In Other Words--Grumbling

“The spirit of complaint is born out of an unwillingness to trust God with today. Like the Israelites, it means you are spending your time looking back toward Egypt or wishing for the future, all the while missing what God is doing right now.”
~Priscilla Shirer~
in “One in a Million”

Have you ever been around a grumbler? You know the type of person, nothing ever pleases them. The glass is neither too full or too empty, it is just wrong. That is the type of person I think of when I hear the phrase "spirit of complaint." It is a spirit that is totally unsatisfied.

In today's quote, then, satisfaction must come with trusting God with today. I understand the intent of the statement, and the statement is not wrong, but I think it is limited. I believe a grumbling attitude comes from not trusting God, period/full stop. If we are looking at the past and grumbling about how things did not turn out the way we wished, we are neglecting to trust that God knows our past and is in it. When we complain about the things that are or are not happening right now, we are neglecting to trust God with today. When we worry about things in the future that we cannot yet do anything about, we are neglecting to trust God already has the future in hand.

Neglecting to trust God leads to worry and anxiety. Worry and anxiety lead to irritability in word and spirit. Irritability leads to complaint and grumbling. It is a downward cycle that we all to easily can start down when we take our eyes off Jesus.

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.
~Psalm 55:22~

These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires." These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
~Jude 16-21~

Trust him...with your past, with your present and with your future. The result is less anxiety and no reason to grumble.

Father help me to trust you today and always. I don't want to be a faultfinder. Stop my tongue when I seek to grumble. Instead help me to praise you for your presence in my life, my plans and my future. Amen.

Today's hostess is Debbie at Heart Choices. I know that you will find a blessing there when you visit.

Strength Will Indeed Rise

A little over eighteen months ago, things went terribly pear-shaped in our worship community. After one particularly difficult encounter where really harsh judgment and punishment was dispensed toward us, we chose to make a drive and worship elsewhere. We visited a church in a nearby town where we know the tradition and worship would be so totally different than our usual experience, we felt we would be able to relax and reconnect with God.

It was there that I heard Chris Tomlin's "Everlasting God" (lyrics by Brenton Brown and Ken Riley) for the first time. I stood with tears running down my face as we sang the words "strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord." I was wondering if strength would ever rise again. At that moment I felt so weak and battered, that I had little hope.

Over the next months we practiced "waiting on the Lord." I had to daily, or more often hourly, choose to wait on him and to trust him in the situation. I continued to feel weak and unable, but he continued to give me just what I needed when I needed it. That waiting time would lead to a cross-country move and a lot of healing.

Recently we stood to sing worship with our new faith community. Once again the song was "Everlasting God" and once again the tears were flowing. This time, the tears were out of gratefulness that strength had indeed risen. The ironic truth is, however, that I am still weak. I'm just not defeated in my weakness.

It was never going to be my strength that would rise. It was always going to be his strength. As I trusted him, I learned to rely on his strength. My trust allowed his strength to pour out and manifest in me.

But he said to me, "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. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
~2 Corinthians 12:9-10~

If you are struggling today, be encouraged. His strength will indeed rise and will be manifested in your weaknesses, if you trust him with those weaknesses.

Accepting the Rebuke

Still dwelling on the forgiveness/regret/conviction theme.  Feel free to move on if you aren't. ;-)

Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master's house to you, and your master's wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes?
2 Samuel 12:7-9

This is one of those passages that has always intrigued me. The courage of Nathan to say to the king that he was wrong.  The willingness of David to see the truth in what Nathan was saying.  There are times that I have seen the need to be a Nathan in someone's life, and chickened out. And there have been times when a Nathan has showed up in my life, and I was less than gracious in accepting that. I'm not Nathan, and I'm not David.

Last night at house group the question was raised to choose characteristics of David that made him a good leader. One of the responses was "he was close enough to God that he was able to accept the rebuke." I love that thought. David was close enough to God that he was able to hear rebuke from others because he knew that God's acceptance of him was based on God's character not on his own. He was able to hold up the rebuke and see if it measured up to what God was saying. When it did, he was close enough to God to confess, knowing that God would hear the confession.

I know that the confidence in the relationship can make all the difference in how I hear a rebuke. I am much more willing to hear from German or from a few friends who have been granted access to inner sanctum of my life because I know that their rebuke is not the end of the relationship--it is because of the relationship.  My confidence in the sureness of relationship means I can hear correction. I trust it. On the other hand, the random person who chooses to give me their mind on my life without any reference of true relationship will not be heard. I'm not close enough to them to accept it.

That is what I loved so much about the statement made about David being "close enough to God to hear the rebuke." I want to be so sure in my relationship with God, that I am able to hear the rebuke when it is needed. I want to be drawn back to where I need to be without fear. I want the relationship to be so close that I hear the love in the rebuke.

Does that make sense to anyone else? Do you find that the closer you are to God the easier it is to hear convicting advice? Are you able to accept the rebuke?

Father, help me to walk in sureness of my relationship with you. When correction and rebuke is needed, help me to accept that as coming from a loving father who only wants my best. Help me be willing to change when you call me to make those changes. Amen.

Getting Real with Forgiveness

Fools mock at making amends for sin,
but goodwill is found among the upright.
Each heart knows its own bitterness,
and no one else can share its joy.
Proverbs 14:9-10

This week I was re-reading Ann Voskamp's amazing piece The Fish Principle and reflecting on rejection and forgiveness. I felt that familiar twinge in my spirit that there was more to this story. I wasn't quite sure where it was going, but I knew the lesson would be made clearer eventually.

I didn't expect is so soon. But then, I guess I often do not expect the hard lessons to come.

