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Make ‘Em Laugh

Jun 23rd, 2010 by Amy

eyesclosed

The above picture needs no explanation.  I probably don’t need to go into great detail about how I closed my eyes for my sixth grade school photo.  I’m sure you already figured that out.  I won’t even tell you how absolutely horrifying this was for me, or how I wanted to crawl under my desk and pull my woven sisal book bag over my head when my teacher handed me my picture packet.  The photo speaks for itself.

 

The bumpy, forty-five minute bus ride home was torture.  As the black exhaust from passing vehicles blew into the windows of our bus, I could feel tears pooling in the corners of my eyes.  I wanted to burst into sobs, rip my pictures to pieces, and never show my face at school again.  More than anything, I just wanted to be home.  I wanted to see my mom and fall into her arms.  I needed a good cry.

 

When my mom saw the image peering through the clear cellophane window of my packet, she didn’t even have to ask me how my day went.  She already knew.  After I cried, and wished I’d never been born, and begged to move to another country, and swore I’d never set foot in my school again, and wallowed in grief, my mom spoke up.  She didn’t pity me.  She didn’t stroke my hair and feed into the “woe-is-me” mood I was feeling.  Instead, she started brainstorming ways to smile about this catastrophe: “Amy, let’s make ‘em laugh.”  Honestly, I didn’t really see anything very funny about my life being ruined by sleepy eyes.  And I certainly wasn’t ready to start cutting out the wallet-size miniature reminders of those sleepy eyes to trade with my friends.  However, after listening to my mom’s pep talk, and her encouragement to stop taking myself so seriously, I slowly began to see the brighter side to the whole scenario.

 

We came up with some good one-liners for me to dish out the next day at school, too:

 

“I was feeling a little sleepy on picture day.”

“I like the way I look with my eyes closed.”

“It’s really the smile that counts, right?”

 

By the next day, I was armed with wit and ready to pass out my picture to all my friends.

 

Life is messy.  Life is unpredictable.  We start moving in one direction and then, unforeseen circumstances jump in the middle of our path, causing us to switch gears fast.  Before we know it, we are off on a detour and completely unprepared.  Are these circumstances avoidable?  Sometimes.  But not all the time.  Most of the time, life doesn’t care whether or not we’re prepared for unemployment, cancer, a sick child, an emergency root canal, a broken down car.  Life comes at us – the innocent and the not-so innocent alike.  And when life has left its mark, we are left to figure out what to do next.

 

I am a full supporter of being real with feelings.  When the messiness of life smacks me in the face, I have learned to give myself permission to feel whatever it is that I feel.  When we found out we were pregnant with Jackson (unplanned and unprepared for), I cried.  They were tears of fear.  I worried and fretted.  It took me a couple of days to process my emotions.  After I got all the crying out of my system, I realized, like the turning point with my sixth grade school picture, I was left with a choice.  Would I resent the pregnancy?  Would I spend the next 30 some weeks living in fear and distress rather than joy and elation?

 

At my first sonogram, six weeks along in the pregnancy, I chose to laugh about it.

 

Jackson was our surprise gift from God.  It took a conscious decision on my part, and Joel’s, to refocus and reset our plans.  Once we did, each moment in our pregnancy was filled with excitement, anticipation, and wonder.  We laughed about the future because we knew that God was in it.

 

I realize that an unexpected pregnancy is not nearly as hard to come to grips with as a home foreclosure, an untimely death, or spouse abandonment (all of which have afflicted friends of mine).  I realize that the detour of my life pales in comparison.  Still, God is in everything.  He’s in the winter of our lives, just as he is in the new beginnings of spring.  He grants us space to feel and express our pain, and then he offers us the opportunity to find joy in the detour.  He gives us the song, the smile, and the creativity to find laughter on our new path.

 

He holds us close and then gently invites us to “make ‘em laugh”.

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Posted in Faith, Life | 3 Comments »

Dear Dad…

Jun 20th, 2010 by Amy

Dear Dad,

 

When I reflect upon all the different kinds of dads out there in this huge and busy world, I always end up coming to the same conclusion: I have, hands down, the best dad.  There is no contest.

