Peace...from Christmas

My son’s prayer last night summed up a dynamic in our home. He said “Lord, please help Banner not to pick on Brazos, Brazos not to pick on me, and me not to pick on Blaise.” He paused to think for a second and then said “It’s kind of funny, Lord, because Blaise has no one to pick on.” After some reflection time, I must admit I really do wonder if I live in a home or in a chicken coop full of hens and roosters trying hard to establish their position in the pecking order. Maybe you presently reside in a continuously happy home with happy people, but perhaps you get my drift with people at work or with your circle of friends about the “pecking order” thing. The topic of peace came to mind again before daylight today when I let my Jack Russell and Lab out to go take care of their business. Our lab was back at the door before you could say “Christmas cookie” in dog language because she wanted no part of the cold weather. Bubs, on the other hand, discovered an adventure that was obviously to him well worth the blistering cold air. He found a cat near my car and managed to run it up in the bottom the vehicle. I could hear him, but not see him until I found my furry house shoes, flashlight, and headed out into the elements myself to see what the ruckus was all about. I spotted Bubs hopping up and down like the Easter Bunny under my car trying to get the cat out so the brawl could continue. I crawled under the car and grabbed him by his tail. With a few new scratches, he walked right to his food bowl to eat as if nothing had ever happened. I thought back to my word, PEACE, and wondered how on earth he could have any left after the fight he had been in. Is it easy to get along with others and have peace? No, but we have to keep on trying because getting along with others pleases God. Luke 2:14 reminds us of that. It says “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” Our chances are greater for peace on earth if the Lord is pleased with us. Peace on earth is the whole reason we celebrate Christmas, because only with the birth of Jesus did peace come to this fallen, messed up world anyway. I love the title of a song that came out in 1955 by Sy Miller and Jill Jackson called “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.” It is fitting since I cannot control the world or even the people or animals in my little corner of the universe, but I can control myself. So, this week I aim to please the Lord because with that comes peace. I aim to walk in obedience to God because that promises to bring me peace. I aim to get along with others and die to self because peace comes to those on whom the favor of the Lord rests. Because I will have peace and be at peace with God, I will have peace to offer and give others. If you feel like something in your life is missing and there is no peace, something probably is missing. Don’t let Christmas pass another year without discovering what peace really is. It all started in a manger in Bethlehem and PEACE still lives on today in the heart of every believer.

I am blessed; I can BLESS

My son wanted to play a game on his sister’s iPod this week and to convince her to share; he said “I let you sit in my seat in the car. I have you a bite of my bologna sandwich. I carried your backpack and you mean to tell me you won’t even let me play one game?” Evidentially the future debate club member had been storing a list of his good deeds all day like an animal stores food up for the winter. Oh, I could relate to his thinking. Do you ever feel like you keep an ongoing list with tally marks recording what you do and what others around you do maybe what they do NOT do? If we are honest, we all entertain the thought at work, home, in the community, and even at church that WE carry majority of the load a little too often. Sometimes we feel honored by it, and sometimes we feel plain abused and worn slap out. When I became a new mother, suddenly responsible for more than just myself, I kept a running list in my brain going at all times in my household against my husband. It looked like this: dishes – 1 mark for me, laundry – 1 mark for me, yard – 1 for him, diaper – 2 more for me, groceries – 1 for me. At the end of the day, I would add it all up and decide that life was not fair because I was doing more, but failed to sometimes see the big picture. It was a pretty miserable way to live. Years have passed and we live by a teamwork policy here, but every now and then the “I am tired of doing everything in this house” still comes up…like yesterday morning actually and completely robs me all of my joy. It is usually begins with a mood I am in and ends with a list of consequences stating what will happen the next time I have to pick up shoes off of the floor or feed the chickens. Somewhere in the middle of the dissertation, I promise a color coded, signed in blood chore chart that will be visible for all to see by sundown. I rediscovered a better way this week to look my personal workload. Mother Teresa wrote “The work we do is only our love for Jesus in action. If we pray the work…if we do it to Jesus, if we do it with Jesus…that’s what makes us content.” I read this timely word in a book called “One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp. Ann simplifies the concept with “I am blessed. I can bless.” Wow, how great is that? I am blessed. I can bless This week when you plan the next committee meeting, organize the pantry, change the oil in the car, take out the trash, or write the comment on the bottom of the graded paper, it could be a way to bless someone because you are blessed. Keeping score is useless. A mind full of tally marks will guarantee you more stress, bitterness, wrinkles and probably cause you to need medication for acid reflux. Remember this week that God sent Jesus to serve others and through Him, he offered us the greatest blessing of all time. Live this week thinking: I am blessed. I can bless. Bless a sweet family in Fairfield too. Check out “The Righty Run” benefiting Alex Ward, an awesome 7 year old, who is in continual therapy for Infantile Spasms that will be held March 1st in Fairfield.

