Yo Joe! For men of my generation, that battle cry takes us back to many afternoons spent watching the adventures of that team of Great American Heroes known as G.I. Joe and then acting them out with our favorite G.I. Joe and Cobra figures and vehicles. Some of my favorite characters were: Snake Eyes (wasn't he everybody's favorite?), Storm Shadow, Airtight, Flint, the Dreadnoks, Lady Jaye, Roadblock, and others too numerous to mention. My best friend and I always wondered about the blueprints that came with every vehicle you bought: If those blueprints were available, why didn't the U.S. military really build those vehicles? Or did they...?
On another of our recent trips to the children's library in Prarie Grove, Aidan ran across the dvd of "G.I. Joe: The Movie". When I read the back of the case, I was immediately transported back to my 7th or 8th grade years when this particular movie was shown as a mini-series during the normal G.I. Joe afternoon time slot. For five straight days, I remember trying to hurry my dad out of his classroom and into his truck so I wouldn't miss that day's installment. The basic plot involves the Joe team having to protect a Broadcast Energy Transmitter machine from the combined forces of Cobra and Cobra-La (a strange underground world inhabited by plant and insect-type creatures.) You find out in the movie that the ruler of Cobra-La is actually responsible for starting the whole Cobra organization to begin with, and his plan is to use the machine to activate spore weapons in space that will turn all the humans on earth into primitive forms of themselves (pretty heavy stuff for an afternoon cartoon), In somewhat of a subplot, there is a group of new G.I. Joe recruits that are going to have to prove themselves on this mission. One of these is Lt. Falcon, a capable but very irresponsible Green Beret. During one important sequence, he brings a date into the Joes' secret prison facility where they have Serpentor, the Cobra Emperor (it was always about snakes with them), held prisoner. The date turns out to be a Cobra spy, and while Lt. Falcon is busy trying to woo a fellow G.I. Joe (a female ninja; he tries to be a ladies' man) instead of watching the security cameras, Cobra forces are able to break in and rescue their emperor. This sets in motion the whole space spores turning people into animals plan.
Because this is one of numerous mistakes that Lt. Falcon has made, he is called before an armed services court to face court-martial. The court decides that Falcon should be court-martialed, and only the intervention of his half-brother Duke, a G.I. Joe Staff Sergeant, saves him from this fate. Duke tells the court that even though Falcon has made mistakes, he still believes he has a great deal of potential. It is then decided that Falcon will be sent to Sgt. Slaughter (a G.I. Joe and WWF wrestler!) for some much-needed training in focus and self-discipline. I won't give away the rest of the movie, but Falcon must learn to put his mistakes behind him and become the leader everyone sees in him so that he can do his part to save the day. At a later point, Duke even allows himself to be injured while protecting Falcon, a circumstance that helps motivate Falcon on his reluctant journey to leadership and action.
Now you might be saying: "Great trip down memory lane, but we've been talking recently out of Titus 1. What does this week's entry have to do with anything?" In Titus 1:8, Paul writes that a bishop must be "a lover of good men". In the Amplified Bible, this Scripture is translated as "a lover of goodness [of good people and good things]. My question this week is: How many of us are investing good things in good people? How many of us see people, even people who've made many mistakes, and thought, "I still see something good in that person. I want to invest in him or her"? Sometimes we may not know the effect our investment may have later on, even on our own lives. In 1 Samuel 26, we are introduced to Abishai, David's nephew, the son of David's half-sister Zeruiah. He and David inflitrate King Saul's camp by night while the king and his army are asleep (this occurs while David is on the run for his life from Saul), and Abishai is ready to kill Saul because he thinks God has delivered Saul into David's hand. However, David knows he must allow God to deal with Saul, so he does not allow Abishai to go through with the assassination. What follows then are numerous times when Abishai fights in David's service, even at one point asking if he can behead a man who is insulting David ( 2 Samuel 16). David again asks him to stay his hand.
In David's later life, he again finds himself facing a giant among the Philistines, this time one with the interesting name of Ishbi-benob. However, this time, David falls faint and who is there to save him and slay the giant? Abishai. And from whom did this gaint-killer learn the bravery and skill to slay a giant? Most likely, David. We read later in 2 Samuel 23 that he was a captain of three among David's might men and that he lifted up his spear against, and slew, three hundred men. Again, this skill and bravery was likely learned by the constant example of David, the slayer of "ten thousands". David took time to invest in Abishai. Despite his shortcomings and desire to sometimes act before thinking, he is not shown to have shared the fate of his brother Joab. Who but God knows what our investment in the life of another may mean in the course of this life? As the old saying goes, "The life you save may be your own." And as the G.I. Joe saying goes, "Now you know some of the imporantance of investing in others. And knowing is half the battle."
Father, thank you for the times I have been able to invest my time, talents, and treasure into the lives of others. Please forgive me for the times I let opportunities to do this slip by. Help us to be about your commission to spread the Gospel and to make disciples. Help us to forgive others' mistakes, to see beyond those mistakes to their potential, and to follow Your Holy Spirit as you lead us in mentoring them. In Your Son's Precious Name I pray, Amen.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
"A Really Useful Engine"
I am sitting here at my cluttered desk, sipping coffee and sorting my thoughts to the sound of Thomas the Tank Engine going behind me. I'm not sure why I haven't turned it off. It lulled Rileigh Cait to sleep a good 10 minutes ago.
It gives me flash backs to Declan's pre-preschool days. He loves Thomas and would go through spells of wanting to watch it all day long. Of all the cartoons my kids could get obsessive about, Thomas was the one I appreciated the most. The engines all had their different personalities with good and bad points, consequences came with bad decision, rewards were given for bad choices, and all the good engines aspired to be a "really useful engine."
As I type, an episode about 'James' is playing. He is Declan's favorite and a lot like Declan. In a hurry, a little proud, fun loving, and on the go. In this particular episode James' rushing through his small jobs to get to the fun part gets him into trouble. I can relate to that!
I've been convicted this week about not seeing God's use for me in the small jobs. I struggle, many times, with the fact that my life is not what I thought it would be. I get to thinking that I haven't accomplished what I had planned to do; therefore, I start to believe I haven't accomplished anything important. I really just want to be a useful engine for God.
