The Struggle to Maintain Order

Order
Discipline
Peace
Quiet
Beauty
Focus

Chris Barbalis


Strive seems the opposite of the above words, but one must strive so as to obtain order.

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

~ Genesis 1:28 (NIV)

Keeping order in our realm is a command from God.

By the sweat of your brow

you will eat your food

until you return to the ground,

~ Genesis 3:19a (NIV)

Having difficulty keeping order is a result of Adam's fall.

Take heart, dear soul. When God gives a command, He makes a way for its fulfillment.

With righteousness, He knew we could never live up to it. He waited until we figured that out, and then provided His precious Son, Jesus, to earn it for us.

With orderliness, He gave us muscles and sweat and desire. But, He left us to take the initiative. His gift is rain, sunlight, and wind to help things grow strong.

Kyle Szegedi

Still, the struggle is ours, and ours alone.

Sure, we can pay someone to do the work for us. But we still have to do some kind of work to get the pay, and someone still has to sweat and toil.

And so I struggle to maintain order, struggle to develop and keep good habits, struggle to take dominion over my realm - my body, my home, my work. And I ask my Lord for help.

If you are with me in this struggle, I will pray for help for you, too. Let's support each other, encourage each other to keep up the fight and not give up.

If you have read this far, will you join me in making a goal? My first goal in an orderly home is my bedroom. My first mini-goal is to organize my dresser. The reason I decided to start here is this is the first thing I see in the morning, the thing that can set the tone for the entire day. I don't know about you, but I want to set myself up for a good day.

Kyle Szegedi

Remembering

Below is a re-post from January 2010. I have since closed that blog account, but the link still appears on Facebook. I am re-posting so as to never forget.

Sometimes, it is good to go back over big events in your life. It's good to remember the things that God has carried us through. It is good to tell others the ways that God has protected us, provided for our needs, healed us, or comforted us when we could not be healed.

Today, I pause to remember one of those days.

Six years ago this month, I was diagnosed with cancer - for about two weeks. It turned out to not be cancer (carcinoma), but adenomas (adenomatosis - many and prolific adenomas) filling my liver. Consultation with a team of doctors in Boston brought the corrected diagnosis.

Below is the post I made before the consultation with the doctors in Boston. This is what I said to my friends and followers when I thought I had cancer six years ago today:

I know you have been waiting to hear

January 17, 2010 at 6:50pm

This is it ... well, what is known today, anyway. I know you have been waiting to hear the results of Monday's biopsy.

Official results are still pending. The pathologist who looked at my biopsy slides unofficially thinks that the cells are liver cancer cells. Still, since cancer that originates in the liver is "uncommon," they are looking elsewhere (namely, the colon) for its origin.

She showed us (John and me) the pictures from the CT and MRI scans, and it is not pretty, unless my liver is a Christmas tree. It is so widespread, with multiple lesions, that surgery is not an option right away.

Two possibilities remain to be proven/disproven:
1. The cancer originated, and remains confined to, the liver. While this is "unlikely" in the eyes of my hematologist, it is still possible. This is a hope I am clinging to.
2. The cancer originated elsewhere and traveled to the liver. Because I had colitis 10 years ago, I will be having a colonoscopy in the next week to prove/disprove this. I believe God healed me totally of the colitis, and have had *no* symptoms of it for over 9 years. Two colonoscopies since the original diagnosis have both come out *clean*, and the doctor released me from all future checkups unless symptoms return. I still believe that this is true, and have faith that this checkup will come out clean as well.

This Thursday I go back to see the hematologist/oncologist for the results of the rest of the tests they have sent my slides out for. I will have a 'final' answer for just what type of cancer I have, and can make a request at that time for a referral to another doctor or clinic if I choose. We are praying about this, and realize that one doctor's prognosis is not necessarily God's final answer to my situation.

Several people have encouraged us to seek other opinions from cutting-edge doctors and clinics. We are praying that He will lead us to the place He wants us to be. I feel that part of this situation is that God has chosen us to minister/encourage somewhere He needs us to be. If I have truly given my life to Him, then I willingly go where He leads, and suffer if necessary for the sake of the Gospel and His Kingdom.

