Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight,
and the sin which so easily ensnares us,
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Hebrews 12:1

Lord, help me find my running shoes.

Photo by timtak (Flickr)

Hear my cry, O God;
Attend to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For You have been a shelter for me,
A strong tower from the enemy.
I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;
I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.

Selah

Psalm 61:3-4 NKJV

photo by .catina jane arts (Flickr)

photo by Joe Shlabotnik (Flickr)

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28 NKJV

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from Your presence,

And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

Psalm 51:10-12 NKJV

photo by Arwen Abendstern (Flickr)

I was so foolish and ignorant;

I was like a beast before You.

Nevertheless I am continually with You;

You hold me by my right hand.

You will guide me with Your counsel,

And afterward receive me to glory. 

Whom have I in heaven but You?

And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.

My flesh and my heart fail;

But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 

It is good for me to draw near to God;

I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, 

That I may declare all Your works.

Psalm 73:22-26,28 NKJV

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, 

The power and the glory, 

The victory and the majesty; 

For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; 

Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, 

And You are exalted as head over all. 

Both riches and honor come from You, 

And You reign over all. 

In Your hand is power and might; 

In Your hand it is to make great 

And to give strength to all.

Now therefore, our God, 

We thank You 

And praise Your glorious name.

1 Chronicles 29:11-13 NKJV

Watch your words!

I have been affected by the power of words lately - both my words and others' words.  Words that are hurtful, confusing, disparaging.  Words that say things that shouldn't have been said, let alone thought.  Words that make me sad.  Words that make me angry.  My knee jerk, over simple solution is to stop emailing, stop talking, stop the words.  

A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends. 

Proberbs 16:28 NLT

A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, 

but it can accomplish nearly anything - or destroy it!  

A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. 

By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, 

throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke 

and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.

This is scary: You can tame a tiger, 

but you can't tame a tongue - it's never been done. 

The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. 

With our tongues we bless God our Father; 

with the same tongues we curse the very men 

and women he made in his image.

Curses and blessings out of the same mouth! 

James 5:5-10 MESSAGE

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, 

but what is good for necessary edification, 

that it may impart grace to the hearers. 

Ephesians 4:29 NKJV

I can't stop the words.  So instead...

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 

Psalm 34:1 NKJV

and try to be wise.

In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, 

But she who restrains his lips is wise. 

Proverbs 10:19 NKJV

(emphasis and gender change mine)

Retreat and Regroup

Surferman was my hero again today.  He took Grom for the day and sent me off for some time alone.   I'm just about to head back home.

I haven't be "right" since my Grandmother died.  I think her death is part of the problem, but there are also a lot of other things contributing to my funk.

I felt like I needed a day...

to spend time with God

to think

to be alone

to examine the priorities of my life

to regroup and make some plans

Of course, God met me.   It was a great day.

My soul, wait silently for God alone, 

For my expectation is from Him.

He only is my rock and my salvation; 

He is my defense; I shall not be moved.

In God is my salvation and my glory; 

The rock of my strength, And my refuge is in God.

Trust in Him at all times, you people; 

Pour out your heart before Him; 

God is a refuge for us.

Selah

Psalm 62:5-8 NKJV

Christmas 2007 - The Debriefing

Merry Christmas! Here's the good, the bad and the ugly of our Christmas 2007. Also my plans to improve next year. No particular order.


GOOD! - Gingerbread House kit from Costco. Inexpensive. Everything is included. Box lid forms the base for the house so it's easy to assemble. Grom, Surferman and I had a great time decorating it. Grom and Surferman had fun snatching candy off the house thinking Mom didn't know what was going on. And the candy doesn't tempt me (much).

Next year - no changes.

BAD! - No Christmas Card. I blame my computer switch around Thanksgiving, but truth be told I don't think I've ever had a Christmas card go out on time. One year I sent 3 years worth of letters at once. I manage to get the letters done, but not sent.

Next year - Order Christmas card by October 15th. Mail at Thanksgiving.


