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A Mighty Tree

Nov 16th, 2009 by Amy

This morning as I was driving Sydney to school, a huge gust of wind came rushing through; blowing leaves and dirt and bending tender tree branches low to the ground.  Sydney was impressed.  Even the large and sinewy evergreens waved to us as we listened to the rustle and howl.  Finally, once the flurry subsided, Sydney asked me, “Mom, will the wind knock those trees over?  Will they start flying at our car?”  “No,”  was my reply.  I went on to explain that those trees have deep roots that cling to the earth below.  When the wind blows, the roots hang on tight to the soil so that the trees will not fall over.

 

Of course, this thought continued to ruminate in my mind long after I had dropped Sydney off at school. 

 

There are some pretty strong and mighty storms that are blowing through life these days.  Without deep roots and fertile soil to cling to I fear I could be swept away like chaff in the wind.  Sydney’s simple question drew me to a scripture that I memorized years ago – Jeremiah 17:7-8:

 

DSC00766But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.

He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.  (NIV)

 

No fear.  No worries.  Roots planted deep, clinging to the rich soil of God’s faithfulness.  I pray to be one who trusts in the midst of the heat and through the course of the drought.  Whether life comes at me as a gentle breeze or a gale force wind, may my confidence be rooted in the One who holds me tightly in His grasp and steady through the storm.

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Posted in Faith, From The Mouth Of Babes | 1 Comment »

A Cornucopia Of Thanks

Nov 13th, 2009 by Amy

Everyone seems to be in a perpetual state of thanksgiving these days.  At least, the people I have encountered on facebook.  A few days ago, as I scrolled through my facebook homepage, I picked up on a recurring theme in many of my friends’ status updates: thanksgiving.  They weren’t reminding the world that November is a month for giving thanks, but they were reminding themselves, by declaring to their friends, just how much they have to be thankful for.  At first I thought it was just another facebook fad, and I wasn’t going to jump on the bandwagon.  God knows that I’m thankful, and I don’t need to list my blessings for all the world-wide-web to see.

 

Then later, after further thought, I came to realize the power of stating publicly the things, people, blessings and provisions that so often I take for granted.  In a sermon a few weeks ago we were challenged to thank God for our daily bread; recounting the ways God has provided and continues to sustain us.  So profound has this exercise in breathing simple prayers of thanksgiving been to my personal faith walk that I was inspired to openly share my own words of thanks (even on facebook).

 

Sometimes getting started is the toughest part, especially when going through a “valley” experience.  Giving thanks comes more naturally to me when I am on the mountaintop of provision, miracles and easy living.  Counting blessings becomes more challenging when I am on a mountaintop of needs, and my natural reaction is a far cry from gratitude.  When I find myself weighed down with the burdens and cares of this world, struggling to see the silver lining, I look to Psalms.  If I can’t seem to muster up the words for myself, I turn to the words of the Psalmist and let them speak for me.  Eventually my heart is seized with the goodness of God – past, present and future – and what pours forth from my lips is nothing short of giant cornucopia of thanksgiving and praise.

 

Psalm 100 (NIV)

A Thanksgiving Psalm

 

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God.  It is He who made us and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.

For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.

 

I love the translation of the Message version, which says this: “Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into His presence.”  Praise and thanksgiving to God doesn’t always precede my feelings.  Many times I have to literally sing myself into His presence – recalling His promises and declaring them, even though I don’t feel it in the depths of my soul.  Once my proclamation of praise has been made, then my heart is ushered into the very presence of God that I have been longing for.  There comes the powerful conviction that there are not enough words to express my gratitude for how much I have to be thankful for.  God has been, is currently, and will be in the future, good to me, faithful to me – sustaining me, leading and guiding me.  He is my rock.  He is my strong tower.  He is my provider, my deliverer, the God who sees, the God who promises to never leave me or forsake me.  The God who supplies my daily bread, a warm home to live in, three vivacious and energetic children – reminders of a healthy family – the piles of laundry that remind me of how much excess we have, the washing machine that allows me to clean the latter, beds for sleeping and afternoon naps, and even the creamer in my coffee.  He is also the one who supplies the finances when we need a miracle, the wisdom when I don’t know what to do, the grace when confronted with a difficult person, and joy in the morning after a night of weeping. 