He reminds me, in the loving, scolding way that only He can do, that every job He gives me is important and that by doing these jobs well, I am being useful. The question in Zechariah 4:10 comes to mind. " 'Does anyone dare despise this day of small beginnings? They'll change their tune when they see Zerubbabel setting the last stone in place!' " (the Message)
Please pray with me.
Lord, you know my heart's desire is to be useful for your kingdom. Thank you for changing me into a person who desires that. Thank you for giving me opportunities to do Your work, big or small. Thank you for helping me to see that all jobs are important in your eyes. Please help me to be content with my small beginnings. I know one day I'll be putting my last 'stone' in place on the dreams you've given me, and I want you to have all the glory from beginning to end. Please open my eyes to chances you are giving me to be useful so that I won't miss out. Big or small, this life is Yours. Amen
It gives me flash backs to Declan's pre-preschool days. He loves Thomas and would go through spells of wanting to watch it all day long. Of all the cartoons my kids could get obsessive about, Thomas was the one I appreciated the most. The engines all had their different personalities with good and bad points, consequences came with bad decision, rewards were given for bad choices, and all the good engines aspired to be a "really useful engine."
As I type, an episode about 'James' is playing. He is Declan's favorite and a lot like Declan. In a hurry, a little proud, fun loving, and on the go. In this particular episode James' rushing through his small jobs to get to the fun part gets him into trouble. I can relate to that!
I've been convicted this week about not seeing God's use for me in the small jobs. I struggle, many times, with the fact that my life is not what I thought it would be. I get to thinking that I haven't accomplished what I had planned to do; therefore, I start to believe I haven't accomplished anything important. I really just want to be a useful engine for God.
He reminds me, in the loving, scolding way that only He can do, that every job He gives me is important and that by doing these jobs well, I am being useful. The question in Zechariah 4:10 comes to mind. " 'Does anyone dare despise this day of small beginnings? They'll change their tune when they see Zerubbabel setting the last stone in place!' " (the Message)
Please pray with me.
Lord, you know my heart's desire is to be useful for your kingdom. Thank you for changing me into a person who desires that. Thank you for giving me opportunities to do Your work, big or small. Thank you for helping me to see that all jobs are important in your eyes. Please help me to be content with my small beginnings. I know one day I'll be putting my last 'stone' in place on the dreams you've given me, and I want you to have all the glory from beginning to end. Please open my eyes to chances you are giving me to be useful so that I won't miss out. Big or small, this life is Yours. Amen
Monday, September 27, 2010
Cake Anyone?
In some ways, I feel like the last month or so has been one long birthday party. One of the things that happens whenever you have children is they begin to receive invitations to birthday parties. These invitations usually feature the latest popular cartoon character or video game , which gives you some idea what the theme of the party is going to be. In the past, I've been to parties featuring Dora the Explorer, Speed Racer, and more recently, the Lord of the Rings and Little Einsteins. My own son's party, which was yesterday, had an Oklahoma Sooners theme, complete with two cakes (one a football field, the other a football), a football throwing game, and homemade pennants with "Aidan # 6" and "Boomer Sooner" written on them. My wife, mother-in-law, niece, and oldest daughter did a great job pulling Aidan's party all together.
It's very interesting to watch children at these parties, especially the child having the birthday, to see how they interact with others. Here's the basic scenario: (and please realize this is totally written tongue-in-cheek; I happen to love birthday parties!) We take numerous children of various ages, feed them lots of ice cream, cake, and candy, then have them compete in various (and sometimes potentially dangerous!) games like "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" (small children running around with a needle and a blindfold?!) and "Hit the Pinata" ("No, swing at Spongebob, not at Jenny!" ). After all this, we bring out many bright colored bags and boxes, probably filled with many things the party guests would like to own themselves (sometimes that's even how the little guys and gals pick out the present, by picking out what the would really like to have), open them up in front of the other kids, then tell them that Tommy gets to take all the toys home, but they can have a little bag of candy. Needless to say, this sometimes leads to a recipe for tantrums, temporary break-ups of childhood friendships ("You let Johnny play with your Bumblebee toy before you let me! I'm not inviting you to my birthday party next week!"), and exhausted parents. I recall one of my nephew's birthday parties when he was turning six or seven. One little guy that was invited to the party was determined my nephew had to open his present first. Whenever my nephew didn't, on each subsequent turn, this little guy would grab the present, thrust it at my nephew, and say "You want to open mine next, right? Right?", at which time my nephew would reach around the little boy and select a different one to open. Even after the present was finally opened (it was a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Figure), the little boy insisted on thrusting the figure at my nephew and saying "You want to play with him now, right?"
As we grow in the Lord, I wonder if He sometimes feels like He is at a big birthday party with His children? And I wonder oftentimes, even though we are trying to mature as Christians, how often we act like four, five, or six-year old at a birthday party? We get angry when someone else gets the big, brightly wrapped blessing and we seemingly have to settle for the bag of candy? Or we run our lives as if at a sugar-rush pace, not caring sometimes who we run over or knock out of the way, just as long as we win the game? Let's look at a Scripture in Titus 1 that shows the opposite of this "birthday party mentality". Titus 1:7-8 (NLT) says, "An elder (overseer) must live a blameless life because he is God's minister. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or greedy for money. He must enjoy having guests in his home and must love all that is good. He must live wisely and be fair. He must live a devout and disciplined life" God wants us as His children to continue celebrating "birthdays" in our life in Him. Hopefully and prayerfully, we become a little bit older in Him each day. But sometimes, we can still be envious of others' gifts and blessings, arrogant about our own, and quick-tempered when we don't get our way. Sometimes we still lash out, may be not with a pinata stick, but with our words. God desires for us to be the type of men that people would want to come to our "birthday parties", knowing that with us they are going to blessed even as they bless, that they are going to be encouraged even as they encourage. It doesn't matter whether our birthday party themes would be "I-Phone", "NASCAR", "RealTree", or our favorite NFL team. What matters is that we please our Father, and serve those He has chosen to put into our lives for such a time as this.