GREAT! - Grom and I made and decorated sugar cookies.
The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies and Sugar Cookie Icing were foolproof and delicious. These were the best sugar cookies I've ever made. Mixing the dough was fun. Rolling was challenging as Grom wanted to help more than I wanted him to. I rolled and baked the dough on parchment paper. The parchment paper made it easier and faster. When the cookies came out of the oven I slid the paper off the cookie sheet and onto the counter to cool. We made stars, hearts, Jesus stars, Christmas trees and BIG hearts. Icing and decorating the cookies was a lot of fun and went better than I expected. After my frustration with rolling the cookies, I decided I needed more control over the decorating if I was going to keep my hair. We did the cookies by type and kept the decorations simple. All of the Christmas trees were green with multicolored dot sprinkles. All of the stars were white with multicolored sugar sprinkles. Etc. The big hearts we glazed white and after they were dried I used a food marker to write "Happy Birthday Jesus" on them.

Next year - Roll and cut one sheet of cookies with Grom right before naptime (I realize I'm dreaming that a 4 1/2 year old will still be napping, but a girl can dream right?). Do the rest of the cookies while he's occupied.


BAD! - Advent Calendar from Trader Joe's. The calendar wasn't bad. I was just out of my mind when we started it. I had the brilliant idea to start the calendar with the highest number and move down (as a sort of countdown). But if you forget (and how Grom forgot to get me to give him chocolate is beyond me), you have to try to figure out how many doors you have to open to catch up and it's all backwards. If you're confused reading this, I'm sure you'll understand the confusion. The best part of being forgetful with the advent calendar is that we had a couple of days where Grom was able to share candy around the house. The joy we experienced with him sharing made it all good.

Next year - I plan to do a Jesse Tree and use that to countdown the days until Jesus' Birthday. My friend Stacey is going to organize an ornament exchange, so we should have beautiful, wonderful ornaments to display. I'm going to look for a little tree when I shop Target tomorrow morning.

OK! - We went to Christmas Eve service at my parent's church. It was a very nice service, but it wasn't our church and I missed my "family".

Next year - I hope to be able to attend service at our church.

GREAT! - For family Christmas gifts, Surferman and I agreed on 3 gifts each. One to wear. One to consume. One for fun. We budgeted and did very well at using only money we had set aside. Surferman turned all the change in his mug into a Starbucks card for me. Lattes are on me for quite a while.

Next year - No changes except to shop more throughout the year.

GOOD! - Our family tradition for stockings is that we each buy 2 items for everyones stocking. Grom and Gigi buy one item. Our stocking are great fun. We had some last minute racing around.

Next year - Collect stocking stuffers throughout the year. When I'm out somewhere and see something that would be great for brother-in-law I'm going to buy it.


BAD! - We never made it out to look at Christmas lights.

Next year - Set a date early and make a night of it.

GREAT! - I made some more cloth gift bags. I bought the fabric on sale last year. I didn't wrap a single present in paper! All reusable.

Next year - I have quite a stash. I think I can get away without making anymore next year.

BAD! - No caroling. No visiting neighbors.

Next year - Make cookies earlier and take them to our neighbors with invitations to Christmas Eve Service. Not sure what to do about the caroling, but maybe friends with kids would like to go early one evening. Caroling with church was a little late for us.


GREAT! - Grom and I rang a bell for the Salvation Army with a friend and her boy (Grom's buddy). We did it right after Thanksgiving. It helped jump start my Christmas spirit and also set us out helping others rather than focusing on yourself. Plus, after whenever we saw someone ringing bells and collecting money for the Salvation Army afterward, Grom and I had a memory to share and another opportunity to talk about helping others. I don't think I've given so much change ever to the Salvation Army. In our community, the Salvation Army is the first stop for people in need.

Next year - I want to encourage my friends with kids to take some time and ring a bell. I'm also going to encourage the volunteer who schedules ringers to consider one hour shifts for moms and kids.