VALENTINE'S DAY

This is the week that love is in the air, pink and red take over, and chocolate becomes one of the four major food groups. I admit I have never been much of a romantic, but my husband and I try to keep a yearly tradition to spend Valentines in the Hill Country. We usually go to the annual Hug-In at Luckenbach to see Gary P. Nunn. From my sweetie, I prefer Peanut M&Ms over Godiva and I will take a few tulip bulbs in the ground over a dozen roses any day. Oh, the topic of love. It keeps the Hallmark channel in business and gives singers something to sing about. I fell in love with George Strait in third grade and refused to wash my hand for a week because he touched it at the Palestine Civic Center. I still remember when I told my grandparents I was going out with a boy and they asked where we were going? I wrote love notes while sitting on my bed as a kid using my “lap desk” and tried to play “Endless Love” on the piano. I don’t think I ever got that one down. I loved my friends, quite a few boys, the first group of seventh grade students I taught at Agnew Middle School in Mesquite. I fell in love with a man who loved me back and married him. My love meter reached a new high when I became a mother. The new level of love was confirmed when I left my firstborn unattended for just a second propped up on a pillow and she fell. She was only a few weeks old. I questioned my ability to mother. I questioned life. I knew without a doubt at that moment I loved someone more than myself. When I ran down the hallway and picked her up off of the hardwood floor, I started to cry and I cried for days. I was as close to needing some time in mental facility as I have ever been that week. When I had Brazos, my second born, I questioned whether my heart had enough unoccupied space to love him too. After a few days at Children’s Hospital with him battling jaundice, I knew that I could love my little boy as much as I loved my little girl. There was even enough love in my heart too for two more kiddos. Go figure! Everyone has their own love story, but the greatest love story of all is John 3:16. (Yes, it even wins the blue ribbon over every Nicholas Spark novel) John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” The question is… what will you do with the greatest love story of all time? Will you just read it or will you be part of it and invite Jesus into your heart? He can make you complete now and will love you for eternity. He will love you no matter what you have done and no matter what you do. Want in the story? You can’t just go to church, believe there is a God, or attempt to live a good life. You can’t “work” yourself into the story and your family can’t get you in. The choice is all yours… read the story or be part of the story by accepting His free gift of salvation? It does not end there either. John 13:34 says “As I have loved you, love one another.” With that, the greatest love story of all continues on and on through us.

This and THAT

I made the short trip over to Teague this morning to visit with a group of women from Eighth Avenue Baptist Church for a recipe exchange. I gathered my thoughts all week long and related them to cooking to coincide with their theme. It was a good week for me to focus myself on the truth found in my own Bible in preparation for my time with them. I feel like I have always been in a kitchen. I was raised sitting on a counter or perched on a stool with my hands in a bowl stirring like I had my own show on the Cooking Channel. I loved to cook with Lula Mae Rischer at my Grandmother’s. She didn’t measure anything or use a recipe; therefore, she was in a class all of her own in my book. It was magical to watch her in the kitchen. She would just smile when I asked how much flour or sugar we were going to add to our baked goods because she never really measured anything. It was just a dab of this and that. Her “this” and a dab of “that” was, and the still is, some of the most delicious food my taste buds have ever tasted. Like her cooking, my life has been a whole lot of “this and that.” If I tried to draw out my life experiences on a timeline, it would look like a roller coaster with some sporadic zigzags thrown in the mix. Some up my ups and downs would be there because of my own sin and choices. Some of the diversions would show up because I believe that Lord has allowed certain trials and tests to come into my life. They have made me stronger and taught me to rely on Jesus and not myself. My personal timeline on paper is up and down, back and forth; however, if I was to draw a line that represented the Lord in my life, it would be steady and straight across. God is constant, consistent, never changes, always the same from beginning to the end. That is why He is my Rock, Friend, Savior, Redeemer, Healer, Prince of Peace, Hope, Joy, and the list goes on and on. When I have drifted far from where I belong and from the path God intended for me, He has never left my side. His line has stayed consistently right by mine, knowing all along that I would come back. I feel like sometimes He must think…I am right here, steady, still, and waiting, and YOU are the one running around in circles like a chicken with your head cut off, so get back in line, Sister! My time in the kitchen learning how to combine a little bit of this and a pinch of that served me well. I can cook up a scrumptious pound cake that is guaranteed to put a few extra pounds on you. My life lessons have served me well too, both the ones I got right and the ones I got wrong too because life is a process. Good cooks know how to revise a recipe to make it their own and improve on the desired, finished product. Maybe there is something in your life too that needs to be revised. Something may need to be added into your life, like a Bible Study with a group or prayer time in the morning. It is highly possible too that something needs to be eliminated from your life totally to make it sweeter. So, blessings to you this week in the kitchen and blessings to you as you seek the Lord. He sees all and knows all.

