Today I attended one of the largest churches in my area.  You know the one I said I would probably never try because it was just way too big for me.  “I prefer a small church. I’ll never go to one that large.” Well… Never say never. 

One of my daughter’s friends attends there.  She has persistently called trying to get us to try it out.  So at last this weekend we relented.  This young girl had actually been an answer to a prayer that I prayed regarding my daughter almost a year ago.  When they met they became fast friends.  I wanted to encourage this girl in persistency in inviting people to church.

You may disagree with my motivation, but nevertheless, we ended up in the church parking lot this morning.  I arrived early because I was worried about the parking situation.  I had heard words like, “shuttles” and “buses” associated with this church and the parking situation and I didn’t want to deal with that.  (By the way, the Pastor brought that up in his sermon. There were worse things in life then having to ride the bus to church.)

The church was beautiful and well organized.  The kids were separated from me and from each other soon after we arrived.  I enjoyed the worship service and the preaching. I was blessed by the closing song.  I was a little surprised when I had to ride the bus from the main building to the annex for Sunday school. (God has a sense of humor).  Sunday school was good.  The class was well led with good chemistry for sharing.

The children were excited about their classes and children’s worship services too.  It was a little weird for me worshiping separate from my children.  We all were separated for 3 hours each having our own worship experiences. We like to worship together as a family, but I realize that my children have to worship God individually.  It is not something I can do for them.

I am contemplating at what age it is appropriate not to worship God together as a family.  If, we as parents, don’t show them who will?  What if the teachers are not teaching them to worship God the way we want them to learn?  Does it really matter as long as they are worshiping?  After all, most likely, their choice of church in later years will probably be different than ours.  What are my duties? Can those duties be done at home?

I’m still not sure of the answers to these questions.  I really do enjoy being together as a family on Sunday, but I can not deny the great blessings and refreshment we all got from church today.  My daughter brought a CD into the living room tonight.  She wanted to share a song with me they sung in her children’s church.  She fell asleep tonight listening to that CD that had touched her heart…and now mine.

Today is one of those days when I did not get too many things checked off my “to do” list.  In fact, I added more things than I removed.  Tuesday is my day off from any volunteer duties at school and I love having one uninterrupted day to get a lot of things done.  I feel efficient when I can focus on a project, housecleaning, or errands and knock them out quickly. So on a day when the “to do” list grows longer instead of shorter I feel like my day was a failure.  Maybe “failure” is too strong of a word, but I feel like I have not given my best.  Some days I do give my best knock things off the list only to add more immediately; on those days, though, I am proud of myself.

Tonight I was feeling frustrated at my self for not getting more accomplished.  I looked at my list and added more.  I was trying to get organized for the rest of the week so I could make up for “lost time”.  I sorted through children’s papers, school pictures, school calendars, and signed a security form so I could help with upcoming TCAP assessments.  I mentally planned out the rest of my week juggling this and that in my head in order to get everything done.  I wished I had spent my day more efficiently.   

I thought back over my day and realized why I was so “behind”.  Thinking about my day, it dawned on me that some things can’t be measured on a “to do” list.  I had spent my day much more wisely than I was giving myself credit for.  Today I strengthened my love for and friendship with my husband. 

After dropping the kids at school I came back home and had a cup of coffee with my Hubby.  It was a rainy morning and we watched the weather and news together just relaxing.  Our morning together turned into some great conversation time.  I poured my heart out to him about all kinds of things that I can’t blog about.  Things that were burdening me, but I just was starting to begin to articulate.  Things I had been in prayer about.  He is a wonderful listener.  He knows me so well and helps me understand myself sometimes. 

It was a great conversation. He talked, I talked; each of us encouraging, enlightening, and just listening to the other.  He is a wonderful man.  We have our differences, but on days like today I fall deeper into love with him. As cheesy as it sounds I would be lost without him. Today with my husband was one of those days that makes me think of Ephesians 5:28-33:

In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church—for we are members of his body. "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

The relationship of Christ to His church is illustrated by that of a husband to his wife; “This is a profound mystery.”  I know our marriage is not perfect and we do not always get it right, but today I felt like I got a small moment of perfection.  I got a small instant of understanding of the relationship between Christ and the church; understanding that I could relate to and touch, hold and cry on. 

I hope more rainy days turn into nights with untouched “to do” lists…

Tonight we went over to my parent’s place for dinner.  My sister and her husband were there as well.  It was a nice visit, during which we took time to view over 500 pictures of my parent’s recent trip to see my brother’s family in the Northwest.  They put the pictures on the TV screen as a slide show and we talked as we watched. 

During dinner and during the picture viewing there were many comments made about my children and my brother’s children. How they acted and who they got those qualities from.  We all joked with each other about certain traits or personality characteristics that we see past on. Some traits we see in our own children that remind us of our siblings. 

When I go to my parent’s place I can not help but think of my heritage.  Their hallway and rooms are filled with pictures and keepsakes of my ancestors.  I know my heritage.  I know my great grandparent’s names and my mom has generations of research going way back.  I have a CD of my great grandmother telling stories of the “old country” and of “coming over on the boat”. 

Usually at the beginning of the school year at least one of my kids is given an assignment about their heritage.  This year one of my children had an assignment to find out what their name means and why they were named that name.  All of our children have a middle name inherited from a family member so the assignment was a chance to emphasize the family heritage.

