I don’t know what I was thinking… an hour to spare and I said, ” Why don’t we take this other trail? It seems silly to go home when we could keep walking for another hour. It can’t possibly take that long.” I don’t know if the map was totally exaggerated or if I was oxygen deprived and not thinking straight, but for me to suggest we hike further????? Totally not me. First of all, let me set the record straight, I do like to hike… as long as the trail is relatively flat, the air is cool and I can wear my flip-flops. Also, I need to walk with slow walking people… my leg stride is so short that I have to run to keep up with others and believe me, I have a few friends who just about kill me when we are walking… at the mall. You know who you are..
But the point is, hiking is a fun way to exercise my body and my mind. I love to look at the world around me as I walk and marvel at creation..( I also, like to stop and sit on creation and take a breather every now and then) I often wonder what it would be like to be someone walking that same route 100 years ago. Obviously, it is a way to get my mind off of the fact that I’m panting and doubled over… but it is way better than walking through a neighborhood or on a treadmill. Way prettier pictures…
Our hike last Friday was at a place we had never been before… we checked it out for its family friendliness and decided that it was going to be a diamond in the rough… a total treasure that we had overlooked. The pictures sported beautiful streams, small and medium sized water falls, a river overlook, rustic bridges, a wild animal or two… we were excited. We gathered our walking sticks… yes, we are that professional… our picnic cooler, cameras and I threw on my flip-flops and headed out the door.
After lunch we headed to the information center to get our trail map and into the woods we went. Our walk was a tree covered, dirt path that took us to a water gate that was long deteriorated and gone … probably for a century and a half… there was an incredible rock wall that had stood the test of time but the stream was a trickle…The only wildlife we saw was a tick crawling on a leg and my husband throwing a rock off of the trail to make us think something was moving in the woods…. Our seven-year-old began to grow weary and began stating her favorite hiking place was not the one where we were…her favorite, she reminded us, was the one that my husband had first suggested we go… I kept telling her to keep her opinions to herself… she longed to see a waterfall…I was determined that this would be her new favorite place…mainly because it was my suggestion… so I didn’t want to leave until she could find that picture perfect waterfall. I wasn’t finding the waterfalls on the map so I thought the river overlook might satisfy a seven-year-old’s desire to see water.
We worked our way back to the main path and I realized that we had a hour before the trails closed… it seemed such a waste to leave after such a short little walk…. we hadn’t even seen a waterfall. As we stood on the hot main trail, our older daughter decided that wanting a haircut was more important than our physical health and she started to zone out of the hiking mood… the first trail was fun but now in the hearts of all but me… well, it was time to leave. Instead, of leaving we took a shortcut through an open meadow that made us all cranky and thirsty. I hike in flip-flops so it is probably also apparent that I would not hike with a bottle of water or any other kind of liquid for that matter. We all began to get thirsty. My husband just so happened to have a Diet Coke Plus in the camera case and the girls were at least able to share that. About two thirds of the way into our “shortcut” we realized our timing was going to be an issue and now the whole bathroom thing kicked in too. We were so close to the river overlook that it seemed silly to walk away so my husband said that we could definitely make it if we walked back in double time. “Double time? I have been walking in double time,” I said. ….. (Remember my walking stride is short) So I finally shrugged it off and said, “On to the Overlook” With frustrated hiking daughters, we made it there. Still no waterfall, but it was a nice view… a cool, safe cliff to sit on and look over into the murky waters of the Kentucky River…. totally worth the walk…. we double-timed our way back to the car… we made it out of the park with 3 minutes to spare before they closed the gates. It was as if we had accomplished a tremendous feat.
Sometimes it seems that the most difficult thing to overcome happens to be the best experience that we never dreamed it could be. Our hike wasn’t devastating… but it wasn’t filled with many moments that would be considered incredible at the time either. However, looking back, had we stopped walking when we did, we wouldn’t have seen the river from the overlook point and we wouldn’t have had the family memory…. now we can laugh about it.
I’m preparing for The Family Adventure (a family event where I work) and I was reading the Persistent Widow Parable. You know, that lady kept on “keeping on.” She didn’t give up asking for justice. She finally got on the nerves of the judge so he gave in to her request. 
Jesus said that if we see this uncaring, unjust judge answering the request, then just imagine what a loving Father would do. It would be really easy to look at that parable and take away from it that we have to beg and whine in order for God to answer our prayers the way we want them answered or we should ask God to be our genie in a lamp, but I don’t think that either is the point. I think the point may be to not give up before it is time to quit so you don’t miss out on the blessing that God has in store. Maybe persistence in prayer is not for us to feel good about the accomplishment or the gift, but maybe it helps us appreciate the power of God.
So, if you are hiking and are ready to quit before the trails close… double-time your walk and continue on to another trail… you might see something incredible.
If you are praying and seeking God’s will, don’t give up when things seem quiet… but instead keep on “keeping on” and hold on for an incredible experience of God at work.
He loves you.
