During my lunch break today I had an in-depth conversation with someone on the phone. Afterward I spent some time just sitting in my truck thinking about our conversation, listening to the radio and watching the rain run in rivulets down my windshield. First I focused on the actual rivulets. How some seemed to run straight and some would divert for no reason. I'd watch some in an imaginary race and see which drop would win.
Then I started looking beyond the drops and rivulets and looking out the windshield. I could see outside, but noticed that everything was distorted; some things slightly, some things greatly, but all was distorted to some extent. Now if I had believed what I was seeing was how it was in reality, I would be going around thinking there were some awfully curved trees out there! But it got me thinking.
The rain was an external factor distorting my view of reality. And in my real life I have lots of external factors going on right now and realized that in the same way the rain distorted the view out of my windshield, these external factors are distorting what I see in my life and how I respond. What is true, is true. Doesn't matter how it looks to me at the time based on external factors. I have to remind myself what is real and true. Otherwise I react to the distortion and that in turn just makes my world even more topsy turvy! I memorized quite a bit of Scripture as a teen and in college and though I couldn't recall this verse word for word it made me think of it.
"Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely." I Corinthians 13:12 (NLT)
I have to realize that even without all the current external factors, that in this life I will see in a distorted way. It is partial and incomplete. But I can trust in the fact that God knows how it is supposed to be and knows me completely. He knows my flaws and imperfections. He knows how badly I want to "fix" and "control" everything around me. He knows how my fixing it just makes it worse most of the time. Yet, amazingly, He in His infinite patience and love is still there. I can't prove it, but I know it, deep within I know this to be the truth. The undistorted truth. He does love me and wants the best for me. For now I just have to continue to trust that He sees the big picture and quit getting in His way. Easier said than done for sure. But next time I'm tempted to jump in and make things work like I think they should work or look, I'll try hard to first remember that I'm simply seeing this world in a distorted way. But one day I will see everything with perfect clarity.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Thanksgiving!
While at first glance, it has been a hard year for our family, if I look harder I can see SO much to be thankful for!
While Ron was out of work, we had all that we needed provided for us. If it was my way I would have seen how things would work out a month, or a week or even a full day ahead. But though I couldn't see ahead, it doesn't mean that God wasn't orchestrating things to take care of us. The same week Ron lost his job, I got a check in the mail from my brother. It had a note just saying God said we needed it. I called him and asked him when he mailed it, it was BEFORE he knew Ron had lost his job. So for me right at the beginning it was like God was trying to let me know all would be ok. Yes, we changed a lot of how we did things and what we did, but that isn't what got us through. He showed us in so many little ways that He was taking care of us. It came mostly in form of the little things (and one big thing). One day we were down to not having anything to eat that day with another day before payday...a little while later a neighbor called and invited us to an event at their church, that included a meal. Our power was taken care of one month and Ron had odd jobs that helped. Even some of the seemingly non-essentials were taken care of, a friend made sure that I was able to continue going to the gym, which was a great way to work out some of my stress. Then Ron got a job that he started in September. In the midst of trying to make decisions on what would be best for our family we realized a move was next. Wasn't sure where we were going to move to at first, but once again God provided the perfect place to move to. I have always wanted a Cape Cod home, but never really thought about it too much as there just aren't a whole lot of them around here. And here we are in a beautiful Cape Cod with a deck, lovely wooded lot and much more space! I wasn't that grateful at first, griping about leaving a house I had worked hard to decorate and take care of, packing up everything in the house and just the whole stress of moving. But now I'm sitting here looking around our new place and am just so grateful that I wasn't the one in charge, because I have more than I could even imagine. While the new job is lower pay, it did give him a truck to drive and pays his gas. Which is good because the car isn't currently running. So once again, circumstances we couldn't see at the time (the car not working) God saw and provided for ahead of time.
Last week I spent three days in a row taking LeAnne to the hospital for tests, thinking it was her appendix, hoping it wasn't something serious. She is ok and all will be fine, major thanks there. I have a job that allows me the time off and has sick time. Another thing to be grateful for.
So tonight, as I sit here in my recliner and look around our new place, I see my son and my husband talking and my daughter on her laptop. I smell a cake that I just pulled out of the oven while ago. I hear the washing machine washing clothing for us to wear and I feel the rising and falling of my dog's breath as he lies here next to my legs. I feel warm, cozy, happy and full. I'm thinking about how we will get up and head to my hometown tomorrow. Where over the weekend I will see my sister and her husband (whom I haven't seen since he returned from Afghanistan, another praise that he returned safely), a new niece I haven't seen yet and a lot of other family.
Yes, I have MUCH to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!
While Ron was out of work, we had all that we needed provided for us. If it was my way I would have seen how things would work out a month, or a week or even a full day ahead. But though I couldn't see ahead, it doesn't mean that God wasn't orchestrating things to take care of us. The same week Ron lost his job, I got a check in the mail from my brother. It had a note just saying God said we needed it. I called him and asked him when he mailed it, it was BEFORE he knew Ron had lost his job. So for me right at the beginning it was like God was trying to let me know all would be ok. Yes, we changed a lot of how we did things and what we did, but that isn't what got us through. He showed us in so many little ways that He was taking care of us. It came mostly in form of the little things (and one big thing). One day we were down to not having anything to eat that day with another day before payday...a little while later a neighbor called and invited us to an event at their church, that included a meal. Our power was taken care of one month and Ron had odd jobs that helped. Even some of the seemingly non-essentials were taken care of, a friend made sure that I was able to continue going to the gym, which was a great way to work out some of my stress. Then Ron got a job that he started in September. In the midst of trying to make decisions on what would be best for our family we realized a move was next. Wasn't sure where we were going to move to at first, but once again God provided the perfect place to move to. I have always wanted a Cape Cod home, but never really thought about it too much as there just aren't a whole lot of them around here. And here we are in a beautiful Cape Cod with a deck, lovely wooded lot and much more space! I wasn't that grateful at first, griping about leaving a house I had worked hard to decorate and take care of, packing up everything in the house and just the whole stress of moving. But now I'm sitting here looking around our new place and am just so grateful that I wasn't the one in charge, because I have more than I could even imagine. While the new job is lower pay, it did give him a truck to drive and pays his gas. Which is good because the car isn't currently running. So once again, circumstances we couldn't see at the time (the car not working) God saw and provided for ahead of time.
Last week I spent three days in a row taking LeAnne to the hospital for tests, thinking it was her appendix, hoping it wasn't something serious. She is ok and all will be fine, major thanks there. I have a job that allows me the time off and has sick time. Another thing to be grateful for.
