Peace in the Midst of the Chaos

Psalm 143:8 "Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life."

This day promises to bring chaos. Before I ever got off the mattress on the floor this morning, I knew that today would be hectic. I promise to share more details later as to why I'm sleeping on a mattress on the floor, but for now, just let me say, life is crazy busy for our family.

We're in transition...and it's a good transition. But it's crazy. I'm uncertain right now where we're spending the night. In fact, I'm uncertain where we're staying for the next 4 weeks! Yikes! Yes, yikes. We have sold our home due to the fact that my husband got a promotion and a transfer at one time. Yay! But then, we sold our house in only a day and a half! We have nowhere to go, and our new house doesn't close for another month. The relocation department doesn't seem to be in a big hurry, and they don't seem to care that we're displaced for the next 4 weeks...starting, ahem...TODAY.

We're hurriedly trying to clean our home and say goodbye to friends we've made. It's sad, hard, exciting, and did I mention...crazy, all at one time!

When I got up this morning, I immediately drank my Advocare Spark and set about cleaning, organizing, throwing out, and loading up things, frantic to get things accomplished. As my family peacefully slept, I couldn't help but feel blessed as I watched them, all in a line on mattresses in my bedroom floor. But I needed their help! Grudgingly, they got up, only to discover that we had nothing for breakfast. In my frantic cleaning mode last night, I gave all of our food away to the neighbor, secretly patting myself on the back for doing a good deed and not letting the food go to waste. I didn't think about the fact that there would be nothing for breakfast. My husband went to grab some biscuits, I barked orders for the kids to get in the tub so that I could clean the bathroom, and I hastily continued my work.

The whole time, though, I'm concerned about the fact that the relocation department hasn't confirmed our temporary housing arrangements. I'm packing to go somewhere....I just don't know where. And for all of you women out there...you know how hard it is to pack to go to an unknown place! We ate our biscuits, my inwardly cringing at the calorie count, but all the while, I kept feeling the pull of the Lord. I have so much to do, yet, I needed, wanted, longed to spend time with my Lord.

So I opened my Bible here to Psalm 143, and I rested on verse 8, "Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life." Immediately I was reminded that every. single. morning. brings me Word of His unfailing love. Long ago, I put my trust in God, and I continue to trust Him every. single. day.

Am I trusting in the relocation department? Am I trusting in two houses, made my brick and wood? Am I trusting in my ability to get it all together? Am I trusting in my bank account to pay all of the unexpected expenses?

But earlier in the chapter, verse 5 speaks as well, "I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done."

Over and over in my life, I've seen His hands at work. He's worked things out, and moved in ways that I never couldn't imagined for myself. He's blessed me beyond measure and more abundantly than I could've asked. How could I be afraid now?

He's brought us so far. He won't fail now!

What is going on in your life right now? Has your morning been hectic even before you've gotten out of bed? Invest the time to spend with Him. I can't promise that your day with go more smoothly, but I can promise peace in the midst of the chaos.

Picky Eaters

1 Corinthians 9:27 “I disciple my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.” NLT

“I know I need to lose some weight, but I don’t like all of...that,” my co-worker waved her hand at my plate. This particular co-worker had watched me lose the last 20 pounds and she was getting curious. Every day, she would ask me questions, but she would always refute my answers with reasons why she couldn’t do it too. Today, her excuse was that she was a picky eater. So, I asked her, “What are two fruits that you like?” She told me that she liked bananas and apples and went on to share that she ate beans and corn. I came up with a few options for her off the top of my head, but I honestly thought that she just wasn’t ready.

Picky eaters will struggle in areas of nutrition when trying to lose weight. Things that picky eaters enjoy usually tend to be starchy and full of carbs. I also enjoyed starchy foods and I still struggle with my bread consumption. But there are always options, even for the pickiest of eaters to consume. After all, the picky eaters I know typically eat the same things over and over anyway. 

When I started my weightloss journey, I read countless blogs and articles of the benefits of certain foods. I wanted to know what would help me lose weight, feel full, and add to my overall health. There are foods that I regularly consume today that I never ate before I started this journey. Without this lifestyle change and research, I never would’ve discovered that I like greek yogurt, green tea, or almonds. But on the flipside, there are things that I had to learn to enjoy. I always thought that raspberries tasted like soap before, but now, they’re a regular part of my diet. Avocados were only to be used for guacamole, but now I use them along with greek yogurt as a base for chicken salad and sandwich spread. Asparagus had never been present in my mouth before, but now it is a weekly occurrence in my home.