 

Just like the adorable paper cornucopia that Brooklyn brought home from school the other day – a wet gluey mess plastered with all her favorite things – I, too, have a sticky, messy cornucopia of thanksgiving that I offer to God.  I am grateful for the little things, I am grateful for the big things and I am grateful for the things yet to come. 

 

How has God been gracious to you?  What do you have to be thankful for?  If you are finding it difficult to pour out a heart of thanksgiving just now, remember Psalms.  Remember to “bring a gift of laughter and sing yourselves into His presence”.  Even if it is a broken song from a broken heart, God’s presence will envelop you and soon the praise will follow.  As in the words of David from Psalm 51: “O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.”

Posted in Faith, Life | 2 Comments »

Looking For The Funny

Nov 10th, 2009 by Amy

It seems over the past several weeks and months I haven’t had very many humorous experiences to write about.  There is so much tragedy, almost too much, happening all around me; friends and family members all touched to some degree with suffering, pain, loss and grief.  To tell about my most recent brush with the wild and unruly little people in my home might come across as shallow and empty, in light of the real hurt that others are walking through.  I find myself overwhelmed, grappling with such serious and heady issues.  With a heavy heart I’ve asked God, “Where’s the funny?”

 

I’ve been looking for it.  Looking for the funny.  Even this morning, when all three of my children melted down simultaneously, and in perfect harmony I might add, while eating breakfast.  I paused for a moment and briefly analyzed the situation, “How can I spin this moment of shear chaos into something funny?”  Unfortunately, by 7:30am I was already pulling out my reserve nerves because my kids had successfully trampled on the last of my daily supply.  All this after waking up early to pray for these three monkeys!  There was nothing funny about that.

 

As I was trying to finish getting ready, my son came into the bathroom to help me.  In his effort, and to his credit he really was trying to help, he slammed my foot and finger (don’t ask – I don’t know I managed to have both my foot and finger in the same place at the same time) in the bathroom cabinet.  It hurt.  It was not funny.  I was not funny.  After I let out a glorious shout of “OUCH!” I looked at Jackson, his eyes wide open, and stifled what was about to leak out of my mouth next and started to pray…loudly.  Jackson was concerned and laid his hand on my foot and prayed too.  Then he gave it a kiss.  That’s not funny either, but it sure was sweet.

 

Once recovered, I sat down at my desk to collect my things for Bible study.  I had been praying this morning and preparing my heart for this time of fellowship with other women.  We are all facing various challenges in our lives, and we have been rallying around each other in prayer and encouragement.  These women have been high on my prayer list.  I was deep in thought when I turned to look at Jackson, who was once again following me.  He was picking his nose.  Then he was eating “it”.  I said, “Eew, Jackson.  Don’t eat your boogers.  Icky gross!”  He looked straight at me and said with defiance, “No!  I like my boogers.”  Then he stuck his germ-encrusted index finger up his nose, pulled something out and proceeded to plunge it into his mouth.  Completely satisfied with himself he let out a triumphant, “Mmmmmm,” and walked away.  And there it was.  The funny.  I found the funny.  Thanks to my two-year-old son and his appetite for boogers, funny found its way into my day.

 

Amidst the pain and sorrow that surrounds each and every one of us, finding the funny can be so hard – almost impossible.  I know that there are situations that are completely out of my control; things I need God to intervene on and I don’t know how or when He will.  There are other issues that seem inexplicable to me – pointless in the present – and again I just have to trust in the sovereignty of God.  In the meantime, I need a good laugh.  I need to feel the sides of my mouth turn upward while my heart flip-flops in glee.  I need the funny.  Sometimes the funny can be found everywhere and in everything.  Other times we have to look for it.  We have to set out to find it, and then relish in every moment of laughter it gives to us.  If you need to find the funny, then I truly hope you find it.  If you’ve found it, then I hope it lingers long enough to satisfy your longing.  For me, I’m still thinking about Jackson and his boogers, and I can’t help but smile.

 

Proverbs 15:13 (NIV)

 

A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.

