Change.... always brings opportunity

Mark Twain said, "The only one who likes change is a wet baby."

I have always said that I like change. What I really mean is I like the change I choose. The change I desire. The change that looks exciting and good for me. 

Change comes around the corner without notice but always with opportunity.

My parents did the eulogy for my moms best friend yesterday.  It was not the kind of change they had prayed for.  They had prayed for healing and yet there they stood, my dad sharing scripture and a simple yet beautiful prayer for dear sweet Valerie.  My mom spoke of her high school friend, the chapel full of her family, her friends, her students... people who loved this woman, a woman who saw God with new eyes in her last days.

My own memories of Valerie and her family involve many visits to Florida, spending time on their boat, the parents going out to see Sammy Davis, Jr.  Riding horses with them when they came to visit us, barbecues on our back porch.  My memories are sweet when I think of Valerie. She was warm and beautiful. 

Valerie's children asked my parents to speak.

My mom had been concerned with sharing her feelings about Valerie and also the message of hope found in Christ.  She wanted to be strong in her sharing.  She didn't want to fall apart.  This is difficult for her.  She is a softy.....  I was a little concerned for her too.  I have good reason to be....:)

It took me back to a time when I was about 20.  My dog became very sick and I was carrying her to the car.  I needed my mom to drive me to the vet.  She totally fell apart and told me she thought  my dog was dying..... Really?!  This is not helping me at the moment!  Just get in the car and drive mom...... knowing I could not fall apart. Funny the things you remember.  Don't ask me about the dog.

Things change... and mom came through.  She had searched God and asked for his peace and that he would speak his words through her. 

Change came in that Valerie passed through the very thin veil of death and into eternity with her maker. How sweet that must be...... a joyful reunion with GOD.  God... really?  Yes, really.  No fear, no trembling, only the arms of Jesus welcoming her home.

Change came in that my parents found themselves in front of many people, some who didn't know Him as Lord of their life.  They were given the opportunity to minister to them, to share truth in love and bring glory to God.  The change they experienced was a blessing in exposing themselves to the world in all their pain and loss saying, "Its okay, God is still on the throne.  He has this covered, just like every other change that will come into our lives.  Nothing slips by him."  Praise God!

Change happens, get ready.  I look back on this year of my life and see huge change. Change in jobs, change in a home, a town, children becoming adults and picking colleges far away.... what, what?! :)

The change I want to see is in myself.  When I look in the rear view mirror of this year, do I see a change in me that is pleasing to God?  Have I trusted Him with the details of my life and moved for Him?  Have I said, Not my will, but thy will."  Am I willing to put nothing between Him and me?  That is the change that I want to see.

This change will bring opportunity. To serve, to love, to glorify Him.

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20

THE DIGITAL STORY OF THE NATIVITY

New Church Initiatives: A Social Network Christmas: The Nativity Through t...

New Church Initiatives: A Social Network Christmas: The Nativity Through t...

Party planning by God - 101

Yesterday the hubby arrived home. He will be home for two weeks. I have been looking forward to a No Fly zone and making believe we are the Waltons for a couple of days.  Not Sam Walton.... but John boy. 

Today the daughter drives home from college.  As an R.A. she "gets to" spend an extra week at school, making sure all is well in her Hall.  She is anxious to be home.  I am more anxious.

The son has told his dad they need to do some Christmas shopping today for the sister and madre.  The husband is very excited about visiting the mall....  (blatant lie)

Our Christmas begins when everyone arrives home this afternoon . 

We will come together and celebrate Jesus birth and the joys and blessing of being family. 

At Christmas time we spend time planning. We make lists, check them twice.... or lose them if you are like me.  We plan parties, food, gifts and decor. We want to make lasting memories for our loved ones. 

The amazing thing is that God was the original party planner. We are talking party planning on steroids.

And without a Target I might add!

We only need to look to his word to see the planning he arranged for the biggest celebration ever. 

When the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son. (Galatians 4:4)

 God planned the time, the location, the roads prepared by the Romans, the census that would be taken demanding the attention of this couple and the need to travel at this late stage of pregnancy. 