Wiktionary defines Heritage as the following:  Heritage refers to something which is inherited from one's relatives.  It has several different senses, including: Cultural heritage, Tradition, customs and practices inherited from ancestors, Inheritance of physical goods after the death of an individual, Biological inheritance of physical characteristics, Birthright, something inherited due to the place, time, or circumstances of someone's birth. 

I guess people normally think about their Heritage around holidays, births, deaths or maybe even birthdays, but last night I read a verse and I had been mulling over it all day today. 

Psalm 61:5 (NIV)

For you have heard my vows, O God; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

This Psalm was written by David.  So I asked myself, who was David’s heritage? Who in his heritage feared God?  Ruth was David’s great grandmother (Ruth 4:17).  I wonder what kind of spiritual wisdom was passed down from her to her son, to his son Jesse to David.  Of course, we know that his heritage goes further back than that, but I was just wondering how Ruth, imparticular, might have influenced David.  He was obviously taught the scriptures and had a great love for them.

 Psalm 119:111 (NIV)
Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.

It made me think of Timothy in the New Testament who Paul took under his wing as a son.  Paul wrote this to him:

2 Timothy 1:5 (NIV)
I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

My Bible commentary writes that this verse in Psalms, that got my brain churning, has to do with God’s covenant with David from 2 Samuel 7.  That David’s heritage was from God in the form of a promise.  The commentary states that these verses are prophesy that was fulfilled in Messiah.   I agree with that, but I like to view things different than the commentators always do.

I praise God for his covenant with David that resulted in the heritage and lineage of the Lord Jesus Christ; because in Him we all have the opportunity of an eternal inheritance.  Do you know your heritage? Do your children know their heritage?  Have you included spiritual heritage in their inheritance? 

Hebrews 9:15(NIV)
For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

1 Peter 1:3-5 (NIV)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.  

Psalm 119:111 (NIV)
Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.

Just for kicks, the kids and I were talking about the person from the Bible that we most want to meet.  When we get to heaven, other than Jesus, who we would like to sit and talk with.  Hubby said David, the man after God’s own heart, and Sissy said Esther.  Bubba said Samson so they could talk about his strength.  Paddy said Noah.  I am torn between so many, of course I will have all eternity, but I’m trying to answer the question with just one name.  My top three are David, Hannah, and Peter. 

David was my first instinct because of all the Psalms he wrote and the faith he had to have living the life he lived.  He followed God to Saul’s court and into battle and into the wilderness.  He trusted God fully for victories and protection.  He seems so authentic because of his sin, yet he truly understood God’s forgiveness.  He surrendered his desire to build the temple because God said no; such obedience.

Hannah amazes me and her powerful prayer moves me.  True to her word she turned her son over to God’s service.  What a great example to us Mothers!  She realized that her son was truly a gift from God.  Most Moms have a hard time taking their child to preschool or kindergarten; much less, acknowledging our openness to God’s will for our child, which for her involved leaving him physically for God’s service.

Peter, Peter, Peter…  If there was hope for Peter then there is hope for me.  Peter was outspoken and sometimes acted before thinking.  I really think he meant well and honestly, I was cheering him on when he cut off that guy’s ear.  He always seems to be the one asking questions.  He is known for his denial of Christ, but confesses Christ boldly in Matthew 16 and is blessed by Jesus.  He, of course, professes his love again after the resurrection and experiences Jesus’ forgiveness.  He preaches a powerful sermon in Acts 2 and was an important influence in the early church.

Okay, so now that I wrote those short summaries, I am leaning more towards Peter.  Quick! Before I change my mind… I most want to meet and talk to Peter.  What about you?  Besides Jesus, what person from the Bible do you most want to meet?  Post a comment or email me.

I went to the dentist for my routine teeth cleaning today.  My whole family goes to the same dentist.  We are all seen by the same hygienist every time.  She has really gotten to know the family and always asks for kid, church, job, and life updates when we are each there.  I really like my dentist, hygienist, and all the staff at the office. 

Today as I opened my mouth for the cleaning to begin, the hygienist laughed and said, “I forget how small your mouth is.”  I tried to say, “What?”, but I’m sure it came out sounding nothing like it since the tools were already in my mouth.  But she understood and replied, “You have the smallest, most narrow mouth I have ever seen.”  I was surprised and told her I have always considered myself to have a big mouth. 

She meant literally and I was speaking figuratively, but how I perceived myself had meshed over to my literal perception as well. This conversation made me think about my life verse.  Do you have a life verse?  I searched online for a concise definition and found this one I liked: “A life-verse is a verse or passage in the Bible that is significant to you.  It may define your life, give you inspiration or direction, be something that you hang onto as you face difficult circumstances, or it could even be the passage of scripture that brought you to a belief in Jesus Christ.”

I guess it probably has something to do with going to a Christian school for a majority of my teenage years. Students were encouraged to develop a life verse.  I choose a life verse in Jr. High.  I have revisited and re-evaluated several times since then, but have never felt the need to change it.  During different stages of my life I have focused on different parts of the verse, but it still always seems to fit.

I can quote the verse backwards and forwards a million miles a minute.  Okay, I am exaggerating a bit, but I want you to understand how MANY times I have whispered this verse to myself over the years.   I memorized my life verse in the King James Version and I’m sure it is no surprise to you, by now, that it comes from Psalms.