 

You took me on our first Daddy/daughter date on my fifth birthday…and I remember it well today.  We sat at a table by a wall at Bishop’s Family Buffet, and I wore my green velvet Christmas dress.  I felt like such a little lady.  You asked me questions about my life, my thoughts, my hopes, and my five-year-old dreams.  I knew I was precious to you then.

 

As I grew older, and drove you insane throughout my teenage years, you were a constant source of wisdom and guidance to me.  You came to every violin recital, cheered (loudly and emphatically) at every one of my basketball games (which I know had to be painful to watch seeing that I do not have one athletic bone in this body of mine), attended plays, choir concerts (that lasted for hours), and counseled me through many ups and downs, and believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.  I remember how sad you would get when summer or Christmas or spring break was over, because you genuinely loved hanging out with me and Jen.

 

In high school, you took time to take me for coffee, ask me about my life, and listened to my hopes and seventeen-year-old dreams.  I knew I was precious to you then.

 

My early adult years were not such a sweet time for me.  I wrestled with transitions, depression, and burn-out.  When I hit bottom, and it was an ugly one, you saw something beautiful in me.  You supported, encouraged, listened, and prayed.  You sacrificed so much because we, your family, were more important than ministry success or achievement.  You truly exemplified what it means to lay down your life for your family.  What a treasure that was…is…to me.  When I was at my lowest, you and mom came and spent time with me, you held me, you cried with me, and you listened to my twenty-three-year-old hopes and dreams.  I knew I was precious to you then.

 

The older I get, the more I realize that the kind of father I have is a very rare kind of man.  I still call you just to hear to say, “Amy, it’s all going to work out.”  I still smile when I open up an e-mail from you, knowing that it probably took quite some time to hammer it out with your two index fingers. :)   I still covet your prayers, respect your insights, and appreciate your valuable words of wisdom. 

 

And that we can go out for coffee, sit and talk for hours about  life, thoughts, hopes, and my thirty-six-year-old dreams, reminds me that I am, and will always be, precious to you.

 

Thank you, Dad. 

 

I love you!

Posted in Life, Random | 4 Comments »

Friday’s Free Advice

Jun 18th, 2010 by Amy

I had a few ideas for my Friday’s Free Advice floating around this mushy brain of mine yesterday (the end of the school year has this kind of effect on me).  I thought about tackling the ups and downs of transition (because I am in the middle of transition right now – going from rigid routine to a more relaxed summer schedule).  However, I read something this morning that literally had me cringing.  So disappointing was the website I perused, that I feel compelled to change the direction of my post.

 

What, you may ask, could I have possibly read that would have such an effect on me?  In my “vast” experience (please note the sarcasm here) of networking, I have come across quite a variety of bloggers out here in the web-o-sphere.  Intriguing, to say the least, has this journey been for me.  A few weeks ago I read a very well-written post about raising daughters to be homemakers.  The concept sounded sweet and inoffensive at first.  As I continued reading, however, the subtle, and then not-so-subtle, message  – that it is God’s command and calling for ALL women to stay at home and raise daughters for the soul purpose of becoming homemakers – became overwhelmingly apparent.  I nearly fell out of my seat.  It pained me, knowing that thousands of women read this particular blog, and look to the writer as a kind of expert and authority.  So disturbed was I that I spoke up and commented.  I felt like a lone voice in the wilderness.  I’m not about bashing those women who feel called by God to stay home and be homemakers.  I am, however, completely in opposition to the idea that the only place for a woman, in God’s perfect design, is the home.  I wrote a little bit about some of my thoughts on this particular subject last week.

 

Out of curiosity, I decided to do a little informal research this morning.  In some of the banter regarding the “homemaker” philosophy (or theology, as these individuals are preaching), the name “Botkin Sisters” had come up.  I had never heard of these people before, but it sounded like they are pretty influential in this movement.  I Googled them, thinking I would find two elderly women with their hair up in tight buns wearing prairie clothing.  What I found were two very beautiful young women – ages 20 and 23.  I thought to myself, “These are the women responsible for this movement?  You’ve got to be kidding me!”  That they are lovely and attractive I believe woos young women and mothers who, perhaps, have either been raised in homes that were heavily dysfunctional, or are struggling in difficult marriages.  The fact that they are in their early twenties and delving out advice and “preaching” this distorted doctrine, deeply, and I mean deeply, concerns me.

