Keep Your Tongue From Evil, Keep Your Tongue

Tonight, as I stood in line at Target my eyes wondered to the magazine rack. As I read the various headlines, I was saddened by some news of a 'celebrity breakup'. But then I have to wonder, why does anyone read these? One issue they are declaring how in love a couple is and the next they are calling one of them a monster and relating his ongoing fidelity problems. Obviously these people don't really have the scoop, so why do people keep buying and reading that stuff? Why are we so obsessed with 'celebrity gossip', after all, IT IS gossip, right?

Can we really focus our eyes on Christ while dwelling on the lives of people who have no such conviction?

I am particularly prone to gossip, and I have to admit that for a long time I bought into celebrity gossip. But in an effort to remove the encumbrances that weigh me down, I've made a commitment to remove this temptation from my life.

Celebrity gossip isn't the only area where I struggle though. It seems that any situation that arises where there is lot of "visiting" I fall prey. I say something I shouldn't, whether in participating when others start or starting a conversation that shouldn't be had myself.

It seems in groups we always look for common ground, something on which we can build a conversation. But in a group of Christ followers, THAT should be our common ground. We don't need the woman whose neckline is too low, or the man who flirts too much, or the secret Betty Sue told us or the latest baseball game...if our eyes are focused where they should be, CHRIST is our common ground...which means our ENTIRE LIVES ARE IN COMMON. Feeling we have to have something else in common is like a group of art lovers, and particularly Mona Lisa lovers, staring at the Mona Lisa and feeling the need to talk about the latest baseball game. If you are in front of the Mona Lisa, the conversation is most likely going to revolve around it...the majesty...the rarity...and would not bring to mind Betty Sue's bad breath.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with talking baseball...I'm saying that Christ is our common ground, and if a conversation topic is needed, there's no going wrong with Jesus.

Proverbs 10:19
1 Thess. 4:11
Ephesians 4:29

Date Week!

So as I mentioned before, our kiddos (all five!!) will be at their grandparents for a week or so in the very near future.  I'm very excited, although I know I'll miss them tremendously!

I'm planning to strip, sand and stain our hardwood floors in the living room.  GOODBYE CARPET!!!  I'm very excited about THAT.  I abhore carpet because of all the nastiness you can't get out!! And with five little monkeys it's hard to keep clean even with my awesome Dyson vacuum cleaner!

So Michael will have several days where he is off work and we're gonna be ALL ALONE and I'm looking for fun things to do together...fun and cheap date night ideas.

You got any???

Our Popcorn Maker

In an effort to reduce the amount of packaged and processed foods my family consumes, we got rid of our microwave a year and a half ago.  It's been fun and interesting figuring out ways to do without it.  BUT it has also aided us in our goal.

One of the things that we used our microwave for most often was popcorn. My sweet MIL gave me this popcorn maker.from Williams-Sonoma.  And let me tell you, the popcorn it makes is so much better than that ol' microwave stuff! It's not really any harder to use either!  Cleaning it is a simple and easy process. 

My kids love it and IT WORKS FOR ME!

Gratituesday!

There are so many things to be thankful for! I am blessed far beyond what I need or deserve.

In a couple of weeks, Michael and I will be meeting his parents in Pheonix, AZ where we will herd our little brood into THEIR car and drive away.  I will miss them, but they will have so much fun and I will get so much done that it will be a very good thing.

People keep remarking that I won't know what to do with myself.  Well let me tell you, I have a list a mile long.

Today I am thankful for grandparents, mine and my kids. And for the leisurely (if you call stripping and refinishing hardwood floors leisurely) week I will spend while my children enjoy their grandparents!

Promises

"If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free" John 8:31,32

I guess that's my answer.

Continue in His word.

Be His disciple.

Know the truth.

Be set free.

Sounds like a plan!

You Want the Truth?!

I don't know about you but I struggle a lot with 'truth'.

There are so many people around me who seem so sure about what 'the Truth' is. I have no such confidence.

I know what I was raised to believe concerning spiritual issues, but I honestly can't say for sure that that is truth. Some things I know aren't at all.

I'm not talking about questioning the existence of God (been there, done that), I'm talking about the implementation of our worship of Him. I'm talking about what that worship looks like. Not only what most people call 'church' but every day communion with God.

Fear has played a large role in my own personal quest. I've seen others figuratively drug behind a moving truck because of how they believe they should worship God. Basically excommunicated because of their bodily stance during a public prayer. Families ripped apart, once revered men made a laughing stock.

I'm afraid. I'm afraid to know 'the truth'. If my beliefs don't align with those of my family and their friends, I will basically have to walk away from almost everyone I know. There is no middle ground where I am.

I don't know if I'm ready. I want to be. I desperately want to be.

The Lord is My Shepherd

I've started to type this a few dozen times.

I was pregnant when I got married. I know that probably doesn't seem like a big deal to most people, but to me and my family, and to Michael and his family, it was a big deal.

I was raised to look down on people who made big mistakes like mine. I am the daughter of a preacher. One who likes his reputation intact.

I was basically a leader among the young people in my church.

I let everyone down. People believed in me and I let them down. My parents, Michael's parents, our siblings and all the people who counted on me to be the strong one. I let them down.