A reminder came of some trouble in someone's life. A really tough time being felt by this family. There is an urgent need of prayer. I clearly heard that small voice say, "are you going to pray?" Of course I said I would, and uttered a quick prayer asking God to be with them in their need. But the voice persisted, "I mean will you really pray? Will you seek blessings in their life from me?" Insert a heavy pregnant pause here. I know what the answer is, but I cannot say the words.

This is a person who has hurt me deeply. This is a person who shook my very core of security and abolished relationships with half-truths, innuendos and sometimes outright lies. It is also someone with whom I have known for some time that reconciliation needed to happen. I've even had church leaders assist in approaching this person about meeting to reconcile these differences--and have been turned down more than once. This person has shown no willingness to resolve our issues, so I have let it go.

Except. Except that I haven't. I still feel the pit in the bottom of my stomach when I hear this person's name. I still feel physically ill when I see them. And, as is glaringly apparent this week, it is someone that I would rather wish ill upon than seek God's blessing.

*UGH!* The truth is so ugly to confront. Reality is, this person does not care if we are reconciled. This person is willing for things to continue as they are. It exemplifies that my harbouring of ill feelings is not harming that person at all. But it is harming me. Because I*have*not*let*it*go. And when God confronts and says, "let me have it," I hold on for dear life because I am afraid that he will not handle it as well as I am. How silly is that! Paul reminds us,

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. (Romans 12:19)

but I would rather hold on be sure that the vengeance is what I would demand. I have become Jonah, sitting beside the destroyed plant stalk sulking.

I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Jonah 4:2

The reminder to "really pray" for someone who has hurt me and to truly seek God's blessing is challenging. It is challenging because I know God's character and know that he may very well answer those kinds of prayers!

I would love, at this point in the saga, to happily report that I got my attitude straightened out and said the prayers with a pure heart. Truth is, it is not that simple. I've confessed my vindictive attitude, I've prayed for this person, I've prayed for me, I've argued with God and I've sulked a little more about it. The easy part is recognizing that God is calling me to a higher path than I've been on. The hard part is actually climbing the path and walking it.

I know that this is a path of higher calling. It is not something I do for that individual--as I have said they are not concerned with my forgiveness. This forgiveness has to do with me and my obedience to what God is calling. Obedience always requires a sacrifice. This time in order to obey I must relinquish my desire for fair retribution or for justification. I must trust that his ways make sense.

I doubt that I'm the only one out there that God is reminding about real forgiveness. Maybe you are walking right there beside me. If that is you, please be encouraged that you are not alone. I would love to pray for you. My email address is in my profile (or if you feel comfortable leave me a note in the comments). If you have already walked this road, I would be so encouraged if you would pray for me. Let's get real about forgiveness and allow God to heal.

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...
Matthew 5:44

...And if you are so inclined, there is a hurting family that needs God's blessing. He knows the details.

In Other Words--Words of Condemnation or Healing?

“When we are going through desperate, difficult times, the hardest thing can be hearing the voices of condemnation, rejection, and shame from others. The Enemy – the accuser of our brothers – loves to use people to kick us in the stomach when we’re down. The Enemy loves to use our sin to condemn us rather than allow us to hear the conviction of the Holy Spirit . . . Jesus silences the condemning voices and commands them to leave. Listen to the kindness in His voice as He says in John 8:10-11.”

~Beth Redman~
God Knows My Name:
Never Forgotten, Forever Loved

"A real Christian would never find herself in that position."
"If you only had enough faith, this would not have happened."
"He doesn't care about the details of your life!"
"Why would God rescue you? You made this bed, now you have to lie in it."

How I wish that those were all hypothetical statements! But they are not. They have all been heard by me in the midst of difficult times. They have all been spoken by well-meaning friends, wanting to help guide me to improvement. They all hurt, a lot.

Before I become sanctimonious that they were so wrong I must confess something. I, too, have said similar (if not worse) things to my friends when they were hurting. Under the guise of a helping word, I can unwittingly become part of Satan's plan to bruise and batter. Condemnation comes easy, especially when it is dressed up in the pretty clothes of advice. No matter the motivation behind the words, condemnation hurts.

Hear instead the words of love.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
~Isaiah 53:5-6~

But I call to God,
and the LORD saves me.
Evening, morning and noon
I cry out in distress,
and he hears my voice.
He ransoms me unharmed
from the battle waged against me,
even though many oppose me.
Cast your cares on the LORD
and he will sustain you;
he will never let the righteous fall.
~Psalm 55:16-18, 22~

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
~Matthew 10:29-30~

They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the LORD was my support.
He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
~Psalm 18:18-19~

Dear readers, let the truth of God's word seep into your souls. No matter what mistakes we make, no matter how far asunder we fall, He loves us more than we can ever imagine. His love draws us to himself and he will rescue us in our day of trouble. He has already taken on the condemnation of our sin and conquered it. We need to trust him to care for us the way he has promised.

Father forgive me when I doubt your care. Forgive me when I say unkind and unhelpful things to those who are hurting. Just as you are the rescuer in my life and you are poured into my life through others, help me to be the vessel used to rescue those trapped in condemnation. Let me be a tool for healing. Amen.

Loni is our lovely hostess this week. Please visit Writing Canvas and join the conversation.

In Other Words

"No one man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself, and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true."

~Nathaniel Hawthorne~

She was dancing around wearing her Belle dress pretending to be a princess. Curtsies and smiles abounded. A few minutes later, however, there was a shriek of pulled hair and not so nice words toward her sister. "That is not how princesses act," I admonished through the door. She came out, in her normal clothing and said, "I can't be a princess all the time, sometimes I'm just Flower."*

She was discovering early that we cannot pretend to be something we are not for very long before our true self begins to show.

The old adage, "fake it 'til you make it" really doesn't work. We can fake it for so long but if it is only an act, the reality of who we are remains intact. I do believe that we can make a decision to be something different with the motivation of changing. I can "fake" wanting to eat healthy things with the motivation of truly wanting to be healthier. Eventually those choices become more second nature. But the key to that change was not the "fake" behaviour but rather the motivation behind the behaviour. Eventually, our true motivations will show.