Luke 18:1-8
Parable of the Persistent Widow
1 One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. 2 “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. 3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ 4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, 5 but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”
6 Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man[a] returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”
Tags: beg, Bible, cameras, children, Christ, cliffs, daughters, diamond in the rough, Diet Coke Plus, difficulty, dirt, experience, Family, family fun, flip flops, genie, God, haircut, Hiking, history, husband, incredible, Jesus, keep on, keeping on, Kentucky River, laughter, Love, Luke 18:1-8, mall, map, memory, nature, overlook, parable, persistence, persistent widow, picnic, prayer, Raven Run, rock wall, sandals, short, shortcut, story, trails, unjust judge, walking, walking sticks, waterfall, waterfalls, whine
I’m not sure that there is anything much cuter than a baby animal… well, not a baby narwhal but that is another story. So, my friend sent me an email saying that she had found a puppy on the internet that she wanted. A cute little girl whose photo was attached to the email. I know when Moses P. Diddy Hall was a little ball of fur he was SO cute so I was excited to see this little fluff that she was so smitten with. I popped open the picture with excitement to see a cute little fluffy, sweet puppy only to find a picture of a hairless little puppy with a comb over on her head…..okay, comb over is a bit dramatic but more like a frustrated genius scientist look… I will say that she wasn’t ugly and
seeing her little round, puppy belly even made her a cuter than I would have guessed, but it sure wasn’t the picture that I thought I was going to see. It was a photo of a Chinese Crested Puppy… .the hairless dog. Now, some people may think that Moe wasn’t such a cute puppy because of his pug nose and big eyes and in comparison to this puppy I would say they might balance the scale. So, my reply to my friend’s email was a quick, “Cute but…..
Sam
They grow up” and I sent her back a picture of Sam, the Champion Ugliest Dog… (a Chinese Crested adult dog who happened to win the ugliest dog contest several years in a row….And Moe… he tops that one… Well, it isn’t even a competition) I guess appreciation for some things is a matter of how you look at it. I suppose Sam’s owners must have appreciated his uniqueness. So, when Moe is now doing something that I think is annoying or bothersome I can remember the photo of the ugliest dog and be thankful that at times, even when he smells, Moe is kinda cute… I can appreciate his cuteness.
It seems that I’m finding myself appreciating other things a bit more too. The other night I was able to spend some time at the home where I spent the majority of my childhood. My parents don’t live there anymore but fortunately it is still in the family. I only spent a few hours there the other night but I could have stayed there forever. It was an appreciation of that place that I had somewhat forgotten. The house is approximately 100 years old and has been renovated with the comforts of air conditioning and central heat while being able to sit in the glassed in room and enjoy the beauty of a vegetable, fruit or flower garden. I can sit on the deck and smell fresh cut grass, hear the birds sing or crickets chirp while looking at acres and acres of rolling hills just as a family member may have done on the porch 70 years ago. I can remember sticking my feet in creeks, catching crawdads (or at least trying),
running in a yard so big that it would take up the whole cul-de-sac I live on now. It is beautiful.. and though I’ve always loved it there, I can’t say that I have appreciated it like I did the other night. There was just something different. Not sure exactly what it was that made me feel so blessed to walk through the grass or look at the trees I used to climb except maybe the fact that my daughters haven’t had that full experience. They have played outdoors but not in the same manner. Their outdoor life has been at a park or a small yard or a blacktop area where they have to watch for cars. So, eventhough I never wanted to move from there when my family did in my young teen years, maybe my deep appreciation comes from having moved away and then coming back.
I guess that is the way it is with life in general. We can’t always appreciate until we recognize the obstacle, hardship or the opposite. I think, had I stayed on the farm my whole life, I might be aching to get away.
I talked to the kids yesterday at church about Jesus feeding the 5000 with 2 fish and 5 little loaves of bread. Something that I found interesting is that Jesus asked Phillip how they were going to buy bread for everyone. I never really thought much about that question because the Bible says that Jesus was testing Phillip. Maybe he wanted Phillip to say, “Jesus, do your thing…you have healed the sick and even done the whole food thing. Remember? You made water turn into wine..what are you waiting for?” .. But after studying it a bit I’m thinking that Jesus wanted Phillip to recognize the obstacle and the difficulty in meeting the need so that when he did do his thing it wouldn’t be taken for granted and it would be remembered as great. Lots of people, little food… look what Jesus did.
My dog- sometimes annoying- take a look at the hairless dog and remember…. Yes, Moses P. Diddy Hall you are appreciated
The farm-moved away- look at what my kids haven’t had- and remember the beauty of God’s creation and where I grew up- appreciated
So what else can I appreciate? A spouse, a parent, a sibling, a child or a friend? Maybe a house, a car, a yard or a bed? Take time today to recognize the obstacle or the opposite of things in your life and appreciate today.
And by the way, my friend appreciated that little puppy enough to take her home…. Tasha is a new member of their family.
John 6
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
1Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. 3Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4The Jewish Passover Feast was near.