So tonight, as I sit here in my recliner and look around our new place, I see my son and my husband talking and my daughter on her laptop. I smell a cake that I just pulled out of the oven while ago. I hear the washing machine washing clothing for us to wear and I feel the rising and falling of my dog's breath as he lies here next to my legs. I feel warm, cozy, happy and full. I'm thinking about how we will get up and head to my hometown tomorrow. Where over the weekend I will see my sister and her husband (whom I haven't seen since he returned from Afghanistan, another praise that he returned safely), a new niece I haven't seen yet and a lot of other family.
Yes, I have MUCH to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Verses that Encourage Me
Our family has been through a lot of things this summer, and once we get a little more through it I'll blog on my summer long journey of faith. It has also changed my prayer life some. Both my relationship with God and my prayer life drastically changed when I realized that God knows everything anyway and he'd rather hear our heartfelt prayers than praying how you think you are "supposed" to. For example I sometimes pray out loud during our CR small group and I always start with the things I'm grateful for. But a couple of weeks ago I was having a bad week and a bad day...so I started my prayer with "Dear God, I feel no gratitude right now, all I can see is the bleakness of things so before I ask for anything else I am asking that you fill my heart with gratitude." Went on and prayed for the requests of our group, etc. The whole next week He reminded me how He cares and is faithful in all the little ways, little ways that I had overlooked while focusing and worrying on the big stuff. Anyway, here are some verses that encouraged me greatly along the way. (NLT, 2nd version)
I Peter 4:12,13 "Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through....instead, be very glad-for these trials make your partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world." This verse reminds me that it is in the hard times that God can come through and show his power and I can have the joy of being a part of others seeing how God has provided for me through the trials.
Philippians 4:6, 7 "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand." I LOVE this one!
Philippians 4:13 "For I can do everything through Christ, who give me strength."
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."
James 1:2-4 "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."
The footnotes in my Life Recovery Bible say this about those verses: "Difficulties and temptations are facts of life for everyone, particularly those of us with a background of addiction, abuse or other dysfunction. We may be tempted to return to our destructive behaviors. As we face difficult times, though, our attitude can make all the difference. James tells us to be happy as we face difficulties and temptations. This is hardly a natural reaction to a painful situation. Seeing our trials as building blocks to God's work in our life, however, may help us change our negative attitude toward tough times. We can have joy during these trials because through them we learn patience, an essential ingredient for successful recovery."
John 16:33 "Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." Again I love the footnotes for this verse: "In this world, especially in recovery, we encounter 'many trials and sorrows,' many of them beyond our control. These can be endured with God's help. On the other hand, some of our suffering is self-inflicted and can be avoided. In such situations, God still offers us peace as we muster the courage to make needed changes in our life. God's forgiveness and loving acceptance can give us peace as we face all of our trials and sorrows. God's power can lead us through recovery; he has already overcome all the obstacles that stand in our way!"
2 Corinthians 1:3,4 "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us."
2 Corinthians 4:8, 9 "We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed."
Matthew 6:25-34 "That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life-whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? So don't worry about these things, saying 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today."
I love Psalms, David is so honest in his questioning and doubts and worries, but in the midst of it he turns it into praise. I can't even pick out all the Psalms that I read when discouraged....SO many of them. I swear I believe that David was bipolar. Just read his despair and depression in Psalm 88, then the next psalm (89) he is singing praises to the Lord. He does this very often throughout the psalms. In despair and questioning where God even is, then switching to thanking and praising God in the midst of it. In Psalm 77 he even says he is too distressed to sleep and to even pray, then a few verses down he says "but then I recall all you have done O Lord" and switches to praising him.
Psalm 116:1-5 "I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! Death wrapped its ropes around me; the terrors of the grave overtook me. I saw only trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: 'Please, Lord, save me!' How kind the Lord is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours!"
I like that is says he bends down to listen to us, especially at those times I feel my prayers aren't going past the ceiling.
Psalm 94:17-19 "Unless the Lord had helped me, I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave. I cried out, 'I am slipping!' but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer."
Psalm 42:5, 8 "Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again-my Savior and my God! (v. 8) But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life."
Psalm 27:13, 14 "Yet I am confident I will see the Lord's goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord."
Psalm 61:1-3 "O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me."
Seriously, it would take me forever to write down all the verses that David writes that show we can pray honestly to God and tell him how we really feel, yet at the same time continue to trust and believe that He will take care of us.
I hope that some of these verses encourage you as well.
I Peter 4:12,13 "Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through....instead, be very glad-for these trials make your partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world." This verse reminds me that it is in the hard times that God can come through and show his power and I can have the joy of being a part of others seeing how God has provided for me through the trials.
Philippians 4:6, 7 "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand." I LOVE this one!
Philippians 4:13 "For I can do everything through Christ, who give me strength."
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."
James 1:2-4 "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."
The footnotes in my Life Recovery Bible say this about those verses: "Difficulties and temptations are facts of life for everyone, particularly those of us with a background of addiction, abuse or other dysfunction. We may be tempted to return to our destructive behaviors. As we face difficult times, though, our attitude can make all the difference. James tells us to be happy as we face difficulties and temptations. This is hardly a natural reaction to a painful situation. Seeing our trials as building blocks to God's work in our life, however, may help us change our negative attitude toward tough times. We can have joy during these trials because through them we learn patience, an essential ingredient for successful recovery."
John 16:33 "Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." Again I love the footnotes for this verse: "In this world, especially in recovery, we encounter 'many trials and sorrows,' many of them beyond our control. These can be endured with God's help. On the other hand, some of our suffering is self-inflicted and can be avoided. In such situations, God still offers us peace as we muster the courage to make needed changes in our life. God's forgiveness and loving acceptance can give us peace as we face all of our trials and sorrows. God's power can lead us through recovery; he has already overcome all the obstacles that stand in our way!"
2 Corinthians 1:3,4 "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us."
2 Corinthians 4:8, 9 "We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed."
Matthew 6:25-34 "That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life-whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? So don't worry about these things, saying 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today."
I love Psalms, David is so honest in his questioning and doubts and worries, but in the midst of it he turns it into praise. I can't even pick out all the Psalms that I read when discouraged....SO many of them. I swear I believe that David was bipolar. Just read his despair and depression in Psalm 88, then the next psalm (89) he is singing praises to the Lord. He does this very often throughout the psalms. In despair and questioning where God even is, then switching to thanking and praising God in the midst of it. In Psalm 77 he even says he is too distressed to sleep and to even pray, then a few verses down he says "but then I recall all you have done O Lord" and switches to praising him.