For those of you who don't understand what I am talking about, ask me, please. Just because I am a Christian, that doesn't mean that life will be rosy, with a yellow-brick road to lead me. I am in this world, and Jesus said that in this world we will have troubles. He also said, "Fear not, for I have overcome the world." I have a mountain to climb - this one may not be moved out of my way, and that's okay. I have the Lord, my family, and my sisters and brothers in Christ to help me carry this burden.

Basic Stage Makeup Tutorial

This will be the beginning of a series of blog posts regarding stage makeup. Mostly it will be for the benefit of my helpers for Iolanthe, but the actors are welcome to take a peek, too!











I have not yet previewed the entire video because she includes details about the makeup she is using, and judging by the first 5 minutes or so, it's a great instructional video for anyone new to applying stage makeup for theater.



(Please let me know if there is anything questionable in the video, and I'll remove it.)



Thanks to all my helpers, and great job to the cast! Rehearsals are going GREAT!

Zentangle Challenge: Stripes

The Diva's Weekly Challenge for August 25, 2014
Stripes

Link to challenge:
http://iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com/2014/08/weekly-challenge-182.html

My tangle:

Sorry the image isn't cropped properly. I couldn't tell on my phone or iPad that there was a black space at the bottom.

Tangle Challenge for madebyjoey #22

This will be my very first time doing (and publishing) my first tangle for a challenge. The challenge is to make tangle two of something. I chose two designs on a mirror image string. I chose string #107 from tangle patterns.com and did two tangles: Knot Rickz and KRLI-Qs.

You can find the challenge here: http://madebyjoey.blogspot.com/2014/08/joeys-weekly-tangle-challenge-22.html Well, editing from my 1st gen. iPad is a challenge in itself, and I've learned to keep my posts short, so that's it for now! If you are new to the term "tangle," may I recommend taking a peek at Zentangle.com. You are in for a treat! Bye!

How to treat a girl...part one

We have lost something in our culture. Very slowly, etiquette is sneaking away, tail between its legs, head down, dejected from lack of attention.


Yes, that's it...lack of attention. Where are the lessons in politeness, listening skills, and other humanities? I attended a humanities class in the seventh grade, where our teacher attempted to teach us counting in Italian (when are we ever going to need that?), Robert's Rules of Order (boring!), and I don't even remember what else. Probably social etiquette, like how many forks to set at a dinner party, and on which side of the plate they should go. Funny, that I remember (up to a point...I've never used more than two forks). Obviously, none of us (and I was usually a model student) thought any of it was relevant - or anywhere close to cool. I look back and wonder at my younger self...

But today, I witnessed a prime example of boy/girl social etiquette in contrast in the college town where I work. The same scene played out at a stop light twice during the lunch hour.


Scene #1:
Young (American) couple crosses street. She is wearing a dress (not that it should matter, but let's face it, a dress matters in how she walks). They start out crossing together, then they start to skip-run a bit. He runs on ahead of her, leaving her to finish crossing alone.


Scene #2:
Young (Asian) couple crosses the street. He has his arm around her shoulder, hers is around his waist. They cross together like this, not hurrying, but going at a pace comfortable for her.



Which guy gets the award for how to treat a lady? Do you think it matters? Why or why not?
Is it relevant that one couple was Asian and the other couple American? Should it be?
Is it relevant that they were both college age? Should it be?
Is dress relevant? Should it be?

What questions or comments do you have on how to treat girls?
Do you think I'm old fashioned, and should wake up to today's lifestyle, standards, or culture?
Do you wish you lived in a time where these things mattered more?

In the first scent, my husband seems to think it was a game for them - like a little race to see who crossed first. Do you think he should have let her win? Would you race across a street if you were in a dress (girls) or if your girl companion were?

Do you have any memories of this sort? Were you treated with respect? Did you get shot down for doing the polite thing? How does this subject make you feel?

I'm looking for interaction here. Comment away! Let's start a conversation.

Are You Still Asking?

In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old. (Luke 1:5-7 NIV)

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. (Luke 1:11-13 NIV)

"Your prayers have been answered," said the angel. Zechariah and Elizabeth were both very old. At what point do you think they had stopped praying for a child? In their thirties? Forties? Certainly menopause would have made them give up their hope. Well, I would have lost hope by then...maybe long before.

What took so long? We're they unworthy of the answer?