Please pray with me. Father, I know that when I gave my life to You, I had a "New Birth Day", a day on which You cleansed me from my sins and redeemed me from death and the grave. Father, since that time, I've been blessed to have many celebrations in my walk with You. But Father, sometimes I can still behave like a spoiled child, wanting to hoard my gifts from others and make sure the party is all about ME. Father, help me follow your Word, to realize that by your example, You showed us the party is about serving others. Rather than sitting at the head of the table and basking in "our" moment, may we clothe ourselves as a servant and wash feet. Lord, thank you for helping me grow in You and may I please You in what I do each day. In Christ's name I pray, Amen.
Until next Monday, may you be blessed and do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God. Enjoy the ice cream and cake along the way!
It's very interesting to watch children at these parties, especially the child having the birthday, to see how they interact with others. Here's the basic scenario: (and please realize this is totally written tongue-in-cheek; I happen to love birthday parties!) We take numerous children of various ages, feed them lots of ice cream, cake, and candy, then have them compete in various (and sometimes potentially dangerous!) games like "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" (small children running around with a needle and a blindfold?!) and "Hit the Pinata" ("No, swing at Spongebob, not at Jenny!" ). After all this, we bring out many bright colored bags and boxes, probably filled with many things the party guests would like to own themselves (sometimes that's even how the little guys and gals pick out the present, by picking out what the would really like to have), open them up in front of the other kids, then tell them that Tommy gets to take all the toys home, but they can have a little bag of candy. Needless to say, this sometimes leads to a recipe for tantrums, temporary break-ups of childhood friendships ("You let Johnny play with your Bumblebee toy before you let me! I'm not inviting you to my birthday party next week!"), and exhausted parents. I recall one of my nephew's birthday parties when he was turning six or seven. One little guy that was invited to the party was determined my nephew had to open his present first. Whenever my nephew didn't, on each subsequent turn, this little guy would grab the present, thrust it at my nephew, and say "You want to open mine next, right? Right?", at which time my nephew would reach around the little boy and select a different one to open. Even after the present was finally opened (it was a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Figure), the little boy insisted on thrusting the figure at my nephew and saying "You want to play with him now, right?"
As we grow in the Lord, I wonder if He sometimes feels like He is at a big birthday party with His children? And I wonder oftentimes, even though we are trying to mature as Christians, how often we act like four, five, or six-year old at a birthday party? We get angry when someone else gets the big, brightly wrapped blessing and we seemingly have to settle for the bag of candy? Or we run our lives as if at a sugar-rush pace, not caring sometimes who we run over or knock out of the way, just as long as we win the game? Let's look at a Scripture in Titus 1 that shows the opposite of this "birthday party mentality". Titus 1:7-8 (NLT) says, "An elder (overseer) must live a blameless life because he is God's minister. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or greedy for money. He must enjoy having guests in his home and must love all that is good. He must live wisely and be fair. He must live a devout and disciplined life" God wants us as His children to continue celebrating "birthdays" in our life in Him. Hopefully and prayerfully, we become a little bit older in Him each day. But sometimes, we can still be envious of others' gifts and blessings, arrogant about our own, and quick-tempered when we don't get our way. Sometimes we still lash out, may be not with a pinata stick, but with our words. God desires for us to be the type of men that people would want to come to our "birthday parties", knowing that with us they are going to blessed even as they bless, that they are going to be encouraged even as they encourage. It doesn't matter whether our birthday party themes would be "I-Phone", "NASCAR", "RealTree", or our favorite NFL team. What matters is that we please our Father, and serve those He has chosen to put into our lives for such a time as this.
Please pray with me. Father, I know that when I gave my life to You, I had a "New Birth Day", a day on which You cleansed me from my sins and redeemed me from death and the grave. Father, since that time, I've been blessed to have many celebrations in my walk with You. But Father, sometimes I can still behave like a spoiled child, wanting to hoard my gifts from others and make sure the party is all about ME. Father, help me follow your Word, to realize that by your example, You showed us the party is about serving others. Rather than sitting at the head of the table and basking in "our" moment, may we clothe ourselves as a servant and wash feet. Lord, thank you for helping me grow in You and may I please You in what I do each day. In Christ's name I pray, Amen.
Until next Monday, may you be blessed and do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God. Enjoy the ice cream and cake along the way!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Homemaker, what's that?
Last week I quoted a small part of Titus 2:5 that instructs the 'old women' to teach the 'young women' to be homemakers. I've been thinking since then, what is a homemaker really? Webster's online dictionary defines it as "one who manages a household especially as a wife and mother." Wow! Can we go back to the definition being one who doesn't work outside the home and watches soaps and eats bonbons all day?
I remember when I quit my job after Jeff and I were only married a short time. I had never intended to be a stay home wife (at the time I wasn't even a mother), but it only took a couple of months for me to realize my ideals as a wife weren't meshing too well with being a career woman. One of the guys that cleaned the office heard I was leaving and made that all too common joke about the soaps and bonbons. How very wrong he was, and the fact that he was an older gentleman was the only thing that kept me from making a smart remark in return.
I have never lacked for work to do inside the home, but I know many women who are able to have a career and still be a shining example of a homemaker. I don't know how they do it. I have learned in the short 8 years of marriage a few tricks that work for me. I love flylady.com Its not for everyone, but she changed my life...when I'm sticking to my schedule. I have adapted what I learned from her many times over the years, but you will almost always find the excel page labeled 'control journal' open on my desktop.
I am an excel freak. I have kept track of everything I bought for several months straight and how much each item cost. This has all been compiled into two sheets, one for household needs and one for groceries. Our budget is on a spread sheet as well as our check registry. The aforementioned control journal is a book of about four sheets that detail the different stages of cleaning that I do. All of this, yet as I sit here typing tonight, I am surrounded by papers, silly bands, yarn, nail polish, ipod, shoes, toys, and the list could go on. WHY???
I'd say, at this point it is because our lives have transitioned once again, and its time to revamp that journal. It may take a couple of months to find the groove again, but it will come back around. I would also say that it has to do with the need for self motivation on my part. I can be the type to get overwhelmed and shut down. This is the reason for all of my lists. I have learned for myself that having a place to start at number one and work my way down makes a huge difference. I have also learned that I really love helping others figure out how to best plan their own days. Not something I would have ever considered before.
Here's a few tips that I remind myself of often.
