Like many people one of my favorite vacation spots is the beach. In my younger years it was all about the sand and sun - but these days I'm not particular about the time of year - in fact, I like it best when it's a little on the chilly side and there are fewer people. I go for the waves and the wind and the palette of the sunset or sunrise.

As a family outing it's always a blast because there is so much to do - hit the boardwalk, eat out, play in the ocean.One year the whole family bought roller blades. We all took one lesson from the salesman who sold them to us and off we went - disaster on wheels, but a great 'funniest videos' moment or two! We've rented tandem bikes and flown kites and played frisbee. We've also built a sand castle or two.

Walking down the beach we were always sure to find some 'sand artist' that was doing much fancier castles and moats than we were. And then one year we ran into this...

Pretty amazing. In detail and content. And it got me to thinking.

The ordinary turned extraordinary - a plastic shovel and a pail - and a lot of effort - turned something everyday into something people would stop and look at - and view an eternal message. And I wondered - am I living my life like that? You know, finding the eternal in the temporal, the extraordinary in the ordinary, the profound in the simple. Day by day as I am going about living my life - am I bearing an image of what Jesus is like?

I've always had big dreams - you know, 'I'll travel the world with my dad and our family and we'll never stop' or 'I'll be a great equestrian and do three day eventing' (elementary school days) 'I'll be a famous artist and live on the southern coast of France' (high school) 'I'll have an exciting career and visit all the major cities of the world' (college) and later in life, 'I'll become a famous author and my books will impact hundreds of lives.'

Now my dreams are less flamboyant but more fantastic - I want to be like that sand, which in the hand of the artist, became an incredible work of art. I want my Creator to take my life and make it uncommon, exceptional, and as brilliant as a rare gem - not because I am any of those things, but because I serve a God who can take the 'foolish things' (1 Cor. 12:27) of this world like me - and use them to confound the wise!

I want to live my ordinary life in an extraordinary way that brings honor and glory to my King.

All for Him,

Missy

Labels: Missy

While our destination may be uncertain, every journey has a starting point.

And while some signs along the way are pretty clear

Giving us direction

and helping us to make the next move.

Others may leave us a bit confused.

But wherever the road takes us

Or how difficult the way seems

Or if our travels take us in a different direction all together

When troubles surround us

Or obstacles are in our way

Remember that God can

and will make a way through.

He shows us how to get Home.

And sometimes, along the way, we learn a few things.

All for Him,

Missy

Labels: Missy

Helen definitely came in to work today.

I hate it when Helen's here. She just can be so...well...nasty. She yells at her computer when it runs too slow, yells at automated systems when she makes a call, and usually has something bad to say about whoever she just hung up with. She's nice enough to her coworkers, they usually aren't a problem for her, but she's always on edge, always frustrated. Although her voice turns sugary sweet when she picks up a ringing phone, it's so fake and phony there's no way she's fooling the person on the other end of the line.

And the worst part about Helen? Well, it's me.

You see, when my co-worker Tracey started here about a year ago, she gave us a clear warning that sometimes Tracey would come in, and sometimes it would be Elizabeth, her "alternate personality." And it wasn't too long before each of us learned the name of the other side of us. The part of us that is the short-tempered, impatient, rude side that likes to let slip out of their mouth whatever they want to at the time.

When my co-workers asked my husband if he knew about Helen (after explaining exactly who she was), he said, "Oh, I knew about her...I just didn't know she had a name!"

I told everyone at work that Helen would probably be here until vacation comes next week, because it's been way too long since she's had a break. But then again, Helen may come back from vacation since, well, returning from vacation is never fun either.

While it's fun to joke about at work and we all understand we have bad days, how sad is it that I knowingly have that side of me and simply excuse it away?

Ephesians 4 refers to that part of us as the "old self," and trust me, that chapter makes Helen want to run far, far, away.

Ephesians 4:1-2 - As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. (Wow, after reading that, how could I ever let Helen weasel her way out of me?) Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Eph 4:22-24 - You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self (Helen who???), which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Which definitely does not look like Helen!)

Eph 4:29, 31-32 - Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (are you getting this yet, Helen?? There's no excuse for the things that come out of that mouth!). Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

So maybe Helen came into work today, but she definitely does not have to stay. In fact, I'm not sure I can even see her anymore. I'm pretty sure it's Emily sitting in that cubicle now. And hopefully, we'll be hearing less and less from Helen from now on.

Emily

Labels: Emily

Some months ago we got one of those emails that circulate like wildfire. Usually I read and delete them, but this one was pretty funny. It was entitled, 'Bail Out Explained' and had this clip of Ma and Pa Kettle from youtube.com.

While I 'laughed out loud' - a part of me was shaking my head - at myself! Is this what I look like to God when I try to figure things out for myself?

Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world's standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, "He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness." And again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise; he knows they are worthless." (1 Cor. 3:18-20)

All for Him,

Missy

Labels: Missy

Several weeks ago I happened to realize that daughter Emily and I have the very same eye prescription. It was one of those random "huh, isn't that interesting" moments. Not nearly as exciting as realizing that there are clothing or shoes sizes that we have in common (definitely one of the perks of having 4 daughters, my clothing and shoe selection has increased!) but an interesting find nonetheless.

