toilet bowl

Spring is in full swing around here. There is lots of baseball, softball, and county fair talk. The trampoline has hooked back up with the sprinkler and seems to be the favorite pastime again this year. We are mowing, weeding, and I am particularly enjoying my purple martins and the constant chatter they keep going in the air. It is music to my ears and makes me want to sit on my back porch all day. My kids are growing up right before my eyes, and I must say that my dogs are growing up too. Our lab has reached a hefty size that she probably needs chase balls more and eat less. (Don’t we all?) Our Jack Russell, Bubs, has reached a height that he can now…drumroll please… drink water out of the toilet. He has been a fan of the water in the shower for quite some time now, but has suddenly graduated to the toilet bowl for his primary source of hydration and loves it! One day last week I filled up his nice, clean, silver bowl with fresh water from the sink and watched him walk past it to make his way down the hallway to the bathroom for a drink. I fussed at him and told him that was the dumbest thing I had ever seen. After I scolded him, I pointed in the living room to his “area” and reminded him that his water in there waiting. All of a sudden I had an “AH-HA” moment. I thought about how stupid Bubs was to take in the toilet water over clean water that had been laid out and prepared especially for him. Likewise, how stupid am I am when I choose to go my own way and “take” in the junk of the world when the Lord has laid out and prepared for me a good life? Let me explain…maybe just maybe, we pick” toilet water” over “living water” on a regular basis because we are so used to it that we don’t even know the difference anymore. We can live in defeat, depression, and sin for so long that we have forgotten about the goodness of the Lord. We know something is wrong or something is missing, but we are too busy and complacent to even look up and do something about it. Maybe too our plummet to the “toilet water” was so gradual that we did not even realize we were headed in that direction. I am not a name it, claim it type of Christian because I believe with all of my heart that the Lord does allow hard times to come because they make us lean on Him. However, I also think many Believers are living in constant defeat when the Lord is ready and willing to help them overcome sin and live victoriously. I feel like sometimes God must look down and think…why on earth would he/she do that and make such a mess of things when I prepared something so much better? I sure did wonder that about my beloved dog and I know God wonders that about me. He must just shake His head and think…WHY? I am on a mission this week to move from the “toilet water” to the living water of Jesus Christ, so join me. The Lord is pointing us in the right direction if we will just look up, listen, and obey. He has prepared a way and choosing anything other than His way his just plain stupid. Deuteronomy 28:2 says “All of these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the LORD your God.” That sounds good to me. What about you?

stand UP

My husband and I were raised in totally different places 90 miles apart, but when we started dating we realized we shared some things in common. We both shopped at the Shoe Box at Northpark Mall in Dallas for our shoes. Now, our reasons for going there were very different. He was looking for anything in an extra wide width. I was on the hunt for something cute and very narrow. I vividly remember finding a pair of shoes that I loved often and being told “No, I am so sorry, but those do not come in a triple A.” I usually ended up with a pair of Capezios. All I ever wanted was the “YO YO” sandals with the hole in the heel. That never worked out because of the width. (I might just try to find a vintage pair now because my feet along with everything else seems to be wider.” We also discovered that we had a love for the Hill County and Luckenbach. We were later engaged there. Why this computer does not recognize Luckenbach as a word and thinks it is misspelled is a mystery to me because Luckenbach is a special place. One childhood memory we have in common is a really scary one. We both nearly drowned in the Guadalupe River tubing. I made the mistake of holding onto each adult on the side of me and not my own tube. When we hit the chute, I quickly lost my tube and went under. A lifeguard on the side came to get me after what seemed like eternity. The water was not deep, but the current was fierce. My hubby had the same scare in what we think was the exact same location. Thank God we made it because we are a pretty good team. My dear friend last week told a similar story in Sunday school. She got caught up in a current that sucked her under like a miniature whirlpool. She shared how the water was flowing over her head and she tried to come up for air, but could not. Then, she realized she had not tried to plant her feet. She said “I did not understand that all I had to do was JUST STAND UP.” She nearly drowned in water that was only about three or four feet deep and the bottom had been there all along. I jotted down those three simple words in in my study book in all caps and BOLD. I wrote down “JUST STAND UP.” The simple phrase only has 11 letters, but they give a lot of bang for your buck. The whole visual of being held down, kept under, caught up in something that seems to have a hold on you until you just plant your feet and stand up is powerful. If you have ever been held down by something, and most likely the result of your own poor decisions, you know what I mean. When you feel like you need to plant your feet to stand up to rise above whatever has kept you down, claim a verse and read it out loud. The power of the spoken Word is life changing. If you want to, borrow this one from me for now and plant your feet on the only Solid Rock: Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 16:13 says “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” It is a command, not a suggestion or an idea. It tells us how to live, so decide today to JUST STAND UP.