No. The verses above state clearly that Zechariah and Elizabeth both were blameless before the Lord.

I don't know that that could be said of me.

So, why now? Did God forget about them, then make up for it by sending an angel? No. Our God doesn't roll like that. He knew all along. 

He was waiting. Patience, my daughter and son. It isn't time yet.

Time for what? 

For all things to be ready.

All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him. (Luke 1:65, 66 NIV)

The Lord loves to come through after all things point to the impossibility, and dramatically reveal the miracle!

He puts it all together...

John the Baptist

Mary and Joseph

Caesar on the throne, and the census

The new star, the wise men

The choir of angels

How Not to Let Your Heart Break

I flew across the country on my birthday. Leaving behind all that is familiar and comfortable, I knew this would be wonderful and terrible all at once.

I have been here before, to the City by the Bay. I always say, "It's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there." Truth be told, my flesh spirit would not want to live there.

When the lights go down in this city, and the sun shines on the Bay, if you are out on the streets you will see sleeping bags stirring on the sidewalks and hotels hosing off the debris from the night. Thousands live without conveniences, and call it a simple life. Many choose to call the sidewalks their homes, staking out claims on public property with no mail boxes. Arguments ensue if you are close enough and late enough to overhear...this is MY spot...I've been here for all this time..

If you are coming home from work, or a conference, or shopping...you may see a girl on Fourth Street, tangled hair, looking down, sitting on the walk by the street facing toward pedestrians with a white Guinea pig and white cup at her crossed legs.

If you are having a happy conversation with colleagues, recounting the day behind, planning the time ahead...you may be approached by a large black man, knuckles outstretched, singing a song for you to join in...fist-bumps ensue, then hand turns palm upward. "Have ya got a dolla' for me?" And seeing a wallet full, he will ask for a second dollar. Then a third.

What can one person do? Thousands sleep in open air, beg for the next ten cents, fifty cents, dollar. An Asian lady crushes water bottles so as to fit more into her meager bag, using a reaching tool to pull back one that rolls out of reach. I want to pick it up for her.

I want to look that girl in the face - the one with the white Guinea pig - and ask her, "What are you doing here?" Doesn't she have a mother who cares? A grandmother? What if she does not?

What am I to do?

I rationalize...if you feed one, he will tell his friends. Next thing you know, there are a dozen. Like the sea gulls at the park.

I ask my soul what Jesus would do.
At the pool of Bethesda, he healed only one.
But at other homes and in the wilderness, he fed and healed all.

This isn't working.

It is a complicated issue, I counter with myself.

I am only here for five days.

In the end, what do I do? I fill my thoughts with what I need to do next...the t-shirts for the children in my life...the Park I haven't seen yet...the new friend waiting for today's adventure. This is how I cover my heart.

This is how I keep my heart from falling at my feet, shattered, broken, spent...

Foldable shopping bag project -- part 1

Last year, before our trip to San Francisco, I bought some foldable shopping bags to keep in my purse to whip out when shopping. It's a good thing, too, since they had just begun charging extra for bags at stores.

Unfortunately, these bags were not as durable as I expected.

As you can see, the seams on the handles came unstitched. This was from normal use.

So, recently I began searching online for do-it-myself folding tote bags. After some careful studying and comparing of different patterns and styles, I dove in today and made one of my own. I have to say, I'm pretty pleased with it!

I started with some fabrics I had on hand. The beige linen is left over from a skirt I made a few years ago, and the floral print from a vest. I went to JoAnn Fabrics to pick up the snaps, button, and bias binding.

Pictures coming tomorrow...stay tuned...

Faithful Friends

Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven." (Matthew 9.2)

Then Jesus healed the man. Jesus healed many, many times. John tells us in chapter 21 of the Gospel he wrote:

Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

For some reason, there are particular events that the disciples chose to relate to us. This one touched me especially this morning, because there are times and seasons when my faith is weak. I believe God can heal, but will he? Does he really want to do this for me right now?

In Matthew 9, it was their faith - the combined faith of the man and his friends - which caught Jesus' attention. Do you see it, too? It was not dependent on the paralyzed man's faith alone. I love this!