1. The mess will be there tomorrow. (and if it isn't, you'll have a nice surprise) No, you won't like waking up to it, but sometimes you have to accept that you've done all you can for one day. That stack of laundry won't fold itself, so you can just do it tomorrow.
2. Stick to your list. This I learned from FlyLady. Don't do yesterday's work today. I have to remind myself of this with the detail cleaning the most. If something happens and you miss a job, don't try to backtrack. You will never catch up! The rest of the household will see to that.
3. Ask for help. A good manager knows how to delegate. This is especially important to the lady's who work outside the home. Maintaining a home takes more than one person. Start teaching the kids at an early age, and ask your husband for help. If he is loving you as Christ loved the church, he should be looking for ways to ease your burden! Jeff has gotten into the habit of almost always unloading the dishwasher for me in the mornings while I am busy making breakfast. Be willing to help him from time to time as well!
4. Have fun. I use a timer (another FlyLady trick) for most of my chores. I also use it to set aside time to play with Rileigh during the day. I also try to have as much of the cleaning done as possible before Jeff and the kids get home in order to focus on family time and dinner. A clean house simply isn't worth missing out on great memory opportunities.
5. Kid clutter isn't dirty. A friend pointed that out to me a few years ago. She said she didn't consider a house dirty if the only thing in the floor were kids' toys and shoes. Trash, dirty dishes, and unwashed laundry, now that's dirty. I pick up the toys and clutter from the main parts of the house right before time for Jeff to get home each day, but from Friday night to Monday morning, its a lost cause. I could pick up nonstop, but with four small ones I'd never out clean their messes. Therefore, I don't even try. On the weekends, we keep the clothes picked up and the dishes clean. We do attempt one good clean Saturday evening after bathes. I want my kids to be able to live and have fun in their childhood home. They can't do that if its overly dirty, but they can't do enjoy themselves if they are afraid to make a mess either.
What are some ways you manage your household?
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me a household to manage. I am humbled by the responsibility and honored that you saw fit to allow this for me. Please help me to be a good steward of the precious gifts you have given me in the form of a husband, children, and a home. Give me wisdom to manage our home in a way that brings glory to Your Name. I love you and thank you. Amen!
I remember when I quit my job after Jeff and I were only married a short time. I had never intended to be a stay home wife (at the time I wasn't even a mother), but it only took a couple of months for me to realize my ideals as a wife weren't meshing too well with being a career woman. One of the guys that cleaned the office heard I was leaving and made that all too common joke about the soaps and bonbons. How very wrong he was, and the fact that he was an older gentleman was the only thing that kept me from making a smart remark in return.
I have never lacked for work to do inside the home, but I know many women who are able to have a career and still be a shining example of a homemaker. I don't know how they do it. I have learned in the short 8 years of marriage a few tricks that work for me. I love flylady.com Its not for everyone, but she changed my life...when I'm sticking to my schedule. I have adapted what I learned from her many times over the years, but you will almost always find the excel page labeled 'control journal' open on my desktop.
I am an excel freak. I have kept track of everything I bought for several months straight and how much each item cost. This has all been compiled into two sheets, one for household needs and one for groceries. Our budget is on a spread sheet as well as our check registry. The aforementioned control journal is a book of about four sheets that detail the different stages of cleaning that I do. All of this, yet as I sit here typing tonight, I am surrounded by papers, silly bands, yarn, nail polish, ipod, shoes, toys, and the list could go on. WHY???
I'd say, at this point it is because our lives have transitioned once again, and its time to revamp that journal. It may take a couple of months to find the groove again, but it will come back around. I would also say that it has to do with the need for self motivation on my part. I can be the type to get overwhelmed and shut down. This is the reason for all of my lists. I have learned for myself that having a place to start at number one and work my way down makes a huge difference. I have also learned that I really love helping others figure out how to best plan their own days. Not something I would have ever considered before.
Here's a few tips that I remind myself of often.
1. The mess will be there tomorrow. (and if it isn't, you'll have a nice surprise) No, you won't like waking up to it, but sometimes you have to accept that you've done all you can for one day. That stack of laundry won't fold itself, so you can just do it tomorrow.
2. Stick to your list. This I learned from FlyLady. Don't do yesterday's work today. I have to remind myself of this with the detail cleaning the most. If something happens and you miss a job, don't try to backtrack. You will never catch up! The rest of the household will see to that.
3. Ask for help. A good manager knows how to delegate. This is especially important to the lady's who work outside the home. Maintaining a home takes more than one person. Start teaching the kids at an early age, and ask your husband for help. If he is loving you as Christ loved the church, he should be looking for ways to ease your burden! Jeff has gotten into the habit of almost always unloading the dishwasher for me in the mornings while I am busy making breakfast. Be willing to help him from time to time as well!
4. Have fun. I use a timer (another FlyLady trick) for most of my chores. I also use it to set aside time to play with Rileigh during the day. I also try to have as much of the cleaning done as possible before Jeff and the kids get home in order to focus on family time and dinner. A clean house simply isn't worth missing out on great memory opportunities.
5. Kid clutter isn't dirty. A friend pointed that out to me a few years ago. She said she didn't consider a house dirty if the only thing in the floor were kids' toys and shoes. Trash, dirty dishes, and unwashed laundry, now that's dirty. I pick up the toys and clutter from the main parts of the house right before time for Jeff to get home each day, but from Friday night to Monday morning, its a lost cause. I could pick up nonstop, but with four small ones I'd never out clean their messes. Therefore, I don't even try. On the weekends, we keep the clothes picked up and the dishes clean. We do attempt one good clean Saturday evening after bathes. I want my kids to be able to live and have fun in their childhood home. They can't do that if its overly dirty, but they can't do enjoy themselves if they are afraid to make a mess either.
What are some ways you manage your household?