Psalm 116:1-5 "I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! Death wrapped its ropes around me; the terrors of the grave overtook me. I saw only trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: 'Please, Lord, save me!' How kind the Lord is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours!"
I like that is says he bends down to listen to us, especially at those times I feel my prayers aren't going past the ceiling.
Psalm 94:17-19 "Unless the Lord had helped me, I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave. I cried out, 'I am slipping!' but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer."
Psalm 42:5, 8 "Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again-my Savior and my God! (v. 8) But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life."
Psalm 27:13, 14 "Yet I am confident I will see the Lord's goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord."
Psalm 61:1-3 "O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me."
Seriously, it would take me forever to write down all the verses that David writes that show we can pray honestly to God and tell him how we really feel, yet at the same time continue to trust and believe that He will take care of us.
I hope that some of these verses encourage you as well.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
The Brain is a Traitor
I have been playing around with some more writing lately and trying out other formats than what I typically write for this blog. Was trying to decide if I wanted to create a new blog to put some of this stuff on but just decided since I already have this blog, I'd just use it. So here is a poem I wrote the other day.
The Brain is a Traitor
The brain is a traitor,
Don't know what to trust.
Throughout the day the images come,
Fading and glittering like pixie dust
I hear the screech of the banshee call,
Only to realize it is just a band saw
The heart beats faster and faster
Breath comes in small gasps
Quick furtive glances behind me,
Assures that this too shall pass.
No one there, all is well
No one to see, nothing to tell.
The brain is a traitor,
Makes up all this weird stuff.
But on the outside I must keep it together,
Keep on looking strong and tough.
The brain is a traitor, don't know what to trust.
The Brain is a Traitor
The brain is a traitor,
Don't know what to trust.
Throughout the day the images come,
Fading and glittering like pixie dust
I hear the screech of the banshee call,
Only to realize it is just a band saw
The heart beats faster and faster
Breath comes in small gasps
Quick furtive glances behind me,
Assures that this too shall pass.
No one there, all is well
No one to see, nothing to tell.
The brain is a traitor,
Makes up all this weird stuff.
But on the outside I must keep it together,
Keep on looking strong and tough.
The brain is a traitor, don't know what to trust.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
I Refuse
Listened to this song today and it just really struck a chord with me. The words (below) are great, but the video really tells a story in itself as well. It is worth 3 1/2 minutes to watch it.
Songwriters: Benjamin Glover;Joshua David Wilson
Sometimes I
I just want to close my eyes
And act like everyone's alright
When I know they're not
This world needs God
But it's easier to stand and watch
I could say a prayer and just move on
Like nothing's wrong
But I refuse
'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse
To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse
I can hear the least of these
Crying out so desperately
And I know we are the hands and feet
Of You, oh God
So, if You say move
It's time for me to follow through
And do what I was made to do
Show them who You are
'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse
To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse
To stand and watch the weary and lost
Cry out for help
I refuse to turn my back
And try and act like all is well
I refuse to stay unchanged
To wait another day, to die to myself
I refuse to make one more excuse
'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse
To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse
I refuse
I refuse
I Refuse lyrics
Songwriters: Benjamin Glover;Joshua David Wilson
Sometimes I
I just want to close my eyes
And act like everyone's alright
When I know they're not
This world needs God
But it's easier to stand and watch
I could say a prayer and just move on
Like nothing's wrong
But I refuse
'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse
To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse
I can hear the least of these
Crying out so desperately
And I know we are the hands and feet
Of You, oh God
So, if You say move
It's time for me to follow through
And do what I was made to do
Show them who You are
'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse
To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse
To stand and watch the weary and lost
Cry out for help
I refuse to turn my back
And try and act like all is well
I refuse to stay unchanged
To wait another day, to die to myself
I refuse to make one more excuse
'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse
To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse
I refuse
I refuse
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Renaissance Festival
Today, for Mother's Day weekend, I wanted for our whole family to do something together. So off to the Renaissance Festival we headed.
From the moment we got to the gate we saw the king and queen and subjects, wenches, pirates, elves and all manner of people dressed up. They called out to us in their accents, hawking their wares and games and playing their flutes and instruments.
We had a great time! My daughter and I rode this hand powered spinning ride, now if you think hand powered means slow, you would be wrong. It hung by many ropes and they would wind it up tight and away we would go! My son and husband explored the labyrinth and conquered it to live another day. We watched acrobats and jugglers, the royal joust by the knights on their beautiful steeds, a birds of prey show and even some guys in a mud pit! We munched on turkey legs and fried gator tail (though I'm not sure how gator tail fit the renaissance theme..lol) My son threw shurikens (steel ninja throwing stars) and won some green beads, that he promptly placed around his sister's neck. She gave him a hug in return, just seeing them interact like that with each other was worth the whole trip. My son also shot some arrows in the archery section and my daughter bought a ear cuff from a guy wearing elf ears.
Most of the day we passed many, many people dressed in period costume, complete with "milady's" who beseeched us to come hither and tarry as they hawked their wares of yore. Yes, it took us back to another time. But then there were the moments that they came out of character and would talk to each other or not realize we were around.
It made me think of another way that people dress up and act one way, even that is not how they really are. How many people dress up in their "Sunday" clothes, dust off their swords (Bibles) and begin to speak "Christianese." There in church with others watching, they speak the right words and wear the right clothes....yet when outside the church or when they don't think anyone is watching or listening, they revert to their everyday behavior. Not everyone is like that, just as at the festival some never came out of character, some Christians are the same on Sundays as they are the rest of the week. Only they aren't trying to 'act' in character, but that is their true character. That is how I strive to be. I want to be a Christian ALL the time, not just at church activities.
So while today was full of family fun and games and being taken to another time period, it also reminded me that life is not pretend and that how I act should NOT be an 'act', but who I am.
From the moment we got to the gate we saw the king and queen and subjects, wenches, pirates, elves and all manner of people dressed up. They called out to us in their accents, hawking their wares and games and playing their flutes and instruments.We had a great time! My daughter and I rode this hand powered spinning ride, now if you think hand powered means slow, you would be wrong. It hung by many ropes and they would wind it up tight and away we would go! My son and husband explored the labyrinth and conquered it to live another day. We watched acrobats and jugglers, the royal joust by the knights on their beautiful steeds, a birds of prey show and even some guys in a mud pit! We munched on turkey legs and fried gator tail (though I'm not sure how gator tail fit the renaissance theme..lol) My son threw shurikens (steel ninja throwing stars) and won some green beads, that he promptly placed around his sister's neck. She gave him a hug in return, just seeing them interact like that with each other was worth the whole trip. My son also shot some arrows in the archery section and my daughter bought a ear cuff from a guy wearing elf ears.