 

So, here is my Friday’s Free Advice for you:

 

Oh be careful little eyes what you read in a blog!  Just because a person has a blog, writes well and presents their message in an articulate manner, does not make them an expert!  That includes this blog too.  I am human, completely fallible and certainly capable of error.  Much of what I write is the junk I’m either working through, or full disclosure of my personal dysfunction.  There are times I could actually be wrong (perish the thought!).  If something I write doesn’t sit well with you, that might be because it wasn’t intended for you.  God was using a particular situation in my life to teach me something personal…and I’m just sharing my journey with you.  If you are truly looking for answers to difficult questions in your life, please, please, go to the Word of God first.  Don’t let the blogs out there, and some are really beautiful and well-written, be the light unto your path.  Let God’s Word be your light.  Let the blog be a source of encouragement from a distant friend along the path…but never the source of light to your path.

 

Does this make sense?  I’m certainly NOT asking you to not read my blog anymore…that’s not my point at all.  :)   What I am “advising” is to be careful what you read.  I take the “you gotta prove it to me” point of view when I read other blogs (written by individuals that I do not know).  I am extremely critical at the onset.  Time will tell if a blogger is being authentic. 

 

You may, or may not, agree with this post.  That is okay.  You may, or may not, take my advice.  That is okay too.  The advice is free, and the writer is painfully human.  I think, to be completely honest, this advice is mostly for me.  A good reminder that no matter what I read, or where I look, the Bible should always be the first place I go for instruction. 

 

What say you?  Have you uncovered some messed up doctrine/theology in your web/blog searches?  Have you been brave enough to speak out when it might not be popular to do so?  Have you read something that left you feeling shamed rather than uplifted…did it confuse or distort the person of Jesus to you?  Let me know…I’m pretty sure we’ve all been there!

Posted in Faith, Life, Ministry, Writing/Blogging | 8 Comments »

God Shines Down

Jun 16th, 2010 by Amy

Sydney came bounding into our room.  It was barely six o’clock in the morning, and she had so much to say already.  It was summertime, and the sun had broken through the clouds early (much too early for this mom who was still nursing a baby throughout the night).  Sydney was a brand new four-year-old, and was enjoying her newfound “maturity” and her first few days of vacation. 

 

On this slow morning as she burst through our bedroom door, there was something of particular interest that she was dying to share with us.  She explained that when she woke up and peeked out of her window, the sky was bright and pink.  “Pink!” she said, “The whole sky was pink…my favorite color!”  She went on, “Mommy, God was shining down on me this morning.  He shined down on me in pink.”

 

Profound words from such a young thing.  I affirmed to her that God was certainly shining down on her, and how marvelous that he did it in her favorite color.  He is the God of details.

 

Have you ever walked through a dark season of life?  You know- the kind of season that tests your faith, questions your trust, and breaks your heart?  I’ve been through a few of those.  In fact, I have been trudging through a sort of wilderness season on and off for about six years.  Sometimes the challenges – financial, relational, or spiritual – loom heavy, and so my heart is weighted down to the deep places.  Sometimes it’s simply maneuvering through parenting obstacles where I feel completely inadequate. 

 

Regardless of what kind of wilderness I’m facing, I find that I come to the end of myself quite frequently.  I need a drink of water or warm sunshine on my face – anything to revive and reignite the spirit to keep pressing on.  I’ll read the Word, put it to memory, pray (or more like wail before God).  There is nothing like a desert experience to remind us of just how much our bodies crave the Living Water.

 

Sometimes…when I’m tired, drained to the core, and feeling broken, I have asked what many others have asked, too: “God, are you really even there?”

 

Sometimes…He remains silent.  He doesn’t answer back the way I wish he would.  He withholds communication for a little while.  He doesn’t show up in the sermon on Sunday or the teaching at Bible study.  It appears as if he has turned his back.  And while I want to throw in the towel, surrender to the desert, and build a sand castle, I remember that God is in control. 

 

I press on. 

 

This is faith in action.

 

Yet…sometimes…God brings a little relief in the desert.  He leads us to springs where we can drink up peace and refreshment.  He answers a simple prayer or brings a comforting word at just the right moment.  He leans in a little closer and warms those places in our hearts that have, perhaps, grown cold.

