Confession 213: The Santa Talk

When Chris and I first had children we decided that we were not going to do Santa with them.  It was actually Chris who felt most strongly about it and I just went along for the ride.  Five years later I have to say that I really enjoy our no Santa policy.  It simplifies Christmas and, for me, helps keep the focus on Christ.  Don't worry, I'm not some sort of Santa hating zealot.  I respect that others really enjoy having the Santa experience with their children.  It's just something we've chosen not to participate in.

That said, when our five year old came home from preschool yesterday and told me that his teacher had told him Santa was real and he lived at the North Pole, I was stumped.  As I looked at his sweet, innocent, eager little face I just didn't know what to do.  Childhood is so fleeting anymore.  If I told him Santa wasn't real, would that be just another pin prick in the fabric of his innocence?  On the other hand, could I suddenly change course while Chris was at youth group and start a new tradition of Santa with the kids?  What to do?

In the end, I decided to go with the tried and true method of a quick nougat of truth followed by immediate deflection.

"Honey, Santa's not really real, but there was a St. Nicholas who lived a long time ago and put presents and candy in kids' shoes to show them God loved them!"

"Saint Nicholas put presents in kids' shoes?"

"Yeah, they left them outside on Christmas Eve and he would come and put presents in them while they slept."

"Wow, that's funny.  I want to put my shoes outside on Christmas Eve!  Can I do that and you put presents in my shoes?"

Yes!  Awkward situation averted!!  Of course, I did have to tell him before school today that the Santa's not really real thing was a secret between us and not to tell the other kids because some parents like pretending Santa is real.  Did I do the right thing?  I don't know....but waking up to a shoe filled with goodies would be petty cool! :-)

Blessings and Peace,
Sara

Confession 212: Plans Change

Lately, I've been feeling like I had my life more figured out at 25 than I do at 35.  Please tell me I'm not the only one!!

To read about a change of plans, go over to Seeds of Faith where I'm posting today.  It's a cool site full of encouragement for the journey.  I'm also linking up at Graceful.

Blessings and Peace this Monday!
Sara

Confession 211: A Legacy

I've been working on a Bible study over the book of Matthew for my Bible study ladies during the holiday season and thought I'd share it here.  This week's focus is on the idea of legacy.  

As I was reading the first few chapters of Matthew I was struck by how God moves through time, sometimes LOTS of time, to accomplish his purposes.  I was especially interested in the lineage of Christ. Throughout the lineage of Christ, we see the passing of a faith from generation to generation.  Through all of Israel's ups and downs, there were people who took to heart God's command in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 to pass on the commandments of the Lord.  Take a moment and think about your own lineage of faith.

1. Who were/are the people in your life who have passed on the knowledge of God to you?  In what ways has your faith been passed down to you through the generations?  In what ways are you passing your faith onto future generations?

Some of us come from a long line of faithful witnesses who lovingly and steadfastly passed down their faith.  And yet for others of us, that faith was something we had to seek out on our own outside of our family tree.  If you look back at some of the names in Christ's lineage, you will find some pretty nasty fellows who, according to the books of 1st and 2nd Kings, "did evil in the eyes of the Lord."  And yet, God was able to bring Christ to us through them, in spite of their determination to turn from God.  In the opening chapters of Matthew we see God's master plan coming together in some very unexpected ways.  As Priscilla Shirer states, God goes "BEYOND the beyond" in working out his master plan!

2. How has God surprised you in his plans for your life?  In what unexpected ways have you seen God working to bring about his goodness?
Finally, in chapter 4 of Matthew we see God's proclamation at Christ's baptism, "This is my Son in whom I am well pleased."  In this moment, we see an innocent Jesus taking on the sin of humanity--becoming the substitute sin offering for us.  He knows how this all will end, and yet he is willing to take that first step which will ultimately lead to the cross.  And taking that step of devotion and obedience pleases God, for that is what God desires from each of us.

3. What steps do you take in your own life to show your devotion and obedience to God?  Have you felt God saying to you, "This is my daughter in whom I am well pleased?"  If the answer to that question is no, then take a moment today to give yourself that affirmation.  Because it is true.  You are God's daughter, and God is pleased with you.

Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him.  Deuteronomy 8:6

Blessings and Peace,
Sara
 

Confession 210: I Already Have

This past Sunday, my husband preached a sermon on gratitude in which he spoke of the appropriateness of Thanksgiving coming prior to Christmas.  As we've been trying to explain to our 5 year old with the mile long Christmas list, Thanksgiving is important because it calls us to remember what we already have BEFORE we start listing our wants.  And so, I thought I would put together an I Already Have list for this week to remind myself as I'm being inundated with "spectacular deals" for Black Friday that I already have more than enough.

I Already Have.....

Love in Abundance

A loving husband, two beautiful boys, parents and in-laws who show me what unconditional love truly means, a sister who is my best friend, best friends who are my sisters, a church home filled with God's Spirit, online friends and writers to share the Christian journey with, God himself dwelling within my heart.

I Already Have....

Security Within My Citadel

A roof that is paid for, warmth and coolness at the touch of a button, cabinets filled with food, milk to drink, blankets made with love, clothes for every season, 3 jackets, 2 coats, shoes and boots, freedom to worship, freedom to pray, freedom to walk down the streets of our town unharmed, a safe community,sleep uninterrupted by violence, fear, or hunger, neighbors who look out for one another. 

I Already Have....

Time for Every Activity Under the Heavens

Quality time to spend with my children each day, time to write, time to study God's Word, time to give to others, time to engage in ministry, time to cook meals for my family, time to clean up the messes of the day, time to visit friends and family, time to scrapbook, time to begin new projects, time to waste.

I Already Have....

Enough

Enough love, enough security, enough time, enough resources to do all that God has asked me to do.

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

Blessings and Peace,

Sara   

Linking up with Graceful today. 

 

Confession 209: Water, Water Anywhere???

"Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of the Earth." Genesis 1: 28

Each year our United Methodist Women's group has a program entitled "A Call to Prayer and Self-Denial".  During the evening we look at a particular issue that is affecting our world and learn about ways to get involved to make a change for good.  This year, the focus was on the global water crisis with an emphasis on the damaging effects bottled water is having on our world.  Yes, you heard right, bottled water is quickly breaking down our planet!!

Here are a few quick facts:

1. Each year there are 3 billion pounds of waste from bottled water!!  As most of us know, plastic is not biodegradable.  Where does that plastic end up?  Much of it finds it's way into our oceans, streams, rivers and lakes where it breaks down enough for fish and animals to eat it.  Slowly and surely, the plastic we discard is making it's way back up our food chain.  That thought gives me pause as I bite into a piece of chicken.

2. Making bottled water wastes water.  It takes 3 times the amount of water to produce the bottle as it does to fill it!!  Plastic production requires the use of water, as does filtering the water that goes into the bottles.  40% of the water used to make one bottle of water we pull from the gas station is simply poured down the drain.

3. Making bottled water wastes oil.  17 million barrels of oil are used in the production of bottled water each year!!  Look at a bottle of water.  Imagine seeing 1/4 of that bottle filled with oil.  That's how much oil went into the production of that bottle of water.  That's what we're drinking.

4. Bottled water is not held to the same FDA test standards as tap water.  There are more stringent government regulations on tap water than bottled water.  Bottled water companies are not legally required to divulge the source of their water.  AND, 40% of all bottled water sold is actually tap water!!

5. Producing bottled water dries up sources of water for communities and farms throughout the country.  If we continue to consume water at the rate we are currently consuming, it is only a matter of time before communities in the United States are affected by the global water crisis.

Here are some resources if you'd like to check the facts.
water.org
onedrop.org
onlineeducation.net/bottled_water

I am committing to end my use of bottled water.  Would you do the same?

Blessings and Peace,
Sara

Confession 208: Seeds of Faith

Posting today over at Seeds of Faith!!  Come check out the site.  There's a lot of good stuff going on there! :-)

Blessings and Peace,
Sara

P.S. Posting tomorrow about the global water crisis.  Will you pledge to no longer buy bottled water?

Confession 207: Pray With

My husband just finished a message series called "The Prayer Project".  I have to confess that prayer is probably the weakest part of my daily walk with God.  This series has challenged me to be more intentional in my prayer, to communicate throughout the day with God, to praise God and to surrender myself to his will through prayer.  Yesterday, Chris finished up the series with a sermon titled "Pray With".  The basic message was that, as Christians, we are called to pray with and not just for other people.  It's one thing to tell someone that you'll pray for them.  It is another, riskier, more meaningful act to stop what you're doing and pray with them on the spot.  I, and others in the congregation, resolved to be more intentional about praying with others.  However, God wasn't done.

That evening, I went with some friends to a Brandon Heath/Brit Nicole concert.  During her performance, Brit Nicole spoke of the power of fear in our lives to keep us from doing God's will.  She said that just that day she had been out shopping and felt God calling her to pray with a woman in a store.  And yet, her fear prevented her from doing what she felt God calling her to do.  Remembering Chris' sermon, my friends and I exchanged meaningful looks and laughed at God's ability to continually weave messages into our lives.  And yet, God still wasn't finished!

After the concert we stopped at a Taco Bell for a belated dinner.  While we were eating we entered into a conversation with a woman working at the restaurant.  She shared with us her struggles of being a single mom, working 7 days a week and barely making ends meet.  As many look forward to the upcoming holiday season, she is dreading it because she doesn't have enough money to do much for her three children.  She shared with us that last Christmas, in fact, their dinner consisted of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with macaroni and cheese.  My friends and I looked at each other.  We knew what we needed to do.  At 10 P.M. in Taco Bell, we stopped and prayed with this young woman.  We got her contact information to see what we could do to make this Christmas better for her family.  As we were leaving one of my friends made the comment that this woman was an angel sent by God to test us and see if we were listening to his words.  I think that instead, God was giving us a gift.

Blessings and Peace,
Sara

Confession 206: Made For More

I recently started reading the book Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeurst.  It's a non-diet book that seeks to battle weight loss by replacing desire for food with a desire for God.  One of the things that has impacted me the most is Terkeurst;s assertion that we were made for more than this.  In the book, the this refers to the negative eating cycle many women find themselves revolving through.  Yet as I read that statement, I realized it applies to more than my bad eating habits.  It applies to my life.  Looking around at my life, I am forced to acknowledge that I am, indeed, made for more than this.

Let me qualify the this.  I'm not talking about my family, or my bank account, or my town.  I have a beautiful family, live in a wonderful community, and God is making sure our bills get paid mostly on time.  The this I am referring to is my self-centered, self-indulgent nature that leads me into discontentment.  The this is my aimlessness that comes when my purposes for the day revolve around a bottom line rather than around God's kingdom.  I am, indeed, made for more than this.

So, what am I made for?  First and foremost, I was made to love God.  What is the greatest command?  According to Scripture it is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength. Deut. 6:5  When we love God with all of our being, our focus is completely on him.  And what would he have us do with this love?  Jesus tells us, "My command is this: love each other, as I have loved you." John 15:12  The apostle Paul goes so far as to say the entire law is summed up in the command to love others!! (Galatians 5:14)  God wants us to have an abundant life, but that abundance only comes when we let go of ourselves and seek after God.  And it is a spiritual abundance, not material.  If we seek after material abundance we're going right back to the this of which we were made for more.  Which I do, too often.

Therefore, I am recommitting myself once again to living the life I was made for.  I will endeavor to give God my first-fruits.  I will seek him in the morning and I will follow him throughout my day. I will work to use the gifts and talents God has given me for his kingdom purposes, not my own.  I will attempt to live into this prayer:

I am no longer my own, but thine.

Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering.

Let me be employed by thee, or laid aside for thee,

exalted for thee, or brought low for thee.

Let me be full, let me be empty.

Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and heartily yield all things to they pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God,

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

thou art mine, and I am thine.

So be it.

And the covenant which I have made on Earth,

let it be ratified in heaven. Amen

(John Wesley, 1780)

Confession 205: Change of Plans

I've been out of my daily devotional for a week or so, and boy did God have a message for me when I picked it back up!!  The focus this day was on Acts 16:9-15 and the conversion of Lydia.  Prior to Paul and his companions entering into Phillipi, God had told them they could not continue on into Asia.  While they were figuring out where to go, Paul had a vision of a man in Macedonia begging him to come and help them.  So, they went--immediately.  And who was the first person they encountered?  A Gentile businesswoman named Lydia.  Not only did Lydia accept God into her heart, but also into her home.  All of the members of her household were baptized and Paul and his companions were invited to stay in Lydia's home for as long as they needed.  Instead of going into Asia, Paul and his companions took the gospel message to Europe.  As Moore writes, God didn't just open a door for them, he opened a whole other continent!

Yet, here's what sticks with me most this morning.  Both Paul and Lydia made themselves available to God.  AND, they were willing to let God change their plans.

Which makes me wonder: Am I willing to allow God to change my plans today?  Are you?  Will we allow God to send us somewhere today we had no intention of going?  Will we allow God to direct our resources somewhere other than where we had planned?  Will the money we've saved for our own purposes today be spent on someone else?  Will we allow God to open a door of communication to someone we had no plans to communicate with?  So what's your plan today? 

I'm excited to see where God leads us!!  If you commit to allowing God to change your plans today, let me know where you go.  I want to hear your stories of God bridging new continents today!!

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." John 10:27

Confession 204: I AM

Almost four months after becoming a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant, I am finally getting around to attending New Consultant Training.  Better late than never, I guess! :-)  Last night, we talked once again about the importance of creating affirmations.

Affirmations are an "I am" statement that reflects what you want to accomplish.  I am a 4 quarter STAR, I am a Red Jacket, I am a Team Leader.  The idea is that anything you say to yourself over and over will come to be.  Subconsciously, you are training your mind to accept something as reality which you wish to achieve.  The science is actually very sound on this.  I remember going to a writing conference and listening to a writer talk about using this process to help her on her way to publication.  Before falling asleep each night she would lay in bed and write in the air, "I am a writer.  As human beings, our mind is our most powerful resource. The converse can be true too.  If you look in the mirror each morning and tell yourself, "I am worthless", you're going to believe it.

What struck me most last night, however, was when my sales director made the comment that the phrase "I am" is the most powerful phrase in the English language.  My mind immediately jumped to Exodus 3:14 when God says to Moses' inquiry of who God is:

 

"I AM WHO I AM.  This is what you are to say to the Israelites, "I AM has sent me to you."

In this moment, God could have called out any number of phrases to identify himself: the Redeemer of Israel, the Creator of the Universe, the Author of Life, the Healer, the Rock, the Refuge.... Yet instead, God answers Moses' question with the most powerful phrase in probably any language--the ultimate affirmation--I AM.  It is the answer to any question we might have, the end to any argument we may give, the hope in any circumstance we may find ourselves in.  

"God, how am I going to get around this mountain?"  God answers: "I AM!"

"God, how am I going to keep going after this setback?"  God answers: "I AM!"

"God, where am I going to find an answer to this problem?  God answers, "I AM!"

"God, where am I going to turn when this relationship, job, home, body I've put my faith in falls apart?"

God answers, "I AM!"

In Revelation 1:8 God puts the ultimate cap on his affirmation to Moses:

"I am the Alpha and the Omega...who was, and who is, and who is to come, the Almighty."

Do you need an affirmation today?  Tell yourself this: "I am a beloved child of the great I AM!!"

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

Confession 203: Being a Faith Warrior

Together (we) will be like mighty warriors in battle

trampling (our) enemy into the mud of the streets.

(We) will fight because the Lord is with (us),

and (we) will put the Enemy to shame.  Zechariah 10:5

Growing up, my Grandpa always told me I would make a good soldier.  Why, I have no idea, but it's something he told me over and over.  And while I am stubborn, persistent, and more inclined to fight than flee, I don't like being told what to do, I need to know the reason for doing something before I begin, and if someone is pointing a gun in my general direction I am going to run the other way!!  I've never seen myself as a warrior.  And yet, in the above Scripture that is precisely what we are called to be!

One look at our society and it becomes clear that we are indeed mighty warriors in battle!  The Enemy surrounds us and his weapons are powerful and destructive, breaking us down from within through fear, despair, self-loathing, hopelessness, temptation, guilt, anger, selfishness, materialism and pride.  But we, as followers of Christ, have something even more powerful than these weapons of mass destruction.  The Lord is with us!!  And he carries in his arsenal not weapons with which to destroy, but tools with which to build.  The Lord brings hope, salvation, grace, mercy, forgiveness, redemption, restoration, healing, peace, goodness, power, strength, faith, compassion perseverance, and love.  

As followers of Christ, we will put the Enemy to shame with these tools the Lord provides.  We will put the Enemy to shame when we choose to forgive rather than hold a grudge.  We will put the Enemy to shame when we offer a place of healing in our churches to those who have suffered from addiction.  We will put the Enemy to shame when we go out to serve others with love and compassion in the face of despair, disaster, and poverty.  We will put the Enemy to shame when we persevere through the trials and obstacles in our lives and in our congregations to continue the work God has given us to do.  We will put the Enemy to shame when we speak to others with love and grace, focusing on the positive instead of dwelling on the negative.  We will put the Enemy to shame when we encourage others in their walk, strengthen others in their faith, support others on their journey of healing, restoration and redemption.  In essence, we will put the Enemy to shame when we LOVE!!

O, Lord, I want to be a WARRIOR today!!

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

Confession 202: Pray!