Today that random piece of information became a little more fun...my contact tore and I didn't have an extra one on hand. This means I am going to have to wear glasses for the next couple of days. My glasses are about four years old. I can see out of them, quite well in fact, but lets face it, styles have changed and they're not quite as up-to-date as they could be. But Emily's glasses are! (I don't know exactly why that is but many moms I know are like me, wearing the old stuff while we make sure our kids are up-to-date, that may be a blog for another day!)

So today I have walked around in glasses that belong to a 15 year old, and yes, I was feeling quite stylish all day long.

But as I put them on this morning I had to think to myself, wouldn't it be interesting if we could simply put someone else's glasses on and suddenly see life thru their eyes. How would it be to see life thru the eyes of a 15 year old again? Or, if I could wear my mom's glasses, thru the eye's of an 82 year old Alzheimer patient? OR what if I could do that with my hubby's glasses? (or he with mine?)

Think of it, what if I could "see" the fears that cause people to react in certain ways? What if I could see life thru the eyes of the one who has made me feel "not good enough", or one whom I have left feeling the same way? What if I could be the star of the team, or the child who is abused.. all determined by the lens I am looking thru.

I know all of this is not physically possible. But I think it might be what Jesus was trying to get us to do when He said, "Love your neighbor as yourself". Put on your neighbors "glasses" and see life thru their eyes. And don't just stop with your neighbor; make sure you give your spouse, your kids, your co-workers, and that parent you DON'T want to sit by at the ball game the same eyeglass test.

There really is a reason we all do what we do, and most all of it is a result of the "lens" we view life thru.

So maybe we don't really need all those pairs of glasses, we simply need new eyes, the eyes of Christ, new "lenses" to filter life thru - and while we're at it we could probably benefit from His ears, His mind, and His heart too - and then we can truly be His hands, ministering to the needs of those around us, and loving our neighbors as ourselves.

Until next time...
Beth

Labels: Beth

Okay, have we gone completely mad? We seem to be willing to admit, as a society, that smoking tobacco cigarettes (lest that seem redundant - I will explain in a minute!) is bad for our health, but have you heard they are now making electronic cigarettes?

Yes, and just to prove it here's a picture.

These little babies are being marketed as 'cleaner, safer, and cheaper' than regular cigarettes. Some even have a dental endorsement!

Maybe what they haven't told consumers is that - it still contains nicotine! the "e-liquid" contains 36 ml of nicotine - you know, that little drug that is as addictive as heroin and cocaine. In fact, there's enough nicotine in these things to be potentially lethal for a child.

They allow the 'smoker' to choose how much nicotine they want and to make it easier to ingest they allow them to adjust the length of time it will be 'lit'.

There's no tobacco in these things so they get past the federal laws and restrictions that are on the tobacco industry. It will be sad if it comes down to someone becoming ill or even dying before laws are put into place to protect the 'unsuspecting public'. Wouldn't it be simpler to just use common sense?

Isn't that just our human nature? We want exactly what we shouldn't have, and when we get it we complain about the consequences! Like those of us (um, need to raise my hand here) who overeat and then complain we've gained weight or spend too much money or abuse credit and find ourselves deep in debt - we just can't seem to resist what isn't good for us.

Even when we want to do good it seems like we fall prey to what is bad. Paul puts it this way, "Yes, I know that nothing good lives in me-I mean nothing good lives in the part of me that is earthly and sinful. I want to do the things that are good, but I do not do them. I do not do the good things I want to do, but I do the bad things I do not want to do. So if I do things I do not want to do, then I am not the one doing them. It is sin living in me that does those things." (Rom. 7:18-20)

We need help! And there is only One who can save us.

"What a miserable man I am! Who will save me from this body that brings me death? I thank God for saving me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Rom. 7:24)

All for Him,

Missy

Labels: Missy

My perfectionism has mellowed through the years (I no longer touch up walls with paint before company comes!) Seriously. I discovered this flaw in myself when my daughter was three and a half and was proudly escorting guests to see her very own bedroom. I realized I could be overdoing things a bit when I heard her say, "Take you shoes off." Then her sweet little voice drifted down the stairs with further instructions, "Don't put you hands on the wall..."

Yeah. So I've eased off the whole hyper-cleanliness thing - but I still found myself in a bit of a panic when I got a call that I had unexpected company coming.

I know I've complained about my lack of affection for housework before but I hate even more the anxiety I feel when I'm unprepared. So I got a real kick out of these helpful household hints I found.

1. Shut the doors! Simple and straight forward (not to mention easy!) Just be sure to give your hubby a heads up not to show off your master bedroom or other parts of the house that are 'off limits' for your guests.

2. Pick up, straighten up, (or as my mother-in-law used to say, 'redd up') Your house will look cleaner if there's less clutter. (By the way, I always found that closets and under the bed were great catch alls when I was pressed for time!)

3. Dirty floors? Take a damp rag and wipe up just the spots (you know, the spilled drinks, tracks of dirt and mud, sticky juice spots, etc.) not the whole floor. This is what's known as 'a lick and a promise'!

