Monday Morning Memo: Blessed and Doubly Blessed

If I didn’t know it before…I sure know it now.  I am blessed.  In fact I am blessed way more than I deserve and it seems like when doubt starts to rear its ugly head in me…God lovingly reminds me once again that I. Am. Blessed.

Let me explain.  We are in a Connection Group from our church.  You may have heard them referred to as Small Groups…we just have a fancier name for them J We are in this group with five other couples and we meet every other Wednesday evening.  We share a snack together, share our praises and prayer concerns and then spend time studying together.  This year’s study is on the book of Revelation…and while I was a little apprehensive at the beginning of having this as our subject…I am loving it!

But to be honest, I think we could do a study on “How to Buy Prunes” and I would be blessed.  Why?   Because we do life together.  The twelve of us really care for each other and I’m confident that they look forward to being together as much as Dan and I do.  These dear souls are our brothers and sisters in Christ and something special happens when we are together.  During our evenings we have laughed…cried…and shared and as a result God has blessed us again and again.

I love our prayer time because it really helps draw us even closer.  During this time we praise God for His answers to our prayers and we share those areas of our lives that still need God to work in a mighty way.  We have seen Him do some amazing things as a result of our prayers, which is a wonderful reminder that our God is alive and well and more powerful than we can even imagine!

But what probably blesses me the most is what happens during the time between our gatherings.  This group doesn’t just come together for an evening every two weeks and then walk out and forget everything until the next meeting rolls around.  They keep lifting each other up in prayer, taking everyone’s requests to our Father in heaven.  Our group knows that whenever they have a need, all they have to do is make a phone call or send out a text or e-mail, and they immediately have eleven other people praying with them. 

Just this past week I shared with them that our grandson was ill and asked if they would be praying for him.  Not only did they pray…but they have contacted me since then to find out how he is doing.  That, my friend, is being “Jesus with skin on”.  That is really caring about those things that concern me and then not just saying they will pray…but actually doing it.  They are teaching me, by their example, what it really means to be in the family of God.

I hear people say sometimes that there just isn’t anything they can do for God.  They say they are too old…or too young…or too busy…or not gifted enough…or too uneducated.  I beg to differ with them because everyone can pray.  God doesn’t care how lofty your words sound or whether what you say is proper English.  God sees your heart and He loves to hear you, His child, lift the requests of others up to Him.  Not only does that bless Him, but it also really blesses those you lift up.  It shows them that you care enough to go to the Father on their behalf.

Another thing that I am learning is that when you lift others up in prayer, you begin thinking less about your own problems.  It’s so easy to get caught up in our daily grind and we can find ourselves wallowing in those things that are wrong in our life and we can quickly become pretty depressed.  But when we can get our eyes off of ourselves and onto the lives of those around us…suddenly our spirit is lifted and we become thankful instead of critical.

If you aren’t a member of a small group of believers, I highly recommend that you seek one out.  Our world can be pretty crazy at times and having brothers and sisters in Christ whom you can do life with is a wonderful way to regain some sanity.  I believe you will soon be blessed as they begin to do life with you and doubly blessed as you have the opportunity to do life with them. Believe me when I say…it’s a win-win situation!

 “This is my commandment: Love each other

in the same way I have loved you.”

John 15:12

 “Give, and you will receive.

Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down,

shaken together to make room for more,

running over, and poured into your lap.

The amount you give will

determine the amount you get back.”

Luke 6:38

Monday Morning Memo: Change Begins at Home

I was reminded this past week that what I say and how I act is often watched by others.  We were blessed to have our two-year-old grandson Elias stay with us for a few days and it never ceases to amaze me how much he picks up from those around him.

We were watching Wheel of Fortune together (yes, I know that proves I’m old!) and one of the contestants solved a puzzle with only two letters showing.  I immediately looked at my husband and said, “How did she do that?”  He of course had no clue how she did it either and we continued to watch the show.

We were so surprised then when after the next puzzle was solved, Elias said, “Grandma, how did she do that?” using the same exact flex in his voice that I had used…putting an emphases on the word “do”.  I looked over at him and it was obvious that he was quite proud of himself for talking just like the grownups!

