Friday, March 22, 2013
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Right In My Own Backyard- Part 3: An Explanation
Ok. So I have to come back to my backyard pictures just one more time for a little discussion. I know you are tired of looking at a tree but hear me out. Originally, I posted those pictures because I just knew God was speaking to me, revealing his presence, providing comfort, clarity, and grace to me in a very obvious, and tangible way. And I felt certain that by posting those pictures, you would see and feel God at work too. A few of you understood exactly where I was going in the posts, or you pretended you did out of genuine love (thanks Mom and Sis). Just be honest, though, many of you wondered what in the world I was rambling about, and some of you probably figured I was off in space somewhere losing my mind. Maybe you didn't want to say it, but you might have been thinking, "Oh brother! Here we go, an over-the-top Christian who has become so self involved, she's loosing touch with reality." I can suggest that possible thought because I have had those kind of awkward encounters myself. For some of you, the backyard picture posts may have supported your suspicion that I was grasping at straws to paint a picture of faith that isn't really there. After all we see what we want to see, and we can justify almost any belief if we work hard enough these days, right? Yikes!
Let me explain. The third time's a charm, hopefully. The tree is a metaphor for our lives. We can look at it through our own eyes, and it is just a fragile, weak, bare tree with scraggly, empty branches. We hope and long for the day it's in full bloom. There's so much potential there, but it just isn't much to look at for the moment.
Or, we can recognize our own need to look up and see the world with God. That's where we find the beauty and majesty that tree has had all along. When we look up, we find the real treasures in this life that are right in front of us.
We can realize our God given potential because we accept the cross and the gift of new life, grace, and peace God offers us and shows us in our true light and savior, Jesus Christ.
So, now that I think about it. It makes sense that you may not see the cross I see so clearly in my picture.
When we look to God and make room for him, he is ready and willing to meet each of us wherever we are in our faith journeys as long as we let him in. He knows us better than we know ourselves because he created us (Genesis 1:27-28, Psalm 139). He loves us unconditionally, strengths and weaknesses, successes and screw ups. He reveals himself to each of us in real ways at just the right time. Every part of us can be a part of God's perfect purpose when we are willing to accept the promises of the cross and give in to its transforming power. The apostle Paul knew all of this when he said,
Where are you struggling the most in your life right now? Look for God, and make room for him there. You will find the cross and the saving grace we have in Christ.
My prayer for you today-
Let me explain. The third time's a charm, hopefully. The tree is a metaphor for our lives. We can look at it through our own eyes, and it is just a fragile, weak, bare tree with scraggly, empty branches. We hope and long for the day it's in full bloom. There's so much potential there, but it just isn't much to look at for the moment.
We can realize our God given potential because we accept the cross and the gift of new life, grace, and peace God offers us and shows us in our true light and savior, Jesus Christ.
Then our lives really start to bloom. We can't see the big picture in all it's glory, but God can.
So, now that I think about it. It makes sense that you may not see the cross I see so clearly in my picture.
When we look to God and make room for him, he is ready and willing to meet each of us wherever we are in our faith journeys as long as we let him in. He knows us better than we know ourselves because he created us (Genesis 1:27-28, Psalm 139). He loves us unconditionally, strengths and weaknesses, successes and screw ups. He reveals himself to each of us in real ways at just the right time. Every part of us can be a part of God's perfect purpose when we are willing to accept the promises of the cross and give in to its transforming power. The apostle Paul knew all of this when he said,
"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work."
How God comes to us, and where we see him at work, what parts of us need transforming and healing, that's personal and unique to our own intimate relationships with God and his plan for us. Your relationship with God and the promises that come with accepting the reality of the cross (and mine), are right in front of you (and me) everywhere you (and I) go, backyard or not. Just seek it. We will find the treasure we have in Christ (Matthew 7:8).
Where are you struggling the most in your life right now? Look for God, and make room for him there. You will find the cross and the saving grace we have in Christ.
My prayer for you today-
Lord and Savior,
I thank you for each person that reads this blog. I pray these words open our hearts and minds to you. Thank you for knowing each of us better than we know ourselves. I pray that you will comfort and strengthen us with your presence and saving grace every time we look for you and let you in. We give you our individual struggles and pray you will transform our lives, nourishing and growing our relationships with you in the ways only you know best. May we live the pure joy and peace that comes from walking hand in hand with you, without hesitation and fear.
In the name of Jesus Christ I pray,
Amen
Many blessings,
Monday, March 18, 2013
Right In My Own Backyard- Part 2
"The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live."
A prayer for today-
Dear Heavenly Father,
Today I pray you will help me make room for you. I thank for your presence in this world. Fill my heart with your Holy Spirit and be with me, making yourself known in all that I do. Hold me with your loving arms in the areas of my life where I need your healing touch. Guide my steps and show me your way for this life you have given me.
I pray this prayer in the name of your son, Jesus Christ,
Amen
Hugs,
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Right in My Own Backyard
This tree in my backyard caught my attention yesterday. It was the bright green tips on the ends of the very bare, dull, scraggly looking branches that drew me in at first, I think.
Then, I started looking up and captured the images with my camera.
No kidding, this is the same tree right in my backyard.
This is what I found right in front of me. Do you see it?
God has a way of showing up when we make room for him.