While I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a picky eater, I am indeed a picky exerciser. I am physically incapable of playing most team sports because of my birth defect, and I absolutely despise pushups. I can do them if I force myself, but it’s just not something I enjoy. I certainly didn’t enjoy running at first either, but now is a different story. Picky eaters may find themselves having to discipline themselves to eat certain things for their health, and they may actually find that in time, they start to enjoy new foods.

Paul writes in the last part of 1 Corinthians 9 about the historic Isthmian games, an Olympic type event, held in Corinth every two years. He illustrates his point of spiritual discipline is much like athletic training. If we were to compete in an athletic event, we would prepare rigorously so as to win the prize. If we’re not planning to win, why play the game, right? In the same way, strict self-discipline is required if we are to grow as believers in Him. We must press on in our Bible Study and in prayer. We must submit to obeying Christ in all things, so as to win the prize of salvation, eternal life in Christ. 

Paul goes onto express his fear of being disqualified. He expresses his concern that after he has taught others how to obtain the prize, he might not get it himself. Therefore, he has disciplined himself in such as a way so that he would not fall away from Christ.

As we transition ourselves into living a healthy lifestyle, we often find that changes are hard. We are accustomed to living one way only to change several things at one time. Those changes may be uncomfortable, but we press on, knowing that our discipline will win us the prize in the end!

Enjoy some time today reading through 1 Corinthians 9-10 and see how Paul explained food consumption and discipline. It’s quite enlightening and encouraging!

Encouragement for Today

1 Corinthians 8:8 “It’s true that we can’t win God’s approval by what we eat. We don’t lose anything if we don’t eat it, and we don’t gain anything if we do.” NlT

1 Timothy 4:4-5 “Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks. For we know it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer.” NLT

Matthew 4:4 “‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” NLT

Friendship

Proverbs 17:17 says, "A friend loves at all times, and a brother [sister] is born for adversity." Friendship was never meant to be shared with someone for pure recreation and enjoyment. It was never solely meant for sharing good and fun times with others. However, it was a relationship created by God to strength one another, to encourage one another, and to walk with one another on days that are hard, bad, scary, and downright terrible.

My heart is heavy today. Today is my last day to live in Northwest Arkansas, and today is the day it's final.

These are my friends Kasey (left) and Melissa (right). The kind of friendship we've shared thus far has been far from the typical lunch dates and birthday party celebrations. I met both of them when they visited the church I pastored.

Melissa and her husband were first. I remember the day like it was yesterday. A few Sundays before Easter, it was a cold and windy day, and I was standing in the foyer, excited that we had visitors. Heath and I invited them over for dinner, and we became fast friends. Kasey and her boys visited for the first time about a year later, and I was excited when they returned the second Sunday! Her husband was able to come then too, and the three of us (as well as our husbands and children) soon started our weekly Sunday lunch dates.

I honestly believe that God put us together for the tumultuous times that we didn't even know were ahead. We've walked together through health issues, family/marriage issues, financial hardships, job changes, illnesses, and just plain 'ole bad days (and plenty of good ones too). We grieve when one of us grieves, and we share in one another's joy.

You see, this is the kind of friendship that tells the truth, even when it hurts, is uncomfortable, or makes us angry! We've committed to encourage one another and hold one another accountable in our lives and more importantly, in our relationship with Christ. We want what's best for one another, even if it's not what we want to hear!

Proverbs 24:26 says, "Giving an honest answer is the sign of true friendship."

For the past (almost) two years, I haven't been their pastor. But I'm still their friend. And they're still mine. We've met (we've tried) to meet once a week to catch up and do Bible Study, and share the Word of the Lord. A relational bond is quite strong. Emotional ties are hard to break, but a spiritual bond...those ties are impossible to break.

Even if I never live in close driving distance to these two ever again, I have a spiritual bond that will never be forgotten. How I'm thankful that God joins people together in friendship. And oh, how I'm thankful for technology that will allow us to see and keep in contact with one another.

Today, I have to deal with the fact that this is my last night in Northwest Arkansas, and I can no longer drive to the local McDonald's to see them in person. But I'll be thankful that my God knows no distance  and holds us all in his hand.

The Beginning of the End

Let me first start by saying that I do not believe for one moment that the end of the world will be happening tomorrow. But I do believe it could be today.

I don't think the Mayans had any sort of information aside from the information that we have today. We read in Matthew chapter 24 that no one knows the day or the hour that Christ is coming for His church, not even the angels OR Christ Himself...only the Father knows. That tells me one thing...we KNOW it will not be Friday.

