In Other Words--Masquerade Ball or Wedding Feast?

I'll never forget the moment. I was at a Steve Camp concert. I was surrounded by loads of fellow believers. And I was having a terrible, no good, awful, very bad day. In fact, I had gone to the concert alone hoping to fade into the crowd and just experience a little of the body of Christ without anyone knowing me. But it wasn't working and I was sitting there in tears before the concert even started.

I looked up and wouldn't you know it, the person sitting in front of me was someone from my Christian Fellowship at University. I did not want to see anyone I knew--I was just too vulnerable on this particular night. But he is an extrovert and he was speaking to everyone around him and he turned around and noticed me. "Hey," he said, "how are you doing?" Huge goofy smile facing my tear streaked face. I did not have it in me to pretend. So I answered, "You really don't care." (yes, I know it was a snarky comment, but you had to know they guy). "Great!" he responded, "glad to hear it!" He turned to sit down. WHAT??!! I could have easily decided at that moment to never be vulnerable within the body of Christ again, to be certain that tears were never seen because words and actions were not even heard. Obviously, he really didn't care and whether I knew it or not, I needed him to care. As I sat there in rather stunned silence, an arm on a body I had never seen before in my life, and would never see again after that night, reached out and hugged me. No words, no platitudes, just a hug. It was a quiet affirmation that Someone cares.

It's been twenty years since that night. And I sit here writing this feeling the same forlornness that I felt that night and remembering the same lessons that I learned.

Vulnerable people take a risk when they show the depths of their heart. That should be held in honor. So when you ask someone heart questions be ready for the honest answer and hold it honor.

That night was the beginning of becoming aware of how many vulnerable people there are all around us. I began to learn, and continue to learn, that if you ask the quiet penetrating question and then waitfor the answer, people open up. I found that the more vulnerable I became the more "real" others became as well.

"So with a painted grin, I play the part again,
So everyone will see me the way that I see them...

Are we happy, plastic people
Under shiny, plastic steeples,
With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain,
But if the invitations open,
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain,
On our stained glass masquerade..."

~Casting Crowns~
from the song Stained Glass Masquerade

It's not always possible to live lives totally open. Sometimes those masquerades that we create are for protection of others as much as protection for ourselves. But a masquerade should always be temporary, not permanent. The purpose of the mask should be fleeting. The problem is that so many of us in the church have gotten comfortable with our masks and (worse) with the masks others wear. Masks are less complicated. Openness and vulnerability are messy. God seeks to meet us in the messiness.

Later when Jesus was eating supper at Matthew's house with his close followers, a lot of disreputable characters came and joined them. When the Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company, they had a fit, and lit into Jesus' followers. "What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and riffraff?"

Jesus, overhearing, shot back, "Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: 'I'm after mercy, not religion.' I'm here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders."
~Matthew 9:11-13 (The Message)~

Jesus has made a way for all of us vulnerable and broken people to come to the throne of grace. He has shattered our need to dance the masquerade. He did not invite us to a masquerade ball but to a wedding feast. He's even provided the attire we need to wear!(Isaiah 61:10, Matthew 22:1-13) So, why do so many of us get up on any given day to go to a corporate worship time and before we leave the house put on our mask that says "I'm well, nothing wrong with me." If that is true, then we don't need a Saviour and there is no reason to go to church. We all need a Saviour. We are all unhealthy and broken. We all need healing.

One of the roles of the church is to be the avenue of healing. We are to pick up our fallen brothers and sisters.

If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
~Ecclesiastes 4:10~

But how can our brothers and sisters pick us up if we are propped up with masks pretending that we have not fallen? How can we assist them if they look to be standing? In order for us to properly be the church as God has established us, we need to show our needs and we must notice the needs of others. Until then, we will be attending a masquerade ball and not a wedding feast.

Father God, help me to watch with eyes that are blessed by you for those who are hurting around me.  Help me to ask the questions that allow someone to share their vulnerability.  Help me take the time to be present and to listen to their answers--not just their words but their demeanor.  Give me the courage to live a life vulnerable, to allow others to see that I am a broken vessel put back together miraculously through the blood of Jesus.  I want to let go of the mask.  I don't want to be stuck in a masquerade ball trying to determine what is real and what is false.  I want to come to the wedding table and be clothed in robes of righteousness.  Help me to live a life that reflects you for your glory alone.  Amen.

Loni is hosting In Other Words this week.  Come and see what others are writing about the Casting Crown lyrics.

Stitchin' Post February 13, 2010

Not much to show for my efforts this week. Here is the start of a Quaker Heart that will be part of one of the set of Bride's Tree ornaments I am making this year.



What are you stitching this week? I hope to finish this whilst watching the Olympics in the coming week. Hope you have a great weekend!

In Other Words--Noun or Adjective

We were watching an episode of a British car show on television recently. The presenter has a disdain for all things "American." He will tell you that Americans (the people/the noun) are "loud," "brash," "overindulged," and "fat". I try not to be offended, but I often can be. He is harsh when he describes the people of America (and by that he clearly means the U.S. because the rest of the Americas do not register), but when he describes an American (the adjective) car, all bets are off. American as an adjective to describe a product to him automatically means "rubbish." He uses the two words interchangeably.

It makes me wonder about our use of words. Are we adequately able to encompass the meaning of a word when used both as a noun and an adjective? Sometimes, perhaps. But not always.

“Christian is a great noun and a poor adjective.”

Rob Bell

"Christian" as a noun should mean a follower of Christ. It should be attributed to someone who has made a deliberate decision to align their allegiance with Christ and follow in his footsteps. The names is an identity moniker.