5When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
7Philip answered him, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”
8Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”
10Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 11Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
12When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
14After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
Tags: appreciation, baby animals, chinese crested, Christ, Christian, comb over, crawdad, crawfish, creeks, dog, Dogs, Faith, Family, farm, feeding 5000, garden, God, Jesus, Moses P. Diddy Hall, narwhal, pets, Phillip, puppy, Sam, scientist, shih tzu, the ugliest dog
Today I saw God at work. I saw a tiny, little hero leave a legacy in just a few, short hours. The three pound hero was a beautiful baby girl who we’ve been praying for ever since we found out that her parents were expecting her… and surprisingly expecting her twin brother too. The expectant dad and I work together and I am fortunately a part of a very close staff. We were excited enough to find out that they were going to be first time parents, but when they added the twin part of the equation to the pregnancy all of us on staff were elated and couldn’t wait for the June babies to arrive……I already loved those little ones as if they were family… in fact, I was ready for those little ones to call me “Aunt Nancy.”
Several months ago, though, our friends received discouraging news about their babies. It seemed that there was some trouble with one of the babies and things didn’t have a great outlook. With the discouraging news of low amniotic fluid for baby girl, came low percentages of the chance for her to make it to 24 weeks… likely both babies would not make it. Eventually bed rest was the only solution and for two months, mom and dad have lived at the hospital. It has become their second home. Prayers went out, time went by and baby girl surprised us all. She was doing remarkably well. She was growing and moving and regardless of the fluid situation was doing quite well. Baby boy was growing too, and according to experts should have been much bigger than his sister but she was holding her own.
Weeks passed and 24 weeks was long gone… each day was a milestone and each additional week was a miracle. The goal was to get the babies to at least 31 weeks and hopefully to 34 weeks but knowing that at anytime mom could be rushed to the OR.
Today was that day, at 31 weeks the babies had grown so much that it was safer for them to be born than to risk the lack of fluid. Mom and Dad were ready to deliver their babies and the rest of us were waiting in anticipation outside the delivery area. When they were born baby boy was doing quite well… but more discouraging news for baby girl. Her lungs weren’t developed enough and the doctors gave a grim outlook. Their prediction was correct. We were in the room as we watched Mom and Dad cuddle her, hold her and tell her goodbye. Three hours after her birth little Addison was gone.
So how did I see God at work? I guess one would think that God at work would mean a miraculous recovery for this little baby and we would be able to tell the world about how we saw a critical little baby become perfectly healthy… I had hoped that for my friends. I didn’t want them to experience something that most never have to experience… .I hoped that God would work that way but that was not his plan… but as I left the hospital I began thinking about what, according to those giving medical advice, should have happened long before this date. Little baby girl was not supposed to have lived this long but if she had died in utero then her brother would have likely died too. Both would have had to have been born at the same time and little baby boy wouldn’t have had the developed lungs to get him through too. …
The more I thought about it the more I thought about the miracle that I saw today… a little, tiny baby girl saved the life of her brother…. she fought when others thought she couldn’t… she grew when others thought it was impossible… she arrived and gave her parents the joy of seeing her move her little hands and feet and the joy of holding her in their arms… what a hero she lived to be and what a legacy she left behind… her brother.
My friends are not alone… they trust in a great big God who has a plan that we can’t always understand… they have friends and family who have gathered around them as they grieve for one child and rejoice in the health of the other… they also have experienced something that others have also experienced…. If you or one you know is going through a similar situation please know that there is a God who wants to comfort you through and that there are others out there that have gone through what you are now… support can be found at:
http://www.climb-support.org/index.html
http://www.nationalshare.org/
http://www.missfoundation.org/
Tags: amniotic fluid, baby, bed rest, brother, CLIMB, Faith, Family, goals, God, grieve, hero, Hope, hospital, Incubator, joy, miracle, Miss Foundation, Neonatal, NICU, preemie, pregnacy, premature baby, SHARE, sister, twins, work
There is something in the spring sunshine that allows the hibernating winter eye to suddenly see three things:
- Dirt/Dust and general messiness
- Extra plumpness around the mid-section
- an exaggerated rate of growth in anything green in the yard
And the consequences of this new spring sight are:
- Spring Cleaning
- Bike riders and joggers everywhere
- the cranking up of lawn mowers and weed eaters
There is one more thing in our house that is noticeable …. our beloved but high maintanance dog, Moses P. Diddy Hall a.k.a. Moe, has a shaggy do… You might be thinking a trip to the groomers is the consequence to Moe’s long locks but not at our 
house. We are thrifty when it comes to giving Moe his spring makeover…. shears and scissors and he’s looking good. Well, lets just say, he looks different….. and not how I intended. You know how when you begin to cut something and you realize that when you cut one side and then it is so incredibly uneven with the other side you then try to even it up only to find out that the other side is now longer? Well, I do…. and so does Moe. His nice little beard and strategically fashioned head hair kept getting shorter and shorter until he looks like … well, he looks like ugly Moe. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder because several have said he looks really nice… I can’t see beyond his resemblence to the dragon, Falcor, in “The Neverending Story”. Regardless, Moe has opened the door for our spring changes… next spring job for me? Get one of those tomato tree stands as seen on TV and get to work being thrifty with my garden.
There is no special secret to Moe’s haircut. It is something we do several times a year. At least he is not ashamed like our old dog, Sam, who used to hide behind the couch for about a week after his haircut… Moe thinks he looks nice… he doesn’t need to know otherwise.