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me a household to manage. I am humbled by the responsibility and honored that you saw fit to allow this for me. Please help me to be a good steward of the precious gifts you have given me in the form of a husband, children, and a home. Give me wisdom to manage our home in a way that brings glory to Your Name. I love you and thank you. Amen!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
The Family Factor
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to take my four children on a mostly day-long, multi-stop outing. Mandee has been fighting some sort of stomach bug for the past couple of days, so we decided this would be a good opportunity for her to get some much needed rest while I took kids to Bentonville and Fayetteville. We began our day at the 5th birthday party of our friends' son (which had a Lord of the Rings theme; I think it was one of the coolest birthday parties I have ever been to.) Our kids had a great time playing party games (a variation on Hot Potato with a golden ring instead of a potato and the score from the Lord of the Rings on CD), eating cake, and just generally being kids. Following the party, the kids and I had to go to Edana's first 4-H meeting, then stop by Wal-Mart for a few things. All in all, this busy day resulted in: Mandee getting some rest and feeling well enough to go to church, one minivan full of trash and french fries from Wendy's, two rounds of baths (before the party and before bed) for three of the four kids, and one very tired dad. And you know what, I wouldn't have traded it for anything.
People often tell Mandee and I that they don't know how we do it, with four kids and our busy lifestyle. I'd say neither one of us can imagine it being, or really wants it to be, any other way. Sure, there's some things we would change. Being more organized and on-time would definitely top that list. And it sometimes drives melancholy old me a little crazy when the van and the house are littered with toys, books, and various other items. But God reminds me again and again that things are signs of life, signs of a thriving and not just a surviving, family. In Titus 1:6 (AMP), the Word of God says that the elders should be men who "are the husband of [but] one wife, whose children are [well-trained and are] believers, not open to the accusation of being loose in morals and conduct or unrul and disorderly]." I'm very thankful for a wife and children who are believers (The oldest two have given their lives to Christ, Declan understands that Jesus can live in his heart, and Rileigh likes to sings about Jesus). We definitely can't say our kids are perfect, but we often have people tell us in restaurants and public places how well-behaved our children are. Let me say this is just the blessing of the Lord. Mandee and I do our best to keep consistency in our discpline and routines, but we definitely aren't experts. Just like everyone else's, our children can sometimes be the ones who make loud and unnecessary verbal comments about people they don't know (much to the embarassment of their parents) and they are still learning how to be more giving and not just want things for themselves. But God is faithful and He helps us every day.
I'm very thankful God preserved my life and my purity for such a time as this with my family. I definitely made mistakes in relationships in my younger days and sometimes believed I had gone too far and was no longer deserving of having the blessing of a wife and family. But God, in his divine love and mercy, has blessed me exceedingly and abundantly above what I could have ever asked for or thought. This all makes me mindful (and it should make me more mindful) of how I lead my family. May I always remember, as I'm embarking on this journey of mentoring and teaching others to mentor, that my first line of mentoring should always be at home. I don't think it's a mistake that Paul placed this requirement so early in the list. Being a Jew himself, he knew the importance of the family, and that the family, and not the church of synagogue, was the primary training ground, for believers in God and Christ. May we as men remember this as well and take every opportunity to pour ourselves, and Christ Who lives in us, into our wives and our children, even if it's in the midst of crazy, multi-stop Saturdays.
Father, I thank you for Mandee and our children. Father, they are constant reminders, both of Your love, grace, and provision to me, and of my responsiblity as the priest of my home. Lord, I can't do it without You. I'm not naturally organized, don't always plan my days the best, and often miss opportunities, more often that I would sometimes care to admit. But You, O Lord, are faithful and Your Word says that You Who began this good work in me will continue to complete it until the day of the Lord Jesus (Phillipians 1:6). With this in mind, Lord, I ask You to help me to be that "oak of righteousness" for my family. Help me to be strong for them in Your strength. Help me to pray fervently for them, because this type of prayer avails much. And help me to lead them, even as You are continuing to lead me. I thank You for letting us know You and letting us be a part of Your plan in this time. In Christ's Name I pray, Amen.
See you next Monday!
People often tell Mandee and I that they don't know how we do it, with four kids and our busy lifestyle. I'd say neither one of us can imagine it being, or really wants it to be, any other way. Sure, there's some things we would change. Being more organized and on-time would definitely top that list. And it sometimes drives melancholy old me a little crazy when the van and the house are littered with toys, books, and various other items. But God reminds me again and again that things are signs of life, signs of a thriving and not just a surviving, family. In Titus 1:6 (AMP), the Word of God says that the elders should be men who "are the husband of [but] one wife, whose children are [well-trained and are] believers, not open to the accusation of being loose in morals and conduct or unrul and disorderly]." I'm very thankful for a wife and children who are believers (The oldest two have given their lives to Christ, Declan understands that Jesus can live in his heart, and Rileigh likes to sings about Jesus). We definitely can't say our kids are perfect, but we often have people tell us in restaurants and public places how well-behaved our children are. Let me say this is just the blessing of the Lord. Mandee and I do our best to keep consistency in our discpline and routines, but we definitely aren't experts. Just like everyone else's, our children can sometimes be the ones who make loud and unnecessary verbal comments about people they don't know (much to the embarassment of their parents) and they are still learning how to be more giving and not just want things for themselves. But God is faithful and He helps us every day.
I'm very thankful God preserved my life and my purity for such a time as this with my family. I definitely made mistakes in relationships in my younger days and sometimes believed I had gone too far and was no longer deserving of having the blessing of a wife and family. But God, in his divine love and mercy, has blessed me exceedingly and abundantly above what I could have ever asked for or thought. This all makes me mindful (and it should make me more mindful) of how I lead my family. May I always remember, as I'm embarking on this journey of mentoring and teaching others to mentor, that my first line of mentoring should always be at home. I don't think it's a mistake that Paul placed this requirement so early in the list. Being a Jew himself, he knew the importance of the family, and that the family, and not the church of synagogue, was the primary training ground, for believers in God and Christ. May we as men remember this as well and take every opportunity to pour ourselves, and Christ Who lives in us, into our wives and our children, even if it's in the midst of crazy, multi-stop Saturdays.
Father, I thank you for Mandee and our children. Father, they are constant reminders, both of Your love, grace, and provision to me, and of my responsiblity as the priest of my home. Lord, I can't do it without You. I'm not naturally organized, don't always plan my days the best, and often miss opportunities, more often that I would sometimes care to admit. But You, O Lord, are faithful and Your Word says that You Who began this good work in me will continue to complete it until the day of the Lord Jesus (Phillipians 1:6). With this in mind, Lord, I ask You to help me to be that "oak of righteousness" for my family. Help me to be strong for them in Your strength. Help me to pray fervently for them, because this type of prayer avails much. And help me to lead them, even as You are continuing to lead me. I thank You for letting us know You and letting us be a part of Your plan in this time. In Christ's Name I pray, Amen.