4. Clean sinks and toilets and forget the shower (just pull the curtain!)

5. For overnight guests, make sure you have clean sheets and fresh towels and they won't notice the dust!

And I especially loved this last one -

6. Don't apologize! If you don't point it out, most people won't see your dirt.

My problem through the years, not that I wanted to admit it, was that I focused more on what I imagined people would think rather than on my visitors themselves. My fussiness made entertaining 'without grudging' (as 1 Peter 4:9 puts it) difficult to do!

Romans 12:13 tells us we need to 'practice' hospitality - meaning it takes some work! Perhaps the hardest thing for me was to relax and forget about all I didn't get done and put my attention on the people who came to see me. I found that when I welcomed my guests with warm hospitality, my house fell into place where it belonged - way down the list of importance.

Perhaps the writer of Hebrews put's it all in perspective...

"Remember to welcome strangers, because some who have done this have welcomed angels without knowing it." Hebrews 13:2

All for Him,

Missy

Labels: Missy

The state fair has to be one of my favorite things to do all year. My husband took me there on our first date and now we absolutely have to go when August rolls around. Corn dogs, funnel cakes, fried everything, even this year's new featured item - chocolate covered bacon (nooooo thank you!), the world's fattest pig, 4-H projects, parades, rides, and just about anything else imaginable. I love it all.

One of the cool things about the Indiana State Fair is that they have a free concert stage. No tickets required, just come and hear whoever is playing. One of the cooler things about the Indiana State Fair is that they have Christian music day, which means, awesome Christian artists playing for free. We were able to catch Todd Agnew, and if you haven't heard him find him on YouTube and check him out - he is great!

Todd Agnew is an artist who doesn't want to come and play for people staring back at him, he wants to lead people in worship. So there we were, sitting at the state fair, surrounded by people eating turkey legs and corn on the cob, waiting in line to ride the Ferris wheel, or anticipating the sheep shearing contest later that day, and we were worshipping God. Definitely the coolest thing about the Indiana State Fair. And as he was teaching us some of his new songs, he told everyone to sing out, as loud as possible, no matter how terrible or off-key we were because, "Jesus is NOT Simon Cowell."

Nope, Jesus is not Simon Cowell from American Idol, or Tyra Banks from America's Next Top Model, or that British guy from America's Got Talent, or anyone else on any of those shows that judge people for their talent, looks, or abilities. The thing is, you couldn't impress Him even if you tried, because nothing that we have or are is due to our own efforts.

Sometimes we're don't give God anything because we're afraid what we have isn't good enough. We don't sing as well as other people, so we barely mouth the words in worship instead of belting it out. We know other people who are better with kids, so we don't volunteer to help out in Sunday school classes. We're not good with people, so we don't reach out to the new neighbors across the street. Not that we don't want to do what God wants us to, but because we don't think we have what it takes to do it.

Remember that story in John 6? One little boy, five loaves of bread, and two fish. That's all it took for Jesus to feed five thousand people. It would have been so easy for the boy to say, "No, Jesus, this stuff? It's not good enough. The bread is dried out and the fish have been out in the sun all day. There's not enough. You need more than what I can give you, you need something better than what I have."

Jesus doesn't care what we have to offer, He only cares that we give what we have to Him. The disciples said there wasn't enough, and Jesus simply said, "Bring it to me. Just give me what you've got and wait and see what I do with it."

Sure, Jesus could have snapped his fingers and everyone would have had a steak dinner in their laps; the miracle still would have been awesome and people still would have been fed. But He used a little boy.

That child was part of what Jesus did that day because he chose to say, "This is all I've got, but it's all Yours." I wonder what would happen if we did the same thing with what He's given us...

Emily

Labels: Emily

Have you heard about "Team Hoyt"? Dick, a sixty-five year old father, races with his son Rick who at forty-seven, can neither talk nor walk. Read their inspirational story on their website www.teamhoyt.com, or simply watch this amazing video...

Labels: Missy

The first-born has left the nest. I know that's the goal in having and raising kids, but it is still a very strange feeling for this mama. Stranger than the first day of kindergarten, stranger than the first solo drive after they get their license, even stranger than moving them to college. This makes it so official, our very first baby is growing up.

The day before the big move my blog about James 1:2-3 posted - the one about considering it a gift when you receive trials. Well, as you might well have guessed, God allowed a few trials in the moving day, perhaps to allow me to see if I've learned from His word?

Trial #1 - we had been told of a mattress store that was going out of business in the Columbus area and since a mattress and box spring were on the list of needed items we went a little out of our way to check things out. Guess what? They're closed each Wednesday. OK, that's alright. We'll find another mattress store somewhere. Columbus is a BIG city. And perhaps our little detour simply saved us from a scrape that could have happened elsewhere? (consider it a gift.consider it a gift..)

Trial #2 - upon arrival at the apartment complex we began to unload the car (which was SO full I held a packed laundry basket on my lap for the entire 2 hour trip =) and then, in order to put things away a little quicker, we decided I would give the closets and cupboards a quick wipe down.and immediately noticed there was no hot water to clean with. Obviously the gas hot water heater was not heating properly. No problem, Leah called the office and maintenance was there within 5 minutes. We all assumed the pilot light had gone out and needed to be re-lit. Which led us to...