I've lived in the shadow of my sin ever since then. I gained weight as a subconscious way to announce to everyone that I know I suck. I'm not worth taking care of. My life ever since then has lived up to the standard of letting everyone down.

King David let everyone down. His baby died and then he got up and lived his life. Why can't I?

A Year of Unemployment

We missed the one year of unemployment mark by about one week. Michael started his new position this past Monday. Praise the LORD!!!

It's been a difficult year. Emotionally, spiritually and in pretty much every area of life.

I received an email a few days ago praising us for remaining strong throughout the process.

Well let me tell you. I did not remain strong. My heart and mind were full of worry, anxiousness, doubt and sometimes even resentment.

It was an extremely lonely time. I withdrew from a lot of people because I grew weary of being asked what Michael was doing to find a job. Or if I was going to get a job. People withdrew from us as well. I don't really know why that is, but it is true.

I am so thankful for this job, my gratitude is beyond anything I could ever describe to you.

I've learned a lot through all of this. Mostly, that I am not strong. And that my motivation for doing things is my own fear of failure. And that that doesn't get me very far.

God is Everywhere

Instead of complaining that the rosebush is full of thorns, be happy that the thorn bush has roses. ~Proverb

The people who live in a golden age usually go around complaining how yellow everything looks. ~Randall Jarrell

It is no use to grumble and complain;
It's just as cheap and easy to rejoice;
When God sorts out the weather and sends rain -
Why, rain's my choice.
~James Whitcomb Riley

Why is it that when we don't have a job we get depressed and want one, but when God blesses us with one, we complain about the same job we were so desperate for? Or we long for children but then complain about having to take care of them?

I have a renewed zeal to refrain from complaining. Thankfulness is the order of the day. My kids can hear me complain about having to take care of them, how could I ever subject them to that?

It seems with social networking sites we have a new, almost anonymous voice with which to air our complaints. Here's the thing - God is on Facebook, and I'm pretty sure He still wants us to rejoice, think on good things and "do all things without complaining or arguing" even in cyberspace.

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4 (emphasis mine)

Truth or Lies?

Isn't it disappointing when you find out that something you really loved or believed in is completely fake or not what you thought it was?

It's like the time I found out that my Grandma's spaghetti is from a can. I was traumatized (at least in a welcome-to-the-real-world kind of way which isn't much on the grand scale). Her spaghetti was my favorite in the world and I was expecting, when I asked her for the recipe, to be slaving in the kitchen for hours. Instead she told me the brand of spaghetti sauce she buys. And for that very reason, I've never been able to enjoy it quite as much.

There are some things you expect to come from a can or to be full of ingredients that no human should ever consume. Like nacho cheese from a concession stand. It's okay, if you eat them you simply eat it with the understanding that you'll never know what you actually ate. But it's okay because you knew beforehand. Having it sprung on you that your Grandma isn't actually spending all her time mixing love with the ingredients of your favorite meal just for you is not okay.

That's kind of the way I feel about most things these days especially where religion and politics are concerned.

I am registered to vote. I don't vote for offices usually because I don't think I have the time or energy to dedicate any amount of time to finding out what I would need to know to make a decision between any candidates. I do vote on issues though. I can't stand to listen to talk radio. I can't stand all of the biased politically slanted hosts that think their opinion is the only one in the world and you must be an idiot to think differently. How can 100 different people with completely opposing opinions all be right? Or how can they think they are the only ones that are right?

I guess it's a part of growing up - realizing that most people think they know everything and have all the answers and realizing that I DON'T (know everything). In fact, I don't know much of anything. I find myself questioning things that I've always thought were right. I find myself realizing that the people I've always loved and respected are not who I thought they were. It's mostly easy to forgive, to realize that they are only human and I can't expect them to be more. But there are some who are so arrogant that they are more concerned with keeping their 'good ole boys' membership (by sticking to the strict code of 'what to believe' and by tearing down those who believe something differently than they do and ignoring and condoning each others sin) than they care about seeking the truth. THAT is hard to swallow especially when you realize that someone that is supposed to love you cares more about their 'good ole boys' than they do you. But again, they are only human. I've been forgiven of so much how can I even begin to think about holding their sin against them? I cannot.

Sometimes I feel so lost. I wonder how anyone can be sure of anything, how anyone can know what the truth is. I wish that Jesus would come and physically hold my hand while imparting truth to me. I long for Him. I want truth, I need it. After all, isn't that what Jesus said sets us free?

Growing Pains

As a child, right before I would have a growth spurt, I would have terrible cramps in my legs. At the time I didn't care about that, all I cared about was the pain. I couldn't see past the pain.

However, I was always happy to find that my clothes were a few inches shorter, or I could reach something that I couldn't before.

I'm having growing pains again. The spiritual kind. At least I pray that is the case!

It hurts, it's hard and it's taking all of the strength I possess to not give up.

This time though, I am thankful - at least in the moments I'm not spiritually doubled over in pain. I pray that I have the strength to look past the pain to my Savior. To focus my eyes on Him and let Him lead my life. To glorify Him through it all.

Please, please pray for me!