It’s so cute when he copies something I say or do…most of the time.  But I’m confident that there will be times when it won’t be so cute.  He is watching my every move and hearing my spoken words and I’m pretty sure they won’t always have a positive effect on him.  He is a very smart little boy and I’m guessing that he believes that if grandma behaves in a certain way, it is fine for him to do the same. 

I have heard and read a lot this past week in the media about making sure our children know what is acceptable and what isn’t acceptable.  Many have written articles about how they want to make sure their children know what kind of talk and behavior is appropriate and I couldn’t agree more.  What bothers me though is that many of us are often quick to point out the bad behavior of others to our children, but we fail to make sure that our behavior is what it should be.

Our children and grandchildren are often much smarter than what we give them credit.  What will they think if they hear us telling them not to mimic others, all while we ourselves are not speaking or doing as we should.  We can talk all day about how they should respect their bodies and not allow others to degrade them…but are they getting mixed messages when we are first in line to purchase a book such as Fifty Shades of Grey?  How much will it confuse them if we tell them one thing, but then spend our Saturday night at the latest “R” rated movie that is filled with sexual content?  And, probably the most sobering, how can we tell our children about their worth in God’s eyes, but then condone the killing of innocent babies before they have even had the opportunity to take their first breath on this earth?

So much is going on around us in this world today that is completely out of our control and it is having a huge influence on our children.  Because of this, it is critical that what they see us doing doesn’t conflict with what they hear us saying.  If we tell them that having a relationship with Christ should be our main focus, then they need to see us making it a priority in our life.  If they see that we are too busy to spend time daily with Him or that attending a sporting event or going to the lake often takes precedence over being in church on Sunday…our words won’t have much impact.  If they hear us saying that they need to choose their words wisely but hear us gossiping and using foul or vulgar talk…we might as well not share our words of “wisdom” with them.  And if we tell them that Jesus loves the little children and that they are precious in His sight…we better be willing to do whatever we can to stop the murdering that is going on of innocent lives of the unborn because they are an “inconvenience” to the parent.    

Changing our world begins at home, but if our children are receiving mixed messages from us, how can we expect them to make the right choices and live a life that is pleasing to the Lord.  They must see Him in us first…in our words and in our actions.  May God help us have the courage to make sure what we do is in line with what we say.

 “Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children.

Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates.”

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 The Message

 “And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing

bad to say about us.”

Titus 2:7-8 New Living Translation

Monday Morning Memo: Choosing To Laugh

I am reading the Bible through this year in chronological order and I have finally arrived in the New Testament!  Yes, I know there are many things to learn by reading the Old Testament…but I always get excited when I can begin reading about the arrival of baby Jesus and then everything that transpired as He walked this earth.

I was struck this past week by the many miracles that He performed. Time and time again, He did the unbelievable.  From turning water into wine to healing the lame…Jesus amazed those with whom He came in contact.  Oh how wonderful it would have been to be there and to see with my own eyes His ability to take the most desperate situation and turn it into a victory!

It’s so easy for me though, to read these accounts of His life and think that those kinds of miracles only happened back in “those days”.  I can easily fall into the trap of thinking that they were reserved for only those people who walked with Him when He was in physical form.  Sure, Christ had the power to handle any situation that came up back then…but again…that’s because it was during the Biblical times.  We are now in 2016 and life is much harder than it was 2000 years ago and so we can’t expect Him to be able to work in our lives the way He did for our ancestors back in the olden days.

You may laugh at my thinking…but this must be what is rattling around in my brain because if I’m honest, there are many times when my actions prove this to be true.  When I face a difficult situation…I stress out.  When my life takes an unexpected detour…I freak out.  When my health has a “hiccup” occur…I spaz out.  Time and time again…I show by my actions that I don’t believe I serve a Savior that is able to handle anything that comes my way.

I saw this graphic last week and at first it made me laugh…and then the reality of it hit home.  How many times do I look at something I am facing and act as though it is too big for even God to handle?  Unfortunately, way too often.  Instead of keeping my eyes on Him and resting in His power, strength and ability to do far more than I can even imagine…I succumb to Satan’s lie that my circumstances are just too much for God to handle.  It’s hard to admit it, but it is true.

I’ve asked God to sear the words of this graphic in my mind so that when I am tempted to react as if He isn’t able to handle my life…I will learn to laugh.  It is so absurd to think that the One who created the universe…healed the blind…healed the lame…raised the dead…can’t handle what life throws at me.  Yep, absolutely ridiculous to think that way.  So today…I will choose to laugh.

