Bonnie & Clyde And The Gold Coins

I did something Tuesday that was better than cake. Better than a massage. Almost better than salt water. I took a nap. A deep sleep drool provoking childlike nap. In the middle of the day. And   I felt absolutely no guilt about it whatsoever.  It was glorious.

I went to bible study, grabbed a quick bite of lunch with friends. Ran home to grab my to do list and let the dogs out. When I walked in the back door I was greeted with havoc. At first I thought we had been robbed. A table was overturned, books on the floor. An 1800's antique bowl, which was filled with wrapped chocolates, was on the floor. Chocolate wrappers scattered all over the floor. 

Quickly I realized the "robbers" were Bonnie & Clyde. Our 80 pound black lab and her 40 pound corgi accomplice. They had some how managed to overturn priceless antiques all in the name of chocolate gold coins. Not only did they eat the left over Christmas candy they left the empty gold aluminum "coin" wrappers all over the house.

I called the vet first. Needed to find out if I would in fact be the one to kill them. Or would the chocolate be their demise.  Next a walk to let them get the gold coins out of their pockets so to speak. Then the cleanup began. I was so mad! They are 8 years old not puppies for gosh sakes! By this time two hours had passed and my afternoon out of town to-do list was not going to happen. 

So with the mindset of Scarlett Ohara "I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow" I laid my head right down on the sofa. I propped my feet up and slept. For two hours. The only reason I woke up? 80 pound black lab was licking the bottom of my shoe....which, naturally, had an empty gold coin wrapper stuck to the bottom of it.

I actually was mad at my four legged children because they had disrupted my ridiculously over zealous schedule. I was already stressed thinking I wouldn't get everything done. In the heat of the moment I didn't think anything except (1) dumb @&?! (I may be saved but when provoked my tongue can't help itself) dogs! you've messed up my whole afternoon (2) I'll never get all of the "to-do's" checked off of this list (3) great, just more work 

The reality is it just didn't matter. The list could wait for another day. The world was not going to stop if I was unable to make the thirty minute drive to Fresh Market or SAMs club. In that moment though? I was furious. Mad that my plans, my schedule were interrupted by Bonnie and Clyde (not their real names).

The truth of the matter is that little voice in my head (Holy Spirit) had whispered to me loud and clear that morning. I felt nudged by the Spirit to stay home. I didn't feel great. I also needed to clean up, work, make phone calls, get laundry started and rest. 

Yes, I have to make myself rest. If I do not pace myself throughout the week my type A personality will dictate what it thinks my diseased body  should (operative word) be doing. If I pace myself? I'm fine. If I do marathon sprints of activity I usually end up in a flare for weeks. Honestly, if I don't pace my days I end up in the bed or in the doctors office or in the hospital. When I choose to ignore my body it's actually a very selfish act. It affects our bank account, my husband and those depending on me.  I chose to go out to lunch and jaunt out of town despite knowing that the Lord was tapping me on the shoulder. Yeah, that worked out real well.

Do you struggle with the flesh and the Spirit too? Or is it just me? We receive nudges from the Lord but we ignore them. Our wants and needs before His. I can usually justify just about anything to Him. Usually there is silence which I pretend to interpret as "Yes sir-e my plans are a go!"  If my children had done that to me I would be livid. So why do we do it to God? 

He calls us to obedience. John 14 clearly tells us we are to demonstrate our love for Christ through our obedience to him: “If you love Me, keep My commandments”.    For the Christian, obedience means complying with everything God has commanded. The good news? God's grace. He showers us with it despite ourselves. Case in point drool provoked afternoon nap.

I'm thinking that if I had listened to His nudge on Tuesday morning I wouldn't still be picking up "loose change" and gold coins all over our backyard Thursday morning.