The SUN

When the sun came out a few days ago after what had seemed like a decade of cold, wet, and BLAH weather, I found myself more thankful than ever for the warmth and sunshine. I was all of a sudden energized to sweep off my carport, help plant the onions, and play ball with my kids. A simple thought occurred to me when I first saw the sun come up early that morning. I would not have appreciated the sun if I had not been without it for a week. The darkness made me thankful for the light. I realized that very simple thought could be a way to look at trials and tough times. I took a journey back in my mind and applied it to other things that I have been through. If I had not at one time been really sick, I would not appreciate good health. Walking into Sammons Cancer Center in Dallas on a regular basis made me learn to appreciate walking into ETMC to see Dr. Orms for a friendly check-up. If I had not been surrounded by noise and activity for many hours at a time, I would not appreciate the gift of quietness and being alone. If I did not have kids who fight and fuss on a regular basis, I would not know to cherish the times we all get along. My dirty car makes me appreciate it when my car is shiny and moderately clean. (No, it is never really clean so I chose the word moderately carefully to describe how clean it is.) Saturdays spent doing too much before I knew how to say no make me grateful for Saturdays now with nothing to do. You see…I believe our greatest lessons and blessings come from trials and hard times. We do not learn to truly be grateful for anything until we are tested or without it! When life is good, we do not usually lean on the Lord because in our minds, we can do it all on our own. When something happens that wakes us up and shatters our plans by knocking us down a notch or two, we look up and cry out for help. On our knees is just the position we need to be in for the Lord to work and for us to know without a doubt that we can trust Him. Maybe a good assignment this week (this is the teacher coming out in me) would be to fill in a few blanks and look at your own trials too in light of this idea. If I had not been through ______________________, I would not know _________________. I close with this one that is nearest and dearest to my heart. If I had not lived a life in bondage with my own insecurities and issues, I would not appreciate the fact that Jesus lived and died to set me free. Without the many years in chains, I would not know grace, joy, freedom, and true peace. I would not know forgiveness either. The good stuff in life is often comes as a result of the bad stuff. I guess that is what James meant when he wrote, in way more eloquent language than I just did, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” in James 1:2. Trials of many kinds will come our way. That is a guarantee. What we do with them makes all the difference. Perseverance sounds better to me than bitterness and defeat, so fill in the blanks and be blessed. If I had not dealt with _______________, I would not know __________________.