Posted in Faith, From The Mouth Of Babes, Motherhood | 3 Comments »

An Early Christmas Gift

Nov 6th, 2009 by Amy

DSC03042Nope.  This is not another giveaway.  I apologize if I got your hopes up, but don’t let that keep you from reading on.  This post is a pre-holiday treat that I hope you will enjoy.

 

Once November hits I officially become glued to my day planner.  It seems that holiday activities don’t wait until the traditional Christmas month of December.  Oh no.  Starting November first it seems we are inundated with television commercials, storefronts and e-mails announcing holiday markdowns and savings.  On top of which I find my schedule filling up faster than a stocking with Christmas goodies:  concerts, school activities, holiday bazaars and parties.  And somehow, someway I’ve got to squeeze in our annual family Christmas picture, order cards, go shopping for three eager children, husband, parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, etc.  One word.  Exhausting.  Three more words – I can’t wait.

 

We’re in the middle of a major office/playroom remodel (more on that another time).  For the past three days I’ve been sorting through toys, books, papers and files.  I have successfully filled a giant garbage bag with miscellaneous items, and it feels good to throw stuff out.  One of the projects I just completed was going through all of our children’s books.  I love books, but especially a really good children’s story.  We have so many, and of varying categories.  One of which is a stack of Christmas storybooks.  I’m pretty picky when it comes to children’s literature, and the ones we have are true Christmas treasures. 

 

DSC03024My pre-holiday treat for you is a list of my top ten favorite children’s Christmas books.  Perhaps this list will give you some gift ideas.  I have chosen these particular books because of the content of their story or poem, and the quality of artwork.  The following books, to me, put a warm fuzzy in my heart, bring huge smiles on my little ones’ faces, and in their own special way make the season bright.

 

 

Amy’s Top Ten Children’s Christmas Books

 

  • Snowmen At Christmas – written by Caralyn Buehner and illustrated by Mark Buehner.

 

  • The Night Before Christmas – Clement C. Moore’s classic Christmas poem brought to life with the charming and winsome artwork of Mary Engelbreit.

 

  • The Legend of the Candy Cane – written by Lori Walburg and illustrated by James Bernardin.

 

  • Away In A Manger – the classic Christmas carol illuminated by the “artist of light”, Thomas Kinkade.

 

  • Silent Night – yet another beautifully illustrated rendition of the traditional Christmas hymn by Thomas Kinkade.

 

  • The Little Drummer Mouse – written and illustrated by Mercer Mayer.

 

  • The Miracle of Jonathan Toomey – written by Susan Wojciechowski and illustrated by P.J. Lynch.

 

  • Christmas Cookies – “Bite size holiday lessons”, written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrated by Jane Dyer.

 

  • The Spirit of Christmas – written and illustrated by New York Times bestselling author, Nancy Tillman. 

 

  • You Are My Miracle – written by Maryann Cusimano Love and illustrated by Satomi Ichikawa.

 

I’ll close with an excerpt from The Spirit of Christmas by Nancy Tillman:

 

That’s when the Spirit of Christmas smiled.

“Remember, this all began with a child.

Because it took nothing but love to begin it,

It’s not really Christmas if love isn’t in it.”

 

Your tree may be large as the room will allow

With a big yellow star on the uppermost bough,

But of one thing I’m certain,

I’m sure of one thing.

 

It is love that makes the angels sing.

 

Happy reading and pre-holidaying, my friends!

Posted in Books, Fun Stuff, Motherhood | 2 Comments »

Smashing Pumpkins

Nov 4th, 2009 by Amy

K41086982_1000030

When pumpkins start popping up at local farms and grocery stores I get giddy anticipating our annual visit to the pumpkin patch.  I visualize what our front porch will look like with a big fat splash of fiery pumpkin orange.  Ultimately, this image triggers a memory of a pumpkin I had in college.  My one moment of Bible school rebellion all started with a pumpkin. 

 

Friday nights were not big “going out” nights for me in college.  My phone wasn’t ringing off the hook with eager suitors.  Guys weren’t lining up outside my dorm room anxiously waiting to spend a couple of hours in my presence.  I was not a man magnet.  I was a man repellent.  Friday nights for me consisted of hanging out with other girls, late night Perkin’s coffee, and long heart-to-heart talks of life and love. 

