I am a mom.
I pack my children's lunches on most mornings before we run off to school together.
Yesterday my daughter was getting a water bottle out of her lunch box before we even left for school. When she saw what I had packed she exclaimed happily, "Mom, thanks for buying us a Lunchable!"
A warm sensation filled my heart! I did not make lunch for the purpose of my children thanking me. I was almost surprised at how much it touched me the way she expressed herself with such gratitude. My children are in the habit of saying, "thanks" regularly, so I'm not really sure why it hit me so hard yesterday morning. Perhaps it was because making lunches is such a "daily" thing -- it is not a special event.
It made me contemplate how often I give God thanks in the "daily" things. Do I just take it for granted that I am going to wake up, that I am overall healthy, that I have a great family? I know that God does not need me to let Him know that He has given me a good gift. He has no insecurities about whether He is doing a good job being "God of the universe."
However, I DO need to remember that God is the giver of good and perfect gifts. I need to see His giving in the little details of the "daily." I need to cultivate a grateful heart in the ordinary.
I needed to learn from this "Lesson of the Lunchable" about paying attention to my life and giving thanks for all of the ordinary gifts God has given me each day!!!!
29 August, 2007
12 August, 2007
Summer is ending for me! On Tuesday I go back to work.
The last few weeks have been a great end to our families summer. I went to "Kid's Camp" with our church's children's group. It was fun to see 3rd through 6th graders worshiping God and learning how to stand firm in Him.
After that we left the following day to be a part of a mission trip in Chicagoland, USA. This was not my fist mission trip. I have spent spring break twice at Daytona Beach on a mission trip. I have also spent a summer at Daytona Beach. I have spent a couple of weeks in Russia three times. I have spent a couple of weeks in China. I spent a few weeks in East Germany (before it was rejoined with West Germany) and I have spent a summer in Czechoslovakia (before it was the Czech Republic) followed by a little over a year in Prague, CZ. So, I considered myself a mission trip veteran.
To be honest, our trip to Chicagoland was by far the toughest trip I have been on in regards to reception. In Eastern Europe and China, people enjoy visiting about spiritual things and don't seem to feel threatened by them at all even if the totally disagree with you. On the beach, college students who were much more interested partying would still take time to chat. In Chicago people seemed to have no interest at all in spiritual things. It was such a perfect illustration of what it says in 2 Corinthians 4:4:
"In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."
One response we received when we invited their children to a Bible Club or their families to a Block Party was, "We know what you are doing, and we are not interested."
We know what you are doing -- sounds like we were doing some illegal activity.
I am thankful that my two children - 9 and 10 - were able to see this attitude to the gospel. It opened up the conversation to talk about the fact that people need Jesus all over the world.
We are blessed to know people that God has called to serve Him all around the world. We are thankful for our friends who are serving Him in Batavia, IL!!!!!
The last few weeks have been a great end to our families summer. I went to "Kid's Camp" with our church's children's group. It was fun to see 3rd through 6th graders worshiping God and learning how to stand firm in Him.
After that we left the following day to be a part of a mission trip in Chicagoland, USA. This was not my fist mission trip. I have spent spring break twice at Daytona Beach on a mission trip. I have also spent a summer at Daytona Beach. I have spent a couple of weeks in Russia three times. I have spent a couple of weeks in China. I spent a few weeks in East Germany (before it was rejoined with West Germany) and I have spent a summer in Czechoslovakia (before it was the Czech Republic) followed by a little over a year in Prague, CZ. So, I considered myself a mission trip veteran.
To be honest, our trip to Chicagoland was by far the toughest trip I have been on in regards to reception. In Eastern Europe and China, people enjoy visiting about spiritual things and don't seem to feel threatened by them at all even if the totally disagree with you. On the beach, college students who were much more interested partying would still take time to chat. In Chicago people seemed to have no interest at all in spiritual things. It was such a perfect illustration of what it says in 2 Corinthians 4:4:
"In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."
One response we received when we invited their children to a Bible Club or their families to a Block Party was, "We know what you are doing, and we are not interested."
We know what you are doing -- sounds like we were doing some illegal activity.
I am thankful that my two children - 9 and 10 - were able to see this attitude to the gospel. It opened up the conversation to talk about the fact that people need Jesus all over the world.
We are blessed to know people that God has called to serve Him all around the world. We are thankful for our friends who are serving Him in Batavia, IL!!!!!
24 May, 2007
My son wore a bow tie to his 4th grade graduation this afternoon.