One of our favourite places to go in Edinburgh is a pub named after Deacon Brodie. The story goes that Deacon Brodie was a councilman by day. A loud opponent of crime who was instrumental in funding the building the gallows in Edinburgh. The problem was that by night he was a common thief. A smug thief. A thief that eventually got caught and was sentenced to hang...on the same gallows he had helped build. He was, in fact, the inspriation behind the story of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde. In reality he is an example of how one cannot live two lives and not expect the two to become intermingled. The true face will eventually appear.

I, too, struggle with keeping the true face apparent. If you have read the snippet in my profile you know that I claim the title of Princess because I am the daughter of the Most High King. It is a title we all can claim as believers (okay a few of you may prefer Prince). But claiming the title does not mean I always act like a Princess. I am often selfish, spiteful, resentful, harsh. Not at all the characteristics that God puts forth for his children.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
~Galatians 5:22-23~

I get confused when I believe that I can "just be MiPa" and not be a Princess representing her heavenly father. I get befuddled trying to be something that I am not intended to be. I need to find consistency. I need to trust God to be the character developer in my life and I need to not hide behind excuses. Motivation to follow him and represent him well should be my key.

Father God, so many days I am anything but a princess in the way I act toward others. So many days I do nothing to represent your goodness and faithfulness. Continue to help me become what you would have me to be. Draw the two personas of me into one whole person. Help me to be "just MiPa" who also is a princess. Chisel away the hypocracy in my life and make me whole. May everything I represent point people to you. Amen.

Tami is our lovely hostess today at The Next Step. Go, visit and I know you will go away refreshed and encouraged.

*yes, I also addressed that this is not how Flower should act either

Marriage Monday--A Cord of Three Strands

Friday night I received a text, "Thank you for letting me come to Ryder Cup." I smiled as I texted "enjoy it for both of us."
Saturday the tables turned as I texted, "The show was awesome. Thanks." When he responded "it makes me happy when you are happy" I knew he meant it.
Our lives our intertwined, we are able to let each other do their own thing because joy brought to one is joy shared.

A major decision loomed. His boss said, "if you need time to talk to your wife..." but he answered, "we've discussed this type of thing many times. I know what our answer is."
I'm reviewing a curriculum choice. I am not sure whether it is right for us. I hear his voice in my head affirming my hesitation. I make the changes needed.
We discuss life goals and principles all the time. Our thoughts are so interlaced that we can make decisions independently knowing that they are united.

Our new church has small groups in the evening, after children's bedtimes. Most couples have one go and one stay home with the children. We are struggling with that. As German told one of the elders, "I don't enjoy worship with half of me not there." We are looking for a solution.

"I don't enjoy ____ with half of me not there." That is the gist of our lives together. When God joined us together, and joined with us to form this marriage, we stopped being individual strands. We are ONE cord, all joined together. I can't separate home life and church life and school life--it is one life. He can't separate family life and work life and church life--it is one life. We don't separate his life and her life--it is our life, joined together mysteriously and irreversibly. And I would not have it any other way.

Join others in the discussion of sacredness in marriage at Chrysalis.

In Other Words--What Am I Clinging To?

“You can’t cling to a mask and God at the same time.”
~Dr. Juli Slattery~
“Beyond the Masquerade”

I have not read this book, so I am not sure what the "masquerade" Dr. Slattery refers to implies. But I assume that it is a pretense of something that we are not. We have all seen, and been, masquerading Christians. We have all smiled and said all was fine when our world was falling apart. We have all done good things out of duty rather than with pristine motives. We can all be condemned for picking up a mask from time to time.

But, picking up a mask because it is useful in a situation is not the same as clinging to it. Clinging means that we are unable to let go. Unable to accept that the fantasy life we create is not reality. Unable to face the mirror honestly. Clinging onto a created persona is denying who we are created in Christ to be. And that keeps us from trusting him. Trusting ourselves denies trust in Christ.

I think that the differentiation is important, because we sometimes accuse someone of pretense, and therefore not trusting God, when the reality is that they are private and reserved. Just because someone does not share every sordid detail of their life does not mean that they are clinging to a mask. It may mean quite the opposite. They may have learned to cling so fully to Jesus that they do not need to engage the world's pity or acceptance. What we see as a mask may be their retreat into the arms of Jesus.

Sometimes God calls us to full disclosure. Other times he encourages us to privacy. All the time he calls us to trust him. We must cling to him. Clinging onto anything else we only lead to disappointment. Masks, good deeds, right intentions all must be let go of in order to cling to him.

But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul."
~Joshua 22:5~

This week's hostess is Karen at In Love W.I.T.H. Jesus. Come and be blessed!

Marriage Monday--Why Homeschooling Works for Us

This month Marriage Monday (today on a Tuesday) asks us to consider how kids change the dynamics of marriage. There are four choices of topics to choose from, and I have chosen to discuss:

Public, Private, or Homeschool? Why our Decision Works for Us

We actually made the decision to homeschool long before we had children, and it was largely a reaction to some bad school experiences friends were having with their children.

Then we moved to England, to an area that was overflowing with good schools. Then we had children. And in spite of the abundance of education opportunities around us, we still chose to homeschool. Why? Because it is the only thing that really works for our family and lifestyle.

German works long hours. Often he does not get home until after eight. If the girls were in a school setting, they would never have a meal with him during the week. I would have to feed them and get them to bed so that they could be up and ready for school the next morning. As it is, we can have a late bedtime and sleep late and still get all of school accomplished.