 

That is until a pumpkin rolled in to our lives.  I really don’t remember how we acquired the giant squash, but eventually it ended up on the floor of the dorm room surrounded by a bunch of girls desperate for a little excitement.   It has been a few years and honestly don’t remember whose bright idea it was, but some genius decided we should toss the giant orange fruit right out the window.  We all agreed this would be fun (I feel so sorry for my college self – we must have been really bored and really hard up for good entertainment).

 

We managed to get the pumpkin up to the windowsill, and after confirming that there were no pedestrians in the vicinity of our target (because they were all out on dates), we launched our pumpkin missile to the ground…splat.  Eyes bulging from their sockets in sheer disbelief that we had actually thrown the pumpkin out of our three-story window, nervous laughter slowly filled the open space in the room.  We were really living on the edge now.  Being the hardened Bible school rebels that we were, we were so incredibly riddled with guilt for having committed such a crime that we quickly threw our shoes on and headed down the stairs and out the door to clean up our sticky, gooey pumpkin-y mess. 

 

No one witnessed our one moment of rebellion.  Our dreams of becoming notorious were smashed the moment our pumpkin hit cold, damp ground.  Friday nights resumed as usual: boring, uneventful and filled with the unspoken longings of love and adventure with a teeny tiny dash of defiance to show the tougher side of us. 

 

Ultimately, some did find love and left our little tribe of lovelorn co-eds.  Some stumbled into adventures and travels that swept them completely off their feet.  And some spent the following years discovering and uncovering who they were meant to be…and eventually found something greater than they expected. 

 

I’ve since hung up my Bible school rebellion days, and now the only smashing pumpkins I’m aware of are the ones I listen to on my iPod.  

 

Yes. Pumpkins.  They truly make me smile.

Posted in Life, Random | 4 Comments »

Taking My Cue From Dickens

Oct 30th, 2009 by Amy

Dickens’ classic story “A Tale of Two Cities” opens with one of the most famous lines in literature: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”.  How can we manage to have both at the same time?  When things are bad, aren’t they bad because there is no good?  And aren’t good things void of bad?  Through the course of the summer and continuing on into fall, I have found my perspective regarding life’s unpleasantries changing, evolving, and maturing.

 

Sitting in the parking lot, rain falling in drizzles and splats on my windshield, I waited for Joel to pick Brooklyn up from school and bring her to me.  The parking lot was packed.  I sat there, sans make-up, wearing sweats, my old maternity fleece jacket (Yep.  I still wear maternity clothes and I’m not pregnant – I’m that woman), three pairs of socks, my crocs, and Jackson snoring behind me.  People walking by my car inevitably turned to peer inside my window, and I tried my best to remain incognito (I almost put my sunglasses on, but because of the dark, overcast sky I figured that might have attracted more unwarranted attention).  I prayed several times that I wouldn’t have to get out of the car.  I know I’m trying to be authentic and real, but I’m still a little vain and would rather not be seen looking so au natural.

 

On the drive home I was thinking what a dreary day it is: the weather, my appearance, the piles of clutter and dust accumulating at home.  As this thought was twisting around in my mind, I swerved my car to the left in order to avoid hitting a man – who was either inebriated or mentally deranged – walking down the middle of the street.  I momentarily glanced his way and he gave me “the finger.”  “Hey Mister Crazy Man! I just saved your life, for crying out loud!  Is that any way to thank me?”  I wanted to roll down my window and shout this at him, but it was rainy, and I didn’t want to get wet, so I kept my rant to myself.  Again, what a dreary day. 

 

Not two minutes after being accosted with an insulting hand gesture by the mental case in the middle of the road, my thoughts recalled a conversation I just had this morning with a dear friend going through an extremely difficult and heartbreaking season.  On the phone – crying together and praying together – from two separate countries, I could feel my own heart breaking and grieving for my friend.  Being so far away, I can’t help but feel a sense of helplessness.  My only contribution to her comfort is that I can pray, and keep praying, for her as she faces challenges well beyond what her own strength can handle.  My friend truly is walking through “the worst of times”. 