Most of the day we passed many, many people dressed in period costume, complete with "milady's" who beseeched us to come hither and tarry as they hawked their wares of yore. Yes, it took us back to another time. But then there were the moments that they came out of character and would talk to each other or not realize we were around.
It made me think of another way that people dress up and act one way, even that is not how they really are. How many people dress up in their "Sunday" clothes, dust off their swords (Bibles) and begin to speak "Christianese." There in church with others watching, they speak the right words and wear the right clothes....yet when outside the church or when they don't think anyone is watching or listening, they revert to their everyday behavior. Not everyone is like that, just as at the festival some never came out of character, some Christians are the same on Sundays as they are the rest of the week. Only they aren't trying to 'act' in character, but that is their true character. That is how I strive to be. I want to be a Christian ALL the time, not just at church activities.
So while today was full of family fun and games and being taken to another time period, it also reminded me that life is not pretend and that how I act should NOT be an 'act', but who I am.
Friday, March 25, 2011
The Hidden Things
Most of you moms and wives can probably relate to this on some level. Your husband or kids don't like a certain food so you "hide" it into your cooking. This works quite well as long as it remains "hidden."
For example I had some skim milk. Now my kids and husband don't like skim milk, but I use it in my protein shakes. I had a couple of gallons extra so was trying to figure out how to get them to drink it. I ended up pouring half of it into their 2% jug of milk. No one said anything, so each time their jug got halfway empty, I'd put more of the skim into it. Eventually of course their milk was 100% skim, and no one said ONE word about it. One morning I didn't catch the jug labeled 2% (that was actually skim) before the kids emptied it and threw it away. So my son pulls out the only remaining jug that was labeled "skim." He looked at it and looked at me and said, "Mom, how come you have skim, you know we don't drink that." I couldn't tell him that for two weeks he had been drinking skim milk without it giving away my secret. But it was amazing to me how they drank it fine, UNTIL they saw the label.
This has happened many times. There have been times my husband has complimented me on dinner, only to later look in the trash can and see the empty cartons for low fat sour cream or reduced fat condensed soup and say, "I knew something tasted different about that!"
One lesson this teaches us is the power of suggestion. By simply thinking that something was one way, they believed it was that way. Kind of like the concept with PowerBands. (see my blog entry on that) Our minds are a powerful thing and the power of suggestion can be very strong.
The second lesson we can learn is hide all your empty containers when cooking with low fat, low sodium, low sugar, low anything foods. LOL
More seriously though, we can learn how easily we can fall for the "hidden things" that are presented to us each day. Things like lies wrapped in the guise of good intentions. Satan knows we won't guzzle that watered down drink knowingly, but if he can put it in a better looking container, there is a much better chance we will "drink" it. This is where the importance of knowing God's Word for yourself lies and in having friends that will help lovingly guide and point out those hidden things in our lives. Sometimes it is hidden so well that it takes someone else pointing out the true contents to us. Is that volunteer work really pride in disguise? Does the fact that "everyone does it" make it right? Is that prayer request gossip in disguise? Is your excuse of needing some time to yourself really an excuse of wallowing in your own little pity party?
Think about this week, what things in your life might be hidden and put there in disguise, and you are unknowingly accepting it?
"Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are really wolves that will tear you apart." Matthew 7:15 (NLT)
For example I had some skim milk. Now my kids and husband don't like skim milk, but I use it in my protein shakes. I had a couple of gallons extra so was trying to figure out how to get them to drink it. I ended up pouring half of it into their 2% jug of milk. No one said anything, so each time their jug got halfway empty, I'd put more of the skim into it. Eventually of course their milk was 100% skim, and no one said ONE word about it. One morning I didn't catch the jug labeled 2% (that was actually skim) before the kids emptied it and threw it away. So my son pulls out the only remaining jug that was labeled "skim." He looked at it and looked at me and said, "Mom, how come you have skim, you know we don't drink that." I couldn't tell him that for two weeks he had been drinking skim milk without it giving away my secret. But it was amazing to me how they drank it fine, UNTIL they saw the label.
This has happened many times. There have been times my husband has complimented me on dinner, only to later look in the trash can and see the empty cartons for low fat sour cream or reduced fat condensed soup and say, "I knew something tasted different about that!"
One lesson this teaches us is the power of suggestion. By simply thinking that something was one way, they believed it was that way. Kind of like the concept with PowerBands. (see my blog entry on that) Our minds are a powerful thing and the power of suggestion can be very strong.
The second lesson we can learn is hide all your empty containers when cooking with low fat, low sodium, low sugar, low anything foods. LOL
More seriously though, we can learn how easily we can fall for the "hidden things" that are presented to us each day. Things like lies wrapped in the guise of good intentions. Satan knows we won't guzzle that watered down drink knowingly, but if he can put it in a better looking container, there is a much better chance we will "drink" it. This is where the importance of knowing God's Word for yourself lies and in having friends that will help lovingly guide and point out those hidden things in our lives. Sometimes it is hidden so well that it takes someone else pointing out the true contents to us. Is that volunteer work really pride in disguise? Does the fact that "everyone does it" make it right? Is that prayer request gossip in disguise? Is your excuse of needing some time to yourself really an excuse of wallowing in your own little pity party?
Think about this week, what things in your life might be hidden and put there in disguise, and you are unknowingly accepting it?
"Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are really wolves that will tear you apart." Matthew 7:15 (NLT)
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Talk to Me
Our daughter has been having a hard time lately. Something is going on with her and we can't quite figure it out. But she hasn't been her normal, bubbly self. She is avoiding eye contact and in general just seems unhappy. Her dad and I sat her down outside on the patio last night to talk. We talked to her a lot, she talked very little. We sat and waited, we asked questions, finally we just gave her some paper and told her if she couldn't talk to us, maybe she could write and get out whatever was bothering her.
Why do we want her to talk to us? Is it just to hear her talk? To know that something was wrong? We already knew that. So why? Because we CARE and LOVE her! Unless she tells us what is bothering her, we can't help come up with a solution or ways to help alleviate the problem.
She finally admitted that there was some stuff going on, and came over and threw her arms around my neck and cried. I cried with her. It hurts me to see my kids hurt. I just wish I could make it all go away and make life smooth and easy for them...