Trial #3 - it wasn't a pilot light issue. The gas company had turned off the gas due to non-payment from the past tenant...oops...easily fixed.in the next 24 hours. Again, no problem, except it was a nice hot moving day, so a shower would be needed that evening. To her credit Leah handled it with grace.

Trial #4 - we loaded the dishwasher as we unpacked the kitchen items. Pretty standard stuff.unpack, put item in dishwasher, run dishwasher when full.except the dishwasher leaked...heavy sigh...Leah called the front office again, and, again, a maintenance man was at our door within 5 minutes.

Needless to say, we got to know the two maintenance men pretty well over the next few hours. And you know what - it WAS a gift! I was able to ask questions of them that I would have otherwise just wondered about. Questions about security, snow removal, some maintenance issues, AND we found out that the head maintenance man travels to our little neck of the woods several times a year with his wife - and loves to eat at the restaurant Leah use to work at. Small world isn't it!

I'd love to tell you that the trials ended at that point.but God wasn't finished giving us gifts just yet.

Trial #5 - Leah grabbed her keys and we left the apartment to go mattress shopping (again) and pick up those items that you need when starting up housekeeping. When we got back a few hours later, after 5PM I might add, she realized she'd grabbed the wrong key - and we were locked out. Leah looked at me and said "I'm going to cry", I said "you better call the front office first and see if anyone is still there"...and someone was! YEA!!! Leah finally got to meet the owner of the voice she'd been talking to all day. Yeah, we'll consider that a gift.

Trial #6 was happening at about the same time as #5. Hubby was headed down with the truck and the big items that needed unloaded - and got caught in rush hour traffic.

And trial #7 was unfolding.the "muscle-man" who was going to help unload the couch had a longer day of work than anticipated and wasn't going to be able to make it to help. Ok, so the three of us, Brian, Leah, and I, together can be the "muscle-team" right? Oh yeah. (Remember, due to physical therapy I HAVE been doing arm exercises! Yup, a [singular] five pound weight is a part of my daily exercise routine.=)

But God had it all worked out. At almost the same time that Brian was arriving, another car was pulling up to the apartment complex, a car with two young men (we found out later that one of them is Leah's next door neighbor), who were dressed alike (ok, that's a little, um, interesting.). One of the young men asked if we were moving the couch - and could he help?...HELLO...you WANT to help move this big couch up a flight of steps with a u-turn in it? YYYYYEEEESSSSSSS!!! He and Brian had it up the steps and into the apartment in no time. Maybe even faster than the three of us could have done it...ok, a lot faster than the 3 of us could have done it!

While we were saying our thank you's I happened to glance at what I'd figured out was their work uniforms...they said "Med-Flight"...Leah's next door neighbor is, in my book, a "Rescue Hero". That was a pretty cool gift!

So moving day came and went, the dust has settled, and Leah is ready to take on her new career as a high school business teacher.

But God wasn't finished with me yet. This past Sunday, the Circle of Friends worship team was invited to sing at a local church. Guess what scripture the Pastor used...yeah, James 1:2-4. I laughed - out loud - when he gave it, and when he explained that "our maturity is measured by our response to change" I smiled.

Yes, Leah is growing up.and so is her mama.

Until next time.
Beth

Labels: Beth

There's an old hymn by Philip P. Bliss called 'Let the Lower Lights Be Burning'. It was written after he heard a message by D.L. Moody who told the story of a ship captain trying to make it into Cleveland's harbor.

On a dark stormy, night when the waves rolled like mountains, and not a star was to be seen, a boat, rocking and plunging, neared the Cleveland harbor.

Let the lower lights be burning,
Send a gleam across the wave!
Some poor fainting struggling seaman,
You may rescue, you may save.

Dark the night of sin has settled,
Loud the angry billows roar;
Eager eyes are watching, longing,
For the lights along the shore.

Let the lower lights be burning,
Send a gleam across the wave!
Some poor fainting struggling seaman,
You may rescue, you may save.

Trim your feeble lamp, my brother;
Some poor sailor tempest tossed,
Trying now to make the harbor,
In the darkness may be lost.

Let the lower lights be burning,
Send a gleam across the wave!
Some poor fainting struggling seaman,
You may rescue, you may save.

Moody's point was that our lives are to be the 'lights' that lead people to Christ. The 'lower lights' were all the lights that outlined the shore, helping vessels to see where the narrow harbor channel lay.

I love that illustration. But this hymn always reminded me of the lights of our homeplace on the shore of Saginaw Bay.

You can see one of the lights here. It's the tall pole on the left side of the picture with an orange rectangle on top.

They are hard to see, but there is a lower light and an upper light. They mark the channel that leads into the marina. When you are out on the water, you line them up one on top of the other and that's how you find your way home. Neat trick, huh? They have to be lined up exactly or you miss the 'cut' and will run aground in shallow water.

Like the Captain of the ship that missed the harbor into Cleveland, you have to be searching for the way in. There's a path you must follow if you want to make it home safely.

This is the mouth of the cut - it's easy to miss, especially at night from out on the water. The lights along the shore help you get your bearings so you can head in the general direction of the marina. But in order to make this small channel you have to line up the two lights together and stay on course.

God's Word does the same thing in directing the path of our life. It's the truth of His word that leads us in the direction we need to go.