 

I have several friends, near and far, struggling through the darkest times in their lives.  A baby died this year.  A home was lost.  A business downsized, and a job was lost.  One family is grieving the loss of a dream.  Another family is falling apart – their tragedy has taken its toll on their marriage.  Budgets are shrinking, belts are tightening, and everyone is feeling the squeeze of a shaky economy.  “The worst of times.”

 

This year my brother-in-law and his wife found out they are expecting their first baby.  Their initial reaction was, “this is not a good time,” as he is also in his first year of dental school.  However, it truly is the “best of times” for them.  This life growing inside of my sister-in-law is no mistake, even though from a human perspective this isn’t a “good” time to start a family.  From my own experience – Jackson was our big surprise – I can say that this hardly qualifies as “the worst of times”, but rather a precious gift from God.  A baby makes this year “the best of times”.

 

This year a couple, desperate to hold a baby of their own in their arms, underwent treatment in hope of conceiving.  They were disappointed.  There were tears.  And I am certain there were questions aimed towards heaven.  Through the disappointment, however, they have reached out to God as they have never done before.  They are finding that even while there is much hurt and sorrow in their hearts, God has been faithful to comfort and surround them with His strong and powerful arms of love.  Their journey to know God through their journey of pain makes this year “the best of times”.

 

Heartbreak happens the moment, the instant, our hopes have been shattered, or we’ve stood on the sidelines watching our loved one hurting.  Heartache is the pain that lingers after the heart has been broken.  I feel so much heartache for my friend so far away today.  I know that this season she is walking through will be painful and arduous.  I know right now it looks as though this truly is “the worst of times”.  I also know that when she comes through this night of sorrow, in the morning she will emerge with songs of joy (Psalm 30:5).

 

So the next time some meanie swoops in and snatches up a parking spot I’ve been waiting patiently to secure, or the line at the grocery check out stand detains me longer than I was expecting, or even if my car won’t start in the middle of a parking lot as the winter rain begins to set in, I will not allow my mind to translate these experiences into “the worst of times”.  Instead, I will reflect on how absolutely blessed I am.  How it is by the grace of God that I can breathe in and out every day.  And that God is in every detail, every thread in this tapestry called life I am weaving.  And, as Charles Dickens penned, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”.

Posted in Faith, Life | 1 Comment »

My Favorite Fall Things Winner Is…

Oct 26th, 2009 by Amy

Drum roll please…and the winner is…

 

Sister Sheri!

 

I had every intention of doing the drawing and posting the results this morning.  That didn’t happen.  In fact, I had considered beginning this post with a diatribe of excuses as to why I’m so late in posting: crazy morning getting out of the house, left home without the pictures for this post, unfinished Bible study material, etc, etc.  But reconsidered because, really, who cares about the excuses, right?

 

Congratulations to Sister Sheri.  May you enjoy the mulling spices to the very last drop of cider you make with them!

 

Your answers inspired me to add on to the fall favorites list.  Here are a few more “Favorite Fall Things”:

 

  • Halloween:  Dressing up, decorating and handing out candy to the kids.

 

  • Candles:  Scents of apple, pumpkin and cinnamon.

 

  • Finding acorns and other nuts on the ground.

 

  • A hunter green velvet robe:  There is nothing as cozy as wrapping your body up in velvet!

 

  • Hot beverages and baking with pumpkin:  Tea, hot cocoa, Chai, muffins, cookies and pancakes.  Sounds yummy!

 

  • Fall leaves.

 

  • Decorating:  Centerpieces using pumpkins and other gourds.

 

And finally…

 

  • The anticipation of the holiday season.  (And may I add a big “ME TOO” to that one!)

K41086982_1000028 

Happy Fall!

Posted in Fun Stuff | 3 Comments »

A Sound Mind

Oct 25th, 2009 by Amy

Bedtime routines were completed, and I had made my way downstairs to enjoy a couple of hours with Joel.  Before he joined me, I turned on the television in the middle of a news program reporting the most recent child abduction cases in our country.  Listening to the accounts of abuse and destructiveness, I found myself gripped deep in my heart with terror.  Recalling all the times in a week I am out and about with my children and how vulnerable we are, fear seized me to the core, and I began to bawl like a baby. 