God planned the place in Bethlehem, not an Inn with a warm fire and a cup of soup ready for the weary travelers, yet a place where God's creation surrounded them. 

Turns out , all the preparation I put into things is sometimes lost on the point of the celebration.  Not so when God plans a party. He is proof to the saying, "keep it simple". 

The greatest night of mankind was celebrated in a smelly, cold barn and yet the beauty and glory that was part of this celebration cannot be compared to anything man can create. 

Even better was the reason for this party he gave us. LOVE, pure and simple. God loved us so much that he sent his son... for us... for YOU. 

God...the ultimate party planner. On call 24/7,  and he is expecting you.  Make your reservation today.

  

Flying really is a contact sport

Flew down to florida this week to see my parents.

There is something called flight ettiquette and I wish I could find it in book form and hand them out on my return trip. Perhaps it is something that still needs to be written....

Let me say, its never good form to thrust your overpacked carry on into my shoulder as you careen down the aisle in hopes of the last empty spot in the overhead .... the gentleman behind him looking at me, mouthing, "you okay?"

Yes, I half smiled, as he handed me his food carton and milk, not quite asking if I would hold it, while putting his carry on into the dark world of overhead bins.  Actually this did not bother me... we had bonded over the infliction of pain to my shoulder.

Yes, he was my seat mate and mostly normal( my idea of normal) though he did tap my arm when he talked to me .... kinda what I do to my husband as I try and get his attention and which he finds mostly annoying.
I am starting to see why :).

Another thing you might consider refraining from is tapping your glass of ice to the music that only you can hear... because you are the one with the head phones on.  The man opposite us did this for the entire trip.

This was cause for one of my neighbors taps to my arm, again okay because we were buds by now.

Another of our travel mates had the habit of smacking her lips.... no idea why but combined with the ice man... well, it was almost musical. Emphasis on almost.

Next flight I was sitting with two young fellas and the one closest to me decided it was time for some personal grooming. This included raised arm, elbow clearly in my space, finger in his mouth where he commenced chewing. This went on the duration of the trip...... really, your killing me.

The man behind me arrived late with massive amounts of carry-ons. Okay, it was only two but they were carry-ons from, well.... you know where.  He decided business class was where his luggage should go and thus began the task of placing said items into this cavernous space.. Hmm, this wasnt going to fly, pardon the pun.

The flight attendant explained that this area was reserved for business class, no matter that it was half empty.  The rest of the plane was open to him, first come first served though so good luck.

Well, there arose such a clatter and what to my wondering eyes did appear but Ricky, our flight attendant in darling flight gear....who jumped to the rescue.
He jammed and slammed over my head until my young neighbor screamed ....an expletive that hurt my ears and told Ricky to take it easy on his luggage.
 Well, Ricky was offended and huffed away, never to be seen again.

The guy who arrived late looked at me and said, "gee, i hope he doesn't jump off the plane like that other guy did."

Oh dear.....

Moral of the story... no idea really, just know it's a jungle out there.  Ya might want to wear a helmet and some padding.

Beware of the Doghouse..Christmas Ideas for the men in our lives!

Christmas Ideas..don't miss this !!

You cant embrace someone with folded arms

I have a friend who has a love for the elderly population. She is also seeking Gods will for her life. God has been showing her things and putting people in her path... 

Through one of her churches ministries she finds herself saying yes to helping an elderly couple. The woman is very ill and the man has short term memory loss which makes it necessary for him to have help when he leaves the house.

My friend is happy to help.

She takes the man to the grocery store, list in hand from the wife.

He tells my friend about himself, just a little of his life story: how he lost his short term memory, his first wife leaving the marriage at one point, his inability to drive because of his condition.

He had plans for his life, education, work.. all taken away in the blink of an eye.

He asks my friend why she thinks certain things happen to people. My friend says she believes they are God things. He reaches out patting her arm, pleased by her answer and tells her she is right.

He is pleasant and she enjoys her time with him. He apologizes to her, explaining that he will not remember her name in a minute and wont remember doing this tomorrow. 