Likewise, German often travels with work. I love being able to say "You're going to London? We'll come to" and throw a few books into a bag and off we go. I do not have to convince a teacher somewhere that they are getting as much out of traveling with their daddy and seeing new things as they would in a classroom. We study a painting that is housed in London, we go see the painting. We talk about how castles are constructed, we go see the castle. Studying Ancient Egypt, let's go to the British Museum. All of these things have been experienced whilst daddy was in meetings at work. The advantages of seeing things first-hand is immense. But more important is the opportunity to share that time with their dad and not have so many gaps of time when he is away from home.

Our most important reason for homeschooling here has been that we know with the nature of German's job he will move fairly frequently. It was totally unusual for us to be in the same place for so long. Home education means that the girls' education will remain consistent no matter where in the world we end up. I cannot promise them consistency in house, friends, church or much of anything else. Consistency of education I can offer.

So I do. And that is why it works for us. Our chosen lifestyle, chosen before we married and graciously given to us by God, does not lend itself to being tied to a brick-and-mortar school schedule. We are thankful that God affords us the opportunity to teach the girls in such a way that we can live our life to the fullest and live it together.

Visit E-Mom at chrysaliscom.blogspot.com for more insights on children and marriage.

In Other Words--Friendship

“One quality of a godly friend is helping others to reach their goals and to get to where they need to be. No we can’t walk on water, calm the storms in our friends lives, or land their boat where they want to go. But we can point them to the Friend who sticks closer than a Brother.”
~Sharon Jaynes~
A Woman’s Secret to a Balanced Life: Finding God’s Refreshing Priorities for You

When the latest storm hit our lives back in August, I knew immediately one thing I needed to do. I needed to talk to my friend. Not because she had walked this road before, she hadn't. Not because she could come and fix anything, she couldn't. Even if fixing it was possible, she lives on another continent so coming to the rescue was out of the question. I needed to talk to her because she prays.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
~James 5:16~

It just "so happened" that in my time of great need my friend was back in the UK for a few days to attend a wedding. And it just "so happened" that she rang to talk. Yay God! As I told her the situation, she laughed. My life is in a storm and she laughs! And you know what? I laughed along with her. It was exactly the emotional release that I needed. But the laughter said more, it said I can't do anything to help you but I'll meet you in the messiness of life. And then she prayed. She prayed earnestly for what was happening. As we hung up the phone, I knew she would continue to pray.

When German came home that evening he commented that I was noticeably more relaxed. I simply said, "____ is praying." He smiled. Nothing more needed to be said.

The greatest gift we can give to our friends is point them to Jesus and to continue to carry them to Jesus when they are struggling. We don't need to have the answers. We already know the One who does.

Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel.
~Proverbs 27:9~

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
~John 15:15~

Father, I thank you for my friends who hold me up in prayer. I thank you that they do not feel like they have to have all the answers, but that they will take me to you knowing that you do have answers. Thank you for the peace that comes in my life when my friends are praying for me. Make me that kind of friend to others. Make me trustworthy to pray. Keep me silent when answers and platitudes are not needed. Help me to point my friends to you. Amen.

Our hostess this week is Patricia at Typing One-Handed. I hope that you will visit and be blessed by reflections on this quote.

God Tested Roads

Suddenly, God, your light floods my path,
      God drives out the darkness.
   I smash the bands of marauders,
      I vault the high fences.
   What a God! His road
      stretches straight and smooth.
   Every God-direction is road-tested.
      Everyone who runs toward him
   Makes it.
2 Samuel 22:29-31 (The Message)

In Other Words--Trust not Resist

Stop fighting, stop resisting, stop complaining and start trusting your sovereign Heavenly Father; refuse to worry.

~Chip Ingram~

Circumstances beyond control have played havoc with my quiet life this year. (stop laughing, compared to this year I have had a quiet life) Grief surrounded the early part of the year. Chaos ensued with a move. And since the move? Well, let's just say that chaos has exponentially increased. And then some.

Have I fought against the circumstances? yep
Have I resisted? you bet
Have I complained? German is laughing at this question
Have I refused to worry? no

The only thing, apparently, that I've done right so far is to keep trusting in a Sovereign Heavenly Father.

But, inevitably, that is enough. For in the trust comes the peace. And in the peace comes the ability to stop fighting, stop resisting, stop complaining and stop worrying.

Someday soon I'll write about the chaos. But until then, let me testify that God is Sovereign and he does not let us go. No matter how intense the situation, he is going ahead of us and walking beside us. We can trust that is truth. Then we are able to respond more positively.

But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
~Psalm 73:28a~

Kathryn at Expectant Hearts is our hostess today. She has a beautiful post about the reality of how hard the actions of this quote are and the rewards of following. Please visit and be blessed.

My apologies. The IOW post was scheduled automatically whilst I was traveling but there was a glitch. Please forgive the delay.

Blessings...Mipa

In Other Words--Be Consecrated

"The littleness of Christians of this age results from the littleness of their consecration to Christ."
C. H. Spurgeon
Samson Conquered, sermon from November 21, 1858

As I mentioned recently, God really spoke to me in a sermon about Samson. The preacher quoted extensively from this sermon by C. H. Spurgeon. The entire sermon is worth reading, but this quote resounded with me. Although it is ironic that one of the "least little" Christians of a recent age should say this. Perhaps in the place of consecration one only sees the areas that still need to be consecrated?

I should note that the point of this sermon was not that one should strive to be "big" Christians (whatever that really is). Instead he was saying that the more we allow ourselves to be set apart for God's work, the more he is able to accomplish things through us. Christians do not see God at work in their lives because they do not set their lives apart for God to work.

This really strikes me. I frequently hear friends say that they don't see God at work in their lives. They may recognize it in other people, but not in their own life. I wonder if it is because they haven't dedicated themselves in such a way to see God at work. This is not about salvation. Dedicating our lives to God in asking him to save us is different than a dedication of seeing him drive our lives. I feel like we, as a Christian populace in general, do not consecrate (set apart) ourselves frequently enough.

