Let None of His Words Fall to the Ground June 24, 2009

I Samuel 3:19, “The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground.” 

What a beautiful word picture.  “…let none of his words fall to the ground.”  The words of the Lord are to be hidden in our hearts.  In the midst of our busy, sometimes chaotic world, let none of his words fall to the ground.  For me, this means staying in the word, continually reminding myself of what his words are.

This will become part of my language in prayer.  I will pray, for myself and my family, “May we not let any of your words fall to the ground.”

Bring Honor to God June 15, 2009

“Do your best.”

“Be the best you can be.”

“…as long as you do your best.”

These were some of the parenting mantras of the eighties. I think these were touted with a parent’s sincere desire to help their children succeed without setting a standard that is too high.

However, this goal, in some respects, is unreachable. I can argue that I have never done my best at anything. There is always something I could have done better.

This goal is also too arbitrary. How would a person know if one’s best was ever achieved?

I want my children to evaluate their lives with this measure….Did I bring honor and glory to God the Father?

I want my kids (and myself) to bring honor and glory to God in all they do. Not do their best or be their best.

Honor God.

It’s not about them, it’s about honoring and glorifying God with their lives. (grades, friendships, work, dating…honor God ).

That is my prayer for them and me. I want to bring honor to his name.

Me…Nervous June 12, 2009

I was so excited and nervous about a recent Equine Assisted Learning training.  I found it hard to go to sleep the night before, eat much for breakfast, drive the speed limit on the way, and come to complete stops.

Before I left the hotel that morning, my mom said, “Just relax.  You will do just fine.  Be yourself.”

Well,  I was being myself. That was me….nervous.

How I wish I was always relaxed, always calm, always together.  But I’m not.  I do get nervous, but it’s still me….just nervous me.

Books You Remember June 10, 2009

My friend, Stephanie, had a post this week on her blog, Pointed Meanderings, that challenged people to list 15 books that you remember in 15 minutes or less.  I was surprised at what surfaced.

Write your list first and then read mine.

Here is my list:

1. Gone with the Wind
2. The Ladies’ No. 1 Detective Agency
3. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
4. Mark of the Lion Series
5. Nancy Drew Series
6. Rascal
7. Happy Holisters Series
8. The Last Lecture
9. At Home in Mitford
10. Confessions of a Shopaholic
11. The Poisonwood Bible
12. The Giving Tree
13. Hope for the Flowers
14. Pippi Longstocking
15. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

This is like remembering old friends.  Try it.   It’s fun to bring back to mind these old friends.

I would love to see your lists.  15 minutes….15 books.

The Shaping of a Life June 9, 2009

My oldest is in Nicaragua on a church mission trip…for about the 4th summer in a row. He loves the work there.

His first summer there, he left as a boy and returned a man. I am so proud of him.

I attended most of the mission meetings with him this year. That way I received the updates on details of the trip and could keep up with the group’s progress. It was fun to support Barrett in this way. He seemed to like my presence in the meetings. I was honored.

I rarely attended these meetings in the past. I didn’t want to keep him from going, but I could hardly stand it. It was difficult for me to think of him so far away, so I avoided thinking about it. Attending the mission meetings were overwhelming to me.

I’m so glad I went with him this year. He’s a senior now and will be gone so quickly. I treasure this time with him under my roof.

His life is being shaped by the work and relationships in Central America through the power of the cross. Praise God.

The Woman in White June 5, 2009

One of the greatest mystery thrillers ever written, Wilkie Collins’s The Woman in White was a phenomenal bestseller in the 1860s, achieving even greater success than works by Dickens, Collins’s friend and mentor. Full of surprise, intrigue, and suspense, this vastly entertaining novel continues to enthrall readers today.

The story begins with an eeriemidnight encounter between artist Walter Hartright and a ghostly woman dressed all in white who seems desperate to share a dark secret. The next day Hartright, engaged as a drawing master to the beautiful Laura Fairlie and her half sister, tells his pupils about the strange events of the previous evening. Determined to learn all they can about the mysterious woman in white, the three soon find themselves drawn into a chilling vortex of crime, poison, kidnapping, and international intrigue.

Masterfully constructed, The Woman in White is dominated by two of the finest creations in all Victorian fiction—Marion Halcombe, dark, mannish, yet irresistibly fascinating, and Count Fosco, the sinister and flamboyant “Napoleon of Crime.”  from Barnes and Noble website

This was a fun book to read.  I recommend it, especially if you like the language of Victorian England.

Date Night June 5, 2009

I love date night with my husband.  We don’t go out very often.   But when we do, I really enjoy it.  I love having all of Scott’s attention for myself.  I love going out to eat and not having to clean up.

The Obama’s had a date night last week and were given a really hard time about it.  I was so glad to see them on a date.  How great that our president is nurturing his marriage.

We should all heed his example.  Pay attention to your spouse.  If you make a promise to your spouse, keep it.  (He had promised Michelle that they would go to a Broadway play after the election.)

Way to go, Mr. President!

Bring Back the Change June 3, 2009

I took Locke to the ballpark with me to watch Meredith play her softball game. He was being so sweet and enjoying himself. He looked around and saw several people with nacho’s.

I told him he could have some and pulled out a dollar bill, thought twice about how much they cost and traded the dollar for a five.

He left for awhile, playing around with some friends and eventually came back.  His eyes were sparkling and he had a little bounce in his step.  He was laden down with nacho’s in one hand, a large coke in the other, and some candy tucked under his arm.  “Hey, Mom!  This was exactly $5.00!”

He was so proud that he had worked out the math perfectly. It all added up to $5.00.  Just like I gave him.

It hit me all wrong.  I was so mad!  $5.00 down the drain!  It had slipped right through my fingers.  I had failed to add, “Bring me back the change.”