Prayers and Payton

I had confirmation today that my children do listen to me. Sunday is usually our treat day after church. By treat, I mean we stop by Rob’s Drive In, a favorite of mine since I was a kid and could ride my bike there and park it on the side. My kids are usually granted one “free choice” pass each and I grab whatever necessities I will need for the rest of the day. Today we ended up with some bean dip, Fritos, a canister of potato sticks, and a small container of ice cream. I was proud of my youngest when we got home and she sat down at the bar with her ice cream to study the label. She was delighted to let me know that her ice cream had three grams of protein in it. I preach protein and although she was way “off” to look up nutrients in ice cream, I was proud that she remembered that protein matters to Mom! Her grin was priceless when she announced the good news to me. It was like….Mom, I got it! I was able to explain to another kiddo this week about the power of prayer and I think he got it too. His name is Dalton. Dalton was genuinely concerned about his friend, Peyton Turner. Dalton told me that Peyton had an accident and was in the hospital. I asked him what we should do. He knew the answer and said we should pray. I could not agree more. The Lord quickly gave me a visual to share with Dalton. I drew a triangle with Jesus at the top. On one side of the triangle at the bottom, I drew a stick figure and told Dalton that was him and everyone else who was praying for “Pate.” On the other side of the triangle at the bottom, I drew another stick figure and labeled it Peyton. I wanted to show Dalton that his prayers were going up to the Lord and that they actually came back down the other side of the triangle and landed right on his friend. Like Dalton, most of the children today at church today requested prayer for Peyton and for his Mom, Kayla, who is also in the hospital. I could not help but think that we may be known here for peaches, Sam’s Restaurant, and Big Brown, but we are also known as a community who loves each other and who prays. I know that personally. When I had cancer, I went an entire summer and did not have to cook. Food was delivered here every few days. I received cards in the mail often and knew people were praying for me. I felt like even if I was losing my hair and was as sick as a dog from chemotherapy that I was in a bubble protected. This week please, I mean pretty please with a cherry on top, pray for someone in need. Put up the phone, turn off the television, and pray. Your relationship with the Lord will grow stronger because of it. Communicate with the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and assume your role on one side of the triangle. Remember God is at the top and trust Him to take care of the person or situation on the other side. Even in hard times and when we do not like the outcome, He is at the TOP and has a plan. I am going to bed tonight holding onto this word from Philippians 4:6-8. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

onions

I realized last night that my family had reached the next stage in life. I pulled up at the house from a party and hopped out of the truck. I was wearing some wedge shoes that had already proven to be difficult. I had no business going to close the chicken coop door in them for sure, but I set out on an adventure in the dark because I was too lazy to change shoes. Sure enough, I turned my foot on a rock in the driveway. Go figure… I hobbled back to the house to meet my boys who were unloading the truck. I was pleasantly surprised to have one of them meet me by the pick-up to take my purse and offer me a shoulder to lean on for support. I could not believe that he was taking care of me. I thought to myself how in just a short time period, our roles had reversed. I was no longer the strong one who could throw him on my hip and carry him around, but he was the solid one helping me. I thought as we walked in the house together arm in arm... we have reached “that” point of me being the old Momma in need of assistance. Do you ever feel like you are at “that” point with things in life? This can be positive, like a breakthrough, where things suddenly make sense. It can also be negative, like being one step away from totally going bonkers. (If that is even a word) I have reached “that” point this week with a few things. I realized that my heart is like an onion. (Stay with me here) I can allow layers and layers of junk to build up and maybe…just maybe, my heart is beating, but it is not okay anymore. Bitterness and unforgiveness can build up and eventually make a heart become hard. They can smother out anything good. When our hearts are not right, our thoughts and words are next in line to totally fail. From time to time, we have to ask God to help us peel away the layers of hurt and heal us. We may have to offer forgiveness even if we think we are right. When the layers are peeled away, we can love again like we should. I have reached a point too with the issue of trust. I realized last week that I was not very happy with the way a few situations have turned out. My dissatisfaction had caused me to temporarily forget to trust God. I know this because I was grumbling and complaining. I had taken my eyes off of Jesus Christ and allowed them to settle on the circumstances. I gave myself a pep talk, got in the Word, and reminded myself that Jesus is alive and well. He is working and involved, even when I cannot see the progress. I can trust Him because He has never let me down. If you are at “that” point with anything, lean on the Lord. In Psalm 94:18 David wrote “ If I should say my foot has slipped, Your lovingkindness, O LORD, will hold me up. When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.” No need to grumble, complain, fall, or slip this week. Let the LORD hold you up.