 Psalms 19:14   Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

When I first picked this verse, with all my 12 year old wisdom, I focused on the first part only – “The words of my mouth.”  I wanted and still want the things I say to be pleasing to God.   During different stages of my life that has meant different things.  Sometimes not back talking my teachers or parents, other times it meant not gossiping, not cussing, not being negative.  Sometimes it meant giving a devotional or sharing the gospel, or praying for wisdom or advice to pass on to a friend who needed help. Sometimes it meant singing, praying or not yelling at my kids.  Many times it has meant holding my tongue or keeping my big (figurative) mouth shut.

As I grew older, I realized that simply holding my tongue was not enough.  There was more to the verse, “the meditation of my heart.”  What good was it to keep my mouth shut if I was still thinking these things in my heart? These thoughts were still not acceptable to God.  I needed to go deeper and actually change my attitude, and my way of thinking.  I’m still working on these two aspects of this verse and I guess that is why I still keep Psalms 19:14 as my life verse.

There is another important component to this verse; “my strength.”  I have learned it is pointless to focus on the other two pieces without acknowledging God as my strength.  I am powerless without Him.  I can not tame my tongue or my thoughts without leaning on Him.  I’ve tried and it is very, very ugly.  If I do not walk closely with God, drawing from his power, I am a below par wife and mother. I am a bad witness for Him.  My day is a wreck.  You may have been around on one of those days…

Thank goodness for the last part of the verse, “my redeemer.”  It seems while working through the first 3 pieces of the verse that I am constantly reminded of my need for a redeemer.  I am redeemed, saved by His matchless grace. I need to cling to His strength and bask in His forgiveness. Praise God for his forgiveness!

Psalms 19:14   

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

There are two churches that I normally drive past during Easter week that display a cross draped with different color material.  Purple throughout the week, black on Friday and Saturday and then white on Easter Sunday.  Since I was a teenager these two churches have been in my normal path, but I am still delighted each year to see the tradition continue. 

Year after year, my heart races and my breath quickens when I pass those crosses on Good Friday.  Sometimes, in the past, I have been going about my daily grind, never stopping to consider that it is Good Friday.  When I see that black cloth draped on the cross it is a somber reminder.  Now that I have children, when we pass those crosses they want to know why the material is there and what it means. So I tell them the true story of Easter.

The purple cloth helps us to think of royalty.  A long time ago purple cloth was very expensive and only the very rich could afford it.  Kings wore purple.  When I see the purple cloth around the cross I remember that Jesus is God the son, my King, and Savior.  He was perfect and had done no wrong, but the leaders of his time did not like Him.  They wanted Him killed. 

They had Jesus arrested and even though He had never done anything wrong they were going to kill Him.  First, before they killed Him, they were mean to Him, they made fun of Him, they hit Him, beat Him and they spat on Him.  They mocked Jesus by putting a purple robe on Him. They made a pretend crown and put it on His head to make Him look like a King.  They didn’t know he really was a king; the King of all kings.

The crown they put on His head was made of thorns.  I want you to imagine that these thorns represent sin and bad things.  He took all our sin and put it on His head.  Jesus did this because he loved us.  He wanted to take the punishment for all the things you and I have ever done wrong. 

On Friday the church will change the color of the cloth from purple to black.  Friday is the day Jesus died and the black reminds us of death.  Black represents sadness or morning.  When someone dies people traditionally wear black clothes to the funeral.  Jesus Christ loved you so much that he wanted to die for you.  Black also reminds us that once Jesus had died that the sky became dark for 3 hours in the middle of the day.  He was then taken down from the cross wrapped in cloth and laid in a tomb. 

The white cloth represents the best part of this true story!   On Easter morning the cross will be draped in a white cloth to represent purity and new life.   The Bible tells us that on Sunday morning, very early, Jesus’ friends went to His tomb.  Jesus’ body was not there! Only the cloth they had wrapped His body in was laying there.  An angel was there dressed in white with a message.  Angels are God’s messengers.  The angel said, “Jesus is alive! He is risen!”  They were excited and ran to tell Jesus’ other friends.  Over 400 people saw Jesus alive and some of them even touched the scars on His hands.  The true story of Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus and the new life we have in Christ.

Does Easter mean something special to you?  Does Easter mean something personal to you?  I’ll never forget an encounter I had several years ago with a woman excited about Easter.  I was working at a local grocery store as a cashier.  It was the night before Easter and we were slammed.  Every register was open and packed with people purchasing last minute items for their egg dying, Easter baskets and dinners.

 Employees and customers were haggard and tired.  I tried to sincerely wish each customer a Happy Easter even through I had said it hundreds of times that night.  As I gave one older lady her change, I said, “Have a Happy Easter!” and she replied, “Thank you, it’s my first one!” I starred at her baffled for a minute wondering how this older lady could possibly be having her first Easter.  She smiled before she walked off and said, “I just met Christ a few months ago!”

These two old hymns have been stuck in my head today. No matter how hard I try I keep mixing them up and mixing them together.  I know I had the words all wrong and I’m sure I messed the tunes up too, but this has been my heart’s song today.  After you read them, I’m sure you will be baffled at how theses two songs could possibly be mixed together, but I did it.   I’m sure God enjoyed it though!

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Text: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748
Music: Lowell Mason, 1792-1872

1.          When I survey the wondrous cross

            on which the Prince of Glory died;

            my richest gain I count but loss,

            and pour contempt on all my pride.