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Ps 119:105

Labels: Missy

I wasn't around in the 70s. In fact, I can safely say I wasn't even thought of yet in the 70s. Maybe some of you were, and you can let me know if I'm wrong on any of my assumptions. They're based solely on these pictures I found from a 1977 JC Penney catalogue. (Also - forgive me if my attempt at using the decade's terminology is a bit off!)

Apparently, in the 70s, blinding bathroom rugs are definitely psychedelic.

Using barrels for furniture? Neato!

)

"Orange jumpsuits.not just for inmates and hunters." Farout!! (Seriously, where would you wear this to?)

These green suits are totally boss. That's all I gotta say about that.

Dynomite, ladies. Dy-no-mite!

And this guy, in the 70s, would probably be considered gnarly, tubular, or any other word used for cool that has since gone by the wayside.

But by far, my favorite thing about the 1977 JC Penney Catalogue, is that it was totally acceptable to match your guy. This, I love.

Now, if I'm perfectly honest, if it was 3 decades ago and I saw this catalogue, I probably would have tried really hard to get my husband to put on that matching western shirt or terry jumpsuit. I think it's awesome when we both pick out striped shirts and khaki pants to wear.and I refuse dress differently.

Picture yourself at a party, with all of these people from the pictures (at a house with neon green bathroom rugs of course!) In those outfits, would you have any trouble figuring out who belonged to who?

I want people to look at me and know exactly who I belong to - to know without a doubt that I am Christ's. I wanna throw on whatever He's got on - humility, compassion, grace - so that I look like Him. Let there be no mistake who I go with.

1 John 2:6 "Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did."

Emily

The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,

shining ever brighter til the full light of day.

Proverbs 4:18 NIV

That's the path I want to take! God's path. His way.

Why is it so easy to get off this path and onto one of our own making?

It always makes for trouble, yet we're prone to do it anyway.

At its very essence, its pride, even though we don't want to admit it.

We think we know better than God!

Oooh. Sounds bad when we put it that way, but really, isn't that the root of it?

Okay, Lord.

Thank you for the reminder of Who You are, and who I am not.

All for You, Jesus

Missy

Labels: Missy

I work for a company that provides home medical equipment. I have the dreaded title of "Customer Service Representative," which really doesn't quite give justice to what I do, because basically I have to be a walking encyclopedia of any and all knowledge of medical equipment, insurances, diagnoses, etc. But alas, with that comes the joy of dealing with people.

A lot of our equipment is weight-bearing, so obviously we need to know how much a patient weighs to make sure they're not over the limit for liability reasons. One patient called in requesting a walker, and when I asked the question of her weight she was extremely offended. She angrily told me that she was not going to disclose that information over the phone in front of her coworkers, and that she knew HIPAA (the laws in place to protect our personal health information) and I was asking her to violate that. I did my best to kindly let her know that she could call me back when she had some privacy, and resisted the urge to inform her that 1) It was not my fault she called me from work, 2) It is not a HIPAA violation to disclose your own health information, and 3) the people she worked with probably had a pretty good idea of what that number was anyway.

Now trust me, I can be sensitive about the issue. I hate looking down at the scale. But I began thinking about how funny it is that we women hate to have that number out in the air, and that maybe if no one else knows it then it isn't actually true. The fact still remains, however, that we look like what we look like and we weigh what we weigh.

When we sin we can kinda try to do the same thing. We carry the proof on us, but we think we can hide it. We refuse say it out loud, refuse to admit it. But we still have sin in our lives. And when we try to cover it up, we never really get around to dealing with it.

As shameful as it is to admit to our struggles, we're here to help each other. Paul says in Galatians 6:1-2, "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." We're not supposed to struggle alone; we're supposed to share and carry each other's load.

If there's a sin in your life you just can't seem to overcome, quit trying to do it on your own. Several months ago Beth gave some great insight why having an accountability partner is so important, and what kind of questions to ask one another. I'd definitely encourage you to go back and read them - good stuff there! An accountability partner is such a help and encouragement.

Whether it's someone specific you meet with regularly, or several different people who can help you through different situations, it can be such a help to have someone see you through a struggle with sin. God doesn't expect us to do it alone. Hebrews 10:24 says, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says to, "...encourage one another and build each other up."

So while having someone in your life ask you tough questions that may not be fun to answer, having someone who cares and prays earnestly for you will be worth the vulnerability. And at least (hopefully), they won't ask you your weight!

Emily

Labels: Emily

So, I've been thinking.how many of us choose pain over comfort? How many choose hard work over taking it easy? How many would choose to take a road that is filled with pot holes (East Holmes County residents may immediately think of County Road 207) over a nice smooth, freshly paved, road?

Sometimes we choose the bumpy road, the extra work, or even some pain if we think it will save us time but typically we try to avoid the discomforts in life. We may even try our best to ignore discomfort in hope that it will disappear without any effort on our part.

That was the case for me earlier this year. My arm hurt, actually it ached to the point I didn't even want to use it, but I had great hope that ignoring the pain would make it go away as I was certain that going to a doctor would result in MORE pain; specifically the "pain" of physical therapy. It was a bumpy road I did not want to travel!

