Raindrops On Roses and Scars On My Toeses

The Sound of Music is such an iconic movie. For many, the scene that first comes to mind is when Maria comforts the children during the rainstorm and sings "My Favorite Things". While not entirely historically accurate, the movie rendering of the von Trapp family and their musical journey has encouraged generations with a message of hope, love and perseverance. 

The idea of focusing on the positive in the midst of fear or turmoil is not just common sense, but Biblical as well.  Philippians 4:8 reads: "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

That is not always an easy task. When things get rough, choosing to focus on the lovely is a struggle.  These last two weeks have been very challenging for me.  Between some high stress situations and a daughter's repeated sickness, I've often been in tears, fighting against depression.  Thankfully, my cloud has lifted and I'm much more at peace.  I know that several people have been praying for me and I'm very thankful for that. 

Looking back over the last few years, it has occurred to me that issues that were once a huge stress or problem, have now become blessings.  For example, two different skin cancers were removed, and though I don't like the scars or scraggly hairs left behind, they are evidence of a problem solved.  The cancer was caught and eliminated.  I could choose to see them as ugly (and sometimes I do) but when I'm in a more gratitude oriented mindset, I see them as answered prayers and a sign of God's provision.
  

Today, be encouraged to think on your favorite things (blessings), whether they are raindrops on roses or scars on your toes(es). When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when you're feeling bad--remember to choose to think on the good, and enlist some trusted friends to pray for you. 

The Missing Suitcase

On Sunday, we returned home from a remarkable trip to Bolivia.  My husband, his sister and their mother were all born there.  Much of my husband's childhood was spent there and this was a once in a lifetime trip, where 10 of us were able to travel together to see part of our family's history and heritage.  In the group was our family of four, my sister-in-law and her family of four, along with my in-laws. 

The 10 of us and our 19 pieces of luggage left Albuquerque mid-January and spent two weeks in the middle of South America.  It was an amazing experience.  The sights, the smells and the sounds were all foreign to me. I ate and drank things I never would have imaged (sheep heart and a corn beverage).  I often found myself sardined into a "Mini Bus", a van with extra seats added, transporting as many as 17 passengers at a time!

The crowds of people were often overwhelming.  The vibrant colors of the fabrics provided a strange frame to the faces of the many impoverished beggars that lined the streets. Indian women carried their babies on their backs and hunched men struggled up hills, hauling the goods that they would sell from their roadside stands. 

It was a good trip, but it was also a hard trip.  All four of the children got sick--everything from fevers and coughs to intestinal infections.  My embarrassing ignorance of the Spanish language often left me sitting in the middle of conversations, guessing at the subject matter based on facial expressions, hand gestures and the occasional word I recognized. 

By the time we left, I had gotten sick as well.  The 2 day journey home was full of delays and frustrations.  It was at the Miami International Airport that we realized one of our suitcases was missing.

Hours of phone calls and attempts to track the bag have thus far proved unfruitful.  Aside from the many items of clothing that are missing, my youngest daughter also lost all of the special items that she bought as gifts for friends.  We have prayed often for the return of the lost bag, but as each new day passes, the chances of us retrieving it become more doubtful.

In the first 48 hours, I had every expectation that God was going to do something wonderfully miraculous and reunite us with the bag.  I figured that He's surely want to boost my daughter's faith by answering this simple request. 

It was this morning, in a time of quite prayer and reflection, that I had to concede that His answer might be "no".  The bag may never be returned and those special items will be lost to us.  Does that mean God is mean or unfeeling?  Knowing His character, I had to admit that though I don't understand, His "no" is for our good. 

This simple and relatively pain-free lesson (on the scale of life's woes) reminded me again that I need to be careful not to view God as a magic genie.  It's not a question of asking for something and "poof"--request granted.  I can ask my Abba Father for something, but if, in His wisdom he says "wait" or "no", those are still good answers.  My selfish heart longs for what I want, when I want it.  Yet, my desire to grow in my faith will undoubtedly require me to receive many answers that are contrary to what I want, and more importantly, in line with what I need.  I am thankful that the prayers of safe travel were all answered in the affirmative.  We are home and I am grateful for the many blessings that we take for granted here in America. 