See you next Monday!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Christmas Time is Comin'
I love the summer. Apparently, I am among the few who like hot weather, but I can't deny the benefits of fall setting in after a long, overly dry August. Born and raised a football girl, fall holds some special memories for me. My favorite holiday is in the fall. No, not Thanksgiving. Its my second favorite. My absolute favorite is what we refer to simply as the Fall Party. Its a great time where our church family gathers for a wiener roast, hayride, apple cider, and a whole lot of fun!
However, fall also seems to stir up some kind of innate nesting instinct in me. (I'm almost certain that I should have been moved to a tropical island or allowed to hibernate.) I start planning and arranging and rearranging and planning some more. The thing that I plan and replan the most in the fall is Christmas.
Lets face it. Christmas equals presents to anyone under 20, and to many older than that. We try very hard not to overly commercialize Christmas. I stole a great idea from my cousin a few years ago. Everyone gets three gifts, just like baby Jesus did from the wise men. A family of six living on a teacher's salary alone simply can't get too carried away, well, with anything really. This means figuring out how to make Christmas fun, practical, and affordable. God has blessed us each year with the ability to do just that!
One of the biggest things we do is make homemade gifts. I read a book a few years back that really opened my eyes to how resourceful I am not. The book, "Emma's Gift," is set during the Depression and is centered around a grieving family who learns how to give and love from their lost loved one. It wasn't a thriller, but it really stirred something in me. I set out to find a way to make our Christmas like that as well. I'm still on that mission!
Today, I am going to be digging out my hooks and the book I bought to teach myself to crochet. I'm not a very good book learner. I much prefer to be taught visually and audibly. Thus the reason I've had the book two years and not mastered the art of crocheting yet. Through blogging with high school friends and Facebook, I've discovered that many of my girl friends have found that same desire to be 'crafty' coming out in them as well.
I believe that women are created with an inner 'homemaker' at their core. That may not be a popular concept, but I believe its Biblical. Take a look at this section Titus 2:5 "....Also, tell them to teach young women to be homemakers,..."(God's Word Translation) I see it already in my oldest girl, and I want so much to nurture those desires. Unfortunately I fall short in many of the areas myself. How can I teach them? I must learn myself!
This is where other women come in to play. I'm already on the lookout. I plan to find other women that can teach me what I need to learn, and I plan to start with knitting and crocheting. Mostly because leg warmers are in style again, and I want to make Edana some! On a more practical note, I want to be able to make hats and scarves and sweaters for all of my children so that I can be like the woman in Proverbs 31:21 this winter.
If God made us to be homemakers (which doesn't mean you have to quit your jobs), He has given us the ability to learn how to be just that. Such skills come, initially, by having good teachers. I have a feeling some women will be reading this and thinking, "Maybe I need to dust off my sewing machine and see how its running" or "I need to go through all of my recipes" or "I haven't cross-stitched in ages." The list could keep going. You may be that person that God would like to use for teaching us 'younguns' a thing or two. I know I'm not the only one who would be an eager pupil!
Please pray with me today. (then feel free to leave your comments)
Lord, thank you for equipping who you call with the abilities they need. As a woman, I know you've equipped me to be many things. Help me to examine myself. Open my eyes to the areas I've not been willing to explore or things I've not tried to learn. If I have a skill that I could be passing on, help me to see that as well. Don't let me buy into the lie that I can't do something but to believe the truth that I can do "all things" with your help. Let me be a blessing to you and others this day and always. Amen.
However, fall also seems to stir up some kind of innate nesting instinct in me. (I'm almost certain that I should have been moved to a tropical island or allowed to hibernate.) I start planning and arranging and rearranging and planning some more. The thing that I plan and replan the most in the fall is Christmas.
Lets face it. Christmas equals presents to anyone under 20, and to many older than that. We try very hard not to overly commercialize Christmas. I stole a great idea from my cousin a few years ago. Everyone gets three gifts, just like baby Jesus did from the wise men. A family of six living on a teacher's salary alone simply can't get too carried away, well, with anything really. This means figuring out how to make Christmas fun, practical, and affordable. God has blessed us each year with the ability to do just that!
One of the biggest things we do is make homemade gifts. I read a book a few years back that really opened my eyes to how resourceful I am not. The book, "Emma's Gift," is set during the Depression and is centered around a grieving family who learns how to give and love from their lost loved one. It wasn't a thriller, but it really stirred something in me. I set out to find a way to make our Christmas like that as well. I'm still on that mission!
Today, I am going to be digging out my hooks and the book I bought to teach myself to crochet. I'm not a very good book learner. I much prefer to be taught visually and audibly. Thus the reason I've had the book two years and not mastered the art of crocheting yet. Through blogging with high school friends and Facebook, I've discovered that many of my girl friends have found that same desire to be 'crafty' coming out in them as well.
I believe that women are created with an inner 'homemaker' at their core. That may not be a popular concept, but I believe its Biblical. Take a look at this section Titus 2:5 "....Also, tell them to teach young women to be homemakers,..."(God's Word Translation) I see it already in my oldest girl, and I want so much to nurture those desires. Unfortunately I fall short in many of the areas myself. How can I teach them? I must learn myself!
This is where other women come in to play. I'm already on the lookout. I plan to find other women that can teach me what I need to learn, and I plan to start with knitting and crocheting. Mostly because leg warmers are in style again, and I want to make Edana some! On a more practical note, I want to be able to make hats and scarves and sweaters for all of my children so that I can be like the woman in Proverbs 31:21 this winter.
If God made us to be homemakers (which doesn't mean you have to quit your jobs), He has given us the ability to learn how to be just that. Such skills come, initially, by having good teachers. I have a feeling some women will be reading this and thinking, "Maybe I need to dust off my sewing machine and see how its running" or "I need to go through all of my recipes" or "I haven't cross-stitched in ages." The list could keep going. You may be that person that God would like to use for teaching us 'younguns' a thing or two. I know I'm not the only one who would be an eager pupil!