Our comfort, our ease, our lack of pain seems to make our life a little easier. The choice may not make us strong and healthy, but it does make us way more comfortable, at least for the time being. Hmmm, do you think it's a coincidence that those choices often end up bringing us even more pain on down the road?

I wonder if that is why God doesn't check with us before He allows tests and trials to come into our lives. ("Beth, I have a great test for you"."Oh, no thanks God, I really don't have the time for that right now..")

Our decisions tend to lean toward the side of our comfort, while His are always about development - spiritually, physically, emotionally, relationally, even financially. As the saying goes "God loves you right where you're at, but He loves you too much to leave you there!"

James 1:2-4 in the Message says "Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way."

Honestly, as I look back over my years it truly is the stuff of life I wouldn't have chosen that has resulted in the most growth. And such has been the case with my trips to the physical therapist this summer. Truth is, it stunk, it hurt to use my arm and it hurt to lift the amount of weight they seemed to think I needed to lift in order to get healthy. It hurt to have them stretch my arm in order to bring more movement to it.

But you know what.my arm feels SO much better now! It's not because I'm "problem free", but it is because I've learned the exercises that need to be done to protect the problem area and develop the muscle in my arm. It's because I've learned what position I need to avoid and to use in order to keep my arm as healthy and pain free as possible.

It's because I couldn't fix it on my own, but God has given others wisdom, knowledge, and the ability to help folks like me who need some guidance and instruction.

So what trial are you facing today? What work would you like to avoid? What is making you hurt - in your body, your relationships, your wallet, or your mind? Have you thanked God for the gift He has chosen to allow you to receive? Have you looked for help, from God and from His people? Are you prepared to grow?

I know it's hard when the pain is intense, but I am convinced that our attitude in the midst of life's trials is the key to the intensity of pain we experience and the length of time we find ourselves in the midst of the challenge and the treatment!

I tell my kids "the one choice you have control over is your attitude". I hope I live that out when the pain, the hard work, and the bumpy roads fill my life. Is my attitude one of joyful anticipation of the gift that God has chosen for my life?

And will I remember to "consider it a gift" on the front-end of the next trial?

Until next time.

Beth

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When I was growing up I had a large bedroom with slanted ceilings. On either side of my room were small doors in the walls leading to attic storage spaces. If you had the courage you could go all the way through the creepy crawl space into my brother's room across the hall. I wasn't brave enough to try it often.

The home we rent now has the same kind of storage spaces except they don't connect. And they're carpeted so they're not as creepy as my old crawl space. It makes a great hide out for my niece.

My favorite hiding place when I was a kid was my sister's closet. I liked peeking out from behind her clothes. As a child I had a penchant for hiding. I liked to see but not be seen. (One of my favorite books was Harriet The Spy by Louise Fitzhugh, a story about a young girl who gets into all kinds of trouble as she records her observations about people).

What I never realized, until recently, is how that whole hiding thing has affected my relationships with people. I still have a tendency to hide - at least to hide parts of myself - from other people. You can see me - but only part of me. Don't get me wrong, I think there is wisdom in being cautious about what you share about yourself. (In today's world it's not safe to just put your personal information out there for anyone to see - witness My Space and Facebook - truth is no less truth with discretion). But apart from being discerning about what to share with others and still be open and up-front with people, I think I have a natural bent toward hanging back and waiting to see what happens. I just never called it hiding before!

And I wonder - how does all this affect my spiritual life? Do I do the same thing with God? Hold back and wait and see what happens? Have I constructed walls where there shouldn't be any? I have always had huge trust issues, which I have been working on for a long time, and honestly thought I had come to grips with most of that. Now I'm wondering if God is calling me to go deeper. There's always some area of my life He's trying to refine.

As I've thought and prayed about this area of my life I've come to the conclusion that the secret is to find the right hiding place!

You are my hiding place and my shield;I hope in Your word. Ps 119:114

You are my hiding place;You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Ps. 32:7

You see, God's not asking me to put my trust in people (even people who are trustworthy fail) but in Him! In Him, I can see and be seen for who I really am - a child of God. Not perfect, not even close, but growing, maturing, learning.

His protection, love and grace are my hiding place now.

All-ee, All-ee in come free!

All for Him,

Missy

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I had shared some time ago how my husband lost his job. Now here we are, three months later, still searching for a full-time position. Piecing together hours from two jobs, hoping they equal at least around 30 hours a week so we can stay on top of our bills. Both positions are considered PRN, so there are no guaranteed shifts. Between the lack of hours he also took a significant pay cut, and we just have to pray that whatever the check ends up being it's enough to meet our needs.

Along with that comes the disappointment and frustration of having made a step further in his career, only to have the opportunity taken away and now suddenly be three steps back, with very little prospects of any foreseeable jobs in the near future. Of having worked hard to earn a college degree that now seems to mean nothing, or at least, doesn't mean enough to land a job. Meanwhile it seems everyone around us is getting new jobs, new cars, and new babies. Needless to say we're a little discouraged.

So I'm sitting here, staring at the calendar, looking at my husband's shifts and thinking that there just isn't enough. I'm so tired of holding my breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop and our lives to crumble into one big, financial mess, buried under the weight of so much debt and stress we can't see anything else. Sure, we're okay today, but what about tomorrow, or next week, or next month? When is it all finally going to end? When are we going to catch a break? Surely we deserve one by now.