"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day."- Matthew 6:34

Potlucks And Jesus

One of my favorite childhood memories is church potlucks. A time when we were allowed to show up to church in "play clothes".  This may be a new phenomenon to you. Back in the day? We dressed. We wore skirts, Peter Pan collared white blouses, and knee socks with loafers or saddle shoes to school and smocked dresses to church. When we arrived home in the afternoons we had designated "play clothes". Getting to go anywhere outside of our backyard in play clothes was awesome.

Our church potlucks involved chugging gallons of Hawaiian Punch or Tang and gorging on homemade desserts while our parents attention was on conversation and fellowship. Usually after the blessing, desserts, and way too much Hawaiian Punch a youth leader would take us outside for games. Red rover, kick the can or flag football. I clearly remember the smell of early spring. The damp cool grass at dusk. The total sense of freedom, community, and love. Not a care in the world. Grass stains from running and rolling around in those play clothes. The hope and promise of warmer days. Potlucks rocked.

Honestly, when they announced at church Sunday morning there would be a potluck that evening I didn't give it another thought. We had made plans to go out of town to a furniture warehouse sale. Leaving church my husband said "Wanna call Anne and David and see if they want to go?" 

We were, I think, the four oldest people there. Good food and great fellowship. Little boys running to and fro. Babies squealing. Dads cheering during the football game being broadcast before the meal. Moms chatting happy to just be able to sit down and breathe. Pre-teens playing ball outside. I had forgotten that happy feeling from forty some years ago. 

So what does a church supper have to do with Jesus? Well, everything actually. A great big sanctuary filled with a variety of foods and an array of personalities. When all thrown together it's a potluck. Ordinarily it wouldn't work. But it does. There is something for everyone. There is no agenda. No schedule. Just a common sense of community. A group of believers from all different educational and economic backgrounds gathered for a meal. A core belief in Jesus Christ as the centerpiece.

How incredible would it be if we faced the world like it was a potluck supper?! We just assume that everyone will bring something different to the table and we make it work! 

Actually, I'm pretty sure that is what Jesus did in his assembly of the disciples. A mixed bag that resulted in a perfectly orchestrated buffet.

"Do we not all have one father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously each against his brother so as to profane the covenant of our fathers?"-Malachi 2:10

God Is Good, Y'all!

I am a member of two closed groups on Facebook. One is the scleroderma group. The other group is for lupus patients. They are wonderful resources for updated medical research as well as patient trial availability. Like any good thing too much can be bad.

I try not to spend too much time on the boards. However recently I got on to look up a drug trial that I was interested in. My 15 minutes of perusing turned into an hour of reading people's stories. Many are heartbreaking. The common theme? "Why me?! My life is ruined and I want it back".  It was incredibly depressing reading story after story of total despair.

Auto-immune diseases, like most diseases, change your life forever. You live with chronic pain the rest of your life. There is no cure. You can expect to die from the disease or complications from it. It is inevitable. The cruel joke is that your death is usually a long and arduous one further complicated by illusive symptoms and side effects. Your body literally attacks itself. Ultimately you run out of drug therapies. Organs shut down. Sounds dreadfully depressing doesn't it? 

Here is the good news:  God is good. That is the message I so desperately wanted to share with patients in the closed group. God is good, y'all! Even in the bleakest of situations He is good. And He is there. Here. With us. 

All of us can say "why me?" Why did the marriage fall apart after 20 years? Why aren't my kids getting it? Why am I unhappy? Why does my best friend have a more financially prosperous life than I do? Why do I have to work? Why do I look 60 and my neighbor looks 40?  Why is she so gorgeous and I'm not? Why doesn't my husband look at me like her husband looks at her? Why can't I loose weight? Why is my child left out? Why weren't we invited? Isn't the question really "why not?"  

I stopped asking "why me?" ten years ago. And Lord knows I have a lot, do you hear me, a lot to whine to God about. You know what changed my perspective? The book of Job. God referred to Job as "blameless and upright.”  God allowed satan to afflict Job, but God was not punishing Job for sin. Job suffers because he is among the best, not because he is the worst.