But through all of this haircut event it just so happened that I was reading (Judges 13-16:31) and my memory was refreshed of the story of Samson. I’m always amazed when I see stories that depict Samson as some great hero and so often that is how we teach his story to children. There was really nothing heroic about Samson’s healthy life… what I mean by that is during a time in his life when he was at his physical best he was also at his character worst…. he was spoiled, manipulative, greedy, loud mouthed, arrogant, womanizing and violent… not qualities that make a great hero that you want your kids to emulate…It was through these character traits that Delilah came into the picture… her whining and manipulative ways placed him in a position to give away the secret of his strength… his hair… and then she cut it off ( much like the Moses P. Diddy look, I would assume) It was after this humbling experience of losing his strength and being blinded that Samson had to depend on strength from God… he wasn’t the same guy he had been earlier… and it was his final act that was the heroic one… He prayed to God to give him the ability to use his strength to do what God had wanted him to do in the first place… now that is a a hero
So two things I learned from Samson
- I learned that sometimes we have to be humbled in order for God to truly be able to work through us… with all of the strength that God had given Samson, Samson was too busy worrying about the ladies and getting revenge that he wasn’t paying attention to what God was calling him to do… but God accomplished it anyway and Samson missed out on the good things because his focus wasn’t on God
- I learned that no matter how lousy of a person we may have been at one point in our lives, God is a loving and forgiving God and can take that old person and create a new one… regardless of the circumstances. Samson got rid of the Philistines… even though he was pretty much an arrogant jerk… God still listened to his prayers and gave him another chance …
So if God wants me to share his story or help someone and I am too focused on my life and my wants and desires… I might just be humbled and those who I am to help will still get my help only in a way that I hadn’t really expected or hoped to have to deal with…
So what is God preparing me for? What is he asking me to depend on him for? What am I risking because my focus is on something less than God?
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Now, as far as I know, Moe’s haircut means nothing other than the fact that he looks quite a bit less shaggy… but, I’m not tying him up between two load bearing walls in our house, if you know what I mean… better safe than sorry.
Tags: Bible, Cleaning, Comedian, Delilah, dog, dragon, Falcor, God, Grooming, Hair, Jesus, Jogging, Moses P. Diddy Hall, Neverending Story, Old Testament, pet, Samson, shih tzu, Spring, Tim Hawkins
If you’re not Irish, not a beer drinker or don’t happen to have a green piece of clothing in your wardrobe then March 17th kind of leaves you feeling like you are missing out. But I have a solution! St. Patrick’s Day has held the limelight for so long that people have totally overlooked the next great March holiday… Awkward Moments Day! March 18th is day to revel in your foot in the mouth, blushing, heart-racing, awkward moments… I think most of us have something to celebrate on that day. I know I do..How about this one? Falling down the steps at Rupp Arena… rolling, rolling, rolling all the way down ..or how about this? Totally forgetting something or about something only to later experience that awkward moment because of the forgetfulness……
Okay, here’s my story.. when you move into a new place you want to make a good impression. So I was invited to a new friend’s house to scrapbook while our girls swam in the backyard pool. We’ll days before I had gone to a store and being an outlet type store it had name brand undies that were branded “irregular.” I couldn’t imagine that it was anything but maybe a wrong color thread so for the great bargain price I bought them. So on this day of scrapbooking I was chatting with my new friend in her kitchen when she went out to check on the girls and I went back to my scrapbooking space. As I was walking I felt something on my leg. At first I thought maybe it was a spider or something so I shooed it away but as I swiped at the “bug” I felt some fabric. I grabbed it only to be amused at the fact that a sock was caught in my shorts and had made it’s way well below my knee cap for all to see. I grabbed it and giggled as I thought of this funny story to tell my new friend but as I grabbed it and pulled I realized that it wasn’t releasing itself and I thought it must be caught so I pulled harder. It was at this moment that I totally realized that this was no sock ………..it was my irregular underwear. The seam had a bit of dry rot I suppose and completely fell apart… but only one leg. I quickly fled to the bathroom to fix it and found out that fixing it wasn’t even an option.. the only choice was to discard it. As if that wasn’t awkward enough… there is more… I didn’t know how to get rid of the underwear. There was a dirty clothes hamper right there in front of me but I knew better. There was an almost empty trash can, but how weird would that be to find a pair of unknown panties in the trash can in your own home’s basement bathroom… awkward… So I did what anyone else would have done…. I stuck it in my pocket and though I was a bit uncomfortable, tried to finish up my time there as if nothing had happened.
On our way home that afternoon, I was nearly on empty so I stopped to get gas. I filled it up, went in to pay and while rummaging through my pants for change felt something weird in my pocket. I thought to myself, “What is this?” At that moment, while waiting to pay for my gas I reached into my pocket and pulled out, in front of everyone behind the counter and in line at the Shell station, my irregular underwear! I was mortified… totally awkward moment!
Why is it that we forget so easy? After feeling so awkward about the fact that I had to put my undies in my pocket, why on earth did I not remember that they were there?
I guess the whole forgetting this is pretty common… in the Bible I’ve been reading for some time about the Israelites who are constantly being saved by God but yet they continually forget about what he has done for them. They gripe and complain, rebel and disobey all because they aren’t thinking back and therefore aren’t reminded of what God has done for them already. What he has given them …
What have you stuffed in your pocket? Give yourself an opportunity to remember what God has done in your life.