And in the middle of my hopelessness, my stress, my anger, my frustration, my worry, and my fear, I catch the verse on the bright orange post-it note stuck to the bottom of my computer screen:

"But those that seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing." Ps 34:10

Father, how quickly I forget that this life is not about comfort, it's not about money or security or any other earthly treasure. It is about spending my days seeking You. Earnestly running after You, following hard, dropping everything when You call my name. You are above and beyond everything I need. You are bigger than a job, bigger than a paycheck, and big enough to meet every need that I have. I am lacking nothing when I have You, for in You I find comfort and security and a place to lay my burdens down. I am not missing out on anything, for in You I find every good thing there is that's worth having.

Emily

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I had the best night's sleep the other night - those of you who have children who have left home will understand what I mean when I tell you that there's nothing like that moment you fall asleep knowing that all your children are under one roof and, for that moment, safe and sound.

It's one of those times when I take a mental snapshot - how wonderful it feels to know that everyone is together. It doesn't last long, of course. It seems the next day they're gone in a whirlwind of hanging clothes, luggage, and plastic bags of everything that wouldn't fit in - leaving behind dirty sheets and smudged fingerprints, a lone bottle of shampoo, and someone's toothbrush.

I usually hate cleaning my house - but after the kids leave I actually enjoy it because each mess left behind is a reminder of the wonderful time we had when they were here. So as I vacuum up the dirt and re-make the beds I pour out my gratitude to the Lord. (I don't miss the irony in that all the little things that used to bug me - like tracking in dirt and leaving their belongings all over the house - have become a joy to me now that I have a different perspective!) If I were offered the choice between an empty, clean house or one filled with noise, chaos and the people I love, I would choose the latter every time.

We just enjoy being with one another. I think one reason for that is living apart from each other (it used to be 16 hours but is now more like 4 1/2 and 3 1/2 so I try not to complain!) It's always a little sad when our time together ends, but this week I had some surprises that helped me through the goodbyes.

While cleaning this week I began to find notes all over my house - tucked into picture frames, drawers, the medicine cabinet, our lap top. Every time I thought that was all of them I'd find another one in some unsuspecting hiding place. And I've left them there.

They are so much fun to read all over again and relive their visit but I wondered how long they would continue to be wonderful surprises and messages that touched my heart because they were from my children. Would I eventually ignore them or take them for granted? It struck me then that God's Word is full of wonderful messages to me, too. Do I read it fresh with wonder and excitement? Embracing His love for me and reminding myself of all He has promised? Or do I take it for granted - you know, skipping over familiar verses with carelessness? I want to read it fresh everyday. I want to absorb all that God has for me in each message I find there.

Like reading my children's notes I want to read God's Word and savor the knowledge of the love it contains. You can find the most marvelous gems in every book of the Bible!

And my children's messages? They were wonderful as well - things like 'thanks for taking care of us while we were home' and 'sorry for trashing your house', and 'thanks for letting us all stay together'. They included those three wonderful words 'we love you' and 'we miss you'. I loved the message that read 'can't wait to give you more grandbabies' - but I think my favorite was the one that said we were 'such amazing parents!'

I think they're finally getting what I tried to teach them all along!

All for Him,

Missy

Labels: Missy

You ever get a really bad haircut?

I was fourteen, and I had found a cute style in a magazine. I cut it out and took it to my hairdresser. The cut I wound up with looked nothing like what I had showed her. In fact, I looked more like Florence Henderson in the Brady Bunch, you know, where she had that crazy thin layer that flipped out under a bob? I don't have any actual pictures of that horrendous 'do', but it was something like this.

I know. Awful, right? As soon as my mom and I were in the car I started bawling, looking in the mirror and hating what I saw. I was absolutely devastated, so my mom figured the best thing she could do was to take me to my best friend's house, because if I wouldn't believe her that it wasn't nearly as terrible as I was making it out to be, then maybe I would believe my best friend.

I tried to convince myself on the drive over that it would be okay, and that surely my friend would offer me some consolation. "Oh Em," she said when I walked in the door, hand over her mouth. She took me upstairs and dug through her barrettes, ponytail holders, and headbands and said, "There's gotta be some way we can fix this!"

I love her response. I didn't at the time, because it really didn't make me feel better. She didn't lie to me and tell me that it was alright or that she liked it. The truth still remained that I looked terrible; she didn't try to hide that fact. But looking back I appreciate it because she let me know she was there to do whatever she could to help fix my problem.

When we come to God with our bad haircuts, He definitely doesn't lie to us. We bring Him an ugly mess, and He says, "Yep, that's an ugly mess. But there's a way we can fix it." Don't you love that? God is the ultimate hairdresser! There is nothing He can't make better. The process may be painful, and it may take a long time, but He can make anything beautiful - even that awful Carol Brady look.

So if you're walking around with a really terrible, awful haircut, and you're terrified of letting anyone else near you with a pair of scissors, let me give you the number of the One who 'does my hair'. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Emily

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Sub-title: "Of Eggshells and Beach Houses" - strange title, eh? And it really has nothing to do with cooking or vacation! I've been thinking a lot lately about relationships, about how fragile some are and how resilient some are.