2.         Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,

            save in the death of Christ, my God;

            all the vain things that charm me most,

            I sacrifice them to his blood.

3.         See, from his head, his hands, his feet,

            sorrow and love flow mingled down.

            Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,

            or thorns compose so rich a crown.

4.         Were the whole realm of nature mine,

            that were an offering far too small;

            love so amazing, so divine,

            demands my soul, my life, my all.

And Can It Be that I Should Gain

Text: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788
Music: Thomas Campbell

1.          And can it be that I should gain

            an interest in the Savior's blood!

            Died he for me? who caused his pain!

            For me? who him to death pursued?

            Amazing love! How can it be

            that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

            Amazing love! How can it be

            that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

3.         He left his Father's throne above

            (so free, so infinite his grace!),

            emptied himself of all but love,

            and bled for Adam's helpless race.

            'Tis mercy all, immense and free,

            for O my God, it found out me!

            'Tis mercy all, immense and free,

            for O my God, it found out me!

4.         Long my imprisoned spirit lay,

            fast bound in sin and nature's night;

            thine eye diffused a quickening ray;

            I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;

            my chains fell off, my heart was free,

            I rose, went forth, and followed thee.

            My chains fell off, my heart was free,

            I rose, went forth, and followed thee.

5.         No condemnation now I dread;

            Jesus, and all in him, is mine;

            alive in him, my living Head,

            and clothed in righteousness divine,

            bold I approach th' eternal throne,

            and claim the crown, through Christ my own.

            Bold I approach th' eternal throne,

            and claim the crown, through Christ my own

My husband and I have a friend who over the past year has lost a tremendous amount of weight.  He was out shopping for a particular shirt and left the store disappointed because the store was out of his size.  He told my husband that he needed an extra large and all the store had was a large or smaller.  My husband laughed and asked our friend, “What are you thinking?  You weigh less than I do now and I wear a large.  You don’t need an extra large anymore!”  Our friend still thought of himself as an extra large even though he had lost over 100 lbs. 

I think Satan wants us to forget we are new creatures.  He still wants us to walk around in sin and shame.  He wants us to feel guilty and defeated.  But we are not a size extra large anymore!  We are new creatures!  We need to break the old habit of shopping in the plus size department.  We must have a new way of thinking.  

Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Colossians 3:8-10 (NIV)

But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Patrick was raised in a wealthy family, but was kidnapped from Britain and sold as a slave when he was 16 years old.  Britain was part of the Roman Empire at the time so he was considered a Roman citizen.  During his enslavement in Ireland he met another slave named Cedd who had been a slave for 20 years.  This man taught Patrick much about having a personal relationship with God.  Cedd told Patrick that he prayed persistently for 2 years to be free from slavery, but God answered no.  Patrick was encouraged by the parable of the persistent widow in Bible and began to pray 100 times a day for freedom.

 After 6 years of praying 100 times a day God spoke to Patrick in a dream telling him his ship was ready and he would return to his own country. The next night the Holy Spirit led Patrick through the woods on a journey that would last a week.  He slept during the day and traveled by night until at last he reached the coast and a ship was indeed waiting!  He asked for passage back to Britain, but they turned him down instead taking him for a slave. God again spoke to Patrick in a dream assuring him that he would only be there two months. 

Finally, back in Britain and reunited with his family; but for only a few months when God called Patrick to be a missionary to Ireland. The practice of the Druids was prevalent in Ireland and mixed with idol worship.  His parents did not want him to go back to Ireland and the church leaders told him that he was not educated enough to go as a missionary. Patrick had missed his formal education because he had been kidnapped, but God had clearly called him.

During this time, he would travel to London to help keep his Gaelic active. He witnessed in the market place and converted some Irish this way.  He studied the scriptures and finally 6 years after God called him back to Ireland the church let him preach his first sermon. 

20 years had passed and his forceful preaching attracted a young group of men who were zealous for God. These men wanted to go to Ireland with Patrick and he began teaching them Gaelic.  Patrick prayed that God would send him without the permission of the church, but God would not allow it.

25 years after his initial call from God when Patrick was 48 years old he was finally ordained by the Church of Britain as the Bishop of Ireland.  During that first year in Ireland, hundreds of Irish men and women committed their lives to Jesus Christ.  Because they walked closely with the Lord and depended on God’s grace, Patrick, his men, and their message had a dramatic effect on their listeners.  Everywhere they went crowds of people accepted the gospel of Christ. 

Within a few years Patrick had baptized thousands of people and ordained many Irish men into the ministry. He planted numerous churches.  Patrick taught the Irish to read and write in Latin because they had no written language or alphabet.  He never left Ireland once the church had ordained him as Bishop and he died there on March 17^th.

Information taken from David W. Bercot’s book, Let Me Die in Ireland – The True Story of Patrick

After Jesus talked with the woman at the well she left her water pot and went back into the town spreading word of the man she met at the well.  Her witness was effective and many people from the town went to see the man she was so excited about. They believed because of her testimony.

John 4:39 (NIV) Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did."

The gospel of John tells us that the people urged Jesus to stay with them. He ended up staying there for 2 days.  He talked with them and many more became believers because of Jesus’ words to them. (v.41) But it is the next verse that made me stop and ponder…  

John 4:42 (NIV) They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."