By the way, I’d love to hear it.
Happy Awkward Moments Day!
Tags: Awkward Moment, elephant, forgetful, forgetfuleness, God, green, holiday, Irish, Irregular, Kiss me, March, Rupp Arena, Scrapbook, shamrock, Shopping, St. Patrick's day
Maybe you are like me and you can reflect over a time period and then think of something that you find to be pretty valuable. Possibly a funny story to remember, a heart-warming incident that you never want to forget, an observation that strikes you as pretty amazing, or maybe even a lesson learned… Well, I had one of those times this weekend where I could just reflect on current little things that I would consider little treasures…. I think I’ll call it “mind booty” (what’s a treasure without pirate talk, yer know… arrrrr)… the treasure that is swiped right out of your mind…
Here’s the booty.. one jewel at a time…
Jewel #1– Lesson Learned- Even if the car in front of you does it too…..the “right turn only” 
sign means just that
Jewel #2 – Funny story to remember- A stimulus package is not a high energy flavored drink package that you dump into bottled water (don’t ask)
Jewel #3–Amazing observation- Children of today, who live in a high-tech society, have 24/7 communication with others (cell phones, internet….yes, even little children), have received more information by age 10 than a 15 year-old would have 15 years ago, are able to play sports, exercise their bodies and exercise military operations from the comfort of their couch with a joystick (and if they have a Wii they may possibly stand up)… all of this and they still enjoy playing in a cardboard box
Jewel #4–Funny Story- One who turns 7 years-old actually LIKES having people sing Happy Birthday to them in a restaurant
Jewel #5– Heart warming moment- No matter how old you are and no matter if you see it every year, there is still something special about those events that Disney puts together..
Each one of those little incidents, for whatever reason, make up memories that I don’t want to forget.. a little treasure or mind booty (arrrr…)
I love that about the Bible too. I can read something one time and read it again later only to see something that I didn’t catch before… like yesterday… I have read the story of how Jesus was betrayed many times. I know the whole kiss on the cheek, ear cut off, denying of the denial, the false allegations, etc., but I caught something last night that I have either skimmed over in the past or just never seen. It is Mark 14:51-52. It tells of a young man who had been following Jesus and his disciples. When all of the action of the arrest was taking place someone grabbed this guy and in doing so, his clothes ripped right off and he ran away naked…it is not mentioned in any other account of the arrest, just in Mark and it is only two little sentences. At first I thought that it was kind of funny… I chuckled as I pictured the scene of him being scared out of his clothes. Then I thought about it (arrr…. searched for the treasure) ….right before that little story it said that everyone deserted Christ and ran… This guy didn’t get away in time so he did what he had to do… ran naked…
In that reflection I wondered if I have ever run away from Christ when times got a little scary.. When Christ asked me to do something that made me feel a little fearful and instead of trusting, I ran?…My rebellious pirate answer? “Aye,”….. I have and I might just be able to say that when I felt trapped, I did what I thought I had to do to run away from Christ …..not even considering about how I was acting or even how I looked as I took those steps….
Fortunately, we have a loving God who wants to be our treasure. He knows when we are running scared and he is ready and waiting to give us fresh clothes, nourishment and guide us in the direction we know we should have gone in the first place. And the best part-he doesn’t leave us running by ourselves… I’m thankful that I ran back.
Are you running to or from your treasure?
Mark 14:43-52
43Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.
44Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
48“Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? 49Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” 50Then everyone deserted him and fled.
51A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, 52he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.
Tags: arrest, Bible, booty, cardboard box car, Christ, Disney, Easter, energy drink, God, heart warming, humor, Jesus, lesson, memories, observation, passion story, Pirates, reflection, running away, stimulus package, treasure
If you have been following along for awhile you may be aware that I enjoy a superhero every now and then… particularly those with off the wall powers….you know, like the ability to clear up misunderstandings or the ability to translate for a drive-thru restaurant speaker…I’ve been wondering about something for the last two days… maybe not wondering outwardly but inwardly… I’ve seen adults acting differently and children behaving in an manner out of the ordinary….I have felt if maybe there was some kind of an evil plot against people.. some force to be reckoned with…..some evil super villain with an evil plan…… Eventhough, I don’t necessarily believe that there is a evil super villain lurking through Kentucky, it did make me think and I put on my superhero creating cap and thought about the brilliant evil plan of a super villain….
Let me begin by sharing what would be my sinister plot if I just happened to be a super villain for once….. though it would require a great deal of patience, over time it would bring doom to those who opposed me and I would have complete control… This is my sinister plan-
I would:
- make people so grumpy (particularly children) that no one could possibly get along … creating a plan for mass distraction… everyone would be frustrated, angry or not talking to each other, so no one would be able to work together to create a defense against me
- make children detest rest and sleep by staying up later and not relaxing as normal… they will no longer be able to learn at their full potential… as they grow their intelligence will be iffy
- make workers, particularly those of odd hours, also detest rest and relaxation so their productivity will decrease… causing low self esteem and output..and eventually creating apathy and a loyalty to me as my words of encouragement will seem sincere.
