hour. They laughed and ran and giggled as the driver loaded the car. Hopefully our attitudes demonstrated something of God's love to the driver who had to take us four hours to our home and then return at least three hours to his base.

The icing on the cake? Yesterday as Flower and I went for a walk she said, "Mum, I really loved our adventure Sunday. Can we do it again?" I laughed and said probably not any time soon. And I thanked God that she saw joy in the circumstances.

As for the car? Well, there were no tyres that fit the car in the country. It has to be brought across Europe. And since there are no airplanes...hopefully one will arrive by truck on Friday. Until then, the car sits in the garage. But it makes me smile everytime I see it.


Visit Patricia at Typing One-Handed to see her take on this great quote and follow the links to other participants.

In Other Words--Giving What We Have

It only takes a few minutes of my time to consider the impact my words may have on someone and adjust the tone.

It only takes a few muscles to smile at someone and perhaps change the course of their day.

It only takes a few coins to take the homeless man a burger or buy the newspaper from the homeless lady trying to get back on her feet.

It only takes a few pounds (or dollars) a month to sponsor that child in a third world country to have clean water and an education.

It only takes a few hours a week to commit to a ministry of calling and choice.

“God can use small ingredients to make big miracles happen: fabric and thread to lift hope in the sick, five loaves and two fish to feed five thousand hungry people, and faith the size of a mustard seed to move a mountain. Shouldn’t we give all that we have to God just to see what He might do with it?”
~~What I Learned From God While Quilting~~
Ruth McHaney Danner and Cristine Bolley

Whether we have an extra few minutes, an extra few hours or even more. Whether it is a few coins in our pockets, some money in our wallet that can be reallocated or even a lot more. Maybe it is just a little energy or a kind word. Whatever we have to give--big or small--God can make it grow to meet the need.

What do you need to share today?

Today's hostess is Nina at Mama's Little Treasures. Come and be blessed.

On Being an ExPat and Dealing with Grief

Thank you dear friends for your kind words, prayers, thoughts and emails over the last several weeks. They have been most assuredly felt and appreciated. I'm actually doing much better than my absence would indicate, and have been writing many incredibily insightful and witty posts in my head. Unfortunately, in the busyness of life I have not done well to get them on paper (or screen) and by the time I do get around to thinking about blogging they are neither insightful, witty or timely. *sigh*

But I need to make a start somewhere, and this post seems to be the one bouncing around my head the most.

This grief thing is weird when your life straddles two sides of a great big pond called the Atlantic.
On one side of the pond, this side, life is basically the same. The girls still need to be directed in school (although this has been quite lax honestly), meals still need to be planned and prepared, dishes still have to be washed, Mt. Laundry still needs to be conquered. Everywhere I look things seem *normal*. The only thing that is out of balance is when I reach to make a Friday afternoon phone call and realize that there will not be anyone on the other end of the phone to answer.
On the other side of the pond, life has radically altered. A house sits empty. Court proceedings are making decisions. Attorneys are at work. Decisions need to be made. Relationships are hurting. I know all of this in my head. The problem is, I can't see it. I can't see the empty house or the items that need to be sorted or the bills that need to be paid. And since I can't see it, it all becomes rather theoretic--at least until Friday afternoons when there is not going to be anyone on the other end of the phone line.

So I find myself trying to reconcile my two lives--the altered American life and the status quo British one. And it makes my head hurt. And it makes me tired, mentally and physically. So I stop writing. Even when I know that writing is one way I reconcile my two lives. (Yes, it is this cyclical in my thinking).

It won't always be this way. Some upcoming events will help in the reconciliation. We will be returning to Texas in the nearish future to go through the house and give things away. That will most definitely make this less theoretical and more realitic. I anticipate that is when I will encounter the grief more profoundly as well. I won't have the denial of distance to dampen the grief. After the Texas trip, I will be able to focus on the other big change in our life---moving. German started a new job just as we returned from the funeral (reality was that his first day was supposed to be the day of the funeral and had to be postponed) so he is working away from home Monday through Friday. We have started our house hunting in the area of his new job, but can't realistically plan to move until after the US trip. When we are able to put plans into place to actually live as a family again, and I can stop being a single parent 5 days a week, I should be able to focus more mental energy on moving on and through the grief.

I'm well versed in the techniques of coping with grief. It was one of the areas I focused on in my years as a social worker in nursing homes. That has given me insight into "this is normal" feelings and honestly allowed my head to just kick in and do the things I needed to when I didn't have the mental energy to figure it out. But I will be more content when my two lives stop being parallel and reconnect. Until that happens, chances are I will still remain fairly silent. I promise, I will be back.