I've heard a few reports from families in our area that are stockpiling water, ammunition, food, batteries, and emergency supplies just in case the Mayans were let in on a secret that we weren't privy to. That's all fine and good. I think we should all be prepared in an emergency.

What I'm wondering about though is this: Why aren't they concerned with what really matters? I haven't heard ANYONE talking about how we should be trying to point these people to Jesus. If they're so panicked about the world ending, don't we think they could be ripe for the harvest? There's obviously a need that's yet to be fulfilled in their lives. Why haven't we met it?

There were even news stories this morning about certain mountains in the United States that are believed to be gateways to time travel. There are people camping on those mountains this week just because they think they will be the first to enter. My husband personally took a plane ride a few months ago and sat next to a woman that watched out the window the whole time, expecting to see aliens appearing. It just amazes me what people believe in...but the fact that there was a Messiah sent by God Himself to die for our sins...that's too far-fetched?!?!

Heath and I didn't buy any extra water, but we have been buying a little ammunition here and there...but that's a whole other post entirely....

I'm asking myself though...what if TODAY is the end of the world? Are we prepared? I could care less about water, money that'll probably be useless, or other "emergency" items. In the end, all that matters is my relationship with Jesus. Have I prepared my family for the utmost urgent need?

Waiting

I have spent the majority of my life waiting. When I was a kid, I couldn't wait until I got my driver's license. Then I waited to graduate from high school. I went to college and then waited to get married. Then all I wanted was to graduate from college. I waited for that too.

Nowadays, I do a different kind of waiting. I've waited for job promotions. I've waited for vacations, and right now, I'm waiting my income tax refund to arrive. Mostly though, I just wait on Heath to get home from work.

I've realized that I keep waiting on things to happen, never really taking the time to enjoy the moment or time that I'm given. I know we all have heard the cliches that are on bumper stickers or our Facebook walls, "Enjoy today because tomorrow is never promised," or "Today only happens once." Whatever cliche you've heard, it's likely that you're like me. You nod your head in agreement and even mentally assent that those sayings are true. And while they are perfectly true, we rarely live by them.

I've spent my entire life waiting...always waiting for the next thing to happen so that I can enjoy the moment, but I'm a very impatient person. I've thought about this issue of waiting for so long, that I can fully picture myself in 40-50 years, checked into my nursing home, settled in my hospital bed, waiting to die. You may laugh at my thoughts, but if I'm not careful, before I know it, this picture will be my reality.

Why am I like this? I honestly think that my lack of self-confidence has kept me from believing that I have something to offer the world...just the way I am now...and with the resources I have now.

It's true that I won't get a "do-over" for today, and that I'm not promised tomorrow. Today I will play with my children. I will love my husband. I will let the dishes sit in the sink a few more hours, and I will walk over to meet my neighbor in the yard. I will sit on the porch and enjoy the nice weather and thank God for the blessing of today.

What am I waiting for? I don't know. Life is here. I don't want to wish it away anymore.

A federal appeals court in San Francisco upheld the national motto "In God We Trust." Thursday, the decision was made to keep this motto on currency and coins.

Apparently this guy, Michael Nedow, is an athiest and claimed that the references to God in the pledge of Allegiance "disrespected his religious beliefs." The court rejected his claim and said this:"The Pledge is constitutional.. The Pledge of Allegiance serves to unite our vast nation through the proud recitation of some of the ideals upon which our Republic was founded."

Now here's my question. In 2002, the same court ruled in favor of Nedow after he sued his daughter's school for having her recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

I remember vividly when I was a child and everyone was forced to recite the plegde. There were at times, students in my class that didn't want to do it for various reasons, mostly because they were just being lazy. But no one ever claimed that they didn't want to recite it because they didn't believe in God.

Here was Nedow's response to Thursday's ruling: "Oh man. What a bummer."

He sounds totally bummed, dude...

At any rate, I'm glad to hear the court's decision. It was a surprise coming from California, after all.

Several years ago, I suffered from a rare blood disorder that drained Heath and I financially. I worried constantly and felt guilty about all the money my treatment was costing. One day on a drive home from the doctor, we stopped at a Wal-Mart to pick up a few needed items. As I was walking out the door, I noticed a lot of coins just strewn around the parking lot. I picked up a penny and just looked at it--really looked at it for the first time. Imprinted were the words: In God We Trust. The thought came to me that it wasn't in that money that we trusted. We don't trust in our bank accounts. We don't trust even in our own abilities to earn money. We trust in God. In Him alone are the answers for which we seek. He alone can provide. And He alone will provide.