GREAT! - I didn't know how Santa was going to play out in our house. I knew I didn't want Grom thinking Santa was a real person who was going to bring him presents, but I also didn't want to kill Santa either. We let him be a fun thing that is a part of celebrating Christmas, the birth of Jesus. Grom had a couple of funny conversations with Mimi (my paternal grandmother). She asked him if he had made his Christmas list for Santa yet and he asked why - like why would Santa bring him anything. And then today, she asked him if Santa had been here and he said, "No, but he's coming to town".

Grom and I have had some great conversations about Jesus during this season. His questions make me think, make me appreciate all that Jesus did for me, make me appreciate my God who would humble himself and come to the world as a helpless baby just for me (and you too!).

Next year - I want to read more stories with Grom about Christmas and look into some of the ways Christians celebrate Christmas in other parts of the world.

I'm sure there could be more...

Zealous

I was reading from 1 Kings 19 this morning. 

Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty." 1 Kings 19:10

Elijah got me thinking about zeal.  It's really a cool word.   There aren't a lot of Z words and zeal has to be one of the best.  

zeal - eagerness (marked by enthusiastic or impatient desire or interest)
and ardent(fiery, hot, shining, glowing) interest in the pursuit of something (Jesus!)

Lord, I want to be zealous.  I want to live passionately for You and the things You call me to.  I want to eagerly await Your return.   I want to be able to say that I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty.

Help.  

Yellow Lines

Grom and I took my sister to the train today. It was Grom's first trip to the train station. I can't imagine why I haven't thought about taking the boy who chugs through my house making train noises to see a real train.  You can bet we'll be back.

The timing of my sister's train was perfect.  The southbound train arrived and left and then her northbound train arrived.  Grom was able to get on the train for a couple of minutes to see the inside.  I can't recall a time when he was more joyful.  He was ecstatic.  A big smile was permanently installed on his face.

We had some time to wait for the train.  Quickly he figured out how the train station worked - that there were tracks that the trains would be riding on.  He intuitively knew that he was supposed to stay behind the yellow line.  No train in sight and he would get very upset if we got anywhere near the line.

It made me think about the yellow lines God paints in my life.  Yellow the color of warning and caution.  His Word is full of warnings to heed.

So often though I find myself inching closer to the line instead of standing way back. 

Father, give me a fresh desire to know Your heart, to know Your Word, to heed Your warnings.  I want to be holy and wholy Yours.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

What to do with a bad mood...

I feel ugly.

Dry.

To console those who mourn in Zion, 

To give them beauty for ashes, 

The oil of joy for mourning, 

The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; 

That they may be called trees of righteousness, 

The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

Isaiah 61:3

Heavy. 

For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

Matthew 11:30

Discontent.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; 

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Wrathful.

A continual dripping on a very rainy day 

and a contentious woman are alike

Proverbs 27:15

Tired.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, 

and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

Overwhelmed.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

Really ugly.

Hopeful.

My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:9

Father, refill me with your Holy Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, 

kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. 

Against such there is no law. 

Galatians 5:22-23

Thank you, Lord.

Daily Bible Reading Update

I was doing so good with my Daily Bible Reading plan.

The best that I have ever done.

I don't know what happened. I don't know why I stopped. It happened so quickly. I tried to catch up, but I seemed to get farther and farther behind.

I gave up.

I've been thinking more about my time in God's Word than the time I actually spend. With our new earlier to bedtime routine in full swing, I'm getting up earlier and I hear my Father calling me. I haven't been opening the Word because I didn't know where to go and because I felt so discouraged by my failure at the reading plan.

I was talking to Surferman tonight. He encouraged me to keep going. So what if I won't finish on December 31st. It may not be until March or whenever, but I will be better off for having read His Word. There is no time schedule. Just my desire to have regular time learning, knowing and reading my Father's heart.

God... I'll see you in the morning.

Easy M&M Costume and How To Use Halloween to Spread the Gospel

I know that there a hundred different ways to celebrate, ignore, deal with Halloween as a Christian. Here's what we're doing / have done this year.

