Are you a kite or anchor?

If given the choice the average Joe would choose being a kite over an anchor. Kites are beautiful, they are free; soaring and twirling in the wind. You can picture a breezy summer day on the beach when you think of kites. Anchors, on the other hand, are the opposite. They are heavy, unmoving, and stuck at the bottom of the sea. When you picture an anchor, you see a a cold, algae covered piece of concrete.

But when I think about them in regards to my faith, I would much rather be an anchor than a kite. There are so many things in this world and in this life that can move us; from year to year (tragedy, finances, raising kids), from day to day (work, your relationship with your spouse, the weather), from second to second (conversations with others, road rage, sitting in another meeting that has gone long). If we are kites flying wherever the wind takes us, we will be blown in a thousand different directions a day. We will be swayed by our circumstances.

But if we are anchors in the moving waters if this life, we will stand firm when tragedy strikes, we won't budge when someone gets mad at us. We will remain steady when our schedule is at the breaking point. We will stay firmly in place when we are sitting in a drive-thru line already late for that next thing on our schedule.

Yes, kites are beautiful and free and anchors are not; but if you examine them you will find that kites have a semblance of freedom but are really just as tied down as an anchor. If you would follow the kite's string all the way to the bottom, you would discover it really isn't free at all. There is a kite flyer who is using the wind to maneuver the kite into doing what they want. Dip here, twirl there. The kite is the slave, the kiter is the master.

If you follow the heavy chain of an anchor all the way UP, you will find another anchor...a pier or a dock. Steady and unmoving.

So which one are you? Which one do you want to be? If you are a kite, how can you become an anchor? The answer is obvious but not always easy.

God is actually THE anchor. If you want to be secure and steady in this constantly changing world, you must attach yourself to Him. But it goes beyond just believing in Him...you must TRUST Him explicitly. How do you have that kind of trust? You get to know Him, you learn about His character, you talk to Him, you search for Him, and you cry out to Him. Only then, will you be anchored down. And the more the waters stir and you realize God is faithful, the more steady you get. It's a mysteriously amazing cycle.

Then one day when the storm comes, you see the storm, and feel the storm BUT you will be anchored  to the only One who can truly help you weather the storm. THEN you will see the beauty in concrete.

Everyone Has a Junk Drawer

As I was putting dishes away, I opened my cupboard above our counter to stash our thermal coffee cup away...you know the kind...the ones that are big and clunky and not dishwasher safe (but I put in the dishwasher anyway). They are too big for the normal cup cabinet and there really isn't a good place in the other cabinets for them, so into the "junk cabinet" they go. As I was up on my tippy toes trying to put the cup in an upright position and slam the door closed before it or anything else could fall out, I thought to myself, "geesh what a poor house keeper I am". And then just as quickly said to myself, "Who am I kidding? Everyone has junk cabinets, or drawers, or closets for that matter." If you are reading this blog and think to yourself, "I don't have a junk drawer." let me the first to give you a reality check....yes you do. It may not be a cabinet like mine, it may not even be that obvious to the naked eye, but you do have one.

As human beings we tend to deny the "junk drawers" in our lives too, don't we? We look at other people's lives and can quickly point out their messes but when we look at ourselves we see tidy little kitchens where everything has a place. This is true sometimes. But there are times when some think they are the only one with cluttered lives (me included). Is either one better then the other? No. Both perspectives are entirely selfish.

The Tidy Kitchens of this world think they have it all together. These are the people who say, "my kid would NEVER throw a fit like that" or "if they could manage their schedule better, maybe they would be on time for once." They also literally judge a persons home. Trust me, your quick scan of the place and wrinkle of your nose at the sight of a dirty sock or a pile of laundry does not go unnoticed. At first those kind of people used to intimidate me and make me very self-conscious. I would drive myself crazy trying to clean before they came over or be horrified if they just stopped by and the house wasn't picked up. Yes, I remember those days very vividly. Those were the days I was constantly exhausted, constantly stressed out, and constantly taking it out on the kids and husband.