Same tree, again. Really. What's right in front of you? Look again.
A prayer for today-
Dear Almighty God,
I thank you for your beautiful and amazing creation, your mercy, and your grace. I thank you for always showing up with open arms and a strong, very real, and unquestionable presence when I make room for you in my life. I pray you will continue to work in me, filling my heart with your love and Holy Spirit. Let me look up to you, my rock, my counselor, my comforter, in all that I do. Use me to make a difference in the world.
In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen
Blessings,
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
We Can't Make Time But We Can Take It
How many of you have the best of intentions to get things done (and done right) at the start of your day, and then something happens? Things don't go as planned. One simple, unexpected thing can send you in a tailspin. Before you know it, the best of your intentions are thrown right out the window, along with your sanity. And even though the game changer can be something little, the impact somehow becomes huge for the rest of your day. Whatever it is, you suddenly feel like your day has gone to a certain bad kind of hand basket, if you know what I mean. I hate when that happens!! Does this ever happen to you?
That's exactly what happened to me yesterday. The plan was toddler takes a nap in his new big boy bed = quiet time for this mom to get a quick shower, fold some laundry, do some blogging, return a few phone calls, and regroup before the big brothers come home from school. Ambitious for two hours, I know. Well, my plan was quickly shoved out the window by a toddler who spent nap time wiggling his little diapered caboose out of bed as fast as I could put him in and cover him up. After what felt like the 100th time of putting him back in the bed, I have to be honest. My precious brown eyed little miracle was testing my patience and messing with my blood pressure. I followed The Supernanny's bedtime advice with the best of intentions. You know, I was determined to show him who was boss, my will against his, and I found myself getting more frustrated and agitated by the minute.
The day was downhill from there. Two hours later I gave up on the toddler sleeping possibility. If he wasn't going to nap, I'd show him. So, out of determination to smell better for my husband when he returned home from work and for the safety of my sleep deprived, whiny, door opening toddler, I decided to put up a baby gate at the entrance to his room. Then I ran to take a shower. It seemed like a good idea at the time.
I returned from my shower to find (brace yourself) he had pooped in his diaper, reached in and grabbed a chunk of his own stinky stuff, and smeared it all over the baby gate and adjacent door frame. As if that wasn't bad enough, he then picked up a bucket full of toys and one by one with his dirty hands, my little stinker (no pun intended), hurled his toys through his open door, over the banister, crashing them into the foyer below. A second later the big brothers walked through the door ready to do homework and eat a snack. And did I mention, I needed to start cooking dinner?
So like I was saying, the smallest thing can be a game changer, having huge impact and throwing good intentions out the window. It might be a broken copy machine or a computer crash, a phone call or irritating conversation, a canceled appointment, a traffic jam, bad weather, one task takes longer than you anticipated. There's no telling. Think about it. On any given day, there are tons of unexpected little somethings hiding and waiting to poo-poo all over your plans, your best intentions, and your clear thinking...leaving you with a messy day.
It's all the possible little somethings and Jesus' words in John 14 that convince me to give the FiRST part of every day to God, and for good reasons.
1. Giving God the FiRST part of my morning means I am guaranteeing him room in my day. Pastors Greg Surratt and Josh Surratt of Seacoast Church poignantly point out in Make Room: Creating Space for God, "It doesn't matter what we say is important to us if we don't make room for it. What we make room for is what is really important to us." God is getting priority when we spend time with him before we do anything else, leaving less room for little somethings to get in the way of our good intentions. Jesus tells us himself in John 14:6,
2. Giving God the FiRST part of the day connects us to the daily resource and companion we have in the Holy Spirit.
If we can't see the Holy Spirit, and the world we enter when we leave our homes doesn't always know him, we could possibly go through an entire day, week, month, or year without this perfect, personal GPS system we have in God. I don't know about you, but I'd rather get my directions FiRST before I get lost, and just maybe I won't make as many wrong turns along the way.
3. Giving God the FiRST part of our day means our hearts are open to hear God's speaking to us, and we can let him work through us. Then, we are equipped to put our faith into action. Pastor Greg Surratt puts it this way, "We CAN'T make God move, but we CAN make room for God to move (Make Room: Creating Space for God to Work)." Why is that important, you wonder?
Put yourself in Philip's shoes. Jesus tells him AND you,
Heavenly Father,
i thank you for always showing up when i take time to be with you. i thank you for your purpose perfect plans for my life and all the ways you reveal yourself to me each day. i pray you will give me the open heart i need at the start of each day to hear your Holy Spirit and do your work in the world. May i glorify you and bless others in all that i do, recognizing my constant need for you.
In the name of your son, Jesus Christ, I pray,
Amen.
Love and blessings,
That's exactly what happened to me yesterday. The plan was toddler takes a nap in his new big boy bed = quiet time for this mom to get a quick shower, fold some laundry, do some blogging, return a few phone calls, and regroup before the big brothers come home from school. Ambitious for two hours, I know. Well, my plan was quickly shoved out the window by a toddler who spent nap time wiggling his little diapered caboose out of bed as fast as I could put him in and cover him up. After what felt like the 100th time of putting him back in the bed, I have to be honest. My precious brown eyed little miracle was testing my patience and messing with my blood pressure. I followed The Supernanny's bedtime advice with the best of intentions. You know, I was determined to show him who was boss, my will against his, and I found myself getting more frustrated and agitated by the minute.