Let me try to explain my disjointed thinking with a couple of examples. German and I feel that God has given us gifts in hospitality and discipleship. With every move we make, we enter into that move asking God to lead us to a house that we can minister from in terms of hosting people and groups. Our homes are, as much as we are able, consecrated to God. Time and time again that prayer has been answered and blessed. Last year we calculate that there were only 3-4 weeks that we did not have a ministry group meeting in our home. We are blessed by the people that come and go out of our lives. But I do not think that it happens by accident. It happens because we have said "our home is yours, it is given by you, so use it" and he does.

Conversely, there are areas of my life that I do not always see God moving. I struggle with frustration, and eating correctly, and patience with the children. There are days that I am clearly losing the battle in these areas. When that is happening I have come to realize that it is because I am doing them in my own strength. Those areas are not set apart with expectation that God is doing something. They are struggles I am undertaking on my own. I become an ineffective "little" Christian because I am doing it myself rather than consecrating it to God.

Are you struggling? Do you feel as if God is not acting in areas of your life? Maybe you are like me and need to re-consecrate that area to him. May I encourage you to join me in that journey. Do you have areas where God is moving mightily? May I ask you to share those successes with us, to encourage us as we seek to see the same.

Thank you so much for joining us for In Other Words this week. I pray that you find something here that encourages you or makes you consider a new aspect in your walk with our Saviour. Please visit the other ladies who faithfully write each week and encourage them as well. I am having some internet issues, so it may take me a while to visit everyone, but I will get there eventually. Have a blessed week!

Hosting In Other Words

I have the honour and pleasure of hosting In Other Words on Tuesday. I have chosen a quote by C.H. Spurgeon that challenges me. Please come and share your thoughts on consecration to God next Tuesday. I look forward to seeing you then!

"The littleness of Christians of this age results from the littleness of their consecration to Christ."
C. H. Spurgeon
Samson Conquered, sermon from November 21, 1858

Words of Encouragement--Shelter

In the shelter of your presence you hide them
from the intrigues of men;
in your dwelling you keep them safe
from accusing tongues.
~Pslam 31:20~

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

The Wake of Blessing

We are busy exploring the countryside around our new home. So, on Saturday we took off for a drive and ended up at a lovely lake. We walked down to the lake and as German taught the girls how to skip rocks on the water I sat on the bench and watched the sail boats in the distance. A motor boat sped by and, although it was a distance from the shore, the wake that hit the shore was impressive. Wave after wave crashed in. The poor swans were fighting to stay upright. Then, as suddenly as it hit it was gone. Somehow I knew that there was a lesson in this, but I had not yet encountered the main point.



That would come at church on Sunday.

The sermon was about Samson. It was about being consecrated to the Lord and that even in that consecration we sometimes make choices that are against God. The pastor pointed out that even when Samson was being disobedient (touching a dead carcass, marrying a Philistine woman, having a relationship with Delilah), God did not take away his strength which was the sign of his blessing. He pointed out that sometimes we continue to experience the blessings of God even when we are choosing to be disobedient.

Later German and I were discussing this concept. I remembered the boat from the day before. I said that sometimes the blessings are like the wake of the boat. The moment of obedience when the blessing was originally bestowed is like the moment the boat goes by. It is the moment of the strongest blessing. But the moment it is gone does not stop the affect. In the wake, waves of blessings continue to come. But at some point they ebb and then they stop. Likewise, if there is not continued obedience then at some point the clear outpouring of God in a person's life will ebb and then end.

I have seen that happen in my own life. I've seen it happen in the lives of others. Believing that God will continue to pour into my life in spite of my disobedient attitude, I lose sight of reality of God. Then there comes a moment when I act as if God should just be there. And he isn't. Samson experienced it.

He awoke from his sleep and thought, "I'll go out as before and shake myself free." But he did not know that the LORD had left him.
~Judges 16:20~

I find that as I examine myself and my thoughts and actions over the last few months in some ways this is my life. I have continued to experience the Lord's blessings in numerous ways. But it has not necessarily been because of my current obedience. It has been the wake of the past, continuing in spite of some horrible attitudes that I have allowed to intrude. I don't want to awake one day in the sight of danger and find, like Samson, that the wake of the blessing has passed and that I did not even know that God removed it. I want to stay in the center of obedience and experience the first hand movement of God in my life.

Father, forgive me when I allow attitudes that do not honour you to take over my life. Forgive me when I live as if I deserve the blessings bestowed from your hand rather than in a merciful reprieve from your hand. Thank you for the good things you send into my life, even (especially) as I do not deserve them. Help me to live in the consecration of setting my life apart for you on a daily basis and not misuse that blessing. Amen.

photo from www.morguefile.com (senaca77)

When Fear Stalks You

"Don't be afraid of them.

Put your minds on the Master, great and awesome,"

Nehemiah 4:14a

The Message

Waiting for the Rowers

Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus.

The two of them climbed into the boat, and the wind died down. The disciples in the boat, having watched the whole thing, worshiped Jesus, saying, "This is it! You are God's Son for sure!"

~Matthew 14:29, 32-33 (The Message)~

A little over a year ago, a speaker at a church retreat was speaking on the different approaches people have to changes. He was using the story of Peter Walking on the Water as his text (okay, Jesus walking on the water, but the crux of the story is about Peter's reaction). He said that some people will react like Peter. They are jumpers. The see Jesus doing something and say "Give me the word and I'll jump right in there with you." They are quick to make the decision and able to adjust to change.



He said others are like the rest of the disciples. They are the rowers. They are still in the boat, still doing their job of rowing the boat, will get to where Jesus is but it is going to take them some more time.