Job looses his fortune, his wife, his kids, his friends, his health and he just about looses his mind. Through it all? He never stops crying out to God. He never stops believing in His Abba father. He doesn't understand what is happening to him. Job certainly doesn't like what has happened to him. He never stops believing that God is there.

At one point Job starts questioning why God is causing all of his trials. God speaks to Job in a tornado. God physically and literally shows up in a storm. I love that! Even in the midst of the storms of our lives He is there.

Instead of asking "why me?" I started to ask "What is God up to?" I mean certainly He has a plan for me. And you. And if every single life is worth saving then what exactly is God up too? What is He trying to produce in me? You? In us? Could it be that God uses our suffering to produce righteous character? Does He want those who suffer to be more dependent upon Him? Could it be He is trying to get our attention?  

"Elizabeth, that is sick and cruel. You mean to tell me a 'loving' God is going to cause my cancer or my illness or my divorce?" Honestly, I have no idea. I do know that God knows each of us by name. I do know that He wishes none of us to not have eternal life. I do know that He is a gentleman. He sent His only Son to die for our sins. I do know He gives us a choice. He is not going to force us to choose Him. 

If our lives are turned upside down? We have the option to call on Him to turn us right side up. I don't know about you but right side up, to me, sounds really hopeful in a world of upside down. 

Who do you choose today?

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."-Isaiah 40:29

Plot Twist

Who doesn't love a do-over? Waiving hand vigorously over here! I cringe when I think about teachers, coaches and myself telling our kids through the years "there are no do-overs". Guess what? We were all wrong. Dead wrong. Life is actually one gigantic do over for most of us. Here's another fact: do-overs are biblical. Jesus is our ultimate do-over. He died to give us new life. The past is erased and everything is made new. "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"-2 Corinthians 5:17.  Isn't that the most exciting news you've heard in 2016?! 

The past 13 months I definitely could have used a bazillion do-overs. Words that stung. Words that threatened. Words that belittled.  Emotions that came from a place of fear, hurt, and ultimately deep unwavering love. I am so thankful. Let me say that again: I am so thankful. Thankful for God's grace. I am in utter awe of His mercy. Moved beyond words by the cross.

Secondly I'd like to say prayer works. If you find yourself in a place unable to pray (1) call out to the Lord audibly (2) call, text or email a friend and have them intercede a team of prayer warriors on your behalf. I can not emphasize enough the importance of crying out to the Lord. He hears us. He sees us. He loves us. "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them"-Romans 8:28

Recognize that prayers may not be answered immediately. Prayers may not be answered fully. Prayers may not be answered the way you had envisioned. Guess what? Pray anyway!! God sees the narrative. We may be able to envision how we want the story to end. That conclusion may coincide with God or it may not. Trust that all the hairpin turns and crazy mishaps throughout the story are making for a story worth telling. A testimony that glorifies what only He can do to save a life. 

If you have been in our home you have seen the gallery wall we have in the back of our house. We have every year of school (for each of our daughters) framed from transition to 12th grade.  it's one of my favorite things about our home. Each school year picture reminds me of the joys and challenges from each year of their lives. If it was not a great year? No worries just glance to your right and you will see the next school year framed. Each picture holds the joy and promise of a new year. A do-over from the previous mistakes of the year before and a continuation of the great things from years past.

Monday morning I received a text with a selfie from our youngest "I love you! FDOC ready" (first day of class...yep I had to google that one).  Same beautifully sarcastic mischievous smile as all of the other first day of school photos. If I can figure out a way to frame the photo I just may. Thirteen months a bazillion prayers and tears later? She's back in school and hopeful.

God's in the business of do-overs. He answers prayers. He loves us deeply. There may be a plot twist again. And I can't say there won't be more do-overs. Today? Today is a new day. Today I know who the Author is. I trust that He is in control. To God be the glory. 

Today? Well, today is a great day for a do-over for all of us.