That seems to work well. Just as I am an American because I was born in the U.S.A. and my national allegiance is to that country, I am a Christian because I was born again into the family of God and place my allegiance with Christ.

The problem comes when when use "Christian" as an adjective to describe everything from books and music to t-shirts and tattoos (go ahead and google it). What does it mean for a product to be Christian? Does the product itself serve allegiance to Christ? Of course not. The use of the word as an adjective is usually as a marketing tool. Christians (the noun) are the target market for the product so the product gets labeled as Christian. The problem is, describing some product as Christian tells us nothing about the product. And we end up with no real comprehension of what the descriptor means.

It can actually become a detriment, both to the product and to the target market. The presenter in my opening scene has a bad experience with an American car, so in his mind all American cars are rubbish. Someone has a bad experience with a Christian book so all Christian books can be seen as not-worth-reading. That would be a shame. There are, truly, a lot of books out there marketed as Christian that are shallow, or worse untrue to the Scripture. I have read some. I'm sure you have too. If I thought that was the standard for "Christian" I would want nothing to do with it. And I would end up missing blessings in so many other books. This scenario is sad, but the next scenario is more telling. I do not know which came first his caricaturisation of Americans or his disdain for products from America. But they feed one another. A bad impression by a "Christian" product can offput someone from wanting to be around Christians. Likewise, we as Christians can create such a reputation that someone would not want to utilize products that are deemed Christian.

Ironically, the author of today's quote is a perfect example of this. His books and videos are marketed in "Christian" book stores. But even among Christians the verdict is divided. Some say that he gives Christians a bad name because he is not direct enough in his presentation of the gospel. Others say that he is a breath of fresh air because he speaks to people in a way to catch their attention and intrigue their interest in things of Scripture and church. Some say "that's not my brand of Christian" whilst others praise "I'd be interested in that kind of Christian." I personally look at his work and his public ministry and I see a someone living out their understanding of their call and Scripture. I do not agree with everything he writes, but I do find that he makes me think and evaluate what I believe. I know that not everyone agrees with me. On this blog, I do my best to live out in words what I see as my calling to follow Christ. For some of you that works. Others, may think that my flavor of Christianity is too serious. Still others may question why I have things like my stitching on their when this is a "Christian" blog. Every blog writer knows that she/he will never please everyone in their audience. For my experience, and for what I see Rob Bell saying, we can take the moniker Christian as our identity and become the noun. But when we try to apply it as an adjective we start a slippery slope of "by who's definition" and will rarely find a consensus.

“Christian is a great noun and a poor adjective.”

My dear sister in Christ and blogging, Tami, is our hostess today. Please visit. Have a blessed day!

You Can Still Wear Cute Shoes--a review

I don't do many book reviews on this blog.  But this just isn't any book.  This is a book I've anticipated the release and I could not wait to get my hands on it.  And it did not disappoint. 

I first *met* Lisa McKay  when Iris pointed her readers to an online Bible Study that was starting called "I Am."  I was pouring a lot of me into teaching other people and not enough allowing myself to be refilled.  This study was the refresher I needed.  I found Lisa to be deep, funny, penetrating, accessible and an amazing communicator.  So, I started following her blog.  Her blog is also funny, challenging, and accessible!  When she announced that she was writing this book I was excited for her and committed to pray for her.  Sometimes I succeeded, other times I dropped that prayer ball totally.  I eagerly watched as she wrote the book, sent it off for editing and finally had a print release date.  I can tell you that the end result of this book was worth the wait.

You Can Still Wear Cute Shoes is a handbook for pastors' wives everywhere.  You are probably shaking your head in wonderment because you all know that I am not a pastor's wife.  But I know a lot of pastor's wives and Lisa also speaks to the layperson about what it looks like behind the door of the parsonage.  This book will touch you and will make you laugh, but it will ultimately make you think about how you impact your pastor's family with your words and actions (or silence and inaction).  Whilst giving guidance on how to maintain your own person and ministry alongside being one's husband's greatest supporter, she is reminding the layperson to extend grace to the pastor's wife and allow her to use her own gifts.  The discussions about pastor's children remind us to allow their kids to grow up without too much pressure to be something they are not.   Her advice about moving and preparing children for the move, or more specifically praying for God to draw the child's heart as he is drawing your heart to the next place, was timely advice for me to heed!

One thing that amazed me as I read this book is seeing all of my past and current pastor's wives somewhere in the pages.  I've had pastor's wives who were extroverts and others who were introverts, some who were involved in everything and other's selective in their ministry contribution, some with young children at home and others who were empty-nesters.  In the pages of this book I saw things that *I*  had held against some of them or that I know others held against them.  I found myself thinking "that makes so much sense" or "I wish I had known/considered that."  I know that this book will lead me to be more understanding of the needs of the pastor and his family (I know it could be 'and her family', but not really in my denominational tradition). 

Lisa is open in her writing.  The reader gets a good look at her life as a pastor's wife, including the struggles and the mistakes.  I appreciate that realness.  She uses humour well to make her points.  But do not get the impression that this book is fluffy stories of her life with some advice attached.  It is not.  It is Biblically grounded, with solid reflection on the Scripture and plenty of going back to the original Greek language to keep this word-geek intrigued.  This is not fluff.  It is amazing teaching around the subject of supporting one's spouse in his calling from God. 

Read this book if you are a pastor or minister's wife.  I am sure you will be blessed to see that your life is very much like those who share your path of life.  Read this book if you are friends with a pastor's wife.  It will help you see ways to encourage and support your friend.  Read this book if you are just someone in the pew who knows the pastor's wife but is not close to her.  It may help you find a ministry of support, of prayer or just of understanding.  In case you have got the message, read the book.  It is a blessing.