The day was downhill from there. Two hours later I gave up on the toddler sleeping possibility. If he wasn't going to nap, I'd show him. So, out of determination to smell better for my husband when he returned home from work and for the safety of my sleep deprived, whiny, door opening toddler, I decided to put up a baby gate at the entrance to his room. Then I ran to take a shower. It seemed like a good idea at the time.
I returned from my shower to find (brace yourself) he had pooped in his diaper, reached in and grabbed a chunk of his own stinky stuff, and smeared it all over the baby gate and adjacent door frame. As if that wasn't bad enough, he then picked up a bucket full of toys and one by one with his dirty hands, my little stinker (no pun intended), hurled his toys through his open door, over the banister, crashing them into the foyer below. A second later the big brothers walked through the door ready to do homework and eat a snack. And did I mention, I needed to start cooking dinner?
So like I was saying, the smallest thing can be a game changer, having huge impact and throwing good intentions out the window. It might be a broken copy machine or a computer crash, a phone call or irritating conversation, a canceled appointment, a traffic jam, bad weather, one task takes longer than you anticipated. There's no telling. Think about it. On any given day, there are tons of unexpected little somethings hiding and waiting to poo-poo all over your plans, your best intentions, and your clear thinking...leaving you with a messy day.
It's all the possible little somethings and Jesus' words in John 14 that convince me to give the FiRST part of every day to God, and for good reasons.
1. Giving God the FiRST part of my morning means I am guaranteeing him room in my day. Pastors Greg Surratt and Josh Surratt of Seacoast Church poignantly point out in Make Room: Creating Space for God, "It doesn't matter what we say is important to us if we don't make room for it. What we make room for is what is really important to us." God is getting priority when we spend time with him before we do anything else, leaving less room for little somethings to get in the way of our good intentions. Jesus tells us himself in John 14:6,
"I am the way and the truth and the life."
Who doesn't want "the life" grounded in truth? Why wouldn't we? And if I am not spending time with God first, I certainly don't want to take a chance that I am going the wrong way, grounded in lies and death. Yuck!!
2. Giving God the FiRST part of the day connects us to the daily resource and companion we have in the Holy Spirit.
"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." (John 14: 16-18)
3. Giving God the FiRST part of our day means our hearts are open to hear God's speaking to us, and we can let him work through us. Then, we are equipped to put our faith into action. Pastor Greg Surratt puts it this way, "We CAN'T make God move, but we CAN make room for God to move (Make Room: Creating Space for God to Work)." Why is that important, you wonder?
Put yourself in Philip's shoes. Jesus tells him AND you,
“Don’t you know me, Philip [put your name here] even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." (John 14:9-12)
Did you hear that? If we give God room, he is going to show up. AND Jesus tells us our works will be evidence of God's presence in our lives. In fact, Jesus says, we can do even greater works through Christ than the ones we know about because he died for us. I don't know about you, but I don't want to miss out on that!
Taking time for God FiRST suggests that i am not large and in charge. For me, that means i start my day by inviting God to have a cup of coffee with me in my pjs before i do anything else. Apart from my bad morning breath, it also means that even on the messiest of days, i can be thankful that God is working it for good in his purpose perfect plan (Romans 8:28). What does taking time for God FiRST mean for you? For sure, we will have better days than we could ever have on our own, better weeks, better months, better years, better lives when we do!
Taking time for God FiRST suggests that i am not large and in charge. For me, that means i start my day by inviting God to have a cup of coffee with me in my pjs before i do anything else. Apart from my bad morning breath, it also means that even on the messiest of days, i can be thankful that God is working it for good in his purpose perfect plan (Romans 8:28). What does taking time for God FiRST mean for you? For sure, we will have better days than we could ever have on our own, better weeks, better months, better years, better lives when we do!
A prayer for today-
Heavenly Father,
i thank you for always showing up when i take time to be with you. i thank you for your purpose perfect plans for my life and all the ways you reveal yourself to me each day. i pray you will give me the open heart i need at the start of each day to hear your Holy Spirit and do your work in the world. May i glorify you and bless others in all that i do, recognizing my constant need for you.
In the name of your son, Jesus Christ, I pray,
Amen.
PS. I love hearing your thoughts on what you read and how faith and life are going for you! Please, please, please feel free to share the blog with others. I share my story so some good might come out of it! Thanks so much for reading. You are the reason I write. :)
Friday, March 8, 2013
Grab a Bible
So, I invited you to come on this faith journey with me, finding ways to grow closer to God, making more room for him to work in my life, and yours too. Lets just cut right to the chase today and grab a Bible. After all, that is the source of all we know about God's creation and the history of Christianity.
These are the Bible choices I rounded up in my own house. We have a few other children's Bible choices too, but we'll save that for another blog. What do you end up with when you reach for a Bible?
These are the Bibles that were given to my husband and me growing up. Anytime I wanted to do a little reading, I would just grab the Bible my church gave me on the day I finished confirmation (The Living Bible). My husband's Bible was the black King James Version you see pictured. He would start with his, try to read it, and then head for my high school youth Bible you see in green. As silly and simple as it sounds, it never occurred to me that I could and should be more intentional about my Bible choice. While these Bibles are definitely sentimental to us, they are not necessarily the most readable and workable for us.