 

Sometimes he shines down on us in rays of pink sunlight.

 

He shines down to remind us that we are not forgotten, he knows where we are, and he is with us.

 

Today I have felt the warmth of God’s hand on my life in a very powerful way.  Today God is shining down on me.  Today I am grateful for the spring in the desert that waters my soul. 

 

We wish we could define the desert.  We wish there was a way to outrun the wilderness.  We long to bypass it altogether.  However, God knows the purpose behind these seasons, and he is never far from us.  His love confounds.  His ways an eternal mystery.

 

And just when we think that the darkness will surely envelop us, he shines his light into our souls.  He lifts us up.  He satisfies our thirst.  He proves his faithfulness.

 

And we know we’ve been seen.  We know God is here.   

 

Psalm 145:13-19

The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made.  The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.  The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.  You open up your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.  The Lord is righteous in all His ways and loving toward all He has made.  The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.  He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them.

Posted in Faith, Life | 5 Comments »

Sun-Induced

Jun 14th, 2010 by Amy

It has been raining for days weeks months out here in the Northwest. It’s almost been more than this poor African girl can handle. Unmotivated to do anything but sit around the house looking like a “shlumpadinka”, I was beginning to wonder if we would ever see the sun again.  And then, gloriously, vitamin D has been pouring down on us like warm, yellow waves of sunshine for the past two days.  I. am. in. heaven.

Yesterday afternoon, our three wild things were working some of their wiggles out on our patio with sidewalk chalk.  Sydney had the bright idea that we should all go to the pool.  Perhaps it was the euphoria we were feeling from the endless stream of sun rays on our pasty white faces that compelled our tired mouths to say yes to embarking on such an ambitious Sunday afternoon family outing.  Never-the-less, thirty minutes later all five of us were suited up and headed to the pool.

I am relieved to report that our kids represented us well.  There were no displays of ugly behavior, leaving me very optimistic that we might actually be able to do this again sometime.

Until we got home.

They saved all the ugly up- held every whine, every fight, every high pitched expression of displeasure for the last few hours of our day. Jackson, who did not get his regular afternoon nap (not even a thirty minute power nap), was about as contentious as a caged beast.  He knew what he wanted, but he didn’t know what he wanted.  He was delirious with fatigue.  Rather than lay down and give in to sleep, he amped up and ran through the house like a wild animal.  There were so many “Uh oh’s” and bedroom times that I started to lose count.  The mantra repeatedly playing in my head was, “Just get him through dinner, and then you can put him to bed.”

Bedtime finally came (early).  We had completed our regular bedtime rituals and I was heading to my room when I heard a little voice behind me.  It was Jackson.  He was following me saying, “Mommy, I need to tuck you in.”  I could seriously have eaten him up right there, he was so sweet.  I looked up at Joel, whose face was as endeared and touched as mine.  Jackson walked me to my room and helped me get my bed turned down.  It was precious, until I accidentally knocked him in the head with my lethal elbow.  (Yep…I sure know how to kill a moment!)  He let out a yelp, but quickly forgave me (I think he was too tired to have a full blown melt down).

Lots of kisses, hugs, “I love you’s”  and one “bless my heart” from Jackson later, he was successfully in bed.

Whew…day over.

And another one has just begun.

Posted in From The Mouth Of Babes, Life, Motherhood | 2 Comments »

Friday’s Free Advice – “The Best Summer Ever” Challenge

Jun 11th, 2010 by Amy

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Friday’s Free Advice: “The Best Summer Ever” Challenge.

 

Last month, on Mother’s Day, our church was invited to participate in a “Random Acts of Kindness” challenge.  Square, orange touch cards with “Smile!  You’ve Just Been Tagged! – Do something nice for someone.  Leave this card behind and extend God’s love again!” were handed out, and left in strategic areas of the church for attendees to pick up and take home.  We were encouraged to find subtle ways to reach out to our community by doing random acts of kindness for strangers, and leaving the card behind.

 

I love this for so many reasons, the first being that the color of the card is ORANGE!  I do love me some orange…bright, summery, happy and fun.  How can you resist?

 

I am also a big fan of random acts of kindness.  Not too long ago I posted a challenge of my own.  Doing something for someone just for the sake of doing it, to me, is one of the most powerful statements of unconditional love. 