Today I was having a hard day. Stuffing it all inside and basically feeling miserable. And then it hit me, I was being just like my daughter. I have a heavenly Father who is patiently waiting on me to pour my heart out to Him. He won't force the issue, but waits on me to come to Him. He cares for me in the same way I care for my daughter. Does He want me to talk to Him because He doesn't already know what I'm dealing with? No, it is because He loves me and wants me to turn to Him, and not just in the bad times, but all the time.
How do I know He cares? His Word He gave us tells me:
"Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee:" 2 Kings 20:5
Why do we want her to talk to us? Is it just to hear her talk? To know that something was wrong? We already knew that. So why? Because we CARE and LOVE her! Unless she tells us what is bothering her, we can't help come up with a solution or ways to help alleviate the problem.
She finally admitted that there was some stuff going on, and came over and threw her arms around my neck and cried. I cried with her. It hurts me to see my kids hurt. I just wish I could make it all go away and make life smooth and easy for them...
Today I was having a hard day. Stuffing it all inside and basically feeling miserable. And then it hit me, I was being just like my daughter. I have a heavenly Father who is patiently waiting on me to pour my heart out to Him. He won't force the issue, but waits on me to come to Him. He cares for me in the same way I care for my daughter. Does He want me to talk to Him because He doesn't already know what I'm dealing with? No, it is because He loves me and wants me to turn to Him, and not just in the bad times, but all the time.
How do I know He cares? His Word He gave us tells me:
"Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee:" 2 Kings 20:5
"You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book." Psalm 56:8 (NLT)
"For the Lamb who stands in front of the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to the springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe away all their tears." Revelation 7:17 (NLT)
"He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler." Psalm 91:4 (NKJV)
How do I know God is my Father?
"So you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:26 (NLT)
And just as I want my children to do, what does God want me to do?
"Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you." I Peter 5:7 (NLT)
So tonight, instead of having a pity party or trying to hide what I feel, I'm gonna run to my heavenly Father, pour my heart out to Him and ask Him to wipe my tears and take my worries.
Thank you God!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
More than Meets the Eye
I have to admit, I have been complaining some lately. I have a personal trainer that I've worked with twice a week for nearly a year now. She's been great, until January. Up until that point I had been paying her weekly, in December I signed a six month contract and started paying on that up front. That is when she started skipping sessions, either totally standing me up or texting me right before our session was supposed to start that she couldn't make it. And when she did make it, she just kind of stood there, pointed out machines to do and really was not "there" at all. This was frustrating because I can work out on machines on my own, didn't particularly care about paying someone to just stand there and watch. I wanted a change of routine, I wanted to use free weights and I needed someone to motivate me. (I see a lot of 'me, me, me' going on here)
About three weeks ago she told me she was handing me off to another trainer due to scheduling conflicts and administrative duties. That went well the past three weeks and just as I get into a good routine with him, he tells me he is going to another gym and I'm going back to my previous trainer. This whole trainer thing was starting to frustrate me but now I'm locked into a contract.
So this morning, it is raining, still getting used to "springing" forward and "losing" that hour of sleep, I text my trainer to make sure she is actually going to be there. She texts me back, yes.
We actually had a good workout and she changed it up some and was a little more back to her "you can do it!" motivating self. When we finished we sat on a mat and was talking some and she asked me did I know what happened in January. I told her no, I just know she recently took time off for administrative purposes. Turns out her husband died the first week of January. (she is younger than me) She said she had a hard time getting herself going, much less motivating people to work out.
Suddenly my whole attitude changed. Instead of being upset with her, I immediately felt so bad for her. I wished I had known. But it just reinforced the whole idea of the fact that we don't always know what is going on in the personal lives of those around us. We get snappy so easily; at that lady who has 12 things in the 10 and under lane, well maybe she has a sick kid in the car; at the person riding on our bumper, maybe they are anxiously on their way to the airport to see a loved one just returning from military service; at the person who just almost ran into your lane, who couldn't see for the tears in her eyes; and for me today, the unmotivated trainer who had just lost her husband. Maybe instead of complaining, we would do better by praying for those people around us that are irritating us. And for some of us, maybe we need to learn to open up more so that people will know what to pray for us about. Had she just told me I would have spent the last month praying for her instead of being upset with her. Not everything is how you see it, sometimes there is more than meets the eye.
About three weeks ago she told me she was handing me off to another trainer due to scheduling conflicts and administrative duties. That went well the past three weeks and just as I get into a good routine with him, he tells me he is going to another gym and I'm going back to my previous trainer. This whole trainer thing was starting to frustrate me but now I'm locked into a contract.
So this morning, it is raining, still getting used to "springing" forward and "losing" that hour of sleep, I text my trainer to make sure she is actually going to be there. She texts me back, yes.
We actually had a good workout and she changed it up some and was a little more back to her "you can do it!" motivating self. When we finished we sat on a mat and was talking some and she asked me did I know what happened in January. I told her no, I just know she recently took time off for administrative purposes. Turns out her husband died the first week of January. (she is younger than me) She said she had a hard time getting herself going, much less motivating people to work out.
Suddenly my whole attitude changed. Instead of being upset with her, I immediately felt so bad for her. I wished I had known. But it just reinforced the whole idea of the fact that we don't always know what is going on in the personal lives of those around us. We get snappy so easily; at that lady who has 12 things in the 10 and under lane, well maybe she has a sick kid in the car; at the person riding on our bumper, maybe they are anxiously on their way to the airport to see a loved one just returning from military service; at the person who just almost ran into your lane, who couldn't see for the tears in her eyes; and for me today, the unmotivated trainer who had just lost her husband. Maybe instead of complaining, we would do better by praying for those people around us that are irritating us. And for some of us, maybe we need to learn to open up more so that people will know what to pray for us about. Had she just told me I would have spent the last month praying for her instead of being upset with her. Not everything is how you see it, sometimes there is more than meets the eye.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Not Everything is Good for You
Can having a dog help you teach your son Biblical lessons? I think so!