the GATE

I am going to let the cat out of the bag tonight when I write this column. I can be a bit of a blonde (even though my blonde now is more because of a great hair stylist than anything natural.) I am also often more of a creative thinker than a logical one. My family had the biggest laugh of the weekend at my expense yesterday because I could not figure something out. We carried the trash up the road to our dumpster, and I had gate duty. The dumpster gates are big, silver, and they move back and forth with grace on the hinges like they had a lifetime supply of WD40 spayed on them. I had a time getting them both to meet in the middle so I could hook the chain. I fetched one panel and had it in the middle where it needed to be and then had to get the other one. I let go of the first one and hoped it would stay in place; however, it did not. It swung back when I tried to get the other one. Can you say: Out of control? I decided to give the second one a hard shove towards the middle so I could retrieve the first one and it went so far that I had to start all over again. This went on for a few minutes. I wanted to scream “I can’t do this!” My family just sat in the truck and laughed at me. As it went on, I started laughing too. I think I even snorted at my own expense, but I eventually got the gate latched. The gate fiasco reminded me of life. Sometimes we work hard and give it our best, but we realize that much of life is just honestly out of our control. We even may feel like some days when we are worn out that we just can’t do it anymore and hold it all together. In my own little corner, just about the time I feel like I get one of my children going in the right direction, another one may test me and I think…OH, I can’t do this. When my finances are good and there is money left over for the week, the dishwasher may break and I think…Really, I can’t do this. When I look around me and see so many people in need and living in horrible situations, I sometimes think it is just overwhelming and that leads to…I can’t do this. Even at church occasionally in situations doing what I think is the work of the Lord, I think… I can’t do this! My mind has been in a fog the past few days and my usual perky personality has been more clouded with an “I can’t do this” attitude, but today I was reminded of a truth. Luke Rachel shared a verse at the community wide Eagle Service from Joshua 1:9 that says “Have I not commanded you: Be strong and courageous? Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” If you are reading this and have any situation in life, big or small, that makes you think you just can’t do it anymore, then take heart and know that the Lord commanded Joshua and He commands you too to be strong and courageous. Do not give up! Do not give in! We can’t do anything on our own, but the LORD is with us wherever we go. Now, that’s a promise you can hold on to.

Didn't need it anyway

Something happened to me early this morning that has happened before, but it still hurt. I got up early to help my husband and daughter hit the road for softball, but knew immediately it was too early to stay up. I devised the perfect plan in my head. It was to crawl back in my warm and cozy bed as soon as I saw their tail lights head down the white, rock road. Before that though, I had my heart set on a bowl of cereal. I should say a cup of cereal because I have found that a cup works better in bed than a bowl. I poured my Fruit Loops in the cup and then the “IT” happened. I reached for the milk and realized that there was no milk. I mean….really? My first thought was to pout, but nobody was awake in the house to witness fit. I decided to take it like a big girl and when I made that wise and mature decision a thought occurred to me…I DID NOT NEED IT ANYWAY. (Oh, and I did not open the pantry and go on a search for another snack. I just decided to wait a few hours.) My early morning NO was a trivial example of “You didn’t need it anyway” but we all know this can happen on a much grander scale. When we get a NO in life, and we have relationship with the LORD, we really have to see every NO as a YES. Why? Because we trust that He knows better. We have to know when the acceptance letter doesn’t come in the mail, there was another plan. If and when the job position is offered to someone else, it just was not meant to be. When we are not on the guest list, we must accept that we were not supposed to go. When traffic slows us down or the flight is cancelled, we just need to sing the old song “He’s got the whole world in His hands.” This all goes along with a statement I heard a few years ago: There are no NO’s in the Kingdom of God. I have added to that truth that every NO means He has a better YES or that it is just not time yet. What about when we are in a situation and we want out, but God seems to leave us there? Maybe we are looking for the bigger and better when God wants us to realize that we are right where we are supposed to be. There are tests in life and times of waiting that require patience, contentment, dedication, and humbleness. The tests may only be passed when we stay put, remain, and hold tight to what we know is true. NO can mean WAIT because the YES is right around the corner and that means wait without manipulating the situation too. If you feel like your life is one big roller coaster full of ups and downs, it probably is and you may need to settle into the truth in Jeremiah 29:11 that says “For I know the plans I have for you says the LORD, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and hope.” If you do not know the Lord as your Savior, pray to Him today and invite Him into your heart. For the Believer, when you have done all you can do, just REST and accept any and every answer from God because He does know what you need.