It is wonderful when you reach that time in your life when you believe in Jesus!  Many Christians can pinpoint that day and time when they believed; when they asked Jesus into their hearts and repented of their sins. Some of the townspeople believed when they heard the woman’s words. They knew she was telling the truth and they believed, but after they met Jesus they believed for different reasons. They believed because of the words He spoke.

I think it is amazing when you reach that time in your life when you realize that you have heard personally from God.  You don’t just believe because of your parent’s testimony or your Sunday school teacher’s witness, not because someone else said it was so. Your belief has grown. Your faith has expanded. You have a relationship with God yourself.  It is personal. You, yourself, have met with and experienced God.

“We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves…”

The Book of Psalms is by far my favorite book of the Bible. I know there is much to be learned from the Psalms in the way of history, theology and prophecy, but usually I just enjoy their beauty.  It may be because I love poetry.  The Psalms are wonderful poetry, but I really think there is more to it. 

The Psalms are so beautiful and comforting.  They are indeed my daily bread.  I constantly find myself turning to the Psalms.  I don’t feel like my quite time is complete unless I’ve read at least one Psalm. The Psalms satisfy my longing, convict me and comfort me. I have often opened to a Psalm and just cried and cried. Sometimes I read and my heart jumps because the words echo the very feelings of my soul.

When I’m having a bad day I see great men of God had bad days too.  The way David talks to God so honestly has always awed me.  There is no pretending.  He lays it all out on the table.  He says, “Hey, I messed up.” Or “Hey, you promised…” or “Hey, I just wanted to say how great and mighty you are.” or his desperate heart felt plea in a time of trouble.    

Maybe I love the Psalms so much because I can’t sing.  I’m not being modest; I really can not carry a tune.  I sit and wonder what some of the tunes to the Psalms were.  I ponder when I hear a Psalm put to modern music how close, although doubtful; it might be to the original.  I sometimes imagine when we get to heaven, that all Christians, from throughout time will sing a Psalm together.  Maybe one that David wrote.  We will all sing the Psalm the way we learned it from our time period but somehow, miraculously, it will be the most beautiful song ever sung!

Tonight is the time of night when I usually log on to tell you what verse or thought I have been mulling over off and on all day.  I am so tired I don’t know how well I will make sense tonight.  I fell asleep last night with a prayer in my head.  I soon as my feet hit the floor this morning I was whispering the same prayer again.  “Lord, please let me honor my husband today.  I know that in honoring him that I will be honoring you as well.  Please, Lord, give me the strength to make it through this day.”  I can’t count the number of times I uttered these words today.

You see today was the day that my husband needed my help on one of his properties.  All you that know me well know that outdoor work is not necessarily my forte.  I am out of shape and have a hard time lugging a heavy duty sprayer and backpack blower for several hours.  But he needed me and I have been well aware since coming home that I would need to help out with that side of things from time to time.  I was dreading it though.

I had two basic goals.  Number one was not to fight with my husband.  When we were dating I “helped” him on a landscaping job that turned into a huge fight.  It had something to do with me backing the truck into a mulch bed he had just spent a considerable amount of time mulching. I think something happened along of the lines of me not listening and being too proud to admit maybe I was wrong and he knew what he was doing after all.  Well…you know…the memory is sketchy after 12 years…

We have had many successful times of working together since then, but whenever he asks me to help that one always hangs in the back of my mind.  He remembers it as well.  As time grows farther and the successes pile up we are both able to laugh a little easier when we think about that day.  Things went well today.  No fights, no cross words, and I even got an, “I’m proud of you.”

The second goal was not to quit. I just wanted to be able to make it through the property.  I just needed physical endurance.  My heart would drop when I would walk around another corner only to see more of the same buildings stretching out.  I put my head down and kept on.  I was never so happy to see one of the tenants who wanted to stop and talk for a minute.  I was glad for the rest.  Thank goodness the weather was not too hot, not too cold.  God did give me the strength to make it through the property. He answered my prayers.

 We had frozen pizza for supper and the kids cleaned up.

We all know the story of the golden calf found in Exodus 32.  The children of Israel grew impatient at how long Moses was up on the mountain talking to God.  They asked Aaron to make them an idol and he did.

Exodus 32:1-4 (NIV)

 When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, "Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him."

 Aaron answered them, "Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me." So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt."

Then they threw a pretty wild party.  That’s what “got up to indulge in revelry” means.  Take a look at the rest of the chapter too.  There are several more clues to how wild and crazy things got. 

Did you ever stop and consider what Moses was doing up on the mountain?  Did you ever take a closer look at what exactly he was talking to God about?  God is giving Moses detailed instructions about Aaron.  While Aaron is succumbing to peer pressure; God is telling Moses all about the priest hood for Aaron and his family.  While Aaron is giving instructions on when and where to bring the gold for the idol; God is giving detailed instructions on beautiful garments and breastplates full of jewels for Aaron to wear.

Exodus chapters 28 and 29 are full of the intricate descriptions of the most beautiful, glorious clothes that will be Holy to the Lord.  Aaron will be consecrated for God and God’s service working in a glorious tabernacle.  He would be set apart from his ears, to his thumbs to his big toes.  (Ex. 29:20) Such detail!  Chapters 30 and 31 are full of detail describing where Aaron would be working, serving the Most High God.  It was to be a glorious place full of riches.  God was making great plans for Aaron and Moses would soon be down to let Aaron know all about them.