For the record, no one asked me to comment on the book and I purchased it myself.  I just found after my marathon-I-can't-put-it-down reading that I wanted to point my readers to a blessing.  Let me know if you do read it and what stands out to you!

Oh, and Lisa if you are reading...I have always been convinced that if we had met when I was still in Alabama we would be fast friends.  After reading the opening of chapter five I know if for sure.  Who wouldn't become fast friends with someone who understands "please don't breathe in my face"! LOL!

Stitchin' Post for February 6, 2010

I finally finished the border for my Neighbourhood Round Robin as well as my Texas square.  The pictures are not great, but they do give a sense of what it looks like.  I cannot get a good shot of the whole thing--our weather is too dreary.  First sunny day I'll take better pictures.






Thanks for looking!  What are you stitching or crafting this week?

February Goal Post

January Goals revisited:

1. Finish border of NRR--5 hoursabout 30% complete, this is taken much longer than I anticipated since I estimated and I've already logged more than 10 on it!
2. Piece and quilt mystery quilt for a friend--pieced, not quilted
3. Finish Washington and add charms to Alabama, Texas and Missouri--nope
4. Move 2009 files out of filing cabinet and set up 2010 files.--YES!
5. Shred any paperwork that does not need to be kept.--YES!
6. Blog at least bi-weekly on my homeschool blog--oops, wrote the first post forgot to post it until yesterday (yes I know it is February), maybe next month

February Goals (look unsurprisingly like January goals):

1. Finish border of NRR
2. Quilt mystery quilt for a friend
3. Finish Washington and add charms to Alabama, Texas and Missouri
4. Finish cleaning out office
5. Assist girls in organizing toy room
6. Blog at least bi-weekly on my homeschool blog
7. Begin a 365 project and update 101 list

In Other Words--The Heart of a Child

"He who can reach a child’s heart can reach the world’s heart."
~Rudyard Kipling~

If anyone knew how to capture the imagination of a child, it was Rudyard Kipling. Generations of children have been enthralled with his The Jungle Book or the Just So stories. I was one of those children. My grown up mind tends to over analyze his works, but as a child I was thrilled as I imagined how the animals got their stripes, spots, trunks and humps. Pure joy in reading.

Capturing the imagination of a child is one thing; capturing the heart is quite another. Yet it is the heart of a child that will largely motivate how he or she sees the world as they grow into adults.

The majority of what I believe about people, about how to live my life and about God was developed in my early years. True, it has been nuanced and deepened as I've grown older but the foundations were laid early. Even last week, as I conversed with someone about Scriptures the ones that came to mind that I could quote were the ones I learned as a child. The injustices that I noticed as a child, or saw my parents notice as a child, are the ones that I feel the deepest need to address. My adamant belief that tithing is not optional comes from watching/hearing my parents discuss tithing on the way to church. The fact that I believe that we have an obligation to vote comes from going to the polling place with my parents and grandparents. Even my love of math and reading were developed in my childhood. The foundations that my parents, grandparents, teachers and neighbours laid in my childhood have a huge impact on how I interact as a world citizen today.

Jesus understood the importance of children.

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
Matthew 19:14

He knew that the time to capture a heart for the kingdom was when it was young. What he was saying was nothing new. From the days of the children of Israel going into the land of Canaan they had been admonished to use the early days of a life to lay the foundations.

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates,
~Deuteronomy 11:18-20~

As a homeschooling mom this is one of those things that brings me incredible joy and strikes me with utter fear. Joy that I am building the very foundations that will impact their world in the future. Fear that I am building the very foundations that will impact their world in the future. It is not a task I take lightly. I want to lead them to capture a vision of how God sees the world. I want them to develop His heart. It is the desire of this mama's heart that they will develop into young women who want to seek their Saviour with all of their hearts and actions. That is a daunting task. Thankfully, He is the one who will draw their hearts to His own. He is the one that will kindle their desires. It is only up to me to provide a learning space for that to happen, as much as I am able to faithfully model seeking Him, to pray and to trust the results to Him. Easier said than done, but I'm working on it.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
~Jeremiah 29:13~

Who captured your childhood heart? How does that impact how you interact with your world? Trust the Saviour of our pasts to use them to lead the children in our lives.

Nina at Mama's Little Treasures is our lovely hostess today. Please visit. Be blessed!

Marriage Monday--Valentines all Year, Just Speak My Language

Want this button?

Welcome to another Marriage Monday! This month we have been asked to talk about how to celebrate Valentine's Day throughout the year. In other words, what are the things that we see as important in our marriage to keep romance all year and not just on one day.

There are so many ways that we live out our love in our everyday lives. It often changes daily based on the needs of the day. There does seem to be a common thread through the ways that love is celebrated in our marriage--it is in attempting to speak a language that the other hears as love. As I've said before, German and I are literal opposites in so many ways. Our love languages (see Gary Chapman's book of the same name for more insight) are a clear demonstration of this. His love languages are acts of service and physical touch; mine are words of affirmation and quality time. It would be so easy for us to go days upon end and not feel the love or romance of the other if we were not cognizant of how love is being spoken. I have to "hear" him when he is speaking his natural language as well as try to speak his natural language. He needs to hear me in my native language in addition to trying to speak my language. The days we are aware of how the other needs to hear love are definitely the days that we speak romance in our home the best.