My son was eating a pot pie the other night and it was still steaming hot. Our dog normally doesn't beg while we eat, but since he was sitting at the coffee table eating, our dog thought he'd check out the menu. My son, feeling sorry for him tossed him a chunk of chicken. Barkley caught it in his mouth and quickly spit it out. Why? Was it bad? Did it taste yucky? Did he not like it? Nope, it simply was too hot! This is something he would normally be allowed, but at the time, it wasn't good for him. It could have burnt his mouth. And even though it was hot, he kept coming back for another bite. My son thought it was funny and commented on how stupid he was to keep begging for something so hot he couldn't even eat. Finally I told him to quit giving Barkley anything until it cooled down, that as a dog he doesn't know any better. All he knows is that it tastes good and he has no concept of proper timing, of waiting on it to cool down. My son had to withhold the chicken from him. Not because we were being mean, but because we didn't want him to get burnt. Other things he would love to eat, but isn't allowed, like scrambled eggs. (who wants to sleep with a dog that poots eggs?...nasty, seriously nasty)
I told my son that is how it is with some things in life. As a teen he may see adults do certain things and be eager to try them himself, but as a young teen, the timing is not right and he may be burned in the process. There are some rules we have that will not change no matter his age, but other things as he gets older he will be allowed to do or participate in. Are we being mean? No. I doubt any of you would think I was being a responsible parent if I tossed him my truck keys and said, "go have fun." It requires timing, training and following the proper rules. Same with sex, am I being prudish by teaching him to wait? No. I simply prefer not to see him make mistakes that can change the whole course of his life. I want to protect him, protect him from diseases, unwanted pregnancy and undo heartache. Eventually he will be old enough and free to make all his own choices. But I hope he remembers that sometimes not everything we are allowed to do is what we should do.
You may say, "I am allowed to do anything." But I reply, "Not everything is good for you." And even though "I am allowed to do anything," I must not become a slave to anything. I Corinthians 6:12 (NLT)
As for Barkley, I'm glad that he helped provide me with an illustration to teach my son with, but he is still not allowed eggs! :)
My son was eating a pot pie the other night and it was still steaming hot. Our dog normally doesn't beg while we eat, but since he was sitting at the coffee table eating, our dog thought he'd check out the menu. My son, feeling sorry for him tossed him a chunk of chicken. Barkley caught it in his mouth and quickly spit it out. Why? Was it bad? Did it taste yucky? Did he not like it? Nope, it simply was too hot! This is something he would normally be allowed, but at the time, it wasn't good for him. It could have burnt his mouth. And even though it was hot, he kept coming back for another bite. My son thought it was funny and commented on how stupid he was to keep begging for something so hot he couldn't even eat. Finally I told him to quit giving Barkley anything until it cooled down, that as a dog he doesn't know any better. All he knows is that it tastes good and he has no concept of proper timing, of waiting on it to cool down. My son had to withhold the chicken from him. Not because we were being mean, but because we didn't want him to get burnt. Other things he would love to eat, but isn't allowed, like scrambled eggs. (who wants to sleep with a dog that poots eggs?...nasty, seriously nasty)
I told my son that is how it is with some things in life. As a teen he may see adults do certain things and be eager to try them himself, but as a young teen, the timing is not right and he may be burned in the process. There are some rules we have that will not change no matter his age, but other things as he gets older he will be allowed to do or participate in. Are we being mean? No. I doubt any of you would think I was being a responsible parent if I tossed him my truck keys and said, "go have fun." It requires timing, training and following the proper rules. Same with sex, am I being prudish by teaching him to wait? No. I simply prefer not to see him make mistakes that can change the whole course of his life. I want to protect him, protect him from diseases, unwanted pregnancy and undo heartache. Eventually he will be old enough and free to make all his own choices. But I hope he remembers that sometimes not everything we are allowed to do is what we should do.
You may say, "I am allowed to do anything." But I reply, "Not everything is good for you." And even though "I am allowed to do anything," I must not become a slave to anything. I Corinthians 6:12 (NLT)
As for Barkley, I'm glad that he helped provide me with an illustration to teach my son with, but he is still not allowed eggs! :)
Friday, March 4, 2011
The Value of Friendship
Not much is better in life than great friendships, those relationships that really mean something.
One of the greatest friendships in the Bible that comes to my mind is between Jonathan, son of King Saul, and David, future King of Israel. You can read about it in I Samuel. Their bond of friendship was so strong that even though Saul wanted David dead, the friendship between Jonathan and David stayed strong. Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.’ ” I Samuel 20:42 (NIV)
Another incredible friendship in the Bible is between Ruth and Naomi, her mother-in-law. "See," Naomi said to her, "your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. You should do the same." But Ruth replied, "Don't ask me to leave you and turn back. I will go wherever you go and live wherever you live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. I will die where you die and will be buried there. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!" So when Naomi saw that Ruth had made up her mind to go with her, she stopped urging her. Ruth 1:15-18 (NLT)
Much was written in the book of Proverbs about friendships, here are a few of my favorites:
One morning this week I seriously debated just pulling the covers over my head and not even getting up. But I rolled over and on my nightstand is a Willow Tree Angel that a good friend (one I’ve claimed as my big sis!) gave me for Christmas. It is the “Courage” angel. And above that on my “tree” lamp I hung a plaque that a co-worker had given me for my birthday a couple of weeks ago. Both were right there in my face and they reminded me that I am God’s Beloved. Great reminders that I have courage and I am special to God.
My friends have called to check on me, stayed up late on lonely nights to chat with me on facebook and gone out to eat with me. On Wednesday I had one friend go to lunch with me and greatly encourage me, reminding me that sometimes it’s the little things in life that have meaning. Then went to dinner that night with my Aunt, who also was a great encouragement. It has been the love of God in human form through the friends and family He has placed in my life. And for which I have been very thankful for.
If you have even one close friend in your life, thank God for him/her today and let them know how much they mean to you.
A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NLT)
One of the greatest friendships in the Bible that comes to my mind is between Jonathan, son of King Saul, and David, future King of Israel. You can read about it in I Samuel. Their bond of friendship was so strong that even though Saul wanted David dead, the friendship between Jonathan and David stayed strong. Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.’ ” I Samuel 20:42 (NIV)
Another incredible friendship in the Bible is between Ruth and Naomi, her mother-in-law. "See," Naomi said to her, "your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. You should do the same." But Ruth replied, "Don't ask me to leave you and turn back. I will go wherever you go and live wherever you live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. I will die where you die and will be buried there. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!" So when Naomi saw that Ruth had made up her mind to go with her, she stopped urging her. Ruth 1:15-18 (NLT)
Much was written in the book of Proverbs about friendships, here are a few of my favorites:
- A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. Proverbs 17:17 (NLT)
- There are "friends" who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 (NLT)
- The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense. Proverbs 27:9 (NLT)
- As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)
One morning this week I seriously debated just pulling the covers over my head and not even getting up. But I rolled over and on my nightstand is a Willow Tree Angel that a good friend (one I’ve claimed as my big sis!) gave me for Christmas. It is the “Courage” angel. And above that on my “tree” lamp I hung a plaque that a co-worker had given me for my birthday a couple of weeks ago. Both were right there in my face and they reminded me that I am God’s Beloved. Great reminders that I have courage and I am special to God.My friends have called to check on me, stayed up late on lonely nights to chat with me on facebook and gone out to eat with me. On Wednesday I had one friend go to lunch with me and greatly encourage me, reminding me that sometimes it’s the little things in life that have meaning. Then went to dinner that night with my Aunt, who also was a great encouragement. It has been the love of God in human form through the friends and family He has placed in my life. And for which I have been very thankful for.