 But Aaron had no clue.  He was totally unaware of his new clothes, new position and the holy place of worship that he would be in charge of.  Instead he was partying.  I wonder how often God has great plans for us, but we grow weary waiting.  How often are we swayed or distracted by those around us instead of faithfully waiting on the Lord? We must persevere. 

God was very angry about the situation going on at the base of the mountain. But Moses interceded.  I love that word! Intercede – to plead on another’s behalf or to mediate in a dispute.  Moses had some practice at that.  He had been doing that with the King of Egypt, now he was doing it for the same client, but in a higher court.

11 But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. "O LORD," he said, "why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, 'It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. 13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.' “14 Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.

Jesus is in heaven right now interceding on your behalf. He is making great plans for you.  What are you doing while you are waiting? Are you distracted? Are you giving into peer pressure?

Hebrews 7:24-25 (NIV)

but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

By the way, look at the excuse Aaron gives in these verses in Chapter 32:

21 He said to Aaron, "What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?"

 22 "Do not be angry, my lord," Aaron answered. "You know how prone these people are to evil. 23 They said to me, 'Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him.' 24 So I told them, 'Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.' Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!"

“And out came this calf!”  I’m laughing so hard at his excuse.  I just don’t know what to say…

2 Thessalonians 3:13 (NIV)

And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.

Psalm 27:14 (NIV)

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

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24 (KJV)

I’m not one of those people that can’t see their own character flaws.  I am usually well aware of my personality problems.  I’m constantly going before God asking, “What should I work on this week?”  There are so many things that I am lacking in; it appears too overwhelming to consider them all.  I try to take off bite sized chunks. It seems just when I get one bad habit finally tuned into a virtue another one raises up its ugly head.   But for now let’s focus on the positive and on other people!

I am reading a great Bible study by Beth Moore. One of the teachers at school gave it to me.  This is the first thing I have ever read by her before.  It is called, Jesus – 90 Days with the One and Only.  The study works through Luke in small sections breaking apart and discussing words and phrases; sometimes diving into the Greek. She has you stop and consider Luke 2:52 “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” (KJV)  What a well rounded way to grow! She wants her readers to consider what kind of image people had of Jesus of Nazareth.  Then she asks her readers to share or write down what sort of qualities they like most in people.

The qualities I like overall in other people are honesty, kindness, wisdom, good work ethic and dependable.  Beth Moore listed: “godly, warm, personable, at least somewhat demonstrative, knowledgeable in a specific area so I can learn from them, trustworthy and funny!”  What about you? What qualities do you like most in people?

I’m really not sure of the details, but I remember hearing stories about it as a child.  I know my grandfather is partly responsible for prayer being removed from the local public schools.  I think he represented or was part of the legal team that represented the case in front of the court for their client.  I have heard stories about death threats being left on his home voicemail (I mean answering machine, err...codeaphone).  Seems like one uncle in particular was given a really hard time from his teacher during the litigation because she realized what his father was trying to do. I think she also harassed my uncle regularly in front of the class because he did not attend Sunday school.

Even though I attended public high school for a short time I never thought much about the moment of silence until this school year.  My volunteering schedule puts me in the classroom 3 days a week during morning announcements.  I proudly stood with the students and sang the Star Spangled Banner, but wondered how many kids actually understood the song.  Then I placed my hand over my heart and recited the pledge of allegiance. 

I love to hear all the voices echoing down the hall in unison from every class.  The whole school does this together everyday at the same time with some specially picked student leading over the school’s PA system.  This is something that I did not experience in private school.  The only time the school said the pledge together was once a week at the beginning of chapel service.

Then came the moment of silence… The principal announced, “Please observe a moment of silence.  You may think, pray or meditate during this time.”  It was eerie.  I got chill bumps.  I sat there a little stunned realizing that my grandfather had a hand in this.  Prayer was forever missing because he helped bring the suit against the local public school system.  It occurred to me that I had been negligent as a parent.  I had not discussed this moment with my children.

That day after school we discussed what had in the past filled that moment of silence.  How the students or teacher would start each day with a prayer.  I encouraged my children to use that time to bow their heads and pray.  “Oh yes, Mama!” said my 4^th grader. “My teacher last year and this year explained that to the class. She said that she was a Christian and that we need to be respectful of that time because she would be praying.”  Thank God for that teacher.  May He send more just like her to our schools to teach, lead and mentor. 

Now when I am present in the classroom during the moment of silence I bow my head and pray.  I know we, as Christians, are not supposed to make a scene of our prayer, but I do hope the students see me.  I hope that I am planting a seed.  I hope that somewhere in the back of their mind they will remember the lady that loved them was also the lady that prayed. 

I am glad that a teacher who is Muslim, Hindu, or some other religion is not allowed to lead my children in prayer everyday.  I guess my grandfather protected my kids from that.  I am thankful for the moment of silence and glad that time is set aside every morning.  If you have children, friends, or relatives attending public schools, please encourage them to bow their heads and pray as well.  We need more Christians making a difference in public schools.

I love quotes.  Call it a quirk, but I do.  I love those emails I get from people with a quote on the bottom especially if they change the quote from time to time.  In high school I loved it when my teachers would put a quote of the day on the board.