 

Amazing to me how, in a moment of raw fear, my entire body can freeze and my mind goes completely blank.  There is no rational thought process – only panic, anxiety, and momentary confusion.  When Joel finally joined me, I tried to explain what I was feeling, but even saying it out loud was bordering on insanity.  I suppose there was some truth to what I was thinking; we live in a different world these days.  Children can’t just ride their bikes around the block or down the street because there are very bad people out there that blatantly act upon their evil compulsions.  The “insane” part of my outburst was that I completely undermined the sovereignty of God and where He stands in the whole picture.  I disregarded my own God-given instinct and wisdom that I take with me whenever I go anywhere with my little ones. 

 

And I completely gave myself over to fear.  And instantly became powerless, hopeless and frozen.

 

As I lay in bed last night, trying to get the tormenting thoughts of child abductions and kidnappings out of my head, 2Timothy 1:7 came to mind:

 

2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)

 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

 

As a child of God there is no room, no need, for fear.  God has not given me a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and a sound mind.  A sound mind.  I lingered on this one thought for quite some time.  A mind – not controlled by fear and anxiety, worry or panic.  A mind – whole, sound, complete and untroubled, filled with peace, confidence and assurance. 

 

Then I thought of 1 John 4:18:

 

1 John 4:18 (KJV)

 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out all fear: because fear hath torment.

 

Perfect love.  God is love.  God, who gives me power, love, and a sound mind, wants to take the fear I am feeling and cast it out – to just get rid of it.  Fear hath torment.  Last night I was tormented with fear.  I called to God, perfect in love and power, and He heard me.  He came to me.  He brought peace to my mind where once had been irrational thought. 

 

Philippians 4:7 (KJV)

 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

This morning this powerful truth was reiterated through the timely words of our pastor.  He spoke on submitting ourselves to God’s will and His plan for our lives.  Once we have abandoned ourselves, not to our fears, but to the very loving and all-knowing hands of our Savior, then we will “unleash God’s peace that stands guard 24/7 over all that concerns me.” – Ray Noah (paraphrased).  And then we will experience this:

 

“The settled assurance that because of God’s care and God’s competence, this world is a perfectly safe place for me, even though it doesn’t always seem so.” – Dallas Willard

 

Tonight I will sleep in peace with a sound mind, knowing that God’s hand is upon me, His power in me, and His plan unfolding before me.

Posted in Faith | 1 Comment »

A Chance To Win One Of My Favorite Fall Things

Oct 23rd, 2009 by Amy

Oprah has her favorites, and the world waits on the edge of their seat to discover what they are every year.  Julie Andrews sang about “raindrops and on roses and whiskers on kittens”, and Lola (from Disney’s “Charlie and Lola”) has her favorite and her best.  Well, I have my own list of favorite things.  They usually make their appearance once October rolls around and the leaves begin changing colors, transforming the world around me into a rainbow of reds, yellows, oranges, and purples.  Fall is spectacular and even saying the word “autumn” puts me in a warm and fuzzy mood.  So, the following is a list of my favorite fall things.  These items (necessities) help make this season of transition more comforting and memorable as the weather shifts from the heat of summer to the frigid temps of winter. 

 

At the end of the list, I’ll let you know what the big giveaway is going to be and how you can participate in the contest.  Enjoy!

 

Amy’s Favorite Fall Things:

 

  • Going to the Pumpkin Patch.  This is quite a Slater tradition.  We look forward to seeing the goats and chickens, running through the hay maze, taking hayrides through muddy, brown fields, picking out our family pumpkins, and sharing a bag of kettle corn between the five of us.  The kids talk about it for days afterwards (Joel and I included).

 

  • Fall colors.  I look forward to not only seeing nature clothed in the beauty of a fall color pallet, but also I love wearing those colors too!

 

  • My comfy sweats.  Curling up in my favorite chair, wearing my soft and worn comfy sweats with a book or cup of cider is like heaven on earth.  What in the world would I do without my comfy sweats?  (Joel just snorted over my shoulder.  Apparently, my comfy sweats are a year-round favorite thing – which is very true, I might add – but putting it on the list today still seems highly appropriate to me.)