Fresh Starts

It's a new year (again).  The ads for gym memberships and dieting products are everywhere.  Organization and de-cluttering is top of mind as the Christmas decorations are packed away.  We want this new year to be fresh and different. Behinds us are weeks of bad eating, crazy schedules and sometimes painful situations.  Many of us long for a clean start to the year--a "do over" of sorts.

I was struck today by two "do-over" stories from Scripture.  It just so happened that these passages were listed as the daily reading in the online devotional "My Utmost for His Highest".  First came the story of Cain and Abel, then the story of Noah and the great flood. 

Most are familiar with the basic details of the Cain and Abel story, but I was reminded today of God's grace as I re-read the account from Genesis.  Cain, in a fit of jealousy and rage, kills his brother.  God delivers a consequence for the killing of Abel by driving Cain away from his home, and cursing the ground.  It then reads:

"Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. ¹⁴ Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”

¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. ¹⁶ So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden."

 

Cain was forced to have a fresh start.  God could have ended his life, struck him with a plague, or any number of punishments.  Instead, he spared him, showed him mercy and sent him on his way.  Cain goes on to find a wife and start a family.  Does he live a happy life after that?  We simply don't know.

 

Then comes the story of Noah:

^"The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. ⁶ The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. ⁷ So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” ⁸ But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord."

 

If you are basing your knowledge of the entirety of the story of Noah from last year's movie, don't! Go back and read the full account in Genesis.  It's a sad story, but also one of God's mercy, as he allows Noah, his sons and their wives the opportunity to start again. 

 

Do either of these stories resonate with you?  Perhaps you feel as though your new year comes on the heals of bad choices you've made; damaged relationship, broken promises and a host of events that you can't take back.  Or maybe, you feel as though the world, in it's brokenness, has left you with nothing.  You have only the bare necessities and little hope for what may lie ahead. 

 

God can give you the fresh start you desire.  It may not come in the way, or with the ease you would desire.  However, He is a God of mercy and second chances.  Seek Him today as you begin to plan out what comes next.  Regardless of what circumstance you find yourself in today, know that He can be trusted with your tomorrow. 

 

I pray that 2015 will expose you to the bigness of God's love for you.  I pray that you will find peace and joy in walking with Him.  I close with a Scriptural blessing for everyone reading this:

 

The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26

 

 



 

 

The Day After Christmas

Twas the day after Christmas and all through the house,

were papers and dishes--I tried not to grouse.

Remnants of parties and presents and friends,

caused my rigid sense of order, so slightly to bend.

My prayer sent to heaven with thanks for my blessings,

asking strength for the day and a freedom from stressing.

Soon the mess will be cleaned and the home set aright,

but until then, it need not give me a fright.

For disorder, you see, is a sign my house lives,

and hospitality is one of the gifts we can give.

So, in the days that fly by between now and New Year,

I wish you and your family an abundance of cheer.

Reflect on the joy you’re equipped to provide,

and make your heart light as you open doors wide.

 

Waiting For What Matters

Once again, I find myself in a position of waiting.  I never really like this place.  You think I'd be more comfortable with this space.  After all, I seem to do it quite often.  But, just as a waiting room is never your final destination, our position in life's timetable is never permanent either.  

I was going to reference the Dr.Seuss poem "The Waiting Place" and insert the iconic image of his strange cartoon people waiting.  But, curious about what other "waiting" images there were out there, I began to explore, and was struck by the fact that this "condition" is universal.  Time and again, through art and photographs, human kind has been captured waiting  We all wait.  Some of us for things of great importance in our careers or situations, others for the simple necessities of life. 

Scroll through the images and take a moment to reflect on the saying "The best things in life are worth waiting for."  After my image search, my frustration with waiting seems to have been greatly diminished. 