As a pre teen I would write the catchy sayings from the preacher in the back of my Bible.  I laugh now at all my misspelled words.  As a teenager I actually kept a spiral notebook of quotes I liked.  Some years ago I found that notebook. I laughed at the kinds of things that I thought were good enough to write down.  My friend gave me a journal in July and once again I find myself filling it full of quotes.  I write other things as well, but often I write a quote from a book I’m reading or something I‘ve heard on the TV or radio. 

Below are a few that I have recorded over the last 6 months.  Who knows years from now I may look back at these and laugh too!  If you actually make it all the way through this whole post, send me a email or post a comment on your favorite or not so favorite. Or be a true friend and let me know they are all laughable and I should delete this entry immediately!

“Energy is more attitude than metabolism. If your mind is excited by ideas, your body will respond with strength to match.” – Michael Pearl

“The devil is our enemy, not people.  As long as we have an enemy image of any group of people we can not love them. So instead of looking for the enemy or taking a side, we should go to all sides with the love of Jesus.” – Bro. Andrew

“If you are going to do God’s work, don’t let bitterness in your heart steal your blessing.” – Sheffey

  “…Your standards have become more important to you than your own peace and contentment.” – Dr. Chris Thurman

“Your life can not be segmented or partitioned.  You cannot be a good parent while being a lousy husband or wife.” – Michael Pearl

“…Success in not fearing failure, but learning from it.” – Dr. Chris Thurman

“You can not change what you will not confront.” – John Hagee

“…for he had become a Christian, some forty years earlier, without ceasing in the least to be a loyal Jew.  ‘A completed Jew!’ he would tell us smilingly, ‘A follower of the one perfect Jew’.” – Corrie Ten Boom

“Our lack of discipline in prayer comes from our fleshly desire of comfort and ease. “ – Andrew Murray

“Virtue lies in the struggle, not the prize.” – Dr. Chris Thurman

“It’s too easy to get so caught up in the paralysis of analysis that we fail to act.” Brother Andrew

“When little men cast long shadows the sun is about to set.” – Unknown (at least to me)

“You must have head knowledge of the Bible, and also have heart knowledge in order to have spiritual growth.” – Dr. Chris Thurman

“Man gives the award and God gives the reward.” – Denzel Washington

“Jesus is for more interested in people’s lives than in their God- talk. Your life, more than your words, will reveal what really controls you.” – Rebecca Manley-Pippert

“To use what is taught in the Bible, to know not only what its verses say but what they mean, is an awesomely powerful way to transform anyone’s life.” – Dr. Chris Thurman

“The real calling of God is not to a certain place or career, but to everyday obedience.” –Brother Andrew

“Constructive doubt can help you solidify your own beliefs.” – Dr. Chris Thurman

“It’s useless to think we can make a difference for Christ in some remote corner of the world if we can’t do it in our own neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces.” – Brother Andrew

“When we want to be successful in business, we put our whole heart into it.  Isn’t this even more necessary in the service of a holy God?” – Andrew Murray

“Peace is not the absence of communism, but the presence of the King of glory, Jesus Christ.” – Brother Andrew

Most of these quotes came from the books I have been reading over the past 6 months.  I recommend all of them.

The Lies We Believe By Dr. Chris Thurman

The Calling by Brother Andrew

Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

Jumping Ship by Michael and Debbie Pearl

Teach Me to Pray by Andrew Murray

Out of the Salt Shaker by Rebecca Manley-Pippert

Sunny Day, Rainy Day

What’s the difference anyway?

One will make you dry

One will make you wet

So get outside and sing this song today!

Sunny Day, Rainy Day

What’s the difference anyway?

My kids and their Tennessee cousins like to sing this song as they drive with their Grandma in her van.  They beg her to put the children’s CD on and they laugh as they sing.  Children who are innocent, wide with wonder and energetic always put a fresh perspective on my day. This song is stuck in my head!

Psalm 118:24          This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. (KJV)

 Since becoming a full time stay at home Mom in August, I spend a lot of time volunteering at my children’s school.  This is the first and last year that they all 3 will attend the same school and I want to enjoy it.  I spend time helping each of their teachers doing various tasks which puts me up at the school a few hours a day on 4 different days a week.  Sometimes I make copies or put together learning centers.  I read books to the class or help with the Red Cross eye exam.  Three days a week I have 9 students that I tutor in reading.  I love being at my kid’s school getting to know the teachers and other students.  I see them interact with their friends or pass them in the hall.  Sometimes I am mobbed by students (not my kids) who want a hug or want to tell me part of their day.  I love being there to give as many kids as I can some love and attention. 

Today I showed up for an hour or so of copying before helping lead book club discussion for the 3^rd and 4^th grade advanced readers.  I was looking for the teacher I needed to help and peeked through the cafeteria door window.  I saw one of my children with his head in his hands sadly starring at his empty lunch tray.  I stood baffled for a moment wondering why he had a lunch tray since I always pack his lunch.  I had watched him put his lunch in his backpack that morning so I knew it had not been left at home.  Even if he had forgotten it, why was the lunch tray empty?  If a student forgets their lunch the school will provide a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or a hot lunch and then send a note home saying you owe them money.  No one goes hungry.

He was sitting at the table closest to the door so I stepped in and asked,

“Son, where is your lunch?” 

He replied, “In the room.”

Puzzled I walked closer to the table to figure out what was going on, before I could get there I was intersected by the teacher who gently turned me around guided me toward the door, saying, “Don’t bother us.  We are working on something here.”  As she guided my arm out the door, I thought we would stand in the hallway discussing the problem out of my child’s earshot.  To my surprise the door shut and I turned around in the hallway to find myself alone. 