 

  • Comfort foods.  Fall is when I break out all my casserole, soup, and crock-pot recipes.  The smell of homemade macaroni and cheese or corn chowder with corn bread wafting through the house puts everyone in a good mood.

 

  • Grandma Hubbard’s Apple Dumplings.  I only make these in the fall.  They turn an ordinary apple into a dessert experience beyond your wildest imagination.  Top them off with a little homemade ice cream, and you’re well on your way to dessert narcolepsy. 

 

  • Long walks in the brisk fall air.  I so enjoy walking outside and taking in the beauty of nature, but I especially love long walks during the fall season.  If I were a photographer, I think I might spend hours capturing all of the breathtaking sights of fall on film.  Plus, the fresh, cool air clears my mind and my senses too!

 

  • “Thanks for Thanksgiving” children’s book.  Written by Julie Markes and illustrated by Doris Barrette, this charming book ties in the beauty of fall and the warmth of Thanksgiving into a precious and uplifting story.  Reading this to my kids puts a smile on my face.

 

And finally…

 

  • Williams-Sonoma mulling spices.  You have not experienced hot apple cider until you’ve used Williams-Sonoma’s mulling spices.  The symphony of flavors, the aroma, the sweet taste of apples make each sip as soothing as the very first.  Thanks to my mother-in-law who got me hooked on them, this is a must-have for fall.  Mmmmm.

 

And because I’m so crazy about the Williams-Sonoma mulling spices, I decided this would be the perfect fall giveaway.  Simply leave a comment along with one of your own favorite fall things, and the winner will be picked on Monday.  (Note: Only those living within the continental United States will be eligible to win.)

 Mulling Spices, Set of 2

So, leave a comment.  And may you have warm, cinnamon-y dreams of hot apple cider and perhaps your own favorite fall things.

Posted in Fun Stuff | 9 Comments »

God Who Sees Us In The Mystery Of The Wait

Oct 21st, 2009 by Amy

 There is a Christian code of conduct, so to speak, that is laid out pretty clearly in the book of Deuteronomy – the Ten Commandments, to be specific.  It is not difficult to discern the kind of behavior God desires from us.  He plainly articulates His will in these ten mandates. 

 

But what about the gray issues; those questions of life that seem to fall into the category of “mysterious”?  The mysterious will of God.  Too often, in my own personal experience, there are situations, life circumstances, and challenges that go far beyond honoring my father and mother and keeping the Sabbath day holy.  They are those defining moments when I don’t know what to do, or what God is doing, and what it is He wants from me.  I’m faced with a choice, and I feel lost, uncertain, and afraid of making a bad decision.  Sometimes it comes in the form of watching my husband go through a difficult season, and as much as I pray and seek God for a wise word to share, my mind goes blank and the insight just isn’t there.  Most times I find myself waiting in silence for the fulfillment of a deep longing, and the wait feels like a lifetime.  I start wondering, which eventually turns to panic, if I’ve messed up somewhere along the way.  Did I disappoint God?  Did my opportunity pass me by?  Have I missed His plan and will?  Why is He being so quiet?  Why won’t He speak up?  I feel completely unsettled when I sense that God is far from me and His will mysterious to me.

 

It is in that mystery, however, that God is doing His greatest work.  As challenging the situation may be, and often times emotionally draining, I take great comfort in that God sees everything.  Every detail, every tear, every moment spent second guessing every choice I’ve ever made are all seen and remembered by God.  And when the way doesn’t seem clear or God’s answer is momentarily withheld, the best thing to do is wait. 

 

On one of my long trips back to Kenya, I ended up with a thirteen-hour layover in Zurich, Switzerland.  I was twenty-years-old, had just survived the first semester of my sophomore year of college (barely), and was heading home to be with my parents.  My dad was what one might consider an overly protective father and had given me strict instructions to NOT leave the airport, under any circumstances.  I did exactly what he told me to do and spent thirteen long hours cooped up in the tiny international terminal (I realize this might have been a much more fascinating story had I actually left the airport, but unfortunately for me and you, I stayed put).