Okay ----- do we really need a graduation from Lower School? A good friend reminded me when I asked this question that is important for us to help our children mark those milestone moments in their lives. I am good with that, yet I still wonder if this type event just feeds the whole "notice me" world that we live in. Are we encouraging our young people to believe that it is "all about them" rather than speaking the truth that it is ALL about the sovereign God of the universe? Better save this whole thought process for another blog and get off of this rabbit trail. :-)
Anyway -- my husband and I thought our son looked quite sharp. Khaki pants, blue oxford button down and a festive bow tie. Apparantly his fellow 4th graders did not share our opinion. He told me after the reception that many of the boys told him he looked "gay." What is that about? Where do these kids get that?
As sad as I was that he had gone through that experience, I was thrilled that the bow tie remained in its spot around his neck. He did not let them discourage him from being unique. It also allowed us to have a cool conversation about when people make fun of others it just shows that they are not happy with themselves. Now, whether he truly understands that truth remains to be seen.
I pray that experiences like these will teach him to be an encourager. I'm sure he will make the bad choice to "tease" someone else (other than his sister which we already know will happen), yet I pray we can continue to help him be the young man that God would have him be. I pray for God to provide him with true friends who like him for his character qualities. And I pray he will be a true friend to others.
Another day we will tackle the "all about me" syndrome that we are encouraging in our kids (and in ourselves).
Okay ----- do we really need a graduation from Lower School? A good friend reminded me when I asked this question that is important for us to help our children mark those milestone moments in their lives. I am good with that, yet I still wonder if this type event just feeds the whole "notice me" world that we live in. Are we encouraging our young people to believe that it is "all about them" rather than speaking the truth that it is ALL about the sovereign God of the universe? Better save this whole thought process for another blog and get off of this rabbit trail. :-)
Anyway -- my husband and I thought our son looked quite sharp. Khaki pants, blue oxford button down and a festive bow tie. Apparantly his fellow 4th graders did not share our opinion. He told me after the reception that many of the boys told him he looked "gay." What is that about? Where do these kids get that?
As sad as I was that he had gone through that experience, I was thrilled that the bow tie remained in its spot around his neck. He did not let them discourage him from being unique. It also allowed us to have a cool conversation about when people make fun of others it just shows that they are not happy with themselves. Now, whether he truly understands that truth remains to be seen.
I pray that experiences like these will teach him to be an encourager. I'm sure he will make the bad choice to "tease" someone else (other than his sister which we already know will happen), yet I pray we can continue to help him be the young man that God would have him be. I pray for God to provide him with true friends who like him for his character qualities. And I pray he will be a true friend to others.
Another day we will tackle the "all about me" syndrome that we are encouraging in our kids (and in ourselves).
10 May, 2007
09 May, 2007
I miss my mom . . .
Recently, all the advertising for mothers' day has made me really miss my mom. It was a little over 6 years ago that my mom unexpectedly passed away in the middle of my dad battling a second round with cancer. Hard times, yet good memories of the faithfulness of God.
Here is a copy of something I wrote in my journal shortly after mom went to be with the Lord January 31, 2001:
"Thank you for letting me be there with mom all that last day -- singing praises, holding her hand and telling her what a good mom she had been. She really was a terrific mom, Lord. Thank you so much for letting me have her in my life for almost 34 years! She always encouraged me to try things; she always believed in me -- and, of course, she thought i was "the best!" All children should have a mom like her."
I really was blessed with a mom who always showed me her love. WOW!
She is gone; so is my dad (that's a story for another day), but I still have a Father in heaven who also always shows me HIS love!!!!
And the great thing is that His love is PERFECT. He always gives perfect gifts (James 1:17).
I am abundantly blessed. If you are a child of the King -- so are you!
Recently, all the advertising for mothers' day has made me really miss my mom. It was a little over 6 years ago that my mom unexpectedly passed away in the middle of my dad battling a second round with cancer. Hard times, yet good memories of the faithfulness of God.
Here is a copy of something I wrote in my journal shortly after mom went to be with the Lord January 31, 2001:
"Thank you for letting me be there with mom all that last day -- singing praises, holding her hand and telling her what a good mom she had been. She really was a terrific mom, Lord. Thank you so much for letting me have her in my life for almost 34 years! She always encouraged me to try things; she always believed in me -- and, of course, she thought i was "the best!" All children should have a mom like her."
I really was blessed with a mom who always showed me her love. WOW!
She is gone; so is my dad (that's a story for another day), but I still have a Father in heaven who also always shows me HIS love!!!!
And the great thing is that His love is PERFECT. He always gives perfect gifts (James 1:17).
I am abundantly blessed. If you are a child of the King -- so are you!
13 February, 2007
Consistently Inconsistent. . .
That is how you can describe by posting to this site.
I was thinking the other day about issues of the heart.
