Which donut do you want?

My family requested donuts this weekend and since I have pretty much banned them on school days and opted for more protein, I granted their request and bought an assorted dozen. Amazingly enough, there were 4 remaining last night. I spotted my fancy cake dome on the bar and decided to put the last 4 in there on display to motivate my crew this morning to rise and shine. There were 2 glazed, 1 blueberry, and one chocolate covered glazed. As I walked through rooms and turned on lights today, I quietly said just loud enough so that my sleepy heads could hear, "The first dressed and at the table gets first choice of the left-over donuts." I knew that would work! Heads raised, arms stretched, and all four of my kiddos were looking for clothes pretty quickly. I prayed as I walked out of the last room to myself that the fact there was an assortment remaining would not cause a war on a Monday morning. That would be no way to start the week or the day for that matter.


Banner, the oldest, was first as usual. Brazos, 2nd in birth order, was 2nd and made his pick. I commented to myself...no conflicts yet and walked back down the hallway to check on Blaise and Bosque. By the time I was back in the kitchen, the younger two were standing at the side of the bar by the cake stand looking at the 2 remaining donuts. One was glazed and one was chocolate glazed. I heard the most amazing thing as I walked towards the kitchen. Bosque, my 7 year old, said "Blaise, which one do you want?" She looked up at him, smiled, and pointed to her choice. I froze because I did not want them to see me yet and I had to take it all in! Big brother reached up and handed her the donut of her choice, took his, and they walked over to the table.


I was amazed! It was one of those little moments in life that is really BIG and not a little moment at all! I used verbal praise well that I was taught in my education courses at UTA to acknowledge his sweetness and added in that Bosque had a heart like the Lord wanted him to have at that moment. (I stress at that moment and this is not to make my son out to be an angel!!! Only a short time later in the bathroom he said he did not like me because I messed up his perfect hairdo with my hand trying to smooth it out a bit.)


I live for these moments in motherhood and in life! I really do. These times are bigger and better than any dream destination vacation and piece of jewelry that could ever be bought for me. These moments with my kids way top the new Old Gringo boots I bought and adore a million times! These moments in life can not be bought, planned, or created on our own!


In a little book on JOY I have been reading there is a quote by Rick Warren that says "Your were made by God and for God - and until you understand that, life will not make sense." Really nothing about our lives is about us. We will only be happy when we put others before us. My son did that. You should have seen the smile on his face when he asked her which donut she wanted. He made her day and he liked it! I too know I am the most happy and content when I put others before me. Why we slip into modes of "SELF" I do not know because it always ends in defeat, sadness, and even depression.


Jesus Christ lived to serve us, died for us, and did it all without thinking about Himself, what He deserved, and what was owed to Him. We must prayerfully and obediently follow as close as we can in His footsteps. It begins today with not demanding that we have life our way, but looking around us to see who we can bless.


I don't know. Maybe today it will be that you give up your favorite donut, let the person in the line at the store go in front of you, or even do the dishes again even if it is not your turn...and with a smile!

Rick Warren begins his book "The Purpose Driven Life" with this simple line "It is not about you." To me that statement reveals more than anything why most people are miserable! We will never be satisfied and content if we take on the world's view that life is about US and needs to revolve around OUR NEEDS! "Self" will not work and will never produce joy.


The next paragraph in the book goes onto say "The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It's far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose."


Bless someone today in your path. Live today with purpose from the Lord by putting others first, and yourself second. Oh, and...My son did not only make his sister's day, but mine too!

It's me or the rooster....

Not to long ago my husband had to make a choice. I would like to believe that it was a quick and easy one. It was going to be ME or the ROOSTER. One of us HAD TO GO! Let me explain. Last summer we got a rooster from a friend to hang out here with our hens and do what roosters do. Oh, and he was quite the rooster! I enjoyed his early morning antics and wake-up calls because I am happiest at that time of day, but must admit that was the only thing that I liked about the beast. He and I just did not not get along. I was afraid of him and he knew it. He had my number! Anytime I was near him, he would fluff up like a man on some serious steroids and charge after me. I would then proceed to run and scream like a little sissy. Again, I fully admit...He had my number!!!


On one particular Thursday morning, I was home alone and went on over to the chicken coop to let our beloved birds free for the day. I hid behind the door, normal routine, until he was out of the house. I held onto my shovel, my chosen weapon, for dear life. He went on out and started strutting around after the poor little hens. I snuck into the chicken house and hurriedly gathered up the eggs. I watched out of the window for him to return like a robber in a bank watching for the police at the door in a total paranoid state. My greatest fear had been that he would trap me in the house and....I don't even know! I bent down to grab the last of the eggs and heard something at the door. At first I thought it must have been my dog, Belle, trying to come in and get her daily dose of fresh protein, but it was not. IT WAS THE ROOSTER and he was in the house with me. I was trapped in the corner and did not have a shovel or anything. I could not call for my husband to come and help me because he was not home. I was alone. It was me and HIM.


My first thought for survival was Belle. She would come and help me. She was near...had to be...I just saw her. I called for her. "Belle, come here, Belle, come here girl." No Belle. This seemed to make the rooster snicker and puff up even more and move my way, inch by inch. I looked around, without moving a muscle to see if there was anything I could use as artillery. There was nothing but the eggs that I had gathered in my hands. I threw one at him and missed. I screamed and yelled at him to get out. I know by this point that my heart rate was off of the charts. I resorted to prayer. I prayed. I thought to myself...Lord, help me. I am not going out like this!!! I stood still and stared at the rooster after my cry and plea for help to the Lord for what seemed like 5 minutes. I bet it was only 1 or 2. Finally...the rooster seemingly laughed at me and my cowardliness in the corner, pivoted around, and left the coop. I tiptoed to the door and peeked out of the window and made a run for it to the house. (I scolded Belle on the way home as I sprinted past her like a speeding bullet because she did not help me.)