If we are going to make room for God, learning and growing together, then we need to really study the Bible we choose to read. I want to work to make the words come to life. We have to be able to listen to the stories and words of God before Christ and from centuries ago and apply them to 2013. The Bible's words might be ancient, but they are applicable, real, necessary, and sacred today in our own life stories.
There are lots of different versions of the Bible, coloring the way we read the words. The core meaning of the words remains constant, but the same verse can speak to us very differently depending on the translation we are reading. It comes down to personal preference, and I encourage you to figure out what version of the Bible speaks to you, all sentimentality aside.
Bible Gateway (www.biblegateway.com) is a great free Bible resource for Bible research AND reading. I use it all the time and will probably refer to it again and again. They also have an app if you have a tablet or smart phone. There are over 40 English Bible translations listed on the website. Pick a favorite chapter or verse like Psalm 139 and try the different translations on for size. Which one speaks to you?
My favorite for daily reading and study is the New International Version. Once I figured this out, I purchased a copy that I felt I could highlight, make notes in, and take with me wherever I go. Of course there are lots of choices out there, even free ones, but I decided on this electronic version that I could put on my iPad and Kindle. There are hard copies available too.
Hopefully, this post helps you find a Bible that speaks to you and inspires you. Time is the next issue. Look for more details on that soon. I can't wait to dive into reading about all God's good works. Psalm 139: 13-14 reminds us that WE are a part of his good works. WE are his masterpieces, all the more reason to read.
My prayer for you today-
Blessings,
These are the Bible choices I rounded up in my own house. We have a few other children's Bible choices too, but we'll save that for another blog. What do you end up with when you reach for a Bible?
If we are going to make room for God, learning and growing together, then we need to really study the Bible we choose to read. I want to work to make the words come to life. We have to be able to listen to the stories and words of God before Christ and from centuries ago and apply them to 2013. The Bible's words might be ancient, but they are applicable, real, necessary, and sacred today in our own life stories.
There are lots of different versions of the Bible, coloring the way we read the words. The core meaning of the words remains constant, but the same verse can speak to us very differently depending on the translation we are reading. It comes down to personal preference, and I encourage you to figure out what version of the Bible speaks to you, all sentimentality aside.
Bible Gateway (www.biblegateway.com) is a great free Bible resource for Bible research AND reading. I use it all the time and will probably refer to it again and again. They also have an app if you have a tablet or smart phone. There are over 40 English Bible translations listed on the website. Pick a favorite chapter or verse like Psalm 139 and try the different translations on for size. Which one speaks to you?
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| I found this one at Amazon.com. |
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.Please don't forget to sign up to follow A Mind Maker Upper, and invite friends to join us as we go along. I always love hearing from you if you feel like leaving a comment!
My prayer for you today-
Mighty God,
Thank you for this blog and all of its readers. Thank you for for all of your wonderful works and the ways in which you speak to our hearts. Lord, please guide us as we become intentional about reading and learning about you, your son Jesus, and your stories of saving grace in the Holy Bible. Help us to discern your will for us, and may your word transform our lives and become an active part of a stronger everyday faith.
In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen
Blessings,
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Continuing the Story
Maybe some of you can relate. Maybe it's some devastating life altering news. Maybe it's a few bad decisions, and now there are serious consequences to face. Maybe it's a soul eating secret. Maybe it's debilitating worry, anxiety, or fear. Maybe it's a marriage gone bad or a serious illness. Maybe the odds aren't good. Maybe it's a deep wound or a strong need to be in control. Whatever the struggle, maybe some of you have been there with us, forcefully pushed over a similar cliff, or maybe you jumped over the cliff yourself.
That's how we felt, and yet today I can stand tall and share The Good News. Each one of us tells our story a little differently, but we all agree that our story is one of our biggest blessings. Yes, I said blessings. Going over that cliff and facing Mom's cancer as a family has been one of our biggest and unexpected blessings.
Please don't get me wrong. It has been one of the hardest things our family has ever been through. I would not wish cancer on anyone. Cancer hurts, and it takes down good people with a lot of heart and life in them. We hear the word "cancer," and we pray that's not what the biopsy shows. But, when cancer smacks you in the face, there's a bigger story to tell. For those of you who have followed our story, you know that ours has been dramatic and full of surprises. The day we discovered mom had been living with breast cancer for years and did not tell anyone, well, that was the first in a series of many tough, painful days. (For the full story, please feel free to visit Mom's CaringBridge site under Patty Bridges.)
The bigger picture to our story has been about letting go of the misconception that being strong and successful in life means becoming independent, self-sufficient beings who can control our own outcomes, if only we work hard "enough" at it and do "enough" good deeds in the world. Our story has also been about digging deep to acknowledge and forgive our mistakes, recognizing that we all make them. Our story has been about finding joy and love in the things that really matter and freeing ourselves from the things that don't. Easier said than done for sure. Without going into the details, watching someone you love suffer so much is the hardest part of cancer. I have already seen and done things I never wanted to see and do. Yet, I am thankful for all the blessings that have come from holding mom's hand as she learns to live with this terrible disease.