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction 
of things not seen."-Hebrews 11:1

Seamlessly Orchestrated

We just returned from our annual New Years Eve weekend at the beach with our couples supper club/ bible study. It was a great weekend of reflection, food, and fellowship. During some of our down time I completed the first chapter of my ladies bible study which resumes this week. We are doing the study called "Seamless". In just 7 short weeks the study seamlessly goes through the bible from Genesis to Revelation. Not deep but a fabulous inductive bible study. Also a great review for seasoned Believers.

As I sat in my chair overlooking the water the word "symphony" popped into my head. Yes, our walk with the Lord plays out like a symphony. There are highs and lows. There are beautiful melodies and awful ones. The final product is a glorious chorus of our life. Our song. Our symphony.

Along that note (Ha! see what I did there?) it occurred to me how brilliantly the Lord has orchestrated His life with ours. The seasons. I truly had never thought about it before. Let me explain. Jesus was born for us. In December we celebrate, decorate, serve, visit, cherish and love in His honor. We sing of His Glory. We anticipate  His arrival. Once He arrives? We  take down, pack up and put away. 

Historically, depending on your neck of the woods, we hibernate in January and February. We cozy up our homes. We have shorter days. We read. We reflect. We plan. We organize. We wait for the arrival of longer days and warmer weather. We prepare. 

Following Jesus' birth there is very little documented. We

know he stayed close to home. We know he was a carpenter. We assume he spent the early years studying his craft. It is most probable He was waiting for the Lord to tell him to go. Preparing for the ministry that changed hearts, minds, the world, and human history.

For us, after Jesus birth we anticipate the end of winter. As the flowers begin to bud, the days become warmer and longer. We begin to anticipate Easter and His resurrection. Just as the dogwoods, azaleas, roses, tulips and geraniums burst forth in an orchestrated sea of color? Jesus bursts forth from the grave. His resurrection brings new life to our souls. The world is singing "Hallelujah! He has risen!"

Spring turns into summer. We relish in outdoors activities. We savor the beauty of the season. We thank Him for crashing waves and the misty mountain mornings. We are alive in His glorious chorus of our beautiful season. 

And just like that the stanza changes. It is fall. The days are cooler and become shorter. School resumes. Bible studies reconvene. Civic clubs, supper clubs, sports, and church bazaars resume. Once again we find ourselves reflecting and preparing for the new coming season.

Don't you find that magnificent? How precious of Him! He has written us a symphony! He has intertwined His life into our earthly seasons. I absolutely adore that.

This winter season wrap yourself warmly in Him. Hibernate with Him. Cuddle into your favorite chair with Him. Fall in love with Him. Listen to His voice. Appreciate the symphony He is composing seamlessly just for you.

"walk in a manner worthy of the Lord"-Colossians 1:10

Well, Praise God That's Over!

As I reflect on the past year my first inclination is to say  "Praise GOD 2015 is over!" It has been riddled with stress, anxiousness, trepidation and sorrow. Our oldest recently remarked "this year has aged you and Dad...a lot". Regrettably it probably has.

I haven't written in almost a  month. Primarily because I do not want my words to reflect my fleshly thoughts. "Can't say something nice don't say anything at all" comes to mind. I want to pen the reflections of what the Lord puts on my heart. Not what my knee jerk response to many things are. Retrospective wisdom as it were.

In the past twelve months I've said goodbye to a parent, undergone countless biopsies and procedures, watched one of our children battle addiction, watched another child endure medical surgeries  and monthly IV infusions. It was a year I truly never wish to relive.

And, yet, there was profound joy. I experienced a deeper love for my husband than I ever fathomed possible. We watched our first born graduate from college magna cum laude. I had a front row seat witnessing that same daughter answer God's calling on her life. I witnessed the Lord turn my husband into a mighty prayer warrior.  Finally, slowly, we are seeing God move mightily in our youngest daughters life. Or should I say He's moving mightily and she's slowly following? 

All of these things happened in response to prayer. Truly a gift of God's grace. We deserved nothing. And, yet, He blessed us abundantly. Prayers weren't always answered the way we thought they should or would be. But He answered them.