And we need to plan for that. A funny example was seen just this weekend. Every week German asks me to put together a list of what needs to be done on the weekend. He needs to speak "service" and he wants those acts of service to actually bless me rather than just take "time" away from me. Honestly, I never ask for more than one thing to be accomplished because I want to just "be" with him in the time we have. But this weekend I had informed him that he could speak his native language and help me clean up the wreck of an office. We awoke Saturday morning and he said "what am I doing today?" and I reminded him and he said "but we haven't gone for a drive lately." I quickly said okay and we set off---to go to Edinburgh, three hours away. We had a delightful day. And I felt better Sunday than I have in ages because I had received his love in my language---time. He had sensed that I was needing to hear love in my own way more than he needed to speak it in his way. The result was a perfect day. (And if I'm industrious this week I'll get the office cleaned up myself in an act of service for him--speaking his language.)

So, in our house, recognizing what love language needs to be spoken/heard and following through with actions that speak love is how we keep Valentine's throughout the year.

Do you know your love language? Do you know your spouse's love language? Feeling like you don't connect the way you want or that you are not loved the way you want to be? Maybe it is time for some foreign language lessons. I highly recommend Chapman's book to help you speak and receive love in the language needed.

Please visit the Marriage Monday writers at Chrysalis. You will certainly find things to bless you and challenge you.

Who I Am--a poetic challenge

E-Mom at Chrysalis has challenged us to use the "Who I Am" poem template to explore our childhood memories and write a little poem about ourselves. Here is my little attempt at capturing some of "Who I Am." Hope you enjoy.

I am from Kerr canning jars, from Palmolive soap and Pine-sol.

I am from the brown-sided house by the cotton field, dusty, barren, of darkness enveloping like a blanket--the nearest porch light a half mile away dimly easing the loneliness.

I am from the cotton---pink and white blossoms to white fluffy balls, and the tumbleweed rolling across the sandy plain.

I am from shelling peas to freeze and snapping beans to can and from dogged stubbornness and thriftiness, from Cliff and C.P. and the “California relations“.

I am from the never-empty coffee pot and ongoing Skip-Bo or Domino games.

From “math is in your blood” and “You are better than B‘s“.

I am from Southern Baptist with Primitive roots. From church potlucks, and play dough theology, “no dancing” intoned by old voices singing ancient hymns.

I'm from Germany and Ireland and Scotland all merging in Texas, from cornbread dressing and hot cherry cobbler served with love. From “cook enough to feed a few more” which always meant too many leftovers.

From the cow trails across Colorado bonding brothers and with long-lost magazine cover photos. I’m from the gold brooch for wedding “oldness” bonding cousins across the generations.

I am from a tin box in the spare bedroom, sneaking peeks at photos long hidden. From albums in the formal living room brought out with ceremony then celebrated with laughter, and from 8mm film of swimming in cotton.

In Other Words--Division or Peace

Do not suppose that I have come to bring
peace to the earth.
I did not come to bring peace,
but a sword.

~ Matthew 10:34~

I've been dwelling on this verse, trying to decide what it is I needed to say. Honestly, my desire was to just skip writing this week. But one of my commitments is to not avoid the week's that are straight out of the Word of God. So, in other words, I needed something to say.

We started school work and I caught out of the corner of my eye a couple walking through the neighbourhood. "*Ugh*" I thought, I'll need to send them on their way. But that little voice that so often interrupts my plans impressed on me to just talk a few minutes. In fact, the few minutes became quite a few minutes. They wanted to talk about the role of governments and the need for us to not even vote because God's government will crush all the governments of the world... I spoke my mind, they spoke theirs. They quoted a few carefully chosen proof-texted verses at me and I quote a few carefully chosen proof-texted verses back. It was actually a very interesting discussion. But at the end, when they made a more directed move to "enlighten" me on why I was wrong I told them "we need to agree to disagree." That was not good enough for the gentleman so the question was asked if they were going to change their minds with anything I said. "Of course not!" came the emphatic answer. I then indicated that they were not going to change my mind either so we needed to "agree to disagree." Pleasantries were exchanged and they left.

Afterwards I spoke with Jewel that sometimes people have different interpretations of the Scripture and we have to be true to what we believe God is telling us in the Scripture. She was confused at how we could talk so nicely and say things that were mostly alike, but "disagree." I explained that in the bigger picture of what those people believed about the Bible and Jesus there were things that are very different from how I believe. We talked about how God will separate those who believe from those who don't believe and how our goal each day should be to know Him more and do what He leads us to do. She asked how we would know that what we believed was right and I told her that God gave us contentment in what He said. (remember she is only 7, so this is simplified!) She was satisfied and we finished schoolwork.

"That's the message---God will separate," whispered in my heart. This verse is not about Jesus crushing the government with a physical sword or disrupting governmental peace. It is about the separation that He makes in the Kingdom. It is about how our priorities and our beliefs will divide us from even those that are close to us (see verses 35-37). When we take on the name of Christ we are standing on one side of a dividing line. The line may look imaginary, but it is real. It is a division of ideology, of priority, of time and of resources. The division will cause some around us to be uncomfortable. It may even make some angry. Others may become distant. We may lose "peace" with those around us who do not share a love or a belief in Jesus.

That is not to say that we should be throw up our hands and say that our lives will be full of conflict. Not at all. Although there may be division, there is also a different kind of peace.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
~Philippians 4:6-9~

From where does our peace come? From leaning on God, from seeking His will and from putting His directives into action. Yes, there will be division. But we need to leave that up to God. Lean on Him, and then we will find a deeper peace.

Are you feeling the pain of division? Do you feel separation more than peace? Struggling to know where to turn? Turn to God. Lean on Him. Allow him to pour his peace into your life.

Today's hostess is Esthermay at The Heart of a Pastor's Wife. Please visit the incredible ladies writing on this verse. I know that you will be blessed.