As you can imagine, or may have even experienced, jumpers tend to think rowers take too long and rowers tend to think jumpers move ahead too quickly. Can make for interesting dynamics on leadership teams considering that both types of people are needed to accomplish the tasks at hand.

This talk was a turning point for German and me. We, as you may have gathered over the course of this blog, are jumpers. Especially German. When the vision is there and movement of God is happening, we want to get on with it and see things happen. Some of our friends are jumpers. But, many of our friends are rowers. They want to weigh the odds a little more, get there a little slower and be certain. This talk helped us to realize that just because they were not moving as quickly as we wanted, it did not mean that they did not want to get there in the end. It just meant that they would get there by rowing to the target not jumping out of the boat and sprinting toward it. That was encouraging. Our code word for nine months was "we're just waiting for the rowers." We encouraged others who were as frustrated as we were that "the rowers were coming.

The problem was, they never seemed to make any progress toward the goal. And in fact their conversation was filled more with fear and doubt than a strong desire to reach the goal. Nothing was moving forward. There were glimpses of God's blessings that were actually turned away (deliberately choosing to not take the offer of the blessing because "we aren't ready to do that yet"). German and I became discouraged. In fact, we have remained discouraged for some time. We are so sure that there was a path to take, but so many of our friends chose not to take it. And those of us who did take it now feel out of step with the others. A few months ago we asked the question, "How long do we need to wait on the rowers?" For us the answer was "not much longer" because God opened avenues that led us to move. More amazingly he has led us to two congregations of jumpers (I'm sure there are rowers as well), people with whom we already feel some kindred ties. But some of our friends are still in the process of waiting. And I know that it is a hard place to be so they are in the center of my prayers.

I pray that my rowing friends will eventually get to the target they see God setting before them. I confess I often wonder if their oars are even in the water, but I trust their hearts and know their desire is to follow God's call. I'm praying for my jumping friends for patience to wait on the rowers. I did not do that well and that attitude of frustration and disappointment is something that God has graciously forgiven. I pray that this situation will prepare me for the next time I am ready to jump and have to wait for those who are rowing.

Maybe you need that encouragement as well. Maybe you are a jumper who cannot understand why those around you aren't moving as quickly as you want. Trust that the rowers are headed to the same target and will get there. Or maybe you are a rower and are overwhelmed by those who want to move quickly. Trust God that He will get you to the target at the right time for you. But to both groups may I encourage that you keep grace and mercy at the forefront--it will save you from confessing sins of frustration and bitterness down the road. And most of all, which ever is your personality type, just keep focusing on the goal of Jesus and don't get distracted by the waves of doubt or fear.

In Other Words--Change Not Myself

“Instead of trying to fix yourself, fix your gaze on Me, the lover of your soul. Rather than using your energy to judge yourself, redirect it to praising Me. Remember that I see you clothed in my righteousness, radiant in My perfect love.”

Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence
by Sarah Young

I find it so easy to get caught up in the things that I know need changing. I need to be more patient. I ought to eat healthy. I need to exercise more. I ought to model Jesus to my children and my friends better. I need, I need, I need...

And I can be so caught up in the "I needs" and the "I oughts" that I totally become self-defeating. Because the more I focus on the things that need to change, the more I realize that I can't change them. I can make small efforts, but I cannot make the total change. If the things that I needed to fix were totally external, perhaps I would stand a chance. But they aren't external. They are internal. They are heart issues. And the only one who can change the heart is Jesus.

So I need to focus on Jesus and let him change me. As he changes me from the inside out, I will be able to make the external changes that are needed. But only because he has changed the internal first.

Cast your cares on the LORD
and he will sustain you;
he will never let the righteous fall.
Psalm 55:22

Father today I cast my cares on you. I make the decision to take my eyes off of myself and focus them on you. Help me to fix my eyes on you. Quiet the voices in my head that tell me I should do something and quiet the anxiety in my heart. Help me to rest in you. Help me to trust you to change the motivations of my heart that will then allow me to have success in changing external habits. Amen.


Debbie at Heart Choices is our hostess for In Other Words this week. Please go and visit her, encourage her and participate in the conversation.

August Goal Post

Goals for July Revisited:
1. Finish unpacking office and sewing room-sewing room complete, office about 50% (need German's help)
2. Start over on a Project 365 photo project--nope
3. Lose 5 more pounds(maybe if I put these goals here I'll stick to them)--went backward this month *sigh*
4. Complete 2 Bride's Tree ornaments--nope
5. Complete page 4 and page 7 of "The Names of God"--completed page 4 and 80% of page 7

Goals for August:
1. Enjoy some family time with German and girls
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. Join the gym plus walk 3-5 miles each week
5. Complete 4 Bride's Tree ornaments
6. Complete page 7 and begin page 8 of "The Names of God"

Marriage Monday--Romantic Foods

Welcome to Marriage Monday! This month it is all about romantic food--picnics, favourites and flops. My plan had been to interview German about his favourites this weekend, but an unplanned day at the deer park and an evening (and late night) of vacation planning means the interview was forgotten. So instead, I'll use E-Mom's questions and give what I'm pretty sure would be his answers. (I'll check with him later to see how well I did.)

1. Would you name three dinner entrees that you really enjoyed lately?

Based on the reactions I know that two of them would be Chicken Cordon Bleu and Lasagna. The leg of lamb also went over well for a first try.

Cordon Bleu always takes us back to our first romantic dinner that I cooked when I asked him what his favourite meal was and this is what he said. I had never heard of it, much less cooked it. But with the help of a friend I found a recipe and endeavored to create it--and it worked! Lasagna is a family favourite but since we limit carb intake it is a rare treat.

I'll add that if I was answering this question, the BBQ pork steaks that German cooked last night were absolutely to die for!

2. In your opinion, which ones flopped?

The courgette casserole. That would be his definitive answer, and I would definitely agree.