 

Last night we had a family meeting around the dinner table.  At the top of the agenda (the only thing on the agenda) was brainstorming ways to make this the “best summer ever”.  We’re calling it “The Best Summer Ever” challenge.  The kids threw out all kinds of ideas of what they thought would make their summer super awesome and fun.  The wild and enthusiastic stream of creativity that flowed from three little minds was impressive and enlightening.  Everything from swimming, to beach days, to trips to the zoo, to playing and reading – they were on a roll. 

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After the brainstorm dust settled, I affirmed their ideas.  I acknowledged that those things would most certainly make this the “best summer ever”.  I went on to pose a question: if Mommy and Daddy are taking them to the pool, to the zoo, to the beach…etc., how are they, then, going to make this the best summer ever for us?

 

The first word out of, none other than, my three-year-old wild man’s mouth was, “Kindness!”  Oh…I have taught them well!  My heart flipped!  The girls chimed in, “Be kind!  Be kind!” 

 K7A18F4C0197C6_1000037

We chatted about what it means to be kind.  Kindness is: showing love, sharing toys, smiling, playing sweetly, listening to Mommy and Daddy.  Good answers.  We also had to cover what kindness is not:  screaming, scratching, pushing, whining, and leaving a mess on the floor when they are done playing with their toys. 

 

We talked about the fruit of the Spirit (and to be completely honest, by this point in the family meeting Sydney was about the only attentive mind at the table.  Jackson and Brooklyn had checked out somewhere around, “picking up your toys…”  We’re working on it.)

 

Kindness is a big deal in our home, and I think I walked away from our meeting with a sense of accomplishment in one way: my kids know the value of kindness.  Jackson and Brooklyn have witnessed mommy buying coffee anonymously for another person and leaving the bright, happy, orange card behind.  They think it’s awesome.  While I can’t guarantee that we’ll sail smoothly through our summer on the kindness wave, at least I know they are aware of the power of kindness.

 

So, as Joel and I are challenging our kids, and ourselves, to make this the best summer ever by being kind, I am going to do the same for you!   Be random!  Be kind!  Step out, reach out and be sunlight to your world!  Make this ” The Best Summer Ever”!

Posted in From The Mouth Of Babes, Fun Stuff | 4 Comments »

Good Thoughts

Jun 9th, 2010 by Amy

Before the invention of the electric washing machine, it would take a woman six hours to do one load of laundry.  Six hours.  One load.  (Air-dry time, pressing, and folding not included.)

 

This little factoid just reminded me of a load of towels I washed yesterday.  They are still in the machine.  I will have to run them again, and hopefully, remember to transfer them to the dryer this time.  From start to finish, this could take an hour-and-a-half.  And I want to whine about it.  I want to pout and throw up my hands in surrender because there is so much laundry to do.  All of the time.  Piles and piles of it.

 

When I was younger, I was certain that I had been born in the wrong era.  I should have been a prairie girl, or a 1920’s flapper, right out of an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, or part of the Greatest Generation (for sure).  Now that I am older and maybe just a teeny bit wiser, I am convinced that “Laura Ingles Wilder” I am not.  I love my electric washing machine (I love electricity in general).  I love my cell phone and high-speed internet.  I love going to movies, online banking, blue jeans, and my grind & brew coffee maker (hallelujah for my coffee maker!).  I am so appreciative of the modern conveniences I get to enjoy (and fully embrace) on a daily basis.  God made no mistake when he brought this life into the world in 1973.

 

Sometimes I get restless and critical, worried and depressed when I look at the world I live in.  I can easily get caught up in all the “bad” out there.  Yet, I kind of get the impression that God is still present in all this chaos.  He’s still moving, working, blessing, and redeeming.  He even had the forethought and grace to make sure that the electric washing machine was a standard home appliance for a gal like me.

 

That the sun so graciously decided to poke its head out of the clouds for a brief moment this morning could quite possibly be the inspiration for this random stream of thought.  Or maybe I just needed to pull myself up out of negativity and remind myself that it could always be worse.  I could have been born in a time when bathrooms were outhouses and mornings were spent milking cows, baking bread, and feeding the chickens. 

 

Wherever the inspiration came from…I’m just plain thankful today.  And that’s all I’ve got to say.