- allow more play time for children (incredibly sneaky way of causing divisiveness between parents and their offspring leading to disrespect and discipline issues)
- allow more play time for adults (another incredibly sneaky way of causing divisiveness between co-workers, spouses, etc)
- allow farmers and others in an outdoor working field more time at their jobs so they can be overworked and very tired … too tired to fight when the day is through…..
- create mass confusion by tricking adults into believing that they are on time to work, church, etc, only to really be late- causing stress related health issues..(high blood pressure, anxiety attacks, etc)
- cause commercial travel delays and stand stills… again working on the stress related health issues
Now you might be wondering how to accomplish this mighty task… It is extremely simple… All I will do is tell people that for the good of the economy, energy savings and just for fun we must all extend the daylight in our lives by an hour. My plan will also tell them that they will eventually get that hour back later in the year but the reality will be that their human nature will not give them that hour back because they will stay up later because they think they have an extra hour…
It is brilliant! Brilliant! I tell you! Bwahahahaha!!!!
What? It’s already been done?
Darn you blasted Spring Forward Daylight Saving Time!
Now I don’t get to wear my fancy super villain suit….. it was perfect. The blues represented the night and day skies… the star was my secret way of making people think that they would still see stars…. The skin color was to originally represent the tan of one who is in the sun for a longer period of time but since we are talking me… my skin color would be a bright shade of burnt red… and then to top it off.. I won’t even get to use the evil name of Daylightra…
Oh well, since the evil plot of Daylight Saving Time is already happening maybe I should focus on the creation of a superhero who can add an hour of sleep to everyone’s day without shortening the day… Maybe he would be called Captain 25 Hours!
Today I did read about what it means to be on the side of good though… not in Superhero terms but in spiritual terms.. In Deuteronomy 7, God is leading the Israelites into the land that He promised them… and in doing so they are fearful of those that they will have to move out of the way. God tells them that to remember that by following the laws he has laid out for them He will do incredible things and they won’t have to worry… Why would we even want to flirt with evil when we know the power behind the Creator God? The opposition of God will always lose… those are the facts…no more super villain ideas for me….
Deuteronomy 7
17 You may say to yourselves, “These nations are stronger than we are. How can we drive them out?” 18 But do not be afraid of them; remember well what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt. 19 You saw with your own eyes the great trials, the miraculous signs and wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm, with which the LORD your God brought you out. The LORD your God will do the same to all the peoples you now fear. 20 Moreover, the LORD your God will send the hornet among them until even the survivors who hide from you have perished. 21 Do not be terrified by them, for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God. 22 The LORD your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you. 23 But the LORD your God will deliver them over to you, throwing them into great confusion until they are destroyed. 24 He will give their kings into your hand, and you will wipe out their names from under heaven. No one will be able to stand up against you; you will destroy them. 25 The images of their gods you are to burn in the fire. Do not covet the silver and gold on them, and do not take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it, for it is detestable to the LORD your God. 26 Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. Utterly abhor and detest it, for it is set apart for destruction.
(By the way… take note of verse 23.. I’m wondering it was ancient Daylight Saving Time that caused the confusion… I’m just saying….)
Tags: adults, children, Daylight Saving Time, daytime, Deuteronomy, Faith, God, humor, intelligence, Kentucky, nighttime, plan, plot, relaxing, rest, sunburn, Superhero, tan, villain
Thursday night I received an unexpected text message… It brought such a feeling of warmth and love. On Friday I wasn’t expecting calls from two different friends but the calls came and along with them brought an undeserved warmth and another touch of love. An email on Friday also did the same. Then there was a smile today and a hug that one more time brought that warmth and love. Oh yes, and a note of appreciation that completely humbled me….Pretty overwhelming when I think about them all together. You might be thinking that all of that is not really that uncommon. Maybe not, but what made it so special was it was unexpected…. not that the expected hug from my daughter before she enters her school building or other family and friend expected acts of warmth and love aren’t wonderful too…. this was just different… these were unexpected acts that were totally from the heart… from one heart to touch the heart of another… I just happened to be the recipient and I was totally affected.
This afternoon I heard of the shooting in a church in Maryville, Illinois. A gunman walked into the Maryville First Baptist Church and shot and killed the pastor during his first Sunday morning service leaving the congregation and community stunned. Maryville was very close to where I lived in Illinois and I know exactly where the church is and even taught a child in school who attended that church. It seemed to hit home.
When I started thinking about the situation……. the pastor, his family, the church family, their grief….. I wondered who might just have been that last person to have offered an unexpected act of warmth and love to the pastor. You know, beyond his normal hugs and love from his family and close friends…. who offered him a hug of thanks or a note of appreciation? Who sent him a text to see how his week was going and how someone could be praying for him? Who told him that he had been a catalyst in a changed life? I hope there were many…but the reality is, maybe there weren’t. It doesn’t mean that people didn’t think it or feel it but maybe it was something that they felt was uncomfortable or timing was bad… sometimes it is just something we take for granted
I’ve been reflecting on this situation in Maryville because it happened to a pastor and I am a pastor but it’s not a setting irrelevant to others…… the Bible is specific that things happen without warning and without a lot of time to think about it … all the more reason to extend and Unexpected Act of Warmth and Love to others… A mentor, a boss, a neighbor, a friend, a family member and the list goes on……we all need them
An Unexpected Act of Warmth and Love is not to be confused with a Random act of kindness… a random act of kindness is meant to do good too, but an Unexpected Act of Warmth and Love is an act from the heart that is directed to the heart of another.