Then you have the Lone Junkers. The people who say, "I am the only one I know who can't keep up the laundry." or "If only I had a nicer house, or more behaved kids." Have you ever asked yourself this one?: "Why do my kids trash the house, when so and so's kids clean up after themselves?" Okay, you got me...I have been there, done that. Woe is me. I might sound pretty harsh right now, and I don't mean to....or maybe I do, but hear me out. A reality check for the heart is always a good thing every once in awhile.

All you Tidy Kitchens out there need to realize you have junk drawers too. There isn't a single person who is clutter free in this life. And we wont be, for that matter, until we see Jesus face to face. There is freedom in admitting you have faults. Yes, we should all strive to be the very best human beings possible, but knowing everyone makes mistakes including yourself, allows you to be more patient and forgiving. It allows you to extend grace even when it is not deserved.

For all you Lone Junkers, enough all ready! Stop with the lamenting and give yourself a break! You are not the only one with junk drawers filled to the brim with the misplaced batteries and pens of this life. Stop feeling sorry for yourself or beating yourself up and do something about it. Whether it is purging and throwing away things that you know you will never use or need,or maybe you just need to hone your organization skills a little. Or just maybe you need to do some business with the One who is an expert clutter extractor. And remember, you don't have to do this on your own. A couple years ago, a good friend of mine was completely fed up with her unorganized kitchen. She swallowed her pride and asked me to come over and help her clean out her cupboards. She kept saying "but if you don't want to, you don't have to," I went over right away and we had a blast rolling our sleeves up and decluttering her kitchen. And might I say, we had quite a few laughs over the amount of cookbooks she had and never used.

If life has gotten overwhelming (either physically, mentally, or spiritually) call up a good friend, someone you can trust. Someone that isn't afraid of your junk or wont judge you for having a coffee thermos in the same cabinet with CD's and matches and eyeglass cleaner. You get the picture. And if you have been the one doing the judging, step back for a second and analyze your own junk drawers. I bet when you do that, other junk drawers won't look so horrifying.

 

The Fun of Dutch Blitz: Something You've Gotta Experience!

New Year's Eve was a blast. Every year, my husband and I have a group of family and friends over to eat and play games. We always have a white elephant exchange in which we bring gifts that we got for Christmas that we might not necessarily like or use. It's always a riot. This year we also had a dance off which was hilarious and way too much fun. After that, we broke up into two groups and played games. A couple weeks ago, some friends introduced us to a card game called Dutch Blitz. If you don't have it, you need to get it. It is sooo fun (see, I am doing it again!) Since we've played it at their house, we have purchased the game for our own house and have taught several other friends how to play (including people at our New Year's bash). It's almost become an epidemic at our house. Even our two daughters have learned and play every day. I ask people if they've ever played before and tell them all about it if they haven't (which most people have never heard of the game, let alone play it.) Sounds pretty obsessive right? Maybe it's just how I'm wired but I get like that whenever I experience something new and fun....and life changing. I want the whole world to know about it!

Ok, you got me. I'm not talking about card games anymore. There's something else that is so much cooler then Dutch Blitz. His name is Jesus. Once you have Him, there's no going back. Nothing else compares quite frankly. Ever since I met Him, I am more alive, more free, FORGIVEN, loved, and cherished. My life has purpose and meaning. I am strengthened and empowered. I have joy and a peace that goes beyond any understanding. When you experience all that you can't help but want others to experience it too.

I think sometimes Christians get a bad reputation for being Bible Thumpers and only interested in saving souls. Which is true in some way...I do love my Bible and I do want you to be in heaven with me. BUT, more than that, I want you to know what love really feels like; what it feels like to be truly satisfied and content with where you are in life. I want you to experience joy amidst trials and suffering. I want you to have the strength to forgive when you've been wronged. I want you to feel His guidance as you walk through this life. I want you to know how awesome it feels to have purpose and meaning. I want you to know Jesus.