Is anyone among you in trouble?  Let them pray!  Is anyone happy?  Let them sing songs of praise!  Is anyone among you sick?  Let them call the elders of the church to PRAY over them....Therefore, confess your sins to each other and PRAY for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous person is POWERFUL and EFFECTIVE!!  James 5:13-16

This Sunday, my husband began a new sermon series focusing on prayer.  For too many of us, prayer takes a backseat to the other events/happenings in our lives.  We bark orders at God or give a compulsory thanks before dinner, but we don't really spend time in conversation with the one who created us and knows us better than we know ourselves.

Did you know that psychologists have found that the healthiest relationships are the ones in which people engage in communication with one another at least 4 hours a day?  Don't worry, texting counts!!  Think for a minute about the person you communicate most with throughout the day.  Now, think about how much time you spend communicating with God throughout the day.  Am I the only one whose numbers don't add up?

Communication is essential to a healthy relationship, and prayer in its most basic essence is communication.  We go to God and talk and listen.  It's a two-way conversation, even if we're not face-to-face.  Yet even more importantly, prayer is our time to surrender ourselves to God.  It is our time to go to God and tell him that we're ready for him in our lives--for his forgiveness, his love, his grace, his mercy, his peace, his strength, his guidance, his power, his freedom--that we are ready for him.

So, in the words of Nike and my husband, "Just do it!"  In our society, we over complicate things.  We make excuses to justify our lack of commitment to God and others.  The solution to this is simple.  As Chris said, "If you don't feel like you pray enough, then pray!  If you don't feel like you read your Bible enough, read your Bible!  If you feel guilty because you don't go to church enough, go to church!  If you feel bad because you don't talk to your mom enough, call your mom!"  Just pray.

Just

PRAY!

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

Linking up with Michelle at Graceful today!! 

Confession 201: Nonconformist

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.  

Romans 12:2

Having a very active imagination, my mind wanders a lot.  Often when I'm cleaning or driving or trying to fall asleep, I make up stories in my head--little movies I can watch while I'm busy doing other things.  Had I written them all down over the years, I would have filled hundreds of books! :-)  When I'm not making up stories I will probably never write, I am thinking about ways to expand my business or running through a to-do list or worrying about the kids, Chris or money.  I'm not sure I would call any of the above renewing my mind.

Too often, I ask God for help, advice, guidance and direction, yet I do not clear my mind of other things to allow God's help, advice, guidance and direction to come through.  Romans 12:2 tells us that it is in the renewing of our minds that we will be able to discern God's will.  Yet, how do we renew our minds?

First, I think we have to clear them.  We have to stop thinking and daydreaming and worrying and allow stillness to permeate our being.

Next, when our minds are clear and still, we need to go to God's Word.  We need to pour over Scripture, letting the words imprint themselves on our newly cleared minds.  We need to soak in the Word of God, whether a chapter or two or just one verse.

Then, we need to ponder.  We need to re-read our Scripture passage or verse.  We need to read the commentaries about it, gather information around it, think about what it means in our own lives.  We need to ask God for clarity about his Word.

Finally, we need to pay attention to Scripture lived out in our lives.  Where is our passage meeting us throughout the day?  Where are we living out the Word we have received?  How is God illuminating it for us throughout our day?

It is then that we will be able to experience the renewing of our minds that will allow us to test and approve God's good, pleasing and perfect will.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

Confession 200: Affirmations

In my beauty consultant business, we are taught to develop affirmations we can say to ourselves throughout the day.  We say things like, "I am a booking machine", "I am a powerful and confident saleswoman", "I am a Star consultant", etc....  The idea behind these affirmations is that you become what you affirm.  It's the idea that if you say it enough you'll start to live it out.  And so, I felt a bit convicted yesterday when I was cleaning up a side table and found notes from the Priscilla Shirer simulcast I attended last April.  Within our conference booklet was a page of affirmations, but not affirmations focused on building business or making money, but affirmations focused on building holiness and making a God-centered life.  So, I thought I'd dedicate my 200th blog to some affirmations of the soul.

1. I am created in the image of God and God said I am good. (Genesis 1:27)

2. There is no place I can go where God will not find me; no circumstance in life where I will not know his love. (Psalm 139:7-12, Romans 8:28)

3. God has a plan for my life that is bigger and better than anything I could imagine. (Jeremiah 29:11)

4. I will not be afraid of the trials of this life because God, my Savior, will not let me go. (Isaiah 43:1-3)

5. I can do anything that God has called me to do. (Philippians 4:13)

6. I will not worry about tomorrow, for God will provide all my needs.  I only need to rely on him. (Matthew 6:25-34)

7. God has freed me to love others.  I will love others with the outpouring of love God has shown me. (1 John 4:7)

8. I will keep God's word in my heart and teach it to my children. (Deuteronomy:4-6)

9. Even though I have days where this life will make me cry, God will bring joy to my heart. (Psalm 30:5)

10. I have been redeemed by Christ and am a new creation in him. (2nd Corinthians 5:17)

Blessings and Peace,
Sara

Confession 199: Boys

So, I found a cool new site I'm linking up with today called M.O.B. (Moms of Boys).  As most of you know, I have two boys, ages 3 and 5.  They are wonderful and exasperating all at the same time!  As Christian parents, the most important thing to my husband and I is that our boys grow up with hearts for God.  I just want them to serve God, in whatever capacity God chooses for them to do that.  So, it's wonderful to find a site full of other women dedicated to that purpose.  Here's some basic information for those hopping over:

1. I am a United Methodist pastor's wife.  When we moved a year ago from our past appointment I had to give up my job teaching high school English.  God has taught me a lot about relying on him this past year as I have not been able to find another full-time position. Like always, he has opened up doors I never expected or anticipated.  I recently started my own business as an Independent Beauty Consultant for Mary Kay Cosmetics.  You can check out my webpage here.

2. My boys, Garret and Stephen, are masters of mess and chaos.  It's always something around our house.  Yesterday I caught my youngest washing out his underwear in the sink because he refuses to poop in the potty and apparently he thought cleaning up himself was the more preferable choice.  This same child also flooded a church bathroom this past Sunday by turning both water faucet's on full-blast 5 minutes before the start of worship.  Instead of leading singing, I was mopping!!