My eyes are open and my heart is ready… I don’t want to miss an opportunity… and to those who made the calls, texts, emails hugs, smiles and notes… I doubt you have any idea how precious that was to me…. Thank you!
Matthew 25
1“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’9” ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.11“Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’ 12“But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ 13“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Tags: bridegroom, card, Christ, death, email, Faith, First Baptist Church, God, heart, Illinois, Jesus, life, Love, Maryville, note, oil lamps, parable, phone, Random act of kindness, student, teacher, ten virgins, text, time
I’m not a fan of all the Hollywood Hoopla and hype and often feel like it is way out of control so watching the Oscars is not on my list of things to do…I do however, find some value in honoring some highlights in life.. so I created my own Personal Oscars… Same categories, real people and no one competes against the late Heath Ledger. Here are the winners in each category
Actor in a Leading Role- My husband! Chris told our friend Jeff, who was not in a position to watch a recent college basketball game, that the UK Wildcats were down by 20 points. Chris was amazing as he kept a straight face while watching Jeff in anguish until I blew the whole scene when I revealed that Kentucky was actually winning by 18. 
Actor in a Supporting Role- My husband! There are so many times when I know my husband is tired or doesn’t feel good but yet is always doing things around the house to help…and almost 100 percent without complaining.
- Actress in a Leading Role – My neighbor, Alex! Alex planned a wonderful surprise anniversary party for her mom and dad. She planned the whole event, ordered the cake, prepared a cookout at a friend’s house, got everything in order then called her parents to come get her because her car was “broken down”….. Not bad at all for an 18 year old young lady. It was too bad that her parents couldn’t be there though. They were actually at a fundraising event and couldn’t leave. So we all had the anniversary party without them. We did take a picture of everything for them though and later her mom was able to get away and come by. Alex was excellent in not only her call to her parents for car help but in hiding her frustration throughout the whole situation.
- Actress in a Supporting Role- My daughter Allison! Allison was in the local middle school production of “The Lunch Bunch”. This was the first year that she had the courage to audition and came out with flying colors. Hopefully more stage limelight for her!
- Animated Feature Film- my daughter Leah! If stop motion is considered animated then she gets the award for “Barbie doll Zombie” (not the original title) on my Iphone
- Art Direction- My husband! Chris is an amazing behind the scenes kind of guy. He is incredibly creative and often is my go to guy when I need direction in my creativity
- Cinematography – My friend Marcia! This was a tough one because during our recent ice storm there were so many incredible photos taken of beautiful scenes with great lighting and settings but it was one of Marcia’s photos that inspired me to go take some for myself.
- Costume Design- Libby Lou’s! My 6 year old spent the day at the mall with her older sisters. I went to pick them up only to find her with pink streaks in her hair, glitter and sparkly hearts and stars on her face. She was also sporting a Libby Lou’s pink sash along with other Libby Lou paraphernalia… I don’t know why that place is going out of business… We are one of the many who should have paid enough to keep it open.
- Directing- My daughter, Allison! She is great at directing her little sister to do things and some she herself could even do.
- Film Editing- My husband and myself! Key phrase, “Turn that off!”
- Foreign Language Film – My daughter Catie! Catie is often known for her ability to make people tilt their heads and ask, “What did she just say?” A few months ago in my attempt to go “greener” I bought a pack of bottled water in which the plastic bottles were made from corn. Catie took one to school for lunch and her friends were commenting about how hippie-like Catie was with her “green” bottled water. Catie said, ” Well, I’m just saving the fresh water so there will be more for others.” All of her friends stopped talking and looked at her in silence with question marks on their faces. “What?” they all asked. Catie, very proudly, chimed back in, “The water is made from corn so therefore others can have the fresh water.” Her friends all had a good laugh when they finally explained to her that it was not the water but the bottle that was made from corn. The girl does make really good grades… really.
- Makeup- My friend, Robin! This past summer our church had a Family Adventure. The theme was Adventure Island and we took on a theme similar to Pirates of the Caribbean. Robin’s son Alex was a nightly actor and his eye makeup creeped out some and the others of us laughing until we cried! Johnny Depp’s makeup artist has nothing on Robin.
- Music (Score) – My car riders! While listening to music in the car we concoct “Life Soundtracks.” These are songs that play as we see people walking on the sidewalk, jogging/running or doing other activities. So often the song will match the beat they are walking to, making it seem as if that song was meant for them… their “Life Soundtrack.” Try it.. you’ll be amazed and it will probably bring a smile to your face.
- Music (Song) – My daughter Catie! She finally showed the world her beautiful voice by singing a solo in the State Traveling Youth Choir.
- Best Picture- My daughter, Allison! Normally I love school pictures but this year Allison forgot it was picture day…. and so did her hair. When she brought the proofs home we were pleasantly amazed and humored as we looked at her hair, pulled back and sticking out all over….. matching her cocked smile… oh if I could just show you!