I didn't know life could hurt this much and still be so healing at the same time. That sounds like an oxymoron at first, but it's not. It's God's word coming to life, y'all! Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will set your paths straight." Mom's cancer completely stopped me in my tracks. I don't know about you, but my natural inclination when problems arise is to pray a few prayers and work as hard as I can to keep going. I try to organize the issues, call on the right resources, and act on the right series of steps to fix things. In turn, I can usually get the situation under control. Mom's cancer blew my usual action plan to smithereens. It was way too big, completely beyond my understanding, and very unknown. The only thing I had control over was my relationship with God, so I clung to it everyday, all day. I've never prayed so much in all my life. It hasn't been a neat or pretty process, and it sure hasn't been a quick fix either. But the second I accepted the fact that being strong meant being totally dependent on God, I was able to experience miracles in me and in those around me. Admitting ALL of my weakness and making room for God to just come in and take over EVERYTHING, gives God bigger space to do HUGE things, showcasing all His power and glory.
The key to my story was not the outcome of the situation but acknowleging that I had no idea what was best for me. I knew what I thought I wanted, a perfectly healthy mom, but God wanted so much more for me and my family than I could imagine for myself. Today, my mom is still living with stage IV breast cancer, and there were times my sister and I wondered if she would make it to Christmas. Sometimes I wondered if we would make it too. But you know what? Mom not only celebrated Christmas with us this year, she is working, cooking, enjoying her Duke sports, laughing with friends again, and taking her grandchildren for ice cream. She's doing the things doctors told us she might not ever do again. The power of prayer is amazing. Family, friends, neighbors, classmates, colleagues, co-workers, doctors, nurses, and personal cheerleaders are all evidence of God's grace. These are miracles for this century, y'all, and I have a front row seat.
My experiences have inspired a lot of thinking. They definitely changed me. Instead of destroying me and my family, they make me want to love harder, laugh more, pray without holding back and be a person that does not wait for dire circumstances to seek God in everything I do. Maybe some of you can relate to what I'm saying. It wasn't that I didn't have faith before. It wasn't that I didn't have a relationship with God and accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. It wasn't even that I didn't go to church and try some Bible studies and mission opportunities once in a while. It was that in everyday life, I didn't do a good job integrating my faith into everyday stuff. And it wasn't because I didn't want to. My intentions were good.
In our culture, it's way too easy to become lost, distracted and so busy that we either don't take time for God, we don't think we have the time, or we don't think we need Him until we find ourselves in a desperate situation. For me, as a mom of 3 young boys, even when I make the time, the logistics of physically going somewhere on a weekly basis to spend time in fellowship with God is very difficult. Babysitters cost money, there's homework to do, someone turns up sick with the latest cold or virus, my husband is out of town, timing conflicts with nap time, we oversleep, and the list goes on. You might have other things on your own list. Without realizing it, faith often gets compartmentalized to words without application, our "church friends", Sundays, special occasions, or our crisis moments. Look again with me though, "Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in ALL your ways submit to him and he will set your paths straight." What would happen if we did trust God with ALL our ways, giving HIM more room and time to do extraordinary things in every aspect of our daily lives? If God can work through me in such a life changing situation as Mom's journey with cancer, how much more can he do if I make room for him in the ordinary, nooks and crannies of everyday moments?
I could work on growing with God privately in the safety net of my own quiet time. That sure sounds better than what I'm about to do, but I feel like God is calling me to keep sharing my story. I am not going to lie, this is a scary leap of faith for an extremely private person who loves her alone time. I am a far cry from a Bible expert, and I make tons of mistakes on any given day. I'm just a normal imperfect person, a daughter, a wife, a mom, a friend, a neighbor, a woman on a mission to figure out ways to make more room for God in my life.
So I want to invite you to come along on your own time and in your own space. I am talking about sharing a God-centered faith grounded in grace and the life and death of Jesus Christ. I am talking about living for a God that is strong, purpose-perfect, not picture-perfect, loving, honest, candid, transforming, necessary. I am talking about a God that meets you wherever you are in your faith journey, accepting, patient, forgiving, unconditional, timeless, all knowing and all powerful.
Let's start growing in our faith together by going straight to the source. Grab a Bible (I'll help with that in another post), and let's see what God's word is telling us each day. Sign-up to follow the blog and invite others to join us. Let's put our faith to work and see what God has in store for us when we are willing to grow closer to Him. Stay tuned for more details in blogs to follow very soon.
God always has a bigger story to tell...
My prayer for all you-
Heavenly Father,
I thank you for each person that reads this blog. I thank you for each of our lives and the stories you are telling through us of your transforming love and grace. As I share my story, I pray it will help others find new and exciting ways to get closer to you. We know that with Christ, we are able to do "immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine" for Your glory, Lord.
I pray this prayer in the name of our loving Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen
May the Lord bless you and your families, friends,
To read more posts on Mom's story, use the links below:
- Redefining Extraordinary
- Getting My Head In the Game
- More to Mom's Story
- What a Difference a Year Makes
- Who's Your Daddy, Cancer?
- Words Sweet to the Soul...