In Other Words--Happenstance or God Ordained?

Every happening, great or small, is a parable whereby God speaks to us, and the art of life is to get the message.” -Malcolm Muggeridge

I was standing on the platform to board the train. It was late. Go figure, this is England not mainland Europe. I was trying to keep Flower entertained in her stroller, whilst judging the exact moment to get her out of the stroller to get her and it on the train, all the while trying to keep Jewel from wandering off.

A very-American voice said, "You sound as if you are from my neck of the woods." Turned out, it was pretty close as they were from Arkansas. They "happened" to be waiting for the same train. They "happened" to overhear my voice. Their interaction "happened" to entertain Jewel for those few minutes that I needed to keep my sanity.

But this was a two-way interaction. They were being seen off by a missionary couple I "happened" to know in a vague way. This couple "happened" to be traveling for the first time by train and for the first time to London. My presence gave them a contact on the train that was somewhat familiar.

The train arrived, they went to get in their carriage, I got in mine. We were on opposite ends of the train. There was no easy way to get to them. I felt that little voice in my head, "you need to give them your mobile number, just in case." "Sure, Lord, happy to, but how?" "Just write it down. I'll do the rest." I dutifully wrote my name and phone number on a piece of paper and slipped it into my pocket.

The train arrived in London. I looked around and did not see them. I headed for the taxi stand with my 4 year old and 2 year old in tow. I'm about to get in the next taxi when I "happen" to see the couple getting into the taxi in front of mine--that I have to walk past. I leaned in the window, gave her my number and told her to have a good time in London. The taxi sped away. They never needed my number, but I had been faithful to give it. And, yet, there was still something about this "chance" encounter.

The next morning came and we were wandering across the Millenium Bridge. The couple came to mind. I prayed "God I don't know why, but it would bless me to see them again." Yeah, I know, I'm in London. They are on a tour. Yada, yada, yada.

Mid-afternoon came. My family and I were leaving the Tower of London after a full day of sight seeing. We are walking down the steps to leave. "Look up" a voice says in my head. There they were...coming into the Tower of London. We hugged and chatted for a moment. They "happened" to get bored with their official tour and ventured out on their own, straight to where we were. As quickly as it happened, they went on their way, and we went on ours. Nothing profound said. Nothing needed or shared. Nothing shared that is except a "chance" meeting by a loving God.

I don't know the full reason for those chance meetings, but I do know that I see God all over them. The story, the threads, the art of seeing God in the seemingly coincidental. And, somehow, my life is never the same.

Thank you Father for showing yourself in the story of my life. Thank you for those moments when you allow me the ability to see the artistry of how you weave it all together. May I always look for your story in my days. Amen.......(and somewhere there is a couple in Arkansas who you used to bless me, please show yourself to them today in a special way)Amen.

Our hostess this week is Kathryn at Expectant Heart. Go be blessed by the God-incidences she shares. And if you have a story of a God-incidence, I'd love to hear it. You can link up to In Other Words at Kathryn's site.

Stitchin' Post Saturday-16 January 2010

No pictures of stitching this week. I've been working on the piecing of a mystery quilt. Almost finished piecing and should start quilting next week. After it is delivered I can post pictures.

What are you working on stitching-wise?

Have a great weekend!

In Other Words--Astonishing Blessings

God can pour on the blessings
in astonishing ways.

2 Corinthians 9:8 (MSG)

After a long stretch of unemployment, a job that is a perfect match is found.
God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways.

The disappointments of infertility are diminished with a surprise pregnancy.
God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways.

A wayward child chooses to return home and repent.
God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways.

The long-prayed for friendship never materializes. Instead she learns to be content with the company of herself and her God.
God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways.

The illness ended in an ultimate healing of going home to the Father, and not complete recovery. In sadness, his family embraces that peace.
God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways.

Her heart remains broken. Her dreams remain shattered. She cannot see the path for the tears. But she holds onto the shred of belief that still exists in her life.
God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways.

God can (and does) pour on the blessings in astonishing ways. But, often, the astonishing thing is that He considers it a blessing whilst we still see it as trial, hurt, or trauma. He pours out his blessing of himself in our life, even when things seem so harsh.

Although I do love the Message, I actually prefer this verse in The New Revised Standard Version:

"And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance..."

His ability to reach into the harshest times of my life and still give me abundance is what I cling to in those dark times. That knowledge alone is an astonishing blessing!

Where are you seeing blessings in your life? Maybe they are hiding in the trials. Look for the astonishing...He is faithful to deliver.

Deborah at Chocolate and Coffee is our hostess today. Please visit and be blessed.

January 2010 Goals

I've been working toward my January goals, but forgot to post them.  Probably not the best start to a new year of blogging to forget to post.  But here they are a week late!

1.  Finish border of NRR
2.  Piece and quilt mystery quilt for a friend
3.  Finish Washington and add charms to Alabama, Texas and Missouri
4.  Move 2009 files out of filing cabinet and set up 2010 files.
5.  Shred any paperwork that does not need to be kept.
6.  Blog at least bi-weekly on my homeschool blog

Stitchin' Post Saturday-9 January 2010

Happy 2010!  My first Stitchin' Post of the New Year!  I have been stitching on the border of my Neighbourhood Round Robin, but will wait to take pictures until I have it completed.  Instead, I'll show my last completions of 2009.  I've already posted pictures of the stitched pieces, but I was able to get them framed on Christmas Eve and haven't shown that off yet.  I was really pleased with how they look, and they will take pride of place on the mantle every Christmas. (please forgive the reflections, I couldn't get a great shot of Bethlehem)  They are the exact same height, frame and matting.  The Kings are about 1/3 the length of the Bethelehem piece and will be placed as though they are walking toward Bethlehem.