Bubs and the garden

My husband is bound and determined to have a garden. We have mastered tomatoes, peppers, and onions. I must admit that I like the idea of gardening too until the dog days of summer set in and the weeding interferes with my lazy schedule. At that point, I am happy to just shop for my veggies. However, this week we had to get the onions in the ground and begin another season. My son headed straight over to the garden after school to level the area that had been plowed. He had his heavy duty rake and was smoothing everything out with nice, level strokes. My first job was to get us a snack together. My progress was interrupted when I heard our Jack Russell barking fiercely like a total maniac of a canine. I thought somebody was coming around the corner or maybe even a stray dog. I was wrong. The whole problem was the rake that Brazos was using. “Bubs” was crouched down in full blown attack mode barking and trying to “get” the rake. I don’t know what he wanted to get it for. The medal would not have been a good chew toy. When I got my rake and joined in, he did the same thing to me. I finally realized that Bubs did not see the rake as a plaything, but that he was afraid of it. He was going berserk. I wrestled to get him off of my rake. Brazos shooed him out of the garden and complained that his paw prints were destroying his work of art in the dirt and would affect the onions if we did not get control of the situation. (Trait inherited from his Father) I could not believe Bubs was afraid of a rake. I later heard my other son offer an explanation for our dog’s behavior. He said, “Bubs is afraid of anything that moves.” I thought to myself, one more thing that dogs have in common with people because most humans live in fear of something at all times. I don’t mean arachnophobia a or anything dramatic and fancy like that, but just fear of the unknown. We fear the economy, our future, our kids’ futures, cancer, what will happen next week, month, and year. We can live with full, outright fear or just worry over all of the details of life that are out of our control. Worry is just as bad as fear and can cripple us just as quickly. When our minds shift into worry mode or the even more severe fear mode, we have to do battle. It is full blown war to tame our own thoughts. The greatest weapon to conquer fear, worry, and every other negative thought pattern that threatens to take root in our minds is speaking the Word of God out loud. The Bible tells us “The Word of God is sharper than any two edge sword.” I believe it and this week we may need to cut out some of our thoughts and replace them with better ones. I love the verse in __________that simple says “Trust in the LORD and do not be afraid.” Another one that cuts the roots of worry to the core is “Why worry about tomorrow when today….”

2014

I said HELLO to 2014 here at my house with my family and enjoyed a rather uneventful evening. We played some basketball, had dinner, and picked up the house. I settled into my spot on the couch by the fire with a cup of coffee and decided to bring in the New Year watching t.v. I was excited about the prospect of being entertained while putting out zero effort. New Year’s Eve television was a combination of music and what seemed to be a recap of the biggest, best, and worst events in Hollywood. I kept on thinking as I watched that I must have been totally out of the loop because I was clueless about most of what they talked about. I do not know what happened with Lady Gaga, understand what has happened to Miley, or who wore what to which event with who; however, I know what has happened right here. I started compiling a list in my mind of the things I DO KNOW. (It was a lot more fun.) I do know that I have a son who wore a size 12 slim jeans for years and all of a sudden jumped up to a men’s size in less than a month. Writing is fun to me. My daughter smile is the biggest when she is playing softball. Being a Fairfield Eagle is great. My fireplace is my best friend and my electric blanket is in second place. My church is a wonderful place to be on Sundays. My husband wanted a big recliner and I fought him, but now it is my favorite chair. I feel better the less sugar that I consume. My son says the most specific, heartfelt prayers that I have ever heard. Outside is my favorite place. Manners are still in style. The LORD is faithful because all four of my children will one day join me in heaven. Watching birds is a good and cheap hobby. A trampoline is the best investment we have ever made. The cutest thing in the world has to be my daughter’s missing front tooth. Facebook is okay when used for the right reasons. Forty is really young. I am thankful for XTO and the opportunities it provides for so many families here in our area. Talking less and listening more is a must. I have to look away when my boys play tackle football in the backyard because I don’t like it one bit, but my husband swears it is good for them. I have a daughter who is a wonderful cook and another one who loves shoes. One of my sons is a talented builder and loves old scrap wood, the other one loves expensive, new socks and shoes. I am not giving up on my teen’s cell phone time and will continue to limit it. Being a teacher is the best. The more money you make, the more you spend. As the world goes faster, being still is a must. The internet and technology pleads to shows us more and more, but we should narrow our focus and zoom in on what is right in front of us as much as we can. I am the happiest when I put others before me and I believe what Jesus said to his disciples in Luke 9:23. He said “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Denying self, taking up your cross daily, no matter how good or bad it might be, and following Jesus worked for 2013 and it sure will for 2014.