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
The Unlikely Runner
Let me just start by saying I am NOT a runner. I never have been; and I used to say with certainty, I never would be. Don't get me wrong. I believe in exercise for the mind, body, and spirit. I enjoy taking time for a good workout a few days a week, but I have spent most of my life avoiding running like the plague. Why? The number one reason is that I am, for sure, just not good at it. It does not come easy to me. And because I am not good at it, I don't like doing it. Even though I am a small person, running makes me feel like a five ton elephant sucking wind through a cocktail straw. Not fun.
Then, I got to thinking. People do it all the time. And those who run, love it. What's the draw? I have to admit that it does sound good. It must be nice to get outside, enjoy some peace and quiet, maybe a little music, take in some scenery, get the endorphins going, and release some stress. Ahh, if only it went like that for me. Usually, that's as far as I let my mind go.
Recently, though, I was inspired by an important person in my life. At 70, this person was still motivated to run like the wind, miles at a time. And yes, I said 70 and miles with an "s." He would still be running his regualar three miles to this day, but he has to take a break for right now because he has a bigger, more important marathon to win. Cancer. Cancer that makes breathing a form of exercise.
So while this person I admire is fighting with all his heart to win this marathon, I am running. And everytime I start sucking air, I think of him. Stay tuned to see how it goes... He has inspired me to run.
...
Well, I first began writing this post in May of this year. My first run was on May 4th. I recorded it, and every run since, on the "Map My Run" app on my iPhone. I have no idea how far I went that first day, because even though I thought I was being all professional and runnerish, I didn't enable the GPS on my phone. I do know, without a doubt, it was horrible, and I didn't go very far in my 25 minutes of complete and total ungraceful overexertion. I hated it. I sucked air five seconds in and couldn't even make it a half a mile without stumbling to a walk. I was in way over my head and thought about quitting the entire time. I have never felt so out of shape in my life, despite the fact that I worked out regularly 3-4 days a week. You know what kept me from quitting? My 71 year old uncle. I was running for him because I knew if he could, he would gladly out run me any day of the week. I also know, he was a smart man; so if he loved running, there must be something to it.
Now, it's seven months later. A lot has happened since May and that excruciating first attempt at running. In October, my uncle won his marathon and is now enjoying victory laps in Heaven, cancer free. My cousins would probably say he's tearing up the dance floor too. I am still running despite my initial dislike and avoidance. I can now say that I love to run, and I enjoy the stress relief that comes with it. It clears my head and rejuvenates my soul. I need to run these days. Running is a metaphor for life from so many facets. Sometimes you find yourself doing things you never thought you could do. Those hard and exhausting things, whatever they are for us personally, help us grow. With determination, faith, patience, and an open heart, those things we once avoided, feared, thought we couldn't do- they eventually strengthen us and turn in to blessings full of purpose.
My uncle Ralph sure had a good thing going. His life was full of examples we could follow to
make us better people, far too many to put in a blog. He inspired me and so many others way beyond his strength as a runner. He lives on in spirit and the legacy of the family and friends he loves so much. Sending love and hugs to you, Uncle Ralph!
Then, I got to thinking. People do it all the time. And those who run, love it. What's the draw? I have to admit that it does sound good. It must be nice to get outside, enjoy some peace and quiet, maybe a little music, take in some scenery, get the endorphins going, and release some stress. Ahh, if only it went like that for me. Usually, that's as far as I let my mind go.
Recently, though, I was inspired by an important person in my life. At 70, this person was still motivated to run like the wind, miles at a time. And yes, I said 70 and miles with an "s." He would still be running his regualar three miles to this day, but he has to take a break for right now because he has a bigger, more important marathon to win. Cancer. Cancer that makes breathing a form of exercise.
So while this person I admire is fighting with all his heart to win this marathon, I am running. And everytime I start sucking air, I think of him. Stay tuned to see how it goes... He has inspired me to run.
...
Well, I first began writing this post in May of this year. My first run was on May 4th. I recorded it, and every run since, on the "Map My Run" app on my iPhone. I have no idea how far I went that first day, because even though I thought I was being all professional and runnerish, I didn't enable the GPS on my phone. I do know, without a doubt, it was horrible, and I didn't go very far in my 25 minutes of complete and total ungraceful overexertion. I hated it. I sucked air five seconds in and couldn't even make it a half a mile without stumbling to a walk. I was in way over my head and thought about quitting the entire time. I have never felt so out of shape in my life, despite the fact that I worked out regularly 3-4 days a week. You know what kept me from quitting? My 71 year old uncle. I was running for him because I knew if he could, he would gladly out run me any day of the week. I also know, he was a smart man; so if he loved running, there must be something to it.
Now, it's seven months later. A lot has happened since May and that excruciating first attempt at running. In October, my uncle won his marathon and is now enjoying victory laps in Heaven, cancer free. My cousins would probably say he's tearing up the dance floor too. I am still running despite my initial dislike and avoidance. I can now say that I love to run, and I enjoy the stress relief that comes with it. It clears my head and rejuvenates my soul. I need to run these days. Running is a metaphor for life from so many facets. Sometimes you find yourself doing things you never thought you could do. Those hard and exhausting things, whatever they are for us personally, help us grow. With determination, faith, patience, and an open heart, those things we once avoided, feared, thought we couldn't do- they eventually strengthen us and turn in to blessings full of purpose.