I love the way the Word of God meets my needs, tells me God can touch me, heal me, speak to me right where I am. I do not need to get to a better place - have more faith, get my act together, stop sinning, or understand it all - before God will listen to me. He takes me right where I am today, with all my weakness, faithlessness, and stumbling ways.

He is good. May I learn to be good like Him.

Just in case you want to follow me...

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I recently learned of a new blog feed that some are using to replace Google Reader, which is disappearing soon. Seriously, if Google Reader had done this, they wouldn't have to go away, but I am really loving Bloglovin'!

Try it out! It's free, and if you have blogs you like to read, this is a great way to follow them. You don't have to read them all -- you can mark them "read" without reading more than the first paragraph. (Don't worry, nobody but you will know!) You won't have to keep all your blogger bookmarks together, or subscribe to a ton of e-mails telling you when a blog has been updated. It's freedom for your day, I tell ya!

Have fun!

The Wrong Right to be Right

Simply this:

The desire to be right is strong in a Virgo. I need to learn to lay it down. This is the lesson God is leading me through in this season.

I could tell you that I was right in two different debates with my husband. I could tell you that he doesn't think I was right. There goes my pride again - wanting everyone to know how right I was.

One month from now, will it matter?
Three months from now, will I even remember that we disagreed - let alone on what subject?
Of course not.

One month from now, we will be enjoying a vacation in Lake George, walking along with the kiddos, taking them on rides, giving their Daddy and Mommy time together, driving, walking, riding, laughing, playing, and fully enjoying the present moment.

Three months from now, the night will draw dark sooner, the skies starry-eyed, barbecue, tossing rocks in the water, strolling along the river, working days, sleeping nights, maybe a few more drive-in picture shows, many more hugs and laughter-filled days and nights. Enjoying this very moment.

Never mind the debates. Be love. Be honest. Be Jesus to the world - but first off to the man who is the world to me. Never mind being right.

Self-talk over.
Good night moon.

Worthy Waiting

Psalm 27:14

Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.

Today's devotional stated that today's generation believes in nothing. They are reportedly suspicious of everything from government to business to the church. But who can blame them? Media gives us daily examples of corruption, scheming, fraud, and predatory practices. Even marriage, states the devotion, can mean a lifetime of slavery in their eyes.

The marriage part grabbed me this morning. Is my marriage proving or excepting the point? We have all seen the elder couples bickering playfully (or sarcastically) and thought it humorous. But my marriage should be more than that. It should be an example of two become one. We have had 28 years of practice, and should be getting pretty good at knowing each other. Will we use this knowledge to divide, or unify? It can go either way. It must go one way or the other.

In another 10...15...20 years, I would like our marriage to look like something far from slavery. I want it to be an example of what marriage can and should be: two lives so entwined that everything is done with the other in the center. Haven't you seen it once in a while? That sweet, elder couple holding hands in the park, or looking into each others' eyes like they were still 19 over dinner. Not a bickering word uttered in public. A shining example of two become one, of a team that is 100 times stronger together than either could ever be alone.

So, back to the knowing each other, and the use of this information. I shall give an example from my own marriage. I (very nearly) always bring a bottle of cold water up to the bedroom for our use. My husband doesn't think of the water. Perhaps because I can be depended upon, he doesn't have to remember. I could decide to resent this (as could be a temptation upon coming home late occasionally from volunteer work), and grumble that he never thinks of this, and it's always on me to do. Or, I could choose to think of it as a way he has learned that I am dependable, consistent, and loving.

I know there are certain things which he does consistently, dependably, and lovingly. With that side of the coin, how do I respond to his acts of service? Do I complain about how or when they get done, if I think there is a better or more convenient way? Or do I gratefully acknowledge that he nearly never leaves this task for me to do (be it taking the trash to the dump, keeping the car's gas tank filled, or folding the towels), freeing my time for other things.

So, while some may think that playful bickering is humorous -- and TV sitcoms have poked fun at such things, making them appear normal -- is such thinking harmful? Aren't we called to a higher standard? With the help of our Lord, are we not well able to raise the bar on what a faithful, successful marriage can look like? Can we give such shining examples that the younger generation wants to be like us? I dare say we can, and we should.

Merely pointing out that one thing is wrong is not enough. We must go further and put forth the right example for a target to hit. We must -- if we truly believe one is better -- go out of our way to help those who are struggling with the concept of healthy, desirable marriage, to aspire and attain to that wonderful relationship of lifetime love. We need to make it delicious!