My oldest is more subtle.  During prayer time one Sunday he decided to body surf under the pews to the front of the sanctuary.  Just as my husband was getting to the Lord's Prayer Garrett pops out in front of him and says, "Hi Daddy!"

3. I started this blog because I love writing.  Confessions of the Pastor's Wife is not a tell-all of parsonage living, but rather reflections and experiences of my own journey with God through all of life's ups and downs.  It is an attempt to help others connect with God and to discover new facets of God for myself.  I am in the process of writing a devotional book which may or may not ever be finished! :-)  And, I contribute monthly to Seeds of Faith, a wonderful online forum for Christian women throughout the world.

As my youngest has decided to try jumping from the couch to recliner, I should probably end here.  I'm so glad you came to visit me today, and will be by to visit you soon!

Blessings and Peace,
Sara

Confession 198: I'm Going With You

"Father, I don't know where you're going today, but I'm going with you."--Sheila Walsh

Driving down the road, only semi-listening to the radio, these words cut through my to-do list and planted themselves right in the center of my brain.  It took me a moment to tune in to what I had heard, but as I rolled the words around in my head and let them drip onto my tongue, I realized the transforming potential of this small prayer. To begin each day with this, as Christian writer and speaker Sheila Walsh does, is a lifestyle choice that requires some major shuffling of priorities for most of us.  To-do lists might be left undone.  Schedules carved into cyberspace might be deleted.  Our five-year plan might not be there five years from now.  Our agendas must be relinquished for God's agenda; AND, we have to choose to give them up willingly!

"Father, I don't know where you're going today, but I'm going with you."

Can you imagine what the first disciples must have thought when Jesus called to them?  Did Peter have any idea as he was folding away his fishing nets the events to come?  Peter, the rugged fisherman, who said "Father, I don't know where you're going today, but I'm going with you."  Could he have known that he would become "The Rock" on which Christ would build his church, the first of the chosen 12 to recognize Jesus as the Son of God?  Could he have foreseen his spectacular denial of Jesus, chronicled throughout time in all four Gospels, or had a vision of his own bloody death on a cross?  If he had, do you think he would have gone?  Would you?  Would I?

"Father, I don't know where you're going today, but I'm going with you."

I think that this simple prayer embodies all we are to be as Christians.  Our duty, our job, is to follow Christ.  But look carefully at the words above--"Father, I DON'T KNOW where you are going...."  To follow Christ, we have to be willing to take a leap of faith.  We have to be willing to say, "I don't know" when it comes to the what's, when's and where's of our lives.  We have to live on faith, that "confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1)   We have to remember that Jesus did not walk the easy road of comfort and luxury.  Jesus sought out those who were poor, those who were sick, those who were oppressed, those who were weary, those who were "untouchable", those who were "sinners".  We have to remember that Jesus challenged the status quo.  He pointed fingers at the institutions (the government and the church) which kept people in bondage, which diminished the value and worth of human beings created in God's image.

"Father, I don't know where you're going today, but I'm going with you."

This is what I want my prayer be.  This is what I want my life to be.  I want this prayer to be my lifestyle choice.  I want to say to God, "I'M GOING WITH YOU!!" wherever that may be.  And even though the road may be difficult, I'm traveling with my Father.  And there is nowhere else I want to be.

Blessings and Peace,
Sara
 

Confession 197: Seeds of Faith Thursday

I'm posting over at Seeds of Faith today, but I have to confess that I've been very lazy and just re-posted from my blog last week.  It's terrible, I know, but I'm just having blogging issues at the moment!  But, I'm going to work on getting back in the routine.  I've sort of been living and breathing my business at the moment, working toward building it up.  I've done 39 facials in the past month and sold about $1200 in retail.  So, it's going well, it's just very time consuming.

It's funny, because although I've always cleaned and moisturized my face, I used to think make-up itself was somewhat trivial.  What I failed to realize is that when used correctly, make-up actually brings out the natural beauty God has given each of us in our faces.  It's true design is to enrich, not to reinvent.  And I'm okay with that, as long as it's about me bringing forth God's best in me when I step out of the house and not about me trying to impress others or be someone I'm not.  For as Proverbs 31 reminds us, "Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."

Blessings and Peace,
Sara

Confession 195: Parenting Advice From the Pro

The more I read about Susanna Wesley, the more I realize what an astoundingly brilliant mother she was.  I mean, she did raise up John and Charles Wesley, the founder of Methodism and a prolific hymn writer, respectively.  As the mother of about 100 kids (okay, 19), Susanna Wesley had to be organized and efficient, making the most of both time and resources. 

According to reports, each of Susanna's children got to spend one hour alone with her per week, engaging in whatever activity they so chose.  When Susanna Wesley needed some quiet time she would sit down in a chair and throw her apron up over her head.  When the kids saw Mama hiding behind her own apron, they knew to leave well enough alone!! :-)

I recently came across Susanna Wesley's rules for raising children.  Though written some 300 years ago, these rules are completely relevant for raising children today.  As parents, it is important that we actually engage in parenting, and Susanna Wesley did this phenomenally.  So, I'm taking these rules to heart.  Let me know what you think!!

Blessings and Peace,
Sara

Susanna Wesley's Rules for Raising Children

1. Allow no eating between meals. (Working on this.  It does make dinner a more pleasant experience!)

2. Put all children in bed by eight o'clock. (We try to stick to this.  We need some child-free time to restore our sanity!!)

3. Require them to take medicine without complaining.  (My boys really like taking medicine.  I'm a bit concerned.)

4. Subdue self-will in a child and thus work together with God to save his soul.  (This is where I need Susanna Wesley to come over for coffee and give me a few tips!!  It's hard to fight that battle day in and day out with stubborn children!)