Husaybah, Iraq (Dec. 15, 2005) - Iraqi citizens wait in line at a polling site in the city of Husaybah, Iraq to vote during the country’s first parliamentary election. Iraqi citizens elected their first permanent parliamentary government, which will lead the new democracy for the next four years. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Sheila M. Brooks (RELEASED)

 

 

…

Photo by Rod Waddington.  Ethiopia

 

Photo by Charles O'Rear.  1941  Waiting for a train outside the station at Albuquerque, NM

Photo by Jennifer Murawski. The lone salaryman gets sent out to reserve a picnic spot for the office during cherry blossom viewing season. They usually show up before 9am to just sit there all day long in suits, alone until everyone else shows up, probably after 5-6pm.

Photo by SGT Zach Sheely.  Family members wait for U.S. Soldiers with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment, Kansas Army National Guard to arrive during a homecoming ceremony Sept. 7, 2014, at Forbes Field in Topeka, Kan. Soldiers with the unit returned home after a 10-month deployment to Afghanistan.

Why I Cleaned Up Their Mess

Running the social media pages for Son Broadcasting, I come across lots of cute sayings, Tweet-worthy quotes, and pictures of everything from cats to vacations.  There are no lack of videos of people wiping out on skateboards, or elephants painting pictures.  Most of it doesn't catch much of my attention.

Today however, I came across a Spanish language (with subtitles) commercial/video for IKEA.  It made me cry and once again caused me to ask myself how I am spending time with my children.

We have some good laughs together.  There are countless conversations about choices, boys, homework and character.  Yet, I was convicted that much of my time with them is distracted.  The demands on my time are heavy, and I find myself spinning more plates than I probably should. 

When I came home at lunch time today, I found the kitchen wrecked.  The girls had obviously made cookies before they left for school.  But, based on the caked-on remains that covered the cookie sheets, it was evident that they hadn't been very successful. 

My options were: leave the mess and make them (rightfully so) clean up the kitchen after school or clean it up myself and allow time for us to make a successful batch of cookies this afternoon.  I'm not suggesting that the lesson be "leave your mess, and let mom pick it up" but after weighing my options, I choose planned, purposeful, uninterrupted time with my children this afternoon. 

They will learn how to do dishes and to pick up after themselves.  But the only one who can teach them to have a great relationship with their mother is me! 

The Gift of Freedom

And, they’re off!  American shoppers began lining up Thanksgiving Day to take advantage of discounts and special offers for Christmas.  Maybe you got lucky and scored a few great deals yourself.  While you may know exactly what to get some of the people on your list, I’m guessing that shopping for your spouse isn’t all that easy.  It’s sometimes those we know the best that are the hardest to shop for.

I have a theory, that the more intimate the relationship, the more difficult it is to come up with a meaningful gift.  Sure, they may love a new gaming console, giant TV or iPhone, but it isn’t what they really need.  When it comes to our spouses, we usually can’t wrap up their heart’s desires. 

Perhaps, what they most need is assurance that they are loved.  I haven’t found that on Amazon yet.  Maybe the real issue is that they need to feel respected and heard.  Walmart was out of stock.  Even Target was a bust when it came to finding validation and motivation. 

In all seriousness, one gift that millions of men and women are craving is simply, freedom.  To be set free from addiction to drugs or alcohol is a dream.  Maybe the struggle lies in overeating or self-doubt.  For a huge number of both men and women, they want freedom from pornography. 

Porn is destroying marriages and lives at an alarming rate.  You won’t find many people that would say “I want to stay lost in this dark, seedy world.”  That’s because porn is a mirage.  That allure and excitement that first pulled them in, led to a world without life; no rest, no shade, no water that ever satisfies.

There is a tool out there, to help those struggling with porn.  It’s software from X3watch that offers accountability and resources, while providing a block to inappropriate content on all internet connected devises.  This program is designed to help provide the freedom that so many are craving.

This may be a gift you can give your spouse.  Or, maybe it’s a gift you give yourself.  Sadly, porn has reached its dirty hands into the lives of men and women, in every age group and defied all socioeconomic bounds. 

If you are ready to deal with porn addiction head on, click here . Let X3watch help you in this quest for freedom.  As you celebrate the Christmas season, let X3watch help restore hope to your family. Begin the journey of healing and come to know what a gift it is to be set free.