firsts

We had a week of “firsts” around here. My son for the first time ever decided to be a tray at school and buy a cafeteria meal. He has never, and I mean never, ever, wanted to mess with the line, the wait, and then the sometimes rush that comes with eating in the cafeteria when you end up sitting down last. I have told him for years that he should try it, especially because he is the main one in the family who likes real food. He is not really a sandwich kid. He is more of a gravy, mashed potatoes and chicken fried steak kind of fellow; therefore, I have always thought that a school tray might be just what he needed. I have suggested. He has said no. I have mentioned it. He has said no. It just took time….nearly 7 years to be exact before he took the plunge. When he came home and announced his big news to me, he was a happy camper and said he could not believe he had waited so long to try it. Our other first was that for the first time in 14 years, I found myself behind the wheel of a car. I started off when I had my first child in a Ford Explorer and graduated to a Suburban. My family grew big and grew quickly, so I have never downsized in the automobile department. That is…until now. We got a car to help with the rising, and staying high for some reason I might add, cost of gasoline. I sometimes make three or four trips back and forth to town in a day. I did not expect to like the car at all. I have been in a big SUV for so long that I just knew I would feel like I was tiny and cramped in a car. Much to my surprise, I love it. I can honestly say that I would never drive my big Suburban again if I did not have to. When we all go somewhere though or we need to pile a lot of junk in the back, we will still need the bigger ride. Friday morning when I made my school rounds and zipped in and out of parking spaces with ease, I thought….I can’t believe I waited so long to do this.

Easter

Our Easter was perhaps the most simple and best Easter ever. Our outfits did not match and were not even new. There were no fresh flowers on the table or corsages on our wrists. (Corsages were all the rage when I was little girl.) We did however spend time with both of our families, enjoyed the perfect and much anticipated spring weather, and church was truly a blessing this morning. I just tucked in the last sleepy kiddo of my crew. For some reason after our prayers, he asked if we could have a day that all I said was “YES.” I asked him to please explain that concept a little bit more. He said “Like a day that we can do anything we want to…maybe the water park in Waco and Sonic if we want it, whatever we want, Mom.” I let him know that soon it would be summer and that a “YES DAY” was a possibility if they had been obedient and said YES to everything I asked of them the day before the big “YES DAY.” I am not sure if he liked that idea. He said “Oh, forget it, I am going to bed.” His question coincided with my week because I had a personal revelation about Easter. As it turns out, Easter was/is really the greatest YES DAY ever. In my preparation for delivering the kid’s message today at FBC in Fairfield, I prayed for the Lord to give me a clear direction of which way to go with the children. As usual, the message was for me to learn and take in way before I planned on teaching it. I realized I had never really gotten a grasp on what Easter means to me as a believer in Jesus Christ until this year. When Jesus was on the cross, John 19:30 says that He said “It is finished” and then bowed his head and gave up His spirit. He said YES to us and took away our sin. When He spoke “It is finished” our lives really began because without forgiveness of sin, who would really want to live anyway? (Reread that…it is huge!) We also must believe in the power of IT IS FINISHED when we are struggling and drowning in our own sin. We need to allow the Lord to help us overcome whatever is holding us down. The word “overcomer” makes sense to me now. Because Jesus said yes on the cross, we can overcome. My other newfound truth is from Romans 8:11. It says “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.” (that is worth a reread too) So, if I believe that verse to be true and the entire Bible is true, then there is no reason for any believer to be down for too long when the same power that rose Jesus from the grave three days after his death resides in every child of God. That verse has been ringing loud and clear in my head and forcing me think that I better rise up and live because Jesus did just that. Because He lives, I can and will rise up and make a difference in my little world around me. That all began with Easter. If Jesus lives in you, rise up today. If you realized that you are living a meaningless life, say YES to Jesus and today and every day for eternity will have meaning. Jesus said YES, not it is our turn.