There have been some spectacular flops in our past--homemade rolls that were anything but soft, gravies that never thickened, cakes that looked more like pancakes, mashed potatoes that turned to soup before getting to the mashing stage. Especially when we first moved to England and I was learning different ingredients with new measurements and new ovens the disasters abounded. But we usually manage to laugh our way through them.

3. Which foods would you like more of?

German always answers "what do you want me to cook this week" with the answer "filet mignon." Which is impossible since we do not eat beef here. Grass-fed beef just does not taste the same as corn-fed beef. So I know what he misses is a lot of our beef dishes from the States. He would love it if I could get tuna steaks to grill, but they are not in abundance here in the Midlands. He often requests salmon which I am happy to oblige. Salmon is another one of our "romantic" dinner foods as we both learned to like salmon whilst we lived in Spokane. But what German consistently wants more of is the "comfort foods" like fish pie, chicken pot pie, kielbasa in mac n' cheese and tuna casserole. Those are the foods he calls "home foods."

4. What would you like to see banished from our menu?

Liver and onions. But to be honest I never cook it when he is home. He just likes to tease about it. I don't know how he would honestly answer this question.

5. Secretly, what dessert have you really been craving?

Not so secretly, creme brulee. I suspect lemon meringue pie or pecan pie might be a secret craving. Maybe I need to do some baking.

There you have it, a few of the foods that make memories in our house.  You can visit E-Mom to learn what foods make memories in her house and follow the links to the others.  Hmmm...now I'm getting hungry.

Encouragement

Applause, everyone. Bravo, bravissimo! Shout God-songs at the top of your lungs!
God Most High is stunning,
astride land and ocean.
He crushes hostile people,
puts nations at our feet.
He set us at the head of the line,
prize-winning Jacob, his favorite.
Loud cheers as God climbs the mountain,
a ram's horn blast at the summit.
Sing songs to God, sing out!
Sing to our King, sing praise!
He's Lord over earth,
so sing your best songs to God.
God is Lord of godless nations—
sovereign, he's King of the mountain.
Princes from all over are gathered,
people of Abraham's God.
The powers of earth are God's—
he soars over all.

~Psalm 47 (The Message)~

A Moving Post

So, now that the trauma that is moving is mostly behind us, I think I can blog about it a little bit. We had been in the same Lancastrian town for nine years, so a move was going to be difficult. It was needed and most desired, but it would be hard. Mostly it would be hard because this would be the girls first move. So the process began.

We received word on the 9th of June that yes we could have the house we desired and we could move in on the 25th. The list of concerns we had regarding the house would be taken care of--including painting two walls and some clean up in and around the house. The packers and movers were lined up and all was going well. We hosted open house and so many of our friends were able to come and we began to say the good-byes. One of our friends even "gifted" us with exposure to chicken pox--albeit unknowingly sharing htat gift until their little one got sick the next day. *sigh* But the weather was perfect, so the party was held outdoors and everyone had a splendid time.

The packers came and for three days packed the house and loaded the trucks  (yes, plural). Again perfect weather was had, so the girls could play in the garden whilst the packing was happening. The last day, they were slightly behind schedule so we left the house 2 hours later than planned, but still early in the afternoon. Until this moment all was going perfectly. Probably too perfectly.

The drive to Robin Hood country should be 2 1/2 hours. Four and half hours later we finally arrived. Yes, we had two extra hours sitting on the motorway due to an accident somewhere up ahead. It was bad enough for us, but probably a lot worse for the lovely folks on the two trucks loaded with our belongings who were also stuck in said traffic jam. Yuck! But we were determined to keep our spirits up. About an hour before we arrived we received a phone call from the letting agent confirming that we would be at the house at 845 the next morning. Our spirits were up! We were about to move into our new home and our new journey.

We arrived at the hotel, had dinner, and crashed for a much-needed sleep. The next morning we arrived at the house about 835. Letting agent was there....moving furniture out of the house that had been left by the previous tenant. He was moving it into the garage--our garage--until she could collect it "in about a month." We have two trucks arriving with all of our belongings--some of which need to go in the garage! Can you say "unhappy?" He eventually got all the furniture out but by then the trucks arrived and we did not have time to do the paperwork. It would have to wait. German and I shoved all the previous tenant's things into 2/3 of the garage to give us some room to put some of our things and then began supervising the unloading.

And those issues that were to be taken care of before we arrived? Well, only one of the two walls were painted, the grass had not been cut (it was taller than Jewel!) and the house was not cleaned (in fact I ended up packing SIX boxes of the tenant's belongings left in kitchen cabinets, bathroom cupboards, etc.) So, you can imagine my mood.

It was another gorgeous day. Too gorgeous in fact. When you are unloading two truckloads of belongings into a three story town house, some cloud cover and cooler weather is actually desired but not to be seen. Nevertheless, ten hours later there were no boxes on the truck and more than a hundred boxes in my new house.

There were things that were not in my new house, unfortunately. One of them was our bed. In the UK, all bed frames are smaller for safety of those moving them and ability to get them up smaller stair cases. We had been lucky in our previous moves that the stairwells were open enough that our American Queen size bed could be lifted over banisters. Not possible in this house. Our plan B was to break the frame, thinking that it was solid wood, and that we could then brace it. But it was solid metal not wood, so breaking it did not happen. Instead, it went into the garage and the next day we went to IKEA! Building an IKEA bed is not that difficult--when you can find the right tools. We had the battery-powered screwdriver, found in the first box we looked. The battery pack, however, could not be found. Twenty-seven boxes later, it was still not found. Forty-eight screws to put a bed together when you are already exhausted is not a good idea. So German and Flower went shopping for a new battery-powered screw driver. Came home with three just to be on the safe side. Bed finally assembled!