My uncle Ralph sure had a good thing going. His life was full of examples we could follow to
make us better people, far too many to put in a blog. He inspired me and so many others way beyond his strength as a runner. He lives on in spirit and the legacy of the family and friends he loves so much. Sending love and hugs to you, Uncle Ralph!
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Getting my Head in the Game
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| Mom's friends surprised her with an indoor tailgate party....special ladies! |
In keeping my posts real and honest, I have to admit to you that I am having a difficult time lately focusing on what is right in front of me. I feel like I am living separate lives, and I am not transitioning well at all from one to the other. When I am in one place, my brain is still in the other and vice versa. The result is just a big mess and a lot of worry. And what good does worry do? No good. It certainly cannot fix anything.
I am realizing the problem with letting my mind wander to other places rather than staying right where I am in the moment is that I miss the extraordinary things happening right in front of me. I say all the time that my faith gets me through life. And while that is absolutely true, it's hard sometimes to know how to do that.
It's easy to get lost when we are caught up in the emotion and logistics of our highest of life's highs, our most boring of life's plateaus, or our lowest of life's lows. So, what does having faith really mean? How do you live a life of faith? How do you call on your faith and lean on it when you need it most?
What I am talking about is a loaded question that I ask myself all the time. I wonder if I am doing things right for the God I love so much.
As I was driving home from taking care of my mom last week, I realized that I was spending so much time worrying about what was going to happen next and what I needed to do next to take care of things here and there that I was completely overlooking all the ways God is trying to take care of me, and they are RIGHT in front of me, no matter where I am or what time of day it is.
I have to remind myself that faith is letting go and letting God meet my needs in the moment, not just sometimes, but in every moment of every single day.
Faith, however, is NOT believing and hoping that God is going to do what I want Him to do.
In fact, what I want may be completely wrong for me, and I have to face those facts. Faith is loving God and trusting His path for me enough to put His direction ahead of my own best thought out plans. And I know I fall short of doing that more often than not. The hardest thing about being a Christian and being faithful, at least for me, is that despite my best intentions and efforts, I am selfish, and I like to think that I can somehow control my circumstances and help them turn out the way I think is best.
Thank goodness God is smarter and much more powerful than me because I do not know what I am doing. If it were up to me to fix things, who knows how things would end up, and I'd kill myself getting there.
If faith means I have to trust God and His path for me, then I have to talk to God in prayer about EVERYTHING.
At this point, some might wonder how I know I am not talking to air, especially considering all my family is going through right now. My answer is, give it an honest try for yourself. I promise that if you make the effort to talk to God and ask him to help you, you will be filled with the Holy Spirit.
You will feel His presence and peace when you look for it. That's how good things happen, even in the worst of circumstances. God will wrap me (and you) in His arms if we look for Him in everything that is around us.
As Michael Hobbs puts it in his daily devotional A Servant's Song,
"There is no problem for which God does not have an answer! The secret is to let God give us His answer, not insist that He accept ours."
So, as much as I am heartbroken by what is going on in my family right now, I know God is using this brokenness. He is the ultimate Healer. I have to trust that what is in front of me each step along the way is orchestrated by God to turn the bad into good. If I blink, I might miss the hands or face of Christ at work in my life, and I know I don't want to miss something that extraordinary!
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." -Romans 10:13
To read more posts on Mom's story, use the links below:
- Redefining Extraordinary
- Continuing the Story
- More to Mom's Story
- What a Difference a Year Makes
- Who's Your Daddy, Cancer?
- Words Sweet to the Soul...
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Redefining Extraordinary
In case you couldn't tell already, I am not a consistent blogger. I write when the mood hits me if I can find the time. I have to be honest. I am not in the mood to write today, but I am going to because I can feel the man upstairs pushing me to sit down in front of my computer. Just a forewarning, I have no idea what is going to come out in this blog...
The last time I posted something was May. And let me tell you, a lot has happened in my life since May. We celebrated my husband's birthday, Mother's Day, and Father's Day in our house. My sister and new husband moved in with us while they await the closing on their own house. We enjoyed salt air and summer time boat rides. We got to be a part of several beautiful weddings. Our family of five went to Pawley's Island for a week long vacation with my husband's ginormously wonderful family. My middle baby, now big boy, started kindergarten and my oldest went to third grade. One of my best friends turned 40 and is still hot (I might add). Carver decided to try out organized tackle football. The list of events in our lives over the past few months goes on and on. And this is how life goes for many of us.
The thing is, this list doesn't even begin to go below the surface of our very busy summer. I started this blog over a year and a half ago while I was on bed rest with Gracen. And today, since I began writing without knowing my purpose, I have to remind myself where I was headed with this blog in the first place. Take a look at what I wrote in my very first blog post in reference to Oh the Places You'll Go:
So back to my blog, I think I was supposed to write to you today to share my story of faith. My mom, my sister, and I are as close as it gets. My mom has been the rock in our lives. She is an amazingly strong woman, and she loves us the way every mother should love her children. She has taught us to be independent, intelligent, strong women who know how to face life and face it with grace. You can imagine how devastating this recent news has been to us.