Life with Jesus isn't always fun and games. It is downright hard. Just like Dutch Blitz, you have good rounds and not so good rounds. I still go through trials. I have days when I am discouraged and feel rather depressed. But that is life. We were never promised that our lives would be perfect. In fact, we were promised the opposite so that we may persevere and grow in the faith (but that is another blog for another time). With that said, if we are going to go through hard times in this life wouldn't you want to have Someone to go through those times with you? And unlike Dutch Blitz when you win games and lose others, with Jesus, you win every time. As a competitive person, I like those odds.

With that said, I urge you to get to know Him a little better. If you don't know Him at all, try talking to Him. Try to figure out who this Jesus guy is and why He's so special. I dare you. I promise that you will not walk away empty handed or with an empty heart. You will walk away full of life if you give Him yours. This would be a perfect time for me to say "as the new year begins, make it a resolution to know Jesus as your Saviour," but I don't believe in resolutions. Resolutions are made to be broken. Instead, I am going to challenge you to grow. Grow in your faith, and if you have faith already, grow in maturity. This life isn't meant to be lived by just going through the motions. There's so much more than that and part of the fun, is figuring out what that is.

Oh yeah, and if you haven't played Dutch Blitz, try it out! (I had to do it :)

A Thanksgiving Devotional

Thanksgiving. A wonderful day spent with family, friends, and food. Did I mention the food??? Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. With it brings memories of going to Grandma's house, cozying up on the couch with my family to watch football, and being so stuffed you could barely walk out to your car to leave. As I child, I never really understood and appreciated the point of Thanksgiving--to give thanks. As an young adult I never really understood what to be truly thankful for. Yes, there is the obvious stuff: family, good health, a roof over our heads, working vehicles (sort of ;), etc. Those are great things to be thankful for! Thanksgiving is a great time to stop, reflect, and appreciate all of life's blessings. But if we stop there, we are missing something. Not just something...EVERYTHING that counts!

This is the perfect day, the perfect time, the perfect opportunity to thank the One who has given us everything listed above and so much more. As a not-so-young adult who has put her faith in Christ, Thanksgiving has such a deeper meaning. I am thankful that He pursued me with such a Holy zeal, I couldn't turn to the left or the right without bumping into Him. I am thankful that, at the bottom of the pit, He reached His mighty yet gentle hand and took mine as He lifted me out. I am thankful that He showed me what life everlasting looked like and gave me the opportunity to choose it. I am thankful for His faithfulness and that His grace doesn't end at Salvation. He pours it out into every aspect of my life; as a mother, a wife, a friend, a daughter, a sister and most importantly as His child. There is so much more to be thankful for. The list could go on and on but instead of filling this blog post with my stuff, I'll ask you what you are thankful for. What has He done for you? Who is He to you?

I'm sure there are many people out there who are struggling with those questions. Those who really aren't feeling that "thankful" today. Life can get treacherous. Those who are facing failing relationships, financial devastation, fading health, deepening depression, or fill you in the blank. I don't want to discount any of those things but I can tell you that you can still be thankful this Thanksgiving. It's about choices. Thankfulness isn't really a feeling but rather a choice; a decision you make not based on circumstance but hope, a resolution to find joy even through the sorrow. After all, that's what it is all about isn't it? Blog peeps, find that spark of light in the depth of darkness and hold on to it until it becomes a full out sunrise!

If you haven't experienced God's grace yet, there is no time like the present. What an awesome Thanksgiving memory to make. You will never be the same and you will never regret it. So, what are you waiting for???

Here are some verses that talk about being thankful:

1 Chronicles 16:8-12~ Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make know among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek His face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgements he pronounced.

Psalm 100:4~ Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

1 Corinthians 15: 57~ But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 2:14~ But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ...

1 Thessalonians 5: 16~ Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will  for you in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 12: 28 & 29~ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire."

The Blessing of Discipline

This week's reoccurring theme is discipline. When I say reoccurring theme I mean the repetitive message God keeps bringing to my eyes, my ears, and my heart. It comes from all directions: sermons, radio talk shows, Bible Study, conversations with friends and family, etc. Sometimes I get it, other times I chalk it up to coincidence (aka, denial).

This week God revealed something to me that is probably pretty simple, something that most of you have already grasped and understand completely. Discipline is for my own good.