Please pray with me today. (then feel free to leave your comments)
Lord, thank you for equipping who you call with the abilities they need. As a woman, I know you've equipped me to be many things. Help me to examine myself. Open my eyes to the areas I've not been willing to explore or things I've not tried to learn. If I have a skill that I could be passing on, help me to see that as well. Don't let me buy into the lie that I can't do something but to believe the truth that I can do "all things" with your help. Let me be a blessing to you and others this day and always. Amen.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
"Great Scott, its Kryponite!"
OK, if you read Mandee's previous post, you know that we are currently launching a mentoring ministry called T2 Ministries. You may also know that I will be publishing a weekly post on Mondays called, appropriately, "Manly Mondays". Or, if you are like me and many other men, your wife read this post and may have told you about it. Either way, I am excited about kicking off Manly Mondays and look forward to your readership and comments.
My son Aidan loves superheroes. Yes, I said "loves". He watches DVDs about them, draws them, talks about them with me, and reads my comics whenever I let him. One of his favorites is Superman. His taste sometimes changes, but he seems to always come back to the man from Krypton with the blue tights, red cape, and big "S" on his chest. A couple of Christmases ago, my nephew bought Aidan a Superman figure that (at the time) was almost as tall as Aidan. That figure has been with us ever since and has been used as everything from a bedtime sleeping toy, to a kickboxing dummy, to playing the part of the groom in an impromptu princess wedding ceremony (the last one was my daughter's and her friends' idea). Yes, it's safe to say that Superman has been a big part of our family's lives. You can imagine Aidan's (and my) delight when, during one of our biweekly trips to the public library, we found a DVD of "Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians", a 1980s cartoon show featuring the Justice League of America (they never called them that on TV, just Superfriends or Super Powers Team). Along with Aidan, I've been able to relive some of the past glories of my Saturday mornings spent watching Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and the rest of the Justice League protect Earth from the likes of Lex Luthor, Darkseid, and the Scarecrow. Yes, definitely time well spent.
Yesterday, while watching the DVD for the second or third time, I was reminded during one episode of Superman's weakness (yes, he has some): kryptonite. If you know any of Superman's back story, you know that he came to Earth as the last survivor of the planet Krypton, which exploded right after his parents sent him into space in a small spacecraft. He landed on earth, was found by a Kansas farm couple, and later discovered that he had abilities far beyond those of a normal human man. Which of us, even has grown men, haven't sometimes wished for even just one of his powers? Super breath would come in handy in blowing away rain clouds from the golf course, x-ray vision would make finding the biggest bass in the lake a snap, and you haven't had barbecue until you've eaten food grilled using heat vision. That's not even counting the super strength and super speed. As it turns out, Superman's powers come from him absorbing power from Earth's yellow sun. On his planet, the sun was red, so a yellow sun gives him his super abilities (See, your mom was right; sunshine is good for you). That accounts for his strength, but what about his weakness. As it turns out, some of the pieces of Superman's former planet still exist in the galaxy and occasionally make their way to Earth. Some of these pieces have turned green and when Superman comes into contact with them, all of the sudden, he isn't so invulnerable anymore. If he is exposed to green kryptonite for a long enough period of time, he can die.
So how do Superman, pieces of his former planet, and Saturday morning cartoons relate to us as men? In the particular episode I watched with Aidan, Superman was exposed to kryptonite for so long a period of time, that he died (spoiler warning; he didn't really die, but was in a coma and almost died; they did have to keep him on the show after all). The episode showed the effects of his possible death and how everyone, super and normal, tried to cope with it. Now, you and I aren't super, but we do have the potential to do some pretty amazing things through Christ. Like Superman, our power comes from our prolonged exposure to the Son. We come from a previous planet if you will, our former life of sin, and in our new lives in Christ that we are to live about the mediocre and the mundane. So what happens when pieces of our former planet, our "green kryptonite", our past lives of sin, show up in our lives. Like Superman, we may not die right away, but the longer we are exposed to them, the greater our chances of slipping into a spiritual coma and eventually dying in our spirit. Let's look at a Scripture from Titus 1:6. In this chapter, Paul is spelling out to Titus the qualifications for elders who were to set over the churches. Now you or I may or not be elders over churches, but if God sets these as the standards for men in leadership, shouldn't they also be the standard for our lives as men of God? Titus 1:7a (AMP) says, "These elders should be men who are of unquestionable integrity and are irreproachable." So God's standard is, that as men, we should live lives that contain: 1. full integrity, and 2. no reproach. The Greek word for "irreproachable" there means the absence of even a charge or acquisition against a person. Now for some personal application.
As God's men it is His desire that we not allow anything in our lives that would hinder us from His power and His Spirit operating in our lives. Here are a few things His Word (and the cartoon episode I watched) can teach us about this principle.
1. Our compromises affect everyone. When Superman was thought to be dead, it affected everyone around him: a young hero who could have saved struggled with letting everyone down, the other heroes struggled with how they were going to manage without his powers and leadership, and the general public lost their symbol of truth, justice, and the American Way. In the same way, when we compromise, it affects not just us, but our spouses, our children, our church, and any others who look to use for leadership.
2. The sin will come out. Superman's skin turned green after he was exposed to the krypton for too long. It was obvious to everyone that he had been poisoned. When we sin, it will become known and will find us out.Galatians 6:7 teaches us that a man will sow what he reaps.
3. It is paramount to have others around you to provide accountability, protection, and support. Superman was alone when the kryptonite over took him. One of the things I've always appreciated in the comics is the relationship between Batman (he's always been my personal favorite) and Superman. Sure, Batman may not have powers, but he's also not as susceptible to kryptonite. Many times he's been the one to rescue Superman from some unexpected piece of kryptonite showing up somewhere, and Superman has done his share of helping Batman out with runaway trains and falling buildings. We need others in our lives because we're not invulnerable either. Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10 (AMP) says "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor; for if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!"
The Lord knows we are not supermen; in fact, the Word says He knows our frames and knows we are dust. But He also knows what hurts us, and seeks to keep us from it. Like Superman's father sending him out with great hopes for his future, our Father sends us out into a sinful and hurting world to lead our families, businesses, ministries, and churches and to be an example to those around us. May we avoid the kryptonite so we can be our best for Him!