She assures him it is okay. She has a warm smile.

She takes him home and he thanks her sincerely for taking him shopping and hopes to see her again. He tells her how much it has meant to him.

She says good bye to his dear wife, who is fearful of what will happen to him when she is gone.

She leaves and cries all the way home. She is overcome by the emotion of this situation and also the blessing of being able to spend some time with this couple. She looks forward to visiting with them again. She blessed them today and yet felt she had been blessed. 

She is loving with open arms. You cant fully embrace anyone with folded arms.

Its like getting a side hug. Really.... don't they leave you kind of disappointed?

She is open to the pain and also the blessing of this situation. 

Life is messy. We make the decisions to get involved and embrace others or to walk away, pretending we don't see the need.

Most of us are pretty good pretenders. 
We become uncomfortable and so we rationalize a desperate situation, to where we believe that we do not need to involve ourselves.. We have practiced this for years, no wonder it comes so naturally.

The Great Stumbling Block of the Creative Mind

The Great Stumbling Block of the Creative Mind

must change attitude...

So, this little darling was pretty much me for a long time, in fact we could have been twins ...but for the curly hair, 

shape of face and clothing choices. I wasn't quite so fashionable at that age. Okay, so maybe I am still not...... but 

what I can relate to is her 

pout and folded arm attitude of "don't mess with me."

How many times do I not ask for a change of heart, a new attitude, forgiveness from my heavenly father?  Not

often enough perhaps... 

I have a friend who is on an amazing spiritual journey, a battle really.  A crisis in your life will often 

times do this. Who will win the prize, satan or God?  Note to self... You are the prize. Yes, its true. You will either walk away from God or run into his open arms.   

She seems to have open eyes, 

seeing his open arms. She is cautiously jogging towards him. I am hoping to see skipping soon:). The cautiousness is not from her lack of faith but 

maybe more in her recognition that this calls for a huge attitude change.... a life change.  I believe this is the life 

change she has been desiring, and yet it can still be scary.

But her comments are what I go back to ... she can see her selfishness, her own desires, her need for change.  

She is quick to say she is new in her faith, early in her journey. I remind her that this doesnt matter. When God 

gets a hold of you and you are "all in", that is when he starts working in you. You have given your self over to a 

new attitude, recognizing who you want to serve and what your life is really all about. Note - Its not about You, its 

about HIM.

Her humble words are spoken with Gods wisdom, not hers. I can see the Holy Spirit working in her. It is an awesome  thing to behold and I have much joy in watching this unfold.

Must. Change. Attitude.

Ouch, I think I needed to hear that today.

"Repent..., so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord." Acts 3:19 

you better watch out....

  The voice in our head should be Andy Williams version of "Oh come let us adore him, Christ the Lord". Instead the running dialogue is ," run away, run away, run for your life!" 

One day, not even a day, a few hours has done me in.  I actually feel sad.  

Never have I felt this before.  I am simply tired of accumulating stuff no one needs.  

It kind of flows over into my children's lives too.  Sorry kids! 

For 15 yrs  I sold the idea that more IS better to my customers and now it makes me a little nauseous. 

 At some point we have to say"enough, no more!" 

So, before I ruin Christmas for everyone, my kiddos especially ... I need to regroup, recognize the truth and go forward. 

Ya know,  keep calm and carry on...... balanced with, Jesus REALLY is the reason for the season.

So, I will look for the joys of Christmas each day.  One of todays blessings was snow..... first snow!  The tradition in our home has been a first snow treat.  It might be a pair of mittens or socks or a family movie. 

So fun and one of my favorite days of the year.

First snow seems to be a strong emotional link for me... of times past, mostly growing up teenage years. 
It evokes so many sweet memories but also a realization that those moments in life are like snowflakes, beautiful to watch but gone before we blink.  A sign of a new year beginning, but also a year past... never to be shared again with those around you. 

So, no worries family. I will enjoy Andy, the snow and the wonderful memories of Christmas past while enjoying the sweet moments of this Christmas.  May we always celebrate the real meaning of Christmas even when we get tangled up in the bright lights of this world.