Several weeks ago a couple of friends came over to work on a Circle of Friends event. Due to busy schedules we chose a time that was rather late for me, (only an hour or so from my bedtime!) I wasn't too sure how creative I would be. But we needed to meet, needed to get a few more things in writing. We had a great time coming up with workshop themes and titles - some that we may even be able to use! But the best part of the evening was the laughter, the friendship, the camaraderie, even amidst the bedtime yawns!

After they left I looked at my husband and said "I love my friends!" His immediate response was "What did they do?" I tried to explain that it really wasn't anything anyone did; it was just the being together. I have wonderful friends!

His question kept stirring around in my brain the following day. What is it that makes friendship so special? What was it about an evening spent with friends, working on a project and drinking some coffee that can fill my tired heart with joy? I processed much throughout that day, and when evening came I was ready to explain myself to my hubby.

"I can be open, honest, genuine, ME, with my friends; I can say what I'm thinking and if they don't agree they ask me to explain more, they help me think, they tell me when they think I'm off course, they make me laugh, and sometimes cry - and it goes both ways."

My wise husband listened and then said "You don't have to worry about easily offending each other." (note to self, he used ten words compared to my more than 50, hmmm.=) To which I responded "Yes, that's it! 'Not easily offended' - I don't have to walk on eggshells around them!"

The kind of friendship I was trying to put into words is a solid relationship, built on a good foundation. There will be work with it but the right tools are available to keep it maintained; it has been built to be lived in and enjoyed. Those types of relationships don't just happen; it takes time to build them properly, much like building a house. And the feeling of being refreshed after time spent reminds me specifically of time spent in a "beach house"!

These are the relationships that can get packed up, taken along, shook out, endure a little rain, and a lot of sunshine; the ones that sometimes sting (from too much sunshine!) but most often leave a healthy glow; the ones that know storms will come and storms will go but you trust the foundation to stand; the ones that understand that sometimes the waves come rolling in and you need a hand to pull you up out of the water, and the ones that also realize that sometimes it's my hand that will be doing the pulling.

A "beach house" friendship is not a relationship where you walk gingerly around and about fragile places. If we're honest, we all have those types of fragile relationships; they are the "eggshells" in the subtitle.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not saying the relationships that require more care are throw-away relationships. I have some BEAUTIFUL hand painted eggshells that I keep in my china hutch, they are worth saving, protecting, admiring.but I wouldn't take them on vacation with me 'cause they might get damaged!

I have "eggshell" friendships, and I have "beach house" friendships. They both have unique beauty and enjoyment. But honestly, most of us would rather spend a day at a beach house than an hour holding a fragile eggshell.

The question I find myself asking in all of this is not "Which of my friends are eggshells, which are beach houses?" But "What kind of friend am I?"

Do I want to be the beautiful, yet fragile, friend that's appreciated and admired, but rather cautiously? Or do I want to be the sturdy, sometimes messy, but oh so refreshing friend who can enjoy the sunshine and weather the storms of life?

God's word says "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." (I Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV)

For me that translates into "Love the 'eggshells', but BE the 'beach house'!"

Until next time.
Beth

Labels: Beth

I've returned to my treadmill. After somewhat of a rocky break-up we parted ways for a time, but I'm working on trying to make the relationship work. It's a sad sight at 6:00 am - me, bleary-eyed and stumbling over my untied shoes. But after I warm up and wake up I crank up the speed (from 1 to 4 - out of 12!) and I jog. It had been so long since I'd worked out I literally could only run for one minute before I had to slow it down to a walk, then try again. Eventually I made it to three minutes, then five, then running ten minute intervals with incline climbing in between, now I'm up to a warm up and jogging twenty minutes and then a cool down. It's hard work, I tell ya. I've undone all my former getting into shape so now I have to work twice as hard for half my former results. But I'm persevering.

I'm remembering Hebrews 12:1 - "...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

Perseverance - 'hypomone' - meaning not swerved from deliberate purpose, a patient enduring, a steadfastness. How do we get it? Rom 5:3 tells us suffering or 'tribulation' produces it. It's a 'pressing together' a pressure that continues to build. James 1:3 tells us that the testing of our faith develops perseverance. And perseverance? Perseverance develops character (Rom. 5:4) and godliness (2 Peter 1:6). It completes a work of maturity in us (James 1:4) that gives us everything we need.

So the whole 'no pain, no gain' thing? Absolutely true. Webster's says to persevere is to persist in spite of opposition or discouragement. To 'keep on keeping on' even when you don't want to. I totally get that - that's me and my treadmill. It's getting up early when I love to sleep in. Pushing myself to jog for one more minute, then another.

When I was young it seemed much more effortless. Not just the whole working-out thing. I never thought too much of the 'perseverance' Paul talks so much about. I mean, Paul would know. Beaten with rods (three times), whipped with thirty-nine lashes (five times), shipwrecked (three times), stoned, robbed, in prison for years - the man knew all about endurance, persisting in the face of opposition. Back then, I hadn't faced much opposition and I certainly couldn't conceive of being burnt out, beaten down, or in danger of giving up, but as I've grown in experience I've known people who have done exactly that.

I'm feeling what Paul says in 1 Cor. 9:26-27- "I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself."

All for Him,

Missy

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