It's a bad situation. At the same time, I know there are millions of people out there who suffer in their own burdens. This is just part of life. The only good and perfect unchanging, everlasting gift is from above. God is using me and this situation to reach out to His children who need reaching. I am here. My heart is open, and I am listening.
My faith has never been stronger than it is right now. My relationships with my mom, my sister, my husband, her husband, and my children have never been more pure, close, and more connected to our Heavenly Father. That, friends, is the extraordinary part of my ordinary life. There is nothing more beautiful than being able to find joy and peace in the middle of such a heartbreaking situation. I am living proof of what faith is all about. God, through His son, Jesus Christ, is my constant source of "extraordinary" in my ordinary life, regardless of my circumstances. I have no idea what tomorrow will bring, but I know that I have all I need for what is ahead. And even better, I know it is going to be amazing because God is in charge. My greatest strength, I am finding, is in my weakest moments.
I pray for all who read this blog today. May you be moved by the Holy Spirit. May God bless you and keep you, wrapping you in His arms and walking with you on your way and guiding you in all of your days to come, giving you comfort and peace. Amen.
To read more posts on Mom's story, use the links below:
The last time I posted something was May. And let me tell you, a lot has happened in my life since May. We celebrated my husband's birthday, Mother's Day, and Father's Day in our house. My sister and new husband moved in with us while they await the closing on their own house. We enjoyed salt air and summer time boat rides. We got to be a part of several beautiful weddings. Our family of five went to Pawley's Island for a week long vacation with my husband's ginormously wonderful family. My middle baby, now big boy, started kindergarten and my oldest went to third grade. One of my best friends turned 40 and is still hot (I might add). Carver decided to try out organized tackle football. The list of events in our lives over the past few months goes on and on. And this is how life goes for many of us.
The thing is, this list doesn't even begin to go below the surface of our very busy summer. I started this blog over a year and a half ago while I was on bed rest with Gracen. And today, since I began writing without knowing my purpose, I have to remind myself where I was headed with this blog in the first place. Take a look at what I wrote in my very first blog post in reference to Oh the Places You'll Go:
Life is definitely a journey, and the "Great Places" Dr. Seuss describes are not necessarily about traveling to far away, exotic places and becoming rich and famous for our ambitious accomplishments (even though that is a possibility). Instead, "Great Places" are for us to recognize and embrace in our here and now. "Great Places" are not an accident or luck of the draw, nor are they limited by our circumstances. Going to"Great Places" is about how we intentionally and conscientiously choose to focus our time and energy. "Great Places" exist in even the most ordinary daily lives, and if we visit them with eyes wide open, they can turn our ordinary lives into extraordinary ones.Well, many of you that know me also know that I am not, at least at first glance, in one of those "Great Places" in life at the present moment. To catch up, feel free to check out the Caring Bridge sight we have created for my mom and read her story (www.caringbridge.org/visit/pattybridges). She was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer that has spread to her lymph nodes, spine, and skull. Our biggest hope is that Mom's experience can change people's lives and hopefully save some.
I want to recognize and appreciate my own "Great Places." That is the whole point of my blog. For this to happen, I need to be what Dr. Seuss so cleverly terms a "mind-maker-upper." I have to stop getting caught up in my own routine rat race. Oh, the Places You'll Go! isn't just a fun and inspirational graduation book. It provides an ingenious way to welcome each of our todays, "with brains in your head and feet in your shoes," you and I can choose to be mind-maker-uppers. I can't wait to see where this revelation takes me.
So back to my blog, I think I was supposed to write to you today to share my story of faith. My mom, my sister, and I are as close as it gets. My mom has been the rock in our lives. She is an amazingly strong woman, and she loves us the way every mother should love her children. She has taught us to be independent, intelligent, strong women who know how to face life and face it with grace. You can imagine how devastating this recent news has been to us.
It's a bad situation. At the same time, I know there are millions of people out there who suffer in their own burdens. This is just part of life. The only good and perfect unchanging, everlasting gift is from above. God is using me and this situation to reach out to His children who need reaching. I am here. My heart is open, and I am listening.
My faith has never been stronger than it is right now. My relationships with my mom, my sister, my husband, her husband, and my children have never been more pure, close, and more connected to our Heavenly Father. That, friends, is the extraordinary part of my ordinary life. There is nothing more beautiful than being able to find joy and peace in the middle of such a heartbreaking situation. I am living proof of what faith is all about. God, through His son, Jesus Christ, is my constant source of "extraordinary" in my ordinary life, regardless of my circumstances. I have no idea what tomorrow will bring, but I know that I have all I need for what is ahead. And even better, I know it is going to be amazing because God is in charge. My greatest strength, I am finding, is in my weakest moments.
I pray for all who read this blog today. May you be moved by the Holy Spirit. May God bless you and keep you, wrapping you in His arms and walking with you on your way and guiding you in all of your days to come, giving you comfort and peace. Amen.
To read more posts on Mom's story, use the links below:
Happy Father's Day!
Doesn't get much better than a homemade bowtie, especially designed for Dad. Isn't it beautiful? Please notice the beautiful neon green with orange and purple tiger paw embellishments. Lyles, my five year old, was so excited to surprise Daddy with this fashionable accessory to his professional wardrobe. In fact, Chip had strict instructions to keep his tie on all day at work. And you know what? He did!
Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful dads in the world.
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