5. Teach one to pray as soon as he can speak.  (We do this before meals and at bedtime.  There is nothing sweeter than sitting and listening to your children praying.  I guess God must feel the same way! :-))

6. Require all to be still during family worship.  (We use the nursery every Sunday.  And yet, I wonder, is that the best option?  Does anyone practice a family worship time?  What does that look like in your house?)

7. Give them nothing that they cry for and only that which they ask for politely.  (My youngest daily tests me on this!!)

8. To prevent lying, punish no fault which is first confessed and repented of.  (Absolutely brilliant and gives your children a first-hand experience of grace.

9. Never allow a sinful act to go unpunished. (I'm guessing there's a difference between a fault and a sinful act.)

10. Never punish a child twice for a single offense.  

11. Commend and reward good behavior.  (This is so basic, but I forget it all the time.  I sometimes give more notice to the negative behavior rather than the good.)

12. Any attempt to please, even if poorly performed, should be commended.

13. Preserve property rights, even in the smallest matters.  ("Garrett, that's Stephen's Mater.  Give it back to him, please."

14. Strictly preserve all promises.  (If you don't, they'll remind you!!)

15. Require no daughter to work before she can read well.

16. Teach children to fear the rod.  (I think I need to invest in one of those!! :-))

Confession 195: God Sustains

To say my boys have been a little wild lately would be an understatement.  Having moved into my parents house for the week while foundation work is being done on our parsonage, the boys have taken complete leave of their senses and seem to have left their ears back at our house!  They are loud, destructive, mess-making creatures who bring chaos with them at every turn.  While visiting my grandma in her assisted living facility yesterday the boys were running up and down the halls and around the dining room playing cars with legos.  My grandma, loving every minute, laughed and asked me, "Are they like this at home, too?" 

"ALL THE TIME!!" was my response.

Now in all fairness, my boys are generally pretty good.  They have wild moments, as any boys do, it's just that with all of the change this week their wild moments have become the norm and not the exception.  I was thinking yesterday that I was going to have to drive the 240 miles to my in-laws and drop the boys on their doorstep! :-)  (My parents are in Canada doing mission work this week.)  And then, as will happen, God spoke with me this morning from the prophet Elijah.

Elijah says to the Lord, " I have had ENOUGH, Lord!"  ...he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.  All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat..."  The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you..."

1 Kings 19: 4-7

Interestingly, or maybe I should say, humanly, Elijah spoke those words to God shortly after God had displayed his power on Mount Carmel, exposing the priests of Baal as frauds and demonstrating once again to the nation of Israel that Yahweh is the one, true God.  Yet instead of being full of confidence, of recognizing that he, Elijah, served the Most High God, Elijah took Jezebel's threat to end his life seriously and headed for the hills.  Even though God had shown Elijah firsthand his power, his glory, his might, Elijah still said, "I have had ENOUGH!"

The truth is, there are situations in all of our lives where we decide to tell God enough is enough, despite the ways God has sustained us in the past and our knowledge that he will do so in the future.

But here's what I love...instead of telling Elijah off, commanding him to get up and stop being a baby and get the job done, God ministers to Elijah.  God comforts Elijah.  God sustains Elijah.  Do you see the love God has in his heart for his people?  Do you feel the love God has for you?  Elijah told God he had had enough and God responded with comfort and care, with empathy and compassion.  God said, "I know this journey is too much for you, so let me see you through."

Have you recently told God you've had enough?  I want you to know that God knows you've had enough.  He knows this journey is too much for you.  And, he loves you with a love so great, so deep, so wide, so high that he is bringing you nourishment that will strengthen you, sustain you, and see you through!!

Blessings and Peace,

Sara 

Confession 194: God Has a Special Place in HIs Heart For Fools Like Me

Last Sunday I crashed a baby shower.  Don't worry, it was for a friend, but it wasn't the shower I was invited to. 

The shower I was invited to was 120 miles away and I was on my own.  I was enjoying some quality me time while speeding down the highway to make it to the shower by 2:00.  At 1:50 I pulled into the parking lot of the church where the shower was being held.  Grabbing my gifts I walked inside, only to find the church dark.  Hearing some voices, I followed them to the sanctuary--an odd place for a baby shower I thought, but whatever.  Walking into the sanctuary I was a bit surprised to find, not a baby shower, but a kid's dance troupe.  I started to get a little tingle of anxiety. 

"Um, where's the baby shower?"  I asked.
"Baby shower?" one of the kids replied.

Panic officially started to sink in.  You see, I hadn't actually looked at the invitation to double check the date.  But, as I told my husband in my frantic phone call, "I could have sworn the shower was today!  I wrote it down on my calendar!"  I could litearlly feel his eyes rolling from 120 miles away.  Shortly thereafter I received a text that read: "The shower is next Sunday!!"

Not to be deterred, I headed over to my friend's house.  At least I could drop off gifts and visit for a bit, right?  As I pulled up the drive her husband met me at the door.  She wasn't there.  However, I was pleased to discover she was actually at a baby shower (hers) in a town about 20 miles up the road.  I had driven 120 miles for a baby shower--what was another 20?  The problem, however, was that her husband was as sure of the location of the shower as I was of the shower date.  Just as I was opening the door to head out he told me that they had just purchased a red Sierra minivan.

So, I startred driving once again.  When I got to the street where her husband thought the baby shower was being held I breathed a sigh of relief.  Things were working out after all.

Halfway through my fourth loop of the street, I came to the conclusion that there was no baby shower taking place here.  I knew I couldn't call Chris again and tell him I couldn't find the baby shower I had now driven 140 miles to attend, so I headed down side streets looking for the only clue I had--a red Sierra minivan.  Low and  behold, a red Sierra minivan appeared in front of a house with a silver star balloon tied to the front.  Regardless of whether or not this was my friend's party,  I was going in!!  Walking up the steps, I took a deep breath, smiled, and pulled open the front door--the time for knocking had passed!

"Sara?!"  my friend said.  "Oh my gosh!  I'm so glad you're here!"