Are you facing something today that you think is just too big for God to handle?  Think again…and then laugh!  

 “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”

Ephesians 3:20

Monday Morning Memo: A Heart Full of Praise

I was so surprised.  Well, I don’t think that word does it justice.  I was shocked, dumbfounded, confused and even speechless (and as many of you know…that is very unusual!).  Yes, it takes a lot to make me at a loss for words, but the event that occurred last Thursday did just that.

I had the day all planned.  Our daughter Megan and sons Elias and Ezekiel and our daughter-in-law Katie and daughter Emma were coming over and we were going to make applesauce.  Then, my sister and her husband from Atlanta were to arrive in time for dinner.  So the morning found me in the kitchen working on food for dinner that evening and I didn’t even hear Megan come in the front door.   I was startled when I heard “Hi” from behind me and turned around to see her carrying her things in.  I started walking towards her and that’s when the “shock” occurred.  Right behind Megan was our daughter Erica who had driven in from North Carolina to surprise us.  I just couldn’t believe my eyes!  My mouth dropped open and all I could do was utter “what?...how?...when?”  She had received a few unexpected days off from work and decided a trip home would be in order.  We just couldn’t have been more thrilled!

Fast forward to yesterday morning.  Our plan was that Erica would attend church with us and then we were going to eat together at a church lunch that was planned.  As we got out of our car in the parking lot, we looked over and we were surprised to see Megan and her boys also pulling in to join us.  Just when I thought we were done with unexpected events, Erica told us to turn around.  There walking up, was our son Adam and his wife Katie and our granddaughter Emma.  That’s when the tears started.  Our children had been scheming behind our backs and had been planning to join us for church to celebrate our 35^th wedding anniversary, which is today.  The only thing that would have made the moment more perfect would have been if our son-in-law John could have joined us, but he was on duty at the hospital.

Our children informed us that any plans we had made for the day were now going to be changed.  We all worshipped together (which just made my heart swell) and then they took us out to lunch.  After we ate, we went to Adam and Katie’s home for a delicious dessert.   I just can’t put into words how much I enjoyed spending the day with those whom I dearly love.

We have been blessed with thirty-five years of memories together, which included the raising of these amazing kids of ours.  There were days when they were growing up when I felt like a successful mother…but if I’m honest…there were days when I just endured the day and couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Raising children is hard work and when you are a very imperfect mom, just getting through some days is an accomplishment.  I remember older moms telling me to enjoy every moment because in a flash, they would be grown up and on their own.  I knew those words were true…but hard to comprehend when you are in the heat of the battle with kids!

But sitting in church yesterday morning with my children and Dan, my soul mate for the past thirty-five years, I was overcome with the faithfulness of my Savior.  He has stepped in over and over again these past years and covered my inadequacies.  When I was powerless…He was powerful.  When I was weak…He was strong.  When I lacked wisdom…He was all knowing.  And when I fell woefully short of following His plan for my life…He extended grace way beyond what I deserved.

So today I want to give praise to my Lord and Savior for what He has done over the past years.  For the gifts of Adam, Erica and Megan…three children whom I couldn’t love more or be more proud…thank you so much for allowing me to be their mom.   For the gifts of John and Katie…my son-in-law and daughter-in-law…whom I have prayed for since Megan and Adam were born…thank you for answering my prayers with these two who are such amazing additions to our family.  For the gifts of Elias, Ezekiel and Emma…our most precious grandchildren…thank you for allowing me the privilege of being their grandma and having the opportunity to invest in their young lives. 

And for the gift of Dan…the man who was the answer to my prayers thirty-five years ago…to say thank you just seems so inadequate.  You blessed me with a man who has loved me when I was unlovable and undeserving and there are no words to express my thankfulness to you, my Heavenly Father, for allowing me to be his wife.  Without his love, strength and wisdom I know I wouldn’t be where I am today and I am blessed because you created him for me. 

My heart is full and overflowing and I am most thankful to be a child of the King.  May my life reflect His image as I continue to give Him praise for all He has done for me.

“That I might sing praises to you and not be silent.

    O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!”

Psalm 30:12