- Short Film (Animated)– My daughter, Allison! She is amazingly animated when telling a story… just ask her to act out Bon Qui Qui at King Burger… Su-curity!
- Short Film (Live Action) – My daughter, Allison! An incredible Stunt Person … read here to find out why this Live “action” award would go to her.
- Sound Editing- My daughter, Catie! When picking her up from school she is barely in the car 2 minutes before she asks one of two questions, “Can I put my music in?” or “Can I change the channel?”
- Sound Mixing- Me! I often call my daughter Allison, Catie…..my daughter Leah, Allison … my daughter Catie, Allison and ashamed to say it but sometimes I have called our dog, Moe, Leah.
- Visual Effects-All of my girls! It is amazing how clean their rooms get when they really want to go somewhere… very visually appealing and almost just as if it was a magical special effect of sorts
- Writing (Adapted Screenplay)- My friends Melissa and Stephanie! They took a script and made it into something incredible for our Family Adventure… Oh, Snap
- Writing (Original Screenplay) – My daughter Catie! She wrote a children’s book about a cabin boy on the Mayflower.
There you have it… my 2009 Personal Oscars…. And as every good award winner says…. “I want to thank my family, my friends but most of all I want to thank God for making all of this possible. Thank you.” And you know, I actually mean it!
Tags: Academy Awards, actress, art, Basketball, Best Actor, Best Actress, costume, daughters, directing, editing, Family, film, friends, God, Heath Ledger, Hollywood, husband, makeup, Marriage, mother, music, Oscars, Parenting, picture, Pirates, Supporting actor, supporting role, thankful, UK Wildcats, University of Kentucky, winner
There have been so many times when I have done something that I thought was pretty great only to find out that it wasn’t quite so… example…
Painting class 101 or something like that in college… We had to pick a master artist and mimic his/her work…. I chose Monet… I worked so hard to have my painting look like his… I studied his brush stroke and color and my finished product looked similar or as similar as a college student who knew nothing about Monet could get. I was very proud of my piece.. Got to class that evening and pulled out my work and placed it in the line next to the others… everyone oohed and aahed….. not at my painting but at the one down the line from mine that was brilliant….. Dang it!! ……. the instructor, I never respected her much, was so incredibly critical of mine that I tossed my work in the trash as I left the room.. it took me several years to pick up another paintbrush after that class was over… …
and another...
As a teenager I had a tiny little LCD TV that I could carry around in my pocket if I wanted. (I never wanted) I also had a video game system that used game cartridges. In my mind, I thought that there had to be a way to bring those two things together… kind of like peanut butter and chocolate make a Reeses Cup… I was going to make a little tiny game system that changed games and would be small enough to fit in a pocket, if you wanted. Now these were days before the internet and google and the only way that I knew how to accomplish such a task would be to figure it out in the library or at MIT or something… my idea and dream stayed alive in my mind for years … then one day, it happened… GameBoy… Dang it!.. I could have made millions… If I had figured out how to make it first then I could be blogging on some beach right now… or at least in a bedroom that had matching furniture..
I chuckled today as I read in Exodus… The focal person in the whole exit out of Egypt is Moses but Moses’s brother, Aaron, played a big role too. After all Aaron was the one who did what Moses told him to do… he was kind of at the mercy of Moses… Can you imagine?
Exodus 7:10-12a
10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. 11 Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: 12 Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. DANG IT!
or
Exodus 7:19-22a
19 The LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt—over the streams and canals, over the ponds and all the reservoirs’-and they will turn to blood. Blood will be everywhere in Egypt, even in the wooden buckets and stone jars.” 20 Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded. He raised his staff in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was changed into blood. 21 The fish in the Nile died, and the river smelled so bad that the Egyptians could not drink its water. Blood was everywhere in Egypt. 22 But the Egyptian magicians did the same things by their secret arts, DANG IT!
There’s more… it happened again… only with frogs… three times the magicians were able to at least match what Aaron did… If you read the rest of verse twelve you know that Aaron’s snake was likely a bit more “realistic” as it ate up the magician’s snakes… but the whole point of what I am getting at is Aaron had some Dang it! moments there….He was doing something that was pretty incredible, something that God had asked him to do, only to be matched up by some nonbelieving magicians … I wonder what his facial expression was like when the magicians matched what he was doing? Was he looking at Moses with disgust, fear, frustration or did he stand proud and bold knowing he was doing what God had said to do? I would guess that since we don’t hear about a mutiny or a desertion that Aaron trusted… regardless…
So then if I am feeling like I am doing what God has asked me to do… no, not just feeling like it, but knowing it… and I find myself overwhelmed, incapable, feeling frustrated, frightened or forgotten, I can choose to give in and give up or I can choose to grit my teeth, hold onto the gifts that God has given me, listen to Moses (or that person that God has placed in my life) and take my Dang it! moments with trust…. oh, and I’ll remember one very important thing…
The fourth time Aaron was asked to show a miracle… it couldn’t be matched by the magicians. They themselves said it was from God. That was their Dang it! moment…..and from then on they weren’t even an obstacle…Now that is a total Woohoo! Moment!
Tags: Christian, Faith, Gameboy, God, Monet, Moses, Religion, Trust
The Prodygal Life 