Every pain, every heartbreak, every sleepless night God faithfully cradled us in His arms. The scripture of my year would definitely have to be Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know what I have planned for you,' says the LORD. 'I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope." Amen to that!

Every single "bad" thing that has happened to you or me this year He uses for good. That's not a popular worldly analogy.  The world wants us, actually the enemy wants us,  to believe we either get what we deserve.  Or that someone owes us  for injustices. I believe both to be false. 

The God of the universe sees the big picture where we may not. Think about a pearl. It's protected by a hard crusty shell deep down in the ugly muck. You literally have to pry it open. Once opened, exposed of all its smelly contents, there is a beautiful jewel reflecting back. You may not always find a pearl. You have to dig. And pry open. And clean out the junk. It's a process. 

God loves us so much that he closes doors and creates barriers that cause us to: (a) reconsider our wayward path (b) illuminate what is dark in our lives that needs light...His light. There are absolutely no experiences on this earth that can not be used for His glory. I believe that. I've experienced that time after time after time.

Life is complicated. And ugly. And difficult.  We can choose to go it alone or go with God. If it were all easy we wouldn't need Him. Without Him? When the hardships come we are just mired down. Literally hard crusty shells. Many times with barnacles growing on top of that crustacea. If we refuse to see the good in the bad? Well, we are simply left in the muck of life with absolutely no hope to find the pearl. I really like jewelry so I choose to see The jewel who came to save me.

"Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you."-Psalm 51:12

The Frenzy Of Christmas

I hosted my husbands family for thanksgiving. It was wonderful. Both of our daughters were under the same roof at one time. Heaven for me. Then we started the lengthy process of Christmas decorating. Last year my father passed away on December 7th. We didn't get a tree up until the week before Christmas. This year I wanted it to be different.

I've spent a week decorating with live greenery. It has been arduous, frustrating, and great fun all at the same time. But it has consumed me. I've done it. I admit it. I've gotten wrapped up in Christmas. Exactly what I didn't want to do. I wanted Jesus to be wrapped up tightly inside my motives. Not things.

How many of us do that? Short woman frantically waving my hand here. It's such a fine line. Christmas that is. We should be celebrating and remembering loved ones near and far. Giving gifts to those who have helped make our lives easier throughout the year. We should be excited to host neighbors and celebrate with friends. But as cliche as it sounds? Jesus really is the reason for the season. Not the anticipation of gifts. Or the frenzy of loosing ourselves (cough cough) in making our homes picture perfect. Christmas is for us to celebrate. It is not to celebrate us. When we take Christ out of Christmas you simply have a holiday.

When our grown daughters were young it was very easy to keep Jesus the center of Christmas. Our girls received three gifts: one for each gift the wise men brought baby Jesus. My husband and I would read from Luke on Christmas morning before opening presents. We wanted, not to be militant,  rather to make sure they understood why they were receiving presents. As they became teenagers those three gifts turned into three categories. But the gospel stayed the same. The message was tucked in their hearts. As they've left our home, and for the most part it's just me and my husband, there's no more teaching to do. There are no grandchildren yet. Just us. And just like that the enemy snuck into my Christmas. I got caught up in the frenzy of Instagram and Pinterest. 

I guess the point is that we, as Christians, are not immune to the secular cultural lies. Television and the Internet telling us to buy more, spend more, decorate more. Our news outlets telling us to accommodate the world with "Happy Holiday's" rather than "Merry Christmas and God Bless you".

As society tries to push Jesus out in the name of tolerance we must remember to bring Him to the forefront. It is because of Jesus Christ, the King in the manger, that you and I have the divine privilege of everlasting life. When we forget that? When we take God out of our culture? We have complete and total chaos. 

Jesus came to save the lost. He came to give all of us new and abundant life in Him. Let's rejoice this Christmas by honoring the King of Kings and Lord of Lords with our highest praises, prayers and thanksgiving. 

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile”-Romans 1:16