Since then things have mostly come together. Someone came and cut down the jungle so we have a back garden for the girls to play in. The grass was totally brown from having no sun for too long, but it is beginning to green with the recent rain. The boxes in the house are unpacked and things are put into place. A couple of things have been hung on the walls, and more are planned to go up this weekend. The garage is still full of the tenant's belongings, which is the bane of our existence right now, so the garage is not unpacked. This would not be such a big deal if it didn't mean that I do not have my freezer, which is stored in the garage, to keep stocked. But I'm surviving.

We are in a lovely cul de sac. All of the neighbours are friendly and we feel quite comfortable here. We believe we may have found the church that we will join and the girls are excited about the friends they are making there. School and home life are much more settled and it is so nice for German to be home each evening. In spite of the hiccups, we have felt God's guidance in each step of this move and are anxiously and expectantly watching to see what comes next. Watch this space!

(I've been holding this post to add some pictures, but I need to do some maintenance on the hard drive before downloading a bunch of pictures.  So, you will just have to use your imagination of moving boxes, jungle grass and IKEA furniture.)

Doing Someone Else's Homework

"I'm going to go help Flower with her schoolwork," Jewel announced.

"What does she need help with?" I asked suspiciously knowing that she had already completed the difficult tasks.

"I'm going to do her phonics for her."

"No you aren't."

"She said I could."

"Of course she said you could because she doesn't want to do it. But it isn't going to teach her anything if you do it for her."

"Hrmffff!"



I heard that little voice in my head that I so often hear when my children are demonstrating spiritual truths in front of me. The voice that said, "You are Flower."

I'm Flower? How am I Flower? The answer resounds in my spirit. "Every time you shrink away from a task because you are afraid or don't like to do it, and therefore 'let' someone else do it for you." Oh. Like when I let someone else make the hospital visit because I might not know what to say. Or participate in the evangelism focus because it makes me uncomfortable. Or greet the visitor because it is outside my comfort zone. "How are you going to learn to be comfortable or to trust me if you don't take the risks? How am I going to bless you in those situations if you don't enter them?" Oh. "Lord forgive me when I'm like Flower and 'let' someone else do the things that I know in my heart you are leading me to do. Amen."

The voice wasn't done. "You are also Jewel." I am? Of course I am. When I jump in and volunteer to cook the meal or host the party or teach the class before I stop and ask God if this is something I need to be doing. How often do I volunteer to do something that is actually someone else's growth experience? Too often. "Lord forgive me when I'm like Jewel and volunteering to do things that you have ordained for someone else to do. Help me to seek you first before jumping in with both feet. Amen."

How tricky the balance is! Do the tasks set before me and leave the tasks set before others alone. Trust God to give me the grace in what he has called me to do. Do not presume upon that grace when I am working in my own spirit and not his. Someday, somehow, maybe I'll learn the balance. Until then, I'm thankful he is a gracious teacher.

photo from www.morguefile.com; photographer: clarita

In Other Words--Courage to Wait

"It requires much more courage to stand and wait and still not lose heart or lose hope, to submit to the will of God, to give up opportunities for work and leave honors to others, and to be quiet, confident, and rejoicing while the busy multitude goes happily along their way.”

J.R. Miller
from Streams in the Desert

I hate waiting. Over the next few weeks, if all goes according to plan, you will read of some of my impatience with waiting. Especially when I feel that God is leading in something. I want to follow the lead and go. Quickly.

But God's timing is rarely my timing. And often he asks me to trust his plan, to commit to his plan and then to stand still until the time is right.

I love this quote's attribution that those times of waiting are times of courage. They feel like times of inactivity and inadequacy. But they are not. They are times of active trust and depending on his adequacy. And that is often more difficult than being busy.

The next time I feel like the world is rushing by me and I am being asked to stand still I will choose to take courage because God is still at work. That is all I need to know.

Father God, help me to trust your timing. Help me to stand still and keep hope and courage when things are not moving at my pace. Keep me from sinning in my impatience. Continue to develop your trust in my life. Amen.

Tami at The Next Step is our hostess today. If you visit her site you are sure to be blessed. Follow the links to see what the rest of the IOW community is saying.

In Other Words--Hospitality is an Art Form

“I would define ‘hidden art’ as the art found in the ordinary areas of everyday life. Each person has, I believe, some talent which is unfulfilled in some hidden area of his being – a talent which could be expressed and developed.”


By Edith Schaeffer

“The Hidden Art of Homemaking”

Her home is a welcome refuge. She greets with a smile, offers of a drink and then turns back to what she is doing. Graciously refusing help, she motions her guest to sit and visit while she works. Dinner is simple--bbq sausages, steamed vegetables, fresh strawberries--but it is delicious. The truth is that she is one of the best cooks this guest knows and it is always a pleasure to sit at her table. Conversation around the table is joyful as the children interact. As the guest is shown to her room her senses are delighted. The sheets are ironed, there are fresh fluffy towels lying on the bed along with lovely soap and lotion from an exquisite spa. As the guest sinks into a deep sleep she thanks God for such a friend and a place to be in the chaos of the week.


This friend of mine raises hospitality to an art form. She takes the simple tasks of a meal, preparing a bed, laying out amenities and allows them to encircle her guests and touch all their senses. She has not allowed her talent for making people feel special to remain hidden. And I am grateful.


Father, thank you for my friend and the wonderful hospitality shared in her home. Thank you for the inspiration she gives me to make even the simple tasks of homemaking special. Thank you that she does not keep her art hidden. Bless her home with your presence in the conversations and the visitors that come. As I take her inspiration, help me to see the things in my home that you wish to take from "chore" to "art." Help me to not hide the talents you give to me. Amen.

Our hostess for In Other Words this week is Nina at Mama's Little Treasures. I hope you will visit some of the blogs that are participating and maybe find a little more of the art that is hidden in your home.

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.
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.
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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.