So what stitching or crafting are you doing in the New Year?

Welcoming 2010/Looking Back on 2009

Forgive me that it is a week into 2010 before I've posted anything.  The Big Freeze has kept me in the house all week.  The blanket of snow (a real rarity here) has calmed much of the chaos that life seems to be throwing at us.  And it has give me time to reflect.  So, I've been sitting on this post, tweaking it but mainly just praying over it.  Last night God confirmed the things I wrote was the direction He was leading, so now I'll post it. 

The first of a new year always challenges me to reflect and to dream. Last year, as I wrote my meditations and dreams for 2009 God gave me the word ENGAGE as my theme for the year. In many ways 2009 was a difficult year. There were relationships and ministries that were pushed to limits, and some that even needed to end. There were tears shed over people and things that broke me that a year ago I would have sworn those very same people and things were only blessings. It is not a year that I would wish to relive in many ways. Yet, when I look at the year I see over and over again how God has led me to ENGAGE in the midst of the turmoil. And the growth has been a blessing.

Last year I wrote:
"I believe that God is calling me to:
*ENGAGE in my marriage. This year will call for changes in German's work. It will probably mean a new account which could mean a new location. I need to intentionally engage with him to make the transition seamless as well as keeping the pressure off at home."
My marriage has grown more this past year than in the previous thirteen! I began the year anticipating the challenges for him at work. The challenges were there. From mid-January to the end of November there was an ebb and flow of "we need you to change accounts/we need you to stay where you are". The anticipated move did not happen. It will happen in 2010, we see the writing on the wall. But it was not the work challenges that God was preparing me for when I chose ENGAGE as my theme for the year. The challenges that German most faced were in terms of relationships and ministry. Because I was intentionally ENGAGING to keep pressure off at home, we were able to weather the storms that came. We both agree that the resulting relationship we have was worth the struggle in other relationships. 2009 has been our best year of marriage....so far.


"*ENGAGE with my children. This includes more engagement in activity for their education. I'm great with the factual education stuff, but hands-on is not my favorite way of learning. But it is theirs, so I need to engage with them in learning in a meaningful way for them. I also want to be more engaged in their spiritual development. Jewel is at an age where she is beginning to ask many questions about God and why Jesus came, and I want to take full advantage of this time. Finally with both them and with German I want to be more engaged in memory making. Whether it is in building traditions at home, celebrating milestones, or traveling, I want when they look back on these years for them to be able to recall parents who were fully engaged in their lives."

Again, it has been a wonderful year ENGAGING with the girls. We have built memories in Brussels and in Branson and in Turkey. We ended the year building memories with their grandparents in London. We have had a great year of purposeful school as well as seeing huge strides in the stuff of daily learning. I believe that we are seeing spiritual growth in both of the girls. We have brought some of our "church" time home this year, just worshiping and studying together as a family on some Sundays before meeting up with our small group. I think that they are catching a vision that worship is more than what happens in the church building, and that is an exciting thing to see!

"*ENGAGE with Scripture. I've felt the need to commit Scripture to memory for a couple of years. This year my dream is to do that. To that end, I'll be participating in the LPM memory challenge where we are to learn 2 verses a month. I like this plan, because each participant chooses the verses that God is laying on their hearts so it is applicable to day-to-day. I also want to engage Scripture in my personal Bible Study as well as the Ladies Study which I lead. As 2009 comes to an end, I pray that I am able to say that I've gone deeper and learned much. 2009 is also the year that I pray I will find a mentor for me. I've mentored many young Christians, but I am feeling somewhat empty in that pursuit. God has led me to two older women in our church (fairly new to the church) that I feel may be the mentors He has ordained. I'll be approaching them soon to see if they would meet with me, study with me and serve in that capacity."

This is the area I could be disappointed, and to some extent maybe I am a little. I was able to stay on task with Scripture memory through August and for that I am really grateful. I have also learned Scripture with the girls. In so many ways I have gone deeper and learned much. Where I am sad, is that much of it has still been on my own. I so desperately wanted a mentor this year. The lady I felt led to approach was diagnosed with leukemia in March (I hadn't worked up the courage to ask her at that point) and although she won the battle against cancer, her heart gave out in the process. It was only at her funeral that I saw so clearly why God had led me to her name. She inspired me, and I am determined that I will learn some of the lessons that her daughter taught about her in the end.

"*ENGAGE with ministry. My ministry at the church has been curtailed for various reasons this year. The Ladies Bible Study and the house group that meets in our home are wonderful opportunities, but I believe God has something new and "more" for 2009. I'm prayerfully anticipating what that might be."
I'm still waiting for the something "more" as my ministry opportunities through the church were totally cut off this year. The house group that meets in our home did continue and was a total blessing. The Ladies Bible Study was more sporadically attended this year, but there are glimmers of hope that it will be more stable in 2010.

"*ENGAGE with others. I'm feeling led to be more intentional in hospitality, especially with non-believers. Just as I'm seeking a mentor, I need to seek someone to mentor this year. And I want to engage others in this blog. I continue to pray that this is a place of hospitality, encouragement and support. May 2009 see that come to even more fruition."

God honoured this in tremendous ways! There has been only 2-3 weeks in the entire year that our home has not hosted at least one fellowship event or had guests. Some have been impromptu (inviting a church visitor home for lunch), others more elaborate (a large going away party for friends from church). The house group has grown. The Ladies meet to study the Bible. German mentors a young man who comes to hang out with us once a quarter when he is home from school. Our home has been filled and that fills our hearts as well!