Forward again

Sometimes I just feel like giving up. After struggling with something for so long - even years - I just get weary. It doesn't seem like I have made any progress, and sometimes it looks like things have gotten worse. I just want to give it up and let it go, lay down my sword and shield. Chalk it up to another something that I just cannot overcome, finish, conquer.

Then in my devotional today I read this:

And I think if we're honest, we would admit to being vulnerable to Satan's whisperings that our faith is a fraud and that there is no God and no help as we struggle to survive.

That snapped in me. My fighter instinct came alive, telling me this is not just a game - I have a real enemy out there who wants nothing more than to disarm me and make me feel powerless. The very fact that he tries so hard tells me that my power (in Christ) is very real, very strong, and influential.

The devotional did not leave it there.

14 God says, "I will save those who love me and will protect those who acknowledge me as Lord. 15 When they call to me, I will answer them; when they are in trouble, I will be with them. I will rescue them and honor them."
Psalm 91:14-15

So, with renewed vigor and a sense of His presence by my side (isn't it amazing what a little worship of the King of Kings can do?), I again take up my sword and shield.

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Ephesians 6:10-18

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:9

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Hebrews 12:1

Word for the year: 

Forward!

Dripping Hope

The silent roar of winter is broken not with a blow, but bit by dripping bit, with the radiant sun creeping closer...closer...warmer. 
The sky unzips with wings, floating, calling the sun from its shadows.

The earth releases its iron grip on the white blanket that fails to warm, and I dream of the fragrant peony and the tall and wild hollyhock, and wonder if the berry bushes boxed up in the club store will grow well in my yard, if it would be worth the space on my little postage stamp of the City on the River in the North.

Eyes strain to see the firsts: first tulip sprouts, first robin, first groundhog.
Check. Check, and check. Five robins this weekend.
The sparrows and starlings have been back, and I heard a jay last week, although it defied my eyes.

Soon my eyes will see the trees slowly open their fingers to reveal the hat trick they do every year. It always delights, and every year I think, "I should take a picture of this road every day from first bud to full leaf." Maybe this year I will. Does everyone know the color of the first leaf? It is not the color of summer--it is the color of new.
Very nearly transparent, tender to the touch...
fragile.
Hopeful.

Yes, in hope and the most ancient of wisdom the trees make leaf every year without fail.
Is my hope that wise? That confident? That brash?
To live out loud even though the sky is gray, the earth sepia, and white blankets threaten to suffocate again?
To know and not care that the leaf will once again turn russet, wither, and die?

Yet we must, or we shall die. One year's crop is meant to take us through the suffocating winter. One summer's fruit--oh, how sweet!--made for us to yearn for, work for, protect, and savor.

How is it that we can hope over and over again? When last year's crop rots, our flesh pales, and all is sepia--what do we long for but life and warmth and color?
When it is too long in the coming, do we give up hope? Do we stay under our blanket of loneliness, remembering only the weight of cares? Even then, do we not wish for hope, however out of reach it seems?

If you are stuck in bed, unable to move, listen as Jesus says to you, "Take heart, child, your sins are forgiven!" (Matthew 9:2)
Look him in the eyes, let hope ring in your ears.
Reach out your tired hand for his.
Believe that he gives you the strength that comes from remembering your sins no more
NO
MORE

He stretched his hands as far as they could go
LET the nails dig in deep, crushing bone on their way through
His feet lifted up from the ground
The suffocating pull of limbs tied to a tree
He felt everything, refusing the offer of relief (Mark 15:23)

He who was perfect
became the perfect lamb
so I could know the perfect lover
and live
after dying
because he is alive.

Three Marys at the Tomb, by Bouguereau

 And adding hope to hope
He is coming back for me.

The New Reality

She says it here. This lady named Ann who found her voice in giving thanks for 1,000 gifts.

radical has to be the Christian’s new normal, that radical isn’t radical but the regular to the disciple of Christ

 And I keep reading about her trip to Haiti, the boys, the Bibles, the thirsty land. I've heard of this thirsty land before. One of our pastors took his family there to live for a while, to bring living water to this dry and thirsty land, a land of thanks-givers who have nothing compared to us, and yet everything.