How many of us have looked our kids in the eyes and have said "I love you too much to let you continue________________" or "I am disciplining you so that you will learn ______________". I know I have. And with 4 kids it happens several times a day. This Sunday, our pastor talked about teaching our children to obey us. He explained that when our children don't know how to obey and honor authority, they grow up not knowing how to honor and obey authority including the Lord God himself. I don't know about you but I want to raise respectful, other's-minded, humble kids who love the Lord with all their heart. In essence I love them, so I discipline them.

When my youngest daughter was about four or five, she had done something that required discipline (I can't remember what), so I sent her to her room and called her down a few minutes later to give her a spanking. As I turned her around I noticed her back side was lumpy and very well-padded. While she was upstairs, (knowing she was about to receive a spanking) she had stuffed her pants full of socks. 

Isn't that what we do when we try to avoid the discipline of our Father? We know we did wrong, we know the consequences, but instead of thinking "this is for our own good", we decide to pad our backside. Or, like so many children, we cry out "God, this isn't fair, you're mean!" But oh how we get it all wrong.

I admit, sometimes I will discipline in anger. I will raise my voice, threaten empty threats, and give the evil mom eye (you know the one...the one that says "you better knock it off now" without ever saying a word). God, on the other-hand, NEVER rebukes in anger but always in love. He never impulsively sends us to the corner or smacks our hands. He never raises His voice or spurts out threats that never come to fruition. Our Daddy is firm, yet gentle; unyielding, yet trustworthy. The Bible says, that we should count it a blessing when we face the Lord's discipline "because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son" ~Hebrews 12:6. The Lord's discipline is evidence that we are His children. And just as I say to my children, "I love you too much to let you do that or act that way", God lovingly looks at us and with a soft whispers says, "I love you so much that I am going to show you a different way."

So next time you face a trial or difficulty or maybe even a consequence of a bad choice, you should thank the One who loves you and desires to show you just how much. I know I will.

Here are some corresponding verses:

Deuterotomy 8:5 Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you.

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Psalm 94:12 Blessed is the man you discipline, O LORD, the man you teach from your law;

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Psalm 119:75 I know, O LORD, that your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

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Proverbs 3:11 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke,

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Proverbs 3:12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

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Lamentations 3:39 Why should any living man complain when punished for his sins?

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Revelation 3:19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.

The Horrifying Case of Chippy the Chipmunk

For about 3 months now, we have entertained a chipmunk who thought our home was his. We have encountered a handful of sightings. At first the only person who saw it was my 4 year old son. He’s not prone to lie but when you hear your child say there is a chipmunk in your house, you don’t tend to believe him. I quickly realized the truth when I saw the cute little disgusting rodent scurry from the bathroom to the kitchen.

I would say that I am a pretty brave person. Doing a one and a half off of a spring board…no sweat, getting bucked off horses…a breeze, giving birth 4 times…been there, done that. But when I see that furry little creature in my house, you better believe I was on top of the closest chair in 3 seconds flat!

I feel ashamed to say that I had my husband put out Decon. I am the first one to teach my kids about taking care of God’s creatures, I promise. But the thing was in my house, scurrying about while we weren’t home or asleep. Say it with me “eeeewwww!” For all you PETA people, don’t fret. Evidently chipmunks are smarter than mice because it didn’t touch the Decon. And I thought it got the hint too because we didn’t see it for a long time….until this last weekend that is.

It all started while we were lounging around on Sunday afternoon minding our own business. We were watching football when my son (same four year old) screams, “Chipmunk! I saw it again!” It ran from the computer room to the t.v. room.  By that time, I had become accustom to random Chippy sightings so I didn’t freak out too bad. Standing up on our recliner isn’t freaking out…it is, um, just being cautious. Anyway, it ran back into the computer room. We were safe. Or so we thought.