I teach at a Christian School where the students wear uniforms. I have been known to be pretty tough on uniform violations, and the students like to respond with thoughts such as, "Does God really care what kind of socks we wear?"
Does God really care about the kind of socks we wear? No but yes.
God does not believe that knee socks are more spiritual than tennis socks. Crew socks don't earn you entrance into the Kingdom just like those little "footies" don't condemn you to hell. White and blue socks are not more godly than red ones or striped ones or pink ones with cute hearts.
And it dawned on me recently that the school dress code isn't the issue --
the issue is THE HEART.
Do these students have a heart that is obedient to God and to the authorities He has placed in their lives?
These students have made me ask myself. Do I have a heart that is obedient to God and to the authorities He has placed in my life? How often do I find myself asking for the reasons behind a decision that my boss has made. How often do I obey with a cheerful heart when I don't like the situation or the "rules?"
How often do I question God and His plan for me?
It is a HEART issue!
That is how you can describe by posting to this site.
I was thinking the other day about issues of the heart.
I teach at a Christian School where the students wear uniforms. I have been known to be pretty tough on uniform violations, and the students like to respond with thoughts such as, "Does God really care what kind of socks we wear?"
Does God really care about the kind of socks we wear? No but yes.
God does not believe that knee socks are more spiritual than tennis socks. Crew socks don't earn you entrance into the Kingdom just like those little "footies" don't condemn you to hell. White and blue socks are not more godly than red ones or striped ones or pink ones with cute hearts.
And it dawned on me recently that the school dress code isn't the issue --
the issue is THE HEART.
Do these students have a heart that is obedient to God and to the authorities He has placed in their lives?
These students have made me ask myself. Do I have a heart that is obedient to God and to the authorities He has placed in my life? How often do I find myself asking for the reasons behind a decision that my boss has made. How often do I obey with a cheerful heart when I don't like the situation or the "rules?"
How often do I question God and His plan for me?
It is a HEART issue!
05 January, 2007
I have a personal quote: "Goals give me hives!" Makes it kind of tough when it is time to set those "new year's resolutions." So, to keep from really being held accountable, I have made shallow resolutions like, "I want to have a closer walk with God this year." A fine goal to be sure, but it is way too vague. How do you measure that?
My "honey" (a.k.a. my husband) is much better at the goal setting. He does those 5 year goals at work and they seem to work! It amazes me!!
So this year, one of my measurable goals is to journal once a week. Not blog jounaling but the old fashioned way with pen and paper in a "journal." I used to do that more often -- before motherhood or when we were at a crisis point in life. So, my "honey" challenged me to write more for our kids to read later in life. Having lost all of our parents we know what it is like to go through our parents' stuff and read some of the things they have written. It is a good legacy to pass on. So -- by the end of the year, I should have at least 52 entries in a journal.
I love a brand new journal. Nothing written on the pages. Clean. Ready to have my heart spilled on its pages.
Maybe God wants me to be like the brand new journal that I love. Maybe he wants for me to be a blank canvas for Him to reveal/spill His heart.
Rather than me writing my own purpose for my life, don't you think He wants to be the author of my life purposes? Rather than being consumed with the busy-ness of life I need to be ready and available for My Father's work in my life.
Kind of make me go "hmmmmm."
Well, let's resolve to be a blank journal for our awesome God to write His heart on. Let's open our lives this year for Him to be the artist of a masterpiece -- the writer of a best-seller -- after all, He is the author and perfector of our faith.
My "honey" (a.k.a. my husband) is much better at the goal setting. He does those 5 year goals at work and they seem to work! It amazes me!!
So this year, one of my measurable goals is to journal once a week. Not blog jounaling but the old fashioned way with pen and paper in a "journal." I used to do that more often -- before motherhood or when we were at a crisis point in life. So, my "honey" challenged me to write more for our kids to read later in life. Having lost all of our parents we know what it is like to go through our parents' stuff and read some of the things they have written. It is a good legacy to pass on. So -- by the end of the year, I should have at least 52 entries in a journal.
I love a brand new journal. Nothing written on the pages. Clean. Ready to have my heart spilled on its pages.
Maybe God wants me to be like the brand new journal that I love. Maybe he wants for me to be a blank canvas for Him to reveal/spill His heart.
Rather than me writing my own purpose for my life, don't you think He wants to be the author of my life purposes? Rather than being consumed with the busy-ness of life I need to be ready and available for My Father's work in my life.
Kind of make me go "hmmmmm."
Well, let's resolve to be a blank journal for our awesome God to write His heart on. Let's open our lives this year for Him to be the artist of a masterpiece -- the writer of a best-seller -- after all, He is the author and perfector of our faith.
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