Posted in Fun Stuff, Life, Random | 2 Comments »

Emotional Writing

Jun 7th, 2010 by Amy

One of the things I have had to learn in my blogging venture is that it is never wise to write a post in an emotional state.  Whether it be hormones, a bad hair day, or just plain old irritation, writing under such duress is never a good idea.  I would call it “emotional writing”.  For some, pulling out a pint of Ben & Jerry’s or spending money they don’t have might bring a fleeting sense of satisfaction.  For me…it is writing out “how I really feel” that calms my emotions.  Unfortunately, what ends up happening is I look back at what I’ve written and cringe.  Only once have I actually posted one of my emotional writing rants, and ended up pulling it an hour later realizing that, as justified as I may have been in my feelings, sharing them with the world was not a wise choice.

Today, however, I am making an exception to that rule.  Today I am going to let my unedited emotions break loose and share from the depths of my heart what I believe to be God’s desire and calling for women (men, too, to some degree).  And also, what I believe to be God’s calling on my life.

Isaiah 61:1-3

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of despair.  They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”

(I could have easily highlighted the entire paragraph – it’s so good!)  Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Bible describes this passage as a picture of the coming Messiah, his character and his office.  When I read these words, I am instantly drawn to the message and proclamation of freedom.  Freedom from the past, freedom from the constraints of sin in our lives, freedom from sorrow, despair, and oppression.  Jesus came so that we could have life, and live it to the fullest.  His plan for each one of us is as unique as the person we are.  Not one individual on this planet is like any other.  We are all fearfully and wonderfully made.  Therefore, our futures, God’s plans for us and the way he chooses to work in our lives is going to be tailor made…and absolutely wonderful.

Freedom.  How I love that word.  I love the liberation I feel when I know in my heart that I am right in the center of God’s will…his perfect plan for me.  No one can take that away.  There will be those out there that will try.  They will believe with all their hearts that God has somehow revealed to them some hidden secret to knowing God’s plan for every person, or that somehow there is one specific path that God expects all of us to walk.  (Before I go any further I feel that I should point out that I am not talking about the fundamental truths of salvation.  There is only one way to God, there is only one way to salvation.  Not many will follow because the cross of Christ will be too much to bear.  Yet, doesn’t the Word say, “my yoke is easy and my burden is light”?)

Back to the emotional writing…

Paul says in Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

So here is what I believe to be God’s desire for women, and the role we play in this life:  First and foremost, love God, seek God, study his word, know him, draw close to him, trust in him and obey.  Give him your life, your cares, your worries, your fears, your failures, your insecurities and your struggles.  When you draw close to God, when you are in his word, you will then know his voice.  As a woman, wife and mother I am of no use if I am off willy nilly doing my own thing, flittering about making choices and decisions without being rooted in the Word of God.  When I know the voice of God, and then obey his directives, then I am at peace and I am a blessing in every role I play.

Second, a friend of mine was sharing with me that she had been praying about a major decision that would effect her family.  It finally came down to choosing between what was good, and what was best.  Funny thing, though, God’s best for her and her family is not God’s best for me and my family.  When it comes down to making decisions (like being a stay-at-home mom, or working outside the home; homeschooling or sending your child to school; family values; husband and wife roles within the home (not referring to headship here); the way in which you choose to raise your children and how) God directs and leads each woman and family in the way that is best for them.  We are all called to be disciples of Christ and spread the good news, but how we do that is not going to be the same.  What God reveals to be his best for you, will not be what is his best for me.  I respect, love and and admire those who simply do what God has called them to do.  It is a beautiful thing to me to see women living out God’s purpose for their lives.  It may looking nothing like mine, or we may have lots of similarities…either way, I find an obedient heart irresistible.

Joel and I made the decision that I would be a stay-at-home mom when we had children.  There was absolutely no twisting my arm on that one (anyone who knows me well would shout out “AMEN” to that).  I love being home with my little ones.  I take pleasure in it, and I am grateful that I am able to do this (not all moms can, and there should NO shame on a woman who, for financial or personal reasons, works outside the home).  At the same time, I am not simply a stay-at-home mom, I have other dreams, hopes and desires – all God-given – that I have yet to see unfold completely.  As my children are getting older, and becoming less and less dependent upon me, I am finding that opportunities to be involved in ministry outside my home have been opening up.  As I prayerfully consider each one, I do so realizing that my first priority is my family.  Not every opportunity is the right opportunity.  Still, I am excited to see how God is going to use my life, my gifts, my abilities and passions as time goes on.