Whew!  The hostess and friends were very grateful and gracious at the sudden presence of a total stranger in their midst.  The shower was lovely, but more so was the opportrunity to visit with a friend, and to make new friends!  On the drive back home I kept thanking God over and over for looking out for fools like me!

Blessings and Peace,
Sara

Confession 193: The Saleswoman

Well, it seems I have taken a little blogging break for the week.  And although I have missed keeping up with you all, I have a good excuse.  I started my own business!!  I am now an official "Independent Beauty Consultant" and am having a blast!  I've started wearing make-up on a regular basis, which might be selling out a bit as I've never been much of a make-up person, but it's really "all about the skin-care".  And, I've been using cleansers and moisturizers for fifteen years.  Anyway, I'm linking up to my website if you'd like to take a look.  I will be setting up a pay by credit card option within the next week.

I woke up this morning with the song "I Stand Amazed" stuck in my head.  It's an old hymn and the chorus goes like this:  (I often wake up with old hymns running through my head--I'm just weird like that.  I see them as little gifts from God to start my day!! :-))

How marvelous, how wonderful
And my song shall ever be
How marvelous, how wonderful
Is my Savior's love for me.

I think I forget how much God truly loves me.  It's unfathomable, especially on days when I don't really love myself.  But here's the reality:

Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, 

nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, 

will be able to separate us from the love of God.  Romans 8:38-39 

And finally, today is my niece's first birthday.  She's so cute she won the local news' baby of the week picture contest!!  Happy Birthday, Baby O!! 

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

Confession 192: With the Morning Light

When I was a child, I was terribly afraid of the dark.  I had, and have, a vivid imagination which would produce very real, very terrifying dreams while I slept, usually involving the "big, bad wolf".  I would wake from my nightmares, heart pounding, ears on point, looking around at all of the objects in my room to make sure all was as it was supposed to be. 

Some nights I would flee from my bed and take shelter in between my parents as they slept.  Other times, my fear would overtake all reason and, sure that some danger lurked within our house, I could not bring myself to step foot out of my bed.  On those occasions, I found myself gazing at the dark sky out my bedroom window waiting for the first glimmer of light that signifies a new day.  I waited for that moment when the blackness would give way to inky blue.  Only then would my heart slow, my body relax, and I could once more rest easily.

Although I have grown out of my childhood fears, there are still moments in my life where I find myself waiting for that first glimpse of morning light.  We all face moments of darkness in our lives, whether it be the loss of a loved one, sickness, unemployment, broken relationships, big decisions or major transitions. Our fear, our sadness, our indecisiveness can all work to paralyze us.  We find ourselves watching for the morning light, because that first glimmer of a new day is our hope for tomorrow. 

They Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105

Whatever you face today, know that God will bring you the hope of the morning light.  You may have to wait, you may have to watch, but slowly and surely the light will come.  And while you're waiting, take a cue from the Psalmist above.  Turn to God's Word.  Read.  Read again.  Read some more.  Let the words of God's love soak into your spirit and know that there is hope.  Get up early tomorrow and watch the sky turn from black to blue.  Let your hope arise with the morning light and know that God, your God, will never abandon or forsake you.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

Confession 191: To Live a Better Story

My husband is doing a book club series for the summer, and this week's selection is Donald Miller's A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. In this book, author Donald Miller explores the idea that the qualities which make a good story are the same qualities that come together to make a good life.

Life is lived in story, and as Christians, we are called to live a better story.  Donald Miller states that, "A story is based on what people think is important, so when we live a story, we are telling people around us what we think is important."

Which begs the question....

When you look at your life, what do you see?  Would it make an interesting story?  Would it make a good story?  Is it a story you would want to tell?  Is it a story you would want others to tell?

One of the things that Miller comes back to over and over in his book is that story is about character transformation, and if our lives are a story, then the point of our lives is the journey we take to transformation.  And, we reach that transformation through a series of "inciting" incidents.  "The inciting incident is how you get (characters) to do something. It's the doorway through which they can't return, you know. The story takes care of the rest."

God uses "inciting" incidents in our lives to prompt us to make the changes we need to make in order to live a better story.  These incidents could include the loss of a relationship, loss of a job, gaining of a job, birth of a child, unexpected illness or injury, or, in Miller's case, the opportunity to turn his life into a screenplay.

God used an inciting incident in Paul's life as he walked the road to Damascus.  Confident in his role as persecutor of Christians, Paul (then Saul) was brought to his knees by Christ himself and chose, in that moment, to be transformed and to live a better story.

Life is more than schedules, and work, and the day to day grind.  Life is about living a better story.  It is about allowing ourselves to be transformed by our Creator so that we may go out into the world and make a difference, regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in.  Look at Job, Miller states.  "Job found contentment and even joy, outside the context of comfort, health or stability. He understood the story was not about him, and he cared more about the story then he did about himself."

It is not an accident then that Jesus spent most of his time teaching through story.  Mark 4:33 states that...

With many stories like these, he presented his message to them, fitting the stories to their experience and maturity. He was never without a story when he spoke. When he was alone with his disciples, he went over everything, sorting out the tangles, untying the knots.

Our life is about living a story.  And, as did the disciples long ago, when we go to the Lord in prayer, he will go over everything in our stories, sorting out the tangles and untying the knots.

So I have to ask: Are you living a better story?

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

Linking up with Michelle @ Graceful 

Confession 190: Abiding in Surrender

Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn't get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,  

  My grace is enough; it's all you need.
   My strength comes into its own in your weakness. 2 Corinthians 12: 7-9

Surrender can be a bitter pill to swallow.  Many of us go to a place of surrender to God only after life's circumstance throws a huge obstacle in our path we can't climb over, go around, dig under or push through.  We finally say, "That's it!  I give up!  You take it God."  And then we stand back, hands on hips, catching our breath while we wait for God to vaporize it.  And we wait, and wait, and wait.  A few seconds stretch into minutes.  We look each way, then crane our heads to the sky.  Impatience begins to creep up from our feet, which are itching to get back on the path.  The minutes continue on, but the obstacle is still in the path.  "Did you hear me?" we call to the sky?  "Hello!"  "Hello!?"  "Hello?"  Minutes stretch into hours, which bleed away the day.  Darkness falls  and we find ourselves asking, "God, where are you?"  Days pass into weeks, months, even years.  We've gone from a pup tent to pouring a foundation to a 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath house.  And still, we wait, surrendering again, and again with each new day.