And her words cut me right through. No, the Holy Spirit cuts through the deception, the self-serving, the thick skin that I put on to keep from hurting. And I see myself a little more clearly, and I don't like what I see. I could turn away, forgetting what I look like. But I keep reading.

...and who is ready to have less so we all have something, or do we all want everything so most get nothing?
We’ve got all of God. Why not share the rest?
Or maybe we don’t — because we don’t really have Him at all?

And I know how I hold back from giving of myself. I hear myself saying, "I want to be there. I want to get for a while."

I am so tired of plowing and sowing, plowing and sowing, plowing and sowing...and just when it looks like there might be a harvest, another pastor leaves from shame or sheer exhaustion. We have seen seven come, six go, and finally we left. Tired, hungry, wounded...and I no longer blame any of those who have gone before, over the 27+ years, while we stayed, plowing and sowing, plowing and sowing. When comes the rejoicing? When comes the carrying the sheaves?

And I just want to sit a while. I am thirsty now, and want to soak it up from others for a while. I want to be there.

And we were asked to be here again. To have meetings once a week. No, I say. I want. I want to be there. Once or twice a month will still give me time to be there without here being too inconvenient.

And there is thirst.

And I read on...
I read about the boy begging for food or drink and receiving the Bread of Life and his huge grin.
And I know what it is about, and what it is about is not me.

In tears, I cry "uncle!" Tell him we will do it here, in our home. Yes. Every week, if that is what is wanted, needed. I give.

I have been thirsty. And in my thirst, I've kept the water for myself, and the fountain has stopped.

John 4:13-14

13 Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

When I give again, it is promised that my water will turn into a well for those around me in need.

I give.


 

His answer is love.

Ann Voskamp, author of 1000 Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are, is a farmer’s wife. She and her neighbors are living through a drought that is threatening their entire year’s work and income.

Standing in their yard overlooking their corn fields, watching clouds drop rain to the north, to the west, and to the south, she is shaken inside by worry. Her husband turns to her and says, “When you know your Father’s loving – what can you fear losing? He hears us. He loves us. He has us. So whatever happens, He’s good and we’re good.”

Ann writes, “We pray to the Lord knowing His answer is Love.”

 Please click there and read her words, soft and full and pure.

How many times did we as children say to a parent, “If you love me, you will do ___ for me.” (Let me go to the movies with my friends…give me that special thing for my birthday/Christmas…) 

How many times as adults do we think to ourselves, “If ___ really loves me, he/she would ___.”

How many times as children of God have we used these very words to Him?

Oh, we don’t actually say them, but we think them when we pray, asking for things.

“Lord, please, don’t let me lose my job,” when the pink slips are passed around.

“Oh, God, keep my car running until I can afford another.”

“Please, heal Aunt Dorothy of cancer.”

The words, “If You love me,” are not in the question, but they are in the expecting. They are in the air of the heart when the answer is not what we wanted.

I must not be good enough. I must not have enough faith. I must not be loved by God enough to get what I want – what I believe I need.

His answer is love. It always was. It always will be.

What can we fear losing if all our hearts are tied up in Him? He is the one thing we can never lose, as long as He is the one thing we desire.

Jer 29:13  And you shall seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Heb 13:5-6  Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never leave you; I will never abandon you." Let us be bold, then, and say, "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?"

Oh, how our hearts can go a-wandering after other loves!

Mat 6:31-33  Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, With what shall we be clothed? For the nations seek after all these things. For your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.

 

Our primary goal … shouldn’t it be to become, not to obtain?

Eph 4:13  This will continue until we are united by our faith and by our understanding of the Son of God. Then we will be mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him.

So, let us become like Him who received the full cup, not turning away, even though it was not what He wanted.

Luk 22:42  saying, Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.

1000 Gifts # 9 - 11

9. practicing "Blessings" by Laura Story with my son
10. a busy day, making time go faster
11. sons who are able and willing to do all sorts of little things that make life easier

and tomorrow:
a gift found on a paper, in a person, in a picture

to say it out loud

Have I told you about my middle son's fiancee'?

I should say this to her face. Why is it so hard to say the nice things?
to say it out loud?