If you have even one close friend in your life, thank God for him/her today and let them know how much they mean to you.
A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NLT)
Thursday, February 10, 2011
What is Celebrate Recovery? Why Celebrate Recovery?
Most people who know me well, know I've been involved with Celebrate Recovery in different aspects for the past five years. From an attender, a small group facilitator, a 12-step facilitator, or in whatever capacity I can help in. What many people don't know is exactly what Celebrate Recovery is or why people go. I was talking with someone about it today and decided to write a blog about it.
What is Celebrate Recovery? Why Celebrate Recovery?
You are sitting at church, or pretty much any large gathering for that matter. Look to your right, look to your left. All around you are hurting people, hiding behind smiling faces. Stop for a moment and take about three minutes and watch the short video, Smiling Addiction.
Look at yourself. What mask are you wearing right now? Are you sitting there with a smile plastered on your face, while inside you are struggling with an issue? What are you using to mask your true self? It doesn’t have to be drugs or alcohol, it could be food. For that matter, it can be just about anything. Everyone has some kind of hurt, habit or hang-up in their life.
Celebrate Recovery is a place at area churches where we can go and take off the masks and be “real.” Confidentiality is a big key to this, what you say stays there, even that you went is confidential. It is structured in such a way that you have fellowship with dinner together and then a time to worship during what is called “large group.” In those times where you may not be able to express yourself with words, the songs sung during large group can give you the means to say those words. For me, I can express much more emotion through song than any other way. Also, during this time there is either a lesson given or a testimony from someone sharing how God has changed their life, very often how it has changed through their involvement CR (Celebrate Recovery). CR operates a CHIP system as well. There are chips for time that you have spent working on your issue. And again, this is for everyone, not just the drug and alcohol group. You don’t have to tell anyone what your chip is for, it is up to you to decide what area of your life you want to work on. But the chips are great reminders to hang on to mark your progress over time. Showing up to large group is just the first step, the real work begins in "small group." It is there that the groups are broken down into specific topics and by gender. Here is finally a place just for YOU. You get to share what is going on, whether it be abuse, past issues, chemical dependence, anger issues (drive in Atlanta during rush hour and you will find out how your anger issue is!), etc. Believe it or not, only one in three people attend CR due to drugs or alcohol. Every one is dealing with some kind of hurt, habit or hang-up. Maybe you are the one that was hurt, or you could be the one that has hurt someone else. But we ALL have issues in our life that we have attempted to hide or sweep under the proverbial “rug.” After small group, there is some sort of “Café” time. This is a little bit freer time to share numbers or books or just visit with new friends that you’ve made. Once you have been in CR for a while you may choose to go even deeper with it and attend a “step group.” These are small groups dedicated to going through an in-depth series of four books that walks you through a 12-step, 8-principle process using Scripture as a guide. The step group typically takes about a year to complete.
Why share? Why Celebrate Recovery? This is a SAFE place to share. Maybe you’ve been burdened for a while but didn’t know where to turn to. Maybe you feel ashamed because you think that Christians shouldn’t be dealing with “issues.” Christians are forgiven, but still human. Here is a place you can finally be real at. For many people in CR this is the first time they’ve ever had a place to be real. And just sharing can open up the doorway to taking that first step in healing, not hiding. It has been said, “We are only as sick as our secrets.” What was the secret in your family of origin? What is your personal secret? Release it so God can take it from you and begin to heal you.
So drop that burden and those secrets you’ve been carrying and hiding and give Celebrate Recovery a try! To find a group in your area, click the icon below.
What is Celebrate Recovery? Why Celebrate Recovery?
You are sitting at church, or pretty much any large gathering for that matter. Look to your right, look to your left. All around you are hurting people, hiding behind smiling faces. Stop for a moment and take about three minutes and watch the short video, Smiling Addiction.
Look at yourself. What mask are you wearing right now? Are you sitting there with a smile plastered on your face, while inside you are struggling with an issue? What are you using to mask your true self? It doesn’t have to be drugs or alcohol, it could be food. For that matter, it can be just about anything. Everyone has some kind of hurt, habit or hang-up in their life.
Celebrate Recovery is a place at area churches where we can go and take off the masks and be “real.” Confidentiality is a big key to this, what you say stays there, even that you went is confidential. It is structured in such a way that you have fellowship with dinner together and then a time to worship during what is called “large group.” In those times where you may not be able to express yourself with words, the songs sung during large group can give you the means to say those words. For me, I can express much more emotion through song than any other way. Also, during this time there is either a lesson given or a testimony from someone sharing how God has changed their life, very often how it has changed through their involvement CR (Celebrate Recovery). CR operates a CHIP system as well. There are chips for time that you have spent working on your issue. And again, this is for everyone, not just the drug and alcohol group. You don’t have to tell anyone what your chip is for, it is up to you to decide what area of your life you want to work on. But the chips are great reminders to hang on to mark your progress over time. Showing up to large group is just the first step, the real work begins in "small group." It is there that the groups are broken down into specific topics and by gender. Here is finally a place just for YOU. You get to share what is going on, whether it be abuse, past issues, chemical dependence, anger issues (drive in Atlanta during rush hour and you will find out how your anger issue is!), etc. Believe it or not, only one in three people attend CR due to drugs or alcohol. Every one is dealing with some kind of hurt, habit or hang-up. Maybe you are the one that was hurt, or you could be the one that has hurt someone else. But we ALL have issues in our life that we have attempted to hide or sweep under the proverbial “rug.” After small group, there is some sort of “Café” time. This is a little bit freer time to share numbers or books or just visit with new friends that you’ve made. Once you have been in CR for a while you may choose to go even deeper with it and attend a “step group.” These are small groups dedicated to going through an in-depth series of four books that walks you through a 12-step, 8-principle process using Scripture as a guide. The step group typically takes about a year to complete.