Join me in making this your prayer:
Father, I thank you for calling me your own. Thank you for knowing me and my failures and still choosing to redeem me through your Son. Thank you for choosing me before I chose You, and thank you for your calling on my life. Please help me, by your Holy Spirit, to live a life that is pleasing and upright before you. Please help me to see the areas when I could be tempted to fall, to use the ways of escape You provide, and to give You the praise for your deliverance. Please put other men in my life to whom I can be accountable and to whom I can provide accountability. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
My son Aidan loves superheroes. Yes, I said "loves". He watches DVDs about them, draws them, talks about them with me, and reads my comics whenever I let him. One of his favorites is Superman. His taste sometimes changes, but he seems to always come back to the man from Krypton with the blue tights, red cape, and big "S" on his chest. A couple of Christmases ago, my nephew bought Aidan a Superman figure that (at the time) was almost as tall as Aidan. That figure has been with us ever since and has been used as everything from a bedtime sleeping toy, to a kickboxing dummy, to playing the part of the groom in an impromptu princess wedding ceremony (the last one was my daughter's and her friends' idea). Yes, it's safe to say that Superman has been a big part of our family's lives. You can imagine Aidan's (and my) delight when, during one of our biweekly trips to the public library, we found a DVD of "Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians", a 1980s cartoon show featuring the Justice League of America (they never called them that on TV, just Superfriends or Super Powers Team). Along with Aidan, I've been able to relive some of the past glories of my Saturday mornings spent watching Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and the rest of the Justice League protect Earth from the likes of Lex Luthor, Darkseid, and the Scarecrow. Yes, definitely time well spent.
Yesterday, while watching the DVD for the second or third time, I was reminded during one episode of Superman's weakness (yes, he has some): kryptonite. If you know any of Superman's back story, you know that he came to Earth as the last survivor of the planet Krypton, which exploded right after his parents sent him into space in a small spacecraft. He landed on earth, was found by a Kansas farm couple, and later discovered that he had abilities far beyond those of a normal human man. Which of us, even has grown men, haven't sometimes wished for even just one of his powers? Super breath would come in handy in blowing away rain clouds from the golf course, x-ray vision would make finding the biggest bass in the lake a snap, and you haven't had barbecue until you've eaten food grilled using heat vision. That's not even counting the super strength and super speed. As it turns out, Superman's powers come from him absorbing power from Earth's yellow sun. On his planet, the sun was red, so a yellow sun gives him his super abilities (See, your mom was right; sunshine is good for you). That accounts for his strength, but what about his weakness. As it turns out, some of the pieces of Superman's former planet still exist in the galaxy and occasionally make their way to Earth. Some of these pieces have turned green and when Superman comes into contact with them, all of the sudden, he isn't so invulnerable anymore. If he is exposed to green kryptonite for a long enough period of time, he can die.
So how do Superman, pieces of his former planet, and Saturday morning cartoons relate to us as men? In the particular episode I watched with Aidan, Superman was exposed to kryptonite for so long a period of time, that he died (spoiler warning; he didn't really die, but was in a coma and almost died; they did have to keep him on the show after all). The episode showed the effects of his possible death and how everyone, super and normal, tried to cope with it. Now, you and I aren't super, but we do have the potential to do some pretty amazing things through Christ. Like Superman, our power comes from our prolonged exposure to the Son. We come from a previous planet if you will, our former life of sin, and in our new lives in Christ that we are to live about the mediocre and the mundane. So what happens when pieces of our former planet, our "green kryptonite", our past lives of sin, show up in our lives. Like Superman, we may not die right away, but the longer we are exposed to them, the greater our chances of slipping into a spiritual coma and eventually dying in our spirit. Let's look at a Scripture from Titus 1:6. In this chapter, Paul is spelling out to Titus the qualifications for elders who were to set over the churches. Now you or I may or not be elders over churches, but if God sets these as the standards for men in leadership, shouldn't they also be the standard for our lives as men of God? Titus 1:7a (AMP) says, "These elders should be men who are of unquestionable integrity and are irreproachable." So God's standard is, that as men, we should live lives that contain: 1. full integrity, and 2. no reproach. The Greek word for "irreproachable" there means the absence of even a charge or acquisition against a person. Now for some personal application.
As God's men it is His desire that we not allow anything in our lives that would hinder us from His power and His Spirit operating in our lives. Here are a few things His Word (and the cartoon episode I watched) can teach us about this principle.
1. Our compromises affect everyone. When Superman was thought to be dead, it affected everyone around him: a young hero who could have saved struggled with letting everyone down, the other heroes struggled with how they were going to manage without his powers and leadership, and the general public lost their symbol of truth, justice, and the American Way. In the same way, when we compromise, it affects not just us, but our spouses, our children, our church, and any others who look to use for leadership.
2. The sin will come out. Superman's skin turned green after he was exposed to the krypton for too long. It was obvious to everyone that he had been poisoned. When we sin, it will become known and will find us out.Galatians 6:7 teaches us that a man will sow what he reaps.
3. It is paramount to have others around you to provide accountability, protection, and support. Superman was alone when the kryptonite over took him. One of the things I've always appreciated in the comics is the relationship between Batman (he's always been my personal favorite) and Superman. Sure, Batman may not have powers, but he's also not as susceptible to kryptonite. Many times he's been the one to rescue Superman from some unexpected piece of kryptonite showing up somewhere, and Superman has done his share of helping Batman out with runaway trains and falling buildings. We need others in our lives because we're not invulnerable either. Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10 (AMP) says "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor; for if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!"
The Lord knows we are not supermen; in fact, the Word says He knows our frames and knows we are dust. But He also knows what hurts us, and seeks to keep us from it. Like Superman's father sending him out with great hopes for his future, our Father sends us out into a sinful and hurting world to lead our families, businesses, ministries, and churches and to be an example to those around us. May we avoid the kryptonite so we can be our best for Him!
Join me in making this your prayer:
Father, I thank you for calling me your own. Thank you for knowing me and my failures and still choosing to redeem me through your Son. Thank you for choosing me before I chose You, and thank you for your calling on my life. Please help me, by your Holy Spirit, to live a life that is pleasing and upright before you. Please help me to see the areas when I could be tempted to fall, to use the ways of escape You provide, and to give You the praise for your deliverance. Please put other men in my life to whom I can be accountable and to whom I can provide accountability. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
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