So, that is 2009. What of 2010? Well, this year the word God seems to be giving me is

C O N N E C T

A move is definitely in our future, so CONNECTion is going to be of utmost importance. You may not get the sense, sitting on that side of my computer screen, of the introvert that sits in this chair. I struggle with making CONNECTions. But that is going to be my life in a few months--new friends, new church, new neighbours, new Bible Study group (Lord, please let this be so), etc, etc. On top of that German will be connecting to a new team and the girls will be experiencing their first move and starting over. It will be my main ministry in the coming months to help them CONNECT and settle into a new phase of life. I cannot yet articulate what I hope those CONNECTions look like at the end of 2010. The only thing I do know for certain is that if I'm going to help them CONNECT, then I'm going to have to stay CONNECTed to God through study, prayer and ministry. I'm excited about 2010, if not slightly apprehensive. But as I stated in my last post, I want to look back on 2010 knowing that my priorities have been to CONNECT with my Saviour and the ministries he has ordained for me.

Praying as you reflect on 2009 and prepare for all that God will give you in 2010 you are filled with excited anticipation of what is to come. Thank you for your faithfulness to visit and encourage me in 2009. I pray you have found a piece of your blessing in the words I've written.

In Other Words--Make My Life Bethlehem

“Just as Our Lord came into human history from outside, so He must come into me from outside. Have I allowed my personal human life to become a “Bethlehem” for the Son of God?”


by ~ Oswald Chambers
My Utmost for His Highest

I don't know about you, but it is easy for me to lose the plot during the busyness of Christmas. I can get caught up in the planning, the wrapping, the food, the laughter and the wonderful activities of the holiday. But often, that is at the expense of the meditation on and the preparation for Jesus. I did not grow up in a tradition that celebrated "Advent" and thus did not have the foundation of preparing for the Messiah. As I have focused more and more on that aspect the last few years, I have found that the feeling of chaos or exhaustion leading up to Christmas really has subsided.

And that is a good thing.

Yet I wonder if I am truly preparing for the Messiah's birth for a day or if I'm preparing for Jesus to be a part of me all year?

Around here, Casting Crowns music gets played just about all waking hours. So, I've listened to "While You Were Sleeping" a few hundred times this holiday season. For those who don't know the song, it is a discussion of the carol "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and how that is really an indictment that they missed the coming of the Messiah because they were sleeping. The song goes on to wonder if we in America are sleeping as well. The song challenges me. Am I missing the Messiah because I am focusing on things that are of lesser importance? Or, as Chambers puts it in today's quote, have I made room for my heart and life to be Bethlehem? Is there room for Jesus to take residence in my life? Can he come from eternity and impact my today? Will I allow it?

My word for 2010 is going to be Connect. I will be writing more about that next week, but as a taster part of my goals for the coming year is to come away next December more connected to the wonder and amazement that a Saviour left heaven and entered my reality and saved my eternity. I want to find a deepening relationship with God because I have intentionally connected with him through word and ministry. But that takes time. Time that can already seem like a precious commodity. So, in order for me to have the time to connect more intentionally with him, I will have to take time away from something else. I will have to make room for Jesus. It is about priorities. I want to see more and more in my life where the priority is connecting with the Saviour who resides in me and not just visit him at church a couple of times a week.

Is your life ready to be Bethlehem? Can he come and reside with you? How will 2010 be different for you because of the Lord who has come to impact your life? I pray that the impact is amazing for all of us.

Thank you so much for visiting and participating this week. Please sign the link to your post so that we can come and be encouraged.

How We Do Christmas--Spiritual Emphasis

I would have thought that this edition of "How We Christmas" would have been the easiest to write, but I'm actually finding it the most difficult. I cannot separate Christmas from the spiritual so everything I've already written about in these posts always come back to the fact that we do this because this is the day we celebrate Jesus' coming to the world to save us. The gifts we give are in celebration (we do give the girls three gifts each--reminiscent of the three gifts from the Magi). The candles and decorations are about light and festivity. The creche points to the birth. It is all about the spiritual.

Nevertheless, there are a couple of things that we do that I have not written about already. One is how we celebrated last Sunday evening. Our church has a lovely Carols by Candlelight service each year. The sanctuary is darkened, the candles are lit, the church members who play brass and wind instruments join with the "big" organ to play the Christmas carols in all their glory, members representing all ages come and read the Christmas story in between each carol. It is such a peaceful reminder of the reason we are celebrating. There are refreshements of mince pies and coffee to follow, but we often slip out whilst it is still dark. That allows me, at least, to continue to ponder the wonder of the story that has been told in the darkness.

I've already mentioned that we do a Jesse Tree and Advent Calendar each year. This year the girls have coloured the amazing ornaments offered at my friend V's site, The Paper Dali. It is so much fun to hear them each year reciting the lineage of Jesus. I know that we are planting seeds for the future and I pray that they grow roots that will last deep into their adult Christmases.

We will re-read the Christmas story again and again during December. We remind ourselves that it is Jesus' birth story that is important this time of year. Our dessert Christmas day will be a cake and "happy birthday Jesus" will be sang as we cut it. We will open gifts first thing Christmas morning, but then we will pause and go to church and sing the last verse of "O Come All Ye Faithful" (the other verses are sung throughout December but the last verse only on Christmas morning), light the Christmas candle and rejoice that today the Saviour has come! And, if I'm smart, I'll sit back and watch a little and, like Mary, I will ponder this time in my heart knowing not what the new year holds but understanding I won't pass this way again.