As far as my children are concerned, I am raising all three (two girls and a boy) to first and foremost know God, love God and know his voice.  That is top priority.  Their salvation is more important to me than knowing how to bake muffins or having the top grade in their class.  What they choose to do with their lives is between them and God.  If Sydney wants to run for president, well, I’ll campaign for her!  If both girls want to be homemakers, then I’ll stand by their sides and mentor and love and encourage that.  If my son chooses to be a teacher, lawyer, missionary, pastor, doctor…whatever…I will support him.  Only God can reveal his perfect plan for their lives.  My job is to teach, train, discipline and guide them to become responsible, well-adjusted, independent adults who will love God with all their hearts, minds, souls and strength.

This is a long one, and I could keep writing on this topic.  Above all else, is it not the fruit of the Spirit that should be evident in each one of us?  You can do everything “right” in the eyes of man, or according to a Christian standard, but if the fruit of the Spirit is void in your life, then what’s the point?  If you have felt that there is a standard that you haven’t been able to reach or attain, is it possible you have been reaching for something God never intended for you to have?  If you have been bogged down in shame because your life hasn’t turned out the way it was “supposed to”, is it possible that you’ve been looking at someone else’s “best” not realizing that God has a “best” just for you?  Too often I see women weighted down with so much guilt because they are trying to be something or someone God never intended for them to be.  Can I just say that God sent his son, Jesus, so you could be free to be you?  He didn’t create you with all your idiosyncrasies and quirks, gifts and abilities, so that you would fulfill someone else’s call.  He came to set the captives free (not just the sinners, but those bound up with insecurities, fear and condemnation).  Jesus came to set you free.  If you are struggling then he invites you to come and sit with him, talk to him and allow him to reveal his “best” for you.  When you know the truth, you will be set free.  Free to be you.

Galatians 5:22-23

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.”

Posted in Faith, Grace, Life, Ministry | 4 Comments »

Hello, Rubber…Meet Road

Jun 4th, 2010 by Amy

The journey to find grace doesn’t add up to anything if there aren’t a few real life circumstances to move it from head to heart.  The challenge is not so much letting go and embracing freedom (which can be extremely difficult if you’ve been accustomed to seeing God as a great dictator up on his throne), but rather when the rubber meets the road – when all that God has revealed collides with the demands, stress, expectations and shame that the world out there starts throwing our way.  The safe and warm cocoon where healing took place is exchanged for a wounded world that does not extend grace and mercy the way God intended. 

 

And so, this is where I find myself today. 

 

When the rubber meets the road is when God’s word lights our path.  Each time the enemy brings condemnation, we overcome by embracing truth.  Truth sets us free, but the only way we can know the truth is if we are seeking it out.  We may not understand our circumstances, and we may be up against a battle we are too weary to fight, but God promises to fight for us.  He promises us that he will never leave us.  God is looking at our hearts.  His demands are simple: trust and obey.  His yoke is easy, his burden light.  His expectations are not beyond our reach. 

 

Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  None.  Not even a speck.  When we fully embrace him, we fully embrace the life of freedom he died to give us.  We are not dead in Christ, but we are alive.  

 

I needed to remember that today.  

 

When the rubber meets the road, the Word of God becomes the lamp to my feet, and the light for my path (Psalm 119:105).

Posted in Faith, Grace | 2 Comments »

Memorial Day

May 31st, 2010 by Amy

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Last night Joel and I stayed up, as late as I could keep my eyes from going criss-cross from sleepiness, to watch the History channel’s “America: The Story of Us”.  I fell asleep with one thing on my mind, that being the power of the American spirit.

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“Freedom is not free.”

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Carved into the granite wall of the Korean War Memorial, these profound words remind us that it is not only the American spirit that has brought us this far, but it is the sacrifice, service and undaunted courage of our armed forces that have won and secured our freedom.

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Thank you…THANK YOU…to those who have served, to those who are serving, and to those who gave their lives…so we can continue on – The United States of America: the land of the free.

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Posted in Current Events | No Comments »

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