For the past few years we have attended a Harvest Costume Party with some other families from church. It's always great fun. Surferman gets into it and loves to wear a costume with Grom. This year we were M&M's. It was an easy costume, comfortable and well received.

Here are our shirts. I found a font that looked the M&M's "m" and expanded it to full size for Surferman and mine's shirts. For Grom, I made the m fill half a page. I printed them out and then cut them out of adhesive backed felt. The felt was less than $1.50/ sheet. We used shirts that we already had. The adhesive on the felt held well and the m can be pulled off when costume season is over.

We have Calvary Kids Club on Wednesday night. Grom is supposed to dress up as a Bible character. I'm going to make him a coat of many colors and he'll be Joseph.

At home we'll be passing out these to any kids who stop by. It's a poem with the Gospel. Redeem the day. Don't let Satan blow out your light - even for just a day.

Works for Me Wednesday - Laundry Prayer

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV

I found an easy way to put part of the command of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 into (unfortunately) daily practice.

I wrote things I want to pray for on my clothes pins / laundry pegs / whatever you call them.

I list family members, character traits for myself, Surferman and Grom, even President Bush has his own clothes pin.

It adds to my laundry experience. I never know who or what I'm going to pull out of the pocket of my apron. I add to them when I think of it.


Works for me!

For more tips from Bloggityville - head over to Shannon's.

Smart Habit Saturday

Lara the Lazy Organizer hosts Smart Habit Saturdays. It has been motivating to me and has encouraged me to work on some improvements in my life.

I'm sticking with the habits I've been working on.

I didn't do well this week with my newest habit. I'm disappointed with myself. I feel like Paul... "For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice." (Romans 7:19)

I won't give up.

FORWARD!
Habit 4 - Daily, early morning devotion time. I want to be out of bed at 5:45 am every morning for 45 minutes with my Lord for reading of the Word, prayer and book study.
Habit 3 - Lights out by 11 pm nightly.
Habit 2 - Drink 3 qts of water daily. Baby stepping is working! Increasing to 3 qts/ day this week.
Habit 1 - Wash my face every night. On track - almost a habit!

Daily Bible Reading - Ephesians 4-6

Ephesians 4-6

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.
Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.
He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
Ephesians 5:1-2

Smart Habit Saturday

Lara the Lazy Organizer hosts Smart Habit Saturdays. It has been really motivating to me and has encouraged me to work on some improvements in my life.

I'm adding a new habit this week even though I have had stellar results with my habit from last week. My habit last week was to be in bed with the lights out by 11 pm. Well... I was in bed by 11 pm each of the nights, but not with lights off.

The habit I'm setting next should help me be better about my last habit. To be successful, I'll have to get to bed.

Habit 4 - Daily, early morning devotion time. I want to be out of bed at 5:45 am every morning for 45 minutes with my Lord for reading of the Word, prayer and book study.

Continuing with
Habit 3 - Lights out by 11 pm nightly.
Habit 2 - Drink 3 qts of water daily. Baby stepping is working! Increasing to 2 qts/ day this week.
Habit 1 - Wash my face every night. On track - almost a habit!

Daily Bible Reading - Psalm 69-71

Psalm 69-71

1 Save me, O God,
for the floodwaters are up to my neck.
2 Deeper and deeper I sink into the mire;
I can’t find a foothold.
I am in deep water,
and the floods overwhelm me.
3 I am exhausted from crying for help;
my throat is parched.
My eyes are swollen with weeping,
waiting for my God to help me.

Psalm 69:1-3

Sometimes problems and trials come fast and furious, one after another - after another. They don't seem to stop and I feel helpless. I cry out to God, but feel like He isn't listening. He doesn't do what I want done NOW.

This week I had the invitations to my pity party out and addressed. I'm glad they never made it in the mail. Just when I was beginning to feel really bad for myself, God would bring someone into my day who "had it worse".

It's hard to feel sorry for yourself when you are counting your blessings.