It is all about Jesus for us at Christmas. The wrapping and the presents and the food and the music are all nice, but Christmas would happen without them. But Christmas does not happen without Jesus. That's why we do Christmas the way we do.

All Hail! Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning,
O Jesus! for evermore be Thy name adored.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord

I pray you all have the Merriest and Safest of Seasons. If you are with family and friends, love on them and enjoy them. If you are on your own this Christmas I pray that you feel the love of the Father that is lavished on you this season. I'll be mostly away from the computer until after New Year as I enjoy my Dad and his wife's visit.

Please visit Lisa at The Preacher's Wife to read more "How We Christmas" posts.

In Other Words--Enjoy but Share

Let us remember the proclamation of the angel: “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord”
(Luke 2:10-11).

May our hearts go out to the unconverted people…who have no blessed Christmas day.

“Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord”
(Nehemiah 8:10).

by ~ Mrs. L.B. Cowman
Streams in the Desert


We are blessed to live with plenty.  Even in these uncertain financial times, when I have been in a place of budgeting better, considering more where the money is to go, we have not gone without.  Instead, we have had blessings poured out.  I know that it is a blessing.  I know that there are many who are not being blessed with outpourings.  I know many who have been caught in job layoffs, in salary reductions, and in other financial difficulties that are causing heart-wrenching decisions.  Their blessings are coming in other ways, that I have not had to accept or experience.  One of our favourite parts of the blessing of German's job and our chosen lifestyle is that we can pass the blessing on to others.  Whether it is our Compassion *daughter* or the orphans in Romania or the ministries of our church, we are in a position to share and we take joy in that. 

Sometimes it is easy to look at what we have and feel guilty, to forget that the giver of the gift chose to give it.  The thing I love about this verse in Nehemiah is that it does not say "curl up and feel bad that you have good things when others don't."  Instead, it reminds us to celebrate and to enjoy what we have alongside the admonition to not forget to share.  Enjoy but share.  What a great way to think about it. 

At this time of year when God has lavished the most important gift of all--His Son--upon us, let us celebrate.  Let us enjoy the gifts of the season--the smells, the laughter, the music and yes the presents and the wrapping and the excess.  But let us never forget to also share with those who would not, who could not, have any of the presents, wrapping or excess without our giving. 

Our hostess this week is Patricia at Typing One-Handed.  Please visit the others writing on this quote.  I'm sure you will be blessed.  Happy Christmas!

How We Do Christmas 2009: The Decorating Edition

Again, I'm late to Lisa's party. A bad inflammation of my sciatic nerve has Christmas decorating (and blogging about it) slightly delayed. But here is how I decorate for Christmas.

The Tree:
I grew up with "real" trees, German grew up with "aluminum" trees. Before we met he bought a "fake" tree that looks fairly real. I allow him to keep his tree if he allows me to decorate it rather haphazardly. I like to call it lovingly eclectic!


Many of my ornaments are cross stitched by friends over the years.


Each year I stitch an ornament for each of the girls that illustrate something from that year. When they leave home, I'll give them each a collection of ornaments that tell the date and place Christmas was celebrated and will be a little history of their lives. Here are this year's ornaments. Jewel started piano lessons this year and Flower learned to ride her bike without stabilisers.

Each year my brother-in-law sends me a special ornament, often blown glass since he knows I love it. This year I believe the girls are old enough that my glass ornaments are back on the tree.


Some of our ornaments are just quirky reminders of things about our life.


This little angel was made out of a doily by a friend. I love it!



The Piano Top:
My Nativity scene and my Menorrah were purchased in Bethlehem when we were blessed with an opportunity to walk where Jesus walked. I love the juxtaposition of the old and the promised.

The piano also plays host to my Willow Tree angels at this time of year.

The Snow Things:
Since we were married at Thanksgiving time, several of our wedding gifts were Christmas decorations so that we could decorate our first home together. This little church with carolers is one of my treasured wedding gifts.



I love snowmen as long as I don't have to deal with snow! This little hat box snowman is dearly loved by me. He is surrounded by other snow related decorations.



The Nutcrackers:
Germany holds a special place in our hearts. Here is my little collection of nutcrackers bought in Germany, Austria and at German Christmas markets.



The Mantle:
I noticed as I was loading this picture that one of the stockings has fallen. *sigh* The official reason that there are six stockings hanging (as told with a straight face to my children) is that I love a mantle full of stockings. The real reason is my Dad and his lovely wife are spending Christmas with us! And the girls don't know! It will be their Christmas Eve surprise. These poinsettias are usually on my staircase, but I was looking for something different this year. I love how the mantle turned out.



Santa:
We actually have two focus points of Santa, but I forgot to take the second picture. This little Santa was made by a lovely friend here in the UK. The sleigh was made by our neighbours in Alabama. I love how they look together. My second focus point is our front door that has a hand-tied rug of St. Nicholas that was bought in Myra, Turkey, the home of St. Nick. We try to keep the focus on St. Nicholas the real person and not Santa Claus the fairy tale.



Not pictured is my Jesse Tree that is sadly not very decorated this year since I'm having trouble sitting up for periods of time. The girls have kept up with their advent calendar and we have talked about the Jesse Tree each day even if we have not made the ornaments. My dining room is not pictured but it is decorated with poinsettias. I have not put up my Coca-Cola ornaments this year, but they usually adorn the window of the dining room. The front door welcomes you with a poinsettia wreath (guess what my favourite flower is this time of year?) and the stairwell is laced with gold ribbons that the Christmas cards where Christmas cards are being hung.

There you have it, a tour of my place at Christmas. To see how others are ddecorating this year, please visit Lisa at The Preacher's Wife.