About an hour later. Brad screams "Ok, everyone in here! We need to catch this chipmunk! It just ran to the middle of the t.v. room while I was sitting on the couch!" I've never been on a battlefield before, but I have a feeling it was a lot like our living room that night. The couch was upturned and a barrier was formed in between the computer room and the t.v. room by using anything we could find. Kasey stood behind the barrier to make sure it stood strong. MyKaila sat on top of the piano (I don't know what her job was), Keagen and MyKenzie were in the computer room ready to capture the thing when Brad scared it out of the corner. I courageously stationed myself on top of the sidetable in the t.v. room holding the lid to a trinket box. I'm sure we were a sight to see; all of us in our jammies and in our shoes (mine were lovely dress shoes) because we didn't want the chipmunk to run across our bare feet.

Brad shooed the horrific creature out of the corner and thus began the battle. He ran to the barrier, we screamed. He ran toward the piano, Kaila screamed, he ran towards Brad and the kids, they screamed (don't let him tell you any different either!). Around and around he went until he ran back into the corner. About that time my brother-in-law, Jeff, walked into our dining room....and I screamed! Apparently we didn't hear him knocking because we were screaming so loud. Jeff thought someone was being murdered so he walked into the house to investigate. Little did he know, he was walking into the crusade of the century! He probably thought I was crazy because all I could do was look at him and half laugh, half cry, "I can't do this, I can't do this!" General Brad boldly told me to pull myself together and man my station.

About that time the terrifying monster decided to come out of hiding again. The screaming resumed. Finally, our dog decided to join up and do her part. She jumped in the middle of our barricade and grabbed the beast and stunned it! Meanwhile, MyKenzie let her cat in and she immediately grabbed it and took off with it. MORE SCREAMING! Although, I had thought about killing the thing in the past, I really didn't want it to die, especially a cruel death of consumption...I promise!  The cat was not going to give up her dinner and the only thing I could do at that point was to shoo her outside. Sadly, the poor chipmunk didn't make it. And even more sadly, we didn't capture the whole ordeal on video...we would have taken the cake on AFV for sure.

Usually my blog contains a provoking thought or a lesson learned, so here it goes... beware all you chipmunks. You don't wanna mess with this family! And if you find yourself scurrying about in my house....be afraid, be VERY afraid!

Beautiful Imperfections

As I was mopping my floors today I glanced up at my kitchen windowsill. The paint is peeling and it could use a good scrubbing. At that point, I did what the majority of women do when assessing their house; wonder what other people must think of the sorry looking windowsill. But just as quickly I smiled to myself because I love that window. I love that the paint is cracked and peeling. We live in an old farmhouse that is easily 100 years old. There are things all over the house that attest to it's age. But you know what? That is my favorite thing about it! Can you imagine the things this house has seen? Back in the day, there were probably cows, and pigs and chickens. The barn was probably stacked to the beams with hay and straw. Kids were born and raised, generation after generation by strong women who knew how to run a house without the luxuries of dishwashers and electric stoves. The worn windowsills are just one example of how beautiful imperfections can really be.

I thought about my own imperfections. I am a wreck. I may not have peeling paint, but I do have a lot of blemishes. I use to set up my own rules and laws for myself to make sure I was towing the line. I knew we were called to be like Christ and Christ was perfect so I wanted to make sure I was perfect too. The problem was that perfection is impossible for us humans. I would snap at my husband or be too impatient with my kids and spend the rest of the day in a self-induced prison of guilt. It was a vicious cycle; always trying but never getting there.

It wasn't until someone told me that God loves me just the way I am, flaws and all, that I began to understand just how much He cares for me. I used to think I was only good enough if I was a perfect mom or wife. I thought I had to be the perfect daughter, the perfect friend. When I messed up I thought God was mad at me and turned his face from me. I have slowly learned (why does everything have to be a process?) that I am beautiful to him all the time without exception. The days I get moody and snap at my husband? Beautiful. The days when I get frustrated at my kids because they almost missed the bus? Beautiful. The days I don't feel like doing the laundry? Beautiful! 

Now don't get me wrong, He doesn't want me going around treating my friends and family poorly. Not at all! But I have discovered that when I give myself the freedom to mess up and be ok, I give others that same freedom. We are all a bunch of imperfect people who deserve the freedom to mess up, learn from our mistakes and move on with life.

I have to tell you; I am loved, and I am beautifully imperfect!