 

The wait can only be described as hell (pardon my “French”).  Seriously though, I was miserable, especially considering that I had just been on an airplane for eight hours flying from Chicago.  I was tired, smelly, and coming down with some kind of bug that made food unappealing to me.  This was “back in the day” before portable DVD players, iPods, notebook computers, e-mail, facebook, etc.  This was the early nineties, and there wasn’t much for a poor college girl to do for thirteen hours besides read and people watch.  So, I read a little and people watched a lot.

 

I was about six hours into the layover when two Nigerian men approached me.  They sat down next to me and struck up a conversation about traveling.  They were very interested in where I had flown from and where I was headed.  Being somewhat naïve, I chatted with them for a good length of time – mostly, I think, out of extreme boredom and that it was such a reprieve to have someone to talk to whose English I could understand.  After we had discussed the beauty and wonders of Africa, they finally got down to business.  They needed me to do them a favor:  to pose as the wife of one of them so that they could leave the airport.  It seemed a little odd to me, but unless part of their “party” remained in the airport, they were not permitted to leave.  Thus, they needed me to play the part of “wifey” so that the officials would let them exit for a period of time.  The more they disclosed to me, the more I realized they were up to something that was likely to be illegal.  I had the good sense to decline these gentlemen’s proposal and send them on their way.  As much as I have always dreamed about being a secret agent super-spy, I value my freedom more and figured all that adventure was not worth spending time in a Zurich prison cell.

 

And so, my long wait continued. 

 

Sometimes when God has me in a period of waiting it would be so tempting to jump the gun and seize the first opportunity for reprieve that comes my way.  I get desperate to see the delay come to an end.  Yet, in my haste I could do much more damage than if I had left it alone- just like my experience in the Zurich airport.  In order to ease my boredom and make the layover go faster, I could have accepted the offer those men gave me.  The end result, though, would have been disastrous.  In the same way, when I’ve reacted to God’s silence with panic, and thus tried to fix a situation, my “happily ever after” left me heartbroken.  I was too impatient and too immature to realize that part of God’s plan and will was for me to simply wait.

 

The wait is God’s will.  It’s not punishment or a sign that I have somehow missed God’s perfect plan for my life.  It is part of the plan.  The fulfillment of my destiny is in the wait.  Without it, I would be incomplete.  And it’s not so much the waiting as it is realizing that God is not upset with me.  He is waiting right alongside me.  He is in the wait.  He is orchestrating time and space for the moment when He will reveal the answer to my question, the next step in the journey, the direction for my life, and the fulfillment of my heart’s desire.  It is no mystery, even though so often God is very mysterious to me. 

 

Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

 

Beth Moore points out poignantly:

“Our strength will be depleted when we wait on the event, or final outcome.  But our strength will be renewed when we wait on God.” (Paraphrased.)

 

God sees me, and God sees you.  He sees the challenges we are facing.  He sees the pain we are feeling.  He is “El Roi”, the “strong one who sees”.   And this El Roi, the strong God who sees everything, every detail, every tear and every fear, is the same God who is with us in the wait, ready to pour His strength into our lives.  As we wait on Him, He renews our strength by pouring His strength into us.  He sees our heart’s desires.  He sees the hopes deferred and stands ready to hold us in His arms, waiting with us through the storms of life.

 

Habakkuk 2:3 (NIV)

Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.

 

While the path seems unclear now, God will make it clear in His time.  We don’t have to figure it out, we don’t have to search for a “Plan B” because the wait is His will, and it won’t last forever.  The answer is coming for those of us who are willing to wait upon the Lord.

 

And when the wait is over, we will be one step closer to God’s heart, and our joy will be complete.

 

Proverbs 13:12 (NIV)

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

 

The God who sees is a strong God.  He is ready to offer us His strength as we wait; we simply need to reach out and receive it.  I am challenged today to do just this.  I am on a journey that seems uncertain and unclear, but I know I am not alone.  God sees me.  God walks with me, and God will strengthen me while I wait.  And in His timing, He will bring the answer and the clarity I need.  While hope may be deferred in this moment, it is only a matter of time before this longing in my heart is fulfilled, and joy once again renewed.

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