After I stopped heaving from the ruckus, I called my husband and had to relive the ordeal like a victim being put on the stand in a packed courtroom. It still raises the hair on my arms even now as I type. I know I could have kicked one time and taken HIM out, but I was afraid I would kick, trip, and fall and then he would have had me down. Instead of ever really fighting back, minus that day using the eggs missiles, I gave into him and my fear. I gave my husband an ultimatium like never before. I simply stated to him. "It is me or the rooster!" I am still here and typing. That should tell you who won. As usual, this whole silly to many, yet serious to me scenario made me think of a Biblical principle. I told Branden "It's me or the rooster." I think the Lord tells us all of the time..."It's me or ________________." You fill in the blank. What comes to mind? Maybe it is a person, habit, addiction, sin, attitude, mood, or even not forgiving someone. What is He telling you today MUST GO? Possibly you can answer that question with...nothing really. There are seasons of life that come when we are walking pretty tight with Jesus and really can't find much that needs to go. That usually comes after a season of serious CLEANING, pruning, etc. I mean where He said "THIS MUST GO" and you submitted, obeyed and acted on it. There is usually a time of rest for a while after that, minus the huge spiritual warfare that then can come from the enemy when we are obedient.


However, most of us can easily identify what needs to go in our life to make us closer to the Lord. We just choose to ignore it and hold onto it for dear life sometimes. Many think that being a Christian means giving up stuff; therefore, living a boring, blah, life. It is quite the contrary! I have often been blown away by how exciting life really is when I am walking closely with the Lord. A friend shared with me today that she had been praying specific scriptures for her husband. One was that the veil would be lifted from his eyes and he would really see himself as the Lord sees him. He told her one day last week that he was on the tractor and to quote him..."It is like a veil has been lifted from my eyes. I see it all now." Is that boring at all? Does a life like that lack excitement? I think not.


This week...do not live any longer with the junk in your life. Get rid of it. There is power in the blood and all sin can be forgiven, any life can be transformed, any relationship can be restored. Jesus came to set the captives free. That is you and I. We do not have to live this life miserable in bondage to sin. If you do know Jesus as your personal Savior, He is probably saying to you right now...."It is me or _______________." Oh, dear friend, He will not leave you if you keep the junk or choose to hold onto the sin, worry, negative attitude, bitterness, etc., but you will miss out on all that He has for you because sin always holds us back. Jesus Christ loves us and only wants what is best for us! Jesus says in John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and have it to the full." Who among us would not choose to live and to have a FULL life?


In Romans 6:16-18Paul says "Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey - whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness. But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness."


Will we choose to be slaves to sin or be slaves to obedience and a full life today? It all begins with a loving plea from the Lord for your total attention...What will it be for you? Will you choose the Lord in His amazing fullness, love, grace, and JOY, drawing closer to Him by spending time in the Word and in prayer?


Or will you choose _______________________. The choice is yours.


One more thing: This rooster incident had been building and was not an isolated case! I had several run-ins with the cocky beast before. I asked my husband nicely at first if he would consider taking out the rooster, but it was not serious enough yet for that type of action. I often think at first too God asks us nicely if we will STOP, think, and turn back to Him. When we continue on in the wrong direction, He will speak up a bit louder and eventually get to a point that we may hear Him YELLING. That is a good thing because He does not give up on us.

Kaye Arthur says in a Bible study I am doing "Sin will take you further than you ever expected to go. It will keep you longer than you ever intended to stay, and it will cost you more than you ever expected to pay."

Observations from home today

Our lake is lower than ever it seems like.

The trees are budding and I see new green when I look across the pasture.

I needed 2 new tires.

I had the money to pay cash for them.

My daughter has a cough.

2 days ago she also had fever.

Hollywood seems to be winning out in America.

My 9 year old read the Bible out loud to us on the way to school this morning.

A friend's mom had a biopsy today on her breast.

She asked me to pray with her and we did at work... without fear.

I forgot to buy horse food today.

New grass seemed to magically appear.

A computer program not working correctly caused frustration today at work.

The input was saved before the "issue" began.

A dear friend is sick in the hospital.

She has a family around her and knows her Heavenly Father.

My feet hurt from my new shoes.

My Aunt Ginger gave them to me and they are cute!

So many families are hurting because of cancer.

The Holy Spirit reminded me to pray for them today.

One of our prized guineas was left out of the coop last week and ran into a raccoon in the night...you know, lots of feathers around and one less guinea.

My purple martins are moving back into their summer home and I can hear them singing all day.

I noticed there are so many tacky songs on the radio.

I ran and listened to Chris Tomlin.

A friend made a long trip last Sunday to see a man she knows and loves dealing with cancer.

She drew closer to God on the way home and thanked Him for her life.

My kids, as usual, got into a little fight right before their Dad walked in the door from work.

As we got out of the car after dinner with friends, my seven year old called each of us by name and said that he loved his family.

I turn on the news or even glance at my Facebook and wonder what is happening all around me with so many hurting and lost.

I make a choice when I wake up my kids in the morning that today I can not control the world or what people around me may do or say, but I can control my attitude and the environment that I create here in my own home.


Life really all depends on perspective.
A "no" from God is always really a "yes" in time.
Keep on looking for blessings this week!
Start a journal.
Write them down.
Make it an intentional choice to notice what is going right in your life.