The reality of surrender is that sometimes, God calls us to abide in it.  As Paul states in the above passage, these seasons of our lives living amidst obstacles we cannot budge are opportunities for God to demonstrate his power.  But sometimes, the power he is demonstrating to us is his power to provide and care for us in the midst of our darkest hours.  And we learn the lesson that surrender is not a one time thing, but something we must do over and over with the dawn of each new day.  Abiding in surrender.

But don't think for a moment that God is being mean, choosing to ignore a very real problem for the sake of disciplining his pig-headed children.  While we are learning to abide in surrender, God is working on the other side of that obstacle building a better rode, toll-free, for us to travel.  He's straightening out the curves, adding extra lanes, re-paving and re-painting.  He's adding new road signs to help guide our path and creating new exits for us to take.  God is working while we're abiding.  Make no mistake about it, God can and will vaporize that obstacle blocking our path, but not before the road, and we, are ready!

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

Confession 189: Lessons from Dad

As it is Father's Day, I thought I'd write a bit about my Dad.  My Dad has been a teacher for the past 30 + years.  He "retired" seven years ago but has two part-time teaching jobs which keep him busy everyday.  My Dad has been one of the greatest influences in my life, and I wanted to share with him (and you) some of the most important lessons this perennial teacher has taught me over the years.

Lesson One: The Importance of Faith
I was raised in the church.  From the beginning, church was a priority.  If the doors were open, we were there, actively involved in kids groups, choir, missions, bells, etc...  But more than that, it was important to both of my parents that not only were we in church, but that we "got" church.  In our house, we talked about our faith constantly.  After church on Sundays, my dad would ask us what we learned.  It wasn't a quiz, it was a true discussion.  We'd share, then we'd talk and reflect on what was shared as a family.  My dad encouraged us to go deeper into our faith, to ask tough questions and to ponder the answers.  Even now our conversations are full of biblical study as we continue to question and ponder the mysteries of faith.  If I have a Bible question, I call my dad.  He gets his Bible out and we go through it together, figuring out the answers together.

Lesson Two: It'll be Okay
Born out of faith, this expression is one of my father's personal mantras.  Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I call Dad and he assures me with full confidence that, "It'll be okay."   And when he says it, I believe him.  My Dad gives me peace of mind and heart, while he takes all of my worries and anxieties upon himself.  He works through my problems, seeks expert advice, then comes back to me with possible solutions for the problem at hand.  No matter how old I get, I know that I will always be my Daddy's little girl and that, until he takes his last breath, he will be working in my life and the lives of my children trying to "make it okay".

Lesson Three: Laughter Cures All
In our house, there is laughter.  It doesn't matter how serious the circumstance, how formal the occasion, we laugh.  My Dad, with his goofy sense of humor, has taught me that you can, and should, laugh at yourself on a daily basis.  And, if I can't laugh at myself, he will do it for me!! :-)  Laughter relieves tension, makes impossible situations seem manageable, and keeps you from taking yourself too seriously.  When my sister was younger, she had a lisp.  And, although my parents got her into speech therapy, it didn't stop us laughing about it.  My Dad and I used to ask her to say my name, which has several "s"'s in it.  When she'd lisp her way through it, we would all be rolling on the floor.  Mean?  Maybe.  But was my sister embarrassed about her lisp?  No way!  No one could give her more trouble about it than us! :-) Laughter cures all.

Lesson Four: Work or Play, Give Your Best Each Day
My Dad's philosophy on life is to take it by the horns and go.  Work as hard as you play and play as hard as you work.  My Dad's philosophy on life is that it's a gift which should be used.  When my Dad works, he gives all of himself.  He builds relationships with his students that last throughout the years.  Students from 25 years ago proudly call him friend.  Growing up, Dad lived at the school.  He taught high school English, History, Speech, Psychology.  He directed the school plays for fifteen years, announced the high school football games for 20, kept stats at the basketball games, coached the golf team to several state placements,  and ran the speech/debate program.  If his students were in the building, he was there.  And, more often than not, so were my sister and I.  The high school was a second home to us, which probably explains why my sister and I love working with teenagers today.

Yet, not only does Dad give 110% at work, he also gives 110% at play.  Growing up, Dad would play golf every day in the summer leaving my sister and I at the pool.  We spent our time splashing around in the water and ordering frozen Snickers bars, cheeseburgers and Shirley Temple's from the clubhouse bar.  We'd slide back home minutes before Mom got there and scramble to do at least one of the chores she'd left for us that day!  Each summer would also bring a road trip with picnics and museum tours and hours spent scouring old Civil War battlefields.  We got up early and stayed up late, filling each day with memories.

Lesson Five: Love Each Day
Now that I have children of my own, my Dad is helping me to appreciate the beauty of each day.  One of his best and most common pieces of advice is, "Just enjoy it.  You're going to miss these days when they're gone."  And although toddlers are a challenge, there's a part of me that knows he's right.  Because, Dad does know best.

I love you, Dad!!
Sara

Confession 188: The Lord is My Shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd

 

 We will lie down in green grass

We will walk by quiet water

 

 God will give me peace in my soul

Because God loves me, he will lead me

His rod will show me where to walk

His staff will keep me safe

 Enemies may be all around me

 But I will eat in peace and safety

I am the Lord's welcome guest

My cup will run over

God's goodness and love will be with me every day of my life

 And I will live in God's house forever

Phil A. Smouse- I Can Read God's Word: The Lord is my Shepherd