chicken feed

I just got home from the movie GOD’S NOT DEAD, so I will have to try to really focus to get my column done tonight. I need more time to think about the movie before I could even begin to put it into words. I will say this…it is a must see, a cancel other plans, make plans now, and get to the theater type of movie. My topic has nothing to do with movies, but more to do with real life here in my kitchen. Trust me too; this place is nothing like Hollywood. One morning last week I had three of my lovely children lined up at the bar for breakfast. I was in the kitchen pretending like I was working at Sam’s again when they arrived. (Yes, I am a morning person, but not worth a flip past 9:00 P.M.) Breakfast is big here because I know what a school day entails. I believe that a good night’s rest and a decent breakfast with protein helps kids stay on task and alive until lunch. On this particular morning, thank God I was in a really pleasant mood and running ahead of schedule, I had nothing in my house in the way of breakfast food. We were out of eggs. We were out of multigrain waffles. We were out of cereal except for corn flakes. I attempted to be creative and began offering several choices at the bar thinking something would appeal to just one of the kids at least. I served up a cheese tortilla, some toast with honey, and offered corn flakes with honey. Everything that I pushed across the bar, one of my children pushed it back in my direction. One of crew was pretty clever for 6:15 in the morning and started saying as they pushed the food back across “Chicken feed.” After I heard “Chicken feed” a few more times, I gave up. I have no idea what they finally ate, but they lived and the chickens were happy, happy, happy that day. I went straight to the store after I dropped them off and stocked up on breakfast essentials. I was not going through another day of “Chicken feed.” Our “Chicken feed” morning reminded me of Daniel in the Bible. When he lived in Babylon, he refused to eat and the wonderful, rich fare the King offered to him. He also refused to fall down and worship the golden image like King Nebuchadnezzar ordered. He was intentional. When I studied the life of Daniel years ago, I was awestruck. The word INTENTIONAL was my word of the year and the word RESOLVE was a close second. Much like my children who refused my jumbled up melody for breakfast, Daniel refused to give in and was eventually rewarded for his amazing obedience to the Lord. Just thinking through it all again, I want to be more like Daniel. I want to refuse things I know are not good for me. I also want to refuse to let negative thoughts take over my mind. I want to live my life in a way that is worthy of the King because, like Daniel, I am a Child of the Most High God. What do you need to refuse this week and possibly push right back at the enemy? Be intentional, spend time in the Word, and keep this in mind from Romans 12:12 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Call it a wrap!

Call it a wrap! The fair again has come to a close. My family showed up with two lambs, six bunnies, bottled water, snacks, pressed jeans, long sleeve shirts, extension cords, buckets, and lots of excitement. We pulled out yesterday afternoon exhausted with vehicles coated in an inch of dirt. We left without animals, but with a basket full of filthy laundry coated in fair fun and funk! I walked by my car when we were packing up and noticed I had an extra guest coming home with me. I had a Reggae banana buckled in the front seat that was every bit as large as one of my kiddos who usually rides shot gun. His buddy, no resemblance at all, who also joined our family was a plump and very green frog. The two additions to the family were won, who am I kidding…they were purchased at 10 times their original value, at the carnival. They were not bought with my money, but with a stash of cash my children had been saving up from their grandparents. If history proves to repeat itself again, the animals will make it for a week and have an injury and end up spilling tiny white particles, that move every time you try to vacuum them up, all over my floors. Someone will run to get a handful of Band-Aids and attempt to repair the boo-boo. I usually wait until the middle of the night and smuggle them out of here at that point. I left the fair and headed straight to Ft. Worth to watch my daughter play softball with my three kids and two extra. We left the fields about 10:00 p.m. and headed home with softball dirt mixed in with the fair dirt proving to coat my car even thicker. When I pulled into Fairfield after midnight, I had a car full of sleeping children and empty Whataburger cups and containers everywhere. I was at the point of uncontrollable laughter when I made the last stop at my nephew’s house. He woke up a few miles before his house and we visited on the last part of our journey. I guess he looked around at the four sleeping kids the car surrounded by all of the junk and said “Aunt B, how are you ever going to get these kids out of your car?” I really think he wanted to say he felt sorry for me! I started laughing and could not stop even when I walked him up to his door. Bragg’s question was a question that I ask myself often. I think we all do. How am I ever going to…? You can fill in the blanks with whatever you are dealing with. How am I ever going to get the job, pass the test, say I am sorry, move, get over the death of a loved one, start over after I messed up so badly, beat the addiction, trust someone again, say good bye, pay the bills, keep my mouth shut, etc. How will you ever ….? How will I ever…? I ask myself that sometimes on a daily basis. The only way we will ever do anything in life, from the massive to the mundane, is with Jesus Christ. I was too tired last night to explain it to my precious nephew, but in my heart and mind, I knew the answer. The only way I do anything is because I rely on the strength of Jesus Christ. In Philippians 4:13, Paul wrote “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” If you are searching for an answer to your “How will I ever…” it is in this verse.