Why share? Why Celebrate Recovery? This is a SAFE place to share. Maybe you’ve been burdened for a while but didn’t know where to turn to. Maybe you feel ashamed because you think that Christians shouldn’t be dealing with “issues.” Christians are forgiven, but still human. Here is a place you can finally be real at. For many people in CR this is the first time they’ve ever had a place to be real. And just sharing can open up the doorway to taking that first step in healing, not hiding. It has been said, “We are only as sick as our secrets.” What was the secret in your family of origin? What is your personal secret? Release it so God can take it from you and begin to heal you.
So drop that burden and those secrets you’ve been carrying and hiding and give Celebrate Recovery a try! To find a group in your area, click the icon below.
Friday, February 4, 2011
The Double Yellow Line
My daughter and I were sitting in heavy Atlanta rush hour traffic earlier this week. We had gotten off the interstate for a run through the Chick-fil-A drive thru and were about to get back on. As we sat on an overpass we watched the cars on the interstate creep below us. I looked to my left and so close that I could have reached out and touched it was another vehicle. It was facing the opposite direction. What kept us apart? That double yellow line. We were two vehicles, headed in completely opposite directions with nothing between us but paint! I looked over to my daughter and commented, all these vehicles and the only thing keeping us all from being a tangled pile of metal is rules and painted directions. Yellow lines, white lines, turn arrows, etc. I asked her if she thought it was fair that there were so many driving rules. She gave me a quizzical look and replied no. I asked her if we could break them...yes, but we might get hurt. I asked if we would be safer and happier if we watched for the lines and signals and followed them...of course. Then I told her that is what it is like to be a parent. We lay out the lines and rules. Some paths are so dangerous that we erect barriers, like the concrete ones on the interstate. But on other paths and roads, our only guidelines are the stripes of paint. We know what we are supposed to do, but nothing is preventing us from crossing that line. So for her to remember that when she thought some rules might not be fair, or how easy it would be to cross over some of the lines and boundaries we've placed. That as parents we don't make those to ruin the fun, but so that she can travel far and safe and have even more freedom. Without the lines our freedom would soon end in a mangled heap. A lesson not just for my preteen, but for me to remember as well with the guidelines God has set out in His Word, the Bible. Some of the "rules" may seem old fashioned and out-dated. But they are there for our protection, not to stop us, but to help us travel further.
LeAnne's Nose
Just as I was walking into work last Friday (January 28) I received a phone call from the middle school. The school office told me LeAnne had tripped and had a bloody nose. She can be clumsy and has had other falls at school so it didn't register real high on my "concern meter" at first. Then she said that they had called a nurse who was on the way to the school. My "concern" needle started vibrating. "We have to have a parent come up here right now, it's quite a bit of blood." With my "concern" needle shooting way up I spun around, left my office and immediately headed to school. As I was walking into the office I see two janitors walking out with an armful of white towels, covered in bright red blood. My daughter's blood. I felt faint. I see two more cleaning up blood stains on the carpet, shaking I ask if my daughter is down the hall. I'm escorted into the nurses area, where the nurse had beaten me to the school. I look over and LeAnne seems ok and in one piece. I slowly exhale, not even realizing at first that I had been holding my breath. Sit down with her and it seems they have everything under control. She had changed shirts due to all the blood, though there was still blood on her pants and shoes. But the nose was no longer bleeding. On the outside was a cut. The nurse pulled me to the side and informed that she thought it was broken. I asked if she was sure, she nodded a yes. Said to get her to the doctor as soon as I could to make sure pieces of bone hadn't gone into her sinuses. We have Kaiser insurance, so that meant I had to call and jump through all their hoops to get her seen. They could see her quickly, but I'd have to go to the Sugarhill facility. On the way there I told her, well baby I guess we get to spend the day together. She replied, "I don't think this counts as quality time, Mom." Guess not, not when you have been bleeding like crazy, have a broken nose and shaking in pain. Get the x-rays and the broken nose is confirmed. Instructions are to go home, stay propped up on pillows for 24 hr and ice it for 10 minutes every hour or so. Follow up with an ENT. She was such a trooper, kept asking the doctor if she could please go back to school. This was her first day that she missed school the whole year.
Tuesday. Our appointment with the ENT to find out what next. Have had people praying for us. Poor LeAnne is a nervous wreck. It really hasn't swelled too badly and not much bruising either. I'm hoping for the best. Get to school to get her and her principal tells me LeAnne has hugged him three times and is nervous. She comes to the office for me to sign her out and the principal tells us he is praying for us. So very grateful for a Christian principal. Thanks to Kaiser we have to drive 50 miles to the ENT. She turns out to be extremely nice though and talked directly to LeAnne in terms she (and myself) could easily understand. Apparently LeAnne cracked off a tee tiny piece of bone on the end of her nose. The doctor said to hit it with that force, had she had her head turned a little to the left or a little more to the right and it would have disfigured her nose. Requiring reconstructive surgery. Said the knot/bump on the top of her nose was just swelling around the piece of bone. Suggested we ice it three more days. If it still doesn't go down then they could give her a shot of steroid in her nose, breaking down the scar tissue so it could finish going down. Thank you, Jesus! So now LeAnne has a story to tell her grand kids one day and the worst case scenario she might get a shot. I did ask her if she wanted her nose pieced, told her it was hurting already so it wouldn't be a big deal. Her response? A long drawn out "Ma .. um, Puh-lease!" LOL
Tuesday. Our appointment with the ENT to find out what next. Have had people praying for us. Poor LeAnne is a nervous wreck. It really hasn't swelled too badly and not much bruising either. I'm hoping for the best. Get to school to get her and her principal tells me LeAnne has hugged him three times and is nervous. She comes to the office for me to sign her out and the principal tells us he is praying for us. So very grateful for a Christian principal. Thanks to Kaiser we have to drive 50 miles to the ENT. She turns out to be extremely nice though and talked directly to LeAnne in terms she (and myself) could easily understand. Apparently LeAnne cracked off a tee tiny piece of bone on the end of her nose. The doctor said to hit it with that force, had she had her head turned a little to the left or a little more to the right and it would have disfigured her nose. Requiring reconstructive surgery. Said the knot/bump on the top of her nose was just swelling around the piece of bone. Suggested we ice it three more days. If it still doesn't go down then they could give her a shot of steroid in her nose, breaking down the scar tissue so it could finish going down. Thank you, Jesus! So now LeAnne has a story to tell her grand kids one day and the worst case scenario she might get a shot. I did ask her if she wanted her nose pieced, told her it was hurting already so it wouldn't be a big deal. Her response? A long drawn out "Ma .. um, Puh-lease!" LOL
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