Well, if you know her, you know that she is

sensitive

I could learn a lot from her, for I have far to go down this path

kind
she willingly helps family and friends
she is great with kids


smart as a whip!
she is constantly learning new skills, trying new things, and doing it all the right way

Quiet

once again, I could use a dose of this

BRAVE

new job

- twice in the last year!

new city
new apartment
no problem!

faithful and fiercely loyal

hard working

she has been chef's assistant at our New Year's Eve dinner (with 70+ guests) for three years running, working two plus days straight side by side with him, her fiance'

with excellence

with humility

skill

and patience

 Melissa

she doesn't hear it enough

not from me, anyway

one goal of mine this year: to say it out loud

Women, what do you want in a man? Do you have a list?

Does it look something like this:

* romantic
* funny
* tall
* strong
* looks equally good in a jacket and tie or jeans and t-shirt
* always there for me
* sensitive
* can grow a good beard

What do you like to do together? Long walks on the beach, holding hands...gazing intently into each other's eyes...

Are you longing for a knight in shining armor to sweep you off your feet and take you to his castle far away (but not too far away).

What do you want with a boyfriend? Spend endless hours on the phone or Skype talking about every detail of your day? Dream about your future? Go out to movies? Celebrate your anniversary every month? Cuddle on the couch watching movies?


Men, is this where you are, too? 

Gazing for hours with your chin on her laptop, puppy dog eyes, getting scratched behind the ears?
Have you willingly stuck your neck out for that collar and leash? Are you at her beck and call...only to get zapped in the collar if your attention should wander, or your family needs you, or you have to work an extra shift, or...


Listen up:

Men, if you really, truly care about her (even if you do not know who she is yet), then you will work your A$$ OFF fingers to the bone to slay that debt dragon and win that castle. If you want to be that knight in shining armor, then get your wagging tail out there and work two jobs if you have to, get that education, pay it off, buy that house or chock it all into savings for a down payment. Buy a junker car that will get you to work until you can afford the nicer car. You cannot have it all now, but you can work for it -- that's the American dream.


Women, if you really want that fairy tale life, then get rid of the puppy dog boyfriend, and look for the man who is willing to give everything he has for you. The one who will put the dreaming on hold long enough to build the reality that becomes the dream.

He is out there, but he won't wear a collar.  

You don't have to worry about where he will go, though, 

because he is doing it all for you, and when he has it all together, he is going to sweep you off your feet and build that life with you. That life that he gave all he had for. That life that he dreamed of sharing with you.

Oh, yes, he is dreaming. Every minute that he is not studying for that exam, every time he drives to and from that crappy job that will get him through until he has the career he worked hard for, every lunch hour when he sees that boy co-worker across the break room (who is spending his entire lunch time texting and not having enough time to make lunch because she demands his entire focus),
yes, he is dreaming...

dreaming of you

dreaming of the children he would love to have with you
dreaming of the swing set and jungle gym in the back yard that he longs to build, because he had one (or didn't have one) of his own
while the boy guy across the room dreams of the new exhaust system he is going to put on the car he owes more on than it is worth any more

Yes, he is dreaming, all right. He isn't likely to talk about those dreams too much, though. He is waiting to make them happen. He is waiting for you. He is waiting to surprise and delight you with their reality.

He is wary of the bumps in the road and the bends around which he cannot see.

He wants to be trusted.
He wants to be believed in.
He wants to be loved

honored

He is strong, a little wild, and fiercely loyal.

He will 
defend you
cherish you
provide for your needs (and even your wants)

He will not
abandon his family for you (remember, he is fiercely loyal)
be controlled (but you won't need to)
abandon you
be able to read your mind
give you the very best money can buy -- not yet (you do want something to look forward to, don't you?)

So, women, don't settle for the puppy dog boy

Hold out for the bull dog man

Here is how you will know the difference:

He doesn't have a cool car (it will probably have a bit of rust, and maybe the door knob doesn't always work...)
He doesn't wear designer clothes (unless they are handed down)

He doesn't hang out at the

mall
movie theater
bar

He is busy

studying
volunteering at church
watching the nieces and nephews
shoveling mom and dad's driveway, mowing the lawn, fixing the steps
working two jobs

You will find him.

He is out there.

Waiting for you.

Looking at the top of the tree, not on the ground.

If you are there, he will find you.