The FAIR

Nothing makes my crew want to jump out of a moving vehicle more than seeing the carnival rides move in at the fairgrounds. We circle around Fair Park grocery several times a day to watch the progress. We spend most of our time during the fair over by the lamb pens and this year by the rabbit barn, but it is the still the carnival that gets the adrenaline pumping for kids in Freestone County! When I think fair… I think dirt, Bon Jovi blaring on one corner of the fairgrounds competing with George Straight playing on a dusty, jam box over by the cattle barn. I think corn dogs, dunking booth, begging to spend the night or at least to stay out later. I think starched Rocky Mountain jeans and Justin boots newly purchased from a trip to Rodeo Western Wear in Jewett. I also sadly remember unloading heifers and knowing that I better hold onto the rope tight because I was probably going for a “ski” in the dirt when the trailer door opened. I remember the days and nights spent at the campsites. They were decorated in burlap, bandanna, and feed sacks. We lived at the Emmons camp in the swing and loved every minute of it. As an adult and parent of a 4-H kiddo or four to be exact, the fair is a bit different. I still see a vision of dirt, corn dogs, and the Emmons camp in my near future; however, add in bottled water, searching for shade, and praying my for kids in the show ring. As a child running and romping around all week, I never had a clue that there were many adults working year round to make the fair happen. I am so appreciative now of the many men and women who make it happen. I am thankful that every year I grow older and life sure does change (can you even buy Rocky Mountain jeans) but the county fair stays the same! It is something, like Christmas and the return of my purple martins every year in February, that I can count on. We all need that…knowing that along with the many unexpected things in life, there are things we still can expect. Along with my activities of the week and knowing I can count on a good time at the fair, I also know I can count on the Word of God to get me through everything in life. I was working with a group of Jr. High girls yesterday at church and tried with all of my heart and soul to get that through to them! There is no app for life on an iphone that will save you, friends will come and go, and People magazine does not have the answer! Every answer we need from finances to friendships, future plans to family issues can be found in the Word of God. I am ashamed to admit that I spend more time watching t.v. and on my phone killing time than I do in the Word. When I read the words of Jesus though, I am different. I have peace. Jesus said in Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” If your life is full of changes and passing by all too quickly, make sure you make time for the one and ONLY thing that will not pass away: the words of Jesus.

Biking

We kept the tradition going strong this week and spent a lovely afternoon at White Rock Lake. My kid’s legs have grown enough that we can finally pedal a decent distance together. We love looking at the beautiful houses, really mansions, along the way and calling out loudly MINE when we see one we want to claim. I love the absence of laundry, bills to pay, and anything that makes me feel like a grown up. Our bike rides are like an escape from reality. That is until the boys get carried away and start swerving in and out of the other bikers and runners. At that point, I suddenly enter back into reality and full blown mom mode. I sternly remind them to stay on their own side of the trail like any good driver or biker would do with a lick of sense. Our ride this week was particularly easy. The breeze was blowing and I peddled with ease. We rode for 15 minutes or so. I kicked my legs out a few times to the side just to be footloose and fancy free. I asked one of the kids to take a picture of me like that and they thought I had absolutely lost my mind. However, when we turned around by the big pier to come back, the ride was all of a sudden really different. I did not realize it, but all the way down to the pier, we had the wind working with us and helping us along. On the way back, we were fighting the wind and facing it head on. Our easy ride immediately turned into hard work. As I huffed and puffed to get back to our spot on the big hill, I thought that fighting the wind is just like fighting the Holy Spirit and going against God’s will. It is hard! The wind was my resistance on the bike; however, I create my own resistance in life when I insist on going my own way and ignoring my Father. My legs ended up exhausted. I needed a break. I needed a puff of my inhaler too. Come to think of it, we sure do get tired fast when we are doing our own thing and disregarding the promptings of the Holy Spirit. What causes me to go against God’s will might not be an issue for you at all. Maybe it is disobedience, being distracted, or just being so comfortable with ourselves in charge that we don’t even see a need for Jesus Christ at all. Real bikers, not the ones like us who bike only to wait on the ice cream man and burn a few calories we are about to consume, use “drafting” to reduce the amount of wind resistance they face. They get close together in a group. Interesting, because maybe that is how we should view our close friends and churches. It is worth it this week to take a minute and look at your life. Do you feel like you are working with the Lord, going in the right direction or are you facing a great deal of resistance? Life for a Believer will never be perfect, but seek the Lord today if you feel like life is a constant fight with no peace . The Holy Spirit will guide you. In John 14:25 Jesus says “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name.” And, just for a bonus: If you are a member of a group of any kind, are they helping you travel with the Lord in the right direction or taking you right along with them the opposite way from where Jesus wants you to go?