I felt my temper flaring and my first instinct was to march back through that door and tell that teacher a thing or two.  Just who did she think she was?  I have never been denied access to my son.  I wanted to demand to see my son and exercise every privilege and right that a mother has.  Not just that, but also obligation. As a mother, it is a basic fundamental instinct to feed your child.  Why was my child sitting at lunch with no lunch when I had sent a perfectly good lunch to school?

I started to go back through the door when another teacher came out to talk to me.  She had seen the whole incident and was going to get the assistant principal who was in charge today due to the head principal’s absence.  She said, “I can’t believe she just kicked you out of the cafeteria!”  As she marched off down the hall I took some more deep breaths.  I peeked through the window again and caught my son’s eye.  I mouthed, “Are you okay?” and he shook his head, yes.  The teacher was sitting beside him with her back to us and my son was looking very embarrassed.

I took several deep breaths and tried to calm down.  I didn’t want to cause a scene and embarrass him more.  I struggled between the most fulfilling thing to do and what was really in the best interest of my child.  I reasoned with myself that she would not let him really go without eating lunch. Maybe she was making him wait to teach some kind of lesson. Perhaps this seasoned teacher knew what she was doing.  After all, she handles my son all day long without my help 5 days a week. 

She and I have discussed his lack of responsibility for his personal articles.  For example, just yesterday his coat ended up in the lost and found box because he left it on the playground.  He was oblivious to his coats whereabouts until the end of the day when I questioned where his coat was and why wasn’t he wearing it.  Numerous times his lunch box has been left in some various place in school only to be found by his brother, sister or a friend and rescued.

By the time the assistant principal and showed up with the other teacher, I had cooled off.  I was able to calmly state that I really didn’t want to cause a scene but I did have some concerns over the situation.  We talked and without interference from us the situation was allowed to continue. (We monitored from afar).  After the lunch period was over my son carried that empty tray to the classroom and ate his lunch.  He was late to P.E.  The teacher met me in the hall and explained what led up to the incident.

Maybe I under reacted because I did not want to over react.  Was I treated unfairly, or unjustly?  I don’t think so.  Was I treated rudely?  Yes, but does that give me an excuse to be rude as well? I almost was.  What kind of example would that have set for my son and all those other kids up there that I have grown to love?  The bigger question for me was if my son was treated unfairly or unjustly. 

We talked at home after school.  I think she got through to him!  I think he will remember this lesson learned which thankfully will not be some awful memory of his mother embarrassing him at school!  He learned something about responsibility today and so did I!

I’ve been down on myself lately.  Some of you know what I am talking about.  I’m in one of those down on my body, down on my looks ruts.  Maybe it is because I have been home since August and still haven’t lost all those extra pounds I wanted to lose.  I am not in that “great shape” I wanted to be in.  Maybe it is because my skin has been drier than usual this winter.  Maybe this is just the winter blues.  Maybe it is because my face is breaking out more and I am not wearing as much makeup. 

 It could be I am regretting  my new short haircut that looks good when fixed, but sticks up everywhere in the morning.  My kids laugh and my youngest, as he cuddles with me in the morning looks up at me with his big blue eyes and says, “Mama, will you promise to never get your hair cut again?”  Maybe it is because my youngest learned the new word “atrocious “ yesterday and the first sentence he choose to use was, “ Mom your breath is atrocious in the mornings.” So you can see why a girl might be down. 

 Some of you are probably thinking, “Shame on you, Theresa! That is vain.”  Maybe it is, but a verse that lifted my spirits today came from Psalm 45 and I wanted to share.

 Psalm 45:11 (KJV)

So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord: and worship thou him.

 Psalm 45:11 (NIV)

The King is enthralled by your beauty: honor him, for he is your Lord.

  Psalm 45 is a marriage Psalm for the King and his bride.  No one is sure of the King or the time period.  When I read about the King and his bride I immediately think of Christ and the Church.  Being part of the Church I have to bring it down to a more personal level.  Jesus is the King of Kings.  Jesus is my King.   It doesn’t matter how I feel about my hair, body, nails, breath or skin today.  My King is enthralled with my beauty and I am to honor and worship Him.  Today I feel beautiful, not because I look any different than yesterday, but because my King thinks I am!   

Fat days, bloated days or “I know I am looking good days” are all the same to your King.  Honor Him.  Days our legs are shaved or days they aren’t.  Days that your husband tells you are beautiful or the days that he doesn’t even notice your new hair cut are all the same to your King.  Worship Him.  Days that you wished you were prettier or days that you wished men would stop looking your way.  Days you dream or days you are firmly planted in reality.  Days that you have make up on or days that you don’t are all the same to your King.  Honor Him.  Days that you are wearing a new outfit or days that you struggle to button your pants. On days when your hair looks good or the days that the pony tail is your best friend the King is enthralled by your beauty.  Use it to Honor Him. 

 The days your husband is gruff or on the days that he makes you melt.  The days your skin is smooth or the days when it is red, broken out or dry.  Honor your King.  You are beautiful to Him.  The days you meet someone at the store when you are looking a mess or the days when you look great and no one seems to notice.  On these days remember, “The King is enthralled by your beauty: honor him, for he is your Lord”.  So walk a little taller and put some pep in your step because you are beautiful.